melor's question

Posted on Sat Nov 12th, 2022 @ 4:51pm by Captain Xavier Carey & Lieutenant Commander Melor Pallara (Stoffels)

Mission: Traitor amongst us?
Location: captain's ready room

Melor did not know if he was allowed everywhere on the ship and he did not want to make trouble either. They had assigned him a small set of quarters which suited him just fine. And the doctor had stressed he was to take it very easy for at least another week. But he really wanted to talk to the captain so he put through a call to his ready room.

Xavier had been going through reports, there was already complaints about civilians having to move... he had given some exemptions, being in relationships with crew... some offered services to the crew. But the majority had to leave... at least temporarily. Hearing the chime, and finding out it was from Melor... he quickly picked it up.

"Commander, anything I can help you with."

"Captain could I come by and have a minute of your time." He asked politely.

Xavier nodded, "With no restrictions you have free roam. You can go where you want. If you want to meet with me, I am up in my ready room."

"I will see you in a minute."

***

Ten minutes later he entered the captain's ready room. It had gone slower than he had hoped. The doctor had not been kidding about taking it easy, his stamina was very low. Melor was grateful to be able to sit down and catch his breath.

"Sorry about that." He said.

"I could have went to you Commander, after what you have been through, it is not something to be taken lightly." He gestured to the replicator. "Want anything?"

"Some strong coffee would be nice, sir." Melor said stretching his legs before they could cramp.

He looked at the officer before ordering his drink. Once he handed it to him. "You do have the doctors permission to be here don't you?" He asked. Recalling his last discussion with the Chief Medical Officer, scolding him. "You know what you requested of me, which I did, I received a good talking to from him."

"He said I could have my freedom as long as I took it easy. No workouts. But I must admit that I did not judge the distance to your office very well."

"Next time site to site transport." Xavior replied. "So it must be important for you to ask to see me and not Tony."

"I was told that I need your permission for this, sir." Melor said. "I have no idea right now if my father and grandfather are alive. I would like to try and reach my contacts in the empire to find out."

Xavier paused. "Given on the suspicion on certain things, I do not believe that any of your contacts, can truly be trusted at this point of time." He gave a sympathetic look. "However I may be able to assist you."

Melor sighed. "I don't know who to trust right now except from the Londons and the Stoffels and your crew of course. Any help would be very much appreciated."

"Captain Drex of the Klingon Defence force... We have a mutual respect for each other... I guess..." He offered. "I can contact him."

"If you would. I would be in your debt, captain."

"Computer patch me into the IKS Gree'tok of the KDF." Xavier replied turning to the computer.

Moments later the grizzled old Klingon appeared on the screen. "Captain Carey. It's good to see you. How is the Shrew doing?"

"Enjoying time with her son, thanks to you, she has mentioned how you are just a real softie at heart." Xavier replied with a grin. "Hows the missing digit holding up."

Melor watched in fascination. He held his peace. Many Klingons did not react well to him.

“My missing digit is fine,” Drex replied, “So long as no other body parts go missing I should live to a ripe old age.” He laughed heartily at that.

Melor snorted in the background.

Drex’s eyes narrowed, “Who is that young pup laughing at me in the background?”

"I meant no disrespect captain." Melor said in fluent Klingon. "Lieutenant Commander Melor Pallara, sir."

Drex sat back in his chair with a bit of surprise on his face. “I know of you young pup. Tell me how you landed on Captain Carey’s ship. I bet that’s a good story!” He laughed again.

Melor looked at captain Carey as he was not sure how much he was allowed to share with the Klingon captain.

"Captain... is this line secure... the Commander here has some concerns."

"It's as secure as I can make it, Captain Carey, I'm between your encryption and mine it's well and properly secure," Drex assured them.

"Tell him whats going on Commander... I can vouch for the Captain here."

"There is something going on?" Drex teased with his toothy grin, "Of course there is, why else call me?"

"Might have wanted to see those enchanting blue eyes of yours. Ever think of that."

Drex laughed heartily, “You have a shrewd sense of humor Captain and I might suspect that if you didn’t already have two wives.”

Melor again tried not to smile before he started to tell the Klingon captain exactly what had been happened the past couple of weeks. Condensed of course but as Carey trusted him he did not leave anything important out. "So I am desperate to find out if my father and grandfather are alright." He finished. “And I hoped you might have some information."

During Melor’s explanation Drex’s expression grew dark. “I can not say at this time but there’s a better than good chance I can find out. House Reshtarc has no honor as far as I’m concerned. They’re more worried about their own reputation than that of the Empire’s. They are frequently a thorn in the High Council’s side… but they are also a powerful house and because of that they are… put up with as it were.” Drex’s tone hid nothing of they way he really felt.

"Thank you." Melor relaxed visibly. "My grandfather can use all the support he can get if he is still alive."

"You would know more than anyone else, would he be willing to negotiating." Xavier asked.

"Yes. He has always been willing to negotiate. Even after all that happened between the two houses." Melor said with conviction.

Xavier paused, and then turned to the Captain. "Drex... Would you be willing to inquire if he would be... willing to negotiate... If he is... if we can call a truce to the feud between houses." He looked down at his hand where his trigger finger once was. "I would be willing to accept him as a personal VIP onboard the Resolution while the talks take place. And conduct the negotiations myself."

“You’re going to rope me into this whether I want to help or not, aren’t you?” Drex asked with his usual toothy grin, “Fine,” he answered his own question, “I will contact House Reshtarc on your behalf. I do not know how my own house will feel about this but I will attempt to convince them.”

"Thank you! It means a lot to me and my house, captain." Melor said.

"I am not willing to make another house get into a blood feud Captain. I need to find a way to contact him..."

Drex leaned back in his chair, "Well, then, what do you intend to do?"

Xavier sighed. "Fine... but I do not want any more war between houses. Is there any way we can prevent the house of drex becoming involved if the negotiations do not go according to plan?"

Drex laughed again, “There is no ‘house of Drex’ Captain, at least not yet. Maybe someday if I’m lucky. I am a member of House Hov’Vaj, it’s and old and honorable house as you can imagine. I like your sentiment though.”

Melor nodded politely. But privately thought it would be good if all houses united against these lunatics.

"Would there be a way for you to help without causing war with your own house Captain?"

“I’m sure I can manage it.” Captain Drex replied.

"Very well." Xavier agreed, "We need time to make sure that hes the one behind this, and if he is, if he is acting alone."

Melor nodded relieved.

"Send out feelers, and if you can find some way of telling him that I am requesting a conversation. Tell him a 75 year bottle of scotch is in it for him."

“I’ll see what I can do,” Drex replied with a grin, “…and it better be a big bottle of scotch.”

"Three barrels for him. Two for you."

"That should do," Drex laughed again.

Xavier nodded. "Let me know how it goes. If you drop by starbase 357, there's advanced payment for you. Should be enough blood wine to satisfy your crew."

"Thank you captain, I'll be sure to update you as events warrant. Drex out."

Once the link went dead. He turned to Melor. "Keeping a contact within the Klingon defence force is expensive."

"I understood that sir. I do appreciate it. And my family is not without means either."

"I will keep you updated." Xavier replied as he turned to the computer once again. "If you don't mind, I have one more call to make."