"Greetings!"Said the Federationman. Apal was still wary, even if the Federation sounded like a wonderful place, it was Apal's opinion that few people wanted to share their wonders. Especially with a Dorvite like himself. Still the Federation man had called him to this spot, to meet. And so he and his rebels had come to hear what the Federationman had to say.
"Greetings,"Said Apal comming from the folliage surrounding the clearing in which the Federation man's ship had landed.
The Federationman was shorter than Apal, he walked up right and he had only a small patch of fur on the top of his head. He looked naked and ugly to Apal, after all it was a Dorvite's coat of fur that was his pride.
"Well Mr. Apal,"Said the Federationman. "I am Captian Jervis Miles, of the USS Churchill, and we're here to help you Dorvites bring down your overlords."
Apal grunted. The Dorho had promised things too, and Apal told Miles this, in very harsh terms.
"Agreed, most conqerors come bearing gifts. And we are giving you several gifts, but what you do with them and what happens after you drive the Dorho off your world is up to you, if you want to join the Federation after your victory thats great, we'll do everthing in our power to help you with the process of joining. If not then we'll leave you alone. Either way your free of the Dorho and your destiny is yours to choose."
Apal thought about it, he had heard from the Orions that the Federation spoke the truth most times. Even so unless the Federation would be giving them ships to fight the Grand Fleet of the Dorho it would not matter if he could beat the tiny garrison that controled their planet.
"And the Dorho Grand Fleet?"Asked Apal, "What of them?"
The man named Miles, laughed. Apal thought briefly of killing him for that. But let him finish. "What of them?"Miles repeated, though his tone was dismissive instead of questioning. "The Federation has one-thousand ships, each more powerful than the Dorho's the Fleet we can handle. All you need do is take your world back, and we shall see that the Dorho's fleet won't trouble you again."
Apal nodded. He did not like this Federationman, Miles, he looked weak and laughed too much. But then he lived in paradise, and Apal imagined if he lived in paradise he would not need to be strong and would have much more to laugh about. He hoped one day his children would be able to live like Miles had.
"What do you have to give us to fight our opressors?"Asked Apal.
Miles smiled and pulled the small device from his belt, Apal reached for his weapon nervously. The 'Captian' merely, shook his head then pointed the weapon into the empty jungle, then pressed a button. There was a beam of light and the tree that Miles had pointed at fell. A Dorvite would have had to have hacked such a tree four or five times with all his might to make it fall like that. And none of their far-killers could do if they fired every slug they had at it. He was impressed and allowed himself a satisfied smile.
"And that was only at half power,"Said Miles.
Apal was dubious of the claim until Miles destroyed a large portion of the ground nearby. It was like the cannons of the old days, Apal thought, the ones that they once used in the great wars that they had fought amoung the tribes.
"You will give these to us?"Apal asked.
"Of course, two for each of your men and a recharger so that you may continue your fight, I of course will show you how their used..."
It was three days later when Miles returned to his ship in orbit of the next planet of the Dorvos system. He was pleased by the progress Apal's rebels were making. And even more so by the fact that Apal wanted only his tribe to be given phasers. It seemed that once the Dorho were disposed of that the Tribal Wars would begin again with Apal's comming out on top, which was good, he owed Miles a favour, one that would be worth a great deal if his tribe ruled Dorvos V.
As the door opened to his ready room he found his first officer waiting for him, his face a mask of calm and composure, as always.
"Sovor, what can I do for you?"He asked as he sat down at his desk.
"I have our next orders sir,"
"And they are?"Asked Miles, as he reached for the bottle he kept in the cupboard behind his desk.
"To proceed to the Evora system, we are to look for the USS Backlash, she seems to have dissapeared on her diplomatic mission to the Dorho. The Admiral is most worried about what he dissapearance could mean."
"Understood, proceed, at warp 9 undercloak. I don't want the whole Regime knowing what we are doing out here."
"Understood sir,"Said Sovor as he turned to leave.
Miles poured a glass or Romulan ale for himself and then put the bottle away.
"To a job well done,"He said and then swollowed it down.
