Warchild by Esther Friesner 
P50 O’Brien feels that technological devices somehow mirrored the cultural tone and moral outlook of its developers. Klingon-made items were trustworthy – honorable tech, he’d call it, that functioned as promised. Ensign Goodman tried to get the Cardassians to join him in a few choruses of ‘Klingon Women and Romulan Ale.’ 
P95 the epidemic Bashir is dealing with on Bajor has possible retroviral affinities. Mutation of previously harmless organism similar to cases of nanadekh plague reported from Klingon Empire. 
The Klingon vessel Shining Blade docked early. They regret to report they have no personnel they can spare to help Bashir on Bajor with epidemic. They are en route to a vital rendezvous in the Gamma Quadrant. On the other hand, they’re readying a generous shipment of supplies for transport at 13 hundred hours.
P98 Bashir’s old professor Selok of Vulcan didn’t have a very high opinion of Klingon medical technology. He was forever tied up in a faculty feud with Rhakh-tem, an eminent Klingon neurobiologist. All very polite – Rhakh-tem never threw anything larger than a retort, the glass kind, and Selok always managed to catch it before it hit. But Bashir saw a glint of logical temper in Selok’s eye. 
 P103 nanadekh plague caused by a highly mutable retrovirus and when it was in a humanoid host, it didn’t waste much time changing itself to combat half-measures used against it. 48 hours tells the story. Bashir made a special senior honors study of the phenomenon under Selok’s tutelage. 
P117 one Klingon nurse from the Shining Blade is coming to relieve those dealing with epidemic on Bajor. Wonderful, if he doesn’t scare the children first. The Bajoran children won’t react to a Klingon nurse. They’ve seen worse. 
It takes Bashir a while to find a comfortable way of carrying the Klingon biosample replicator. Thick carrying strap. With this device he was relatively certain he could manufacture enough vaccine for all the patients in the valley camps awaiting inoculation. 
P154 due to computer malfunction a couple in a holosuite are suddenly surrounded by Klingons singing opera, it was Nog’s suggestion
  Engines of Destiny by Gene DeWeese
P53 Even the Klingon no frills version of an environmental control system on a bird of prey hadn't deteriorated
Scotty had virtually rebuilt a bird of prey
couplers route the helm commands to the computer
no turbolifts on bird of prey between bridge and engine room
feel the decks vibrate beneath his feet
Klingons might be nasty pieces of work but they did know how to build a sturdy ship
A subspace variance consistent with a cloaked ship, either Klingon or Romulan, moving at warp speed
Alter the phase of the cloaking field, sensors loose trace
24th century bird-of-prey maintain warp 8 for more than a few hours. Anything above warp 6 was used only for emergencies of short duration
P75 B'ator, m, of the House of Gorm, wrote his memoirs. Claims warp 8.1 for three days in bird of prey to take part in final battle of feud. The House of Gorm is better known for 'making claims' than for battles it actually fought
2293 Khitomer Accords only a few months old. Many n both Fed and Klingon Empire still desperate for Accords to fail. Cartwright seen by some as a hero.
Klingons and Roms both experimented with cloaking device incorporating interphase generators. They hoped to cloak ships and shift them to a different spatial plane. They could travel through other matter like a ghost. Abandoned as too dangerous.
Klingons do not gladly hand over their food bowls even after licking them clean
Betazed, Borg Species 5618
Vulcan, Borg Species 1599
ALT Borg timeline Klingons developed interphase cloaking but refused to share with other Alpha Quadrant races, allowing Borg to take over

  Valhalla by Nathan Archer 
P60 Gul Kudesh, noted commander who won the Battle of Regannin, [vs Klingons in that little 18 year long incident?] never in Bajoran system. Successful military man now involved in Cardassian politics.
P86 a pair of Klingons stroll DS 9’s Promenade
  Betrayal by Lois Tilton 
p7 Sisko’s word association test, Klingon = warrior; Bajoran = terrorist
p79 on DS 9 for conference concerning Bajor the Klingon and the Aresai ambassadors cause a disturbance in Ops disputing who had precedence when it came to taking a sword to the terrorists – whenever they were identified. It was a matter, they both insisted to Sisko, of honor.
P134 Sisko doubts the Cardassian government would be happy if Gul Marak started a war with the Klingons and the Andorians at the same time
P157 Nog was well aware that humans, like Klingons, were peculiar about this business of their personal honor
P259 on seeing the final image of the terrorist the Klingon ambassador made a low growl deep in his throat, fingering the handle of his ceremonial sword. It is well for the traitor that he is already dead. Klingon warships do not run in fear of terrorists, the ambassador stated firmly, glaring around the room as if he were challenging anyone to dispute him. The Aresian bristled – are you calling us cowards?
P265 in the background the Klingon ambassador took hold of his sword hilt, but he caught himself and kept silent.
Liaisons
Worf has problems with cloth silver sash for dress uniform. Ties at hip. Fabric medal with dangles on sash. Ridiculous dress uniforms, Look like dresses.
Riker – that is an incredibly outmoded and sexist attitude. Surprised at you. Besides, you look good in a dress.
Klingons do not procrastinate. It is a tactical delay.
I do not enjoy these diplomatic situations. Meeting Iyaarans. 
Amb. Byleth chooses Worf to escort him, instead of Riker. Byleth tries Worf’s diplomatic skills while trying to experience antagonism.
Data suggests Worf try to build on his similarities with Byleth, temperamental, rude, demanding.
Worf is clearly a bad diplomat, requests reassignment for the sake of the ship and the Federation. Has killing fantasies. 
You are an insulting pompous fool, and if you were not an ambassador I would disembowel you right here.
Worf throws ambassador Byleth across Riker’s quarters at poker game. Head butts him.  Byleth goes to document the experience.
Lt. Worf was kind enough to engage Amb. Byleth in eleven hours of holodeck exercises. Learned about antagonism. For Worf, it was excruciating. 
The Homecomong
no Klingon content
Interface
no Klingon content
  Blaze of Glory by Simon Hawke 
P8 Lt. Worf, chief of weapons and security
P20 Worf said confidently – The Enterprise has dealt with Romulan Warbirds before.
Captain Ivan Gruzinov, commander Starbase 37, smiled – Spoken like a true Klingon, and a proud and loyal weapons officer.
P48 Enterprise scores one direct hit, at least, before freebooter Blaze gives them the slip. 
Worf said tensely – My apologies, Captain. I allowed myself to be taken by surprise.
Picard – No more than I, Mr. Worf. 
Riker – He’s a criminal and a coward.
Worf – He may be a criminal, but he is no coward.
Riker – Do I actually detect a note of admiration, Worf?
Worf – Not admiration, but respect, even if it is grudgingly bestowed. It took a warrior’s courage to attack a clearly superior foe. 
P81 Worf grimaced with distaste at the sight of purple juice from a fruit dribbling down Governor T’grayn of D’rahl’s chin.
Worf – This is the governor of this entire planet? He cannot even govern his own appetite!
Picard – Softly, Mr. Worf. We do not need to antagonize him. We merely need to secure his official cooperation.
Worf growled softly, but said nothing, clearly disgusted.
P85 T’grayn – Who knows where the pirate Blaze got his infernal cloaking device? Perhaps he got it from the Klingons. They also possess cloaking device technology, do they not? And there is no telling what Klingons would do!
Apparently oblivious to the fact that he had just insulted Picard’s chief of security. Worf stiffened but a sharp glance from Picard kept his peace with an obvious effort. 
P96 Lt. Worf, Counselor Troi, and three crew members from ships security beam down after final mission briefing, to D’rahl. An investigative team to work with local authorities looking for Blaze.
Lt. Dorn had on a brown, Klingon-style armored vest, to look like a space bum.
P149 Worf’s landing party is back aboard.
P169 Picard – Worf, contact Starbase 37 and the Merchant Spacefleet Union office on D’rahl and request a complete listing of all vessels  currently in port, along with scheduled departure times. Inform them that this is a Starfleet Priority request.
Gruzinov – Inform them also that until further notice, all scheduled departures are canceled, as per my authority. 
Worf – Aye-aye, sir.
P176 Picard – Have we received the information we requested from Starbase 37 and the Merchant Spacefleet Union?
Worf – Aye, Captain. 
P228 the personnel selected for the landing party, hand-picked by Worf for their proficiency, settled down to watch and listen to the mission briefing.
Gruzinov outlines the assault on the residence of General H’druhn – I want the two wide corridors branching off main hall covered. Lt. Worf will assign the personnel on-site.
P246 After beaming in Worf notes the guards by the gates were coming up. He directed his squad to face about. The guards stopped a respectful distance away.
The residence comes under attack by K’tralli soldiers. Gruzinov retreats inside, Worf and a squad of men got pinned down by the fountain when they advanced to aid the guards stationed by the gates. Gruzinov tries to lay down covering fire to allow Worf and his squad to get back to the palace.
Picard transports Worf and five survivors of his squad up to Enterprise. Several of them were supporting their wounded crewmates. 
Picard – Report, Mr. Worf.
Worf – We were attacked by two transports of K’tralli soldiers. They came in over the gates and fired as they landed. We sustained most of our casualties at that time. I advanced with my squad to assist the surviving guards and Captain Gruzinov retreated to the residence with the remainder of the landing party. The residence is under heavy fire, but they have not yet broken through. 
Picard – Get those people to sickbay at once, then join me on the bridge.
P258 As they watched, a third Romulan warbird uncloaked.
Worf – They have us boxed in!
Worf handles communications, coordinates the transport up of the landing party, maintains red alert and stands by phasers and photon torpedoes. 
With Gruzinov’s help at communications, informing Picard of damage reports in battle against the three Warbirds, Worf was now free to concentrate solely on the weapons. 
The Circle
no Klingon content
Gambit 
Worf chats up bar patrons looking for the man who impregnated Riker’s sister. 
Yranac, Yridian trader in bar on Dessica II, has 12 outstanding arrest warrants for fraud and petty theft in the Klingon Empire. maybe they’ll reduce his sentence from 20 years if Riker pulls some strings. 
Worf doesn’t get along well as First Officer to Data in command. Worf sits in Riker’s chair. Deanna
The smugglers are meeting with a Klingon transport ship in Hyralan sector, possibly delivering another artifact. 
According to terms of Klingon Federation Treaty Klingons have every right to free transit through Fed space. Treaty does give right for Heath and Safety inspections.
One person Toron-class shuttle. Sandy colored, boxy shape. 
Very tall Koral, leather patch outfit. Gets message off to smuggler Arctus Baran. Not talkative. Carries ancient Vulcan artifact on his person. 
Worf has programmed Enterprise replicators to make a very good approximation of Klingon bloodwine – burgundy colored beverage.
Riker stuns Worf and Crusher in shuttlebay.
Picard takes artifact and beams away with smugglers. 
What happens to Koral?
Vulcan God of War, God of Death.
Worf empties his mind of violent thought and survives psionic resonator Stone of Gol.
The Siege
no Klingon content
Invasive Procedures
T’Kar, dark, and Yeto, white, in fur and leather clothes, come on cargo ship Ekina with Verad to DS 9. T’Kar holds phaser to O’Brien, Yeto holds Odo.
T’Kar dismissive of The ever helpful Federation, so predictable.
T’Kar spits on Klingon Federation alliance. The Empire is governed by doddering fools and frightened old women who are not worthy of the name Klingon. 
T’Kar orders Odo into box, or O’Brien dies. Yeto closes box and gives it to Mareel.
T’Kar to O’Brien – come on lets go, ally!
In Medical center Yeto grabs Bashir’s combadge and then T’Kar tells him to get the Ferengi. 
T’Kar orders Bashir to put box in stasis chamber now! Or I will destroy it. 
T’Kar comes with O’Brien and Bashir and Mareel and Verad to Ops. Fires off his blaster at the ceiling. Get into the center of the room! T’Kar motions Mareel forward to take combadges. T’Kar shoves O’Brien and Bashir over to Sisko, Kira and Dax. 
T’Kar to Verad – your turn little man. 
Quark knows Yeto on sight. It is such a pleasure doing business with Klingons, they’re so punctual. Their ship was rescued, according to plan. Quark has liquid data chains, but he doesn’t see any latinium on Yeto. 
Yet – Ferengi, you think you’re so cleaver. You’re stupid. Yeto pulls his blaster on the stupid Ferengi. 
Sisko goes up to T’Kar, asking his business, but T’Kar says Sisko will have to ask his employer, motioning with his head to Verad. 
Yeto brings whinening Quark to Ops. 
Yeto knocks Quark aside and grabs Jadzia, T’Kar holds Bashir, who pulls himself free. T’Kar allows Bashir to treat O’Brien’s wound. T’Kar grabs Bashir back – Enough stalling! Take them to the infirmary. 
Yeto stands over Bashir during symbiont transplant surgery
T’Kar guards people in Ops. Objects to their talking, kicks O’Brien in wounded shoulder, battles Sisko. Sisko does a lot of yelling. Sisko throws T’Kar. Mareel takes out Kira and stops Sisko with phaser in the face. She was street kid/prostitute on Khefka IV.
Quark helped the terrorists get past the station’s security grid with device in docking bay. 
Yeto stands by Bashir and Jadzia after operation
Yeto says why bother healing Jadzia after symbiont’s removal. She’ll be dead in a few hours anyway. Why should he help her? She let herself be slaughtered like a mindless t’gla. if she wanted to live, she should have fought back. If she submitted to save the others, she is a fool and deserves her fate. 
Bashir doesn’t give a damn about Yeto’s warrior ethic, or your Klingon philosophy! this woman is dying and I need your help to save her! Now take this instrument!
Yeto – so the little human has some spark after all. Yeto runs healer over Jadzia’s stomach incision.
Quark rolls a  coin to T’Kar’s feet, and T’Kar bends down to pick it up, Quark leaps on T’Kar, who bashes him about a bit and then throws him over.  Pathetic.
Yeto pulls Bashir over to care for squalling Quark.
Yeto – Stop whining or I‘ll put you out of your misery.
Bashir wants Yeto’s assistance with another piece of medical equipment. Yeto protests – I am not your nurse. Yeto jams instrument against Quark’s ear, Bashir knocks him out with hypospray. 
Mareel and the Klingons will stay behind to make sure no one follows Verad off DS 9 through wormhole, then follow him. T’Kar reads storm decreasing. Hits combadge on left forearm to raise Yeto. T’Kar considers it impossible that the Doctor could have overpowered Yeto. T’Kar has Fed phaser in belt and another in holster. Verad pulls phaser from belt. T’Kar pulls blaster from holster when they go after Odo. 
T’Kar holds Kira’s arm as they move through station to airlock. Kira gets some good blows in against T’Kar, then Odo helps her and they knock him to the floor. 
  Prisoners of Peace by John Peel
no Klingon content
Phantasms
Worf helps Geordi and Troi break into Data’s quarters when Data oversleeps
Alexander has been playing the jazz music program Riker gave him all night, every night. Alexander likes Riker's jazz. Screeching. Dissonant. Worf doesn’t think its music. 
Data asks Worf to take care of Spot. Worf will feed him. Worf sneezes. 
Cardassians
O’Brien says you can’t hate all Cardassians, all Klingons, or all Humans.
  The Big Game by Sandy Schofield 
P9 a Klingon Cordial, a noxious concoction made of wortweed and steaming pungent gray smoke
Seven Card Hold’Em Poker Tournament, the quadrant’s largest poker game
P13 the two Romulans men, Darak and Kinsak had already yelled at Quark for allowing Klingons to play. Anyone with enough credentials and gold-pressed latinum can play. Miss Cynthia Jones carried a tribble, which had caused some stir. Odo had refused to allow her on the station until Dr. Bashir made sure the cooing blond furball was sterile.
The Klingons were still sipping their drinks. Quark already saw trouble. Two Klingon men at table with a female Meepod, five-armed, soft-skinned creature. Xator and Grouk – sat with their backs to the table with the human men and Romulan woman Naralak. Directly behind them, with her back turned, was Naralak. Quark knew that he would have to face having Romulans and Klingons play against each other, but he wasn’t looking forward to it. at the last major tournament in the quadrant, two Klingons had died at the hands of Romulans. Two more Klingons – those trouble-making women from the House of Duras – mingled, conversed with a long-haired Freepery. Grand Nagus Zek, Ferengi Gral, Darak, Kinsak and Naralak all at the Great Poker Shootout on Risa two years ago. 
Grabansters, round, orange being with thick fur and wet dog smell, eat tribbles.
The Klingon Xator and the Romulan Kinsak pull the fighting Meepod and human apart. Then Xator growled at Kinsak. Xator held the human Davidovich like a shield and continued to growl at Kinsak. 
The Klingons gathered around the dead stabbed Naralak like Sturgan vultures. ‘She looks much better now,’ B’Etor from the House of Duras said. The remaining Romulans stood at the side of the table opposite the Klingons. ‘if you killed her, Klingon,’ Kinsak said, ‘I will make sure that our government knows of your crime.’
Lursa laughed. ‘as if you’re on speaking terms with the Romulan government.’
Cynthia Jones’ tribble hadn’t made a sound.
No one else seemed terribly upset by the turn of events. Kinsak was still focused on Xator
P76 Garek about to close his shop when two Klingon women swung in, their long hair flowing down their backs. He had always admired Klingon dress: the strength of armor with the diamond cut between the breasts to suggest femininity. Someday he would do a line of Klingon clothing.  Although he knew these two would never buy. B’Etor and Lursa, renegade Klingons from the House of Duras. They had tried to take over the Klingon High Council a few years back and failed. Since then they had been trying to raise enough money to build a new army. So far nothing had worked. Obviously they hadn’t realized his part in defeating their last attempt. Lursa grabbed a silk teddy and crumpled it before tossing it to the ground. ‘We are not interested in such trifles.’
