SB Assailant - Mission 2.5 Lockdown

[Magellan Lin]

OOC:

Okay everyone - Imagine Tomlinson has posted the lockdown ending - I ll dovetail it in when he does.

Therefore this post begins the ending and rounding up of the mission.


IC:

Magellan breathed a sigh of relief as Lily confirmed she had full control of the station.
"Check all back ups and check all tactical systems" he ordered swiftly. "Oh and make sure that taskforce Lily asked for is cancelled."
"I ll get on that" Frass hissed,
"And you." Magellan pointed at Treski "I want you and your engineers of my station immediatly."
"but..."
"No. No buts. You disobeyed my orders and those of my Chief Maint Officer. Lily seems fine to me and I will see to any upgrades and checking required. If there are any problems I will call on the engineers at Omicrion. Thankyou and good day"
Treski whilst furious and a bright red decided not to challenge the admiral and backed away.
Magellan retreated to his office and looked at his messages. A Padd held the cost of the error. 436 injured 73 dead. A high score for such a simple blunder high indeed given the death of Elder Jak'dor.

***

Zoilip crossed the cargo bay and used a site to site transport to take him to Sickbay. He paused at the entrance where Ji'zahn still sat.
"Acolyte" he greeted his deep blue face grave as dictated teh situation. The debrune looked up.
"I am here to escort you and the Elder down to Qualinost."
"I take it we will be safe?"
"I have arranged for the Copenhagen to be on patrol and the runabout will be escorted by a wing of fighters. You will be quite safe."
Ji'Zahn nodded,
"Ambassador Tedak and teh divine child, D'beren must accompany us."
Zoilip nodded,
"Very well. I think we can arrange that, We can swing by his quarters as we depart. If you are ready>?"

TAG ji Zahn

[Ji' Zhan]

"Very well, we will be on our way then," JiZhan said as the body of the Elder was transported to the runabout.

Arriving at the door to Tedak's quarters Ji'zhan pressed the call button. "Tedak, it is Ji'Zhan ... are you ready to depart?" The door opened and Tedak and the child was standing packed and ready to go. Soon after their luggage was transported to the runabout as well.

Ji'Zhan walk over to the child. "Hello D'beren ... My name is Ji'Zhan ... I was your Uncles trusted adviser and friend. How are you?"

The child, being a little shy, stood half behind Tedak. Tedak pushed him out from behind him and said, "Talk to Ji'Zhan ... he is our new friend now." The child smiled and stepped forward. Ji'Zhan held up his had and the child took it, "D'beren, lets walk together to the runabout ... do you feel like a trip?" The child nodded yes and along with the security detail they were off.

Arriving at the docking port, they stepped on to the shuttle and Ji'Zhan walked back to the aft compartment with D'beren. "D'beren, would you like to sit here and play? I have some very old toys that our ancestors loved to play with." They both sat and started to play with toys that held symbols of the Debrune people. Ji'zhan explained each one.

The shuttle trip was uneventful and the body of the fallen Elder was now laying in state in the Temple of Shatir. The ceremony would be taking place soon.

Throughout the ceremony the young child looked amazed at the things that were going on. The Candle part of the service held the young ones attention very well. Ji'zhan, during his readings, would look up at the child determined that what Jak'Dor had told him before he died would never be known. The precession that followed was long and deep in the caves so Ji'Zhan had the protectors, the security personnel of their world, to take D'beren and Tedak to quarters in the Central Palace.

The caves were dimly lit and cold. Rectangle holes were cut out along the sides of the walls where the ancestors were laid to rest. The floor was dusty and the foot steps echoed forever off the cave walls. The air was stale but due to the cold caves the bodies that occupied the catacombs did not smell. Shadows would retreat as the flames from the torches passed each pathway that cut off from the main path. Finally they reached Jak'Dor's resting place. It was located next to his father and his father's father. Jak'Dor's body was lifted into the opening and sealed forever ...

