USS California - Earthbound
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jayphailey
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: Tue May 29, 2018 7:50 pm
Re: USS California - Earthbound
Fotr the scene I am writing, they don't even get to the planet. Stand by, please.
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jayphailey
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: Tue May 29, 2018 7:50 pm
Re: USS California - Earthbound
Kagaran - he is an old Klingon house lord. His house in the second rank, falling into the third.
He's just mediocre at the sorts of administration and planning you need to run a house well. He inspires a lot of loyalty, personally. He is a Klingons Klingon.
He is a Real Klingon and straight ahead about it. Klingons rule. Aliens Die. That's the way of things.
This put him on the wrong side of the Real/New Klingon civil war. His house's recovery from that was slower and more grinding. He has refused to engage in the villainy and bullshit that the first rank Real Klingon Houses use to get ahead.
Big, gray, scarred. He's been in fights, and it shows. His age also shows.
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Kormaga - Son of Kagaran. He is a Warrior, heir to his father's throne. In truth his heart isn't in the Real Klingon thing. He's not ideological. He's oddly focused on winning battles. To win battles you must have a good fleet and good people. To get a good fleet and good people, you need a good economy.
So He's entirely prepared to reform the house holdings and rebuild them, just to pave the way to building and manning better fleets
So he can go and win battles. It's like he's playing full scale Warhammer. Ideology-Schmideology. Eat torpedoes.
Taller, thinner, quick eyes.
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Zoralaga - Daughter of Kagaran. She is keenly aware of the decline of her house and does not LIKE it. She is a social climber. She wants Money and Status and doesn't care what she has to do to get it. She's intelligent and shrewd. She is also ideologically Real Klingon. Non-Klingons kind of skeeve her out. She'll use non-Klingons towards her ends. She just doesn't like them.
Round, voluptuous, with a cruel mouth
Dark hair, dark eyes
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Morladar, Son of Qin'Tark - Husband of Zoralaga
Zoralaga married him as a social climbing move. This has not worked out like she wanted. He is not in the line of succession for House Qin'tark, his holdings are few and Qin'tark is no one's prize.
Morladar is working on setting the table for a coup in House Kagaran. Once Kagaran is out of the way, he's working on going on a blood soaked murder spree and coming out of it with "House Morladar"
Zoralaga knows this, has his plot mapped, and is waiting to see which way she'll jump.
Unknown to both, Kormaga has their number and has a counter coup in place, although it looks like dorks playing "Build Strategy The Table Top Game".
Morladar is a Big Wall of guy. Wide. He had a large jutting chin.
His armor always has all of his decorations on it
He's just mediocre at the sorts of administration and planning you need to run a house well. He inspires a lot of loyalty, personally. He is a Klingons Klingon.
He is a Real Klingon and straight ahead about it. Klingons rule. Aliens Die. That's the way of things.
This put him on the wrong side of the Real/New Klingon civil war. His house's recovery from that was slower and more grinding. He has refused to engage in the villainy and bullshit that the first rank Real Klingon Houses use to get ahead.
Big, gray, scarred. He's been in fights, and it shows. His age also shows.
---------------
Kormaga - Son of Kagaran. He is a Warrior, heir to his father's throne. In truth his heart isn't in the Real Klingon thing. He's not ideological. He's oddly focused on winning battles. To win battles you must have a good fleet and good people. To get a good fleet and good people, you need a good economy.
So He's entirely prepared to reform the house holdings and rebuild them, just to pave the way to building and manning better fleets
So he can go and win battles. It's like he's playing full scale Warhammer. Ideology-Schmideology. Eat torpedoes.
Taller, thinner, quick eyes.
----------
Zoralaga - Daughter of Kagaran. She is keenly aware of the decline of her house and does not LIKE it. She is a social climber. She wants Money and Status and doesn't care what she has to do to get it. She's intelligent and shrewd. She is also ideologically Real Klingon. Non-Klingons kind of skeeve her out. She'll use non-Klingons towards her ends. She just doesn't like them.
