'History will be the judge' ~ Rainier/Enzio JM

[Tiana Galwyn Cet]

Admiral Jackson had relieved Commodore Gheskori of command. Tiana had bitten her lip and turned away she could not watch this. Not again. Ghes had accepted the orders seemingly calmly which had made Tiana more annoyed, you should not give in to illegal orders or even ones you disagreed with. Yes, Starfleet had a chain-of-command but there was a right of protest. You may have to do things but it could and should be noted that you were protesting.

She stared fixedly at her screen she could taste blood from where her teeth had dug into her lip. Even if Ghes did not trust her any more. Even if he thought that she was no longer the person he knew Tiana still counted herself as one of her CO's friends. She would have to go and talk to him. She forced her hand to relax waiting until the knuckles had ceased to be white and wiped the blood off her lips. If she was going to talk to Ghes she had to be together and rational about it. The muscles in her arm tensed unconsciously. They did that sometimes when she was stressed or tired, it felt kinda odd. Actually Tiana was still getting used to actually having muscles, she had never been much for the gym or the training mats save what was required for all Starfleet officers, Cet had broadened her mind on the subject and now she was averaging one session of weights and one of hand to hand a week. It was hardly surprising that there had been changes.


=/\=Commander Galwyn Cet, this is Gheskori, please report to my quarters in 30 minutes.=/\


=/\=Tiana here. I will be there=/\=

Tiana wasn't sure what to make of the summons, she wondered in she was reading too much in to one sentence, but then she was given to analysing things...
She wasn't sure what the protocol was on Ghes giving commands, he had been relieved of command so he was no longer her CO but he still out ranked her so that presumably made it an order. She had also been aware that he had called her Galwyn Cet. Now it wasn't something she usually paid attention to, she happily answered to either and no one seemed confused by that. However, since the revelations about Nawar she had been very aware of when she was named as Cet and when she wasn't.


Half an hour later she pressed Ghes's door chime. "It's Tiana, here as requested."

Tag: Ghes / Savin

[James T Matthew]

SCENE: USS RANIER Transporter Room #1


“A split second later, James tapped his comm. badge once again. "Matthew to
ENZIO"

[Transporter Room 2 here, Sir.]

"James One to beam over. Energize." James replied.

With that, he seemed to dematerialize and rematerialize into the familiar confines of the ENZIO's transporter room 2. As he stepped off the transporter Pad, he saw the smiling face of Lt, Katelyn standing at the transporter Console Welcome back Commander Nice trip”

“James If you think almost Being Busted Back to Ensign is Having Fun I had a blast lieutenant Yes I had a Ball Could you have my bags taken to my Quarters please I’ll be on the Bridge


SCENE: USS ENZIO Main Bridge

(1minite Later)

James Exited on to the Bridge to see Admiral Gheskori Sitting in His Command Chair Welcome Back Commander James Admiral is this true You been relive of Command right in the middle of a Possible Battle by Your Fleet commander ‘

Gheskori Yes XO you have Command once you gotten settle back on board report to my ready room and we can talk more about the matter.

Yes Admiral Cmdr. Matthew Mister Daya Ship Status before Daya could reply, the new navigator just assign to the Day Watch butted in to the Conversation:

"Uh, Commander Matthew . . . since you seem to be in charge around here, sir, I was wondering about our course and heading . . ."

“James standing in front of the center will we have a Large Sovereign Class Star ship in front of us And orders not to Attack the Kasan fleet Back us off Navigator An set Couse of the Planet where the negotiations are going on We Can still keep an eye on the Kasan fleet from there ½ impulse when we arrive take up Standard Orbit I’ll be in my if you need me Mister Daya you Have the bridge .

James exited the Bridge

< Tag Daya >

[Gheskori]

Half an hour later she pressed Ghes's door chime. "It's Tiana, here as requested."

"Come in, Tiana," Ghes said, dusting himself down and rising from the couch, where he'd been contemplating his status as a relieved CO and how strange it felt not to have control of the ship; his ship, since its commission date. Even though his removal from command and loggerheads status with Jackson was, in part, a facade, he was finding the illusion a rather convincing one. He watched the stars slowing to apparent stationary positions from his viewport, knowing the Enzio had entered orbit of the planet. Matthew and Daya knew what they were doing, controlling from the bridge.

Tiana entered, looking about for Gheskori. The Commodore, in only his maroon undershirt and dark trousers - having cast off the jacket - stepped through from the living compartment. He nodded, "Commander. Can I offer you a drink?"

<Tag Tiana>

The two sat across from one other at Ghes's desk, squared in the corner of his quarters, that were smaller only than the limited ambassadorial and diplomatic residential suites the Enzio offered. "I've summoned you here for reasons relating, as you might've guessed, to the Admiral..."

"Cain."

"The one and only," Ghes answered lightly, swinging in his chair, before quickly reestablishing decorum. "She has vanished unexplainably from the Rainier. It's believed she might be responsible for the civilian vessel's attempts to start hostilities between us and the Kasan cruisers. Needless to say, despite our ship's capabilities, two Kasan'thar battlecruisers would overwhelm us in a full fight..." Ghes sighed, "I no longer think we can trust the Admiral, not only in regards to the peace conference but to the safety of our crew.

"While I'm officially relieved from command, there's an understanding between myself and Jackson that Cain may be our true opposition. Admiral Jackson's ordered me to investigate members of my crew, to uncover possible Cain spies..."

"And naturally you've come to me first."

"I don't doubt for a moment that you have control over Cet, and of any possible loyalty he, or she, might have to Patrizia Cain," Ghes started slowly, but it was obvious to Tiana that he doubted what he said in his own mind. He brushed it off the best he could, returning his full attention, "You see, this might be our best chance of drawing Cain out. Yes, there may well be spies aboard the Enzio," the thought chilled him, "But you, being the one people would first assume, are the one that Cain might listen to."

Ghes had thought this over, but only now began to wonder if it was particularly wise... "I'd like you to send a subspace message, from your personal console, Commander, broadcast in the direction of the civilian vessel that's escaped the system, that we believe Cain has escaped on. It has to be tightbeamed... If we send it omnidirectionally, it may arouse her suspicion..."

"What are you getting at, sir?" Tiana asked.

"Convince her that Cet's influence has turned your loyalty towards her, or perhaps was always with her... Advise her to return to
the system, and that you'll attempt to commandeer the Enzio on her behalf wih the aim of reigniting Starfleet-Kasan hostilities."

<Tag Tiana>

Tiana's look of disbelief didn't deter Ghes... He'd thought this through, and he saw it as the only way this could be solved in one stroke, "If Cain believes she'll have the Enzio in her grasp, she may reevaluate her retreat and return to take overall control of our forces. But of course, if all goes well for us, she'll be walking into our trap... As long as we can keep the Kasan happy..."

"What if she isn't on the civilian ship at all? If she's on the surface somewhere, disrupting Cornette's efforts...?"

"We've been conducting extensive scans and found nothing so far. But it's not beyond possibility," Ghes conceded. "In the meantime, we must keep investigating our crew. Cain and I were accomplices at the start of this mission, but we were never strong allies... Take both those factors... she may well have agents hidden aboard the Enzio, possibly the Rainier, too."

<Tag Tiana - Savin if present> <Tag Jackson, Cain, All>

[Deleted]

Savin had arrived together with Tiana, but had kept himself off to the side. He was concerned about her of course, especially with the memories he had helped dredge up. Moreso, he was concerned about Gheskori and his ghosts in the closet. He had been witness to something jumping out, and disappear again....had the captain been haunted again?

The Vulcan watched them converse, saying nothing for several minutes, keeping himself from getting involved for now. He studied each. The captain seemed concerned, terribly worried and most of all, agitated. Tiana, she seemed concerned too but he wasn't quite certain. He caught her look of disbelief and it caught him off guard.

"Everyone is a suspect," he suddenly stated calmly, watching them both. "But it makes sense that Cet is the most liable suspect, especially if Tiana sends a message trying to convince Cain that she has turned into her previous host. That, after a very long struggle, he has managed to gain dominance and is now the dominant personality. They were lovers, were they not? Her going back to Cain, pretending to be Cet's prior host, everyone would be convinced she is going against the law of reassociation. It may play into Cain's hands but it is a very dangerous endeavour for her captain."

