Chapter 4:
Arrival and Ascertainment
As the Enterprise made its orbit of Qo'noS, Kirk, Spock were preparing to beam down to the surface with a security team. Q appeared for the last time. "Good luck, mon capitaine." "Thanks for your assistance, Mr. Q." Q smiled, lifted his hands to his sides, palms up and disappeared. "Fascinating!" Spock exclaimed. "Agreed. Very." They beam down to the First City of Qo'noS and Kirk asked, "Who's the leader of the Council in this time?" "A very strong warrior named K'mpec. He's the longest serving Chancellor in Klingon history." "Captain Kirk, we detect movement ahead." Kirk acknowledged, "Have we been detected?" "Negative, sir. We're in the clear." "Acknowledged, com silence til further notice." "Captain, I suggest we follow that individual." They see a Klingon peering from a pillar and Kirk and Spock find one behind and adjacent to the warrior. "Can you identify him?" "Negative, Jim. Neither can we see what he sees." "Let's move closer." They move closer and see four hooded men. "He must be watching those hooded men." "Logical, and dangerous. Klingons do not appreciate being sneaked up on." "Roger." Kirk got his binoculars and activated infrared. "Enterprise, this is Kirk. Copy this visual and analyze. We're returning to the ship, Kirk out."
Kirk and Spock return to the ship undetected. Spock analyzes the picture kept from the binoculars Kirk had used. They copied the image to New Vulcan for further analysis. Prime Spock sent a transmission. "The hooded men are believed to be Romulans in disguise. The Klingon in question is Ja'rod, a member of the Klingon High Council." "And the man eavesdropping?" "That is Mogh, also a council member." Admiral Smillie, who joined the transmission via Starfleet of 2264, gave final orders: "Your mission is to secretly meet with Mogh and at all costs, keep him alive." "I understand, Admiral." Kirk ended transmission. "Spock, we need to return to the planet. Meet me in the transporter room." "Aye, Captain."