Literary Challenge #51
One of your chief officers
has been thrown into the Brig. Why? Maybe there was a misunderstanding, or are
they actually a culprit? Write a Captain's Log entry letting us know the
situation and the outcome.
http://sto-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?p=12664231&posted=1#post12664231
Post #6
Mong-Dech
was not grumpy or furious. His daughter does not like serving aboard the battle
cruiser. His wives grow weary at her insubordination regarding her on-board
education. Even his parents do not wish to home school her at times. On the
other hand, such a display of independence is very heart warming to the family,
so it is usually tolerated. Today was different, with one wife in the ready
room observing diplomatic protocol procedures, and the other working closely in
junction with the senior operations officer on the bridge the general had no
choice but to escort the adolescent himself. "Adolescent," in the
24th century this is a strange oxymoron, the young woman is almost thirty years
old. By Klingon standards however . . . His daughter had read his revolutionary
debriefing to his fleet and allies, she particularly took disregard for his
comment that, "education lasts your entire life...while formal education
might only take 10%," and to, "...get used to the idea of betterment."
Originally a comment on the KDF work and learn program La'tal decided it was a
personal insult. Mong-Dech only replied that if she wanted to live in urban
poverty as he did at her age, such an option was of course completely possible.
There are many neighborhoods that did not benefit from his development of
street wise alliances, and community outreach programs that he had helped to
facilitate over the years. Most Klingon cities are very much like the capital,
complete war zones.
While returning to the bridge after confining
his daughter to quarters he imagined that La'tal would eventually continue with
her studies as she normally did. He almost never explained to her the
difficulties he faced during adolescents. He usually left that designation for
his wives or other family members, or comrades who have known him long enough
to mention. While he knew she would not see that he was honoring her with his
wisdom, she did have the recompense to acknowledge that her temper had betrayed
her-although she said nothing of the sort, he could read her body language.
As he wandered back to the turbo lift he
worried about his wives reaction a little. He was not too harsh, although they
should have no concerns that La'tal will be continuing her research. "We
can not tell if she will be an engineer, a civic engineer, or a tactical
consultant like her mothers," he mused to himself. Already La'tal was
capable of granting stress to her mothers with the Klingon blade, but not quite
yet the Bat'Leth. Even she would not dare oppose her grand parents, however,
her mothers are quite proud of her for that. "A young KaBeTarg shows
wisdom," he remembered his mother had doted towards her grand-daughter.
What was the use? He had very ordinary
Occupational duties to attend to, and in his staging of preparedness, weeks in
advance, the High Council demands his presence, his acknowledgement, his
confirmation. To no one, NO ONE, does he respond to outside of Occupation Code
Encryption during a mission preparedness protocol procedure. Very few members of
the Occupational Fleet could for certain know what his duties and the duties of
his crew were. The BaQ MonG-DecH had the highest form of security clearance for
all 'theoretical duties,' based on his proposals, empirical contracts and
contacts within the high council. The ship rotation had been cleared from an
Occupational agency, no spies were found, no contraband, no illegal weapons or
vengeance seekers were aboard to the highest level of knowledge available to
the General. No fanatics, no harmful aliens, no Federation members, no
indication of Borg, Founders, Tal Shiar, the list goes on and on, nothing.
Suppose he were to be on a mission to join
the Occupation Fleet and directly oppose the Klingon factions of the Nefarious
Corporate Oligarchy, there would be no way in hell Mong-Dech was going to tell
the Chancellor's office anything at this stage of the mission. Just the same,
three weeks, a month, two months, even House of J'mPoc fleet ships were told by
the offices of the High Council to warn Mong-Dech that his non-compliance was
an insult to the Empire! To him! An insult? He was following security protocols
ad nauseum, yes that was factual, however not unusual.
