Well guys, you roped me in! It didn't take too much convincing I'll admit. I thought the Prelude to Axanar was awesome and then you follow up with two good stories based on that war. It was something I couldn't resist. This is a work in progress, so bear with me. I hope you enjoy it. ***************************************************************** STAR TREK: FOUR YEARS WAR BEST SERVED COLD Imperial Klingon Warship Chong’poQ 2242 Lt. Kaaj dared to stand beside his commander. Captain Kern sniffed as if he smelled something putrid. His large hands flexed as if he were ready to strike the impertinent subordinate, but he kept them at his sides. There was larger prey to attack, the Federation outpost on Caleb IV. Kaaj’s eyes also lit with predatory hunger at the prospect. The entire bridge was brimming with anticipation. Together the men stared out of the main viewer, the stars streaking by. They were the tip of the strike force. Finally he would have a chance for real honor, the honor befitting a true warrior, something that had so far been denied him. Kaaj hated thinking of his withered right arm, the deformity that should’ve consigned him to the dregs or worse. But he came from a powerful, respected House, and their influence had helped gain him the first officer’s slot on the Chong’poQ. He hated thinking of his weak arm, though he rarely thought of anything else. It was the great obstacle that he would never fully overcome, the first and eternal great challenge of his life. In his more sanguine moments he considered his handicap a backhanded blessing because it had forced him to use intellect to defeat physically stronger opponents. He knew the weaknesses in the hearts of men and he exploited them whenever possible to secure his position among the crew. If it was not a place of honor, it was one of grudging respect, born of his ability to manipulate but also a necessary cruelty. Even Kern, though he never would admit it, was impressed with how Kaaj kept the crew in line, especially the HemQuch like himself. The HemQuch had been untainted by the Qu’Vat virus, their brows still bearing the proud ridges of the ancestors. Kaaj was one of the QuchHa’, the smooth paned descendants of the affliction that had knifed through the Empire nearly a century ago. In truth he bore two marks of shame, his arm and his ridge less brow. The QuchHa’ were considered to have less of a warrior’s prowess and more of a human’s guile. QuchHa’ were often forced to prove themselves of even being “true” Klingons. Similar to how his arm had compelled him to use his mind to overcome his enemies, Kaaj also believed his bastardized heritage made QuchHa’ more suited to defeat the humans. On a larger scale he knew that QuchHa’ understood the humans, the main drivers of the Federation, better. They knew that regular Klingon bluster and show of arms would not deter them, that cunning was just as important as any bat’leth. Too many of the HemQuch thought any problem could be battered into submission; hence this glorious campaign. And it was magnificent, Kaaj had to admit. The warrior’s song stirred his blood. The desire for glory in combat, to reach the gates of Sto’Vo’Kor was as strong as any man or woman in the Imperial Fleet. “Captain we are in communications range of the outpost,” the communications officer reported. “Should we jam their transmissions?” Kern, not taking his eyes off the view, said, “No. I want their starships to arrive. I want them to see what will befall them and the Federation.” Kaaj grimaced. It was standard procedure to block communications. To no to do so introduced an unknown variable and could provide the enemy an advantage. “Captain,” he said quietly. This incensed Kern more. “Speak!” He bellowed at Kaaj. The first officer took the spittle in his face in stride. “We should block their transmissions,” he said, daring not to show weakness in front of the larger man. “The Federation will know what is coming for them soon enough, but we shouldn’t make it too soon.” “Ha,” Kern’s laughter was as hard as the man. “You don’t even want to give the outpost a chance to prepare for us. To let them die on their feet or for their Starfleet to rally a defense, not matter how futile it will be. You QuchHa’ are as cowardly as Ferengi.” Kaaj stanched his growing anger. His hand itched to pull his d’k tahg from its sheath and gut his commanding officer. If he trusted that he would not be immediately vaporized by those loyal to Kern he would’ve done so. Instead he replied evenly, with just enough edge in his voice to hopefully satisfy his captain, “Warning them impedes the mission. Our goal is to attack, to sow terror, in advance of the invasion fleet. We do that best if we are unannounced.” Kern