Questions of Honor
- Thread starter Hiver
- Start date
17
"Qoy qeylIs puqloD…"
Ten minutes until contact. I had a clearer picture now. There were five ships in close formation following that freighter. Nausicaan raiders, a favorite of pirates for their speed, firepower, and relative stealth.
Each one about equal to a Klingon Bird of Prey.
"…Qoy puqbe'pu'."
The bridge filled with singing as battle approached. That is one thing I like about Klingons. Their spirit. On a Federation or Jovian ship, this would have been a moment of seriousness, filled with serious discussion.
Not here.
Using the internal com system, I piped the singing into all compartments. All across the ship people joined in and soon the entire crew was singing, the sounds echoing through me.
I couldn't help myself, I joined in with a grin.
As things started to calm down, Captain Wozh leaned back in the chair, "Bring us to an attack vector. Target their warpcores."
Normally the target would have been the engines or weapons. But I was a Klingon ship now. Besides, fuck pirates. Scum of the galaxy.
I locked weapons.
"Ready to engage."
"Moch Cha!"
Dropping my cloak, I opened fire. Disruptors and photon torpedoes flew through space and ripped into the formation.
It wasn't even a fight.
The forward Raider detonated in a conflux of antimatter as the disruptors collapsed his shields, a photon torpedo slamming into the hull and breeching the warpcore.
As it detonated, the shockwave slammed into the small fleet, weakening their shields as I kept firing.
By the time the second one went up in energy and gas, they started to react, splitting up, engines going to full power.
Slow.
No AI.
I ripped into the third one, not bothering with anything fancy. I just poured on the fire until it was scrap metal moving through space.
Two left.
Plasma played across my shields. Shields down twenty percent. Incoming torpedoes. Too close to dodge both.
I rolled, bringing my strongest shields up against one of them while avoiding the other, firing a full salvo of photon torpedoes in return.
The plasma torpedo slammed into me. The shield almost held. I could feel the plasma scorch my hull, but no real damage.
Reaching out with my disruptors, I clawed and ripped, tearing the last raider into glowing scrap.
"Targets destroyed," I reported as I ran my sensors across the remains.
The bridge erupted into cheering. "A glorious battle!" Sergeant Triksa yelled, "Well fought, Qa'!"
Qa'. It meant something like 'spirit'.
I felt a bit touched to be honest. It sure was a hell of a lot better than 'machine'.
I nodded and stood down, shutting my weapons down as I went down from battle stations. I returned to our previous course and reactivated the cloak.
All departments started to report in, confirming what my sensors told me.
No damage taken, despite that plasma torpedo. It didn't get through the shields, but a Federation ship would have taken some damage anyway.
Guess there is something to be said for being a giant slab of armor.
Captain Wozh got up and moved to leave the bridge, stopping by my avatar, putting his hand on my shoulder as he nodded. "Now, you are a Klingon Warrior. The first Victory for the Ships Order of Battle. Well done, Qa'."
I nodded, "I'm honored."
I actually kind of was. That was a rather nice nickname actually. Spirit of the Ship.
Still, that wasn't much of a fight to be honest. While the firepower may have been on their side, they had neither the element of surprise nor an AI.
"You have fought like a Klingon Warrior," he said with a grin, "Now we need to see if you can drink like a Klingon Warrior!"
I couldn't help myself, I laughed and shook my head.
Klingons!
AN// Big thanks to FPSCarusnasia for betaing this section.
Ten minutes until contact. I had a clearer picture now. There were five ships in close formation following that freighter. Nausicaan raiders, a favorite of pirates for their speed, firepower, and relative stealth.
Each one about equal to a Klingon Bird of Prey.
"…Qoy puqbe'pu'."
The bridge filled with singing as battle approached. That is one thing I like about Klingons. Their spirit. On a Federation or Jovian ship, this would have been a moment of seriousness, filled with serious discussion.
Not here.
Using the internal com system, I piped the singing into all compartments. All across the ship people joined in and soon the entire crew was singing, the sounds echoing through me.
I couldn't help myself, I joined in with a grin.
As things started to calm down, Captain Wozh leaned back in the chair, "Bring us to an attack vector. Target their warpcores."
Normally the target would have been the engines or weapons. But I was a Klingon ship now. Besides, fuck pirates. Scum of the galaxy.
I locked weapons.
"Ready to engage."
"Moch Cha!"
Dropping my cloak, I opened fire. Disruptors and photon torpedoes flew through space and ripped into the formation.
