USS Enterprise NCC-1701,
Monday 24th January 1994
The so-called observation lounge was, as Sevek discovered, little more than a glorified briefing room, although it did have large windows which offered an aesthetically pleasing view of space. Currently, that view was of his own ship, Vesaya, overshadowed by the Terran moon. Like many captains, he rarely got to see his ship from the outside and he took a moment to appreciate the sight before moving to take his place at the table.
A yeoman entered, carrying the tray of drinks that the Terran captain had ordered; a young woman with hair so pale it was almost white, piled up high in a complicated pattern of braids and wearing a red uniform that was in his view, indecently short. He hesitated momentarily - accepting refreshments from an unbonded female held significance in his culture – but noting that the Vulcan named Spock seemed to have no issues, he relaxed slightly and took the glass from her, curling his fingers carefully to avoid contact with her.
Who was this Spock? Sevek had immediately recognised the name as belonging to the S'chn T'gai clan, one of Vulcan's principal families who could trace their lineage directly from Surak himself. His first officer, Solkar, was the current heir to that clan.
Whoever this Spock was, and Sevek had no doubt that if he were to investigate, then he would find no record of his birth in the clan archives, he bore a remarkable resemblance to Solkar that he did not think was coincidental.
Kirk had started to speak and Sevek repressed a sigh as he listened to his words. Why did Terrans always have to complicate things? He had come here as per his orders, to monitor the situation on Earth and if possible, to find and retrieve the cultural observation team who had been stranded on the planet when the Klingons had invaded. The last report from the team had been almost two years ago, stating that the planet was under attack by a hostile alien force. Since then there had been no further word from the team, nor had scans located any evidence of them. Either they were dead or they had gone underground, masking their bio-signs to avoid detection. This should have been a straightforward mission – stop by Earth, scan the system and then move on to their next port of call. Instead they had found themselves caught up in a supposedly impossible temporal incursion. The Vulcan captain was not impressed in the slightest.
"There has been no official contact between Vulcan and the Klingons," Sevek said. "Vulcan High Command, however, is watching the situation here carefully. If these Klingons turn their aggressive tendencies in our direction, we will be ready for them. As for Earth, it is unfortunate that such a young, promising species has been subjugated by a more aggressive and more technologically advanced race, but our policy is one of non-interference. We can do little more than observe. Nor can we allow visitors from the future, however well-intentioned you may be, to interfere with the natural development of the timeline."
Kirk started to speak but Spock held up a hand. "If you would allow me, Captain…"
Initially annoyed at his first officer's interruption, Kirk reconsidered. They were dealing with Vulcans here and it might be better to trust to Spock's logic. "Go ahead, Spock."
"Captain, it is illogical to expect our guests to make a decision without all the available facts. It is my belief that there must be full disclosure if we are to go forward and reach a satisfactory conclusion."
Not completely happy with this, but seeing the need, Kirk reluctantly nodded, giving permission for Spock to continue.
"Captain Sevek, you rightly point out that interference from future civilisations cannot be allowed. It is for that exact reason that we are here.
"Then you deny," Solkar challenged, "that, all the evidence to the contrary, you are yourselves from the future?"
Spock raised an eyebrow. "The Vulcan Science Institute states that time travel is impossible." Satisfied with the barely visible look of annoyance on his counterpart's face, he continued. "The Vulcan Science Institute is of course, wrong. As you have correctly deduced, we are indeed from the future; to be precise, the twenty-third century as this planet counts time."
"Fascinating!" His momentary irritation already forgotten as his theories were proved correct Solkar was immediately interested. "You are saying that in just three hundred years, Earth will go from primitive society to a warp capable culture, and one that that if your presence on this ship is any indication, will be on good terms with Vulcan?"
"Not just with Vulcan," Spock said, "but with the Andorians and Tellarites as well as many other races."
"That is difficult to believe," Sevek said thoughtfully. "Tell me, what part do the Klingons play in this interstellar community?"
"The Klingons are a highly aggressive warrior culture," Kirk explained. "Their entire ethos is based on expansion of their empire. The Federation that will one day be formed is anathema to their way of thinking. We believe that they have travelled back in time with the intention of changing history to prevent the formation of that Federation, allowing them free to expand into this area of space."
Sevek saw the implications of that immediately and despite his control, he was unable to repress a frown. "You are saying that the Klingons are also from the future?"
"That is correct," Spock confirmed. I am aware that current scientific knowledge does not allow for time travel. However, as scientists, we must be open to new information and adapt our theories accordingly. In the time we come from, time travel is still generally considered impossible and our own capability in this area is both crude and inaccurate, not to mention dangerous. It is ironic that it is the Klingons, a species that has very little respect for scientific achievement, who have been the ones to develop and refine a fully functional temporal displacement device."
"Surely they can see the illogic of using such a device to change history," Solkar protested. "To change the timeline in such a way would change their own history as well, in ways that they could not possibly foresee."
"You would think so," Spock agreed dryly. "Regretfully, politicians of any species tend to see only what suits them and the Klingon High Council sees only an opportunity for easy conquest. The resulting temporal flux caused by their actions is big enough and dangerous enough that if it is not halted, it will wipe out the entire Federation, including Earth and Vulcan."
"You make a compelling argument," Sevek conceded. "Very well. We will review your evidence and if it proves accurate, as I suspect it will, then you will have our full support."