Round, voluptuous, with a cruel mouth
Dark hair, dark eyes
----------
Morladar, Son of Qin'Tark - Husband of Zoralaga
Zoralaga married him as a social climbing move. This has not worked out like she wanted. He is not in the line of succession for House Qin'tark, his holdings are few and Qin'tark is no one's prize.
Morladar is working on setting the table for a coup in House Kagaran. Once Kagaran is out of the way, he's working on going on a blood soaked murder spree and coming out of it with "House Morladar"
Zoralaga knows this, has his plot mapped, and is waiting to see which way she'll jump.
Unknown to both, Kormaga has their number and has a counter coup in place, although it looks like dorks playing "Build Strategy The Table Top Game".
Morladar is a Big Wall of guy. Wide. He had a large jutting chin.
His armor always has all of his decorations on it
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jayphailey
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: Tue May 29, 2018 7:50 pm
Re: USS California - Earthbound
James Keer Akaar
President of the United Tribes of Capella
The fourth James Akaar to hold the presidency
He is a mix of Politician, MMA Fighter, and Pro-wrestler.
He's 6'6" and 285lbs, tall, rangy, with big hands.
He's big, broad, and loud. When he's really rolling, he turns his appearances into circuses.
He had minions who keep things running. They are well paid. If they embarrass him, out they go.
He'd love to run for Federation President, but his one tour in the Federation Council didn't suit him. Too little personality, too much consensus building.
The Capellans love him, but they also love any given heel who shows up to challenge him.
President of the United Tribes of Capella
The fourth James Akaar to hold the presidency
He is a mix of Politician, MMA Fighter, and Pro-wrestler.
He's 6'6" and 285lbs, tall, rangy, with big hands.
He's big, broad, and loud. When he's really rolling, he turns his appearances into circuses.
He had minions who keep things running. They are well paid. If they embarrass him, out they go.
He'd love to run for Federation President, but his one tour in the Federation Council didn't suit him. Too little personality, too much consensus building.
The Capellans love him, but they also love any given heel who shows up to challenge him.
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jayphailey
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: Tue May 29, 2018 7:50 pm
Re: USS California - Earthbound
Rule of Threes
Xamina McCoy Saazh - James Akaar's wife. tall but slim. She looks like she's built from steel cables.
A former assassin, she fell in love with Akaar and rescued him from an assassination plot a long time ago. They have children who are all on Earth, right now.
She is Akaar's martial arts trainer. She has picked up enough pro wrestling to understand the need to make things showy. But her self she's a killer. She's also Akaar's appointments manager.
Akaar doesn't cheat and will point at Xamina is asked why.
The fact is, he's not that motivated by sex and would find trysts and encounters messy and complicated. He really enjoys a straight forward non-complicated relationship with Xamina.
When offered a bribe, Xamina will dime out the bribery in a second. Unless its someone she knows. Then she'll keep about half of it in order not to call the cops. And she'll say it right to their face. Her influence is not for sale. Her silence is negotiable.
She has spent her ill gotten gains on hidden escape routes and mechanisms to GTFO if things go south.
Xamina McCoy Saazh - James Akaar's wife. tall but slim. She looks like she's built from steel cables.
A former assassin, she fell in love with Akaar and rescued him from an assassination plot a long time ago. They have children who are all on Earth, right now.
She is Akaar's martial arts trainer. She has picked up enough pro wrestling to understand the need to make things showy. But her self she's a killer. She's also Akaar's appointments manager.
Akaar doesn't cheat and will point at Xamina is asked why.
The fact is, he's not that motivated by sex and would find trysts and encounters messy and complicated. He really enjoys a straight forward non-complicated relationship with Xamina.
When offered a bribe, Xamina will dime out the bribery in a second. Unless its someone she knows. Then she'll keep about half of it in order not to call the cops. And she'll say it right to their face. Her influence is not for sale. Her silence is negotiable.
She has spent her ill gotten gains on hidden escape routes and mechanisms to GTFO if things go south.
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jayphailey
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: Tue May 29, 2018 7:50 pm
Re: USS California - Earthbound
Trent Albaran
A Capellen educated on Earth. He is Akaar's chief of staff and trusted deputy. He runs the bureaucracy that keeps Capella running. A Former Starfleet Lieutenant, he learned that the best way to manage is to get excellent people and let them work.
