Third Annual BF betleH Tournament

Third Annual BF betleH Tournament (http://www.betleh.com/cgi-bin/b3/YaBB.pl)

Day 1 - Opening Matches >> After morning rounds >> Death and Deceit
(Message started by: Ta`pez HoD on Feb 12^th, 2005, 5:39pm)

Title: Death and Deceit
Post by Ta`pez HoD on Feb 12^th, 2005, 5:39pm

Almost a day had passed since Chang had been murdered. PoQ had not taken a single hour of sleep and the exhaustion was starting to show, with his temper flaring more then it should.

The investigation that he had started was a complete failure. There were virtually no traces of anybody leaving or entering the chambers save a few house members who all had been trusted with access.

PoQ had run the events in his mind and couldn’t think of anything or anybody suspicious, and yet there was something in his head gnawing at him, but he could not tell what.

What was troubling was the fact that whoever did it had breached the security of the system and with it compromised many other things besides just the physical safety of the joH.

What was more troubling was the indication that somebody from inside the house was involved either through incompetence or by other much more dangerous means.

In any case there was much to consider, and PoQ hated the considerations, because the outcomes were not very favorable for him or the House. The joH’s time had come at a most inopportune time for the House and PoQ. In a few more years his children would have been old and strong and numerous enough to take the leadership of the house or at least be a strong influence. As it was they were weak and he himself would have to tread carefully in the ensuing days, months and years.

tbc...

Title: Re: Death and Deceit
Post by Ta`pez HoD on Feb 13^th, 2005, 7:36pm

Poq had been dozing off slighly when his computer beeped. Another messege had arrived, another problem, PoQ was getting tired of his new position very quickly. He missed the quick witted insight of Chang and his personal authority that had kept the many faction and interests within the House alligned.

As he opened his eyes he noticed that Ta'pez was there, eating from a tray while another sitting infrom of him.

"You are a sneaky bastard Ta'pez." PoQ said.

"I know." came the replied and both warriors laughed quietly relieving the nervous tension within the room.

Title: Re: Death and Deceit
Post by Ta`pez HoD on Feb 14^th, 2005, 11:27am

Ta’pez was quietly eating while PoQ had dozed off. As PoQ avoke Ta’pez nodded to him and said. “I have made you something to eat.”

PoQ looked at the tray infront of him and yawned. “I am not hungry, there is so much to do.”

Ta’pez shook his head. “No warrior should fight a battle on empty stomach” he chuckled. “Besides how am I going to answer to Separ if she finds out you haven’t eaten.

PoQ grinned, his daughter was a fierce and protective be’ and neither her father nor Ta’pez could argue when she took motherly concern for someone.

“Well in that case,” PoQ answered lazily while leaning forward from his chair taking the tray from the table and placing it in his lap.

“I never realized you knew how to cook” PoQ said. His speech was now a bit more difficult to understand as he had a full mouth.

“On Vulcan I would often serve my punishments in the kitchen.” Ta’pez said. “There I had plenty of time to reflect on whatever rule I had broken.”

PoQ, who was lickig his fingers, noted “ This is actually not that bad, the spices are a bit different too, you must have been a real troublemaker if you learned to cook this good.”

The two men laughed heartily book quickly sobered up as their thoughts trailed back to the current conversation.

“I still do it on the meH’Haj, helps me think when my anger has the better of me” Ta’pez said wearily.

PoQ looked at him and sighted. “Considering the mess we are right now in you might as well start cooking for all of the meH’Haj.”

There was silence once more. Ta’pez was the first to speak up.

“I take it the investigation has lead nowhere.” Ta’pez said.
The old men didn’t have to even nod. “Nowhere is too good of term, we have no trace of anything.”

Ta’pez scowled as the implications were significant. “So it is somebody within the house.”

The statement hung. “I do not know,” answered PoQ, “It could be meH’Handra, it could be anybody.”

Ta’pez who had finished his food wiped his face and beard before. “So what have you told the House Captains?”

“Nothing”

-“Nothing?”

PoQ sighted and elaborated. “Nothing of the murder, just to switch the latest security dump. We need to make sure our lines are secure before we inform them of our loss.”

