"Deep Blue 99"
 by Sogh T'Kang
 Weapons officer - IKV Jachyoj
 http://come.to/tkang


T'Kang stepped off the large, alien lift onto deck Blue 99.  
Unlike Klingon or Federation turbolifts which were small, 
box-like affairs built for hauling a small number of warriors up 
and down the shafts of the ship or space station, the lifts on 
D'Alaan 27 were expansive, roomy affairs.  The Klingon 
wondered if the massive lift, which was easily 10 meters in 
diameter, was an indication of the size of the alien beings 
that originally constructed the dark, foreboding structure.  
The walls of the lift were made of the same, glistening, 
twisted sculptures the rest of the interior of the station was 
made of.  T'Kang was a large man.  He had been called a 
barbarian by his first commanding officer, and a grizzly bear 
by his second because of his massive warrior's build.  But 
standing alone in the middle of such a huge lift, wondering 
about the ones that created it somehow humbled the mighty 
T'Kang.  It made him feel small some how, knowing that the 
alien creatures that created this station were likely double or 
triple the size of the humans and Klingons that now nurtured 
her systems and worked to make it a domesticated outpost 
on the brim of the Klingon frontier.

T'Kang walked away from the lift down the equally spacious 
connecting corridor that lead to the Dark Blue Lounge.  It 
didn't look like much at the moment.  The proprietors of the 
establishment didn't appear to have the place fully set up 
yet.  Still, the warrior's mouth couldn't help but drop as he 
walked through the long bowing archway and entered the 
huge open dome-like stadium they were calling Deep Blue.  
Located near the central axis of D'Alaan 27, the airy 
chamber was easily 4 kilometers in diameter.  The floor 
receded towards the center of the lounge, like it were one 
huge parabolic surface.  The ceiling was at least another 
kilometer in height.  One could easily fly a small shuttle craft 
inside the cathedral-like complex.  The floor flattened out at 
the center, where the illuminated bar and restaurant area 
contrasted the gothic black, brown and dark bronze twisted 
sculptures that made up the chamber's walls.   On the 
ceiling, a giant, cocoon-like structure hung down like a huge 
teardrop.  It was covered in millions of tiny crystalline shards 
that pulsated gently in various shades of blue light in an 
interesting fashion.  T'Kang watched for a moment in awe 
while standing there holding his duffel bag and bat'leth and 
staring at the incredible Deep Blue Lounge.   Finally he 
began descending down the funnel like flooring to step onto 
the restaurant platform where all of the activity was taking 
place.

"First time here at da Deep Blue mon?"  a voice called out.

T'Kang stopped glaring at the pulsating crystalline ceiling 
that hovered overhead and looked in the direction of the 
voice.  It was a human man with dark skin and dark hair.

"I just arrived on the station."  T'Kang replied directly in a 
deep tone.  "I am waiting for my new assignment to arrive."

"I see."  the man smiled, showing his large white teeth in a 
toothy grin.  The whiteness of his teeth contrasted sharply 
with the blackness of his skin, while the blue glow from the 
crystals above seemed to make everything white in color 
radiate in a neon glow.  "Well don't you worry mon.  Dis is da 
place to be to relax an' rest your soul.  Been lots ov people 
cumin through dis parts lately.  Tis a wondrous place for 
sure.  What can Erobo get you ta please da palette?"

It was hard understanding the man's rich accent, but T'Kang 
was fairly certain his name was Erobo, and he'd just asked 
what the Klingon wanted to eat or drink.  "Bloodwine.  2309."  
the warrior stated in a commanding tone while glancing 
around.  Several people were moving about, carrying boxes 
of supplies, working on building the lounge platform in the 
center of the alien environment.

"No got none of dat mon.  2309 a fine year for sure, but de 
cellar tis not fully stocked jest yet.  How about a more 
domestic bottle of 2462 mon?  Tis the best Erobo can do, 
but still worlds better than dat replicated fair from de 
machine mon. . ."

T'Kang frowned in his usual, grumpy manner.  With a 
reluctant nod he agreed to the bartender's suggestion.  He 
had his heart set on tasting some of the Empire's finest 
Bloodwine, but compared to the Federation replicated 
Bloodwine, any vintage would have to be better.

"Excellent mon.  You sit tight mon an' Erobo be right back wit 
de Bloodwine."  he smiled, again showing his glowing white 
teeth from the mystic blue alien lights above.

True to his word, Erobo returned in short order with a bottle 
of genuine Bloodwine.  T'Kang was pleased with both the 
aroma and the taste of the real thing.  It had been a long 
time since he'd had the genuine article.  Living and serving in 
the Federation for so many years, he'd had to settle for the 
replicated fare the synthesizers offered.  There really was no 
comparison to the real item.

The Warrior spent several hours sitting in the Deep Blue 
Lounge.  During the course of that time, several people had 
come and gone into the expansive cathedral-like recreation 
center on deck Blue 99.  Federation officers and Klingon 
Warriors alike.  T'Kang had learned from one warrior that 
stopped by and shared a round of drinks and head butts, 
that Ra'wI' Kruge was on board D'Alaan and due to attend a 
meeting with the Federation officers presently in charge of 
the space station.  T'Kang had recognized Kruge's name 
from the briefing data General Pi'ror had given him on 
D'Alaan 27 and the IKV Jachyoj where the Warrior was to be 
assigned when it arrived.  Deciding that he'd had enough 
Bloodwine for the time being, T'Kang decided to try and 
locate this Kruge and see if he couldn't tag along to whatever 
meeting it was he needed to attend.  General Pi'ror had sent 
T'Kang to this assignment because of his unique experience 
as a former Starfleet Officer gave him a better chance of 
acting as in intermediary between Starfleet and the Klingon 
Defense Force.  If that was the reason the General had sent 
T'Kang here, the least he could do was get involved rather 
than idle his time away drinking Bloodwine in the station's 
bar.    Excusing himself, T'Kang stood and gathered his 
things before ascending the bowl-like flooring leading out of 
the Deep Blue chamber.  Upon reaching the great archway, 
the Klingon paused one last time to admire the massive alien 
chamber that had been converted into a lounge on Blue 99.  
Slinging his duffel bag over his shoulder and renewing his 
firm grip about his bat'leth, T'Kang began his quest to locate 
Ra'wI' Kruge and see if he could attend this meeting with the 
Federation commanding staff of the station.