Concern touched the deaf Vulcan's eyes as he stared intently at Gheskori. "You cannot allow her to go alone." He couldn't allow it. "I want to go with her. I can play the part of a henchman if needed. Someone, she persuaded into leaving the ship with her and steal a shuttle. We would go as civilians, to denote, that we have defected, and are forfeiting our rank and privilege. But...we should not go without a chance of being monitored by you. We would also need weapons, to defend ourselves, and to take Cain into custody."

His gaze turned into one of pleading. "I can protect her. I am a warrior captain, let me do this. If she has to go, send me out with her."

[James T Matthew]

Main Bridge
USS ENZIO

The Watch Officer, Lieutenant Henry Harper was seated in the command chair when the shift helm officer, Ensign Tyne spoke up, "Lieutenant, we are approaching the planet where the Negotiations are going on."

Harper nodded, "Slow to Impulse, Commander Matthew to the Bridge!" The Lieutenant quickly vacated the command chair so the xo who could walk on the bridge at any second. James was already en-route to the bridge when the call come. He stepped out of the turbo lift moments later.

"Report." He said as he slowly made his way to the Command chair. Harper spoke first, "We're slowing to impulse power Commander, approaching Planet."

"Very Well." He said as he took his seat. Helm enter the Standard orbit now. It's a
polar orbit 1000 km above surface Commander. All systems within nominal or
better, same for the crew.
The other senior officers were arriving just as he sat down. "Ensign Gray, tactical status?"

"No hostile ships in the Firing Range or in orbit of the planet at this time sir."

James stroked his chin, "Bradley, put us in Geosynchronous orbit above The Orestes Outlands.


"Cmdr. Matthew any sign of Jamming Ensign?" James said to Grax.

"I'm not picking up anything.
"Mister Grax I won’t you to start Scanning around looking for any other life form down on the planet beside our Away teams and the Kazars if you find anything let me know I’ll be with the Admiral

< Tag Ghes >

[Gheskori]

Ghes was aware of the attraction between Tiana and Savin and held back from smiling; this was too strenuous a situation to worry about the closeness of those under his command, in anything other than a professional capacity.

"It's dangerous," he conceded, "But we don't know exactly what will happen if Cain does return to the system, believing Cet has returned his, or her, allegiance to her. Cain may ask Tiana to keep control of the Enzio that she would've claimed to have commandeered. There's no guarantee the two officers will come into direct contact, Savin.

"Besides," Ghes continued, standing from his chair, Savin and the silent, perhaps perplexed Tiana watching him walk to the portals looking into space. "Cain puts the Federation before all else. She believes it should endure forever, no matter the cost, and contemporarily that includes adhering to the chain of command. If Tiana did claim she'd led some sort of mutiny, with assistance from Cain agents on board or whatever, following usual rank structure she might try and place someone more senior in command of the Enzio - maybe the Starfleet captain on the merchant ship. Might cause our plans to backfire substantially..."

"The other option is to actually send Tiana to Cain's craft. That may seem a more trustworthy move than broadcasting a message 'suggesting' she return to the system. If Cet's willing to go that far, she may see more reason to trust her."

"You cannot allow her to go alone," Savin suddenly said, "I want to go with her. I can play the part of a henchman if needed. Someone, she persuaded into leaving the ship with her and steal a shuttle. We would go as civilians, to denote, that we have defected, and are forfeiting our rank and privilege. But...we should not go without a chance of being monitored by you. We would also need weapons, to defend ourselves, and to take Cain into custody."

His gaze turned into one of pleading. "I can protect her. I am a warrior captain, let me do this. If she has to go, send me out with her."

Ghes eyed Savin, impressed at the courage. Love, affection, could do these things. "You're a young man and a valued member of the medical team, Savin. Besides do you really think your father would allow it? You, and Tiana, posing as defectors, and you intend to take Cain into custody yourself?"

<Tag Savin>

Ghes turned to his science officer. "Tiana, none of this means anything if you don't want it to happen. But we can have the subspace transmission set up in five minutes, if we can get an accurate tightbeam on the receding merchant ship. Let's hope Cain's aboard. What do you - "

Annoyingly they were interrupted by a chime at the door. "Come," Ghes said, sitting back in his desk chair.

Commander Matthew entered, starting upon sight of those present, "Am I interrupting anything?"

"No, Commander, what can I do for you. Have we established orbit of the planet?" Matthew explained how they'd set up standard orbit of the negotiations world and were scanning the surface for unexpected lifesigns, specifically Cain's. "What's the status of the Rainier?"

"They're holding station by the Kasan cruisers. No new developments."

Ghes nodded, "Tiana, please make your mind up in five minutes. Time may well of of the essence. Dismissed," he gave a slight smile, stood again and accompanied his XO from his quarters to the bridge. "Commander," Ghes said as they strode the corridor to the turbolift, "Speculate... what do you think of the likelihood of coaxing the Kasan'thar cruisers into firing on us?"

<Tag Matthew>

He commed the bridge, "Commander Daya, open a channel from here directly to Admiral Jackson on the Rainier. I need to speak with her urgently."

<Tag Daya/Jackson>

[Deleted]

"You're a young man and a valued member of the medical team, Savin. Besides do you really think your father would allow it? You, and Tiana, posing as defectors, and you intend to take Cain into custody yourself?"

The young Vulcan nodded. "Yes, I think he would sir. I make my own choices and he respects them. I believe that, if he were here in my place, he would suggest the same. He is aware of my feelings for Tiana, and I will not hide them for anyone." He watched as Gheskori became distracted by his first officer and his gaze shifted to Tiana as they were left behind in the readyroom.

Savin turned, facing her as he took her hands in his, marveling at the coolness of her palms against his warm skin. "Do not go alone," he begged of her. "Let me go with you. Take a shuttle, and search for her. We can sabotage the Enzio, make it look as if you disabled her, ready for Admiral Cain to take as prize." His light eyes sparkled with the reigned in enthusiasm for adventure. But they were clouded with worry as well. "I can be a co-defector if you like, or a hostage. I can be whatever you want me to be, so long as I can go with you." He paused, meeting her eyes. "I can protect you."

He studied her, watching her expression closely. "We could steal the shuttle, have the Enzio fire upon us as we go and you signal for Cain to come get us. We get close to her, and then capture her. Maybe let someone from security stow away for good measure but I do believe that just you and me can do this." It looked as if the medic had worked the plan all out already.

Tag Tiana/anyone overhearing and/or walking in

[Daya]

James Exited on to the Bridge to see Admiral Gheskori Sitting in His Command Chair Welcome Back Commander James Admiral is this true You been relive of Command right in the middle of a Possible Battle by Your Fleet commander ‘

Gheskori Yes XO you have Command once you gotten settle back on board report to my ready room and we can talk more about the matter.

Yes Admiral Cmdr. Matthew Mister Daya Ship Status before Daya could reply, the new navigator just assign to the Day Watch butted in to the Conversation:

"Uh, Commander Matthew . . . since you seem to be in charge around here, sir, I was wondering about our course and heading . . ."

“James standing in front of the center will we have a Large Sovereign Class Star ship in front of us And orders not to Attack the Kasan fleet Back us off Navigator An set Couse of the Planet where the negotiations are going on We Can still keep an eye on the Kasan fleet from there ½ impulse when we arrive take up Standard Orbit I’ll be in my if you need me Mister Daya you Have the bridge .

James exited the Bridge

Daya moved from his console to the commander chair, although this was not his first time in commander, he was still relatively nervous. The commander had a lot on his mind from earlier in the day, and spent the majority of his time in contemplation. Once the night relief showed up he quickly went to bed.

Back on the bridge in the morning, Daya was seated at his console, going over the reports from the night shift. He turned his head when he heard his name called from behind.

He commed the bridge, "Commander Daya, open a channel from here directly to Admiral Jackson on the Rainier. I need to speak with her urgently." "aye sir" Daya responded as he punched a few keys on his console. "channel opened sir"

[Tiana Galwyn Cet]

"Commander. Can I offer you a drink?"

Tiana shook her head in response to the offer and politely settled into a chair next to Savin.

"I've summoned you here for reasons relating, as you might've guessed, to the Admiral..."

"Cain." Tiana’s voice was flat, she barely recognized her voice as she spoke.