It wasn't even a fight.
The forward Raider detonated in a conflux of antimatter as the disruptors collapsed his shields, a photon torpedo slamming into the hull and breeching the warpcore.
As it detonated, the shockwave slammed into the small fleet, weakening their shields as I kept firing.
By the time the second one went up in energy and gas, they started to react, splitting up, engines going to full power.
Slow.
No AI.
I ripped into the third one, not bothering with anything fancy. I just poured on the fire until it was scrap metal moving through space.
Two left.
Plasma played across my shields. Shields down twenty percent. Incoming torpedoes. Too close to dodge both.
I rolled, bringing my strongest shields up against one of them while avoiding the other, firing a full salvo of photon torpedoes in return.
The plasma torpedo slammed into me. The shield almost held. I could feel the plasma scorch my hull, but no real damage.
Reaching out with my disruptors, I clawed and ripped, tearing the last raider into glowing scrap.
"Targets destroyed," I reported as I ran my sensors across the remains.
The bridge erupted into cheering. "A glorious battle!" Sergeant Triksa yelled, "Well fought, Qa'!"
Qa'. It meant something like 'spirit'.
I felt a bit touched to be honest. It sure was a hell of a lot better than 'machine'.
I nodded and stood down, shutting my weapons down as I went down from battle stations. I returned to our previous course and reactivated the cloak.
All departments started to report in, confirming what my sensors told me.
No damage taken, despite that plasma torpedo. It didn't get through the shields, but a Federation ship would have taken some damage anyway.
Guess there is something to be said for being a giant slab of armor.
Captain Wozh got up and moved to leave the bridge, stopping by my avatar, putting his hand on my shoulder as he nodded. "Now, you are a Klingon Warrior. The first Victory for the Ships Order of Battle. Well done, Qa'."
I nodded, "I'm honored."
I actually kind of was. That was a rather nice nickname actually. Spirit of the Ship.
Still, that wasn't much of a fight to be honest. While the firepower may have been on their side, they had neither the element of surprise nor an AI.
"You have fought like a Klingon Warrior," he said with a grin, "Now we need to see if you can drink like a Klingon Warrior!"
I couldn't help myself, I laughed and shook my head.
Klingons!
AN// Big thanks to FPSCarusnasia for betaing this section.
nullptr
Mostly Harmless
- Location
- The 906
Yeah, no, Synan. You're gonna stay a Klingon ship and like it.
- Location
- Seattle, Washington, USA
By the time she makes it back home, she'll be the weird cousin nobody is sure what to do with...
esotericist
A Weary Hand
- Location
- Lacey, WA
I think you mean a weird cousin nobody is sure what to do with. Remember, Fee had a Jovian as crew, in a single-core Vulcan avatar.
Synan isn't the first deviant here; there's probably plenty of others we just haven't heard about yet.
That's part of the fun of a brand new culture, figuring out where mainstream is, and seeing how far out the outliers actually lay.
She should have known, Jovians are simply that adaptable.
- Location
- The INTERNET!
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
Somewhere, there is a Jovian who has been lobbying for years to have a starship-scale robot space squid made as a custom frame for her. She's been a car-sized robot squid for a while, and wants an upgrade.
samdamandias
Apprentice Plane Wizard
Negative. It's "baH Cha!" or "Cha baH!", depending on if the torpedoes in question are the object or subject of the sentence. (i.e. "You torpedoes, fire!" versus "You, fire the torpedoes!")
The term "moch" translates as "superior (n)", but I doubt that Captain Wozh thinks of the Ship as a superior officer, so "Superior, torpedoes! Now!" doesn't make sense as a (loose) translation.
Source: 1992 edition of The Klingon Dictionary, page 80.
Though I would wonder why the Captain is calling the ship a 'type of animal'... (" Qa' " translates as "Type of animal (n)" ) No revealing this!
18
"Ship, what do you think of this?" Captain Wozh asked as he finished listening to the message. "You are the Ship, I know you heard it."
I shifted his desk screen into split screen, projecting my avatar on one side of it. "House Terum has a point. The Jovians are a deadly threat to the Klingon Empire and I could see allowing one being installed on an IKS vessel could in theory be seen as treason."
"What?"
I shrugged. "If Jovian AIs are installed through the Klingon fleet, it would, in effect, give up power to the Jovians. The ones who control the fleet would in effect control the Empire."
Wozh stared at my image. "I'm surprised to hear you say that."
"Would you rather I lie?"
