Hello dear readers, I have for you another chapter of my little side project. I didn't realize that it had been a month since the last update. I thought I had updated since then and waiting to finish up a chapter to another story, but anyway, I hope you enjoy.

Coincidentally, BBC America is showing the Star Trek episode, 'A Private Little War', that this story is a sequel today.

Fanfic-Reader-88: The others are welcoming her with open arms because they know her, Robbie has to still sneak around to see if she's really a traitor or not, Jade is still weary after the assumption she'd be a specieist in high school and Freddie having to still contemplate the possibility.

They're walking into a hornet's nest with two sides at each other's throats all because the Klingons wanted to use proxies to take over the planet.

Invader Johnny: Thanks for reading. I hope I will capture her neurotic nature in this piece because we're not talking about her just screwing up a performance, but people potentially dying if it's not pulled off.

Rating: T

Chapter 2

Captain's Log, Stardate Four-Three-Zero-Seven-point-One: We've reached orbit of Neural and so far, we haven't detected any Klingon vessels. I'm hoping when they realized that Captain Kirk found them out, they decided to cut their losses. However, if they haven't, we'll deal with any unexpected surprises. After we reach orbit, I intend to beam down with Commander Shapiro and Doctor West to speak with Tyree, a prominent individual of the Hill People awhile Commander Vega and Lieutenant Vega beam down to contact the Village People in the hopes of nudging the two sides into peace if not find some way to remove the weapons to at least balance out the scale the Klingons offset.

USS Tori
Neural
Zeta Bootis System

Captain Benson sat in his command chair, intently watching the view screen as the ship slowed down to warp two as it traveled through the system. He glanced over to his right and asked, "Sensor readings Commander?"

Robbie remained seated in his seat and looked at the various monitors at his station, each showing a different area of space that the sensors were sweeping. He glanced over his left shoulder and answered, "No contacts in the immediate area."

"Good." He looked to Rex and ordered, "As soon as we're in range, drop to impulse power and assume standard orbit over the general vicinity of the Enterprise's landing party's position."

"Aye Captain," Rex answered as he expertly controlled the helm.

Freddie got up from his seat and called out, "Commander Harris, you have the conn. Commander…"

Robbie stood up from his seat and headed for the turbolift while Freddie tapped a control stud on the right armrest of his seat and called out, "Doctor West, report to transporter room two."

Transporter Room

Freddie was pulling his field jacket over his shoulders as he entered the transporter room along with Robbie and Jade. He paused, startled for a moment at seeing the computer science specialist in the Klingon uniform of a dull silver tunic over a long sleeve black turtleneck shirt and matching dull silver pants and black boots. He bashfully smiled to her and commented, "You definitely look the part Commander. Hopefully you can fool them long enough to save them."

Tori bowed her head and answered, "Thank you Captain."

Freddie looked to Trina, who wore an identical uniform, but with a different rank insignia. He noticed she looked uncomfortable about the situation. He gave her a sympathetic smile and asked, "Are you ready?"

Tori bashfully nodded and answered, "Honestly sir, I'm still a little nervous."

Jade remarked in an almost mocking manner as she adjusted her field jacket, "It's a role Tori. It's just like any other part you played in high school."

The brunette looked to her former rival and retorted, "This isn't just any performance. I'm having to fool someone into believing I'm their new handler and that not giving them anymore weapons is for the best; it's a complete turnaround to what they've been doing. Lives are on the line, not whether or not I get a bad grade or review."

The doctor lazily shrugged a shoulder and replied, "If you can't hack it then let Trina do the talking. You can just stand there and look pretty as you did for most of your roles that Sikowitz handed you."

Tori knotted her brow then clenched her jaw, seeing the old Jade come out that she hadn't seen in years.

Trina turned a stern look to the doctor and snapped, "Enough Jade."

The doctor took a step towards Trina asked in a challenging voice, "Enough what? Did I say something that wasn't true? If she's not comfortable talking then she should trust you to do it. That when we were in high school Sikowitz showed undue favoritism to Tori for roles?"

Freddie interrupted in a commanding voice, "Chief, crewmen, could you give us a moment."

"Yes sir," the red shirt operator answered then walked around the transporter console along with his assistant in work fatigues and out of the room with the two security crewmen.

As soon as the doors closed, Freddie turned a stern look at the three ladies and stated, "Enough." He looked to Jade and stated, "I know you're angry and feel betrayed…" He looked to Trina to finish, "…and I know you're doing what you believe you need to do to protect your sister, but you are professionals and you need to behave in accordance of such positions while you are in the presence of the crew. If you want to hash it out, you do it in private, not in front of them. Is that understood Doctor, Lieutenant?"

The pair shared embarrassed expressions with one another with the dressing down, remaining silent.

He asked again in a clipped tone, "I asked if that was understood?"

The question jarred them out of their surprise and each mumbled a yes sir.

Freddie eyed them for a few more moments, neither to able to meet his eyes, then looked to Tori, feeling more uncomfortable seeing that her presence was disruptive. "Commander Vega, I need to know if you are up to this. The mission rides on you being confident enough to convince them to stop."

"I will do my duty to the best of my ability sir."

"That's all I ask."

Freddie turned back to the door, activating the sensor and called for the transporter operator and security crewmen. The chief returned to his duty station and double checked the dual set of coordinates for the split landing party.

Tori and Trina were the first to step onto the transporter pad then moments later, disappeared in a shimmering pillar of gold.

The three officers and two security crewmen stepped up to the transporter pad. Jade stood beside Freddie and quietly whispered to him, "Sorry."

Freddie remained silent, unsure how to answer as captain or her family, as the transporter beam swept them up.

Outskirts of Hill People Encampment
Neural

Five gold shimmering pillars appeared in the dry grassy clearing about half a quarter of a mile from the Hill People's village. The Star Fleet personnel quickly glanced around to familiarize their surroundings.

Freddie raised a hand over his brow and shielded his eyes as he looked towards the direction of the encampment. He asked towards Robbie, "Any of those creatures we were warned about?"

Robbie looked down at his tricorder and answered with a slight shake of his head, "I'm not reading any in the immediate area, just near human lifeforms."

"Location, distance?"

Robbie pointed ahead of them toward some small hills covered with thick brush and trees. "About half a dozen men scattered on the hills about a hundred meters out."

Freddie nodded his head then ordered, "Good defensive position…"

Jade took a step closer to him and asked, "What should we do?"

He turned his head with a confident smile and answered, "Say hello."

He started leading the landing party towards the middle of the twin hills towards the obvious pathway. Jade followed lock step behind him while Robbie kept his eyes glued to the tricorder as he walked and the security crewmen keeping their eyes peeled on their surroundings.

After several dozen yards, several men stepped out of the brush on top of the hills with their bows in a ready position to raise them and pull back a shot at the Star Fleet crew with a moment's notice. They were tall and blonde, their hair wildly sticking outward and upward and glittering symbols in the center of their foreheads. They were dressed in brown leather vests, pants and wool covered boots.

The security crewmen had their phaser carbines at a semi-raised position to return fire, knowing that they could at least pick off two in rapid succession then lay down suppression fire along the top of the hills long enough for an emergency beam-out if necessary.

Freddie's posture and expression remained unimpressed and called out, "Hello, I am Fredrick Benson and I'm looking for Tyree. I am an acquaintance of a friend of his, James Kirk. I wish to speak with him."

The men looked cautiously to the Star Fleet personnel and traded looks of mild confusion of what they should do. One of them called out, "Where are you from?"

"We're… from a great distance away. I wish to discuss with him the threat you face with people of the village."

They passed concerned glances among themselves then one of them asked, "How do we know you're not some trick from them to get us into an ambush or attempt to kill him?"

Freddie shook his head and honestly answered, "You don't, but you have the high ground and can see that we are alone." He motioned backwards to further his point, "There is no force behind us that could attack you."

The leader of the patrol contemplated his words, seeing that they were alone, but concern they had gotten so close to the camp without being detected.

He called out to Freddie, "Wait here." He spoke to one of the other men then the subordinate rushed off back into the brush and presumably towards the Hill people's encampment.

Freddie nodded his head then passed a glance to Robbie, indicating, so far, so good.

The first speaker of the Hills people shouted towards them, "Why do you care about our battle with the Village people?"

"Because our enemy is the ones giving them the weapons they are using against you and we want to put a stop to it."

The leader of the band raised a surprised eyebrow, clearly stunned with the answer. He and the others began quietly whispering to one another, keeping a guarded eye on them.

