nodded to Kirk. "Captain."
Kirk, who had stood respectfully when the senior diplomat entered,
nodded back. "Ambassador ... thank you for coming. And ..." He
struggled to form the Vulcan words this ship's computer had told him
were proper. "I grieve with thee ... "He took a deep breath, returned
to Standard English. "Mrs. Sarek was a wonderful woman, sir. We all
respected and admired her deeply."
"Thank you, Captain," Sarek said, and for a moment the grimness relaxed
fractionally, allowing just a bare glimpse of sadness to slip through.
The door slid open again, and Spock, back in uniform, entered, followed
by Dr. McCoy. The Vulcan ignored his father as he nodded a quick
greeting to Kirk.
Uh-oh, the captain thought. Will they be able to work together at all?
McCoy and Sarek exchanged greetings and the doctor expressed his
condolences to the ambassador. When the formalities were finished, Kirk
waved them all to seats.
"Ambassador Sarek," he began, "Spock has given us a brief summary of
your concerns about the Freelans. But I would like to hear the whole
story from your own lips, if you don't mind. And I'd like to see the
data you've compiled."
"I have already transferred it to the ship's computer, Captain," Spock
said, keying in a code word on the comm link. A fde menu appeared on the
screen.
Sarek began to speak, his beautifully modulated tones and measured,
precise delivery le nding credence to what would otherwise have sounded
like wild nonsense and rampant speculation, coming from anyone but a
Vulcan of his reputation. Kirk listened intently, interrupting every so
often to ask a question or request that the ambassador amplify a point.
Grimly, he and McCoy studied the charts and data the ambassador had
accumulated over years of study and research, and with every moment that
passed, Kirk's certainty that Sarek was correct in his reasoning grew.
The very idea of Freelan being a Romulan world had been outrageous at
first ... now, the more Kirk thought about it, the more the whole
scheme seemed like very typical Romulan reasoning ... clever, devious,
audacious ... and, unfortunately, it seemed that it might actually
work.
When Sarek finally finished his account, the captain of the Enterprise
shook his head grimly. "This stuff about the KEHL ... you're right
about how it's growing. Two days ago I got a priority message from my
nephew, Peter, telling me that he managed to gain access to the KEHL's
computer systems, but that Starfleet Security hadn't paid any attention
to the data he managed to get. He was asking my help in getting a full
investigation of the group started."
"What kind of data did Peter have?" Spock asked.
"Membership rolls, propaganda films ... things like that.
I also gather that the KEHL has breached security at the consulate,
Ambassador, and copied Vulcan data that they claimed would prove their
case that your world has a master plan to take over Earth."
"Take over Earth? The Vulcans?" Leonard McCoy looked thunderstruck, and
then he laughed out loud. "What a load of ... uh.. 2' He glanced at
Sarek, and altered what he'd been about to say to "That's absurd!"
"Something happened during my negotiations with Com mander Keraz that
lends more credence to my theory," Sarek said.
"What was that, Ambassador?" Kirk asked.
"One of Keraz's aides, Wurrl, attempted to assassinate me. Both he and
Keraz, I discovered, had been subjected to telepathic influence."
Hearing that his father had been attacked, Spock stole a quick look at
the elder Vulcan, as if checking him for injury.
"Maybe what we ought to do is just grab some Freelan at a conference and
rip his ask off, McCoy suggested. "Serve them right."
"In the first place, such tactics abrogate diplomatic munity as well as
civil law," Sarek pointed out evenly. "And if we engaged in such ...
peremptory ... behavior, we would lose the goodwill of many delegates,
"Yeah, well," McCoy grumbled, "who knows what damage they've been
causing, poking around in other people's minds? I'll bet the Freelans
had a hand in Chang's conspiracy, too."
"I suspect you would win that wager, Doctor," Sarek said, steepling his
hands before him on the table. So that where Spock learned that ... Jim
thought. "During the recent crisis, President Ra-ghoratrei summoned me,
Ambassador Kamarag, and Ambassador Nanclus to discuss the Klingon demand
for your extradition after the assassination of Chancellor Gorkon. Just
after Kamarag left, Admiral Smillie, Admiral Cartwright, and Colonel
West entered the office. The Starfleet officers had prepared a military
plan of action designed to rescue you and Dr. McCo ."
"I never knew that, Jim? the doctor exclaimed, eyes widening with
surprise. "I thought Starfleet just decided to throw us to the wolves."
"Admiral Smillie told me about it at Khitomer," Kirk admitted. "But he
said Ra-ghoratrei wouldn't go along with it."
