Among the Naked Stars (Star Trek AU)

[Imperial Overlord]

An icon displaying the hulk of the Yamato flashed into existence on the main viewer, with vectors displaying the course that Lancer was taking past it and towards the two Federation starships. Indicators by Lancer's icon indicated full strength shields and armed weapons. Lancer's path was projected to the top of the screen, where it crossed the paths of two Federation vessels advancing at full impulse. The one ahead to starboard was the Excelsior class USS Repulse. The vessel off to port was the Miranda class USS Nautilus.

"Signal incoming from the Repulse," said Aperoke. "They are demanding our surrender."

"Jam them," ordered Kardon. "Zan Krevon, put us off the Nautilus's starboard side. Zan Kolenth, hold the tertiaries for my mark."

"Acting," responded Krevon.

"Federation torpedoes incoming," said Arkehd.

"Evasive," ordered Kardon. The launchers located on the weapon pod on top of Nautilus's weapon's bar and in the Repulse's mid section sent spreads of torpedoes on a wide pattern towards the Klingon vessel. Krevon was an able helmsmen, only three scored direct hits. One torpedo on the dorsal shields, one forward starboard, and one starboard. Lancer shook with the fury of the antimatter detonations.

"Shields holding," said Arkehd.

"Zan Kaan, Nautilus is the target. Fire at your discretion."

"Nautilus is target," Kaan repeated from his station behind the captain. On the tactical display the Nautilus continued to move straight ahead while Repulse turned towards them as Lancer cut across the Nautilus's bow at an angle. The prospect of delivering even more punishment to Lancer's starboard shields was too tempting to resist, as Kardon intended it to be.

"Captain, Nautilus's rear torpedoes are armed," warned Arkehd. To sweep past a target, raking its forward shields with disruptors and torpedoes and then fire aft weapons into the frequently poorly shielded aft quarters was an old Klingon tactic. "Her aft shields are strong."

"Noted," said Kardon. Phaser pulses flashed from weapon emplacements where the weapon's bar met the Nautilus's primary hull, several shots striking Lancer's forward shields. Beams flashed from the Repulses's forward emitters, flashing through empty space and then correcting to tear away at Lancer's starboard shielding.

"Heavy damage to forward and starboard shields," Arkehd announced. "Burn through with next hits."

"Acting," said Senior Gunner Kaan. Tight clusters of torpedoes flew from the launcher in the command pod and the main hull weapon pod. Four torpedoes impacted on the Nautilus's forward shields, inflicting massive damage. The primaries and secondaries sent deadly disruptor bolts through the weakened shield, ripping open a glowing wound half the length of the primary hull in her dorsal surface and blasting apart the torpedo pod on the weapons pod in an explosion of fire and a cloud of glowing metal fragments.

"Nautilus's torpedoes destroyed, heavy damage to foreward shields. She is accelerating to sweep past us." The vector indicator on the tactical display changed to show Nautilus's course change. The Federation starship was going to play the Klingon game.

"Engineering, power to disruptors. Zan Krevon, hard turn starboard on my mark." A pause. "Action!"

Klingon designers placed more emphasis on weapons and maneuverability than shields. It was a truism among Klingon captains and helmsmen that a ship had to move to live. Like most Klingon battlecruisers Lancer had been designed with that and mind and was more maneuverable than her Federation equivalents. The battlecruiser's bow swung starboard as Nautilus swept pass, crossing in front of Lancer.

"Zan Kaan. Action." The primaries and secondaries hadn't fully recharged, but they didn't need to be. Nautilus's shields had been damaged and she had transferred power to her aft shields to deal with strikes from Lancer's aft weaponry when the battlecruiser swept pass. Disruptor bolts flashed from the command pod and the wings, slamming into Nautilus's shields and then blasting apart the Federation ship's starboard phaser banks and tearing burning holes through the engineering section. Secondary explosions wracked the Nautilus as Lancer swept forward through the crippled ship's wake.

"Kai weapons!" Kardon shouted. Lancer rocked as the Repulse's forward phasers struck the battlecruiser.

"Forward shield collapse imminent!" Arkehd shouted. On the tactical display the Federation vessel was dead ahead, undamaged and heading straight down Lancer's throat.

