"Did we start out responsible for them, Captain?" Riker asked. "I would say not. We simply aided a ship in distress. I don't think we have an obligation to lend them military aid as well."

"What about the other side of the coin?" Troi asked. "If we don't have an obligation to help the androids, then do we have an obligation to help the Vemlan navy recover their property?"

"Are the androids their property now?" Riker shot back. "They have claimed their freedom."

"If not the androids, then the ship that they stole. There is precedent for aiding a police force in the process of pursuit ..."

"What about the precedent that our intervention will set? What consequences might it have to the Federation?"

There was a silence as each officer considered the problem. Finally, Riker spoke up. "Captain, it could be interpreted that any intervention would be a violation of the Prime Directive. If we intervene on behalf of the androids, we are aiding an alien rebel force in a war. If we intervene on behalf of the Vemlans, we are aiding an alien regime in a war of genocide. Either way, Starfleet and the Federation come out looking bad."

Deanna listened carefully, then leaned forward and crossed her hands on her knees. "Captain, there is also the matter of the safety of the ship. We'll be in danger whichever side we choose to support."

"And unless it's absolutely necessary, I'd rather we avoid that kind of dilemma," Riker said.

Picard nodded.

"Of course, if we do withdraw, that will make a lot of androids unhappy."

Picard frowned. "We made no promises to the androids, outside of aiding them in their repairs. They knew what their chances were when they left their home system."

"I wasn't thinking of just the Vemlan androids, Captain."

Picard wrinkled his brow. "Yes, our Mr. Data. He seems to have identified somewhat with the aliens, hasn't he?"

"How will he feel if you take sides against his new friends, I wonder?" asked Deanna.

Picard shook his head, quite troubled by the question. "I wish you wouldn't put it like that, Counselor." He stood, placing both hands behind his back. "Thank you both for your input. I think I'll need to sleep on this one."

Chapter Seven.

GEORDI WAS LATE getting to the captain's ready room, and found Riker and Data waiting for him when he got there. Picard had called them together for a brief strategy session before he announced his position to the aliens. Geordi nodded h.e.l.lo, pulled up a third chair and sat down. He found himself wondering how Data's meeting with Maran had gone and hoping that the captain had found a way to settle the crisis. Geordi was no expert on such things as criminality and the law, but he was a good judge of people. The androids were competent s.p.a.ce travelers, and had done amazing things with what little they had. He highly respected Dren as an engineer. h.e.l.l, he liked the guy, and didn't want to think of him being blown out of the sky.

Commander Riker had circles under his eyes, Geordi noticed, and looked tired-about as tired as Geordi felt. Between overseeing the repairs on the Freedom and the Enterprise, he had been working almost nonstop over the last day or so. The systems check on the Enterprise had taken much longer than antic.i.p.ated because half of the diagnostic equipment his crews used was giving false or misleading readings. But just about all the systems were running again, for which he and the entire crew were grateful-especially the food slots and the holodeck-and life was slowly returning to normal after the Gabriel. The computer was healthy enough, despite several recurring but harmless anomalies, but he didn't want to use the warp drives until he was certain that they were in perfect shape. Antimatter was not something you played around with.

In comparison, the work on the Freedom had gone well. The ship's design was much more mechanical, much simpler-there was something to be said for a simpler design. Not that Geordi would have changed a hair on the Enterprise, but he could appreciate the merits of another ship ...

Riker and Data were both silent, Geordi noticed, each wrapped in their thoughts, when Picard finally came in. The captain looked tired, too, but he also looked a little relieved. Relaxed, even, Geordi decided, as if a weight had been lifted from him.

"Good morning, gentlemen," he said as he took his seat. "I called you here to announce that I have chosen to withdraw the support of the Enterprise from either side in the Vemlan conflict."

"The basis for your action, sir?" Data asked immediately. His face was impossible to read.

"Our lack of jurisdiction in the case," Picard answered. "Quite frankly, this is a potential quagmire of legal and moral issues that defies a simple solution. Neither party is a member of the Federation, nor have any of the alleged crimes taken place in Federation s.p.a.ce. I believe the Prime Directive applies here, that this is an internal Vemlan affair, and have chosen to act on that belief."