glared at the man. Kaaj held his gaze. He knew to break it would be fatal. The muscular Klingon spat at Kaaj’s boot. “Fine,” he snorted. “Jam communications.” He slapped Kaaj heavily on the back and laughed again. “Soon we’ll dip our blades in blood,” he promised. “And the galaxy will never be the same.” ************************************************************** USS Kelly In orbit of Caleb IV Captain Emilia Fonseca leaned forward in her seat, “Could you repeat that?” Communications Officer Swanson held the transceiver back up to his ear. “Sir, our long range communications are being jammed,” the ginger-haired man gravely replied. “From what or by whom?” Fonseca demanded. “I think we’re about to find out shortly,” the Science Officer said, looking away from his scope. “We’ve got several vessels incoming, on an approach vector straight for the planet.” “Hostiles?” Fonseca asked, though she already guessed the answer. “We can’t say for certain sir, but in my estimation, yes,” Lt. Graeg replied back. “It could be more Orion raiders or Nausicaan pirates,” The Coridanite added, somewhat hopefully. Piracy by both had been a growing concern in this sector of space. “The jamming signal is scrambling other ship’s sensors. We have yet to obtain their transponder data.” “It could just as well be the Klingons,” Lt. Commander Ruddy inveighed, acknowledging the elephant in the room. Emilia frowned at the prospect that her first officer might be right. The peace talks undertaken by the Vulcans had broken down and tensions had been high running along the border. But the situation always seemed to be tense with the Klingons. The captain didn’t see anything that precipitated more aggressive action from the Empire. Then again, when did they ever need a reason? “Red alert,” the captain announced, pressing the button on her armrest. The lighting dimmed and the bridge became tensed. “Ready weapons and increase shields on my mark,” she ordered. “Also, Mr. Swanson, can we still communicate with the outpost?” “Yes sir,” the man was relieved. “Contact Commander Drexler and tell him to prepare for potential hostilities,” she ordered. “Aye sir,” Swanson swiftly turned the captain’s words into action. “After that, call the crew back up from the surface. Leave has been rescinded.” “Yes sir,” Swanson said, not able to hide his gloom. He had been scheduled to go planetside after his shift was over. “Inform me the second everyone is back aboard,” the captain said. Once Swanson acknowledged, Fonseca ordered a log buoy be prepared in the event that they encountered serious trouble. She waited uneasily, picking at the gold braids on the right wrist of her uniform until Swanson said, “Everyone is back aboard.” Fonseca hit a toggle on her chair. “Engineering, this is the captain. Prepare to leave orbit, warp factor two on my mark.” “Aye sir,” Chief Tanvi crisply replied, “We’ll be ready for whatever you need.” Emilia smiled. The Andorian was her closest confidante onboard and the fast, solid support was certainly needed. Commander Ruddy turned half around in his chair. The thickset, dark skinned man looked at her, trying to divine what she intended to do next. “We’re going to meet these bastards,” Fonseca declared. **************************************************************** IKS Chong’poQ Lt. Kaaj barely could sit in his seat. Captain Kern had forgone doing so. He had stridden to the prow of the vessel, his nose nearly touching the main viewscreen. The large man nearly blocked the magnified view of the Starfleet vessel rushing towards them. Despite the impediment Kaaj saw that it was one of the Marklin-class destroyers. The compact ship should provide them with good sport. “The Starfleet vessel is hailing us,” the communications officer informed them. “Let them eat static,” Kern crowed. “Soon they’ll be nothing more than that.” Testing the captain, Kaaj said, “Put the communique on speakers.” Kern rounded on him but said nothing. “Klingon vessels, this is Captain Emilia Fonseca of the Federation Starship Kelly. You have violated Federation space. Alter course and return to Klingon space or you will be fired upon.” Kern laughed. “When will we be in weapons’ range?” “Five thousand kellicams,” Weapons Officer Rogaak, another HemQuch, said. Kern stomped back to his seat where he fell into it. He ran a hand roughly down the golden sash running from his left shoulder. It bore the mark of his House. Kaaj had noticed the man often touched the medal before a battle, as if it brought him good luck. He sneered at the superstition, but kept his disapproval to himself. “Inform the strike force not to fire,” he ordered, “This little bird is mine.” *************************************************************** USS Kelly “I hate being right,” Michael Ruddy said. Lt. Arroyo, fresh from his sojourn to Caleb IV, and now back at the helm, muttered, “Damn.” Captain Fonseca shared those sentiments. Pressing down on them was a Klingon flotilla of three capital ships and a wing of attack craft. The ones that gave her the most pause were two D5 battle cruisers and one long-necked D’aka assault ship. The D’aka was in the lead. “Replay my warning,” Fonseca ordered Swanson. The young man did so, but they all knew it was in vain. The Klingons were coming for Caleb IV, they were coming for blood. And Kelly was the only thing that stood in their way. *****************************************************************
