Chapter 5 – Subterfuge
"Ambassador Soval, we have arrived at Arcadia," Captain Sopek informed him via the intercom.
"Acknowledged," Soval responded. When T'Pol had approached Soval about helping to find Commander Tucker, Soval had not hesitated to do so. He admired Commander Tucker greatly. It was Commander Tucker's skills that had prevented an all out war between Vulcan and Andoria six years previously. Although Tucker was an extremely emotional man, when the situation required it, he could be as logical as a Vulcan. When the Federation Appropriations Committee had voted on giving Sonocorp a long-term contract to research and develop applications for a warp 10 engine, Soval was the only committee member who had voted no. This gave him a perfect reason to go on an inspection tour of their research facilities. T'Pol was accompanying him as his attaché, "T'Lia." Phlox had also accompanied them, remaining on board the T'Shin while he and T'Pol located Commander Tucker. Their plan was to "mark" the commander with a chemical signature. Then the Vulcan transporter would pick up his signal from among all of the humans on the station and transport him onto the Vulcan ship.
"You know that we may not encounter the commander," Soval stated to T'Pol and Phlox.
T'Pol inclined her head. "That is quite possible, but there are no other options in locating him."
"Also, remember that he won't know who you are, Ambassador," Phlox reminded Soval. "There is a possibility that he will recognize you, Commander."
T'Pol responded, "That is a risk I will have to take."
"Very well." Soval led the way to the shuttlecraft that was to ferry them down to Arcadia Station.
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"Welcome, Ambassador Soval," Bennett Sommersby greeted them as they disembarked from the shuttlecraft onto the station, bowing slightly. "We are honored to have you here."
"Yes." Soval raised one eyebrow. "This is my attaché, T'Lia," he stated. "May we proceed with the tour?"
"Um, yes, yes, right this way, Ambassador." Sommersby was flustered by Soval's abruptness. When the Tellarites and Andorians had toured the station, they had been flattered by his attention and obsequiousness. Obviously, Vulcans didn't succumb to flattery.
As they wended their way through the facility, Sommersby took them through the construction area, showing them where the prototypes of all sorts of warp engines were being constructed. In fact, he took them everywhere in the facility except the research and design department.
"Mr. Sommersby, I wish to see your research and design department where the work on the Warp 10 project is taking place," Soval interrupted Sommersby as he was about to explain to them how they lifted a completed prototype out of the workshop.
"Well, Ambassador Soval, that area is extremely restricted. The work going on there is highly classified-" Sommersby tried to put Soval off. Soval wasn't having any of it.
"Mr. Sommersby, I remind you that I am on the Federation council, as well as being a ranking member of the Federation Appropriations Committee, the committee which approved your work." Soval appraised him coldly. "Are you hiding something which the committee should know about?"
"No, Ambassador, there's nothing to hide." Sommersby was clearly having an inner struggle. Prudence won out. "If you'll follow me, I'll be happy to show you our R and D department."
"Thank you." Soval inclined his head graciously, but as they followed Sommersby, he looked at T'Pol with a raised brow.
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"Ambassador Soval, I would like for you to meet Mr. Clark and Mr. Weston," Sommersby introduced the engineers working on the Warp 10 project. "Gentlemen, this is Vulcan Ambassador Soval and his attaché." Sommersby indicated the Vulcan woman standing slightly behind the ambassador.
Soval looked to Weston. "Mr. Weston, I would appreciate it if you would show me the work you have done on the prototype." Weston led Soval over to the prototype, with Sommersby following close behind.
Clark looked at T'Pol curiously. "Do I know you? Have we met somewhere before?"
T'Pol raised one eyebrow. "I have never been on Arcadia before."
He frowned. "Alpha Centauri?"
"No," she answered, truthfully.
"You really look familiar."
"Perhaps you subscribe to the opinion that all Vulcans look alike," T'Pol told him as coldly as she could, considering her heart rate had accelerated. The emotion felt extremely uncomfortable. "I have heard that opinion expressed in the past."
His eyes narrowed. "I don't think that's it."
T'Pol moved closer to him. "May I see the schematics you have been working on?"
"Sure." He moved to the side so that she could see the computer screen.
She pointed to something on the screen. "Are these the plasma intake manifolds?"
"Yes," he answered, then proceeded to describe the difference between these and the ones on the warp 7 ships. As he did so, her hand briefly brushed against his. He snatched his hand away, feeling a tingle in both his hand and in the back of his neck. "Sorry."
T'Pol acted like nothing had happened. Looking over her shoulder she caught Ambassador Soval's eye, nodding slightly.
"Thank you for the tour, Mr. Sommersby. I believe that I shall have much to report to the Federation Appropriations Committee." Soval inclined his head to Sommersby and Weston. "You have been most informative Mr. Weston."
"You're quite welcome, Ambassador. Please come back to see us again," Sommersby said politely, and Weston echoed him.
"T'Lia," Soval said. T'Pol bowed slightly to "Clark" and followed Soval to the shuttle bay. They both of them boarded the shuttle. As soon as they were out of the bay, T'Pol contacted the ship.
"Lock onto the chemical signature that I placed on Mr. Tucker," she instructed Captain Sopek. Sopek ordered it to be done. "Hold Mr. Tucker in the ship's medical facility until we arrive. Estimated time of arrival ten minutes."
"Acknowledged. Sopek out."