Star Trek - TNG - 61 - Diplomatic Implausibility

by Keith R. A. DeCandido

  "Computer, call up image of M'Raq, son of K'Ton, from his last Defense Force service record."

  An image of Klag's father appeared before the captain. It was M'Raq as Klag preferred to remember him: tall, broad-shouldered, thick beard, a proud warrior, a commander, first officer on the K'mqar.

  As opposed to the image of M'Raq that Klag would always remember, whether he wanted to or not: stooped over, patchy white beard, dying, old, weak. Broken.

  Fifteen years ago, the K'mqar had gone into battle against the Romulans. M'Raq was captured, and not allowed to die. The Romulans had tortured him, but he did not succumb. Eventually, he escaped and returned home. Since he had not actually given up any intelligence, he was given the opportunity to reclaim his honor by rejoining the Defense Force.

  Instead, he had chosen to return to Qo'nos and live out his days like an invalid old woman. The very idea made Klag ill.

  For over a decade M'Raq had lingered, his body slowly deteriorating, but the old man had refused to take the final step.

  And for over a decade, M'Raq would not say why he chose this. Not that Klag ever really cared much. He had neither visited nor spoken to his father since he was first posted to the Pagh.

  But he knew that his father was supposed to be a great warrior.

  Kargan was supposed to be a good captain.

  Tiral was supposed to be a competent governor.

  Worf was supposed to be qualified to do his job.

  "Toq to Klag."

  "Klag."

  "Sir, Commander Drex is reporting from Governor Tirol's satellite."

  "Put him through."

  "Captain," Drex's voice said, "request permission to return to the Gorkon. think I may have found a way to locate the rebels, but I'll need the ship's sensors to do it."

  "Granted. Meet me and the ambassador in my office," Klag said.

  "Yes, sir. Out."

  "Klagtoworf."

  "Go ahead," came Worf's deep voice a moment later.

  "Report to my office, immediately."

  "Acknowledged."

  Klag was surprised. He had expected the ambassador to at least ask why.

  But no, Worf expects that the ship's captain has a reason for such a summons, and that he will explain it soon enough.

  That annoying voice in the back of Klag's head chose that moment to speak up again: So why don't you give Worf the same courtesy?

  "Computer, remove image and exit."

  The image of Commander M'Raq, great soldier of the empire, disappeared.

  The image of M'Raq, the old man on his deathbed, remained in Klag's mind.

  Worf was already waiting for him as he entered his office. "Drex," Klag said, "has a report regarding the rebels."

  "Good."

  Drex entered a moment later. "Report," Klag and Worf both said simultaneously. Klag glowered at Worf. Worf didn't even return the captain's gaze.

  Handing Worf a padd, Drex said, "I have examined the visual and sensor records made during the attack. I noticed a similarity to something that happened during the war--specifically, on Dralnok." "That is a Cardassian planet," Worf said.

  Drex nodded. "We took the planet, but one Cardassian garrison eluded our patrols for days. The planet had underground tunnels that we were unaware of, and its crust was lined with a previously unknown element that our scanners couldn't penetrate. The pattern of the rebel movements is very close to what the Cardassians did on Dralnok. And tad is similar to Dralnok geologically."

  "You suspect that this element is in tad's crust as well?" Worf asked, looking up from the padd.

  "Possibly. The element was simply given a number. But this planet has prewar sensor equipment."

  Hag nodded. "The Gorkon should be able to detect this new element?"

  "Yes, sir. Any sensor array built after Dralnok was taken, as the Gorkon's was, would be able to."

  "Do it," Klag said, getting up. He, Worf, and Drex adjourned to the bridge.

  "Lieutenant Toq," Drex said as they entered, "adjust the sensors to penetrate Element 604."

  Toq blinked. "Ah, yes, sir."

  "Is something wrong, Lieutenant?"

  "No, sir. I was simply under the impression that there were only six hundred and three elements." "This one is new," Drex said slowly.

  "Yes, sir," Toq said, operating his console.

  The bridge guard let out a bark of laughter, as did several others.

