ST:SoD204 | "Checkmate"

Stardate 99358.1

When the confrontation between Nikki and Vitellius finally arrives, the Romulan psionic reveals one final surprise which forces Mischa to step in...

---

View Episode

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The camera opens on the Justicar, the battlecruiser dodging and weaving as streaks of enemy disruptor fire fly after it, a few bolts impacting and causing the aft shields to flare up Sierra Reyes@anncaris Sound FX | https://youtu.be/rNdZu0A6Qks Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The camera pulls back to reveal a trio of Zauger raiders in pursuit, with a much larger carrier looming in the background. Another trio of raiders move in from the side, trying to cut the - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - Justicar off Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The battlecruiser's forward phasers unleash a volley of fire, followed by a spread of three torpedoes. Two of the incoming raiders are taken out and the Justicar streams past the third one, - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - which immediately joins the trio still behind the Justicar in pursuit Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The Justicar exits offscreen along with its pursuing ships, and the camera pans to reveal a full-scale battle over Agrama, with Romulan and Zauger ships battling it out Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The large IRW Kaishaasi sits at the front of the Imperial Fleet, though it is not firing. There are slight signs of weapons damage on its wings Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The camera moves towards the Kaishaasi, momentarily cut off by a T'Varo and two Shadow Guard warbirds which chase away a trio of Zauger raiders from making an attack on the flagship Sierra Reyes@anncaris | As we draw closer to the Kaishaasi, we move into the ship to a view of its bridge, though we don't see the full bridge all at once Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Instead, the camera enters from the side of the bridge, past a pair of dead Romulan soldiers Sierra Reyes@anncaris | There is a loud roar and a shrill shriek, followed by several thuds. The camera stays low, not showing the source of the noises. It pans over an unconscious Admiral Imaella, then Serenity, - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - similarly knocked out with her sword nearby. It finally settles on a kneeling Mischa Sierra Reyes@anncaris | There is another shrill shriek, and a massive shape flies past Mischa, slamming into a console on the back of the bridge and wrecking it, causing sparks to come flying Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The shape drops to the floor, and as it tries to claw its way back up, it becomes distinguishable as Leona Sierra Reyes@anncaris | A looming shadow approaches Leona, and before she can get back up, a clawed hand grabs the dragon's neck. The camera finally turns to reveal... Sierra Reyes@anncaris FX | https://xynodegaming.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/lady-thorn.jpg Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The entity speaks with an echoing voice: "You must be wondering...can a god even die?" Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Leona gives a defiant roar Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Entity: "Oh, sweet sister. I don't want to kill you. You will suffer. It is so much more satisfying to torment a god than these fragile little mortals..." --- Sierra Reyes@anncaris | TWELVE DAYS EARLIER... Sierra Reyes@anncaris | As the Justicar heads back towards Agrama with the Kaishaasi and the rest of the Imperial strike force, Mischa is called to the bridge Mischa@crystyl enters, "How goes?" Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"We're still on our way to Agrama. No further word of Vitellius' fleet yet. But Gul Selesk wants a word with us, and I thought you should be along for it." Mischa@crystyl:"Appreciate it. Feels like a full time job keeping tabs on that one" Sierra Reyes@anncaris grins, "That's why I'm glad I have you along, so Khivath and I don't have to spend the time to do that ourselves." She nods to the comm console. "Put him through." Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Gul Selesk's visage appears on the viewscreen, "Hello Commanders. I'm honoured to get to talk to two of you this time," he smiles Mischa@crystyl:"No doubt. So what's this about?" Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Selesk: "Well, I assume it's as clear to you as it is to me that our chances of winning this little showdown isn't as good as we'd like it to be." Mischa@crystyl:"It is fair to say that one would always prefer more favourable odds" Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Selesk: "So I'm going to do what I can to even the odds a little." Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"You're calling your benefactors in to help?" Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Selesk shakes his head, "No, no, they've already said that they won't get involved directly with this. But I've been around for a while. I have...other friends. Make sure the Imperials don't - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - get themselves wiped out before I make it back, will you?" Mischa@crystyl:"I take it you have no intention of clueing us in about your plan here..." Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Selesk grins, "Where's the fun in that? Good luck, Justicar. You'll need it." Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The comm cuts and Tris announces, "Gul Selesk's ship has broken off from the fleet and cloaked." Mischa@crystyl eyerolls, "And people call /me/ enigmatic..." Sierra Reyes@anncaris chuckles, "You're enigmatic by nature. He's enigmatic by nature /and/ goes out of his way to be even more enigmatic." Mischa@crystyl:"You're right, I am better of course" she smiles, "Well... setting aside the unrealistic sunny optimism; best case, he's bailing on us. Worst case, this is his move and he's bringing reinforcements - Mischa@crystyl:- against us" Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"If he's bringing reinforcements against us, why would he warn us? Why not just slip off, or better yet, send a secret signal and disappear during the battle, to run off or support his new friends?" Mischa@crystyl:"Admittedly not the smartest move this way, but we can't afford to rule out the possibility" Sierra Reyes@anncaris nods, "I'll contact the Shadow Guard, let them know there's a chance the temporal ships might strike again. The Undine won't help us against the Zauger, but we could have them standing by in - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - case of temporal intervention. I admit, I'm not sure if the Undine will be enough to stop them without the element of surprise we gave them last time, but it's more of a chance than we've got - Sierra Reyes@anncaris:- with just the Imperials." Mischa@crystyl:"It is better than nothing,granted" Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"He did say his benefactors wanted Vitellius gone, right?" Mischa@crystyl:"But not enough to weigh in themselves apparently" Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"Or so Selesk claims. I think his benefactors wanting Vitellius gone might not be a lie. That part about not weighing in themselves could be, though. Right now, they've got enemies on both sides, - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - assuming they're really looking to get rid of Vitellius. What better way to do it than to let us fight each other and pick off whoever survives right in the aftermath of the battle?" Mischa@crystyl:"Very astute" Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"If that's the case, our objective to defeat Vitellius still stands. But we need to be prepared for a second attack as soon as we've dealt with his forces. The Undine are the best we could do for - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - now...unless you've got any friends in your back pocket?" Mischa@crystyl:"Well... there may be some convenient arrivals appearing on sensors at some point soon..." Mischa@crystyl:"I don't have specifics, but believe we can expect some mercenary support" Sierra Reyes@anncaris smiles, "Every little bit will help. We'll have to focus on the Zauger fleet first. If we can't defeat them, we don't have the luxury of worrying about the temporal ships. We'll just have to - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - hope the Undine and what forces we've got remaining after the battle will be enough." Mischa@crystyl:"When you've done all you can to prepare, there is no sense dwelling on whether it was enough or not. We must simply make it work" Sierra Reyes@anncaris nods, "Good advice, Commander. Let's give Vitellius all we have, including the reinforcements you mentioned. No point keeping anything back when victory is already not assured. The Undine'll be - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - the only ones who won't join in against the Zauger fleet, but that's only because they don't want to." Mischa@crystyl:"Now comes the fun part. The waiting..." --- Romulan@annpc#557 | FIVE DAYS BEFORE BATTLE... Romulan@annpc#557 | Back at Agrama, the Kaishaasi sits in orbit of the planet. As they await the arrival of Vitellius' forces, Nikki is called to one of the observation lounges Nikki@crystyl walks in, looking around Romulan@annpc#557 | Nikki finds the lounge rather empty, though it is no surprise given the time of day. Imaella is very visible in her flag officer's uniform, standing by the window looking out Nikki@crystyl joins her, "I see why you picked this particular lounge" Romulan@annpc#557 smiles, "It is quite a view, isn't it? But I didn't call you here just to stargaze, Empress." Nikki@crystyl smiles, "I imagine not. Speak your mind Admiral" Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "Actually, it's something I was hoping to show you," she checks her wristcomp. "Anytime now..." Nikki@crystyl watches curiously Romulan@annpc#557 | Outside the window, a ship warps in... Romulan@annpc#557 FX | https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/sto_gamepedia/images/b/ba/HirogenBattlecruiser.jpg Romulan@annpc#557 | Followed by four others of similar design, though significantly smaller Romulan@annpc#557 FX | https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/sto_gamepedia/images/9/90/HirogenEscort.jpg Nikki@crystyl:"Hirogen?" Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella nods, "The last of the reinforcements I've been able to get us. One of your newer subjects was once a follower of Sela. He was able to find some of the Hirogen mercenaries she - Romulan@annpc#557 - employed. They're not that significant in terms of numbers, but they've survived battle with the Iconians and the Klingons and much better than any of the other mercenaries we have." Nikki@crystyl:"Every little helps" Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "One thing I wanted to run past you before we officially sign their contracts..." Nikki@crystyl:"I did try reaching out to the Republic as well, presenting Vitellius as a shared threat. But communication with them is... challenging at the moment. So I do not know if my message reached D'Tan or- Nikki@crystyl:- not" she turns, "Oh, what is that?" Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "Speaking of the Republic, I know you served with them before. During Sela's reign, these hunters fought against D'Tan's people. They've killed many Romulans you would've once - Romulan@annpc#557 - considered comrades, and no doubt enjoyed it. It's not personal, they have nothing against the Republic. They're Hirogen, they enjoy hunting anything and Sela simply directed their weapons at - Romulan@annpc#557 - your people. But they've killed more than most, certainly much more than any Imperial ship in our fleet." Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "I would not be surprised if someone you personally known had fallen to these hunters, and I would understand if you do not feel comfortable working with them." Nikki@crystyl:"Republic, Imperial, Independent... all are Romulan at the end of the day, further distinction matters not. I have no problem seeing former adversaries working alongside us though" Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella smiles, "Good. We can use every last ship, and I don't know these Hirogen personally, but I know enough about the Hirogen to say that they're not really adversaries, of the Republic, - Romulan@annpc#557 - Imperials, or even the Zauger. Killing is just what they do, but if guided properly, they can be useful weapons." Nikki@crystyl:"And right now, the Zauger are certainly the most worthy prey for them" she nods Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella nods back, "My thoughts exactly. I'll continue to search for additional support for as long as I can, but I doubt we'll get many more after these Hirogen. The odd freelancer here and - Romulan@annpc#557 - there, perhaps, but I've exhausted all the significant options that can still make it here in time." Nikki@crystyl:"Likewise. We can't expect to see any more warbirds out there now, as nice a sight as it would be. Starfleet might pull a few small surprises out of their nacelles still, they are both particularly - Nikki@crystyl:- devious commanders after all; almost Romulan. Almost" she grins Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella grins, "Indeed they are from what we've seen of them so far." Nikki@crystyl:"So tell me really. How is the mood out there at the moment?" Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "Tense, but this may be a more even fight than we are expecting, especially with us having the advantage of being the defenders and knowing the territory. There's hope of victory, and - Romulan@annpc#557 - there's no one trying to abandon the fleet like what happened last time." Nikki@crystyl:"Well, that is somewhat reassuring. I do feel a little responsible here now after all" Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "If we can prevail last time, we'll manage this battle. The only wild card now is Vitellius himself- I've been studying his tactics, but none of us have yet faced a fleet led by him - Romulan@annpc#557 - personally. But Averius is his son and studied under his father, so I think his tactics won't be too radical compared to what we've already faced." Nikki@crystyl:"What about Averius himself? Is he a trump card, or a wild card at this point?" Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "I don't know. Vitellius knows we have him and it hasn't dissuaded him so far. He hasn't provided us any further insight than what he's given us already." Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "We will have to see how he reacts when he arrives and we get a direct channel with him." Nikki@crystyl:"I want to keep an eye on the boy. Vitellius doesn't strike me as one to put family over himself. But seeing that in his father may yet open Averius' eyes" Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella nods, "And he might be able to help us further against his father. Agreed. Do you wish to talk to him before the battle?" Nikki@crystyl:"You know what... I think I will" Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "There'll be a meetup and tactics discussion between the fleet commanders tomorrow as well. I'll see you there, Empress." Nikki@crystyl smiles and nods, "Enjoy the view Admiral" --- NPR@annpc#557 | Later, Nikki pays Averius a visit in the Kaishaasi's brig... Nikki@crystyl strolls in, "Not interrupting am I?" NPR@annpc#557 | Averius hops off the bed as he sees Nikki step in, making his way over to the force field, "Not much you can interrupt while I'm imprisoned in here." Nikki@crystyl smiles, "No, I imagine not. But I hope my people are still treating you well?" NPR@annpc#557 | Averius: "Better than I expected, from what I've been told of the Star Empire. Certainly better than any Zauger would treat their prisoner." Nikki@crystyl:"I would say that everything you've heard about the Star Empire is wrong, and this is the proof. That's what I'm supposed to say now, right?" NPR@annpc#557 | Averius: "No, I don't think everything I've heard of the Star Empire was wrong. My father was in the upper echelons of the empire at the time, not to mention we come from a family that was - NPR@annpc#557 - once quite prestigious. He knew what the Star Empire was like, and he had no reason to lie to me. I just think you lead your empire differently from the Praetors and Emperors of old." Nikki@crystyl:"From men like your father you mean" NPR@annpc#557 | Averius: "Yes. I suppose my father does not entirely do things the traditional Romulan way anymore either. His time with the Zauger has affected him. I am used to Zauger rule. I was born on - NPR@annpc#557 - their homeworld. I had expected things here to be more similar with the Zauger ways, but that is clearly not the case with you." Nikki@crystyl:"I'm glad you can see that. After all, it's the whole reason I chose now to step up and claim my birthright. And from the rapid rate everyone is falling into line behind me, I think that speaks - Nikki@crystyl:- volumes to the will of the Romulan people when given a choice between that and Zauger burning piles of corpses in our streets" NPR@annpc#557 | Averius: "There is a fundamental difference between the way you rule and the Zauger way. Of course the people would prefer your methods, because the Zauger way is the projection of strength - NPR@annpc#557 - and fear. It is not meant to be pleasant, but it can be effective at keeping people in line. But I feel we have overstretched ourselves here, and do not have the force to truly back up the - NPR@annpc#557:- strength we project. In this scenario, the Zauger way is...flawed, but it is the only way they know." Nikki@crystyl smiles, "You seem to be developing a few inconsistencies. Not always is it 'we' anymore, but 'they'. This shows promise" NPR@annpc#557 | Averius scowls, "What are you trying to do, recruit me to your cause?" Nikki@crystyl:"Against your own father? Please. If I want to truly waste my time I'll gamble with Imaella again. No, it just shows promise that there may actual be a Romulan heart in that chest after all" NPR@annpc#557 | Averius: "And what is a Romulan heart /supposed/ to be like, according to you?" Nikki@crystyl:"Well for one thing, proud enough to stand up and be as pointed as our ears, we do not cower behind other species who fight for us" NPR@annpc#557 | Averius: "We do not have many Romulans to fight for us. Another flaw of employing the Zauger way of ruling here, I suppose. We do not have the time to develop the fear into something that can - NPR@annpc#557 - be harnessed into pushing people into service, as the Zauger have with their foot soldiers." Nikki@crystyl sighs softly, "You are missing the point. You can't rule a civilization the same way you do a military, it just doesn't work. This is why I say Romulans need to be proud, because then they flourish- Nikki@crystyl:- and achieve the impossible. But all your father is doing is trying to oppress them, which gains nothing for either the people or him in the long run. Rule of that nature works for species of that - Nikki@crystyl:- nature like the Zauger or Klingons. But not us" NPR@annpc#557 | Averius thinks for a moment, and then nods, "I suppose that would be another reason the Zauger way is...not as effective as expected here. I don't like to admit it, but you might have a point. - NPR@annpc#557 - My father was always a military man, even as a senator. And his time with the Zauger has not helped him move away from that." Nikki@crystyl:"That is not to say of course that there is no place for that form of leadership. A strong civilization - a strong Romulan Empire - /needs/ that strong military leadership. But not it's people. That- Nikki@crystyl:- is why I have Imaella at my side here, and why we have continued to defy your father and the Zauger even when were nothing more than a handful of refugees with not but the clothes on our back" NPR@annpc#557 | Averius: "Yes, there is no denying your success, seeing how far you have come. You may be our enemy, but I would be a fool to dismiss your achievements. I will have to keep them in mind and...- NPR@annpc#557 - rectify our ways, if you ever release me from this cell." Nikki@crystyl:"I would very much like to do that, but you understand that I can't as long as you're a potential liability. And since I'm sure you're well aware of what's currently going on, now is hardly the time" NPR@annpc#557 | Averius: "Indeed. But when I do return, I will do what I can to reign in the Zauger and their ways." Nikki@crystyl:"Assuming you do return, that does indeed sound promising. But honestly now, after you failed in your objective and lost your fleet before getting captured... do you really imagine there is any - Nikki@crystyl:- intent other than seeing you die along with the rest of us here?" Nikki@crystyl:"After all, forgiveness and second chances do not seem fitting with the Zauger way from what I've seen" NPR@annpc#557 | Averius: "No, it is not. But my father would not simply leave me here to die. He may have been influenced by the Zauger, but he is a Romulan as well. If anything, I would have been influenced - NPR@annpc#557 - more by the Zauger, growing up on their homeworld. And I would not leave my father your prisoner were our positions reversed." Nikki@crystyl:"Well then for your sake, I hope you are right" NPR@annpc#557 | Averius: "We'll see soon." --- Romulan@annpc#557 | FOUR DAYS BEFORE BATTLE... Romulan@annpc#557 | The fleet leaders are arrayed around a table on Agrama, with Nikki at its head. Most people around the table are Romulan, but Commander Reyes and Mischa are present, along with a - Romulan@annpc#557 - representative from the Hirogen, a Corvallen mercenary, and Ambition, the leader of the Istvaenen Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "We have about four days before Vitellius' fleet arrives. One of the Shadow Guard warbirds has detected a number of cloaked Zauger vessels who we believe to be part of the assault - Romulan@annpc#557 - force, still on course towards us, with the expected ETA." Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "Thanks to our Federation friends," she gestures towards the two commanders, "our numbers have been bolstered by some additional mercenary forces. Combined with the planetary defense - Romulan@annpc#557 - grid, we should be roughly evenly matched with our enemies. All it comes down to now is strategy." Nikki@crystyl:"Is Vitellius really going to ride in with even odds?" Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "He has the reputation for being quite the tactician, and he's won battles with worse odds. The recent losses on his side were all forces he weren't personally in command of. With a - Romulan@annpc#557 - record like his, I suspect he has enough of an ego not to back down simply because we have enough firepower to match his." Nikki@crystyl | Mischa: "And a solid strategy to go with that ego" Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "Exactly. Which is why we need a strategy to keep him at bay. Since Averius' fleet was entirely subdued, we have no reason to believe the Istvaenen boarding tactic won't work again. - Romulan@annpc#557 - Vitellius has no way of knowing what they're capable of yet. So we send them in to board his larger vessels again. If we're fortunate, they might be able to get on the flagship, sever the head - Romulan@annpc#557 - of the Aehallh, and end the war right here. I suspect that's probably too optimistic, though. But at minimum we should be able to turn some of his cruisers and carriers against them, and force - Romulan@annpc#557 - some to self-destruct." Nikki@crystyl:"Perhaps they could take that cloaked attack group first and then use that to get close to the main force so we can keep our defensive lines intact?" Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "Perhaps. We don't know for sure whether that is the forward attack group, or simply /a/ group of the fleet, as the entire fleet is cloaked. It's simply the one we're using to follow - Romulan@annpc#557 - their movements since it's the one we have eyes on for the moment. We could strike them if they make a move, or whichever group first tries to attack us. Moving in to engage them before the - Romulan@annpc#557 - battle begins in earnest will be difficult, though. The Istvaenen still cannot use transporters, and we need to get ships close to the enemy for them to jump over. Without the rest of the - Romulan@annpc#557 - defensive lines drawing fire, we could lose most or even all of the ships actually delivering the Istvaenen." Nikki@crystyl | Mischa: "So one cloaked ship delivers them ahead of time then. That could play into another tactic we have available" Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella looks over curiously, "And what might that be?" Nikki@crystyl | Mischa looks to Nikki, "You were there at the battle of the Heart, Empress. Yes?" Nikki@crystyl nods Nikki@crystyl | Mischa: "So you may recall what happened to a certain Junayd clone's ship when they breached the space gate at that battle" Nikki@crystyl:"I see... and you believe you can replicate said results?" Nikki@crystyl | Mischa nods and looks back to Imaella, "These Junayd are masters of wormhole technology. They can use it more effectively than warp for space travel and even personnel transport. At that battle, - Nikki@crystyl:- a single Junayd fighter opened a wormhole aperture at a bottleneck of the fleet and directed it into a star. It took out significant enemy forces before they were able to close and destroy it. The- Nikki@crystyl:- person who pulled off that move is my tactical officer now on the Latenter, and has the knowledge to reproduce these wormholes with adaptations to our own technology. I've seen it done to a - Nikki@crystyl:- standard Starfleet cruiser before. So, in combination with a little knowledge we happen to have come into from elsewhere in the conflict, I believe a single sacrificial warbird could deliver your - Nikki@crystyl:- insertion team to the enemy fleet, and then be used to execute this combined move with a gravity well generated by one of the captured vessels" Romulan@annpc#557 | Romulan Commander: "Why sacrifice a warbird when we can sacrifice a captured enemy ship to begin with and lose nothing of our own?" Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "No, she's right. Zauger ships have less advanced cloaks than our own. A warbird will be much more suitable for sneaking up and delivering the insertion team. Once we have won this - Romulan@annpc#557 - war, we'll have plenty of time and resources to rebuild. Until then, we'll just have to make do with what we can get. Besides, we have more captive Zauger vessels than personnel to crew them - Romulan@annpc#557 - at the moment. We can spare one of our own ships and transfer the crew to a Zauger one." Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella looks to Mischa, "Will this officer have to go with the warbird?" Nikki@crystyl | Mischa: "It will also be more expedient. The longer it takes, the more likely the enemy will become aware of the danger and flee. By using a sacrificial ship, you have the advantage of - Nikki@crystyl:- pre-installing the sequence and programming an autofire routine. Time the charging, and you could have it ready within seconds of your team boarding" Romulan@annpc#557 | Faedani: "This wormhole technology, I assume it will collapse on its own after a short while? We don't want to accidentally cause another Hobus by unleashing the full power of a star so close - Romulan@annpc#557 - to Agrama, after all." Nikki@crystyl | Mischa smiles, "Fear not, these Junayd actually know what they're doing. Opening a wormhole into a star's corona is a lot different to messing with supernovas. I wouldn't recommend it if I didn't - Nikki@crystyl:- trust it" Nikki@crystyl:"I saw it with my own eyes. A fleet bottlenecked in the spacegate of an Iconian sphere, pouring into an aperture one after the other. I assume the gravity well is to supplement the lack of a - Nikki@crystyl:- physical bottleneck?" Nikki@crystyl | Mischa nods, "From what happened to the Valley Forge, it may have a destabilizing effect on the wormhole. But this is not the same technology as used there, so it is impossible to say for certain" Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "In any case, our ships will be far, far away. As long as the star's power won't go out of control, it's only Vitellius' forces who will take the blunt of this." Nikki@crystyl:"If it can be done in the confines of a spacegate, I'm sure we can manage it in deep space" Nikki@crystyl | Mischa nods, "It is not like pulling a star through uncontrolled. The aperture is directional, so would be opened in front of the fleet. Then the gravity well a short distance from the aperture - Nikki@crystyl:- to draw enemy vessels into it. Apprehended vessels can further encourage this with tractors and repulsors" Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "Excellent. We dispatch the Istvaenen before Vitellius can execute his first move on us, seize his initial attack force, sacrifice the warbird to wreak further havoc on his forces, - Romulan@annpc#557 - which all in all should put him at a significant disadvantage. If he doesn't pull back by then, the rest of his forces should have little chance penetrating our defense." Nikki@crystyl:"It's as good an opening gambit as I can think of" she smiles, "Thank you Commander, and please thank the Observer for me as well. I know it can't have been easy getting her to share the technology" Nikki@crystyl | Mischa smiles, "That's why she didn't. I have an installation chip that carries an encryption beyond us. It will let us make this one time use of the technology without revealing its secrets" Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "Clever. And fair enough, having its assistance during the battle is plenty for us. We don't actually seek the technology itself, as useful as it could be." Nikki@crystyl | Mischa: "It's one of the Junayd's tenets, not unlike our Prime Directive. But yes, this should make a reasonable compromise" Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella nods, "Sounds like we have a plan then. Let's get to work preparing that warbird, and the rest of the fleet for battle as well." Nikki@crystyl:"Are there any more specific strategies we need to consider?" Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "Nothing I can think of beyond our usual tactics. Our newer allies are less unconventional than the Istvaenen, after all." Nikki@crystyl:"Fair enough, that would seem to be all for now then. I know you all have a great deal to do, so let's make it happen" --- NPC@annpc#557 | ONE DAY BEFORE BATTLE... NPC@annpc#557 | Mischa is called down to the intel room of the Justicar Mischa@crystyl strolls in NPC@annpc#557 | Khivath turns from the console to Mischa, "Ah, there you are, Commander." Mischa@crystyl:"What news?" NPC@annpc#557 | Khivath smiles, "Actually, I'm not the one with the news. We've received communications from your vault, and your ship wants to speak with you." Mischa@crystyl:"Excellent, thank you!" NPC@annpc#557 | Khivath gestures to the console behind him, "I'll leave you to it, Commander." He heads out, leaving Mischa to talk with the Latenter in private Mischa@crystyl steps over and activates the comm NPC@annpc#557 | Eirril appears on the screen, with the cell room of the Latenter behind him, "Hello Commander. How're things going on the Justicar?" Mischa@crystyl:"A refreshing change of pace, but I am starting to get a little homesick. I hope you are calling with good news" NPC@annpc#557 | Eirril: "Well, the repairs are coming along smoothly from what I've been seeing. I just wanted to give you a little intel update. Oh, and the reinforcements got to you, right?" Mischa@crystyl:"Yes, thank you. What do you have?" NPC@annpc#557 | Eirril: "Well firstly, it seems a few days ago a ship matching Gul Selesk's was seen along the borders of Klingon space. There's plenty of salvaged Jem'Hadar ships from the war still, but none - NPC@annpc#557 - modified like his, so there's no mistaking it." Mischa@crystyl:"Yes, he departed here around that time stating he was going to rally reinforcements" NPC@annpc#557 | Eirril nods, "I thought he might be there to hire mercenaries, but there doesn't seem to be any contracts being made which fit the criteria, nor are there any mercenary mobilizations in - NPC@annpc#557 - or around Klingon territory big enough to make a difference in the battle here. I can't figure out what exactly he's up to, but whatever Selesk is doing, he's keeping it quiet." Mischa@crystyl:"No other activity in the region to suggest who he's colluding with?" NPC@annpc#557 | Eirril: "Nothing I can find, but despite their brutish nature, Klingons can be very competent at quiet mobilizations. Most of their ships have cloaks after all. I suspect he might be working - NPC@annpc#557 - with a specific House, which is why there's not much information out in the open. The House of Duras is up to something, I have no intel to connect them to Selesk, but they've worked with - NPC@annpc#557 - Romulans in the past. If I was looking for backup for a Romulan civil war, I'd either go to them or the remnants of the discommended House of Torg." Mischa@crystyl:"Interesting, I appreciate the heads up. Always good to have some foresight, especially if Duras might be showing up" NPC@annpc#557 | Eirril: "Precisely what I thought. There's one other thing as well..." Mischa@crystyl:"Oh?" NPC@annpc#557 | Eirril: "Have you heard of the Children of Khan? It's a terrorist group based in Federation space, consisting of illegal augments protesting against the Federation's genetics laws. By - NPC@annpc#557:- protesting, I mean kidnapping planetary-level politicians and blowing up spaceports. They were active around the Klingon War but largely fell off the grid after Starfleet cracked down and - NPC@annpc#557 - arrested or killed most of their leadership." Mischa@crystyl:"Where do they fit into all of this?" NPC@annpc#557 | Eirril: "Well, they seem to be back on sensors. I didn't pay much attention to it at first, it's a problem for Starfleet Security, not the Network. But...remember the Ferengi who pressed - NPC@annpc#557 - the OSN for information about Captain Vix and Tabadi Noveis and somehow seemed to know of our mission out by the rim?" Mischa@crystyl:"Him again..." NPC@annpc#557 | Eirril: "I have information indicating that he might be involved in funding this new iteration of the Children of Khan. And we tied him to the Survivors, the group which, if our theories are - NPC@annpc#557 - correct, is the temporal faction or related to them." Mischa@crystyl:"Of course. Well this just gets better and better!" NPC@annpc#557 | Eirril: "I'll keep looking into both them and Selesk, but for the moment, that's all I have." Mischa@crystyl:"Alright. How long until you catch up to us out here now? Vitellius' fleet is looming and I would hate to go into this without the Latenter" NPC@annpc#557 | Eirril: "Still a while, I'm afraid. As impressive as the vault facilities are, repairs will always take time, especially from hits as heavy as the temporal Valley Forge. But once we're out, - NPC@annpc#557 - we'll be good as new- better, actually, with the improvements from the temporal vessel salvage," he smiles Mischa@crystyl:"I look forward to seeing for myself" NPC@annpc#557 | Eirril: "I'm sure you'll be impressed, Commander. I'll keep you apprised if there's any developments before then." Mischa@crystyl:"Thank you Eirril" --- Romulan@annpc#557 | TWELVE HOURS BEFORE BATTLE... Romulan@annpc#557 | Nikki is in her quarters when the doorbell chimes Nikki@crystyl:"Enter" Romulan@annpc#557 | The door slides open and Faedani enters, hovering in on her chair, "Hello Empress. I know, it's usually my sister who pays you visits up here, but she's busy with the fleet." Nikki@crystyl smiles, "It is good to see you getting away from your little den on occasion. Please, join me. Can I offer you a drink at all?" Romulan@annpc#557 | Faedani smiles back as she hovers over to Nikki, "There's some kali-fal stocked away in these quarters, isn't there?" Nikki@crystyl chuckles, going to retrieve it, "Figures you would know about that" Romulan@annpc#557 | Faedani chuckles, "I wasn't spying on your quarters, if that's what your thinking. These quarters just tend to have such amenities." Nikki@crystyl:"Of course" she returns and pours the drinks, "So to what do I owe this rare honour?" Romulan@annpc#557 | Faedani: "Just a little suggestion- nothing vital that called for asking you to come down to my usual little den," she smirks Nikki@crystyl:"Well, colour me curious then" she smiles, taking a sip Romulan@annpc#557 | Faedani: "Well, the morale of the fleet is doing quite well, now that we actually have the forces to more or less match Vitellius," she takes a sip of her drink as well. "But from my - Romulan@annpc#557 - monitoring, there is still some unease among the civilian population of Agrama. After all, they have gone through one battle recently. They were fortunate enough to have escape significant - Romulan@annpc#557 - damage when we fought House Hakhoallieu, but they have heard of the infamous brutality of the Zauger." Nikki@crystyl:"Yes, this has been a source of some concern for me as well as I'm sure your sister has already informed you" Romulan@annpc#557 | Faedani nods, "The worries of the people should not affect the battle as they will not be partaking in it, but I think it may be a good idea for you to address them nonetheless. You will have - Romulan@annpc#557 - to continue ruling them after the battle, not to mention that going out of your way to comfort the people will further your image as a more appealing leader to support." Nikki@crystyl:"You think a public address then?" Romulan@annpc#557 | Faedani: "Precisely. You don't have to proceed to the surface in-person, a simply holographic message broadcast from here will be enough, I believe. Once we have defeated the incoming fleet, - Romulan@annpc#557 - then a victory speech in person will further raise their morale, and your legend." Nikki@crystyl:"I believe that is reasonable, yes" Romulan@annpc#557 | Faedani takes another sip, "As for what to say to them, well, I shall leave that to you. You are the Empress, after all, and I am but an intelligence advisor." Nikki@crystyl smiles, "Thanks for that..." Romulan@annpc#557 | Faedani chuckles, "I'm the one that hides away in a little den, after all. If I knew how to make speeches, I'd be a politician, wouldn't I?" Nikki@crystyl:"Yes... a little den I find myself envious of at times such as this. I'm sure I can come up with something however" Romulan@annpc#557 | Faedani: "You've proven yourself a leader we are willing to follow already, Empress. I know you'll manage." Nikki@crystyl:"I appreciate the vote of confidence. And the suggestion" Romulan@annpc#557 | Faedani smiles, "I am here to help." --- Mana@anncaris | THIRTY-FIVE MINUTES BEFORE BATTLE... Mana@anncaris | Nikki is called to the bridge of the Kaishaasi as the enemy fleet approaches... Nikki@crystyl walks in, "I trust everything is set?" Mana@anncaris | Imaella nods, "We're as ready as we can be, Empress. Scout warbirds are detecting additional parts of Vitellius' fleet now. They'll be entering the system in a few minutes," she gestures to - Mana@anncaris - the tactical officer and the viewscreen changes to a map of the detected fleet components Nikki@crystyl:"Then the time is truly upon us" Mana@anncaris | Imaella: "His fleet is currently broken up into three sub-divisions. Each large enough to fly in a formation which makes small raids on it impossible, but small enough that a full-scale ambush - Mana@anncaris - such as the one we carried out on Averius won't be able to cripple the entire fleet. I suspect he's about to rearrange his forces into his planned assault formation once he is on the edges of - Mana@anncaris - the system. We will wait until then before we strike, so we can deal maximum damage with the wormhole strategy." Nikki@crystyl:"Fair enough" Mana@anncaris | Imaella gestures to the tactical officer again and the map pulls back to reveal the defensive formation, "Our warbird is prepared, cloaked and ready to strike as soon as we identify precisely - Mana@anncaris - which vessels to board and where to activate the wormhole." Nikki@crystyl:"I hope we make that identification before their fleet ventures too far into the system now..." Mana@anncaris | Imaella nods, "We shall be ready, Empress." Mana@anncaris | Tactical Officer: "Enemy fleet has dropped out of warp just outside the system, Admiral. Several vessels are decloaking." Mana@anncaris | Imaella: "Decloaking? I suppose they're aware we know they're coming and see no need to hide their approach any longer. It will be better for power redistribution for battle anyways." Mana@anncaris | Tactical Officer: "More of their vessels are