‘Do not mock us, Cardassian,’ B’Etor said
‘I wouldn’t dream of it,’ Garek bowed.
Lursa stalked toward his desk, her slit skirts revealing her muscular legs. He cringed as she pushed aside the rack holding three Cardassian suits. Then she leaned on his desk. He followed, B’Etor behind him. Perhaps they did know that he had betrayed them to the Federation the last time they were on Deep Space Nine. He had cost them a small fortune in gold-pressed latinum. Women like this carried a grudge.
‘We understand,’ B’Etor said, ‘that you are playing in the poker tournament.’
Garek’s day would have gone better if these Klingons had not arrived.
‘Your shop must be quite profitable or you to afford the hundred bars of gold-pressed latinum entry.’ Lursa said.
B’Etor laughed, a hard, cackling sound. ‘Small people are so easy to offend.’
‘We have a proposition for you,’ Lursa said
‘A business proposition,’ B’Etor added
Garek finds it odd that they would come to him after the last deal. But then he was their only contact on the station. Either that or they were going to make him pay for betraying them. 
‘We thought you might be interested in business.’ Without the slightest hint of movement a deck of cards appeared in Lursa’s hands. She shuffled them twice and then placed them on his desk. Garek started to reach for the deck but B’Etor stopped him. Her arm, brushing against his, was cold. For a moment he though she was going to grab him. Instead she reached forward and cut the cards, then nodded to Lursa to deal.
‘This deck,’ B’Etor said, ‘assumes six players. We will have decks for five and seven players if the table allows.’
Lursa smoothly dealt six hands facedown on the counter. She poked her finger at the hand two to the left of the dealer. ‘This hand will be the best hand in the six-player deck. ‘
‘All the other hands will be strong to keep the bets high. But we will know the winning hand,’ B’Etor said.
Garek knew something was expected of him. ‘This is a very old trick. You’ll need me because Quark won’t let both of you play at the same table, right?’
‘We control three of the ten dealers. But we do need help at the table.’
B’Etor glanced over at Lursa, which answered his question. They had already contacted a number of players and were looking for another. The more players, the better the chances. This kind of stunt could wipe out 3 or 4 innocent players at a table. 
If Garek joins them, uses one of the decks, and then goes all the way, Lursa and B’Etor get twenty per cent of the total, about 1520 bars of gpl. Not bad, even after expenses
You Cardassian dog!
The deal is generous
Garek says he can not afford the suspicion of being seen with Lursa and B’Etor.
You live under suspicion, you ignorant fool, B’Etor said
This is unbelievable, Lursa said. Only an idiot would say no to such a foolproof plan
Garek doesn’t believe the plan is foolproof. He knows of the trick, others may too. He won’t turn them in, nor will he be their victim. In exchange for his silence he wants to know where decks are.
Lursa scooped the cards from his grasp, and they disappeared in a quick slight of hand that impressed Garak. Both women stalked for the door. 
You are as stupid as a Romulan pleasant
They give him their word he will be alerted which tables have their decks
P83 the Romulan men keep their distance from the Klingons
The tribble was clutched in Cynthia Jones’ left hand, like a purse. It cooed at Bashir
Garek and Bashir had become friends of sorts since Bashir helped Garek stop a Bajoran terrorist from dealing with two infamous Klingon women. Those women had gone into the poker room earlier.
P93 two Klingon women walked past Jake, their skirts flying. The Klingon women were leaving Garek’s clothing store. They looked angry. Klingons always looked angry. No, fierce. They always looked fierce. Jake sees Cynthia Jones carrying a fuzzy creature – a tribble?
Xator and Grouk, the Klingons, are still Odo’s primary suspects in the death of Romulan Naralak. 
Bashir says who ever killed her had a knowledge of Romulan anatomy, but he doubts it was a Klingon. Klingons have honor. They don’t usually stab someone in the dark. 
P133 usually its easier not to get noticed if you’re polite, unless you’re Klingon, Garek notes with distaste
P153 the four stab wounds would have been instantly fatal to a human, put a Romulan in critical condition, a Klingon might not have survived either
P182 B’Etor sat at Odo’s table, with only a handful of chips. Xator had even fewer chips in front of him. The Sligiloid and Etana also at their table. Three players already out.
Two Romulans approached Odo, convinced the Klingons were out to systematically murder all the Romulans in the game. Lursa and B’Etor went to Odo, with serious concerns about Bajoran terrorists. Seems they are afraid that since the double-cross they pulled on a Bajoran a while  back –
P226 Berlinghoff Rasmussen claims to have played in a high stakes poker game 220 years a go on Titanias III, sat across from a Klingon who claimed to be from the House of Duras. At that time humans and Klingons weren’t all that friendly. Now he is sitting with from Lursa at final game of tournament, final eight players Lursa, Rasmussen, Odo, Cynthia Jones, Meepod, Garak, Etana, the Nagus. Next to Lursa is injured Meepod, whose wounds had festered.
Lursa tells Rasmussen Klingons won’t be friendly now if he doesn’t shut up. She sits across from Odo. She has as many chips as Odo, about 10 times her original stake.
Lursa, Garek said, let the boy alone, he’s chattering from nervousness.
Rasmussen says poker is supposed to be a friendly game
Who taught you that idiocy? Lursa asked
Rasmussen smiled. It seems your ancestor made the same remark
Lursa leaned toward Rasmussen, placing her face only an inch from his. You have no right to discuss my ancestors
Garek had proved useful in the past – especially against Lursa and B’Etor the last time they were on the station. 
Lursa raised the bet. Judging from the cards on the table  Lursa could have at best a straight and at worst three aces
When Odo folds, Lursa glowered. She looked like she would jump across the table and kill him. So she was up to something. The Nagus, with a frown at Lursa, folded as well. 
Then Lursa bumped the pot with enough chips to equal 80 bars of gpl. Lursa’s action made no sense to Odo. Odo’s instinct was right, Garek had warned him. The Klingons had their own cheating system. The Meepod called Lursa’s bet and raised her another 20 bars. Lursa tossed in the chips to meet the Meepod’s bet. Then she raised the bet another 50 bars. The Meepod called and raised another 50. Rasmussen and Etana stayed with the bet. Lursa tossed in an additional hundred bars. All three remaining players called Lursa’s bet, but no one raised. The pot was huge, nearly 2000 bars all riding on one hand.
One by one Lursa put her cards on the table. Nine of hearts, ten of hearts, 6, 7, 8 already on table. She had a royal flush, 10 high. Lursa pulled the chips toward her with a big grin.
Quark replaces the deck and Lursa’s lips pursed. Odo figures they had set up the cards, but can’t prove it.
After Quark had changed decks Garek and Rasmussen had ganged up on Lursa and driven her away from the table in short order. Quark had never seen anyone lose so much money in such a small space of time. He would remember that in dealings with her in the future. 
P260 Odo had watched Lursa bet chips worth hundreds of gpl and wondered how anyone could do that. 
Dark Page
Worf not mingling at party. He does not care for telepaths, they make him uneasy. The Cairn wouldn’t read his thoughts even if they wanted to, his brain isn’t sophisticated enough. 
Melora
Dr. Bashir invites Ens. Melora Pazlar to the new Klingon restaurant on the Promenade. Klingon symbol black on red backdrop. Metal counter, with foods in metal bowls, black plates.
Klingon chef – speaks Klingon
Bashir studies transparent Plexiglas menu – we’ll have some racht, of course. [handful of brown worms on plate], double order of gladst, no sauce. [leathery leafy handful on plate on top of racht] side order of zilm’kach, [four orange/apricot segments on top of gladst and racht.] almost too much food for two. 
Chef repeats everything Bashir says in Klingon.
Melora asks to inspect the racht. Julian starts to warn her not to be alarmed by what it looks like. She complains that she can’t eat it, has conversation in Klingon with chef, chef switches to English, he likes a customer who knows what she wants. He tosses plate over shoulder and gets better racht for them. Bites the credit chip Bashir gives him. Two beings who look like Pakleds step up to the counter next.
Melora zooms into Medical center – Racht anyone?
Melora and Bashir say good bye at Klingon restaurant. Chef serenades them and others with song, accompanying himself on extremely narrow string instrument plucked with fingers, held under chin like a violin
  A Q To Swear By, Strange New Worlds III
Worf gives Riker a gift of a large glass of prune juice for his birthday. Q says Riker has broken Deanna’s heart, she hides it by courting Worf
  Star Trek: Klingon by Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch 
A Klingon warrior, dRacLa, strode purposefully along the railing of the upper Prom, his knife clanked softly against his leg and he walked with a confidence only Klingon warriors had. meets Yridian Caxtonian trader Kathpa, gives him his first payment
If you fail, you will die. if you succeed, you will be rich. Make sure you do not fail.
Odo trails the Klingon
Klingons have arrived with Gowron at DS 9 for meetings with the Federation.
Klingons not only fought with more gusto than humans, they drank and laughed more. It was one of the many things Riker liked about them. 
The tension in the bar felt dangerous, as if war might break out at any time
Picard, Sisko, Worf and Gowron and Gowron’s guard and Admiral Jellico approach Riker at Quark’s. 
Gowron and two other representatives of the Klingon High Council.
One meeting earlier today, important to relations between the Fed and the Klingon Empire. Jellico’s lack of understanding of Klingon ways might just be another step toward a new war. Picard encourage learn to celebrate differences
Gowron had an air of power around him. He had pronounced ridges on his head and his arms and shoulders were full and powerful. He was the best warrior in a culture of warriors. He had not gotten to that position by being either weak or stupid.
Gowron drinks bloodwine, orders it for everyone. Riker accepts Gowron’s offer. He’d tasted blood wine a number of times. It wasn’t a favorite drink of his, but he could drink it at special times like this. Besides, someone needed to accept the Klingon’s offer, or it would be considered an insult under Klingon customs. For Worf, a Klingon, to turn down the offer of blood wine from the head of the Klingon High Council would have been an insult against Gowron. 
Fight erupts between Klingons and Starfleet personnel at Quark’s bar. Everyone knew this fight had to be stopped instantly, for the sake of the talks.
Worf stepped in front of one Klingon and growled a warning, freezing the Klingon in midpunch. Gowron sat, still smiling.
Klingon – We demand honor! Bah! Humans have no honor to defend.
Jadzia’s smile made Riker feel like a small boy again
Gowron was talking , obviously getting very frustrated with his Fed companions – Do you think we Klingons kill anything that stands in our way? You outsiders see only our fierceness, our love of battle. You do not see the tIgh, the honor, that shapes our every act. 
Jellico – In my observation, Klingons look for the slightest excuse to fight. 
Gowron glared back for a moment – Klingons are warriors. We do not fight just to fight. 
Worf – Klingons fight for honor. The honor of the Empire. The honor of family. Honor is all we treasure. Worf glanced at Gowron, who nodded his approval. 
Gowron laughed as if he’d just heard the funniest joke on the station.
To a Klingon, humans had no honor.
From what Riker had seen in his time aboard Klingon ships, and in his dealings with Klingons, including Worf, humans valued honor very little in comparison with a Klingon warrior. 
Jellico has heard that Klingons are good storytellers.
Gowron will tell a story that will give Jellico an understanding of Klingon warriors. I warn you it is a long story, but I tell it well.
He pulled out his knife and stuck it hard into the tabletop - A warrior’s knife. But a Klingon is not born a warrior. Being a warrior is something that must be earned. Before I earned this knife, I owned a ghojmeH taj, a boy’s knife. This is the story of Pok, son of Torghn, my friend and ally. A mere boy with a ghojmeH taj. I will tell you how Pok became a warrior. A story of decisions. A warrior learns by such decisions.
Telling a good story is thirsty work
Worf seemed to tower above Barclay, and his first instinct was to duck.
Barclay had never seen the leader of the Klingon Empire up close before. Right now he was terrified. Gowron had as powerful a presence as Worf. Maybe even more. Gowron’s blue eyes.
Barclay doesn’t know much about Klingons.
Gowron’s voice roaring so much it almost covered the rest of the noise in the bar.
17 a great party in the house of SepIch, Pok’s house. Hundreds of guests, long table with tons of food. Gowron attended the party as an honor to Pok and to his ally, Torghn of the house of SepIch. Two guards carry his cha’nob gifts. Torghn introduces son to guests.
Rich smells of roasting TKnag beast, hanging over open pit in the center of a large round table. Two warriors pulled tender meat from its sides and stuffed the meat into their mouths, letting juices drip down their faces to show their enjoyment.
Earlier that day Pok, son of Torghn brought down the largest TKnag beast ever taken in chontay, the ritual hunt. His naOjej was sharp and his bravery will be talked about for many generations to come.
Nothing tastes as good as the beast killed in the chontay.
The crowd shouted their agreement.
Gowron remembers his own lop ‘no and how he felt. A warrior never forgets that moment, that pride. The celebration was declared a lop’no. invited the spirits of all our Klingon ancestors. Tradition dictates that all are welcome to the lop ‘no. even ancient rivals.
Tomorrow, after the Rite of Ascension, call him Warrior Son
To my son, who has chosen to follow the path of his grandfathers.
The sound of goblets smacking together. 
Gowron - Torghn and Pok smiled at me, smiles that make even my cold heart warm just thinking about them.
Torghn stepped up and we grasped arms
Torghn - Gowron, your presence does my house honor.
Gowron – May the house always deserve it. Honor me by taking them.
Torghn smiled and bowed slightly. 
20 Gowron – Indecision is like a disease with you Fed types
Klingon saying – Act and you shall have dinner. Think and you shall be dinner.
If Pok stepped toward Gowron, it would be a personal challenge to him and his guards would stop him. Trust me, human. You would not want to challenge me.
Not accepting and taking the presents would have been a dishonor
The presents were almost more than the boy could carry. 
Gowron, above all others, knows what Torghn gave up for Gowron, for the Empire.
When his ancestors conquered Taganika and set up rule over the planets in this sector, they did so in service to the Empire. But now the Empire’s needs have changed and we must change with it. Others on Taganika do not see things the same. The ancient houses have ruled these planets for many years and it has brought them great wealth. They are not as willing as Torghn to give up their power. 
Torghn – For the future of the Empire we will sacrifice the planets our grandfathers conquered and that will bring us great honor. 
Gowron – I trust Torghn to not allow me to come to harm in his home. Trust the house of SepIch to protect me. Sends guards away to stand by the door. No matter what my words, they would not be far from my side.
K’Tar, Torghn’s wife, mother of Pok, as beautiful as the first time he saw her.
Torghn and Gowron were on a mission together, honoring the Empire. The mission is now of little importance, but during that time they met K’Tar. They both fell in love, but Gowron had rank over Torghn. She was his if Gowron wanted. But Gowron knew Torghn’s father had just died and he was returning to his family home to take control of the ancient house. Gowron planned to continue in space, fighting as a warrior for the Empire. He had no place for a woman. So Gowron let Torghn woo her. She has brought Torghn great happiness, a son. Gowron doesn’t regret anything.
Vok, Gowron’s enemy. Torghn’s hated enemy. More Romulan in his honorless existence.
Vok – Our houses have stood door to door for generations. Must we continue to be enemies?
K’Tar growled at him and swifter than most warriors she drew out a knife and twisted his arm behind his back, holding the knife to his throat. 
Throw this veQ out.
bIyem’a’!
Pok wanted very much to kill the man
Chut Ouj
Lug ratlh
You don’t need to understand our language to understand us as a people
Pok is still a boy until the Rite of Ascension. He must do what his mother asks without question until then.
Riker had been hoping for years for some opportunity to spend time with Dax. 
Dax thinks Gowron is intent on improving relations with the Fed. She also thinks Adm. Jellico is the worst person the Fed could have sent to head these meetings. He hates Klingons. With the problems along the Fed/Klingon border heating up, and the Cardassians playing both sides of the fence, the Fed needs this meeting to work. Dax knows Gowron is barely holding on to power inside the Empire. There are many Klingons who wish the Empire had never stopped their conquering ways and they want to return to those old methods. Gowron knows the Empire would never stand a chance against the Fed now. So he needs the conference to help make relations with the Fed stronger so that if he needs to go to war against, say, the Cardassians, we might come in on his side. Or at least stay neutral. But there are those on both sides who don’t want this conference to work in any fashion. The very existence of the conference is bad for many. 
Riker has information that there will be a Klingon disruption, possibly an attempt on Gowron’s life. If Gowron is killed here, it might be taken as a dishonor by the Fed against the Klingon Empire. 
The Conway mines near DS 9.
Gowron beams back to his ship
Two Klingon birds of prey and the Enterprise stationed off the station.
Five day conference
Meeting breaks up an hour before dinner
Riker and Dax have dinner together at Quark’s. two tables of Klingons fill the center. 
Yridian Caxtonian trader Conpap plants bomb under Gowron’s back table. Bomb explodes prematurely when trader bumps into Klingon, who spins mostly on reflex and pushed the trader back. Killing trader. And possibly a few of the Klingons. Quark cleans up and is open for business.
Gowron, Picard, Dax, Jellico sit at table against back wall, a dozen Klingon and Fed security men stand around. Riker, Sisko and Barclay join them
Gowron to injured Riker – I would hate to lose a Federation man who actually drinks blood wine like a Klingon warrior. 
Gowron dismisses attempt on his life – I have enemies. It is the way of this position. I admire a man who faces what he clearly does not like.
