Arrival

Posted on Sun Apr 19th, 2020 @ 8:23pm by Commander Areinnye t’Vraen & Colonel Sehan t'Varis & Subcommander Kaiae t'Lien & Major Ashley Rogers & Lieutenant Rehana t'Shaan & Lieutenant Hatham tr'Krotash & Sublieutenant Gedak K.I.A. 238702.10

3,015 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Prologue: Before the Inferno
Location: Verelan-Hdrael
Timeline: 238612.15

"Three minutes to destination, boss."

Raven acknowledged the report of her pilot as she uncomfortably pulled at the collar of the uniform she had donned. If they were going to cover as a privateer crew working for the Tal Shiar, she would have to look the part, too. Thus, the Romulans on her crew had all donned Tal Shiar uniforms that they had acquired on the black market along with the ship's docking credentials. The ship's old IFF transponder had been reactivated, identifying the bird-of-prey as the IRW Nova. Hopefully, this job was going to be worth all the hassle.

Finally, the Raven's Claw dropped out of warp, and immediately, they were hailed by the station's controller. "On screen," Raven ordered, and the face of a grim Romulan officer appeared on the warbird's viewscreen.

"Jolan tru, Verelan-Hdrael control," Raven said, adopting a tone that she hoped would sound authoritative. "Subcommander Sehan t'Varis of the IRW Nova, requesting permission to dock."

For a tense few moments, everyone on the bridge waited with bated breath as the controller checked the ship's credentials. If they failed muster, now would be the moment for everything to go wrong. After what felt like hours, the controller finally spoke.

"Subcommander, welcome to Verelan-Hdrael. Please proceed to your appointed docking port."

The entire crew released a sigh of relief as the comm channel closed. So far, so good. A few minutes later, the Raven's Claw completed the docking procedure. Raven turned to her bridge crew. "Keep the transporters charged and be ready to get the hell out of here if this goes wrong." She waved at Hatham and Gedak. "Come on, the waiting for us on the observation deck." A few hours ago, Vrih had sent a message that he would not be able to attend the meeting; instead, he had asked Raven to bring along the Ferengi, who would serve to identify the group.

As they stepped onto the station, to Raven's great relief, it appeared nobody questioned them or their identities, and so they quickly made their way to the observation deck, hoping to appear inconspicuous as she scanned the crowd for a familiar face or a sign of anyone recognising the trio. Indeed, the short half-blood and the bulky Romulan in their Tal Shiar uniforms and the Ferengi in a plain black business suit would be easily recognisable to anyone with the intention to find them.

Playing his part, Hatham walked, or perhaps even more appropriately loomed, a step behind. A Tal Shiar uniform was not something he'd ever imagined wearing, but he knew how to look like a deadly enforcer and that fit well enough. Surprisingly, the uniform did too. He was impressed with the quick tailoring to adjust one to his size and also somewhat relieved that there was a limited stock of them and from what he could tell most of the crew regarded them with varying levels of distaste. It didn't mean there wasn't a Tal Shiar pulling the strings here - rouse within rouse was very much their style - but he judged that the crew over all were saw this as only a ploy. What he'd learned of their contact put him on the shady side - a lighter shade of gray as far as Hatham could tell, but that didn't eliminate him from suspicion as far as complicity with the Tal Shiar.

Areinnye approached, recognizing the only Ferengi in the station. The woman’s eye took in the oddly-matched trio. The woman identified thus far only as ‘Raven’ was doing her best to appear as though she wasn’t out of place here. The Ferengi and the colossus towering beside her made her all the more conspicuous via her proximity. Areinnye had to glance up to see his face - Not an unpleasant view - before dismissing the thought and focusing. The Commander greeted them.

“Jolan Tru. Welcome to Verelan-Hdrael. Meeting room two-nine has been reserved for our discussion. Please follow me.” She said flatly. With that, she turned on her heel and led them to a meeting room. Kerika was already there and sweeping the room for listening devices.

Verelan-Hdrael was a very interesting place that Kerika had never been too before. This was of course a Tal-Shiar stronghold and she was a member of the Praetorian Gaurd. She was very cool under pressure and for the danger they were actually in. Very cool indeed. She was actually having fun. Nothing about her demeanor betrayed the fact that she wasn't who she said she was. It was a gift. If she was in the middle of a snake pit, her demeanor would make the snakes think she belonged there. She was a natural. She worked with active singularities, what were the Tal'Shiar compared to that?

So far she had found three listening devices as well as two video recorders. That was after the building custodian assured her there wasn't any. The Chief Engineer had brought some toys of her own though knowing this would happen. Devices that would take over any listening device with looped programming.. Even if this was discovered it was a Tal'Shiar trick anyway so it wouldn't even raise an eyebrow.

"Jolan-Tru Sub-Commander, the room has been swept we can speak and act freely". The Engineer said.

