Before the Storm

[Chirakis 1]

Before the Storm

Chirakis, Cayne

 

In centuries past, primitive armies faced off in an open field, postured, then charged into a bloody mess, the victor being the army that survived with more soldiers, more land, or a living leader. More advanced civilizations’ armies were well-trained and devised exceptional tactics, some of which are still in use. They conquered territory and amassed great empires that lasted for centuries.

 

At that time it was not uncommon for armies to station veteran soldiers in the second or third wave of the assault. The less experienced advanced on the enemy first, sometimes to give them experience, but more often to sacrifice the less valuable troops and preserve the veterans. The first waves tested the waters, to determine the strength of the opposition and to observe their tactics.

 

While working at the main security console in CnC, Captain Chirakis pondered the events of the last week. Since the discussion between Commander Coleridge and Captain Ramson centered around station repairs and upgrades to the defenses, Kirel focused her thoughts on station security. Most of the conversation passed her by until, “There’s another tech we might need to see about countering,” caught her attention.

 

Captain Ramson explained that the annexing of An-Ward by the Alien Alliance gave cause to believe that their “kidnapping transporter” was used while Aegean was in An-Ward orbit, nearly a month ago. She suggested that, though the transporter had not been used since, it remained a definite threat.

 

Kirel took that opportunity to add her list to the mix. The Alliance had not made use of their advanced technology, their significant telepathic powers, nor the superior vessels that had been seen orbiting An-Ward. Also, they had sent an incompetent force against Aegis instead of deploying their best resources for a swift conquest. In short, there was ample evidence that whatever species was leading the march across the border was using their least valuable forces to test Aegis, document our tactics, assess our resources, and revise their strategy before launching the main assault.

 

“I think they're new to the act of galactic conquest,” Ramson replied. “Eager novices, unfortunately.”

 

“Which raises another question,” interjected Commander Coleridge. “Where is this advanced technology coming from? It's far more advanced than the Breen or any other power near here.”

 

“Then,” Kirel continued, “are the ones who attacked only a foretaste of the real threat?”

 

In answer to their questions, Captain Ramson tapped her console, bringing up the latest RSE scans from Alliance space. “The ships spotted are more advanced than anything we have faced yet,” she remarked stoically as the image of one ship under construction appeared on the screen, only to be replaced ten seconds later with another ship that was closer to launch, then another, and several more. “The Romulans are cloaked and still observing,” she said. “Their first guess is that it will be two months before the first five ships are completed.”

 

Two months. A mere two months to prepare for this?

 

Sometime later, Kirel entered the lift, en route to the security complex where Commander Cayne had information that was reportedly “above his pay grade”. She thought it strange that it would be, but dismissed the idea in favor of considering sector security and what they might face in the coming months.

 

The time frame was longer than expected, but much shorter than was needed to formulate a fully effective plan of defense. Captain Ramson had intimated that Starfleet Command said they were “working on” a plan of attack. However, they had been “working on” several things since Argesil, none of which had come to fruition. The conspiracy had hung a pall of endless debate over the Federation Council, so the possibility that they would make a timely decision to declare war on the Alien Alliance was slim.

 

It was not surprising that the more reliable party would be the Romulan Star Empire. No debate existed there. When under threat, they planned, and they were people of their word. Strong and resolute, they would stop at nothing short of victory. Kirel smiled at the irony. Would Sky Harbor Aegis eventually come under the jurisdiction of the RSE? And wouldn’t that be a joy for the Federation? Oh, the RSE would bring peace, and it would come through 4, 320,ooo metric tons of diplomacy.

 

“Captain.” The security officer on watch greeted Kirel as she stepped from the lift into the security complex.

 

“Lieutenant Grasse,” Kirel replied, pausing to take the lieutenant’s status report. “I understand that Commander Cayne is waiting for me.”

 

“Yes, Captain, in your office.” The lieutenant fell in step with her.

 

“Um,” she mused. “The station is quiet.”