42 young Pok had just honored his mother’s command to step away from Vok, his enemy
K’Tar has to allow Vok to prevent dishonor – Do not confuse tolerance with welcome. Do not spoil the day with politics.
T’Var, wife of Vok.
Gagh worms, Gowron’s favorites.
Dining room, men sit, women and children eat at end of room
Qua’lon, Torghn’s younger brother, bowed and welcomed Gowron, wonderful deep singing voice
Do not look as if you have tripped over a woman.
cha’nob presents; large book bound in fine hide. Sealed. A musical score to Qul tuq, the opera that tells the tale of our house. Gowron’s gift, with his metal seal around it, broke seal with knife, Acta crystal, as useful as latinum.
The young are ignorant of their family’s history, Torghn perhaps spent too much time teaching him to hunt and not enough teaching him to sing. 
Romulan assassin probe comes out of Gowron’s box as well, searching for it’s programmed target. You must stalk it as it stalks its prey, programmed for specific target, stopping it always causes it to explode. Gowron the target.
Gowron – I was prepared to die. and at that moment I expected to. Aimed directly at my heart. I moved to the left but I moved too slow. My friend Torghn did not. He leapt in front of me, taking the probe in the center of his chest. He fell, face up, on the table. My two guards covered me.
Torghn – HoHwI’ A hunter killer. petaD!
Acta crystal a mere trinket, nothing of note when a Klingon is about to die.
Torghn did not even see the face of his enemy
For the next minute no one interrupted the leader of the High Council’s private thoughts
Picard hoped Jellico understood that Klingons had emotions, feelings, friendships and honor. Their emotions might be expressed in different manners but they were very much an honorable people. Jellico blind to fact the Fed would be stronger having the Klingons as friends. Gowron understood Jellico’s blind spot and was obviously staging this story in the hope of accomplishing here in Quark’s bar what he couldn’t get done in the official meetings. 
49 Qua’lon, standing over his brother’s body, did what any Klingon warrior would do, he demanded vengeance. 
Gowron – Do not let vengeance cloud your mind. There is a ritual to be performed. Vengeance will wait for that. It was Pok’s place, as Torghn’s oldest son. Pok should go to his father’s body for the death ritual. With one hand Pok opened his father’s eyes. Moving so his nose almost touched his father’s he looked into Torghn’s eyes. Slowly the boy let out a low moan, it grew in intensity and as it did so the rest of us joined in. men, women, children. All moaned the loss of a great warrior until it became a great cry to the skies. Gowron moaned the loss of a good friend, a personal friend, a friend of the Empire. Then the loud death yell stopped. We stood in silence. Torghn’s arrival with the Black Fleet had been announced. His soul had left his body. 
Picard had faced the head of the Klingon High Council, and he knew the power of Gowron. Picard knew many Klingon rituals.
The cowardliness of this assassination shocks even a Klingon’s heart. 
Approaching Gowron at that moment would be deemed a challenge and an accusation that Gowron was responsible for Torghn’s death. Gowron would have killed young Pok if he had done that. 
Gowron’s voice was level as if telling a part of the story he would rather not have told.
Gowron moved to Pok and pulled him away from his father’s body, then he pulled out the killer probe and studied it, Romulan, a coward’s way to kill. 
Gowron told them what they all knew, but wanted to make sure his debt was clear – It would have killed me if Torghn had not taken the full force of the probe.
The look in K’Tar’s eyes would have stopped a charging beast. 
Gowron sealed the cha’nob himself, long before he left for Taganika
Vok’s hatred of Gowron and Torghn is well known
Vok – True, I would weep for neither
Qua’lon – I shall have revenge on you and your house.
Qua’lon drew his knife and plunged it into Vok’s stomach, holding it there until the Klingon closed his surprised eyes and died. 
Qua’lon – this is the knife that killed the man who killed your father. I give it to you to show the circle of vengeance is closed. 
Gowron leans over and picks up the knife – I understand the passion of your actions. I too have killed for vengeance. But the circle of vengeance is far from closed.
Gowron – Vok is a small man from this provincial world. To place an assassin probe in my belongings would be impossible for a single man. The package was tampered with long before it got here. There are others involved. The circle is not closed. I will swear an oath. A blood oath. To find all who are responsible for the death of my friend. Qua’lon cannot join him. He must stay here, protect the House of SepIch. Vok’s house may seek revenge of their own. Who will swear a blood oath with me?
Gowron picks up Torghn’s knife by the blade. He closed his hand around it hard until it cut through palm and the blood felt wet between fingers. Then he took the knife away and slapped bloody hand down hard on the chest of the deceased. Pok takes blood oath, took the knife, cut his palm, and placed his bloodied hand on Gowron’s on his father’s chest. His grip was firm.
With Gowron he repeated the words – I swear on the river of blood in my veins. Vengeance on those who killed my friend, my father, Torghn! Quapla!
All the others around shouted Quapla and the oath was sworn.
Gowron – Humans and their need to think before acting. Klingons learn the opposite when they are children. When your brother says, ‘Do this’ then you do it, or you poise yourself to fight. If a woman bares her teeth at you, you hold her off, or poise yourself to love. Either way, the path is action. Consequences are dealt with later.
Pok has not yet completed the Second Rite of Ascension. In the eyes of the nugh tlhegh he is still a boy. Would you have him seek vengeance before he has become a man?
I will not take a boy on a man’s voyage
Qu’nos, the homeworld of the Empire.
Bird of prey and 10 other ships, one the BotKa, wait for days over Qu’nos for news of Gowron’s death. After days of waiting the humor had left the ship.
B’Etor sat in command chair, Lursa stood at her side. They were both dressed as Klingon warriors. Knives hung from their belts. Knives that had known blood.
Message comes in coded Deep Space.
B’Etor sprang to her feet
Lursa – Do not be so hasty, B’Etor. I trust dRacLa, son of Vok. His hatred for Gowron is as sharp as mine.
The message! B’Etor demanded.
The warrior at the communications panel turned slightly, his shoulders almost showing fear for what he must say – Gowron lives. dRacLa says the trader he hired failed in the task. He personally will try again.
B’Etor turned and smashed her fist into the pillar.
Lursa stood, obviously thinking. She and her sister were so close to taking control of the High Council. Only Gowron and his supporters stood in their way. He had to be removed. Assassinated. There was no other way. And assassinated while meeting with Starfleet would only help the House of Duras. 
Lursa moved back to the command chair.
The BotKa goes with the sisters’ ship. Other ships remain over Qu’nos. 
B’Etor – sister, what are we doing?
Lursa – I am tired of waiting for others to do our work
B’Etor – As am I.
Lursa – I have a plan
B’Etor – Good.
59 Jellico has not attended a Klingon ritual
they are full of richness. Our rituals come down to us through centuries of tradition. They still serve us well. 
Second Rite of Ascension;
A ring of stones framed the ritual chamber, a fire burned high in the middle of the room on a stone hearth, the only light. On the walls hung Klingon weapons, warriors’ weapons, night air sharpened senses. Four Klingon warriors held pain sticks, three of Pok’s uncles, one from Gowron’s ship. They stood two by two, forming an aisle to the flame. Young Pok entered the ring of stones and Qua’lon and Gowron went to greet him, stopping two paces short of him. He was dressed as a warrior that night. His confidence gave him the courage to do so before the ceremony. Gowron honored him for that. 
Qua’lon – Are you ready, Pok, son of Torghn? Do you wish to take your place among the great warriors of your house? Argan, son of T’lak. Seegath, son of Seeth. Janar, son of Seegath. Torghn, son of Kmpok. If so, step forward. 
Pok took one large step toward Qua’lon.
Qua’lon – Not every man has the courage to become a warrior. Not every man can make the voyage through the River of Blood even after he chooses to try. Will you make this voyage, Pok, son of Torghn?
Pok stepped forward again. he now stood face-to-face with Qua’lon.
Gowron – You have chosen
The four warriors in the gauntlet snapped their pain sticks as a sign of honor.
Qua’lon – The night before your father’s Rite of Ascension I lay awake, but Torghn slept soundly. In the morning I asked him how he had been able to sleep so well. He said, My fathers and fathers before me have traveled the River of Pain. I know that the courage is in my blood and I am not afraid.
Gowron – Come. It is time.
Qua’lon and Gowron picked up their pain sticks and moved to their positions across from each other at the end of the gauntlet. Now Pok faced a line of six Klingon warriors, three on each side. 
Qua’lon – Show us your heart. Today you are a warrior.
Pok squared his shoulders and stepped between the first two warriors, never taking his eyes from the fire in front of him. The warriors used their pain sticks to shock and beat him. For a moment young Pok stumbled backward and Gowron feared for him. But then he slammed back at their attack, kicking and fighting them until he had moved to the safe area before the next two warriors. Across from Gowron Qua’lon and Gowron nodded  approval. Pok had done well so far. He had fought back against the pain. The young Klingon took a deep breath and stepped between the next two warriors. They were even more savage than the first, as was their duty. They jabbed him with the sticks, kicked him, smashed him with their fists. But Pok fought back, deflecting their blows, moving with the others. He stepped past them and they bowed in honor of his courage. Now he faced only Gowron and Qua’lon with determination in his eyes. He never looked at them, only at the fire in front of him. 
Qua’lon shouted – The battle is yours! Travel the River of Pain
Pok stepped between them and stopped. Qua’lon and Gowron took their pain sticks and pressed them against Pok, holding them against him. He trembled with the pain, but kept his feet. They pressed harder. He remained standing, his eyes focused on the fire. 
Qua’lon finally said – Pok, when you die, you will die a warrior, and join the black Fleet, where you will fight and die forever. 
Qua’lon and Gowron pull their pain sticks away and bowed to Pok in honor of his achievement. Pok took the last step through and stopped, facing the fire. His knees faltered and he went to the ground. But his gaze never left the fire in front of him. His back never bent. 
Gowron stepped between Pok and the fire – It is finished. You have done well, Pok.
Pok looked up and smiled. His mother rushed in and helped him back to his feet. She bowed her head slightly, showing Pok his new status as the head of the house – In one day’s time the House of SepIch has lost one warrior and gained another. You do us honor, Pok.
Gowron – I see it in your eyes. One who has traveled the River of Pain. Others will see it too, and they will know that you have chosen the way of a warrior. And they will be afraid. That, too, is a weapon. 
Pok nodded his thank-you and leaned against his mother. Gowron knew he had a strong new ally to replace Torghn. 
Stood in the ritual chamber giving young Pok a moment to recover his strength. One of the servants rushed in and whispered in Qua’lon’s ear. 
Gowron’s men have finished analyzing the probe. They all moved inside and gathered around the dining room table. 
Tellot, Gowron’s best science officer. Female.
The probe most likely from the Soltaris System, within Romulan controlled space. illegal in almost all known sectors, efficient, deadly accurate, but difficult to program correctly. The materials cost for one would bankrupt a small house.
Gowron does not think the Romulans are involved. The Romulans want his defeat, not his death. 
Gowron – I have not traveled through the dark reaches of space without learning where the dishonorable wretches do their dealings.
K’Tar – Yes, and you have brought the fruits of their dishonorable hatred into this house. I entrust you with my son’s life. I too, can swear a mother’s blood oath. You would not want that.
Gowron held her gaze for a moment. No, I would not. We understood each other. We always had.
Gowron to Pok – Do not come because others want you to. You must know your own mind.
The story of Kolan and Dula. Kolan let his father’s death go unavenged. No one would marry him. He died without sons. His house became bankrupt. His name disappeared with the wind. Death is only death.
Qua’lon – if you die for yourself, for your family, I shall have an opera written, just to tell the tale of your courage. Men and women will sing the name Pok, torghen puqloD.
I have sworn a blood oath, I will travel after the murders of my father.
Do not take much, a farmer’s treasures are a warrior’s burdens.
Gowron’s flagship, the BortaS, would be recognized, they will know that Gowron, head of the Klingon High Council, is coming
Qua’lon’s ship the Tagana
Gowron – Thank you, Qua’lon. I am honored. We have smelled the prey. Now let us follow the trail.
Third day in a row meetings at round table go poorly. Both sides claimed they wanted to work with the other, yet there seemed to be no common ground on which to base trust. Tomorrow the last day. Nothing was going to be solved. 
Worf had informed Picard of what measures DS 9, Odo, was taking for security. 
Odo – It seems likely the person directly behind the bombing was a Klingon named dRacLa. He’s been on the station for three weeks, ostensibly working on an agricultural exchange. 
Odo witnessed a meeting between dRacLa and the Caxtonian bomber. Worf not happy.
dRacLa, son of Vok, from agricultural planet Taganika
Dax takes Riker to small Argainian café with a wonderful wine selection, far from Quark’s. huge plants hung everywhere.
Deanna gives Riker one of those smiles
Gowron and his security advisors have been informed of dRacLa’s presence on the station.
Gul Dukat, Two Cardassian ships are arriving, they hate Klingons, and the Fed.
Disrupting theses meetings benefits any number of races as well as factions inside the Klingon Empire. The Cardassians would profit greatly from a Fed/Klingon war.
Full fives days of meetings
Gowron must have known dRacLa was on the station when he arrived. What was he trying to tell them with this story? Crafty, very crafty.
Gowron’s ships on starboard side of Ds 9.
The entire sector knows that meetings between the Fed and the Klingon Empire are occurring on DS 9. Dukat comes to let Sisko know Klingon birds of prey are heading for the station. It’s bad enough having the Fed control DS 9, having the Klingons own it would be intolerable. Dukat is here to make sure that doesn’t happen. 
Two Klingon guards and two Fed security stood over the empty table. Four men with weapons guarding an empty table.
Picard, Sisko and Gowron concluded that the arrival of the Cardassians made no difference. Gowron swore he knew of no other Klingon ships headed toward Ds 9 but agreed to look into it. Maybe, he said, the Cardassians were doing him a favor. Either way he agreed to continue his story. 
A good story is better told with blood wine. You do not know what you miss.  Riker, after two nights of sipping blood wine was slowly developing more of a taste for it. It wasn’t as bad as many in the Federation thought.
77 the Tagana did not compare to the BortaS in room and speed. The command chair filled the center of the bridge, stations for five others. Gowron strode onto the bridge and knew at once it would be a good ship. 
ChaqI, Gowron’s weapons officer, female
DevwI’ the Tagana is prepared. We await your orders.
Gowron – She me the weapons array.
Weapons array on the lower level to the left of command chair
78 SvaD, one of Gowron’s guards
on a Klingon on ship there is no such thing as a casual order. Every order is obeyed.
79 Qugh, Gowron’s operations officer
Ler’at, elderly Klingon, obviously trusted and protected by Qua’lon stood at operations station
I will take this station now, he said, in the manner of the formal challenge of station
Who are you that would take this station from me?/Who challenges me for my station. Go away little nothing.
Who are you that you would stop me?
They growled at each other, then Ler’at turned his back on Qugh and went to work at the station. Qugh grabbed the old man by the shoulder and spun him away, knocking him to the floor. Ler’at, elderly Klingon warrior, had great speed. He climbed back to his feet, growled, grabbed Qugh. Ler’at, elderly Klingon, was no match for the officer. Again he was on the floor. Qugh turned and began to work at his new station. Ler’at climbed to his feet, bowed to Gowron and took up a new position at the navigation console. /Ler’at, elderly Klingon, turned his back on Pok. Pok grabbed his shoulder, spun him around, tossed him to the floor. Torghn had taught the young Pok well. Pok soon bean the old warrior to the floor. This time the old warrior rose and left the bridge. He would find another station below. Gowron gave Pok his approval, then told his science officer to teach Pok the station, teach him well.
HighoS
Gowron left his home when he was not much older than Pok. It was many years before he saw it again. He was a warrior when he returned.
No one stands around on a Klingon ship. Everything must have a use. 
As captain I remove those who do not do their jobs. Otherwise positions are chosen by crew. Advancement is measured by physical skill, not proficiency at a task. Both, a warrior must be able to fight first. The captain, the strongest, then judges his ability to perform the task. Only the best at both rise to the top.
Gowron slapped his hand down hard on the table, causing two of the guards to flinch.
Having a Klingon tell a human he was thinking like a Klingon was high praise indeed
Telling this story is thirsty work
Gowron insults Jellico
83 Next morning, approaching Balka System, communications officer announces. A brown ugly looking rock.
Navigation console officer prepares for standard orbit, slows to impulse, takes orbital track. All while cloaked.
Communications officer announces no warships in system, just cargo ships and a small runner vessel.
Decloak, drop shields, prepare to beam to the surface
These people trade in assassination. Death without honor.
84 BItuHpa bar not fit for human, Klingon or even Cardassian. Drugged smoke filled the air. The smell of the unclean. Fifty varied species. No other Klingons. Beam directly into the bar. Bolian singer at keyboard, large human bartender Meska, no idea who Gowron is. Gowron has smelled better Caxtonian traders after long hauls. Two armed Bolian thugs at doors. Local spirits Necti, Pelet, Ora.
Gowron – I was not there for a fight. No weapons! What kind of a yInTagh bar is this! You cannot expect us to give up our knives. We are Klingons. I give you my word, no one will be harmed with them. The bartender Meska thought for a moment. With what brain I do not know. 
85 Gowron to guards - these nuchpu’ fear the very weapons tthey sell. Mix yourself in among these people. See what you can overhear. And try not to kill anyone. 
Gowron – Many things that do not look so, can become weapons.
Gowron hoped for a chance to remove that offending look from his face permanently
86 ngaSwI’ wej. Hivje’mey
soon Pok will be truly tested. His life for a right decision.
The bridge of the bird of prey was dark under cloak, holding at long range scan
Lursa held her position in the command chair while B’Etor paced to her left. 
