"Your transmission is being disrupted," the Klingon growled at the blurred distortion of a figure on screen.

"It was the only way of avoiding your peoples subspace monitoring network," the figure replied, the blocks of static disguising his features. "I don't think your government would be too happy if they learned of our partnership, do you? Even if they are after the same goal as we are."

"I would concern yourself less about being caught and more about achieving that goal," the Klingon snarled, baring his sharpened, yellowed teeth.

"I have concerned myself with nothing else for the last three years!" the figure growled back.

"And each time your plans have ended in failure! The bomb in the warp core, the power overload in the energy conduits- all disastrously failed from stopping the vessels construction!"

"If those plans failed, they failed because of your incompetence to carry them out," the figure said, reasserting their cool calm. "I am the ideas man, and you are the…the muscle behind our project. It was your job in each case to see the missions through."

"You question my abilities?!" The Klingon roared, smashing a fist into the Communications Control Panel, the buttons beneath his clenched hand buzzing and beeping in response.

"Oh please, we do not have time for any of your Klingon honour garbage. The longer we sit here trading barbs with each other, the bigger the chance this transmission will be triangulated. We are here to arrange our next point of contact, so I can give you the device."

"It is completed?" the Klingon said with surprise.

"And tested. It works perfectly. And it's simple to set up. Even you should be able to work it properly."

The Klingon nodded, ignoring the insult, and stroked the thin moustaches stretching down from his top lip. "Where do we meet? And when? We do not have much time left. The Vessel is scheduled to launch in less than two weeks."

The figure nodded, as the screen flickered. His voice tinged with a metallic interference when he spoke. "I suggest Earth itself. Where better than the site of the launch?"

The Klingon grunted. "It will not be easy to reach Earth at the moment. The planet is under heavy surveillance after the last time. All ships are being screened rigorously."

"But you had to have a way to reach there to plant the device anyway! Why are you only telling me this now?!"

"I was… hoping you would be able to transport me there, when the time came." He tried to smile with obvious strained effort. "Your stealth device can reach the planet without detection."

The figure on screen shook his head and sighed. "Klingons. Do you never plan ahead?"

"I thought you were the brains behind this operation?"

"Just... just find a way to reach Earth!" the figure spat. "I will not risk entering Klingon space again to ferry you about! Your sensors are far more advanced than those around the Federation! I will meet you in one week, at the co-ordinates I am sending now in the Sol System. Find a way to be there!"

The transmission ended, and the Klingon spun from the console and spat on the ground. "Filthy P'tach! When all this is over I will take great pleasure in sliding my Mekleth into his slimy gullet!"

"Patience!" Another Klingon emerged from the shadows; a woman, clad in dark furs and animal pelts. A necklace of teeth stretched down into her ample bosom. She stroked his face, his smooth forehead, devoid of his ancestors cranial ridges. "Right now we need him, and his expertise. We could never succeed in creating such a device without his knowledge."

"But it is not right! Siding with our mortal enemy!"

"The High Council put to us the task of stopping this threat, by any means necessary!"

"I do not think they had this alliance in mind when they did!"

"Which is why we needed to keep the details secret from them. What matters is that their will is done. It stands in both our Empire's interests to see that the Federation fails in this mission! With that ship destroyed Starfleet will lose their work of ten years! Think of it! We can put a stop to this alliance of planets before it has a chance to grow like the weed it is any further! The Humans, the Vulcans, the Andorians, even the Tellarites! All will cease to be a threat to us after this!"

The male nodded his head thoughtfully. "Yes, I know. If this is a failure, their fragile efforts at so- called peace throughout the galaxy will crumble."

"And the Klingon Empire will sweep throughout the Galaxy! An unstoppable wave devouring its enemies one by one! With us at the top!"

They exploded into riotous laughter, patting each other on the back, before kissing each other violently, the male cutting into the female's neck with dirt- encrusted nails. She pulled him back forcefully.

"None of that now! We have a lot to do. We need a way to reach Earth, seeing as our friend is scared of succumbing the Klingon Imperial Guard!"

"I... may know a way," the male said with a toothy grin on his face. "I know of an Orion trader that has use of a working Suliban stealth ship."

"I thought they were all destroyed?"

"He is a very resourceful man. He might be persuaded to take us to the Sol system."

"How much will it cost us?" the female spat.

"He has little interest in wealth anymore. But it might be that you have certain…assets he would be interested in."

The female raised her eyebrows. "Husband, you surprise me! You would loan your wife out to one of those green- blooded demons?"

"For this mission to succeed, I would give you over to him as his own wife if he asked!"

The female smirked, baring her teeth and rotting, blackened gums. "Ah, you could try!"