"You have informed both sides of your decision?" the android continued, calmly.

"I will after this conference."

"The Vemlan fleet will, then, immediately proceed with their pursuit?" There was a note of anxiousness in Data's voice that surprised Geordi. He saw the captain react to it as well. Normally, Data would have spoken in a serious conference in the same manner as he did in a social situation. But there was an edge in his voice-in his entire manner-that troubled Geordi. He had expected his friend to regard the entire matter in a primarily intellectual fashion; but obviously, he didn't.

"No, not immediately. We still have people and equipment on the Freedom, as well as an obligation to finish repairing the ship. I will arrange to complete repairs and remove our personnel from the Freedom before I will permit the Vemlan fleet to take any action. How long will that take, Mr. La Forge? I had estimated twenty-four hours."

"We can start moving our people now. Repairs are in the final stages. The damage was pretty extensive, though. But we can be out in days."

"The androids will have to take care of anything else, then. In twenty-four hours we will move off under impulse power until the warp drive is repaired. Then we will set a course for Starbase 112, where we have other business."

He turned to Data, his eyebrows raised in concern. Command decisions were hard, Geordi knew, and he didn't envy the captain his position. They sometimes conflicted with the desires and motivations of the crew, but he knew that Picard was as sympathetic as possible without jeopardizing his ship and crew. "You understand the reasoning behind my actions?"

"Yes, sir. It is a logical course of action. Your decision allows the Enterprise to avoid potential armed conflict and a difficult legal decision."

"Thank you, Data, I-"

"It is not, however, the only logical solution," Data continued. "The avoidance of an issue does not remove the issue from existence. It merely postpones the inevitability of facing the issue. Or so I have seen. Alternate courses of action could yield potentially greater results by embracing, rather than avoiding, the problem."

"You have an alternative proposal?" Picard asked. "If you do, I would be more than happy to hear it. I don't like taking this particular solution, and would welcome a viable alternative."

"Not at the present time, Captain."

"Then I will stand by my decision," he said. He turned to the other two officers. "Are there any other comments?" Geordi and Riker silently shook their heads. "Then please return to your duties."

Data got up and followed Geordi and Riker out onto the bridge. As the doors to the ready room closed behind them, Geordi turned to look at him. "Data, what brought that on? You don't usually contradict the captain."

"I was not contradicting him, Geordi. I was giving him the benefit of my advice and perspective. Starfleet regulations state that a second officer-"

"I know, I know, must advise the first officer and captain when invited. Yeah, so?"

"I do not agree with the solution that Captain Picard has proposed. I believe that he has, by avoiding the issue, found a solution to our problems that is inelegant and contrary to the spirit of Starfleet and the Federation."

"Data, he has to consider the safety of the ship," Riker broke in. The three of them took their stations on the bridge, but the discussion continued.

"Yes. That is his responsibility and his duty," the white-skinned android said as he took his seat at the Ops console and began a series of routine checks. "However, it is my responsibility as second officer to consider the facts and render my point of view to the captain."

"You'd never do anything against the captain's orders, would you?" asked Geordi, hesitantly.

Data turned to face his friend. "That would be mutiny," he said. "A violation of Starfleet regulations. I am incapable of such actions."

"It's nice to hear it, Data," said Geordi.

Data worked silently for a few minutes. The Vemlans continued to occupy his thoughts. He did not wish to see Kurta, Jared, and Maran-especially Maran-destroyed out of hand. There was more to this matter than their crimes, the justification of which was still a subject of debate. There was the matter of racial survival.

Data had been schooled in the thinking and philosophies of the Federation. The rules and regulations of Starfleet were almost gospel to him, and there was a conflict almost of a religious nature in what Picard was doing. The Vemlan androids were a race, Data knew, though official cla.s.sification by Starfleet had not occurred. They were a race as much as he, the only fully functional Federation-built android, was. The preservation of all species, regardless of their status, was rigidly maintained as one of the central pillars of Federation philosophy. Yet by his actions, or, more correctly, his inactions, the captain was dooming the entire race to extinction. Data felt obligated to find an alternate way.

