War and Honor

Chapter One: Relic

Captain Vogh gazed tiredly out the viewscreen of his ship, the Vor'cha class cruiser IKS Qu'van. His ship, along with three Birds of Prey, had been dispatched beyond the Klingon border to search for new systems rich in resources. With the Dominion War only months behind them, the Klingon Empire was in dire need of resources with which to rebuild. To that end it had dispatched several scout fleets to explore beyond Klingon space. Vogh's fleet was currently surveying a large nebula. Its crimson clouds and dark streaks gave it the appearance of the entrance to Gre'thor.

"Have the sensors detected anything?" Vogh asked. His stomach growled. He had been on the bridge for over ten hours as his fleet surveyed the nebula, and he was both hungry and nearly asleep from boredom.

"One moment. Sensors are detecting a large metallic signature one million kilometers inside the Nebula," First Officer K'lek replied. "Laying in a course." As the Klingon ships entered the nebula, it seemed to swallow them in its curtain of crimson vapors. Inside the nebula was dark, with low red light that seemed to filter through in streams, like the beams of searchlights.

"How far are we from the reading?"

"Coming into visual range now," K'lek replied. The viewscreen flickered and changed to a view of a diamond structure. It appeared to be composed of four long arms and hung in orbit of a large planetoid. "No life sign readings, either on the structure or the planet. Sensors indicate the object is nearly 10,000 years old. It seems to possess several high energy fusion reactors and a large amount of an unknown element. The planet below also possesses several veins of it. I believe this is worth contacting the High Council."

"Very well. K'lek, you have the bridge."

…

Two Weeks Later:

Vogh watched with anticipation as the device powered up. Chancellor Martok had dispatched several ships with scientists to study the device. Supply ships had also arrived to begin mining the unknown mineral on the surface of the moon. Its showed great potential as a power source.

A pulse of light traveled down the arms of the station, converging at the end into a glowing orange vortex.

"Is that a wormhole?" Captain Vogh asked. He had seen the Bajoran wormhole before. If a race had discovered how to create an artificial wormhole, it could revolutionize travel for the Klingons.

"It is similar, but I am detecting another region of space beyond the entrance. I believe the device is some sort of dimensional vortex generator."

"What can the sensors tell us about the space on the other side?"

"It seems to contain large amounts of gravimetric turbulence and sensors are only effective at a third of normal range."

Very well, launch a probe. I want to know more about that space."

"Yes sir." The probe from the Qu'van entered the vortex and vanished. "We are receiving telemetry. The region on the other side appears to exist on a different special domain than our own, but our sensors are able to scan a layer of space beyond it, possibly the equivalent to our own."

"Would it be safe for our ships to enter the vortex?" Vogh asked.

"Commander Mel'ok is instructing all ships to hold position." The Commander's Vor'cha fired three more probes into the vortex, which collapsed seconds later.

"What happened?"

"Unknown. The device appears to be capable of sustaining a vortex for only a short time. We are however still receiving readings from the probes."

For the next several days the working of the device were examined. It was discovered to use a combination of several types of energies to generate the vortex, and the mineral on the planet below appeared to be a key element to the process. Samples were taken back to Quo'nos for analysis. After running as many tests as they could, it was decided to send a ship through the vortex. Captain Vogh was selected. Once the Qu'van entered the vortex it closed.

"Sir, sensors are detecting a tachyon stream, very weak. It seems to be emanating from the gate and traveling away on a bearing of one zero four mark nine."

"Inform Commander Me'lok and request instructions," Vogh replied.

"Sir, we are instructed to locate the source of the tachyon signal but maintain contact. He is sending the remainder of our squadron to accompany us." Seconds later the vortex reopened the three Birds of Prey came through. Together the Klingon squadron followed the tachyon stream dropping subspace buoys to maintain contact with the fleet. Gradually the Klingon ships picked up speed until they were traveling at full impulse. Soon they would have the answers they sought.

So, what does everyone think of this story? Hope to get some good reviews. See yo all later. The Emperor protects.

ENTILZA