Topic: Revenant

[kadh2000]

This is the current section of "This is the Hour the Old Gods Return".  I'll get to posting the beginning after I finish this part.  The opening scene is when Kadh and company finally return to home from the alternate timeline dominated by the Andromedans.

***

The IKV Anarchist entered the Wormhole.  Kadh had worked out the drill they would follow years before.  As soon as the ship was in its grip, all movement power was cut.  From his secure seat on the flag bridge, Kadh watched as Kempor implemented it without panic despite the chaos of the battle they were leaving and the tension on the ship. 

Kadh felt the moment oddly strung out, as shields were maximized, systems shielded as much as possible, through the transit.  The crew was obeying his orders, following to perfection his plans, but satisfaction was not his primary emotion.  Instead he was filled with a quiet sense of dread and the faintest hint of wondering if they should have stayed to fight for the universe they were leaving.

He dismissed the doubt with the reminder that it would let down Sarl Kagan and all the others who had worked for this moment. The dread grew and around him Kadh could see systems fail and the reactions of the crew to the disasters.  This time they were better prepared for the transit than the first time, but the ship would still sustain major damage.  They were soon fully into the portal and there was no more that Kadh, Kempor, or any other crewmember could do for the ship or themselves. 

As his own universe began to appear at the end of the tunnel, Kadh wondered if he would find a place in the Empire.  He would be far younger than his wife, his contemporaries, his friend. It was that issue that gripped him as the tunnel widened and a starfield began to appear.  Lights and bursts of energy from battling starships filled the viewscreen.

A rush of sound and light signaled the Anarchist's exit from the portal.  It collapsed almost immediately behind them and the ship was thrust forward.  A furious activity ensued upon the bridge.  Amidst the glare of exploded panels and status reports, Kadh kept watch on the starfield around him.  An Andromedan battleship and its satellites bore down on a B10 hull.  He flipped the switch to broadcast a warning, but the communications panel only sparked and released a trail of smoke.  The Klingon battleship was unable to bear the weight of the attack and exploded.  Kadh read no transporter activation nor saw shuttles emerge from the burning hulk. 

He growled in frustration at his situation.  He had brought the Andromedan threat back to his own timeline and was powerless now to stop that threat.  Unable to interfere with the battle, he was forced to watch it unfold.  Fire from a Klingon starbase incinerated one of the small ships escorting the Andromedan and the entire group of Andromedan ships turned toward the base. 

Kadh was surprised when no fighters or PFs intercepted the Andromedans.  Instead a squadron of destroyers cut across the formation.  Their weapons fired surprisingly quickly and from a large number of angles.  Two more of the satellites burst as their panels were overloaded.  Quick slashing attacks in true Klingon style rapidly cut down the defenders of the battleship.  When it was finally bare it was dangerously near the Starbase, two starships appeared suddenly in its path. 

One Kadh recognized as an Excelsior-class Federation starship.  The other was larger and of unfamiliar design.  It was the largest Galactic starship Kadh had ever seen.  The two ships opened fire in what seemed a practiced drill.  A beam weapon from the unknown ship struck the Andromedan, followed by a hail of phasers and photon torpedoes from the Federation ship.  The final blow came from the disrupters of the strange ship that Kadh now identified as some new variant of Klingon warship.  In an amazingly short time, the Andromedan battleship was reduced to small bits of debris.

His sense of danger led Kadh to look at his own ship's tactical readouts.  A pair of Andromedans were headed directly for the Anarchist.  "Kempor," he called into his communicator, "what do we have that works?"

"I have minimal shields and motive power.  I don't have fire control up yet," the Captain replied.

"Transporters?"

"They're offline, sir."

"Put one on, whatever the cost," Kadh shouted.  He didn't want to make it this far and fall before seeing his old friend.  "We've got two Andros coming in. If we've got a PA bomb left, use it.  Otherwise we're dead."  The flag bridge went suddenly dark and Kadh was left in silence.  A moment later Kempor's voice said, "We got one and it's veering away.  The transporter's gone for good and the other is still coming.  It will reach firing position in five...four..."  A loud roar punctuated the silent bridge and Kempor stopped counting.  Kadh waited for him to speak again.
 
"A Klingon warship has intercepted the Andromedans.  One is destroyed, the other is returning fire."  Kadh left the communicator open and went to the turbolift.  He had to pry the doors open.  There was a car jammed right below him.  He stepped away from the door and bent to reach the crawlway access panel.  Kempor continued to relate the unfolding battle as Kadh worked, "...shields are down and seems to be taking internal damage.  It still has greater firepower than the Andromedan, whose panels are nearing the critical level.  The ship is successful and the Andromedan is exploding.  I'm afraid we won't have much power for hours now, my lord."

"Understood," Kadh replied.  "I'm heading into the access corridors.  I'll be on the bridge when I can make it.  Kadh out."  He crawled into the small space and headed away from his flag bridge.  He could hear sounds of activity as he made his way forward.  Behind him was only silence. When he was close to the noise of people moving, Kadh let himself out of the crawlway.  It didn't take him long to make his way to the bridge.  Order had been restored, but a quick look at the various stations showed him there wasn't much for the command crew to do.

On the viewscreen ahead of him, Kadh could see an unfamiliar ship moving around them.  "What is that ship?" he asked.

 "The IKV Vortas," Kempor answered.  "It is the ship that joined us in defeating those two Andromedans.  It has taken heavy damage and has not rejoined the fight.  I am working on restoring communications, but at the moment we cannot converse with them."

"Pulse change our sensor frequencies in one of the old radio codes," Kadh said.  "Maybe someone will recognize that."

"Our computer is down," said the communications officer.  "I am unfamiliar with the vocabulary of those codes."

"Never mind," Kadh said, shoving the science officer away from his station.  "I'll do it."

After several long moments of repeated signaling, he finally received a response.  Soon thereafter a shuttlecraft launched from the Vortas and the first shuttle in some time landed in the Anarchist's shuttlebay.  They were delivering a portable communication's device.  It was quickly brought to the bridge and activated.

As soon as the device was active, the communications officer hailed the Vortas.  "It is the flagship", he announced after a moment.  "The Chancellor is aboard, and it is Sarl Kagan.  He wishes for Admiral Kadh to come aboard immediately.  I have informed them that our transporters are down.  Theirs are as well.  The battleship Grengel will be alongside in twenty seconds to facilitate the transport."

Kadh acknowledged the report, turned to Kempor and told him, "I suspect we will need to abandon our ship before the battle ends.  Have the crew ready for evacuation."

"Will comply," his captain answered and Kadh left the bridge.

A technician was working in the transporter room as Kadh arrived.  "The Grengel is standing by, Admiral."  Kadh nodded and stepped onto a pad.  The technician spoke into his communicator and a moment later the glow of a transporter field surrounded Kadh.  He was briefly aware of a large transporter room with several pads before it faded and was replaced with a smaller room with only two pads.

This room, too, was occupied only by a single crewman whose duty was more to wait for arrivals than to activate the controls.  Part of the console was melted and chunks of debris had been scraped off the pads and piled in a corner in the room.  Kadh stepped off the pad and asked, "Where is he?"

"Admiral?" the man questioned, obviously uncertain of Kadh's identity. ?I am Kadh, here to see the Supreme Chancellor.  Where is he?"

Sudden realization was followed by an intent stare.  "He is on the bridge, admiral.  Will you require an escort?"  Kadh wondered if the crewman was being intentionally surly.

"Of course not," Kadh snorted and strode from the transporter room.  He stopped short in the first corridor and looked both ways.  He was suddenly aware that the starship he was aboard was of completely unfamiliar design.  He hoped that standard design protocol hadn't changed drastically and turned to his left and began walking at a slower pace.  He kept his eyes open for any clue so that he wouldn't need to appear ignorant by asking where the turbolift was. 

Just ahead of him the corridor appeared to branch.  From the side passageway, several engineering technicians appeared and began walking toward Kadh.  He was surprised to note that several of them, including the lieutenant that led them, appeared to be of a different species.  They were taller and darker than standard Klingons, with bare ridged foreheads.  He pushed the questions he would like to ask aside and added some swagger to his step.  The engineers parted before him. 

Guessing that they were coming from the turbolift toward whatever work they were heading to, Kadh entered the passage they had appeared from.  He was rewarded to see it ended after a few feet in a variant of a turbolift door.  The door opened and he stepped into the small, circular room. Unconsciously, his hand reached for the activation handle and slid through empty air.  He looked about the car for a handle and found none.  "Bridge," he said tentatively and the car eased into motion.  You know you're obsolete, he thought, when you have to think to operate the turbolift.'  The trip to the bridge was slow, with jarring interruptions that Kadh guessed were made in avoiding damaged sections of the ship.  It gave him time for unpleasant reflection on the changed nature of the Empire.

The bridge was a familiar scene, even if the arrangement was somewhat different.  Save for the captain's, all the positions were operated by standing warriors.  It would have been completely comfortable were it not the scene of a disaster.  The bridge had apparently been the target of an Andromedan strike.  Lighting was minimal and many control panels blinked with an erratic series of warning lights.  Pieces of structural material lay throughout the bridge.  Repair crews in addition to the bridge officers made the place cramped, even by Klingon standards.

Sarl Kagan's back was recognizable even years later.  "My Lord Chancellor," Kadh said.  The chair swiveled and his old friend was looking back at him.  Kagan pushed himself quickly up from the seat and the two men embraced, slapping each other and whooping in marked contrast to the serious situation around them.  "Well, we did it."

"Yes, my captain, we did," Kagan replied.  "It is good to see you again." His face took on a more serious undertone.  "How many of us are left?"

Kadh scowled.  "Not many and none from the bridge.  Forty-seven before this battle began."  Kagan's face dropped with disappointment.  "Don't let that upset you.  They died like warriors for a cause none could call unworthy.  How goes the battle here? Or is your ship so badly shot-up that you can not tell?"

"Well, it was either get my ship shot up or lose yours," Kagan laughed.  "I suppose you would have managed to save both..."

"Maybe, maybe not," Kadh answered thoughtfully.  "I'm getting old.  I would have allowed myself to die in battle if it wouldn't have disappointed you so much."

"Don't say that.  Compared to me and the warriors you knew, you're young.  They're all old farts, thinking about war and that last chance for glory.  Wondering if they have what it takes to fight anymore.  You...you know how to fight.  It must be all you've done for years."

Kadh nodded.  "Good, because I have a task for you."  Kagan lowered his voice.  "They're out there.  We both know it.  They will never stop coming until they run out of ships or are destroyed.  From what we know, they had an entire galaxy at their command.  We've seen only a fraction of their fleet."

Kadh shook his head.  "The technology of war has passed me by.  It would be years before I could command a modern starship, let alone a fleet."

Kagan was staring at him, disbelief on his face.  "Are you sure I got the right Kadh?"

"Knowing you were coming has kept me going," Kadh answered.  "I look forward to retiring to the house of Qoheleth with my wife."

"She still lives.  Listen my friend; I have the situation to get back to.  We'll talk more later and see if I can't convince you."

"All my dreams have been fulfilled," Kadh said.  "I have no more need of battle."

He left the bridge and made his way back to the transporter room.  He wanted to be on his own ship.  "We've repaired out transporter," said the operator.  "You may go directly to your ship."  Kadh acknowledged him offhandedly and stood on the pad.  The Vortas disappeared and was replaced by the more familiar wreck of the Anarchist.

