STAR TREK: WHERE NO ONE HAS GONE BEFORE
"The Tides of Time and War"
by Michael D. Garcia

Prologue

RMV vas'Deletham
En route to the Narendra Star System.
Stardate 23449.85
Control Room

erei'Riov tr'Khnialmnae turned to look over his shoulder at the commanding officer with concern as the flotilla of warbirds entered the Narendra star system. Were they alone in the control room, he would speak his mind without fear of reprisal as the commanding officer was also a member of his own family; the Tal Shiar Theirrn standing over one of the auxiliary stations made such an act impossible. Instead, he returned his attention to his own console before him.

The Rihannsu Galae vessel vas'Deletham was one of twelve warbirds dispatched by the Galae Command to dispense with the Klingon outpost at Narendra Three. All the executive officer knew of the mission was that the khre'Enriov of the Galae, along with the Khellian of the Tal Shiar, were keeping a close watch on the outcome of it. The presence of the Theirrn and her agents punctuated the attention given to the effort. It was pretty unusual to have so many aboard, given their modus operandi.

The erei'Arrain staning before the ship's helm and navigation control did not turn his head as he reported, "We have now entered the Narendra system, Riov."

The Riov replied, "Understood. Slow to sublight at full speed and alter course to the staging point." As he ordered the course and speed changes, he kept his eyes on the Tal Shiar Theirrn, as if she might speak up and contribute something.

She continued to monitor the ship's systems from her station and said nothing as the orders were carried out.

A small flashing alarm caught erei'Riov tr'Khnialmnae's attention and he turned his head to speak. "Riov, we have an incoming coded message from the Kalabam'kheaus," he reported. "It's from the khre'Riov." The khre'Riov was the Rihannsu Galae officer given command over the flotilla, and he had his own Tal Shiar officer aboard his ship to monitor the assault on the Klingon outpost.

The Theirrn rose from his seat and moved toward tr'Khnialmnae and peered over his shoulder at the message being transmitted. "Rendezvous coordinates have been confirmed, and fleet speed is warp seven," the Tal Shiar officer read aloud.

Every time the Theirrn spoke, the Riov shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Like other members of the Galae, he despised the presence of the intelligence agency aboard his ship, frightening the members of his crew into obedience with the threat of being taken away from everything they held dear and locked away for eternity. The Tal Shiar used fear to inspire loyalty. The Galae used honor and duty to inspire the same.

"Reduce speed to warp seven and maintain course to make the rendezvous," replied the Riov, now standing on the deck as the others.

Within minutes, the cloaked fleet formed up and began to assume attack positions over the planet. The outpost's orbital facility housed several B'rel-class birds of prey and a few support vessels. It was a strategic point from which to launch a major offensive into Rihannsu-held territory. Unlike the border with the United Federation of Planets, the Klingon Empire and the Rihannsu Stelam Aevumih enjoyed no such region as a "neutral zone." This led to a great many skirmishes between the two powers amongst ships patrolling that border. The outpost's presence was perceived as the proverbial knife to the throat of the Rihannsu colonies along the border; the Klingons would use this planet and orbital platform from which to launch stronger assaults on Rihannsu citizens living nearby.

However, the outpost itself was relatively close to the Federation border. erei'Riov tr'Khnialmnae suspected this had not escaped the Tal Shiar's notice. He wondered how they would try and redirect the Klingon response toward the Federation rather than risk all-out war with the Rihannsu. The clandestine operation required a lot of unseen movement by the Tal Shiar, he mused.

All of the Galae warbirds remained cloaked in orbit nearby the outpost, lying in wait for the order to attack from the flagship. Once the signal was given, the warbirds decloaked simultaneously and carried out the attack order immediately.

Within moments, the orbital facility was in ruins, along with the majority of the B'rels docked there. Only a single B'rel was in orbit, surviving the attack. Instead of running from the fight, in true Klingon fashion it began to open fire upon one of the warbirds, but it was destroyed within a few moments. The fleet turned its attention to the planet, and the base that resided there.

It was a large military installation, as most of the Klingon outposts were. It appeared to be capable of supporting several starships and had space-based assault defenses. With the loss of the orbital facility, it was almost certain the base's shields were raised and they stood ready to defend themselves. The problem that the Galae had with fighting Klingons was the simple fact that in a hand-to-hand fight, it was useless to contend. Both Rihannsu and Klingons were of superior strength than the Terrans of the Federation, however, Klingons were bred for combat in a manner that the Rihannsu were lacking in. Rather than risk the lives of thousands upon thousands of Galae officers and enlisted, the only way the Tal Shiar could achieve victory was to use subterfuge and strategy.

The Tal Shiar officer entered in a few commands and without the permission of the Riov, blanked the main viewer with the symbol of the intelligence organization. "Please stand by for fifty seconds," she reported to everyone within the control room.

erei'Riov tr'Khnialmnae attempted to concealed his distaste for the Tal Shiar's tactics, but was only able to do so with a clenched jaw. More than one of the ship's officers seemed to have similar reactions, as they to a man, hide their own reactions as best they could from the Theirrn. tr'Khnialmnae knew that to even hint at any sort of impropriety toward the Tal Shiar would place his career and perhaps his life at great risk. Not even the power of his house and name would shield him from the retaliation of the intelligence agency.

Whatever the Tal Shiar accomplished did not quite use the full time she had allotted, for the control room stations returned to normal in under thirty seconds. It was then that the proximity alert sounded off.

"Riov," said tr'Khnialmnae, "there is a vessel approaching our position at high warp."

tr'Khnialmnae turned to look at the Theirrn as the report was made. She smiled in a subtle fashion, as though she expected the ship to arrive.

"Can you identify them?"

"Not yet, sir. The computer has yet to make an identification, but rates the size and power output at a heavy cruiser."

"Continue the assault, and await orders from the flagship."

"Riov, it's a Federation starship. Ambassador-class heavy cruiser," reported tr'Khnialmnae. "They are transmitting a message."

"On main viewer," replied the Riov.

The image of a Terran woman appeared on the screen. tr'Khnialmnae could see that her rank insignia was that of a "Captain," equal to their Riov. She wore her black hair shoulder-length and straight, with no bangs. With a determined expression upon her face, she spoke. "This is Captain Rachel Garrett of the Federation starship Enterprise. We are responding to the distress call from the Klingon outpost on Narendra Three. You are ordered to stand down your attack immediately and withdraw from the area. If you do not do so, we will engage you."

"I don't know whether to admire her for her bravery or pity her stupidity," remarked the Riov. "What is their arrival time?"

"Fifteen minutes, Riov."

"Riov," said the Tal Shiar officer, "alter your course to intercept the starship. We will be escorted by three ships from the fleet."

There was the briefest of hesitations before the Riov repeated the order to the crew in the control room. "Ready torpedoes and prepare to fire once the Enterprise is within range," he ordered. Destroying the famous Federation starship, the Riov decided, would be a very welcome addition to his list of accolades.