In the Ready Room: The More Things Change...

Posted on Mon Apr 26th, 2021 @ 9:52pm by Lieutenant Frederick Carlow

Mission: Heroes of the Hov'hurgh
Location: HoD's Ready Room, IKS Hov'HurgH
Timeline: 2409

“Yes,” VaQ’taj responded with a jokingly sarcastic tone, topping off the mugs and taking hers in hand again, “And the damage reports. You could always be counted on for some strange technical problem that would take a week to find and another week to fix. Do you still love wrecking ships in unique ways? Though your kill reports were always equally impressive, so it was always worth the time to patch you up.”

She paused to take a long pull off of her bloodwine before giving Tenas a wide grin, “And I have a feeling that I have missed out on a good number of those invigorating bar brawls, that you liked to start so much, since we last saw each other.”

The merc threw back his head and laughed. “Death marks from a dozen terrorist outfits do make stepping into a bar a lively experience.” He favored VaQ’taj with an appraising look. “It’s kinda unexpected but what do you say? Got an extra bunk on this tub for me?”

“You are my brother! There is always room for you on my vessel, you know that,” the Klingon Colonel said, giving him a grin. “Besides, your counsel and contacts will be of great help to us. We have missed a lot in the last twenty-six years. Tell me Tenas, do we trust this Vulcan enough to share the fact that we are about to begin our own rebellion against the Empire? Or is that something best kept to us until we actually implement it? I am realistic. One ship, even one as grand as the Hov’HurgH, and a handful of fighters against an Empire? We require allies, support.”

“Ports of call, repair docks,” The merc added with a nod. “You won’t be able to draw from the KDF academy for crew replacements. You’ll need to draw on mercs and that requires pay - and income.” He rubbed his chin. “It depends on how open you want to be about your intentions. If you openly take hands from the Federation then you won’t get any support from allied houses in the Empire. Like it or not there is a war going on and honor won’t let your allies support a known enemy. However, if you stay openly neutral you can take on hands from anywhere.” He flashed a sly grin.

The red-braided HoD went silent, eyeing Tenas for a long moment before she said, “Openly neutral. Running things from a distance. That is not normally my way. But I see the merit and the probable need for it.” Her jaw tensed and she let out a heavy sigh. “This is going to be difficult to pull off with our hides intact.”

“That’s what makes it so much fun!” The Kolari clucked jauntily. His face then fell, as if pained by his next thought. “There is one complication.”

Her dark gaze narrowed and again her eyes flickered over Tenas’ face. It was a look that VaQ’taj knew all too well. “What corpses are you hiding, Brat?”

“None, this time I promise!” He blurted out. “It’s just that...eh...there’s a little issue with my discommendation.”

“Discommendation?” the fiery HoD asked slowly, setting her mug down on the desk in front of her. She was known to throw things when she was angry and there were the first hints of that sparking in her deep brown eyes.

“Yeah,” The Kolari privateer breathed a long, heavy sigh. “I mentioned how I was wanted in Klingon space? Back when J’mpok and his allies took control of the High Council they called House Martok and its allies to task for harboring traitors and insurrectionists, meaning anyone with favorable ties with the Federation.” He shook his head sadly as he thought back across the years. “Lon’Hoch’tul planned to stand for my honor but we all knew it was a trap. I chose discommendation to protect the house. You didn’t know but as a member of the house you’re obliged to act on it. I thought you should know before making any decisions.”

Every time that she heard the name J’mpok, VaQ’taj’s hands tightened into fists and her jaw locked down. She managed to bite back on the desire to put a hole through her desk and with a grim expression, looked into the eyes of the man that had only just proven his loyalty for her House to her yet again, growling, “One more reason to bring that wretch to his knees. Officially, I cannot afford to be overly picky about who I pay to crew my ship. Personally, your loyalty to our House is humbling.”

“Eh, you laugh at my jokes.” Tenas offered with a sparkle in his green eyes. He said nothing but his chest swelled with pride and no little relief at his adopted sister’s words. He took another long draw from his drink before continuing. “Just be ready when they call you on it. It’s ugly and tastes bad but politics run the day in the Empire now. I get the feeling even J’mpok is tired of it but he can’t reasonably back out. He must see this through to the end and take us all down with him.” He sat back with a thoughtful expression on his face. “It’s weird but jumping ahead in time might have saved your life. I can’t imagine you sitting still when J’mpok took the chancellorship.”

