> However, sir, what I really need to discuss
> with you has little to do with
> the coup. To be frank, Mr. President,
> Ambassador Celana D'amondra and I are
> bonded. It happened just prior to my departure
> for the tour of Starfleet
> installations that I did after I was confirmed
> CinC of Starfleet. The nature
> of the bond is rather hard to explain, which is
> why I brought Dr. Brennan.
> Simply put it is a telepathic bond between two
> individuals. This link allows
> for the exchange of thoughts, feelings, and to
> a degree a certain amount of
> strength or mental fortitude. That is in a
> normal bond, which is between
> Venasian and Venasian. When the bond includes
> other species, the rules are
> quite different. The communication is muddled,
> like static on a comm channel.
> The essential message gets through, but the
> clarity is far less than optimal.
> Dr. Brennan is better able to discuss the
> actual nature of this particular
> bond. However, before I turn things over to
> him, I would like to mention the
> why. Celana has feared what the militant
> factions of her own government might
> do to put a wedge in the relationship that the
> Federation shares with her
> people. To that end she decided to bond with
> me. In theory that would
> prevent the militant faction of her government
> from taking any kind of action
> against me. In short for beneliviant purposes.
> While I have misgivings about
> trusting the Venasian government in general, I
> do trust the Ambassador."
> Lasiter finished explaining to let Doc Matthew
> step in.
>
> The president was very quiet for a long moment.
> "Bonded," he said softly, still
> mulling it over. "Is this bonding..." It was
> clear he was searching for tactful
> word. "Of a ... personal nature? A betrothal
> or the like?"
>
> That was a question for Sam, not Matt, so the
> doctor waited for Sam's response.
>
"No, sir. However, I will say that because of this I feel that we do have
a special relationship. Like that of twins. That we seem to have some kind
of intuition as to the well being and general feeling or mood of the other.
But nothing that anyone would construe as anything physicial or the like." he
said expecting the question, and wondering how he did answering it.
>
> The president then looked to his physician.
> "And your take on this, Dr. Brennan?"
>
> Matt shook his head. "With all I know of the
> Venasians, sir, there is a lot their
> culture won't allow to be known. I know the
> ambassador fairly well, I know her
> sister, the physician, far better. I'm
> inclined to trust those two. I don't think
> this is for any reason other than the stated
> one. I don't think they're trying to
> exert unnatural influences upon the Admiral
> though, to be honest, there is no way
> for us to be certain. I've asked a friend of
> mine, a Vulcan, to interpret the bond
> as best she can. She can't fully read it, but
> she agrees with my impressions."
>
> The president looked back to Sam. "Do you feel
> unduly influenced, Admiral?" he
> asked him directly.
"No, sir. I do not feel influenced or directed in any way, shape, or form.
That said, I do make sure that I talk often to Admiral t'Llhweiir and Rear
Admiral Garibaldi, both of which have known me for many years, and would be
the first to notice if I were to be controlled.", Lasiter answered directly
and without hesitation. He was absolutely confident that he was not being
controlled, but he did have a duty not to completely trust his own feelings
this matter.
{response}
{response}