"That is true," Sarek affirmed. "But what is significant to us now is
that, during this discussion, Ambassador Nanclus
pointed out to the president that the Klingons were vulnerable.. and
that there would never be a better time to begin a full-scale military
action against them. He was quite ... emphatic."
"Nanclus was openly advocating war between the Federation and the
Klingon Empire?" Even in the light of subse quent events, Kirk was
surprised that the Romulan would be so overt.
"I heard him myself," Sarek said simply.
"But Nanclus was working with General Chang and Admiral Cartwright to
start a war. He wasn't giving the official Romulan position "Kirk's
voice faded out. waited a beat, then lifted one elegant eyebrow. "Wasn't
he?" he asked softly. "How do you know? Subsequent events made it seem
that Nanclus was working in concert with Chang and Cartwright ... but
who really started the plot?" The captain drew a deep breath. "During
his court-martial, Cartwright claimed under oath that Nanclus came to
him, and that both of them then presented the idea to Chang--who was
only too happy to take over. But if the whole thing was really Nanclus's
idea ..."
"Precisely," Sarek said.
"Was the Klingon assassin's attack on you a result of telepathic
influence, Ambassador?" Spock asked, his tone cool and formal. Kirk
realized it was the first time he'd addressed the elder Vulcan.
"Yes, I believe so.
I only gained a brief impression of Wurrl's mind during the struggle,"
Sarek replied. "The Klingon suffered a fractured skull during the fight,
and lapsed into a coma.
I have no idea whether he is still alive. Starfleet took him into
custody." Sarek was looking at Spock, but, Kirk noticed, the Vulcan's
return gaze was remote.
"And Commander Keraz also been subjected to undue mental influence?"
Spock pursued the topic, still in that cool, toneless fashion.
"In what way?"
"When I asked the Klingon commander why he
had chosen to take such an
action in seizing a Federation colony, he informed me
really did not know why he had done it. It was strictly an impulsive
decision, one that puzzled him in its aftermath.
When I told him what I had discovered about Wurrl, he asked me to
determine whether he, too, had been affected.
I touched him ... and knew that he had."
"Oho," McCoy said.
"You think some Freelan and his trained Vulcan pup compelled Wurrl to
try and murder you, and Keraz to turn renegade and invade Kadura?"
"I would say that 'compelled' is too strong a term," Sarek said.
"'Influenced' is more apt, I believe. But as to the Freelans being
involved ... of that, I have no doubt."
"Ambassador," Kirk said, as an idea occurred to him, "is it possible
that Kadura was a setup to lure you off Vulcan, so that you could be
gotten out of the way? Is there any possibility that the Freelans know
that you suspect them?" Sarek blinked. Obviously, Kirk's idea was a new
one to him. "Possible, I suppose," he murmured. "Taryn did seem
suspicious the last time I visited their station."
"Is there any possibility that your valit program did not completely
cover your entrance into the Romulan data banks?" Spock asked. "Could
they have discovered some evidence after you left Freelan orbit?" The
elder Vulcan raised an eyebrow. "My valit was well designed," he said,
with a touch of surprise that Spock would question his expertise with
computers. "In the event any tampering was detected--which I consider
unlikely--there would have been no way to trace the intrusion back to
me."
"But circumstantial evidence might enough to arouse Taryn to take action
against you," Spock said. "Possible," Sarek conceded.
"I think we should go to the president immediately with all of this,"
Kirk said.
"And to Starfleet Security, Vice-Admiral Burton." The captain looked at
Sarek, was surprised to see the Vulcan shake his head in negation.
"No, Kirk," he said. "Not yet. Not until I have incontrovertible proof."
"Just the fact that you're suspicious will be enough!"
McCoy burst out. "A man of your reputation, Ambassador of course the
president will pay attention."
"I must speak to the president about this only in person," Sarek said.
"Otherwise, I cannot be certain that his mind has not been influenced.
The same applies to your Vice-Admiral Burton. Also, we must guard
against any of these speculations becoming public knowledge. The
consequences, should that happen, would be grave."
"What consequences?" McCoy asked, taken aback.
"The fragile peace with the Klingon Empire, for one," Spock said, before
the ambassador could reply. "It might appear to Azetbur that the
Federation is attempting to stir up trouble between the Romulans and the
Klingon Empire ... by accusing the Romulans of influencing the Klingons
to turn renegade. Also, do not forget the KEHL.
Most of the followers are undoubtedly hapless dupes ... innocent of
everything except being easily led. Charges that they are Romulan pawns
could lead to witch-hunts."
