"Yes, Jon. To make a long story short, Cdr. K'Pok says that up 'til now, the political situation has been stable, but in the last few days there have been rumblings of discontent with the idea of the so-called Imperials interfering with the rightful destiny of the nuvpu', or the People. This rhetoric sounds suspiciously like that of the Imperial Klingon State, a small polity in the Triangle which sealed its borders a hundred and fifteen years ago to prevent the Empire's spread of the original cure to the Fusion Virus," she replies.

"We have, however, no indication that the IKS even knows that the BortaS Klingons even exist. This is one of the things he wants you to assist with.  Unfortunately, Argent, several of the inhabitants of the City are familiar with Cdr. M'Rel, otherwise we would have you pose as a kuve, or a member of a servitor species from elsewhere in the Sphere. Likewise, Nivran is sufficiently similar to Caitians that we feel it risky to use this stratagem with hir. Thus they will openy identify themselves as Starfleet officers. If only we had some of the new holographic disguises being developed at the Daystom Institute fo the Intel types, but they're a couple of years away from being deployed in the field."

In reply to Capt. Delilah Samson (msg # 7):

“Captain, if we are going to liaison with K’Pok, what is the premise of our visit.  Obviously the crew of the Lena are acting as the prime contact with the BortaS.  Are we supplying aid, are we investigating a location in space we didn’t expect to find Klingons.” Sloane asks.

As he starts flipping through the briefing material Sloane adds “And what is the primary purpose of our mission?”

"The mission, Zed, is to locate the origins of the "resistance" to the overall plan of curing the Augment Virus. It may be indigenous or it may be fomented by one of the radical Houses within the Empire. It may even be fomented by an outside polity—the least likely being the Imperial Klingon State." She sighs and continues.

"The problem is, we simply have no idea who's causing this sedition. If it is indeed indigenous, then the Klingons will deal with it internally under Section XVI of the Prime Directive: Regarding Cultural Non-intervention and the 22nd Clause of the Khitomer Accords as a Klingon colony. If, however, it is an outside polity, it falls under the Federation's sphere of responsibility."

In reply to Capt. Delilah Samson (msg # 9):

"I presume we start our training now, or at least as soon as this briefing is over," says Jon. "And that we are leaving in 2 days. Once  deployed, is there a deadline or time limit for us to discover the information that we are looking for? Or is it 'as long as it takes'?"

"I'd like to get started as soon as possible," Jon continues. "It sounds like we have a lot to learn!"

Jon is trying appear calm, but he is both excited and anxious about this mission. This is exactly the sort of on-the-ground adventure he's been dreaming of since he joined Starfleet (up until recently, most of his assignments have been tedious at best, and definitely not dangerous). Now that he is faced with it, however, he's feeling butterflies in his stomach.

In reply to Lt (jg) Jonathan Clare (msg # 10):

“Understood, so we will go on the premise the Prime Directive is in place until we have proof otherwise. Knowing the BortaS has been trapped here for some time what appearance of uniform and technology can we use.   I would think they were accept that the outside world advanced while they were trapped here. But would think for a comfort level we should use old style uniforms.” Sloane says.


“Like the Lt. once done here I’m eager to start the training.”

"There won't be any need for uniforms. Only the Hod's staff at the BortaS fortress wear the old Klingon uniforms—the SuvwI' wear armour based on that of Kahless's time, and the populace at large wear simpler mediæval clothing, albeit with a Klingon twist," replies Samson. "Cdr. K'Pok will provide clothing. You're all baseline humanoids, so the disguises will be very simple—mostly a skin dye and hair colour. As to Jon's question about mission duration, that'll be up to K'Pok."

She waves to M'Rel to turn the viewer off. "Your full briefing materials have been downloaded to your PADDs. You have the rest of the morning to go over them, and training starts at noon sharp in the main holodeck. I hope you like authentic Klingon food."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:37, Tue 12 June 2018.

