NDak

Author's Note: This log occurs while Talon was en route to the shipyards, and while the Azgalor and Teronix were en route to each other. The sleek lines of the N’Orexen-class warbird Daiven lay hidden behind the electromagnetic field of the vessel's cloaking device. Normally, while in their own space, it was rare for Romulan vessels to travel under cloak -- but the Daiven wasn’t any normal Romulan vessel, in fact there wasn’t even a single Galae officer aboard. In the Enarrain’s chambers, just off the Oira, her master, Lt. Colonel Kver tr’Saelin observed the woman sitting in his chair. Physically, she clearly took after her mother, cutting a sharp figure that had and would continue to melt the hearts of lesser men. Mentally, though, she clearly drew from the blood of her father’s side of the family. tr’Saelin regarded her carefully, considering how brutally cold the woman’s eyes were, colder, he thought, than many of the men whom he served with in the Tal’Shiar. “Colonel,” he finally said. “We should arrive at the homeworld in a few days. We have continued to monitor the movements of the Teronix and the Talon.” Colonel Savu N’Dak leaned forward, he fingers steepled gently on the desk. Her long black hair swayed gently, despite being held back in a high pony tail. “And?” “The Talon has continued on course for the fleet yards … “ he paused, uneager to bore her with the same reports on Talon. “However, the Teronix has altered course, slightly. It appears they are rendezvousing with the Azgalor.” That piqued her interest. “The Azgalor? Why?” “Apparently his wife,” Saelin said caustically, “is apparently close to giving birth and he wanted to be present for the child birth. Of course, ostensibly, the Azgalor is on its way to aid our forces....” She nearly gagged and waved a hand. The idea of that bionic menace of a woman and the fool of a man named Varlon tr’Vatrix giving birth to a child made her rather nauseous. “Only Varlon tr’Vatrix,” she said, dripping with condescension, "would be so brazen as to divert an Imperial vessel so that he could watch his jol pop out a child and hide it under those sort of pretenses.” Saelin nodded, rather surprised how much he agreed with the female N’Dak. “Only that veruul would have the gall to do that,” she said frowning. “We could intercept them,” he said with a small smile. Savu smirked deviously and leaned back into her chair. “It would be a shame if anything happened to either ship during childbirth, wouldn’t it?” “Ie. Shall I have my helmsman alter his course?” Genuinely considering the possibility of killing two of her enemies in one stroke, she finally shook her head. “Na. The Teronix will be heavily monitored, and I do na have authority from the Sub-Director to initiate such an assassination. Besides, our associates have plans for the bionic woman and her nanogenes.” Saelin lifted his brows. He’d only heard rumors of about the Khre’Riov’s youthful appearance and though he wondered what exactly his superior was talking about, he knew better than to pry to deeply -- or to mention it outside of the room. “Ah. And the Talon, then?” A deep frown crossed Savu’s face. “We will have to place a new agent aboard, h’nah that io of our agents has come up missing.” Biting back a response Saeilin nodded. He was rather unhappy that he’d lost not one, but two men in the operation aboard the Talon. Still they had known that failure would not be tolerated, least of all by Savu N’Dak. “I would apologize for the loss of au men,” she said coldly as she stood and walked towards the window. “But their failure nearly cost us dearly.” “And what of aur agent?” “My agent,” she said harshly. “Au mean the little science officer with the big mouth?” “Ie. I was under the impression that she would offer assistance as to neutralize Talon allowing my men to do their job.” Savu turned, glowering. “Lt. Colonel,” she said in a cold, frostbitten tone. “Au men should have been able to handle the simple task of kidnapping a maneken without additional aide.” Realising he was pushing harder than perhaps intended, Saelin waved a hand. “I did na intend any offense, only to imply that we cannot count on her in the future, either.” “I doubt that will be of issue,” she said, her tone softening. He dared ask. “Oh?” “It is my understanding she was taken from the Talon to the Teronix by tr’Vatrix himself and na io has seen her since.” “Ah.” “Regardless, we will have to arrange for a new agent aboard -- especially since I have begun to doubt the … veracity of the other agent we have aboard. Do we have any assets rhae the shipyard Talon is docked at?” “I would na know.” Though he now began to wonder just how many agents the Tal'Shiar had committed to the Talon. She paused for a moment. “My apologies, I forget myself. Get me a commlink with Sub-director tr’Agrail.” “Of course. If there’s nothing else...”

"Paranoid" by Garbage.

I was thinking "Alone" by Heart.

She is an expert in poison, na?

Assassinations are unbelievably crude, but maybe they've a tiny mile of potential, when allied with my vision and brains.... :twisted:

