Dilithium

               “We feel we have an obligation to form a peaceful coalition in this part of space, since we are out here exploring. We don’t mess with cultures, we don’t want to see them messed with. However, the Vulcans, being our allies, were busy, as were we, with the Romulan War.  That’s a whole new story but suffice to say no one came to check on Akal until just a short time ago. That’s why I’m here. To find out what happened and try to fix the contamination.”

               “We have been happy with electricity, up until last week,” Marandola muttered.

               “We are entitled to the fruits of our investments,” the Tellarite insisted, standing also.

               “We had an agreement and you breached it,” Therad said, standing.

               “This is simple,” Admiral Archer said calmly. “Tellarites, repair the reactors and get electricity back on line. As you mine thorium, the thulium goes to the Akallis. Orions, you buy photons from Tellarites and thulium from Akallis. It seems that your first contact, Marandola, is a bit of a surprise for your people, unless you can find a way to keep the aliens out of your society. I’ll leave that up to you.”

               “I can live with those condition,” Hag Tanch admitted. He sat down.

               “I think that would work well,” Marandola said, also sitting down.

               “I cannot speak for my consortium. I’m not sure this is equitable.”

               “Photons, Therad. Why protons?” Archer asked. Silence descended over the table as all eyes turned to the large, green skinned person. He also sat down.

               “Harrad –Sar buys shattered and spent dilithium. We recrystallize them using the stray photons from nuclear fission. It’s very profitable. Few civilization use fission reactors; we have to find a pre-warp civilization. Appropriate conditions on the planet also prove hard to find.”

               Harrad-Sar. That was a name he hadn’t heard in a while. Archer turned to his crew, Samuels and Laskin. They stared back with no smile but raised eyebrows. Archer, however, pushed his together and closed his eyes. Orions had never struck him as ecological members of the galaxy, but he did understand the profit issue.

               “What’s it going to take for me to get off this planet and back to my own?”

               “You should talk to Harrad-Sar.”

               “He and I are not on particularly diplomatic terms,” Archer replied.

               “Jon,” Marandola began, “Admiral,” she corrected. “We have negotiators and diplomats of our own. I don’t see any reason for your people to have to fight our battles. We let them come in. It was our own taste of technology that led us down this path. We welcome you to stay, but if you want to leave, we won’t keep you against your will.”

               Leaving might be difficult, but it was easier than staying, knowing his responsibility for Kellam’s death. How could he stay behind, or keep his small crew any longer than they had already. He owed Laskin a field promotion; both of them deserved commendations.

               “I have a ship en route. It should be here in a three days. For our part, from Starfleet, I’ll have s large supply of nitrium brought to the surface. You can encase the reactors in it.  It will help tremendously with the radiation sickness the workers are suffering.”

               “What suffering?”Marandola asked.  The Tellarites exchanged glances. The Orions seemed oblivious. Archer shot Laskin an operative look.

               “I’ve been in the infirmary for 35 days. In that short time I’ve seen a lot of injuries, some radiation poisoning; but the radiation sickness is unusual. It seems to be affecting primarily the fertility of your workers. I think there’s a lack of shielding. And dosimeters would be a standard issue at any such kind of facility on Earth.” Laskin looked at the two Tellarites.

               “If the governments aren’t opposed I suggest you find a way to recrystallize your dilithium here on Akal instead of hauling it all over the quadrant. An accident in orbit could be lethal.”

               Jonathan walked next to Riaan at the edge of the city moving away from the pyre where each victim of the bombing had been cremated, releasing their soul to Draylen. It was a simple remembrance, and the group mourning seemed to stop the grief almost instantly. Families talked of their loved ones, cheering their lives and accomplishments. Spirits were high, tears were few. By the time each person had been spoken of and memorialized, the sky was fading to night. The moons were all high in the sky, starting to light with the shifting of the sun.

               “A ship should be in orbit before morning. I guess I can wrap up my mission, here.”

               “Do you have to go?” Brannigaan asked. Jon looked at the young man.

