Part 21 (2/2)
”I-I'm afraid so, sir. If I do not, all the power to the bridge and the three decks below will go out”
”Fine, Lieutenant, keep at it.”
As Klag went to sit at his desk and Vail went back to his repair work, Worf entered, his aide behind nun.
”Amba.s.sador,” Klag said.
”Captain,” Worf returned with a nod. ”I believe I may have found a solution to the difficulties on tad.”
Klag blinked. ”That is good news, Amba.s.sador. I a.s.sume you'll share it with me when Governor Tirol arrives.”
”No. I wished to discuss the plan with you, first.”
This consideration surprised Klag. ”I am flattered, Amba.s.sador, but this is your mission. I doubt I could provide any useful aid.”
Worf smirked that tiny smirk of his. ”Your modesty is ill-timed, Captain, and unconvincing. You have, in fact, questioned my ability from almost the very moment we met”
”So now you ask for my advice so I can either prove myself right or wrong.”
”Yes.”
Klag threw his head back and laughed. ”I admire your audacity, son of Mogh. Very well, tell me your plan.”
”Since we arrived, there has been a disparity between the importance given this mission by Martok when we spoke on the Sword of Kahless and the reality of the situation on tad. This is an inhospitable world run by a fool on a satellite, providing a service to the empire that it does not need.”
”Topaline is a necessity, Amba.s.sador,” Klag said.
Worf's human aide stepped forward and handed Klag a padd. ”Not tad's top aline sir. If you'll look at these figures”
K lag glanced at the chart on the padd's display. Not only was tad the fifth most productive of the empire's five sources of top aline it was a distant fifth. ”Interesting. However, our esteemed chancellor did point out-”
”I was there, Captain,” Worf said calmly, ”I am aware of what he said.
His exact words were ”Under no circ.u.mstances can I allow tad to be ruled by anyone other than Klingons.””
Klag didn't remember the words that precisely, but that sounded right.
”Which means-”
”Which means,” Worf, ”that the death of the emperor gives us a way to fulfill Martok's conditions and still satisfy everyone.”
”How?”
”Install a Klingon as the new emperor of tad.”
Klag frowned. ”I don't understand.”
”This world is not worth committing the resources to properly put down the rebels. It has not been worth the High Council's attention to commit any resources to even address the problem. When they finally did, they used a technicality to turn the problem over to a Federation amba.s.sador. The entire reason for not simply giving up the planet is to maintain appearances. The empire cannot be perceived to be giving in to the rebels because of the precedent it sets. Yet the world is not worth keeping.”
”Hence your insurmountable problem.”
”Not at all. Since the problem is cosmetic, so is the solution.
Appoint a Klingon as the new emperor. Phase Governor Tiral and his people out so that it will appear that tad is still part of the empire to everyone else.”
”So the truth of what is happening must be kept secret?”
Worf nodded.
Klag rubbed his chin. ”I can't believe the al'Hmatti will accede to this. It will give the perception that they are still jeghpu'wf.”
”I doubt that they will care,” Worf said. ”They are only interested in their own freedom. When they appealed to outsiders for help, they saw no real distinction between asking for help from the Federation or from the Kreel.”
At the very mention of the Kreel, Klag spit ”I don't know if that proves they're uncaring, but it certainly proves that they are ignorant.”
”It is simply a matter of perspective, Captain. They applied to the Federation for help when they were enemies of the empire after the invasion of Carda.s.sia. When no help was forthcoming, they simply went to another of the empire's enemies.”
Klag shrugged. ”I suppose. To be honest, Amba.s.sador, this would not be my first choice for a plan. However, my first choice would probably be to obliterate the planet altogether. Then again, based on the report B'Oraq filed regarding the injuries you and Bekk Krevor suffered, the al'Hmatti are not unworthy warriors, and deserve a better death than that.” Smiling, he added, ”Besides, I can't imagine the Federation supporting such an action.”
”No.”
”So, since my plan is untenable, I think yours is a fine one.”
”Thank you.”
”This, of course, leaves the question as to who to appoint as emperor.
I take it you don't find Tiral to be a worthy candidate?”
”Hardly,” Worf said with distaste.
”I agree.” Klag had another suggestion, but he wasn't sure it would go over well with Worf. ”Perhaps we could request a volunteer from the crew.”
Suddenly, a nasal voice said, ”Uh, sir?”
Klag turned sharply. He had momentarily forgotten Van's presence.
”Yes, Lieutenant?”
”With all due respect, sir, I'd like to volunteer.”
”You?”
Vail nodded.
”Why you?”
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