Title: "Alliance: Going to War"
Author: Captain Stephen Maruu
Stardate: 2460167
Earthdate: March 2, 2360
Location: USS Virgo
 

[Commander Lataro and Lieutenant Valdago, please report to my ready room.]

Lataro and Valdago left their consoles and entered the newly decorated ready room. Maruu had recently found some time to add two holoemitters to the room, displaying an aquarium with rare Bajoran aquatic animals, when Nori had been kept busy on off hours due to the unexpected assimilation of an engineer who stuck his hand into the nanoprobe solution Nori was making to create a new transwarp drive.

Lataro walked in and looked at the fish. "Nice aquariums, Captain."

"You like? They're Tosundis. Kind of like goldfish on Earth but with larger and longer fins."

"Bajoran?"

"Of course!"

Lataro smiled. "So how can we help you?"

Maruu passed Lataro a PADD. "I have a mission for you. You're going to die."

Valdago gave him a hard look. "What?!"

"When we meet the Dominion forces, I am going to tell them that you two are dead. You will be going on a mission to Jeor. The PADD is a map or the quickest route. It keeps you away from the Kirusan planets, stations, colonies, and ships."

"Why are we going to the Jeorri home world?" asked Valdago.

"He wants us to have a backup in case the Dominion alliance doesn't work," deduced Lataro.

"Very good, Commander," said Maruu. "However, it's more than that. There are five opposing parties here: the Federation, the Jeorri, the Kirusans, the Resistance, and the Dominion. When the Federation leaves this part of space, I want the Kirusans and the Dominion to have fallen. The only winners here must be the Resistance and the Jeorri. Even if the alliance works, we can't allow the Dominion to control the Jeorri as the Kirusans have. Besides, when the Dominion finds out about the Jeorri, the Shahtar themselves told me, they will destroy the entire race. They won't keep them secluded in the Taboo Sector like the Kirusans have. They will wipe them out."

Lataro and Valdago both agreed to take the mission.

"Now we have to work on a plan to kill you two. It will hurt K'Lara terribly, but it must be done."
_____________________________________

"They're transporting," Tara stated. "There are Dominion officers on Decks 13, 12, 10, eight, five, four, two, and..."

Two Jem'Hadar soldiers and a Vorta ambassador materialized on the bridge.

"...one."

"Ah, Captain Maruu," began the Vorta. "Your reputation precedes you."

Maruu forced a smile. "Why, thank you..."

"I am Jorail. I will be your ambassador for the remainder of the war with the Kir'vusans. Leiyon has business to attend to on the station so he won't be joining us."

"Alright, that is my Chief Tactical Officer, Lt. Javier Tara. That is my Chief of Security, Lt. Benton. That over there in
Commander K'Lara, my helmsman. And this is my..." Maruu paused. "Computer, where are Commander Lataro and Lt. Valdago?"

<Both officers are in Shuttle Bay One.>

"What is going on, Captain?" queried Jorail.

Benton yelled, "Captain, we have a breach in Shuttle Bay One. The *Lambda Flier* just blew the shuttle bay doors open!"

Captain Maruu yelled, "Tara, hail them."

"Channel open, Sir," said Tara.

"What are you doing, Commander?!"

[Your an idiot, Stephen!] yelled Lataro. [Allying yourself to the Dominion is the stupidest thing any captain could have done!]

"Commander, turn that ship around or I will fire."

[Go to hell!] replied Valdago.

"Tara, lock a photon torpedo and fire."

Tara looked at him. "But, Captain..."

"Jonathan has betrayed this crew. Shoot or I will!"

Tara stepped away from his console. "I can't."

"You coward." Maruu tapped a few buttons on his own computer. A photon torpedo flew from the *Virgo* and hit the *Flier* just as it entered the wormhole. There was a small explosion. The *Flier's* position in space was replaced by debris. It had been destroyed. Maruu looked at Tara coldly. "You are relieved of your duty as a Starfleet officer." He removed his pips. "You are confined to quarters."

As Tara left the bridge with an armed escort, K'Lara stood up and punched Maruu in the face, causing him to bleed. "You son of a..." Benton fired a phaser shot at K'Lara. She fell to the floor, unconscious.

Maruu stood up and moved towards Jorail. "The Dominion caused anxiety amongst our crew. Forgive me."

