EXHIBIT 2.1

                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


                  AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of November 9, 1995, by
and among Fairchild Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Fairchild"),  RHI
Holdings,  Inc., a Delaware corporation ("RHI"),  The Fairchild  Corporation,  a
Delaware   corporation   ("TFC"),  and  Shared  Technologies  Inc.,  a  Delaware
corporation ("Shared Technologies").


                              W I T N E S S E T H :

                  WHEREAS,  the  Boards of  Directors  of  Fairchild  and Shared
Technologies  have  approved  the  merger  of  Fairchild  with and  into  Shared
Technologies  (the  "Merger")  upon the terms and subject to the  conditions set
forth herein and in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware;

                  WHEREAS,  RHI,  which is a wholly owned  subsidiary of TFC, is
the sole  owner of all of the  outstanding  common  stock of  Fairchild  and has
approved  the  Merger  upon the terms and  subject to the  conditions  set forth
herein,   and  RHI  has  received  an  irrevocable  proxy  from  the  holder  of
approximately  9.84% of Shared  Technologies'  common stock (based on the shares
outstanding as of the date hereof) agreeing to vote for the Merger;

                  WHEREAS, Fairchild is the sole owner of 100% of the issued and
outstanding capital stock of VSI Corporation ("VSI");

                  NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration of the premises and of the
mutual covenants and agreements herein contained,  the parties hereto, intending
to be legally bound, agree as follows:


                                    ARTICLE I

                                     MERGER

                  1.1  The  Merger.   At  the  Effective  Time  (as  hereinafter
defined),  Fairchild  shall  be  merged  with and into  Shared  Technologies  as
provided herein. Thereupon, the corporate existence of Shared Technologies, with
all its purposes,  powers and objects,  shall continue unaffected and unimpaired
by the



Merger, and the corporate identity and existence,  with all the purposes, powers
and objects,  of Fairchild shall be merged with and into Shared Technologies and
Shared  Technologies  as the  corporation  surviving  the Merger  shall be fully
vested  therewith  and shall change its name to "Shared  Technologies  Fairchild
Inc." The separate existence and corporate organization of Fairchild shall cease
upon the Merger becoming  effective as herein  provided and thereupon  Fairchild
and  Shared  Technologies  shall be a single  corporation,  Shared  Technologies
Fairchild Inc. (herein sometimes called the "Surviving  Corporation").  Prior to
the  Effective  Time,  Fairchild and its  subsidiaries  will undergo a corporate
reorganization (the "Fairchild Reorganization") pursuant to which all the assets
of Fairchild and its subsidiaries (other than certain indebtedness and preferred
stock) will be transferred to, and liabilities of Fairchild and its subsidiaries
will be assumed  by, RHI except for the assets and  liabilities  comprising  the
telecommunications  systems and service  business  of  Fairchild  Communications
Services Company, which as a result of said reorganization,  will reside in VSI,
all as described on Schedule 9.1.  Except where  indicated to the contrary,  all
references  herein to  "Fairchild"  shall be deemed to refer to  Fairchild as it
will exist following the Fairchild Reorganization and, accordingly,  none of the
representations,   warranties,  restrictions  or  covenants  contained  in  this
Agreement  apply  to  the  businesses,  operations,  assets  or  liabilities  of
Fairchild Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries other than as they relate to the
telecommunications  systems and service business of Fairchild,  and each of TFC,
RHI and  Fairchild  may  operate  such other  businesses  and assets  (including
without limitation  selling assets and businesses and incurring  liabilities) as
it deems appropriate in the exercise of its business judgment.

                  1.2  Filing.  As  soon  as  practicable  after  the  requisite
approval  of the  Merger  by the  stockholders  of Shared  Technologies  and the
fulfillment  or waiver of the  conditions set forth in Sections 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3
or on such later date as may be mutually agreed to between  Fairchild and Shared
Technologies,  the parties  hereto will cause to be filed with the office of the
Secretary  of State of the State of  Delaware,  a  certificate  of  merger  (the
"Certificate  of  Merger"),  in such  form  as  required  by,  and  executed  in
accordance with, the relevant provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law
(the "DGCL").

                  1.3  Effective  Time  of  the  Merger.  The  Merger  shall  be
effective  at the time that the  filing of the  Certificate  of



Merger  with the office of the  Secretary  of State of the State of  Delaware is
completed,  or at such later time specified in such Certificate of Merger, which
time is  herein  sometimes  referred  to as the  "Effective  Time"  and the date
thereof is herein sometimes referred to as the "Effective Date."


                                   ARTICLE II

                     CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION; BY-LAWS;
                             SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT

                  2.1   Certificate  of   Incorporation.   The   Certificate  of
Incorporation  of  Shared  Technologies,  as  amended  in  accordance  with this
Agreement,   shall  be  the  Certificate  of   Incorporation  of  the  Surviving
Corporation. 

                  2.2 By-Laws. The By-Laws of Shared Technologies, as amended in
accordance  with  this  Agreement,   shall  be  the  By-Laws  of  the  Surviving
Corporation  until the same shall thereafter be altered,  amended or repealed in
accordance  with  law,  the  Certificate  of   Incorporation  of  the  Surviving
Corporation or said By-Laws.

                  2.3  Shareholders  Agreement.  At the Effective  Time,  Shared
Technologies,  RHI and  Anthony D.  Autorino  shall  enter  into a  shareholders
agreement  in the  form of  Exhibit  A  hereto  (the  "Shareholders  Agreement")
providing   for  the  election  of  directors  and  officers  of  the  Surviving
Corporation.


                                   ARTICLE III

                              CONVERSION OF SHARES

                  3.1  Conversion.  At the  Effective  Time the issued shares of
capital stock of Fairchild shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action
on the part of the holders thereof, become and be converted as follows: (A) each
outstanding  share of Common  Stock,  $100.00 par value per share,  of Fairchild
(the  "Fairchild  Common Stock") shall be converted into and become the right to
receive a Pro Rata Amount (as  defined  below) of the Merger  Consideration  (as
defined  below);  and (B) each  outstanding  share of Series A Preferred  Stock,
without  par value,  of  Fairchild  (the  "Series A  Preferred  Stock") and each
outstanding



share of Series C Preferred Stock,  without par value, of Fairchild (the "Series
C Preferred  Stock")  shall be converted  into the right to receive an amount in
cash equal to $45.00 per share ($44,237,745 in the aggregate for all such shares
of Series A  Preferred  Stock and Series C  Preferred  Stock)  plus  accrued and
unpaid dividends thereon to the Effective Time. "Merger Consideration" means (x)
6,000,000  shares  of  Common  Stock,  $.004  par  value  per  share,  of Shared
Technologies  (the  "Technologies  Common  Stock"),  (y)  shares of  Convertible
Preferred  Stock of Shared  Technologies  (the  "Convertible  Preferred  Stock")
having an initial aggregate liquidation value of $25,000,000 and the other terms
set forth on the attached  Schedule  3.1(a) and (z) shares of Special  Preferred
Stock of Shared  Technologies (the "Special  Preferred Stock") having an initial
aggregate  liquidation value of $20,000,000 and the other terms set forth on the
attached Schedule 3.1(b). The Convertible  Preferred Stock and Special Preferred
Stock are collectively referred to as the "Preferred Stock." With respect to any
share of  capital  stock,  "Pro Rata  Amount"  means the  product  of the Merger
Consideration  multiplied  by a fraction,  the numerator of which is one and the
denominator  of which is the  aggregate  number of all  issued  and  outstanding
shares of such capital stock on the Effective Date.

                  3.2 Preferred  Stock Pledge.  Immediately  after the Effective
Time,  RHI shall pledge all of the shares of  Preferred  Stock then issued to it
(other  than  shares  of  Convertible   Preferred   Stock  having  an  aggregate
liquidation   preference  of  $1,500,000)   to  secure  RHI's  and   Fairchild's
obligations  under  the  Indemnification  Agreement  of TFC and RHI (the form of
which is  attached  as Exhibit  B-1  hereto)  pursuant  to the terms of a Pledge
Agreement  (the form of which is attached as Exhibit C hereto) and with a pledge
agent  mutually  agreed upon by the parties.  Such shares will be released  from
such pledge on the later to occur of (i) third anniversary of the Effective Time
and (ii) the date on which the  consolidated  net worth  (computed in accordance
with generally accepted accounting  principles) of The Fairchild  Corporation at
such  time (or  evidenced  by any  audited  balance  sheet)  is at least (x) $25
million  greater than such net worth at September 30, 1995  (excluding  for such
purpose any value  attributed to the Preferred  Stock on such balance sheet) and
(y) $225 million (including for such purpose the value of the Preferred Stock).


                                   ARTICLE IV


                          CERTAIN EFFECTS OF THE MERGER

                  4.1 Effect of the Merger.  On and after the Effective Time and
pursuant to the DGCL,  the Surviving  Corporation  shall possess all the rights,
privileges,  immunities,  powers,  and purposes of each of Fairchild  and Shared
Technologies;  all the property,  real and personal,  including subscriptions to
shares,  causes of action and every other asset (including books and records) of
Fairchild  and  Shared  Technologies,  shall vest in the  Surviving  Corporation
without further act or deed; and the Surviving  Corporation  shall assume and be
liable for all the  liabilities,  obligations  and  penalties of  Fairchild  and
Shared  Technologies;  provided,  however,  that this  shall in no way impair or
affect the indemnification  obligations of any party pursuant to indemnification
agreements  entered  into in  connection  with this  Agreement.  No liability or
obligation  due or to become due and no claim or demand  for any cause  existing
against either Fairchild or Shared Technologies, or any stockholder,  officer or
director thereof,  shall be released or impaired by the Merger, and no action or
proceeding,  whether civil or criminal,  then pending by or against Fairchild or
Shared  Technologies,  or any stockholder,  officer or director  thereof,  shall
abate or be discontinued by the Merger, but may be enforced, prosecuted, settled
or compromised as if the Merger had not occurred,  and the Surviving Corporation
may be  substituted  in any such action or  proceeding  in place of Fairchild or
Shared Technologies.

                  4.2  Further  Assurances.  If at any time after the  Effective
Time,  any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of
this Agreement and to vest the Surviving  Corporation with full right, title and
possession to all assets, property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of
either of Fairchild or Shared Technologies, the officers of such corporation are
fully  authorized  in the name of their  corporation  or otherwise to take,  and
shall  take,  all such  further  action  and TFC  will,  and  cause  each of its
subsidiaries  (direct or indirect) to, take all actions reasonably  requested by
the  Surviving   Corporation  (at  the  Surviving   Corporation's   expense)  in
furtherance thereof.


                                    ARTICLE V

              REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SHARED TECHNOLOGIES


                  Shared Technologies represents and warrants to Fairchild that:

                  5.1   Organization   and   Qualification.   Each   of   Shared
Technologies and its subsidiaries (which for purposes of this Agreement,  unless
indicated to the contrary, shall not include Shared Technologies Cellular, Inc.)
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the jurisdiction of its  incorporation  and has all requisite  corporate
power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its
business  as  now  being  conducted.   Each  of  Shared   Technologies  and  its
subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign  corporation to do business,  and is
in good  standing,  in each  jurisdiction  where the character of its properties
owned or  leased  or the  nature  of its  activities  makes  such  qualification
necessary,  except for  failures to be so qualified  or in good  standing  which
would not,  individually or in the aggregate,  have a material adverse effect on
the general affairs, management,  business, operations,  condition (financial or
otherwise) or prospects of Shared  Technologies and its subsidiaries  taken as a
whole  (a  "Shared  Technologies  Material  Adverse  Effect").   Neither  Shared
Technologies  nor  any  of  its  subsidiaries  is in  violation  of  any  of the
provisions of its  Certificate of  Incorporation  (or other  applicable  charter
document) or By-Laws.  Shared  Technologies has delivered to Fairchild  accurate
and complete copies of the  Certificate of  Incorporation  (or other  applicable
charter  document)  and  By-Laws,  as  currently  in  effect,  of each of Shared
Technologies and its subsidiaries.

                  5.2 Capital Stock of Subsidiaries. The only direct or indirect
subsidiaries  of Shared  Technologies  are those  listed in  Section  5.2 of the
Disclosure  Statement  previously  delivered by Shared Technologies to Fairchild
(the "Disclosure Statement").  Shared Technologies is directly or indirectly the
record (except for directors' qualifying shares) and beneficial owner (including
all qualifying  shares owned by directors of such  subsidiaries  as reflected in
Section 5.2 of the  Disclosure  Statement) of all of the  outstanding  shares of
capital stock of each of its subsidiaries,  there are no proxies with respect to
such shares,  and no equity securities of any of such subsidiaries are or may be
required  to be  issued by reason of any  options,  warrants,  scrip,  rights to
subscribe for, calls or commitments of any character  whatsoever relating to, or
securities or rights



convertible  into or  exchangeable  for, shares of any capital stock of any such
subsidiary,  and  there  are  no  contracts,   commitments,   understandings  or
arrangements by which any such subsidiary is bound to issue additional shares of
its  capital  stock or  securities  convertible  into or  exchangeable  for such
shares. Other than as set forth in Section 5.2 of the Disclosure Statement,  all
of such shares so owned by Shared  Technologies  are validly issued,  fully paid
and  nonassessable  and are  owned by it free and  clear of any  claim,  lien or
encumbrance of any kind with respect thereto. Except as disclosed in Section 5.2
of the Disclosure Statement, Shared Technologies does not directly or indirectly
own any  interest  in any  corporation,  partnership,  joint  venture  or  other
business association or entity.

                  5.3  Capitalization.  The  authorized  capital stock of Shared
Technologies  consists of 20,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.004 per
share, and 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share. As of
the date hereof,  8,495,815  shares of Common Stock were issued and  outstanding
and 1,527,970 shares of Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. All of such
issued and outstanding  shares are validly issued,  fully paid and nonassessable
and free of preemptive  rights. As of the date hereof 5,022,083 shares of Common
Stock were  reserved  for  issuance  upon  exercise of  outstanding  convertible
securities,  warrants, options, and options which may be granted under the stock
option plans of Shared  Technologies  (the "Stock Option  Plans"),  all of which
warrants, options and Stock Option Plans are listed and described in Section 5.3
of  the  Disclosure  Statement.  Other  than  the  Stock  Option  Plans,  Shared
Technologies  has no other  plan  which  provides  for the grant of  options  to
purchase shares of capital stock,  stock appreciation or similar rights or stock
awards. Except as set forth above, there are not now, and at the Effective Time,
except  for  shares of  Common  Stock  issued  after  the date  hereof  upon the
conversion of  convertible  securities  and the exercise of warrants and options
outstanding  on the date hereof or issued after the date hereof  pursuant to the
Stock  Option  Plans,  there will not be, any shares of capital  stock of Shared
Technologies  issued or outstanding  or any  subscriptions,  options,  warrants,
calls,  claims,  rights (including  without limitation any stock appreciation or
similar  rights),  convertible  securities or other agreements or commitments of
any character  obligating Shared Technologies to issue,  transfer or sell any of
its securities.




                  5.4 Authority Relative to This Agreement.  Shared Technologies
has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and
to  consummate  the  Merger  and other  transactions  contemplated  hereby.  The
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the  consummation of the Merger and
other transactions  contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by
the Board of Directors of Shared Technologies and no other corporate proceedings
on the part of Shared  Technologies are necessary to authorize this Agreement or
to consummate the Merger or other transactions  contemplated hereby (other than,
with respect to the Merger,  the approval of Shared  Technologies'  stockholders
pursuant  to  Section  251(c) of the  DGCL).  This  Agreement  has been duly and
validly  executed and  delivered by Shared  Technologies  and,  assuming the due
authorization,  execution and delivery hereof by Fairchild,  constitutes a valid
and  binding  agreement  of  Shared  Technologies,  enforceable  against  Shared
Technologies  in  accordance  with its  terms,  except  to the  extent  that its
enforceability   may  be   limited   by   applicable   bankruptcy,   insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors'
rights generally or by general equitable or fiduciary principles.

                  5.5      No Violations, etc.

                  (a)  Assuming  that  all  filings,  permits,   authorizations,
consents  and  approvals  or waivers  thereof have been duly made or obtained as
contemplated  by Section 5.5(b)  hereof,  except as listed in Section 5.5 of the
Disclosure  Statement,  neither the execution and delivery of this  Agreement by
Shared  Technologies  nor the  consummation of the Merger or other  transactions
contemplated  hereby  nor  compliance  by  Shared  Technologies  with any of the
provisions hereof will (i) violate,  conflict with, or result in a breach of any
provision of, or  constitute a default (or an event which,  with notice or lapse
of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in the termination
or suspension  of, or  accelerate  the  performance  required by, or result in a
right of termination  or  acceleration  under,  or result in the creation of any
lien,  security  interest,  charge or encumbrance  upon any of the properties or
assets of  Shared  Technologies  or any of its  subsidiaries  under,  any of the
terms, conditions or provisions of (x) their respective charters or by-laws, (y)
except as set forth in Section 5.5 of the Disclosure Statement,  any note, bond,
mortgage,  indenture or deed of trust, or (z) any license,  lease,  agreement or
other  instrument  or  obligation  to  which  Shared  Technologies  or any  such



subsidiary is a party or to which they or any of their respective  properties or
assets may be subject,  or (ii)  subject to  compliance  with the  statutes  and
regulations  referred to in the next  paragraph,  violate any judgment,  ruling,
order,  writ,  injunction,  decree,  statute,  rule or regulation  applicable to
Shared  Technologies  or any  of its  subsidiaries  or any of  their  respective
properties or assets,  except, in the case of clauses (i)(z) and (ii) above, for
such  violations,  conflicts,  breaches,  defaults,  terminations,  suspensions,
accelerations,  rights of  termination  or  acceleration  or creations of liens,
security interests,  charges or encumbrances which would not, individually or in
the  aggregate,  either have a Shared  Technologies  Material  Adverse Effect or
materially impair Shared Technologies' ability to consummate the Merger or other
transactions contemplated hereby.

                  (b) No filing or  registration  with,  notification  to and no
permit,  authorization,  consent  or  approval  of any  governmental  entity  is
required by Shared Technologies in connection with the execution and delivery of
this Agreement or the consummation by Shared Technologies of the Merger or other
transactions  contemplated hereby,  except (i) in connection with the applicable
requirements of the  Hart-Scott-Rodino  Antitrust  Improvements  Act of 1976, as
amended (the "HSR Act"),  (ii) the filing of the  Certificate of Merger with the
Secretary  of State of the  State of  Delaware,  (iii)  the  approval  of Shared
Technologies'  stockholders  pursuant to the DGCL,  (iv) filings with applicable
state public  utility  commissions  and (v) such other  filings,  registrations,
notifications,  permits,  authorizations,  consents or approvals  the failure of
which to be obtained, made or given would not, individually or in the aggregate,
either have a Shared  Technologies  Material Adverse Effect or materially impair
Shared  Technologies'  ability to  consummate  the Merger or other  transactions
contemplated hereby.

                  (c)  As of  the  date  hereof,  Shared  Technologies  and  its
subsidiaries  are not in  violation  of or  default  under (x) their  respective
charter or bylaws,  and (y) except as set forth in Section 5.5 of the Disclosure
Statement,  any note,  bond,  mortgage,  indenture or deed of trust,  or (z) any
license,  lease,  agreement or other  instrument  or  obligation to which Shared
Technologies  or any such subsidiary is a party or to which they or any of their
respective  properties or assets may be subject,  except, in the case of clauses
(y) and (z) above, for such violations or defaults which would not, individually
or in the



aggregate,  either  have  a  Shared  Technologies  Material  Adverse  Effect  or
materially impair Shared Technologies' ability to consummate the Merger or other
transactions contemplated hereby.

