Fourth Annual BF betleH Tournament

Fourth Annual BF betleH Tournament
http://www.betleh.com/cgi-bin/b4/YaBB.pl
Day 3: Finals >> Day 3: Late Night >> Returning the blade
http://www.betleh.com/cgi-bin/b4/YaBB.pl?num=1141679328

Message started by Jackie Clawson on Mar 6^th, 2006, 5:08pm

Title: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 6^th, 2006, 5:08pm

Hefting the betleH that security had returned to her after their release Jackie made her way over to K'Hare's quarters. She ignored the security personnel keeping an eye on her as she rang the chime to the Klingon's quarters. She wasn't sure what she was going to say, she wasn't sure how she was going to say it, but she'd figure it out eventually she guessed.

Swinging the blade around and switching it into her second hand, the Caitian waited for an answer.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 6^th, 2006, 6:21pm

K'Hare was sitting in his room nursing a tankard of Bloodwine and brooding when the chime rang. He hit a button on the table next to him to open the door.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 6^th, 2006, 7:14pm

As the door slid open, Jackie wasn't too surprised to see no one at the door directly. With a curt shake of her head, the Caitian stepped inside. She found the Klingon in his room, nursing a drink. Taking in a breath she approached him, the betleH at one side.

"K'Hare." she spoke, her tone softer than usual. "Just dropping in to return the betleH..." she said, but the phrase was left unfinished, Jackie decided not to mention she was also here to check up on the Klingon after all that has transpired.

She placed the blade on the table as gently as she could before grabbing a chair and taking a set across from the Klingon thus signifying she wasn't going to leave quickly unless he wished otherwise. But she thought he could use some company at least for a while to help him through the difficult moments, even if he probably wouldn't like the help. Jackie wasn't about to abandon those she fought side by side with just hours ago.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 6^th, 2006, 8:55pm

"Keep it. You earned it in battle. If you ever visit KDB I will introduce you to the one who forged it."

The Klingon seemed flat. Not exactly defeated, but world-weary.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 7^th, 2006, 1:40am

Jackie's ears flickered lightly, not at the words he'd said, but how he'd said them. She didn't need to ask him how he was doing, she knew the answer to the question herself.

Letting out a small sigh, Jackie closed her eyes for a moment before she said anything else. The silence lasted longer than it needed to. She knew she should probably leave and let him be, but a part of her couldn't do that.

"It.. ah...... No, I just did what I had to do" she spoke.

"Mind if I...." she pointed at the bloodwine, silently asking the question before she would say anything else. Maybe the bloodwine would loosen her up some mentally and she'd choose the right words to express herself. How would she explain it that once she's had a chance to fight with him side by side, to her that was more than enough trust between people, and once she'd fought side by side with someone, both parties likely baking eachother up, if not saving eachother's tails, trusting eachother's lives to eachother; she owed it to them to make sure that after all was over, she'd still be there for them if needed.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 7^th, 2006, 3:49am

He nodded and waved her toward the barrel. "Please do... it seems it is going to waste."

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 7^th, 2006, 3:51am

Jackie got up and filled up a tankard from the barrel then made her way back

"Now why do you say that?" she asked as she settled back down and took a gulp of the bloodwine. She winced as she realised what the words were that left her mouth. 'stupid, Jackie..stupid' she thought, but there was nothing she could do to take back the words.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 7^th, 2006, 4:44am

"Life is a challenge, but for there to be pleasure, there must be pain. To win anything, you must risk loss." He stood up and took a drink, starting to pace. "Last year at this time I gained family, this year I lose it. That's growth I suppose." He took another drink.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 7^th, 2006, 9:42am

Jackie watched him pace, idly fiddling with her drink as he spoke. She found herself nodding in agreement to what he said.

"but it doesn't mean that you should stop living." She said, her tone quieter than usual. "I don't think she would've wanted you to " she added.

She wasn't sure what was going through his mind. Was he blaming himself for Q'olarvaH's death somewhow? Jackie was aware she had to tred carefully sicne she wasn't aware of all the intricacies and details of the situation, nor was she sure if it was her place to know these things. She took a deep gulp of the bloodwine blinking away at a number of emotions threatening to overwhelm her.

"but it is a risk we all take. with family, friends, crewmembers... you can lose it all in the blink of an eye." she said. "You have it today and tomorrow it's...." she trailed off, looking at her tankard which was ironically empty. "gone..." She got up to refill it.

