Vira saluted and bowed, "Praetor."

"Commander," the Praetor acknowledged.

Vira straightened. She was glad she had been able to get her father alone in his office. He had already turned off the recording device he normally used and swept for bugs. As Praetor, his office was a prime choice for bugging. Almost impossible to do, it was not impossible. She had no idea how high this corruption ran. For all she knew, one of the Senators was involved.

"I received Commander Tomalak's report on the Terix already," Praetor Maiek told her. "You said you had something to add that could not be transmitted on an open frequency."

"Terix did not malfunction," Vira told him. "It was sabotaged and self-destructed by a Tal Shiar agent."

Maiek's mind blanked. "Come again?"

"You see why I had to come to the Council in person, Praetor." Vira told him.

Given the gravity of the situation, it didn't feel right to address him as father.

"I take it you didn't sanction this then," Vira supposed. "I was hoping not."

"Do you have any proof?" Maiek demanded lowly.

"Tomalak realized there was something afoul going on, but the only one who had seen something was in a coma, and would likely die." Vira began to explain.

Ten minutes later, Maiek leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. He felt incredibly tired.

"So this is all about Emmeline," he exhaled. "The Tal Shiar never did approve of her. She was too dangerous, too hard to control. Letting her on Romulus was all the access she needed to take down the Senate if she wanted to. She was Section 31's masterpiece. I can't begin to list all the people she killed under Section 31, not including all those she killed for me after Delron flipped her to our side."

"A second-generation augment," Vira concurred. "As well as a psychic ghost."

"Why wait so long?" Maiek growled. "She's been dead for four years and she was working with us for several decades before that. Are you sure the Tal Shiar was behind Aerv's actions?"

"He thought so," Vira relented, "and since he was Tal Shiar, he would know who his superiors were."

"All true," Maiek confirmed. "In such a case, it's convenient he committed suicide."

"Very," Vira agreed. "Kaylee is the only link we have as to whatever happened. Dontana and Rehu died, as did many loyal Romulans when their ships were destroyed. Tomalak just lost over half his crew. If there really is a traitor in the Tal Shiar, we cannot let this chance slip by. Point-to-point assassinations is one thing but to blow up starships just to kill one or two people? Something is very wrong here. Bochra and Tomalak are still alive. They'll go after them again. My and Delron's names were listed."

"What?" Maiek snapped. "You forgot to mention that."

"Not really," Vira disagreed. "I wanted to surprise you. It's likely your name is somewhere as well. All of us were close to Emmeline."

"What sort of contamination could they mean?" Maiek asked. "For Erebus's sake, she's been dead for four years!"

"I'd love to know," Vira told him, "but Kaylee didn't get that information. Please father, give me the clearance. I need access codes to interface a console with the Tal Shiar database. I believe someone in the list of members is Aerv's superior. Kaylee can identify who."

"A half-Vulcan from the Federation is our best hope," Maiek's expression was disgusted. "How could we stoop so low?"

"I'm not convinced Kaylee is half-Vulcan," Vira reluctantly admitted.

Maiek lifted her eyes. "Come again?"

"Kaylee's adoptive mother was Saavak," Vira told him.

Maiek stared, blinking. "Saavak? Wasn't that the name of Emmeline's handler back when she was Section 31's assassin?"

"Same one," Vira nodded. "She wouldn't stop doing that and start playing mother unless Kaylee was someone important. If her appearance is any indication, I believe she's Emmeline's daughter."

Maiek's eyes flashed as he thought this over. "Then she's Delron's…"

"I don't know," Vira stopped her father. "I got a strand of her hair, still running DNA. The computer's having a hard time locking onto it."

"Emmeline was the evolved version of the augments from Earth's third world war," Maiek shook his head. "Her genome was spliced with over a dozen alien species to make her stronger. Klingon' immune system, Betazoid telepathy, Vulcan strength, Ferengi hearing, Andorian tolerance to cold, on and on. And they did it all while making her look outwardly identical to a human. The computer took hours before it finally had her genome mapped. The first time we got a sample of her DNA, we thought it was left by a team of Section 31 assassins. There was such diversity."

The fact it was struggling with Kaylee's genome in the same way could be considered proof of who her mother was.

"I'm not convinced she is Delron's daughter," Vira supposed. "She's capable of preforming a mind meld. Emmeline may not be able to be scanned, but she can't perform telepathy. If Kaylee was half-Vulcan, the Vulcan blood may have jumpstarted her telepathy. There aren't many things more terrifying then a telepathic augment, which could be why Section 31 assigned Saavak to her. Protecting their investment."

