"Eye in the Mirror"

[Col. C.E. Harper 0]

General Tadashi Kimura drummed his fingers on his desk, staring at the glowing red symbol of the Elasian Prefecture. Of course the Lord Regent could take his time replying to even a four-star general, but given that the man had asked for this meeting, he might be a tad more prompt.

 

The Great Eye of Elasia disappeared and the commanding visage of Lord Regent Koshic N'Dak V appeared on the view screen. "General," his voice permeated the room.

 

Kimura straightened up in his chair. "Lord Regent," he replied crisply. "You wished to speak with me?"

 

"Wished implies I am doing this because I want to," Koshic said firmly. "There's nothing I'd rather do less than make this communiqué."

 

"I think I've just been insulted," the general said dryly. "How may I be of service, Regent?"

 

"Don't take it too personally," the Regent quipped quickly. "It's about this stinking Ja'Quian that's called Psi Velorum."

 

Kimura mentally ran through star charts and came up blank. "Never heard of it," he admitted, turning his attention from the Regent to key the name into a search. "Your space or ours?"

 

Waving a hand, "Yours, though it falls under my military jurisdiction as well due to certain... mitigating circumstances...."

 

Looking up sharply, the general frowned. "Romulan border," he said with certainty. "What are the greenbloods up to now?"

 

"I am not entirely sure," he said honestly, "But they're seeding a little rebellion here, and I am about ready to simply get this all over with once and for all..." Coming from the lips of Koshic N'Dak, this was no mere idle expression, but an intent upon which he could easily act upon.

 

A soft beeping called Kimura's attention to the results of his search. Skimming the data quickly, his frown deepened. "It's not a Romulan world? Subjugated... over a century ago by the Romulans. And they still haven't learned to roll over like good slaves?"

 

Frowning, furrowing his brows, "No they haven't. The natives are vile creatures, but very intelligent... we've been here for a few weeks now, and I still haven't figured out exactly what they're up to... but what ever it is... there is some evil at work here General."

 

Eyeing the report, Kimura asked, "There's a flag on our file -- possible archaeological survey? Nothing further noted." He looked back at Koshic. "Must be something big, to get a backwater like that noticed."

 

Thoughtfully stroking at his chin, Koshic leaned back a bit. "Our own reports said something of a possible Iconian ruins."

 

A jolt went through him. "The Demons of Air and Darkness..." he mused, a note of awe and greed creeping into his voice.

 

"There are a great many things about them which my own scientists have studied," Koshic noted. He'd always held a great deal of interest in the Iconians, and kept several artifacts his teams had recovered during the Romulan Wars in his hoard. "If we could recover the ruins..."

 

"You're certain the natives have found something?"

 

Pausing, "No," he finally said. "Though I strongly suspect."

 

Kimura nodded. "Let me see who I have available," he said, calling up the fleet deployment reports. It took only a moment for a name to jump out at him. "Ah. The Agincourt... they've been on routine duties for a few weeks, following a rather... unfortunate incident with some political undesirables. They're bound to be chomping at the bit by now."

 

Tipping his head slightly, "I am unfamiliar with that vessel," Koshic said pointedly. "Anything I should know?"

 

"She's one of our Prometheus-class ships. Solid crew." The general considered what else the Lord Regent might be interested in. "Captain DeChevel commanding," he added. "His first officer is a Marine -- Colonel Harper."

 

The first name was unfamiliar, the second more vaguely. "She was at ch'Rihan, as I recall?"

 

As she'd never let him forget. Kimura bit his tongue before the flippant remark could come out. "Yes, she took the first assault on Ra'tleihfi."

 

"At least there will be someone there who knows how to put down those who stand before us," his voice echoed eerily. "If we can not... solve this problem... I'll be forced to take matters into my own hands."

 

"From the sound of it, it'll be little loss if you do, Lord Regent," the general replied, unconcerned. "But I am reluctant to simply waste potential resources off-hand."

 

Frowning, "In this matter, General, it is in my discretionary powers to determine if that waste is necessary or not, but I will be sure to... consult Governor Kroells." The translation being, he had little intent of consulting the man, he'd make the choices himself.

 

Kimura caught himself drumming his fingers on the desk again, and stopped. "Please do, Lord Regent. It would be... politically inadvisable to leave him out of the loop entirely. Particularly..." He paused, considering.

 

"Particularly?" Koshic's voice spiked slightly, as did an eyebrow.

 

He sighed. "Particularly since the man's son serves on the Agincourt," he admitted.

 

Drawling a deep breath in, "And there is no one else you can assign?"

 

Looking again at the deployment lists, Kimura shook his head. "Not if you want this solved sometime this month."

 

Sighing himself, "They'd better keep him on a short leash, and I pray his genetics are no indication..."

 

"I'm sure DeChevel and Harper can control him." He paused. "And his father is an Imperial governor..."

 

"I'll try not to kill him," Koshic half-joked... or was he.

 

Kimura opted not to enquire into the Regent's sense of humor. "Fleet would appreciate that."

 

"I'd also appreciate the full personnel files of Agincourt, classified and all sent to me before they arrive so that I have time to... know who I am dealing with."

 

Tap-tap-tap went the general's fingers against the desk. Tap-tap. Tap. Finally, he said, "I'll transmit the roster to you now, and the basic personnel records, but I'll have to clear the classified data individually."

 

A brief moment of annoyance crossed his face, "See to it that it is done... promptly, General. N'Dak out." And with that, the large, red eye appeared once more, slowly fading into darkness.

[Kansas_Jones 0]

::leaps on topic::

 

WOO HOO! Pre-log happiness! Bring on the Evil Verse baby! ::gets control of self::

 

Nice one. :D