Click and hum of the ship
Lursa had not expected to see Cardassian ships at DS 9
B’Etor’s voice was low and firm – I have no patience for this.
87 Lursa – I know, sister. But we must wait. Nibo Hoq is on the station now. He will contact dRacLa. We will learn Gowron’s movements. Until then we wait.
B’Etor – This could take days
Lursa – It might.
For some reason the two Cardassian ships bothered her. She was willing to face the station, the Enterprise, Gowron’s ships. But Cardassians she did not expect. All they could do was wait until their operatives gave them more information. 
B’Etor again stopped her pacing – I hate waiting
Lursa – I know, sister
Gowron was a good storyteller, there was no doubt about that. 
Pelat, sweet, made from fermented Talaran berry
Ora has little kick, a nasty taste, not much worth the effort but one of Gowron’s guards drank it so he ordered it.
Necti, Gowron drinks it sometimes. A Birani beverage, said to be made from reactant fluid distilled in the blood of Necti warriors. Smells like fresh ground turned for a grave. Poison for humans, Ferengi, Romulan. To a Klingon It burns going down and sears the stomach as well as the brain. Gowron has known of Klingons who have died drinking it too fast. It is an interesting drink.
Pok enjoys his Pelat. 
Gowron requests Klingon opera from human singer, she starts into tlhIngan jIH, a popular opera about the nature of being Klingon. Sings it through twice. The opera has a five note theme.
Klingon opera the melodies are simple, quite repetitive, the difficulty is handling the tonality, to understand the spirit of Klingon opera. The trick is you must be harsh with it. 
Gowron flirts with the singer, in a gentle manner, leading her on as he has seen humans do to their women
A very little known Klingon custom of showing appreciation for a performance. She had pleased Gowron with her performance, it was custom. Klingons show their appreciation of good art or performance by smashing something, then paying for it. The song, the opera was superb, a bar glass cost nothing. Breaking it would have been an insult to her. A chair better. Guard smashes it into small pieces. Gowron offers her a bar of latinum from his pocket. A good singer of Klingon opera must always be given appreciation.
Singer – I thought Klingons took information. I was not aware that they paid for it.
Gowron stepped right up and looked in her face, sneering at her – The latinum is for the chair. The information you will give for free. 
He saw the flicker of fear cross her eyes, he knew he had her at that moment
Gowron’s guards and Pok make very short work of the two thugs. Without knives
Many a Klingon warrior had backed down to Gowron’s threats.
Meska the bartender arranges weapons sales in the bar
Pok, my young comrade
Gowron threatens bartender Meska with a drink of Necti. I held the glass above his face and splashed a little of the drink in his eyes. I lifted him into the air. Tell me now, bartender, before I pour the whole bottle on you. The bartender tried to twist out of my grasp but I held on and poured the rest of the glass on him.
Shipments of weapons come through from the Soltaris System, the Toofa, a Pakled vessel.
Gowron – I was disgusted. I hated Pakleds. They were stupid beasts.
94 T’Rok, guard
Gowron drank the rest of the bottle of Necti, let the bartender go and threw the bottle against the back wall – no sense in wasting it, eh?
I said now and we returned to the ship
At the shocked look in Barclay’s eyes, Gowron sat back and laughed.
96 Nibo Hoq, a Saurian merchant, his most profitable item had always been information. thin frame, flowing green robe. Booked a room for three nights in DS 9 guest quarters, his own ship. Third day. Been on station before, not questioned. Reputation of being able to deliver information to the highest bidder. Odo suspected him and kept him under fairly tight watch. 
Meets large Klingon warrior, known by faint scratch mark on door. The Klingon dRacLa had been in the room for most of four days, few signs of life. many ways around Cardassian door technology, easy for Klingon to manually push open, hard for human or other. Single candle, thin mat. Hard features and ridge lines in his face. Packet in vest of payment. 
Gowron beams back to his ship immediately after the meetings break up, in late afternoon, then he comes back and drinks in Quark’s until fairly late, telling stories. He is officially a Fed guest. He is guarded by both his men and the Fed. When the station’s shields drop, after the meetings, he is the first to beam to his ship. 
dRacLa – Gowron always believed stories were important. I see that he has not changed. 
dRacLa pulled his knife and with a quick turn buried it into Hoq’s stomach/lungs. Hoq fought, but against the strength of dRacLa it did no good. He looked into the cold black eyes of the Klingon. dRacLa yanked the knife out and let Hoq fall to the floor. Information is a two-edged blade. I have no desire to be cut. 
Hoq – You had my word
Your word, dRacLa said. The last think Hoq heard was the Klingon laughing.
100 Gowron assumed it would not take his ship long to overtake the Pakled ship. They are slow slugs at best. He was right.
Communications officer ChaqI picks up vessel within scanning range only three hours after they left the bar, Pakleds left bar 16 hours ago
Gowron spins in his command chair so that he could address ChaqI directly
Gowron - Cloak the ship
ChaqI – Cloaking the ship
The lights dimmed, we were cloaked. Scanned that the Pakled cargo hold is empty.
qoH! I was not happy
ChaqI - HuH Pakled. A ship must be treated with honor. How can they do this?
Gowron – They are Pakled. It was enough to explain.
Gowron orders Pok to number two tactical station.
101 Surgh, Gowron’s best navigator
Gowron - I want to be right in the Pakled’s face when we engage the tractor beam. We will make these Pakled tell us who purchased the Romulan hunter killer probe. But they must be questioned with care. Frighten a Pakled too much and I will never get the information.
Dead stop, Surgh said
His nose looked as if a warrior had pounded it flat with a fist. He was frightened and very nervous, as I had planned. His voice almost squeaked. Like a comm system gone bad. I always hated Pakled voices.
yltamchoH, I said to ChaqI. 
I managed not to laugh. I managed to keep my smile hidden but it was not as easy task.
Gowron sends Surgh to transporter room to beam Pakled over, Pok takes over navigation
Know how to run a tactical station on a bird of prey. Know the difference between a tractor beam and a cloaking device. Know the difference between shields and firing disruptors. If tractor beam is still engaged while disruptors are fired, creates feedback loop and ship is destroyed.
If Pok was not trained well, would I risk my life? The life of my ship? Giving him a post such as I did?
Gowron – Up close I could smell the Pakled’s sour odor, like fruit left too long in the hot sun. to my nose it was not a pleasant smell. 
106 QI’yah. Are you sure? Get this veQ off my bridge.
Warp nine back to Balka System, take over an hour. We will teach this bartender that Klingons do not like being played with. 
Jellico – Is this a good place to break until tomorrow, or is there a better one?
Gowron – A politician. There is a better place not far ahead. 
Mess hall. Food in the center of the mess table.
Gowron – I will let you have the honor of killing him. But a warrior must know more than just how to kill an enemy. You must know why you fight. Your history. Do you know your family line? When you die wit honor, you will serve with all your warrior ancestors in the Black Fleet. And you must know to greet them all by name. 
Pok’s mouth was full of food. He nodded.
The old warrior comes in to mess hall, sits next to Pok. Eats, pretending to ignore Pok.
Gowron – You must finish this now, Pok. Establish between you who is superior. 
Pok reached over and took Ler’at’s plate of food. Ler’at stared at Pok, then growled. He got up and left the room without challenging Pok.
Gowron – It is over between you. He will not challenge you again. But do not dismiss his whole life because of this. Old warriors once were young. The honors they have gathered should not fade with time. 
Gowron makes Pok look him straight in the eye – Understand this, Pok. He is no longer your enemy. Make him your friend. show him you honor his past. 
We will repay this bartender who sent us chasing wild Ooghmey. We transported directly back into the bar, disruptors drawn and ready. Old warrior Ler’at comes with them. 
T’lak and Ler’at[?], Gowron’s two guards, have been with him for years. Both were with him when Torghn was killed. 
The bartender was gone. QI’yah
Gowron knows Meska the bartender was only a buyer for the real assassins. He suspects someone among his own people to be one of the assassins. How eles would the probe have found its way into Gowron’s own belongings? The old warrior Gowron knew to be an honorable warrior. He could have left service to live a comfortable life long before. But he stayed on, leaving himself open to challenges by younger warriors. Do not think that because a warrior is old, he is any less than he was. T’lak had made Gowron suspicious, uncomfortable of late with odd actions. Gowron has T’lak pay bar singer; he has two very distinct Acta crystals. Crystals Gowron had marked earlier with special marks and given to Meska the bartender in payment for the drinks. Gowron shoves T’lak to the floor. The old warrior, Pok and Ler’at pull him up and hold him. Gowron turned his back on T’lak. Gowron questions T’lak, still not looking at him. T’lak scuffles, gets a small disruptor in his hand, was going to kill Gowron when the singer uses a disruptor of her own to kill T’lak. Gowron nods his thanks to her. Searching T’lak’s body reveals a Galorine credit slip.
Gowron does not know Galor.
The singer brightened at his lack of knowledge.
Since Gowron did owe her his life he agrees to take her on as guide. 
We left T’lak on the floor. He died without honor.
The hour is late. The morning is not far. I depart.
A DS 9 guard notices door ajar, sees Nibo Hoq dead, is himself hit and knocked out by Klingon warrior.
All the Klingons with Gowron beam back to their respective ships every night. Dax has already double checked that all Klingons accounted for.
119 Lursa sat in the command chair of the near darkness of the bird of prey bridge. She kept staring at the Fed station on long-range scan. She grew tired of waiting. They had waited for over a day now. Cloaked. Sitting in darkness. The day’s meetings between the Fed and the dog Gowron were about to start. She had heard nothing from her contacts. A moment later B’Etor stood by her side. She said nothing. There was nothing to say. 
Lursa – Take the watch. I will get food
B’Etor slipped into the command chair. They could not afford to wait much longer. Yet they had no choice. Lursa was almost off the bridge when her communications officer said – Incoming message from the station. Cloaked channel. Instantly B’Etor was beside Lursa behind the officer. He worked quickly to decode the message, then turned to them – Gowron is always the first to beam off the station after the day’s meetings. 
B’Etor turned, almost angry – What is dRacLa thinking? His information is worthless.
Lursa – No, sister. It is good information. Exact information. It will allow us to carry on with our plan.
B’Etor stopped and turned, ready to argue with her sister, but when she saw Lursa was smiling she stopped. Lursa had not smiled in days. And only the possibility of Gowron’s death would make her smile so.
The morning session of meetings gained no ground. Jellico stubbornly refused to compromise with Gowron. Tonight the last evening. Picard has idea of story at lunch to help break down barriers. Tonight the end will be reached without strain. 
Picard noted that Dax and Riker made a good couple. 
Gowron had a bowl of gagh for lunch at Quarks, it was his favorite food. Gowron took a few bites and washed it down with a large drink of ale. 
123 on the ship the singer gave the coordinates for Galor, four hours from Balka system. An hour out of Balka system the bird of prey picks up Meska the bartender’s ship, travelling at warp 6.5.
Gowron assigned Pok to communications, he picks up a ship within sensor range, announces incoming hail
ChaqI navigator, order cloaking device engaged
The human singer knew Klingons, knew how to respond to a Klingon’s challenge. Gowron liked her. 
Gowron - No! Don’t engage cloaking device. I want him to feel us breathing down his neck. Increase speed.
Meska the bartender – Hello, Gowron. I see you’ve picked up a new bed partner
Gowron – It is over, Meska. We have found you. Do not sacrifice your crew. Come aboard my ship. Meet your death honorably. 
Gowron was puzzled at his attitude but did not let it show. 
T’lak is lying in his own blood on the floor of your bar, like so much litter.
T’lak planted an explosive on the ship, Gowron and ChaqI find beeping detonator behind panel, keyed to a pad with five numbers. 
ChaqI – It is connected to the antimatter containment field.
Pok and D’cIq move to prevent singer beaming off ship, but not fast enough.
Gowron had been completely taken into another of the bartender’s traps. I could feel my anger. These two would die. I would see to that.
Gowron orders Pok to navigation
If we were to die, at least I would take the knowledge that the person responsible had paid the price. And also that I killed the person who killed my friend. 
Meska the bartender laughed – This is not one of your Klingon operas.
The singer shouted at him – Idiot! You don’t understand Klingons. She was clearly panicked. She knew she was about to die.
A Klingon hired them, from Taganika, from an ancient house. A name in exchange for our lives.
Gowron – I have sworn a blood oath to kill you and all those responsible for the death of my friend Torghn. Your lives are not a negotiating point.
Gowron drops his hand – Fire
The beautiful scene of their ship exploding in a ball of white. All of the crew said pItlh.
Pok’s voice was full and loud among the voices.
Gowron turned to the crew – The blood oath is obeyed.
Gowron filled his voice with confidence and turned to his bridge crew.
It would seem such was true
ChaqI – you waste time. Push the buttons. Enough talking. I am prepared to die. 
The device gave out a series of musical beeps. Following the theme of the opera tlhIngan jIH or The singer’s aria from qul tuq. 
The crew around the bridge yelled their joy. We were all prepared to die. but the quick thinking of a fellow warrior had saved us. That was a moment for rejoicing. Gowron knew in the last few moments Pok had grown to be a full warrior.
The singer’s aria from qul tuq. 
We have killed the assassins who killed your father. Until we know who hired these assassins, the oath will not be fulfilled
The trip back to Taganika at full warp gave time enough for dinner. 
The old warrior had a weary look in his eyes, he clearly thought this was finished between himself and Pok, he knew he had lost. What more was there to determine?
132 Pok has written a GaTH’k, an ode of respect for the old Klingon, Ler’at
Ler’at is full of old superstitions, he believes it is bad luck to speak proud words about yourself.
Ler’at, House of Tignar. Warrior Son.
At the battle of teh, he killed many men.
At the battle of reth he took many hurts
His arms were strong to lift the Bat’leth high
His heart was fierce to keep the enemy afraid.
At teh, at reth, at lagon, at dumath, at negan.
His arms are heavy now with the weight of many battles.
His heart is burdened by the press of many honors.
When he dies, the heaven will shake
with the screams of his comrades.
Warning the dead, Beware! Beware!
A warrior is coming.
The room was silent with respect for what we had all just heard.
Gowron – This was a true GaTH’k. I see the makings of a warrior poet in you. It runs in your family’s blood. Your father was very good at poetry.
Prepare yourself for your return to your home as a warrior.
Gowron to Picard – I look forward to the nights. I have grown fond of this table. And the good company.
Picard - I am honored
Riker – As am I.
Gowron – tonight you will match me, glass for glass.
Riker pales – I will match you, sir.
Gowron – True Klingon spirit. I like that in a human.
Gowron would be very proud to show Jellico his ship. Picard and Worf decline. 
Gowron opened his communicator – Four to transport. DaH.
Suddenly two Klingon birds of prey decloaked right in front of the station. One fired on Gowron’s flagship. The other stood off to the side. Too late to stop the transport, not to Gowron’s ship but to the second ship. When the bird of prey fired on Gowron’s ship, its shields went up automatically. The two Klingon ships quickly turned to move away without firing another shot. They cloaked, disappearing almost as fast as they had appeared. Gul Dukat’s ship go after Klingon ships. Gowron’s flagship, then the Enterprise turn and jump to warp. Worf scrambled instantly to his station at security. Klingon warriors at Quark’s suddenly answer their communications calls. The word passed quickly, within moments every Klingon in Quarks got up and run for the door. Gowron’s flagship off in a direction headed for the Klingon Empire. Picard orders stay with that ship, warp nine.  No sign of the other two ships, they remain cloaked. Picard trusts that either Dukat or Gowron’s crew have a way of tracking a ship under cloak. 
Sisko – We have a Klingon somewhere on this station who doesn’t belong here. I want him found.
Over 40 Klingons had beamed aboard the station since this morning before the meetings.
dRacLa, son of Vok, walked the Prom, a dozen other Klingons on Prom. None seemed the slightest bit alarmed. He needed both food and drink, and news. He wasn’t sure his message had gotten out of the station and if Lursa had received it. If it had, he would move to step two of his plan. 
Ale and a full loaf of Klingon bread
dRacLa paid with an Acta crystal
Gowron, Jellico and guards transported to small dark room with very securely latched door. He knew the room was on a bird of prey. He also knew he wasn’t on his own ship.
Gowron – Get us out of here. moD!
144 RocIa and uQvam, Gowron’s guards pull their disruptors, adjust setting, fire at locking mechanism, walls protected by a forcefield. There would be no breaking out.
Gowron - bup, we will wait.
Both guards kept their weapons drawn, as they should, and took up flanking positions
Gowron forced himself to not laugh – Admiral. I am afraid you are just an unlucky passenger. This is a Klingon ship. I fear this is a plan to kill me. And it may well succeed.
The story of Pok was truth.
There is always meaning beyond a Klingon’s story.
Gowron turned from the stupid human, he put his back to the wall and slid to the floor. In front of him his two guards took up their positions. They would give their life for him. He hoped it would not come to that. 
Lursa’s ship at warp eight, maximum velocity under cloak. They were heading into Klingon territory. Gowron and his guards on the Botka, which traveled close beside them.
B’Etor asked for the fifth time – How can they know we are here?
For the first four times neither Lursa nor any of the crew had an answer. Yet it seemed their pursuers did know exactly where they were. Lursa had already made two course corrections. Dukat, the Enterprise, and Gowron’s flagship followed exactly. This did not make sense. It could not be happening. Their ship was cloaked. Not even another Klingon ship could accurately follow a cloaked bird of prey
Lursa – Alter course again, two degrees, then bring us back on heading. 
B’Etor – They will catch us shortly. What then? We can’t stay ahead of them if we are cloaked.
