Chapter Text
Severin and Kira were the last two to make it to the meeting the next morning, arriving right at 0859. "Good," Dooku said as they sat down. "We can start now." He was annoyed that they waited until the last possible minute to show up, but he was even more annoyed at what it implied. A lifetime in Starfleet had given him a lot of practice with shielding out the knowledge of what his crew did behind closed doors, but it was harder to ignore with Severin, especially when the doctor was practically strutting.
Fuck this day in particular.
Dooku got up from his chair and stood behind his chair, looking around the conference table. "As you know, Starbase 24 was recently under heavy attack from Klingons. Some of their fleet had capabilities previously not seen before - a weapon capable of reflecting back the assault. It was not all of the vessels attacking us, but it was enough to make the battle much worse than we were ready for. We captured one of the vessels to analyze their weapons array and begin the process of replicating the reflector for Federation use, and thus even out the playing field, so we will be better prepared the next time this happens. We also wanted to question the survivors on board that vessel with regards to this weaponry, and any other defense capabilities they are now using or developing that we should know about."
He turned on the viewscreen, which showed the DNA profile in question. "As it turns out, one of the enemy combatants captured is not Klingon. They are Species 8472. The captive was less severely injured than the others, and the determination was made during a microcellular scan. We know that obviously, this information has ominous implications. What we do know for a fact is that the Klingons passed interrogation in terms of honesty with regards to having no knowledge of Species 8472, so this is neither a collaborative effort nor an infiltration that they are currently aware of. With that in mind, we must determine our next course of action fairly quickly. The reason why we did not go to Starfleet Command immediately is because they have already made some regrettable decisions that could have prevented the war outright, or barring that kept it from escalating this far, and they did not. We do intend to go to Starfleet Command with this information, but we want to go with a plan in hand - we are much more likely to get it approved with this 'panel of experts' with prior experience of war, and in the case of Admiral Tuvok, Species 8472. So, let us discuss a plan of action. Admiral Tuvok, the floor is yours." Dooku took his chair.
All eyes were on Tuvok now. "When Voyager dealt with Species 8472, they came to see humanity as a threat. They were determined to find a way to subjugate the Alpha Quadrant, and annihilate Earth. I have no reason to believe this is not their goal still."
"You're saying their endgame here is to destroy Earth," Dooku said.
"Yes. As far as how... it is safe to assume that if there is one, there are more, and even a few would be too many. They likely determined that it was the best use of their resources to send a small number of infiltrators rather than invade the Alpha Quadrant full force. It is thus probable that Voyager was being followed without us knowing - something that, in hindsight, we should have perhaps anticipated when we made an enemy of Species 8472. And it is probable that when Voyager returned home, using the same fluidic space conduits known to Species 8472, a number of Species 8472 representatives followed us, and then began observing. Looking for opportunities... the best way to make their move. It is likely that they decided the neutral zone was ripe territory to breed conflict, and the Klingons their best bet for infiltration. It is quite possible that the entire Klingon-Federation conflict was set into play by Species 8472, and the Klingons just went along with it, not knowing they were being used by hostile aliens pretending to be Klingon."
"That theory makes the most sense," Dooku said, nodding.
"It also means that my presence here... and that of everyone who returned from Voyager, has caused significant harm to the Federation. Guilt is counterproductive here, as we cannot alter the past, nor do I experience emotions the way non-Vulcans do. Nonetheless, I apologize." Tuvok frowned.
"There's no need to apologize," Riker said. "This situation didn't happen in a vacuum. They would have probably found their way here even if Voyager took seventy years to come home instead of seven."
"I agree," Dooku said. "Nobody here should blame you or the others who served aboard Voyager, for what we are dealing with now."
"But we need to fix it," Riker said. "So what do we do? What should we expect from Species 8472?"
"As I mentioned, they could have come here in full measure rather than sending a smaller group of infiltrators, and they clearly did not," Tuvok said. "Their success with this venture presupposes that the infiltration would not be discovered. Thus, the infiltration must be exposed, somehow. The Klingons should be informed they have enemies in their midst."
"You sure about that?" Kira raised an eyebrow. "Even if your theory is true, and this war was declared by Species 8472... it might have happened without their help."
"I do not dispute that," Tuvok said. "I had the honor of serving on the Excelsior under Hikaru Sulu. I heard many stories of the Klingons at odds with the Federation. And the Excelsior had a few tense encounters with them. It was only comparatively recently that relations between the Klingons and Federation had started to normalize, before they deteriorated again."
"So even if they're being used by Species 8472," Kira said, "it doesn't mean that they wouldn't continue to fight us on their own, even if they discovered the infiltrators and turned them out."
