Letters on Saints

[Mreh K'hal 0]

Dear Aunt Mrenga,

 

It's been a while since I've written, I know. You can cuff me good the next time you see me. Things have been hectic on the Excalibur for the last few missions, and I've been pretty down lately. M'Vess JoNs, our former XO, was summarily reassigned elsewhere and I took it pretty hard. Guess I'm more of a romantic than I figured.

 

Anyway, how are you and H'Rasha doing? She'll be graduating from HS'Mehran II this year, right? She still planning on going into medicine? Anyway, when we get back to Camelot I'll send along her graduation present early, just in case things get hectic again.

 

Sorry to say I was goaded into writing you because I have a request. I was given an odd assignment by my Captain, and I'm ashamed to say I couldn't answer him in the slightest. He wants to know if we have anything like "saints" in Caitian culture. I probably missed Mom or Dad telling me about that when I was off at the beach.

 

Look forward to hearing from you, not just because I need the answer, either. Give yourself and H'Rasha a hug from me.

 

Love,

 

Mreh

[Mreh K'hal 0]

Mreh,

 

I've been saving a cuff up just for you, don't worry.

 

I've been fine, work at Dorakh has been dull as usual, but we're hopefully near another breakthrough so it makes it worth it. Yes, H'Rasha will be graduating, and she's going around with her fur poofed out half the time, stressing over her classwork. She's pushing herself too hard, but nothing I say seems to sink in on the matter. Thanks to you and your mother she got into the Academy qualifying exams quickly, and so long as she keeps her average up through the end of the year she's accepted in for pre-med.

 

I'll miss her terribly when she goes, but that's the point of being a mother, I suppose. Though she's talking about trying to get back into the Exo-Medicine School back here when she's done but that will be years. I can see why your parents decided to stick around San Francisco, keeping you kittens close to home.

 

As to your requests, I had to look up the definition of a "saint" first. Those humans are funny creatures, aren't they? We don't have something exactly equivalent, but I think the Riah-Koh might be what your Captain is looking for from a modern standpoint. Here's a copy from the encyclopedia article:

 

The Riah-Koh¹ are very special individuals in the annals of Caitian history. They have been appointed by a special vote amongst the Clan leaders for special services rendered to the Caitian people.

 

Gorahl Thushir was the very first Riah-Koh, appointed in Cait Year 199 B.S.T.² His efforts in stamping out the pandemic outbreak of Felisformius Urbanus earned him great respect and the various Clan leaders chose to honor him in a special way. Ruhvi Shorash, the Caitian inventor of subspace technology and the first Cait to fly at FTL speeds was also granted the title of Riah-Koh. The appointment to this title is a very rare feat and has been done on average once every 45 years since the first in 199 B.S.T.

 

The benefits of being granted this title, besides the everlasting fame and appreciation of the entire Caitian populace, include the creation of a marble statue to be displayed in the Hall of Justice in the capital; a commissioned life-sized portrait to be displayed in the Caitian Musuem of History, also in the captial, an extra award of credits (2½ times the salary of the President General, adjusted for inflation); and a specially commissioned award.

 

Is that what you were looking for? You can look up the article to get more information if you need it.

 

I'll let you go now, but you'd better be sure to write back more often, I know that subspace communications array works out there now so you can't use that as an excuse anymore. Don't' forget to write your parents, either. The last thing I want is to have your mother start her incessant subspace complaints to me again.

 

Take care of yourself.

 

Love,

 

Aunt Mrenga

 

P.S. H'Rasha sends her love as well

 

1Translates to Exalted One in Federation Standard

 

2Before Subspace Technology