Lursa – We fight. And when we die, Gowron dies with us. 
B’Etor – So be it
Lursa – So be it. But I have another idea first.
On the Enterprise Worf ventures the possibility that the Cardassians are working with the enemies of the Empire. Dukat might be leading Gowron’s ship and the Enterprise into a wild ride across space. 
Ten minutes and they’ll be in the Neutral Zone.
The two birds of prey decloak, close distance ahead of Dukat’s ship. They accelerate to warp nine point one. They send a subspace message ahead of them, calling for help. The closest Fed ship is the Merrimac, 5 hours away. Gowron’ ship is also calling ahead for help. 
Picard orders Enterprise to pass other ships, fire at birds of prey, for Worf to target both ships at the same time, slow them down without destroying them. Worf fires.
Gowron had spent the time in the darkened room ignoring Adm. Jellico and listening to the ship around him. He knew they were travelling under cloak and at top speed under cloak. Then, when the sound changed faintly, he knew the cloak had been dropped, and he could hear the engine being pushed even harder. His guess would have been over warp nine. It took him a moment to understand why. Why a cloaked ship would need extra speed, more than being cloaked, then he understood. Someone had been tracking the cloaked ship since they left the station. He suddenly laughed aloud, understanding exactly what had happened, and most likely, how. 
Gowron could not miss the sneer in the admiral’s voice.
Gowron – Our enemies are stupid. Their stupidity may get us killed. But they are stupid, so our chances of living are better. I have ears and I know how to listen. 
Gowron rolled with the first impact and came to his feet, braced against the wall for the next – Watch the door. If the field drops I want out of here, quickly. 
Both guards nodded their understanding. The ship rocked with another hit. Jellico gets bumped around. Gowron ignored him. There would be time for him if they lived through this. Gowron kept listening. We have slowed, he said after a moment. Another blast rocked the ship and the lights flickered. Instantly the guards fired at the door and it swung open. Gowron took the disruptor from RocIa and indicated the guard should pick up stunned Jellico. Then without so much as a glance backward he was out the door. 
Worf reports after another direct hit the birds of prey are slowing and losing power. One of the birds fires at Enterprise. Picard warns the other two ships to stand clear and not fire. Two blasts of phaser fire from Worf causes one bird trying to power up again to lose power. The two birds are slowly moving apart, in 30 seconds the second ship will be out of Enterprise range. Picard decides to stay with the one, Data informs Gowron’s ship, and they move after the other. Dukat remains outside the fight, he brought them here to fight this fight.
A disruptor blast almost got Gowron as he led the way out into the hall. Gowron rolls and comes up firing, his shot took down the one guard without problem. 
Gowron – He should have learned to fire more accurately. 
uQvam laughed. Gowron took the guard’s gun and gave it to RocIa, who tucked the gun I to his belt. They head for the turbo lift. They left Jellico in a large storage closet, warning him to remain very quiet. 
Gowron – I have had a desire to do that to him. All week. 
Both guards laughed
They crouch on the lift as it nears bridge level. The crew were frantically working to get their ship working, they would not expect an attack from within. Surrender! he called out in a loud, solid voice. Or die.
Three went for their weapons, never fired. Gowron and his men got them. The navigator and the captain raised their hands in surrender. Gowron knew the captain, cha’DIch, son of hiJaK. Gowron personally had given him his command on this very ship, the Botka. 
Gowron – You dishonor yourself, cha’DIch. Working for the House of Duras. And against the Empire. Your weapon. 
The captain’s hand went slowly to his side, then quickly drew out his disruptor. Gowron cut him down before the disruptor even got above his belt. Them man fall to the floor and Gowron used his foot to turn him over to make sure he was dead. 
Gowron – Stupidity does not make up for a lack of honor. 
A guard moves quickly to a console and brings up the front screen, showing the Enterprise
Gowron to himself – Picard. You should have been born a Klingon. You would have given us much honor.
155 Lursa stared at the screen in front of her. The Botka seemed heavily damaged. Her ship had taken some damage, but not as bad. Smoke filled the bridge and made her choke slightly, but she refrained from coughing. Gowron’s ship stayed close to hers as they drifted from the Botka and the Enterprise.
B’Etor – We will have warp power again momentarily. And the cloaking device still works. 
Lursa – Good news. But play dead for the moment. Just keep the shields up. 
B’Etor moved up to her side – Sister. What are you thinking?
Lursa – I am thinking that the Cardassian ship planted a device on the Botka that allowed them to track us. Possibly with Gowron’s party.
B’Etor – Since Gowron is there, and we are here.
She did not need to say any more. 
Lursa turned to engineer – Can you give me warp three? Under cloak? 
He glanced at his instruments – Yes. But we will need repairs shortly. 
Lursa nodded – On my command
B’Etor – The Botka is hailing the Enterprise.
Lursa – Now! nom!
The Duras’ sister’s ship jumps to warp and cloaks. Gowron’s ship does not follow it. 
Gowron’s smiling face lit up the Enterprise viewscreen. Behind him his two guards at the consoles. Two bodies on the floor. 
Gowron – thank you, Captain, for your help. The admiral bumped his head and is resting below.
Picard – It is good to see you well, my friend.
How did Dukat follow a cloaked ship? A secret that must remain with Dukat for the moment
The voyage back to DS 9 three hours
The captured Klingon ship had been taken under control by two of Gowron’s fleet ships. The call for help from the House of Duras ships, it seemed, was never answered. Or at least it was canceled by the ship that had escaped. How Gowron would handle the entire situation when he got back to Qu’onos was beyond Picard’s imagining. Picard would probably never know. He did know they had escaped both a sectorwide war and a Klingon civil war. 
Riker wants to talk to Geordi about turning Gowron’s story into a holodeck training program to train Fed personnel. And possibly the Klingons could have a human story, to help them understand humans. It would have to be a very interesting story. 
At the next morning’s meetings nothing was accomplished, Jellico was subdued and angry. Enterprise leaving the next day. Riker tries a forth time for dinner with Jadzia. Gowron agrees to finish his story over lunch.
Two Klingon guards stood facing the rest of the bar, hands behind their backs. Barclay and Worf joined the. Riker had a sneaking suspicion that Gowron actually liked Reg Barclay.
Gowron – you have been a good audience. A storyteller can ask for nothing more.
165 night had just gripped Pok’s home when we beamed down. His mother K’Tar greeted her warrior son as any mother would greet a son back from war. She hugged him. Her face shone. She nodded a thank-you to Gowron. 
Without Pok’s quick thinking Gowron would have been dead at the hands of his enemy
Over drinks and food around their large dining table Gowron told their story. 
Qua’lon – The circle of vengeance is closed. The House of SepIch can move on.
Gowron – The circle is not closed. We must still find the murderer of Torghn. We do not know who else is behind this plot. 
166 Vok, of the House of Ingka, other than the House of SepIch no house on Taganika is as old. 
Gowron – I cannot explain. The circle does not feel complete to me.
Gowron’s guards block a woman at the door. Gowron recognizes T’Var wife of Vok. 
T’Var – I would speak with you, Gowron.
Qua’lon jumped to his feet, clearly outraged – The wife of the veQ who killed my brother may not enter the House of SepIch. 
T’Var glared at Qua’lon then spit on the floor – You petaQ! Your men have ransacked my home. Taken my belongings, my treasures, beaten my son, dRacLa.
T’Var again looked directly at Gowron – My husband was innocent. Let me speak.
Qua’lon – As the head of the House of SepIch I refuse to allow you to speak. 
Gowron, his voice harsh – Qua’lon. You are not the head of the House of SepIch. Pok is.
Pok had sat quietly through all this, a trait of his Gowron admired.
Pok – Let her speak
I could tell from her look that she was not doing well, but I gave her none of my heart.
Qua’lon sat down hard in his chair and roughly pushed his food plate away, spilling his drink, in a show of dislike for Pok’s decision. 
Vok had many reasons to want Gowron dead. 
T’Var - Everyone knows what an honorable man Torghn was. He would never allow a guest, the head of the High Council of all guests, to be killed in his house. Think of the dishonor. He would die first. As he did. 
K’Tar – if a man wanted my husband dead he could aim at you, Gowron, and know my husband would take the death himself. 
Gowron – And we would look for the man who would murder me.
As if a light had been turned on in a dark room, the problem made sense to me. 
Who would gain the most from Torghn’s death? 
Gowron would have nothing to gain from Torghn’s death, he was Gowron’s ally in that area of the Empire. And if Gowron did want him dead, he would have killed him on open view, that is his way.
If Pok had accused his own mother she would have drawn her knife and given it to her son. She would have told him to fulfill his blood oath. Then she would have offered her chest. But Gowron would never have let Pok kill his mother, for honor. Dishonor would have fallen on Pok’s house for 10 generations. The House of SepIch would have disappeared from memory. That would not be the way. 
T’Var would have no more reason to kill Torghn than her husband, she would never have done so.
Gowron – I am about to finish a story. This water-filled ale will not do. Storytelling is best done with blood wine. It is my rule. And a good one.
Qua’lon shouted – I deny it!
He wanted to come over the table and kill me and his nephew. His honor had been questioned.
A charge has been made. You must offer proof of your innocence.
I challenge my accuser to a vItHay’. A test of innocence or guilt. A ritual challenge, is issued by an accused against the man doing the accusing. It proves who is guilty. Or who is not. It is a fight to the death. Klingons believe that in mortal combat the honorable fighter and the fighter on the side of truth in a situation, is always victorious. The truth will always have more strength than a lie. More inner strength. We live by such thoughts every moment. Every day. The ritual chamber has a fire in the center. The combatants are dressed in ritual fighting robes. Those who watch form a circle. The two combatants fight within the circle of warriors. The one whose charge had been made then denied has the first choice of weapons. 
You have made the accusation, you must accept the challenge.
Gowron has his guards prepare the chamber.
Qua’lon stared at me but made no move to challenge me. For I would have gladly killed him where he stood.
Qua’lon did not know how much Torghn had trained Pok in fighting. 
Pok had grown much inside in just a few days with seasoned warriors.
Six Klingon birds of prey decloak at DS 9. They have shields up and are in attack formation. Powered up full weapons and have targeted the station.
175 B’Etor at weapons console. Now they must wait, this would be the hardest part. The station had raised shields, that was the important fact, they could not beam Gowron off. If they tried Lursa would have him again. A simple plan. Bold. Lursa laughed to herself. If the Fed lost the head of the High Council, it would bring anger against the Fed. That anger was exactly what the House of Duras needed. A fight. A true reason to bring the Klingon Empire back to its glory.
Gowron’s flagship and the Botka[?] had moved away from DS 9 into defensive positions and powered up weapons. 
B’Etor – All ships are in position. All weapons are fully charged. Transporters stand ready.
Lursa – Good. Now make sure no one moves unless I give the order.
B’Etor a moment later – Done. She nodded to another to take her place and moved up beside her sister.
B’Etor – How long will they wait?
Lursa – I do not know. But I hope not long enough for reinforcements to arrive.
B’Etor laughed – That would be a problem.
Lursa said nothing. It was the only problem with her plan. Too many reinforcements would cause her to run. But she still had something extra, she still had someone on the station.
On DS 9 Klingons hurry to their stations, beam out stations, no beaming out.
dRacLa, son of Vok. Lursa and her sister had the station under hostage, now he was time to move. If he knew Gowron, he would make every effort to get back to his ship. Gowron knew he could not do that from Ops. He had to go to another place. dRacLa would catch him on the way. If Gowron did not move from Ops, dRacLa would catch him in another manner. Either way Gowron would die. dRacLa knew he too would probably die. but killing Gowron would complete the cycle of his blood oath. An oath he had taken as a child, the day his father died. dRacLa was prepared to die.
the Hornet is six hours away, the Merrimac is 10 hours away. Gowron’s ship also called for reinforcements, eight hours away.
Gowron – Lursa. I have underestimated that woman too many times. I did not expect this. Lursa and her sister are responsible. That much is clear. I also think they were on that other ship yesterday. This is not a civil war, yet. But I am in your house. I am in Fed territory. If I die here, your inability to protect me will be considered an insult against the Klingon Empire. Waiting would be a stupid thing for Lursa to do. She is not stupid. They will attack. But the question is how? Where? And when. If the shields drop Lursa would beam everyone in Ops onto her ship, assuming one of those captured would be Gowron. She took us once before in the same fashion. She knew I would be transporting the minute the station’s shields were dropped after the meeting time. She was smart. She would know that I have come to this location now. She would take everyone, kill all of us.  
That story tells much. 
Picard – With Gowron dead there would be no stopping a full war. 
Lursa and her sister were gambling that either Picard or Gowron would attempt to transport back to their respective ships. And if Lursa and her force had to wait too long, they would pound the station until the shields dropped and then do the same thing.
Gowron – I doubt getting me out of Ops would help the situation. There are at least 20 Klingons on the station at this moment, plus many thousands of others. I am sure Lursa has enough spies here to keep her informed as to my location. I would rather stay here. Where I trust who is behind me.
Gowron bowed slightly in thanks
Gowron – If we force Lursa’s hand, brought in reinforcements earlier than expected she would attack the station before they arrived. I am certain. She hopes to force the shields down. All her efforts will be to that end. Lursa has the power to force the shields down in a very short period. 
Picard familiar with the power of the birds of prey.
Gowron – the Enterprise and Gowron’s ships between her and the station would slow her efforts considerably. It would cause her much damage. She does not like to lose ships. I know that much of her. Ships are her power in the Empire. 
When Picard wonders about using Dukat, Gowron draws in a sharp breath, then snorts in disgust. 40 minutes away. 
Gowron, disgust in his voice – you would have Cardassians save us? Yesterday was bad enough. Must I be so shamed again?
Picard – These Klingon ships threaten a Fed station. I would call them, not you.
Gowron – And what honor is in that? 
Picard snapped back – What honor is in not defending our guests? In any fashion we can.
Gowron stared for a moment then suddenly laughed – Picard. You know us too well. 
Picard – Dealing with Cardassians is difficult for all of us.
Gowron – And very seldom worth the trouble.
Picard knew that with a little logic he would win that argument with Gowron.
dRacLa, unable to watch Gowron in Ops, had immediately switched to his backup plan. He would bring down the shields himself and trust that Lursa could find Gowron, wherever the animal hid. He had studied the engineering area carefully from old Cardassian plans. He knew where two timed charges would cause a cascade effect. He had already planted one charge. Without an instant’s hesitation, he pulled his weapon, spun and fired, first disruptor shot caught one Bajoran guard. The second guard fired, barely missing dRacLa. 
He had failed. That much was clear. But he would not die alone. Long enough to kill a few Federation dogs.
Lursa almost jumped out of the command chair – Do these dogs have no pride? They call to Cardassians for help. They have no shame. 
B’Etor – The Enterprise is moving into a position between us and the station, and Gowron is contacting his ships. This is not as we planned. He has ordered them to do the same as Enterprise. They will block us.
Lursa dropped back into the chair. An attack against the station now would be very costly. With the Cardassians on their way there was no more time to wait. She turned to her sister – Are you sure of that explosion on the station?
B’Etor nodded – It was in the engineering section. It failed to cut the power to their shields. 
Lursa nodded. dRacLa had failed, also. This day did not appear to be hers. She turned to her sister – There will be another day.
B’Etor looked as if she was about to object, then glanced up at the main  screen and nodded – You are right, Sister. There will be another day. And I hope that day includes the death of the Enterprise.
Lursa – We will work for it. That much I promise. 
She sat back in the command chair and studied the scene one more time. Gowron’s two ships were moving into a position between her and the station, flanking Enterprise. Her six ships against those three. She might win quickly. But she might win slowly. There wasn’t time enough to take that chance. It was over. 
Lursa – Order the ships to cloak and return home.
B’Etor – Yes, sister.
Lursa – There will be another day. There will.
They cloak and go into warp,
Gowron – They have run. There is still a Klingon cornered like a trapped animal in your engineering section. Am I right? I think this might be a situation best handled by my men. If I have you permission, sir?
Gowron called for 5 members of his crew to beam to DS 9. He was now talking to one tall warrior guard. The guard, Pok, went to the junction of the dead end corridor. Others step out of sight.
Pok – dRacLa, son of Vok. If you are to die honorably, now is the time. I will honor your blood challenge. 
dRacLa – How do I know you will not cut me down when I step forward?
Pok – You have my word, as a warrior.
dRacLa – I could cut you down like so much meat.
Pok – There would be no honor in that. He pulled out his knife and crouched.
A moment later anther Klingon lunged at him from the side hall. The two cuirlced each other, making slashing motions but drawing no blood. The first blood was drawn by Pok, he slashed the other’s arm. 
dRacLa – You are good. 
Pok nodded but did not respond. dRacLa lunged at what he saw as an opening. 
Pok moved aside, very light on his feet for such a large man. Then he caught dRacLa with an upward thrust. The knife went in solidly and Pok held him there, suspended on his knife for a moment, then pulled the knife out suddenly. dRacLa slumped to the ground. With only a glance up at Pok standing over him, he died.
Gowron nodded – Now, it is finished. 
He moved down the hall and slapped Pok on the back, the other Klingons did the same. They all ignored the body on the floor. Pok returned his knife to his belt. Gowron put his arm around Pok’s shoulder. Riker could not remember ever seeing such a happy, almost fatherly proud smile on Gowron’s face. 
Pok, son of Torghn, Gowron’s first officer.
Gowron loved the idea of using Pok’s story as a holodeck program to teach Fed personnel about Klingon customs and culture. No hesitations. Gowron had offered to be scanned for inclusion in this program. Dax offers to help Riker set up the program. But he’s feeling lucky at dabo at the moment.
