The Imperial Shadow

[STSF NDak 0]

Somebody Told Me

 

In his chambers, Destorie N’Dak stewed as he waited for the son of Kroells to be brought to him by his executive officer. In his left hand, he held an ISD (Isolinier Storage Device) that he wished could be chucked out the nearest air lock. But na…he could na, instead he would plow on, doing his duty.

 

On this particular ISD was a particularly heinous order. Ie…order. At his Rank N’Dak was na used to such orders. But that was another matter entirely.

 

At first he had thought the entire matter was some cruel joke by Daise’EnRiov t’Rexan. He and her had never quite got off on the right foot, or hand as it were (not that she could be blamed), and never seemed to get along all that well—although io officer had remarked they bickered like a bonded couple…he did na live long after that.

 

However, his sensibilities told him that despite the woman’s venomous repugnance towards him—she would be as opposed to these orders as he was. And secondly, if it were not a cruel joke, he knew that na Lloann’na had the muscle to twist her arm sufficiently to force her hand…or hook.

 

That said, the order had to have come from someone else with in Galae Command, narrowing the list to a very select few who had the capability of giving him such an order. Retribution will have to wait though...there are more...pressing issues

 

Galae HQ would na force this matter upon him willingly. He had been one of the strongest dissenting voices for any semblance of an officer exchange program, and this was certainly on his list of situations he did not approve of. However, he had now been ordered to take the younger Kroells aboard as his new science officer.

 

Something about this smelled like a wet Kll’inghannsu though. This was na publicity stunt, in fact to his knowledge only a handful of Lloann’na were even aware of Kroells assignment. The fact that the glory-hog Lloann’na weren’t hyping the event had almost immediately set off an internal alarm in N’Dak.

 

He turned in his desk-chair and glanced out the window. Enroute to Pelvin Minor, the Ironclaw whisked along at warp. Pelvin Minor was home to a supply depot that many commanders utilized as they made their way from the boarder to the core systems of the Empire. Destorie thought it would also be an ideal place to drop off the yy’a body of a lloann’na officer if he did not get the answers to his questions, before they headed out on their next mission…a highly classified and highly dangerous hunting expedition.

 

As the Romulan starred off into the starfield, his line of thinking led him to a conclusion. There is only io explanation for this…They are spying on us.

 

The very thought angered N’Dak. He knew the Lloann’na were na to be trusted, and this only added fuel to that fire that burned deep inside him. “A new era of cooperation,” he said sarcastically as he turned back to his desk, scowl ever deepening.

 

But just as he was about type out Order 98, a contingency order that both Galae’s had came up with , apparently, should the worst happen to tr’Spy…err tr’Kreolls…a delicious thought crept into Destorie’s head.

 

“The Lloann’na have made a critical error,” he said to himself with a devilish grin. “They have placed the ball in my court.”

 

Knowing he had a spook aboard, he could control Kroell’s access. He could control what the boy saw, and more importantly he could control what the boy reported back to the pilfering Lloann’na.

 

Never attempt to play the game of spying against those who have mastered the art of deception and espionage.

 

It was at that moment, the knock he’d been waiting for came. Oh, I’ll play along with this futile Lloann’na game, let’s see if they’re willing to go all-in.

 

He slid the ISD into his desk, then adjusted his tunic. “Enter.”

[STSF NDak 0]

Capture

 

Travis watched the Romulans surrounding his shuttle, that was currently trapped in a rather spacious shuttle bay. The crack team of D'Heno formed an artificial ring around the shuttle, all of this being directed by the Ironclaw XO. "Do na yy'a unless we have to...the Enriov wants the th'ann alive."

 

"Lloann'na th'ann," he said addressing the Shuttle, "Come out, unarmed."

 

Jamie smirked behind the controls. "Do you mean, like...weapons, or limbs and all?"

 

The XO growled. "Weapons."

 

A moment later, the shuttle door cracked open, and Jamie appeared, hands in the air, looking around slightly confused. The XO motioned for him to come closer.

 

"Jolan tru to the RES Ironclaw, Lloann'na th'ann."

 

He walked up to him, hands still up. "Now...I know I wasn't speeding..."

 

"Follow me," the XO said cryptically, then looked to the D'Heno. "I can handle him, au re qiuu dismissed."

 

Jamie slowly folded his hands behind his back, not feeling confortable walking through the halls with numb arms, and quickly followed the XO. He led him into a nearby TL, waiting for the Doors to close to say a word. "Oira," he said sharply. "Security Protocal Th'ann'Rhae'Khi"

 

As the lift started up towards the Oira with a hum, he turned to Kroells. Jamie slyly looked over the XO, wondering if he knew he could understand most of what he was saying in Romulan.

 

"Au will learn au place, little io," he said, striking Jamie across the face with a backhand. He then returned to his previous posture.

 

He smiled. "Na from you."

 

The lift stopped and the doors opened onto the Oira, the XO motioned for Jamie to exit first, who quickly stepped off The Oira crew turned to look, but only momentarily as the XO stepped onto the Oira, herding Jamie towards N'Dak's Chamber. As he came to the door, he pressed the button.

 

A few moments latter, N'Dak called out. "Enter."

