Kang smelled the brandy with some suspicion before he studied the liquid with unconvinced eyes. Eventually, he sipped the drink, grimaced at its taste and returned it to the table. In the briefing-lounge of the USS Excalibur, he was joined by captain Rokoro, major U'hura and ensign Tuvok.

"Emelie is out there somewhere" U'hura said. "And she intends to kill us. We have a way to find her."

This caught Kangs attention. "She is cloaked. How will you discover her with her cloak engaged?"

U'hura glanced over at Tuvok, who provided the answer. "When the Excelsior engaged the Gr'oth, we discovered that neutrinos could detonate klingon tetryon-devices. The plan is to make use of this discovery against Emelie. Probes, modified to flood space with neutrinos, will detonate all tetryon-devices on the Klothos. Not only will it disable all disruptors onboard, including her ships cannons, but it will also provide a spike in tetryon-radiation that we will hopefully be able to track. Once we have discovered her location, we will open fire."

"And you know this how?" Kang wondered with a low growl.

"Does it matter?" U'hura said. "What matters is that we can find Emelie and the Klothos. And we can stop her."

Tuvok continued. "The one issue is of course that our neutrino-probes will affect the HaH'vat as well. Your entire cargo of tetryon-devices will all detonate and your entire crew will suffer from radiation-poisoning as a result. I regret that I must advice you to withdraw from the system."

Kang studied each of the Starfleet officers in turn. "Withdraw?" he then said with contempt. "Retreat? Flee like a coward?!" Kang hit the table with his clenched fist, spilling some of his drink as a result. "The only reason that you possess this information on our tetryon-devices is that you studied the databanks stolen from the Gr'oth" Kang snarled. "Databanks you vowed to destroy! Now, that information has been shared with Starfleet!" Kang pushed himself out of his chair with such force that the chair was flung onto the floor. "Your neutrino-probes are now your most potent weapon against the forces of the Klingon Empire. The Empire has now only one choice… to declare war."

"Forgive me, lord Kang" Tuvok said, "but a war between the Klingon Empire and the Federation will only benefit the Romulans, as you yourself pointed out onboard the Excelsior."

"That no longer matters" Kang said, his eyes hard as stone. "You deciphered the databanks and are now using that information to destroy not one, but two, klingon vessels. Honor demands a response."

"And what is your response, my lord?" Rokoro asked.

Kang moved his right hand to his left arm and activated the commlink he carried there and then uttered a single word. "tIHIv!"

It did not take long before the bridge reported to the captain over the intercom-system. "Captain! The HaH'vat has locked on to us!"

The Excalibur shook and Kang fell over the table. Kang freed his disruptor-pistol and took aim at Rokoro, disintegrating her head with a single shot. Tuvok climbed the table and threw himself at the klingon warlord and tackled him to the ground. U'hura hurried after and joined Tuvok in trying to subdue the intimidating warrior. The Excalibur shook with each hit. U'hura held on to Kangs pistol-arm, while Tyvok had the fierce klingon in a headlock. Kang freed his d'k tahg from its scabbard and plunged it into Tuvoks thigh, the vulcan screaming from pain. Kang elbowed Tuvok in the gut and managed to free himself from the headlock and instantly punched U'hura three times over the face.

As Kang crawled back to his feet, U'hura ignored the pain of her smashed face and grabbed a chair and swung it over the back of the klingon warlord, sending Kang crashing into the table. Tuvok pulled the dagger from his leg and hurried after Kang; as the dagger dug into the klingons shoulder, Kang delivered a powerful strike with his elbow across Tyvoks face, sending the vulcan to the floor. U'hura grabbed the d'k tahg and pulled it free, sending purple blood squirting into the ceiling. Kang let out a roar of pain. Major U'hura stabbed Kang in his back as hard as she could and the klingon roared from the inflicted wound. Kang twisted around and grabbed Nyota by the throat and displayed his fangs in a terrifying roar, and then he flung her with both hands, sending her flying across the room and crashing into the wall, crushing several models of all previous starships that had born the name USS Excalibur.

