Vahklas

By Blacknblue (aka Bluenblack)

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek. I wrote this for fun. Anyone is free to download and/or redistribute this story as long as you keep it complete and intact, and as long as you don't make any money from it.

Note: Vulcan terms used in this story were taken from the online Vulcan Language Dictionary, the Vulcan Language Institute, or I made them up myself.

A/N: This story makes several references to events that took place during earlier stories in my series. It also incorporates aspects of the Vulcan social and economic structure, as described in my prior stories. If you have not read my earlier work you might have issues following along. Enter at your own risk.

Anyone is welcome to use anything I invent in these fan fics as long as they don't make any money off it. I also appreciate it when they take the time to give me a brief nod. Otherwise help yourself.

In order, the stories in this series are:

1) For Want of a Nail

2) In The Cold of The Night

3) Father To The Man

4) Purgatory

5) Hess + Kov

6) and this critter, Vahklas

Chapter 11:

"Is my robe straight, hun?" Trip tried to work up enough saliva to moisten his mouth, with minimal success. T'Pol briskly went over him, tugging and arranging.

"You appearance is satisfactory, husband," she told him. A pair of footsteps coming up the stairs turned into Kov and Anna, also wearing formal robes and looking as nervous as Trip felt. T'Pol was the only one of the quartet who seemed perfectly at ease in the corridor outside the High Council meeting chamber. Anna looked at her with a fretful expression.

"How can you possibly do that?" she demanded. "Vulcan or not, how can you stand there like you haven't got a care in the world? That... with Tolaris and his blood-sucking pack of-."

"Appearances can be deceiving, Anna," T'Pol told her calmly. "Although it is true that I did spend the entire night in the third level of meditation, in preparation for this. I do not believe that permitting our opponents to unsettle us is the optimum strategy."

"Anna," Trip said. "It won't help if you go in there and make Kuvak look bad by throwing a conniption fit. Yeah, Tolaris is an asshole. His clan is mostly assholes. Letting them get under your hide is the same as handing them the win. T'Pol has the right idea. Letting them rattle us is exactly what they want."

Anna gritted her teeth and nodded. "I know. I know. But I can't help thinking about how much simpler it would have been if T'Pol had just told us what happened back then. We could have "accidentally" broken the airlock seal, and everything would have been taken care of then and there."

"I recommend concentrating on the matters we discussed," T'Pol said. "We have evaluated virtually every contingency, and all options have been considered. Our planned response is viable, and I am confident that the day will go well."

Kov put a hand on her shoulder. "Anna. Let me help." She looked at him in frustration for a moment, then closed her eyes and nodded. Kov bowed his head and the two of them stood silently for several seconds. Anna's breathing slowed and steadied, while her expression smoothed. "Better?" he asked.

"Better." She smiled wryly. "Thank you, honey. I know I'm a trial and a tribulation to you."

"No." He stroked her hair tenderly, while Trip and T'Pol politely averted their eyes, "You are my salvation, Anna." Suddenly remembering where they were, he dropped his hand and started straightening his own robe as chimes echoed through the building, announcing the changing of the hour.

"Well," Trip said. "Here we go. I guess you lead, Kov? You're the ranking government dignitary."

"That would be the traditional protocol," Kov said. He extended the first two fingers of one hand to Anna. She placed her fingers across his and the moved to the door. Trip and T'Pol took position directly behind them. Then Kov pressed the button.

The High Council was sitting in formal mode, equally spaced along a semi-circular table. Each member wore an ornamented robe with the name of their clan embroidered down one side. There was a small golden rod sitting upright in front of each member's seat, to be used for rendering a verdict once evidence had been presented.

T'Pau sat at the center of the semi-circle. Kuvak was at her left. Halfway around the room, to the right as they walked in, an old man named Persul was sitting. He was the High Council Minister from T'Pol's clan. The guy looked half asleep, and half amused. Evidently the Eldest Mother had given him a head's up.

Minister Stark, who represented Tolaris's clan, was at T'Pau's right hand. Trip and Stark had butted heads together in the past. Most notably, at the last meeting of a company in which Trip owned shares as damages due to misconduct on the part of Stark's clan. To spread frosting on the cake, T'Pol's ex-husband, Koss, was a member of the same clan.

Saves energy anyway. At least I don't have to waste effort hating two families at once.

Tolaris stood in the open area in front of the table, directly in front of Stark's position. His elder kinsman, Jorin, stood beside him looking grim. Trip had met Jorin before also. Unlike the others, he had seemed like a decent guy. Trip was sorry to see him at this hearing, since he expected things to get ugly fairly quick.

