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House Duroc Embassy - When Cultures (And Laws) Clash (Tag Lt. Gov.)

Posted Sept. 19, 2022, 12:55 p.m. by Civilian Kenzo B'tren-Hyrushi (Governor) (James Sinclair)

Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in House Duroc Embassy - When Cultures (And Laws) Clash (Tag Lt. Gov.)

Posted by Civilian Urg’tohn, Son of the House of Duroc (Klingon Warrior) in House Duroc Embassy - When Cultures (And Laws) Clash (Tag Lt. Gov.)

Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in House Duroc Embassy - When Cultures (And Laws) Clash (Tag Lt. Gov.)
Posted by… suppressed (6) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Reaching out with a hand, Eela settled herself into the chair, warmed by the fire. The whole effect of the room was cozy. Her hazel eyes took him and Eela was not rushed, waiting to speak until she was ready. “I’m the first to admit that what happened outside should not have. They acted with disrespect and they will be dealt with. But their purpose for coming here remains one that need to be dealt with. You see, Lord Duroc, we have undeniable evidence that an AWOL Starfleet officer is here at this embassy. Desertion is a chargeable offence and by Starfleet regulations they will face a court martial. If Lieutenant Luis Vargas is being harboured here at the Embassy, I would like to know why. If there are pieces of information that might change his AWOL status, I equally would like to know those so that we can make informed decisions about how to proceed.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Urg was silent for a moment, staring at the Lieutenant Governor. He then said “The individual you speak of is known to me. And I am aware that he left Star Fleet without the proper documentation or permission. And he is here. But he is now a part of my House, Madame. And as such, I have no reason to release him to you.” and he waved a hand to dismiss the anticipated objection. “Yes, yes, yes… I know he broke your regulations. And yes I am quite certain your warrant us valid… from your perspective.” A small but unnerving smile crossed his face. “I might even have considered trying to work something out with you, Captain. Such as releasing him to you to face the charges and allowing him to serve out his sentence here. But that was before-” and he shouted the single word, “- your officers committed an act of aggression against my people.” He had risen slightly forward as he spoke, but as he finished he leaned back again. “So I’m sure you will understand when I say your concerns of the past actions of Vargas are of no concern of mine now. Nor do your Star Fleet regulations have any say here.”

Urg, Lord Duroc

She was not intimidated by him. Not when he raised his voice, nor when he moved slightly towards her. If this situation were playing out in a different embassy and not a Klingon one, she might understand the stance. But here she struggled to make sense of it. “By all accounts Vargas’ actions are dishonourable ones. Why choose to make him a member of your House and possibly taint it with his actions?”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Urg burst out laughing. For a solid minute he laughed loudly and banged his fist on the arm of his chair. Finally composing himself… slightly… he looked at Dasca and said “By all the gods above and below, woman! If you think you are going to play that outdated, outmoded, and always abused ‘Honor’ bullshit with me you are sorely out of your depth!” and he laughed again. “I thought you were supposed to be smart!” and more laughing.

Humour touched her eyes and Dasca leaned forward ever so slightly . Some must fluster at getting something vital wrong, but not Eela. No, she was here to learn, and sometimes you had to get things wrong and stumble in order to get at the heart of the matter. She had made tiny observations about the differences in this House but she had not been willing to make assumptions about them. Clearly she had made an assumption still, just a different one but his reaction told her it was one she could yet recover from.

“Honor… HONOR! Do you have any idea how many deaths… how many genocides… assassinations… extinctions… orphaned children… and outright wars have been committed in the name of so-called ‘honor’?” Urg asked, suddenly very serious. “Honor. BAH!” and he spit on the floor at her feet. “Honor is a propaganda tool used by the High Council to stay in power and to line their pockets. And yes, I know this for a fact because I sit on the damned Council.” He took a deep breath and then said “Did you not see when you showed up here? Did you not look at my House?” He stood up and went to the desk, and lifted the top so it tilted up on a hidden hinge. From under the lid, he pulled out a large, hide-bound book with thick pages. He brought it to Dasca and set the large tome reverently in her lap.

As the weighty book settled in her lap, her fingers gently rested on it with deep reverence.

“Look. This is the record of my House. All the members, alive and lost. Look. Tell me what you see.”

Inside the book were hundreds of pictures. Many Klingons… but almost as many non-Klingons. Human, Cardassian, Vulcan, Breen, Romulan, Deltan, Naussican, Risian, Bajoran… even some Jem’Hadar. Next to all was a single stardate. Next to some… a second. And around those a circular pinkish-red stain…

Klingon blood.

Urg, Lord Duroc

Turning the pages, Eela took her time, her eyes tracing each image. Her jaw almost imperceptible flexed and tightened especially as she noted the ones who had died. The collective weight of these images was more than she could almost bear, but not for any reason an onlooker would be able to determine. Except for those who understood what it was to be responsible for the lives of others and to have lost them. The weight of each carried more heavily than any other burden. “Everyone deserves to have a family, to have a place where they belong,” she all but whispered as she turned another page.

“You care for each deeply,” she said, lifting her gaze to his. “Please forgive my disrespect.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Urg looked at her quizzically. “Disrespect? How could you disrespect me? You. Didnt. Know. Ignorance isn’t disrespect, Captain. Its just a lack of knowledge.” He leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees and looked at her. “And you are right. I do care for each one, because they are my House… my family. We live and die for the House.” and he leaned back. “And each other. Vargas included.” and he leaned back and looked at her with a small smile. “I notice you never asked why he is a member of House Duroc. Is that not important to you and your precious desertion charge?”

