Ajah remembered that Spock had told him to let him know if Jim left Earth. He hailed the Enterprise and waited. "Enterprise," Lula answered.

"I need to talk to Captain Spock right away," Ajah said. "This is an emergency."

"I'll get you right to him."

Soon, Spock appeared on the screen. "Yes, Ajah."

"Captain, Admiral Kirk is leaving Earth. I don't know where he is going, but he's going somewhere to hide those items."

"You do not know where?"

"No, but he left here with it."

Spock absorbed that for a moment. "I will attempt to track him down. Let Solan know of this."

"Yes Sir."

"And also, inform Korax, so he can help us locate him before he leaves Earth."

Spock left his ready room on the Enterprise. He had no idea how to locate Jim, although he thought the Enterprise could find him if they scanned for him. He took out his communicator as he was on his way to the transporter room. "Lula," he said.

"Yes, Captain," Lula replied.

"Can you scan and find Admiral Kirk?"

"I'm not sure."

"Check cameras as well. I will be searching for him as well."

Spock ended that transmission and transported down to Earth at Headquarters, and headed for Jim's apartment, but when he got there, no one was there. He was not sure he should ask Carol about this, but he hailed her next. "Yes, Mister Spock," she answered.

"Carol, have you seen Jim in the last hour?" Spock asked.

"No. Why?"

"I am trying to locate him."

Carol stopped what she was doing then. "What do you mean?"

"I am not certain that we can discuss this over an open channel."

"Is he in trouble?"

"No."

"Good. Why are you looking for him?"

"Because I believe he could soon be in trouble."

"Why?"

"I cannot tell you over this connection."

"Is it dangerous trouble?"

"No. It is legal trouble."

"Oh. I'll try and find him."

Carol hailed Jim with her communicator. "Hi, Babe," Jim answered.

Carol could not help but smile. "How did you know it was me?" she asked.

"Because I have a special sound for you. What's up?"

"Where are you?"

Jim stopped. "Why do you ask? You know I'm supposed to be in the office today."

"Jim, I know you're not in the office."

"Who's been talking to you?"

"Where are you, and what sort of trouble are you in?"

"I'm not in trouble. I'm trying to avoid trouble."

"Oh Jim. When you try to avoid trouble, you're usually in the middle. Now what are you doing?"

"Carol, I promise I'm not in trouble. I'm trying to…I'm not sure I should say that over this."

"I want to be with you. If you're doing something, I want to know what it is and help you."

Jim frowned. He knew Ajah must have told someone who told Carol. "Just give me a little time. I'll contact you later, okay?"

"You better."

Jim ended that transmission and called Ajah. "Ajah, who have you been talking to?"

"What do you mean, Admiral?" Ajah asked.

"You know exactly what I mean. Now, who have you been talking to and what did you tell them?"

Ajah was silent a moment. "Well, Sir, Spock asked me."

"Asked you what?"

"Well, he told me to let him know if you were about to leave Earth."

"And? And who told you I was about to leave Earth?"

"Well, I contacted him on the Enterprise and told him that you were about to leave Earth to hide those things."

Jim blew out a breath. "Ajah, if I had wanted Spock to know that, I would have told him. I don't want anyone else involved in this."

"You shouldn't be doing this alone."

"That's not for you to decide. We'll talk about this when I get back there."

"Yes Sir."

"Kirk out." Jim closed his communicator. He knew Spock was looking for him now, and they had even got Carol concerned about what he was doing. He thought he might as well just tell them all and go with his original plan. He switched frequencies on his communicator. "Spock."

Spock was relieved that Jim was contacting him. "Yes, Admiral," he answered.

"I understand you're looking for me."

"Yes, I was."

"I'll meet you on the Enterprise."

Spock heard the transmission end, and he wondered if Jim was angry. He contacted the Enterprise to beam him back up. It took a few minutes, and when he appeared on the transporter pad, Jim was waiting for him. "Admiral."

"Spock," Jim replied.

Spock stepped down from the pad. "I assume we have something to discuss," he said as he saw that Jim was carrying a duffle bag.

