The Next development

Posted on Thu Jan 31st, 2019 @ 12:19am by Ensign Kara Hoffman & Captain Gary Taylor

Mission: Season 2: Episode 3: Determination is not always a good thing
Location: USS Elysium - XO's office
Timeline: Present
1792 words - 3.6 OF Standard Post Measure

Kara smoothed her uniform and double checked her hair was tied back, adjusting her hair pin slightly. She rang the chime at the entrance to Commander Taylor's ready room. ~I wonder what the commander needs me for. I just got released from sickbay, thank goodness. I'm glad the commander saw fit to approve my release. I know it was him, his authorisation code was the one that was used.~

Gary was seated behind his desk when the chime rang. "Enter!" He called out, hoping he didn't sound too imposing then sat back to see who came through the doors, though he had a good idea.

Kara entered the commander's ready room, and smiled as the doors closed behind her. "Commander. Thanks for seeing me. Thanks also for, well...y'know. I was going crazy while I was in sickbay. It wasn't a long stay, but I hate being cooped up y'know. How is everything? What did you need to see me about?"

Gary smiled and gestured for her to have a seat. His smile grew as Kara babbled about being in Sickbay and being cooped up. "I was glad to spring you Kara. Would you like something to drink before we talk?"

She shook her head, sitting down. "No thank you, I just had lunch." Kara patted her stomach, a full fried breakfast for lunch. Completely breaking the "rules" of breakfast but who cares. "So, what's going on?" She said, shifting a little. She had no reason to feel uneasy anymore since their chat in sickbay. Kara could trust her commander completely and she felt at ease. Right now they could discuss anything and nothing would phase her.

Gary nodded, "Good for you Kara. Have whatever you want, when you want it." He quipped then grew serious. "Lieutenant, that is Kara, what do you know of your parents? Your childhood?"

"Um." Kara stared at the commander, was this some sort of test? "I was born in Aberdeen, brought up by my parents...Jayce and Clarissa." She spoke with a confused tone, her pitch slightly higher than usual. Genuine confusion. She held her hand up. "Commander, you've seen my personnel files, you should kinda know where I come from, did you need to be reminded or something?" As she said that, her aberdonian accent twanged like the string of an acoustic guitar, unmistakably.

"Kara" Gary replied patiently, "I have seen your file and I do know what it says. It says everything you have just said. However....." He paused there was no easy way to say this so he plunged forward. "However." He began again, "Information has been brought forward that sheds confusion on what you have just said.

One eye-brow raised. "Commander there's not really any confusion, I mean it's all pretty straight forward isn't it? Just what is going on, if Starfleet think I'm some sort of spy or insurgent, then I am pretty sure I'm not living in the same damn universe any more!" She laughed at that, attempting to break her confusion with laughter. It usually helped, however seeing the commander not even raise his lips to smile, she grew more serious. " I see. So...not for nothing but...they don't think that I am actually some sort of spy...right?"

"Kara, I don't think your a spy, the Captain doesn't think your a spy. No one on this ship thinks your a spy. So put that out of your head." He leaned forward, time to put all the cards on the table. "However a short time ago I was contacted by an IKS ship, the Ka'rota and their chief engineer a woman named Kuri who claims you are her daughter and therefore at least part Klingon."

Kara observed the commander carefully. His body language, and tone of voice suggested total honesty. "Um, How can that be possible? That's got to be some sort of mistake, surely. This Kuri or whoever must have made some kind of mistake." Kara closed her eyes for a moment. "Did uh, she provide any evidence? It could have been a trick, or some sort of attempting subterfuge or intelligence gathering. This surely can't be real."

"Every question you have just asked, I and the Captain have asked. Apparently Kuri denied to the High Council that you were Klingon and they are investigating because an enemy of the house said you were. Kuri said if she tells you of your birth right and privileges the House of T'lanak will not fall into dishonor. More to the point they will be arriving on station in just over two days to talk to you."

Kara blinked a few times. "So, if they can somehow prove to me that this is all true, then what your saying is, everything I've grown up with could turn out to be flipped upside down. That there's the possibility of being half-Klingon? Please excuse my blunt attitude commander, but that's ridiculous. It has to be some trick. I can probably find, watch and analyse the communication they sent to you. I can investigate it for fake signals, or Image bending, a technique used to apply a filter onto the screen to hide a voice or identity. Although I have to admit, there haven't been any instances known of Klingons ever attempting something like that, they would probably say it's a dishonourable move."

