KLINGON #14: Raze It!

Posted on Thu Nov 14th, 2024 @ 8:59pm by Commander Kehlani & Lieutenant Marz & Lieutenant JG Gavin Lasso

Mission: IT'S A KLINGON THING {CD&Missions}
Location: Kor'Kang Colony
Timeline: Current

ON:

Lasso, still aboard the Klingon dropship, had Marz get the squadron of ships to halt to a hover. With the doors still closed he had them gather around himself, laying out a plan. He was not a Klingon, so he thought outside the box that their culture normally adhered to. Even Marz had shown his warriors that sometimes the odd path was the right path. Gavin covered a few problems they could have while down in the village, stating though his plan how they could overcome any obstacles that could be a disadvantage to House Kehlani and this recovery operation. After he finished Gavin looked around at the faces he had come to know and respect. "Well?" He asked. "Are we all in agreement?" Lasso's eyes went to the Patriarch and saw he had been thinking on all he had heard. "Lord Marz?"

"I like it," said Marz, looking his newest House memebr, and adopted brother, in the eyes. "It will work because it is unconventional. Qapla'!" The final word was repeated by all.

"Alright then," said Gavin. "let's get this over with and save my sister, our Matriarch, and your mate, my Lord." All gave light cheers to that final outcome.

Marz shouted forward. "Get us moving! To that village, Pilot!" All the craft began to move again, accelerating to just under top speed.

***

After the dropships had landed just outside of the abandoned village, Marz gathered his warriors around him as they began a steady pace into the compound. As per his plan, Gavin was in the middle of them all, hard to see from any angle, with a few other inner Klingons using themselves as shields against viewing the only non-Klinon among them. As they went, passing through the first arch to entering the town, Gavin reached into a large belt pouch on his hip, pulling forth a fist full of transporter tags. With the platoon of Klingons moving along they began to pass the first outlying structures, at which time Gavin would take a transporter tag in his empty hand and toss it up, out, and over the column of troops, landing within a meter or two of the buildings. This went on as they made their slow march, acting as any Klingon army would, total confidence while walking into a battle. Over and over again the tags were tossed out until each building they had passed now had a tag lying in the inch of snow on the ground outside of each one. They came to a stop at the base of the steps leading up and into the Main Hall for this village, smoke being seen coming from the chimney above, letting them know that their enemy was indeed inside. Gavin made his way to the front, being promised a chance to enter the Hall with Marz and a few other warriors.

Marz looked up to the doors. "We are here, bandits! Show yourself!" A minute went by before the double doors above swung open and a group of five hooded, masked beings came forth, rifles pointed at Marz and his own warriors.

"You may enter, Lord Marz. All firearms are to be left behind until negotiations are complete!" They ordered.

Marz gave a guttural grunt at his dislike for that, but he played along. Gavin and K'vin handed their firearms to others along with Marz.

Gavin stepped forward a pace, holding his arms out from his body, looking up at the hoods. "Satisfied!? Stop wasting my Lord's time and get to it!"

Marz clapped a hand down on his shoulder. "Well done, brother." He said just as they were told to proceed up the steps. Marz, Gavin, and K'vin all did so, arriving on the flat plane of the front veranda/porch and being escorted inside.

As they walked in they saw Kehlani in a chair off to their left, surrounded by three armed beings. She looked healthy and undamaged with only a bit of bruising along her left temple along with an abrasion. She locked eyes with Marz and nodded to him, her chest puffing out at seeing her Par'Mach. Her eyes then met Gavin's and the slightest hint of a smile crossed her face as she gave him a friendly nod. The last of the three musketeers also got a nod of respect from his Matriarch, for she had known K'vin for many years. On the raised dais area for the mayor to be when, and if, one was present, stood this Gorvak with no hood or head wrap. He was an Imperial Klingon, and that alone certified his death in the eyes of Marz. For now, though, the Patriarch would play the game and see what came of this. After all, it was a learning experience.

"You are the baktag who dares to threaten my mate, my House, and my people?" Marz asked as he and his two companions came to a stop before the dais.

"I am." Gorvak announced with pride. He motioned to his men to let Kehlani get up and move to her mate's side, which she did. "The raids will stop if our demands are met, Patriarch."

Marz did not look at his wife, his eyes in a death glare with this useless pile of Klingon guts that stood in front of him. "Speak!"

Gorvak came down, face to face, standing before the three. As he did so Gavin made like he was adjusting his gauntlets and bracers, and in doing that, activated the signal for the transporter tags with a bit of sleight of hand. It was not noticed so he dropped his hands back to his sides.

Outside, with the tags signaling, each one was sent a group of twenty hardened Klingon marines directly from High City. As they beamed in, ten would immediately enter the structure they had beamed to to search it for any scouts belonging to the enemy. The other ten began to move to the outer perimeter of the village, within the town, but moving with stealth and speed towards the main hall, staying behind cover.

Gorvak spoke to Marz. "I gave my word to Lady Kehlani that I would return her to you if you agreed to this meeting. As you can see, I have kept my honor in that promise. Now, I have you both and if I wanted you dead then it would be happening. That, however, is not my goal. Never was."

"Stop speaking like a long-winded chamber maid," Kehlani growled out. "Get to the point!" All three of her male companions gave a light chuckle and grins at her audacity, liking the spirit of the Matriarch. This was why she had claimed her own House. She was no coward.

