Topic: The KAT is in the Cradle AOTK III Background/Roleplay thread

[KAT Chuut-Ritt]

Part I


Prelude to War:


The last 10 years had been good for the Kzin, the Alliance formed with the Lyrans and the Korlivilar led Interstellar Concordium had been mutually beneficial.  The new wealth achieved from the conquest of the vast dilithium mines had brought on an economic and technological boom.  Now the Kzinti and the Lyrans were on par with the Federation and Klingon Empires and the ISC had secured their foothold in the Alpha Quadrant. with much needed resupply facilities.  It had been hard to break old Alliances in some cases, easier in others, but the results had proven worth it.  The question remained, however, would the new Alliance be able to endure.

Already some tensions were high between and even within the races.  For the Kzin, the war had brought forth many new heros all demanding their battle-right to take mates and reproduce.  The competition for mates had resulted in many duels, a significant number to the death.  These were not too troublesome of themselves, the Kzin seeing them as good for the gene pool, but the victors were producing a large number of offspring that would strain reasources somewhat.  New housing projects and colonies were quickly becoming filled with these new families and soon there would be a shortage.  This always led to one thing in Kzin history......War.

The Lyran Empire was faced by a similar situation, as the various counties and Duchies expanded with their new found wealth, power alignments and realignments were constantly taking place.  The Far Stars Duchy had produced the greatest victories in the War and had taken full advantage and seized the crown.  As the new wealth poured in their rule had seen little active opposition, but behind the scenes the other noble houses were always plotting.  With war fresh in the Lyran memory, however, no effective challenge could be made........but the memory got a bit more distant with each passing year and the heros of the Far Stars could feel the tension mounting.  Something would need to be done soon to reassert its right to occupy its preeminent status or the gains of the past would be lost as their rivals found common ground.

Political intrigue was also underway in the Interstellar Concordium.  The Korlivar had risen in power as a compromise between the Veltressai and the Meskeen and had been seen as a temporary situation as they jockeyed for position.  The sudden war and the Korlivar sucess had on the one hand been celebrated by most, resulting in new supply facilities and reasources and 10 years of relative peace in the Alpha quadrant but on the other resented.by a few of those with less noble ambitions.  In particular certain Meskeen leaders had become increasingly critical of the campaign saying it did not go far enough in pacifying the enemies of the ISC in an effort to win greater support.  The Veltressai have also recently joined in this call so as not to be politically outflanked by their amphibian rivials. The Korviliar have had an increasingly difficult time in playing both sides against each other as both have begun to fear a prolonged Korviliar presence at the top.  A victim of their own sucess the current leadership is weighing its options carefully and slowly building its military might for one use or another.

[KAT Chuut-Ritt]

Part II

Enter the Federation

President-elect M'Rel closed the door to her residence in Cairo still giddy despite the late hour.  Her election to the Presidency of the Federation Council was seen as the biggest upset in its history.  As the youngest and least experienced member of the Council noone could have foreseen her ascendency a year ago, but the discovery of Romulan ties to  the leading candidate  Ryan Jesten from Earth by the Betazoid candidate  Tama Suder had opened the field.  Not only had Suder wrecked Jesten's candidacy and had him removed from the council, it also effectively killed Suder's bid as the other counsel members began to worry about the Betazoid using her powers to discover their own secrets.

M'Rel had seized on this opportunity gaining much attention with her condemnation of power politics, and coopting many of Jesten's popular positions as her own.  Her exotically attractive appearance, her untainted background and the skillful speeches she made had captured the public attention and won its admiration.  Jesten's supporters many of whom had great political influence, were also quick to back her to spite Suder.

She looked at herself in the full length mirror and savored the feeling as she brushed her long black mane, exotic among her people who's coloration was predominately yellowish, orange, or golden.  Her delicate 4'11" figure was not very imposing, and her voice remarkably soft but she never had to raise her voice to be heard, her audience being enraptured by the combination her purring voice, and her powerful message.  Her power came from ideas, youth, and energy not from intimidation.  If she needed that she turned to her mentor father who could back Starfleet captains down with a stare, cower them by baring his teeth, and send them scurrying with his thunderous roar, all backed up with the rank of an Admiral of the Starfleet High Command.

