Star Trek AU:
(Further Adventures of the Lone Traveler Chapters 6-9)
(Timing: Next Generation Season One Episode 26)
Captain Picard's arrival back to the ship was not the pleasant homecoming that the crew had expected. "Mr. Crusher. Make way to the following coordinates:" Picard rattled them off.
Wesley looked at the Captain in shock, "Captain … these coordinates will put us right on the Neutral Zone."
"You have your orders, Mr. Crusher."
"Yes, sir!" Wesley quickly did as ordered and the ship was underway.
Picard pushed a button on his command chair. "All senior officers to the Captain's Ready Room." Picard stood and quickly exited.
The crew were somber at the obvious distress that the Captain was expressing – well, to those who knew him. Very soon, the Senior staff were all present.
"We have a major problem. Several outposts along the Neutral Zone have fallen out of communication. We fear they have been destroyed. We have been ordered to investigate, even crossing into the Neutral Zone as necessary."
There was a gasp. "But that would violate the treaties with Romulus. We haven't seen the Romulans in forty years, although the Klingons report that they have been active."
Picard nodded. "Yes. However, Starfleet feels that it is an acceptable risk and there are legal grounds if we find the outposts destroyed. We must prepare for any eventuality."
Not liking it but placing their trust in the Captain they chorused, "Aye, Aye, Captain!"
The Enterprise found what had been feared. Every outpost on the Federation side of the border had been destroyed. There was one trail found … into the Neutral Zone. Picard ordered the ship forward. The ship went on Yellow Alert.
However, when the Enterprise found the outposts on the Romulan side, they found that these too had suffered the same fate. Before the Captain could make an order, Tasha Yar called out, "Captain! Romulan Warbird decloaking off the Port Bow. They're hailing us!"
"On screen!"
Picard was shown a view that hadn't been seen in a generation. A very large Romulan War Bird was shown on one of the major screens. In the middle, the image of two Romulans. The Senior one asked, "What is the Federation doing invading the Neutral Zone? This is a provocation to war."
Captain Picard tried to be consilliatory. "I'm sorry, Captain. We are investigating several destroyed outposts. A trail led us here and we were shocked to find your own outpost destroyed as well."
The Romulan Captain eased only the very smallest amount as he looked to his First Officer. Before anything could be said, a voice could be heard from the Romulan ship. "Commander! A Klingon Warship is warping into the system!"
The Romulan's face took on a look of anger. "You try to deceive us? You work with those …."
Before the Romulan could finish, another voice interrupted. It was from the Enterprise's bridge. The Klingon officer at Ops, Lietenant Worf, called out, "Confirmed! One Klingon Bird of Prey. And Captain! … It is the Gryffindor!"
The reaction on the Romulans' faces was visible. "We will speak to you soon. Hold your positioin and do not arm your ship." The screen went blank.
Hours Earlier:
The Emperor and the High Council were in a meeting regarding matters of state when there was an interruption. They heard a guard call out, "You cannot …"
Another voice interrupted. "You know me. Stand aside or your blood will decorate the floor of the Council's chambers … and my blade."
The High Council was curious, as was the Emperor. Few had the authority to interrupt a High Council meeting. When the doors opened, they saw: Yes, this was one who had that authority.
James, the current Lord of House Potter entered leading his eldest son and the current Champion from the House of Mogh. As was proper, the three stopped halfway in and dropped into a Klingon salute.
The Emperor asked, "Lord Potter. You interrupt matters of State. I would assume you have good reason."
"Yes, Emperor." Potter of House Potter then stood tall. "I have received word from the Federation/Romulan Neutral Zone. Several Klingons work there. They have gone out of communication. But I received a special message from one who lived there who was of my House: They were under attack and soon to be destroyed."
James of House Potter looked incensed. "There were Klingons there. There were Potters there. I ask permission to take my ship and investigate and, if I find the culprits, permission to ensure Justice is served. If necessary, I would ask permission to call to arms the Gryffindor Alliance."
The High Council knew how serious this request was. The House of Potter was the Shield of the Empire. If they decided there was a threat, they had many Houses who were allied and they would attack and destroy that which threatened the Empire – or subjugate it to the Empire's purposes. Potters did not waste resources. No other House in the Empire had the rights that this one did. But no other House was as Loyal either. And so …
The Emperor stood. "As Emperor, I hereby give you the Permission and Authority to act as you see fit. If you must call the Alliance to Arms, I insist you send your youngest son to the Council as your representative and the Guard of the Emperor."
James saluted, disappointed but expecting it. His youngest son was newly given the title of Warrior and hadn't seen true battle yet. He would take him and allow him to start to earn his glory. But the Empire never let all members of the House of Potter go to Battle – the High Council and the Emperor insisted that there would always be one of Potter blood kept back to repopulate the House as needed. The Empire could not afford to lose the Shield of the Empire.
