Free Star Trek: Brinkmanship by Una McCormack Page A

think we’re fools. But we are not fools!”
    A deep, communal growl rose up. Detrek, clearly rattled, nevertheless continued in a louder tone, “Cardassians recognize threats when we see them, and I am here to tell you that we will not accept this!”
    She slammed her hand down upon the table. The room fell suddenly silent. Every Venetan present seemed to stare at Detrek with scorn at such a childish outburst from an adult. Dygan closed his eyes. This was a nightmare, the kind of bombast and posturinghe would have expected from the guls when Central Command ran Cardassia. Weren’t those days meant to be over now? Weren’t they all meant to be striving to create a new Cardassia?
    Picard eventually broke the silence. “I believe,” he said, “that we are unlikely to progress much farther at this point. We should take a short break.”
    Rusht exchanged a few quiet words with her companion, Vitig, and then nodded. “We agree that would be for the best.” She rose from her chair. “Perhaps when we reconvene,” she said, looking steadily at Detrek, “more constructive conversation will be permitted to occur.”
    Rusht and Vitig departed, with their Tzenkethi adviser in their wake. The Venetans in the room immediately broke into lively debate. Dygan watched as Ilka raised her hand to her brow, and Picard and Jeyn leaned together for a few private, rapid exchanges. He saw Crusher, sitting behind the captain, thoughtfully study Detrek, and her calm, intelligent gaze fell on him. Dygan dropped his head. He felt ashamed to be Cardassian.
    Captain Picard came across to speak to Detrek. Dygan busied himself with his notes and tried not to listen, but it soon became difficult, as Detrek’s voice rose again.
    “No, Captain,” she said. “I am not unjust. I am angry. This is provocation on the part of the Autarch, nothing more. If he wants to send his trading ships through Venetan space, he can choose routes that keephim far away from Cardassian borders.” She gathered up her padds. “What you and our friends from Ferenginar decide to do about the bases on your borders is up to you. But this point is nonnegotiable as far as the Cardassian Union is concerned. A strong Tzenkethi presence so close to our borders is not acceptable.”
    Her voice carried. There were a few more catcalls from around the room, and Detrek, gathering her dignity and her padds, strode out. Picard went over to where Crusher was sitting, and from the way they glanced over at him, Dygan realized that they must be talking about him. Again, he looked away, too embarrassed to meet the captain’s eye. After a few minutes, Crusher came over and sat next to him.
    “Hey, Ravel,” she said. “How’s your morning been?”
    Dygan couldn’t help but smile. His shoulders relaxed. He was about to open up to the doctor, tell her about his concerns, when he realized that the Ferengi diplomat, Madame Ilka, was hovering at Crusher’s shoulder.
    Crusher might be friendly, but Ilka was an unknown quantity, and he had to remember that he was here as a member of the Cardassian deputation and not as part of the crew of the Enterprise.
    “Excuse me,” he mumbled, jumping to his feet and hurrying away. He heard Crusher sigh, but she greeted Ilka affably. Dygan didn’t wait to listen to what they had to say to each other. He ducked out of the convening room and ran down the corridor to the private office assigned to Detrek.
    He tapped on the door. She called out to him to enter, and he slipped inside.
    “Dygan,” she said, a small smile twisting her lips. “Here to give me a message from Picard, by any chance?”
    “No, ma’am. I’m here of my own accord.”
    She gestured to a chair, and he sat down. She seemed gentler, sadder, very unlike the person she had been at the negotiating table. He placed his hands on his knees and took a deep breath. “May I speak freely?”
    “Of course you may.” Her eye ridges twitched up. “Don’t you know that we live in a