Lieutenant Smith walked down the hall, his head buried in the data tablet he was reading. He stopped and waited for the door in front of him to open only vaguely glancing at it with his peripheral vision as he stepped inside. He glanced around puzzled. This wasn't the main computer banks. He was about to leave when, he heard footsteps approaching. Smith looked past a console to find to Vulcan males walking towards him. He decided that he'd leave after they were gone. The last time he had been in here one of the computer technicians had told him off for accessing some information claiming that the information was sacred and meant for Vulcans only to see.

The two Vulcans stopped walking and activated something on one of the main computer screens. Smith could make out what looked like ship diagrams, but he couldn't tell from this far of what.

The younger man broke the silence "This Starfleet crew is stupid and easily fooled. They are helping us repair the very ships they will be taking a part in their own destruction."

Smith's eyebrows went up into his receding hair line.

"Silkar, you are too naïve I believe they may suspect something, they are not entirely imbecilic. Several of them have made comments about us and the colony." The older man said

"Father, does it matter whether they suspect or not? Most of them haven't seen a Vulcan before, besides Spock, and I hear that he's half human, and with that woman Lieutenant Uhura." Silkar continued "They don't really know any Vulcans to compare us with, and any differences in behaviour they do detect may be construed as cultural differences caused by isolation and time."

"Still, my son, we must be careful. If one of them becomes too suspicious they must be eliminated. If not the plan could be ruined or at least have to be seriously altered" The older voice replied.

"Father, even Uhura with her...stimulating...mind, hasn't discovered who we are." Silkar said.

Smith saw the older man frown at his son slightly. Solkar hadn't missed his son's tone when he spoke of Uhura. He spoke "And you my son must control yourself so that she doesn't. You are taking an unhealthy liking to the communications officer."

"Father, you must admit she is intriguing, even the edges of her mind has such depth that I long to experience her fully." Silkar continued his voice almost rapturous "Any human that could remotely appeal to a Vulcan, must have something that other minds lack and she is aesthetically pleasing in a human way."

Solkar was still disturbed by his son's comments. it wasn't that he disapproved of Silkar's invasions into other people's minds, or the way he was discussing Uhura. Solkar was worried his son, who could be obsessive at times about things he wanted , was becoming fixated on Uhura. He cautioned him "Silkar, do not lose sight of what this plan requires in an attempt to fulfil your own desires." The older man continued lecturing in a disapproving tone. "You must leave the woman alone. If anything was to befall her, I suspect Spock would search however long needed and find out what happened. We must be focused if we are to accomplish our goal."

His tone changed as he beheld his son's angry face " Silkar I don't disapprove of you using your talents, indeed when we get into the federation, you and the other transplants with the power of your minds will play a crucial role in our success. But there is a time and place for that."

"Yes, Father" Silkar said somewhat sullenly.

The older man continued in a more conversational tone. "Patience, soon the galaxy shall be ours, and the fascinating thing is they are contributing in their own demise. They will be the ones bringing the individuals who will destroy the federation, into the heart of it."

As they continued talking they started to walk away. Smith was terrified he couldn't believe what he had seen and heard. He gulped, waves of fear emanating from him. The younger Vulcan paused as they passed where Smith was hidden. He glanced around and said "did you feel that?'

The older man had also stopped now and was glancing at his son curiously "feel what, you know my sense is not as good as yours and I thought the anomaly was interfering with your ability also."

"It was, but this was so strong..."Silkar trailed off, then stiffened slightly "There it is again."

Smith leaned backward against the console his breathing harsh and panting, the footsteps approached. Smith knew he had a choice, to run and possibly live or stay and die. And a choice like that was no choice; he ran. Catching sight of him one of the Vulcans shouted out. Smith felt weapon fire pass close to his temple, then he dove through a side door. He fumbled behind him somehow activating a lock, but he knew it wouldn't hold for long. He had only a minute or two to put as much distance as possible between himself and the two Vulcans.

Smith ran through random passageways, and doors, losing track of where he was going but he didn't care as long as he was moving as far away from them as possible. Think he told himself as he desperately sucked in air feeling his ribs ache with the exertion. The answer came in a flash, Spock! Spock would know what to do. . Smith ploughed through a door knocking a girl down, he wound up tangled with her. Kelly pushed him off and said "Smith?"

Smith struggled to catch his breath, as he hurriedly pulled himself to his feet not offering Kelly a hand. He stared at the girl. She couldn't help him, and it wouldn't do any good to tell her what was going on , it would only put her in more danger than they all were already in.

"Is there something I can help you with, you look flustered" Ensign Kelly said noting his appearance.

"You—can't help—me—with anything" he gasped, the words gruffer than he had intended

"Uh, Okay." Kelly said.

"Where's Spock?" Smith asked

The girl thought a moment. Where was he? When she had left he had mentioned something about the control room. Was he there?

"I think he's in the main control room, but—"Kelly began, before she had finished speaking he had already set off .

"But he might still be with us, he might not have left yet." She called out to Lieutenant Smith's retreating back. He didn't pause of make any sign like he had heard her.

Kelly stared after Smith. Whatever he was agitated about was probably some miniscule detail that had left him practically drowned in worry. Smith only a few weeks ago had called together the crew and sent out a posting claiming there was a serious and dangerous design flaw in the ship. When people had read the attached almost 15 screen incredibly detailed and technical report he had included it had turned out that a few of the charging ports on the ship had a 0.0000000003 energy arc when in contact with fluids. Basically it had boiled down to that if you used one of them and for some reason poured the equivalent of a bucket of water on the charging station you might feel the equivalent of a static shock. The way Smith had been making a fuss , somebody that didn't know him would have thought the warp core containment field was decaying in a few seconds. Kelly sighed at the thought of Smith. That was him always worrying about nothing.