Data turned to Riker. "Commander, may I be excused?"

Riker blinked warily. "Is there a problem?"

"No, sir."

Riker sighed. "Go ahead. Marks, take the Ops console, please."

"Thank you, Commander." Data released the console to the relief crewman, and turned to leave.

"You okay, Data?" Geordi called from the engineering console. His face wore an expression Data had come to a.s.sociate with the emotion of concern.

"I am fine," Data said over his shoulder as he entered the turbolift. The doors closed with their usual efficiency before Geordi could say any more.

After deliberating for a while on what to say, Captain Picard went to the bridge to inform the two contesting parties of his decision. It was not a ch.o.r.e he was looking forward to. Not only was it unpleasant to be the deciding factor in a war, but his decision was causing waves in his own command as well.

He found Ensigns Crusher and Marks at the helm and Ops, respectively, La Forge busily monitoring the progress of the systems check at the engineering console, and Worf at tactical where he was still diligently tracking the few remaining bugs that had not quite been eradicated from the security system.

They didn't have warp drive yet, but nearly every other system was more or less functional. Though the storm was safely diminished, its effects lingered on.

Number One vacated the captain's chair in favor of Picard and took his usual seat beside him. Crewmen went about their business as usual. The mood on the bridge was back to its normal, relaxed state, which heartened Picard. All things considered, he was genuinely impressed with his crew's performance during the crisis. With a crew as fine as this behind him, how could a captain go wrong?

So many different ways that he couldn't begin to think of them all, his conscience told him. Overconfidence is a deadly trap, Jean-Luc, one you can ill afford. Words from his first days at Command School came back to him with the relentless force of ocean waves. "The captain of a ship is always personally responsible for the lives of his crew, no matter what the situation." He heard it in the breathy voice of Admiral Fortesque, his instructor in command theory, who had said those very words in every lecture he gave his young students. Fortesque had grimly offered example after example of all the ways the commander of a ship could be horrendously wrong while having the best of intentions. That was the "privilege" of command.

With that thought in mind, Picard ordered channels opened to both Captain Jared and Commander Sawliru. Soon the faces of the two commanders appeared side by side on the main viewscreen. Picard cleared his throat and addressed them.

"Gentlemen," he began, "I spent a good deal of time listening to your stories yesterday, and then spent an even longer time considering the situation. I spoke with my staff advisers, and I have come to a decision.

"The USS Enterprise is a Federation vessel, commissioned by Starfleet. As such, I, its commander, have wide discretionary powers. I am even empowered to act on behalf of the entire Federation in certain cases.

"However, your current situation has nothing to do with Starfleet or the Federation. Any crimes committed, or wrongs done, were not done in Federation territory. Even now we are on the frontier, where no one has a just claim to the void. I therefore cannot intercede on behalf of either party in this dispute. It would const.i.tute involving the United Federation of Planets in a dispute not of its making and could possibly endanger the lives of my crew. Our Prime Directive covers all such interactions: it states that we may not disrupt the development of alien civilizations. It is our most important law. Since this matter does not involve the Federation, I cannot intervene."

Picard watched the two leaders as he spoke. Jared's normally stark face became even more grim and determined. Sawliru, on the other hand, became more relaxed and a little less tired, as if a burden had been lifted from him. Not quite a happy expression, but it was as close to one as Picard had seen on the man.

Jared was the first to speak.

"Is this how the Federation treats its friends, Captain? Not two days ago we broke bread together, and now you sell me and my ship to genocidal slave lords?"

Before he could reply to the accusation, Admiral Sawliru's face was replaced by that of Mission Commander Alkirg.

"I applaud your wisdom, Captain Picard, though I had hoped you would a.s.sist us in the return of our property. You are correct; this is a matter that began with Vemla and the Vemlan people, and will end there."

Picard nodded, and turned to face Jared. "Captain, I broke no faith with you. I promised you nothing. I resent your accusation."

"What about the help you said you would give us?" the android demanded. "What about your vaunted equality of races? You let your own bigotry condemn my people to destruction!"