"The one and only," Ghes answered lightly, swinging in his chair, before quickly reestablishing decorum. "She has vanished unexplainably from the Rainier. It's believed she might be responsible for the civilian vessel's attempts to start hostilities between us and the Kasan cruisers. Needless to say, despite our ship's capabilities, two Kasan'thar battlecruisers would overwhelm us in a full fight..." Ghes sighed, "I no longer think we can trust the Admiral, not only in regards to the peace conference but to the safety of our crew.”

Tiana wished that she could be surprised that Admiral Cain had done something unexpected and seemingly desperate and had put them all in danger but, somehow, after everything she could not find the emotion.

"While I'm officially relieved from command, there's an understanding between myself and Jackson that Cain may be our true opposition. Admiral Jackson's ordered me to investigate members of my crew, to uncover possible Cain spies..." That was something of a relief, but that last part. Oh that hurt. "And naturally you've come to me first." She tried to keep the bitterness out of her tone but she was sure that she did not succeed.

"I don't doubt for a moment that you have control over Cet, and of any possible loyalty he, or she, might have to Patrizia Cain," Ghes started slowly. It was clear that Ghes was saying what he thought she wanted to hear but it was obvious that he had doubts. He had seen her in the aftermath of the joining, that was true, but Tiana did not feel that she had done anything to deserve the distrust. "You see, this might be our best chance of drawing Cain out. Yes, there may well be spies aboard the Enzio," the thought chilled him, "But you, being the one people would first assume, are the one that Cain might listen to."

Tiana opened her mouth to say something along the lines of not wanting to speak to Admiral Cain if she was the last person in the universe but shut her mouth before the words came out. There was a horrible thought starting to form in the back of her mind. Ghes continued speaking before she could find the words to ask.

"I'd like you to send a subspace message, from your personal console, Commander, broadcast in the direction of the civilian vessel that's escaped the system, that we believe Cain has escaped on. It has to be tightbeamed... If we send it omnidirectionally, it may arouse her suspicion..."

"What are you getting at, sir?" Tiana asked, she was relieved that she kept the bitterness out of that statement.

"Convince her that Cet's influence has turned your loyalty towards her, or perhaps was always with her... Advise her to return to the system, and that you'll attempt to commandeer the Enzio on her behalf wih the aim of reigniting Starfleet-Kasan hostilities."

Tiana froze. She hated that plan. She hated the irony of being distrusted and yet having the whole plan riding on her. She hated the idea of even pretending to betray her friends and crewmates. She hated that there was a degree of sense to the plan. She simply couldn’t find the words to say anything but did manage to avoid emitting a shocked squeak. When she didn’t say anything Ghes continued once again.

"If Cain believes she'll have the Enzio in her grasp, she may reevaluate her retreat and return to take overall control of our forces. But of course, if all goes well for us, she'll be walking into our trap... As long as we can keep the Kasan happy..."

"What if she isn't on the civilian ship at all? If she's on the surface somewhere, disrupting Cornette's efforts...?” It was easier to focus on small details rather than the main thrust of Ghes’s question.

"We've been conducting extensive scans and found nothing so far. But it's not beyond possibility," Ghes conceded. "In the meantime, we must keep investigating our crew. Cain and I were accomplices at the start of this mission, but we were never strong allies... Take both those factors... she may well have agents hidden aboard the Enzio, possibly the Rainier, too."

"Everyone is a suspect," Savin suddenly stated calmly, watching them both. "But it makes sense that Cet is the most liable suspect, especially if Tiana sends a message trying to convince Cain that she has turned into her previous host. That, after a very long struggle, he has managed to gain dominance and is now the dominant personality. They were lovers, were they not? Her going back to Cain, pretending to be Cet's prior host, everyone would be convinced she is going against the law of reassociation. It may play into Cain's hands but it is a very dangerous endeavour for her captain."

Tiana shook her head “Nawar Cet and Admiral Cain were never lovers. At least he never believed she loved him. As for reassociation, it’s technically a taboo to enhance the range of experiences of a symbiont, but...” She knew there was a dark look in her eyes. “I do not know what people will assume. Technically if Nawar is in control then it’s not reassociation, if Tiana is merely being influenced by Nawar then it is.” It had become clear that she was going to be doing this. “Possession by a past host would get Tiana and Cet into even more trouble than a suspected reassociation would.” She did not want to go into any further details, if Reassociation was mentioned then presumably they knew what the penalties were. They did not need to know what else she was risking, that was her decision.

"It's dangerous," Ghes conceded, "But we don't know exactly what will happen if Cain does return to the system, believing Cet has returned his, or her, allegiance to her. Cain may ask Tiana to keep control of the Enzio that she would've claimed to have commandeered. There's no guarantee the two officers will come into direct contact, Savin.

"Besides," Ghes continued, standing from his chair, Savin and the silent, perhaps perplexed Tiana watching him walk to the portals looking into space. "Cain puts the Federation before all else. She believes it should endure forever, no matter the cost, and contemporarily that includes adhering to the chain of command. If Tiana did claim she'd led some sort of mutiny, with assistance from Cain agents on board or whatever, following usual rank structure she might try and place someone more senior in command of the Enzio - maybe the Starfleet captain on the merchant ship. Might cause our plans to backfire substantially..."

"The other option is to actually send Tiana to Cain's craft. That may seem a more trustworthy move than broadcasting a message 'suggesting' she return to the system. If Cet's willing to go that far, she may see more reason to trust her."

"You cannot allow her to go alone," Savin suddenly said the look in his eyes practically melted Tiana’s heart. "I want to go with her. I can play the part of a henchman if needed. Someone, she persuaded into leaving the ship with her and steal a shuttle. We would go as civilians, to denote, that we have defected, and are forfeiting our rank and privilege. But...we should not go without a chance of being monitored by you. We would also need weapons, to defend ourselves, and to take Cain into custody."

His gaze turned into one of pleading. "I can protect her. I am a warrior captain, let me do this. If she has to go, send me out with her."

Ghes eyed Savin, impressed at the courage. Love, affection, could do these things. "You're a young man and a valued member of the medical team, Savin. Besides do you really think your father would allow it? You, and Tiana, posing as defectors, and you intend to take Cain into custody yourself?"

Tiana wanted to protest that suggestion, she did not think that she would be able to bear it if Savin got hurt in defence of her. But that look was what stopped her. He felt the same. If he wanted to offer to come that was his choice. She hadn’t even properly accepted the mission yet, but somehow that had merely become a formality.

The young Vulcan nodded. "Yes, I think he would sir. I make my own choices and he respects them. I believe that, if he were here in my place, he would suggest the same. He is aware of my feelings for Tiana, and I will not hide them for anyone."

Ghes turned to his science officer. "Tiana, none of this means anything if you don't want it to happen. But we can have the subspace transmission set up in five minutes, if we can get an accurate tightbeam on the receding merchant ship. Let's hope Cain's aboard. What do you - "

Annoyingly they were interrupted by a chime at the door. "Come," Ghes said, sitting back in his desk chair.

Commander Matthew entered, starting upon sight of those present, "Am I interrupting anything?"

"No, Commander, what can I do for you. Have we established orbit of the planet?" Matthew explained how they'd set up standard orbit of the negotiations world and were scanning the surface for unexpected lifesigns, specifically Cain's. "What's the status of the Rainier?"

"They're holding station by the Kasan cruisers. No new developments."

Ghes nodded, "Tiana, please make your mind up in five minutes. Time may well be of the essence. Dismissed."

Unusually it the was Captain and the FO that left leaving Tiana and Savin alone.

Savin turned, facing her as he took her hands in his, marveling at the coolness of her palms against his warm skin. "Do not go alone," he begged of her. "Let me go with you. Take a shuttle, and search for her. We can sabotage the Enzio, make it look as if you disabled her, ready for Admiral Cain to take as prize." His light eyes sparkled with the reigned in enthusiasm for adventure. But they were clouded with worry as well. "I can be a co-defector if you like, or a hostage. I can be whatever you want me to be, so long as I can go with you." He paused, meeting her eyes. "I can protect you."

Tiana swallowed, the look he gave her was intense. It was like he could see right inside her, but then, he all ready had and he hadn’t run. It was like the heat of his presence was on the verge of burning her.

He studied her, watching her expression closely. "We could steal the shuttle, have the Enzio fire upon us as we go and you signal for Cain to come get us. We get close to her, and then capture her. Maybe let someone from security stow away for good measure but I do believe that just you and me can do this." It looked as if the medic had worked the plan all out already.

