Heads We Live, Tails We Die

Posted on Wed Aug 5th, 2026 @ 4:15am by Subcommander Kaiae t'Lien & Lieutenant Hatham tr'Krotash

1,622 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Intermission: Safe Haven
Location: Haven Colony

Kaiae went straight from the meeting at the hospital to setting things in motion as to notice of and arrangements for the mandatory meeting that evening. There were some arrangements, however, that she couldn't leave to anyone else, and she burned off some of her angry, nervous edge by stalking around the various construction sites currently around and within the settlement until she found Hatham, currently in the midst of helping hoist a heavy metal beam into place. She waited until it looked to be secure, then called over to him.

"I need to talk to you. Now." She didn't bother to specify 'in private'; that would have set the local gossip chain's tongues waggling further as to what could possibly be happening, and it was easily enough to infer anyway given the unexpected interruption.

Hatham's brows rose - he couldn't think of anything he'd done that would call for that tone, so it must be something to do with the colony. After making sure the other work crew had the beam in place, he headed toward Kaiae. "What is it?"

"Not here." She said curtly in a lowered her voice and started walking. Her house was out; her grandparents, parents, aunt, and little cousins shared the structure and this had to remain very closely held at the moment, so instead she started towards a supply shed on the outskirts that she knew wasn't likely to be visited today based on what was stored in it.

---

Once she'd kicked open the door to the shed and made sure no one was in or around it, she secured the door from the inside, dug around in the pouch on her hip till she came up with the jamming device she usually carrier - which had gotten much less use of late on the planet - and toggled settings to also hopefully interfere with anyone who might walk by being able to overhear anything, and only then did she speak, sagging into a lean against a stack of crates for a moment before straightening again. "We have a problem. A big problem. You know that some medical staff arrived from the Federation, yes?" She didn't wait for an answer; if he hadn't before, he did now. "Nancy called me to come meet them a bit ago after she cleared them medically. One of them, Dr. Savin, is apparently a Romulan raised on Vulcan without knowledge of that fact at the time. He's not the issue, though; I expect people will be unhappy about the Vulcan part, then become a bit more welcoming once they learn the background."

Kaiae almost felt as if she were gathering her courage to say the next part; which she found a thoroughly unacceptable feeling to be having in this sort of rank and position. "The problem is the second man, Dr. tr'Rehu. Who is also a Romulan attached to the Federation, but wasn't raised there; he jointed the Federation's service after he left the Empire...and theoretically, the service of the Tal'Shiar."

To someone who didn't know him, it might appear Hatham had to heard, or not understood, since he went very still; a stillness marred only by a slow blink. It was part habit, part trained - a security guard's reflex not to react without a signal, and a weapons master's son's training to assess before acting. Beneath the still, his mind was racing. Did anyone really leave the Tal'Shiar? But then he knew of some who had (or seemed to have). And Rogers, who had left Starfleet's version. And Raven had held a commission, which meant technically he had too. But that was a cover, and one too early discarded. We don't know this man's reasons or service. And a doctor... He contained a shudder at what a doctor serving the Tal'Shiar implied. And yet he worked in the Federation, and was sent by Starfleet. While they were idiots about trusting too readily, they were also ...trying to be helpful, and more important were not people they could afford to offend.

Hatham released a slow breath. "How much do we know about them, beyond that bare outline?"

"Not nearly as much as I'd like to; or as I intend to. For now, this." She dug inside the pouch again for what amount to a miniature version of a PADD, thumbed it on, and passed it over for him to skim what she had on the pair so far.

"I considered eliminating the risk. I unfortunately eliminated the option instead in short order; we can't afford to anger the Federation by killing one of their people, whether in in duel, a preemptive strike, or even an 'accident' that they might suspect. Not that it changes my thoughts on this since I don't know much about him yet, either, but Savin vouched for him." Kaiae managed to look exhausted, angry, and incredulous at the same time with her next words. "I then put him on notice as to the particulars of that. And he repeated the statement."

"Hrmm. At least he can't claim ignorance of our ways if he got played and pays for it," Hatham observed, scanning through the PADD. "...half-Betazoid? That might explain both the Tal'Shiar wanting him and him wanting out. But you never know. 'You are special, not like those others' works too often. Sometimes the outcasts are the ones who try hardest to please the group that looks down on them." He pursed his lips, as though tasting something bitter. "What did Nancy think of them?"

"She seems to believe the story, actually. I assume there are some compelling reasons why, but I haven't gotten a chance to get her alone yet for a rundown of them; hospital was busy. What I did tell her was to make sure no one finds out if at all possible for now. If they do, I'd expect a lot of people to have the same reaction I did, and not all of them will think through the problem with any of the otherwise typical solutions before acting. Which is why I'll be holding a meeting of all the adults on the colony - minus a few obvious exceptions - tonight. To inform them in a controlled atmosphere, and make it clear that I expect them to not take actions which would incur the wrath of the Federation." These last few sentences were said with the touch of the tone of a woman staring into the abyss, or grappling with receiving a likely-terminal diagnosis of something; in doing so she'd effectively be making the same vows as Savin, with the same price attached to them, without really much choice in the matter; because she knew without a doubt that if she did not do so, someone would do something stupid, and they would all pay for the fallout of that.

And that will put you in or near the same bind as the Vulcan. The thought was immediately followed with 'and me right along you with I stand in support'. But there was no other choice. Both for the reason she'd give of not hacking off the Federation and because she was his CO and she'd earned his loyalty. "I'm sure Nancy understands the issue, or she wouldn't have called you to meet them with herself there to mediate. The question is whether to involve her in speaking for restraint. These doctors may leave if they feel hostility, which is fine as long as they go back to the Federation in one piece, but we can't lose the few we've had from the start." Whether by violence or loss of trust, though he didn't feel the need to say it.

"I'm inclined to keep her out of it, at least directly. Both for the obvious reason, and also because while some would take her words in favor of the orders given, there would undoubtedly be some who would consider the statement tainted, given before she had a commission, she had one from the Federation instead." She shook her head slightly. "No. We get what we can from her before then to potentially have in our pocket supporting data wise; but when it comes down to it, I do not intend to make an argument for restraint. I intend to give an order for it."

"Ssuaj-ha." The response carried respect beyond merely for rank. "I'll be there to knock heads of any who challenge it." He stretched a shoulder and gave her sly smile. "But I'm feeling a little more stiff than usual from lifting beams. I may drop by the medical center for an assessment beforehand."

Kaiae smirked for a moment at the implication, knowing it would be a perfect cover for gathering the information they sought, dipped her head in approval of it, and hoped that he came up with something they could use later. "If you can think of anyone else you trust to keep a cool head if the crowd gets rowdy....and to not become such themselves...maybe issue them a disruptor and a holster for under their tunic for tonight. Just in case." She flipped the settings on the jamming device to 'off', stuffed in back in her belt pouch, and smoothed her tunic afterwards out of old habit, though exactly zero people here were going to be inspecting her non-existent uniform, then keyed the lock off the door to the shed and pushed it open to exit.

 

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