Kreanus (Part 3 of 4)

Posted on 21 Dec 2016 @ 3:37am by General ('aj) Ko'raH House of G'Iogh & Commander Medara t'Keras & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Ensign Miraj Derani & Ensign Mimi & Chief Warrant Officer 3 Greg Mitchell & Senior Chief Petty Officer Martin Caine (KIA) & Chief Petty Officer Torgeir Naes & Sub-commander S'anara Valdran & Lieutenant JG Noah Khoroushi & Chief Petty Officer Crispin Snow
Edited on on 21 Dec 2016 @ 3:45am

2,605 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Episode 12 - Recluse
Location: Kreanus Colony - Deck 18, Processing
Timeline: MD 05 - 1535 hrs

Previously, on Kreanus (Part 2)...

The commander inhaled and her robust chest slowly rose then fell. "We are the shunned. Our homes have abandoned us. Our governments have exiled us and tried to eliminate our existence. We are bonded together because of our plight, because we all share the same experiences. We are all Kreaneans."

And Now, the Continuation...

[ON]

Greg looked solemnly at those in the cave. For the first time in a while, he managed to take in what he was seeing. The mix of different people of different beliefs reminded him somewhat of home.

Rivetti was the first to break the silence. "Feels like a Russian gulag in here."

"Gosh dang it Rivetti." Greg responded.

Allyndra narrowed her eyes and glanced at Wiggins then stepped forward. "You are the shunned and what you decide that we are to be part of your big party of the lost? If your intent was to keep this as a private home world then your intent was sadly mistaken. Perhaps a signal did or did not get out. Perhaps no shuttles escaped. However, our last known position is known to the Fleet in general and they will come looking. I seriously doubt your secret and home will be that for much longer. As your cousins would say, your moves were not logical"

Medara took a deep breath then quietly sighed. It was always the same with each new batch of survivors -- always the glimmer of hope mixed with defiance without any regard for her colony's plight. She'd long since learned to control her anger and instead focused herself on her people and their needs.

"I am sorry for your loss," the Romulan reiterated with as much sincerity as could come from one of her species. "And I admire your resolve. But Starfleet will not be coming for you. Not here, at least," she waved her hand dismissively without much concern. "Our world is located so deep inside the nebula that no ship can navigate here without the exact coordinates or specific sensor sensor calibrations. Many have tried over the years and all have failed. What Starfleet will find is the remains of your vessel within the nebula perimeter, and nothing else."

It was a cold and hard fact for Medara to explain, but one which was necessary. The Paulson Nebula was completely un-navigable near its inner core -- any starship's navigational sensors were simply incapable of dealing with the amount of interference. To attempt to do so was the equivalent of flying into a dense patch of fog and expecting to find a latinum coin on the ground.

Medara then looked the winged Akkadian in the eyes and addressed her other point. "We did not bring you here and expect you to join us. You are mistaken," she revealed. History was littered with examples of failed forced-assimilations and attempted subjections. None of them had ultimately been successful. "We have brought you all here to ask for your help." Her words echoed throughout the makeshift cargo bay -- the resulting silence was eerie.

Allyndra could not help but laugh. "Destroy our ship, kill our people and then say you need help? Pardon me," she made a bit of formal curtsy but it was mocking the situation then straigtened. "It strains credulity in the extreme. Still I suppose we have little choice at the moment." She wondered how long it might take Fleet to mount anything, no matter what the Romulan had said, and how long before they mentioned anything to Akkadia. Then who knew what the Council might do especially when the Mother of the most important House was missing. Probably name a new mother, but still she could only hope they might open the archives and get off their collective rears and use some of the old technology. If a Fold Ship could merge two points in space-time who knew what else there might be in there.

The Romulan commander looked to the only other Romulan in the room who had since entered and taken her place beside her. With a knowing look, Medara gave her a nod and stepped back, allowing the other woman to speak. "Sub-commander," she said, indicating for her to explain the situation in further detail and address the Federation commander's comments.

