KARGAN: Not exactly.
KEGREN: Enemy vessels firing on the Trager.
MACET: Open fire! Damn you, Kargan, help us!
KLAG: Captain, I am standing before a computer screen. I have just entered a code that allows me access to encrypted files on this computer.
KARGAN: Have you, now?
KEGREN: Trager taking heavy damage, Captain.
MACET: Kargan, you’re responsible for this!
KARGAN: I am responsible for any number of things, Macet. Including what is about to happen.
KLAG: Macet, hear me! These files were encrypted by the House of K’Tal, and they contain a great deal of sensitive information, including full details of the security of Mempa VI!
MACET: Then my suspicions were correct. We will destroy your cohorts, Kargan, and then we will destroy you.
KARGAN: You are outnumbered, Macet. You will not survive without assistance.
KLAG: Captain, do not do this!
KARGAN: I have already done too much, Commander, and my honor and that of my House have suffered greatly for it. I hope that with my final act, I may redeem the House of K’Tal. Pilot, set course for the nearest vessel attacking the Trager—ramming speed!
Message from Commander Klag, son of M’Raq, on the Central Command vessel Trager, to Commander Dorrek, son of M’Raq, on the I.K.S. Slivin
I have always said that Kargan was an honorable man, but until today, I did not know how fine a warrior he truly was.
It was Kargan who provided the information that sent us to Marcan V and Kargan who gave me the access code that allowed us to read the files on the computers on that world. And Kargan ordered the Pagh to make a suicide run on the vessels attacking the Trager. His sacrifice allowed Macet to achieve victory in orbit of that world while Bekk Wol and I gleaned all we could from Marcan V’s computers.
We are now en route to the Homeworld. There will be a meqba’, and the fate of the House of K’Tal will hang in the balance.
As for myself, I have lost my right arm. The Cardassian doctor tried to persuade me to have a prosthetic machine placed on my shoulder, which I, of course, refused. And I have lost my ship. Only Wol and I survive, and I have promised that she will be rewarded on her next assignment.
What that assignment will be, I do not know. But I do know that I will mourn the loss of Captain Kargan deeply. A great warrior is in Sto-Vo-Kor today, even if the others of his ignoble House will ride the Barge of the Dead to Gre’thor.
Macet came to me after I was released from his ship’s infirmary. He also was suspicious of Kargan after we interrogated Straken. I asked him why he didn’t share that with me. He asked me why I didn’t share the true source of my information about Marcan V.
Gul Macet is a good man. The Alliance will need people like him if we are to survive the Terrans getting above themselves and the Romulans, Tholians, and others who try to nip away at our empire like ramjep birds. In the future, we will know to trust each other.
Transcript from the official record of the Klingon High Council
REGENT WORF: The meqba’ has ended. I have heard all of the evidence. It is clear that the House of K’Tal must be dissolved, its principals killed, its lands seized.
COUNCIL HERALD: K’Tal, son of K’Dan, step forward!
REGENT: Do you have anything to say for yourself before you are put to death, traitor?
COUNCILLOR K’TAL: Only that the Klingon peoples will be led to ruin as long as you sit in Kahless’s chair—and as long as we remain allied with spoonheaded filth!
REGENT: You are a fool. It is the alliance with Cardassia that has made us strong, that enabled us to conquer the Terrans, that made us the greatest power the galaxy has ever known. It is you who would have led us to ruin, K’Tal. But now you will lead only the others of your House to the Barge of the Dead. Bring them forward!
[The Yan-Isleth bring the members of the House of K’Tal forward]
REGENT: You have betrayed the Alliance. You have no honor. You shall not leave this chamber alive. [sound of d’k tahg blades unfurling]
[Regent and councillors slash the throats of the members of the House of K’Tal]
REGENT: Take the bodies away!
COUNCIL HERALD: Kurn, son of Mogh; Klag, son of M’Raq; Akellen Macet, step forward!
REGENT: You have done well, all of you. A cancer has been removed from our alliance. Gul Macet, I leave whatever reward you might gain from this campaign to your superiors at Central Command, but know that you have the gratitude of the Regent.