by N'Dak and t'Rexan Meanwhile, tr’Baris sat hrrau his office, reading through io of the many ISD’s of information that he’d had brought to his attention. He knew that his fail safe ride off the planet in case things went wrong, had been destroyed during the battle above the planet. Calling to his new aide tr’Gavin, he demanded an update on what was going on with the Daise’Khre’Riov, and why the areinneyehe was even out here? “Rekkhai, the task force is planning to send down a small detachment to see au. I do na know what they are proposing, or what they wish to discuss,” tr’Gavin said to him. Destorie and his small ‘team’ beamed to the governor’s complex, in the small courtyard he’d now visited several times, though he had to admit this was going to be his most pleasurable visit to the barren rock, yet. Or so he hopped. Glancing to Aelion and Trion, he put a hand on his holstered ie’yakk, but did not draw it, signalling them do the same. They were met by two, very surprised, members of the governor’s d’heno garrison. Io of them, the taller one, cleared his throat. “Enarrain,” he said pointedly, “had we known it was au arriving, we would have had something more... formal for prepared. Au communications officer, rhae au oira did na tell us it would be au the Daise’Khre’Riov was sending.” Mildly amused, Destorie feigned innocence. “Oh,” he said. “How unfortunate. Then the governor is na expecting me?” The guards looked to each other before shaking their heads. “Na,” the taller one finally said, “he was na expecting au, as I said, Enarrain.” “Well then, if you’d be so kind as to take me to him.” The guards lifted their brows. “We were na under the impression anyio would be meeting with the governor … he … he may be … unavailable.” Sobering, and taking on a stern, though not imperious posture, Destorie locked eyes with the d’heno. “I am on official business of the Daise’Khre’Riov. He will make himself available.” Shifting uncomfortably under the glare, if only because they dreaded telling tr’Baris that they had allowed the ‘fvai, and miserable excuse for a Rihannsu’ onto the planet; the guards frowned. “Very well, Enarrain,” the taller one said again. “But if you will wait here until we can inform the Governor.” Destorie looked to Aelion and Trion, considering. “Why don’t au lead us there, and tell him we’re outside waiting for him?” tr’Baris looked over at tr’Gavin, “Tell them they can send someone down once I have things under control down fahd. Once we contact them, tell them that they can send their team to io of our designated locations and we will receive them once I am ready.” “Rekkhai, they are reporting that the Daise’Khre’Riov himself if here. What if he comes down himself?” trGavin asked. tr’Baris looked at the guard, “I doubt he would be bothered to come down fahd himself anyway. He’s got enough to clenup with the kll’inghannsu fvai that he won’t notice us anyway. Anyone but him, well, of course na tr’Tronius, but anyone else, they can come back when my schedule allows. ” Taking a rather deep breath, the two guards led N’Dak and his two lackeys into the facility proper. Neither of the two young d’heno were exactly looking forward to being the ones to tell tr’Baris, and both had a distinct feeling that their careers were about to be severely curtailed. The walk from the courtyard to the governor’s office typically not rather long, however, they took Destorie along a more scenic route in a futile effort to delay the inevitable. Finally coming to the hallway with the governor’s office, they stopped outside double doors where a guard was waiting, with lifted brow. “What is this?” he said, incredulously towards N’Dak. “The Enarrain is here on official business of the Daise’Khre’Riov, he wishes to meet with the Governor at once.” The guard at the door frowned. “Official business of the Daise’Khre’Riov,” he said skeptically, looking the Enarrain over. After a moment, he sighed. “The Governor is inside, you may wait here,” he said to Destorie and company. “Havrill,” he said to the taller one, “you may tell the governor he has guests.” Havrill took a deep breath, steeling himself before entering through the double doors. The door on the right opened seamlessly and quietly, while the one on the left, made a long, slow metallic creak while it was fully opened. Looking up as the doors opened, tr’Baris saw io of the guards enter in without calling for, and several other figures silhouetted by the outside light behind them. “What is the meaning of this? I did na call for any appointments?” “My apologies, rekkhai,” Havrill said. “Please forgive the intrusion. However a representative from the Daise’Khre’Riov has arrived and requested an audience, immediately.” “From the Daise’Khre’Riov himself? If it was so important, why didn’t he come himself? Oh, why bother, I might as well show them in.” Havrill took another deep breath. “The Enarrain is just outside, rekkhai.” “Wait....au said Enarrain. Which Enarrain? And don’t even start to tell me it’s that pompous ass from the Talon.” Havrill looked at tr’Baris and simply replied with a tense, “Ie Rekkhai.” “Fvaht!! tr’Garvin, take these chips, and put them where they’ll be ...safe for the time being.” tr’Garvin took the chips, and went towards tr’Baris’s quarters to secret away the chips. Outside, a staring match between the Talon d’heno and the Governor’s d’heno had ensued. Destorie stood calmly, hands tucked neatly behind his back, preparing himself. tr’Baris turned to Havrill, “Well, au best show him in before he marches in and says we’ve been refusing him.” Watching as Havrill nodded and made his way back to the entry door, he moved around the heavy stone and wood desk and sat. Reaching the doorway, Havrill stepped through and addressed the party. “The Governor has made a small adjustment to his schedule and can slip au in in now.” Destorie did his best not to roll his eyes back into his skull, and opted for a polite nod. “Hann’yyo, show me in.” Destorie entered through the open door after being waved through by the guards, his own d’heno in tow. Havrill turned to the other guard on duty, “Should we attend to the Governor as well, hi is an Enarrain, on the Daise’Khre’Riov’s business, there should be na trouble, ie? Then again, he took his guards with him.” He stopped a few feet from the Governor's desk, giving him a polite head-nod. “What is the meaning of this intrusion? Au did na have the courtesy to set up an appointment, and then barge into my compound unannounced?” “My apologies for the lack of notice,” Destorie said, curtly. “However, the Daise’Khre’Riov requested that I attend to this business quickly.” “And what business would that be? I’m busy here trying to get things back in order, and here I’m having to deal with unannounced guests.” “If you’d like, I can always tell the Daise’Khre’Riov that you were too busy for him. I am sure that he would be, understanding.” “Au are putting words hrrau my mouth. I did na say that, I said that I was busy and that au were unannounced.”“ Destorie smirked, mirthlessly. “Oh, my apologies,” he said. “I would na want to misrepresent au position to tr’Vatrix.” “So, what is it that au want this time?” trBaris leered at him. “Oh,” Destorie said. “This has little do with what I want.” Though in truth, more than small part of him was rather pleased to be party to knocking the whelp back down where he belonged. “Na,” he continued. “This concerns what the Daise’Khre’Riov wishes.” “And what, I’m supposed to be some sort of mind reader and sit here playing 20 questions with au, until I figure out what exactly it is, that is the Daise’Khre’Riov’s business?” Stating the last of the words with a tone of disdain. “Na, na at all,” Destorie said, his mischievous grin widening -- he was enjoying this. “The Daise’Khre’Riov wishes to ask au some questions about an … acquaintance of aurs that is currently aboard my ship.” The newly placed Governor, quickly thought to himself who it might be, then realized at that siuren, that fvadt! It might be her and if so, “Perhaps if au told me who this person of interest is, I could answer your questions right now. Otherwise I”m na in the mood to play au veruulish games. Just tell me” Tipping his head to one side for a moment, Destorie finally shook his head. “As much as I’d like to hear those answers, I have my orders.” “And those orders were exactly what? If I may authen?” “To bring au to the Talon so that he may question au about au affiliation with the accused traitor Daise’Erei’Riov t’Rahks.” “What!? I have ‘na’ affiliation whatsoever with that miserable little whore. Au would be better off asking some of the officers hrrau the Othan fleet. I heard she spent quite a bit of time shipping around the sector with them. And au come fahd, with the audacity to accuse the newly appointed Governor of this mining facility, and attempt to place me along side the likes of an accused traitor?” Destorie smirked, even more widely before sobering. Replying, with a touch of sarcasm in his voice, “Strong words for some io who claims na to know her. No matter, au can explain au relations -- or lack there of -- to the Daise’Khre’Riov auself. If au are innocent, as au claim and as I have no doubt some io of au stature and honorable upbringing would be involved in such sordid affairs as those she has been accused of being involved, au have na thing to worry about.” “I did na say that I did na ‘know’ who she was, I said that I have na affiliation with her. As for answering questions, why waste both of our time?” “Ie, ie,” he said with a hand gesture reminiscent of those he often gave his younger brother when he was denying something. “However, telling me is not good enough. The Daise’Khre’Riov simply wishes to ask au a few questions, na thing more. And au know how this is, tr’Vatrix wants to hear it from au himself. I mean how else can he truly clear au name if he does not hear it from au directly? What would that sound like? ‘ Oh, ie, it’s fine. Destorie N’Dak said that tr’Baris had nothing to do with her sedition!’ “I can just imagine that winning au a lot of points with a tribunal.” tr’Baris glowered at N’Dak, “How dare au use my name in such a denigrating way!! I’ll have au brought up on charges!! I’ll have au stripped of au rank au pompous veruul!!” A look of amusement once more crossed Destorie’s face before molding into sobriety. “Governor, I am simply stating facts. You telling me that you have no affiliation with the accused means little. The Daise’Khre’Riov requires your presence aboard my vessel for questioning about the matter so au can take your threats elsewhere because I care very little for them. H’nah, the sooner we get this over with, the sooner au can return to au sandbox.” “Why au little sseikkia!! I will make au pay for speaking to me thus!” tr’Baris reached out to backhand N’Dak across his mouth, and wipe that stupid grin off his face. “I am the Governor of this facility, na some spoiled son of a Deihu with delusions of grandeur.” Destorie’s chin absorbed the blow and he barely blinked. The first one to get angry, he thought, loses. “Governor, I have orders to return you to the Talon in my custody. Either you can come willingly, or you can come as a th’ann. The choice is aurs, I suggest au make it quickly.” Aelion and Trion reflexively reached to their holstered ie’yakk, drawing them and training them on the Governor, though they were quickly met by Destorie’s left hand signaling them to hold their fire -- he had little desire for this to become a shooting match. At the same time, tr’Baris’s men did the same, pulling their weapons and training them on NDak and his men. “It would appear we have a bit of a stalemate here, as well as the fact I have a full garrison here as well.” “Governor,” he said calmly. “While there are many who would give au a small reward for yy’aing me, it will not solve au longer term problem. Hanging above au head is a fleet of warbirds at the command of the Daise’Khre’Riov with enough torpedoes to bomb this facility into tiny pieces. So I will say again, au may come with me willingly, or au may come as a th’ann. I would prefer the former.” “Fvaht! Vriha menkha, we will waste all of our time, and I will go answer these....questions, and when I am found innocent of these trumped up charges, au will personally pay for this. But to accuse me of sedition, on the words of a traitorous wench, that is too much.” “Why Governor,” Destorie said with lifted brow and a feigned surprise in his voice. “Who said that she’d accused you of anything?” “Au, were the one accusing me of being affiliated with her.” “Ie, but I never said she’d told me anything about your relations with her, h’nah did I?” Destorie said, dripping with amusement. “H’nah, we had best be going, we wouldn’t want to keep the Daise’Khre’Riov, would we?” Grumbling to himself about tr’Tronius na being there when this was his fault for moving too fast. “Menkha, let us get this over with, so I may return and actually take care of the problems plaguing this world, and get these damned indigenous people under control. Then, I will deal with au, thinking au are all big and important for riding upon au father’s coat tails.” With a look that could only say ‘au are io to talk,’ Destorie tapped his t’Liss. “N’Dak to Talon, four to transport.”

The lift deposited Destorie just outside the transporter room. Effortlessly, he strode into the corridor, a small, almost unnoticeable smile on his face. Having called for a small detail of his most loyal assistant, and yeoman, Aelion tr’Jarek and another D’heno, he waited for them to arrive at the transporter room. For a long moment in the lift, he’d debated about how much notice to give tr’Baris before he’d decided not to tip his hand. Glancing to the transporter chief, and then to his guards as they entered, he wondered if he’d regret that decision. Pushing the thought to the back of his mind, he nodded to Aelion and the young erein who accompanied him before stepping onto the pad. “Rekkhai,” Aelion said respectfully. “I trust this is just a courtesy visit?” Destorie smiled, something that rather alarmed Aelion. “Unlikely that the good Governor will see it that way. You should be prepared to take him into custody if he doesn’t come willingly.” Elements, Aelion said under his breath with a wary glance towards Destorie before joining him on the pad. “Should I arrange for a larger team to accompany us?” The young erein, who Destorie thought bore the name Trion, was doing his best to remain calm. It was his first assignment with any of the senior staff, let alone with the Enarrain and his personal guard and to say he’d been nervous would have been an understatement, and the last thing he needed to hear was that the Enarrain was planning on taking the Governor of a planet into custody. “Na,” Destorie said. “I do na think he will resist.” “You sound disappointed, rekkhai.” Bemused, Destorie smirked. “Well, I have to admit,” he said, “there is a certain small part of me that would like to be the io to shoot the veruul, however he is na good to me yy’a.” Aelion nodded and glanced to the rather skittish Erein. “Do na worry, erein. Au will do fine. Just look like a stone figure and say even less than io.” Trion nodded repeatedly, causing Destorie to snicker. Which only made the erein even more nervous. Sobering, Destorie glanced back towards the transporter operator. “H’nah,” he said. “We will move quickly to the governor’s office. They know Talon is sending a small team down to ‘assess the situation’ under orders of the Daise’Khre’Riov, but they do na know I am personally coming or that I intend to take the Governor into custody for further questioning. “It is my hope that he will come willingly, but he may resist. If he does I do na want him yy’a, so only disarm him.” “If I may be so, inquisitive rekkhai,” Aelion said. “On what charges are you arresting the governor.” “Suspicion of treason.” Aelion lifted his brows, but said nothing. It was not entirely shocking, and given what had happened in the last week, not unexpected either. Silently, he wondered what role the woman who’d been in their custody had played in all of this. Trion also raised his brows, but was cognitive enough of protocol to quickly hide his own shock. The hteij operator, a young Ne’Arrain whom Destorie had only ever seen running the transporters and whose name escaped him, did her best not to sigh. Why people felt the need to have long, expository conversation in transport room continued to elude her. “I assume, rekkhai,” she said breaking in. “That au will want me to keep a close lock on au, and transport au up as soon as you signal, ie? Should I have a d’heno team on call for that?” “Ie,” Destorie said. “That will be mehnka. “H’nah, hteij-ta’rhae.”

