The tips of the commander’s skin flaps flushed slightly in embarrassment. “Our traditions exist for good reason, sir, but I can see the merit in the Federation envoys’ argument. Indeed, their warnings were borne out. As the Klingons gained more and more ground over the months, our leaders began to fear that Arcturus was in danger of invasion. It seemed likely that the Klingons would either wish to exploit our Warborn as Maltuvis had tried to do… or simply exterminate all life on Arcturus to eliminate the threat.

“Though the debate was fierce, the hawks won the day. With Federation officials choosing to look the other way, the ban was suspended and a new wave of Warborn was bred—tens of thousands in all, with the facilities readied for hundreds of thousands more if it came to that.”

“But then the Klingon War ended,” Kirk prompted. “Chancellor L’Rell took power and declared a truce.”

“Yes—before the Warborn had even reached full maturity. We had not needed them after all.

“But what could we do with them? They were living, sentient beings. We could not simply dispose of them. Yet the rapid learning they had been given was oriented solely toward combat. How could we integrate them into a peaceful society? What purpose could they serve without the one they were born for?

“Ultimately,” he continued wryly, “our leaders chose to defer the question until after their terms in office had ended. The young Warborn were placed in cryogenic stasis, and ever since, their little lives have been rounded with a sleep.”

Kirk folded his hands before him. “ ‘If you be pleased, retire into my cell,’ ” he recited, “ ‘And there repose. A turn or two I’ll walk / To still my beating mind.’ ”

Rakatheema beamed. “Well quoted, Admiral! Although their minds lay stilled for more than a turn or two. For twenty-two years, they have reposed in their frozen cells.” His smile swiftly faded. “Which is longer than the technology was designed to handle.”

Kirk was taken aback. “The stasis has started to fail?”

“Yes.” The commander’s voice was grim. “We lost over a hundred before we revived the rest. Now we have more than twenty thousand Warborn awake among us, with no war to fight, no purpose to fulfill. Military life is all they know, yet they are forbidden to fight except in defense of Arcturus IV.

“We are a disciplined people, Admiral. We had to be in order to win our world, and that legacy has stayed with us. To live without purpose is no life for an Arcturian, least of all for a Warborn.”

The admiral straightened in his chair. “I think I can guess what you came here to propose, Commander.”