ClawClawBite
Mad Engineering!
- Location
- Seattle, WA
I wonder, if we make T'Lorel in charge of a Phaser tech team, do we get a bonus tech path that lets us use them for non-combat uses better?
To Boldly Go... (a Starfleet quest)
- Thread starter OneirosTheWriter
- Start date
- Sci-Fi
-
- Tags
- star trek exploration fully automated luxury gay space communism top level canon (canon) #hashtagcontent all-encompassing space amoeba cardassian boy bands cardassian magical girls darkest bureaucracy debate makes the qm cackle like palpatine hoh is an empire quest it has to be foreign infiltrators more ships ship happens singers delenda est starfleet this is not an empire quest ur waifu is collective?
AKuz
Been Better
- Location
- A Rising Tide of Horrors
- Pronouns
- She/Her
FOCUS NASH. She's a happily married woman for godssake
> : |
It's the end of an era folks
o7
aeqnai
Nerdy Homu
- Location
- Laniakea Supercluster
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I always subscribed to the idea that there's multiple versions of the Mirror Universe floating about, same as there's different timelines of the Prime and Kelvin verses, and the timelines don't always meet the same ones they met before.
Theunderbolt
"Prepare for trouble..."
- Location
- USoA
I dunno Vicky I'm sure Rosalee wouldn't mind seeing you in that outfit for the occasional "disciplinary action".
- Pronouns
- They/Them
She only has one husband and no wives! Five years on the frontier and Nash is still thrown by monogamy.
- Location
- somewhere
Shouldn't that be enough to bring them up to affiliate status? Seems like that should be noted if so.
- Location
- Central Standard Time
What about more Obreth class vessels? Another 5 of them would fill the gap in terms of defense while also boosting science by 25 (don't we need to push that higher yet?)
Oh dear.
fasquardon
Derek58
Rocket Punch is Best Punch
- Location
- Getter Valhalla
If ka'Sharren isn't interested in a promotion to Commodore, I've got zero problems keeping her on the Enterprise as long as she likes
Of course she's not getting the Enterprise-D if she's still around (couldn't find anything about how long Andorians live), that's Picard's ship. She'll just have to settle for another Galaxy
Of course she's not getting the Enterprise-D if she's still around (couldn't find anything about how long Andorians live), that's Picard's ship. She'll just have to settle for another Galaxy
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Can someone remind me what Captain's Log I can find the Indorians in? I just did a search on every single Captain's Log and they don't seem to come up.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
- Location
- Tulsa Oklahoma
Yea, makes you wonder how much of a temper she has that is suppressed only by shear will, as well as what would happen is something were to break said composure. ... Are we sure that in her case Vulcan is referring to the planet instead of the god?
- Location
- Australia
Yeah, I figured I needed to do something special for their last Captain's Log and ye olde Mirror Universe Episode is what I came up with, hope people enjoyed it
Resource costs don't need to match up. And you get +30 RP for starting the project.
Resource costs don't need to match up. And you get +30 RP for starting the project.
Ah, thanks. It was spelled "Indorian" rather than "Indorion".
I don't think we can afford 20 Techs in return for just 5 Defense. Not and keep building our Excelsiors.
Omake - Wedding Planning with the MacAdamses - Jenny
Jenny
anonymous user
- Location
- maryland
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Rosalee MacAdams is ... concerned. Not afraid, no -- after Kadesh, there's not much that can scare her. But concerned, that feels like the right word to describe her mental state at the moment.
It's not that her mother can stop her from marrying Victoria. The time for that is long past; they've been married for almost two years at this point. It's not even that her mother can stop this wedding, no matter what she thinks. But she can make it hell.
And that is something to be concerned about.
Rosalee sighs, taps at the guest room's terminal and contacts Victoria, over in distant San Francisco. After a tense few seconds, her wife's face appears on the screen. Her wife's tired face. Ah, right, time zones. One of those things one forgets about after too long out in space.
"Dearest, I trust you have a reason for contacting me at this late hour," Victoria says. "And from your expression, I presume it is an unfortunate reason." Perceptive as always, even at ... what is it, half past 2 AM, out there on the Pacific?
"Yes. It's about my mother."
"Ah. She refuses to attend?" Victoria asks.
"If only it were that simple. She will attend... provided that it is a wedding she deems acceptable." Reviewing the PADD Mother had handed her, a few of the changes she'd been so insistent on might be acceptable - using caterers of Mother's choosing, having a bagpiper on hand - but most would be out of the question, both to the couple and to her in-laws. Insisting on ninety guests of Mother's choosing? Moving the wedding to Gretna Green, of all places, when they've already booked their venue months in advance? Veto rights on all outfits? Making her wear a dress, rather than her uniform? "I'm forwarding to you her demands."
Victoria scans through the list, then says, her voice even: "So she refuses to attend."
"Maybe you should talk to her, see if she'll negotiate? You can't expect me to get married without --"
"We already have, have we not?" Victoria smiles slightly. "Has your family had brunch yet?
"Not for another 45 minutes."
Victoria nods. "Good. Please let them know there will be an additional guest this morning, and that I will require their finest Darjeeling. One should not go to war until one has had their tea."
Oh, great. Another one of these plans.
***
Rosalee remains concerned on the skimmer ride to the public transporter, and even on the ride back, even with her Victoria there at her side, she does not feel particularly optimistic about brunch. (It doesn't help that Victoria spent the ride back to the MacAdams compound leaning on her shoulder, dozing off. Adorable, but unhelpful.)
Brunch is ... quiet, at least at first. Mother is polite enough to Victoria; perhaps she expects Rosalee's wife is here to yield in person, or perhaps she simply wishes to present a kind front to her daughter-in-law. Either way, they talk politely about the weather, about how Eaton is settling in, about other little things, apart from the real reason for this visit.
By the time the group has finished off their third pot of tea, though, Victoria has had enough. "Mrs. MacAdams, your company has been quite satisfactory this morning," she says, her voice just a touch colder than normal.
"Why, thank you. I'm glad you decided to travel all this way," Mother says, unaware of what is about to happen.
"As am I. I understand you have made some suggestions about our wedding."
"Well, yes. I know you're not Scottish yourself, but I think we have a lovely set of traditions up here, and --"
"Is one of those traditions to attempt to assert total control over your daughter's wedding?" Victoria's voice is smooth, polished, betraying only a slight hint of anger.
Mother appears a bit taken aback, but keeps calm. "I simply want my daughter to have the wedding she dreamt of as a child," she lies.
"Which is why you refuse to listen to her now," Victoria says, then pours herself another cup of tea.
"Think of it how you like. We will have a proper wedding for dear Rosie, won't we? After all, it would be such a shame if her mother was not there to see her off, wouldn't it."
Victoria looks to Rosalee; her wife gives her a quiet nod of approval. Then she says, "As I said, your company has been quite satisfactory. It would be such a shame if today were the last time I and my wife availed ourselves of it." She sips at her tea.
"You wouldn't dare." Anne MacAdams looks pointedly at her daughter. "You wouldn't dare."
"Ruin my wedding and see what comes of it, Mother," Rosalee replies.
"We do not disapprove of all of your suggestions, Mrs. MacAdams. But there are several points that we need to discuss."
The room is silent for a minute that feels far longer. Then Anne nods, defeated. "Very well. Let us discuss."
It's not that her mother can stop her from marrying Victoria. The time for that is long past; they've been married for almost two years at this point. It's not even that her mother can stop this wedding, no matter what she thinks. But she can make it hell.
And that is something to be concerned about.
Rosalee sighs, taps at the guest room's terminal and contacts Victoria, over in distant San Francisco. After a tense few seconds, her wife's face appears on the screen. Her wife's tired face. Ah, right, time zones. One of those things one forgets about after too long out in space.
"Dearest, I trust you have a reason for contacting me at this late hour," Victoria says. "And from your expression, I presume it is an unfortunate reason." Perceptive as always, even at ... what is it, half past 2 AM, out there on the Pacific?
"Yes. It's about my mother."
"Ah. She refuses to attend?" Victoria asks.
"If only it were that simple. She will attend... provided that it is a wedding she deems acceptable." Reviewing the PADD Mother had handed her, a few of the changes she'd been so insistent on might be acceptable - using caterers of Mother's choosing, having a bagpiper on hand - but most would be out of the question, both to the couple and to her in-laws. Insisting on ninety guests of Mother's choosing? Moving the wedding to Gretna Green, of all places, when they've already booked their venue months in advance? Veto rights on all outfits? Making her wear a dress, rather than her uniform? "I'm forwarding to you her demands."