A private message from J'mPoc said,
"They say you must comply to threat of treason, this is nonsense, when you
are ready respond to their claim." That message came yesterday and was the
Chancellor's private encryption, of course Mong-Dech could prove this to
anyone, even to anyone aboard his ship, and he of course only mentioned the existence
of such a message to his wives, after they had completed their shifts and their
daughter had eaten and had retired to her quarters. He imagined that the High
Council who was hounding him with useless hyperbole was completely incapable of
understanding the security risks they were creating for him.
There were members of the Occupation that
took an aggressive oppositional stance to his being in league with the murderer
of Martok. Mong-Dech himself suffered shame that neither faction could find ability to co-operate before fatality occured.
However, not to dishonor Martok, he had either suffered too great a health risk
at the hands of the Dominion or had become a genocidal maniac. There were too
many Gorn in the Empire and a hostile takeover of the Hegemony was barbaric
even by Klingon standards. Of course there were other political issues, however
Mong-Dech had fought long and hard for equality and civil rights in the Empire,
this was too much.
Compared to today however, Gorn
integration had not found such a high level of acceptance during Martok's
reign. In many ways Mong-Dech was suspicious that Martok staged his death to
compete to gain equal rights for the Empire. This was something that was only
whispered in his quarters.
Recently the High Council had granted his
right to succession as his 'field promotion,' during the Occupation of the
Corporate Hierarchy Stronghold. It had been years since he ratified his field
promotion with five long years of military tactical training, almost all of
which was classified. Occupy Generals who did not heed the High Council's
concerns for an up to date military education were de-accommodated. However
many had made significant gains, and were by no means unseasoned captains. Most
Captains of the Occupation were there by merit alone, academic and by right of
passage, be that as it may. Not all. This was difficult for Mong-Dech, if the
High Council was to be bought off by the Nefarious Corporate Oligarchy, then
most Empirical equality, economic or otherwise, was doomed. Gaardox Mong-Dech
was very concerned that education, and military advancement through proper
Empirical channels should be considered by all in the Occupation. Let us not
give any excuses to the Nefarious Corporate Oligarchy, let them know that other
than they, this IS a civil war!
Mostly his rhetoric was considered
revolutionary gander by Occupation members, however membership to the
Occupation had in recent years swollen to such a degree that in fleet training
had to occur to the utmost standards of the Empire, in all areas and
facilitation.
"Hah! The High Council..., after so
many honor filled decades of my service they obviously must want to disturb my
mission to grant me a promotion to Major General," So mused General
Mong-Dech. "They must wait." Gaardox then considered the exact nature
of his duties, in the empirical bridge chair. What he wanted is to steal away
the hours in his quarters with his wives and a kask of bloodwine. What he would
be doing is confirming Empirical Occupation convoy lines, KDF and Empirical
Occupation Fleet defense strategies -as they are projected within bridge
astro-metrics, and finally confirm certain staging quantities. Certain
confirmations could not be left to the Quarter-master. They were too important,
whether to him personally, the occupation, or the Empire, he would not
distinguish, that was classified, and usually only he could know for certain.
The only reason he was thankful to leave
the turbo lift was because he was tired of rehearsing his duties in his mind.
Both wives were still sure to be busy, now the Quartermaster himself needed his
attention, well, at least he wasn't a member of the High Council. Twice during
the tirade O'Wa'TaQ MonG-DecH emerged from the General's quarters to inform
Gaardox personally that the High Council had left a message for him. Three
times Gaardox could tell that T'Sha MonG-DecH wanted to execute the
quartermaster and discuss La'tal. Everyone on the bridge could with empirical
certainty ascertain that Gaardox MonG-DecH was prepared to murder certain
members of the Klingon High Council.
