Agent Andross had been counting on them to give up and go away. He also noted that the agent was markedly shorter than most of the other Tutopans they had encountered. The presence of a raised platform behind the desk indicated that physical conformity was indeed a desirable attribute in this society, yet here was an individual who had achieved high rank in spite of his difference.
Tuvok committed this data to memory as Andross gestured for them to take seats. “What can I do for you today, Captain Janeway?”
“I would like my computer processor returned,” she told him bluntly, placing her hands on her thighs. “The freighter Kapon, while in your employ, removed it from my ship.”
The agent’s delicate, flattened features remained motionless as he focused on the smoked-glass desktop. The surface reflected the strong lights, but his behavior clearly indicated that there were access nodes and readouts beneath the smooth top. Tuvok knew there was also a ninety-two-percent probability that scanners were focused on himself and the captain.
The Agent’s eyes lifted. “According to your processing information, your ship is a derelict.”
“It wasn’t derelict until the Kapon stole our processor.”
Andross smiled at that, a mere stretching of his lips. “The Kapon sensor logs record that your ship was drifting off the asteroid ring in the secondary system when they boarded. They performed a routine salvage of equipment.”
“They requested that we take our engines off-line, so they could shuttle over,” Janeway countered. “Do the Kapon logs show that?
They offered us information on wormhole locations in exchange for star charts, but instead they knocked out my crew and removed our processor.”
“I’m sure you must be mistaken,” Andross said mildly, clasping his hands together on the desk. “Who ever heard of taking hardware and leaving the database behind? Yet according to this file, your memory core remains intact.”
The captain’s control was admirable. Tuvok had spent the last several hours productively analyzing the data on the neural toxin, determining the cause of its rapid dispersal rate.
Janeway had had no such activity to occupy her mind, yet her calm demeanor didn’t falter. “We were informed that the freighter Kapon delivered their cargo to you. We would like that cargo returned to us.”
“Salvage was conducted within legal parameters,” Andross said, beginning to stand up. “However, if there is anything else I can help you with…”
“Certainly, there is,” Tuvok spoke up for the first time. He had calculated the risks of more forceful persuasion, and found them to be acceptable. “We request the name of your superior.”
Andross had the grace to look startled. “I am an official representative of House Min-Tutopa—” “Yes, we understand that,” Janeway interrupted, following his lead. “But we’d like to speak to your superior.”
“I have no superior on the Hub. The Board is in the Seat of House Min-Tutopa.”
“Where is that?”
“Min-Tutopa is the third planet from the sun.” Andross made a gesture as if flicking an imaginary particle off the top of his desk. “Under present conditions, it is impossible for you to speak to the Board at this time.”
Janeway turned to Tuvok. “At the information booth, I believe you mentioned there were other agents listed as official representatives of this House.”
“That is correct, Captain.”
She started to rise. “Good, I’m sure one of them will be able to help us.”
“Agreed.” Tuvok checked Andross’s reaction as he joined the captain.
“I suggest we do so immediately.”
Andross reached out a hand to stop them, moving markedly faster than he had under his earlier deportment. “This matter wouldn’t be in their realm of responsibility.”
“You aren’t acting very responsible,” Janeway pointed out, turning away.
Andross almost sounded hurt. “I am uniquely suited to my position.
All
Tuvok committed this data to memory as Andross gestured for them to take seats. “What can I do for you today, Captain Janeway?”
“I would like my computer processor returned,” she told him bluntly, placing her hands on her thighs. “The freighter Kapon, while in your employ, removed it from my ship.”
The agent’s delicate, flattened features remained motionless as he focused on the smoked-glass desktop. The surface reflected the strong lights, but his behavior clearly indicated that there were access nodes and readouts beneath the smooth top. Tuvok knew there was also a ninety-two-percent probability that scanners were focused on himself and the captain.
The Agent’s eyes lifted. “According to your processing information, your ship is a derelict.”
“It wasn’t derelict until the Kapon stole our processor.”
Andross smiled at that, a mere stretching of his lips. “The Kapon sensor logs record that your ship was drifting off the asteroid ring in the secondary system when they boarded. They performed a routine salvage of equipment.”
“They requested that we take our engines off-line, so they could shuttle over,” Janeway countered. “Do the Kapon logs show that?
They offered us information on wormhole locations in exchange for star charts, but instead they knocked out my crew and removed our processor.”
“I’m sure you must be mistaken,” Andross said mildly, clasping his hands together on the desk. “Who ever heard of taking hardware and leaving the database behind? Yet according to this file, your memory core remains intact.”
The captain’s control was admirable. Tuvok had spent the last several hours productively analyzing the data on the neural toxin, determining the cause of its rapid dispersal rate.
Janeway had had no such activity to occupy her mind, yet her calm demeanor didn’t falter. “We were informed that the freighter Kapon delivered their cargo to you. We would like that cargo returned to us.”
“Salvage was conducted within legal parameters,” Andross said, beginning to stand up. “However, if there is anything else I can help you with…”
“Certainly, there is,” Tuvok spoke up for the first time. He had calculated the risks of more forceful persuasion, and found them to be acceptable. “We request the name of your superior.”
Andross had the grace to look startled. “I am an official representative of House Min-Tutopa—” “Yes, we understand that,” Janeway interrupted, following his lead. “But we’d like to speak to your superior.”
“I have no superior on the Hub. The Board is in the Seat of House Min-Tutopa.”
“Where is that?”
“Min-Tutopa is the third planet from the sun.” Andross made a gesture as if flicking an imaginary particle off the top of his desk. “Under present conditions, it is impossible for you to speak to the Board at this time.”
Janeway turned to Tuvok. “At the information booth, I believe you mentioned there were other agents listed as official representatives of this House.”
“That is correct, Captain.”
She started to rise. “Good, I’m sure one of them will be able to help us.”
“Agreed.” Tuvok checked Andross’s reaction as he joined the captain.
“I suggest we do so immediately.”
Andross reached out a hand to stop them, moving markedly faster than he had under his earlier deportment. “This matter wouldn’t be in their realm of responsibility.”
“You aren’t acting very responsible,” Janeway pointed out, turning away.
Andross almost sounded hurt. “I am uniquely suited to my position.
All
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