"I can see that," Worf said. "Are you damaged, Commander?"

"Not significantly, thank you. How is Ensign Ro?"

"Not too bad." Worf looked through the medical kit. "I will stabilize her condition before we bring her to the shuttle."

"That is a relief," Data said. "I was concerned."

"I'm touched," Ro said, grimacing again. "What happened to the communicators, Worf? We never heard from the ship after the bombings began."

"The captain believes they were jammed by the Krann, except for communications between us and Government House. We believe the Krann cut off communications between us in order to create more uncertainty. No doubt the Krann thought that allowing us to talk to Government House, but not to you two, might lead us to think that communications were clear and that you were dead. It certainly did make us uncertain." Worf frowned darkly. "Much has happened in the last few hours, and none of it is good. I will brief you on the way back."

The turbolift doors opened onto the bridge, and Picard walked briskly to his chair. Harkey was at Ops. "Have you reached Presider Hek, Ensign?" he asked her.

"No, sir," she replied. "Not yet."

"Keep at it."

Worf's prime backup, Lieutenant Gomez, was handling the Security station in the Klingon's absence. Picard addressed him. "Mr. Gomez, tell me about the war."

"Captain, the Lethanta are under substantial attack by heavily armed units of the Krann fleet," Gomez said. "Virtually all orbital facilities surrounding Nem Ma'ak Bratuna have been destroyed, with large loss of life. So far, Lethantan defense forces have prevented any significant additional damage to ground-based facilities, but there have been several new medium-yield nuclear missile strikes within the larger cities, and Lethantan ground defenses are beginning to collapse. A large Lethantan s.p.a.ce force is heading for the midst of the main Krann fleet, apparently to conduct reprisal attacks against the Krann civilian population."

"Very well. Ensign Harkey, send the following message to Presider Hek and the First Among Equals. 'As the representative of the United Federation of Planets, I am proposing that both sides establish and observe a ceasefire in place before this war grows any wider.'" Picard chose his next words carefully. "'There is no point in fighting. There is no issue here worth fighting about. We must put the past behind us and build a future, but we are fast losing any hope of doing it. I look forward to your affirmative response to this message.' End it there."

"Captain?" Gomez reported. "The Lethanta are now engaging elements of the main Krann fleet. Three large Krann ships have been destroyed. They were city ships, sir." He paused. "Estimated combined population, one point four million."

Picard sighed. Any chance of peace seemed gone.

"The First Among Equals is calling, Captain," Harkey reported.

"On screen." Picard began to speak and then stopped, shocked. He had never seen a man seem to grow so old overnight.

"Kerajem," Picard began almost gently, "please stop this madness. This war can only lead to the destruction of both races. You must realize that."

"I know that better than anyone, Captain Picard-but we lost three cities full of people in the first six minutes of this renewal of the war, not to mention the thousands of our people who were killed in the orbiting factories and other facilities. There must be an accounting."

"We've watched as your ships destroyed three large Krann vessels just minutes ago. The Krann craft were city ships, populated by nearly a million and a half civilians."

"Those ships were destroyed in reprisal for the loss of our cities. We are the ones who were attacked, Captain. Not they."

"Then your dead are revenged, First, for what that is worth. Can we not stop there?"

Kerajem bowed his head wearily. "We will stop if they will stop, and not otherwise," he said. "We did not want this war, Captain Picard, but we will not run from it."

"If I can arrange a ceasefire in place, will you observe it?"

"Yes-if you can arrange it. Meanwhile, we fight."

"I will do my best. Picard out. Get me Hek," he said to Harkey through clenched teeth.

Harkey looked up. "Presider Hek is calling you, Captain."

"Put him on screen." Picard took a deep, calming breath. "Presider Hek," he said, "I want to offer a proposal for a ceasefire-"

"Forget it," the Krann leader said. His eyes seemed afire. "This is not the time for a ceasefire. My people have waited for millennia for this day. Today we destroy those who nearly destroyed us. You won't stop us. Nothing can. Our third wave is about to begin its attack on Nem Ma'ak Bratuna." He laughed. "There won't be much left for the fourth wave to mop up, not after that. Then will come the planetwide radioactive dusting, and that will be that." There was suddenly an expression of sheerest joy on Hek's face. "Finally, finally, we have arrived at the day of the death of the hated Lethanta," he crowed. "My ancestors will be able to rest at long last."

