Into the fire ~ Mission 6

[Deleted]

“We have lost contact with our Starbase in that sector, you will investigate.” The older man said dismissively.Vyaln glared at the screen, she knew she should have ignored this hail, patrolling the borders wasn’t exactly something she enjoyed. “In other words you want us to go and protect the Empires pathetic stick in the mud.”

“It is our stick in the mud Commander, make sure it stays that way.” The comm. Channel abruptly closed, leaving Kreiala to glare at a now blank screen, “Should have killed him too.” She mumbled.

Her computer began to show the information now being sent by her ‘superior’ officers, as it now filled the screen she sighed. Pressing a small console she said. “Vyaln to senior officers assemble in the ward room in ten minutes.”
<Tag All>
Twelve minutes later Vyaln herself strode into the wardroom, She took her seat at the head of the desk her gloved hands holding a data padd. “Well it seems we have a new member in our little band of undesirables.” Her piercing eyes now settled on the new Medical Officer.

“Uhlan H’dean Nanclus do your job well and you will have no problems here.” She smiled slightly. “Fail in your duties and I’ll send you back to the Federation in pieces.” She took another deep breath. “Anything you need or problems you have take them to Centurion i-Dartha.”

<Tag Nanclus>

She handed the padd to Mirok and then looked to the rest of the crew assembled around the table. “We are being sent to the border, we lost contact with a small Starbase.” She shook her head slightly. “Officially we are being sent to find out why, the Starbase was within range of both the Federation and the Klingons.”

She now looked to Qellar. “I want you to see to it this vessel is ready for combat, if there was an attack they may still be there and we need to be ready.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small silver insignia. “Before I forget, someone somewhere doesn’t believe you are as pathetic as I do you have been promoted to sub lieutenant.” She threw the insignia so it landed just in front of Qellar. “Don’t look so pleased with yourself, your still next to useless.”

<Tag Qellar>

Now she looked to Tedak. “Ambassador, if this is an attack by either the Klingons or the Federation someone will know, canvass your contacts see what you can find out, and quickly.” She then looked to the intelligence officer. “That goes for you too, work with the Ambassador if you must.”

<Tag Tevio / Tedak>

“Nanclus, have the medical bays ready for possible casualties and try to keep deaths caused by medical malpractice to a minimum.”

<Tag Nanclus>

“We will arrive in the sector in four hours, I want to be ready before then.” She waved a hand and added. “Get out and get to work.” Looking to Mirok she added. “Wait here a moment.”

As the rest left the room she looked to Mirok and said. “This smells like the Klingons to me, if I am right we are probably walking into a fight, have engineering prepared, I have a feeling we will soon learn what this crew is capable of." She took a deep breath as she leaned back in her chair. "And remmeber to look in on that doctor, make sure he acually knows his way around a medical bay."

<Tag Mirok>



OOC: I hope we all enjoy this new mission!, we are off to fight the Klingons (Tedak, Tevio feel free to confirm this IC, we will be facing two Vor'cha class attack cruisers at some point)

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Mirok proceeded over to the Ward Room from Engineering after hearing the order. He had been checking up on Hasmek again, making sure he was filling his job competently. Going from Reactor Control to Chief Engineer was a quick jump to make, but the ship wasn’t having any major mechanical issues, so that at least went to Hasmek’s credit about his ability to do his job. Hasmek was trailing behind him by a few moments in going to the Ward Room – the order had come completely by surprise and the new Engineer has been in a middle of a detailed maintenance routine.

Fortunately, both were in place by the time Kreiala had arrived. Mirok nodded to the Medical Officer as they were informally introduced and took the PADD from Kreiala. A separate section at the top of the PADD read: His medical training comes from the Federation. Watch him closely – make sure he hasn’t picked up any bad habits. The rest of the PADD detailed information about their new assignment.

A patrol assignment didn’t seem to bode either good or ill for the ship’s political standing – any ship had to run patrol from time to time. And after collapsing and removing that gas giant for the Federation, an assignment to investigate the condition of a starbase suggested that the evaluation of their performance was at least neutral.