dropping their cloaks now." Nikki@crystyl hrms, still clearly unconvinced that there isn't more to Vitellius' tactics here Mana@anncaris | Tactical Officer: "A vessel of unidentified class has just decloaked in the centre of the fleet. Readings suggest another Zauger design, but unique to the standard carriers or cruisers." Mana@anncaris | Imaella: "Any ideas on its purpose?" Nikki@crystyl:"Is it one of carrying their psionic resonator things?" Mana@anncaris | Tactical Officer: "Affirmative. And it appears to be a larger part of the ship systems than usual. Otherwise its tactical systems resemble that of a cruiser. Slightly less in the way of - Mana@anncaris - disruptors, but its got an impressive suite of point-defense disruptor turrets to compensate, as well as extra ablative hull plating and enhanced shielding. By the looks of it, I'd say it's a - Mana@anncaris - dedicated command ship." Mana@anncaris | Imaella: "Vitellius' flagship. According to his records, Vitellius never liked leading from the biggest ship in the fleet. He always preferred something more medium-weight and mobile. He had a - Mana@anncaris - noted dislike of the D'deridex-class during his time with the old Imperial Navy." Nikki@crystyl:"Well, that somewhat redeems him to me" she smirks Mana@anncaris | Imaella: "One thing I will give him, when it came to military matters, he always preferred things practical rather than extravagant." Mana@anncaris | Comm Officer: "We are being hailed by the command ship." Nikki@crystyl:"Oh this should be good..." Mana@anncaris | Comm Officer: "Shall I put it through, Empress?" Nikki@crystyl:"Yes, why not. A little chat should give time for our infiltration squad to get to work" Mana@anncaris | The viewscreen switches to a view of not Vitellius, but a Romulan female dressed in an elaborate uniform, "I am Viria ir-Sath’har t’Eihssuil, heir apparent to Emperor Vitellius the Second. You - Mana@anncaris - are Nikee ir-Fethraie t'Rllaillieu, I assume, claimant for the throne of the Star Empire?" Nikki@crystyl:"There is nothing 'claimant' about it. I am the Empress of the Star Empire now, and your Zauger fleet is encroaching on sovereign territory of the Romulan people. Do yourselves a favour and remove - Nikki@crystyl:- that presence from Romulan space before things get messy" Mana@anncaris | Viria: "We both know that a confrontation will not be the most productive. Our forces are evenly matched. Even if you should prevail, which is far from a certainty, you will pay a significant - Mana@anncaris - price for it. That is why we are extending you an offer." Nikki@crystyl:"Oh? Well, this should be good. Even if your father didn't have the decency to present it for himself" Mana@anncaris | Viria: "He is preoccupied planning your defeat should we be unable to come to an agreement, and has empowered me to negotiate." Nikki@crystyl:"In other words he has tasked you with keeping me preoccupied while he attempts to divine a means to 'un-even' the odds in his favour. Fear not, I am content to indulge you in this" Mana@anncaris | Viria: "Good. Our intelligence that you currently hold my brother Averius is correct, is it not?" Nikki@crystyl smiles, "I'm glad to see you are not all simply Zauger in drag. It would be disappointing if you had not figured that out already, so yes of course he is in our custody and quite well" Mana@anncaris | Viria smiles, "Excellent. Then my offer is still viable." Nikki@crystyl:"And what exactly might that be now?" Mana@anncaris | Viria: "For you to join us. I offer you Averius' hand in marriage. House Rllaillieu shall become the most influential house in the Star Empire, behind only House Eihssuil. You will be given - Mana@anncaris - the seat of Proconsul on the Imperial Senate, the third most powerful position beneath the Emperor and myself. And one day, one of your children or descendants may have the chance to be - Mana@anncaris - Emperor or Empress of a true Romulan Star Empire of restored glory, rather than the fragment you cling onto here." Nikki@crystyl:"Fragment? Oh now that's cute. So tell me... would it be before or after the wedding that all Zauger forces leave sovereign Romulan territory...?" Mana@anncaris | Viria: "The Zauger are here to expand the empire and enforce our rule on a chaotic and fractured Romulan people. They are somewhat of a blunt instrument, and once we are capable of maintaining - Mana@anncaris - order on our own, they may be relegated to solely attacking our enemies. With the addition of these forces loyal to you, it will greatly decrease our need for the Zauger on the homefront and - Mana@anncaris - expedite our plans." Nikki@crystyl:"I'm afraid that is unacceptable, since I have actually had the great misfortune of seeing how the Romulan people are treated under your father and the Zauger" Mana@anncaris | Viria: "And if you would like to see Agrama free of Zauger enforcers, I would implore you to accept my offer. The worlds you currently hold will continue as they are now if you agree to - Mana@anncaris - unite our territories peacefully. Otherwise, we will have no choice but to unleash the Zauger." Nikki@crystyl:"I'm afraid you are quite mistaken here. You see, there is only one way this ends; and that is with the Zauger either eliminated or back within their own borders. Honestly, either works for me. The - Nikki@crystyl:- Romulan people /will/ be united again under a single banner - mine. Now, you and your brother - along with those who you lead - may find a place in that future as I am not adverse to political - Nikki@crystyl:- arrangements. Make the right choice now, and your father can see out a retirement befitting a powerful Romulan of his stature. Make the wrong choice, and he will share the Zauger’s fate" Mana@anncaris | Viria laughs, "Retirement? I don't need telepathy to tell you my father would not accept that. Very well, it's clear that if you will not take our most generous offer, than the rest won't even - Mana@anncaris - be worth presenting. We shall do this the hard way then. Trust me, a wedding would have been the far more pleasant way to meet the true Emperor face-to-face." Nikki@crystyl:"I couldn't agree more, but you show a disappointing lack of capacity for negotiation. Perhaps if your father were more willing to show some interest in the affairs of the people he claims rule over- Nikki@crystyl:- we would be making better progress here" Mana@anncaris | Viria: "Perhaps with your little uprising crushed, we'll have more time to dedicate to our people. Unfortunately, you won't be around to see the restoration of our great empire." Mana@anncaris | The comm cuts Nikki@crystyl:"That's a shame... I was really hoping to see the look on her face when we opened that wormhole..." Romulan@annpc#557 | As the comm ends, Imaella turns to Nikki, "The Istvaenen are away. Warbird is en route to activate the wormhole now." Nikki@crystyl:"Yeah, still missed that golden opportunity though" she faux pouts again Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "At least we will have the chance to watch the wormhole wreak havoc on their fleet," she smiles Nikki@crystyl:"Well, there is that I suppose. Better just make sure to put on a good enough show to make up for it now I suppose" she grins Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella glances over to the tactical console, "Almost there..." Romulan@annpc#557 | A few moments later, the wormhole begins to form in front of Vitellius' fleet... Romulan@annpc#557 | Bright yellow energy flares from the wormhole aperture, some of it beginning to stream out, catching a Zauger carrier unaware and obliterating it. The rest of the fleet begins to move - Romulan@annpc#557 - away, but a gravity well springs to life behind the wormhole, dragging all nearby ships into the fiery maw of the wormhole. A second carrier falls in, with several raiders streaming out - Romulan@annpc#557 - from it to try and flee, but aren't strong enough and are pulled to their doom alongside the carrier Romulan@annpc#557 | The rest of the ships push their engines to full in an effort to break away. The maneuver buys them a little more time but isn't enough, as a cruiser is dragged in next, followed by a few more - Romulan@annpc#557 - raiders. Suddenly, weapons fire begins to erupt among the enemy fleet, but not directed at the wormhole... Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "What's happening there?" Romulan@annpc#557 | Tactical Officer: "It appears a D'deridex was trying to break away from the fleet, but the Zauger have opened fire on it." Nikki@crystyl:"Dissent in the ranks?" Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "Seems so. Likely another show of force by the Zauger to try and scare the Romulans from deserting the battle. Magnify on the D'deridex." Nikki@crystyl:"Can we support them? Stars, maybe encourage a bit more?" Romulan@annpc#557 | The viewscreen magnifies on the D'deridex, caught between two Zauger carriers and a cruiser. The cruiser locks tractor beam on the large Romulan ship as the three vessels pummel it, taking out - Romulan@annpc#557 - its shields and engines and crippling one of the wings Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella shakes her head, "It's too close to the wormhole. Even if we make it past enemy fire, our ships'll get dragged in." Romulan@annpc#557 | Suddenly, the cruiser begins to move, dragging the disabled D'deridex with it...towards the wormhole Romulan@annpc#557 | Tactical Officer: "They're transporting personnel off the D'deridex." Nikki@crystyl:"They truly are petty... But the rest of their forces can see this as well" Romulan@annpc#557 | On the viewscreen, the Zauger cruiser releases the D'deridex into the grip of the gravity well. It is sucked towards the wormhole, but just before it falls through, the Zauger cruiser launches - Romulan@annpc#557 - two torpedoes directly into the disabled warbird's body... Romulan@annpc#557 | The D'deridex's singularity core detonates right in the maw of the wormhole, swelling up to cover the entire wormhole before detonating. The detonation takes out a cruiser and several raiders - Romulan@annpc#557 - about to fall into the wormhole as well, but as it clears, it takes the wormhole away with it, apparently having forced the wormhole shut Nikki@crystyl:"I don't suppose that's one of the ships our people have boarded..." Romulan@annpc#557 | Tactical Officer: "It doesn't seem so. They've sacrificed their ship with the largest singularity core to collapse the wormhole. It's still managed to take out fourteen enemy vessels, - Romulan@annpc#557 - including the D'deridex they sacrificed, but less than our projections for this maneuver." Nikki@crystyl:"Well, the infiltrators have yet to turn their boarded vessels, so it is not over yet. I just wish we could have done something for that warbirds crew... or if not them, the rest who share their - Nikki@crystyl:- doubts perhaps..." Romulan@annpc#557 | The viewscreen shifts to a different group of Zauger vessels Romulan@annpc#557 | Comm Officer: "The Istvaenen have taken control of a cruiser so far. There is some chaos among the Zauger from the wormhole maneuver despite not being as deadly as predicted. They are - Romulan@annpc#557 - reorganizing their fleet, and the Istvaenen may have a chance to try and board the flagship." Nikki@crystyl:"Risky, but bold" Romulan@annpc#557 | On the viewscreen, the Zauger ships begin to shift and reorganize their formation Romulan@annpc#557 | Comm Officer: "They are going for the flagship now." Romulan@annpc#557 | A few moments pass, and then suddenly the Zauger ships begin turning on their own again, this time, other Zauger vessels Nikki@crystyl smiles Romulan@annpc#557 | Comm Officer: "They've managed to repel the attack on the flagship. They've realized some of their ships are compromised and are turning on them now." Romulan@annpc#557 | Tactical Officer: "Enemy fleet is almost down to 75% strength." Nikki@crystyl:"Not a bad start" Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "Let's press our advantage. All ships, move forward and hit the enemy while they're still in chaos. We might not even need orbital platform support, but if we do, we can pull back." Romulan@annpc#557 | The Imperial vessels begin to advance... --- Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The Justicar advances in formation with the Imperial fleet, quickly closing in to the Zauger fleet which is still in disarray Sierra Reyes@anncaris | As the Zauger ships draw closer on the viewscreen, Leona begins to sense something among the enemy vessels. A presence she hasn't felt in quite a long time. One of her own kind... Mischa@crystyl places a hand on her shoulder, "...Commander. Something is not right here" Sierra Reyes@anncaris glances over at Mischa, "You mean how they closed the wormhole? It was some impressively quick thinking, but we still managed to take out more than enough ships to be worth that warbird's loss." Mischa@crystyl shakes her head, "No. We have been mistaken this whole time... Vitellius may be the King on this board, but the King is never the real power. They have a Queen, and it is one we are not prepared for.” Sierra Reyes@anncaris gives Mischa a confused look, "How do you know this? There's been no new intel on Vitellius' forces, and you can't have waited until now to tell me whatever you learned from that call with your - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - ship back at the vault." Mischa@crystyl:"This is something much more deeply seeded. I am sorry, but I can say no more. You will simply have to chose to believe me or not" Sierra Reyes@anncaris nods, a little unconvinced, "What do you recommend we do then, if we're unprepared for this?" Mischa@crystyl:"Well honestly, I don't know there is anything you can do to defend against this. The best option might be for me to take one of your shuttles and go out there to confront this" Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"Take a shuttle out into the battle, on your own? Are you sure that's a good idea?" Mischa@crystyl:"No, I'm fairly certain it's a bad one. But it's the only one I've got. As long as I am board, the Justicar is at risk" Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Tris: "Commander, several Zauger vessels are accelerating to warp." Sierra Reyes@anncaris breaks off the conversation with Mischa to look to the science console, "They're running away?" Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Tris: "No, they're warping further /into/ the system." Mischa@crystyl:"An in-system jump to skip behind allied lines" Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"And Agrama's planetary defense platforms are located outside the colony shield. Of course, /that's/ Vitellius' plan! Helm, turn us around back towards Agrama. Signal the Imperials, Vitellius is - Sierra Reyes@anncaris:- going for the orbital defenses!" Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The Justicar breaks off from the fleet, swiftly turning back for Agrama Sierra Reyes@anncaris looks to Mischa, "If you think you're better off on your own still, take the Pehai, the Romulan runabout. It was a gift from the Shadow Guard; it has a cloak and the best tactical systems of - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - any auxiliary craft on the Justicar. You've got the best chance of surviving the battle in that one." Mischa@crystyl immediately turns and starts heading out, "It is not for my sake. The Justicar can't serve its purpose here if impeded by this new threat. the best I can do is try to draw it away" --- Sierra Reyes@anncaris | As Mischa steps into the Justicar's shuttlebay, the ship shakes slightly, clearly having entered combat with something. A human in a Justicar enlisted operations uniform steps up to Mischa Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Deck Chief: "Commander. The Pehai's all prepped and ready for you as ordered." Mischa@crystyl nods, not breaking pace, "Thank you Chief" Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The Chief strides after Mischa, "You sure this is a good idea? There's a battle raging out there! Pehai's pretty tough, but you know the survival chances of a small craft in an engagement like - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - this. There's a reason Starfleet never used fighters much in war, most of them never come back." Mischa@crystyl:"I am well aware of the risks and consequences. Both of going, and not" Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Mischa approaches the Pehai, a runabout of clear Romulan design, though the hull has been painted a much more silvery, Starfleet colour. Its door is open, awaiting Mischa to board Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Deck Chief: "Well, good luck out there." Mischa@crystyl climbs in, "To us all, Chief" --- Sierra Reyes@anncaris | As Mischa takes the Pehai's central seat, the ship shakes again Mischa@crystyl boards the shuttle and wastes no time in preparing for launch, feeling Leona's eagerness Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The runabout launches out from the Justicar's shuttlebay doors... Sierra Reyes@anncaris FX | https://i.imgur.com/ksnpZqU.jpg Mischa@crystyl:"I really hope we're doing the right thing here, and that thing is as drawn to you as you are to it" Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The runabout emerges straight out into the space battle as streaks of disruptor fire fly by, narrowly missing them. There is a flash behind the Pehai as the Justicar takes out a Zauger cruiser Mischa@crystyl lets Leona's shared instinct drive their course Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Leona's flying instincts allows Mischa to fly the runabout effectively as well. As they move, suddenly the planetary defense systems flare up, opening fire on them, the Justicar, and the - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - Imperial vessels. It appears despite their best efforts, the Zauger have seized control of the defense systems. On the tactical display, Mischa sees that the Zauger fleet formerly in disarray - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - have suddenly reorganized themselves and begun pressing the attack on the Imperial fleet, pinning them between the enemy and their own compromised planetary defenses... Mischa@crystyl focuses on drawing out the entity, knowing she can't do anything about the larger battle Sierra Reyes@anncaris | As the Pehai moves towards the Zauger formation, a Zauger raider takes notice and begins to move in to intercept Mischa@crystyl:"Oh please, I have no time for pawns right now..." she mutters, taking prompt action to eliminate the raider Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Once again Leona's flying instinct comes in handy as Mischa is able to pull off some impressive maneuvering, evading all the raider's fire. The Pehai scores a few shots on it, but the larger - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - raider is able to take the hits, circling around for another go at the Romulan runabout... Mischa@crystyl:rolls 63 (1-100) Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Once again, Leona's dragon instincts allows her to evade the incoming raider. As she gets more comfortable with the shuttle, she not only dodges the incoming fire but uses the smaller size of - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - the runabout to spin behind the enemy, where she becomes the pursuer instead. After several shots, the Pehai penetrates the raider's shielding and takes out its engines, leaving it disabled Mischa@crystyl promptly moves on and returns to her search for the entity Sierra Reyes@anncaris | As the Pehai disables the raider, Mischa realizes that the entity is no longer in the heart of the Zauger fleet any longer, and she quickly realizes why as she changes course towards it. The - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - Zauger have formed an arrowhead formation driving directly for the Imperial flagship, led by their own command vessel. Several Romulan warbirds lie disabled around it, and the concentrated - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - fire is pummelling the Kaishaasi's shields. The Justicar and several other warbirds rush into the flagship's defense Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The Pehai draws closer, and Mischa becomes distinctly aware that the presence is on the Zauger flagship Mischa@crystyl sighs, "You know, this is the exact opposite of drawing it out and you are being drawn in to it..." Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Just then, Mischa's tactical readings show that a portion of the Kaishaasi's shields have gone down. Immediately, there are transporter signals from the Zauger flagship over to the Romulan - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - one, and as the transports complete, Mischa senses the presence jump to the Kaishaasi... Mischa@crystyl groans, "Oh fine, have it your way then" Sierra Reyes@anncaris | One of the Zauger carriers nearby goes down in a bright flash as the Hirogen vessels swoop in. The fire becomes less concentrated on the Kaishaasi as several of the other ships switch targets - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - to the Hirogen, the Justicar and other warbirds, though the Zauger flagship keeps up its attack, making the Kaishaasi unable to restore its lost shields. Mischa can easily beam herself through - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - or take the entire runabout in to dock Mischa@crystyl flies in to dock with the Kaishaasi --- Romulan@annpc#557 | On the Kaishaasi... Romulan@annpc#557 | Tactical Officer: "We've lost a section of port shields!" Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "Turn our starboard to the Zauger vessels. Get the Hirogen in here!" Romulan@annpc#557 | Ops Officer: "Landing parties materializing on Decks 5 and 7!" Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "Get our troops down there!" Romulan@annpc#557 | Comm Officer: "Admiral, the Justicar's runabout Pehai is requesting permission to dock." Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "Now?" She gives Nikki an uncertain look Romulan@annpc#557 | Ops Officer: "I'm reading a single human lifesign on board." Nikki@crystyl shrugs, "It's not like we're operating a closed door routine here at the moment anyway... I'll have Serenity go and meet the shuttle" Romulan@annpc#557 | The ops officer nods, "Opening hangar bay two." Romulan@annpc#557 | Tactical Officer: "We've got a problem..." Nikki@crystyl:"I do hope that is not you only just now noticing..." Romulan@annpc#557 | Tactical Officer: "Not just our tactical situation. This is the surveillance feed from Deck 5." Romulan@annpc#557 | The viewscreen changes to show a hallway on the Kaishaasi. Romulan troops are arrayed along the hall, in position with rifles ready, aimed at a door Romulan@annpc#557 | The door detonates open and Zauger unleash disruptor fire down the hall, with the Romulans returning fire. Several Romulans are downed and the Zauger push through aggressively Romulan@annpc#557 | The Zauger seem tougher than before, taking several shots to go down. Even injured, they charge forward disruptors blazing, until their bodies can simply take no more and collapse. The cause - Romulan@annpc#557 - for this soon becomes apparent as an older Romulan steps through the doorway. His eyes have the distinct psionic glow, and he holds the slightly curved Sword of S'task. It is unmistakably - Romulan@annpc#557 - Vitellius himself Romulan@annpc#557 | The surviving Romulan troops turn their rifles to him, but with a rather casual-looking sweep of his hand, he unleashes a telekinetic wave, slamming them hard into the wall. They collapse to - Romulan@annpc#557 - the floor, most of them knocked out. One manages to get to his feet, drawing a pistol and aiming it at Vitellius. As he opens fire, what seems to be a pair of bat-like wings sprouts from the - Romulan@annpc#557 - older Romulan's back, shielding him from the shots as he slowly walks forward. The single soldier yells as he keeps pulling the trigger, but the bolts fizzle out on the strange wings as - Romulan@annpc#557 - Vitellius continues to advance. As he steps up to the soldier, the wings unfurl, slapping the disruptor from his hand. Vitellius follows up with a swift stroke of his sword, decapitating the man Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "I've never seen a psionic do that before..." Romulan@annpc#557 | Tactical Officer: "He's heading for the turbolifts." Nikki@crystyl grabs her weapon, "I'm not sure 'he' is the right term any more for Vitellius..." Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella: "Shut down any he can use to get to us here. Route additional troops to the bridge. Empress, you might want to take cover in the ready room. It doubles as an emergency vault." Nikki@crystyl:"I will not cower in solitude while others stand in my name" Romulan@annpc#557 | Imaella nods, "Very well. Then we will face Vitellius, or whatever that is now, together." She unholsters her own disruptor from her belt --- Romulan@annpc#557 | The Pehai docks in the Kaishaasi's hangar. As the runabout settles and the door opens, Mischa finds Serenity waiting for her outside Mischa@crystyl steps out, looking her up and down, "The Qowat Milat. You must be Serenity, it is good to finally meet you" Mischa@crystyl | Serenity hovers cautiously and ready to draw her blade, "You are from the Starfleet ship" Mischa@crystyl smiles, stepping fully out quite calmly, "Commander Leveson-Scott. Please, your Empress is in grave danger right now. There is an unprecedented threat on board" Mischa@crystyl | Serenity mutters into her sleeve, "She's just realizing this now...?" Mischa@crystyl smiles, "So you're still doing that too, I see" Mischa@crystyl | Serenity flusters briefly Mischa@crystyl:"Relax, I'm here to help. But please, we must hurry" Mischa@crystyl | Serenity thinks a moment and nods, turning to lead the way Romulan@annpc#557 | The two move through the ship without trouble, but as they reach a turbolift leading to the bridge, they find it locked down Mischa@crystyl | Serenity, "It is not working..." Mischa@crystyl:"It has been locked down. One moment" she gets to work Romulan@annpc#557 | Mischa manages to hack into the lift controls, calling the lift down. A few seconds later, it slides open with the lift waiting for them Mischa@crystyl | Serenity watches with surprise while Mischa steps in wearing a satisfied smile --- Romulan@annpc#557 | On the bridge, the crew have taken up defensive position, with several additional soldiers having arrived to reinforce them. They all aim their disruptors at one of the turbolift doors... Romulan@annpc#557 | Nothing happens for a few seconds, then the door blows open. The entire bridge opens fire, and the snarls and cries of Zauger can be heard Romulan@annpc#557 | As the smoke clears, it becomes visible that there is no lift behind the door. Instead, Zauger are simply trying to climb up, firing wildly as they go. They are bottlenecked in and easily shot - Romulan@annpc#557 - down, but one of their shots manages to blow up a console, which injures a nearby soldier Romulan@annpc#557 | As the shooting continues, something flies up from the lift and darts into the room. There is a flash of metal and the heads of the two soldiers closest to the lift go rolling as the winged - Romulan@annpc#557 - Vitellius stands before them. With another swipe of his