But he also knew that hed have to face squarely, sooner or later, the main question that Stillwell had raised: What if the security of Earth and the Coalition required the destruction of more than just Ehrehins research records?
FIVE
The Year of Kahless 781 The Klingon‑Romulan border
B ENEATH HIS LONG MUSTACHE, Nahtan smiled, displaying the grin of a toQvulture. Today was a glorious day. His DVagh‑class battle cruiser, the I.K.S. Veqlargh Jajlo,was in top shape, having just undergone a thorough refit and overhaul at the shipyards orbiting Praxis. His complement of weapons was full, and his crew was rested and ready for a battle.
And now they had one.
“Ready disruptor cannons! he ordered, standing up from his chair in the center of the ships bridge and stalking closer to the main viewer. Around him, the warriors at his service bustled to comply.
On the screen was a RomuluSnganvessel, though it wasnt a ship of the type most commonly seen in his ships database. They had first encountered the enemy vessel via long‑range scanners within the past kilaan,while searching for two missing Klingon battle cruisers, the I.K.S. SImyoHand the I.K.S. MupchIch.
“What progress have you made with the scans? Nahtan asked, stalking to the workstation of Nevahk, his most intelligent technician.
Nevahk barely glanced his way, concentrating instead on moving his blunt fingers over a multitude of blinking tactical screens. “They have been successful at blocking most of the scans, but we captured some fragmentary information nonetheless. He pointed a dusky‑hued finger at a diagram that was uploading to a hull‑mounted monitor to his upper left. “They have shields and weapons comparable to ours, though their skill in utilizing them no doubt pales beside the strength of the Empire.
He pointed to another area of his console, upon which the screens appeared blank. “We are unable to scan thissection of the vessel, which seems to be shielded heavily.
“Then that section shall be our first target, Nahtan growled, turning on his heel and striding back to the center of the bridge.
“Open channels again! he commanded, casting the most intimidating glower he could muster toward the central viewer. “Romulan vessel, you will stand down and prepare to be boarded. You stand accused of piracy and sabotage, and will answer to the laws of the Klingon Empire!
He waited for several moments before turning his gaze toward Dekkven, his communications officer. The young warrior, a bekkwho had recently lost most of his lower teeth in a brawl over a spilled bowl of gagh,shook his head. “No response, Captain, he said, his words slightly lisped around his injuries.
“Repeat the message and continue sending, Nahtan barked. He knew that if he were to fire on the other ship unprovoked, it could be seen as an act of cowardice. But by openly accusing the RomuluSnganeven giving them a chance to surrender without a fighthe was protecting himself both tactically andpolitically. But soon, he would have no choice but to follow through on his threats. Other than that, his only concern now was whatever it was the Romulans were trying to conceal from his ships sensors.
“Captain, the Romulan ship is polarizing its hull plating, the comely Korind said from her station at the left of the viewer. “Its weapons tubes are powering up.
“Prepare to attack, Nahtan growled loudly, feeling his pulse quicken with the exhilaration of imminent combat. He felt certain that his crew was as excited as he was; they had done without the glories of battle for far too long.
“Tracking another ship coming out of warp, Korind said, even as the main viewscreen split into two images. On the left side was the Romulan ship, but on the right was a far more familiar vessel.
“The MupchIch. Nahtan was surprised but pleased. No trace of either of the missing Klingon ships had yet been found; no one had yet assumed the worst, though both vessels had been overdue long enough to cause some concern among the fleets command hierarchy.
Grinning with satisfaction, Nahtan now felt certain that he would see unequivocal and absolute victory this day. No Romulan vessel had ever been captured whole, and certainly not with its crew alive. But the enemy craft before him now was hopelessly outgunned, and might therefore be overwhelmed and seized intact. If the RomuluSnganwere smart, they would turn and run back to their sovereign space like a whipped targwhile they still stood any chance at all of doing so. The only choices that remained to them now were to display their cowardice, blow themselves up, or admit Doghjeyunconditional surrenderand await their just fate as jeghpujwI,lawfully conquered alien prisoners of the Klingon Empire.
“Hail the MupchIch,Nahtan said. “Invite her commander to share the spoils of our conquest.
“Communications are jammed, Captain, Dekkven said, his voice rising to a slightly higher than normal register.
Nahtan muttered a curse that might have shocked even his own brother. “Get them back online!
Abruptly, the yellowish lights on the bridge winked out, and the blood‑hued emergency lights replaced them. Nahtan whirled toward Nevahks station, where the technician was moving his hands across multiple screens, almost in a panic. “ QaStaH QIyah nuq jay?Nahtan roared, desperate to discover the cause and meaning of whatever malevolent influence was afflicting his ship.
“Weve just lost life support! Nevahk shouted. “Other systems are beginning to fail, shipwide!
A sound like a gong reverberated through the Veqlargh Jajlos hull, and Nahtan felt the hollow, dropping sensation of the artificial gravity cutting out beneath his boots. He scrabbled to grab hold of his chair as a variety of surprised shouts, random clatterings, and other less identifiable noises reverberated from across the bridge and from other parts of the vessel.
“Shields are down, and we have explosive decompression on three decks, from Sochto Hut! Korind screamed, her voice raised to a nearly frantic pitch as she drifted upside down and clutched at the console at her station for stability.
Suddenly, the central viewscreen switched images, showing a trio of what appeared to be vulqanganstaring forward from what was obviously a Klingon bridge. The female in the center smiled viciously, uttering but a single short phrase before the image disappeared.
“Boch ghlchraj, the woman said just before vanishing. “Your nose is shiny.
Captain Nahtan of the I.K.S. Veqlargh Jajlobarely had time to wonder why a Vulcan had hailed them with Klingon taunts from the MupchIchs bridge, or why the viewscreen now showed the MupchIchfiring its disruptors directly at the Veqlargh Jajlo.
His final thought, just before the smoke and fire and darkness took him, was one of disappointment. Perhaps today was not to be such a glorious day after all.
Day Twenty‑nine, Month of KriBrax Dartha, Romulus
The holographic image of the Romulan captain flickered lightly in the air as a small insect flew through it. The kekla‑gnats were ever‑present in the Romulan capital at this time of year, when the grekeklatrees were in fragrant bloom. Even here, within Admiral Valdores spacious office in the Romulan Hall of State, this tiniest member of the insect orders had insinuated itself.
Seated behind his heavy sherawood desk, his hands steepled under his chin, Valdore listened to Commander Dagarths report with barely contained glee. The first full‑scale test of the Romulan Star Empires new tactical systemconceived by Valdore and designed and realized by the scientists under his commandhad been an outstanding success.