"There is no enacting security
protocols against the Corporate Oligarchy! If we cannot supply the Occupation
on the Negh Var moons, then we can only expect further enslavement of Klingon
citizens! THIS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! This is not a military or a priority
channel, I most repose the Occupation Fleet at this time, do not signal any
member of the Occupation Fleet again! You are being outrageous! It is my duty
and honor to serve the Occupation in this manner, It is my duty and HONOR to
serve the Empire in this manner, this is why I and others of the Occupation
seized a field promotion, and this is why many of us continued our empirical
training to become Empirical Fleet Officers. Do not let your dusty law books
interrupt relevant Empirical protocol! Tomorrow we may receive the signal to
join with the Borg Initiative Protocol Alliance and help defend the galaxy, DO
NOT CONTINUE TO DISTURB MY COUNTENANCE IN THIS MANNER! I will receive your
messaging at the proper and respectful end of my current duty mission -
QA'PLA!"
Factually he went twice a year with a
mixed fleet alliance to disturb Borg activity. Sometimes it took too many
months, sometimes it only took weeks. There was no telling. The way the High
Council told the story however, you would think that Mong-Dech owed the Empire
for their patronage. Gaardox assured the representative that this was in no way
the expected case, and began the empirical task of blocking all further signals
from the High Council. This to was protocol. He had heard that Km'Pec had at
times delayed the High Council in a similar manner, war or diplomacy being more
relevant. Gowron was very intuitive to this degree. Martok, well, Martok was mostly
very angry with the High Council, and Gaardox knew why. Gowron would engineer
diplomacy with the High Council in amusing ways that reinforced his
relationships with his Captains and Generals. Martok would simply threaten the
High Council. Gaardox was to assume that in the 25th century that nothing
should threaten the sanctity of any relevant mission to the Empire. That said,
they, almost like a weather forecast, neither the Occupation Fleet nor the
Empire could predict any Borg evaluation at this time, and inner fleet combat
within the Empire had practically halted, at least by 24th century standards.
This is something that was not whispered, but bragged on by members of his
house. The only real enemy was within, and the Borg, and even the Borg held no
real challenge, merely an extreme nuisance. That is if the Borg did not catch
one off guard. The Council had changed frankly.
Mogue, Martok, Gowron, Duras, Km'Pec, all
High Council warriors were welcome and equally opposed to the Corporate
Oligarchy. D'rmQot MarG the political philosopher to the Empire noted that
Km'Pec had gained politically after Km'Pec's decline. Before Gowron had been
defeated, the House of Mogue was fulled re-accommodated. The House of Gowron
had gain respect, civility and respectability after his fall, however no
re-accommodation was necessary. The House of Duras gained responsibility and
deaccommodation was continually an eminent threat to that house. After the
death of Martok, it was very strange, there was no infighting, and many
diplomatic appointments were assigned grants of accommodation in light of his
loss. Statues, civic centers and prominent streets, shuttle ways, and landing
spaces, education and many other relevant deployments - a special office of his
House had to be designed to complete the business of Empire in his absence.
Gaardox was simply left to assume that as much that had been civic use of the
Chancellorhood of Martok would so become of his dismissal. This never sat well
with Gaardox, he was still uninterested in the loss of Km'Pec the Chancellor of
his youth, why should he, how could he appreciate these losses? Years had
passed, yet this still unnerved him. It was common that prominent officers of
the Occupation could report directly to House observation in the High Council,
crimes against the well-being of Klingons in general were becoming exceedingly
difficult to create within the Empire. For this he himself would celebrate as a
victory someday in Sto-vo-kor, such as he routinely did now as a living Klingon.
What's this? The High Council associate
went so far as to assume that Gaardox had a priority of orgiastic Occupational
concerns for victory, and this had improperly adjusted his considerations for
victory. Gaardox had no problem blocking all further Empirical contacts on any
ship channel aboard the 'BaQ MonG-DecH' from that point on. Gaardox isolated
frequencies, entered his codex, and perpetuated signal designage.
Mong-Dech took further relish in observing
the Occupational fleet lines in his astrometrics bridge observation post [his
chair,] and took pains to communicate with Captains and to personally advise,
challenge, or send salutation. Diplomatic relations had been strained recently
again as the offices of the Corporate Oligarchy had been caught spying on
members of the High Council and surveying messages in relation to the
Occupational Fleet forces. Gaardox thought this would entice the High Council
to embellish in their alliances with the Occupational and allied Fleets. It did
so for a time, now however their actions proved too insidious. Going against
mission security would look like unnecessary scrutiny to the Chancellor. Why
must we tolerate these politicians?