**************************************************************** USS Kelly Captain Fonseca was just as curious as everyone else on the bridge. “What are they doing?” Commander Ruddy voiced their collective concerns. The Klingon force had come to a full stop, hanging in space in front of the Kelly. “Are they actually considering your threat?” Ruddy pondered. Emilia wasn’t so hopeful. “I don’t know Mr. Ruddy,” she said. “Something tells me they’re up to something else.” “They haven’t even countered with a surrender proposal,” Ruddy surmised, “Perhaps that’s what’s coming next?” Even he doubted that the captain could tell. “Everyone stay at the ready,” Fonseca said, “Let’s try hailing them again.” Before Swanson could the main viewer went jagged and then focused on a darkened, red-tinged bridge. A swarthy Klingon, with rings piercing the thick knobs on his forehead glared at them. He was a deeper shade of brown than she was. His fierce mien gave way to a toothy smile, and that unsettled Fonseca more. “You can escort us to Caleb IV or die human,” he demanded. “I prefer to do neither,” Emilia wasn’t going to give up ground. “Then die it is,” the Klingon grinned again. “Klingon vessels are breaking off, forming a pincer around us,” Lt. Graeg said. “Helm evasive maneuvers,” Fonseca barked, “Don’t let them box us in!” Arroyo began backing off the ship slowly. The Klingons stopped again. The D’aka class warship was in the center of the pincer. “The Klingon ship is hailing us again,” Swanson said. “Put it on,” Fonseca said tightly. “You can run Earther, but you can’t hide. The day of reckoning is at hand,” he promised. “Are you going to talk or fight?” She challenged. That pulled the Klingon up short. He actually blinked. “Are you challenging me?” He roared. “That’s what it sounds like to me,” Fonseca retorted. What little she knew of Klingons they blustered on about honor, even though she had seen little evidence of it whenever Federation ships encountered them. In this instance perhaps she could use their blustering to her advantage. “If you defeat this ship we will escort you to Caleb IV,” she said, drawing gasps from her own crew, “but if we win you leave this sector.” “I can vaporize you where you stand right now!” He bellowed. “If you wanted to do that, you would’ve,” Fonseca shrugged. “But you want to toy with us, you want to terrorize us, and frankly I’m not in the mood.” She smiled after seeing that the Klingon was actually taken aback. For a moment he didn’t know what to say. He merely stared at her, his eyes going in and out of focus. “Challenge accepted,” he declared, “and if any of my ships interfere they will answer to me!” ***************************************************************** IKS Chong’poQ “Captain this is not the time for personal honor,” Lt. Kaaj protested, “The honor of the Empire is at stake.” Sitting beside him, Kern rounded on him, knocking him from his seat. Kaaj hit the deck hard. He drew his hand across his throbbing lip, wiping away the violet blood. “This war is about personal honor!” He declared, “And this human understands it better than you. She has more courage than you.” Kaaj tried to get up but Kern reached for the disruptor at his side. The first officer stayed on the deck. He felt the eyes of the crew burning into his skin, shaming him, but there was nothing he could do, or felt ready to do. He didn’t have their support. Any effort to take his rightful place would be met with disastrous results. He ignored the snickering and kept his place, his eyes firmly on the deck beneath him, unable to bear the gaze of the crew. “Until you understand what it truly means to be a warrior, stay on the deck,” Kern ordered. “You won’t be needed for this battle.” ***************************************************************
Nice start! Quick thinking by Fonseca, I like her already even if her presence in the story is short lived. The Klingon crew is well done, I totally feel the "how to intimidate subordinates and create resentment" vibe.. Look forward to more.