                  5.6      Commission Filings; Financial Statements.

                  (a) Shared Technologies has filed all required forms,  reports
and documents during the past three years (collectively, the "SEC Reports") with
the Securities and Exchange  Commission (the "SEC"),  all of which complied when
filed  in  all  material  respects  with  all  applicable  requirements  of  the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  and the rules and  regulations  promulgated
thereunder (the  "Securities  Act") and the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended,  and the rules and  regulations  promulgated  thereunder (the "Exchange
Act"). As of their respective dates the SEC Reports  (including all exhibits and
schedules  thereto and  documents  incorporated  by  reference  therein) did not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the statements  therein,  in
light of the  circumstances  under  which they were made,  not  misleading.  The
audited  consolidated  financial  statements and unaudited  consolidated interim
financial  statements of Shared  Technologies and its  subsidiaries  included or
incorporated  by reference in such SEC Reports have been  prepared in accordance
with generally  accepted  accounting  principles  applied on a consistent  basis
during the periods  involved  (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto),
and fairly present the consolidated  financial  position of Shared  Technologies
and its  subsidiaries  as of the dates thereof and the  consolidated  results of
operations and consolidated  cash flows for the periods then ended (subject,  in
the case of any  unaudited  interim  financial  statements,  to normal  year-end
adjustments and to the extent they may not include footnotes or may be condensed
or summary statements).

                  (b) Shared  Technologies  will deliver to Fairchild as soon as
they become available true and complete copies of any report or statement mailed
by it to its securityholders generally or filed by it with the SEC, in each case
subsequent  to the date  hereof  and prior to the  Effective  Time.  As of their
respective dates, such reports and statements (excluding any information therein
provided by Fairchild,  as to which Shared Technologies makes no representation)
will not  contain  any untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in



light of the  circumstances  under which they are made,  not misleading and will
comply in all material  respects with all  applicable  requirements  of law. The
audited  consolidated  financial  statements and unaudited  consolidated interim
financial  statements of Shared Technologies and its subsidiaries to be included
or  incorporated  by  reference in such reports and  statements  (excluding  any
information therein provided by Fairchild, as to which Shared Technologies makes
no  representation)  will be  prepared in  accordance  with  generally  accepted
accounting  principles  applied on a  consistent  basis  throughout  the periods
involved  (except as may be  indicated  in the notes  thereto)  and will  fairly
present  the  consolidated  financial  position of Shared  Technologies  and its
subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated  results of operations
and consolidated cash flows for the periods then ended (subject,  in the case of
any unaudited interim financial  statements,  to normal year-end adjustments and
to the extent  they may not include  footnotes  or may be  condensed  or summary
statements).

                  5.7  Absence  of  Changes  or  Events.  Except as set forth in
Shared  Technologies'  Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994, as
filed with the SEC, since December 31, 1994: 

                  (a)  there  has  been  no  material  adverse  change,  or  any
     development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the general
     affairs,  management,   business,   operations,   condition  (financial  or
     otherwise) or prospects of Shared  Technologies and its subsidiaries  taken
     as a whole;

                  (b) there  has not been any  direct  or  indirect  redemption,
     purchase  or other  acquisition  of any shares of  capital  stock of Shared
     Technologies or any of its subsidiaries, or any declaration,  setting aside
     or payment of any dividend or other distribution by Shared  Technologies or
     any of its  subsidiaries  in respect of its capital  stock  (except for the
     distribution of the shares of Shared Technologies Cellular, Inc.);

                  (c)  except  in  the  ordinary  course  of  its  business  and
     consistent with past practice  neither Shared  Technologies  nor any of its
     subsidiaries  has incurred any indebtedness for borrowed money, or assumed,
     guaranteed,  endorsed or otherwise as an accommodation  become  responsible
     for the obligations of any other individual,  firm or corporation,  or



     made any loans or  advances to any other  individual,  firm or corporation;

                  (d)  there  has not been any  change  in  accounting  methods,
     principles or practices of Shared Technologies or its subsidiaries;

                  (e) except in the ordinary  course of business and for amounts
     which  are not  material,  there  has not been any  revaluation  by  Shared
     Technologies or any of its subsidiaries of any of their respective  assets,
     including,  without  limitation,  writing  down the value of  inventory  or
     writing off notes or accounts receivables;

                  (f)  there  has not  been  any  damage,  destruction  or loss,
     whether  covered  by  insurance  or not,  except  for  such as  would  not,
     individually  or in the  aggregate,  have a  Shared  Technologies  Material
     Adverse Effect; and

                  (g) there has not been any agreement by Shared Technologies or
     any of its  subsidiaries  to (i)  do  any of the  things  described  in the
     preceding  clauses (a) through (f) other than as expressly  contemplated or
     provided  for in this  Agreement  or  (ii)  take,  whether  in  writing  or
     otherwise,  any action which, if taken prior to the date of this Agreement,
     would have made any  representation or warranty in this Article V untrue or
     incorrect.

                  5.8  Proxy  Statement.  None of the  information  supplied  by
Shared  Technologies  for  inclusion  in the proxy  statement  to be sent to the
shareholders  of Shared  Technologies in connection with the Special Meeting (as
hereinafter  defined),  including all  amendments and  supplements  thereto (the
"Proxy  Statement"),  shall on the date the Proxy  Statement  is first mailed to
shareholders,  at the time of the Special  Meeting or at the Effective  Time, be
false or  misleading  with  respect to any material  fact,  or omit to state any
material  fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary in order to make the
statements  made  therein,  in light of the  circumstances  under which they are
made,  not  misleading  or  necessary  to correct any  statement  in any earlier
communication  with  respect  to the  solicitation  of proxies  for the  Special
Meeting  which has become false or  misleading.  None of the  information  to be
filed by Fairchild and Shared  Technologies  with the SEC in connection with the
Merger  or in any  other  documents  to be  filed  with  the  SEC  or any  other
regulatory  or   governmental



agency or authority in connection  with the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,
including  any  amendments  thereto  (the  "Other  Documents"),  insofar as such
information  was provided or supplied by Shared  Technologies,  will contain any
untrue  statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to be stated  therein or necessary to make the statements  therein,  in light of
the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. The Proxy Statement
shall comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act.

                  5.9  Litigation.  Except  as set forth in  Section  5.9 of the
Disclosure Statement,  there is no (i) claim, action, suit or proceeding pending
or, to the best  knowledge of Shared  Technologies  or any of its  subsidiaries,
threatened against or relating to Shared Technologies or any of its subsidiaries
before any court or governmental or regulatory  authority or body or arbitration
tribunal,  or (ii) outstanding  judgment,  order, writ, injunction or decree, or
application,  request or motion therefor,  of any court,  governmental agency or
arbitration  tribunal  in  a  proceeding  to  which  Shared  Technologies,   any
subsidiary of Shared  Technologies or any of their respective assets was or is a
party  except,  in the case of clauses  (i) and (ii)  above,  such as would not,
individually  or in the aggregate,  either have a Shared  Technologies  Material
Adverse Effect or materially impair Shared  Technologies'  ability to consummate
the Merger.

                  5.10 Insurance. Section 5.10 of the Disclosure Statement lists
all  insurance  policies in force on the date hereof  covering  the  businesses,
properties and assets of Shared Technologies and its subsidiaries,  and all such
policies are currently in effect.  True and complete copies of all such policies
have been  delivered  to  Fairchild.  Except as set forth in Section 5.10 of the
Disclosure  Statement,  Shared  Technologies  has  not  received  notice  of the
cancellation of any such insurance policy.

                  5.11 Title to and Condition of Properties. Except as set forth
in  Section  5.11  of the  Disclosure  Statement,  Shared  Technologies  and its
subsidiaries have good title to all of the real property and own outright all of
the personal  property (except for leased property or assets) which is reflected
on  Shared  Technologies'  and  its  subsidiaries'  December  31,  1994  audited
consolidated  balance sheet contained in Shared  Technologies' Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended  December  31, 1994 filed with the SEC (the  "Balance  Sheet")
except for property



since sold or  otherwise  disposed of in the  ordinary  course of  business  and
consistent  with  past  practice.  Except as set  forth in  Section  5.11 of the
Disclosure  Statement,  no such real or personal  property is subject to claims,
liens or  encumbrances,  whether by mortgage,  pledge,  lien,  conditional  sale
agreement,  charge or otherwise,  except for those which would not, individually
or in the aggregate, have a Shared Technologies Material Adverse Effect. Section
5.11 of the Disclosure  Statement  contains a true and complete list of all real
properties owned by Shared Technologies and its subsidiaries.

                  5.12 Leases.  There has been made  available to Fairchild true
and complete copies of each lease  requiring the payment of rentals  aggregating
at least $35,000 per annum  pursuant to which real or personal  property is held
under  lease by Shared  Technologies  or any of its  subsidiaries,  and true and
complete  copies of each lease pursuant to which Shared  Technologies  or any of
its subsidiaries leases real or personal property to others. A true and complete
list  of all  such  leases  is set  forth  in  Section  5.12  of the  Disclosure
Statement.  All of the  leases so listed  are valid and  subsisting  and in full
force  and  effect  and  are  subject  to no  default  with  respect  to  Shared
Technologies  or  its  subsidiaries,   as  the  case  may  be,  and,  to  Shared
Technologies'  knowledge, are in full force and effect and subject to no default
with respect to any other party thereto, and the leased real property is in good
and satisfactory condition.

                  5.13  Contracts  and  Commitments.  Other than as disclosed in
Section 5.13 of the  Disclosure  Statement,  no existing  contract or commitment
contains  an  agreement  with  respect to any  change of  control  that would be
triggered  by the  Merger.  Other  than  as set  forth  in  Section  5.13 of the
Disclosure  Statement,   neither  this  Agreement,  the  Merger  nor  the  other
transactions  contemplated  hereby  will  result  in any  outstanding  loans  or
borrowings  by Shared  Technologies  or any  subsidiary  of Shared  Technologies
becoming due,  going into default or giving the lenders or other holders of debt
instruments the right to require Shared  Technologies or any of its subsidiaries
to repay all or a portion of such loans or borrowings.

                  5.14  Labor  Matters.  Each  of  Shared  Technologies  and its
subsidiaries is in compliance in all material  respects with all applicable laws
respecting  employment  and  employment



practices,  terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours,  and neither
Shared  Technologies  nor any of its subsidiaries is engaged in any unfair labor
practice.  There is no labor  strike,  slowdown or stoppage  pending (or, to the
best knowledge of Shared Technologies,  any labor strike or stoppage threatened)
against or affecting Shared Technologies or any of its subsidiaries. No petition
for  certification  has been filed and is  pending  before  the  National  Labor
Relations  Board with respect to any employees of Shared  Technologies or any of
its subsidiaries who are not currently organized.

                  5.15  Compliance with Law. Except for matters set forth in the
Disclosure  Statement,  neither Shared  Technologies nor any of its subsidiaries
has violated or failed to comply with any statute,  law, ordinance,  regulation,
rule or order of any foreign,  federal,  state or local  government or any other
governmental  department  or  agency,  or any  judgment,  decree or order of any
court, applicable to its business or operations, except where any such violation
or failure to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate,  have a Shared
Technologies  Material  Adverse  Effect;  the conduct of the  business of Shared
Technologies  and its  subsidiaries is in conformity with all foreign,  federal,
state and local energy,  public utility and health  requirements,  and all other
foreign,  federal,  state and local  governmental  and regulatory  requirements,
except where such nonconformities  would not,  individually or in the aggregate,
have a Shared Technologies  Material Adverse Effect. Shared Technologies and its
subsidiaries  have  all  permits,  licenses  and  franchises  from  governmental
agencies required to conduct their businesses as now being conducted, except for
such  permits,   licenses  and  franchises  the  absence  of  which  would  not,
individually or in the aggregate,  have a Shared  Technologies  Material Adverse
Effect.

                  5.16 Board  Recommendation.  The Board of  Directors of Shared
Technologies has, by a majority vote at a meeting of such Board duly held on, or
by written consent of such Board dated,  November 9, 1995,  approved and adopted
this  Agreement,  the Merger  and the other  transactions  contemplated  hereby,
determined  that  the  Merger  is  fair  to the  holders  of  shares  of  Shared
Technologies  Common  Stock and  recommended  that the holders of such shares of
Common  Stock  approve  and  adopt  this  Agreement,  the  Merger  and the other
transactions contemplated hereby.




                  5.17   Employment   and  Labor   Contracts.   Neither   Shared
Technologies  nor  any  of  its  subsidiaries  is a  party  to  any  employment,
management  services,  consultation  or other similar  contract with any past or
present  officer,  director,  employee or other person or, to the best of Shared
Technologies' knowledge, any entity affiliated with any past or present officer,
director or employee or other  person other than those set forth in Section 5.17
of the  Disclosure  Statement and other than those which (x) have a term of less
than one year and (y) involve  payments of less than  $30,000 per year,  in each
case  true and  complete  copies  of which  contracts  have  been  delivered  to
Fairchild,  and other than the agreements executed by employees  generally,  the
forms of which have been delivered to Fairchild.

                  5.18  Patents  and  Trademarks.  Shared  Technologies  and its
subsidiaries  own or have the  right to use all  patents,  patent  applications,
trademarks, trademark applications, trade names, inventions, processes, know-how
and trade  secrets  necessary  to the  conduct of their  respective  businesses,
except  for those  which the  failure to own or have the right to use would not,
individually or in the aggregate,  have a Shared  Technologies  Material Adverse
Effect ("Proprietary  Rights").  All issued patents and trademark  registrations
and pending patent and trademark  applications  of the  Proprietary  Rights have
previously been delivered to Fairchild. No rights or licenses to use Proprietary
Rights have been granted by Shared Technologies or its subsidiaries except those
listed in Section 5.18 of the Disclosure  Statement;  and no contrary  assertion
has been made to Shared  Technologies  or any of its  subsidiaries  or notice of
conflict  with any asserted  right of others has been given by any person except
those which, even if correct, would not, individually or in the aggregate,  have
a Shared Technologies Material Adverse Effect. Shared Technologies has not given
notice of any asserted claim or conflict to a third party with respect to Shared
Technologies'  Proprietary  Rights.  True and  complete  copies of all  material
license agreements under which Shared Technologies or any of its subsidiaries is
a licensor or licensee have been delivered to Fairchild.

                  5.19 Taxes.  "Tax" or "Taxes"  shall mean all federal,  state,
local and foreign taxes, duties,  levies, charges and assessments of any nature,
including social security payments and deductibles  relating to wages,  salaries
and  benefits  and  payments to  subcontractors  (to the extent  required  under
applicable Tax law),  and also  including all interest,  penalties and additions



imposed with respect to such amounts. Except as set forth in Section 5.19 of the
Disclosure Statement: (i) Shared Technologies and its subsidiaries have prepared
and timely filed or will timely file with the appropriate  governmental agencies
all franchise, income and all other material Tax returns and reports required to
be filed for any period  ending on or before the  Effective  Time,  taking  into
account any extension of time to file granted to or obtained on behalf of Shared
Technologies  and/or  its  subsidiaries;  (ii)  all  material  Taxes  of  Shared
Technologies and its subsidiaries in respect of the pre-Merger  period have been
paid in full to the  proper  authorities,  other  than  such  Taxes as are being
contested  in good  faith  by  appropriate  proceedings  and/or  are  adequately
reserved for in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;  (iii)
all deficiencies  resulting from Tax examinations of federal,  state and foreign
income,  sales and franchise and all other  material Tax returns filed by Shared
Technologies and its  subsidiaries  have either been paid or are being contested
in good faith by appropriate  proceedings;  (iv) to the best knowledge of Shared
Technologies,  no  deficiency  has been  asserted  or  assessed  against  Shared
Technologies  or  any  of  its  subsidiaries,   and  no  examination  of  Shared
Technologies  or any of its  subsidiaries  is  pending  or  threatened  for  any
material amount of Tax by any taxing  authority;  (v) no extension of the period
for  assessment  or collection of any material Tax is currently in effect and no
extension  of time  within  which  to file  any  material  Tax  return  has been
requested, which Tax return has not since been filed; (vi) no material Tax liens
have been filed with respect to any Taxes; (vii) Shared Technologies and each of
its subsidiaries will not make any voluntary adjustment by reason of a change in
their accounting methods for any pre-Merger period that would affect the taxable
income or deductions of Shared  Technologies or any of its  subsidiaries for any
period  ending after the Effective  Date;  (viii)  Shared  Technologies  and its
subsidiaries  have made timely payments of the Taxes required to be deducted and
withheld from the wages paid to their employees;  (ix) the Tax Sharing Agreement
under which Shared  Technologies  or any subsidiary  will have any obligation or
liability  on or after the  Effective  Date is attached as Exhibit E; (x) Shared
Technologies  has  foreign  losses as defined in Section  904(f)(2)  of the Code
listed in Section 5.19 of the Disclosure Statement; (xi) Shared Technologies and
its  subsidiaries  have unused  foreign tax credits set forth in Section 5.19 of
the   Disclosure   Statement;   and  (xii)  to  the  best  knowledge  of  Shared
Technologies,  there are no



transfer pricing  agreements made with any taxation  authority  involving Shared
Technologies and its subsidiaries.

                  5.20     Employee Benefit Plans; ERISA.

                  (a)  Except as set  forth in  Section  5.20 of the  Disclosure
Statement,  there are no "employee  pension benefit plans" as defined in Section
3(2)  of the  Employee  Retirement  Income  Security  Act of  1974,  as  amended
("ERISA"),  covering  employees  employed in the United  States,  maintained  or
contributed to by Shared  Technologies or any of its  subsidiaries,  or to which
Shared  Technologies or any of its  subsidiaries  contributes or is obligated to
make payments  thereunder or otherwise may have any liability ("Pension Benefits
Plans").

                  (b) Shared  Technologies  has furnished  Fairchild with a true
and complete schedule of all "welfare benefit plans" (as defined in Section 3(1)
of ERISA)  covering  employees  employed  in the United  States,  maintained  or
contributed  to by  Shared  Technologies  or any of its  subsidiaries  ("Welfare
Plans"),  all multiemployer  plans as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA covering
employees  employed in the United States to which Shared  Technologies or any of
its  subsidiaries  is required to make  contributions  or otherwise may have any
liability,  and, to the extent covering employees employed in the United States,
all stock bonus, stock option, restricted stock, stock appreciation right, stock
purchase, bonus, incentive, deferred compensation,  severance and vacation plans
maintained or contributed to by Shared Technologies or a subsidiary.

                  (c) Shared Technologies and each of its subsidiaries, and each
of the Pension  Benefit  Plans and Welfare  Plans,  are in  compliance  with the
applicable  provisions  of ERISA (the "Code") and other  applicable  laws except
where the failure to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate,  have a
Shared Technologies Material Adverse Effect.

                  (d) All  contributions  to, and  payments  from,  the  Pension
Benefit  Plans  which are  required  to have been  made in  accordance  with the
Pension Benefit Plans and, when applicable,  Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412
of the Code  have  been  timely  made  except  where  the  failure  to make such
contributions  or payments on a timely basis would not,  individually  or in the
aggregate, have a Shared Technologies Material Adverse Effect. All contributions
required to have been made in  accordance  with



Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code to any employee  pension benefit
plan (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA)  maintained by an ERISA  Affiliate of
Shared  Technologies  or any of its  subsidiaries  have been  timely made except
where  the  failure  to make  such  contributions  on a timely  basis  would not
individually  or in the aggregate have a Shared  Technologies  Material  Adverse
Effect. For purposes of this Agreement,  "ERISA Affiliate" shall mean any person
(as  defined in Section  3(9) of ERISA) that is a member of any group of persons
described  in  Section  414(b),  (c),  (m) or (o) of the  Code of  which  Shared
Technologies or a subsidiary is a member.

                  (e) The  Pension  Benefit  Plans  intended  to  qualify  under
Section  401 of the  Code  are so  qualified  and have  been  determined  by the
Internal  Revenue  Service  ("IRS") to be so qualified  and nothing has occurred
with respect to the  operation of such Pension  Benefit  Plans which would cause
the loss of such  qualification  or exemption or the  imposition of any material
liability,  penalty or tax under ERISA or the Code. Such plans have been or will
be, on a timely  basis,  (i) amended to comply with  changes to the Code made by
the Tax Reform Act of 1986, the  Unemployment  Compensation  Amendments of 1992,
the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, and other applicable legislative,
regulatory or  administrative  requirements;  and (ii) submitted to the Internal
Revenue Service for a determination of their tax  qualification,  as so amended;
and no such amendment will adversely affect the qualification of such plans.

