“Sleeping on guard duty, questioning the orders of a member of my guard,” the Empress interrupted. “I’m sure if I had more time, I could think of a few other things you are in need of forgiveness for.”
On the small landing field of the Klingon Battle Academy the entire academy personal stood in formation before a floating platform. More than a dozen cloaked figures guarded the base of the platform. Five more cloaked figures were standing on the platform. One of them stepped forward. “Who dares to stand before the Empress? I’ve never...,” he said. O’mri pulled his disruptor and fired it into the ground. “On your knees and give honor to the Empress and the House of Kahless, the Unforgettable, to whom you have pledged your life.”
All but one of the Klingons began to knell before the Empress. “We have no need to honor the dead,” he said.
“In times past none would question the commands of the Royal Guard,” Darrel said.
“The only guards left are two escorts that deserted the Empress to save their own lives,” the Klingon before them replied. He was the academy’s executive officer loyal to the House of Duras and General K’lgar. “You guard the dead and have no power in this world. A new age is coming.”
“To guard the dead, one needs to be dead,” the Empress said as she threw back the hood of her cloak. “In life or death, my guards have power. If you would not honor me in death, then you did not honor me in life. I cannot make you honor me in life, but I you will honor me in death, kill him.” Darrel pulled his phaser out killed the academy executive officer almost before the order was given.
General Gorkon was old and a little slow getting to the formation that stood before the Empress. “On your knees and beg forgiveness of your Empress,” he commanded from the back of the formation where he had seen and heard all that had transpired. He walked through the now knelling cadets and knelt before the Empress. “Please forgive us, Empress. News of your death has unsettled many of us.”
“Forgiveness must be earned,” the Empress said. “I have need of an army to replace members of the old guard that have passed beyond this world.”
“We are yours, my Lady, command us,” General Gorkon replied.
“This is Darrel, he is the commander of my guard,” the Empress said.
“But, he is a human,” General Gorkon said with a bit of distaste in his voice.
“Yes, he is, but I can trust him, that is more than I can say about some Klingons right now,” the Empress replied.
“I begin to understand,” General Gorkon said knowing the remaining guards that surrounded the Empress were in no mood to deal politely with any who would oppose them.
“I must retake the Guard’s armory and the spaceport at the same time we attack the Detention Center and the Great Hall,” Darrel said. He looked out at those before him and raised his voice. “Hear me and hear me well. My name is Darrel; I am the last of the old guard. I command the new guard until the matter at hand is resolved. I should like to tell you what is going on, but first I want you to remember a couple of things. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m human, there are a few other humans and a Vulcan you might run into also. Don’t shoot us; we are on your side. We should all be wearing black uniforms of the Empress’s Guards. I don’t have the time to worry about being shot by the side I’m on, besides, the Empress needs a few hundred new guards and I get to pick them. So, I will be monitoring your performance. Fifteen days ago, thirty-seven Klingon war ships jumped the Empress’s convoy near Skellos in the neutral zone. I rescued the Empress and her daughter just in time. We lost the Empress’s battlecruiser and two scouts, one of which crashed on Skellos. That ship was manned by humans. They are the best I could get from Starfleet. It was intended for them to crash on Skellos. They eluded capture for eight days. We went to Starbase 11 for repairs. How great the dishonor for the Empress to turn to an enemy for help. But, when friends try and kill you, what choice is there? I have proof that General K’lgar is trying to gain total control of the Empire. With your help the Empress will regain control of the Empire and expose K’lgar for the traitor he is. You are pledged to defend the House of Kahless and the Empire. K’lgar has tried to kill the Empress and bring down the House of Kahless. Because of K’lgar the Empress has lost face before her enemies and suffered much dishonor. You will help the Empress regain her honor. For the glory of Kahless, the Unforgettable, and for the glory of the Empire he created, prepare for battle!”