Victoria scans through the list, then says, her voice even: "So she refuses to attend."
"Maybe you should talk to her, see if she'll negotiate? You can't expect me to get married without --"
"We already have, have we not?" Victoria smiles slightly. "Has your family had brunch yet?
"Not for another 45 minutes."
Victoria nods. "Good. Please let them know there will be an additional guest this morning, and that I will require their finest Darjeeling. One should not go to war until one has had their tea."
Oh, great. Another one of these plans.
***
Rosalee remains concerned on the skimmer ride to the public transporter, and even on the ride back, even with her Victoria there at her side, she does not feel particularly optimistic about brunch. (It doesn't help that Victoria spent the ride back to the MacAdams compound leaning on her shoulder, dozing off. Adorable, but unhelpful.)
Brunch is ... quiet, at least at first. Mother is polite enough to Victoria; perhaps she expects Rosalee's wife is here to yield in person, or perhaps she simply wishes to present a kind front to her daughter-in-law. Either way, they talk politely about the weather, about how Eaton is settling in, about other little things, apart from the real reason for this visit.
By the time the group has finished off their third pot of tea, though, Victoria has had enough. "Mrs. MacAdams, your company has been quite satisfactory this morning," she says, her voice just a touch colder than normal.
"Why, thank you. I'm glad you decided to travel all this way," Mother says, unaware of what is about to happen.
"As am I. I understand you have made some suggestions about our wedding."
"Well, yes. I know you're not Scottish yourself, but I think we have a lovely set of traditions up here, and --"
"Is one of those traditions to attempt to assert total control over your daughter's wedding?" Victoria's voice is smooth, polished, betraying only a slight hint of anger.
Mother appears a bit taken aback, but keeps calm. "I simply want my daughter to have the wedding she dreamt of as a child," she lies.
"Which is why you refuse to listen to her now," Victoria says, then pours herself another cup of tea.
"Think of it how you like. We will have a proper wedding for dear Rosie, won't we? After all, it would be such a shame if her mother was not there to see her off, wouldn't it."
Victoria looks to Rosalee; her wife gives her a quiet nod of approval. Then she says, "As I said, your company has been quite satisfactory. It would be such a shame if today were the last time I and my wife availed ourselves of it." She sips at her tea.
"You wouldn't dare." Anne MacAdams looks pointedly at her daughter. "You wouldn't dare."
"Ruin my wedding and see what comes of it, Mother," Rosalee replies.
"We do not disapprove of all of your suggestions, Mrs. MacAdams. But there are several points that we need to discuss."
The room is silent for a minute that feels far longer. Then Anne nods, defeated. "Very well. Let us discuss."
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An interesting question entered my mind about refit and new ship designs...
Dose technology developed while the design/refit devlopment is in progress get factored in, or dose only technology devloped at the time it starts gets factored in?
I'm also interestd in trying my hand at devloping an enginnering/repair/tug ship design. Who/where do I need to look to for the ship design program again?
Dose technology developed while the design/refit devlopment is in progress get factored in, or dose only technology devloped at the time it starts gets factored in?
I'm also interestd in trying my hand at devloping an enginnering/repair/tug ship design. Who/where do I need to look to for the ship design program again?
UbeOne
Daydreaming CPU
- Location
- Philippines
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Ask @OneirosTheWriter in a conversation.
- Location
- USA
The point behind refitting the Centaur's would be that new ones would presumably be built to the refit standard and the refit improves their already solid ability.
- Location
- Australia
Not unless you want to restart part of the design process to incorporate it.
Nervos Belli
Don't think this means you've won!
- Location
- Murica
Usually it's an automatic promotion to Commodore on completion, so unless you're Nash you're better off seeking higher duties.
- Location
- somewhere
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Omake - Amarki Duel - AKuz
AKuz
Been Better
- Location
- A Rising Tide of Horrors
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Amarki Duel
(Refer to this Log)
USS Enterprise, Stardate 21953.7
Commander Mrr'shan carefully watches her console, focusing her attention not only on the Cardassian ship but on the space around Enterprise. There could be be mines, or as far as they knew, even a cloaked stalker.
After all, there is no indication the Cardassians possess cloaking technology but no confirmation that they do not either.
The Caitian woman finally looks up with a soft growl, "Ma'am, as far as I am able to determine, there is only the one Cardassian vessel and she is not currently hostile. I withdraw my recommendation that you stay on Enterprise."
"Ahhh, giving me permission to beam down then, Sam?" Captain Ka'Sharren says with amusement, grinning lopsidedly. "Thanks, Leaniss has been pretty insistent that I follow her down." The Andorian stands up. "Commander Ajam, you have the Bridge."
"Yes Ma'am. Have fun!" The big woman says, smiling, settling into the centre seat.
The Tactical officer falls in behind her Captain as she passes by to go into the 'lift, "Ma'am, please let me assign you a pair of guards, we're still not certain of the Cardassian intentions a-"
"Sam! I know you care about my safety, but you must understand how seriously the Armaki take their hospitality vows. Once they've invited you into their homes they absolutely will not allow you to come to harm." she pauses, "Well, provided you don't do them harm first or formally reject protection." Ka'Sharren steps out of the 'lift, Mrr'shan in tow, headed towards the Transporter room. "We have their oath of hospitality beaming down with guards would be a slap in the face to their Knightly Honour."
The Caitian huffs, "Well ma'am at least you have me with you."
"Well Sam, remember you're there as a friend of Leaniss not a bodyguard for me."
---------
Captain Ka'Sharren's first impression of Leas Akaam, from the beam down site overlooking the Amarkian colony, is mountainous terrain, vivid windswept plains and plunging green and orange forested valleys. Small buildings are scattered across the plateau, radiating outwards from the central hall characteristic of Amarki towns.
Her second impression is the Cardassians. She can't see many, but a few wander between buildings, some accompanying Amarki going about their business.
"Captain Ka'Sharren, Commander Mrr'shan." An Amarki squire bows stiffly towards them, "Welcome to Leas Akaam. We've been expecting you."
Ka'Sharren gives the customary Armaki formula of thanks that Leaniss had taught her, "Greetings. We weary travellers thank Leas Akaam for her hospitality and shelter."
"Our stout walls and brave Knights shield all who come in peace and trade," he says brusquely. There is something missing… that is a greeting for strangers, not allies.
Mrr'shan leans in close to Ka'Sharren as they follow the squire towards the great Hall. "I wonder what the Cardassians have been up to. He doesn't seem happy to see us."
Ka'Sharren just frowns as she looks around the colony.
They are led to the a side door to the great Hall, "Lieutenant Leaniss is inside with Governor-General Pretiss," the squire says, holding position outside the building and gesturing for the two Starfleet officers to enter. Ka'Sharren is taken aback, this is outright rudeness towards her and Leaniss.
"Why thank you Squire," Ka'Sharren says sweetly, causing the squire's pinched face tighten further. "I appreciate your hospitality and friendliness. I'll make sure to leave you a, hm, gratuity." she says as she passes into the great Hall, Tactical officer following.
There isn't much confusion about where to go from there, which Ka'Sharren is happy about, she'd rather not be lost in a building for an hour and humiliate herself. Her next report home would read "Dear Admiral Kahurangi: Today I got lost inside a building and the Amarki have rethought Federation membership. Love: Captain Nash ka'Sharren, esquire, MOH, VC, ABC"
The two women emerge into the main hall where they can she Leaniss, and Ka'Sharren knows her officer and ex-wife well enough to tell from her movements and stance that she's holding in some fairly major annoyance, verging on rage.
Standing across from her, flanked by two ceremonial guards is the obvious target of Leaniss's ire: a tall and well build Amarki man in proper court dress. Odd for a Colonial governor.
Leaniss turns around and favours Ka'Sharren with a tight smile and the Captain can detect an air of relief in her eyes. "Captain Ka'Sharren and Commander Mrr'shan, it is my pleasure to introduce you to Governor-General Pretiss, a man of many accomplishments." Her tone implies that the next sentence would be "few of them Noble or notable."
The Governor-General looks at the two newcomers through hooded eyes, looking them over and evidently not liking what he sees. "Welcome, and fair trade strangers."