He sees his job as making an open space for Akaar to play the pro wrestler head of state.
Akaar's the boss, but he gives Trent lots of room. Trent feels like they're hooked together. His future rides on Akaar.
Trent knows about Mrs Akaar's stash. He also knows why their children are on Earth (To keep them away from plots and machinations) He is conflicted about how best to handle this.
A Capellen educated on Earth. He is Akaar's chief of staff and trusted deputy. He runs the bureaucracy that keeps Capella running. A Former Starfleet Lieutenant, he learned that the best way to manage is to get excellent people and let them work.
He sees his job as making an open space for Akaar to play the pro wrestler head of state.
Akaar's the boss, but he gives Trent lots of room. Trent feels like they're hooked together. His future rides on Akaar.
Trent knows about Mrs Akaar's stash. He also knows why their children are on Earth (To keep them away from plots and machinations) He is conflicted about how best to handle this.
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jayphailey
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: Tue May 29, 2018 7:50 pm
Re: USS California - Earthbound
Finished the piece.
Damn that was hard. Why was that hard?
Next up, more Omoikane.
Damn that was hard. Why was that hard?
Next up, more Omoikane.
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jayphailey
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: Tue May 29, 2018 7:50 pm
Re: USS California - Earthbound
Letting it settle before I go back for edits. It'll be along presently.
It's just a scene like the two before.
It's just a scene like the two before.
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jayphailey
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: Tue May 29, 2018 7:50 pm
Re: USS California - Earthbound
USS California - Earth Bound 3
Dec 2412
Commodore Kirk Lakmar beamed aboard with two of his people and saluted the keel “Permission to come aboard?”
“Granted, Sir. Welcome aboard the USS California.” Haley Anderson said.
Lakmar was a large man, close to two meters tall and built thickly. He stepped forward and shook Anderson’s hand. His hand was easily twice the size of hers and had calluses.
“I hope you’ll be able to give me a tour, but first, I’d like to brief you and your XO on our situation here.”
Haley smiled, “We’d love to.”
-*-
Haley, Sian, and Grelka sat down, while Lakmar made the conference room look too small.
“Tonight, Kargana, son of Tolgar arrives. He’s challenged the President to a duel, to take place tomorrow night.” Lakmar explained.
“What offense has your President given to justify an Honor challenge?” Grelka asked.
“He’s human,” Lakmar said. “That’s enough for the Real Klingons.”
“That faction asserts that humans are incapable of honor,” Grelka said. “Kargana gains nothing in the challenge.”
Lakmar looked at Grelka for a moment. “You don’t know?”
Haley said, “Assume I don’t and explain, please.”
“The Klingons and the Capellans have been fighting for a hundred and fifty years. It's something of a tradition. The real Klingons would kill us and conquer us if they could, but we’ve attained the status of a worthy enemy for them.”
“How is your President going to respond to this challenge?” Sian asked.
“He’s going to face him in the Grand Auditorium tomorrow night.”
Haley and Sian stared at Lakmar.
“Hmmph. He has a Klingon’s honor.” Grelka said.
“Thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment. He has Capellan honor, which can look similar from certain angles.”
Grelka nodded grimly.
“And what do you expect from us, Sir?” Sian asked.
Lakmar called up a strategic scan of the area. “We don’t have any intel or clues leading in this direction, but in the past, these sorts of events have been used as a distraction. While we’re watching the duel, sometimes Klingon raiders try something.”
The scan showed Starfleet battle groups loitering near systems and planets in the region. “We’ve dispersed our fleet to certain areas, with an eye towards responding to aggression done under the cover of this event. They’re zone coverage. We’d like you to join our home guard formation. Since you haven’t trained with us, we’d like you to be ready to provide fire support if things go kinetic here in our system.”
Haley said, “I can’t imagine anyone would try anything. You’ve got a heavy Starbase here. It would take a huge Klingon fleet and a long time to reduce this system.”