T'Pau tapped a silver bell, twice. "This hearing is now in session. The accusation brought before the High Council is that of Vengeful Defamation of Reputation. The accuser is Tolaris, son of Dinul, of clan Tren'nik'lok'hlt'li'jan'mrifloj'hed'fr'dac. His clan elder advocate is Jorin, son of Endel. The accused who stand before this council are Captain Charles Tucker, and Commander Anna Hess. Their bonded mates are also present. T'Pol, one of the discoverers of the Kirshara, daughter of T'Les, and Adjunct Ministerial Assistant Kov, son of High Minister Kuvak."

The Chief Minister paused and looked over the room. "In keeping with Human custom, additional data regarding the lineage of the accused has not been added to the record. Such supplemental information is available in the public database if reference is desired." She looked at Jorin. "Proceed."

Jorin looked like he had a toothache. He gave Tolaris a sideways glance and said, "My kinsman, Tolaris, has been unjustifiably discharged from his position on the Human's new warp engine project. The discharge was performed in a public manner, without warning, and without any attempt to provide my kinsman with an opportunity to correct any error he might, or might not, have committed. Most egregiously, public statements were made at the time of his discharge to the effect that he is a known criminal, and that he would never be permitted to work on any Human related project again. My clan maintains that this behavior is a violation of the Tehlp'hlat standards of conduct regarding business matters and requests that the High Council adjudicate the issue."

Trip closed his eyes in pain. Another day, another throbbing headache. Naturally.

T'Pau looked at Kov. "Adjunct Ministerial Assistant Kov, were you present at the time of Tolaris's discharge?"

Kov was as stiff as a fencepost. "Chief Minister, I was."

"Do you concur with the event as it has been reported?" T'Pau asked.

"Chief Minister," Kov said, looking uncomfortable, "I am not able, of my own knowledge, to confirm nor deny the accuracy of the assertions made, except for the final remarks spoken at the time of the event."

"Were those remarks reported accurately?"

"Yes, Chief Minister." Kov looked like his stomach was churning.

"Was it you that spoke them?"

"No, Chief Minister," Kov said. His jaw tightened.

"Who made the remarks in question?"

"I did," Anna snapped. "And they are provably accurate."

"You are a liar, Human." Tolaris glared at her.

Anna glared right back at him, but she kept her voice under control. "Chief Minister. At a time when Captain Tucker, then Subcommander T'Pol, and myself were serving aboard the Starfleet vessel, Enterprise, we made contact with a Vulcan civilian vessel named Vahklas. The initial contact was cordial, and we invited members of the Vahklas crew to visit Enterprise while we assisted them in repairs and upgrades of their equipment. At this time we first met both my bondmate and Tolaris."

"The relevance of this?" T'Pau sat with her hands together, patiently listening with no particular expression. Kuvak sat at attention, giving Trip the impression of a man who was facing a firing squad while sitting on his rump. Stark looked about as sour as usual. The rest of the council ranged from mildly interested, to bored, to disgusted. Tolaris was smoldering, and poor Jorin looked like he would rather be having a colonoscopy.

"It was during this contact that Tolaris committed his crime," Anna said.

"Again," Tolaris said, "you lie. No crime was committed." He shifted his glare past Anna's shoulder. "T'Pol expressed interest in learning mind melding. I offered to teach her. She agreed. No force was involved."

"T'Pol." T'Pau looked at her. "Your response?"

"Up to the point of initiating the meld," T'Pol said, wearing an expression of utter indifference, "Tolaris speaks accurately. Once the meld was complete, he attempted to probe more deeply. I resisted. In the process, damage was inflicted and I contracted Pa'anar syndrome."

"Can you prove this allegation?" Minister Stark's lips were tight.

"Chief Minister T'Pau performed the healing meld that cured my Pa'anar," T'Pol lifted one eyebrow almost imperceptibly. "Although I am not certain if it would be appropriate to ask her to testify in this hearing. If not, my medical records from Enterprise will confirm the neural damage that was inflicted the night that Tolaris came to my quarters."

Several faces around the room looked troubled. Including Jorin's face. However, he said, "By Lady T'Pol's own account, no crime was committed. Or at least, no objectively verifiable crime. Evidence related to a mind meld is inadmissible. Moreover, this event occurred prior to my kinsman's employment. Why then was he allowed to join in the first place?"

"I was not informed of the circumstances relating to the incident at the time," Anna said. "Nor was my bondmate. As soon as I learned the full story, I discharged Tolaris."

