It's Been a long time since I dusted this off... Here is another chapter: (Another will be follow very shortly)
The Turbo lift made it's stop on the bridge in seconds. As 3 stepped off she surveyed the crew before they spotted her... At the Helm she noticed Novasath the Andorian at her post she looked up but not directly at 3 and smelled the air and Stood at attention and said “Captain on the bridge!”
Tolek looked up from his science station and walked up to 3. “The quartermaster reports that all stores are aboard just now and the crew is finishing up with final disposition of stores. The rest of the crew reports ready.”
“Excellent Mr. Tolek. Signal dock control we will be departing in 1 hour and 20 minutes. That puts us leaving at 14:00 hours.”
“Aye Captain.” Tolek went back to his station to do as ordered. 3 looked around and sat at her chair.... “Comfy” she thought to herself. It was then she looked at Lt Novaseth her andorian Helm officer... Her antenna were moving about in rapid movements and yet she was looking off in the distance.
3 got up from her chair and strolled in front of the main Console and it was then she noticed that Novasath's eyes were milky white with no pupils. The antenna turned towards 3 and drooped a bit. “She knows I'm looking at her.” 3 thought to herself. She looked down at the console the console was a standard con control board however it had a more 3D definition to it. It was more tactile... It had an overlay of force fields above the controls.
Very quietly Novasath said: “While my eyes are blind I can still perform my duties captain.”
“How did you know I was at the turbo-lift earlier?” 3 asked.
Novasath appeared to be considering her answer. “When you were here earlier to transfer your command I noted your scent as well as your sound.”
“My sound?” 3 blurted.
“Yes Captain, I suspect nobody else hears it. It's similar to Xeon's noise. But more melodic, almost like thousands of insects pollinating a flower garden.”
“My nanites.” 3 said.
“Yes Captain, Mr Landucci our engineer is perhaps the only other one here who might notice your subtle differences of scent to others. You are metallic but in a pleasing way. Our senses when we are blind from - be it at birth or genetics it automatically heightens our other senses, touch, sound, smells, and in my case I can hear radio and in some cases I can use sound and radio to judge position. like sonar.”
“Really, you have Radar?”
“In a manner of speaking.” Novasath looked slightly up and her antena just barely touched each other and Novasath made a “tsk tsk” noise almost as if she was chastising someone. “You are precisely 1 meter away. The command chair is 2.5 meters away, and with sound vibrations I can tell Mr. Tolek has just looked up wondering what we are talking about.”
3 looked over Novasath's shoulder and observed that indeed, Tolek was looking up with a quizzical expression. “I'm impressed.” 3 said.
“Don't be captain, amongst my people what I do is no more impressive than when you stood up and walked for the first time.” Novasath said quietly.
“Nonetheless, may I deduce from your quiet demeanor you do not like showing off these skills?”
Novasath's Antenna both drooped. “I suppose you could say I have had “Awkward” situations of things I can observe that others cannot. One's change in respiration, elevated heart rates, change in movements, and even pheromone scents.”
“You caught students at the academy didn't you. You knew who was attracted to each other possibly before they themselves even knew it?” 3 could not help say with a smile. And she caught Novasath's quick smile.
“Let's just say I embarrassed quite a few. You pink skins can stink of rut like no other species I have encountered, Well perhaps except Deltans.” and she lowered her voice even further.. “And a few Vulcans at certain times.” 3 quickly looked up to catch Tolek looking up quickly and then quickly turn away.
“What about Klingons? Asked 3.
Novasath considered her words carefully and replied: Klingons stink of sweat at all times. Some smell good though, some do not. Grolka's scent is actually pleasing but she hides it with antiperspirant. 3 smiled and patted Novaseth on the back.
“I suspect you will be my number one choice on any diplomatic away missions we encounter. With senses like that you must be incredible at reading people.” 3 thought out loud.
“Indeed captain I scored rather high in the diplomatic portions of the academy.” the Andorian added with pride.
3 looked about the bridge, speaking of klingons she noticed the absence of Lt. Grolka. She looked to and then asked “Mr. Tolek is Ms. Grolka on Duty yet?”
Tolek stood up from his station and said “Ms Grolka had pulled a Gama shift in order for us to be ahead of schedule with Engineering. While she was in denial of it, I felt she should avail herself as you suggested to lunch to offset her normal Klingon mood or as you humans say “Recharge” herself.”
“Actually as a Borg, I would say Regenerate, but I get your meaning.” 3 considered the chronometer and then spoke out: “Computer, where is the location of Lt. Grolka?”
“Lt. Grolka is in main ship's Recreation and Cafeteria.” came the computer's polite reply.
“Is that the place people are calling the “Tavern?” Asked 3?
“Indeed.” said Tolek, “It would appear she took my advice after all.”
“Perhaps I will take the same advice.” she looked over to Tolek, You have the bridge number one.
“Acknowledged Captain.” Tolek said with a slight bow of his head.
3 Strode to the Turbo-lift and took a chance and see if the computer would recognize it: “The Tavern” the doors closed and she was on her way.
The double wide molded doors were done up to look as if they were wooden even though they were in fact duranium alloy. As they parted 3 noted the place was bustling with activity. It looked as if many had taken 3 and Tolek's advice.
Towards ahead of 3 were windows looking to the rear of the Milford down to the port side vista of the other ships and traffic in space-dock. To the right were tables and comfortable seating as well as some raised areas. To the left was a serving area and on the far end with her back to her was the unmistakable long mane of a striking Klingon Woman in Starfleet Gold Uniform.
Nobody was sitting near her... In Fact a lot of the other crew looked on to her with a nervous look not quite looking at her but not quite looking away either... The Klingon War had many Klingons choose a side. A vast Majority left federation space to be with the rest of their kind. Some stayed with the Federation. However, many people looked at them as if they were potential traitors in waiting. 3 new different about Grolka and her family.