"Are there any suspects over who did this?" she asked quetely. "If I can aid in the investigation I shall" she said, she shook her head lightly. "if I can aid you in any way , I shall as well" she added firmly.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 7^th, 2006, 2:31pm

K'Hare almost laughed despite his foul mood. "I am Klingon. Death is not bad news... tough I admit to feeling the loss ..." He took a drink. "It would help to know she died well and it would help to know who would do such a thing without showing their face... but I know, without knowing, that she fought honorably even if her enemy didn't.: He took another drink. "It is just much to process at once and without warning. If there had been a battle and both Wade and Q'olavraH had died fighting in front of me, I would sing the glory of their death. At least with Wade he died saving hundreds." He tried to take another drink and realized he was empty. "But I can't help thinking that if I hadn't been distracted, thinking of the dishonorable attack on Q'olavraH that I might have seen the bomb, I might have been able to stop it or I might have been the one to handle it." He looked at her, the fire just starting to return to his eyes. "This enemy will pay for that."

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 7^th, 2006, 2:47pm

"Don't think about what you might've done, think about what you would do." She met his gaze, her eyes narrowing as the Caitian's own eyes radiated with fire at his last words. "Only an enemy without honor refuses to show himself in battle. I'll do what I can to help you find her enemy. It's the least I can do after...everything that has... happened" she spoke raising her tankard slightly before taking a gulp of the bloodwine.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 7^th, 2006, 6:00pm

He stomped over to the keg.

"I ... appreciate ... the support and if I think of something that you would be particularly suited for, I will call on you." Refilling the keg he added, "I have to believe that this enemy stayed hidden because he knew the forces that would marshall together after his act."

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 7^th, 2006, 6:44pm

"Indeed." Jackie noted, "there's no way to look through all the security logs to try to find anything suspicious, well there is but it'll take a lot of time. We dont' really have many leads to go on. not that I know the details of that" she admitted, "but considering things... have you got any particular suspects?" she asked.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 7^th, 2006, 7:21pm

"She was Klingon. There are hordes of suspects." He took a drink. "And I have already started going through the logs."

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 7^th, 2006, 7:33pm

Jackie nodded.

"Any particular ones that stand out more than the rest?" she clarified. "I can try crosschecking all the base crew compliment and visitors with databases to see if it brings up anything....hinky in terms of suspects" she said. "I mean not like I'll get to go far off the base with.. an investigation pending into what happened with us anyway" she threw a glance at the betleH she brought still lying on the table, picking up her tankard she took a gulp of the bloodwine. "Might as well be useful to someone" she added

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 7^th, 2006, 8:43pm

K'Hare shrugged. "I have a crewman, Ing, the one who made that blade, who can do amazing things with computers." He knew she just wanted to be useful but he knew Ing could find anything that was there faster than a team of others. He'd stopped asking why or how Ing was so good.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 8^th, 2006, 1:49am

Jackie nodded lightly.

"fair enough. how long does it take to make a blade? " she asked shifting gears slightly and hoping he didn't mind. "That blade..." she nodded in the direction of the betleH, "it wasn't made for a Klingon" she observed.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 8^th, 2006, 3:57am

"There are tales of master's who could make them in an hour and masters who would take years on one weapon. You could just as well ask how long does it take to learn to play a lyre."

K'Hare stomped over to the keg and refilled. "Ing made all 6 in a few days. He studied traditional techniques and designed some of his own high tech equipment. I think roS may have helped. And you are correct, this design was made for beings of human strength. The alloy is lighter than the standard. He is not working on something heavier for me."

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 8^th, 2006, 4:24am

"I suppose the more correct form of my question should've been: what does it take to make a blade" Jackie amended herself. "Ing's skill is..." Jackie trailed off, she felt the difference between the blade Ing made and the cheng blade, not just in weight for which she had to compensate more with Ing's blade rather than the cheng blade considering the Caitian was used to hefting heavier weapons at times than normal.

"interesting...I've been going over designs for a blade for myself this morning, perhaps Ing could... " she said, blinking lightly as she remembered what happened this morning; she wondered where the PADD with the designs went, because with all that commotion with K'Vok she'd lost it somewhere and afterwards things just got a little more hectic for her to remember the PADD. "Course that was all.. prior to..." Jackie shook her head lightly; she barely remembered what exactly happened at the awards ceremony, all she knew is that she hadn't regretted any of that; despite the possible consequences they're likely to face.

