Whatley then spoke up. "It certainly would explain a h.e.l.luva lot. The war with the Klingons and Romulans has just been one screwup after another-on all three sides. Every d.a.m.n time, the worst-case scenario has played out."

"Conspiracy theories," T'Latrek said, "are not logical. And rather difficult to prove."

Kira stepped forward now. "But we can prove if someone's a shapechanger-sort of."

Jaresh-Inyo's already-wrinkled skin contracted into a deep frown. "What does that mean?"

Holding up another of the devices that she had carried in her satchel, Kira said, "This is a device created by a former member of the Carda.s.sian Obsidian Order. He helped me smuggle Odo out of Carda.s.sian s.p.a.ce. When activated, any shapechanger within a twenty-meter radius will revert to its liquid state."

Picard recalled Beverly Crusher's amazement when she reported to him after her examination of Odo. The shapechanger had objected to being poked and prodded at first-he'd apparently had quite a bit of that on Bajor after he'd been discovered-but relented when he saw how noninvasive Crusher's instruments were. While there were other species with the ability to change their shape, none of them was liquid in its natural state. (She had also waited until Odo was out of earshot before mentioning that she could happily spend the rest of her career just studying him.) Ross asked, "How do we know this will work?"

Odo let out a noise that Picard supposed was a sigh of irritation. Then again, in Picard's brief exposure to the shapechanger, he'd noticed that irritation was one humanoid mode that Odo had mastered with great skill.

Then he looked at Kira, who nodded, and activated the device.

Immediately, Odo's features shimmered and melted and collapsed into an amber liquid on the Palais carpet.

So did Jaresh-Inyo's.

Instinctively, Picard reached for a sidearm that, of course, wasn't there. One did not enter the Palais de la Concorde armed, unless one was part of the president's security detail.

The trio who made up that detail reacted as swiftly as expected, and whipped out their own phasers, training them on the undulating liquid that was now pooling in the president's chair.

Before they could fire, though, a trio of tendrils shot out from the ma.s.s, smothering all three guards. One phaser beam burst through and fired into the ceiling.

With horror, Picard realized that all three guards were drowning. The shapechanger was unable to form anything solid, but it still had enough control of itself to move.

Then a phaser beam sliced through the air in front of Picard. Glancing to his right, he saw that Worf was holding a palm-sized phaser. While Picard would never enter the Palais armed, his first officer was not so politic-though Picard did wonder how he managed to get such a device past Palais security, especially in a time of war.

A high-pitched scream reverberated through the office, and a smell very much like that of burning leaves filled Picard's nostrils as the shapechanger started to explode outward in several directions. Picard dove to the floor, deliberately knocking Kira and Quark down with him, to avoid being hit by a flying protrusion.

Worf kept firing, and one of the guards recovered well enough to do likewise.

Moments later, there was only black ash on the chair and around the president's desk. Only then did Kira deactivate the device, believing, rightly, that it was best to keep the creature disguised as Jaresh-Inyo limited in its options.

Slowly clambering to his feet, Ross put voice to Picard's thought. "I wasn't aware that one could sneak a phaser into the Palais, Commander Worf."

"There are no security measures that cannot eventually be overcome, Admiral" was all Worf would say on the subject.

Before the admiral could question his first officer more thoroughly, Picard asked, "Is everyone all right?"

"Not especially," Councillor Mazibuko said shakily. The air in the room felt thick and oppressive to Picard. He hadn't expected the meeting to end quite this way. While he believed that it was possible that shapechangers had infiltrated the Federation-he recalled vividly when parasitic beings had engaged in a similar campaign a decade earlier, possessing several key Starfleet players-he never imagined that the president himself would be a target.

T'Latrek regarded Odo, who had now reverted to his humanoid appearance, and Kira. "My apologies for doubting your story."

Zh'Thane ran a hand through her feathery white hair. "This is disastrous. How long has this been going on?"

"We're not sure," Kira said softly.

"We must call an emergency session of the Federation Council," T'Latrek said. "And we must decide our next move. For now, however, everyone should proceed as if nothing has changed. The Carda.s.sians and their allies are invading Federation s.p.a.ce, and we are still committed to aiding the Klingons against the Romulans."

Quark was staring at the ashes near the desk. "What'll you tell people?"

"We've got to come up with a cover story," Whatley said. "There's no way we can just say that the president's been replaced by a doppelganger."

"Agreed," Krajensky said. "It would cause a panic."

Testily, Picard said, "The Federation is fighting two wars, Mister Amba.s.sador. I'd say panic is the order of the day."

Ross held up a hand. "Nonetheless, Jean-Luc, we need to proceed cautiously. If nothing else, we can't afford to tip the Founders to the fact that we've learned who they are."

"The logical course of action would be to act as if Jaresh-Inyo is still alive," T'Latrek said.

Odo said, "My people will soon learn that he has been removed from the field of play."

"Perhaps," T'Latrek said, "but it would be best to delay that as long as possible."

Mazibuko asked, "What if there are others?"

"As far as we've been able to determine," Odo said, "there are only four of my people in this quadrant."

Staring incredulously, zh'Thane said, "Only four?"

