Demands of Honor (22 page)

And, as it turned out, so would Fuller.

*   *   *

“First Officer Karel,” Duras said, approaching him. “Koloth has commanded you back to the ship.”

Karel was immediately on his guard. Koloth's orders had been clear: keep an eye on Duras and his people. Why bring him back to the ship now?

“There has been trouble with the Earther vessel. There is a danger to the
D'k Tahg,
” Duras said, as if reading Karel's doubts.

Karel studied the councillor's face, looking for deceit. The problem was, he doubted he had ever seen anything else in Duras's features. The councillor shrugged and said, “Contact your captain.”

Karel intended to do just that: the only problem was his communicator would not penetrate the mine. There was new interference coming from somewhere. He would have to go outside to make that call. Turning to Gash, he said, “Assemble your men, we are returning to the surface.”

He was tempted to leave a few warriors here to watch Duras, but his blood was calling out a warning. There was danger everywhere; they would be better off if they stayed together.

The trip to the surface was faster than the trip down since they were able to use the lifts that Duras's technicians had repaired.
At least they are good for something,
Karel thought.

On the ground level, they walked quickly through the complex, and Karel could not shake the feeling that Duras was up to something beneath the ground, something dishonorable—a plot that required darkness to plan and execute. He quickened his pace, and as soon as he was out of the mine, he reached for his communicator.

“Karel to Koloth.”

“
First Officer Karel, this is the
D'k Tahg.” Karel was immediately aware that something was wrong. He didn't recognize the voice.

“Who is this? Give me Captain Koloth!” On instinct, Karel turned to Gash. “We need to get inside. Now!” But before he could move two steps, he felt the transporter beam take him.

He expected his next sight to be the
D'k Tahg
's transporter room, but a moment later he and his warriors were standing in a field. They were obviously still on the planet, but the terrain was different here. Gone was the rocky forest, which had been replaced by grassy plains. Those plains were empty for as far as the eye …

No, not empty. There were bodies a few meters away.
Klingon
bodies. A lot of Klingon bodies. As he approached, a quick count told him that about a hundred lifeless warriors were lying on the ground: the entire crew—or at least the part that was still loyal to Captain Koloth.

That meant Duras and his people had taken control of the ship. Karel saw his captain lying in the grass and felt a howl of rage building in his throat. He gave it voice and vowed that Duras would pay for this outrage.

Doctor McCoy entered the bridge. Kirk could see the scowl on the doctor's face. Kirk guessed what was bothering him.

“How are your patients, Bones?”

“Physically they're fine, but I would like to throw one of them in the brig.”

The doctor had told Kirk about the incident in sickbay,
the altercation with security personnel. “I thought you confined him to quarters?”

“I did, but he keeps leaving and harassing the crew. Security has been calling me every five minutes,” McCoy said. “Between that and filing complaints with Starfleet and Federation authorities, he's kept himself quite busy.”

“I'll have Giotto put a guard on his quarters and keep him inside—it'll be almost as good as the brig.”

“But not nearly as satisfying. In his latest complaint to Command, he claimed that he was treated better by the Klingons.”

Kirk gave Giotto the order himself. The crew was tense, on standing yellow alert, with a constant threat of a Klingon warship nearby. The last thing they needed was an unbalanced civilian making mischief. Even if the man caused no physical trouble, he would keep crew members from focusing on their jobs.

“Captain, the Klingons are activating transporters,” Spock said.

“What are they moving?”

“Personnel.” After a moment the Vulcan added, “Interesting, they are transporting several members of the crew at a time to the planet's surface.”

“How many?” Kirk asked.

“Thirty so far and they are continuing.”

“They could be troops. If the Klingons are readying for an assault on the landing party—”

“Unlikely, Captain. The crew is being transported to another continent, more than two thousand kilometers away from the inhabited part of the planet. In fact, there are no natives in this area.”

“What?”

“Transport complete. One hundred and seven members of the crew are now at that location. Now the transporters are being reactivated. They are sending heavy equipment down to the area around the mine.”

Kirk had heard enough. “Lieutenant Uhura, get me Captain Koloth. Let's find out what kind of heavy equipment the Klingons need for their diplomatic mission. And maybe we'll find out what's going on here.”

“No response to hails,” Uhura said.

That wasn't good. Kirk was immediately on his feet. “Get me Councillor Duras.”

“I have him on the surface,” Uhura said.

A moment later, the councillor's voice came from the intercom:
“Captain Kirk.”

“Councillor, I am concerned about the recent transporter activity. If you are moving heavy weapons to the planet, understand that I will deal very strongly with any threat to the landing party.”

“Captain, I am under no obligation to reveal to you the nature of our dealings or our trade with the natives of the planet. However, in the interests of peaceful cooperation, I will tell you we are providing spare parts and upgraded communications and mining equipment.”

Kirk knew when he was being lied to. It was time to bring this confrontation out in the open. “Councillor, in the interests of
peaceful cooperation,
I will inform you of our ongoing negotiations with the
legitimate
planetary authorities. They have generously given us their complete supply of dilithium crystals.” Kirk paused, letting that sink in.

Finally, the councillor said,
“Really, Captain?”

“Councillor Duras, I tire of these games. We both
know that you came here to acquire the crystals, since the Klingon Empire failed to get them previously from their Orion agents who built the mine. You also failed to take the crystals from Starbase 42. You just failed again. If you want any of the planet's dilithium, you had better be prepared for a long stay. Our estimates show that it will be months before the mine produces any significant number of new crystals.”

