Kahless - Michael Jan Friedman [89]
Lomakh grunted. Unarrh must have known their conspiracy had been discovered. He was simply playing for time, trying to find out how much Kahless k new before making his move.
Or did the council member truly believe he could talk his way out of this? Lomakh tightened his grip on the dagger in his tunic-aware of the possibility that Unarrh’s plans for saving himself might not include the preservation of his allies.
In the meantime, the clone had been digging in his belt pouch for something. He extracted it now and held it up to the light.
It was a computer chip-the kind used here on the homeworld, and therefore compatible with systems of Klingon manufacture. Lomakh tried to anticipate how it might incriminate them-and couldn’t.
But he didn’t have to wait long to find out.
“This chip,” Kahless hissed, “contains information downloaded from a Klingon subspace relay station-one my comrades and I had occasion to visit recently.” He smiled at Worf, who stood beside him.
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“On the main communications band,” the clone continued, “there is nothing more than the usual subspace chatter. But on a frequency normally left unused by the Defense Force, there is something more……
Lomakh knew what that something was, even before Kahless finished his thought. After all, he had taken part in it-in the early stages of the conspiracy, before Unarrh decided to clamp down on security.
a record of several conversations,” Kahless went on, “in which certain Defense Force officers repeatedly conspire to tear down the honorable Gowron. And the nam e Unarrh always seems to figure prominently in these discussions.” The clone scanned the officers assembled, clearly enjoying himself. “It occurs to me all of those who took part in this conspiracy are now present in this hall.”
His smile broadened as he turned to Gowron. “A great convenience, if you ask me.”
The council leader didn’t say anything. But Lomakh wasn’t blind. He could see Gowron’s interest in the chip.
Worf took another step toward Unarrh and lifted his arm to point at the council member. “All along, you have claimed to be a supporter of Kahless and his orthodoxy.
Yet you were nothing of the kind.”
The hall rang and echoed with his accusation. Unarrh’s eyes grew wide, but he said nothing in his defense.
“In truth,” Kurn added, “you were the guiding force behind the rebellion all along-even before the scroll was made public.”
Kahless handed the computer chip to Gowron. The council leader hefted the thing in his hand, then turned again to Unarrh.
“Bring me a playback device,” he told his host.
“Unless you fear what is on it,” Worf suggested, relentless in his pursuit of the truth.
Unarrh laughed an ugly laugh. “I fear nothing and no one.” As he glowered at Worf, his eyes seem to burn in the firelight. “Especially a ptahk who was discommendated for his family’s treachery.”
Worf was incensed. “Duras was the ptahk, not I. And who are you to speak of treachery?” he thundered. “You, who would have torn the council apart without a second thought-though it was Gowron who raised you to your office in the first place?”
Unarrh turned a dark and dangerous shade of red.
Reaching behind him, he produced a disrupter pistolone even Lomakh hadn’t known about. Apparently, the council member had anticipated some sort of trouble.
Before anyone could move, Unarrh took aim at one of Gowron’s guards and pressed the trigger. A blue beam shot out and consumed the warrior in a swirl of rampant energies. Then the council member aimed and fired again, and Gowron’s other retainer died in agony.
Lomakh had seen enough. Unarrh seemed to have decided he had run out of options-and was taking his best shot at survival.
Unfortunately, even if he destroyed all his enemies, he would have to explain his actions to the council. And they would not look kindly on his killing Gowron and Kurnapparently without provocation.
More than likely, Unarrh would have to throw them a bone-a Defense Force officer or two, to punish as they saw fit. And Lomakh