Although Site Four was farther from the main compound, the road was smoother overall than the route to Site Three and the trip time was not proportionally as long. The crawler, piloted by Eaggla, had passed into the magnesite area some time back and was about ten minutes away from the chosen disembarkation point just outside the facility. Kirk and the security team spent most of that transit time reviewing the site layout and formulating their response to various scenarios that might unfold during the capture.

Site Four was comprised of three structures surrounded by a perimeter fence, and two other buildings that lay beyond, one within three hundred meters and the other twice that distance. The site crew was all Andorian, six of them including the fake Vartheb and Kelan. According to Eaggla, after dark everyone would almost certainly be in the building used as both office and lodging, and not only because of the cold. The nocturnal, carnivorous, hyena-like species frequented the area. For that reason, all sites had a hand phaser, usually kept in the office.

They had finished the briefing and the security team was making final last minute checks of their equipment. Giotto moved to the seat behind the driver and peered into the arc illuminated by the vehicle's headlights. He was uneasy, his experience and intuition had been wary of Aminta from the beginning, and although he was not given to self-reproach, he could not help running the what-ifs through his head repeatedly. He was joined by Kirk who took the empty seat beside him.

"Playing the blame game, Commander?"

Giotto turned to look at his captain. "Not exactly, but in retrospect it was a poor decision leaving him alone, and I knew it. I should have made him listen."

"His decision. You could not have stopped him if he was determined to seek the creatures."

Giotto shook his head. "With all respect, Sir, I agree with T'Phol. I don't believe he voluntarily left the compound. He knows as well as any of us the danger involved. And he left his communicator. Going without a phaser I could believe, but not without his communicator."

Kirk's regard was focused. "What do you think happened?"

Giotto took a deep breath. "He could have been taken."

"Taken? Taken where? By whom? There are only a handful of people on the planet. Why would they want Bones?"

"I don't know. Possibly because of the birds."

"The birds? I don't understand."

Giotto shook his head, lowering his voice. "Neither do I. There's a lot going on here I don't understand. I do not trust anyone on this planet. Nothing feels right, there are secrets everywhere. Including whatever Doctor McCoy may have been keeping to himself. Nurse Chapel was convinced he knew more than he admitted about the birds." He hesitated a moment. "He seems to be able to communicate with them, at least on a limited basis."

Kirk frowned. "I asked him about that communication earlier. Maybe I should have pushed harder for answers."

The crawler slowed to a stop and Eaggla turned to Kirk.

"This is your drop off spot, Captain. We are just outside the turn that leads to the perimeter. The gate is about six hundred meters past that line of trees."

"Thank you. I want you to wait here. I'll contact you when we're ready for the crawler. What is your comm frequency?"

Kirk input the numbers into his communicator while Freeman handed out the night vision goggles and they disembarked. Through the goggles, the night transformed into an eerie scape in shades of green and brown with details made apparent that would have been hidden under the visible spectrum even in daylight. They took a minute to adjust to the new vision and the wealth of information it provided then they were on their way.

Their plan was to check the two outlying buildings first before entering the perimeter area. They came upon the first. It lay dark and closed, but not locked. They checked but found no one inside. The next building was the same, dark and empty. They approached the enclosed area, entering through the unlocked gate. Only one of the buildings was illuminated, the light fell through the windows and made faint shadows across the dirt.

Freeman consulted his tricorder and shook his head. "Magnesite interference," he whispered to Kirk. Kirk nodded, this was expected. The team split, silently taking positions around the building and both doors. Giotto and Freeman had both decided that Kirk should take a secondary position behind security, a plan that rankled Kirk, but he had reluctantly agreed. When the team was in position, it was Giotto who knocked on the door.

The door was opened by a tall Andorian whose eyes widened in surprise. Giotto stepped through immediately, followed by Freeman and the other guards, weapons at ready. Two Andorians seated at vid screen looked up in alarm, one rising from his chair which tipped over with a crash.

