To Gorn or not to Gorn

R'Kerti and Jhinis were unhappy with Mary as the Iconian teleporter shifted them across time and space onto a familiar setting. The starship bridge was set up per Starfleet spec and-

Um…

The dozen hulking forms that surrounded the bridge were not Starfleet spec. They were not Starfleet at all! Big. Green. Lizards. Gorn! A dozen of them, all aiming a variety of weapons at the newcomers!

Jhinis and R'Kerti assumed defensive stances, but Mary spoke before either could do more.

"Gorn? Lower your weapons." Mary's tone was calm, but tension sang underneath it. "I assume you have a cloaked ship nearby. You know where we are." The Denali had been refurbished in the middle of the Iconian system. In the Iconian's massive Dyson sphere shipyard, no less! To say that the firepower available close at hand was overwhelming was true, but oh, so inadequate a descriptor. Anyone who had fought them knew that. "If any weapons fire is detected here, you know what will happen." Her words were not a threat, but somehow, it was! "Who is in command?"

"You do not give orders." Came from the biggest Gorn, probably a leader of some kind. He wore no uniform except a loincloth, but the tetryon cannon he hefted deserved respect. He might not kill Mary with that, but he could hurt or kill R'Kerti and Jhinis with such. Then again, he could hurt Mary with such raw destructive power. But then she would kill him and everyone else. Did he know that? "This ship is-"

"Mine." Mary interrupted him, a glower on her face as she took a step forward. "The Denali is mine." She snapped before the Gorn could speak. "Starfleet abandoned it. I salvaged it. It is mine."

"Now it is ours." The hulking lizard said with an amused hiss. "As are you." The glance he gave R'Kerti was definitely not a nice one and the female lizard being stiffened.

"If any of you wish to live through the next five minutes, I suggest you lower your weapons and at least attempt civilized conversation." Mary retorted. "To many, Gorn have the stereotype of being big and dumb, but I know your people are smarter than this. I know that your culture is a mess at the moment, but threatening my friends on my ship is a bad idea."

Again, calm and assured. Not threatening at all, but something reared in her tone. Something scary! More than one of the Gorn lowered their weapons but the leader hissed again.

"You are irrelevant." The big one was clearly in charge. "Where is the Prince?"

"Which Prince?" Mary inquired, only to paused as the Gorn snarled at her. "Now, now. Don't be impolite. I know several princes." She frowned a little. "And a few princesses too." Her next words were soft. "More than I ever wanted to." She shook her head and spoke more normally. "I do not know which one you speak of."

"Only one matters!" The Gorn in charge snapped, clearly not happy with Mary's responses. "The Prince!" Mary looked at him, still confused, but R'Kerti spoke up before Mary could inquire further.

"Captain Mary Owlna Pangolin, he has to mean the one who was cast out." R'Kerti was clearly almost as upset as the Gorn in front of Mary was. Then again, she wasn't armed. That made her only one present who wasn't. Not a good feeling. "The one who left our people to save his own. I will not speak that one's branded insult of a name." At that, everyone looked at R'Kerti who bowed her head. "He was afraid that his presence would make things worse. He likely did not tell anyone where he was going after saving us." Her tone was quiet, but sad. "Now? I am sure he is gone and I never even got the chance to apologize for making a fool of myself in his presence!"

"You know he wouldn't hold it against you, R'Kerti." Mary reassured her friend before turning to the Gorn in charge who was gawking at her and the female Gorn. "If that is who you seek, the one who fought for his people and freed them the Borg, then I truly do not know where he is. And even if I did?" Her tone hardened. "I would not betray him to such downright rude beings such as you." At that, her hands started to glow and all of the other Gorn retreated a step as Jhinis' Herald armor did the same. The Herald suddenly had an Iconian staff weapon in hand and all of the Gorn tensed. Then everything stopped as Mary's own staff weapon appeared in her hands. Both of the incredibly powerful Iconian weapons were now leveled at the armed Gorn who wisely froze. "Get. Off. My. Ship." None of the lizards beings moved and Mary snarled in Gorn! [Are you deaf or simply too slow to understand that you are utterly outclassed? Get off my ship!]

The male Gorn all looked at one another and as one, they all lowered their weapons. The leader spoke up even as he slung his rifle and let his hands fall to his sides.

[We have nowhere to go.] The hulking Gorn said heavily in his own language. [We hoped… Prayed… But if the Prince is gone, then we are doomed.]

That was not what Mary expected him to say. She stared as all of the Gorn on the bridge slowly and carefully either holstered or slung their weapons. Then, they all just as carefully moved to non-violent stances. Still big and mean looking, but not immediately threatening.

