> "They should, sir. One question, how do you want to deal with
>Snellings? He is my direct superior, but he is in the way trying to play
>the role of the big shot..."
"Let me handle Snellings. I've dealt with people like him beforrre," she
replied. "He is yourrr dirrrect superrriorr, so do what he says, but I'll
trrry and finesse him a little. He needs to feel imporrrtant, so I'll see
that he does - without getting in the way. Rrredirrecting his focus is all
it takes, and I've got just the thing forrr him." That third pip on her
collar would come in handy for a change.
(resp?)
"Well, I'd better get changed beforrre my fellow Caitians arrrive. I'd
hate to have them see me looking like something the dog drrragged in."
Caitians tended to be fastidiously clean when they could be, and she wanted
to make a good impression on the others, many of whom were her clan. "I'll
see you forrr dinnerrr. Give my rrregarrds to the Klingon commanderrr when
you see him." She stood, taking her tray back to the recepticle.
(resp?)
She headed to her cabin, walking with Torgash. She was taller than even he
was, but only by a couple of inches, so they could talk more easily than
either of them could with the shorter humans. <[Do you think this will
work, Admiral?]> asked Torgash in Klingon. <[Federation and Empire working
together?]>
<[We have to make it work, Torgash. These new aliens... I don't think
either government realizes how dangerous they can be. The Khzinti caused
considerable damage when they first appeared on the scene, and they only
had a small force in those sectors. These beings have set up shop in our
very own backyards, and they've made plans to stay. I've met a lot of
beings in my time, and fought many of them, but I have to say, there is
nothing more savage than a felinid when they want to be. No offense,
Torgash, but not even a Klingon could stand up to a Deathwalker of my
people.]> Torgash chafed, but said nothing. He'd read about them, and
somehow, he doubted he could face one and make it out alive. <[The thing
we don't know about it their technology, but if it's good enough to have
kept thim hidden all this time while building power, it's something to
worry about. We underestimated the Dominion too, and look where that got
us.]>
They walked along quietly after that, both thinking about their respective
roles in the days to come. More and more, Kit realized what a good choice
she'd made in picking Torgash. He was young, yes, but he had wisdom and
patience and the good sense to use them both. He'd studied the Federation
and studied Caitians, so he understood more than the average Klingon. She
sensed he was tough to get truly angry, which would be handy, but she also
sensed that if pushed too far, he could be dangerous, and wouldn't have any
qualms about slipping a knife into someone he thought had wronged him.
She'd have to watch that, to make sure it didn't come to that.
They parted at their quarters, which were right next to each other, with an
agreement to meet in half an hour to discuss training organization. With
that, she went in and took a long sonic shower, glad for the clean feeling
and even splashed some water on her face when she got out (wiping it off
very thoroughly afterward and smoothing the fur down carefully). She
changed into her combat fatigues and slipped on an armband to identify her
as senior instructor. Klingons and humans sometimes had trouble telling
Caitians apart, so she felt the need for identification at this stage while
they all got used to the training routine. Torgash came over then and they
talked about how they would work with both teams, and Torgash's role of
go-between. The Klingons would respect him and hopefully obey him if
tensions got too high, if he displayed authority vested in him by the
leaders. He agreed to the role of referee, and swore he would not take sides.
When the call came that the Caitians were arriving, she walked to the
hanger deck to greet them, looking formidible in her fatigues. She waited
patiently for the shuttle to come in and land, wondering what kind of group
had formed during the journey.
(eh?)
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"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
- Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931)
