Rough Crossings Part II

Posted on Mon Jun 30th, 2025 @ 10:18pm by Captain Robert Burke & Lieutenant Marques Hunt & Lieutenant Juno Jones & Lieutenant Ryssa Dari & Lieutenant JG Gianna De Luca

1,494 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: EPISODE 1: SHAKEDOWN
Location: Federation / Klingon Border
Timeline: MD031

::ON::

And Now the Continuation ...]

Vincent crossed his arms over his chest. “Any idea what house?” They may be minor houses, but it didn't mean he hadn’t across their names at some point. So many house names and blood feuds he came across over the years while on the Mallard, he made it a point to do what he could to keep up. Klingon internal feuds were like 3D chess. One the outside it was hard to keep up, but once you learned the basics and stuck to it, the more you knew how to play and the best way to anticipate your opponents next move.

'Klingon vessel is hailing us on an open channel,' the Operations duty officer announced in a firm voice. 'Putting it on Main Viewer.'

“Starfleet Vessel… This is Kam’ok of the House of Hodaq. Captain of the IKS Kajunpak’t. State your intentions within Imperial Space or prepare to be fall in battle!” Kam’ok shouted.

Frowning, Burke leaned back in the center chair, and purse his lips. The Klingon was boorishly loud across the comm - almost from lack of confidence, he thought to himself.

"I guess someone didn't get the memo," Ryssa muttered under her breath. She carefully monitored the ships to make sure none of them tried anything stupid. The last thing they needed was an incident that would break the treaty.

"Maybe we should use the spray paint for a peace sign on our own hull" quipped Juno.

Vincent raised a brow. “Kajunpak’t?” He said softly, a look of deep thought formed on his face, as he placed his hands on his hips. “I know that name. Why do I know that name?” He said as he looked over to Burke. “I had the Mallard copy over Intel we’ve accumulated. Maybe it’s in there.” He tapped the Captain’s arm before walking off. “Give me a few minutes, I’ll see why it rings a bell.” The First Officer said as he walked over to an empty console and began to work on it.

Burke nodded at his Executive Officer, then motioned to the Operations officer to open his channel. 'Captain Kam'ok, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance,' he said with a smile. 'Truly House Hodaq has a formidable armory in its possession if your ship is anything to go by.' He paused, and shifted in his seat, sitting straighter. 'As you must know, Captain, the Federation and the Klingon Empire have signed an agreement that allows both of our peoples to cross each others' territories. The Hecate is exercising that right, as endorsed by your Chancellor Azetbur.'

Marques maintained their current course. Three years after Praxis and the Klingons still couldn't get on the same page regarding assistance from the Federation. Eventually one of these Klingon Houses would fire on a Starfleet vessel and all hell would brake loose. Thus destroying everything that was accomplished. The Lieutenant tried to keep a positive look on his face. But this temporary peace was simply that. A temporary peace.

Salvatore worked a the console vigorously, going through all he could find on the House of Hodaq and Captain Kam’ok, searching for that valuable needle in the Klingon Feud haystack. It wasn’t till he reached recent events involving the Kajunpak’t and its former Captain that it all made sense. He quickly sent the information to a P.A.D.D and returned to Captain Burke.

Captain Kam’ok slammed his fist as he let out a growl. “And upon exercising that right, Captain, you bring a battle with the Orion Syndicate with you! Endangering the Klingon Warriors and civilians! Your precious Federation cannot stop causing trouble where ever you go. How is it, Captain, that a group that claim to be peaceful explorers always seem to attract the more conflict?!!”

'The conflict with the Orions happened outside Klingon space, Captain, so did not involve the Klingon Imperial Fleet, much less Klingon civilians,' Burke replied, before spying Vincent out of the corner of his eye. '

“It happened outside of the Klingon border, Captain! There is nothing you can say that would guarantee their attack did not end outside of our borders.” Kam’ok shouted. “The Orion Syndicate has more enemies than your precious Federation. And there are many Klingon ships in this territory that do not serve the Imperial Navy. Civilian ships. Your excuses are hollow, just like your alliance.”

"How rude" Juno hissed under his breath. Keep running your mouth Klingon.

Burke sighed, then answered, 'One moment, Captain, my First Officer needs a word.'

Vincent waited for the Captain to finish before shooting the Communications Officer a signal to mute their side of the channel. He raised a brow and handed Burke what he found. “Captain Happy over there hasn’t been Captain for long. In fact, prior to his recent promotion, he served onboard the Kajunpak’t as the ships weapons officer and second officer. The Captain before him was his grandfather, General Edan, who also served as the patriarch of the House.”

He crossed his arms over his chest and continued. “Seems the ship was involved in a skirmish not too long ago and the General was killed. The first officer took command briefly before Kam’ok killed him. As it is tradition with Klingons, challenging or killing a high ranking officer gains you the position and honor, which Kam’ok took advantage of during the confusion. Intel is scarce, but some say he did it to maintain the ships legacy of being commanded by someone in his bloodline. Others say, and this is the story Kam’ok claims, that the first officer was ordering a retreat and he did it to stop him from dishonoring the ship and its crew."

"Now, I did find some information that says it was a power play by Kam’ok who has made claims in the past that he was being held back. Can’t say which is true, but my gut is telling me its the latter. Since he’s taken command of the Kajunpak’t, he’s been picking fights with enemy of the Empire and ships owned by rival houses. Normally, picking fights isn’t far from the usual Klingon shtick, unless you take into account that the reputation of the Kajunpak’t and it’s adjoining House has fallen. The grandfather was keeping it all together. Unless he can prove he can cut it as a Klingon Captain, he’ll lose more than his Honor.”

Making a face, Burke shook his head, 'great. A Klingon Head of House with something to approve.' Looking back to the screen, he sighed, 'Ok, maintain course - do not slow down, we can't let him think he's intimidating us.' He looked to the Communications Officer to bring the comms back on-line.

'Apologies for the interruptions, Captain Kam'ok. I was just being informed that I was talking to the heir of a Klingon House, not merely the captain of a Klingon vessel. I remember facing off against a ship of the same type nearly twenty years ago by now. It gave us a run for our money then.' Burke smiled, 'of course, I was an officer on a smaller vessel then. The Hecate is far larger, and far more advanced than what we had then.'

Vincent rubbed his neck slightly and let out a soft sigh. “He may take that as a challenge.” He whispered softly to Burke. “This guy is looking for a fight so he’s looking for any reason, from us, to get into one. Remember, this is technically his turf and we are here as guests, but he’s just like us. A soldier with people to answer to. He can’t start a fight, only justify having gotten into one.” He crosses his arms slightly a shrugged as a smirk formed. “Maybe he forgot and needs reminding.”

Kam’ok let out a quick chuckle before replying. “A strong ship doesn’t not make for a strong Captain. Just because your ship is advanced, it does not mean you have the skills to lead it to victory. My grandfather, the great General Edan, once led this very ship to victory against two enemy ships both larger than the Kajunpak’t. There were songs written and sung from that very battle.”

[To Be Continued ...]

::OFF::

Captain Robert Burke
Commanding Officer
USS Hecate

Commander Vincent Salvatore
Executive & Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Hecate

Lieutenant Marquis Hunt
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Hecate

Lieutenant Juno Jones
Chief Engineer
USS Hecate

Lieutenant Ryssa Dari
Chief Science Officer
USS Hecate

Lieutenant JG Gianna De Luca
Chief Counsellor
USS Hecate

 

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