GUL AKELLEN MACET: That is high praise, indeed, my Regent. Thank you.
REGENT: Klag, son of M’Raq, a true warrior knows to act for what is honorable, and you have done that, at the cost of your good right arm. There is an opening for a captain on the I.K.S. Gorkon, and I can think of no one better suited to take command of that vessel than you, Captain Klag.
CAPTAIN KLAG: My Regent?
REGENT: Do my words displease you, son of M’Raq?
KLAG: No, my Regent, they do surprise me. Kargan is the true hero here, not I. I simply followed the path he laid out for me.
REGENT: Perhaps. But Kargan is dead, and of all those in his misbegotten House, he is the only one who will be enshrined in the Hall of Warriors, for he has put the Alliance before all. But your role is not inconsequential. Because of you, I have removed a threat to the High Council and to our very way of life. For that, you have earned a captaincy.
KLAG: Yes, my Regent! Thank you!
REGENT: Kurn—my brother.
CAPTAIN KURN: Yes, my Regent?
REGENT: Do not think that I have forgotten your role in this. You, too, will receive a new ship to command—the Ya’Vang is in orbit and awaiting your arrival. You have all served the Alliance with honor. Qapla’!
KURN, KLAG, AND MACET: Qapla’!
Message from Captain Kurn, son of Mogh, on the I.K.S. Ya’Vang, to Commander Drex, son of Martok, on the I.K.S. Gorkon
Curse that yIntagh of a warrior! Curse that spoonheaded legate’s cousin! They have conspired to ruin everything!
The Ya’Vang is a fine ship, it is true, and a far greater trophy than the Hegh’ta. But the Gorkon should have been mine!
It was Macet. It had to be. He and Klag were like lovers on that mission, they were together so much, and that petaQ likely petitioned his cousin to put pressure on my brother to reward Klag.
The son of M’Raq has made an enemy today. And you, my friend, will be the d’k tahg I use to bring him down. Not right away—we cannot move against one my brother has rewarded immediately. But soon, my friend, very, very soon. Observe the son of M’Raq carefully for any opening, and then strike like a wam serpent. You are Martok’s son; you will be protected.
Our plans will come to fruition one day, Drex, of that you can be assured.
Message from Captain Klag, son of M’Raq, on the I.K.S. Gorkon, to Commander Dorrek, son of M’Raq, on the I.K.S. Slivin
So, it seems I win our wager, brother. I have become the first son of M’Raq to command his own vessel. The bloodwine is on you when next we meet, Dorrek.
The meqba’ was shocking, for all that I knew the evidence ahead of time. To see a noble House so awash in betrayal and dishonor was staggering. Apparently, K’Tal felt that we did not need the Cardassians—as if we would be able to maintain so great an empire alone—and that we should be rid of them. K’Tal, Talak, and the others of their House intended to use the weapons they had stolen to take up arms against the High Council and also against any in the Defense Force or Central Command who did not agree with them.
It was glorious to see their throats cut by the council. In his observer’s chair, I could see Legate Damar leaning forward, almost as if he, too, wished to take a blade to K’Tal’s throat. For his part, Macet was not pleased. He said he prefers capital punishment to be cleaner. But death is death—to prettify it is pointless.
The Regent seemed pleased with my own performance, but I suspect that there is more to his ap
pointment of me to the Gorkon. Macet confided in me that his sources had told him that Kurn was hoping for the Gorkon. But Kurn also promised to bring Terran rebels to the Regent’s feet, and he failed to do so. That was not Kurn’s fault, of course, but the Regent is obsessed with the Terran rebellion, and he would not tolerate any failure to bring them closer to defeat.
Macet and I shared a drink in the tavern across from the Great Hall, where we drank to Kargan and the noble crew of the Pagh, who were sacrificed in order to expose the traitors.
And now I report to you from my very own command. My first officer is Drex, son of General Martok. With Talak’s death, Martok’s position has improved, and that means Drex’s has as well. I will likely need to keep an eye on him. I have, however, been able to reward Wol, who saved my life at Marcan V, by making her QaS DevwI’ of First Company.
