"Captain, we are being hailed."
Kem'Tok glowered across the compact, heavily armoured bridge at the communications officer. "What?"
"A message, sir. From the alien station."
"How do they know we're here? Ragh! You told me we were outside their sensor range!"
"We are."
Kem'Tok grabbed the tactician by the front of his armour and pulled him downwards, so that they were at eye-level. "Then how can they be hailing us?" He raged.
The communications officer spoke, "They aren't. It is a wide-angle communication beam. But it is us they are calling."
The Klingon captain didn't like this. The unknown enemy, calling out into the void, demanding to speak with him? Strange. He glanced at Ragh and cursed the man for a fool. His moronic advice had got them into this situation. He should have followed his gut, and assaulted the station as soon as the Starfleeters had led him to it.
"Display communication."
Ragh thought this a very unwise course. "No! They don't know we are here."
"Then why are they sending us messages?"
"They suspect that we are here. If we remain silent and do not react, they will decide that they are mistaken."
"I am through hiding from my enemies, Tactician. Display the communication. Now!"
The comm officer put the message through before Ragh could object a second time. Kem'Tok found himself looking at the shiny steel control centre of the alien station, as well as a smugly smirking human woman with red spines for hair and flame-red eyes. There was something about her manner that even the Klingon found…a little intimidating, and maybe a bit creepy as well. She stood so confrontationally, as though she was daring the whole universe to try and take her on; and the confidence in her said that the cosmos would lose the fight.
"You've found the 'receive' button at last," the woman said; her voice was as hot as her mane, and scathing with it.
"Human," spat Kem'Tok. "I should have known you were in league with these vile aliens!"
"And I should have known I would have to spend all day beating understanding into you. I am not in league with the Vyar."
"Then how is it that you know their name?"
A fair accusation, the crew felt, and they waited to hear their adversary's reply.
She rolled her eyes. "Because, unlike certain ignorant cretins, I try to know my enemies."
"Watch your tongue, or I will tear it from your skull!"
The red-eyed woman chuckled. "Never heard that one before. Oh wait, I have. I'd love to trade barbs with you all day, but I have more important things to do. You know, washing my hair, picking the dirt out of my nails…stuff like that. Besides, there's someone else here who wants to talk to you."
She stepped aside and the towering, imposing figure of General Rotran took her place. Captain Kem'Tok was astonished to see him. What was he doing in the company of that human? Had she somehow made him her prisoner? It seemed impossible, but there was something about that woman, some power in her eyes, that gave credence to the thought.
"Identify yourself, Captain," demanded the general, without preamble.
"Kem'Tok, son of Wahorn."
"You are alone?"
"Seven ships are with us, General. We stand ready to assault the alien outpost at your order."
"No such order shall be given."
Kem'Tok was taken aback. "But…General…"
"Are you deaf, Captain, or just as stupid as she claims? Now, listen. We are joining our forces with that of Starfleet."
The captain and his crew were no longer sure if the general was even talking sense. What had they done to him over there? "Sir…?"
"These vile Vyar have attacked our ships. They have declared war on the Empire! We shall strike them back!"
"We will crush them," Kem'Tok agreed. "But why ally ourselves with the Starfleeters? We should make war on them both!"
"They will fight the Vyar with us."
"They will only get in our way, General!"
Rotran glowered. "They won't be for long. They want their ship back. Daedalus. I want to do battle with the great Captain Matsura one day. Their purposes suit mine. Is that understood?"
Kem'Tok saluted. "General."
"Bring your ships into transporter range. Prepare to bring aboard my men. Starfleet vessels, led by Captain Drake, will be arriving soon. Any man who fires upon them, I shall personally send to Gre-Thor!"
Kem'Tok sent his acknowledgements, and then the screen went blank. At his signal, the Klingon fleet began the slow flight towards the space station, and he leant back in his chair to think. The general's behaviour was strange. He had always wanted to fight certain Starfleet captains; that was well known; but Kem'Tok didn't believe it was the reason for his current actions.
That red-eyed human! She was the key. Some manner of witch, perhaps? Whatever, he was convinced that she had some sinister hold over the general.
Kem'Tok smiled. Anyone with such power would make a worthy adversary. As soon as this strange alliance came to an end, he would have to lock blades with that individual.
"As you command, General."