"Was the Chancellor alive?" Kempor asked when Kadh returned. 

"Very."

Kempor looked at him for a moment, and then went back to his duties.  "Captain, there is an Andromedan ship, Missionary configuration, heading our way."

Kadh was instantly alert.  "Is the Grengel still nearby?" he asked. Kempor barked his own question.  "Status of the Andromedan?"

"Negative, Admiral.  They have returned to the main battle.  Captain, the ship has taken heavy damage."

Kadh and Kempor shared a glance.  "Prepare boarding parties," Kempor ordered.  "They may intend to ram us.  Warn the Vortas."

The Missionary moved slowly toward them.  In the distance, a Klingon warship turned away from the fighting and raced toward the Missionary.  A quick look at the tactical display showed Kadh that it would be too late.  "It will attempt to ram the Vortas if it chooses that tactic," he said.  "I suspect they will prefer to board and capture.  Signal the Vortas that we have boarding parties prepared to beam over if they transport them now.  I will join them."

Feeling like he had chosen an endless loop for his path, Kadh returned to the transporter room and joined a squad of marines heading to the Vortas.  Just as they arrived, Kadh felt a heavy shudder spread through the ship.  There was a lieutenant of marines with the transporter operator this time.  "Where do you want us?" Kadh asked.

"I will lead you there," he replied.  "You are the last group transporting over."  With that he turned and entered the main corridor.  It did not take them long to encounter group of Andromedan robots.  With cries of fury, the Klingons entered into battle with the invaders.

The battle was furious and quick.  The Klingons were victorious.  His body and uniform covered in sweat, ichor and oil, Kadh led his troops towards the bridge.  "At least with Andromedans," he joked with his fellow warriors, "you can easily tell if it's your own blood or not."  The comment drew a general laugh which ended abruptly as they made their way onto the bridge.

A few Klingons still stood there, but most lay dead, intermingled with the pieces of Andromedan robots.  One knelt over a body near the command chair.  A wide, gaping wound covered most of Sarl Kagan's chest.  His own recent comment came back into Kadh's mind.  The Chancellor's lips moved, "I knew you would be still alive."

Kadh bent down beside Kagan.  He reached down and put his hand on Kagan's shoulder.  Kagan's right arm twitched but did not move.  Kadh carefully raised the Chancellor's hand until it touched his shoulder.  "Do not refuse my last command," Kagan said.

"I have no ship," Kadh protested. ?At the DSF academy," Kagan whispered with great effort, "there is a K't'inga-class cruiser the cadets use for engineering labs.  It is the finest ship in the fleet.  Take it.  Stop them."

Seeing his friend dying before him, Kadh couldn't refuse.  He had brought the Andromedans back.  He would see that they no more ever came.  "Will comply," Kadh found himself saying and wondered how long it had been since he had last uttered that phrase.  A brief smile cracked Kagan's face and then was gone.  Kadh thrust the corpse's hand from his shoulder and stood up.  Around him the ridge-headed Klingons lifted their heads and howled.

[kadh2000]

The trip back to the homeworld aboard the Grengel was, despite the advances in warp technology that made it almost incomparably shorter, the longest of Kadh's life.  Dry technical manuals on the changes in ship design, weapons, and other technologies had always given him a headache.  Before, he had been raised knowing the armaments and systems of a warship.  Poloron torpedoes and tachyon pulse emitters each created new complications the ramifications of which he was not familiar. 

With time, he could manage to overcome that lack of knowledge.  It wouldn't have an immediate impact.  Not being able to find his way around a warship was something he couldn't overcome before it made a negative impression.  That had already been accomplished.  He could sense the amusement of his hosts when he was forced to ask for the location of something.  Time had always been the enemy of a Klingon warrior, but it and Kadh had always traveled together at the same pace.  Now it had leapt ahead of him and he did not feel within himself the strength to run for as long as would be needed to catch up.

Kadh looked out of the porthole in his cabin and watched the stars blaze by.  Old friend, he thought, I know what you want but I think it is beyond me.  You should have passed it to a young man.  His mind turned to Kempor.  He could protect his captain, Kadh knew.  Without him, life in the DSF would be difficult for the young warrior.  Kadh had no doubt that Kempor would overcome it, but he too would have a long chase against time and it would cost him valuable years.  Perhaps I could arrange for a war, he asked himself.  "Computer," he said, "list current Thought Admirals and the names of the Imperial Council."  One listen convinced him that he would have to discard his previous thought.  None of them would appreciate what would no doubt be called meddling.  He could do it with time and subtlety, but there was no need to add hurdles to a race in which he was already trailing. 

A buzzer interrupted his thoughts.  "Come," he said, and the door opened.  Turning to face the door, he saw an ensign he did not recognize.  He tried to think of them all as Klingons and let go the word 'ridge-headed' that his subconscious put before the man's rank.  "Admiral Kadh, your crew is assembled in the arena.  They request your presence."  Kadh nodded and ordered the computer to end its tasks.  Standing, he allowed the ensign to lead him through the web of strange locations.  "I hope that it is not a celebration, I am not in the mood for bloodwine," he said.  "I didn't see any sign of drink, Admiral, or food." the ensign responded.  While neither food nor drink had been provided, it was a rowdy assembly that greeted Kadh when he arrived. 

The ensign who had brought Kadh in made an attempt at obeying protocol by announcing the Admiral.  He was promptly carried back out of the arena by several willing hands and the entrance sealed behind him.  Kadh himself was lead into the center of the gathering.  He looked about him as he passed through the Klingons, naming to himself the members of his original crew: Anir, Ehtok, Karm, Kothma, Mortok...amongst a hundred they were a small remnant.  He counted twenty-three.

Kempor awaited him in the center of the gathering.  "A last salute to him who has led us through near impossible odds to this moment, Admiral Kadh, the Impenetrable."  The mention of his old nickname did nothing to improve Kadh's mood, but he raised his fist and shook it in the air.  A loud cheer went up and Kadh was relieved to see no speech would be required.  Playful banter ensued, with each warrior testing Kadh in mock battle before falling in ritual defeat.  By the end of it, Kadh was indeed exhausted.  Then, despite his escort's earlier assertion, wine and food did appear.  When the celebration finally ended, it was fortunate that they had locked themselves in or the revelry might have ended up doing damage to more than just the arena.

Later, after he had taken time to treat his hangover and make himself feel presentable, Kadh had his somewhat overdue, mostly because Kadh had been avoiding it, private dinner with captain Khurst of the Grengel.  The admiral had remained behind with a vessel less expensive to keep in space.  Kadh was left to sit through an unpleasant meal with a Klingon many years his junior with something to prove when he had already been 'promoted' from cruiser duty to command of a battleship that seldom left the spacedock and then only with an admiral aboard.  As the meal neared completion and Kadh was eating Rokeg blood pie, which although it was his first in many long years wasn't the equal in his memory of the Qoheleth chefs of his own house, the ambush came.  "So Admiral Kadh, if I was captaining the Grengel in battle against the Federation and I performed a battle pass followed by a hook, how would you evaluate the attack pattern?"

Kadh carefully wiped the juice from his beard and took a sip of his bloodwine.  He pushed himself back in the chair and stretched out his belly.  "I would," he said leaning sharply forward, "remove you from command for using a battleship as a tactical unit in fleet combat.  Any battleship is designed for heavy firepower and command and control.  It supports the smaller ships with firepower and they support it by leading targets across its primary weapon arcs." 

The broad grin on the captain's face froze for an instant in shock and then he gave a hearty laugh, his hands gripping the table tightly and shaking it.  "I can see you still have all of that experience to call upon Admiral," Khurst laughed and wiped spittle from his beard with his sleeve.  "I had to test you before I made my offer."  He leaned forward conspiratorially.  "With the death of the chancellor and so many of the leaders of the Empire commanding fleets of warships, this is a dangerous time.  Several factions are likely to emerge including one that will follow in the footsteps of chancellor Kagan.  Others will see this as the perfect time to attack the Federation or the Romulans.  If the powers become too evenly balanced there may even be civil war."

Kadh's forehead darkened and Khurst hastened to explain.  "I am, as you might have guessed considering you are on my ship, a supporter of Chancellor Kagan's initiatives.  As a close friend of the chancellor, your prestige will carry great weight with the council.  I can make it easy for you to acquire that ship the chancellor offered you.  You see, I do know what he planned for you.  In exchange for your support of our candidate for chancellor, your path will be made easy for you."

Kadh was stunned, but he let only the initial anger show in his expression. 'Is this what the Empire has come to in my absence?' he asked himself.  He had no doubt that Khurst was prepared for the possibility of  violence and that he would not survive the attempt, or he would have killed the oily fool on the spot.  "It is good for you that you support my old friend," was all he said.  "I will consider your offer but you should know this.  Sarl Kagan made no final request of me.  It is my intention to return to my home and my wife."

Khurst nodded.  "I was expecting that answer.  Very cautious, very wise.  But you will not retire.  No warrior can give up the glory of battle.  Besides," he added with an infernal glint in his left eye, "I have arranged a surprise for you.  One that you will find most enjoyable.  It will be in your quarters when you return there."  He rose and bowed to the admiral.  Kadh, his mood dark, wondered if he could even save Kempor.  He saluted his host and allowed the captain to escort him to the door.

It hit Kadh just after he entered the turbolift.  A woman would be in his bed when he returned to his quarters.  People entered and exited, stepping around his unmoving form as he considered how to get rid of her without further alienating the captain.  By the time he reached the guest room he had decided how to handle the situation.  He entered and immediately ordered the lighting to full levels and was quite surprised to find the room empty.  A light was blinking red on one of the data panels in the room.  Relieved, he absently responded to it without considering its meaning.

A glow spread out from the small video monitor behind Kadh and into the room.  "My Lord," a voice said and the sound of it shot through him so that he stiffened and turned slowly, his breathing stopped, toward the monitor. 

A regal matron occupied its screen, her attire the bold dress of the head of a major household within the Empire.  Kadh recognized his wife instantly, despite the years that had worn onto her face and body.  "Wife," he said simply.

"Do I look so old in your eyes?" she asked and he could sense the disappointment in her voice. 

"I had wished for this meeting to come in our house," he said, avoiding the question.  "I have desired to touch you for so long."  The sadness did not leave her face.  "The years," he said, "have only added dignity to your features.  You are ever beautiful to me."

She nodded and a smile tightened her features, bringing out new wrinkles.  "I have seen to the welfare of your house, my lord.  Though much has changed, you will not find our ranking less than it was.  The Chancellor,? and she dropped her head slightly, telling him that she knew of Kagan's death, "was very helpful.  A full report will be ready on your return."

Kadh frowned.  He was unsure of how he had wanted to hold this meeting, but a discussion of house business was not paramount.  He could see that she read this in his posture and dropped the matter.  "My lord, whenever you have returned from space before, you have created a sonnet for me.  Is one such prepared now?"

Kadh blinked with surprise and sudden memory.  It was a tradition that he had forgotten.  His eyes wandered about the room as he thought and found nothing.  He saw her growl, did not hear the sound, and her hand reached out to shut off the transmitter.  Desperate, he called on his tactical wizardry. "I was going to call it 'From he, to her', but it is not complete.  A long - too long - mission deserves a long sonnet."  He put his hands together in front of him as he always did when in deep thought, the fingers interlinked and eyes closed.     