“Yes, Commander,” Mirok said in response to Kreiala’s orders after the others had left. “Disrupter burns and lacerations…should be quite the test for our new doctor.” Pausing, he then added. “You said officially regarding our assignment. Is there more to this off the record?”

[Deleted]

Dr. H'daen Nanclus stood at the center of his recently refurbished medical bay, a look of concern on his face. His first week aboard the IRW S'Harien had been uneventful, as he had spent the majority of his time overseeing physical examinations for new personnel. But that was about to change.

The S'Harien had been ordered to investigate a recent loss of communication with a nearby Starbase. With much of the Romulan fleet engaged in a combination of training exercises and exploratory missions, the S'Harien was being pressed into service, despite the recently influx of new officers, including H'daen himself.

H'daen didn't doubt his skills. His experience in treating both Romulan and Federation patients gave him a distinct advantage over most Romulan physicians. But how was his background perceived by his superiors? Would they regard him with suspicion, believing him to be tainted by exposure to Federation values? As a Starfleet physician, H'daen had been lauded for his willingness to treat even the most critically ill patients, but such behavior would be met with skepticism aboard a Romulan vessel.

Nanclus' thoughts fell on his parents, who had chosen to have his many childhood ailments treated in secret, rather than condemning him to death, per Romulan custom. Why did they elect to save me? he wondered. Was their weakness only temporary, the result of misguided, but genuine love for their firstborn child, or was it indicative of a more serious problem? As his parents were now dead, having perished along with his homeworld, H'daen supposed he would never know the answer. Pushing thoughts of the past aside, he crossed the medical bay to his small, private office.

H'daen knew he was being watched, but exactly how tight his surveillance would be was unclear. Kreiala and Mirok didn't trust him, but what of the remainder of the crew? Would they watch his every move in an effort to discredit him? H'daen made a mental note not to deviate from standard Romulan medical procedures. His commanding officer might not trust him, but he couldn't be punished without cause. Calling up a list of the most recent dosage recommendations for traditional Romulan anxiolytics, Nanclus resolved not to provide any.

[Deleted]

Tellus paused before the doors to the Medical Bay. It would be weakness to admit he needed help with the ailment – to admit discomfort – but there was hardly honor in letting one’s self die purely from one’s own stupidity. The new Chief Engineer, Hasmek, was reluctant to let him excuse himself from his duties in the Engine Room, but the discoloration on his arm was convincing enough. Grabbing his arm to help suppress the tinge of pain he felt, he took a breath in, and activated the doors to let himself in.
Looking around the room for the highest rank, then giving up because all he saw were Uhlans – medical personnel never did get much respect, despite their importance – he looked around at the bearing of those present and picked out the one he thought likely to be the Chief Medical Officer based on behavior. “Doctor?”

After H’daen at least reacted to him, he continued. “Doctor, could you take a look at my arm?” He rolled up his sleeve to reveal a blotch of purple discoloration on his forearm. “I’ve had some mild systemic pain, a little shortness of breath, and some localized sensation of heat around the discoloration.”

He had to pause to catch his breath. “I can’t so for certain, and I have no idea how it would have happened, but I think I may have been poisoned.”

<Tag H'daen>

[Deleted]

The agent died to get the information through. His fist fell like the hand of judgement on the transmit button, rivulets of green blood running through his fingers.

"Impostor targ!" they barked behind him. "Filthy Toh-pah!" and "Coward" were other invectives that snapped into the room.

He'd paid dearly for this. The Star Empire damn well better enjoy this information, however fragmented... Images of his wife came and went, flying before his eyes. Unable to support himself against the console any longer, he slumped heavily to the floor, fell on his back and released a terrible sigh borne of pain. It felt like that last disruptor bolt had torn his back open.

In the shadowy anteroom he lay with his life force dissolving away, leaking from his body in an icky pool around him. A deeper shadow blotted out the darkness of the room.

"Your scum-race will pay for this transgression," it said in a feral whisper. It seemed the translator was working properly this time. "You'll never be able to tell Commander Kreiala Vyaln that an old... friend, has come back and intends to take this sector by storm. If she tries to stop us she will die." A guttural snigger came from one of the other Klingons in the chamber. "It's that simple."

