The latest round of negotiations with the Rarkathian delegation took place deep within a mountain cave complex two and a half kilometers from the nearest section of the Federation border enforcement zone.

The entrance sat beneath a shelf of dark stone on the Rarkathian side of the mountains. Natural tunnels extended deep beneath the slopes before they opened into chambers that generations of Rarkathians had expanded into an underground city. Government offices, emergency shelters, storage areas and meeting spaces were now built into the stone. Artificial supports reinforced the larger caverns. Smooth sections of pale stone had been cut into the floors and walls. Power conduits followed the ceiling before it disappeared into narrower passages.

The meeting chamber itself was surprisingly comfortable.

Warm yellow-white lamps illuminated a broad stone table at the center of the room. Local craftsmen had polished its dark surface until veins of lighter minerals reflected bright overhead lighting. Cushioned chairs surrounded the table. A ventilation system moved warm air through narrow openings that were cut along the walls.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Meng Mau sat near the center of the Federation delegation.

Myers sat to her right. His long, gangly frame looked slightly awkward in the heavy Rarkathian chair. His thick medium-brown beard covered much of his angular jaw. Bright blue eyes moved between the officials seated across from him while he listened to the discussion.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Hrithi zh’Taalnah sat on the other side of Meng Mau. The Andorian counselor’s stocky Thalassan antennae shifted to whoever spoke.

Four Soval security officers accompanied them.

Two stood against the wall behind the delegation. Two more remained closer to the entrance. Their phasers stayed holstered.

For the past few hours, everything seemed to be going well.

The Rarkathians had offered food and drinks. Their officials had discussed the forcefield without demanding its immediate removal. They had even agreed that keeping their own armed forces away from it might help calm the situation.

Speaker Tovek Rann represented the provincial council.

The older Rarkathian was a large, corpulent man whose heavy body filled most of his chair. His scales were predominantly green. Broad brown bands began around his neck and continued down both sides of his body. Small white spots interrupted the darker coloration around his cheeks, shoulders and hands.

Rann possessed a deep voice that carried easily through the cavern. He had spoken calmly for most of the meeting.

“We can hold our forces where they are for now,” Rann said. “I cannot promise you that they will remain there indefinitely. At least not while several hundred armed Delz’yoj fighters remain on the opposite side of your forcefields.”

“We aren’t asking you to accept some indefinite situation,” Mau replied. “The forcefield simply gives everyone time to stop shooting and start talking. If we can accomplish those goals, then we’ll start to discuss how and when the fields come down.”

Rann leaned back into his heated, padded seat cushion. “Have the Delz’yoj have agreed to this?”

“They haven’t agreed to all aspects of our requests.” Mau allowed herself a small smile. “Neither have you.”

Her words drew a few quiet reactions from the Rarkathian officials.

Rann gave her a slight nod. “I understand your perspective. What have they agreed to?”

“Talks with the Delz’yoj have been more productive than we first expected. They have at least come to the table for talks of de-escalation.”

Rann’s vertical pupils narrowed. “Have you made contact with Vrexx Motts?”

“Not directly. We’ve been speaking with regional representatives, community leaders and military officers. Nobody is pretends they have complete control over the armed groups in Delz’yoj. They might still have enough influence to make further negotiations worthwhile.”

Rann considered her answer.

Myers leaned forward as he looked down the row of officers. “There is precedent for this working.”

Rann turned to him. “Precedent can also point towards a potential failure.”

“Absolutely. That is a fair assessment.”

Myers scratched at the edge of his beard. “I wouldn’t be much of a historian if I only remembered the examples that only supported what I wanted to happen today. There have been failed agreements between Rarkathia and the Delz’yoj. There have also been agreements that survived political disputes between both regions that have lasted for decades.”

Rann watched him. “Such as?”

“The northern water-sharing agreements spring to me mind”, Myers said in a posh British accent. “Some of those contracts survived three separate political crises.”

