The man on the viewscreen is blue-skinned, with a hairless, high-domed skull topped with a raised crest. "The Temur is missing," the Kadirian representative snaps at me. "This is not the first enquiry we have had, regarding that survey ship - now, it is missing, and the patrol craft sent to escort it has been found destroyed!"
"I am sorry to hear it," I say. "And concerned, also."
"I do not think you realize how much this means," the Kadirian said. "Seven of our people missing from the Temur, three confirmed dead on the patroller! Our population is so small, every life is precious to us!"
"I understand you suffered some kind of plague," I say.
"A biological infestation of the deadliest and most pernicious kind. It almost exterminated our entire species. Even today, the population of Kadir Prime does not exceed a million, the population of Kadir Secundus and Kadir Tertius, less than a hundred thousand combined! Every Kadirian is a jewel to be treasured!"
"My people, too, respect life," I say. "This is at the heart of our concerns. A devastating infection of some kind struck a Kobali colony after the Temur visited it. We would like to gather more information -"
"Our ship could not have been involved," the Kadirian says firmly. "We take absolutely stringent precautions against any kind of biological cross-contamination - we have no wish to spread disease, nor to fall victims ourselves to any alien virus. Contacts with class M worlds and bio-compatible species are carried out exclusively by our survey holograms - and they are carefully designed to offer no footholds for any diseases. The holograms are, necessarily, self-aware and highly detailed... but they have a quasi-biological basis specifically created to have no compatibility with any real life-form. The probes which project the hologram are subjected to decontamination procedures that will kill any living organism. There is no way our survey ships can carry a plague."
"I understand your caution," I say. "May we approach your systems, to see if we can gather any clues as to the Temur's whereabouts? Our ships have sophisticated sensor systems -"
"We are restricting our systems as of this incident," the Kadirian says firmly. "Our own vessels are withdrawing to their home bases, and only the most necessary contact will be permitted until we are more certain of our people's safety. Obviously, we cannot stand against your military if you choose to invade -"
"That is not our way. We will respect your territorial integrity." I must be the Federation diplomat. "Will you, at least, transmit any details of the Temur and her mission that you can? Anything which won't compromise your security - and which might help us find the ship." I look him square in the eyes. "If we can find your people, we will do everything we can to bring them back to you safely."
It's an appeal directly aimed at his own most obvious concern... and it works. "We will transmit all non-classified information to your data channels," the Kadirian says. "If you find our people... we will be grateful."
"I hope that we can save other lives, too. Thank you, sir. Timor out." The Kadirian's face vanishes, to be replaced by the starscape of the Delta Quadrant... and the lean, flat shape of the Brathana, hanging a few kilometres off our port bow. I sit contemplating the ominous lines of the Qib battlecruiser for a moment or two, then I turn to Sumal Jetuz. "I suppose our ally over there was listening in on that conversation?"
"We... are sharing all information with the KDF on this one, sir," Sumal says, a little guardedly.
"I suppose we have to. All right. Get me a line to that arrogant laboratory experiment, we need to discuss our next move." Sumal raises his eyebrows at that. Well, I have no reasons to like Ferasans, and no reason to make any exception for this Ferasan, so....
My fur bristles as her face appears on the viewer. "You heard all that, I take it?"
"Rrueo did. We are transcribing their data transmission now. It is probably incomplete, but it is a start. The loss of the Temur... disturbs Rrueo."
"Me, too. It can't be a coincidence, surely."
"Rrueo does not believe in coincidences of such convenience. Our working hypothesis must be that the Temur is, somehow, involved. Rrueo will therefore take the Brathana to gather additional information."
"The Kadirians have closed their borders. You heard that, I assume?"
"Rrueo did. Rrueo heard you promise to respect that. Very high-minded, properly Starfleet, your superiors will no doubt approve. Rrueo did not hear you make any binding promises on behalf of the Empire.... In any case, what the Kadirians do not know will not hurt them. Brathana's battle cloak is quite adequate for a discreet survey of the borders of Kadir Secundus."
I narrow my eyes at her. "I hope you know what you're doing."
"Rrueo does. How do you propose to occupy your time while Rrueo is performing this necessary task?"
"Oh, I have some ideas. One thing you haven't thought of, for a start - remember, there was another ship with the Temur on its visit?"
"The Hazari mercenaries?" The Ferasan frowns.
"The Hazari are best known as muscle for hire, fair enough. But they're a warp-capable culture with a long history - their civilization must have more to it than that. Goals and ambitions of their own, that sort of thing. Don't you agree?"
"Rrueo concedes the point... though the whole thing seems most unlikely. But, then, unlikely possibilities seem to be all we have at this point. Very well. We should arrange a rendezvous point, or at least a secure communications channel through which to keep in touch." She shifts a little in her command chair. "Rrueo takes it that no further assistance from Starfleet is forthcoming?"
"Starfleet is stretched as thin as the KDF in this quadrant. You're lucky to have us."
"Rrueo contemplates her good fortune daily. The KDF has secured a small asteroid base in the Tramil Gamma system, which might be suitable as a meeting point, if you are interested."
"Sounds reasonable. Transmit the coordinates, and we'll set up a meeting to compare notes. My bioscience team will continue to work on the samples you provided, of course."
"You will take no hand in the matter yourself?"
"My expertise is in subspace dynamics and astrophysics. I'm surprised you didn't look that up in my personnel file. Or are your files on Starfleet officers out of date?"
"Rrueo has adequate records of all senior Starfleet officers of importance. Transmitting coordinates. Given travel times in this quadrant, Rrueo suggests one week from now. Communicate on subspace if you are likely to be delayed. Brathana out." The screen goes blank.
"That went well," I remark to no one in particular. No one in particular seems convinced, either.
"What's our next step, sir?" Marya Kothe asks.
I gaze gloomily at the screen, watching the Brathana turn and flash away at warp speed. "Let's go through the Kadirian data, and identify the Hazari mercenary who was guarding the Temur. Besides that -" I stand up. "I'll be in my ready room."
I think it's time to activate an irregular asset.
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