Nodding at her, Gorvak continued as his eyes went to all of them several times as he spoke. "Very well. We would like a place to call home. A place not of your House, nor anything to do with the Klingon Empire. A neutral place where we can raise our children and live how WE want as Klingons. Not by the rigid societal expectations that are hammered on us every day. We are independent Klingons who live our way, and we would like to be able to continue to do so." He stopped in front of Marz, looking him in the eyes. "What say you, Lord Marz."

Marz, having had enough of this coward, this worthless sack of pus, went to respond. Kehlani, at his side, knew her mate well, and just by his body language alone, she could tell that his response would not be one that Gorvak would want to hear. Not that she feared a conflict, nor was she afraid to engage in combat, but she had another idea that would be so much more satisfying for herself since she was the one who had been beaten and captured.

"My Lord," said Kehlani, squeezing his arm enough to get her mate's attention. Their eyes locked and as she continued to speak there came a silent understanding between them that she sought her own form of justice. "Let us consider this request." Marz deflated slightly, playing along, even as Kehlani turned her gaze back to Gorvak. "You have our word we will not leave. I need to consult with the Patriarch. Will you grant us some time to talk outside?"

Gorvak's eyes narrowed as he contemplated how best to proceed. If he let them go outside they may just run for their ships and leave. If he did not let them then there was a chance that they would both die right here in combat, leaving House Kehlani wide open to come and wipe out all his followers. "I will grant you the time. Be quick!"

"Of course." Said Kehlani, getting Marz to turn around as she still held his arm. With as wrathful as her mate was, spinning him around was like trying to spin a bronze statue around in place. "Come, Lord, we need to talk." With hesitating steps, Marz was able to do as his Par'Mach had asked.

Getting outdoors, they closed the Hall doors behind them, then descended the steps. As they did so, Gavin raised his hands to signal the troops on both sides of the village perimeter to close in, then made a circular motion and thumbed back over his shoulder indicating the Main Hall. The troops came in quickly and surrounded the building, with Kehlani's eyes wide open in surprise at the tactics.

Marz Barked orders. "Block all exits and windows. See that no one gets out!" A marine officer nodded and ran off to give orders.

"Good to see you, Lasso." Kehlani said with a grin. "I see you've been busy." She used her gaze to glance and indicate the sash and House symbol. "Did you quit, or get fired?"

"Neither, My Lady." Said Gavin. "Exchange program. My brother," he chinned at Marz and gave a knowing grin. "Likes my tenacity."

More of the marines began to show up, some of them covered in the blood and ichor of scouts they had found and destroyed.

"Your brother," asked Kehlani, looking at her husband.

Marz gave a nod. "R'uustai. He is now my brother and a member of House Kehlani by that rite. He is a Klingon at heart, Kehlani."

"Excellent." Kehlani went to say more but the marine officer returned. "All ways in and out are guarded and blocked. We did so quietly, Lord, as you had ordered earlier."

Gavin raised his hand and gave a polite pointing at his brother. "Just for the record, this was my plan." He gave a laugh, as others around him joined in.

The marine stood there waiting, then decided to speak up. "Orders, Lord?"

Marz looked to the marine, his mind remembering the look he had shared with his mate a few minutes earlier inside this Hall. He motioned to his wife while looking her in the eyes, deferring the order from himself to her as he motioned for her to tell the marine what she wanted.

"Burn it!" Kehlani ordered. "Raze it to the ground with them inside! Go!" The marine beat feet to get back to his men, ordering them to douse the outside of the building with accelerant and burn it with all inside. The orders were followed and the entire Klingon army stood outside, backing off a distance, and watched it burn, the screams of the terrified and dying coming from within.

Gavin, despite how he stood firm with his Klingon companions, felt sick in his guts over this form of death. He understood why but it did little to curb his distaste for such an agonizing death to both mind and body for their enemies. Was it what they deserved, absolutely. Did the punishment fit the crime, yes. Did he have to like it, no.

Kehlani came over and gave him a hug. "Good to have you with us, Gavin. My apologies if this is not to your liking but it is what they brought on themselves. They killed farmers, civilians, even the children. All to get to this point where they could make demands, as if I would cave to such cowardice! Now, they burn here, and will forever burn in the fires of Grethor!"

Lasso gave her a few mild nods. "I understand, sister. I do. Just something I have to get used to. The past few days have been a learning experience and have been exciting. This...this, however, is not easy to watch. The brutality of the Klingon culture."

Marz came in from behind him, form his left. "It is not easy for Klingons, either, to be honest. We have to see it as a means to an end or we will never overcome our enemies. We become weak and docile and that leads to being conquered. After the hurq' left Qo'noS, we swore to never again be enslaved by anyone, and that all enemies will be slaughtered with extreme prejudice. Now, we are the conquerors."

"I understand, Marz, I do." Gavin replied, glancing between both of his friends. "It was just hard to watch and to hear. I had not heard about the children and farmers being slaughtered just because." His shoulders squared and he stood up taller, his mind weighing what he had witnessed to the facts of what those criminals had done. Gavin's resolve returned in favor of the citizens who had been murdered for simply living their lives. "Grethor is too good for them."

Kehlani gave a cackle and belly laugh, giving him a sturdy yet playful backhand to his gut. "That's it! Carry that in your heart. Justice is not always pretty."

They continued to talk, even as they contacted High City and began to beam their marines back, with the Lord and Lady, along with Gavin and the crew of 'Iwghargh boarding the drop ships for the flight home. There was a feast being ordered and Gavin had no doubt he would be waist high in bloodwine and contests of strength during the victory celebration.

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