Ghost of a Chance by Charles G. McGraw, Mark Garland Read Free Book Online Page A

were apparently quite friendly, but Neelix’s less flattering comments concerning their sponsors were still fresh in Janeway’s mind. “What can you tell us about the Televek as a people?” she probed, leaning slightly forward. “We hear… disturbing reports.”
    “Many of which are not true, or we would not be here,” Tassay said, speaking for the first time. Hers was another soft voice, even softer than the others’, perhaps.
    “The Televek are often misunderstood, Captain,” Jonal said.
    “I have never been fond of misunderstandings,” Janeway assured them.
    “Please enlighten us.”
    “We were found on a war-ravaged world, a world that was not our own,” Jonal explained without hesitation. “A place where our people had tried to set up a colony. We were among the thousands who sought to escape the tyranny and genocide that were destroying our home. But the wars that had brutalized our people for so long seemed to follow us, and many of the other colonies as well, involving other races as they went. Soon we became the target of brutal raids carried out by a neighboring world. We were no match for them. Our people were being victimized.”
    “Our own government would not help us,” Tassay added, speaking directly to Chakotay, it seemed. “They claimed we were outside the primary realms. We were left to fend for ourselves. You can’t know what it was like.”
    “Oh, I don’t know,” Chakotay said, glancing at B’Elanna Torres, the only other Maquis present. “I think some of us probably do.”
    Janeway let it pass.
    “The Televek rescued a few of us from the ashes, and offered to train us as advocates,” Mila said. “They have been kind to us.
    We know them as few others do.”
    “That’s quite a testimonial,” Chakotay said, “but—” “But they attacked my ship,” Janeway pointed out.
    “The Televek are somewhat… nervous at times, Captain,” Jonal explained. “It is a consequence of circumstance. When confronted, they have a tendency to shoot first, and often with very good reason.
    You must understand, the Televek deal in the finest, and often the newest, technologies in many a sector, especially defensive technologies. Therefore—” “And these are offensive technologies, perhaps?” Neelix said, apparently unwilling to let this last pass unchallenged.
    “As the premier merchants in their field, the Televek offer a full range of merchandise,” Jonal said in answer.
    “And why shouldn’t they?” Mila proposed, using an almost pleading tone. “What right does anyone have, after all, in a universe such as this, to pass judgment on others without true knowledge of their circumstances?”
    “Agreed,” Chakotay said, seeming eager to hear the rest. “Please go on.”
    “Yes, please,” Janeway concurred, leaning forward.
    “Their position makes them the focus of many races’ attention, and for many reasons—from all manner of agreements and disagreements to outright piracy,” Jonal said. “This can produce complications. Not everyone is willing to pay a fair price, for example.”
    “Yes,” Tassay added, folding her slender hands almost prayerlike in front of her. “You see, some races will stop at nothing to get the technologies they desire.”
    “Furthermore, each time the Televek honor a contract, they make friends, and enemies,” Mila said. “Some enemies have been known to carry a grudge. It happens often enough.”
    “So I hear,” Neelix remarked, not quite under his breath. All three of the advocates stared silently at him.
    “This is very interesting,” Janeway said honestly, “but I still find their aggression toward this ship, a vessel they admit was unknown to them, a bit disturbing. I might be willing to overlook it, but I would like to know more about what the Televek are doing here, in orbit around Drenar Four. If their only purpose is to help the primitive population below, then I am curious as to what interested them in this planet, or those