Posted by Civilian Urg’tohn, Son of the House of Duroc (Klingon Warrior) in House Duroc Embassy - When Cultures (And Laws) Clash (Tag Lt. Gov.)
The embassy established by the Noble House of the Klingom Empire Duroc was not massive, but it was large. Established to house Lord Duroc, a truly massive Klingon warrior named Urg’tohn, the facility served as the High House’s formal embassy to Oed V. Twelve stories tall and made from large blocks of quarried black with-red veins-stone from the Klingon homeworld of Q’onoS, it stood on the border between the Government section of the city and some of the larger homes Oed had to offer. Large grounds surrounded by tall walls emphasized the size of the facility; but unlike most embassies, the front gates to the grounds stood open almost all the time. Citizens of Oed V were encouraged to walk the grounds and enjoy the sights of native Klingon flora; as well as a large, deep pond that housed a school of Q’onoS-ian Lionhead sharks. Patrolled regularly and very efficiently by members of the House Duroc Honor Guard, the embassy had become quite the attraction in the eight months it had been open.

It was into these surrounding that the four uniformed Star Fleet officers walked.

The presence of Star Fleet officers wasn’t a new occurrence, but the formal stance… and phasers on their hips… most certainly was. Immediately, six House Duroc guards, and not all of them Klingons, surrounded the officers. “This is an official embassy of House Duroc, Star Fleet.” barked a particularly broad-shouldered Klingon. “Your weapons are not allowed here.” The Lieutenant Commander, an Andorain male, smirked at the guard. “They are when we are serving an arrest warrant.” and he held out a secured PaDD to the guard. The guard didn’t even look at the device, but stepped forward a single step and said “Again, blue-skin… this is an embassy. I don’t care what you are doing here, but you can not bring those weapons. Doing so is a violation of multiple diplomatic agreements and many if your laws.” and he grinned. “And it gives us the right to kill you where you stand.” A young Bolian lieutenant behind his Commander began to slowly lower his hand to the phaser at his side. “I really wouldn’t do that if I were you.” came a feminine voice from behind the crowd. The Klingon looked up and immediately slammed his fist on his chest in a salute.

The Commander turned to find a young human female, no more than seventeen or eighteen, standing behind the guards and Star Fleet officers. She was dressed in the same armor as the guards, but hers had a large, bright red hand print on the left shoulder. The young lady looked at the Commander and said “I am Shiv.” and she gave him a quarter bow without looking away from him. “Guard Commander. If you would very slowly and very calmly tell me why you are violating our sovereign territory, I may tell my guards not to send you back to your headquarters in very tiny pieces.”

The Lieutenant Commander looked at the young woman and blinked twice… and then busted out laughing.

“Seriously?! You expect me to believe some little girl is the commander of all these guards?!” and he turned back to the Klingon. “Listen, unless you get me someone who-” and his voice was cut off as a large gauntleted hand closed on his neck and lifted him off the ground. Lifted him as simultaneously the Star Fleet officers heard disruptors powe up and point at them. And at this point, the visitors around the grounds had their vids out and were recording the scene while being kept back by more guards.

Shiv made a tsk-tsk-tsk sound and shook her head and looked at the ground for a moment. She the addressed the Bolian Lieutenant. “Lieutenant. I do not know who told you that coming in here like you are in charge was the correct way to go about… well… whatever the hells it is you are doing. But it wasn’t. And its not. But Lord Duroc has made it very clear to us that we are to be as patient as possible and try not cause undue disruption to the people of Oed V. That reason… and that reason alone… is why you are going to walk out of here.” Her eyes flicked to the Klingon and the Andorian immediately fell to the ground, gasping for breath. She looked back at the Bolian and said “Now go. And tell someone much higher up than that one-” and she jerked her head at the Andorian that was slowly rising to his feet, “- that the next time you have business with House Duroc, abide by House Duroc rules. Go.” The other two officers helped the Commander to his feet and they were escorted to the gates and out.

