"Why"

a joint post
 by Lieutenant T'Kang
 Chief Tactical Officer - USS Tempest
 http://come.to/tkang

and

 =/\=LtCmdr Roger T. Boren=/\=
 =/\=Commanding Officer=/\=
 =/\=USS Avalon NCC-79813=/\=



*** Open Cafe, Promenade, Starbase Arcadia ***

Roger sat in the cafe having a light lunch and discussing the
information that they had just gotten when a Klingon walked
in looking a bit grumpy and sitting down. Roger recognized
him as the Tempest Chief Tac Officer that had just resigned.
He did have a brief talk with Lee about what had transpired
and thought maybe he could talk with the Klingon about it.
So Roger left a copy of the PADD he had with Kahlia and
Randy to talk and excused himself to go talk with T`Kang.
He walked over to where the Klingon was sitting and asked
him if he could join him to talk.

T'Kang> ::Looking up at the LtCmdr he grunted::  "I would
rather eat alone."

Boren> Well I understand that but I was thinking that maybe
you could give me a little bit of time to discuss your rather
abrupt resignation.

T'Kang> ::looked up again and then recognized the CO of
the Avalon and with a sneer::  "Yea I suppose you would so
yes have a seat I will listen to you for a moment."

Boren> Sat down and asked so why did you resign?

T'Kang> "Because my honor gave me no other choice.
You. . . would not understand unless you were Klingon."
T'Kang grumbled glancing around the cafe, wondering where
the waiter was.

Boren> So sure are you?

T'Kang> ::Turns his attention back to Boren::  "I gave my
oath to serve Starfleet and protect the Confederation."

Boren> As did we all.

T'Kang> ::Growing angry and still a bit inebriated from the
drinks at the pilot's pub::  "Yet you violate that oath and turn
against your superiors in going against Admiral Za'Kal!  How
can you swear your word of honor to follow orders and
uphold the ideals of the government you serve and in the
same breath take these actions against that very body you
have sworn your allegiance to?!"

Boren> ::nods knowingly::  I see where you are coming from
T'Kang.  But doesn't the Klingon Empire offer a way of
unseating an unworthy leader?

T'Kang> ::eyes narrowing into a scowl::  "That is different.  It
is done directly, and only by personal challenge to authority
in cases of cowardice, or incompetence.  It doesn't involve
starting a civil war where brother must fight against brother
because a few underlings in the chain of command don't
understand the direction their leaders are taking them.  It
involves a man, confronting a man, fighting in hand to hand
mortal combat.  The victor being the stronger of the two."

Boren> Survival of the fittest.  I understand.  Yet, haven't
these honorable challenges in the Klingon Empire, the ones
that lead to a change of leadership in the past, themselves
resulted in savage civil war?

T'Kang> ::growing annoyed with the LtCmdr as he glances
around for the waiter again::  "Those without the honor of
accepting the Klingon way have in the past rebelled after
such a challenge has been made, yes.  Those unhappy with
the resulting leadership for our people, unable to accept the
truth of who is the stronger willed or more skilled warrior.
They sometimes have rebelled and plunged the Empire into
civil war, just as you and your allies are doing so now.  They
are nuchpu' ghaj Qo' batlh.  Cowards that have no honor."

Boren> And what of the warrior that challenges the
Chancellor for leadership of the Empire in honorable
combat?  What is thought of him?

T'Kang> ::stares at Boren for a long moment::  "If his
reasons are honorable, and his intent and actions justified,
he is viewed as a worthy challenger following our Klingon
traditions.  Even if he is defeated, if he fights with honor and
dies well, he is looked upon as a true warrior."

Boren> Well, our way is not that of the Empire T'Kang.
Humans do things differently.  But it takes just as much toDuj
(courage) to choose to challenge the leadership of Starfleet
Command as it does to challenge the Chancellor of the
Klingon Empire.  Those men and women that have chosen
to follow their hearts and do what they believe is the right
thing in stopping Za'Kal and his forces are every bit as
courageous as the warrior who brings a challenge to the
high council and fights to the death over that which they
believe in.

T'Kang> "Perhaps Commander.  As long as they realize that
they will fail in their attempt to defeat Starfleet Command.  It
is said that a running man can slash a thousand throats in
the night, yet even he would be stopped by the thousands of
ships and hundreds of starbases available to Rear Admiral
Za'Kal as CinC of Starfleet command."  ::looks away, but no
longer looking for the waiter::  "Your rebellion will be over
before it even begins."

Boren> I would agree with your assessment at first glance 
but, since when is any Civil War ever been fought that is not 
uneven?  But let me go back to Honor.  ::pulls out a PADD 
and brings up some info::  What do you feel about ZaKal? 
You said that we do not have Honor to go against Starfleet 
but you are resigning.  Why not go join ZaKal?

T'Kang> ::His face deepens into an annoyed, angry  scowl::  
"For the same reason why I do not disobey my commanding 
officer's orders and attempt to mutiny by taking over the ship!  
I swore an oath of honor, something you humans do not 
seem to understand. . ."

Boren>::interrupts:: Come now Mr. T'Kang I only ask 
because you seem to believe somewhere that ZaKal is 
wrong or you would oppose us too.  ::hands the PADD to 
him::  In this PADD are the actual sensor logs and
communications of the destruction of the USS Shaw. ZaKal 
ordered them to death for no other reason than that they 
were asking for confirmation of orders.  Now that to me is 
going against everything that I felt was in the Oath I took to 
serve SF.  ::hands another PADD to him::  In this one is all
the information of what the other ships have gone through to 
get here.

T'Kang> ::quickly skims over the PADDs::   "I will look these 
over Commander, but sensor logs do not tell the complete 
story of what happened, or why.  Admiral ZaKal may have 
had other reasons for the orders he gave.   The USS Shaw 
may not be as innocent in all of this as these logs make out.  
It would seem the prudent thing to do would be to investigate 
the matter in more detail, not declare a revolution. . ."

Boren> Ok and to let you know about the odds you were 
saying. The Task Force that was assembled to take a 
peaceful sector over by force of arms; You know TF 160 to 
take over Archanis? Oh and by the way, since when did we 
as SF officers have to take over a peaceful sector by force 
when we are not even at war with anyone?  Well anyway I 
will let you think about that one too.  The TF have all been 
labeled outlaw because they found unauthorized use of 
Metagenic weapons, Well since when did SF use 
unauthorized weapons to do their battles too?  Well anyway I 
trust that your word is worth something and you will read 
those.  And Mr T'Kang, I do hope you change your mind.  
We do need good officers like you in this. 

T'Kang grows annoyed at the LtCmdr's condescending tone.  
It's obvious he believes what he and the rest of the 
renegades are doing in opposing ZaKal is the right thing to 
do.  No matter what their oath to Starfleet Command.  The 
bear-like Klingon warrior simply folds his arms and broods, 
letting out a "hurmph" of skeptical disbelief.

Boren> Well I must get back to the rest of this meeting and 
see what plans their is to proceed. I look forward to chatting 
again.  If you are still around. . .  ::gets up and leaves::

Boren gets up and leaves before T'Kang could do anything 
but sit and watch him depart.  T'Kang sat their a bit, 
frowning, until he finally started to read the PADDs.  The 
Klingon still had some time before he was to get to the 
freighter to depart from Starbase Arcadia and head for the 
Klingon Empire.