A Time for War, a Time for Peace - Keith R. A. DeCandido [2]
Yet another secret I must keep from a man I have called brother, Worf thought bitterly. “I sometimes regret the day I chose to enter the realm of politics,” he muttered.
Wu tilted his head. “I should think that after all these years, sir, you’d be used to it.”
Glowering at his aide, Worf said, “The time since I accepted the ambassadorship is hardly ‘all these years.’ “
“My apologies, sir, I thought you said you regretted entering the realm of politics. That happened when you entered the Great Hall thirteen years ago in order to defend your father against accusations that he aided the Romulans at Khitomer.”
Worf’s glower intensified. “Excuse me?”
Wu put his hands in his vest pockets. “You accepted discommendation in order to cover up the crimes of the House of Duras and preserve unity on the High Council, but kept your brother—a high-ranking officer in the Defense Force—shielded from the dishonor. When Gowron needed help during the civil war, you were then able to use Kurn’s position to restore your House and keep House Duras from gaining power.” He removed his hands from his pockets, taking the padd out with his right hand. “Each of the last two chancellors, not to mention the emperor himself, owe their positions directly to you. You’ve probably had more impact on the face of Klingon politics than any single person in the last twenty years. Your accepting the ambassadorship was simply the continuation of a process you’d begun long before.”
The aide’s words mirrored similar ones spoken to Worf by Ambassador Spock three years earlier on a shuttle trip to a diplomatic conference. He had dismissed them then as exaggeration. He was tempted to do so now, but hesitated. Neither Spock nor Wu were prone to such things. Indeed, Wu had always, at Worf’s own insistence, been completely honest with the ambassador.
“This—analysis is your interpretation of what I have done over the years?” he finally asked.
Wu shrugged. “Not really—simply the facts as I and many others see them. I had always assumed that it was why you were given this position in the first place. You’ve always been an excellent politician, sir.”
Although he had worked on Qo’noS and among Klingons for over a decade, Wu was still a human. For that reason alone, Worf let the insult pass. That, and he’d never find an aide as talented.
As was Wu’s wont, he noticed that Worf was not pleased with the way the conversation was turning, and so stared down at his padd and changed the subject. “There was a personal message accompanying T’Latrek’s transmission, sir. She wishes to assure you that she has no intention of running for president, any more than she has the other dozen times an election has occurred since she joined the Federation Council, and also that she will contact you with further instructions on how to present this new information to the High Council within the hour. This is useful, as the council has requested your presence in the Great Hall at high sun.”
“Naturally.” Worf felt a growl build in his throat, but he tamped it down.
“I took the liberty of clearing all your appointments for today, save one, so you would be free to speak to T’Latrek and the council. I assume that that particular business will preclude all others.”
Worf rose from his chair. “You assume correctly.” He started to pace the room, walking toward the window. “What is the appointment you did not clear?”
At this, Wu smiled. “The Ya’Vang was recalled to Qo’noS for maintenance yesterday, and its crew granted shore leave. Your son will be here in twenty minutes.”
Once, Worf might have greeted that news with apprehension,