IKS Worf

Mohg class Battlecruiser

In Orbit

Ty'GoKor

Eyos followed the rest of her class through the shuttle into the shuttle bay. She amused herself watching Vaton trying to keep at least two other Klingons between them.

Eyos had never met the man that this ship was named after, though his brothers Kurn and Martok, and some of Father's writings suggested that he was everything other Klingons weren't. Quiet, stoic, and capable of actually thinking.

I should meet him, Eyos thought to herself, He seems like he might be tolerable.

Eyos followed the class through the narrow corridors. Most Klingon ships were dark, dim places, built for war and conquest instead of comfort. Worf was no exception, but Eyos' trained eyes picked up some smaller differences.

The Federation built Avenger class battlecruisers had greatly impressed the Empire, their speed and agility being the match of any Bird of Prey, and their firepower being a match for mighty Kang and his fifty brothers.

Eyos had learned from her "sisters" Kayla and Rela that the Romulans had built their own version of a battlecruiser – the Alehal – that had fought well over Titan and Vulcan. Yet again, her people were struggling to learn their lesson.

Eyos and the class rounded the final corner, taking them just a few feet from the bridge. In years past, the idea that a Klingon warship should outrun whatever it couldn't outfight would have led to charges of cowardice and executions. If noble Worf hadn't had the influence he did, the ship named for his father might never have been built.

The class entered the bridge and lined up in front of the Captain. He rose from his chair and looked down upon the line.

"I am Captain Korvax, son of J'Teng. You are aboard the newest and finest vessel of the Imperial Fleet. What do you make of my ship?"

Vaton stepped forward and looked up, "He seems to be a step back in our ability to build ships, Captain. Why is it so small? Surely, we could have built something bigger?!"

Korvax shook his head, "Would someone who is not a complete idiot care to answer my question? You, girl. What do you make of my ship?"

Eyos stepped forward, but instead walked to science console, bringing up the blueprints from the Imperial Library.

"With your permission, sir?" She asked.

Korvax nodded, and Eyos brought up a holodisplay of three ships. One Avenger, one Alehal, and Worf himself in between.

"All three major powers of the Milky Way Alliance have built battlecruisers, sir," Eyos explained as she walked through the display, "The Federation was first with the Avenger. It was, until a decade ago, the most heavily armed ship that Starfleet had built to that point. But she retained speed and agility equal to that of a Defiant."

Next, she pointed to the Alehal, "Building such a vessel proved to be a challenge to the Romulans, as they have always favoured size and firepower, particularly when it came to fighting us. But since the explosion of Hobus, they no longer have the luxury of the Romulan Imperial Weapons Consortium. Unlike Avenger, Alehal is meant to maximize capability and minimize resource use."

Finally, she pointed to Worf, "Our version is a mid-way compromise. We have the logistics to arm our battlecruisers as the Federation does, though we lack the Quantum Singularities of the Republic. And yet, our ship is faster than both, and we have battle tested and proved weaponry."

"I believe, Captain, that your ship is a finely made design, and anyone who believes it to be too small lacks intelligence."

Vaton started shaking in anger, but Korvax smiled at her, "Well done, Cadet. I see you have made a study of the matter and can actually use your brain. What is your name?"

"Eyos, Daughter of Mor."

Vaton exploded, "She's a dishonourable petaQ! The offspring of a criminal who died an honourless death on a barren hole, after spending years hiding like the coward he was!"

Eyos stared at Vaton, feeling the desire to reach for Father's disruptor building inside her.

Korvax however beat her to it. He walked over and headbutted Vaton to the ground, "Did I ask you to speak, Cadet?! Do you think I care the slightest about anything you have to say, about anything at all?!"

Vaton picked himself up, only to be met by a kick to the ribs, "You do not get to rise until you answer my questions! Speak quickly!"

"N-no sir!" Vaton responded, coughing out blood.

Korvax again shook his head and instead looked back at Eyos, "I fought with your father at Mempa, Eyos. He threatened to do… unpleasant things to my corpse if I failed to drop torpedoes within his specified timelines. He never spoke of you though."

Eyos lowered her gaze, "He assumed I was dead, Captain."

"Were you dead, Eyos?"

"You… you could say that."

Korvax stared at her for a long moment, sensing that she did not have the courage to say why. So instead, he changed tactics.

"A Warrior who can return from the dead. Interesting. I should wish to make use of that. Will you accept the position of first officer, Cadet Eyos?"

