The Hunted

[Savros 0]

** As you recall

General Lorgh stood in front of the communication console in formal warrior attire. What he did at this moment would define who he was for the near future. If he could gain the attention of his people, they would understand the cause for which he struggled. They would take up arms and return the government to the old ways. This was the only way for a Klingon to live!

 

He reached over and pushed a button on the console. A light indicating he was transmitting and he began to speak. "My fellow Klingons, this past year has seen a considerable change in Klingon history. The Chancellor has taken it upon herself to assume that we need peace with the Federation to fix our problems. The truth is we need none of their help.

 

A few loyal Klingons have surrounded the High Council building and demanded their surrender. The Chancellor has refused. Although I don't condone their actions, I understand their vision. The vision of…" He continued to speak, apparently not knowing that his communication had been cut off. "…an Empire that stretches across the known galaxy, where the name KLINGON is revered, respected and feared! This is the legacy of the people of Qo'noS! We will conquer or die!"

 

The screen changed suddenly from transmission to receiving. "I regret that the traitorous actions of General Lorgh have been recalled," interrupted Captain Kor, "I am now in command of his communication array. I call upon loyal Klingons everywhere to rally to my side! We must throw off the rebels and retake our homeworld."

 

The transmission ended and Lorgh gripped tightly the sides of the console. In one motion, he thrust is ridged forehead into the monitor, cracking it. The pang served to focus him. With blood flowing slowly down his head, he thought. This his final opportunity had failed tragically. While some believed in the old ways, others were no doubt waiting for the outcome.

 

Counting on loyalist supporters like Kor was supposed to be a given! Why were his supporters not able to reach them? What would it take for him to side with the Chancellor?

 

He picked up a nearby cloth and wiped the blood off his neck and face. The empire was now lost to the hands of cowards and reformists who clearly had no idea of the damage they were about to inflict. He could blame Kor, but where Kor was Kang and Koloth were sure to close behind. There was nothing in their past rhetoric that would suggest this action. They hated the Federation and were emphatically loyal to the Empire. Why then would they take this action? Curzon! it came to him. There was no other explanation. That damned Federation Ambassador had worked his way into the lives of the trio.

 

He slowly deposited the blood soaked cloth on the wash basin. Curzon had put his reputation on the line to locate the Albino raider. Kang, Kor and Koloth had used his information to defeat the raiding ships and find out their master, the Alibo.

 

For a moment, Lorgh hoped the Albino was still around. Feeding him information had made them both rich. For months, the trio was out maneuvered at every turn. It was almost too bad that he was in hiding. If any of the quartet learned that he knew where the Albino's location, they would likely seek his blood.

 

 

** The recent past, on Rok'Tun's Bird of Prey

 

"The computer confirms that you fired the torpedo that would have destroyed the High Council!" Rok'Tun looked down at the warrior before him. "Who gave the order?"

 

The navigator lifted his chin in defiance. "I acted alone."

 

One of the warriors holding the mutinous navigator struck him. "Do you expect that I will let you die an honorable death?" Rok'Tun demanded. "I am Rok'Tun of the House of Ja'rod! Lie to me again and I will throw you out into space!"

 

"The manner of my death matters not."

 

"The computer says you received a signal from the surface! I know it was General Lorgh who sent it, but what I do not know is why you responded! How many more spies does the General have on my ship!"

 

The warriors holding the navigator looked at each other briefly and back at the Captain. It was a good question. General Lorgh's influence mirrored that of Tal Shiar. Who knows how many others he had and how many ships would be sabotaged?

 

** Departure

It was time to leave. Lieutenant Strag, newly appointed aide to General Lorgh, was coordinating the effort to evacuate. His counterpart, Lieutenant Bral continued to coordinate with the rebel factions. They would have to regroup in the Vodrey Nebula where there were supplies prepared to equip them.

 

Kor's message had ignited a maelstrom. Klingons who were not part of the Warrior caste were rising up in large numbers and flocking to Kor. The Lieutenant's suspected there was not enough equipment to supply them all, else they would have attacked and destroyed them.

 

Lorgh completed all, but one of his communications. Rok'Tun had left the system quickly and gone to cloak thirty minutes later. His communications did not seem to find their target. He had to wonder what the newly appointed Captain of the House of Ja'rod would do.

 

 

Outside the city limits, the three Klingon warriors loaded onto the Bird of Prey. The preparations had been completed, at least as much as time allowed. Word had come that Kang now commanded the fleet of ships over the Qo'noS system and was seeking to destroy all rebel ships.

 

Curzon Dax had also arrived. The ship carrying him was older but still formidable. Between Kang's Fleet, the Federation Fleet and any number of hidden rebel ships, the system was getting crowded. Any more and cloaked ships would be running into each other.

 

General Lorgh sat back in the command chair and ordered the ship to lift off the surface. Shortly after take-off, the ship cloaked. Here was the tricky part. Would it be better to run near the Federation ship Challenger which orbited the planet, or to bypass it by exiting through the opposite side? Duj HvoqtaH, he thought. <<Always trust your instincts.>>

 

"Take us out through the far side of the planet. We do not want to be detected."

 

The small 12 man craft piloted through the upper atmosphere and entered the debris field. Suddenly an explosion rocked the ship.

 

"qaStaH nuq jay!" gasped Lieutenant Bral. <<What the ___ is happening!>>

 

The helmsman looked up from his station. "The debris field is mined?" he asked incredulously.

 

Lieutenant Strag chimed in, "we are losing the cloak!"

 

How could I be so stupid? Lorgh asked himself mentally. Kang must have planted charges on the debris field. Any ship cloaking ship would be detected leaving the planet and proximity mines could be activated based on projected path. Very clever, but not clever enough. He walked to a console and pressed a sequence of buttons.

 

As the little starship decloaked, Kang ordered three ships to pursue and capture. They began firing immediately, but none of their shots hit. Lorgh's backup plan had worked. The message he sent scrambled their targeting systems. It would be hours before they would be operational again. In the meantime, it would be pure luck for them to hit. All he had to do now was rendez-vous with the fleet.

 

Lorgh retook his seat. "Take us to warp," he commanded, "and get that damned cloak functional!" Twenty minutes later, the pursuing ships had lost their target.