The face of the Chancellor glares down at me from the main viewscreen. "Progress?" he demands.
"Little, at present." There is no point in denying it. "My colleagues are investigating leads among the Vergas and the remains of the QarS. I am scouting space for warp signatures in the vicinity of the planetoid. It is weary work, and there is no certainty of results, but it must be done."
J'mpok's features relax, slightly. He is not a patient man, but he is not a fool, either. "What of the QarS base?"
"We have the materials we recovered before the... incident. They are undergoing forensic analysis, mostly aboard the Skaldak, which has full facilities. Some of the data has already been deciphered, and, though it does not seem to bear on Kalevar Thrang, it should probably be forwarded to Intelligence or the Imperial Police."
"The QarS were linked to much criminal activity, I know. Release anything you deem useful, that is not linked to Thrang." J'mpok pauses, and there is a gleam in his heavy-lidded eyes. "As to that - incident -"
"We have provided what information we can. S-s-s-s-s. We are lucky to have that."
"I know, I know... forensic reconstructions after a core breach are a waste of time. The Gamak's records at the shipyard are under investigation. Apparently, it was delayed in its launch some thirty-six hours - a collision between two freight haulers caused a lockdown of the docking bays. Does this suggest anything to you?"
"Let me think. S-s-s-s-s." I consider. "I think we have been fortunate."
"Fortunate?" J'mpok quirks one shaggy eyebrow.
"My assumption is that the warp core was sabotaged before the Gamak's departure. If that ship had arrived thirty-six hours earlier... that is time, I think, for enmities to be established. The destruction of the Gamak could, then, plausibly have been blamed on a clash between ourselves and R'st'l. As it is... even General Rrueo and myself do not make mortal enemies that quickly."
"Yes," says J'mpok. "But the High Council's agent died. Someone will need to make an accounting for that. Bear that in mind, General."
"I shall, Chancellor."
"And - I know these things cannot be hurried - but it would be good to have results." He wastes no more time, but closes the channel.
I sigh, lean back, and whisper a mantra to compose my mind. "That went well," I say, at the end.
"It did?" Laska sounds surprised. She, like all the bridge crew, remained carefully silent throughout the conversation.
"We are not yet being recalled to Qo'noS or arrested for murder. I suspect that is the best we could hope for. S-s-s-s-s. Continue the search pattern. We need to give the Chancellor his results."
"Yes, sir." Laska does not sound happy. This searching of empty space is grim, tedious, wearying work.
I turn my attention to the game board. I have not brought all my collection with me from the Goroke, but I find a few board games an essential diversion, for exercising the mind. I have set up a classic problem on the Y-shaped gdorab board, and am analysing it in hopes of finding new solutions. I move one blue cube forward a space. The board's computer responds immediately, indicating the movement of a yellow pyramid in reply. I shake my head. Gdorab is a Tellarite game, it really needs a live and argumentative opponent. There are fourteen separate and conflicting protocols for deciding the winner when a fight breaks out over a match.... Some things cannot be adequately simulated by machines.
"Sir." A machine speaks now; the android, Goota. "I have been reviewing - sensor data. From - remote devices. I have detected a - possible match, for the - anomalous signature."
And machines have their positive benefits, it appears. "Where?"
"Sensor buoy - DL-2244-T-117. In the former - Neutral Zone. Twelve light years from our - current position."
"An active sensor platform in the Neutral Zone? What is it monitoring?"
"Buoy is tasked for - intelligence traffic analysis in the - 54 Eridani system. Imperial Intelligence notation is - category 7a, independent neutral with conflict possibilities."
An independent system with the potential to break into a brushfire war. "Set a course. And consult main references - I want more information about this system. Independent neutral?"
"Conflict possibilities," Laska says. "That might be worth worrying about."
"We must tread carefully, yes. But those are precisely the possibilities which Kalevar Thrang has tried to exploit in the past. And, at least, this is something to investigate -"
"Yes, sir." Laska sounds almost resigned. "Setting course. Coming about."
---
There is time, even at Nuru-Or's speeds, to access the databanks and review the situation before we arrive in the system.
"Interesting," I comment. Siowershoe and Goota have provided the requisite information, and now a schematic of the 54 Eridani system is glowing over the desk in my ready room. 54 Eridani is a red subgiant with a wide habitable zone; it is not surprising that it can support two M-class worlds. But the political arrangements....
"The fifth planet is an independent human settlement," Siowershoe reports. "Founded in the early twenty-third century by Federation malcontents. It seems they espoused a warrior ethic -"
"Humans?" Laska sounds both amused and outraged.
