Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in House Duroc Embassy- Righting the Wrongs

Posted by Civilian Urg’tohn, Son of the House of Duroc (Klingon Warrior) in House Duroc Embassy- Righting the Wrongs

Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in House Duroc Embassy- Righting the Wrongs
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

She beamed at both of them before setting her gaze on Vargas again and clasping her other hand on his. “Consider it done. And with a couple more glowing recommendations you may be surprised at the position you find yourself in.” She inhaled deeply. “Go live your best life, Luis, and I know it might take weeks for them to get here, but I damn well get letters from you. I want hear what you’re up to. Understood?” She framed it like and order but the glint in her eyes said it was entirely a warm request.

Vargas smiled and said “I will send yours and Lord Duroc’s at the same time. I promise.”

Letting his hands go, she considered the young man. “If I may offer a bit of advice? Take it from someone who’s known her share of bitterness… they’re not worth it. You don’t owe them your forgiveness, but don’t let them rob you of a second more of energy or thoughts. it’ll be the greatest gift you give yourself.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

For the first time Vargas showed a side of him that had not been seen by Eeela. Humor, coupled with a fierceness that was almost palpable. “No, they aren’t worth my time or energy. But sometimes-” and he looked at Urg and smiled, “- an enemy is a great motivator.” He stood tall and looked at Urg. “You saved my life, my Lord. I will forever be in your debt.” Urg looked down at Luis and smiled. “You saved yourself, Son of Duroc. I was simply the instrument of the Builder’s will. Go. Do as the Captain ordered. Live your best life and make our House proud.” Vargas pounded his fist against his chest and then looked at Dasca. “Captain.” was all he said and he turned and walked out the door. When it slid closed, Urg went to the table and poured Blood wine for them both. Handing a goblet to Dasca, he said “There is a fire in that one. Star Fleet is lucky to have him. But if something happens to him from those you set your sights on… know that I will personally hunt them down and gut them in front of their families.” and he took a drink and sat down.

Lord Duroc

Goblet in hand, Eela snorted as she sat back down. “Of that, Lord Duroc, I have no doubt,” she said before taking a sip, and her mind was immediately brought back over twenty years ago to memories of sharing bloodwine with Klingons at the end of the war. Her and Captain Xquenda, sitting in Quark’s on DS9 entirely mystified how they managed to survive that last battle. There had been a look exchanged on the bridge where they had quietly acknowledged each other, gratitude in their eyes, where they knew that they were moments away from abandoning ship. It was an order they fortunately never had to issue.

There were few potent triggers of memories than taste and smell, and the heady concoction of both floored Eela for a moment. Another celebration but under vastly different circumstances. But somehow, they both felt equal in her mind. In both circumstances Eela had risked greatly for an outcome she could be proud of. No matter how any of it had gone, she knew herself well enough to know that if she didn’t give it her all she couldn’t view her actions with any sort of esteem. Her and Lord Duroc had debated about the concept of honour that first time here, but she stood by her defence of it. There was such a thing and it was worthy of fighting for.

She blinked and looked over at him. “Apologies… just a little lost in memories for a moment,” she said softly as she watched the dark red liquid ripple in her cup.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

“Drink does that from time to time.” Urg said in a low voice. He took another drink and stared into the cup, lost in his own thoughts for a moment.

“Tell me… do you anticipate any retaliation against you for this? What I said earlier, I meant. Anyone who tries to bring harm to you will face us. And we will ensure that a message is sent in that moment.”

Urg, Lord Duroc

Her mouth felt dry all of a sudden and she downed more of the bloodwine to correct the sensation. Her shoulders lifted with her large inhale and Dasca gazed elsewhere for a moment. There were thoughts that had gone through her head at different points in her investigation, points where she understood that if she took that next step, she was accepting the risk. Risk didn’t scare her, but she’d had enough close calls, and more recently, to still be wary of inviting it in so brazenly.

“There are the fears, and then there is reality. There are… points where they cross paths and it is hard to ignore what that means.” Eela sighed and looked back at Urg’ton. “The simple answer is, yes, I do. But honestly? I’ve been a pain the ass to admirals for decades Lord Duroc and it’s been fine. But I’ve crossed a threshold here. The same power games these officers were playing come from somewhere, and while the Admiral being charged isn’t the smartest, he has a long reach. Whether Oed and ninety light years is too far is hard to say. But hey, all part of the job, right?” she said before downing more of the drink.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Urg looked atvher for a moment and then said “Actually… no. Its not. Having to be wary of a knife in the back is for Klingon politics. Star Fleet is supposed to be above such things.” He drained his goblet and then dropped a fist on his desk. The door slid open almost immediately and a Klingon female came in. “My Lord?” she asked. “Send a message to Admiral Halsey of Star Fleet Special Projects. Tell him I said that Star Fleet better start maintaining its own house before I have to do the cleaning. And tell him this is about one Lieutenant Luis Vargas. If he doesn’t know who that is, tell him I said that’s a problem.” She bowed and left. Urg looked at Eela and said “Halsey does not suffer fools. He will make sure that they get the justice they need. That will keep them far too busy to go after you.”

Urg, Lord Duroc

A healthy amount of skepticism was useful in her work, since she was used to (or could at least anticipate) that sometimes the words spoken were not the whole picture, or else what people thought was true, was in fact not. It behooved her to weigh seemingly irrefutable statements with a measure of caution. She wanted to just believe that it was done with, and in many ways she was grateful to Duroc for intervening, but the deeper part of her that had lived over six decades understood that it was wrong to dismiss her instincts in this case.

“Well, they’re going to be very busy anyway given they’re about to be arrested and having to deal with court martials…” Eela trailed off as her brain snapped tightly around a very specific fact. “Crap,” she said softly to herself and rose to her feet, mindful of her back and her goblet. She downed the rest of the bloodwine and set the goblet on the table.

She gazed at Urg’ton with an apologetic look. “I unfortunately have to go and check in on the Starfleet Complex. There is a deep irony about Starfleet Security going to issue an arrest warrant for an officer who tried to falsely do so here. And depending on Commander Ans’lik’s mood today, I want to make sure it happens with minimal fuss.” There was always the risk that Ans’lik would resist or that his friends would struggle with the order, and Eela needed to go support Captain McBride with seeing this go smoothly.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Urg smiled and said “Isnt that something your new Security Chief should be handling? From what I have heard, Lieutenant Commamder Cattaneo isn’t one to let things go sideways in such matters. But, if you would like, I can send a few of my guards to keep an eye on his friends.” and he laughed. “I’m sure that would send a message, would it not!” and he laughed again. “Seriously though… we have a transporter. Acroos the hall, through the door, second door on the left. Here-” and he stood and drained the drink, “- follow me.”

Urg, Lord Duroc