S'anara stepped forward and glanced at Medara before addressing the Starfleet officer. "You'll be helping the Federation by helping us. The Empire has repeatedly violated your territory in their endless pursuits to eliminate General Kor'aH." She glanced at the Klingon, "First they stripped him of his title and seat on the High Council, and then the rival houses begin a campaign to eliminate him and his family. The managed to track him here, and with each attack they are getting closer Kreanus. We need you to go to Q'onos and convince the High Council to end the raids."

Allyndra listened but she still had a hard time figuring out why they expected a bunch of people that had been bloodied and bruised by them to still help them. Still if there was a chance to get out of here, then there might be a chance to call for help. Finally she nodded, "I will defer to Commander Wiggins, but as second officer I cannot officially say that we can help. However," she held up a slim fingered hand. "I will volunteer to attempt this. I wear a Federation uniform, but Akkadia is not a Federation world. As a somewhat neutral world perhaps then I will not be viewed quite so biased."

At her elbow, Miraj muttered, "But they murdered our ship and killed the admiral, and ...done things.. to us. They've scuppered themselves. let them sink."

Medara did her best to elaborate upon the situation in a manner the Federation crew could understand, similar to S'anara. "You must all understand the gravity of our request. The Klingon Empire had been sending cloaked raiding parties into Federation space -- into this nebula -- with increasing frequency." She looked across the entire crew with severe eyes. "We can defeat them in battle and have already taken many of them prisoners and captured their vessels...but there is a larger concern." The Romulan cleared her throat to emphasize her next words. "If the Federation discovers these incursions into their territory -- authorized by the High Council, no less -- it will be seen as an act of war and a violation of your standing treaties with the Empire. It could plunge the entire Alpha and Beta quadrants into a state of war and destabilize countless worlds."

Pausing for a moment to give emphasis to her plea, Medara continued. "You must help us. Not simply because of General Ko'raH's predicament, but because of the damage this will do to your government's relations. The Federation cannot win a war against the Klingon Empire in a protracted conflict. The Empire has expanded their borders and conquered too many new worlds since the collapse of the Star Empire. Their fleet strength and industrial capability is at its highest level since the Four-Years War, and they have advanced considerably in their weapons technology. Please. You must help."

Allyndra waited to answer Miraj while the Romulan continued on but just before she finished she whispered back, "I agree but if there is a chance to get away from here, then a possibility to contact the Federation. If the High Council is found out one possible trade might be the location of this place since they themselves have indicated that the Empire knows or is close to knowing exactly where they are located. "

She turned her attention back. "I am not sure about that though I will agree such a thing will leave both sides weakened and certainly leave openings for others to further fragment and claim territory that will ensure continued conflict. As I have said, I am about as close to a neutral party that you have."

Greg had heard enough. The anger of the recent events had boiled up inside of him. He had watched as the Klingons destroyed his ship. He had watched his friends, crewmates, and fellow officers were killed. He had seen his men beaten. He had been tortured by the captures. And yet now, in the middle of all this, the parties responsible were asking for help.

"Wait just a damn minute." Greg inhaled as he gained the strength to stand. Wilson had been helping him walk to this point. "I don't care how much help they want. I don't care what situation they're in."

"Chief...." Wilson whispered.

"Those were my friends on that ship. It was my job to protect them and I failed. I had it with those barbarians over there." Greg looked at the Klingons. "I'm not prepared to turn around and help them ma'am." This was out of the ordinary for Greg. He had never disobeyed orders before, and he knew it was wrong now. But he couldn't let this anger go....he couldn't. And that's when his anger spilled over and he said something he would later regret. A discrimination that even he knew was wrong, but what had boiled over from his past experiences.

"And forgive me, ma'am." He said to Allyndra, "But I refuse to work with a Romulan. I've had enough of their backstabbing."

Later that day Martin was shoved into one cell and listened as Jamie was seperated painfully, mentally at least, from her mother.

Martin was muttering he was angry they had separated Jamie and He and Steph, They were all full blood Betazoid so they had been able to help treat Tuula each time she came back from interrogation. The good thing about being Betazoid was you could ask for assistance and not even look like you were talking, which was how he was able to treat her. Stephanie had the scientific Knowledge and he had the hands that had to be used. He would be glad to be out of here.