"Yeah, we do," Jim replied. "But I think we should discuss it somewhere else."

"The conference room is available."

Jim frowned. "Let's go."

They walked to the conference room, or rather, Jim walked and let Spock follow him. They arrived at the conference room and sat down at the table. "I didn't want you or your crew involved in this," Jim said. "If anyone found out about it, I could be court marshalled."

"Jim, if you are doing something illegal, why do you not discuss it with Admiral Winston, and he may correct the problem," Spock said.

"Spock, Admiral Winston knows all about it."

Spock could not help but remember another time when Jim went on a mission for the head of Starfleet and no one else knew about it. "Jim, are you sure this is the correct action?" he asked. "We do not want to repeat the mistakes of the past by going on a mission of our own choosing."

"Spock, that is not what we're doing at all," Jim said. "I know where we can put this thing where it will never be found."

"I find it hard to believe that no one would be able to know where we are or where it is. Besides this, would the Tacitus not be valuable to us?"

"Explain."

"It has valuable information contained within it, and we have Cabal to help us analyze that data. He may be able to help us find more information about civilizations that were destroyed. We visited a planet before that was abandoned by its inhabitants and they were living underground. Perhaps this Tacitus would know something of their past that could help us cure their planet."

Jim scowled at that. "I'm not saying that it's not valuable, but there are too many who would like to get hold of it and we can't deny that there have been breaches in Starfleet up high."

"I understand your concern, but I do not believe we should be in a panic."

"Spock, don't you understand that the Scrin could have become unstoppable if they had gotten that? What if it fell into the hands of the Borg? Whatever this is that they think is perfection is probably something to do with this thing. We can't let that happen."

"I am not certain how they did not already take it since it was in the Delta Quadrant. We must also remember that Ajah contains a great deal of information that he has been able to start remembering…if that is the word. Will we hide him as well?"

"This is different. We don't know where the overlord is, and this thing is not going to lay there in that warehouse so that someone can steal it. It is not safe there."

"I must agree with you on that, Admiral. However, I believe we should use this information to our own benefit, and how do you intend to create something like the Tacitus to fool someone into thinking it is there?"

"Oh, well, that's not too hard. After all, we have friends who can create electrical displays, right?"

Spock raised an eyebrow as he thought of that. "I had not thought of that, but I believe it may work."

"We have to get that done, and I want this to stay on this ship for now, but don't let anyone know it's here."

"It will be between you and me, Jim."

"Good. Now, I have to get that done, and figure out how to keep Carol out of this."

"Good luck."

"Put this in a place that only you have access to."

Spock nodded and watched as Jim left the room. He did not like participating in something illegal, but he trusted Jim, and he knew he was right about that lying in that warehouse. He picked up the duffle bag as he headed out of that room.

Jim went back down to Earth and went to his office. Ajah stood up as Jim walked in. Jim stopped in front of Ajah's desk. He found it difficult to be angry at Ajah because he was so calm all the time, unless someone threatened his friends. "You shouldn't have told Spock about this," Jim said. "Now, everyone is involved."

"But, Sir, he told me to let him know if you were leaving Earth," Ajah replied.

"Ajah." Jim sighed. "I need your help."

"Yes Sir."

Ajah followed Jim into his office. "Ajah, we have to create something that looks like the Tacitus so it can be put into the warehouse," Jim said.

Ajah scowled at that. "How?" he asked.

"I want to know if you and Helek can create an electrical display that looks like that Tacitus. I've seen you guys create balls of electricity."

Ajah considered that. "I think we could, but what will we contain it in?"

"Don't worry about that. I'm gonna figure that out. I just want you two to figure out how to do it."

"We will."

"Great. I think I know someone who can help us create a container, but I need specifics." Jim looked at Ajah. "Can you still access that information from Cabal?"

"Sometimes."

"What are you doing when it happens?"

"It's usually when I am trying to write on my novel."

"That's interesting. Have you talked to Bones about that?"

"Yes. He said the same thing. He thinks it is because I am using the hippocampus, where memories are stored."