Shiv turned and looked at the crowd and said “Apologies, good people. The fine officers of Star Fleet were responding to a call of distress. My compatriot here unfortunately fit the description of the instigator, so you can imagine the confusion. We thank you for your patience. Enjoy the grounds.” and she watched as the people dispersed.

Moving next to the Klingon, she said very quietly “Go inform Lord Duroc of what happened. Ensure he is expecting Star Fleet upon their next visit.” The guard nodded once and walked towards the imposing, black building.

House Duroc

A little while later over at the Government Tower, Cort Belanger swore under his breath as he received the report and the lovely little video clip. As Dasca’s Executive Assistant, he was quickly finding a groove with the woman, who he was finding he really liked working for. There was something about her no-nonsense, get work done attitude that was expected, but underneath that he had seen glimpses of a lot more. He wasn’t a kid either. At 38 years old, he’d been working in Public Administration for 15 years since he started out an in intern to a junior aide. Being promoted to the Lt. Governor’s office was a tremendous honour and that was before Eela Dasca walked into it. He was able to get access to some of her file and knew that there was a lot more to the woman than met the eye. He also didn’t envy the situation she had landed in. This latest development might very well determine how her time on Oed progressed.

He stepped into her office, his slate blue eyes deeply concerned, not just at the news he brought, but at the flicker of pain he saw on her face before she tucked it swiftly under a mask of neutrality. She was good, he had to give her that. Damned captains and their mask of invincibility. Good thing he had been prepared and on the look out for it. She already knew she wouldn’t get away with it with him. Not for long anyway. Sipping a padd onto the large desk that was covered with her immense amount of work, his eyes never left hers. “Don’t shoot the messenger.”

Dasca inwardly sighed. Busted. But at the same time she was amused. In a few short days Cort was proving to be a godsend. She took the padd and saw that there was a video. She played it. Her brows arched and she looked up at him. “Shit,” she said before sighing. “I want to ask how they could possible eff that up, but I can see quite clearly how.” She shook her head and rose to her feet. “Guess where I’m going,” she said dryly.

“I’ll have a slider ready immediately,” Cort said, tapping his brown bearded chin with the side of his index finger as he studied Dasca.

“I’m going to walk back to my apartment first and change into something more appropriate,” she said as she headed for the door.

He looked her over and saw nothing wrong with the suit she wore. Elegant, professional, suitable for her position. “Really?”

Eela spun back and smirked. “First rule of diplomacy is to enter a space the way you wish it to go. Klingons do not abide weakness and I might not be going to battle but I sure as hell better look like I could.”

Belanger smirked in return. “Too bad I can’t tag along. I would so love to be a fly on the wall for this next conversation.”

“Be back hopefully in one piece. If not, well, it was a short run on Oed,” Dasca said, her own flippancy making her chuckle.

“And you’re going to take something for your back before you go over, right? It’s been long enough since your earlier dose,” Cort said with all the seriousness he could muster. It was a line he could be crossing but he was declaring it in the best interests of the office.

Her eyes narrowed and she almost said something, but simply blew out a breath through her nose. “You’re going to be extremely annoying, aren’t you Cort?”

“Yes, Ma’am. All part of the service,” he deadpanned.

Eela just shook her head and left. Cort chuckled to himself as he went to sort out the piles of padds that had been set in the completed area.

Painkillers administered, Eela stepped out of the slider. Over plain black trousers she wore a dark grey and black coat with a subtle herringbone pattern. The shoulders were heavily embroidered in a filigree pattern with dark silver thread that made it look like she was wearing a shoulder armour piece. Her glossy black and silver-streaked hair was loose, the breeze tossing it. Accompanied by Sunar, her Vulcan bodyguard, Dasca stepped up to the open gate and took one step inside before stopping. She channelled every bit of her hard-won pride and stood tall. The woman had survived many, many battles. This did not need to be one and she was not here to start or continue any such nonsense. But her presence took up space and she did so unabashedly.

Sunar, clearly unarmed, stepped forward to the nearest guard and gave a small bow of her head. “Lieutenant Governor Dasca respectfully requests an audience with Lord Duroc.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov