The Hour of the Wolf
Chapter Thirty-Four

Kaystire had a bad feeling. She enjoyed taking risks, when they were worth it. Orbiting a planet with the reputation of the Klingon Homeworld with no weapons, no Viper support and only a recently installed Federation defence screen was a large risk. The reward? Well that was for the Commander to decide.

Her job was to shuttle them here and then back to New Kobol. There was nothing more and that meant boredom was her real problem. Even during the Exodus she had duties and jobs to perform. All she was doing now was watching two warships as they watched her.

She knew her crew felt the same. They were spacers, it was what they were born in and the only life they knew. There were others with a different outlook, happily settling on the new world building a new city. Kaystire like to visit, but she couldn't stay there. This ship was her home and this was where she belonged. That was why she had volunteered for this mission and why the crew had followed her. To travel and meet the hundreds of other races in this galaxy, not sit around with guns pointed at them.

As she worried about that the intercom bust into life. 'Captain, we need you down in the Energiser room.' Came the voice of a junior mechanic, while in the back ground Kaystire heard her old friend Renna cursing.

Renna and Kaystire had both grown up onboard and were best friends. They had both been hand picked by their predecessors and had a good understanding of each others responsibilities.

That included knowing when to call her away from the command. 'Maintain all systems, I'm going down to the Energiser room.' she told the pilot and headed into the heart of the ship. The Energiser room was deep in the centre, above the heavily protected devices Like most transports her size the Rising Star had two Energisers, paired up for efficiency. They could run on only one but it wasn't advisable.

Inside Renna, the Rising Star's chief mechanic, was hovering over one of the control panels. Her crew were busy reading off reports from around the room. Everything was apparently working perfectly. Something that had Renna cursing. 'Ree, what the frack's going on?' She had expected them to be doing basic maintenance, not behaving as if the ship was flying apart.

'Kay, come over here. Look at this.' Renna waved her over. Kaystire recognised the main energiser readout amongst all the controls. 'What do you see?'

The two force gauges were dancing wildly, the pointers flicking around the maximum mark like they were sitting on top of a nova. The digital readout underneath made no sense either flickering up seemingly random numbers almost too fast to see. 'What in Sagan's name?' she gasped.

'So it's not just me.' Renna sighed with relief. 'There's something out there putting out all hades amount of power.'

Kaystire frowned. 'We are orbiting near a cracked moon.' But she only half expected it to be that.

'I know, but that things as cold as old Kobol. It shouldn't be putting out anything like enough for this. I also checked our neighbours, those two warships out there. They're not putting out anything near enough.' Renna told her. 'It's a mystery.'

Without warning the readouts suddenly changed. The dancing gauges slammed to the far end before dropping slightly. The scrambled digital readout steadied and showed a near balanced power readout.

'What's worse, not knowing why it started or why it stopped?' Kaystire asked and the two of them looked at each other. Above them the alert klaxon screamed into life. 'We're under attack! Renna, get that defence screen working.'

Koloth wasn't that surprised House Duras attacked during the ceremony. It was why he volunteered to lead the guard for the event in the first place. He had expected the Sisters to bring a champion, someone to face Gowron head on in an official challenge. Not flood the Council Chamber with mercenaries and assassins.

He also wasn't that surprised when the strange humans that accompanied Picard proved to be effective warriors. He had noticed the large weapons strapped to their legs and they were highly skilled with them. The one known as Adama even had a smaller pistol, but was no less accurate as he picked off those loyal to Duras that lined the upper galleries. Between them they were cutting down more than their fair share.

No what had surprised Koloth was the howl of unleashed rage as the Ambassador K'Ehleyr threw herself at the Duras sisters. Heedless of her own survival she screamed ancient curses that even he, as a Dahar master, found obscene. She was nearly incoherent as she ignored everyone else in her blind anger. One mercenary spun to catch her and she ripped the disrupter from his hands.

With no skill and nothing but pure rage she threw the gun away and with a vicious twist broke his neck. Throwing the twisted corpse into an assassin that was coming at her with a knife.

Koloth then lost track of her, as he came under attack by a pair of honour seeking fools with little skill and even less intelligence.

It had been a long time since Adama had fought his enemies this close. He was far more familiar these days with starship engagements than laser duels, but that didn't mean he was hopeless. Yarhen ago he'd been a true warrior and that meant he hadn't let his skills rust.

Now he wasn't as fast as his son or Boomer, especially not with his smaller gun, but he made up for that. Picking his targets while the others had to deal with whoever were closest.

Jean-Luc had been caught between them and the attackers, which made things difficult. So did K'Ehleyr's suicidal charge, but before he could decide which one to support first the comms device on his belt squawked to life.

Firing one handed at anyone trying to take a stand he pulled the device up. Before he could ask for reinforcements he heard the Captain of the Rising Star. 'Commander, we're under attack. Two assault vessels. The updated warbook identified them as Klingon Birds of Prey. They just appeared out of nowhere and began firing on us. The two Klingon cruisers have been heavily damaged.'