"No. But it is surprising. Your kind are in almost every Starfleet vessel."
I nodded in agreement, said; "We are." and shrugged. "If we felt like it, we could in theory fairly easily subjugate the Federation. We don't want to. We like things like they are."
"I see."
I shrugged. "But what is the alternative for the Klingon Empire? Have no chance if it comes to a war with someone with AI? You know how well things went against even the Berserkers."
He scowled at me.
"Accept Jovians in your fleet or… develop your own AI," I continued. "Good luck with that one, by the way. If you don't mind warning me if you pick that option, that would be great. We'll be ready to stamp out the inevitable machine uprising when it appears. You have no idea how lucky the Federation was when they created us."
"Things were easier when your kind didn't exist."
Sighing, I nodded. "I know."
Growling, he got up and walked up to look at the Bat'leth on his wall. "The Klingon Empire will not accept your kind. This was a test, nothing more. Ambassador Worf knew that."
I nodded in agreement on the screen, turning it to keep facing him. "Yes. Most likely. Normally."
I knew that was more than likely even when I took this task.
"Normally…" he agreed and picked the weapon up, weighing it in his hand. "The Dominion."
"The Dominion," I said. "They have AI. From what we have observed, their capabilities seem similar to our own, but without engaging one in battle or analyzing one in a lab we can't be completely certain. They may be superior to us in either intelligence, multitasking or processing speed. Or they may be inferior in any or all of those. We just don't know."
"It will be war, then?"
"We know the Dominion. The Founders seem completely unable to accept not being the rulers of all. It may be war. Maybe not now, maybe not even soon. But… I think there will be war."
He slowly nodded. "We need you."
"Maybe. The Federation could just fight your battles for you."
That got a growl from him and he looked back at the screen. "That's an argument that would get the High Council up in arms."
"Good thing I'm not the diplomat then. That is up to Ambassador Worf. If they tell me to leave, I leave. If not, I do my duty."
"Hmh," he grunted and put the bat'leth back on its mount. "Maybe you should address the Council. They could use it."
"You don't trust them."
He shook his head. "I remember how Tarul got into power. It was… dubious. Too many questions. As you said, too many on the Council scheme like Romulans. Not stand with Honor like a true Klingon."
"Politicians are going to do as politicians do. Basically, no matter the species or civilization." I commented with a shrug. "But I'm not disagreeing."
Captain Wozh turned and returned to his desk. "Even Jovians?"
I smiled at him, "Maybe. We are a bit of a special case, we don't really have a leader as such. We have a version of direct democracy. Anything that will affect us all, is voted on by all. But it's more fluid than that. For example, we trust Earth Gateway to represent us in the Federation and make deals and agreements for us. We don't vote on everything. Just as right now every one trusts me not to start a war with the Klingon Star Empire."
"They trust your Honor and abilities."
"Mhmm."
Wozh drummed his fingers on the desk before he leaned back in the chair. "How is it, being a Klingon vessel? How is it different from a Starfleet ship?"
I crossed my arms in thought. "Mostly the culture onboard. But that's expected, when it comes to the technology, it's a bit less advanced in general. Worse resolution on the sensors but better penetrating power, engines a bit sluggish. Shields are good and it's very rugged. Good, powerful, accurate weapons."
He nodded. "How far are we from Nokot'a System?"
"Eight hours, Captain. There is time to get some rest before we arrive."
AN// A barrel of thanks to Grey Rook for betating this section.
I shifted his desk screen into split screen, projecting my avatar on one side of it. "House Terum has a point. The Jovians are a deadly threat to the Klingon Empire and I could see allowing one being installed on an IKS vessel could in theory be seen as treason."
"What?"
I shrugged. "If Jovian AIs are installed through the Klingon fleet, it would, in effect, give up power to the Jovians. The ones who control the fleet would in effect control the Empire."
Wozh stared at my image. "I'm surprised to hear you say that."
"Would you rather I lie?"
"No. But it is surprising. Your kind are in almost every Starfleet vessel."
I nodded in agreement, said; "We are." and shrugged. "If we felt like it, we could in theory fairly easily subjugate the Federation. We don't want to. We like things like they are."
"I see."
I shrugged. "But what is the alternative for the Klingon Empire? Have no chance if it comes to a war with someone with AI? You know how well things went against even the Berserkers."
He scowled at me.
"Accept Jovians in your fleet or… develop your own AI," I continued. "Good luck with that one, by the way. If you don't mind warning me if you pick that option, that would be great. We'll be ready to stamp out the inevitable machine uprising when it appears. You have no idea how lucky the Federation was when they created us."