Rann’s forked tongue briefly appeared between his lips. “You have studied us.”

“That’s why Captain Smythe sent me.”

“Are you a diplomat?”

“Not at’all. I’m a historian.” Myers smiled faintly. “I tell diplomats about all the mistakes people have already made so we can hopefully help them avoid the chance to make any new ones.”

Mau shot a terse look in his direction. “Myers.”

“Only joking, of course,” said the fair-skinned and freckled, bearded man.

“I know.” Rann released a low chuckle.

The tension around the table seemed to ease momentarily.

Rann tilted his head to study Lt. JG zh’Taalnah. “You’ve said very little so far, Counselor.”

zh’Taalnah’s dark amethyst eyes met his. “My purpose here is mostly just to listen.”

“Then you must have heard quite a lot. Do you think we’re being unreasonable?”

The counselor’s antennae angled forward. “No. I think you’re frightened.”

One of the ministers shifted uncomfortably. Rann remained still.

zh’Taalnah continued as she hoped her observation didn’t sound like an accusation.

“I also believe the Delz’yoj are frightened. That doesn’t mean either side is justified in meeting each other with weapons. It means both sides are making decisions while they believe something important is being threatened.”

Rann frowned. “What do you believe we’re scared of?”

“Another incursion, perhaps. Maybe it’s about losing control of your territory. You clearly do not want any decisions made about Rarkathia without Rarkathians having an influence over those choices.”

Rann’s expression softened slightly. “And them?”

“It’s pretty much the same thing from their different perspective. They fear losing control over what they believe belongs to the Delz’yoj.”

“The land they invaded and tried to take from us doesn’t belong to them.”

“I didn’t say it did.” zh’Taalnah folded her hands together. “Fear doesn’t require someone to be correct. It only requires them to believe the threat is real.”

Mau nodded. “That’s why we’re trying to keep both sides separated long enough for everyone to stop reacting to the other side’s actions.”

The talks continued. Small concessions had been slowly accumulating.

Rarkathia had planned to keep its armed forces away from the Federation forcefield if the Delz’yoj did the same. Starfleet humanitarian flights could continue crossing over Rarkathian territory with advance notification.

The Rarkathians agreed to consider sending representatives to the Soval for direct negotiations.

Neither side would operate armed aircraft near the border enforcement zone.

For the first time since the fighting started, Mau began to believe that they might actually have the beginning of an agreement in the works.

Rann adjusted his lower back’s position in his chair. “So.”

Something about the way he said it changed the atmosphere around the table.

Mau met the glance of his orange irises as he continued.

“My minister informed me of something shortly before you arrived. Zyridia’s status with the Federation is still officially listed as a protectorate.”

“Yes.”

Rann nodded slowly. “I was told after the last contact that there was a chance this could change. We were led to believe that protectorate status was another stage towards full Federation membership.”

Mau suddenly wanted to take a deep breath. She stopped herself.

Rann was watching her too closely. A sudden gulp or nervous breath would answer his question before she said anything.

“Speaker Rann, I received an update from Starfleet Command just before we left the Soval.”

Myers looked to her with anxiety written across his facial features. zh’Taalnah’s antennae darted back and forth slightly quicker.

Rann noticed both reactions. “What update?”

Mau placed both hands flat against the table. “I just received word that Zyridia’s application for full Federation membership has been revoked.”

Rann did not immediately respond as Mau continued.

“The Delz’yoj attack against the Starfleet facility earlier this week was a major factor in that decision. The current border escalation became the final straw.”

Rann stared at her. “Oh, really?”

Mau swallowed. “Yes.”

“The Delz’yoj attacked your facility.”

“They did.”

“Rarkathia did not.”

“No.”

“Yet Rarkathia loses its path to Federation membership because of them.”

“The application covered Zyridia as a whole. It seems there are deep seeded issues on this planet that the Federation does not feel comfortable with accepting into its fold as a full fledged member.”