 'Now I have seen you in the toils of Time,       
Your lauded beauties carried off from thee,       
Your eyes no longer stars as in their prime,       
Your name forgot of Maiden Fair and Free;       
Now, in my being, heart concedes to mind,       
And judgment, though I scarce its process know,       
Recalls the excellencies you once enshrined,       
And I am irked that they have withered so;       
Remembering yours the loss is, not the blame,       
That Sportsman Time but rears his brood to kill,       
Knowing me in my soul the very same       
One who would die to spare you touch of ill!       
Will you not grant to old affection's claim       
 The hand of friendship down Life's sunless hill?'*

The words came to him easily, as if he had heard something like them before, but Kadh did not waste time trying to recall the source.  Tears were in her eyes when he looked back at his wife.  "Come home soon, my lord" she said huskily and broke the connection.  Kadh blew out a deep sigh of relief.  It had gone better than he had feared.  "I will, beloved Ketay."  He touched the screen and his hand lingered on it until it was cold.

*adapted from 'She, to Him'(1866) by Thomas Hardy   

[kadh2000]

Kadh avoided further contact with the Grengel's captain for the remainder of the voyage.  He kept to himself as much as possible.  He was distant and cold even in dealing with members of his crew.  Eventually Kempor visited the admiral.  "Whatever that targ's breath said to you, Kadh, you have let it get to you.  You can't let a mere captain, especially one of a tub, defeat you."

"It wasn't him," Kadh said simply, not stirring or facing the man.  "It was my wife.  She contacted me.  The years have not been kind to her body."

He could feel Kempor's eyes upon him.  Kadh expected the young man to speak of love and prepared a retort.  "She was merely his weapon, admiral," answered Kempor's loud and angry voice.  "If you can't face a woman that's one thing.  Captain Khurst is only a man.  He's the enemy here." 

It focused his thoughts again on Khurst.  Whether he liked him or not, the man, or rather the faction he represented, was dangerous.  Kadh had admitted to him that he had no interest in remaining active in the DSF.  Now his actions were proving it.  He decided it was something he could not afford.  Rising, he placed his hand on the younger man's shoulder.  "Once again, you have shown me that I chose my captain well.  Let us go and make merry and regale the poor dogs with the stories of all the years of continuous real war that they missed."

Kempor nodded, a shrewd grin on his face.  "At once, my lord," he said.  Kadh had to admit that it did much to cheer him up and Captain Khurst wandered about his ship with a scowl that only deepened when he was forced to listen to the ever-increasingly epic story of the last mission of the Screaming Dizbuster.  He was beginning to feel almost his old self by the time the Grengel slowed to sublight speed as it entered the Klinzhai system.  Kadh accepted Captain Khurst's offer of a view from the bridge for the return to homeworld.

Kadh chose a spot to stand just beside the science station.  Surreptitiously he peered over the science officer's shoulder, a difficult task given the ridge-head's greater height.  Incredible energy signatures greeted Kadh from everywhere.  Praxis shone like the brightest of stars.  He could only imagine how it must light up the night on homeworld.  When that came into view on the main viewscreen, even Kadh's preparation from studying the energy readouts was insufficient to keep him from being stunned.  Khurst was once again pleased with himself as Kadh stared at homeworld.  A quick final glance at the science station confirmed that the entire planet had become a single gigantic city.  "Where are the forests, the fields, and the mountains?" Kadh sputtered.

"Do you like it, admiral?" Khurst asked, coming forward to face him.  The only pleasant thing Kadh found in the Captain's visage was that it blocked the sight of the world before him.  "The Empire has made great technological progress since you last were here."

It felt like the entire Empire had turned against him.  Kadh threw Khurst aside and walked forward until the view of the city of Klingon dwarfed him on the bridge.  "When a warrior is ready to test himself against the wind and the sand, where can he go?  How will he know if he is worthy of the challenge?"

"All Klingons are worthy," Khurst sneered, wiping blood from his mouth and rising from where he had landed on the floor beside his command chair.  "It is our honor and glory to serve the Empire that we have created.  But you, old man, are right.  This Empire is no place for the weak.  Retire now while your legend is still hot."

"Do you challenge me?"  Kadh did not remove the horror from his tone.  "I have not forgotten how to respond to such things."

"There is no need," Khurst replied.  Kadh chose to accept the words rather than the tone in which they were uttered.  He had no wish to die at the hands of this younger man before he had seen his wife.  He merely nodded and left the bridge with as much energy as he could muster.  He allowed the turbolift to take him back to his quarters and packed what few belongings he retained and those things that had been given to him from the Grengel's supplies.  He stood at the door, watching for a moment the impersonal remains of what he expected to be his last quarters aboard a starship.  No matter what else it was, it was a starship and the impulse engines still gave it a faint shutter.  Kadh savored the sensation and gave the room a reminder of it by slamming his elbow forcefully into the wall.  He was rewarded to see a dent in them metal.  He rubbed at his elbow and went to the transporter room.

The transporter operator offered him a stiff salute and a hearty clasp of farewell.  Kadh stepped onto the pad and gave the order to energize.  The ship faded and was replaced by the bronzed walls of DSF command.  An officer with the insignia of a commodore awaited him.  "Admiral, follow me.  Fleet command will interview you as quickly as possible.  Your wife has sent a transport for you.  It will be ready the moment the admiralty is done."  Kadh nodded and the commodore turned without bowing and led him from the room.  Kadh considered his dagger and the man's back and decided the ridgehead wouldn't understand why Kadh had killed him.  It would be a waste of effort and so the commodore lived despite his lack of respect.

[kmelew]

Thank you, sir!

[kadh2000]

Kadh fingered a data card as he walked behind the commodore toward the center of the building.  He alternately considered its destruction and its value to the Empire.  He had made the record of his tenure in the alternate reality for Sarl Kagan to study.  He hoped he would be able to decide which option to use before the choice was taken from him.

The rhythm of the commodore's footsteps slowly fell into alignment with his own as they passed many rooms with windows onto the military-industrial complex that was DSF headquarters.  Factories in the distance and scurrying soldiers in the foreground passed in brief glimpses.  Kadh knew the reason for the long route and had sent his own guests on it many times before, guests that needed intimidation.  Kadh found himself too interested in the sights of the modern Empire to feel the effect.  He smiled to himself as they approached the entrance to the main council chambers, the small door leading into the grand hall.  It was good to be feared.

The commodore stood to one side and allowed Kadh to enter before closing the door, still manually operated so that the guest could be sealed in with a resounding heavy thud.  There were five Admirals, two captains, and a lieutenant waiting for him.  The lieutenant, a woman with ridges on her forehead, was there to operate the recording devices being used for the meeting.  The newer style uniform was nicely improved, Kadh noted, by her form within it.  If they expected to distract him with sex, his hosts were mistaken.  Kadh let her fall from his mind.

"Admiral Kadh," began the highest ranking of the admirals.  Kadh did not know him.  "I am Kelhan.  You have returned from an unexpectedly long mission.  Give us your report."  The phrasing amused Kadh to the point that he raised his gauntleted arm to his face and coughed onto its burnished surface.  "After I have given you the report, I was told my wife would be waiting to see me.  I am understandably anxious to see her after such a time."  He leered at the lieutenant.  "Is this correct?"

"It is," Kelhan responded before an older admiral could interrupt.  Kadh presented the disk to Kelhan, saluted, turned on his heel and marched out through the main entrance, the one whose doors opened silently and automatically as he approached.  Laughter and calls for him to come back at once were cut off by the doors slipping closed behind him.  His first battle of the day successfully behind him, with a victory no less, was enough, Kadh hoped, to get him through the rest.  "You," he called to one of the guards.  "I am Kadh.  My wife awaits me.  You will bring her to me at once." 

The warrior bowed, glanced askance at his officer, and sped rapidly away.  Kadh entered the guardroom and seated himself at the first chair to wait.  The minutes crawled by, feeling like years. 

"That could have easily been called insubordination, Admiral."  The older admiral from the meeting stepped into the guardroom with Kadh.  "It will be used against you, if that becomes necessary.  The evidence was recorded."

"I know," Kadh nodded.  "It was a moment of rare opportunity.  I wish to go home.  I have lost much that one who has not been through it can not understand.  I have always been willing to pay the price of my actions.  In fact, I am somewhat surprised that I wasn't recalled."

"You were, if you noticed.  You ignored it." The admiral smacked the wall as he spoke.  "Were there not extenuating circumstances, the very guards whose comforts we now enjoy would be coming after you.  That data disk of yours is probably going to turn out to be worth more than anything you can say."

Kadh waved his arms at the bare walls and thumped the cushionless chair upon which he sat.  "It is good to see that the comforts of guard duty are the same as they were in my day."

"In your day," the admiral responded.  "It isn't your day anymore.  Mine is past also and I was a captain of a D6 when you were an admiral.  What are your plans?"

"To go home, make love to my wife, and sleep until I no longer feel the need of it.  Then I will decide what to do."

"Very good, admiral."  The other stepped back through the doorway.  "Contact us in no more than two days."  He paused at the door.  "One more thing.  If there was one message we were to get out of your long absence and this record you have provided, what would it be?"

"The Andromedans," Kadh said, "will never stop coming.  Not until they are all destroyed or we are."

The admiral glanced down the hallway and paused briefly in thought.  Then he nodded and turned on his heel and left Kadh momentarily alone. "Ah, Sarl, what am I going to do?" 

"Do about what?" a woman asked.

As long as it had been, as old as he felt, Kadh yet went still at the sound of her voice.  Kadh turned to look at last upon his wife.  She was more aged than he had realized.  Despite that shock she affected him as she always had.  Quickly he stepped to her and lifted Ketay off the floor as he crushed her into himself.  "I made a promise to the council just now," he said and laughed.  "I intend to go home and keep it."  Still carrying her, he left the small chamber and entered the hall.  He kissed her fiercely before lowering her back to her own feet.

"Well husband, it seems your fears are unfounded," she said and smiled.  In her eyes, behind tears of joy, she was amused at his expense.  Unable to find words to express himself, Kadh laughed.  Shaking his head, he merely replied. "Love endures and is a far more gracious victor than I am."  The guards studiously looked straight ahead as the couple, snuggled into one another's arms, walked away from the halls of power of the Klingon Empire.

His family shuttle awaited Kadh outside the building.  "Will you pilot us?" Ketay asked. 

"Me?"  Kadh snorted.  "I would probably get lost.  The city is a lot larger than I remember."  She nodded slightly and they entered the craft.  He slipped in behind her into one of the passenger seats.  In the cockpit of the small craft, there was room for only one pilot.  He closed his eyes and listened, catching first the familiar sound of the engine and then the disruptor as she charged the shuttle's weapon.  No admiral was ever expected to have to travel in an unarmed vehicle.  "I would have thought we would have a newer model by now," he commented. 

She answered quickly, and the amusement now carried over into her voice.  "Knowing how long you have been away, I thought you would be more comfortable with the familiar shuttle.  The new one is waiting for you at our home." 

