Star Trek: The Fall: The Poisoned Chalice Read Online Free

a holodeck. Behind them, the technicians and operations crew said nothing, waiting.
    The general began; first a low growl in the deepest register, held in the pit of his chest. Building and building until he gave it voice, made it a roar. He threw back his head and bellowed defiance, the echo of his cry calling from the lips of every Klingon in the room.
    When the death shout faded, the old soldier sheathed his blade, considering his self-inflicted wound. It was his way to do this, to remember each and every death that came from his command. Eachcut was a warrior, a ship, a battle squad lost to Sto-Vo-Kor, a blood cost that he had been responsible for.
    â€œEnough,” he muttered, turning to his adjutant. “This is the end to it.”
    The adjutant exchanged a wary glance with the other officers. “General. This endeavor stems from a request of great import. From the highest levels.”
    â€œI know that, whelp.” The general ran a hand through his thinning beard, his forehead ridges thickening as he grimaced. “And we have done as the alliance demands of us. But enough now. No more Klingon blood will be spilled in the name of this.”
    â€œHonorless dogs,” muttered another of the warriors. “They knew we were coming. Perhaps the Orions managed to warn them. . . .”
    â€œWhat shall we tell our ally?” demanded the adjutant. “We were asked this favor because we were capable of it! Now we taste blood and we halt in our tracks?”
    The general’s blow came out of nowhere, a sweeping backhand that shattered the adjutant’s nose and turned his face into a blood-streaked mess. He had the strength not to fall, but only barely, staggering back and clutching at the injury.
    â€œNever dare to lecture me on the taste of blood, ” said the old warrior, pausing to lick a little of the purple fluid that had gathered over the studs of his gauntlet. “We were asked to perform this deed, flattered by praise of our martial prowess! But it is hollow. See the truth, fool. The ally asks this of us not because we are capable of it, but because he considers our warriors disposable . He does not wish to sully himself with acts of murder, even in righteous vengeance. Better he uses the Klingons to be his wolves.” He eyed the others inthe room, daring them to speak against him. “He has us do what he will not.” He shook his head. “But we have done enough already.”
    The general stalked forward and set his burning gaze on the adjutant. “Heed me,” he told the other Klingon. “This is the message you will pass on. Say it to him, word for word, so there is no error.” The old warrior switched from his native tongue to the human language of Federation Standard. “Tell him that the Bajoran will have to do his own dirty work from now on.”
    *  *  *
    Vale became aware that she was pacing the captain’s ready room in a slow, continuous orbit, and she sighed, pausing before she sat down on the edge of Riker’s desk. The padd in her hand was filled with pages of regulation-issue Starfleet paperwork, docking protocols and the like transmitted over from McKinley Station after Titan had berthed at the platform; essentially it was boilerplate documentation, but it still needed the authorization of a ship’s commanding officer—and as Riker had been summoned away before Titan ’s impulse grids had a chance to cool, right now that was her.
    She stared at the page without really seeing it, and she blew out a breath. Looking away, Christine glanced out the ready room’s window to where the curve of the Earth’s surface caught the glow of a sunrise. It looked the same as it ever had, she thought. From up here, peaceful and quiet.
    Down there, it had to be a careful, civil chaos. In the entire history of the United Federation of Planets, from its formation more than two centuries ago, no serving