                  (f)  Each  Welfare  Plan  that  is  intended  to  qualify  for
exclusion  of benefits  thereunder  from the income of  participants  or for any
other tax-favored treatment under any provisions of the Code (including, without
limitation,  Sections  79,  105,  106,  125 or 129 of the  Code) is and has been
maintained in compliance with all pertinent  provisions of the Code and Treasury
Regulations thereunder.

                  (g) Except as disclosed in Shared  Technologies' Form 10-K for
the  fiscal  year  ended  December  31,  1994,  there are (i) no  investigations
pending,  to the best  knowledge  of Shared  Technologies,  by any  governmental
entity involving the Pension Benefit Plans or Welfare Plans, (ii) no termination
proceedings  involving the Pension Benefit Plans and (iii) no pending or, to the
best of Shared  Technologies'  knowledge,  threatened claims (other than routine
claims for  benefits),  suits or  proceedings  against  any  Pension  Benefit or
Welfare Plan,  against the assets



of any of the trusts  under any Pension  Benefit or Welfare  Plan or against any
fiduciary of any Pension  Benefit or Welfare Plan with respect to the  operation
of such plan or  asserting  any rights or claims to  benefits  under any Pension
Benefit or  Welfare  Plan or  against  the assets of any trust  under such plan,
which would,  in the case of clause (i),  (ii) or (iii) of this  paragraph  (f),
give rise to any liability which would, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Shared  Technologies  Material  Adverse  Effect,  nor,  to the  best  of  Shared
Technologies'  knowledge,  are  there  any facts  which  would  give rise to any
liability  which  would,  individually  or  in  the  aggregate,  have  a  Shared
Technologies  Material  Adverse  Effect in the event of any such  investigation,
claim, suit or proceeding.

                  (h) None of Shared  Technologies,  any of its  subsidiaries or
any employee of the foregoing, nor any trustee,  administrator,  other fiduciary
or any other "party in interest"  or  "disqualified  person" with respect to the
Pension   Benefit  Plans  or  Welfare  Plans,   has  engaged  in  a  "prohibited
transaction" (as such term is defined in Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406
of ERISA)  which  would be  reasonably  likely to result in a tax or  penalty on
Shared Technologies or any of its subsidiaries under Section 4975 of the Code or
Section 502(i) of ERISA which would,  individually  or in the aggregate,  have a
Shared Technologies Material Adverse Effect.

                  (i) Neither the Pension  Benefit  Plans subject to Title IV of
ERISA nor any trust created  thereunder has been  terminated nor have there been
any "reportable events" (as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations
thereunder)  with respect to either thereof which would,  individually or in the
aggregate, have a Shared Technologies Material Adverse Effect nor has there been
any event with respect to any Pension  Benefit Plan requiring  disclosure  under
Section  4063(a) of ERISA or any event with respect to any Pension  Benefit Plan
requiring   disclosure  under  Section   4041(c)(3)(C)  of  ERISA  which  would,
individually or in the aggregate,  have a Shared  Technologies  Material Adverse
Effect.

                  (j) Neither Shared  Technologies  nor any subsidiary of Shared
Technologies  has incurred any  currently  outstanding  liability to the Pension
Benefit  Guaranty  Corporation  (the  "PBGC")  or to a trustee  appointed  under
Section  4042(b) or (c) of ERISA other than for the payment of premiums,  all of
which have been paid when due.  No Pension  Benefit  Plan has  applied  for,  or



received,  a waiver of the minimum funding  standards  imposed by Section 412 of
the Code. The information  supplied to the actuary by Shared Technologies or any
of its  subsidiaries  for use in preparing the most recent  actuarial report for
Pension Benefit Plans is complete and accurate in all material respects.

                  (k) Neither Shared  Technologies,  any of its subsidiaries nor
any of their  ERISA  Affiliates  has any  liability  (including  any  contingent
liability under Section 4204 of ERISA) with respect to any  multiemployer  plan,
within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA, covering employees employed in the
United States.

                  (l)  Except as  disclosed  in Section  5.20 of the  Disclosure
Statement,  with respect to each of the Pension Benefit and Welfare Plans, true,
correct and complete  copies of the following  documents  have been delivered to
Fairchild:  (i)  the  current  plans  and  related  trust  documents,  including
amendments thereto,  (ii) any current summary plan descriptions,  (iii) the most
recent Forms 5500,  financial  statements and actuarial reports,  if applicable,
(iv) the most recent IRS  determination  letter,  if applicable;  and (v) if any
application  for an IRS  determination  letter  is  pending,  copies of all such
applications for  determination  including  attachments,  exhibits and schedules
thereto.

                  (m) Neither Shared Technologies,  any of its subsidiaries, any
organization to which Shared  Technologies is a successor or parent corporation,
within  the  meaning  of  Section  4069(b)  of  ERISA,  nor any of  their  ERISA
Affiliates has engaged in any transaction, within the meaning of Section 4069(a)
of ERISA, the liability for which would,  individually or in the aggregate, have
a Shared Technologies Material Adverse Effect.

                  (n)  Except as  disclosed  in Section  5.20 of the  Disclosure
Statement, none of the Welfare Plans maintained by Shared Technologies or any of
its  subsidiaries  are  retiree  life or retiree  health  insurance  plans which
provide  for  continuing  benefits  or  coverage  for  any  participant  or  any
beneficiary of a participant following termination of employment,  except as may
be required under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as
amended  ("COBRA"),  or  except  at  the  expense  of  the  participant  or  the
participant's  beneficiary.  Shared  Technologies  and each of its  subsidiaries
which maintain a "group health plan" within the meaning of Section 5000(b)(1) of
the Code



have complied with the notice and continuation  requirements of Section 4980B of
the Code,  COBRA,  Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA and the  regulations
thereunder except where the failure to comply would not,  individually or in the
aggregate, have a Shared Technologies Material Adverse Effect.

                  (o) No liability under any Pension Benefit or Welfare Plan has
been funded nor has any such  obligation  been  satisfied with the purchase of a
contract from an insurance company as to which Shared Technologies or any of its
subsidiaries   has   received   notice  that  such   insurance   company  is  in
rehabilitation.

                  (p) Except  pursuant to the agreements  listed in Section 5.20
of the Disclosure Statement,  the consummation of the transactions  contemplated
by this Agreement  will not result in an increase in the amount of  compensation
or benefits or  accelerate  the vesting or timing of payment of any  benefits or
compensation  payable to or in respect of any employee of Shared Technologies or
any of its subsidiaries.

                  (q) Shared  Technologies has disclosed to Fairchild in Section
5.20 of the Disclosure  Statement  each material  Foreign Plan to the extent the
benefits  provided  thereunder  are not  mandated by the laws of the  applicable
foreign jurisdiction.  Shared Technologies and each of its subsidiaries and each
of the Foreign Plans are in  compliance  with  applicable  laws and all required
contributions  have been made to the Foreign Plans,  except where the failure to
comply or make contributions would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Shared  Technologies  Material  Adverse Effect.  For purposes  hereof,  the term
"Foreign  Plan"  shall  mean any plan,  with  respect  to  benefits  voluntarily
provided by Shared  Technologies  or any subsidiary with respect to employees of
any of them employed outside the United States.

                  5.21     Environmental Matters.

                  (a)  Except as set  forth in  Section  5.21 of the  Disclosure
Statement:

                        (i) each of Shared  Technologies  and its  subsidiaries,
         and  the  properties  and  assets  owned  by  them,  and to the  actual
         knowledge of Shared  Technologies,  all  properties  operated,  leased,
         managed  or used by Shared  Technologies  and its  subsidiaries  are in
         compliance  with all  applicable  Environmental  Laws except  where the
         failure  to  be



         in  compliance  would  not,  individually  or in  the aggregate, have a
         Shared Technologies Material Adverse Effect;

                       (ii) there is no Environmental  Claim that is (1) pending
         or threatened against Shared Technologies or any of its subsidiaries or
         (2)  pending or  threatened  against any person or entity or any assets
         owned by Shared  Technologies or its  subsidiaries  whose liability for
         such  Environmental  Claim has been  retained or assumed by contract or
         otherwise by Shared  Technologies or any of its  subsidiaries or can be
         imputed  or  attributed  by law to  Shared  Technologies  or any of its
         subsidiaries,  the effect of any of which would, individually or in the
         aggregate, have a Shared Technologies Material Adverse Effect;

                      (iii)  there are no past or present  actions,  activities,
         circumstances,  conditions,  events or incidents  arising out of, based
         upon, resulting from or relating to the ownership,  operation or use of
         any property or assets currently or formerly owned, operated or used by
         Shared  Technologies or any of its  subsidiaries (or any predecessor in
         interest  of  any  of  them),   including,   without  limitation,   the
         generation,  storage,  treatment  or  transportation  of any  Hazardous
         Materials,  or the  emission,  discharge,  disposal or other Release or
         threatened  Release of any  Hazardous  Materials  into the  Environment
         which is presently expected to result in an Environmental Claim;

                       (iv) no lien has been  recorded  under any  Environmental
         Law with respect to any material  property,  facility or asset owned by
         Shared  Technologies  or  any of its  subsidiaries;  and to the  actual
         knowledge of Shared  Technologies,  no lien has been recorded under any
         Environmental  Law with respect to any material  property,  facility or
         asset,  operated,  leased or managed or used by Shared  Technologies or
         its subsidiaries and relating to or resulting from Shared  Technologies
         or its  subsidiaries  operations,  lease,  management  or use for which
         Shared Technologies or its subsidiaries may be legally responsible;

                        (v)  neither   Shared   Technologies   nor  any  of  its
         subsidiaries  has  received  notice  that it has been  identified  as a
         potentially  responsible party or any request for information under the
         Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of
         1980, as amended



         ("CERCLA"),  the Resource  Conservation  and  Recovery  Act, as amended
         ("RCRA"),  or any comparable  state law nor has Shared  Technologies or
         any of its subsidiaries  received any  notification  that any Hazardous
         Materials that it or any of their  respective  predecessors in interest
         has used, generated,  stored, treated, handled, transported or disposed
         of, or arranged for transport for treatment or disposal of, or arranged
         for disposal or  treatment  of, has been found at any site at which any
         person is  conducting  or plans to  conduct an  investigation  or other
         action pursuant to any Environmental Law;

                       (vi) to the  actual  knowledge  of  Shared  Technologies,
         there has been no Release of Hazardous  Materials at, on, upon,  under,
         from  or  into  any  real  property  in the  vicinity  of any  property
         currently  or  formerly  owned  by  Shared  Technologies  or any of its
         subsidiaries  that,  through soil,  air,  surface water or  groundwater
         migration  or  contamination,  has become  located on, in or under such
         properties and, to the actual knowledge of Shared  Technologies,  there
         has been no release of Hazardous  Materials at, on, upon, under or from
         any property currently or formerly operated, leased, managed or used by
         Shared  Technologies or any of its subsidiaries that through soil, air,
         surface  water or  groundwater  migration or  contamination  has become
         located on, in or under such  properties as resulting  from or relating
         to Shared  Technologies or any of its subsidiaries  operations,  lease,
         management or use thereof of for which Shared  Technologies  and any of
         its subsidiaries may be legally responsible;

                      (vii) no asbestos or asbestos  containing  material or any
         polychlorinated  biphenyls  are  contained  within  products  presently
         manufactured  and,  to  the  best  knowledge  of  Shared   Technologies
         manufactured  at  any  time  by  Shared  Technologies  or  any  of  its
         subsidiaries and, to the actual knowledge of Shared  Technologies there
         is no asbestos or asbestos  containing  material or any polychlorinated
         biphenyl in, on or at any property or any facility or equipment  owned,
         operated,  leased, managed or used by Shared Technologies or any of its
         subsidiaries;

                     (viii) no property owned by Shared  Technologies  or any of
         its subsidiaries and to the actual knowledge of Shared Technologies, no
         property operated,  leased,  managed



         or used by  Shared  Technologies  and  any of its  subsidiaries  is (i)
         listed or proposed  for listing on the National  Priorities  List under
         CERCLA or (ii)  listed  in the  Comprehensive  Environmental  Response,
         Compensation, Liability Information System List promulgated pursuant to
         CERCLA,  or on  any  comparable  list  published  by  any  governmental
         authority;

                       (ix) no  underground  storage  tank or related  piping is
         located at, under or on any property  owned by Shared  Technologies  or
         any  of  its   subsidiaries  or  to  the  actual  knowledge  of  Shared
         Technologies,  any property operated, leased, managed or used by Shared
         Technologies,  nor to the actual knowledge of Shared Technologies,  has
         any such tank or piping been removed or decommissioned  from or at such
         property;

                        (x) all environmental  investigations,  studies, audits,
         assessments  or reviews  conducted  of which  Shared  Technologies  has
         actual knowledge in relation to the current or prior business or assets
         owned, operated,  leased, managed or used of Shared Technologies or any
         of its  subsidiaries  or any real  property,  assets or facility now or
         previously  owned,   operated,   leased,  managed  or  used  by  Shared
         Technologies  or  any  of  its  subsidiaries  have  been  delivered  to
         Fairchild; and

                       (xi) each of Shared Technologies and its subsidiaries has
         obtained    all   permits,    licenses    and   other    authorizations
         ("Authorizations") required under any Environmental Law with respect to
         the  operation of its assets and business  and its use,  ownership  and
         operation of any real property,  and each such Authorization is in full
         force and effect.

         (b)      For purposes of Section 5.21(a):

                       (i) "Actual Knowledge of Shared  Technologies"  means the
         actual  knowledge of individuals at the corporate  management  level of
         Shared Technologies and its subsidiaries.

                       (ii) "Environment" means any surface water, ground water,
         drinking water supply,  land surface or subsurface



         strata,  ambient  air  and  including,  without  limitation, any indoor
         location;

                      (iii)  "Environmental  Claim" means any notice or claim by
         any person alleging potential liability (including, without limitation,
         potential   liability   for   investigatory   costs,   cleanup   costs,
         governmental  costs,  or  harm,  injuries  or  damages  to any  person,
         property or natural resources,  and any fines or penalties) arising out
         of,  based  upon,  resulting  from or  relating  to (1)  the  emission,
         discharge,  disposal or other release or threatened  release in or into
         the Environment of any Hazardous Materials or (2) circumstances forming
         the basis of any  violation,  or alleged  violation,  of any applicable
         Environmental Law;

                       (iv) "Environmental  Laws" means all federal,  state, and
         local  laws,  codes,  and  regulations   relating  to  pollution,   the
         protection of human health,  the  protection of the  Environment or the
         emission, discharge, disposal or other release or threatened release of
         Hazardous Materials in or into the Environment;

                       (v) "Hazardous Materials" means pollutants,  contaminants
         or chemical,  industrial,  hazardous or toxic materials or wastes,  and
         includes,   without   limitation,   asbestos   or   asbestos-containing
         materials,  PCBs  and  petroleum,  oil or  petroleum  or oil  products,
         derivatives or constituents; and

                       (vi)  "Release"  means  any  past  or  present  spilling,
         leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging,  injecting,
         escaping,  leaching,  dumping or disposing of Hazardous  Materials into
         the  Environment or within  structures  (including  the  abandonment or
         discarding  of  barrels,   containers   or  other  closed   receptacles
         containing any Hazardous Materials).

                  5.22  Disclosure.  No  representation  or  warranty  by Shared
Technologies  herein, or in any certificate  furnished by or on behalf of Shared
Technologies to Fairchild in connection  herewith,  contains or will contain any
untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omits or will omit to state a material
fact  necessary in order to make the statements  herein or therein,  in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.




                  5.23  Absence  of  Undisclosed  Liabilities.   Neither  Shared
Technologies  nor any of its  subsidiaries  has any  liabilities  or obligations
(including without  limitation any liabilities or obligations  related to Shared
Technologies  Cellular,   Inc.)  of  any  nature,  whether  absolute,   accrued,
unmatured,  contingent or otherwise,  or any unsatisfied judgments or any leases
of  personalty  or realty or unusual or  extraordinary  commitments,  except the
liabilities  recorded on the Balance Sheet and the notes thereto, and except for
liabilities  or  obligations  incurred in the  ordinary  course of business  and
consistent   with  past  practice   since  December  31,  1994  that  would  not
individually  or in the aggregate have a Shared  Technologies  Material  Adverse
Effect.

                  5.24  Finders or Brokers.  Except as set forth in Section 5.24
of the Disclosure  Statement,  none of Shared Technologies,  the subsidiaries of
Shared  Technologies,  the  Board of  Directors  or any  member  of the Board of
Directors has employed any investment banker,  broker, finder or intermediary in
connection with the transactions  contemplated hereby who might be entitled to a
fee or any  commission  in connection  with the Merger,  and Section 5.24 of the
Disclosure Statement sets forth the maximum  consideration  (present and future)
agreed to be paid to each such party.

                  5.25 State  Antitakeover  Statutes.  Shared  Technologies  has
granted all approvals  and taken all other steps  necessary to exempt the Merger
and the  other  transactions  contemplated  hereby  from  the  requirements  and
provisions  of  Section  203  of  the  DGCL  and  any  other   applicable  state
antitakeover  statute or  regulation  such that none of the  provisions  of such
Section 203 or any other "business  combination,"  "moratorium," "control share"
or other state  antitakeover  statute or  regulation  (x) prohibits or restricts
Shared Technologies'  ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement or
its ability to  consummate  the Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated
hereby,  (y) would have the effect of invalidating or voiding this Agreement any
provision hereof,  or (z) would subject Fairchild to any material  impediment or
condition  in  connection  with the  exercise  of any of its  rights  under this
Agreement.


                                   ARTICLE VI


            REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF TFC, RHI AND FAIRCHILD

                  Each of TFC,  RHI and  Fairchild  represents  and  warrants to
Shared Technologies that:

                  6.1 Organization and Qualification.  Each of Fairchild and its
subsidiaries  is a  corporation  duly  organized,  validly  existing and in good
standing under the laws of the  jurisdiction  of its  incorporation  and has all
requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties
and to carry on its business as now being  conducted.  Each of Fairchild and its
subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign  corporation to do business,  and is
in good  standing,  in each  jurisdiction  where the character of its properties
owned or  leased  or the  nature  of its  activities  makes  such  qualification
necessary,  except for  failures to be so qualified  or in good  standing  which
would not,  individually or in the aggregate,  have a material adverse effect on
the general affairs, management,  business, operations,  condition (financial or
otherwise)  or prospects of Fairchild and its  subsidiaries  taken as a whole (a
"Fairchild  Material  Adverse  Effect").   Neither  Fairchild  nor  any  of  its
subsidiaries  is in violation of any of the  provisions  of its  Certificate  of
Incorporation (or other applicable  charter document) or By-Laws.  Fairchild has
delivered to Shared Technologies accurate and complete copies of the Certificate
of  Incorporation  (or  other  applicable  charter  document)  and  By-Laws,  as
currently in effect, of each of Fairchild and its subsidiaries.

                  6.2 Capital Stock of Subsidiaries. The only direct or indirect
subsidiaries  of  Fairchild  are those  listed in Section 6.2 of the  Disclosure
Statement   previously  delivered  by  Fairchild  to  Shared  Technologies  (the
"Disclosure Statement").  Fairchild is directly or indirectly the record (except
for directors' qualifying shares) and beneficial owner (including all qualifying
shares owned by directors  of such  subsidiaries  as reflected in Section 6.2 of
the Disclosure  Statement) of all of the outstanding  shares of capital stock of
each of its subsidiaries,  there are no proxies with respect to such shares, and
no equity  securities of any of such  subsidiaries  are or may be required to be
issued by reason of any options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe for, calls
or commitments of any character  whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights
convertible  into or  exchangeable  for, shares of any capital stock of any such
subsidiary,  and  there  are  no  contracts,   commitments,   understandings  or
arrangements by which any such subsidiary is



bound to issue additional shares of its capital stock or securities  convertible
into or exchangeable for such shares.  Other than as set forth in Section 6.2 of
the Disclosure  Statement,  all of such shares so owned by Fairchild are validly
issued,  fully paid and  nonassessable and are owned by it free and clear of any
claim, lien or encumbrance of any kind with respect thereto. Except as disclosed
in Section  6.2 of the  Disclosure  Statement,  Fairchild  does not  directly or
indirectly own any interest in any  corporation,  partnership,  joint venture or
other business association or entity.

