"Rank certainly has it's privileges"
 by Lieutenant jg T'Kang
 Ast. Tactical Officer - USS Tempest
 http://come.to/tkang


T'Kang's burly steps rumbled down the corridor as he walked 
away from sickbay.  The medications Doctor Mutt had 
administered had helped a great deal with his allergies.  He 
was now no longer plagued by watery eyes, itchy skin or a 
runny nose.  Which was a good thing too, since the Klingon's 
nose was now quite sore after having been struck in the face 
by the old Doctor Mutt's fist.

T'Kang was making his way back to the bridge to return to 
duty at the tactical station when he heard a commotion up 
ahead.  With bear like grace the Klingon swaggered around 
the bend to see several officers pointing fingers and yelling 
at one and other.  Glancing at their faces, T'Kang suddenly 
realized that the officer in the middle of them, who happened 
to be trying to get to the bottom of the argument, was none 
other than Chief Operations Manager O'Malley.  The Klingon 
recognized her screechy voice even before he saw her 
standing there.

"I will *not* leave it alone!  A few minutes ago I was in a 
pretty good mood. I come around corner to see you on the 
floor and,. . .  and him hovering over you, I damn well want 
to know what happened!" Em yelled.

T'Kang stopped down the corridor, crossed his massive 
arms and leaned against the near by bulkhead.  { this should 
prove to be entertaining. . . } the Klingon thought.

T'Kang listened to Gnoswal explain that Sharpe had a 
problem with his being a Romulan and that was what the 
dispute was all about.   T'Kang didn't have any particular 
fondness towards Romulans.  But then that was true of most 
everyone T'Kang knew. . . . he didn't have a particular 
fondness for any of them.  They were, after all, not Klingon.  
However he could understand why Sharpe felt the way he 
did.  T'Kang himself felt the same way towards the Ferengi 
and even the sinister Breen.

The arguing over heritage seemed to go on for a few 
moments until it appeared Sharpe suddenly had a problem 
with Lieutenant O'Malley.  Another fracas broke out, and Em 
clocked Sharpe with a good right cross that caused T'Kang 
to smile.  Anywhere else in the fleet it seemed *he* was the 
one getting into trouble with controlling his warrior's temper.  
A wicked smile crept onto the Klingon's face as he realized 
that on the Tempest, he was not the bad one.

Enjoying the show, T'Kang remained quiet and watched as 
security finally arrived and took the Romulan into custody at 
Sharpe's request.  { rank certainly has it's privileges } T'Kang 
thought as he uncrossed his arms and decided to use the 
other turbolift and avoid all of the excitement.  After all it 
appeared that the show was over.  Sharpe had started a 
fight and blamed the Romulan for it.  T'Kang could hear 
Gnoswal objecting the entire time security was hauling him 
away.  For a moment T'Kang had thought of saying 
something.  Of pointing out that Sharpe had started the fight 
because he couldn't tell the difference between Vulcan and 
Romulan ears. . . . the putz.  But after his experiences on 
board the Intrepid where he was the one accused of abusing 
an officer in his department, the Klingon didn't want to draw 
any more attention to himself.  Especially on his new 
assignment.

T'Kang was learning his way around the Excelsior class 
Tempest very quickly.  He soon found the second turbolift 
and made his way back to the Bridge.   With much more 
energetic steps, the Klingon walked over to Tactical and 
stood there glancing at Ensign Meckler until the Chief looked 
up at him.

"I relieve you."  T'Kang grunted in his a typical anti-friendly 
manner.

Meckler smiled.  He was getting used to the fact that T'Kang 
simply didn't have any social manners at all.  It was the 
quality he found most interesting about the officer.  "So you 
do.   The Ferengi have left orbit.  Captain wants us to 
continue tracking them with sensors as long as we can."  the 
Ensign pointed to the read outs.

"So much for nothing happening while I was away."  T'Kang 
grumbled taking position at the tactical station.

"Sorry about that." Meckler shrugged.  Then noticing the 
discoloration around T'Kang's nostrils added, "Are you okay 
Lieutenant?  It looks like you were bleeding. . ."

At the command chair, Commodore Taddy glanced over his 
shoulder having overheard the Ensign's comment.   T'Kang's 
eyes caught the Captain's for a brief moment, realizing he 
was eavesdropping.

"Just a little problem I ran into in sickbay.  It is nothing 
serious."  T'Kang explained with a little annoyance in his 
voice.

Meckler nodded.  "Well, your allergies certainly sound better 
Lieutenant.  Carry on.  I have reports to catch up on."  the 
Ensign stated, knocking the side of the tactical station with 
his knuckles as a drummer might play an instrument.

T'Kang punched his access codes into the Tactical station 
and watched as Meckler exited the bridge.