"Evasive port sweep!" Kardon shouted. "Zan Kolenth, stand by." Lancer swung to port as torpedoes shot from Repulse's launchers and blazed their way through space. One smashed a blazing hole in Lancer's port wing as the detonation overpowered the already stressed shields and blew through the hull. Two others struck Lancer's stronger port shields and merely scarred the surface.

"Damage to portside deflector generators," Arkehd said.

"Standby for full emergency turn," Kardon ordered. "Turn us into him. Feed him everything we have, tertiaries included."

Lancer turned back towards the Repulse, facing the Federation cruiser's forward port shields. Single bolts flicked from the primaries and secondaries and several rapid but lower powered pulses from the tertiary disruptor mounts. Most of them hit the Repulse and battered her shields, but did no secondary damage. Torpedoes flew from her launchers, streaking through space to detonate in close proximity or strike directly along her forward and port shields.

"Heavy damage to Repulse's shields," Arkehd noted.

"Emergency turn!" Kardon ordered. "Zan Kolenth, fire as they bear." Lancer swung hard to port as Repulse fired her port phaser banks. Brilliant beams of energy lashed the battlecruiser's shields as it turned, burning through weakened shields and scarring her hull. Then the aft disruptors came to bear.

A volley of disruptor bolts overloaded the damaged shields smashed into the ventral surface of the Repulse's saucer dish, destroying three phaser banks. A moment latter a volley of torpedoes struck Repulse's engineering section. The shields absorbed most of the damage from the first one, resulting in a explosion and a shallow wound. The other two hits were devastating, sending jets of fire shooting into space as they blasted deeply into the Repulse's secondary hull.

"Warp core breech!" Arkehd shouted.

"Power to engines and aft shields!" ordered Kardon. Lancer hurled forward herself forward moments before the Repulse was consumed by a tremendous blast wave.

"Kai kassai Klingon!" Kardon cried.

"Aft shields withstood the blast," Arkehd announced. "Not even radiation burns on the hull."

"Yamato?" asked Lancer's captain.

"Far enough away to be undamaged."

"Finish Nautilus. I need a damage control assessment as soon as possible. And I want our people off that Starfleet hulk. I want us underway as soon as possible."

[Crazedwraith]

Cool. THe feddies got owned. Again. Surprisingly that never gets old...

[Alan Bolte]

Well, assuming that Lancer is a modern warship, its ability to take on a Miranda and an Excelsior isn't surprising, though still impressive.

[Imperial Overlord]

Admiral William Ross rotated the holo image in front of him, displaying the ventral surface of the Scimitar. The massive Reman warbird was officially constructed at some Reman secret base under Shinzon's direction. Ross didn't believe a word of it. Some escaped slaves, smugglers, gun runners, and soldiers building a vessel more powerful than a Sovriegn class starship while hiding from the might of the Romulan Star Empire in around a remote asteroid or moon? It was ridiculous.

No, what was far more likely, especially if one considered the shape of the vessel without the wings, was a conversion job on a large Dominion warship. At some point Shinzon stole the damn thing and the Romulans weren't about to admit that they had stolen Dominion technology and kept it from their allies or their problems with internal security.

His com badge beeped. He slapped it. "Ross here."

"Sir," his secretary said, "there's an urgent communication to you from Admiral Janeway."

Ross turned off the projection of the Scimitar. "I'll take it here," he said. The Scimitar was a current problem, Janeway a supposedly solved one. When Voyager had returned with great fanfare, Janeway had been elevated to pedestal for a brief period of time. A too hasty promotion had gone through and then closer examination of her logs had shown some troubling decisions she had been made. Trying to bust her down in rank would have been a public relations fiasco so the decision had been made to pack her off into a corner where she couldn't do any damage.

That corner had been Beta Quadrant Exploration Command. She pushed paper and managed logistics for the small part of Starfleet that was actively exploring the Beta Quadrant, which was mostly Klingon territory. So that meant there wasn't very many ships or resources assigned to that and that any truly important decisions would probably in some way or another involve the Klingons and thus bring in other branches of Starfleet and officers who could actually do their jobs. So why was Janeway calling the Chief of Military Operations? It couldn't be anything good.