Looking at the bloodwine in her tankard, Jackie wasn't sure how to express herself to the Klingon so she left the phrases unfinished and just took a few gulps of the drink.

"It was an honor to be in a battle by your side, K'Hare" she spoke after a few moments.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 8^th, 2006, 8:11pm

"I am sure Wade would have been honored by your service." He took a drink.

"You seem... conflicted. As if you have a lot on your mind. The situation with k'vok, has it been resolved? Or is it something else you saw at this event, some other aspect of Klingon culture you don't understand?"

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 8^th, 2006, 8:57pm

Jackie smirked lightly shaking her head.

"Perhaps I do have alot on my mind" She spoke, "the events of the last few days , just attempting to sort out through that..." she said, she wasn't worried about courtmarshal or anything of that sort if it came her way, sh e'd be ready to handle it, or so she hoped; but the Caitian had no regrets about getting involved in with the other rogues.

She paused taking a drink.

"I've not seen K'Vok since after he confronted me after breakfast" she said. "but I think the situation has been resolved for most part. I'm just not sure at what cost yet. " she added. "But I didn't want to resort to killing him, that'd raise many questions from Ta'pez, he already had wondered what 'interest I had in his kr'tach.... not to mention get me arrested by base security, Not that I haven't achieved getting arrested by base security anyway" Jackie shook her head lightly. "this brings back my.. old days for sure" she spoke, pausing to take a drink. "the tournament... made me realise a few mistakes .... things I've done to myself since I took command." she said. "all these years... " she shook her head.

"Klingon culture...." Jackie paused letting out a sigh, "we're not too diffirent in some aspect, yet we are in other ways" she said. "I feel 'at home' around Klingons to be honest, at least a part of me does, even if I do not understand or know the culture and ways fully yet."

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 9^th, 2006, 1:17pm

"These mistakes you made... will you make them again?"

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 9^th, 2006, 2:25pm

Jackie smirked, giving K'Hare a look.

"I shouldn't...it was something I did when I first took command; I slipped into another 'mode' more serious, more.. no nonesense type, more... workaholic." she spoke. "just haven't realised it until the tournament" Jackie spoke, slighly surprised that she really didn't have that much time to t hink about work let alone worry about the Horizon or her new posting. "I went for a walk this morning...because I couldn't sleep. ended up at the wall of honor." she paused to take a drink. "reminiscing on the past two days. " she said. "after what happened today..." Jackie shrugged lightly. " 'haps I think too much" she smirked.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 9^th, 2006, 2:42pm

"If you now see the errors in the action and you wont repeat them, then they weren't mistakes. They were learning experiences."

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 9^th, 2006, 2:25pm

"Mhmm!" she held up a hand suddenly remembering something. "Ta'pez seems to think I have commited a social hegh'bat. Considering I was 'entertaining' a cheng kr'tach and had a chance to dine with Ta'pez, albeit that last one was...we agreed that the loser of the match buys the bloodwine" she said, "that might be a bit of a faux pas I've created as well" she spoke, "especially considering some of the things he's said" she noted.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 9^th, 2006, 2:46pm

"Most would agree that dining with ta'pez was a form of social Hegh'bat." K'Hare shrugged. "I don't consider the social arena to have much importance. I can see the battle there, I just don't think the stakes are high enough for it to warrant much attention."

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 9^th, 2006, 2:53pm

"How so?" she asked. "and indeed, the battle arena is more... important in many wyas" Jackie said, nodding. "it's just that you look deeper, it seems I have quite a few connections with the house of cheng. his kr'tach is after me, I managed to knock Ta'pez's blade out of his hands despite him having broken mine; i fight the deathmatch using a blade that belongs to the house of Cheng, I go aboard the meH'Haj after a personal invitation from Ta'pez himself..." Jackie trailed off, "most humans alone would think something hinky was going on there."

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 9^th, 2006, 8:28pm

"Most humans don't know how to think." He gave he a sly grin. "Are you saying there is something there... that your connection to House cheng is significant?"

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 10^th, 2006, 12:39am

Jackie gave off a light chuckle at the comment.