Tiana smiled, “that could work. I could certainly rig a surprise to go off in the Enzio’s systems after we were safely away. I am the Chief Science Officer after all.” She sighed. “I don’t want to do this, I don’t want to go anywhere near Admiral Cain and Nawar and Cet agree with Tiana about that. However it is a good plan and I think she will fall for it. If she had a weakness it was assuming that she could get anyone to do anything for her. Then again Nawar did die for her so maybe not a weakness. Probably the less people that know the better, as you said, everyone is a suspect. I thank you for offering to come with me that mean a lot to me.”

She smudged a tear for the corner of her eye. “Just promise me you’ll do your best to avoid getting hurt and I will do the same.”

Tag: Savin

I guess I’d better let him know. She tagged her comm badge =/\=Commander Galwyn to Commodore Gheskori. Okay. Fourty-five minutes. More information will be forthcoming then =/\=

Tag: Ghes

Tiana looked back at Savin meet me in the auxillary science lab on deck 3 in ten minutes with anything you want to bring as yourself to look after me.

Tag: Savin

Civilian attire, tightly braided hair and a phaser accompanied Tiana to the lab. Once inside she checked the recorders were off and then set to work. Planting a disabling code in the Enzio’s systems wasn’t difficult. What was difficult was arranging for information on how to undo it to go to Ghes and setting the whole thing to be triggered remotely.

Then there was the small matter of choosing a shuttle, the one nearest the bay doors was the obvious choice, the Anderson, and then rigging overrides to the shuttle bay doors. She continued her work explaining as she went along to Savin. She wasn’t sure if she was making sense or whether she was going over his head. But she was a long way out of her depth and talking through her work made it easier.

“I think pretending that Nawar had taken control would be the best option. If asked I will explain that Nawar wanted a hostage and used your feelings for Tiana to convince you to accompany him while being unaware that he was in control.” She winced slightly, when has she developed such a talent for deception?

“It’s easiest if we stay as close as possible to the truth.” She sighed and reached out for his hand pausing to let him decide when to take it, grabbing a touch telepath was not a good idea. “I feel better with you here.”

“I don’t quite know how I will react when pretending to be Nawar pretending to be Tiana but I will be drawing on Cet’s experience, nearly 500 years of experience most of it in security and investigation – I would be crazy not to. I want you to know that all of Cet’s hosts are in complete agreement that Admiral Cain must be stopped.” She swallowed “I also want you know how much you mean to me.”

Tag:

[Deleted]

She smudged a tear for the corner of her eye. “Just promise me you’ll do your best to avoid getting hurt and I will do the same.”

"I will certainly try," Savin promised, reaching over to wipe the tear away for her. "I will do anything to protect you, however." He waited as Tiana sent a message to the captain.

Tiana looked back at Savin. "Meet me in the auxillary science lab on deck 3 in ten minutes with anything you want to bring as yourself to look after me.

"Ten minutes," Savin acknowledged. He stood and leaned over, gently kissing her cheek. "All will be well," he promised, "you will see."

==Ten Minutes Later==

Dressed in a dirt brown robe with tan sleeveles overcoat and sandals, Savin walked into the science lab. The overcoat was held closed by a sash matching the colour of his robe and it made him look like a nomad. He had a simple bag slung across his shoulder in which he carried basic medical equipment. The scabbard at his right side carried his well known blue-bladed sword. He had other weapons, but they weren't seen to the untrained eye.

“I think pretending that Nawar had taken control would be the best option. If asked I will explain that Nawar wanted a hostage and used your feelings for Tiana to convince you to accompany him while being unaware that he was in control.” She winced slightly, when has she developed such a talent for deception?

“It’s easiest if we stay as close as possible to the truth.” She sighed and reached out for his hand pausing to let him decide when to take it, grabbing a touch telepath was not a good idea. “I feel better with you here.”

“I don’t quite know how I will react when pretending to be Nawar pretending to be Tiana but I will be drawing on Cet’s experience, nearly 500 years of experience most of it in security and investigation – I would be crazy not to. I want you to know that all of Cet’s hosts are in complete agreement that Admiral Cain must be stopped.” She swallowed “I also want you know how much you mean to me.”

Silently, Savin walked up to her and drew her into a light embrace. "I already know," he confided to her, "you mean as much to me too. I will trust your judgement when it comes to Nawar, and I will follow your lead. For the duration of this mission, I am your hostage. Perhaps I should have remained in uniform but it is better this way. You could have just taken me while I was on my way to the holodeck, or while I was off duty. My back contains a medical tricorder and some other medical supplies. Including anti-histamines for myself, just in case."

He paused, releasing her to take a step back. "You can keep it safe for me, if necessary." He held out his hands to her. "Do you wish to restrain me, to make it look genuine?" Yet, the young Vulcan had only one concern now. "Tiana....what if Nawar does take control, and betrays us?"

[Paikea Apirana]

The alarms had been raised and the Kasan'thar became visibly agitated. Paikea knew that they were in danger yet he was enthralled by the Kasan themselves. Their color had changed to a fiery red hue and their speed had quickened noticeably.

"Federation, you have betrayed our commitments. We came here to find peace, you have come here to find war!" a shrilling voice said. Unaware of who said it, the Federation delegation circled around each other. They were aboard a clearly agitated people's ship and the chances of getting off the ship were not particularly good.

"Captain, we are unable to beam out of here," Paikea reported to Captain Cornette," we are effectively their prisoners until further notice."

"You have lost our trust! You are warmongers, take their leader, they must die!" the shrilled voice said again. Captain Cornette was then transported away from the meeting room. Paikea immediately protested, but a loud shrill screamed stopped him in his tracks. While scared for the life of his captain and his crewmates, Paikea was not going to stay quiet.

"We have done nothing! Those of us that are here speak for the Federation, whatever has happened on our ships is not under our control at the moment," Paikea said," we have come to your ship unarmed. We do not want another war, we must find peace! Captain Cornette has been completely honest with you and so will I."

"You speak with fear human, but you speak honestly. Yet we cannot trust your people. We must defend ourselves. For now you will stay here."

"Allow us to contact our ship. We must learn what is happening!"

"Very well"

"Apirana to Rainier or Enzio, please advise. We have some extremely angry Kasan'thar here!"

(Tag All)

[Gheskori]

=/\=Commander Galwyn to Commodore Gheskori. Okay. Fourty-five minutes. More information will be forthcoming then =/\=

=/\=Acknowledged. I understand this is difficult,=/\= he said curtly, feeling empathy for Tiana's position, but the overwhelming part of him committed to executing this plan, and sadly to no matter what the cost. =/\=We'll be ready for your system override, and will issue you warning when we're about to fire phasers at your shuttle.=/\= Denobula know's what the Kasan will think when they see us firing on our own shuttlecraft, Ghes thought incredulously.

<Tag Tiana>

Gheskori waited impatiently to be put through to the Rainier, the comm request working its way first through the Enzio's bridge, across space and to the corresponding bridge on the Sovereign class vessel. He and his first officer neared the turbolift; it seemed he'd reach the bridge before Daya finally got the message through.

=/\=You're on, Commodore=/\= Daya chirped.

=/\=Admiral Jackson? This is Gheskori. I have a plan that I think may draw Admiral Cain out of her hiding...=/\= If she isn't already lightyears away from this place, not contemplating returning, he thought grimly. =/\=I've begun investigations of potential agents, spies, among my crew. My Trill science officer, the one whose previous host was Cain's first officer, may agree to a ruse to bring Cain back to the system, by claiming she's commandeered the USS Enzio for her former friend and CO.=/\=

Jackson continued to listen as Ghes finished relating his somewhat farfetched plan: The ruse to draw Admiral Cain back in, by means of a shuttlecraft manned by Galwyn Cet and her vulcan friend and medic (and hostage) Savin; it made to look as if they'd escaped the Enzio by enforcing a temporary loss of power to the Prometheus class; and also having the Enzio fire on them, once systems were reestablished. All the better to convince Patrizia Cain that the host of her former XO was genuine in her wish to reunite and force an ignition of war between the Federation and the Kasan'thar.

Ghes entered the turbolift, raising eyebrows at Matthew, knowing they were both on uncertain ground. So far Jackson was silent over the comm. He had the vague and ridiculous notion that perhaps Daya hadn't made the connection properly. =/\=I propose a conference. Your ready room or mine, Admiral?=/\=

<Tag Jackson>

"I concur we haven't heard from Cornette, which is worrying in itself," Ghes said to Jackson, contemplating if perhaps Cain had infiltrated the surface and was disrupting the peace conference.