He activated the viewer. "Admiral. What can I do for you?"

"I have bad news Will," Janeway said, the smug smile for once absent from her face. He hated to be called Will. "Klingon renegades have destroyed three of my ships."

"What?" he almost shouted. Dear God, she had lost three ships? "You had better start from the beginning," he said.

"The Yamato was encountered a Klingon battle cruiser of unknown design and was attacked. We got pieces of its distress call back at Deep Space Twelve. I dispatched the Repulse and Nautilus on a rescue mission."

Ross really couldn't fault her for that. She had sent in two good ships, with captains that were veterans of the Dominion War. They should have been able to handle themselves.

"The Klingons killed them too. We got another transmission fragment from Nautilus. They were attacked by a single ship. I'm sending you the sensor file."

The ship was a nasty looking bastard, like someone had cut down a Negh'Var to about the size of a Vor'cha and dropped the ventral warp nacelles. The disruptor batteries were placed somewhat differently, but there was a strong resemblance. This had to be what the Klingons intended to replace the Vor'cha class with, but what the hell was it doing attacking Federation vessels?

"Just a moment admiral," Ross said and put her on hold while he pulled up the most recent of Ambassador Worf's reports. "Computer, compare vessel with any ship in our data base. Check any and all reports on Klingon activity for any references to the development of a new class of battle cruiser."

A calm female voice responded. "Search is negative." Damn. Relations with the Klingon Empire were at an all time high and developing this ship in secret would be hard. And Martok certainly wouldn't have given it to a hot head inclined to attack the Federation.

He switched back to Janeway. "Thank you for your patience admiral. There is no sign of the existence of any vessel matching these specifications or even that such a vessel is being built."

"Fifteen hundred dead Starfleet officers say otherwise admiral."

"I here you admiral. This matter is top priority."

"Good to here. And admiral?"

"Yes?"

"Those were my people. Don't try and keep me out of the loop."

"I won't. If you excuse me admiral, I have some orders to issue."

"Of course. Good hunting admiral." She cut the com.

Ross stared at the blank screen for a moment and then pulled up the coordinates of the encounter and the locations of Federations starships nearby suitable for assembling into hunter-killer packs. Fifteen hundred dead men and women and a rogue Klingon heavy battle cruiser. He had a feeling this was going to get a lot worse before it got better.

[Ford Prefect]

AU Klingons are hard bastards. That's all I've got to say.

[Imperial Overlord]

AU Klingons are hard bastards. That's all I've got to say.

Yeah, fancy that. It's almost as if they could conquer and maintain an interstellar empire.

[Alan Bolte]

And there you go directly answering my implied question with a bit of story. Very nice.

[Imperial Overlord]

Just to clarify, the AU has different ships than mainstream Star Trek. Design aesthetics and design priorities are mostly the same (i.e. Starfleet ships have the saucer, tend to have big laboratories, and strong shields), but the actually designs are different. The tech level of the AU is a little higher due to TNG era stagnation. Lancer is a top of the line battlecruiser.

[LadyTevar]

Once again, I am highly enjoying this story my friend

[Imperial Overlord]

Kardon sutai-Rezhad walked down the corridors next to Chief Engineer Zumakka. Lancer's captain new every centimeter of his ship and he was not content to merely receive a damage report when he could inspect it himself. "On one level captain we were very fortunate," said Zumakka, "on another level we were not."

He stopped at a door. A warning light indicated environmental hazard inside. Kardon knew what lay beyond that door without having to read the letters on the door. "Our main replicators. How bad?"

"Total wreck. Direct hit with phasers. Forcefield is up while the hull breach is being sealed."

"The industrial replicators on Yamato are a wreck as well. How long to repair using the shop units?"

"We have to replicate it piece by piece," said Zumakka. "And that leads to our other replicator needs. We gave most of our shield spares to Death Dealer and we took a direct hit on shield plates in addition to several overload burn outs. Forward shield capacity is down thirty percent. In addition, there is the status of our torpedo stores. We were well below half before transiting to this universe, before our battles with Starfleet. Yamato had more than enough antimatter to replenish our stores and allow the replication of additional torpedoes we no longer have the replicator resources for that."

"That will do for now. Priority is for repairing the shield generators. See to it."

