"So is the guard," Ro shot back. "You notice there's no guard with me. I'm one of the crew."

The guard looked slightly uncomfortable, but she didn't interfere. Nearly professional quality, that one.

Mengred lowered his voice, moving closer to Ro. "I wonder at Starfleet's judgment Reinstating you after you killed eight fellow officers. To me, that would seem to be the act of an enemy."

She was shaking, her hands clenched. "You would know. Carda.s.sians know all about killing."

"Really, my dear, you should control yourself." He laughed. "No wonder my aide was entranced by you. You have the most lovely flush when you're angry...."

Ro raised her hand to strike him.

"Ensign!" The guard moved forward. "I think you should reconsider what you're doing."

Ro dropped her hand, and Mengred allowed himself to smile at her.

Ro stalked out of the counselor's office. In the corridor, Mengred could still hear someone calling for Ensign Ro to stop. Deanna Troi appeared in the open doorway. She took one look at Mengred, who raised his palms up innocently, then at the guard who was obviously on alert.

"What happened?" Troi asked.

Ro was standing in the corridor behind Troi, her arms folded and her head averted.

"I don't think Ensign Ro likes Carda.s.sians." Mengred took the opportunity to make an exit. "I can see you are busy. Perhaps we can speak later."

Troi obligingly let him go. Mengred was pleased. He had everything he needed from her for the moment, and he liked leaving the situation in such discord.

The guard followed him out of the counselor's office like a silent shadow. It was almost like having his aide with him.

Further down the corridor, Mengred paused by a comm panel to ask, "Where is Commander Data?"

A female computerized voice answered, "Commander Data is off-duty and is presently in the science lab."

"Where is Lieutenant Worf?" he asked, unconcerned about the guard overhearing. Any second-rate intelligence agent would be able to predict the key people he would be interested in.

"Lieutenant Worf is on duty on the bridge."

Mengred knew that Data was the one he most wanted to investigate, but that would reveal too much, too soon. So he waved a hand at the guard without looking at her. "Show me to the bridge."

"This way," Rev replied evenly.

The guard led him down the corridor. Mengred felt his lip curl at the softness of Starfleet, from the pastel-colored walls and the springy flooring underfoot to the children running through the halls. Children! He heard laughter, and singing, even music. So many soft, murmuring voices. Where was the ring of boots, the brisk pace, and the crisp efficiency of military command?

He had been less than one day on board and already he felt nothing but contempt for these people. They may be more numerous, their territory far-flung and incorporating many different beings, but their foundation was weak.

Worf had determined that adequate security could only be maintained by enabling a continuous computer surveillance of the whereabouts of each Carda.s.sian. The program was instructed to alert security if one of the Carda.s.sians went into a restricted area, such as engineering or the weapons locker. The program was also instructed to alert security if the Carda.s.sians attempted to access the computer.

The program displays included a moving blueprint of each deck as the Carda.s.sians proceeded through the ship. There was also the onboard profile of the Enterprise, with tiny red flashing lights to indicate the location of each Carda.s.sian. Each one was accompanied by a yellow light denoting security personnel.

One red light was on the bridge. Worf glanced covertly at Pakat in the command well below the tactical station. He was seated to the left of Captain Picard. Security Guard Zee was appointed to Pakat for this half-shift, and he stood poised at the end of the tactical station, watching the Carda.s.sian's every move.

Worf knew Zee was prepared to jump the railing at the first wrong move Pakat made. Both Zee and Worf had tensed when Picard invited the Carda.s.sian to sit within arm's range. But command had its privileges, even if it made it harder for everyone else to do their duty.

The other red light was moving up through the decks. Jos Mengred had been in the counselor's office for twenty minutes, and was now on his way to the bridge. From the lifesigns readout on the bottom of his monitor, Worf could tell that a Bajoran had entered and left, then a Betazoid and a Bajoran had entered as Mengred had departed. Worf knew that Lieutenant Rev would submit a report on what had occurred when she was relieved of security duty at half-shift.

"Proceed at full impulse power," Picard ordered.

"Aye, sir," helm replied.

The Enterprise was entering the Phylaris system, a G-type star. Their preliminary scan from outside the system indicated the star could have a cla.s.s M planet in orbit. Worf was running the usual security protocols when entering an unexplored system. He was actively scanning for wave and particle emissions within the solar system, attempting to detect artificial sources of energy.

But at least half his control/display panel was occupied with tracking the Carda.s.sians on board. He also kept several long-range sensors focused on the Galor-cla.s.s warship whenever it emerged from the sensor shadow of the distant Badlands.

As the red indicator light representing Mengred reached the bridge level, Worf reduced the tracking program to a small cryptic readout on his panel. The turbolift opened and Mengred stepped onto the bridge. The agent for the Obsidian Order got a good look around.

"Captain Picard, Jos Mengred is on the bridge," Worf reported.

"So this is the bridge..." Mengred said speculatively.

Picard looked back over his shoulder at Mengred. "You are welcome to join us."

Worf was proud of his foresight when Mengred approached a few steps closer to the tactical station. "May I stand here?" he asked courteously.

