“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, Anna Sandesjo. If not for the attentiveness of one of his other trusted assistants, Jetanien knew he might still be ignorant of the woman’s activities. The alert aide had, while working late one evening, become aware of an unauthorized message being transmitted from the embassy offices as part of several other communiqués being dispatched from the station. Though he had no idea what he had found, the aide had brought this to Jetanien’s attention, and the ambassador himself had investigated the anomaly until he found the message’s creator. That the message had contained information on the movements of Starfleet vessels in the Taurus Reach, in particular those assigned to Starbase 47, was itself disturbing. Even more appalling was its apparent recipient: someone within, or at least working for, the Klingon Empire.
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 running around the station or even one of the other starbases, how long before they stumble across information about why we’re really out here?” Shaking his head, he placed his mug on the desk. “I’m going to have T’Prynn and Lieutenant Jackson conduct another sweep of background checks on everyone on the station, and anyone who’s been here since we started accepting civilians and visitors.”
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’Prynn’s investigative abilities.” If anyone could learn the truth about Anna Sandesjo without the benefit of fortunate happenstance, as the ambassador had enjoyed, it would be the station’s shrewd Vulcan intelligence officer. Indeed, he had seen her and Sandesjo together in the officers’ club the previous evening. Armed with the knowledge he now possessed regarding his aide, Jetanien had to wonder if T’Prynn either suspected Sandesjo’s identity or else had already discovered it on her own. If it was the former, then the ambassador was certain T’Prynn would find the truth in short order, but if it was the latter, then Jetanien had to wonder why she had not yet seen fit to inform Reyes about what she had learned. Might she be hiding some agenda of her own?
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.”
Nodding in agreement, Jetanien decided a change of subject was in order. “Have you heard anything more from the Sagittarius?” According to the last report Reyes had shared with him, Captain Nassir and his crew had sought refuge on the surface of Traelus II while effecting repairs to their damaged propulsion systems.
Reyes said, “Nothing since their last report. They went quiet when their sensors detected Klingon ships heading their way.” He released a long, slow breath, his expression turning to one of concern. “I figure if we don’t hear from them by the end of the day, that’s the ballgame.”
10
Captain Kutal was not pleased.
“Helm,” he snapped. “Assume standard orbit.” Sitting in his command chair at the center of the bridge aboard the Imperial Klingon cruiser Zin’za,he watched and listened in silence as his crew went about their various tasks, all of them doing their part to hunt for their supposed adversary. He overheard fragments of the discussion taking place in hushed tones between his first officer, Commander BelHoQ, and the Zin’za’s weapons officer, Lieutenant Tonar. While he could not discern everything, what Kutal could hear he did not like.
“Where is the Starfleet ship?” he asked, the words laced with mounting irritation. Though he did not turn his chair to face the tactical station, Kutal watched in his peripheral vision as Tonar stepped away from the console and stood at attention to make his report.
“Our sensors do not detect it, Captain,” the lieutenant said. “I am unable to explain it.”
“We’re certain it did not leave the system?” Kutal asked, reaching up to stroke his beard.
“If it did,” replied BelHoQ, “then they would have had to leave before we entered sensor range. We detected no such activity, though there was that momentary reading during the previous duty shift.”