Jorail smiled. "Do not worry. You run your ship well."
_____________________________________

After discussing certain aspects of the Kirusans and their tactics, the Dominion and the Federation signed their temporary agreement of peace. They were now allies. By the end of the day, the *USS Virgo* and 100 Dominion ships left Dominion space through the wormhole and entered the Kirusan Breadth. It would be three weeks until their arrival at Kirus where the Federation and the Dominion would go to war against the Kirusans.

Among the things that were not discussed with the Kirusans and much of the crew were: the Jeorri alliance, the plate of titanium alloy rigged with an explosive which was allowed to float behind the *Flier* so that the photon torpedo wouldn't even scratch the ship and still give the light show necessary of a ship's explosion, the transwarp technology being adapted to the *Virgo*, the half-Kirusan who is on his way to Jeor to conduct the alliance, and the Kirusan vessel hidden in one of the cargo bays. No doubt the Federation would come out winning this war, as long as everything goes according to plan...
 

Title: "Rising Anger"
Author: Lt. Commander K'Lara
Stardate: 2460170
Earthdate: March 3, 2360
Location: USS Virgo

Commander K'Lara slowly woke with a splitting headache. She moaned softly and placed a hand on her head. Almost at once, she heard the sound of a medical scanner working. She turned her head and saw Lt. Nori reading her tricorder.

"What happened?" K'Lara asked, groggily.

Nori smiled gently at her. "You were hit with a phaser blast. Luckily it was on stun. Your headache is the result of hitting your head on the edge of the con panel. It's only a slight concussion thanks to your Klingon skull."

"The baby?"

Nori's smile widened. "The baby is doing fine, K'Lara. In fact, do you want to know if it's a boy or a girl?"

K'Lara stared at the doctor. "No. I want it to be a surprise for me and Jon."

At the mention of Lataro's name, K'Lara's face went blank as a memory forced itself to be revealed. A memory that was barely a day old.

Nori backed away when she saw the half-Klingon's eyes flash. When a low deep growl came from K'Lara, the doctor tried to gently push her back down on the bio bed.

"Easy, K'Lara," Nori tried to soothe. "It won't do the baby any good if you get worked up like this."

K'Lara glared at her. Her dark eyes were now two balls of fire.

"How dare you tell me to calm down when my mate is dead!" K'Lara raged. "That p'taQ of a captain killed him! I will make him pay for what he has put me through."

K'Lara jumped off the biobed before Nori could stop her. The doctor chased her to the Sickbay doors as she tried her best to stop the rampaging half-Klingon. She grabbed hold of K'Lara to stop her, but she was met with those fiery eyes and K'Lara's Telian side.

K'Lara back-handed Nori. She went across the room and into a bio bed. Before the doctor could get off the floor, a charge of electricity sped her way.

"K'Lara!" Nori screamed as the bolt barely missed her head, scorching the edge of the bed instead. When she looked back to the half-Klingon, K'Lara was gone.

"Nori to Security,"

[Benton here. What is it?]

"We have a situation. Lt. Commander K'Lara is on a rampage. I believe she is going after Maruu."

[Understood. I'll have a team intercept her.]

"That won't be enough. She's half-Klingon and in a very bad mood."

[Thanks for the warning. I'll think of something. Benton out.]

"I just hope what ever you come up with is enough to stop a mourning Klingon."
 

Subject: "Construction Underway"
Author: Lieutenant Garek Loran
Stardate: 2460175
Earth Date: March 5, 2360
Location: USS Virgo

*Damned creatures* Garek thought to himself. He looked behind himself to see a Jem'Hadar, with a rifle, watching him. Just as Garek looked him in the eye, the Jem'Hadar looked away. Garek shook his head and went back to work.

Sitting down, he pulled out a PADD containing the technical information needed in building the drive. There was just enough tridanium to encase the warp core, and nearly enough to finish the inner lacing of the warp nacelles. This would work almost perfectly. Just then, a panel started blinking and an alarm went off. It indicated that there was a failure in the starboard nacelle. *Good 'ol Ek'Ra,* he thought to himself. Garek hit his com badge. "Captain Maruu! We're having a dropout of the starboard nacelle. Repeat, a dropout of the starboard nacelle!"

Captain Maruu stood up from his chair on the bridge. "Copy that, Garek. Ensign Fredericson, drop from warp immediately!"

The ensign nodded his head, and the ship dropped from warp.

"Lieutenant, what happened?"

[The warp nacelle appears to have had a structural fallout near the bussard ramscoop. We'll have to go out and repair it in space suits.]

Maruu sighed, putting on a fairly good show to throw off the Vorta. "Understood. Begin repairs immediately."

