Chapter 6

Central Command

Vessel Sontok

“The Eldrakand the Golnorhave both lost their shields.”

Monor pounded the arm of his command chair at Ekron’s report. The Sontokhad combined with the Third Order to do considerable damage to the enemy ships, but despite being outnumbered three to one, the damned Foreheads still had put up a fine fight, critically damaging two of the Cardassian ships.

“Set course—”

“Sir, the Klingons are breaking formation!”

That threw Monor off guard. “What?”

Ekron looked up from his console. “They are setting course outside the system.”

“Follow them!” The Klingons may not have had the neckbones to chase after a fleeing foe, but Monor did. “Pursuit course, top speed.”

“They’re going to warp.”

“Overtake them, dammit! We’ll show those damn Foreheads how to win a fight.”

Ekron nodded. “Yes, sir. Course is 111 mark 47. Klingon ships are at warp seven.”

“Increase to warp eight.”

Shaking his head, Ekron said, “We can only achieve warp seven-point-three, sir—and the other ships can’t even break warp seven.”

Monor stood up; the damn chair squeaking again. “Fine, then, warp seven-point-three. Inform the fleet to keep up as best they can.” He paced down the length of the bridge. “Project course ahead. Where are they leading us? Assuming they’re leading us anywhere and not just flying off like the cowards they are. They can brag about honor all they want, but give them a real foe and they show their true colors, that’s for damn sure.”

“Heading for the Betreka Nebula.”

Monor laughed. “Those idiot Foreheads think they can lose us in the nebula, do they?” He shook his head. “That trick is so old, my grandfather would be embarrassed to use it. Have I ever told you about my grandfather, Ekron?”

“Many times, sir. We’ll reach the nebula in fifteen minutes—that’s before we’ll be able to intercept.”

“Watch their course carefully, Ekron. Sensors’ll go out once we get inside that soup, so we’ll need to extrapolate their course.”

“Yes, sir.”

Monor moved to sit in his chair again. “Damned Foreheads aren’t going to make a mockery of me. Can’t believe they’d pull this sort of trick, like we’re some kind of rank amateurs. That’s the sort of thing that’ll work against Kreel or Kinshaya or those other weaklings that the Foreheads pick on to make themselves look strong, but we Cardassians are made of sterner stuff. Ready a full spread of torpedoes, fire them the instant we’re in range.”

“Sir,” Ekron said, “we won’t be in range until we reach the nebula.”

Sighing, Monor said, “Then we’ll fire the damn things into the nebula! Their shields are low enough that we should be able to penetrate their hull—that’ll make going into the nebula all that much more dangerous for those idiots. Then we’ll show them what the difference is between a warrior and a soldier. Because that’s the important thing, you know. They go on and on about honor and being warriors and all that other muck, but what matters is obedience—following the chain of command to make a better life for your homeland. That’swhat war’s all about, Ekron, not this nonsense about glory and honor—that’s just an excuse to kill people.”

“Yes, sir.” Ekron looked up. “Sir, the Klingon ships are slowing to impulse.”

“Reduce speed.” After standing in front of it for several minutes, Monor finally sat in his chair. Amazingly enough, it didn’tsqueak. Monor decided to take that as a good sign. “Let’s show these Foreheads that we mean business.”

“Coming out of warp.”

“Fire torpedoes!”

Ekron passed on the order to weapons control, then added, “Sir, the Third Order will be coming out of warp in six minutes.”

“Damn.” Monor shook his head. If only they’d been able to keep up.“Well, we ought to be able to hold them off for six minutes. Let’s try to get them before they enter the nebula.”

However, Ekron seemed vexed by something on his console. “Sir, the Klingon ships aren’theading for the nebula.”

It took a moment for Monor to realize what his second-in-command had just said. “What?”

“They’re holding position approximately two hundred thousand kilometers from the nebula’s perimeter.”

Shrugging, Monor said, “Fine, if they want to make it easy on us. Target the lead ship and fire with full phasers and torpedoes. Then—”

“Sir, now picking up multiple energy signatures from the nebula. Charged particles are increasing by fifty percent at the perimeter.” Then Ekron looked up in shock at Monor. “Sir, six Klingon ships are emerging from the nebula!”

“A trap.” Monor shook his head. “Damn me, here I thought they were pulling the oldest trick in the book, and I fell for an older one. Should’ve given the Foreheads more credit.” He sighed. Suddenly the six minutes that it would take the Third Order to catch up were an eternity. “Evasive maneuvers.”

Chapter 7

I.K.S. Wo’bortas

The bridge was coming to pieces around Captain Qaolin. His new first officer was dead, their stock of torpedoes were almost gone, and their shields were down to fourteen percent.

“Those Cardassians fight better than I thought.”

His gunner, an old grishnarcat named Tolkor, said, “They still die like dogs when facing true warriors.”

Qaolin wished that that were more true than it was. He and the fleet managed to destroy three of their ships, but they in turn crippled six of the Defense Force vessels—including the Wo’bortas.The shields had taken the brunt of the impact, but they were now down to almost nothing. One more shot, and we will be defenseless—and they still have superior firepower.

“Sir,” Tolkor reported, “the Kazinis coming around and firing on three of the Cardassian ships—it’s heading straight for them at ramming speed!”

Qaolin stood and said, “Is G’Zar insane? On screen!”

Sure enough, Captain G’Zar was taking the I.K.S. Kazin,one of the Birok-class strike ships, right at three of the ships. According to the tactical data on the screen, their shields and communications systems were down and their weapons were spent. Their warp power was also nonexistent.

Tolkor then laughed. “Oh, he’s insane, all right, sir—insane like a Romulan. The Kazin’s warp core is about to breach. He’s maneuvering into position to take as many of those petaQas he can when it goes.”

The captain grinned. No doubt G’Zar thought that, if he was going to die anyhow, he would take the enemy with him. “Set course for the nebula, full impulse—warn the rest of the fleet of what G’Zar is planning.”

As what remained of the bridge crew carried out his orders, Qaolin saw that the Sontok—the ship they’d been spying on—was following them into the nebula. Good,Qaolin thought.

The Sontokthen fired on the Wo’bortas.“Damage to the secondary hull and port wing,” Tolkor said. “We’re venting plasma. Sir, if we enter the nebula—”