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Yet, in the ground beneath the smallest of Narendra III’s twelve continents, the fourth and final Instrument of Malkus the Mighty’s rule lay undisturbed. The only clue to its existence was a mild green glow and the endless yet silent scream of the mind that occupied it.

Or, rather, one of the minds. The psionic impressions of seven others had been made on the Instrument, simply waiting for the time when it was unearthed.

Then four more were added.

This surprised the screaming mind. He had not realized that the third Instrument had been found. But apparently it had.

Still, if more minds had been imprinted, then whoever possessed the third Instrument had failed just like the first two.

And so the screaming continued….

Third Interlude

“CAPTAIN’S PERSONAL LOG, U.S.S. Voyager, Captain Kathryn Janeway, Stardate 48391.7.

“While our mission to capture Captain Chakotay’s Maquis cell and retrieve Lieutenant Tuvok from his undercover operation has technically been a success, everything else has gone to hell in a handbasket. Voyager is trapped in the Delta Quadrant, Chakotay’s ship has been destroyed, and several of my crew were killed when the Caretaker violently took us seventy thousand years across the galaxy to the Ocampa homeworld. We have now begun our long journey home, with members of Chakotay’s Maquis cell replacing the Voyager crew that was lost. Chakotay will replace Aaron Cavit, who was killed, as my first officer and serve as liaison between the Starfleet and Maquis crew members. I don’t know if terrorists and officers will be able to work together, but I have to give it a try if we’re to have any hope of getting home.

“The details of our enforced exile are in my official log, but I would like to take this opportunity to note those under my command who lost their lives needlessly. Cavit was due to be reunited with an old friend when this mission was complete. My conn officer, Stadi, had family on Betazed. Chief Engineer Honigsberg had been chomping at the bit for months to take Voyager out into space. The entire medical staff…

“Computer, pause.

“Dammit.

“Computer, resume.

“I will get the rest of us home, one way or another.”

Part 4: The Final Artifact

2376

This portion of the story takes place two years prior to Star Trek: Nemesis; it also takes place shortly after the Star Trek: Gateways book series, and a couple of months after the Star Trek: The Next Generation novel Diplomatic Implausibility.

Chapter Ten

J’LANG WISHED HE COULD REACH THROUGH the viewscreen and rip the Ferengi’s ears off.

“The marble still hasn’t arrived, Quark. We’re breaking ground on the memorial today, and I don’t have my marble. Why is that?”

“Captain Butterworth’s freighter left Deep Space 9 yesterday,” Quark said. “They had a couple of delays—”

J’lang growled. “I’m a sculptor, not a navigator, but even I know that your space station is not on a direct course from the Sol system to the Narendra system.”

The Ferengi seemed unimpressed. “And if the freighter was only carrying your marble, that would be an issue, but they also supply me with various other items from Earth. There’s a good number of humans on this station, and I like to give them a taste of home. That’s how I know Captain Butterworth in the first place, and how I was able to get you your precious marble. In any case, he’ll be in orbit of Narendra III first thing tomorrow morning, guaranteed.”

“Quark, throughout this business association, every time you have ended a sentence with the word ‘guaranteed,’ it has been preceded by words describing events that have never happened as you described.”

“Well, that won’t be the case this time,” Quark said primly.

J’lang scowled. “I was given this commission by Chancellor Martok himself, Quark. Do you know what that means?” The Ferengi opened his mouth to reply, but J’lang didn’t give him the chance. “It means that this could be the opportunity of a lifetime. If the chancellor likes my war memorial,