[Doomed?] R'Kerti asked into the sudden and utter silence. She paused and then spoke Federation Standard, which clearly everyone knew. Then again, she was in her Starfleet uniform, so that made sense that she try to facilitate communication, right? "I… I may be, for my choices that made me a pariah, but you?" She shook her huge fanged head. "No. You have your lives. You have weapons. You can fight. Survive."

"We are alone now." The Gorn leader said quietly. "We wanted nothing to do with the Klingon Empire and its wars. We understand what happened and why. But what we did… What we did cannot be undone."

"I understand that you boarded my ship and said you were going to take it. That makes you pirates at best." Mary snapped, her ire fully fanned. "If you wanted slaves, there are easier ways. Safer ways."

"Slavery is wrong." The Gorn leader replied, his head hung low. "Slay us if you must, but we have nowhere to go. The ship that brought us left us here. There was no way they would stay in such a place. Not even for the riches we paid them."

"Mary…" R'Kerti urged and the captain of the Denali slowly relaxed. She did not lower her weapon and neither did Jhinis. "Let's… Um, let's start over." She moved to stand beside Mary, careful to stay out of the Aenar Herald's line of fire. "Can we do that?" She asked Mary who frowned, but then nodded once, curtly. "I am R'Kerti of No Clan. Rank ensign in Federation Starfleet." 'No Clan' was an insult in Gorn, but no one was going to take offense if she didn't. She had cast herself out to avoid the fate of most females in Gorn society. She had fled to Earth, to Starfleet, to avoid such a fate. She looked at the clear leader of the Gorn. "You are?"

"I am Taakezh." The Gorn male said formally. "Of No Clan. Rank, nothing. Once, I was a captain. But I am captain no more."

"Do you come to battle or to speak?" R'Kerti asked, her tone still calm.

"I come to speak." The male Gorn said calmly and all the Gorn, even R'Kerti, relaxed a bit. Mary and Jhinis did not, but they did lower their weapons when R'Kerti looked at them. They did not banish them back to their hiding places. Trust only went so far.

"Then speak." R'Kerti said formally. "But do not give further insult." She warned as she waved a clawed hand to Mary slowly, carefully. "This is Mary Owlna Pangolin. Captain by right of conquest and of salvage of the USS Denali. She is also the adopted daughter of the Iconian L'Miren." At that, all of the Gorn went utterly still. "If you attempt violence, you will likely never see what kills you."

"I…" The Gorn stared at Mary and her Meridian. Then he continued in Standard. His accent was rough, but understandable. "I see." He nodded to Mary. "I have given grave offense by coming onto your ship without permission and being so impolite. If you wish my life, I will not resist. Just please, spare my crew if you can. They are loyal beyond all sense." Hisses of protest started from the other Gorn, but a rumble came from the leader's throat and they subsided.

[You have given offense.] Mary agreed in Gorn and everyone looked at her, but then she shook her head. [That said? I am not a wanton murderer. Killing you and yours would be murder.]

"Almost as murderous as your accent still is." R'Kerti said with a groan. Everyone stared at her as Mary fought not to sputter. R'Kerti held up empty claws in a helpless gesture. "I tried."

"If you taught her our language? You did well. She has made herself understood." The Gorn leader was clearly trying to be kind. Several others looked amused, but none commented.

"Badly." R'Kerti sneered at Mary who was shaking her head. "Speak Standard, Captain Pangolin. Please?" She begged. Mary glared at her, but the energy being's heart clearly wasn't in it.

"As you wish." Mary said primly and everyone smiled as best they could at her long suffering tone. "We have had a failure of communication it seems."

"Maybe." R'Kerti said slowly. "Captain Taakezh. You chose not to remain with the Hegemony when it fell to the Klingon Empire?" She asked the Gorn who shook his head. "I see."

"The war was wrong." The hulking lizard being said slowly. "We did not know why we were fighting. The King ordered and we obeyed, but it was wrong. Then Gornar fell and we learned the truth. We are shamed."

"You were a captain then?" R'Kerti asked.

"No." Taakezh replied. "My captain S'snek fled the fall and refused to return when the new king ordered it. He chose to go his own way. That way cost him and many others their lives when they ran afoul of the Federation at a place called Kassea IV." Mary and R'Kerti shared a glance. They had been briefed on an 'incident' there while at the academy. Well, R'Kerti had been and her outrage at her kind's blatant aggression had been a sight to see. It had taken a while for her dorm mates to calm her down.

"I have heard of that. Many of our people chose such paths. Some went to Nimbus or further places. Others turned pirate." R'Kerti was less tense now, but still worried. Mary and Jhinis still had their weapons ready. "You?"

"No." The Gorn replied. "It would have been easier, but we felt such a path wrong. We tried to be traders, explorers as we had been before. It is not an easy way, especially when the Iconians returned." He looked at Mary who slowly nodded. "We had no wish to fight, but…" He shrugged. "I was elected Captain over my protests and I tried to do the best I could for my crew, but now? I have failed."

