The look on Nog’s face when he walked into the captain’s ready room was priceless, Sam thought. The kid was so eager to be in the loop he actually looked like he was fighting to keep a smile off his face. That’s all about to change.

Vaughn sat behind his desk. Sam and Dax stood off to one side in the cramped cabin, leaving the single guest chair for the chief engineer. “Thanks for coming, Nog. Have a seat,” Vaughn told him.

Nog sat down and waited while the commander consulted something on his desktop display before he finally looked at the young officer. “I want to be clear about something from the onset, Lieutenant,” Vaughn began. “Nothing discussed during this meeting leaves this room.”

Nog nodded. “I understand, sir.”

“Dax. Tell him.”

Nog turned to Defiant’s X.O. as she launched into an explanation of Sam’s discovery of the Starfleet transponder signal. “We’ve traced it to a class-M planet that the Defiantis presently orbiting. Attempts to scan the surface in order to pinpoint the source of the transmission have instead turned up something else: the wreckage of a Jem’Hadar attack ship.”

Dax let the revelation sink in, pausing to give Nog a chance to ask questions. Sam had a pretty good idea what he must be thinking: The Dominion was parsecs distant, andDefiant’ s course had been plotted deliberately to keep it as far from the Founders’borders as possible. So what was a Jem’Hadar ship doing out here?They were the same thoughts that still ran through Sam’s mind.

“Any indication what destroyed it?” Nog asked.

“No,” Dax said. “No sign of survivors, either, although the evidence is far from conclusive. Heavy atmospheric disturbances are making sensor readings unreliable beyond a certain point. The only way we’re going to learn more is to go down there,”

“I’ll be leading the away team,” Vaughn said to Nog. “You and Lieutenant Bowers will be going with me to assess the wreckage and determine what caused the crash. And to pinpoint the transponder signal. We beam down in thirty minutes.”

“Yes, sir,” Nog said and, believing the meeting adjourned, stood up to leave.

“Nog,” Vaughn said, stopping him. “I’m sure I don’t have to remind you that the discovery of a Starfleet transponder signal at the site of a destroyed Dominion ship in the Gamma Quadrant is a sensitive matter requiring the utmost discretion. Nevertheless, I’m repeating my initial instruction: this isn’t to be discussed with anyone outside this room.”

“I understand, sir,” Nog said. No trace of a smile,Sam noted. He knows we’re in deep. And just like the rest of us, the number one question on his mind is “How much deeper will it get?”

4

“What do you mean, he killed First Minister Shakaar?”

“I mean exactly that, Madam President,” Charivretha zh’Thane said, and with exacting detail, described to Trill leader Elekzia Maz, whose shocked faced stared back at her from the wardroom viewscreen, the murder zh’Thane herself had witnessed by Hiziki Gard.

“This is impossible,” Maz insisted.

“I saw it with own eyes, Madam President.”

“Where is Ambassador Gandres? I want to speak with him.”

“He’s being questioned by Deep Space 9’s chief of security,” zh’Thane said. “He may be a while.”

“The Bajorans can’t possibly believe this despicable act was sanctioned by the Trill government.”

“They don’t know what to believe, Madam President,” zh’Thane told her honestly. “And under the circumstances, questioning the other members of the Trill delegation is a logical first step. For what it’s worth, Gandres is conducting himself admirably. As a gesture of sincerity, he has chosen not to invoke diplomatic immunity. But it might also help if Trill were to issue a statement condemning the murder, and to make a pledge of cooperation such as Bajor may require.”

“Yes, of course,” Maz agreed. “We’ll cooperate fully.”

“It would also be a show of good faith to send Deep Space 9 whatever data you have on this Hiziki Gard.”

Maz nodded. “I’ll convene my cabinet to discuss the situation immediately. You have my word, Councillor, an official statement will be released within the day. I personally will contact the new first minister to make a formal declaration of regret and apology, and to offer any assistance Bajor may need in this time of crisis.”

“Thank you, Madam President.”

Maz shook her head. “In five lifetimes I’ve never faced anything like this.”

“It is a difficult time for all of us,” zh’Thane acknowledged.

“Does the Federation Council—?”

“They are aware of the situation,” zh’Thane said gravely. “I am acting on their behalf to try to keep the political situation from deteriorating further.”

“I don’t envy you the task ahead,” Maz said. “Good luck to you, Councillor.”

“To all of us, Madam President.”

Maz closed the link, and as the wardroom screen reverted to the Great Seal of the Federation, zh’Thane slowly moved to the meeting table and fell heavily into the nearest chair. She covered her eyes with one hand and fought back tears, wishing more than ever that Shar was with her now.

In the observation room Akaar stood leaning into the viewscreen and frowned as he watched Ro Laren question Ambassador Gandres inside the security office’s interrogation chamber. Ro sat opposite Gandres at a bare metal table in the middle of the chamber, surrounded by dismal gray walls and deliberately oppressive illumination. Throughout the first hour the ambassador had continued to insist he had no foreknowledge of Gard’s intentions toward Shakaar, claiming that his aide had been assigned to him from the Trill Diplomatic Corps before they left for Deep Space 9. Part of Gard’s assignment had been to work with station personnel to ensure the security of the Federation dignitaries. Beyond that, Gandres apparently knew Gard only as an easygoing but consummate professional—in a way that seemed to come so easily to the joined, Gandres had added with a hint of bitterness.

Ro persisted with questions about the assassin: behavior he’d exhibited, conversations he and Gandres had had, habits the ambassador had observed, other people Gard had contact with while he was aboard the station.

Gandres had been able to offer little insight…save that he’d seen Gard and Ro socializing at the Ferengi bar on the Promenade recently.

Akaar’s frown deepened.

The admiral turned as the door into the small, dark observation room opened, admitting General Lenaris, who had spent the last hour meeting with Minister Asarem, and in contact with the leaders of the Militia on Bajor.

“How bad is it?” Akaar asked.

“Bad,” Lenaris confirmed. “We’ve managed to implement an information blackout until the first minister can address the Bajoran people, but once this gets out, global shock will set in, the accusations will start, and the isolationists will have a field day.”

“How is the first minister?”

“As she should be, Admiral,” Lenaris said. “Concerned for her people, and determined to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure their safety from outside threats.”

“None of us wanted this, General,” Akaar said.

“I don’t doubt that,” Lenaris replied. “But it’s happened. And if some Bajorans had doubts before about unity with the Federation, then more will very soon.”