"Hmm. Well, he's probably right. Anyway, I'm going to get something while you talk to Helek about creating the display. We might even be able to get information through Cabal himself."

"Yes, Sir."

Jim left there and went over to the actual shipping dock at the harbor. He had spent some time down there, and he knew a guy who was a glassblower, and he thought he would be able to make a perfect replica of the Tacitus. He approached the small building at the dock. It was in the perfect place to have plenty of water. Jim could see steam coming out of the pipe, so he knew John Howard was working. He could make just about anything out of glass.

Jim walked into the building and could feel the heat already as he entered. "Hey, John!" he called.

John looked around the corner from his work. "Jim Kirk," he said. "Haven't seen you in a long time."

Jim watched John a moment as he was shaping a molten piece of glass. "I feel like I only see you when I need your help," he said.

"Well, it's not like you've never helped me," John replied. "What's the trouble?"

"I need you to create something for me."

John held up the masterpiece he was working on that was made of green glass. "If it's glass, I can do it."

"Oh, I know."

John set his masterpiece down on the table to finish cooling. He looked at Jim. "So, is this some sort of secret?" he asked.

"Yes," Jim said. "Deep secret."

"High priority?"

"Yep."

"You're not in trouble, are you?"

"No. You got time to talk right now?"

"Sure. I suppose we need to talk in private."

Jim looked around them as there was no one else in the place that he could see. "Anyone else around here?"

"Nope. Not unless they followed you."

"I don't think anyone followed me, but I want to make sure no one hears this."

"Alright. Let's go in the office over here."

Jim followed him to the office, and they sat down around the desk. "I'm gonna tell you this and try not to tell you any more than I have to," Jim said.

"I thought you weren't in trouble," John replied.

"I'm not…unless I get caught. I'm gonna show you a picture of what I want you to make, but it needs to have an opening that can be closed up, and it needs to be thick."

John considered that. "So this is going to have something added to it?"

"Yes, something that has to be contained."

"What shape?"

"Round. Perfectly round."

"You would have to be here to put in whatever is going into it."

Jim showed him an image of the Tacitus. "It looks like this."

John nodded. "I can definitely do that, but how are you going to create that inside it?"

"I have friends who can do that."

"Oh, yeah, like Ajah. I've seen him."

"Yeah."

"Ralph over there can create the stand. You need that too?"

Jim considered that. "I suppose, but don't let him know what it's for."

"You can trust me."

"Good. We'll be back later. Just be ready."

Jim left there feeling somewhat better that they would be able to pull this off. He went down to the central power core where Helek worked, but Helek was not there. Jim called Ajah on the communicator. "Where are you?" Jim asked.

"We are on the Enterprise," Ajah replied.

"Why?"

"I thought it would be the best place for this."

"Good. But I need you to come down here. I found someone who can help us with the housing."

"Yes Sir. We have also figured out how to create it. The holodeck was a good place to work."

"Great. Just meet me at the central power core. Kirk out."

Jim waited for Ajah and Helek, and they finally arrived. "You sure you're ready?" Jim asked.

"Yes," Helek answered. "It will not be difficult."

"Good. Let's go."

As they started toward the docks again, Jim made sure no one was following them. His communicator chirped at him. "Kirk here," he answered.

"Admiral Kirk, have you taken care of that little matter we discussed?" Admiral Winston asked.

"I'm doing that now, Sir," Jim replied.

"Good. I'm watching your back if you didn't know. I hope this is going to be soon."

"Yes, Sir, it is. It should be done today."

"Winston out."

Jim, Ajah, and Helek arrived at the wharf and went into John's shop. "Hey, John!" Jim called, but they did not hear anything. "That's strange. He knew we were coming."

"Admiral, this is a dangerous situation, is it not?" Ajah asked.

"Yes, Ajah, it is." Jim walked to the office, but there was no one there.

They could hear boats blowing their horns in the harbor. Jim could see that the fire was burning rather low, so he knew John had not been preparing it. "Why would he leave?" he asked. "But he said he was going to get someone who could make the stand for it. Maybe he's just not back yet."