Worf said, "As you wish."

Security Guard Zee moved over, keeping his eyes on Pakat. When Zee didn't as much as glance at Mengred, Worf decided to commend him in his next report Zee obviously trusted his fellow security officer, Lieutenant Rev, who was a.s.signed to guard Mengred. Rev was already positioned at the back wall of the bridge; her eyes narrowed as she watched Mengred. She was clearly on the alert.

Worf quickly disengaged some operations, unwilling to let Mengred see their full detection capabilities. Meanwhile Mengred sauntered over to where he could casually examine the tactical readouts.

"Ah, the Phylaris system," Mengred said thoughtfully.

"You are familiar with this system?" Captain Picard asked.

"I know it offers nothing of any value," Mengred said. "No convenient moons to place a Starbase. No planets worth colonizing."

At ops, Ensign Lita said, "I'm reading a Cla.s.s-M planet, sir. Atmosphere ten percent oxygen, twenty percent nitrogen dioxide, fifty-seven percent CO2. Almost five percent water molecules."

'Take us in closer," Picard ordered.

Mengred's voice cut through the bridge. "Don't waste your time. The land and plants are acid-based."

"I see," Picard said lightly. "Well, that is why we are here. To examine this planet."

Worf noted that everyone performed their duties with an efficiency tinged with tension. The Carda.s.sians had transformed a relaxing survey mission into a diplomatic nightmare.

"Entering orbit, Captain," helm reported.

Worf was already programming a Cla.s.s-in sensor probe. "Sensor prepared, sir."

Worf thought Mengred looked amused as the probe was deployed into the upper atmosphere. The data were meticulously gathered, with regular reports to the captain along the way. The planetary science lab would be thrilled with data from a new planet. Worf was not quite as excited.

When the probe was deployed into the lower atmosphere, there were increased readings of acid-based proteins. Shortly after the probe landed, the unit reported a highly acidic soil and atmosphere. Thereafter it began to malfunction, and soon ceased transmission altogether.

"This system has no tactical use, anyway," Mengred dismissed.

"That is true," Worf admitted reluctantly, having already reached that conclusion after examining the star chart. The system was strangely isolated, cut off from the closest star systems by the Badlands.

"Why don't you survey the plasma storms instead?"

Mengred asked Worf. "The systems inside have many strategic possibilities."

Captain Picard turned to answer him, "Commanders Riker and Data performed our preliminary survey of the plasma storms. While that data is being a.s.sessed, we are examining the rest of this sector."

Worf shifted uneasily as Mengred more or less rolled his eyes at Picard's answer. From that reaction and other things Mengred said over the next few hours, Worf got the distinct feeling that the agent thought the Enterprise was wasting valuable time.

He wouldn't dream of saying so aloud, but Worf was inclined to agree. It was clear that the system was uninhabited and uninhabitable. But there were survey protocols that had to be followed.

When they finished with the Phylaris system, Captain Picard ordered the Enterprise to set course for the Moriya system, on the far edge of the Badlands. Worf believed the Terikof Belt around the Moriya system would offer strategic possibilities, but the Carda.s.sians already had mining claims in the area. The distant Kamiat Nebula would be surveyed after Moriya, and that too offered certain strategic possibilities.

While they were en route to Moriya, Captain Picard retired to his ready room, leaving the bridge to the crew. They wouldn't reach the Terikof belt until well into the next duty shift.

Mengred waited until Picard was gone to observe, "Starfleet certainly isn't a military organization."

Worf quoted from the book, "Starfleet Command is the operating authority for the scientific, exploratory, and defensive activities of the Federation."

"Science, exploration, and defense," Mengred mused. "Not the sort of place I would expect to find a warrior."

Worf went rigid with resentment at the dig, and he refused to reply.

"I would think you'd take your rightful position in the Klingon Empire," Mengred told him. "Now that your people's difficulties are over. Surely a warrior such as yourself would be in command of his own ship."

Worf turned to face the Carda.s.sian, noting Mengred's hungry eyes, looking for signs that he had struck a nerve. It reminded Worf of Klingon testing behavior, leading up to a physical confrontation. He could not allow things to escalate to that point in this situation.

"I will not discuss Klingon matters with you," Worf said quietly. Then he turned back to his station.

"Perhaps you aren't a warrior after all," Mengred said thoughtfully.

Worf whipped around so fast that the Carda.s.sian was caught off guard. "Pahtk! You are without honor or you would not make a challenge you know I cannot accept."

Everyone on the bridge heard him. Worf was determined not to listen to the pugh, and though the Carda.s.sian's lips moved, he did not hear him. Worf continued working, concentrating on his panel, coordinating with the science team to survey the approaching nebula.

When Mengred finally left the bridge, ordering Pakat to remain behind, Worf immediately enlarged the tracking monitor. The security chief was even more determined to know exactly where the Carda.s.sians were at all times. He was certain that Mengred was not just here to observe. Mengred clearly had a goal to achieve, and it was Worf's duty to prevent him from harming the Enterprise in the process.