Attached
Worf beams Picard and Crusher down to Kes-Pritt. The Kes are more security conscious than Worf
  Possession by J.M. Dillard & Kathleen O'Malley
P27 Riker and Worf decide to escort Deanna to impromptu Science Fair in 10 Forward after she's had a hard day. 
Worf in his deep bass voice. His stern tone lacked the good humor of Riker's and his dark fearsomely Klingon countenance showed no hint of a smile, but the black eyes beneath his prominent skull ridges contained the very faintest hint of amusement. 
The Science Fair could be educational, he directed pointedly at Alexander.
Alexander - That means boring in Klingon.
Worf growled low in protest. He and his young son rarely saw eye-to-eye.
Deanna - You don't find school boring. Your teacher tells me you're in the top ten percent of your grade. She says you're fascinated with physics and calculus and have enough curiosity for five students.
Riker - I guess Alexander knows a warrior can't just rely on his strength. He must be more cunning than his opponent.
Dr. Kyla Dannelke, opthalmologist. Face attractive by human standards but seemed far too delicate to Worf. Tall for a human woman, nearly eye level with Worf. When she stood her back was straight and strong. Good shoulders and large handsome hands. There was a strength about her that Worf found appealing. Too bad about her face, he thought. Bland straight teeth, strange blue eyes. Human males were far less particular than he. 
Alexander giggled helplessly and the happy sound touched Worf in a way little else could. This bright difficult boy was all he had left of his mate K'Ehleyr. His son's honest laughter was so like hers, it pulled at his heart. 
Alexander took top honors in his elementary anatomy class. They covered four species.
Worf shook her hand, careful to hold his strength in check. Her grip was weak, for a Klingon's, but impressively strong for a human female.
Alexander is good at the life sciences when he applies himself but Worf thinks his central interest is in physics. He wants to know how starships fly. Worf doesn't have to prod him in that area.
Dannelke has had only limited exposure to Klingons. she would have thought his interests would be in the less abstract sciences, and perhaps in contact sports.
Worf pressed his lips tightly together as he felt his temper climb but controlled it was the ease of long practice. 
It is true Klingons excel in those areas. However, we have specialists in all fields of science, as must any race who would maintain its technological expertise.
With a sudden flash of insight that came from being raised by humans Worf realized her direct eye contact with his meant she was attracted to him. And growing more attracted as his temper flared. The reaction was something he would have expected only from a Klingon female and it startled him. 
No Klingon scientist agreed to join the TechnoFair. To a Klingon, revealing scientific findings to the public at large grants knowledge to friend and foe alike. The Klingon High Command considers participating in the TechnoFair a security risk. 
Alexander's part human heritage was visible even to this stranger. The boy was paler, smaller, more delicate than Worf, with less well-defined skull ridges that betrayed his human blood.
Worf had heard that kind of veiled innuendo all through his own childhood, all through his years of study in the Academy, even as he came up through the ranks. He was no longer used to it, he had certainly never heard it since he'd come aboard Enterprise.
Worf - Are you implying that as a full-blooded Klingon I am incapable of passing on to my son the intelligence he needs to study the sciences?
Alexander programs holographic eyeball display to melt, dripping green and red ooze.
Swallowing a Klingon expletive Worf hustled Alexander away.
Alexander - That lady kind of reminded me of Mother.
Worf - That woman is nothing like your mother!
P88 Alexander must have been dreaming; his covers were everywhere except on his body and his pillow was on the floor. 
Alexander has small holographic eyeball. It is the all-seeing eye of a Klingon warrior! Worf chuckled, amused that the eye would watch over his son all night. Worf picked up the pillow and eased it under the boy's head, then straightened the covers and tucked the youngster in. Alexander would have been outraged at the tender gesture if he had been awake. But Worf had clear memories of his father doing the same to him when he thought his little son was asleep. Worf loved his child with a warrior's fierce devotion and a father's gentle caring. Few outside the Klingon family unit ever saw that side of the warriors, but it was there. Worf only regretted having missed the time of Alexander's life when he could have been gently cradled in strong arms as his father murmured stories of glorious battles and ferocious one-on-one combat to his infant son. Alexander would have none of that now. He bowed over the boy, meaning to kiss his skull plate.
Kyla Dannelke was a strong attractive woman. The mental admission brought forth a surge of guilt as though he were being unfaithful to his dead mate, to K'Ehleyr's memory. He pressed his lips together and permitted the corners to quirk a bit; it was the closest he could come at the moment to returning her happy smile.
Worf has just come off duty.
Kyla interrupted Worf and stepped into his quarters, boldly she walked about the general living area. Worf's lips parted in amazement, never had he seen a human demonstrate such forward, brazen behavior; she was behaving like a Klingon!
Kyla - These aren't Klingon warrior's quarters. Klingon quarters are austere. Warriors sleep on slabs of unyielding stone or metal. Comforts are for the weak. I looked it up this afternoon. Pretty cushy place, Lt.
Worf ground his teeth and took a slow calming breath. This was the most exasperating female.
Worf - I have served aboard Klingon vessels and Fed vessels. When aboard Klingon vessels I have Klingon quarters as you described. When aboard Fed vessels I live as a Fed officer. It is practical and makes my fellow crew members comfortable when they visit. If it is any business of yours.
Kyla - But surely your private quarters, your bedroom, is in true Klingon style. Hard slab. No pillow. 
Alexander sent Kyla a message through the computer after the TechnoFair, along with a program he'd made that would allow him to have a small eye just like her display. He needed some help with it. she cleaned it up and sent it back to him. He's changed it. originally it was a human eye, but now it's clearly Klingon. What a clever young man.
Had there been even a hint of sarcasm in her tone he would have lost his temper completely.
Worf admitted, with no small amount of discomfort - Alexander's mother was half-human, so he has a mixed heritage. He is much more like her than he is like me. I am content exposing him to Klingon culture and letting him choose what parts of it he cares to adopt. My mate K'Ehleyr, Alexander's mother, was killed by an enemy of ours some time ago.
Had Mrs. Worf been asleep, the scent of an unknown female in her quarters would have brought her instantly awake. 
She stepped closer to him. Meeting him eye to eye like an equal. It was a bold act and he couldn't help admiring her for it. most non-Klingons would have never had the nerve. 
Kyla - I am very ignorant of your culture and your people and have little opportunity to interact with them. I have started reading up on these issues, but you have a complicated culture.
Worf realized Alexander was right, she is much like K'Ehleyr. The realization was like a bittersweet knife to his heart. 
Kyla - Your face was like a darkening stormcloud, threatening to hurl lightening everywhere!
Kyla moved closer to him again, grinning and narrowing her eyes like a Terran wolf - I've always had this terrible weakness for tall, dark, handsome men, Lt. Worf. And it makes me say the most foolish things. So, do you think there's any chance we could get past the Lt. Worf - Dr. Dannelke stage anytime soon?
Worf found himself working to suppress his own smile and heard himself thinking that, yes, they might have a very good chance of getting past that stage quite soon.
P124 if there was any way through to his father's rough Klingon heart, it was through that bright young boy. She'd read that Klingons liked strong-flavored dishes, especially animal products, so she'd coaxed the replicator into duplicating her grandmother's infamous liver and onions, served rare f course, for Worf. Maybe Counselor Troi would know what Alexander's favorite meal was.
Alexander wants to invite Kyla to dinner. She helped him with his floating eyeball, it would be a nice way to repay her. You're always telling me that when someone offers you help that's a debt that must be repaid. 
Worf sighed, trying to tell himself he did not already know the outcome of this discussion.
Worf - Very well. You may invite her. And do not pout if she turns you down!
Alexander - I think Kyla really likes you, Father.
Worf's frown reappeared. The boy was entirely too precocious!.
Alexander behaved much better with others than he often did with his father. And, no doubt, due to his mother's early death, he was naturally attracted to women.
Worf thought how could you not be attracted to a woman who was intelligent, strong, forthright, and who also admired your son? He began to wonder if she knew more about Klingon culture than she let on.
Worf home when Alexander comes home from school, then he returns to the bridge. Worf off duty two hours after Alexander out of school.
Alexander with playful sarcasm - You're not going to make her eat Klingon food?
Worf - This is a dinner invitation, not an endurance test.
Kyla enjoyed catching Worf off guard. She had a feeling it didn't happen too often.
Worf - No one who fights as you do could lie about something like that. 
P151 Worf's security personnel have found some of the theatre group's greasepaint, a wig, and a voice modulator stowed in an out of the way locker. Worf thinks her assailant was disguised. As you can imagine Worf is not happy about this. The entire security staff has been briefed, but other than that.
P155 Alexander - I want to be a navigator, I think.
Kyla - Lots of math needed for that. Physics. All that kind of stuff.
Alexander - I know. I'm good at those subjects, so that should be all right. I don't know if they'll let a Klingon kid do that kind of stuff. I can't say that around Father. It makes him furious. 
Worf had gone after dinner to check with his security forces and was still in his private room. 
Kyla - Your dad's a Starfleet officer, and I'll bet before he joined no one would've ever believed Starfleet would've taken a Klingon into its ranks!
Alexander - They had to take him. His foster parents, my grandparents, are human, and my grandfather was a Starfleet chief petty officer. Father not only passed his tests, he was third in his class. They couldn't find a way to turn him down. 
Kyla - Alexander, don't make it easy on anyone. Don't pass up opportunities because you think they won't take you. Make them turn you down! Make them tell you to your face. See if they have the nerve. You're a bright strong kid! You can be anything you want to be in this Universe. Don't let anyone tell you differently!
Alexander - That sounds like something my mom would say. You remind me so much of her! Mother could find something funny about anything.
Kyla thought - That sounds so un-Klingon-like.
Alexander - She was half-human, but you can't tell by looking at me. I take after Father 
mostly. 
Kyla - You've got a lot of your mother in your face and your body structure too. And I think you've got her sense of humor, too.
Worf - He is a lot like K'Ehleyr. Especially in his stubbornness.
Small holo projector of K'Ehleyr near couches in Worf's quarters, she stood waving and grinning, one eyebrow canted upward as if in perpetual wry amusement.
K'Ehleyr a tall woman, pale skinned, with distinctly human features but skull ridges that spoke of Klingon ancestry.
Worf gearing up for a good bluster.
Worf - There is no crime aboard the Enterprise. Kyla drew blood, but her attacker drew none from her. I only wish I could apprehend this coward.
Worf's eyebrows nearly climbed past his skullplate.
Worf and Kyla play poker after dinner, Worf looses
P164 Worf dreams, reliving fierce battle with Duras. Blood pounding in his ears, roars of warriors surrounding him, he fought like a berserker, recognizing nothing but the 'bath'eth in his hands and his enemy before him. Duras, who had slain his mate. A dream he had not had since Alexander had come to live with him. 
Ens. Alvarado, f, level-headed security officer. 
Worf brushes his hair.
Normally another officer helps Alexander when Worf is called away early, as he helps her with her daughter when she must stay on duty late. 
Kyla surprised Worf by taking his face in her hands and kissing his skull plate. 
Security scans 10 Forward for hair and skin cells to determine the identity of the perpetrators. The computer is sorting through it, but the evidence is surprisingly small.
A Klingon would have the strength to wreck the TechnoFair in 10 Forward, or a Vulcan.
Picard orders Worf to have someone in security run complete background checks on every assistant or technician who came aboard with the scientists. He wants to know everything about them. If nothing shows up that indicates a suspect, then review the scientists' background as well.
Worf - And if nothing shows up there?
Picard - Then begin reviewing Enterprise personnel. Keep me closely informed.
P194 Alexander had always understood his responsibilities as a member of the ship and took them seriously. He'd seen numerous shipboard emergencies. And he was a Klingon, he would not panic, but weather the storm just as his father expected him to. Alexander was fully capable of taking care of himself, Worf felt better knowing a battle-ready adult would be with him. 
Worf was proud of Alexander's interest in science.
Kyla, the human warrior woman. 
Worf ground his teeth in an effort to repress a smile. If the Vulcan resisted, it would be a glorious fight! Their physical strength was great.
Worf repressed a sigh of consummately Klingon disappointment
Worf's brow furrowed at the unfamiliar colloquialism. Why would a Klingon want to bark at any tree?
The one thing Worf appreciated about Vulcans was their disinclination to prattle
There is no knowledge of the entities' effect on Klingon physiology. What would happen should a Klingon be infected by an entity who must feed on the most primal and savage emotions, the most powerful feelings? The entities were created as a weapon of war. Artifact found on planet in Hydrilla sector.
Worf - That is not warfare. That is slaughter. There is no way I can imagine such a dishonorable way to defeat your enemy. It is beyond my imagination. 
It pleased Worf in a way that such a dishonorable people would have caused their own destruction.
Worf crouched, ready for battle, but hesitated, should he subdue Crusher or Picard? He roared with pain and rage. Worf could not bring himself to strike Crusher. The body would have to be functional when Crusher was cured. He roared a Klingon war cry, Crusher echoed it just as fiercely.
The thought of being incarcerated in quarantine when the ship is in danger humiliated the warrior.
Ogawa - His readouts are normal, for a Klingon in battle rage!
P202 Klingons have many legends about great warriors hearing those who have gone on before them while in the heat of battle.
Picard - If you knew my mother, Mr. Worf, you'd know she well qualifies there. 
P208 Crusher feels like she's been trampled by a herd of wildebeests. Actually the herd consisted of a single Klingon. Worf lowered his gaze, clearly abashed.
P212 Worf - With your permission I will go to security to debrief my people, after which I would lie to return to my quarters to check on my son. 
P226 Deanna had once told Worf that the Klingon mind was not as simple as that of humans, who were trained to hide their deeper feelings. Klingon emotions hovered blatantly on the surface, but an empathy had to work to get to the deeper levels, where the truest Klingon emotions lay. Worf stood patiently, allowing Deanna to do that. 
He was a Klingon and knew in his heart that he would never succumb to such dishonorable entities. Never.
Worf has been infected by entities, but they can't affect him, they're trapped, dying, inside. A fitting death for such cowardly creatures. 
Worf believed Deanna utterly - Can I infect others? Alexander and Kyla evoked concern.
Deanna stared deeply into his eyes and he willed his mind to be open to her, to give her the information she needed. 
The thought of Picard possessed, like when he was abducted by the Borg, evoked such rage in Worf that he knew he must channel the emotion into productive action, or else he would be forced to put a fist through a bulkhead.
Alexander collects a backpack full of emergency rations, computer pads, and three phasers. Alexander beamed proudly beneath his father's approving gaze.
Worf - Remember in our nok'bara classes how I taught you about the calm before the battle. You must collect the calm about you, fill your mind with it, blotting out the invasion of the aliens. Show them your Klingon calm.
Data took Alexander's class to Deck 12, Jeffries tube 28 for a demonstration on the inner workings of a starship 6 months ago. It's an important hub. Apparently Alexander paid far more attention to Data's maintenance course than Data thought at the time.
Alexander rolled his eyes impatiently as his father gave him a stern look.
Worf snatched the back of Alexander's shirt and hauled his son behind him, at the same time Worf stepped in front of Troi, clearly prepared to take the full brunt of the phaser blast. 
Alexander always liked Jeffries tube 16, it's really small.
P248 Worf put his hand on Alexander's shoulder - we are all in danger. We can all be hurt. Alexander is a member of this crew, of this ship. He will do his part. We will all be proud of him. 
Worf suggests gaining control of weapons to fire on Vulcan ship, causing them to raise shields and not beam over to infected Enterprise.
Alexander's holographic Klingon eye is a diversionary tactic.
Worf fires phasers from Data's makeshift tactical panel.
Worf lifts Kyla, Deanna and Alexander all at once to their feet.
P278 Guinan walked up to Alexander's display of his Klingon eyeball - I didn't know you were planning a display, young man. And you usually tell me everything.
Worf, in a surprisingly gentlemanly manner, introduced Guinan to Kyla Dannelke.
Worf stood very close to the tall blond woman. Their body language was most interesting. Guinan thought of all the evenings Worf sat in 10 Forward alone, insisting that human women were too delicate for him. There wasn't much about Kyla that seemed delicate to her. 
Potential baby index: Worf/Dr. Kyla Dannelke
Rules of Acquisition
Curzon played tongo, a Ferengi game, all the time, but not very well
  Fallen Heroes by Dafydd ab Hugh
P24 ancient gun – Klingon Chordat-77
P27 Quark has an antique Klingon clock in his office, battery-powered. Odo studied it, trying to remember the native Klingon time and date system. The Klingon chronometer shows time and date. 
P38 O’Brien thinks Bajoran Lt. Moru, number two officer in Security after Odo, could probably have given Lursa and Bator [sic], the sisters of the Klingon Duras, a run for their money.
P123 Siras, Holy Siras, deity Trill’s supplicant to. Curzon never in the best shape. Jadzia a dance fiend. Curzon would have had better idea of strategy and probably knew more about explosives than Jadzia did. I am that which I am – now. Joined trill motto. 
P127 the computer identified the most powerful hand held chemically propelled projectile weapon in its library as the Klingon GarTadGar-Eleven, also known as the Klingon ‘windowpane.’ Jadzia had once seen a history holo of one of the early Klingon wars of succession, where they used the earlier-model GTG-4, even the toned-down version was powerful enough to punch through a ‘crawling fortress.’