It made sense to Maiek. "This is all conjecture until the computer finishes mapping her genome. Are you certain Kaylee is not allied with Section 31? We may be being played."

"Relatively," Vira admitted, "but I don't know for certain. Tomalak evidently thought she wasn't or he wouldn't have let her preform a mind meld with one of our engineers. I know Bochra does, but Emmeline was one of his mentors, almost a foster mother. He may be projecting his trust of her onto Kaylee because of their similar appearances. Kaylee's personality certainly overlaps with Emmeline."

Maiek knew that could be very dangerous if she wasn't an ally.

"I know Delron won't be able to think objectively, even if he isn't Kaylee's father," Vira told him. "Emmeline and I were like sisters. Because I trusted her mother, I am falling into the habit of trusting her without cause. Therefore, I would like to ask Commander Tomalak be put in charge of this investigation."

"Tomalak?"

"Yes," Vira nodded. "To be blunt, without a ship, he has time. After what happened to Terix, he has motive to solve this. He knew Emmeline, but he won't be influenced like either of us would."

"Very well," Maiek saw no problem. "Will you debrief him?"

"Yes sir," Vira promised.

Maiek paused. "Do you think Kaylee is working with Section 31?"

"Section 31 could have destroyed the other ships by flipping loyal Romulans or sending in their agents posing as Romulans." Vira supposed. "They leave behind enough evidence to make it seem like the Tal Shiar are involved and send Enterprise so it's in the right place at the right time to help Tomalak. Captain Picard could even have been briefed. Saavak just happens to be killed and Kaylee, would happen to scan Aerv. Having the same appearance as Emmeline, it would affect judgements, like mine. Saavak's death could have been faked to give Kaylee an excuse for revenge. She happens to be a halfling who doesn't suppress her emotions, one that sides with humans more then Vulcans. With Aerv dead, we can't tell otherwise.

"Or we could be in the middle of a coup and got very lucky," Vira shrugged. "Either way, someone had to have told Section 31 which Romulans were closest to Emmeline and where Tomalak would be patrolling to put Enterprise in the right position. We have a leak. If we continue as if we believe Kaylee we may be able to learn who."

Again, sound judgement. Maiek was pleased.

"The contamination that was spoken of could refer to your stance on the Garidians and halflings," Vira felt she had to add.

Maiek scowled. During one of the wars with the Klingons, back when he was still an uhlan, his ship's forcefields had been lost and the Klingons had boarded. They wanted to take control of the ship to use it to enter Romulan lines. They wanted a cloaking device. Maiek had been at the helm when they appeared on the bridge. He'd shot one before receiving a glancing blow himself. His right shoulder never had fully recovered from it. The Engineer, who had pretended to be hit, leapt up and shot two Klingons. He'd been shot himself, but he'd still stabbed a third Klingon with a D'k tahg at the back of his neck, cutting his spine in two. The bridge was suddenly cleared.

Maiek had run to help him, leaning him against the wall. He'd told Maiek to patch in sensors to the teleporter – lock in the point-to-point function to Klingon lifesigns. The Klingon ship had lowered its shields. Maiek had run the transporter before but internal scanners were offline. At the engineer's request, he got him to his console while he went to tactical, which could control teleportation. The engineer patched in the cloaking device to the transporter, restoring power to it and scanners, getting the scanners locked. Maiek beamed all Klingon lifesigns into space. The ship was under their control. He was shocked it could be done that easily. The engineer had laughed, stating he'd always wanted to try that. Then he fell from his chair. Maiek ran over, but he was dead. He couldn't believe how much blood there was on his shirt. If he'd laid still instead of stressed himself, he may have survived. Security forces came onto the bridge where Maiek sat, the only one alive. To lock onto and beam so many beings from so many places – two different ships – Maiek couldn't believe it had been done. No one could figure out how he had done it. No one had done it since.

The engineer, Tamius, Maiek learned his name was, was posthumously promoted two ranks. Then it came out that Tamius, despite his Romulan appearance, was half-Garidian. He was stripped of his rank and military record dishonorably expunged. All for the treason of falsifying records to pass as pure Romulan and deceiving the empire, the only way to enter the military. Maiek had never forgotten it. He couldn't understand how everyone else did.

"I suspect that's part of it," Maiek grumbled.

"It's strange for this to be a Federation ploy if it's about that however," Vira noticed. "Surely they would welcome our attempt to integrate other species. The Tal Shiar, less so."

Maiek looked down at his desk thoughtfully. She wasn't wrong about that.