"The Lethanta are destroying your ships," Picard said. "Can't you see?"

"They've blown up three city ships," Hek responded. "That leaves us with a paltry fifty-two thousand and some odd. By the way, Captain, how are you feeling?"

Picard frowned. "We immediately detected your attempt to infect the ship, Hek. It wasn't even close to successful."

Hek grinned. "I confess I'm disappointed, Picard. Despite your self-proclaimed neutral status, your continued presence in this system makes me nervous. I simply don't trust you, Captain. My people informed me that the virus they used was undetectable."

"Perhaps it was-for you. Not for us."

"My," Hek said. "You are advanced."

"And the superweapon in Bay Fourteen was-?"

"A telescope, tarted up to look like it could blow a hole in your precious Enterprise. You were supposed to see right through it, of course, and you did-just as you were supposed to detect that young Wiggin was planted at the party by our intelligence people. Captain, we knew where your people were on our flagship the instant they arrived. We've had centuries to install sensors in every nook and cranny of this vessel. Nothing here escapes notice. Nothing. When your Riker and Troi suddenly appeared, we deduced that your civilization possessed some form of matter transmission-and so you do; now that's a secret I'd like for us. In any case, when Riker and Troi arrived, we integrated them into our strategic planning."

"All of this nonsense with Wiggin was to distract us from the real plot against us," Picard said. "All the while, you were infecting Counselor Troi with the virus."

"Correct," Hek replied. "It's spread quite easily by skin-to-skin contact, and Wiggin kept patting Troi on the hand. Troi then unwittingly pa.s.sed it to Commander Riker. It's a wonderful little virus, Captain. All it does in the first few hours is make you drowsy and take the edge off your appet.i.te. Then, sometime during the second day, your heart and lungs suddenly become inflamed and septic, and out you go. Of course, we've all been immunized."

"How convenient for you."

Hek stifled a yawn. "Is there more, Captain? Because if there isn't-"

"I suppose there is nothing more to say at this time."

"Then good-bye."

"Sir?" Gomez said. "Shuttlebay Three reports the shuttlecraft has returned with all hands aboard. One wounded, sir. Ensign Ro. Dr. Crusher is on her way there now."

Picard sighed. "Very well."

The top officers of the Enterprise, except for Riker and Troi, had gathered in the conference lounge for a briefing on the Lethantan-Krann war. The first officer and the counselor had been placed in isolation by Dr. Crusher, but they were attending the meeting through the ship's communications system.

"The third attack wave is now in progress," Worf reported. "Presider Hek's expectations of a quick victory seem now to have been without any basis in fact. The Lethanta have been holding their own, but their resources are not unlimited. When their stores are exhausted, they will fall quickly."

"When will they run out of supplies, Worf?" Riker asked.

"In two or three hours, Commander. The end is close. The Lethanta prepared themselves well for this battle, but the Krann attack has been unrelenting. The Lethanta have been forced to throw their reserves into the fighting earlier than they antic.i.p.ated. They are now fighting a holding action. This cannot succeed."

"How quickly do you think they will fall after their supplies run out, Mr. Worf?" Picard asked.

"I would say immediately, Captain, for all practical purposes," the security chief replied. "The Krann do not intend to occupy Nem Ma'ak Bratuna, but to sterilize it with highly radioactive dust. Most lifeforms on the planet will die within hours or days, depending on the strength of the dust and its distribution by the planetary winds. This distribution cannot be uniform, since it is determined by natural forces. As a result, some lifeforms may hold out in isolated areas of the planet for weeks or even months, but eventually the poisoned ecosystem will find and destroy them all. Nem Ma'ak Bratuna will be dead."

"How do we prevent that?" asked Picard.

"We can't negotiate a ceasefire," Troi reminded them from her sickbed. "It takes two to make a peace but only one to conduct a war, and the Krann won't talk peace."

"Can we stop the Krann?" Geordi asked. "Rather, could we prevent those Krann ships from attempting to sterilize the planet with that dust?"