Lakmar said, “The enemy attacks on two occasions. When he’s ready and when you’re not. Our theory is that if we get ready for a sneak attack, that’ll be good practice and it will tend to deter an actual attack.”
Haley nodded. “Where do you want us, Sir?”
Lakmar zoomed in to the Capella system “We’d like you in a high orbit, opposite of our Starbase here. You’ll be with the third group, fire support wing.”
“We’ll be there, Sir.”
“Thank you. I’ve been reading up on your ship. She seems like a lovely girl to have for our sorts of missions.”
“It is my fervent hope this remains academic, Admiral. Haley said, “Let’s go do a visual inspection of our weapons and energy systems.”
Lakmar smiled. “That sounds lovely.”
“With the Commodre’s permission, I’ll go arrange a suitable meal. I have seen our phasers,” Grelka said.
Lakmar laughed, “Thank you, Lieutenant Commander. Your service does us honor.”
-*-
Traffic in local Capellan space stopped. Commercial and Starfleet, Klingon, Orion and all sorts of commercial ships from throughout known space all slowed down or stopped completely as everyone put their eyes on the viewscreens.
-*-
On the Bridge of the USS California, everyone watched on the main screen as announcers repeated history, expressed opinions, and interviewed various people.
In the background, they could see the Grand Auditorium filling with people.
On the audio channel, they could hear the crowd noise. It was happy and excited.
Over the course of two hours anticipation grew and grew.
In the center of the floor of the Auditorium there was a large oval ring, marked by low walls of something transparent with regular holes in it.
Then, the night’s festivities started.
Minimally clothed fighters entered the ring and fought, barehanded. Three pairs of people fought. Between each round, the floor of the combat ring sparkled as blood, sweat and other things were technologically swept away.
The crowd roared and cheered. The commentators commented and told everyone what was happening with some context.
Every so often, Haley checked the tactical board and the comms channel. Nothing tactical was happening within the Capella system. Comms were silent as all eyes were on the big event. They were in formation with two Excelsior class, a California and a Centaur class. They waited for trouble that may or may not be happening.
Every so often, Sian checked the status of the California herself. Engines were at low energy, ready to ramp up at a moment’s notice. Power flowed through the ship easily. The entire crew was awake and either at their stations or ready to spring into action. Most of the crew was watching the event on available screens.
The ship's lounge became a major hub of not-quite-on-duty folks watching things unfold.
Then the main event.
The Announcer called, “Ladies and Gentlemen! People of Capella! Presenting James Keer Akaar, the President of Capella!”
Light flashed and swirled. Pyrotechnics popped with colored flames. The Capellan anthem played very loudly.
The President of the United Tribes of Capella walked out into the auditorium wearing a big robe. He was tall and rangy. His face was long and angular. His hair was slate gray. He had a big grin on his face and waved to the cheering crowd.
He was followed by a middle-aged woman in a sparkly dress. She was thin, and her body looked like it was made of steel cables under tanned skin. Like Akaar, she waved at the crowd with a big smile on her face.
“I can’t see how anyone’s going to catch him in the polls now,” a Commentator said.
Haley realized this was half a sporting event and half a political event.
The Announcer said, “And the Challenger! Lord Kargana, Son of Tolgar, Lord of House Kargana of the KLINGON EMPIRE!” The crowd cheered.
Then, the lights went down, and came back up with a more red and orange hue. A Klingon Anthem played.
Four Klingons marched toward the ring. The lead Klingon was an older man, made of rectangles and gray hair. He was wearing a Klingon cape with lots of medals on it. Lord Kargana
On his right was a tall Klingon man, less massive but lots of reach. He looked around curiously.
On his left, a Klingon woman, solidly built, she had broad curves and roundness to her. Her black eyes and black hair seemed to drink in the spotlights. Her armor shined.
Behind Kargana there was a Klingon man approximately the size of a shuttlecraft. His armor also shone, freshly polished and it was studded with a huge number of decorations. His face looked like he cracked anvils with it, and his chin looked like an axed head pointing down.
The crowd started chanting “Q’aplA! Q’aplA! Q’aplA!”
Akaar and Kargana entered the ring and took off their robes and capes.
