Captain Athena Eastwood stared out at the small, borderline Class M planet the Lexington was currently orbiting. They had arrived in the Larein System nearly twenty minutes ago and were still awaiting a response to their original hail. Perhaps because it was Eastwood's first mission since her return to active duty, she was just a little impatient for things to get underway.

"You'd think they'd be a little more courteous to the Federations' negotiating team," Athena muttered.

"Perhaps they are still laying out the good china and polishing the silver," Commander Bay said with a smile. She walked across the smallish Ready Room and joined her at the window.

"If they're trying to make a good first impression the opportunity has passed."

"It is a bit puzzling that the Aziat have ignored our arrival," K'Yra Bay said with a frown.

"More than a bit," Athena agreed. "Marcot Trillian seemed quite eager to cater to our every whim when we spoke yesterday. In fact, I found his willingness to please us rather embarrassing."

"You mean his offer of sexual companions for you and our Diplomatic Relations Officer during your stay on Cepha V?" Her barely contained laughter threatened to bubble over any second.

"The offer was bad enough," Athena said, "but when he began lining up prospective candidates for us to choose from I nearly died."

"You must admit, the third creature from the left was quite attractive."

"He had webbed hands and feet plus gills, commander, and I've never been much of a swimmer."

Bay looked back at the planet, "I wish we could have met Captain Sulu. I've heard so much about him."

"If we hadn't been tied up waiting for the Marines to come aboard, we would have met him. As it is, we were one week late. I bet Spock and him had a lot to talk over while he transported the ambassador to Cepha V. Did I tell you that I met Admiral Kirk at a dinner party thrown for his birthday?"

"No! What was he like?"

Whatever remark Eastwood was about to make was cut off at the sound of Jena Skye's voice coming from the Communications station on the Bridge. "Captain, I have an incoming message from Marcot Tillian."

"Put it through, Skye."

"Captain Eastwood, I hope you will forgive my tardiness in acknowledging your arrival."

Athena was momentarily thrown by Tillian's almost ethereal beauty when his image appeared on the screen on her desk. His face was smooth and devoid of any facial hair. Her eyes were immediately drawn to his somewhat strange, but beautiful eyes. Aquamarine in color, they appeared to be multi-faceted. Slightly larger than her own human eyes, they appeared at once warm and watchful. It was disconcerting. She discreetly broke eye contact.

"We were beginning to wonder if you were having some sort of difficulties," Athena said.

"Difficulties? Why would you think that?" Tillian asked just a tad too quickly. His high pitched voice grew shriller.

Eastwood quickly looked over to Bay and saw that she had also picked up on Tillian's odd behavior.

"I was only suggesting that perhaps our early arrival had interfered with your scheduling of events," Athena replied in her most soothing voice. She didn't want things to start off on the wrong foot.

"Nothing of the kind," Tillian said with a laugh that sounded forced. "We're pleased to find that you're so eager to join us. We're experiencing some communication problems but everything's been taken care of now. I'd like to invite you and your crew to join us at your earliest convenience."

Eastwood couldn't quite get rid of the nagging suspicion that Trillian was hiding something. However, since they were here to meet with the Aziat and, along with Ambassador Spock, help negotiate a peace treaty with their neighbors the Wobika, she arranged for their landing party to beam down within the hour.

Athena had spent numerous hours pouring over computer records with Kathryn O'Conner on Cepha V and the two vastly different people and cultures that existed on the small planet. She had spoken to both Marcot Trillian of the Aziat and Kosta Landigon of the Wobika concerning the problems that had the two factions at each others throats. It was a complicated situation in which both sides had equally compelling arguments. Hopefully, Spock would be able to get both sides to lay down their weapons and begin talking. She looked forward to meeting the Ambassador herself and watching him in action. She was deeply disappointed to see that Spock was nowhere in sight when she and O'Conner arrived in the interior city of Avihus.

"Captain Eastwood, welcome to Cepha V."

Athena couldn't help but stare at the tall gentleman who greeted her so warmly. To say that Marcot Trillian was attractive was a gross understatement. Although she had spoken to the man less than an hour before via her view screen, she was still not prepared for the beauty of the man upon meeting him face to face. She found herself having to look up at him although she herself was quite tall. The Aziat's skin shimmered with a warm iridescence that belied the coolness of his touch. His hands were indeed webbed, but the skin that stretched between each finger from knuckle to joint was translucent and barely visible.

Marcot smiled and Athena suddenly realized she had been staring. "I apologize for my rudeness," she said quietly.

"I'm flattered, dear captain. The Aziat are a rather vain people and enjoy the effect we have on off-worlders."

"We look forward to meeting with your people, Marcot and touring your lovely cities," Athena said, quickly recovering.

She introduced O'Conner and they both followed behind Marcot as he led them toward a large building to their left. He'd called it the Grand Hall and once again Athena found herself overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of her surroundings.

"My people originally came from the sea," Marcot explained when he noticed her staring at the large aquariums that ringed the entryway. "Those of us who can live near the water find comfort in surrounding ourselves with it."

It was true. The huge tanks stood nearly as tall as the building they were entering. She felt as if she were walking deep beneath the ocean.

"They're beautiful, Marcot," Athena said. Each was filled with sparkling clear water and contained abundant samples of plant life, coral and a wide variety of colorful fish.

Once they moved inside the Grand Hall the effect was even more riveting. The interior walls seemed to be lit from within and as the light shifted, it gave the impression of being underwater. The hall itself was cool and a moist, swirling breeze buffeted their skin.

There were numerous aquariums inside too of various lengths and sizes. Some soared to the ceiling; some were barely a meter high. And still, amongst all this beauty, the Aziats commanded one's attention.

"Quite breathtaking, aren't they," Kathryn whispered to Athena as if reading her thoughts.