"Given we don't know who the mole is, I'll have the Tal Shiar curb its interference in this case." Maiek told her.

"My crew is up for this," Vira promised, "as are Delron's, and I know Tomalak and the other survivors want blood. We'll keep this in house. I need access codes though. Kaylee doesn't know the face of Aerv's handler but can identify his voice."

Maiek nodded. "I'll tell the Tal Shiar we may have a security problem, a bugging device, and for them to run standard checks."

"For the good of the empire," Vira said.

"For the good of the empire," Maiek repeated.

Tomalak had transported to House R'Mor, which had its own personal transporter. The survivors of Terix were settled in infirmaries, barracks, or their own homes. That left his son. Tomalak stepped off the transporter pad to the young woman who had beamed him in. A Garidian. Lavinia, he recognized after a few seconds, the adopted daughter of Tallera, one of the Tal Shiar members of House R'Mor. In lieu of what had just happened, he found the sight of her foster daughter a little uneasy.

"Commander," Lavinia greeted. "Vira is speaking with the others in the Solarium. Would you like me to escort you?"

"Not necessary," Tomalak assured her.

The pale-skinned girl inclined her head and picked up the PADD on the transporter. She started reading it as she walked away. Tomalak gave a wry smile. He got the feeling his arrival had been an unwelcome distraction to her reading.

He headed for the solarium. It was a large room adjourning the first floor of the manor with glass roof and walls. It opened onto the garden. Chairs and tables lined the inside. Vira was reclining on a chaise lounge. Delron was sitting across a table from her, feet on the glass-topped coffeetable, holding a cup of Romulan ale. A bottle of it was on the table near his feet. They both looked up at his entrance. Delron toasted him before he took a drink.

Tomalak sat in one of the chairs around the coffeetable, irked. They acted like they weren't in uniform.

"So how is this supposed to work?" Tomalak asked. "Three different Commanders? One mission?"

"You're in charge," Vira told him.

"Oh?" Tomalak wasn't expecting both siblings to give this up given who was involved.

"There's no way we can be objective, I haven't been," Vira admitted.

So it was because of who was involved.

"Very well," Tomalak agreed. "To start, I have Aerv's autopsy. They confirmed it was felodesine. According to the guard by his cell, Aerv just laid down. He thought he'd fallen asleep until he realized he wasn't breathing."

Felodesine was fast-acting and painless. If it was painful, a guard might realize he was dying and rush him to medical personnel, who may be able to save him. It being painless was more important than fast acting.

"I've also been assured he's actually dead," Tomalak added. "By the way, where is Bochra?"

"He's with Kaylee," Vira answered. "She's going to be staying on Romulus for a bit so he's telling her how to act a little like a Romulan, the slang we use, our salute, little things that anyone can be taught and everyone knows. If she doesn't do it, or do it right, it'll be obvious she's not Romulan."

Vira's eyes flickered down, then up.

"To be honest, it's a little unnerving to be around her right now," Vira admitted.

"Unnerving?" Tomalak repeated. Now what did she mean?

"She's suppressing her emotions to handle the memories of Lavok and Aerv," Vira explained. "She needs to in order to keep her own psyche intact. According to her, Aev's bloodlust is especially hard to control."

"I see," Tomalak murmured.

His eyes shifted to Delron, who was swishing his ale in his glass, staring at it. Why wasn't he saying anything?

"The Praetor has given me access to Tal Shiar personnel," Vira continued. "I have a long list of voice patterns for Kaylee to listen to, but no names or faces, just numbers. If this is a Federation plot and they're trying to turn us against our Tal Shiar, they may have a specific name in mind. No point in making it easy for them."

Tomalak nodded that was a good idea, though distractedly. Vira noticed.

"Do you think this is a Federation ploy?" Vira asked.

Delron glanced up from his drink.

"It's a high possibility," Tomalak admitted, "most likely."

"Most likely?" Vira sat up. "You don't think it is?"

Cases like this were normally handled with the belief it was an alien set-up. The aliens had to prove they were innocent and guilt belonged on the Romulan. They were never given the benefit of the doubt.

"Consider this then," Tomalak advised her. "The Federation is able to see inside Romulan security, pinpoint a ship's location, smuggle one of their men onboard, provide them with the knowledge to destroy a D'deridex – not once, not twice, but three times and leave no outstanding proof. Until Terix, the destruction of Dontana and Rehu's ships were classified as accidents. I know we could not do the same to the Federation. I find it difficult to believe our security is so lax a bunch of aliens can do so and get away with it. This time, it makes more sense it is an internal affair."