"Understood."

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Kardon was the last to arrive at the briefing room. "The chief engineer will not be joining us," said Kardon as he sat down. "Repairs take priority. The ship is now underway, cloaked."

"The cloak will not prevent Starfleet vessels from detecting us, at least not at close range," said Azrithel.

"First Officer Arkehd concurs with your evaluation," said Kardon. "It will allow us to avoid long range detection and that should suffice for now. We are currently heading for Orion space at warp seven."

"Orion space?" Mara asked.

"Yes. They remain neutral in this universe as well. Federation files indicate that there are two shipyard facilities that will do work, no question asked. Primarily for Orion pirates, but they should serve our purposes."

"How will we pay these criminals?" Arkehd asked.

"Yamato's dilithium crystals," said Kardon with a smile. "Our prize provides."

"And then?" asked Mara.

"That would depend on Azrithel's findings." He turned to Lancer's communication and electronic warfare officer. "You said you had promising findings?"

"This one is pleased to report that a recent Federation discovery may be of considerable use to use." She touched a control and activated a holo display of Federation space. A single star at its periphery glowed brightly. "A Federation scout ship discovered ruins consistent with a vanished race known as the Iconians. The Iconians possessed the ability to open portals in space/time, possibly including the ability to reach other universes. They vanished mysteriously, but some of their technology survivies. An earlier version of the Yamato was destroyed by an Iconian probe and this version has several members of their science department who are Iconian specialists. They were contacted two days ago about the find."

"That's almost on the other side of the Federation from us," said Lieutenant Krevon.

"Yes," said Kardon. "Any direct route there would take us near Orion space anyways. Navigation, coordinate with me and Lieutenant Azrithel about plotting a course from Orion space to the Iconian ruins. Are there any other concerns?"

"What do you want me to do with the Federation prisoners?" asked Mara.

"The sciences personnel have their uses and the rest are useful as hostages to compel cooperation. I want them alive and unharmed, for the moment."

[Sidewinder]

"What do you want me to do with the Federation prisoners?" asked Mara.

"The sciences personnel have their uses and the rest are useful as hostages to compel cooperation. I want them alive and unharmed, for the moment."

I like this line. It shows the Klingon captain has an actual brain, unlike the Hirogen or the Kazon. He uses the amount of violence he needs to get the job done, no more, no less-- something I can respect, unlike those Delta Quadrant knockoffs.

[Imperial Overlord]

Kardon walked into Lancer's brig. Four soldiers were on duty, watching the inhabitants of the cells. Kardon stopped in front of the cell containing a Vulcan with a lieutenant commander's insignia on his uniform and the blue underlayer colour of Starfleet's science section. The Vulcan looked back calmly from the other side of the force screen.

The Vulcan was Kardon's equal in height, although his build was slimmer than that of the Klingon captain. He was stronger too, pound for pound at least, although Kardon's heavier frame made up for much of that. Vulcan's were a little faster than humans, although they tended to be slower than those of the Imperial race and Kardon was fast indeed. Vulcan's tended to practice a lot of very practical martial arts, but Klingons didn't just train in them they used them. Kardon had first killed in the Year Games when he had been twelve and had no doubts who would win a weaponless fight between.

The Vulcan raised an eyebrow. "Have you completed your evaluation captain?"

"What evaluation do you speak of Vulcan?"

"Sizing me up as an opponent in hand to hand combat."

Kardon considered denying it and realized there was no point. He would have to take a different path with this one. "Yes."

"And you conclusion?"

"My conclusion is based on knowledge of my own capabilities, Vulcan characteristics, and your Starfleet file. Lieutenant Commander Sulak, expert in computer systems and physical sciences, awarded Starfleet Medal of Commendation for your role in repulsing Jem Hadar boarders during the Dominion War, received injuries to the upper arm and abdomen on Cenjari II . . . ."

"So you have succeeded in breaking into the main computer. I had estimated an eighty-seven percent chance that you would have succeeded by now. Human resistance to Klingon interrogation techniques is limited. They are frailer, mentally and physically, than Vulcans. There is, however, a limit to what you can obtain from them. You wish my help in returning to your own universe."

Kardon controlled his surprise. "How did you know?"