Three ships sat cloaked in geosynchronous above Qam-Chee, the First City of Qo'noS. Onboard the Phoenix a number of officers gathered on the bridge stared intently at the battle plans on the main view screen. “Because there are beam shields in place that protect all the buildings from what we are about to do. Ashalara, O’mri and his crew will try a quiet takeover of the Guard’s armory. A company of the cadets will standby for close support and to man the equipment in the armory once we have taken it,” Darrel said. “Tara, Scotty and Uhura and Lieutenant Gi’ral will take two squads of guards and two squads of cadets and attack the Detention Center.”
“General Gorkon, you will command the main strike force,” Darrel continued. “You must capture the spaceport and hold it at all cost. I will try and reinforce you as soon as I can. The Empress and I will take the remaining guards and two squads of cadets and deal with K’lgar in the Great Hall. No one is to begin their attack until O’mri has secured the armory or shooting starts. We are going to use the transporters of our three ships to try and transport you all as close as possible. Now we wait. I want everything online and standing by.”
Ashalara, O’mri and twenty other Klingons beam onto the garden path that led to the armory from the palace. A moment later a company of Battle Academy cadets were also beamed down. O’mri’s crew quickly jumped to either side of the path and the company of cadets spread out behind them. O’mri checked his men and then looked around for Ashalara. To his horror he saw her walking down the middle of the path toward the armory. He ran after her, two of his crew followed after him. “Princess, please wait,” he begged in a whispered tone.
“I will not cower in my own home,” Ashalara replied.
“This is not the way, Princess,” O’mri said.
“This is not a debate, guardsman,” Ashalara said. “We four can get closer than all 160 of us could together.”
Two guards standing watch at the armory entrance took note of the small group approaching them. “Halt,” one of the guards said when they were close enough.
“Who dares to command the daughter of the Empress in her own home?” Ashalara spat back in disgust.
“Princess Ashalara?”
“Who questions?”
“We heard you were dead, Princess,” the other guard said.
“Perhaps I am dead, come to haunt the living. Stand aside and death will pass you by,” Ashalara said as the three personal guards with her pulled their weapons and aimed them at the two men guarding the armory. Ashalara held out her hands to the two very surprised guards. “Your weapons or your life,” she said. The guards quickly handed her their weapons.
O’mri quickly disabled the beam shield from the control panel by the armory door before opening the door. “Phoenix, beam the two guards here to a holding cell,” he said to his communicator. A moment later the guards vanished.
“See, Captain O’mri, quick and quiet,” Ashalara said a bit smugly as she walked through the armory door.
O’mri watched as Ashalara entered the armory before speaking into his communicator again. “Darrel, we’re in the armory, no noise... I think Ashalara will make a fine empress one day,” he added.
“Ok, everybody move out and good luck,” the voice on the communicator replied.
Scotty set the explosives on the front door of the Detention Center then stepped to one side of the door pushing the button on the detonator switch in his hand. Those with him did not wait for the smoke to clear as they rushed through the door. The firefight inside the building was brief but intense.
“I think the marines have just landed,” McCoy said as he jumped back away from the door.
Beams of energy flashed through the hallway followed by a dozen Klingons dressed in black. Two of them stop in front of the door. “Scotty?” Chekov asked not entirely sure the man dressed in black standing in the doorway was his friend.
“Uhura, you’re alive,” McCoy said stating the obvious.
“We just stopped by to bring you some new clothes and see how you’re doing,” Scotty said.
“We’ll have you out in a moment,” Uhura said as she pushed the button on the panel by the door that turned off the force field. “Where’s the captain?”
“The Klingons took him to stand trial,” Chekov replied.
“What’s wrong with Sulu?” Scotty asked.
“He’s got a bad infection, from an animal bite on Skellos,” McCoy replied. “If I don’t get him some help soon, he’s going to die.”
“Darrel, this is Scotty, Sulu is hurt, everyone else is alright,” he said into his communicator.