'Evasive, try and get out of the system and back to New Kobol!' He ordered. A Klingon threw himself from the gallery above at Ambassador K'Ehleyr in a desperate attempt to stop her. Adama's shot caught him in mid air but wasn't enough to knock him off course.

K'Ehleyr was knocked out by the large mass colliding with her, only a few steps away from the two other Klingon women that were obviously her goal. They were about to attack her when he fired, the pale blue of his laser going a fraction wide and driving them back. 'We can't.' Kaystire told him. 'Something was interfering with our energisers. We can't trust them!'

Adama swallowed a curse, 'Then continue to evade. I'll send the Vipers to you.'

The six ships approached and then, just before entering weapons range, stopped. They hung there, as if waiting for something. Tigh immediately called Cain on the Pegasus. 'Hold fire, Let them make the first move.' he said quickly.

'Agreed.' He nodded to someone to his right. 'Colonel, our sensors are showing that their phasers are powered down.'

'Same here Sir.' Athena called out from her station.

'They could still chose to ram.' Tigh muttered. 'I'm going to hail them. Athena, patch me in.'

He could tell that Cain didn't like the idea of Tigh taking command, but Adama's orders stood. The secondary monitor flickered from another tactical readout to the communication ready screen. 'I am Colonel Tigh, of the Colonial military. You have entered New Kobol space. State your intentions.'

He waited for what felt like quantrons before they responded. It was a non-human face. The skin was pale blue, with shocking white hair and a pair of antenna that moved independently of each other before focusing on him. The species was vaguely familiar, but there were so many races in this galaxy it was hard to keep track. 'I am Shvens, of the Andorian Guard. I escort Tanhia, of the Trade Alliance.' They paused, the antenna drooping slightly. 'We are here for negotiations.'

Armed with Bat'leths Koloth's attackers were either ignorant of his abilities or over estimated their own. Easily parrying both away Koloth stepped to the side and drove his raised elbow into the nearest. Shattering teeth and forcing the fool to stumble backwards. As the other tried to bring his Bat'leth back into position he struck, pushing the centre of the blade up and through his neck in a short, sharp jab.

As their life's blood poured from the wound Koloth pivoted and brought the bat'leth up and then down in an powerful over handed strike. It left him exposed, but it was a sound tactical decision. The remaining attacker had tied to block but his inferior blade shattered. Kicking the body off the weapon Koloth got a look around the room.

During his short diversion the Duras sisters and their nephew had escaped, undoubtably in fear for their lives being taken by the hands of the mad ambassador. More mercenaries had arrived and they were wisely choosing to use disruptors rather than melee weapons. After his display of skill and the Ambassador's unchecked rage it was the best option.

As they started firing Koloth dived for cover, Finding it behind a statue of Gorkon the Wise. Koloth's Warriors, who had been defending Gowron, were caught in the open. As part of their supposedly ceremonial role all they had were bat'leths and they had no way to fight back against the ever increasing disrupter fire.

The rest of the Council had chosen to leave, even those that supported Gowron's claim had chosen not to get involved. Leaving only himself, the Ambassador and the humans.

While the Dahar Master was pinned down the humans hustled the new High Chancellor behind his throne where they too were pinned down. 'We must escape!' he shouted to them.

'Get me a weapon!' Called back Gowron.

The dark skinned human picked off another assassin with an expert shot. 'With respect Chancellor they are here to kill you. There's no reason to give them the chance!'

'They are right! Keep your head down!' Koloth warned, not admitting that while skilled Gowron was out matched. They all were. There were simply too many of them. 'Where is Picard?'

'Here!' The white clad human called out. He was opposite Koloth, behind another statue and cradling the Ambassador. She was unconscious.

It only took him a second to see what had happened. A large bruise on the side of her head told him all he needed to know. 'How bad?'

'She'll survive.' he called back and then ducked as a wild shot passed close, 'If we do!'

As the fire fight continued Koloth snarled, thankfully one of the assassins came close enough. Dropping his Bat'leth he stood, spun and plunged his d'k tahg into the man's throat. Levering the corpse around he his free hand to caught their falling disrupter pistol. At last armed as he should be Koloth began firing, using the body as a shield. He nearly drained the weapons power cell as he retreated.

With his extra gun on this side it gave Adama and his men time to focus on the other. Picard, showing he was a lot stronger than he appeared was able to half carry, half drag the ambassador to the questionable safety of the throne.

Koloth followed and soon the seven of them were there, hiding. It was only a matter of time before the Assassins rushed them and then it was over.

Gowron found it intolerable. To be protected by humans and decrepit old men. He should have seen this coming, but he hadn't. As corrupt as the House of Duras was it would be child's play to find a heir. Duras had probably fathered an army of the squalling bastards. Half breeds and whores sons, the lot of them.

