Terms of Engagement

Posted on Fri Nov 14th, 2025 @ 6:59pm by Captain Mira Rodale Lance & Commander Kevin Lance

2,664 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Death before dishonor
Location: USS Chuck Norris
Timeline: Current

On:
{STARBASE MEDICAL}

The feeling of being carried was the first thing Mira noticed. She started to struggle but her body didn’t want to respond except for weak movements. The arms around her tighten to keeping her in place.

“We got you, Captain. Almost back to the ship.” That voice was familiar, confident, and she recognized it, K’ner! Oh, by all that was holy, she was safe now. Mira connected to her symbiont, she was still with her. She gave a little relieved sigh. She was safe and she let the drugs drag her back under.

{USS Chuck Norris}

“Is she ok?” At K’ner’s nod, Zimia smiled and looked down at Vaytoc “see I told you the crew would have everything under control.”

Vaytoc hissed.

Zimia raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you hiss at me you had one job ‘watch the kids.’ Are you doing that?”

Vaytoc followed behind the group going to Sickbay, but since he didn’t smell blood he veered off to head back to the cubs.

{USS Chuck Norris medical}

“How long was I out.” Mira asked.

“longer than I would have liked. They shouldn’t have drugged you at all.” K’ner told her

Mira nodded, “My symbiont”

“Fine. We got there before they started anything.“

“The medical records….” Mira started to say wondering if she could intercept any files.

“There aren’t any medical scans on you, I did tell them you was infected and highly contagious.”

Mira smirked but gave the doctor a hug. “Thank you. My symbiont isn’t in the Trill database and they control who gets them. I also can’t let my brother know. VON is dangerous and could sell that information to the highest bidder.”

Dressing in the armor Chek and Vdaj brought her. She placed her weapons carefully in there correct spots.

Vdaj frowned. “Did you not say your mate will fight for you?”

Mira nodded. “But that was before his …..first family showed up. I told him to handle the Odinskus and I would handle the Klingons. This is handling the Klingons. If I fail then I have no business being the head of two Klingon houses.”

Zimia frowned. “What first family?”

Mira sighed. “Seem six years ago on Odinskus he decided to have a fling with one of them. After he left to follow his career with star fleet. Some how she managed to get pregnant then waited 6 years to tell him. And the Odinskus think I am unworthy because I am small.”

Zimia frowned, “but there so huge and rude. Why would Kevin have even….”
Mira cut her off. “Apparently he is into overly muscular behemoths. Perhaps that’s why it took so long for us. Because he wasn’t really interested.”

Zimia frown.

Mira held her hand up to stop whatever Zimia would have said. “I got to get going, Lt Chek Tholbo of house Rasmehlier. I formally ask you to be my second. If I fail get my kids to Earth.”

Vdaj nodded. “and you?”

“I won’t fail. If I see that I’m losing, l will fight to the death.” Mira told her then headed to the transporter room.

{Armory, USS Chuck Norris}

“Are you certain that you want to go through with this?” Jeffery Montgomery asked. “I mean, with the explosion after the previous duel still under investigation, shouldn’t this duel be postponed?”

“That would be the logical thing.” Kevin agreed as he pulled on the vembraces. “But logic and honor rarely intersect…especially where the Klingons are involved.”

“Surely General Kharon would grant a special dispensation in this case,” the second officer suggested.

“He would,” Kevin acknowledged, “but more out of the love he holds for Mira than any sense of justice or fair play. It would only delay the inevitable duel and after the way that he disrespected my daughter, I’d sooner cut out my own eye than ask any favor of him.” He slid the d’k tahg into its boot sheath with greater force than was necessary.

“That,” Jeff nodded, “The genetic test came back already?”

“No, Doctor K’ner is going to take the sample from Thyra this morning,” Kevin replied, “but I don’t need a test to tell me what I know in my heart any more than I needed one for Kolar or Ashla. You know, it is ironic. The Klingons think that the Odinkus are so deceitful because they didn’t tell me about Thyra yet they are happy to let two males battle over a woman like she is property.”

“So what are you going to do?”

Kevin let out a long breath. “Void, I don’t know. After fighting the duel, I will see if I can’t talk some sense into Mira, try to get her to see that whatever is going on with the adults the child doesn’t bare any guilt. But Klingon honor is so ingrained into her…the duel is going to be easier than the conversation.” He looked in the mirror and shrugged. “Perhaps Klvll Klingjil will be so kind as to relieve me of the responsibility for that conversation by killing me.”

