Vectors 26

Nessick's listening post was a haphazard collection of domes and modules clinging to the side of an asteroid in interstellar space. The docking tube extended like a spidery limb from its side towards the Bereit.

Nessick met Tuarak in the docking tube, watching as Vaadwaur crewmen manhandled the actualizer on its AG float pallet towards the post. At first, the Octanti scientist barely glanced at the Vaadwaur commander, but then he turned and studied Tuarak more closely.

"Things did not go entirely to plan, then, I see," he said.

Tuarak turned to glare at him. One side of the Vaadwaur's face was streaked with fresh scars, stretching from cheekbone to jawline. "Not entirely," he snarled.

"I have dermal regenerators, if your own medical supplies are insufficient -"

"No," Tuarak spat. "I will have this dealt with, but only once I have the pelt of the animal who did this in my quarters for a rug."

"Quite so, quite so," murmured Nessick. He nodded in the direction of the actualizer. "That is undamaged, though?"

"It is. I do not entirely trust its protomatter components, not enough to subject them to the transporter beam, at least. But the device was captured intact, and has remained so."

"Protomatter, yes, that requires careful handling." Nessick turned to stroll along behind the float pallet, ignoring the Vaadwaur crewmen who looked daggers at him as they laboured. "Substantial, substantial," he muttered. "Too substantial to be a mere component of the whole... a complete system in itself. Yes, you have done well, well. This will repay careful study."

"Oh, I am relieved to hear it," said Tuarak.

"You are angry," said Nessick. "Yes, I can understand that. It is irksome when things do not go to plan. You did not capture the Hazari himself? The maker of the device?"

"Not yet." Tuarak glowered. "That one offended me. Once I have him, make sure you have all that you need from him, because he will not outlive his usefulness."

"He offended you? Unwise of him, most unwise. He may not prove necessary at all. That device is complete, I may well be able to ascertain its workings without his assistance. I should make certain of this, though, before you exact your vengeance.... Well, let us proceed, first, to the isolation laboratory. Protomatter, yes. It requires careful handling."

"Direct my crewmen as you see fit," said Tuarak. The Vaadwaur crewmen looked sullen, but voiced no complaint. "I have other matters to attend to. Many other matters." He turned abruptly, his long coat swishing around his legs, and stalked off down the docking tube, back to the Bereit.

Nessick watched him go, and shook his head. "He is angry. Well, well, I suppose it is only to be expected." He turned back to the glowering Vaadwaur crewmen. "The isolation laboratory is not far. Then you may rest, while I labour. I hope we will achieve something that will lighten his mood, no?"

---

The situation aboard the Bereit was chaotic. Work crews were swarming through the corridors, clearing debris and repairing damage. The air was heavy with the smell of hot metal. Tuarak stalked across decks illuminated only by the glare of welding torches, and none of his crew dared speak to him.

He went first to the bridge, received the report of the watch officer with a silent glare, and retreated to his ready room, sealing the door behind him.

It was some hours later when Sarn walked up to the closed door, took a deep breath, and rapped sharply on the metal. For a moment, there was no response, and then the intercom clicked on and Tuarak's voice said, "Who is that?"

"Sarn, sir. I have reports for you."

Tuarak said nothing more, but the door unsealed with a clank and a hiss. Sarn squared his shoulders and stepped through.

Tuarak was sitting behind his desk, a litter of datapads spread out before him. Sarn stepped up to the desk, cleared his throat, and stood at attention. Tuarak looked up at him through bloodshot eyes. "Well?" he said.

"Repairs to the drives are completed. All hull breaches have been sealed, and the armour brought back up to combat standard. The Bereit is spaceworthy once more. But, sir -"

"But what?"

Sarn swallowed. "As your executive officer, sir, it is my duty to report my concerns to you -"

"Concerns," said Tuarak. "What concerns?"

"Our supplies of spares have been seriously reduced, below establishment minimum in many cases. Sir, we must acquire more replacements, and urgently."

"It will be attended to," said Tuarak.

"Sir, we do not have authority to indent for repairs at the Supremacy's shipyards -"

"It will be attended to," Tuarak repeated. "Nessick will earn his keep by replenishing our stocks."