Freddie quickly followed up, "That is what I what I wish to discuss with him in private."

The leader of the band looked as if he was thinking again then motioned his head behind him the started down the hill of the path between the mounds of dirt for them to follow him.

Freddie lead the way again while the others kept their guard up with the other Hill people on the hills watching them like hawks and the leader of the guards walking down to join and escort them to the settlement.

After perhaps half an old football field in length behind the hills and lightly forested area on either side of the recently traveled path, they reached a clearing with dozens of canvas structures similar to the old tepee that the Native Americans used centuries ago on the plans of mid-west United States. There were dozens of more people going about their businesses to make it a bustling area of community.

As the Star Fleeters were being lead further into the encampment, they were getting stares from the local inhabitants. Freddie kept his focus forward, but Jade and Robbie passed them polite smiles to try to show they were friendly.

They eventually reached somewhere in the center of the encampment and had gathered a bit of an audience from the women and children.

A tall man with near platinum blonde hair arrayed in a mostly vertical fashion was escorted to approach the off-worlders. He wore a weary expression and one with haunted eyes, a look that Freddie had been all too familiar in seeing in the mirror. He glanced over the strangers, finding their clothing odd, but he did realize that two carried weapons vaguely resembling the rifles from the Village People.

He looked to Freddie, assuming he was the leader and asked, "I am told you know my friend, James Kirk."

"I'm from the same place as he… we serve the same people as brothers-in-arms, though I have only spoken with him once. I actually spoke with him a few hours ago and I'm here to help your people."

The blonde man cautiously asked, "You're here to help? Help me defeat the Village people?"

"We're here to end the conflict that the Klingons started."

"The King-ouns?"

"They are a people that… my people don't have very good relations with and we found out… Kirk found out that they were giving the Village people weapons to use against you. We're here to try to stop them from getting any more weapons and help restore peace between your peoples."

Tyree hissed out as his anger flared in his eyes, "There cannot be peace. They have taken too much from us, killed too many of us."

"They will give back what they can give back and hopefully we can help you find the peace that the Klingons broke." He took a long glance over to the gathered tribesmen and women. "Is everyone ready to sacrifice more to balance out a scale? To feed the bloodlust starting to consume you?"

His question to the rest of them caused them to start murmuring among themselves, some offended that he would assert himself into their business while others were willing to listen to what he had to say if it meant an end to the killing.

Tyree looked to his tribesmen, seeing a questioning discontent ripple through them like a way. He quickly attempted to reassert control, "We have a right to defend ourselves… to protect what is ours."

"Yes you do, but before the Klingons arrived to give weapons to the villagers, you were at peace with them? Or am I mistaken?"

A blonde lovely young woman stepped forward, with a hint of Nordic features, and answered, "Yes, it's true. We were at peace and mostly kept to ourselves, but we'd sometimes go to the village for trade… and to have company… let our children play… I had friends there, but now… the men are fighting…"

Tyree turned a disapproving glance towards her, but other women started to murmuring among themselves, clearly agreeing with the regretful turmoil that had come between their peoples.

Freddie pushed on, "Our enemy intends to use the Village people to subjugate the land and all the people that live here, Village and Hill people alike by using a handful of men with their weapons to direct all of them. We don't wish any of you to be subjugated and we intend to do something about it, hopefully with your help."

Tyree thought on Freddie's words and saw the shift in the rest of the tribe's sentiment. They were hungry for the fighting to stop for their respective reasons and apparently willing to listen to any voice of hope as a way to stop it. He needed to take back control of the situation. He suggested, "We need to discuss this further… in private."

"Yes, we should discuss this in private."

Tyree motioned behind him towards the other edge of the encampment. "This way, but you must leave your weapons."

Freddie calmly answered, "No."

Tyree paused, perhaps startled that Freddie would be so dismissive of his request.

The starship captain continued, unafraid and stern, "I will not allow my crew or myself be left defenseless, especially from a man potentially consumed by vengeance and would do anything to see it through."

Tyree took a sharp breath and the rest of the tribes people were stunned silent, waiting to see the response of their leader. He studied the young captain, seeing a cool calculation in his eyes and unafraid.

"Very well, keep your weapons, but I trust you to be as honorable as Kirk."

