The Last Stand Part 2

"A stars.h.i.+p?" Kerajem asked. "I wonder what that might be?"

Klerran fes Dresnai, the minister for science and education, cleared his throat to speak. "First Among Equals, if I might-"

Kerajem turned. "Yes, Klerran?"

"First, the term 'stars.h.i.+p' is frequently used in, uh, fantastic literature-fiction, I mean to say. Stars.h.i.+ps are said to be able to travel fast enough, much faster than light, to make an interstellar trip possible within a practical period of time. We use the term ourselves when we talk of future design possibilities."

Major Ha.s.sandit snorted. "Excuse me, First, but do we have to listen to this nonsense? Faster-than-light travel is impossible. This is a waste of time."

Klerran turned red. "With all due respect, Major, this may be important. Fantasy is fantasy, but this is reality-and the truth is out there." He pointed to the screen, where the big crimson disk representing the unknown glowed brightly to denote the speed of its approach.

"Let the minister talk, Major," Blakendet said brusquely. "The unknown did report itself to be a 'stars.h.i.+p,' whatever that is, and I know as much about that as you do. I'm much more concerned about how the unknown managed to get as far in-system as Ma'ak Unselbe without our detecting it first."

Ha.s.sandit persisted. "General, the unknown may be nothing more than a ploy to distract us at this most critical moment. If so, it's working."

"If the Krann could build that, they'd have been here long since," Klerran said bitingly. "This isn't a trick, Kerajem. This is real. Those are aliens out there."

Kerajem scratched his chin in thought. After a moment, he asked, "Do you think we could have been able to detect the unknown during its approach if it had been traveling through the outer system at a speed faster than light?"

"The major is right," General Blakendet said. "It's not possible to go that fast."

"a.s.sume it is somehow possible," the First said coldly. He was growing impatient. "What then?"

General Blakendet shrugged. "I simply don't know, sir. Under those circ.u.mstances, we probably could not detect it." He paused. "The fact that the unknown has gotten this far indicates that no one else spotted it on the way in, either."

"A s.h.i.+p from somewhere else," Kerajem said, almost to himself. "A stars.h.i.+p. I wonder ..."

The First Among Equals turned to General Blakendet. "General, we are going to a.s.sume that the unknown is what it says it is. Send them our greetings and permit them to approach. Take the armed forces down to condition two, and take civil defense down to condition three."

"Sir," the general cautioned, "lowering the state of readiness in any way may be dangerous."

Kerajem laid a hand on the old general's shoulder. "I know, Blakendet-but, really, what choice do we have? There is no other way out for us. I want to present as peaceful a posture as possible, and we still have at least five days left to us. Before everything ends, we have to talk to that man on the, the stars.h.i.+p. We have to find out about him. We have to find out what he might be able do for us."

"Transmission coming in, Captain," Worf said presently, "Filtering-there. On audio."

"This is Nem Ma'ak Bratuna Central Control. You are who? Of the what?"

"I say again, Central Control, that this is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the stars.h.i.+p Enterprise, an interstellar exploration vessel representing the United Federation of Planets. We are here in your star system on a mission of-"

"Never mind. Please stand by." There was suddenly the sound of hollow wind.

"They have ceased transmitting," Worf reported.

"They never heard me," Picard said. "They interrupted their own transmission. Curious."

"Just for a moment, I think," Riker observed. "We're supposed to be standing by. Perhaps they're digging up someone important enough for us to talk to."

"If they haven't dug up someone already," Picard said. "They've had more than enough time to do so since we were first detected."

"They certainly haven't had much to say to us,"Riker observed. "They also didn't seem to spend much time establis.h.i.+ng that we are someone they have never encountered before."

"Perhaps they know it already," Troi said.

"We are receiving another transmission, Captain," Worf reported. "Filtering. On audio, sir."

"Captain Picard, this is Kerajem zan Trikotta, First Among Equals of the Council of Ministers. We serve as the executive branch of the central government of Nem Ma'ak Bratuna. On behalf of the council and all our citizens, I welcome you and your, er, stars.h.i.+p to our world. You have clearance to land your craft at the s.p.a.ceport outside our capital city. We are sending you a homing signal on one-zero-five-five kilohertz. Please follow it to the s.p.a.ceport. I look forward to meeting you."

Picard motioned to Worf to open a channel. "We appreciate your great courtesy in allowing us to approach your world, First Among Equals. Our s.h.i.+p is not equipped to make landfall but remains in s.p.a.ce at all times. We will take up a parking orbit around your planet, and I and my senior officers will arrive at the s.p.a.ceport by other means. Our s.h.i.+p will take up orbit around your world in about fifty minutes. I look forward to meeting you shortly after that, sir. Picard out." The captain waved a hand, and Worf shut down the channel.

"They will receive that message in twelve minutes, twenty-seven seconds," the Klingon reported.

"'Other means'?" Troi asked.

Picard nodded. "Number One, have one of the shuttles made ready for use by an away team."

"Aye, sir."