Destorie collapsed onto his couch. Thank Elements that’s over. He thought as he unbuttoned his dress tunic and sighed heavily. The only relief he’d gotten in the last six hours, had been when he’d returned to his quarters to find them blessedly Issaha-free. Sighing he sat up. Enarrain’s Personal Log, he began, I have returned from dinner with the newly installed governor of the planet, tr’Baris, and returned to the Talon. As meetings go, it could have gone worse. In fact, despite my reservations about the man, he seems to be far more apt at political maneuvering than his predecessor -- a fact that should serve him and the Empire well. For whatever I think about the circumstances under which he came to power, the colony needs a leader who can negotiate a settlement with the locals and effectively gain assistance from the military. It is a shame that tr’Darius’ and I did not get along, perhaps had either of us been more flexible this entire affair would have been avoided. I feel certain that the Galae will not be pleased with the involvement of the Othan Fleet in this matter. Luckily their involvement has not compromised Imperial security. I am concerned about an ongoing situation that the Oira has been monitoring regarding unsual sensor activity. It is possible we are tracking additional Othan fleet ships, but it could be something far more nefarious. There is also the matter of the prisoner, t’Rahks. She has said little of actual use, though I feel she is hiding something, and for whatever she might say about her honor, she is clearly a Rihannsu who hold her personal honor, and perhaps those giving her orders, in high regard. I feel as if I am trying to piece together a puzzle with the pieces turned backwards... The chimes rang. Pause recording...

The Imperial Plaza in the capitol city bustled in the late evening. Summer had set in on ch’Rihan, and the warm nights brought out the best (or worst, depending on your point of view) in the capitol. In a small, tucked away open air restaurant on the edge of a fountain park, Colonel Savu N’Dak sipped a glass of wine while listening to the music of a street band. Habits were hard to break, and as much as she tried to focus her mind elsewhere, she couldn’t help but make mental notes about the subversive activities going on around her; like the teenager across the way procuring ale from a merchant illegally, or the young couple behind her who were clearly on a tryst, despite being bonded to other people. Her Tal’Shiar training, she had long decided, was both blessing and curse. She’d be so wrapped up in thought she’d almost missed the fact that her table had been joined by a tall, dark and (if she allowed the thought, which, she noted she didn’t) handsome Rihannsu with steely blue eyes and chiseled features. Chaelon tr’Naierth, her immediate supervisor, smiled thinking he’d managed to sneak up on her -- that was until she addressed him by name without looking over. “You really do now how to pick the best meeting spots,” she said, eyes still wandering. “It really is a rather wonderful night.” He smirked. “I used to come here when I was younger.” “Why do I feel like I am not the first woman you’ve brought here,” she said finally turning to face him with a playful grin. “Does your wife know about this place?” Chaelon smirked wider as the waiter brought him a glass of ale. “Where do you think I met her?” “No wonder you’ve been bonded so long,” she said. “But aren’t you afraid then, she’ll hear about us?” “I told her I was meeting with a female operative. I only lie professionally, not in my personal life.” Savu tipped her head at her superior. That was a novel concept, she thought, considering. Not that she particularly cared if people thought that she and the Sub-director were having an affair. They weren’t. And wouldn’t. Even though, she suspected, he would enjoy it. She didn’t see the need to use that currency to get what she wanted. “I understand your pet project is going to your liking?” Taking a sip of wine, she considered. “I wouldn’t call it a pet project. While I am clearly the main addressee of the benefits, I think we both know the Empire will benefit from its successful conclusion as well.” “All I would remind you,” he said carefully, “is that end the end, the resources we’ve spent had best not been wasted or there will be questions about your actions.” “Is that a threat?” “No,” he said soberly. “Just a friendly warning. I won’t risk my career for yours. I wouldn’t expect anything else from you either.” “There is a reason I respect you.” “I’d hate to think if you didn’t.” And he sincerely meant that. After a lapse in the conversation as they ordered simple meals, Chaelon opened again. “So, tell me, how is the relationship between your brother and the Khre’Riov? It certainly couldn’t have helped that your agent is compromised.” “Better than ever,” she said with a grin. “My sources tell me she’s rather angry with him that he apparently once more refused to take action to support her.” “A happy accident then.” “Yes,” she said. “I didn’t even count on using her to actively drive a wedge between them. I have to admit, I was rather... surprised.” “Mmm,” Chaelon said non-committaly. “So you think t’Rexan continues to distrust your brother?” “I would hope she never really trusted him,” Savu said disdainfully. “He is an opportunistic whore. But yes, from what I’ve gathered, she continues to distrust his motives.” “Hmm. Then it should be interesting to see what happens.” She nodded. “Ie,” she said. “We shall have to see how the web we have weaved unfolds.”

MISSION BRIEF: Talon has taken aboard the body of the late governor and moved slightly away from the planet to investigate a series of anomolies while trying to determine the number of ships Othan has brought with them. In security, we continue to hold several Klingons and the mysterious t'Rahks. 071411.txt

Mission Briefing:: The mining away team has made it down to level 4 and has identified a few more survivors and injured miners and Rihans, while NDak and his party prepare to go speak with one of the local settlements and speak to their leaders about trust, help and such. 052611.txt

The hot air of Dumok’azen tore through the air, the coarse, abrasive sand splattering the unexposed portions of Destorie’s face. As the louder, more assertive native started to explain the basic rules of combat, he stood motionless, his thoughts wandering to the Klingons, the disruptors pointed at his team, and a certain Governor’s aide who’d failed to mention that the natives wanted you to go through a peace-negotiation to meet, and that said same aide, had neglected to even bother to tell them he was coming -- an accidental oversight, of course. Making a note about said aide, Destorie returned to the ‘ritual combat’ that lay before him. He could, of course, scheme a way out of this; of that he had little doubt. He could also ask any one of the D’heno or Koga to fight in his place. That, however, would undoubtedly taint his honor with these savages and if they were going to end this without bloodshed, they needed to respect him. It was clear that they didn’t have the higher brain order functions required to fear him, or at least his position and as much as he wanted to simply wipe them off the face of the planet, doing so would be exceptionally expensive in the long run. Bringing in prison labor was expensive, and the harsh climate meant higher than normal labor turnover (and by turnover, he meant fatalities), it was, afterall, the sole reason these miscreant, sub-Rihans had been allowed to continue to survive. Evolution, it seemed, had a way of working like that. Frowning, at least mentally, he continued to consider his options. Runaway, let someone else do the fighting, or take his chances of losing an undoubtedly rigged fight with a bunch of Klingon asses. Hell, even if he did win, he had very little faith in the natives to keep their word and let he and his team leave. None of those were particularly good options. In fact they all three carried considerable risk to him, the mission, and his crew; yet it was his responsibility to make a decision. It was good fortune, he supposed, that he’d brought a medic with him. In a fair fight, he felt confident that he or Koga could win a fair fight against any Klingon. They were both exceptionally skilled in hand to hand combat and had been sparing partners for years; Koga would certainly have an upper hand against the Klingon, but then there was the question of honor. Honor. He almost spat out the word outloud. What kind of honor did these people know? He’d come offering peace and they’d taken him hostage. They’d colluded with god knew who to attack innocent civilians in the mines and processing plants who were just doing their jobs and now they wanted him to fight what he assumed to be an escaped Klingon prisoner in some sort of ritual gladiatorial contest? Technically these foul, miscreant dwarfs weren’t worthy to challenge him to an honor fight, let alone their escape Klingon pets. By that logic, there was little wrong in sending his ringer, the former Imperial Champion, to fight in his stead. However, he seriously doubted if the locals would see it that way. In fact, he rather assumed they would see it as a sign of cowardice, one he’d not be able to overcome. Bringing his full attention to the present he once more considered his family motto as his countenance hardened and his resolve solidified. The bold endure.

Mission Briefing: The crew of the Talon continues to try to excavate the mine to rescue any surviving workers and Rihannsu guards and try to determine how to protect the other facilities. 051911.txt

Destorie frowned deeply as he materialized aboard the Talon following his meeting with the Governor of Dumok’azen. There was little about this mission he had enjoyed, and none of the parts he had enjoyed involved anything that had transpired since the Talon entered orbit of the foul, dusty, infested planet. There had been the business with the fighter pilot escaping, then his rather unpleasant initial meeting with the governor, and now there was not only the accident which put his people in harm’s way but the rather annoying situation developing with the governor chief of security. Waving off the salute from the transport officer, who noted that he’d seen much more of N’Dak than he’d ever scene of the Khre’Riov, Destorie skulked off into the hallway that teamed with people beaming down to support the mission on the planet. At the very least, he supposed, his crew had shown themselves to be ready for the mission, springing into action to help on the planet. He hadn’t got a formal report from the planet yet, and that, he was rather sure, would give him another headache but for now he was going to enjoy the small victory of having a semi-competent crew. The incident with tr’Baris still roiled him as he rounded the corner after a short lift ride and tapped in his security code to enter his quarters. The insolence of the man. Talking to him as if he were a disheren. Had it been the first such incident, perhaps it would have been forgotten; however it wasn’t. During their initial meeting, tr’Baris had been rather mouthy and the Governor had sat there and watched it, encouraged it even. Destorie frowned more deeply. He couldn’t place it but there was something about Baris that he did na like. Yet, in spite of his own ego, Destorie knew that the job needed to be completed. He glanced out the window to the planet below, stroking absently at his chin. Even if the cave-in had not been the result of terrorism by the natives, it was only a matter of time before they struck again. The governor was already below his quotas and the extended shut down of one of the mines would increase that pressure even further. None of this was going to end well. Even with the full resources of the Talon, just repairing the damage done to the processing plants would take several weeks and then with the mine collapse, it could extend the mission even longer, all the while the resistance movement would continue to flourish. And to top everything off, there was that tiny detail about the governor killing the leader of the Dumok people. Destorie sighed and walked to his desk, cracking his knuckles before opening the console to begin typing a formal report to the Daise Khre’Riov. -- <<message truncated>> In Summary: The situation is not entirely out of control yet, however I feel that due to a number of factors we are in a very precarious situation. It is clear from our findings that the local populace has been getting support from an outside source, possibly someone on ch’Rihan who could stand to profit from the situation. It is also clear that the governor’s administration is likely compromised, at least to some degree. I have launched an investigation, headed by tr’Valdrin, into the matter though I suspect that individuals within the governor’s staff will not be entirely cooperative to an outsider poking around. While I have no doubts about the ability of my crew to carry out any assigned order to them, I am deeply concerned about the Governor’s staff and frankly the governor himself. I am also concerned that if the situation continues to deteriorate that the natives may become hostile towards the crew of the Talon who are assisting in the repairs of the mining facilities as well as helping to secure them. While I am fully aware that this is the Governor’s jurisdiction and that technically he does have authority in these matters, I would request permission from Galae Command to take a more active role in settling the matter. If we do not bring an end to this conflict soon, it will only get worse, and even once we have repaired the mining operations -- the attacks will only resume once we have left orbit, unless Galae would prefer to station a larger garrison on the planet. It would be my preference to settle the matter without using force, perhaps even negotiating with the locals. However, I would also ask for official authorization to use lethal forces against the natives. While I understand that we would prefer to keep the native workforce in tact, I feel that we should not limit ourselves. To put my request more clearly, I would like for Galae Command to enpower me to carry out my mission. While I believe the Governor to be an honorable man, I feel that he is more interested in jocking for position than allowing me the autonomy I need to carry out the mission. I will continue to update you as to the situation and look forward to a response on my queries for additional information regarding the scope of my authority. Also please note the attached data packet concerning our findings on the moon base.