Picard slowly shook his head. "No. No, we can't do that. Despite everything, we can't take part in this war. The permission we received from both sides to negotiate a settlement, however vain any hope for a settlement has now become, does not permit us to enter the fray. The Prime Directive remains in effect."

"Harkey to Captain," came a voice.

"Yes, Ensign. What is it?"

"Sir, the First Among Equals is calling you."

"Patch the audio through, please. Kerajem?"

"Captain Picard, I must ask you to leave our planetary system at once. I know you are capable of doing so at considerable speed."

Everyone around the conference table stirred. Picard held up a hand. "Why, Kerajem?"

"I don't believe I need to tell you why, Captain. My understanding of your Prime Directive is that you can stay here only as long as we desire it. We no longer desire it."

"That is an aspect of the Prime Directive," Picard said slowly. "Yes."

"And you are bound to observe it?"

"We are sworn to do so. Scrupulously. All of us are."

"Then please do observe it, and go. Leave our system at once." The First Among Equals paused. "I would be remiss if I did not thank you for your help, Captain. It was not your fault that peace between us and the Krann was not possible. Go now, with our most heartfelt thanks."

"The Lethanta have shut down the comm link, Captain," Harkey reported.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Riker said. "It's too sudden. It doesn't fit with Kerajem's past actions."

"I agree, Number One," Picard said. "There's no clear reason for this. Picard to Harkey."

"Harkey here, sir."

"Ensign, where was Kerajem calling from?"

"He was in his office at Government House, sir."

"Very good. Picard out." He rose from the table. "I'm going there now for a one-on-one with Kerajem. We'll get to the bottom of this. Mr. Data, go to the bridge and take the conn."

"Permission to accompany you, Captain," Worf said immediately.

"Denied. I have to do this by myself."

"Sir, you intend to beam into the middle of a war zone, and I cannot-"

"You've done your sworn duty in warning me about it, Lieutenant. Now desist."

Worf looked resigned. "Aye, sir."

"Excuse me, Captain," Geordi asked. "But didn't Kerajem just withdraw his people's permission for us to be here?"

"Yes, he did."

"Well, then, aren't we violating the Prime Directive in pursuing further efforts at mediation?"

"Not at all," Picard said. "The Krann have not yet withdrawn their permission for us to intercede in this war, and that is exactly what I intend to do when I go to visit Kerajem."

Chapter Eighteen.

PICARD MATERIALIZED right in front of Kerajem's desk. The First Among Equals looked up.

"I knew you'd show up anyway, Picard," the First said, utterly weary. "I figured a little thing like a sacred oath wouldn't stop you."

"I haven't violated my oath, Kerajem," Picard said. "I'm simply taking advantage of a loophole. Please tell me what's happening."

"We're losing the war for our survival, that's what's happening. The other ministers went home or wherever it is they find the most comfort. The vote was taken and the agreement was made, and now there's nothing left for anyone to do-except me, of course." Kerajem rose from his desk and, walking over to the window, looked out over the ruins of the capital city. There was dense smoke on the horizon. "The mountains are on fire," Kerajem said almost absently. "I'm from there, you know."

"You'd mentioned it to me."

"Oh. Yes. Yes, I had. I suppose my hometown is gone now. It would be right in the middle of that main column of smoke, right there past the peak. See it?"

"Yes."

Kerajem gazed up into the clear green sky. "They tell me there's quite a battle going on up there, about two hundred kilometers above our heads."

"We've been keeping tabs on it."

"So have we, as I think you'll understand. I heard one of your people was badly wounded after the initial attack. Will she make it?"

"Our doctor says that she will."

"I'm glad. Captain Picard, do you know why we've called this world The Last Stand?"

"No. Please tell me."

"Because it is exactly that." Kerajem turned away from the window. "It is our world, our refuge, the last hope for our survival. It is the place where we determined in our prehistory that if the Krann ever came our way, the millennia of madness would finally end. Even when we forgot our origins and descended into barbarism, our purpose remained intact. When we rediscovered the truth decades ago, we also rediscovered our resolve to see this whole mad business end. We have made a stand here, our last stand. The madness will end today-and that is why you and your people must leave our system immediately."

"What are you talking about, Kerajem? Please tell me."