Indeed perhaps this, out here, with Cain's supposed escape on the civilian craft, was a decoy, and she was really at the heart of affairs on the surface. "I agree... Maybe it is wise for you to return to the surface, sir," Ghes suggested to Jackson. "Both our ships can hold station, waiting for Cain's return. While Savin and Tiana make their escape to Cain's ship, both Enzio and Rainier will come under a pre-arranged attack by the Kasan'thar cruisers - " he held up a hand, "Hopefully, using weapons set to minimal power output, all the better to draw Cain in."

Ghes paused, eyeing the Admiral, a growing understanding developing between them. While at the start of this mission they'd almost mistrusted each other and Ghes had been aligned with Cain, the Enzio and Rainier COs had now mutually agreed, however distantly, the identity of their true opponent. "For the Federation." Ghes said suddenly, the comment seeming odd, almost out of context, "Knowing her better than I, do you think she'll fall for our trap? I don't see there's much more we can do to sort this; Cet's former loyalty to Cain, her shutdown of the Enzio's systems, however temporarily until we regain control and fire on the escaping shuttle... Will Cain not be convinced?"

<Tag Jackson>

As the Admiral was about to respond a desperate sounding comm came through, "... Apirana to Rainier or Enzio, please advise. We have some extremely angry Kasan'thar here!"

Ghes sighed. He'd thought this might happen. Balancing things so that the Kasan'thar's suspicions weren't roused, while taking seemingly unorthodox action by releasing a Starfleet shuttle to the system's border... It was the kind of thing the Kasan'thar would want explained immediately, else the whole peace process could be put in jeopardy.

"Acknowledged, Commander," Ghes answered Paikea, then turning to Matthew, "Can we comm the surface and the Kasan ship Apirana's aboard, informing them that the situation is under control? Tell them we're dealing with an internal issue. Because if we say that Cain's a rogue, or a maverick, it might not send the best impression. Commander Apirana, I advise you attempt immediate withdrawal from the Kasan ship... We can't know how they'll react to Admiral Cain's attempt to break up this peace conference. Retreat to the surface. The Enzio is in orbit. We can beam you aboard once we reach the appropriate coordinates if you'd wish."

<Tag Apirana / Matthew>

[Lorna Holsen]

Lorna did not know what to make of things; Admiral Cain had left the ship and no one seemed to know where she had gone. That was concerning on its own. However, given the current situation surrounding the ship Lorna was really worried. She was sure that she wasn’t the only one trying to find out what going on so she had to focus on her resources. She was digging through Admiral Cain’s medical records.

Like every other Starfleet officer the Admiral had had to undergo regular psychological exams. They were all present and correct and having read a random sample of the reports Lorna built up a picture of a dedicated individual but not one who would abruptly disappear.

Then it occurred to her Patrizia Cain had never missed a psych eval; that was pretty rare, given the way things worked the odds were that at some point in your career you would be unable to make your evaluations due to a temporal anomaly, a war torn planet or some other emergency. Lorna herself had missed three and her career was many years shorter than the Admiral’s. Something was nagging at the back of Lorna’s mind, she double checked all the dates of the evaluations: not only had Admiral Cain never missed an evaluation she had never been so much as a day over due. That was something Lorna had never seen before.

Right, now it was time to look into the medics who had made these reports and try to find out what in space was going on.

[Gheskori]

Gheskori paced back and forth in his quarters, constantly checking the chronometer above his doorframe that silently ticked through the minutes 'til the plan's execution. He could hardly put up with this charade any longer but knew he had no choice. Truthfully he wanted nothing more but to be on the bridge, direct the action; he was a hands-on Denobulan in spite of how much he refuted it.

Leaving his quarters however, was simply not an option. If he and Jackson were right and Admiral Cain had spies aboard, they'd of course know instantly that all was in fact well between Jackson and himself, that his continued suspension from command was a ruse, and that the Rainier and Enzio's COs were well aware of Cain's subterfuge and were now plotting against her in turn.

He had to remain here, make it appear that he and Jackson were too busy bickering amongst themselves about how to handle the Kasan'thar and this tenuous peace conference than to worry about Admiral Cain. He trusted Matthew and Daya, his first officer and operations officer, to coordinate things through this crisis; but the timing was crucial, and Ghes had to in some way remain connected to events. He could only do so through secure channels - encrypted with Jackson's authorisation code (it was fortunate she outranked Cain, as it prevented any Cain spies from monitoring his comms).

The chronometer's fourth digit ticked over once more. Ghes sighed, his steady pacing this time carrying him all the way to the replicator. He ordered an ice water while opening the secure channel, =/\=Tiana. I don't want to push you but we have ten minutes before we need to get that shuttle launched. Please tell me you've finished programming our simulated shutdown?=/\= He only hoped she'd taken sufficient care to ensure that the Enzio's systems would power up again once she and Savin were clear.

<Tag Tiana>

His senior officers on the bridge were patched through to the comm, hiding out in the ready room in case Cain had someone on his bridge, =/\=Jackson's personal shuttle is making speed back to the planet, sir. It should arrive in approximately seven minutes.=/\=

<Tag Jackson - Matthew & Daya>

Ample time to complete the talks... Ghes thought sarcastically, regretting his negative attitude. But the Kasan would need to be convinced in that time and if it wasn't long enough, then when the Kasan got report of what'd befallen out here, the whole conference could be terminated.

Ghes drew himself up, =/\=Commander Matthew, Commander Daya, as soon as we've recovered from our simulated shutdown, fire high yield into Tiana's shuttle. This must be convincing.=/\= They didn't need to be told. The comm cut off unexpectedly. =/=\Hello? Commander?=/\=

"They can't hear you, Commodore." Ghes froze. The clicking rustling, a side effect of the universal translator's efforts to convert the language, was coming from just behind him. "Don't fear. They'll probably think you ended the communication yourself. You seem stressed enough.

Ghes turned, blanching at the sight of the towering Kasan'thar commander. Holographic though he or it was, the terror it induced wasn't lessened. The ghosts in my cupboard... he thought coldly. "I was beginning to think I'd imagined you, sir. Along with my vulcan medic's blindness, that seems to have cured itself."

"We know who you think the enemy is. And we agree with you," the Kasan said, after a lengthy paused during which Ghes held his breath for an eternity as he looked at the stars. "When you lose your power upon release of your shuttle, we will fire on you. With low yield weaponry - you have my word as a warrior. When your Admiral Cain hears that your ship has been attacked by the Kasan and that her first officer is fleeing to her..."

Ghes sighed, sitting on the couch. It was a surreal moment, lying back on his sofa while a monstrous hologram loped about his quarters. "You're asking me to place a lot of trust in you and your people."

"Is that not what you're doing here, in this system?" the Kasan answered instantly. "Is that not what you're asking of your science officer, whose escape and disabling of your ship you're assuming is all part of your plan? Haven't you thought she may betray you; the lifeform to which she's joined once loved the warrior you're trying to bring to justice, am I correct?"

<Tag Jackson, Cain, Tiana, Savin>

[Daya]

"... Apirana to Rainier or Enzio, please advise. We have some extremely angry Kasan'thar here!" Daya whirled around in his chair doing his best to keep the comm channel open as the commodore calmed the situation. Daya knew that Pai could handle pretty much any situation he was placed in, but still couldn't help himself from being a little worried for man. Over hearing Gheskori ask if the enzio could get a comm channel to the planets surface, Commander Daya had to shake his head a little. 'Of course we can do that' he thought to himself, as he worked on getting a lock on Pai and the others on the surface in case he needed to beam them aboard.

A short while later Daya sat at his console, going over the "plan" in his head so he knew what to expect whenever it happened. =/\=Jackson's personal shuttle is making speed back to the planet, sir. It should arrive in approximately seven minutes.=/\=

Ample time to complete the talks... Ghes thought sarcastically, regretting his negative attitude. But the Kasan would need to be convinced in that time and if it wasn't long enough, then when the Kasan got report of what'd befallen out here, the whole conference could be terminated.

Ghes drew himself up, =/\=Commander Matthew, Commander Daya, as soon as we've recovered from our simulated shutdown, fire high yield into Tiana's shuttle. This must be convincing.=/\= They didn't need to be told. The comm cut off unexpectedly. The commander attempted to answer with a basic response, but the channel had been closed. 'I guess he was done' he said with a little smirk. Daya sat ready, his fingers inches above the console screen, waiting for shutdown.

