An offer made

Posted on Thu Nov 10th, 2016 @ 6:53am by Second Mate Quinton Beck & Master Steward Othor Jaxz Ghost of the Second Star
Edited on on Mon Nov 28th, 2016 @ 8:43am

1,395 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: A good start...
Location: USS Rampart Observation Lounge
Timeline: May 13th 09:21 2393

-Start-


{USS Rampart}


N’tach limped down the clean, sterile corridors of the USS Rampart. He never trusted a deck so silent. It surprised him that the request had been processed so quickly. Sara , the second in command, seldom gave him credence. N’tach suspected there was a bias at work in her cold demeanor. Perhaps it was a good sign. Perhaps the pathetic little vessel he saw from the observation lounge was an escape from the manufactured smiles of the starfleet officers that surrounded him.


There’s been wars and bloodshed between their peoples and though they wore their politeness as he wore his honor he knew that old rivalry and grudges lingered. They watched him as he approached the ready room. Some were curious others suspicious as always.


Sara Allen was certainly suspect of the Klingon crossing the bridge. His transfer from the last Starfleet posting had come due to disciplinary issues, his last two years here had so far gone without incident but with severe attitude and social adjustment issues. His service was impeccable, and his work ethic exceeded the demands placed on him, but he wasn’t happy, and it showed.


“The captain will see you in the Observation Lounge, Lieutenant.” It was a minor insult to include his rank, a superior officer only does so when there is need to remind the subordinate of their place. She knew her tone was a touch too sharp, but wasn’t overly concerned with his impression of her.


“Acknowledged,” replied N’tach excluding honorifics. He changed his course to the observation deck where he would find the captain.


Captain Douglas was seated in his usual position at the far length of the table. He sat facing the port side observation screen and turned to recognize N’tach as he entered. An older man, distinguished in his middle to old age with the indicative human traits of aging apparent. He was spry though, and had more than once been able to keep up with the crew in sports.


N’tach had taken to stepping into the Anbo-Jiytsu ring once upon a time, it had sent four crewman to the infirmary. And ended Anbo-Jiytsu on board.


“N’tach, please have a stand, or sit if you prefer.” He smirked internally at his little joke, knowing every Klingon he had even heard offered to brusquely demand they remain standing.


“Thank you, Captain, I will sit. I have seen some pragmatics in Federation niceties. It is a comfort to know that I can sit at ease amongst friends.”


Douglas sighed internally thinking Klingons, Can’t please em, Can’t even joke about killing them.


With great practice in diplomacy Douglas gestured to the seat nearest his, “Of course, I was just admiring the ever so slow USS Lafitte.”


The Lafitte had been puttering at one third lightspeed for half a day, they had made no progress to the Star system nearest them. Seven long days awaited them, and all that stopped them from a tractor beam and a one hour jaunt was a wily ferengi.


“That is precisely what I came to speak to you about. I have developed a twelve hour plan to get the Lafitte running and at warp 1.2 perhaps even as much as 1.7 if I am allowed more ambitious means.” Handing over a PADD with the outlines he seats himself opposite Douglas.


Douglas takes the PADD with a fair amount of interest.He had surveyed the data sent to him already, but he needed to honor N’tach before turning it down.


“Have you run this by Chief Perlgar.”


“With all due respect Chief Pelgar allots me to tasks that require manual labor. I doubt he believes I am qualified in this field. I have brought back many warships from the brink with less than what is in this scrapyard. This would be an exercise in engineering of a different flavor.”


“The work here implies a very thorough understanding of this type of vessel, I didn't think Klingon Engineers have studied this model in recent trainings?”


“In my younger days I have seen them in full measure, and I have learned them as any warrior learns their enemy.


Douglas wasn’t sure how to take this news, he had hopes for how this conversation would go but it seemed to be falling into place with no manipulation from his end. N’tach was an expert, maybe he could make the Lafitte run? First he had to get to business, and announce their legal hurdles.


“N’tach I am afraid I must deny these plans, not for any reason you might expect but I wanted to meet with you, so you would not feel it was dismissed idly. I wanted to understand why you took the initiative. Chief Perlgar denied it without showing it to me, as did Commander Allen. If I hadn’t been so desperate to make a faster speed I would have overlooked you too. I’m sorry for that.”


“Captain, I didn’t leave the Empire because I was weak or a coward. I didn’t leave the Empire to serve on this ship because I wanted luxury and comfort. I loved those ships. They were alive. They spoke to you as you walked down the corridors. We never sequestered ourselves in our quarters and eat and engage in idol play. We were in charge of the ship. It was ours to honor and steward so that the Empire could rise to battle. This is a lovely vessel but it does not speak to me.”


“But this one does? I see, and your daily duties aren’t fulfilling though you perform them admirably. I’ll admit that I have fondness for my first ship, a mere oberth scout ship you see, but I knew her stem to stern. Since you have demonstrated yourself, I would like to rework your plan, but there are… legal constraints we must consider.”


“Is this my project?”


This was not the question he had expected. Without batting an eye Douglas replied, “You’re a lieutenant, I see no problem giving you the lead on this. Take two crew of your choice as you will.”


“What are my constraints?”


“The ship was salvaged outside of Federation space, and stripped bare of most of her parts. Its the frame that remains, and under those conditions there exists a legal claim to it by its current occupants. Essentially we cannot impose aid on them, but we can offer free assistance.”


The Federation JAG symbol appeared for a moment on the overhead, and several stipulations were highlighted in a long narrative. They essentially established as follows:


1. We cannot tow them, or include them inside our deflector grid, as this would constitute an “imposition” on our part.


2. We cannot use any Starfleet material in any repairs offered as it would damage their legal claim. The Ferengi will be watching.


3. The ship must remain powered and have no activity that stops it forward motion towards Beta Ro.
If we violate any of those terms Starfleet will likely lose the inevitable suit to follow.


Douglas summarized by saying, “We can’t pull them or make them stop, cant hand them the parts either. You will have to use what is presently on board to make repairs. If you can restore Warp drive I would consider that a phenomenal achievement given her sad state. You wanted an exercise in engineering of a different flavor, so it’s yours if you’d like it.”


“It would be an honor to accept this challenge.”


Douglas knew his intuition was spot on, they had a diamond who preferred to be in the rough. Genuine feeling were what he needed to fool the betazoid they had detected on board. Presently they couldn't pinpoint the location, presumably due to a disruption of some kind, but they knew any tactical officer sent over would be sussed out. This was exactly what he needed, he just wished he could truly be offering anything to the Klingon but a ruse.


Outwardly he only smiled, “Exemplary sir, be ready to depart within ten minutes, they are only allowing five of us to go over, Security will assist you, Hern and Loya will be waiting at 1845 for your team. Good luck.”


-End-


Captain Douglas played by:
Austen


N'tach- 2nd lieutenant "USS Rampart"

 

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