Gowron knew he should have come armed with more than just a knife.

In his fuming rage he almost missed that his defenders had stopped firing. So had his would be killers. An unnatural silence fell as they approached. Ready to jump Gowron and fall upon him with their kut'luch blades.

In the handful of seconds he reflected on his decisions that drew him here. The last of his House, he'd fought tooth and claw to raise his profile. To summon honour to his name and have songs sung to his family. He had done so and it was not enough.

To die here, on the eve of his greatest accomplishment. There was no honour in that. Grimly he drew his d'k tahg and strained to listen for the slightest warning. Strangely enough one of Picard's Warrior guard was looking at Koloth's Disrupter. He got the old man's attention and made a gesture over his own pistol.

It looked like he was trying to describe an explosion. Gowron caught on a heartbeat after Koloth. The Dahar master quickly set his stolen disrupter for overload and the new High Chancellor grinned. Now this was a worthy death.

The disruptor began to whine as it strained against itself. It was an all too familiar sound and one the attackers recognised. With a startled oath they fell back, stumbling over themselves to escape the suicidal explosion. Out of nowhere Gowron began to laugh. Koloth joined him and soon did the humans.

Their laughter nearly drowned out the scream of the over charged weapon. 'Now!' Shouted Koloth and threw it over his shoulder.

The explosion was deafening. It set the brasiers above swinging and raining burning embers on them. Diving out of the way of the falling fire Gowron saw some of it hit the one called Adama as he tried to shield the Ambassador.

Still the tough old human only grunted. Rolling to one side to put out the fire. It was impressive. Before anyone could come to his aid someone shouted. 'Enough! Stand up, or would you prefer to die on you knees?'

Snarling Gowron pulled himself to his feet. Some of the assassins had survived and had them. The one that had their disrupter pointed at him sneered. 'Protected by humans and old men. You deserve to die.'

'Humans and old men against an army and only three of you survive' He pointed out. 'To fall to a coward's victory is no defeat and today is a good day to die!'

'Andorians?' Gasped Benjamin. He looked like someone had shot him with a stun bolt.

'They said they've come to trade.' Tigh told his friend. 'We haven't got very much information on them. The Federation database entry is hopelessly outdated.' The Andorians were the nearest major race to New Kobol. A military people. They were often suspicious of others, distrusting to the point of paranoia according to some of the records he'd found. They kept to themselves, mostly. Which meant the records he had access to were vague to say the least.

Tigh hoped that there were intelligence files that they didn't have access too. Failing that rumours that his counterpart knew that he hadn't herd. 'What we have is there. We haven't had much official contact for more than a hundred years.' Benjamin admitted. 'There have been a few traders in long range shuttles, but from everything I've heard they're just selling trinkets. Andorian ale isn't even brewed in their space anymore. They licensed it out to a few of their outlining neighbours decades ago.'

Tigh frowned, that wasn't good news. 'We've been here nearly three quarters of a yahren and we haven't heard a thing from them until now. You don't think they could be a threat to us do you?'

Benjamin shrugged. 'We don't know enough about them, but they shouldn't. They did agree to allow you to settle here in the first place. It's possible they might just want to trade. Are you going to be the one negotiating with them?'

'No, their communication with us was in the clear. The new Trade Guild heard the request and their sending a representative. Under the council's recent edict it's their responsibility I'm going to be there though.' Tigh grumbled. 'Who are they sending?' Benjamin asked. Neither of them liked the new Guild, in Tigh's opinion they were still black marketers and thinly veiled pirates.

'Who else, Sparoe.' He grumbled.

Benjamin sighed. 'Well there goes any chance we had of it not being a diplomatic incident.'

As the assassin took aim he was suddenly hit by another disruptor bolt, this one to his back. At first Gowron through it was just another killer looking to earn more blood money, but he was quickly proven wrong. A squad of Warriors raced into the Council Chamber. As Gowron reached for his knife he saw the man leading his rescuers. His hand tightened. 'Kurn, have you come to kill me as well?'

He knew the tall warrior from his days in the Academy, Kurn, the only son of a minor house, was his chief rival and the two of them had hated each other since. 'I have no love for you, or your ambition.' Kurn announced, standing a head taller and much wider than Gowron the new High Chancellor remembered their wrestling matches. Now was the perfect time to strike, but he didn't.

Kurn was just out of reach and they both knew that. 'My house is blood enemies with Duras' he told Gowron. 'As killing you would only strengthen them we, as much as either of us may not like it, are allies today. '

'Commander Kurn!' Picard called out. 'We need help. Commander Adama's been injured. We have to get back on the Rising Star, now!'

End Chapter 34

Authors note

I know your wondering what happened with the Vipers. Don't worry that's coming next chapter. There was a reason I left it out of this one!