They were minimally dressed, Akaar in shorts, and Kagaran in armored jock strap.
The Announcer called for attention.
“For tonight’s main event, Kargana, son of Kolgar has challenged James Keer Akaar to a duel with traditional mek’leths! This duel is to the death!”
A buxom Capellan woman in a bikini climbed into the ring and presented Kargana with a mek’leth, the Klingon short sword, from a velvet pillow. The Klingons glared at her, as Kargana looked at the two weapons, took one, waved it around, and flipped it, catching it by the handle. He nodded.
“Captain,” Grelka said, “I request permission to stand my shift on the auxiliary bridge.”
Haley looked at Grelka. She was emotional.
“Granted,” Haley said.
Grelka stood up and hurried off the bridge.
Tavis said “Captain, I too-”
“Go. Go,” Haley said.
The two combatants faced each other and the Referee declared the rules of the duel.
Then he stood back and the crowd roared.
The two combatants crouched into fighting positions and moved towards each other, purposefully but without undue hurry.
They feinted and took each other’s measure. Akaar was grinning.
Kagaran was grim.
Kagaran shuffled and then spun the wrong way, doing a complex patterns of moves with his mek’leth.
Akaar blocked just enough to strike sparks off the swords, but spun out of the way. He was quicker than his size suggested, and apparently he knew that mek’leth pattern. He dodged out of the way and bounced back dancing on the balls of his feet.
Kagaran looked irritated. The crowd roared louder.
After some more shuffling and feints, Kagaran did a triangular attack, stepping this way, then that. Akaar caught the attack on his own short sword. They stood straining in a strength-on-strength contest for a moment. Akaar fell backwards and to his left. Kagaran fell into it and leapt over Akaar into a shoulder roll. The two men regained their feet and resumed their fighting crouch.
The crowd roared.
Kagaran, irritated, stood up, pointed his finger at Akaar, and bellowed.
At that moment Akaar launched an attack. He sprang forward, and and swung his weapon through a loop. Kagaran startled, stepped back into the countering pattern.
The crowd instantly fell silent.
As the two men passed, pink and red blood splashed.
Kagaran’s head fell, and then the rest of his body.
Akaar slumped to the ground, holding his left arm tight against his torso. His left hand twitched on the mat behind Kagaran.
The human woman in the sparkly dress was over the ring side and to Akaar’s side instantly.
The Klingons approached more slowly
The Referee looked at Akaar, who nodded tightly, but slumped a little further.
“The WINNER!” The Announcer yelled, “JAMES KEER AKAAR!”
The woman and Akaar sparkled away quickly.
The Klingon woman took her father’s head. She held open his eyes. Then, all three Klingons looked up and bellowed.
45,000 people in the crowd joined them, screaming to alert Sto-Vo-Kor that Kagaran was on his way.
The crew of the USS California watched in horror and fascination.
-*-
Dec 2412
Commodore Kirk Lakmar beamed aboard with two of his people and saluted the keel “Permission to come aboard?”
“Granted, Sir. Welcome aboard the USS California.” Haley Anderson said.
Lakmar was a large man, close to two meters tall and built thickly. He stepped forward and shook Anderson’s hand. His hand was easily twice the size of hers and had calluses.
“I hope you’ll be able to give me a tour, but first, I’d like to brief you and your XO on our situation here.”
Haley smiled, “We’d love to.”
-*-
Haley, Sian, and Grelka sat down, while Lakmar made the conference room look too small.
“Tonight, Kargana, son of Tolgar arrives. He’s challenged the President to a duel, to take place tomorrow night.” Lakmar explained.
“What offense has your President given to justify an Honor challenge?” Grelka asked.
“He’s human,” Lakmar said. “That’s enough for the Real Klingons.”
“That faction asserts that humans are incapable of honor,” Grelka said. “Kargana gains nothing in the challenge.”
Lakmar looked at Grelka for a moment. “You don’t know?”
Haley said, “Assume I don’t and explain, please.”
“The Klingons and the Capellans have been fighting for a hundred and fifty years. It's something of a tradition. The real Klingons would kill us and conquer us if they could, but we’ve attained the status of a worthy enemy for them.”