Raven and her entourage had followed Areinnye without as much as a comment, but now that they were in a private room, she finally spoke.

"Right then. I was called by an old business partner of mine and told that you had work for me and my crew. Then he called me again and said he wouldn't actually be at the meeting himself." She shook her head. "So either you two tell me who the hell you are and what this is about, or I am walking straight back out of here. I don't like dodgy business."

Areinnye burst out in laughter. This was a mercenary, meeting at an Imperial Starbase...and she didn’t like “dodgy business” the Commander fought to compose herself for a moment, realizing that it would take an enormous amount of nerve to come here to such a secure location.

“You’re right, of course. My apologies. Let’s bring in the crew and discuss the plan.” She said, crossing the room with the enormous viewports, which gave a landscape view of the comings and goings of the station. She opened the door on the other end of the meeting room.

“File in and sit down, officers, we have much to discuss and a short window of opportunity” she said.

At the sight of so many, Hatham deepened his 'enforcer scowl', though largely to cover dismay. Not so much at the prospect of taking them on - he gave himself and Raven even odds there - but at the number involved in something he had thought to be highly confidential to say the least. The chances of anything discussed here getting to the wrong ears increased with each person added to the group.

Taking a seat just to the side of the middle of the table, Kaiae's thoughts were actually running along a similar track to Hatham's: This was a surprising number of people for a conspiracy of this nature, and she had little doubt each of her fellow officers who now took their places had been approached personally and individually by the commander, as she had been. She also had little doubt many of them were thinking along similar lines - noting the number of people, the identities of the other officers; knowing that disgrace and a truly unpleasant execution awaited them all if even one link in the chain was suspect.

Rehana sauntered in with an easy grin and sprawled out in a chair with her characteristic ease. "So, boss, why is the Romulan military contacting us for a purpose other than, ya know, arresting us?"

Kaiae's train of thought was abruptly derailed; the last time she had sat in such a manner in public she was not yet school aged; it had never crossed her mind that anyone in adulthood would do so. She blinked, hard, and glanced reflexively towards Areinnye but said nothing.

Ash looked around the table and wondered what the hell she got herself into. This seemed like a complex operation, with far too many people and far too many variables. She opted to remain silent and quietly observed Raven. It's been years Ash had put on any kind of uniform or reported to anyone in any kind of chain of command, but she's committed to this venture and now her life was inextricably intertwined with the fates of the people in the room. She now focused her attention on Areinnye, who clearly has one hell of an purpose to bring everyone here. Who is she? What does she want? Ash leaned back in her chair and waited for the show to begin. How bad can it be?

Raven shook her head as she took a seat, with Gedak by her side, and looked around the room as Rehana and Ash entered the room; the rest of the crew was keeping the Claw's transporters and propulsion systems ready for an abrupt departure if needed. When Rehana spoke, Raven could not help but chuckle. "Good question. Very good question. I was expecting a simple business proposal, not a full briefing as if we had already accepted the job."

Areinnye’s eyes narrowed to daggers as she took her place at the end of the table “You accepted the job when you stepped foot onto this station. Anything else is unacceptable.” She warned. Keying at the console in front of her, the lights dimmed and a hologram projected above the table. The Hobus Star system. “ As you all know, the Hobus Star is set to go supernova in a short time. Romulus’ top scientists estimate less than 3 months. The resulting shockwave will destroy Romulus, Remus, two space stations, the shipyard at Haakona, and result in the deaths of four billion people. Some have been evacuated by the Federation, before the Synth disaster of Mars. Since then, no further help is coming from them. The Romulan Government, rather than focusing on saving our people from extermination, have instead focused on petty bickering and securing their own methods of escape.”

Ash struggled to maintain a poker face at the mention of Mars... this just might be the kind of mission she needed.

She paused and drew a frustrated breath. “In short, there is no hope for the Romulan people. No miracle is coming for those who march beneath the Raptor’s wings. I am Commander Areinnye t’Vraen, the scion of a hundred generations of loyal citizens. But I will not be the Commander who ferries impotent leaders to worlds of peace and plenty while my vine is left to wither!

The Haakona shipyards has been designated as the graveyard for the D’deridex class warbird, and the ships have been trickling in as they are replaced with newer designs. The IRW Ourainavassa is the most intact vessel currently in the facility. Using the transportation and credentials that Raven and her team have acquired, we will journey to Haakona, board the Ourainavassa under the pretext of an investigation, make her as ready as we can, and then make haste for the border at Hydrae-X. Upon reaching the border of unclaimed space, Raven and her team will take their payment and depart. Now I’m sure you all have questions?” She asked, finishing her briefing.

"I'd just like to add one simple thing. We also need to hijack a freighter shipping a QSG. That's a Quantum Singularity Generator for you non engineering controller types. Good news is that its also being provided by the Tal'Shiar." Kerika said.