"I dont' know...a coincidence perhaps." She spoke, "What *could* be there?" she asked, slightly raising an eyebrow. "Looking on the bright side of things at least I haven't ended up mated with a cheng..." she added

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 10^th, 2006, 1:58am

"If merely socializing with them is Hegh'bat, I am unsure what to call mating with one."

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 10^th, 2006, 2:23am

Jackie shook her head.

"I'm not looking for a mate" she spoke in slight frustration. "It took some work to stop K'Vok without having to kill him or having him kill someone or ... mating. Apparently he was in a state of pon farr. " She rubbed the bridge of her nose. "I don't have time for a mate. Leave it to me to get into one of those situations..." she said dryly.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 10^th, 2006, 2:54am

"Better you than me." he said as he got up to refill his drink.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 10^th, 2006, 3:18am

"Mhm.. yeah...though I doubt you're... his type exactly" she smirked lightly.

Her mind wandered to the conversation she'd had with Ta'pez the night before.

"There's something about Ta'pez that...alarms me, I'm just not sure what it is exactly" she spoke. "he's playing some sort of a game. Willing to share information, although how true the information is, is unsure. But he seems " Jackie paused, taking a gulp of her drink as she chose the right word.

"He seems...shrewd in a way" she said. "Our agreement was only for the bloodwine, not dinner aboard the meH'Haj, then he brings up the Hegh'bat amongst other things." she looked down into her tankard for a moment, not sure how to bring this up. "What *is* his game?" she asked, looking up at the Klingon

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 10^th, 2006, 10:57am

K'Hare laughed at the first comment. "I meant joining with the House, not with ta'pez. There was a time his sister pursued me. She doesn't take rejection well. If not for her death I fear I'd be in dire circumstances now." The way he said it made it seem he was joking.

Then he paused to think. "What is ta'pez's game? That is a complex question. I think he tries to be something he is not. Through life we are all faced with choices, some big, some small. And in each choice there are many possible responses each better or worse in different ways... will gain you more or less in honor or glory or simle material things. Each day he is faced with choices and he has two clear paths, the honorable one or the dishonorable one and he can't make up his mind. He makes choices that push him in both directions and so, he continues to walk the middle, undecided." He took a drink.

"He can't decide what is more important to him and so he tries to hold onto everything. His problem is he doesn't know what he wants and as a self made man, that leaves him with a shaky foundation."

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 10^th, 2006, 11:42am

Jackie shook her head lightly.

"I don't think I can handle joining a House" she said. "I'm not sure how the whole... houses deal works. Forgive me for being... blunt, but what's the deal with your House and his? Are you two enemies or..." Jackie asked. "From what Ta'pez had said, it still left me slighlty confused where things stand when it comes to House feuds."

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 10^th, 2006, 1:39pm

"That is a more complex question than you realize. Mostly because my House is not so formally defined. I haven't slowed down long enough to establish one, not really. Until recently I simply served the Empire as an officer in the KDF." He took a drink.

"But the feud between ta'pez and I was more personal, not House based. Even while we were in disagreement he sister served under me. Had it been a House issue, that would not have worked. be'thal and I did talk about it once because she was unclear what my position was." Another pause, another drink.

"My feud with ta'pez was from a time when I was more naive, more intolerant. I learned what he was and concluded he had to die. I was even prepared to die for that belief. It was his own dishonor that kept us both from dying that day... the irony of that has never escaped me."

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 10^th, 2006, 1:52pm

"How was that ironic?" Jackie asked, listening intently. This was certainly different to what Ta'pez had told her so far.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 10^th, 2006, 3:36pm

"It was ironic because I challenged him over honor and it was his dishonor, an association with a former be', that saved us. While we were fighting, his spurned lover attacked us... while we were fighting. She sent in a force of greater numbers to attack while we were fighting each other. Her dishonorable act kept us from killing each other. If she had waited, as honor demands, one would have killed the other and her minions will have killed the survivor."

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 10^th, 2006, 1:52pm

"And you tried to kill him because he is half Betazoid? Because that is dishonorable?" Jackie asked, taking a drink from her tankard, only coming up empty. She let out a small growl as she moved to refil her tankard.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 10^th, 2006, 3:41pm

K'Hare laughed. "No, that is misfortunate. I would not call it dishonoable in and of itself, though I do find the species to be inherently dishonorable because of their biology. I would not kill them for it until they acted dishonorably." K'Hare took a drink. "At the time I found ta'pez to be highly offensive and dishonorable. It was his actions that offended me enough to challenge him, or rather his deception."