"Where is this person?" Helek asked.

"I don't know. We'll wait a few minutes."

"You won't have to," someone said.

Jim whirled around, drawing his phaser as he did. Someone Jim had never seen stood with a phaser pointed at John's head. "What are you doing?" Jim asked.

"Oh, I think you know exactly what I'm doing, Admiral Kirk," the other replied.

Jim frowned. "How do you know me?"

"Everyone knows you. Now, put down that phaser, and tell your friends there to cool it, because I'm prepared to eliminate them as well."

"Power down," Jim whispered, but he did not lower his phaser. "Let him go. What do you want?"

"You know what I want."

"Why don't you enlighten me?"

"We want that Tacitus. We know you have it, and we know you came here for him to make a replica."

Jim was dumbfounded because he knew no one knew about that except… "Where did you get such a notion?" he asked.

"Come on, Admiral Kirk. Where is it?"

"I do not have the Tacitus. Do I look like I have it?"

The other scowled at that question. "You have it hidden," he said. "I know you have it. If you think I won't kill him, you're mistaken."

"If you kill him, you won't have anything to bargain with now will you? And I don't have the Tacitus."

"But you can get it."

Jim could not figure out how this person knew what he was coming there for. "You think I want to be court-marshalled?" he asked.

"It's either that or dead," the other replied.

"You're a bounty hunter."

"Admiral Kirk, you're as clever as everyone says you are. Since you know I'm a bounty hunter, you know I don't care how many I have to kill to get that bounty. Now, I have no qualms about killing your friends there."

"If you try, we will electrocute you as you do," Helek declared.

The bounty hunter frowned and did not look quite as sure of himself. "But you would kill your admiral too," he said.

"They have my permission," Jim said. "We won't be threatened, and we wouldn't give you that Tacitus if we had it. Now, let him go. You kill him, and you won't live to know it."

"Admiral Kirk, do you really think I am here without backup?"

"Do you think I am?"

Just then two others stepped out behind Jim, Ajah, and Helek. "Drop that phaser, Admiral," the bounty hunter said.

"What should we do, Admiral?" Helek asked.

Jim did not know what to do at the moment. He did not know how they would get out of this, but he knew if they did get out of it, someone had some questions to answer. He lowered his phaser. "Good choice," the bounty hunter said. "Take his phaser."

The others behind Jim came closer, and one of them took the phaser. Jim had already pressed the button on his communicator which alerted Spock on the Enterprise. Spock stood up. "Lula, do you have a lock on Admiral Kirk and anyone with him?" he asked.

"Scanning now, Sir," Lula replied. "I found him, along with Ajah and Helek. Also looks like someone else being held."

"Energize."

Jim saw light start to encircle him, and he was soon standing on the Enterprise transporter pad. He looked around him and saw that Ajah and Helek were there, along with John. John sighed with relief. "I thought we were goners," he said.

"Admiral Kirk always has a plan," Helek replied. He looked at Jim who was looking plenty angry.

Jim stepped down from the transporter pad as Spock arrived. "Admiral, what happened?" he asked.

"Spock, we've been betrayed," Jim replied.

"Explain."

"I want you to contact Carol, and transport her and the kids to this ship, along with my mother. Is Bones still on the planet?"

"No. He is on Pacifica."

"Good. Get my family up here."

"I will, Admiral."

Ajah, Helek, and John followed Jim from the transporter room. "Come on with us, John," Jim said. He walked to the conference room and paced back and forth with his arms folded.

Ajah watched Jim a moment. "Admiral, what are you thinking?" he asked.

"You don't want to know what I'm thinking," Jim replied. He pressed the intercom in the wall. "Spock."

"Yes, Admiral," Spock answered. "I have contacted Carol, and we will soon have them aboard the ship."

"Is Scotty on the ship?"

"Yes."

"Good. When you get Carol on the ship, I want you in the conference room. Cut communications for now unless it's an emergency."

Jim switched frequencies. "Scotty."

"Yes, Admiral," Scotty answered.

