She glanced from the floor back to Riker.

See that it stays that way, please.

We will, Riker said.

And something tells me that if we dont,you will.

Barbara smiled and a spirited flash glinted in her eyes.

Indeed I will, Mr. Riker.

Not less than twelve men, Picard, Kadar said.

Picard tapped his communicator off and leaned his compact form against the meeting halls granite table.

Mr. Riker, what about the Hidran beaming down twelve crewmen?

Riker turned to Data who shook his head.

Impossible, Captain.

The first officer clasped his hands behind his back.

Their landing party is only outfitted for six.

Then have them add six more to their regular team, gentlemen.

It is not that easy, sir, Data said.

The Hidran need to breathe one hundred percent humidity with a substantially higher oxygen mix. The masks they wear are surgically implanted and only a few members of their crew are so equipped.

The captain let out a short breath and touched his comm badge.

Captain Kadar, you will beam down only six crewmen, including yourself.

Twelve, Kadar insisted.

Six. Not twelve. Not seven. Six. Picard out.

The captain hit the communicator again and it signaled off.

Everything is a struggle, he muttered.

If the Hidran have six men, the Klingons want twelve, and then the Hidran want twenty.

Im afraid I sympathize with the Klingons on this one, sir, Riker said.

The Hidran are a tough lot.

Anyone who can win a war with the Klingons ... Theiramba.s.sador eats Klingons for breakfast.

Datas eyes widened.

Sir?

Dont be so literal, Mr. Data, Picard said. The android lowered his gaze.

Sorry, sir. They are a curious people. Early contact with them by Federation surveys cla.s.sify them as combative, but hardly as hostile as they are now.

Seventy years of war might change that, Commander, Picard said, taking on that professorial tone Riker knew too well.

The Hidran had to be harder, stronger, to survive a war with the Klingons. The Hidran may not have won, but they certainly did not lose.

Riker stood straight by his captains side, but his focus was not on his duties. Barbara Hollitt had entered the hall by the far doors, and his thoughts faded away from his responsibilities. He shut his eyes, tried to listen to Picardthe man whose control he envied, whose demeanor he wanted to emulate.

... you too would find that which was necessary to survive.

I am fascinated, sir, Data said.

Picard nodded.

Splendid, Commander, because I want you to do a little research into the Hidran side of this conflict. Were quite familiar with the Klingons history. All we know of the Hidran is that, like the Klingons, they claim both victory and victimization. Find out what you can. Perhaps the Hidran will allow you access to their computer banks.

Aye, sir. That should give us a different perspective.

Indeed.

The captain raised a finger.

Also, I want a frequency shield to block unauthorized transporter and communicator use during the negotiations. I need no last-minute maneuvering by either side. But we will want to keep access for ourselves.

Data nodded.

We could blanket the planet in a white-noise transmission, sir. That would mask out their frequencies but leave certain coded ones available to us.

Good. I want that within the hour.

Aye, sir. I believe that from the sensor array we can transmit a Picard cut him off with a wave of his hand.

Yes, yes. Work now, explain later, Commander. Dismissed.

You Klingons know nothing but death. You should taste of it yourselves!

You, Zhad, are not fit to be killed!

And a Klingon is not fit to kill me!

Id like to test the truth of that statement.

Are you calling me a liar, Klingon?

Twelve faces, wrenched in anger, sat at opposite ends of the large table.

His hands hidden beneath that table, Riker gripped his holstered phaser. He flexed his fingers, trying to cool his sweaty palm. He wanted to shift the weapon to his left hand but refused to take it from its holster if it wasnt necessary. And he just knew that in the one moment when the phaser was out of hand, hed need to use it to stun a violent delegate.

Make sure no one dies, Picard had ordered, giving Riker the most difficult task of all. He knew they had weaponssecurity couldnt very well frisk-search official government delegations. Theyd be insulted and,boom the talks would be over.

No, this was the only way. Riker just had to be sure his timing was right. A shot too soon, and the Federation would be taking sides. A shot too late, and someone would die. The line was painfully fine.

He clutched the phaser handle tighter, tense fingers squeezing the perspiration from between his knuckles. He was a raw nerve, with nothing to rely on when his moment to act might be, if at all, except for Deanna. She sat at his right and had promised to touch him, mentally if necessary, if the feelings of hate in the hall grew to the point of murder. His eyes would shift between her and the delegates, and he prayed he wouldnt be looking one way when he shouldve been looking the other.

He glanced at her, and lingered too long. She wrung her trembling hands, all the emotions biting at her, twisting her heart as well as her head, while Picard sat on the other side of her, relaxed, withdrawn.

The only thing missing from the picture was a book in his hand and his legs outstretched over the table.

You will stay away from our mining planets or we will destroy you!

Zhad spat.

Kadar pushed himself half out of his seat, pressing his palms flat on the tabletop.

Riker stretched forward a little, ready.

Those planets are ours! They are the spoils of war!

Kadar roared.

Picard looked from Kadar to Zhad, waiting for a response.

The Hidran amba.s.sadors color grew ruddy with anger.

The treaty we were forced to sign was a one-sided piece of rubbish. We have the moral obligation to deny its edicts.

You were forced into nothing!

Kadar pounded his fist on the table and the vibration sent a computer clipboard clattering onto the floor. Riker forced a flinch inward.

Zhad hammered the table with both fists, as if to one better the Klingons with his own storm of anger.

You a.s.sure us no alternatives and call that choice?

Picard said nothing, but this time looked up with intent. There was something more than insult there.

With the Hidran insulting the Klingons, the Klingons insulting the Hidran, and both threatening death for what had seemed like hours, finally theyd grown weary enough to deal with actual issues. And Riker knew that had been Picards wager.

Kadar rumbled to the captain, The Hidran lies about a treaty that is one-sided in their favor. It is obvious that nothing will come of these ... discussions.

We lie?

Zhad bolted from his seat.

Riker moved his thumb on top of the phasers trigger.

Sit down, Amba.s.sador, Picard ordered.

Zhad remained on his feet, his thick legs pressed against the table, his fists tight rocks against his thighs.

Do you not hear these lies? Do you listen to your trustworthy allies?

he hissed.

Picards eyes hardened and he stood abruptly, his chair grinding the floor as he pushed it back. The captain paced over to Zhad and Pulled out the amba.s.sadors seat.

Sit down.

Indignant and offended, Zhad sat back down.

I will be talking with your superiors, Picard, he muttered.

You have ruined these negotiations.

No matter. The negotiations are over.

A brief roar fell into mutters, then into death-like tacitness as Picards glare seemed to strike every eyeexcept Rikers.

Youve had the chance to talk. You chose to argue instead. Kadar, the Hidran need aridium shielding for the power reactors you left them That theytook from us one of the Klingons bellowed.

Irrelevant!

Picard hammered down the outburst.

They have the reactors, they need the aridium. Only you can supply it. You will.

Kadar folded his arms and sat back.

Really?

Picard ignored him and pivoted toward the Hidran.

Amba.s.sador Zhad, the Klingons need the vaccine for the virus they contracted on your planet.

A virus they were blessed with whiledestroying our planet!

Zhad interrupted.

Thats all in the past, Picard said.

The treaties were signed twenty years ago. The war is over.