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"May we all have such insults," said Jekri, and for the first time in she couldn't remember how long, she chuckled. Then she sobered. "But I have every reason to believe that that disaster could happen again."

"Except that instead of thirteen warbirds, we would be speaking of thousands," said Verrak.

"Which is why your plan is the only one," said Idran. "Jekri, when I wear my formal regalia, my chest is crowded with medals. I have been dubbed a hero of the

Empire. I never thought there would come a day when I would disobey orders, especially direct orders to go to war."

"Only a veruul would fight a war such as this one," said Jekri, "and such is what Lhiau must think us. Verrak, you have been free to listen. What have you learned? Is the Empress his?"

Verrak looked uncomfortable. Jekri had deliberately left unsaid the reason that he had been free to listen- because he had pretended to betray her. Knowing what she knew now, she approved of his decision and held no grudge. It was the wisest, indeed, the only logical, avenue he could have pursued. But clearly, Verrak was still wrestling with guilt.

"It is the worst scandal that has been seen hi decades," said Verrak with obvious reluctance. "She makes no attempts at disguising her infatuation with that fvai'."

"A little charity, my friend," said Jekri. "The Empress's mind is not her own. I doubt she breathes without Lhiau's express instructions."

"But why did he not attempt to infiltrate your mind, or mine?" asked Verrak.

"We were lesser targets, and he did attack me mentally." She smiled slyly. "Did you really have me followed?"

Verrak blushed. "Have you followed? No. Follow you myself? Yes."

"More ammunition with which to frame me?"

"It was out of concern!" cried Verrak. "I thought you might be walking into a trap, I-"

Jekri held up a hand. "Enough. I believe you. Are those people in any danger?"

"I do not believe so. There was no follow-up, once you had been sentenced."

"Good. I would not have them come to harm on my account." Idran was scowling, not knowing what they were talking about. Jekri thought about enlightening him, but decided against it. Not everyone was ready for the concept that the former chairman of the Tal Shiar fought against the mental attacks of an enemy with Vulcan mental control.

"These battles, in the Neutral Zone and at the various homeworlds, must not be permitted to happen," she stated, hearing in her voice again the assurance of old. "It would ruin the Empire. I do not know why Lhiau hates our people so much that he wishes our obliteration, nor do I know why he is so intent that we ourselves be the vessels of our own destruction."

Verrak frowned. "When he first came to us, he asked for our help in defeating his enemies. How can destroying our people accomplish such a goal?"

"Lhiau speaks in riddles, he twists words, he never reveals himself," said Jekri. "He cannot be trusted to simply state something." She leaned back and folded her arms across her lean chest, absently noting die sharpness of the bones. She had lost a great deal of weight during her ordeal.

Verrak had raised an excellent point, one that needed to be understood if they were to truly defeat Lhiau. How could the Romulans help Lhiau defeat his enemies if they were destroyed?

Unless destroying the Romulans would somehow harm his enemies.

She brooded on this thought for a moment, then sighed. "We do not have all the information we need in order to solve this puzzle. The successful completion of my plan is therefore even more vital. Idran, you said we were to rendezvous with the Tektral. What then?"

"Then we must report to our position in the front line and await orders to attack." He grinned savagely. "We will attack, but not the way they think. They have their prize; we will have ours."

Under Jekri's leadership, the Tektral had been a smoothly operating machine. When she materialized on the bridge of her vessel, she found chaos. There had been