"The war hurt a lot of people. You came through it. Many did not." Jhinis spoke up and the Gorn looked at her. "Why here? Why now? You had to know this was suicide."

"We heard about a legendary figure returning." Taakezh was still quiet. "The Lost Prince. One of Xrathis' sons."

"Not anymore." R'Kerti said flatly. "Xrathis cast him out for daring to put honor in front of the king's desires." All of the Gorn nodded and all seemed to share her disgust. "So, when his ship appeared…" She broke off with a Hiss. "I see."

"A legend came to life." Taakezh slumped. "And then… Our world fell apart again." R'Kerti looked at him and he made an all too human noise of regret. "It became known that the attack on Khitomer was not carried out by Matriarch J'ula of House Mokai as was commonly believed." Mary and Jhinis both stilled, but the Gorn continued. "I do not know how the information was put out or by who, but it was corroborated. J'mpok's flagship fired the myceial spore weapon of mass destruction at the planet Khitomer. We do not know at whose orders, but he was aboard at the time."

"Oh… shit…" Jhinis managed and everyone nodded at that. Bad didn't begin to cover such a dishonorable thing done by the Chancellor of the Klingon Empire! Even if he didn't order such, he was responsible!

"Don't move." Mary commanded and the Gorn stilled as Mary banished her staff and strode to a console nearby. It flashed information scrolling across it far faster than any organic being could hope to read. Then she recoiled. "Oh dear."

"Mary?" R'Kerti asked when Mary did not continue.

"Alliance HQ sent out a quick update and I was included in it. A warning. It is true. J'mpok's ship fired on Khitomer! And then… J'mpok dissolved the High Council! He declared himself Emperor! The Gorn and Orions have left the Empire." Mary said softly and Jhinis actually backpedaled a step. Mary looked at the Gorn captain who nodded. "You seek sanctuary!"

"I did." Taakezh replied. "But if the Prince is gone…" He paused as Mary stepped away from the console and towards him. "Captain Pangolin?"

When Mary spoke, it was formal. "Are you fleeing crimes you have committed?" She asked, not quite a demand, but close.

"My crew have committed no crimes." Taakezh frowned a little. "We were traders. J'mpok's forces are attacking any Gorn or Orion ship they find. They attacked us when we were on a simple trading mission. We fled. Eventually, we lost our attackers in a nebula, but we cannot continue as we were. We heard of the Prince. We believed he was here. We had no cloaking tech of our own. We hired a freelancer with a cloak, but paying his fee used all of our funds. Even our ship was sold to pay our way. We have nothing left. All we had was hope that is now gone."

"R'Kerti?" Mary asked.

"Don't put this on me, Mary!" The female Gorn all but threw that at Mary. "I don't know what to do!"

"I am not." Mary reassured her friend. "I am asking if you want to come along." At that, everyone stared at Mary as if she had grown two heads. Her Herald was smiling though! They were of one mind, literally. "Jhinis."

"On it." Jhinis banished her staff and moved to another console. Communications? "Opening a line to the K'Valk's Honor. It will be a few minutes."

"Mary, what are you doing?" R'Kerti was hardly the only green lizard who looked worried.

"My job." Mary replied, eyeing the Gorn captain who eyed her right back. "I am an Alliance captain and the Alliance has been attacked. We have received a call from someone who needs help in the Boreth system. Helping people is supposed to be my job as an Aliance captain, but I have a problem. This ship is far too large for me to operate on my own. I need a crew. Preferably not Iconians since that would bother any number of people. You say you have nowhere else to go, Captain Taakezh. I think you do. Join me."

"Mary…" R'Kerti all but choked on that. "He can't do that!"

"Times change." Mary said, looking at the hulking Gorn. "Once upon a time, challenges for rank among humans were done by battles to the death, just they are still among the Klingons. Your people?"

"It is traditional." The Gorn captain said slowly. "But I am no match for you and I know it." Wise lizard.

"One ship. One captain." Mary agreed. "But… I need a Second Officer. I would prefer one with some kind of experience. If he comes with a crew, so much the better."

"Me?" The Gorn captain almost staggered. "You do not know me!"

"No, I do not." Mary agreed. "But I met the Prince you speak of. He was very sad, but very brave. A kind soul battered by time and war. Honorable, but not silly about it. I know what he would wish. Betray me and it will go ill with you." She stood up straight and her tone hardened. "Stand with me and I willl stand with and for you! Reclaim your honor! You are Gorn! Warriors! Not merchants! Stand with me! Show the galaxy what Gorn honor is!" All of the Gorn, even R'Kerti, jerked as she snapped at them, baring her teeth in a formal challenge, but not to anyone present!

"We have not been warriors in many years, Captain Pangolin." The Gorn male in front of her tried again, worry rising. "You would have many who would wish to serve with you."