"Senator Leaniss, Governor-General Pretiss, It's good to be here, I always appreciate an opportunity to visit with friends." Pretiss's eyes widen slightly, Ka'Sharren deliberately putting his name after Leaniss's is an insult, but with the deniability of foreign ignorance.
Leaniss looks at Ka'Sharren with a carefully maintained placidity. "The Governor-General was just telling me all about his Cardassian guests. And his doubts about Amarki membership in the Federation."
"I merely have some very real and very legitimate concerns about the unseemly haste in which Amarkia has decided to attach herself to the Federation." Nash senses a comment in there about a particular Amarki's unseemly haste.
The Enterprise Captain decides that she is not a fan of this man. "As far as I am aware, most Amarki are quite happy with the pace of their membership. Many of your most promising youth have joined Starfleet and are doing quite well at Starfleet Academy in Sol."
The Governor-General paces back and forth agitatedly, taking quick precise steps. "Most Amarki are attracted to the newest and shiniest novelty. And it pains me to see so much talent diverted from our own Fleet." The man looks directly at Leaniss. "Amarkia must look to her own needs first. To her own people, not alien outsiders and not without a great deal of thought."
"Pretiss-" starts Leaniss, but the Governor-General cuts her off.
"While I would delight in more conversation with the two of you, I am a busy man." He ignores Leaniss's shock at his rudeness. "There is however a feast tonight in honour of our guest, Gul Vikeda. I will allow you three to attend. An hour after sundown." He looks at the Starfleet officers' crimson and black uniforms with an upturned and wrinkled nose. "Make sure to dress well," he adds before turning and quickly gliding out of the room.
"This keeps happening," Ka'Sharren says, looking down at her uniform. "People keep implying that the uniform's unfashionable. To hell with him. I earned this."
"Well said, Captain," says Leaniss as the trio of Starfleet officers turn to make the walk back to the beam in site, "Though... If you'll allow me the opportunity I'd like to wear one of my Senatorial gowns tonight"
The Andorian looks over at her second officer, "Do you hear that Sam? She thinks that too!" Ka'Sharren harrumphs. "Well I like it. I think it's a nice spartan classic. I hope to wear it for another couple of decades."
"Yes ma'am, very dignified," the Caitian agrees with quiet pride, nodding, breath forming puffs of white cloud in the still air as she walks alongside her old friend.
The walk back is brisk, and the Cardassians seem to have moved out of sight. "So, Governor-General Pretiss. He seems like a nice fellow. How'd I piss him off? Seriously, I think I'd remember the enjoyment of it."
"You wouldn't remember the insult," says Leaniss, smiling slightly. "He was one of the many boorish suitors that decided he wanted to stake a claim on me. He was rather put out by our marriage." The two women grin at each other. "He said some rather uncouth things for a Senator, and it seems that he decided a Colonial governorship was in order." she smirks, "Away from my family, and anyone else important."
"It was my pleasure to scare him away, my lady," says Nash with a bow and a flourish, nearly tripping over a rock as she does so, her expression a caricature of surprise.
The three of them are still giggling when they appear on Enterprise's Transporter pad.
Commander Ajam is waiting for them, dressed in the khaki field duty uniform, backpack slung over one shoulder, "Ma'am. I hope that you don't mind, but I managed to talk my way into a meeting with the station commander, Knight-Captain Ralin, formerly of Admiral Aelin's crew, we met during uh, the time you two were, uhm, married…" there is an awkward pause, "...Anyway! We've been paddpals for a while and he was sent out here for quiet duty after the Biophage wrecked Riala, and we're going to talk about the situation. He's expecting me down on the surface soon."
"Better to ask forgiveness, Maryam?" The XO looks only slightly guilty. "You know I trust your judgement, and Leas Akaam is technically a friendly port, Cardassians notwithstanding."
"If the Cardassians break guest hospitality there will be hell to pay with all Armakia. Something gives me the idea they'd rather avoid that," adds Leaniss dryly.
Ka'Sharren nods. "Right. I just need you to be back by…"
Ka'Sharren looks over at Mrr'shan. "Local night is in four hours ma'am, Colony time."
"Right, four hours. Have fun on your….?"
"Mountain hike, Ma'am. I'm excited to get down there," the big woman says with barely disguised glee, stepping up onto the Transporter pad.
"Stay safe," instructs Ka'Sharren as her XO begins to dematerialize.
----------
Four hours later Ajam rematerializes on the pad, looking quite pleased with herself.
Ka'Sharren is standing waiting for her resplendent in her full dress uniform, standing next to an extremely nervous transported tech who did not wake up this morning expecting to spend a half hour making small talk with his Captain.
"So, Maryam, what did you learn?" asks Ka'Sharren, stepping forwards and extending a hand to help with Ajam's pack.
The big woman smiles and keeps her pack slung over a shoulder, "Cardassians don't like cold."
"Pardon?"
"One of the Cardassian officers was hanging around Ralin's office and insisted on coming with us." The big woman looks pleased with herself. "He beamed up an hour in, turns out that the chill up in the high passes leading out of the Colony Valley were a bit cold for him."
"They'd love Andoria. Ice as far as the eye can see!" Ka'Sharren gets a far away look thinking of home, ice skating and playing in the snow.
"I'm sure I would too ma'am. I should book a trip someday." The Commander sounds wistful, as she brushes dirt and bits of plant off of her uniform.
"Remind me someday, I'll take you out on the Shae Ice shelf. My ancestors came from that area."
"Deal, ma'am."
The Captain tugs on her cuffs again, they never quite feel right on the dress uniform. "Anyway, other than the Cardassian, how did it go?"
"Well, it's beautiful down there. The Knight-Captain and I went over a lot of things." The Human woman unconsciously shifts into a parade rest. "He is pretty certain that the Cardassians are here for more than to ask questions, they're pretty clearly trying to pry the Amarki away from us."
Ka'Sharren nods. "We already figured that, nice to have corroboration."
Her first officer nods. "Yes, Ma'am. We talked about the Governor-General too, he seems to have a chip on his shoulder about us, but between him and the Cardassians a lot of the Colonists and Knights out here are starting to rethink Federation membership. He's honestly afraid that anti-Federation sentiment could take root here and possibly spread." Ajam looks thoughtful. "I think part of it is that they haven't had much contact with us out here so don't see much coming of membership."
"We should hand out pamphlets later," opines the Captain.
They both laugh and the Transporter tech chuckles nervously as well, trying to fit in without drawing notice.
"If it comes to harsh words, he'll be on our side, he genuinely likes us and sees the benefits of membership." The woman smiles. "Other than that ma'am, it was a glorious hike, we got near the top of the pass when the sun started to set, the Vedalarium in the atmosphere makes the sunsets absolutely gorgeous, it was incredibly brilliant, we just sat and watched it until it went down and the stars came up."
The Andorian woman grins and raises an eyebrow, "Sounds romantic."
The big woman blushes darkly. "Well… I might have stolen a kiss. For science, ma'am. You understand."
Her Captain smiles, she too understands that there is more to exploring the stars than the stars themselves.
"Anyway. Ma'am, if you don't mind, I am going to go get cleaned up," says the XO, looking down at herself.
"Dismissed, Commander." says her Captain.
Ka'Sharren doesn't have to wait long for her dinner companions to show up -- they both show up almost simultaneously: Mrr'shan in her own dress uniform, gold shining on her chest, and Leaniss, wearing the same gown she'd worn when she married Ka'Sharren, the height of Amarki fashion. She has her ceremonial blade as well, it merges seamlessly with the gown; a piece of clothing literally made with the sword in mind.
"Ohh! Special occasion?" asks Ka'Sharren, briefly worried that this is some sort of anniversary.
"I want Pretiss to know that I feel as strongly about Federation membership now as I did about marrying you."
"Ah," says Ka'Sharren, stepping up onto the Transporter pad. "Good to know my hand in marriage is the equivalent of an entire Civilization."
The trio rematerializes in a side room of the Great Hall (Leaniss having made Pretiss's techs give them an alternate set of beam down coordinates) and march into the main hall, drawing looks of mixed appreciation and mild hostility from the Amarki guests and cold appraisal from the Cardassian ones.
Leaniss due to the dictates of Amarki courtesy sits on Pretiss's left, across from the Cardassian Gul, and by virtue of even the brief marriage Ka'Sharren is at Leaniss's side. Mrr'shan is owed no such honours and has been banished to a table with junior officers, the Caitian taking the affront with feline dignity.