Tuvok grabbed Kang by the neck, trying to subdue the warlord with the famous neck-pinch, but Kang was quick to hit the arm out of the way, turn, and punch Tuvok in the gut. As the young vulcan folded over, Kang grabbed Tuvok by the collar and threw him against the table. Tuvok cried out as his back struck the edge of the table with full force, and before he had time to regain his senses, Kang delivered a mighty kick to the vulcans chest. Tuvok fell over on the floor, landing in a pile.

The Excalibur was rocked by a massive explosion and Kang lost his footing and balance and found himself tumbling up against the hull. Nyota saw her chance and ran, ran for all her worth, and body-slammed the massive klingon, pressing him up against the hull once more. She dragged him down to the floor and ripped the dagger from his back. Kang roared with pain. A roar that was suddenly silenced as Nyota plunged the d'k tahg with both hands and all of her strength into Kangs throat. She crawled up against the wall to rest, her chest heaving with heavy breaths. She glanced over at Tuvok and then crawled on over to where he lay in a heap. She rolled over the vulcan on his back and checked his pulse by pressing her hand against the righthand-side of his abdomen, locating his heart; there was a pulse. It was weak, but he was alive.

Nyota hurried to get back on her feet and headed for the bridge. Upon entering it, she saw red lights flashing, medical personnel treating wounded and a few fires burning. "I need a medic!" she cried out, holding on to the wall as the ship shook from incoming fire.

The Excaliburs chief of security, a tellarite by the name of Blonq, sat in the Excaliburs captains chair. "Where is the captain?!"

"Dead!" U'hura said as she made her way over to the chief of security while two medical officers ran towards the briefing-lounge. "What is going on, lieutenant commander?" she then asked, holding on to the captains chair for balance.

"The HaH'vat suddenly attacked us for no reason, major" Blonq said with a frown. "We've taken heavy damage. Before we had time to react, we had been hit by four torpedoes and multiple salvos of disruptor-cannons. We are in bad shape. But the Klothos has attacked the HaH'vat, major, and drawn her away."

"The Klothos?" U'hura could hardly believe it as she turned to watch the information up on the viewscreen.

"Yes, major" Blonq nodded. "The HaH'vat is currently chasing her and we are now moving into a position to launch torpedoes at the HaH'vat."

"She needs us alive" U'hura whispered, thinking aloud.

The Excalibur launched two torpedoes and fired phasers at the HaH'vat, hitting the massive klingon warship along its dorsal. The torpedoes took out the shields and allowed several phaser-volleys to hit the hull of the HaH'vat, punching great holes in its armor. The HaH'vat continued its pursuit of the smaller Bird-of-Prey, firing disruptor-cannons time and time again, missing with less than fifty meters to spare at times.

Suddenly another ship left warp and found itself in the middle of the battle, a Starfleet vessel of Constitution-class came flying in with phasers firing, blasting the HaH'vat with volley upon volley.

On the bridge of the Excalibur, a familiar face appeared on the main viewscreen as lieutenant commander Blonq had accepted their hails.

"Excalibur, this is captain Aster of the USS Farragut. I hope we are not too late."

"Not at all, captain" U'hura cut in and took over the conversation. "But we have not much time. Both klingon vessels are hostile, captain. But the Klothos is the only one we need to neutralize. We need only to disable the HaH'vat. Is that understood?"

"Understood" the captain of the Farragut nodded. "Not to worry, major. We took a slight detour and picked up a surprise along the way."

XXX XXX

The shuttlebay of the Farragut opened and a medium-sized shuttle exited the larger vessels interior. It accelerated immediately and swung around to follow the Farragut towards the battle and the pursuit of the two klingon vessels.

Onboard the shuttle, the pilot activated the comm-unit. "This is shuttle three-six-eight Alcazaba, we have cleared the hangar-bay and have begun the mission" ensign Faradal said.

"Roger that, shuttle three-six-eight Alcazaba" USS Farragut replied. "Good luck and be careful. Watch out for the crossfire."

"Oh, you can bet I will" Faradal said. "Alcazaba, out." Faradal cut transmission and glanced at the officer sitting next to him in the cockpit. "There are four starships firing at each other out there" he said. "This is not a good idea, captain."