"I need you in the conference room."

"I'll be right there, Sir."

Jim sat down at the table to wait. Ajah sat down at the table, so Helek and John followed suit. "Admiral…"

"Don't ask me anything right now, Ajah," Jim replied.

Ajah looked at Helek who was just as confused as he was. Spock soon arrived. "Carol and the rest of your family are aboard," he said.

"Good," Jim replied. "We have something we have to talk about, Spock. Now, I know you didn't tell anyone about what we were doing, and you didn't even know I was going to the wharf, did you?"

"No. I am not completely familiar with what your plan was."

"I know. There's only one person who knew, Spock…besides Ajah, and he was with me."

Spock paused a moment. "Who?"

Jim sighed. "I hate to even say this," he said. "Admiral Winston."

"Are you suggesting that Admiral Winston betrayed us?"

"I don't know. Maybe someone in his office overheard and was involved in this. I just can't believe Admiral Winston would do this."

"You were on a mission that only he knew about."

"Yeah, and now this happens. If you hadn't been ready to get us up here, I don't know what would have happened."

Spock considered that. "Jim, do you know the whereabouts of Mac?" he asked.

Jim frowned and looked at Spock. "He wouldn't betray us again, would he?"

"I am not certain. However, as you know, there are two of them, and they are both computer geniuses, and one of them is enhanced with tiberium."

Jim paced back and forth a moment. "They did come to my office," he said. "I don't think our Mac is on this planet. What would the other's purpose be for this?"

"Admiral, I believe my sister might have some insight into this. She knows much more about the other universe."

"Where is she?"

"She is on the Bridge."

"Get her in here."

Soon, Michael came to the conference room. "Have a seat," Jim said.

"I feel like I'm in the principal's office," Michael said.

"Not quite. We need your help. Someone has betrayed us."

"How so?"

"Someone knew what we were doing, and I want to know how much you know about Mac from the other universe."

Michael considered that. "All I know is that he joined us. We didn't know much about anyone who joined us. Why? Do you think he's behind something? What has he done?"

"He could be. It took some sort of computer genius to find this out because I only talked to Admiral Winston in my office. Someone hired a bounty hunter to try and get the Tacitus. They almost captured Ajah, Helek, and me. Why would he want the Tacitus?"

"From what I understand, with that Tacitus, he could know how to get back to the other universe, learn how to bring them here, and even help the Scrin be unstoppable. I don't know what all is on it, but it is very dangerous."

"Is there no way to destroy it?"

"No. If you tried, it would turn on you."

"Would he have the means to pay someone to get it?"

"I don't know that, but if he got that Tacitus and brought those from the other universe and learned how to navigate the mycelial network, this universe would be in serious trouble and danger. You do have it, don't you?"

"I know where it is. It's safe from them."

"Great. What is your next move?"

"I'm not sure right now. I'm not positive about who did this. It took us completely by surprise."

"You were right about that thing not being in that warehouse. Daystrom wants it."

Jim frowned. "To do what?"

"Who knows? Their research is highly unethical. You have no idea what goes on there."

"I don't think I want to know." Jim looked at Spock. "Where's Artie?"

"He is aboard."

"Good. I want you to get him to see if he can figure something out about how anyone overheard our conversation, but he should be careful. I also want Solan aboard the ship."

"Admiral, if Solan assumes that Mac betrayed us again, he may be…trigger happy," Spock said.

"That's why he needs to be here with us so he will know what's going on."

"I will contact him as well."

Spock left the conference room, and Jim just sat there a moment. "What should we do, Admiral?" Ajah asked.

Jim shook his head. "I'm not sure right now," he said. "We have to find out how they knew what we were doing. I also need to let Admiral Winston know about this. Who knows what lengths they will go to?"

Soon, everyone was aboard the Enterprise, even Admiral Winston. Solan found Jim. "Are you telling me that…traitor betrayed us again?" he asked.

"No," Jim said. "Mac isn't even on Earth. It has to be the other one if it is even him."

