STARDATE: 9709.10

Delicate and exotic music filled the SAREK's Ten Forward lounge as the Vulcan musicians played their instruments. T'Leia sat among them, playing her harp softly as the piece of music they were playing came to an end. The occupants of Ten Forward responded with moderate applause.

Selvek stood up and the applause died down.

"We will be momentarily pausing in our music so that our group will be able to rest. We will resume playing in ten minutes," he said and half the room rolled their eyes as he finished.

"In other words, you'll be taking 10!" someone said in a rather loud voice.

Selvek cocked an eyebrow in his direction.

T'Leia walked over to the two joined tables where her Senior staff were seated. Immediately the waiter brought over a Vulcan ale for her and left.

"Captain, you play beautifully," Katianna said with a smile.

"Indeed," Kale agreed.

T'Leia nodded her head in both of their directions, acknowledging their compliments. Selvek joined them as well, having replaced the deceased CMO Joe Geddes as the SAREK's Chief Medical Officer.

"So, Captain, when can we expect your next concert?" Owan MacPherson asked as he sipped at his tea. T'Leia looked at Selvek.

"We shall consider it, Ensign," she replied after a moment of careful thought.

"Bridge to Captain Karia."

T'Leia tapped her commbadge.

"Karia here. Go ahead."

"Captain, we're receiving a distress call from a nearby system."

T'Leia raised her eyebrow and looked at Katianna.

"Fascinating. Alter our course to that system, warp factor 7," T'Leia said.

"Aye, sir."

T'Leia got up and exited Ten Forward, her senior officers follow her.

___________________
 

"Report," T'Leia said as she stepped onto the bridge. She and Katianna went straight to their seats while the rest of the bridge officers went to their stations.

"we received a distress signal from a nearby system known as the Tradini," Toruck reported upon examining his instrument readings.

"Now approaching the system, Captain," MacPherson reported.

"Slow to 1/4 impulse, Ensign MacPherson," T'Leia ordered.

"Aye Captain."

"Lt. Toruck, which planet did the signal originate from?" Katianna asked.

"The fourth planet, sir."

"Set a course for that world, Ensign."

"Aye, sir. Course laid in."

"Execute."

"Standard orbit, Ensign."

Gracefully the USS SAREK assumed an orbit around the small planet. The Vulcan Captain stood up.

"Assemble an Away Team, Commander."

__________________

Six figures shimmered as the transporter effect vanished, leaving six of the SAREK's Officers standing on Tradini's surface. It appeared to be a barren wasteland, obviously scarred by many, many wars.

"Nice planet," Kale said, opening his tricorder.

T'Leia opened hers as well as did the rest of the Away Team. "Split up into teams. Commander Nadira and Commander Koram. Lt. Fanar and I , and Lt. Toruck and Ensign Shaanar. Keep your comm lines open at all times," T'Leia said.

"Aye, Captain."

__________________
 

"Sarek, this is Commander Nadira. So far all that is down here are wastes and empty buildings. No signs of intelligent -" Suddenly she was interrupted by a burst of static. She tried her comm badge once again. "Commander Nadira to Captain Karia . . . Sarek, can you hear me?" She turned to Koram with concern. "I think we're being jammed."

"I'm relatively sure of it," the Bajoran replied, looking up from his tricorder. "I just caught some high level energy readings, and lifesigns: humanoid, and closing in on our position."

"Hold it!" a strident voice called from fifty meters away.

The two officers turned to see a half dozen men and women approaching slowly, weapons drawn. The sound of others following also echoed down to the pair.

"I'll catch up with you," Katianna whispered to Koram and instantly shifted shape to a sleek, golden feline. She knew she would better be able to assess the situation if she weren't amerced in it . . . and if need be, she could affect a swift rescue of her shipmate.

As the locals rushed forward, shouting and discharging their weapons, Kat ran away, jumping through a broken window of a nearby abandoned building and disappearing from sight. Koram quickly executed a roll and came up in an alcove between buildings to take cover from the barrage of weapon fire. But just as swiftly, he was surrounded by blaster-wielding opponents.

"Don't you try changing form on us!" a burly, dark-haired man in front of him demanded menacingly, glowering at him.