Jak'Dor's blood was placed in the Temple next to other Elders that had come before him ... it was to symbol to the people that the blood that coursed through each leaders veins would be forever in the place that stood for the Debrune. This time it would be no different.

All was over. Ji'Zhan had meet with the council, took care of things and retired to his home that was now swarming with protectors. Crowds of people were standing in the streets. Some to morn the passing of Jak'Dor and others to try to catch a glimpse of the child. Official news had not been released of his presence, but word spreads quickly among people of any world. Tedak and the child would be transported from place to place until security was assured. Ji'Zhan knew that soon morning would turn to celebration after the announcement of the Holy Child's arrival.

However, Ji'Zhan was preparing a meal because soon Tedak, D'beren, and Admiral Lin was to arrive at any moment for dinner.

<tag>

[mercy]

It had been a long two days since the lockdown. A little over 400 patients had been admitted into the infirmary, and another seventy some to the morgue. Of the the living, only 24 needed to be kept as inpatients with severe enough injuries that required monitoring and time for healing.

Stuart himself had taken care of the body of Jakdor, the Debrune Elder. The instructions from JiZhan were quite simple, and the letting of the blood into the ceremonial jar was not a dire task either. Stuart felt the sadness go through his body as he knew he was taking care of a great man to a very proud race. He felt honored for doing his part. The body was taken yesterday to be put at rest on Qualinost. Stuart knew that he would go there someday to pay his respects.

~ Respect ~ Now there was a word that Stuart didn't know what to do with when it came to his thoughts of T'Val, Tedak, and himself. Sitting in his office, Stuart was contemplating the events that led him to his predicament. Did he respect Tedak enough to not go courting his wife, T'Val? Did he respect T'Val enough as a married woman? Did he even respect himself with everything that was happening? This was driving him nuts. The old human addage aplied here...love is blind. He just wondered how blind it was from T'Val's point of view. He knew that it wasn't blind at all as far as Tedak was concerned. Tedak would just as soon as skewer Stuarts' eyes out and make him blind for this love.

This was so unlike him to want to get attached to one woman, much less one that was already married. Stuart very much enjoyed the company of other women. The non-comittment that he so freely hung on to. Why now, why this, why her? Although he did know the answer. She was his equal, his peer. He never much enjoyed conversation with other women who couldn't appreciate his job. As an EMT back on Earth, he was on the road too much to run into any peers. His scheduling just didn't coincide with any of the nurses that he briefly met during the hand-off of patients.

Now that he was a doctor, he was afforded more time with a nursing staff, but one he really couldn't co-mingle with as he was the 'Boss'. Then came T'Val. She was exotic, beautiful, smart and passionate about their profession. Above all, she was not on his staff. He remembered the flirting that he had started with her, wondering how, if at all, a vulcan would react. To his surprise, she reacted in his favor and it had snowballed from there.

Nurse Jill Tsomba walked in and thankfully disturbed Stuart's thoughts. "One of the patients is caling for you. The Andorian engineer, Rok." Stuart rose from his chair, placing the PADD down that he had pretended he was reading, and followed Jill out.

After making a turn down Ward 3, Stuart entered the observation room that was the current home to an irritated Rok. "Ah, doctor. Get me out of here. I have duties to attend to. There are dampening generators that need adjusting, field coils need alignments, and various other things that this station needs my help on. I tell you that I feel fine and am fit for duty."

Stuart looked over the chart that was on the PADD, hanging from the adjacent wall, trying to remember what Rok was here for. There it was and looking up again at Rok only confirmed what the chart was reading. His head had been bandaged up as the cartilage in his antennae had been damaged. Although it might have seemed as a superficial wound for a human, it was quite severe for an Andorian. An Andorians sense of balance was maintained within those antennas and if damaged, it would be like trying to walk after having gone through a man sized centrifuge spinning at 50kmh.

Stuart looked at his patient and motioned for him to get up. Jill assisted Rok by holding onto one of his arms. "Follow me into the hallway, Rok. Let's just have a simple test, shall we?" Rok got up and pulled his arm from Jill, defying her touch. He held onto the walls until he was out the door standing next to Stuart in the hallway.