Rann’s heavy fingers slowly curled against the table.

“We accepted protectorate status because we were told that one day we could become full fledged members.”

“I understand why this is upsetting.”

“No, Lieutenant. I do not believe that you do.” Rann pushed himself upright. “We accepted limited political status because we were told it was a step towards something greater. Then that limited status brought limited development. Limited investment. Limited influence. The uneven development that followed helped create the resentment you are now attempting to contain with a two hundred and fifty kilometer forcefield.”

Mau shook her head. “I don’t think it’s fair to say Federation policy created every issue that led to today’s events.”

“Of course you don’t.” Rann smiled without warmth. “That would require you to accept responsibility.”

“The admirals who sit far above me in the decision-making process have made their decision. They made it for good reason,” replied the Soval’s senior diplomatic officer.

Rann became very still as Mau continued.

“Starfleet personnel were killed. Hundreds of armed people crossed a provincial border. We now have two forces separated by a forcefield because they were shooting at each other. Starfleet Command cannot look at that and pretend Zyridia is prepared for full membership.”

Rann sat upright and leaned closer to the table. “Yet every choice made by those glorious, high-ranking officials will have its consequences.”

“We are ready to accept that.”

“Are you?” His voice was quiet, though strained, before his hand slammed onto the table. The impact echoed through the cavern.

“Those people can make a decision that saves thousands of lives. They can also make a decision that personally contributes to the deaths of tens of thousands. Entire worlds can burn, simply because one arrogant official dismissed something that seemed unimportant from their comfortable office light-years away.”

“That wasn’t their intent.”

“Intent cannot bring people back from the dead.”

“Our goal is to ensure that Federation members are befitting of the position. Full membership carries enormous responsibilities. A member world needs to demonstrate that it can contribute to the Federation and that its political disposition is compatible with the organization’s goals of peaceful and benevolent exploration.”

Rann stared at her for a few moments in silence before her universal translator understood Rann’s next word.

“Bullshit.”

His voice echoed across the cavern.

One of the security officers behind Mau straightened.

Rann pointed to Mau as he continued.

“I’ve seen your fleet maps.”

Mau frowned. “What do our maps have to do with this?”

“They show me exactly how your Federation sees the galaxy.” Rann stood. “Your so-called benevolent people seem to claim most of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants with their choice of making nearly the entire map blue.”

“That’s not what those maps represent.”

“Isn’t it?”

“No. Some of those maps show Federation members, protectorates, affiliated regions and areas where Starfleet operates. A broad blue cartographic boundary doesn’t mean that the Federation owns every star system inside of it.”

Rann laughed. “Tell that to the people who live beneath the blue curtain.”

Myers tried not to shake as he spoke. “Speaker Rann, we’re getting away from the reason we came here.” His voice quivered as he fought not to stutter.

“No, Mister Myers. I think we’re finally discussing it.”

Rann turned to Mau. “From this point forward, I do not consider Rarkathia allied with the Federation.”

Mau felt her stomach tighten. “We are no longer a protectorate.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“It is to me.”

“Zyridia remains a Federation protectorate, and right now it is a protectorate under attack.” Mau stood. “Some degree of normalcy has to be restored before Starfleet can simply leave this area. If Zyridia as a whole eventually decides that it wants to withdraw from its relationship with the Federation, there is a political processes for that.”

Rann slowly walked around his side of the table. “That changes nothing.”

“It changes quite a lot.”

“We would still appear beneath the blanket of Starfleet’s gargantuan blue space.”

Mau’s patience finally started to thin. “Speaker Rann, please sit down. We were making good progress.”

Rann stopped.

Mau noticed one of the Rarkathian guards move closer to the exit. Another moved into position behind the delegation.

zh’Taalnah noticed them at almost the same moment. Her antennae snapped in the direction of the guards.

