KLINGON #12: R'uustai

Posted on Fri Nov 8th, 2024 @ 10:26pm by Lieutenant Marz & Lieutenant JG Gavin Lasso

Mission: USS PEEL Flirting with the Unknown
Location: Kor'Kang Colony
Timeline: Current

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Standing with a group of officers from the IKS 'Iwghargh, Lieutenant JG Gavin sipped his bloodwine and took part in the conversation, the raucous and excited Klingons ready as ever to go out and slaughter enemies of their House. Glancing around while the others were continuing to talk and brag he noticed Marz off to the side, sitting at a side table in the Hall, reading a PADD and sipping from his own goblet. Gavin found it odd that the Patriarch did not seem to be in a rush to find his lost mate. Curious about that he turned from the group and walked towards Marz. When the Lord of the House looked up at his approach, Gavin did charades to ask if he may approach. Seeing the nod of acceptance, and a motion to sit at the table, Gavin came in and did that.

"Marz, you surprise me."

"How so," Marz asked, leaning back in his chair as he held his cup in his right hand and the PADD in his left, which he had stopped looking at once Gavin sat down.

Gavin figured it was best just to speak his mind and be plain in his meaning. "Your mate is lost in the woods, and yet, you sit here sipping wine as if you have not a care in the world. It is bewildering with all that I've heard about Klingons."

Marz gave a chuckle from the chest, smiling in a telling way. "Your observations are spot on." He sat up and forward, arms now resting on the table as he spoke to Gavin, keeping the conversation more between the two of them. "I know exactly where she is. Kozar cannot be blamed for her disappearance since she went out as the Matriarch should to see to a problem."

"Wait, what?" Gavin hearing that Marz knew where his wife was came as a surprise. It was becoming more apparent by the day that Klingons were far craftier than the rest of the galaxy gave them credit for. "You know where Kehlani is? How, Lord?"

Laying the PADD face up on the table, Marz turned it so both could lean in and observe the screen together. "Here." His finger forcefully pointed at the screen as it hard landed on it. "Is where her unit was attacked. The reason the drones and search parties are not able to locate her is that she is now," he swiped the screen to the left, opening a whole new region of the planet on screen with orbital maps. "Here." Again, the forceful finger came down on the map. "There is 500 qeli'qam (kilometers) between where she was, and where she is."

Gavin made no effort to hide his surprise, giving Marz a somewhat stupefied look. "Alright, I get that. But, the question remains, my friend." Gavin decided to see if there was truly a friendship brewing between them. So far, it seemed there was, despite their stations in life. "How do you know all this?"

Marz gave another telling expression, his eyes filled with mirth as he recognized the confusion he had caused in his new friend's heart. "Kehlani often says to me that being a Klingon is far more than barbarism and bloodshed. That we are an intelligent species with many accomplishments in our culture. We are a warrior culture, to be sure, but we must always strive to match our brains with our brawn. I took that to heart since it is my goal to become a Dahar Master like Kor, Kang, and others."

Hearing his friend run on about Kehlani's influence over him made Gavin like the man that much more. But, as with any Klingon in the middle of a tale, he was being a bit long-winded. "And?"

"Kehlani does not know it," said Marz as he grinned like the Cheshire cat and drank down his cup of wine. Putting the goblet aside he went on. "I have put veridian patches on her clothing and some of her combat gear. Hidden under layers and straps so as not to be easily seen. There is an abandoned village here, complete with its own Village Hall." This time he pointed without jamming his finger down on the screen. "With the veridian patch I know she is in the village, but not exactly where until we get closer. My instincts tell me that the Village Hall is where they are holding her. It is sizable, has a fire pit and hearth, and rooms to sleep in without scattering any forces they may have there. A smart move."

Gavin examined the terrain, seeing it was a small valley with surrounding foothills and mountains. On the ground there was one pass into, and out of, the village. But, the road did look unused as it had saplings and low growth beginning to reclaim the packed earth highway. "We would have the advantage if we landed on the other side of this ridge, and then humped our asses over to the village. Natural terrain defenses, high ground, and a forest to hide our movements."

"Hump?" Marz asked.

"A slang term meaning walk, march, hike, all that." Gavin explained. Marz gave a slow nod of understanding and then motioned for him to continue. Looking to the PADD, Gavin began to tap at it, getting a three dimensional look at the village buildings, forest, and slopes around it. He could not help but smile to himself as he did so, a plan coming to mind. His grinning face looked up. "This place is definitely at a disadvantage. We can capitalize on that. But, they must not know we're coming for this to work."

Marz listened, liking how Gavin was fully committed to any actions to be taken. Perhaps he could steal him away from Starfleet, and Taavis. His eyes glanced away a moment, seeing Kehzza across the Hall talking with others. He did not let his eyes linger long so as not to have Gavin wonder what he was looking at and look back. Kehzza was, after all, a cousin of his. Something which he purposefully had kept from Gavin. "Klingons are experts at overland hikes to engage in battle. We prefer to hack rather than shoot, but both are necessary."

