Volatile News

[Sorehl 0]

“Ambassador,” he had cautioned mere minutes ago, “this is volatile news for all concerned. I suggest we withdraw to an audience with the admiral at once.”

 

As he escorted Ambassador Ori’na t’Sevik N’Kedre of the Romulan Star Empire through a corridor of the battered starship Excalibur, Captain Sorehl considered the information that had just been revealed to him in Drydock One Control. In the midst of efforts to prepare their flagship for what looked to be its final journey, the ambassador had confronted him to make a startling announcement.

 

“Shortly,” she had indicated, “an Imperial cruiser will dock with Camelot carrying four prisoners bound for the Alpha Quadrant. They are members of the Excalibur crew.”

 

While it was a surprising admission, it was not entirely unexpected. With the fate of the away team unknown, he reasoned, Starfleet might be inclined make another attempt at violating T’Rogoran space. As prisoners, it was wise to move them out of the system. But bring them to Camelot? Sorehl at once recognized the ambassador must be trying to tell him something; he must be careful in his responses if he were to provide her room to reveal it. “I trust you are advising me for a specific reason. May I ask what it is?” he prompted.

 

But such subtleties had been lost on the chief engineer, who had overheard the exchange. Lieutenant Xavier had seemed incensed almost at once, drawing a knife from his uniform.

 

“I am going to arrange for you and Admiral Day to speak with them while they await transport,” she’d managed to say before sensing his threat. N’Kedre had then drawn her own weapon, a dagger concealed beneath her robes. Still, her next statement had been revealing. “If you wish for your friends to live,” she’d cautioned the advancing Xavier, “and for them not to have gone through this ordeal for nothing you back down... or I will kill you.”

 

But the engineer hadn’t backed off. After failing to restrain him, Sorehl had incapacitated Xavier with a neck pinch. While it was distasteful to make such a public correction, Xavier’s failure to heed the order to stand down had compelled it. There would be later consequences for such insubordination, but the fate of the away team required more immediate attention.

 

Sorehl had taken N’Kedre onto Excalibur at once, through the hard-connect to Deck Eight. Officers were already scurrying thought the ship, heeding orders to strip it of essential supplies. The captain and ambassador moved past newly-assigned Ensign Helios, carrying phasers offloaded from the armory, who stepped aside to let them pass. Together, they stepped into a turbolift. “Deck Two,” came the steady Vulcan baritone. They were heading to the senior officer’s quarters, where the admiral had gone to pack his things.

 

His communicator chirped a moment later. “Captain, this is the Control Center,” Lieutenant Commander Corris Sprint reported. “The warbird Night-Terror has taken a berth at Drydock Four, requesting permission for its crew to debark.”

 

Sorehl glanced at N’Kedre before answering, seeing her nod slightly. “Granted,” he responded. “I shall advise Admiral Day directly.”

 

“You don’t have much time,” she observed as the doors opened.

 

He gestured toward out of the lift. “Then we had best make the most of it.”

Edited August 13, 2005 by Sorehl

[Sorehl 0]

An image of the starship Excalibur as seen from the main viewport of Camelot Station Drydock One, the setting of the above log...

Edited August 13, 2005 by Sorehl