One after another Fleet line was observed,
subsumed, re-prioritized, or congratulated. Qa'Pla, he finally began to notice
that the office posts of his wives had been fulfilled and that in his brother's
absence, his wives filled the second in command vocation by the side of his com
chair. Horg MonG-DecH was busy in his own Battle Cruiser on another side of the
Empire doing the exact same duty. It was almost strange that it would take two
individuals to fill his post, however, the family of MonG-DecH had foreseen
this. T'Sha had put her hand on his shoulder and whispered that Horg had
signaled some time after Gaardox had blocked the Council's beck and callings.
T'Sha had squeezed his shoulder hard when O'Wa'TaQ had leaned into the Chair of
Gaardox and suggested that since the supply convey considerations were complete
that possibly it would be wise to hail Horg and see how progress was in the Eta
Eridani to this regard.
Laughter filled the bridge of the 'BaQ
MonG-DecH'! "It is not possible to imagine the look on the Council
Member's face as you have described, and yes, my duties are complete today,
thank you for describing why you have secreted your Empirical
transmissions." Crew members and officers alike rejoiced in moments like
this. Sometimes Klingon supply lines were raided. Sometimes this occurred by
the hand of other Klingons. Mercenarial or otherwise, security and Fleet
responsiveness had to be the priority. "I suppose they only wanted to
accommodate your new rank MAJOR General!" Thunderous laughter. Terribly
deafening to those who were not Klingon. Why did Horg always get to tell the
joke?
"Brother once again you are too
psychic for your own good, the honor of saying as much was to be mine-no
matter-you are my blood!" Having a younger brother was not a particularly
savory privilege. However, his family loved him, so did he.
"My humility to your honor, of course
older brother, please allow your non-Klingon officers to have their hearing
checked upon your notoriously skilled Gorn medics."
"Younger brother again you miss the
point, Gorn officers are aboard this bridge as well." Gaardox had to admit
he was otherwise often enough flabbergasted if it were not for the fact that
Horg was a competent Captain, tactician and engineer.
"Damn another year of lizards
smelling deafness toward my direction? I have had enough of this! Pipe me
through to your shipboard com at once!" Gaardox complied and Horg
explained the joke and the insult and the medical infraction to all aboard both
teh 'BaQ MonG-Dech', as well as Horg's own, the 'Dazaqul'. All due to the sake
of the mission and the severity of Horg's thoughtlessness, he outdid himself
and impressed Gaardox and his immediate family on that bridge to his own
satisfaction. For years to come Horg's self criticality and admittance of wrong
doing was unfounded in Empirical Fleet history. Few captains would admit such a
mistake to their own crew, yet to say anything to the crew of their ranking
general. This was not an unusual practice in regard of the telling of
victories, or other important revelations. It wasn't really an unusual practice
in general, the MonG-DecH family was known for incite-fullness and creativity,
although Gaardox himself was often enough seen by individuals as esoteric. The
logic of his actions had to be evaluated, over time more and not fewer came to
understand the relevance of his otherwise seemingly random methodologies. This
one however was all Horg's doing, and of relatively no surprise. There had only
been two other such announcements, the ship with dilithium had indeed been
secreted to the hidden Klingon Occupational Worker's Union Refinery, and a
Fleet scuttling had been thwarted by the use of five cloaked bird's of prey.
