Precipice

The comm dish scraped over sand and slowed. It ceased spi

“All aboard,” Qui

It took McLellan a few seconds to regain her balance and stand up. As she climbed the aft ramp into the ship, she heard alarmed voices coming from the wooded cliff high above the ship’s port side. “Qui

“Copy that,” Qui

Seconds later, a series of emerald-hued flashes lit up the woods above the ship’s left wing. Thunderous explosions split the air half a second later. Then all was quiet.

“That oughtta do it,” Qui

McLellan closed the gangway and moved forward through the main cabin to the cockpit. As she settled into the copilot’s chair, Qui

She asked, “You mined the woods above the ship?”

“Seemed like a wise precaution.” He adjusted some settings on the helm, then shot her a rakish grin. “So admit it. Not a bad bit o’ rescuin’, right?”

“It had its moments,” she said, not wanting to puff up her partner’s ego any more than he was already doing for himself.

For the past year they had worked together in the Taurus Reach as covert operatives of Starfleet Intelligence, gathering information, seeking clues to the ancient and dangerous race known as the Shedai, and disrupting the activities of criminals and Federation rivals throughout the sector.

SI had recruited McLellan shortly after the return of the U.S.S. Sagittariusfrom the now-vanished Shedai world known as Jinoteur. As the second officer of the Sagittarius,McLellan had experienced the transformative power of the Shedai firsthand. That, coupled with her expertise in flight ops, combat tactics, and computer science, had made her an attractive recruitment prospect for SI.

As for why SI had sought Qui

She asked, “Did you get all the ta

“Every kilo,” he said. “We’re go

“We can’t sell it,” she chided. “It has to be impounded.”

“I don’t think you appreciate the market value of—”

“If you sell it, it’ll be used to kill people.”

He sighed. “Right. Sorry. Old habits.” Casting a sly sidelong glance in her direction, he said, “Seein’ as I did kinda save your life back there, maybe tonight we could tie our hammocks togeth—”

“Just fly the ship, Qui

“Yes, ma’am.”

3

February 18, 2267

Red desolation stretched across the horizon and filled Tim Pe

He stood alone in the shadow of an automated water-collection station on the edge of the desert outside ShiKahr, the capital city of Vulcan.

Behind him, the giant primary star of 40 Eridani—which, during his months-long stay on Vulcan, Pe

His journey to this remote node in ShiKahr’s municipal water-supply network had not been easy. He’d left his short-term lodging before dawn. The city, which was laid out in a circular pattern with boulevards emanating from its center-like spokes on a wheel, had a mass-transit system that was easy to navigate, and it had carried Pe

A nagging i

Too late now,he lamented.

An arid sirocco whipped up a frenzy of sand on the plains below his vantage point. Soon it would spawn a sandstorm that would grow as it moved east and scour the city throughout the night.

He shook his head, disappointed in himself. Great, now I’m stuck out here. Why don’t I ever learn? Always following my gut, never using my head. That’s how I get into these cock-ups.

Pe

Then he felt the slip of parchment in his jacket pocket and remembered the peculiar encounter in the ShiKahr Spaceport three weeks earlier that had persuaded him to stay …

“I’ve got good news and bad news, Tim,” said Dr. Jabilo M’Benga as he emerged from the bustling crowd of Vulcans and assorted aliens in the ShiKahr Spaceport.

Pe

The Starfleet physician gave a small frown. “The bad news: I can’t go back to Vanguard with you.” A smile of elation broke through his mask of pretend gloom. “The good news is the reason why. I’ve been recalled to Starfleet Medical on Earth pending a transfer to starship duty.”

With a fraternal slap on M’Benga’s shoulder, Pe

M’Benga shook his head. “Sorry, can’t.” He hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “I have less than an hour to throw my gear in a duffel and beam up to the Treminabefore she ships out.”

“Well, you’d better get movin’ then,” Pe

They shook hands. “Thanks for coming to Vulcan with me,” M’Benga said.

“I didn’t do anything,” Pe

“You never know.” M’Benga let go of Pe

Pe

“Sure,” M’Benga said, edging back another step. “But stay in touch, right?”

“Absolutely,” Pe

“Good-bye, Tim.”

M’Benga turned and jogged away through the crowd on his way to an exit. He moved with the kind of energy that belongs to people who have something worth ru

Heaving a tired sigh, Pe

The air inside the spaceport was cool by Vulcan standards but still warmer than Pe

As he walked toward a row of automated travel-booking kiosks, he reflected on how he’d come to Vulcan months earlier. It had been almost a year since he had witnessed the emotional sundering of T’Pry