"Creative Interpretations"

[Kansas_Jones 0]

July 7, 2397

Lt. jg M’rrett “Kansas” JoN’s, Assistant Security / Tactical Officer

USS Agincourt NCC-81762

“Creative Interpretation”

 

 

Kansas sat at the desk in her quarters, reading a communiqué from an old friend, Bill Rile.

 

 

<<<<<<<< >>>>>>>>

 

::Attached message::

 

XR-Comm 629 Inbound

Encryption Status: Coded. Private

Originator: Skreth

Recipient: Taren

Content: - - - JoNs. M’rrett

Last known activity: Unknown

 

Effective immediately, you and your crew are in my employ. Activation fee will be transferred to specified account. Find above individual and reclaim what is mine.

 

::How’s my favorite Caitian? Thought you might be interested in this. A certain contact of ours located this and forwarded it::

 

::Bill Rile::

 

 

<<<<<<<< >>>>>>>>

 

Kansas sat back in her seat and said “wonderful” out loud to no one in particular. After a few moments, she wandered over to the medium sized picture window and gazed out at the stars zipping by. Her gaze eventually locked onto the Klingon ceremonial dagger mounted on a small stand on her desk. The security officer did not collect weapons; this particular dagger was an exception. She replayed past events over in her mind.

 

Just prior to her cadet training cruise, Kansas and a fellow midshipmen, Bill Rile, had used their leave time to sign on and gain some experience with a merchant freighter, the SS Corsair. Well, okay, she was being charitable. The freighter was less merchant and more pirate. They were wet behind the ears and wanted some “adventure”. And while the ships master, Captain Morgan, was quite the rogue, he had taken care of his two newbie’s above and beyond the call of duty. She always had a feeling that he had suspected the two of being Starfleet midshipmen; Kansas and Bill had later told him the truth.

 

 

Most cadets went home, stayed at the academy and took extra credit, or took odd jobs on freighter ships during breaks. Kansas and Bill had just been creatively interpretive and signed on for three months with one of the less, errr, mainstream ships. Even though it was done on her own time, Kansas had never mentioned or talked about her brief service on the privateer vessel; she always figured that leeway with regard to privateers and privateer service was not high on Starfleet’s list.

 

The Corsair had been ferrying some supplies for an independent Klingon contractor. It had been a legitimate contract, but things had gone a bit screwy. One night, while relaxing at a local tavern on the space station the supplies had been delivered too, Morgan and the crew were approached by a Klingon captain by the name of Skreth. He then accused them of stealing the contract that should have been his. While Morgan attempted to talk his way out of the conflict, Kansas spotted a member of Skreth’s crew working his way up behind Morgan’s first mate, Jack Daniels. She leapt in between the mate and the big Klingon, effectively moving his attention from Daniels to her, and accused Skreth of playing dirty.

 

That was all he needed; Kansas had played into the plan perfectly. Skreth then turned around and challenged her to a d’k tang duel, claiming his honor was insulted. He thought the Caitian would be an easy target. He had been wrong. And Kansas had been lucky he was past drunk.

 

After the duel, Kansas had claimed the dagger, according to Skreth’s own Klingon traditions, which he had dishonored in his use of them.

 

Looks like he wanted the d’k tang back. During her brief stint on the Corsair, Taren had been the Andorian first mate on another privateer. He was apparently in business for himself now. Maybe she should just send the dagger special delivery to him with instructions to forward to Skreth?

 

Sometimes past decisions and creative interpretations do have a way of cropping up when you least expect them.

 

Like when you are older and a bit wiser. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

 

- Kansas >^..^<

Edited July 20, 2005 by Kansas_Jones