Star Trek(49)
Soval studied his old colleague closely, seeing something beneath the surface. “You disagreed with that decision.”
Thoris’s antennae drooped. “I needed to be convinced, yes. It is a rather . . . unconventional gesture.”
“Your entire campaign seems unconventional in light of your past record,” Soval told him. “I have always known you for your ability to compromise. You fight fiercely for what you believe in, but treat opposing viewpoints fairly. And in the past, you were one of the strongest supporters of interworld cooperation. Together, we helped create the Coalition of Planets. We both resisted its dissolution.”
“I know, Soval, I know. I haven’t gone senile, however it may appear.”
“Then your endorsement of the extreme Planetarist position is puzzling.”
Thoris tilted his head, his antennae twisting sardonically. “I’m well aware there are some rather . . . irrational voices on the Planetarist side. But don’t you see? That’s a symptom of the real problem. The Federation formed too fast, centralized too swiftly. That was bound to anger and alienate the more extreme nationalists and . . . well . . . those who have not yet learned how to trust other species. And that has provoked a backlash that could have been avoided had we proceeded more carefully.”
“Then why do you encourage such groups now? All you do is intensify their radicalism.”
The Andorian spread his wrinkled hands. “What’s the alternative, Soval? Let someone like Professor T’Nol or Governor Lecheb carry the Planetarist flag? The Federation would never survive if they were elected.”
“Their odds of being elected at all would be minimal. Yours are not.”
“Exactly. Many Planetarists are not against the Federation’s existence, but recognize its hasty formation has left many questions unresolved. There are still too few checks on central power, too little institutionalized protection of planetary rights. A moderate president motivated to solve those problems can make the Federation better, healthier.”
“But you do not campaign on a moderate platform.”
“Because my constituents wouldn’t let me. This is about emotion, Soval, not logic. It’s anger and fear of government domination, fear of the change that’s come with this new era, that’s firing up our base. I’d have no chance of winning if I didn’t speak to those fears. But once I’m in office, once those fears are mollified, I can lead the Planetarists in a better direction. I can compromise with the Federation Council in ways I can’t be seen doing as a candidate.”
Soval responded with a skeptical gaze. “Are you sure you will be able to do so? In hopes of winning this election, you have compromised your own beliefs, succumbed to your advisors’ judgment over your own, and pandered to the wishes of an extreme and vocal few who disproportionately dominate political discourse. Do you really believe that those who are working to place you in office will tolerate your abandonment of those practices should you be victorious? Will they not instead feel betrayed and pressure you to remain in line? And how far will the other factions trust your integrity if it becomes evident that your campaign strategy was based on calculated deception?”
Thoris studied Soval silently for a time, his antennae tensing and curving forward, then sagging. “I’m sorry you perceive my campaign in that way, Soval. But this is the strategy I’ve chosen. It’s too late for me to change course now.” He strode toward the exit.
“Yes,” Soval told him, halting him in the doorway. “That is exactly what I fear: that it is too late.”
• • •
Jonathan Archer hastened to track down Ambassador Jahlet and Director Hemnask after Thoris’s inflammatory speech. He caught up with them in a widely curved hallway near the outer edge of the habitat dome. “I really have to apologize for what happened back there,” he told the Rigelian women. “Here we go to such lengths to make you feel welcome, and then he has to come along and . . . Well, I want you to know that this is not how we usually do things in the Federation. I’m very sorry you had to go through that.”
“Your apology is appreciated, Admiral,” Jahlet said. She retained her usual easygoing manner, in contrast to the stern, pinched appearance her craggy features lent her. “We know that you do not share the candidate’s views—or his tactless manner of expressing them.”
“Still,” Hemnask said, “in his defense, he did seem to be speaking out of concern for our people’s rights and free choice.”
“I wish I could believe he really meant that,” Archer said. “But he was trying to use your tragedy to score political points. To pander to those factions that are afraid of opening up to new races, new ideas. I want to assure you that most people in the Federation aren’t really like that.”