  Klag had to admit to being mildly amused himself. Toq had proven to be an excellent second officer, but he was still quite young.

  "Adjustments made, Commander," Toq said. "Preliminary surface scan indicates that the element is present throughout the planet's crust." "As I suspected," Drex said. "Scan the area around the top aline refinery that was recently attacked."

  "Yes, sir." After several seconds: "Sir, there is a network of tunnels under the refinery that do not match either our previous scans or the geological records of the planet." "Good," Klag said.

  "Do an extensive scan of the entire planet, Lieutenant," Drex said. "I expect a complete report within half an hour."

  "Yes, sir!" Toq said eagerly.

  "Captain, Commander," Worf said, "I will speak with you both."

  "Is there a problem, Ambassador?" Klag asked. "We should be able to locate the rebel base, and then--"

  "I will speak with you both," Worf repeated, more slowly this time, indicating the way to Klag's office with his arm.

  Snarling, Klag moved back to his office, Drex on his heels. Klag was well and truly sick of Worf ordering him around like Like someone in charge of the mission? the back-of his-head voice chimed in.

  Once in the office with the door closed, Worf asked, "Tell me, Captain, what were your plans once Toq locates the rebel base, as he likely will?" Klag almost said, Aid Governor Tirol in crushing the rebels, obviously.

  But that was the wrong answer. After all, if Worf had asked, say, Rodek that question, the gunner would answer that he would obey the orders of his commanding officer. On this mission, at least, that needed to be Klag's answer as well.

  His right arm started to itch again.

  Sitting in the chair behind his desk, he answered Worf's question: "I would advise you to allow me to aid the governor in crushing the rebels."

  Worf nodded. "An understandable recommendation on your part."

  "So those will be your orders?"

  "No."

  "What?" Klag rose from his chair angrily. He was nearly apoplectic.

  "Ambassador, your task is to solve the problem on tad. If you crush the rebels, the problem is solved."

  To Klag's surprise, Drex spoke up. "No, sir, I don't think it will be."

  "What?"

  "Before the reports from the refinery came in, I was looking over the publications that Tiral wanted suppressed. There are a lot of them, from all over the planet."

  "So?"

  "There's more. I looked over the records of the attack. The saboteurs were numerous, and did considerable damage to the refinery, yet no al'Hmatti were seriously injured. Captain, ninety-five percent of the refinery personnel were al'Hmatti. Yet all the casualties and most of the injuries were among the five percent who were Klingon. That cannot be a coincidence."

  Klag nodded. "Unless the rebels had some inside help."

  "Not just some," Worf said. "I have also seen those records. Most of the al'Hmatti in the refinery had to be assisting the rebels in order for the collateral damage to have been as specific as it was."

  "The rebels aren't the problem, Captain, or at least not the only one," Drex said. "The al'Hmatti don't want us here, and the only way to get them in line is to kill them all. And then who will mine the top aline

  "So what do we do, just give them the planet?" Klag said with disdain.

  "That may be an option," Drex said.

  Angrily, Klag rose from his chair. "Might I remind you, Commander, that the chancellor--your father--has made it clear that the planet must remain under Klingon rule?"


  To Klag's surprise, Drex said, "I can speak my own mind, Captain." Worf said, "And I answer to the Federation, not Mar tok. This is my mission, and I will proceed as I see fit. When the rebel base is located, I will beam down to meet with them, alone. You will not inform Governor Tiral that we have found the base until after I return, if then. Is that clear, Captain?"

  Klag was about to argue, then stopped short. That voice in the back of his head chose that moment to ask, Why are you arguing with him? Your orders were very simple: conduct the ambassador to tad and aid him in his mission. His mission, not yours. If he wishes to beam down alone, let him. Perhaps he'll get himself killed and do us all a favor. And if not, it's not your concern.

  So Klag simply sat back in his chair and said, "It's quite clear, Ambassador."

  "Good. Inform me when Toq has located the base."

  Chapter Seven.