09:00 hours, February 8, 2376.

The crew has three hours to give the briefing a quick once-over before their 12:00 hours meeting at the holodeck. The notes give a brief history of the IKS BortaS's history detailing its final mission as reconstructed from official Klingon records and files copied by M'Rel and company from the BortaS's main computer.

The Klingon D7 Battlecruiser BortaS is the very stuff of legends within the Klingon Empire. Lost over a century and a quarter ago, its name has lived on, lending itself to a popular series of vids and holonovels translated into Federation Standard English as "Battlecruiser Vengeance".

Under her commander, HoD Qor'tathl, the BortaS had a sterling record in war and cold war against both the United Federation of Planets and the Romulan Star Empire. During the Four Years' War, the BortaS fought in over a dozen battles and was responsible for the destruction of several Starfleet vessels.

In the year 2250, she undertook a secret mission to Romulus, where her crew stole the Tokath, a Vulcan artifact dating back to the time of Surak, before the Romulans left Vulcan. Romulan Birds of Prey pursued her, damaging her severely. To avoid capture or destruction by the Romulan task force, the BortaS entered Federation space and encountered the Dyson Sphere. When the Sphere's docking beams seized the ship, its warp core finally gave out and the surviving crew crowded into the command boom, which was drawn into the Sphere.

The BortaS's command boom was of standard Klingon design and thus could manoeuvre independantly, therefore the crew were able to land the boom relatively safely. Over the course of the next few decades, a fortification and then a city grew up about the boom. Today, the boom sits at the centre of BortaS City, surrounded by stone walls. Its systems are kept at standby, power provided by hydrogen cracked from local H2O sources. The engineering crew has maintained its numbers at a skeleton crew level using the tutorials and manuals in the ship's library computer. Although poorly trained by modern military standards, they have kept the ship's systems in reasonable working order for over 125 years, an astounding feat by any measure.

BortaS City is a thriving metropolis of several thousand Klingons, descendants of the original survivors. With little in the way of technology, they have created a society reminiscent of their primitive pre-space forebearers in the time of Kahless the Unforgettable. At the centre of the walled city is the central plaza and the BortaS's command boom, flanked by statues of Kahless and HoD Qor'tathl.

The city is surrounded by 15 metre tall stone walls with a number of guard towers spaced more-or-less evenly along them. The city is roughly round in plan, with radial avenues leading from the central plaza. Buildings are typically Klingon; blocky, slightly tapered masses of stone, wood and stucco with buttresses at the corners. External staircases lead to flat roofs on many of the residential buildings, where much of family life is conducted in the open air. Much of the city uses a relatively low level of technology, comparable to that of 14th century Europe on Earth.

The descendants of the surviving crew of the IKV BortaS are genetically modified Klingons from the mid 23rd century, victims of a runaway experiment which affected all Klingons in the Empire for over a century until a cure was found in the late 2260's. They are, therefore, identical to the smooth headed Klingons of the 2260's. and the modern Imperial Klingon State in the Triangle. They have, however, rejected the neo-fascist ideology espoused by Klingons during the Klingon/Federation Cold War, and have returned to an idealised version of their ancestors. They worship the classical Klingon gods and live in a manner they imagine their ancestors did—rather closer to the romantic ideals of Klingon honour than existed in ancient times or, for that matter, in modern times. Like Worf, they have been raised on stories and folklore, and have taken it to heart.

At noon, the crew proceeds to the main holodeck, where they are confronted by Worf, Klaang and Keh'lef in a dimly lit pseudo-mediæval hall with Klingon sculptures and banners around the walls.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:40, Thu 14 June 2018.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 13):

Sloane walks into the surroundings in the holo deck and looks around to see who is there and wait for the rest of his crew.  He had fully versed himself prior to the meeting on the briefing info and did preliminary review of Klingon history.

He looks over to everyone and says “Once everyone is here I’m ready to begin, looking forward to this mission.“

After his time in the Dominion war Zed is looking forward to something different to sink his teeth into.