"The differences in uniforms, the use of different but related language instead of tlhIngan Hol, the design of your ship, the hostile nature of our encounter, and the sudden appearance of your vessel along with some very powerful energy emissions. That you have arrived from a parallel universe is the answer that fits all the available facts."

"Correct," said Kardon. "You will assist us in returning to our universe."

"In what way would you require my assistance?"

"You have already deduced that answer Vulcan. You are simply hoping that I haven't figured it out. You are an expert on the Iconians."

"Why would I assist you?"

"I would think that the lives of your shipmates and having us leave your universe would be reason enough."

"Such a solution would result in the knowledge to operate Iconian portal technology falling into the hands of a bellicose Klingon Empire. Using conservative estimates, I would be endangering billions of lives. No captain, I will not aid you."

"They aren't even part of your own Federazhon!" Kardon shouted.

"Irrelevant. Their lives still have value. The needs of the many outway the needs of the few."

"Your shipmates remain in my hands. Children as well. I could have them killed, slowly, in agony. Their minds broken by the mind sifter, their nervous systems shredded by agonizers. Would you pay that price for defiance."

"I am resolved. Your threats do nothing but convince me that the knowledge of how to operate Iconian technology must not fall into your hands."

"Have you considered what I could do to you Vulcan?"

"I'm sure you could inflict a most unpleasant form of death or maiming. Such an action is illogical, as it will not convince me to yield the information to you."

"Very well Vulcan," said Kardon. "Further conversation would be pointless. For now." The Klingon captain turned around and stalked away. The door out of detention slid open. Mara was there.

"Captain," she said respectfully. Kardon was walking like a stormwalker and the captain was even more dangerous.

"I now know the truth behind the old saying, 'less fun than torturing a Vulcan.' He is impossible."

"This one could assist."

"He is Vulcan. Neither torture nor the mind sifter will work well on him. Besides, we want his willing cooperation. We must find another means of approach."

"Does such a thing exist?"

"If it does, I will find it."

[Spiral Jacobs]

Enjoying this a lot, heard about the Ford Klingons but have been unable to find his book in the UK.

Quick question. It is mentioned by the Klingons that Humans are both slower and weaker than Klingons. Considering that these Klingons seem much more competent than vanilla Klingons this is a severe disadvantage.

My question.

What do Ford's Klingons respect about Humans, what allows them to compete?

[Ford Prefect]

That was actually pretty badass. And it was a conversation.

[Imperial Overlord]

What do Ford's Klingons respect about Humans, what allows them to compete?

Vulcans are stronger than Klingons. So are Kinshaya. The Klingons don't lose any sleep over that. Physical strength isn't that important. In Ford's universe, humans have reputation among Klingons as being cunning and are certainly capable of becoming skilled soldiers.

[Imperial Overlord]

Kardon took his tray from the replicator slot and sat down on the bench. He poured syrup over the batter toast and took a long drink from his tall glass of reddish-pink quam juice. His rapid Klingon metabolism broke down the sugars and provided a pleasant buzz. He speared a slice of fruit from his side dish and then went to work on the batter toast with a vengeance.

Azrithel sat down opposite of him. He finished swallowing the stick of batter toast and grimaced. "I don't know how you can stand it?"

"What?" she asked.

"That," he pointed to the dark liquid in her cup.

"Its an acquired taste," she said. "Actually, its more of a family tradition. A line full of Commando Force Leaders each trying to be tougher than the rest. So the Navy part started drinking this. I think the first batch was taken as a prize around my grandfather's time." She shrugged and took a sip.

"Earther pervert," said Arkehd as he sat down. "I'd rather eat Marine emergency rations." He began salting his eggs, which had bright red oaks.

'Rith smiled. "Drink coffee and you'll actually enjoy Marine emergency rations. It'll make you the toughest Klingon in known space."

"I am the toughest Klingon in known space," said Kardon. "I fight Kinshaya hand to hand and win."

"Putting down all those calories will take care of that," joked Arkehd. "If you don't watch it you'll be as thick as a Tellarite."

"I burn them exercising," said Kardon.

"There's a reason our ancestors invented the disruptor," said Arkehd. "I'll stick with that. Having to use blades or fists is a sign that you screwed up somewhere."