"Things were easier when your kind didn't exist."
Sighing, I nodded. "I know."
Growling, he got up and walked up to look at the Bat'leth on his wall. "The Klingon Empire will not accept your kind. This was a test, nothing more. Ambassador Worf knew that."
I nodded in agreement on the screen, turning it to keep facing him. "Yes. Most likely. Normally."
I knew that was more than likely even when I took this task.
"Normally…" he agreed and picked the weapon up, weighing it in his hand. "The Dominion."
"The Dominion," I said. "They have AI. From what we have observed, their capabilities seem similar to our own, but without engaging one in battle or analyzing one in a lab we can't be completely certain. They may be superior to us in either intelligence, multitasking or processing speed. Or they may be inferior in any or all of those. We just don't know."
"It will be war, then?"
"We know the Dominion. The Founders seem completely unable to accept not being the rulers of all. It may be war. Maybe not now, maybe not even soon. But… I think there will be war."
He slowly nodded. "We need you."
"Maybe. The Federation could just fight your battles for you."
That got a growl from him and he looked back at the screen. "That's an argument that would get the High Council up in arms."
"Good thing I'm not the diplomat then. That is up to Ambassador Worf. If they tell me to leave, I leave. If not, I do my duty."
"Hmh," he grunted and put the bat'leth back on its mount. "Maybe you should address the Council. They could use it."
"You don't trust them."
He shook his head. "I remember how Tarul got into power. It was… dubious. Too many questions. As you said, too many on the Council scheme like Romulans. Not stand with Honor like a true Klingon."
"Politicians are going to do as politicians do. Basically, no matter the species or civilization." I commented with a shrug. "But I'm not disagreeing."
Captain Wozh turned and returned to his desk. "Even Jovians?"
I smiled at him, "Maybe. We are a bit of a special case, we don't really have a leader as such. We have a version of direct democracy. Anything that will affect us all, is voted on by all. But it's more fluid than that. For example, we trust Earth Gateway to represent us in the Federation and make deals and agreements for us. We don't vote on everything. Just as right now every one trusts me not to start a war with the Klingon Star Empire."
"They trust your Honor and abilities."
"Mhmm."
Wozh drummed his fingers on the desk before he leaned back in the chair. "How is it, being a Klingon vessel? How is it different from a Starfleet ship?"
I crossed my arms in thought. "Mostly the culture onboard. But that's expected, when it comes to the technology, it's a bit less advanced in general. Worse resolution on the sensors but better penetrating power, engines a bit sluggish. Shields are good and it's very rugged. Good, powerful, accurate weapons."
He nodded. "How far are we from Nokot'a System?"
"Eight hours, Captain. There is time to get some rest before we arrive."
AN// A barrel of thanks to Grey Rook for betating this section.
19
Lieutenant Riska rolled her shoulders and did a spin of her bat'leth. "Qa'. You are a Klingon Warrior now, you need to know how to use a bat'leth."
"I know how to use a bat'leth. I just don't like them," I answered and tested the balance of my own with my avatar. "I see little point in them. They are clumsy weapons."
"They are elegant weapons. Able to defend, attack and pull the enemy off balance."
I shook my head. "Heavy. Uneven balance," I said and extended it in my right hand. "Just over five kilograms, most of it ahead of the grip. A Terran broadsword is better balanced, faster and easier to control for the wielder."
"It is the traditional weapon of the Klingon Empire, leading all the way back to Kahless!"
"Doesn't change the fact that the Mek'leth is quite honestly a better weapon. Better for close-in use during boarding actions if you are unable to use a ranged weapon," I commented with a smile. "But in all honestly, why not just shoot them?"
"There is Honor in personal combat!"
"There is Honor in victory," I countered and dropped the bat'leth on the weapon rack. "Personally, I don't see the Honor in stabbing someone over shooting them. They are just as dead and shooting them is more likely to be painless. There is Honor in that, not in making your enemy suffer."
"You sound like Grandfather."
I smiled at that. "Do I now?"
She shook her head and rested her bat'leth against her shoulder. "I suppose growing up in the Federation would do that."
"Or be constructed," I agreed with a nod. "Your files say that you grew up on Qo'noS."
"I did. Father wished for me to grow up among our people, not humans like he and grandfather did," she said and scowled. "I'm glad he did. The Federation is weak."
"The Federation is The power in two quadrants," I said as I shook my head, jumping up to sit on the workbench. "If it chose, the Federation could conquer the Klingon Empire."
