A Meeting of the Mines
Episode Name: A Meeting of the Mines Written By: Fortunae Cast: Gr'laH and Kang. Produced By: Starfleet Directed By: Fortunae Aired On: Sat Jun 21 16:04:58 2003 Stardate: 53305.1
Time: Sat Jun 21 14:25:25 2003
Stardate: 53304.9
On the foggy world of H'atoria a dark block structure bearing the symbol of the House of Kang lies. Seventeen stories of reinforced dura-crete shaped to deflect orbital bombardment not that such would matter as bombing would ignite the upper atmosphere. Within, far above the administrative officers where employees and bondsmen to the House of Kang labor to keep the flow of supplies running without sullying Klingon Warrior hands, a meeting chamber appointed in the style of Klingons holds to older warriors who bear the scars both physical and emotional of service to the destiny of Kah'less' vision for his people. H'atoria being neutral territory, even if the building itself belongs to the Kangs, is suitable for the meeting of Gr'lah Son Of Go'lah and Qa'rinQ son of Qang.
Qa'rinQ growls in polite greeting, "It is fine that you have come. Things of this nature are best settled between warriors who can look in the gaze of the other. There is bloodwine if you are thristy, there is meat if you hunger for food. There is time, if you lust for talk."
"When I grow hungry, I eat my fear," Gr'laH replies with an amicable enough growl in response, "though wine and talk would sit well with me. Events move apace in the Empire, Qa'rinQ and I am afraid I cannot remain here overlong with Krotar's Fleet still hovering at the border near Rynka. This is a side matter, strangely. A lesser concern, despite its grave importance. So I must treat it as such, settle accounts, and return to my duties at the Embassy. So let us speak directly. We are both men of action."
Qa'rinQ releases a gusty laugh of approval, pours a goblet of bloodwine for both of them and allows Gr'lah to pick his goblet first, then takes the first actual drink. An old tradition of respect and proof of lack of poisoning intentions. After his swig he speaks. "Indeed. The matter on Tiera is sensative, one must walk a fine line when dealing with Romulans as anything other than blood enemies, something we of Kang know well. Too generous they think you as weak and plot, too deliberate and they accuse of provocation, and what is considered moderate is a stable as the temper of a targ. Let us then get to anvils and hammers. Our expetations have been laid out before, and we have given our word to the Nausicaans that we would put forward at High Council the motion for them to be reparated for their damages caused by the trecherous machianations of the Sta'TORuk. The asset assessments of our contrated number chasers have given us a fair estimation of the Sta'TORuk holdings. What is it that you seek from this?"
"The KDF and House Gr'laH lost much in this plot against Martok," Gr'laH replies calmly, "The Ghogh, the Kol'mak, the Kri'cheH. My brother, Cho'daQ. Three crews of Warriors. And that is accounting only my losses. When compared to the might of the Kang, such losses are acceptable, perhaps even able to be dismissed. But in reward for my loyal service these many years, my house is destitute, my Fleet destroyed, my chiefest warriors known now only in song. I was concerned, Qa'rinQ, that there would not be money enough to repay the losses of Klingon loyalists if you sought to repay the UNA for its losses. That there would not be enough, then, to repay you for yours. And, yes, Avok his." Gr'laH settles back into his seat, consuming his wine at last. "Here is what I propose, chiefly, as a means to settle accounts. Favorably and for all. One) The KDF be compensated. In full. Two) The Houses be compensated in full. You, I. Three) Suitable reward be afforded to those Houses loyal in service to the Empire and Martok during this time. Avok. Gr'laH. Kang. Four) The Nausicaans receive their reparations from whatever remains. Which, according to my own inquiries, should be possible. As for what I would ask as reward: Mining rights at Rura Penthe, here on Ha'toria, and governorship of Bal'DUK provisionally to the House. The Sta'TORuk Elder remains free, rumored to be gathering once more in Otha. He will return, and when he does, he will return to face a rather more rich, rather more powerful, and rather more ready House Gr'laH and Kang. To that end, I would ask for a share of the captured vessels taken during the actions against Sta'TORuk. I ask for nothing more than our due, and the Nausicaan's due in order of priority in this matter. If we repay Nausicaa at the expense of even one Klingon Warrior, we make a statement none of us can afford to make. Not now. Not at the brink of yet another war."
"Moreover, it should be said that the reward given to Avok's house would, in turn, be shifted to you to repay you for his foolish words in council. I promised him I would speak to you for this. I do not argue that his words were ill-thought. Not at all. In fact, I would not blame you at his death. However, in serving him in this capacity I have endebted him to me. If you will let your hand pass from him, accept monetary compensation, and suffer him to live? I will become Ambassador to Dulcais and no more will his words be heard at the table. No more will you need question the Honor of your voice so near your holdings on Ha'toria. Do not, as is your right, and you will have to make due with whoever they throw out here to succeed him. But I ask you. After B'val and Avok, who would you sooner trust? Myself, or yet another in a line of regrettables?"