"Why not?" I say. "The Klingon pacifists founded their colony at Tiaza Zephora somewhere around the same time.... I think it must have been a simpler age. Space was a final frontier, then, and every civilization had its dissidents, who sought freedom for themselves and their beliefs beyond that frontier...."
"The self-described Grand Imperium of 54 Eridani V would seem to fit that pattern, sir," says Siowershoe. "They even provided valuable intelligence to the Empire at the time of the Organian conflict. Since then, though, they seem to have been content to remain in the one system. They have rejected offers of formal alliance with the Empire."
"It is - possible that they have political - factions," Goota adds. "Intelligence assessment indicates that there are - three main political groupings. One which prefers rapprochement with the - Federation. Another which would seek links with the - Empire. The third, apparently dominant, espouses - a policy of isolationism."
"That may prove hard to sustain," says Siowershoe, "in light of the developments on the class M moon of 54 Eridani VI. The Lethean settlement is an intrusion into their claimed territory."
"Where does that stand, in relation to Imperial policy?" I ask.
"The Lethean colony is not approved by the Empire," Siowershoe states. "It is entirely an independent venture... but we must assume it has the active backing of someone, at least, in the Lethean government. This is why Intelligence rates the system as a potential flashpoint. If the humans were to strike at the Lethean colony, the Letheans might appeal for Imperial support."
"Would they get it?" Laska asks.
"Impossible to tell. If it were a matter of this so-called Imperium alone, then very probably. But the Federation is sometimes protective of its wayward children - even if they are estranged - and the Chancellor is not anxious to re-start the war. It would depend on the stance of the Lethean government, and what claims of honour they could bring before the High Council - and on the likelihood of a response from Starfleet."
"Well, we can hardly ask Starfleet," I say, "and it would be futile to approach the Lethean government - they are notorious for keeping their own counsel. S-s-s-s-s. We must approach with care, I think."
"But we do approach?" Laska asks.
"We will interrogate the data banks of that sensor buoy and see if we can obtain a positive match for our unknown warp signature. If we are reasonably sure that the unidentified vessel has visited that system - then we will go in and make inquiries. The humans will most probably be useless, but the Letheans have no reason not to cooperate - unless they are already enmeshed in Thrang's plans, somehow...."
"We approach, then," says Laska.
---
We approach. Even at a distance, 54 Eridani shows on the screen as a ruddy, bloated disc. Nuru-Or has entered the system under cloak, naturally... but I must run active sensor scans, and those will reveal us. For our check on the sensor buoy has confirmed Goota's suspicions; the unknown ship that called at the QarS planetoid has also visited this system.
We still have no idea what that ship might be. Among his other talents, Kalevar Thrang is an expert on warp propulsion systems; it is possible he has modified some vessel so that its warp signature is not recognizable. It is possible - and the possibility worries me. I would like some idea of what to expect....
Though, for the present, there seems to be nothing. The system is almost empty of traffic - there are low-power impulse signatures among the moons of the barren outer worlds: ore haulers and similar commercial vessels, no doubt. But the Lethean colony -
"Hailing on all - frequencies," Goota repeats, over and over. "No response."
"Why not?" I wonder aloud. "They can scarcely hope to conceal themselves, since we know they are there."
"Could be some mechanical failure, sir," says Laska. "I'm reading... some sort of activity at the colony site. Lots of atmospheric disturbance, and possibly heavy-element contamination."
"They have been attacked, perhaps?" I ask.
"Could be...." Laska's craggy face is thoughtful. "I'm not sure, though, sir. That moon's got some serious tectonic activity going on - like most gas giant moons, there's a lot of gravitational stress on it. It's at least possible there's been a volcanic eruption in the vicinity. That'd put a lot of junk into the atmosphere."
"It would not blank out all subspace frequencies," I object.
"No sir, but it might give them more to worry about than monitoring subspace radio. But I can't be sure of anything at this range."
"S-s-s-s-s. I see your point. Drop cloak, move in. Run continuous active scans. If something has happened in this system, I want to know about it."
"Yes, sir." The deckplates quiver for a moment as the impulse drive goes to full power, and the light on the bridge shifts in tone as the cloak drops.
On the main viewscreen, there is a tiny pallid dot, a few degrees away from the red disc of the star. The gas giant, 54 Eridani VI. At this distance, the habitable moon is invisible.
"The colony has a - commercial standard satellite defensive grid," Goota says. "Our priority codes from Intelligence should enable us to - interrogate it."
"Set it up. We need to gather all the information we can." If the Letheans protest... well, no matter.
"Active scans running," Laska reports. "Looks like the gunk in the atmosphere is consistent with volcanic ash and dust, at least. I'll need time to do a thorough analysis, and -" She breaks off. "Sensor contact. Warp signature."
"Our unknown?" I ask.
