STARFLEET HEADQUARTERS VIA EMBASSY ROW, SAN FRANCISCO, 2280

The cadet presented himself to Spock.

"In the name of House Sevmet, I offer the congratulations for your new station from my parents, T'Meni and Sunak, Mister Ambassador."

When Cadet Tuvok withdrew, Kor seized upon the cadet's surprising pigmentation to forcefully show up his people's perfect new Federation Ambassador. Gorkon's reforms were moving too fast, anyway, and Spock's embarrassed withdrawal would slow all that down nicely.

"Spock? Is that boy exceptional in any way?"

Spock nodded.

"Indeed, Admiral. It is quite exceptional that he and his parents have entered Starfleet. It is an unusual thing for those of their background."

Trap sprung, thought Kor. Whatever rambling, shambling spin Vulcan logic gave it, Spock's next words would surely be his wholesale undoing.

"And why is that so very unusual, Ambassador?"

But Spock stepped around the trap without ever realizing it was there.

"Because, for many generations, House Sevmet has produced nothing but highly-paid corporate executives. Still, I suppose so wealthy a house can permit its members to pursue any path they see fit."

Kor fell silent for the rest of that week.