Lt. Cmdr. Alora DeVeau - "A Chance To Heal" (Diplomatic Team)
Amanda Nordstrom
((Kl’tath Judicial Holding Area))
When the Klingons had taken Sheila and Max, Alora knew her friends were in dire trouble. She also expected no small amount of injury to have been done to them in the course of the time spent in their captor’s hands. That prophecy was revealed to have come to pass upon the appearance of the two figures, collapsed upon the floor of the holding area just after being transported along with a couple of guards. The one who spoke held no remorse for the treatment of his prisoners, even going so far as to claim they had resisted. Alora had a feeling that charge, even if true, was likely to be false in regards to exactly how much they resisted.
DeVeau: Regardless of whether they resisted or not, such treatment is unacceptable.
Tatash: This -will- be recorded and formally objected to. This risks a diplomatic incident.
Li’otha: Which I have already filed.
Casting a glance at Li’otha, Alora was surprised at the woman’s speed. Grateful to have an ally, she sometimes marveled at what technology allowed and how quickly messages could be sent. The question was, what would actually be done?
Vro’che: My men wanted to eat the beast. Consider yourself lucky we weren’t hungry. ::gruffly:: You will have to *leave* when their Advocate arrives.
Bailey: ::Voice slightly muffled by Alistair’s fur:: Alistair is not for eating. He’s a protector. And besides he wouldn’t have tasted great anyway. Would have needed a jar of Mil lavender vanilla caramal (caramel vanilla lavender honey). ::Her last words were punctuated by a heavy Elaysian accent::
Alora’s just tightened as she grit her teeth together. Focusing on coming herself down, she knew she couldn’t get angry, at least, not to the point where she lashed out, either physically or verbally. To do so would undermine any position they held. Sometimes it wasn’t easy being diplomatic.
Maxwell/Vro’che: ?
DeVeau: They have the right not only to representation but proper medical care. We will invoke that right.
Bailey: I do believe, too, that it states I have the right to be treated by a medical professional of my choice.
Li’othe: That has full legal precedent.
Mentally, Alora made a note to send Li’otha a gift when it was all over. In the first officer’s mind, the woman was a true representation of what a Klingon should be - an example of what honourable really looked like, even if the others didn’t feel that way.
Maxwell/Vro’che: ?
DeVeau: If you deny that request, you will be in violation of the Khitomer accords. Action can and will be taken.
Tatash: The embassy will hear of this. You can expect a stern, and I mean a really very cross, condemnation publicly of your actions.
Bailey: I highly doubt that intergalactic law will be on your side in this particular situation.
It wouldn't be. It wouldn’t necessarily start an all out war, but sanctions could be levied, and the Klingon empire would feel the consequences in ways other than all out physical conflict. Of course, they might escalate it to such, but then they would be the ones instigating and escalating the conflict. Sighing, Alora really hoped it wouldn’t come to that, but they weren’t making it easy.
Li’othe: And I can quote you that law should you need it. ::She said firmly.::
Maxwell/Vro’che: ?
They were going back and forth, but now that her friends were in the safety, relatively anyway, of being with their follow officers, another name came to mind. Someone who was just as important.
DeVeau: And where is Janul?
Maxwell/Vro’che: ?
Tatash: You’ve not seen him? Not at all?
Alora opened her mouth, about to say something, but the doors parted and in stepped yet another Klingon.
Xalmuz: The prisoners are to be moved. The trial is about to begin.
With a brief cross of one hand over his chest, he offered a half polite bow at least, which was far more than most others had given. He was tall, older, his hair showing hints of grey, and marks upon his face indicating not only age, but battles that had left scars - scars proudly worn. He straightened, his eyes falling upon the prisoners briefly, moving to the Officers, then settling upon Li'otha.
Xalmuz: The prisoners are to be moved. The trial is about to begin.
Tatash: The prisoners are still awaiting a medical assessment.
Bailey: I request a medical assessment. Or at least assistants before I’m willing to move.
Li’othe: If they are standing trial they must be healed before entering the council chambers.
All eyes turned to him, and with the exception of maybe one, the Federation officers showed the contempt they held on their faces, the Gorn even had the audacity to growl at him. Even Li’otha didn’t seem to care that they were equals, that he was in service to the empire in his own way just as she was. They might be enemies across the courtroom, but he hadn’t extended that animosity outside of it. Evidently, she had. Jioso had shown them deference upon his entry, even bowing out of respect. While his house was not as ‘great’ as others, it did not mean he was inferior. His society looked down upon him, and now, even though he was attempting to show them some deference, they refused to look at him as anything but a monster.
Well then. So be it.
Maxwell/Vro’che: ?
Tatash: All of this is being recorded you know.\
Li’othe: You want this trial to start in 57 keliticks, Xalmuz and you want it to be legitimate? Then follow procedure. Get a medic in here in the next 5 ticks or I’ll have you run out of court.
Lio’the attempted to make herself look larger, the twist of her face, the wrinkling of her ridges that of a woman entering into battle. Xalmuz had no qualms about keeping with the rules and regulations. By not doing so, he only hurt his case rather than helped it. Narrowing his eyes, Jioso’s relaxed and respectful manner finally and completely washed away. Yes. So be it.