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 10^th, 2006, 3:52pm

Jackie cocked her head to the side for a moment as she took all that in.

"So what changed now? I've not seen you challenge him or fight him in any way during the tournament. " Jackie asked.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 10^th, 2006, 8:40pm

"First, he is no longer deceiving... he has made public what he is. When I first met him, he hid what he was. He knew he was an empath, that he had that gift from his mother's blood and he couldn't help but use it. Each challenge he faced, each time he used this gift he did it hiding behind a Klingon face. That was his dishonor. When I discovered it, I challenged him. I could not bare to see it." He took a long drink. "As I already said, the challenge was interrupted and after I fought side by side with him, it felt wrong to kill him immediately. We had fought off a greater force... I felt he earned some time to learn honor. It was more than a year later when I challenged him again. In that time, perhaps I learned something from my own students, the mongrels that it was my duty to teach. But the second time I challenged him, it was not to the death, I challenged him to be truthful and he accepted it, announced who and what he was."

Still talking while he got up for a refill. "Of course the same day I learned of my own deception and he continues to insult me over it. He calls me dishonorable for not revealing my own secret... but then... I never knew. Today more know of his misfortune than know of mine but there is a difference. His gives an unfair advantage and he used it. I suppose it is my own disgrace that makes me stronger than I would otherwise be, my hearing has always been acceptional, and, without trying to boast, I am a genius." He paused and let her laugh.

"I say that as a fact, not a boast. I am at least exceptional in my congnitive skills and maybe that is in part due to my heritage. But it is what I am. I cannot change it. I cannot choose to be as mentally slow as ta'pez but if I was an empath I could learn to ignore it or to warn others of the gift and my advantage. There was a time I would have considered killing him for what he was but I have grown since then. Now I am content that he has ceased to deceive, at least about that." K'Hare drained half the tankard and topped it off before sitting down again.

"I have changed since then. I can see that now. Back then I would have been offended by the mix of a Klingon and betazed. Now, I see that such as him have a stuggle to find their own honor and as long as I don't seem them acting with dishonor, abusing the gift, I would give them time to find their honor. Maybe ta'pez has done this for me. He still has much to learn, but he is better than he was when I first knew him 4 years ago."

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 11^th, 2006, 3:27am

Jackie nodded lightly.

"Sometimes even our enemies teach us a lesson or two" Jackie nodded, lightly rubbing at her head for a moment. "If it weren't for a Cardassian I wouldn't have picked up the betleH at all" she said, pausing to take a swig of the bloodwine before moving on.

"Ta'pez tells the story differently" she said, "he makes it sound like he is your worst enemy." She spoke recalling their conversation. "but according to him you lured him to KDB in order to challenge him." she paused taking a drink. "So this.. thing between you and Ta'pez isn't a House feud, so how/when is something a House feud exactly?" Jackie asked.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 11^th, 2006, 10:40am

K'Hare laughed. "I guess that is another way I have changed. Four years ago ta'pez was at least a rival if not an enemy. Today, he hardly rates notice on my sensors. I have bigger problems. You have the big job now, you will soon understand."

He took a long drink. "I suppose ta'pez's version of events are technically true. When I found out that he had gotten command of my ship... that is, the ship I should have gotten I couldn't be silent about his dishonorable nature any longer. I had put off confronting him because duty kept getting in the way. But he took the command at the same time we were called back to report to KDB. We were both there, and I took the opportunity to challenge him. I didn't warn him I was doing it until we met in person and so yes, I lured him. But in my defense, I took an offensive stance and didn't attack him aggressively until I was sure he understood that one of us was going to die. Had I simply attacked him all out he would have lost his life confused. But killing him that was wasn't worth the dishonor."

K'Hare took a long drink and considered her last question. "What exactly is an away mission? It can't be so simply defined. Suppose I had kill ta'pez back then and the cheng discovered or just thought I had done it dishonorably, then they would have come after me. If I had a large House of member who considered their attack unfair it could easily erupt into Klingons of both Houses seeking out each other and 'discussing' the state of things. House Wars can be quick or last for centuries. They can be big or small. Most cultures have some history of feuding... they just aren't as glorious."

