The Hour of the Wolf
Chapter Forty

Authors note:

Well, this one has been quite a difficult chapter for me to write. I've had to scrap the original planed chapter and re-think the whole story from this point on. And then I'd had to do it again. And for a third time! It's been almost impossible to get this one right. I really would like to speed things up and I know a lot of people are waiting for this, but because there are so many plot threads that need to be tied up I'm meandering.

Going into far too much detail about things that I could and should just gloss over. So after a not so rapid rethink I've returned and this thing will, at long last, continue.

Leah Brams watched the simulation play through. The graphic representing the warp field appeared, data streamed across the top of the screen as the computer tried to keep up with what it was emulating before the graphic faltered and vanished 'Simulation Failure.' The computer reported and Leah could have sworn it was as tired of those words as she was.

'Again, one quarter speed. Same perimeters.' She ordered. It was just the same as all the other simulations.

Leah was working on trying to merge Colonial Mass Displacement drive with Warp Travel. Both had their own advantages. Displacement Drive could traverse great distances faster than warp, but wasn't that effective in short range. Warp Travel was better at ranges less than a thousand light years, but took time and a lot more power at anything greater.

Naturally she and a number of others, once they understood this paradox, reasoned that developing a vessel that could use both would be superior. The potential for discovery was enormous. At maximum warp it would take a ship nearly eighty years to travel from one side of the Galaxy to the other, Displacement Drives could make the same journey in just over twenty. Less, with the right course and certain modifications.

Unfortunately the two technologies were proving to be incompatible. Leah's first experiments had been to install the Energisers necessary for displacement on a warp capable shuttle. The result was a disaster, the Energiser scrambled itself and went into meltdown while the warp field collapsed and also burnt out the nacelles. A few more tests, including one on a Runabout, also failed, but it did give them enough information to construct a simulation.

One that was proving be just as uncooperative.

'Any luck with the new filters?' Aurora asked as she came into the computer lab. Aurora was one of the Colonial experts assigned to the project. Her speciality was electronics, but she knew Energisers inside and out.

Leah read through the results and shook her head. 'None. The Energiser's effect on subspace prevents us from establishing a warp field, even on standby and we can't shut down a Energiser like we could a warp core.'

'I still think having both is a mistake. Twice the engines means twice as much can go wrong.' Aurora pointed out. 'I've been looking into the field the Energisers already generate. It's not as powerful as your warp field but it does help with both acceleration and a vessels top speed.'

Leah sat back. 'I've already looked into that…'

'Hear me out, please.' Aurora held a hand out. 'Right now it's just byproduct that we utilise sometimes, but if I crank it up we could reach trans-light velocities. Military grade Energisers, like those on Battlestars and Vipers can already do that. I'm sure with some experimenting I can get them even faster.'

'That's not going to work.' Leah explained. 'Warp drive needs a constant power supply, the requirements are exponential. That's why we harness matter anti-matter reactions. Energisers produce a massive charge only once and that's not enough.' She frowned. 'If we could somehow pulse the Energisers on a high cycle we might be able to… No there's still no way to stabilise the field.'

'That wouldn't work anyway. Energisers need a cool down period. Pulsing them like that would just burn them out even faster. What about Renna's idea of using warp nacelles as Energisers?'

Leah winced. 'She's trying to modify the Bussard Collectors that are built into the nacelles, but it won't work. They're hydrogen ram scoops, she's got some idea about using a ship's deflector to harvest subspace particles, but there's no way to control that sort of reaction.'

The computer bleeped another simulation failure and the pair of them sat in silence both coming up with and dismissing ideas. 'It's hopeless.' Leah finally admitted. 'Power requirements alone, the ship would have to be the size of a Battlestar and I still have no idea how to generate a field that large.'

Aurora let out a laugh. 'So all this has all been a waste. The two systems cannot work together and neither one can handle the other's job. It's a shame we can't separate them somehow.'

Leah was looking at the warp graphic when the idea hit her. 'Separate. Not separate systems, separate ships!'

'That doesn't make sense.' Aurora pointed out.

'It does! Older Federation ships, and some of the larger ones like the Galaxy Class, can separate into two vessels. Some even have smaller support vessels, scout ships that disconnect from the main ship. The original idea was if the drive section became unstable the crew and their families could be evacuated to the saucer, which would work as a life raft. Since we perfected warp core ejection its mostly been forgotten. But if we just have one ship with an energiser and one or more piggybacking of that.'

Aurora frowned. 'Piggy back, what's that?'

'An old earth phrase. It means to be carried. A larger ship with the Displacement drive carries smaller ships that are warp capable.'

