Growing Urgency
Posted on Sat Jan 9th, 2021 @ 10:07pm by Ellie Greaves & Colonel Sehan t'Varis & Lieutenant Hatham tr'Krotash
2,516 words; about a 13 minute read
Mission:
Chapter III: The Hunt is On
Location: Commander's Ready Room, I.R.W. Ourainavassa
Timeline: 238701.20
Raven and Ellie's reunion had been a whirlwind of emotions for both of them. Now, a day had passed, and the Starfleet science officer had taken temporary residence on the Ourainavassa - at least until the end of her leave. The two of them were sat in the ready room, going over projections for the looming demise of the star of the Romulus system, also known variously as Eisn, Ket-cheleb, or 128 Trianguli.
"So," Ellie said, pointing at the data that was projected above Raven's desk. "Looking at all the data we have, we project the star to blow in about six months' time. Plenty of time for evacuations still."
Raven raised an eyebrow. "And yet you are sitting here in the uniform of the organisation that is refusing to help with that, Lieutenant," she said, putting emphasis on the last word.
"Look, Colonel," Ellie replied, echoing the emphasis. "Mars changed Starfleet's priorities, and you know that as much as I do. I want to help the Romulans, that is part of the reason why I came here when I heard you were working with them. It's why I'm bringing you this data."
She shook her head. "Starfleet is a mess, Sey. When Picard quit, we all felt it. And many of us were tempted to follow him. I was only an Ensign, and even I felt it. The Amelia's CSO and XO both went. They are running a refugee transport together."
Hatham stood outside the Raven's door. Approaching a CO on a personal issue went against every gram of Galae training, but he had only signed on here for one reason: to save his family. He wasn't alone in that. Most of Ariennye's crew that had come over had done so for theirs, or for their greater loyalty to the people of the Empire. Communications from home were always monitored, so news was couched carefully, but the last had been grim - the was no question (to those outside who knew the truth) that changes in the system's sun were starting to affect the climate of the planet. Crops were failing, there were increasing instances of drought, and solar flares were beginning to affect the grid.
The end might be months away, but getting people off Romulus and the surrounding colonies that would be affected would take every moment of that if it was going to go at all smoothly and happen in time. He straightened, firming his resolve, and activated the door signal.
Raven looked up when the door chime rang, interrupting Ellie in the middle of a sentence about refugee transports. "Enter."
The door slid open, and the enormous amount of Romulan called Hatham tr'Krotash entered.
"Good morning, Hatham, how may I help?" Raven asked, knowing that her deputy head of security would not have come to her unless he needed something.
Hatham drew to attention. "Colonel," he noticed the other woman present, cleared his throat, "forgive my intrusion, but matters on Romulus are growing worse. I feel I must ask about the plans and time table for the rescue mission."
Raven nodded slowly. "Your family. Right. I was just talking about Romulus with Ellie," she replied, introducing her companion, who was wearing her full starfleet uniform as her luggage had been stolen a mere moments after she arrived on Drozana.
"Let me be frank with you, Sublieutenant. I do not think we have the capacity to launch a direct rescue mission ourselves, using this vessel," Raven continued. "However, that does not mean I won't help your family."
She turned to Ellie. "Lieutenant Greaves is an old friend of mine, from when I attended Starfleet Academy. She has contacts to several people who operate refugee transports. If you let us know where to find your family, I will ensure that they are picked up within days."
Hatham eyes the Starfleet uniform. Starfleet. Right. Only years of discipline kept him from openly scowling. Most Romulans had never really trusted Starfleet, but they had been proven more than right when their old enemy-turned-ally had abandoned them. Not all of them of course - some like the doctor had resigned to continue the efforts, but they weren't actually in Starfleet anymore, were they...
"You'll forgive if that doesn't inspire incredible optimism, ma'am." He was over-stepping and he knew it, but at this point he was running out of time to make his own arrangements for his family, and to do that he'd need to take his share of profits and leave very soon. And he wouldn't be the only one. If nothing else he owed Raven that warning. "And my family is hardly the only issue. A substantial number of your crew have families equally in need of rescue."