Jeff stared at the executive officer in horror.

“Gallows humor.” Kevin smirked before Kronnelti entered carrying a kur’leth.

“You look the proper Klingon warrior,” Kronnelti commented, “Mira would be proud.”

“Somehow I doubt that,” Kevin remarked, “Is she awake yet?”

“No, the doctor says that she will not wake for another couple of hours,” the chief of security answered.

“I should have liked to say goodbye,” Kevin said to his image in the mirror, “Well, Klvll isn’t getting any younger and I don’t want to lose by default. Jeff, the ship is yours.” He walked out of the armory and towards the hatch connecting the Norris to the Starbase with Kronnelti following behind.

{USS Chuck Norris, transporter room}

Mira tapped her commbadge. “Three to beam over, Klingon lower decks”

=/\= Affirmative Captain. =/\=

{Starbase, Klingon lower decks, Arena}

General D’amish Kharon frowned at seeing her. “You’re early.”

Mira finished braiding her hair in a long braid that hung to her hips. She gave a little shrug “Better early than late.”

“Where is Commander Lance? I was told you had been injured.” He asked her.

Mira stiffened. “I was, I am fine now and I assume Commander Lance is with the Odinskus. He is handling them and I get to deal with all of you.” She laughed.

“I am not sure this wise.” He told her with some reservations on this plan

“Whatever, you’re the one that put me up for the trophy. We never agreed to that.“ Mira told him with clenched teeth.

He nodded. “True, but it would have been easy for him to toss the match and not have to deal with the house. BUT you and the kids I thought would be a different outcome.”

Mira laughed bitterly. “You just didn’t plan on him having another family now did you? Yeah, neither did I.“

The doors to the arena swung open forcibly and in walked Kevin in full Klingon battle attire flanked by Kronnelti. “Where is the misbegotten honorless bastard that would take my family from me!” he demanded.

The General’s entourage was taken aback by the brash, foul mouthed human. They had come to view Commander Lance as a quiet sort better suited for introspection that overt displays of arrogance. There were murmurs amongst the Klingons about the slur that Kevin had made against Klvll and if the human would have been so offensive had Klvll been present.

Kevin strode in as if he owned the room and looked about with a haughty disdainful look. “My worthless opponent hasn’t arrived? Such a pity.” His eyes finally settled on Mira and the General.

With a wry, crooked smile he continued, “Come to watch your mate die? I’m touched.”

Mira mouth dropped open at Kevin’s words. A Hurt expression crosses her face before she blinked all expression showing nothing and took a step back. “Not at all, Commander. I just assumed you would be to busy handling the Odinskus. There really isn’t a reason for you to be here at all.”

General Kharon stepped forward. “As the leader of a Great House, Lady Rasmehlier is entitled to attend any duel of honor.” He growled at Kevin. “Even if she weren’t so particularly interested in the outcome.”

“’As the leader of a Great House’,” Kevin replied mockingly, “no other possible reason she would be here.” In truth, Kevin had hoped to keep Mira away from the contest. Her presence was an independent variable that increased the danger to everyone, especially herself. Kevin shot a glance at Kronnelti, wondering if he had been lying when he said that Mira would be asleep for hours. But the Chief of Security’s face was placid.

Mira turned away from Kevin, hurt. Clearly he had made his choice, it wasn’t her.

Klvll entered from the opposite side of the room with his second alongside. It wasn’t his brother, leading Kevin to suspect that the other Klingjil brother had been either seriously injured or killed in the blast that had followed Mira’s duel. Or possibly up to something.

“Is Lady Rasmehlier here to fight her own duel,” Klvll asked with a leer.

Frowning up at Klvll ,“This is growing very tiring.” She slipped the fur off her shoulders. “My children are not part of the deal, Klvll. Whatever Kharon might have told you, He doesn’t speak for my house. When we enter that ring, only one of us will leave alive.” If she lost, so be it.

Klvll grinned, “I have no interest in killing you.”

“Great! Then it will be easier for me to kill you. I AM DONE with men but you in particular.” Mira told him with far more confidence then she was feeling.

Done with men, Kevin noted.

“Let’s just dispense with all the war stories shall we? EVERYONE KNOWS MINE they heard them yesterday. But oddly you are a bit of a mystery. Did someone scrape you off their boots and put you in a house? Your ridges aren’t even Klingjil? Must be one their many bastards or a targ they picked up?” She started to walk for the arena.

Hearing him growl, she smirked.

“Well, your mate should know all about bastards.”

