(I attempt Klingon in this. Sorry if I butcher it. Don't own, etc.)

An hour and a half later, Joanna rotated in her chair a little bit as they entered the orbit of Qo'noS. While the longer preparation had been mostly so they wouldn't kill their dilithium crystals on their first run, it was also nerve wracking to be there. To see the planet, it's dark blue and green blobs on the viewer, she was practically out of her chair when they saw the gray blob on the side of the screen.

"Taggart, what is that?"

"I think it's an Orion vessel, but there are no emotions radiating out of it. It's just sitting there."

"Captain," Orindele chimed in from her post, "we're being hailed by the Klingon High Council."

"On screen."

As the viewer flickered and focused, she sat up straighter in her chair, her neck high, her eyes focused. To her right was Taggart, who had his focused face on, although he was a bit more relaxed, and next to him Chekov, who was tapping his foot in anticipation. On her right was Admiral Kirk, who also looked a bit anxious, and Ambassador Spock, who looked pensive and, if she knew Spock, a bit excited. And there they were – the Klingon High Council, all looking a bit anxious, but when a Klingon didn't look anxious or angry, that's when you had to be worried. They were dressed in traditional garb, their gray uniforms and their sashes tied properly, in a dark room with red and gray lighting behind them.

"Members of the High Council, thank you so much for inviting us to join with you for negotiations. Before we begin with the introductions, may I inquire about the other ship currently in your orbit?"

All of the Klingons directed their looks at the man at the head of the table, his eyes pleasant look at, his mouth was set in a hard line. "Actually, Captain, we were hoping you could explain that."

She shrugged, "Honestly, Chancellor Klitarc, I have no idea who they are. Do you wish for us to deal with them before we decide on what will go on next?"

Then the Chancellor broke into a grin, "That would be splendid, Kadi."

"Joanna." She reminded him jokingly, and he barked out a laugh. "In a few, Chancellor."

"Whatever you say." The viewer screen flickered and then cut back to the view of Qo'noS, and Joanna sat back with a smile on her face. She still sat high in her seat, but her shoulders were rounded with power, not strained with tension.

"Lieutenant, if you would hail the alien ship," she said without anger, just determination in her voice, and the Lieutenant responded in the affirmative, sending the hail.

After a few minutes of complete silence on the bridge, the viewer screen again flickered to life. The sight in front of the crew was not as pleasant, if you could even call the look of the chamber of the High Council that, as the one previous to it. What seemed to be a bad connection between the Serenity and the other ship, the screen seemed to be steeped in smoke, a half blurry man in front of them. From what she could make out, he was from Orion, with green skin and dark eyes, staring into the screen.

"HELLO." he shouted, and the crew of the Serenity all jumped a little.

"This is Captain Joanna of the USS Serenity. Identify yourself,your ship, and the nature of your mission. The planet you are currently orbiting does not wish to have you in it's rotation, and if you do not identify yourselves, you will be removed from orbit with force."

"Identify myself? I thought you already had that transmission from the Enterprise then, to tell you who we are. No? No? Guess not. I am Sar, son of Harrad-Sar, I wish to make peace with the Federation of Planets."

Joanna's eyebrows wrinkled in confusion, her lips turned downwards. What should I do? She thought at Taggart, and he shrugged. I'm going to tell them that they are right to want to make peace with the Federation, but now is not the time or place to do it, and to go to the nearest Starbase.

That's a fine idea. We're here for the Klingons, not for the Orions. Besides, they are a shady bunch, and it seems a bit too convenient. Ask them their terms for peace and if they are envoys from the Orion government. He thought at her, and she nodded.

"Well, Sar, son of Harrad-Sar, do you speak for your government?"

"No, I speak for my family."

"Well then, it is wonderful that your family wishes to make amends with the Federation, but due the attack on the USS Huron and other events which have robbed the Orion people of their neutrality, I shall have to ask you to leave the orbit of Qo'noS and head to the Lya Station Alpha Starbase to discuss peace negtiations, unless they are a free peace with your people. I also suggest you tell your government of your intentions, and perhaps they can take over the peace settlements and not you."

"Are you saying I am not capable of negotiating a treaty with you?"

"What I am saying, sir, is that you are interrupting a peace summit with the Klingons for no apparent reason. If you intend to attack us, I would do it now. If you truly want a peace with us, you will go to Lya Station Alpha and settle one. It's brand new, I see no reason why you should be so hesistant."

The man's eyes narrowed at her, and she knew she had hit a sore point. Taggart, also, was attempting to read what was going on in the Orion's head, but before he could do so, the communication method fizzled out and again they were left with a blank screen.

How strange, she thought at Taggart.

Curious. Very curious. What I gained from his mind is that he does not want our peace with the Klingons to be successful, and that was a method to distract us from it, knowing that we should have jumped at the offer. You did the right thing.

I hope so. She thought back. "Orindele, track that ship. Make sure it gets far, far away from our settlement. I have a strange feeling about that man."

"Yes Captain."

"Also, hail the High Council again." A few seconds later, the High Council appeared on the screen. "Sorry about that, something was afoot, but we disengaged whatever sort of plot they had."

"We are grateful." said the Chancellor. "Shall you beam down now, or later?"

"Now would be wonderful." She replied, and the Chancellor nodded. "Shall you be meeting us?"

"Of course, Kadi." Her nostrils flared. "I should hate to miss your return, the prodigal daughter of Qo'noS." The communique faded, and she got up from her chair, brushing off her robe.

"Shall we, gentlemen? Orindele, you have the bridge. Wells, first officer." The two nodded in understanding. The men then followed her to the transporter room.

"Now gentlemen," she said as she was fixing Taggart's cuffs, "there are a few things that I'll remind you about Klingon culture. Firstly, they are hotheads. Secondly, they will make fun of me constantly. I am the only non-Klingon to ever successfully complete warrior training, as I did it in my spare time. They will razz you, they will say things about me that will make you blush. They will also embarrass Ambassador Chekov, so just expect that. They know us well, we've been working on this for almost three years."

"WE have." He acknowledged, standing on the transporter platform. "Can we get a move on?"

"I just .. Remember, they grew up with me, alright? I lose my temper easily around them, they torture me about my life. But we've got to go, or they'll eat without us."

"Would they?" Kirk questioned.

"Food waits for no man, woman, or child if they are late. I swear, it's a rule." As Spock, Kirk, Gignac, and Chekov stepped on the platform, she inquired, "Where is Doctor McCoy?"

Kirk shrugged, "He probably got lost. Don't worry, you aren't losing a great diplomat with old Bones. In fact, you're kind of lucky."

"Yeah, lucky." She echoed, and stepped onto the platform. "Officer, energize." She said to the officer, and he obliged. Within seconds, they were standing in the middle of the House of the High Council. "Nice." She commented, standing up a little straighter.

Within seconds, she was off the ground. "Not anymore, Kadi. Guess someone is off their game, be'Hom (small woman/short stuff)."

"mev taH, pa' 'oH Hur'Iq (stop being stupid, there are outsiders)."

"SoH 'oH, Ilj 'oH bang ghobe' Hur'Iq(you're funny; your boyfriend isn't an outsider.)"

"Qo'! jIH 'oH taH yuDHa'. (Stop! I'm being honest.)"

The large, gruff man who she had been having the conversation with then looked up, and realized his manners. "QoS (sorry)."

"Ian jIH blng (put me down)." He did. "Gentlemen, this is Chancellor Klitaric of the house of Kaas. He's a bit rowdy."

"You can say that again." said Kirk.