"Bug hunt - part IV" 
by Sogh T'Kang 
First officer - IKV Jachyoj 
http://come.to/tkang


*** Bridge, IKV Jachyoj ***

T'Kang was seeing to the evacuation of the D'Alaan space 
station.  Most of the surviving Klingon warriors had already 
been accounted for and transported to the storage holds of 
the mighty bird of prey vessel.  T'Kang was running a few 
sensor scans to verify the alien space station had been fully 
evacuated and to verify no one had been left behind.

HoD Aram glanced at the main view screen in amazement.  
He'd ordered the Jachyoj away from the station, to maximum 
transporter range just to be safe.  When the main power 
reactor blew on that alien station, he wasn't certain how 
large the resulting explosion would be.

Angar, the bald helmsman of the Jachyoj, grunted at the 
flight controls.  The HoD had ordered him to lay in an escape 
course and be prepared to jump to warp the moment 
D'Alaan 27's main reactor breached.

Lagh Krell came walking onto the bridge and stood by the 
HoD, placing a priestly hand on the young boy's shoulder.  
"The HoD seems saddened by this turn of events. . ."

Aram glanced at his long time mentor, the warrior priest.  
"Here I have only been at this forsaken place less than a day 
and already tragedy strikes.  Is it a curse Krell?  Am I 
somehow painted by the Duras name to always struggle 
against all odds?"

"Nothing so drastic as all of that my HoD.  It was simply 
meant to be.  This station was doomed to fail.  It is it's 
destiny.  One is a fool to oppose one's destiny."  Krell 
explained in sage-like fashion.

"And what of my destiny Krell?  Am I like that station?  
Doomed to forever live in the shadow of my traitorous 
father's name?  Will the house of Duras taint my ever waking 
moment, just as poisonously as it taints my very life's 
blood?"

"I do not believe so my HoD.  Your destiny lays on another 
path from that of your father.  Perhaps in the grander plan of 
the universe this set back was meant to happen to place you 
at the right place, at the right moment to earn the honor that 
your father's name has taken from your house."  Krell 
explained.

"More priestly riddles Krell?"  Aram asked unsatisfied with 
the warrior priest's answer.

"One can not escape their own destiny my HoD." Krell 
nodded knowingly.

T'Kang called back from the tactical station of the Jachyoj.  
"The reactor is breaching.  The station is going to explode."

HoD Aram, T'Kang, Krell and Angar all glanced at the main 
view screen and saw the sharp crack of light, followed by an 
explosive ring of white, radiating power out of Station 
D'Alaan 27 like the yoke from a shattered egg.

"Angar, take us to warp now!"  HoD Aram called out.

Angar tapped the flight controls activating the Jachyoj's warp 
engines.  With a flash, the bird of prey vessel streaked away 
from D'Alaan station just as the matter anti-matter reactor 
consumed the station and vaporized it in it's wake.    The 
USS Yeager had also managed to jump to warp in the nick 
of time, taking all of the Starfleet officers she'd managed to 
rescue off the destroyed station as they headed back 
towards Federation space clear across the other side of the 
Klingon Empire.

The HoD continued to watch the aft monitor as the explosion 
from the main reactor of the station faded until nothing was 
left where D'Alaan station once resided in space.  The alien 
space station so recently discovered that had survived over 
a millennium as an abandoned space relic was now gone.  
Whatever secrets she held, whatever alien technologies she 
held were gone with her.   It was a great loss to both the 
Federation and the Klingon Empire.

"The Klingon High Council will need to be informed my 
HoD." Angar reminded.

Aram didn't look as if he relished the idea of informing the 
Council that the son of Duras had arrived at station D'Alaan 
27, and in less then 24 hours had managed to see the 
station totally destroyed.   Still, if all things were destined as 
Krell believed, then this was their fault for sending him to 
such a remote assignment at the rim of no where in Klingon 
space.

"I will contact them Angar.  Set a course for Q'onos.  I am 
sure the Empire will wish to reassign us."  Aram ordered.

Angar nodded.  "As you wish Hod."

"T'Kang, you have command until I return."

T'Kang nodded at the HoD and watched him exit the bridge 
to go into his private chamber and contact the High Council.

*****

"D'Alaan station has been destroyed?!  How can this be?!" 
asked General Pi'ror in a rage.

HoD Aram tried to remain calm.  He felt numb after the 
recent ordeal.  In a way it all seemed surreal.  Ancient alien 
creatures, a mystic space station, the powerful reactor core 
that overloaded, a Starfleet Captain with tentacles growing 
out of his forehead. . .

"I am sorry General.  I will give you my full report when we 
reach Q'onos.  I am bringing the Jachyoj in for 
reassignment."  Aram explained.

General Pi'ror ran a hand over his elderly black and gray 
hair.  His portly belly was covered in his General's uniform 
and the breast was covered in adorning medals from 
missions and campaigns long past.  "I will look forward to 
reading this report young Aram.   I will also look to find you a 
suitable assignment worthy of your unique and 
demonstrated ability to get the job done once you arrive. . ."  
the General commented sarcastically.

Aram just closed his eyes and nodded.  He knew he didn't 
gain any favor from the High Council this day.  The loss of 
D'Alaan 27, no matter how far it was out of the HoD's 
control, would still not look good on his record.  The Klingon 
Defense Force nor the High Council looked highly upon 
warship commanders that lost space stations they were sent 
to protect.  Not that they didn't already have animosity 
towards the son of Duras anyway.

"I will go where I am assigned and do what it is I am asked 
General.  I am Aram, son of Duras.  I am a Klingon warrior.  
Where the High Council commands, I shall follow."

General Pi'ror pressed his lips together and squinted at 
hearing this.  For all of his hate and loathing towards Aram 
for his inherited cross of burden Duras had provided, he was 
a Klingon at heart.   "We will discuss your assignment and 
your future with the Klingon Defense Force when you arrive 
at Q'onos.  Until then, Qapla!"

Aram pulled an arm across his chest.  "Qapla!"

The channel then closed like a curtain upon this chapter of a 
Klingon stage.


****