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Riker nodded. “I see where you’re going with this. We can’t under any circumstances allow the Changeling access to those logs.”

“They’re already under tight wraps, but we can take steps to make them more so. However, I think we have to keep them accessible enough to give the Changeling the illusion that it can obtain them. A Changeling simply hiding from us might never be found, but a Changeling with a focused objective can be tricked. It can be cornered, and it can be trapped!”

Troi arrived with Riker on the bridge just as Captain Picard was finishing a communicator conversation with Hawk. As they stepped from the turbolift, they saw a security team sweeping the bridge with low-level phaser fire.

“Thank you, Mr. Hawk. Your insights into the Changeling’s psychology may prove very valuable in our next meeting. Picard out.”

Troi looked from the security team to Picard, her eyebrows arched in an unspoken question.

“Mr. Hawk insisted we maintain constant monitoring of the bridge.” Picard shrugged, though she could sense the effort it took for him to accede. “He felt the bridge was the one area where we could not allow the Changeling. Much as I disliked putting limits on our potential for negotiation, I agreed with his assessment.” He tugged at the hem of his tunic and stiffened his spine, effectively shutting off any further discussion.

“So, tell me, Counselor,” he said, steering the conversation back into safer waters. “Do you agree with Mr. Hawk’s interpretation of the Changeling’s motivations?”

“Hawk has some interesting ideas, but based on our limited exchanges, it’s difficult to be sure.” She sidestepped a pair of security officers who crossed the deck and continued. “It’s very easy, when dealing with a shape-changer, to project things onto them that aren’t there, either based on our own feelings or on our perceptions of the form they’re occupying at the time.”

“You have your own opinions of the Changeling.”

She frowned slightly. “I have concerns, Captain. From what we have observed and been told, this Changeling’s behavior is aberrant by Changeling standards. It might be described as deviant, or even psychotic. Its self-imposed isolation from the Great Link especially concerns me. It’s difficult to conceive of what extended isolation might do to such a being.”

“And yet, Counselor, a normally functioning Changeling would be unlikely to negotiate with us at all, much less concede anything useful. Perhaps a mad Changeling is exactly what we need at this juncture.”

“Perhaps, Captain, but it could also make this individual especially unpredictable and dangerous. In any case, I believe none of this necessarily contradicts Mr. Hawk’s ideas. Perhaps it even supports them.”

Picard watched as Troi moved across the bridge to talk with Data, while Riker sat in his chair to the captain’s right. “So Hawk has given you his theories about the Changeling. I see how that’s useful to Hawk, but how can it be useful to you?”

“One of the primary tactics of negotiation, Number One, is to develop a relationship with the other side, to find and exploit areas of commonality. If the Changeling believes this is a beautiful ship, then so do I. If we share nothing else, we have that, and it’s something I may be able to build on.” He studied Riker’s face. “You seem skeptical.”

“Someone, I think it may have been the writer Will Rogers, said that diplomacy is the art of saying ‘nice doggie’ until you find a rock. In this case, I’m not sure if we’re the guy with the rock, or the dog.”

“Perhaps you’re right, Will, but I’m not willing to give up diplomacy without giving it at least one more chance.” Picard turned and punched up a shipwide intercom on his chair’s armrest companel. “This is Captain Picard. I address myself to the Changeling who has infiltrated this ship. As you are doubtless aware, we have continued our efforts to locate and neutralize you as a threat to this ship. You certainly must understand that we cannot sit idly by while you openly profess to being an agent of an enemy of the Federation.

“However,