The Vulcan Changeling Project

Chapter Four

Once inside her newly furnished quarters, Talerth began to have doubts. Rath was a brilliant commander and yet could he be wrong? For the praetor would have them both executed for treason if it was discovered what they were up to. However, if the mission succeeded, they and their Vulcan brothers would rule the world. Talerth sighed once more as she tried to convince herself that the woman’s power had to be harnessed. The Federation must not be allowed to harness the power first, for the Federation was weak and they would not have the stomach to make the woman reveal her secrets, if she did not want to. The Rommulan and the Vulcan cause must prevail no matter what the cost. Once she had been included in Rath’s inner circle, she had been surprised that a third of Rath’s army was comprised of Vulcans. For there were still some Vulcans that wanted to return to the days before Surak, they were of course a minority and yet it was proof that all was not as it seemed with the peaceful Vulcans.

***

Muriah looked up at Spock in misery, “I don’t know what to say for in less than 10 earth seconds I’ve told you what I swore to never told anyone.”

Mister Spock sat down beside Muriah. “The need to tell someone was too great and the secret would have eventually destroyed you.”

Muriah looked troubled as she looked back at Spock, “Perhaps, you’re right.”

For a moment they both sat next to each other in silence, each contemplating the events that brought them to this situation.

“Mister Spock, would it be permissible to have a tour of the ship? I have never been on a star ship before.” Muriah said hopefully as she again held Spock’s gaze.

Spock cleared his throat, “I will have to get security clearance first.”

A few hours later Muriah looked around her in awe as Spock showed her around Engineering. After a few moments Scotty, took up where Spock took off as he gestured towards various panels. Muriah waited until Scotty was out of ear shot and then stepped closer to Spock. “I can’t understand a word he’s saying,” Muriah hissed in Spock’s ear. “This is a waste of time that neither of us has.” Muriah then smiled at Scotty, “Mister Scott, could you step over here for a moment?”

Scotty grinned as he stood before Muriah and as Muriah stared intently into his eyes Mister Scott’s jaw went slack and he collapsed.” Muriah then reached out and caught him before his body hit the ground. As she looked up at Spock, Muriah reassured him, “Don’t worry Mister Spock, he will be fine.” She then looked down at Scotty as she gently put her fingers on his temple. Scotty’s eyes remained closed until Muriah removed her hand and then he wobbled to his feet. Scotty’s eyes glittered with an unnatural glow for a few seconds and then he blinked.

“Aye, Mister Spock thanks for bringing the lass down, she has an uncanny knowledge of the Enterprise, she’d make a fine engineer.”

Muriah beamed at the compliment, “Thank you, Mister Spock.”

Spock arched an eyebrow as he turned to Scotty,” Thank you, Mister Scott. Your tour was just as fascinating as usual.”

Scotty clasped his hands behind his back and rocked on his heels as he said, “T’was a pleasure, Mister Spock.”

Spock turned to Muriah as they left Engineering. “Mister Scott assumed that we had already taken the tour and that you proved to be an apt pupil in the field of Engineering.”

Muriah nodded enthusiastically, “Yes that is correct. I sensed that Mister Scott was very busy and my questions would have detained him from his duties, that and the fact that I couldn’t understand a word he said made what I did logical, it saved time and Mister Scott will only remember what he thinks happened.”

Spock nodded in head in agreement, “Yes, it was very logical, but how ethical was it?” Spock asked aloud to no one in particular.

***

The Vulcan sands burned hot and bright as T’Plath smiled and ran her slender fingers through her long dark hair. “The child is alive,” she thought. The time for victory had come and T’Plath regretted that she would not see the woman, for the Enterprise would be intercepted, she would be taken, experimented on and then disposed of. However, Commander Rath would have more trouble than he bargained for  the Enterprise’s Captain James T. Kirk and his crew were known throughout the galaxy for their tremendous courage and skill. They were Starfleet’s finest and T-Plath hoped that Rath would not let his pride underestimate the enemy.

***

Talerth tried to calm the fluttering in her stomach as she led the garrison of soldiers forward through the dark, dank corridors of space dock 11. She had heard stories that space docks were well-lit like Federation docks. Talerth smiled for humans were definitely not as treacherous and deceitful as Rommulans. The space dock was of course full of heat sensors, guards and various pitfalls, but Talerth had done her homework and she knew this dock like the back of her hand. Talerth paused and held up three fingers for the garrison to fall in single file behind her. “Wait here,” she whispered to the nearest soldier.

Talerth stepped boldly into the open as several Rommulan guards stood watch over a Rommulan Bird of Prey. The ship was beautiful, graceful-deadly. Talerth grimaced at the guards that saluted her. “I am Sub-Commander Talerth and have been sent to inspect this dock. You have all failed miserably for I have managed to sneak a whole garrison of troops in without you being aware.” Talerth then motioned for her garrison to come forward. She then walked around each of the guards and said in a chilling voice, “You will all be punished for your negligence. Throw your weapons down now.” When the guards had thrown down their weapons Talerth pulled out her weapon and fired. After they had fallen she walked over to make sure they remained that way, one soldier in particular caught her attention and when she checked his neck there was a faint pulse. For some reason, he looked so young, so much like her brother, that for some reason she didn’t fire on him.

“Sub-Commander Talerth, Rath gave us orders to leave no one alive.” One of the garrison soldiers barked at Talerth.

Talerth whirled on the soldier, “Commander Rath is not here and he left the judgment in my hands.”

The guard snorted, “Perhaps Sub-Commander Talerth, does not have the stomach to kill.”

Talerth smiled pulled out her silver-long nosed weapon and made sure it was set to kill. “Centurion, I have killed before and will do so again.”

The Centurion laughed. “Rath must be getting senile to think…”

His words were cut off in mid-sentence as Talerth fired the weapon in her hands. The Centurion was turned into a smoking green, pile of flesh within seconds. Talerth then turned towards her garrison, “I demand loyalty and in return I give it. Now let us take control of our Bird of Prey.”