                  6.3 Capitalization.  The authorized capital stock of Fairchild
consists of 1,400  shares of Common  Stock,  par value  $100.00  per share,  and
3,000,000 shares of Preferred  Stock,  without par value. As of the date hereof,
1,400 shares of Common Stock are issued and outstanding  (all of which are owned
by RHI),  424,701 shares of Series A Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding,
2,278 shares of Series B Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding  (which will
be extinguished  immediately  prior to the Effective Time) and 558,360 shares of
Series C  Preferred  Stock are issued and  outstanding.  All of such  issued and
outstanding shares are validly issued,  fully paid and nonassessable and free of
preemptive  rights.  Except as set forth  above,  there are not now,  and at the
Effective  Time,  there will not be, any  shares of capital  stock of  Fairchild
issued or outstanding or any subscriptions,  options,  warrants,  calls, claims,
rights (including  without limitation any stock appreciation or similar rights),
convertible  securities  or other  agreements  or  commitments  of any character
obligating Fairchild to issue, transfer or sell any of its securities.

                  6.4 Authority Relative to This Agreement.  Each of TFC and RHI
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of Delaware.  Each of TFC, RHI and Fairchild has full  corporate  power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the Merger and
other  transactions  contemplated  hereby.  The  execution  and delivery of this
Agreement and the consummation of the Merger and other transactions contemplated
hereby have been duly and validly  authorized  by the Board of Directors of each
of TFC  (which  owns  all of the  outstanding  common  stock  of  RHI),  RHI and
Fairchild  and no  other  corporate  proceedings  on the  part  of  TFC,  RHI or
Fairchild are necessary to authorize  this Agreement or to consummate the Merger
or other  transactions  contemplated  hereby.  This  Agreement has been duly and
validly executed and delivered



by each of TFC (which owns all of the outstanding  common stock of RHI), RHI and
Fairchild and, assuming the due authorization,  execution and delivery hereof by
Shared  Technologies,  constitutes a valid and binding agreement of each of TFC,
RHI  and  Fairchild,  enforceable  against  each of TFC,  RHI and  Fairchild  in
accordance with its terms,  except to the extent that its  enforceability may be
limited by  applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium or
other laws  affecting  the  enforcement  of  creditors'  rights  generally or by
general equitable or fiduciary principles.

                  6.5      No Violations, etc.

                  (a)  Assuming  that  all  filings,  permits,   authorizations,
consents  and  approvals  or waivers  thereof have been duly made or obtained as
contemplated  by Section  6.5(b)  hereof,  neither the execution and delivery of
this  Agreement by TFC, RHI or Fairchild nor the  consummation  of the Merger or
other transactions  contemplated  hereby nor compliance by Fairchild with any of
the provisions hereof will (i) violate,  conflict with, or result in a breach of
any  provision  of, or  constitute a default (or an event which,  with notice or
lapse of time or both,  would  constitute  a  default)  under,  or result in the
termination  or suspension  of, or accelerate  the  performance  required by, or
result  in a right of  termination  or  acceleration  under,  or  result  in the
creation of any lien,  security interest,  charge or encumbrance upon any of the
properties  or  assets  of TFC,  RHI or  Fairchild  or any of  their  respective
subsidiaries  under,  any of the terms,  conditions  or  provisions of (x) their
respective  charters or  by-laws,  (y) except as set forth in Section 6.5 of the
Disclosure Statement,  any note, bond, mortgage,  indenture or deed of trust, or
(z) any license,  lease,  agreement or other instrument or obligation,  to which
TFC, RHI or Fairchild or any such  subsidiary is a party or to which they or any
of their  respective  properties  or assets may be subject,  or (ii)  subject to
compliance with the statutes and regulations  referred to in the next paragraph,
violate any judgment, ruling, order, writ, injunction,  decree, statute, rule or
regulation  applicable  to TFC,  RHI or  Fairchild  or any of  their  respective
subsidiaries or any of their  respective  properties or assets,  except,  in the
case of clauses (i)(z) and (ii) above, for such violations, conflicts, breaches,
defaults,  terminations,  suspensions,  accelerations,  rights of termination or
acceleration or creations of liens, security interests,  charges or encumbrances
which  would not,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  either  have a Fairchild
Material Adverse Effect or materially impair  Fairchild's  ability



to consummate the Merger or other transactions contemplated hereby.

                  (b) No filing or  registration  with,  notification  to and no
permit,  authorization,  consent  or  approval  of any  governmental  entity  is
required by TFC,  RHI or Fairchild or any of their  respective  subsidiaries  in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation
by Fairchild of the Merger or other transactions contemplated hereby, except (i)
in  connection  with  the  applicable   requirements  of  the  Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust  Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR Act"), (ii) the filing
of the  Certificate  of  Merger  with the  Secretary  of  State of the  State of
Delaware,  (iii) filings with applicable state public utility  commissions,  and
(iv) such other filings, registrations,  notifications, permits, authorizations,
consents or approvals  the failure of which to be obtained,  made or given would
not, individually or in the aggregate,  either have a Fairchild Material Adverse
Effect or materially  impair  Fairchild's  ability to  consummate  the Merger or
other transactions contemplated hereby.

                  (c) As of the date hereof,  Fairchild and its subsidiaries are
not in violation of or default under (x) their respective charter or bylaws, and
(y) except as set forth in Sections 6.5 and 6.9 of the Disclosure Statement, any
note,  bond,  mortgage,  indenture or deed of trust, or (z) any license,  lease,
agreement  or other  instrument  or  obligation  to which  Fairchild or any such
subsidiary is a party or to which they or any of their respective  properties or
assets may be subject,  except,  in the case of clauses  (y) and (z) above,  for
such  violations or defaults which would not,  individually or in the aggregate,
either have a Fairchild Material Adverse Effect or materially impair Fairchild's
ability to consummate the Merger or other transactions contemplated hereby.

                  6.6      Commission Filings; Financial Statements.

                  (a)  Fairchild  has  filed all  required  forms,  reports  and
documents during the past three years (collectively, the "SEC Reports") with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), all of which complied when filed
in all material respects with all applicable  requirements of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations  promulgated  thereunder (the
"Securities Act") and the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  and the
rules and regulations  promulgated  thereunder



(the "Exchange Act"). As of their  respective  dates the SEC Reports  (including
all exhibits  and  schedules  thereto and  documents  incorporated  by reference
therein)  did not contain  any untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omit to
state a material  fact  required to be stated  therein or  necessary to make the
statements  therein,  in light of the circumstances  under which they were made,
not  misleading.  The audited  consolidated  financial  statements and unaudited
consolidated  interim  financial  statements of Fairchild  and its  subsidiaries
included or  incorporated  by  reference  in such SEC Reports  were  prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent
basis  during the  periods  involved  (except as may be  indicated  in the notes
thereto),  and fairly presented the consolidated financial position of Fairchild
and its subsidiaries  (before giving effect to the Fairchild  Reorganization) as
of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of operations and consolidated
cash flows for the periods  then ended  (subject,  in the case of any  unaudited
interim financial  statements,  to normal year-end adjustments and to the extent
they may not include footnotes or may be condensed or summary statements).

                  (b) Fairchild will deliver to Shared  Technologies  as soon as
they become available true and complete copies of any report or statement mailed
by it to its securityholders generally or filed by it with the SEC, in each case
subsequent  to the date  hereof  and prior to the  Effective  Time.  As of their
respective dates, such reports and statements (excluding any information therein
provided by Shared Technologies,  as to which Fairchild makes no representation)
will not  contain  any untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading
and will comply in all material  respects with all  applicable  requirements  of
law. The audited consolidated  financial  statements and unaudited  consolidated
interim financial statements of Fairchild and its subsidiaries to be included or
incorporated  by  reference  in  such  reports  and  statements  (excluding  any
information therein provided by Shared Technologies, as to which Fairchild makes
no  representation)  will be  prepared in  accordance  with  generally  accepted
accounting  principles  applied on a  consistent  basis  throughout  the periods
involved  (except as may be  indicated  in the notes  thereto)  and will  fairly
present the  consolidated  financial  position of Fairchild and its subsidiaries
(before giving effect to the Fairchild Reorganization unless otherwise specified
therein) as



of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of operations and consolidated
cash flows for the periods  then ended  (subject,  in the case of any  unaudited
interim financial  statements,  to normal year-end adjustments and to the extent
they may not include footnotes or may be condensed or summary statements).

                  (c)  Fairchild has  delivered to Shared  Technologies  audited
financial  statements  for the three years  ended June 30, 1995 (the  "Fairchild
Financial Statements") which were prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles applied on a consistent basis and which fairly present the
consolidated  financial  position,  results  of  operations  and  cash  flows of
Fairchild and its subsidiaries as if the Fairchild  Reorganization  had occurred
at the beginning of such three-year period. In addition, Fairchild has delivered
to Shared  Technologies  an unaudited  pro forma  balance sheet of each of D-M-E
Inc., Fairchild Fasteners Inc. and RHI as of June 30, 1995 which was prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent
basis and which fairly  presents  the  consolidated  financial  position of such
entities if the Fairchild Reorganization had occurred at such date.

                  (d) Fairchild  will deliver to Shared  Technologies  within 45
days of the end of each fiscal  quarter  subsequent to the date hereof and prior
to the Effective Time unaudited  consolidated  interim financial  statements for
such  quarter  prepared  in  accordance  with  generally   accepted   accounting
principles  on  the  same  basis  as the  Fairchild  Financial  Statements  were
prepared.

                  6.7  Absence  of  Changes  or  Events.  Except as set forth in
Fairchild's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1995, as filed with the
SEC, since June 30, 1995:

                  (a)  there  has  been  no  material  adverse  change,  or  any
development  involving a prospective  material  adverse  change,  in the general
affairs, management, business, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or
prospects  of  Fairchild  and its  subsidiaries  taken  as a  whole;  (it  being
understood that no such material adverse change shall be deemed to have occurred
with  respect  to  Fairchild  and  VSI,  taken  as a  whole,  if the  pro  forma
consolidated  net worth of  Fairchild,  as evidenced by a pro forma closing date
balance sheet to be delivered to Shared  Technologies  on the Effective Date, is
at least $80,000,000);




                  (b)  except as  contemplated  by  Schedule  9.1 and except for
dividends by Fairchild to RHI in an amount not exceeding  capital  contributions
made to Fairchild by RHI since June 30, 1995 plus $4,000,000, there has not been
any direct or indirect  redemption,  purchase or other acquisition of any shares
of capital stock of Fairchild or any of its  subsidiaries,  or any  declaration,
setting aside or payment of any dividend or other  distribution  by Fairchild or
any of its subsidiaries in respect of their capital stock;

                  (c)  except  in  the  ordinary  course  of  its  business  and
consistent with past practice neither  Fairchild nor any of its subsidiaries has
incurred any indebtedness for borrowed money, or assumed,  guaranteed,  endorsed
or otherwise as an accommodation  become  responsible for the obligations of any
other  individual,  firm or  corporation,  or made any loans or  advances to any
other individual, firm or corporation;

                  (d)  there  has not been any  change  in  accounting  methods,
principles or practices of Fairchild or its subsidiaries;

                  (e) except in the ordinary  course of business and for amounts
which are not material,  there has not been any  revaluation by Fairchild or any
of its  subsidiaries  of any of  their  respective  assets,  including,  without
limitation, writing down the value of inventory or writing off notes or accounts
receivables;

                  (f)  there  has not  been  any  damage,  destruction  or loss,
whether covered by insurance or not, except for such as would not,  individually
or in the aggregate, have a Fairchild Material Adverse Effect; and

                  (g) there has not been any  agreement  by  Fairchild or any of
its subsidiaries to (i) do any of the things described in the preceding  clauses
(a) through (f) other than as  expressly  contemplated  or provided  for in this
Agreement or (ii) take,  whether in writing or otherwise,  any action which,  if
taken prior to the date of this Agreement, would have made any representation or
warranty in this Article VI untrue or incorrect.

                  6.8  Proxy  Statement.  None of the  information  supplied  by
Fairchild or any of its  subsidiaries for inclusion in the



proxy  statement  to be sent  to the  shareholders  of  Shared  Technologies  in
connection  with the Special  Meeting (as  hereinafter  defined),  including all
amendments and supplements  thereto (the "Proxy  Statement"),  shall on the date
the Proxy  Statement  is first  mailed to  shareholders,  and at the time of the
Special Meeting or at the Effective Time, be false or misleading with respect to
any  material  fact,  or omit to state any material  fact  required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements  made therein,  in light of
the  circumstances  under which they are made,  not  misleading  or necessary to
correct  any  statement  in  any  earlier  communication  with  respect  to  the
solicitation  of proxies  for the  Special  Meeting  which has  become  false or
misleading.  None  of the  information  to be  filed  by  Fairchild  and  Shared
Technologies  with  the  SEC in  connection  with  the  Merger  or in any  other
documents  to be filed  with the SEC or any  other  regulatory  or  governmental
agency or authority in connection  with the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,
including  any  amendments  thereto  (the  "Other  Documents"),  insofar as such
information  was provided or supplied by  Fairchild or any of its  subsidiaries,
will  contain  any  untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the statements
therein,  in  light  of  the  circumstances  under  which  they  are  made,  not
misleading.  The Proxy Statement shall comply in all material  respects with the
requirements of the Exchange Act.

                  6.9  Litigation.  Except  as set forth in  Section  6.9 of the
Disclosure Statement,  there is no (i) claim, action, suit or proceeding pending
or, to the best knowledge of TFC, RHI,  Fairchild or any of their  subsidiaries,
threatened  against or relating to Fairchild or any of its  subsidiaries  before
any  court  or  governmental  or  regulatory  authority  or body or  arbitration
tribunal,  or (ii) outstanding  judgment,  order, writ, injunction or decree, or
application,  request or motion therefor,  of any court,  governmental agency or
arbitration  tribunal in a proceeding  to which  Fairchild,  any  subsidiary  of
Fairchild or any of their  respective  assets was or is a party  except,  in the
case of clauses (i) and (ii) above,  such as would not,  individually  or in the
aggregate,  either have a Fairchild Material Adverse Effect or materially impair
Fairchild's ability to consummate the Merger or other transactions  contemplated
hereby.

                  6.10 Insurance. Section 6.10 of the Disclosure Statement lists
all  insurance  policies in force on the date hereof  covering  the  businesses,
properties and assets of



Fairchild and its  subsidiaries,  and all such policies are currently in effect.
True and  complete  copies of all such  policies  have been  delivered to Shared
Technologies.  Except as set forth in Section 6.10 of the Disclosure  Statement,
Fairchild  has not received  notice of the  cancellation  of any such  insurance
policy.

                  6.11 Title to and Condition of Properties. Except as set forth
in Section 6.11 of the Disclosure Statement, Fairchild and its subsidiaries have
good title to all of the real  property  and own  outright  all of the  personal
property   (except  for  leased  property  or  assets)  which  is  reflected  on
Fairchild's and its  subsidiaries'  June 30, 1995 audited  consolidated  balance
sheet  contained in the Fairchild  Financial  Statements  (the "Balance  Sheet")
except for property since sold or otherwise  disposed of in the ordinary  course
of business and consistent  with past practice.  Except as set forth in Sections
6.9 and 6.11 of the Disclosure  Statement,  no such real or personal property is
subject to claims,  liens or encumbrances,  whether by mortgage,  pledge,  lien,
conditional  sale agreement,  charge or otherwise,  except for those which would
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Fairchild Material Adverse Effect.
Section 6.11 of the  Disclosure  Statement  contains a true and complete list of
all real properties owned by Fairchild and its subsidiaries.

                  6.12  Leases.   There  has  been  made   available  to  Shared
Technologies  true and complete  copies of each lease  requiring  the payment of
rentals  aggregating  at least  $35,000  per  annum  pursuant  to which  real or
personal  property is held under lease by Fairchild or any of its  subsidiaries,
and true and complete copies of each lease pursuant to which Fairchild or any of
its subsidiaries leases real or personal property to others. A true and complete
list  of all  such  leases  is set  forth  in  Section  6.12  of the  Disclosure
Statement.  All of the  leases so listed  are valid and  subsisting  and in full
force and effect and  subject to no default  with  respect to  Fairchild  or its
subsidiaries,  as the case may be, and, to  Fairchild's  knowledge,  are in full
force and  effect  and  subject to no  default  and  subject to no default  with
respect to any other party thereto,  and the leased real property is in good and
satisfactory condition.

                  6.13  Contracts  and  Commitments.  Other than as disclosed in
Section 6.13 of the  Disclosure  Statement,  no existing  contract or commitment
contains  an  agreement  with



respect  to any change of control  that  would be  triggered  as a result of the
Merger.  Other than as set forth in Section  6.13 of the  Disclosure  Statement,
neither  this  Agreement,  the  Merger nor the other  transactions  contemplated
hereby will result in any  outstanding  loans or  borrowings by Fairchild or any
subsidiary of Fairchild  becoming due,  going into default or giving the lenders
or other holders of debt  instruments  the right to require  Fairchild or any of
its subsidiaries to repay all or a portion of such loans or borrowings.

                  6.14 Labor Matters.  Each of Fairchild and its subsidiaries is
in  compliance  in all material  respects with all  applicable  laws  respecting
employment  and  employment  practices,  terms and  conditions of employment and
wages and hours, and neither Fairchild nor any of its subsidiaries is engaged in
any unfair  labor  practice.  There is no labor  strike,  slowdown  or  stoppage
pending (or, to the best  knowledge of  Fairchild,  any labor strike or stoppage
threatened)  against  or  affecting  Fairchild  or any of its  subsidiaries.  No
petition  for  certification  has been filed and is pending  before the National
Labor  Relations  Board with respect to any employees of Fairchild or any of its
subsidiaries who are not currently organized.

                  6.15  Compliance with Law. Except for matters set forth in the
Disclosure Statement, neither Fairchild nor any of its subsidiaries has violated
or failed to comply with any statute, law, ordinance,  regulation, rule or order
of any foreign,  federal,  state or local  government or any other  governmental
department or agency, or any judgment,  decree or order of any court, applicable
to its business or  operations,  except  where any such  violation or failure to
comply would not,  individually or in the aggregate,  have a Fairchild  Material
Adverse Effect; the conduct of the business of Fairchild and its subsidiaries is
in conformity with all foreign,  federal, state and local energy, public utility
and  health  requirements,  and all  other  foreign,  federal,  state  and local
governmental  and  regulatory  requirements,  except where such  nonconformities
would not,  individually or in the aggregate,  have a Fairchild Material Adverse
Effect. Fairchild and its subsidiaries have all permits, licenses and franchises
from  governmental  agencies  required to conduct their  businesses as now being
conducted, except for such permits, licenses and franchises the absence of which
would not,  individually or in the aggregate,  have a Fairchild Material Adverse
Effect.




                  6.16 Board Recommendation. The Board of Directors of Fairchild
has,  by a  unanimous  vote at a  meeting  of such  Board  duly  held on,  or by
unanimous  written consent of such Board dated,  November 9, 1995,  approved and
adopted  this  Agreement,  the  Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated
hereby.

                  6.17 Employment and Labor Contracts. Neither Fairchild nor any
of  its  subsidiaries  is  a  party  to  any  employment,  management  services,
consultation  or  other  similar  contract  with any  past or  present  officer,
director, employee or other person or, to the best of Fairchild's knowledge, any
entity  affiliated  with any past or present  officer,  director  or employee or
other  person  other  than  those set forth in  Section  6.17 of the  Disclosure
Statement  and other than those  which (x) have a term of less than one year and
(y)  involve  payments  of less than  $30,000  per  year,  in each case true and
complete copies of which  contracts have been delivered to Shared  Technologies,
and other than the  agreements  executed by  employees  generally,  the forms of
which have been delivered to Shared Technologies.

