Terok Nor_ Day Of The Vipers Part 12

"I am glad we can help you..." Gar said warily. "The kai believes we can learn much from one another."

Bennek nodded. "I have spoken to my brethren on Carda.s.sia Prime. Pilgrim ships are being prepared. They will come to seek knowledge..." His voice dropped. "And perhaps, a small measure of sanctuary."

How many? The question leapt to the front of Gar's mind, but before he would voice it the alien came forward with one of his own. The question leapt to the front of Gar's mind, but before he would voice it the alien came forward with one of his own.

"What would you do, Prylar, if your faith were in danger? If the Prophets were being threatened?"

Gar blinked at the sudden intensity of the query, and he answered without thinking, from the heart. "My faith is greater than I am. I would do whatever I had to do to protect it."

Bennek looked up, and Gar could see his eyes were fixed on the distant site of the enclave. "Yes," he whispered, "as shall I."

FIVE YEARS AGO.

2323 (Terran Calendar)

8.

"My client categorically denies all charges." The words were firm and clear, and they carried across the courtroom to Darrah Mace as he slipped quietly through the door.

The speaker was a thin, austere woman; she was of that indeterminate approaching-middle-age that Mace found so hard to pin down. Bajoran females got older in different ways than their men, and even after his years in the police service Darrah was never comfortable when he was called upon to guess a woman's age. He usually ended up offending someone.

It was warm inside the windowless room; they were a level below the entrance atrium of the Korto City Watch Precinct, sandwiched between the duty offices and the holding cells below. In theory, the building kept all the city's law and order operations under one roof; in practice, it was inadequate to the task. The poor ventilation was just one of the reasons Darrah didn't venture down here that much. Since rising up the ranks to inspector status, there wasn't often call for it. He needed a good reason to be here; and today his good reason sat in the dock, looking equally angry and mournful.

The public defender continued, and as she did so Darrah placed her face. Els Renora. Els Renora. She was an acid, waspish sort, but she did her job well. "I would point out to the court that scans of Captain Syjin's ship revealed no traces of the materials he was accused of transporting. At best, what we have is circ.u.mstantial evidence of an alleged crime backed up by hearsay." She drew herself up. "I move for a dismissal." She was an acid, waspish sort, but she did her job well. "I would point out to the court that scans of Captain Syjin's ship revealed no traces of the materials he was accused of transporting. At best, what we have is circ.u.mstantial evidence of an alleged crime backed up by hearsay." She drew herself up. "I move for a dismissal."

A squat Carda.s.sian got to his feet from the prosecution's bench and wandered past the magistrate, gesturing at the air. "All those scans prove is that the accused is very good at cleaning up his vessel." The alien lawyer sniffed. "The fact remains. Quant.i.ties of maraji maraji crystals were found in the domiciles of pilgrims at the Korto Enclave. When questioned, they positively identified this man as the trader who provided them." crystals were found in the domiciles of pilgrims at the Korto Enclave. When questioned, they positively identified this man as the trader who provided them."

"I'm a freighter captain, not a drug dealer!" Syjin snapped, his voice high and tight. "I never touch that kind of cargo!" He bared his teeth. "And I know the law! That stuff isn't illegal on Bajor anyway, not that I would carry it, because I wouldn't!"

The prosecutor gave him a sideways look. "No. But it is is illegal in the Carda.s.sian Union, and according to the terms of the alliance between our two worlds, the enclaves are cla.s.sed as Carda.s.sian territory, where our legal codes apply." illegal in the Carda.s.sian Union, and according to the terms of the alliance between our two worlds, the enclaves are cla.s.sed as Carda.s.sian territory, where our legal codes apply."

Els shot Syjin a glare. "Be quiet," she told him, "you're not helping."