"Does getting smashed across the deck of a Kinshaya warsphere by a concussion blast count as screwing up?" Kardon asked.

"No. Not keeping a tight enough grip on your disruptor does."

"The mek'leth did the job," said Kardon. "Kinshaya are strong and tough and can soak up disruptor fire, but they aren't fast. Even humans are faster, though not much. Strike and move with a good blade and you stand a chance."

The science officer changed the subject. "We are about two hours from Orion Space if we are still cruising at warp seven. It seems we might have given the Feddies the slip."

"Perhaps," said Kardon. "But that leaves the Orions. They will be tricky. According the Federazhon dossier they'll insist on a face to face meeting and they are less than honorable."

"That's my problem," said Arkehd. "First Officer's job after all."

"Except we can't spare you," said Kardon. "Unless we can use the Iconian portal systems our mission fails and you are the best chance of that. So you're staying."

"You intend to go," said Arkehd.

"They won't deal with someone junior. They are Orions, not Kinshaya. I'll be fine."

"Having your chest obliterated is still fatal, whether its by a Feddie phaser or a Kinshaya blade."

"I'm aware of that. I have no intention of placing myself entirely within their power. We need those repairs, so we'll take the chance." Kardon sliced off a chunk of steak and gulped it down. "Now is there anything else you wish to discuss?"

"No captain."

"Good. Progress on deciphering the Iconian database."

"This one regrets to say that the Federation database on the Iconians is limited. There simply isn't enough to go on. Neither Iconian site they've found survived for very long. I'll have to finish working things out when we get there."

"Then you had actually better be the best science officer in the fleet," said Kardon.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

The USS Tycho raced through space at warp eight. The Akira class cruiser was the most powerful vessel assigned to Beta Quadrant Exploration Command now that the Yamato had met an untimely end. The deaths of three sister ships and their crews had sent a ripple throughout the fleet. Renegade Klingons were one thing, Klingons who could beat Starfleet's best were another. "Reading Deep Space Twelve on long range sensors," said Julia Collins at the navigation station. Readings normal.

"Take us in," Captain Smyth ordered. The captain was not a young man, his curly hair had gone gray years ago, which contrasted vividly with his mahogany skin. He was tall and lean, a champion triathlete at Starfleet academy. He knew every trick in the book and had more than a few of his own along with a relentless bulldog tenacity. These qualities had steered the Tycho safely through the Dominion War and been passed on to a greater or less extent to host of promising junior officers. "Hail the station and let the Admiral know that we've arrived."

"Aye sir," said Anek Celzu, the Andorian at the ops station. He paused. "We're getting a response from Deep Space Twelve. Its the Admiral."

"Put it on screen," said Smyth.

The starfield on the main viewer vanished to be replaced with Admiral Janeway's face. "Thank you for coming so quickly Thomas."

"Your message said urgent admiral," said the older man. "I don't tend to take the scenic route when I hear that. What's so god damn important?"

"I'll brief you in person," said Janeway.

"I'll prepare to beam over," said Smyth. "We'll be at the station in-" he paused to look down at a display, "two minutes."

"That's not the plan captain," Janeway said smugly. "I'll be beaming aboard as soon as you are in range. This mission I'll be overseeing personally."

Smyth bit down a retort. "As you wish admiral." The transmission ended. Smyth turned to address his crew. "Jamie, see to it that quarters are prepared for the admiral. I'm going down to the transporter room to greet her.

[Vehrec]

Oh snap. The Admiral wants to oversee this one personally. Janeway. Personally. Yeah, this is gonna go bad.

[dragon]

Hum maybe not after she might just get captured and tortured by the kligons.

[LadyTevar]

They are Orions, not Kinshaya. I'll be find."

Yes, I found another typo. I dont' mean to be a grammar nazi, its' just when I'm reading a story this well-written the typos are jarringly obvious to me.

Face it, my friend... this story could be marketed to Baen or whomever's doing the Trek AU novels these days.

[Ford Prefect]

And now Smyth is going to be overshadowed by Janeway. Stupid woman.

[Imperial Overlord]

"A message from Ambassador Worf has arrived," said Admiral Ross's desk in a pleasantly neutral female voice.

