The USS Excelsior deactivated its warp-drive and returned to reality as the temporal bubble, that had propelled the vessel through space at speeds exceeding that of the speed of light, ruptured and forced the ship to obey the laws of physics once more.

Captain Hikaru Sulu entered the bridge of the Excelsior as the ship aligned with a planet in the distance.

"Captain" Commander Gars said as she turned to face her commanding officer, standing as she was over by the helm and the pilot. "We have arrived at Korvat as per schedule. Warp translation completed without incident."

"Thank you, commander" Sulu said and found his captains chair and sat down. "Are we alone?"

"Negative, sir" an lieutenant said, wearing the purple shirt of Operations beneath the gray jacket of Starfleet. "Eighteen other vessels in orbit of the planet. Cardassian, ferengi, gorn, andorian, terran, tellarite, orion and nausicaan."

"And one klingon vessel" Gars cut in.

As she did, Sulu, and many others on the bridge, felt tension mount.

"What do we know of the klingons?" Sulu asked.

Gars picked up a datapad and read aloud from its display. "A D7-class battle-cruiser, The IKS Gr'oth…"

"Gr'oth?!"

Gars looked at her captain. "Yes, sir. You know of it?"

Sulu nodded and leaned back into his chair as he seemed to consider his options. "Serving on the Enterprise, I ran into the Gr'oth on a dozen occasions" he eventually said. "She is captained by none other than Koloth of House Lasshar."

The name turned everyone silent on the bridge. The name was too well known to be ignored.

"The butcher of Tyronn."

Everyone turned around as the ships three passengers entered the bridge from the turbolifts. The trill, Curzon Dax, continued to speak as they made their way onto the bridge.

"The destroyer of Van Louen colony. Conqueror of Serma 6. Responsible for hijacking twelve Federation merchant-vessels, crippling Deep Space 4 and has taken credit for destroying the USS London, USS Kolana and the USS Aurora Borealis... killing all crew in the process."

Sybok was grim as he shared his thoughts on the klingon commander. "One of the greatest heroes of the Klingon Empire. A legend in his own time. It is with his support that Gorkon of House Makok holds on to the position of Chancellor in the Klingon High Council. A powerful and frightening opponent."

Gars turned to look out the main viewport of the bridge, at the distant planet where the object of their fears was hovering in orbit. "What the hell is he doing here?"

"The same as we are" Sulu said, his features stern. "Making a point. Take us in, mister Shatner."

"Yes, sir" the pilot of the ship said, a human lieutenant in his mid-thirties.

Eight minutes after entering the system, USS Excelsior entered orbit around the planet of Korvat. Located in neutral space, the colony was a haven for anyone wishing a life away from the major powers of the galaxy. The religious mingled with the criminal, the naive and the adventurous working hard to keep the dream alive. The dream of a life built by their own hands.

XXX XXX

The bridge of the Gr'oth was dim lit, as was usual on all klingon vessels. On the main screen the USS Excelsior was on display, weapon-systems and weak-points indicated by the klingons battle-cruisers computers.

The ships executive officer, Korax, studied the Federation vessel with some contempt, growling as he did. A low and fierce growl from the back of his throat.

"They are conversing with the leader of the planet" the klingon communications-officer said, listening in on the subspace frequencies of the system. "They intend to deliver medical supplies to the surface, as an act of good will."

Korax snarled, almost in defiance. "They are here to challenge the Empire! We should destroy them now."

"Hold your tongue!"

Korax bowed out of respect as the ships captain entered the bridge. A dominant figure, a specimen of muscle and grace. Armor and furs covered the war-torn body, and a vicious frown was ever locked on the features of the legendary warrior. Koloth, son of Lasshar of House Lasshar. A man whose fame and prowess was honored in songs across the entire width of the Klingon Empire. As he now studied the presence of a Federation vessel, orbiting the same planet as himself, the klingon warrior sat down in his chair on the bridge.

"It is the Excelsior" Korax explained, almost snarling. "Commanded by Hikaru, son of Akira."

The battle-cruisers pilot turned around at the mention of the name. "Hikaru of Akira?"

Korax nodded. "Former pilot of the Enterprise."

The pilot of the Gr'oth stood up, almost defiantly. "Let me engage! It would be a worthy battle."

"Shut up, Braga!" Koloth roared. "Sit down!"

The command forced the pilot back to his seat. Korax was almost cautious as he approached his commander.

"Mylord, a Federation vessel in neutral space is a valid target."

Koloth stroked his goatee with clawed fingers. "Hikaru of Akira deserves a proper death" he then told his second in command. "Kruge cheated me of destroying the Enterprise, of slaying James of George. The great Kirk died a pointless death. I will restore his honor by granting Hikaru of Akira a worthy end. Honor demands it."