"It shall be as you say, Emperor." The Lord of Potter called out in challenge the war cry that sang to the blood of their house for over a century: "TO PROTECT THE EMPIRE!" The three quickly finished their salute and withdrew.
Wesley was confused. "Why did they stop making threats when Lt. Worf identified the Gryffindor?"
The First Officer was about to speak but Worf interrupted. "Permission to explain?"
The Captain nodded. "Go ahead."
Worf spoke to Wesley. "You have not yet attended the Academy so you may not know. But the Gryffindor is the personal Warship of the head of the House of Potter. Started by a blooded Human warrior who was already a Lord by birthright, he got two children on Klingon females. He was instrumental in creating the Klingon/Federation alliance. In recognition, the House of Potter was created. The House of Potter holds a special place in the Empire. They are the Shield of the Empire. They have never fought in any conflict they deemed offensive but have fought in every battle and war that was deemed defensive. The Gryffindor is only seen when Klingon citizens, especially those of House Potter, are killed outside of already acknowledged conflict. The Gryffindor may go as it will in any space and can perform any action it deems necessary. This is recognized by every government that the Klingons have made agreement with for over a century."
He turned. "Captain! Permission to act as Liaison with the Gryffindor, Sir!"
Captain Picard could tell how important this was to his Ops Officer. "Granted."
The crew watched as the unusually colored Klingon Warhsip appeared in proximity. Instead of the grey of a normal Warbird, it was colored red and gold.
Tasha Yar called out, "Transmission coming in from both ships."
"Put them both up."
The Romulans were once again seen. On the other side, a Klingon Warrior who was somewhat smaller than normal was seen – but he still looked extremely powerful. He spoke first.
"I am James son of Fleamont of the House of Potter. To whom am I speaking?"
"This is Commander Tashir of the Romulan Warship Kasira."
The Captain answered, "Captain Picard of the Federation Flagship Enterprise. Our Liasion to you shall be Lietentant Worf of the House of Mogh."
The Captain grinned. "House Mogh! Worf! We are Kin from afar! My Champion is from the House of Mogh as has every one of them been since my house was created. Well met!"
Worf called back in joy. "You Honor me! How may the Enterprise aid the Shield of the Empire?"
The Captain of the Gryffindor's face took on a harsh look. "I received a report from a Kinsman on a Federation outpost that it was under attack. Before I could retrieve details, the transmission was blocked. I used the Fold drive at my disposal to arrive as soon as I could but the post was already gone. However, my Kinsman did as those of the House of Potter are honorbound to do: He recorded every scrap of information in a way that most sensors cannot decipher so that a record could be retrieved by House Potter. These attacks were not by the Federation or the Romulans – I will now transmit the information that was retrieved!"
Tasha called out, "Information is being transmitted!"
They heard a similar call on the Romulan bridge.
"I will give each of your crews an hour to analyze this. And then we will meet. As this is Romulan space it is only just that the Romulan Commander decide which ship we shall meet upon."
"Lord Potter, I select your ship as you will have the longest time to analyze the data," the Romulan said.
"Agreed!" the Captain of the Gryffindor said.
"Agreed," Worf said after getting the nod from Captain Picard.
"One Hour. And Worf! Please come with the Federation group. If there is time, you shall greet your kinsman and eat with your kin."
Word's grin was fierce. "I am honored."
One of the Centurions on the Romulan ship looked ready to protest, even as he kept his silence. The Commander noticed and asked, "You have something that concerns you, Centurion?"
It just blurted out of the soldier. "Why do you let that Barbarian dictate terms? They are in our space! They should be destroyed!"
The Commander nodded. "And if it were any other ship and any other Captain, I would do as you suggest. But the Klingon House of Potter is different. They have proven their Honor beyond question."
"How?" the Centurion asked, confused.
"During a time when we were more directly at odds but not in a war with the Klingon Empire, a rogue Klingon House took steps to assassinate our Empress and our Praetor. House Potter took offense at such dishonorable attacks and took steps to thwart the attack. They then hunted down and killed every Warrior of that rogue house and destroyed it utterly.
"However, House Potter will not kill innocents. They told us something that they never told their High Council: House Potter took every child from that rogue House and adopted them and ensured they were taught Honor as a Potter understands Honor. They told us this because they did not want to lie when reporting what they had done.
"They do not attack without cause – ever. For their destruction of a Klingon House that would sow war when the Emperor did not desire it and because of its refusal to attack or kill those who are innocent, and because they saved our Empress's life, House Potter is allowed to go where they will when it involves the defense of their own. The Gryffindor is sacrosanct. I would add, unless they attack without provocation, but they never would. We are that certain."
A/N: That's it for that. A small vignette. But it shows some of the effects of the Traveler's visit.
