A New Alliance

Slowly the surgeon lowered his tools shaking his head, “There is nothing more we can do” he said regretfully, “She is gone. Let the record show that General Khetara epetai Rustadh crossed the River of Blood at…”  He glanced at the time.  “…18:32 hours.  Cause of death – Multiple organ failure resulting from explosive decompression.”

 

Kihr’yende frowned as he stared down at Khetara’s body, his grim expression hidden by his mask.  With a gesture that was surprisingly gentle for such a fierce hunter, he reached out and touched her face with a talon, caressing her cheek before letting his hand drop to his side.

 

A combination of grief and fury built in Kreltek as he stared disbelievingly at the lifeless body of his commanding officer. With a sudden violence that caught those around him by surprise, he raised a gauntleted fist and brought it crashing down on the nearest console, the force of the blow sending a large crack zigzagging through the supposedly unbreakable panel.  Not satisfied with the result, he struck it again, harder this time, leaving a smear of violet blood across the shattered surface, then raised his head to the heavens and let out a powerful howl.

 

The cry to Sto-vo-kor was taken up by the other Klingons and after a moment the two Predators threw back their heads and added their own eerie howl.

 

As the room fell silent again, the surgeon pulled a sheet over Khetara’s face before stepping back and turning to face Ch’Tang’s executive officer.  “Captain Kreltek, the ship and the mission are yours”

 

*****************

 

Although concerned for his injured hunter, Da’rian was in a good mood when he arrived back on board Yeyinde.  The mission had gone well, far better in fact than he had expected. Not only had they completed their objectives successfully and had a satisfying encounter with the Kainde Amedha, but he had returned with all his team alive and only one serious injury. The discipline of the Ooman warriors had pleasantly surprised him and he had not failed to notice how well they had fought along side his own team.  He’d been doubtful about his Elder’s plans to negotiate with prey, had not understood the need.  The Elder was right he decided. Times changed and this potential alliance just might turn out to be a good thing.

 

Snapping orders to his hunters to escort Rakai’in to the infirmary, Da’rian headed for the control room. He needed to report to the Elder.  Once there, Da'rian wasted no time in establishing a subspace link to the Elder's personal comm.  Succinctly he gave his report and requested further orders.

 

“I am on board the Klingon ship” the Elder informed Da’rian. “There have been some… developments.  I require your presence here. You will prepare to be beamed across immediately”

 

“Beamed?”  Da’rian knew of the Federation transporter technology but had never used it.  The idea was both unnerving and intriguing. He was not sure if he wanted to actually experience it for himself.  To say so however, would be to show cowardice and that was unacceptable to the hunter.  Instead he bowed his head in acceptance of his leader’s wishes, saying merely “As you wish, Honoured Elder”

 

As the beam coalesced and released him aboard the Klingon ship, Da'rian shook himself, mentally checking that all his body parts were in order. The Elder made a quizzical trilling sound. "It is a strange experience, Honoured One" the younger Predator explained. "But I cannot decry its efficiency. Such technology would be useful to us"

 

The Elder growled, reaching over and disengaging the translator in his gauntlet ensuring that their conversation would remain private.  “I have used the transporter” he said ill temperedly. “We beamed here from the Federation ship”

 

Da'rian tensed, sensing his leader's bad mood. He glanced at Kihr'yende, wondering what he had done wrong.  His mission had gone well, why was the Elder so angry?

 

Conscious of his own failures this day Kihr’yende did not immediately answer Da’rian’s unspoken question. He had fought to save the Klingon general yet despite his best efforts, she was dead. 

 

"These negotiations are ended" the Elder snarled. “There will be no treaty with the Federation”

Da'rian was shocked into silence.  He shook his head in disbelief, not knowing what to say.  "But..."

 

"You were right to fear treachery" Kihr'yende growled, his mood as bad as that of his father.  "The Oomans cannot be trusted."

 

Da'rian looked from one to the other in confusion.  "What has transpired?"