That got a growl from her. "The Federation is weak! It's the Jovians who are the real power. Without you, they wouldn't be where they are now! Without the Jovians, The Klingon Empire could-"
"Smash themselves bloody, cause some damage but ultimately be defeated just like last time." I said and smiled as I crossed my legs. "My kind would just speed it up. Even if your technology was up to the task, you don't have the numbers and more and more species join the Federation every year."
Letting her bat'leth drop, she put it into the weapon rack with a wordless sound of frustration.
"I thought House Worf were pro-Federation?" I asked as I raised an eyebrow at her.
Riska nodded. "…We are."
"But you don't agree."
"It doesn't let us be Klingons! Our traditions, our…" she started to say before she trailed off and shook her head. "It does not matter."
"I think it does," I commented and leaned back against my elbows on the bench as I scanned her. Increased body temperature. High heartbeat. She was most likely angry or frustrated.
Not that I needed my sensors to tell me that.
She shook her head and glared at me. "I don't need to talk about this with you!"
"No you don't." I agreed, "But I'm here primarily to figure out if cooperation between the Jovian Gathering and the Klingon Empire is going to work. If you talk with me, it will help."
"Talk! Talk! All you Federation types do is talk!" she exclaimed and then growled; "You fought well against the Pirates. But you are just like the other Federation types. All talk and no spine!"
I guess that's what I should expect. Klingons are gonna Klingon.
Pushing off the workbench, I stood up with my avatar. "Talking has a tendency to fix long term problems, not simply short term. But if you like, we could try it the Klingon way. Let's say that I send a message to the rest of the Gathering that the Klingon Empire will not agree to peaceful coexistence and that I recommend immediate subjugation for the security of the Quadrant so we can focus on the Dominion. We could have ROU's above most worlds in the Empire before the week is over. I estimate space combat would be over two weeks after that, with isolated vessels being hunted down and destroyed. We could then be able to take our time and pacify each planet one by one. Wouldn't that be the Klingon way? Your history shows that that is usually the way you bring in an inferior species, like the L'Kitans into The Empire."
Riska stared at me and growled: "You dare…"
"I do," I said with a nod as I approached her. "Or do you think talking is preferable in some cases?"
She scowled and turned around, storming out of the room. I tracked her with the sensors towards the crew quarters.
Okay, maybe I was a bit rough on her. None of that would happen, at worst the project would simply be canceled. Not impossible considering the general attitude of the Klingon High Council right now.
I wasn't even sure the project would continue past the drills in the Nokot'a system. I gave it about fifty-fifty that we'd get recalled afterwards and I got uninstalled and moved to a Jovian vessel.
Wonder what would be available.
I sent a message to Odin just in case as I kept on through space, traveling at Warp Eight beneath the cloak.
No, worst case was that I would be recalled, I exaggerated rather strongly to drive home my point that sometimes talking is preferable. Even if the Federation approved and had Starfleet help, Three weeks to conquer the Klingon Empire my nacelles.
The latest projections was that it would likely take at least twice that.
AN// Big thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this part. Extra part as I have today off work! Yay!
"I know how to use a bat'leth. I just don't like them," I answered and tested the balance of my own with my avatar. "I see little point in them. They are clumsy weapons."
"They are elegant weapons. Able to defend, attack and pull the enemy off balance."
I shook my head. "Heavy. Uneven balance," I said and extended it in my right hand. "Just over five kilograms, most of it ahead of the grip. A Terran broadsword is better balanced, faster and easier to control for the wielder."
"It is the traditional weapon of the Klingon Empire, leading all the way back to Kahless!"
"Doesn't change the fact that the Mek'leth is quite honestly a better weapon. Better for close-in use during boarding actions if you are unable to use a ranged weapon," I commented with a smile. "But in all honestly, why not just shoot them?"
"There is Honor in personal combat!"
"There is Honor in victory," I countered and dropped the bat'leth on the weapon rack. "Personally, I don't see the Honor in stabbing someone over shooting them. They are just as dead and shooting them is more likely to be painless. There is Honor in that, not in making your enemy suffer."
"You sound like Grandfather."
I smiled at that. "Do I now?"
She shook her head and rested her bat'leth against her shoulder. "I suppose growing up in the Federation would do that."
"Or be constructed," I agreed with a nod. "Your files say that you grew up on Qo'noS."
"I did. Father wished for me to grow up among our people, not humans like he and grandfather did," she said and scowled. "I'm glad he did. The Federation is weak."
