No Man's Land (Part 10 of 10)

Posted on 21 Apr 2017 @ 3:13pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Commander Medara t'Keras & Commander Aren Ban & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Commander Luke Wyatt & Lieutenant Amaranai Franklin & Commander Marisa Wyatt & Ensign Miraj Derani & Ensign Mimi & Ambassador Soral Varro & Petty Officer 1st Class Eviess & Chief Petty Officer Crispin Snow & Petty Officer 1st Class T'Lin & Petra Varelli Ph.D.
Edited on on 21 Apr 2017 @ 3:17pm

2,650 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Episode 14 - Statecraft
Location: IKS DuJa'Q, Klingon Neutral Zone
Timeline: MD 11, 2351 hrs

Previously, on No Man's Land (Part 9)...

Turning slowly to face the rear of her bridge, Lirha's feet became heavy with each shuffle step. She looked at the officers around her -- all of whom she were responsible for -- and lowered her head in shame. Her eyes drifted to the spiked boots she wore on her feet as part of her Klingon-Orion armor. The revelation of her involvement and knowledge that had jeopardized her entire crew was now public, and she had no words of rebuttal. Fleetingly, she looked up to cast a final gaze at Amaranai in the hope the security officer would give some sort of consolation that Lirha hadn't completely failed in her mission.

And Now, the Conclusion...

[ON]

From Amaranai's position, as Lirha turned around, the security officer could see that the weight of the entire galaxy had just fallen on her lovers shoulders and Lirha could barely stand. For Amaranai, what had happened had happened and just as she had told Lirha a few days before, she was not going to judge her for her actions. What was done was done. She caught the gaze of the former admiral and offered a small smile and nod. This was not the time or place for a lovers embrace. This was the time to be Starfleet officers, but her nod was a hopeful one. One that said, I believe in you and I love you.

Allyndra had pretty much just attended to who she could when she could and tried to stay out of the way. Was it finally over she wondered. Right now all she could think about was getting home. The twin suns sounded so inviting as did the vision of calm ocean and sky.

Finally she spoke, "So are we finished here? I have injured that need better facilities then this damaged ship has."

Turning back to face the viewer, Saalm heard the doctor's prompt question and request to return home. The admiral-general took a deep breath then swallowed her own sorrows in a deep hole where they would be buried until later. She knew that was what the crew needed right now, and Franklin's subtle offering of support now gave her more strength.

"The doctor is right," Saalm agreed, addressing Medara. "We have wounded and we have done what was asked of us. We need to return to our people."

"And so you will, admiral. I don't think the councilor appreciates your presence within the Neutral Zone any more than you do," the Romulan acknowledged.

Karh tilted his head back slightly with a proud gesture. "We do not, and it is time for you to leave. The High Council is in your debt, admiral, but already there are two Starfleet vessels on an intercept course to the border. I will commandeer your starship, of course. It does not belong to you."

"I will transport your crew aboard my vessel shortly," explained Medara, "and return you to your people along the Federation border. You have three minutes to notify your people and make preparations." The commander then spoke to Councilor Karh one final time. "Until we meet again, councilor. Send my regards to the rest of the High Council," she subtly taunted before the portion of the viewscreen containing her image blinked and turned black.

A growl of contempt for the Romulan woman sounded from Karh's throat before he spoke to Saalm one final time. "You would be wise to not negotiate with her any further," he cautioned. "It would be a mistake for the Federation to allow her to remain in your territory. I trust you will...'deal' with her when the time comes?" he rhetorically asked, then ended his transmission.

DuJa'Q's viewscreen returned to its normal projection and displayed an image of both the Klingon and Kreanan warships floating nearby. The silence on the bridge was almost deafening, especially for Saalm who took several steps back and slumped into her chair. Her head still swirled while she tried her best to process all of the new information and prepare orders for the crew.

After processing all the new information Mimi felt something niggling at the back of her mind "With all due respect Admiral. I feel I should ask you a question. Was losing the Galileo part of this plan?" Mimi asked.

The Orion's heart skipped a beat. She knew there'd eventually have been questions after what had just been publicly revealed of her secretive involvement, but she never considered that one of her own officers would suspect of her deliberately destroying her own starship and killing members of her crew.

Saalm's mouth opened to angrily reply at the appalling question and its implications, but then she closed it and turned her seat around to face the Nekomi ensign. It wasn't the young woman's fault for asking -- it was her own for fault for eroding the trust of her crew. "..No," she answered quietly with a slow shake of her head. "I would never have done that to Galileo or any of you."