"I won't," Koram replied calmly, "I promise." He gracefully rose to his feet adding, "Lovely reception. Do you always shoot at visitors to your planet?"

"There's nothing to fear," the dark-haired man replied with authority, obviously the group leader. He smirked, "Our weapons are set to stun, not to kill."

"That is pretty civilized," Koram conceded, handing over his phaser. "So is mine."

"And just what is your partner?" the leader asked, again in a demanding tone, still covering Koram with his weapon in one firm, spotted hand.

"Just now, I would say that she's a cat," the Bajoran replied.

"And where is she?"

Handing over a tricorder he'd deactivated as they spoke, Koram answered, "At this moment, I truly don't know." He could see his captors tense slightly.

"Squad Two: find the cat-woman," the leader ordered. "Squad One, we're taking this one in."

A couple of scouts ran ahead of the group, a couple more trailed them, watching behind; the others formed a walking cordon about their prisoner as they started north.
 

Lt. Janeway had the conn. She rather liked it. The work of the Bridge went on around her as she settled back in the Captain's chair to wait out the watch.

Then a transmission from the planet came through.

"Sarek, this is Commander Nadira. So far, all that is down here are wastes and empty buildings. No signs of intelligent -" and suddenly a screen of static overwhelmed the transmission.

"Commander Nadira, repeat your last message, please. You're breaking up."

There was no reply. Janeway touched another control key.
 
"Sarek to Captain Karia. Please respond . . . Sarek to Lieutenant Toruck, respond." Again, there was no reply. "I believe we have a problem," she commented, mildly disturbed.

"I picked up and anomalous energy reading for just a second," Danar, at the Science Station informed. "It's gone now."

"Get a transporter lock on the Away Teams and beam them back to the ship immediately."

"I can't . . ." Danar replied, "now I'm not getting any lifesign readings from the planet. Not even for our Away Teams."

Ensign MacPherson swiveled around at the helm. "What do you think, Lieutenant?" he asked Janeway, "Do we mount a rescue mission?"

"Give me a moment to consider our options," Janeway replied.

___________________
 

"This looks like it once might have been a very beautiful city," Koram remarked, as the locals marched him through streets half-obstructed with debris. "What happened?"

"The wars," the burly man behind him told replied shortly.

"Who were you fighting?" Koram inquired.

"The cursed, dot-faced Desinai," the leader replied venomously, and there was a rumble of agreement from the others.

"I see," Koram nodded, reflecting that whomever these people were, they had no dots on their faces, just on their hands and wrists. "And we came here because we heard a distress call from the Desinai . . ."

Suddenly Koram heard whispering. "If the Desinai sent out a distress signal, do you think the Tradenii did also?"

"Who are the Tradenii?" he asked.

"They are also our enemies," he was told abruptly. "Now shut up and walk. You'll see a better section of the city soon."

The group proceeded on, now north by northwest. Trailing about a city block behind the rearguard, using broken buildings, blasted pavement and shadows to maintain concealment stalked a thin, tawny feline . . . Katianna. She kept her distance, but was ready to change form and execute a rescue at anytime. However, Koram didn't appear to be in any danger. She kept pace, wanting to know more about these people before she made a move.

_________________
 

Holographically disguised as a wall, the patrol forced Koram into a constricted tunnel that appeared to slope down under a block of collapsed edifices. On the other side, past a guard post and a bank of video cams, the tunnel opened out onto a large, garden-tiered plaza. Here, the buildings were whole. Some even looked recently constructed and there was greenery cultivated. Speckle-handed people bustled about their business, not noticing the group.

"Here's the city," the leader of Koram's guard informed. 'Our section of it."

"Very nice," Kale nodded. "You should include pictures of this in your tourism brochures."

The man, obviously irritated, shoved him.

"That way," he said gruffly, "Let's go."

Not far behind them a small. slate-colored lizard slithered quietly out of the tunnel. It looked around, questing with dark eyes and flickering tongue to see if it had been detected. Finally satisfied, it slipped into a bush. Within moments, a golden cat slinked out of the same location and continued shadowing its quarry.

The house was not large, but it was freshly painted, and neatly kept. There were also guards on the porch. Kale's patrol leader stopped and motioned to one of them.

"Tell Todias that we've brought one of the people from the spaceship."