Commander Medara exhaled with the tiniest bit of unseen relief. All things considered -- primarily the general's treatment of the Federation crew -- the Starfleet personnel in front of her seemed less hostile than others had been in the past. Perhaps they were indeed making progress over the years as her advisors had claimed. "Well," she began to finish, "I will give you one week to make your decision. That is how long it will take us to prepare our intelligence operatives and outfit a starship for deployment. If you refuse our request for aid...we will not punish you. You will be free to return to the Federation and your nearest outpost without any opposition," she explained before pausing to look over the crew for the last time.

"But I hope you will consider our request. Kreanus means you no harm. I mean you no harm. We simply want to have our own world, to ourselves, in peace without outside interference or assassination incursions. To show our intentions, you will all be granted free stay at our colony for the next seven days." Grumblings suddenly began to break out between a few of the Klingon guards who appeared less than pleased at the concept. When Medara held her hand up, however, they became silent in order to allow her to continue.

"You will be under watch by our guards but each of you will be provided quarters, food, drink, and medical attention. What you choose to do in your free time is your own decision...but I hope you will help us. Your experience as scientists can help our colony. At the end of the week, I will ask for your final decision." Medara's eyes suddenly turned colder. "An if you refuse, i fear you will destroy the peace you hold dearest." She glanced at S'anara then to the lead Klingon guard to give him a hand signal. The door to the cargo bay creaked and slowly opened to allow the Galileo crew to depart. "Follow your guards," Medara instructed. "They will take you to your new quarters and give you your water and replicator privileges."

With a final motion of her hand to dismiss the gathering, the Klingons in the cargo bay began to repeat the Romulan's commands and usher Galileo's crew out of the cargo area and into the hallway towards their new housing units.

Allyndra stood where she was at. She would make sure that the surviving crew was no longer harassed. Any signs of further mistreatment she would withdraw her offer and besides as one of the senior officers it was her duty to ensure as much as possible that the Romulan would keep her word.

The road, as it were, had come to an end for Terje as he swayed wearily beside Crispin. His energy reserves had long since depleted, leaving sheer will and his friend's determination keeping him upright. Now, as he felt his legs give out beneath him, even that proved insubstantial. At best, he tried to pull away from Crispin before falling atop of him.

Snow couldn't hold him up, he was far to heavy, all he could do was control the fall so the bigger man didn't brain himself on the cargo bay floor.

Crispin looked round quickly. With a man as big as Terje there was only a handful of options. "Greg?" the security officer "Can I borrow a few of your guys to lug the moose. We're going to need help to get him anywhere, let alone out of here." It would also stop the agression of his comrades from letting them dos something really stupid if their arms were full of semi-conscious vikings?

Greg's anger at the situation died for a moment at the request. "Copy that. Wilson, Rivetti, go with him. I'll take care of Jacobs."

"Who's going to take care of you?" Wilson asked.

"Don't worry about me, I can still walk."

Wilson hesitated. "Aye Chief." He released Greg and joined Rivetti with Crispin.

Allyndra waved to others, "Volunteers to help. Take injured to the infirmary, I will be there shortly. Tuula and the rest will get started." She turned her attention to the Romulan briefly to see if there was an objection to which she would object but so far so good.

With a sagging Mimi in tow, Noah directed himself and Yasmin in the direction indicated by the CMO.

Martin piped up "Doctor I may have a diminished lifting capacity to what I could if I hadn't injured my back in school but I can help out with some of the lighter loads. Also one of your doctors, I think Tuula, had a rib broken in the investigation ma'am, I wasn't able to do much but strap it with my under shirt."

"Understood, just get people that need attending to infirmary and the rest get settled. I will be there shortly." Allyndra tried to look like a real command officer standing straight and confident though her head hurt like a thousand little demons with hammers were pounding away.

"Yes Ma'am!" Martin said he smiled, he liked this officer and hoped that he would be transmitting her orders to the ship's NCO's as she made it fun to follow."

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

All Galileo Crew
All Stations
USS Galileo

Klingon Guards
IKS Neg Jok
Kreanus Defense Force
[PNPC Saalm]

General Ko'raH
IKS Neg Jok
Kreanus Defense Force
[PNPC Saalm]

CMDR Medara
Kreanus Colony Administrator
[PNPC Saalm]

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