Mira shrugged. “Tests aren’t in yet.” She pulled her blades twirling them as she walked.

Kevin stepped between the two combatants. “General Kharon, I protest!” he declared loudly. “As the most grievously injured party, it is my right to fight Klvll. I stand to lose not only my mate but my children as well. I will not stand by to let another fight in my stead.” He paused a moment to let his words sink in before adding, “Unless it is now Klingon custom to let a woman fight in a warrior’s place.”
Mira narrowed her eyes at the insult. The nerve of him to say she wasn’t a warrior. Well, that didn’t take long. First the Odin- swine called her small and Unworthy, now he called her not a warrior.
A chorus of angry growl arose from the General’s entourage but he held up a restraining hand. “As the head of your House,” D’amish replied tightly, “Lady Rasmehlier has the right to petition to fight any duel directed at those under her charge.” He paused to look between Kevin and Mira.
Mira raised her chin.
Kevin wasn’t surprised. He had studied the Klingon code duello as part of his preparations for the fight with Klvll. He expected Mira to try to intervene which is why he had hoped that she wouldn’t be able to attend. Now, his gamble rested on the General’s decision. Hopefully, Kevin thought, I have pissed him off enough that he will want Klvll to have a chance to kick my ass.

The wager paid off and D’amish made his pronouncement. “It is her right but you do stand to lose more if defeated. The duel remains as previously accepted.”
Mira just stood their shocked until K’lar put his hand on her arm to move her away from the ring. Mira jerked her arm away. “I didn’t Accept anything!” she hissed at her brother-in-law. “did you give him your permission to protect you?” K’lar asked in her ear.
“yes” she told him angrily. “But that was before.”
“Doesn’t matter. He has the right to fight..” K’lar told her firmly. Pulling her along to where he had been sitting.
“Fine, I’ll kill you if your still alive later.” She told Klvll before letting K’lar take her to her seat. “This is the last challenge against you or there will be a war.” K’lar told her “Don’t let your pride leave your children motherless. Kevin doesn’t wait long before bringing in an auntie from what Kolar to me.”
Mira choked, it was true and always in the back of her mind. “That was in the Matrix.”
He nodded, “and his last girlfriend is here with his child it would be easy to figure out if you died who he would have raising them. They would turn out to be as ignorant and backward as she is.” Mira frowned but said nothing more.

Good, Kevin thought seeing her surrounded by guards, Kronnelti will be able to get Mira back to the ship if this goes badly. Kevin took the kur’leth from Kronnelti and approach Klvll in the center of the arena.

“This match is to be a contest of strength,” the Klingon marshal announced. “Each contestant has chosen their favored weapon.” Klvll’s choice had been a bat’leth. Dangerous, if unimaginative. “The fight shall be to First Blood.”

“No.” Kevin objected.

The marshal started at the interruption. “Commander Lance, you disagree with the previously agreed upon arrangements?”

“I will not risk my family on a lucky strike,” Kevin spoke loud enough that D’amish and the other Klingons could hear him clearly, “I change the terms of the duel to Fight to Submission.”

There was a murmur amongst the Klingons. A fight to submission was extremely unusual due to the wide array of possible outcomes because the termination of the duel was up to one of the parties yielding. The fight could end as soon as it began, wound both opponents grievously, or even death. Unlike other types of duels, to submission was unpredictable.

Mira took her seat still frowning until she heard Kevin’s voice. "What the hell is he doing?” Mira whispered to K’lar
“What I would have done if someone had challenged me for my mate.” K’lar told her.
“But he accepted this first woman’s child. In doing so, he accepted her mother as well. They are mated how. He can’t fight for me. He gave me up.” Mira hissed.
K'lar shrugged. “Not by human laws. You’re his wife until the courts say otherwise. Accepting the child only means he fathered the child, nothing more.”
Mira frowned.

The marshal turned to Klvll. “The terms of the duel have been altered,” he stated stoically, “You can withdraw your challenge without dishonor.” The marshal did not add the word, officially. It was well known that any withdrawal of a challenge was always followed by rumors of cowardice.

Klvll accepted the alteration. He expect to beat Kevin so severely that the Star Fleet officer would be begging for mercy. It would be so humiliating that Mira would divorce him on the spot.

“The terms of the duel have been altered and accepted.” The marshal announce, “Challengers, take your places.”


Tag

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Commander Kevin Lance
Executive Officer
USS Chuck Norris

and


Captain Mira Rodale Lance
CO USS Chuck Norris

 

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