She thought a moment on her father, without whom she would never have attained such a high goal at the young age of 29.  As the former Caitian  ambassador of  to the Federation, the first Caitian to join Starfleet, and as a Starfleet Admiral he had been able to wield much influence in her favor.  He had also been a war hero during the Second War of the Kitties and had proven his loyaly despite accusations of him being in League with the enemy.  It was he who along with Admiral Die Hard who had pushed the Klingon Empire out of Federation territory in a long campaign, and it was his understanding of the mentality of his enemies had instrumental in allowing  the Federation to rally enough to persuade the enemy to end hostilities.  Additionally it was he who negoated the terms of the ceasefire with the enemy leader Chuut-Ritt himself after the Kzin refused to talk with the first representative sent since he was a vegetarian, dismissing him as unintelligent and was reported as saying, "How much intelligence does it take to sneak up on a leaf?, send me a warrior to converse with otherwise I'll eat the next one sent for dinner."

But if her father had opened doors for her, she had been the one to step through them.  He got her an appointemnet into the Federation Diplomatic Corps using his connections as a former diplomat, but it was she who had excelled.  After she had suceeded where many had failed in bringing the stuborn Tellerites from associate membership to full membership status a Diplomatic Corp objective for decades her rise was rapid, becoming a senior Ambassador at 24 and then moving into a counsel seat as the need for a feline opinion in dealing with the Kzinti/Lyran/ISC power bloc.  She had shunned many of the political affiliations that most politicians used for support excepting the firm support she recieved from Starfleet due to her connections and her insistence on "Diplomacy from Strength" as the only kind that would yield favorable results.

M'Rel sat down on a round elevated cushion-chair and poured herself a glass of Kzin Burbon-Milk sent with a congratualtions note from Admiral Die Hard.  She read the note and let out a small laughing purr.  "For my new boss, and my favoite Pussy", the note read.  How typically yet delightfully crass she thought.  Caitians weren't usually prone to political correctness and although she had tempered her language as a diplomat, she still appeciated the Andorians humor, considered by many to be obnoxious.  "give me an obnoxious Admiral who can fight and give honest assesments over a smooth-tongued one who candy-coats defeats anyday", she thought to herelf while thinking about how she would have to bat at "Uncle Die Hard's" antenae next time they met with her paw.  The act was slightly painful but sexually arousing for an Andorian and she liked to tease him a bit, besides young felines were known to have troble resisting swatting at dangling objects, at least thats how she always explained it.

Another congratulatory package was there as well, one that made her smile even more.  The attacthed card only read "From your Secret Admirer", but she knew from who the gallon of icecream came from as she opened it and dug a silver spoon in for a small taste of things yet to come.  This small treat was a favorite of hers, but a much bigger treat was promised in the near future. "yes," she pondered, "Much, much bigger rewards, rewards that will shape the Alpha Quadrant for generations to come."  She savored the dual flavors of the icecream and her vision for a moment, then dug her spoon into the gallon of Snickers icecream.

[KAT MRess]

<looks at charecters name in the story>

<looks at his own>

<Glares at Chuut...>

Something I should know about?


Nice setup BTW. I want to see where it goes...

[Centurus]

Hey, don't forget about the psycopatheic, idioic, and useless captain of a frontline Constitution Class starship.  *tries to shove someone in front of him but sees everyone get beyond arms length*

Ok, I'm talking about me.  Don't forget me in that dandy little story.

[KAT Chuut-Ritt]

<looks at charecters name in the story>

<looks at his own>

<Glares at Chuut...>

Something I should know about?


Nice setup BTW. I want to see where it goes...

Since when has the quasi independent operations at the Star's End Bar ever sterred the official Kzinti government wrong?

We have NEVER Rarely not recently had any such conflicts.  Trust us.   

[KAT Chuut-Ritt]

Part III

Just business? or on a mission from God?

Chuut-Ritt sat back at his desk any looked at the central communications monitor in his office giving it the voice instruction to turn itsself on.  About ten minutes before one of his aides had instructed him that the Kzin Patriarch was demanding to speak with him.

"Demanding", Chutt thought with a laugh, that was definately a call to make M'ress wait a bit longer.  Had he merely requested to speak Chuut would have responded much more quickly as he enjoyed talking with his friend who happened to be the "ruler of the Kzin", an oxymoron if ever there was one thought Chuut.  But when acting in official capacity, the "ruler of the Kzin" was not necessarily a friend of Chuut, just as Chuut was not necessarily a friend to the throne when acting as the propietor of the Star's End Bar.

Looking at the screen Chuut was instantly aware that M'ress was displeased, but this wasn't surprising as M'ress rarely called when happy.  Normally it was either a tired and grumpy Patriarch who needed a vacation and wanted arrangements to be made for his visit at the recreation facilities of Chuut's space resort, or it was an apparently upset M'ress wanting answers for some questionable activities at the station which involved Kzinti interests or smuggling through Kzin space.  Of Course Chuut gave the throne its fair cut most of the time, but occassionally M'ress had caught him skimming the top a bit and Chuut would be forced to make good.  They had made a game of this and both enjoyed it as it kept their wits sharp.  No matter which was the cause the answer usually involved a vist from M'ress much drinking and revelry and a happy Patriarch returning to M'raa, leaving Chuut free to go about his business.

M'ress didn't waste words but simply came out with a Bombshell.

"Chuut, do you have any idea why the Riverboat Casino has entered Kzin space and is on a course for Cait?" 

This time however Chuut soon became aware that M'ress wasn't going to pretend to be less clever than he was and wanted a straight anwswer, exactly the type of answer Chuut didn't want to give.

"I have no reason to doubt that the Riverboat Casino has entered Kzin space as you say, but what makes you think its headed for Cait?  and why Would J'inn go their anyway, its off his usual routes?", Chuut replyed in order to try to throw M'ress off.

"I was hoping you could tell me Chuut," M'ress countered with a direct stare and slight growl, "since J'inn was at your station as recently as a month ago, since before entering Kzin space he was contacted by a pirate vessel which is known to frequent the Star's End bar, and since my agents report you not being seen at the Star's End during since the pirate ship's departure until its reutrn yesterday.  Add to that the fact you have recently been divesting yourself of financial holdings in most other areas and diverting to heavy investments in Nip cultivation farms, war industries, and exploration firms.  The fact that J'inn has been making similar investments is enough to make my fur bristle."

"I think you are reading too much into this M'ress," Chuut replied with outward calm, while his brain was doing overtime developing the story he would feed the Patriarch on the fly.  "I mean haven't J'inn and I always been among the top investors in the Nip industry?  And what about the other major ivestors?  I think you will find a recent increase by Lyrkiller as well, and by Soreyes, etc.  The market is good for catnip due to the recent popluation explosion and the limited production, prices will go up and smart investors will make money."  "What could be more natural for a busnessman to invest in?"

M'ress grimaced at the 'unintentional' pun, but pressed Chuut, "Ok how about the war industries? and exploration firms?

"Population explosion" sighed Chuut, "We always have wars or exploration, or both after population explosions, it is the Kzin way", otherwise we have civil disorder as Kzin vs Kzin violence results due to cramped quarters, I'm just trying to stay ahead of the market.  And Yes I met with J'inn about this and we have some joint ventures being drawn up.  Cait is an underpopulated planet with lots of open space a society that is not totally dissimilar to our own and has the perfect climate for growing Nip, Jinn and I are exploring the possibility of opening a resort there for Kzinti."  "the war indusrtry investments are our hedge, incase new colonization and resort efforts fail, for a small investment nothing pays off like war, so we can hedge with about 20% of our assets, throw the other 80% into exploration/Nip and be likely to make a profit either way, would you like to see the financial planning that we've draw up regarding it?  Or perhaps you ar looking to get in on the actuion yourself?"

Chuut AND J'inn as business partners, M'ress cringed at the thought, he could think of no quicker way to get fleeced.  he would however make a note and divert some of his own investments in that direction.  He felt somewhat relieved however, the explation made perfect sense, and Chuut and J'inn were always questing after profits.  With a sigh he visibly relaxed.

