‘Again, you sure you don’t want me here for this?’

Valance adjusted her uniform collar as she double-checked her reflection in the ready room mirror, which also meant she didn’t have to look at Kharth. ‘I want to get a better read on Vhiemm before I decide if it’s right for you to meet.’

‘To decide if he thinks I’m the right kind of Romulan?’

The sneer was unexpected. Valance turned. ‘I’m surprised you want to walk into a meeting room to talk diplomatic negotiations with staid old men. You’d normally jump at the chance to escape that.’

For a moment, she thought Kharth was going to fight her. Then she shrugged. ‘You’re right. You bringing Airex?’

‘And Beckett.’

‘Remember, just like I told you about the Klingons: Romulans are liars, too. They just know they’re liars.’

It helped. It just wasn’t reassuring.

Neither was Beckett when Valance reached the transporter room to find him and Airex waiting there, the young intelligence officer holding up a PADD they were both watching, faces serious.

Beckett flipped it to show a news report playing on the screen. ‘Picked up this on Rencaris state media this morning.’

‘They arrested a university lecturer,’ said Airex, jaw rather tight, ‘for interrupting a public event Vhiemm held on “international cooperation.” This man – Sullis…’

‘“Disrupted the proceedings with inflammatory rhetoric that witnesses say was clearly influenced by foreign agitators,”’ Beckett recited crisply. ‘No idea what the guy actually said.’

Valance watched the news report for a beat as it showed Sullis – a youthful, rather bookish Romulan – being led away from crowds by security officers in the severe black uniforms of Rencaris law enforcement. His head was held high, but the image cut away quickly to faces of those apparently assembled at Vhiemm’s event, looking disapproving.

‘Foreign agitators,’ she repeated. ‘Are we about to be hit for this?’

‘Not unless it suits them,’ mused Beckett.

On the PADD, the newsreader for Rencaris state media carried on. ‘Senior Procurator Sevik praised the swift response of security forces, saying: ‘This incident demonstrates the ongoing attempts by outside influences to undermine our cultural sovereignty. The accused had a history of disrespecting our values and way of life, which culminated in this outburst. This serves as a reminder of why our careful preservation of Romulan tradition is more vital than ever.’

‘If you see seditious behaviour,’ Beckett carried on, having clearly watched this before, ‘report it to your nearest inquisitor of un-Romulan affairs, where you will be presented with a boot to lick, yadda yadda.’ He switched off the PADD and tucked it under his arm. ‘Thought you might want to be prepared, Captain. I’ve already seen life down in the streets. Even in the nicer bits of Vedrex, you’re watched. Even in a tourism hotspot, you take the story the state gives you, or you have a bad day.’

‘We knew we were dealing with a “traditionalist” regime, and that means strict, illiberal rule,’ Airex sighed. ‘Whatever we give them in these negotiations, we can’t risk legitimising this government.’

‘Agreed,’ said Valance carefully, ‘but legitimise it to whom? We can’t control the flow of information internally. Just our presence, our meeting with Vhiemm, can be turned into a suggestion the Federation approves of this leadership. Externally, we have to avoid angering our Republic allies. But make no mistake: we’re not in charge of the narrative here on Rencaris, and we shouldn’t try to be.’ She pursed her lips. ‘The opera might be a step too far. Perhaps we take this meeting as a chance to cancel.’

Airex looked ponderous but Beckett shook his head. ‘Don’t close that door. We have days, Captain. And right now if we upset them, we drive them into the arms of the Klingon Empire. The Republic is going to like that even less than us appeasing a totalitarian regime.’

‘What about my opinion on appeasing a totalitarian regime?’ said Valance, but it was borderline rhetorical. They were all professionals, and they all knew the stakes. She waved a dismissive hand. ‘Let’s see what Vhiemm wants of us.’

The only thing she could say for the pomp and circumstance of arriving in the governor’s offices in the capital of Vedrex on Rencaris III was that it wasn’t completely public. It was still a demonstration of strength as they were escorted by guards in a ceremonial uniform Valance could tell was still highly functional, barely restricting their movements, through to the atrium. The complex itself was built in the manner of ancient statehouses of Romulus, though Beckett leaned over to mumble as they walked the halls.

‘Much less design on the stonework,’ he noted. ‘That kind of detail in a place like this should tell a history. I don’t think it’s as old as the colony itself, and it’s like a copy, a mimicry -’

‘Thank you, Lieutenant. I get the picture,’ Valance said with quiet sharpness. The last thing she needed was for Beckett’s observations to be overheard.