"I want you to walk straight down this hallway, until you get to that junction. That's about twenty meters. If you can make it down to there without stumbling too much to my satisfaction, I shall release you to your CEO." Stuart let out a smile as Rok looked at him and then down the hallway.

Rok proceeded to take his first step. It was a weary one, but he got his foot forward quickly enough to not stumble sideways. The next one caught him a bit off-kilter as he bumped up against the wall to the side. Jill was about to go help Rok, when Stuart gently held her arm to have her just stand by. As Rok repositioned himself back into the center of the hallway, he started another step slow forward, then two, then three....then the fourth one caused him to fall straight ahead into a prone position. Stuart motioned for Jill to follow him to help Rok back up.

Rok cursed in his native tongue as Stuart and Jill were holding one arm each. "Come, let's take you back into your room. If this is how you plan on fixing things on this station, then we might as well have Lily go through her lockdown procedures again." They got the Andorian engineer back to his bed and Rok conceeded the point. He would need to remain here for a couple of more days. Stuart and Jill took this opportunity to check on some more of their patients while on their way back to their offices. It kept Stuart's mind from wandering and wondering about T'val.

[Deleted]

D'Beren gazed around in wonder as he departed the shuttle with his father, and the strange man who had been introduced now as Uncle Ji'Zhan. "Daddy!" the boy exclaimed, pointing at the massive stone building that was the Debrune temple, "look!" It had been a while since he'd been at the temple, he'd been a mere baby then, but the boy did remember being in other buildings more recently.

The Debrune child had no notion of the fact that they were preparing to attend a funeral of the only person who had been able to hold the Debrune who lived on Qualinost together. Impatiently, he tugged at his father's hand, struggling to pull him along towards the temple.

Tedak smiled as he allowed himself to be pulled forward by the two-year old. He himself marveled at the Debrune structures and he was keen on learning more about them if the he would get the opportunity. However, more dire matters were at hand now, and earlier they'd been installed in luxuous guest quarters. The Romulan had objected to the luxury, claiming that they hadn't come on vacation, but the chamberlains wouldn't hear of any protests. The Divine Child was deserving of such attention, dire situation or no.

At last, Tedak had resigned in the fact that they would be residing in an expensive room, where plainer ones would've been more suitable to the situation at hand. Now though, he was walking through the Debrune city with his son. ~I wish T'Val were here~ he thought, knowing by now that her ship would be docking any minute now.

He shook his head sadly, and noticed that the boy picked up on the emotion. "Daddy?" he enquired, as he approached his father, "you ok?"

Tedak nodded. "Just thinking of your mother," he answered, "you'll see her again soon."

D'Beren smiled brightly, his grey eyes lightening up with joy. The Debrune boy had a special bond with the Vulcan woman, and everyone knew it. It was as though he was truly her son, biologically; such attachement they shared. It had been the boy's doing from the start that he would end up in her care, even though the boy himself didn't quite realize it yet.

Tedak had no doubt that his son would grow up to become an important person to the Debrune, no matter what would happen. Yet he was deeply troubled by his own marriage to T'Val. He deeply cared for her, even loved her very much, but he knew that he needed to talk to her soon. He knew she cared for the human doctor, and even though he was troubled by it, and even resented the human over it, he knew there was nothing he could do about it. ~she loves him~ he realized, but knew also that she loved him too. ~had she not, she would've hidden her feelings from me, and she's been honest with me from the start. I cannot resent her for that~

Suddenly, the Romulan knew what he had to do, even though it would break his own heart. A single tear rolled down his cheek as he kneeled down to hug his son.

"Daddy, you're crying," D'Beren suddenly said, looking up at his father in surprise. He'd never seen either of his parents this emotional.

"Yes I am," Tedak said, "I will tell you about it later. Come, we must get back. Acolyte Ji'Zhan is expecting us for dinner."

Several minutes later, Tedak and D'Beren walked into a large hall, and waited for Magellan to join them before Ji'Zhan would come to pick them up.