Myers looked over his shoulder.

Rann smiled. “Or perhaps we can teach Starfleet a lesson.”

He walked closer to a communications panel set into the cavern wall.

Mau stepped away from the table. “Don’t do anything you’re going to regret.”

Rann touched the controls before he spoke into a transmitter. “Lock down the complex.”

A low alarm sounded through the chamber. Heavy doors slammed across both entrances.

“Speaker Rann!” Mau slapped her combadge. “Soval, this is Mau. Emergency transport. Seven to beam directly to the ship.”

Static answered her.

“Soval, respond.”

There was only silence.

“Mau to Soval. Emergency transport.”

Rann slowly approached her. “It’s no use, Lieutenant.”

Mau struck her combadge again. “Soval, do you read me?”

“No one can hear you.”

A Grazerite security officer reached for his phaser.

Rann looked past Mau to watch the tall man.

“I strongly recommend that your people keep their hands away from their weapons.”

The officer drew anyway before the chamber exploded with green light.

Several Rarkathian energy rifles fired at once.

The first security officer disappeared inside a concentrated burst of emerald-lime energy.

A second security officer managed to pull his phaser halfway from its holster before three green blasts struck him from different directions. The combined energy enveloped his body and vaporized him.

The third officer turned to sprint towards the closest shooter.

Green fire crossed the chamber from opposite sides. Simultaneous blasts struck him almost immediately.

He vanished before he could fire.

“STOP!” Mau screamed the word.

The surviving Starfleet security officer froze.

“Don’t move!” zh’Taalnah shouted. “Keep your hands where they can see them.”

The blonde, human officer slowly raised both of her hands.

Smoke drifted through the chamber. Mau stared at the empty spaces where three people had stood seconds earlier.

Her lips parted as she looked at Rann.

“You just murdered three people.”

“They reached for weapons.”

“That was because you locked us into this cave!”

Rann moved closer as Mau stepped backwards.

zh’Taalnah immediately rose and ran to protect her.

Rann stopped a meter away from her.

“Your communications are blocked. Your transporter won’t help you either.”

Myers looked up to the ceiling.

“We’ve learned how to generate a field that interferes with transporter signals,” Rann continued.

Mau stared at him.

Rann smiled. “Thank you for sharing transporter technology.”

“Starfleet will find us.”

“Perhaps.”

“They know where we are.”

“They know where your shuttle landed. They know which mountain complex you entered. This mountain is considerably larger inside than it appears from orbit.”

Mau’s breathing quickened.

“These are the consequences of Starfleet’s decision making.”

“You had this planned.”

“We were prepared to work things out.” Rann’s voice rose with hers. “We wanted to negotiate until you informed us that we have essentially been expelled from the Federation because of an attack committed by the Delz’yoj.”

“You weren’t expelled. You had never been granted membership.” Mau forced herself to keep her voice from wavering.

“Zyridia was never a full Federation member. You received exceptional benefits as a protectorate. Think about how much Federation contact has helped advance your technology over the past decade.”

Rann stared at her. “It was a technology exchange. We provided technology of our own. You didn’t descend from the stars and teach a primitive civilization how to survive. We contributed to those exchanges.”

“I didn’t say you didn’t.”

“Your scientists were very interested in our agricultural research.”

Myers finally spoke. “He’s right about that.”

Mau looked over to him.

Myers remained very still with his hands visible on the table.

“The Federation exchanges included several Rarkathian advances in desert agriculture. There were techniques related to drought-resistant crops and soil moisture retention that Federation researchers were extremely interested in.”

Rann nodded. “We gave something. You gave something. That is what we call sharing.”

Mau looked over to him. “Then you understand why destroying that relationship over one decision is insane.”

Rann reached beneath his outer garment. The surviving security officer moved instinctively.

Six Rarkathian rifles immediately turned to her.

She stopped.

Rann slowly withdrew an energy pistol.