"And then some," Athena agreed in a similarly low voice.

"We have prepared a small meal for you and your crew," Marcot said, drawing Athena's attention back to the Aziat official. "And then I would hope that you would avail yourselves of our hospitality and let my brother, Tamlo show you a bit of our city before we begin the first meeting."

"We would like to meet with both Ambassador Spock and Kosta Landigon as soon as possible," Eastwood told him.

"And you shall," Marcot said with a warm smile. "But first, please sample some of the best Cepah V has to offer. I, unfortunately, have some business to attend to but I will join you shortly." With that, he turned and swiftly moved out of sight.

"Rather odd behavior for someone who was so interested in our coming to his planet isn't it," Athena murmured just loud enough for O'Conner to hear.

"Yes, he did seem sort of anxious to get out of here. I feel like we're being kept in the dark about something."

"My sentiments exactly," Athena took her place on the long bench Tamlo indicated. As she munched on a tender morsel of what looked like a Terran scallop, the captain of the Lexington pondered their current situation. It was obvious Marcot was distracted and somewhat ill at ease by their presence although he fought to hide it. Why? What had they interrupted by their early arrival? And where was Ambassador Spock?

"This delay is unacceptable, Home!"

Marcot Trillian glared at the view screen on his desk. His anger seemed to have little effect on the handsome man who silently listened to Marcot's tantrum.

'Marcot, you're upsetting yourself for no good reason. Spock will be at the meeting. I'm certain that he is simply off meditating somewhere to prepare himself for this afternoon's session."

"Are you sure, Horne? What if he's been taken by the Wobika?"

"They wouldn't be that stupid," Horne said with a sharp laugh. "They need Spock's intervention as much as you do."

It was true, but that didn't much settle his nerves. Peace on Cepha V was something he yearned for. The months of fighting had taken more than a physical toll on his people, it threatened to destroy their very way of life. The sooner the Federation's ambassador could settle this dispute the better. But, it couldn't begin until Spock arrived at the Grand Hall to meet with the Aziat and the Wobika representatives. And, at the moment, the Vulcan was nowhere to be found.

"Find him, Home. Find him and bring him here!"

Marcot ended the transmission and started back in search of Captain Eastwood and the young officer she'd chosen to accompany her.

"Where is Spock?"

Eastwood swiveled around on her seat to see who was speaking.

The deep, booming voice echoed throughout the high-ceiled Hall.

"It's Kosta Landigon," Kathryn whispered. "My Lord, but he's big!"

"Seems as though everyone on this planet is," Athena laughed. "Must be something in the air. Landigon, how good to see you," she added, raising her voice. She stood and moved over to where the leader of the Wopaki stood.

"Captain Eastwood," he said with a nod as he held out his huge hand.

She fought not to wince as he captured her hand and squeezed it in welcome.

"We expected to meet with your Ambassador."

So did we, Athena mused. Just where was the Ambassador and why hadn't he met them when they transported down?

"You shall, you shall," Marcot announced as he breezed back into the large Hall. "I'm afraid Ambassador Spock has been a bit delayed, but his aide assured me they will both be here shortly. In the meantime, would you care for something to eat, Landigon?"

As the Wopaki leader made his way along the food-laden table picking up and rejecting various dishes, Athena studied him a bit more closely. Contact over the view screen had not hinted at the air of barely restrained violence that rolled off Landigon in waves. His ancestors had descended from wolves and the savage still touched his dark good looks. Thick black hair grew from the widow's peak centered above his forehead to cascade in waves to touch the top of his wide shoulders. His skin was dark and ruddy, stretched thin over his high, prominent cheekbones. His eyes were a pale brown, almost yellow and tilted up at the outer edges. He turned and smiled at her and Athena's blood chilled. His eye teeth were long and fang like while the rest of his teeth ended in sharp points. Landigon was intimidating and he obviously knew it. Athena forced herself to return his smile.

Far away from the Grand Hall, two men covered from head to toe in dark cloaks moved silently through the deepening night. The path they followed would lead them deep into the thick forest that marked the beginning of Wopaki territory. Their progress halted momentarily when the shorter of the two men stumbled. The shimmering light from the twin moons of Cepha V reflected on his pale skin, illuminating the nasty gash above the man's left eye. Thick, green blood flowed unchecked down his cheek.

"You're disappearance should start to garner attention any moment now, old man."

"What do you hope to achieve by this action, Horne?"

"Time will tell, Spock," Lewis said with a cold smile. "Time will tell."

"We have to talk, Marcot, and talk now."

Athena had not wasted any time in making her displeasure known as soon as the Aziat leader had reappeared.

"Captain, I must apologize for not explaining the current situation on Cepha V as soon as you arrived."

"Where is Spock," Kosta growled. His temper had steadily increased each minute Spock failed to appear.

"Yes, Marcot, I was wondering that myself," Eastwood said as she attempted to rein in her own rising temper. "We have been here for hours now and have yet to see the Ambassador."

Marcot Trillian cleared his throat as if preparing to speak. Suddenly, there was a disturbance behind him and then a man dressed in a black sweater and slacks burst into the room. To say he was handsome was simply an understatement. Athena found herself mesmerized as the tall blonde strode purposefully into the room. It took her a moment to realize that his clothing was in disarray and that his face was bruised and bleeding.

"Horne, what's happened to you?" Marcot asked looking quite concerned.

He turned to Eastwood, "Captain, Lewis Horne is Ambassador Spock's aide."

"It’s the Ambassador," the distraught looking human cried. "We were attacked by a group of masked men. They've taken Spock!"

Eastwood grabbed the communicator from the belt of her uniform. "Excalibur, this is the Captain. Commander Bay, I want a security team assembled and the "Shadows" ready to beam down in ten minutes!"