Station: Differences

Posted on Mon Apr 21st, 2025 @ 9:22pm by Commander Kehlani & Lieutenant JG Gavin Lasso {Honorary KDF}

Mission: THE KINGDOMS COME AND GO
Location: M-69
Timeline: Current

ON:

Gavin Lasso, now so used to being called gavin by his Klingon House, that sometimes it took him a moment to respond to someone calling him Lasso. He gave an internal smile to that. He and Kehzza had secured their future together, and the Sickbay on the Klingon frigate had been most helpful in healing his broken bones, scratches, cuts, and abrasions. Same with Kehzza's care. But, now, Lieutenant Gavin was walking towards the gangway for boarding the old NX-22 Malta, and before he had set off on this little bit of free time he had called both Kehlani and Kehzza to join him. They both agreed to meet him at the gangway.

Dead ahead, as he came around some cargo lifters, Gavin spotted the two Klingon women. Both wore their own versions of armor, and Kehlani had the paraphernalia to show she was a House Matriarch, but beyond that, it was just her Starfleet paraphernalia mixed in with KDF. Anyone with half a brain could figure out why. "Ladies! Well met!" He came in, arms open wide for hugs, which Kehlani stepped into first being she was the top of the brevet list. After they were married, then Kehzza would always get first crack. Both women hugged him like Klingons.

"How did this ship ever leave dock?" Kehzza asked.

"Courage and conviction, Love." Gavin answered, smiling. "This was Starfleet at the beginning! Do either of you know why we Humans are so expansive in the galaxy?"

Both women were caught off-guard by the question, simply staring at him without giving a response, waiting for him to finish. "Adaptability. That is the one thing Humans have over everyone else. We will put colonies on bogs, on frozen plains, airless worlds; wherever we choose to be. Sure, I'm half El-Aurian, but I do know the history of the species my mother was a descendant of."

Kehlani gave a scrunched, confused scowl for a moment, then shared a cynical look with Kehzza before shaking her head and walking towards the sentry podium.

"If you're so damn adaptable, why did you need the Romulans to beat the Dominion? Or, the Klingons, for that matter?" The corners of her mouth were trying very hard not to grin as she teased her lover, the two of them following Kehlani to the podium. She loved to tease him that way, talking down about Humans until he got so aggravated he would tell her to shut the F up. Hearing him curse and raise his voice got her blood pumping in the best of ways.

Kehlani was already handing over a palm PADD to the sentry post, even as the other two came up and did the same. Even antiquated, there were still classified sections on the NX-class. Kehlani half turned to look at the others. "Humans are very adaptable. The problem with that is that they too often bite off more than they can chew and call for aid. Keep in mind, Kehzza, not all Humans are like the average we see every day. There are those who are a cut above. Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Riker; numerous names. I would fight and die standing next to each of them."

Kehzza gave that consideration, her expression switching around to understanding. The sentries allowed them to continue after laying out the rules. Once they were given the talk the three tourists boarded NX-22 Malta.

"Reminds me of a Bird of Prey," said Kehzza. "Slim corridors, small compartments. A crew that had to live in closeness with one another."

Giving nods of agreement, Gavin turned them so they were heading forward, not aft. Not that they had a time limit but he himself wanted to see the FC console. "Very true. If you didn't get along with someone, you stayed on one side of the ship and they stayed on another. But, most people can work out their angst and come to common ground."

"Klingons are conquerors." Kehlani said, slightly ahead of the other two, turning her head sideways occasionally to at least make the attempt to speak over her shoulder. "These days we are more in tune with diplomacy but make no mistake. We don't look to make friends and allies, we look to conquer a world and add them to the Empire with all the protection we Klingons have to offer."

"Spoken like a true tyrant," Gavin joked, chuckling. "Wasn't Molor called The Tyrant? Seems hypocritical to speak so brusquely of diplomacy and how you conquer, when that is exactly what Molor did. He conquered and tried to consolidate power. He failed."

Kehlani slowed her pace, now more in line with them as they were three abreast. "Times change. After Molor we had to deal with the Hurq'. They are the reason that Klingons tout our martial skills over all others. To be a warrior is the goal of many of our citizens, for security and protection."

Kehzza listened to the two of them go back and forth about philosophy and politics. She cared, but she did not. The three of them wandered around the ship until they started to recognize familiar corridors and then they departed. Walking through the station they continued to chat.

Kehlani spoke up after a lull in conversation. "IKS Foes Bane will be arriving soon. I may be serving my post here but I will not be left unable to return home, or to take part in combat. IKS Warrigul, the Brel class scout, will also remain in the area." She turned her head to look directly at him. "As the Flight Control chief on a starbase, would the Warrigul serve your purposes?"

"It would," Gavin replied. "However, my superiors might have something to say about that."

Kehlani gave a cynical shaking of the head. "Why is it Starfleet always wants to be caught with their britches down? The more combat vessels seen on approach, the less likely someone will grow a pair and buck the odds. Deterrent is the first line of defense, always."

Gavin gave a sigh. "I understand that, Commander. You know as well as I do that Starfleet is very particular about ships and who is commanding them. Klingon, or not. I'll bring it up to Callaghan or Sureth first chance I get."

"Bah!" Kehlani gave an aggravated waving off hand signal. "There is a favored Klingon proverb of mine; only a fool fights in a burning house. If the house is already alight then you have no worries. But, why is it alight? Lack of preparation, that's why. Someone was able to get close enough to stoke the flames. All I am saying."

Gavin was polite, letting the Matriarch vent her frustrations at the way Starfleet did things. Not only Starfleet, but particular CO's had their own ways of seeing to things. Sureth was no different. "As I said, Matriarch. I will present the option when I have a chance." Continuing to discuss differences in cultures, the trio moved on towards the Promenade.

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