Star Trek TNG - 85 Diplomatic Implausibility by Keith R. A. Decandido

Author:Keith R. A. Decandido [Keith R. A. Decandido]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Space Opera
ISBN: 9780743419505
Published: 2014-02-05T16:00:00+00:00

"Need I remind you that I command this mission, Captain?"

"You keep insisting on doing so."

"You keep giving me reason."

Klag stared at Worf for a moment, then finally said, "Why Drex?"

"Is there any reason why I should not have chosen him? He is, after all, first officer of this vessel, and should therefore be more than capable of handling this duty."

"In an ideal galaxy, that would be the case, Ambassador."

"Meaning?" Worf prompted.

Klag rose from his chair. "You know what I mean! Drex is first officer of this vessel due to his family, not his qualifications--a method of advancement you should be intimately familiar with, son of Mogh. Or should that be ' of Martok' now? After all, you do enjoy the benefits of being part of his House far more than you did from being the son of a forgotten warrior three decades dead."

Worf snorted. "Benefits? Since boarding this vessel, Captain, I have endured slights and insults from you, and a constant flaunting of my authority, though you have been careful to stop short of undermining it. You seem to be doing this solely out of a misbegotten belief that I owe a position granted me by the Federation Council and Starfleet Command to the chancellor of an allied empire. I fail to see how that benefits me."

Walking around his desk to face Worf directly, Klag said, "You expect me to believe that your being part of Martok's House had nothing to do with your appointment?"

"What I expect, Captain, is for you to follow my orders for the duration of this mission. For me to expect anything else would be--optimistic."

With that, Worf turned to leave the captain's office. As the doors parted, he turned back around to face Klag. "One other thing, Captain."

"Yes?" Klag said.

"If you ever speak ill of my father again, I will kill you." Klag actually smiled. "If I ever speak ill of your father again, Ambassador, I welcome you to make the attempt."

Worf inclined his head and left, heading straight for the bridge.

He entered to see Drex standing in front of the command chair. Alert lights flashed, but did not give off noise; Drex was obviously running a battle drill.

"Shields!" the first officer yelled, sparing a quick glance at the door to see that Worf had entered. Drex then turned back to the viewscreen, ignoring the ambassador.

"At maximum," Rodek said.

"Ready disrupters."

"Locked on target."

"Fire!" Rodek a button on his console.

"Direct hit," Toq said. "Enemy shields at thirty percent."

"Another spread, gunner," Drex said.

"Aye, sir," Rodek said, then added "They're firing on us."

"Evasive!"

"If you insist," Leskit said, entering commands into his own console, "but it won't help."

The lights dimmed to mimic the impact of the enemy fire. "Return fire, gunner! Operations, damage report!"

Toq gazed at his console. "Shields at seventy-five percent. Minor damage to secondary hull."

"Enemy taking evasive action, Warp 7," Rodek said. "Disruptors missed."

"Pursue and overtake, pilot, Warp 9."

Leskit manipulated his console in uncharacteristic silence, though, of course, Worf did not feel any change in the ship around him--it was simulated warp speed, after all.

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