That dark look had not departed from the HoD’s features and she shook her head, admitting, “I would not have. I would have taken his head, or died trying.” The sinister grin that she gave her brother was one known to cause fear in the hearts of her warriors. “And it is no different now.”

“Who knows, jumping ahead might have given you an unexpected opportunity along with more allies.” Tenas mused idly. “It’s strange how things work out. The universe works in mysterious ways.”

“Yes, well. I am not so certain that our saboteur had any intentions of prolonging our survival,” the battle matron said with a sarcastic edge, “we are having containment issues that are proving difficult to track down and repair. The dilation drive is all but useless until we get that fixed.”

Eyebrows furrowed at that. “It was sabotage, you’re sure?”

“Yes. We simply have no answers beyond that yet. There were trace biological samples recovered, but they make no sense,” VaQ’taj said with a brief nod, taking her mug up and drinking deeply, before continuing, “The lab is running tests but we have not seen anything like it and much like the annoying problems with the containment issues, it is proving difficult to decipher.”

“We got data on the Anazi after you disappeared. I’ll share that with you.” Tenas nodded. “Speaking of DNA, I don’t want your gorn doctor strapping me down when I refuse to show up for a physical.” He snorted. “Gorn and bondage -- what a visual. Anyway, as a duelist I can’t let my genetic profile get out. This is a rule the Windblades enforce harshly. I don’t use transporters for the same reason. The transporter aboard my ship is just as good.”

The Klingon woman actually got a strange grimace on her face and she said, sarcastically, “Thank you for that image. Gorn bondage. I know some... interesting... warriors but that one is a new one. I will inform the doctor discreetly.”

“As for the information, any that you can share would be appreciated. I do not like feeling like I am behind the times,” the engineer said, putting her mug down and leaning forward onto the desk. “I am not used to being the one with my mind on the past.”

“You aren’t,” The Kolari finished his drink with a flourish, smacked his lips with satisfaction, and let go with a raucous belch to do any Klingon host proud. He looked at his sister intently, “Everybody else is; the Federation is trying to get back to the Khitomer Alliance. They fought hard to avoid war with the Klingons. J’mpok is tired. You can hear it in his proclamations. The Romulans lost everything. They’re just trying to matter again. The Anazi and worse are laying in wait just outside of sensor range, ready to pounce. You and this ship call to mind a better time. A time everyone wants to see again. A time we need again.” He smiled at his play on words. “To answer your original question about T’vyn, she’s Vulcan. She isn’t going to lie to your face. She keeps her word, and she has been fighting for the same thing as you since before you were born. I can’t tell you who to trust. I can tell you that I’ve had good dealings with her. The rest is up to you.”

The Colonel nodded, letting out a resigned sigh, “There is much to consider. Right now, we have the beginnings of a battleplan. We will meet with the Vulcan and take things as they go from there. I was expecting to be fighting a voracious enemy alongside our allies, not a rebellion against my own people. But Honor demands that those that can fight, stand for those that cannot and that is what I will do.”

“I am going to put you in command of my mercenaries. I can think of no one else that I trust to keep that rowdy lot in line,” VaQ’taj quipped, leveling her dark gaze at him again. “And perhaps you will see to some training for other warriors? You have taught me a few things over the years that it would help them to know and I am certain you have a few more tricks up your sleeve now.”

Szah chose that moment to stretch, bare its fangs, and resume dozing on her shoulder. Tenas chuckled. “I’ve learned a few.” He then perked up brightly. “Hey, does this mean I’m ‘official’ and everything? Can I finally stay on the bridge? I’m tired of getting thrown off. Oh, and I want a uniform too -- and those rank pins you can put eyes out with. Guys love that drek.”

“The more things change, the more they stay the same,” the red-braided Colonel said with another shake of her head and a genuine smile for Tenas. “Get out of my ready room.”

FIN