Weighty Discussion

Posted on Sun Apr 26th, 2020 @ 11:35pm by Subcommander Kaiae t'Lien & Lieutenant Hatham tr'Krotash

1,777 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Prologue: Before the Inferno
Location: Raven's Claw, Gym
Timeline: In Transit

Hatham shook his head as he reset the resistance on the machine in front of him. Third time so far - he was used to needing to increase the weights a little, but the last person in here must have been one of the humans because everything seemed to be on kiddie settings.

As the door slid shut behind Kaiae, clad in loose silk workout clothes, she raised one brow in curiosity - the only other occupant of the Claw's small workout area at the moment - of which she was pleased to see seemed decently well equipped - was one of the members she was most curious about: The hulking Romulan guard. It was enough to make her decide to start her workout with the free weights near the machine he was at; though on striding over to them she felt the eyebrow creep upwards again at the need to go much further towards the "heavy" end of the selection than she usually did, something she hadn't experienced since the months she had spent using Federation exercise facilities, with their service of a wide range of species.

As he starting his presses, Hatham noted the newcomer. He wasn't worried, but he wasn't incautious either; of course, that was standard operating procedure for him. The woman was not bad looking and judging from her scars, capable. More importantly, she was one of the warbird crew and he had been hoping for a chance to talk to one of them about their mission, and sound out whether they might be interested in taking on an experienced Galae vet in exchange for securing a place for his family. But he didn't want to be forward, so he waited a few reps before making a casual friendly observation. "Don't judge us by the resistance settings. The Ferengi uses the gym sometimes too."

"The Ferengi?" Kaiae's tone was admittedly incredulous; by the Ferengi she had observed on Deep Space Nine, with the exception of Nog, all of them appeared to have a serious...allergy...to exercise of most any kind. "Still; if one were judging by such, yours are impressive."

"Like most people here, he's tougher than he looks." Hatham gave a quick jog of brows, the equivalent of human wink. He'd never seen Gedak fight, but if he'd had grown up on ships in the cut-throat world of Ferengi trade, Hatham figured he wasn't a pushover. "As for me, if I didn't set things near max, people would think I was slacking off," he chuckled. "You though seem to be handling weights at the high end for your size too."

"I was educated by the Jem'Hadar on the fact that there are species in the galaxy with more strength than ours, and the need to seek a top form against them." She set down the set she was working with for a moment, and traced the path of the scar on her face, another pair lower on her neck, and the evidence of defensive wounds on her hands. "I saw no excuse to return to a lesser routine once they were out of the picture." She picked up the weights and began working once more. "For one reason, because only a fool would assume the Dominion will hold up its end of the treaty indefinitely."

Hatham nodded at that. "No enemy that still lives is wholly defeated, as my father would say. I've had some experience with Jem'Hadar too." He paused to pull down on the neck of his shirt, revealing a scar that ran from his collar bone and across one pectoral, then lifted the edge to show another on his side. "Made me go back and relearn the things I'd known when I was a kid fighting people who were bigger and stronger. I try to keep up with that too," he smiled wryly. "Though suitable opponents are hard to come by now."

Kaiae laughed softly. "I suspect they are. You could undoubtedly find a challenge in a properly calibrated hologram; but in a ship of this age I assume there's probably not power to spare for a projector. Though if you ever encounter any Gorn, that might suffice."

"I'm not they ever had holodecks in these ships," Hatham said, trying to think back to what he recalled of old ship specs. He hadn't been an engineer though, so never committed that much about ships that weren't current to memory. "But despite all her other updates, there's none here. As to Gorn, I've tangled with them a couple times too, but as long as you stay clear of the teeth, they aren't as hard to take down as Jem'Hadar."