The guard nodded and went inside.

"Todias," Koram noted. "Your leader?"

The burly man gave him a look that suggested both that the answer was self-evident, and that he didn't want to converse. Koram returned his gaze for a moment, then shrugged and endeavored to wait patiently. The remaining guard looked at him with frank curiosity. Koram nodded at her, in turn, and waited.

Sometime later an elderly man exited the house, guard in attendance. Though stooped with age, Todias still has a measure of energy. Gray of hair, and hand-speckles, his eyes none-the-less sparkled pale blue with lively intelligence. He paused on the top step and surveyed Koram intently for a moment.

Finally, but not urgently, he asked, "And what planet do you come from?"

"I grew up on planet Bajor, in the Alpha Quadrant," Koram informed him. "Lieutenant Commander Koram Kale, Chief Diplomatic Relations Officer of the U.S.S. Sarek. United Federation of Planets."

Todias took a moment to digest this. "That sounds most impressive," he replied, "and what leads you to form an alliance with our enemies?"

"I don't believe we've made an alliance with anyone on this planet," Kale replied, "Our ship just responded to a distress call. We came down to make contact; found no one. You're well hidden. When we split up to look around, your patrol captured me."

"There was another with him," the patrol leader added. "But she turned into an animal and got away."

"Can all of your people do that?" Todias asked with seriousness.

"I can't. Nor can most of us, but Nadira comes from a race of shape-shifters. In Starfleet we tend to have different talents and abilities."

"Oh?" asked Todias curiously, "And what is your special ability?"

"Offhand, I would say it is getting captured," Koram sighed. He was rewarded by a burst of laughter from Todias and chuckles from some of the guards. Kale let them laugh themselves out, then said, "They do teach us how to fight in Starfleet, but that's only our last resort. There are usually other ways to work out problems."

"Such as?" The Squad Leader prompted with skepticism.

"I would suggest talking," Koram asserted. "You have a nice enclave here, but I have seen some of the rest of your planet. If you would have been talking instead of fighting, it would look a lot better."

"It was once a beautiful world," Todias agreed wistfully . . . "Before the genetic encoding."

"Tell me more," Kale invited.

"Why don't we take a stroll," Todias suggested. "I'll show you the neighborhood."

"I'd like that," Kale replied.

"Is that wise, Todias?" the patrol leader broke in.

"Oh, I think this one is all right," the old man alluded to Koram. "But come along with us, if you like. Dismiss your patrol, though. Let them go back to their families. And put that away, please."

The group commander scoffed, but holstered his blaster and bellowed the requisite orders.

"A bit tightly-strung is Mayok," Todias told Kale with a hint of a smile, "But a good man. And he's had reason to be cautious. he's been fighting the war, on and off, throughout his entire life."

"I spent much of my early life fighting, as well," Koram confided. "We maintained guerilla action against an off-planet invader who had conquered us. The Cardassians."

Mayok had rejoined them. "What happened?" he asked, with apparent interest.

"We finally made it too costly for them to keep holding us down," Koram sighed. "We're free now. But a lot of good, brave people - and a lot of innocent ones - died. And we're still rebuilding."

A moment of silence passed. Then Todias said, "Let's good downtown."

The tree men fell into step and strolled deeper into the enclave, Mayok's hand still on the hilt of his holstered weapon. And, scampering along the high walls just above and behind them, the cat still followed, eyes slit against the man with the blaster.

_________________
 

They wandered by an armory and target range. Spot-handed soldiers practiced by firing at holographic targets and were in constant motion.

"Do you see yourself moving out to take over the rest of the city soon?" Koram asked, as they paused to watch.

"Surely you don't expect us to tell you our plans!" Mayok demanded.

Todias held up a mollifying hand. "There are members of all three factions in great numbers present in this city just now," he said. "Each group is strong enough so that we have to be wary of the others."

"One of the other groups is the Desinai," Koram recalled.

"The ones who called you, yes. They hold nominal control in this city, and in many others across the planet's surface."

"But they don't rest easy," Mayok remarked. "The Tradenii trouble them, and so do we."

"Are the Tradenii your allies?" Koram inquired.

"Alas, no," Todias sighed. "Between the Tradenii and us, the TaLeshai, we could break the Desinai power, but there are too many ideological differences between us."