He caught himself before he nodded; she couldn't see him.  "You are correct I suppose," he said and sighed.  The comment hadn't amused him.  Instead it had reminded him of how much of a relic of past times he truly was.  He spoke no further throughout the trip home.  He closed his eyes and fell into reverie rather than look at her.  He was home and he could feel the potential happiness waiting for him.  Burning through his skull, he could also sense the eyes of Sarl Kagan.  The hostile faces of admirals and captains of the new deep space fleet paraded inside his lids.  Mutually incompatible duties struggling in his mind, Kadh fell asleep.

The view to which he awakened was unfamiliar, as much as Kadh tried to recognize it.  It had to be his own bedroom; Ketay slept beside him.  After a moment of fruitless effort, he gave up.  "Low lights," he commanded and used the dim glow to guide him through the household.  Once he got his bearings, much was familiar.  What he didn't recognize was superior in quality to what he remembered.  His wife had done well in his absence.  He found the kitchen well-stocked with fresh foodstuffs.  He considered making something but culinary skills were beyond his experience.  Kadh settled for the replicator and a bottle.  He made quick work of the meal but was surprised that his banging around had not awakened Ketay.  It also surprised Kadh that he felt so good so quickly.  After a moment's thought he decided not to avail himself of news sources.  It would hold his attention and right now he had another obligation.

He wasn't entirely looking forward to it.  While she still triggered his emotions, Kadh was afraid that Ketay might repulse him physically.  He was however a warrior. He psyched himself up for the effort and made his way back to the bedroom. The lights were on and Ketay was awake and waiting for him.  "I wondered how long it would take you to make it back here," she said softly, then patted the bed beside her.

"I did not mean to wake you," he replied.  "But since I did, I left the council chambers with a plan in mind.  I always follow through with my plans."  He lowered himself onto the bed and looked at her.  She leaned away from him and he thought she could see his fear through his mask.  Instead she reached for the light control.  Having to push a button, he recalled her saying once, made it more romantic.  In the few seconds he was blinded by the change in lighting, she was upon him.  He was surprised to find the touch of her hands still warm and soft.  There was humor in her voice when he responded eagerly to her attention.  Only once, briefly, did Dursa's image replace Ketay's. 

The next morning Kadh arose early and made his way to the offices of his family's possessions.  It surprised him to find that many of the staff were already there.  He frowned faintly; he should have had sons and cousins and nephews to perform these duties instead of relying on hired help. It was no dishonor, or had not been in his day, but it meant more work in security.

An aide greeted him just inside.  "My lord."  He handed Kadh a datapad.  "Here is information that will allow you to re-familiarize you with your assets.  There is no current crisis and the present plan covers today's situation."  With the sufficient information provided, the aide bowed and retreated.  Only after he was gone did Kadh think to ask his name. 

The building was almost as unfamiliar as the new starships.  Fortunately it was based on his old offices and he was able to find his own space without difficulty.  St. John Smith would no doubt have been dismayed at the lack of size.  Kadh found it immense.  Overwhelmed slightly, he delayed working to get himself a drink and discovered that one was already waiting for him.  It crossed his mind to wonder if it was poisoned. He considered it for a moment and decided it was a fitting way for a soldier who had lived too long to die.  He was only mildly disappointed to find it wasn't poisoned.

He looked at the datapad and activated it.  "Admiral," the device began to speak and he almost dropped it. "This is your personal computer. Household information has been sorted by current relevance and chronologically.  Choose."

"Current," he growled at the thing.  Three lines of data later, he spoke again.  "Chronological."  Then he sighed and sat down.  It was, he felt, going to be just as painful as everything else he had done since returning.  It quickly gave him a headache.  After wrestling with it for what seemed to be a reasonable time, he summoned Ketay. 

"Good morning, husband," she said.  "I see that you arose early to deal with your household.  Is everything to your liking?"

"It is not," he growled.  "This is not a warrior's work.  I am no businessman.  Tell me, how much of what is here can I transfer to your care?"

She laughed.  "Anticipating your desire not to be involved in the mundane tasks of household management, I have already assumed as much as is proper.  If you are unhappy, your best recourse is to continue in the fleet."

Kadh growled unhappily.  "That is not what I wished to hear; and I am under orders not to contact the DSF before tomorrow."
"You are not required to take over control of the household matters until the fate of your military career is decided," Ketay reminded him.  "The staff can handle it for two more days."

"The staff could probably handle it for a lifetime," Kadh grumbled.  "But what else is there for me to do?"

"I can think of a couple of things," she replied, leaning toward him.  "I hope I do not have to remind you what they are.  Besides," she whispered, "it would be good for my standing with the help."

"In that case," he said with a wink, "let's take care of those." Kadh swept his desktop clear, then rose and came around to her.  He lifted her and swung her up on the bare desk and proceeded to disrobe her.  "I hope your old bones can take the hard furniture."

"Now you're asking for it.  It will be your old bones that give out before mine."  It wasn't his bones that gave out first, but Kadh was the one who had to admit defeat. 

Snickering to one another, arm in arm, Kadh and his wife returned to the house.  "Bloody knees.  I'm not sure how I would write that up on a starship," he chuckled while she cleaned him up.  "I think I could begin to like it here."

She glanced quickly up at him, bit back a comment and returned to mending his knee.  "I'm glad to hear that," she said, but her tone was flat and her expression troubled.  Kadh did not press it.  He was afraid that she was seeing in her mind that he would become but a small shadow of whom she had married.

Despite personal doubts that it was his desires that lead him to do it, Kadh donned his uniform the next day and reported to fleet headquarters.  Admiral Kulge, who had been Commodore Kulge when Kadh had last met him, was the only person to interview Kadh.  Kulge had used the time to promote himself to command of the Deep Space Fleet, now the Imperial Star Fleet. 

"Admiral Kadh," he began as soon as the two were alone in his office.  "I have been informed that Chancellor Kagan has offered you a position as Instructor at the Academy.  I regret that no position is currently available.  Your training is insufficient for a command, unless," he added with a hint of false intimacy, "you want a desk job on one of the old colony worlds." 

"I do not," Kadh replied.  "I also do not..." 

Admiral Kulge raised a hand and interrupted; Kadh was forced to stop.  "That being your choice.  I have no option but to place you on extended leave.  You are no longer on active duty within Starfleet.  Dismissed."

Again Kadh started to speak but again he was interrupted.  "Kadh, your words carry no weight within this office at this time.  You are dismissed."  Kulge turned away from Kadh and looked out on the Imperial City.  Kadh noted that part of the Admiral's attention did not stray from a mirror he used to observe the room.  Kadh bowed and saluted, a gesture which Kulge quickly returned. Before Kadh reached the door Kulge proposed  "Tauroth's is an excellent location for drink and unofficial converation."  Kadh bobbed his head slightly and continued out. 

He returned home, found Ketay studying the family finances, and repeated the conversation to her.  "Will you go?"  she asked.

"Most likely it'll will be a bunch of old men sitting around a comfortable table and telling stories about battles they would never fight in again.  I wonder how many of them now wish they had not fought so well and wish they had died."

She paused in her work.  "Is that your wish?"

"I had things I was willing to remain alive for," he replied.  Kadh didn't add that having found those things, the need no longer remained with him.  He could see however, that she wanted some gesture of affection.  He took her hand in his and she squeezed it hard.

They sat together in silence for a time.  "You are going to the boastfest?" Ketay asked.

"Yes," Kadh answered.

[NJAntman]

Man, I like your style. Always a good read.

[DAnahos_XC]

Kadh:

Are you going to repost "The Hour The Old Gods Return" ?

Enjoyed Revenant thanks for keeping it going!

[kadh2000]

Yup, considering  Revenant is the last chapter.

[DAnahos_XC]

Yup, considering  Revenant is the last chapter.

Bummer on the last chapter. Hope you are planning a sequel!

[KBF-Frankk]

 

Master, I Salute you!!!!

[kadh2000]

Next part coming shortly.  (finally)

[Hstaphath_XC]

Next part coming shortly.  (finally)

Excellent, I'm eagerly looking forward to it!

[kadh2000]

Kadh was expecting either a dead silent street or one lined with the sullen figures of younger officers hoping to see their own captain passing into the silence of Tauroth?s bar.  Instead he found a busy road filled with activity.  There were almost no civilians, but military men from all branches of the armed forces.  It gave him some slight hope for the conversation he had been invited to join.

He entered the bar and the noise level did not change.  He avoided the many clusters of warriors and made his way to the owner?s counter.  ?I am Kadh.  I will have Bloodwine by the Te?lven brothers.  35 years old.  Admiral Kulge sent me.?

The man, Kadh presumed the hefty being with the missing leg that served him was the owner, raised his eyes in surprise at the request for the drink.  ?I am Tauroth.  We have two bottles left.  It will be brought up to you from the cellar.  Take the back stairs.?

Kadh handed Tauroth his credit chip and paid for the wine.  Then he headed toward the back stairs and up to see what kind of garbage Kulge had gotten him into.  He almost wished he hadn?t ordered the bloodwine.  Then he wouldn?t have to stay if he was bored or did find himself among tired old men.

As he moved upward, the noise coming from below was balanced by the noise coming from above.  He paused near the door, listening.  He could hear heavy laughter, but no young voices.  He did not recognize Kulge?s voice among them.  ?That?s when two Romulan Sparrowhawks decloaked in front of us,? one loud voice continued.  ?Captain Komeg must have sh*t his pants!?  It was during the ensuing burst of laughter that Kadh entered.

He was immediately greeted by welcoming shouts and calls to sit and join them.  There was a large round table, stained with bloodwine and other liquids, one of which Kadh was certain would be Klingon blood.  ?Who?s the young man coming to disturb our blather?? one of the older warriors asked.  One eye was covered by a black patch and Kadh recognized the voice of Kren.  ?Is it that blasted server again?  Tell him I want something stronger than this pisswater he?s been sending me.?

?I am Kadh, blind old one.  I bring bloodwine, aged 35 years, as an offering to your thirst.  Good enough??

?Dye your hair grey,? someone else shouted.  ?You look like a baby.?

?I am a baby!? Kadh replied.  ?I skipped a dozen years that have obviously treated you all badly.  Was that the story about the Sparrowhawks that got lost during the Great War??  When he was answer affirmatively, Kadh asked, ?Weren?t there three of them??

?I told you he was too young to be up here!  His memory?s not going yet.?

?There were three,? continued the original speaker.  ?But the Romulans are cowards so they only revealed two of them in case we decided to attack them.  We nearly blew the third one to pieces when Komeg decided to go to warp right through where it was sitting, cloaked.  You can bet those pointies made themselves visible real quick.?

Kadh?s bloodwine arrived before he finished the story.  It was passed over to Kren, who pronounced it drinkable.  By the time it made it back to Kadh, one bottle was completely empty and the other was untouched.  He saluted his fellow retirees, none of whom were below the rank of commodore, and took a long drink directly from the bottle.

?Newest member has to tell a tale.  Then we judge whether you get to come back.  Tell us something really old.  How about how you got your first battlecruiser?  Who?d you have to kill to get it??

?That will wait for my second visit,? Kadh answered.  ?I?ve got an older one than that for you.  Kor gave me a bottle like the one I spread around here when I was just an ensign.  I?ll give you the story of what for.?

