Interview with the Klingon Captain

Posted on Wed Nov 3, 2021 @ 10:20pm by Lieutenant Sakkar & Captain Larisna Koralova & Lieutenant Commander Kaedon Draesni

Mission: Mission 1R - Vigilance Be Our Shield
Location: USS Hornet - Gorn/Klingon Conflict Zone
Timeline: M1D1 - 1005 Hours

[ON]

The arrivals of the respective parties was quite tense. Both the Klingon and Gorn entourages had come over with their Captains and bodyguards, so Larisna immediately put them in ambassador quarters on opposite sides of the ship. She ordered armed security guards to keep the two parties from crossing paths, but they would be given access to the computer and communication systems to get whatever they needed to support their cases. The junior officers from the Alameda were in yet another part of the ship and a couple guards were posted just to make sure they were safe from being otherwise influenced by the Klingon or Gorn parties.

The observation lounge and any other facilities on the ship were put at the disposal of the interview team. Sakkar had taken full advantage of this privilege. He had cleared some space in cargo bay 1 to contain any evidence gathered, and had reserved a holodeck for their exclusive use if necessary. Now the interview team was sitting quietly together in the observation lounge. No one spoke. Sakkar was going over the list of possible interview subjects, and some of the standard questions that were asked in these instances. He also made sure the room’s recording devices were logging everything. When everyone at the table seemed ready, he tapped his commbadge.

“Sakkar to security. We’re ready for our first guest.”

=A= Acknowledged, sir. =A= An officer on the comms replied back.

After five minutes, the door opened and a security officer stepped in and aside to let the arrivals enter. It was the Klingons. Captain Rotho, flanked by two other Klingon males that leered at everything around them, hands resting on the grips of their d'k tahgs. Rotho looked at the assembled officers, a sneer crossing his lips.

"I am Rotho. Son of Dareg. Of the House Dareg." He announced, "And I will warn you once - do not waste my time. My very presence here is already enough of a waste, but unlike others, a Klingon honors agreements."

"I am Commander Amanda Malloy, First Officer of the Hornet. Welcome. Please be seated." Amanda said.

Rotho then sat down, his men flanked him on either side, their gazes leering at all those gathered.

E'Lor stood quietly watching the guests arrive. Her presence was requested however she did not truly understand why.

"These proceedings are to find out what happened from your perspective. They are not an accusation simply a fact finding inquiry." Amanda stated.

Sakkar took his own seat. "We will take as much time as required, Captain. No more and no less. Tell us what happened in as much detail as possible. What was your position relative to the Alameda at the time of the incident? Your course? Your heading? Did you observe what happened?"

"So I am to be interrogated by a female, a Vulcan...and a mongrel." Rotho all but sneered before focusing on Sakkar for a moment. He then turned to one aide, who handed over a chip that was placed on the table. The holographic display sprung up for all to see. It was in Klingon, but was a history of the ship's flight path and sensor history log.

"This is not an interrogation Captain, just a fact finding inquiry." Amanda said. Sometimes being a woman had disadvantages especially when dealing with Klingons.

The commander’s voice was steady and, while it may or may not have been obvious to Rotho, it was certainly clear to Draesni that her response had been intentionally measured. Having spent a considerable portion of his career in around Klingon space, he was well aware of how hard it could be knowing when to match a Klingon’s intensity and when to let things slide. They had a tendency to raise the temperature of any room (for better or for worse) and to draw others in by their…exuberance. He was glad that, in this case, Malloy had chosen not to follow suit.

"We were on our side of the cease fire zone, maintaining our distance of several hundred thousand kelicams away from the edge. We detected your vessel when it came out of warp, as well as the Gorn vessel on its side of the cease fire zone border, though it was clearly much closer to the border." Rotho explained, "As you will note, at time index 1427.5, your ship stopped moving and began to emit an irregular signature consistent with the damage. The Gorn vessel crossed first, and we arrived minutes later."

"The Gorn claim they were responding to a distress signal, but we detected no such signal. It is clear that the honorless bak'tagh fired on your ship and were seeking to claim it as their prize. I chose to forgo the investigation you are forcing on us because a warrior does not question the obvious." Rotho concluded.

Sakkar leaned forward slightly, scrutinizing the holographic information. After a few seconds he asked, "Did your sensors observe an exchange of fire between the two ships? Is the damage to the Starfleet vessel consistent with Gorn weapons?" He looked up and added, "In your expert opinion?"

"Our sensors are not meant for such things at such ranges." Rotho admitted after a moment of weighing his words. "But there is no other explanation of the damage. Your Captain's offer allowed us a chance to get more precise readings of this region, there are no...stellar anomalies here. And one can plainly see without sensors there are no asteroids or debris here. I have fought the Gorn, I know battle damage when I see it."

"So I believe one of two things happened - either the Gorn no longer intend to respect the agreement, the honorless lizards they are...or they reacted because of something your ship did to violate the agreement. It is no secret that Starfleet wishes to join this fight - it goes against your very nature to sit by and not interfere in the actions of others." Rotho leaned forward, "So which is it, Starfleet?"

