Qapla' - Part III

Posted on Wed Jul 16, 2025 @ 3:03am by Commodore T'mpest Michaels & Commander Cara Letsul & Charghwl'IH of the House of Soval
Edited on on Wed Jul 16, 2025 @ 3:05am

1,731 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Tergum In Tempus

[PREVIOUSLY]

Fernandez shook her head. "I want him gone as quickly as possible. That man is nothing but trouble. I wouldn't be surprised if his government says they had nothing to do with the attack and all those ships went rogue."

[CONTINUED]

He doubted her failure to grant the asylum was merely accidental but no matter. "Might I suggest we recess so that we can contact our respective governments and meet tomorrow morning?"

"Yes. That will also give me time to compile a damage report." Fernandez looked at the two captains. "Ladies, I can offer you and your crew accommodations for the night, if you wish."

"Thank you. My crew and I would appreciate that as we currently have no ship to return to," T'mpest said. She would also have to carefully word a letter to Starfleet Command explaining why she was at DS5 for the battle to begin with.

"Thank you, Commander." T'Lisa said. "I will accept your kind offer. That way they won't have to travel too far to aid your crew in repairs, bright and early tomorrow morning." She added.


[Klingon Embassy]

Charg left while the others discussed their lodging arrangement. Returning to his office in the station's Klingon Embassy his staff was still cleaning a few things up. Upon entering several tablets were handed to him one was a letter from Soran.

Setting them aside he opened a secure channel both the High Council and his counterpart on Earth.

T'mpest nodded, then turned back to Charg. "They may or may not want him dead, but they are not likely to argue if he is sent to Rura Penthe."

Once T'mpest noticed Charg leave, she looked at Jacqueline and nodded to the door "Perhaps you should also leave and speak to Starfleet Command."

Jacqueline looked from T'mpest to the door, then nodded. She stood, nodded to the others, and walked out of the room so that she, too, could have a conversation with her superiors.

Hilda realizing that her superior officer was leaving, quickly gathered up her documents and dashed after Fernandez if she had her way, Hilda would like to stab Turvan herself. He was also the cause of losing friends, the CO of the station, Hanging is too good for him, let him rot in Rura Penthe that would be sheer delight for her. Let him have the mental torture of not being able to influence anything.... With slight frown, she was out of the room after her boss.

T'mpest looked around the table. "Would anyone like something from the replicator while we wait?"

[Captain's Ready Room]

Jacqueline sat behind the desk and opened a private channel to Starfleet Command.

"This is Lieutenant Commander Jacqueline Fernandez, acting commander of Deep Space 5. I need to talk to an admiral about a recent attack."

The lieutenant at the other end stared at her for a moment, then connected her to the Admiral on duty. "Remington here. What happened to Commander Ryan?"

"He's dead, sir. Killed in the line of duty." Jacqueline paused. "Let me explain..." She told him about the attack by the Cardassian and Xi'Cadian forces and the attack on the command center where the commander died protecting his crew. "The Klingon fleet chased off the rest of the Cardassian and Xi'Cadian forces. That's when Ambassador...I mean Legate Turvan surrendered and asked for sanctuary."

"He what?!?" the admiral bellowed.

"I didn't grant it. I just accepted his surrender. But since the Klingons had 500 warriors on the planet, they took the legate and those who were with him into custody. Ambassador Charghwl'IH wants to take them back to Klingon territory for trial."

The admiral interrupted her. "No. He attacked a Federation starbase and planet. In addition, he attacked and destroyed a starship. He comes here."

"Yes, sir. One of the captains... Michaels, I believe, suggested the ambassador escort them to earth and present his case to the Federation council. She also suggested that Legate Turvan might serve his punishment on Rura Penthe."

Admiral Remington was about to yell again, but he paused. "That...might be possible. If the ambassador brings them here. We can't risk offending the Klingon Empire, but we can't let them waltz in and take someone who brazenly attacked a starbase without causing other allies to question the Federation's ability to take care of itself and its friends. But that... I will speak with the others. Thank you, Commander. Remington out."

When the Admiral signed out, Hilda remarked quietly. "Ma'am. You did well and a solution has been found. Thank goodness." breathing out a sigh of relief. "Time to let them know of the decision?"

"Yep." Fernandez sighed and made her way back to the observation lounge to rejoin the others.