There are a few formalities, toasts and a formal welcome to the Cardassian guests.
The first course is a mixture of local and traditional Amarki greens tossed together in some sort of salad with a red sauce that Ka'Sharren thinks tastes almost, but entirely, utterly inedible.
She politely nibbles around the edges while the Cardassian Gul watches her and Leaniss carefully. "Is it true that the two of you were once wed?"
"Briefly," confirms the Andorian, "We decided to try something else though."
"You must forgive my unseemly curiosity Captain. Such behavior is alien to me. On Cardassia family is all. And entering into a marriage unable to produce children is strange by my standards." The Gul watches for reactions intently.
"I believe that marriage, love, and happiness are what you make of it."
"Happiness?!" The Cardassian's brow shoots upwards. "Happiness, love, and marriage. All at once, what an interesting concept!"
Ka'Sharren is unable to tell if she's being mocked and opts for a shrug and a bite of orange and green leaves.
"As I said, you must forgive me Captain, I am an observer of alien behaviors." The Gul smiles despite the taste of the leaves. "It is a hobby of mine. Quite fascinating really."
Ka'Sharren grins past the aftertaste. "Then that is something we share in common!"
"Hmm. A common interest, yes. But perhaps for very different reasons." The Gul smiles, forcing herself not to talk through clenched teeth, returning to the meal, then looking up after a moment, "Speaking of Marriage. I heard that Mila Lang's is going to survive the current trouble. Of course her current lifetime stay in Kedelek penitentiary would throw some doubt on the long-term viability of the marriage." The Gul smiles innocently, "Just a rumour that I picked up somewhere."
Ka'Sharren freezes for a moment. Mila Lang? The Cardassian from… oh no. The Gul must be just messing with her head. Nash could never have known that… no. She returns the Gul's smile, controlling her face, despite an antennae twitch. She tries to think of a clever comeback but nothing comes to her, and she looks back down at her plate.
The Cardassian Gul relishes her next bite, it may taste bad, but her seasoning is the taste of victory.
It only takes until the second course for civility to completely break down. And surprisingly it is on the Amarki side; Captain Ka'Sharren and Gul Vikeda have limited themselves to trading polite if barbed banter.
And for her part, Commander Mrr'shan has taken control of her table, overaweing the Amarki and Cardassian junior officers with tales of combat at every front from the Klingon border to the Neutral Zone and out past civilization in the wild frontier of space. (The Cardassians maybe less than eager to hear the tale of the Renok being casually disarmed)
"So Leaniss." Pretiss sets down a wine glass, "I understand that you are a Starfleet Lieutenant now?"
"You must have been aware of that for years. Or perhaps you are too busy buried in your work out here on this remote colony." Leaniss sets down her own glass. It begins.
Pretiss steeples his fingers on the table. "I work hard for Amarkia while you chase around the galaxy following this Captain like a puppyhog."
"I have a name," comments Ka'Sharren dryly. "Even the delightful Gul Vikeda here seems to know me by name already. Perhaps she can instruct you there too alongside everything else?"
"This arrogance. This Starfleet arrogance. How can you tolerate it, Leaniss?"
Leaniss doesn't glare, not quite, but her diplomats facade is clearly being tested, "If she has any arrogance it is well earned. How many battles have you fought, Pretiss?"
There is a sharp intake of breath from the Governor-General, "You know very that I have had no opportunities to fight, but that I practice so that when the day comes I can serve." He leans back. "Of course if I fight it will not be to throw my life away as a living shield for an alien fleet."
Leaniss all but throws her wine at him (An excellent Amarki vintage. Let it not be said that Pretiss was entirely devoid of good taste). "Aelin was a hero. He died a hero and was honoured for it."
"Honoured by who? A decadent Federation? People who sneak around and seduce who they will away from their own?" The Governor-General glares down the table, Leaniss is speechless and conversation behind quiets "Even today I hear rumour of one of her -" he points at Ka'Sharren "- 'Officers' seducing one of my men!"
"RELIN!" he shouts. "Have you no shame? A foreign woman?" The other man is deeply teal with rage, nearly apoplectic.
"And that is the problem." Pretiss stands up. "Mere years, not even a handful of years after contact and we sell ourselves to these people. We bargain our sacred honour, our virtue as a people," he sneers at Leaniss. "Look at you pining away chasing after a woman with her reputation. And they're all like that. Pity you, pity Relin. Taken in by them! There is no honour in the Federation."
Leaniss stands up as well, she looks Pretiss directly in the eyes, daring him to flinch. Without looking she slowly reaches down and unclips her blade, tossing it onto the table with a loud thud as the scabbard encounters the wooden surface.
He stares at her in shock.
Everyone stares in shock.
"Well?" Leaniss continues to stare at the Governor-General, "Are you going to pick it up?"
Pretiss growls deep in the back of his throat, and unclips his own ceremonial blade, and he sets it on the table as well and then slowly reaches over and picks up her blade. "Two days from now. Noon." He looks up at the rest of his guests and they look back at him. "Go!" he almost shouts. "We are finished for tonight. Two days though. Two days from now I celebrate my victory."
-------------------
Back aboard Enterprise, Ka'Sharren rounds on Leaniss, "Are you out of your mind?!?"
Commander Mrr'Shan is keeping her distance, giving them room, standing next to the transporter tech and keeping them company in awkwardness.
Leaniss regards her ex-wife coolly. "No. It had to be done. I will not let Starfleet and the Federation be slandered. Not you -- and not Commander Ajam as well. And how dare he cast doubt on Aelin." She holds Pretiss's blade, looks down at it. "How I wish I could have slapped him right then and there. But there is a way to these things."
"Damn it Larai, tell me that this isn't dangerous." Ka'Sharren paces back and forth across the Transporter room.
"It is extremely dangerous. The duel is until death or dishonour." Leaniss watches Ka'Sharren pace like a caged animal.
"Death! Or Dishonour?!?" What does that even mean?"
"It means we take sharp objects and try to poke them into each other until one or the other decides their sacred honour is worth less than their life," Leaniss says, eyes glinting with anger.
Ka'Sharren zags back across the room. "I could order you not to. Confine you to quarters"
"You wouldn't dare." Leaniss's eyes are hard edged, almost fey, "You won't dare."
The Captain zigs, "No. Dammit, woman. I'm trapped. I don't like letting any of my crew go into harm's way; much less letting them go marching along naked and saying mean things about harm's mother!"
"I will be down there at noon in two days. And you will be my second," Leaniss says calmly, the opposite of Ka'Sharren.
The Andorian stops in her tracks. "You have seconds? Of course you do… Do you have Champions?" She stands in front of Leaniss. "I'll do it. I will stand in for you, I'm a well-trained Starfleet officer."
"No." Leaniss shakes her head, "This is my place, not yours."
"Then let Sam, or Ajam, or someone instead. You're just a Diplomat!" The Tactical officer, seemly forgotten, twitches her ears at the sound of her name. She'd fight, but she'd prefer to be asked first.
"Nash! No! I am an Amarki Senator, my father and Aelin were knights together, I know what this entails. You think I don't know what I'm doing? That I lack prowess with the blade of my people?" She closes her eyes for a moment. "Nash. I need to do this. I will resign from Starfleet if that's how I must defend its honour. But I want to be down there at noon tomorrow; I want to wear the same uniform that I have for the last four years, and I want you there as my second."
Nash Ka'Sharren sighs, she's boxed in. "Yes I will be there in two days." She allows herself a small grin. "And I'm bringing down a whole cheer squad with me. No sense doing this halfway."
-------------------------
Two days pass quickly for Leaniss, she and Commander Mrr'Shan spar together in Enterprise's gym. Ka'Sharren and Commander Ajam often drop by. Ka'Sharren to encourage her officer, Ajam to watch and learn and sometimes even give tips from her own experience.
It is quickly clear that Leaniss knows what she is doing. She has memorized forms, honed reflexes. It remains to be seen how effective they are in the heat of the moment, and if they are enough to beat Pretiss.