Before Raven could respond, Ellie stood from her chair and turned towards Hatham. "Sublieutenant... Hatham, was it?" She took off her Starfleet badge and slapped it onto the desk. "I'm not here as a Starfleet officer, I am here as Sey's friend. Many of us wish that Starfleet had done more. I know many fine officers who followed Admiral Picard when he resigned in protest. You have little confidence in the Federation, and with good reason."
She turned back to Raven. "You have a Danube-class runabout in your hangar, don't you? I'm Starfleet, flying one of those is easy."
She held up her hand to stop Raven responding, and faced the Romulan once again. "Two questions, Mr Hatham. Where are they, and how many are they? You and me will take the runabout and get them. We can head off right now if you want."
If he were human Hatham might have been tempted to respond with a slow golf clap. But he wasn't, so he merely lifted a profoundly skeptical eyebrow. "You seriously think you can just fly a Federation shuttle into the heart of Empire, drop in and take people away? I'd always heard Starfleeters were naive, but never imagined any of you were that clueless." His eyes cut to Raven. "I know you are not, so you tell me the workable plan. There are eight in my family, all in the Eirav province." He pulled a PaDD from his vest. "Two in Kaiae's, five in Seira's, six in t'Relis', four in Sianae's..."
He held out the PaDD. "Over 200, located across Romulus, plus the Reman families Merek pledged to save. I assume there's something better than a 'shuttle service' to retrieve and relocate them?"
Ellie took the PADD, and handed it on to Raven. "I was not aware we were talking about that many people. Retrieving your family would have been easily done in a Danube, especially one that is no longer owned or registered to the Federation in any way, if I may point out. Two hundred is going to be a bit trickier. Schneider and Willow operate a ship that could easily accommodate them, however."
Raven chuckled. "I could have told you as much if you'd have let me talk, Ell. Grab a chair and take a seat, Hatham," she added, as she brought up a map of the planet Romulus, projected above her desk.
"Ellie's contacts have been in and out of the Empire several times. They know how to pull it off. As I said before, I guarantee that your family, and those of all crew, are taken care of. And I keep my promises. An operation of this scale will take a little time to organise, say, twenty days. No more than that. Get the word out to all those people that transport is being arranged. We will get the transport to come and pick them up, and bring them to safety. There is a number of colonies in the Neutral Zone that we could send them to, but we can work the exact details out over the next few days."
She looked at the Romulan. "Sound workable to you?"
"Workable," he admitted after a long moment studying the map. "Twenty days is tight timeframe in my opinion though. Her contacts may have experience smuggling goods in and getting out themselves, but citizens leaving without passes and permissions, especially so many..." he looked at Raven. She might be a Tal'Shiar general's daughter, but as far as he'd heard she'd never lived in the Empire and certainly not on its homeworld, "...that's going to take longer to organize. Every landing needs clearance and raises the chance of suspicion from the Tal'Shiar or local governors, but travel between provinces requires permission for plebian families so if we limit it to only one or two evac sites arrangements have to made to get people there."
Raven smiled. "Her people have experience smuggling people, too. So don't worry about that. As for Tal Shiar suspicion, you seem to forget the commission I hold."
She opened a drawer next to her desk, and took out a PADD. "Give me a list of all the personal details. I will have the travel passes sorted within a few days. Having Tal Shiar rank is useful, Hatham. The Empire's administration is beyond corrupt. And the Tal Shiar can pretty much do what they want. Which means I can, too."
"Lists and locations are here." He placed his PaDD in front of her. "We've been pooling information, trying to who could help or coordinate with others in case we had to make our own arrangements." Hatham glanced aside a moment at that admission, but if she didn't understand Romulans well enough to know they wouldn't count on any single option - especially something this important - she didn't know them well enough to fool the bureaucracy. "Be careful, Colonel. The Tal Shiar can do pretty much what they want, but not all of them may want to accept your authority."