"On screen," said Ross. The last week had been a lot of long hours and little sleep rearranging patrols and getting reports from long range scanning installations in the hopes of finding the mysterious battlecruiser. Everything had come up empty. He watched as Ambassador Worf's features filled the screen.

"Admiral, as you have requested I have consulted Chancellor Martok about the existence of battlecruiser. There is nothing in the High Council records indicating the existence or the commissioning of such a vessel. Klingon Intelligence also indicates that there is no evidence to suggest one of the major houses had such a vessel built and monitoring at every major shipyard indicates it was not constructed there. The only remaining possibility is that it was secretly designed and built by someone with vast resources and access to a hidden shipyard.

"No such transfer of resources has been detected. It is possible that the Duros or their allies secretly commissioned the vessel during the recent civil war or managed to acquire the necessary resources to begin construction before being driven into exile. If true, then the ship is likely commanded by a senior warrior who has be discommendated. He will either seek glorious death in battle or change in Klingon domestic politics that will allow him and his crew to regain their honour. It is possible that he believes he can achieve these ends by sparking a war with the Federation or driving Chancellor Martok from power.

"There is one other possibility, that Chancellor Martok or someone else in the Klingon government is deliberately hiding the truth. While I cannot discount the possibility, I do not find it likely. Worf out."

William Ross sat back in his chair. He had to agree with Worf. He had gotten to know Martok very well during the Dominion War and while the man wouldn't hesitate to trick his enemies or launch a surprise attack, he wouldn't betray his friends or allies. This battlecruiser was too big of a secret to be easily kept from Martok and the legions of Klingons in the government who respected the general. No, Worf was probably right. It was probably the damned Duros coming to bite everyone in the ass. Again.

That meant that the battlecruiser would probably be headed into Federation space, not back to the Klingon Empire and that would explain why they hadn't found a trace of it. He thought of the ships and worlds of the Federation's core, too many of them easy prey to a warship on a mission to do as much damage as possible. He activated a com channel and began to issue orders.

-------------------------------------------------------------

"Admiral," said Smyth as Janeway materialized aboard the Tycho.

"Thomas," Janeway replied. "Permission to come aboard?"

"Permission granted Admiral."

"Call me Kathryn," said Janeway with a smile. "We need to talk."

"If you would follow me to the ready room?" said Smyth. The two Starfleet officer walked down the corridor to the turbolift. "What's this about Admiral?"

"Its about that Klingon battlecruiser that has killed more than fifteen hundred men and women and is likely to kill more." The reached the turbolift.

"Ready room," said Smyth. "Admiral, you have other responsibilities."

"I owe it to those men and women to see to it personally. I won't let them down."

"What makes you think you can make a difference here?"

The turbolift doors slid open and they walked into Tycho's ready room. "Simple. I know where no one is looking and that's where she'll be."

"And where is that Admiral."

"Deep inside Federation space. She'll be caught if she head's back into Klingon territory or stays on the boarder. She has to head deep inside to survive and that's where we'll be. Either that or this is just the opening shots of an all out war, but in that case this won't really matter."

"Admiral," said Smyth, "you are pulling this ship away from its duties at what could be a critical juncture on the basis of a unsubstantiated guess in the hope that we'll be lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time. There are other ships admiral-"

"And they'll need all the help they can get. I've gone through hostile territory in the Delta Quadrant. I know every trick those Klingons are going to try and pull out there. Too many lives are at stake and my experience could mean the difference between catching them and a disaster. We have to go."

Smyth knew defeat when he heard it. "As you say Admiral."

"I'm glad you're with me on this Thomas. The Tycho is a good ship, with a damn good captain sitting center seat. This is unorthodox, I know, but sometimes you have to break the rules in order to follow them."

[Crazedwraith]

Oh dear, Janeway's going to fuck it up, living up to everyone's expectations.

And though It was a couple of cahpters ago, I'd like to say how much I enjoyed your Vulcan character. Just as with the Klingon's seeing them done properly is quite rare.

[Ford Prefect]

Maybe, just maybe, IO will buck the trend. That'd be nice.