With his report sent to tr’Varlon, Destorie leaned back against his chair frowning ever more deeply. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the tal’yae board glinting in the starlight as Talon passed into eclipse. Tal’yae, a game similar to human multi-d chess, had long been a staple of the interactions between he and his brother, and in-fact between he and his father. As a young boy, he’d been perhaps too direct in his approach to be a talented player; but as he’d gotten older he’d learn to be more subtle, cunning and devious -- to attack from multiple directions. As he considered the game, a thought occurred to him. Slowly, but surely, a devious, plotting smile crept across his face and he leaned forward opening the console again. -- Governor, Once again thank you for your hospitality earlier. The initial reports from the mine indicate that they have gained access to the first level and relief efforts are underway; additional medical, engineering, and security personnel have transported to the surface to assist. As we discussed this incident may or may not be the work of the local terrorists, however, I believe regardless of the culprit, this situation has given us an opening to explore a peaceful solution to the native unrest. As a third-party with whom they neither have reason to trust or distrust I am in a unique position to open a dialog with the local leaders and attempt to bring resolution to the continued labor unrest. Per our conversation, I believe that in order to fully secure the Galae’s interest in the system, we need to bring the situation to a fountainhead. To that end I would ask for your permission and your facilitation to open negotiations with the local leaders. Thank you for your time and if you require any further assistance the Talon is at your disposal.

Betray is an awfully strong word. :D

Destorie finally rounded the corner and entered his quarters. It was surprisingly quiet – Issaha was likely in either sickbay or science cleaning up the mess after the science “drill” held by tr’Valdrin. A sigh escaped his lips and headed for the couch. Taking off the outer tunic of his uniform, Destorie laid down on the leather upholstered chair. For several minutes he simply laid with his eyes closed, his thoughts racing from subject to subject, worry to worry. Morgana had hit closer to home than perhaps she realized. When he’d been in command of the Talon during the incident in the Gamma Quadrant, confidence had come easily to him because he had no choice but to succeed. Had he failed the crew then, they would either still be stuck in that elements forsaken quadrant or yy’a, but now he did have the option to fail, and if he had his best guess, it would not be by his own doing. Sighing once more and opening his eyes, Destorie sat up. He didn’t have time to rest, or brood. Across the table from him sat a stack of ISD’s with reports for him to review, personnel issues to sign off on, and a dozen or so field reports from other vessels in the area that he needed to familiarize himself with before they arrived. Then there was that other ISD. The one that Morgana had given him in medical. The one he’d yet to even take a glance at. Until now. He’d half expected it to be a report on her erstwhile disheren who’d found himself in some mess with a highly addictive designer drug; he was rather surprised when he found it to contain data entered by t’Rexan. His eyes flickered over the first component, a to-do list. Nothing particularly surprising about it. Notes to make sure certain awards were given out, including his own and those of the senior staff for their efforts in the Gamma Quadrant. There were also various notes about things she needed to take care of with the upcoming union of her house with Var’lon’s. Rather mundane, he considered, curious why Morgana would give him this, given their conversation. He continued looking over the data until he found another set – this time a series of short audio recordings meant to be downloaded to her personal log file. He hesitated for a moment, wondering to himself if he should listen to them or not. They were her personal logs, and had she meant for him to hear them she would have given them to her. On the other hand, Morgana had clearly felt he needed to listen to them. How had she gotten them anyway? Placing the ISD on the table, he stood and made his way to the cabinet on the wall. Opening the door he removed a bottle of wine and poured himself a glass before returning to the couch. Taking a deep breath, and then a healthy sip, he activated the voice recording. The first two recordings were relatively short, he thought, more of mental notes to herself than anything of interest. Then the third recording began. He took another deep drink and listened as she talked about her relationship with tr’Vatrix. Part of Destorie did want to be happy for her, he really did. In the seven years he’d known the woman, he’d never really thought about her beyond their professional relationship, but he did know that she’d long mourned her husband and her child and he doubted she’d had any real opportunity to enjoy herself for many years. As she discussed her own freedom from her past, he couldn’t help but feel the weight of his own bear down upon him. Were they really that different, he and her? Both had long since given up on ever finding jol again, having lost what they though was their only opportunity, both had dove deep into their careers to hide away their feelings, their emotions and passions. Their guilt. Destorie paused the recording and headed to the cabinet, simply bringing the bottle back with him. As he thought about tr’Rexan and her new bondmate, he considered himself for a long moment. How long had it been since he could say he felt actual jol? Seven, eight years? He’d almost lost count. Sure there had been lovers along the way, the occasional tryst; he’d thought he’d almost felt something for Jaehon, but in the end he let his career fill that void instead – he didn’t even bother to contact Jaehon when they were at ch’Rihan. Pouring his glass full, he resumed the playback. Family? Destorie thought to himself. Though in fairness, he had less of a chance of being double-crossed on the ship than he did with his actual family. He sighed. She really had felt something for the crew. Taking another drink of wine, he considered what he’d berated Sar’vek about, about showing respect and honoring t’Rexan’s wish to include them as part of her so’droz. Perhaps he was overly sour when she’d told them, and he doubted she would understand how he felt – not that she could be blamed. Still, he had offered to host the reception aboard the Talon and had even extended to them a gift of a case of his family’s finest ales. Filling the glass a third time, he listened more intently as her thoughts strayed from the then impending so’droz to a more personal subject. A slight smile crossed his face. Brash, egotistical, swaggering. He thought back to conversations with Morgana about how he’d tried so hard to prove himself, to escape the weight of expectations that he felt often buried beneath. They were expectations he would not wish on anyone, but yet without them he would not be the man he now found himself to be, the man t’Rexan apparently now found him to be. Seven long years he’d spent earning back her trust, proving himself to not only her but to the crew, his family and himself. He paused in his revelry, though, as a familiar subject came up in the recording. Frowning he paused the recording and sat his glass of wine down on the table. She still had not forgiven him for his inactions, he thought. On some level, he considered, it was understandable, but on the other, he felt she misunderstood how he felt. It wasn’t that he was disloyal to her position, and while he certainly respected that, he’d had trouble finding personal loyalty to her. Taking another long drink of wine, he wondered perhaps if that was why Morgana continued to browbeat him. He sighed and set the glass down again. It was more difficult for him than either of them could imagine. t’Rexan had spared his life, that much was true, and she’d given him an opportunity to redeem himself; but he could never completely shake the feeling that she was setting him up. He sighed again, rubbing at the bridge of his nose. Perhaps his biggest difficulty with developing personal loyalty towards her was that he didn’t really know the woman beyond their professional interactions. It wasn’t as if she took him into her confidence about personal issues, instead she preferred to confide in t’Ksa her feelings, not just about her own troubles but about those of the crew. Beyond that, he could not recall a single conversation either of them had ever had that wasn’t about duty. Resuming the replay, he let those thoughts ruminate when something t’Rexan said caught him off guard. The son she never had? He stopped the recording again. “The son she never had?” he repeated. The thought lingered in his head, and for the first time Destorie found himself unsure of his place, and even more unsure of his thoughts.

