LIEUTENAT WORF TO REMAIN ON DEEP SPACE NINE: KLINGON COSPIRACY SUSPECTED IN EXTRADITION TRIAL

(Lt. Worf will be remaining on the station after being proved innocent of massacre during his extradition trial.)

Worf, son of Mogh has many enemies in the Klingon Empire and it came as no surprise that when he was believed to have killed a Klingon civilian vessel in combat that an extradition trial would be held. It also was no secret that the Klingons planned to use the scandal to their advantage by putting the Federation on the defensive and allowing undeterred Klingon expansion into more sectors of Cardassian space. Worf was cleared of all charges at the end of the trial Commander Sisko, serving as the defense counsel, was able to prove that the Klingons had falsified records to serve their ends.

Worf was locked in combat with a cloaked Bird of Prey when he thought he had predicted their maneuvers. He set his torpedoes to where he believed they would show themselves again and fired as a ship began to decloak. The ship he destroyed turned out to be a civilian transport and no life signs were apparent for any survivors of the explosion.

At least, that's how the story was originally believed to have happened. Our own Constable Odo was able to unearth some interesting facts regarding the civilian transport. For one, the list of deceased from the passenger list was identical to the list of "survivors" of a crash just a few weeks earlier. It is the Federation's official position that the Klingons falsified records to make it appear as though the people who had died in a crash a few weeks ago had in fact been murdered by Worf. All has been sorted out now and the Klingon lawyer arguing for extradition leaves the station later today, quite possibly with his tail between his legs.

KLINGON MINEFIELD NEUTRALISED: BAJOR SAFE

Fantastic explosions of white light spread through space on the Klingon border after a secret mission involving Deep Space Nine federation and Bajoran militia officers. The explosions were the result of the destruction of a Klingon minefield being constructed on their border which would have protected them in the event of a war with either the Bajorans or the Federations.

(Gowron, leader of the Klingon High Coucil, makes an epic face upon hearing that the Federation would stand against his invasion of Cardassia.)

Constructing a minefield is considered by all major powers in the Alpha Quadrant to be an act of war itself and this recent move by the Klingon Empire illustrates a growing trend towards hostility which began with the dissolving of the Federation's treaty with the Klingon Empire. The treaty, which had held the relationship between the Federation and the Klingon Empire in Peace since the days of Ambassador Spock, was dissolved in the wake of the Klingon invasion of Cardassia. When the Federation stood against Klingon attempts to take control of the Cardassian home world, the Klingons declared their former allies to be cowards and formally dissolved all ties to them. Gowron, the leader of the Klingon High Council was originally a friend to the Federation and had significant ties to Lieutenant Worf, who is currently stationed on DS:9, but would not tolerate what he perceived as a betrayal by the Federation and Klingon/Federation relations have suffered in the civilian sector as well as at the negotiation table.

Suspicions of malicious activity were first aroused when explosions were seen on the Klingon border and several Birds of Prey were observed. The ships were reportedly displaying illusive behavior and gained the attention of local officers. A damaged Bird of Prey was towed into the station and the Bajoran and Federation authorities were able to gather more information on the activities while it was being repaired.  

Upon further investigation, the officers of this station discovered that the Klingons were strategically laying mines to prevent Federation and Bajoran access to an entire sector of space. Taking preemptive action, a runabout was sent out to detonate the mines (there is no word concerning damage to Klingon ships or casualties) and at least delay an open confrontation with the Klingon Empire.