"No, not for the moment," Riker replied. "In fact, it might be best to leave everything the way we found it. The Romulans may claim that we had something to do with this. I want the evidence to speak for itself. We should probably get a visual record of what we found here." He spoke to Geordi over his comm circuit. "Riker to La Forge."

"La Forge here. Go ahead, Commander."

"First things first, Geordi. Switch off that signal beacon. Then see if you can restore lifesupport functions. I'm heading back to the ship. I'll a.s.semble an engineering crew to beam over and a.s.sist you."

"I've already taken care of that, Commander," La Forge replied. "We're making headway in translating some of these Romulan schematics down here, thanks to Data's help, and I think we can probably restore lifesupport functions within the hour."

"So soon?"

"It looks as if they had a breakdown in their central bioprocessing unit," La Forge replied. "They don't seem to have the same multiple redundancy in their systems that we do. They have only the central system and a reserve utilities-distribution network. You're not going to believe this, but as near as I can tell, their main reserve utilities-distribution processor was never hooked up properly. I'm looking at it right here, and the wiring is all wrong. Whoever hooked this up just slapped it together and didn't even bother to test it."

"You mean they departed on their shakedown cruise without properly installing their reserve lifesupport backups?" Riker said with disbelief.

"The backup system was properly installed, all right," said Geordi, "but the main processor wasn't connected properly. It was just a sloppy mistake, but the sort of mistake that would never show up unless they were specifically looking for it. The way this is hooked up, if their engineers had run a full diagnostics on the backup system, they would have obtained a false positive reading. Without actually going into the control panels, as we're doing, they would have had no way of knowing the reserve system was dysfunctional unless the main system broke down, and by then it would have been too late."

"What would have been the odds of a main system breakdown?" asked Riker.

"A thousand to one, maybe?" La Forge said. "I don't know. This ship could have put in years of active service without anyone ever noticing the problem unless somebody actually opened up the panels. It's the kind of thing that would have shown up in a second during a routine maintenance overhaul, but if they just relied on diagnostic scans, they would have gotten a green light every time and never known that it was just a short."

"Several thousand lives lost because of a simple mistake in wiring," said Riker, shaking his head. "Geordi, remind me of this the next time I get on your case for being too obsessive about routine maintenance overhauls."

He could almost hear the grin in La Forge's voice. "Yes, sir."

"Commander," Dr. Crusher said, "I hate to break in, but we've done just about all there is to do here for the moment. With your permission, I'd like to check out the sickbay. We know almost nothing about their medical facilities."

"Go ahead," Riker said. "But be careful. I'm heading back to the ship... . Riker to Enterprise. One to beam up."

As soon as he beamed back aboard the ship, Riker hurried to the bridge to make his report. Captain Picard nodded when he was finished telling him everything they'd learned so far.

"Excellent, Number One," he said. "Long-range scanners still show no approaching Romulan vessels. I think we may have stolen a march on them. However, I have my doubts about deactivating their signal beacon."

"We picked up their distress signal and responded to it," Riker said. "There wasn't anything we could do to help the crew, but Geordi should have the lifesupport systems functioning again before too long, and if the Romulans still haven't shown up by then, we can always send our own signal and let them know what happened. Meanwhile, they can hardly complain about our examining their ship. It's in Federation s.p.a.ce, and it's a derelict. From a legal standpoint, we'd be fully within our rights to confiscate it and consider it a prize."

"Yes, I am aware of that, but we are in a gray area here," Picard said, frowning. "You know as well as I how the Romulans would react to such a decision."

"We could send a message to Starfleet Command," Riker suggested. "That would put the ball in their court."

"And I am almost certain what Starfleet's decision would be," Picard replied. "They would undoubtedly order us to confiscate the ship, place a prize crew on board, and take it to the nearest starbase."

"What would be so wrong with that?" asked Riker.

"The Romulans would never stand still for it," said Picard. "They would almost certainly accuse us of seizing their ship and causing the death of its crew, and they would claim our actions const.i.tuted an act of war. I am simply not prepared to delegate responsibility in a decision of such magnitude, Number One."