"If the person being replaced has sufficient power," Worf said, "only four would be required. One each on Earth, Qo'noS, Romulus, and Carda.s.sia."

Kira held up a padd. "Garak-the former Order agent who helped us-compiled a list of who he thought might be replaced in the Klingon and Romulan Empires."

Recalling a few recent intelligence briefings, an idea started to form in Picard's head. "Admiral," he said to Ross, "is the Defiant still at Utopia Planitia?"

Nodding, Ross said, "We haven't quite hammered out all the problems yet, but Commander Sisko thinks they're close."

"Good." He looked at everyone in the room. "I believe I have a plan that might put an end to this."

16.

Fleet Yards Utopia Planitia, Mars United Federation of Planets The face of Councillor T'Latrek-who had been secretly appointed president pro tempore until such a time as the Federation Council was willing to admit to Jaresh-Inyo's death-appeared on the small screen in the communications room. "Your plan has received the approval of the Council, Captain."

In truth, Picard had been hoping for the opposite reply-not because his plan was a bad one, but because it would only result in yet more death. "Thank you, Madam President."

"That is an inappropriate form of address, Captain," T'Latrek said sharply. "I have not been elected to office, nor will I be. I am simply performing the duties of president until a special election can be held."

"Of course, Councillor," he amended quickly. "Thank you for your timely response." Picard recalled that T'Latrek had been considered a favorite to run for president in practically every election during Picard's lifetime, but on each occasion, the Vulcan woman had declined the honor.

"I wish you success in your mission, Captain. Earth out."

Picard supposed that was as close as the Vulcan councillor was likely to come to wishing him luck.

Shutting down the comm terminal, and nodding to the ensign on watch in the room, Picard then left for the yard's wardroom.

Waiting there were the six people who would be responsible for implementing his plan, four of whom he knew, two whom he did not.

At one end of the table was one of those he did not know-a tall, dark-skinned man with close-cropped hair and a dark goatee. The last was obviously a new addition, since it wasn't in the picture in his service record. This was the yard commander, Benjamin Sisko.

On Sisko's left were Kira and Odo. (Not present was Quark. He had declined the invitation to partic.i.p.ate further, citing a desire to continue breathing and to return home. Picard had thought that would be difficult, but Quark just gave a snaggletoothed smile and said that latinum could buy many favors, and large sums of latinum could buy almost anything-and Quark had considerably more than a large sum...) To Sisko's right sat Worf and two human males, one of whom was the other partic.i.p.ant Picard did not know: a pale, balding man wearing a lieutenant commander's pips and a gold-trimmed uniform, meaning he was the person sent by Starfleet Security. The second man was an older gentleman with a thick mustache and a friendly smile. Indeed, he was the only person in the room smiling, probably because he had seen so much of the universe that even the tangle of war and conspiracy into which they'd all been thrust didn't faze him.

"Captain Scott," he said to the man, who had stood upon Picard's entrance. "Thank you for coming."

"I was already here," the old engineer said. "I've been helpin' modify the new ships off the yard so they can use cloaks."

Picard nodded. The Treaty of Algeron was abrogated with the declaration of war, and that meant Starfleet had no restriction against using cloaking technology. However, there'd been some difficulty integrating the cloaks with existing ships. Montgomery Scott was in charge of ameliorating that difficulty, having had plenty of experience integrating Romulan technology with Starfleet systems, even if that experience was now more than a century old.

Sisko had also risen from his chair, and approached Picard, who held out his hand. "You must be Commander Sisko."

While the commander did return the handshake, the taller man's grip was cold and stiff. "It's been a long time, Captain."

Frowning, Picard asked, "Have we met before?" He could not recall ever having encountered Sisko in the past.

"Yes, sir," Sisko said in a dangerously quiet voice, "we met in battle. I was on the Saratoga at Wolf 359."

Picard recoiled as if he'd been slapped. He quickly broke the handshake. There was a fury in Sisko's eyes. If he was a survivor of Wolf 359-one of the few-Picard could hardly blame him. It had been seven years, but the memories of being transformed into Locutus, of giving the Borg everything they needed to destroy two score vessels...

Moving to the head of the table, Picard took his seat and looked at the lieutenant commander from security. He pointedly did not look at Sisko as the latter retook the seat opposite him. "I'm Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Enterprise."

"Michael Eddington," the man said. "I've been detached to your command, sir."

"In fact," Picard said with a glance at Worf, "you're dispatched to Mister Worf 's. Or, rather, Captain Worf's. As of now, he is in command of the Defiant."

Ross had reacted badly to Picard's suggestion that Worf be promoted, mainly because he was still unhappy about Worf 's ability to smuggle weaponry into the most secure spot in the Federation, but T'Latrek, Mazibuko, and zh'Thane all overruled him, pointing out that Worf had just saved all their lives. The necessary secrecy of Jaresh-Inyo's replacement meant that Worf could receive no official commendation for his act, but a promotion seemed in order.

Besides, Picard felt that the Klingon was ideally suited to captain the Defiant.

"Sir," Sisko said, "the Defiant isn't ready. We've ironed out most of the power-consumption issues, but she hasn't been tested."