Captain Nash Ka'Sharren's days pass much slower. She spends hours every day meeting with Gul Vikeda: a woman who seems determined to bore her to death. Obsensably it is about two outside observers trying to find a solution to the divide between the Amarki, Ajam and Mrr'Shan think that it's a deliberate distraction; in Ka'Sharren's opinion it's a slow form of murder. She also dodges calls from home; curious questions about the clearly silly reports filtering in that one of their officers is about to fight a duel with the Laas Akaam Colonial Governor-General. Nash mostly pretends that there is static on the call, no one actually believes her, but they make the effort to pretend for her sake.
Commander Ajam spends time exploring the colony, gauging opinions and going on long walks with Knight-Captain Ralin. Ralin is not on speaking terms with his Governor-General, a poor state of affairs between a Colonial leader and the head of his armed units. The two second in commands mostly stay out past sunset.
The Cardassians seem mostly pleased, and yet slightly worried. Several times tempers flare between Enterprise crew and Cardassian "guests." Gul Vikeda always shows up in time to cool her people off though, no one wants to be the one that breaks the Amarki hospitality rules.
In this way two days pass.
-------------------------------
Nash Ka'Sharren has brought a cheer squad. Or rather brought with her a number of interested crew. Commanders Ajam and Mrr'Shan are sadly in orbit, watching the Cardassian ship, just in case they decide to use the distraction to do… something. Something nefarious anyway.
"Are you ready, Larai?" asks Ka'Sharren, leaning in close, enjoying the nice brisk weather. Behind her stands Doctor Asurva, a full medic's kit on her back, and a sick look on her face.
Leaniss shakes out her arms, stretching her neck, "I am. I've been ready since the challenge." she watches people from the Colony showing up, a roughly fifty fifty split of support between her and Pretiss. Worse than she'd hoped, better than she'd feared.
Across the way Pretiss and his Amarki partisans are standing, reading themselves. Pretiss walks back and forth across the end of the great hall, pacing, keeping his blood up with the anger and betrayal of the last four years. He's been warning his people about the Federation for years and they refuse to listen. If he wins, if he defeats Leaniss the legendary trained hog of Starfleet, he can reverse the tide. Bring his people from the brink.
Gul Vikeda stands between the two groups, taking everything in. Watching and cooly cataloguing everything she sees, talking to one of her subordinates, dictating notes.
The sun rises in the sky, outside the cleared great hall, nearly overhead, shining down through skylights. Ka'Sharren and Pretiss's second, one of his staff, both approach the centre of the hall, each nearing the weapon of the other's primary.
A local magistrate, an ostensibly neutral party who has decided to stay out of this kerfuffle between youths, is acting under the ancient codes to officiate the match. "The blades please," asks the judge, holding out a tricorder and running it along both blades. "I find nothing amiss with either blade." Each second exchanges the blade, and returns to their side of the hall.
"Are you sure, I can't change your mind?" asks Ka'Sharren, one last time.
"No," Leaniss's attention is focused across the hall, on Governor-General Pretiss, who is moving now, testing his blade in wide swings against the air.
She tests her own blade, it is how she remembers it. She nods to herself.
Leaniss is the first one to approach the middle of the hall, she cuts a magnificent figure, the clear light of day coming down from the skylights and Illuminating her, the rays of the day playing over the crimson and black of the uniform she is so proud to wear.
Pretiss slowly walks out to meet her. He wears a fashionable dueling outfit, shipped by fast courier from Amarkia, arriving only hours ago, the grey and red of its intricate design popularized in recent media.
The Magistrate stands between the two, and Addresses the two combatants and the crowd, "I implore the two of you one last time. Has your honour been satisfied?" There is no answer, both of them are fixated on the other, of tilting Amarkia towards a future they believe in.
The magistrate steps back, and claps his hands once, twice, three times in front of a microphone, the meaty twunck of his claps echoing across the hall.
On the third clap the duel begins.
Pretiss charges forward, and Leaniss sidesteps him easily, lashing out her blade and drawing blood from his left flank.
Pretiss turns and darts forward, and Leaniss moves back again, a quick flash of her blade slicing into his off arm.
There is quiet in the hall, as the assembled watch the duel. There is only the sound of moving feet and grunted effort and the hissing of Pretiss as Leaniss slashes him over and over again.
Those present are in near awe over Leaniss's skill as she flits around Pretiss over and over again, cutting him time and time again, almost without effort.
Ka'Sharren considers that Leanis is dangerous, lethal with a blade, and her worries slowly fade. But she knows that Pretiss is not mortally wounded, he only needs one good hit on Leaniss to turn it around.
Leaniss backs away from Pretiss, putting distance between them, the Governor-General breathing heavily and dripping the teal blood of the Amarki onto the floor.
"YIELD!" shouts Leaniss, she wants to win, not to kill a man.
"NEVER!" come the reply as Pretiss charges again. For a brief moment it looks like Leaniss has failed to dodge - like Pretiss has scored that one key hit. Until she backs away and the clang of Pretiss's blade hitting the floor and bouncing is heard, quickly followed by the dull thud of the man himself, then the screaming.
The crowd begins to murmur, what happens now? Ka'Sharren feels relief and tries to exchange a smile with the Orion Doctor, but Asurva has her eyes closed, flinching from the sounds of pain she cannot treat.
His hand is unnaturally still, the muscles severed, the same for a leg, the Governor-General squirms on the ground, trying to grip anything around him, smearing the blood of his people across the floor.
Leaniss stands above the man and looks down at him Imperiously, "YIELD!"
He looks up at her, his eyes lock with hers, and he knows in a flash of insight that she does not want to kill him; but she will, if her honour and that of Amarkia's future demands it. There is nothing further for him to do, no more resistance to make, his dreams of riding victory back to relevance and power are shattered.
"I yield," he says, quietly, trying to staunch blood.
"HE YIELDS!" yells Leaniss to the Crowd and she drops to the ground next to him spent, as the hall erupts into cheers and pandemonium, a cacophony of voices in all states of elation and distress.
Asurva dashes across the floor, a green streak, she sets down next to Pretiss, and sets a hypospray of anesthetic on his neck. She couldn't prevent his wounds, but she can fix them.
Ka'Sharren walks across the hall towards Leaniss to comfort her officer, but her eyes are caught by something and she looks up. It is Gul Vikeda. The Cardassian woman locks eyes with Ka'Sharren and gives her a quick salute, mouthing the words "Well Played," before the Cardassian Gul is enveloped in the yellow of a Cardassian transporter.
(Refer to this Log)
USS Enterprise, Stardate 21953.7
Commander Mrr'shan carefully watches her console, focusing her attention not only on the Cardassian ship but on the space around Enterprise. There could be be mines, or as far as they knew, even a cloaked stalker.
After all, there is no indication the Cardassians possess cloaking technology but no confirmation that they do not either.
The Caitian woman finally looks up with a soft growl, "Ma'am, as far as I am able to determine, there is only the one Cardassian vessel and she is not currently hostile. I withdraw my recommendation that you stay on Enterprise."
"Ahhh, giving me permission to beam down then, Sam?" Captain Ka'Sharren says with amusement, grinning lopsidedly. "Thanks, Leaniss has been pretty insistent that I follow her down." The Andorian stands up. "Commander Ajam, you have the Bridge."
"Yes Ma'am. Have fun!" The big woman says, smiling, settling into the centre seat.
The Tactical officer falls in behind her Captain as she passes by to go into the 'lift, "Ma'am, please let me assign you a pair of guards, we're still not certain of the Cardassian intentions a-"
"Sam! I know you care about my safety, but you must understand how seriously the Armaki take their hospitality vows. Once they've invited you into their homes they absolutely will not allow you to come to harm." she pauses, "Well, provided you don't do them harm first or formally reject protection." Ka'Sharren steps out of the 'lift, Mrr'shan in tow, headed towards the Transporter room. "We have their oath of hospitality beaming down with guards would be a slap in the face to their Knightly Honour."
The Caitian huffs, "Well ma'am at least you have me with you."
"Well Sam, remember you're there as a friend of Leaniss not a bodyguard for me."
---------
Captain Ka'Sharren's first impression of Leas Akaam, from the beam down site overlooking the Amarkian colony, is mountainous terrain, vivid windswept plains and plunging green and orange forested valleys. Small buildings are scattered across the plateau, radiating outwards from the central hall characteristic of Amarki towns.
Her second impression is the Cardassians. She can't see many, but a few wander between buildings, some accompanying Amarki going about their business.
"Captain Ka'Sharren, Commander Mrr'shan." An Amarki squire bows stiffly towards them, "Welcome to Leas Akaam. We've been expecting you."