Tolaris spoke through his teeth. "The secrecy was not my choice. I attempted to discuss the matter, and I was directed to cease the effort by Tucker. Regardless, I repeat that no crime was committed."

"Captain Tucker," T'Pau turned to Trip. "Is this correct?"

"I told Tolaris not to discuss what happened between him and T'Pol," Trip said. He really wished he had followed T'Pol's advice and taken an analgesic before coming. "Despite the new rules put into effect with after the discovery of the Kirshara, there are still some individuals in Vulcan society who regard melding and Pa'anar as carrying a stigma. I wanted to protect my wife by keeping the matter private."

"Perhaps you were trying to protect your own reputation." Stark didn't sneer. Perish the thought. A member of the Vulcan High Council would never compromise his dignity like that.

"My reputation?" Trip raised an eyebrow. He was getting rather proud of his skill at doing that. Lord knows he had been getting enough practice over the last few years. "There is no stigma among Human regarding melding. The attitude most Humans exhibit toward telepathy is mildly bewildered curiosity. As for the Pa'anar, my people outgrew the barbaric practice of demeaning the victims of a disease centuries ago."

Stark's face tightened. "I was referring to your reputation among Vulcans."

"Oh." Trip shrugged. "If my work, and my own behavior, are not sufficient to earn the good opinion of any particular Vulcan, then they are not the kind of person whose good opinion I value. I concern myself with Vulcan social standards and propriety because of my wife and children. For my own sake, I am indifferent."

Jorin was looking at Trip very carefully. "Then, if I understand the situation correctly, Captain Tucker, you were not responsible for discharging my kinsman? It begins to sound as if you did not, personally, object to retaining him?"

Trip sighed and glanced at Anna, then at T'Pol, before looking back at Jorin. "Object? Yes, I had objections. I objected when Anna and Kov first brought him into my office and suggested that I hire him. But he had been infected with Pa'anar at the time he attacked T'Pol. There's also the fact that T'Pol and I were not together then. I don't have any right, under Human custom, to get proprietary about her or anything she did at that time."

Jorin's eyes widened slightly. "Ah. I see. You considered the Pa'anar he suffered to have been sufficient explanation for his behavior."

"No." Trip looked at him. "T'Pol caught the same disease, and she suffered from it for years before the Chief Minister cured her. She never attacked anyone. She never once behaved in an abusive, or selfishly manipulative manner. She never willfully hurt anyone."

He looked at T'Pol, whose facade of calm started to show a few hairline cracks. "But I consulted with T'Pau, and she told me that Pa'anar might cause a person to behave erratically sometimes. That, plus the fact that I didn't want what happened to become public knowledge. Plus the fact that T'Pau, I mean, Chief Minister T'Pau, told me that after his treatment a Vulcan employer would have no logical reason not to give him a chance, persuaded me to let him join the team."

Jorin asked Trip, "Did you suggest, request, order, or otherwise indicate your desire that my kinsman be discharged from your project?"

Trip took a deep breath. "Not directly. Kov and Anna knew that I didn't want him there from the first day, but they didn't know why. Once he was hired, I didn't suggest kicking him out."

"I presume that 'kicking him out' is a Human euphemism for discharging him?" Trip nodded. Jorin turned to Tolaris. "Was Captain Tucker present at the time of your discharge?"

Tolaris swallowed with obvious difficulty and said, "Yes. But he arrived after Commander Hess had already ordered me to leave."

Jorin turned to T'Pau and said, "Clan Tren'nik'lok'hlt'li'jan'mrifloj'hed'fr'dac hereby withdraws our complaint against Captain Charles Tucker the third. New evidence indicates that he was not culpable in my kinsman's discharge, and our clan has no dispute with him."

Stark shifted on his chair and looked disgruntled, but offered no objection. T'Pau tapped the bell once and said, "The accusation of Vengeful Defamation of Reputation, formerly placed against Captain Charles Tucker the third, is hereby withdrawn. Let the record of this accusation be purged."

T'Pau turned to Anna. "Commander Hess. Under Vulcan law, information obtained during a mind meld, or actions performed during a mind meld, are not admissible as evidence. Regarding the other allegations included in the complaint. Was Tolaris's work deficient? If so, was he given an opportunity to correct the error?"

Anna said, "His work was within tolerable limits. That wasn't why he was discharged. He was discharged because his record of past criminal behavior made him a clear and present threat to the safety of the women on the project, especially the Human women."