And related shipments of relevance were not prevented, and were in fact to
arrive ahead of schedule, but by now, everyone in the Beta Quadrant would know,
that particular battle cruiser had a fleet compliment of five additional
vessels. Gaardox noted a deep chuckling amongst his bridge members upon that
particular mention. It was an obvious trap for the Nefarious Corporate Oligarchy,
mercenaries of bankers, as Horg had noted to further embellish his compliments
and to distract from his misuse of tongue. Horg was lauded of course. Gaardox
did almost miss his audacity at times however and La'tal's curfew was extended
to give toast to her uncle for a fine joke, too good a sixth sense, and
excellent and exciting reportage of Fleet Activity. Fourth meal was bloody and
alive in more than one parameter. The next day personal reports of such
toasting would permeate within the 'BaQ MonG-DecH', and within the Occupational
Fleet.
First morning duty was to report to the
Chancellor however. Gaardox did not like to have to confine himself out of his
bed to his in-quarter's office, however his wives had an extended rest period
and Gaardox was on double duty until all transports of relevance were
transpired, and until it could look as if such an event had indeed occurred,
which of course was an entirely different chronological proxy. One that he did
not mind relating on a secure channel to Jm'Poc.
"Don't brag to me Gaardox, you have a
Captain and a Commander on board. You can make your Occupational appointments
look as important as you wish, I will remain unimpressed, except by that of
Horgs reportage, those mercenaries were too careless by all regard, that is
obvious to even the High Council."
"DaGott-Jm'Poc, you sound very much
like my father..." Gaardox observed grimly.
"HeH Gaardox, even before lights on
ship hours you can compliment an ugly old General..."
"Perhaps you think I am vain to
compliment myself in such a fashion, or that I am ignorant of the fact that you
are no longer a General."
"Don't be wry Gaardox. Such wit is
indeed vanity as you suggest."
"I would NEVER choose to interrupt
members of THOSE houses in such a disrespectful manner!"
"Yes, it comes to me now, they are
daft are they not?" That stopped the General coldly. What could he say to
that? "Say nothing comrade of the revolution, we are united in many
things, and what is not we make up for in compliance to the standards of honor.
You are not incorrect."
"I can only imagine so. You cannot
forget that I begged admirals and generals alike to retest the former
Chancellor, that the Founders were an inconceivable threat, that we should not
be opposed to the clinical findings, and tactical warnings of the Federation in
this regard-"
"Yet are you disappointed Gaardox?
Today no one can doubt your concerns." Gaardox named the representative
for the council that had insulted him, and he and the Chancellor spoke briefly
of that Klingon's house, to no noticeable satisfaction of either of them.
Gaardox almost inspired civil war upon his testing requests regarding the
former Chancellor and the Founder's doppelganger. "Gaardox, you have not
spoken his name yet, you must learn to honor those chosen in Sto-Vo-kor."
"Chancellor, it defeats all purposes
in my mind, that you continued that conflict with Martok. I know he passed all
medical exams, and his tactical reasoning was never proven to be driven by
xenophobia-"
"Fair enough, MARTOK, was to his own
degree honorable, say nothing more then. His death is not by my wishing either,
I can only say that much, and this is not the first time we have discussed
this. Gaardox we will discuss the inept behavior of the High Council, the
unscrupulous behavior of the House of Duras, how it effected the houses of
Martok and Mogue, and how it effects us all, perhaps their impropriety - the
council member's rude detachment is a form of racism against you, or perhaps
classism - I may not be the psychic your brother is, yet I can tell what you
must think at times. Factually we pressed you too hard in your empirical
tactical research to accommodate you into Empirical Generality if you will
excuse the pun. We in no way or formation were to guild you towards immaculate
indemnity. We can't have every single anarchist simply announce a General
decree off the top of their proclivity. I recall you relate to those factions,
yet are merely affiliated, nothing more...That isn't relevant, what is relevant
is that you and your allies proved that members of the Corporate Oligarchy
committed enslavement to Klingon citizens, in a move of respite, this 'economic
inequality' you and your allies so rally against...we will be having less of
that for the future and sanctity of the Empire, I can assure you. The High
Council has an even dimmer view of such behaviors and inequities than I or YOU!