"Aye, Sir," Garek replied. He tapped his badge. "Ensign Ek'Ra, assemble your team and get to work."

"Aye, Sir! Beta team, let's go!" Ek'Ra and his followers made their way out of Engineering. Other engineers took their spots.

Garek referred back to his PADD. *Phase One in progress. Phase Two in five days.*
___________________________________________

Lieutenant Benton sat in his security office looking at Commander K'Lara. K'Lara had been put in a brig cell. Benton, and his team were able to stop her from reaching the captain and put her in a cell for her own good.

"May I ask exactly why you are running around ranting and raving?" Benton kept himself cool.

"You saw what happened!" she yelled back. "That son of targ killed my husband! He deserves to die!"

Not wanting to butcher the point that Lataro had "broken" orders so to say, or to state a truth which had been concealed in order to throw off the Dominion, he changed the subject. "I really don't want to keep you here, Commander. However, if you continue to be a threat to the captain, I will. I have considered moving you to solitary confinement in your quarters. I have to talk with Lieutenant Loran. Perhaps when I get back you'll have had a change in heart."

K'Lara gave him an evil glare, then looked down at the floor. Benton rose and called over an ensign to watch K'Lara. He then made his way to Engineering.
___________________________________________

Benton made his way to Engineering, passing up what he saw as an absurd amount of Jem'Hadar in the hallways. *We're not allies. They're holding us hostage,* he thought to himself. As the giant doors to Engineering opened, he heard Lieutenant Loran barking orders to a group of ensigns.

"No, no, no! This one goes there, that one goes there." He moved a few crystal alignment positioners over, to their proper bearings. "Make sure to check the duranium casing. It doesn't seem up to par."

The ensign caught the hidden meaning behind Garek's words. "Aye, Sir. Right away." The ensign then returned to work, pulling out a tricorder. "Lieutenant Benton, welcome to Engineering. Please, step into my office."

"Of course." The two lieutenants made their way to the small section designated as the Chief Engineer's office. Another Jem'Hadar trooper stood just inside the door.

Garek cleared his throat, waiting for the Jem'Hadar to acknowledge him to move. It did nothing, standing still in it's position. It looked at Garek. "Get out!" Garek commanded.

The Jem'Hadar gave him and evil look, and headed out. Garek pressed a button, and a door closed, sealing the entrance. He pressed another button that fogged out the window that displayed the warp core.

"Neat little function. I don't remember that being a standard onboard starships." Benton watched as the room became completely private.

"I put it in to get a little privacy once in awhile. You should know what it's like being hounded after because of problems and such." Garek sat down on a stool and offered Benton a seat on another.

"Thank you." Benton sat. "I've never really had that problem, but I know what you're talking about. So, what have we accomplished so far?"

"We're working on the starboard nacelle now. A 'structural fallout failure' is keeping us from going to warp." Garek smiled. "That way, we'll have one warp nacelle fully laced with tridanium. The port nacelle will be 95% percent laced, and the warp core will be fully laced. We're working on the warp core now. It's 70% complete. Now that we're out of warp, we're finishing repairs."

Benton took the PADD that Garek had handed him and began looking it over. "The arrangements seem to be going well. However, I'd like to look this PADD over to see if we can make any changes to make the core more efficient. We'll need the extra energy for structural integrity."

"Sure," Garek said. "One more thing. I've been running some tests on the dilithium crystal that we have now, and it won't be able to handle the pressures of transwarp flight. Can you relay a message to the captain that we'll have to go pick up another new set of crystals. I don't want to send a com transmission with those 'things' onboard."

"Of course." Benton rose. "Keep me informed, Mr. Loran."

"Sure thing, Mr. Benton." They both grinned, and Garek deactivated the privacy measures. The panel shot down from the arc over the entranceway rose, and the glass defogged. The two men then went back to work.
 

Title: "...And the Journey Begins"
Author: Commander Jonathan Lataro
Stardate: 2460178
Earthdate: March 6, 2360
Location: Lambda Flier

The openness of deep space always made Lataro sleepy. At the Academy, it was believed that he had absorbed the entire lesson on shuttle craft operations by osmosis, for he slept, as impossible as it may seem, on the tight Class Two Shuttle. So needless to say, this trip was not any different, and being in flight for almost two days made him sleepy. Valdago was full of energy and enthusiastic characteristics that one day Lataro could learn to admire in the now Kirusan/Human hybrid. Lataro finally decided to lay down in the back of the *Flier* as Valdago took the helm. Valdago's company was interesting as he talked about the his new form and the energy he now possessed, but sleep came to Lataro as gold-pressed latinum: rare. Laying back, he thought about what had happened and how K'Lara was taking all this. He hoped she was okay and not doing
anything crazy, but that Klingon side of her, sometimes, really gets the best of her. However, this was going to be hard and harder yet was when he got back.
_________________________________________

A few days earlier...

