A New Alliance

If temporal physics was not one of Vixis’ strong points, it was even less one of Khetara’s and she scowled as she studied the images on the screen.  She did not completely understand the explanation she was being given.  “So what you are saying” she said eventually, “is that Kehlan beamed to coordinates aboard my ship and that… anomaly… threw her elsewhere”

 

“Essentially, yes” S’ian agreed. The General’s summary was not completely accurate but it was, he felt, better not to argue. His extensive experience of serving with non Vulcans had taught him that long winded lectures and explanations were both useless and counter productive.  

 

Speares too had little understanding of physics.  He was a marine... a soldier, not a scientist. It was his job to fight, to lead his men… and women… into battle and bring them back alive. “We need to send down an away team” he said, “If we can find the captain’s comm badge then at the very least we may be able to find out what happened to her”

 

Khetara agreed.  Addressing the two scientists, she gave them her instructions.   "Vixis and S’ian, I want you both to go down to the planet, and track the source of that signal.” She glanced at Speares, “Send a contingent of marines with them. I want them fully armed and ready for anything”

A clawed hand landed on Khetara’s shoulder and she turned her head, to see the Elder nodding his approval of her orders. Through his translator he urged "I will send my hunters with them. This planet is dangerous for you"

 

The Klingon General considered that.  “What can we expect down there?”

 

Not yet ready to give a detailed explanation of the Kainde Amedha, the Elder said merely, “This is one of our hunting reserves.  It has been some years since our last visit and the prey has flourished.  All you need know is that they are big, fast and deadly”

 

“They dwell in the caves” Kihr’yende added.  He gave a low growl of concern as he continued, “If your captain has ventured into those caves, you had better hope she is dead!”  Even through the translation device, his grim tone made it clear he was neither exaggerating nor understating the danger, simply reporting the facts as he saw them and it was evident that he was not expecting a good outcome.

Raising an eyebrow Khetara looked at the ambassador and nodded "Your warning is well noted.  We would be glad of your assistance."

 

“This is our world” Kihr’yende told her seriously, “We know its dangers.  You must trust us here and obey our hunters without question or hesitation if you wish to survive unharmed”

 

“Understood!” As she answered, Khetara wondered briefly if, once this was over, she would get a chance to go down there and hunt with these Predators? She suspected it would be a challenging and exhilarating experience.  That was for later though.  First things first - retrieve Captain Kehlan, hopefully alive and then negotiate a treaty.

 

The Predator Elder turned his attention to the commander of his guard and began to issue instructions.  “Da’rian, you will take a team of hunters down to the planet.  Choose your steadiest, most experienced, warriors, the ones you trust the most. This is NOT a hunt.  You are to protect the Federation team, assist them in their search and bring them back alive”

 

Da’rian growled in protest, not liking the orders he had been given.  “My job is to protect you, Honoured One”

 

Turning on the younger predator, the Elder let out a snarl, his posture reinforcing the demand for compliance from his subordinate.  “There is no threat to me here Da’rian. I expect your obedience in this. Or would you send them down there alone to fall prey to the Kainde Amedha?”

 

“Send my deputy instead.  He is more than competent” Da’rian said stubbornly, “My place is at your side”

 

The Elder shook his head emphatically, the movement sending his highly decorated braids flying in an arc around his head.  “I am safe enough here. I need you, Da’rian.  Our prey is ripe for the hunting.  The other will not be able to keep control.”

 

Slowly and reluctantly, the younger Predator lowered his head in obedience to his Elder’s wishes. He had sparred often enough with his senior to know the truth of his words. He doubted that there was anyone on board this ship who could defeat the Elder in a fair fight. It was the possibility of treachery that concerned him, but there was no point in arguing further. The Elder’s mind was made up.   “It will be as you order, Honoured One”

 

Speares listened with interest to the conversation between the two predators.  The big marine found himself stifling a grin.  He’d had several similar conversations with his own captain when he’d felt she was placing herself in unnecessary danger and like the younger Predator he’d lost the argument every time.

 

Khetara must have been thinking something very similar.  “Not so very different to us, after all” she said quietly to Speares, “Junior officers can be overly… protective… of their seniors”

 

Hidden behind his ornate mask, the Elder’s eyes glittered with amusement at the comment but he gave no indication of hearing the comments of the Federation officers. To do so would not be seemly.  Instead he focused on his subordinate. “Take the shuttle back to Yeyinde” he instructed.  “Choose your team and take them down to the agreed landing area.   The Federation teams will meet you there and you will take command of them.”

 

As the Elder was giving his orders, Colonel Speares was making his own arrangements. Quickly and efficiently, he gave his marines their orders, making it very clear that they were to obey the Yautja in all things while down on the ground. Ordinarily he would have led the away team himself; as first officer and commander of the marines, that was his duty and his privilege.  Staying behind in safety while his people put their lives on the line was not natural to him and for the first time, he truly understood the frustration Kehlan had felt on so many occasions when he had insisted on her staying on board the ship.  But for the moment at least, he was in command of the ship and it was his turn to stay behind, something he did not like at all.

 

Khetara too was making plans. Contacting the Ch’Tang, she arranged for a team of her own warriors to join the away team on the surface of the planet and as Speares had done, made sure they understood the dangers involved.  Like the Federation team, they were to obey any commands or instructions given them by the Yautja as though they had come directly from her.  Satisfied that it would be done according to her wishes, she cut the transmission and turned her attention to the business at hand. “You have your orders” she barked, “Dismissed!”

S'ian said nothing as he and Vixis left the bridge to prepare for the away mission. Looking back at the screen, he performed a mental calculation. It tallied. He already knew what the away team would find.  For now he would remain silent and keep his doubts to himself. Once they had recovered Kehlan’s combadge, they would have another piece of the puzzle in their possession and with the aid of the luck that the Terrans seemed to rely on so much, they would be able to locate and retrieve their missing captain.