He wasn’t wrong, though, with the atrium itself ringing hollow as an artificial heart. Here, those ceremonial guards ran scrupulous security screenings of officials entering the building, even the ones who seemed to have some rank. Large screens on the walls showed broadcasts of recent official events, with one mentioning a ‘cultural education programme’ that Valance thought sounded suspiciously mandatory. Eyes were on them, but only an aide to the governor approached to show them through the severe halls and chambers to the meeting room.

The aide swept them through administrative wings and past more ceremonial guards to finally reach a set of high double doors that wouldn’t have looked out of place in an ancient Romulan fortress. The doors swung open at their approach to reveal Governor Vhiemm’s office, all angles and shadows that spoke more of imperial power than bureaucratic efficiency. Vhiemm himself rose from behind the broad meeting table as they entered, and Valance caught a glance of something on his computer display before he deactivated it she thought might be reports on Klingon ship movements. Or more likely, given everything else they’d seen, another piece of carefully curated propaganda. The doors closed behind them with a soft but final click.

‘I trust you’re finding our orbital lanes adequate for your repairs, Captain?’ Vhiemm sat back down with the easy confidence of a man who knew his position was stronger. ‘It’s the least we could offer a Federation starship in distress.’

‘Your hospitality is appreciated.’ Valance stayed standing until Vhiemm gestured to the arrangement of high-backed chairs before the conference table, and sat with Airex and Beckett flanking her. ‘Though I would like to discuss access to your shipyard facilities. We’d be on our way much faster with proper dock resources.’

‘Ah.’ Vhiemm’s smile thinned. ‘That would be a significant step up from our previous agreement of mere safe harbour. Such cooperation would need to be appropriately compensated.’

‘The Federation is prepared to discuss fair terms.’

‘Excellent.’ Like she’d put meat before a bird of prey, he leaned forward. ‘The Federation’s formal recognition of Rencaris as the legitimate successor state to the Romulan Empire’s holdings in this sector would be worth a great deal.’

Beckett gave a low whistle. ‘That’d make for some interesting chats with the Romulan Republic.’ Valance had been halfway to glaring at him, but he spoke with the right amount of levity, getting the point across with a succinctness she couldn’t.

Vhiemm still furrowed his brow. ‘The Republic abandoned their claim to legitimacy when they chose to remake themselves. We have maintained our traditions, our heritage -’

‘Governor.’ Valance tilted her chin up, tone measured but firm. ‘You know that what you’re suggesting would be impossible without severely damaging the Federation’s relationship with the Republic. More than that, if your goal is recognition of Rencaris’s legitimacy, antagonising one of the major powers in this sector would be counterproductive.’

Vhiemm’s expression hardened, but he sat back in a way which made Valance suspect he’d known this was too outrageous a demand in the first instance.

‘Speaking of the local area,’ Airex interjected smoothly, shifting the topic along so Vhiemm didn’t need to offer a graceful dismount, ‘our preliminary analysis of the Mesea Storm’s recent increased volatility has yielded some fascinating results.’

At this, Vhiemm waved a dismissive hand. ‘Our scientists have studied the storm for centuries, though I’m sure comparing methodologies would be… illuminating.’

‘Perhaps,’ said Airex mildly. ‘When there’s time.’

Vhiemm drummed his fingers on the conference table for a moment. ‘If recognition is too high a price, perhaps something more… cultural. Your officers’ presence at the opera is appreciated, but a broader programme of public appearances – tours of our heritage sites, meetings with our educational institutions – would demonstrate the Federation’s respect for our sovereignty.’

‘Cultural exchanges.’ For a moment, Valance thought of the news report Beckett had shown her. Then she gave a slow nod. ‘With some parameters. We cannot make political statements about Rencaris’s governance or relationships with other powers.’

‘Of course not.’ Vhiemm smiled. ‘Merely showing the Federation’s interest in our civilisation would be enough.’

‘In return for full access to your shipyard facilities?’

He gave a gentle scoff. ‘In return for your safe harbour. We can discuss the shipyard facilities another day. A fair trade for now, don’t you say?’

Valance sighed. ‘Provided we maintain those parameters. Cultural exchange only.’

‘Your reputation for directness is well-earned, Captain. I look forward to discussing this further at the opera house.’

‘Assuming we don’t bore the captain to death with five hours of Romulan opera first,’ said Beckett as they all stood.

Vhiemm actually laughed. ‘Lieutenant, I assure you – no one has ever been bored by The Fall of D’taleth. Traumatised, perhaps…’

Valance forced herself to give a smile, implying more amusement than she felt. The opera itself felt like a long way away, and far, far less pressing than the news report flooding out about how Governor Vhiemm and his administration ran Rencaris.

And how much she could work with such governance, publicly be seen cooperating with such governance, before she was complicit with its claims of legitimacy.