Ka'Sharren gives the customary Armaki formula of thanks that Leaniss had taught her, "Greetings. We weary travellers thank Leas Akaam for her hospitality and shelter."
"Our stout walls and brave Knights shield all who come in peace and trade," he says brusquely. There is something missing… that is a greeting for strangers, not allies.
Mrr'shan leans in close to Ka'Sharren as they follow the squire towards the great Hall. "I wonder what the Cardassians have been up to. He doesn't seem happy to see us."
Ka'Sharren just frowns as she looks around the colony.
They are led to the a side door to the great Hall, "Lieutenant Leaniss is inside with Governor-General Pretiss," the squire says, holding position outside the building and gesturing for the two Starfleet officers to enter. Ka'Sharren is taken aback, this is outright rudeness towards her and Leaniss.
"Why thank you Squire," Ka'Sharren says sweetly, causing the squire's pinched face tighten further. "I appreciate your hospitality and friendliness. I'll make sure to leave you a, hm, gratuity." she says as she passes into the great Hall, Tactical officer following.
There isn't much confusion about where to go from there, which Ka'Sharren is happy about, she'd rather not be lost in a building for an hour and humiliate herself. Her next report home would read "Dear Admiral Kahurangi: Today I got lost inside a building and the Amarki have rethought Federation membership. Love: Captain Nash ka'Sharren, esquire, MOH, VC, ABC"
The two women emerge into the main hall where they can she Leaniss, and Ka'Sharren knows her officer and ex-wife well enough to tell from her movements and stance that she's holding in some fairly major annoyance, verging on rage.
Standing across from her, flanked by two ceremonial guards is the obvious target of Leaniss's ire: a tall and well build Amarki man in proper court dress. Odd for a Colonial governor.
Leaniss turns around and favours Ka'Sharren with a tight smile and the Captain can detect an air of relief in her eyes. "Captain Ka'Sharren and Commander Mrr'shan, it is my pleasure to introduce you to Governor-General Pretiss, a man of many accomplishments." Her tone implies that the next sentence would be "few of them Noble or notable."
The Governor-General looks at the two newcomers through hooded eyes, looking them over and evidently not liking what he sees. "Welcome, and fair trade strangers."
"Senator Leaniss, Governor-General Pretiss, It's good to be here, I always appreciate an opportunity to visit with friends." Pretiss's eyes widen slightly, Ka'Sharren deliberately putting his name after Leaniss's is an insult, but with the deniability of foreign ignorance.
Leaniss looks at Ka'Sharren with a carefully maintained placidity. "The Governor-General was just telling me all about his Cardassian guests. And his doubts about Amarki membership in the Federation."
"I merely have some very real and very legitimate concerns about the unseemly haste in which Amarkia has decided to attach herself to the Federation." Nash senses a comment in there about a particular Amarki's unseemly haste.
The Enterprise Captain decides that she is not a fan of this man. "As far as I am aware, most Amarki are quite happy with the pace of their membership. Many of your most promising youth have joined Starfleet and are doing quite well at Starfleet Academy in Sol."
The Governor-General paces back and forth agitatedly, taking quick precise steps. "Most Amarki are attracted to the newest and shiniest novelty. And it pains me to see so much talent diverted from our own Fleet." The man looks directly at Leaniss. "Amarkia must look to her own needs first. To her own people, not alien outsiders and not without a great deal of thought."
"Pretiss-" starts Leaniss, but the Governor-General cuts her off.
"While I would delight in more conversation with the two of you, I am a busy man." He ignores Leaniss's shock at his rudeness. "There is however a feast tonight in honour of our guest, Gul Vikeda. I will allow you three to attend. An hour after sundown." He looks at the Starfleet officers' crimson and black uniforms with an upturned and wrinkled nose. "Make sure to dress well," he adds before turning and quickly gliding out of the room.
"This keeps happening," Ka'Sharren says, looking down at her uniform. "People keep implying that the uniform's unfashionable. To hell with him. I earned this."
"Well said, Captain," says Leaniss as the trio of Starfleet officers turn to make the walk back to the beam in site, "Though... If you'll allow me the opportunity I'd like to wear one of my Senatorial gowns tonight"
The Andorian looks over at her second officer, "Do you hear that Sam? She thinks that too!" Ka'Sharren harrumphs. "Well I like it. I think it's a nice spartan classic. I hope to wear it for another couple of decades."
"Yes ma'am, very dignified," the Caitian agrees with quiet pride, nodding, breath forming puffs of white cloud in the still air as she walks alongside her old friend.
The walk back is brisk, and the Cardassians seem to have moved out of sight. "So, Governor-General Pretiss. He seems like a nice fellow. How'd I piss him off? Seriously, I think I'd remember the enjoyment of it."
"You wouldn't remember the insult," says Leaniss, smiling slightly. "He was one of the many boorish suitors that decided he wanted to stake a claim on me. He was rather put out by our marriage." The two women grin at each other. "He said some rather uncouth things for a Senator, and it seems that he decided a Colonial governorship was in order." she smirks, "Away from my family, and anyone else important."
"It was my pleasure to scare him away, my lady," says Nash with a bow and a flourish, nearly tripping over a rock as she does so, her expression a caricature of surprise.
The three of them are still giggling when they appear on Enterprise's Transporter pad.
Commander Ajam is waiting for them, dressed in the khaki field duty uniform, backpack slung over one shoulder, "Ma'am. I hope that you don't mind, but I managed to talk my way into a meeting with the station commander, Knight-Captain Ralin, formerly of Admiral Aelin's crew, we met during uh, the time you two were, uhm, married…" there is an awkward pause, "...Anyway! We've been paddpals for a while and he was sent out here for quiet duty after the Biophage wrecked Riala, and we're going to talk about the situation. He's expecting me down on the surface soon."
"Better to ask forgiveness, Maryam?" The XO looks only slightly guilty. "You know I trust your judgement, and Leas Akaam is technically a friendly port, Cardassians notwithstanding."
"If the Cardassians break guest hospitality there will be hell to pay with all Armakia. Something gives me the idea they'd rather avoid that," adds Leaniss dryly.
Ka'Sharren nods. "Right. I just need you to be back by…"
Ka'Sharren looks over at Mrr'shan. "Local night is in four hours ma'am, Colony time."
"Right, four hours. Have fun on your….?"
"Mountain hike, Ma'am. I'm excited to get down there," the big woman says with barely disguised glee, stepping up onto the Transporter pad.
"Stay safe," instructs Ka'Sharren as her XO begins to dematerialize.
----------
Four hours later Ajam rematerializes on the pad, looking quite pleased with herself.
Ka'Sharren is standing waiting for her resplendent in her full dress uniform, standing next to an extremely nervous transported tech who did not wake up this morning expecting to spend a half hour making small talk with his Captain.
"So, Maryam, what did you learn?" asks Ka'Sharren, stepping forwards and extending a hand to help with Ajam's pack.
The big woman smiles and keeps her pack slung over a shoulder, "Cardassians don't like cold."
"Pardon?"
"One of the Cardassian officers was hanging around Ralin's office and insisted on coming with us." The big woman looks pleased with herself. "He beamed up an hour in, turns out that the chill up in the high passes leading out of the Colony Valley were a bit cold for him."
"They'd love Andoria. Ice as far as the eye can see!" Ka'Sharren gets a far away look thinking of home, ice skating and playing in the snow.
"I'm sure I would too ma'am. I should book a trip someday." The Commander sounds wistful, as she brushes dirt and bits of plant off of her uniform.
"Remind me someday, I'll take you out on the Shae Ice shelf. My ancestors came from that area."
"Deal, ma'am."
The Captain tugs on her cuffs again, they never quite feel right on the dress uniform. "Anyway, other than the Cardassian, how did it go?"
"Well, it's beautiful down there. The Knight-Captain and I went over a lot of things." The Human woman unconsciously shifts into a parade rest. "He is pretty certain that the Cardassians are here for more than to ask questions, they're pretty clearly trying to pry the Amarki away from us."
Ka'Sharren nods. "We already figured that, nice to have corroboration."
Her first officer nods. "Yes, Ma'am. We talked about the Governor-General too, he seems to have a chip on his shoulder about us, but between him and the Cardassians a lot of the Colonists and Knights out here are starting to rethink Federation membership. He's honestly afraid that anti-Federation sentiment could take root here and possibly spread." Ajam looks thoughtful. "I think part of it is that they haven't had much contact with us out here so don't see much coming of membership."