 

“Yes, ma’am. Things have settled down, though there are still a few situations to resolve. Security is deployed on standard rotation and is reporting as ordered.”

 

The captain nodded, signed the report, and handed it back, then turned to enter her office.

 

She stopped just inside, where Commander Cayne sat slumped in an easy chair usually reserved for visitors. His head relaxed against the headrest, his eyes were closed, and his face was as worn as his uniform, which was scruffy, dirty, and torn in several places. Did the An-Ward delegate he had been hunting give him a significant struggle? Since there was no one in containment, if he found the delegate, the body must be in the morgue.

 

“Sleeping well, Commander?” she said, standing out of striking distance.

 

The slumbering man huffed. "I don't really sleep well, Captain. You know how it is."

 

“Yes I do, unfortunately. I understand you have something for me.”

 

He reached into the front pocket of his roughed up jacket and pulled out an equally roughed up isolinear chip. After brushing it off he handed it to Chirakis. "This, from our good Doctor's results from a DNA scan." He smiled, then frowned. "I got the sample just fine, but the results were not for my security level."

 

“Interesting,” Kirel replied, regarding the chip as she turned it over several times. “I cannot imagine why, unless SI-5 is now a non-entity. And this DNA is from?”

 

"A young ratty boy named Jake. I met him and others down in that section of the station we can't scan readily. Some kind of...helpful gang." The captain secured the room, then engaged the decryption on her console. He watched her work. “They were hesitant to approach me at first, and only did because I fell.”

 

“A boy, you say?” Her chin rested on one hand as she read, until she suddenly paused the screen and regarded Cayne with an expression of concern. “Did he mention anything about parents or adults?”

 

"Hmm, I asked and they said very little. If I did not know any better I would say they are on their own, but their leader, Jake, mentioned that his ‘mom and dad’ taught them. No evidence of other adults of any kind. Just like I fell into their territory. Nothing so dramatic."

 

A tap brought the information to the main wall screen.

 

“The DNA has identified the two images you see here. The boy on the right is Jakobi Chaikin, present age 14 Terran years. The one on the left is Nickolai Sokol, present age 11 Terran years. Both are listed as missing. The images are more than a year old, but does either boy look familiar?”

 

"They are not missing now. Both of them are within the walls of our station." He both sighed and groaned. "Guess the parents deserve to be notified."

 

“Perhaps,” Kirel replied, “but we must tread lightly. Jakobi Chaikin is the son of Anton Chaikin and Anna Jaeger, highly valued Federation scientists whose work is so classified that even I do not have access. Nickolai Sokol is the son of Valentin Sokol, a prominent expert in advanced technology. Both boys, their parents, and several other families valuable to the Federation disappeared a year ago after controversy erupted when they refused to continue work on a project, quoting moral objections. The adults were incarcerated for a time, then released after high level Federation Council members granted them clemency.”

 

She turned to Cayne. “Commander, I must discuss this with Captain Ramson and Commander Coleridge. In the meantime, you will treat this information as its classification requires, understood?”

 

"Understood Captain. Would knowing what line of classified research Jake's parents are in help with understanding why he and the others are here? Before you answer that, I'm providing this group with a care package. I apologize for not letting you know before I started." He shifted in his seat after being slumped in it for so long.

 

“Commander,” she said, leaning forward in emphasis, “it is imperative that their presence on the station remain as classified as their work. You will speak of their presence to no one—not even a mention of the children you encountered. For their own protection, you must cease sending them ‘care packages’ or having any contact with them whatsoever until you hear from me. I trust you have not divulged any information regarding this group to anyone else?”

 

"Only to you Captain," Cayne said with a nod. His mind was still processing the order to not provide even the most basic needs to them, but if they have been self-sufficient all this time, perhaps intervention was not needed. Still, it bugged him in the back of his mind.

 

“Good. When I outline the situation to Command, I am sure the captain will allow a plan for someone to covertly enter that area and provide basic supplies. Until then, they will survive on their own as they have for the last year. For now, that is all, Commander. Shower and get some rest. I will be in CnC.”