To: , ,
        , ,
        , "JustKenning"
        
From: "Jay  P Hailey" 
Reply-To: trekcreative{at}yahoogroups.com


Title: Star Trek: Outwardly Mobile
Author: Jay P Hailey (JayPHailey{at}yahoo.com) Series: MISC - TNG OCs
COdes: None
Part: 134/335(?)
Rating:[PG]
Archive: Fine with me, just tell me where. Disclaimer: Paramount owns all
things Star Trek.  I claim Original Characters and Situations for me.
Webpage HTTP://www.phoenixinn.iwarp.com/jayphailey

The Klingon Way Out
by
Jay P. Hailey
And
Dennnis Washburn

"Ugh!" I said "That's no way for a Warrior to die."

"Hmph." Kalak said. "There was a debate on that. Eventually
it was determined that they died combating the ecology of the planet. The
death was declared honorable. But," He grinned, "no one else went
down to the planet."

"At the time, there was still war between our two governments. The
question was actually raised if the pollen was actually a Federation
bio-weapon."

"I'm a little upset that you thought so little of us." I growled.
Using a bio-weapon like that was considered a hideous crime in the
Federation. We learned to respect our biosphere the hard way.

"Not I. Remember that the Klingons of the day knew little of Earth,
it's history, or your human codes of honor."

"Please go on." I said.

"The suspicion might have been confirmed when fifteen years later a
human colony was found thriving on that deadly world."

"Uh oh." I said.

"Exactly. However, reputable scientists of the day said that the
deadly grasses were too widely entwined in the planet's ecosystem to be an
artificial occurrence. Not only that but the planet was two months inside
the Empire. Not the best strategic location. Something else was at
work." Kalak explained.

"How did the humans survive the spore?" I asked.

"Oh. Among humans it produces a terrible scourge, the misery you call,
I believe 'hay-fever'." Kalak was wry.

"Um. Oh." I said.

"In any case this was why the colony went undiscovered for so long. We
had no reason to send ships there. When the colony is discovered, there are
two possible choices for the Klingons of the day. One: Destroy it utterly
from orbit. Two: enslave the population and torture them for information
about the Federation invasion of our space."

Kalak continued "The Chancellor of that time decided to keep it secret
and watch it. There were good reasons for his decision as you shall see,
but a secondary reason you should note was that it should be a Human
preserve. It was expected that we would have to kill a huge percentage of
the human population to achieve victory in our war. The Chancellor of the
time wanted to have a healthy breeding population handy in case it became
necessary to preserve your species. Later Chancellor Gorkon kept the
secret. He feared that public knowledge of a human colony inside Klingon
space would provoke the deadly war of extermination that he wished to
prevent. Since then, every Chancellor has been saddled with the secret of
this world. For Gowron, the secret is even more pressing. There is a
virulent anti-Human faction in the Empire. If it was known that Gowron was
harboring Humans inside the Empire then it might tip the balance of power
away from him. A war might be re declared between our peoples. If the cause
is this planet full of your people, then I guarantee they will be the first
to fall."

"Oh." I said. Now I wished I hadn't butted in. "Why doesn't
Gowron simply exterminate them? That would end his problem."

"Don't think that this has not been advised. However, Gowron is no
monster. The people of this planet have lost much technology. They are no
match for our fleet. It would not be battle, it would be murder. Some
Klingons say that any dead enemy is a good enemy but some of us limit our
battles to other warriors. It is all in how one interprets Klingon
honor."

"I didn't know that Klingons spoke openly of that." I said
softly. I had read long scholarly treatises written by Klingons about what
did and did not constitute honor. They had been smuggled out of the Empire.
Klingons considered the whole subject limited solely to Klingons and the
rest of us weren't invited to play.

"We don't. This whole trip is considered confidential, Captain."
Kalak said. "The planet ahead of us is simply a symptom of the great
divide between Klingons."

"How do you label this divide?" I asked. There had been many
labels, it seemed. One for each author of an essay on the subject.

"I see you have read some of our discussions on the subject."
Kalak's eyes twinkled. He should have been angry but was not. To him it was
flattering that other races would hang on the internal debates among
Klingons. "Functionally, there is a marker issue. It is the issue of
whether a Klingon is tolerant or intolerant of humans. Most of us view you
as yapping monkeys, filled with arrogance and naivete, filling the Galaxy
with your useless ideas, talk and culture. However, there are some of you
who are worthy of being considered on the same plane as a man. Captain Kirk
for instance."

"I thought Klingons hated Captain Kirk." I said.

"The hero of the Federation? If you hate the Federation, then you will
probably dislike the man who stands as a symbol for it. But even in hate,
he was respected."

"So the issue isn't hate." I guessed.

"No. The issue is whether even a few Humans or other people in your
Federation are worthy of respect. There are several Klingons who hate
humans passionately, yet act with respect because they feel to do less
would be to soil their own honor."

"And the other side?" I asked.

"They are the ones who would destroy an unarmed colony and then claim
a great victory over your kind. They are the ones who would cut screaming
children in two with a Bat'leth and crow about their strength. To them,
only Klingons are worth respect or honor. Forgive me, this is a limitation
of your language, but all other races are considered less than human, in
the sense of not really being people. Not worthy of concern or
compassion."