                  6.18 Patents and  Trademarks.  Fairchild and its  subsidiaries
own or have  the  right to use all  patents,  patent  applications,  trademarks,
trademark applications,  trade names, inventions,  processes, know-how and trade
secrets  necessary  to the conduct of their  respective  businesses,  except for
those which the failure to own or have the right to use would not,  individually
or in the aggregate,  have a Fairchild  Material  Adverse  Effect  ("Proprietary
Rights"). All issued patents and trademark  registrations and pending patent and
trademark  applications of the Proprietary Rights have previously been delivered
to Shared  Technologies.  No rights or licenses to use  Proprietary  Rights have
been  granted by Fairchild  or its  subsidiaries  except those listed in Section
6.18 of the  Disclosure  Statement;  and no contrary  assertion has been made to
Fairchild  or any of its  subsidiaries  or notice of conflict  with any asserted
right of  others  has been  given by any  person  except  those  which,  even if
correct, would not, individually or in the aggregate,  have a Fairchild Material
Adverse Effect. Fairchild has not given notice of any asserted claim or conflict
to a third  party  with  respect to  Fairchild's  Proprietary  Rights.  True and
complete copies of all material license  agreements under which Fairchild or any
of its  subsidiaries  is a licensor or licensee  have been  delivered  to Shared
Technologies.




                  6.19 Taxes.  "Tax" or "Taxes"  shall mean all federal,  state,
local and foreign taxes, duties,  levies, charges and assessments of any nature,
including social security payments and deductibles  relating to wages,  salaries
and  benefits  and  payments to  subcontractors  (to the extent  required  under
applicable Tax law),  and also  including all interest,  penalties and additions
imposed  with respect to such  amounts.  Except as set forth in Sections 6.9 and
6.19 of the  Disclosure  Statement:  (i)  Fairchild  and its  subsidiaries  have
prepared and timely filed or will timely file with the appropriate  governmental
agencies all  franchise,  income and all other  material Tax returns and reports
required  to be filed for any  period  ending on or before the  Effective  Time,
taking into  account  any  extension  of time to file  granted to or obtained on
behalf  of  Fairchild  and/or  its  subsidiaries;  (ii)  all  material  Taxes of
Fairchild and its  subsidiaries  in respect of the  pre-Merger  period have been
paid in full to the  proper  authorities,  other  than  such  Taxes as are being
contested  in good  faith  by  appropriate  proceedings  and/or  are  adequately
reserved for in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;  (iii)
all deficiencies  resulting from Tax examinations of federal,  state and foreign
income,  sales  and  franchise  and all  other  material  Tax  returns  filed by
Fairchild and its  subsidiaries  have either been paid or are being contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings;  (iv) to the best knowledge of Fairchild,
no  deficiency  has been  asserted or assessed  against  Fairchild or any of its
subsidiaries,  and no  examination  of Fairchild or any of its  subsidiaries  is
pending or threatened  for any material  amount of Tax by any taxing  authority;
(v) no extension of the period for  assessment or collection of any material Tax
is  currently  in  effect  and no  extension  of time  within  which to file any
material  Tax  return  has been  requested,  which Tax return has not since been
filed;  (vi) no  material  Tax liens have been filed with  respect to any Taxes;
(vii)  Fairchild  and each of its  subsidiaries  will  not  make  any  voluntary
adjustment by reason of a change in their accounting  methods for any pre-Merger
period that would affect the taxable income or deductions of Fairchild or any of
its  subsidiaries  for any  period  ending  after  the  Effective  Date;  (viii)
Fairchild and its  subsidiaries  have made timely payments of the Taxes required
to be deducted and withheld from the wages paid to their employees; (ix) the Tax
Sharing  Agreement  under  which  Fairchild  or any  subsidiary  will  have  any
obligation or liability on or after the Effective Date is attached as Exhibit E;
(x)  Fairchild  has foreign  losses as defined in Section  904(f)(2) of the Code
listed in Section  6.19 of the



Disclosure  Statement;  (xi) Fairchild and its subsidiaries  have unused foreign
tax credits set forth in Section 6.19 of the Disclosure Statement;  and (xii) to
the best knowledge of Fairchild,  there are no transfer pricing  agreements made
with any taxation authority involving Fairchild and its subsidiaries.

                  6.20     Employee Benefit Plans; ERISA.

                  (a)  Except as set  forth in  Section  6.20 of the  Disclosure
Statement,  there are no "employee  pension benefit plans" as defined in Section
3(2)  of the  Employee  Retirement  Income  Security  Act of  1974,  as  amended
("ERISA"),  covering  employees  employed in the United  States,  maintained  or
contributed to by Fairchild or any of its subsidiaries, or to which Fairchild or
any of its subsidiaries  contributes or is obligated to make payments thereunder
or otherwise may have any liability ("Pension Benefits Plans").

                  (b) Fairchild has furnished  Shared  Technologies  with a true
and complete schedule of all "welfare benefit plans" (as defined in Section 3(1)
of ERISA)  covering  employees  employed  in the United  States,  maintained  or
contributed to by Fairchild or any of its subsidiaries  ("Welfare  Plans"),  all
multiemployer  plans as  defined in Section  3(37) of ERISA  covering  employees
employed in the United States to which  Fairchild or any of its  subsidiaries is
required to make contributions or otherwise may have any liability,  and, to the
extent covering  employees employed in the United States, all stock bonus, stock
option,  restricted stock,  stock  appreciation  right,  stock purchase,  bonus,
incentive,  deferred  compensation,  severance and vacation plans  maintained or
contributed to by Fairchild or a subsidiary.

                  (c)  Fairchild and each of its  subsidiaries,  and each of the
Pension  Benefit Plans and Welfare Plans,  are in compliance with the applicable
provisions of ERISA and other applicable laws except where the failure to comply
would not,  individually or in the aggregate,  have a Fairchild Material Adverse
Effect.

                  (d) All  contributions  to, and  payments  from,  the  Pension
Benefit  Plans  which are  required  to have been  made in  accordance  with the
Pension Benefit Plans and, when applicable,  Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412
of the Code  have  been  timely  made  except  where  the  failure  to make such
contributions  or payments on a timely basis would not,  individually  or in the
aggregate,  have a Fairchild Material Adverse Effect. All



contributions required to have been made in accordance with Section 302 of ERISA
or Section 412 of the Code to any employee  pension  benefit plan (as defined in
Section 3(2) of ERISA)  maintained by an ERISA  Affiliate of Fairchild or any of
its  subsidiaries  have been timely  made except  where the failure to make such
contributions  on a timely basis would not individually or in the aggregate have
a Fairchild  Material  Adverse Effect.  For purposes of this  Agreement,  "ERISA
Affiliate" shall mean any person (as defined in Section 3(9) of ERISA) that is a
member of any group of persons  described in Section 414(b),  (c), (m) or (o) of
the Code of which Fairchild or a subsidiary is a member.

                  (e) The  Pension  Benefit  Plans  intended  to  qualify  under
Section  401 of the  Code  are so  qualified  and have  been  determined  by the
Internal  Revenue  Service  ("IRS") to be so qualified  and nothing has occurred
with respect to the  operation of such Pension  Benefit  Plans which would cause
the loss of such  qualification  or exemption or the  imposition of any material
liability,  penalty or tax under ERISA or the Code. Such plans have been or will
be, on a timely  basis,  (i) amended to comply with  changes to the Code made by
the Tax Reform Act of 1986, the  Unemployment  Compensation  Amendments of 1992,
the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, and other applicable legislative,
regulatory or  administrative  requirements;  and (ii) submitted to the Internal
Revenue Service for a determination of their tax  qualification,  as so amended;
and no such amendment will adversely affect the qualification of such plans.

                  (f)  Each  Welfare  Plan  that  is  intended  to  qualify  for
exclusion  of benefits  thereunder  from the income of  participants  or for any
other tax-favored treatment under any provisions of the Code (including, without
limitation,  Sections  79,  105,  106,  125, or 129 of the Code) is and has been
maintained in compliance with all pertinent  provisions of the Code and Treasury
Regulations thereunder.

                  (g)  Except  as  disclosed  in  Fairchild's  Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended June 30, 1995, there are (i) no investigations pending, to the
best knowledge of Fairchild,  by any  governmental  entity involving the Pension
Benefit Plans or Welfare Plans,  (ii) no termination  proceedings  involving the
Pension  Benefit  Plans and  (iii) no  pending  or,  to the best of  Fairchild's
knowledge,  threatened claims (other than routine claims for benefits), suits or
proceedings  against any Pension Benefit or Welfare Plan,  against the assets of
any of the trusts



under any  Pension  Benefit or  Welfare  Plan or against  any  fiduciary  of any
Pension  Benefit or Welfare Plan with  respect to the  operation of such plan or
asserting any rights or claims to benefits under any Pension  Benefit or Welfare
Plan or against the assets of any trust  under such plan,  which  would,  in the
case of  clause  (i),  (ii) or (iii) of this  paragraph  (f),  give  rise to any
liability  which  would,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  have a  Fairchild
Material Adverse Effect,  nor, to the best of Fairchild's  knowledge,  are there
are any facts which would give rise to any liability  which would,  individually
or in the aggregate,  have a Fairchild  Material  Adverse Effect in the event of
any such investigation, claim, suit or proceeding.

                  (h) None of Fairchild, any of its subsidiaries or any employee
of the foregoing, nor any trustee,  administrator,  other fiduciary or any other
"party in interest" or "disqualified person" with respect to the Pension Benefit
Plans or Welfare Plans, has engaged in a "prohibited  transaction" (as such term
is defined in Section  4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA)  which would be
reasonably  likely to  result in a tax or  penalty  on  Fairchild  or any of its
subsidiaries  under  Section  4975 of the Code or Section  502(i) of ERISA which
would,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  have a Fairchild  Material  Adverse
Effect.

                  (i) Neither the Pension  Benefit  Plans subject to Title IV of
ERISA nor any trust created  thereunder has been  terminated nor have there been
any "reportable events" (as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations
thereunder)  with respect to either thereof which would,  individually or in the
aggregate, have a Fairchild Material Adverse Effect nor has there been any event
with respect to any Pension  Benefit Plan  requiring  disclosure  under  Section
4063(a) of ERISA or any event with respect to any Pension Benefit Plan requiring
disclosure under Section 4041(c)(3)(C) of ERISA which would,  individually or in
the aggregate, have a Fairchild Material Adverse Effect.

                  (j) Neither  Fairchild  nor any  subsidiary  of Fairchild  has
incurred any currently  outstanding  liability to the Pension  Benefit  Guaranty
Corporation (the "PBGC") or to a trustee  appointed under Section 4042(b) or (c)
of ERISA  other than for the  payment of  premiums,  all of which have been paid
when due. No Pension Benefit Plan has applied for, or received,  a waiver of the
minimum  funding  standards  imposed by Section 412 of the Code. The information
supplied  to the  actuary by  Fairchild  or any of its  subsidiaries  for use in
preparing the most recent actuarial



report for Pension  Benefit  Plans is  complete  and  accurate  in all  material
respects.

                  (k)  Except as set  forth in  Section  6.20 of the  Disclosure
Statement,  neither  Fairchild,  any of its  subsidiaries nor any of their ERISA
Affiliates has any liability  (including any contingent  liability under Section
4204 of ERISA) with  respect to any  multiemployer  plan,  within the meaning of
Section 3(37) of ERISA, covering employees employed in the United States.

                  (l)  Except as  disclosed  in Section  6.20 of the  Disclosure
Statement,  with respect to each of the Pension Benefit and Welfare Plans, true,
correct and complete  copies of the following  documents  have been delivered to
Shared  Technologies:  (i)  the  current  plans  and  related  trust  documents,
including amendments thereto, (ii) any current summary plan descriptions,  (iii)
the most recent Forms 5500,  financial  statements  and  actuarial  reports,  if
applicable,  (iv) the most recent IRS determination  letter, if applicable;  and
(v) if any application for an IRS determination letter is pending, copies of all
such  applications  for  determination   including  attachments,   exhibits  and
schedules thereto.

                  (m)  Neither   Fairchild,   any  of  its   subsidiaries,   any
organization to which Fairchild is a successor or parent corporation, within the
meaning  of Section  4069(b) of ERISA,  nor any of their  ERISA  Affiliates  has
engaged in any transaction,  within the meaning of Section 4069(a) of ERISA, the
liability for which would,  individually  or in the aggregate,  have a Fairchild
Material Adverse Effect.

                  (n)  Except as  disclosed  in Section  6.20 of the  Disclosure
Statement,  none of the Welfare  Plans  maintained  by  Fairchild  or any of its
subsidiaries  are retiree life or retiree health  insurance  plans which provide
for continuing  benefits or coverage for any participant or any beneficiary of a
participant following termination of employment, except as may be required under
the  Consolidated  Omnibus  Budget   Reconciliation  Act  of  1985,  as  amended
("COBRA"),  or except at the  expense of the  participant  or the  participant's
beneficiary.  Fairchild  and each of its  subsidiaries  which  maintain a "group
health plan" within the meaning of Section  5000(b)(1) of the Code have complied
with the  notice and  continuation  requirements  of Section  4980B of the Code,
COBRA,  Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA and the



regulations   thereunder   except   where  the  failure  to  comply  would  not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Fairchild Material Adverse Effect.

                  (o) No liability under any Pension Benefit or Welfare Plan has
been funded nor has any such  obligation  been  satisfied with the purchase of a
contract  from  an  insurance  company  as to  which  Fairchild  or  any  of its
subsidiaries   has   received   notice  that  such   insurance   company  is  in
rehabilitation.

                  (p) Except  pursuant to the agreements  listed in Section 6.20
of the Disclosure Statement,  the consummation of the transactions  contemplated
by this Agreement  will not result in an increase in the amount of  compensation
or benefits or  accelerate  the vesting or timing of payment of any  benefits or
compensation payable to or in respect of any employee of Fairchild or any of its
subsidiaries.

                  (q) Fairchild has disclosed to Shared  Technologies in Section
6.20 of the Disclosure  Statement  each material  Foreign Plan to the extent the
benefits  provided  thereunder  are not  mandated by the laws of the  applicable
foreign  jurisdiction.  Fairchild and each of its  subsidiaries  and each of the
Foreign  Plans  are  in  compliance   with  applicable  laws  and  all  required
contributions  have been made to the Foreign Plans,  except where the failure to
comply or make contributions would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Fairchild  Material Adverse Effect. For purposes hereof, the term "Foreign Plan"
shall mean any plan with respect to benefits  voluntarily  provided by Fairchild
or any subsidiary with respect to employees of any of them employed  outside the
United States.

                  6.21     Environmental Matters.

                    (a) Except as set forth in  Section  6.21 of the  Disclosure
Statement:

                    (i)  each  of  Fairchild  and  its  subsidiaries,   and  the
         properties  and assets  owned by them,  and to the actual  knowledge of
         Fairchild,  all  properties  operated,   leased,  managed  or  used  by
         Fairchild and its  subsidiaries  are in compliance  with all applicable
         Environmental  Laws except where the failure to be in compliance  would
         not,  individually  or in  the  aggregate,  have a  Fairchild  Material
         Adverse Effect;


                   (ii) there is no  Environmental  Claim that is (1) pending or
         threatened  against Fairchild or any of its subsidiaries or (2) pending
         or  threatened  against  any  person or entity or any  assets  owned by
         Fairchild or its  subsidiaries  whose liability for such  Environmental
         Claim  has been  retained  or  assumed  by  contract  or  otherwise  by
         Fairchild or any of its subsidiaries or can be imputed or attributed by
         law to Fairchild or any of its subsidiaries, the effect of any of which
         would,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  have a Fairchild  Material
         Adverse Effect;

                  (iii)  there  are no  past  or  present  actions,  activities,
         circumstances,  conditions,  events or incidents  arising out of, based
         upon, resulting from or relating to the ownership,  operation or use of
         any property or assets currently or formerly owned, operated or used by
         Fairchild or any of its subsidiaries (or any predecessor in interest of
         any of them), including,  without limitation, the generation,  storage,
         treatment  or  transportation  of  any  Hazardous  Materials,   or  the
         emission, discharge, disposal or other Release or threatened Release of
         any  Hazardous  Materials  into  the  Environment  which  is  presently
         expected to result in an Environmental Claim;

                   (iv) no lien has been recorded  under any  Environmental  Law
         with  respect to any  material  property,  facility  or asset  owned by
         Fairchild or any of its  subsidiaries,  and to the actual  knowledge of
         Fairchild,  no lien has been recorded under any  Environmental Law with
         respect to any material property,  facility or asset, operated,  leased
         or managed or used by Fairchild or its  subsidiaries and relating to or
         resulting  from  Fairchild  or  its  subsidiaries  operations,   lease,
         management  or use  for  which  Fairchild  or its  subsidiaries  may be
         legally responsible;

                    (v)  neither  Fairchild  nor  any  of its  subsidiaries  has
         received   notice  that  it  has  been   identified  as  a  potentially
         responsible   party  or  any   request   for   information   under  the
         Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of
         1980, as amended  ("CERCLA"),  the Resource  Conservation  and Recovery
         Act, as amended ("RCRA"), or any comparable state law nor has Fairchild
         or any of its subsidiaries received any notification that any Hazardous



         Materials that it or any of their  respective  predecessors in interest
         has used, generated,  stored, treated, handled, transported or disposed
         of, or arranged for transport for treatment or disposal of, or arranged
         for disposal or  treatment  of, has been found at any site at which any
         person is  conducting  or plans to  conduct an  investigation  or other
         action pursuant to any Environmental Law;

                   (vi) to the actual knowledge of Fairchild,  there has been no
         Release of Hazardous  Materials at, on, upon,  under,  from or into any
         real  property in the  vicinity of any  property  currently or formerly
         owned by Fairchild or any of its subsidiaries  that, through soil, air,
         surface water or  groundwater  migration or  contamination,  has become
         located on, in or under such properties and, to the actual knowledge of
         Fairchild,  there has been no release of  Hazardous  Materials  at, on,
         upon,  under or from  any  property  currently  or  formerly  operated,
         leased,  managed or used by Fairchild or any of its  subsidiaries  that
         through  soil,   air,   surface  water  or  groundwater   migration  or
         contamination  has become  located on, in or under such  properties  as
         resulting  from or relating  to  Fairchild  or any of its  subsidiaries
         operations, lease, management or use thereof of for which Fairchild and
         any of its subsidiaries may be legally responsible;

                  (vii) no  asbestos  or  asbestos  containing  material  or any
         polychlorinated  biphenyls  are  contained  within  products  presently
         manufactured  and, to the best knowledge of Fairchild  manufactured  at
         any time by  Fairchild  or any of its  subsidiaries  and, to the actual
         knowledge  of  Fairchild  there is no asbestos  or asbestos  containing
         material or any  polychlorinated  biphenyl in, on or at any property or
         any facility or equipment owned,  operated,  leased, managed or used by
         Fairchild or any of its subsidiaries;

                 (viii)  no  property   owned  by   Fairchild   or  any  of  its
         subsidiaries  and to the actual  knowledge  of  Fairchild,  no property
         operated,  leased,  managed  or  used  by  Fairchild  and  any  of  its
         subsidiaries  is (i) listed or  proposed  for  listing on the  National
         Priorities  List  under  CERCLA  or (ii)  listed  in the  Comprehensive
         Environmental Response, Compensation, Liability Information System List
         promulgated  pursuant to CERCLA, or on any comparable list published by
         any governmental authority;




                   (ix) no underground storage tank or related piping is located
         at,  under  or on  any  property  owned  by  Fairchild  or  any  of its
         subsidiaries  or, to the actual  knowledge of  Fairchild,  any property
         operated,  leased,  managed  or  used  by  Fairchild  and  any  of  its
         subsidiaries,  nor, to the actual knowledge of Fairchild,  has any such
         tank or piping been removed or decommissioned from or at such property;

                    (x)  all  environmental  investigations,   studies,  audits,
         assessments  or  reviews   conducted  of  which  Fairchild  has  actual
         knowledge in relation to the current or prior business or assets owned,
         operated,   leased   managed  or  used  by  Fairchild  or  any  of  its
         subsidiaries or any real property, assets or facility now or previously
         owned  operated,  managed,  leased or used by  Fairchild  or any of its
         subsidiaries have been delivered to Shared Technologies; and

                   (xi) each of Fairchild and its  subsidiaries has obtained all
         permits, licenses and other authorizations  ("Authorizations") required
         under any Environmental Law with respect to the operation of its assets
         and business and its use, ownership and operation of any real property,
         and each such Authorization is in full force and effect.

