During the entire process the spy simply stared at Valdore, his expression now displaying a sort of defiant curiosity. The man stared in silence as he rubbed his wrists where the shackles had chafed them.

“What is your name? Valdore asked the prisoner.

“Cunaehr irRatleihfi trMandak, he answered slowly, pronouncing each syllable as though his tongue had grown swollen and heavy. “I have been Doctor Ehrehins assistant for the past twelve fvheisn.

Valdore nodded, not bothering to challenge the spys professed identity despite the fact that his own research the previous evening had already conclusively put the lie to it. Cunaehr, the longtime apprentice, assistant, and amanuensis of Doctor Ehrehin iRamnau trAvrak, died some three khaidoaago on Unroth III during an ill‑fated static test of an early prototype of the avaihh lli vastam,the still‑elusive warp‑seven stardrive. Therefore, Cunaehr was the only person in the entire vast expanse of Romulan Star Empire space that this spy could notbe.

Whois he, really?Valdore wondered, as he had done for the past nine dierha. And how did the Vulcans manage to place one of their spies in such a sensitive position?

Valdore knew he couldnt discount the possibility that his own instincts had been compromised more than he had realized by his own recent political imprisonment following the drone‑ship fiasco of the previous fvheisn. Or perhaps the spy had gained his initial foothold on Romulus during the several long khaidoaof Valdores incarceration.

But Valdore allowed all such questions to go unasked, at least for the moment. He knew that there was nothing to be gained by letting the spy understand the extent to which his assumed identity had been compromised. Far better to allow him to continue operating with impunity, all the while keeping him under close but discreet scrutiny. This Vulcan might be put to considerable productive use for the Empire, whether knowingly or not.

“On behalf of all the military forces of the Romulan Star Empire, Valdore said, “please accept my apologies for your confinement.

“Im sorry? the spy said, looking nonplussed.

Valdore assayed a smile he hoped the man would find reassuring. “No. Imsorry. For having allowed you to be arrested and imprisoned, and so soon after the slaying of your mentor. You are free to go, Cunaehr.

“Sir? said Terix, who was still standing with the uhlans near the office doorway.

“I wasnt addressing you,Centurion, Valdore said, using a tone that brooked no further argument. He kept his gaze fixed upon the spy, whose blunt response took him by surprise.

“Why?

Valdore chuckled. “Contrary to what many of our officers believe, not even the Romulan government is infallible. I stand before you as proof of that. I, too, was once imprisoned. Until my superiors thought better of that erroneous decision, that is.

“I was arrested, the spy said quietly, looking more puzzled by the moment, “by mistake?

“We thought you were someone else, Valdore said, nodding. “It appears you were the victim of a simple case of mistaken identity. Nothing more.

The spy nodded, a look of hesitancy bordering on suspicion displayed across his face, as though he feared falling victim to some devious psychological trick. “Its a real relief to hear that, Admiral, he said at length.

“I hope this unfortunate incident will not significantly slow down your progress toward accomplishing Doctor Ehrehins objectives.

The spys earlier hesitancy abruptly vanished. “I live only to serve the Empire, Admiral, he said in his hard‑to‑place, possibly rustic accent.

And serve the Empire you will, my Vulcan friend,Valdore thought. Regardless of your real intentions.

“My chief technologists office will furnish whatever you require to continue the good Doctor Ehrehins work, Valdore said aloud. “You will find that the laboratory in which you and Doctor Ehrehin worked has already been repaired. And it will be under much heavier surveillance from now on,he added silently.

“Thank you, sir, the spy said, lowering his gaze contemplatively in a way that made him look vaguely troubled.

“You may speak freely here, Cunaehr, Valdore said, hoping to inspire the other mans confidence.

“Have you learned the identities of the ones responsible for Ehrehins murder? the spy asked. Valdore noted with some surprise that the mans expression of concern for the dead mentor whose legacy his very presence threatened appeared as authentic as it did. It was a fine performance. Or perhaps he really had developed some genuine affection for the old man, his Vulcan emotional repression and political predilections notwithstanding. After all, despite all their pretensions to the contrary, Vulcans were no less emotional than their Romulan cousins; they were merely far more repressed, and therefore arguably far less saneand thus more dangerousthan the typical Romulan.

“Centurion Terix, Valdore said, his eyes still riveted upon those of the spy. “Since we have established that this man is indeed a loyal Romulan, I believe his question deserves an answer. What have you learned so far about the assassins?

Terix made flustered noises. “Admiral, these are sensitive security matters. I shouldnt

“What you shouldntdo, Centurion, is disobey a direct order, Valdore said, stepping down hard on the young officers protestations. “Give me the general outlines of your report. Now.

Terix nodded, apparently hastening to focus his concentration and gather his scattered thoughts. After a momentary pause, he said, “So far as my people can determine, Doctor Ehrehin was killed by terrorist revolutionaries whose larger goal is to compromise the stardrive project.

“The Ejhoi Ormiin,Ill bet, the spy said, his eyes now riveted upon Terix.

“Why are you so certain of that, Cunaehr? Valdore asked, raising an eyebrow and using a tone of voice that had been known to make first‑year uhlansand occasionally even sublieutenants and decurionssoil themselves during inspection tours.

The spy didnt appear to be cowed in the least as he faced Valdore again. “Lets just say I know theyre highly motivated to go after Ehrehin a second time. Its got to be the same dissident group that I helped rescue Ehrehin from in the Rator system two khaidoaago. Addressing Terix, he added, “I tried to explain that to you when you and your men arrived in the physics labjust a little bit too late to save Ehrehins life.

Terix nodded impassively, not rising to take the obvious bait. “My men immediately began investigating the Ejhoi Ormiin,beginning with a most thorough interrogation of the lone surviving assassin. It was a far more intensive questioning than any such terrorist operative is capable of coping with. Or surviving, as we discovered during last nights, ah, interview session.

As Valdore nodded his dispassionate acknowledgment, he noticed that the spy seemed to flinch ever so slightly at Terixs description of standard military interrogation procedures, which the intelligence experts in the much‑feared Tal Shiar had refined almost to an art form. The ousted Vulcan leader VLas, with whom Valdore had once quietly conspired, had had no such compunctions about the prosaic realities inherent in transacting the sometimes‑bloody business of espionage. It seemed odd that even the largely peace‑loving Vulcans would not have selected someone equally sanguine about the use of aelhihdruusmnequipment for direct mind‑scans and other such things to employ as a deep‑cover spy inside the Romulan Star Empire.

You should handle that font of compassion with great care, my covert friend,Valdore thought as he studied the spy. It can be as hazardous as raw antimatter in a profession like yours.