"I'm sorting the forward vessels out, sir-ah. The lead wave of the Krann fleet is presently located eight hundred million kilometers from standard orbit at Nem Ma'ak Bratuna. That's just outside the orbit of the fifth planet in this system, sir. These leading elements of the Krann fleet are presently traveling at a speed of just under four thousand kilometers per second and are decelerating under power at a constant one gravity of boost. They will arrive at Nem Ma'ak Bratuna in four days, sixteen hours. Elements of the fleet toward the rear seem to be changing course and speed, however."

"Where are they going?" Picard asked. "Worf?"

"They are forming an attack pattern, sir, to center on Nem Ma'ak Bratuna," the Klingon replied. "It is similar to the cla.s.sic Brunckhorst pincer movement, but the Krann are going about forming the pincer very slowly."

"Well, that makes their motives clear," Picard observed. "That pattern is in no way defensive."

"What we're seeing strongly suggests that the Krann are constrained by cla.s.sical Newtonian physics," Riker said. "The Krann can't just wheel around, change course, and accelerate any which way. Their technology just isn't up to it. They're slaves to the laws of motion and thermodynamics. That gives us a decided advantage."

"I wonder, really, how much of an advantage our technology does give us," Picard mused. "It seems to me-"

"Captain," Worf interrupted, "the head of the Lethantan government is hailing us."

Picard winked at Troi. "On audio, Mr. Worf," he said. "Yes, First Among Equals?" Picard's tone was purposefully cold.

The speed-of-light delay from ground to orbit was negligible. "Captain Picard," Kerajem began, "on behalf of my entire government, please let me apologize for the conduct of our security minister. He has been severely reprimanded by myself and the council for his precipitous actions and accusations, none of which were authorized by us or even known to us before he made them. We beg your forgiveness for this serious breach of diplomacy, Captain. Let me a.s.sure you that this is not the way we usually treat our friends."

Picard signaled to Worf to cut the audio. "What do you think, Counselor?" the captain asked Troi.

"He's sincere," the counselor allowed. "He's also very worried. I think he's telling the truth. The altercation with the security minister was not planned."

"I knew he was telling the truth," Picard said. "Nevertheless, the incident with Jemmagar shows that Kerajem has a certain lack of control over his subordinates. I'm reluctant to send a contact team again if I don't have to. The situation is still unstable."

"Sir?" Riker interrupted. "We could meet with them here aboard the ship."

"Exactly what I was thinking," Picard said. "Put the First Among Equals back on, Mr. Worf."

"On audio, sir."

"Ah, there you are, Captain," came Kerajem's voice. He sounded relieved. "I was afraid we'd lost you."

"Not at all, Kerajem. I accept your apology. I'd like nothing better than to put this unpleasantness behind us."

"Most generous of you and your people, Captain. I and the council thank you most sincerely. So, what next?"

"I would like to propose that our second meeting take place here, aboard the Enterprise. We will furnish transportation and facilities. You may, of course, bring along as many ministers of the council and their staff people and a.s.sistants as you require. My first officer, Commander William Riker, will personally handle the arrangements with your people."

The First Among Equals hardly hesitated. "Excellent, Captain Picard. We're pleased to accept your invitation. I look forward to meeting Commander Riker. I and a subcommittee of the council will be there at your earliest convenience."

"Very well," Picard said. "Commander Riker will be calling you shortly. I look forward to seeing you again, Kerajem. Picard out." The captain turned to the first officer. "I want the Lethanta up here as soon as courtesy permits, Will. We still don't have answers to our questions. There's a great deal we need to know before-"

"Before what, sir?" Riker asked.

With a nod of his head, Picard indicated the thousands and thousands of lights that dotted the main screen. "Before we have to deal with them."

Picard, Riker, Troi, and Worf were waiting as Kerajem and four members of the Council of Ministers materialized on the chamber platform in transporter room two.

"Welcome aboard the Enterprise," Picard said.

"Thank you, Captain," Kerajem said, looking around him. "An amazing experience, to say the least." The ministers with him were working hard to maintain their sang-froid, but they were not doing very well. They had seen the Federation officers beam away, but that was a far cry from experiencing it themselves.