Delron gave a wan smile, taking another sip of the ale.

"There's certainly an internal leak somewhere," Vira agreed, laying back down.

Tomalak thought it was an internal affair though, a coup instead of a ploy, not just an internal leak. It was unlike him.

There was a beep and Delron picked up a PADD that had been next to him. He read. Then he exhaled, downing the glass of Romulan ale and setting it on the coffeetable as he lowered his feet.

"What?" Tomalak asked.

"I had the PADD linked with the computer," Delron told him. "It finally locked onto Kaylee's DNA. She's Emmeline's daughter."

Tomalak felt his chest tighten. He knew exactly what Emmeline had been capable of. If this was a ploy Kaylee had used it to infiltrate the Star Empire, they could be in trouble.

"And her father?" Tomalak asked.

"The computer's still working on that," Delron tossed the PADD back onto the coffeetable. "With so much alien DNA it's still struggling to pick it apart. Biologically, Romulan and Vulcan DNA is very similar."

"We'll know in time," Vira promised.

If it was Romulan, she was likely Delron's daughter, which made her Vira's niece.

"I already have Aerv's background being checked," Tomalak resumed the former conversation. "If he's non-Romulan or had connections with the Federation we'll know. They're also checking into Kaylee, though Saavak's Section 31 allegiance will make that difficult. Vira, look into the names Kaylee gave you. See if Emmeline is the only common denominator." Vira nodded. "Delron."

Delron glanced up at him. He almost looked like he was sulking. Tomalak wasn't expecting that look. What was it for? He put it aside.

"I know you have friends all over the Star Empire," Tomalak eyed him, knowing most weren't Romulan. "Tap them. See if the Tal Shiar has been moving. They claim they had nothing to do with the destroyed starships, but they'd say that even if they were. I need another source to confirm it. Have them look into Aerv and Kaylee as well. My sources are more traditional, which may not work this time."

"What about Tallera?" Delron asked.

Tomalak was less certain what to do with the siblings' Tal Shiar cousin. "Leave her out of the loop for now. Where is she anyway?"

"On assignment in the Klingon border," Delron said.

Tomalak gave him an exasperated look. He hadn't been expecting the prince to answer him. Tal Shiar activities were supposed to be kept secret. For one, he shouldn't be telling anyone, second, how did he know where she was? They were secret. He had too wide a network, but that would come in handy this time.

"And Kaylee?" Delron asked.

"I'll work with her on identifying the traitor," Tomalak said.

Delron opened his mouth to argue, then changed his mind and looked back down. He snatched up the bottle of Romulan ale and poured himself another glass. Now he really looked like he was sulking. He couldn't be objective about this after all.

Vira stood and passed him the PADD with the Tal Shiar voice samples. Its screen was dark green, indicating the highly classified nature of its contents. She left the solarium. Delron did not move, swishing the ale.

"Commander," Tomalak reminded.

Delron glanced up at him, then stood. Taking the PADD and bottle with him, he left. Tomalak exhaled. If Kaylee did turn out to be his daughter Delron may well side with her – even if she was Section 31. He had access codes to the Senatorial building, planetary defense grid, and a great deal more. Depending on Kaylee's mission, things could become so much worse than dangerous.

If she wasn't Section 31... Maiek's beliefs had left the Star Empire deeply divided. If his life was in peril, despite all Romulans under oath to obey, half would probably let him die. The other half would sacrifice themselves for him. His wish to allow mixed-blood and non-Romulans to serve in the military and gain first-class citizenship, equally to a Romulan, had everyone forced to pick sides. He didn't know how much the Federation was aware of, but the situation was a tinderbox.

This was the perfect time for Section 31 to turn the government against its own Tal Shiar and start a civil war. This was the perfect time for the Tal Shiar to decide that Maiek was a threat to the Star Empire and have him removed. They had done it before with Praetor D'deridex, among others. Dontana, Rehu, and himself were generally tolerant of his policies, though Tomalak was less certain about non-Romulans in their uniform. They were removing Maiek's support base and others who might be a similar threat if they were elected to the Praetor's throne. A ship's captain influenced his crew. Tomalak knew Bochra had been influenced by his ideals; his decision to not just work with, but trust, La Forge on Galorndon Core proved that.

Which was it? Tomalak had no idea.

Of course, the Romulans assume its an alien plot. They're wrong this time. Hopefully they'll be able to grasp that before this gets too far out of control. If the Star Empire dissolves into war, it will destabilize the whole quadrant.