"I counter the defense's request with a demand that Syjin feel the full weight of that law and be turned over to Carda.s.sian authorities for legal processing." The prosecutor paused, letting that sink in. "I ask the magistrate this: Are you really willing to damage the goodwill that has built up between Carda.s.sia and Bajor over the last five years for the sake of an untrustworthy-"

Syjin started to complain, but Els silenced him with a curt gesture.

"-and petty delinquent with a record of many criminal infractions? Release him to Carda.s.sian justice, and the truth will be determined swiftly and immediately."

The woman faced her opponent. "I think we've all heard about the swiftness swiftness of Carda.s.sian justice," she said coldly. "But Captain Syjin is a Bajoran, and this is a matter for Bajorans to resolve." of Carda.s.sian justice," she said coldly. "But Captain Syjin is a Bajoran, and this is a matter for Bajorans to resolve."

The magistrate, a heavyset woman with dark skin and a mane of gray hair, regarded Syjin severely. "Your point it well-taken, Ms. Els, but the conservator is correct. The captain has a record of many minor infractions, up to and including the transportation of proscribed materials."

"We're talking about simple food items here, Magistrate," said Els. "My client's past infractions, the most recent of which occurred more than four years ago, were minor deeds that incurred fines, not the transit of highly addictive narcotics, and he has answered for those."

"Nevertheless," continued the magistrate, "unless there are mitigating circ.u.mstances-"

Darrah was on his feet and striding forward. "I'll vouch for him."

Syjin's face flushed with relief, and his defender's eyebrow arched. "Inspector Darrah Mace of the Korto City Watch," noted Els. "A highly respected law officer."

"And a personal friend of the captain," said the Carda.s.sian. "Hardly a neutral voice."

Darrah ignored the alien and looked directly at the magistrate. "I've known this man since we were children. He's had his issues with the law-the Prophets know, I've been the one to arrest him once or twice-but Syjin's not that kind of smuggler. The sort of crime you're describing-it's beyond his character to perpetrate."

"Then how do you propose we deal with this situation, Inspector?" asked the magistrate.

"At the very least, he should be incarcerated and his vessel dismantled," snapped the conservator.

Darrah continued. "I recommend a full investigation. Captain Syjin may retain his master's license for the interim, but he should be prohibited from leaving the system until a conclusion is reached. The Watch will have his vessel held in impound."

"What?" Syjin bleated, but in the next second he realized that Darrah was saving him from life in a Carda.s.sian penal facility, and he fell silent. Syjin bleated, but in the next second he realized that Darrah was saving him from life in a Carda.s.sian penal facility, and he fell silent.

The magistrate mulled his words for a long moment. "Very well," she nodded. "Inspector Darrah, I'm releasing Captain Syjin into the custody of the City Watch. If your investigation comes up empty, he will be free to return to his business. If not, then we will reconvene and discuss sentencing." She stood up. "This hearing is concluded."

In the corridor Els approached him, with Syjin following behind. The pilot's face was flushed with emotion. "Thanks for the a.s.sist, Inspector," said the woman. "He's lucky he has friends like you to look out for him."

"You think the Carda.s.sians will keep pressing this?"

She shook her head. "They wanted a quick and clean conviction, someone to blame the misdeeds of their own people on. You denied them that, so I imagine this whole thing will quietly go away...just like the Oralians they caught caught with those crystals." She said the word in a way that told Darrah she had little faith in the veracity of the Carda.s.sian prosecution. with those crystals." She said the word in a way that told Darrah she had little faith in the veracity of the Carda.s.sian prosecution.

"d.a.m.n spoonheads..." Syjin bit out the words. "Why did they pick on me? All I did was bring in some cases of yamok yamok sauce!" He ground his teeth. sauce!" He ground his teeth. "Kosst, "Kosst, if they take my ship I'll have nothing!" if they take my ship I'll have nothing!"

"Calm down," said Darrah. "You're grounded for a while, that's all."

Syjin met his gaze, and he saw fury in his friend's eyes. "I'd never touch that filth, Mace. You believe me, don't you?"

