Ruminations

Posted on Tue Mar 31st, 2020 @ 11:54pm by Commander Areinnye t’Vraen

2,039 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Prologue: Before the Inferno
Location: Private Quarters
Timeline: 2386.11

Valrek leaned back in the desk chair that formed part of his quarters, interlocking his fingers. The lights were off and the room was dark except for the natural starlight that shone through the big windows on the side of the ship. The lack of light helped him to think. And right now, he was doing a lot of thinking, thinking about the evolving situation that was Hobus.

He knew it was pointless, he had already considered every available possibility that didn't involve him committing an act of treason. Whilst treason seemed to him a perfectly acceptable option giving the amount of lives that were at stake, he had dared approach anyone else with his idea. For one, they could just as easily betray him. Not to mention the risk he would be asking them to take. The risk wasn't something he took lightly. Any action taken against the will of the Senate and by extension the Praetor.

The effect it would have on his family, he didn't want to think about. He hoped that his families position would be protected giving their position within their Empire, but there was guarantee of that. Enough he told himself silently. There was point thinking about this when it wasn't going to happen. He was just one Rihannsu. He couldn't act alone. He'd die before he could make any difference. And he didn't dare reach out to his family, he wouldn't jeopardize them nor he could he reach out to his friends in the Tal Diann. It would put them in a difficult situation, their loyalty to the Empire or their loyalty to their friend.

Areinnye paused at the door to the Tal-Diann Master’s quarters. The tall Lieutenant was something of a mystery to the woman. And she could ill-afford any uncertainty in her plans. So much rested on her thin shoulders. She huffed a breath before straightening her uniform and keying the chime.

"Who is it?" Valrek asked, fully intending to ask them to come back later. It was not in the mood to entertain Guests.

“Commander Areinnye. Do you have a moment, Lieutenant?” She inquired.

Valrek turned his head slightly. He was not expecting that. He stood up." Computer, lights." He said moving to the front door. Whilst he had been shocked, he remained calm. It wasn't unheard of for a Romulan ship Commander to want to speak to the Master of the Tal Diann on board their ship. He stood some ways from the door, more out of politeness but also, it was a habit he had grown himself accustomed to. It was a reactionary space. It gave him both time and space to react in case someone meant him harm on the other side of the door. Barely a moment had passed since the Commander had first announced herself, for Valrek to say."Of course, come in Commander."

She stepped in, evaluating the man as much by his organized living space as anything else. Areinnye has the distinct impression she had taken him off guard, a thought which delighted her. She hated to imagine she had became predictable since gaining a command of her own. Unorthodox, novel approaches..those were the ones she found interesting.

"Can I offer you a seat, Commander?" He said gesturing with his hand to the large sofa which stretched back of his room."And perhaps a drink?"

“I’d love one, anything non-replicated, please” she replied, admiring the view for a moment before seating herself on the proffered couch. She slipped one ankle behind the other and placed her hands in her lap.

Valrek approached a cabinet next to his desk. He opened it and pulled a bottle and two glasses out. He set them the glasses down onto the table and poured two helpings of the liquid into the glass.

“Tell me about your family, Lieutenant. From where do you hail?” She inquired.

Valrek picked up the two glasses and walked to the sofa himself. As he walked to the sofa, he allowed himself to inspect the Commander. It was very clear she was attractive and he had no doubt she had and would use that as a weapon. He would have to bare that in mind for the coming conversation. He set the glass down infant of her "Romulan Ale." He stated. As he took his seat. The question she had asked had taken him back, but he did not let it show. Unfortunately, most Romulan dealings were like this.

"My father is Deputy Chief of Military Intelligence and my Mother is a Director of Military Intelligence Operations, Commander. My family household is near the Apnex Sea." He answered, wondering what the purpose was behind the questions. But it wasn't for him, a Lieutenant, to ask a Commander why.

The answer was clinical and matter-of-fact to Areinnye’s ears. Which was unsurprising, given that her people were prone to doubt and misjudge one another. Every action was ascribed to a motivation, a calculated move based on a desired goal. Unfortunately for the sake of honest social intercourse, the Commander did, in fact, have an agenda for this visit.

“I barely knew my father. He was killed during an espionage mission when I was a child. I was raised by my mother and her family. My Grandfather runs Tal’Ari shipyards. My family can trace its lineage all the way to before we left Vulcan. We have always been counted among those who march under the Raptor’s wings.” She said. It sounded like a boastful statement, but with recent events unfolding, she felt foolish saying it.

Valrek nodded, listening to the Commander, although unsure why he was listening to this story, but he knew there had to be a reason. He just wondered if he would find out during this conversation or not. "Your family has a good name, Commander." He replied, taking a sip of his drink, savouring the taste of the vintage of the Ale.

