Dragon's Honor - Kij Johnson [0]
Captain’s log, stardate 47146.2. Following orders from Starfleet, the Enterprise is en route to Pai, throneworld of the insular and enigmatic Dragon Empire. Until recently, the humanoid inhabitants of the Empire have avoided any direct contact with the Federation and other civilizations. All previous negotiations and attempts at diplomatic relations have been conducted via subspace communications. It is my understanding that my crew and I will be the first outsiders to visit Pai in over a dozen generations… .
“CAPTAIN PICARD,” DATA ANNOUNCED abruptly. “Sensors detect a large vessel approaching the Enterprise at warp speed.” Seated at his bridge station, the golden-skinned android inspected the data flowing into his monitors. His fingers deftly manipulated the sensor controls. “It is on a direct intercept course,” he confirmed.
Jean-Luc Picard leaned forward in the captain’s seat. He had not expected a welcoming party so soon. The Enterprise was still several dozen light-years from the Dragon Empire, and the Pai, he knew, rarely if ever ventured beyond the borders of their own solar system. Indeed, there was some question as to whether the Empire possessed warp capability at all. “Mr. Data,” he asked, “can you identify the vessel?”
Data did not look up from his console. “I believe so, Captain,” he responded. “Preliminary readings suggest that the vessel is a G’kkau warship, approximately seven and a half years old, possibly of the S’sssr’ss class, with a crew complement of roughly one hundred and fifty-five G’kkau raiders.” Data paused for a second and peered more closely at his sensor readings. “Further analysis is required before I can give you a more exact answer to your question.”
“That’s more than enough, Mr. Data,” Picard said. He glanced around the bridge. With the exception of Geordi and Beverly, who were at their posts in Engineering and sickbay, respectively, all his senior officers were on hand. The only new face was at the conn: Lieutenant Tor, a young Andorian who had recently transferred over from the Nisqually. Along with the others, she awaited his orders. First things first, he thought. He wasn’t sure what the G’kkau were up to, but he had no interest in playing chicken with another starship at warp speed. “Shields up,” he commanded. “Slow to impulse.”
The Enterprise immediately dropped out of warp drive. As always, Picard thought he could feel the starship decelerate beneath his feet, but he knew the sensation was purely psychological. Human senses were not designed to register the transition from faster-than-light travel to mere sublight speeds.
Seated at his right, Will Riker let out a grunt. “The G’kkau,” he said, scowling beneath his neatly trimmed black beard. “What are those butchers up to now?”
“I don’t know, Number One,” Picard said, “but I intend to find out.” His mind quickly reviewed what he knew of the G’kkau. The reptilian conquerors had long been a threat to peace in a neighboring sector of the galaxy. Ever since achieving starfaring status several centuries ago, the G’kkau had systematically pillaged many weaker and less advanced species. They were little better than a race of pirates, really, and no genuine menace to the Federation, the Romulans, or any of the galaxy’s known superpowers, but Picard had heard many horror stories of the atrocities the G’kkau had inflicted upon unsuspecting peoples and planets. The massacre on Snokomie IV, during which an entire race of intelligent avians was executed and consumed, was only the freshest and most memorable example to come to mind. Starfleet had feared the G’kkau might have designs on the Dragon Empire. Could they be making their move already? If so, Picard realized, then his mission was even more urgent than he had assumed.
“Mr. Data,” he asked. “What is the status of the G’kkau ship?”
“It has come to a full stop, Captain, directly between us and Pai.”
That cannot be a coincidence, Picard thought grimly. “Weapons, Mr. Worf?”
The Klingon security officer stood at his station above and behind Picard. Beneath the bony ridges