James Kirk resisted an urge to strike out in frustration, maybe throw a chair at the wall, or smash a computer screen. The urge was real, but he was Captain James Tiberius Kirk of the Enterprise and he was in control. So he stood there, outwardly calm, while options played inside his head.

Cassady, who had managed not to flinch while reporting another missing person from their landing party, stood stiffly at attention, miserably certain he was responsible for losing T'Phol. Uhura turned at the news with a worried glance, but was busy with reports from the ship and the search party. Giotto swore softly. Arnette made no comment at all.

"How long has Miss Grayson been missing?"

"Less than four hours, Sir. I checked on her after your team left. She said she would stay put and work on the translation." Cassady took a deep breath. "I thought Vulcans can't tell a lie, Captain. I'm responsible for her disappearance."

Kirk gave a short, humorless laugh. "There's no time to assign blame, Yeoman." He turned on his heel. "Uhura, call the ground team, tell them to regroup for another search."

Captain," Giotto said, stepping forward. "Perhaps that won't be necessary. I have an idea where she may have gone. I think she has tried to go back to Site Three."

"Site Three?" Kirk's attention snapped sharply to Giotto. "Why Site Three?"

"Because of Edwin Teal."

"Edwin Teal? The cryptographer?"

"Yes, Sir. He seemed very interested in the bird's song, asked T'Phol quite a few questions." Giotto glanced at Arnette and stepped closer to Kirk, lowering his voice.

"He talked privately with her just before we left the site. And Teal is not happy with the current state of affairs here on Aminta."

Kirk scowled. "Is anyone?" He turned to Arnette. "It is time for answers, Miss Arnette. What is happening here? What do you know about the Andorian imposters or the disappearance of two of my team members?"

Arnette produced a wallet from her pocket, handing it to Kirk. "May we speak in private, Captain?"

Kirk opened the folder and examined the contents for a moment before handing it back to Arnette. "You can speak freely in front of my crew. My main interest lies in recovering my missing personnel and apprehending the Andorian fugitives."

"It is unfortunate that your people have become embroiled in the events unfolding here now. I do not know what has happened to your Vulcan musician, but apparently Doctor McCoy was taken forcibly, possibly by theAndorian imposters."

Kirk's rage grew cold. "You knew he was kidnapped and did nothing? Said nothing?" His eyes narrowed. "Where is he?"

Arnette moved to a computer terminal, calling up a map. She pointed to the screen. "This is the base here." Zooming out to a more expansive view, she traced a route through the folded terrain. "We believe the subjects of our investigation have an installation somewhere in this area. We have been unable to pinpoint the exact location due to magnesite interference. Doctor McCoy was probably taken there. If he is still alive."

"He's still alive," Kirk said tersely. "He knows something they want. Do you know what that is? Does it involve the birds somehow?"

"I do not know," Arnette's reply sounded reluctant, as if she was loath to admit her lack of answers. "We had not considered the wildlife in the equation until yesterday."

"McCoy thinks the birds are sentient."

Arnette closed her eyes briefly. "That would complicate our mission here considerably."

"Complicate?" Kirk spat the word between clenched teeth. "Is everyone here an undercover agent? What about the fake Kelan and Vartheb? Did you know the real ones were murdered? If so, why didn't you apprehend them?"

"I did not know at the time. In any case, they needed to be free to follow their plan. To answer your other question, no. Everyone is not an agent. There are a few agents planted amongst the scientists. There is another small contingent of FID stationed away from the archeological sites.

"That plan had better not involve harm to my chief surgeon."

"As I said, his involvement is unfortunate."

Kirk turned to Giotto. "Site Three is in the clear. Have yourself beamed over, find Miss Grayson and Teal, bring them both back here. Take a guard with you.

"Uhura, call in the search teams. Have M'Benga and a medic report here." He flipped open his communicator. "Kirk to Enterprise."

"Scott here," came the immediate reply.

"Scotty, bring down two shuttlecraft to this location. Equip them for tactical assault and rescue."

Arnette stepped forward. "Captain, I protest this action. You are not authorized to interfere here on Aminta."

Kirk ignored her. "Uhura will forward a map to load into the data banks shortly."

"Have ye found Doctor McCoy then?"

"We have a lead. Send good pilots. Kirk out." He looked at Arnette. "Our teams will need maps, topographical information. I assume the entire area under question is occluded by magnesite interference."

Arnette sighed and seemed to deflate. "I'll send them to Uhura's station."

"What else do we need to know? How many people are we dealing with here?"

"Uncertain. Probably not more than a dozen, maximum. Their facility is inside a mountain, well hidden, probably well protected. Their operation is sophisticated, in no way primitive. They are supported by someone with a heavy bankroll."

"Who? And why?"

Arnette answered readily enough, sounding resigned. "Who? The money is probably Orion. Why? The short answer is mind control. There is a substance here with the potential to sway entire populations. Experiments are getting closer to making that potential a reality. But apparently some part of the equation still eludes them. They must believe Doctor McCoy has knowledge that will help."

"Captain!" Uhura broke in, a bit of excitement coloring her voice. I have Mister Spock on a coded frequency. He is approaching our location and requesting permission to beam down."

Kirk felt his heart take a leap. "Permission granted. Tell him to get down here."

Uhura smiled. "His ETA is thirteen minutes, Captain." She pressed the receiver to her ear, listening intently. "From the ship, Sir. Chapel reports Jasso ingested a slow acting poison, but is currently stable and should make a full recovery."

Kirk looked at Arnette. "What does Jasso have to do with this? Is he a spy, too?"

Arnette looked up from the computer screen and shook her head. "No. In fact, he is unaware of our activities here."

"Who would want to poison him?"

"I do not know. Perhaps it was self-inflicted."

Kirk looked sharply at her, then addressed Uhura. "Have Sickbay post a guard around the clock."

"Captain Kirk, the maps have been sent. You will find the FID group has also decided to close in. There are five of them. They are now out of communication range. The Commander also reported your Vulcan T'Phol is at their outpost, safe and sound, I also forwarded those coordinates to Uhura. You cannot beam in."

"Damn," Kirk swore softly. "Uhura notify Giotto, have him return to base." He stretched, putting a hand to his back which was beginning to ache along with his head.

The shuttles arrived, setting down just outside the perimeter fence. Sulu piloted the Galileo, and Riley the Columbia. Moments later, Spock materialized in a flurry of Vulcan transporter sparkles, already dressed in his Starfleet uniform and carrying his bag. He glanced around, taking in the activity and stepped forward to meet Kirk.

"Is there cause for alarm, Captain?"

His brow rose as Kirk filled him in until it crept under his bangs, hidden from view. His countenance was grave as he considered the information, if he had been wholly Human he would have sighed. Kirk finished, waiting.

"If Doctor McCoy thinks the avian creatures are sentient, I would believe him," Spock said, his brow slight furrowed in thought. "Illogical though his thought process is at times. There are too many unknown variables to form a hypotheses about how the creatures fit into the various activities swirling here on Aminta. Our first task is to recover McCoy, of course." Spock lowered his voice. "I would also suggest posting guards here to ensure the safety and compliance of the resident personnel."

Kirk nodded. "Send to the ship for your phaser and cold weather gear. We'll leave as soon as the SAR teams return, and they should be here any time now." He paused. "I'm glad you're here Spock."

Spock inclined his head. "Of course, Captain." Then, softly, "I am 'glad' to be back, Jim."