Statecraft (Part 3 of 3)

Posted on 22 Mar 2015 @ 7:54pm by General ('aj) JataQ & Captain (HoD) Valkris & Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Commander Norvi Stace & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Captain Jonathan Holliday & Commander Scarlet Blake & Lieutenant Commander Amynta Markos

1,916 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 08 - NIMBUS
Location: Sector 053 "Chi'Dan" - Task Force 21.5
Timeline: MD 01 - 0900 hrs

Previously, on Statecraft (Part 2)...

"You can't threaten me, I'm going to be an officer on..."

"I don't give three shits what you're going to be lad, but if you can't fun a cure for your diarrhea-mouth, I'll plug it for you." The Bolian once again was speechless, never being spoken to that way buy anyone.

After a few minutes, Quinn gave the Cadet some instructions, and as he digitally and physically checked the device, he showed the cadet the pics of the animals.

And Now, the Continuation...

[ON]

IKS CharghwI'

Perched high in his command chair at the rear of the Negh'Var's bridge, General JataQ had watched the arrival of the Federation starships on his vessel's tactical display which was overlaid across the large viewscreen. They were late to arrive, and his patience had been wearing thin over the past several hours while he and his warriors did nothing but twiddle their thumbs. A most unbecoming function for a true warrior.

Raising his hand in preparation to call out orders to his crew, he reached down with his other free hand to give his large targ companion a pat on his hide. "Human paS reH," he said to his favorite friend, then addressed his conn officer sitting upfront close to the viewscreen.

"He DIvI' yo' HIjmeH 'ej woHnIS De'e' chaH!" he commanded on an open frequency to the entire Klingon assault group.


IKS HarqSij

=^=Acknowledge=^= Valkris replied sitting just barely on the edge of the seat of the HarqSIj. She was eager to see what these Federation types could do and eager to learn but the one thing she had learned from experience was that charging headlong was a fool's game.


The IKS CharghwI' -- the pride and glory of the Klingon Defense Force's starship fleet -- slowly came about and headed towards the Starfleet position at one-quarter impulse. Her massive green armor-plated hull and glowing red nacelles made her quite the sight to behold, and as two Vor'cha-class battle cruiser escorts flanked her and decloaked to make their presence known, they were dwarfed in size compared to the Klingon flagship. Unseen to their Federation counterparts, two prototype Qul'jA-class birds-of-prey remained lurking far behind the CharghwI' and remained under cloak to conceal the details of their advanced weaponry and battle systems.

---

USS Atlas

Through the Sovereign-class's holographic viewscreen, Lirha watched the Klingon vessels approach her task group and assume a strategic formation to their rear and flanks. Though it could have been perceived as an aggressive tactic, it was more so simply protocol for all KDF starships, especially since their starship design theory heavily-favored forward weaponry and armor. There was no honor is running from the enemy, and as such, not much emphasis was placed on aft defenses.

Another comm chirp sounded from the Ops station, and Lirha was informed by Zhao of an incoming transmission from the Klingon fleet.

"Very well," she replied with a nod to the lieutenant. "Put it through and broadcast to all Starfleet vessels."

The viewscreen quickly blinked and suddenly displayed the distinctive drab and dingy interior of a large Klingon bridge. The dark metallic bulkheads were accented by a plethora of red and orange Klingon consoles and ambient lighting, and at the center of the screen in the main chair sat an aged Klingon whose elaborate uniform and cloak was speckled with various decorative pins. His long, wavy hair was greying in most places, but his Fu Manchu was neatly trimmed and very dark.

Clearing his throat, he spoke in a deep baritone voice. "I am General JataQ of the CharghwI', commander of the Hghach assault group. You are late," he announced without much regard for cordiality.

Lirha stepped close to the screen and clasped her hands professionally behind her back before replying. "NuqneH, general. Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm, USS Atlas, Task Force 21 commander. I apologize for our delay." She knew it would be useless to attempt to explain the details of SB-84's departure postponement, and so she didn't even try. Instead, she decided it would be best to simply placate the general and his captains as much as possible.

"If it will please you," she continued, "We would like to extend our hospitality before we begin our exercises tomorrow. I am sure we can make arrangements for your captains and their crews to tour our vessels and perhaps dine with us tonight."

JataQ grunted then remained silent for a long moment while he pondered the proposal. Finally he shifted in his seat and slowly nodded just once. "Yes. We will accept your...hospitality. I will inform my commanders and they will transport aboard your vessels in one hour. And in exchange, I invite your crews to my vessel this evening. We will dine together aboard the CharghwI' at 2200. Qapla'."

And with that, the brief conversation was quickly ended by the general leaving Lirha to let out a shaky sigh. She hadn't expected to actually be going over to a Klingon vessel and instead had assumed they would come aboard Atlas, but such was the order of things now and hopefully her crews would be on their best behavior.