  Worf looked over the map Toq had created, based on the young lieutenant's sensor sweep of tad on the computer screen in the ambassador's cabin. Toq himself was also present, going over what he had found, pointing out where readings were spotty, and also the areas that seemed to have the greatest activity.

  Of course, Worf could have figured all that out himself, but Toq had insisted on leading the ambassador through the map.

  "This appears to be the primary base of operations." Toq pointed to an area highlighted in yellow. "We're getting occasional emissions, and most of the life signs have come from there."

  "Good. Thank you, Toq."

  "Ambassador ..." Toq started.

  "Yes?"

  "I understand that you are going to the planet alone."

  "Yes."

  Toq opened his mouth, closed it, then stood ramrod straight. "May I speak freely, sir?"

  "Of course." "You should not go alone!" Toq said, sounding almost pleading. "The rebels hate us! You will be shot on sight!"

  "Bekk Krevor will accompany me. She will ensure that I remain safe."

  As it was, she was only doing so because Klag insisted. Worf would have preferred to go alone, but he would not be responsible for Krevor being derelict in her duty--especially since that would require Klag to have her put to death.

  "It is not enough. You should go down in force."

  "If my objective were to make war with the rebels, I would do that very thing. But I am attempting to settle this conflict peacefully."

  "Why?" Toq asked, gesturing wildly. "We are warriors!"

  Worf smirked slightly. // is difficult to believe that this is the same boy who told me on Carraya that he had no interest in being a warrior. "A true warrior picks his battles carefully, Toq. Simply crushing the rebels would not bring victory--it would only complicate an already difficult situation. It will take more than simple might to end the conflict with the al'Hmatti."

  Toq inclined his head. "If you say so, sir," he said dubiously. "But I still think you should at least take one more guard. I would be happy to volunteer for that duty, sir."

  "That will not be necessary."

  "I am simply concerned for your welfare, Ambassador. No one appreciates your combat skills more than I--but I've been reading dozens of life signs down there, at least.

  You would be horribly outnumbered. I simply wish to guarantee your safe return to this ship."

  Worf remembered speaking those very words to Commander Riker just before he went off to the Pagh--ironically, to serve with Klag. And he had said it after giving Riker a particular piece of equipment--one that wound up helping Riker salvage the near-disaster that the Pagh captain had made of their mission.

  "Perhaps you can aid me, Toq. Are there any emergency transponders on board?"

  "Of course."

  "I will require one, as will Krevor. If either of us activates it, beam us both back immediately."

  Toq grinned. "Yes, sir. It will be my pleasure."

  "One other thing." He handed Toq a padd with the schematics for the portable scattering field generator he'd been working on. "Can the Gorkon's replicators create this?"

  Toq looked over the specs. "We can, sir, but at that size, it will only work for a few minutes."

  "That should be sufficient Have one replicated by the time I'm ready to beam down."

  "Yes, sir."

  The lieutenant turned and left. Before the door could close all the way, it opened again to let Wu in.

  "Sir, I hate to be a bother, but Commander Kurak says that she can't give me access to the comm systems without your direct authorization."

  Worf blinked. "That is ridiculous." "I thought much the same thing, sir, but the commander didn't seem to be in the mood to argue. Under the circumstances, I thought it more prudent to simply obtain your permission."

  "QI'yah," Worf muttered. It would be a nice change if someone on this vessel--other than Toq--cooperated. "Worftokurak."

  A crashing sound came over the speakers.

  "Commander?" Worf asked.

  Then a whizzing sound, followed by more crashing.

  Then laughter. Male laughter.

  Then Kurak's voice: "Go away!"

  Then the connection was cut. Worf looked at Wu. The aide was grinning widely. "I suppose," he said slowly, "we can wait until later." "No," Worf said, "we cannot. Kurak is obviously off duty, so we will speak to the present duty officer. Come with me."

  Worf purposefully exited his quarters. Wu and Krevor both struggled to keep up with his long strides.

  He entered engineering. Various crew members attended to their stations. "Who is the duty officer?" he bellowed.

  "Uh, I am, sir."

