Kahless - Michael Jan Friedman [25]
Naturally, the first officer had alerted the captain as to the request. Understandably intrigued, Picard had asked Riker to put the communication through to his ready room.
But the captain wasn’t the only one curious about the Byndarites’ intentions. And the first officer only became more curious when Picard gave the order to lower shields.
To Riker, that meant only one thing. Someone was beaming aboard.
Someone who insisted on a certain amount of secrecy, the first officer discovered a moment later. Otherwise, the visitor would have arrived in one of the ship’s several transporter facilities, instead of beaming directly into the captain’s ready room.
Trying to contain himself, Riker had remained patient-even when he saw the turbolift open and deposit Worf on the bridge. A little taken aback, he had watched the Klingon join Picard.
What did Worf have to do with the Byndarites? he had wondered. He was still wondering some ten minutes later when the aliens retrieved their mysterious envoy-or so his monitor indicated.
A moment later, as the first officer watched, Worf had emerged from the captain’s ready room. But he hadn’t provided an explanation. He hadn’t even glanced at anyone on the bridge. The lieutenant had simply reentered the turbolift and disappeared.
Which left Riker where he was now, staring at the Byndarite as it ran through some engine checks. Apparently, it was about to depart, taking its mystery along with it-and leaving the first officer in the dark.
Of course, the captain wouldn’t let him languish there for long. There were few matters he didn’t share with his senior staff, no matter how sensitive or restricted they were.
That was one of the advantages of serving under someone with as much clout as Jean-Luc Picard. He could bend the rules a little, and no one at Starfleet Command was likely to complain.
Not that he would let just anybody in on a high-priority matter. Only those officers he trusted.
Abruptly, the captain’s voice flooded the confines of the bridge. “Number One?” he intoned.
Ah, thought Riker. Right on time. “Yes, sir?”
“I’d like to see you in my ready room as soon as possible.”
“Right away, sir,” said the first officer.
Relinquishing the bridge to Commander Data, he got up, circumnavigated the curve of the tactical console and made his way to the ready room door. A moment later, he heard the single word, “Come.” Right now, it was a welcome word indeed.
As the door slid open, it revealed Picard. He was sitting at his desk, chair tilted back, looking contemplative.
Lifting his eyes, he gestured to the chair opposite him.
“Have a seat, W.”
Riker complied. “This is about our mysterious visitor?” he asked. It wasn’t really a question.
The captain nodded. “Koroth. One of the Klingon clerics we had aboard a year and a half ago.”
“Ah,” said the first officer. So that’s who it was. “One of the people who created the Kahless clone.”
“Precisely. And since the clerics have no ship of their own, and Koroth wished to remain anonymous, he took advantage of his familiarity with the Byndarites to secure passage.”
Riker understood. Boreth was on the outskirts of the Empire-and therefore nearly in the path of one of the Byndarite trade routes.
“But that doesn’t explain what Koroth was doing here,” the first officer pointed out. “Or why he felt compelled to be so secretive.”
“No,” Picard conceded. “Apparently, he was acting as a go-between. It seems Emperor Kahless desires a meeting with myself and Mister Worf.”
Riker looked at the captain. “Why couldn’t Kahless tell you that himseIP”
Picard frowned. “I don’t know-though Koroth implied we would find that out in due time. We have only one clue. Not long ago, a scroll was discovered on the Klingon homeworld-a scroll that seems to debunk a great many Klingon legends.