"Of course I do, you idiot. Do you think I would have spoken up for you if I thought you were trafficking in drugs? I'd have sent you down myself!"

The shock and adrenaline of the moment made the pilot's voice shaky. "I was a breath away from it. My own people would have given me up to the aliens, just to keep them happy! Is that how it is? Are the Carda.s.sians making the law on Bajor now?"

Darrah and Els exchanged glances. Both of them had seen similar incidents recently, with the government backing down in favor of Carda.s.sian interests when push came to shove. These days, it seemed more and more that the Union had a hand in things on Bajor. Darrah felt a stab of guilt; his own promotion and raises in pay had come in part from his work as security coordinator for the Korto Enclave. He placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Look, just be grateful. Go see Gar in the temple and thank the Prophets your luck is still holding."

"I'll do what I can to expedite the investigation," added Els.

"Good-" Darrah's words were cut off by the chime of his communicator. He tapped the badge. "This is Darrah, go ahead."

"Boss, it's me." Proka Migdal's voice grumbled from the air. Proka Migdal's voice grumbled from the air. "You wanted me to remind you about the pickup." "You wanted me to remind you about the pickup."

Darrah frowned. "So I did. Thank you, Constable. Darrah out." He glanced at Els and Syjin. "I've got to get to Ashalla, I'm handling Minister Jas's protection detail today."

Syjin took his hand and squeezed it. "Thanks, Mace. I'll make this up to you, I swear it."

Darrah gave his friend a nod. "You can count on that."

The flyer was on the primary pad out behind the precinct building, and Proka had ensured that it was prepped and ready to go. Two officers from the constable's division were already aboard, running last-second security checks. Unlike Darrah's ochre tunic, they wore lighter shades, and each man had a dermal induction communicator adhered to a spot on their mastoid bone; the device allowed the bodyguards to keep both hands free while still in contact with the police comm net. Darrah slipped into the pilot's chair and cleared his flight plan, taking the aircraft up in a swift vertical climb.

The flyer was quick off the mark, far more speedy than the older model aeros he had piloted after first joining Korto's Watch. He glanced at the thruster controls and saw the circular operator pads that were distinctive of Carda.s.sian-made technology. Ion thrusters, impulse drives, and warp engines were among the most popular imports from the Union. An indicator flashed on his panel, and Darrah eased the throttle bar forward, guiding the police flyer around in a half loop to turn it eastward, toward the Perikian Mountains and the capital city beyond.

Korto flashed past underneath, the sharp silver towers and the low golden domes catching the midday rays of B'hava'el. Darrah drifted to the edge of the flight corridor, humming over the open parks and the square emerald patches of the munic.i.p.al lakes. The outer districts thinned and they pa.s.sed the city limits; then a few moments later the flyer was nearing the Carda.s.sian enclave. Immediately, a traffic warning signal blinked on Darrah's panel, informing him to divert around the airs.p.a.ce over the area. Of course, as a law officer Darrah could have legally entered the zone without needing any of the clearances required of a civilian flyer, but without a good cause he would find himself up on charges for doing so.

Pivoting the aircraft so that he could watch the enclave roll by, Darrah studied the sprawl of the oval patch of thermoconcrete with its hard-edged structures. It had none of the poetry of Bajoran architecture; all the Carda.s.sian buildings were squat and functional, hugging the ground, glittering dully in the daylight. What open areas there were within the outer fences were covered with wide smartplastic pavilions and bubbletents. In his dealings with the Carda.s.sians and the Oralians-he found himself thinking of them that way, as two separate ent.i.ties-Darrah had often been inside the enclave, but he had always felt he didn't know the full extent of it. The s.p.a.ce had grown in five years from the original square of land a few hundred tessipate tessipates in size, but the aliens seemed careful not to encroach toward Korto. The farmers whose plainsland fields they had purchased were happy to sell up, gaining a lifetime's worth of money in one transaction, doubtless moving to the coast, where the weather was always fine and they didn't have to grub in the dirt for a living.