P131 Ferengi have survived in the galactic community for 400 years, prospering by trade with Klingons, Romulans, Cardassians, Stroptophans, without ever fighting a war 
P134 Curzon Dax had been both phasered and knifed. The Dax symbiont thinks Merciful Mother
P141 Gul Dukat once told Odo that Cardassians attempted to make common cause with a race they called the Bekkir, the most secretive race known, extreme xenophobes, against the Klingons a 100 years or so ago, but the Bekkir destroyed the 3 Cardassian ships sent to them as emissaries. The Bekkir live in the Gamma quadrant and this was pre-wormhole. 
P280 Quark turned back to the Bornic trader who was trying to sell him a cargo hold full of some native Klingon plant, turach-tai, used in shamanic rituals – or so the Born said. 10 bars gpl to buy the lot. turach-tai tea
Force Of Nature
Worf reports The Klingons will observe the warp 5 speed limit.
  Dyson Sphere by Charles Pellegrino & George Zebrowski
P21 Perhaps they have enemies, Worf said, clearly seeing the neutron star as a weapon being wielded, who will not tolerate such a display of power and craft encroaching upon their progress
P28 the felt the danger that now faced them. Dr. Crusher was trying to push it aside. Worf preferred to confront it.
The natural universe, as every Klingon knew, was itself a fearful antagonist.
Worf – Stimulating as it is to consider such a war technology, I doubt that the Dyson Sphere merits as attack on this scale. Only the most cowardly antagonist would hurl so massively destructive a weapon, even after a declaration of war. There is little glory in such conquests, and no chance for a warrior to display his bravery.
Standing against an enemy with such overwhelming technical superiority would require no ingenuity, no brilliant use of strategy and tactics, only the willingness to die for no end.
Cowardice, he could hardly imagine such a contemptible feeling
P33 Once again, Worf knew why he liked to serve with Picard. The man was not a coward; cautious only to the point where less caution would make him foolhardy; brave even to death if that were the right course. 
P124 For Riker to send Worf to help the Darwin made sense; the Klingon’s courage could be trusted in any crisis. 
Picard could not help but hear Worf’s unspoken words: The Captain of the Enterprise should not put himself in danger. There was nothing Worf could do except to be present and protective. 
P150 Riker knew his old friend Worf would take the decision that he himself now considered and dreaded. Worf knew that more could go wrong in this operation than could be foreseen. The central disaster was beyond the resources of Klingon or human to prevent, even if given every manner of brutal strength already known to them. His warrior will rebelled against the thought even as his intellect went on bended knee before the realities.
P172 Worf waited for word from the bridge. Everything in him was tense, ready for battle, or for a rapid retreat.
Her arms flexed back, like the wings of a bird of prey descending upon an unwary target. The movement reminded him of those most admirable and beautiful examples of Earth’s avian species, the hawks and falcons and eagles. 
P180 Dyson’s Spear, as Worf was already calling the comet in his mind. Worf knew he was unlikely to see such a sight ever again.
P185 Worf gazed at the horizon in awe, thinking of the control of mass and inertia involved in stopping such a large object.  Worf muttered a curse and vectored the engines.
Necessary Evil
no Klingon content
  Infiltrator by W.R. Thompson 
P6 cyberneticist Astrid Kemal’s clumsiness grated on Worf’s innate sense of dignity. He growled with embarrassment. He had invited her to lunch with two of his security troops in 10 Forward.
A Klingon warrior was not seen in public with, Worf recalled a human word one of his security ensigns had used, a klutz.
Ens. K’Sah, security, a Pa’uyk, resembled a poisonous, shaggy spider with pincerlike hands at the ends of its four arms. New Federation contact. Temporarily under Worf’s command as an exchange officer. On board a week. Worf unintimidated by the creature.
Ens. Sho Yamato, security, human. 
Prune juice’s alien biochemicals had a soothing effect on the Klingon metabolism and Worf felt his temper subside.
Worf did not want to think that he had made the acquaintance of someone who would back away from a challenge.
Even by Klingon standards K’Sah was a rude spawn of a tribble.
Worf honored anyone who would enter battle, even though defeat seemed inevitable
P11 Ghlj get jagmeyjaj!  - a toast
And may your enemies run with fear – return toast
Astrid Kemal speaks perfect Klingon
The Klingon words brought a pleased look to Worf’s face. He seldom encountered a human who spoke his language with such flawless pronunciation. Picard and Riker spoke Klingon but they always made the language sound polite.
Worf suspicious of things he did not understand, like how Astrid Kemal can be strong, healthy, handle computer tools with great dexterity, but otherwise clumsy.
Being very annoyed at reactor space disaster is Klingon reaction
Worf supervises rescue operations.
Worf dislikes his inability to keep secrets from Deanna
Everything makes a Klingon suspicious, natural Klingon attitude
Gustav Blaisdell, master of Temenus, knows Enterprise only Fed ship with Klingon crew member.
Two meters, 100 kilos, slightly larger than Worf
Worf feels Blaisdell a liar
Genetically engineered population of Hera, senses and reflexes, strength and endurance superior to Klingons
P24 Worf considered breaking K’Sah’s other hands, but decided it would accomplish nothing.
K’Sah fights well, that excuses much.
Blaisdell sure a Klingon understands strategy
P28 Worf crawled over every millimeter of Blaisdell’s sabotaged ship, while in an environment suit. Worf’s just hoping for trouble. 
P36 Worf had sent several messages to Starfleet Intelligence. 
Alexander was vacationing on Earth with Rozhenkos. Worf misses him. 
A shameful thing for a Klingon to admit, Worf did not want to expose Alexander to danger.
The boy was too young and inexperienced to have a chance to kill his enemies in honorable combat
Worf checked the charge in his phaser. At the moment he had only questions for Blaisdell, but with any luck his questions would provoke trouble.
Klingon law allowed the summary execution of insubordinate junior officers. It would have delighted Worf to strangle K’Sah.
P45 Geordi’s VISOR showed a familiar infrared pattern rippling across Worf’s face and wrinkled scalp. He was like a hunter stalking his prey, or a detective ferreting out clues. Geordi saw what Worf wanted: the engine repairs to be delayed so he would have more time to investigate.
Blaisdell – a Klingon doesn’t need to hear about treachery from me
P51 Deanna had heard Worf claim there was nothing really wrong with the human sense of humor, but Worf’s idea of humor had different standards. To a Klingon, ‘die laughing’ was not a mere figure of speech.
Insults lead to battle
Both Pa’uyk and Klingons highly warlike and aggressive. Klingon society uses the concepts of honor and courage to denote appropriate terms for combat. There are circumstances in which one would want to fight, but it would be dishonorable to do so. 
P54 toDSaH, Klingon obscenity
P61 Astrid had offered to upgrade the brig’s security software and Worf had jumped at the chance to improve his security tools, although the security-conscious Klingon had made her wait while he obtained permission for a non-Fed citizen to work in a classified area. 
Heran Vlad Dunbar incapacitates Worf without any difficulty. Takes his wooden statuette of the Klingon hero Kahless, breaks it.
vorag fever, an infection that kills rapidly. Vorag spores are sometimes found in khrolat wood. Worf’s statue of Kahless was made of khrolat. 
Worf ashamed but admits Dunbar defeated him easily.
Picard – You will find ways to fight them. Worf straightened in his chair at the praise.
It was unfortunate Kemal had not died while fighting Dunbar. Worf owed his life to her, but that did not change the dishonorable way she had concealed her Heran identity. He found it awkward to be in her debt.
P79 Plakh, the obscenity derived from an ancient term that meant the absence of war, which until lately had been the nearest word the Klingons had to peace. It left a foul and satisfying feel on Worf’s tongue.
P106 jay’ lulongqu’ batlh – they have abandoned honor.
Riker – An eloquent people, the Klingons
P123 a warrior’s honor demanded that he offer formal thanks to one who had saved his life, and Worf had postponed that duty long enough. 
Nuqneh? What do you want?
Worf – I have come to thank you for saving my life. I owe you a debt of honor.
Astrid – You owe me nothing. Had I spoken when honor required, you would not have been in danger.
Her dishonorable silence had kept him from thanking her, or was it dishonorable? 
Worf – Did you keep silent only for yourself?
Astrid – I was protecting my parents as well.
Worf – That is honorable. My debt stands.
P124 Kavargh, the hero of one of Worf’s favorite operas. A warrior who owed a debt of honor to a disgraced and treacherous noble. 
Worf finds the dilemma not entirely unwelcome; it gave him a unique sense of his Klingon heritage, something he did not always feel while surrounded by humans. 
Worf – I am curious. Would you think it possible for a Klingon to defeat a Heran in close combat? His defeat at Dundar’s hands still rankled. 
Astrid – Any Heran you fought would be overconfident. Dunbar put all his strength into a direct attack, like a wild targ.
P126 if humanity died off overnight, you’d literally have a half-dozen empires, Gorn, Romulans, Orion pirates, Ferengi, Cardassians, even the Klingons, fighting over what was left of Federation space.
Worf heard the admiral grind his teeth, his flat human molars made an unpleasant gritting sound.
P132 Worf growled thoughtfully. Guilt was not a Klingon emotion, although he suspected it was similar to a sense of dishonor.
P133 Admiral Huang reports the Klingon Empire is sending a fleet to aid us in our operations against Hera.
Worf assures Riker the Klingons will coordinate their attack with the Enterprise. Worf suggests he contact the Klingon force and make certain they understand the situation. Worf did not share Picard’s dismay at the thought of war. He wanted to avenge the dishonor of his defeat at Dunbar’s hands, if the Herans were capable of giving honorable combat. They had a very peculiar notion of how to fight a war.
P137 Geordi has known Worf since they commissioned the Enterprise. Honor is what makes Worf do what’s right, even when he’d be better off doing something else. Honor keeps you from doing something you could get away with doing, and if you have to ask yourself if you can get away with it, it isn’t honorable.
Kahless the Unforgettable, he’s the Klingon who came up with their concept of honor.
P140 Picard knew Worf would never play a joke on anyone. The Klingon viewed humor as a curse.
Worf - Shakespeare had the soul of a Klingon.
He glowered at the book as though wishing it had a throat to rip out. Klingons not amused by Francis Bacon rumors
P146 humans devastated whole planets during the Klingon Wars
P155 Worf – Someone has assaulted my honor, and I shall have vengeance.
To a Klingon honor was all-important. A dishonored Klingon could become an outcast, so distrusted that few Klingons would willingly deal with him or his family. By making Worf appear to have offended the captain, someone had placed his good name in jeopardy. 
P167 revenge is serious if you’re Hamlet, or a Klingon
P177 as the days passed the dishonor grew like tarnish on an ill-kept knife. To have someone abuse his good name in an affront to the captain, to leave the offense unavenged so long, Worf had a strong urge to carve his enemy into a human-skin rug. He would not indulge that particular wish, but once he identified his enemy, well, dishonor is always avenged. The thought of vengeance made him growl pleasantly. 10 Forward was too bright and cheerful a place to spend the eve of a battle.
Worf’s statue of Kahless was easily repaired. Khrolat wood is easy to work with. Barclay and Geordi fixed it.
It is good to dream that one is a pirate. It is good to be a pirate. A pirate commands his own destiny. He takes orders from no one and obeys no law but his own honor. To dream of finding pirate treasure is to view your life as a success.
Worf orders dinner – gagh swarmed in a bowl next to a tall cool glass of prune juice, and a roasted targ haunch sizzled on a platter. Worf’s usual slab of rokeg pie. 
Alexander never called Worf anything but Father. 
Practical joke played on Worf – the box supposedly from Alexander fell apart in his hands and Worf found himself holding a live tribble. He sprang back and snarled in disgust as the loathsome little parasite spat at him. 
P179 Plakh! I swear vengeance! This time my enemy has dishonored my son!
Deanna scooped up the hissing, spitting tribble and carried it out of the lounge.
P180 What the Hu’tegh is this?
Worf has been too genteel to acquire mortal enemies aboard the Enterprise.
Worf loathed visiting a planet unarmed. He was reluctant to go anywhere without a weapon. Where was the honor in being a security chief who could provide no security?
P186 That bit of misdirection was quite true and perhaps not as dishonorable as a direct lie.
Then bring your finest hammer, Ulyanov said, in a tone that filled Worf with admiration. We stand on hard ground.
Trask – not unless you’re mad enough to think one world can stand against the Federation and our allies in the Klingon Empire.
Worf unfamiliar with Milton.
Picard, Worf’s commander, was plotting to create execrable peace, dishonorable Trask has struggled for war. Sometimes it seemed there was no justice in the universe.
War was news to gladden the heart of any self-respecting Klingon.
Now there will be no peace, Worf observed happily before he recalled that he was not supposed to want a war here. He found enough good grace to look abashed. 
K’Sah, while guarding Astrid, kept asking her if she thought Klingons made better lovers.
P201 the Klingons will be here in an hour. 
Astrid snarled in Klingon – bImoH ‘ej SoSlij DutuQmoH tlhaQ!
Worf mutters They can always use T’Sah as targ-bait
 In the interests of coordinating the attack, Vulcan Captain T’Kir places the task force under the command of the Klingons, under command of Admiral Vorkhas. 
cats makes Worf sneeze, cat fur allergy, needs injections
A storm in a clear sky, thunder and lightning, it’s a Klingon space raid, they’re invading Hera. The Herans had never anticipated an assault on this scale and the combined Klingon and Fed forces quickly overwhelmed their defensive satellites. The action carried a high cost. A Klingon battle cruiser was so badly damaged that it was forced to withdraw, limping away from Hera at warp two. The invasion force began making pinpoint attacks on Hera itself, cutting at ground defense installations with phasers and disruptors. Clusters of torpedoes rose from the surface and tore into the fleet. A Klingon scout ship was left drifting without power. Screened by the combat ships, the transports began beaming down their troops. The Klingon commander was concentrating his force around the Heran capital. 
P215 General Kateq is in command of the Klingon task force. He was one of Gowron’s main supporters in the Klingon civil war. He is an expert at leading ground assaults. He is now on the surface. A stout Klingon with graying hair. Open-air command post set up on the side of a grassy hill. Other Klingon warriors bustled around him as they set up equipment. 
What do you want? Kateq demanded. 
Picard concerned about his away team trying to bring Heran resistance movement
We will try not to kill them. That will make their surrender easier.
Good, they may have to fight Heran’s to the death. Qaplah!
P218 bIjeghbe’chugh vaj biHegh! A Klingon voice roared from nearby. Although Geordi’s command of the language left much to be desired, he recognized this phrase, which was a useful phrase to know when dealing with Klingons: surrender or die. 
Astrid snarled an answer – yiyach’qu jay’  yiH!
Worf shook his head in disgust. Translated into human, it would be go pet a tribble. 
Just the thing to tell a bunch of kill-crazed Klingons.
Worf muttered a few Klingon words that might have enhanced Astrid’s vocabulary – She must learn worse manners.
A skirmish line of Klingon warriors crept into the clearing, weapons at the ready. They looked wary; being insulted in a war zone was enough to put them off-balance.
Identify yourselves! – one commanded
The leader grinned nastily – General Kateq will want to see you, prisoner. This way. He gestured with his disruptor. 
Worf grated – We are not your prisoners.
P218 The leader grinned again – We have weapons and you do not, and I find you consorting with Herans in a war zone. So what does that make you?
Worf straightened – I am Worf, son of Mogh. What are you?
The leader thumped his chest with a gauntleted fist – I am Commander Kharog, and I am not unarmed. The other Klingons laughed at his wit.
Worf – His weapon is dirty.
Kharog glowered at Worf’s insult. 
Riker – Lets skip the unpleasantries.
Kharog glowered at Riker, but barked a command at his men and pointed east. They marched in silence for a half hour, until they came to a group of Klingons in a meadow. The grassy field was busy with the invaders’ activities. While Klingon technicians fussed and hammered at large pieces of equipment, a small cluster of officers shouted at one another over portable disruptor cannon. Other officers bellowed at one another across a map projecting table. 
Kharog led the group to the table, amid the outraged howls of the Klingon command staff.
Kharog – General Kateq. This is Riker, from the Enterprise. He is
Kateq – Shut up. What treachery is this? We land, we deploy, our weapons fail! Nothing works. He glared at Riker. He slammed a fist on the cannon, denting its projector.
Nanites have disabled the power links
Kateq looked as though Molyneux were several jumps ahead of him. He turned to Riker, who as a Starfleet officer was at least a familiar object – What is this?
Worf, assuring the Klingons that their visit to Hera would not be wasted – We still must fight.
Most of the Klingons looked pleased to hold live weapons again, but Kharog looked at his gun in disgust. 
P221 A stunner. No warrior fights with veQ like this.
Kareq ignored his comrade and turned to Molyneux, not quite aiming his weapon at the Heran – Weapon parameters? He demanded.
Kateq – Good
Kharog sneered – Bad
Kateq said in irritation – You talk too much
Kharog ignored that – Are we to trust our enemies’ weapons? And invite betrayal?
Kharog threw his weapon to the ground – Never!
Worf almost purred as he spoke to Kharog – You know much of betrayal
You toDSaH!
Kharog would have said more, but Kateq punched him in the face, silencing him.
Now Geordi saw why Kharog had taken an instant dislike to Worf. During the Klingon civil war Worf had been instrumental in helping Supreme Chancellor Gowron defeat the Duras family. Worf had helped expose the Duras family as traitors who worked with the Romulans, the blood-enemies of the Klingons. Kharog might swear loyalty to Gowron now, but it was clear he had sided with the Duras family. He wouldn’t forgive Worf for exposing the dishonor of his side.
Kharog heard Worf’s report on the Herans. 
Kharog – You lost a fight with a Heran, didn’t you? Well?
Worf spat – Yes!
