Ashante shook her head, but Dogayn said, "A frimlike, if you could."

"Tea, raspberry, iced, and a frimlike, mildly heated."

Dogayn smiled as the replicator glowed, hummed, and provided the two drinks; the Hermat seemed suitably impressed that hir boss knew how s/he preferred hir frimlike. Then hir expression grew more serious. "We made plenty of offers, but several people wouldn't budge."

"Or they asked for crazy stuff," Ashante added.

"Like what?" Esperanza asked as she handed Dogayn hir drink.

Shuddering slightly, Dogayn said, "You don't wanna know."

Esperanza closed her eyes and blew out a breath. "Nitram wanted the demiurgical study?"

Dogayn nodded.

"And Gleer's called in a lot of markers," Ashante said. "He's made this even more his personal mission than Enaren has. I told Strovos we'd lift the tariffs on zenite, and he still wouldn't go for it."

Esperanza sat back down at her desk and sipped her iced tea. "That's been Strovos's pet cause since he got elected."

"It's been every Ardanan councillor's pet cause for the last hundred years," Ashante said. "I don't know what Gleer has on Strovos, but it must be pretty good. And he's not the only one Gleer's got in a headlock."

"So where does that leave us?"

Ashante folded her arms. "a.s.suming Ontail continues to not show up-and five'll get you ten they'd vote no anyhow-we've only got seventy."

Slamming a fist on her desk hard enough to almost spill her iced tea, Esperanza said, "Dammit! Where are we gonna get seven more votes?"

"Well, I've got a crazy idea," Ashante said, now unfolding her arms.

Grasping at straws, Esperanza said, "Shoot."

"I was able to convince zh'Faila and C29 Green, and Dogayn was able to turn Govrin, just by the argument that voting no would be bad for the Federation."

Not sure where Ashante was going with this, Esperanza said, "Right."

"So why not try that trick on Enaren? He's always been fairly reasonable. Maybe he can be convinced."

Esperanza considered the matter. "Yeah, okay, go talk to- "

"It shouldn't be either of us-or you," Ashante said. "It has to be the president."

"No," Esperanza said emphatically. "It'll be me, but the president doesn't hear about this. Not with Trinni/ek and the Romulans and the Klingons and the Pioneers losing today."

Dogayn frowned. "What does baseball have to do with it?"

"In a perfect world, baseball's the president's safety valve-it's what she uses to distract herself when the nonsense threatens to overwhelm her."

"The problem," Ashante said, "is that there's too much nonsense there, too. Her favorite team's s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g up."

Dogayn smirked. "Maybe she should find a different hobby."

"Be sure to suggest that," Esperanza said, "and then update your resume." She hit the intercom. "Zachary, track down Councillor Enaren. Tell him the chief of staff needs to talk to him right away."

"Sure thing."

She looked up at two of her deputies. "You're sure you can't get the seven anywhere else?"

"We'll keep working it," Dogayn said, "but I don't think it'll work. Some people are throwing the argument right back at us."

"What do you mean?"

Dogayn frowned. "Carda.s.sia's already proven they can't be trusted. So why should we even give them the chance?"

"Right," Ashante said with a sigh, "because the kick-them-while-they're-down theory worked so well in Germany."

"Where's Germany?" Dogayn asked.

Before she could answer, Zachary said over the intercom, "Esperanza, the councillor can talk to you now-he's en route from Betazed for tomorrow's session."

Esperanza's eyes widened. "Uh, okay. Get him on standby-I'll let you know when we're ready."

"You want us to help out?" Ashante asked.

About to say no, Esperanza held back. "Yeah-just you. Dogayn, keep working the councillors, in case this doesn't work."

Dogayn nodded again and left Esperanza's office.

Esperanza looked up at Ashante. "Ready?"

After taking a very deep breath, Ashante said, "Yeah. Let's do it." She walked around to stand just behind Esperanza and to her right.

Esperanza opened the intercom. "Put him through, Zachary."

A moment later, the screen on Esperanza's workstation lit up with the bland features of Cort Enaren. He had surprised her when they'd first met a few years earlier. She had heard stories of the member of Betazed's parliament who'd become the leader of the Betazoid resistance after the planet had fallen to the Dominion, and so she had expected someone more-well, impressive. But then, with a telepathic species, physical characteristics are really the least important.

