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“Complying, lord,” the communications officer responded.

A moment later, the rasping voice of a Cordracite filled Thul’s bridge. “Fleetyard Commander Yov to approaching Melacronai vessel. State the nature of your business in our space.”

The governor glanced at Nakso again. In accordance with their plan, she made no attempt to respond. After all, they didn’t want to puncture the illusion that they were Melacron.

“Maintain speed,” said Thul.

The Cordracite commander spoke again. “Our ships are armed and ready to defend themselves, Melacronai vessel. If you come any closer, we will assume hostile intent and fire.”

The governor chuckled. “Please do,” he whispered.

He knew that the Cordracite was bluffing. Had any of those ships been as “armed and ready” as he pretended, at least some of them would have been deployed already-and of course, they hadn’t been.

Thul had caught them totally unaware. It was an exhilarating feeling, one that raised his senses to a fever pitch. And of course, the best part was yet to come.

“Repeat,” snapped the Cordracite, and this time there was a hint of urgency evident in his voice, “if you come any closer, we will fire.”

The governor could almost smell the terror floating rank and musky off the Cordracites at the dry-dock facility. “Maintain speed,” he said again. He turned to Ubbard, his burly weapons officer. “Range?”

“Momentarily, my lord,” came the reply.

Thul eyed the fleetyard. There was still no response, no movement among the ships, though he was sure the Cordracites were scrambling to organize a defense. Unfortunately for them, they would be too late.

“Range,” his weapons officer reported.

The governor smiled, anticipating the taste of victory already. “Target weapons,” he said.

“Targeting,” responded his weapons officer, working at his control panel. He looked up. “Ready, my lord.”

Now, Thul thought.

He was about to give Ubbard the order to fire when his navigator spoke up again. “Governor… a vessel is approaching.”

A vessel? Thul wondered. He turned to Nakso. “Put it on the screen,” he told her.

A moment later, their view of the vulnerable Cordracite fleetyard gave way to the image of a single ship. What’s more, the governor recognized it-recognized it all too well, in fact.

It was the Stargazer.

Cursing under his breath, Thul whirled to face his helmsman. Fortunately, he had taken great care to arm his vessel to the teeth. “Bring us about and prepare for engagement”

The helmsman nodded, already implementing the order with admirable efficiency. “As you wish, my lord.”

The governor turned to the forward viewscreen again. Picard would find himself at a considerable disadvantage, he reflected. He hadn’t learned very much about the armaments of the Stargazer, but what he had learned told him the captain didn’t stand a chance.

“My lord,” said Thul’s communications officer, “the Federation vessel is hailing us.”

The Thallonian smiled grimly. “Answer their hail and establish a communications link, Nakso.”

“As you wish, my lord,” came the officer’s reply.

Before Thul could draw another breath, he found himself face to face with the image of Jean-Luc Picard on his viewscreen. The human didn’t look at all pleased with the situation.

“Captain Picard,” the governor said in an affable tone. “What a surprise. I had not expected to see you again so soon. Tell me … did you finish the rest of that delicious wine?”

Picard came forward until his face seemed gigantic on the screen, the muscles working in his jaw. “I know what you’re up to, Thul,” he told the Thallonian in a voice that cracked like a whip. “In fact, I have been apprised of your entire scheme.”

The governor felt the blood drain from his face.

“I know about the hired assassins,” said the human, “about your grandiose plan to build an empire of your own, about the treason you intended with regard to your Emperor.”

Thul absorbed the information. It unsettled him, he had to admit, to know that his intentions had been laid bare. After all, he hadn’t been apprised of any