Keith R. A. DeCandido 
Diplomatic Implausibility 

200 YEARS AGO: The expanding Klingon Empire found a frozen world rich in deposits of the mineral topaline. They named the planet ta D — Klingon for "frozen" — and they called the people jeghpu’w I’ — conquered. FOUR YEARS AGO: The Klingon Empire invaded Cardassia, breaching the Khitomer Accords and causing a break with the Federation. On ta D, depleted Klingon forces were overthrown in a small coup d’tat, and the victorious rebels took advantage of the disruption to appeal for recognition from the Federation. NOW: The Klingons have returned to ta D and re-established their control. But the stubborn rebels insist on Federation recognition. A solution to the diplomatic impasse must be found, a task that falls to the Federation’s new ambassador to the Klingon Empire — Worf. Worf thinks of himself as a fighter, not a negotiator, but the Federation disagrees. Now, for the sake of the Federation and the Empire, a Klingon warrior must weave a fragile peace out of a situation ripe for war!