Chapter One
U.S.S. Enterprise, NCC 1701-E
Klingon Empire
Lormit Sector
Three days ago
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you, Picard."
He'd done it. Lotre had accomplished what so many had tried yet failed — he'd
taken by force a Federation starship, and had its captain at his mercy.
The Klingon pulled his weapon away from the underside of Picard's chin and
grabbed the captain around the neck with his open hand. Grunting, he strenuously
lifted Picard off the deck of the bridge.
It was a moment to behold. Captain Jean-Luc Picard, commander of the
Starship Enterprise, relieved of his command — by this Romulan citizen.
A Klingon who'd rejected his native culture, and done what no other Klingon ever
had.
He couldn't help but glance around as the Star-fleeters twitched in fear.
Lotre snickered. "Tell me why I shouldn't vaporize you this instant."
To his surprise, Picard was not gurgling his breaths through what should have
been a collapsing trachea. Rather, Picard's posture was as if his feet were
not dangling three inches over the deck.
"Because you can't," the Starfleet captain ... read full excerpt from: Star Trek: The Next Generation: Maximum Warp: Book Two ebook