"Thank you for your explanation Chuut, but I don't think I will need to see your business documents, that is not an area into which the Patriarchy should pry.  I leave such decisions in the hands of my financial advisor.  He has worked hard for me and I'm going to send him on vacation before making any new investments, I think with a fresh mind he will make better chioices."M'ress paused a moment then apparently had an idea dawn on him, "you know the Star's End" might be a good place for him to recouperate."

Chuut smiled, M'ress had taken the bait, "I'll make the appropriate arranngements and see to it personally, I'll even ask some of my own finacial people to play host to him, show him the sights and even talk a bit of shop if he so desires, we aim to please."

"Thank you Chuut", M'ress added "that would be perfect".

"Take care old friend", M'ress added

"Take care older friend", Chuut added with a small snicker.

Chuut sat back and at the same time congrtulated himself on a sucessful and clever lie, and cursed Jinn for nearly spoling the operation.  If J'inn hadn't been off course and nearly rammed the pirate vessel he would have never had to uncloak for their meeting and the patrol wouldn't have detected the pirate vessel.  Not only that but he had told J'inn not to make a direct course for Cait, but the Polar Kzin had done so anyway.  "I should never have mentioned how beautiful and lithe Caitian females were", thought Chuut, "J'inn is probably cruising there at Warp Ten Hormone drive", I'm counting on that, just not yet, and I can't let M'ress find out the real purpose, or even J'inn.

-----------------

M'ress sat back, dreaming of the extra money his advisor would bring him after the Star's End visit.  He wouldn't be investing like Chuut and J'inn, but he would make a fair sum, his greed was limited and a bonus for him not a motivation.  Keeping the empire together was his motivation, a thankless job, so any rewards he could get by using his powers we justified in his opinion.  Chuut and Jinn could be squeezed on occassion for a small bonus with minimal work, you just had to not press them too hard or ask too many questions or those bonus' would dry up for everyone.  They did most of the work, let them keep most of the gains, all M'ress wanted was his small percentage and not having to worry about it too much.

M'ress turned to the news, there was a piece on the new President of the Federation Council M'rel.  "Wow she is hot!" thought M'ress.  "I'd like to open some of her diplomatic channels", he thought to himself.  He'd remembered meeting her father, S'rrel, at the peacetalks, a fierce warrior type he had instantly respected.  He, Chuut and S'rrel had drank long and hard and talked about the war as if they were all comrades in arms not enemies.  The deeds of the best captains were recognized as such without bias of which side they flew for and the quickest and most satisfactory of treaties was signed to the delight of all sides.   S'rrel seemed almost like a Kzin, and praised M'ress and Chuut saying if he had a son, he hoped that they would be as great a warrior as they were, calling them nearly perfect.  Chuut had joked that a such  warrior would find it difficult with the low ceailing on Federation ships.  The admiral had thought about that and laughed, but added that if Chuut or M'ress were Caitian they would be treated almost like messiahs, ecxcept that their hair was the wrong color, white being the rarest of coloration on Cait and it was a rare generation in which a White Caitian appeared, the last being several hundred years ago.


Alarm bells suddenly went off in M'ress's head,  When had Chuut not had a perfect explaination?, when had that explaination been the whole story?  How many times had these explaainations concealed more trouble? big trouble? really big trouble? 

Chuut, J'inn, trouble, Nip, War industries, Caitian, Messiah, White Fur,......

Chuut, J'inn, trouble, War, White fur,  Messiah, Caitian.....

J'inn Whitefurred Messiah, Cait......

Suddenly M'ress' staff heard a rar echoing down the hallway, they all bowed their heads, ignored the sound as if it never happened, and prayed that they would go off duty soon.  The boss would not be happy today.

M'ress had only roared one word, but it meant trouble.

Chuut!!!!........ the echo continued down the huge halls of governemnt.

[KAT Chuut-Ritt]

BTW anyone is invited to join in, but I do request that if your action is developing concerning my characters, please drop me a PM and let me know what your planning so conflict can be avoided.

[Centurus]

I would be honored if you wrote a nice little story about me.  Something funny, yet completely f*cked up.  Maybe me in command of the TMP Resurrection, and that I did something really stupid and me and my ship were sent to a remore sector of space where nothing normally happens, normally.