Its casing was formed from teal alloy. Dark grooves ran along its upper housing into a narrow emitter.

Mau stared closely at it.

Rann looked down at the weapon before he returned his attention to her.

“Fortunately, Lieutenant Mau, I have taken an interest in you.”

Mau’s expression changed.

zh’Taalnah stepped closer. “What exactly is that supposed to mean?”

Rann ignored the Andorian.

Mau took a slow step backwards.

“What does that mean?”

Rann looked to one of his guards. “Take the others to cell level three.”

Myers stood. “No. We’re a diplomatic delegation. Whatever point you believe you’re making, holding us hostage is only going to make your situation worse.”

A rifle rose against his chest. Myers stopped moving.

Rann gestured to Mau. “She comes with me.”

zh’Taalnah immediately moved between them. “No. She does not.”

Two guards seized the counselor. Her large antennae swept from side to side.

“Take your hands off me.”

Rann looked to another pair of guards.

“Escort Lieutenant Mau and myself back to my quarters. She will remain there for the duration of her stay.”

Mau backed away. “No.”

Rann smiled. Thin, scaly lips swept back to reveal sharp, yellow teeth. “I hope you’ll warm up to me in time.”

“Whatever it is that you think you’re about to do, prepare to spend the rest of your life in prison for that decision.”

Rann tilted his head as Mau continued.

“Captain Smythe knows we’re here. The Hurricane knows we’re here. You murdered three Starfleet officers in front of witnesses. There is nowhere on this planet that will let you hide from what you just did.”

Rann stepped closer. “Welcome to your new home, Lieutenant.”

Mau shook her head. “No.”

“You may not see the light of day for some time.” Rann gestured around the cavern.

“Don’t worry. There are plenty of heated rocks down here to keep you warm.”

Something inside Mau finally broke. “No!”

She threw herself backwards. Two guards grabbed her arms.

“Get off me!”

Mau twisted hard enough that one guard briefly lost his grip. She tried to pull away. The second guard seized her wrist.

“LET GO OF ME!”

zh’Taalnah lunged in her direction. “Mau!”

One of the Rarkathians pulled the Andorian counselor backwards. She twisted against him.

“Don’t touch her! Mau, listen to me. Stay with us. Keep looking at me.”

“I’M NOT GOING WITH HIM!” Mau kicked at the guard beside her. Her boot struck his leg. Another guard grabbed her from behind. Her long black ponytail whipped across her shoulder as she fought.

Myers pushed against the rifle that blocked him.

“Leave her alone! If you want leverage against Starfleet, then you’ve already got it. You have all of us, mate. You don’t need to separate her.”

The rifle slammed against his chest. Myers stumbled backwards into the table.

Mau screamed again. “GET OFF ME!”

The guards dragged her out of the doorway. She planted both boots against the floor as she was pulled against her will.

Her fleet-issue boots scraped across polished stone.

“No! NO!”

One of the guards pulled harder. Mau dropped to one knee. She clawed at the hands around her wrists.

Her breathing became ragged.

“Let me go! Please! Don’t take me with him!”

zh’Taalnah fought harder. Her antennae lashed violently as another guard grabbed her.

“Mau! Look at me!”

Mau found her. For a moment, the panic in her face broke through everything else.

“Hrithi!”

“I’m here.”

“HELP ME!”

The words tore from Mau’s throat. zh’Taalnah tried to reach her.

“Mau, keep looking at me. Don’t listen to him. We’re getting out of here.”

The guards pulled them in opposite directions. Myers shouted over the confusion.

“Speaker Rann, stop this now! You haven’t taught Starfleet anything. You’ve taken a diplomatic dispute and turned it into murder and hostage-taking.”

Rann did not answer him.

“Hrithi!”

The counselor lunged in her captors’ arms.

“Mau!”

A guard pulled Mau around the corner. Her last scream echoed through the stone corridors long after she disappeared.