"Not for you," the Romulan disguised as a Klingon croaked. He slid his hand painfully down to his side, to his utility belt, and activated the small box attached there. He exploded along with most of the room.

* * * * *

Tevio had information dripping through from Intelligence Command. Apparently one of the agents had succeeded in breaking through to the Starbase, had infiltrated the hierarchy of a group of Klingons. He or she submitted the intel within the last two hours.

Tevio kicked back, placing his feet on his office's plain grey desk. He stared at the ceiling, thinking. The report had only spoken of a Klingon presence; their exact location and what they were doing was unknown. Were they on the Starbase? Either way it was now confirmed that it was they who were responsible for the loss of comms with the base.

<Tag Kreiala>

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Tevio's knowledge of the Klingons was sorely lacking in a few key areas. It was unusual for an intel chief of the Romulan Navy, he knew, for there to be such a gap in his mind regarding the Star Empire's old enemy, but he liked to think he made up for it in other ways.

For instance, he knew nothing, could not comprehend, the level of Klingon bravery that their honour and traditions gave them. His mind was of the typical Romulan breed in many respects, and a natural inclination towards what 'some' would perceive as sneakiness - unwillingness to fight a battle 'head on' - was one of them.

He was on the bridge now, and before he had a chance to wonder how he got there, the viewscreen flickered to life, displaying two faraway gunmetal grey shapes, threatening in their form and posture even from this distance.

"Two Vor'cha class attack cruisers," the duty tactical officer stated. "On an intercept course, I believe."

"You believe?" Tevio said, shooting a venomous glance sideways to the tactical officer. "A fine example of naval honour and precision you are, Centurion. Vyaln to the bridge," he said in the tone of slippery evil. Mirok was absent, helping the engineers at current.

"Klingons, Commander." Tevio stepped back, standing upright in respectful posture as Kreiala entered the bridge and proceeded to her pedestal to take her seat.

Ch'varak watched the activity about him, the bridge crew following their procedures while speculating amongst each other as to the reasons for the Klingons' presence this early in proceedings.

Kreiala was about to speak but the helm officer beat her there. "They must've preempted our intentions to head to the Starbase."

Vyaln seemed most displeased she'd been interrupted, and Tevio made matters worse by appending something to the officer's words, "I'd say that is rather obvious, considering they've disabled the Starbase. Of course they knew a Romulan vessel would come to investigate. But who are they?" he queried.

<Tag Kreiala> <Others?>

[Deleted]

The Tal Shiar agency's presence in the sector was far-reaching and insidious. It saw with hidden eyes through all the common routes this side of the Romulan-Federation border, and even had tendrils groping beyond, into Federation territory in the volume surrounding the Betreka nebula.

The Starbase that the Klingons had captured was the second closest Romulan space installation to the Debrune offshoot's homeworld, and the Federation station Starbase Assailant. Because of this the Tal Shiar command had grown especially concerned about the intentions of the Klingons... Becoming concerned that they intended to take the war back to the Tholians, or something similar.

Something told one agent in particular, however, that the Tholians had little to do with it, and instead it was the Klingon homeworld Qo'nos that was quite involved in a real sense with this. Something kept leading him back there... There were paths that perhaps the KDF were worried might be left open if they didn't preempt matters in this sector.

The IRW S'Harien was in the region, as the navy's forward vessel, investigating the loss of communications. Indeed, the agent thought, from his lofty secret vantage point, the Klingons had reason to be fearful.

The S'Harien was little more than bait to draw them out. Two other Valdore-type Warbirds were in the region, scouting the flanks firmly behind the border, waiting to tear forward once the Klingons committed to a strike on the S'Harien. What the crew of the S'Harien, and indeed the whole navy, were unaware of was that the Tal Shiar were perfectly willing to sacrifice them. The Senate had appointed the intelligence service in secret to oversee affairs in this area. The Tal Shiar's agent on the Starbase had terminated himself, hopefully taking some of the animals with him. Now they had only to wait 'til the S'Harien completed its mission and left the way open to Klingon space.

* * * * *

Ch'varak was exercising his authority as given by the navy and by extension the Empire. His mind drove him into the choice, excluding all else allowing him only tunnel vision of morality.