The Korto Enclave was the first and it was the largest Carda.s.sian holding on the planet; but it wasn't the only one. The aliens had brought a new kind of prosperity with them, and several city-states were only too pleased to follow the model of Korto in order to have a taste of it. Qui'al, Kubus Oak's district, had a sizable outpost; so did Tamulna, Hathon, Gallitep, and Karnoth, with the latest zone currently being laid down in Tozhat. Oralian pilgrim ships and Carda.s.sian freighters were a common sight over Bajor, the reptilian shapes of the vessels moving in and out of the docking bays at the Cemba commerce station in high orbit. At the corner of his eye, Darrah saw a shape moving in the sky, dropping toward the port in Korto: a Carda.s.sian cargo lighter. The aliens had been pressing the council of ministers for a while about Bajor's customs regulations, citing the need to bring their ships straight down to the enclaves instead of pa.s.sing through local port security. Darrah remained firm on that issue, as did a lot of the ministers in the capital; but he knew that nothing would prevent the aliens from using matter transporters to simply beam materials to the surface if they wished to. And what might they want to deliver that they don't want us to see? And what might they want to deliver that they don't want us to see?

He shook off the grim thought and angled the nose of the flyer toward the eastern horizon.

Lonnic Tomo's gaze drifted up to the observation galleries above the forum's floor, and she was surprised to see there was hardly anyone up there. Certainly, she'd expected there to be correspondents from the media services, but instead there were only a few official faces, security personnel and the like. On her level, in the center of the triangular s.p.a.ce that was the focus of the Chamber of Ministers, Kubus Oak was gesturing and talking in that hard-edged, gruff voice of his. Security had been tightened once again, and Lonnic wondered if he was disappointed his performance would not be broadcast planetwide. To say that Kubus enjoyed the glare of publicity was an understatement; he basked in it, and he knew how to use it to his advantage, unlike her employer, who sat quietly before her between Kalem Apren, the minister for Hedrikspool, and the young Militia officer Jaro Essa. Jas Holza kept his own counsel more and more these days. At times Lonnic felt they were just drifting, going where the winds of Bajor's politicking took them.

"Five years," Kubus said, the glimmer of a smile on his lips.

"Hardly the smallest blink of time when measured against the great legacy of our civilization's history. And yet, in that small span, so much has happened to change the way that Bajor sees her place in the universe." He spread his hands. "I'm not afraid to say that we were in danger of becoming insular. Inward-looking and stagnant. But the Union trade alliance we forged and the clergy's historic enclave partnership brought new understanding to our planet."

Kubus walked toward the apex of the triangle, to the short bench where the First Minister and his adjutants sat. Lit from behind by a single thin window that let in Bajor's daylight, Lale Usbor was the picture of studious, careful thought. He was nodding in all the right places, giving exactly the right impression at exactly the right time. How such an unremarkable man ever made it to that high office I'll never know. How such an unremarkable man ever made it to that high office I'll never know. But that was a lie; Lonnic But that was a lie; Lonnic did did know. Lale became First Minister after Verin Kolek's landslide defeat, and that had been on the back of the pro-expansionist, pro-openness, pro-Carda.s.sian factions guided by Kubus, Jas, and the ministers swayed by the bright-eyed words of Kai Meressa. know. Lale became First Minister after Verin Kolek's landslide defeat, and that had been on the back of the pro-expansionist, pro-openness, pro-Carda.s.sian factions guided by Kubus, Jas, and the ministers swayed by the bright-eyed words of Kai Meressa.