                    (b)       For purposes of Section 6.21(a):

                   (i)  "Actual   Knowledge  of  Fairchild"   means  the  actual
         knowledge of individuals at the corporate management level of Fairchild
         and its subsidiaries.

                   (ii)  "Environment"  means any surface  water,  ground water,
         drinking water supply,  land surface or subsurface strata,  ambient air
         and including, without limitation, any indoor location;

                   (iii) "Environmental  Claim" means any notice or claim by any
         person alleging potential  liability  (including,  without  limitation,
         potential   liability   for   investigatory   costs,   cleanup   costs,
         governmental  costs,  or  harm,  injuries  or  damages  to any  person,
         property or natural resources,  and any fines or penalties) arising out
         of,  based  upon,  resulting  from or  relating  to (1)  the  emission,
         discharge,  disposal or other release or threatened  release in or into
         the Environment of any Hazardous Materials or



         (2) circumstances  forming  the  basis  of any  violation,  or  alleged
          violation,  of any applicable Environmental Law;

                   (iv) "Environmental Laws" means all federal,  state and local
         laws,  codes and regulations  relating to pollution,  the protection of
         human  health,  the  protection  of the  Environment  or the  emission,
         discharge, disposal or other release or threatened release of Hazardous
         Materials in or into the Environment;

                   (v) "Hazardous  Materials" means pollutants,  contaminants or
         chemical,  industrial,  hazardous  or toxic  materials  or wastes,  and
         includes,   without   limitation,   asbestos   or   asbestos-containing
         materials,  PCBs  and  petroleum,  oil or  petroleum  or oil  products,
         derivatives or constituents; and

                   (vi) "Release" means any past or present  spilling,  leaking,
         pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping,
         leaching,   dumping  or  disposing  of  Hazardous  Materials  into  the
         Environment  or  within   structures   (including  the  abandonment  or
         discarding  of  barrels,   containers   or  other  closed   receptacles
         containing any Hazardous Materials).

                  6.22 Disclosure.  No  representation  or warranty by Fairchild
herein,  or in any certificate  furnished by or on behalf of Fairchild to Shared
Technologies  in  connection  herewith,  contains  or will  contain  any  untrue
statement  of a  material  fact or omits or will omit to state a  material  fact
necessary  in order to make the  statements  herein or therein,  in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

                  6.23 Absence of Undisclosed  Liabilities.  Except as set forth
in Section 6.9 of the  Disclosure  Statement,  neither  Fairchild nor any of its
subsidiaries has any liabilities or obligations of any nature, whether absolute,
accrued, unmatured, contingent or otherwise, or any unsatisfied judgments or any
leases of personalty or realty or unusual or extraordinary  commitments,  except
the liabilities  recorded on the Balance Sheet and the notes thereto, and except
for  liabilities or obligations  incurred in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with past practice since June 30, 1995 that would not individually or
in the aggregate have a Fairchild Material Adverse Effect.




                  6.24  Finders or Brokers.  Except as set forth in Section 6.24
of the Disclosure Statement,  none of Fairchild,  the subsidiaries of Fairchild,
the Board of Directors or any member of the Board of Directors  has employed any
investment  banker,  broker,  finder  or  intermediary  in  connection  with the
transactions  contemplated  hereby  who  might  be  entitled  to a  fee  or  any
commission in connection with of the Merger,  and Section 6.24 of the Disclosure
Statement sets forth the maximum consideration (present and future) agreed to be
paid to each such party.


                                   ARTICLE VII

                      CONDUCT OF BUSINESS OF FAIRCHILD AND
                     SHARED TECHNOLOGIES PENDING THE MERGER

                  7.1 Conduct of Business of Fairchild  and Shared  Technologies
Pending the Merger.  Except as  contemplated  by this  Agreement or as expressly
agreed to in writing by  Fairchild  and Shared  Technologies,  during the period
from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, each of Fairchild and its
subsidiaries and Shared  Technologies  and its  subsidiaries  will conduct their
respective  operations  according to its ordinary course of business  consistent
with past practice, and will use all commercially reasonable efforts to preserve
intact its business organization, to keep available the services of its officers
and  employees  and  to  maintain  satisfactory  relationships  with  suppliers,
distributors,  customers and others having  business  relationships  with it and
will take no action which would  materially  adversely affect the ability of the
parties to consummate the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement.  Without
limiting the  generality  of the  foregoing,  and except as otherwise  expressly
provided in this Agreement,  prior to the Effective Time,  neither Fairchild nor
Shared   Technologies  will  nor  will  they  permit  any  of  their  respective
subsidiaries to, without the prior written consent of the other party:

                   (a) amend its certificate of incorporation or by-laws, except
         Shared  Technologies  may amend its  certificate of  incorporation  and
         bylaws as required by the terms of this Agreement;

                  (b) authorize for issuance,  issue, sell,  deliver,  grant any
         options for, or otherwise agree or commit to



         issue,  sell or deliver any shares of any class of its capital stock or
         any  securities  convertible  into  shares of any class of its  capital
         stock,  except  (i)  pursuant  to and in  accordance  with the terms of
         currently outstanding convertible securities, warrants and options, and
         (ii)   options   granted   under  the  Stock  Option  Plans  of  Shared
         Technologies,  in the ordinary course of business  consistent with past
         practice;

                  (c) split,  combine or  reclassify  any shares of its  capital
         stock,  declare,  set aside or pay any  dividend or other  distribution
         (whether  in cash,  stock or property  or any  combination  thereof) in
         respect of its capital stock or purchase,  redeem or otherwise  acquire
         any  shares  of its own  capital  stock or of any of its  subsidiaries,
         except as otherwise  expressly  provided in this Agreement  (including,
         without limitation,  Section 6.7(b)) and except for the distribution of
         the shares of Shared Technologies  Cellular Inc. to the shareholders of
         Shared Technologies;

                  (d) except in the ordinary course of business, consistent with
         past practice (i) create,  incur,  assume,  maintain or permit to exist
         any long-term debt or any short-term debt for borrowed money other than
         under  existing  lines of credit;  (ii) assume,  guarantee,  endorse or
         otherwise become liable or responsible (whether directly,  contingently
         or otherwise) for the obligations of any other person except its wholly
         owned  subsidiaries  in the ordinary  course of business and consistent
         with past  practices;  or (iii)  make any  loans,  advances  or capital
         contributions to, or investments in, any other person;

                  (e)  except  as  otherwise  expressly   contemplated  by  this
         Agreement  (including  without limitation as set forth in Schedule 6.17
         to the  Disclosure  Statement)  or in the ordinary  course of business,
         consistent  with  past  practice,   (i)  increase  in  any  manner  the
         compensation of any of its directors, officers or other employees; (ii)
         pay or agree to pay any pension, retirement allowance or other employee
         benefit  not  required,  or  enter  into or  agree  to  enter  into any
         agreement  or  arrangement  with such  director,  officer or  employee,
         whether  past or  present,  relating  to any such  pension,  retirement
         allowance or other employee benefit, except as required under currently
         existing agreements,  plans or arrangements;  (iii) grant any severance
         or



         termination pay to, or enter into any employment or severance agreement
         with, any of its directors, officers or other employees; or (iv) except
         as may be required  to comply with  applicable  law,  become  obligated
         (other  than  pursuant  to any  new or  renewed  collective  bargaining
         agreement)  under any new pension  plan,  welfare  plan,  multiemployer
         plan,  employee benefit plan, benefit  arrangement,  or similar plan or
         arrangement,  which was not in existence on the date hereof,  including
         any bonus,  incentive,  deferred  compensation,  stock purchase,  stock
         option,  stock  appreciation  right,  group  insurance,  severance pay,
         retirement  or  other  benefit  plan,  agreement  or  arrangement,   or
         employment  or  consulting  agreement  with or for the  benefit  of any
         person,  or  amend  any of  such  plans  or any of such  agreements  in
         existence on the date hereof;

                  (f)  except  as  otherwise  expressly   contemplated  by  this
         Agreement,  enter into any other agreements,  commitments or contracts,
         except agreements,  commitments or contracts for the purchase,  sale or
         lease  of  goods  or  services  in the  ordinary  course  of  business,
         consistent with past practice;

                  (g) except in the ordinary course of business, consistent with
         past  practice,  or  as  contemplated  by  this  Agreement,  authorize,
         recommend, propose or announce an intention to authorize,  recommend or
         propose,  or enter into any agreement in principle or an agreement with
         respect to, any plan of liquidation or dissolution,  any acquisition of
         a material amount of assets or securities,  any sale, transfer,  lease,
         license,  pledge,  mortgage,  or other  disposition or encumbrance of a
         material  amount of assets or securities or any material  change in its
         capitalization,  or any entry into a material contract or any amendment
         or   modification   of  any   material   contract  or  any  release  or
         relinquishment of any material contract rights; or

                  (h)      agree to do any of the foregoing.


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                            COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS

                  8.1      Approval of Stockholders; SEC and Other Filings.




                  (a) Shared  Technologies  shall cause a special meeting of its
stockholders  (the  "Special  Meeting")  to be duly  called  and held as soon as
reasonably  practicable  for the purpose of (i) voting on this  Agreement,  (ii)
authorizing Shared Technologies' Board of Directors,  to the extent permitted by
law,  to make  modifications  of or  amendments  to  this  Agreement  as  Shared
Technologies'  Board of  Directors  deems  proper  without  further  stockholder
approval and (iii) voting on all other actions contemplated hereby which require
the approval of Shared Technologies' stockholders,  including without limitation
any  such  approval  needed  to  amend  Shared   Technologies'   Certificate  of
Incorporation  and Bylaws as required  by this  Agreement.  Shared  Technologies
shall comply with all  applicable  legal  requirements  in  connection  with the
Special Meeting.

                  (b) Shared  Technologies  and Fairchild  shall  cooperate with
each other and use their best  efforts to file with the SEC or other  applicable
regulatory or governmental agency or authority,  as the case may be, as promptly
as practicable  the Proxy Statement and the Other  Documents.  The parties shall
use  their  best  efforts  to have the  Proxy  Statement  cleared  by the SEC as
promptly as practicable  after filing and, as promptly as practicable  after the
Proxy  Statement  has been so  cleared,  shall mail the Proxy  Statement  to the
stockholders  of  Shared  Technologies  as of the  record  date for the  Special
Meeting.  Subject to the fiduciary  obligations of Shared Technologies' Board of
Directors under applicable law as advised by Gadsby & Hannah or other nationally
recognized counsel,  the Proxy Statement shall contain the recommendation of the
Board in favor of the Merger and for approval and adoption of this Agreement. In
addition  to the  irrevocable  proxy  received  from  a  stockholder  of  Shared
Technologies  prior to the date hereof,  Shared  Technologies shall use its best
efforts to solicit from stockholders of Shared Technologies  proxies or consents
in favor of such  approval  and to take all other  action  necessary  or, in the
reasonable  judgment of  Fairchild,  helpful to secure the vote of  stockholders
required by law to effect the Merger.  Shared  Technologies  and Fairchild  each
shall use its best efforts to obtain and furnish the information  required to be
included in the Proxy Statement and any Other Document, and Shared Technologies,
after  consultation  with  Fairchild,  shall use its best  efforts to respond as
promptly as is  reasonably  practicable  to any comments  made by the SEC or any
other applicable  regulatory or governmental agency or authority with respect to
any of the foregoing (or any preliminary  version thereof).  Shared



Technologies  will promptly  notify  Fairchild of the receipt of the comments of
the SEC or any other applicable  regulatory or governmental agency or authority,
as the case may be, and of any request by any of the foregoing for amendments or
supplements to the Proxy Statement or any Other Document, as the case may be, or
for  additional  information,  and will  supply  Fairchild  with  copies  of all
correspondence  between Shared Technologies and its representatives,  on the one
hand, and the SEC, any other  applicable  regulatory or  governmental  agency or
authority  or the  members  of the staff of any of the  foregoing,  on the other
hand, with respect to the Proxy Statement or any Other Document, as the case may
be. If at any time prior to the Special  Meeting any event should occur relating
to Shared  Technologies  or any of its  subsidiaries  or Fairchild or any of its
affiliates or associates,  or relating to the Financing (as hereinafter defined)
which  should be set forth in an  amendment  of or a  supplement  to,  the Proxy
Statement  or any Other  Document,  Shared  Technologies  will  promptly  inform
Fairchild or Fairchild will promptly inform Shared Technologies, as the case may
be. Whenever any event occurs which should be set forth in an amendment of, or a
supplement to, the Proxy  Statement or any Other  Document,  as the case may be,
Fairchild and Shared  Technologies  will upon learning of such event,  cooperate
and promptly prepare, file and mail such amendment or supplement.

                  (c)  Fairchild  shall  use its best  efforts  to file with and
obtain from the Internal  Revenue  Service a favorable  ruling to the effect set
forth in  Schedule  9.2(d)  hereto.  Fairchild  and  Shared  Technologies  shall
cooperate  with each other and use their best  efforts to effect a tender  offer
and consent  solicitation  for the  outstanding 12 1/4% Senior Notes due 1999 of
Fairchild and, if the Merger is  consummated,  to retire all such Notes tendered
in such offer.

                  8.2      Additional Agreements; Cooperation.

                  (a) Subject to the terms and conditions herein provided,  each
of the parties  hereto  agrees to use its best  efforts to take,  or cause to be
taken, all action and to do, or cause to be done, all things  necessary,  proper
or advisable to consummate  and make  effective as promptly as  practicable  the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and to cooperate with each other in
connection  with the foregoing,  including  using its best efforts (i) to obtain
all  necessary  waivers,  consents  and  approvals  from  other  parties to loan
agreements, leases and



other contracts that are specified on Schedule 8.2 to the Disclosure  Statement,
(ii) to obtain all  necessary  consents,  approvals  and  authorizations  as are
required to be obtained under any federal,  state or foreign law or regulations,
(iii) to  defend  all  lawsuits  or other  legal  proceedings  challenging  this
Agreement or the consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby, (iv) to
lift or rescind any  injunction or  restraining  order or other order  adversely
affecting the ability of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby, (v) to effect all necessary  registrations and filings,  including,  but
not  limited  to,  filings  under the HSR Act and any  pre-merger  notifications
required in any other country, if any, and submissions of information  requested
by  governmental  authorities,  (vi) provide all necessary  information  for the
Proxy  Statement  and (vii) to fulfill  all  conditions  to this  Agreement.  In
addition,  Fairchild  agrees to use its best efforts (subject to compliance with
all applicable  securities laws) to solicit and receive the irrevocable  proxies
from shareholders of Shared Technologies contemplated by Section 10.1(b). Shared
Technologies  agrees to use its best  efforts to cause the  distribution  to its
shareholders  of all shares of capital  stock of Shared  Technologies  Cellular,
Inc. ("STCI") owned by Shared  Technologies and its subsidiaries to be completed
prior to the Effective  Time and, prior to such  distribution  to cause STCI, to
enter into an agreement preventing STCI from competing in the telecommunications
systems and service business.

                  (b) Shared  Technologies  will supply Fairchild with copies of
all  correspondence,  filings or communications  (or memoranda setting forth the
substance thereof) between Shared  Technologies or its  representatives,  on the
one hand, and the Federal Trade Commission, the Antitrust Division of the United
States  Department of Justice,  the SEC and any other regulatory or governmental
agency or authority or members of their  respective  staffs,  on the other hand,
with  respect  to  this  Agreement,   the  Merger  and  the  other  transactions
contemplated  hereby.  Each of the parties hereto agrees to furnish to the other
party hereto such necessary  information and reasonable assistance as such other
party may request in connection  with its  preparation  of necessary  filings or
submissions to any regulatory or  governmental  agency or authority,  including,
without limitation,  any filing necessary under the provisions of the HSR Act or
any other applicable Federal or state statute.




                  (c) Fairchild will supply Shared  Technologies  with copies of
all  correspondence,  filings or communications  (or memoranda setting forth the
substance  thereof) between Fairchild or its  representatives,  on the one hand,
and the Federal Trade  Commission,  the Antitrust  Division of the United States
Department of Justice, the SEC or any other regulatory or governmental agency or
authority or members of their respective staffs, on the other hand, with respect
to this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby.

                  8.3  Publicity.  Shared  Technologies  and Fairchild  agree to
consult  with each other in issuing any press  release  and with  respect to the
general  content of other public  statements  with  respect to the  transactions
contemplated  hereby,  and shall not issue any such press  release prior to such
consultation, except as may be required by law.

                  8.4      No Solicitation.

                  (a) Each of Shared  Technologies  and  Fairchild  agrees that,
prior to the Effective Time, it shall not, and shall not authorize or permit any
of its  subsidiaries  or any of its or its  subsidiaries'  directors,  officers,
employees,  agents or  representatives  to,  directly  or  indirectly,  solicit,
initiate,  facilitate or encourage (including by way of furnishing or disclosing
non-public information) any inquiries or the making of any proposal with respect
to any merger,  consolidation  or other business  combination  involving  Shared
Technologies or its subsidiaries or Fairchild or its subsidiaries or acquisition
of any kind of all or substantially all of the assets or capital stock of Shared
Technologies  and  its  subsidiaries  taken  as a  whole  or  Fairchild  and its
subsidiaries  taken as a whole  (an  "Acquisition  Transaction")  or  negotiate,
explore or  otherwise  communicate  in any way with any third party  (other than
Shared  Technologies  or  Fairchild,  as the case may be)  with  respect  to any
Acquisition   Transaction   or  enter  into  any   agreement,   arrangement   or
understanding  requiring  it to abandon,  terminate  or fail to  consummate  the
Merger or any other transactions  contemplated by this Agreement;  provided that
Shared  Technologies  or Fairchild  may, in response to an  unsolicited  written
proposal with respect to an Acquisition  Transaction from a financially  capable
third  party that  contains  no  financing  condition,  (i)  furnish or disclose
non-public  information  to such  third  party and (ii)  negotiate,  explore  or
otherwise  communicate  with such third party, in each case only if the Board of
Directors  of



such party determines in good faith by a majority vote, after  consultation with
its legal and financial  advisors,  and after receipt of the written  opinion of
outside  legal  counsel  of such party that  failing to take such  action  would
constitute a breach of the  fiduciary  duties of such Board of  Directors,  that
taking such action is reasonably  likely to lead to an  Acquisition  Transaction
that is more  favorable  to the  stockholders  of such party than the Merger and
that  failing  to take such  action  would  constitute  a breach of the  Board's
fiduciary duties.

                  (b)  Each  of  Shared   Technologies   and   Fairchild   shall
immediately  advise  the other in writing of the  receipt  of any  inquiries  or
proposals relating to an Acquisition  Transaction and any actions taken pursuant
to Section 8.4(a).


                  8.5      Access to Information.

                  (a) From the date of this Agreement  until the Effective Time,
each of Shared  Technologies  and  Fairchild  will give the other  party and its
authorized   representatives   (including   counsel,   environmental  and  other
consultants,  accountants and auditors) full access during normal business hours
to all  facilities,  personnel and operations and to all books and records of it
and its subsidiaries, will permit the other party to make such inspections as it
may reasonably require and will cause its officers and those of its subsidiaries
to furnish  the other party with such  financial  and  operating  data and other
information  with respect to its business and  properties as such party may from
time to time reasonably request.