The crewman slumped forward, as if he'd been gutted or his spine had been snapped in half. He fell to the floor of the brig. The pain device was of the Tal Diann's devising; it had been handed out optionally to all Chief Intel Officers... Tevio had taken it, neither reluctantly or eagerly, merely as an instrument with which he might better carry out his duty. At least, that was how it'd appeared to the other Intel officers. To those who were able to perceive this as a falsity, his true motives were as ever unclear.

Tevio loosed a kick at the crewman's midriff. A choke emitted and drool and blood stained the floor. The violence wasn't so sudden; it was a mere escalation of the torment that'd been enacted so far. The guards stood implacable at the door to the S'Harien's brig, although they surely should've felt a slight aversion at the political officer's methods.

A croak, increasing frequency to a growl that became a tortured shriek came from the crewman on the deck, "... I don't know!! Are you deaf as well as foolish, you orphan piece of scum?"

Tevio knelt and grabbed the man by the collar and lifted him so he could see his face; he spoke rapidly as if gripped with rage but maintained the same tone, "Your colleague on the Naxarr communicated with you by subspace. There is something he must've told you." He shook the man by the collar, bashing his head on the deck twice.

The guards moved forward, sensing that an act of purest, clinical brutality would be carried out if Tevio didn't get the answer he wanted. Even the Intel Chief didn't have the authority to carry out a summary execution in this setting. The black holes of his eyes regarded the two security men, simultaneously a warning and a reassurance.

"What is the IRW Naxarr doing...? You can tell me that, I know you can," Tevio whispered harshly at the enraged and damaged crewman. "They're waiting for us? What's going to happen?!" He pulled the officer to his feet and was drawing his disruptor, when the door to the brig opened.

"Cease!" the sharp voice cut into the room. Mirok i'Dartha, engineer and first officer entered and took the disruptor from Tevio, who bristled but didn't react. Such an act would normally be madness, but Ch'varak had no right in this circumstance to kill the cremwan, for he'd done nothing wrong except covertly communicate with another Warbird - such things were common place on a Romulan ship... underhanded dealings were a fact of navy life.

"I was obtaining information," Tevio said, watching Mirok and the guards busy themselves about the room. The crewman was taken away, eventually leaving just Tevio and the XO. They regarded each other then exited together, walked the corridors to the bridge.

"Care to explain yourself?" Mirok asked calmly, after the silence had gone on.

"The other Warbirds are waiting for us... We're being used, I'm sure of it now," Tevio replied, "The attack by those Vor'chas was an attempt to ward us off, but they and the Star Empire both know that we would never back off after such an assault, not when the Klingons also have our Starbase. The Warbirds are there only to take advantage once we have unwittingly occupied the Klingon forces."

It was a strong theory, but perhaps not quite the truth...

<TAG>

[Deleted]

As the viewer displayed two Klingon vessels poised for a fight the tension on the bridge began to rise, Kreiala however perched in the command chair looked as if she were reading a rather dull report. She stared at the viewer for a moment with laser like precision her breathing controlled and little emotion other than the normal annoyance was to be seen.

"Statues of our cloak?" She asked as she turned to the science officer.

"Operating within normally Sub Commander." he replied quickly he tried his best not to snatch a glance at the ever growing Klingon vessels.

Turning to her left now Kreiala said. "Scan for any signs that could indicate other cloaked vessels, Klingons don't normally sit and wait out in the open." Tactically she was correct a Klingon commander would normally wait until the enemy was within optimal firing range before 'heroically' de-cloaking and attacking. Despite their claims of honor in battle the Klingon use of cloaking devices in combat was on par with the Romulans.

She leaned back ever so slightly as she calculated the scenerios in her mind, if she stopped to raise shields she would need to decloak and the Klingons would most certainly know where they were, but if she stayed cloaked and was attacked her ship could be destroyed and the Klingons behavioral pattern thus far would indicate they had no need to fear a surprise attack which could indicate they had already been detected.

She took a steady deep breath as she stood up. "Well have you completed the scans yet?" She demanded as her gaze now fell on menacingly back on the science officer.

"I haven't completed them yet Commander, I am having difficulty." She stood up and yanked him away from his station before he could finish his response. "I'll do them myself, make yourself useful with maintenance crews." she waved him off as she started to rapidly input commands.

