“Jutarg, how goes the bureaucratic battlefronts?” Kerak said as he opened the channel and saw his brother in law. He was specifically referring to the mountains of paperwork Jutarg was drowning in given his new position on the Armaments and Construction Council along with the outreach and diplomacy with other houses, building of starships and expansion of their military forces.

“Fair to middling as always. So, have you read the most recent gazette?” The leader of their House retorted from his lavish office in the pinnacle of the 30-story stepped pyramidal shaped Keep at heart of Castle Caligar. Though castle building had gone out of fashion in Klingon society nearly 700 years prior, the thick armoured walls and corner bastions were from that by gone era when a planetary invasions by rival Houses was likely, and had even occurred on more than one occasion. The planets capital cities skyline was visible in the background  beyond him, a humming metropolis of nearly 8 million people.

“No, I saw it was posted though…Ah, here it is.” Kerak replied as he accessed his data device and pulled up the official KDF publication that included routine orders, policy changes, promotions, and other news of Military importance.

Jutarg smiled, “Take note of the ‘House declarations” and ‘command appointments’ sections.”

The head of the Caligar regime sat patiently for a few moments while Kerak read through the material.

“House Creh’l has joined us, that’s nice, another 2  squadrons of B’rels, which we’ve been short on for a few decades. The House of Mo’rag have pledged themselves to House Varek? I thought we were in negotiations for them to declare their support for us as a vassal?” Kerak knew that they would need to add several thousand trained Naval personnel when the new, as of yet unnamed Negh’var and the Maht’ha class raptors started coming online in the next year and half.

“Indeed we were. Right up until I heard about the impending appointment of the IKS Negh’vars new Captain…”

Kerak scrolled down to the section that listed the new command appointments for various ships, stations, and staff roles, “HoD K’trok, from Morska…is that…?”

“The current head of House Varek, the grandson of our famed former armourer, yes.“ Jutarg grinned and leaned back in his chair.

“Interesting.” Kerak replied, not yet seeing the ‘big picture’ implications.

“Though I did not openly suggest anything, I did hint to the House of Mo’rag that they would likely be able to have their warriors remain together and have a larger stake in the earning of glory and honours if they supported our old friends, the former forge masters. Though their thousand warriors would have helped bolster our forces, strategically, for both them and us, I feel it will be even more advantageous for them to help fill the roster of the former flagship, gives us another strong House as an ally. If Mo’rag and L’kara had not stepped up, I and many of our other allies believe it was likely that Toral or one of his allies would have arranged for the KDF to supplement the crew of the Negh’var with their own supporters and potentially sabotage K’trok’s new command. Or even orchestrate a situation where K’trok and his family could be dishonored or lose face.”

Kerak grinned and nodded, “Ahhh, very cunning play my brother.”

“That remains to be seen, but I would like to use these events to both our immediate, and long term advantage, to the extent possible. So, I would like you to reach out to K’trok, contact him, offer your congratulations on his appointment and the fortunes of his family. Remind him of our House’s history as friends and allies. I would also like for you to commission his House to supply us with armaments for our new ships, and a few dozen engraved, ceremonial Mek’leths for us to use as gifts to celebrate our families return to our noble station.” Jutarg tapped on his console and sent the list of what he wanted Kerak to purchase from the Morska forges.

“I see, enough to finish our initial production run. But why me, would your Seneschal or Quartermaster General not be more appropriate for a procurement of this nature?” Kerak perused the list he just received;

14 Heavy Disruptor Cannons

8 Medium Disruptor Cannons

4 Heavy Disruptor Arrays

6 Heavy torpedo launcher assemblies

5 Medium torpedo launched assemblies

48 Hardened Tritanium forged Mek’leths- Tang beneath the hilt to be engraved with the words ‘Honor, Duty, Courage. Always. Caligar, 2403’ and the maker’s mark of the House of Varek.

“Because you were the officer of record, who was the last member of our House to lead a procurement mission to Morska before their forges were shuttered decades ago. And because, unlike my Seneschal and Quartermaster, you actually met K’trok’s grandfather on more than one occasion.” Jutarg replied.

“Understood brother, I will reach out to him as soon as I close this channel. K’trok, that might have even been the grandson I met back in the 50s” Kerak mused.

“One more thing, I recieved your report about planning to return to Caligar next month and place my daughter in command of the Slivin. I too, share your concerns about Bamets lack of experience, and the demands on the ship itself for such a long journey towards an area of operations for the type of deployment Starfleet is asking of her. So I’ve decided to deploy the House Flagship to replace you. Bamet shall serve as the Second Officer and Head of Flight Control.” Jutarg raised eyebrows a few times in the ancient multi-species signal meaning ‘What do you think of that, huh?’. The flagship was an old proud ship with a stout crew that operated in a more rigidly martial and cutthroat style than Kerak’s more enlightened preference for corrective training over corporal punishment.

Kerak’s eyes noticeably widened at this, though in surprise rather then intrigue “Ooooof. She’ll learn the finer points of leadership, or earn a few scars, to be sure. And she won’t be happy with the demotion either.”

“In fact I am counting on exactly that brother, she has had a charmed life and learned much serving with you and learning to lead a small team on specific missions. In this case, she will have to learn to be a junior leader, though within a much  larger team….I’m sending a yard crew with the flagship that will ferry the Slivin home, feel free to reassign any of the Slivin or flagships crew to accompany you home and help mount the guard. I’m sure there’s a few that could use a break given the high tempo you’ve maintained for the past 8 months.”

“Indeed. The Vor’nak is a fine vessel, she will do us and the Empire proud serving in one of these new ‘Combined Allied Squadrons’.” Kerak replied.

“She will indeed. And she will also show that we are making a larger contribution then our new friends in the Republic.” Jutarg spat the last word with disdain, making clear another reason for dispatching the flagship. Though Kerak had served with a few Republic Navy vessels in the past few years and found some of them to be competent and worthy allies, his brother in law carried a long standing distrust of all things Romulan regardless of the flavour.

After closing the channel, Kerak realized it was a good thing he hadn’t told Bamet that he was going to give her command of the Slivin. The young woman had come along way since the, then newly minted, Lieutenant had barged into his office demanding to come with him. But she still had alot to learn about leading people, and the arts of war and influence, if she was to one day lead their family.

Before he was about to forget, he quickly composed a message to HoD K’trok which read;

Honoured Captain K’trok,

I am HoD Kerak of the House of Jutarg. Your old friends and allies on Caligar wish to send your our congratulations on your appointment to command the Negh’Var. We have also been made aware that you have reignited a few of the forges on Morska. Our House is currently constructing a few vessels that we have yet to fill orders for the armaments of, and we have chosen to contract your family, if you are able and willing, we are seeking the following…

After the list and some more pleasantries finish the letter with; Long live the Empire, instead of the ‘Long live the Chancellor’ that Toral’s sycophants preferred. A veiled reference as to where the House of Jutargs loyalties truly lay.