***    SEVEN    ***



            The Klingon cruiser Fury defolded from hyperspace followed
       closely by the Intruder's ship.  They were only on the rim of the
       territory claimed by the Klingonese, yet if traffic had not been
       diverted, they would have already encountered many spacefaring
       merchants, miners and trade vessels of all kinds.

            The Trinary System before them had been the agreed rendezvous
       site.  Specifically, they were to meet in orbit around the ninth
       planet of the system.  Kang stepped onto the bridge in full dress
       uniform.  This consisted of black armor and cape with the red
       family crest of his House of Klinzhai, on his chest.  His armor hid
       many weapons besides the disrupter that hung at his side.  He was
       prepared to meet his Emperor, whether to fight by his side or die
       at his hand, he could not tell.

            "We have arrived, my lord," spoke the Science Officer.

            "Do we have full power yet?"

            "No, my lord.  Power level is only at eighty percent," she
       responded.

            "Have repairs been completed on the cloaking device?" He took
       his chair of command and sat heavily in it.

            "No, lord Kang."

            "No?"  He turned his head in anger towards Mara.  He looked at
       her for a moment and regained his equanimity.  "It was to be
       completed before we broke light."  He could see her tremble
       slightly, trying to hide her concern for her husband.

            "The device failed incorporeality twice in simulation, Sir.
       At last report, its completion was near, but no definite timeframe
       was given.  I will apprise you when it is operational."

            "I do not suppose it will matter until we have full power
       restored.  Advise me when we have both."

            "Yes, my lord,"  'and my love', she added in her thoughts.

            It had been two standard days since the enemy had entered
       Klingon space and every moment weighed heavily on Kang.  In his
       crew, he could see a turmoil of emotions.  Some were afraid of the
       Emperor's anger at their failure.  Most were afraid of what the
       enemy had in store for the Empire, and all, including Kang himself,
       had a blind hatred for the foe.  Many strategies on how to battle
       the intruder were discussed, planned and discarded, for by
       Imperial command, the Fury was ordered to make no further attempts
       of aggression, a directive any Klingon would find most difficult
       to obey.  If not for his crew's fierce loyalty, he might have had
       mutiny in the ranks.  The greatest advantage to being named a 'Hero

                                       PAGE 40








       of the Empire', was being able to hand pick his ship's detail.
       They were more than a crew to him, they were a tempered force, a
       team.  They would, he was certain, follow him to the ends of the
       universe, if need be.  Just now, however, he did not feel worthy of
       their devotion.

            "Sir, long range scanners are registering five contacts.
       Distance, point eight, bearing seventy-two mark three.  It is the
       Imperial Command Ship and escort."

            "Gor, open a channel and stand by to receive."

            "Channel open, Sir," replied the communications officer.

            "Standard orbit achieved around Tukom Tal nine, Sir.  Intruder
       ensuing at eight kel's astern," said the helmsman.

            "Transmission coming in now sir," spoke Gor.

            "On screen," commanded Kang.

            The forward view of the planet they were now in orbit about,
       dissolved into the ominous presence of Klinzhai's greatest monarch.
       Kang rose from his command chair only to kneel before his Emperor.

            "Rise," spoke the Emperor to Kang, though strangely not quite
       in the form of a command.  Kang stood in silence before the image
       of his lord.  "Kang the Destructor, you return from your assignment
       without victory for your Emperor?"  Kang remained silent.  "Do you
       now await my wrath?" the Emperor inquired in his bass voice.

            "I expect it for myself and request my lord's mercy towards my
       crew."  He now awaited the death command.

            "Do you believe that you will serve my purposes better alive
       or dead?" He spoke in an even tone.

            "I have failed you, my Emperor, whatever your purposes."

            "I see no failure in realizing the need not to throw your life
       and that of your crew away.  Had Volte and Pakor not acted so
       rashly, they might have been able to share in our soon coming
       victory over the Federation."

            Kang held his peace, not knowing for sure if his life was to
       be spared or not.  He did know that whatever was stated by Tromok
       at this moment, could by no means be construed as irrevocable.

            "Commander Kang, by using your intelligence, and restraint,
       you have not only brought me the weapon our best scientists could
       not have conceived of developing, but an ally to my realm." the
       Emperor tossed a bejeweled ceremonial dagger to the floor, by his
       own feet.  "I give you back your life, and impart honors to you
       as well."

            Kang stood from the deck and with both hands to his side, he

                                       PAGE 41








       bowed his head.  "Thank you, my Emperor," he said stiffly,
       unaccustomed to gratitude, wary of flattery.  Had he turned his
       head, he would have seen Mara wiping a tear from her eye.

            "You will now fall back while I approach the escorted vessel
       behind you," the Emperor commanded.  Then Kang saw it.  It was the
       truth behind the words he had heard.  In the Emperor's eyes, rage.
       Rage at the terrible power Kang had loosed in his empire.  It was
       the reaction that Kang had expected from him all along.  Now it was
       confirmed. Kang inwardly began to prepare himself for his own
       death.

            "As you command, my lord," Kang said, and the screen went
       dark.  "Torvak, move us out slowly, but do not exceed photon
       distance from the enemy."  Kang walked back to his Science Officer.
       "We are not out of this yet, my wife," he whispered to her,
       confident of the fact.

            "He gave you your life, would he retreat from his word?" she
       asked under her breath.

            "Military men say many things they do not mean, while under
       enemy observation.  We will see how forgiving he really is when I
       present myself before him, officially and in private."  He rubbed
       her cheek with the back of his hand.  "He is going to try something.
       I do not know what, but he is doing his best to play the gentleman
       for our enemy's benefit."  He placed his hand behind her head and
       felt the softness of her hair.  "It is I who fear for his life now.
       And that of the Empire."




                                  *         *         *




            The four ships leading the Emperor's massive battle cruiser
       slowed, allowing it to pass between them.  Its size boasted of
       great power and its weaponry epitomized danger.  The intruder's
       ship paled before its presence, as it moved within five hundred
       meters to its broadside, then stopped.

            The Emperor observed his opponent's vessel on his view screen,
       noting all was as Kang had reported.  It was indeed an older class
       Starfleet ship, no longer bearing the markings of her commission.
       Only standard Federation registration numbers and running lights
       adorned her, with the name 'Fringe Ranger' lettered across her
       circular prow.

            "My liege, your guard awaits you in the main transporter
       room," the Captain of the Thunder announced.

            The Emperor donned his new pair of gloves and made sure his
       weapons belt.  He glanced over to Admiral Sorr, who saluted him

                                       PAGE 42








       with fist to chest, then arm extended.

            "You serve me well, Sorr.  Let every ship know that when I
       return, we will bring news of our victory back to Klinzhai, that
       they may see how none challenge their Emperor and triumph!"  With
       that, he turned on his heel and left for the transporter room.

            "Captain Kom,  I want all sensors on that ship until the
       Emperor returns.  If there is anything out of order, I want you to
       transport him back and reverse our course, at maximum warp.
       Understood?"

            "Understood, Admiral Sorr!"

            "Transporter room," the Admiral spoke into wall communicator.

            "Yes, Sir," responded the officer on duty.

            "The Emperor is on his way, take great care in what you do
       until he has safely returned!"

            "Yes, My lord!"

            "Now all we can do is sit."  He spoke again to the Captain.
       "Our triumph is near, if only it were sure," he reflected.  It was
       then that Sorr felt an irrational but powerful dread in his heart.
       He felt the deadly jaws of a trap close around his soul and he
       could do nothing but inwardly despair.



























                                       PAGE 43