“Have Tara and ten guards take McCoy and Sulu to the nearest medical center. The rest of you join me at the Great Hall,” the communicator replied.
From the spaceport control tower General Gorkon watched the battle below. Facing battle hardened soldiers of the Empire, his cadets were doing much better than he had expected. “We have control of the spaceport and are holding our own for the moment,” he said into his communicator.
“Reinforcements are on the way,” it replied.
Just when Gorkon thought the battle might go the other way a company of cadets and battle hardened soldiers appeared with a lot of heavy equipment. Moments later the fight for the spaceport ended. Gorkon realized that the relative ease at which he was able to capture the spaceport meant that the enemy’s forces were stretched thin and worried that the main body of forces might be elsewhere. He sent any troops he could spare to reinforce Darrel and the Empress at the Great Hall.
Lieutenant Gi’ral and ten guards followed Tara and McCoy as they carried Sulu into the medical center. Almost all the medical personnel were shocked and confused to see the Empress’s Guards. “This man needs help,” Gi’ral said.
“He’s a human,” one of the doctors said.
“Yes, he is human, but he is also one of the Empress’s Guards and requires medical attention now,” Gi’ral growled back.
“Just show me where the antibiotics are and I’ll treat him myself,” McCoy said.
“I’m not about to...,” the doctor started to say.
Gi’ral backhanded the Doctor hard enough to spin him around and knock him to the floor. “The streets of the city will soon run red with the blood of all those who oppose the will of the Empress,” he said as he drew his disruptor. “Perhaps your blood should mingle with the blood of the traitors who will die this night.”
“For God’s sake don’t kill him,” McCoy said somewhat alarmed. “Wounded are going to start pouring in any time now. We will need all the help we can get.”
Gi’ral glared at the Klingon physician. “You are correct, Doctor. I can always kill him later, if need be,” he said. “I spare your life because you might be instrumental in saving the lives of others. Do not give me cause, Doctor. I will not spare your life again.”
“I need the strongest antibiotic you’ve got,” McCoy said. “After you get it, start setting up to receive the wounded that will be coming in.”
Outside the Great Hall Darrel and the Empress with her guards silently removed the Klingons that were guarding the building. Inside the Great Hall Kirk’s trial had begun...
“How long will we ignore the crimes of the Federation as they seek to destroy the Empire that we have fought long and hard to establish?” K’lgar said as he began to lay his case before the assembly. How many times has the Federation stolen from us the things that should have been ours? How much humiliation will we suffer at the hands of the Federation before we say enough is enough? I tell you now we can no longer look the other way. The Federation has dealt us a blow aimed at the heart of the Empire with hopes of destroying the Empire from within.”
“Some time ago Captain Kirk seized a Klingon Bird of Prey while the commander of the vessel was engaged in his duty of protecting the Empire,” K’lgar continued. “Kirk then killed the commander and his crew that there should be no witnesses to his crime. Eighteen days ago, with the blessings of the Federation, Captain Kirk using that Bird of Prey assassinated the Empress and her daughter as they toured the regions of the Empire near the Neutral Zone. Captain Kirk was aided by a known Federation spy whose ship was destroyed by ships of the Empress’s escort and other vessels that were able to answer the Empress’s distress call. The ship that Kirk was in was damaged in the subsequent battle but not before Kirk had destroyed eight ships and damaged a dozen more. Sadly, one of the ships destroyed was the Empress’s battlecruiser despite the efforts of the defending vessels. Captain Kirk and his crew were captured on Skellos where the ship crashed.”
K’lgar paced back and forth for a moment before continuing. “Captain Kirk has taken the lives of the Empress, her daughter, the entire royal guard, and many valiant Klingon warriors some of whom sat on this Council. To call for the death of Kirk, a long time enemy of the Empire is not enough. I call for the destruction of the Federation who sent him. For only with the destruction of the Federation can our dead rest in peace.”
