The Klingon moved down the hallway with some purpose to his stride. His shoulders square and back straight, the man had the air of one used to command and being in command, as well as a confidence born of men who knew how to look after themselves and backed their abilities. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : His Starfleet uniform bore the colours of the Medical profession but behind that the man looked anything but medical, his head was shaven bald, a metal eye patch was attached in the Klingon fashion with staples over his left eye, and bore the emblem of his House. His short beard was braided and beaded into several parts, each bead of the braid accounting for an enemy slain in battle, and over his shoulder and chest was a wide Sash showing the colours of House Kholl, his rank in the House showing he was a Captain of his own Starship in the K.D.F. and the honors he had been given in recognition for service. Passing other crew were greeted, if they caught his attention, to what passed for Do’trahk as a smile in the present circumstances. His lips raised and showed them his teeth, sharpened carefully, but there seemed little humor to his effort and more of a desire for them to simply go away. It was helped by his hand perpetually resting on the hilt of his Kut’luch, his special dagger indicating his rank and position in his House. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : He reached his destination in stood outside a moment, staring at the door as if it was some offending pest. As the Chief Medical Officer he was required to check in with the ships XO, and he wasn’t looking forward to serving under a Romulan as Captain. Most of his battles, and victories, had been waged against the Romulans, but the Chancellor had assigned him this role with the aim of making better ties with the Federation and Do’trahk had given his Oath of service. The fact that his brother Khain had been ordered into Covert work along the borders with the Federations Outpost 42, remote and distant, had concerned the big Klingon that his House was being divided and weakened, but he had given his Oath. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Breathing in a large breath and letting it out in a huff, he reached forward and ground his knuckles into the door chime to announce his presence. Klingon ships simply required that you bang on the door, or simply walk in as was your right to speak with the command crew when they were on duty, the Federation was so soft they needed door bells so they didn’t break their fingernails. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Lt Do’trahk : : : : : : : : : : CMO : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : The voice from the other side of the door said “Come.” and the door slid open to revel the Executive Officer’s office. Sparsely decorated, a human male sat behind the desk wearing the red uniform of Command and with Lieutenant Commander’s rank insignia. The bright blue eyes in the face under the jet black hair looked directly at the Klingon, taking in the sash and associated honors indicated with a practiced ease. Grunting slightly, he stood and said in perfect tlhlngan Hol “SoHvaD SeHmo’ nuq lojmIt?” <What brings you to my door?> : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Cochrane, XO : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : The Big Klingon stared at the man a moment, then stepped inside. One step which brought him into the office and allowed the door to slide closed behind him. He looked around for just a moment, using his shoulders and not his head to turn before he looked back at the Executive Officer who was using his language. To Do’trahks credit, he refrained from giving him his sneering lip raise. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “In English, Lieutenant Commander” the man said, his deep voice punctuating the end of his words in typical Klingon fashion, “I am required to speak your language while on board your vessel in an effort to, integrate, with the crew. I would prefer that my ears therefore only hear my language when it is from the lips of another Klingon, so that when that day comes it is reward for my service aboard this vessel.” : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : He took further steps which brought him before the desk of the man then took his hand from the hilt of his dagger, closed his fist and placed it over his chest, bowing ever so slightly but never dropping his eyes. “I am Lieutenant Do’track-Khurth of House Kholl, Chief Medical Officer of this vessel and assigned as Exchange Officer from the Klingon Defence Force. I am reporting for duty. Sir.” : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Lieutenant Do’trahk : : : : : : : : CMO : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Cochrane gave a slight smile, returned the salute, and said “As you wish, Lieutenant. I am Lieutenant Commander Alexander Cochrane. Please be seated.” and he took his seat. “I had been told to expect an exchange officer, but didn’t get the particulars. A moment while I review your file.” he said and pulled up the file. In truth, he had already read Do’trahk’s file, but he wanted to see how the warrior-slash-doctor reacted to be being made to wait. Cochrane was intimately familiar with Klingons and Klingon culture. He had graduated from the Klingon War College some time before, making a reputation for himself as a fighter with a keen mind. While he ‘read’ the file with his head lowered, he watched the reflection of the Doctor in the desk to gauge his reactions. Cochrane knew Klingons were warriors before anything. But he also knew that in his new role, this particular Klingon would be required to show a great deal of something that a good many Klingons lacked… patience. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Cochrane, XO : : : : : : : : : : : : Dropping his fist to his side, the large Klingon looked down and to the side at the chair as if it was some offending piece of garbage, then glanced back to the Executive Officer and raised his lip slightly as he threw one leg over the seat and lowered himself down. Sitting straight, knees spread, he placed his hands on his knees and stared at the man across the desk, his single eye never moving from the man’s features as he waited for him to continue. : : : : : : : : : : : : After a moment or two, there could perhaps have been a slight twitch at the man’s temple, but otherwise outwardly the Klingon doctor appeared calm. He might have been a warrior first and foremost, but the man was also a doctor and the captain of his own ship and had enough experience to have learned some patience to back up the urge to action. The presence of the particular blade his family chose told, to other Klingons, that this particular Klingon House had some qualities that perhaps ran against the norm in some ways. Nevertheless to any observer it would be obvious that the big man was taking deep, large and slow breaths as he waited for the XO to finish going over the file. : : : : : : : : : : : : Lt Do’trahk : : : : : : CMO : : : : : : : : : : Cochrane finally finished and slid the PaDD to the side. “Impressive. Captain of a Battlecruiser and a surgeon. Quite the combination, Doctor. Your position here is vastly different from your true role as Captain.” Cochrane said, showing the respect both owed to and demanded by a recognized KDF Captain. “Is that going to be a problem? Taking orders rather than giving them?” he asked directly, never taking his eyes off the warrior. : : : : : : : : : : Cochrane, XO : : : : : : : : “That will always depend on the orders” Do’trahk stated firmly. “But I gave my word, my honor and my blood to serve the Klingon Empire, now that demands that to fulfill that oath, I give another to serve the Federation to the very best of my ability. This oath I have given, Lieutenant Commander, and barring conduct or circumstances requiring that I do not follow these orders, I will do so.” The big Klingons jaw seemed to work for a moment as if chewing on something distasteful, but his expression did not change and was carefully held neutral. “I am not in Command here, my purpose is that of Chief Medical Officer, and that purpose is what the High Council has deemed must be undertaken, so myself and a number of K.D.F Captains have been assigned these, arguably lesser roles aboard your vessels.” : : : : : : : : Lt Do’trahk : : : : CMO : : : : : : “Fair enough.” Cochrane replied. “And while these may seem ‘lesser’ to you now, I want to be clear on something. The Chief Medical Officer is a key component of a Star Fleet vessel. I expect you to put the safety and well-being of your patients at the utmost priority. And I know I speak for the Captain as well as myself when I say that we expect to know of any significant issues immediately.” and then a slight smile crossed his face. “In that vein, however, I also want to point out that while instances of personnel using… shall we say ‘unsubstantiated’ medical issues… to take time off from their duties are few and far between; I want to know about them. You and I will deal such occurrences jointly. I do not tolerate goldbricking on my ship, and I am quite certain you also have strong feelings in the matter.” : : : : : : Cochrane, XO : : With that, Do’trahk actually grinned. It wasn’t pleasant, and the image of the bald headed and bead bearded, eye patch wearing Klingon with the sharp teeth and dagger at his side would most likely give most people cause for pause if they decided to try their luck in taking ‘unsubstantiated’ time off from their duties. “I am aware of my duties and the expectations of Starfleet, Lieutenant Commander, and you can rest assured that I will..” here the Lieutenant paused and considered his words before his grin widened more.. “pursue those that attempt to avoid their duties through my department with the fervor and energy that I would my own crew on my own ship, and my own crew was almost never ill, Sir.” : : Here now his grin faded back to his more recognizable stoic expression, even stern now. “I will point out now, Lieutenant Commander, that the Federation prides itself on a system of Patient to Doctor confidentiality which does not exist on Klingon ships, which will of course prevent me in most circumstances from informing you of a patients severity of illness, or lack of, in some situations I will not be at liberty to divulge to you unless the direct safety or health of that crew member is at risk. But I will assure you, Sir, that repeated attempts to claim an illness which does not exist through my department will most likely cease to exist in the very near future, to the point that I doubt I should need to bother you with such insignificant details, I have certain treatments which people may wish to avoid in cases of ‘unsubstantiated’ illness, despite my, charming, bed side manner.” : : Lt Do’trahk : CMO Cochrane nodded and, being intimately familiar with Klingon… ‘policy’… on such matters, said “I expect to know what crew are deemed medically unfit for duty on a daily basis. And how you deal with such… ‘incidents’… is at your discretion at the Chief Medical Officer, Just ensure that such dealings do not result in otherwise able bodied crew not being capable of performing their duties. Discipline of such individuals is, of course, necessary. But please remember that Federation doctors operate under a motto of “Do no harm.” when it comes to their patients.” and he looked directly at the big warrior. “I have no doubt that you will be able to work within that framework effectively, Doctor.” Cochrane, XO