Warrior, Reforged

[Konath 0]

Few things were as exhilarating to a Klingon as escaping from the evils of bureaucracy; especially if that Klingon had not been afforded the company of other Klingons for months on end. Councilman Konath, member of the High Council, was such a Klingon.

 

Over a year had passed since the Battle of the Wormhole, when he'd led the Klingon contingent of the Alpha Quadrant fleet that launched from Deep Space Nine and turned the tide of battle. Since then, he'd spent nearly the entire time on Earth as a, what has Chancellor Martok called it, “special advisor and liaison” to the Federation Council regarding how the Alpha powers moved forward with Camelot, Avalon and the continued exploration and security of the Gamma Quadrant.

 

To say he was happy to be leaving Earth and the over-comforts of the Federation behind aboard a Bird of Prey filled with warriors of his own species would be the overstatement of the century. Sure he'd had contact with his people over the last year; the advice, suggestions and experience offered to him by Governor K'Vorlag could not be discounted easily, and while they'd shared a bottle or eight of bloodwine, even then it wasn't the same as being among his people.

 

The Federation was soft. Though he'd come to find a new respect for the humans, even having adopted one into his house, they were truly soft. And not just soft, but contagiously soft. After a year on Earth, he'd found himself liking the 'comforts' of a mattress, advanced replicators, regular showers and the general luxuries they afford to people of rank. That was what was frightening.

 

The smell of fresh gagh reminded him quickly that he was no longer on Earth, as did the hearty, drunken laughter of some young warrior telling a story of his 'bravery' on their last mission. It was good to be home among his people once more. Placing a bottle of bloodwine to his lips, the tall, decorated Klingon laughed along with the punchline of the story the young warrior was telling and smiled happily.

 

With any luck his current 'fact-finding mission' to the Gamma Quadrant would last long enough to harden him once more, and let the Klingon be a Klingon. He also hoped he'd run into the Governor, but these days you never knew where K'Vorlag was going to pop up. Between Camelot and all the turmoil of the Gamma Quadrant and the on-going issues at Aegis, the Governor was a very busy Klingon.

 

Silently, Konath wondered how the Governor seemed to keep himself so true to the warrior way, yet spend so much time with the humans. It was a curiosity that he made a note to ask the Governor about, should their paths cross.