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The image of Minister Kuvak, his dark eyes attentive beneath a bowl of graying hair, appeared on Silok’s desktop screen.

“Silok,” Kuvak said with no other preamble than a curt nod. “I am told that you require my assistance.”

“Is this channel secure?” Silok said, wishing to waste no more of either his time or the minister’s than was absolutely necessary.

“A moment,” Kuvak said, looking down as he entered a command into his own communications terminal. His sharp gaze meeting Silok’s yet again, the minister said, “You may speak freely now.”

Silok nodded. “Thank you, Minister. One of my field operatives has discovered conclusive evidence of Romulan shipbuilding and related research activity in a clandestine facility located near the Achernar system.”

Kuvak appeared to mull the revelation over momentarily before he replied. “Indeed. Achernar is rather remote, even from Romulus.”

“Not so remote, evidently, to prevent an expanding Romulan Star Empire from having grown dependent upon Achernar’s resources, particularly in the agricultural and mining sectors. Acquiring new outlying provinces also means acquiring new material obligations, prime of which are hungry new imperial subjects. However, Achernar’s relative remoteness from the imperial core worlds of Romulus and Remus no doubt served to obscure it from the V’Shar before now. And it may also keep it from receiving undue attention from the domestic dissident factions that we know to be operating presently within the Romulan Star Empire.”

“What kind of research are the Romulans conducting there specifically?”

“Sources indicate they are close to a high-warp breakthrough. Should their research initiatives succeed—and eventual success is inevitable given the resources the Romulans are dedicating to these efforts—they could be mass-producing vessels capable of speeds of warp six or even warp seven within the year.”

Kuvak absorbed Silok’s grim assessment stoically, with only a slight crease in his forehead betraying the intensity of his reaction.

“We must neutralize this Romulan facility,” he said at length.

“I agree completely, Minister. The only question is whether to do it overtly, using the Vulcan Defense Force, or to employ subtler means as an alternative.”

“Administrator T’Pau is still en route to Vulcan from Earth,” Kuvak said. “She is expected back in ShiKahr in ten days’ time.”

“Then the decision is yours pending her return, Minister.”

“Administrator T’Pau’s philosophy regarding the use of the military could not be more plain, even in her absence. And a Vulcan military strike on a Romulan facility could only draw Vulcan directly into the conflict that Earth presently faces.”

“The very conflict from which Vulcan has just publicly withdrawn.”

“Precisely, Chief Investigator Silok.”

“You could contact Administrator T’Pau vis subspace,” Silok said. “And confer with her directly.”

Kuvak slowly shook his head. “Such a long-distance communication cannot be secured as reliably as can our domestic comm lines. Until she returns, I must act in her place to avoid any chance of letting the Romulans know what the V’Shar has discovered.”

“I understand, Minister Kuvak.”

“I trust that the V’Shar stands ready to employ the ‘subtler means’ to which you have already referred?”

It seemed to Silok that the importance of the intelligence agency in his charge had just increased exponentially, not only for his own world’s peace and security, but also for that of all of Vulcan’s allies.

“The V’Shar can do whatever is required,” Silok said. “However, the necessary preparations could take as long as half a year to complete.”

“By which time the Romulans’ mass-production efforts will be unlikely to have come to fruition. Correct?”

“Correct, Minister. I trust that I need not remind you that Administrator T’Pau will have returned long before the full preparations are complete.”

Kuvak appeared to frown ever so slightly, as though irritated. “But not before the relevant personnel are assigned and the appropriate