"Within the Fortress"

[Guest Sar'vek t'Jhiin]

Elsewhere on Psi Velorum...

 

Amongst the dusty backdrop of the desert world, Sar'vek t'Jhiin entered the base command level of the former Tal'Shiar weapons installation, raising a curious eyebrow at her second in command, tr'Kota. "You had something?"

 

He looked up from the flickering panel of the ancient equipment. "Imperial Marines just beamed down to six locations on the planet, lhhei."

 

The former Romulan fleet officer glanced to the panel herself. "And we have na way of monitoring them or their activities, save their movements." She swore quietly, bringing the knuckles of her hand to the metal.

 

Her subordinate and sometime-friend nodded gravely. "At least the sensor baffles installed here should protect us from their sensors," tr'Kota pointed out.

 

"Of course they will." She nodded, assuredly. "And if our 'friends' keep up their end of the bargain, they'll na have any reason to look closer."

 

"They'd better," he muttered, "or we'll have lizard stew for our last meal in freedom."

 

"Surely they will..." Her voice trailed off as she studied the sensor readouts. "Do we know anything about the ships in orbit?"

 

He frowned. "Sar'vek," he said quietly and gently, "the Regent's ship is up there."

 

Her jaw tightened slightly as she stared forward a moment. "Koshic," she paused, stumbling over the second name, "N'Dak's vessel?" She wearily rubbed at her forehead. "Au must be mistaken. The Lord Regent would na be bothered to show interest in something as trivial as tribute being withheld."

 

"Even this equipment can detect that floating weapons platform," tr'Kota spat with a wave of his hand towards the jerry-rigged sensors. "Next to the Soltok, the Imperial Warship is nothing."

 

t'Jhiin clasped her hands behind her back to stay their trembling. "What warship?" she asked, her throat devoid of moisture.

 

He shrugged. "We can't get a lock on its broadcast ID, but it's a Prometheus."

 

She looked down, shaking her head. "I'm na overly familiar with the Prometheus, but undoubtedly they're armed to the teeth like any of their vessels. Manpower wouldn't be an issue for them, either." Her jaw set, she sighed. "We just have to trust in our reptilian associates. But if they do reveal our presence..."

 

Frowning, tr'Kota said, "The question is, will these slaves crack under the pressure? They have little reason to love us."

 

"They fear us. They should, at least, if they have common sense."

 

"They'll fear armed Terrans more."

 

"Weak..." She stopped her tirade, considering the situation rather than the mindless fools they shared the excuse for a planet with. "Even if they do break, what are the odds of them locating this facility? Or of the Terrans even believing their story?"

 

"The Terrans are always willing to believe the worst of us," pointed out tr'Kota.

 

"Of course they are. They still feel inferior. It's a way of compensating."

 

He hesitated to say it, but the obvious point seemed to need making. "They did win."

 

"Au think I do na know that?" she whispered. "Do na patronize me."

 

"I meant no offense, lhhei," he replied. "But it seems unwise to simply dismiss them."

 

Sar'vek did not reply for a moment, instead focused on the slow-moving flickers of light on the monitor. "We'd best begin preparations for the worst. Have all units recalled to base."

 

"Ie, rekk'hai." He snapped to military attention and turned on his heel crisply.

 

"Begin monitoring the two vessels. If they begin any in-depth scans, I wish to be notified immediately."

 

Her second nodded. "Immediately," he confirmed.

 

"Have they conducted any preliminary scans that we've been able to detect?"

 

"Just standard passive sensors," he reported after bending over the monitors for a moment.

 

"Very well, continue with my orders." Not waiting for a reply, the Romulan stalked back up the uneven cement staircase, lost in thought.

 

Not only was their fate in the hands of the planet's reptilian infestation, but also the fate of every one of Sar'vek's fellow oppressed Rihannsu. And if they failed here, there would never be any going back for their kind. It was too much to consider, even too much at times.

 

 

=Romulan Dictionary=

 

ie - yes

lhhei - Ma'am

na - no

rekkhai - Sir

Rihannsu - Romulans