"Those tests will have to be made in the field, Commander," Picard said abruptly. "We can no longer afford to wait until the ship is one hundred percent."

Sisko put his hands flat on the table and stared at Picard with a cold fury that might have impressed the captain at another time. "I cannot authorize taking the Defiant out at this time, Captain."

Picard couldn't believe what he was hearing, and wondered how much of it was because of Sisko's history with Locutus of Borg. Ultimately, however, he didn't have the luxury of finding out, or of considering Sisko's feelings. "You aren't being given a choice, Commander. This is a briefing-I'm not asking for your consent. This mission has the support of the Federation Council and will go forth as planned. Now, given your knowledge of this particular ship, I would prefer it if you were to go as Captain Worf's first officer. However, if you feel that following orders is too difficult for you, I'm sure Starfleet Command will happily accept your resignation."

The Starfleet officers at the table were willing to sit and wait until this played out, but Kira Nerys had no such compunctions. "Why the h.e.l.l are we even arguing about this?" She looked at Sisko. "I've looked at the specs for that ship of yours. It's a monster, but it's about a thousand times more efficient than anything I flew in the resistance, and we didn't have a shipyard like this at our disposal. I'm sorry if your plasma manifolds don't quite purr to your satisfaction, Commander, but there's a lot more at stake here than-"

Holding up a hand, Sisko said, "Enough. You're both right, of course. The Defiant's simply a very-" He cut himself off. "It doesn't matter." Looking at the Klingon, he said, "Captain Worf, I accept the transfer to the Defiant as your first officer."

"Good," Worf said.

"Captain Scott will be a.s.signed as chief engineer," Picard said. "Your task is to install a cloaking device before the Defiant reaches the border."

"You needn't worry, Captain. After all," he said with an avuncular smile that reduced the tension in the room, "I've a reputation as a miracle worker to live up to." The smile fell. "I must be askin', though, sir-what is the mission?"

Picard folded his hands on the table in front of him and looked at each of the people at the table in turn-except for Sisko, whom he couldn't quite bring himself to look in the eyes. "The mission, Captain Scott, is simple. Captain Worf will take the Defiant behind the lines in Romulan s.p.a.ce. Ms. Kira has a list of who is the mostly likely Romulan to have been replaced by a shapechanger. Commander Eddington will have a complement of fifty security personnel who will serve as a strike team. Kira will determine if the person in question is truly a shapechanger, and then the security team will neutralize it. Capture is preferred, but you are to defend yourselves."

"Understood, sir," Eddington said.

"You will then proceed to Klingon territory and do the same."

"Captain," Sisko said, "the Defiant only has the capacity to house approximately forty people. If the security contingent alone is fifty-"

"Accommodations will have to be made, Commander." Picard hesitated, then continued in a much softer tone. "Projections for survival among the security detail are somewhat low."

Worf added, "As are the projections for survival among the rest of the crew." Snidely, he asked Sisko, "Do you still accept the transfer?"

"The projections for survival will be nonexistent without me on that ship, Captain," Sisko said tartly. "I know the Defiant better than anyone. If there's any chance of this mission succeeding..."

Picard looked at the security chief. "Mister Eddington-"

"Don't worry about my people, Captain. This is what they signed up for."

Suddenly, Picard felt nauseated. All this death, and his brilliant plan for stopping it was a suicide mission. In fact, it was two suicide missions.

"Meanwhile, I will be taking the Enterprise to the Bajoran system. We also have a cloaking device installed-or so Mister O'Brien says we will by tomorrow-and, with the a.s.sistance of Mister Odo, we will destroy the entrance to the wormhole. Even if the Defiant does not succeed in its mission, those three remaining shapechangers will be unable to summon reinforcements, and the Jem'Hadar currently in the Alpha Quadrant will be all there are."

Odo spoke in what Picard was learning was his usual flat, sardonic tone. "I believe I will be able to obtain a.s.sistance from someone on the station itself."

Picard a.s.sumed this to be the former Obsidian Order agent who had facilitated Odo and Kira's escape from Bajor. "Very well."

Then Odo added: "You should know, Captain, that even if your plan succeeds, it will not deter my people."

"I don't expect it to, Mister Odo-but it will cripple their efforts. We shall have to hope that it is enough. We owe it to the people who have already given their lives." He shook his head. "Everything that has happened this past year, all the lives lost, both in the war among the Klingons, Romulans, and Federation and in the Carda.s.sians' Dominion-fueled aggression against the Federation, has been revealed by Ms. Kira and Mister Odo here as nothing more than a stratagem designed to soften us up and make the entire quadrant an easy conquest for a despotic nation. We cannot allow that to stand." Now, finally, he looked at Sisko. "Are there any questions?"

"Yes, sir," Sisko said with a frank expression. "When do we leave?"

17.

U.S.S. Defiant En Route to Romulan s.p.a.ce United Federation of Planets Worf entered the engineering section of the Defiant only to find yet another shouting match.

"If y'connect it up that way, the whole thing'll shut down!" That was Scott, whose burr apparently became thicker under stress.