Ta’pez nodded, it was a reasonable move, risky, yet reasonable. He knew himself how difficult the whole ordeal was about to be. The Captains of the House of Chang Flottila were either house members or friends and allies.

Most of them were loyal to Chang and Chang only, which needlessly was just another problem. Too many of them would seek the best advantage they could get of this misfortune.

“How long befoe that is done.” Ta’pez asked.

“Two days, we have two days before we have start answering their queries.” PoQ replied.

Both men knew that they had to come up with some answers before that. Time was not on their side, and the trail had already grown cold. This was not good at all.

Title: Re: Death and Deceit
Post by Ta`pez HoD on Feb 14^th, 2005, 1:07pm

<snip>
T'lai frowned slightly as she decided that she needed to go and apologize to Ta'pez. He probably wasnt too happy with her. So she tapped on her COMM badge. =/\=T'lai to Ta'pez=/\=
Her comm crackled and replied back =/\= Ta'pez here. =/\=

T'lai: =/\=Can you come to my quarters? Theres something we need to discuss.=/\= She asked him.
: There was a short silence and Ta'pez replied. =/\= I'll be over shortly. =/\=

<snip – a short while afterwards.>

After a few minutes Ta’pez was infront of T’lais quarters. He was wondering what T’lai wanted. He had given her a chance to prove herself and sofar she had utterly failed. To be honest he had to admit that her circumstances had been difficult but still the current events were not helping.

Now that Chang was dead he wondered whether the old man had been right. He had warned him of the mistake and yet he had followed. T’lai was weak and her ill temper was not helping.

Furthermore he wondered what the current situation would mean for all of them, and a certain voice within him sowed doubts about whether or not T'lai was one of the people responsible for the death of his adopted father.
He doubted that was the case, given the fact that she had not had access to the ship security, but one could never be certain. Either way he would find soon out what she wanted and that would certainly clear up the picture either way.

T'lai heard footsteps outside her door. "Come on in." She called out to the other person outside the door.
Ta'pez came into the room, looked around and then saw T'lai.
"Greetings." he said levely.

"Good afternoon, Ta'pez. Come and sit down. There is much I need to talk to you about." She said.

Ta'pez came over wearily and sat, he restained his urge to comment, wishing to hear what his XO would say.

T'lai took a deep breath and looked at her HoD directly in the eyes as she began to speak. "First off, I would like to sincerely apologize for my rude behavior recently." She began.
Ta'pez said nothing but just watched, this was getting interesting.

T'lai continued. "I was wrong to have overstepped my bounderies, and if you wish to punish me for doing so, I will accept what ever punishment that you have planned for me."

Ta'pez chuckled. " Had I wish to punish you I would have done so immeadiatly T'lai."

to be continued

OFF:

part I of JP brought to you by

Ta'pez and T'lai
House of Chang

Title: Re: Death and Deceit
Post by Tlai on Feb 14^th, 2005, 1:31pm

T'lai let out a sigh of relief as he said that. "The other thing I wanted to talk to you about is all the tenseness going around. I can smell the fear and confusion in the air. I dont quite understand why or how I can tell that its what I can smell... but thats my gut instinct, and Im trusting it." She said.

Ta'pez said nothing for a moment then spoke. "Chang is dead"

As he said that, T'lai dropped the glass of water she was holding, and it shattered as it hit the ground. Her eyes grew wide. "When did this happen???" She asked.

"Last night, he was murdered while we were attending the dinner." Ta'pez said.

T'lai was utterly speachless she had no clue what to say. "I am sooo sorry to hear about that... Have they any clues to who murdered him?? What will be done about it??" She asked.

Ta'pez clenched his teeth, these were questions he was not sure off. "I do not know. PoQ is leading an investigation"

T'lai looked away from Ta'pez. "It's a shame he died so soon.." She began.

"Silence!" Ta'pez said.

T'lai looked up at Ta'pez with confusion as he demanded silence.

" I do not want to hear that from you T'lai. I know your true feelings towards him and that alone is enough. False flattery is not something I want to hear right NOW!"

Ta'pez rage could be felt as he visibly trembled infront of her.