[Magellan Lin]

Magellan finished off the last of his despatches and made for the door.
"Sloping off early I see" Laurana said. She was stood leaning against the corridor behind him.
Magellan sighed and turned round.
"Actually I have a dinner engagement."
A twinkle appeared in her eye,
"Oh good I m starving."
Magellan shook his head in disbelief at the gall of the woman and then softened,
"Okay, I m sure Ji'Zahn wouldnt mind. You can come"
"Excellent" Lauarana replied skipping over and looping her arm in his, "Where are we going?"
"Planetside" Magellan replied freeing his arm and heading for the turbolift.
"You havent forgotton our deal yet have you" She asked cheekily,
"No I promise to return to Trill with you. I sense its the only way I ll get any piece. I can tell you I ll be having stern words with Lenara for ever getting you involved."
Laurana shrugged,
"I dunno its been kind of fun. Its not often I get to leave the Pools of Mak'ala."
"Once too often if you ask me." Magellan replied half jesting.

***

Magellan and Laurana emerged from the runabout and were escorted into themain city by a pair of Debruni assistants. Tedak and Ji'Zahn were already present and Magellan nodded to them as he entered.

TAG Tedak and Ji Zahn

"Again my condolences." Magellan added.

With a clash of cymbals the first course was brought in and with them the rest of the guests.
"As this is honour of Jak'dor I have invited his colleagues and fellow Elders. High Priest Kale, and Elders Lork and Cra'mel."
The Three elderly Debrune bowed at the hip at the mention of their names.
"Please let us begin." Cra'mel gestured.

As the meal progresssed and the wine began to follow everyone began to relax.
"I hope you dont mind me asking but who now leads the Debrune?" Magellan asked.
"The Debrune has always been led by the Three Elders. We three elect one of our number as leader." Lork answered gruffly in a gravel like voice.
"But as we are now only two" Cra'mel continued "Matters are on hold. Lork and I will continue as best we can until another Elder is appointed."
"And how does that happen" Tedak asked.
Ji'Zahn leaned forward and refilled his glass.
"Elders are chosen from among the Lesser Elder Council. All teh Acolytes and Advocates."
"Many to choose from" Lauarna asked between mouthfuls,
"540" Lork answered, "But the favourite, though he may not know it is in fact Ji'Zahn, but he faces stiff opposition from Ja'kel - Jar'rons nephew."
"Jar'ron!" Magellan exclaimed, "The leader of the rebels."
"Indeed. All Debrune are equal. And whilst we may not have the same faith in the Federation Jak'dor did, we know you must respect our ways, and that includes who we elect."
Magellan nodded
"f course, we respect diplomacy. It just surprises me how you can be so open to your enemies."
Cra'mel nodded,
"And that is where we differ, The rebels are not our enemies. They are Debrune, as are we. Despite differences in opinion, we are all equal."

TAG Anyone.

[Ji' Zhan]

"We are all equal Elder Cra'mel, however as I have told you just in the past hour, Jar'rons has plans for his nephew. You know yourself that he was placed above his other party candidates within a week after losing the last vote. Jar'rons intentions are clear. He needs the power of that seat."

"How do you know these things Ji'Zhan?" Cra'mel asked

"I will tell you more about that after dinner Elder; for now let us eat and honor the passing of Elder Jak'Dor." Ji'Zhan suggested.

"I agree, we will have time after we eat." Cra'mel said as he lifted his glass to drink.

Lork, looking across the table at Ji'Zhan, "Ji'Zhan, I have read in your report that you subdued one of the rebels by mind control ... is that true?"

"Yes, Elder, that is correct. As a brother, I couldn't hurt a fellow Debrune; however, the situation was bad and at the time Jak'Dor still was holding on." Ji'Zhan answered looking a Tedak.

Zork put his glass down, "That only means that you saw his thoughts."

Ji'Zhan placed his fork on the table, "I did".

"Then the question is ... what did you see?" Zork quizzed.