Rehana grinned. "I'm liking the sound of this job already."

Ash furrowed her brow, her brain already processing everything she heard. This might be a fool's errand, but these fools have a much better chance at success with her on the team.

Raven listened intently, and looked around the room, taking in the expressions on the faces of the assembled crew, before speaking. "So am I getting this straight. We are going to waltz into a fleet shipyard, steal one of the largest warbirds the Imperial fleet operated, and just expect to get away with it?" She chuckled and nodded. "Commander, big speeches aside, you are insane. But with the right credentials, this might just work."


She pulled out a small datachip and plugged it into the console in front of her, replacing the holographic projection with a schematic of the Raven's Claw. "This is my ship, the Raven's Claw, currently using credentials identifying her as the IRW Nova of the Tal Shiar. We currently operate with a crew of 47, with 20 being the absolute minimum crew to operate the vessel. That means we can offer 27 hands to your boarding team. Don't be fooled by appearances, either. The Claw may be an antique, but she has been refitted and upgraded to be efficient in modern times. Weapon systems, shield systems, and cloaking device are all fully operational. My crew will also be able to assist in any repair operations that may be required to get the target ship moving again. However, we will of course be charging you for any parts that we may need to provide for those repairs. I will leave the details of the financial arrangements in the capable hands of Gedak."

The Ferengi nodded at the mention of his name. "Yes, any affairs relating to latinum are handled by myself. I will draw up the required documentation and have it sent over to the Commander at earliest convenience."

Raven raised an eyebrow in the direction of the Commander. "Don't try to screw us over on the cash side of things, Commander. Ferengi can smell a rip off from half a lightyear away, and Gedak has an incredibly fine nose. I assume you are going to let me know how many people you intend to bring along and when we are expecting to depart?"

“I’ve already shown your large-lobed friend the exorbitant fee required. There will be nearly one hundred of us, and we will need to leave within four hours. Additionally, you’ll be required to supply enough hand-held weapons for us” Areinnye responded.

Kaiae managed to keep her expression level and calm, but her eyes widened at the pronouncement of numbers. Whether that figure included the personnel the mercenaries were providing or not...If she had considered the collection of officers in attendance currently to be a larger than expected group for the sensitivity of the attempt, it was a shock of another level to consider that there were dozens of officers and crewmen aboard the Dominus, or otherwise known to the commander, aware of and involved in this plan. It would still be by far a bare minimum of crew to run a D'deridex; but over and above by several orders of magnitude the number of people generally involved in a delicate conspiracy...at least if there was to be any hope of remaining covert.

Raven turned to face Gedak, who nodded. "They're trustworthy. Well, as trustworthy as Romulans get, anyway."

Satisfied with the statement by the Ferengi, Raven turned back to the Commander. "Nearly a hundred, you say? That will be a bit of a squeeze, but we should be able to get you all on board. It's not all that far to Haakona anyway. As for the weaponry, I am sure that you will find our well-stocked armory to your satisfaction. Coordinate with Miss Rogers on those matters."

Rehana nodded. "Commander, that was a hell of a speech. As for repairs, you can talk to me. I've kept the Claw up and running despite Raven's best efforts; I'm pretty sure I can handle a D'deridex."

Someday someone was going to backhand that kid into a bulkhead. But Hatham did not even roll his eyes. He was still processing the idea of over 100 people involved in a conspiracy that could have all of them strung up by their own guts (if they were lucky). There was however a certain freedom in knowing that just being in the room meant that he was already doomed; anyone not already in the Tal Shiar's pay who reported this would at best die quickly. What was that old song line one of the humans used to quote? 'Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose'? It was truly apt, but this situation did provide an opportunity - a way to potentially save his family. He resolved that if he was already all in there was no reason not to play for the whole pot.

T'Lan never trusted stations like Verelan-Hdrael. He never knew who was listening. His brother was a senator back home on Romulus, which made him a target for political machinations. T'Lan was normally cautious about sharing political opinions aloud. He managed to stay alive for so long by keeping his opinions to himself. He had made sure to encrypt his PADDs and bring devices that could help him counter Tal Shiar surveillance. He was hoping that he would not bring further shame on him or his house. He could not bear to allow anything happen to his family as well.

T'Lan sat back throughout the whole conversation with the mercenaries, occasionally hing some insight into the scientific implications of the Hobus Star explosion and some of the exoplanets they were able to find within Romulan space suitable for settlement. Existing telemetry on Romulan planets was promising, although he hesitated to make any conclusions based on their findings so far. T'Lan didn't mind, however. He reserved Verelan-Hdrael's laboratory, where he would sift through the telemetry from the Caridia System.

Areinnye spoke again. “Alright everyone. Should we be questioned, we are under orders from the Tal Shiar. Let’s move”

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