Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen

The USS Billings had parked in orbit near the USS Enterprise. Archer and Pike already had the coordinates for them to beam down to the planet. They had already talked to Captain Kirk so were aware of the situation they were beaming down to. They all decided it would be better for Pike and Archer to deal with the Chancellor of Andoria. That had not been a pleasant conversation, especially as they had already been informed of her death. It seemed that one of her aides had put a call in to them on the situation. They were present when Jim had called into Starfleet and explained the situation to them. Poison by chocolate. Archer and Pike were shocked that it had happened and now the Andorians on planet, were blaming the Vulcan Ambassadors. Jim had told him what the Ambassador of Betazed told him the Ruling Council wanted. The Commander in Chief of the Federation had already agreed to the testing, so there was no way out of it. But they all thought it suspicious that the death occured now.

They arrived on planet and were greeted by Captain Kirk, Commander Spock, Ambassador Nexi and High Advisor Plasus. “Greeting Gentlemen, welcome to Ardana. I wish it could have been under better circumstances.”

“Thank you, High Advisor and we agree with you. Our security team will take the Ferengi prisoners back to our ship.”

“Absolutely, I will have my sentinels show your men to them and give them into their custody.”

Pike directed the four security members to follow the sentinels. They had been instructed that once they have them Ferengi to beam directly to the ship. They had already received the report from Jim on what they had told them when questioned. They also were told what the High Advisors daughter had done. No one knew who had slipped the herbs into Jim’s food to cause the attempted miscarriage. Jim and Spock felt it better to have a person not part of the incident to investigate, especially as he feared Spock may do bodily harm to the culprit.

“If you will follow me, I will show you to your rooms so that you can get settled in.”

“Thank you, High Advisor,” Archer said. The group followed the High Advisor to the rooms that the two men were sharing.

“If you two will excuse me, I have matters that need attending to?”

“Of course, High Advisor.”

Plasus nodded to the men and headed further down the hall into the Councilary. They walked into the two Admirals rooms and everyone took a seat. “Well, gentlemen and lady, a fine kettle of fish we find ourselves in.”

“I am sorry Admiral Archer. We were not expecting something like to happen or else we would have prepared for it.” Jim was not pleased and he let it show.

“I understand that Captain, but we have a complaint from one of the aides to the Ambassador that they believe it was one of the Vulcan’s who murdered her. Now they are being kept under watch by Plasus in their quarters. Of course we are not going to be pleased by this.”

“The Vulcan’s didn’t do this no matter what anyone says,” Jim said to Archer and Pike.

“Oh and is this based on the fact that the ones accused are in laws or do you have empirical proof?” Archer asked.

“It is not logical to commit murder, Admiral.” Spock told him. “My father and the others would find it not only distasteful but illogical as they have no quarrels with the Andorian Ambassador. There have been no arguments between the two groups, so why kill someone that you have no reason to?”

“Good point. We need someone that is not related to either side to look into this. Ambassador Nexi, would you be able to look into this matter? You have no connection to the Vulcans or the Andorians.”

“That may not work as I am currently courting Lieutenant Uhura.”

Everyone blinked at this bit of information. Jim smirked, he thought he felt something from them when they were around each other. Romance was popping everywhere, first him and Spock, then Bones and Scotty, Carol and Christine and now Omal and Uhura.

Pike sighed, “Be that as it may, you are still the best one to look into this along with Plasus. Being a Telepath and Empath, you best will know when someone is lying to you.”

“Agreed, I will look into the matter for you. I will speak to Ambassador Sarek and his kin first, then the Ambassador’s aides.”

“Thank you, Ambassador,” Archer said.

“Well then I guess now would be the best time to start. I will see you later once I have looked into the matter. I will talk to the High Advisor to have him sit in the questioning so there can be no talk of duplicity.” Omal nodded to everyone and took his leave.