Indecent Proposal

Posted on Sat Mar 30th, 2024 @ 2:33pm by Lieutenant Commander Kevin Lance & Captain Mira Rodale

Mission: Blood wine and vengeance
Location: Qo'nos
Timeline: Current

on:
{House Rasmehlier}

Mira was stunned at how quickly Thall had gathered their people and descended on House K'lar. She raised an eyebrow. "Was this much necessary?" She whirled a hand around at the Bird of Prays and shuttle crafts. She counted quickly 15. Did they even have 15 ship?

Thall nodded, "Anything less would not be fitting," he told her, "although I did have to call in many favors,"

Honesty, she didn't know and hadn't paid attention to Kolar's wealth. When she had first met Kolar, he had been a ship's captain. That's all she thought until they had come for a visit here. It had been really overwhelming for a 19 year old. Now the house was almost the same as the last time she had been here.

Since she had refused to sleep in Kolar's bedroom after her returned to the House 1/2 year ago, Thall had redecorated the lords bedroom. It looked impressive to her, and he had a woman dress her to match her status. Mira had not been happy.

"Why the hell am I dressing up for this dog?" Mira had asked.

Thall had rolled his eyes. "You are dressing for the part. And you're not supposed to fight, at least not tonight. This might keep you out of trouble."

Mira frowned. It was more than like get her into trouble was her thought.

{Meeting hall}

Here, she sat, letting ice fill her veins, watching that pig walk into this house as if he were a guest. Thall had given his word, and she would not dishonory him....well, if she could help it.

J'pok Opac entered the meeting room at House Rasmehlier with two bodyguards as arranged by Thall. He and Kevin stood flanking Mira as she sat at the head on the table. All six were visibly armed with d'k tahgs.

Their estimates of his body mass had been off. He was twenty pounds heavier than he appeared in the images that they had been able to obtain, and not all of it was fat. Mira would definitely need to keep her distance if they got into a fight.

"Lady Rasmehlier, I thank you for the opportunity to parley with you," J'pok announced formally.

Mira would have preferred to gut him. Where he stood but forced herself to reply coolly, "House Rasmehlier welcomes you, J'pok Opac." She resisted the urge to add "Son of No One and the but I do not to the end of her statement. " " It was all in the wording Thall had told her. She wasn't welcoming her son's kidnappers. The house was welcoming him to talk.

J'pok signaled one of his bodyguards. The warrior placed a communications device on the table. "As agreed, I provide evidence of the well-being of your son.

Looking over Mira's shoulder, Kevin saw a moving image of Kolar sitting on the lap of an elderly Klingon woman. The woman looked a little worse for wear with a bruise on the side of her face, but Kolar looked unharmed. He gurgle happily on the woman's lap as she coaxed him to look at the recorder.

Mira didn't so much as blink or look at the image. She knew what her son looked like. Insisted she asked the question she wanted to know. After all, he had not brought her son home, so whatever he wanted, he expected to be turned down. "Why did you take him?" Her voice was strong and regal.

J'Pok spread his hands as if the answer should have been self-evident, "To get your attention. I couldn't care two shakes of a targ's tail about your child, but he was useful to get you back to Qo’nos. What I do care about is the power that your house wields, waning though it may be."

Kevin noted Thall bristle at the implication, but the majordomo held his tongue in Mira's presence. "Your negligence towards your duties as Kolar’s widow is astounding and under Gharal's leadership House Rasmehlier is becoming a shell of itself. Another couple of years with him as Devwl' and all the work that Kolar, his father, and his father's father did will be undone."

"I hope you have a point," Mira responded haughtily.

"I do. I propose that we unite to restore House Rasmehlier to its former glory."

Mira raised an eyebrow. "Real? you have a great house you wish to unite with this one?" she waved a hand around the room.

Mira sighed. "From the look on you face, I can tell you don't have a great house or any house, do you?" She pouted." Yet you think you can improve this house?" Mira drummed her fingers on the table. "Here is another problem for you. Just a few months ago, the high council offered me a dozen different noble warriors with their honor intact for me to choose from to be my mate. I told the high council no."

Mira chuckled. "At the time, I wasn't polite about it. But I did make a promise that I would not mate another klingon male unless he had a great house of his own and was approved by the high council. Also, he would have to win my heart as did my mate and beat me in battle." Mira laughed.

"Seeing at the time I had no interest in these matters, I agreed very quickly, I might add. Then, I worked my up the chain of command until I became a captain of my own ship. I met a human male of honor who has my heart. We have a child together and are happy. Why do you think that because you can't win a challenge from Gharal, the heir of Rasmehlier, that some how getting a woman who left all of this and moved on with her life. Would just give up all that she had worked for to come back to a man who doesn't have a house of his own? "

She turned to Thall. "Why is it that men think I am interested in what goes on here on Q'onoS? Or that I can't read?"

Thall shugged his massive shoulders. He was still in his prime. Mira thought he should find a wonderful mate.

Mira opened up a massive book, " And looked it over."They have increased the holding times 10 of what it was in less than 5 months. This shell of itself you speak of must be lined with latinum." She closed the book with a thud. " How do you think a little Trill and Human child will improve your chances of challenging Gharal or K'lar? Because if Gharal doesn't have kids, then one of K'lar's 3 sons would inherit the family's house and holdings." she looked up from the book, acting puzzled. "I am confused. What do you bring to the table?"

