Part 20 (1/2)
Gowron and Duntis shared a private smile before Gowron turned to face K'hanq. ”That,” boasted Gowron, ”is how sharp these ears are. Although I do not hear nearly as much as you, K'hanq, nor in so many interesting places. Come. Sit and tell me what news. Duntis ... you may go.”
Duntis bowed slightly and then walked quickly away. Gowron knew that Duntis was already tallying up in his mind just how much his personal accounts would be supplemented by his latest achievement. That was fine as far as Gowron was concerned. As long as Duntis was kept satisfied by his reward for being in Gowron's service, Gowron never had to worry about Duntis providing convenient technology for any possible enemies of Gowron's. And there were enemies, of that Gowron was sure. Enemies everywhere, lurking in shadows, or strutting pridefully in the open.
And there was no one who was in a better position to keep Gowron informed than K'hanq. When it came to an operative skilled at gathering information, K'hanq was the most dependable source Gowron had. He had informants everywhere. If information was the coin of the Klingon realm, then K'hanq was one of its leading millionaires.
Gowron took care to keep him happy as well. Unfortunately, in this particular instance, K'hanq was not going to be keeping Gowron particularly happy.
”Keep in mind,” K'hanq prefaced his comments, ”that I am but the messenger.”
”Ah. That is your way of telling me that I will not be pleased with what you have to say.”
K'hanq nodded regretfully. ”Your suspicions, it appears, are correct. The Romulans apparently are in the process of building an alliance with the Federation.”
”d.a.m.n them!” snarled Gowron, his good mood already a thing of the past. He slammed a fist on the chair arm in frustration and nearly snapped the arm off. ”Are they insane? Do they not know that the Romulans cannot be trusted? They endeavored to wipe out the Vulcans, for the love of Kahless! That hardly is a ringing endors.e.m.e.nt!”
”Nevertheless, there is some rumbling that the Romulan Star Empire can be worked with. Amba.s.sador Spock continues to advocate peace initiatives. ...”
”Fool,” muttered Gowron, but even he knew the significance of this. Spock was a legendary figure, and legends were notoriously influential, and irritating.
”Furthermore, Starfleet is pleased that the Romulans have loaned a cloaking device to the Stars.h.i.+p Defiant. The Romulans, you see, are no happier about the Dominion and the Jem'Hadar than is the UFP. They represent a mutual enemy, and mutual enemies tend to breed allies.”
”Are we not allies enough?” demanded Gowron.
K'hanq bared his teeth in annoyance. ”We are perceived as unstable by some. A warrior race torn by civil war, unable to clean up after ourselves or solve any problems without the intervention of Starfleet oflBcers such as Picard to guide us.”
”They act as if we are but children!” Gowron bellowed.
”Not all of them,” K'hanq hastened to emphasize. ”The UFP does not speak with one voice in this case. There are those who respect the long-standing alliance... and certainly have no desire to see the Klingon Empire as enemies once again.”
”That is wise of them.”
”But there are others who see it differently. Who think that the Romulans represent the future. They do not trust us ... nor do they trust the Romulans. And since they trust no one... they will deal with anyone.”
”Insane.” Gowron shook his head. ”Simply insane. They must learn otherwise. They must see the error of their ways. No one knows the Romulans better than we. Were we not their allies? Do we not know their betraying ways? Their treacheries? We Klingons have not yet forgotten Khitomer. We have not forgotten the Romulan promises of loyalty that were tossed aside.” He rose and began to pace. ”Ironic, is it not, K'hanq? When we began our initial rapprochement with the Federation ... that was when our alliance with the Romulans began to deteriorate. It was as if they were our allies simply because of our mutual antagonists, the Federation. Yet now they would switch sides. It is as if the Romulans need someone to hate before they can then work with someone else.”
”And they most definitely hate us,” said K'hanq.
”That is beyond question. So where does that leave us?”
”I regret that it leaves us on extremely uncertain ground. If the Federation comes to terms with the Romulans, and the Romulans launch hostilities against us...”
”What would the UFP do, do you think?”
”Well,” K'hanq said thoughtfully, ”if one can judge by past actions ... there are three likely possibilities. The first is that they might attempt to mediate a settlement...”
”A settlement!” snorted Gowron disdainfully. ”You mean some sort of compromise so that the Romulans could buy themselves more time to gather more strength against us!”
”The second is that they will simply stay neutral...”
”Allowing for an all-out war.” This option clearly did not appeal to Gowron. ”Not for a moment am I contemplating shrinking from a fight. I would welcome the opportunity to put those arrogant, pointy-eared b.a.s.t.a.r.ds in their place. However, with all the recent civil stress and strife that have enveloped the empire, it would be akin to fighting a two-front war-from within and without. I would be less than enthused.” He paused. ”And the third possibility?”
”That the Romulans and Federation would ally against us.”
There followed a long silence as the awesome challenge that represented hung in the air. K'hanq was unsure of what to expect from Gowron, for the Klingon leader's face was unreadable. And then his eyes sparkled with antic.i.p.ation and he flashed a wolfen grin. ”A fight like that... the Klingon Empire's last, hopeless stand against overwhelming and hopeless odds ... G.o.ds, K'hanq ... it would be glorious.”
”It would at that, Gowron. Of course,” he added as an afterthought, ”it would also be suicide. And if none of us are left to tell the tale, what point in glory?”
”True,” admitted Gowron. He gave it a bit more thought, and then said, ”K'hanq ... I want you to find someone. For one of your talents, it should not be difficult.”
”Who, Great One?”
”Worf.”
”Worf.sonofMogh?”
”The very same.”
”But why?” asked K'hanq. ”He is in Starfleet.”
”Precisely. But he is also beholden to me, K'hanq. I restored honor to his family, cleared the name of his father. If there is anyone who is trustworthy enough to tell me of how the Federation perceives matters ... it is Worf.”
”Once I have located him, do you desire to speak with him via subs.p.a.ce?”
Gowron snorted disdainfully at the very notion. ”So that either Romulan or Federation spies can find a way to break through transmissions? Listen in on our conversations? I do not think so, K'hanq, no. No, bring him here.”
”And if he will not come?”
Completely without warning, Gowron's temper flared. ”I am Gowron!” he fairly roared. ”Gowron, son of M'Rel! Leader of the High Council! If I say that Worf will come ... then he will cornel Is that clear?!”
”Yes, Gowron,” K'hanq said quickly.
”Well? Do not just stand here. Go!”
K'hanq headed for the door. And as he did, Gowron...
with his back to him ... said, ”And K'hanq ... I will be watching you.” K'hanq bowed slightly and left.
”He will come,” Gowron said with confidence to the empty room. ”He will come.”
For no accountable reason ... he felt a chill. The winds of war, perhaps, cutting to the bone. For the first time in a long time ... Gowron felt old.
CHAPTER.
Lwaxana had lost track of the days, as had Worf. But they knew one thing, beyond question: Things were not getting easier.
”It's like slamming my head repeatedly against a rock!” Lwaxana had complained to Deanna at one point. ”Except less fulfilling!”