Complete silence, a good silence of anticipation, filled the room.  The name of Kor, one of the Empire?s three greatest modern heroes, garnered instant respect from these men.  Some of them had been lucky enough to serve under his command in fleet actions but none of them save Kadh had ever been a crewman aboard his personal ship.

?This is the story of the battle of Wyreth pass, when Kor was a Commander and was Captain of the Battle Fury, an early F5 frigate.  I was a weapons officer already.  I manned the weapons station in the second shift.  Over the previous six months I had gradually recalibrated the disrupters to be slightly inaccurate.  I kept my margins within specs and slowly moved them away from standard after each inspection by the engineers.  It hadn?t paid off because we were patrolling the Hydran border and this was before the Four Powers War.  The ashcans didn?t come out to fight in those days.  At least not until Wayreth pass.?

The others nodded.  Wayreth pass had been one of the opening battles of a Hydran invasion.  The Hydrans had launched a surprise attack on their Lyran neighbors.  Wayreth pass had been a diversionary attack meant to confuse the Klingon-Lyran Alliance.  The Hydrans had hoped to prevent the two allies from realizing it was only the Lyran Star Empire that was being invaded.  Thanks to Kor, it hadn?t succeeded.

?We were patrolling Wayreth pass with two other frigates, the standard patrol in those days.  Our sector included a lot larger section than just the pass, but the pass was near the center of the sector, so we met the other two ships there and changed our patrol grids to keep from getting bored.  Our lot fell to remain in the pass and head toward the border and hope to scrounge up a battle. 

?We scrounged up a battle all right.  One of their new command cruisers and a full battlefleet met us at the border.  We fired a round of disrupters to show them we weren?t afraid and then turned around and ran.?  General laughter followed.  ?You know they Hydrans; they were always too cautious.  Whoever commanded that fleet decided to postpone the invasion until he had dealt with us.  He sent a cruiser and a pair of frigates after us: us, one lousy F5A.  Not even a single refit.

?I was on the bridge when we met the Hydrans.  It was during second watch.  The first watch replaced us all of course and we all stood in backup spots.  Kor sent out a signal recalling our two compatriots.  The Hydrans tried to jam it with a scout, but he bounced it off the asteroids that define the pass.  Too many signals for a scout to keep up with.  That?s where I learned that trick.  Now I know why the Tholians like them damn rocks all around their stuff.  With a small enough empire, everyone could hear a call for help.

?Anyway, with a cruiser leading them, the Hydrans gained on us rapidly.  As soon as they had us within range, we all dropped into tactical warp and they launched a bunch of shuttlecraft.  That?s when we found out they had been working with the Kzinti.  The big ships laid back for a second or two while the fighters went in to take us out.

?Damn things had fusion beams and gatling phasers.  They came in close and tore our starboard shields to pieces.  Of course, when my number one fired at them, he missed.  When he did it the second time, I shivved him and took his place. 

?I had a command code to realign the disrupters, but I figured that someone would see the record that I did it, and I wasn?t sure I could shoot straight: I was so used to practicing with them out of align. 

?I got my chance within seconds.  Kor flipped the ship over by messing with the inertial dampeners and some other control systems.  Those old F5s weren?t like the ships you and I flew in, and nothing like the luxury boats the modern warrior gets.  Even with inertia control, we got shook around.  Even the old Screaming Dizbuster had enough slack that you could feel it shake.  I was on one of those new dreadnoughts and you can?t feel a thing.?

Kadh was interrupted by agreement and argument about the benefits of gravitic control.  Like him, most agreed that some degree of looseness was beneficial.  ?Nothing then could match what we use now,? some one said.  ?Every ship is like that DN of yours.?

?Even the old ships at fleet academy and the mothballs??  Kadh asked, and listened carefully for the answer.

?I dunno,? was the reply.  ?The ones at the academy might be soft.  They have been fixed up enough that they should be like sailing on ice.?

?No,? replied another.  ?They like them like we had them.  It gives the cadets a little experience in case something does fail on the new ships.?

?Good,? Kadh muttered and was pleased when no one seemed to notice.  ?Now, as I was saying?.

?Kor flipped us over and I had the fighters in my sights, well almost in my sights.  I let them have it with two disrupters and got a pair of them.  Then we tractored some of the remains and used them as a shield against the other fighters.

?At that point, the Hydrans decided we weren?t going to be beaten by just the fighters.  The warships moved in.  We still had a couple of fighters to deal with so Kor dove us into the asteroids, downed shields and all.  That?s when I found out the second reason he shut down the compensators.  With inertial controls offline, the ship wasn?t trying to keep us from getting knocked around.  Our helm?s responsiveness exceeded that of the Hydran fighters.  By the time we got back into the pass, all of the ashcans were little balls of green splat.

?We?d managed to stay alive long enough for the other frigates to show up.  The Hydrans called for the rest of their fleet.  Nine ships against three little frigates.  Now, even Kor wasn?t crazy enough to take on those odds.  But we did have a few minutes before the main group would get to us.

?Without their fighters, the Hydran ships aren?t much of an opponent.  Kor started giving orders like a seasoned leader.  We all know how much of a knack for command he had.  We went in.  The Hydrans decided to match us for a pass, especially since our own shields presented a very tempting target if they got close enough to use their weapons.

?Well they tried it and Kor played on that.  He used us as a decoy and let the other two frigates come in and give the Hydran cruiser quite a surprise.  The two frigates, cowards that they were, abandoned their leader to us and we finished it off before their main fleet caught up to us.  Once again we went back into the asteroids and hid out.  They didn?t follow us in.  With one ship destroyed and several fighters lost in exchange for nothing, the Hydrans gave up their diversion.  With that settled, we all know how that ?war? went.  It has to have been the shortest conflict on record.?

?Ahem,? Admiral Krenn interrupted with a cough.  ?I thought this was about your commendation.  Other than killing your predecessor and hitting a fighter, you haven?t done much so far in this tale to warrant one.?

?I was getting to that!?  Kadh answered to uproarious laughter. 

?After we took care of damage control and the intel boys had gone through the logs, I reset the disrupters.  We were still hiding from the ashcans so I didn?t get the chance to try them out.

?Kor got bored, so we started going through the asteroids and mapping their position.  This served me well later when I had my own command.  We lucked into an Orion convoy.  Blew them to hell, recovered several freighters worth of valuables, and lost no ships.  During the course of it, disrupter fire was extremely accurate and important.  As you know, unlike phasers, with disrupters you can calculate the exact amount of damage you?re going to do.  It helps a lot when you want to board and capture a ship without destroying any vital systems.

?When we finally returned to a starbase, Kor got promoted to Captain and was given a D6.  They gave him a temporary office.  He summoned me into it, congratulated me for a job well done, and passed a promotion on to me.  I was made a second lieutenant.  After that he pulled out a bottle of bloodwine and handed it to me.  I was about to pop it open when he told me not to drink it.  I was young and an idiot.  I thought he meant it was poisoned so I started to try and break it.  He rescued the bottle and explained it was a gift for me when I had my own command and something significant worthy of celebrating with it happened. 

?I realized he was honoring me beyond what seemed reasonable.  I thought he was going to offer me a position on his new ship.  He didn?t.  Instead he explained why he didn?t offer me the position.  I had killed my predecessor during a battle.  He didn?t like it.  Then he proceeded to demonstrate exactly what I had done to enable me to get away with that.  Even knew my command code override.

?I thought the game was up.  ?Let the bottle be a lesson to you,? he said.  ?You did a good job getting yourself to your new position.  I?m sure you?ll be captain before long.  But you could have destroyed us by changing the bridge routine in the middle of a battle.  If the man you replaced hadn?t been such an idiot (he allowed you to get away with it when he should have known his disrupters inside out), I would have killed you on the spot.  You understand??  I nodded and said I did.  Of course I didn?t until years later when I was in battle with a ship under my command and a similar thing happened to me.

?Lucky for me, I was only a commander at the time and Kor?s gift was safe.?

?Did you drink it yet??  Kadh nodded.  ?What was the occasion??

?Classified.  Start of a war, if that?s enough.  There?s really no other good reason that I could think of to honor Kor enough to drink his gift.  Thirty five years old it was when I opened it.  Shared it with a human.?  He had to wait until the laughter and jokes following that one ended.  ?Amazingly enough, or not so amazing considering the man, he didn?t need a doctor and he didn?t pass out.? 

The other admirals sensed the story had reached its end.  There was clapping around the table.  ?I guess you can come back,? someone said.  ?Hell, he needs to,? answered another.  ?I don?t think he?s feeling quite ready to accept retirement.  We need to get him drunker.?  They did so.  Kadh woke up in his own bed the next morning, rather unsure of how he had gotten there.

Several days, Kadh wasn't sure how many, followed in much the same way.  During the day he would struggle with the family businesses.  In the evening he would go to Tauroth's and tell stories and drink.  He was sure that Ketay spent the evenings fixing the messes he made of household finances.  Late at night he stumbled into bed.  When he awoke the whole thing would begin again.

It wasn't until he was awakened one morning, not by Ketay, but by Kempor, that Kadh realized that he was sinking into despair and forgetfullness.  "I came here to see my Admiral and my friend," Kempor scoffed.  "Not a drunken fool that has given up.  Get up and bring your fighting dagger.  We shall see who sleeps with Admiral Kadh's wife.  When was the last time you had sex?"

Kadh roared and struggled out of bed.  His bleery eyes caught sight of Kempor standing at the doorway and he rushed madly at his former shipmate.  He was stopped short by tripping over his chair and falling.  Kempor left the room without a word.

Angrily Kadh forced himself up and into his clothing.  He was much more mad at himself than anyone else, but he perceived that Kempor had insulted his honor.  He stormed to his combat yard, dagger in hand.  He glanced toward the house and saw Ketay's face quickly disappear from a window.
Kempor was waiting.  When Kadh entered the arena, he raised his dagger without ceremony.  "Were you waiting for the fleet to contact you, Admiral?"  Kempor taunted.  "Or did you get so drunk that you forgot?"

His nostrils flaring angrily, Kadh whipped his dagger forward and into the ground.  "I can't fight you right now.  I concede that you will win.  I concede further that you are correct about everything you have said about me today.  Now get out and let an old man die in peace."

"Die in peace?  I thought you wanted to die in battle like a warrior.  I gave you that chance."  Kempor turned and stalked away.  Kadh's eyes followed him until he exited the property and he looked skyward until the shuttle that lifted off a moment later was out of sight.  Then he picked up the dagger and slowly, meanderingly, walked back inside the house.

"Are you going to the boastfest tonight?" Ketay asked innocently.

"No," he said and scowled.  "Why did you let me go in the first place?"

"You needed the time to recover," she answered.  "Now you've had the time.  So get off your lazy ass and get back to life.  You don't belong here.  Go visit the Admiral at Fleet Command again, or take the job at the Academy.  Lead a revolution to make yourself emperor.  I don't care what you do, but get back to the arena."

"I'm an idiot, but I learn fast when my mistakes are pointed out to me," Kadh said.  "First things first."  He grabbed her by the waist and lifted her over his shoulder and carried her to the bedroom.  They had sex.  Completely against his will, he fell asleep afterwards.
When Kadh woke up, he was alone.  He padded through the house to find it empty.  An unfortunate glimpse of himself in a mirror showed him how far he had let himself go.  He took care of his appearance before heading to the business office in search of Ketay.  He hoped she could answer the question that was on his mind.  She was there.  Relief filled him and he hugged her.  "Tell me, what did Kempor want?"