Leah's Colonial counterpart caught on. 'Like that Defiant Class they're working on. Hard dock them to a Battlestar, it carries them most of the way. Won't the warp drive effect the larger ship's Energisers?'

Leah shook her head. 'Not if we shut down the core. Run everything on fusion cells. Impulse engines and most main systems have their own power, independent of the Warp core.'

'That just leaves us doing your favourite thing?'

Leah didn't follow that. 'My favourite thing?'

'Running simulations.' Aurora grinned

The door opened and they looked around. It was a small, disused cargo bay on the station. Perfect for this clandestine meeting. In these troubled times the unthinkable was becoming far more common, but even this. This had to be kept a secret.

There were four others in the badly lit room, all waiting for their report. 'It's true.' they told their colleagues. 'I saw the logs, even questions a few of them. It happened.'

'When is it scheduled?' One of them asked with a snarl.

They looked at them. 'When is what scheduled?'

'His execution.' They replied.

She shook her head. 'No execution. He was even praised for his devotion. He now has the right to distribute the white amongst his own kind.'

The shock across the room was palatable. Never, in all six thousand years of history, had one of their kind been granted this honour. 'This cannot stand.' Another snarled. 'It is not the way of things.'

'They're only loyalty is to the white.' The other one snarled. 'We would never have to addict them if that was not in question. To have the right to distribute to themselves? Where does this leave us?'

'Whoever wins this war we will lose, if the way of things change we will become redundant. We won't be needed.'

'That must not happen' She agreed. 'We have no other choice, we must take action before we are forgotten.'

The first to speak stood up, his face covered in shadow. 'Poison. We poison the White. Such a thing has happened in the past, it would not be difficult.' he suggested.

'No.' another disagreed. 'Too risky. We can't be sure he will be one to receive the tainted White. We could kill dozens, hundreds and we need every one of them to fight this war.'

'You can't be suggesting we try assassinating him? He's an elder, a hero to many. They would lay down their lives for him.'

'No. I suggest an accident.' They leaned forward. 'He is not a god, just a Jem'Hadar.'

Were it possible the Borg Collective would have been concerned. The Collective had lost contact with the Tactical Cube and it's escort sent to investigate the new technology almost immediately after it located and engaged it's target. An unknown vessel with totally alien technology. The first, early, sensor readings had come in, showing a large starship made of two saucer like sections stacked on top of each other and connected at the middle. After that nothing but confusing static. As if a star had exploded or a nebular ignited.

That should have been impossible. The Collective had lost touch with drones even ships before, but never during a vital mission. When active on that scale there were safeguards to prevent interference. Supernova, ionic storms and high energy nebula were the most common, but only effected communication in a straight line. There were other Cubes scattered across the quadrant, rerouting through those vessels should have been able to circumvent that sort of thing.

It was as if a highly improbable stellar storm had formed in a matter of a few seconds, one capable of engulfing the entire system. An unheard of event. The only other option was the total destruction of all Borg ships in the same time period. This information was passed on to the Queen, who was active specifically for this sort of situation.

The Borg Queen, who had remained active since her summoning drew on the combined knowledge of all the races assimilated into the Collective for a . Perhaps the greatest database in all of creation. She searched for another possibility, unwilling to accept either option presented by the Collective as a whole.

One answer was available, but the concept alone was more terrifying than either of the others. A concept that was made all too real when communications were re-established with the Tactical Cube. A deliberate, artificial, jamming signal so powerful and all encompassing that it even disrupted the Collective.

As the Borg regained contact with it's Cube data on the short battle flooded the hive mind. The Cube, abruptly cut form the Borg as a whole, had attempted to reconnect but failed. Drones onboard became unfocused, unable to receive or execute even basic commands. Those that remained in their alcoves became a small micro-collective. Communication was impossible and in the confusion the enemy had launched attack ships. Small fighter craft that swept around the Borg ships.

Knowing that there was no other option the Tactical Cube fled, leaving its escort vessels behind. Opening a blind transwarp conduit it escaped the effects of the jamming signal.

The Queen assimilated this information as the Collective re-integrated the Cube and it's drones. This was a threat new to the Borg. A threat she would have to assimilate and add to the Borg's perfection.

When first reaching the stars the then ruler of the Klingon Empire, at that time the Emperor, made a law. Wars between the Great Houses were common back then and with weapons capable of shattering worlds some caution was required. The Law stated that wars would be fought in space and no longer on the hallowed ground of Qo'noS. Centuries had passed since then, Emperors had died, Dynasties ended and the High Council had long since wrestled control from those fools, but the law still stood.

By general agreement no one had broken that edict. Were anyone to test this law it was understood that all the others would turn on them and destroy the offending House. Not even House Duras dared to test those oaths, besides why should one destroy what they coveted? House Duras desired a throne world, not a blasted crater in a war zone.