                  (b) Each of the  parties  hereto  will hold and will cause its
consultants  and  advisors  to  hold  in  strict  confidence   pursuant  to  the
Confidentiality   Agreement   dated   October  1995  between  the  parties  (the
"Confidentiality  Agreement")  all  documents and  information  furnished to the
other in connection with the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement as if
each such  consultant or advisor was a party thereto,  and the provisions of the
Confidentiality  Agreement  shall survive any  termination of this Agreement but
will be extinguished at the Effective Time if the Merger occurs.

                  8.6   Financing.   Fairchild   will   cooperate   with  Shared
Technologies to assist Shared  Technologies in obtaining the financing  required
for Shared  Technologies to effect the Merger



(including the funds necessary to repay the indebtedness  referred to on Exhibit
9.1 and to pay the  amounts  owing to the  holders  of the Series A and Series C
Preferred  Stock) (the  "Financing").  Immediately  prior to the Effective Time,
Fairchild will certify the aggregate  amount of accrued and unpaid  dividends on
the Series A Preferred  Stock and Series C Preferred  Stock to be paid by Shared
Technologies pursuant to the Merger.

                  8.7  Notification of Certain Matters.  Shared  Technologies or
Fairchild,  as the case  may be,  shall  promptly  notify  the  other of (i) its
obtaining of actual knowledge as to the matters set forth in clauses (x) and (y)
below,  or (ii)  the  occurrence,  or  failure  to  occur,  of any  event  which
occurrence  or failure to occur would be likely to cause (x) any  representation
or  warranty  contained  in this  Agreement  to be untrue or  inaccurate  in any
material  respect at any time from the date hereof to the Effective Time, or (y)
any material failure of Shared Technologies or Fairchild, as the case may be, or
of any officer,  director,  employee or agent thereof, to comply with or satisfy
any  covenant,  condition or  agreement  to be complied  with or satisfied by it
under this Agreement;  provided, however, that no such notification shall affect
the  representations  or  warranties  of the  parties or the  conditions  to the
obligations of the parties hereunder.

                  8.8 Board of  Directors  of Shared  Technologies.  The  Shared
Technologies  Board of  Directors  shall  take such  corporate  action as may be
necessary to cause the directors  comprising its full board to be changed at the
Effective Time to include,  subject to the requisite vote of the shareholders of
Shared  Technologies,  immediately  after the  Effective  Time on the  Surviving
Corporation   Board  of  Directors  the  persons   specified   pursuant  to  the
Shareholders Agreement.

                  8.9      Indemnification.

                  (a) The Surviving Corporation shall indemnify, defend and hold
harmless the present and former  officers,  directors,  employees  and agents of
Fairchild and its subsidiaries against all losses, claims, damages,  expenses or
liabilities  arising out of actions or omissions or alleged actions or omissions
occurring at or prior to the  Effective  Time to the same extent and on the same
terms and  conditions  (including  with  respect  to  advancement  of  expenses)
provided  for in  Fairchild's  Certificate  of  Incorporation  and  By-Laws  and
agreements  in  effect  at the  date



hereof  (to the extent  consistent  with  applicable  law);  provided  that such
actions or omissions or alleged actions or omissions are exclusively  related to
the business of the Fairchild  Communications  Services Company;  and, provided,
further,  that in no  event  will  this  indemnity  extend  to the  transactions
effected pursuant to this Agreement,  including but not limited to the Fairchild
Reorganization.

                  (b) The  provisions of this Section 8.9 are intended to be for
the benefit of and shall be enforceable by each indemnified party hereunder, his
or her heirs and his or her representatives.

                  8.10     Fees and Expenses.

                  (a) Except as set forth in Section 8.10(b),  in the event this
Agreement is  terminated,  Shared  Technologies  and Fairchild  shall bear their
respective expenses incurred in connection with the Merger,  including,  without
limitation, the preparation, execution and performance of this Agreement and the
transactions  contemplated  hereby,  and all fees  and  expenses  of  investment
bankers,  finders,  brokers, agents,  representatives,  counsel and accountants,
except that the fees and expenses of CS First Boston shall be shared  equally by
Shared  Technologies  and Fairchild.  If the Merger  occurs,  then the Surviving
Corporation  shall be  responsible,  and  reimburse  Fairchild,  for all of such
expenses  incurred by Shared  Technologies  and Fairchild in connection with the
Merger  (but  Fairchild's   expenses  shall  only  be  borne  by  the  Surviving
Corporation to the extent set forth in Schedule 8.10).

                  (b) If  this  Agreement  is  terminated  pursuant  to  Section
10.1(d),  (e) or (h), then Shared  Technologies shall promptly,  but in no event
later  than the next  business  day  after  the  date of such  termination,  pay
Fairchild,  in immediately  available  funds, the amount of any and all fees and
expenses incurred by Fairchild (including, but not limited to, fees and expenses
of  Fairchild's  counsel,  investment  banking  fees and  expenses  and printing
expenses)  in  connection  with  this  Agreement,   the  Merger  and  the  other
transactions  contemplated  hereby  and, in  addition,  if such  termination  is
pursuant  to  Section  10.1(h),  a fee  of  $5,000,000.  If  this  Agreement  is
terminated  pursuant to Section  10.1(f) or (i) or  pursuant to Section  10.1(c)
solely due to the  failure of  Fairchild  to satisfy  the  condition  in Section
9.2(d) or to obtain  tenders and



consents from at least 51% of the outstanding principal amount of Fairchild's 12
1/4% Senior Notes due 1999 as contemplated by Schedule 9.1, then Fairchild shall
promptly,  but in no event  later than the next  business  day after the date of
such termination,  pay Shared Technologies,  in immediately available funds, the
amount  of any and  all  fees  and  expenses  incurred  by  Shared  Technologies
(including,  but not  limited  to,  fees and  expenses  of Shared  Technologies'
counsel,  investment  banking  fees  and  expenses  and  printing  expenses)  in
connection  with  this  Agreement,   the  Merger  and  the  other   transactions
contemplated hereby and in addition,  if such termination is pursuant to Section
10.1(i), a fee of $5,000,000.

                  8.11  Post-Merger  Cooperation.  After the Effective Time, the
Surviving  Corporation  shall  cooperate  with  RHI and  permit  RHI to take all
actions (including without limitation the right to endorse checks and enter into
agreements)  reasonably  required  by RHI to  allow  RHI to  assert  title  (and
prosecute claims against and defend claims brought by third parties), whether in
its own name or in the name of Fairchild, with respect to all assets, claims and
privileges  of  Fairchild  that  were  owned  by  it,  and  defend  against  all
liabilities and claims  attributable to it, in each case,  immediately  prior to
the Fairchild  Reorganization and that did not relate to the  telecommunications
systems and service business.  After the Effective Time, RHI will cooperate with
the  Surviving  Corporation  and permit the  Surviving  Corporation  to take all
actions (including without limitation the right to endorse checks and enter into
agreements)  reasonably  required  by the  Surviving  Corporation  to allow  the
Surviving  Corporation  to assert  title (and  prosecute  claims  against  third
parties)  whether in its own name or in the name of  Fairchild,  with respect to
all assets, claims and privileges of Fairchild's  telecommunications systems and
service business.


                                   ARTICLE IX

                              CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

                  9.1  Conditions  to  Obligations  of Each  Party to Effect the
Merger.  The respective  obligations of each party to effect the Merger shall be
subject to the  fulfillment  or waiver by the Board of  Directors of the waiving
party  (subject to applicable  law) at or prior to the Effective Date of each of
the following conditions:




                  (a) Shared Technologies' shareholders shall have duly approved
         and adopted  the  Merger,  this  Agreement  and any other  transactions
         contemplated  hereby which require the approval of such shareholders by
         law as required by applicable law;

                  (b) any waiting period (and any extension thereof)  applicable
         to the  consummation of the Merger under the HSR Act shall have expired
         or been terminated;

                  (c) no order,  statute,  rule,  regulation,  executive  order,
         injunction,  stay, decree or restraining order shall have been enacted,
         entered, promulgated or enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction
         or  governmental  or  regulatory   authority  or  instrumentality  that
         prohibits  the   consummation   of  the  Merger  or  the   transactions
         contemplated hereby;

                  (d) all necessary  consents and approvals of any United States
         or any other  governmental  authority or any other third party required
         for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
         shall have been  obtained  except for such  consents and  approvals the
         failure to obtain which individually or in the aggregate would not have
         a material adverse effect on the Surviving  Corporation and any waiting
         period  applicable to the  consummation of the Merger under the HSR Act
         shall have expired or been terminated;

                  (e)  each  of the  transactions  set  forth  on  the  attached
         Schedule 9.1 shall have been consummated;

                  (f) the parties  shall have  received  the written  opinion of
         Donaldson,   Lufkin  &  Jenrette  Securities   Corporation  or  another
         investment banking firm of nationally  recognized  standing selected by
         Fairchild that the fair market value of the Preferred Stock is at least
         equal to the positive difference between $47.5 million and the value of
         the  Shared   Technologies  Common  Stock  to  be  received  as  Merger
         Consideration  (based  upon  the  closing  price  thereof  on the  date
         preceding the Effective Time); and




                  (g)  Mel D.  Borer  shall  have  been  offered  an  employment
         agreement  on  terms   satisfactory   to  both   Fairchild  and  Shared
         Technologies.

                  9.2 Additional  Conditions to  Obligations  of Fairchild.  The
obligations  of  Fairchild  to  effect  the  Merger  shall  be  subject  to  the
fulfillment or waiver (subject to applicable  law), at or prior to the Effective
Date, of each of the following conditions:


                  (a) Shared  Technologies  shall have furnished  Fairchild with
         certified  copies of resolutions duly adopted by its Board of Directors
         approving the  execution and delivery of this  Agreement and the Merger
         and all other necessary  corporate action to enable Shared Technologies
         to comply with the terms of this Agreement;

                  (b) Shared  Technologies  shall have  performed or complied in
         all  material  respects  with  all  its  agreements,   obligations  and
         covenants  required by this Agreement to be performed by it on or prior
         to the Effective Date, and Shared  Technologies shall have delivered to
         Fairchild a certificate, dated the Effective Date, of its President and
         its Secretary to such effect;

                  (c) the  representations and warranties of Shared Technologies
         contained herein shall be true and correct in all material  respects on
         the  date of this  Agreement  and the  Effective  Date as  though  such
         representations  and  warranties  were  made at and on such  date,  and
         Shared  Technologies  shall have  delivered to Fairchild a certificate,
         dated the  Effective  Date,  of its President and its Secretary to such
         effect;

                  (d) Fairchild  shall have  received a favorable  ruling of the
         Internal  Revenue  Service to the effect set forth in  Schedule  9.2(d)
         hereto;

                  (e) Shared  Technologies shall have amended its Certificate of
         Incorporation and Bylaws to the extent set forth in Schedule 9.2(e);

                  (f) there shall not have occurred  since December 31, 1994 any
         material adverse change in the business,



         operations, assets, financial condition  or  results of  operations  of
         Shared  Technologies  and its subsidiaries taken as a whole;

                  (g) Shared  Technologies  shall have  executed and delivered a
         registration rights agreement in the form of Exhibit D hereto;

                  (h) Shared  Technologies shall have entered into a Tax Sharing
         Agreement with RHI in the form of Exhibit E hereto; and

                  (i) Shared  Technologies  shall have,  prior to the  Effective
         Time,  completed the  distribution  to its  shareholders  of all of the
         capital stock of Shared  Technologies  Cellular,  Inc.  owned by Shared
         Technologies and Shared Technologies Cellular, Inc. shall have executed
         a  non-competition  agreement  with  Shared  Technologies,  in form and
         substance satisfactory to Fairchild.

                  9.3   Additional   Conditions   to   Obligations   of   Shared
Technologies.  The obligations of Shared Technologies to effect the Merger shall
be subject to the fulfillment or waiver (subject to applicable law), at or prior
to the Effective Date, of each of the following conditions:

                  (a) Each of TFC, RHI and Fairchild shall have furnished Shared
         Technologies  with certified  copies of resolutions duly adopted by its
         Board  of  Directors  approving  the  execution  and  delivery  of this
         Agreement and the Merger and all other  necessary  corporate  action to
         enable Fairchild to comply with the terms of this Agreement;

                  (b) Fairchild shall have performed or complied in all material
         respects with all its agreements, obligations and covenants required by
         this  Agreement to be performed by it on or prior to the Effective Date
         and  Fairchild   shall  have   delivered  to  Shared   Technologies   a
         certificate,  dated  the  Effective  Date,  of its  President  and  its
         Secretary to such effect;

                  (c)  the  representations  and  warranties  of  TFC,  RHI  and
         Fairchild  contained  herein  shall be true and correct in all material
         respects on the date of this Agreement and the Effective Date as though
         such  representations  and warranties



         were made at and on such  date and Fairchild  shall  have  delivered to
         Shared  Technologies a certificate, dated the  Effective  Date,  of its
         President and its Secretary to such effect;

                  (d) there  shall not have  occurred  since  June 30,  1995 any
         material adverse change in the business,  operations, assets, financial
         condition or results of  operations  of Fairchild  and its wholly owned
         subsidiary,  VSI,  taken as a whole (it being  understood  that no such
         material  adverse  change shall be deemed to have occurred with respect
         to Fairchild and VSI, taken as a whole,  if the pro forma  consolidated
         net  worth of  Fairchild,  as  evidenced  by a pro forma  closing  date
         balance sheet to be delivered to Shared  Technologies  on the Effective
         Date, is at least $80,000,000); and

                  (e) RHI, The Fairchild  Corporation,  D-M-E Inc. and Fairchild
         Fasteners Inc. shall have entered into Indemnification  Agreements with
         Shared Technologies in the forms of Exhibits B1-3 hereto; and RHI shall
         have delivered to Shared  Technologies an executed Pledge  Agreement in
         the form of Exhibit C hereto,  as well as the Preferred  Stock required
         to be pledged thereby.


                                    ARTICLE X

                                   TERMINATION

                  10.1     Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated at any
time prior to  the  Effective  Time  whether  before  or  after  approval by the
stockholders of Shared Technologies:

                  (a)  by  mutual  written   consent  of  Fairchild  and  Shared
         Technologies;

                  (b) by Fairchild  if RHI has not  received  within 10 business
         days after the date of this Agreement  irrevocable proxies from holders
         of more  than  50% of  Shared  Technologies  common  stock  (on a fully
         diluted  basis)  agreeing to vote for the Merger;  provided,  that such
         right of termination  must be exercised,  if at all, within 13 business
         days after the date of this Agreement;




                  (c)  by  either  Fairchild  or  Shared   Technologies  if  the
         Effective  Time has not occurred on or prior to January 31, 1996 unless
         the  Merger  has not  occurred  at such  time  solely  by reason of the
         condition set forth in Section  9.2(d) having not yet been satisfied or
         because of the failure of the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  to
         give timely  approval to the proxy  materials  for Shared  Technologies
         shareholders,  in which case  February 28, 1996 or such other date,  if
         any, as Fairchild and Shared  Technologies shall agree upon, unless the
         absence  of such  occurrence  shall be due to the  failure of the party
         seeking to terminate this Agreement (or its subsidiaries or affiliates)
         to perform in all material  respects each of its obligations under this
         Agreement  required to be performed by it at or prior to the  Effective
         Time;

                  (d) by  either  Fairchild  or Shared  Technologies  if, at the
         Special Meeting (including any adjournment  thereof),  the stockholders
         of Shared  Technologies  fail to adopt and approve this Agreement,  the
         Merger  and  any of  the  other  transactions  contemplated  hereby  in
         accordance with Delaware law;

                  (e) by  Fairchild if Shared  Technologies  fails to perform in
         any material respect any of its obligations under this Agreement;

                  (f) by Shared  Technologies  if Fairchild  fails to perform in
         any material respect any of its obligations under this Agreement;

                  (g)  by  Fairchild  or  Shared  Technologies  if  a  court  of
         competent jurisdiction or a governmental,  regulatory or administrative
         agency or commission shall have issued an order,  decree,  or ruling or
         taken any other action, in each case permanently restraining, enjoining
         or  otherwise   prohibiting  the  transactions   contemplated  by  this
         Agreement  and such order,  decree,  ruling or other  action shall have
         become final and nonappealable;

                  (h) by Shared  Technologies  if its Board of  Directors  shall
         have   withdrawn,   modified  or  amended  in  an  adverse  manner  its
         recommendation  of  the  Merger  as a  result  of its  exercise  of its
         fiduciary duties; or




                  (i)  by  Fairchild  if  its  Board  of  Directors  shall  have
         withdrawn,  modified or amended in an adverse manner its recommendation
         of the Merger as a result of its exercise of its fiduciary duties; or

                  (j) by either  Shared  Technologies  or Fairchild if either of
         their  respective Board of Directors  reasonably  determine that market
         conditions will not permit the completion of the Financing contemplated
         by Section 8.6 in a timely manner or on acceptable  terms or it becomes
         obvious that the necessary  marketing  activities or filings  necessary
         for such Financing have not been completed in a timely manner necessary
         to complete the Merger.

                  10.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of
this  Agreement  pursuant to the  foregoing  provisions  of this Article X, this
Agreement shall become void and have no effect, with no liability on the part of
any party or its stockholders or directors or officers in respect thereof except
for  agreements  which survive the  termination of this Agreement and except for
liability  that TFC, RHI,  Fairchild or Shared  Technologies  might have arising
from a breach of this Agreement.


                                   ARTICLE XI

                          SURVIVAL AND INDEMNIFICATION

                  11.1  Survival  of   Representations   and   Warranties.   All
representations  and warranties  made in this  Agreement  shall survive from the
Effective Time until March 31, 1997 and shall not be  extinguished by the Merger
or any investigation made by or on behalf of any party hereto.

                  11.2  Indemnification  by TFC  and  RHI.  Each  of TFC and RHI
hereby  agrees,  jointly and  severally,  to indemnify and hold harmless  Shared
Technologies against any and all losses,  liabilities and damages or actions (or
actions or proceedings,  whether commenced or threatened) or claims  (including,
without  limitation,  counsel  fees and expenses of Shared  Technologies  in the
event that TFC or RHI fail to assume the  defense  thereof)  in respect  thereof
(hereinafter  referred to collectively as "Losses") resulting from any breach of
the  representations  and  warranties  made by  TFC,  RHI or  Fairchild  in this
Agreement;



provided,  however,  that TFC's and RHI's obligations under this Section 11.2 is
to the extent that the Losses exceed $4,000,000.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,
in no event shall Shared  Technologies be entitled to  indemnification  for, and
the term "Losses" shall not include any  consequential  damages or damages which
are speculative,  remote or conjectural  (except to the extent  represented by a
successful claim by a third party).

                  If any  action,  proceeding  or  claim  shall  be  brought  or
asserted  against  Shared   Technologies  by  any  third  party,  which  action,
proceeding  or  claim,  if  determined  adversely  to the  interests  of  Shared
Technologies  would entitle Shared  Technologies  to indemnity  pursuant to this
Agreement, Shared Technologies shall promptly but in no event later than 10 days
from the date  Shared  Technologies  receives  written  notice  of such  action,
proceeding  or claim,  notify TFC and RHI of the same in writing  specifying  in
detail the basis of such claim and the facts pertaining thereto (but the failure
to give  such  notice  in a timely  fashion  shall  not  affect  TFC's and RHI's
obligations  under  this  Section  11.2  except to the extent it  prejudiced  or
damaged their ability to defend,  settle or compromise  such claim or to pay any
Losses  resulting  therefrom),  and TFC and  RHI  shall  be  entitled  (but  not
obligated) to assume the defense thereof by giving written notice thereof within
10 days after TFC and RHI received notice of the claim from Shared  Technologies
to Shared  Technologies  and have the sole  control  of defense  and  settlement
thereof (but only, with respect to any settlement,  if such settlement  involves
an unconditional  release of Shared Technologies and its subsidiaries in respect
of such  claim),  including  the  employment  of counsel  and the payment of all
expenses.