"Yes, I see your point," said Riker. "There's too much at stake here to allow some glorified desk jockey at Starfleet to call the shots on this one. But headquarters will still have to be notified."

"Indeed," Picard replied, "but not until I have carefully weighed all of the potential consequences."

"Sir, if I may play devil's advocate, have you considered the potential consequences of our turning the ship back over to the Romulans without consulting Starfleet?" asked Riker.

"I have been doing exactly that, Number One," said Picard. "However, if we can provide Starfleet with a full report concerning the design and capabilities of this new warbird, that would certainly mitigate in favor of our decision to return the ship. But I feel strongly that if we wish to avoid a major incident that could well destroy the truce, the vessel will have to be returned, and the sooner the better. If the Romulans picked up the distress signal, they are bound to send out rescue missions. Even if we send a message to Starfleet right now, chances are the Romulans will still arrive before we can receive a response."

"So we notify Starfleet, maintain alert status, and scramble to find out as much as we can about the warbird in the meantime," Riker said.

"I think, under the circ.u.mstances, we should call a briefing and discuss our options," said Picard.

"Sir, I am receiving a message from Commander La Forge, aboard the warbird," said Ensign Ro.

Picard tapped his communicator. "Picard here. Report, Mr. La Forge."

"Captain, we're ready to attempt restoring lifesupport functions aboard this ship," said Geordi. "We've repaired the main bioprocessor, reinstalled the reserve utilities distributor, and rigged a backup with one of our own units, just in case. We've also run a preliminary diagnostics check, and the setup should work. If we don't run into any other problems, we should be able to get this bird fully powered up in no time."

"Have your engineering crew proceed, Mr. La Forge," Picard said. "In the meantime, I want you, Dr. Crusher, Mr. Worf, and Mr. Data back here for a situation briefing right away."

"Understood, sir. I'll contact the others and we'll beam right over."

"Very good, Mr. La Forge," Picard replied. "I shall see you in the briefing room. Picard out." He tapped his communicator, switching off. "I want a look aboard that ship, Number One."

Riker smiled. "I figured you would, sir."

"It will have to wait until after the briefing." Picard turned to Deanna Troi. "Counselor, I would like you to be present at the briefing as well. In the meantime, we will stand down from red alert, but maintain yellow alert and keep an eye on those long-range scanners. Ensign Ro, you have the conn. Let me know the moment there is any change in the situation."

"Understood, sir."

"We will have to send a message to Starfleet," Picard said as he headed for the turbolift with Riker. "I want a complete report ready for them, and that means accessing the warbird's data files and the captain's log. Get that information transferred to our own ship's computer as soon as possible."

"Geordi should be able to handle that as soon as he gets the warbird powered up," said Riker. "And if the Romulans have built any safeguards into their computer system, Data should be able to defeat them."

They entered the turbolift and proceeded to the briefing room. Within moments the others all arrived and they took their places around the conference table.

"Report, Mr. La Forge," Picard said.

"Lifesupport functions aboard the warbird are now restored and fully operative," said Geordi. "Our people should be able to get out of those suits in about five minutes. Meanwhile I've ordered my engineering crew to run a complete systems check before we attempt to restore full power."

Picard nodded. "Excellent. Mr. Data, as soon as we are finished here, I would like you to accompany me to the bridge of the warbird and a.s.sist me in the transfer of the information from their ship's computer to ours."

"Understood, sir."

"Number One, have Ensign Ro prepare to receive the download as soon as we can effect a link. Make certain you filter the transmission through our safeguard programs, just in case. I'll want you to coordinate things from this end. We can't waste any time, but I want that ship gone over with a fine-tooth comb."

"Understood, sir," Riker replied. "We've already got engineering and medical teams aboard; I'll organize several intelligence survey teams to fill out the security detail and go over the warbird deck by deck."