As hard as it might be to believe, you are right, we must strive against the
Borg, forge alliances against that faction, end the civil wars and inner
turmoil within the Empire, recuperate and ecosynthesize war torn planets, your
assistance, the assistance of your Occupation is appreciated by all Gaardox,
not just by those in your alliance network. Just be cautious, I will let it be
known to the High Council that your business at this time is an empirical
priority. Don't openly oppose them, just ignore them until you arrive back on
Qo'Nos. Qa'Pla." Gaardox could only be moved to be stunned in a poignant
manner after such an empirical diatribe.
It was sometimes better if the Chancellor
was angry or had ordered some kind of recall or re-premonition. Gaardox had his
own standing order. His own. From his own tactical consideration to the best of
his own rationality, with his own advisers, and officers. Only the Chancellor
could appropriate Gaardox to the vacuum of space in such a way. Nothing,
nothing at all, an Empire of nothing, and Gaardox owned it all. In his own
facility Gaardox had created this himself. He should be pleased, instead he
only saw it as another example of the frailty of the political council. He
wondered if the council would hold their pledge against the criminality of the
Corporate Oligarchy? For once he feared civil war. Not when he knew for certain
that Martok was an imposter, not during the occupational 'hazards' during
warfare, not during diplomatic considerations against the Gorn Hegemony, and
rarely during fighting against the Dominion or the Cardasians. Even when facing
a Federation fleet, he calmly took to protocol and worked on a diplomatic
solution. A much dire enemy was the enemy of the enemy, the Borg Initiative
carved out certain exacting latitudes, and Horg's engineers were making
progress with Borg technology. "No fear, they are the Borg they will be
deassimilated!" He had informed the Federation Admiral, Gaardox's two
battle cruisers and the five vessels of the Federation. When the temporary border
dispute had been agreed upon he was later callously complimented on Qo'Nos as
being compliant of order #535963, the preservation of Borg Initiative Protocal
standards. As inglorious as it was, it was the correct decision, and the
brother's MonG-DecH lived to face those Federation ships against a common foe,
which was his Empirical designation and right of succession. No one would argue
law against that fact.
In such a right he ordered his captain to
helm, and Gaardox joined his wives in rest.
He took a late position on his shift and
followed through with his duties eventually conceding to the fact that he
preferred to his own wives as commanders-gender equality being especially
attractive to female Klingons, he would be mercilessly complimented at a later
time. In the month that followed, twice his wives commanded birds of prey for
various duties following through with Occupational shipment protocols. In one
victory an entire ship had been seized by his wives use of tractor beams and
the 'BaQ MonG-DecH' torpedoes. Horg being innovative, had found a way to cloak
a shipment deployment vessel and innocuously conducted scientific research in
an adjacent sector while playing cat and mouse games with an apposing
mercenarial fleet.
There were more minor victories during
this time. La'tal had finished her section of study so she went on to combat
training, which was actually overdue in a sense. Not being the only person her
age on board was a broadening experience for her, and her family members were
once again treated like Klingons due to her appreciation. La'tal had
transferred to Horg's ship, as he started the mission earlier and would arrive
back earlier, La'tal could take this opportunity to learn the complicated
fundamentals of engineering. Those lessons would reflect well on Horg and
La'tal alike for lifetimes to come.
The council did not again respond, and
this was well enough, although nothing came direct from the chancellor again,
and that was even better.
There was some bad news, the engineers who
had installed phaser cannons at the community stronghold of his family had not
been paid. Every so often defense upgrades must be maintained. Since he could
not communicate with offices of the Council, he could not pass on the expense
either. He would have to pay the minimal fee in immediacy and be reimbursed by
the empire at a later time, which was not good equity.
Gaardox has no physical office outside of
his ships or family house. He had to conduct his affairs with the council
personally as the ship was in arrival procedure. He was able to join his wives
and greet his daughter and parents, however he had to return to the capital
afterwards for reimbursement purposes and to make appointment with the very
same council person who was apparently still capable of putting him off.