"There is no logic in that statement." For the first time, Jorin looked indignant on Tolaris's behalf. "Evidence present here has shown that Lady T'Pol invited the meld with Tolaris. Any damage that resulted from the meld is a separate matter, and cannot be considered an attack under Vulcan law. There is no justification of any kind for anticipating that my kinsman would attempt an unauthorized meld with anyone else. Particularly with a Human woman."

"That's not why I discharged him." Anna's statement brought Jorin up short. The older man actually blinked.

"Why, then, has this episode been the subject of discussion?" Jorin asked.

Anna pursed her lips. "Because Tolaris brought it up, that's why. I never said, nor did I imply, that Tolaris was discharged because of his telepathic attack on T'Pol. I never mentioned it at all. The security recordings from the factory are available for review, and have been submitted to the High Council via Minister Kuvak. They will confirm my assertion."

Jorin looked at Tolaris, who looked away. T'Pau asked, "Specify, Commander Hess. What precisely was the behavior that you considered to be reprehensible enough to justify discharging Tolaris?"

Anna sighed and straightened. "In addition to the ones already mentioned, Captain Tucker and I submitted another recording to Minister Kuvak, copied from the official mission records of the Enterprise. We requested the copy three days ago, and received it this morning via compressed subspace packet. It documents the crime you asked about, which took place the day following the meld. I request that it be displayed on the main viewscreen."

"This is unnecessary," Tolaris snapped. "I can tell you what happened. I went back to Enterprise, the day following the meld, because I was concerned for T'Pol's well being. Captain Archer intercepted me and refused to permit me to speak to her. We argued, he became angry, and the dispute became physical. That's all."

"Not correct," Trip broke in. "Captain Archer didn't get angry. He just told Tolaris that he wasn't going to see T'Pol, and told him to turn around and go back to his ship. Tolaris went feral and knocked Captain Archer into a bulkhead. The captain had to grab a sidearm to get the situation under control."

Jorin turned to look at Tolaris, whose hands were opening and closing. "We seem to have a discrepancy," Jorin said. "I would like to see the recording."

"He deliberately provoked me." Tolaris's ears were emerald. "Archer's intent from the beginning was to provoke me into losing control."

"Irrelevant." Anna stepped closer, then closer again, getting right in his face. The Vulcan stepped back in distaste, until the table hit the back of his legs. "The discussion was a simple difference of opinion, the kind of discussion that happens a thousand times a day in our factory. Every Human that works for us is expected to maintain calm and self-discipline under those conditions. Yet a Vulcan was not capable of it?"

"I was ill," Tolaris said tightly. "The Pa'anar affected my control."

"Irrelevant," Anna said. "As Captain Tucker testified, and I confirm, T'Pol suffered from the same illness for years after you infected her. She never lost control of herself. She never attacked anyone."

Anna moved in even closer, until she was almost touching Tolaris. His lips started to skin back from his teeth, and Kov moved in looking dangerous. "In fact, she was suffering severely from the symptoms of Pa'anar syndrome during our time in the Delphic Expanse. In multiple combat situations, she maintained her discipline. She even took command of Enterprise during a major battle. She performed her duty flawlessly. Captain Tucker and I offer eyewitness proof that Pa'anar syndrome cannot be used to excuse random acts of violence."

"I researched the symptoms of Pa'anar," Trip said. "The neural damage does interfere with emotional control, but the damage is generalized. By the time Pa'anar syndrome advances to the point of inducing irrational outbursts of rage, the patient can't function normally in any situation. Tolaris was in command of Vahklas when it returned to Vulcan. Obviously, his Pa'anar had not yet advanced to that point."

Tolaris closed his eyes and turned his head away from Anna. "Whether you knew about this or not, Tucker did. You are not in command of the project, he is. Why were you permitted to discharge me, when he chose not to? All of this was years ago."

"I told you, I didn't know about it." Anna looked at Jorin. "Trip, Captain Tucker, was suffering distress because Tolaris had joined our team. Since I was not aware of the reason for it, this began to cause friction between us and interfered with the smooth administration of the project. To fix the problem, Lady T'Pol contacted me at my home and explained the situation to me."

"Did T'Pol request that Tolaris be discharged?" T'Pau asked.

"No." Anna shook her head. "She just wanted me to know why Trip was upset so that he and I could work things out. The following day, I discharged Tolaris."

"I remain unconvinced that your actions were justified," Jorin said. He looked at the four of them. "Captain Tucker and Lady T'Pol were in agreement that my kinsman should not be discharged. Was it your bondmate who ordered you to discharge him?"