“Captain Kirk a speaker on your behalf has not been found and all through these proceedings you have remained silent. You have not even entered a plea on your behalf. There is little doubt in my mind of your guilt, but Klingon justice allows you the chance to prove your innocence,” said the Council Speaker and judge chosen from among the members of the High Council to preside over the trial because of the death of the Chancellor and no replacement had yet been decided upon. “So far you have not done or said anything to prove or disprove the charges against you. Do you wish to give a final statement on your behalf?”
Kirk watched as the guard on the door of the Great Hall vanished only to be replaced by a cloaked figure. He could not help but notice as other cloaked figures slipped silently into the back of the room. “Yes, I think now is the time to speak out,” he said.
“You may stand and address the council,” the Council Speaker said.
Kirk stood up from the small stool on which he had sat through most of his so-called trial. “I have sat here and watched and listened to the evidence against myself and I too would think I was guilty of the crimes which I stand accused of if I did not know better. I am an explorer. My mission has been to seek out new life and new civilizations and to explore and study the new worlds I find. Because I am a Starfleet officer, I have often been called upon to defend the interests of the Federation. In times past, I have found myself at odds with the Klingon Empire. I have on those occasions successfully defended the Federation’s interests. Some of you here know me a little more personally than you might care to admit. I ask you who know me, is what you have seen and heard here today fit in well with the kind of person you know me to be? Is assassination my style? Can the rest of you believe that I am such a good warrior that I can defeat more than twenty ships single-handed? What would the Federation gain by the assassination of the Empress, the collapse of the Empire? The Empire is already near economic collapse. I ask; who stands to benefit the most by the Empress’s death? Who now controls the Klingon Empire?”
“You’ve killed our Empress and now you seek to fix the blame elsewhere, I’ll not stand by and let you do even more damage to the Empire by casting suspicion on members of this council,” K’lgar interjected.
“I did not mean those that govern the Empire stand to gain anything by the Empress’s death. I do not believe that this council which is supposed to govern the Empire is in control,” Kirk retorted.
“So, you still seek to shift the blame,” K’lgar said. “You have been caught in your own web of lies. Admit the truth Kirk and meet your death as a warrior. We are all warriors here and we can all understand the actions of a warrior though he is an enemy. Do not shame yourself by laying the blame for your actions elsewhere.”
“Perhaps the truth of the matter does indeed lie elsewhere,” a loud voice from the back of the room said.
“Who speaks?” the Council Speaker asked.
“I, Darrel, commander of the Empress’s Guard speak. K’lgar by order of the Empress I am to take you into custody to stand trial for the attempted assassination of the Empress.”
“What kind of a joke is this? The Empress is dead,” K’lgar said.
“The news of my death has been greatly exaggerated,” the Empress said as she threw back the hood of the cloak she was wearing, so all could see that she still lived.
“Empress!” It was a one word declaration of surprise. K’lgar was at a loss for what to do next.
“It is a sad day in the history of the Empire when I, the Empress of the Klingon Empire, must turn to my enemies for help. Why have you done this to me, K’lgar?
“What would you have me do? Let you and the others here sell the Empire out to the Federation,” K’lgar said. “You have become soft as the humans, Empress. Killing you would have been the salvation of the Empire. We would have destroyed the Federation once and for all.”
“War with the Federation is your answer to all our problems. War with the Federation at this time would only destroy the Empire forever. There are other ways to conquer an enemy,” the Empress said.
“Yeah, I see how you would conquer an enemy with a Federation spy at your side,” K’lgar spat back.
“Yes, he is a spy, but not entirely for the Federation. Darrel’s loyalty to me and the Empire is without question, which is more than I can say for you and half those in this room,” the Empress snapped back barely containing the fury within her.
“What would you fight with, K’lgar? The Federation outnumbers the Empire ten to one,” Darrel said. “You aren’t winning the war you are fighting now, and you want to go start another one?”