Kara heaved a sigh. "However, It is possible, that this person Kuri may not at all be a Klingon. That what you saw in that message, was maybe what they wanted to you to see, but in reality their identity may as of yet be unknown. Did they send over any information? It they have a ship, I'd sure love to have their shield or cloaking frequencies, hell even a subspace frequency could allow me track Tachyon emissions from their cloaking device."

Gary shook his head, "I'm not saying that at all. I'm saying if this is true, you need to put it in it's proper place. It doesn't mean the Hoffmans are any less your parents and you wouldn't be half Klingon you'd be a quarter Klingon." He sighed, "I have a request, it's from the Captain and myself. Go to Sickbay, find the CMO, have him do a full physical on you, have him look at your blood to see if any genetic blockers were used. Kuri says they were as well as surgery to remove small ridges on your forehead. Once your done, come back to me and we'll discuss our next move. I have the frequency for their cloak. As I said we have two days."

Kara nodded and felt her forehead lightly with her fingertips. "Commander, Just out of curiosity. What if I am part-Klingon and this all turns out to be true? What on earth do I do then? I'll go and see the CMO of course, I want to find out if this could be at all possible, but I highly doubt it. If anyone can find medical evidence, then I'm certain Commander Sthilg can."

Gary didn't answer right away and when he did it was in a calm and measured voice. "If you are indeed part Klingon, you accept it, you embrace it and learn everything you can about it. It's no different than someone being part Vulcan, or Romulan or any of a thousand other races. I don't put labels on people or qualify them by what species they are. I look at the person and what's inside them, their values. Their moral code if you will. As far am I'm concerned your still the ACEO of this ship and I bet it won't change one thing about how Gallia feels about you.

"I suppose your right. Nothing would really change at all would it. It would mean I would have a few new...interesting family members though, that's for sure." She shook her head. "Unless there's anything else you wish to speak about commander, I am going to head back sickbay immediately, I'd have to go back anyway, since Tayalas Is still there in the good care of one of the nurses. I'll speak to the CMO and see what comes up."

"Very good Kara. Oh, just one more thing and I want you to be very clear on this. If it turns out you are part Klingon. It doesn't affect in the slightest how I the Captain,Gallia or anyone feels about you and your position on the ship. Remember that."

Kara nodded, flicking her hair back into position. "It won't affect me either, not if I'm entirely honest. It's true that it would be a shock for anybody, but deep down I am still me. No matter where I come from. Just got to be brave I guess and march forwards. Plus I've got you and everyone to help me if things get tough. I sometimes forget commander, that I don't have to take on the universes problems, on my own."

"One foot in front of the other, always moving forward. I'm always here for you Kara and you are right you aren't alone you have the crew of the Elysium as your family to get you through anything that come your way." Gary answered solemnly.

"Absolutely commander."Kara replied without hesitation. "You know, it's strange but I feel very motivated by this development. It's almost exciting, to think that I might have a Klingon family too. This might sound odd, but I actually hope that what this Kuri said is true." Kara smiled with clear excitement. ~The last time I felt this way, was when I joined the Elysium and started working here. Now I'm excited and nervous more than anything.~

"Gallia might soon have Klingon cousins? Would it be cousins...or, half cousins? Ah who cares. Thanks commander, you've done right by me and explained everything you know to me, I appreciate it. the next step is down to the doctor. Let's see what happens."

"That's a good, positive attitude Kara. Keep it and it will get you through anything. If you need me to talk to or just want me to listen. I'm here for anything you need." Gary told the young engineer.

"Thank you. Permission to head to Sickbay, to see the Doc immediately?"

"Permission granted Kara. Let me know what he finds if anything."

Kara nodded her head and about faced heading straight out, for the turbolift. ~Whatever is going on, the doc'll find out for sure...I hope~

Gary watched as Kara left. All they could do now was wait. Wait to see if the CMO uncovered anything and wait for the Klingons to show up.



Commander Gary Taylor
Executive Officer
USS Elysium

Lieutenant Kara Hoffman
Assistant Chief Engineering Officer
USS Elysium