hand, he sends Imaella and three other officers into a wall, knocking them out. Several Zauger emerge from the lift behind him, taking - Romulan@annpc#557 - down a few others while his wings once again furl around him, shielding Vitellius from incoming fire Romulan@annpc#557 | The Zauger quickly go down, but there are not many more Romulans left on the bridge. With an upward wave of his hand, Vitellius sends the remaining soldiers and officers slamming into the - Romulan@annpc#557 - ceiling, then allowing the gravity plating to take over as they slam back down, leaving only him and Nikki on the bridge Mischa@crystyl | Nikki stands defiantly, weapon in hand as she looks around her, "Not the most subtle way of saying 'lets talk in private'..." Romulan@annpc#557 | Vitellius speaks, but his voice isn't quite his own. It seems to be a combination of his voice and a more feminine one with an echo, "I am not here to talk. I am here to show you how you have - Romulan@annpc#557 - failed. You will watch as my forces crush all that you have built. And when the last of your pathetic rebellion has been wiped away, the final gasp of defiance silenced, then...only then, will - Romulan@annpc#557 - I grant you the mercy of death." Mischa@crystyl | Nikki, "To what end? I mean seriously, whatever you are, all of this pretending at being Romulan and feigning desire for leadership. so why?" Romulan@annpc#557 | Vitellius: "Whatever I am?" He laughs, "I am Romulan, same as you are. I only found a little...help along the way to achieve my ambitions. In the Zauger, and in an ally even more powerful." Romulan@annpc#557 | The turbolift door at the other end of the bridge slides open, with Mischa and Serenity inside Mischa@crystyl | Nikki: "Yeah... I hate to break it to you, but... those-" she gestures to the bat wings, "-are not Romulan" Mischa@crystyl steps out, "No, they certainly are not" Mischa@crystyl | Nikki looks over, "Commander...?" Romulan@annpc#557 | Vitellius smiles as Mischa steps out, "Ah. My dear Leona. I sensed you here. I was hoping you would join us." Mischa@crystyl:"Serenity, please follow your code and ensure your Empress’ safety" Mischa@crystyl | Serenity nods and moves to Nikki's side to get her away Mischa@crystyl:"Oh so you did sense us. You were just being rude and ignoring us I see" Romulan@annpc#557 | Vitellius: "No, I thought it would be more convenient to deal with everything in one place. After all, you wouldn't ignore the Empress in danger." He holds out a hand and Serenity is frozen in - Romulan@annpc#557 - place, then lifted up by an invisible hand on her throat. "Another Qowat Milat. I would normally enjoy a little duel with one of you, but I'm afraid there's more urgent matters at the moment." Mischa@crystyl:"They clearly mean nothing to you. Let them leave" Romulan@annpc#557 | Vitellius speaks, this time just his own voice without the echo, "No. No, kill this pretender Empress while we have the chance! We had a bargain-" Romulan@annpc#557 | Vitellius keels over as the wings on his back spread ever wider. One of them swipes to the side, throwing Serenity into a wall and knocking her out like the others. Nikki is also pushed back - Romulan@annpc#557 - by the force, but not knocked out. Vitellius drops to his knees and screams as another head seems to separate from his own, then a body. Soon, a towering creature which looks part bat and part - Romulan@annpc#557 - person stands over him Romulan@annpc#557 | Entity: "Come out and play, little Leona." Romulan@annpc#557 FX | https://xynodegaming.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/lady-thorn.jpg Mischa@crystyl tuts, "Such an uncooperative relationship between the two of you. It's a wonder you don't simply tear yourselves apart, you poor things.” Leona's ethereal wings spring out proudly from Mischa's back Mischa@crystyl | Nikki stares, dumbfounded... Mischa@crystyl gracefully kneels as the ethereal shape takes form and swells to life behind her Romulan@annpc#557 | Entity: "Unlike you, I have no interest in 'cooperation.' I prefer domination, or a little manipulation as with this one," she pats Vitellius' head with a clawed hand as she approaches Mischa - Romulan@annpc#557 - and Leona, "I was the god of pain and terror, if you've already forgotten. The Sister of Suffering. The Maiden of Misery. Oh I do enjoy these colourful names. I was having so much fun, until - Romulan@annpc#557 - you and the others cast me out. Banished, exiled, because you thought I might go too far with your precious pets and derive you of your playthings. But you're not the only one to find a way to - Romulan@annpc#557 - retain our powers outside our domain." Mischa@crystyl speaks with an ethereal dual voice, "Your power is meaningless when wielded without wisdom. You stomp around this plane like a toddler tormenting an ant hill simply because you don't know what else- Mischa@crystyl:- to do with yourself" Romulan@annpc#557 | The Entity laughs, "And what is your wisdom without the power to enforce your will?" She stretches out a hand, unleashing a red blast which slams Leona against the turbolift doorway before the - Romulan@annpc#557 - entity pounces in Romulan@annpc#557 | Leona recovers from the blast quickly and roars, clashing with the entity which lets out an ear-piercing, shrill screech. For a moment Leona holds her ground, but the other entity soon manages - Romulan@annpc#557 - to pin her down Romulan@annpc#557 | Entity: "It took several of you to banish me before. What chance do you stand against me alone?" Romulan@annpc#557 | Leona manages to free a wing pinned down beneath her body, swinging it and knocking the entity back. She retaliates immediately, opening her jaws and seizing one of the entity's arms, - Romulan@annpc#557 - thrashing her about and throwing her into the viewscreen. The viewscreen cracks as the entity impacts it, but it doesn't collapse, remaining hovering in place. A red aura glows around her, and - Romulan@annpc#557 - all the bite and scratch marks inflicted by Leona fade away. The entity laughs Romulan@annpc#557 | Entity: "Look around you. We are in a battle! Their fear and suffering empowers me. You cannot overcome me here." Romulan@annpc#557 | The entity darts back in. Leona rears up to stop it, but another red blast sends her tumbling to the ground as the entity lands on top of Leona. She grabs the dragon's head, slamming it - Romulan@annpc#557 - on a console. Leona roars and scratches wildly at the entity, causing her to stagger back a few steps and shriek. Before Leona can get back up however, the entity grabs a hold of her tail and - Romulan@annpc#557 - swings her into one wall, then another, before finally hurling her into the console in the back of the bridge Romulan@annpc#557 | The Entity strides over slowly and intimidatingly as the weakened Leona slowly tries to get back up again. The entity grabs her neck with a clawed hand Romulan@annpc#557 | Entity: "You must be wondering...can a god even die?" Romulan@annpc#557 | Leona gives a defiant roar Romulan@annpc#557 | Entity: "Oh, sweet sister. I don't want to kill you. You will suffer. It is so much more satisfying to torment a god than these fragile little mortals..." Romulan@annpc#557 | The entity's wings, now transforming into more blade-like extensions, glow with a red energy. As they rear back and prepare to strike, Mischa notices a shimmer on the viewscreen behind the - Romulan@annpc#557 - Zauger forces Romulan@annpc#557 | An unfamiliar but distinctly Klingon battleship decloaks... Romulan@annpc#557 FX | https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/sto_gamepedia/images/5/59/Klg_Ship_Qib.png Romulan@annpc#557 | Followed by several other, more familiar designs such as the Negh'Var, then a squadron of Klingon birds-of-prey. Among the smaller raiders, Mischa can make out the distinct modified Jem'Hadar - Romulan@annpc#557 - vessel captained by Gul Selesk Romulan@annpc#557 | The Klingons open fire immediately, launching a devastating and unexpected attack on the Zauger flank Romulan@annpc#557 | The entity glances back at the screen, distracted by this sudden development... Mischa@crystyl | The distracted entity is suddenly struck hard across the neck by the swing of a wing. Seemingly faster and stronger than the previous strikes, so fast it was like an ethereal blur. Recoiling - Mischa@crystyl - from the strike however, it sees the outstretched wing not as Leona's, but as a larger ethereal wing still gracefully furling back at Mischa's side as she stands and speaks once more as Leona, - Mischa@crystyl:"The wisdom - sweet sister - is in embracing the children, not stamping on them. You were so blinded by your shortsightedness as always that you could not even sense me presence in this form still. - Mischa@crystyl:- It saddens me to see you fall so far from grace" Romulan@annpc#557 | The entity backs up towards the front of the bridge, snarling, one wing-blade pointed at Mischa and the other at Leona, "You're more cunning than last we met, sister." Romulan@annpc#557 | Suddenly, the comm console lights up of its own accord Romulan@annpc#557 | A male Klingon voice begins to emanate from it, "Vitellius of House Eihssuil. You stand against the combined might of the House of Duras and the Klingon Inquisition. Fight as the warrior you - Romulan@annpc#557 - once were, and die with honour! Fight as the psionic monster you have now become, and face the cold blade of the Inquisition!" Romulan@annpc#557 | The entity turns to the side of the bridge and stretches out a hand, beginning to burn a hole in the bulkhead with a concentrated beam of red energy, "This is not over, Leona." Mischa@crystyl:"Good. That means there is still hope for you, dear sweet sister" Romulan@annpc#557 | She leaps out of the gap she created, transforming into a full (and much larger) bat-like creature as she soars away through space. For a moment, Mischa, Nikki and the others are sucked towards - Romulan@annpc#557 - the gap on the bridge, but the force field kicks in, sealing the breach Mischa@crystyl | Leona phases back into her resting state on Mischa's back in the confusion, tail finally coiling around her thigh as the others start to regain their footing Romulan@annpc#557 | Vitellius takes a gasp as the breach is sealed, weakly reaching an arm out towards the force field, "No...don't you dare...abandon me..." Mischa@crystyl | Nikki quickly tries to recover and bring her weapon to bare on the abandoned Vitellius Romulan@annpc#557 | Vitellius slumps as he realizes the entity isn't returning. He stays there for a moment before becoming aware of Nikki. He starts to get up, reaching out towards the Sword of S'task. The sword - Romulan@annpc#557 - shifts slightly as he begins to telekinetically move it, but his telekinesis is clearly not as strong as it was when joined with the entity. Nikki brings her weapon around faster and Vitellius - Romulan@annpc#557 - lowers his hand with a defeated sigh, the sword remaining unmoved from its position Mischa@crystyl meanwhile, scrambled as soon as she saw what was unfolding and activated the bridge feed to let everyone see this moment Romulan@annpc#557 | Vitellius: "She used me. In the end, I was nothing to her but another pawn..." Mischa@crystyl | Nikki, "And your own petty desires blinded you to this fact until now. Pretender Vitellius, it is over" Romulan@annpc#557 | Slowly, he climbs to his feet, "Yes. Yes, it is. Finish it then, 'Empress.'” Mischa@crystyl | Nikki catches a glance from Mischa, "Zauger forces, the battle is over. Cease all activity and surrender to the Romulan Star Empire at once and turn the daughter of Vitellius over to our custody.- Mischa@crystyl:- All Romulan followers will be given the opportunity to realign with the loyal Empire. Those who refuse will leave sovereign Romulan space with the Zauger" Romulan@annpc#557 | The view isn't very clear on the cracked viewscreen, but even then they can see that the battle is beginning to die down, and there is a marked decrease in weapons fire outside. The comms - Romulan@annpc#557 - console lights up again, this time with surrenders coming in primarily from Romulan ships, but also a few Zauger ones Romulan@annpc#557 | Vitellius: "What are you waiting for? A public execution on Rator once you've formalized your control over the whole Empire?" Mischa@crystyl | Nikki looks back to Vitellius, "You are only now again yourself after who knows how long of having been corrupted by that demon. I told your daughter before this that there was a place for your - Mischa@crystyl:- family in the Star Empire if you fell in line and all Zauger aggressors retreated from our borders. In light of what we have learned here today, I am at least giving you a stay of execution while - Mischa@crystyl:- we determine the future of the Empire. For now you will remain in custody with your children, as for what happens beyond that... well, that may be up to you" Romulan@annpc#557 | Vitellius looks surprised at the decision. Before he can say anything, the turbolift Mischa came through opens again and a squad of guards led by Centurion Elev from the Istvaenen mission - Romulan@annpc#557 - advances out onto the bridge, rifles raised Mischa@crystyl | Nikki: "Reunite the pretender with his son" Romulan@annpc#557 | Elev nods, "My pleasure, Empress." He grabs Vitellius roughly, pulling him towards the lift. Three other soldiers follow, while two remain on the bridge, checking on the wounded, unconscious - Romulan@annpc#557 - and deceased Mischa@crystyl turns and bends the knee, "Empress Nikee the wise" Mischa@crystyl | Nikki turns to her, flushing a little, "Please stop that Commander... we both know simply killing him was not the most prudent move" Mischa@crystyl looks up with a smile, "Never waste a resource" and