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Klingon School

Posted on Thu Jul 25th, 2019 @ 2:53pm by Commander Edra Crow & Lieutenant Michael Harris

Mission: Side Stories
Location: Edruj's Quarters

This takes place sometime after the banquet


Edra made her way through the hall. She felt like she needed this tutelage if they were going to be treading this close to the Klingon border for the foreseeable future. The only lengthy experience she had was the 3 years she had been on Ilj, but the Klingons there were, as the planet's name implied, outcasts. They had a similar social structure, but not the same honor-bound codes that made navigating a conflict with them so tricky.

She knew she had handled the situation at the banquet passably, but she felt like she'd gotten lucky. She couldn't rely on that if she happened upon a less-than-ideal situation with Klingons again. So she was at Edruj's door, pressing the chime, to meet with her to get some insight into how to interact with purpose. And honor, of course.

"'el" (enter) Edruj called to the door unsure of who would be there. The image of Edra the ship's first officer walking in surprised the Klingon woman. "Commander welcome what can I do for you?" Her quarters were spartan and lit in red hues. This was typical for most Klingons. It was also decorated in a traditional Klingon fashion all showing the path of the warrior. Not something you would think would come from a scientist.

The First Officer slowly stepped inside, hoping she wasn't intruding. "At the banquet, I'd mentioned getting some...Klingon lessons, so-to-speak. Is there a time we could set that up?"

Edruj had been reading up on the new methods to draw energy from black holes, however she knew that could wait. "I am free right now Commander. Please have a seat, is there anything I can get you?"

"No, thank you. I'm fine," she said with a wave of her hand. She continued, getting straight to the point. "I have the basic knowledge of Klingon culture and philosophy, but up to now haven't needed to use it. If we're going to be stationed in this sector for a while, and interacting with them, I'd like to have a deeper understanding of Klingon behavior and how to respond in a way to be taken seriously, preferably without breaking Starfleet protocol." On the surface, that sounded like opposing requirements, but she was aware of other representatives of Starfleet who had been held in high esteem by the Klingons.

Edruj ordered up a glass of apple cider from the replicator and then joined Edra. "On the surface Klingons seem to be nothing but mindless fighters. However, that could not be farthest from the truth. The first thing to remember is if you want respect from any Klingon do not back down from anything. A Klingon wants to know that you will join with them, and meet them, not allow them to walk on you. This ideal permeates in our culture including our marriage rites."

Edra nodded. "That makes sense, and I get it; however, in some situations, like diplomatic talks, when does compromising for the greater good turn into backing down? Or in the case of the banquet, dismissing the ramblings of an angry adolescent with no experience was taken as weak. There is an implication in that, that even someone who doesn't get a say in those political decisions could still derail months, if not years, of work. And the Klingon elders didn't seem to mind."

"You are exactly right. Elders will never care in such cases, and that is because if the young one is correct in the challenge then an unworthy ally has been vanquished. If the young one is incorrect then they have learned to not challenge their betters. You have to understand a Klingon will never compromise for the greater good. They in turn expect their allies to do the same. Hence the challenge at the dinner." Edruj sat as she replied. She refused to admit it but this was quite refreshing. She sipped her drink when she finished speaking.

Edra stopped to consider the explanation she'd gotten. It made sense in a strange way, and yet was still missing something. "So does our standing with them bear no weight in that situation? I mean, I thought the Federation, even Starfleet in particular had proved itself as a worthy ally in the Dominion War, and since. Is that not even worth putting someone who has little experience in their place? Or do they still have reason to doubt us?" Suddenly a thought occurred to her, but she wasn't sure the woman in front of her knew the political situation enough to give a knowledgeable answer. Still, she'd broach it after Edruj could answer what she'd already put in front of her.

"To answer that you have to go back to the beginning of the Khitomer Accords. You see the turning point in Klingon/Federation relations came at the battle of Narendra III. It was there when Captain Rachel Garrett and her crew died defending the Klingon outpost from Romulan attack. The Enterprise C proved to all Klingons that Humans, that Starfleet could die with honor, that they too had the blood of the warrior. That brought my people to the table. However, in the years to follow we would learn how individual Federation and Starfleet society was. We would learn that we could not judge everyone by the actions of the crew of the Enterprise C. So we began to evaluate everyone individually. Hence the little challenges among Captains etc..." Edruj spoke reverently of Nerendra it was quite the subject to this day for a Klingon.

Edruj sipped as she considered her next statement. "On the homeworld the High Council knows that for every Kirk, every Picard, every Garrett there are dozens of Captains who a Klingon would deem unworthy. They make no efforts to hide this fact. So, you are correct when you say there are some in the Empire who still seek proof."

Edra nodded. "I see." It was hard to argue that everyone in Starfleet, even those who made it to the higher ranks were honorable. They'd been witness to the opposite themselves. "I wish I could say that wasn't true, but you're right." Her delayed question still tugged at her though. "Are you aware of any reason the Empire would have to distrust us with particular regards to Organia? It wouldn't be the first time we were sent into a situation with only half the information available," which in her mind spoke to Edruj's point, but that was just her opinion.

"Nothing specific to Organia. Save to say they do not know what to make of our Captain. The Klingons know that Organia has been highly contested. They also know that there are members of the fleet who cannot be trusted. So now they ask does Captain Crow have honor, is he a worthy ally, or is he a ptach like so many others. There is also the worry that they have toward the rest of the fleet. If this outpost is dismantled who is to stop a rouge starfleet Captain from attacking the Klingon colonies." Edruj replied as she sipped her drink. Her mind was torn in two places. On the one hand she wanted to continue this conversation as it was most stimulating, and on the other she wanted to shy away from all of this and retreat into her labs.

"Well, I think he's honorable," she said with a smile. "Even if he's not perfect. But you bring up a good point. I'll bring it up the possibilities of rogues with the Captain." She noticed the other woman's attention was straying. "Is everything okay?"

Edruj smiled "Everything is fine... It is just that I am a scientist, not too much of a social being. This is the most time I have spent with anyone that was not on an experiment with me. As such I can get ummmmm flustered. However, the conversation is quite stimulating. The main thing to understand about my people is that we constantly think we are under attack. If you think that way too and stay a few steps ahead you can negotiate well with Klingons."

The look on Edra's face spoke of the guilt she felt for dropping in. "I'm sorry, I do hope I haven't been too intrusive, and please tell me if I am. What we've discussed has been very helpful, so thank you. I'd like to continue this, if you don't mind, maybe as a scheduled item next time. Would that be okay?"

Edruj could tell that perhaps her previous comment was taken the wrong way. "Oh, no no no my dear Commander please know that you are not intrusive. It is I who need to learn to adapt and change. As I said Klingons can be very rigid in their ways and I am no different. I too would like to continue, a chat about my people is always a good time for me. Just next time you bring the blood wine eh." She added the last bit with a chuckle.

The XO grinned as she stood. "If you can point me where to procure good blood wine, I will do that. But we will plan ahead next time. Deal?"

"Deal..." Edruj said as she raised her pewter tankard filled with Bloodwine. "Until that time remember this. If you want to experience life as a Klingon. Simply live each day like it is your last, it is what I do."

 

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