[KAT Chuut-Ritt]

I would be honored if you wrote a nice little story about me.  Something funny, yet completely f*cked up.  Maybe me in command of the TMP Resurrection, and that I did something really stupid and me and my ship were sent to a remore sector of space where nothing normally happens, normally.

Your chances would improve dramatically if you filled out a profile
here:
http://www.dynaverse.net/forum/index.php/topic,163361415.msg1122640063.html#msg1122640063

No promises but if I'm looking for characters, this is where I'd likely be found doing so unless I need a specific individual bases on their position (like M'ress above since he is the KAT Patriarch)

[KAT Chuut-Ritt]

The KHS Rosinante slid forth from its berth at the Star's End and made its way toward the Federation border.  Its captain Chuut-Ritt was not so much headed to the Federation, as Headed away from the Star's End.  The repeated Messages from M'ress meant the Patriarch had become suspicious and had not entirely bought Chuut's story.  Chuut had no doubt that he could eventually convince M'ress, or at least bring him on board, but that would take time, lots of it, and that was something Chuut didn't have right now.  Best to be unavailable for a while.

Chuut looked around at his crew, Dances with Rocks was steering the ship deftly through the hazards of the WYN starlusted with practiced ease, assisted by  Kiva Bosco, the Zibalian althought the Kzin needed no aid having done this hundreds of times without incident.  Calypso, the 1/2 Caitian 1/2 Lyran Communication officer was monitoring subspace transmissions in the area making sure any messages from M'raa were blocked at Chuut's orders.  Sender of Claws, the novice weapons officer sat with a bored look on his face, the youger Kzin was eager for action having heard for years the tales of his half brother the Marine Commander of the ship Breaker of Bones who had been a companion of Chuut-Ritt and his brother Rhuut-Ritt for many years.  Breaker was down in the excercise rooms practicing comabat as usual, likely missing the presence of his sparring partner Rhuut as much as Chuut was.

As much as he missed Rhuut's presence, Chuut knew that M'ress must be diverted and since he was watching the pirate ship that Chuut also maintained closely he needed Rhuut to keep the Patriarch's eyes looking elsewhere.  Since Rhuut was the only one who knew where Chuut was actually going, only Rhuut could know where to keep M'ress' eyes off of.  At the moment, it would actually be more of a challenge to bee seen by M'ress than Chuut had in remaining concealed, the WYN starcluster providing more concealment than any cloaking device.  Chuut knew that Rhuut would find a way, his brother was quite clever, and those he met often didn't realize it being too overwhelmed by his huge physical presence which even tended to intimidate other Kzin.  9 1/2 feet of muscle with fangs and claws tended to do that.

As the Rosninate made here way through the nebulas and asteroids and into less scenic space Chuut headed down to the gallery for a snack.  He sat down beside the ship's Deltan science officer, Iriana, and Xia Xo, the ships doctor who was currently assuming her Kzin form as it was best suited for operations on the ship.  Chuut had to admit shapeshifter made a very attractive Kzinrret.  The two were conversing about the secret project upon which so much rested, and although Chuut had devised the project himself he found himself befuddled by the scientific vocabulary being used by the two.  Doing the best he could to follow the discussion he dug his fangs into the haunch of meat before him and listened on, his ears perking up when they got into the less techical details.

"The psychological aspect of the bonding still remains a great mystery," Iriana explained, "The Caitians themselves have not bothered to study this, considering it a natural thing that shouldn't be tampered with."  "It really is amazing that in all of their history no doctor or scientist seems to have done any reasearch into this," she added with a slight frown.

"Well Caitian sexuality does tend to rely more on nature an instinct more than concius thought", the doctor observed.  There seems to be no relationship with other psychological factors.  Whether they have any common interests, a shared objective, a similar lifestyle, etc seems to bear no relationship to who they "choose" as a mate.  They just seem to catch the scent of the "magic" set of phermones at the right moment and then Cupid's arrow hits them  they are bonded for life."

Iriana laughed, "Cupid's arrow?, thats not very scientific, remember your talking to a xeno-biologist."

