CHAPTER 14
DUCHY OF THE SWORD WORLDS, HYDRAN KINGDOM
APRIL 2270
Relaxing in his study, listening to the wind and rain against the tall, narrow windows of his study, Colonel Jons enjoyed a glass of wine and the warmth of the fire. Turning to the dispatches delivered by the day's courier, he quickly sorted them out. Smiling he held up one marked as a personal message data chip and smoothly inserted it into his PADD.
The action led him to remember how pleased the Romulons had been that the Yorktown team had neglected to scan the PADD he was carrying and therefore failed to detect the isolinear chip he had inserted back in that pub in Marseille. It was, after all, his habit to succeed at his duties, and one had a certain reputation to maintain, after all. And of course, they had learned much about the capabilities of the Constitution Class Starships from monitoring the duel between the Hood and the Yorktown.
He touched the display screen. The usual headers indicating that it had been scanned by both Starfleet Intelligence and the Hydran embassy security office flashed by and he began reading the letter. Tapping a symbol, the PADD displayed a holographic image of Sooth, proudly holding her four new kits with Wilkes standing behind her, his hands on her shoulders. "That's quite an armful." he thought to himself, remembering the birth of each of his own children.
"I wonder what it would be like with four at one time..." he mused and continued reading the message, full of the sort of little bits of daily life that are only of interest to those directly involved. It closed with a post-script, "PS: I still think you're a spy. But I'll admit I've been thinking about what you said about a balance of terror. I still don't agree with you, but it makes a bit more sense now."
Jons chuckled, wondering what Starfleet Intelligence would think of that particular comment. The lad stood as a unique bridge between the Federation and Dosadi cultures and was deliberately communicating with a spy. He would no doubt come in for extra scrutiny in his dealings...he sat back and watched the fire for a little bit, letting his mind run.
There were possibilities here; business, intelligence, and indeed, personal as well. The boy and his wife were quite likeable, after all. But then, Colonel Jons was a very emotional man.