The cargo bay on deck thirty five sat mostly empty, its contents cleared to other decks. In the center of the room, a small platform had been hastily erected with a three meter pole rising out of it, with ropes hanging ominously from its top; to the left of the platform, two medical officers and a nurse stood anxiously by a hoverbed, checking their med kits, while a technician checked the pole and the ropes once more, running his hands along the pliable material. From the far corner, Destorie N’Dak emerged from the side entrance. His normal confidence seemed missing and the usual rock-steady façade appeared to have softened. Whatever he confessed about delaying in execution to assure that justice was served had to be underscored by his reservations about performing the actual act itself. It had been nearly six years since he’d been then one about to be tied to the post. That day still haunted him, and as he found himself face to face with the reality that he was about to carry out the same punishment on a disheren, he felt searing pain ripple across his back. And though t’Ksa had begun to restore the tissue, slowly but surely, that had formed on his back; he could not help but feel the scars. He looked away and to the empty room, save for the technician and the medical staff. He swallowed hard and exhaled. When it had been his time, when he’d emerged from isolation and into the lighted room where his punishment awaited, he’d been greeted by the entire crew waiting to watch the bloody ordeal. Though he imagined that tr’Vatrix would have approved of such a spectacle, he refused to allow such a circus on his watch. The technician approached. He was an older man, well into his first century. Destorie recognized him as a D’Heno who had once served him on an away mission. Erol tr’Nassal, he recalled. Nassal’s features were hard, not from spite or anger, but from a lifetime of service to the Galae. “Everything is ready, rehhkai. We can begin whenever you’re ready.” Destorie inwardly flinched. He was never going to be ready. “Very well, the quicker we begin the quicker we can be done with this business.” “Ie, rehhkai.” “Bring in the prisoner.” Sar'vek was brought in, flanked by two dheno and wearing a blank expression. She stared up at the pole for a long moment, a pit forming deep in her gut. She looked back to the floor, the reality of the event turning to a rush of panic. She stopped, only to be moved along by the guards without any particular concern. Stopping at the base of the whipping post, she kept her eyes locked to the floor He glanced up to the woman, his eyes taking her in for a long moment, measuring her in totality. After what seemed an eternity, he cleared his throat. “Sar'vek Aljie t'Jhiin,” he said. “You have been charged with willful insubordination and conduct unbecoming of an officer of the Galae. “After a formal review of the charges, as your commanding officer, I have found you be guilty of these acts. Your wanton disregard for protocol and the respect and honor of Daise’Enriov tr’Vatrix and Khre’Riov t’Rexan was unacceptable.” He paused for a moment, clinching his jaw. “As punishment for your acts, you have been demoted to the rank of Erein, the salary for which you will forego for one year. You will be stripped of your title as Daise of science, and you will serve two shifts in addition to your normal shift in waste reclamation and custodial duties as to be determined by the respective daises of those departments. Additionally, you are to be sentenced to thirty-three lashes.” Clearing his throat and tucking his hands behind his back he looked to her. “Do you wish a right of statement?” "Yes," she said, a little surprised at how steady her words were. She kept her gaze lowered, more out of self-preservation than any sense of respect; she knew what story her eyes would tell. "Very well," he said. "You may give your right of statement. Recorders, on." "The accusations of insubordination, she started, quietly, "made against me are specious. I disobeyed no orders from commanding officers; I neglected no duty, nor have I throughout my service in the Galae, as my record shows." She took a deep breath before continuing, as steadily as she could. "The alleged 'insubordination' occurred at what was a private event, and its only relationship to my position as a Galae officer was that it was hosted by Galae personnel who masked their own, personal occasion as a briefing for the crew of the Talon. I also did not disobey orders to remain at this event when so ordered. "As for the charge of misconduct, since it is far more open to interpretation, I will not contest it. However, I will protest the punishment for it. A reduction in rank to Erein," and then her voice tremored, audibly, "and a whipping, and... everything else... is a grave breach of justice for a Galae officer with my record." A well of frustration halting her voice, she finally looked up at N'Dak, her eyes smoldering with hatred and rage. Mixed with that, though, there was something less violent -- something almost like hurt was there, too, beneath the storm of emotion. For a long moment she looked like she wanted to say something else, then she finally looked away, shaking her head slightly. "That's all." He nodded, his expression remaining unchanged. The right of statement was simply that. If she was petitioning for mercy or clemency, he was neither in a position nor a disposition to grant her any further mercy than he'd already done; and though he knew she would never see it his way, and though he hated what he was about to do, he knew that any life she lived now would have been better than the slow death of the prison. "If that is all, let us attend to the punishment. D'heno, prepare her." The two D'heno lifted her by the arms and carried her forth, steadying her as Nassal secured her to the pole. With a heavy sigh, he finished and nodded to the D'heno to release her. "The bonds will be tight, but believe me, you would rather them be." Reaching to his belt, he unsheathed a small kaleh, placing it to the back of her tunic and begun slicing the back of it open, revealing her bare back. He sheathed it before producing a small leather strap. "It is my duty to offer you the bit so you do not bite your tongue off," he said soberly. "You would be wise to take it." She stared at it for a moment, feeling tears welling up. Ashamed, she closed her eyes, hoping they would not fall. "Hanny'yo," she said quietly, then paused, glancing up at him again before he put it in place. "N'Dak?" "Yes?" "I'm sorry," she said, so softly that no one else could hear. "I'm so sorry." His jar hardened and fought back his own emotions. "As am I," he said before pulling back. "Master at arms, let us get this buisness taken care of." The master at arms approached, reverently with a long, slinder whip. Destorie took it in his hands, and it felt as if weighed more than densest stars. For a moment he was unsure if he could wield it. He took a deep breath. "May the Elements have mercy on you you..." -- As the last crack of the whip sounded and the thirty-third lash fell upon the back his mark, Destorie felt a great weight pressing down upon him. For the all the emotions he felt before, during the whole event he'd been almost mechanical in his precision; blocking out everything but the thought of completing the task. "It is done," he finally said. "Let the record show that Sar'vek t'Jhiin has endured the proscribed thirty-three lashes. End recording." He motioned to Nassal to cut her down and for the medical staff to attend to the wounds on her back, though he knew they would never be fully healed. She had long before lost count; the stop was an unexpected, if welcome, shock. Teetering on the edge of conscious (a fact she distantly noted with both some pride and regret; not suffering through the entire ordeal might have been... preferable), she slumped to the ground. Consumed by the burning agony of the lash, she curled on her side. "No more," she begged, bordering on incoherent (and unintelligible). "Please, no more." Nassal quickly took her down and the medical staff swarmed her up and onto the biobed, discussing her treatment. Ahelen t'Laehen looked over to N'Dak, "How much medical attention are we to give her?" Destorie blinked for a moment, a grimace crossing his face as his own vague memories of being cut down rushed through his mind. "She is to be given proper care, see to it that she receives proper treatment." t'Laehen nodded. "Ie," she said, "as au wish." That surprised Sar'vek; she lifted her head slightly from the grav-stretcher. Even that was unbearably painful. "Thank you," she whispered to Destorie, hoarsely, not recognizing her own voice.

The Talon hummed along as it headed for the Dumok’azen system on the edge of Romulan space. In the chambers just of the Oira, the new commanding officer of the Talon, Destorie N’Dak sat brooding. He had intercepted a message meant for the executive officer from tr’Vatrix and it had, as the saying went, gone over like a ton of bricks. Whatever the history between himself and t’Rexan had been, the new found interest her jol had taken in the meddling of affairs aboard the Talon had proved to be rather bothersome. On some level, it was almost touching that he cared so much for her, but on another level, it was incredibly childish that he continued to abuse his authority to assuage her pride, and to some degree his own. Of course this was nothing entirely new from the man; when Destorie had first been elevated to Daise’Erei’Riov it had been a meddling tr’Vatrix who’d threatened his life if anything had happened to tr’Rexan. And again he continued to threaten him. Destorie sighed deeply; and t’Rexan wondered why he’d so seriously considered leaving the Talon when the offer had been put before him? He was tired of the threats. He was tired of the manipulation. He was tired of the micromanagement. If tr’Vatrix wanted to come ‘lay down the law,’ Destorie was ready to tell him to come right ahead, and send along his resignation notice in the process. He was the son of a powerful house with allies in key positions in the political sphere and within the Galae itself and regardless of how powerful tr’Vatirx thought himself to be, he could not stop him from leaving ; perhaps ending his Galae career, yes but that wouldn’t be forever. Sighing once more, Destorie glanced back to the communiqué. The arrogance of the man was astounding, and his attempts to instill fear were even more pathetic. Destorie, frankly, did not care if he interrupted his so’droz to come be an ass or not. If he did, that was his choice, and if t’Rexan let him, then she was equally culpable. He had gone along with this entire fracas in the first place because he felt that by speaking out of turn and in the manner that she had, that t’Jhiin had violated the scared right of Mnhei’sahe. Regardless of whether or not any of the crew wanted to be there, the station which t’Rexan and tr’Vatrix held demanded respect from their social and military inferiors and the fact that they had chosen to share that moment with the crew was even more impetus to honor them and that moment; yet in their response they had not exactly been honorable themselves. Perhaps he should have taken the position at Galae Command. At this point he did na know, what he did know was that he was tired of the games that verrul tr’Vatrix kept playing. If he wanted him gone, and he was so powerful, then do it. Make your power play, but stop acting like a child. With a shake of his head he turned his attention back to the actual matter at hand. It had been ten days and in truth he had been delaying in the execution of the punishment; but not in some attempt to show the veruul t’Jhiin mercy. Instead, he’d spent it examining the facts of the case and looking into the implications from tr’Vatrix that he was not sure she hadn’t been a part of the mutiny. Destorie was sick of hearing about that blasted mutiny. It had been an exceptionally difficult and trying time for everyone aboard the ship, and one that should have gone away already; yet like a Fenivian Slime Slug, it managed to somehow resurrect itself with but the slightest drip of blood. He had opened all the records he had access too, including the full testimonies of the crewman and had looked into her own logs, communications and access records – all to find nothing particularly interesting or new. There was no new ground breaking find that tied her to the mutiny, nothing that showed she was particularly culpable. In fact, the only piece of evidence that even possibly could be construed was her actions during the stabbing of t’Rexan and that, he made sure to note, was all from the perspective of t’Aehjae who had spent the entire time caterwauling and nearly got herself executed. What did tr’Vatrix want? For everyone to take a bullet to the heart for the woman? If that’s what he thought was required of an officer, he was going to be sadly mistaken, especially, Destorie considered, if one was ever hurtling towards tr’Vatrix. Having found no new groundbreaking evidence to tie t’Jhiin to the mutiny, he had cleared that charge from her record again, noting that no credible evidence existed to even begin to question her loyalty to the Talon or the Empire. Personal loyalty, he went on to note in the file, was not a matter subject to the jurisdiction of the Galae and that even if she did not personally care for the Khre’Riov, which alone was insufficient evidence to show she’d ever acted on those feelings. With that done, he’d then set about gathering the evidence to support the insubordination charge. If tr’Vatrix wanted justice, he would get it, but Destorie had long vowed to follow the order of the law and regulations of the Galae; and while he did intend to send a message to the crew, that message was not that he would be a brutal dictator, but a just one who would not tolerate behavior outside of those regulations. That was important to him, and if wasn’t to tr’Vatrix, then it would be he who would have to explain himself to a tribunal for abuse of his power. Of course the insubordination charge was easy enough to substantiate, and Destorie had found sufficient evidence to warrant it. Now he just had to carry out sentencing. He glanced to the chrono on the wall and exhaled again before looking back to the communiqué. “Very well,” he said outloud. “You shall have your pound of flesh.”