"You owe them nothing" Korax growled.

"Thirteen times we faced the Enterprise in battle" Koloth reminded Korax. "We owe Hikaru a glorious death."

XXX XXX

Entering transporter-room 2, Sulu followed the three passengers he was delivering to the planet. Three crewmen belonging to Engineering department stood ready to operate the controls and beam the passengers down to the surface.

"Captain" Sybok said, turning to Sulu just short of stepping onto the transporter-pad. "I hope you will not mind if I suggest that ambassador Dax remains onboard. I believe, until you depart from the system, that he might provide great assistance should a problem arise with the klingons."

Sulu eyed the unorthodox-looking vulcan, not without suspicion, before offering the trill a brief glance; Curzon appearing as confident as ever.

"Why would there be a problem with the klingons?" Sulu inquired.

"Oh, come on, captain" Dax smiled. "You know the answer to that question."

"Just a precaution, captain" Sybok said. "Me and lieutenant Marcus-Kirk will scout the colony, see what we can find. But should the romulans act before we discover them, it would be wise to have an expert on the klingons at hand, wouldn't you agree, captain?"

Sulu found it difficult to counter the logic of the vulcan and offered the trill an inspecting glance from top to toe. "Very well" the Exelsiors captain eventually said. "I suppose there's no harm in it."

"Very good" Sybok said with a wide smile and stepped onto the transporter-pad.

As the young lieutenant joined the vulcan, Sulu caught her attention. "Good luck, lieutenant" the captain said, "and be careful."

Emelie smirked and sealed the zipper on her civilian leather-jacket. "As per your orders, captain" she then said and winked. "Energize."

XXX XXX

Korvat colony was a busy place, despite being on the fringe of society. Perhaps that was the very reason to its success. The fringe always attracted those who could not conform to ordinary standards of society.

Materializing in an alley, Emelie Marcus-Kirk and Sybok, both in civilian clothing, had a successful beam-down from the Excelsior. Emelie, as a matter of routine, checked her phaser and then returned it once more to the holster carried below her armpit. Moving along, and even blending in thanks to Syboks radical appearance as far as vulcans were concerned, they made their way down the most busy street of the colony.

"You think Dax can keep the klingons off our backs?" Emelie asked, glancing at the vulcan as they went.

"He serves our purpose far greater on the Excelsior as it is" Sybok said. "We need to keep the klingons calm and quiet. Dax is our best chance in succeeding with just that."

"Still" Emelie was clearly uncomfortable. "When the romulans make their move, he'll be the only thing keeping the klingons from decapitating us."

"I believe the Excelsior and captain Sulu might play a part in that as well" Sybok pointed out with a faint smile. "We knew from the start this would happen. Let us press on."

That smile had always seemed so strange to Emelie. She could think of no other vulcan that smiled. She had to admit that Sybok was like no other vulcan she had ever run into before.

"Try to be positive" Sybok continued. "The presence of a klingon warship, and a Federation starship, will without a doubt force the romulans to make their move. We will find them, and when we do, we can correct all of this."

"You still believe we can pull this off?" Emelie wondered aloud. "Despite it being Koloth up there, and in command of four hundred klingon warriors?"

"Of course" Sybok said without hesitating. "The romulans are unaware of our presence. They have no plan to counter what we know. As long as Dax's klingon friend brings the torpedo I asked for, with the modifications I specified, we can not fail."

Emelie could not ignore the question any longer. "Is that even logical?"

Sybok smiled even wider this time. "Knowing what we know, it is not a matter of logic. It is simply a matter of cause and effect."

XXX XXX

Evening had settled over Korvat, and at the colony's Ministry of Daily Operations, a reception was being held. Hikaru Sulu always felt uncomfortable wearing the dress-uniform of Starfleet; the lime-green color for one thing was, to his mind, horrendous. Joining him at the reception provided by the leaders of Korvat colony, were his chief science officer and his chief of security, along with four security-officers and Curzon Dax as well; the trill having insisted on joining the festivities.

"Cheer up, captain" Dax said with a smile, drink as always in hand. "This is a gathering of people you will rarely see in the same room together."

"I wonder why" Sulu sarcastically remarked.

Ferengi and cardassian merchants mingled with orion and gorn privateers, shady characters from Earth, Andoria and other Federation planets smiled and shook hands with even shadier characters from beyond Federation borders. And in the middle of this stood a small group of Starfleet officers, accompanied by a trill that enjoyed himself way too much.

"Frontier politics" Dax said with a grin. "You can forget the cloak, this is all dagger" and with that he set out to mingle himself, joining in on a conversation between a cardassian, a ferengi and a tellarite.