"Serious enough to fight about?" Koram asked. "So there is a three-way war going on?"

"Yes, essentially," Todias said, beginning to walk again.

"You spoke of genetic encoding, years ago? Is that one of the issues in this conflict?"

Todias marched along quietly for a time, then said, "Yes, I think, perhaps, that it is." He held up his hands so that Koram would note the spots that adorned them. "My parents lived in a time before we were marked."

"They are badges of honor," Mayok declared from Koram's other side.

"They are certainly nothing to be ashamed of," Todias smiled gently. "My mother told me that people who showed aptitude for mechanics, spatial relationships, electronics and related fields were encouraged to marry and give birth to offspring. The spots on our hands were genetically introduced to mark their 'caste'."

"What about the other two groups?"

"The Tradenii are descended from people with artistic abilities: music, visual arts, poetry, higher mathematics. They often wear open-fronted shirts or tunics to show the spots on their chests. The Desinai, on the other hand, were developed for analytical intelligence. Telepathic and psionic powers are also not unknown among them. They are marked with spots on their necks and sometimes the spots will follow the hairline to the forehead."

"Interesting," Koram observed. "And there is no caste of warriors?"

"We are all warriors," Mayok stated.

The three (and the cat that sill followed them) through a sparse business district and found themselves abreast of a white marble building with mullioned light blue windows.

"A worship hall," Todias told Koram, gesturing to the building. "There's a ceremony tomorrow; perhaps you'd like to come. The singing is rather good, and you could learn more about us."

"Thank you, yes," Koram agreed.

"That's one of the reasons we fight," Mayok growled. "The Denisai don't think that anyone should worship Higher Powers. They say we are the sum total of creation, and should just aspire to be greater. They would forbid our worship if they could."

"I see," Koram nodded, "I agree that you should follow your conscience, but, if it's any comfort, I've observed that gods tend to eventually get their way, no matter what powers and principalities do."

"I suppose that's true," Todias reflected. "At any rate, some half century  ago, the Desinai decided that, by virtue of their talent and intelligence, they should rule the rest of us. Up to a point that was acceptable, as I recall, but then they began to impose their own ideologies on the rest of us. They abrogated our rights, reducing us to second class citizens. The Tradenii revolted first. The Desinai were just on the verge of forcing them back into the system when our own people took the opportunity that distraction afforded us to mount our own revolt. We tried to make common cause with the Tradenii years ago, but the disputes between our leaders and theirs over who held primacy in the revolt eventually broke us apart as well."

"Your shied and camouflage technology is very good," Koram remarked. "Our ship wasn't able to find any evidence of civilization down here. Are there other cities like this one, divided by conflict?"

"Communications are sporadic," Todias admitted, as he commenced walking again. "There are other cities like this one. There are a few where one faction or another has won out. There are colonies where it's said a few people from each group are even getting along -"

"So it is theoretically possible," Koram suggested.

"Theoretically," Mayok emphasized drily.

"These cities where, maybe the TaLeshai rule," Koram probed, "Why haven't they sent help to you for your war in this city?"

"The city of Sathynn is ruled by TaLeshai," Todias said thoughtfully, "But they are too busy rebuilding and fortifying, keeping the other factions out, to offer assistance."

"I see," Koram nodded, "And tell me: why haven't you gone to Sathynn, since it's ruled by your people?"
"Because this is our home," Mayok asserted without pause. "We have built here. We are invested here, heart and soul. We will not be driven out."

"Hmm . . . It could be that the Tradenii and the Desinai feel the same way," Koram posited. "Are you enjoying the war?"

"Enjoying the war?!" Mayok fairly exploded, startling several passersby (and a certain cat concealed in a nearby tree's canopy, preparing for trouble). "What does that mean?"

Koram shrugged elaborately. "No offense meant," he offered. "it's just that my own people took something over a quarter of a century to drive away the Cardassians. Yours have been at it at least twice as long, with no discernible progress, but the on-going destruction of your planet." He made a gesture that took in the surrounding area. "You obviously can build when you choose to."