"Let me guess which side of this you come down on?" I said sarcastically.

"A good clue would be that I didn't destroy the Discovery. I am not
nearing this planet in my battle cruiser, which is easily capable of
exterminating all life on the planet." Kalak said mildly.

"Excellent clues." I said.

"I'm so glad you approve." He said with dripping sarcasm. Up
until then I didn't think Klingons had sarcasm. I looked at him in horror.

He bellowed with laughter. "You didn't expect that! Bwaa Haa Haa! Wait
until you hear Klingon puns!"

Suddenly I felt an urge to take up the Bat'leth.

-*-

We dropped out of warp and began to approach the planet. I learned that on
Klingon charts it was called Rokon. We dropped into orbit and I could see
thriving cities. They were about the same technology level as Earth in the
Twenty-First Century. The planet seemed roughly divided into two sides.
There were differences in technology, some differences in architecture and
they was electronic signals were handled.

I picked one and hailed it. General Kalak insisted that I keep the pickup
for the communications system tightly on me and let no one else know he was
with me for now.

I sent my signal to the largest city on that side. I got back a voice signal.

["This is New Rokon Air Control, Who is that calling?]" The
language and the phrasing was Klingon. I looked at Kalak who smiled
knowingly and signaled me to continue.]

"[This is the ship Heinlein in orbit above you. I want to land and
speak with your leaders."]

The controller didn't speak again for some time. The city directed a
scanning beam at us. It was a radio wave coded with a complex signal. Our
computers said that it was just a signal tag so that the radar they were
using would harder to jam.

Then the controller came back on line "[Spaceship. I confirm your
position. We are getting our leaders now. Will you speak to them from
orbit?]"

"[Briefly.]" I used the form to imply that I was patient, yet
powerful. The Klingon language can be very flexible if used correctly.

In time we were hailed using an old fashioned video beam. I configured the
Heinlein's comm-system to reply in kind. The picture came onto my screen. I
could see an older human with a ruddy face and a network of scars. He was
dressed in Klingon pattern armor and he carried a Bat'leth. He was wearing
the commander's vest, the long gray garment with pockets that marks the
command level Klingon.

We boggled at each other for a moment. He said "[You're Human!]"

I said "[Correct. I am Captain Jay P. Hailey. I seek non-hostile
communications. Will you comply?]"

The human on the Klingon get up looked thoughtful. "[A Human here. I
suppose you will be worth talking to. Land at New Rokon. The Controller
will guide you down.]"

"[Thank you.]" I said.

He grinned a toothy grin. "Don't mention it." He said in English.
The connection cut.

Soon the controller came back. He gave me a heading down to the planet. I
set the Heinlein on the right course and we dropped towards new Rokon.

"Why was that man dressed like a Klingon?" I asked.

"That man was not dressed like a Klingon." General Kalak pointed
out. "In his own mind, at least, he is a Klingon."

"What in the world is going on?" I asked.

"When the colony ship landed, many of the colonists found the remains
of the Klingon settlement. We don't know exactly why, but they took on the
Klingon ways." Kalak explained. "There are a few from this world
who are very good with the Bat'leth."

"But, but if they're Humans..." I said.

"They won't get good treatment in the Empire at large." Kalak
said. "Some of us look at those people and ask ourselves is it
possible for a Human to be a Klingon? Does the fire burn within them? I
have known one or two of these people and in my opinion, yes, despite the
flesh, in many of the humans of New Rokon beats the heart of a Klingon. But
to others they are animals who ape civilized ways in a desperate attempt
not to be rightfully slaughtered by the Klingon Master Race."

"Human Klingons?" I shook my head. I would have had severe doubts
if you had told me of the subject cold.

"How else do you think that Gowron gets most of his information about
Starfleet and the Federation?" Kalak asked, smirking.

"Oh, my God!" Any Human might be a Klingon spy! It was a whole
new world of paranoia.

"Worse many of the Humans of New Rokon are actually on the other side
of the honor debate. They feel that non-acclimated Humans should be
exterminated." Kalak said.

"Do they?" I asked sharply. Then I turned to the Runabout's
tactical station and put it on alert. It wasn't as good as living eyes
watching the scope, but I was flying the Heinlein.

Kalak laughed. "I see you begin to understand."

As we descended into the environs of the city, we were bathed in a variety
of electronic scanning beams. I tried to convince the tactical station to
use the comm-system to jam them, but the Heinlein hadn't been designed for
such work.

The tactical panel beeped and the Heinlein's computer voice said
"Warning: Missiles have been fired targeted on this vessel."

Kalak turned to his panel and called up the Heinlein's tactical station.
"You fly, I'll knock the missiles down."

"Aye, Sir." I said. I couldn't think of anything else to say. As
the first salvo of missiles came in, I waited until the last minute and the
cut the lift engines, plummeting like a rock.

Missiles streaked overhead and exploded near us rattling the Heinlein.

"I thought you said that they were unarmed!" I said.

"Compared to my battle cruiser, they are!" Kalak laughed.

A few evasive maneuvers and a full impulse drive to orbit left the missiles
far behind.

"Well, that was interesting." I said, breathlessly.

"You should try the other faction, now." Kalak said.

"There are two factions?" I asked.

"Trust me." Kalak grinned.

I sighed and placed the runabout on a course for the other side of the planet.


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