               “Hmm. I’m a Starfleet admiral. I have my crew to take home, and I need to make arrangements to get an ambassador out here. Hopefully Akal will become a member of the Coalition of Planets.”

               “So, Laurel and Russell aren’t your children after all?” Jon looked at Riaan with a sly smile, and turned to look at Brannigaan to hide his laugh.

               “No,” he laughed softly. “I…don’t have any children, much less any half my age.”

               “Where are they now?” Branni asked.

               “They went back to the shuttle. When the Endeavour arrives, they’ll be there to catch the signal and let me know.”

               “When your ship comes can I see it?” Brannigaan asked. He almost skipped, jumping in front of Jonathan to stop him. “I’d be real careful. I won’t touch anything.”

               “That’s up to your mother. It’s OK with me. I’m sure Captain Mitchell won’t mind, since, I outrank him.”

               “It’s alright with me.”

               They all continued walking but stopped near the konji cart Que.

               “I’m, uh, headed for a little boarding house on the edge of town. Pick up our things, maybe get some sleep before the ship arrives. There’s room for two to sleep in a shuttle, but not three. Do you have enough gold to get home?” he asked, digging in his pocket for a few marble sized balls.

               “It’s not good for you to spend your last night alone. Come home with us. Get your things at the boarding house. Since your shuttle isn’t far from my home, it will be a quick trip in the morning.”

               The brows furrowed together, and Jon tipped his head to one side just a little.

               “Are you sure? I don’t want to be…” but he didn’t want to turn Riaan down. He indeed wanted to stay with her a little bit longer. She drew him in with her eyes, her lips, her courage and intelligence.

               “I don’t really think Branni and I want to be alone tonight. It’s customary to spend the pyre night with family and friends. Maybe your crew members would like to come over as well? Can you reach them on your calling box?”

               By the time the entire group was together again at Riaan’s home, it was nearly time to sleep. With the walking and talking, tea and cakes, talk of the past and the future, the moons were already setting and Brannigaan had fallen asleep on the floor in front of the fire.

               “To Kellam, a good man who will be missed,” Archer toasted, raising a glass of honey ale while the adults joined in.

               “Sir, I have to get a good night’s sleep in. I’m not sure I’ve had one since we were last here,” Ensign Samuels said. “May I be dismissed?”

               “Me too, sir, I’m not sure I’ll be actually standing a minute from now,” Mr. Laskin said.

               “Absolutely,” he told them, realizing that they were back in a command structure and he was the senior officer. He had always felt he could interact with his crew without losing their respect when a command decision was made. “You two take the room we had, Laskin.”

               They left the room leaving Jonathan and Riaan alone with her sleeping boy. He stepped over to him and reached down, lifting him up, and bundled securely he carried the boy to his bed. After pulling off the boys shoes, he tucked a feather stuffed cover around him, ruffled his hair, and returned to the great room.

               “Sit with me,” Riaan said to Jonathan when he returned. She sat facing the fire, not looking at Jon until he sat down. “Thank you for all you’ve done here,” she said softly. She placed one hand on top of his, but said no more.

               “Don’t mention it,” he said with a smile. They sat side by side for a while, in silence. The fire warmed the house from its central location. During the darker season keeping it burning was an important task. Riaan was skilled with the wood, stacking it and shifting it to get the most of the resource.

               “Maybe this is asking a lot, but, do you think I could come with Branni and see your star ship too? I’m really quite curious. I wish I’d asked 8 years ago.”

               “Of course,” Jon said to her. “The invitation was for both of you, of course. I just thought maybe you had something more interesting to do.”

               “I can’t imagine anything more interesting,” she told him with a soft smile. He met her gaze, and for a moment the only thing he saw was the reflection of the fire dancing in a liquid of chocolate. He ached to lean closer, to reach over the sea named Kellam and pull her closer, to breathe the trace of jasmine on her skin and in her hair. She reached up to touch his cheek with her delicate hand. “It’s been a busy day.”  She stood up and took a step away. “Goodnight, Jon.”