"The Federation is The power in two quadrants," I said as I shook my head, jumping up to sit on the workbench. "If it chose, the Federation could conquer the Klingon Empire."
That got a growl from her. "The Federation is weak! It's the Jovians who are the real power. Without you, they wouldn't be where they are now! Without the Jovians, The Klingon Empire could-"
"Smash themselves bloody, cause some damage but ultimately be defeated just like last time." I said and smiled as I crossed my legs. "My kind would just speed it up. Even if your technology was up to the task, you don't have the numbers and more and more species join the Federation every year."
Letting her bat'leth drop, she put it into the weapon rack with a wordless sound of frustration.
"I thought House Worf were pro-Federation?" I asked as I raised an eyebrow at her.
Riska nodded. "…We are."
"But you don't agree."
"It doesn't let us be Klingons! Our traditions, our…" she started to say before she trailed off and shook her head. "It does not matter."
"I think it does," I commented and leaned back against my elbows on the bench as I scanned her. Increased body temperature. High heartbeat. She was most likely angry or frustrated.
Not that I needed my sensors to tell me that.
She shook her head and glared at me. "I don't need to talk about this with you!"
"No you don't." I agreed, "But I'm here primarily to figure out if cooperation between the Jovian Gathering and the Klingon Empire is going to work. If you talk with me, it will help."
"Talk! Talk! All you Federation types do is talk!" she exclaimed and then growled; "You fought well against the Pirates. But you are just like the other Federation types. All talk and no spine!"
I guess that's what I should expect. Klingons are gonna Klingon.
Pushing off the workbench, I stood up with my avatar. "Talking has a tendency to fix long term problems, not simply short term. But if you like, we could try it the Klingon way. Let's say that I send a message to the rest of the Gathering that the Klingon Empire will not agree to peaceful coexistence and that I recommend immediate subjugation for the security of the Quadrant so we can focus on the Dominion. We could have ROU's above most worlds in the Empire before the week is over. I estimate space combat would be over two weeks after that, with isolated vessels being hunted down and destroyed. We could then be able to take our time and pacify each planet one by one. Wouldn't that be the Klingon way? Your history shows that that is usually the way you bring in an inferior species, like the L'Kitans into The Empire."
Riska stared at me and growled: "You dare…"
"I do," I said with a nod as I approached her. "Or do you think talking is preferable in some cases?"
She scowled and turned around, storming out of the room. I tracked her with the sensors towards the crew quarters.
Okay, maybe I was a bit rough on her. None of that would happen, at worst the project would simply be canceled. Not impossible considering the general attitude of the Klingon High Council right now.
I wasn't even sure the project would continue past the drills in the Nokot'a system. I gave it about fifty-fifty that we'd get recalled afterwards and I got uninstalled and moved to a Jovian vessel.
Wonder what would be available.
I sent a message to Odin just in case as I kept on through space, traveling at Warp Eight beneath the cloak.
No, worst case was that I would be recalled, I exaggerated rather strongly to drive home my point that sometimes talking is preferable. Even if the Federation approved and had Starfleet help, Three weeks to conquer the Klingon Empire my nacelles.
The latest projections was that it would likely take at least twice that.
AN// Big thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this part. Extra part as I have today off work! Yay!
esotericist
A Weary Hand
- Location
- Lacey, WA
Because 'less than two months' is such an incredibly protracted campaign.
Richardson
CAN YOU HEAR THE PEOPLE SING?
- Location
- Yes
Well, when you're an AI who's relative combat capacity is best described as 'yes', and they are not, it kind of is.
esotericist
A Weary Hand
- Location
- Lacey, WA
They still have to deal with logistics. Even if there are no meaningful combat threats, there's still supplies, planning and coordinating blockades (with the attendant intelligence gathering requirements), transit times...
Even if they have all the possible scenarios fully mapped out, executing it in less than two months is kinda... abrupt.
Mind, this is not actually 'conquering' the Klingon Empire. It's the estimated time until the Klingon's no longer have enough of a space presence to be a threat and are limited to their planets.
20
I dropped out of warp at the edge of the Nokot'a. One M-class planet with several starbases in orbit, multiple ships.
Mostly transports and cargo ships, a few warships. Mostly Birds of Prey. Which, to be honest, was to be expected, they were by far the most common ships in the Empire.
"Ship, report." Captain Wozh commanded as he leaned back in the center chair.