"No." Anna looked at Kov affectionately. "My bondmate does not ordinarily choose to intervene directly in my career." She looked back at Jorin. "I made the decision, under my authority as second in command. In order to clarify my reasoning, it is imperative that the recording of the confrontation between Tolaris and Captain Archer be displayed. If you prefer, the sound can be suppressed. I simply need all of you to witness what happened."

"Agreed." T'Pau accepted the data disk that Kuvak handed her and slid it into the slot at her station. She pressed a series of controls. A wall panel slid aside to reveal a wide viewscreen. "The playback will now begin."

They watched in silence as Tolaris entered Captain Archer's ready room and stood talking for a brief time. The two men spoke silently and gestured at each other. It was obvious that the discussion was becoming animated. Suddenly Tolaris's face turned dark and he swung a powerful blow, knocking Archer staggering backward. The Human impacted the bulkhead behind himself with considerable force and slid to the deck, obviously breathless. Tolaris moved in, looking like a stalking predator. Archer reached behind he chair and drew out a Human sidearm and pointed it at Tolaris, who stopped and looked frustrated.

T'Pau paused the recording. "Was this the event you wished to display, Commander Hess?"

"Yes, Chief Minister," Anna said. "I ask the High Council members to note the force with which Tolaris struck Captain Archer."

"Why?" T'Pau asked. "Stipulated, Tolaris behaved badly. What difference does the force of the blow make? The fact of the blow would seem to be the issue at hand."

Anna walked across to stand in front of the table on the left side of the room and addressed the members directly. "Sexual dimorphism is even more pronounced among Humans than it is among Vulcans. The difference in strength between a Human female and a Human male is proportionately equivalent to the difference in strength between a Human male and a Vulcan male."

Eyebrows went up all over the room. Anna turned and walked over to address the other side of the room. "Captain Tucker's perception of the world is different than that of a Human female. This is not due to any deficiency on his part. It is merely a fact of nature. Captain Tucker is male, he has spent the last two years living under Vulcan gravity, and he is a trained Starfleet officer with combat experience. Tolaris is no danger to him, and it simply did not occur to the captain that he might be a threat to the weaker members of the team."

She walked back to the center and addressed T'Pau, including Kuvak and Jorin with an occasional glance. "You all saw the recording." She shot Tolaris a contemptuous look. "Captain Archer carries approximately twice my mass. If Tolaris had struck me with the same force displayed on the recording, he would certainly have broken my neck. Even if I survived the blow, hitting the bulkhead would have inflicted massive trauma. And I am not the weakest woman at the factory."

T'Pau looked troubled. "The implications are disquieting, I acknowledge this. It is also true that Pa'anar syndrome alone is insufficient to justify uncontrolled violence. Not when the person is still able to function normally otherwise."

"You are manufacturing an excuse." Tolaris was openly growling. He stalked forward with is eyes fixed on Anna. Kov moved protectively to her side, but Tolaris ignored him. "I was ill then, and operating under high stress in an unusual situation. I received treatment upon my return. There is no reason to doubt my control."

"Really?" Anna pushed forward, pressing into his personal space until she was almost nose to nose with Tolaris. "Your complexion is flushed, Tolaris. Your nostrils are flared. Your eyes are narrow. Your breathing is irregular. This is not typical public behavior for a Vulcan."

"What do you know of typical Vulcan behavior, Human?"

"I am bonded to one," Anna said. "I am a member of a Vulcan family. And you are openly exhibiting the signs of anger. You even raised your voice just now. In a Human, your lack of control would be considered inappropriate for this venue. In a Vulcan, your exhibition is shocking."

She looked at Jorin, who was watching his relative with a disapproving expression. "Can you look at Tolaris and honestly tell me that I have no cause for concern about his control? Considering that one blow, from one of his hands, could easily kill any Human woman on my team?"

The entire council was looking at Tolaris with expressions of distaste that ranged from extreme to profound. T'Pau asked, "Do you have further evidence to present in response to the accusation?"

"No." Anna sighed. "I discharged Tolaris because his criminal attack while on Enterprise convinced me that his presence was a potential danger to other members of my team. I included this information in Tolaris's personnel file. It is my considered opinion that no Human project manager in the future will be willing to risk the life of their personnel to employ him. I have presented the facts of the matter as they are known to me. I await the judgment of the council."

T'Pau tapped the bell twice. "Presentation is complete. The council will now render its verdict."

Stark immediately reached out and pulled the golden rod out of its base on the table in front of him. Flipping it over, he re-inserted it with the opposite end up. The end that hd been hidden was bright green, the color of Vulcan blood.