3 approached the empty seat next to Grolka and sat down. Next to her. Grolka shoulders sagged and she let out an exasperated sigh and launched out with her fist as if to backhand 3. Thanks to 3's borg reflexes and slightly enhanced strength she caught the backhand but not before Grolka was saying: “If I have told you once I have told you a thousand times I am no “Whore of the empire” you Po - “ and it was just after 3 had stopped her backhanded fist that Grolka realized who was really sitting next to her.
She stood up quickly spilling her drink and immediately stood at attention. “Captain! I am – By the vision of Kaless, I am – Please captain - I will submit myself to security I thought you were someone else.”
Realizing the situation immediately 3 deduced Grolka was enduring a bit of ribbing and name calling. “This is not good.” she thought to herself. And now she was getting mad.
“Ms Grolka, are you telling me that someone on my crew has called you a Whore of the Empire.” 3 said it with such force the whole Tavern was now in silence.
“No Captain nobody has -” and 3 silenced her with a look and a raise of her hand. And she pivoted around and looked at every single crewman in the eye.
“That's right Grolka, Because if any one of my crew says that about any member of MY senior staff and I hear about it from anyone - ” She paused for effect “I swear that Crewman and/or Crewmen will be in the brig long before he or she could say “Dunzel” because that is all they will be worth to me!!!” 3 was pissed...
3 Realized she had gone too far but she needed to take care of this and make an example. She saw a very nervous commander off to the side and 3 strode right over to him. “Commander what is the worst thing you can possibly do to a klingon?”
“Uhm.. well Mam,” 3 swore she could hear his voice cracking but he continued; “Insult their honor Mam?”
“That is correct Commander..” 3 then turned back to Grolka. Ms Grolka tell me How long was it that your grandfather served as part of the federation diplomatic corp?”
Grolka looked momentarily confused but she answered very quietly “56 earth years.”
“I'm sorry Grolka, I must have nanites clogging my hearing.. What did you say!?”
Grolka stood more at attention and in standard Parade voice: “56 of your Earth years!”
“And how long did your Mother and father both serve together on the Treleste before they both died with Honor at the battle of Starbase 24 with the Klingons?”
Grolka looked at her and raised her head even higher “My Parents both served for 27 years after they had graduated from the academy with honors.”
3 walked right up to her and put her nose right up to her face. “Now tell me Lt. Which one of your parents was posthumously awarded the Karagite order of Heroism?”
“Both of my Parents were honored with that award. My Mother was in engineering and got the engine back on-line in time for my Father to helm the ship into the path of a klingon warship as it was just about to unleash it's final valley on the station. It enabled the station just enough time to get their shields back up and it was believed my parents actions saved the base from destruction.”
3 saw a partial formation of a very small tear form on Grolka's left eye.
“Tell me Ms. Grolka when did you Join starfleet?”
“Just after my age of ascension at the age of 15. I was the youngest klingon to ever enter the academy.”
“Why did you join Starfleet Grolka?”
“To Honor my Parents.” You could here a pin drop in the Tavern.
3 Looked around the entire Tavern... and she settled on the nervous Commander who was now looking even more nervous.”
“Commander? Do you think anyone on this crew, or in any crew of Starfleet, has any reason to question the “Honor” of this officer?”
“No Mam! I can think of No reason except...” And he gulped “She is Klingon.”
“What about my Honor.. do you question my Honor Commander?”
“No Mam!” The Commander was sweating now
“Why not!?!?” she boomed... “Am I not an Honor-less Borg drone?!?!”
“No Mam!” and he was really sweating now.
3 looked around the room again and she rested her eyes on Grolka. “Make no mistake if anyone of this crew questions Ms. Grolka's Honor they best be sure they have the gut's to question mine first!”
3 pivoted around again and cocked her head and asked: “Is that Understood.”
And she was rewarded and relieved to hear everyone in the lounge to say together: “Yes Mam! Understood Mam!”
“Now -” 3 looked at everyone and put on her best smile “As you were... and as she passed Grolka she said you are with me.”
They both left the Tavern and as the doors closed 3 let out a very loud breath and leaned up against the far wall of the corridor out of site from inside the Tavern. Grolka looked at her and said “You did not need to do that Captain.”
“No I didn't but - I did” Grolka cocked her head with a questioning look. Grolka, we are both members of species that are at war with the federation. I know what you are going through, and while I know enough about klingons, and your Honor, in that I may have overstepped with my protection of you. However, My “Humanity” could not endure you to suffer without you knowing that your captain has your back. Maybe I went too far - but this crew needs to know that nobody questions the honor of it's senior staff without going through me. We may be at war with the Klingon Empire.. But we are not at war with Klingons. Besides, I think this War is short lived I believe the Klingons will not battle us for much longer. Besides, If anything there is more reason to question the honor of a former drone than a Klingon in Starfleet.
“But you are a human first are you not?”
“Yes, but also a member of a mutual enemy of both the Klingons and the Federation. Imagine what that's like.”
Grolka grabbed 3's hand and surrounded it with both her hands “Then Captain, I will - as you say, have your back.” 3 put her other hand on top of Grolka's
“Batlh!” which she followed up with translation “I am honored”
“Come on Grolka, we'll make an interesting team.”
Grolka again looked at her with questioning eyes
“Well think of it.” 3 said “We are both members of 2 of the federations leading enemy races, You were the youngest to go through the academy, and I'm technically the oldest to ever go back to the academy as a student, That has to make an interesting beginning to a story.”
“Hah! And the tale will be told for generations to come! Come Captain lead us to Glory and let us show all who question us how much honor we have!” And they both headed to the nearest turbo-lift. Yup 3 was really starting to like some of her crew.