Help Wanted

Posted on Sat Dec 26th, 2020 @ 10:37pm by Colonel Sehan t'Varis & Sublieutenant Renee Hernandez

2,076 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Chapter III: The Hunt is On
Location: Drozana Station
Timeline: 238701.16

Renee had been on Drozana for about a week, trying to join up with a ship. There was plenty to do out here, but each crew she met with were more unsavory than the last. Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe she should head back home, there's apparently nothing worthwhile out here.

She had one more interview, someone named Raven on a Mogai-class Romulan ship named the Ourainavassa. She didn't think it was true, the Ourainavassa was almost a myth, even within the Section. Renee sighed. She couldn't believe she's working for them again. After everything she had been through... After they had been through... She shook her head. There was no they, there was no us... Ash made sure of that when she just up and disappeared on what was supposed to the rest of their lives together with just a simple note trying to explain her reasons.

One day the universe was perfectly fine... then Mars happened and everything was turned upside down and not just in her own life, to think otherwise would be utterly selfish. Over 92,000 lives were lost that day and the fallout from that left the Federation and Starfleet reeling. Ash took it particularly hard, so hard that when Renee tried to find her after finding the note, she found out that Ash had resigned her commission and just disappeared. Renee knew better than to try to find her, as much as she wanted to at first. If a former Section 31 operative wanted to disappear, they can and will. She knew that much from her father... and from personal experience.

Everyone these days are either trying to help, pretending that they're trying to help, or are just straight up trying to exploit the Romulans and their plight. It's hard to know who to trust, or so the Section told her... and so she chose to believe. What more she did have to lose? She's no Ashley Rogers and she's no longer linked to her, she's just Renee Hernandez, daughter of Miguel and still a useful asset to them. She's not a killer, she's not an operative, even though she is more than capable if placed into a situation where her life was in danger. She's just gathering intel for them, as a civilian on the outskirts of Federation influence. That much she was willing to handle. And maybe she can help make a difference somewhere...

She looks out at the large Mogai-class vessel docked so intimidatingly at Drozana and hopes this might be the place to do so. The crew has to be more than just run of the mill pirates to even be in possession of the ship. She silently hopes they're actually out here to help. If so, her experience with the Section and knowledge of some of the design of the ship might prove useful if she couldn't catch on as a chef on board...

Renee sat down in a dark corner of the bar awaiting the arrival of Raven. What kind of name is Raven, anyways?

The colonel checked the time on the old wristwatch she was wearing. She didn't know why she had picked it up at the bazaar that morning, but it had appealed to her sense of style. After all, everything about her appearance shouted mid-20th century Earth. Well, everything except the hair, eyes and ears, obviously.

She had been very happy to hear that Gedak had already been able to track down some much-needed crew. Less than 24 hours after their arrival at Drozana, the Ourainavassa's crew had grown by nearly a dozen enlisted, mostly engineering techs. And he had a response from a potential new chef, too. However, Gedak had managed to arrange an interview with this new candidate for the same time he had also arranged an appointment at the used ship dealer to examine some potential small craft for the Ourainavassa. So, while Gedak, Rogers, and the Lynn twins were off having fun looking at shuttlecraft and runabouts, Raven had headed to the central bar at Drozana.

As soon as they had arrived at the old station, the whole crew had noticed that its climate control systems seemed to be malfunctioning - indeed, the temperature on board Drozana was almost tropical. Accordingly, everyone around was dressed far more loosely than before - and Raven had even spotted some of the dancers and even of the waiting staff performing their duties entirely naked. Raven herself had opted to leave her usual leather trenchcoat on the ship, and had even foregone her black necktie. Instead, she was wearing her white button-down blouse with the top three buttons open, over her habitual black skirt and high boots. Her dagger and pistol hung from her belt, and her collar was, as always, adorned with the golden insignia of a Tal Shiar colonel.

As she stepped into the main bar, Raven noticed quite a few eyes on her. Of course, a petite, small female with short white hair and dressed in such an almost revealing way attracted some attention. But when the gawkers' eyes fell on the badge on her collar, and the weapons on her hips, they all turned away.

Her bright, amber eyes darted across the room, until she spotted the human woman sat on her own in the corner. Casually, she strode over. "Miss Hernandez?," she asked, with a friendly smile on her face. "I'm Raven. Mind if I take a seat?"

Renee greeted the woman in front of her with a smile of her own as she took in the sight before her. So that's what someone with a name like Raven looked like. Not surprised. And she's a Tal Shiar colonel? What has she gotten herself into? Definitely not a ship full of pirates... Now Renee's interest was piqued.