                  11.3   Indemnification   by   Shared   Technologies.    Shared
Technologies  hereby  agrees to indemnify  and hold harmless TFC and RHI against
any  and  all  losses,  liabilities  and  damages  or  actions  (or  actions  or
proceedings,  whether  commenced or  threatened) or claims  (including,  without
limitation,  counsel  fees and  expenses of TFC and RHI in the event that Shared
Technologies fails to assume the defense thereof) in respect thereof hereinafter
referred to as the "Shared  Technologies'  Losses") resulting from the breach of
the   representations  and  warranties  made  by  Shared  Technologies  in  this
Agreement;  provided,  however, that Shared Technologies'  obligation under this
Section  11.3 is to the  extent  that the  Shared  Technologies'  Losses  exceed
$4,000,000.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  in no 



event shall TFC or RHI be entitled to indemnification  for, and the term "Shared
Technologies'  Losses"  shall not include any  consequential  damages or damages
which are speculative,  remote or conjectural  (except to the extent represented
by a successful claim by a third party).

                  Shared Technologies at its option may make any indemnification
pursuant  to this  Section  11.3 in cash or in shares of Common  Stock of Shared
Technologies  having a fair  market  value at the time of  issuance in an amount
equal to the amount of such loss. In the event that Shared  Technologies makes a
payment in cash in fulfillment  of its  obligation  under this Section 11.3, the
term "Shared Technologies' Losses" shall also include the diminution as a result
of such payment in the value of the shares of Common Stock and  Preferred  Stock
as a result of such payment. In the event that Shared Technologies issues Common
Stock in fulfillment of its obligation under this Section 11.3, the term "Shared
Technologies'  Losses"  shall also  include the  diminution  as a result of such
issuance  in the  value of the  shares of Common  Stock and  Preferred  Stock of
Shared Technologies owned by RHI prior to such issuance.

                  If any  action,  proceeding  or  claim  shall  be  brought  or
asserted  against TFC or RHI by any third party,  which  action,  proceeding  or
claim, if determined  adversely to the interests of TFC or RHI would entitle TFC
or RHI to indemnity pursuant to this Agreement,  TFC or RHI shall,  promptly but
in no event later than 10 days from the date TFC or RHI receives  written notice
of such action,  proceeding or claim,  notify Shared Technologies of the same in
writing  specifying  in detail the basis of such claim and the facts  pertaining
thereto  (but the  failure  to give such  notice in a timely  fashion  shall not
affect Shared  Technologies'  obligations  under this Section 11.3 except to the
extent it prejudiced or damaged Shared Technologies'  ability to defend,  settle
or compromise such claim or to pay any Losses resulting  therefrom),  and Shared
Technologies shall be entitled (but not obligated) to assume the defense thereof
by giving  written  notice  thereof  within 10 days  after  Shared  Technologies
received  notice  of the  claim  from TFC or RHI to TFC or RHI and have the sole
control  of defense  and  settlement  thereof  (but  only,  with  respect to any
settlement,  if such settlement involves an unconditional release of TFC and RHI
and their  respective  subsidiaries  in respect of such  claim),  including  the
employment of counsel and the payment of all expenses.




                  11.4  Set-Off.  In the event that  either  TFC,  RHI or Shared
Technologies  fails to make any payment required by Section 11.2 or 11.3 hereof,
the party  entitled  to receive  such  payment  may set off the  amount  thereof
against any other payments owed by it to the party failing to make such payment.


                                   ARTICLE XII

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

                  12.1     Closing and Waiver.

                  (a)  Unless  this  Agreement  shall  have been  terminated  in
accordance with the provisions of Section 10.1 hereof,  a closing (the "Closing"
and the date and time thereof being the "Closing  Date") will be held as soon as
practicable  after the  conditions  set forth in Sections 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3 shall
have been satisfied or waived. The Closing will be held at the offices of Cahill
Gordon & Reindel,  80 Pine Street, New York, New York or at such other places as
the parties may agree. Immediately thereafter, the Certificate of Merger will be
filed.

                  (b) At any time prior to the Effective  Date, any party hereto
may (i) extend the time for the  performance of any of the  obligations or other
acts  of  any  other  party  hereto,   (ii)  waive  any   inaccuracies   in  the
representations  and  warranties of the other party  contained  herein or in any
document  delivered  pursuant hereto, and (iii) waive compliance with any of the
agreements  of any other  party or with any  conditions  to its own  obligations
contained  herein.  Any  agreement  on the  part of a party  hereto  to any such
extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing
duly authorized by and signed on behalf of such party.

                  12.2     Notices.

                  (a) Any notice or  communication  to any party hereto shall be
duly given if in writing and  delivered  in person or mailed by first class mail
(registered or certified, return receipt requested),  facsimile or overnight air
courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to such other party's address.

                  If  to  The  Fairchild  Corporation,  RHI  Holdings,  Inc.  or
Fairchild Industries, Inc.:


                           300 West Service Road
                           P.O. Box 10803
                           Chantilly, VA  22001
                           Facsimile No.:  (703) 888-5674
                           Attention:  Donald Miller, Esq.

                           with a copy to:

                           James J. Clark, Esq.
                           Cahill Gordon & Reindel
                           80 Pine Street
                           New York, NY  10005
                           Facsimile No.:  (212) 269-5420

                  If to Shared Technologies Inc.:

                           100 Great Meadow Road, Suite 104
                           Wethersfield, CT  06109
                           Facsimile No.:  (203) 258-2401
                           Attention:  Legal Department

                           with a copy to:

                           Walter D. Wekstein, Esq.
                           Harold J. Carroll, Esq.
                           Gadsby & Hannah
                           125 Summer Street
                           Boston, MA  02110
                           Facsimile No.:  (617) 345-7050

                  (b) All notices and communications will be deemed to have been
duly  given:  at the time  delivered  by hand,  if  personally  delivered;  five
business days after being  deposited in the mail, if mailed;  when sent, if sent
by facsimile; and the next business day after timely delivery to the courier, if
sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

                  12.3  Counterparts.  This  Agreement may be executed in two or
more counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed an original,  but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument. 

                  12.4  Interpretation.  The  headings of articles  and sections
herein  are for  convenience  of  reference,  do not



constitute a part of this Agreement,  and shall not be deemed to limit or affect
any of the  provisions  hereof.  As used in this  Agreement,  "person" means any
individual,   corporation,   limited  or  general  partnership,  joint  venture,
association,   joint  stock  company,  trust,   unincorporated  organization  or
government or any agency or political  subdivision thereof;  "subsidiary" of any
person means (i) a corporation more than 50% of the outstanding  voting stock of
which is owned,  directly or indirectly,  by such person or by one or more other
subsidiaries  of such  person  or by such  person  and one or more  subsidiaries
thereof  or (ii) any other  person  (other  than a  corporation)  in which  such
person, or one or more other  subsidiaries of such person or such person and one
or more other  subsidiaries  thereof,  directly or  indirectly,  have at least a
majority  ownership and voting power  relating to the policies,  management  and
affairs  thereof;  and "voting  stock" of any person means capital stock of such
person which  ordinarily  has voting  power for the  election of  directors  (or
persons performing  similar  functions) of such person,  whether at all times or
only so long as no senior class of securities has such voting power by reason of
any contingency.

                  12.5 Variations and Amendment. This Agreement may be varied or
amended only by written action of Shared  Technologies and Fairchild,  before or
after the Special Meeting at any time prior to the Effective Time.


                  12.6 No Third Party  Beneficiaries.  Except for the provisions
of  Sections  8.9  (which are  intended  to be for the  benefit  of the  persons
referred to therein,  and may be enforced by such persons) and 8.11,  nothing in
this Agreement  shall confer any rights upon any person or entity which is not a
party or permitted assignee of a party to this Agreement.

                  12.7 Use of Fairchild  Name.  RHI hereby grants a royalty free
license in perpetuity to Shared  Technologies  for the use of the Fairchild name
to Shared  Technologies for exclusive use by Shared Technologies as a trade name
in the  telecommunications  system and  services  business but not for any other
use. In no event may Shared  Technologies  assign the right to use the Fairchild
name to any other person.

                  12.8  Governing  Law.  Except  as the  laws  of the  State  of
Delaware are by their terms applicable, this Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance  with,  the laws of the



State of New York without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.

                  12.9 Entire Agreement.  This Agreement  constitutes the entire
agreement  among the  parties  with  respect to the  subject  matter  hereof and
supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral,
between the parties with  respect to the subject matter hereof.

                  12.10 No Recourse  Against  Others.  No  director,  officer or
employee,  as such, of Shared Technologies,  TFC, RHI or any of their respective
subsidiaries   shall  have  any   liability  for  any   obligations   of  Shared
Technologies, TFC or RHI, respectively, under this Agreement for any claim based
on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation.

                  12.11  Validity.  The  invalidity or  unenforceability  of any
provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or  enforceability  of
any other  provisions  of this  Agreement,  which shall remain in full force and
effect. 



                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Merger
Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized officers all as of the day and
year first above written.

                                                SHARED TECHNOLOGIES INC.

                                                By:  /s/ Anthony D. Autorino
                                                Title:  Chairman of the Board,
                                                        Chief Executive Officer
                                                        and President

                                                FAIRCHILD INDUSTRIES, INC.


                                                By:  /s/ Jeffrey J. Steiner
                                                Title:  Chairman of the Board,
                                                        Chief Executive Officer
                                                        and President

                                                THE FAIRCHILD CORPORATION


                                                 By:  /s/ Jeffrey J. Steiner
                                                 Title:  Chairman of the Board,
                                                         Chief Executive Officer
                                                         and President

                                                 RHI HOLDINGS, INC.


                                                 By:  /s/ Jeffrey J. Steiner
                                                 Title:  Chairman of the Board,
                                                         Chief Executive Officer
                                                         and President



                                  Schedule 9.1


                  The steps  comprising  the Fairchild  Recapitalization  are as
follows:

                  1. Fairchild Industries, Inc., as it exists on the date of the
Merger Agreement ("FII"), will cause Fairchild  Communications Services Company,
a Delaware partnership ("FCSC") to merge into FII's wholly owned subsidiary, VSI
Corporation ("VSI").

                  2. FII will then cause VSI to transfer all of VSI's assets and
liabilities  (other than those of the former FCSC, but excluding from those real
estate owned by FCSC, and other than the Assumed  Indebtedness  described below)
to one or more wholly owned subsidiaries.

                  3. FII (or Shared  Technologies) will make a cash tender offer
to purchase all of the  outstanding  12 1/4% Senior Notes due 1999 (the "12 1/4%
Notes") of FII and, in  connection  therewith,  will  obtain  such  Noteholders'
consent (representing at least 51% of the outstanding principal amount of the 12
1/4%  Notes) to the  transfer by FII of all of the assets of FII (other than the
stock of VSI) to RHI and to amend the  indenture  under  which the 12 1/4% Notes
were issued to remove all covenants  which can be amended or deleted by majority
vote. The aggregate amount needed to be paid to consummate such tender offer and
consent solicitation is herein called the "Note Purchase Amount".

                  4. Prior to the Effective  Time,  FII will transfer (in one or
more  transactions)  all  of  its  assets  to  RHI,  and  RHI  will  assume  all
liabilities,  except  for (i) the stock of VSI  (which  will only have in it the
assets and liabilities of the former FCSC), (ii) the 12 1/4% Senior Notes, (iii)
the  Series A and C  Preferred  Stock  and  (iv) an  amount  of bank  and  other
indebtedness (the "Assumed  Indebtedness")  equal to $223,500,000  minus (x) the
Note Purchase Amount and (y) $44,237,745 (the aggregate  redemption price of the
Series A and C  Preferred  Stock) plus  accrued  dividends  thereon  through the
Effective  Time,  and  RHI  will  contribute  all of the  outstanding  Series  B
Preferred Stock to FII.

                  5.  Concurrently  with the  consummation  of the  Merger,  the
Surviving  Corporation will (i) purchase the 12 1/4% Notes tendered for the Note
Purchase Amount,  (ii) repay the Assumed  Indebtedness in full and (iii) deposit
in escrow the funds



necessary  to pay the holders of the Series A and Series C  Preferred  Stock the
amounts owed to them under the Merger Agreement.



                                 Schedule 9.2(d)

                       TAX RULINGS REQUESTED BY FAIRCHILD


                  Fairchild  requests the following  rulings be issued regarding
the mergers of the three corporate subsidiaries of VSI into VSI:

                  1. The mergers will qualify as a complete  liquidation of each
         of the three corporate  subsidiaries (FCSII, FCSI, and FCNMC, which are
         the partners in FCSC) underss.  332(a) of the Internal  Revenue Code of
         1986, as amended (the "Code");

                  2. No gain or loss will be recognized by VSI on its receipt of
         the  assets  from each of the  three  corporate  subsidiaries  underss.
         332(a);

                  3. No gain or loss will be recognized  by the three  corporate
         subsidiaries on the distribution of their  respective  assets to VSI in
         complete liquidation underss. 336 andss. 337(a).

                  Fairchild   requests  the  following   rulings  regarding  the
formation of Subsidiary 1, the  distribution of the stock of Subsidiary 1 by VSI
to FII, and the distribution of the stock of Subsidiary 1 by FII to RHI:

                  4.  VSI  will  recognize  no gain or loss on its  transfer  of
         assets  (except the  Telecommunications  business)  to  Subsidiary 1 in
         exchange for common stock of Subsidiary 1 and assumption of liabilities
         by  Subsidiary  1  (ss.ss.  351 and  357(a)  of the Code and Rev.  Rul.
         77-449, 1977-2 C.B. 110).

                  VSI's  basis in the  stock of  Subsidiary  1  received  in the
transaction  will  equal  the  basis of the  property  transferred  in  exchange
therefor,  reduced by the sum of the liabilities  assumed by Subsidiary 1, or to
which assets transferred are taken subject (ss. 358(a) and (d)).

                  5. Subsidiary 1 will recognize no gain or loss on its transfer
         of  assets  to  Subsidiaries  2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 in  exchange  for the
         common stock of  Subsidiaries 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 and the assumption of
         liabilities by Subsidiaries 2 to 7 (ss.ss. 351 and 357(a) and Rev. Rul.
         77-449).




                  Subsidiary  1's  basis  in the  stock of  Subsidiaries  2 to 7
received in the transaction will equal the basis of the property  transferred to
Subsidiaries 2 to 7, respectively,  in exchange therefor,  reduced by the sum of
the liabilities  assumed by  Subsidiaries 2 to 7 or to which assets  transferred
are taken subject (ss. 358(a) and (d)).

                  6. No income,  gain or loss will be recognized by Subsidiary 1
         upon the receipt of the assets of Fastener and D-M-E businesses,  stock
         of FDC,  plus  real  estate  held for  sale in  exchange  for  stock of
         Subsidiary  1  and  Subsidiary  1's  assumption  of  liabilities   (ss.
         1032(a)).

                  7. The basis of the assets  received by  Subsidiary  1 will be
         the same as the basis of such  assets  in the hands of VSI  immediately
         prior to the Distribution (ss. 362(b)).

                  8. No income,  gain or loss will be  recognized  by FII as the
         Shareholder  of VSI on its  receipt of the  Subsidiary  1 common  stock
         pursuant to the Distribution (ss. 355(a)).

                  9. No income,  gain or loss will be  recognized  by RHI as the
         Shareholder of FII on its receipt of Subsidiary 1 common stock pursuant
         to the Distribution (ss. 355(a)).

                  10. No income,  gain or loss will be recognized by VSI and FII
         upon the  distributions to their respective  Shareholders of all of the
         Subsidiary 1's common stock pursuant to the Distribution (ss. 355(c)).




                                 Schedule 9.2(e)


                  The   Restated   Certificate   of   Incorporation   of  Shared
Technologies (the "Certificate") shall be amended in the following manner:

                  (a) Article  Four of the  Certificate  shall be amended to (i)
increase the authorized  common shares of the  Corporation,  $.004 par value, to
50,000,000 and (ii) to increase the authorized  shares of preferred stock of the
Corporation, $.01 par value, to 25,000,000; and

                  (b) The  Certificate  shall be  amended  or a  certificate  of
designation  shall be filed to reflect  the terms of the  Convertible  Preferred
Stock and the [Special]  Preferred  Stock in form and substance  satisfactory to
RHI and consistent with Schedules 3.1 (c) and (b) hereof; and

                  The  Amended  and  Restated  Bylaws  of the  Corporation  (the
"Bylaws") shall be amended in the following manner:

                  (a)  Article  II,  Section  11 of the Bylaws is deleted in its
entirety and is replaced by the following paragraph:

                  "No action requiring shareholder approval may be taken without
a meeting of the shareholders entitled to vote thereon."

                  (b) Article  III,  Section 1 of the Bylaws shall be amended to
include the following sentences at the end of such section:

                  "So  long as The  Fairchild  Corporation  and  its  affiliates
(collectively,  "TFC") owns 25% or more of the common  stock of the  Corporation
that TFC owned on the [Date of Merger] TFC shall have the  irrevocable  right to
appoint four (4) members of the Board of  Directors;  provided,  that so long as
Mel D. Borer is President and a Director of the  Corporation,  TFC shall only be
entitled to appoint three (3) directors."

                  "The Board of Directors  may not grant any options for, or any
other  rights to acquire,  common stock of the  Corporation,  except for options
issued pursuant to a plan approved by the  shareholders or in a transaction with
non-affiliates  where such party pays cash for such option or right, unless such
transaction is approved by a majority of the shareholders."




                  (c) Article III,  Section 10 of the Bylaws shall be deleted in
its entirety and replaced with the following paragraph:

                  "Executive   Committee.   The  Board  of   Directors   of  the
Corporation  shall have an executive  committee  consisting of the President,  a
director  appointed  by TFC as long as TFC owns at least 25% of the common stock
of the Corporation that TFC owned on the [Date of Merger],  and a third director
appointed by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. All actions taken by the
Executive  Committee  may  only be taken  pursuant  to a  unanimous  vote by the
members thereof."

                  (d) Article  III,  Sections  11, 12 and 13 shall be amended to
include the following sentence as the second sentence of each such section:

                  "As long as TFC owns at least 25% of the  common  stock of the
Corporation, TFC will be entitled to appoint one director to such committee."

                  (e)  Article  IV,  Section 5 shall be amended  to include  the
following sentence at the end of such section:

                  "The  Corporation  shall have a Vice  Chairman of the Board of
Directors  who  shall  have  such  duties  as are  designated  by the  Board  of
Directors."

                  (f) Article IV, Section 6 shall be deleted in its entirety and
replaced with the following paragraph:

                  "Executive  Officers.   The  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  the
Corporation  shall also be the Chief  Executive  Officer of the  Corporation and
shall  be the  senior  executive  of the  Corporation  and  shall  have  overall
supervision of the affairs of the Corporation.  The President of the Corporation
shall  also be the  Chief  Operating  Officer  of the  Company  and he  shall be
responsible for the day-to-day  business operations of the Corporation under the
direction of the Chief Executive  Officer.  Each of the Chief Executive  Officer
and the  President  shall see that all  orders and  resolutions  of the Board of
Directors of the Corporation are carried into effect,  subject,  however, to the
right of the Board of Directors to delegate any specific  powers,  except as may
be  exclusively  conferred on the President by law, to the Chairman or any other
officer  of the  Corporation.  Each  of



the Chief Executive Officer and the President may execute bonds, mortgages,  and
other contracts requiring a signature under the seal of the Corporation.

                  (g) Article  VIII,  Section 1 shall be deleted in its entirety
and replaced with the following paragraph:

                  "By Directors or  Shareholders.  The bylaws of the Corporation
may be altered,  amended or repealed at any validly called and convened  meeting
of the  shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
voting power of shares  entitled to vote thereon  represented at such meeting in
person or by proxy and at any validly  called and convened  meeting of the board
of directors  by the  affirmative  vote of at least a majority of the  directors
(unless such  alteration,  amendment or repeal in any way adversely  affects the
rights  granted to TFC  hereunder  or in Article II,  Section 11,  Article  III,
Section 10 or Article IV,  Section 6 of these  bylaws,  in which event a vote of
80% of the directors shall be required);  provided,  however, that the notice of
such  meeting  shall  state that such  alteration,  amendment  or repeal will be
proposed."