"Perhaps not," Riker said. "But I've worked with Klingons. I can tell you that in Klingon psychology... the suggestion that they are being manipulated and used is a powerful one. One that we could use in our favor. It would be worth it to at least try to convince them we have a common enemy and would be better off fighting together."
"'The enemy of my enemy is my friend'," Kenobi quoted.
Dooku sat back in his chair. "It's going to be a hard sell."
"The Federation has trained diplomats and the Klingon Empire has not listened to them," Tuvok said. "Nonetheless, we should now defer this to Federation diplomacy."
"With all due respect, Admiral Tuvok," Riker said, "Klingon warriors won't listen to diplomats who talk peace for a living, especially when Federation diplomats are more like an aristocracy and most have never held a phaser."
Troi cleared her throat loudly, and gave her husband a disapproving look. Dooku also glared at Riker. "The Betazoid aristocrats in this room would like to have a word with you," Troi told Riker.
"Fair enough." Riker nodded. "My point still stands - sending a professional diplomat won't work with them."
"Then who do we send?" Tuvok asked.
"That's the question." Riker nodded. "The best candidate to negotiate on our behalf would be an actual Klingon, but all of the Klingons with Federation loyalties are indisposed. B'Elanna Torres - killed at the beginning of this war. Miral Paris - abducted around the same time, still missing in action. And Worf has been in exile for years. His son Alexander is fully loyal to the Klingons."
"Worf is from the House of Mogh, if I recall my history correctly?" Kenobi asked. "Is there someone we could possibly contact from within his house, who would either know of his whereabouts or would be willing to at least listen to our case?"
Riker smirked. "One does not simply contact the Klingons. If we don't already have a known sympathetic contact from the start, good luck in finding one."
"Well then." Dooku folded his arms. "It seems that unless anyone in this room knows a Klingon we can use as a point of contact, this plan is doomed."
Severin and Kira looked at each other then, gave a nod, and then Kira's arm went up hesitantly. Dooku got a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, recalling that Severin had mentioned learning how to use a bat'leth on Deep Space Nine. "Kai Kira?" Dooku asked, trying to keep his tone neutral.
"Doctor Yusanis and I know someone," Kira said.
Dooku braced himself. "Ah."
"It's been at least six or seven years since the last time I was in any kind of contact with him," Severin said. "Before the war started."
"Same here." Kira nodded.
Dooku bristled; this would be a "friend" the same way Severin had described Kira as a "friend".
"But you would be able to contact him?" Riker asked.
Severin nodded. "Unless he's dead or something else happened, the contact info will be current. I make absolutely no guarantees that he'll help us, considering our people are at war. And even if past history is enough for me to be able to sweet-talk him, he's a mercenary by trade. He will absolutely insist on being paid for his help."
"He's also going to want to deal with the two of us, only," Kira said. "People he knows. He won't want to deal with Federation diplomats he doesn't know."
Severin's and Dooku's eyes met. Dooku could feel the tension - "I fucked a Klingon mercenary" wasn't a conversation Severin had been expecting to have with him, especially not now when it was clearly throwing fuel on the trash fire that was the revelation of Severin's intimate relationship with the Kai of Bajor. Dooku didn't like the idea of Severin getting in contact with this guy at all, and not just for the concerns to Severin's personal safety with the war happening. But, he also knew if he raised any objections at all, their dirty laundry was going to come out all over the conference table once and for all and that would not end well.
"You have my permission to contact him," Dooku said.
"Admiral Dooku," Severin said, "don't take this the wrong way, but I don't need your permission. As much as I understand the concerns present about going to Starfleet Command with this information, I am also not contacting this individual without prior authorization from Starfleet Command, because the very last thing I need is for my transmission to a Klingon vessel during wartime with Klingons to be traced without context. I'm not going to jail for you people."
Dooku nodded. He looked at Riker and Troi, then Tuvok. "All right. If this is the plan, then Admirals Riker, Troi, and Tuvok, I invite you to join me in my ready room for a conference call to Starfleet Command."
"It seems like the plan," Riker said.
Thanks. I hate it.
_
Later that afternoon, Severin was in sickbay, finishing up surgery as "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin wound to a close. Once the surgery was complete, Severin scrubbed out, and took a breather before looking at his caseload to see what came next.
His comm badge beeped. Severin pressed it. "Yusanis here," he said.
"Please find the authorization codes from Starfleet Command for your eyes only at your station in sickbay," Dooku said crisply. "There is also a missive with some protocol for procedure, let me know if something needs to be clarified or explained."
"Will do. I'm on my way to look at it and then I'll be in touch with my contact."
Severin went out to his office, sat down, and activated his computer. He found the files from Starfleet Command, read them, and then used the security clearance code he was given to encrypt his transmission, though the transmission would still be recorded and reviewed by Starfleet Command.