Worf stands and says, "Lieutenant, you're the first to arrive. Please be seated while we wait for the others."

Emissary Klaang picks up the briefing, "Lt. Sloane, in the past eighty-one DIS, [a Klingon year (DIS) lasts 564 Klingon days, or 567.38 Earth days, so 81 DIS equals 126 Earth years] the crew of the may'Duj Bortas [Battlecruiser Vengeance] have had to adapt their cuisine to local flora and fauna. The command boom of the ship contained a thriving colony of food-grade gargh, which they have maintained and cultivated so that they have a sufficient supply of the serpent worms to meet their needs, but their small herd targhs did not thrive and became extinct, so they found a local beast which is similar to, but inferior to the original.

"Your Federation palates are not used to our more robust cuisine, so for the duration of your orientation training, you will be consuming the same victuals as the BortaSngan Is that understood? You will answer 'lu' qaH' [yes, sir]."

Worf looks up as the others arrive. "You are late," he barks. "Lt. Sloane has been here for three minutes and thirty seconds. Further instances will be rewarded with an oy-naq." He holds up a Klingon pain stick. "Tonight and for the remainder of your orientation, you will be receiving hypnogogic lessons in thlIngan Hubbeq as native speakers will note something amiss if you use the universal translators in your commbadges. Specifically, the training will teach you the dialect an accent from the HuSnang province from which you will ostensibly hail. This may result in a headache for a few days and analgesics are forbidden. From now on, you are Klingons! Do not forget that. Today, we will speak Federation Standard English, but starting tomorrow at 07:00 sharp, all communication will be in thlIngan Hubbeq."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:02, Sun 17 June 2018.

[A note on Klingon dates:

Klingon Calendar
The Klingon day "jaj" lasts 1.006 Earth days, or 24 hours, 8 minutes and 38 seconds. A Klingon year "DIS" lasts 564 Klingon days, or 567.3 8 Earth days. The Klingon year is divided into eleven months or "jar". A Klingon day "jaj" is specifically measured from dawn to dawn (rather than from midnight to midnight). "Day" referring to the period when it is light is a completely different Klingon word, "pem". The book also makes it quite clear that Klingon "days," "months" and "years" are not identical to the same periods on Earth. From this, it doesn't seem unreasonable to assume that "jaj" refers to the time it takes the Klingon homeworld KronoS to rotate once on its axis (a day), "jar" at least approximates the time it takes the Klingon moon Praxis to travel once around KronoS (a month; at least, it was before Praxis blew up) and "DIS" refers to the time KronoS takes to complete one orbit of its sun (a year). The Terran year 2373 corresponds to the Year of Kahless "qeylIS DIS" 999. The current Klingon DIS is qeylIS DIS 1001.

Month       Klingon Days Long
a'qeylIS    51
jo'voS      51
maqtaH      51
So'jen      51
nay'poQ     52
lo'bral     51
mer'utlhIj  51
batlh       52
tlha'laH    51
do'qat      51
QuSten      52


Thus, the BortaS was destroyed in the year qeylIS DIS 920.]

In reply to Ambassador Worf (msg # 15):

Jon colours noticeably at Worf's rebuke and is about to point out that just because Lt. Sloane was early does not make everybody else late. But when Worf holds up the pain stick, he wisely decides to hold his tongue. "lu' qaH" he says, standing at attention.

Jon is not looking forward to this orientation. He is not an adventurous eater and is certain that speaking Klingon is going to give him a sore throat. He feels about as far away from his specialty of Planetary Science as he can possibly get. He is wondering how he got into this situation when he remembers it his idea to transfer to Dyson Sphere duty in the first place.

Before he can stop himself, Jon audibly sighs, and then catches himself and tries to stand more at attention.