"We are and I intend to prove it to you."

Tyree motioned with his head to follow him. He began walking deeper into the settlement with two other large men walking with him. Freddie lead the troop of Star Fleet personnel behind them and a number of the tribeswomen followed, eager to overhear what would determine the fate of their people. They reached an end of it to a large mouth opening of a cave with a large canvas over it to shield it from the elements.

One of Tyree's bodyguards parted the canvas and allowed them to enter the cave, but the two security crewmen remained outside the entrance of the cave with the eager tribeswomen watching them, hoping for the best. Several of Tyree's men remained outside with them, giving the security crewmen cautious looks.

Inside the cave and away from the eyes and ears of the others other than his two bodyguards, Tyree sharply turned to Freddie and demanded, "What do you know about my vengeance?"

Freddie calmly answered, "What James told me. That a few members of the neighboring settlement murdered your wife… a wife that was about to sell you out to them by giving them one of our weapons."

Tyree's expression turned to a furious expression and in nearly a blinding motion, he reached for his knife by his side, but Freddie was faster in reaching just behind his right hip and drawing out his KA-BAR, bringing it around in a reverse grip to bring the edge to the native's neck. He could easily slash across his corroded artery and end him.

The two other Neural natives reached for their tomahawks while Robbie's hand reached for his phaser in his thigh holster, but kept the butt of his hand on the handle and kept it in the holster. Jade palmed over her palm phaser on her belt, ready to draw it and defend her captain.

There was a tense standoff for several moments, seeing which side would draw their weapons.

The taller man took a sharp breath in surprise, staring into the young captain's eyes.

Freddie quietly continued, a breath away from ending the man's life, "The truth can hurt and heal and I know that must be tearing you up inside to have lost her and you don't want to think about why it happened… why it didn't have to happen yet it did?"

"What do you know of my pain?"

A morbid smile formed on Freddie's face as he answered, "You're not the only one that has had to bury a wife."

The Neural native studied the stranger's eyes for several moments then clenched his jaw, seeing the truth. He lowered his knife and raised his left hand.

Freddie lowered his arm then slowly sheathing his combat knife. He kept a domineering stare towards Tyree and asked, "Are the ones that murdered your wife dead?"

"Yes."

"Then let it end there. The ones responsible for her death are gone. You don't keep killing people to fill that hole in your heart."

"But they're killing us."

"And that's the reason we're here: to stop the killing and bring peace. What kind of peace do you want? The kind where the other side has been wiped out or where you can go back to living in harmony with one another?"

One of Tyree's apparent lieutenants spoke up, "I don't enjoy killing and don't wish to keep doing it, but Tyree is right. What will stop them from killing us? They still have a number of our women though and we can't let them keep them."

Freddie gave him a thoughtful look and answered, "Any peace made with them would have to include returning them and the property they stole. The ones responsible for attacking your people… perhaps the other Villagers will hold them responsible for their actions against you."

The second bodyguard snorted out, "Why would they want to punish their own?"

"Do you think everyone would approve of what they're doing? One of your tribeswomen spoke of having friends in the village; do you think they approve? Do you believe that they wouldn't voice their objection to their fathers, husbands, brothers?"

Jade spoke up with a smirk, "Don't underestimate a determined woman."

Tyree turned a glance to Jade, seeing the confident look in her eyes and dark hair that reminded him of his late wife. He shook away the recalled feelings and asked, "Even if you say is true, why would they suddenly want peace?"

"Even with the firearms they have, I'd wager that you're starting to give them a fight. Your bows and arrows are more accurate and you can fire them a lot faster. You know the land far better than they, so you're probably stalking them as the animals you hunt and ending them just as quickly and silently… and some of them are growing sour to the idea that they're not making sport of you anymore. They will probably be willing to come to the negotiating table, especially since we're going to make sure that they don't get any more weapons."

Tyree and his companions exchanged stunned expressions, clearly taken aback that Freddie had apparently assessed the situation so accurately. They saw that he was a man that easily grasped their fledgling military tactics. He took a shallow breath then answered, "You're correct. They're weapons are powerful, but they are slow to reload and we're showing them that they aren't safe outside of the village… what do you propose we do?"

The starship captain sighed in relief that he was getting somewhere. "We're going to arrange a meeting between you and the Village people. We will be mediators and provide security to both sides so that you can safely negotiate a peace settlement."

