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discoursing with each other in various machine languages.
    "Mr. Veblen," Kirk said a few minutes later.
    "Yes, Captain?" Veblen had plugged a diagnostic tricorder into the science console. The display on the console screens was spectacularly complex.
    "Mr. Spock recommends that the Enterprise be prepared for any exigency, and I concur. We'll need—"
    "Sir, I've already initiated a stochastic algorithm in the strategy and forecasting centers."
    "Of course," Kirk said. He bit his lip. "Precisely. Any results yet?"
    "It's only been running for an hour, sir." Veblen smiled almost gleefully. "Last I checked, it was running a model on the development of Hoyle clouds under protostar conditions."
    "Hoyle clouds, Mister Veblen?"
    "Large sentient masses of interstellar gas, Captain. Named after a twentieth-century astronomer."
    "Yes. The Enterprise has encountered similar creatures several times. Why should that be amusing, Mr. Veblen?"
    "By itself, no reason, sir. But the algorithm was speculating on the possibility they were chess masters." His smile widened, as if he were filled with some hidden joke he couldn't possibly explain.
    "I assume that is in the nature of the algorithm, Mr. Veblen, and we shouldn't be alarmed?"
    "Quite unnecessary, Captain. The program does not expect to be interrupted while preparing its required list of nonsense situations. It will select useful scenarios on its own."
    "Thank you," Kirk said. Somehow his sense of humor faded when he was in the presence of the young computer officer. Perhaps it was Veblen's seeming inability to wear a uniform properly …"Please disengage the command console now, Mr. Veblen."
    "Yes, sir." Veplen withdrew his tricorder and patches and returned the privacy of his chair to Kirk. McCoy came on the bridge, looking mildly jubilant. He stood to one side of Kirk, smiled, and shook his head. "Captain, I think I've got the hang of working with the watchdogs. I'm learning to reason with them, God help me. We shouldn't expect too much trouble." He lowered his voice. "Unless we run into anything just the tiniest bit unusual." He cast a meaningful glance at Veblen.
    "Glad to hear it, Doctor. When you've mastered them, perhaps you'll inform me how to deal with Mr. Veblen's command override."
    "That's simple, Jim," McCoy said. "Just don't screw up. Use your own judgment, but for God's sake don't make any decisions."
    Kirk laughed. "Status report on your weapons tests, Mr. Chekov."
    Chekov swiveled his chair. "We are ready for almost anything, Captain."
Captain's Log , Stardate 4380.4.
    I'm going back through my tapes and trying to find all the information on hand about Kshatriyan Vice Commodore Uligbar Dar Zotzchen. VC Dar Zotzchen is the last confirmed commander of the Kshatriyan stretch of the neutral zone. As anticipated, the Romulans gave us no trouble during our brief passage; the Kshatriyans, however, are not likely to be so cooperative, even with the acquiescence of their Federation representatives.
    I last had dealings with Dar Zotzchen when I was a very green exec aboard the Bonne Homme Richard , escorting treaty software to the presiding regent Dom Hauk. My impression was that VC Dar Zotzchen is a devious son of a bitch, and nobody to trust when you're in a hurry—
    INTERRUPT / INTERRUPT / INTERRUPT / INTERRUPT / INTER
    Kirk was on the bridge in less than a minute. Veblen smoothly disengaged the command override, which thankfully had done nothing in the meantime, and Uhura played back the message.
    Kirk listened intently. Yes, indeed, the voice—even in translation—was that of Dar Zotzchen. Unforgettable.
    "Defender of the Kshatriyan God's Endowment, Prime Commodore Uligbar Dar Zotzchen to the inept commander of the easily recognizable Federation starship Enterprise . Your course will take you across Kshatriyan neutral territory. That is regarded as an act of war. Are you prepared to violate all that our treaties stand for?"
    "Greetings," Kirk said, "to the Righteous