"But I was not going to use false flattery! If you had let me finished my sentance, I was going to say, its a shame because I didnt get to know him as well as I had liked. And I never did get to apolo-" She cut off her sentance deciding to not finish it. "I never did get to tell him how I really felt. How I wanted to learn from him and the other Chang house members and how I wanted to improve myself and become a stronger klingon!" She snapped back.

Ta'pez hit her, and he hit her heard, she watched in slow motion as his right hand crashed into her jaw. She stumbled and fell down. "I said silence" he almost whispered.

T'lai looked up at Ta'pez with a hurt expression. She then glared at him with angered eyes.

"This should be your first lesson then. Obey." Ta'pez said looking angrily at her.

He turned around and walked towards the door.

"Appology accepted." he said before leaving.

T'lai just glared at him, and didn't realize that she had fallen on the pile of broken glass till after she lifted her hand and seen that there were shards in her hand, and the palm of her hands were bleeding from being cut by the glass. She watched him leave.

:: OFF::

This JP was brought to your entertaining pleasure by

Ta'pez and T'lai
House of Chang

Title: Re: Death and Deceit
Post by Ta`pez HoD on Feb 14^th, 2005, 10:01pm

ON
=/\=Taj'vl to Ta'pez. HoD, I'd like to talk to you about something.=/\=

Ta'pez sighted, there were so many today that wished to speak to him.

=/\= Ta'pez here. I am in my quaters, feel free to meet me there =/\=

A few minutes later, Taj entered the HoD's quarters, "HoD, rumor around the bar is that Chang is dead!"

Tapez was stiting quietly looking out of the window on the surface of the planet below.

"I didnt know you followed Rumor central" Ta'pez said

"Is it true? Nobody tells me anything," Taj replied.

Tapez sighted and the said. "It is."

He hated telling this story over and over yet that was his duty.

"What happened?" Taj asked.

"He was murdered while the meH'HAj dinner was taking place." Ta'pez replied. "Your Father and I found him dead in his quaters onboard the Cheng pach'.

"Was he murdered?" Taj asked.

He was found dead, in his bed. " I assume he was murdered although we could not tell."
"Wouldn't medical tests prove whether we was murdered or not?" Taj asked.

"He could have been killed in battle Taj, and no they wouldnt prove anything." Ta'pez said with anger creeping in his voice. " He is dead, that alone is enough."

Ta'pez was silent for a moment then continued. "I would be on guard Taj, whoever the responsible person was had access to the security systems for there is no log of anybody visiting the joHs quaters."
He turned his chair. "Treachery is amongst us. Pay heed to what you see and hear."
"So then it was a murder?" Taj asked.
Ta'pez didnt answer but his silence was answer enough.
"I will be ready, HoD," Taj stated.
"Good, we all need to be." Ta'pez said.
He looked a round and took up a PADD.
"You father is on the 'pach, take this to him." Ta'pez said handing it to Taj'vl.
Taj took the PADD. "I will go there now," Taj replied as he turned to the door.
Taj left the HoD's quarters.

OFF:

A JP brought to you by

Taj'vl and Ta'pez

Title: Re: Death and Deceit
Post by JakeNess on Feb 14^th, 2005, 11:23pm

PoQ was in his quaters examining the latest report. He still had not gotten where he was hoping he would be.

"PoQ, why did you not inform me?" Taj asked as he entered.

PoQ looked at him. "That is no way to speak to your father."

"You did not tell me Chang was killed. That is something I would have wanted to know, father," Taj replied.

PoQ grew angry. "I have been busy, others have informed you is that not enough?"

"I found out at the bar, father," Taj replied, "Who is leading the investigation?"

"I am, which is the reason I have not told you, " PoQ answered " Despite what you might think Taj, becoming a weHwI' does not make you the center of the universe!"

"I want to help find Chang's killer," Taj said.

PoQ sighted. " When we know more I will let you know."

PoQ noticed the hoqra at his hand. "Is there something you want to tell me or give me or did you come to pester me Taj?"

"Ta'pez told me to give this to you," Taj responded as he handed PoQ the hoqra.

PoQ looked at it and the replied. "Good. Now leave me, I have some urgent business, and it cannot wait."

Taj turned and left. He still had many questions, but they would have to wait.

OFF:

A JP by PoQ (Ta'pez) and Taj'vl (Ness)