Chapter Eight.

Data was in command of the bridge during third shift. After several days spent surveying the rest of the Badlands sector, the plasma storms filled the viewscreen once again. For the past few days, science personnel had been busy at their monitors along the rear wall of the bridge, studying the plasma storms. Now they were gathering the last data they could obtain as they completed their circuit of the Badlands. Next, they would proceed to the rendezvous coordinates where the two Carda.s.sians would be returned to their ship.

For Data, it had been a most intriguing week. He noted the varied reactions of the crew toward the Carda.s.sians. Few people actively engaged them in conversation. Most avoided them, leaving Ten-Forward or the arboretum whenever one of the Carda.s.sians appeared.

The exception was Counselor Troi. She had been unfailingly polite to them and generous with her time. The counselor had reported that Mengre d's interests seemed general, but she noted a tendency for him to search out information about Data. Data suspected that even if he were human, he would not have been flattered by their attention.

"Prepared to launch probe number 22, Commander," the science officer announced.

"Execute," Data ordered. It was the twenty-second probe sent into the Badlands in the past few days. They were finally gaining an understanding of the complex plasma currents inside. There appeared to be hundreds of overlapping plasma storms, each with its own translational direction. Though the computer had created a navigational program, Captain Picard had vetoed another interior investigation.

At Commander Riker's insistence, Data had calibrated the long-range probes they deployed to include subroutines that searched for a wide range of residual particles from subs.p.a.ce carrier waves. Despite Data's report on the Yosemite and Crusher's opinion that he suffered from Myers disease, Riker remained convinced that the Carda.s.sians had caused his injury.

As yet, none of the probes or modified sensor banks on the Enterprise had detected any form of subs.p.a.ce wave that could carry biological weapons. However, there was an increased level of tetryons in the region. Natural tetryon fields had been discovered in Federation territory, but tetryons were also indicators of subs.p.a.ce incursions. The findings were causing much excited speculation in the astrophysics lab. Studies continued to determine whether the plasma discharges were causing these increased levels.

"Probe launched," the science officer reported.

Data moved up to ops to monitor the telemetry himself. Maintaining a clear transmission from the probe continued to pose difficulties due to the interference. But Captain Picard had ordered the Enterprise to remain outside of the sensor shadow, to prevent a recurrence of the Yosemite and Hawking incidents.

Commander Riker was bitterly disappointed when the first probes returned no viable information. He had been very sick the first day after they returned from the Carda.s.sian warship. He had only worked in the lab for a brief period of time before returning to his quarters. But Riker had monitored the telemetry, and Data had sent him regular reports as he a.n.a.lyzed the results.

Riker had finally returned to duty several days ago. He continued to call his illness an "injury." Data did not want to contradict the commander, but his recovery pattern conformed to the Carda.s.sian syndrome that Starfleet called Myers disease. The symptoms usually went into remission for several weeks before returning as a chronic debilitating sickness.

"We've lost contact with probe 22, Commander," the science officer announced.

The flow of telemetry readings ceased. Data saved the information and sent it to the science lab.

"Acknowledged." Data ordered, "Helm, set a course for the rendezvous coordinates. One-half impulse power."

The course he had plotted would allow the science team to continue to scan the Badlands for as long as possible. After dropping off the Carda.s.sians, the Enterprise was scheduled to proceed to planet Melona IV to a.s.sist with preparations for a colonization project.

Data was monitoring the a.n.a.lysis of the data from the last probe, when the turbolift door opened, revealing Mengred. Mengred spent a great deal of Data's duty shift on the bridge. Data had duly reported to the captain the Carda.s.sian's curiosity about cybernetics and his own operating systems. Picard had requested that Data submit daily transcripts of Mengred's questions.

"How are you functioning this evening?" Mengred asked.

"I am functioning normally," Data replied, as he always did.

Mengred made himself comfortable in the seat the counselor usually used. He didn't seem to mind that the entire bridge crew could hear him. "I thought you were a.s.signed to two shifts because Commander Riker had weakened. But he is now back on duty, and you are still on two shifts."

Seated at ops, Data had to glance over his shoulder to see Mengred. "I customarily take two duty shifts."

"Ah ... it makes sense for your superiors to a.s.sign you extra duty since you don't sleep." Mengred sounded pleased. "I suppose that in certain tactical or emergency situations you're ordered to work to all three shifts."

Data turned his chair. "I request an additional duty shift. I am not a.s.signed extra duty."

"No?" Mengred asked slyly. "You must be aware of how they control you."

Data was uncertain how to respond to that comment, so he simply turned back to ops. The Carda.s.sian warship entered the range of their long-range sensors, having disappeared on the other side of the Badlands for the greater part of their survey mission. Data noted their course was set to intercept with the rendezvous coordinates.

Data's display panel was configured to suit his unique computational speed, with updates provided every .02 seconds. Because of that factor, and the special subroutine he had created to search for subs.p.a.ce particle waves, Data noted the spike in tetryon readings. They surged over 1,000 percent above normal, overloading the sensors.