"Starfleet security, do not move. Hands above your head!" Giotto and Evans covered while Freeman and the other guards swept into the bunk area, returning with a bewildered and sleepy looking Andorian who was obviously older than the others.

"All clear, Captain," Freeman reported. "This is everyone."

"What is the meaning of this assault?" the tall one demanded in heavily accented Standard, antennae twitching and face a dusky blue with agitation. "Are you insane? Who are you? What do you want?"

Kirk stepped forward. "I am Captain James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise. We have a Federation warrant for the arrest of the individuals posing as scientists Kelan and Vartheb of Andoria. Where are they?"

"The four of us are all who are here. There are no others."

"Where did they go? And when? We have people all around this building. They cannot escape."

"No one has escaped."

Kirk's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the four. "We were told they had been assigned here, with this team, at this site. Are you saying they're no longer here?"

"I am saying they were never here. Only we who stand before you. We have been here for weeks, only leaving for our physical examinations." He pointed at Giotto. "He saw us in the clinic."

Giotto nodded as he and Kirk exchanged confounded glances.

The older Andorian spoke. "You said 'posing'. I am acquainted with partners Kelan and Vartheb from another project several years ago. What has happened?"

"That is exactly what I want to know." Kirk looked at Freeman as he took out his communicator. "Verify their identification while I make some calls." He stepped into the dorm room, taking a quick look. The small space was filled by four beds, each with a desk and chair. One bed was unmade, probably where the older Andorian had been sleeping. There was no exit and nowhere to hide.

He made the first call to the ship. Scott reported the planet-wide scan was still in progress, no result with almost forty percent of the non-magnesite area covered. Kirk informed him of the newest mystery, urging Chekov to look sharp for all humanoid life forms.

Then he contacted Uhura who also had no good news to report. There was no sign of McCoy from the ground team, who had covered a square kilometer thoroughly, finding nothing except a pack of the native hyenas.

"Unfortunately we have a dead end here, too. If the Andorians are telling the truth, and I believe they are, the fake Kelan and Vartheb were never here."

"Should I inform Jasso or Arnette?" Uhura asked.

"No. I think I'll wait until we return to the compound. I want to see their reaction. One or both may already know, which brings up a whole other set of uncomfortable questions. Be careful and keep me informed. Kirk out."

He called Eaggla on the special frequency before returning to the others. The rest of the security team had come inside and the room was crowded. At his questioning look, Freeman nodded. "These four check out, Captain. They are who they claim to be."

"I have some questions," Kirk said. "Which one of you is in charge?"

The four Andorians looked at each other. "We do not have an order," said the tall one, but Kravestare is in charge of filing reports." He indicated the older one.

Kirk turned to Kravestare. "Were you informed that Kelan and Vartheb would be arriving?"

"Arnette informed me some time back that the FSB might be sending a small contingent. Days ago, Jasso called us in for physicals. I had a short meeting with him while we were in the compound. He did not speak of additional personnel beyond your ship's party."

"What about Arnette? Did you speak with her?"

"I did not. We were at the compound less than five hours. I was busied with replenishing our supplies."

"You said you knew Kelan and Vartheb?"

"I worked with them at the Science Academy on Meezan IV. They are bondmates, dedicated to their research."

"Their bodies were found on Vulcan a few hours ago. Murdered."

Kravestare's antennae drooped. "A great loss. And their murderers are here on Aminta?"

"Do you know their specialties?"

"Archaeogenetics, palynology. Isotope analysis. Recently Vartheb has published in neuro-biology."

"Any idea why someone would want to assume their identities and come here?"

"None at all." He shook his head. "Look around you, Captain. Outside of academia, there is nothing of value here. No precious stones, no hidden treasure. No priceless artifacts. Only a cold and weary planet with a few odd scientists and researchers. Nothing anyone would want."

"Wrong," Kirk said. "Someone wants something. Badly enough to kill."