Lonnic's eyes fell on the woman, seated across the forum with several other figures from the Vedek a.s.sembly. Five years, and the time had not been kind to the kai. The vital and pa.s.sionate priest that Lonnic remembered from the Korto Enclave's dedication ceremony was a shadow of her former self, pale and drawn, in robes that seemed to swamp her. Once in a while, she would speak and there would be flashes of the old Meressa, but for the most part the kai allowed her adjutant Ranjen Arin to speak for the church. Lonnic looked away. Yerrin syndrome was an uncommon illness and it didn't kill you all at once. Meressa had promised to continue to fulfill her role as kai for as long as she was able, and for that at least Lonnic was thankful. She couldn't imagine someone like Arin taking her place. He was too easily swayed by the currents of popular opinion.

"Can anyone deny that our stronger relationship with our Carda.s.sian neighbors has not not been beneficial?" Kubus was asking. "The aftermath of the hurricanes that struck Musilla Province last year would have claimed many more lives, if not for the advanced medical technology our first responders now possess. We have new sensing systems. Carda.s.sian-designed warp cores give our starships greater reach." been beneficial?" Kubus was asking. "The aftermath of the hurricanes that struck Musilla Province last year would have claimed many more lives, if not for the advanced medical technology our first responders now possess. We have new sensing systems. Carda.s.sian-designed warp cores give our starships greater reach."

A man with a shock of dark hair and a thick brow made a derisive noise in the back of his throat; it wasn't loud, but in the clear air of the chamber it was enough for everyone in the room to hear it. Kubus paused and turned to face the other politician. "Minister Keeve Falor seems to have something to say," he said, with an arch sniff.

Keeve. Lonnic had heard the man speak several times and had been impressed by his directness and refusal to compromise. She might have been able to admit that she admired the minister a little, if not for the fact that he had become a persistent thorn in the side of the pro-alliance factions. Keeve embodied the character of many ordinary Bajorans, the son of a merchant who had married into a higher D'jarra D'jarra and used his connections to get him elected to public office. He was a staunch nationalist, adamant that Bajor should be free to choose its own future unfettered by alien influences. Kubus liked to paint his opponent as a reactionary in the mold of former First Minister Verin, as a borderline xenophobe, but in reality Keeve was nothing so unsophisticated. and used his connections to get him elected to public office. He was a staunch nationalist, adamant that Bajor should be free to choose its own future unfettered by alien influences. Kubus liked to paint his opponent as a reactionary in the mold of former First Minister Verin, as a borderline xenophobe, but in reality Keeve was nothing so unsophisticated.

"You say Bajor has benefited, Minister Kubus," Keeve replied, "but perhaps it would be more honest to say that the city of Qui'al, the Kubus clan, and their allies have benefited the most. Those technologies of which you speak, yes, they did help our people at Musilla, but where were they during the mine collapse at Undalar? What good did swifter ships do for the colonists who were forced to abandon the Golana settlement?" Lonnic saw Jas stiffen at the last statement, but her employer said nothing. Keeve continued. "Perhaps these circ.u.mstances were not given greater priority because they were not interests of yours."

"Minister Keeve," said Lale. "That is quite an inflammatory statement. I would be careful to cast such aspersions in this august forum. The issues behind the Undalar accident and the withdrawal from Golana are well doc.u.mented, and they had nothing to do with Minister Kubus."

"That, sir," Keeve said tightly, "is a matter of perspective."

For an instant, Lonnic's attention was drawn away by someone moving in the gallery. She saw Darrah Mace enter and take a seat next to another man in a Militia uniform.

"Commander Jekko," Darrah said quietly, giving the other officer's hand a firm shake. "Are you well?"

"Inspector," came the reply. "The Prophets are keeping me safe." The other man had an oval face with a white stubble of beard and spa.r.s.e hair. He didn't take his eyes off the forum below. "How's Karys and the cubs?"

"They're good. Not so much cubs anymore, though. Bajin's growing into a fine example of a moody teenager, and Nell spends my money almost as fast as my wife does."

"Ah, fatherhood," said Jekko dryly.

