Chapter Two: Beachhead
The Klingon ships had been traveling in the realm they had named "Red Space" for over two days. The shifting patters of red and black energy actually formed shapes if Kogh stared at them for long enough. Traveling through Red Space created a slight unease among the Klingon crews. Several times sensors had detected strange readings, but each time they had vanished before the ships could arrive. Though disconcerting, traveling through this space was amazingly fast. According to sensors they were traveling over ten times as fast as maximum warp in real space.
As they traveled, the Klingon ships mapped the gravitational currents. Once a way was discovered to exit Red Space without a vortex generator, ships would be used to explore Red Space beyond the tachyon stream. While they could scan real space, the readings were distorted and would require a map of real space to act as a comparison.
Thanks to the subspace buoys they remained in contact with Commander Mel'ok. The tachyon stream had been growing stronger over the last several hours, suggesting they were near one of the vortex generators.
"Sir, the tachyon stream terminates three hundred thousand kilometers directly ahead."
"Good. Sent the activation signal," Kogh replied. One of the discoveries made during the analysis of the vortex generator was that a subspace signal pulse made on a specific frequency activated the generator.
Out in Red Space the now familiar vortex appeared, but this one was blue instead of orange. The Klingon ships engaged their cloaks before exiting. The gate was in orbit of a desert world with three moons, all of which had extensive cratering.
"Are there any other vessels in the system?" Kogh asked. The world below was dead, what was not covered by deserts was made of high mountain rages dotted with volcanoes.
"I am not detecting any subspace activity in the system, and there are no energy signatures other than the vortex generator. However sensors are detecting large deposits of the vortex mineral on two of the moons, as well as small readings from the planet itself," replied M'ret.
"Very well. Open a channel to Commander Mel'ok." The signal took a few moments to activate due to the range, but soon the image of Mel'ok appeared.
"Captain Kogh, report!"
"Commander, we have discovered a second device in an abandoned system. There are large deposits of the vortex material as well. I recommend we survey this system and those which surround it. If they are all as rich in resources as this one, the Empire's energy and supply problems may soon be on the decline."
"Very well. We are sending additional ships to begin construction of a sensor post in the system. Remain where you are until they arrive. Mel'ok out." As soon as the Commander's image vanished the sensors detected something.
"Captain, energy readings from the planet. Too low to be a weapon. It appears to be coming from a complex on the planet's northern pole. A magnetic storm was masking its signature," M'ret called out.
"Assemble an away team, armed heavily. Perhaps there are answers down there," Kogh replied.
…
The seven man strong away team materialized in a black metal corridor lit only by the means of their rifle mounted lights. A thick layer of dust covered everything, and the Klingons flinched uncomfortably in their pressure suits. While offering more protection than Federation suits, they were not nearly as comfortable to wear.
"This way," K'mpok said. The team advanced slowly down the corridor, alert for any traps or defenses their tricorders might miss. The echoes of their boots sounded extremely loud in the tight confines of their helmets. Parts of the wall had collapsed, and several times they piles of dust which could have been the remains of unknown aliens. Their lights cast long shadwos across the floor.
Finally the team reached a half closed door with blast marks on the edge near the locking mechanism. They raised their weapons while K'mpok and Moklor used all their strength to slide the door open with a screech that caused them all to wince. Inside their lights illuminated what looked like a command center. Consoles, some smashed or blown apart, made a three quarters circle around a central chair with twin arm displays. Black marks, likely from energy weapon, dotted the room. K'mpok ran his tricrorder over the consoles, two of which flickered on low power.
"Over here!" Moklor called. He had found a screen which was playing a fuzzy recording of a female alien with dark blue skin and red hair. She was wearing a black uniform with red trim and a long black cape.
"-Our fleet has been defeated, our allies have fled. We ready our weapons, but it will not be enough. The dark ones come for us. We will die for having stood against them." There were explosions beyond the screen and screams echoed. "The enemy's solders have come. We can only prey that Seelu's ships made it into the gate. If anyone should find this place-" an explosion ripped into the chamber just beyond the edge of the screen and the playback ended. The last thing recorded was a scream but not a scream. It echoed in their minds like nails down a chalkboard. Finally it died away, leaving the room seeming slightly darker.
"I have accessed the primary computer. I am transferring the data," Moklor reported from a second station.
After the data transfer was completed the team quickly explored the rest of the base. However very little was intact and the team soon returned to the beam in point, the scream still in their heads.
…
Five Days Later:
Commander Mel'ok stood in the alien command center as it came online. Consoles began humming and a low vibration shook the floor for a few moments. Though the damage had been extensive, the technology had proven easy to replace. Anti-matter reactors had been installed and quarters had been repaired for the command crew of 27. Already mining operations had begun on two of the moons overhead. The supply ships that had accompanied the Commander's squadron had begun assembling long range sensor satellites and orbital weapon platforms to defend their position. The data from the alien computer had yielded the Klingons locations for other resource rich worlds nearby. Captain Kogh and his squadron would make surveys of them and determine which were best suited for exploitation.
Chancellor Martok had been extremely pleased with the recent discoveries. Already advances had been made in the understanding of Red Space, and Klingon scientists were attempting to create a means to generate vortexes without a gate. Soon the Klingon Empire would have an advantage over any other race in the Alpha Quadrant.
…
Captain Kogh's squadron dropped out of warp in the third system in their survey pattern. This system was the first to possess an M class planet.
"The planet's atmosphere and ecosystem are ideal to support a colony," Second Officer M'ret reported from his post.
"Send the data to Commander Mel'ok," Kogh replied. "Are there any signs of ships in the system?"
"No, though there are ruins on two of the continents. Likely several thousand year old."
"Are there any signs of minable materials?"
"No signs of the vortex mineral, though there are several rich ore veins on the northern continent. They run several kilometers deep. Also there are promising readings coming from an asteroid field beyond the third planet."
"Very good. Once the scans of the system are complete set course for the next in our survey pattern. I'll be in my quarters." For the past several weeks Kogh had been reforging his bat'leth, which had grown dull over the Dominion War. It was not like there was much else to do. Though he knew he as serving the Empire, Kogh was becoming dangerously close to dying of boredom.
…
The green ships left the system, leaving behind several small objects which settled in orbit over the world. When the ships left however, they did not enter hyperspace. Instead they seemed to elongate and vanish in white flashes. They also shimmered into invisibility as well. This new race demanded further study. Though its masters still slept, they had left several of their scouts to search for possible new threats. If this new race proved dangerous to its masters' plans, they could be required to awaken far sooner than anticipated. For now though, they would simply be observed.
From the shadow of one of the planet's moons a small ship powered up. Its hull was black and seemed to shed light. Small spines ran backward from its front edge. As it turned it shimmered and phased into hyperspace, leaving behind only a vague sense of unease.
Next Chapter: Contact.