In reply to Lt (jg) Jonathan Clare (msg # 17):

“Ambassador I’m ready to be fully immersed into Klingon culture. Once everyone is here let’s get started.” Sloane says, watching Worf for posture, facial expression, voice variation and where emphasis are put.  Knowing every detail may be a tip to the population below that they are not real Klingons.

Sloane has decided at a minimum he needs to pick up the most basic langauage in the event the universal translators don’t work properly.

Worf smiles at the group. "Relax. We'll be starting with something which should be palatable. Luckily, Lt. Rai is not with us. As a strict vegan, she would be unable to partake of most Klingon foodstuffs. To begin with, we'll begin with bIreQtagh [bregit lung] with ghraPotlh sauce [grapok sauce is a thick brown molasses-like gravy], followed by stewed HIlm'kach [zilm'kach is a type of fruit], washed down with raktajino [Klingon coffee]. To be certain, we're using the equivalents eaten by the BortaSngan rather than the real thing."

When the food arrives, the bregit lung turns out not to be lungs at all, but a roasted, somewhat gamy meat. The grapok sauce is very spicy, like a sticky garlic/jalapeño sauce. The zilm'kach is a small fruit like an apricot with a large pit and is very sweet. Raktajino is of course familiar to the Starfleet officers, like a super-caffeinated espresso.

The rest of the afternoon is spent on lectures and role-playing life in the HuSnang province.

The evening meal is pach pIpyuS [pipius claw], which looks like a chicken foot, but is actually more like a crab's leg with a flavour almost but not quite completely unlike chicken. It is served with gla'DSt [gladst] a vegetable sort of like a dark purple aloe vera but tastes and smells like boiled cabbage, served with grapok sauce on the side. Again, it is served with raktajino and followed by stewed zilm'kach in a bloodwine syrup.

After dinner, the group is put through a two-hour session of Klingon calisthenics, at which the diminutive Talja excels. This, on top of the heavy meal (Klingons do not seem to have the concept of a light supper) make half of the group feel queasy. They are then given a further download of files to read before bedtime, when Dr. Adonidas applies a neural stimulator pad to each person's temples for the hypnogogic language lesson.

In the morning, the group wake up with what feels like a hangover—enen those who do not normally suffer from hangovers—and Tony feels like someone has taken a spiked mace to his sore ribs. Everyone except Talja is stiff and sore from the workout of the previous evening.

Breakfast is zilm'kach with coarse toasted jInjoq bread and more raktajino&Klingons seem to be caffeine junkies.

The morning is taken up by clothing fitting and instructions on how to apply the disguises, consisting mostly of skin and hair dyes. They are advised that the dyes are long-lasting unless removed with a specific cocktail of chemicals. This is followed by the same routine as the day before, as well as pop quizzes of bontaSngan history and customs. As Jon had predicted, speaking tlhIngan Hubbeq—the only language they are permitted to use, under penalty of the oy-naq, which feels like touching an electric fence—gives him a sore throat. Dr. KeH'lef recommends gargling with bloodwine, which numbs the pain.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:36, Fri 22 June 2018.

In reply to Ambassador Worf (msg # 19):

After their first exposure to Klingon foods, Jon is feeling somewhat relieved.

"I don't usually go for strange foods," he says to the others, "but this Klingon stuff, it’s not bad."

In fact, by the time they get to the morning's clothes fitting, Jon is beginning to enjoy himself. It's hard work, yes, but it is interesting, and being wired on caffeine is keeping him alert. The clothes fitting reminds him of the times he'd play dress up with his brother and sister as a kid. In the back of his mind there is a niggling feeling that he is not taking this as seriously as he should, but a few sips and a gargle of blood wine pushes those thoughts away.

After the clothes fitting he barks out "I'm hungry! What's for lunch?" in his best tlhIngan Hubbeq. His dialect is not perfect but is coming along.

SD 53125.28, 0700 hours, February 10, 2376, Main Holodeck, Freeman's Island

The second and final full day of mission training dawns, and everyone has adjusted to the hypnogogic training, so none of them have headaches. Everyone arrives a few minutes early to avoid another taste of the oy-naq.