[SA. Stacey Jackson [Ret]]

Leaning back behind her desk Jackson took a deep breath, her eyes scanned Gheskori for a moment as she considered his plan. She shook her head slightly as she sighed. "I would not have thought Cain willing to so blatantly sabotage a peace summit, even one she deemed unwise." She paused for a moment. "It would seem I do not know her as well as you think."

She didn't like the plan, but at the same time Admiral Cain was not her most pressing concern. "The plan has no chance of succeeding with me staying on board Rainier, Cain would not come back unless I was out of the way." She stood up and continued. "More importantly I have the power to sign an agreement of behalf of the council, Captain Cornette hasn't."

She picked up a padd and looked down at it for a moment. "Fortunately I can offer something the Kasan'thar desperately want, it should be enough to get a signed non aggression pact." She stepped out from behind the desk. "I leave the Cain situation in your hands, go ahead with any reasonable plan of action you deem necessary."

She tapped her comm badge. "Jackson to shuttle bay two, prepare a shuttle for immediate launch." She looked back at Gheskori. "Your dismissed Commodore."

*** Shuttle Craft ***

The shuttle had been scanned for the fourth time as she entered the thin atmosphere of the planet, the weapons system on the shuttle had been disabled so as to not risk misunderstanding. She had decided to pilot the shuttle herself, as she already had several officers who were at risk on the surface.

*** Kasan'thar Hall ***

Jackson beamed into the hall her eyes immediately looking to her officers. She gave a slight nod to them as she looked now to the forcefield that held the toxic atmosphere of the Kasan'thar from spilling into the Federation side.

"I am Vice Admiral Stacey Jackson, I am grateful you have allowed these talks to continue despite the misguided actions of some of our officers." She paused for a moment. "As you know we are undertaking efforts to bring her into custody where she will be punished." She stepped forward. "I am still convinced we can come to an agreement that is satisfactory for both sides, in exchange for your withdrawing forces from our borders and your signing a none agression pact we are willing to make concessions."

She continued to move forward until she was close to the forcefield. "As you know the Klingon Empire has for the past decade refused to sell you weapons and technology as the Federation voiced it objections, if we had an agreement the Federation would drop its objections." She looked back at her officers for a moment. "The Federation would also be willing to share the medical technology and research you require for more sustainable hatcheries, you would no longer need to gain it through war with the Tholians."

<TBC>

[Tiana Galwyn Cet]

"Tiana....what if Nawar does take control, and betrays us?"

Tiana gave a slight barking laugh, it was not a good sound, she hadn’t laughed like that since the days after her oldest brother had died. “If Nawar does take control of this body then he will most likely try to kill Admiral Cain.

Tiana did not really want to consider Nawar’s revenge at the moment. She would have to play Nawar as he had been not Nawar as he was. She finished entering commands into the panel straightened up. She gave a genuine smile, even in this situation she loved solving problems. “Just got to send my message to the Admiral

=/\=Commander Cet to Admiral Cain. Sorry it’s been so long and this ship and the girl have been such annoyance. I’m coming back to you. Cet out =/\= On the surface there was nothing to give away that the Commander Cet referred to was not Tiana but embedded in the message were some of Nawar Cet’s command codes, Tiana had tried to use them against the USS Montgomery when she had been on the Victory. There was no chance the Admiral would have forgotten that.

Tag: Admiral Cain

=/\=Tiana. I don't want to push you but we have ten minutes before we need to get that shuttle launched. Please tell me you've finished programming our simulated shutdown?=/\= She pulled the comm badge from her pocket when tit chirped and listened to her CO’s message

=/\=All done Ghes=/\= She closed the comm link and dropped the badge to the floor..

“Time to go.” She headed for the shuttle bay being careful not to run even though adrenaline was starting to surge through her system. Running would only have got them where they were going a little quicker but it would almost certainly have drawn someone’s attention and she did not want to have to have to think of a reasonably coherent lie to explain what she was doing.


The two of them settled themselves into the shuttle’s cockpit. Tiana had passed the required level of piloting for a Starfleet Officer but that wasn’t a lot. Nawar, on the other hand, had been a very capable pilot. He may have wanted to kill Admiral Cain but he might be convinced to settle for severely disrupting her current plan with possibly bringing her to justice. He was certainly happy to help Tiana launch and fly the shuttle. Tiana closed her eyes for a moment and let the memories wash through her, she knew how to do this.

The bay doors opened and the shuttle lifted off and exited through the shields holding in the atmosphere. The Enzio’s computers didn’t notify anyone of the launch. When the bay doors had closed behind them Tiana triggered her programme. The Enzio’s main power cut out and the computer was locked down. At the same time, two messages appeared on Ghes’s screen. One was the access code required to undo her handiwork in a manner that would look like a lucky fix had been discovered. The other read ‘Off the ship. 11.75 minutes’

Tag: Ghes / bridge

Tiana knew she could have done a whole lot worse to the Enzio but she couldn’t bring herself to. This would look a lot worse that in actually was and once the code was entered the ship would be a full functionality again in less than two seconds.
The shuttle made its way into the space between the ships she was trying not to think too hard of what was to come. She at least had the distraction of flying to keep her mind from wandering too far. She wondered how Savin was coping.

She repeated her message to the Admiral adding ‘I hope you like my handy work’ before she signed off now all they had to do was wait.

The time she had set ticked down soon they would be under fire. She hoped Admiral Cain responded before then

Tag.

[Gheskori]

Although aware of his position of simulated suspension from command, Ghes did sometimes have to remind himself that only about 5% of the crew knew the true reasons for Tiana's 'escape' and were aware of what they'd planned.

The Kasan'thar commander had sworn to him that he would only fire on the Enzio using weaponry set to minimum yield - all the better to get Cain's attention - but that he would do so in those moments when the Enzio was nothing more useful than a mass of duranium. Ghes, while wishing not to trust the Kasan so completely, found that he'd no choice but to do so. Regardless of the risk involved, this could prove the difference between bringing Cain to justice or allowing her to escape into the heart of the Federation, where she might easily play away any accusations.

Not so nerve-wracking as that impending instant of helplessness was the prospect of unleashing his ship's weaponry on Tiana's shuttle. Cet's shuttle, as he'd have to see it to convince his own crew of the apparent legitimacy of his science officer's actions. He'd instructed another science officer to think of ways of masking the strength of their phasers, so that Cain wouldn't be able to tell that they were merely prodding at the shuttle's shield grid, but so far no solution had been offered.

There it is... he breathed. ~ Off the ship. 11.75 minutes ~ He smiled at Tiana's succinct message and leant forward, rapidly inputting the access code she'd provided to fix the Enzio's systems.

In the instant he'd received the message his quarters' lights had cut out, the thrum of the warp core had quivered and died and a flurry of communiques from all over the ship had come through his terminal requesting his immediate attention. He could imagine the bridge officers, apart from Matthew, Daya and Walters, in absolute panic, wondering what the devil could have gone wrong that the whole ship had lost power. He ignored them all, intent on inputting the correction code. Satisfied, he submitted it and hoped that the short length of the power outage wouldn't arouse suspicion.

Nothing was happening. He double checked his code entry, realised the small unforgiveable mistake and hurriedly entered it again - but yielded the same result: the Enzio remained powerless, drifting towards the Kasan cruisers and the stationary Rainier. He felt the first tremor run through the ship as the Kasan loosed low-yield warheads at the Enzio's prow hull plating. He gazed at the stars, their slight vibrations every time an impact occurred accumulating his worry.

Ghes arrived on the bridge enraged, having finally realised the depth of his mistake. A full three minutes - they'd only meant for it to have been a couple of seconds - had passed since the power outage began. Of course, Jackson had locked out his authorisation codes. He could only make commands such as the one Tiana had given him via the officer access console on the bridge.

"Commodore..." one officer addressed him shakily, forgoing the usual procedure of addressing an officer removed from their post, "We've lost all power. It seems Commander Galwyn stole a shuttle and used some program to shut down our systems."

Ghes didn't have to bother to feign outrage, given how furious he was with himself, "Where's she going?!" He made his way to the officer's access station, leaving Matthew and Daya both feigning innocence in the command and operations officer's chairs.