"He has been assigned to a ship.  He is to depart today and wanted to see you before he left."

 Kadh raced from the room to the nearest transporter.  He had it take him directly to the spacedock above the city.  A small amount of bullying led him to Kempor's ship, the IKS BattleKat.  It hadn't departed yet.  He was surprised to find it a trimeran resembling Lyran design.  He resolved to ask later about that, but didn't let it distract him from beaming aboard the BattleKat.  Once aboard, he realized it was small, probably a light cruiser or frigate.  Kempor deserved better.  He chastised himself that he should have paid more attention.

Kempor met him in the captain's quarters.  "You made it.  I hoped." Kempor said, and the two embraced.

"What kind of ship is this?  You deserve better."

"A deep space explorer.  We're using the Lyran design on the frontier still.  They're phasing them out after military production is filled."  Kempor shrugged.  "I don't mind.  I would have to prove myself no matter what they gave me.  Trust me that I will find a way back into the heart of the empire."

Kadh shook his head affirmatively.  "Don't think that I will use my influence with fleet command to give you an easier path."  Both laughed at the remark; both knew how little influence Kadh would command.  "In the meantime give me a tour of your little boat."

Kadh was pleased and surprised by how well and how quickly Kempor had adapted to the new technology.  He again felt chastised by the younger officer.  He also felt a burning desire to get back into life.  His tour lasted up to the time the ship was scheduled to put out into space.  He and Kempor shared a final embrace in the transporter room and then Kadh returned to the starbase.

[Hstaphath_XC]

... By the time we got back into the pass, all of the ashcans were little balls of green splat.

Boy, oh boy... can ya' just FEEL the love?   

Aside from the obviously biased and exaggerated claims of battle with a Hydran fleet (our records show we only had a ruddy police frigate in the area, honest!), this was another excellent chapter.

Can't wait to see your bloodwine sodded old bones get back into action!

[kadh2000]

Kadh did not go back directly to DSF Headquarters.  Instead, under the guise of managing the family business, he threw himself into a regimen of exercise and study.  When he felt he knew enough of modern technology to gain the position Kagan had offered him, he handed the household management back over to Ketay and went to visit Admiral Kulge.

The new military uniform looked like a throwback to an older era.  It was certainly heavier and bulkier than the one Kadh was used to.  He wore it now, though, and had practiced in it enough to look comfortable as he walked.  Despite its extra padding, Kadh decided he approved of it.  The ornamentation he was allowed to wear with it coupled with its greater profile made him appear larger than he was.  It also appeared to command greater respect among the ridge-headed imperial line. 

At the doors to Kulge's office, his adjunct, backed by armed guards, refused Kadh's initial request to enter.  Kadh leaned forward over the captain's desk and looked up at the man, who had risen to his feet to prevent Kadh from entering.  "I am Kadh, a Thought Admiral of the Klingon Empire.  You will stand aside."

The man blanched upon hearing the title.  The guards looked stoically ahead and did not acknowledge it when the captain looked at them for support.  Kadh snorted disdainfully and went around the desk and into Kulge's office.

Kulge had risen from his own desk and its collection of papers, datapads, and other work.  He stood in the center of the room, facing the entrance.  He was empty handed.  "Kadh," he asked bluntly, "what do you want?"

"Chancellor Kagan's last command honored," Kadh replied, just as bruskly.  "You haven't the authority to refuse.  Only the Emperor can."

Kulge nodded.  "I will put you in the position of history teacher."

"You will not," Kadh answered derisively.  "I remember my days as a student.  We had no respect for the old man in that position then.  I'm sure it's the same way now.  It would be insufficient honor to the great Chancellor to honor his last command in that way.  I will be Kommandant of the Deep Space Academy."

"Just because you wear the uniform," Kulge said and laughed, "I will put you in that position.  Report tomorrow morning.  Dismissed."

Kadh turned sharply and left.  As he went through the outer office, he sneered "A good adjunct would have shot me in the back.  See that the next idiot who tries to pull what I just did meets that fate."

"Sir!"  It put a smile on Kadh's face as he walked out.  It lasted until he reached his home.  He would have to inform Ketay.

He had to wait until she returned home to tell her.  She listened silently until he was done.  "Will you still be able to live at home?"

"Of course I will!  There's no requirement for the Kommandant to camp in a barracks."
"Good," she said and smiled.  She patted his knee in just that way and he found himself being led to the bedroom.  "How strong and dashing you look in your new uniform," she purred and leaped upon him.  Dinner was quite late that evening.

The next morning he was up early and had to curb his impatience.  It would not do, he decided, to arrive early for his new posting, especially as it went with no real ship command.  The academy had a few ships attached to it, but technically they were not actively part of the fleet.  He did have an interdiction cruiser at his disposal.  It was little more than a frigate and came with its own captain, no doubt someone in at least a small degree of disgrace, so he had some official weapons at his command.  It was really a ceremonial gesture, to keep an admiral with a ship under him.  Kadh found himself appreciating it.

Despite its updated appearance and new location, the academy still smelled slightly stale, the way Kadh remembered it.  Years of sweaty cadets had left behind intangible odors that could not be removed.  It was a surprisingly fond memory.  Classrooms had been modernized, but the basic layout and equipment was still the same.  Having found an arrangement that worked, the Empire saw no need to alter it.

The office of the Kommandant showed signs of having been hastily emptied the day before.  It was completely bare save the few remnants of the previous Kommandant's possessions: discolorations along the walls, scratches in the window, a few dents in the floor, and some shreds of paper.  Kadh examined the view and discovered he liked it.  He had a good view of the entire facility.  Beyond the imperial palace rose majestically skyward.  It was a reminder to the Kommandant and the cadets of where the authority lay.  He decided he would have liked it better if the view hadn't been dimmed by smog.

After scouring his office and meeting his own adjunct, Kadh started supplying himself with the tools of command, even if over a group of cadets.  It was, he soon decided, like commanding a crew of several penal dreadnoughts in size all at the same time.  Students today were just as wild and arrogant as he had been as a youth.  It was his job, he discovered, to tear that out of them and instill discipline.  It didn't help that the new Empire focused excessively on honor.  Assassination from behind was no longer an acceptable tool; the best warrior was the one who got promoted.  Sometimes that meant the one with the greatest potential found himself shunted aside or dead.  Kadh did his best to prevent duels. 

He discovered that his bias against the imperial genetic lines was a hindrance after he noticed the dropout rate was twice amongst that group as among the old guard.  He forced himself to reevaluate them and decided honor was a valuable tool to be used.  He cast personal misgivings aside for the sake of his Empire's chosen direction.

Privacy, he gave him self as much of it as he could get away with, became a valuable commodity.  He used it, whenever possible, to take advantage of his position and study the weapons of the modern era.  He became a simulator expert in all classes of warship.  Of course, he knew it never matched the real experience.  Of that, he only had his interdictor to practice in.  He stayed away from the K'T'inga cruiser.  He never bothered to find out its name.

Of course, he annoyed the captain of the interdictor greatly.  For a little while.  Zhek'tov soon came around.  Kadh noticed the captain surrepticiously studying every combat tactic he tried with the small ship.  He considered it a good sign that the Blightwing was in space far more often under his directorship of the Academy than it ever had been under his predecessor.

There was also Kempor to keep up with.  Of all his old comrades aboard the Screaming Dizbuster and its successors, Kempor was both his personal favorite and the most successful.  The Captain of the IKS BattleKat also was willing to maintain contact with Kadh as well.  The distance to the frontier was too great for instantaneous communications even by subspace, so it was always a recorded message that Kadh received.

The frontier appeared to Kadh to be the best place to actually gain combat experience.  There was peace with the Federation.  The old enemies, and even some allies such as the Lyrans, had been absorbed into the Empire.  The Romulans hid behind their cloak and their remote homeworlds and were seldom seen.  The Tholians had become part of the Federation and were no longer an acceptable target for war.  Combat came only to those who joined the IKS or patrolled the frontier.  Kempor had been granted a command that was surprisingly more valueable than either he or Kadh had foreseen.

Time raced by and Kadh barely noticed its passing.  Only in Ketay's increasingly lined face did he see the signs of its passage.  She had lived for his return and now relaxed.  They slept together, but she gave up management of the household and Kadh hired a steward.  It troubled him that he still was so much her junior.  It troubled him that he was Kommandant of the Academy.   He worried about the rise of honor and the decreasing value placed on success with in the Empire.  He worried about the factories and the smog and the energy problem.  Praxis glowed at night like a second sun.  When its resources failed, as they inevitably must, what would the Empire do then? 

He began to look into it.  Much of the information on Praxis was classified.  Much of it was classified beyond even his rank to access it.  Only the council had permission to see all of what was going on at Klinzhai's moon.  Kadh practiced the art of computer subterfuge.  He made it a project of one of the classes in the academy.  Not studying Praxis of course, but the method he would need to use to do it himself.  The students created his mechanism for him.

What he found scared him.  Safeguards were minimal.  The power needs of the Empire outstripped such concerns.  His snooping was discovered somehow.  He was able to hide the class that supported him from the investigators, but ESS agents came to his own door.

"Admiral," he was told, "you are performing an illegal investigation.  You are under arrest and will be tried for spying.  We are here to take your confession so that sentence may be carried out with minimal cost.  You have the option of honorable suicide."

"Suicide is never honorable," he replied.  He had only the shield of his rank to hide behind.  "I am a thought Admiral of the Empire.  Investigating threats to Imperial continuance is my responsibility.  Our reliance on Praxis as the primary source of power for homeworld is dangerous.  An enemy could destroy the moon and cripple the Empire in a matter of months without relying on military force to defeat us.  Tell me that is not within my purview."

The ESS officers were good.  One held the rank of colonel, the other was a major.  They did not back down and appeared to be prepared for Kadh's explanation.  "It is within your purview to initiate an investigation such as you suggest.  There are proper protocols to be followed even in such a case.  You did not follow them.  We acknowledge the legitimacy of your investigation, but must fault your methods.  This becomes an internal disciplinary problem instead of a matter for a court to decide.  You are ordered to report to DSF command for discipline.  You are also ordered to cease the investigation until proper channels have been followed."

"Will comply," Kadh said.  He let them see themselves out.  He felt like his legs had been kicked out from under him.  The visit from ESS showed him more even than his own investigations had revealed.  The Empire was seriously reliant on that single power source.  Sabotage and terrorism might do what invasion and economic warfare had not. 

He really wanted to go home first and discuss it with Ketay, but Kadh was not one to put off discipline.  Maybe they would give him command of a penal cruiser. At least it would get him back into space.  It was only a pipe dream, he knew.  Penal ships had been discontinued by the new Empire. 

Kulge was pleased to see him, too pleased.  "Kadh, in response to your breach of protocol, the Empire has decided to remove you from your command.  You may teach military history if you wish to remain at the academy.  You will empty your office immediately."

Kadh bowed.  "I'm told I may continue my research via following proper channels.  What is the proper procedure for my investigation?"

"The Grand Council is currently investigating the situation.  All resources necessary for an accurate investigation are already occupied," Kulge responded haughtily.  "Until the investigation is completed, your own delvings must be suspended.  You are ordered to turn over all results that you have achieved thus far." 

