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Today, he was determined to find the Romulan spy. He had already begun a computer search on L’Kor’s activities over the past years, and began some inquiries among the contacts Lorgh had given him regarding the man’s activities. It might have been nothing, but he had to investigate the possibility. The conversation Kaasin overheard meant he could do little else.
And I will not cease keeping an eye on Ja’rod.
“The upgrades go well,” Mogh said to L’Kor.
A big, broad-shouldered man, L’Kor stared at Mogh for several seconds before simply saying, “Yes.”
“I wish to run a simulation on the new shields. I assume we have enough information on Romulan weaponry to do so?”
L’Kor stared at Mogh some more. “Do you think such an attack likely?”
“I think such an attack is possible. After all, one praetor has been overthrown—who is to say another might not be? Politics are unpredictable.”
“That is certainly the case. But I ca
“True.” Mogh pretended to concede the point, though he disagreed fervently. “I have always admired Romulans.” He smiled lasciviously. “And their women.”
Another of the officers assigned to the control room, a woman named Gi’ral, said, “For shame, Captain Mogh. You are a married man.” She smiled. “Though I will admit, I have seen some Romulan men who might be tolerable in bed.”
At that, all three of them laughed. Mogh added, “I merely speak of aesthetics. Believe me, I would not do anything to anger my mate.”
Gravely, L’Kor said, “Then you are a wise man. Kaasin’s mok’baraclass revealed parts of my body I was unaware could ache in such a ma
“Kaasin is rather skilled at that. She demonstrated those skills last night very well.”
Now it was L’Kor’s turn to smile lasciviously. “With a child in the house? Impressive that you would be able to bed your mate without interruption.”
“Worf was out hunting with his nurse last night—they returned this morning with an animal that will make a fine feast tonight for the troops. He donated it to the mess hall.” Mogh smiled. “And we never actually madeit to the bed.”
Again, the trio laughed.
A voice came from behind Mogh. “If you are to conduct tests, then do so and have done with it.”
Mogh turned to see Commander Moraq standing in the doorway to his office, which adjoined the control room. The supervisor of this base, the commander had not been pleased at Mogh’s assignment, feeling that he himself was perfectly capable of supervising the upgrades, and that Command did not need to send someone else to do the work of overseeing them. Since his true work on Khitomer could not be revealed to Moraq, Mogh had gone to great lengths to stay out of the man’s way and not interfere with his command of the base. Moraq deserved no less, especially after a check of his service record indicated nothing suspicious—quite the opposite, in fact, as his list of kills included a considerable number of Romulans.
Unfortunately, Moraq’s attitude did not improve with time. He was never insubordinate, but he kept his desire for Mogh to be elsewhere at the forefront.
“Come,” Mogh said, slamming L’Kor on the shoulder, “let us run these simulations, and see what will happen if the Romulans decide to forgo that honor we both admire so.”
L’Kor nodded in response. Moraq simply turned on his heel and went back into his office.
Chapter 32
I.K.S. Sompek
“Sir, we are receiving a distress call.”
At last, a call to battle,Kang thought. For the past week, he had been given the “honor” of conducting several members of the High Council—including Kravokh—on an inspection tour. The Sompekwas one of the new Vakk-class ships that had been constructed as part of Kravokh’s ship construction initiatives, and now the Council, in their infinite bureaucracy, wished to see them in action.
Except, of course, Kang knew that there was no action to be had as long as such important personages were on board. The tour was as much to show the people how much interest Kravokh and the Council took in the defense of the Empire, and so not only did everyone know that they were present, but they had a virtual armada for an escort. All the ships assigned to this sector served as protection, as well as Qo’noS Oneand three of the Council’s own strike ships. This collection of vessels could no doubt conquer several small inter-planetary governments without too much difficulty. No one would be foolish enough to challenge them.
As a result, Kang had spent a week observing. Worse, what he observed were Kravokh and the assorted councillors observing. A scientist, his mate Mara appreciated the value of such tasks, but Kang had no use for them. He was a warrior, one of the most renowned soldiers of the Empire. That made his choice as the captain to lead this nonsensical “tour” as inevitable as it was frustrating.
Now, however, the monotony may be broken.“Specifics,” he instructed the operations officer who gave the report.
“It is coming from the Morska system, sir. The I.K.S. Konmatis under attack by three Galor-class vessels.”
“Cardassians.” Kang almost sneered the word.
Just as he spoke it, the rear door to the bridge slid open to reveal Kravokh and three of the five councillors who accompanied him—as well as their entourage of bodyguards—came onto the bridge.
“What Cardassians?” Kravokh asked.
Kang turned to the operations officer. “Report to the chancellor.”
The officer seemed surprised at first, but recovered quickly and spoke in a far more respectful tone than Kang had ever heard the young officer use to Kang himself. “Sir, according to this signal, the Konmatis under attack by three Galor-class ships, but—” He hesitated.
“But what?” Kravokh prompted.
The officer looked quickly at Kang, who cried, “Speak!”
“I—I am not sure that the distress signal is genuine, sir.”
Kang’s lips curled. The officer was too intimidated by the presence of such exalted warriors to be anything other than truthful. If anything, he had probably understated his case. Kang looked at the pilot. “Time to Morska?”
Without hesitation, the pilot spoke, meaning she had wisely already calculated it. “Three hours, ten minutes at warp eight, sir.”
Turning to the chancellor, Kang said, “With respect, we should send two ships—I recommend the Aktuhand the Gowlak—and—”
“No.” Kravokh strode to the area between the command chair and the forward viewer. “I grow weary of these Cardassian invasions of our space. Instruct the convoy to set course for Morska.”
Kang seethed. Bad enough that an entire garrison of vessels were being wasted on a glorified publicity exercise, but this…“We do not even know that there isa Cardassian invasion of our space. And to send a dozen ships on such an errand is akin to using a disruptor ca
To Kang’s irritation, that prompted a smile from the chancellor. “In the end, though, the lIngta’is dead. Give the order, Captain.”
Any other captain might have jumped at that point. To even question the Supreme Commander of the Klingon Empire was courting death. But Kang had lived far too long to be so easily intimidated. He had been leading troops into battle when Kravokh’s father was too small to hold a bat’leth.