Lataro smiled. "So how can we help you?"

Maruu passed Lataro a PADD. "I have a mission for you. You're going to die."

Valdago gave him a hard look. "What?!"

"When we meet the Dominion forces, I am going to tell them that you two are dead. You will be going on a mission to Jeor. The PADD is a map or the quickest route. It keeps you away from the Kirusan planets, stations, colonies, and ships."

"Why are we going to the Jeorri home world?" asked Valdago.

"He wants us to have a backup in case the Dominion alliance doesn't work," deduced Lataro.

"Very good, Commander," said Maruu. "However, it's more than that. There are five opposing parties here: the Federation, the Jeorri, the Kirusans, the Resistance, and the Dominion. When the Federation leaves this part of space, I want the Kirusans and the Dominion to have fallen. The only winners here must be the Resistance and the Jeorri. Even if the alliance works, we can't allow the Dominion to control the Jeorri as the Kirusans have. Besides, when the Dominion finds out about the Jeorri, the Shahtar themselves told me, they will destroy the entire race. They won't keep them secluded in the Taboo Sector like the Kirusans have. They will wipe them out."

Lataro and Valdago both agreed to take the mission.

"Now we have to work on a plan to kill you two. It will hurt K'Lara terribly, but it must be done."
_________________________________________

Immediately following his meeting, Lataro was at his seat as K'Lara came on to duty. "K'Lara. May I have a word with you?" Lataro said just as K'Lara began to sit down. "Captain. May we use your ready room?"

"Yes. Go ahead," Maruu said, looking at Lataro. Lataro saw the look in his eyes which said, ~DO NOT reveal your mission or what is going to happen!~ Lataro nodded his head in acknowledgment as the two headed for the ready room. He put his hand in the small of her back as she entered the room. The door shut behind them.

"Yes my love. What is it?" K'Lara asked as she wrapped her arms around Lataro's neck. Lataro wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her as tight as he could. Her "little" pooch was now growing by leaps and bounds and he was careful not to hurt it.

"K'Lara. I just wanted a moment to say..." The chocked up commander began.

"Yes, Jon..."

"I just wanted to tell you that I love you. No matter what happens to me, know that."

"What do you mean 'happens to you'?" She asked now backing off slightly. "Nothing is going to happen to you. Why are you talking like that?"

"I am just saying. After my incident on Trelane it really got me thinking..." Lataro knew that he had to lie to her, and it killed him, but he had to ensure that K'Lara understood that his feelings were there and were going to remain whether he was here or on Jeor...or even dead. "You have to know that I am in love with you and I...I mean...we are going to get married and live the rest of our lives together."

K'Lara smiled. "Jon. I know this, but couldn't this have waited till we were off duty?"

"I guess so, but it just seemed so damn important I had to tell you now."

"Aww. That is so sweet," K'Lara said as she pressed her lips against Lataro's.

Just as they were beginning to enjoy the moment, Lataro's com badge beeped. [Valdago to Lataro.]

They separated and laughed softly. "Sheesh. Always duty calls at the wrong time," K'Lara said as she headed for the door.

"Go ahead, Lieutenant," Lataro said, smiling at K'Lara.

[Everything is ready.]

"Good. I will meet you there in 15 minutes. Lataro out."

"Meet him where?" K'Lara said as the door opened.

"The captain wanted me and Lt. Valdago to run some tests on the *Flier*," Lataro said following her. *Another lie!*

"Okay. I will see you tonight?"

"Of course, Hon," Lataro said as he headed for the turbolift. *Three lies. "And immediately the cock crew."* He turned and saw the captain nod his head. Lataro forced a smile and returned the nod. The doors shut as he was wisped away.

Lataro and Valdago entered the shuttle bay. Inside there was a crewmember working at the control console and one up in the observation room. Silently, Lataro signaled for Valdago to go up and take care of the crewman in the upper room. Walking up to the crewmember on the console, he looked over his shoulder pretending to be interested in what he was doing. As Commander Lataro approached him he identified him as Crewman Yates. "Good day, Sir. Is there something I can do for you?" Yates said, looking up.

