Already envisioning the worst-case scenario should Reyes be found out by any of Ganz’s men, Nogura sighed. “And you’re sure this is the best option available to us?”
T’Prynn nodded. “It is if we wish to obtain the navigational data quickly, sir.”
“And we do,” the admiral conceded. Locating the possible origin point for the Mirdonyae Artifact Ganz had surrendered to Nogura in exchange for Starfleet’s continued good favor was of paramount importance, if for no other reason than to ensure no one else—the Klingons, Tholians, Romulans, or even some other as yet unnamed power who might get curious—found it first. So far, the Shedai who had so rudely been awakened from their millennia-long sleep had seemed content to lay dormant in whatever celestial hideaway they had fashioned for themselves. They had inflicted colossal damage and destruction before their mysterious disappearance, along with the destruction of the entire Jinoteur system, which apparently was their home. Considering what they might do if roused once again was something that had cost Nogura more than one night’s sound sleep. If the displays of the ancient race’s power he had witnessed were any indication, such as when the Shedai entity had attacked the station, a concentrated assault—even by as few as two or three of the beings—likely would prove disastrous for the confronted party.
Shaking his head, Nogura said, “I have to wonder how much longer we can keep sticking fingers in this particular dam and hope it continues to hold.” Though Starfleet had done an admirable job containing the most sensitive aspects of the mysteries surrounding the Shedai and the Taurus Meta-Genome, some information had already become public. Even the explosive news features written by Tim Pennington for the Federation News Service—and whose authorization for release by Diego Reyes had ended the man’s Starfleet career—had been limited in the amount of damage they had caused. The journalist’s lack of direct knowledge about the meta-genome and the potential it carried had prevented any revelation of the Shedai’s true origins, or any detailed insight into the awesome power they commanded.
How much longer could Starfleet hope to keep this information hidden? The Klingons, though lacking in-depth knowledge as to the true nature of the meta-genome, still had acquired sufficient information about the Shedai and their technology that they too sought artifacts or weapons for their own use. According to the latest intelligence reports, the Romulans, while understandably interested in the concentrated Federation activities in this part of space, appeared to harbor no direct information about the Shedai. As for the Tholians, there was no way to know what knowledge they possessed, or wanted to possess. Whatever public face the reticent, xenophobic race deigned to present to its interstellar neighbors offered no clues to their real agenda. The discovery that the Tholians were genetically linked to the Shedai and that their ancestors once had been slaves to the immensely powerful civilization had served only to make them withdraw further. Their isolationism was only intensified by the nightmarish possibility of the Shedai returning and using their influence to once more subjugate the Tholians, along with anyone else who stood in their way. Despite any token diplomatic overtures the Assembly might put forth, Nogura held no illusions that the Tholians would soon forgive the Federation for the strife it had unwittingly provoked when it stumbled into this part of space and disturbed the sleeping giant that was the Shedai.
“I am aware of efforts which have been under way for some time to perhaps secure possible allies in the event it becomes necessary to defend against a Shedai offensive,” T’Prynn said. “Has there been any progress made in that regard?”
At first, Nogura said nothing. Following her court-martial, the Vulcan had been reduced two steps in rank and her security clearance had been downgraded so that she no longer had access to the volumes of sensitive intelligence information pertaining not only to Operation Vanguard but also to any number of classified subjects. Limiting her ability to obtain such information did nothing to erase the knowledge she already possessed, of course, nor could it prevent her from extrapolating any developments arising from the continued use and updating of that information as various operations continued.
One such effort involved those few persons in the Starfleet command hierarchy who possessed full knowledge of Operation Vanguard and the truth behind the Shedai and the Taurus Reach. At the behest of Diego Reyes while he was still in command of Starbase 47, those individuals had formed a small, top-secret task force with a single objective: sifting through and analyzing information from myriad sources in the hope of finding something that might prove useful in the event a battle with the Shedai seemed inevitable. Records from first-contact missions with advanced cultures, reports of any weapons or other artifacts found on planets that might once have been home to a civilization with a high level of technological advancement—all of it was being scrutinized. While starships on extended exploration missions had come across any number of societies that were on a par with or below that of the Federation, it was only on rare occasions that a civilization possessing superior technology was encountered. In several of those instances, the meetings had been less than peaceful, although those cases were exceptions.
Reaching for a data slate on his desk, Nogura held it up for T’Prynn and ch’Nayla’s benefit. “There hasn’t been the kind of progress we’d all like to hear about,” he said, “though every so often a promising lead presents itself. For example, I was just reading this report of the Enterprise’s mission to make contact with the Melkotian homeworld. Bit of a rocky start there, but Captain Kirk was able to open a dialogue with Melkot’s leadership.”
“Their level of technology is more advanced than ours in some areas,” ch’Nayla added, “and the captain’s report states that they’re also extremely powerful telepaths.”
Nogura nodded. “It’s very possible they might have a trick or two up their sleeve that could come in handy.”
Her right eyebrow cocking again, T’Prynn said, “I have read the report in question, Admiral, and according to the descriptions included in Captain Kirk’s brief, the Melkotians possess no extremities on their upper bodies.”
Vulcans,Nogura reminded himself. “T’Prynn …” he began.
“I apologize, Admiral,” the lieutenant said. “I was under the impression that this was the point in our conversation in which a humorous observation might be welcomed, as a means of defusing any stress or discomfort generated by discussions involving unpleasant topics.”
There was no stopping the chuckle that provoked, and Nogura leaned back in his chair, allowing himself to set aside, if only for a moment, the weight of responsibility and the current issues on his table. “Well played, Lieutenant.” After another moment, he returned his attention to the matters at hand. “All right, back to business. Reyes: your first shot at having him hack the Omari-Ekon’s computer was rather bold on your part. I’m amazed he wasn’t caught, trying that out in the open like he did, and it seems naïve to think you’d have that kind of luck again.”
“Agreed,” T’Prynn replied. “To that end, I have examined a technical schematic of the Omari-Ekonand have selected four possible locations for accessing the computer while still affording Mister Reyes some measure of privacy.”
Nogura was not sure he liked the implications of that. “To me, that sounds very much like something that could get Reyes killed if he’s discovered.”
“There’s certainly a risk,” ch’Nayla said, shifting in his seat, “but we believe that with the translator device to assist him, Reyes will have an easier time accessing and navigating the computer system, and the actual time spent performing the data retrieval task should be much less than had he proceeded according to the original plan.”
Seeing no other viable, timely alternative, Nogura nodded his approval of the plan. “Let’s hope so, and let’s hope he doesn’t get caught this time.” There had already been enough good fortune expended to this point with respect to Diego Reyes, as evidenced by the fact that he was still alive. Believing that condition to be anything but temporary was foolhardy, Nogura knew, just as he knew that, for the moment, there was precious little he could do to affect the situation.