"Cute and Fuzzy"
[Previous post: "Memories and Feelings"]
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Setting: USS HATHOR, Main Engineering
It had taken some coaxing but the Oltharian had finally given in and pointed Nico and Uxtar in the direction of the HATHOR's cloaking device. Twice the two warriors had passed right next to the piece of equipment without recognizing it for what it was. It was only when the Nausicaan saw the Klingon logo on the side of a small piece of equipment that the Sec/Tac officer figured out what the cloaking device actually looked like.
"*That's* the cloaking device?" Uxtar said, pointing at the small cylinder on which the logo of the Klingon Empire had been painted on after the Nausicaan had stopped and stared at the item in question. "That thing is not large enough to cloak your ugly face, let along this ship," the Hirogen continued, referring to the looks of the HATHOR's Sec/Tac.
"Klingons have been hiding their ugly mugs using cloaking technology for years, so I am not worried about that. Cloaking your stench on the other hand may prove to be a lot more complicated, if not impossible." Rostov said back, menacingly growling at the Hirogen. Looking at the two of them going at it, it would not have surprised anyone if the warriors suddenly came to blows, but Uxtar and Nico just stared at each other and eventually smiled as if the insults had been as normal as could be.
"How can something this small work? I remember the technical lessons given at the Academy, but I thought Klingons only built big bulky things. This cloaking device looks like it would break if someone sneezed to close to it," the Hirogen said kneeling in front of the relatively small piece of equipment. Uxtar extended a single finger towards the cylinder, gently poking it curious to see if it was as fragile as it looked.
"I would be careful if I were you," the Oltharian warned from a distance. "I doubt Lt. Dawson would be happy if he was called to repair the cloaking device after you broke it."
The Hirogen glared at the Oltharian, not at all intimidated by the ANUBIS' CEO. That David held the rank of Lieutenant and he only the rank of ensign had been the only reason why Uxtar had retracted the inquisitive digit.
"The core technology is Klingon," Nico explained shaking his head, "but Starfleet refined the design. Not that they really had a choice in the matter since the original cloaking device would never have fit in this room." The Nausicaan Sec/Tac said, displaying knowledge of the technology that surpassed that of a mere Ensign in the field of Security.
"When did you become such an expert on Klingon cloaking technology?" Uxtar bluntly asked. There had been no reason for him to beat around the bush, especially not when speaking with Nico.
"Let's just say that the Nausicaans have not always been the kind, peaceful and generous souls that we are today," Nico said in a half joking way. It was well known that the history of the Nausicaan people had been as bloody and savage as that of the Klingons and that the two races had met on the field of battle more than once over the centuries.
"Next time you go skipping down a flowery mountain side, let me know. I have to get a holo-picture of that if I want anyone to believe me and not think me mad," Uxtar laughed. "I can then frame it and place a plaque beneath it that would read 'The Cute And Fuzzy Side Of Nicodemus Rostov.'
The Nausicaan narrowed his eyes and growled. "Do that and I'll show you just how *fuzzy* I can be."
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And
Flight Control Officer 2005 post #532
Stardate: 60329.1730
Mark Hutchings {h172mark16@fastmail.us}
Ensign Uxtar
VIPER Pilot
USS ANUBIS
USS HATHOR