Lataro looked up at the upper deck where Valdago had just finished climbing the ladder and was now proceeding to the room. "No, Mr. Yates. I was just doing a impromptu evaluation of the certain departments. Please carry on!" he said, gesturing.

"Yes, Sir."

Valdago was now in the room talking to the crewman there. He looked down at Lataro as if to give him the go ahead, and swiftly, Lataro delivered a very sharp blow to the back of Yates' neck. The force of the blow sent Yates up and over the console where he now laid on the bay floor.

Up in the observation deck, the crewmember saw this and grabbed a phaser. He had just started to run past Valdago, when he felt a tug come from his tunic. The crewmember flew back as Valdago used his superior half-Kirusan strength and threw him against the wall. The crewmember crashed on the wall and hit his head, slipping to the floor unconscious.

"Okay, let's go, Lieutenant," Lataro yelled as he ran to the *Lambda Flier*.

"Right behind you, Sir."

Inside the *Flier*, Lataro took the pilot's seat. He always loved to fly, but since his crash he hasn't had much of an opportunity. Lataro began to start the engines as Valdago came on and sat down next to him. "Okay, Mr. Valdago. Let's get this mission underway. Prepare to transport the debris matter and explosives from Cargo Bay Three to our hold as soon as we get pass the doors," Lataro said as the ships engines came to life.

"Understood," Valdago said as he punched a few buttons. "Beginning launch sequence."

"Let's make this look real. Forgive me, *Virgo*."
 
"Phasers charged." A phaser blast burst open the shuttle bay doors.

"Full power to the thrusters."

"Thrusters, aye!"

The *Lambda Flier* lifted off. "Begin transport, Lieutenant!" ordered Lataro.

Seconds later, they went through the shuttle bay containment field, and the transportation was complete. "Sir. We have it!"

"Very good." A quick glance of the space around revealed a Jem'Hadar warship just off the starboard warp nacelle. Instead of flying by them, Lataro banked the *Flier* directing it to the wondrous beyond under the portside warp nacelle.

"Commander! The *Virgo* is hailing us," Valdago said. "It is the captain."

[What are you doing, Commander?!] Maruu yelled.

"You're an idiot, Stephen!" yelled Lataro. "Allying yourself to the Dominion is the stupidest thing any captain could have done!" *Have to make it believable!*

[Commander, turn that ship around or I will fire.]

"Go to hell!" replied Valdago as he cut off the com channel.

"Lieutenant! Now did you really have to go and cut it off like that?" Lataro said in a mocking sternness.

"Well, Sir. That would probably be the only chance I would have had to do that without getting in too much trouble," Valdago said with a smile.

"Cute. Okay prepare to jettison the debris and set a course for the wormhole."

"Aye, Sir."

>From the *Virgo* a flashing light identified by the two "mutineers" as a torpedo launch sped its way to the *Lambda Flier*. "I hope this works! Jettison debris and engage warp engines; maximum warp!" Lataro yelled as the torpedo passed 150 km and closing in fast.

The *Flier's* warp engine came online and the ship flew quickly into the wormhole. The debris field left enough matter so that the torpedo detonated on a large piece of hull plating rigged with the explosives. The explosion masked the *Flier's* jump into the wormhole.

Inside the wormhole, sensors were going off; the small ship had entered the wormhole too fast. Lataro was busy trying to compensate, busy pressing button after button.

"Commander! Hull integrity at 85% and dropping!" Valdago yelled as the computer announced temperatures rising.

"Reroute auxiliary power to the integrity field. Hold on!" The small ship proceeded through the wormhole at tremendous speed, so instinctively Lataro tried to throttle back, but the gravitational wells pulled the ship faster and faster. "How much until we reach the other side of the wormhole?"

"Fifteen seconds!"

"Come on, baby. Hold together!" Lataro said under his breath.

<Hull integrity at 60%,> the computer announced.

"Ten seconds," Valdago yelled.

Suddenly the shaking stopped and the ship's ride smoothed out. As if being spat out, the *Lambda Flier* emerged from the wormhole. "Mr. Valdago? I thought there was another 10 seconds?" Lataro said, amazed.

"Yes, Sir, so did I."

"Hmm. Entering the wormhole at the speed we did must have effected the overall journey."

"Duhh," Valdago said, sarcastically.

"Lieutenant! Even though we are dead, we will still observe proper etiquette," Lataro said with a smile.

"Yes, Sir," Valdago said mocking a salute. Lataro smiled.

"Okay. Set a course for Jeor and engage cloak. I don't want any surprises on this trip."