Hikaru Sulu adjusted the settings of a few dials and switches where he sat in the co-pilots seat. "We need to end this, ensign" he said with determination. "And we will."

At that point lieutenant commander Shrav, the andorian chief engineer of the USS Excelsior, joined the other two in the cockpit and sat down in a passengers-seat behind the pilot.

Sulu glanced over his shoulder back at Shrav. "Well?"

"We're good to go, captain" Shrav said, tension in his voice.

"Excellent" Sulu said with a nod and turned his attention to the ships engaged in battle up ahead. "Take us in."

Ensign Faradal took a deep breath and shook his head with some reluctance over the order he had been given. "Yes, captain" he eventually said and increased velocity and headed straight for the ongoing battle.

XXX XXX

The IKS HaH'vat was taking a serious beating, but was dishing out severe blows of its own, particularly against the USS Excalibur. The Farragut had tipped the scales to favor the Federation, but the HaH'vat was not so easily defeated; a thick hull combined with strong shields and powerful disruptors made it a formidable foe. The Klothos circled the other ships and took potshots at the HaH'vat whenever it could, trying to hit it where the larger warship was the weakest at the moment, leaving the real fighting to the two Starfleet cruisers. Following the battle at some distance, yet staying close enough to be forced to avoid stray phaser and disruptor blasts, was the shuttle carrying Hikaru Sulu.

XXX XXX

"The Excalibur and the Farragut are in control" Faradal said. "The HaH'vat doesn't stand a chance if they stick around for much longer."

Shrav nodded. "If we're gonna do this, we need to do it now."

Sulu looked at his two companions and then activated the shuttles communications. "IKS Klothos… Emelie… this is captain Hikaru Sulu of the USS Excelsior. Please respond." Moments, seconds, of silence. "Emelie, I know you can hear me" Sulu said as he watched the Klothos fire a salvo of disruptors at the HaH'vat before quickly veering off. "Emelie, disengage and leave the fighting to the Excalibur and the Farragut. You need to listen to me, Emelie… I have what you want."

A few seconds of silence and then, Emelie appeared on a small viewscreen as she responded to the transmission.

"Prove it."

Sulu took a deep breath. "I'm locking on now" he said and flicked two switches and pressed three keys in sequence.

"Target locked" Faradal confirmed.

"We're good to launch" Shrav said as he checked information on a datapad he carried with him.

Emelie, glancing at her own controls, could not help being suspicious. "Why? What are you doing?"

Hikaru felt a great lump in his chest as he looked straight at Emelie. "Save him. Save them all." And then, he pressed the final button.

Shrav's face was lit up by his datapad. "Torpedo away!"

From their position in the cockpit, they saw the bright red photon-torpedo racing through space towards the distant Bird-of-Prey.

XXX XXX

On the USS Farragut, the tactical officer turned his chair to face captain Aster. "Sir! Captain Sulu's shuttle just launched a torpedo at the Klothos!"

"What?!" Aster got out of his chair and ran over to the comm-station and pushed himself past the officer assigned to it. "Damn it, Sulu! You said you had a way to disable that ship! You said you had found information in the Klingon databanks to stop her! Sulu?! Answer me, damn you!"

XXX XXX

Major U'hura watched in disbelief as she followed the indicator on the tactical-screen that indicated the torpedo that was moving from the small icon that was the shuttle, towards the larger icon that was the Klothos.

"Hikaru" she whispered, "what have you done?"

XXX XXX

Emelie took her ship straight at the incoming Federation torpedo, adjusted her controls, her dials and her switches, and then, she finally launched Syboks warhead. Within a few seconds, the two torpedoes collided and the tremendous release of energy that was the result created a massive vortex in the middle of space; a rip through space and time, a tear in the very fabric of the universe itself. And Emelie increased velocity and steered straight towards the strange phenomenon.

XXX XXX

Faradal studied his displays. "The Klothos will reach the anomaly in twelve seconds… ten… seven… five…"

Hikaru swallowed. "Save him."

XXX XXX

As the Klothos raced towards the intimidating anomaly that was like a vortex of lightning and shadow, Emelie aimed for its center and closed her eyes, not daring to breathe. And the Bird-of-Prey flew into the vortex and vanished without a trace.