An Hour with Hov'qIj

Posted on Sun Mar 21st, 2021 @ 10:19pm by Administrator LordeEmp

Mission: Heroes of the Hov'hurgh
Location: I.K.S. Hov'HurgH
Timeline: 2383

One of the first things that came to the estranged Klingon’s mind as he stepped onto the deck of the I.K.S. Hov’HurgH, had to do with a conversation that he and his brother had. ‘You were not wrong brother.’ Hov’qIj imagined his brother could hear him from across space and time often in that way.

The decks were as smooth as glass and far softer to the touch than any Klingon ship he had ever stepped on. It was not done with comfort in mind, but because of just how precisely each piece of material had been added, down to the micrometer in most cases. A tile like flooring had been put in place along the walkways, once again to give texture and assure footing, he imagined.

As his heavy boots made a clicking sound against the flooring Hov’ qIj thought to himself, “Nothing quite like a new ship smell.”

Left to to his own devices, the white haired Klingon decided to go see the one addition to the ship that may, on its own, solve an infinite number of the Empires issues, while at the same time open its people to another unending list of problems.

The time dilation drive pulsed not unlike a warp drive for the most part. Save for the fact that each beat of its heart seemed to reverberate through the man’s heart beholding it. Maybe it was the containment arms that, much like a singularity core though a bit smaller, rotated around in alternating 360 degree arcs. With his black leather gloved hand he poked at one of the auxiliary terminals checking to make sure that the warp core and time dilation drive where up to specs. Everything needed to be in place for the test coming up.

Would they simply be saving the Empire from a few enemies only to face more from both other times and perhaps dimensions bordering their own. Imagery of wars that no longer costed ships or planets, but instead whole universes might be swallowed up by some mega-weapon swirled through the warrior’s mind. Now that would be a glorious battle indeed.

On his way aboard he noticed that the ship was round enough to make a Federation Captain pause and shaped enough like a wing of death to make even the most stern Romulan Commander think twice. Truely like a dak’tagh waiting to stab deep into the heart of their newest enemy.

As he made his way to the mess hall to see if there was any decent blood wine to sample, it was not lost on Hov’qIj that he was the only silver and black adorned warrior to be seen most times. His previous duty officers had the opportunity of being on the upper hand of most jokes relating to the marines and so it seemed that now he might be the one eyed tika cat in the land of the targs. Likely surviving to only further isolate him as one of the few paper pushers aboard ship. One of the few that might be called on for other, strange duties.

The mug was warm to the touch, as he sat at the bar taking a much appreciated swig. Hov qIj over heard one warrior asking another if this was the Emperor's new version of the Tal’Shiar. This brought a smile to his face and a glint in his eye.

The urge was fought to turn the man and add, “Yes you didn't get the communique?” or worse yet, “I am in the Tal’Shiar.” and still worse, roaring, “My Mother was Tal’Shiar.” The latter was far harder to bite back, but the implications would have been far worse.

Besides it did give him some strange ideas about a Federation styled cultural exchange aboard a Romulan Starship. The First Officer of course would say he served aboard someone elses ship for the poor man to be sent to. Mainly because of the highly classified level of many things on the Hov’Hurgh. Figuring by the time the discrepancy was found he could blame all of that on a Commander that had it in for him or maybe that pesky communications officer that was far to dishonorable to challenge him face to face.

This allowed him to truly allow his mind to tangent on further. As this ship was a Klingon, Federation conspiracy of sorts maybe he could have the Romulan officer sent to a rather mundane Starfleet ship. “That’s right, Starfleet Commander Hov’qIj.” Had a nice ring to it as his name also had the word star in it.

It was not like Hov’qIj would act on that... not alone anyway. It also wasn't like he was dishonorable at heart. To him, these just seemed like good tactics to get something done. Of course even speaking the truth to that might make him sound like a Vulcan; justifying about anything that could come to mind.

Realizing it was just that sort of revery that alienated him often from the crew. The pale eyed Klingon returned his focus to the here and now..

So after getting a sample of a interesting targ dish and another mug of wine, it was off to the hangar bay. Once the turbolift opened up the deck seem to sprawl out in all directions with entry ports leading directly into the cockpits of the new fighters. The din of the flight line was almost tangible and very few of them even took a second glance at him as he wandered through. He suspected that Colonel JoH’qIj had something to do with that level of discipline and dedication.

It was somewhat of a long walk to the bridge after serving aboard a bird of prey. This gave him other opportunities to see other operations on the ship, though, and the former security officer kept a keen eye on his surroundings. Even stopping for a moment to peer into the new security office. How he remembered interrogating people in his old office.

If any of the crew knew the burly, white-haired Klingon man in a familiar fashion, it was the members of the bridge crew. They at least had seen him often and even had the chance to see him in the command chair on other shifts. The Main Bridge was enormous when compared to the K’Vorcha they had served on before. It might even seem oversized to someone who had served on a NegH’Var.

Some facts about this first officer seemed immutable to the officers that surrounded him at that point.

One, he would be very unlikely to mutiny the ship. He was no Mister Christian. She was no Captain Bligh. Vaq’Taj was the least likely person he could imagine committing an overtly dishonorable act. Besides she knew who to ask for help from in those matters. It was a sentiment he was sure could be useful if a Changeling or any other Alien Intelligence took her place.

Two, he was unlikely to allow someone to challenge the captain without going through him. This would likely place any Klingon, or any other being for that matter, not wishing to see the South Side of Sto’Vo’Kor at a small disadvantage as, out of all of the bridge crew, he was know to simply shoot first and bear the consequences for those action later. His mind even wrapped around that day often, and the plan was really rather simple. To have them disintegrated before that could finish the words “I challenge you!” Thus making him able to claim later that HE was the only officer allowed to challenge the HoD... or, if the excuse was available, too weak and unfit for a Klingon Commander to battle.

The Third fact was they did not foresee the Commander engaging in tests of his own honor with the Hov’HurgH against any stray target or mouthy trader that might pop up. There would be no surfing black holes just to test the new engines stress tolerance.

So as he sat in the command chair for his late night shift, Hov’qIj straightened his Honor Sash. Yes, yes his brother had more than made good on his promises about the Fiery haired woman that Commanded the old ship that he had stepped foot on so many years ago.