What Judgments Come

“Which we believe to be the Mirdonyae Artifacts,” Xiong said. “Qui

“It certainly seems that way,” Nogura said, setting aside his tea, which had cooled rather more quickly than he had anticipated. “Mister Xiong, what do we know about the Tkon, and Eremar in particular?”

Drawing himself up, Xiong replied, “Unfortunately, much of what we do know—including what was given to us with the reports supplied by Qui

“According to these tales,” T’Pry

“The wildest stories involve the Tkon being able to literally relocate entire solar systems,” Xiong said.

Nogura said, “Sounds a lot like our friends, the Shedai, and what happened to the Jinoteur system.” His left hand resting on the desk, he began tapping its smooth surface with his forefinger. “Even taking into account gross exaggerations and embellishments of these stories, it’s probably safe to say that the Tkon likely were a dominant power in this part of the galaxy, at least for a time.”

“That’s correct, sir,” Xiong said. “Given their probable level of technological sophistication compared to surrounding civilizations, they would have seemed like gods to less-developed societies. According to the stories, some emerging cultures evidently worshipped the Tkon. That, or they simply feared Tkon power.”

“At least, until their empire fell,” Nogura said.

T’Pry

“Eremar,” Xiong said.

Reaching again for the viewer’s control pad, T’Pry

“Well, we know Shedai technology can destroy planets and make solar systems disappear,” Nogura said, scarcely daring even to imagine what it might be like to control such power. “Forcing a star to go nova seems right up their alley. If they were responsible for Eremar, then they obviously viewed the Tkon as a threat.”

“Absolutely,” Xiong replied. “Rumors have persisted for generations that some survivors of the Tkon people remain, scattered to the various worlds that once fell under their empire’s control. Given their supposed ability to transit between star systems as we’ve seen the Shedai do, it’s unlikely their entire civilization was destroyed.”

T’Pry

Nogura sighed. “Why did I know you were going to say that? It was bad enough when we were working to keep the advanced weaponry from one dead empire out of our enemy’s hands. Now you’re thinking there’s a second such civilization, with the power to have stood toe-to-toe with the Shedai?” He shook his head. “I should have retired and moved back to Fujiyama when I had the chance.” Returning his attention to Xiong, he said, “What do you think, Lieutenant?”

Stepping closer, Xiong replied, “I think we need to go and have a look for ourselves, Admiral.”

“I knew you were going to say that, too,” Nogura said, softening his remark with a small, wan smile. “Any race that could construct those crystals probably has a few other tricks up their sleeves.” No sooner did he speak the words than he glanced to where T’Pry

“Aye, sir,” the Vulcan replied.

Eyeing Xiong, Nogura asked, “Lieutenant, are you still having trouble trying to communicate with the Shedai inside the artifact you have on board the Lovell?”

“We are making progress, sir,” the younger officer replied. “Commander al-Khaled and his people have some new ideas, and we’re working to implement them now.”

Nogura nodded, satisfied if not overly enthused by the report. “Keep at it.” Perhaps, if communication with the Shedai was successful, the imprisoned entity might even have information of some use to Xiong before he set out on the journey to Eremar.

Somehow, I don’t think we’re that lucky.

Pausing a moment to consider the plan he was about to put into motion, Nogura straightened in his chair. “Very well, then. I’m authorizing an exploratory mission to Eremar. Find out whatever you can—information, technology, whatever.” Recalling the latest status reports from the station’s dockmaster, Nogura said, “The Endeavour is on patrol and won’t be back for more than a month.” He looked to Xiong. “You’ve got the Lovell tied up with your current round of experiments, and she’s not the ship for this kind of mission, anyway. That leaves the Sagittarius, which is undergoing some overdue maintenance on several key shipboard systems, and won’t be ready for a long-haul trip like this for at least two more weeks.”

Not for the first time, Nogura regretted his decision to allow the starships Theseus, Akhiel, and Buenos Aires—the other vessels assigned to Starbase 47 on an interim basis—to be spirited away by Starfleet Command for other missions they deemed to be of equal or greater importance than Operation Vanguard. The other vessel on temporary assignment to him, the Defiant, under the command of Captain Thomas Blair, also had been dispatched to a distant corner of the Taurus Reach, pursuing its own investigation of recent tensions between the Klingons and the Tholians. Though Nogura had full faith in Captain Nassir and the crew of the Sagittarius, the Archer-class scout just was not the type of vessel he preferred to send on the undertaking he was about to order. He considered waiting for one of the larger, more powerful ships to return before putting Xiong’s plan into motion, but if he and T’Pry

“Two weeks, Lieutenant,” Nogura said, tapping the top of his desk for emphasis. “You’ve got that long to prepare your mission profile and bring the Sagittarius crew up to speed.”

Xiong nodded. “Understood, sir.” Though he said nothing else, Nogura sensed the younger man’s unease.

“Don’t worry, Lieutenant. It’s my intention to send the Endeavour or somebody in your direction as soon as I’m able.” To T’Pry

“Aye, sir,” the Vulcan replied.

An authoritative tone from the communications panel on Nogura’s desk interrupted the proceedings, and he reached for his desktop computer interface and tapped the key to activate it. Expecting a visual communication from his assistant or perhaps even Commander Cooper up in the station’s operations center, the admiral instead was surprised to see the heading for an eyes-only encrypted communiquй indicating the need for his immediate attention.