“You think you have all the answers. I have planned for just such a problem as this,” K’lgar said as he pulled his communicator from his belt. “Kill them all now,” he said into it. Disruptor fire erupted from the walls behind K’lgar. To K’lgar’s surprise disruptors that should have been directed at the Council members from the back of the Great Hall were now directed toward him and those behind him. Everyone dove for cover.
At the first sign of weapons fire Kirk dove for cover and found himself caught in the middle of the battle. Darrel and the other guards fought their way toward the platform at the front of the Great Hall.
Surrender K’lgar, the Great Hall is surrounded’ There is nowhere to run,” Darrel yelled above the pandemonium.
K’lgar found himself with a clear shot at Darrel and the Empress behind him. “If I am to die then I shall not die alone,” he mumbled to himself as he took careful aim.
Forgotten Kirk was able to work his way around behind K’lgar and rushed him before he had time to pull the trigger. K’lgar still managed to get the shot off but the blast from his disruptor went wide and high missing pretty much everyone. Those few of K’lgar’s men that remained realized they were outnumbered, and the fight was a lost cause. They began to try to flee for their lives. Most of them were cut down as they tried to exit the Great Hall; others chose to go down fighting. In the end all of K’lgar’s men were hunted down and killed.
There was a brief struggle for the phaser as K’lgar and Kirk rolled across the floor. Kirk ended up on top and sent a couple of hard right punches straight into K’lgar’s face before the Empress’s Guards could reach them and disarm K’lgar. “It’s over, General, you lose,” Kirk said brushing at non-existent dirt on a filthy uniform as he stood up. “The next time you think about playing cards I suggest you make sure of who’s doin’ the dealing.”
“Perhaps, but I think you’re like me, a card in a much larger game. This hand has been played out, but the game is not over,” K’lgar said just before he pulled the belt knife out from one of the guards and drove it deep into his chest before anyone could stop him.
“What was that all about?” Darrel asked as he looked down on the now lifeless body of K’lgar.
“Ever go fishing?” Kirk asked in reply.
“Every now and again,” Darrel replied.
“You pulled in the net a little too soon and the big fish got away,” Kirk said.
“That is sad to hear. I had hoped to have gotten them all,” the Empress said.
“Well, it will be a while before that fish will dare to stick his head above water,” Darrel said.
“Darrel, after things have settled down a bit you and I have some unfinished business to settle,” Kirk said softly so those around them would not hear.
“I think I can find a suitable place,” Darrel replied.
Spock and a squad of cadets searched the back rooms of the Great Hall for any remnants of K’lgar’s men. Spock rounded a corner and collided with a Klingon going the other way. He recognized the Klingon immediately as A’chan, captain of the ship that took Tara to be sold as a slave. They say Vulcans don’t have emotions, but they do, sometimes. Hate for this man burned strong inside Spock. Before A’chan could use his disruptor Spock tore it from him and crushed the disruptor in his hand before throwing it aside. Spock had nearly beat A’chan to bloody pulp before Darrel and Kirk and the others found him.
“That’s enough, Spock,” Kirk yelled as he and Darrel tried to pull him off A’chan.
“I’d just as soon let you kill him, but I’ve promised him to Tara,” Darrel said as they held Spock pinned against the wall opposite from A’chan. Holding onto the wall A’chan slowly pulled himself up. Darrel let Spock go and looked over at the Empress. She just shook her head no. “I think this is one promise I won’t keep,” he said as he pulled the knife from his belt. The side blades of the knife snapped open just before Darrel plunged the knife deep into A’chan’s stomach. He twisted the knife before pulling it out again. A’chan’s intestines poured out onto the floor as he slowly slid back down the wall.
It was over in a single night. Half the Klingon High Council were either dead or badly wounded. The Chancellor and several members of the council died when the Empress’s battlecruiser was destroyed so the High Council was for the moment leaderless. Several of the remaining members of the Council had declared their allegiance to the Empress and their ships now ringed the planet. For the moment the Empress held the power of the Klingon Empire in her hand.
