Post by Flynt on Jun 12, 2017 2:09:44 GMT
EPILOGUE
Location: U.S.S. Diomedes
"Ship's Log, Stardate 93442.5, First Officer Leisa Turro reporting.
"The Diomedes remains in orbit of Archanis IV while we assist with the inspection of the Federation Embassy. Captain Mulholland says the need for the embassy has never been stronger, and I agree. Though whether the Klingon's do the same seems unlikely, as no fewer than six heavy cruisers are in orbit along with us, and a couple more arrive everyday. Qo'nos has been refortifying Archanis to prevent a power vacuum, even while the High Council takes its time to name a new governor.
"Still, crew morale is on the upswing. While both ship and crew still need work, I'm confident we can make a go of it. It would be nice to know if our leadership vacuum will be filled as well..."
---
Location: Federation Embassy, Archanis IV Palace Compound
"Well, Captain. Are you satisfied with what you've found?" Risha asked with an air of incredulity. She hadn't been thrilled with the idea of the "inspection" in the first place. Now, having it completed even though the reason for the ruse no longer existed, she was beside herself with frustration and irony.
"Yes, Envoy," responded Captain Mulholland. "I believe we are, at least with your facilities and staff here. All are top notch and represent the Federation and Starfleet with distinction. And that's no bull, either."
"Then what's less than satisfactory?"
Mulholland shrugged and scratched his chin through his goatee. "I usually try to make a point of leaving a place in better shape than how I found it. I can't honestly say that's the case right now. Can you?"
"No, I can't. Instead of strengthening the relationship between the Federation and the Empire, we've frayed it a little more. And we've been reminded by the fact that just because the Alliance exists, doesn't mean that each member is a unified whole. G'dan was one man with a vendetta and the resources to attempt a coup. What if this had been a full on house war?"
"There'd be a lot more dead on all sides, I think. Maybe there's something to be said for that. Fewer dead, at least right now, and we prevented the downfall of two houses."
"At least for now. Ka'rel was the head of his house for almost 30 years, and he was a well-liked patriarch to his family and the members of the house."
David smiled, "Sounds like you got to know him a bit while you were here."
"Yes, actually. I think he hoped our families would become friendly. He had us over for meals, the children played together, at least before things got messy."
"Think any of that will stick?"
"Not likely. His mate, Kolana, prefers fighting the Romulans over being the Lady of the House. She was rarely here. K'Vok could be a suitable successor, if he wants that. Then there's Tonk. I really don't know what to expect."
David sighed, "I can give you one thing to expect."
"What's that?"
"A lot of anxious attention from Kiso when you get home."
Both smiled and laughed at the comment.
"In that case, tell him I'll be home as soon as a new envoy gets settled in. I didn't accomplish what I hoped, but I did what was required."
---
Location: I.K.S. HoS'ro', en route to Qo'nos.
Lieutenant Kuutto towered over the Orion woman lying on the medtable. It had taked medics three days to calm her nerves from the events on Archanis. Following the death of Ka'rel, she spouted a non-stop, inarticulate babble on explosives and dolls and Aldebaran whiskey, on Gorn and Ferengi and 400 year old humans, and on G'dan and K'Vok. He didn't care, and he pushed the medics to get her coherent. Someone had to stand responsible for what happened on Archanis. It might as well be her.
"Tell me again about the dolls, Inara. Why did you send the dolls?"
"The prancer, she said her mother made nice dolls. It doesn't make sense anymore, because the doll-maker was Romulan, not Orion. But the dolls were well made. I thought it would be clever to send them to the High Council, show them that they could be small and weak too. S'threys helped get them to the Ferengi. He got them to Archanis with the fertilizer."
Kuutto paused for a moment, cracked his neck as he thought about his next question. "What about G'dan? Did he..."
Before he could finish the question, she sat upright and spat a curse. "I would never do anything for that life-defiling filth. He and his whole house can burn for all I care. For what they did to me, what they did to us all."
Kuutto turned around and picked up a padd from a counter. "We have G'dan's personal files now, Inara. He was quite fond of you."
"Lies!" She ripped off her top revealing burns and scars on her chest and back, some reaching below her waistline. "He did this to me! How is that fondness?"
"His own logs speak of him freeing you during the Iconian attack. Sending you and the Gorn money."
"No. It's impossible. K'Vok is the only one that loved me."
Kuutto shook his head and laid the padd at her feet, then stepped away. Replacing him at the head of the bed was K'Vok. He stood silently, but for once without menace.
"Wh-who are you?" asked Inara.
"I am K'Vok of House Kladh."
Inara stared at K'Vok, looking at him from different angles to assess the reality of his form, or perhaps the veracity of his words. "No. I don't believe you are. Not my K'Vok."
"There is only one K'Vok of House Kladh."
"Y-y-you're mis- mistaken." Inara curled up into a ball and began babbling again. Melea, looked at K'Vok and Kuutto and shook her head. Any more sedatives and the patient would likely go into shock. K'Vok took his leave and returned to bridge.
Before leaving as well, Kuutto place his hand on her head. "You were loved in the innocence of a dream."
---
Location: The Barge of the Dead
Ka'rel stood on the gangway, strangely reluctant to board. To be fair, G'dan had just boarded before him. It wouldn't do for them to be together on this trip. There was only one destination for G'dan.
"Have a seat, Ka'rel son of Kladh!" boomed a voice from the stern of the boat.
"I will not be here long, Kortar."
"No, I think you are already forgotten. Have a seat, and mind the kos'karii."
Ka'rel looked at G'dan with intense disgust. G'dan only looked ahead smugly. Perhaps his plan hadn't failed after all.