[Klingon Embassy]

Charg leaned back as the channel was closed. What he had been told confirmed his suspicions and in the minds of the Council they had Turvan so he was theirs. His finger and thumb stroked his mustache as he thought. Should he inform the Federation of what he had learned or wait.

Rising he poured himself a drink deciding to wait until the morning.


== The Next Morning ==

Charg reviewed the information as the lift took him to deck 14 and the female inquisition that was awaiting him. He laughingly huffed at the thought and smiled as he shook his head. When the lift stopped he grabbed a coffee at a nearby replicator then entered the lounge. Seeing everyone was already there he bowed his head, "Good morning ladies."

"Good morning," Jacqueline said. She felt better about the talks this morning, but she was still worried that something would go wrong.

T'mpest had been asked to join again--probably because she had experience as a diplomat. She, too, had contacted Starfleet. She would much prefer they hear from her directly about the battle and the loss of the Tiahuanaco than hear it from other sources. At least the admiral of the fleet understood why she'd come, and the reason the ship was lost.

When Charg entered, she gave him a half bow. "Greetings, ambassador."

"Commodore."

Taking a seat opposite them he started before they could. "The High Council is...adamant that Turvan remain in our Klingon custody and be taken to the Home world for trial. It was Klingon blood that was shed first. There were Breen prisoners taken following the attack on our joint dilithium processing center that was under construction in the Tarelis System.

"It seems the Breen attack was engineered by Turvan in an attempt to divert ships and resources from the station in order to weaken DS5's defenses prior to the attack on the station itself. Klingon lives and ships were lost in that battle...before the attack on the station."

"No." Jacqueline shook her head. "You may have first blood, but he declared war on Deep Space 5 and the federation. He must go to earth for trial. You will have to address your claim to the Federation Council. In addition, he surrendered to us."

Charg straightened glaring at her. "Only after I called for his own to turn him over. He is a coward that surrendered before his people could turn on him. And when his forces no longer had that option...they fled."

He could see her fear but she was not his enemy so he had an option that should satisfy both the Federation and the Empire. Grinning slowly. "However as long as he stays in Klingon custody I believe the Council will accept his being tried on Earth first. Once that trial is complete, Turvan will be taken to Qo’noS for his crimes against the Empire and then he will serve out both sentences, within the Empire."

It wasn't as bad as she'd feared, but Jacqueline wasn't going to promise that the Klingons could put him on trial. That really wasn't something she felt she had a right to agree to. But she could send him to someone who could. "I will agree to your taking him to earth as long as a Federation representative goes with you. It will be up to the Federation Council if they agree to the rest of your terms."

"I anticipated that would be your reply so I had the Klingon Ambassador to the Earth present them with the terms and you Commander are to be that Federation escort. Especially if they want a full report on the whole situation. Killing two birds with one stone I believe is the phrase. Turvan and the other prisoners have been transferred to the Qu'Ro and is standing by."

Fernandez just stared at him. She was to go with them, to be the Federation representative? She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came.

A moment later, T'mpest spoke up. "Agreed. A most equitable solution, ambassador. The commander is honored to accompany you to earth."

Jacqueline stared at the half Vulcan, but she knew there was nothing she could say or do to counter that. She did manage to nod weakly.

Clapping his hands, "Excellent. Commander, you can accompany me on my ship or join Turvan on the Qu'Ro. The choice is yours. We can depart as soon as you are ready."

"I'll...um..." Fernandez took a deep breath. "I will go with you, ambassador. Thank you." She signaled to Hilda to accompany her. "Give me five minutes to pack."

T'mpest almost asked to go with them, but she needed to see to her crew--her former crew--before heading to earth herself. Besides, she had nothing to contribute to the discussion about Hydel Turvan.

Hilda was surprised and also quite happy, that there was going to be a chance to watch the trial of Turvan and be there. Be there to be witness as he would be sentenced with no escape from imprisonment and no longer being able to manipulate things from behind the scenes. Today was a good day, to be witness to all of this. Hilda trying to keep a slight smile from becoming evident.

Captain Michaels watched them go, then sat back down. That part was over, but there was still much to do.

Charghwl'IH of the House of Soval
Klingon Ambassador

Colonel Nicholas Means
CO - 21st MEU

Petty Officer Hilda Schmidt
Yeoman to Fernandez
(NPC Written by Cara Letsul)

Lieutenant Commander Jacqueline Fernandez
Acting Commander
Deep Space 5

Captain T'mpest Michaels
Former Commander
USS Tiahuanaco

 

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