The Empress stood in the Great Hall and looked out at the remaining council members before her. That she did not sit in the chair normally reserved for the Chancellor spoke to the fact that she did not intend to seek power for herself. “The events of the past few days could not have transpired without the aid of some of you within this hall,” she said with bitterness in her voice. “Many have died and for what? Greed and power. What have we come to when Klingons seek to kill other Klingons? The Federation has no need to try and destroy us. We will destroy ourselves. We destroy everything in our path and then wonder why we have so little. We have sought to blame others for the problems we have brought upon ourselves. I say no longer will we do as we have in the past. We will now make friends where there were once enemies. In battle, a friend you can trust is worth more than a dozen you cannot though you are all on the same side. I am shamed through the actions of my own people that caused me to beg for help from our enemies. Though the Federation would not officially help they did allow their greatest warrior to come to my aid. So now I must honor friend and foe alike.”
“Stand and with me now and give honor to those that have served me and the Empire,” the Empress continued. “Captain Kirk, please bring your valiant crew and come stand before your Empress. Kirk, Spock, and the others walked over and knelt before the Empress.
“We are ever your servants, your Highness,” Kirk said.
“Few times have members of the Federation been honored by the Klingon Empire. Captain Kirk, it has been said that you are our greatest foe. Yet, I call you friend and wonder why you our greatest enemy would save my life?” the Empress asked.
“I saw a chance to further the cause of peace between our two peoples, nor could I stand by and let you be killed least the blame for your death fall upon my head and the Federation,” Kirk replied.
“A path of honor that only Kahless himself would have walked. How many here stood idle while you took action?” the Empress asked no one in particular. “Captain Kirk, and those that stand with you shall be forever listed as members of my guard with all the rights, privileges, and rewards that befit your rank.” The Empress placed a metal medallion around Kirk’s neck. It was the highest Medal of Honor that a Klingon could hope to receive. Then in turn she passed out metals to Spock, Uhura, Sulu, Chekov, and McCoy.
“General Gorkon, Captain O’mri, Lieutenant Gi’ral, Lieutenant B’elan, come,” the Empress commanded. General Gorkon, O’mri, Gi’ral, and B’elan came forward and knelt before the Empress. “General Gorkon, in times past you refused the honor my mother would have given you, and I know you would do so now. I cannot help but show my gratitude for your part in the past events.” The Empress smiled as she placed the medal around the General’s neck.
“Captain O’mri you with Lieutenant Gi’ral, and Lieutenant B’elan and your respective crews are to whom I owe my life and you shall all be listed among my guards and shall be the center around which I shall build my new guard,” the Empress said as she placed medals around each of their necks.
“Darrel.” Darrel came and knelt before the Empress. “Darrel, what am I to do with you?” she asked. “There is no honor that I could give you that you do not already have. You commanded my guards so I could not even give you that. It was you who uncovered the plot on my life, and it was your plan by which the traitors were caught. Though you are human and an enemy of the Empire, I know your loyalty to be without question.”
“I live but to serve you, my Empress,” Darrel said.
“You have but to wish and I will command it to be so,” the Empress said.
“I would wish that you would give heed to my counsel,” Darrel replied.
“Speak and your Empress will hear,”
“The Empire is in need of a new supreme commander and chancellor that can rebuild the forces of the Empire; General Gorkon I believe is a true warrior equal to the task,” Darrel said. “I can best serve you, my Lady, as something other than as the commander of your guard. This honor I would give to Captain O’mri, he is better suited to command than I. Then there is the matter of Tara. She has suffered much and is the true reason for your being here today.”
