Ragor Tal Chirakis Kirel, SI-5 In the silence of her office, Kirel stared blankly at the image on her viewscreen. Federation Security Admiral Mulligan stared back. Behind him were Rendezvous October’s Admiral Solokov, SI-5 Director Torak, and SI-6 Captain Raza. "Not exactly to be expected, but then the unexpected has become the norm," Mulligan continued the conversation as he relaxed into his chair. "Agreed," Kirel muttered, though she had other thoughts. One arm rested on her desk as the stylus in her hand flipped from finger to finger. The strange message sent to her from Aegis OPS was indecipherable, even to Aegis’s computer. But she recognized the pattern, the frequency, and the garbled language that the computer passed off as low frequency interstellar rumbles, possibly small asteroids in slow collision. This was no asteroid collision. "I know that look, Captain,” said Mulligan. “Your expression tells me that you do not agree, that there is something else.” "Admiral,” she sighed, “it makes no sense." A slight grunt prefaced Mulligan’s, "What makes no sense, Captain? Enlighten us. You are more acquainted with Ragor Tal than anyone. How does this transmission not make sense? I would think that a rogue group would welcome his leadership." Kirel drew the admiral's full attention with a slight grin and chuckle as she flipped her stylus into its cradle then leaned forward. "It makes no sense that Ragor Tal would be their leader, Admiral,” she began. “He is not a leader, he is a manipulator, and the most brilliant racketeer I have ever pursued. He keeps his marauding group small and compartmentalized. He is highly skilled in manipulative, clandestine operations. His primary modus operandi is to convince the opposition that the enemy is within. He will pit one leader against the other, create chaos and infighting, then either move in and take over the organization or infiltrate what was left with one of his own lackeys.” Silence reigned for a moment or two as she judged their reaction, then she continued, “We are talking about Argesil gentlemen. The classic mark of Ragor Tal.” “Then what is he doing with the Alien Alliance? Is he taking over? Perhaps beginning to infiltrate? And how did the Alien Alliance acquire those coded messages?” “Unfortunately, Admiral, that remains to be seen.” ___________________ Argesil