Section 31_ Rogue - Andy Mangels [73]
“The Starfleet prisoners evidently overpowered three of our technicians, Chairman, and forced them off the scout ship before using it to make their escape. The technicians were fortunate not to have been taken hostage.”
Koval shook his head. “Not at all. There probably wasn’t enough room on the scout ship to take anyone else aboard. What is the status of the rest of our personnel on the base?”
“There were no casualties, Chairman.”
“Fortunate. Even with a memory scanner, I cannot debrief the dead. The rebel base is compromised, Decurion. Evacuate it at once. Instruct all personnel to withdraw to the secondary compound.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“As soon as the evacuation is complete, you will purge the facility.”
“It will be done, sir.” The decurion saluted, touching his clenched fist to his chest. He turned swiftly and was gone.
Koval smiled to himself. Any scan of the base’s remains would reveal the blast signatures of Starfleet quantum torpedoes-armaments that the Tal Shiar had acquired through third parties and then hidden beneath the Army of Light complex during its construction long ago. Thus, the Chiarosan electorate would have even further proof of Federation perfidy before voting on the question of Federation membership, just two short days from now.
By that time, Koval expected to have concluded his business with Commander Zweller as well. Zweller had aided the Chiarosan rebels to sway the election in favor of Romulus, just as he had promised to do. And despite Zweller’s subsequent falling out with Grelun, a deal was still a deal. Spies had to be especially circumspect about honoring their under-the-table agreements. Or at least they had to appear to be. To do any less was simply bad business, and could invite unpredictable responses from one’s adversaries.
Now that Zweller had escaped from the rebels, Koval fully expected to give the commander his just due: a list of Romulan agents working on Federation worlds. A list of probably-compromised intelligence officers who would shortly find themselves purged, their families vanished, their lands and properties confiscated. Section 31 would almost certainly execute the spy-purge themselves, thereby saving Koval and his bureau a great deal of trouble and expense. Quietly lauding himself for his own cleverness, Koval allowed his lips to torque into an-almost- perceptible smile.
But there would be plenty of time to consider such things after the Chiarosan referendum. In the meantime, much remained to be accomplished.
Koval rose from his seat and approached Subcenturion V’Hari, the young woman who was monitoring the helm console. Though her collar did not bear the bureau’s insignia, she was, nevertheless, one of his most prized Tal Shiar staff officers, one of the many sets of clandestine eyes and ears he had positioned throughout the Praetor’s fleet. She was someone to whom he could entrust a great deal of privileged information. Most important, she refrained from prying into anything he chose deliberately not to tell her.
The subcenturion snapped to attention. “Sir?”
“I must inspect the main energy facility and witness the next series of full-power tests,” he said, nodding toward the image on the screen. “Send the technicians who came into contact with the Starfleet escapees to meet me there for their debriefings.”
“It will be done, Mr. Chairman,” she said crisply.
“I will return to the Thrai Kaleh within two days,” he said, and then left the control center.
Two days, he thought. At which time I will have a very important appointment to keep.
Chapter Ten
As soon as the Romulan scout ship touched down in the Enterprise’s shuttlebay, Crusher had the still-slumbering Grelun and the surviving Slayton crewmembers-including Corey Zweller-beamed directly to sickbay, where Dr. Anthony and Nurse Ogawa had been instructed to await their arrival. Leaving Riker in charge of securing the scout ship, Picard entered a turbolift, followed by Batanides. She was silent, almost brooding.
“Bridge,” Picard said wearily.