“It shall be as you say,” the Empress said daring any of the remaining members of the Council to challenge her. “Tara, come.” Tara came forward and knelt before the Empress. The Empress reached down and gently raised Tara to her feet. “Tara, much evil has been done to you and I know you have suffered much through these past events. Yet, you have returned only good for the evil done to you. I know that you have lost your family. I would that Ashalara, and I should become your family and that you would no longer be called a slave but rather now you shall be known as my daughter. The Empress wrapped her arms about Tara and hugged her. “In truth, you have always been my daughter, now go stand with Ashalara,” she whispered.
“Hear me oh people of the Empire,” the Empress said as she stood before the High Council feeling equal to the power she held in her hands as the rest of the Empire watch on through the live video feed to the whole Empire. “We stand at the crossroads. One path leads to war and our own self-destruction. The other path is the road to peace and prosperity unlike the Empire has ever known. Any fool can destroy. It is more of a challenge to build. As long as I live, I will strive to build in hopes that I will build an empire that can last forever. I cannot build a strong and lasting empire alone. It will ultimately be you, the people of the Empire, that choose the destiny of the Empire. It is not my place to lead you, for that, I leave to General..., Chancellor Gorkon, I can only guide you on the path you should go.”
Darrel and Kirk walk into one of the hangers of the Empress’s Guard. Inside sat a brand-new K’Vort-class Bird of Prey. “Jim, about that unfinished business...,” Darrel started to say.
Kirk hit Darrel with a hard right cross before he could finish what he was saying. The punch was hard enough to spin Darrel around and knock him to the floor. “Next time, if there is a next time, you damn well better tell me the whole plan or count me out,” he said angrily.
“I had that comin', but if I had it to do over, I’d do it exactly the same,” he said from the floor as he massaged the pain from the side of his face with his hand.
“I probably would have done the same thing,” Kirk said as he gave Darrel a hand back up. “So, what did we gain by all this?”
“I would hope we have gained a better understanding of one another and perhaps a chance for peace,” the Empress said as she walked into the hanger followed by Gi’ral, B’elan, and O’mri.
“Empress,” Kirk said as he bowed slightly in acknowledgement of her presence.
“It’s time for us to part ways, Jim,” Darrel said.
Scotty walked down the ramp of the new Bird of Prey and joined the others standing by the ship.
“You’re not coming back to Earth?” Kirk asked.
“No, not right now,” Darrel replied.
“Captain Kirk, this ship is yours, a parting gift from me to you. It is the first of a new line of scout ships made for my guards only,” the Empress said.
“I can’t...,” Kirk said.
“Sure, you can,” Darrel interrupted. “Just park it in my junkyard and whenever you need a ship and can’t get one stop by and pick it up. It will be there when you need it. Besides, if you don’t take it, you’ll have to walk back to Earth.”
“Well, if you put it that way, I’ll take it,” Kirk said with a smile.
“Good, there are not enough words to thank you for the help you and your friends have given. I can only hope to prove to you that your deed has not been in vain,” the Empress said.
“If there can be peace between our peoples then what we have been through will have been worth it,” Kirk said.
“To that end and to further a better understanding of one another we’d like to send a couple of young men to Starfleet Academy,” Darrel said as he stepped between Gi’ral and B’elan and put his arms around each of them. “I need to find two volunteers with combat experience. They also need to be the brightest and sharpest young men that the Klingon Empire has to offer. They need to be able to stay out of fights and are not to prone to getting into trouble. You two wouldn’t know where I could find two young men that fit that description would you?”
“Us?” B’elan and Gi’ral said almost in unison.
“I hadn’t expected you to volunteer,” Darrel said with a smile. “I trust you two will not disgrace the Empress or the Empire.”
“We’ll need to gather our belongings,” Gi’ral said.
“Already onboard with a few other things we thought you might need,” O’mri said.
“We should inform our families,” B’elan said.
“I will take care of that,” the Empress replied.
“You will be gone a long time, but when you return you will instruct the Empress’s Guard in the things that you have learned,” Darrel said.
“When you return, it is hoped that you will become the standard around which I will build my new guard,” the Empress said.