There was a pregnant pause, silence falling between them as Tyree clearly thought on the offer. Freddie suspected that he was weighing what was best for his people and satisfying his own personal vendetta. He eventually asked for an alternative, "You could just give us weapons… better weapons that could end the fighting in one swift move. The weapons your people carry while traveling the stars."

Robbie and Jade passed nervous glances with the unspoken truth out in the open.

Freddie remained cool and calm, expecting the tribal leader to know the truth about their origin and answered, "Yes, with our weapons it was be a quick fight where only a handful would probably die, but we don't want to stop it that way… a way that would let you subjugate them either."

Tyree and looked to his companions, weighing the captains words. They turned away from the Star Fleet officers and whispered among themselves. After several moments, Tyree turned back to them and answered, "For my people, I'm willing to talk with the Village people, but we won't be subject to their whims or demands."

Freddie nodded along and answered, "We'll make sure they are fair negotiations, so we'll contact them and see if they're willing to talk and inform them they will no longer be getting any more weapons from the Klingons."

Tyree looked wearily to Freddie, but decided he had no real alternative but to keep fighting and shed more blood on each side.

Village People's Settlement

Two gold pillars swirled and solidified into Tori and Trina about a hundred meters outside of the village. Tori glanced around to see the rustic surroundings of the surrounding grasslands and the occasional trees as if she dropped back into an earlier, simpler time while the Trina looked to her tricorder to confirm their location.

Trina commented as she looked to the tricorder modeled after the Klingons' tricorders, "I'm reading a few hundred individuals in the village and surrounding area."

"It's like was stepped right into the past… like some medieval village."

"They're a few centuries to go to get to that point… more like the permanent settlements made of mud and brick from the US Southwest.

"Unless the Klingons help them with that too."

The security officer struggled with a smile, seeing her point. No one could fault the desire for a greater standard of living, but the price that the Klingons would extract from them would be horrible.

Tori looked towards the village and started walking towards it, finding the path leading to the main entrance of the wooden fortifications surrounding the village.

They spotted a few of the natives going about their business around the village, drawing their attention with their dress and getting curious and fearful stares. A few stopped what they were doing and ran back to the village, slipping inside to presumably warn of their approach.

The science officer whispered to her sister, "I don't like this…"

"We need to get their attention and we're getting it. Just be ready to shoot if you have to," the security officer replied as she comfortably rested her palm over the grip of her fake distruptor.

Three dark haired men wearing primitive cotton shirts and pants and holding flintlock rifles passed through the entrance and cautiously started approaching them.

The two sides met just a dozen yards outside of the village, taking assessment of each other. Tori looked to the man in the center and boldly called out, "I'm here to see your leader."

"You're not one of the Hill people, but you're not one of us either. Who are you?"

"I am K'Tori and I am from a place very far away. I'm here to see your leader. We have urgent business to discuss."

The trio exchanged quick glances with one another then the first man to speak answered, "I'm sure we can discuss anything you need to talk to him about…"

One approached with a leering gaze, obviously intending to grab one of them.

Trina was quick to draw her disruptor cased phaser and fired. The short blue beam left the barrel and struck the man square in the chest, sending him stumbling backwards and into unconsciousness. She swept the weapon towards the others and growled, "The next shot won't be on stun."

The pair took a step backwards, clearly fearful of the women after the display as if she had just shot magic from her hand.

Tori squared her shoulders and fiercely demanded, "I am here to see your leader, the one my people graciously gave the very weapons you're holding in your hands."

The villagers cautiously passed glances to one another, failing to hide their stunned expression from her claim, but quickly making a decision. The taller one nodded his head and motioned a hand behind him towards the village.

Trina motioned with her distruptor and instructed them, "You first."

He looked reluctant to be the first one to move, but Trina sternly added, "If you're thinking about ambushing us, know this: if anything happens to us, dozens of men will come down with even more powerful weapons and raze your village to the ground to avenge us."

Tori turned a concerned look to her sister, but she remained quiet as to not contradict her.

The villager sighed, but listened to her instructions. They took a moment to pick up their friend and grudgingly took the lead towards the village.

