Chapter Five:
The Qu'van slowly slid out of the dry-dock that had been constructed over the world the Klingons had named Kreyor Colony. The alien facility on the surface had been completely restored and now served as a communications hub and control facility for traffic coming through the gate. Already several colonies were being established in habitable systems, each defended by two dozen automated weapon platforms.
The Kreyor system itself was even more heavily defended. Already several orbital stations and mining platforms had been constructed. Quantium 40 was collected by mining vessels and brought to the processing plant on the surface. A full Starbase was nearing completion in high orbit near the gate. Once completed an enemy would be hard pressed to dislodge the Klingons from the system.
…
"We are ready for our first test of the jump generator," M'ret reported. The engine from the Raider Battle Wagon, coupled with the plans and materials provided by the Brakiri, had enabled the Klingon to construct their own jump generator in only two weeks. Now it was time for the first test.
"Very well, open the vortex," Kogh replied. He felt a shiver run through the deck plates as generators came on-line and field coils began humming. The familiar orange vortex opened in front of the Vor'cha, but this time generated by the vessel itself. A pair of probes were launched and entered the vortex, taking readings and ensuring the vortex was stable.
"The generator and vortex are both stable. The probes have entered and report the same. Success!"
"Good. Power down the generator and begin a full analysis. Once the data has been analyzed we will enter the vortex ourselves."
Five hours later the Qu'van entered Hyperspace on its own power and set course for the edge of what the Brakiri star maps had identified as Earth Alliance space. Chancellor Martok had been intrigued by the concept of humans that far out into space and had instructed Mel'ok to make contact with them. To that end, the Qu'van and its squadron would scout the EA border until they found an isolated vessel.
…
Two days passed by with nothing eventful to report. The sensors dutifully mapped the currents of hyperspace while scanning real space for the matching coordinates. Captain Kogh slouched in his chair, a bottle of bloodwine in his hand. He took a deep swig as he gazed out at the shifting patterns of Hyperspace. Suddenly M'ret got a reading from his console. He quickly snapped out of the half sleep he had been in.
"We are detecting tachyon communications, range five light years. A star system beyond the Earth Alliance borders."
"Lay in a course. Once we reach the system open a vortex and drop our cloak. Have our escorts remain cloaked in the chance something goes wrong." M'ret nodded and sent the command to activate the vortex generator. A blue vortex formed and the Klingon ships, one visible and three cloaked, entered the newest system to fall under the gaze of the Klingon Empire.
…
Captain Derek Gorman carefully placed the latest artifact from the ruins into its sample container. His latest expedition for IPX had taken him to this system, where he'd been digging for the last four months, and so far he'd found several interesting artifacts that would likely fetch a good price back home.
"Hey Derek, Earth to Derek," Melissa Flecher called out as she walked over, a bundle of survey maps clutched in her hands and her glasses covered with dust from the ever present wind that whipped across the desert plateau where the explorers had made their camp. They had been fortunate to arrive at the end of the hot season, otherwise they would have been forced to wear survival suits.
"Damn it Melissa," Derek replied as he nearly dropped the horn shaped artifact. "I told you never to sneak up on me when I'm working."
"Sorry, but you've been working for five hours straight and I thought you might be hungry," Melissa replied, holding out a ration pack.
"Thanks, I could use a break." They both sat on the hardened sand and glanced over the ruins. The place had evidently been some kind of temple, but most of it had been worn away by the wind. Suddenly Derek's apprentice Joshua came running up.
"Hey Derek, we just got a message from the Seeker. A ship just jumped into the system. There's nothing like it in the databanks. They hailed and said they were called themselves Klingons and wanted to meet with us."
"Let's head back to the shuttle and get up there then," Derek said. He very much enjoyed meeting with new alien cultures and now an opportunity had literally dropped in his lap. It took the group about ten minutes to make the trek back to the base camp where the orbital shuttle had set down. Derek took the controls and the ship took off in a massive cloud of dust that rendered the building invisible until the wind blew most of it off.