After breakfast, which consists of a fried greenish lizard egg with a side of zilm'kach segments and a mug of baHghol [bahgol, warm tea-like beverage with a spicy, earthy flavour], Worf starts the day with a round of calisthenics.

Next, the team undergoes a language exam which everyone passes with adequate scores. Worf is satisfied, though he remarks that "It is fortunate that inhabitants of the HuSnang province are uncommon as it is some 10,000 qelI'qams [kellicam, a Klingon unit of distance equal to approximate 2000 metres] distant. Lts. Sloane, Clare and Gröen, your accents are very good. Lt. Gazzo, you will need to watch your gutterals. Your Q sounds too much like q and you need to vocalise your gh further back in the throat. Otherwise, you can pass."

Tony, surprised that this shortcoming did not earn a touch of the pain stick, snaps "lu'qaH!", as there is no equivalent to thank you in any Klingon dialect.

The remainder of the day is taken up by a familiarisation with village life in HuSnang province. After a final meal of targh tIq [heart of targ, roasted animal heart on a bed of greens] washed down by mugs of a Klingon ale called warnogh [warnog] and finished by a toast to Kahless with Klingon bloodwine.

After being dismissed the team heads off to Sickbay for minor cosmetic surgery to apply various callouses and scars so that they look the part physically and have subcutaneous transponders implanted. That night they receive a last language session.

[Each character may now list Language: TlhIngan Hubbeq 2 on their character sheet]
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:41, Mon 25 June 2018.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 21):

[OC: I presume it is now the morning we leave on the mission, and there is a final briefing session.]

Jon awakes in the morning feeling really good about the mission. He has mastered the language and likes the food (at least what has been served so far). All his previous anxieties are gone, and he is looking forward to getting started.

"What's the timetable for today? I am ready to go!" he states as he enters the morning briefing session.

SD 53128.13, 0800 hours, February 11, 2376, Main Hanger Deck, Freeman's Island

The team meets up with Emissary Klaang, Dr. KeH'lef and Ambassador Worf.  Klaang and Worf are in full regalia, while Argent and Nivran are dressed in battledress and carry PEWS [Personal Energy Weapons Shields] and Type IIIA Compression Phaser rifles. Argent looks uncomfortable in the battledress, being a science officer. They both carry tricorders, a science model for Argent and a security model for Argent. Klaang and KeH'lef openly carry bat'leths and Worf carries his usual mek'leth.

The Thames lifts off, flanked by the USS Seine, under Lt. George Talbot. Without further ado, they head toward the BortaS's crash site and the city built up around it. Klaang and KeH'lef sit in the lounge behind the cockpit, going over the administrivia of the mission, while Worf is in the cockpit with Zed, Nivran and Argent, while Jon, Tony and Talja prepare their gear in the lower module.

After four hours, the Thames lands in a field outside the walls of BortaS City. A large unit of SuvwI' are awaiting them. Jon can see the sunlight glinting off their armour and weapons. The sight sends a chill up his spine until he realises it's an honour guard for the Emissary and the Federation Ambassador.


This message was last edited by the GM at 19:46, Thu 28 June 2018.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 24):

OOC I would assume we are in clothing similar to the BortaS survivors and similarly equipped with a conceal weapon. Do we have subcontinious transponders. Not sure if we have packs with hidden components or not.

Sloane is looking forward to the mission and tries to do 100% of his communication with the rest of his team in TlhIngan Hubbeq. Turning to them he says “This point forward only Klingon. Keep your eyes open, be aware of your surroundings at all times.”

[OOC: You are in BortaSngan garb and in full klingon makeup. As discussed, the makeup can only be removed with a solvent bath which will be administered on return to Freeman's Island. You all have dk'taghs with built-in Type I Phasers keyed to your DNA signature.]

