“Had you studied under Commander Sulu, he would most likely have informed you of a more efficient method of compensating for such a gradient. Adjust the relative timing of the warp nacelles in proportion to the fourth root of the displacement rate, with the bias in favor of the nacelle opposite the direction of the gradient. This will cancel the lateral displacement with no added power demand.”

T’Lara raised both her brows. “Understood, sir. An elegant solution. Why is it not in the standard texts?”

“Perhaps because Commander Sulu has not yet written one. However, I shall speak to Professor Grodnick upon our return. Carry on, Cadet.”

Before Spock could take the command chair, Ferat spoke up. “Captain Spock? Priority transmission from Admiral Cartwright of Starfleet Security.”

Spock nodded. He had expected such a call for the past hour, since the news of the destruction on Denobula reached the Enterprise. “Have it relayed to my quarters. Lieutenant Ledoux, you have the bridge.”

Once seated at the desk in his quarters, Spock leaned back and steepled his fingers as Cartwright’s stern features appeared on his screen. “Captain Spock.”

“Admiral Cartwright. I believe I already know why you have contacted me.”

The admiral glowered. “Why don’t you tell me, then, Captain?”

“No doubt Starfleet Security has arrived at the same conclusions I have regarding the possible correlation of vacuum flare outbreaks to locations visited by Enterprise crew members during shore visits. As only two members of the Enterprise crew from the period in question are aboard the Asimov…”

Cartwright nodded. “We suspected it had something to do with Nyota Uhura. What just happened at Denobula clinches it. Only she was present at every location struck so far, and in reverse order.”

“Indeed.” Spock recalled the Enterprise’s visit to Denobula Triaxa, which had occurred late in Christopher Pike’s tenure as captain. It had been a period of rest and recuperation for the crew after a turbulent mission, taking advantage of Denobula’s advanced medical facilities as well as their extensive leave facilities. Though most Denobulans preferred not to travel beyond their world, their society was unfailingly welcoming to visitors.

“I understand why you and Admiral Kirk were hesitant to bring her name into this without solid evidence. But over a hundred people died at Denobula, Spock. This is no natural phenomenon—this is a targeted, ongoing attack on Federation worlds. And Commander Uhura is involved somehow.”

“Admiral, I have known Commander Uhura for the vast majority of her Starfleet career. I can state with confidence that the probability of the commander having any voluntary involvement with any force or entity hostile to Federation security is effectively zero.”

“Spock, you’d be surprised how many times I’ve heard that from the friends and colleagues of people who turned out to be enemy agents. Or at least assets, through extortion or neural conditioning. It’s possible that the side Uhura presents to the public is not her true face.”