“This is a hard thing you ask of us,” Gi’ral said.
“Hard as it is, our lives are yours to command,” B’elan said.
“We have thought and talked long and hard on this matter and I cannot say that I like it, but there is much to be gained,” O’mri said.
“If it would help, think of it as a spy mission where you are to gather all the information you can,” Darrel said with a wicked looking smile. “Besides, I’m told your new commanding officer will be promoting you both to captain when you get back.”
“We must say our goodbyes now. There are other things that I must attend to,” the Empress said. “Captain Kirk, I wish you and your friends a safe journey home.”
“Jim, take care of my boys. They are the best the Klingon Empire has to offer,” Darrel said. “Scotty, I’ll beam you over the scotch shortly.”
“You had the scotch onboard the whole time and didn’t tell me,” Scotty said somewhat irritated.
“Yeah,” Darrel said as the Empress took hold of his arm. “Safe journey my friends,”
“Alright, let’s prepare to get underway,” Kirk said. Scotty went back onboard the Klingon ship as Kirk and O’mri stayed outside and watched as Darrel and the Empress walked out of the hanger arm in arm.
“Captain Kirk...,” O’mri said.
“Jim,” Kirk corrected.
“Jim,” O’mri repeated hesitantly. “May I speak with you for a moment?”
“Sure,” Kirk replied.
“I am not as optimistic about our future as my friend Darrel and the Empress,” O’mri said.
“You don’t like the idea of peace between our two peoples?” Kirk asked.
“I have seen too many of my friends die not to understand that peace is a better way,” O’mri replied.
“Then what’s the matter, O’mri?” Kirk asked.
“Call it a feeling or a gift of insight into the future, but I believe that one day we will have to fight one another,” O’mri replied. “It will not be anything the Empress will do, nor will it be any of her guards, I will see to that. Together we stopped those without honor from taking over of the Empire, but we did not get the real power behind it. One day they will try again. I fear that all we’ve done is prolonged our own destruction.”
“If it comes to that, we will do what we must, but for now all any of us can do is to work as hard as we can to prevent that from happening,” Kirk said. “In truth, while in general I really don’t like Klingons, I should like to think that no matter what, you will always be my friend.”
“For a long time, I have only known one human I would call friend and I think he is more Klingon than I am at times. Now, I know another whom the word friend comes easily to mind,” O’mri said as he reached out his hand. Kirk matched the firm grip with one of his own as he took the offered hand. “Good hunting, Jim, and safe journey.”
Bounty II was the name on the side of the ship. Kirk ran his hand over the side of the brand-new ship as he took one last look around before boarding the ship. Once in orbit four boxes materialize in the engine room. “Oh my,” Scotty said as he looked through the boxes with tears in his eyes. “Oh, my goodness... Oh, you lovely darlin’s.” Four cases of 400 year old scotch would make anyone cry.
“Scotty, are we ready to get underway?” Kirk asked.
“Aye, we are now,” came the reply on the speaker.
On the bridge of the Bounty II a box materialized. “What the hell?” Kirk asked.
“Where does he get this stuff?” McCoy asked as he pulled a bottle from the box and blew the dust off the obviously old bottle. He couldn’t even begin to guess at the age of the bottle he held in his hand.
“Bones, that will most likely remain one of the great mysteries of the universe,” Kirk said. “Sulu, plot us a course home.”
“Plotted and laid in sir,” Sulu replied.
“Ahead warp two,” Kirk said.
“Ahead warp two,” Sulu repeated as he pushed the buttons that would take them home.
“Lieutenant Gi’ral, Lieutenant B’elan, there is much you need to know about Earth customs if you’re going to fit in,” McCoy said to the Klingons.” First is to learn how to appreciate Romulan Ale. I’d invite the others to join us, but they can’t drink and drive.”
“It’s going to be a long trip home,” Kirk muttered to himself.
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