Eyos smiled. Her dream, and promise, to her Father was to become the Captain of the grandest warship in the entire Klingon fleet, to ferry the Brigadier and the Tenth Targs to their last battlefield for the glory of the Empire.

One step closer to the dream, she said, "I do."

Korvax nodded, and then turned to hauled Vaton to his feet, "You can go to the mess hall and bring us Warnog. Off with you!"

As Vaton shuffled off back down the hall, Korvax turned to the rest of his cadets, "For the rest of you. This is a ship of war! I will expect you to conduct yourselves as Warriors! Our mission will be one of war, and if any Warrior on my ship dares to die with a clean blade or an unfired disruptor…"

He smiled at Eyos as he finished the threat, "Unpleasant things will happen to your corpse. Man your stations and prepare for departure. First Officer, take us out."

"lu', qaH," She replied before turning, "Helm, set course 2-2-2 mark 0-2-2. Science, signal the yards and clear all sensor contacts. Engineering, ensure optimal power settings for warp flight are in place. Tactical, ensure all weapons are on-standby and shield auto-snap is in place."

The crew ran quickly to carry out their orders. With reluctant – but entirely necessary – help from both the Federation and the Romulan Republic, Klingon Officer training had advanced far in skill and competence. No longer did young officers jockey and fight for positions.

They did their jobs.

Satisfied that everyone was ready, Eyos turned and asked, "All stations ready. Permission to proceed, Captain?"

Korvax nodded.

Eyos stood up to her full height and shouted, "lIH tagh!"

Worf drew himself out of dock and quickly accelerated into full impulse. The helmsman was talented, and the battlecruiser elegantly danced over ships, shuttles and freighters flying to and from the planet.

Korvax look satisfied and smiled as he rose from his chair, "Well done, First Officer. Continue like this, and I'll shall have to find a use for you. Take over the bridge, I have a call to make in private."

─•~:~•─

Minutes later, Korvax entered his cabin and quickly set the door lock to maximum. Satisfied he was alone and secure, he sat at his terminal and initiated a secure QC call to the home world.

His contact appeared next on the small screen, a man that Korvax respected and feared in the same measure.

"Lord J'mpok," Korvax said sharply, "Glory to you and your house!"

J'mpok nodded back. "And yours, Captain Korvax. I trust your new command is suitable?"

"He's a fine ship, my lord. I look forward to putting him through the fires of battle for the first time."

"Your chance for glory will come soon enough, Captain. We've had to adjust our timetable slightly, thanks to the damn Romulans failing to send an escort for their convoy."

Korvax raised a brow. "Do you mean the one that was headed for the Kinshya Vermin? How is that possible?"

J'mpok sighed. "How would I know? The fact that any Romulan can even stand erect is a mystery that escapes my knowledge. However, the fact remains that you will need to move to the Orion border quickly. The cargo has been captured by yet another Pirate raid, and I will hold you responsible for its safe recovery, Captain."

"Of course, my lord. I'll set a course there immediately. And I look forward to standing beside you on Orias with weapon and bottle in hand!"

"And I as well. But be on your guard, Captain. My sources tell me that the pirates may have been backed by the OSN, and that a Starfleet vessel may also be present in the area," said J'mpok.

"Should we destroy them, my lord?" asked Korvax.

"If Starfleet chooses to interfere, then they can pay the price for their meddling. But the priority is the cargo, Captain. See that it is recovered quickly, and intact!"

"On my honour, it shall be done, my lord."

"One more thing. I've heard that the criminal Mor's daughter has come aboard your new command. What do you make of her?"

Korvax poured a glass of Bloodwine and looked over Eyos' records from the Academy. "She's the best ranked student of the Academy. Seems very competent in her role. We could make use of her."

J'mpok seemed annoyed with the answer. "Perhaps. But keep a close eye on that one. She killed Volkol, and if she's anything like her father, you'd do well to keep the liquor under lock and key. We'll speak further on this matter when you've recovered my cargo. Qa'pla."

The channel closed, and Korvax was alone in his cabin, with only the stars and Worf as his companions. He stared for a long time at the stars, lost in thought.

Korvax had lost all four brothers to the Jem Hadar. Both his sons had died fighting the Kinshya on Bath'lor. And Berliean fever had taken his beloved wife, with the Romulan Star Empire refusing to turn over the cure.

And now he was forced to call himself a Warrior of the Empire, when cowardly old men like Martok signed treaties and alliances with the Kinshya, the Jem Hadar, even the Romulans. The notion made him sick to his stomach.

Just secure the cargo, he thought to himself.

His glory would come with J'mpok's rise.

─•~:~•─