Kuvak reached out and pulled on his rod, leaning it backward until it lay flat on the table. One by one the others voted, with all but two of the council members imitating Kuvak. T'Pau looked around the room and said, "As Chief Minister, I vote only in case of a tie. Obviously unnecessary this time. The accusation is declared to be unproven. In the event that new information is revealed, the council may choose to reopen the case, if the accuser desires this."

"No." Jorin said flatly, earning a dirty look from Stark. "The tehlp'hlat standards allow for actions taken in the interest of self-preservation. The evidence presented here makes it plain that Commander Hess discharged my kinsman because she feared a potential danger to herself and her colleagues. Surak teaches us first, to cast out fear. Second, to assist the other in casting out fear."

He looked at Anna. "It may be possible at some point for Commander Hess to cast out her fear of my kinsman. But that will not be accomplished by punitive legal proceedings. I assure you, commander, that you have nothing to fear from my clan."

"This proceeding is completed. Let the record of this accusation be purged." T'Pau tapped the bell three times.

#

The tiny flotilla was barely inside the heliopause of North Star's system when Hoshi's said, "Captain. I have an incoming message from Suritan. They report that long range scans have picked up something in orbit around North Star."

"Tactical alert!" Archer jacknifed out of his chair.

The ready room door opened and Malcolm Reed exploded through it, heading for the tactical operations station at full speed. The junior officer on duty made haste to get out of his way. Archer nodded acknowledgment. "We have company, commander. Someone got here before us." He turned back to the communications officer.

"Hoshi, request that Suritan and Charon hold position here while we investigate. Travis, go to maximum impulse. Be ready for either evasive maneuvers or a quick burst of warp speed on my order."

"Yes, sir."

"Aye, sir."

"Anything on tactical scans yet, Malcolm?"

"I'm picking up some intermittent flickers scattered through the asteroid belt, sir," Malcolm didn't raise his head from the console. "They could be sensor ghosts. Or they could be warning buoys that the aliens, whoever they are, dropped to monitor incoming ships. We're still too far out to get a clear reading on whatever is in orbit."

"Please let them be friendly," Hoshi muttered.

"We can hope, lieutenant," Archer said. "But if they did leave warning buoys in place, I'm not optimistic. There's no reason to do that unless they're planning to stay awhile. And they have to know the planet is inhabited." He paused and his mouth tightened. "Or was."

Muscles tightened all over the bridge. The Enterprise moved forward with its crew as tense as they had ever been. Coming back to the Expanse had revived some extremely bad memories for the whole crew. Everyone was already wrung tight after finding no trace of the E2. If the unknown aliens had attacked this Human colony, they were about to discover the true definition of trouble.

"Travis, status?"

"Five AU out from the planet, sir," Mayweather said, "coming in at ten degrees above the orbital plane. All systems green."

"Malcolm? Anything?"

Lieutenant Commander Reed squinted and made a minor adjustment to his board. "I'm getting some readings, captain. The orbiting platform seems to have a small life-support environment, but I read no life-signs. It's putting out heat and a weak locator signal, but that's all. No sign of weapons or defenses."

"Identification?"

Malcolm didn't answer quickly. "The superficial configuration isn't familiar, captain. I'm running it through a pattern matching program, comparing it against all the craft we encountered the last time we were here. So far the system has come up with multiple hits on various parts of the structure, from several different races. But no single race matches all of it."

"Two AU, captain," Lieutenant Mayweather said. "No sign of any other traffic, nothing else in orbit."

"Captain," Hoshi said, "that platform, space station, whatever it is just sent a pulse down to the planet. It was a broad beam transmission in the radio frequency spectrum."

"Doorbell just rang," Malcolm muttered. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, silently counting down from twenty. At the back of his mind he could feel T'Jala, warm and comforting, sending him strength and assurance. He firmed his jaw and started a new scan. "I'm getting energy readings from the planet, captain. It looks like multiple craft, small, scattered at four different locations."

"Any sign of damage to the colony?" Archer's voice was as flat as a machine, but there was something underneath it that made Malcolm's neck hair stand up.

"Not that I can tell so far, sir," Malcolm reported. "We're not close enough yet to get much detail."

"Put us in orbit, Travis," Captain Archer said. "Move in slowly until we are pacing alongside the alien platform. I want an in-depth scan of that thing, down to the last bolt and weld."

"Aye, sir." Mayweather's fingers trickled across his controls and Enterprise slowed to a crawl as she eased into position. With a touch as delicate as dust dancing in a beam of sunlight, Travis brought the ship to a position that perfectly matched the unknown craft.