"We should hand out pamphlets later," opines the Captain.
They both laugh and the Transporter tech chuckles nervously as well, trying to fit in without drawing notice.
"If it comes to harsh words, he'll be on our side, he genuinely likes us and sees the benefits of membership." The woman smiles. "Other than that ma'am, it was a glorious hike, we got near the top of the pass when the sun started to set, the Vedalarium in the atmosphere makes the sunsets absolutely gorgeous, it was incredibly brilliant, we just sat and watched it until it went down and the stars came up."
The Andorian woman grins and raises an eyebrow, "Sounds romantic."
The big woman blushes darkly. "Well… I might have stolen a kiss. For science, ma'am. You understand."
Her Captain smiles, she too understands that there is more to exploring the stars than the stars themselves.
"Anyway. Ma'am, if you don't mind, I am going to go get cleaned up," says the XO, looking down at herself.
"Dismissed, Commander." says her Captain.
Ka'Sharren doesn't have to wait long for her dinner companions to show up -- they both show up almost simultaneously: Mrr'shan in her own dress uniform, gold shining on her chest, and Leaniss, wearing the same gown she'd worn when she married Ka'Sharren, the height of Amarki fashion. She has her ceremonial blade as well, it merges seamlessly with the gown; a piece of clothing literally made with the sword in mind.
"Ohh! Special occasion?" asks Ka'Sharren, briefly worried that this is some sort of anniversary.
"I want Pretiss to know that I feel as strongly about Federation membership now as I did about marrying you."
"Ah," says Ka'Sharren, stepping up onto the Transporter pad. "Good to know my hand in marriage is the equivalent of an entire Civilization."
The trio rematerializes in a side room of the Great Hall (Leaniss having made Pretiss's techs give them an alternate set of beam down coordinates) and march into the main hall, drawing looks of mixed appreciation and mild hostility from the Amarki guests and cold appraisal from the Cardassian ones.
Leaniss due to the dictates of Amarki courtesy sits on Pretiss's left, across from the Cardassian Gul, and by virtue of even the brief marriage Ka'Sharren is at Leaniss's side. Mrr'shan is owed no such honours and has been banished to a table with junior officers, the Caitian taking the affront with feline dignity.
There are a few formalities, toasts and a formal welcome to the Cardassian guests.
The first course is a mixture of local and traditional Amarki greens tossed together in some sort of salad with a red sauce that Ka'Sharren thinks tastes almost, but entirely, utterly inedible.
She politely nibbles around the edges while the Cardassian Gul watches her and Leaniss carefully. "Is it true that the two of you were once wed?"
"Briefly," confirms the Andorian, "We decided to try something else though."
"You must forgive my unseemly curiosity Captain. Such behavior is alien to me. On Cardassia family is all. And entering into a marriage unable to produce children is strange by my standards." The Gul watches for reactions intently.
"I believe that marriage, love, and happiness are what you make of it."
"Happiness?!" The Cardassian's brow shoots upwards. "Happiness, love, and marriage. All at once, what an interesting concept!"
Ka'Sharren is unable to tell if she's being mocked and opts for a shrug and a bite of orange and green leaves.
"As I said, you must forgive me Captain, I am an observer of alien behaviors." The Gul smiles despite the taste of the leaves. "It is a hobby of mine. Quite fascinating really."
Ka'Sharren grins past the aftertaste. "Then that is something we share in common!"
"Hmm. A common interest, yes. But perhaps for very different reasons." The Gul smiles, forcing herself not to talk through clenched teeth, returning to the meal, then looking up after a moment, "Speaking of Marriage. I heard that Mila Lang's is going to survive the current trouble. Of course her current lifetime stay in Kedelek penitentiary would throw some doubt on the long-term viability of the marriage." The Gul smiles innocently, "Just a rumour that I picked up somewhere."
Ka'Sharren freezes for a moment. Mila Lang? The Cardassian from… oh no. The Gul must be just messing with her head. Nash could never have known that… no. She returns the Gul's smile, controlling her face, despite an antennae twitch. She tries to think of a clever comeback but nothing comes to her, and she looks back down at her plate.
The Cardassian Gul relishes her next bite, it may taste bad, but her seasoning is the taste of victory.
It only takes until the second course for civility to completely break down. And surprisingly it is on the Amarki side; Captain Ka'Sharren and Gul Vikeda have limited themselves to trading polite if barbed banter.
And for her part, Commander Mrr'shan has taken control of her table, overaweing the Amarki and Cardassian junior officers with tales of combat at every front from the Klingon border to the Neutral Zone and out past civilization in the wild frontier of space. (The Cardassians maybe less than eager to hear the tale of the Renok being casually disarmed)
"So Leaniss." Pretiss sets down a wine glass, "I understand that you are a Starfleet Lieutenant now?"
"You must have been aware of that for years. Or perhaps you are too busy buried in your work out here on this remote colony." Leaniss sets down her own glass. It begins.
Pretiss steeples his fingers on the table. "I work hard for Amarkia while you chase around the galaxy following this Captain like a puppyhog."
"I have a name," comments Ka'Sharren dryly. "Even the delightful Gul Vikeda here seems to know me by name already. Perhaps she can instruct you there too alongside everything else?"
"This arrogance. This Starfleet arrogance. How can you tolerate it, Leaniss?"
Leaniss doesn't glare, not quite, but her diplomats facade is clearly being tested, "If she has any arrogance it is well earned. How many battles have you fought, Pretiss?"
There is a sharp intake of breath from the Governor-General, "You know very that I have had no opportunities to fight, but that I practice so that when the day comes I can serve." He leans back. "Of course if I fight it will not be to throw my life away as a living shield for an alien fleet."
Leaniss all but throws her wine at him (An excellent Amarki vintage. Let it not be said that Pretiss was entirely devoid of good taste). "Aelin was a hero. He died a hero and was honoured for it."
"Honoured by who? A decadent Federation? People who sneak around and seduce who they will away from their own?" The Governor-General glares down the table, Leaniss is speechless and conversation behind quiets "Even today I hear rumour of one of her -" he points at Ka'Sharren "- 'Officers' seducing one of my men!"
"RELIN!" he shouts. "Have you no shame? A foreign woman?" The other man is deeply teal with rage, nearly apoplectic.
"And that is the problem." Pretiss stands up. "Mere years, not even a handful of years after contact and we sell ourselves to these people. We bargain our sacred honour, our virtue as a people," he sneers at Leaniss. "Look at you pining away chasing after a woman with her reputation. And they're all like that. Pity you, pity Relin. Taken in by them! There is no honour in the Federation."
Leaniss stands up as well, she looks Pretiss directly in the eyes, daring him to flinch. Without looking she slowly reaches down and unclips her blade, tossing it onto the table with a loud thud as the scabbard encounters the wooden surface.
He stares at her in shock.
Everyone stares in shock.
"Well?" Leaniss continues to stare at the Governor-General, "Are you going to pick it up?"
Pretiss growls deep in the back of his throat, and unclips his own ceremonial blade, and he sets it on the table as well and then slowly reaches over and picks up her blade. "Two days from now. Noon." He looks up at the rest of his guests and they look back at him. "Go!" he almost shouts. "We are finished for tonight. Two days though. Two days from now I celebrate my victory."
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Back aboard Enterprise, Ka'Sharren rounds on Leaniss, "Are you out of your mind?!?"
Commander Mrr'Shan is keeping her distance, giving them room, standing next to the transporter tech and keeping them company in awkwardness.
Leaniss regards her ex-wife coolly. "No. It had to be done. I will not let Starfleet and the Federation be slandered. Not you -- and not Commander Ajam as well. And how dare he cast doubt on Aelin." She holds Pretiss's blade, looks down at it. "How I wish I could have slapped him right then and there. But there is a way to these things."
"Damn it Larai, tell me that this isn't dangerous." Ka'Sharren paces back and forth across the Transporter room.
"It is extremely dangerous. The duel is until death or dishonour." Leaniss watches Ka'Sharren pace like a caged animal.
"Death! Or Dishonour?!?" What does that even mean?"
"It means we take sharp objects and try to poke them into each other until one or the other decides their sacred honour is worth less than their life," Leaniss says, eyes glinting with anger.