As such, while their forces battled ruthlessly in the depths of space, spilling blood in the name of one side or another, the Sisters of Duras stayed in their family home on the homeworld. Not a thousand kellicams from the Chamber of the High Council and the throne they coveted. Lursa and B'Etor were safe there, protected by the ancient laws.

B'Etor was mulling this over, looking out of the window at the Chambers, when her sister stomped into their rooms. 'Something the matter sister?' She asked. At last report things were still going their way. Gowron's forces, taken by surprise, had lost many a battle and while they had some losses of their own it wasn't enough to stop them.

Lursa scowled. 'I have just received word from our agent in Gowron's inner circle. It's to do with K'Hawn, your latest suitor.'

B'Etor waved her off. 'Was. He cared more for his ship than me.' She corrected. 'What of him?'

'He and that ship of his tried to take out that ridiculous medical transport from that Human colony.' she told her. 'That one with those interesting fighter craft.'

'He's captured one?' B'Etor asked quickly. K'Hawn had disappointed her in the past but this was interesting.

'No. According to what our agent has been able to discover he crippled the transport and caused serious casualties, but neither he nor his support ships survived the attack

'K'Hawn has three ships at his command!' B'Etor burst out. 'One of them a K'Vort Class!'

'Obviously he was incompetent. Destroyed by a handful of one man shuttle pods. Our agent is still investigating, but Gowron is being very secretive. Sharing what he knows with only a few, close advisors. Our man is not that trusted, yet.'

'What do we tell the Romulan?'

'Nothing. If she asks K'Hawn was acting alone. If this new technology is important we can sell it to her, if not let her beg for our scraps. When we control the Empire our alliance will ensure the fall of the Federation and then, when they least expect it…'

'We strike, and House Duras will rule both Empires and the Federation.'

Martok's ship arrived in the solar system where the battle had taken place and he could see for himself the devastation. While he would prefer his beloved Vor'Cha it was busy leading the battle against Duras and he'd be related to an old D7 cruiser that, by all rights, should have been decommissioned a decade ago.

The only reason it hadn't was the care ant attention it had received from the engineer. Still, compared to the latest ships, even the Bird of Prey, it was a slow ship. Limited manoeuvrability and under armed for something its size.

'Colonel Martok, we're being hailed.'

He turned to the officer. 'Answer it then.' He snapped. It was a new crew, inexperienced and so far they didn't show much promise.

'It's audio only.' They admitted. 'Bringing it up now.'

There was a moment before another voice, human, could be heard. 'Approaching ship, my warbook identifies you as Klingon. Identify yourself.'

Martok could feel the outrage from the crew. This was Klingon space, they shouldn't have to identify themselves. The hail even sounded like a challenge. 'I am Martok, Colonel in the Klingon Defence forces and loyal to the Chancellor. Gowron.' He announced. 'Identify yourself.'

'Lieutenant Breen, off the Galactica Green squadron. On assignment protecting medical transport.' A small white comet flew past the view screen, then another.

'Colonel, multiple contacts approaching. Extremely fast! Targeting sensors can't keep up with them!'

'Vipers' he muttered to himself before looking back at the two fighters. 'Hold fire, don't attempt to shoot them down.'

'Colonel Martok.' The Viper pilot's voice came back. 'I've been instructed to ask you to power down your engines and hold position.'

'Why?' Martok barked out before he could stop himself.

There was a pause, after a few seconds he got an answer. 'We trust the Colonel, but you could be lying. Without confirmation we can't risk you getting any closer to the transport.'

'Are you questioning my honour?' Martok bellowed, he could not believe what he was hearing

'No sir. Not the Colonel's honour.'

Martok was about to lose his temper, but they were right. Anyone could have shown up and claimed they were him. Without visual he could be a Ferengi for all they knew. 'You have my word of honour, I am who I say I am.' he announced through gritted teeth. Then, loud enough to be heard by everyone. 'Helmsman, reduce power to engines. Full stop.'

There was a stunned silence as the ships engines slowed to a halt. 'My apologies Colonel.' Pilot Breen admitted. 'Thank you. Breen Out.'

As Martok calmed himself the ships second in command snorted. 'Brave of them. Fifteen shuttle pods against a Klingon warship.'

'Those shuttle pods are armed with the equivalent of a full disruptor cannon. Each!' Martok barked. 'They're faster and they outgun us. That is the technology the Chancellor sent us to investigate. We need to find out more about them.'

End Chapter Forty

Authors note

Again I am sorry for how long it took to gets chapter out, the next one won't be as long. Thanks for the patience!