"I'll note your advice, Sublieutenant. How far have your own arrangements progressed? We may be able to use some of that to speed up the planning for this operation." Raven quickly checked the PADD, then handed it to Ellie. "Make a copy of it and get in touch with your friends, tell them it's urgent. If they want payment, they just need to name their price."
Ellie smiled. "Will do. You know, I've always loved this about you. When it comes down to business, you just get it done, no big speeches or emotions or whatever. Focus on the task. I can see how you ended up in charge of your own crew."
She turned to Hatham. "I don't know how long you have served with Sehan, but I am sure you know that she is one of the most stubborn people in the universe. If she says she will get something done, she will do what it takes."
"I have no doubt of the Colonel's resolve," he replied firmly. "But if I may speak freely, and I mean no disrespect by this, there is a difference in ...perception... between someone who was born and bred in the Empire and someone who was not. There are blindspots in how Romulan society operates, the mindset of those within it, that few from the outside can fully grasp." Returning his gaze to Raven, he added, "That's where my concern comes in, and why we've been making back-up plans on our own. In my notes there are groups living nearer each other which have already established contact for passing information and making plans - what can be taken, how households might be moved without drawing suspicion. I'd suggest using crew associated with each group to pass the necessary instructions. And documents - the Tal Shiar are looking for traitors, which they tend to define as anyone seeking to leave the Empire - so without assurances, permissions signed by an unknown colonel may be seen as a trap."
The colonel smirked. "You have put a lot of thought into this, Hatham, as should be expected considering what is at stake. I have every confidence that you will continue to do so, which is why I am going to need your assistance with this operation. While Ellie and her friends arrange the actual transport, you will aid me in making sure that we can get everyone off Romulus safely."
She brought up a new map, this time one of the Neutral Zone, and transferred the data onto a PADD, which she handed to Hatham. "These are the viable dropoff locations in the Neutral Zone. Take a few days to evaluate them and speak to the other Romulan crew. In the meantime, Ellie, contact your friends and let them know we need their services, while I draw up the necessary paperwork, and pull some strings in the Empire."
Raven stood and walked over to the replicator, retrieving a large cup of coffee, before she turned to Hatham. "I may not be fully Romulan, and yes, I did not grow up within the Empire. That does not mean, however, that I do not know my way around Romulan society. There is a reason Areinnye hired me for this job back when she did, and why, even though she left us, she trusted me to continue with the mission. As Ellie said, if I say something will be done, it will be done. And you should know the truth of that by now."
Hatham nodded, transferring the map of locations to his PaDD when it was returned. There was nothing to say to the rest; at least not anything that could or should be voiced. Raven had proved a good and resourceful commander, loyal to her people (so far) but he'd worked for her for less than year. No Romulan trusted anyone after so short an association, certainly not one of Hatham's age and experience. He'd been betrayed by people he'd known much longer - indeed his entire family had been betrayed by a House they had served loyally for generations. He did not distrust Raven, and Areinnye was thoroughly Romulan so her trust of Raven meant something, but the very assertion that he should trust her so completely by now said to him that she didn't know Romulan society nearly so well as she thought.
However for now, those thoughts would stay firmly within the confines of his own thoughts. He needed to be involved as much as possible to be able to spot any places the plan was potentially missing a risk or lacking a contingency.
"Thank you, Colonel. "I will gladly assist in any way I can."
Raven nodded. "I know what you are thinking, Hatham. You don't fully trust me, because you have not known me long enough. Very Romulan of you. Your experience and knowledge will be key to pulling this off. You have your orders, Sublieutenant. You are dismissed."
After Hatham had left, Ellie looked at Raven in disbelief. "I saw you in action at the academy, Sey, but this, this was something else. I think he trusts you about as much as a Romulan can. And that is really quite impressive."
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