Kevin flushed at Mira’s indirect reference to himself and noticed Thall shift uneasily at her mention of the House having increased its holdings Ten times in less than have a year? It's an economic miracle. Of course it was wrong. She must be boasting to strengthen her argument.

“Order. Stability. And a strong hand that will actually be present to lead the house,” K’poc replied unflustered, “Gharal has House Rasmehlier on a knife’s edge. He wasn’t a popular cousin of Kolar’s to begin with and he has managed to anger half of the captains that Koral had lead. Your assertion of strengthening is grossly exaggerated. Any improvement in the House’s power has been by the captains themselves and it is only a matter of time until one of them decides to push him off of the throne.

“It was Gharal’s decision to take half of the House’s warriors off to search for you when any fool who was paying attention knew that your ship was reassigned to Starbase 364. His rash action permitted the attack on your family to succeed. If you leave House Rasmehlier in his hands, there will be nothing left for your brother-in-law’s heirs to inherit.”

“Regardless of your interest in Qo’nos, you are very careless of your deceased mate’s legacy. You could be a Lady Grilka but you have turned your back on your mate’s people.’

“My own elevation through the ranks is as impressive as your own. If you care to examine the record, I have demonstrated the drive and ruthlessness that would ensure House Rasmehlier’s existence regardless of your presence. I can, of course, challenge for leadership of the House but the ensuring conflict, whatever the outcome, will weaken the House. I much prefer to make an alliance with the widow of Kolar.

Thall cleared his throat. "My lady, I believe he is bringing what he thinks is great prowess to your ....bed as payment for you handing over kolars house and titles."

Mira put her her hand to her heart. " But I have a man, and we have a child..... He can't possibly think that. He did all this to get me to come back to negotiate a business transaction?"

J'pok leaned forward, in his chair, “You are clearly an impatient woman and I shall tarry with you no longer. My proposal is for us to be legally mated, I will take leadership of House Rasmehlier and return your son to you and his father. In consideration of your cooperation, I will forgo conjugal rights and even declare Kolar as my heir. You can return to Federation space and never concern yourself with Klingon affairs again secure in the knowledge that your deceased husband’s legacy is safe. You wouldn’t even need to see me.”

Without warning, Kevin launched himself across the table screaming in Federation Standard, “YOU BASTARD!” Everyone, including Mira and K’poc were taken completely by surprise. Kevin knocked J'pok over and started to straggle him. After a brief moment, J'pok's guards pulled Kevin off of him. Thall grabbed Kevin and pushed him back towards Mira’s side of the table, cursing at him in Klingon.

“Get control of your pet human!” J'pok yelled at Mira as his guards helped him to his feet.

"He is not a pet." Mira's hand ran up Kevin's chest to cup his cheek. " You insulted his woman," she turned back to J'pok, " and said, 'You plan to claim his son as your heir.' You have no claim over anything. Clearly, your so-called rise in the ranks was as underhanded as you're dealing with me. To take an infant to try and gain power that you are incapable of getting on your own. I would rather mate with a Ferengi than have anyone connect my name with yours. If you wish to live J'pok. Take my son to the high council unharmed. Or by all that is holy the price on your head will be so high there will be no place in this universe you will be able to hide. I swear this on all I hold dear. I will end you in such a way that your name will be a laughing stock."

"I had hoped to find the widow of Kolar to be more reasonable," J'pok replied angrily, "but clearly his choice of a Federation mate was insane. I look forward to seeing you in Council." Without waiting for a response J’pok turned and stocked out of the meeting room.

Thall watched the departure of J'pok then turned to Kevin. "That was dangerous. He was under a flag of truce."

"I didn't spill his blood and he left unmolested," Kevin countered, "so honor is preserved." He turned to Mira and asked, "Give me your comm badge?"

Mir gave him a quizzical look as she handed the device over.

Kevin tapped the comm badge, "Lionheart, this is Commander Lance,"

=/\= "This is Lionheart." =/\=

"I need you to track the movement and location of my comm badge. Send the tracking information to Captain Rodale's and my PADDs." Kevin terminated the connection.

He looked at Mira and Thall to explain, "When I grabbed J'pok, I attached my comm badge to him. We should be able to track him to where he is keeping Kolar."

Thall looked at Kevin with greater respect.

A smile spread to Mira's lips . "You are amazing." Mira kissed him.

"Thall contact Isbethal tell her if my son isn't in the high council hands in 3 hours I want a contract."

Thall nodded. "She will want to know how much?"

Mira nodded, "Use my wedding jewels the whole damn chest."

"Mira, that's ..." Thall started to say, but at the look on her face, he nodded.

Mira smiled, "Make it an open contract."

Thall pailed. "That will cause a blood bath."

Mira shrugged. "I want my son back. I am done playing games. J'pok dies."

"What if he challenges you?" Thall asked.

"Then I kill him and collect on the contract. Win win." Mira smirked.

Mira looked up at Kevin. "He knew I was at SB364. They have been keeping taps on me. That's not good."

:off

Captain Mira Rodale
CO
USS Chuck Norris

and

Lieutenant Commander Kevin Lance
Executive Officer
USS Chuck Norris