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A New Alliance	By : Kehlan Category: M through R > Predator Views: 2924 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Predator movie series, nor do I own Star Trek, nor any of the characters from either of them. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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“Yautja shuttle you are cleared for final approach.”

Instinctively tugging down the jacket of the white dress uniform he had donned in honour of the occasion, Speares wondered momentarily how he’d got himself into this. He’d been in the transporter room, he remembered, discussing the investigation with the Klingon General and the two engineers. Khetara had been on the verge of losing her temper with their continued insistence that there was nothing wrong with the system.

The anticipated roar of Klingon fury had been pre-empted by the shrill of the comm. system and the voice of a callow Ensign. "General," he reported, “the Yautja shuttle is requesting docking coordinates."

Khetara glanced at Colonel Speares. “I had planned to have the meeting on the Ch’Tang,” she told him, “Obviously that is no longer feasible.”

The big marine nodded, understanding, “I’d recommend Shuttle-bay One. Its location allows better access to the diplomatic areas. With your permission, General, I’ll have our main conference room made ready and order the area cleared of all non essential personnel.”

Khetara nodded "Permission granted of course.”

Heading for the doors, Khetara had turned back for a moment, “Actually, there is one last thing, Colonel. I’ll need you present during the meetings, you’re going to have to take Captain Kehlan’s place.”

With his attention focused on finding his captain, it had not occurred to him that her disappearance had put him in command of both the ship and the mission. As Kehlan’s second in command, he had been briefed, but he was a marine, not a diplomat. He was not suited to negotiating a First Contact treaty. “I… yes General.” There was no other answer he could give. He would do his duty to the best of his ability and hope he did not screw up too badly. With an inward sigh, he had hit his combadge and begun issuing orders to his crew.

Turning his attention back to the here and now, he glanced at Khetara, wryly amused to see her tugging at the jacket of her formal armour as she mentally prepared herself for what was to come.

The door to the corridors slid open and Endeavour’s Chief of Security hurried in. A native of Mexico City, Miguel Cortez was relatively slight in build with typical South American features. Like all of Kehlan’s senior command team he had served on Endeavour for a long time; he and Speares had come through some of the worst fighting of the Dominion War together.

A contingent of security officers followed him and gesturing to them to wait at the back of the docking bay, he approached Khetara and Speares. Coming to attention in front of them, he gave his report, speaking in a lilting Hispanic accent that despite years away from home, he had never quite lost. His teams were keeping the corridors clear and all the arrangements were in place to ensure the safety of both the ship and the visiting Yautja.

The alarm sounded and with the force-field engaged, the great docking bay doors began to slowly open. It was a moment that always made Colonel Speares nervous. The marine eyed the emitters warily. A veteran of too many space battles, he had experienced first-hand the results of explosive decompression. He and Commander Cortez had been the only survivors of that incident. They had been lucky to walk away from that one. It had been years ago, but he had never forgotten and the images would stay with him for the rest of his life.

Shuttle-bay One was the largest of Endeavour’s flight decks, located in the forward section of the primary hull, its position giving the waiting officers a spectacular view of the Yautja vessel and the approaching shuttle. The mother-ship was large and sleek with a shape that reminded Speares of a cross between a frog and a cobra. It was not, he reflected, all that different to a Federation ship in its layout. There were only so many ways after all, that warp nacelles could be arranged.

The approaching shuttle was almost dart-like in its appearance, with deep lines etched into the hull that could only be decorative, covering its surface too completely to be language. Bulky engines at the rear of the craft marred its smooth, sleek lines yet at the same time emphasised its resemblance to an arrowhead. The force-field flickered as the shuttle passed through and light as a feather touched down in the centre of the landing bay.

A trio of predators emerged from the shuttle. Although their faces were concealed behind full masks, Khetara felt certain that the one in the centre was the leader. She sensed he was important in some way or at least significantly older than his companions. Long blue-grey appendages decorated with engraved rings of precious metals fell almost to his waist. He wore little in the way of clothing – a form of netting that covered his body, armoured coverings protecting his lower legs, arms, breast and groin area and a weapons belt encircling his waist. A necklace of bones, trophies from long past hunts, hung from his neck. A cloak was pinned to his shoulders, crimson as Terran arterial blood and fastened by a clasp that seemed to be formed from a worked skull whose original species Khetara couldn't identify. The hem of the heavy fabric almost touched the deck, its folds swaying as the Elder moved.

The two Hunters standing one on either side of him were more heavily armoured, clothed in what was clearly the garb of warriors, albeit apparently ceremonial. They were guards of some sort Khetara guessed, yet guards with status. Their highly decorated armour and the way they carried themselves indicated that they held significant rank. In contrast with the Elder, their tentacle-like hair was shorter, falling just past their broad shoulders and a more vibrant shade of black although equally decorated with metallic rings. The gauntlets on their wrists were bulky, with some sort of computer panel set into them and Khetara wondered what weapons they concealed.

Khetara approached them, stopping at a respectful distance and offering them the Klingon salute. She was by no means short but she had to look up to meet the Elder’s gaze, although his eyes were hidden behind the ornate mask that covered his facial features. She had been told they were big but even so, the reality was impressive. Lean and muscular, the three aliens towered above her.

Her language formal, she spoke to the Predators. "Be welcome on board. I first wish to address the issue of how you wish to be called. Since I do not know your customs..."

“You may address me as Elder.” The voice had an odd mechanical inflection, coming from a translator held in the old Predator’s clawed hand. “You could not pronounce my name.”

Khetara inclined her head respectfully, “Honoured Elder.” He seemed pleased with that, she noticed, although with his face hidden behind the mask, it was hard to be sure. Nevertheless, a slight change in his posture seemed to indicate that she had used the correct form of address. “I am General Khetara epetai Rustadh,” she continued, “representing the Klingon Empire.” She gestured towards Endeavour’s first officer, and took a deep breath, knowing that this was likely to be where things started to go horribly wrong. “And this is Lt Colonel Philip Speares representing the United Federation of Planets.”

“Spear?” The Elder considered that. It was a good name, a strong one and the human looked as though he might even be worthy of it. Big for his species and strong looking, he was obviously a warrior, something in his stance and in his eyes speaking of battles fought and won. It was not however the name he had been given. “Where is Kay-lan?”

“That…” the words slipped out before Khetara could stop herself, “…is what we would all like to know!”

A low growl rumbled through the Elder’s body. “Explain.”

Khetara swore under her breath, she had intended to break the news a little more diplomatically. “There appears to have been a transporter accident,” she said. Choosing her words carefully, she explained the situation to the Predator Elder.

The tall Predator was silent for a long moment as he considered her words. “You will find her.” It was a demand rather than a question. “I will not negotiate with a replacement!”
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A New Alliance