"Yes Ji'Zhan ... what did you see ... or should we see for our-selfs?" Cra'mel said suggesting that they should meld minds.

"Elders ... you may see what I saw." Ji'Zhan said standing and walking over to the two.

Cra'mel turned and faced the others that were at the table. "You are about to witness something that is rarely seen by off-worlders. However, seeing how these are trying times for our people ...

The two approached Ji'Zhan and placed their hands on Ji'Zhans wrist ... ... ...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jar'ron was standing in a dark room talking to others around a large table. Three people to his right and three Romulans to his left. Ja'kel - Jar'rons nephew were the eyes of this vision.

"Ja'kel," Jar'ron said, "You are to run for the Elder's spot."

"But there isn't a spot to be had Uncle," Ja'Kel said.

The Romulan sitting just to the left of Jar'ron spoke, "That will not be so in a few days."

"What does that mean Uncle," Ja'Kel asked

"It isn't for you to know ... if you don't know the truth ... then you will not have to lie." Jar'ron said. "The important thing is ... you will run and beat any opponent running against you.

"But Uncle, how will I do that ... I may be an Advocate ... but I have only been serving for a year." Ja'Kel said looking very confused.

"That doesn't matter now nephew. What matters now is that a team of two are headed to Starbase Assailant to ... lets just say ... set things up for you." Jar'ron said with a very malicious look.

The Romulan spoke again, "Then you, Ja'Kel ... will ... let us just say ... will allow the Debrune people to join once again with the Romulan race."

Ja'Kel was scratching his head, "But the Debrune race is much older than the Romulans," turning to his Uncle, "why Uncle ... you found the scrolls that proved that. They said that the Debrune was the mother race."

The Romulan stood and pounded the table, "YOU will NEVER utter those words again !!!" The sound of the Romulan's voice echoed around the room.

Jar'ron spoke, "As far as you know ... those scrolls are simply a myth."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The vision was over ... Cra'Mel had all the "truth" he could stand and lowered his hand thus breaking the meld.

The rest of the room also knew what was seen because the vision was voiced out loud ... a practice that had been lost with the Vulcan's.

Ji'Zhan looked a Tedak and Lin ... both were shocked as was the rest of the room.

<TAG>

OFF ... please re-read this post ... I had some names placed incorrect ... sorry for the mix-up.

[Magellan Lin]

Magellan paused unsure of exactly what he had seen.
"That was a most unique experience" He commented, "It would be interesting to see these scrolls of this Jar'ron."
"Rubbish" Tedak expounded, "Everyone knows that the Debrune, Vulcans and Romulans are all of the same species. We are all equals."
Magellan shrugged,
"Who knows what happened all that time ago"
Cra'mel and the other distinuished Debrune kept quite.
"What about you?" Tedak asked them
"There are many legends in our peoples history, that is one I have heard" High Priest Kale said softly, "But is just that - a legend."
The conversation turned from the vision and on to other matters drifting in and out of a variety of matters until finally late in the evening the party broke up and the guests began to depart.

***

Somewhere deep in the Romulan Star Empire.

Jar'ron stood impassivly at the window of the Talon Class Romulan Warbird. Its graceful lines were a wonder to behold but even he a novice in technical matters could recognise Debrune design influences in the lines and curves of the ship.
A door slid open and a Debrune walked in.
"I have recieved word from our assassins"
"They were successful?"
The Debrune nodded,
"Jak'dor is dead."
"Excellent" a third voice extolled,
A shape stepped out from the wall.
"All seems to be going to plan" The Romulan stated.
Jar'ron nodded.
"I will contact Jak'tel and prepare him for taking over as Elder."
"See that you do. Our deal still stands - Our military support for your cause and our procurement of technology and the ownership of Starbase Assailant."
"All will be as we agreed" Jar'ron nodded, "But first I must be installed as the sole leader of the Debrune, and we need Jak'tal in the interim for that."


OOC: This concludes this mission. I ll set up the interregnum thread now upon which we'll sim until the new year to cover Ji'Zahn accession to the positon of Elder.