"The one from the other universe?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure the Mac from here didn't have anything to do with this? He's broken into your message system before and directed it through so many routes you couldn't even find out where it came from."

"I know that, Solan. We're about to discuss all this. That's why you were called here is so you won't be out there thinking the worst."

Solan folded his arms. "I'm thinking the worst anyway," he declared. "You want me here because you think I would go after Mac."

"Exactly," Jim said, moving a little closer to Solan. "You are under my command, remember?"

Solan could see the irritation in Jim's eyes. "Yes, Sir."

"Good answer."

Solan sat down at the table and waited to see what would happen. Finally, everyone was in the room. Admiral Winston and Jim were having a heated conversation. "You can't involve me in this, Admiral Kirk," Winston was saying. "If we're both caught, I won't be able to help you."

"Sir, someone found out what we were doing," Jim declared. "Someone already knows."

"Do you have any idea who?"

"We do. We think it could be that Mac from the other universe."

Winston frowned. "What about ours?" he asked.

"He's not even on Earth. I don't think he has anything to do with this," Jim replied.

"I'd like to be sure of that before we trust him again."

"I think he's with his brother on Voca Five. They went back after the conflict was over, although Mac did say he wanted a job on my team."

"You have to make sure he's there."

Jim looked at Spock. "Get in touch with Zander and find out if Mac is there with him," Jim said.

"Yes, Admiral," Spock replied and left the conference room.

Jim went to Artemus next. "Artie, I want you to see if you can find out how someone tapped my office or Admiral Winston's office, Ajah's office too," he said.

"Yes, Admiral," Artie replied. "Do you want me to do a sweep of the office?"

"Yes, and make sure you take someone with you. I really don't know how desperate these people are. Don't tell anyone what you're doing."

"I'll be glad to go with him, Admiral," Ajah said.

"Good."

Artie and Ajah left. "Solan, since you have a network, I want you to find out what that bounty is," Jim said.

"What do you mean, I have a network?" Solan asked.

"Solan."

Solan frowned. "Okay. I do have some buddies. I'll find out."

"While you're at it, find out if they know who has it out."

"I'll try."

Just then, Carol walked in. "Jim, what is going on?" she asked.

"A lot," Jim replied.

"Someone found out what you were doing?"

Jim scowled. "How do you know? You don't even know what I was doing."

"Yes, but I know you. You wouldn't have brought the children and me onto this ship if you didn't think we were in danger."

"You're right. Someone was trying to get the Tacitus, and they tried to kidnap me, Ajah, Helek, and John Howard."

"How did he get involved in this?"

"Never mind that. We're in a secret situation."

"Oh, Jim."

"It was supposed to be simple and quiet, but someone hacked in and found out, and we think it could be the Mac from the other universe."

"What about our Mac?"

"He's on Voca Five. He couldn't have done it."

Just as Jim said that, Spock walked in. "Zander confirms that Mac is there, Admiral," he said. "He could not have done this from so far away."

Jim nodded. "They don't know where the other one is?" he asked.

"No. They were rather perplexed that he was under suspicion. Mac was concerned that people would believe it was him. I assured him that we knew he was not involved."

"Good. So now we have to track down a tiberium enhanced strong man."

"Do you believe Mac would be valuable in this endeavor?"

"He might, but he's on Voca Five. If he has any insight, you can ask him."

"Yes, Admiral."

They sat down around the table finally. Admiral Winston sat at the end of the table. "I suppose all of you are loyal to Admiral Kirk," he said. "And I'm sure that means we don't have to worry about anything that is said in this room getting out anywhere."

The others all looked at Jim as he scowled slightly. "I'm sure that's true, Admiral," he said. "Because they are part of Starfleet."

Admiral Winston looked as though he did not agree with that, but he carried on. "Admiral Kirk is in possession of the Tacitus and the computer that contains Cabal," he began. "We felt it unwise for those items to be in the warehouse. Therefore, Admiral Kirk was going to make replicas but somehow someone found out that he was doing this and assumed he was in possession of the Tacitus while on that mission. Thankfully, he wasn't. They attempted to abduct Admiral Kirk, Ajah, Helek, and John Howard. We're obviously dealing with dangerous people. One question is how did they get that information, and who hired bounty hunters to do this?"