Thanks Dulak. I'm glad you're enjoying this story. Fonseca is growing on me. Yeah, I really wanted Kern to be a bully. *************************************************************** USS Kelly “One-on-one, I like those odds,” Commander Ruddy grinned, “How did you pull it off Captain?” “I guess it’s my charming personality Mr. Ruddy,” she replied more jauntily than she felt. If the Klingon kept his word there just might be a way out of this. That is if they survived the coming battle. “Mr. Ruddy what do we know about the D’aka-class?” The captain asked. She often went to Michael first because the man had been kicking around space for a very long time, starting out as a Boomer and then serving in the Border Service and then Starfleet. He knew as much as the ship’s computer when it came to starships in her opinion. The man ran down what he knew and Mr. Graeg supplemented the information. “This is a formidable vessel,” the Coridanite finished up. “Do the Klingons make any other kind?” Fonseca joked, though no one else laughed. It was about to be a long, hard slog. Emilia thought briefly on her fiancé and her family and then put the thoughts out of her mind. She resolved to see them again, and that was that. “Prime weapons, full power to forward shields,” she said, as she eyed the larger vessel. “Engage.” **************************************************************** IKS Chong’poQ Lt. Kaaj quietly retook his seat once the battle was enjoined. Captain Kern was too busy barking orders and enjoying each rattle as the ship took hits and lobbed disruptor beams. The Marklin was smaller and faster and evaded many of the fusillades aimed at it, but not all. The ship had taken increasing damage, with plasma trailing from one damaged nacelle. Still the humans hadn’t given up. However their attacks against the heavily-armored and shielded Chong’poQ bore little damage. Kern liked toying with his food before he ate it. “Is it time to end this little distraction?” Kern turned to him, his demeanor relatively calm, as if no violence had occurred between them. “I think its best that we press on to Caleb IV,” Kaaj advised, betraying no hint of his smoldering anger. Kern raised his voice, “Lt. Rogaak, let’s end this!” ****************************************************************
A truly gripping start. Interesting use of the Klingon perspective and it's great to see Kaaj as a younger man. More please!
Well done, DK! Glad you decided to join the war effort. I really liked how you provided the Klingon perspective and their internal conflict between captain and first officer, ridge head v. smooth brow. Also, I like Captain Fonseca - she's both brave and thinks quickly on her feet, using Kern's twisted sense of honor to her own advantage. Unfortunately, the Kelly is still at a disadvantage, going against the heavily armed and armored Klingon ship. Here's hoping she can pull another trick out of her sleeve.
Bry and TLR, Thank you both for creating this cool tableau and inviting us to join you. Bry, I'm glad you liked the inclusion of Kaaj. I liked the Early Voyages comics and thought he was a cool villain. So I thought taking a look at his early days before he gained a command of his own would be cool. TLR, I'm glad you like Fonseca. I mean she was really just a thrown together creation that has come together pretty nicely. ****************************************************************** USS Kelly The hits were becoming more frequent. This one rattled the deck. Behind her a console sparked and she smelled the burnt circuits. “Structural integrity down to 35%,” Lt. Graeg said. “What’s the status of our weapons? Our shields? Our propulsion?” The captain asked. She couldn’t be worried about the hull breaches and the casualties at the moment. She had to make sure the ship was still in fighting shape, it was the only chance they had at survival. “Our weapons are still functional,” Ruddy said. “Shields are down to 18%,” Graeg added. She checked with Engineering, “Sorry Emilia but the warp drive isn’t functioning, we have impulse power only.” Tanvi said. “Damn it,” she muttered. “We can’t even outrun them now.” “No,” the Andorian soberly added. “How long before the warp drive is back on?” “About three hours and that’s even if people weren’t shooting at us.” “Do the best you can to get it back up and running as fast as possible,” Emilia ordered, “Fonseca out.” “What do we do now?” Ruddy asked. The captain wished she knew, but instead she called out: “Let’s test this Klingon’s word,” she said. “We’ll make a run at one of the other ships, see if they take the bait. They fire, it’s no longer one-on-one, the deal is abrogated, and everyone goes home.” “You really think that’s going to work?” Ruddy was skeptical. “I don’t see too many other options we’ve got left,” Fonseca bit back. “They’re slicing us up. We’ve got to change the game.” “Agreed,” Ruddy said, “And I’m behind you 100%.” “Good to know Michael, and always great to hear,” the captain said. “Now it’s just a matter of which ship will be the lucky one that gets us screaming down their throats.” ****************************************************************** IKS Q’Duj Weapons Officer Brack looked up eagerly from his terminal. “The Federation starship is bearing down on us! Permission to fire?” Commander Morreg stroked his long beard. Captain Kern’s orders were explicit. No one was to touch the Federation ship but him. However…it would