Diplomatic Implausibility by Keith R. A. DeCandido Read Free Book Online Page B

won’t take me up on it.”
    In fact, Worf had no intention of taking her up on it, but he had hoped he had not been that obvious about it. “Doctor—”
    “Will’s not the only one who’s easy to read by someone who knows him well enough,” Crusher said. “It’s okay. I honestly didn’t think you
would
want to talk with me. But I wanted you to know that the offer was on the table, in case you change your mind.”
    Worf nodded. “Thank you, Doctor—truly, I
am
grateful. However, I have had over a year to come to terms with Jadzia’s death.”
    “Sometimes that’s not enough. Believe me.”
    The music came to a merciful halt, and then a voice rang out through Ten-Forward. “Everyone, may I have your attention, please?”
    Worf turned toward the center of the room to see Captain Picard holding a glass of some kind of ale.
    The room quieted down almost instantaneously. Jean-Luc Picard had that effect on people.
    “Many of you here do not know Ambassador Worfpersonally, though surely you know him by reputation. He served aboard the previous
Enterprise
with distinction, then did likewise at Deep Space Nine, one of the most important strategic posts in the quadrant. Long ago, I said that the bridge wouldn’t be the same without him, and the last four years have proven that to be the case. But I also know that he has served both the Federation—which sometimes saw him as a curiosity and in which he was always to some degree an outsider—and the Klingon Empire—which twice saw fit to exile him from his own homeland—with honor. And now, those two august bodies have shown tremendous good sense in allowing him to serve them both as the Federation’s ambassador to Qo’noS. As one who has been his commanding officer, his
cha’DIch,
and his friend, I wish him well—but I do not wish him luck. For a warrior does not depend on luck, and Worf, son of Mogh, is first and foremost a warrior.”
    Picard held his ale up. “So I ask you all to raise your glasses and join me in saluting the bravest man I have ever known. To Worf!”
    A roomful of Starfleet officers, most of whom Worf had never met before tonight, raised their glasses and cried out,
“To Worf!”
    As they all drank, Worf held up his own glass.
Perhaps
this party won’t be so bad, after all . . .

Chapter Two
    K LAG HAD TO ADMIT to being impressed with the sight on his viewscreen.
    The
Gorkon
had been joined at the rendezvous point by the
Sword of Kahless,
Chancellor Martok’s new flagship, replacing the
Negh’Var.
Martok had informed Klag that he wished to brief the captain and the ambassador on the taD mission when the
Enterprise
arrived.
    Klag had been less than thrilled with the High Council’s reply to his request for aid to Governor Tiral. To put the negotiations in the hands of a Federation ambassador who only got his position because he was a member of Martok’s own House angered Klag.
    Toq’s voice sounded from behind him. “Captain, a Starfleet vessel is coming out of warp. Sensors identify it as the
Enterprise.
They are hailing us.”
    Klag nodded. “On screen.”
    The bridge of Starfleet’s flagship replaced the exteriorof the empire’s on the viewscreen. Although most would have been honored to converse with Jean-Luc Picard, who nine years ago was the first outsider ever to serve as a Klingon chancellor’s Arbiter of Succession, Klag was much more interested in greeting the human who sat to Picard’s right.
    Picard stood.
“Captain Klag, greetings from the Fed
eration. Ambassador Worf and his aide are ready to beam
over at your convenience. Unless the presence of the
Sword of Kahless
indicates a change in the mission?”
    “Thank you, Captain Picard. There is no change to the mission, and the ambassador’s aide can beam over at any time. However, Chancellor Martok wishes to brief the ambassador and me. Please transport him to the
Sword of
Kahless.
I will meet him there in ten minutes.”
    “Of course.”
    Business concluded,