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“Such circumstances are difficult to come by, Captain,” Klag said.

Gravely, Picard said, “Indeed.” He indicated one of the other humans with his hand. “Of course, you know Commander Riker, and this is my second officer, Commander Data.”

Good, Toq thought with relief. Data is the one with the yellow collar.

“Commander Tereth, my first, and Lieutenant Toq, my second,” Klag said.

Picard nodded to Tereth. “Commander.” Then he turned to Toq. “It’s good to see you again, Lieutenant. I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”

“Thank you, Captain.” Toq was surprised that Picard remembered him. It had been many years, and Toq had been but a beardless youth then.

As everyone took their seats, Klag asked, “Is there any new information you have?” Klag sat at the opposite end from Picard, with Tereth on his right and Toq on his left. That put Klag in an equivalent position at the table to Picard, which was only fitting.

The android replied. “Starfleet Command has conducted an investigation of both the Rector Institute and the Hood shuttlecraft’s last known position. The evidence points to Captain DeSoto being responsible for the removal of the Malkus Artifacts from the institute.”

Tereth bared her teeth. “So the captain has gone rogue.”

“No,” Riker said with conviction. “Captain DeSoto’s one of the most stable people I’ve ever known. He’d never do something like this willingly.”

“You served with DeSoto, didn’t you, Commander?” Tereth asked.

“Yes.”

“Over a decade and a half ago? And have you seen him since the war?”

“What’s your point, Commander?” Riker asked, folding his arms.

“My point,” Tereth said, leaning forward, “is that humans are particularly susceptible to mental trauma following war. It is one of your species’ unfortunate weaknesses. It is quite possible that he went mad.”

Picard spoke before Riker could say anything. “The Dominion War was hardly the captain’s first military engagement, Commander Tereth. And I don’t see what is to be gained by assassinating the man’s character. We’re here to determine what happened, not why.”

“I agree,” Klag said, which earned him a look from Tereth. Turning to her, Klag continued: “Picard and Riker know DeSoto—I know them. Their word is enough for me.”

Tereth smoldered, but said nothing.

A brief awkward silence was broken by the android. “There is a much more likely scenario, which relates to the Malkus Artifacts themselves. There is a fourth artifact still undiscovered: the one that can be used to control people’s minds. The range of the device is unknown, but it is not beyond the realm of possibility that exposure to the other artifacts made both Captain DeSoto and Colonel Kira—not to mention Admiral McCoy and Ambassador Spock—susceptible to it.”

Toq spoke up. “In the records Command forwarded to us, there was mention of a Zalkatian archaeological dig begun a year ago on Beta Lankal. One of the records there indicated that, when combined, the Malkus Artifacts become much more powerful. If someone has uncovered the fourth artifact, they may be using these thralls to bring them together.”

Data nodded. “That would fit the pattern, Lieutenant. May we see those records?”

Rather than answer, Toq turned to look at Klag—it was his decision, after all. Klag nodded. “We will, of course, share all data.”

“Of course,” Picard said. “In addition to Starfleet Command’s scans on Earth and near Starbase 24, we’re awaiting a call from Deep Space 9 regarding their investigation into Colonel Kira’s disappearance. All that information will be sent over as soon as this meeting is finished.”

“Sir, if I may,” Data said. “There was a discrepant sensor reading in the data from Starfleet Command.”

Picard frowned. “Discrepant in what way?”

“I cannot say without further investigation.”

Tereth turned to Toq. “You shall also investigate this discrepancy, Lieutenant.”

Smiling, Klag said, “What is that human saying? ‘Two heads are superior to one’?”

Riker returned the smile. “Something like that.” Then he grew more serious. “I suggest we split up and do our own scans where the St. Lawrence and the