"Qo'  batlh  vaD  cha'  gab  nep!"
 by Lieutenant T'Kang
 Chief Tactical Officer - USS Tempest
 http://come.to/tkang


T'Kang cleared the contents of his dresser with an angrily 
swung arm and a growl.  Grabbing a near by chair, the bear-
like Klingon warrior grabbed it in both hands and flung it 
across the room where it slammed into the neighboring bulk 
head with a loud crash.  Pausing, the upset Lieutenant 
glanced at his own, frustrated image in the mirror attached to 
the wall and stared at the face that peered back at him 
through the reflection.  The Chief Tactical Officer had been 
relieved of duty and confined to his quarters after 
questioning the decision to join forces with the rebels who 
opposed the present Starfleet Administration.

The Tempest had slowed.  T'Kang's experience as a 
Starfleet Officer had told him that.  His time on board the 
Akula at her Helm, and the Intrepid as her Chief Engineer, 
and now as Chief Tactical Officer of the Excelsior class 
Tempest had taught the Klingon veteran to know when the 
ship cuts the impulse engines to full stop.   T'Kang's eyes 
darted to the side, away from his own image in the mirror, as 
he moved to the observation portal to confirm what his 
instincts had told him.   In the distance, Starbase Arcadia 
loomed, with a hand full of starships milling about or docked 
on her ports.

"King Arthur is with Guenevere."  T'Kang hissed as the 
Tempest's cloak dropped and the maneuvering thrusters 
began edging the starship towards the Starbase for docking.  
"Into the dragon's lair we venture."

Glancing at the Station and the supporting starships, T'Kang 
made a cursory count.  An impressive array of military might; 
were they proposing a battle with the Panthers; but to 
oppose the entire forces of Starfleet under Rear Admiral 
Za'Kal's command?  Thousands on starships, hundreds of 
support colonies and starbases.  History had shown such 
civil war uprisings to have always been doomed before they 
began, and this was no exception.  Men and Women clinging 
to their ideals, to their solemn oath they swore to the 
Confederacy, which they now openly defy because they 
disagree with the direction their leaders are taking them.  Yet 
if the very same officers beneath them disagree to their 
actions, object to their decisions, do they not react with the 
same sort of contempt and callous response as the very 
forces they are opposing?  Shouldn't the officers under the 
chain of command do *exactly* as they are told with out 
question?  But if that is what the senior staff expects, how 
can they possibly justify their present actions in disobeying 
the orders of their own superiors?

"Qo'  batlh  vaD  cha'  gab  nep!" T'Kang declared out the 
view portal with obvious contempt as the Tempest docked 
with Starbase Arcadia.  "No honor for two faced liars."