  Worf turned toward the hesitant voice. It belonged to Vail, sitting at the environmental controls. Every time Worf looked at the assistant chief engineer, he felt as if he was back in the Federation. How has he survived in the Defense Force this long?

  "Lieutenant, I have just been informed by my aide that he was denied access to the Gorkon's communications systems."

  Vail nodded. "Yes, sir. Commander Kurak said he needed authorization from the am bass--" He cut himself off and blinked. "That would be you, sir."

  "Consider my authorization given, Lieutenant."

  Fidgeting in his chair, Vail said, "Sir, I really think that Commander Kurak needs--"

  Worf stood over the lieutenant, placing his hands on the arms of the chair, effectively blocking Vail from getting up. "Consider. My authorization. Given."

  Vail gulped. "Your, ah, your aide's welcome to--to use the comm systems any time, Ambassador."

  "Good. He needs to use them now."

  Clapping his hands, Vail said, "Of course, Mr. Ambassador. I'll, ah, I'll just need you to stop looming over me, sir, so I can get up and, ah, and conduct Mr. Wu to the console."

  Worf stood up straight, allowing Vail to rise from his chair.

  "Right this way," Vail said to Wu, and the pair of them moved toward a corner in engineering.

  Krevor approached Worf. "Sir, if you don't mind my asking--why do this in person? Why not just use the intercom?"

  "Some things require the personal touch, Bekk. And intimidation is a skill that needs to be practiced."

  "I'll remember that, sir."

  Klag slew the Vorta again. He thought it would be better this time--he'd finally gotten the smells right, for one thing, and it got his blood boiling--but there still seemed to be something lacking.

  It was just too damned easy.

  Every time he relived the Battle of Marcan V in the holodeck, it got easier. He wondered if the scenario as he had programmed it--based on his memory of the incident --matched what had truly happened.

  Klag had told the story of Marcan V many times in the months since the battle--including once, very recently, to a strange tavern full of fellow ship captains. A song had been written about his exploits and sung at one of the many postwar festivities on Qo'nos--Klag had yet to grow tired of listening to the recording. "Typically, Klag had embellished the stories with retellings, and he wondered if those embellishments had also been programmed
into the scenario.

  Only one way to find out, he thought.

  "Computer, restart program with new parameters," he said. "Create a new plan of attack for the Jem'Hadar based on Dominion War battle reports. And," he added, suddenly inspired, "replace the seven Jem'Hadar with seven different ones, chosen at random. Create them using information from available prisoner-of-war and intelligence databases."

  The computer screen blinked the word wait for several seconds before flashing the word ready. Klag smiled. "Begin."

  Once again, Klag stood at the Pagh wreckage. Once again, he moved toward where the Jem'Hadar ship crashed.

  A Jem'Hadar materialized sooner than expected and cut Klag down.

  The holodeck had a mortality fail-safe--after all, there was no honor in dying at the hands of a hologram--so the Jem'Hadar did not actually kill Klag. The blast from the creature's weapon did, however, break a rib or two.

  "Computer, restart program." The second time, Klag brought a scanner with him. He managed to slay the first Jem'Hadar---just as the second one materialized behind him and "killed" him.

  The third time, the first one attacked Klag's right side, leaving him defenseless.

  The fourth time, Klag managed to get through three of them before he was stopped.

  The fifth time, he didn't even make it past the first one.

  The sixth time, he threw nostalgia to the wind and substituted a disrupter for the mek'leth. He killed four Jem'Hadar that time.

  The seventh time, he was stopped before he even saw any Jem'Hadar.

  The eighth time, he realized two things. One was that the circumstances on Marcan were unique. The adrenaline surge he had gained from the anger at seeing his crewmates massacred made up for the inherent tactical flaw of going after seven Jem'Hadar while crippled--and was impossible to re-create on a holodeck.

  The other was that, his long hours of practice notwithstanding, he was a very long way from being properly skilled at fighting one-handed.

  "Computer," he said, breathing heavily now from his exertions, and from the multiple injuries he'd sustained in eight straight hand-to-hand fights, "delete Marcan V program." No more living in the past.