The Elder of the Kangs listens to this all then, nods his head once solidly. "I do not see much with your position that I do not see as being acceptable. The Sta'TORuk mining holdings on Rura Penthe and here would certainly put a long term asset source into your house's hands, which would help ensure your future. Getting a direct credit influx would help you rebuild more immediately. A fair share of captured ships is always the path of honor, and as a side note I would be willing, in light of your losses and long years of service to take such vessels from you in trade for newer ready craft from the Kang shipyards, and wave any difference in value as a gesture of friendship and mutual understanding of the gravity of the local problems. The reparations with the Nausicaans will facilitate a strategic asset arrangement we have made with them, your support for them being paid for the damages suffered would ensure you get favorable rates on the outcome of that, which is military grade dilithium processed by our Kang facilities; a benefit we do not offer lightly. As to Balduk, there we must differ. We have our own concerns about further trouble in the area, you have already noted your own difficulties in completely securing Balduk, but, we would be agreeable to sharing the governorship of Balduk with your house jointly, as equals and warriors concerned for the fate of the empire -- with shared concerns about the Nausicaans, the Romulans and most particularly the Sta'TORuk remnants."
Qa'rinQ then considers Avok. "We are not so mercenary as to accept mere money for the deed of Avok; but we are not so petty that when offered a clear benefit to our house, the security of the empire, his previous adminission of error and the reparations for his damages to refuse this idea as well. We will spare Avok if such as you have outlined comes to pass, but should he renege or slander us again, he will be ended and his name as dust in the void, forgotten and dispersed beyond any form of meaning."
"If there is immediate monies to be had after the reparations of the Nausicaans -- which, again, there will most likely be -- from that remnant will I claim my present due. I build for the future, not the present. The mining rights will fill our coffers and rebuild our fleet. It will take time, more time than an old man has. But I am not my House, no more than we are the Empire, Qa'rinQ." Gr'laH frames a leering grin, chuckling rather fondly as though this joke warms him somehow. "The alleged prisoners. Yes. Zuh'raah'do managed to play me into full cooperation to save face. Not that I would not have willingly moved to the defense of the Starfleet spies. I digress. I will accept these terms. The moneys in the now, the mining rights, the ships in trade, the dilithium refinement, the shared governorship of Balduk. We are in accord, then. To the greater glory of our Houses and the greater security of the Empire." Gr'laH lifts his goblet in toast to this fact. "As to Avok? My service to him extends no further than the sash about his shoulders. When I wear it, my service to him ends, his debt to me with it. If he further gives you reason to see him dispersed like so much grain, so be it. What I do I do for Duty. Nothing more. He claims to lead his House, let him do so. Perhaps he will have learned from watching how these matters play out."
Qa'rinQ rumbles in agreement and raises his own goblet, "To the Empire, Kahless and Chancellor Martok -- may they ever remain free of stain on honor, always in reach of a bat'leth when trechery is near, a ever aware that this is an age of true Klingon Warriors!"
Gr'laH raises his goblet all the higher. "To the Empire, Kahless, and Martok." He drains his goblet at that, slamming it down with a thump. "Q'PLA!" And with that all said and done, Gr'laH resumes his slouch in his seat. "The High Council is to convene soon. I have been invited to speak before it, though I have no vote. No official clout beyond rank and office. I will deliver my report from the Embassy, and intend to speak of the matters we have just meted out. May I join you for this journey?"
Qa'rinQ drains his glass and slams it likewise to the slate-topped table. "I would be honored if you would travel with me then, I have a fast ship for this very purpose, and as we go we can talk about things of less import to the empire but more import to us as men. I hear your daughter has wed, and you have a new daughter in your house -- I too have many daughters." He considers thoughtfully for a moment, "Some even of your generation, perhaps you will meet aboard my vessel during the trip and share your thoughts on parenting in these new times."
"Yes," Gr'laH replies with genuine delight, "though Iliara is not formerly of the House. She will choose which path to walk, and it shall be her own. She was a war orphan of the Betazoid Liberation. Stolen from the ground by slavers. Rescued by Starfleet. As I was present that day, I assumed responsibility for her theft and now claim responsibility for her rearing. It is a matter of honor as much as love. If she chooses to walk the way of her ancestry, that too shall pride me greatly. She is alive today. Reward enough." Gr'laH rolls his massive bulk from his seat to continue on again. "Yes. She is married to a fellow hero of the Empire. They plan for children. If a daughter, it will be named Gharas. After my wife." Gr'laH's pride bubbles through that one eye of his. Nice, wide, and bright. "Many children. They have promised me many children. And I would welcome such conversation. With you and with your children. I have wanted long for company of my peculiar age and condition. The ship will move too fast for the want of it." Chuckling, Gr'laH settles his hand on his belt and sighs. "Klingon Diplomacy. How I miss it."