"Councillor, thanks for talking to us. You remember my deputy, Ashante Phiri?"

"Of course." Enaren nodded. "It's good to see you both. I a.s.sume this is about Carda.s.sia."

Unable to contain a cheeky grin, Esperanza asked, "Your finely honed Betazoid senses tell you that, Councillor?"

Enaren did smile back, though the expression didn't reach his eyes. "My transport is several light-years from Earth, Esperanza-my telepathy isn't that good. No, I simply heard from my aides. Your deputies aren't exactly being subtle."

"We don't have time for subtle, Councillor," Ashante said. "And this aid is too important to lose."

"Important to the Carda.s.sians, perhaps, but I'm more concerned with the people of Betazed. What's left of us, anyhow."

"Sir," Esperanza said, leaning forward in her chair, "I'm aware of Betazed's losses during the war, but- "

"Are you? Fifteen percent of our population died, Esperanza. They died when the planet was attacked, they died when we drove the Dominion offworld, and they died when they were taken by that Carda.s.sian scientist for genetic experiments."

Esperanza winced. She had forgotten that part of the reason for the Dominion's interest in Betazed, as opposed to other Federation planets in that sector. It had been related to the native species' innate telepathy: A Carda.s.sian scientist named Crell Moset had been performing experiments on the Betazoids in an attempt to engineer telepathic Jem'Hadar.

She was also starting to understand a bit of Enaren's motivation. "Councillor, I appreciate what your world went through, but- "

"I don't think you do, Esperanza."

"And I don't think you appreciate what's happening on Carda.s.sia right now, sir."

"I know their government can't hold it together. I know that we've been propping them up for four years and that most of our relief doesn't even get where it's supposed to go."

Ashante said, "The solution to that problem is to improve the delivery methods, not to cut it off altogether. That's like amputating an arm because the pinky finger is infected."

"I disagree. And a majority of the council agrees with me."

Desperately, Esperanza wanted to answer that. No, Gleer wants to help you give us a hard time, and he's got enough support to make it work. But it wouldn't be politic to say so. "Councillor, I've been to Carda.s.sia Prime. The ship I served on at the end of the war was part of Captain Sisko's task force that took the planet. Do you have any idea what the Dominion did to that world?"

"Yes-because I was in the capital city of Betazed when the Dominion invaded. I know all about the devastation, about the smoke in the air that chokes you, about people trapped in rubble, about- "

Esperanza could feel her temper starting to fray, so she was grateful when Ashante interrupted, "Councillor, we can't let our outrage at recent history blind us to the lessons history teaches us."

"Ashante, I don't need homilies." Enaren then turned back to Esperanza. "And I don't need to play a childish game of my-trauma-is-better-than-yours. What I know is this: Carda.s.sia Prime had three cities rebuilt before one city on Betazed was back to full working operation. Offworld tourism has plummeted, offworld support has been all but nonexistent. My predecessor lost her last election because she had done nothing to get Betazed to become a priority with the Federation. The people have spoken to me, and I am doing their bidding, as is my duty as councillor for Betazed. This conversation is over."

"So what happens to Carda.s.sia now?" Ashante asked.

"Who knows? And who cares?"

"I can give you a clue. Here on Earth, before the planet was united, we had hundreds of nation-states. One of them, about four hundred and seventy-five years ago, was called Germany. They were at the forefront of one of the world's biggest wars. When they lost, their enemies. .h.i.t them with ma.s.sive reparations. They had already lost the war, but then they were considered third-cla.s.s citizens of the world. A particularly charismatic leader was able to use that to rally the people. He rebuilt them into a superpower within a decade, and that led to an even bigger war. It was one that could've been avoided if the retribution against them hadn't been so harsh the first time."

This time Enaren's smile was genuine-and also one of amused irritation. "Why is it that humans have the need to a.n.a.logize someone they disagree with to the most extreme example from their own history? I don't appreciate being compared to Adolf Hitler."

"I'm not doing that, sir," Ashante said tightly, "I'm comparing you to David Lloyd George."