Picard turned to address Troi. "Counselor," Picard told her, "I'm not yet ready to share the news that we possess transporter technology. There is still the Prime Directive to consider. We are about to make first contact, yet we have to make as little contact as possible. I feel as if I'm tap dancing on unusually thin ice."

"If I might ask a possibly stupid question, sir," Troi began, "why don't we just leave? We would be an unexplained mystery."

"We can't leave now, Counselor," Picard replied. "There are things going on here that we need to know about. We particularly need to know if this civilization has indeed cracked the secret of warp drive. Aside from those brief warp-field generation bursts that initially attracted our attention to this system, we haven't detected any further evidence of warp technology. That's fairly odd."

"These people seem to have no idea that faster-than-light transportation or communication is anything but theoretical," Riker observed. "If they're able to equip s.h.i.+ps with warp drive, they're doing a good job of hiding the fact."

"They hide a great deal," Picard said. "They've made an absolute fetish of secrecy. Why are these people camouflaging their broadcast signals? Are they hiding from someone? Who did they think we were when they first detected us? And what do they think we can do for them now? Picard sighed, suddenly tired. He rubbed his eyes. "Number One, get the away team ready. We've got less than an hour."

"-will take up orbit around your world in about fifty minutes. I look forward to meeting you shortly after that, sir. Picard out."

"Less than an hour," Kerajem said. "Good."

"The Enterprise, as it is called, will actually a.s.sume orbit in thirty-seven minutes, nineteen seconds," the traffic controller reported. "That corrects for the speed-of-light delay between the time Captain Picard sent us his message and our reception of it."

"Even better." Kerajem silently studied the main status viewer. It was designed to dominate the room, and it did so easily. It was presently set to show the sky as seen from this longitude and lat.i.tude. Kerajem looked at the glowing red disk that represented the Enterprise as it hastened toward his world. There were also thousands upon thousands of more distant, bright white lights on the screen. None of them were stars.

Kerajem wearily rubbed his eyes.

"Is there something wrong, sir?" General Blakendet asked.

"Nothing more than usual," Kerajem replied, blinking. "I'm going to the s.p.a.ceport. The other ministers will meet us there to greet Captain Picard and his people. General, clear the Enterprise through our inner and outer defense blankets. Hattajek, you're to remain here with the general. If anything happens and I'm out of touch, command will pa.s.s to you. You'll know what to do."

"Yes, Kerajem."

Chapter Four.

SHUTTLECRAFT J USTMAN DROPPED ELEGANTLY through the atmosphere of Nem Ma'ak Bratuna, Worf taking care in his piloting not to let the speed of their pa.s.sage create a corona around the little s.h.i.+p. The Klingon security chief wanted the shuttlecraft's sensors un.o.bstructed by any interference, because the sky around him was full of weapons. Justman had been granted clearance by Nem Ma'ak Bratunan authorities, and a safe approach path had been charted for the shuttle, but Worf was not one to take chances ... especially with his captain on board.

The Enterprise, traveling far faster than the decelerating shuttlecraft, lay far ahead of and above them at standard orbit alt.i.tude. It was no longer visible to even the sharpest warrior's eye.

"It's a beautiful world down there," Deanna Troi said softly, looking at Nem Ma'ak Bratuna on a small viewscreen. "Much of it looks untouched, despite the pollution along the coasts."

"There are large, arable areas that have apparently never been settled," Picard said. "I must admit I find that rather strange. The population here is over two billion-a rather hefty number-and these people certainly have the technological ability to go anywhere they wish on the planet."

Data spoke up. "The southern continents, in particular, are largely unoccupied by the natives. The concentration of population in the northern hemisphere is highly unusual, sir. The Nem Ma'ak Bratunans have congregated in mineral-rich areas along the coastal mountain ranges of the three northern continents."

"But not in the south," Troi said. "The population there is small and scattered. There are no big cities and very few towns."

"The south seems perfectly habitable," Data pointed out. "Indeed, it may be more habitable than the north. The industrial pollution index in the northern hemisphere is an average eight point one. They are doing little to prevent or mitigate the poisoning of their environment."

"Perhaps the problem is cultural," Troi hazarded. "The Nem Ma'ak Bratunans remain in the north because they choose to."

"That seems an unlikely matter of choice," Picard said. "No, Counselor, there is something going on here that I simply do not trust." He smiled ruefully. "This is hardly a normal first-contact situation."

Data nodded in agreement.

"Data-"

"Yes, Captain?"

"Data, please don't take this the wrong way, but you have been nodding and shaking your head a great deal of late. Is there something wrong?"

"Ah," Data said, nodding. "No, sir, there is nothing wrong with me. I am practicing my incidental capital motions. I have noted that humans tend to confirm whatever it is they are saying by nodding or shaking their heads, as if they are agreeing with themselves. Since I always agree with myself, I feel I must nod and shake my head more than, say, you or Counselor Troi might."

Picard nodded. "You nod and shake very well indeed, Mr. Data," he said agreeably. "You may stop now."

The android blinked. "Yes, Captain. Thank you for your concern, sir."