Kadh had a data crystal with him containing the data.  He tendered it to Kulge.  "What is your decision about continuing to teach?"

"If I decline the offer," Kadh asked, "what will my status become?"

"You will retain your military rank in the reserve and be on call should you be needed for active duty."  Kulge's grin told Kadh that there would be no call.

"I'll take the teaching job."  He saluted Kulge, turned and left without waiting for a response.  Kulge did not bother to make one.

Ketay was in the house when Kadh returned.  He told her what had happened.  "I'm not sorry," she said.  "You've become a beaurocrat not an admiral.  You were getting boring.  I hope you're not going to take that history teaching job."

"I was intending to," Kadh replied.  "Why?"

"It's time you were home with me.  I went to a doctor today.  My regular appointment.  I'm dying husband.  I have less than a year to live."  There was an undercurrent to her words that Kadh did not catch.  He only heard the words and pitied her for the illness. 

"What can I do?" he asked.

"You can be my husband."  Again there was that undercurrent that he could not follow. 
Later, when she did not need him with her anymore, Kadh contacted Kulge and withdrew his acceptance of the teaching assignment.  He was officially placed in the reserve and a courrier delivered his belongings from the Academy.  That night he sent a message to Kempor.  "It's happened.  That's it, I'm retired." 

He considered shooting himself, but Ketay needed him.  "What's become of me," he continued.  "I never doubted myself so much before.  I guess I have seen the end coming since I returned here.  Now that it's finally arrived, I can't see anything ahead for myself at all.  Do what you must, but make sure you die in battle or get a seat on the council if you can't manage that.
The next morning Kadh found himself confronted with an invitation to his retirement party.  It was humiliating.  He was in the process of deleting it when he realized Ketay was watching him.  "What do you want?" he asked angrily.

"To see you in dress uniform one more time.  You're very sexy then."

Kadh rolled his eyes secretly, but saved the invitation.  "Will comply," he said and grinned up at her.  She took him to bed.  Impending death seemed to bring out the tigress in her.  She would have made a good warrior, he decided.

[kadh2000]

The party was held at the DSF Academy, site of his last command.  Kulge was present; it was practically a requirement.  Kadh would get no ceremonial gold watch: such a tradition for the no longer productive belonged to human society.  The military would now consider Kadh a liability, a drain on finances who provided no benefit.

Kempor was not there.  Kadh was neither surprised nor disappointed.  The Captain was on the vital frontier, performing missions for the glory of the Empire.  Kadh envied him greatly.

Kren and Krenn were there also. "Sorry old man," Kren said.  "Didn't know you were still on duty before.  I wouldn't have let you fall so far had I known."

"Forget it," replied Kadh, secretly glad to hear it.  "It was my own fault."

He was surprised to see that some of his crew were there.  Most weren't in uniform.  They too had been forced out of the service by age or the technology gap.  It was still a tearful reunion. 

Most surprising was the number of people from the Academy that showed up.  Students, faculty, even the old history teacher (who seemed relieved not to have lost his job).  Zhek'tov from the Blightwing was his biggest surprise.  "Admiral, for so I will always call you, when this 'party' is over, I have a situation to discuss with you."

"Of course," Kadh said, and bowed.  He turned to Ketay, to see how she was taking all this.  She smiled at him but it was there, that something she had been carrying with her lately.  He pondered it heavily and it soured his mood.  He hid it of course.  His hosts didn't need to see that he was thinking of something else besides their party.

He reviewed his recent conversations with his wife with the same military precision that he went over battle strategies with before committing a fleet to combat.  She was dying and didn't want him to see her spirit leave behind an empty shell.  That was it.  All the words and deeds had covered that.  She didn't want him to stay for her and the family heritage.  He had no sons to carry on his name.  That didn't matter.  She wanted him to be a warrior to the end, not a bureaucrat nor a defeated old man.  He looked for Kulge, but the Admiral was gone.  Kadh prayed it wasn't too late to retract his retirement.  Somehow he would find a command.

Kadh raced out the door, hoping to catch Kulge.  Unnoticed, a hand reached out and grabbed his arm.  "Admiral," said Zhek'tov, "as the party is over, I must have a word with you."

"It can wait, captain."  Kadh said, distracted.

"No sir, it can't."  The intensity in the other's voice made Kadh pay attention.  "I was going to say that you can't retire.  What you did for me in just a few months will turn my career around.  I see that already you have realized you're not ready to give up.  Don't chase after the Admiral; he won't reinstate you.  He wants you out.  I have another idea.  It involves some subterfuge and may be a bit dishonorable, but it will get you a command."

"I'm listening," replied Kadh and turned Zhek'tov toward a small, private room.

"There is a Captain Khurst, whom I believe you know," Zhek'tov began.

Kadh found himself looking at the man's ridge.  He forced himself to turn his eyes to something else and settled on a spot on the wall.  "I know him, the dog."

"He thinks, as do his faction, that Chancellor Kagan offered you a starship.  The government is still unstable and the current chancellor faces much opposition.  You are still a hero to much of the public in the empire.  Your support for replacing the new chancellor with their man will carry much weight."

"If you think I?d support anyone that dog works for, your offer is worthless," Kadh said angrily, "and you are wasting my time."

"I did say it involved a bit of subterfuge," Zhek'tov answered keeping his tone calm.  "Promise him what he wants in exchange for reinstatement and a ship.  Even the Blightwing will do.  After that, as a Thought Admiral you can commandeer any ship you want, any fleet you want, as long as you do it in the Empire's best interest.  Then you turn Khurst in for treason.  Our chancellor thanks you, you get the posting of your desire."  Zhek'tov smiled.  "I of course, get a battlecruiser and a chance to prove I've learned something from you.  What do you say?"

Kadh could have kissed him.  "It needs refinement.  All plans do at this stage.  You have yourself a partner.  I will contact you tomorrow."  He left Zhek'tov, saw that the other man was not returning to the party.  Ketay had gone home.  He made careful rounds of the room, having a quiet word with the survivors of his last mission.  They would join him if his chance came.

Ketay was waiting when he returned home.  "About time you figured it out."

"Wife, you are amazing."

"I know."

They both laughed heartily.  In bed they lay together without the sweating of sex.  It was uncomfortable for her and they were both beyond the need.

Kadh stood beside Zhek'tov in the captain's quarters aboard the Blightwing.  "Are you ready to meet Khurst and his allies, my lord?"  Kadh nodded without speaking.  "Do you remember what you're supposed to tell them?"

"I'm not an idiot, captain," Kadh snapped.

Zhek'tov's eyes glowed briefly.  "Standard tactics suggest a discussion of battle plans before entering battle."

"I'm not a standard person," Kadh said quickly.  "Now be silent while I prepare myself."

"This is my ship, Admiral," Zhek'tov warned.

"You asked me to join your plot, captain,? Kadh replied.  "Do not make the mistake of believing that it is yours to control anymore.  Now you work for me."

Zhek'tov bowed and saluted without replying.  He left the room.  Kadh turned on the monitors and followed the Captain's progress to the bridge.

He considered Khurst and his unknown allies.  Kulge was right out.  The Grand Admiral was just a stooge.  There would be councilors, other admirals.  Perhaps even some of his fellow retirees at Tauroth's.  What would they be doing now?

Kulge, he could imagine, would have learned that Zhek'tov had taken Kadh as an ally.  The admiral would be furious and making plans for the captain's transfer to an unarmed relay station somewhere on a frigid planet.  Kadh knew that meant he had to move quickly.  Once Zhek'tov was gone, he would have to work much harder to find someone with a starship who would take him on side.
Khurst's faction would have several options, Kadh decided.  They could accept his offer at face value.  Given his recent expulsion from active duty, it was a reasonable possibility.  They could also expect him to be lying to them.  Kadh judged that was less likely, but not enough so they would not have accounted for it.  If he was given a command, it would be either after he spoke on their behalf or would be completely crewed by those he could not trust or both.

Kadh needed another option.  Zhek'tov's plan made the perfect frontal attack.  He needed it to somehow become the diversion.  Before he could reach a final decision, the intercom came alive.  "Admiral, the IKS Grengel has arrived."  Kadh hadn't expected to see the dreadnought.  It did point out to him that Khurst's faction wanted to remind him how much power they had.  He needed two diversions, Kadh decided.

The talks were held aboard the Grengel.  Kadh and Zhek'tov beamed over.  They were met by Captain Khurst and Admiral I'yeno'Ghu.  In the conference room of the dreadnought waited three members of the Imperial Council.  "You see, Admiral Kadh," Khurst opened, "how much faith we have in you and how strongly we wish you to join our cause."

"I see that if I do not agree, that my ship will meet a tragic accident in space with loss of all hands," Kadh replied.  "It is fortunate that I do wish to join you.  What are the terms that you propose?"

"There will be no negotiations, Kadh," said the Admiral.  "Our terms are unconditional. We hold all the cards. We will give you command of the IKS Direbringer, an explorer cruiser on the far frontier.  You will stay there, never to be recalled.  Of course, the ship will be undergoing extensive refit for a while, at least until Councillor Dortning is Supreme Chancellor."  One of the councilors bowed slightly.  "We will pick your crew, and of course, you will not actually be given command until you make a speech favoring the removal of the current chancellor."

Kadh laughed.  "Do you really think I would come here without a trump card?  Your ship and mine have both had their movements observed from one of the deep space relays that has suffered a minor malfunction and is scanning this part of the Empire.  Admiral I'yeno'Ghu, you were the one who put a member of my former crew in command of the station.  My ship's destruction by your ship would be noted.  The information would find its way into the hands of the current chancellor.  I'm sure he'd know just what to make of it.  I have other cards as well, but they can remain unplayed.  It's only required that you know I have a hand, not how good it is.

"My counter-proposal. Command of the engineering practice ship at DSF academy.  It is ready for immediate assignment.  The Academy can get a replacement anywhere.  Zhek'tov promoted to captain and given his choice of assignments on a cruiser of his choice.  I make your speech and I get my ship with my own crew.  I will be happy to take my new ship to the frontier and stay out of politics.  Is that acceptable?"

Kadh wasn't surprised that they had expected the terms to be negotiable.  "I choose the first cruiser available to provide to Captain Zhek'tov," said the Admiral.  "Otherwise, we agree with the proviso that you're speech has visible impact upon the citizens of the Empire.  If it has no value, you're alliance with us has no value."

"Agreed."  The two admirals saluted one another and the bargain was sealed.  Kadh was provided with the text of a speech, which he did not bother to study.  A recording studio was provided and he read the speech.  It was played throughout the Empire the same day.  By the time the two ships returned to Qo'O'nos together, Kadh's command was certain.  By that time also, the detonation core of a poloron torpedo from the Grengel was aboard the Blightwing.

Kadh had Zhek'tov take him directly to the academy.  The old battlecruiser was unmoored already.  When he beamed aboard, the transporter officer on duty was a crewman from the Screaming Revenant.

He made his way to the bridge quickly.  All stations were manned by familiar faces, save the captain's chair.  It was empty.  "I hope you all know how to use a real piece of Klingon equipment," Kadh joked as he settled into the chair.  "It's going to be a rough ride out."

"Hail the Blightwing."

Zhek'tov's face appeared on the viewscreen.  "Admiral."

