De'kara

Jeak'mas' home

Jeak'ma sat in a chair, anxiously tapping his fingers on its side. He was deep in thought, concern on his face; concern for the well-being of the Jaffa nation. Ever since Vik'lar had risen to the Council, and even before that, things had not been going well for the Jaffa. Something major was occurring, of that Jeak'ma was sure, but he had no firm idea what. He was well aware, as other Jaffa like him were, of Vik'lars' ambitions for power, but what he was unsure of was to how great an extent those ambitions stretched, and to what end Vik'lar would strive to achieve them.

Although not a council member, Jeak'ma felt Vik'lars power over the council strengthen until he had them cowering in his shadow. He was no politician, but as a skilled engineer Jeak'ma knew the value of a plan of action in the event things go awry. And this is what he was currently doing, running the present situation in his mind and calculating all the possible solutions and choices available to him. In his mind he ran contingency plan after contingency plan, naively assuming he could find answers to all of the political problems. He continued doing so late in the evening, when he was interrupted by a friend, a member of the council. Jeak'ma was at first unaware of his arrival, but when he was, he immediately stood up and faced his friend. "Yes?" he said anxiously.

The council member was silent, the words he had wanted to say temporarily forgotten in the turmoil that had just occurred. He soon remembered, and spoke promptly. "It has happened, my friend," he said with a touch of sadness and defeat in his voice. "Vik'lar has played his hand, and called for the removal of the council. With the support of council member Al'kan, the motion was passed, and Vik'lar has been proclaimed supreme Hat'kar of the Jaffa people." Here he bowed his head in shame. "I'm afraid all has been lost for the Jaffa."

Jeak'ma felt an immense anger at the cowardice of the council by bowing down to Vik'lar, but he kept his calm and decided on a plan of action. "Raise your head and act like a Jaffa!" Jeak'ma hissed at his friend. The council member did so out of surprise, this coming from a quiet, soft-spoken engineer. "The Jaffa people will never accept Vik'lar as their Hat'kar, we cannot lose all hope!"

The council member shook his head. "You are wrong, Jeak'ma. The people have already accepted. When the final meeting concluded, and the announcement was passed around, a crowd, the likes of which I have never seen, assembled outside the temple and were shouting phrases such as 'Long live Vik'lar, our Hat'kar!'"

Jeak'ma was unwilling to give up hope for the people he so dearly loved. "So we have lost De'kara, but it is not the only Jaffa planet. I know of several planets that are against Vik'lar and will resist his control of our people." Here he paused, and decided to use a plan he had constructed earlier. "My friend, we must make a stand on Chulak, the birthplace of our sacred rebellion. The symbolism of our action will be evident to even the most hardened Vik'lar supporter. Gather all the council members and warriors opposed to Vik'lars' rule, and take them to Chulak. There we will set up a new council, and with public support, challenge Vik'lars right to Hat'kar. We must do so quickly, before Vik'lar consolidates his hold and blocks our movements."

Jeak'mas friend shook his head in pure wonderment, scarcely believing the words coming from the man he thought he knew so well. "What you are proposing is madness, Jeak'ma!" His friend cried out. "There is no way we could successfully challenge Vik'lar, it would lead us into a civil war!"

"I am well aware of that," Jeak'ma said calmly. "But it will not come to civil war. Vik'lar is too much of a Jaffa for that. He will rattle his staff, and blow fire and smoke, but when the time comes, he will not knowledgably attack his own people. Yet, even in the most unlikely chance he does spark a civil war, his actions on Chulak will reverberate across the Jaffa nation, and his followers will start to question. Their support in him will waiver, and Vik'lar will fall with the removal of that support. But we must act now, before we lose our window of opportunity."

The council member stood entranced for a moment, absorbing all of what Jeak'ma said, before he regained his focus and went out gather the other members. Jeak'ma sighed deeply, hoping that what he had chosen the wisest course of action for the Jaffa people, and hurriedly began packing his essentials.

Vik'lar's home

Vik'lar sat on his bed and allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction at the outcome of the past two days. He had successfully overthrown the council, installed himself with the supreme title of Hat'kar, and all without bloodshed. His smugness was dimmed somewhat by other events, however. He pulled out the communications sphere and held it in his hand. The sphere began to glow and once more a humming sound was emitted. There was a pause of several moments before the image of Vik'lars' master appeared.

"My Lord," Vik'lar started humbly, "it has been done. The council has been dissolved and I am the leader of the Jaffa. Both the fleet and the army are now under the control of several of my most loyal commanders, and they have sworn their elegance to me."

"Good," said the master. "Things are moving according to the plan. Soon all the Jaffa will bow to their one true god."

Vik'lar was hesitant at first, not wanting to spoil the good news so soon, but reasoned that delay would be far worse. "Lord, there is a small problem. Several council members who have opposed me have fled De'kara late last night. I have reports indicating that they took with them a small army of Sho'vas to Chulak. They have set up a council challenging my rule and are spreading discontent throughout outlying planets," Vik'lar paused a moment before continuing. "What is it that you would have me do about this, master?"

The master was silent for but a moment, and when he spoke it was with such a voice that Vik'lar found discomforting. "These Sho'vas cannot be allowed to defy me. You will gather the bulk your forces and make an example of the traitors at Chulak. Such insolence must not be allowed to fester and will be dealt with immediately. Kill any that resist."

Vik'lar was shocked at what he had heard, momentarily forgetting signs of deference. "But my Lord, the people would not stand for such an act, especially on the planet that means so much to them! It would ignite a civil war that would threaten my rule!"

The master did not attempt to hide his anger at his foolish servant. "Do you dare disobey your god?"

"No!" Vik'lar exclaimed, suddenly afraid. "No. Please forgive me, master. I will do as you command."

"At least you are capable of understanding that," the master said dryly. After a moment of silence he went on. "I sense that there is something else you wish to say?"

Vik'lar was afraid to speak further, however his masters' tone of voice compelled him to say what had bothered him for some time. "My Lord," he began quietly. "You are powerful and strong, and I fear your wrath more than any other. Yet, what am I to do about the ones known as the Be'nox? Their power is beyond any other, including my own. What is your bidding on this matter?"

To Vik'lars' surprise, his master seemed pleased that he had brought up the subject. "You are an observant servant, albeit a foolish one, Vik'lar. Yes, the Be'nox are indeed a powerful race, but they are not as invincible as they may seem. There are those who possess the technology that will defeat them. Trust in your god, and they will be dealt with."

Vik'lar bowed his head, once again cowed at the might of his true god.