“How is your President going to respond to this challenge?” Sian asked.
“He’s going to face him in the Grand Auditorium tomorrow night.”
Haley and Sian stared at Lakmar.
“Hmmph. He has a Klingon’s honor.” Grelka said.
“Thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment. He has Capellan honor, which can look similar from certain angles.”
Grelka nodded grimly.
“And what do you expect from us, Sir?” Sian asked.
Lakmar called up a strategic scan of the area. “We don’t have any intel or clues leading in this direction, but in the past, these sorts of events have been used as a distraction. While we’re watching the duel, sometimes Klingon raiders try something.”
The scan showed Starfleet battle groups loitering near systems and planets in the region. “We’ve dispersed our fleet to certain areas, with an eye towards responding to aggression done under the cover of this event. They’re zone coverage. We’d like you to join our home guard formation. Since you haven’t trained with us, we’d like you to be ready to provide fire support if things go kinetic here in our system.”
Haley said, “I can’t imagine anyone would try anything. You’ve got a heavy Starbase here. It would take a huge Klingon fleet and a long time to reduce this system.”
Lakmar said, “The enemy attacks on two occasions. When he’s ready and when you’re not. Our theory is that if we get ready for a sneak attack, that’ll be good practice and it will tend to deter an actual attack.”
Haley nodded. “Where do you want us, Sir?”
Lakmar zoomed in to the Capella system “We’d like you in a high orbit, opposite of our Starbase here. You’ll be with the third group, fire support wing.”
“We’ll be there, Sir.”
“Thank you. I’ve been reading up on your ship. She seems like a lovely girl to have for our sorts of missions.”
“It is my fervent hope this remains academic, Admiral. Haley said, “Let’s go do a visual inspection of our weapons and energy systems.”
Lakmar smiled. “That sounds lovely.”
“With the Commodre’s permission, I’ll go arrange a suitable meal. I have seen our phasers,” Grelka said.
Lakmar laughed, “Thank you, Lieutenant Commander. Your service does us honor.”
-*-
Traffic in local Capellan space stopped. Commercial and Starfleet, Klingon, Orion and all sorts of commercial ships from throughout known space all slowed down or stopped completely as everyone put their eyes on the viewscreens.
-*-
On the Bridge of the USS California, everyone watched on the main screen as announcers repeated history, expressed opinions, and interviewed various people.
In the background, they could see the Grand Auditorium filling with people.
On the audio channel, they could hear the crowd noise. It was happy and excited.
Over the course of two hours anticipation grew and grew.
In the center of the floor of the Auditorium there was a large oval ring, marked by low walls of something transparent with regular holes in it.
Then, the night’s festivities started.
Minimally clothed fighters entered the ring and fought, barehanded. Three pairs of people fought. Between each round, the floor of the combat ring sparkled as blood, sweat and other things were technologically swept away.
The crowd roared and cheered. The commentators commented and told everyone what was happening with some context.
Every so often, Haley checked the tactical board and the comms channel. Nothing tactical was happening within the Capella system. Comms were silent as all eyes were on the big event. They were in formation with two Excelsior class, a California and a Centaur class. They waited for trouble that may or may not be happening.
Every so often, Sian checked the status of the California herself. Engines were at low energy, ready to ramp up at a moment’s notice. Power flowed through the ship easily. The entire crew was awake and either at their stations or ready to spring into action. Most of the crew was watching the event on available screens.
The ship's lounge became a major hub of not-quite-on-duty folks watching things unfold.
Then the main event.
The Announcer called, “Ladies and Gentlemen! People of Capella! Presenting James Keer Akaar, the President of Capella!”
Light flashed and swirled. Pyrotechnics popped with colored flames. The Capellan anthem played very loudly.
The President of the United Tribes of Capella walked out into the auditorium wearing a big robe. He was tall and rangy. His face was long and angular. His hair was slate gray. He had a big grin on his face and waved to the cheering crowd.