Gaardox had been sitting at this
particular office for five minutes. He had ordered, the standing lieutenant to
remove the media device from the wall. It was funny walking into these offices.
A notorious General of the Occupation in full KDF fleet armor barging through
every en-pass of this council office, he could put fear into the hearts of all
Klingons, until it was time to politely sit at the office couch and wait for
his appointment. The media monitor had been blarthing on about Occupational
victories in the Teu Dewa, [still named Theta Eridani in common Klingon,]
Gaardox was so bored of the Tal Shiar. At this point in time the Empire
tolerated them and nothing more, the Tal Shiar disgrace themselves-Romulan Republicans
will not tolerate them! Listening to the reportage of Borg technology being
sold in the Nequencia system was interesting until the reporter took liberties
to describe the technology being sold.
"If I can fabricate it in my father's
engineering laboratory, then it is no longer Borg technology!" The
lieutenant chuckled at this. Things were likely to be adequate today, but not
if the monitor should remain.
Then Gaardox was forced to concede to the
digitally written media. Blarth!
The lieutenant received a signal on his
desk monitor, then he typed something. He stood and requested the General's
side arm and any other weapons. Today Gaardox had a side arm, a phaser rifle,
his knife, and his bat'lith. The Bat'lith belonged to his father, was not
merely ornamental, and Gaardox's own was hanging in his father's house. Since
his wives and his daughter had never missioned together this was an occasion
for honor, so he explained to the lieutenant.
"Honestly the council member, your
employment figurehead, was so rude to me I could kill him with my bare hands,
it just might sound to you like a cliche however, I will advise you not to be
involved with an internal conflict should one occur." Gaardox was really
bored now, it was respectful to warn the lieutenant, not that that Klingon was
a spring Targ, however this could have been handled delicately at a distance,
in a more appropriate fashion. Gaardox sat on the couch again and looked
exasperated. He then went so far to explain, as the lieutenant placed his
weapons on his desk, that he hadn't been on planet for more than a day
actually. Luckily he had plenty of fresh air,
jet lag just isn't a Klingon concept regarding space travel in the 25th
century, or at least is would be so rarely given technological advances.
Gaardox in earnest read through a parenting journal, one that professed some
academic background, and he found that it was not especially counter-intuitive
to said regard. After a time the Lieutenant stood and announced the council member.
"Gonzl'HuT Targ of the House of
Targ..."
"Qa'Pla."
"Qa'Pla." Gaardox stood looked at
Gonzl'HuT, and standing referred back to his article. "It seems that
families that recycle or reclaim their cleaning water have more communal
harmony, ah, and you missed it, black marketeering is on the rise in the Theta
Eridani sector. You can purchase a Borg toaster if you wish..." Gaardox
again looked at the councilperson and held his thumb on the page pause of his
written media device. MonG-DecH mentioned as such with no sense of harmony or
irony. His sarcasm was raw and dry with not a hint of deference.
"General Gaardox HeH HeT MonG-DecH,
you will submit to a retinal scan."
"Ergh-putaq, I am in battle uniform,
alarms would have been committed here were it not for that fact, my
communications device is likely being monitored by your sensors!"
"General, this is not a battle
cruiser, our devices are limited to media and marginal scanning, as well as our
imagination and observations." Gaardox removing his thumb from the media
device had to submit to such a scan.
After the retinal examination the
Lieutenant was taken to a different waiting area, so he assumed. Once in the
smaller room with no media other than what he had brought with him from the
assembly area of the office, he realized, without telling him any details at
all about why he was being called upon, he was in captivity. As the lieutenant
closed the door Gaardox caught on and laughed a hearty laugh, he was uncertain
who was to die today. The door obviously had a magnetized locking device that
closed soundlessly in a suspicious manner that would otherwise seem to defy the
laws of physics.
"What an idiot!" Gaardox mused.