Amanda carefully studied the sensor telemetry, she could not find any indication that the Gorn fired on the Alameda, but she couldnt find any indication that the Alameda sent a distress call either.

Amanda could read Klingon and was studying Gorn she could read it if not speak it. She was certain Sakkar could as well.

The forward posture. The lowered voice. These were classic indicators of asserting one’s dominance, and they did not escape Draesni’s attention. Yet, far from making the Zami feel as if he and his colleagues were being deceived, Rotho’s behavior seemed to indicate something else entirely. Combined with the fact that he was willing to point the finger at the Gorn, the Federation, or anyone else, all this posturing left Draesni with the strong impression they were dealing with someone who was just as much in the dark about what was happening as they were.

He’s getting defensive, speculating, Draesni messaged to Sakkar via his PADD, Ask him about what they were doing before the incident occurred.

Sakkar caught the message in the corner of his eye. He was momentarily puzzled. How could Draesni tell? The conversation this far had not yielded anything surprising to him, and the Klingons' demeanor had been predictably Klingon. Perhaps this was a "hunch?" A gift his people sometimes lacked. "What were you doing here when the incident occurred, Captain Rotho? Can you tell me about your mission objectives?"

Rotho stared for a moment, a challenge of sorts, as if he wanted the question he asked to be answered.

"I merely wish to understand why the Gorn would be threatened by a vessel that is supposed to be a "second-line" class. But if you have a point you are getting at, an accusation..." He glared at both E'Lor and Amanda, "Then I suggest you get to it before my patience runs out and my blade runs green."

"I have shared my sensor data at your request, plain for all to see. I have honored the agreement of our governments to come to your aid, even if you lack the honor to do the same and respond to the insults the Gorn have made to us as true allies of the Empire should. These are my actions." Rotho said, sitting upright, "Your actions seem to be to bring this...mongrel...here, as if that is to sway a decision? Or is this one of those "committees" that the Federation is so renown for?"

Rotho barked a laugh and his aides joined him.

"If you must know, we were watching. Watching to see what you would do, what the lizards would do. Readying ourselves for you mewling milk drinking cowards to get your kind out of the way so that the true warriors could take to the field and repay these pah'taQs for their treachery and claim the glory that is rightfully ours." Rotho continued, "Unless, that is, you wish to stop the bloodshed. Martok told you not to interfere, but Khitomer...and your very nature...it compels you to act, does it not?"

"I know there is no fire in the belly of a Vulcan, but the rest of you, especially you," He pointed at E'Lor, "Does not your blood sing out to stop this? Do you not struggle with this decision? Truly, your leaders have agreed too many times to stand aside and let geocide happen." Rotho concluded, though the use of the word "genocide" seemed to be clumsily tailored to the audience...

"That is why we are here Captain Rotho, to make sure if it was an attack or if it was an accident. If there is to be a war, then we want to make sure it is for the right reasons. Only a fool fights in a burning house." Amanda said.

Silence descended upon them all as each waited to see how the others would react. Despite every effort made this far to intercede and redirect, it seemed the Klingon captain was intent upon returning to his own line of questions. What concerned Draesni more, however, were the clear attempts to single out the Hornet’s chief engineer. She seemed to have resisted taking the bait thus far, but there was no guarantee how much longer that would last (especially if Rotho chose to continue escalating the situation).

“I think we have enough for now,” Draesni said, interjecting before anyone else could say anything more. Despite the tension, his voice remained calm, and he spoke with a tone that was intended not to inflame the situation any further. “It is going to take us some time to review the Qed’s sensor data in more detail and incorporate it into our assessment,” he continued, “I trust that if there are any further questions, we will be able to consult with you, captain?”

"Very well." Rotho stood up, "I assume you have others to bore with this...committee."

There was a slight pause.

"I will remain on board for the time being. I would be most interested to hear of this committee's findings in person." Rotho said, barking another laugh. The Klingon entourage was escorted out without incident.

Draesni watched silently as their guests departed. Knowing they were going to be remaining on board offered at least the potential for follow-up, which he had a feeling could very well be needed at some point. But, for the time being at least, he said nothing. Instead, he waited patiently until the door had closed and the entourage was certain to be out of earshot before turning to address his colleagues.

“Well…he seemed rather determined, didn’t he,” Draesni remarked, “I don’t know about you, but I got the distinct impression he was covering for the fact that he doesn’t actually know what happened, only that the situation was like this when he and the Qed arrived on the scene.”

"His sensor data would seem to confirm that. At least we know it wasn't the Klingons that initiated whatever it was that actually happened. I wonder how the Gorn interrogation will go. A shame we don't have access to the Alameda's sensor information at this time." Amanda stated.

A yeoman appeared with a small, hardshell case. Sakkar retrieved the Klingon holo-chip from the center of the table, examined it, and put it in the case, clicking it shut. With a nod the yeoman left with the case in hand. It would go to the lab for immediate analysis. "An intriguing puzzle to be sure," he said. Then he touched his commbadge again. "Sakkar to security. Send in the Gorn."

[OFF]