"Excellent," Picard said. "Now I would like to hear discussion concerning our options. This ship is the most advanced warbird we have ever seen, which means the Romulans will value it very highly indeed. They will not take kindly to Federation personnel poking around inside it and downloading all the files from the ship's computer. The Romulans could never allow us to get away with all that information. If they arrive before we complete our work aboard the ship, I do not see any way we can avoid a confrontation. This entire situation is, in effect, a time bomb that could explode at any moment. Therefore, I would like to hear some opinions."

"Well, there is no immediate threat," Dr. Crusher said. "The crew members are all dead, all suffocated due to the failure of the lifesupport system. There was no contamination aboard the ship-no radiation, no virus. All the evidence clearly indicates that the situation is exactly what it appears to be-a catastrophic accident aboard a prototype Romulan warbird on a shakedown cruise."

"An accident that has resulted in an intelligence windfall for the Federation," added La Forge.

Picard nodded. "I'm wary of windfalls, Mr. La Forge. They are often not what they appear."

"Still, we shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth," said Riker. "The difficult part will come when we finish our job and have to decide what to do with the ship."

"Starfleet authorities would be within their legal rights to order the vessel taken as salvage," Data said. "It is a derelict, and it is in violation of Federation s.p.a.ce."

"Their eyes will get big at the idea of a captured Romulan warbird, and a brand-new superior design at that," said Dr. Crusher. "They won't see any further than the prize being dangled before them."

"We, on the other hand, have to see further," said Picard. He held a field command out in "the Big Empty," as the desk jockeys at Starfleet Command liked to call it, never mind that s.p.a.ce was not only far from empty, but full of more complications than most bureaucrats could dream of. "We have to consider all the implications of such an act. A wrong decision on our part could easily result in war."

"Too easily," said Riker. "In my opinion, if we take the warbird as a prize, the Romulans will go absolutely berserk, never mind the legality of the situation. Starfleet can claim, truthfully, that the warbird is a derelict that drifted over the border of the Neutral Zone into Federation s.p.a.ce and, as such, is subject to confiscation and the laws of salvage. From a legal standpoint, it's a clear-cut case of finders keepers. The only problem is that the Romulans have their own way of looking at things."

Worf nodded. "I agree. They will never believe it happened that way. Perhaps they will accept that an accident aboard the warbird caused it to drift across the Neutral Zone, because that would absolve them of any direct responsibility for the violation of Federation s.p.a.ce. However, they will still believe that we seized their ship illegally, and they will suspect that we caused the death of its crew. If the situation were reversed, they would undoubtedly have done that very thing themselves."

"There is no basis for trust between the Federation and the Romulan Empire," said Troi, "and there never has been. Each is far too ready to believe the worst of the other. From a logical standpoint, we must a.s.sume that they will react with the same distrust as we would if the situation were reversed."

Picard nodded. "I agree. The situation is volatile enough as it is. The warbird will have to be returned to avoid precipitating an incident that could break the truce."

"Starfleet might not see it that way, sir," Riker said, "but if we can supply them with an exhaustive intelligence report concerning the design and capabilities of this new cla.s.s of warbird, they won't scream too loud."

"My feelings exactly, Number One," Picard said. "However, we must go about this very carefully, and we may not have enough time. If the Romulans arrive before we complete our work, I see no way to avoid an armed confrontation. They will not allow the Enterprise to get away with information about the design of their new prototype, and with all the coded and cla.s.sified files contained within their data banks."

"We've repaired the warbird's lifesupport systems and are now preparing to power it up. If this comes down to a fight, that works in our favor," said La Forge. "If the Romulans show up now, two ships will be much better than one. If we can figure out their cloaking device, we might even be able to hide the warbird under their very noses."

"Or we could finish our survey of the warbird," said Riker, "and then download the information from its data banks, including all the schematics from its engineering section. That would be as good as actually having the ship itself, and it should satisfy Starfleet. Then all we'd have to do is tow the warbird back to the Neutral Zone by tractor beam or power it up and lock in a course to take it back across the Neutral Zone and into Romulan s.p.a.ce."

"They'd find their warbird with its crew all dead," said La Forge, "and they would also find the repairs we made to their lifesupport system. That would allow them to deduce what happened, but with no Federation starship on the spot to trigger them off, cooler heads might prevail."

