Open Secrets

“According to Xiong,” Cooper said, “it’s some kind of key or cipher. The access it allowed him into the Shedai computer system on Mirdonyae V is unprecedented, far beyond anything we’ve obtained on any of our expeditions to other planets with such technology.” He shrugged, frowning. “The problem is that we’re just looking at more stuff that we really don’t understand.”

Nogura nodded. “What about the other people Dr. Marcus has engaged to help decipher the Shedai computer systems?”

“A work in progress, Admiral,” Cooper replied. “As you know, Starfleet Command’s only recently approved your requests to have the specialists she’s asked for to be briefed on the project. Now that they’ll have full access, things should start moving at a faster pace.”

Finishing his coffee, Nogura said, “Let’s hope we’ll find some way of holding off the war long enough to give them the time they need to finish the job.” He knew that the Klingons would simply add the incident at Mirdonyae to the grievances that were rapidly piling up on the negotiating table currently separating the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Would this latest straw break the camel’s already straining back and along with it any chance of success for the ongoing diplomatic talks? Experience and cynicism told Nogura that the prolonged cold war between the two interstellar powers was heating up, and the boiling point was fast approaching.

It’s a matter of when, not if.

“It’s good to see you, Lieutenant,” said Carol Marcus, taking in the image of Ming Xiong on the computer terminal in her quarters. Though he looked more than a little gaunt, and there was a noticeable bruising on his face, she was thankful that he appeared not to look too much the worse for wear. “You look pretty good, all things considered.”

On the screen, Xiong nodded. “If it matters I probably feel better than I look. Nothing a few nights’ sleep in a decent bed won’t cure. That and any meal that’s not from a Klingon menu.”A wistful expression played across his features. “You know, when I joined Starfleet, this wasn’t exactly the kind of career I had in mind.”

Marcus could not help laughing. “What, you’re admitting that you were dazzled by all that talk of exploring strange new worlds, or whatever it is that’s engraved on all the walls at Starfleet Academy?”

“Guilty,”Xiong replied, matching her smile. He held up his right hand in a gesture of mock surrender. “You’ll have to forgive me. I was a hopeless idealist back then.”

“And now?”

Xiong paused before answering, and when he did, his expression faded. “I don’t know.”Looking around the small room that Marcus presumed was the quarters to which he had been assigned on the Endeavour,he said, “So much has happened since we began all of this. Even when I received my assignment to Vanguard, I never thought it would evolve into what it has. I was driven by the potential for discovery, what that might mean not just for us but for everyone.”He shook his head. “But now look where we are. Everything’s been warped and perverted. No one cares about the scientific benefits of what we’ve found. It’s all about power and who can get what first.”Looking directly at her, he added, “What’s worse is that I’m now a willing participant. I know that no matter what I believe or want to happen, for now, everything we’re doing is simply about doing it before the Klingons can do it.”

“Don’t lose sight of what you believe in, Ming,” Marcus said, sympathetic to what the man was feeling. “As much as I prefer the pursuit of science for noble goals, Starfleet isn’t the bad guy here. Besides, we both knew coming in that figuring out the Shedai and the meta-genome and everything else was as much about not letting anything like a weapon fall into enemy hands as it was about increasing our knowledge. Until everyone in the galaxy can learn to live with everyone else, it’s always going to be like that.”

Xiong sighed. “I know, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it, just as I don’t have to like what all of this has turned me into.”

“You should be proud of yourself, Ming,” Marcus said. “Admiral Nogura couldn’t speak highly enough about you once he read the reports that Captain Khatami and I submitted. What you were able to accomplish while you were a prisoner is astounding.” When she contemplated everything the man had endured during the past months, she could not help but shake her head in wonder. It was a testament to the man’s character that he had persevered under such conditions, not merely to survive but also to continue carrying out his mission to the best of his ability, all while preventing enemies from getting their hands on the invaluable discoveries he had made while being held in captivity.

Xiong said, “I had help, of course. I couldn’t have done any of it without Tasthene.”He paused, casting a glance downward. “I wish I could have helped him.”

“I’m sure you did everything you could,” Marcus replied, hoping the words did not sound as hollow to Xiong as they did to her own ears. “And as long as I have my say, everything he did to help you won’t be in vain.” She watched as Xiong reached up to rub his eyes and stifle a yawn. “Ming, why don’t you get some sleep? We’ll have plenty of time to talk once you get back to the station. Besides, you’re going to need that rest. Thanks to you and Tasthene, we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us and all sorts of new avenues to explore.”

“Point taken, Doctor,”the lieutenant said, seemingly relieved. “Thanks. I’ll talk to you soon. Xiong out.”

The screen faded, leaving Marcus alone with her stacks of reports and files, several of which had been created just since her initial conversations with Xiong in the days after his rescue from Mirdonyae V. Based on the reports submitted by the archaeology and anthropology officer as part of his debriefing aboard the Endeavourwhile the starship was en route back to Vanguard, she could not wait to get her first look at this mysterious crystal the lieutenant had brought with him. Why had the Shedai created it? What was its purpose? What abilities did it possess that provided its seeming ability to interface and take control of Shedai computer systems? Of course, the progress Xiong and Tasthene had made while prisoners of the Klingons had raised new questions regarding the advanced nature of Shedai technical advancement. Of greater, arguably tremendous importance was the notion that such achievement appeared linked to the ancient race’s apparent mastery of genetic manipulation, as well as their demonstrated ability to affect at will the delicate balance between matter and energy. These were the puzzles that would occupy Marcus, Xiong, and the entire Vault research team in the weeks and months ahead.

59

Jetanien looked up to see Akeylah Karumé standing in his doorway. Rather than one of her usual ensembles, his aide was dressed in what the ambassador recognized as athletic attire. She wore no cosmetics, and her hair had been pulled into a ponytail. The expression on her face was one of undisguised irritation.

“Do you have any idea what time it is?” she asked.

“Even without the chronometer positioned so conveniently on my desk,” Jetanien replied, “I am well aware of the time.” It was, it seemed, his night for rousing people out of sleep for what he believed to be pressing matters. Diplomacy, he long ago had learned, did not keep regular schedules. “I apologize for calling you at this late hour, but this could not wait. I think, however, that you’ll find it worth the inconvenience.”

Karumé appeared unconvinced. “Does it involve you dying of some incurable, debilitating disease from which you will suffer great pain before your ultimate, undignified demise while lying in an expanding pool of your own body waste?”