Amaranai stood up and moved closer to Lirha.

"I believe her," she said. "No one, regardless of the circumstances or the situation, would allow their own ship to be destroyed or their crew subjected to torture."

She put her hand on Lirha's shoulder.

The yellow-collared woman's words rang across the bridge, but even Saalm didn't know if they would help. Or what the rest of her crew was thinking. Lirha reached up with a gloved hand and let the tips of her digits run lightly across Franklin's fingers. It was her private way of saying 'thank you', but also her way of privately acknowledging her public support.

Eviess watched feeling somewhat numb. She did however feel better knowing that they would be on a Romulan ship rather then on the Klingon one. She looked over at the Orion General. "I believe you as well." She said offering her support.

Coming from a Klingon, albeit one with Romulan blood in her, Lirha felt an ever-so-slight wave of relief. At least two of her crew didn't think she'd an undercover agent and traitor, and with a small smile of her eyes, she nodded to Eviess.

When the questioning had ended, Saalm realized that only two minutes now remained before their beam-out to the Romulan warbird. She stood from her position while reaching down to thumb the ship-wide intercom button on her chair's console. "All hands, this is Saalm. We are preparing to return to Federation territory aboard Commander Medara's starship. Prepare all casualties for transport and collect any personal items you require. Saalm out."

The Orion then turned to the officers on her bridge and gave then a single nod of thanks for their service. "You are all dismissed. Return to your quarters and collect anything you might need," she added, rising to her own feet in order to head to the turbolift to retrieve Snuffles and her other personal items.

Amaranai felt the fingers on her own and knew what it meant. She heard the command from Lirha and thought for a moment. She had no personal belongings. Nothing that needed to be retrieved. Instead, she returned to her station and double checked the sensors in case anything bad was about to happen before they were to be beamed off the ship. She watched as Lirha exited the bridge and thought about following her but felt that it wasn't a good idea. As she sat, she wondered what was going to happen to Lirha. They had just started their relationship and Amaranai wasn't ready for it to be over if Lirha was placed in prison.

Mimi darted off the bridge, she had miraculously gotten her belongings back once and was going to make certain she didn't lose them again. As she passed through the group of Klingon bodies outside the bridge she saw both J'tsec and his friend amongst them. She gave them both a good kick in the head to make sure they were dead.

Allyndra had been probably one of the first off. She needed to direct the injuries to the next ship sickbay and enlist proper medical attention.

Miraj felt the Klingon behind her take her arm and give her a firm but gentle tug in the direction of the door to the turbo lifts. It was the last straw. She was surrounded by people she didn't know, some of the crew was dead, and the rest missing. Now these people wanted to drag her off to who knew where? She went cold with fear. "No! I'm not going anywhere! I want an explanation. Where's the Admiral?" She pulled away from the Klingon, unwilling to go quietly. "Where's Lirha!?"

Saalm had already left the bridge, most likely unbeknownst to the pink-haired conn officer given her dazed state of mind from the phaser stun. But there was no time to waste answering questions, Tojor knew, and he reclaimed his grip on Derani, this time on her shoulder. "The general has just left the bridge. She has given us orders to prepare for evacuation," he explained. "We must go, now! Do you have any personal belongings?"

She pulled in effectively against his grip. Klingons were so strong. She couldn't get away again. Scared and angry and frustrated at her own uselessness she let him pull her away. "No." she sighed. "I don't have anything, anymore."

Aren was the last Federation officer off the bridge. He turned to look around at the bridge, the blood and the carnage, the dead body of Chorag still resting with the knife in his neck. The sight reminding him of his own injuries. But the stab wound wasn't the worst pain he felt, it was the pain of failure. He had tried to help those at the Colony, had thought that they truly needed the Federation, but ultimately his choices had caused them them to be played. He shook his head as he stumbled off the bridge, wondering what else he could have done.


Deck 9 Forward - Science

Petra heard the announcement and looked at T'Lin. "Evacuating?" Fortunately, the booby traps they'd set up hadn't accidentally gone off in the attack. She quickly made sure science was once again secure. There wasn't any reason to go back to her quarters to get anything. There was nothing there that mattered. She kept one eye on the chronometer as she put everything away and mentally prepared to beam out.

T'Lin just nodded. "I will disengage the traps. There is no reason for them any longer."


Deck 3, Forward Section - Bridge Corridor

Marisa was just getting to her feet again when she heard the announcement. She felt both relief and sadness at the knowledge that they were leaving. There was nothing for her to retrieve. She'd lost everything when the Cartagena was destroyed. Now she wondered if she was going to lose everything again. She shook her head and turned to Wyatt. She needed to get him to his feet and make sure there was nothing he needed from his quarters.