When Duras replied, his voice was smooth.
“Captain, as you know, the Klingon Empire denies any involvement in the Orion operation here. And the incident at Starbase 42 was the result of a rogue operation by one of our commanders. As for the dilithium currently in your possession, you misunderstand the Klingon Empire's clearly stated position. We are here to talk to the native Klingons on this world. We do not seek their mineral wealth, we merely desire an opportunity to develop ties with a race of brothers. Frankly, I find your suspicion and insinuation insulting.”

There was a click as the councillor broke the line.

“Fascinating,” Spock said.

“Jim, he sounds like a man who thinks he's still holding a few good cards,” McCoy said.

“My thinking exactly, Bones, but which ones?”

There was no answer, but Kirk had not expected one. Whatever was going on here, Kirk was sure of one thing: the situation had just become even more dangerous.

Karel was surprised to see that his captain and the others were unconscious but alive. He called to the ship and was not surprised when there was no response. Duras had obviously taken the ship and had gotten Koloth and
all those loyal to him out of the way. The only remaining questions were why he had done it and where had he put them. The hand scanners could find no sign of the mine. They could be anywhere on the planet. And wherever they were, he was sure it was far from the mine. Duras would take no chances now.

Karel ordered Gash and his men to check on each of the crew, to see if all were alive. For the moment, they were out of options. No, Karel had one thing he could do; it just wasn't an appealing option. Pulling out his communicator, he said, “Karel to Duras.”

A moment later, Duras came on the line.
“Yes, First Officer Karel?”
His voice was even, pleasant actually.

“What are you doing, Councillor Duras?”

“What am I doing? I am striking a blow for the empire, something you are too weak and bloodless to understand.”

“You have taken action against the captain and crew of a Klingon battle cruiser, not the enemies of the empire.”

“I do what I must to serve the empire. I offered you the
D'k Tahg,
but you refused me, choosing loyalty to your pathetic captain rather than the greater interests of the Klingon people. I presume Koloth is still unconscious, lying on the ground at your feet—while
I
am about to set into motion the most glorious chapter of the history of the Klingon Empire.”

“By attacking in darkness, by using gas and transporters to betray your people?” Karel snapped.

“By achieving victory. You made your choice, now you will die with your captain.”

So Duras did intend to kill them, but why hadn't he
already? Karel realized that he knew: Duras wanted to gloat first, to revel in his victory as he enjoyed Koloth's and Karel's defeat. Such would be their penalty for standing against him.

“I will kill you,” Karel said.

“You are now an ocean away from the mine and you have no weapons or vehicles that can reach us, but by all means bluster away, Karel. While you do, I am going to destroy this world. But fear not, you will make a contribution to my victory. My report will show that the Earthers destroyed the planet, killing all of our Klingon brothers, and, unfortunately, Captain Koloth, you, and the rest of your pathetic crew. However, we will avenge you and destroy the
Enterprise
in your names. The war begins here, the result of a cowardly attack by Earthers on a defenseless Klingon people. The entire empire will rise up in fury and crush the Federation for its treachery. You will be remembered as heroes, which is more than you deserve, but one of the sacrifices I am prepared to make.”

“You would kill an entire world of people of Klingon blood, in service of a lie?”

“This is war. No victory is won without sacrifice. Great leaders understand that, while lesser Klingons like you and Koloth die helpless as the battle rages around you.”

The empire had built the mine and then tried to destroy the world to hide their involvement. Now, Duras was going to finish the job to launch a dishonorable war. A moment of insight told Karel something even more important.

“
You
built the mine. The orders came from the High Council.”

There was silence on the other end for a moment.
“Yes, I did. The failure of that operation cost me quite a bit with the council as well. This operation will change all that however.”

The councillor spoke for a few more seconds, but Karel wasn't listening. His mind was stuck on one essential piece of information:
Duras authorized the operation to build the mine.

According to the information he had gained from the informant on Qo'noS, the same member of the High Council that had built the mine had instituted the infiltrator program that had swallowed his brother.

“You know quite a bit for such a pathetic servant of mediocrity. Well, you soon will take that knowledge to the River of Blood with you.”

A bellow of rage escaped from Karel's throat. When it subsided, he realized that Duras had broken the line. There was noise behind him. Captain Koloth was on his feet and some of the others were starting to stir.

He could see rage on his captain's face. “First Officer Karel, report!” Koloth demanded.

SYSTEM 7348

FEDERATION SPACE

“M
ICHAEL,
I'
M PARTICULARLY CONCERNED
about the heavy equipment that they're moving in,”
the captain's voice said through Fuller's communicator. “
Duras is planning something, but it seems to have nothing to do with dilithium, at least for the moment.”

“I can think of one way to upset his plans, whatever they are. Adon is planning an assault on the mining facility,” Fuller said.

“I see.”

Interesting. Fuller had just told the captain that a race that was completely preindustrial less than a year ago was planning to attack a much larger force with modern weapons and the help of the Klingon Empire—and Kirk simply accepted that without question or comment. Of
course, Fuller had read the reports. He knew about the captain's feelings about these people in general, and Adon's father in particular.

“Have they asked you for help?”
Kirk said.

“They have, Captain, and under the circumstances I am inclined to give it.”

“I authorize you to take whatever action you deem necessary to protect Adon's clan and the interests of the Federation. What do you need?”

“We could use some more phaser rifles, one for each of us.”

“Done. We'll monitor the situation from space.”
Fuller noticed that the captain had stopped short of promising help from the ship's weapons if it came to it, and Fuller understood why. Something strange was going on aboard the Klingon warship. Dissent? Mutiny? Whatever it was, it had put half of the crew an ocean away.

There was an excellent chance that the
Enterprise
would be too busy to intervene directly when things started on the surface. That meant that Fuller would have to assume that the landing party would be operating on its own.