Worf spoke up. "Captain, the Enterprise is relaying a digest of telemetry a.n.a.lyses during the last hour. One moment, please." The Klingon extracted an isolinear optical chip from a reader and handed it to Troi, who was sitting just behind him.

"Thank you both," Picard said, taking the chip from Troi. Seating himself at the shuttlecraft's compact science station, he inserted the chip into the reader there and watched silently as text and graphics began to flow across the screen.

"Now this is very interesting," Picard said, almost to himself. "Come here and have a look." The captain returned the display to the beginning of the bioscan telemetry a.n.a.lysis as Troi and Data crouched behind him, reading over his shoulders.

Data took in the contents of the display at once. "Remarkable, sir," he said.

"Wait a minute," Troi complained. "I'm still reading-oh! I see now. Well, this may explain something, but I'm not sure what." She sighed.

"You know that every indigenous lifeform on a given planet can be shown to be related to every other on that planet through a.n.a.lysis of its DNA. There are basic patterns that repeat from species to species all the way up and down the evolutionary tree. The principle is well established. We have found that the DNA of a Nem Ma'ak Bratunan humanoid is not related to that of the majority of lifeforms here. In other words, the people of Nem Ma'ak Bratuna are not native to this planet. Their species could not have evolved here."

"It could also mean that most forms of life on this world except for the humanoid population and its related parasites and symbiotes did not evolve here," Data added, "but that is not very likely."

"Thank you, Mr. Data," the captain said distractedly as he read further into the summary. He was looking for something, and he found it quickly. "Now here," he said to the others, pointing at the display. "That's what linguistics got from their local broadcasts."

Troi read aloud from the screen. "The star we are calling 30453 FAS is called Ma'ak Indawe by the people here. The name translates roughly as 'Stronghold.'"

"'Stronghold,' Captain?" Worf added from his station. "They must expect a battle."

Picard nodded. "A culture at this apparent sociological level most commonly calls its star 'the Sun,' if it doesn't go and name it after a mythic figure of some sort-a favorite G.o.d or G.o.ddess, perhaps. 'Stronghold' does not fit that pattern at all. And look here: The name of the planet, Nem Ma'ak Bratuna, is derived from the name of the star and carries a more refined meaning-'The Last Stand.'"

"'The Last Stand'?" Troi wondered. "What does that mean?"

"The name denotes a refuge of last resort," Data said. "The name strongly suggests not only that the people here are alien to this world but that they are fully aware of the fact. This also may be significant: The name is of recent vintage."

"They've recently renamed their planet?" Troi asked. "How strange. But if they're not from here, then where are they from?"

"I've been giving that some thought," Picard told her. "Mr. Data, I want you to contact the Enterprise and have LCARS send you the bioscan reports we collected from the third and fourth planets of 30452 FAS. Compare the DNA profiles we found among the remaining species on those planets to the one we have found in the humanoid population here. See if they correlate."

"Yes, Captain. It will take me a moment to contact the s.h.i.+p and complete the download."

Picard nodded.

"Captain," Troi asked, "did you finish reading the linguistics summary?"

"Not quite, Counselor. What else did you find?""We don't need to call them the Nem Ma'ak Bratunans any longer, sir. Their name for themselves is 'the Lethanta.'"

Picard read the summary. "I wonder how they came by that," he said. "It seems to be untranslatable."

"Estimating landing at s.p.a.ceport in ten minutes," Worf reported. Suddenly, his tone changed. "Captain," he said quickly, "three unidentified craft are approaching from the west."

"Range and speed?"

"One hundred fifteen kilometers, sir. Speed eleven hundred seventy kilometers per hour."

"Any sign of weapons activation?"

"I have scanned them already, sir. The craft are only lightly armed. I am reading air-to-air tactical nuclear missiles, four to each craft, twelve in all. They have not been activated. No energy weapons of any sort, sir."

"They won't take us by surprise with ordnance such as that," Picard said, frowning. "Can they follow us into s.p.a.ce, Mr. Worf?"

"No, sir. The craft are powered by turbines that burn a fuel-air mixture for thrust. These kinds of systems can work only in atmosphere. The missiles contain their own fuel, but their range and speed are not troublesome to us."

Picard nodded. "Understood. Mr. Worf, at the first sign of weapons activation or missile launch, get us out of here and head us back toward the Enterprise. In the meantime, keep her steady as she goes."

"Captain," Worf said suddenly, "the flight leader is hailing us."

"Very well. On audio."

"Shuttlecraft Justman, this is Captain Fesnerkall of the Defense Forces Air Division. Welcome to Nem Ma'ak Bratuna, Captain Picard. I and the other members of my flight have been given the honor of escorting your s.p.a.cecraft to the s.p.a.ceport at our capital city."

"Open a channel, please, Mr. Worf," Picard ordered. "Captain, this is Captain Picard aboard Justman. Thank you. We appreciate the courtesy of your escort, and we will follow you all the way in."

"Very good, Captain. I estimate rendezvous in ninety-three seconds. Eh, Captain, if you would have your pilot slow up a bit after the rendezvous point, we won't have to go to afterburners to keep up with you."