be dishonorable not to defend yourself if attacked and the lure of drawing first blood against the humans was very strong. “Hold,” he said, biting back his natural inclinations. “If they fire upon us, return the favor.” “Federation vessel is powering weapons,” Brack said excitedly. “We are receiving a message from Commander Kern. He is ordering us to back off,” the communications officer said. Morreg snorted, “He wants us to retreat?” He could only take so much of the overbearing man. “Hold your position,” he said. “Federation ship is firing.” The weapons officer almost cried with delight. Morreg braced for impact, the beams slamming into his ship. “Return fire,” he ordered. Crimson beams punched into the Starfleet vessel, each one bringing a jolt of pleasure to him. He looked forward to spreading the trefoil across the entire quadrant over the broken bodies of the humans. “Chong’poQ is approaching, weapons hot,” Brack said. “Shall we engage?” Now that the man had tasted blood he wanted to bite off more than he could chew. “Hail them,” Morreg said. Surely Kern could understand. He was a fellow HemQuch. He knew the pull of battle. “Chong’poQ not responding,” the communications officer said with concern. “They’re training their weapons on us.” “Let them come,” Brack declared. “Silence!” Morreg ordered. “Try hailing them again.” Kern ignored them. “The Chong’poQ is firing,” Brack said, “a full spread!” “Evasive…” was all Morreg got out. The barrage hit them squarely, pitching the ship around to catch another volley. “Return fire! Return fire!” He ordered, but got no response. He looked over at Brack and saw the man slumped over his burning console, a shiny piece of metal sticking out of his forehead. “Transferring weapons console to mine,” Lirash said from the science console. Moments later the woman began firing back at the oncoming D’aka, but it did little to stop them. Morreg was eventually forced to relent. “Try hailing them again,” Morreg hated the idea of talking his way through this, but he knew that fighting each other made no sense. Destroying Goh’tahk took away a key weapon in the upcoming war. Kern had made his point. They had been punished for their insolence. “Chong’poQ is answering our hail,” the communications officer said. Finally, Morreg thought. “Put him on.” “You cheated me out of my victory!” Kern raged, “and now I will cheat you out of yours!” The image blinked out. Replaced by the fierce visage of the Chong’poQ. “The Chong’poQ is training all eight of its disruptors on us,” Lirash informed him. Morreg stood up, prepared to die on his feet. He would meet Brack in the afterlife where he would be sure to strangle him. “Prepare for ramming speed!” ***************************************************************** USS Kelly The shockwave knocked the ship. Captain Fonseca gripped her armrests for dear life to just stay in her seat. She heard people exhaling as they hit the walls and decks, breath knocked out of them or worse. She closed her eyes and muttered a soft prayer. Opening them again, she saw that Lt. Arroyo was struggling mightily to right the ship. Ruddy was getting up, albeit, slowly, but her heart sank when she scanned the bridge and saw Graeg laid out by his console and a large gash on Swanson’s forehead. The man was blinking through the blood, a dazed expression on his face. “Medical team to the bridge,” Fonseca toggled. But she only received static. The fire suppression system had failed and the fires and smoke were building. “Damage report,” she ordered. Ruddy squinted down at his terminal, before he gave her the bad news. “Shields are down to 5%, structural integrity is down to %15. Thank God, we’ve still got some weapons, but a few more hits and we’re toast.” Emilia tried reaching Main Engineering again, but gave up. About the only thing still working was the main viewscreen and on it she saw the D’aka swim through the debris of the Klingon ship they had just destroyed. “The Klingon ship is hailing us,” Swanson said eventually, after he pulled himself together. “Put it on screen,” the captain ordered. The muscular Klingon commander looked more morose than she did. He stood on his bridge, his shoulders slumped. She was expecting him to be beaming like he had before, to demand their surrender and to escort them to Caleb IV. She had no intention of honoring that promise of course. As long as they had weapons she would go down fighting. She would buy the residents of Caleb IV enough time as possible to either fortify themselves or escape. “You…are…free to go,” he choked out the words through clenched teeth. “Excuse me?” Fonseca couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “The petaQ robbed me of an honest victory,” her opponent explained, “The terms of this agreement have been violated. Honor dictates that I let you go.” Fonseca held her smile in. It had worked! My God it had worked, she couldn’t believe it. “So you’ll turn around,” she said evenly, never letting on that she was inwardly dancing a samba. “Yes,” the man’s voice cracked. “If you don’t mind, I would like to see you do it before I trust you,” she said. He turned his back to her and barked, “I order all ships to turn around! Our campaign is over.” Her heart lifted as the Klingon ships did as he commanded. It felt like the bones left her body, she was jelly, she couldn’t move. She merely watched them go to warp, to actually retreat, before she believed. The bridge crew still conscious or alive erupted into cheers. “We’ve got crewmen to save and repairs to get to people,” she said after giving them a moment. She got out of her chair and rushed to check on Lt. Graeg. His breathing was shallow, but steady. She sighed, relieved that her luck was still holding. “Mr. Swanson, are our communications still jammed?” “No sir,” the communications officer still had a look of disbelief. “Get a message to Starfleet Command, priority one. Something tells me this isn’t over, that it’s just the beginning,” Fonseca intoned darkly. ****************************************************************