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 11^th, 2006, 5:05pm

Jackie smirked , ever so lightly.

"well Dan did say this would be my... last fling..." she said. "I'm starting to think that was meant in more ways than one" she said, "I've hardly gotten used to command, and Starfleet gave me a Task Force" she took a swig of the bloodwine, then shook her head lightly. "Although Ta'pez still considers you dishonourable for...calling him out on his heritage yet seemingly hiding your own, but I suppose he wasn't aware that you weren't aware of it yourself" she noted.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 11^th, 2006, 9:03pm

"ta'pez knows. He was present when I was informed. Just because he is dishonorable enough to hide such a thing he thinks others would.

What he fails to understand is that I am not so different that it is obvious and its commonly known that some mixed blood of conquered species is common in many bloodlines. Only the Imperial bloodlines of the homeworld are of a known purity and only because they have the luxury of tracking it. Even many of them have some outsider blood. Few Klingons today don't have some trace of the HurQ. Their taint is so common that many consider their genes part of the Klingon genetic profile."

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 11^th, 2006, 5:05pm

She nodded and moved on. "I take it the deathmatch witnessed in your quarters earlier on was one such instance of house wars being.. resolved" she said. "Caitians tend to have matches like that using their claws as weapons; of course it's not a House war, but...we do get our fair share of clan/family type wars that can only be resolved by letting the two parties fight it out"

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 11^th, 2006, 9:17pm

K'Hare nodded. "Yes, what you saw in my quarters was the resolution of a House War. In this case however, it started as one House splitting. K'rahl, insulted by the dishonorable acts of his grandfather seperated from the House and many followed him. K'Trol did not accept it. He could have. He could have let it end there and both Houses would exist without any death, though probably some strong feelings, positive and negative on both sides. Instead, K'Trol rejected K'rahl's succession and his claim to some of the House assets and forcefully tried to stop him. K'rahl could have chossen to just walk away from the House with nothing. In this particular case there was little time between the seperation and the breakout of hostilities. That happens often enough as no House can have two masters."

He took a long drink. "But K'rahl was honor bound to reveal K'Trol's treachery. If it had been just K'Trol and a few others no doubt K'rahl would have simply challenged him within the House walls. It could have ended with just a few deaths but I suppose K'rahl was unsure how deep the dishonor nested in his House. Seperating as he did allowed member to choose sides and surely allowed more information to those K'rahl trusted. Most of this is speculation on my part. Most is House business and should not be repeated. The dishonor was paid for in much blood. But that changed in my room. K'Trol was able to redeem himself somewhat by accepting the challenge. He accepted the fate of his House just as K'rahl accepted the weight of making the charges. He K'Trol won, few would speak of the past. Enough blood had been spilled."

He took a quick drink. "It is a complex situation. But it was resolved. K'Trol is dead, his closest allies in the House are now dead. The House now falls under K'rahl's rule. He is responsible and must answer for the House now. Any involvement of members of the House in the old business will be forgotten as long as they accept K'rahl's reign. That is the Klingon way."

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 11^th, 2006, 5:05pm

She got up to refill her tankard and took K'Hare's too, knowing full well she'd have to be careful as she's lost track of how much she'd had to drink to date; and most of the time the drinks weren't coffee, which surprised Jackie herself, she's actually found herself wanting to drink more bloodwine.

She realised she was standing in the middle of the room, tankard in hand, with a slight smirk on her lips as her mind wandered off, she shook her head and returned to her seat mentally chiding herself for wandering off like that.

"I do have a.. request of sorts, would it be possible to arrange a shipment of bloodwine to the Horizon sometime and establish some sort of a... connection between KDB and the Horizon?" she asked, "I would very much appreciate that and if I could be of any assistance/service to you in any way I'd be glad to do so" she said.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 11^th, 2006, 9:22pm

"With the House war of K'rahl's done it is unlikely that there will be a major disruption in the production of their Bloodwine. You should talk to him. His House supplies a great deal of Bloodwine to the alpha quadrant through KDB and its ports. You should talk to him before he leaves. New business will strengthen his position and help settle his House down after this war." He took a drink from the tankard refilled by the caitian. "Helping settle down things in my realm of influence would be payment enough for me."

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 12^th, 2006, 1:09pm

Jackie nodded.