"She's heading to Cain's ship!" one of them called back. "We're also under fire from the Kasan, sir!"

"I think I know a fix..." Ghes murmured, accessing the console. He input the code, hoping he'd remembered it correctly. After an agonising few seconds, things started coming back on. The lights were up, the warp core stuttering into activity far below, and defensive systems tentatively warming relays.

"Commander Matthew, lock weapons on the escaping shuttle and fire," he ordered.

"Sir... Commander Galwyn and Dr Saryn's son are aboard her."

"Commander Cet is no longer considered an officer of this vessel. It's obvious she's defected back to the side of her previous CO." Ghes descended to the command chair, trying to make everything seem natural. It was ludicrous keeping up this charade in front of his own bridge staff - with only Matthew and Daya in the know around him - but they couldn't be sure all those on the bridge were on their side...

Matthew gave the order to the tactical officer, who hesitated, but unloaded the full force of the Enzio's prow phaser array on the shuttle Anderson. The shuttle disappeared behind a fireball of expanding plasma and the vague outline of an ovoid shield grid, but remained in place once the plasma dispersed, continuing to recede at about a 100 km per second.

"Lieutenant... Fire again." Ghes ordered calmly, tapping his fingers against the armrest. "Come on, Admiral..." he murmured, trusting there was humanity in Cain to come to her former XO's rescue - the one Ghes remembered she'd callously dismissed as a casualty of war, after initially demanding 'him' back - and that seeing the plight of the Enzio, she'd return thinking she was fighting for the Federation. He thought all this as the next phaser array lashed out at Tiana's shuttle...

<Tag Tiana, Savin, Cain>

[Deleted]

== Shuttle ==

Savin sat in the co-pilot's seat, staring out the main window as Tiana expertly piloted. Savin had no idea how to pilot a shuttle, he had never asked how, and had never needed to know how. Now, he wished he had asked before, so he could help if needed. Still, it was well beyond his expertise, especially since he was still catching up on 25th century technology. 25th Century, he mused as he stared at his own reflection, how old that seemed, compared to what he had been using only a year or two ago. Had it really been that long already?

The Vulcan shook his head at his own musings, then looked up when the shuttle rocked. "We are being fired upon," he reported, "USS Enzio is ordering us to return." He glanced over at sensors. Sensors was something he could decipher, he realised. "Kasan'thar vessel on intercept course. They are charging weapons as well."

== USS Enzio ==

Learning that his son had done something reckless again, Saryn hurried to the bridge. He had been at work in sickbay and had noted his son had failed to report for his shift. Several hails had come back unanswered, and Saryn admitted to a nurse that he had started to grown worried. Until someone reported that Commander Cet, and a young Vulcan named Savin, had left the ship with a shuttle, and that several systems had been damaged.

The turbolift expelled him to the bridge and the older Vulcan hurried down to the command center. "What is he doing, what are they doing?" he asked hurriedly.

[Gheskori]

Ghes didn't have time to contemplate what was happening in system, on the 'negotiations planet' as it had imaginatively been dubbed. If he was being honest with himself, in a part of his mind that he didn't want to face, he didn't care too much either. He was Captain of the Enzio; his one goal now was drawing out a suspected warmonger, someone whose mental presence had dogged him for years, since that encounter with her in the task force to bring the Kasan out in the open, led by her flagship the Montgomery.

At least he didn't have the Kasan to worry about this time. The lead of the two cruisers hovered on the viewscreen, only partially obscured by the shining Rainier, a fortress of a vessel with crenellated spires and battlements; its presence would've been menacing if not for the pact Gheskori had made with its captain.

Full power was restored, the ship fully recovered from Tiana's programmed shutdown. Ghes had found himself wondering briefly if Tiana's program had been more clever than she'd led them to believe; wondered if she really did intend to flee the Enzio and return to Cain's side. "Status of the shuttle, Mr O'Mannin?"

"She's holding her course, sir. Our attacks have caused some minor damage to her starboard thrusters. She's continually listing to one side and being forced to compensate... I'd recommend we don't fire again, sir."

Ghes remained sat calmly in his command chair, Commander Matthew back where he belonged to his side, and Daya at the Ops console. "If she intends to 'defect' to Admiral Cain, Lieutenant, then we must continue our attack." He still had to keep up the charade, for fear of Cain spies in his midst.

At that moment Saryn burst on to the bridge, looking panicked and hurried, at least for a vulcan. If the CMO was human Ghes might surmise that he'd merely had a rather disagreeable breakfast. "What is he doing, what are they doing?" Saryn asked hurriedly.

Ghes stood from the command chair, rounding the dais to the upper level and the tactical console, standing alongside O'Mannin. The CTSO glanced sharply at Ghes, realising what he was doing. "Your son has done something very foolish, Doctor." He looked at the weapons controls. "He's decided to follow Commander Cet as she defects to Admiral Cain. Tiana disabled our systems, leaving us open to attack from the Kasan..." he continued relating what'd happened as his fingers surreptitiously worked over part of the tactical console, "Now we have no choice but to disable their shuttle, even if it puts their lives at risk."

Unannounced, Ghes had reduced the phaser power to 10%. If any spies were on the bridge, they wouldn't know about it. "My ready room, Doctor, if you please." He said quietly to Saryn as he returned to the lower level.

The latest phaser blast shook the shuttle Anderson. It felt unusually weak this time, but still imparted sufficient energy to knock out a sensor array. A console sparked suddenly, shorted out and exploded. The two occupants began to wonder if Commodore Gheskori really did intend to kill them...

<Tag Saryn, Tiana> <Tag Cain> - Let's finish this one up by the end of the month

[Tiana Galwyn Cet]

One of the panels started to spark, Savin calmly used an extinguisher on it. The Enzio was doing the Anderson damage but most of damage wasn’t that serious but how long that situation would continue Tiana couldn’t say. She swallowed. One shuttle borne death was more than enough for Cet. At last there was a response from Admiral Cain’s ship. They were to be allowed to board. Tiana doubted that things would be simple from here. There was no way Patrizia Cain would just accept this particular gift horse.

Tiana set the shields to the specified frequency matching and brought the Anderson to a relative stop then cut power to the engines she and Savin waited and soon their was the familiar tingle of a transporter beam.

They rematerialised in an unfamiliar room. Tiana was unsurprised to see weapons pointed at them. She stepped forward with the bearing of someone twenty centimetres or so taller than the body present. She locked eyes with Admiral Cain. “Commander Nawar Cet reporting for duty, permission to come aboard. Ma’am?”

She allowed herself to smile. Maybe this would work after all. “Granted.” Tiana stepped down off the transporter platform and walked toward the Admiral.

“I am sorry it has been so long. That girl got in the way for a while,” she sighed. “This body is not too bad save the hair. The braid is frankly ridiculous.” She wasn’t quite sure what led her to complain about her hair but if she was going to be Nawar convincingly it would have to be short. The attention of those in the transporter room returned to Savin, still standing on the transporter pad.

“Why did you bring him?”

Tiana gave a full body shrug that was a long way from her normal range of gesture. “It seems he is quite attached to that little girl who gave me her body. I thought he could be useful. Might be interesting if he figures things out, as he will probably still want to look after me in case ‘she’ gets hurt.”

Tag: Savin

This was not the way Nawar Cet had been but this was a version who was ruthless enough to steal a life not his own and return to an equally ruthless woman. Nawar in Cet’s memories appreciated the distinction but she doubted the Admiral would, empathy of any kind had never been her strong suit.

[Deleted]

Savin watched as Tiana/Nawar interacted with Admiral Cain, though he wasn't privy to her side of the conversation. He didn't have the luxury or advantage of sharing a telepathic connection with her and since she was stood with her back towards him, he couldn't see what she was saying. All he had to go on, was the expression on Cain's face and the way she acted.

Linking his hands in front of him upon materialization, his long sleeves falling over them it was unclear whether he was holding anything in his hands, or even whether he was restrained in any fashion. His own expression was neutral though his gaze was fixed on the admiral, giving her more than normal attention. Occasionally, his eyes moved back to Tiana and his expression seemed to change minutely when he did so. After several long seconds, he took a few steps forward, bringing himself level with the woman he cared about. "I am Savin," he stated quietly, but then felt at a loss. He couldn't really lie, and he wasn't sure what excuse to give on why he was in the company of Tiana. Should he confront the admiral now, and tell her she was under arrest under suspicion of treason?