"Fine. We should reach Jeor in about 52 hours at maximum warp, but with the captain's flight plan, it will take closer to four days."

"Okay fine."

After making the calculations, Lataro banked the ship and let the computer take control. The *Flier* began to cloak as the warp engines engaged sending the two on their way to create the needed alliance with the Jeorri.
_________________________________________

"Commander Lataro!" Valdago yelled, waking Lataro up. He must've fallen asleep, but as he got up and took his chair, he saw on the sensor reading the reason why he had been abruptly awakened. "Long range sensors are picking up a Kirusan battle cruiser bearing 258 mark 4."

"Is the cloak operating?" Lataro said as he verified the readings.

"Yes. Everything is operating efficiently."

"Okay steady as she goes. No sudden or abrupt maneuvers."

"Yes, Sir."

The battle cruiser was similar to the designs that they had seen before. As they approached it, it made no indication of detecting the *Flier*. "This is the right course right, Lieutenant?"

"Yes, Commander. This is the route given to us by the captain."

"Okay, then let's just watch ourselves." The battle cruiser passed just overhead. Lataro didn't want to give themselves away by making sharp turns and evasive maneuvers, but the cloak worked well. A few minutes later the battle cruiser was now aft and gaining distance. There was still no signs of detection. "Increase speed to warp five. I want to put as much distance between them and us."

"Aye, Sir. Next stop, the Jeorri!" Valdago said.

"I hope so!"
 

Title: "Channeled Anger"
Author: Lieutenant Benton
Stardate: 2460178
Earthdate: March 6, 2360
Location: USS Virgo

Lieutenant Benton sat in his security office looking at Commander K'Lara. K'Lara had been put in a brig cell. Benton, and his team were able to stop her from reaching the captain and put her in a cell for her own good, but it hadn't been easy. He remembered the events of three days ago. A call had come in from Sickbay...
________________________________________

[Nori to Security.]

"Benton here. What is it?"

[We have a situation. Lt. Commander K'Lara is on a rampage. I believe she is going after Maruu.]

"Never a dull moment," chuckled Sitto Lan.

Benton said, "Understood. I'll have a team intercept her."

[That won't be enough. She's half-Klingon and in a very bad mood.]

"Thanks for the warning. I'll think of something. Benton out."

Benton sprang into action. He addressed Lan, who was sitting behind the main security console, down in the Security Office. "Sitto! Lock on to Commander K'Lara's com badge and track her position."

"Aye, Sir!" snapped Lan as he began configuring the console.

"I'm going to try to head off the Commander before she has the opportunity to do harm to anyone," continued Benton, fastening on his combat jacket. *Better be on the safe side. There's no telling what a Klingon on a murderous rampage will attempt. Or what'll happen if she runs into a Jem'Hadar patrol.*

He began running out of Security, but Lan called after him, "Benny! Your phaser!"

Benton paused long enough to turn and answer Lan, "I have no intention of shooting the Commander again. I'm sure she will acquiesce to reason." At that, he turned and ran down the corridor.

Sitto Lan looked after Benton curiously. Sometimes he just couldn't understand the Chief's reasoning. *Oh well. It's his skin, not mine.* Lan concentrated on the display of K'Lara's current position.

As for Benton, the only reason he had shot Commander K'Lara the first time on the bridge was to help reinforce the captain's plan. He had hated doing it; he considered the use of such force a last resort.

He was running down a radial corridor in the *Virgo's* primary hull. Sitto's voice came over his com badge, [She's on Deck Five, sections 5-6. Looks like she's headed for the bridge.]

"Acknowledged, Sitto. Erect a level 10 force field when she enters the intersection at section 4-7. We'll bottle her up there."

[You got it, Benny!]

Benton changed direction, and headed for Deck Five, intersection 4-7.
________________________________________

K'Lara ran through the ship's corridors, mad with rage. She would kill the vile animal that had in cold blood murdered her mate! However, she retained enough sanity to know that Security would be coming after her in very short order. She had taken the time to arm herself with a small hand phaser, and with her telekinetic power she was trying to "sweep" the way ahead of her as she ran in hopes of triggering anything Security had planted to trap her.

Sure enough, her telekinetic probing triggered a force field enclosure at the intersection she was about to enter. She skidded to a stop as the fields activated, barely avoiding becoming trapped within. At the other side of the intersection, beyond another force field, she saw Lt. Benton coming to a stop. They looked at each other.
________________________________________

Benton saw K'Lara across the force field barrier. Somehow, she had escaped becoming entrapped. She was standing outside the force field box, on the other side. Apparently, she was going to be a most difficult adversary.