"I do nothing of the sort!" Picard shouted back. He lowered his voice a tone, and continued. "This is a question of law."

Jared snorted. "Law? Law kept my people in bondage, and now law will see them dead. What about responsibility, Picard?"

Picard heard Worf begin to growl behind him, and held up his hand, signaling him to be silent. Now was not the time to let Worf respond violently to a casual insult made in the heat of debate.

"My first responsibility is to my ship and its crew. We ventured into this region for purposes of exploration, not as a mediator of disputes or as partic.i.p.ants in a war." At this, Alkirg opened her mouth as if to speak-but Picard continued. He had a lot more to say. "I feel for your situation, Jared. I am not now, nor have I ever been, a bigot. My decision was based on our legal position here, not on matters of race."

"As a representative of the Federation-" Jared began.

"As a representative of the Federation, I initiated talks between two conflicting parties," Picard interrupted. "That is the principle the Federation was founded upon. Peace through peaceful negotiation. That doesn't mean that we take sides and start shooting when the process breaks down. This isn't our war. We tried to help as a disinterested third party and, unfortunately, we failed."

There was a moment of silence. Alkirg's eyes were wide. Jared blinked. Finally, he spoke, his voice still as grim as iron.

"Captain, my apologies."

"Enough," broke in Alkirg. "We shall make ready to board the Conquest immediately. Stand by to receive boarding party, Alpha Unit Jared."

"Hardly, Alkirg," the android said, savagely. "Don't think that just because the Enterprise is leaving that you'll just walk in here. You won't take us without a fight. And don't count on winning. Remember Hevaride, and the Avenger."

Alkirg's face turned beet red. "Captain Picard, do you mean to allow that electronic thing to insult me like that?"

"I can't stop him," he said mildly. "Nor can I keep him and his crew from defending themselves. But you will not 'make ready to board immediately'; I still have crewmen on the Freedom conducting repairs, and you will make no hostile maneuvers until they are clear."

"Captain Picard," the woman began hotly. "You promised not to-"

"I have not reneged on my promise to leave the area, madam. I will, however, collect the crew and equipment I left on the ship, and they will not leave until they are finished with repairs."

"You're going to let them finish repairing their ship?" she asked, astonished. "That's outrageous! They might get away!"

"Perhaps," admitted Picard, casually. "That's none of my affair, however. Certain codes of conduct are seen as universal among civilized starfaring races, Mission Commander. Rendering a.s.sistance to a damaged vessel is one of them. I suggest you adhere to these codes if you wish to continue your travels, lest you find the galaxy an unfriendly place."

"I will collect my crew and leave this system in twenty-four hours, Mission Commander. Until that time, have your fleet keep its distance. My security officer can be a trifle ... overzealous, if crowded."

Alkirg frowned. "Very well. We've waited five years to bring these units to justice; another day won't matter. I agree to your terms."

Jared's expression had changed little, though he seemed somewhat appeased by the slight extension of time. Though Picard admired the android's courage in the face of overwhelming odds, and his obstinate refusal to give in, he regretted his violent att.i.tude.

"I appreciate your a.s.sistance, Captain," Jared said. "If you will not intervene to save us, then let me ask a favor."

"Yes?"

"Do not leave so quickly. Retreat to a safe distance and turn your instruments on our ship," he requested. "Record the last moments, the dying struggle, of our race. Show it to others you meet on your travels so that we will not be totally forgotten. It would be a great comfort to my people if they had some legacy to pa.s.s on to the rest of the universe. If nothing else, the battle is certain to be ... entertaining." He smiled, darkly. "We androids fight well. Alkirg and her people can attest to that."

Picard nodded, grimly. "It shall be done."

Jared closed the channel to his ship. Alkirg's face floated to the center of the huge viewscreen. She composed her features into a tight smile.

"Thank you for your help in this matter, Captain."

"It was my duty to try to reconcile you."

"I know, however foolish it seemed at the time. Believe me, Jared and Kurta will receive a fair trial. The rest of the rebels will, of course, be destroyed for their crimes, but the leading Alphas will get a chance to vindicate themselves, as unlikely as that may be."