The damn station's temperature controls weren't helping the matters much as she can tell that she is starting to perspire a bit. All Renee could think to herself was, If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. Not exactly the best first impression to make for someone trying to get a job as a chef. "Please take a seat." she said as she tied her long dark hair into a ponytail. "I hope your ship has a better climate control system than this station, I'd prefer to be the one cooking than being cooked," she joked as she extended a hand. "I'm Renee Hernandez and I'm answering your call for more crew. I have to say, I'm very intrigued about all of it. The Ourainavassa is a very special and unique ship. Not to mention that I see that you're a Tal Shiar colonel. Very impressive, yet you're looking for crew on a station like Drozana..."

Renee politely stopped, "My apologies. You're supposed to be interviewing me for a position not vice versa." Her instincts to interrogate was almost overwhelming. "I just hope I can meet your standards, Raven. I've co-owned and was the head chef at a restaurant and bar for many years. Times have been hard lately, so I had no choice but to close. Not to mention that there's so much out here that needs to be done, I'm taking a leap by trying to see if I can latch on to a ship... do something."

The colonel smirked. If this girl was an ordinary chef, she was a Gorn. "Your culinary experience does sound very good to me. Unfortunately, our previous chef departed rather unexpectedly, shall we say. And don't worry, our climate controls work just fine."

She leaned in closer. "As for your other questions, and indeed your knowledge around my ship. Were you Starfleet intelligence, or Section 31?"

Renee nodded knowingly at Raven. Clearly she isn't just wearing Tal Shiar rank, there was definitely substance behind it. If she was just a run of the mill pirate, this conversation wouldn't have escalated so quickly. Which means, there's also no purpose to lying to her. "What makes you ask that?" she responded. "A Mogai-class vessel with a Tal Shiar commanding officer isn't exactly your standard fare around here... I'd like to think that just about anyone with eyes can see there's something unique about it." She wasn't being deliberately evasive, she still can't bring herself to say the words again. Somehow saying she was... is... affiliated with the Section made it more real. "You'd also be pretty surprised how much talking to customers on a Starbase leads to some very interesting tidbits of information...."

Raven reached for her collar, carefully took off the rank badge, and put it on the table. "I wear these because they are useful. Very helpful when you want to get things done your way. They have built-in communicators, too. Something the Romulans copied from Starfleet, I believe. Oh, and the Romulans wouldn't be covering the wage bill for my crew if I didn't wear it. Yeah, we're a privateer crew, nominally in service to the Romulan Star Empire, and specifically the Tal Shiar. Well, I am, anyway. My crew serves me. And I don't owe the Tal Shiar any loyalty beyond what they pay me for."

She raised an eyebrow. "Now that I have revealed my hand, let's see yours. Or do you want me to run a full background check, and see what the Tal Shiar knows about you?" She chuckled. "Although it would probably be easiest to ask my friends in the Section directly."

Interesting. So they are freelancers. More structured and organized, but their loyalty still goes to the highest bidder. It just so happens that it's currently the Tal Shiar... Renee keeps this tidbit in the back of her mind.

Of course Raven would have friends in the Section. "No reason to hide anything. Section 31. Civilian. My father worked for them and it was expected that I followed in his footsteps. Believe me when I say that I am a far better chef than I was a field operative. And you can ask your Section friends all about me, they'll tell you the same. I wasn't cut out for that life." Still not. "I need a fresh start. I've had a rough couple of years. Ever thought you had your life all planned out and then one day the rug gets yanked out from under you?"

Of course she knew. If things had gone to plan, who knows where she would be now. Probably a junior tactical officer on some Starfleet ship, serving with Ellie. Instead, she was here, running her own mercenary crew, in charge of one of the most advanced ships ever built by the Tal Shiar. And yet, she could not decide which life she would have preferred.

Slowly, Raven nodded. "Yes, Miss Hernandez, I do. I very much know what that feels like."

She reached into one of the pouches on her utility belt, took out a little black box, and put it on the table. "As a former S31 operative, I am sure we will find tasks for you outside the kitchen, too. In light of this, I am willing to give you the rank of Uhlan, equivalent to an ensign in Starfleet, rather than classifying you as enlisted support crew. Gedak, the quartermaster, will arrange quarters as well as go over details of your contract and pay."

She slid the little box over to Renee. "If you want it, take it. No uniform, just wear the badge somewhere clearly visible, and where you can reach it. After all, it is a combadge."

It would seem as if she touched a nerve with Raven... perhaps one day they can share stories of how they both got to meeting on Drozana. Renee opened the box in front of her and looked at the combadge inside... what would Ash think about her walking around wearing Romulan insignia and holding the rank of Uhlan on a ship like the Ourainavassa? Renee pushed aside the thought, no idea why Ash popped into her mind at that moment. She took the badge and put it on, "I accept. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. Your crew will be well fed."

Raven nodded. "Welcome to the crew. Our last chef was pretty good, you'll have to make an effort. But I am sure you will do fine."

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