"Come on, my friend," she said. "Time to go."

Luke steadied himself and with Marisa's help picked himself up of the floor and leaned heavily on her shoulder. "I weigh a little more than I look" He joked. Luke wasn't sure if he was being affected by the Florence Nightengale effect or the fact he had lost so much blood but he found the Hispanic Vulcan very attractive. "All my things were on the Galileo, so ready to go when you are"

"I'm stronger than I look," she joked back, carefully keeping her injured arm from getting jarred as she helped him down the corridor.

Luke took notice of how careful she was when lifting him and he could see she was in pain "You're injured" He said softly, speaking to loudly made his head bang. "You can put me down, and get someone to come back for me. I don't think you should be carrying me" Luke said his voice full of concern for the woman, he smiled. "I'll be fine really" He added reassuringly.


Deck 6, Engineering Section - Main Engineering

With the help of other Klingons, who claimed to be on their side Varro dragged the tied up Klingons, the bad guys, as it were to the center and prepared them for transport.

Varro had made it to his quarters in the time that he'd been given after the transport announcement and picked up a few things that he'd managed to make his own. He headed back towards Engineering and saw Snow there. "This is certainly a turn of events."

The petty officer was finishing up making safe the warp core on the stricken vessel. Not knowing what would happen to the Klingon crew, he didn't want any back fires or nasty accidents with anyone on board. "We're certainly getting a tour of galactic technology," he acknowledged, setting the final safety lock in place, before grabbing his kitbag with the few possessions he'd scavenged, and joined Varro in heading to the transporters.


Approximately three minutes later...

On board the Romulan warbird, Medara sat perched in her command chair within the center of the vessel's bridge. She was impatient to depart from the Neutral Zone, and diligently noted the allotted three minutes had just passed. "Transporter room, energize," the colony commander ordered.

All across IKS DuJa'Q, members of the battlecruiser's Kreanan and Starfleet crew began to dematerialize in a wispy shimmer of green transporter particles. It took several cyclings of all four transporter pads aboard the Romulan ship to evacuate all of the remaining fifty-eight crew, but within a matter of 90 seconds, all of the Galileo survivors and their Klingon Kreanan companions were now present and accounted for.

"Transport complete," announced the Reman operations officer on the bridge to the captain.

"Good. Helm," began Medara, "engage the cloak and set course for the Federation Border. Warp three." It was time to get away from Karh as quickly as possibly. The Romulan captain knew there could be more Klingon reinforcements on the way, hiding under cloak, and she didn't want to take the chance of the councilor changing his mind at the last minute. The High Council was not exactly the most trustworthy or stable political entity in the quadrant, after all.

In space, the large, dual-winged warbird slowly came about and activated its cloaking device. The immense green hull rippled while the blackness of the cosmos could soon be seen through it, until there was nothing left to see except the empty stars behind it. Invisibly elongating then slapping into low warp, the journey back to the Earth had now officially begun.

[OFF]

--

GEN Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
IKS DuJa'Q

Councilor Karh
Klingon High Council
[PNPC Saalm]

CMDR Medara
Colony Administrator
Kreanus Colony
[PNPC Saalm]

Ensign Miraj Derani
Chief Flight Control Officer
IKS DuJa'Q

CPO2 Crispin Snow
Operations Officer
IKS DuJa'Q
[PNPC Derani]

Ensign Mimi
Operations Officer
IKS DuJa'Q

Cmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical and Second Officer
IKS Duja'Q

PO2 T'Lin
Science Officer
IKS Duja'Q
[PNPC Warraquim]

Lieutenant JG Marisa Sandoval
Counselor
IKS Duja'Q

Petra Varelli, PhD
Forensic Anthropologist
IKS Duja'Q
[PNPC Sandoval]

Ambassador Sorel Varro
Chief Diplomatic Officer
IKS Duja'Q

Petty Officer Eviess
Medical Officer
IKS Duja'Q
[PNPC Varro]

Lt. JG Eelim Galan
Security Officer
IKS Duja'Q
[PNPC Varro]

Commander Aren Ban
Executive Officer
IKS Duja'Q

Lieutenant JG Amaranai Franklin
Assistant Chief Security / Tactical
IKS Duja'Q

Lieutenant Commander Luke Wyatt
Strategic Operations Officer
IKS Duja'Q

Ensign Abbey St James
Security Officer
IKS Duja'Q
[PNPC Wyatt]

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