A New Alliance

The viewscreen blanked and flickered. Speares shifted slightly in the Captain's desk chair. He fidgeted, wondering if the cushion was filled with rocks, for the brief moment that the Starbase logo was onscreen. As the call was processed, the image changed again to show the logo of FedKIN, or the Federation/Klingon Intelligence Network as it was more properly known. As its name suggested, the organisation had been designed to liaise between the Klingon and Federation Intelligence agencies. The screen blanked a second time before clearing to reveal the face of Krang epetai Inigan, an ex-Imperial Intelligence Officer who still held the rank of Security Captain and who now ran the organisation.

 

“This is Colonel Speares in command of the Endeavour” the marine introduced himself.  On one hand, it was stating the obvious.  He and Krang had drunk together often enough.  In fact, they had known each other for years and had fought side by side in the Dominion War. But the statement alone would inform the Klingon that Kehlan was no longer in command of her ship and that something was seriously wrong.

 

“Colonel Speares” Krang acknowledged the greeting, “Nuq neH?”

 

“We need your help” Speares said bluntly, “And we need you right now.”  The message was cryptic but necessarily so.  The fact that Krang epetai Inigan had in his possession a vessel with a functional time dilator, was highly classified. Night Dagger’s capabilities were not something to be discussed over subspace, even on a secure channel.

 

The Klingon frowned. “Is it that urgent?”  At Speares’ nod of confirmation, he continued, “Very well, I am on my way”

 

Speares had no sooner cut the call when a shrill whistle intruded on the momentary silence. The voice that followed was that of Lieutenant Baker on the bridge and she sounded more than a little surprised. “Colonel, Night Dagger has just decloaked off our port bow. We are being hailed.”

 

 “Patch it through on a secure channel.”  Once again the image of the big Klingon appeared on the screen of the desktop comm unit.  Speares grinned at the Security captain, “Took your time didn’t you? What kept you?”

 

The Klingon glanced down at the time displayed on his console “One minute twenty two seconds” he pointed out with an amused growl, “I did not want to get here BEFORE you called me.”  In actual fact, he had been travelling for several days.

 

“Night Dagger is useful” Speares acknowledged wryly. “I suggest you dock with us rather than using the transporter at this time.  Shuttle Bay One is clear.  Come onboard and I’ll explain the situation”

 

The bird of prey was just small enough to fit inside Endeavour's largest shuttle bay, although it was a tight squeeze and there was no room for anything else around her. It took five tractor beams to manoeuvre Night Dagger into the hanger. Settling right in the centre of the bay, its wings almost scraping the bulkheads, the tiny ship disengaged its engines and extended its landing ramp.  Up on the control deck, Speares waited impatiently for the green light. When it came he had to force himself not to take the stairs three at a time as he made his way down to meet his friend.

The hatch opened and a tall, imposing figure, dressed in the forbidding black uniform of Klingon Imperial Intelligence stepped onto the ramp. It was not his height, or even his uniform, but something in his bearing and demeanour that warned all who saw him that Krang held high rank, that this was a man not to be messed with. There were few who dared talk back to the Security Captain.

 

Speares frowned as a second figure appeared at the Klingon's back. Though she was dressed in the standard fleet uniform, the long copper curls braided with Romulan Storm Bird feathers and tattoos on her face were distinctly non-regulation.  Seeing the Welshman's eyes flicker past him and settling almost disapprovingly on the Romulan woman, Krang bit back a grin.   "You haven’t met my new assistant, have you, Speares?"

"I.... don't believe so" he responded tightly. He’d heard about her of course. Rumours about the Romulan mercenary brought in as Krang’s assistant, had been flying around the starbase and the fleet, but he had not yet met her in person.  From what he’d heard she was an old friend of his captain.  He frowned at that.  Kehlan was generally a fairly good judge of character but even so, he’d always thought she trusted too easily.  Typically Klingon, Kehlan tended to forget that not everyone shared her sense of honour.  Well, he decided, he’d give the woman a fair chance.

The Klingon beckoned for his aide to come forward.  "This is N'Sal" He turned to the Romulan woman.  "N'Sal, this is Lieutenant Colonel Philip Speares, Kehlan’s first officer"

She eyed him carefully for several uncomfortable seconds then inclined her head slightly in acknowledgement. "Colonel"

His own nod was equally stiff.

"Has there been any sign of her?" she asked curtly.

Speares shook his head.  "Of Kehlan herself, no.  We have found her combadge however and believe we know where to find her."  He frowned as he continued, "If you'll join me in the ready room I’ll explain the problem"

Krang fell into step with Colonel Speares as they left the hanger, with N’Sal close behind.  As soon as the doors of Kehlan's ready room had closed behind them, Speares turned to his guests.  "You already know that Kehlan is missing" he said bluntly. "The truth is, she fell foul of a temporal distortion while beaming and we believe she is stranded approximately 800 years in the past"

"You have managed to date the corrosion on her comm badge?" Krang guessed. "Were any remains recovered?"

Speares sighed.  "No.  Which means, either we managed to rescue her, or... "  He remembered the reports from the away team and shuddered slightly, "Or the wildlife down there got her. Bad as it is though, Kehlan’s disappearance is not the worst of our troubles”

 

"Go on" Krang gestured, leaning forward intently.

"After she vanished" Speares said, "The Yautja refused to negotiate with a replacement."  He continued, telling the Klingon intelligence agent everything he knew and ending with the latest, devastating news of Khetara's death.

Krang clenched his fists and threw back his head howling instinctively at the news. He had known Khetara well.

 

Speares was more than slightly surprised to see the Security Captain's aide flinch at the sound. He dismissed it. She was little more than a pirate after all, no doubt she had come up against Klingons in her undoubtedly murky past.  Again he found himself wondering how and why a mercenary like her had ended up working for Starfleet, let alone in such a sensitive role? 

 

Silence fell again but out of respect for Klingon tradition, Speares waited a moment before continuing. "The question facing us now" he said, "is how to get her back before the Yautja decide to cut off relations altogether"