Open Secrets

Was it her imagination, or did she see the ghost of a smile on Sobon’s face? “T’Pry

Her eyes narrowing as she comprehended the true scope of Sobon’s words, T’Nel said, “I do not believe Starfleet will view that as plausible deniability, Healer.”

“That is Starfleet’s concern,” Sobon countered, “not mine.”

“How would she even be able to leave the village undetected?” T’Nel asked, confused. “Surely, she could not get past the Starfleet security team.”

He rose from the bed, and his withered hands smoothed wrinkles from his robe. “You seem to forget, my child, that T’Pry

With a final glance out the window, T’Nel turned back to the elder Vulcan. “I do not understand. Where would she go?”

Almost to the door, Sobon stopped and turned back to face her. “T’Pry

“Once Starfleet discovers she’s missing,” T’Nel replied, “she will be considered a fugitive. Any opportunity for leniency in the face of the charges against her will be lost.”

“I have no reason to believe that T’Pry

Indeed,T’Nel mused. T’Pry

Sobon exited the room, leaving T’Nel alone. She stared out the window beyond Kren’than’s confines, her gaze taking in the panoramic view that was offered by the surrounding L-langon Mountains. Somewhere out there, she knew, was her sister, pursuing a new journey she believed she could undertake only on her own. Would she return? T’Nel could not be certain, of course, but she considered it unlikely. That, she knew, also was T’Pry

Peace, my sister, for you have earned it,T’Nel thought. Peace and long life.

56

Komoraq cursed the droning dirge of the alarm Klaxon as it echoed through the narrow corridor leading to the M’ahtagh’s bridge. His heavy boots clanging against the metal deck grating, he bared his teeth and growled at those few subordinates standing between him and the hatch leading to the ship’s command center. Not wanting to risk incurring their captain’s wrath, they pushed themselves against angled bulkheads or plunged into open service crawlways to clear a path for him. The pressure hatch’s massive doors parted at his approach.

“Silence that insufferable baby wailing,” Komoraq snarled as he stepped onto the bridge, on his way to the captain’s chair at the center of the room. “Report!”

Standing at the console positioned along the left bulkhead, Lieutenant Kalorg, one of the M’ahtagh’s weapons officers, replied, “Federation starship has just entered sensor range, Captain. It’s on an intercept course, traveling at high warp. Sensors indicate that it is a Constitution-class battle cruiser. At its present rate of speed, it will be in our weapons range in less than two kuvits.”

“Raise shields,” the captain ordered, “Place weapons on ready status.”

Had Starfleet somehow determined the location of the Earther his wife held beneath the planet’s surface? Pondering his options as he stroked his beard, Komoraq’s first instinct was to engage the Federation ship in battle. There would be some controversy, of course, raised mostly by clueless, whiny bureaucrats back on the homeworld. It would pass, particularly when it came to light that the Federation vessel had intruded in space claimed by the empire. The Earther government, with no stomach for confrontation, would happily accept that explanation, content to dishonor those who might die in battle for the sake of protecting their own worthless hides.

“You say the ship is on an intercept course?” he asked.

Nodding, Kalorg said, “Yes, Captain, though their weapons do not appear to be activated.”

Perhaps this Earther captain has courage his leaders lack,Komoraq mused. Intrigued by this notion, he turned to his communications officer. “Open a cha

At the communications station, Lieutenant Mondol replied, “Yes, Captain.”

“Vessel closing to weapons range,” Kalorg reported.

When Mondol turned back to face Komoraq, his expression was a mask of uncertainty. “I have received a response, sir.”

Komoraq scowled. “What is it?”

“The vessel’s captain has suggested that you engage in disrespectful acts with your mother, sir.”

It took an additional moment for the response to register, after which Komoraq ground his teeth together, uttering a low, ominous growl. “Target that vessel, and prepare to open fire.”

“They are activating their energy weapons!” Kalorg called out. “They’re firing!”

An instant later, Komoraq felt the deck tremble beneath his feet and listened to the protests of the angled support struts along the bridge’s perimeter. Most of the energy from the attack had been absorbed by the M’ahtagh’s shields, but that did not discount the possibility of damage. “Report,” he ordered.

“Minor power loss in the starboard deflectors,” replied Kalorg. “The enemy vessel is coming about, altering its course.”

“Onscreen!”

Komoraq watched as an image of the small, streamlined vessel sailed past on the viewscreen, the imaging software rendering the Starfleet ship’s gleaming hull in sharp relief against the utter darkness of space behind it. At this distance, he was able to discern the vessel’s hull markings. Whoever commanded the ship did indeed possess great courage. That, or he was simply insane.

“Fire!” Komoraq shouted. “Aim to disable only!”

To his left, Kalorg said, “They are accelerating to warp speed, Captain.”

“Helm, lay in a pursuit course,” Komoraq barked. Whereas his initial thought had been to carve the Federation ship into slivers of smoldering metal, all he wanted now was to stare the vessel’s master in the eyes. “Have security ready a boarding party. I want to hold that captain’s beating heart in my hand.” He felt the vibrations in the deck plating as the M’ahtagh’s warp engines engaged and the stars on the main screen stretched into multihued streaks. “Match its course and speed.”

Komoraq watched as the ship on the screen grew larger with every passing moment. The Earther captain now seemed content to run like a whipped targ.What was to be gained from such a strategy?

The warbling alert tone from Kalorg’s station gave him his answer, as the Starfleet ship seemed to vanish from the viewscreen.

“What?” Komoraq said, straightening in his chair.

“Captain,” the weapons officer shouted, his tone one of surprise. “They dropped out of warp, changed course, and are now heading for the planet!”