Chapter 4
Summary: The unificationist prisoners were held in a prison on Constanthus and the governor of the planet was happy with himself for having them captured under his watch. The governor's name was Tharrus and he was vying for more power inside the Romulan Empire. By capturing the prisoners, he believed he'd rise in the government.
The method Tharrus planned on using to rise in power was to broadcast that the unificationist movement had been wiped out throughout the empire. Since there was no way to refute this claim, everyone would think it was true, even the Romulan secret police, the Tal Shiar. Tharrus claims to have known that the unificationist movement was too large already and wouldn't be wiped out at all, but once they reared their heads again on Romulus, the blame would fall on the Tal Shiar, not Tharrus. And Tharrus believed that he would look even better in the future if the movement did resurrect itself. If the governor of Constanthus could capture and kill the rebels, then why was it that the secret police couldn't?
The power of the governors of the outer planets was growing. It was becoming more and more difficult for the inner homeworlds of Romulus and Remii to control them and a few of the governors, including Tharrus, were trying to consolidate power unto themselves, as opposed to trying to earn a greater voice in the homeworlds. Much of Tharrus' movements and motivations were to gain power in both the outer worlds as well as the inner.
Tharrus' assitant Phabaris brought him to the detention facility where the prisoners were being kept. Tharrus was surprised at the appearance of the prisoners. He thought they would be tougher looking and more homogeneous, but he was wrong. The unificationists were young and old, male and female. While he was there, he informed the prisoners that they were being charged with treason and for that, the punishment would be death. Their trial would take place in four days time. And after he informed the prisoners of this, he noticed one middle aged prisoner who had a smoother brow than the others. Unbeknownst to him, this may have been Spock himself.
After a brief encounter with Spock, Tharrus decided to strike him in the face. Spock was almost knocked down, but recovered quickly. Spock showed little interest in Tharrus, which made Tharrus rage at him. He recovered though and left the prisoners.
Proconsul Eragian was briefed by a Tal Shiar officer named Lennex. Lennex had informed him that there was a simmering discontent brewing between the empire and the outer worlds. He also informed Eragian that Tharrus had captured the unificationists. Eragian claimed that Tharrus had been lucky and that he wouldn't understand how to take advantage of his good fortune within the empire. Lennex told Eragian that Tharrus planned on trying the prisoners himself as opposed to turning them over to the empire. Eragian was enraged by this. Eragian found himself in an untenable position with Tharrus; if he ordered him to turn over the prisoners, he may demonstrate too much force and the other outer world governors would take notice and resent the action. But if he did nothing and allowed Tharrus to keep the prisoners, he may show weakness and the outer world may be emboldened. There were no good options.
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Opinion: I'm not usually into politics when it comes to science fiction, but this political story is being set up rather well. I enjoy the differences and the power struggle between the representative of the planet Constanthus and the representative of the Romulan senate. It's a simple story, so there's not too much to follow, which is refreshing.
Spock has been introduced as a prisoner and some of his demeanor was exhibited. He was impassive when approached and assaulted by Tharrus and Tharrus felt as though Spock (unbeknownst to him) had beat him at the exchange. By describing this interplay, the author was also describing the divisions and difference in traits between the Romulans and the Vulcans.