The lift deposited Destorie N'Dak near Sar'vek t'Jhiin's quarters. He stopped outside the door and glanced to the D'heno flanking either and gave them a quick nod. He took a deep breath and then tapped the bell. A few moments later, the door opened. She looked a bit worse for the wear, but had a bit of time to recover from her experience in Vkai'l prison -- and the maenak's attention had na hurt, either. "Shaoi kon," she said quietly, crossing her arms. On io hand, after having been 'escorted' by his guard, she was unsurprised to find him here; on the other, she was rather hoping to avoid this particular confrontation to get her explanations. "I am pleased to see au alive," he said flatly. "H'nah we should speak privately." "As au wish." She nodded gravely, stepping back from the door to let him pass. She didn't say more, trying to keep from letting her anger directed at him safely submerged. Until she had arrived back on the ship, her malice had been turned only to the Khre'Riov and her new jol, but h'nah that the other, only slightly less guilty cause of her near-imprisonment was at hand, a near- "I will not make this long," he said. "I have many duties and au are going to need au strength." For Destorie, none of this came easily. He didn't like being the executioner any more than he liked being jury. Yet, he knew his job and he knew what must be done. He steeled himself as he stood watching her, taking her in. "Say what au will," she said quietly, though it had an edge to it. "I have na idea what is going on, but I have na doubt that au have a heavy hand in it." "This is not a discussion, t'Jhiin," he said equally sharp. "Au have commited a most serious breach of protocol and regulation, and did so at the worst possible time." "I know what I have done, Enarrain. I would like to know things I do na already." She paused. "If au would na mind. Rekkhai." Destorie sighed. "Au have really gotten auself in trouble this time. Io of these days au will learn to keep that mouth of aurs shut!" For once, she said nothing, gazing at him with an expression that said more than she possibly could have in words -- with or without the threat of further punishment for what she said. "For the charge of gross insubordination towards to flag officers, au will face severe punishment, but it will be better this way than what awaited au at Vkai'l." "In au's opinion," she spat. "And I still do na know why I was removed from there." She gave him a humorless smirk. "I had na even been assigned my... quarters yet." "I know Vkai'l," he said soberly. "And I know au. You'd be yy'a by tommorow." He sighed and looked out the window before bringing his gaze back upon her. She'd been nothing but trouble --self-made-- since she'd arrived, and he wandered if this was how t'Rexan had once felt about him. "I would have been fine," she fired back, crossing her arms over her -- healing -- ribs without grimacing -- barely. The bruises were already set to healing as well; she would have preferred them gone before this little conversation, but na matter. "They were worthless dregs. I would have had them in line in a week." "Always the proud one," he said with another heavy sigh. "Perhaps we can work that out of au." "Perhaps au ought to say what au came here to say, N'Dak," she retorted, "before I manage to get myself sent back there." She gave him a smile with no sweetness behind it. "Fhaen." Without emotion, but with force, his hand smacked against her mouth. "Ihlla'nh!" Her hand flying to her mouth, she staggered a step back from him. "Au..." she hissed, stopping herself with sheer force from saying more and only glaring up at him. "Ie," he said, his voice planted firmly in his chest. "Au will learn when to keep au mouth shut. I do na wish to make this any more unpleasant than it has to be, but au will learn it." She rubbed at her jaw another moment, finally speaking. "If au had me dragged back here to personally avenge au's newly-earned honor as Enarrain," she drawled, fury blazing, "au can send me right back." His hand again struck her down. "Au, Erein, were not granted permission to speak freely. This is na courtesy call." "Erein?" she spat back at him. "For hell's sakes. Tell me what other surprises au have for me, Rekkhai." The anger burned in her worse than the pain -- either from the prison or N'Dak's blows. "Stop playing with me and tell me." "Au are to be reduced in rank to Erein, and you will forfeit a year's salary, which will be donated to a charity of my choosing. "Additionally au will serve under Issaha as a disheren in science, on the off-shifts au will serve a shift in both the waste reclamation and custodial units. Au will have io shift off, where au will be confined to quarters suiting of au new rank." "Au must be joking," she said in utter disbelief. "Au's brother is na more fit to lead a department than any of the trash back at Vkai'l!" Her jaw tightened. "I'd y'ya before I took an order from that... that..." His glare focused on her. "I am not finished." She actually laughed at that. "Oh, do go on, Enarrain. What else have au thought up for me. Perhaps au would like me to go outside for a few hours every shift and breathe vacuum, hmm?" His hand struck her in the mouth again. "Au will learn to control that mouth, so help me. And perhaps we will have to beat it out of you. The opportunity will certainly arise." Her blood chilled, as did her voice. "What do au mean by that?" Any reservations about what he was doing had started to fade and he remained steeled as he looked into her eyes, meeting her gaze. "That in addition to being stripped of rank and title, being confined to quarters fitting au new rank when au are na on duty in io of three places au now serve, that au will endure fifty lashes of the whip." She had no words. The hate and contempt in her eyes turned to fear, and she straightened slightly. "Na, na, fhaen," she pleaded, biting on her lower lip. "I... I will serve as many shifts as au want, but..." She stopped, holding out no hope of mercy, looking away. Destorie was capable of mercy, and in his deeper recesses, wanted to grant it. He loathed the whip. The very mention of it caused his back to ache, and he wasn't fully certain he could physically perform the act, but he knew what had to be done. "I am sorry, t'Jhiin, but au must learn au lesson, and apparently this is what it has come to. Au should know that I am reluctant to use such punishments, but it seems the only suitable option." "Au are na sorry at all," she hissed. "How can au stand there and throw that in, along with everything else. If au were sorry..." She stopped again, looking directly at him again eyes filled with utter, scorching hate -- and nearly brimming with tears. "Hanny'yo for informing me," she bit out. He headed for the door but stopped short. "One can be sorry, but know that it is the only course of action available. I am sure you will not thank me, and I don't expect you too; but you will live this way. "Also," he said, still at the threshold, "for now you may remain in these quarters until your punishment is carried out. I suggest you spend this time resting and preparing auself. It is a taxing ordeal that au are about to begin. I only hope that au can learn from this and grow as a Rihannsu. Au are marked, and it will take much time for au to recover au honor." "Save au's hopes," she snapped. "And I will never thank au -- if au think that a favor, then think again," she snapped. "I'd rather be y'ya in Vkai'l than half-y'ya and humiliated by au, here." He shook his head and reached for his kaleh; unsheathing it, he placed it on a nearby table. "Here is a kaleh," he said tersely. "if au wish to yy'a." And with that, he shook his head and headed out the door, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

The observation lounge doors flew open again, causing Destorie to looked , fairly certain that he should have killed himself as opposed to getting out of bed. His eyes met with those of his brother, who seemed rather unsettled. “Sheuji!” Issaha exclaimed, looking directly at his brother, hands on hips. “What are you doing!” Blinking, Destorie shook his head. “What do you mean what am I doing? I am sitting in the observation lounge being contemplative.” “Contemplative?!” “Ie.” “How can au just sit there and do nothing!” “It’s rather easy, Issaha.” Issaha glowered. “Do na be condescending, Sheuji.” Souring, Destorie turned in his seat to face his brother. “Is there a particular reason Aejol that are au are referring to me by that name?” “Because it’s the only way to get au attention, veruul.” Destorie blinked again. This was Issaha, right? “Speak plainly then, Aejol; what is it that au have seen fit to interrupt me for and harass me over?” “t’Jhiin,” Issaha said. “Are au just going to let them do this to her?” Destorie simply stared at his brother. “First, au are way out of line, Arrain. Second, I have orders. Third, how do au even know about that?” “I was there when au thug showed up to haul her off to prison!” Destorie rose from his seat, glaring at Issaha. “That is enough!” Issaha didn’t back down. “How can au let them do this? You’re missing a perfect opportunity!” “Iss… what?” “Clearly they don’t trust au to carry out justice.” “What are you talking about?” “This is an opportunity Sheuji!” Had he entered the twilight realm? “What?” “Call tr’Vatrix and offer to deal with her yourself, it will show au loyalty.” Destorie blinked, repeatedly. Finally he cracked a smile. “Aejol, after all these years, au really are an N’Dak!” Issaha smiled. “Of course. I only want what’s best for the family, and this is the perfect opportunity to prove au loyalty to them.” “What better wedding gift can I give them?”

