Hospitality

Posted on 10 Aug 2023 @ 8:07pm by Commander Morgan Tarin & Lieutenant Aria Rice

1,421 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 18 - Cold Station 31
Location: IKS Praxis - Bridge
Timeline: MD 16, 0540 hrs

Previously, on Helm, Take Us Home...

Casting a sideways glance to her first officer seated next to her, Tarin gently cleared her throat while choosing her words as carefully as possible. She'd known Frost for close to two years now and predicted this could turn into a contentious discussion. "Frost, this is Tarin. We encountered a renegade Ferengi heavy cruiser near the cold station when we arrived in the facility's vicinity. They engaged us and attempted to take Galileo as some sort of 'prize', and would've succeeded until a Klingon battlecruiser came to our assistance. It's a long story. But in exchange for the lives of the Ferengi prisoners and as a gesture of good will, I struck a deal with them to resupply at Regula I. And...maybe conduct a brief shore leave on the station. They traveled all the way from Qo'noS to hunt down the Ferengi captain and are dangerously short on food stores."

Silk tried to keep from making a face but didn't manage fully. "I see. You realize that this place is mostly for research and some of that is, shall we say, things of a delicate nature. Permission for both to dock, but I want escorts on any Klingon contingent that leaves their ship."

"Yes, I understand," nodded the captain. She felt secretly thankful that Frost didn't chew her out in front of the crew. "They won't be staying long and I'll make sure their 'expeditions' to Regula I are limited to non-secure, public spaces only. Tarin out." The channel closed then Morgan let out a subtle relieved breath. "Number One, you heard the administrator. Take us in for a hard dock along the starboard side airlock. Ops, transmit soft docking protocols to Praxis. Let's put them in a synchronous orbit around the station at ten kilometers distance."

"Praxis, stand by to receive instructions," Vansen said as he smiled, before transmitting the information. He didn't get a reply, but he saw they had received it.

And Now, the Conclusion...

[ON]

Within the Klingon battlecruiser's hazy and orange-hued command bridge, the new captain listened to the Federation communications between the tiny Nova-class and its equally-insignificant outpost. When Galileo finally transmitted official clearance to his warship with permission to soft dock at the facility, he grinned then burst into a full and hearty laugh. To his side was the Federation security officer-turned Klingon first officer, the one named Rice. She was a small Human but seemed to have been handling herself well aboard his ship over the past several days. Yet now when they had finally returned to her home port, Kuran had questions for her.

"Your starbase is much smaller than you led us to believe. Barely able to defend itself against a single warship," he declared while glancing back down at his command chair's tactical console. "This is the Federation's base of operations in this sector? Surely your people are more capable than..." he waved his hand dismissively at the viewscreen, "this."

Aria looked impassively at the view of Regula I. She hadn't said a single word about the size of the base. But it wasn't relevant right now, she had been asked a question. "It's not what I would have done in this sector, but it is what it is," she said bluntly, standing on the bridge. Her hair was free and hanging down, framing her face and somewhat obscuring the scar she now had on her cheek. She didn't even say anything to sell the starbase as anything positive. There was no point, Kuran would make his mind up once he set foot on it.

A singular grunt of acknowledgement emanated from Kuran's throat before barked consecutive orders to his bridge crew. "Put the ship in stand orbit of this station. Prepare boarding--" he corrected himself in front of Rice, "diplomatic delegations for transport. Five every thirty minutes." He looked to Rice for her approval of Starfleet protocols. "We must secure new food stores and bloodwine for the crew," he adamantly stated.

Aria gave a small nod of confirmation of what he had said. "No weapons they don't need with them. That means any bat'leths. This is not a takeover, it is a visit." She looked around, taking a quiet but deeper breath with what she was saying next. "Many on this base have never seen warriors before. They will stare. Let them."

Kuran considered this appeasement and slowly nodded. It was unorthodox and wouldn't be popular among his crew, but if his people had any chance of achieving their objectives here...it would be a necessity. "I will forbid the presence of bat'leths on this Regula I station," he confirmed to her. "But no warrior will move without their D'K tahg!" He rose from his command chair, his leather armor creaking as he surveyed the bridge before looking back to Rice. "You will oversee this diplomatic exchange. And as you say, 'let them stare'."

Aria gave a small nod, meeting Kuran's eyes. "First group's priority it to restock our stores. I've selected the people for that task," she said, which she had done. In fact, she had spent the night looking over the personnel files and carefully dividing up the teams of five. A calm head for every group, in case of trouble. "I'll go with the first group in case anyone on Regula I has any concern." And if they did, Aria would bluntly say where they could stick their concern at this point.

"Good." He looked back down at his command station to search for his Klingon PADD, then procured it from the side of his chair. "We must also obtain weapons and engineering supplies to replace our depleted inventory." He tapped the crimson and orange-colored device with his fingertip to emphasize the point before handing it to Rice. "Photon torpedoes...maybe even quantum torpedoes..."

"We will have to go to the Station Administrator," Aria said as she took it, meeting his eyes. She didn't say that they would most likely be refused. If not...inwardly, she grimaced. There was always the black market and most stations had something like that. "I'll take care of it," she added, because there was no point going over Starfleet protocol for this. Hopefully she had some leeway as she was now assigned to a Klingon ship with Klingon rules.

The commander lifted his chin with approval. "You are proving yourself a capable warrior and competent first officer." It was about as close to a compliment as Klingons were capable of. "Perhaps there is a place for you on this battlecruiser...permanently," he casually floated the idea.

"You honour me with that," Aria said, meaning it. Because it was an honour if you looked at it from his point of view. "I don't decide my fate though. The Admiralty does." She added, wanting him to understand it wasn't up to her one way or another.

He frowned while tilting his head at her remark with scorn. "The admiralty?" Then he suddenly let out a boisterous chuckle accompanied by a sharp-toothed grin. "Yes, you are finally understanding Klingon humor now!" He took personal pride in observing how far the young Human had come in just a few short days.

Aria grinned back at him, raising an eyebrow. "Learned from the best," she said before the smile faded and she got back to what she needed to go. "With your leave, I'll get the first group over now."

"Proceed," authorized Kuran, who then reached out and slapped a firm hand on Rice's shoulder's armor pad before she left. "Perhaps it is time we allow ourselves and the crew to celebrate this new opportunity," he paused to consider the correct Federation word, "...this new 'alliance'. A great feast would mark our triumphant victory over the Ferengi petaQ and consolidate with Star-Fleet. Let us organize one aboard this station; tomorrow at 1700 hours. Do you concur?"

Aria considered it for a moment before she nodded. "A feast," she said in agreement. It would take some organisation at such a short notice, especially with everything else. "I'll take some crew with me to get that sorted."

"Good." He slapped a closed right fist to his left breast which produced a forceful, audible thump. "Qapla'!"

[OFF]

--

Lieutenant Aria Rice
Acting First Officer
IKS Praxis

CMDR Kuran
Commanding Officer
IKS Praxis
[PNPC Saalm]

RSS Feed