"Who?" Enaren asked, his confusion matching Esperanza's.

"He was the British prime minister at the end of that war and was one of those who imposed the reparations on Germany."

Esperanza nodded. "Councillor, this can't be about revenge."

"Why can't it? Do you know what they did, Esperanza? The Jem'Hadar were absolutely brutal, and ruthless, and brooked no resistance. But they were never cruel. They were soldiers, they were doing their duty, but it was never personal. Not so with the Carda.s.sians. They beat people, they raped women, they tortured children-for the fun of it! I have sat by for the last year since I was elected to the council and said nothing, because the aid was already in place, but now-now, when I'm in a position to do something about it, I will not stand by and help those- "

"Children?" Esperanza spoke in a quiet voice. "Elderly? Sick, infirm people whose only crime was to be unlucky enough to be born at a time that would leave them alive during the worst period in Carda.s.sian history? Those soldiers did horrible things to your world, yes-and they did it under orders from a government that we drove away. The ones paying the price aren't the soldiers who ravaged your world, Councillor, they're helpless people who need our help." Esperanza winced at the way that sentence sounded, but there was no taking it back now. "If we abandon them- "

"I swear to you, Esperanza, if you try to tell me that I become no better than they are, I will terminate this conversation."

Since Enaren had said this conversation was over several minutes ago, Esperanza chose to have some hope.

Ashante said, "Sir, if you truly believe that you are better than them, then prove it. When the house next door to you is burning, you don't deny them an extinguisher. If we're to live up to what we stand for, then we have to help everyone. After Praxis exploded, it would've been easy to let the Klingon Empire fall to pieces. But we didn't, and we gained a strong ally where we used to have an implacable foe. One day, Carda.s.sia could be strong again, only this time as a valuable ally. The galaxy's getting smaller every day. Between the Bajoran wormhole and Project Voyager, it's gotten even smaller the past decade. We have to- "

"Enough." But Esperanza noticed a different tone to Enaren's voice. "I'll withdraw the resolution to deny aid."

Esperanza blinked. That was too easy. "Councillor- "

"I know how to read people, Esperanza, even when I can't actually read their thoughts. And I can see how much this means to both of you, and you don't have any personal stake in this. It isn't even a matter of loyalty to the president-you both genuinely believe what you're saying." He smiled wryly. "And you didn't make me any offers of concessions."

Softly, Esperanza said, "We know how important this is to you as well, Councillor. We wouldn't insult you by trying to buy your vote."

"But you will buy Nea's."

Esperanza grinned. "We are still politicians, Councillor, much as we might wish it otherwise. And that means we have a responsibility-even to those who used to be our foes."

"I suppose we do." Enaren sighed. "Thank you both for talking to me. I'll be on Earth in about three hours."

With that, he signed off.

Esperanza looked up at Ashante.

"What?" Ashante asked.

"I don't know what impressed me more, that you had the name David Lloyd George at your beck and call, or that you actually used implacable in a sentence."

Ashante laughed. "I always liked that word, what can I tell you? As for the first thing-I'm married to the speechwriter for one of the most trivia-obsessed politicians in the Federation. You pick stuff like that up."

"I guess so."

Moving toward the door, Ashante said, "I'll call Dogayn off. Hey, we ready for tomorrow?"

"The Trinni/ek?"

Ashante nodded.

Esperanza felt herself deflating. "How the h.e.l.l should I know?"

Chapter Twenty-One.

AMBa.s.sADOR COLTON MORROW had thought this new a.s.signment would be easy.

Previously, the Diplomatic Corps had sent him to Delta Sigma IV. On that world, two species, the Bader and the Dorset, had managed to live in harmony, despite being at odds elsewhere in the galaxy. As a result, that world was part of the Federation, something neither the Bader nor the Dorset could say nor were likely to anytime soon.

Unfortunately, something had gone wrong. Both species had been suffering shortened lifespans, and an attempt to remedy that had wound up bringing out the worst impulses in Bader and Dorset alike. By the time a solution had been found by a Starfleet vessel a.s.signed to the situation, the entire planet had practically been on fire.

Still, the day had been saved in the end, thanks in no small part to the efforts of Colton Morrow.