"What can you tell me, Malcolm?" Archer walked over to stand beside his second in command.

"It looks like a partial remnant of a larger structure, sir," Malcolm said slowly. "There are multiple places where sections have apparently been disconnected, without much concern for aesthetics. Confirmed that there is no evidence of weapons. No guns, no torpedoes. I seen no sign of shields, it doesn't even have hull plating. For all the world it looks like some kind of cargo hold that they carved off a larger ship, and then used as a makeshift space station."

"What about those ships?"

He adjusted the equipment. "They look to be along the same style as the station, sir. "Cobbled together out of bits and parts. Four ships altogether, each about the size of a shuttlepod. Three of them seem to be equipped with one gun each. All low yield plasma cannon. No shields or plating. They are... parked?... at the outskirts of three different settlements, with the forth ship off by itself at the base of a mountain chain on the northernmost land mass." He raised up and looked at Archer. "If they attacked the colony, there's no sign that they did much damage. The structures seem to be intact."

Tension leaked out all over the bridge. "Thank God," Archer said.

"Maybe they really are friendly," Travis sounded hopeful. "From the sound if it, they might be refugees of some kind. There's no telling what destroying the spheres might have done to the balance of power in the Expanse."

Archer moved deliberately back to his seat. "Hoshi, see if you can match the frequency of that radio pulse. Send out a general hail in every language that we have on file for the Expanse. Let's see if they're willing to talk."

Hoshi got busy. Almost instantly, she straightened back up, looking surprised. "They're responding, sir. In English. Including video."

Archer rubbed his chin. "Put it on the main screen, lieutenant."

A smiling face appeared. A young man with bright eyes and a cheerful expression. He looked Human. Except for the Denobulan brow ridges.

"Welcome, Enterprise," he said. "We've been hoping that you would be the ones who came back."

#

Tolaris walked out of the building and down the public thoroughfare beside his clan elder in silence. There was absolutely nothing more to be said. He had done the unpardonable. He had dared to bring charges against the bondmate of the only son of a High Council Minister. And then he had failed to prove his claim. His life on Vulcan was over. If he remained, the entire planet would slowly and inexorably make it impossible for him to exist. His own clan would withhold aid of any kind because of the disgrace that he had brought upon them. A Vulcan without the support of a clan and a community was a dead man.

He would have to leave. But without Vahklas, where could he go? Who would accept a former V'Tosh Katur who had invoked the wrath of the High Council? What colony would give him a fair chance? The answer was, none. He might find a place among aliens. Perhaps. Spend the rest of his days alone among talking beasts like Tellarites and Humans? Better to die in the Forge, under the fangs of a Le'Matya.

Tolaris and Jorin separated at the parking area where Jorin had left his aircar. The elder walked away without looking back, and Tolaris turned to descend to the subsurface transport level. He stepped aboard the silver cube and recited the destination code for his apartment.

Once home, he sank into meditation position and fought to stabilize his thoughts. Rage and fear crashed back and forth in his mind, marked and tangled by his hurt at the betrayal from an old shipmate, the injustice of his treatment by the Humans, and his abandonment by his own kin. The pain burned deeply into his katra, boiling in his blood as hot as the plak tau. But unlike the blood fever, there was no target to seek. No remedy to ease his agony.

His time sense was worthless, he had no idea how long he had been sitting there when his door chimed. Tolaris forced himself up, wondering why he bothered, and walked over to key the door. It opened to reveal his kinsman, Koss.

"Peace and long life, krei." Koss offered the ta'al.

"Neither seems likely," Tolaris said. "But your greeting is appreciated. Enter."

Koss stepped into the room and turned. "From your statement I conclude that the hearing did not go well."

"Your conclusion is correct." Tolaris gave a brief summation of events in the High Council meeting chamber. "I am finished on Vulcan. Perhaps finished anywhere."

"Do not surrender so quickly," Koss said. "Let us analyze the situation. Perhaps further insight will reveal a solution to your difficulty."

"I have attempted to do that," Tolaris said. "My only option is to leave Vulcan. Even then, I cannot reasonably expect to find success anywhere in Vulcan space."

Koss settled into the desk chair. "This situation is distressing in the extreme. I cannot escape the realization that the severity of Tucker's retribution toward you was escalated by your connection to me."

"Tucker didn't do it. That was explained," Tolaris said. "Hess was the one who discharged me."

Koss sent him a look. "Surely you are not naive enough to believe this? Hess is as loyal to Tucker as any tame sehlat. She would never undertake something like this, something that had the potential to cause him public embarrassment, without first obtaining his private approval."