The air in the observation lounge hung thick with anger, disappointment and frustration. The short, dark-eyed newly promoted Rihanssu had barely had time to celebrate his promotion before something terrible had happened. There they’d been, watching Daise’Enriov tr’Vaxtrix and t’Rexan celebrate their So’droz, when io of the crew – io of the senior staff no less made a scene. Na, he thought. A scene was too mild a word for what had transpired in the observation lounge. A disaster. A calamity. A tragedy. Ie, all of those words rolled into one. How could t’Jhiin have been so… so… careless? He sighed and glanced to the mug of strong coffee on the desk and put it to his lips. So this was his first test of command? Hell of a way to start a mission. He didn’t even know where to begin. The little stunt in the conference room had gone far beyond being covered by a simple reprimand, or a note in her file. Na, what she’d done classified as high insubordination; and he was na entirely sure that a demotion even qualified as proper punishment, given the fallout this incident was going to cause, not only for himself but the entire crew. Putting the coffee mug back on the desk, he stood and walked towards the window, starring out into the darkness of space as the Talon hung in the air, awaiting his orders. He exhaled and leaned his head against the window. He’d had the veruul confined to her quarters until he decided what to do with her, and for now, that seemed a good idea – though perhaps he should have sent her to the br’tehh instead. As stray thoughts and worries coalesced in his head, his t’liss chirped to life, startling him. After regaining his composure, he tapped it. “N’Dak here.” “Enarrain,” came the soft voice of the beta shift operations officer. “I have a messenger from Daise’Enriov tr’Vatirx.” Destorie swallowed hard before responding. “Very well, send him in.” “Ssuajha’,” the operations officer said. As Destorie turned towards the doors, a lithe, dark-haired d’heno he’d recognized as io of tr’Vatrix’s personal guards entered flanked on either side by two more d’heno. “Jolan tru, Ennarain,” the lithe officer said. “The Daise’Enriov has asked me to give you this.” The officer produced an ISD. “Elements,” he said reading it. “That makes that easier.” He finished and laid the ISD on the table top. For a few moments he simply sat in his chair. To be entirely honest, he wasn’t sure if he should be happy or not. On one hand, it made his part easier. Now he had orders in hand and didn’t have to weigh the consequences of his own decisions, on the otherhand it was clear that tr’Vatrix and t’Rexan didn’t trust him to make decisions about his own personnel aboard the Talon. If the issue were anything less than what it was, he likely would have fought them simply to make the point that he was in command of the ship, but unlike some people – he knew when to pick his battles. “Well then, I expect au will do this quickly. We will be waiting in the h’tejj for her. See to it that she is brought there expediently.” Before Destorie could remind the young officer that he didn’t take orders from him, the young Rihan had disappeared out the door with his guard in tow. Destorie tapped his t’Liss again to call his personal guard Aelion tr’Saeol to report to the observation lounge. A few moments later and the raven-haired, green-eyed Aelion appeared. “Jolan tru,” Destorie said. “I would offer au to sit, but this is na the time for pleasentries.” Aelion nodded and stood at an easy attention. “Of course, rehhkai. What is it that au wanted to speak to me about?” “I need au to handle something for me that I do na trust the Daise’D’Heno to handle on her own.” Aelion nodded again. He had served under the now Enarrain N’Dak for nearly the entire time the young man had been aboard the Talon, first as a disheren in D’heno and then as his personal guard as executive officer. Though he found Destorie to be brash, arrogant, and occasionally wreckless – Aelion knew a rising star when he saw one and had deftly attached himself to the young Rihannsu; and despite the occasional bump in the road, had benefited greatly. “Of course,” he said. “Whatever you require.” Destorie nodded. He was well aware that Aelion served him to gain power and that his loyalty was bought, but he also knew that meant he wouldn’t cross him, either – least he be knocked off his lofty perch that had been given to him. “Take another member of the D’heno with au and go to Erei’Riov t’Jhiin’s quarters. Au can inform the guards that she is being relocated on my authority.” Word of the incident had traveled quickly and Aeilion lifted his brows. “And then au want me to dispose of her.” Destorie tipped his head. “While that would be most satisfying, na. I have orders from the Daise’Enriov that she is to be taken by three of his personal guard where she will be transferred to Vikr’l Prison on ch’Rihan. She is, effective as of this time, stripped of rank. She will remain in custody until such time as the Daise’Enriov sees fit on charges of insubordination and conspiracy to mutiny.” Aelion blinked but quickly regained his composure. “As au wish. I will see to it immediately. Where do I meet tr’Vatrix’s people?” “They will be waiting for her in the h’tejj.” “Of course.” Aelion tipped his head and moved towards the door. He stopped just short of the threshold and turned towards Destorie. “Rehhkai?” Looking over, Destorie nodded. “Ie?” “Perhaps au would wish to accompany me, seeing as she is a senior officer – or was, na?” Destorie shook his head. “Na. That veruul is na worthy of my appearance. She has forfeited all honor and deserves to be treated like the fvai she behaves like.” “Very well.” With that, Destorie found himself alone and with an even more uncomfortable conclusion: Issaha was about to become the Daise science officer.

“The oira reported that a t'Liss was acting up and she took an armed guard down to go look for it? And didn't bother to tell any of this to me?” “I do na know. Au would have to ask her.” N’Dak and t’Ksa continued their conversation in Daise’Maenak’s office. Both of officers were clearly agitated over the present situation, albeit it for two completely different reasons. While Morgana continued to wear a hole in the floor decking with her uneasy pacing, Destorie shook his head and frowned, “Io of these days I will train that woman to proper procedures. Io of these days.” Morgana opened her mouth to comment on that, but at the last moment she thought better of it. Aggravating the Daise’Erei’Riov with snide remarks was not going to solve this newest dilemma. “I apologize rekkhai, but this....this...this...has me more than a bit anxious. This is na like my dishern. Or at least what I know of him.” She paused her pacing. “Perhaps I am na the best judge of character considering the last io I had. But still.” She frowned again. t’Ksa generally did na form judgments against crew members until they did something to warrant negative attention. Even then she usually gave them the benefit of the doubt. Usually. He softened and waved a hand, “Na. I trust au instincts and whatever au decide as his physician and daise I will au support.” “He keeps saying ‘they’ did this to him. And that someone questioned him about the nanogenes.” She frowned. N’Dak lifted an eyebrow, “Perhaps he is confused, na? I have heard the drug can cause well... au know its effects better than me.” t’Ksa hesitated, “True. And we were questioned as a team before being granted leave.” Morgana sat on the edge of her desk, chewing on her thumbnail as she contemplated both the influence the drug had on tr’Radaik’s mind and her own obvious overreaction to what was most likely a hallucination, “By fire this is a mess.” He frowned “I will have to speak with t'Aehjae and get the facts from here; but until such time we are going to do this by the numbers. He was on leave, was he na?” “Ie” She nodded. “Then what he does on his own time is his business. I am not going to start monitoring what quii of au do rhae au time off. I will let au deal with the specific medical ramifications and as his daise au will also be responsible for any professional issues that arise.” “He has na disciplinary actions logged against him, his conduct and work performance has been exemplary until this incident. As long as I find na other evidence of deceit or substance abuse while on duty, then I would like him to remain on the ship. My staff will work with him on detoxifying his shoreleave adventure.” She raised a brow, hoping this would be acceptable. She did na want to destroy the young maenak’s career for a shoreleave indiscretion. Elements, she prayed this was only an isolated incident. “As au wish.” “Hann'yyo. I appreciate the leeway au are giving me. And for getting the verrul's attention there.” t’Ksa felt a bit calmer, although she still had some niggling doubts eating away at her resolve. “Is there anything else au need from me? I know au will wish to have more information from tr'Radiak but that might have to wait until the drug has left his system. But if there is anything further au need?” “I do na believe so.” He smiled and put a hand on her shoulder, “I trust au, t'Ksa.” Morgana gave him a dubious look, “Maybe I need to work on my Maenak Evil persona some more. All this trust is a heavy burden.” Her doubtful expression faded into a smile, sounding quite sincere as she responded to his kindness, “Hann'yyo rekkhai.” He smiled again, “You have always shown me great kindness Morgana, it has na been lost on me.” “Now au are pushing it.” She teased, but did blush at the complement. It took some self control na to look pleased. She started back towards her desk chair, but then paused for a moment as another thought occurred to her. “Io other thing while au are here. Galae Medical has requested t'Temmar's medical file. My nurse has forwarded it down, but I have na yet had a chance to find out what is going on.” She motioned to the other room. “As I currently have my hands full with Etre Verrul out there.” He frowned, “I just got back from her hospital room. She is stable, but they do na know if she will recover.” “What happened?” “She tried to kill herself.” He answered flatly, “Apparently she was performing the ritual to regain her honor, but was found before it could be completed.” She stood frozen by her desk, na saying anything for a moment. She found her voice again, she spoke softly, “I'm na sure what to say. Does any io else know about this?” “Na. We've kept it as quiet as possible.” “ ‘We've’ “ She quoted him. “I assume that means t'Rexan is aware then.” She tiled her head, “I will follow au's lead on this io. If au wish me to keep this quiet, I will do so.” He nodded, “Ie. t'Rexan has been fully briefed.” “As if au do na all ready have au's hands full, now au have me and my department's drama.” She flashed a wry smile. “Keep me posted on t’Temmar. And I will keep au posted on tr’Radaik.” He sighed, despite himself, “I think if everything was na going to hell in the handbasket, I'd be worried.” t’Ksa barked out a laugh. “Welcome to Talon!”