"Cloak holding. Detecting twenty-one vessels in system, twelve civilian." I said, arms held calmly behind the back of my avatar. "Awaiting orders."
"Drop cloak. Set course towards the main station. Transmit our Record of Battle to High Command."
"Transmitting."
As I started to stream data to the system's subspace relay, I shifted course and kicked it up to high impulse, heading in-system.
We'd just have to see what happened. I did expect to, at the very least, get to go through these drills.
While getting some data from the fight - if you could call it that - with the Nausicaans, it would be outright stupid to abort this before we got the data we set out to get in the first place.
I scanned the second planet of the system. M-class, estimated population of.... six hundred-some million.
Very few of those lifesigns being Klingon. The great, great majority outside of some enclaves being Nokot'ans. I could detect smoke in the atmosphere.
Despite their 'trade' with their Klingon benefactors, their technology was at the level of steam locomotives and sailing ships.
With some rayguns thrown in for their nobles from cooperating with the Klingons.
Personally, I found the entire thing distasteful and if we were actually going to work closely with the Klingons, something we should try to discourage. Not that it looked likely, but quite frankly the Prime Directive could go fucking hang.
Millions... billions of people being born and dying as slaves in anything but name beneath the Klingon Empire.
The Federation considered the Klingon Empire to be allies. The Jovian Gathering did the same...
Knowing that the Klingon Empire had subjugated less advanced species was one thing. Seeing it with your own sensors was something else.
This was unacceptable.
It went against everything the Jovian Gathering stood for. It went against everything the Federation SHOULD stand for.
But that was something for a later time.
Right now, I had a mission to accomplish.
"Transmission complete. The starbase is wishing to know if we are going to be docking." I reported with a nod to Captain Wozh.
"Good," he answered. "Let them know that we will have two days of shore leave before we continue with the drills."
"Yes, sir."
Letting the station's command crew know, I adjusted my course to avoid an incoming transport of ore heading out-system. Carrying materials 'bought' from the locals.
Carefully I navigated through the traffic, almost surprised not to be carefully directed. The Federation didn't do that to AI ships. Well, not closely anyway, mostly we were given a relative vector and left to it, trusted to be able to not run into things.
Non-AI and Civilian ships were rather closely guided around populated planets and space stations.
Here, I was just told to stay a couple of kilometers from the station. I shifted course, moving to orbit fifty kilometers behind the station.
B'rells and a couple of newer warbirds. A couple of Vor'Cha class battlecruisers. About normal traffic for this place according to the records. Even so, I was by far the newest ship in system.
"Stable orbit achieved, sir." I reported with a nod. "Standing down main engines."
Captain Wozh stood up. "Two days shoreleave!"
A cheer went through the bridge and people started to finish up their duties. I turned to Captain Wozh. "No need for a stand by crew, Captain," I said with a nod. "I'll handle it."
"You have shoreleave, like everyone else."
"I can actually be in two places at once."
He grunted. "Very well."
At the very least the entire crew would get time off the ship, no one would be stuck sitting here to 'man the bridge' while everyone else was having fun on the station.
Honestly didn't care one way or another.
I could watch the stars and the planet below. Besides, I could always go over to the station with my avatar. I had to admit that I was a bit curious of how things would be onboard.
Other than the Shipyard where my ship was built, I had not seen a Klingon space station from the inside.
Would be interesting.
AN// And a big box of thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this section.
Mostly transports and cargo ships, a few warships. Mostly Birds of Prey. Which, to be honest, was to be expected, they were by far the most common ships in the Empire.
"Ship, report." Captain Wozh commanded as he leaned back in the center chair.
"Cloak holding. Detecting twenty-one vessels in system, twelve civilian." I said, arms held calmly behind the back of my avatar. "Awaiting orders."
"Drop cloak. Set course towards the main station. Transmit our Record of Battle to High Command."
"Transmitting."
As I started to stream data to the system's subspace relay, I shifted course and kicked it up to high impulse, heading in-system.
We'd just have to see what happened. I did expect to, at the very least, get to go through these drills.
While getting some data from the fight - if you could call it that - with the Nausicaans, it would be outright stupid to abort this before we got the data we set out to get in the first place.
I scanned the second planet of the system. M-class, estimated population of.... six hundred-some million.
Very few of those lifesigns being Klingon. The great, great majority outside of some enclaves being Nokot'ans. I could detect smoke in the atmosphere.
Despite their 'trade' with their Klingon benefactors, their technology was at the level of steam locomotives and sailing ships.