"I've got some news for you captain."  Kadh could see the other tense and he knew Zhek'tov was thinking that Kadh was about to betray him.  "You and I will shortly be declared traitors to the Empire, I think.  There may even be civil war.  I have considered and found a way to avoid both.  You will have to give up your plans for a normal career though and be willing to follow me, at least for a little while."

Zhek'tov grinned fiercely.  "Command me, my lord."

"Kulge and I'Yeno'Ghu will soon have battlefleets gathered to support their position.  It will easily break into combat and civil war.  The result will be substantial weakening of the Empire's military might at a time we can't afford it.  We must break up that fight while maintaining the current leadership for the time of trouble that is to soon come.

"You will be contacted by someone from a dagger team for the poloron warhead that we stole.  After that, our two ships will head for wherever the two admirals decide to conduct their battle.  Then we initiate stage two."

"Sir," his communications officer interrupted, "Admiral Kulge on channel one."

"Excuse me, Captain," Kadh said to Zhek'tov. "I have to go now."  The screen blanked for a moment and Kulge appeared on screen.

"Kadh!" He roared in fury.  "I order you to surrender that vessel to the authorities immediately." 

"Captain," his tactical officer reported, "two heavy cruisers are approaching from Starbase One."

"I am the authorities," Kadh replied.  "I have been given command of this vessel by Admiral I'Yeno'Ghu.  I am under his authority restored to active duty.  Under my newfound position, I can exercise my authority as a Thought Admiral to claim this ship beyond your power to take it from me.  If you have an imperial writ, call me again.  Otherwise, get those ships to back off."

He cut the channel.  There was neither a return call from Admiral Kulge nor did the approaching cruisers back down.  "Contact the Blightwing and have them coordinate with us.  Battle alert.  Let us show them how an old dog fights when cornered."

Kadh knew that the cruiser, which he noticed had the nameplate 'Screaming Dizbuster B', was not able to outrun the larger ships and their more powerful engines.  His advantages were in unfamiliar tactics and the greater maneuverability of his small ships.  "Fire the polorons at maximum range.  Nibble away their forward shields and keep the planet as a shield from any drones or other seeking weapons."

The no longer used tactics of transporter bombs and dumping a torpedo out as a mine allowed the two small ships to keep their distance while eroding the battlecruisers' shields more quickly than their own fell.  Kadh also took advantage of higher manueverability to spread out damage among three of his six shields, while the cruisers were forced to take it on the front of their four.

He was able to force them to break off without causing major damage when the forward shields of both battlecruisers collapsed.  His own ship had taken no damage and the Blightwing was only slightly harmed.

"What's that stage two you were about to tell me about?" Zhek'tov asked with a laugh.
Kadh watched Qo'nos fall away as the Screaming Dizbuster pulled out of orbit.  Then he took a good look at his control systems.  He found that Kagan hadn't lied when he had pronounced the ancient battlecruiser to be the best ship in the fleet.  The armaments matched the ships he had been fighting easily.  The shields were better.  Even the warp drive was as good.  Heavy cruiser power was fused with light cruiser maneuverability.  Then he looked at his crew manifest.  Seventy members of his last crew, fifty people brought in from across the fleet whom Zhek'tov had assured him were loyal and capable, and two hundred and ten recent graduates from DSF Academy.  All were volunteers.  It gave Kadh no confidence in their ability, but assurance of the loyalty of most of them.

"Patch into a relay station," Kadh ordered.  "I have two messages to deliver."  The first was to Kempor.  He used one of the codes they had used against the Andromedans to send it.  "Kempor, my friend, this is Kadh, commanding the Screaming Dizbuster and the Blightwing.  Soon you will hear that I am a traitor to the Empire.  That will soon be forgotten and the Empire will nearly plunge into civil war.  Instead we will invade the Federation.  Expect to be recalled when the first happens.  Take enough time getting here so that the latter is going on when you arrive.  Care for my beloved Ketay.  Qapla."

The second was to his wife.  Not surprisingly, she was there to accept it.  "Ketay, beloved," he said.  "I would come home to you if I could.  Instead I have a duty to perform: Sarl Kagan's last request.  I go to the Andromedan Galaxy to destroy that threat forever."

"I know," she said, and there were tears in her eyes, but she was smiling.

"I have formally adopted Kempor.  He has no family anyway.  He will be with you as soon as he can.  The documents are in my nightstand."

She held up a data crystal.  "I already registered them this morning." 

Kadh beamed at her.  "Woman, we truly deserve each other.  I love you.  Now get somewhere with radiation shielding and stay there."

She did not question him, but nodded.  "The basement is protected and has a storeroom.  I plan for everything too, you know." 

Once again, Kadh was forced to shake his head at her great wisdom.  "Farewell."  She waved but did not speak. "One more thing," he said quickly before the link closed, "you're not dying, are you?"

It was her turn to laugh.  "Not right away, husband.  Until we meet again."  This time she touched the screen and it went blank. 

He stared at it for a while and his crew waited in silence for him to pay his respects to his wife.  "I have a third message.  Send it to the Federation.  They'll forward it from there."

[kadh2000]

Later, aboard the USS Star Dragon, a Federation Carrier.

Admiral Wallace Blyre, Commander  of the Star Dragon CVBG was in his ready room, preparing for his retirement ceremony.  It would, fittingly, be conducted at Hyperion station.  Then he could return to Earth and joy the comforts of a well earned break:  he would be bored to tears.

The intercom beeped.  It was earlier than he had expected.  "Yes?"

"Admiral, there's a message for you.  It's relayed from Klingon space through deep space array 42.  It's encoded and I'm not familiar with the code.  Shall I forward it to you?"

"Go ahead," Blyre said and walked over to his computer console.  Seeing the message was from Kadh, what other Klingon would know he was retiring on this day and even then would have the chutzpah to send him a message?  How Kadh knew that he did wonder.  It didn't really matter.  He entered the password and played the message.

"Blyre old friend, it's time.  If you've still got some life in you our old enemies are waiting for us.  I've got a fleet, plus ghost, and I'm heading toward you know where.  The old Tholian one.  Catch me if you can.  Kadh out."

Blyre wondered how Kadh managed to do it.  He looked at himself in the mirror and noticed he was wearing a silly grin that couldn't be erased.  He walked out to the nearest turbolift.  "Bridge," he said.  He was breathing hard.

Upon reaching the bridge, he announced "I'm invoking General Order Twenty-nine.  Get the crews of my ships off the station and have us ready for warp as soon as possible.  Explain it to no one.  Tell anyone who asks that I'm conducting my final readiness drill.  Some of the old farts out there will expect something like this.

"I need a secure channel to Starfleet Headquarters on Earth.  Priority One."  The bridge officers looked at one another in concerned surprise.  General Order Twenty-nine had been created to deal with the Andromedans.  All ships receiving it were expected to prepare to fight the extra-galactic invaders.  Priority One communications were reserved for Wartime only.  Were the Andromedans coming back?

[kadh2000]

IKS Screaming Dizbuster.

Two fleets were ahead of them.  Another pursued.  The first two did not worry Kadh.  Only the last did.  He hoped the diversion would pull them away.  He hoped the diversion would prevent civil war and give the Empire the disaster warning it so blatantly needed.

He didn?t have long to wait to see it happen.  His communications officer suddenly jumped.  ?Sir, we?re receiving emergency distress calls on all frequencies, civilian as well.?

?Let?s here the military channels first.  See what you can make of it.? 

There was a brief wait and then the voice of a highly stressed Admiral Kulge came over the priority channel.  ?Attention all ships of the Klingon Space Fleets.  There has been an accident on the moon of Praxis.  Any ship near the Qo?nos system is ordered to come to homeworld immediately.?

?It?s repeating, Admiral.? The communication?s officer announced. 

?See if you can get a visual on Praxis.  Try to get it back to when this started.   Let?s see what happened.?  A moment later, they were watching the moon of Praxis from the vantage point of a defense platform orbiting the homeworld.  Without warning, an explosion of red and gold engulfed one entire half of the moon, thankfully the side away from Qo?nos, and shot at least a planetary diameter into space.  Then it shrank to reveal the moon, nearly a quarter of it missing.  What remained began to break up.

?Homeworld now?? Kadh asked.  The image was replaced by the planet.  Powerful shield generators had protected it from the initial damage and were now active against the shower of pieces of the moon that was falling.  Starbases, defense satellites, and ships of the fleet were firing at larger chunks of debris.

?Shall I alter our course, sir?? his helmsman asked.

?No,? Kadh answered.  ?Our current mission is of greater import.  Tell me if the pursuit breaks off.?

?It is doing so now,? the tactical officer answered.  ?We are being hailed by the Blightwing,? added the communication?s officer. 

?Captain Zhek?tov,? Kadh said.  ?Now?s your chance for redemption in the eyes of the Empire.  I thank you for your help thus far but I don?t want you to come with me into exile.  Go help protect homeworld.  Qapla.?

?Qapla, success,? the captain answered and saluted.  The channel closed and the viewscreen showed the Blightwing breaking formation and turning back toward Qo?nos.

?Maximum warp,? Kadh ordered.

It was only a matter of hours before Kadh reached the two approaching battle fleets.  They were going toward homeworld nearly as fast as his own ship was moving away from it.  When they identified the Screaming Dizbuster, they angled towards it.  ?Incoming transmission,? communications reported.

Admiral I?Yeno?Ghu appeared, face red with anger.  ?Kadh, you traitor.  Surrender now or be destroyed.  You have destroyed us all.  I know you did it.?

?No, admiral,? Kadh replied, ?they?re going to find that you did it.  Your missing poloron warhead?  The detonation will be traced back to it.  I suggest you work on your defense.  What a terrible way to try and get your man made chancellor.

?Besides, you?re in my territory now.?  He turned to the communications officer.  ?Tell Ghost it may decloak now.?  As the Frax fleet suddenly appeared behind the Screaming Dizbuster, I?Yeno?Ghu?s face became even redder.  The channel closed immediately.

?Hostile fleets are breaking off,? announced the tactical officer.  ?Where did those come from??

?Long story,? said Kadh.  ?I?ll tell you on the way to the LMC.  We?ll have plenty of time.?

With space clear ahead of him, he decelerated to a safer speed.  The Frax recloaked and the Screaming Dizbuster, seemingly alone, headed to the Federation border.

As expected, the Star Dragon and her escorts were waiting.  He hailed Admiral Blyre.  ?Ready for that trip into the sunset Wally?? he asked.

?Kadh, indeed I am.  Since we?ll be in the Federation, I?ll escort you and you can beam aboard my ship and tell me how you knew I was retiring the day you sent your message.?

Kadh just laughed.

[kadh2000]

From her home on Qo?nos, Ketay looked up at the distant stars.  Praxis had gone out and the Empire was deeply divided over whether to go to war with the Federation or to ask it for help.  Ketay didn?t care.  Whichever it was, didn?t matter.  The Empire would survive.  The galaxy would survive.  The Andromedans, the greatest threat, would never return.

Beside her, her son Kempor stood also.  ?I wonder how far they?ll get before he gets killed.?

She coughed, spat blood, and pulled her shawl tightly around her and sighed.  ?He?s not the type of man to get killed,? she said and went back inside.


THE END

[Commander La'ra]

Excellent stuff, Kadh, as always.