He sat, got comfortable. He finished the article. Apparently Klingon families
that raise targ, and grow or raise food for the animals that targ eat, are the
most well educated, and well adjusted members of Klingon society. They are more
relaxed, less stressed, more competent warriors, more creative engineers, more
tactically logical, have a higher self conception of honor and have more fun at
parties.
"My family is doomed..." Thought
Gaardox.
Once finished with the media article, and
rather than simply find the next most interesting factoid, he used his wrist
bracer communication device and used the existing computer system in the
building to contact the chancellor on his private data channel.
"He really is a son of a
targ..."
"I haven't bothered to check the
door, I must assume that it is magnetically sealed however. There is one other
thing, it has come to my attention that the council offices and this building's
security system are quite substandard."
"Qa'Pla Gaardox." With that
Gaardox smugly took a nap.
Gaardox awoke to the typicality of his station. J'mPec had arrived and
was berating the councilor Gonzl'HuT Targ of Targ. There was a large beeping
noise and the door of his cell glowed red hot. There was a pause. After the
pause J'mPec went into a much more pronounced diatribe with inflection and
particular consideration to Targ husbandry in a kind of intended strata
regarding biology and physiological inheritance. Apparently the lieutenant had
misread the chancellor, and the cell door would soon cool and open
automatically.
"Oh look, such a hero's welcome! This
treatment to an Occupation GENERAL! You have some nerve and some delusion of
your station! Gonzl'Hut Targ of Targ House, tell the General what you have
unceremoniously announced to me earlier." Again the berating was better at
a distance, Gaardox was certain that his own admonishments had similar
capacity, so he was best to quietly observe and learn should he someday wrongly
insult a lower ranked officer. "TELL HIM NOW!"
"Gaardox HeT HeH Mong-Dech, son of
Mong-Dech, and general to the Empire, specific to the Occupation forces, you
are now commended in rank, before the Chancellor, with full merit and approval
of the Council, to the rank of Major General."
"His name is HeH HeT MonG-DecH, so
named after the other celestials Cthulu...a vicious creature...a fair name for
a Klingon who's primary duty during the Occupation was killing mercenaries
hired by factions allied to your House! He became bored with the uselessness of
defeating Klingon life and began to take prisoners instead. Tell me Gaardox,
how many Corporate Mercenaries did your alliance eventually converge?"
"This number is in the millions
J'mPoc, I almost always have to review this, the number is always being
updated. Myself, I estimate that I shared the responsibility of saving a few
million Klingon lives in those conflicts. Some became conditional members of
the Occupation forces."
"Son of the House of Targ, how many
of Km'Pec's alliance members did die in your House's name during his
beguilement? HOW MANY?" Gaardox looked at the Son of a Targ wryly and
calculated this number by using his communication device, linked to his media
device, which he still had at hand. Scrutinizing the media device he chuckled
to himself and then faced the device outwards, so even the lowly lieutenant
could read it. The article had a plain, although obviously dated casualty
number related to this military incident. It had been profoundly noted that the
House of Targ acted without regard during the hostilities between Gowron and
Km'Pec factions, and that the House of Targ had been especially brutal. The
Chancellor grabbed the datafile on the General from the council member, signed
it in an amazing display of codex, [this is a code that only the Chancellor
could have,] and handed it to the General.
"Qa'Pla Gaardox, your family is
outside waiting in your family vehicle. Apparently you have two birds of prey
in orbit, so we had to wait for transport, however I am told you slept
soundly," J'mPoc at times like this would chuckle whenever MonG-DecH
exhibited crass behavior, not this time.
"I always sleep through jet
lag."
"BaH, it no longer exists Gaardox,
its only a psycho-somatism. I must further reprimand the council member, my elite
guard have Occupied the building son of MonG-DecH, tell your newest engineer
that my nephew will be calling her in light of her newly founded education in
engineering."
"Indeed, it has become the talk of
the galaxy." This time J'mPoc laughed aloud, grateful also for a real
empirical focus of relevance.
"Qa'Pla J'mPoc."
No comments:
Post a Comment