Day of Honor 01_ Ancient Blood - Diane Carey [6]
“There’s a group of Klingon expatriates on Sindikash,” the commissioner continued. “We can trace several instances of this kind of action—well, maybe not this bad, but bad—right back to them. They’re not giving the orders, though. We need to get the person who is. So, Mr. Worf, this is a voluntary mission. You don’t have to take it. Once you take it, though, you’ll have to consider yourself committed, because we can’t do it twice. And you can be sure that any lingering suspicions about whether your loyalties are to the Federation or the Klingon Empire will certainly disappear.”
Worf felt all his body hairs go suddenly prickly and his eyes widen. He looked at the audaciously affable man, then at Picard, then back at the commissioner.
“Sir,” he said sharply, “I will do this because it is my mission and my duty to do so. I will do it because I am a Klingon. If Klingons are doing these things, then I am the one to go.”
Toledano seemed completely shocked at Worf’s tone of voice. As his lips fell open, he glanced at Picard for explanation.
“You’re insulting him, Mr. Toledano,” Picard said. “You’re lucky it’s Worf you said that to, or you might be missing an arm.”
“I’m … I didn’t mean anything—”
“You implied,” Worf said, “that I would have to be bribed to do my duty, sir.”
Only willing to be apologetic to a degree, the commissioner nodded. “I don’t think I exactly meant that. But it will look good on your record. It’s not like Starfleet has a lot of Klingons. Accept the apology and call me names after I leave. I don’t really care. This problem is in my lap, and I’ve got to handle it the best way I know how. Right now, you’re the best way.”
To his credit, the commissioner stopped talking and let his words sink in. He was at once a troubled man, friendly, both certain and uncertain of himself, but he seemed to believe in what he was doing.
Worf allowed him that. “I understand.”
“Thanks,” Toledano replied gracefully. “If we can get two witnesses against the person we’ve targeted, we can make an arrest. The lieutenant governor’s been acting as leader, but he’s under constant attack by the other person on the ballot. That other person is the one we believe is the undisclosed kingpin of this network of crime webbing out into the sector. No—we don’t believe it. We know it. We just can’t secure evidence. You saw what happens when they feel threatened—”
“And that’s why we’re so interested in this election, isn’t it?” Picard noted. A queasy feeling rose in his stomach. “If we can make an arrest, there can’t be an election at all.”
“That’s right. Colonial law. You need both candidates, or no election.”
“So your main objective is not to dissolve a criminal organization, but subvert an election process.”
Toledano frowned. “You’re making it sound bad. When the evidence is gathered, we want official Starfleet personnel to make the arrest. That way the trial can be held off-world, and be completely objective. That’s not what I’d call subversive. Since there happens to be no in absentia clause in Seniard law, it’ll be at least a year before another election can be organized. We have to arrest this candidate before the election, and have witnesses who’ll testify that the organization leads right back to its source.”
“And who is this candidate, Commissioner?”
“Her name is Odette Khanty. Captain, she’s the injured governor’s wife.”
“The lieutenant governor and I have legitimate disagreements, and I’ll address those, but not these tawdry allegations contrived for political gain. There’s simply no evidence to support any of these frivolous accusations against me.”
Mrs. Khanty was quoted two days ago in the Ozero Square in Burkal City, where she spoke to Early News’s Dushan Smith about the possible indictments against her and her staff.
“There will always be bad people. I can’t know what’s in the hearts of others. I only want what my husband wanted. I want what’s best for the working people