He was followed by a middle-aged woman in a sparkly dress. She was thin, and her body looked like it was made of steel cables under tanned skin. Like Akaar, she waved at the crowd with a big smile on her face.
“I can’t see how anyone’s going to catch him in the polls now,” a Commentator said.
Haley realized this was half a sporting event and half a political event.
The Announcer said, “And the Challenger! Lord Kargana, Son of Tolgar, Lord of House Kargana of the KLINGON EMPIRE!” The crowd cheered.
Then, the lights went down, and came back up with a more red and orange hue. A Klingon Anthem played.
Four Klingons marched toward the ring. The lead Klingon was an older man, made of rectangles and gray hair. He was wearing a Klingon cape with lots of medals on it. Lord Kargana
On his right was a tall Klingon man, less massive but lots of reach. He looked around curiously.
On his left, a Klingon woman, solidly built, she had broad curves and roundness to her. Her black eyes and black hair seemed to drink in the spotlights. Her armor shined.
Behind Kargana there was a Klingon man approximately the size of a shuttlecraft. His armor also shone, freshly polished and it was studded with a huge number of decorations. His face looked like he cracked anvils with it, and his chin looked like an axed head pointing down.
The crowd started chanting “Q’aplA! Q’aplA! Q’aplA!”
Akaar and Kargana entered the ring and took off their robes and capes.
They were minimally dressed, Akaar in shorts, and Kagaran in armored jock strap.
The Announcer called for attention.
“For tonight’s main event, Kargana, son of Kolgar has challenged James Keer Akaar to a duel with traditional mek’leths! This duel is to the death!”
A buxom Capellan woman in a bikini climbed into the ring and presented Kargana with a mek’leth, the Klingon short sword, from a velvet pillow. The Klingons glared at her, as Kargana looked at the two weapons, took one, waved it around, and flipped it, catching it by the handle. He nodded.
“Captain,” Grelka said, “I request permission to stand my shift on the auxiliary bridge.”
Haley looked at Grelka. She was emotional.
“Granted,” Haley said.
Grelka stood up and hurried off the bridge.
Tavis said “Captain, I too-”
“Go. Go,” Haley said.
The two combatants faced each other and the Referee declared the rules of the duel.
Then he stood back and the crowd roared.
The two combatants crouched into fighting positions and moved towards each other, purposefully but without undue hurry.
They feinted and took each other’s measure. Akaar was grinning.
Kagaran was grim.
Kagaran shuffled and then spun the wrong way, doing a complex patterns of moves with his mek’leth.
Akaar blocked just enough to strike sparks off the swords, but spun out of the way. He was quicker than his size suggested, and apparently he knew that mek’leth pattern. He dodged out of the way and bounced back dancing on the balls of his feet.
Kagaran looked irritated. The crowd roared louder.
After some more shuffling and feints, Kagaran did a triangular attack, stepping this way, then that. Akaar caught the attack on his own short sword. They stood straining in a strength-on-strength contest for a moment. Akaar fell backwards and to his left. Kagaran fell into it and leapt over Akaar into a shoulder roll. The two men regained their feet and resumed their fighting crouch.
The crowd roared.
Kagaran, irritated, stood up, pointed his finger at Akaar, and bellowed.
At that moment Akaar launched an attack. He sprang forward, and and swung his weapon through a loop. Kagaran startled, stepped back into the countering pattern.
The crowd instantly fell silent.
As the two men passed, pink and red blood splashed.
Kagaran’s head fell, and then the rest of his body.
Akaar slumped to the ground, holding his left arm tight against his torso. His left hand twitched on the mat behind Kagaran.
The human woman in the sparkly dress was over the ring side and to Akaar’s side instantly.
The Klingons approached more slowly
The Referee looked at Akaar, who nodded tightly, but slumped a little further.
“The WINNER!” The Announcer yelled, “JAMES KEER AKAAR!”
The woman and Akaar sparkled away quickly.
The Klingon woman took her father’s head. She held open his eyes. Then, all three Klingons looked up and bellowed.
45,000 people in the crowd joined them, screaming to alert Sto-Vo-Kor that Kagaran was on his way.
The crew of the USS California watched in horror and fascination.
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