Village
Neural

The two villagers led Tori and Trina through the quaint village, one with fairly well built masonry and brick built buildings. They were getting curious glances from the townspeople going about their business, clearly not used to outside visitors. They passed a few children running pass and playing until they reached a two story building.

They stopped in front of the building and one of the villagers leading them instructed, "Wait here."

Trina looked cautiously to the one that remained, still holding up his unconscious friend until he decided to let him slide down the wall and slump onto the ground. She offered in a clipped tone, "He should wake up soon…"

The dark haired villager nodded his understanding, but there was still a hint of fear and apprehension in his eyes.

After several more moments, the first villager returned to the door and spoke, "Apella will see you."

Tori passed a glance with the corner of her eye to Trina then answered, "Good. Our business is urgent."

He stepped aside and opened the door for them, allowing Tori to enter first with Trina keeping a cold eye on him to remind him not to attempt anything.

Once inside, he let the door close then led them up the steps to the second floor. He opened the door again and allowed them to enter where they found an older gentleman with a younger woman around the Star Fleet officers' ages.

The black haired villager attempted to keep the surprise off his face, instead trying to project a cautious gaze to the two undercover Star Fleet officers, recognizing their uniforms, but not them. He curtly asked them, "Who are you?"

Tori quickly answered, "Are you the leader? The one that my colleague has been doing business?"

He straightened up then looked to the others, seeing their curious gazes. He curtly ordered his female companion and the villager that escorted the pair up, "Leave us."

The other villagers looked hesitant to one another, but followed his instructions and walked out of the room and headed down stairs.

Once the door closed behind the last of the entourage, the older gentleman answered, "Yes, I am Apella. Where is Krell?"

Tori assumed that was the name of the Klingon, filing it away to look up the name once she was back on the ship. She rallied an authoritative voice and answered, "He's on another assignment temporarily. In the meantime, I have been ordered to become your contact and to inform you the change in policy."

A worried expression immediately formed on his face and he asked, "And what policy is that?"

"You're going to make peace with the Hill People."

The dark haired older man forced a smile, one that showed his distress, and cautiously pointed out, "Peace with them? I thought I was going to be the Klingon governor of this planet one day… I can't make peace with them."

Tori fought the expression of surprise at the absurdity of what the Klingons had apparently promised him. However, she maintained her cool and answered, "You still may, but our enemy the Federation is now aware of our… assistance to you. They are not happy and may could start giving weapons to the Hill People, so we must now take a different approach to insure our mutual interests aren't threatened."

Apella knotted his brow, not happy with the turn of events and asked, "If this… 'Federation' will help the Hill People with weapons, why not give us more and better ones so we can destroy them first? Krell told me he would start giving us better weapons over time."

"Yes, when it wasn't suspected we wouldn't be giving them to you. You are intelligent enough to make them on your own and improve them, so no one would suspect we were helping you, but now… they know and the ruse is pointless. If we started openly giving you even better weapons, it would turn into a never ending arms race, one we couldn't keep secret and could cause our empires to go to war… a war that would leave your world a ball of ashes… and that's the best case scenario."

Her words were sound and there was a passion behind them that chilled the older man. What disturbed him more was her suggestion that things could be worst. "How could it be worst?"

"The Organ—the gods, the gods would find out and would side with the Federation against us and any dream you had in leading this planet would be gone."

The older man's eyes widened, surprised by unexpected turn of the conversation. He uttered in mild shock, "The gods?"

"Yes, the gods…" She motioned up above them. "…that are in the heavens. They are out there and they stopped us from fighting… to prevent us from letting your world and others that would be burned in our conflict. I do not wish to be at the end of their wrath."

Apella laughed and shook his head, mocking them, "You must take me for a fool to believe such a thing. The gods will interfere?"

Tori frowned and turned a cold glare onto him, trying to channel her 'inner Klingon' if such a thing was possible. She took a step towards him and answered, "I'd take you for a fool not to heed our words. The Empire is not willing to go to war over your planet or stand against the gods that could snuff us out with a wave of their hands. I don't care about your religious beliefs, whether you believe they exist or not. It is not a matter of faith to us, but cold reality."

The native studied Tori's expression for several moments then her companion, seeing the same conviction on her face. He gauged that they were being honest with him, as terrifying a thought as that might be. He quietly answered, "What is it that you want me to do?"

