There were klingons, and there were klingons.

Then there were the klingons of House Miras, and they were something else entirely.

Tall, broad-shouldered, and wearing more leather and armour than Zach had ever seen… seriously, it was a good job they didn’t charge for that stuff by the yard… they dressed, walked and talked Klingon.

But they didn’t look it. No facial ridges. The heavy eyebrows were either completely absent, or they had excellent personal grooming regimes, and both were clean-shaven. 

“Captain Raaith, a pleasure to finally meet you in person,” Zach smiled as he walked through the door to the transporter room, flanked by Kellan and Mason. She’d called off their sparring this morning, citing the need to review procedures before their guests arrived.

He’d raised a slight eyebrow at her black on black combat uniform but… she was the hazard team leader. If she felt the need to make a show of force like that, who was he to argue. She stood to slightly behind him, on his left shoulder, and he knew her expression was hard as nails.

Raaith stepped from the transporter pad. He moved easily, with an lazily-coiled economy of movement that said violence was a heartbeat away.

“Likewise,” he inclined his head for a moment as Zach offered his hand and for a moment he thought the klingon captain was going to ignore it but then Raaith smiled suddenly. His shake was firm and powerful. “Might I introduce Drex, son of Kravok, yaS cha’Dlch… second officer of the Korinar.”

The other klingon was bigger than Raaith, but Zach’s expression didn’t flicker an iota. Most people brought someone Drex’s size to make a statement without saying anything. The trouble was, that didn’t work with people like Kellan and Mason about, both of whom rivalled the klingons for height and muscle mass.

“Excellent, pleased to have you aboard, Drex, son of Kravok. Please, let me introduce my Executive officer, Captain Raaze and our hazard team leader, Lieutenant Mason,” he said with an easy smile, shaking Drex’s hand before stepping back.

Raaith nodded to both the other officers and it might have been Zach’s imagination but did his gaze linger on Kellan half a beat longer?

“Sorry to interrupt sir,” the transporter tech said in a low voice. “But we have an incoming transport request from the Resolute.”

“Oh, right on time. Please, initiate transport, chief.”

“Yes sir. Two incoming.”

A second later blue shimmered on two of the pads near the back of the room, the forms of Captain Mason and another man materialising a second later. Surprise washed through Zach. Mason hadn’t brought his XO as Zach had expected, but his chief engineer instead.

“Captain Mason, and Commander Bennett, welcome aboard. Come… meet our guests. Captain Raaith and his second officer, Drex, from the IKS Korinar, which has just been assigned to the Canterbury Division.”

“Good to meet you,” Mason rumbled, stepping from the pad and Zach hid his smile as Drex was forced to look up at both him and Bennett. “I had heard the rumours we were getting a B’Rel. I didn’t realise it would be one with such an illustrious history as the Korinar.”

Raaith seemed to puff up a little in pride. “Indeed, she’s a tough little ship. She was my grandmother’s ship for many years, gaining glory in many battles.”

“So the tales say. Iskai of House Miras is well known as a force to be reckoned with and tales are told even on Llanaria of her exploits.”

Zach managed to stop his jaw hitting the deck. Given his habit of throwing himself headlong into any battle that was going, it was easy to forget sometimes that Mason had extensive diplomatic training.

“Well, now we’re all acquainted, shall we?” He said, motioning toward the door. “I’ve just received new orders for the division so the quicker we make this, the quicker we can be on our way.”

“Of course,” Mason swept ahead, all but herding Raaith and Drex as he asked how long Raaith had been in command of the Korinar.

Zach hung back slightly, falling into step with Bennett. “Andrews decided not to make the trip?” His voice was light, but pointed.

Bennett slid him a sideways glance and gave a small shake of his head. “Turns out that on his way back to the fleet from his extended leave he had a little bit of a… run in with some klingons on a trade outpost. Klingons with white hair and no facial ridges. Turned out a little bloody apparently. Captain Mason decided that putting him in the same room as these klingons was probably not such a good idea.”