Unscrupulous

Chapter 13

As Pavel Chekov entered the bridge and took his seat at navigation, he noticed that the yellow alert was sounding instead of the red. Puzzled and deeply concerned at Kirk's blasé attitude towards the Klingon's blatant encroachment into Federation territory, he heard Uhura announce that the captain of the Klingon ship had ceased fire and was hailing them. Kirk waved a hand of dismissal and asked for a damage report.

"Shields are up, Captain." Spock answered calmly. "No appreciable damage."

Chekov stared at his readings in puzzlement. The Klingon phasers had only been on half intensity. Uhura spoke again.

"It's Kang, sir. He wishes to speak with you."

"Very well. Continue alert status and put him on screen."

Uhura complied and they watched as the face of Kang appeared on their viewing screen.

"Kang, you idiot...you have unmitigated gall coming into Federation space and firing on the flagship. What is the meaning of this attack? You know very well that this could be considered an act of war."

"I thought it would get your attention, Kirk. It was not exactly an attack. If it had been, I would have used full phasers. It was more of a salute from one warrior to another. Also, I would have enjoyed a little skirmish with you. It would have been a fun diversion for my crew. However, I know that Earthlings do not like to do battle as much as we do and that you have superior weapons. A real attack on you, my friend, would have been foolish."

"I will give you a one-finger salute, you piece of Denevan flying vomit." Kirk retorted contemptuously. "You are right, though. We would have been within our rights to blow you out of the sky. What the hell are you doing here?"

"I have received permission from your Starfleet officials and am here on behalf of my government to politely ask you for cloaking technology." Kirk glanced at Uhura for confirmation and she shrugged.

"What makes you think I would give you anything, Kor?"

"Kang"

"Whatever."

Uhura chuckled nervously and Chekov smiled. "You all look alike to me."

Kang grinned in amusement.

"Kirk, I admire you. Trading insults is fun, but I'm on a serious mission. I developed a lot of respect for you after that incident with the non-corporeal entity on your ship. What's with the attitude? Is it in deference to your young navigator, whose brother is no doubt in Stovokor?"

Kirk looked to his first officer in puzzlement.

"Klingon 'Heaven', Captain."

"The entity made Pavel believe he had a brother when he didn't. Anyway, we don't believe what you do. I for one wouldn't want to spend eternity with a bunch of fuzz faced goons on a dingy old barge." Kirk paused, not yet knowing that Chekov really did have a brother and that he resided in the mirror universe. Pavel kept quiet, unwilling to divulge that fact. "All right, Kang. What will you offer in exchange for the cloaking device?"

"How little you know about us, Kirk." Kang's expression of amusement didn't change as he paused thoughtfully and then continued. "We will become your allies and will help you fight and defeat the Romulans."

"A tempting offer, Kang, but, as you well know, we do not need your help."

"Yes, I know of the derelict alien planet killer you have repaired. We just want to be sure you will not use the machine on us."

"We won't if your people behave themselves, Kang. You can become our allies if you want, but I thought you and the Romulans were allies."

Kang smiled again.

"Contrary to popular belief, Captain, we are not...what is the human expression?... bosom buddies with the Romulans. They won't share their new cloaking technology, have no honor and are sneaky and treacherous. We at least know where we stand with Starfleet and want to destroy them as much as you do."

"Captain," Spock interrupted softly. "The Klingons would make powerful and formidable allies."

"Why thank you, Spock. That is very kind of you. Well, Kirk? Do we have a deal?"

"Before we sign on the dotted line, Kang, I would like to verify that the Klingon High Council did indeed send you here to strike a deal with us."

"Of course, Captain. I know that will take some time at this distance from your headquarters, so we will wait. By Mara's calculations, that will take about ten of your hours. We will go to K-7 until then. Kang out."

Eight hours later, Chekov's shift ended and he decided that now would be a good time to have a chat with his fellow MIB agent, Kevin Riley. He paused at the door to Riley's quarters and tentatively rang his door buzzer.

"Come in, Pavel."

Chekov's eyes widened a little as he stepped into Riley's quarters.

"How did you know it was I?"

"I have been expecting you. Supervisor 194 told me that you work for him too when you are not aboard the Enterprise. He's also made me aware of the troubling changes to the time line. Sit down. May I offer you a drink?"

"No thanks, sir." Pavel answered, recalling that Riley outranked him. "I did not come to drink. I just want to know if we are really planning to implement General Order Twenty-Four."*

"Yes, we are. It will teach other hostile races not to mess with us."

"But, sir...isn't that like swatting a mosquito with a sledge hammer?"

"Perhaps. It does seem a bit extreme, but it is necessary for the security of the Federation."

"Riley, I thought we were a group of peaceful explorers, not murderers. If we destroy the Romulans, we would be no better than they are. Also, the time line has been screwed with. One of us will have to go back in time and fix things. I do not like what we have become."

"Yes, I know. Seven told me all about the changes. I will go. The items that were stolen must be returned or we will end up like the Klingons or worse."

"We might even end up like the Borg."

"Who are they?"

"Beings who reside on the other side of the galaxy in the Delta quadrant, who integrate technology within their bodies. They rely on it so much that they can't live without it."

"You are right, Pavel. That doesn't sound like the future I would want for humanity. Today is my last day on the ship. I will do my best to get the stolen devices back. I know that if you disappeared from the ship again, suspicions would be aroused. Also,since you are already aware of the changes in the time line, you will also know if I am successful. At any rate, I will keep you informed."

"You have your work cut out for you, sir, and you are the better choice to retrieve the items that are missing, since you are leaving Starfleet to work for the supervisor. All the best to you and good luck."

* In case you all have forgotten, General Order Twenty-Four was almost used in "A Taste of Armageddon".