The start of another beautiful day.

“To say that speculation is running rampant would be an understatement of epic proportion,” Ambassador Jetanien offered from where he stood before Reyes’s desk. The commodore was gratified to note that the towering Chelon apparently had chosen to forgo imbibing the hateful beverage he normally consumed in great quantities and the odor of which usually sent Reyes looking for something in which to vomit.

Taking a generous sip from his coffee cup, Reyes said, “But they don’t know what we know.” He looked to T’Prynn. “Do they, Commander?”

The Vulcan shook her head. “Correct, sir. The Klingon vessel that was in orbit of the planet until the moment of its destruction reported significant power readings emanating from multiple subterranean sources, all of which were working in concert to introduce massive tectonic destabilization. Prior to that, no geological anomalies which might account for such an event were detected.”

“And these power readings,” Jetanien said, “they were the same as those observed by the Endeavourat Erilon?”

“The indications are that technology similar to that discovered on Erilon was in use on Palgrenax, though on a much greater scale, of course.”

Frowning as he considered the information for the tenth time since being roused at this unholy hour, Reyes asked, “You’re saying that whoever built those structures on Palgrenax included what was basically a planetary self-destruct?”

Pausing a moment as if to consider the notion, T’Prynn then offered a curt nod. “That is essentially correct, sir.”

“Any chance the Klingons did this to themselves?” Reyes asked. “An accident of some kind while investigating something on or beneath the surface?”

T’Prynn replied, “That is a possibility, of course, though nothing in any of the communications we have been able to decipher to this point provides any such indication.”

“Perhaps the Tholians found a way to trigger the event,” Jetanien said. “Though I suspect you would have found something in their communications to that effect.”

“Much of it has defied our attempts at decryption,” T’Prynn said, “but we have translated enough to know that the Tholians are blaming the Klingons, accusing them of unleashing some form of heretofore unknown superweapon on the planet. As expected, the Klingons are leveling similar allegations toward the Tholians, claiming the Assembly is exacting vengeance for the isolated encounters that have already taken place.”

Rubbing the bridge of his nose, Reyes released a small sigh. “So, everybody thinks someone else did it, but nobody knows who, to say nothing of why.”

That latter question burned in the commodore’s mind, even more so than wanting to know the identity of whoever might have carried out such a calamitous action. There was more to consider here than conflict between the Klingons and the Tholians, he knew. Whoever or whatever had destroyed Palgrenax, they had done so without any apparent regard for the race of intelligent beings that had sprung up on that world. It suggested that the responsible party had an agenda which did not include the fate of innocents as a priority.

Not for the first time, Reyes felt the pull of regret as he considered the consequences of the Federation’s movements into the Taurus Reach on those civilizations native to the region. While Starfleet had taken great pains to avoid contact with local species—especially those that had not yet progressed to warp flight—the Klingons of course had felt no such compelling need. Seven planets had fallen under the empire’s banner, four of them inhabited.

Could Starfleet and the Federation have done more to prevent that unchecked expansion? The question had nagged at Reyes more times than he had bothered to count. While it could be argued that the Klingons might eventually have ventured into this region of space on their own, planting their flag on various worlds in the same manner in which they already had done so, Reyes also believed that it was an argument put forth by weaker men.

They’re here because of us. Everything that happens here is our fault.

While he acknowledged the need to tread with care through the political and military minefield that the Taurus Reach represented in order to avoid inciting an interstellar incident—with the Klingons or the Tholians—Reyes had no intention of allowing that reasoning to cloud or gloss over the simple fact that innocent parties would suffer because of the Federation’s encroachment into this part of the galaxy.

Whatever we end up finding out here, it better damned well be worth it.

“If it was an accident,” he said after a moment, “they might well have simply activated the wrong piece of equipment.” A chill wormed its way down his spine at the thought of the eager Lieutenant Xiong committing a similar tragic mistake. Reyes made a note to ensure that a full report of this incident was transmitted to the lieutenant within the hour, well before the Endeavourand the Lovellreached Erilon.

“However,” he continued, “if it was a deliberate act, then why? Were the Klingons the target? Are we talking about something like what happened at Erilon?” Even as he spoke the words, he felt a twinge of remorse at the thought of what had happened to Captain Zhao and the research team on that ice-bound world.

“None of the communications transmitted from the Klingon ship to their base suggested any contact with unknown alien entities,” T’Prynn said as she stepped away from the viewer. “That does not rule out such a possibility, of course.”

As she crossed the room to stand before the commodore’s desk, her hands still clasped behind her back, Reyes for the first time noted what he thought to be hints of fatigue in the commander’s eyes. He knew that Vulcans did not require sleep with the same frequency as humans, just as he also was aware that they could be quite stubborn when it came to seeing to their own basic health needs.

She’s a big girl,he reminded himself. She can take care of herself.

“Perhaps the Klingons destroyed the planet to protect the secret of what they’d found,” Jetanien said. “However, a scenario worth considering is that whatever attacked our people on Erilon staged a similar assault on Palgrenax, only this time they felt the need to initiate more drastic measures.”

Despite himself, Reyes felt his eyes widen as he digested the ambassador’s theory. “That’s a hell of a leap to make, Your Excellency. On what are you basing this?”

“Logic,” the Chelon said. Turning to T’Prynn, he added, “My apologies for stepping into your realm of expertise, Commander, but Captain Zhao and his people were attacked after discovering and activating components of the ancient alien technology discovered on Erilon. Based on the Klingons’ sensor readings, we can conclude that similar technology was found on Palgrenax, after which it was apparently used as an instrument to destroy that planet.” Rolling his massive shoulders, he released a burst of clicks before saying, “To employ one of your people’s idioms, Commodore, someone or some thing does not want anyone playing with their toys.”

“You’re suggesting someone has interests on both of these planets,” Reyes said, making no effort to hide his skepticism, “light-years apart, and with no detectable mode of transportation between those two points? Who? Why?”

The ambassador shook his head. “I am not in possession of all the relevant facts. I merely posit a theory based on what information is available at this time.”

Just what I need,Reyes thought. Another mystery.

As if reading his mind, Jetanien said, “Given our current situation, however, we cannot afford to waste time with idle speculation. Both the Klingons and the Tholians are ratcheting up the rhetoric after this incident, Commodore. Anger and posturing are—as you can imagine—laced with fear, given that each side is now worried that they can be obliterated by the other. For the moment, they seem content to simply point accusatory fingers at one another, but we can be sure that will not last.”