He called to her, "Commander! Please cease your current course of action and return to sickbay with me. You cannot possibly profit from this."

"I have no interest in profit, you ptaQ!" K'Lara snarled. I intend to avenge myself for the death of my mate, and you can't stop me, weakling Human! I'm going to blow the beast Maruu out an airlock and watch him boil alive in the frozen vacuum of space!" K'Lara paused for a second. The expression on her face made Benton's blood run cold.

K'Lara's eyes burned. She hissed between clenched teeth, "Revenge is a dish best served cold."

Benton broke the spell of K'Lara's words. "Weakling *Kelvan* actually," he muttered under his breath. He forgave her the slight. It was a common error, converted Kelvans were physically identical to Humans. But never mind that. K'Lara was obviously extremely dangerous and had to be stopped.
________________________________________

Since she could no longer go forward, K'Lara went back. She had to get to the bridge where the murderer was. She remembered seeing a ladder several intersections down the other way. She ran.

Benton saw K'Lara turn and run the way she had come back down the corridor. He slapped his palm on his com badge and said, "Sitto! Lower the force fields around intersection 4-7. K'Lara's escaped!"

[You got it.]

The force fields went down, and Benton ran forward after K'Lara.
________________________________________

As K'Lara approached the ladder, a pair of security guards blocked her path with phasers drawn. The one standing slightly ahead of the other said, "Commander K'Lara! Please stop. We don't want to hurt you, but we'll fire if you force us."

K'Lara slowed to a halt and smiled a false smile to draw the men off guard. "Of course, Ensign. Looks like you've caught me."

The guards came closer to take K'Lara into custody. Just before the lead guard touched her, K'Lara's eyes flashed and unleashed a blast of telekinetic energy. The lead guard's phaser hand was pushed aside slightly, but the distraction gave K'Lara the opening she needed to land a wicked punch squarely on his jaw. He hadn't even hit the deck before K'Lara had advanced on the second guard and dealt with him just as quickly and efficiently. K'Lara calmly walked over to the ladder and began to climb.

Benton came running up to the ladder intersection. He saw the two unconscious security men slumped against the far wall, and he knew he was too late. K'Lara had eluded his troops once again.

He tapped his com badge, "Benton to Sickbay. Medical team needed on Deck Five, section 3-9."

[Medical team responding, Sir.]

"Thank you kindly. Benton to Security. Sitto, where is K'Lara now?"

[She's headed up towards the bridge in gangway 14. Better hurry, Benny."

"Acknowledged. Meet me there, Sitto."

[I'm already moving.]

Benton ran as fast as he could back to the turbolift. That would be the fastest way to the bridge. The doors seemed to take an eternity to open, but as soon as he could squeeze between them, he dashed into the lift and shouted, "Bridge!" The lift sped away.
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K'Lara bolted out of the door at the right rear of the bridge. She was wild-eyed. Her gaze swept the bridge and the people on it, and quickly settled on Captain Maruu. The Vorta Jorail was sitting beside him.

"Maruu!" she yelled.

Maruu and Jorail jolted out of their chairs and spun to face the enraged Klingon. "K'Lara! Wait!" Maruu shouted. "You don't understand!"

"Ha'dlbaH!" growled K'Lara. Her eyes began to blaze more brightly than ever before now that the object of her hatred was actually in sight. She leveled her hand phaser at Maruu's chest and pressed the firing stud.

Suddenly, seemingly from out of nowhere, Benton came hurtling through the air toward Maruu. His left arm hooked around the captain and his right arm snagged Jorail, sending all three to the deck out of the way of K'Lara's shot. The beam missed Maruu by inches, instead melting the deck where he had been standing only moments before.

All three men were slightly dazed, but were saved from K'Lara's wrath by the timely arrival of Sitto Lan. He dashed out of the turbolift and quickly sized up the situation. He swung his phaser at K'Lara and shouted, "Freeze!"

But K'Lara wouldn't be taken that easily. She roared a Klingon challenge and launched herself at Lan, who was taken by surprise by the viciousness of her attack. She slammed into Lan's midsection, doubling him over, then followed up with a knee in the stomach and a chop to the back of the neck. That was it for Lan. He slumped to the deck, out of the action for now.

But the distraction created by Lan had been enough for Benton and Maruu to regain their feet. Benton placed himself squarely between K'Lara and the captain. "K'Lara!" he said in a commanding, yet understanding voice.

