Declassified

“Typerias,” he said, reading from the screen, “along with Korinar, Borzha, and Dorala.” He paused before reading the last two names. “Palgrenax, and Gamma Tauri, as well?”

Reyes nodded. “I thought you’d like those.”

Though the commodore had no reason to suspect as much, Jetanien in fact was not surprised to see such a list. While the first four systems were interesting with respect to their relative locations within the Taurus Reach and the possible strategic value to whoever claimed them or—in the case of the Federation—allied with any indigenous populations, the last two entries on the list were troubling for different reasons. Both the Palgrenax and Gamma Tauri systems had been surveyed first by automated reco

“Do we have any reason to believe the Klingons are aware of the . . . special nature . . . of planets in the Palgrenax and Gamma Tauri systems?” Jetanien asked.

“Not yet,” Reyes said, rising from his desk and taking his coffee cup with him as he made his way to the food slot at the rear of his office. He held up the empty mug for Jetanien’s benefit and asked, “Care for a bowl of mud, or whatever?”

“Thank you, no,” Jetanien replied, his attention still focused on the intelligence report. “Does Starfleet have any idea why the Klingons are so interested in these particular systems?”

The food slot’s hatch rose to reveal the commodore’s fresh cup of coffee, and Reyes retrieved it before turning back toward his desk. “So far, they seem motivated by the fact that we’ve shown interest in them. The problem with that theory is that no one can figure out how the Klingons even knew we were giving some of those systems a once-over. Palgrenax is pretty far off the beaten path, for example. Likewise Typerias and Korinar. Even though we think a few of those might make good anchor points as we expand colonization efforts into the region, the Klingons shouldn’t know that; at least, not yet.” Returning to the chair behind his desk, Reyes sipped from his coffee. “If I were a more cynical person, I’d say we’ve got a spy somewhere in the works.” He then directed his gaze back to Jetanien. “But we all know how cheery and upbeat I am. Right?”

The ambassador laughed once again at the commodore’s attempt at dry humor. “That would seem a logical deduction. Does Starfleet concur?”

“They say the same thing you just did,” Reyes replied, “and they also say that while it’s a nice theory, without proof that’s all it is.”

Unfortunately, it seems your superiors are mistaken, my friend.

Jetanien had entered Reyes’s office armed with the knowledge that not only was there a spy feeding information to the Klingons about Starfleet operations and ship movements within the Taurus Reach, but that this covert agent also was working right here on the station. The ambassador’s surprise at this discovery was surpassed only by shock, embarrassment, and a sensation of utter betrayal upon learning that the operative was his own assistant, A

How could Sandesjo work alongside him for the past several months without his having the slightest inkling as to her true nature? That she was remarkably skilled in her chosen profession went without saying, but it was small comfort for Jetanien. What had he allowed to happen from within his own offices? Had he enabled Sandesjo’s efforts to pass on sensitive information to her handlers, whoever they might be? The very notion infuriated him.

And yet, you’ve elected to keep this information to yourself.

“So,” he said, eyeing Reyes, “what do we do now?”

The commodore leaned back in his chair, holding his coffee cup in both hands as his gaze shifted to the viewscreen on his wall that displayed a series of updated status reports on the station’s progress toward completed construction and full operational capability. He said nothing for a moment as he studied the schematics and the scrolls of accompanying text. Finally, Reyes said, “It’s obvious the Klingons are going to be an even bigger problem than we thought going into this thing. If they’ve got spies ru

Jetanien nodded. “A sound strategy. I understand Mister Jackson is a capable officer.” Haniff Jackson, Starbase 47’s chief of security, by all accounts was well suited to the task Reyes would soon assign him. “And there can be no doubting Commander T’Pry

Interesting, that,Jetanien conceded.

“Finding a spy, if there is one, is just one of our big problems,” Reyes said. “The bigger one is what, if anything, the Klingons plan to do with the information they’re getting. Do they just want to screw with us, or try to claim resource-rich or strategically valuable planets before we can get to them?”

Jetanien said, “There is another aspect to this new development which also bears consideration. Should the Klingons elect to seize worlds which already are inhabited, one could argue that the Federation holds some measure of responsibility for the affected people’s fates.”

“Don’t think I haven’t thought of that,” Reyes replied, shaking his head. “But you could also argue that much is true even with respect to normal exploration efforts. We’ve been crossing paths and butting heads with the Klingons for more than a century. How many worlds have they conquered or claimed that they might otherwise have bypassed if not for trying to counter some move on our part?” He paused, and Jetanien saw the look of resignation in the commodore’s eyes as he waved a hand as though to sweep aside the question. “Those are problems for somebody way above my pay grade. I’ve got enough to worry about just keeping what we’re doing here secret while trying not to start a war at the same time.”