The ship arrived in orbit a few minutes later and saw a green ship about the size of the Seeker sitting a few hundred kilometers away. The ship had a T-bone shaped hull, with a slightly thicker forward section with two prongs at the tip and two red glowing strips at the edged of what Derek assumed to be either engines or weapons. "Well, that's certainly different. Can they hear us?"
"Yes," Melissa replied. "Channel open."
"This is Derek Gorman, Captain of the Earth Alliance scout cruiser Seeker. Please state your business in this system."
"I am Captain Kogh of the Klingon vessel Qu'van. We detected your communications in this system and altered our course to meet you. We recently learned of your race from the Brakiri and my commander instructed me to make contact."
"I see. I'd like to come aboard your vessel if you'll allow me."
"Very well, we are prepared to receive you. Will you be bringing any others with you?"
"I'd like to dock with my ship and collect a few things first."
"Very well. Contact us when you are prepared," Captain Kogh replied, cutting the link.
…
Derek glided onto the bridge of the Seeker and settled into his chair. "So, what can you tell me about that ship?" He asked his sensor officer, a young man named Chris. He was the newest addition to his crew, only taken aboard a year ago at the Seeker's last port stop.
"Well first off the power readings from that ship are four times as high as its size suggests, and its hull is composed of several alloys our sensors can't identify. Something's also deflecting most of our scans."
"All right, I'm going over there. Melissa, you'll come with me. Since you're an expert in quick analysis maybe you can tell what kind of technology we're dealing with."
"Ok, but I hope those guys turn out to be friendly." Trust didn't come easily to Derek's colleague, but once it had been earned she would stand by someone through anything.
"Open a channel to the Klingons ship. Captain Kogh, we're ready. Myself and one other will shuttle over to your ship in five minutes."
"We have a faster way if you are willing."
"What kind of way?" Derek replied.
"A matter energy transport. It allows us to move large numbers of crew and cargo without the need for shuttles. I can assure you it is quite safe." Derek looked over at Melissa, who gave a nervous nod. Both she and Derek enjoyed examining new technologies, and he had heard the Vree possessed a technology similar to the one Kogh was describing.
"All right. We're ready when you are," Derek said, and a few moments later he and Melissa felt a tingling sensation as at the same time their vision dissolved into a haze of an orange red light. A moment later they found themselves in a semi-dark command center with five aliens. Derek fell on his rear, drawing laughter from the aliens. Melissa managed to grab onto a support bar and kept her footing. She saw several of the warriors trading bottles of liquor.
"Greetings," one of the aliens, Kogh, Derek assumed, spoke. Like the others he had dark skin with ridges on his forehead along with long dark hair. He was wearing what looked like black leather with armor covering the torso. "Perhaps we should have warned you about the gravity aboard this ship," Kogh said with amusement.
"You have artificial gravity?" Derek said with amazement, wondering what other technologies these Klingons possessed.
"Indeed. That is something we may be willing to trade depending on if you possess anything valuable to us."
"Well you see Captain Kogh, my ship and I aren't authorized to open trade negotiations with alien races. I could give you the location of an outpost where you could speak with some of the higher ups." Captain Kogh spoke with several of his officers for a minute in a language either of the humans couldn't translate.
"Very well," Kogh said. "Transmit the coordinates and we will hopefully speak soon. And take this," he handed Derek a bottle of what he assumed was liquor. "Bloodwine, very potent. We will speak again soon." Kogh motioned to M'ret, who transported the two humans back to their ship.
"Coordinates received," M'ret announced a minute later. "Five light years away. Activating jump drive." The vortex opened and the Qu'van and her still cloaked escorts entered, leaving the Seeker and a slightly confused Captain Derek. He hoped the Klingons would be friendly with Earth. If what he had seen of their technology was any indication, the Klingons had the potential to help the Earth Alliance evolve into one of the strongest powers in the sector.
Next chapter coming soon.
ENTILZA