Station Post #8 An Honest Mistake

Posted on Sat Oct 28th, 2023 @ 3:31pm by Commander Kehlani & Lieutenant JG Gavin Lasso
Edited on on Wed Nov 1st, 2023 @ 9:59am

Mission: OPERATION SEARCH AND RESCUE
Location: Main Hangar Bay
Timeline: current

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Lieutenant Lasso was out in the main bay for M-69, a bay large enough to house small starships capable of landing and not having to dock. His face came up from his palm PADD after finishing checking off reports, sliding the device into his pocket, his eyes coming to rest on the IKS Foes Bane, the Kor-class Bird of Prey that Commander Kehlani used as her personal vessel. The shuttles and small craft that had been used by the base personnel were undergoing maintenance, as per his orders, keeping them in tip-top shape for their next excursion. As for the Foes Bane, the Klingons would not allow any Starfleet personnel access to their vessel. Even as allies there were still classified areas on the Foes Bane that were not to be seen by non-Klingons. Kehlani was obviously an exception to this rule since she was both KDF and Starfleet. From what he had gathered about her position here she was acting as an envoy and liaison between the Klingons and Starfleet, and under tha command of the Commodore and M-69 when called for.

Spinning around on his heel, ready to take his first step away from the BoP, he had to stop himself suddenly as he almost ran straight into the Klingon he had just been thinking about. He came up short and gave a nod. "Commander Kehlani." He gave a nod of greeting and acknowledgement.

"Lieutenant Lasso," she replied. Kehlani chinned behind him. "Admiring Klingon technology?" She gave a grin.

Out of respect and politeness he stepped in on her left and spun back around to face the Klingon vessel, speaking as he did so. "There is much to admire, Commander. This small, visibly unassuming vessel, speaks volumes about your culture. I have heard many a commander state that facing a battlecruiser is far less intimidating than facing a Bird of Prey. Especially one armed with a battle cloak."

Kehlani's head turned as she gave him a look, the gaze denoting that she did not expect him to that about her personal vessel. "Your knowledge does you credit, Lieutenant. How, may I ask, do you know about the class of cloak it uses?"

Lasso turned to face her, and she him. Stand your ground, he thought, and speak plainly. Klingons had no respect for whispers and anxiety. "Let's just say that I had many years of travel before joining Starfleet. Met many walks of life, including Klingons. I heard things."

"You would be wise to keep that information to yourself, Mister Lasso." Said Kehlani, any pretense of a grin now gone from her face. "If not, I will have you brought up on charges for espionage. At which point House Kehlani will ask the Klingon High Council to contact the Federation and extradite you to Qo'noS to stand trial."

Realizing that maybe he had said a little too much, Gavin gave her a nodding bow from the neck. "Not my intention, Commander. Merely making conversation. As a pilot myself I often dig into information about smaller vessels and their capabilities. No offence was intended."

Kehlani measured his facial expression, seeing he was being honest and honorable, as far as she could tell. "No offence taken, Lieutenant. Just a warning. Be glad that you said that to me and not one of my crew. They may not be as--understanding as I am."

"Point taken, Commander." Lasso agreed. "I don't need to be hauled aboard and tossed into your brig until things got sorted out."

Giving a nod of finality to that, Kehlani's relaxed face returned, and even a slight grin. "There is no brig on a Bird of Prey. You would have been shackled and tossed into a cargo hold. Painstiks and agonizers would then be used to make sure your pain kept you from being able to defend yourself, left in a heap, until someone of authority could come and...rescue you. We are Klingons and that means any threat is an enemy until otherwise instructed."

Gavin knew all too well the Klingon culture. He had traveled with Klingon merchants on several occasions, and even they held fast to their warrior ethos. "I am familiar, Commander."

"maj," she said. "Now, with all that out of the way, and earning a bit of my trust, would you like a guided tour of said vessel?"

Lasso smiled and gave a nod of respect. "I would. Thank you."

"Come," said Kehlani, beginning to walk toward the access ramp for her ship, expecting him to follow. Which, of course, he did.

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