***************************************************************** IKS Chong’poQ Lt. Kaaj took in the crestfallen looks of the crew, none more so than Captain Kern. Never did the man show any emotions besides rage or joy at the demise of enemies. But now he looked uncertain, he looked weak. Kaaj pounced. “Sir how are we going to explain to the High Command that we have ceded the Caleb system?” For once Kern didn’t have answer. “And what of our other war plans beyond the Caleb system. This puts other warriors in jeopardy.” “That is the price of honor,” Kern said, looking sullen. “I will speak no more of it and you will attend to your duties!” “No,” Kaaj stood up. “Your outdated concepts of honor have endangered this mission and giving the Federation advance warning of our plans.” He drew his d’k tahg. “You no longer deserve to be leading this strike force.” “And who will lead it, you?” Kern laughed. Kaaj was disappointed that Kern hadn’t even drawn his own blade yet. That was how little a threat he considered Kaaj. Instead Kern looked to Rogaak. His strongest supporter merely snarled and looked away. “Are you going to heed the words of this QuchHa’, this half-breed?!” Kern asked Rogaak and all of the crew. “He and his kind know nothing of honor. It will be to the everlasting regret of the Empire that his damnable race weren’t all eradicated.” “Our forces are strong, we are superior, we can defeat the humans, and do it with honor,” Kern added. “Defend yourself!” Kaaj lifted the three-bladed weapon. Kern laughed again. “I can at least wipe the stain of you off my bridge,” he reached for his own blade. As he unsheathed it, Kaaj dropped his own blade, pulled out his disruptor and blew a hole through Kern’s abdomen. As the stunned Klingon fell to the ground, Kaaj stepped over to him. As the light in the man’s eyes faded, the new master of the Chong’poQ leaned over him, spat in his face, and said, “There’s only honor in victory.” The bridge was quiet, each officer weighing options. Kaaj wasn’t the only one who turned to Rogaak. He was Kern’s favorite. He was the one most likely to avenge him. “Well?” Kaaj patted his hot disruptor against his thigh. “I want victory against the Federation too,” Rogaak said. “Kern was a good man, but behind the times.” “I believe you,” Kaaj said before he vaporized the weapons officer, “But I can’t take the chance.” He was pleased that a QuchHa’ rushed to take over Rogaak’s position. It perhaps heralded a much needed and welcome change in the Empire. Kaaj assumed Kern’s seat. It felt much better than his. He addressed the strike force, “We’re reversing course. We’re heading back to the Caleb system and this time nothing save victory will impede us!” THE END
Wow! Several unexpected turns here, particularly the fact that Captain Fonseca and the Kelly will live to fight another day. She certainly shows that the old adage, "know your enemy," can make a decisive difference in battle. I thought you did a great job juxtaposing the differences between the two "races" of Klingons, particularly in their views of honor: your word is your bond vs. victory at all costs. Superb addition to the 4YW series. I hope you'll contribute more. Perhaps we'll see Captain Fonseca and Lt. (Captain?) Kaaj again.
Great work DK. The desperate acts of courage and valour Fonesca and the Kelly take ramp up the tension and had me question if they'd make it through in one piece, and hoping they would. The infighting with the Klingons is also very believable, it also adds something new to the race and hammers home their mentality during the initial attack--victory above all else. I just hope to see the crew of the Kelly again, as well as the calculating and cunning Kaaj.
Ballsy move by Fonseca here but one that very nearly paid off. Not sure if they can still get out of the way of the second and newly determined Klingon wave. The Klingon perspective if course made this even more interesting as we get a glimpse, perhaps, of a changing guard within the Empire, one that might make this war much bloodier and cruel than necessary as old notions of honor are being replaced by victory at any cost. In a way we can see that fundamental conflict within Klingon society throughout their history and long into the 24th century as well. Well done.
Special thanks to Bry and TLR for inviting the rest of the UT into the party. Thank you all for reading. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I thought seeing the Klingon perspective would be interesting. Though I'm not sure I will revisit Kaaj. I've got an inkling of where I would place him after the attack on the Caleb system, but nothing really beyond that. Fonseca and the Kelly crew seemed to register positively with you guys. My intention was that they would be destroyed by Kaaj, but I've given them a reprieve.