"Well, what would you call it then?",  Xia Xo asked, " they are just minding their own business and happen to be at a time when both of their bodies tell the other one they are "looking" for a mate without them even knowing it, then for some unexplained reason they have the right combination of smells for each other and suddenly become psychologically addicted to each other on a a subconscious level and they might not even know it at the time.  No dating, no flowers, no candy, just out of the blue."

"Surely there is a science or psychology  behind it more than just chemical reactions", Iriana persisted, "something that explains why one scent is chosen over another, it all seems so haphazzard."

Xia Xo laughed, "Caitians are a very haphazad race in many ways, you've known Calypso for how many years now and haven't figured that out yet? and she is only half Caitian.  Remember the shoreleave on Risa? or when the Wee King Hexx came to the Star's End and she took a chuck out of his shoulder with her fangs and had to be pulled off of him by security before she maimed him, just because he smelled "funny"?

Chuut burst out laughing at that memory, recalling his Communications officer sniffing the air a few seconds then leaping over her console, knocking over two huge Lyran bodyguards as if they were made of plastic, then digging herself into the Lyran ex-Monarch and hanging on like velcro as the Lyran screamed in pain and tears flailing his arms to no effect.  What made it so amusing was that Hexx was recounting his brave solo stand against 7 "crazed Klingon warriors" with only a knife after his disruptor had jammed.  Of course noone other than Hexx had witnessed the episode of the 7 Klingons.

"Well our Calypso is a 'unique' individual", Chuut chuckled, "I wouldn't have her any other way".

"Indeed", added  Iriana, she is only one of 4 Caitian 'halfbreeds' know to have even existed, depite the fact that Caitian chromosomes are viable when combined with those of over 30 know species, including Lyrans, Kzin, and humans.  Sexual interactions with other races have been fairly widespread actually, but these generally don't produce offspring."

"Well there is no meical reason for that," Xia Xo added, "The Caitians generally just choose no to conduct such mating when they are out of season, or use contraception. For them these affairs are just for amusement, and lack the intensity of a bonding with a mate, although the bonding intensity varies with each individual.  Nonetheless it is incredibly strong and the bonding occurs for life in most cases and once bonded they will never choose another mate and will not usually be able to rebond unless the bond was ended by a death shortly after forming, even then it is rare."

Chuut fidgeted slightly, "But from what you told me before a bonded individual is happier than a non-bonded one, even if they are apart from the one they are bonded to, correct?"

"Oh most certainly", Xia Xo replied, "The bonded Caitian shows a marked increase in vitality, mental activity, and emotional stability than the non-bonded one.  This occurs whether or not the couple are together or seperated, although it does increase when in close proximity to each other.  However, as I said before, the effect will vary greatly from individual to individul.  It is often viewed as a sign of adulthood among the Caitians.  There is also a severe drop off of these benefits in most cases when the bond is ended by the death of one of the bonded couple."

"Wouldn't such a drop off lead to great depression" asked Chutt.

"Yes and No", Xia Xo answered, "while there is a profound feeling of loss, it is generally similar to that of most other races when a spouse dies, not anything debilitating in most cases.  However, do to the physical aspects it may be more noticable than in many other races, but the Caitian is not really any worse off than they were before bonding.  It more resembles getting over a high school crush than any truly tramatic event regarding the pshysical side of it, the emotional side will depend on the individual."

Chuut slowly rose from the table, "Well thank you ladies for the interesting discussion", I must get back to the bridge now. I will leave you to continue your discussion and work on our 'secret project'. 

"Our pleasure, Iriana purred in Kzin, her accent seemed to get better everyday and she almost sounded like a Kzinrett already.

"Indded!", added the Chameloid, her accent already perfect, her race having a gift for tongues as well as shapeshifting.  "And the new samples from the polar Kzin subject will help us to refine the fragrance even further, a new batch of perfume should be available in a couple of days and nearly 3 times as effective as the first batch due to the freashness of the body oild we extracted from the fur."

"Excellent" responded Chuut, "that last trip to the Riverboat Casino was the first time I was actually glad to have another Kzins shedding fur get on my clothes."

Both females joined Chuut in snickering to that as the Captain made his way through the exit.