"Of course they are," Gavin agreed. He was looking forward to using his axes in combat. Something about being around Klingons, and especially this one, made him yearn for the sting of battle. "After looking at the terrain as I did, I will need to gather some things for this purpose. I have a plan that will distract the enemy while the rest of you follow once my signal is lit."

"What type of signal?" Marz asked.

"Come now, Lord," said Gavin chuckling. "I don't want to ruin the surprise. I'll play point-man and get things started." He then explained what being 'point' in a unit meant according to Starfleet tactics.

Marz gave him a sidelong glance, his face showing he wanted to grin but had not quite reached that point. "You are saying you wish to go in first? Alone?" The Klingon was impressed even more by the audacity coming from this man. "Why?"

Gavin met those Klingon eyes with an even gaze. "Because you are my friend. I can think of no better way to die than to risk my life to rescue your mate and your unborn child. Beyond those reasons, you are my superior officer and Lord of House Kehlani. In my beliefs, Marz, there is no greater honor than to give one's life in defense of another. If I fall it will be a glorious death and I will die well. I cannot ask for better."

Marz busted out in raucous laughter, a Klingon belly laugh, which caught the attention of the others as they saw their Lord stand and slap a hard hand down on Gavin's shoulder. He grasped the armor there and got Gavin to stand up with him. As Gavin did so Marz took up his empty cup and put an arm over his Human friend's shoulders. "Come! We drink!" As they approached the barrel of bloodwine Marz took his arm from the shoulders and waved the others in to surround the barrel and the two men. "Klingons! Our fellow crew member, Gavin, has come to understand what it means to be a warrior. His heart may be Human but the spirit within is that of a Klingon!" Marz looked through the heads of his crew, seeing his target a distance away. "Kozar!" As he went to move towards the steward his crew parted like reeds being pushed aside by a hippo.

Gavin, still standing their confused again, looked to the others and shrugged his shoulders. He dipped his empty cup into the wine and brought some out. The others followed suit since their Lord had said to drink. Again, it amazed Gavin that Kehlani was out there somewhere, as far as the others knew, yet concern for that was minimal. The only thing he could think of was that they all would seek revenge for her death and that would make up for losing the Matriarch so long as she died an honorable death. Kozar and Marz conferred privately for a few minutes, the Patriarch giving Kozar the grip to a shoulder denoting respect for his Steward as he had asked him to do something. Kozar gave a bow from the neck and left the main section of Hall.

Marz returned. "Form a crescent, look to me." Everyone did as directed. "Gavin, at my side." He did so. The Patriarch began to pace back and forth as he spoke to his gathered crew, speaking loud enough that all in the Great Hall could hear. "I have heard the reports from officers aboard the 'Iwghargh. I have come to know this man personally. He does not shirk his duties, he has asked for no special treatment. As we sat and discussed the situation with the Matriarch Gavin offered his ideas and has even volunteered to go in first, alone, to cause a distraction while the rest of us follow right behind him and join in battle!" Fists went into the air from around the massive chamber, with cheers and Qapla' being shouted out.

As Marz was speaking Kozar and a troupe of servants entered the Hall from the anterooms along the wings, some carrying candles and small items, with others carrying a table between them and placing it close by. The site of all these things caused the crew to talk amongst themselves quietly, even as the items were set up properly on the table. Kozar held something metallic in his hands, folded up so as not to be readily apparent as to what it was as Gavin looked at him. The crew, however, knew exactly what it was even as they all looked at each other over what it all meant.

The R'uustai was the Klingon rite of bonding, in which two Klingons joined together to become brothers or sisters, one entering the other's House. Candles were lit and the member entering the Klingon House received a sash. The words "SoS jIH batlh SoH" were spoken to honor the memory of the participants' mothers.

Marz, as Patriarch, did just that. Gathering the Klingons around he went through the ritual after the candles were lit. Gavin stood proudly, honored by the invitation to become a brother to Marz, and in so doing, becoming an automatic member of House Kehlani. A servant came forth and placed a metal sash over the shoulders of Marz, denoting the House symbol on the front and all his awards. Then, Kozar came in and placed a metal sash over Gavin's shoulders, displaying the symbol of House Kehlani and showing that he was now a member of the House. Kozar then told them to speak in honor of their mothers, to which both men voiced their honor at the same time; "SoS jIH batlh SoH". The moment those words were spoken and the two of them came together in a brotherly embrace the chamber exploded with cheers and howls, the word "Qapla'" said many times from every corner of the Hall.

Marz stepped off and grabbed Gavin by both shoulders, squeezing and shaking the man. "Welcome home, brother! No matter where you go this is your House!" More cheers.

"You honor me, Marz! I could not have asked for a better family!" They put arms over each other's shoulders and slapped each other's backs as they headed for the four barrels of bloodwine that had been brought out to provide fresh libations for the celebration.

The Klingon Way. To celebrate family, House, and victory even while there are issues to be dealt with. All these warriors would be jacked up and ready for battle when the call came after seeing an outsider being accepted by their Patriarch. An outsider who was, by tradition, now the brother of Lord Marz.

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