I must go now, brother. The Gorkon is one of the finest vessels in the fleet, and she will be used to crush the Alliance’s enemies. We head now to the Bajoran system.
Qapla’, my brother.
Homecoming
Peter David
HISTORIAN’S NOTE: “Homecoming” takes place during the late 2370s (ACE) as the rebellion is gaining a foothold against the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance (“Shattered Mirror,” Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) and after the Romulan slave known at M’k’nzy of Calhoun (Star Trek: New Frontier) takes command of the ship now called Excalibur and vows to make the Alliance pay (Star Trek Mirror Universe: Obsidian Alliance—Cutting Ties).
Peter David is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous Star Trek novels, including the incredibly popular Star Trek: New Frontier series. He has also written dozens of other books, including his acclaimed original novel, Sir Apropos of Nothing, and its sequels, The Woad to Wuin and Tong Lashing.
David is also well known for his comic book work, particularly his award-winning run on The Incredible Hulk. He recently authored the novelizations of Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3, Fantastic Four, The Hulk, and Iron Man.
He lives on Long Island with his wife and daughters.
Mac. I need you to disengage from Soleta and focus on what I’m saying for a moment.
“Dammit, McHenry!”
The frustrated shout came from Soleta and Mac simultaneously. Mac complied, although it was less a response to McHenry’s request than it was a reflex action. He nearly tumbled off the far side of the bed, but caught himself at the last moment. Soleta grabbed a sheet and pulled it up, as she said furiously, “You cannot be doing that, McHenry! You cannot just rummage around inside our minds when we are…otherwise occupied!”
How would I know that you were otherwise occupied if I weren’t inside your mind?
It was a reasonable question and one for which neither of them had an easy answer. Mac looked at Soleta and said reasonably, “Why are you covering up? He’s not in the room. He’s still floating in the null sphere that powers this vessel, down in engineering, same as always.”
Soleta growled at him. She hated it when he pointed out things that she should have realized. She kept the sheet over herself, probably just to spite him.
Rolling his eyes and wisely choosing not to pursue the matter, Mac said, “What’s the problem, McHenry?”
He knew that technically, he didn’t even have to talk; all he had to do was think his responses. Soleta could converse with McHenry without opening her mouth, but Mac felt the need to speak aloud. It helped him frame his thoughts.
“All right, McHenry,” he said. “You have my attention. What is it?”
I’m receiving a distress beacon. The source appears to be a single emergency life pod. At full speed, we can be there in ten minutes.
“Fine,” said Mac.
But Soleta spoke practically right on top of him. “Not fine. Hold on, McHenry. Don’t do anything.”
Mac turned to her, puzzled. “Why not?”
“It could be a trap.”
“What makes you think that?”
“What makes me…?” She looked at him in disbelief. “Mac, do you have any idea how many problems we’ve been giving the Alliance? Going from colony world to colony world in the Excalibur, breaking the Alliance’s control. Gathering a small army of people into the ship…and by the way, we’re starting to reach capacity.”
“I’ll be certain to place ‘Get us more ships’ at the top of my priority list,” he said dryly. “Soleta, I don’t see the problem. Harassing the Alliance, letting them know that we’re not simply going to roll over for them, that’s our goal. That’s what we want to be doing. To be fighting back, to be a symbol…”
“I know all that, Mac. What I’m saying is that there is no way that we can embark upon such a course of action and not get the attention of the Alliance.”
“And if we get their attention, what of it?” His face was grim. “If they wish for a fight…”
“If they wish for a fight, they will do exactly this: try to lure us into some sort of trap. A trap such as someone sending a distress beacon calling for our aid. We’ve no way of knowing it’s legitimate.”
“And we likewise have no way of knowing it isn’t.”
She blew air impatiently between her lips. “Do you have any concept of how frustrating you can be at times?”
“If I did not before, certainly I have you to tell me.” Mac was already in the process of pulling on his loose gray trousers. Then he drew back his shoulder-length black hair and tied it to keep it out of his face. “Bring us there, McHenry. And,” he said with a deferential nod to Soleta, “be certain to sweep the area carefully before we approach. Make certain that no Alliance forces are anywhere in the vicinity.”