He sent a hail to Krogh's ship, and waited.
About ten minutes later, when he started to give up hope that Krogh would respond - likely put off by the Federation signal - Krogh appeared on screen. He'd aged, his hair and beard now grey instead of black, but he still looked just as formidable as ever. He scowled at Severin and snapped, "NuqneH."
"WIj jup," Severin replied.
Krogh snorted. "Why is this encrypted?"
"For your protection, and mine," Severin said. "I don't know what else is in your vicinity, didn't want you to get unnecessary shame for taking a Federation hail."
"I should not be taking this," Krogh said. "Even though I knew it was you. This better be good." He sneered. "You defecting?"
"No," Severin said. "But I need your help."
"My help?" Krogh snorted again.
Severin leaned back in his chair and steepled his hands. "What if I told you I have some evidence that there are traitors in the midst of the Klingon Empire?"
"There are always traitors," Krogh said. "Always cowards. Always the dishonorable."
"This is a special breed of traitor," Severin said.
"And how would it be helping you to tell me this?"
"It's an enemy our people have in common. It would be in our best interests to fight this enemy together instead of fighting each other. My people want to talk to your people about it, but your people won't listen to our diplomats. They might listen to another Klingon. Which means you, or someone you know, who can present this information to the appropriate parties, who might be then willing to meet with our people to discuss this further - how we go about working together."
"And I'm supposed to just believe you?" Krogh sneered. "How do I know it's not a trap?"
"Because you know me," Severin said. "We may be on opposite sides of this war, it doesn't change who we are, or what we've been to each other."
"Someone to fuck," Krogh said.
Severin hoped Shelby was getting an eyeful. "That still implies a certain amount of trust. I could have bitten it off years ago."
Krogh threw his head back and laughed. "I have missed you."
"I've thought of you a few times since this war started," Severin admitted. "Hoping you were still doing well. Still fighting."
"You're still a doctor?"
Severin nodded. "It's what I do."
Krogh rubbed his forehead ridges, and frowned. "You have evidence of these traitors? How would a doctor have that information?"
"I can't discuss it, except to say I'm prepared to show the evidence to whoever you can put me in touch with."
"You assume I am in a position to do that," Krogh said. "I am just a mercenary. I fight where, and who, I am paid to fight. I do not know anyone higher up in the Empire."
"No, but someone you do know probably does," Severin said. "I need at least a foot in the door, Krogh. It doesn't have to be a leader, but if anyone you work with, anyone who's hired you, anyone in your House, knows someone who knows someone... I want to talk to them."
"I could be in deep baktag for even talking to you," Krogh said.
"You could. Or you could be seen as the man who had enough courage to help expose traitors to the Empire. Regardless, my people are willing to make this worth the risk."
"You mean they would pay me?"
"They're willing to provide a small measure of compensation for the risk you're taking with these arrangements."
Krogh leaned back in his chair, and Severin could see he was thinking about it, weighing things in his head. Finally he gave a curt nod and said, "I will have information for you in one hour. I can contact you on this same channel, yes?"
"Yes. But I have other things to do, so don't be late. One hour."
"One hour." Krogh ended the transmission.
Severin scrubbed back in, keeping an eye on the time as he worked on patients. Five minutes before the hour was up, he went back to his desk, and waited. On time, Krogh's transmission came.
"I have a meeting for you," Krogh said. "My sister's husband works for a man who is on the council of the House of Konjah. My brother-in-law will be there, and if he believes you, he will tell his employer, who then might talk to the council."
"You should know I'm not traveling alone, I have someone coming with me." Severin had been explicitly instructed by Starfleet Command to not say it was Kira in the transmission, even though he knew Krogh would be happy to see her again.
"Not alone?" Krogh huffed. "He won't like that."
"That's the terms. He can either accept that I travel with a companion for safety, or you guys can forget finding out who the traitors are."
"I make no promises he won't fight with you about it."
"I'll bring my bat'leth," Severin said.
Krogh grinned.
Severin asked, "When, and where?"
"My ship. Tomorrow. I am sending coordinates and time."
Severin saw them in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. "I'll be there."
Krogh nodded, and then he paused for thought and said, "Don't go back right away, after the meeting. Have a drink with me, for old times' sake."
"A drink?" Severin leered, knowing the innuendo behind the words.
Krogh also leered. "We could mix business with pleasure for awhile, if you were willing."
"We'll see what I feel like," Severin said; he could just see the look on Shelby's face when she reviewed this later. Then he thought of how Dooku would react, and tried not to cringe in Krogh's line of sight. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Krogh nodded, and then he said, "Qapla'."
"Qapla'."