"We were attacked" Kihr'yende said bleakly “The cargo bay doors opened without shielding. The Oomans swear that is NOT supposed to happen!  Had it not been for our masks, the saboteur would have succeeded in his attempt to murder us all!  Seven of their own were killed outright!”   Kihr’yende let out a low keen as he continued "We have just learned that Khetara died of her injuries"

 

Da'rian's eyes widened slightly. "You felt for her"

 

Kihr'yende snarled. One did not feel for prey.

 

Slightly intimidated, Da’rian shrugged and looked away.  "They are... fragile creatures"

"Fragile or not" the Elder snapped, "They are dangerous.  They are nothing more than Pyode Amedha. They have no honour and cannot be trusted"

 

Da’rian was silent for a moment as he remembered the events on the surface of the planet.  The Ooman and Klingon warriors he had worked with had been both honourable and trustworthy.  “With respect, Honoured Elder, I cannot agree.”  It was risky to argue with the Elder in this sort of mood, but he felt he had no choice but to state his case and hope the Elder would decide not kill him.   “I believe you should reconsider.  To pull out now would be a mistake”

 

In no mood for dissent, the Elder turned on his subordinate with an angry snarl. In response to the barely contained fury that was coursing through his veins, his muscles tensed in readiness for battle.  Pulling himself to his full height, he flexed his wrists without even realising he was doing so, causing his blades in his gauntlets to snap into combat position. "You DARE challenge!" he roared.

 

Lowering his gaze so as not to provoke the Elder further, Da’rian displayed submission but nevertheless refused to back down.  He was no coward but he would admit to a certain degree of unease when faced with the Elder's temper. “No Honoured One. I seek to understand. The Oomans fought side by side with our warriors, they showed both courage and honour.  I believe you were right when you told me our people need this treaty.  That need has not changed, nor should we allow a handful of cowardly dissenters to sway us from our course.”

 

The last thing Kihr’yende wanted was to be reasonable but he had to admit that Da’rian had a point.  “Khetara wanted this treaty” he said slowly, “To allow her death to stop it, makes her loss meaningless and gives the victory to the assassins.”

 

Letting out a deep sigh, the Elder retracted his blades and turned away to stare out the nearby window.  "You are ever the voice of reason, Da'rian.  We will attempt to conclude the talks"

 

*************

I'd like to take a moment to thank my reviewers for their comments and their support... in particular Kelly, Adventra and Alleyway Ravager.

Alleyway made some very valid points in his/her review and I'd like to answer some of them.  You are probably right about where its going and I suspect the only one who hasn't figured it out yet is Kehlan herself, lol! I'm not commenting further on that though as I dont want it to spoil things for anyone who hasnt yet figured it out.

Regarding the killing of the crewman, I take your point and have gone back and edited the scene slightly.  It was actually quite a hard scene to write.  What I didnt want was for the Yautja to come on board and everything is happy families, with a race as dangerous as they are, it just didnt seem plausible. At the same time, ambassadors have diplomatic immunity so its very hard for the Federation to actually do anything about the killing - at last not without causing a war.  Ive also had people tell me O'Henry isnt a proper name.  It probably isnt, but it might be by the 24th century.  I was working for a fruit company at the time and as it happens O'Henry is a variety of peach... so poor old O'Henry got sliced and diced like the fruit I named him for!

I think Alleyway is right about Yautja technology stagnating.  It's very advanced by 21st century standards, but not so much so by the 24th century.  Popular lore has it predators live a very long time and I wonder if this is part of it.  Several hundred years is less than one lifetime for them, there is less urgency to change and develop and try new things.  I can't help wondering as well, how much of their tech they developed from scratch and how much was appropriated and retro-engineered from another unknown race who were stupid enough to visit the Predator homeworld.  Ive just finished reading AVP:Prey and Hunters Planet.... (can't believe I didn't read them years ago, most of my Yautja knowledge is gained from reading other people's fanfiction) and at the end, Machiko comments that humans can grow and change and that she thinks they can't - because they like themselves as they are.  I think thats just it, they like themselves and their culture as they are.

I'm going to be doing a little editing eventually, nothing major - tidying up a few inconsistencies with use of capital letters etc, I need to make up my mind whether its Predator or predator for example.

Anyway, enough rambling, thank you for reading and sticking with the story.