stands Mischa@crystyl | Nikki: "For better or for worse, he had a large following. Not all Romulans who flocked to his banner did so by force, and he carried enough influence to still have spies here of all places" Mischa@crystyl:"And by keeping him alive, you maintain the possibility of bringing all of that truly into line. Wise indeed, Empress" Mischa@crystyl | Nikki: "And as for what happened here-" Mischa@crystyl interjects, "Yes, quite the turn of events with that demon appearing. It was very quick thinking for you to blow that bulkhead out and draw the creature away! I don't think anything more needs to - Mischa@crystyl:- be said" she smiles Mischa@crystyl | Nikki smiles, "Right..." --- NPK@annpc#557 | FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER BATTLE NPK@annpc#557 | The space around Agrama is still filled with ships, but the shooting has stopped. Many of the ships have flickering lights, are venting plasma, drifting, or showing signs of damage. The camera - NPK@annpc#557 - moves across the battlefield, past Romulan warbirds, Klingon birds-of-prey, Zauger cruisers, and debris from all sides NPK@annpc#557 | Romulan tugs weave through the debris, pushing aside the larger pieces with tractor beams as they make their way to ships too damaged to make it back to dock, towing them along. Larger salvage - NPK@annpc#557 - ships have already begun making their way into the battlefield from the planet, slowly cleaning pieces of ships and reclaiming what they can NPK@annpc#557 | The camera once again makes its way to the Kaishaasi, which has some light scorching on its hull, but the Imperial flagship still looks to be in relatively good condition. It has kept its - NPK@annpc#557 - position near the centre of the fleet instead of making its way to the salvage station, its damage minor enough to repair on its own. Several work bees have been dispatched, one of them - NPK@annpc#557 - hovering just in front of the bridge as it works to seal the gap caused by the entity's escape NPK@annpc#557 | The camera moves past the work bee and through the gap, into the bridge. The consoles have not yet been repaired and the viewscreen remains cracked, but the wounded and deceased have been - NPK@annpc#557 - taken off the bridge. A fresh shift of officers have moved onto the bridge, though some of the more damaged stations are left unmanned NPK@annpc#557 | Nikki, having made it through the battle uninjured, is still on the bridge. Her chair is a little damaged, but still upright and seatable Nikki@crystyl works with the repair crews to restore functionality rather than sit and watch NPK@annpc#557 | As Nikki works away, a comm officer announces, "Empress. One of the Klingon ships is hailing us." Nikki@crystyl turns, "Can we get visual?" NPK@annpc#557 | Comm Officer: "The screen is a little damaged, but it's still functional. They should be able to see you just fine, though." Nikki@crystyl steps over, "On screen then" NPK@annpc#557 | A Klingon appears on the viewscreen, dressed in red and black armour with an eyepatch. He seems middle-aged for a Klingon, not old but certainly not young either, and his ridges bear the - NPK@annpc#557 - distinct pattern of those of the line of Duras NPK@annpc#557 | Klingon: "I am Dar'Kai, son of Dar'Mor, High Inquisitor of the Klingon Inquisition." Nikki@crystyl:"High Inquisitor, this is the first opportunity I have had to thank you for intervening here today" NPK@annpc#557 | Dar'Kai: "It is my honour to aid you against a foe such as Vitellius. I only regret that I did not have the chance to duel him myself. Though as I understand from your broadcast, it was not - NPK@annpc#557 - truly him you were fighting today." Nikki@crystyl:"Yes, though you did not seem entirely surprised by that fact when you announced your arrival" NPK@annpc#557 | Dar'Kai: "We had our suspicions. I was Klingon Intelligence before the founding of the Inquisition. My contacts there informed me that Vitellius was not only a powerful psionic, but perhaps - NPK@annpc#557 - something...more. We do not understand the full capabilities of that creature yet, but it is dangerous and must be eliminated." Nikki@crystyl:"You'll get no arguments from me on that front" NPK@annpc#557 | Dar'Kai: "Vitellius is currently your prisoner, then?" Nikki@crystyl:"Yes. In light of the demons influence, and the delicate political balance here, I have decided to keep him in custody now while the dust settles" NPK@annpc#557 | Dar'Kai nods, "I understand the political reasons. Be wary with him- I do not believe his psionic abilities were solely due to that creature. They may not be as strong, but he can still prove - NPK@annpc#557 - to be difficult." Nikki@crystyl:"Yes, I have already seen this. Fortunately, we are more than adequately prepared to contain any power he might still yield. My hope now though is that he will lack the desire to do so" NPK@annpc#557 | Dar'Kai: "Good. And his daughter?" NPK@annpc#557 | The ops officer shakes his head, "No one's turned her over yet, Empress." Nikki@crystyl:"She has neither surrendered herself, or been turned over to us. So remains an enemy of the state" NPK@annpc#557 | Dar'Kai: "My warriors have boarded their flagship, but have not found her there. Unfortunately, a small number of Zauger vessels managed to flee the battle. I suspect she was on board one of - NPK@annpc#557 - them. Our ships have detected and intercepted one fleeing vessel in our hunt for the creature, but there was no one except Zauger on board." Nikki@crystyl:"I'm fairly certain we haven't seen the last of her, or that demon. But neither will be found until they want to I suspect" NPK@annpc#557 | Dar'Kai nods, "We will keep our eyes and ears open for when either resurfaces, or both. I have a feeling their escapes are connected. I do not know if the creature needs a host to survive, but - NPK@annpc#557 - now that it has abandoned Vitellius, his daughter must be an appealing choice for it. She possesses psionic ability as well and may even be stronger than Vitellius without the creature's help." Nikki@crystyl:"That would seem likely. And I have a feeling it does need a host, maybe not to survive, but to live as it desires or something. Else there would be no gains in any of them taking hosts to begin with.” NPK@annpc#557 | Dar'Kai: "That was my thinking as well. The ships of House Duras will return to Klingon space, but my Inquisition vessels will remain here for the time being, if you would permit it. Should - NPK@annpc#557:- the creature resurface, you may want our support." Nikki@crystyl:"You are most welcome to remain" she smiles, "I can't guarantee festivities on the level you are accustomed to, given the state of affairs on the colony, but we will certainly be doing something - Nikki@crystyl:- later to mark this occasion. And a party just isn't a party without the Klingons" NPK@annpc#557 | Dar'Kai grins, "Excellent! My warriors will be all too happy to liven up your celebration." Nikki@crystyl:"That's what we like to hear! Then I look forward to sharing a bottle of our ale with you later, High Inquisitor" NPK@annpc#557 | Dai'Kai: "As do I, Empress." --- Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Meanwhile, Mischa contacts Gul Selesk in the runabout as she makes her way back to the Justicar Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The Gul's visage appears on the runabout's console, "Commander. Good work holding out until the backup got here." Mischa@crystyl:"Quite the backup, Duras' little Inquisition" Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Selesk: "Yes. Most people assume the Klingon Inquisition is purely an internal organization, but their mandate is to deal with all psionic issues which threaten the Klingon Empire. And that - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - includes Vitellius. They've had their eyes on him for some time now, but the Inquisition and its allies didn't have the forces to move against them, and the Empire is still recovering from - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - previous conflicts to wage another full-scale war. All they needed was a little convincing that this was the most opportune time to support the Empress," he smiles Mischa@crystyl:"And I can't help but wonder what form that convincing took, or how you knew what Vitellius truly was" Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Selesk: "I've done business with the House of Duras in the past, as well as Klingon Intelligence, from which many members of the Inquisition originated. That certainly made things easier. As - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - for Vitellius, that was a little tip from my benefactors. How they knew about it, who can say? But you can probably take a guess." Mischa@crystyl:"Yes, I probably can. So what's next for you, now that Vitellius is in hand? He was the whole reason your benefactors had you here after all" Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Selesk: "Not quite. Vitellius is only part of the threat my benefactors wanted to deal with. He might be dealt with now, but the thing that was with him is still out there. Besides, I can earn - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - a little on the side helping the Empire reunite and keep order." Mischa@crystyl:"Fair enough" Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Selesk grins, "Not to mention there's still that little plan of mine we spoke of. Which you obviously don't trust me on. You probably thought the reinforcements I was bringing in now would be - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - going after you as well as Zauger, didn't you?" Mischa@crystyl:"It is my purpose to anticipate every eventuality" Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Selesk: "Good. That'll keep you alive. Until next time, Commander!" Mischa@crystyl:"Until then" --- Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Mischa lands the Romulan runabout in the Justicar's shuttlebay and steps out to find the deck chief greeting her Mischa@crystyl smiles, glancing back to the ship, "Hopefully I didn't leave her with too much for you to tidy up Chief" Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The chief gives the runabout a quick glance and smiles, "It's much better condition than small craft usually get back to me in after a risky mission like that. I'm impressed- you must've done - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - some good flying out there!" Mischa@crystyl:"Couldn't have been done without such a finely kept little ship" she smiles Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Deck Chief: "Thank you. I make sure our auxiliary craft are in the best condition they can be, precisely for the situation when a senior officer might decide to risk their life by taking one - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - for a spin in the middle of a battle," he smirks Mischa@crystyl smiles, "Reyes is fortunate to have you" Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Deck Chief: "Speaking of which, she told me to direct you to the ready room when you got back." Mischa@crystyl:"I had a feeling she would... Thank you Chief" Mischa@crystyl heads off to the predicted summons Mischa@crystyl chimes the door on arrival Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"Come in." Mischa@crystyl steps over, hands folded at her back, "Commander, I am glad to see the Justicar faired well" Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"All thanks to Gul Selesk's Klingon reinforcements. Things were getting a little precarious out there before they showed up. I was not expecting him to actually come through and /help/ us." Mischa@crystyl:"Indeed. It is a pleasant surprise" Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"And Klingons of all people- that Cardassian's made some interesting friends." Mischa@crystyl:"As one would expect from a man with his reputation" Sierra Reyes@anncaris nods, "I suppose if he can make friends with the temporal infiltrators, he can make friends with just about anyone. Anyways, welcome back, Commander. I hope your little excursion went well?" Mischa@crystyl:"Well, we are all still here. So I take that as a worthwhile venture, yes" Sierra Reyes@anncaris gestures to a chair, "Why don't you take a seat and tell me more about it? If you can, that is. You seemed rather secretive about it earlier on the bridge." Mischa@crystyl:"For which I am very sorry, but thank you for the indulgence back there. But before I sit, this may be easier if I remain standing for the moment. You deserve to know after all" Sierra Reyes@anncaris gives Mischa a curious look, "Go ahead, then. With...whatever it is that's easier to explain standing up." Mischa@crystyl bows her head, closing her eyes. A moment later, Leona's ethereal wings spring out from Mischa's back Sierra Reyes@anncaris widens her eyes at the sight of the rings, "Dios mio...is that a psionic ability?" Mischa@crystyl:"No. I take it by now you are aware of the unknown entity which seemed to possess Vitellius?" Sierra Reyes@anncaris nods, "Yes, we picked up the broadcast from the Imperial flagship, from when you and the Empress captured Vitellius. I assume that entity was the danger you talked about on the bridge?" Mischa@crystyl:"Yes, it is what we sensed when their fleet drew near" Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"What /we/ sensed?" she asks, looking to the wings again Mischa@crystyl:"Yes. You see that creature is not quite as unknown, at least to us" she raises a cupped hand up to her shoulder where the draconic ethereal head of Leona rises through her tunic, nuzzling into the - Mischa@crystyl:- hand, "This is Leona. That entity was of the same species as her" Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"And