“Not good enough, apparently” she replied, knocking back the Kali-Fal in one swig. The potent drink burned pleasantly at her airway. “The Empire has made no provision for my family during the “diplomatic event” that is conveniently taking all high-ranking officials and their families off-world” she said dryly. She let the statement hang in the air, judging his reaction.

Valrek kept his composure. No doubt the comment was designed to a response out of him. If he had just been another Officer of the Galae, no doubt there composure wouldn't of held. He couldn't decide if the comment was designed to test his loyalty to the Empire or another purpose. "Such is the will of the Praetor." He said, keeping his tone even, not betraying if he was happy or sad about that fact.

Areinnye sighed. “The fact is, Lieutenant...I am unwilling to accept the Praetor’s homicidal negligence any longer. I do not intend to let my family and members of this crew perish at his whim” she said, fixing the tall man with a verdant stare that seemed to look through him. “I have just informed you of intentions treasonous enough to have everyone I love publicly executed. You now must choose whether to arrest me or become complicit in my machinations.” She said, hiding her shaking hands by squeezing them together in her lap. A pair of Reman Commandos had posted themselves at the Lieutenant’s door. Should Areinnye be wrong in her assessment, a fine officer would die a horrible death to keep her secret.

The glass that he was about to drink from, paused at his lips for a few moments as very Vulcan elbow raised on his head. He placed the glass down and regarded the Commander for a short moment, allowing the silence to build between them. This was a dangerous card that the Commander had just played. Was this a test of his loyalty? No. he thought to himself the moment he thought it. Her body language, her hands, her face, told him that her emotions were very real. She's being serious he decided a moment later. This may be exactly what he had been seeking.

"Why run the risk of telling me this, Commander?" Not that he had any intention of giving the Commander up, but this was a huge risk she was taking. She may of had contingencies, but she didn't know about his, if he had any even."To put you at ease, Commander, "He added. "I fully intend to be involved and.."he paused, considering his words. "be complicit in your machinations." He added.

She sighed, a visible reaction of relief. “Because I need help. And because I am unwilling to allow good people I know to die needlessly.” She replied honestly. She stood and took his glass and hers, helping herself and him to another round of the Kali-Fal. “What other option do I have, if I feel thus compelled. It’s an enormous risk, but doing nothing means I live while my family and crew die.” She said, returning with the drinks.

Valrek didn't tell her the vintage that they were drinking was a good one. In fact, the thought crossed his mind for a brief moment, before being replaced quickly with more thoughts about what the Commander had said. "I have been troubled with this myself." He replied sombrely."I am just a Lieutenant. The contacts I have are all taken in with the indoctrination that goes on during our training and despite the friendships I have with many of them, their loyalty to the Empire would win out. I take it we are saving as many as we can? And I assume you have a plan?" he asked, picking the drink back up and taking another sip of the Ale.

“Yes, and I’m not working alone” she replied. After taking a bracing sip of her drink, she relayed the pertinent details of the scheme, gaging his reaction as she spoke. “And that is the basis of our plans, Lieutenant.” She finished, setting her glass down.

Valrek allowed his composure to fall away, his eyes narrowing as he listening to her plan, considering the implications of the actions that were being taken. For the mercenaries to pull off what they wanted would need a coordinated approach, not to mention the decommissioning station would need to effectively be looking the other way. He looked at the woman again, a new found appreciation for her. Before, she was just another member of the Prae'ix, another attractive woman looking at ways she can further herself just like a typical Romulan. But, his thoughts were interrupted by his carefully trained brain. "Who else is in on this Commander?" He wasn't entirely certain anyone else on the crew could be trusted, no doubt the Commander had different ideas, but he would do his own checking. This was a matter of the mission succeeding, and they along with their families being put to death for treason. "We have to control the spread of this information. If the Tal Shiar get wind of it, without the support of the Diann behind me, I will find it hard to manage them."

“Lieutenant, if the Tal Shiar gets wind of our plans, we are all dead, regardless of the Tal Diann. This is outright treason. As to your question, a handful of the crew know. However, I don’t trust the Sub-Commander. He is a dangerous snake of a man and wouldn’t hesitate to use this opportunity to further his career.” She said, standing.

“I must go. And let me exit alone. There are Commandos stationed at your door” she informed him, somewhat sheepishly. If he exited his own quarters before her, he would be butchered in the corridor. “ I’m glad to have you with us, Lieutenant. Jolan Tru.”

Valrek's eyes narrowed as he listened. He fully intended to find out who knew and conduct his own investigation into them, whilst he had the resources of the Tal Diann at his disposal. He stood up too."Jolan'Tru, Commander." He returned as she took her leave from his quarters, leaving him with a lot of thinking to do.

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