Summon the Thunder

Not so far from the truth, after all.

Considering her answer, Reyes frowned. “I feel more relaxed already.” Indicating the viewscreen with a nod of his head, he asked, “So, what’s so special about this system that it required going to such an effort to get info on it?”

T’Pry

“Interesting?” Jetanien said. “I would characterize that description of yours as an understatement, Commander.”

“Is that even possible?” Reyes asked, his brow furrowing. “I’ve never heard of anything like that.”

T’Pry

“And it gets better,” Xiong said from where he sat in one of the two chairs situated before Reyes’s desk. “While the moons exhibit rotation, they do so in concert with their orbits so that one hemisphere always faces outward, away from the center of the system. Further, the sensor data Commander T’Pry

“The signal originated from one of the moons orbiting the fourth planet,” T’Pry

“Now why did I see that one coming?” Reyes said as he leaned forward in his chair. Rubbing his chin with the back of his right hand, he asked, “So, the signal. Was it intended to link with either or both of those planets? What about other locations?”

You belong to me,Sten prodded.

Never.

Shaking her head, T’Pry

“Well, that’s never stopped me,” Reyes said. Standing up, he moved across the office to stand before the viewscreen. He touched the keypad, changing the image to again depict the first planet along with its two moons. Pointing to one of the moons, he said, “If these are always facing outward, that means their orbits around their planets, coupled with the planets’ own revolution around the sun, might provide a means of monitoring the system’s outer perimeter.”

“An early-warning network?” Jetanien offered.

Reyes nodded. “Think about it. Our outposts along the Neutral Zone are covered with sensors and monitoring devices that all point into Romulan space, monitoring for signs of activity on the other side of the border. It’s the same basic concept.”

“Such a deployment of similar assets would presuppose something of extreme value or importance located within the system,” Xiong said.

“Something important enough to control the orbits of thirteen moons?” Reyes asked. “Yeah, I think that might be a possibility, Lieutenant.” Frowning, he turned to T’Pry

“Assuming your theory has any basis in reality,” the Vulcan replied, “the signal we intercepted would be a form of communication, either between the planets or something intended for other locations.”

“Something automated,” Xiong said, “perhaps designed to be triggered in reaction to a specific event or set of events.” Looking to the others, he added, “We are talking about a race of beings able to change the course of astral bodies and who apparently were genetic engineers of the first order. What precisely would they have to fear? It would have to be something rather uncommon, and therefore rare in occurrence.”

Reyes shrugged. “Maybe the warning, if that’s even what it was, is just one kind of signal. Seems to me if they’d gone to the trouble to communicate between distant points in space, they’d want to do it for all sorts of reasons.”

“An interesting theory,” T’Pry

Submit!

The force behind the directive caught her off guard, Sten’s katraasserting itself once more and all but drowning out the question Reyes put to Jetanien. She did not hear the commodore’s words, instead marshaling all of her mental disciplines to beat back the essence of her long-dead fiancé.

Leave me alone!

The command pressed into the dark, distant corners of her mind even as T’Pry

“The Tholians must know something,” Jetanien was saying. “It’s the only logical explanation for their actions to this point. That said, I do not believe they are aware of their own apparent co

Folding his arms across his chest, Reyes said, “Well, I think we can agree that they’ve got some of the best poker faces at the table.” He smiled at his own poor joke before begi

The lieutenant nodded. “Yes, sir. A visit to the Jinoteur system.”

“Eventually,” Reyes countered. “I want that place given a complete once-over before we send you and your team in. Whatever’s making use of the technology we’re finding on these planets, they’ve been a step ahead of us for weeks, and that has to change. We got lucky on Erilon, but we can’t count on that happening again.”

“Our efforts should be on learning how to access that technology ourselves,” T’Pry

“Absolutely,” Jetanien said. “I would also add that determining the identity of our mysterious interloper from Erilon would also be of benefit. If there are others like him, it’s crucial we find them before our enemies do.”

“There’s that gift for understatement again,” Reyes said as he made his way back behind his desk. “Well, I think we’ve got more than enough to chew on for one day. If there are no objections, I’d like to go to my quarters and slip into a coma.”

Following Jetanien out of the commodore’s office, T’Pry

You are mine.

I would rather die.

Death will not free you.

“Commander,” Xiong said from behind her. “Are you all right?”

Turning to face the younger officer, T’Pry