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He smiled, and squeezed. Then the warmth between her hands was gone, and he stood shoulder to shoulder with the other two members of his own race.

"Convey my regards to Torres, Seven, and Khala, if you would," said Telek. "I fear I will not be able to do so myself."

"Consider it done," said Janeway. She hoped her voice did not sound as thick as it did in her own ears.

Jekri Kaleh's silver gaze flitted over them all, then she did something that utterly shocked Janeway. She lifted her right hand and spread the four fingers apart into a V. Turning to Tuvok, she said without the slightest trace of mockery, "Live long and prosper, Vulcan Tuvok."

Tuvok raised a dark eyebrow, then returned the gesture. "Peace and long life, Jekri Kaleh."

Then they were gone, all four of them-Telek, Jekri, her companion, and Tialin.

"How will we know if they succeed?" asked Ensign Campbell.

TELEK, VERRAK, AND JEKRI FOUND THEMSELVES IN THE small central command area of the tiny Talvath. For just a moment, Jekri was caught off guard by the instantaneous transport, but she recovered command quickly.

"R'Mor, you should be able to trace the last wormhole coordinates. Plot them, and let us return."

"The wormhole will open right onto the front lines," protested Verrak.

"Do you have a better idea?" She asked the question sarcastically, but Telek R'Mor interrupted her.

"I do," he said. "Look."

There were coordinates already entered. And a message. Jekri reached over and tapped the flashing red light. Tialin's voice filled the close quarters.

"Follow the coordinates I have placed in your command bank," she said. "Then, when you have arrived in orbit around Romulus, I will see to it that you have an audience with the Empress. Do not fear for your vessel-it will not be taken. Be prepared. Lhiau can be very persuasive." -

Jekri set her jaw. She knew all about Lhiau and did not need anyone's warning. She only hoped that there was something left of the Empress she could reach.

Alone with the Empress in her luxurious throne room, Lhiau could barely restrain his excitement In a few moments, the Empress would give the command to attack. He was feeling good about the present situation, and more than a little proud of himself for turning what could have been disaster into about-to-be-realized triumph.

As the loathed Jekri Kaleh had suspected, this was not his true form. The limited minds of these flesh-encased beings could not begin to comprehend the Shepherds in all their grandeur. They would need to evolve a great deal more before they would even have the faintest idea of what Lhiau's people were, and they were not going to get that opportunity.

Lhiau was going to make them destroy themselves.

He reached into a large, silver bowl and grasped a piece of fruit. He took a big bite, enjoying the sensuous tickle of juice on his tongue, and felt the liquid dribbling down his chin. There were benefits to assuming this form. Many benefits indeed. But now, with victory almost within his grasp, Lhiau found he was wearying of exploring the pleasures of the flesh and anxious to have the deed done.

If only he had not sworn the Oath, it would all be so much easier. And quicker.

But he had taken the Oath, and he was a Shepherd, and although Jekri Kaleh would be shocked at the notion, Lhiau had a great deal of honor. Among those who deserved honor, of course, which was his own kind. He would never break the Oath, never encourage any of the renegades who allied with him to break it.

He would make these ambitious, limited, power-hungry, pitiful mortals do it for him.

How easy it had been at first. He'd studied the nearly countless species of every universe for a long time before deciding on this little quadrant of this little universe. The Romulan hostility toward anyone not of their race was convenient indeed. Their famed cloaking technology was even handier for Lhiau's purposes.