"Pawn takes Bishop"

[CaptainSDavies 0]

“Pawn takes Bishop”

A Kroells-Davies production.

0505.28

 

Although Davies did not like the transmission he had received from Admiral Puckett, nevertheless, the assignment did have its benefits. Admiral NDak was the head of the Romulan fleet, the prophet and priest of the Romulan Empire. Davies knew that this officer’s exchange would be beneficial, not just for PR’s sake, but for reconnaissance, subterfuge.

 

Before he was to release Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Kroells, he needed to know what happened the first time on board the Ironclaw. This led Davies to pay a special visit to the Chief’s quarters late after duty. Meanwhile the Agincourt continued as plan to the Klingon border.

 

Davies walked down the corridor as Kroells laid on his couch, reading a book, and drifting in and out of consciousness. As Kroells lazily turned another page, Davies breathed in before forcefully ringing the chime. Groggily Kroells replied as Davies entered with calculated steps.

 

“Am I interrupting something?” Davies asked after locating Kroells laying on the couch.

 

Kroells turned his head to see an officer with three more pips that the usual Ensign that came by to banter him about something. He quickly stood up, letting the book fall to the floor. He then straightened his uniform to remove some of the creases that had been made while laying on the couch while saying, “Sorry sir! I wasn’t expecting anyone to stop by…this late!”

 

Davies, feeling the need to put the young officer at ease, waved him off and said, “I’m off duty myself…at ease.”

 

The tension in the room eased as Kroells sighed and tried to relax himself, not used to informal meetings with higher officers. Davies located a chair across the room and proceeded to fetch it and bring it back towards the couch. He turned the chair around so that when he sat down he’d be able to lean into the back of the chair. As Kroells sat back down Davies said to him, “You know why I’m here.”

 

Kroells sighed again and slowly nodded, “Yes…”

 

Davies continued, “Before I even dream of letting you go back there, I need to know what happened the first time. After my dinner discussion with Admiral NDak, I now know that it is clear the Romulans are just buying their time.”

 

Davies waited as Kroells seemed to consider where to start. Kroells replied, “He didn't tell me much. All I have to speculate is that the people that attacked Pax Primus were Tal'Shiar terrorists, and even that is just a guess. The hate in his eyes whenever he spoke about them... makes me think as much. He and my father fought against them for years. Hate like that is not made overnight.”

 

Davies replied, “his is indeed trouble if it turns out to be the case. The Tal'Shiar and the Remans together create quite a rather unholy alliance. And if the Pax Primus massacre was only beginning to their terrorist plans...then we're all in trouble, the alliance especially.”

 

Kroells added, “I have to belive that the Tal'Shiar isn't the band of thugs the Romulan goverment portrays them to be. True, their philosophies are that of thugs, but I think, that the Tal'Shiar has infiltrated far more ships and instillations then the Romulans care to tell us. The Tal'Shiar has become like a cancer to the Empire, one I think they'll will find most difficult to remove.”

 

The truth of this statement rung in Davies’ ears. He felt that the Tal’Shiar more than anything scared the Galae. Then his thoughts drifted over to how a Romulan commander might have to deal with this constant threat, “Do you think then that NDak feels as if he's not even safe on his own vessel?”

 

Kroells considered then answered, “I can't speculate on that... Destorie has always had a mild case of parinoia. I'm sure this Tal'Shiar/Reman threat doesn't help that any.”

 

Davies nodded, “Well they did just finish a civil war.”

 

Kroells replied with a nod of his own, “The war only taught the Tal'Shiar one thing though.”

 

Davies listened as Kroells continued, “They need to devide and conquer. If they couldn't take the Empire on nearly a decade ago, they sure cant due it now. I think they want the treaty to collapse, and have the Federation and the Empire weaken each other. I feel, that they're playing a dangerous game. One far more hazardous then open war. At least then...things were much more clearer.”

 

Davies nodded in agreement. He had thought these exact same things this past week and in a debriefing with Admiral Puckett had stressed these same points. Davies gave Kroells a lot of credit, he had reasoned out the logic behind the Romulans, Galae and Tal’Shiar as well as the Remans. It must have come from his father’s experience with the Romulans as a Federation ambassador to Romulus.

 

Davies reentered the conversation, “The only point that I can see in destroying the array on Pax Primus was to weaken the communication between the Federation and the Romulans. This being the case, I believe that you're in the perfect position to gain valuable information that may be critical to our own preservation.”

 

Kroells nods, “I agree...]personal feelings aside, I would be serving with NDak on his flagship, I'd stand a good chance to learn valuable intel on the situation across the border.”

 

Davies leaned forward pressing his chest into the back of the chair, “The Romulans are very uptight about their internal situations...it's time to get into their heads. I pray that we won't need to use any intel that you might gain, but it will be useful, nevertheless, should things fall to pieces.”

 

Kroells nodded as Davies continued, “Sending a science officer over there looks good as far as PR is concerned. Anyway... just before we cross the border into Klingon space, I want you to take one of the shuttles back to SB 234, where you will be picked up and taken to your assignment. Don’t tell anyone where you’ll be going.”

 

Kroells let the directions run through his mind then asked, “What will be my reason for leaving the Agincourt?”

 

Davies replied knowingly, “Your assistant will receive a message that you have been placed on medical leave, requiring you to return to Starbase 234. I signed off on it...shortly before we named a Chief Medical Officer. It shouldn't raise too many red flags.”

 

Kroells nodded slowly, “Who will know what I'm truely doing then?”

 

Davies leaned back a little, “Unknown...besides myself and Admiral Puckett, and whoever he reports to.”

 

Davies stood up and swung his leg free from the chair as he continued, “Have a good trip...and say hello to your father for me.”

 

Kroells added while he began to make efforts toward getting up, “You know I won’t be able to get anything to the Federation before I come back. If the Romulans even get a feint idea on what I'm doing, you might as well right up that the injuries I sustained led to my death.”

 

Davies placed the chair back where he found it and replied, “ell according to Admiral Puckett, everything has been taken into consideration...even an obituary that glorifies your record.”

 

Davies paused then spoke again, “But let's not let it come to that...do what you can do...the rules of Starfleet don't apply in a situation like this. You're no good dead.”

 

Kroells watched Davies head for the door and as if to assure Davies, “I wont let my actions further endanger relations with the Empire though. I wont let my actions do the opposite of my intentions.”

 

Davies wondered why Kroells with stress something like that to him, but he replied with a smirk and exited.