Denak nodded curtly, his expression bland. “I truly am surprised to hear from you. Once you resigned your commission, I expected you would sever ties to

“I am Vulcan, Denak, TPol said, interrupting her erstwhile superior. “And I have only a brief time to communicate with you. Speaking plainly, I need to know about any anomalous military or intelligence activity that Vulcan may be undertaking within the Romulan Star Empire.

Raising an eyebrow, Denak shook his head slightly. “Such things are somewhat out of my immediate area of knowledge, TPol, though it is not an entirely unknown subject to me. Ido know that we have taken Captain Archers theories about imminent Romulan aggressionfar more seriously than has the Coalition Council. With this in mind, we have agents investigating all the various acts of interstellar piracy, as well as every recent outworld attack.

TPol nodded, choosing her next words with extreme care. She didnt know whether or not Denak knew about the relationship between the Vulcan and Romulan peoples, nor did she want to jeopardize any mission that Trip was currently involved in during his covert tenure inside the Romulan sphere of influence.

“Are your agents working fromwithin Romulan circlesor are they investigating only in a defensive sense?

Denaks eyes narrowedhis ocular implant made for a fair approximation of his missing eyeand he seemed to study her closely for a moment. “We are engaging in purely defensive maneuvers is the answer most anyone in the Vulcan intelligence hierarchy would give you, TPol. But because youve saved my life on more than one occasion, I shall simply say that it would be illogical for us not to attempt to understand the goals and capabilities of the Romulan Star Empire by studying them from within. Precisely how that is being done is a matter somewhat beyond my clearance level, but I know that such operations are indeed under way. And that they are being done at tremendous personal risk to the individuals involved.

“Could you enlighten me as to whichindividuals may be involved? she said.

He paused for a moment, then added, “You might look into associates of Captain Sopek of the Vulcan High Command.

She frowned. “Dont you mean the lateCaptain Sopek, Denak?

Something that almost resembled a small smile came to the older mans lips. “Reports of Sopeks death may have beengreatly exaggerated.

“I appreciate the information, Denak, she said, wondering precisely how Sopek might be involved in Romulan espionage; only two years ago, following the Andorian attack on PJem, Sopek had used his influence with the Vulcan High Command to keep TPol aboard Enterprise. She resolved to investigate Sopek whenever time and duty permitted it.

“I only have a few moments more before the subspace scrambler may be detected, she added quickly. “Please contact me again at this frequency should you discover anything further that you think would be helpful. She tapped the screen, sending him a specific frequency graph.

“I will expect you to do the same, TPol,Denak said. “As I noted, many of us believe that the Romulan threat issignificantly more dire than even Vulcans government officials and representatives seem to understand. Or will admit. If you learn anything that might help raise awareness within the new administration, you have my word that I will contin

The screen went blank as the timer reached zero, and TPol knew that the scrambling device was already erasing any trace of the transmission from the ships com logs and computer backup subroutines. She wished that she had been able to speak to Denak for just a little longer. But for now, she had some slim threads to follow.

It seemed clear that at least someVulcan military or intelligence operatives were working covertly within the boundaries of the Romulan Star Empire, which meant that at least some knowledge existed on Vulcan of the connection between the two long‑sundered peoples. She had no reason to believe that Denak was aware of that connection, however; nor did she feel that he was holding back any important information.

Which meant that he also didnt have any information concerning Trip, or the specifics of his mission for the covert Earth‑based intel bureau. TPol cared intensely about the future of Vulcan, as well as that of the Coalition of Planets and the safety of the Starship Enterprise. But she also knew that deep within her, no matter how much she tried to repress her emotions, her actions were being guided, illogically, by fear.

And by loss.

Where is Trip now, and what kind of danger is he facing right at this moment? And when will he be back?

TPol knew she couldnt rest until she found the answers.

FOUR

Day Twenty‑nine, Month of KriBrax Romulus

W ITH MORE THAN AN HOURto spare before his next scheduled check‑in with Captain Eric Stillwell, Charles “Trip Tucker III left his small suite of rented rooms for a brisk sunset walk downtown.

Of course, downtown Dartha wasnt just anydowntown. Even by the standards of the Romulan capitals venerable Government Quarterwhich had been built, and was even today continuously being rebuilt, over the bones of one of the oldest settlements on the planetthe ancient streets seemed absurdly narrow. Moving with a confidence instilled by having lived here continuously for the past several weeks, Trip wended his way along the tightly packed warren of constricted roads and footpaths, all of which curved gently to conform to the generally round, concentric style that characterized even the oldest Romulan urban planning. As he walked, the remnant of the neighborhoods daily throng of assorted shopkeepers, clerks, laborers, and retail customers moved past, either ignoring him entirely or favoring him with wordless nods or perfunctory greetings of “Jolantru,the local equivalent of “Have a nice day.

He turned sideways to allow a middle‑aged man and woman to pass him on a narrow sidewalk. These people dont smile much more than the Vulcans do,Trip thought, suppressing an ironic grin so as not to attract any unwanted attention; he knew from firsthand experience just how dramatically the sometimes explosively passionate Romulans differed from their more contemplativeif sometimes equally standoffishcousins on Vulcan.

The slow trickle of passersby inexorably slowed further, dying off entirely as the yellow Romulan sun finally completed its long horizonward arc, its present low angle giving it the hue of human blood. Trip paused to take in the spectacle of the bloated, ruddy orb as it settled behind the phalanx of centuries‑old structures that comprised the squat Old City skyline. Caught between the waning rays and lengthening shadows, the venerable illuminated spires of the kilometers‑distant Hall of State rose belligerently, war pikes poised over the Romulan capital, the anthracite‑black waters of the Apnex Sea at their backs. It told Trip a tale of the fearsome martial past that TPols people shared with the Romulans, a way of life that could return to the presently peace‑loving Vulcan people should the star‑spanning empires dreams of conquest ever reach fruition. The tableau could have been the work of a painter determined to limn the contradictory streaks of beauty and savagery of the galactic civilization that radiated from this very city.

A civilization, he reminded himself, whose crash program to develop a warp‑seven‑capable stardrive still posed a direct and mounting threat, not only to the world of his birth, but also to its allies. Putting a definitive stop to that program was the reason he had come to this alien place. It was also the reason he had allowed all but a handful of the people in his life to believe the official reports of his death in the line of duty. His parents, his brother Bert, and Owen, the child that Bert and Miguel had adopted a few years backall of them believed what Starfleet had told them about his death in an apparent pirate raid.