"Are you sure no one could overhear you in your office?" Carol asked.

"No one was there," Admiral Winston said. "The door was closed."

"Admiral, have the two Macs visited you?" Jim asked.

Admiral Winston was silent a moment. "They have," he said. "The Mac from this universe left the planet to go and spend some time on Voca Five with his brother and relax after fighting in that war. The other one…well, I don't know where he is."

"He visited me as well," Jim said. "That means he could have planted something without either of us knowing it. If he's as clever as our own Mac, and I'm sure he is, he would know how to do it. Artie is working on that now, and he's also going to find out whether he tapped into our communication system."

"We know he's capable of that, and no one seems to know where he is."

"He would have to be on the planet to tap into something here. He can't do that from another planet."

"Correct, so we must assume he is here somewhere and that he's dangerous."

"Yes, dangerous to anyone in Starfleet whom he thinks is capable of getting him what he wants."

Admiral Winston sighed slightly. "The problem with warning them is that we're going to have to tell them the situation," he said.

"Yes, but it would also convince them that it doesn't need to sit in some warehouse."

"You may be right, but we're going to try and keep this under wraps as much as possible. You can finish this meeting, and I'm going to have an emergency meeting with the council."

"Yes, Admiral."

They all stood at attention as Admiral Winston left the room. Jim felt like he was always in these situations as he relaxed and looked at all his friends waiting for what he would say next. They had been through a lot with him. Spock came back into the conference room.

"Admiral, as I said before, Zander says Mac is on Voca Five and has been there since he left Earth," he said. "They have been even hunting and camping together."

Jim nodded. "Well, it's a relief to know that he's not involved in this."

"I contacted them again, and he did say that they would help in any way they can, although Mac did not think he wanted to come back while the other is a suspect. He does not want to be confused with him."

"We may need Mac's help if this guy keeps going. We know he didn't do it."

"Also, Doctor McCoy is waiting on the intercom." Spock turned on the intercom and Bones appeared on the screen.

"Well, hello Jim," Bones said. "Seems like we never see each other when there's no trouble."

"Come on, Bones," Jim replied. "You know that's not true. How's everything on Pacifica?"

"Quiet as usual."

"We do have a problem. Someone is hiring bounty hunters to get the Tacitus."

"Great. How can I help besides piecing you back together after it's all over?"

"I want you to talk to security there and find out if anything unusual has happened there, any unusual ships, anything."

"I'll do what I can. So what are you planning?"

"I'm planning to get that Tacitus somewhere that no one can find it."

"Like where?"

"Now, you know I'm not going to tell that here."

"Right. What was I thinking? You want me to come to Earth or are you going on another one of your suicide missions and taking me with you?"

"We are not going on a suicide mission. We're going to do what I said. We're collecting information right now so maybe we can figure out more about the situation before we do go anywhere."

"Right. Well, don't leave me out. You know me. I'm obsessed with danger too."

Jim smiled slightly at that. "Don't worry, Bones. Admiral Winston knows what we're doing and he's having a meeting with the council right now too."

"So just about everybody is involved in this then?"

"Lots of people. We have to make sure no one is following us too. This won't be an easy mission."

"They never are. I'll see what I can find out and let you know."

"Good. Talk to you then."

The transmission ended. Jim just stood there a moment. "What should we do next, Admiral?" Spock asked.

"We wait for Artie's analysis and for Solan to find out something. Maybe we should even contact Magus Three, see if Kyarn would help."

Spock raised an eyebrow at that. "Do you really believe he would be of help?" he asked.

"Come on, Spock," Jim said. "He may know something. After all, he lives on a lawless planet."

"Correct. However, I believe Solan or Mac should do the asking."

"Maybe. Just get someone to do it."

"I will relay the message. Solan is contacting people now, is he not?"

"He is. I don't know who he's contacting, but I'm sure he's going to have some information soon."