"They would realize, of course, that Federation personnel had been aboard their ship," added Troi, "and had access to all their cla.s.sified systems and computer files, but they could do absolutely nothing about it. They could, of course, protest, but what would be the point?"

"Exactly," Riker said. "They'll still have their warbird, but we'd have all the specs, and all their codes and cla.s.sified files. The trick will be to pull it off just right, if we have enough time to do it."

"Then we are all agreed," Picard said. "Regardless of how the situation develops, the warbird will have to be returned to the Romulans. If we can complete our survey of the ship and download its data files, so much the better, but if they arrive before we can complete our work, then we must be very accommodating and withdraw rather than risk a confrontation that could violate the truce."

The others all nodded in a.s.sent.

"In that case," said Picard, "let us proceed with all possible urgency. This meeting is over."

As the others filed out, Picard said, "A moment, Number One."

Riker stopped and turned around. "Sir?"

"I shall leave you in command while I go aboard that ship. For the present, maintain yellow alert. However, Romulan long-range scanners may pick us up before we can detect their approach. In that event, they will undoubtedly come in cloaked. They must uncloak before they can open fire, however, so be prepared to go to battle stations and raise shields at a moment's notice. If pressed, do not take the time to beam us back aboard. The safety of the Enterprise must remain your chief priority."

"Understood, sir."

They took the turbolift together, and Picard stepped out on Deck 6 while Riker continued on to the bridge. The captain moved briskly down the corridor toward the transporter room. As he entered, he nodded at Chief O'Brien, who immediately snapped to attention. "As you were, Chief," Picard said. "Lock in coordinates to transport me to the bridge of the warbird."

"Yes, sir."

He switched on his communicator. "Picard to La Forge."

"La Forge here, Captain. I just arrived. Are you coming aboard?"

"Yes, I am preparing to beam over to the bridge of the warbird," Picard said. "What is the status of the lifesupport system?"

"Fully restored, Captain," Geordi said. "We're out of our suits and getting ready to power this baby up."

"Excellent. Picard out." He switched off his communicator and stepped up on the transport platform. "Ready to transport, Chief O'Brien."

"Coordinates locked in, sir."

"Energize."

Chapter Three.

DATA WAS WAITING for Picard when he materialized on the bridge of the warbird. As usual, the android's facial expression was neutral, yet at the same time it somehow managed to convey an impression of both alert expectation and an almost childlike inquisitiveness.

Lieutenant Commander Data was the creation of the late Professor Noonian Soong, an enigmatic and reclusive genius whose work even the most brilliant minds of Starfleet were still struggling to understand. Except for his pale alabaster skin, which was synthetic, and his yellow eyes, which were sophisticated cybernetic optic units, Data was entirely human in appearance. He was, however, completely inorganic and, as such, he did not age. His positronic brain was a sentient, self-aware computer, capable of learning and processing information with incredible speed and efficiency.

After he was discovered in Soong's abandoned laboratory on a remote colony world, eminent Starfleet scientists started competing with one another, trying to lay claim to him. However, Data resisted becoming a laboratory specimen. He wanted to remain with the crew of the Enterprise, and Picard supported him in his decision. When Picard was overruled, Data threatened to resign from Starfleet. A court of inquiry was a.s.sembled to determine whether or not he, as an android, had any civil rights.

The key to the case was the question of Data's sentience. He was highly adept at mimicking human behavior and responses, but more than that, he sought to understand and a.s.similate them. The android had an insatiable desire to learn, and more than anything, he wanted to be human. From a logical standpoint, he understood that this was a dream he could never hope to realize, but on a metaphysical level, it was, perhaps, a more attainable goal.