K'Lara whirled back in his direction. "Move aside, Benton." She advanced slowly as she spoke.

Benton ignored the suggestion and simply continued, "You don't want to do this, K'Lara."

K'Lara continued her deliberate forward motion.

"This will not do you or your baby any good."

At that, she seemed to pause for a moment.

"And will not serve to honor the memory of Commander Lataro. He would not approve of this," finished Benton more softly.

K'Lara stopped. Some of the fire went out of her eyes, and she hung her head.

"You must find some other way to mourn his death," said Benton.

After a few very tense seconds of silence, wherein it was impossible to tell what was going to happen next, K'Lara raised her head again. Her eyes had regained most of their fiery glory. She looked directly at Captain Maruu, and Benton thought his attempt at reasoning had failed. He prepared to block the coming attack with himself, if necessary.

But no attack came. Instead, K'Lara said, "Yes. I must honor his memory." With that, she turned away from the rest of the bridge crew and raised her face skyward. A low rumble started deep in her throat, building quickly into a sustained ear-shattering howl that made all who were present cringe, a howl that contained infinite heartbreaking loss, yet also terrifying threat and warning. K'Lara howled her fearsome warning to all departed Klingon warrior spirits in Sto'Vo'Kor that another warrior was on his way.

"He was a warrior at heart," she said quietly. "Now he will have a proper welcome in Sto'Vo'Kor." With that, the life seemed to drain out of her, her eyes returned to normal, and she dropped her phaser. She allowed herself to be led from the bridge by Benton and a recovered Lan, but she kept her eyes carefully and deliberately averted from the captain.

Sitto was asking Benton, "So, Benny. Do you always get your man?"

Benton looked slightly puzzled by the odd question. He raised an eyebrow at Sitto and said, "You make it sound like I'm a Canadian Mountie." But the turbolift doors closed on them, and any response Lan might have had was lost.
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That was three days ago. Now they were sitting in Security, on opposite sides of a force field barrier. K'Lara had withdrawn into herself. Benton hated having to keep her confined like this, especially, since the reason for her anger was nothing more than a carefully crafted fabrication, but he had no choice.

He especially hated seeing K'Lara in her depressed mental state. He wished there was something he could say to help put everything into perspective for her, but that would have to wait. He had an appointment with Mr. Loran and the transwarp drive.

"I really don't want to keep you here, Commander. I have considered moving you to solitary confinement in your quarters. Right now I have to go meet with Lieutenant Loran in Engineering. Perhaps when I get back we can talk."

K'Lara gave him an evil glare, then looked down at the floor. Benton rose and called over an ensign to watch K'Lara. He then made his way to Engineering.
________________________________________

Benton got back from his meeting with Loran. He was on his way to talk to the captain about the progress of the transwarp upgrade, but he felt he needed to check up on K'Lara. He was still feeling guilty about keeping her locked up.

She was still sitting exactly where he had left her, sullenly staring at the opposite wall of her cell. He tried to understand what she was feeling, but he was sure his Kelvan heritage was too alien to be able to relate to this humanoid's emotional state.

He relieved the ensign on duty, and sat in the chair behind the Security console. He looked at his boots for a moment while he thought, and in her cell, K'Lara gave no indication she even noticed he was in the room.

Benton said quietly, "You know Commander, my mother died when I was very young. I don't remember a lot about that time except...except my father's beard."

Benton paused a moment, allowing the apparent non-sequitur to sink in. "I don't remember him crying or talking about her. I just woke up one morning and I noticed he had a beard, and it kept getting longer and longer, and he got thinner and thinner and then he stopped going to work."

Benton paused again, trying to determine if K'Lara was even hearing him. He couldn't tell so he continued anyway, trying to make his point more clear, "My mother died, but my father *stopped living...* And then one morning, I woke up and there was a breakfast waiting for me at the table. Oatmeal and, uh, sliced banana. And he was clean shaven. And he was crying..." Benton's voice drifted off.

K'Lara's voice surprised Benton when it came. He had become so lost in his own memories. "Your dad was a very strong man," she said so quietly Benton almost couldn't hear her.

Benton remembered a quote from a Human writer named Shakespeare. "He just woke up and the wind was from the south, and he found he still knew the difference between a hawk and a handsaw."

K'Lara looked up then and locked eyes with Benton. There was sorrow in her eyes still, of course, but there was also a renewed spark of life.

"Thanks, Lieutenant."

*Well, looks like I underestimated my ability to relate,* thought Benton.