Free Atonement by Kirsten Beyer Page B

ship and kill my crew. There was nothing I could imagine that would have convinced them to become allies with one another, let alone any other species.
    â€œThe Devore, likewise, were an intensely aggressive species, hostile to outsiders, particularly those that did not share their disdain for telepaths. They did not form alliances. They conquered. They, too, were an unlikely candidate for joining your Kinara .
    â€œNone of these species, apart from the Vaadwaur, had any immediate designs on expanding their territory. They had more than enough to deal with to sustain their current holdings. The only thing they had in common was a bad first contact with the Federation through Voyager. To find them here defied explanation until several of my officers reported significant concerns to me.
    â€œSome of the species that are part of the Federation are telepathic and empathic. Several serve the fleet. They have detected what they call ‘divided minds’ within Inspector Kashyk and, quite likely, several of the others present here.
    â€œIf Meegan successfully released other Neyser into the bodies ofhigh-level Devore, Vaadwaur, and Turei officers, and baited those they led with the opportunity to exact revenge on the Federation, that could easily account for their presence here. Even the Voth did not seem to hold lesser species in high enough regard to consider alliances. Nothing short of intervention like I have described could have brought them here.”
    For the first time, Janeway saw fear on Rigger Meeml’s face. Whether it was for himself, or of the others, she could not say.
    â€œThis is absurd,” Kashyk finally blurted out. “This is nothing more than a blatant effort by the prisoner to divide her accusers.”
    â€œNo,” Janeway said softly. “This is an opportunity. Technically, the holographic matrix that ‘Meegan’ now possesses is Federation property. It is very advanced and not something we can allow to be exploited by others.
    â€œYou may execute me. But the Federation fleet will be obliged to continue engaging the Kinara in negotiations, or battle, until that technology is returned to us, or we are certain of its destruction.
    â€œThe Kinara has indicated that they have long-standing grievances against the Confederacy. The presider of the Confederacy has already stated that she is willing to negotiate with you to put an end to the conflict that has beset this region for years and to grant you access to the streams the Confederacy now controls. The Kinara ’s newer members, the Turei, the Voth, the Devore, and the Vaadwaur, may share the same goal, but my suspicion is they have other motives for joining this alliance and, whatever they are, could complicate your agenda.”
    Janeway turned again to Odala. Unlike Kashyk, Dhina, and Veelo, she remained completely calm. “It would be easy to allow this situation to dissolve into further conflict and loss of life. We could fight one another to the bitter end. We could allow transgressions from the past on all sides to blind us to the possibilities of a better future.
    â€œBut that is not the only potential outcome. The Federation’s highest goal is the peaceful coexistence of all sentient spacefaring races. Anything we can do to facilitate this, any diplomatic aidwe may offer, we stand ready to give. We are not here to conquer, to coerce, or to annex territory. We are here to explore and to learn.
    â€œPlease, let us help you.”
    FIFTH SHUDKA
    â€œIs this true?” Presider Cin demanded of Captain Chakotay.
    â€œYes, Presider,” he replied. “It has been confirmed by reports of two of our telepathic and empathic officers. It is the most logical explanation for the presence of the Vaadwaur, Turei, Devore, and Voth among the Kinara . The only thing these four species have in common is their shared mistrust of the Federation.
    â€œThe Neyser entity that possessed our hologram was