Xalmuz: I know the law, Lio’the.
Li’othe: Don’t try me. ::She headed to the comm channel and turned it on.:: You’ll approve it or face an investigation of obstruction of justice.
Xalmuz: I had no intention of not approving it. You assume that not only am I ignorant of the accords and the precedent set but that I would commit crimes against them. Believe it or not, Lio'tha, there are still some Klingons who hold honour in high regard.
Turning away, Xalmuz stalked over to another part of the room to speak into a communicator. Until his arrival, he had been unaware of the invocation of the rights the group wished to claim and he seethed at the lack of communication. No matter, he would not deny them, let them think they had won. Instead, he would defeat them in the court room.
Bailey: Alora, I could use a favor. I only really got one working arm. Not so useful when taking off my shoes. But they need to come off.
Deveau: Of course.
Without hesitation, Alora knelt beside the sweet Elaysian doctor. It pained her to see the woman so tormented physically, uncared for by the Klingons who had decided to torment her and Max..
Bailey: It’s a buckle strap. A bit too fiddly for me right now.
DeVeau: I'll take care of it.
Alora's fingers quickly and deftly undid the strap, and gently but carefully removed it. She could imagine how much pain the doctor was in and did her best not to touch her or move her in a way that would cause more. Sal stepped over to Max, touching the second officer's shoulder. Alora knew why.
Taybrim: ~Max, how are you doing? Don’t speak, just think and I can hear you~
Maxwell: ~?
Vroche: ?
Bailey: Alright. Next step is to actually stand. With my elbow still injured I can’t brace on Ali like I normally would so two of you are going to have to help pull me up while being careful of my injuries.
Max actually crossed over to assist Sheila at her request. How could he move after everything?
Taybrim: Of course. Let us know when you are ready.
DeVeau: I can help too.
Alora began to position herself to do just that. Glancing over at Vroche, her expression warned him to stay away. He’d done enough damage, and she wasn’t going to allow him to get near Sheila if she could help it.
Maxwell/Vro’che: ?
Bailey: Ali, I need you to go hang with Alora, she’s going to watch out for you. ::To Max and Sal:: Alright. Best if you have one hand on my upper arm and the other on my lower. And be aware that my balance is going to be extremely terrible. I might pitch forward.
That wasn't quite what Alora had meant. Instead of replacing an injured Max to support Sheila, the doctor ordered her dog to go with the first officer. Not that she minded. Alora adored animals, and she knew how important Alistair was, she had just thought she was in a better position than the second officer. Still, she didn’t complain, and turned to the half grown dog.
DeVeau: Ali, come.
It was obvious the creature didn’t want to leave his mistress, a testament to how good a companion he was, but at Sheila’s desire, he obeyed and sat next to Alora. Sheila had trained him well.
Taybrim: We have you, Sheila. ::He said gently, using his body to be a stabilizing force for her to balance on.::
Maxwell/Vro’che: ?
Bailey: ::Directed more to the necessary Klingons in the room:: There. we can get going.
Li’otha: alright, prisoners – you will stop at the Kl’tath infirmary for medical attention before attending the trial with Xalmuz and myself. We will all travel together to the infirmary. Then ::she contained a look of disgust.:: Vro’che will escort the witness and his entourage to the High Council chamber. And once the prisoners are healed they will travel with Xalmuz and I.
Turning from his brief conversation over the communicator, Jioso lifted his gaze and settled it upon Li’otha and the others.
Xalmuz: They are waiting for you at the infirmary.
Well, that was something. While Alora didn’t smile, she did nod to the male Klingon who, even if he wasn’t particularly fond of them or happy with the way things were going, was at least not adding another obstacle in their path. The group began to move, but it was an almost agonizingly slow pace, just as well considering the injuries that had been sustained. Alora made certain to put herself directly between Vro’che and the trio of her friends, the two men assisting Sheila down the hallways. She didn’t trust him not to try something.
Maxwell/Vro’che: ?
Tatash: Ah, I think we are almost there. Thankfully.
Once they arrived, the medical professionals greeted them with short, succinct nods and then escorted the patients to beds so they could be treated. The guards were unhappy, though the prosecutor seemed to take it all in stride. Alora had a feeling he knew his time would come. Sal, ever empathic, ever concerned for others more than his own wellbeing, stretched out his hands to Sheila and Max. It was there they would part until they were at the trial proper.
Taybrim: Stay safe. I’ll see you both in the High Council chamber.
Maxwell/Bailey/Vro’che: ?
DeVeau: Hopefully looking none the worse for wear, right?
Alora managed a small smile, hopefully an encouragement for them to keep their spirits up. She wished it was done, wished it was over and they were found not guilty. Yet, that was not how life worked. The trial would commence, and they still had a battle to fight. Fortunately, Lio’tha seemed determined to represent them without hesitation and protect them. Alora offered her soft goodbyes, then turned to head toward the door with Sal and Tatash. Reaching up, she placed a gentle hand upon the Commodore’s shoulder, knowing how worried he was, having seen the guilt that played upon his face, and hoped that it offered some minute amount of comfort to him.
[End scene for Alora]
-- Lt. Cmdr. Alora DeVeau First Officer Starbase 118 Ops al...@blar.net M239008AD0