"Don't recognize the signature, but... not that unknown." Laska bites her lip. "I should recognize any normal warp drive.... Looks like it just did a micro-warp jump from somewhere in-system. Scanning now... and feeding the results to the databanks...."
"Put it on the tactical display. And go to yellow alert."
The view of space is replaced by the tactical schematic. A single dot is blinking at extreme range - moving towards us, now, at impulse power. "Hail that ship."
"Hailing," Goota replies.
"Got it," says Laska. "Turned up in historical records. Power output, warp signature, configuration match... for early Starfleet. Pioneer class."
"What?" I rack my brains. "That is an antique. It must be well over a century since those were decommissioned." I reach the logical conclusion. "They must be retained in service by very minor Federation-related groups... such as this Grand Imperium."
"Vessel responding to - hail," Goota reports. "Transmission channel - established."
"On screen."
And again, the viewscreen changes. Now, it shows a human male, seated in an elaborate command chair, with an ancient Starfleet bridge setup visible behind him. He is muscular and bearded, with the white hair that indicates advanced age in humans, and he wears a sleeveless tunic with many, many medals and decorations on it. He scowls at me from the screen. "I am Grand Admiral Johan ter Horst," he announces in a harsh voice, "commander of the battleship Renown, Knight Commander of the Order of St. Anthony and St. Jude, Margrave Emeritus of the Lancastrian Sector, and High Consul of the Grand Imperium."
Oh, is he? I can match him title for title. "R'j Bl'k'," I say, " Adept of the Seven Greater Dodecagons, Guardian of the Cycle of M'tt'-kk'ri, Harbinger of the Grand Maelstrom, Knight-Acolyte of the Phocine Temple, Dahar Master and honorary General in the Klingon Defense Force, owner-master of the IKS Nuru-Or. How may I assist you?"
"Your ship is violating Imperial territory," ter Horst says flatly. "You are instructed to heave to and surrender to Imperial questioning. No further warnings will be given. You have sixty seconds to comply."
"I am here on official business from the Chancellor of the Klingon Empire. It will not be possible for me to comply with your instructions. And it would be in the highest degree inadvisable for you to attempt to detain me."
"If you claim diplomatic privilege," ter Horst replies, "then you must present your credentials. Otherwise... forty-five seconds."
"This is not an ambassadorial mission. We are investigating a crime against the Empire. Our investigations led us here. My orders from the Chancellor require me to follow up all leads. I say again, do not attempt to impede me."
"Thirty seconds." His face is fixed, intransigent.
"Screen off," I snap at Goota. The human's image vanishes. "What is he thinking? He cannot hope to engage us -"
"I think he can, sir," says Laska. "His sensor suite is wholly inadequate - to him, we might well look like a standard Bird of Prey. Against an old B'Rel class, he might be evenly matched."
"Possibly." I snort. "He will learn differently if we open fire on him! - But I am not sure that we can."
"Sir?" Laska looks puzzled.
"Politics. S-s-s-s-s. If we destroy that ship, we commit to war with this Grand Imperium. A war that would last half an hour at most - but it is not the war we must worry about, but the diplomatic consequences." I spit. "Break off. Prepare to warp out of the system."
"Enemy ship is - closing," Goota reports. "Inside weapons range in - three minutes."
"Veer off." There is a restive muttering around the bridge. "There is no honour in destroying that relic," I snap. "And it would interfere with our actual mission. Veer off. We will return later and approach the Letheans under cloak."
Laska looks disgusted, but she turns to her console and starts to work. The stars swing across the screen as Nuru-Or comes about.
"Enemy vessel has gone to full impulse. Closing fast," Siowershoe reports.
"Ignore it. Prepare for warp speed." I settle into the command chair and mutter a sutra to myself.
"Enemy ship is - firing torpedoes."
"Ignore it. Warp speed."
The stars stretch out into streaks of light, and we are away.
"We got some information off the Lethean satellites, anyway," Laska says sourly.
"Such as?" I am angry, myself. I do not need these inconveniences.
"Volcanic dust, confirmed. An eruption near the Lethean settlement." Laska scratches her brow ridges. "I'm worried about the Letheans. I picked up life signs, all right, but they looked - off, somehow. Might just be sensor interference.... Also, we have records of some warp signatures. Antiques like our friend back there. And some Lethean commercial vessels - but there are two strange ones, too."
"Two?"
"One of them is definitely our unknown. The other one... I have a possible match. Delta Quadrant technology. A Nihydron drive system."
"Delta Quadrant? We will need to return, to check this out further. Thrang's compressed decalithium came from the Delta Quadrant.... We need to know more. And we must consult with our superiors... regarding how much latitude they will give us, in dealing with pests."
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