"Is this how you managed to get your shuttlecraft back from the s.p.a.ceport, Captain?" Klerran asked. "Did you perhaps place a pilot directly inside it? We'd a.s.sumed you'd flown it back by some sort of remote control."

"That's not really important," Picard said smoothly. "Commander William Riker, allow me to introduce you to Kerajem zan Trikotta, First Among Equals of the Council of Ministers of Nem Ma'ak Bratuna; Presinget fes Kwaita, the minister for labor; Klerran fes Dresnai, the minister for science and education; and Rikkadar zan Therrka, the finance minister. Gentlemen, Commander Riker is the first officer of this vessel and my second-in-command. He'll get you settled."

How does he remember all those names? Riker wondered as he extended his hand. "I am very pleased to meet you all," the first officer said in his best company manner. "We have guest quarters ready for each of you. We thought you might want to refresh yourselves after your trip."

"Trip?" Klerran said, a bit bewildered. "That was a trip? I still don't believe we went anywhere."

"Did our staff people get here all right?" Rikkadar asked.

"The other members of your party beamed aboard several minutes ago and have already been escorted to their guest quarters," Picard told them.

Presinget looked around him. "I'd like to see those quarters you mentioned, Commander," he said gruffly. "If this transporter gadget is how you people get around, then the bathrooms around here must be something terrific."

"We're rather proud of everything aboard," Picard said agreeably. "I thought we might begin our next meeting in, say, half an hour, if that's all right with you."

"That will be fine, Captain," Kerajem answered for all of them.

"Excellent. We'll send someone to escort you to our observation lounge at that time. I think you'll appreciate the view."

"If you'll follow me, gentlemen?" Riker called as the door to the transporter room slid aside. He gestured them through the doorway and onto the gangway of Deck 6. Kerajem and the ministers moved out slowly, looking from left to right and all around as they moved through the exit, even though there was not yet much for them to see. With a last, resigned glance at Picard, Riker followed the Lethantans out of the transporter room, and the doors slid closed behind him.

"This is always Will's favorite part," Troi said.

"Don't I know it," Picard replied, not without humor. "One of the better things about being captain is that you can a.s.sign these kinds of jobs to others."

"Sir," Worf said, "with your permission, I will return to the observation lounge and complete preparations for our meeting with the Council of Ministers."

"How is the hospitality team doing?" Troi asked.

Worf frowned. "The team is having trouble resetting the replicators to duplicate the food and refreshment items Kerajem's a.s.sistants sent us in preparation for the council's arrival. They have not had much time to do so."

"Perhaps they'll like chocolate," the counselor ventured half seriously.

"I will suggest it to them, Counselor," Worf said tightly. "They may have to live on it while they are here. Captain, if you will excuse me-?"

"Of course, Lieutenant." The door opened for the Klingon and slid closed again after he pa.s.sed quickly through the entrance.

"We'd better get going ourselves," Picard said to Troi. "That meeting starts in less than thirty minutes-and this time we shan't be interrupted. I mean to find out exactly what's been going on around here, and without any further delay."

"-and it took me about five minutes to figure out the d.a.m.n thing, but I finally did," a slightly out-of-breath Presinget whispered to Klerran. They, along with Rikkadar, were sitting on one side of the conference table in the observation lounge, waiting for Kerajem and Picard to appear. "I'm just glad I managed to get here before the First did."

"So what did you do?" Klerran asked him.

"All I did was say the world flush out loud, as though it could hear me and do what I wanted it to, and it worked. Uh, what's the matter, Klerran? You look as if something's bothering you."

"Oh, nothing," the science minister replied. "I was just thinking that the sooner I got back to my quarters, the better."

"I'd just as soon get home to plumbing I can trust," the labor minister groused. He turned in his chair to look out the lounge windows. Nem Ma'ak Bratuna shone green, its clouds glaring white. A thin, hazy envelope of atmosphere softened the curvature of the planet.

"Sure is pretty," Presinget said. "The pictures don't do it justice. I never thought I'd get to see it for myself. Only pretty-boy s.p.a.ce Force types ever got to go into s.p.a.ce, when I was younger."

"It's absolutely beautiful," Klerran agreed. "I hope we can keep it that way."