Tolaris sat on the edge of his bunk. "Why? Why would he do this? If he was determined not to have me on his project, why admit me to begin with?"

Koss closed his eyes and lowered his head. "I suspect that this outcome was intended from the beginning. Consider it, krei. Was this not an excellent opportunity to strike against our clan? By making a public spectacle of your discharge, Tucker has lowered our clan's status. Furthermore, no doubt he expected that you would appeal the unreasonable dismissal. Just as you did. There was never any real chance that they would rule in your favor, krei. Kuvak is one of their own, and Hess is mated to his son."

Koss stood up and paced thoughtfully. "When you placed your accusation, it provided him with the chance to remind the High Council of both your previous illness, and your former association with the V'Tosh Katur. By extension, this will further damage our clan's status, but this time it was damaged in front of the High Council. Also, by presenting Hess as a thoughtful leader, concerned for her people, he simultaneously raised the status of Kuvak. His most powerful ally."

Tolaris sat rigid. Growing awareness fought with rage to dominate his face. "HE USED ME!"

"I fear he did," Koss said sombrely. "I have come to hold a reluctant respect for Tucker's tactical ability. My father's brother often warned me that Humans are as devious as Orions. Unfortunately, even he underestimated Tucker's abilities."

"I will kill him!"

"A poor choice of action," Koss said reprovingly. "Reconsider your words, krei. Violent attack would not solve your dilemma. First, Tucker is quite dangerous in a fight. I am not at liberty to reveal the source of my information, but let it suffice that the probability of you being able to successfully defeat him is dangerously low. Even if you did, you would be left with the same problem as before. No, krei. We need a solution that reveals Tucker's perfidy in such a way that not even the High Council can ignore it."

Tolaris rubbed his temples. "I cannot think, krei. I beseech your aid in this matter. Help me decide what to do."

Koss sat back down. "I am willing to do what I can, krei. Advice I will offer, gladly. I cannot do much more than that. Given the realities of my past friction with Tucker, if my involvement became known it would cast suspicion on any proof you obtained. No matter how compelling it might be."

Tolaris nodded.

Koss said thoughtfully. "It appears that there are four individuals involved in this matter who must have been fully informed. Other may, or may not, have known the facts. But Tucker, T'Pol, Hess, and Kov all had to know everything. Which one is the weak point? Which one could be most readily persuaded to confess the conspiracy?"

"If Tucker is as dangerous as you say," Tolaris's expression revealed his headache, "there seems very little I could do to influence him. I have no leverage, and I am not an expert at interrogation. Are Human warriors trained to resist torture?"

"I believe that they are," Koss said. He put his fingertips together thoughtfully. "Kov is not a good option. He is a highly placed government official himself. Approaching him would be hazardous in the extreme, and the potential consequences of failure would be catastrophic."

"Hess would be impossible to approach," Tolaris said. "At the factory she is constantly surrounded by her team. As far as I am aware, she never goes anywhere but the factory, her home, and occasionally to government or clan related functions."

"That leaves T'Pol," Koss said slowly. "She is alone at her home most of the day. It should be possible to arrange a meeting with her. The difficulty will be persuading her to reveal her mate's plan."

Tolaris raised his head to look at Koss. His eyes were blank. "Leave that to me."

"You have an approach in mind?" Koss raised an eyebrow.

Tolaris's nostrils flared. "Once I have finished... persuading... her, T'Pol will be quite willing to reveal the truth. Have no doubt in the matter, krei."

Koss sat perfectly still for a moment. "I will ask no further questions. Remember, my name must not be mentioned. Otherwise, anything you do will be discredited."

"I will remember." Tolaris inclined his head. "I will also remember that, alone among my comrades and clan, you were the only one who came and tried to help me. This will not be forgotten."

Koss stood and bowed. "I am here to serve, kinsman. I look forward to hearing more favorable news at our next meeting." He walked to the door and let himself out.

#

Koss walked rapidly away from the apartment, pulling up the hood of his robe. No one was in sight at the moment, and he ducked into a side passage as soon as possible. Once he reached the stairs and got down to street level, he started to relax.

It was only with great difficulty that he prevented himself from smiling in public. Whether Tolaris succeeded or failed with T'Pol, it would not matter. The implant would ensure that he lost control and inflicted extensive damage, no matter what the ultimate outcome. This would damage or, at minimum, severely distract Tucker. Which would be a major setback for the Human's project.

His handler would be pleased.

TBC