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“Where did this happen?” T’Vran said as she rose and approached the bridge comm station. She was grateful for the equanimity with which she was able to shroud her own voice.

“Uncertain,” said the comm officer. “Sitok’s body was found inside the quarters issued to one of our recent guests. One of the two that was recently released from the infirmary.”

“Ch’uivh,” Ych’a said in matter-of-fact fashion.

Sopek, T’Vran thought. “Where is our... guest presently?”

“Security found no one in the room other than Sitok’s body,” said the comm officer.

“Inform security that I want the ship searched thoroughly,” T’Vran said. “They are to institute a room-by-room, deck-by-deck search, with armed personnel deployed in pairs, as well as a thorough series of scans using the ship’s internal sensors.”

As the comm officer busied himself relaying her orders, T’Vran turned to face Ych’a, who had remained in her seat, where she studied the small display on a handheld communications device.

“Security has confirmed to me that both Mister Sodok and our most recent guest are still precisely where they are supposed to be, Captain.”

T’Vran nodded a silent acknowledgment, relieved to hear that at least Commander Tucker and the amnesiac Romulan centurion, the man Tucker had identified as Terix, were, respectively, in secure quarters and in the ship’s infirmary.

“How long has Sitok been dead?” T’Vran asked the comm officer.

“Doctor Sivath is presently on her way to make a precise determination,” the officer at the comm console said as he continued silently relaying internal communications.

“Ch’uivh most likely would have acted immediately after the guard’s shift change, Captain,” Ych’a said. “A significant fraction of the ship’s day has already passed since that time. Might I suggest you begin your search with a complete accounting of the Kiri-kin-tha’s complement of auxiliary vehicles? The ones you keep moored against the outer hull would be particularly relevant.”

It took only a handful of fleeting lirt’k later for Ych’a and the ship’s small security contingent to confirm what T’Vran already knew.

“It appears that one of your hull-mounted shuttles is missing, Captain,” said the V’Shar spy. “It is therefore safe to assume that your ‘guest’ has already placed a great deal of distance between himself and this vessel. It is doubtful that a man of such evident resourcefulness will be easy to find.”

T’Vran nodded, her gaze fixed upon Ych’a’s. “I require a word with you in private,” she said, prompting the spy to nod, pocket her comm device, and follow T’Vran into her small private office, located just off the bridge’s starboard side.

“I am... uncomfortable participating in your V’Shar schemes,” T’Vran said once the hatch had closed behind them, assuring their privacy.

“Your participation will be entirely deniable,” Ych’a said.

T’Vran already knew this, of course. Nevertheless, she remained as uncomfortable as ever with the notion of using lies as weapons—even against liars. Crewman Sitok’s blood was on her hands, just as surely as it was on Ch’uivh’s and Ych’a’s.

At length, she said, “Do you think your associate Ch’uivh may have considered it overly convenient that the vehicle he took was already completely powered up and provisioned for a long flight?”

Ych’a dismissed T’Vran’s concerns with a slow shake of her head. “Ch’uivh has never been sufficiently logical regarding such matters,” the spy said. “Even when he was masquerading as the Vulcan Captain Sopek.”

“Perhaps that accounts for the many difficulties he has encountered since he first began associating with the Ejhoi Ormiin dissidents, and some of the other adversaries of the Romulan Star Empire’s central government,” T’Vran said. “That man has always been far too easily manipulated for his own good. It will be fortuitous for us all if your ‘old friend Sodok’ proves not to be so blindly trusting.”

“Agreed, Captain,” Ych’a said. “We shall