"We'll try real hard, old friend. Right, Rik?"

"Eh? What's that, Presinget?" Rikkadar asked, startled. "I'm afraid I was wool-gathering. Happens a lot at my age."

"You were dreaming about that cute lady sitting over there, that's what you were doing," Presinget leered. He indicated Deanna Troi with a twitch of his tangled brow. The counselor was sitting on the other side of the table with Riker, Worf, and Data.

Old Rikkadar smiled. "No, actually I was thinking about how lucky I am."

"Lucky?" Klerran asked. "Even now?"

"Even now," Rikkadar replied, nodding. "I began my life as a boy working down in the mines, and here I am-nearly at the end of it, no matter what happens-an old man flying among the stars. I suppose I was waxing philosophical about it all, and feeling myself a very fortunate person indeed, despite everything." He suddenly grinned. "Sorry. Won't happen again, I promise. Oh-I think someone's coming."

The door to the observation lounge slid open as Captain Picard and Kerajem entered the room together. Everyone stood.

"Please be seated, all of you," Picard said, taking the center seat on the Enterprise side of the table. "Let's begin."

"Yes, let us make a fresh start," Kerajem said, taking the chair opposite Picard's. "The first order of business, Captain, is this." The First Among Equals handed Picard a Lethantan data cube, a bright, shiny box about ten centimeters on a side. One face bore some simple controls. "It is a copy of the ancient writings you were curious about, along with a self-contained apparatus with which to read them," Kerajem continued. "We chose this form instead of providing you with a printed copy, as the actual scrolls run the equivalent of several hundred modern volumes."

"I'll look at the contents of this cube later today," Picard said as he set the device on the table. "Many thanks for your courtesy in providing this to us, Kerajem. I know it will be very helpful. Please, now, let's discuss your situation with the Krann."

"Certainly," Kerajem said. "What would you like to know?"

"Everything you would care to tell us about your people, and about your conflict with the Krann."

Kerajem folded his hands together in front of him and looked at them. "I'm afraid our history is not a proud one in some respects," he began after a moment. "At times, it has been rather dark. One of the most terrible periods in our history concerns the Krann."

"We were once an empire, Captain," Klerran said. "We were limited to one star system and two planets, but we were an empire nonetheless. It was our native star, Ma'ak Terrella, the sun under which our race evolved-the star that you visited before you came here."

"There were two habitable planets circling that star, the third and fourth out from the sun," Kerajem continued. "We lived on the third planet, Eul Ma'ak Lethantana. The fourth, Ma'ak Krannag, was inhabited by the Krann."

"Some think we and the Krann are of the same race," Klerran said, "and that we were separated from one another in antiquity."

"We know very little about the Krann, actually," said Rikkadar. "We don't even know exactly what they look like."

"You don't?" Riker asked, surprised.

"That is not unreasonable, Commander," Data said. "The Lethanta need never have met or even seen any of the Krann to be on the brink of war with them. Recall the conflict between the Romulan Empire and the Federation approximately two hundred years ago."

Kerajem continued. "As I was saying, we don't know much about the Krann-except that the ancient writings say they are not unlike us."

"Humanoid, you mean?" Riker asked.

"If that's the term for it, then, yes, Commander," Kerajem said with a small smile. "Many of us do think the Krann are humanoid. Before today, I would have said something like 'They probably look a lot like people.' I have trouble thinking of myself as a 'humanoid.'"

"Kerajem, you mentioned that the Krann represented a terrible period in your history," Picard asked. "What did you mean by that, and does it have anything to do with what's going on out there now?"

"I'm afraid it does," Kerajem said heavily. "Our people went into s.p.a.ce in the normal course of things, and one of our first objectives was to explore and colonize the fourth planet in our home system. That was Ma'ak Krannag. We planned to exploit its resources as fully as possible, as our own were rapidly becoming depleted. When we got to Ma'ak Krannag, we discovered the Krann, who lived in tribes scattered all over the surface of their world. The most advanced of these tribes had just developed agriculture. They were no match for us."