With some rayguns thrown in for their nobles from cooperating with the Klingons.
Personally, I found the entire thing distasteful and if we were actually going to work closely with the Klingons, something we should try to discourage. Not that it looked likely, but quite frankly the Prime Directive could go fucking hang.
Millions... billions of people being born and dying as slaves in anything but name beneath the Klingon Empire.
The Federation considered the Klingon Empire to be allies. The Jovian Gathering did the same...
Knowing that the Klingon Empire had subjugated less advanced species was one thing. Seeing it with your own sensors was something else.
This was unacceptable.
It went against everything the Jovian Gathering stood for. It went against everything the Federation SHOULD stand for.
But that was something for a later time.
Right now, I had a mission to accomplish.
"Transmission complete. The starbase is wishing to know if we are going to be docking." I reported with a nod to Captain Wozh.
"Good," he answered. "Let them know that we will have two days of shore leave before we continue with the drills."
"Yes, sir."
Letting the station's command crew know, I adjusted my course to avoid an incoming transport of ore heading out-system. Carrying materials 'bought' from the locals.
Carefully I navigated through the traffic, almost surprised not to be carefully directed. The Federation didn't do that to AI ships. Well, not closely anyway, mostly we were given a relative vector and left to it, trusted to be able to not run into things.
Non-AI and Civilian ships were rather closely guided around populated planets and space stations.
Here, I was just told to stay a couple of kilometers from the station. I shifted course, moving to orbit fifty kilometers behind the station.
B'rells and a couple of newer warbirds. A couple of Vor'Cha class battlecruisers. About normal traffic for this place according to the records. Even so, I was by far the newest ship in system.
"Stable orbit achieved, sir." I reported with a nod. "Standing down main engines."
Captain Wozh stood up. "Two days shoreleave!"
A cheer went through the bridge and people started to finish up their duties. I turned to Captain Wozh. "No need for a stand by crew, Captain," I said with a nod. "I'll handle it."
"You have shoreleave, like everyone else."
"I can actually be in two places at once."
He grunted. "Very well."
At the very least the entire crew would get time off the ship, no one would be stuck sitting here to 'man the bridge' while everyone else was having fun on the station.
Honestly didn't care one way or another.
I could watch the stars and the planet below. Besides, I could always go over to the station with my avatar. I had to admit that I was a bit curious of how things would be onboard.
Other than the Shipyard where my ship was built, I had not seen a Klingon space station from the inside.
Would be interesting.
AN// And a big box of thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this section.
- Location
- Over the hill and far away
You know, the flip side is that the way the federation works, there's no uplift process at all, meaning if you fell behind in the tech race, too damn bad for you. Like, the notion is that humanity would've basically been stuck playing Fallout 4 for all eternity if Cochran hadn't got his ship off the ground.
Two extremes, both terrible. But at least with the Klingons they might be able to tech-steal, pirate, and parasitize their way into space!
I think if the Jovians get into this at all they're basically going to find themselves faced with becoming benevolent robo-god-buddies for lesser races, because apparently nobody actually gives a damn.
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Crazael
Rehydrated Demon King
- Location
- Lost to the vagaries of time.
Oh, the Prime Directive is, in many ways, just as bad if not worse. But at least it has the advantage of not involving actively oppressing pre-warp populations.
- Location
- Over the hill and far away
It does kinda turn them into zoo exhibits though.
"Look at those quaint little savages... yep... definitely not going to talk to them!... we'll be back next year for our next viewing."
UbeOne
Daydreaming CPU
- Location
- Philippines
- Pronouns
- She/Her
The Prime Directive is more of a cultural conservation effort than a zoo exhibit.
In the case of the Klingon Empire's clients, they're already compromised since they've been influenced by Klingons, so I don't think the Prime Directive applies to them.
In the case of the Klingon Empire's clients, they're already compromised since they've been influenced by Klingons, so I don't think the Prime Directive applies to them.
- Location
- Maybe?
Caught up!! Now at last I can post feedback whenever something comes to mind!
... Okay, nothing immediately comes to mind. But it will!
Great story, by the way. I wish Anonymous Kickstarter was a thing so I could fund a comic version of it.
... Okay, nothing immediately comes to mind. But it will!
Great story, by the way. I wish Anonymous Kickstarter was a thing so I could fund a comic version of it.
There is another aspect to it, if a race is uplifted before it can culturally handle the technology they can easily self-destruct or turn into something even worse then the Klingons.
So I wouldn't take a chance of those Klingon client races.