Klingon Headquarters, London
Monday 24th January 1994
Shivering in the cold winter air, Koreth stepped away from the shuttle that had brought him over from Singapore to London and hurried into the building. The duty guards saluted as he passed and he slowed down just enough to acknowledge them. They must be absolutely frozen, he thought, wondering momentarily how they coped with having to stand out there all day. No wonder the boss had arranged for them to take extra breaks. Thankful that he spent most of his time in the warmth of Singapore and the Far East, he went inside, breathing a sigh of relief as the door closed behind him, shutting out the winter cold.
He was here in London to carry out an unscheduled inspection. Having been promoted to Brigadier, he had replaced Karg as the senior Defence Force officer on the planet. It was a heavy responsibility and he was determined to be worthy of Krang's trust in him. There would no doubt be officers and soldiers here who remained loyal to the disgraced colonel and Koreth wanted no trouble on his watch. At least Karg himself was out of the picture for now, under guard in his quarters, although Koreth made a mental note to ensure that he was indeed being properly guarded.
A young woman, wearing the usual tight-fitting and very revealing leather uniform of a female Defence Force officer, was on duty in the reception area. There were not many female officers on Earth and he guessed that this one was Lieutenant Marla, the one that Krang's young aide had been mooning over. Looking at her, he could see why. She was stunning, more than living up to Kay'vin's descriptions of her beauty. Seeing him enter, Marla was already coming to attention and he offered her a curt nod, barely repressing a growl that his own mate would not appreciate in the slightest.
"You will show me which is… was, rather… Karg's office," he demanded, not bothering with polite greetings.
"Over there on the left, sir," she responded immediately. "The one next to it is for the sole use of the security captain."
Following her directions, he entered the office, stopping at the door for a moment and looking back. "Bring me a mug of raktajino would you, Marla? Extra strong with no sweetener."
By the time the requested beverage arrived, Koreth was seated at Karg's desk, working on gaining entry to the encrypted files on the computer system. Inputting his rank and authorisation codes, he sat back and waited as the system unlocked itself.
A background check was open on the screen and Koreth frowned as he saw the name on it. Christa Martinez, the boss's Terragnan mistress. That concerned him. Why was Karg investigating her and what had he found?
That last question at least was easily answered. Taking a mouthful of the raktajino, he began to read. The results were worrying and not at all what he had expected. She had claimed that her involvement with the resistance in London was accidental, but she was the widow of a terrorist and the sister of the doctor accused of killing several Klingon patients. There were also indications that the flatmate was part of the local resistance although the woman had not yet been found and arrested. It was all too much to be coincidental. How much of this was Krang aware of? He shook his head. The boss knew what he was doing; it was not his place to interfere, but nevertheless he would be watchful.
The background check was not the only report open. The second one was an unfinished report. Giving it a cursory glance, he was about to close the file when something about it caught his attention and he looked again. It was not, he realised, addressed to Krang and that alone was enough to flag it as more important than he had originally thought. Rather, it was addressed to Councillor Gorkon. Needing to know what was going on here, Koreth downloaded the report to his personal padd for further study and then opened up Karg's communications records. Scanning through them, he saw nothing that he would not expect to see given Karg's rank and position – various communications to and from Imperial Command and a folder marked personal correspondence. He almost went past that one, but some instinct told him to check it anyway. Feeling as though he was trespassing, he opened the file and glanced down it, finding as expected, letters from Karg's mate and family. Those were private and he would not read them. About to backtrack, his eyes were drawn to one in particular. The coding on the message was of Defence Force origin. Had it been located in the folder for official correspondence he might have passed it by, but hidden here amongst letters from Karg's wife, it seemed odd. His suspicions aroused, he opened the message.
From General Korrd… It is with great concern that I have read your recent report on the state of the Earth campaign…
Koreth growled, not liking this in the slightest. Their direct superior at Imperial Command was General K'oteq and all official communications and orders were supposed to come from his office. He was senior enough to know that Korrd dealt with the dirtier side of operations, what the Terrans called Black Ops. Korrd was also, he remembered belatedly, Karg's cousin.
The interference of Imperial Intelligence with Defence Force affairs will no longer be tolerated. On the instructions of Councillor Gorkon, you are hereby ordered, as the senior Defence Force officer present on Earth…
Koreth paused again as he considered Gorkon's involvement. The councillor was one of Chancellor Sturka's strongest allies, maybe his only ally – it was well known among the senior officers that their chancellor was at odds with the High Council with regards to this invasion. Just what game were Korrd and Gorkon playing?
… to assassinate the security captain and take control of the planet to ensure the success of the mission. Further orders will be issued with the next courier ship…
"Qu'vatlh!" Koreth swore virulently. His eyes went back to the top of the message. …As the Senior Defence Force officer present on Earth… The instructions in the message were very clear and left no room for misinterpretation. With Karg under arrest, there was no escaping the fact that these orders now applied to him.
Gorkon and Korrd are canon characters and do not belong to me. This is of course, several years before Gorkon becomes chancellor. There are no canon sources as to who was chancellor before him, but several novels name Sturka and that is what I have used.
The Enterprise crew are (obviously) not mine, nor is Solkar or Sevek of the Vesaya.
Again, big thank you to RobertBruceScott and JDC0 for their continued support and kind reviews. I actually went back and made some improvements to chapter 44 thanks to feedback from JDC10.