"You will call off your attacks on the Hills people and foster peace between your peoples, perhaps even winning more over to your side with the more reliable lifestyle and protection. Hopefully this will lull the Federation into a false sense of security… we will just have to shift the timetable of our plans."

Apella cautiously answered, "And once that is done?"

Tori nodded her head to the side and answered, "They won't be keeping such an eye on the planet then we can continue our plan to make you governor. Klingons do conquer, but it is not always with the sword…"

The Village leader may not have appreciated that his position would take a little longer to obtain, but he was content in knowing that with a simple shift in strategy, it was still within his reach.

"What should we do now?"

"You'll need to send a peace envoy to them so they'll be willing to talk."

"We can't approach their camps. They'll just shoot us on sight."

Tori thought for a moment, passing a look to Trina to see if she had any ideas, but suddenly remembered something in Kirk's logs. "Send one of the women you've taken from them."

Apella looked uncomfortable with the suggestion, tightening his smile.

The science officer had little patience for his obvious desire to keep the women they had kidnapped. She questioned with a sharp tone, "You're willing to hold on to one woman over gaining a planet?"

The elder Neuralian frowned, embarrassingly seeing her point. "Give me a moment." He walked past them to the door and slipped out of the room. His shouts downstairs could be heard in the room, causing the sister to wearily look at one another.

Apella returned with a carefree smile and answered, "I've ordered one of them to be fetched. In the meantime, would you like something to drink?"

Tori realized that she had played the harsh Klingon long enough, seeing that she also had to offer the carrot to keep the native agreeable. "Yes, thank you."

A few minutes into their awkward sitting and enjoying the native drink, a man returned, dragging a young blonde woman by the upper arm that looked like she was in her late teens. She looked well taken care of from her appearance, but her eyes darted about, fearful for what they could possibly have in store for her.

Trina resisted the urge to grab her phaser and put a nice phaser shot through his face and out the back of his head.

Tori walked to the girl, having to suppress her compassion and immerse herself into the role. She cupped under her chin and whispered coldly to her, "Listen to me very carefully. I want you to go back to your people and tell them that the villagers want to discuss making peace with them. You will tell them that this is a genuine offer and we will meet at a neutral location of their choosing. They can send a messenger back letting us know when and where they want to meet that will be protected from harm. Do you understand me?"

The blonde darted her eyes to the one that dragged her into the room then past Tori's shoulder to Apella.

The brunette practically barked at the frightened girl, "I'm the one speaking to you, not him. Do you understand?"

She nodded her head, fearing a shiver of fear run through her body.

"Then go…" She looked to the one that brought the young woman to them and instructed him, "Make sure she is free to leave the village… and do not follow her. I don't want them to catch you and ruin a potential meeting."

The village turned an offensive glare toward Tori and looked as if he was about to object, but Trina stepped forward, pulled back her right hand and backhanded him, causing him to take a stumble back before righting his feet. She spat in disgust as he cupped the side of his cheek, "Don't you dare look at us like that. We're not your property and don't you believe for one moment that you're our better."

The villager looked as if he was contemplating challenging her from the insult laid at him, but a quick motion of Apella's head told him that he should do as he was told. He turned, taking the blonde with him and leaving the room to the three.

Trina turned to face Apella and spoke with barely constrained anger, "I don't care how you treat your women, but Klingon women stand for no insult and will not be treated as anything less than Klingon… it is something you'll have to learn when you become a Klingon Governor."

The village elder nodded his head, feeling a real fear in his gut. He didn't understand Klingons too well other than they were a powerful and prideful people and apparently their women were the same. The only bright side of the situation was they were still interested in making him a Klingon.

Tori interrupted before Trina could frighten him any further, "If you have any men that will attempt to sabotage this meeting, you will make sure they do not attend. We need this peace now so that we can take the whole later… for you to be able to rule later. Is that understood?"

Apella nodded his head, understanding quiet clearly that his fortunes were attached to the success of temporary peace. He forced a smile and motioned to the native food and drink they had begun enjoying. "Shall we continue while we wait to hear word back?"

Author's Note: Well, so far, so good with making contact with the parties. We'll just have to see if they can pull off some kind of peace settlement when on side is led by a man still grieving for the death of his wife and wanting vengeance while the other wants power. Take care, OneHorseShay.