The Romulan War_ Beneath the Raptor's Wing (Book 1) - Michael A. Martin [145]
Not for the first time, T’Pol marveled at her old friend’s rhetorical gift for intertwining flawless logic with appalling cynicism. It was probably fortunate indeed that he had not opted to go into politics after the V’Shar had placed him on “inactive” status.
“I hope you’re right, Denak,” she said. “But I fear that the Romulans are the intended recipients of these weapons. I discovered another shipping manifest this morning, for a ship slated to carry several sealed cargo containers that match up with a weapons cross-check I confirmed just last night. They don’t indicate a final destination for the weapons, but they do show a heading for a rendezvous—deep inside Romulan territory.”
An almost-smile creased Denak’s lips, which surprised her. “ ‘Hope,’ T’Pol? ‘Fear’? I must ask you again: Which one of us is being overly emotional?”
“I have helped you search for Ych’a to the best of my ability, Denak. I need your help in resolving this covert weapons question. Just as I still need your help in persuading T’Pau to see reason regarding the Romulan War.”
“And that is to say nothing of your continued need for help in merely locating Administrator T’Pau,” Denak said.
And only then does the difficult part begin, T’Pol thought as a tense silence stretched between the two old friends. Convincing a zealous follower of the ways of Surak that peace requires a good deal more than a mere refusal to fight.
Denak was the first to disturb the quiet. “And what of Ych’a, T’Pol?”
“I never said I intended to cease trying to locate Ych’a,” she said. “I will pay Kuvak a visit shortly regarding T’Pau’s whereabouts and... other matters. I have begun to suspect that whatever I learn from him will also lead me to Ych’a.”
Denak scowled. “It is not logical to assume that the objects of more than one search will be found together merely because none of them have been found yet.”
“I agree,” T’Pol said. “It is not logical.”
“But it is intuitive.”
Government district, ShiKahr, Vulcan
Nevasa lay bloated on the horizon beneath vigilant T’Rukh, heralding evening’s imminent approach as Kuvak returned to his private office from what had been his final official meeting of the day.
He was slightly startled, though not at all surprised, to find T’Pol awaiting him in his personal meditation area after he had entered and closed the chamber’s heavy door after him. After all, today was the day he had told her she could expect Administrator T’Pau to return from the business that had occupied her for better than a tevun-krus now.
He was surprised, however, at what she had to say to him. “I am aware of the arms shipments, Kuvak. Does Administrator T’Pau know about them?”
Doing his best to cleanse his mien of all discernable emotion, Kuvak said, “You must not draw conclusions from whatever fragmentary information you may have stumbled upon, Commander T’Pol.”
“If I resist drawing conclusions,” T’Pol said, tempered Raalan steel in her voice, “it will not be because your reaction to my accusation has inspired my confidence.”
He answered only with silence. She took a single menacing step toward him.
Kuvak considered making a run for the security-alert button on his desk, but decided he’d never reach it before she intercepted him. Besides, even if he had his security personnel arrest her, she would be called upon to give testimony. That which he wished to withhold from the general public would come out too soon, unless he was prepared to bring the most permanent of sanctions against her.
But even though he had worked at the side of the corrupt V’Las during the previous administration, he was prepared