Destorie’s flitter hovered above the sprawling hospital complex while he waited for the approval to land. He hadn’t been prepared for how emotional the situation had made him, let alone the anxiety he would feel as his flitter finally began to descend to the flitterpad. Settling on the pad with a gentle burst from the retrothrusters, he was quickly out of the canopy and making his way towards the central green glass tower where his chief engineer was clinging to her life after apparently burying her own kaleh into her stomach. Showing his Galae credentials, he quickly moved through security and onto a lift carrying him to the critical condition ward. The nurse at the counter had given him a rather strange look when he asked if anyone had been to see her, like that she was surprised anyone would and that brought even more concern to him. The hospital itself was fairly unsettling; Destorie had never liked them. He’d heard that the Lloann’na tried to make their hospitals feel inviting and welcoming, but the Rihannsu never bothered with such pretenses. They were, like this one, cold, antiseptic and altogether dreary. As a young boy he’d spent several weeks inside one of the better ios on ch’Rihan when he’d came down with pneumonia, and ever since had preferred to stay out of them whenever possible; of course the irony there was that over the last five years of his life, he’d logged more hours in Talon’s sickbay than he cared to remember, perhaps more than just about anyone else on the ship. Stopping outside the door, he craned his neck to see into the room. It was quiet; only the machines provided ambiance, and not even a nurse was attending in the room. He glanced across the hall to where a nurse sat behind a counter with several monitors. “Hello,” he said. “I am here to see Laehval t’Temarr. Is she expecting anyone, or her doctors?” “Na,” the nurse said after glancing towards a chart. “She is na due for another visit from the doctors till this evening. And na, na io has even came to see her yet. Au are the first.” He lifted his brow. “Have au na notified the family then?” She looked a little confused, just like the nurse at the front desk had been. “Family?” “Ie, she has them au know.” He thought that sounded a bit incredulous, but he couldn’t help it. Shaking his head and making a mea culpa motion with his hands he sighed. “She is house S’Temarr surely that was in her records?” “Na,” she said. “I was there when they admitted her. We could find na record of her family. I can show au the records auself if au wish.” “Na,” he said distantly. “That will na be required. I will handle it myself once I am done. I assume her status has na changed since the update to my ship?” The nurse shook her head. “Ie, na changes. She is stable, but is on life support and a feeding tube. The doctor thinks she could recover but…” He held a hand up. “Ie,” he said. “I read the report. They are unsure if there was any permanent brain damage.” The nurse nodded, then added softly, “Did au know her then?” “Ie,” he said. “I am her executive officer.” She nodded. “A friend then?” Destorie glanced back towards the room where Laehval lay on a biobed, somewhere between life and death. A friend? He wasn’t entirely sure how to even respond to that question. In nearly seven years he’d been aboard Talon he and Laehval had their share of difficulties, but they’d also grown close over the years and he thought he’d come to know her fairly well; on the other hand the events during and after the mutiny had caused him to question his knowledge of Laehval – and then there was this. He knew that she’d been upset, but he’d neglected to go check on her before leave, deferring to her famous need for privacy. Now, with her nearly dead – at her own hands – he found himself questioning the wisdom in leaving people to their own devices. “Ie,” he said finally. “Or as close to io as she has.” “Good,” the nurse said. “She could use one I think.” Destorie lifed a brow. “Oh?” “Ie. While I understand it, I have never fully approved of those who choose to take their own life to save their ‘honor,’” the nurse said with a clearly disapproving scowl. “It seems strange to me to feel that au have ever came to a place where au think au can never regain au honor.” “Perhaps,” Destorie said distantly. “But hopefully h’nah that elements have spared her, they will allow her that opportunity.” “Let us hope.” Destorie nodded again to the nurse before making his way into the room. It was strange to see her there in such a position. As long as he’d known the woman, he’d thought of her as an immovable object, brimming with confidence; yet here she was laying in a biobed in a non-descript hospital with a self-inflicted wound – an attempt to save an honor he wasn’t sure she’d ever lost. For Destorie, the notion of killing oneself to preserve ones honor was close at hand. His name sake, Daise’Enriov Destorie N’Dak had committed such an act after his forces surrendered to the Lloann’na at the end of their war some two hundred years before; an act that had preserved the families honor, but had left a legacy for which he would always be compared. He too had also considered the act both when he’d been captured by the Lloann’na ship Arcadia and again after the events that followed his return. He decided then that he still had much of his honor and could regain it, but the truth had been he couldn’t bring himself to actually go through with the act. In some ways, he now admired the strength of t’Temarr’s resolve more than ever, even if he questioned her actions. Exhaling and stepping more fully into the room. He pulled a chair to her side and sat down. -- He left the hospital aboard his flitter feeling almost the same as when he’d arrived. He was torn between his own feelings and inadequacies; his need and feelings for Laehval (both professional and collegial); and an overwhelming feeling of guilt. On to top of that he couldn’t shake the exchange with the nurse about her family. Just what was that about? As he headed back to his family estate in the capitol city, he sent a message to Talon to begin pulling off her files for him as soon as possible. He also tapped out a note to t’Rexan notifying her that as soon as he touched back down he’d be touch with an update on t’Temarr’s status.

The capitol of the Romulan Star Empire was a glittering, glistening parade of lights in the night. Her reflection sparkled on the horizon against the deep purple oceans which it bordered. Among the towering spires of modern construction, the Senate Citadel stood at the heart of the Empire. It was told to every young Rihannsu that not only was that the place the far travel ships had set down upon the Two Worlds and where the new empire was born, but also the location from which the very pulse of the empire originated. On an opposing hill, another citadel stood in the shadows. For as long as anyone could remember, the sprawling complex in the southern portion of the city had inspired both fear and pride. At its center the nineteen story tower Ellae’Sher (Watchful Eye), stood as an ever present reminder of the authority the Tal’Shiar held, and the respect they commanded. From an eleventh story window, a lone figure stared into the night. The eye of the Empire never slept, and in the ambiance she could hear the buzzing of conversations outside her office door. Her eyes drifted across the night sky to the Senate compound. As a young child she had looked out of her window to the opposite view every morning and wondered what the view she now held would be like and what power such a view would grant. As childhood fantasies went, hers had turned out to be rather accurate. A lieutenant colonel in the Tal’Shiar, Savu N’Dak had in many ways eclipsed her elder brother, even though their ranks were roughly equivalent. He served as an executive officer aboard a ship known for getting into trouble more often than not under an infamous commanding officer of dubious character, while she, on the other hand, had risen quickly through the ranks of the Tal’Shiar and now served as commander for a team of operatives underneath the fast-rising and powerful Sub-director of the Internal Security division, Chaelon tr’Naierth, whose star had rapidly ascended following the ascension of his former boss cum Senator Jalon Llhvae to position of power and was by all accounts well on his way to the position of Proconsul and leader of the opposition party Sihhus Lakhraem. Of course, like her brother’s own rise, she did have to attribute some of it to her pedigree, her father has served as lieutenant colonel in the Tal’Shiar before turning to politics, and her great-great aunt had once served as the Director of the Tal’Shiar. In all, her own ambition, competence and connections had given her power and reach beyond the provincial desires of her elder brother. It was that ambition which had brought her to this very point. For all of her accomplishments there was one thing she could never have that her brother had: heir to the power and fortune of the House S’N’Dak. No, for all her objective superiority, his birth order and the preference of both their parents would always keep her in his shadow. Just as she had glanced towards the Ellae’Sher and wondered what the view would be from there, she had ever looked up towards her brother and the privlidges he had and wondered what that power would be like. Soon, she told herself, she would know. For three years she had planned, plotted, schemed and devised a plan to bring him down. She’d tried outright assassination – though she found those crude. When that had failed, she began plotting more devious ways to bring her brother down. That was when a certain member of the Galae had given her an unexpected assist after one his missions went awry (that she of course had nothing to do with) and in no uncertain terms decreed that if anything happened to t’Rexan, Destorie would be held responsible. Two birds with one stone! How lucky could she be? Not lucky enough, apparently. After she’d seen to it that a group of her men were assigned to the Talon for their yearlong mission in the Gamma Quadrant (which was such a dangerous place after all), she’d seen to it that they would arrange for a mutiny to start up at the first opportunity, which knowing how insane t’Rexan and her brother were and how much their crew hated them both (not that she could blame them.) Apparently, that much had all gone off without a hitch. It was the “and make sure you kill that crazy, one-eyed, one-handed witch” that hadn’t. And while apparently the circumstances under which she had lived were more than dubious, Destorie and her were closer than ever. On the other hand, those dubious circumstances had given her another opening to finish off t’Rexan and thusly doom Destorie. Yes. Those dubious circumstances had led certain members of crew to question whether or not t’Rexan was actually alive and real, not some sort of clone. That doubt had created an atmosphere wherein people among the crew were ripe for turning against her and fall right into her hands. One such person was perfect for picking, like a ripe fruit high hanging low on a tree. Fortune, she’d decided, had a funny way of smiling upon her. Though her initial attempts to be rid of her brother had largely failed to produce the desired results (namely him being dead), they had provided opportunities for her to take out more targets along the way. Sar’vek t’Jhiin – or should she call her t’Crahn – provided her yet such another opportunity. Not only did she apparently hate both t’Rexan and her brother with the burning passion of a thousand lovers, but she also provided an opportunity to sting a rival household. House s’Crahn, to which Sar’vek had been bonded into, had long stood as a thorn in the side of house s’N’Dak. They weren’t a primary rival, but they were an annoyance that when the opportunity arose, a proper N’Dak would not miss to thwart them. Sar’vek’s bonding, as it turned out, had not been the love-filled affair like the ios shown on the hologlyphs. Na, na at all. It had ended when her mate, the head of the house, had died under dubious circumstances. Circumstances which publically had been declared ‘natural causes,’ but that privately were known to have been poisoning; and while many wanted him dead, none of the usual suspects proved to have been responsible. The Tal’Shiar, for its part had assumed that whoever did it had done them a favor, but the family had never completely absolved the aforementioned Sar’vek of culpability. They had henceforth spent the years trying to disinherit her from the estate completely, and had taken the opportunity while she was out of the quadrant to deliver their coup de grace. Which set the stage for Savu to kill three birds with one stone; her mother always did say she had an eye for a bargain. Smiling deviously, she turned from the window and glanced towards the young man who’d entered her office. “You’ve made contact then?” “Ie, she made herself available.” “Mehnka… vhri’mehnka.”