Ka'Sharren zags back across the room. "I could order you not to. Confine you to quarters"
"You wouldn't dare." Leaniss's eyes are hard edged, almost fey, "You won't dare."
The Captain zigs, "No. Dammit, woman. I'm trapped. I don't like letting any of my crew go into harm's way; much less letting them go marching along naked and saying mean things about harm's mother!"
"I will be down there at noon in two days. And you will be my second," Leaniss says calmly, the opposite of Ka'Sharren.
The Andorian stops in her tracks. "You have seconds? Of course you do… Do you have Champions?" She stands in front of Leaniss. "I'll do it. I will stand in for you, I'm a well-trained Starfleet officer."
"No." Leaniss shakes her head, "This is my place, not yours."
"Then let Sam, or Ajam, or someone instead. You're just a Diplomat!" The Tactical officer, seemly forgotten, twitches her ears at the sound of her name. She'd fight, but she'd prefer to be asked first.
"Nash! No! I am an Amarki Senator, my father and Aelin were knights together, I know what this entails. You think I don't know what I'm doing? That I lack prowess with the blade of my people?" She closes her eyes for a moment. "Nash. I need to do this. I will resign from Starfleet if that's how I must defend its honour. But I want to be down there at noon tomorrow; I want to wear the same uniform that I have for the last four years, and I want you there as my second."
Nash Ka'Sharren sighs, she's boxed in. "Yes I will be there in two days." She allows herself a small grin. "And I'm bringing down a whole cheer squad with me. No sense doing this halfway."
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Two days pass quickly for Leaniss, she and Commander Mrr'Shan spar together in Enterprise's gym. Ka'Sharren and Commander Ajam often drop by. Ka'Sharren to encourage her officer, Ajam to watch and learn and sometimes even give tips from her own experience.
It is quickly clear that Leaniss knows what she is doing. She has memorized forms, honed reflexes. It remains to be seen how effective they are in the heat of the moment, and if they are enough to beat Pretiss.
Captain Nash Ka'Sharren's days pass much slower. She spends hours every day meeting with Gul Vikeda: a woman who seems determined to bore her to death. Obsensably it is about two outside observers trying to find a solution to the divide between the Amarki, Ajam and Mrr'Shan think that it's a deliberate distraction; in Ka'Sharren's opinion it's a slow form of murder. She also dodges calls from home; curious questions about the clearly silly reports filtering in that one of their officers is about to fight a duel with the Laas Akaam Colonial Governor-General. Nash mostly pretends that there is static on the call, no one actually believes her, but they make the effort to pretend for her sake.
Commander Ajam spends time exploring the colony, gauging opinions and going on long walks with Knight-Captain Ralin. Ralin is not on speaking terms with his Governor-General, a poor state of affairs between a Colonial leader and the head of his armed units. The two second in commands mostly stay out past sunset.
The Cardassians seem mostly pleased, and yet slightly worried. Several times tempers flare between Enterprise crew and Cardassian "guests." Gul Vikeda always shows up in time to cool her people off though, no one wants to be the one that breaks the Amarki hospitality rules.
In this way two days pass.
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Nash Ka'Sharren has brought a cheer squad. Or rather brought with her a number of interested crew. Commanders Ajam and Mrr'Shan are sadly in orbit, watching the Cardassian ship, just in case they decide to use the distraction to do… something. Something nefarious anyway.
"Are you ready, Larai?" asks Ka'Sharren, leaning in close, enjoying the nice brisk weather. Behind her stands Doctor Asurva, a full medic's kit on her back, and a sick look on her face.
Leaniss shakes out her arms, stretching her neck, "I am. I've been ready since the challenge." she watches people from the Colony showing up, a roughly fifty fifty split of support between her and Pretiss. Worse than she'd hoped, better than she'd feared.
Across the way Pretiss and his Amarki partisans are standing, reading themselves. Pretiss walks back and forth across the end of the great hall, pacing, keeping his blood up with the anger and betrayal of the last four years. He's been warning his people about the Federation for years and they refuse to listen. If he wins, if he defeats Leaniss the legendary trained hog of Starfleet, he can reverse the tide. Bring his people from the brink.
Gul Vikeda stands between the two groups, taking everything in. Watching and cooly cataloguing everything she sees, talking to one of her subordinates, dictating notes.
The sun rises in the sky, outside the cleared great hall, nearly overhead, shining down through skylights. Ka'Sharren and Pretiss's second, one of his staff, both approach the centre of the hall, each nearing the weapon of the other's primary.
A local magistrate, an ostensibly neutral party who has decided to stay out of this kerfuffle between youths, is acting under the ancient codes to officiate the match. "The blades please," asks the judge, holding out a tricorder and running it along both blades. "I find nothing amiss with either blade." Each second exchanges the blade, and returns to their side of the hall.
"Are you sure, I can't change your mind?" asks Ka'Sharren, one last time.
"No," Leaniss's attention is focused across the hall, on Governor-General Pretiss, who is moving now, testing his blade in wide swings against the air.
She tests her own blade, it is how she remembers it. She nods to herself.
Leaniss is the first one to approach the middle of the hall, she cuts a magnificent figure, the clear light of day coming down from the skylights and Illuminating her, the rays of the day playing over the crimson and black of the uniform she is so proud to wear.
Pretiss slowly walks out to meet her. He wears a fashionable dueling outfit, shipped by fast courier from Amarkia, arriving only hours ago, the grey and red of its intricate design popularized in recent media.
The Magistrate stands between the two, and Addresses the two combatants and the crowd, "I implore the two of you one last time. Has your honour been satisfied?" There is no answer, both of them are fixated on the other, of tilting Amarkia towards a future they believe in.
The magistrate steps back, and claps his hands once, twice, three times in front of a microphone, the meaty twunck of his claps echoing across the hall.
On the third clap the duel begins.
Pretiss charges forward, and Leaniss sidesteps him easily, lashing out her blade and drawing blood from his left flank.
Pretiss turns and darts forward, and Leaniss moves back again, a quick flash of her blade slicing into his off arm.
There is quiet in the hall, as the assembled watch the duel. There is only the sound of moving feet and grunted effort and the hissing of Pretiss as Leaniss slashes him over and over again.
Those present are in near awe over Leaniss's skill as she flits around Pretiss over and over again, cutting him time and time again, almost without effort.
Ka'Sharren considers that Leanis is dangerous, lethal with a blade, and her worries slowly fade. But she knows that Pretiss is not mortally wounded, he only needs one good hit on Leaniss to turn it around.
Leaniss backs away from Pretiss, putting distance between them, the Governor-General breathing heavily and dripping the teal blood of the Amarki onto the floor.
"YIELD!" shouts Leaniss, she wants to win, not to kill a man.
"NEVER!" come the reply as Pretiss charges again. For a brief moment it looks like Leaniss has failed to dodge - like Pretiss has scored that one key hit. Until she backs away and the clang of Pretiss's blade hitting the floor and bouncing is heard, quickly followed by the dull thud of the man himself, then the screaming.
The crowd begins to murmur, what happens now? Ka'Sharren feels relief and tries to exchange a smile with the Orion Doctor, but Asurva has her eyes closed, flinching from the sounds of pain she cannot treat.
His hand is unnaturally still, the muscles severed, the same for a leg, the Governor-General squirms on the ground, trying to grip anything around him, smearing the blood of his people across the floor.
Leaniss stands above the man and looks down at him Imperiously, "YIELD!"
He looks up at her, his eyes lock with hers, and he knows in a flash of insight that she does not want to kill him; but she will, if her honour and that of Amarkia's future demands it. There is nothing further for him to do, no more resistance to make, his dreams of riding victory back to relevance and power are shattered.
"I yield," he says, quietly, trying to staunch blood.
"HE YIELDS!" yells Leaniss to the Crowd and she drops to the ground next to him spent, as the hall erupts into cheers and pandemonium, a cacophony of voices in all states of elation and distress.
Asurva dashes across the floor, a green streak, she sets down next to Pretiss, and sets a hypospray of anesthetic on his neck. She couldn't prevent his wounds, but she can fix them.
Ka'Sharren walks across the hall towards Leaniss to comfort her officer, but her eyes are caught by something and she looks up. It is Gul Vikeda. The Cardassian woman locks eyes with Ka'Sharren and gives her a quick salute, mouthing the words "Well Played," before the Cardassian Gul is enveloped in the yellow of a Cardassian transporter.