Getting to the Heart of the Matter - Part Eight

Posted on Fri Mar 20th, 2020 @ 6:17pm by Colonel Lee Antilles & Fleet Captain Coral 'Icecrown' Yamaguchi-Antilles

Mission: Mission 104: Saturn's Children
Location: Various Locations - Korvat Colony
Timeline: 0930Hrs - September 7th, 2393

Colonel Lee Antilles looked around, he was wearing his uniform jacket as he felt a gentle gust of wind across his face, it felt cool and the scent it carried had a trace of nutmeg and cinnamon or so Lee thought, he turned his attention to his spouse as she stood next to him, she nodded before she started walking forward across the street and into the childcare facility. Colonel Antilles and his spouse moved across the large hallway to the large desk where two civilians were presently sitting, one of them was busy typing at a computer tabletop display. "Can I assist you?" the person who was sitting around not doing anything inquired of the two Starfleet officers before him.

Yamaguchi-Antilles smiled. "Hello, we're here to pay a visit for a matter reading adoption of two of your present children," she explained.

"Ahh. I will ask for Gerald Hastings. A moment please." as he turned to a display nearby. He tapped the display a few times in silence. "He will be along."

Suddenly, nearby a door opened and out came a large figure of a man, wearing a white lab coat. "Hello Captain, I'm Gerald Hastings." he offered her his hand and she shook it in the human style of address, Lee nodded before the two shook hands. "We've been expecting you," Hastings commented lightly. "You are looking for Kosleht and Khalest, they are in the playground at present as they are presently enjoying their first break of the day," he explained as he led the two down a long hallway with a series of doors, looking through the doors revealed classrooms for various age groups. "How many children do you have here?" Antilles inquired in a quiet tone of voice.

"We presently have close to sixteen hundred children present in the facility, we got more all of the time, from various sources, many are refugees from across the border with the Empire." the man explained with a soft sigh. "We've been working on the genetics of the various Klingons against the various houses and the two girls you wanted are both the last living members that we know of from House H'ruS," Hastings explained.

The small group walked through a series of double doors into the medical area. He moved through two more hallways and walked into a small office that was almost empty of embellishments and decorations. "Please, have a seat." Hastings smiled. "We try to treat the children here with the best of care, but they expect a Klingon style... They often don't see that we are not Klingon and we don't use painsticks to enforce the rules, it's been something we've been struggling with for some time now..."

"Raising large numbers of Klingons can only be a handful at times." Antilles's smile didn't entirely reach his eyes. "Would you object if we met a few at random?" he commented.

"Of course not, you are free to meet whom you will, I can take you on a quick tour of the facility if you like... One or both?" Hastings answered quietly. He handed Yamaguchi-Antilles a large PADD. "The information we have regarding the twins."

Yamaguchi-Antilles nodded with a gentle smile. "Thanks..." as she turned to her husband as the two shared a look, he rose to his feet. "I'll take the tour. Coral, you go ahead and memorize that information."

"Willdo." Antilles-Yamaguchi grinned as she went back to the information on the PADD in her hands. Hastings departed, followed by Antilles as Yamaguchi-Antilles quietly pulled her tricorder from her belt as she downloaded all of the information on the PADD. She was being paranoid and it was easy to see why, as the various cross-cultural issues and the like were on her mind.

Meanwhile, down the hall was Hastings, walking beside Antilles. Several children rush past the two men and suddenly one of them crashes into Antilles, knocking them both down. Hastings stood as he winced, Antilles meanwhile went to aid the Klingon who had knocked him over and had ended up dazed herself. "It's okay," he commented as the female who looked about six or seven years old, she had a certain warrior ferociousness about her. "I am alright..." she paused. "I apologize..." the child commented.

"Its fine, I am used to dealing with weaker foes then yourself... Might you do me the honor of giving me your name?" Antilles inquired of her.

"Sarkin." the young female answered quietly. "I assume you are in Starfleet... A Starfleet Battlecruiser slew my father..." the small child explained in a light tone of voice.

"I'm Sorry Sarkin..." Antilles answered quietly.

"The matter is closed," Sarkin answered bluntly. "It was war... My Father committed evil actions against slaves... Honor demanded restitution... He died for his crimes, resisting the Marines liberating said, slaves... The Infinity dealt with him..."

"That was the incident with my brother..." Antilles paused. "My brother was one of those slaves... His wife was the one who rescued him..."

"As I said... The matter is closed." Sarkin answered. "I have no house."

Antilles gently steadied her. "For now Sarkin." he smiled at her. "I will mention you to my brother... I think he can give you a good home, should you desire it."

"I do." Sarkin declared loudly.

Antilles smiled as he gently rubbed her shoulders. "It is good Sarkin, honor has been served on both sides..." as he rose to his feet before he turned to Hastings. "You wish to take her with you?"

"Could I have her paperwork... Sarkin's I mean... I know Jackson will want that information when I mention this to him."

"Of course. But first, we should conclude your matter, I will have the information on Sarkin and her two siblings made available to you."

"There are three of them?" Antilles inquired. "Jackson will no doubt wish to know and I'll mention it to him."

"Yes, they were all delivered last year and have been in our care since some are adopted and others are returned to various Klingon houses, many of the rest are simply raised as if they were in a Klingon facility, the trouble is, we don't practice the Klingons level of discipline which is what they do expect... Beatings, things that we would call abuse and torture are common to the Klingons." Hastings paused. "I ensure this place is run to the highest standards in the Federation, in fact, I set records for standards."

"Yes, Jackson told me about his captivity and what he endured. It's well that you don't engage with the Empire level of hatred for their own. Otherwise, what are we seeking to promote and defend in the first place.?" Antilles asked gently.

"Exactly, we should return to my office, I will have Kosleht and Khalest send for and we can meet them... and then I will leave you four to talk on your own."
Hastings explained.

"Sounds good, lead on." as the two men turned and went back the way they came.