51976.6 - Occopa, a neutral planet

The reception had been spectacular. Barbaric and yet stunning.

The food was excellent. Li'ira was quietly thinking about how she might get scans of the food served for replication.

The end of a night of being diplomatic and careful about what she thought and did were more wearing then they used to be.

Li'ira gently chided herself. She'd become so comfortable among her friends and family aboard the USS Cincinnatus that she was loosing her acting edge. Cover was a way of life in Starfleet Intelligence. And yet, she really had to work at being the decorous, diplomatic, polite and yet faintly cold and stern Starfleet Captain.

Her present company did make it easier. Each of the delegations had been assigned a "handler" a court noble who knew the ropes.

Count Jenak, the handler for the Federation party had actually read important parts of the public access database. He was charming, personable, and easy to like. He had a catchy smile. He spoke obliquely and tried to draw the Starfleet party out.

Sunshine was busily trying to talk him into an assignation. His expression never wavered, and his tone of voice remained friendly, courteous and vaguely curious. But it was a fine duel of subtlety. Sunshine was blocking for the party. She seemed to be reasonably earnest about being curious about what Count Jenak was like in bed.

Jenak tried manfully, almost heroically to wheedle slips of the tongue and careless phrases out of the Starfleet party.

Li'ira mentally timed it. Three beats later, Garan Draxil whispered into Jenak's ear. Li'ira would bet three bricks of gold pressed latinum said Draxil said, in confidential tones. "Dude. I think she *likes* you."

Jenak made a show of surprise "Really?"

Li'ira almost laughed. Draxil's earnest nod was an invitation. 'Let's see how low we can drop our IQ together, Dude.'

Jenak smiled and nodded and elected not to play.

At an ornate door, deep in the palace, Jenak stood and held up his hand. "It is customary to bow to show respect and obeisance to our ruler."

Li'ira nodded.

Jenak opened the door. "My Liege, Captain Li'ira and company, of the Federation Starship Cincinnatus."

Li'ira walked through the door, regally. Like she met with cosmically self important royalty everyday. She bowed, slightly.

"Your majesty." Sunshine said, without a hint of irony. She dropped a perfect curtsey.

Draxil bowed. When he rose from the bow, he winked at the King of Occopa, made a clicking noise with his tongue and shot the royal Monarch of a much-desired Federation trade partner with his forefinger. "Dude. Lookin' good."

Li'ira showed no reaction. But Draxil had just overplayed his stupid act severely.

"If you throw them out of here, I'll add a yacht to the deal." Grall, the Ferengi said.

"A pleasure to see you again, as well, Minor Nagus." Li'ira lied.

"What a waste of talent." Grall sighed. "Captain, you literally have no business being here. This is a private negotiation."

"I agree," Said Gevo Kron, a Golden Orion resplendent in an amazing flashy costume. "It is an insult to your august personage to have trash like that come here and claim to represent anything more than a brothel."

Melliv Gansarious, the Ruler of the planet Occor looked at his fellow Orion steadily.

"And she's badly over dressed." Grall leered.

"Gentlemen, please. I believe her presence here speaks very thoroughly about the Federation's philosophy of tolerance," Gul Kasso of the Cardassian Union said. "No matter how little she's actually earned her place."

Gansarious watched them carefully.

"Your Majesty." Li'ira said, ignoring the by play. "I am reporting as you requested to make the Federation's case in favor of a trade relationship, and mutual cooperation treaty between our peoples."

"That should be interesting." General Kannak said, irony dripping. "A well produced business presentation all filled with numbers, statistics and slick hand waving. Just the thing to fire a Warrior's blood." Kannak was a Klinzai, a very human looking client of the Klingon Empire.

Gansarious cleared his throat. "Thank you all for coming. The decision I make in the next few days will affect my world for generations. I thank you for attending the reception and offering to present me your views."

Li'ira nodded and bowed. "Your Majesty." The other delegates nodded as well.

Gevo Kron stood looking at Gansarious. "Your interests would be obvious. It's in our blood."

Li'ira nodded to herself. At least the Orions were playing the race card early.

"When it is your turn, I shall listen to what you have to say carefully." Gansarious said, quietly.

Kron blushed green. He'd blown it. "Your wisdom is known to all, Your Majesty."

Gansarious eyed the Orion noble carefully for a few moments.

"Captain Li'ira of the United Federation of Planets." Gansarious said.

"I object, Your Majesty." Kleelan Brok of Angosia said. He was representing the League of Unaligned Worlds. "Having the Federation make their case first risks biasing your decision."

"Are you questioning my objectivity?" Gansarious asked mildly.

Brok choked. "No, sir. I... I uh."

Gansarious looked at Brok for a few moments longer and then said again, "Captain Li'ira of the United Federation of Planets."

"Your Majesty." Li'ira acknowledged.

"Tell me as honestly and as specifically as you can, the benefits to Occur of joining the Ferengi Trade Association?"

Li'ira blinked at Gansarious. His face was vaguely friendly, yet implacable. He was dead serious.

A grin slid onto Li'ira's face. "Your Majesty," she smiled. She took a deep breath recalling all she could about the corporate government of Ferenginar.

The delegates from the other powers looked annoyed, stricken, or unconcerned. Their turn would be next.

-end-

Disclaimer: Paramount owns all things Trek. I claim original characters and situations in this story for me.

This story posted by permission of the author. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

Jay P. Hailey

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June 30, 2006