Very well, Mac. Soleta, is that acceptable to you?
“How kind of you to ask, McHenry. It is nice to know that someone around here values my opinion,” she said pointedly.
There was a pause, and then McHenry said, You two are not going to be having sex anytime soon again, are you?
“That is none of your business, McHenry,” said Soleta at about the same time that Mac said, “Probably not.” When Mac of Calhoun said that, Soleta emitted a final, extremely annoyed grunt and headed for the bathroom. The door slid shut behind her.
I do not understand women.
“I find it comforting, McHenry, that even you—who can actually go inside women’s heads—can still find them incomprehensible.”
You actually don’t find that comforting at all.
“No, I really don’t,” admitted Mac.
The vessel dubbed Excalibur had originally been called the Stinger. That was back when it was piloted by Si Cwan of the house of Cwan, a Thallonian prince. But Cwan and his crew had since been thrown out of the ship by the actions of M’k’n’zy of Calhoun, along with his lover, Soleta, and the bio-entity known as McHenry whose endless life force powered the vessel. It had been felt that a new crew required a new name. Robin Lefler, formerly a human slave and now a valued crew member of the ship, had suggested “Excalibur.” The name meant nothing to Soleta or Mac. According to Robin, however, it was the name of a famous weapon, a sword, wielded by a mighty ruler. A ruler, she went on to say, who had held great fascination for the late Elizabeth Shelby. The mere mention of Elizabeth’s name was typically enough to sadden Mac, for her demise had been abrupt and violent and, he felt, premature, as if she were meant for great things and never had the opportunity to achieve them. Besides, the prospect of naming the ship after a powerful sword was attractive to Mac. Thus did the ship become renamed the Excalibur, and it had been that name that had been stabbing at the perimeter of the Alliance’s interests.
On one of the outlying worlds, they had freed the members of a small colony that had been under the Alliance’s yoke. Most of the colonists had chosen to flee, hoping to find a stretch of space that was beyond the Alliance’s reach. A few had remained with the Excalibur, however, and one of them was an older, haggard human named Jellico. He was lean and muscular, with thinning blond hair and a beard that had been s
craggly when he first came to the ship but which he had since started trimming meticulously, even obsessively. He had a great deal of knowledge about vessels and strategy, and his advice had served Mac well on more than one occasion.
Jellico now paced the bridge of the Excalibur while Mac sat in his command chair, watching the screen intently. Robin and Soleta were there as well, along with Kalinda, sister of Si Cwan and the only survivor of the previous command crew. Mac had considered tossing Kalinda out the airlock on more than one occasion on principle alone, but Robin had implored him not to, as had McHenry. Kalinda had developed a rapport with McHenry that even Soleta felt transcended whatever bond he had with them. Furthermore, Kalinda and Robin had likewise developed a relationship. Mac had not been sanguine about that, since he still didn’t entirely trust Kalinda, but finally he had shrugged it off and decided that one simply could not dictate the directions in which one’s heart took one.
“Soleta’s right,” Jellico said, leaning in toward Mac.
“My two favorite words,” Soleta said.
Jellico ignored her. Mac knew it was because he and Soleta did not get on particularly well. He distrusted Romulans, if for no other reason than that they were allies of the Alliance, albeit reluctant ones. But he knew about Mac and Soleta’s history and, being a latecomer to the Excalibur, knew that he was in no position to gainsay Mac’s faith in her. “It could be a trap.”
“Yes, that’s been made abundantly clear. McHenry? Have we got it yet?”
Coming up on it now, Mac.
“It’s just ahead,” said Soleta.
Jellico looked around and then frowned in frustration. “You know, it’s damned inconvenient that you and Soleta and Kalinda can hear him, but I can’t. Doesn’t it make you nervous that he runs the entire ship?”
“What do I know about running ships?” Mac said reasonably. “There’s nothing I could do in running the controls that McHenry couldn’t do better and faster.”
Star Trek®: Mirror Universe: Shards and Shadows Page 27