Lieutenant Commander Gambon, the benzite, turned to the four-man detail he had assigned to maintain security during their visit. "Keep a tricorder active at all times."

"Yes, sir" the lieutenant of the security-team said in response.

Lieutenant Commander Karalga, the kaitian science officer of the USS Excelsior, wearing the same lime-green jacket as Sulu and Gambon, sipped her cup of warm klingon blood-wine. "This is a room full of criminals, isn't it?"

"That it is, lieutenant commander" the benzite said, stern eyes scanning their surroundings.

Sulu turned to his fellow officers. "Remember, we are here to make friends with the local government. Act nice."

At that very moment, a trio of local authority walked up to the Starfleet officers; two humans and a lurian, all dressed in exquisite garbs.

"Captain Sulu?" the male human asked, an elderly gentleman with hints of gray in his hair.

"Yes" Sulu said. "Prime Minister Geltrodd, I believe?"

"Indeed" the man said and smiled, the two shaking hands. "I must express my profound gratitude for the Federations charity. Your shipment will be of great relief to our colonists, whether it be injuries from mining-accidents or attacks by pirates. The citizens of Korvat will not soon forget this gesture."

"We are only glad to help out" Sulu said with a smile.

They were interrupted as a cardassian decided to join them, a cardassian that the prime minister seemed to be well acquainted with.

"Director Rukat" minister Geltrodd said and invited the cardassian to join them with an open arm. "May I introduce the captain of the USS Excelsior; captain Sulu."

"A pleasure, captain" the gray-skinned reptilian said and shook Sulus hand. "Your fame preceeds you, as does your reputation. One of Starfleets finest combat-veterans."

"I like to consider myself an explorer" Sulu replied.

"Come now, captain" the cardassian grinned, "three years patrolling the klingon border hardly qualifies as exploration."

At that point, Karalga decided to join in on the conversation. "I beg to differ" the kaitian said, "the neutral zone established between the Klingon Empire and the Federation is a vast region of space that can only be surveyed through the use of long-range scanners. As such, our patrols are primarily directed towards surveys of the planets and anomalies found in the neutral zone. A most fascinating mission to say the least, not to mention difficult as we are unable to conduct any experiments up close, so to speak."

Rukat listened and nodded. "Yet, one can not help but wonder if your scans aren't primarily meant to detect cloaked klingon vessels, trying to attack Federation colonies."

"A fortunate side-effect of our scientific duties" Sulu added, a comment that made everyone chuckle politely.

"Well, enough politics" Rukat said and held up a glass of blue liquid. "You should try the romulan ale. It is imported directly from Romulus."

"Director Rukat is the cardassian liason to Korvat" prime minister Geltrodd explained to the Starfleet officers. "We are fortunate enough that he is willing to trade romulan ale for our ore, from time to time."

"The least I can do" Rukat said with a wide grin, revealing his reptilian teeth. "The Cardassian Empire realize that only through trade and co-operation can Cardassia and Korvat bring civilization to this remote part of the galaxy. And through our mutual efforts, we will force the pirates that harass these systems to flee to the Beta Quadrant if that is necessary."

"How noble of you" Sulu commented.

Rukats smile never faded. "Cardassians are a noble race, and we are loyal to our friends."

Sulu was not all too keen to agree. "Is that why Cardassia has subjugated a dozen other races and their planets?"

"Subjugated?" Rukat chuckled and shook his head. "You are misinformed, captain. We brought civilization to those people. We gave them machines, spaceships and medicine. We made them greater than they ever could hope to be on their own." The cardassian then turned to the prime minister of Korvat. "You see, unlike the Federation that lets planets endure millennia of disease, famine and wars, because of their superior moral compass, we cardassians believe in sharing our technology with those less fortunate than ourselves. We, simply put, deprive them of illnesses, of starvation and of conflict and offer them peace and prosperity."

"And what does Cardassia get in return?" Sulu wondered. "Stripping those planets of all of their resources. Forcing generations into conditions resembling slavery and forced labor. Recruiting unwilling youngsters to serve in your military as front-line troops and cannon-fodder. You claim to liberate these worlds, yet all you are doing are robbing them of their young and their ability to sustain themselves."

Prime Minister Geltrodd cleared his throat in an effort to steer the conversation elsewhere. "Well, I suppose there are benefits and downsides to all forms of government. Korvat is not without her own issues."

Gambon placed a hand on Sulu's shoulder. "Pardon, captain, but I think politics just took a turn for the worse."

They all turned to see what the benzite was talking about, as did everyone else in the room. At the halls main entrance, a group of newcomers had just entered and were now the focus of everyone attending the gathering. Eight klingons, large, broad shoulders, bearded with flowing hair covering their shoulders, surveyed the scene in turn. Their outfits covered with pieces of iron and leather and fur, daggers carried in the belts and pistols worn along their thighs. Four of them, the obvious bodyguards, wore helmets and were armed with a bat'leth each. As they made their way into the hall, the crowd parted before them, giving them a wide berth.