Urg, Son of Kvaar’ton

Dasca smiled herself as she closed the cover of the book and carefully rose to her feet, but without free hands, it took more effort than she would have liked. Thank goodness for the brace to help her in this instance. It probably wasn’t even audible over the crackle of the fire. She set the book very gently on the desk and turned back to face Lord Duroc. “I did ask, actually, but it was understandably lost in the rest of it. And it does very much matter why you choose to make him a member of your house. So, yes, enlighten me. As you say I’ve had a lack of knowledge and I am someone who seeks understanding. Please help me understand,” she said as she retook her seat.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Urg smiled (it wasn’t pretty or nice) and said “He saved the life of three of my people. They were seeking passage off a planet where I had business. The shuttle they had chartered was older, but the merchant assured them it was space worthy. Vargas stopped them as they were boarding, and pointed out that the shuttle was in danger of explosive decompression. They almost didn’t believe him… he was living on the street and didn’t present the most ‘professional’ demeanor. But he was insistent. They didn’t go. And the shuttle exploded and everyone else was lost. To thank him, my people brought him to me. He told me his story. How he joined Star Fleet because his parents wanted him to. He became an Engineer because his parents wanted him to. And he asked for duty on a star ship because… again… its what his parents wanted him to do. And after five years, the loss of said parents, and watching three of his comrades die very painfully in a warp core breach, he decided that his life wasn’t what it should be. He requested a termination of service. He was denied. Why, I don’t know… nor do I care. So… for perhaps the first time… he chose for himself. He left. He found himself destitute, starving, and alone. But it was on his own terms. When he stood before me, he didn’t shake. He didn’t fawn. He didn’t beg. He told his story and held himself with pride. He showed me his worth… something your Star Fleet failed to show him or recognize. At least… in a way he could see. His worth was evident to us though. So we gave him work. He took it. He worked. Very hard. He proved his worth to us and to himself. A year later, he became a member of House Duroc.” Urg smiled (again… not pleasant). “And I figured that one day Fleet would come calling. But I want to ask you a question, Captain. And I want you to give it some consideration. If what he did was so heinous… that he is such a criminal that Star Fleet believes it necessary to send four armed officers to publicly arrest him and haul him away to be prosecuted and imprisoned…”

“Why was it only that important when they realized he was close by? His name has been listed on all of our documentation. He has passed through the CCDA checkpoint on the orbital platform several times.. and nothing. So why now is this an issue? Because its the right thing to do? Or is it simply convenient?”

Urg, Lord Duroc

A significant part of her was reeling from this information. So much of it did not make sense. It did not add up. The questions weighed heavily in the air and she did exactly as he asked and gave them serious consideration. At length Eela exhaled a heavy breath. “Those are very good questions. Ones I do not have answer for. I can understand that the reason he was denied the ability to retire his commission is of no concern to you, but it is to me. It… frames the conversation a bit more clearly. I have obviously been given incomplete information and as you can imagine it is not something I enjoy very much, and it makes things more complicated than they need to be. But here we are.”

Eela shook her head, casting her gaze to the side. The irony was thick in this situation. Here was a man who wanted to leave Starfleet, and his situation was being handled by a woman who had desperately wanted to stay in. “It’s not my Starfleet, as you say,” she said, returning her gaze to Urg. “This is just my personal belief, but Starfleet has always seemed to me to be something different for each person. Sometimes it lives up to what they believe, and more, and sometimes it does not. I’ve always felt that people should serve only if their heart is in it. If it’s not, it’s okay to walk away. So I empathize with Luis Vargas. Deeply, Lord Duroc. Because I actually know that feeling, that debate, all too well.”

“I do not know the answer to this situation, other than I need to investigate things on my side more. You are right that four guards for an arrest is unnecessary and I don’t know why that decision was made, but I can find out. For now I see no issue wth Vargas continuing here as he has, since he’s clearly been here awhile. I can apologize for the disrespect shown this embassy on behalf of the others, but that’s a cop out and I don’t abide those. Instead, I ask you what you feel would be acceptable in this situation.” Her hazel eyes gazed deeply at him, seeking understanding and maybe a bit of middle ground. This was, after all, only her first week here and her promise to herself was that she would make no future plans about how she would proceed on Oed until she had had a chance to really get to know the place and the people who resided her. Until she understood them, she had no right to make proclamations or determinations. Clearly, her resolve in this was being mighty tested, but Eela had not made it this far in her life without being flexible. Otherwise she would have broken long ago.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Lord Duroc very clearly studied the Lieutenant Governor very closely for some time. It wasn’t a pleasant experience for most. Disregarding his less than handsome countenance; there was something definitely off about the fire behind the dark eyes. Not ‘off’ likee his childhood doctors had tried to say… no, he was clearly a being of great intellect. But it was the level of intensity which his gaze possessed that made most shift in their seats… if they did not run. Finally, he spoke. His words were softer, less aggressive… but held a tone that spoke of careful consideration and thought before they were uttered.

“Madame, my thoughts are this. We already have a situation that casts both of us in a somewhat negative light. And I refuse to give the impression that my House is at odds with Star Fleet. My first thought is that whatever we do, we do jointly. After that, I would recommend that what we do, we do so publicly. But whatever you and I decide is the appropriate course of action, Vargas will stay with House Duroc. That is non-negotiable.”

Urg, Lord Duroc


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