Metamorphosis - Jean Lorrah [68]
Few cultures cared to test the combined strength of the Federation and the Mingon Empire. And so, possibly without knowing why, the Samdians continued to live in peace-until the appearance of the Konor.
According to the reports received from Dacket, approximately five Federation Standard Years ago the Konor began attacking the Samdian Sector ruthlessly, taking the planet Jokarn with brutal efficiency. Now they were moving on Dacket, with Gellesen obviously their next target. The Konor did not take goods or raw materials. They took planets. Like the Klingons, they were all warriors, but unlike them they appeared to have no compunction about attacking unarmed opponents. They quickly and efficiently killed men, women, and children who opposed them, and enslaved the rest.
Then they settled into the ready-made homes, took over whatever agriculture and industry there was, and acted as if the planet had always been theirs. Dare shook his head. “This is far beyond my capacity to handle. Have the Federation ever met up with these Konor before?” Data searched for references.
“Nothing,” he said. “Data,” said Geordi, “doesn’t it seem odd that the Samdians haven’t sent more information on their attackers?”
“Perhaps they do not know any more than this,” Data reasoned. “But where did the Konor come from?” asked Dare. “Negative information,” Data replied after another fruitless search. Then he frowned.
“Computerspherical scan of inhabited worlds within fifty light years of the Samdian Sector.”
“Working.”
“Give us a visual display.”
Over the table before them, a holographic representation of that quadrant appeared, inhabited worlds 189 indicated by dots of white light. Dare said, “Revolve it, Data.” He did, first on a vertical, then on a lateral axis. “This should not be possible,” Data said, for there was no direction the Konor could have approached from in which they would not have passed dozens of inhabited worlds. “Computer, have any of the inhabited worlds on this display reported attacks by the Konor?”
“Negative.”
“Then,” said Dare, “they came specifically to attack the Samdians.” “A peaceful people who have not ventured outside their own Sector in centuries?” Data asked.
“Wait a moment,” Geordi said. “You said inhabited worlds, Data. The Samdian planets are class-M. Computer, delete from the display all inhabited planets which are not class-M.”
About a quarter of the lights winked out, but it was still clear that no matter what direction the Konor had come from they would have passed by numerous worlds as suitable to their needs as those in the Samdian Sector. “It is not logical,” said Data. “Their actions suggest that they are seeking worlds to occupy, and yet they have ignored all these potential planets. Why?”
“Perhaps,” said Geordi, “because they want exactly the cluster of similar worlds, near to one another, that the Samdians have.”
“Or they’re afraid to pick on their equals,” Dare added. “Strategically, the Samdian Sector is in an excellent position. If the Samdians had had the sense to keep up technologically, and form alliances with their neighbors, they wouldn’t be in this predicament. 190 What weapons do the Konor have? What kind of ships?” “Negative information,” the computer replied unhelpfully. “Damned fools don’t even know how to ask for help,” Dare grumbled. “We need every piece of information they can give us to form a defense strategy.” “We?” questioned Geordi.
“We’re all on the same side, I should think,” said Dare. “I hope Captain Picard will let us continue