[STSF NDak 0]

Into the Jaws of the Tiger

 

 

The doors slid open and the XO gave Jamie a push inside. N'Dak looked up from his desk, his infamous death-glare locked on Jamie stumbling. Jamie looked surprised to see N'Dak, but not really all that surprised to see the Commanding Officer, where else were they going to take him?

 

“Hann'yyo Daise'Erei'Riov...leave us.”

 

He bowed respectfully and exited, leaving the junior Kroells and the elder N’Dak alone in the cavernous Chamber. N’Dak recalled a few years ago an all to similar situation with Jamie’s father, but he didn’t let on like the feeling of déjà vu was present. The entire time take his eyes off the Romulan, watching N’Dak’s very movement for some hint of his disposition.

 

“So...another Kroells falls into my lap,” Destorie said with a villainous smirk. “How theatric of the Elements, na?”

 

Jamie could only blink. “If you consider the Federation to be the elements I suppose...” he paused. “I didn't exactly jump at the opportunity to have my shuttle Hijacked in space.”

 

Destorie let the smirk fade, looked away from Jamie and to the screen on his consol, feigning ignorance, and doing it well he continued. “So just what did I do to deserve this little visit?”

 

Jamie sighed, carefully considering his answer. “Destorie, I thought you had at least the slightest bit of respect for me. You know why I'm here, and I'm sure you've already thought of the reasons why too.”

 

N’Dak shook his head, he was uncomfortable with the younger Kroells calling him by his proper name, but it wasn’t the time to make an issue out of it. “I was only told I'd be picking up a Lloann'na'Galae officer,” he said continuing the illusion of his ignorance. “I had na idea they would be sending au to serve as an exchange officer.”

 

“Well, I'm sure you don't need two guesses as why Starfleet sent me.”

 

Musing playfully with his ISD, “Na...I have them right in front of me.”

 

“Au are serving in the Capacity of a Federation Exchange officer to determine the usefulness of the Rihan Galae Rank Structure, and to serve as my new Daise'Science officer...as the last io died...rather tragically...”

 

Playing his hand masterfully, he slid the ISD across the table, not even letting the slightest hint as to what he really knew about Kroells’ true mission and what he planned to do with Kroells show. Meanwhile, Jamie was to distracted trying not to think about how the “the last io died...rather tragically,” to even notice the glimmer in Destorie’s eyes.

 

“H'na...now that au have au orders...” Destorie said, turning his full attention to Jamie. “Let me...elaborate on the coniditons that au will accept...or be returned rhae your Galae...harru a stasis cube...”

 

N'Dak leaned back in his chair, smiling devilishly. Posturing, to him, was a true art form, and one that he considered himself to be a master. Jamie held back...something, having never seen this N'Dak before, hoping that he wouldn't have to deal with this side of him on a regular basis.

 

“First.” Destorie said, his tone rising dramatically. “I am na comfortable with having a Lloann’na around...I find there appearance revolting. So, if I am going to have to look at au on a regular basis on my Oira...au will be cosmetically altered to appear Rihan.”

 

Jamie simply blinked, wondering just how Travis never throttled him in his sleep.

 

“From this point on, until au service rhae the Empire ends,” Destorie put a special dramtic emphasis on the ends part. “...au will be known as Arrain tr'Krol. And only myself, and the Daise'Maenek will be aware of au continued…presence aboard this ship.”

 

Jamie nodded defeated as Destorie stood, placing a hand on his hip and sauntering over to Jamie. “H'Na...stand up and let me look at au...”

 

Jamie slowly stood facing Destorie.

 

He looked him over for a few moments making some mental notes. “Ie...I will look much more handsome as a Rihannsu...”

 

Just as he seemed to be ready to let Jamie out of his talons, or so Jamie thought Destorie spoke again. “Oh...and io more thing,” he said as he placed his hand on his hip Kaleh holster, very carefully and very quickly as not to be noticed.

 

Blinking, “Yes...?”

 

In one quick motion, N’Dak brought out his knife and jabbed it deep into Jamie's chest giving it a slight twist as he pulled it out. “Au are yy'a h'na”

.

Jamie’s eyes bulged, as a sudden gasp of pain, confusion, and betrayal escaped him, as he landed on his knees, grasping to N'Dak weakly, as N’Dak stepped back letting the boy fall, then went back to his terminal.

 

He quickly got the daise'maenek on the line. “Daise...I am about to send au a Lloann'na s'py. I want him to be surgically altered to be a Rihan. And Daise, this is a surgery I wish au to perform...alone.”

 

The Maenek nodded as the communication went out.

 

Next N’Dak tapped his t’Liss. “Report rhae my Chambers...”

 

A few seconds later the XO entered to see Kreolls laying face down in a pool of blood.

“I see au have na lost au touch...”

 

N’Dak smiled...it had felt good to stab the little whelp. “Ie... though I think may have strained a muscle. Take the th'ann to the Maenek, she knows what to do with him.

 

The XO did as he was told, once they were gone, N'Dak smirked to himself as the stars streaked by and he was once again left alone in seclusion. “I suppose it is only fitting I return him to his proper form...”