"Lord Koloth of the esteemed House of Lasshar" the prime minister of Korvat said and offered the klingon noble a generous bow. "It is an immense honor to be in your presence. I am Prime Minister Geltrodd, your host for the evening. If there is anything I can do for you…"

The sentence was cut short as Koloth pushed Geltrodd to the side and with a couple of strides found himself face to face with Hikaru Sulu. Sulu, reaching only Koloth to the chest, cautiously looked up at the intimidating creature that was looking down at him.

"Koloth, son of Lasshar" Sulu said, without hesitation or fear.

"Hikaru, son of Akira" the klingon warlord replied. "Your presence gives me great honor. Often we have battled. Tonight, we drink as warriors."

"I hope you forgive me" Sulu said, "if I indulge myself this evening."

"Why?" the klingon wondered, quite demandingly. "Am I not worthy of your company?"

Sulu could hear the low growl bubbling in Koloth's throat. The eyes, blue as ice, radiated with a slowly building rage. Sulu knew enough about klingons to know that this was not the time to falter.

"I still have duties to perform on my ship, as soon as I return" the captain of the Excelsior explained, never taking his eyes from the klingons gaze. "A drunk commander is a poor leader, after all."

"Delegate your duties" Koloth said with a mocking grin. "I insist."

Gambon made a slight gesture to his security-officers, who all slowly moved their hands to their phasers. In turn, the klingon warriors readied themselves, prepared to free their own weapons.

"What you insist is hardly our concern, now is it?"

Everyone whipped around to look at the man who had interrupted the tense moment, and Sulu was less than pleased to find it was Curzon Dax who had decided to antagonize the klingons further.

Koloth snarled at the trill. "Who are you to address me like I was a slave?!"

Curzon emptied his glass of brandy and placed it to the side, doing his best to ignore the two klingon bodyguards that had closed in on him. The trill managed to keep calm, only because the klingons had yet drawn their weapons; he knew that as soon as that happened, he would die. As they were still sheathed and holstered, he was safe, at least for the moment.

"I am Curzon of Dax, friend of Kor, son of Rynar of House Ryna of the blood of Kahless. I speak to you as an equal."

Koloth almost ran up to the trill, only stopping short of running him over. Dax had to admit that he was not far from wetting himself as the behemoth came at him.

"You dare to mock me… trill?" the words trembled with subdued rage as Koloth spoke.

"You know my name" Dax said, sounding as confident as he could, given the situation. "And you know Kor. Honor me, as I honor you, Koloth, son of Lasshar. Or are you afraid that my mind and wit is sharper than yours?"

Curzons throat was gripped by iron fingers, squeezing his windpipe shut. All the guests were ready to panic and every guard present, whether it was cardassian, Starfleet or klingon, readied themselves for the worst outcome.

"Koloth!" Sulu called out. "Release him!"

But Koloth ignored the human captain, and instead inspected the trills eyes. As Curzon was turning red, and later blue, Koloth suddenly released his grip of the young trill and let him fall to the floor, gasping for air.

"You are a bold one" Koloth then said, taking a step back from the trill.

Leaning against a knee, gently stroking his aching throat, Curzon glanced up at the giant warrior in front of him. "And quite fun to be around too, I'm told."

A moments silence, then Koloth could not help to chuckle at the curious trill. He then turned and joined the other members of his crew as they decided to find something to drink. As the klingons moved away, Sulu and his officers moved in and helped Curzon to his feet.

"You are a damned fool!" Karalga said, looking around to make sure there wasn't more trouble coming at them.

The benzite was even less impressed. "He is a security-risk, captain. I recommend having him detained until we head back to the Federation."

Sulu waved off the suggestion, even though in his mind thought it was the most prudent course of action at the moment. Sulu waited for Curzon to regain his wits, before he gained the trills attention.

"Do you have a death-wish, ambassador?" the captain of the USS Excelsior asked.

"Hardly" Curzon said, clearing his throat. "But a klingon like Koloth, with him you need to stand out in a crowd to earn his attention. He'll remember me, the bold trill." Dax smiled as he said it and then nodded as he gave it some thought. "Well, this was a success. I'd say this requires some celebrating" he said and slapped Sulu over the shoulder and went looking for another glass of alcohol.

The three senior Starfleet officers, in their lime-green dress-uniforms, could hardly believe it all as the trill vanished into the crowd once more.

Karalga shook her head. "We need to leave before he starts a war."

Sulu could hardly object. "I concur, lieutenant commander."