Part 13 (1/2)

Kalor awoke slowly, jarringly, at the sound of his aide's voice. He glanced toward the doorway and saw Part's face, half hidden in the dim light. Squinting at the chronometer across the room, Kalor didn't need to wonder why it felt as if he'd slept only half an hour-that was how long it had actually been.

The governor imagined himself eviscerating Parl. He'd left orders not to be disturbed.

”What?” Kalor barked.

”There is something on the scanners. Something you should see.”

”If you woke me for a sensor ghost...” Kalor slid off his bed, groaning as his bones creaked in pain.

His first officer held out his robe. ”Governor, I would not-”

”Stop sniveling, Parl.” Kalor waved off the robe and walked into the corridor in his underclothes. He glared up at the taller, thinner man, and allowed the younger warrior to steady him as he walked. ”What is so important?”

”It is the Enterprise, sir. They are hailing us.”

Kalor stopped a moment, then continued walking toward the lift. ”Us? The Enterprise, here? You're drunk again, aren't you?”

Lowering his head, Parl nodded. ”Yes, sir, a little. But I am not mistaken.” He handed the governor of Malinga a data padd. ”Look, it is a Federation Battle Cruiser. Enterprise. That message we received, sir, the Romulan buoy. Could it have been true?”

The governor stared at the data a moment. ”What were you drinking?”

”Sir, I swear, I am not that drunk. Do you not see it as well?”

”I do,” Kalor said, sighing heavily. ”What were you drinking, Part?” ”Bloodwine, sir.” The governor cleared his rough throat. ”Get me some.”

7.5.5. Enterprise. NCC 1701E Klingon s.p.a.ce Malinga Sector ”Captain, the governor of Malinga is answering our hail.”

Picard stood, straightening his tunic. ”Amba.s.sador Spock, you may want to stand out of view.”

The Vulcan nodded, and once he'd stood and moved to the extreme starboard aft of the bridge, Picard motioned toward the main viewer. ”On screen.”

”Aye, sir.”

”This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation Stars.h.i.+p-”

The large Klingon on the main screen waved the introduction off. ”No need, Captain. Not only is your reputation known, of course, but I remember you.”

”Governor Kalor. Of course. Thank you.” think. Picard gave his best diplomatic nod, as Klingons tended not to respect a toothy smile. This needed to be handled with great care. Much hinged upon the specific series of events Picard had planned. And at the moment, he had no backup plan.p> think. Picard gave his best diplomatic nod, as Klingons tended not to respect a toothy smile. This needed to be handled with great care. Much hinged upon the specific series of events Picard had planned. And at the moment, he had no backup plan.p> ”Your destination within the Empire?” Kalor asked, appearing somewhat disinterested as he gazed nonchalantly off screen and then back.

There was something, a flicker in Kalor's eye, perhaps, or just the extra care with which Kalor was being so studied in his devil-may-care att.i.tude, but Picard sensed an agenda. An agenda larger than just meeting the Enterprise as treaty stipulated. ”Our destination is the seventh planet of the W'lett-Kard system.”

Kalor nodded pleasantly. Well, pleasantly for a Klingon-he didn't sneer. ”Quite remote. Purpose?”

”We're transporting a scientist from a subs.p.a.ce research station there.” Picard was sure to maintain an even tone. If Kalor was digging, he'd come up dry. And since long-range subs.p.a.ce communications had broken down for the Klingons as well, there would be no way to check Picard's story. ”He's to accompany us to Starbase 10, a meeting to investigate the loss of subs.p.a.ce communications throughout the quadrant.”

Taking a padd from one of his men, looking at it, then handing it back, Kalor paused a moment. ”I don't have authorization for that... but I'm sure that's a mere oversight. Sometimes we're overlooked this far out.”

”Yes, this is off the beaten path, isn't it?” Picard almost chuckled.

”Indeed. In fact, I'm surprised to see that your course took you into this sector at all. Not much out here, except some far-off colonies and the Romulan border.” Kalor leaned back in his command chair, waiting.

”We had to divert our course due to an ion storm,” Picard answered the implied question, but not too quickly.

”Of course,” Kalor said. ”/ would be honored to escort you to the boundary of my jurisdiction.”

He knows something's not right, Picard thought, though how could he? ”Oh, a gracious offer indeed, but that won't be necessary.”

Kalor leaned forward. ”/ insist.”

”In that case ...” Picard waved his hand, gesturing his a.s.sent. He continued the slightest of smiles, but the rock in his gut was pulling down any hope that Kalor didn't suspect something out of the ordinary.

”/ will, of course, need to inspect your s.h.i.+p for any contraband cargo,” Kalor said.

”We're carrying no cargo.”

”Hmmm...” The Klingon commander looked offscreen and then back again. ”/ seem unable to scan within your s.h.i.+p to determine that.”

”Standard Starfleet procedure-” Picard said evenly.

”Oh, I more than understand, Captain. More than understand. And you understand that I need to know your cargo, if any, and what it might be.”

Picard nodded.

”It's just a regulation,” Kalor continued. ”A duty I'm sworn to, you see. A formality, really. Perhaps all that is really needed is a good meal between our officers. A small tour of your s.h.i.+p and some good food, eh?”

”Of course, we'd be honored.” The captain felt his muscles tense, from his shoulders to his calves. He worked to make sure that didn't show in his posture.

Much more relaxed, Kalor moved his girth forward in his seat. ”Amba.s.sador Worf has served on your s.h.i.+p, Captain. You have served as Arbiter of Succession for the previous chancellor. We have a relations.h.i.+p with you. We do not really need to inspect your cargo holds. But I'm sure your replicator has some amazing Klingon dishes, eh? Yes?”

”It would be a rare pleasure to host you for dinner and a brief tour. But we are on a schedule.”

”Of course, Captain,” Kalor said. ”/ understand. I look forward to seeing you. Kalor out.”

The screen flashed back to the serene starscape view.

Picard turned toward Spock as the Vulcan stepped down to the command chair. ”If not about T'sart, he knows something.”

”I concur,” Spock said gravely.

”Mr. Spock?”

”Yes, Captain?”

”We need a plan.”

Klingon Wars.h.i.+p Qulric Klingon s.p.a.ce Malinga Sector ”You have a plan, Governor?”