Her eyes darted over the results. "I am sending co-ordinates on my mark target them with a full spread of torpedoes."

She stood up and retook the command seat. "Prepare to decloak and raise shield."

"Now." All the lights on the ship became brighter as full power was restored to all the ships systems.

"Fire weapons now!" her shout was heard above all the alerts and chattering of crew.

It took a few moments for anybody to speak up again.

"Sub Commander, we hit something, sensors have picked up debris, biological matter and atmosphere.. Wait a ship is decloaking off the port bow."

She nodded slowly. "On viewer."

The viewer flicked as it now show what looked like a ripple in space, she could see bits of metal suddenly appearing out of nowere, it took a few seconds before a Klingon bird of prey became entirely visible. It had a severe hull in it's hull and even the lights on the exterior of the ship flickered.

Kreiala's face showed only disdain as she turned away. "Put them out of their and set course for the other Klingon vessels, it is time they learned what happens when you attack the Romulan empire.

<Tag all>

[Deleted]

"You were nearly killed!" the voice barked. The voice’s originator was still hidden, cloaked in shadow, with only the end of the warrior's nose and segments of his armour catching the weak illumination.

"I won't allow the cowards to slip through our ranks again, I swear on it!" Qretal said. He lowered himself painfully to the floor, prostrating himself before the pedestal. His whole left side hurt where the suicidal Romulan's explosive device had scorched his skin. "Master, do not dismiss me from your sight. Allow me a share of this glory."

The shadowed figure shifted in his chair, his robes and myriad medals brushing and clinking as he sized up the warrior before him. A guttural sound emitted from his throat, "Very well, Qretal. But on one condition, else you’re disgraced and your house will devour your heart so that none of it remains to them. Do you want them to wallow in that mindless sorrow, once they’ve gorged on all the love they have left for you?”

“Glory can only be gained by the most daring of undertakings."

"Yes, Qretal," the Master growled, "Take your ship from this Starbase, draw out your 'old friend' Kreiala Vyaln and eliminate her personally. I will attach some of my personal bodyguards to your force. You might use them as a commando unit. Q'apla."

Qretal acknowledged, rose with difficulty and strode from the chamber, leaving the anonymous Dahar Master alone with his thoughts.

---

Tevio was on the bridge during the battle in the dark with the Klingon vessel. They’d turned the short fight on the Klingons, exposing the vessel and its attempted cloak and dagger tactics. Unusual for a vessel of the Romulan Navy, to be the prey of a Klingon vessel masked within a starry backdrop. But the Valdore-type Warbird was superior tactically to most ships in the Klingon fleet, thus an open show of strength was usually risk-free.

Once the engagement was concluded and the Warbird on its way, Tevio strode smoothly across to the Commander’s chair. “Sir. A word with you in the ward room?” He led the way to the door, pausing and tritely showing her in first.

“I have serious issues with the course we’re taking,” he said, showing Vyaln a compad and pushing it into her hands. “I’ve recently interrogated this crewman. Technician Vixil. He took a subspace message from the IRW Naxarr, to his personal console fifteen hours ago.”

Vyaln regarded him coldly, impassively, but he had her full concentration, that was undoubted. “The Naxarr is one of the two Warbirds approximately a parsec behind us, apparently surveying nearby systems for possible Empire colonisation.” The Commander knew this of course, but Tevio pushed on, “We sit between them and the captured Starbase, which some fifteen parsecs beyond lies the Klingon Neutral Zone.”

“I have a suspicion that we’re being used as bait, that the Naxarr and its sister ship will attack the Klingons once we’ve committed and left ourselves entirely exposed. This wouldn’t be unusual,” he picked the compad out of Vyaln’s hand carefully, almost apologetically, then walked around the room with it, skirting the conference table, “Except that none of it has been made apparent through official Navy channels, not even through my classified Intelligence lines, and on that you have my word. There is something more nefarious going on here, Commander. I wouldn’t want to cause a stir on the ship, but this kind of manipulation, intangible and seemingly non-existent at times, is the exact operating method of the Tal Shiar.”

<Tag Kreiala>