The First Among Equals paused, clearly uncomfortable with what he was about to say. "We enslaved the Krann, Captain," Kerajem said, staring at the tabletop, unwilling to meet Picard's eyes. "We took everything they had. We stripped their resources from them. Over the following centuries, we poisoned their air and water and food with the runoff from the industries we had relocated to Ma'ak Krannag to keep our own world pristine. We even gave the Krann a religion and forced them to worship us as G.o.ds. We worked them to death and made them sing our praises for it. We slaughtered the ones who were of no use to us-the sick, the old, the ones who could not or would not work."

"It went on for centuries," Rikkadar said softly, his eyes watering. "Centuries."

"When did all this occur?" Worf asked.

"As nearly as we can tell, we first landed on Ma'ak Krannag about seven thousand years ago," replied the First Among Equals.

"How long did your occupation of Ma'ak Krannag go on?" Riker asked, tight-lipped.

"We think it lasted for just under a thousand years," Presinget said. "It could not have been much longer than that."

"What happened to end it?" Troi asked.

"There was a revolt," Rikkadar answered. "The Krann rose up almost as one and drove us out. They'd had a millennium to learn our weapons, our ways, our tactics, our weaknesses, and they'd learned them well. They'd had a thousand years to educate themselves in our ways and come up with effective means to fight and defeat us."

"How did the rebellion occur?" asked Picard.

"There were many more of them than there were of us on Ma'ak Krannag, of course," Kerajem said, "since ours was only an occupying force bent on control and exploitation. We were only tens of thousands to their billions. They rose up one night, each with a knife, and slaughtered every Lethanta they found-men, women, children, it made no difference. Obedient housemaids slaughtered families. Dedicated nurses killed their patients. Faithful workers murdered their overlords. It came to be called the Night of Blood."

"What did the government on Eul Ma'ak Lethantana do in response?" Picard asked.

"There was not much to be done," Presinget answered. "By the time the government found out what was going on, our occupation forces had been effectively destroyed, and our facilities and industries on Ma'ak Krannag had been taken over. The Krann were in control of their own world for the first time in some ten centuries."

"The revolt wound up costing many more Krann lives than Lethanta," Kerajem added, "but in the end, the Krann won, and they kept their victory. During the following few years, we sent police forces and then entire armies to Ma'ak Krannag in repeated attempts to reestablish our control over the planet, but it was all for naught. The Krann fought us off and, using our own captured ships, carried the war to Eul Ma'ak Lethantana."

"Did you seek peace?" Troi asked. "Did you finally come to terms?"

"We did," Kerajem said. "Our economy was in ruins following our loss of the labor and facilities on Ma'ak Krannag, and the ensuing war drained us even further. Peace was in our best interests, even if the settlement did not especially favor us. We agreed to recognize the Krann as sovereign on Ma'ak Krannag and pay heavy reparations for our past exploitation of their world and their people. They smiled and signed the treaty, and we got along well enough for a century or two, at the end of which time they attacked us in force."

"The Krann could not get over their hatred of you," Riker observed. "Revenge is a powerful motive."

"Your continued presence threatened them," Worf guessed. "Your star system was not big enough for both peoples."

"We think it was a little bit of both," Kerajem replied. "Revenge and fear make a deadly mix. Whatever the motive behind it, the final attack devastated our world. The Krann had developed weapons designed to eradicate all life on our planet by sterilizing it with radiation. All of Eul Ma'ak Lethantana must have been dead within a week of the Krann bombardment."

Picard held up a hand. "Yet you are here. You and your people live."

"We do indeed," Kerajem said, not without pride. "At the time of the attack, our people were mounting our first deep-s.p.a.ce colonizing mission. The only other habitable world in the Ma'ak Terrella system was Ma'ak Krannag, and we surely weren't welcome there. We needed to go to the stars."

"Without warp drive?" Riker asked.

Kerajem nodded. "We lacked the ability to travel faster than light as you people do, but our population was increasing while our resources were diminishing. We had to do something to relieve the population pressure on our world. One plan involved building independent s.p.a.ce-faring colonies inside hollowed-out asteroids. These asteroid ships were designed to sustain succeeding generations of colonists bound for the stars."

"Hollow asteroids?" Troi wondered. "Wait a moment. I think I've heard of this."