Mayok cocked a fist, and the cat readied to pounce, but he controlled himself when he caught a look from Todias. His anger came out in volume instead. "It's not our fault! The Desinai still hunt us! The Tradenii still want to fight! We live in fear, trying to hold onto a little bit of safe ground! But we have to defend ourselves."

"Yes, you do," Koram conceded, "But wouldn't it be terrible if the Tradenii and the Desinai felt the same way you do? Wanting to stop fighting, but afraid to? When's the last time any of your factions have spoken to one of the others? No clashed, but spoken?"

The confrontation had gathered a small crowd of bystanders who looked on with concern. Todias glanced at them, and said, "It has been . . . some time. At least in this city."

Koram came on with controlled intensity. "But you've said there are a few areas where your peoples work together. We've agreed that it's . . . theoretically possible, at least. And if you don't want to fight, then why destroy so much of your planet? Why endanger your children and your civilization? Why keep painting your blasted and ruined cities in your own blood?"

Again, Todias held up his hand to forestall possible violence on Mayok's part. The impromptu audience waited, thunderstruck.

The old man cleared his throat and asked, "You are  . . . suggesting that  we  . . . talk to the other factions . . . and see if they would like to stop fighting?"

"Essentially, yes," Koram agreed. "Now, I realize that this wouldn't disappear all at once. That each of the factions would have to make concessions to come in to concord and that, even if you can come to peace here, there are other cities and other battles. I'm a diplomat; I know that such things are a process and don't happen immediately. But you have to make a start before it can happen at all."

"You come from some other planet!" Mayok broke in, still angry, "Your starship comes to answer a call from the Desinai. When you land, we capture you. You're just trying to talk your way out of a dangerous situation!"

"Partially true," Koram admitted. "But the Federations doesn't conquer; we coordinate. The Sarek is a diplomatic ship. Our mission is to make contact and, if possible, to make peace. That's what we do."

"Very noble," Mayok scoffed. "But tell me one thing: why should we trust what you say?"

Suddenly, down from the tree branch, the lithe form of a cat dropped to the ground. Her golden body shimmered and resumed the shape of Katianna Nadira.

"That's the other one!" Mayok cried, drawing his blaster to cover Nadira. "That's the shape-shifter!"

"Obviously," Todias said, a little numbly.

"You asked why you should trust us," Nadira said. Her shape altered again to something with long, horn-encrusted tentacles. The on-lookers screamed with alarm and drew back. One of Nadira's tentacles flicked the blaster from the stunned Mayok's hand. She resumed her own shape and said, "You see? I could have attacked." She drew her phaser, aimed and disintegrated a refuse container. "I could have shot you down from hiding and escaped." She quickly assumed a winged avian form, and soared a lap up, then down the avenue before landing and changing back into her true form once more. "I could have found the Desinai and lead them here to your enclave. But I didn't. Because Lt. Cmdr. Koram was telling the truth. We'd like to help you."

Todias studied her narrowly, then said, "And you could make the arrangements for us to . . . talk with the other factions?"

"I believe we can," Nadira replied.

Todias nodded. "I'll have to consult our council on this, but I think you might go ahead and begin making arrangements. Perhaps we can try talking. For a change."

____________________
 

It was some days later when the conference was set. A large pre-fab shelter was erected on the leveled fields of the countryside near the city, where ambush was a relatively remote possibility.

Nadira and Koram walked with Bentai, the TaLeshai delegate, across those fields. Todias had wanted to serve as representative himself, but the council had sternly forbidden it. Fearing, at his age, he was not up for the challenge.

Bentai was not given to much talk, but when she said something it was well-reasoned and cogent. Naturally, she was tense and anxious; but seemed prepared to be reasonable. As she didn't feel like talking after they had left the outskirts of the city, her Starfleet escort kept silent as well. They had been advised by commbadge - now unjammed - that both the Desinai and Tradenii delegates had already arrived along with their attendant officers from the Sarek.

As they drew close to the pre-fab, strains of Orphean music drifted across the field toward them.

"It sounds like we'll be treated to a string quartet concert."

Koram looked at Nadira. "Do you recognize the style?" he asked. "That's the Captain's harp."

"So it is," Nadira smiled. "You know, I think maybe everything's going to work out just fine."

"That remains to be seen," asserted Bentai, "But, for the time being, anyway, I guess we can talk."