A human being, ultimately, was more than merely the sum of his or her parts. Data's sophisticated positronic brain performed essentially the same functions as an organic human brain. In fact, it performed most of those functions in a superior manner, allowing him to breeze through the courses at the Starfleet Academy. Science answered for him many questions about the fascinating puzzle of human existence, but it had yet to determine exactly what const.i.tuted the human soul. If intelligence and self-awareness were used as criteria, then Data more than met those qualifications. If it was a question of animating force, then an argument could be made that Data met the criteria there as well, for the electrical impulses of the human brain were essentially the same, in principle, as those that powered Data's positronic circuits. If it was a question of the genetic templates of DNA, then Data failed on that count, but to resort to DNA as a definition of the concept of humanity was to open up a controversy no system of theology or philosophy could adequately deal with, for it would imply that cloning could essentially produce a soul.

Picard had avoided the metaphysical issues and based his argument purely on the question of sentience and self-awareness. He had pointed out to the court that if Data was sentient and self-aware, something that was easily demonstrable, and if the judges disregarded his will, they risked setting a dangerous precedent that could ultimately result in the creation of a slave race, something that voilated everything the Federation stood for. Given Picard's persuasive moral argument, the court had no choice but to rule in Data's favor.

The court had thus validated Data's right to self-determination, and the android became a permanent and highly valued member of the Enterprise crew. Legally he could not be considered human, but the court had recognized Data's civil rights-a decision that had highly controversial implications. The time would come, Picard was certain, when the decision of the court would raise some fascinating legal and philosophical issues, but for the present, Data was the first and only inorganic being to have been granted civil rights, and the android considered it a great personal victory. The decision didn't mean that he was human, but it was perhaps the next best thing. And if people wondered whether or not a computerbrained inorganic being was capable of loyalty, then they had to look no further than Lieutenant Commander Data.

"Sir," the android said, "I have deduced the operating principles of the Romulan ship's computer, and I have entered the appropriate instructions to prepare a download of its central data files. I am ready to proceed at your instructions."

"Excellent, Mr. Data," said Picard, as he glanced uneasily around the bridge of the warbird. It was larger than that of the Enterprise, and everything about it felt alien and disturbingly malevolent, especially with the bodies of the bridge crew still lying where they had fallen.

It was, Picard realized, partially his own reaction to the unsettling sight of death. The body of the warbird's young captain lay twisted at the foot of the elevated command throne with its built-in operating consoles. His hands were frozen in an att.i.tude of clawing at his throat, and his eyes and mouth were open wide in a horrible grimace. The bodies of the other crew members were either draped over their duty stations or lying on the deck where they had fallen, vainly gasping for breath. It was, Picard thought, an awful way to die.

The bridge of the warbird was laid out with an almost Byzantine devotion to form, less like a military command center than a place of ritual. The command post where the captain sat, looking down over the bridge, vaguely brought to mind the throne of an Egyptian pharaoh, and the tandem consoles where the pilot, navigator, and weapons officer had their posts-raised on a platform higher than the other duty stations, but lower than that of the captain-were reminiscent of an altar on which sacrifices could be made to the Romulan deities of war. And in this case, thought Picard, those sacrifices had been terrible.

Ships had their own distinctive personalities, Picard thought, and this ship was no different. Somehow it simply felt wrong, and it wasn't just the aura of death brought about by the terrible disaster its crew had experienced. Picard wondered if any of the other personnel on the away teams felt it, then quickly dismissed the matter from his mind. Doubtless, he told himself, it was merely the tension of the situation. He was anxious to have a look around this formidable new warbird, but the sooner the work was done, the better he would like it. He did not enjoy being aboard a death ship. He glanced at the body of the fallen Romulan commander and quickly looked away. Then he frowned and looked back again. Was there something different in the att.i.tude of the body?

He moved closer to the corpse of the Romulan commander and stared down at it intently. Perhaps it had merely been a trick of peripheral vision, but for a moment he almost could have sworn he saw the Romulan take a breath. But no, that was clearly impossible. Doubtless, he told himself again, it was merely the tension of the situation and his anxiety to get on with their business here.

"Captain?" said Data. "Should I proceed?"

Picard frowned and shook his head, thinking it must have been merely his imagination. Scanners had picked up no signs of life aboard this ship. He forced his attention away from the body of the Romulan, back to the task at hand.