Kharoq – No wonder they impress you. He chuckled and turned to Kateq. The losers always exaggerate their enemy’s strength. It makes their defeat look less dishonorable.
Worf – You are not one to speak of dishonor. General, we need a plan. I suggest
Kharog – You suggest? Why should we listen to one who wears the uniform of a child?
Worf clenched his fists – Do you fear my words?
Kharog laughed – Fear you? One who lives with humans? Do you also visit dentists? Do you like opera, too?
Riker looked as offended as Worf, and even the other Klingons seemed annoyed by Kharog’s boorish opinion of opera, but before anyone else could respond Astrid reached out, grasped Kharog’s leather-clad shoulders and raised the warrior until his feet dangled a half-meter above the ground. Eyeball to eyeball with the enraged Klingon, Astrid bared her teeth, snarled and broke into a Klingon shriek
   Be silent, weak and foolish one!
   At battle’s start we saw you run!
   Oh, how to punished such a one?
   Tell me, Klingons
       What shall be done?
Worf beamed in delight at the stirring lyrics. He and the other Klingons roared into the booming chorus with her, their fists swinging to the rhythm
   Give him to Fek’lhr, who sees his dishonor!
   Lock him in Gre’thor, pit of the horror,
   To rot in shame forevermore!
Kateq and the other Klingons bellowed their approval as Astrid dumped Kharog on the ground and turned away. Kharog hastily picked up his stunner. 
Astrid’s knee was bleeding from where Kharog had kicked her with his spike-toed boots.
Kateq – You had an idea, Worf. Talk.
Worf – It is bad to do what the enemy wishes.
Kateq mulled that over – Talk more.
Kateq laughed evilly – Not a bad plan, for a Starfleet lapdog.
Kharog protested – We Klingons are the ones to attack! 
Kateq eyed Astrid. The sight of a mere human toying with a Klingon warrior had clearly made him thoughtful.
P226 the orderly’s injection had alleviated Worf’s cat fur allergy, but the ghay’cha’  drug had left him with a dry mouth and an unwelcome feeling of sweet mellowness. Worf had to fight to maintain his emotional equilibrium. 
Kateq – Kharog, deploy our forces.
Kharog – At once.
Kateq – Of course at once, you idiot. Kateq snarled, as Kharog strode off. Kateq looked away from his subordinate, and Worf heard him mutter something that involved in-laws, inbreeding and political infighting. Meanwhile Kharog started shouting and waving his arms, and groups of Klingons began to move into position.
Worf picked up distinctive scent of a large number of humans. If they chose to launch a sally, they might overwhelm the Klingons. it would be glorious, but it wouldn’t last long.
Molyneux – If this attack turns bloody
Kateq – Turns bloody. We start bloody, human.
Dallas – That’s why the primals sent them. A bunch of bloodthirsty maniacs. Just the thing to exterminate a planet.
Kateq looked pleased by Dallas’s words
Molyneux gave Kateq a cordial nod – If you’ll excuse us, General?
Kateq evidently deciding it would be unwise to show the normal Klingon curtness to a Heran – By all means.
Worf looked at the feline. Displeased by the thought that it was reading his mind, Worf growled at it. The cat growled back, then stood, arched its back and raised its hackles. Envying the display, Worf bared his teeth. The cat hissed loudly at the Klingon and showed its claws. Worf snarled at it. The cat crouched and prepared to leap on Worf. 
Dallas picked up the cat – Forget it, Koshka. He’s bigger than you are. What if he ate you first?
Worf- I might. I have not eaten today.
Most Earth foods struck Worf as bland, but Prune juice and goat meat were a few taste treats.
Worf figures out catapult and inert projectiles would work against the Modality building. Several Klingons walked over to join Worf. Growling in approval, they lifted the catapult and turned it to face the building. The other Klingons were grunting and straining too as they wound the siege engine’s elastic band around its capstan. The machine was suited to Heran muscles and it was all the aliens could do to arm the catapult.
Geordi on Worf – He’s never at a loss.
The Klingons roared in delight at the damage they had done.
I could get to like fighting Herans, one said as he began to rewind the catapult.
Riker often exercised by sharing holodeck adventures with Worf and those strenuous battles, the Klingon liked to fight hand-to-claw with synthetic monsters twice his size, and with dispositions even he considered vile.
P235 the Klingon and surviving Fed ships had undisputed control of the space around Hera. Several small Klingon ships formed a loose perimeter at the edge of the Heran planetary system. 
P238 a triumphant Klingon bellow as a large chunk of the outer wall fell away. The Herans dodged and weaved too rapidly for the Klingons to strike them with their shots. Three Herans were in the midst of a dozen Klingons. Kateq glowered as his men were pummeled and tossed about like rag dolls. The Romulans would die laughing, he muttered in disgust. Nearby Klingons fired their stunners into the melee. A Heran picked up Kharog and dashed back into the building. 
One of Kateq’s aides spoke to him in a quiet intent whisper. Rescue a prisoner? Kateq snarled at him. As if in answer he spat on the grass.
P239 Shut up before somebody confuses you with my Qip son-in-law
The Modality offer to surrender to the Klingon Empire, surrender to the Empire, and the Modality remains in power as its servants
Kateq’s aide spoke quietly in the general’s ear – Sir, I say, accept! We would become mighty indeed, if we absorbed them into the Empire.
Kateq chuckled, grabbed the man by the throat and pulled his face close to his own – And what if they absorbed us? This offer is a trick. Let them surrender to the Federation. Let humans handle a human program.
Kharog – I say destroy them! Butcher them! Slaughter them! Vaporize them!
With an exasperated snarl Worf grabbed Kharog by the shoulders, faced him and slammed his forehead into Kharog’s ridged scalp. 
Thank you, Kateq said in heartfelt Federation Basic as the unconscious Kharog fell to the grass.
P242 as a small Klingon bird-of-prey began a turn a sleek white shape flashed past it, easily dodging a spread of photon torpedoes from the Klingon vessel. Seconds later the corvette began to dissolve. It appears that the Heran ship attacked the bird-of-prey with nanite disassemblers. A second Heran ship moves to intercept a second Klingon ship. the Klingon vessel fired its disrupters as the Heran craft neared it. Then a gaping hole appeared in the Klingon ship’s engineering section and it began a slow tumble as its power died. The Heran ship struck the Klingon ship with an antigluon beam. 
Klingon admiral Vorkhas. 
The peacemakers, he said in contempt, seeing Trask and Picard. What do you want?
Vorkhas grunted – Sensible talk. What is an industrial site? Every house with a replicator?
Ens. Kellog stood at Worf’s post
P266 the Klingon task force had headed home, but they might have left a cloaked ship behind to watch Hera, and the Federation, just in case something suspicious happened. The improved quantum inverter had deactivated the antimatter in several Klingon ships, leaving them without enough power to fight.
The attack using biological virus was dishonorable
Astrid went straight to Worf. Come on, she said in properly curt Klingon. You have an arrest to make.
Worf looked irritated although Riker was certain she had just made his day.
The taHqeq who made the transmissions and pulled the practical jokes. 
When Astrid was in the brig K’Sah kept pestering her about really rude questions about Klingon romantic customs. K’Sah seems to be studying Worf. K’Sah was the last creature any self-respecting being would want for an admirer. 
Worf drew his phaser and set it on heavy stun – He shall see exactly how I react.
The Pa’uyk have been spying on the Klingons to see how their society works, there’s not another race in the galaxy like them.  The Pa’uyk had heard of a people much like themselves, fierce warriors who live to fight, but who did not destroy themselves, as Pa’uyk on verge of doing again. If we can learn the virtues that make them so superior, then just maybe we can find a way to stave off our next collapse. This concept of honor. It’s weird, it’s sick, but it has certain appeal. K’Sah has learned that the Klingons use concept of honor to make things work. Worf is an especially good example. He’s a total warrior, but honor lets him cooperate with anyone, even the most bizarre and disgusting aliens you can name.
Worf wore an expression of exalted surprise on his face.
He nudged K’Sah with his weapon’s muzzle – Move it, targ-breath.
P276 Worf, earlier that morning, had asked permission to spend a month on Qo’nos. Picard had granted the request and authorized Worf to take a long-range shuttle. he will depart later today. Worf asked Riker’s opinion on a libretto he has written, the lyrics for an opera. He began work on it last night, not long after K’Sah made his statement. He felt inspired. 
Worf- I believe the galaxy is ready for an opera about the virtues of the Klingon people. 
Worf is going home to find a composer. He has some ideas for the music, but he needs the help of a genius.
   World of genius, great and strong
   Honor’s emissary to the galaxy,
   Listen to a tale of glory
qo’ wIgh,  Dun je HoS, batlhDaj  Duy  qIbavaD,  bI’Ij lut
Inheritance
A Klingon and a Corvallan trader were witnesses to Juliana O’Donnell and Dr. Noonien Soong’s marriage on Mavala IV in 2332.
Second Sight
Every morning for a year Sisko has walked into Ops in the morning and ordered a raktajino. He doesn’t talk to anyone until he’s had his first cup, because he’s not awake yet. He loves raktajino. 
Jake’s friend Altrina orders Klingon food for lunch, Tiet tells her they are  worms, causing Altrina to throw up.
The Klingon poet G’Trok's The Fall of Kang is required reading at the Academy. 
So honor the valiant who die neath your sword
But Pity the warrior who slays all his foes
  Into the Nebula by Gene DeWeese
P27 Koralus of Krantin meets the frightening-looking creature they called Worf, a Klingon, whatever that was. Koralus watched him uneasily. He could not completely overcome the terror that had gripped him when he had emerged on the bridge and almost run into the creature. 
P63 Ahl Denbahr of Krantin recovers from a momentary Worf-induced paralysis.
P105 Ens. Thompson, short and breaded and constantly on a diet, takes over the tactical station when Worf goes on away mission.
P216 Lt. Worf! The voice of one of the ensigns from the security detail came over Worf's comm. unit.
P219 Ens. Thompson had volunteered for the late-night shift on the tactical station to gain experience working the station and its myriad readouts and controls.
P231 the phasers were set just short of lethal, Worf had recommended an even higher setting.
  The Pet by Mel Gilden,Ted Pedersen
no Klingon content
  Devil in the Sky by Greg Cox & John Gregory Betancourt 
P2 Kira finds Federation annoyingly reluctant to criticize the cultures of even their most loathsome enemies. Hell, they had even made peace with the Klingons. Sometime she thought it was a miracle that the entire Federation hadn't been conquered centuries ago.
P29 Kira had once seen tall pale Ensign Sven Jonsson drag a pair of drunken Klingons off to the brig.
P50 there is a cask of Klingon war games in Quark's store room 
P70 At Quarks, Odo sees Tellarites, Deltans, Argelians, Betaziods, Klingons, Caitians, Tiburons, P'alblaakis, all presumably drawn to DS 9 by the imminent flyby of the Bajor's moon The Prodigal.
P140 O'Brien recalls Molly's birth on the Enterprise (assisted by Worf, of all people!)
P162 Jadzia considered herself open minded and certainly experienced, but the thought of Cardassian lovers massaging themselves with oils from arboreal slugs of Malvestia IV hit a nerve somehow
P212 Nog's old toy box contains erotic action figures; nude, anatomically correct jointed toy figurines, representing various sentient races: Vulcans, humans, Klingons, and many other types of males and females. Kid stuff.
P271 Kira looked as angry as a Denebian horned groat
  Dark Passions I by Susan Wright
  Dark Passions II by Susan Wright
Parallels
Brannon Braga
Chocolate cake reality
Worf returning from vacation in shuttlecraft Curie, bat’leth competition on Forcas III. The conditions were difficult, several contestants were maimed, but Worf was triumphant, won champion standing, cradles three silver pronged globe on base. Etching on prongs.
Worf anticipating trouble – an unexpected social gathering. Riker or one of the others.
Today is Worf’s birthday. SD 47391.2
Worf’s quarters – light sculpture on one side of door, small curved metal sculpture in corner, dark metal disk on wall on other side of door. Ball chair in corner. Glass top table and two chairs. Computer terminal opposite door. Second room. Weapons display in X pattern on wall.
Deanna, Crusher, Data, Geordi, various yellowjackets wait in hiding. Deanna and Beverly kiss Worf on the cheek. Riker puts cone hat on Worf. Captain Picard sends his birthday wishes, he was needed on the bridge.
Sing Worf is a jolly good fellow in Klingon, chocolate cake with lots of candles. Worf blows them all out at once.
Deanna – It wasn’t easy to translate. There didn’t seem to be a Klingon word for jolly.
Data gives large expressionist painting of the battle of HarOs, blue sky, reddish buildings, dark ground. Worf rips paper wrapping off.
Deanna thinks it’s wonderful and puts it on wall in place of dark metal disk. She always thought this room could do with a little more color.
Yellow cake alternate
Alexander gave Deanna gift for Worf just before he left to visit Rozhenkos. He wished he could have been on board when Worf returned from Shore Leave. He stayed up all night talking about how proud he was of his father
Worf opens it eagerly. Wrapped in dark burlap.
White plaster cast of Alexander’s forehead, with name Alexander along rim.
Worf is pleased. The ridges of a warrior.
Worf thanks Deanna for watching Alexander while Worf was away.
Picard at party alternate
Picard wouldn’t miss Worf’s party for the world
Worf doesn’t say his age, he is old enough. [30]
On bridge Worf reports that Sector 19658 is uninhabited. But there could be a receiving ship.
In 10 Forward, Worf comes to see Deanna. 
Worf – I have been meaning to speak to you about Alexander. It has never been easy for me, having Alexander on board. I have tried to be a good father, to give him guidance, but he seems to have his own mind about some things. I could not have come this far without your help, and Alexander looks up to you. At times I have felt that you were like a mother to him. 
Deanna – That one of the nicest things anyone has said to me
Worf – One time, when I thought I was going to die, I asked you to watch over Alexander. I was wondering if you would consider formalizing that arrangement. I want you to be Alexander’s Soh-chIm. you would become his surrogate mother in case anything happened to me, you would be responsible for him
Deanna – It’s a great honor. So that would make me your?
Worf – The closest analogy is step-sister. 
Deanna smiles – That would make my mother your stepmother. 
Worf obviously hadn’t thought about that – I had not considered that. It is a risk I am willing to take. 
Deanna – I accept.
Dizzy Worf alternate [no imaging log download]
Geordi says he doesn’t look so good, suggests sickbay. Worf agrees, stumbles off.
Crusher mentions Worf had a concussion. Worf doesn’t recall any concussion.
Worf came in this morning complaining of ringing in his ears. Birthday party was later in day.
He told Crusher about the bat’leth tournament. One of the competitors hit him over the head, that’s why he lost the match.
Worf won that tournament. And goes to get his trophy to prove it.
Painting is still there but now he only has small dark mottled globe on base. ninth place.
Worf – Someone is playing a trick on me!
One of the contenders used an illegal t’gha maneuver on me. the judges chose to ignore it and I was robbed of my rightful standing. I was awarded ninth place. 
After further discontinuity with what Worf remembers, Deanna comes to talk to Worf in his quarters.
Moving Painting alternate
Deanna hung that painting there. Opposite side of room.
Diff painting alternate
Painting of vor’cha class attack cruiser
Deanna in uniform
Marriage alternate
Suddenly on bridge Worf does not know how to operate panel, configuration has changed. His memory loss causes severe damage to ship. Geordi dies.
Requests temporary relieved of duty
Different curved metal sculpture by door, no light box sculpture. Disk and red lit wall hanging opposite computer. Replicator by table.
Ship painting by door again. Flowers, plants in quarters.
Pole displayed on wall over computer.
Worf not able to compete on Forcas III, asked Kurn to take his place. he does not have my prowess with the blade 
Deanna comes to see Worf, heard about what happened on bridge.
Very narrow bed, twisted metal sculpture above. 
When Deanna tries to kiss him on the cheek Worf ackk gets up – I do not believe this is appropriate behavior! I do not remember you and I being mates.
Three years, falling in love, getting married. 
Deanna believes him, loves him, together they will find out what is happening
They have been married 2 years 1 month 12 days. Relationship started shortly after Worf’s spinal injury. It was six months later that Worf asked Riker for his formal permission to court Troi, Worf felt that to do otherwise would be dishonorable. 
And then we mated. 
No children.
Commander Worf alternate
Commander and first officer. 
Deanna and Worf are still married
Captain Riker. Four years since Picard was killed by Borg
Never attended Forcas III
Lt. Wesley aboard, at tactical rail position, different bridge and rail configuration, only chair for captain.
Paining landscape again
Deanna upset at thought her Worf won’t return. She finds it hard to accept that there’s a reality out there where he never loved her. 
Worf – Deanna, I have always considered you a close friend. Although I have never seriously considered relationship, I would not be opposed to the possibility. 
Children, not apparent from the personal quarters, but they have Eric-Christopher, age 3, girl Shannara, age 2.
No Alexander.
Bajorans overpowered Cardassians, aggressive.
Worf kisses Deanna good bye
Borg alternate reality
Ongoing reality
Everything is alright
Champion standing
Worf informs Riker of quantum fissure and inverse warp field
But there’s no metal disk on wall.
Deanna alone in quarters. Deanna promised Alexander she would feed his Dalvan hissing beetle, in glass bowl, while they were both away.
Worf asks if Deanna lives here. It is a long story.
Riker wanted to give Worf a surprise party but Deanna talked him out of it. She knew Worf would hate it. Presents him with paper wrapped box. ?From her or Alexander’s gift.
She knows Klingons like to be alone on their birthdays, meditate or hit yourself with a painstick or something. Worf invites Deanna to stay, have dinner. Helps her with her chair. Orders champagne. 
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