"Open a channel to our fleet," the rear admiral instructed Zhao. "All vessels, you heard the general. Inform your crews of our impending guests and prepare diplomatic parties to attend the dinner aboard the CharghwI' this evening. Please be diligent with your security measures while we have our visitors touring our starships. Access to restricted areas is not to be authorized. Saalm out."


USS Galileo

Norvi turned to Allyndra and smiled a small and weak, knowing smile. "This can go one of two ways, I imagine," she admitted, raising a brow to betray her opinion on Klingon diplomatic procedures. She sighed, stood up and nodded to her executive officer. "I suppose I'd better brush up on the finer points of Klingon etiquette over the next hour. Let's just hope the database has a concise, punchy version that covers all the major points... and quickly." She looked over to her ready room door and rolled her eyes. "I haven't been able to find much over the past three days, and in my role as the Trill Senate Tower advisor for off-world affairs, I never had much call to converse with Klingons. The little hiccup of a brewing war meant that we talked mainly through threats. I just hope that I can pull something out from my past like a rabbit out of a hat." She sighed and then added, "I trust that I can leave the preparation of the tour to you, Commander. Make sure all crew are organised and all restricted areas are locked down."

"Yes Captain," Allyndra responded. "I think we should be fine as long as I impress upon our Doctor Mott to not be his usual exuberant self."

She looked at the ships out there one last time. "You know your not the only one that has a somewhat diplomatic function for your world. I am not sure if it will come up during our meeting but Akkadia is only an allied world not a Federation member. We are the only inhabitable world before the unexplored Sagittarius arm and thus a jumping off point for those looking to expand."

"I don't think I have to express that this phase of diplomacy in itself will be a battle of both politics and wits" Luke chimed in with a smile, his vernacular only in a low suggesting manor and not in any way trying to undermine any tactics the Commander had set in motion.

"How is diplomacy a battle?" the young helmsman asked, "I don't understand...." Though confused, the half-Betazoid was clearly interested in the answer.


USS Chronos

Holliday cringed at the idea of yet more diplomatic functions this evening. The tiny Defiant-class wasn't exactly built to be a floating party boat, not like the larger ships such as the Sovereign class. He also realised that this meant his dress uniform would be required, and the associated mandatory discomfort.

"Anyone got any idea where we can entertain some Klingons aboard this ship? We're not exactly equipped with a ballroom!"

Pulling up a deck by deck view of the ship on her terminal, Sarah already knew it all of by heart (it was not hard go on a ship so small) she she wanted to ensure that she got this right. "If we use transporter room 2 on deck two we can get them into the mess hall next door. Alternatively we've four cargo bays on deck three which we should be able to open up to create one bug space. After that I would suggest breaking them down into smaller groups for tours, that way should issues arise then they would be more...easily managed."


USS Nautilus

Scarlet held her breath for just a moment. She'd expected to be attending a reception of some kind, but having a party of Klingons touring the ship had come as a surprise. Still, she had a good crew on our hands and she knew it was nothing they couldn't handle. "'Commander Kohl, please make sure that we're ready to receive our guests and that all restricted areas are properly secured. I'll put a call out for volunteers to attend the dinner on the Klingon vessel; if anyone wants the chance to attend I don't want to deny them chance."


USS Aventia

"Right," Markos said and got up from her chair, frowning. The Aventia was not going to receive Klingons, so she supposed they were either going to transfer to the another ship or just sit and relax. Shame. The ship was ready for guests. But there was always other things to do. "I want reports from all departments of our status and ideas to improve for combat. We might as well keep working if we're going to be left alone."

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

RADM Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Atlas

General JataQ
Task Group Commander
Hghach Assault Group
Klingon Defense Force
[PNPC Saalm]

LCmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Acting XO
USS Galileo

Hod Valkris Daughter of Ondagh
Captain
KDF HarqSIj
[PNPC Allyndra]

Lieutenant JG Grayson Jones
Assistant Chief Engineer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant Asahi Kita
Chief Engineering Officer / Acting Executive Officer
USS Galileo / USS Atlas

Lieutenant (J.G.) Tuula Voutilainen, M.D.
Medical Officer
USS Chronos

Lieutenant Commander Norvi Stace
Commanding Officer / Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

Cadet Sarah Gardiner
Security Officer
USS Chronos

Lieutenant JG Drusilla McCarthy
Assistant Chief Counsellor
USS Galileo

PO3 K'os Beaumont
Engineer's Mate
USS Galileo

Lieutenant Olsam Mott, M.D.
Acting Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant Commander Andreus Kohl
Executive Officer
USS Nautilus

Ensign Annikafiore Szerda
Chief Operations Officer
USS Nautilus
[PNPC Kohl]

CMDR Scarlet Blake
Commanding Officer
USS Nautilus

Ensign T'Vanna Murray
Operations Officer
USS Aventia

Lieutenant j.g. Naois Mercy
Chief Medical Officer
USS Nautilus
[PNPC T'Vanna]

Cadet SO Wintrow Paragon
Helmsman
USS Galileo
[PNPC T'Vanna]

 

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