The centurions less‑than‑subtle movement had obviously not escaped TLuadhs notice, any more than it had Trips. “Kroiha,she said in a tone that contained both fear and warning. “They were seen on Taugus III as recently as yesterday morning, Dartha chRihan Standard Time.
Drawing on his recent studies of the Romulan star charts hed obtained from Ehrehin, Trip tried to get a fix on the location of the new Romulan place name in relation to their present position. Unless he was very much mistaken, Taugusknown on UESPA star charts as Gamma Equuleiwas probably at least several weeks away from Cheron. Trip could only hope that he and Terix would have a reasonable chance of running the dissident technology thieves to ground during that time, reaching them before they vanished into the woodwork permanently and put their ill‑gotten gains to the worst possible use.
“And what is the name of their present leader? Terix asked.
The woman took a short swallow from her glass, then looked quickly around the bar as though she feared she might be overheard. None of the other carousers or gamblers present appeared to have taken any particular notice of her.
“They answer to a man named Chuihv, she said at length, speaking in a voice so quiet that Trip had to lean toward her to hear her words clearly.
Trip barely managed to avoid knocking over his drink when he recognized the name shed just dropped.
“Youve dealt with this Chuihv before, Cunaehr? Terix asked, his curiosity clearly piqued.
Trip nodded, not seeing any point in trying to paper over his initial reaction. “Yes, in a way.
Terix scowled at Trips uncertain pause. “Out with it, Cunaehr.
After taking a moment to decide just how much to reveal, Trip said, “He was the leader of the Ejhoi Ormiingroup that captured me and Ehrehin a few khaidoaago. The doctor and I both barely managed to escape from them with our lives.
He restrained himself from blurting out the additional fact that Chuihv was known to have worked on both sides of the Romulan territorial border, having once been Captain Sopek, the commander of the Vulcan Starship NiVar. But how could I know anything about that,he thought, unless I reallyam the Vulcan spy that Terix already suspects I am?
Still holding her drink, the woman used her free hand to toss a small object toward Trip. He instinctively caught it a split second before he managed to identify it as a standard Romulan data module.
“You need to learn not to be so trusting, Cunaehr, she said around another appraising leer. Then she nodded toward the finger‑sized bit of plastic in Trips hand. “For all you knew, that might have been something dangerous.
Im sure it is,he thought. Aloud, he said, “Thanks for the advice. He did his best not to sound sullen and resentful, even though he couldnt help but remember how angry hed felt whenever his older brother Bert would aim a finger at his chest, then flick Trips nose when hed look down to see what he was pointing at.
“Are you going to tell us whats on this thing, he said, “or am I going to have to see for myself?
“The module contains the precise coordinates of Chuihvs base in the Taugus system, she said. “Hand delivered to you rather than transmitted in order to maintain your element of surprise.
Unless youre as trustworthy as Chuihv and have already warned him that were coming,Trip thought as he pocketed the chip.
Terix rose from his stool and tightened his cloak about him. “Lets waste no more time, Cunaehr, he said. “We must make haste to Taugus.
“Youre welcome,TLuadh said with what Trip thought was an overly theatrical pout.
Terix exited the saloon without so much as a backward glance, and Trip followed a short distance behind him. As they wended their way through the rough and shopworn spaceport district toward the austere launch pad where they had left their small scoutship, Trip considered what might await them in the Taugus system. They would either root out the thieves who had raided Ehrehins lab, or else walk right into a trap set for them by TLuadh and the Ejhoi Ormiindissidents.
Life or death, to be determined by capricious fate as much as by their own brilliant improvisations. As they strapped themselves into their seats in the vessels cramped cockpit and worked their way through the pre‑launch checklist, Trip hoped the former would take a back seat to the latter.
“ScoutshipDrolae, said a tinny voice from Cherons spaceport traffic control facility. “You are clear to depart from launch pad khider.
“Scoutship Drolaeacknowledging, Terix said after toggling open the channel. He entered a brief series of commands into the console before him, and a moment later Cherons broken and silent mausoleum cities fell away into the infinite night as the chase resumed.
“Leaving Cheron orbit, Trip said, casting a sidelong glance at Terix. The centurion acknowledged him with a silent nod before returning his attention to his console and the star‑sprinkled blackness that filled the forward window above it.
Trip continued studying his traveling companion surreptitiously, and wondered what would happen in the event their mission succeeded. After all, he still couldnt allow the Romulan military to obtain the secret of the warp‑seven stardrive. And he felt certain that Terix still regarded him merely as a useful enemya resource to be exploited, but tolerated only for the duration of the current circumstances.
Am I going to have to kill this guy before he gets a chance to turn on me?
Prepared to remain alert and vigilant throughout the entire voyage to Taugus III, he gazed forward into the boundless void and hoped he was betraying no outward sign of his internal turmoil.
He wondered if Stillwell and Harris would be reassured by his newfound paranoia.
Enterprise NX‑01
“Sometimes venting at a computer screen just wont cut it, Archer said as he stepped into sickbay. “Phlox, youre the only other person aboard I can really talk to about this.
“Captain, Phlox said in a gently bantering tone. “You know I only sleep six days per year, whether I need it or not. And unless Im very much mistaken, I wont need to do it again for another seven or eight of your months. The doctor busied himself feeding one of the exotic alien animals he kept in his small therapeutic menagerie.
“I need TPol and Malcolm here,Phlox, Archer said. “Captain Hernandez and I need their help sorting out this Draylax business. We still dont have a clue about the real reasons behind the Klingon attack. Or why the Klingons felt it necessary to destroy their own ships to stop it.
Phlox adopted a patient expression, as though he were ministering to a particularly challenging patient. “But you said yourself that Commander TPol and Lieutenant Reed left Enterpriseprior to the Draylax crisis.
“I did, Archer said, almost snapping despite his best efforts to remain calm. “But that doesnt do us any good at the moment.
Phlox nodded. “Youre angry because they left without official authorization.
“Of courseIm angry about that! Again, frustration seemed to be getting the better of him, but he felt too damned tired to fight it off any longer.
“Thats certainly understandable, Captain, Phlox said, unfazed. “Would you like a mild sedative?
“Thanks, but no, Archer said as he rubbed at eyes that felt as gritty as a sandlot baseball diamond. “I should have seen this coming. And kept a closer eye on TPol. I cant believeI missed the warning signs!
Phlox closed up the container that housed his specimens, then focused his icy blue eyes on Archers face. “Captain, when TPol makes up her mind, she doesnt take no for an answer very easily.
“And Malcolms got an independent streak about half an AU wide, too, Archer said, nodding. “But thats no excuse. Im going to be even more disappointed if they get themselves killed,he thought.