"Yes, sir." The Octanti's own supplies were irregular and unreliable, Sarn reflected bleakly. Now was evidently not the time to mention that, though. "There is another matter, sir."

Tuarak growled, deep in his throat. "Well?"

"Casualties, sir. We have suffered substantial losses. Three engineering compartments were breached to space in the battle, with no survivors from their complements. Troop shuttle two was shot down by the Hazari, also a total loss. And... the ground battle did not go according to plan. Several of our units were not able to evacuate their deployment areas before the railgun barrage hit them. Friendly fire casualties, sir. It... affects morale."

"Oh, they are unhappy, are they?" said Tuarak. "They are not alone in that. You are my executive officer, the minutiae of discipline are your preserve. Deal with it."

"It would be useful to know, sir, if we can expect crew replacements." Tuarak's brows gathered in a frown. "From the viewpoint of maintaining order and discipline, sir."

"We can expect nothing from the Supremacy military," said Tuarak. "But there are many Vaadwaur, now, who have become detached from their original units...."

"Dregs and deserters, sir!"

"They can redeem themselves in my service. We shall make Nessick work for us, again, there - he hears news of such groups. Vaadwaur, selling themselves as mercenaries to the lesser species...." Tuarak shook his head. "It is positively our duty to reclaim them."

"Standing orders from the Supremacy are that deserters are to be returned to central authority -"

"The Supremacy has cut me loose, Sarn. Me. They have chosen to treat me like that - Well. For this purpose, my authority is central enough. I doubt you will find the deserters disposed to argue on this score."

"No, sir." Sarn's expression was carefully blank.

"Well, then. If that is all -"

The communicator on Tuarak's desk buzzed. Tuarak glared at it. He jabbed at the intercom button and snarled, "What is it?"

"Sir." The communications officer's voice was nervous. "I have Nessick on comms - he wants to speak with you -"

Tuarak sighed. "Put him through."

There was an audible click, and then the Octanti's voice said, "Tuarak? Tuarak, are you there? Tuarak?"

"Speak," said Tuarak.

"Ah, you are there, good, good. The device. Yes. I am greatly afraid that there is a problem."

"A problem," said Tuarak. His hand clenched on the edge of the desk. "I do not need any more problems, Nessick."

"No, no, quite. No more do I. But the device - I have made a certain amount of headway with it, to be sure, but several of the functions cannot be accessed without both a deciphering key and a biometric signature. The Hazari's, presumably. Yes, yes, I can think of no other explanation. The Hazari, Ge'Sirn. We will require him, after all. It is regrettable, I know -"

"No," said Tuarak. "I would have sought him out in due course, anyway. I have plans for Ge'Sirn - So. I must advance my timetable. Very well."

"I shall provide you with all the current data concerning the Alphans and the Hazari -"

"Do so. Begin the data dowload to my ship now." Tuarak turned his gaze on Sarn. "We are spaceworthy, you say?"

"Yes, sir, but -"

"But nothing." Tuarak stood. "We have the measure of the Alphans - and Ge'Sirn is nothing without his device. Alert the crew, Sarn. We hunt."

---

From an observation cupola some distance above the main laboratory, Nessick watched the interdictor cruiser as it pulled away from the asteroid. His eyes tracked it steadily as it dwindled among the stars, marked the flash as it jumped to warp speed.

"Satisfactory," he said to himself, "most satisfactory."

He left the cupola and made his way down a number of ramps and accessways, along a number of corridors, until he came to a sealed door. He studied it pensively for a while, calling the access code back to mind. It had been some time, he reflected, since he had last used this facility....

He tapped in the code on the keypad, nodded with satisfaction when the door swished open.

Beyond it was a small room, dominated by a communications console with one seat before it. Nessick slid into the seat, touched a biometric ID pad, waited as the console sprang to life.

"This is Nessick at facility 2387-Delta," he said, and a greenish glow within the console showed that his words were heard. "I have acquired a new technology, and it shows promise. I have a plan to deploy it against the Borg. Requesting, now, the following support measures -"