[Imperial Overlord]

Lancer coasted into orbit around a dark, cloudless world. Two billion kilometers away, the system's red dwarf sun burned feebly. Oreja was not a world worth much to anyone now that the last of its mineral wealth was nearing depletion. Deep beneath the planetary surface mining cities eked out the last years of their existence. The wealth of the Orion worlds was legendary, but in this place it would soon come to an end.

Nature abhors a vacuum and just as the miners began to trickle away, leaving the old underground cities and atmosphere plants so newcomers came in their place. There had always been a criminal presence on these words, even if slave trading, drug dealing, and prostitution were legal in Orion space. Slave trading at least had been almost exterminated by Federation pressure, but their prosperous neighbor presented a whole new set of opportunities to ambitious Orions. Piracy, smuggling, black marketeering, arms dealing, and industrial espionage to name just a few and that's before one added the Klingon Empire into the picture. There were a lot of ways for an Orion of few scruples to get rich and their civilization valued wealth over clean consciences.

Having a battlecruiser like Lancer show up was surprise. Top of the line warships didn't just enter Orion territory, but Lancer was acting like it wanted to do business and that was fine with the powers that ruled here. Starfleet had extensive dossiers on suspected criminal activity in this place, dossiers that included questionable dealings during the Dominion War. The dossiers told Kardon where to go for custom large scale replication work.

The soundless shimmer of Klingon transporters marked the arrival of Kardon and four security officers on to High Point station's public transporter pad. The space station had been old fifty years ago with constant maintenance and patchwork upgrades keeping it in service. The Klingon's stepped past the green skinned orion guards and out onto the promenade. All but one of the over head light tubes were functioning properly and there were old stains on the walls and floors. Bars, brothels, holosuites, drug dens, and fences lined the broad corridor. Glowing holographic signs in half a dozen major languages spelled out their names and services. Members of a dozen species walked the corridors or drifted through. Many were armed and almost all of them looked disreputable. Most of them, even the intoxicated ones, got out of the way of approaching Klingons. Not all.

Four Nausicaans staggered out of establishment that seemed to sell intoxicating liquids. They saw the Klingons and the biggest one, who rivaled a Gorn in height if not bulk, yelled something. Kardon was almost surprised. More sign of what was wrong with this universe when Nausicaan pirates thought they were equal to a numerically superior force of Klingons. The smallest Nausicaan, half a head taller than Kardon, pulled out a long serrated edged knife and hissed.

Blue flashes burst among the Nausicaans. A pair of Orionsin bulky armour ten meters behind the fallen Nausicaans lowered their blocky phaser pistols. The Klingons stepped around the fallen Nausicaans and continued on their way.

Another pair of armed and armoured Orions guarded a door. "I am Captain Kardon. I have a meeting with you employers."

The Orion on the left touched a control and the door slid open. "Please proceed captain." The Klingons stepped onto immaculate crimson carpet and gold platted walls. An stunningly beautiful Orion female in a dress of gauzy silk bowed. "Please follow me captain. My employers are eager to meet with you. They send their regrets that you had to pass through the common riff raff of the station, but they do not possess the authority to contravene the transportation protocols. Security concerns and the mutual distrust of the larger players here is unfortunately paramount."

Klingons knew something about security concerns. "My men come with me." His tone broked no disagreement.

She inclined her head. "The follow me." She lead them down the golden halls to a semicircular room. Two Orions in gaudy silks sat on a couch that conformed to the curve of the bank of windows behind it. Through the windows the void beckoned and in it drifted Lancer, barely visible in the distance. Two more Orion guards stood in the corners of the room.

"Captain Kardon," said the Orion on the left. "We are pleased to receive your proposal. You said you had an extremely profitable business arrangement for us."

"You are Desen and Kresk?" Kardon asked.

"Yes we are," said the Orion on the right. "I am Kresk."

"I need the use of your industrial replicators and raw materials. My crew will supervise operations."

"Impossible," said Desen. "We don't do business like that."

"I will pay you," said Kardon, as if he hadn't been interrupted, "in dilithium."

"Dilithium?" as Kresk in an sharp tone.

"We can negotiate over the amount. And my need for your facilities will be brief."

"I think," said Desen slowly, "we can come to some form of agreement in principle. Shall we crunch the numbers?"

[Ford Prefect]

Total anticlimax there.