"What kind of proof do you propose to get, Ambassador Sarek? If the
Romulans suspect that you know, they will undoubtedly recall all their
Freelan personnel, and escalate their efforts to cause war between the
Federation and the Klingon Empire."
"Indeed. We must be cautious, and not move until we are ready," Sarek
agreed. "I would still like to access the Freelan data banks and copy
their contents. If it is done properly, we could gain proof, without
alerting the Romulans that we know of their plans."
"Can you do it again? And get away with copies, this time?"
"I believe that I can," Sarek said, glancing at his son. "If Spock will
assist me."
Spock sat in silence for a moment, then nodded. "I will do my best," he
said. "I will need to study the valits you used before, to attempt to
refine them so they will work more smoothly."
For a moment Kirk sensed a flash of indignation from the ambassador,
even though the Vulcan's calm expression
never varied. "Very well," he said. "I will provide them to you."
Kirk looked from father to son, thinking that if anyone could break past
Romulan security, it would be these two.
Still, he was hesitant about not going straight to Starfleet Security
with news of this plot. But if delaying a few da ys would provide proof
positive ...
"How close would you have to be to Ereelan to tap into the data banks?"
Kirk asked.
"Given the resources of a starship's computer system, anywhere within
the boundaries of the system should suffice," Sarek said. "I was
dependent, remember, on a small tricorder. Kirk, how long would it take
to reach Freelan aboard this vessel?"
"Two days, at warp six."
"Excellent," Sarek said. "That should be sufficient time for me to
acquaint Spock with my plan for accessing the Freelan system." The
ambassador nodded approvingly at Kirk. "I thank you for your
cooperation, Captain."
"It's my duty to investigate a threat to Federation security," Kirk said
simply. "When can you be ready to leave Vulcan?"
"I anticipated that I would be leaving with your ship, Kirk. I came
prepared to do so."
"Scotty said the final paint job would be completed--" Kirk, who was
already reaching for the intercom, broke off as it beeped. Impatiently,
he opened the channel. "Kirk here. I thought I gave orders that I was
not to be dis--"
"Captain," Commander Uhura's voice interrupted, "I have a Priority One
personal message for you, sir, from the commandant of Starfleet
Academy."
"The commandant?" Kirk was nonplussed. What could Commandant Anderson be
wanting with him? "Relay it, Commander."
"Yes, sir ... "She paused for a moment. "Captain ... Commandant
Anderson reports that your nephew Peter has disappeared. Their
investigation leads them to believe he did not leave of his own free
will. Sir ... the commandant reports that he suspects foul play."
Kirk swallowed. Peter was the only close relative he had.
If anything had happened to him ... "Commander," he said tightly,
"inform the bridge crew to begin preparations to depart drydock on my
command." He clicked to a different channel. "Set course for Sector
53.16 ... the Freelan system. Mr. Scott?"
"Scott here, sir," replied the familiar burr promptly.
"How soon can we cast off moorings and get out of here?"
"We'll be ready in another twenty minutes, Captain."
"You've got ten," Kirk snapped.
"Aye, sir," came the engineer's casual reply. "We'll be ready."
"Good, Scotty. Ten minutes. Kirk out."
Snapping off the intercom, the captain looked at the others grimly. "It
never rains but it pours," he said.
"Murphy's Law."
The ambassador raised an eyebrow. "Murphy's Law?"
"A human aphorism that states, "Whatever can go wrong, will,'" Spock
explained.
"Yeah, and at the worst possible time," McCoy added.
&nb
sp; "Jim ... what could have happened to Peter?"
"I don't know, Bones," Kirk said. "The temptation is to think that,
because he was investigating the KEHL, they're responsible for this. But
that might not be true." Opening a channel to the bridge, he said,
"Commander Uhura, please contact Commandant Anderson for me."
"Yes, Captain. I'll put through a call immediately, sir." Kirk
hesitated, thinking furiously. Should he turn command of the Enterprise
over to Spock, and take a transport for Earth? He couldn't abandon
Peter! And yet ... duty came before personal concerns. "Ambassador,"
he said,
"assuming you have your proof in a few days, what are you going to
suggest that the Federation do about this situation with the Romulans?"
"Some elements in Starfleet would advise a preemptive strike," Spock
said. "I can visualize Admiral Smillie approving such a tactic, given
sufficient provocation."
"War? All-out war?" McCoy was aghast. "There must be
some way to prevent that!" He glanced at Kirk. "Isn't there, Jim?"
"I don't know," Kirk said, forcing himself to put Peter out of his mind
and concentrate on the subject at hand. "It could be that the Romulans