you're a...host for Leona, like Vitellius was for that creature?" Mischa@crystyl shakes her head, Leona returning to her resting state before Mischa sits, "No, their relationship was was far more parasitic" Sierra Reyes@anncaris nods, "So these beings aren't unknown to you, but I don't suppose Starfleet Command has any record of them?" Mischa@crystyl:"Some, actually. Check your database library for Species 2501 and you will see" Mischa@crystyl:( https://www.theorderofmidnight.com/storybook/m/41760224/viewthread/32633253-species-2501/post/137323299#p137323299 ) Sierra Reyes@anncaris taps away on her console, pulling up the file and scrolling through, "I don't see anything in here about you or bonding with one of these beings. I take it that's the classified part?" Mischa@crystyl:"Yes, Leona was among the first of her kind to find her way to our plane of existence and our bonding was happenchance at that time. All you have on record is the result of SFC's later interactions - Mischa@crystyl:- with the species" Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"Did you meet her at the homeworld of these Eagek as well, or somewhere else?" Mischa@crystyl:"It was there, but our presence was not official at that time" Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"How did Vitellius encounter one of them, then? It looks like the Eagek are on the other side of Federation space, nowhere near Romulan territory, and the Zauger come from even further coreward." Mischa@crystyl:"That is something of a mystery still. When confronting Vitellius, Leona spoke of that being getting exiled from their plane so I can only surmise it has something to do with that. But even she - Mischa@crystyl:- doesn't know how that one came to be here" Sierra Reyes@anncaris nods, "I assume Vitellius will know more, and I can't think of anyone better to question him on it than you. Hopefully he'll be cooperative, now that he realizes it was only using him." Mischa@crystyl:"Perhaps, I will certainly make every effort to get through to him" Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"As for the other being...how much of a threat is it going to be if it shows up again? Can Leona handle it?" Mischa@crystyl rubs her shoulder, "She is... stubbornly adamant. But it made heavy reference to how many of their kin it took to exile it in the first place, so I have my doubts. I know she does too, she is just - Mischa@crystyl:- being headstrong" Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"When it comes to facing beings with extreme psionic or technological capability, previous encounters all point to directly researching weaponry being less effective than understanding the - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - psychology of what we're dealing with. If Leona can't match it by force, we might be able to outsmart it, or convince it of the error of its ways. It seems to have worked on the rest of their - Sierra Reyes@anncaris - species, as well as other similar beings Starfleet's had run-ins with." Mischa@crystyl nods, "There is at least one more of the species who has fully integrated into this plane. Since she was with their kind longer than Leona, she may have more knowledge of this particular one. And - Mischa@crystyl:- as a known ally to Starfleet, it could be easier to openly involve her" Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"Look into contacting her as well then. Learn everything you can about it. You of all people know the value of good information, after all." --- NPR@annpc#557 | Mischa returns to the Kaishaasi after her battle, visiting the brig to speak with Vitellius NPR@annpc#557 | Vitellius sits in a cell next to his son. Though he is still dressed in the same robes, they are now slightly worn from the fighting and much less pristine-looking. He sits on the ground in - NPR@annpc#557 - the middle of his cell, looking significantly more humbled compared to his image as the militant Emperor Mischa@crystyl approaches his cell, "I trust you are comfortable down there" NPR@annpc#557 | Vitellius looks up from the ground, "You. You and your...Leona drove her away from me..." Mischa@crystyl:"If that's your way of saying thank you, you're welcome" NPR@annpc#557 | Vitellius: "You know the power they can give you. I thought she was the only one- I knew of the others, of course, but I did not know another had bonded like she has. But you've felt the - NPR@annpc#557 - power. And now, all that is gone..." Mischa@crystyl:"The situations are different. She was nothing more than a parasite on your soul" NPR@annpc#557 | Vitellius: "She was the only reason I made it as far as I did. She was how I became more than a mere tool of the Zauger. She allowed me to return to Romulan space, to lead this campaign and - NPR@annpc#557 - bring a new regime to an empire in chaos." Mischa@crystyl:"Yeah... and look how that's turned out for you..." NPR@annpc#557 | Vitellius nods, "Yes, it seems she was using me and nothing more. And I suppose her power came at a cost. The Zauger are an effective military, but the things they do when they take over..." Mischa@crystyl:"You see. You wanted to restore your people's past glory, a noble goal if ever there was one. But in allowing her to drive you to do things the way you did - throwing the Zauger at the very people - Mischa@crystyl:- you wanted to save - you ended up making yourself their most feared enemy. /That/ malcontent and chaos sewn is all she ever wanted, and she would have not thought twice about destroying you, your - Mischa@crystyl:- family-" she glances to the adjacent cell, "-the Romulan people, even beyond, in order to get it" NPR@annpc#557 | Vitellius sighs, looking down again, "You're right. Now that she is no longer in my mind, I can see things without her...bloodlust clouding everything. She was the god of pain and suffering, - NPR@annpc#557 - after all. And the Zauger were a perfect people for her if there ever was one. She does not care about my desires, or the Romulan people. She wanted the campaign to spread suffering." Mischa@crystyl:"Well, I'm glad you see that. By contrast, Leona was a spirit aligned with power and strength of the soul. There is nothing parasitic about our relationship, we complement each other and remain - Mischa@crystyl:- together through mutual choice to do so" NPR@annpc#557 | Vitellius: "And she grants you the same power still?" Mischa@crystyl:"It is not simply a matter of give and take. We travel and experience existence together. Yes, her thoughts are always with me but no different to that little voice you sometimes get in your mind - Mischa@crystyl:- that often speaks for the heart against the desires of the head or vice versa. When the situation calls for it, she may choose to manifest a physical form. But typically she does not need it. - Mischa@crystyl:- So you see, there is nothing so black and white as one granting another power or skill of any description" NPR@annpc#557 | Vitellius: "You are fortunate to have bonded with her, then." Mischa@crystyl smiles, "We couldn't agree more. So I wonder now, what will you do?" NPR@annpc#557 | Vitellius: "What will I do?" He glances at the cell around him. "There isn't much I /can/ do now, is there?" Mischa@crystyl:"Isn't there? The Empress hardly spared you just to watch you slowly rot on a video feed, I'd wager. And even if not her, others will want to talk with you" chuckles, "I'm living proof, see. So you - Mischa@crystyl:- have knowledge, and the opportunity to use it. So again I ask, what will you do?" NPR@annpc#557 | Vitellius: "While I am still a prisoner...I can provide information on how to drive the Zauger out of Romulan space. I know their tactics, their ships. I'm certain you have studied those - NPR@annpc#557 - vessels you captured by now, and learned a few things of their strategy. But Averius and I know them far better than you do. We lived among them for years and led their fleets. And...we - NPR@annpc#557 - brought them here, into Romulan territory. The least we can do is aid you in removing them." Mischa@crystyl:"Well I'm sure the Empress will be pleased to hear that, rumour is she was open to striking quite a tidy deal with your daughter for you all before the fighting started. But I'll let her pick that - Mischa@crystyl:- up with you boys now. However the Zauger do not really concern me, your former playmate however does. She fled, and it would seem so did your daughter. Now I may be making an intuitive leap here, - Mischa@crystyl:- but I would guess that your daughter is one of the few not in Romulan custody right now who that creature feels any kind of familiarity with. And I suspect you have already reached the same - Mischa@crystyl:- undesirable conclusion yourself" NPR@annpc#557 | Vitellius: "Indeed. I was afraid of such when I realized you had not captured her as well. Tu'ara- that is her name, was always drawn to powerful psionics. What the other Romulans believe, - NPR@annpc#557 - that I led the Zauger because my psionics grew more powerful than any of their Sorcerers, is not entirely untrue. That is the reason she chose me as her vessel. But it was not my psionics - NPR@annpc#557:- that made me their Emperor. It was her." Mischa@crystyl:"We suspect your daughter was on board one of the Zauger ships which fled and evaded capture. I believe Tu'ara will seek her out as a new vessel, if she hasn't already. You've been bonded with her, - Mischa@crystyl:- and know her mind better than even Leona. If you want to do anything to reinvigorate your once noble dream, then help us take that demon down before she does to your daughter what she did to you" NPR@annpc#557 | Vitellius nods, "I will do all I can to help you, but I...do not know how to stop her. Tu'ara has never been stopped before. Her forces have failed, but when she unleashes her power, none can - NPR@annpc#557 - stand in her way. Until you, that is." Mischa@crystyl:"Between your knowledge of her mind, and ours of her past, we alone stand the best chance of saving your daughter. And yes, that is exactly how I view this right now" NPR@annpc#557 | Vitellius: "I know that she craves pain, physical and mental. The suffering of others feeds her power somehow, especially on a large scale. She will not be content to slink off into hiding - NPR@annpc#557 - until you lose interest." Mischa@crystyl:"Good, the last thing I want is for her to get away and start over. We'll talk more, but I should not overstep my bounds. For the moment, you are in custody of the Empire and and it is up to them - Mischa@crystyl:- how to proceed with you - both of you" NPR@annpc#557 | Vitellius: "Very well. I shall do what I can to correct my mistakes, if I am given the opportunity to. And please, act quickly. Tu'ara is likely already planning her next move, now that this - NPR@annpc#557 - campaign has failed." Mischa@crystyl:"I promise you I'll do all I can, and if you do the same I believe there is yet hope for us all. Farewell for now, gentlemen" Mischa@crystyl turns and heads out --- NPC@annpc#557 | A few days after the battle, Khivath once again calls Mischa down to the intel room Mischa@crystyl steps in, "What news?" NPC@annpc#557 | Khivath: "More contact from your ship. I'll let you answer it," he gives a nod before heading out Mischa@crystyl smiles, moving to the console to activate the comm NPC@annpc#557 | This time, Victoria appears instead of Eirril, "Commander. I have an update on your request to contact Species 2501." Mischa@crystyl:"So soon? Excellent" NPC@annpc#557 | Victoria: "Well, it's not exactly the contact I think you were expecting..." Mischa@crystyl:"Oh?" NPC@annpc#557 | Victoria: "Unfortunately, the one known as Laesa is their primary contact with the Federation, but she was aboard the Valley Forge when it disappeared into the gateway. Starfleet doesn't - NPC@annpc#557 - currently have any ships to spare in the vicinity of the Eagek homeworld and the Eagek aren't Federation members, so they're not part of our subspace comm network. Outreach for intel through - NPC@annpc#557 - the official diplomatic channels could take some time. But I do have something for you..." Mischa@crystyl:"I was hoping you would say that" NPC@annpc#557 | Victoria: "The problem is, the contact we've managed to reach out to is, well, they call that one 'the Mad God.'" Mischa@crystyl pinches the bridge of her nose and sighs, "Are you sure? I'll take the warmongering psychopath one over him..." NPC@annpc#557 | Victoria: "That's the only member of the species we can readily contact at the moment, it seems. They're currently on DS4 and is willing to talk. I don't know if there's any actual useful - NPC@annpc#557 - information to be gained, but I guess it might be worth a try until we can get through to the others." Mischa@crystyl:"You're right of course. And I suppose if they're letting him hang around a station then he must have learned to behave at least better than Q typically does. Alright, once you're done at the vault - Mischa@crystyl:- we can rendezvous and make our way there". NPC@annpc#557 | Victoria: "He's only a guest, he's been wandering the galaxy doing...I don't even know what he's doing but you should see the file on him, almost feels like some four year old's attempt at a - NPC@annpc#557 - Starfleet service record," she chuckles. "But they haven't booted him from the station yet, so he must be behaving himself somewhat." Mischa@crystyl:"We'll find out soon enough. Thank you for the update" NPC@annpc#557 | Victoria nods, "We'll head back out as soon as we can. Hopefully MAD will still be there when we reach DS4. He's somewhat unpredictable, to say the least." Mischa@crystyl:"Of course" NPC@annpc#557 | Victoria: "We'll see you out here in a bit then, Commander." Mischa@crystyl:"Until then" she smiles