Worf, Klaang, KeH'lef and the two feline Starfleet officers step out the hatch in the lower module. The undercover Starfleet officers remain on the upper level until the Klingon honour guard escort the diplomatic party through the city gates, then lift off vertically until they've cleared atmosphere. Zed sets the Thames's to station-keeping alongside the Seine. Lt. (jg) Sonam, a Vulcan microbiologist, beams over to monitor the undercover team's vital signs via the link in the subcutaneous transponders and await their beam-up signals, activated by firm fingertip pressure on the transponder injection site in the mastoid bone behind the right ear. Sonam can talk to the team through a tiny speaker in the transponder, but the team cannot transmit.

As the team materialises, Sonam says, "Com check, please." This is a prearranged signal intended to fool any listeners using the BortaS's communications array, which Nivran will acknowledge. It is also the signal for the team to press their implants in a final test. As they do so, Sonam replies, "Acknowledged, away team." If he hadn't received their signals, he would have only acknowledged Lt. Nivran.

Cdr. K'Pok steps forward and greets the team, "Welcome to veng BortaS [BortaS City], Lieutenants." He gestures to a female Klingon seated at a rough wooden table with a stein of warnog. "This is my XO, Cdr. Vaughn, cover named J'ovinn, daughter of Zessij. I assume you all have cover identities?"

[Zed and Jon, you can make up Klingon names for yourselves]
Talja replies, "Atsash of the House of Goral, Commander." and Tony says, "J'koq, son of Mraz, sir!"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:57, Tue 03 July 2018.

In reply to Ambassador Worf (msg # 26):

“VanolS, son of N’reB“ Zed replies watching to make sure everyone does the proper greetings.

“Are we expecting any major problems Cdr.K’Pok“ as he eyes up the warnog. Figuring he needs to be comfortable around them.

K'Pok replies, "Kai, [Good! in tlhIngan Hubbeq] Lt. Clare, your name?" he snaps impatiently.

Jon has flashbacks to Worf and the pain-stick. Cdr.Vaughn—J'ovinn— looks on impassively. Talja and Tony—Atsash and J'Koq— look at Jon expectantly,wondering what name he has chosen.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:43, Sun 08 July 2018.

In reply to Cdr. K'Pok (msg # 28):

"J'dik, son of Shacx, sir!" Jon snaps back, standing at attention. "We await your instructions!"

"Kai! Very good! Now, our company is complete and we may proceed. As you have been made aware,our mission is to ferret out the source of the resistance movement to the overarching project undertaken by both the Empire and the Federation to cure the BortaSngan of the effects of the Augment virus. Now,it may just be a case of stubborn racial pride or distrst of the Federation who were of course deadly enemies to the Empire eighty DIS ago,or it may be some form of outside interference by unknown entities," responds K'Pok.

"Now, be seated. We have much to go over. J'ovinn, you may begin."
Cdr. Vaughn stands and opens a cabinet on one wall, revealing a viewscreen. Something about the woman seems familiar to Jon and Zed. She touches a control pad and the screen lights up. "These are some persons of interest in veng bortaS," she begins without preamble. "First up, we have HoD tlhongzana [Captain Lord Klong], current hereditary captain of IKV bortaS and zan veng bortaS [lord], 36 years or 22 DIS of age; la' tlhreS [Cdr. Kresh], also 22 DIS old; and Dahar pIn'a' qolor [Dahar Master Qolor] - tactical officer from original BortaS, 93 DIS or 144 years old and now high priest of Q'naS'aqar [K'nash'akar—literally, The One Who Does Not Care, an alternate name for DurgaH (Durgath), the giver and taker of life, god of war]."


This message was last edited by the player at 04:15, Thu 12 July 2018.

In reply to Cdr. K'Pok (msg # 30):

Jon takes a long hard look at Cdr. Vaughn, trying to remember where he has seen her before.

"Are these persons of interest because of specific suspicious behaviour?" Asks Jon. "Or is it just because of their influential positions?"