Darrah scanned the room and found Lonnic and Jas. "I miss anything?"

Jekko shook his head. "Kubus Oak preening some. Nothing you haven't seen before." He paused. "You still got Proka Migdal on your team?" Darrah nodded. "Huh. You tell him, he gets tired of rubbing shoulders with Carda.s.sians, I've got a post for him on my detail. You're wasting him over there in Korto."

Darrah sniffed. "Yeah, I'll be sure to pa.s.s that on. Or not." He nodded at Keeve Falor, who was in the midst of a terse response to something Kubus had said. "Why do you want to entice my men over to you, anyhow? You getting bored with the close protection stuff? The way Keeve rubs people the wrong way, I'll bet there's no shortage of folks you have to keep him safe from."

"He's a firebrand, that much is certain," said Jekko. "But these days I'm doing more of the adjutant stuff, less of the bodyguard." His fingers drummed on his right knee; the other man had taken a Nausicaan knife there during a stop-and-search when the two of them were only a few years out of the Militia academy. The injury had never really healed correctly. "And a good gun hand is always hard to find."

Darrah leaned closer. "Maybe you you should come work for should come work for me. me. Benefits of rank and all, I'm sure I could call in some favors to get you an a.s.signment-" Benefits of rank and all, I'm sure I could call in some favors to get you an a.s.signment-"

Jekko snorted. "I don't think so. Too many spoonheads in Korto for my liking. Don't trust them. Never have."

Darrah's lip twisted. "What, and you think I I do? This is me you're talking about, Darrah Mace. I'd arrest the Emissary himself if he looked shifty." do? This is me you're talking about, Darrah Mace. I'd arrest the Emissary himself if he looked shifty."

Jekko gave him a sideways look. "You're a good lawman, Mace, you always have been. You got good instincts, better than me, even. It's just the other stuff you're a bit slack with."

Keeve was on his feet now, his voice pitched at a level that matched Kubus's resonant tones. "Minister, perhaps you could consider for one moment addressing the negative implications of the alliance. Instead of glossing over them?"

Kubus frowned. "I'm sure you would be more than happy to do that for me."

"The so-called bounty from Carda.s.sia does not arrive on our sh.o.r.es out of the goodness of their alien hearts," Keeve replied. "Minerals and precious metals from our star system are migrating across the border to the Carda.s.sian Union at an increasing rate. Kelbonite and mizainite ore from our moons, uridium from Bajor herself, and I have been made aware that the Detapa Council has been pet.i.tioning for some time to have those quotas increased."

"It's only fair that we pay for what we are given," Kubus retorted. "We supply the Carda.s.sians, and they supply us."

"And how long do we let that continue?" Keeve looked around, and Lonnic saw nods from his supporters. "Are we going to let these offworlders drain us dry? What happens when the ores they want become harder to locate? Will we let them turn tracts of our land into mine works?" He glared at Kubus. "Such things have already happened in Qui'al District, as I understand."

"What my clan does with our holdings is not a matter I wish to discuss," said the other minister.

Abruptly, the priest at Kai Meressa's side rose. "If the chamber pleases, I would like to interject. The discussion here dwells too much on the material." Ranjen Arin puffed out his chest. "You are ignoring the great spiritual interchange that has come from our friendship with the offworlders. The insights of the Oralian pilgrims have brought new light to our understanding of the Prophets and our faith."

Keeve shot Arin a measuring stare. "Forgive me, Ranjen, but I am only an ordinary man and not blessed with such great knowledge of the Prophets as you are. All I see are these so-called pilgrims bringing their their faith and who knows what other things to our planet." He placed his hands on the table before him. "If they are so open, sir, then why do they keep to those enclaves? How can they learn from us and we from them if they are isolated?" faith and who knows what other things to our planet." He placed his hands on the table before him. "If they are so open, sir, then why do they keep to those enclaves? How can they learn from us and we from them if they are isolated?"