"I owe you a lot, K'Hare. consider this done, it's the least i can do" she said. "sides I think the bloodwine's growing on me... much like the Klingon influences" she spoke, "I'm gonna miss this." she added, clickign her tongue against her teeth lightly.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 13^th, 2006, 12:29pm

"There is always next year."

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 14^th, 2006, 6:43am

"Indeed" she spoke, "but who knows where each of us will be by then" she said. "I'm sure I'll have my hands full with what's happening in Task Force 58 and the Raeyan Sector at the moment" she spoke, "and you will have your hands full with things as well" she said, not going into details on what she meant, but they both knew what things she was talking about. "Have you got a location in mind for where the betleH tournament will be hosted next year?" she asked.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 14^th, 2006, 10:08am

"That will be decided later. We don't like to give the host too much time to think about what he is getting into."

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 16^th, 2006, 2:33am

Jackie smirked lightly, "That's probably a very wise move" she said.

"How'd the betleH tournament come about?" she asked, "it is a good way to promote the Klingon culture within Starfleet and a good way to get the Klingons interacting with Starfleet personnel" she noted. "If only Starfleet combatants didn't cheat so much during the matches"

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 16^th, 2006, 1:04pm

"This was the 4th one. The idea was the brain child of a Captain Deurkes of the USS Saturn. He convinced Fleet Admiral Bremer to let him try this thing." K'Hare laughed. "I don't think even Wade knew what he was getting himself into."

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 17^th, 2006, 4:19pm

Jackie nodded.

"Well it's definitely popular." she noted. "Wade definitely left a legacy with the tournament. You will be one of the people to carry it on" Jackie said, " now if some can be taught the value of honorable fighting versus just winning a match" she smirked lightly shaking her head; at times like these the Caitian wasn't sure she wanted to be Starfleet.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 17^th, 2006, 4:50pm

"I looked over the honorable list... it was good considering the number of federation marines who entered." He said it like the words tasted bad.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 17^th, 2006, 5:05pm

"Not too fond of marines are you?" Jackie inquired. "They do seem a little..." Jackie paused, searching for words. She wasn't sure she could find the right words there. She shook her head lightly "seem to think they're above some things. Better than Starfleet, better than anybody else" she noted idly looking into her tankard seemingly lost in thought.

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by K`Hare totlh on Mar 17^th, 2006, 8:07pm

"I met a trill here, a pacifist. Somehow she finds the path to compete, to take up arms, and yet, hesitates to kill. humans are like that too. At least, that is the part of the culture the federation puts forth. Yet when they do decide to kill, they will not hesitate for anything, even honor. The marines are all like that. They want to win at all costs. Wolfe is like that, even though he should know better. Winning becomes more important than honor."

Title: Re: Returning the blade
Post by Jackie Clawson on Mar 19^th, 2006, 10:50am

Jackie shook her head.

"You can't wield a weapon and hesitate to kill. Face an enemy, and the enemy will never hesitate to kill. and you dont' always have to kill, but...you know you have to at some stage" she shook her head again, realising she was starting to ramble a bit.

"humans seem to contradict themselves in a lot of things. They have a... 'do as I say not as I do' attitude towards things. Marines, on the other hand just want to beat and win no matter how. No matter what it takes" she said. "Sadly they are taught the concept of 'marines are better', Starfleet officers always clash with marines because the marines have bigger 'ego' factors. " She paused, smirking slightly. "bigger than fighter pilots at times. but when a marine is also a fighter pilot, and under the command of a Starfleet officer." Jackie chuckled. "the marines in my old squadron hated me at first. Didn't think I could be an adequate CAG because I wasn't a marine." she said. "to them it was 'Marines are better because they'll fight and win no matter what the odds are' Even if they cheat in order to get the win."

She sighed heavily as her mind raced through what was just said.

"At times like this, I am ashamed to be part of the Federation" she admitted. "Winning isn't as important as honor is. Fighting with honor makes it harder to win sometimes, but that is one of the challenges that must be overcome. Guess most marines prefer to take the easy way out. I'd rather fight with honor than simply win."

" 's part of the reason I didn't kill Ch'poQ. I didn't hesitate, I have no problem with killing if I have to, but that kill would not have been an honorable one." she said. suddenly trailing off and dropping into silence as she looked at her bloodwine, her mind pondering things. "And I won more than I would've gotten should I have killed him." She spoke finally.