Turning his head a fraction, he looked sideways at the Trill commander, searching her face for clues on what to do next. He had given no indication of his hearing deficiency, leaving that to Tiana to reveal, or keep to herself.
Instead, choosing the pretence of a bodyguard, he lowered his left hand a fraction, letting it rest on the handle of his sword. As he did, his eyes never wavered and his expression did not change.

tag Tiana/Cain

[Gheskori]

There was pensive silence on the bridge as the shuttle Anderson slowed approach to the supposed civilian merchant vessel and entered through its solitary landing bay. Ghes showed no emotion, as the craft vanished from sight on the viewscreen and was swallowed by the merchant's doors. The shuttlecraft had sustained minimal damage in the end; apart from a smoking starboard nacelle, thruster assembly and very probably some internal damage, both occupants had made it unscathed.

Ghes wondered briefly if he'd ever see Tiana Galwyn or Savin again. The latter's father remained on the bridge, standing behind him - Ghes fancied leering at him - calculating why the Enzio's CO had allowed his son to board the shuttle along with the apparently defecting Commander Galwyn Cet.

He was about to invite Saryn to his ready room to explain in full, however this was interrupted by an incoming communication. "Please tell me it's Jackson," he said, settling back into the command chair, expression neutral.

"Negative, sir... It's from the lead Kasan cruiser," the tactical officer's surprise was evident. Ghes paused, glancing at Matthew, before nodding to have the comm patched through.

The universal translator did its best to quickly translate the cruiser's message. The image that appeared on the viewscreen revealed only darkness, punctuated unevenly by distant amber patches of light that shone through the gloom and illuminated airborne particles of mysterious identity. Ghes could almost discern a figure at the centre of the screen, some way distant from the counterpart vessel's viewscreen - its outline vibrating in a heat haze.

"The Kasan'thar's presence in this system has come to an end," the translator offered mechanically, "We are done with this peace conference, Commodore Gheskori."

The comm was cut before Ghes could even open his mouth to issue reply. He glanced at his senior officers in confusion. Was this part of the collusion between him and the Kasan commander? Had Jackson been successful in her negotiations? Or were the Kasan abandoning the conference, and any idea of future peace?

<Tag Jackson>

"Commanders Matthew, Daya and Dr Saryn, my ready room please." He rose from his seat, the requested individuals promptly following.

"Doctor Saryn, Commander Galwyn is acting on my orders. Our plan is to trap Admiral Cain. Your son is... safe," he looked up and said once the doors were closed and he was installed in his ready room chair. He regarded all three of them, "What do we make of this Kasan departure? We can't leave this position with Cain still out there to be drawn in, but the Kasan seem to want to depart and leave us, and the Rainier, seemingly from Cain's point of view out here for no reason. Will she see any reason to come back now?"

<Tag Matthew, Daya, Saryn>

[SA. Stacey Jackson [Ret]]

Cain had remained fairly silent as she glanced from Cet to the Vulcan. "Your memories must be faulty, otherwise you would surely have remembered I am not stupid." She raised her hand and clicked her fingers.


Without warning a guard standing behind the pair pulled a phaser and shot the vulcan in the lower back, smoke rose from the wound the phaser was clearly set higher than the standard stun. "Disarm them." She flatly stated. as multipled guards stepped forward weapons drawn.

"I want to know exactly who sent you here, I want to know exactly what Jackson and Gheskori are up too." She paused. As she reached out and took the Vulcans sword out of the hand of her guard. "Crude."

Not expecting to get shot, Savin went down to his knees before rolling over onto his back. A cry of agony escaped him and he had to fight for consciousness. Pain seared out into his back and legs, his heart was racing. He could smell burnt flesh and knew that he wasn't bleeding much because the heat of the shot had cauterized most of the injury.

He cast eyes black with pain up at the woman, his breath coming in short gasps as he tried to control the pain. "Not crude," he gasped. "Effective to defend my charge. I failed to defend Tiana, or Nawar however you wish it. I am sworn to protect her. We were not sent, we came of our own free will."

She looked down and shrugged. "Clearly not that effective." She slowly shook her head. "Hide behind techincalites all you like Vulcan, but you and I both know you are here with the permission of either Admiral Jackson or Gheskori." She took a deep breath. "And not as is claimed here for to aid me."

"Do you not think I can tell the difference between a real and staged battle?" She shook her head slowly. "So you will tell me exactly why you are here and you will not leave out any details."

"They had to let us leave, or Tiana would have destroyed the Enzio." It was as truthful as he could deliver it, especially since he really didn't have additional information and as far as he knew, she did have the means to do it. "Please..." He struggled to sit up, though it was excruciating to move. His vision greyed out for a moment as he tried to keep his eyes on her. One lapse and he'd miss what she was saying. He couldn't afford it. "I need medical assistance."

She sighed in disgust. "Unfortunately we don't have a Medical Officer on board." She shrugged slightly. "Well as much as I would enjoy to continue our discussion, you are clearly not going to reveal the truth and I have far more important things to work on." She paused for a moment. "Computer, recognize Cain Admiral, Patrizia, iniate self destruct sequence." She paused again and looked at Savin and Cet. "Four minutes, silent countdown."

"Enable." The computer warned that the ship would be destroyed in three minutes and fifty five seconds. As Cain turned to look at the pair. "Pitiful you didn't even come close to outsmarting me."

Her head turned to the left and she said. "Deactivate the holographic interface." Suddenly Cain and the guards vanished, Savins sword hit the ground with a loud thump.

Slumping back to the deck, Savin hissed in pain. "Tiana...I am sorry," he whispered, before losing the battle with consciousness.

[Gheskori]

After the first of his senior officers had offered their thoughts, there came an urgent comm, "Commodore Gheskori to the bridge. We have a signal from Admiral Cain's vessel, sir."

Ghes flicked his eyes at the three officers before him. "Has Tiana made contact?" he spoke to the bridge, pressing a button on his desk.

"Negative, sir. We're still reading Galwyn and Savin's lifesigns but it's not a communication. Recommend you come to the bridge immediately, sir." Ghes rose from his seat with Saryn close behind, Matthew and Daya following after. The Denobulan frowned as he sat in the command chair, avoided the CMO's gaze momentarily. He knew full well that he had given Saryn false hope, suggesting that Savin was safe, but it had simply slipped out. Now he might come to regret it.

Ghes had the viewscreen zoomed to show the merchant vessel, its dark form still receding into the nothingness. "Report."

The tactical officer was the one to offer explanation, "We've registered a change of status in the vessel's computer core. I can't be absolutely certain, sir, but it would seem the vessel's self destruct has been activated." Ghes met eyes with Saryn. He'd thought he might come to rue his words of assurance but this was ridiculous. All the work, the plotting, the falsifying of Commander Galwyn's allegiance... - Cain or whoever was aboard that vessel had seen through it almost immediately.

He asked how long they had. "If it is the self-destruct, then slightly over three minutes," tactical replied.

"Close on the vessel. Full impulse," Ghes ordered, almost sighing as he rose to his feet and started pacing. How lacking in sensibility he had been to presume he could outwit Cain so simply. True enough, on approach intensive scans revealed that there were no lifesigns left aboard the vessel except his own Enzio crewmembers, if there had ever been any of Cain's people aboard. "Does it have shielding?"

"Yes, but minimal."

"Prepare a low yield quantum torpedo sufficient to deplete its shield grid. As soon as the grid fails lock on to Tiana and Savin's signals and beam them to sickbay." He couldn't risk them making it back to the Anderson, if they were even in a position to do so. He also knew that Cain would know he'd be able to rescue the two officers. But this trap had given the Admiral all the time she had needed to get away. Unless... "Scan the surrounding space. Any sign of another vessel besides the Rainier and the two Kasan cruisers?"

After a pause Daya responded negative. "... And those two Kasan'thar cruisers have just warped away, sir."

Ghes sighed, collapsing back in the command chair. The Enzio dashed by the merchant vessel that now spun all three axes, control intentionally lost as she'd been abandoned, firing its azure torpedo and collapsing the shields. Not a second later, a glimmer of a spark came from within the ship, as if it was living thing and had briefly become luminescent at its many pores; it then exploded into the night.

"Do we have them?" he demanded, for a brief moment not caring if the destruction was due to a self destruct program or the quantum torpedo.

<Tag Tiana / Savin?> <Tag ALL> - nearly done guys