Location: U.S.S. Diomedes
"Ship's Log, Stardate 93442.5, First Officer Leisa Turro reporting.
"The Diomedes remains in orbit of Archanis IV while we assist with the inspection of the Federation Embassy. Captain Mulholland says the need for the embassy has never been stronger, and I agree. Though whether the Klingon's do the same seems unlikely, as no fewer than six heavy cruisers are in orbit along with us, and a couple more arrive everyday. Qo'nos has been refortifying Archanis to prevent a power vacuum, even while the High Council takes its time to name a new governor.
"Still, crew morale is on the upswing. While both ship and crew still need work, I'm confident we can make a go of it. It would be nice to know if our leadership vacuum will be filled as well..."
---
Location: Federation Embassy, Archanis IV Palace Compound
"Well, Captain. Are you satisfied with what you've found?" Risha asked with an air of incredulity. She hadn't been thrilled with the idea of the "inspection" in the first place. Now, having it completed even though the reason for the ruse no longer existed, she was beside herself with frustration and irony.
"Yes, Envoy," responded Captain Mulholland. "I believe we are, at least with your facilities and staff here. All are top notch and represent the Federation and Starfleet with distinction. And that's no bull, either."
"Then what's less than satisfactory?"
Mulholland shrugged and scratched his chin through his goatee. "I usually try to make a point of leaving a place in better shape than how I found it. I can't honestly say that's the case right now. Can you?"
"No, I can't. Instead of strengthening the relationship between the Federation and the Empire, we've frayed it a little more. And we've been reminded by the fact that just because the Alliance exists, doesn't mean that each member is a unified whole. G'dan was one man with a vendetta and the resources to attempt a coup. What if this had been a full on house war?"
"There'd be a lot more dead on all sides, I think. Maybe there's something to be said for that. Fewer dead, at least right now, and we prevented the downfall of two houses."
"At least for now. Ka'rel was the head of his house for almost 30 years, and he was a well-liked patriarch to his family and the members of the house."
David smiled, "Sounds like you got to know him a bit while you were here."
"Yes, actually. I think he hoped our families would become friendly. He had us over for meals, the children played together, at least before things got messy."
"Think any of that will stick?"
"Not likely. His mate, Kolana, prefers fighting the Romulans over being the Lady of the House. She was rarely here. K'Vok could be a suitable successor, if he wants that. Then there's Tonk. I really don't know what to expect."
David sighed, "I can give you one thing to expect."
"What's that?"
"A lot of anxious attention from Kiso when you get home."
Both smiled and laughed at the comment.
"In that case, tell him I'll be home as soon as a new envoy gets settled in. I didn't accomplish what I hoped, but I did what was required."
---
Location: I.K.S. HoS'ro', en route to Qo'nos.
Lieutenant Kuutto towered over the Orion woman lying on the medtable. It had taked medics three days to calm her nerves from the events on Archanis. Following the death of Ka'rel, she spouted a non-stop, inarticulate babble on explosives and dolls and Aldebaran whiskey, on Gorn and Ferengi and 400 year old humans, and on G'dan and K'Vok. He didn't care, and he pushed the medics to get her coherent. Someone had to stand responsible for what happened on Archanis. It might as well be her.
"Tell me again about the dolls, Inara. Why did you send the dolls?"
"The prancer, she said her mother made nice dolls. It doesn't make sense anymore, because the doll-maker was Romulan, not Orion. But the dolls were well made. I thought it would be clever to send them to the High Council, show them that they could be small and weak too. S'threys helped get them to the Ferengi. He got them to Archanis with the fertilizer."
Kuutto paused for a moment, cracked his neck as he thought about his next question. "What about G'dan? Did he..."
Before he could finish the question, she sat upright and spat a curse. "I would never do anything for that life-defiling filth. He and his whole house can burn for all I care. For what they did to me, what they did to us all."
Kuutto turned around and picked up a padd from a counter. "We have G'dan's personal files now, Inara. He was quite fond of you."
"Lies!" She ripped off her top revealing burns and scars on her chest and back, some reaching below her waistline. "He did this to me! How is that fondness?"
"His own logs speak of him freeing you during the Iconian attack. Sending you and the Gorn money."
"No. It's impossible. K'Vok is the only one that loved me."
Kuutto shook his head and laid the padd at her feet, then stepped away. Replacing him at the head of the bed was K'Vok. He stood silently, but for once without menace.
"Wh-who are you?" asked Inara.
"I am K'Vok of House Kladh."
Inara stared at K'Vok, looking at him from different angles to assess the reality of his form, or perhaps the veracity of his words. "No. I don't believe you are. Not my K'Vok."
"There is only one K'Vok of House Kladh."
"Y-y-you're mis- mistaken." Inara curled up into a ball and began babbling again. Melea, looked at K'Vok and Kuutto and shook her head. Any more sedatives and the patient would likely go into shock. K'Vok took his leave and returned to bridge.
Before leaving as well, Kuutto place his hand on her head. "You were loved in the innocence of a dream."
---
Location: The Barge of the Dead
Ka'rel stood on the gangway, strangely reluctant to board. To be fair, G'dan had just boarded before him. It wouldn't do for them to be together on this trip. There was only one destination for G'dan.
"Have a seat, Ka'rel son of Kladh!" boomed a voice from the stern of the boat.
"I will not be here long, Kortar."
"No, I think you are already forgotten. Have a seat, and mind the kos'karii."
Ka'rel looked at G'dan with intense disgust. G'dan only looked ahead smugly. Perhaps his plan hadn't failed after all.