Chapter Eighteen
PICARD MATERIALIZEDright in front of Kerajem’s desk. The First Among Equals looked up.
I knew you’d show up anyway, Picard,
the First said, utterly weary.
I figured a little thing like a
sacred oath wouldn’t stop you.
I haven’t violated my oath, Kerajem,
Picard said.
I’m simply taking advantage of a loophole. Please
tell me what’s happening.
We’re losing the war for our survival, that’s what’s happening. The other ministers went home or
wherever it is they find the most comfort. The vote was taken and the agreement was made, and now
there’s nothing left for anyone to doexcept me, of course.
Kerajem rose from his desk and, walking
over to the window, looked out over the ruins of the capital city. There was dense smoke on the horizon.
The mountains are on fire,
Kerajem said almost absently.
I’m from there, you know.
You’d mentioned it to me.
Oh. Yes. Yes, I had. I suppose my hometown is gone now. It would be right in the middle of that main
column of smoke, right there past the peak. See it?
Yes.
Kerajem gazed up into the clear green sky.
They tell me there’s quite a battle going on up there, about
two hundred kilometers above our heads.
We’ve been keeping tabs on it.
So have we, as I think you’ll understand. I heard one of your people was badly wounded after the
initial attack. Will she make it?
Our doctor says that she will.
I’m glad. Captain Picard, do you know why we’ve called this world The Last Stand?
No. Please tell me.
Because it is exactly that.
Kerajem turned away from the window.
It is our world, our refuge, the
last hope for our survival. It is the place where we determined in our prehistory that if the Krann ever
came our way, the millennia of madness would finally end. Even when we forgot our origins and descended
into barbarism, our purpose remained intact. When we rediscovered the truth decades ago, we also
rediscovered our resolve to see this whole mad business end. We have made a stand here, our last stand.
The madness will end todayand that is why you and your people must leave our system immediately.
What are you talking about, Kerajem? Please tell me.
Listento me! If you stay here, you’ll die with the rest of us!
Tell me what you’re talking about!
demanded Picard.
There isalways hope, Kerajem. If I believe in
anything, I believe inthat.
Kerajem turned away.
We developed a project. It was a defense project. We called it Plan Blue Ultimate.
It’s a weapons system. We performed the final tests on it shortly before you showed up.
Shortly before?
The tests were-successful and we put Blue Ultimate into effect, hoping we would never have to activate
it.
Kerajem walked over to his desk.
We hoped against hope that it wouldn’t come to this, but we have
just about run out of time. The madness must stop now, and it falls to me to make sure that it does.
He
opened a drawer. There was a black box inside. Kerajem opened it and pressed a button and threw a
switch.
What did you do, Kerajem?
Picard asked.
I’ve just made sure.
Wait a minute,
Picard said.
We came here because we detected three brief warp-field
signaturesoh,no.
The captain went utterly pale.
You can’t possibly mean what I think you mean.
I see you finally understand,
Kerajem said, shaking his head.
Forgive me, my friend, but it wasn’t
until this morning that I realized our Blue Ultimate technology and what you call warp drive must be one
and the same thing. At least know that I wasn’t lying to you about our not possessing warp technology
when you asked me about it. I didn’t realize we’d invented it.
Picard paled.
And you’ve also discovered that activating a warp field within the Cochrane radius of a
main-sequence star will explode that star into a nova.
Yes. Yes, we have. Three of our warp-field generators are orbiting the sun at a certain critical
distance. I’ve activated one of those generators with this radio relay. The Krann will be goneand so
will we. You’d better leave now, Captain.
Picard slapped his communicator.
Transporter Room Two, this is Picard. Put me on the bridgeright now.
As his friend disappeared into thin air, Kerajem felt no regret. He would have left just as quickly,
given the chance.
Heads turned as Picard materialized on the bridge.
Mr. La Forge,
he called,
I want our best speed to
the local star.
Aye, sir,
came Geordi’s somewhat puzzled voice.
You’ll get our best.
Ensign Ro, lay in a course. Lock it in. Maximum warp. Engage. Picard to Dr. Crusher.
Yes, Captain?
When can I have my first officer back?
It was just then that the turbolift doors slid open and out walked Riker and Troi.
Reporting for duty,
Captain,
Riker said as the counselor took her seat.
Never mind, Doctor,
the captain said.
Thank you. Listen, all of you. I’ve just talked to the First
Among Equals. Some forty seconds ago, he sent a radio signal to activate a warp-field generator that is
orbiting the local star well within the Cochrane radius.
The Lethanta are blowing up their own sun?
Troi gasped.
Why?
To take the Krann with them,
Picard said.
No Krann ship could hope to outrace a nova wave front.
Everyone in this star system would dieexcept for us. We could escape.
What would you like us to do, Captain?
Worf asked for them all.
There is a light-speed radio wave heading for one of three primitive warp-field generators orbiting
closely around the local star. We are presently outracing that radio wave. I intend to find the targeted
generator and destroy it before it can be activated.
There was iron in his voice now.
I intend to
prevent this nova from occurring.
Data spoke up.
Of course, Captain, if we do not locate the correct generator in time, we will ourselves
be caught in the formation of the nova.
Better find it quickly, then,
said Picard. The captain seated himself in his chair and, outwardly,
appeared calm. Counselor Troi, sitting next to him, knew better. In the years she had known the captain,
she had never detected such agitation within him.