"They are not here." Mary said reasonably. "You are. You say you have nowhere to go. I say you do. And even if, after this, you choose to leave? I will not gainsay you. I do not forsake those who stand with me." At that, R'Kerti stiffened as Mary stepped to her side. "It would have been wiser for this one to deny my wishes of friendship. To treat me as a monster. She chose otherwise. How can I act differently?"

"You are insane." R'Kerti snapped, but her heart clearly wasn't in it. "I was looking out for myself, not letting a crazy woman out of my sight."

"You do seem a rather determined sort, Captain Pangolin." The Gorn captain said softly. "If less than sane." Mary's glare turned pointed. "You do not know me, Captain Mary Owlna Pangolin. You cannot trust me."

"Who said anything about trust?" Mary asked as pitch black spheres formed around the Gorn on the bridge and suddenly, each was hemmed in by several forms right out of nightmare. It had to be her imagination that all of the Constructs seemed amused as all the Gorn stared at the death waiting for them. Had to be. Right? "Cross me and die."

"I think that is the first sensible thing you have said in the last hour or so." R'Kerti said with a growl. Mary's glare bounced off her friend like a rock thrown at a steel wall. "Crazy woman."

"Jhinis?" Mary asked and Jhinis nodded from where she stood. "What did Ade'ta say?"

"She agrees." The Aenar said quietly. "We are expected and they will send everyone who can move on their own power to meet up with us there."

"Right." Mary turned back to the bemused Gorn captain. "Well?"

"Well what?" The Gorn asked, confused.

"You need sanctuary. I need a command crew." Mary said mildly, but her hand was moving as if to grip her staff again.

"You are crazy." The Gorn was not expecting R'Kerti, Jhinis and Mary to all say the same thing.

"Duh."

"I can help you. If you let me." Mary said quietly. "I would hire you, but I have no money." She shrugged. "On this ship, I can offer sanctuary on my own authority, but elsewhere? The Iconians are the final arbiters. Choose."

"Will you kill us if I say 'No'?" The Gorn inquired.

"No." Mary replied instantly. "But you won't be able to stay here and I assume that anywhere else you go, J'mpok's goons will find you quickly. On this ship, my authority can shield you. If you let it. I do not ask oaths and I am no slaver. Obey my orders and help me operate the ship. That is all I ask."

"I see." The Gorn looked at his crew who were all eyeing the Iconian battle automatons and then he straightened. "You have honor, Captain Mary Owlna Pangolin. Let us see if we can restore some small fraction of my people's honor. Together. We are with you."

All of the Gorn nodded and Mary nodded back.

"What are you orders, captain?" The Gorn asked as the Constructs started to vanish!

"The Klingon Empire is shattered." Mary said quietly as she took up station in front of the chair in the middle of the bridge. "This is not good for anyone. The Alliance is stretched thin, trying to stem the tide of chaos. They need every ship and every captain. Even inexperienced ones like me. I don't know what awaits us in Boreth, but we will face it with honor. Assume your station, First Officer Taakezh."

"I don't know these…" The Gorn paused as the consoles in front of him morphed and the script was suddenly in Gorn! "Um…" He stared at where each of his people had taken station and all of them had consoles that showed their language!

"Iconian technology is good for more than just blowing stuff up." Mary smiled, but it was grim. "The ship was set for multi-species crews and adapts to whoever is at the station. You will be able to read the consoles and use them."

"I could learn to like this." The Gorn First Officer said very quietly.

"You haven't seen anything yet. This whole ship has been upgraded." Mary grinned wide as R'Kerti gasped and then sat fast in the closest char!

"Everyone hang onto your lunch!" R'Kerti said sourly as the ship started to hum. "I bet Mary still flies like she did at the Academy."

"I am not helm, R'Kerti. You are." Mary smiled at the Gorn who rose and moved to the helm station. "We all have our strengths."

"Being nuts is not a strength, Mary." R'Kerti scrutinized the controls and started tapping holographic keys carefully.

"Crazy is as crazy does." Jhinis said from were she stood at Communictions. "Captain? Traffic Control has granted us gate access. We are free to maneuver."

"Gate?" R'Kerti gasped as the main view-screen activated and a gray circle appeared on it. "Uh, Mary…?" Mary did not react and R'Kerti swallowed hard. "Ah… Uh, sorry. Captain Pangolin." She said with far more respect. "Ready to maneuver." She sounded a bit dubious, but the controls were easy under her claws.

"You trained on helm far more than I did. You will do fine. Take us out, R'Kerti." Mary sat in the big chair in the middle of the bridge. "It is time to show the galaxy what honor is again"

R'Kerti was hardly the only one to snarl in agreement as the USS Denali vanished through the Iconian gate that had been set up for it.