"The Dominion designed them for the purpose well." Kaiae paused. "Somewhat well. Even soldiers who do nothing but train and fight day and night as the Jem'Hadar do will never reach the levels of experience and wisdom and strategic skill that comes with training and fighting over time; their whole life span is no more than 20 years at best. They claim the Vorta fill that role, but..." She scoffed - Vorta preened enough to make it clear that the role they filled most was their own egos. "They have nothing they fight for. No programmed devotion to the changlings or to lay down their short lives can match the ingenuity and force of will of one fighting for their people, their home, their family; a willingness to sacrifice matched by a determination to make it count."

"Absolute truth," Hatham agreed firmly. "They had a commitment to their team, but nothing like a people or a family." Not only did he very much agree, and appreciate the chance to talk with someone who really understood, but that was almost the best opening he could hope for. "Is that why you joined this effort, to save family who might otherwise be left to burn?"

"In part. But also....I came to the conclusion, when presented with the choice, that I would be remiss in my duty if I had the chance to perhaps save so many of our people as our leaders would if they were not remiss in theirs, and did not act on it."

"I left the Galae years ago because I needed more to support my family, but if the rest of the Galae were trying to save our people I'd re-enlist." Though he was trying keep the bitterness out of his voice, the last was punctuated by the clank of a machine slammed to its limit.

"Some of us are. Though we would suffer greatly for it if we are exposed in the effort." The frustration and bitterness on Kaiae's face was plain, if subtle. "So, how did you come to be on a...mercenary ship?" Kaiae asked, stowing the free weights and beginning a routine on another nearby machine.

"Simple necessity." Hatham shrugged, a motion that sent a feedback shiver through the machine. "My parents were retainers in a House suddenly left to worthless heirs after Shinzon, so when the estate was sold off they were cast off. The Galae provides well for single officer, but only the higher ranks can support an extended family. I certainly couldn't, so I took a discharge and my training and found more profitable work."

Kaiae knew she straddled a curious line in life - she had noble blood in her veins and training in childhood as to the obligations that went with it; but in a diluted enough quantity that her life had otherwise been much like that of any other upper middle class citizen. She had parents whose careers afforded them a comfortable existence for themselves and their families; but not the sort that could keep retainers and servants such as the estates Hatahm referenced could - she might have wanted for very little as a child, but she was still required to clean her own room and run her own errands.

"Have you considered, perhaps, a return to something rather less profitable; but that would allow you to make a difference in the fate of many abandoned by their leaders, as your parents were....?" Kaiae phrased her question in a leading fashion, knowing she would need to clear the action up the chain of command to finalize it; but unable to stand aside when she saw one of their own perhaps in a perfect position to understand their cause; and with skills that could prove very useful indeed.

Hatham suppressed a smile; he saw where she was going and had been considering how to broach the subject. Now he didn't have to, but out of long habit still held back in replying. "Aye. I admire what you're doing and join to help beyond just the role the Claw is playing. But I also must consider the risk to my family and their welfare." He ended his set and flexed his shoulders to stretch. "I have been saving to afford relocation for them, but if the risk of joining involved the potential reward of transport to safety, or at least out of the way of sure destruction, then I would surely consider it."

"Arrangements to that effect could undoubtedly be made. Roughly how many people are we talking about?" Kaiae tucked a piece of hair that had somehow escaped from her intricate updo back into containment.

At that Hatham allowed himself an actual smile. "There would be eight: my parents, 3 surviving grandparents, and two sisters, one of whom is widowed and expecting a child soon." His grandparents had said they would stay behind if need be, but he would not put that on the table unless necessary. They were still strong and capable, and he would not leave them unless it was the only way to save the others. "Find a place for them and I will pledge my life to your cause."

That was less than she had been expecting, thankfully; a number Kaiae didn't forsee many obstacles with...Though the familiar wistful longing tugged at her chest at the mention of the two sisters: Both of her brothers had died in the war; leaving her as her parent's only surviving child. Still, the makeup of the family as stated was practically a perfect example of what was at stake to be lost for so many of their people: From the elders who carried the knowledge and history of their culture down to the babes-in-arms and in waiting who would form the future of it.

"I will speak with the Commander on it and relay her decision."

"Khnai'ra," he replied in thanks. "I will wait to hear her decision."

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