Captain Kafar of the IKV Chu'la swiveled in his chair toward the Tactical station. "Report!" he barked at the tactical officer.
"Sir, there appears to be an anomaly off our port bow. Sensors at maximum gain have not been able to determine the nature of the anomaly."
"Hmmm..." Kafar had heard rumors of Nausicaan activity in the sector, but this was far beyond Nausicaan capabilities. Although it would not have surprised the Klingon captain: the Nausicaans fancied themselves true warriors but were little more than thieves without honor, barely a nation unto themselves. He knew exactly what to do.
"What would you have us do, Subcommandant Da'ran?" he asked the G'kar exchange officer on his bridge. The G'kar impressed Kafar greatly: they were primitive but had the makings of great warriors.
Da'ran bowed his head. "These individuals would not be cloaked unless they had hostile intent. We should maneuver and see if this anomaly moves in response. This will distinguish it from a natural feature. Once we have made that determination, then we send a hail and ask them their business."
"Cautious...you have been studying the Federation method of battle, I see," Kafar said. It was simply an observation. More often than not the cautiousness of Federation captains had proven the undoing of many more impatient commanders. Their cunning and resourcefulness more than compensated for their basically pacifist tendencies.
"My own people are not without a martial tradition, Captain. Strategos Va'nor always advocated caution when approaching a potential new enemy."
"And what became of Va'nor?" Kafar asked.
"He was killed by the Mullurans. But it was a very honorable death."
Kafar laughed. Da'ran joined him in his laugh. "Initiate a turn--332 Mark 7!" Kafar ordered the helm.
"The anomaly is matching course!" the tactical officer announced.
"Open a hail." The comm channel gave a buzz. "This is Captain Kafar of the Imperial Klingon Vessel Chu'la. State your business."
"No response, Captain," the comm officer responded. "The anomaly is moving in on our position."
"Red alert!" Kafar barked. "Power up all weapons and fire on the anomaly!"
"Merchant Vessel Damar, this is Subcommandant Da'ran. All hands to general stations!" Da'ran ordered over a separate channel. G'kar vessels--even merchant vessels--never backed down!
The Bird of Prey went into attack configuration and fired several disruptor bursts at the anomaly. The cloaks dropped, revealing the ship beneath.
"Mulluran vessel, Type IIIA attack frigate!" the tactical officer announced as the first of the enemy's shots hit their shields. "Shields are holding at ninety-five percent!"
"It is a good day to die!" Kafar yelled. "Photon torpedoes--fire at will!"
The Bird of Prey fired a torpedo as the Mulluran vessel attempted to duck out of the way. The torpedo impacted on one of the warp nacelles.
"The enemy is dropping from warp--moderate damage to his starboard nacelle!" the tactical officer announced.
"Qapla'!!!!" Kafar shouted. The rest of the crew joined him in the shout. "Destroy their engineering section!"
Disruptor bursts ripped through the Mulluran vessel's shields and penetrated the ship's hull. "The ship is dead in space. We are receiving transmissions--they wish to surrender!"
"Cowards! Prepare a boarding party. Da'ran, take three of your best people to join us. This should be entertaining!"
"Sir, another Mulluran vessel has appeared! They're practically on top of us!"
"What?" Kafar asked incredulously. "Increase shields!"
"Shields at maximum power, sir. I'm reading multiple transporter signals--we're being boarded!"
They're beaming through our shields! Kafar thought. "All hands, engage boarding party!" Kafar yelled as one of the boarders beamed onto the bridge. Da'ran and the tactical officer both attacked the monster. It looked--and fought--like Fek'lhr himself as it grabbed the tactical officer's neck and ripped it from his body. A series of sickening pops sounded as the Klingon's ribs separated from his spinal column as the spinal column left his body.
Da'ran fired his disruptor at the creature, which stopped and glowed momentarily, then continued on its way to slaughter the G'kar officer. Kafar issued a roar as he attacked the creature with his bat'leth.
The creature fought furiously and before long had snapped Kafar's bat'leth in two. Kafar continud, using the seperate halves as he would mek'leth but to no avail. The creature swatted him to the side as though he were a targ fly.
Kafar could feel the broken ribs stave into his lungs beneath his armor as he hit a console. Another of the demons reached down to grab his jawbone. Kafar smiled as he grabbed the monster's throat in response, emptying himself of all desire to cling to this life as he prepared for Sto-vo-kor. No songs would be sung of this battle, but he would make his death honorable nonetheless!
"Today is a good day to die!" he exclaimed once more before the creature ripped off his head.
Their work done, the Mulluran vessel carrying the creatures towed off its damaged, remote-controlled companion. Aboard the vessel, Dr. Bakar Mikori was the toast of the hour.
"Your warriors have proven their worth, Doctor," Admiral Tanor congratulated him. "They've defeated a ship full of Klingons without a single casualty!" he said, looking over the grisly proofs of the success of the attack.
"If they can defeat Klingons, they can defeat anyone," Makori said. "You can count on them."
"But can we count on them to stay under our control?"
"Absolutely. They remain completely dependent upon the Mulluran regular forces for transport and supply. They cannot reproduce on their own, and their short lifespan ensures that we can dispose of them once their purpose is fulfilled. We do not need to worry about creating an artificial warrior cast who would displace the current regime."
"You sound in doubt about our prospects, Doctor."
"Not at all. I'm sure that the Glorious Leader will reign for ten thousand years or more!" Mikori reassured him. At least, until Francona's purse has paid for my overthrow of his empire!
With that, they both toasted Francona. "Our proof-of-concept trials are complete," Tanor announced. "Now, on to the Nausicaan worlds. Their alliance has proven a liability of late..."