"I know you desire to ask me how I find

myself as voDelH when SeplH'ne was killed

and purges often swept our world to take

anyone with associations to

anyone imprisoned, heretical, exiled.

She told you of our children, my conscription

my disappearance from the records of our war.

She took huge risk in her self-mandated commission

in speaking, spreading wide the word of your

offer and the possibilities in store.

Our son was tortured, he jumped out of window down

his back was broken, he cannot walk but he

retains his mind, his brilliance and he works

to restore the honor of tlhIngans with disability

Our daughter was sent to Qolyma's prison camp

for five years, two years ago she was restored to me

she lost two fingers, was blinded in one eye

today she studies to become our emissary

she remembered most Nyota Uhura's song

and now desires to speak all manner of tongue.

I rule because, though politics abound

Qo'Nos has suffered much and we must unfreeze

the Thaw will come and with it come reforms

the question is, which reformations meet

the needs of tlhIngan, when honor's sword is rust

our laws and justice have lost all their meaning

our people yearn for greatness and to thrive

but how to build a path that will succeed?

I rule because my wife was prominent

in representing another path for us

I rule because my reputation is

solidified in twenty years of war service

Ten years I spent on ships within our fleet

based on Qo'NoS, living with SeplH'ne

was there when Nero destroyed our every warbird

seven years I spent imprisoned, forced to fight

to crush rebellions in our colonies

returned three years too late to find my love

had died, my children scattered like debris.

mNoS died two years ago by stroke

since then things have been slowly wakening

my power was not secure right then so I

waited before risking contacting

to speak to you who cost my love her life

for cause she'd long gave up on to hope

to speak to you who brought lemons and seeds-

do you know how widely spans the scope

of your interference of ten long nights, short days

imparted to us five years ago?

I will not deceive, our planet is in chaos

but I have ideas, very simple but not easy

I wish to turn our industry from war

and cultivate more manufacturing

I won't set up a personality cult

I'll try to dismantle some mNoS' sayings

that he was seven parts right and three parts wrong

so banish him as relic of past things

I'll realign our idea of good and bad

away from lines of warrior class to accept all

as making necessary contribution to

society, not matter background, mother, Hol

we've already begun to take down the labor camps

and deal publicly with legacy of that

silence will poison, but speech is too early

for those gripped in grief, two summers need combat

so that is why I asked you here today.

Some tlhIngans say, I am doing too much

destroying structure that they think necessary

we were so long supported by his rule

that some tlhIngans find a strange security

in mNoS absolute totalitarian arbitrary tyranny.

I do believe the future will be hard

that after Thaw comes anger, rebelling

distrust in anything I say or try to do

long bread lines, no food in this shock therapy

You'll offer help, because that is what you do

but this is deeper than economy

you cannot help us reconcile, we must

do it ourselves, though you might long to free

us from more long years of hardship.

If you will help, instead of aid, I ask for joint venturing.

To build a space station in Neutral Zone

of our joint efforts, staffed by tlhIngan and StarFleet

with aim to foster an alliance

and share our scientific discoveries

Let this be broadcast on our worlds as hope

and offer glimpse of our capability

and offer alternative pathways for

tlhIngan youth who wallow in stagnated unease

many will still choose to serve Qo'NoS

but some may choose to work within your Fleet

after angered grief, you must find fuel to live

let this dream fuel their future reveries.

Nyota Uhura, we ask for you to be

HoD tengchaH, in all manners oversee

you who always have the courage to speak first

who calls on Qun and can speak rhymes unrehearsed

who understands our ways: we would to you be

deeply honored, if you would to this agree."

Nyota stepped forward.

"You know as well as I this will take time

to negotiate between tlhIngan and Starfleet

I have my own obligations to

my captain, ship, and comrades, but I admit

I want to take your offer, so let us say

I vow to keep my promises today:

I promise to give of my very best

to communicate between our worlds' interests

I promise to fulfill my duties to

IDIC, keeping, peace, fostering new

bridges between two different ways of being

I promise to respect, even in disagreeing

I promise that, if this all comes to pass

I'll do my best to make our friendship last.

This I you vow, on honor of Nkishi

whose spirits now alights the five lemon trees."