Leverage

Posted on Wed Oct 2nd, 2019 @ 10:13am by Riov (Captain) Dalia Rendal & Lieutenant Commander Mnhei'sahe Dox & erei'Riov (Commander) Arrenhe t'Suil
Edited on on Mon Oct 28th, 2019 @ 9:54am

Mission: Family Detention
Location: Guest Quarters of the People's Will
Timeline: 2396

It had been yet another long night on the Romulan Warbird, ‘The People’s Will’ for Lieutenant Mnhei’sahe Dox. One more out of almost a month's worth that were now behind the emotionally and physically exhausted young Lieutenant. This last night, however, was a fraction easier. Compared with the cold metal chair she had been shackled to for a week in the brig, the lightly padded bed in the ‘VIP’ quarters she had been returned to was an immense improvement. As was access to a sonic shower and a protein replicator that enabled her to regain some measure of physical strength.

All of this thanks to the ‘generosity’ of Riov Dalia Rendal, who seemed to now hope to soften Mnhei’sahe up into accepting some kind of compromise. Of course, this was all because when it had finally been time to place the red-headed Rihannsu woman in the Neural Extraction Converter and reprogram her into a loyal daughter of ch’Rihan, she had not only successfully resisted the machine, but broke it in the process.

Unfortunately, they had successfully pulled from her mind a cosmic key that could lead them to the location of the Titan, Gaia. Information that was hidden in her mind by the goddess among goddesses when the two were merged months ago that Mnhei’sahe didn’t even know was there. But that information was on shattered computers, so they still needed the young Starfleet officer alive, and apparently well, if they were going to convince her to help them further.

Then there was the matter of the unexpected hurdle Rendal needed to try and deal with regarding what appeared to be the death of Mnhei'sahe's mother, Jaeih Dox. Seemingly disintegrated in an escape attempt, though Dox was unsure if her mother was truly gone. Rendal knew she had to work even harder now if she was going to get any cooperation out of the furious Starfleet officer. But the royal Riov was clearly determined to try.

For now, Dox had awoken on her own in the mid-sized room and took advantage of the gilding that her cage had been given to try and sway her. She had showered and eaten and gotten dressed in the partial Rihannsu uniform left for her. Then, she walked over to the small desk with the computer on it that had been used by her Grandmother, Senator Verelan t'Rul, for weeks to try and tutor her on Rihannsu culture, politics, and history. And there she sat and waited.

After a while, the door chime sounded before the door opened and in walked Rendal.

"Jolan'tru, Miss Dox. As you destroyed our only way to modify your grandmother's programming, I am here to offer my own services as tutor. It is my hope that we are able to function together respectfully, if not amicably." Rendal was only armed with the sword that never left her side and her wits and nothing more, however, her stiff, Romulan posture said that she was ready if things did not go well.

Sitting at the desk, it was everything she had in her to contain her anger at the woman standing before her. She wanted to take that sword and feed it to the woman who murdered her father in front of her then tortured and brainwashed her grandmother, then might possibly have gotten her mother killed as well. But she knew that would get her nowhere, and that the best way to escape was to bide her time for as long as it took for the crew of the Hera to find her. And while it had been nearly a month of captivity now, in her heart Mnhei'sahe knew Rita and Enalia would find her. So the red-headed Rihannsu woman took a breath, cleared her mind and replied as flatly and respectfully as she could.

After weeks of dealing with her own people, she was developing quite the 'poker face' for covering up what she was feeling, it seemed. A skill she had never been particularly good at that she now had needed to learn just to survive.

"Jolan'tru, Riov. If I may ask, what is prompting this... change in direction regarding our... relationship?" Mnhei'sahe said, still sitting behind the desk where her tendency to pace when nervous or angry wouldn't be a factor.

The Royal Riov pursed her lips, the ridges of her forehead seeming to furrow deeper as she stared out the window in frustration for a moment. She quickly composed herself and looked back at the younger Rihannsu with a hint of disdain, her eyes tracing the outline of her unruly red curls. "To be frank, I am accustomed to obtaining my way. I am from a Royal house and though many things in my life lately have been falling to ruin… The death of the prior leader of my household, my grandmother… The loss of my greatest achievements all in one blow with the theft of Deleth Station… The murder of my intended during that same incident by… Valkyries? Did I pronounce that right? Never the less, you are also descended from a noble line and thus I will offer you the appropriate education in Imperium geopolitical history at the very least."

"After all, in order to see the forest, one must first study the trees." With an inclination of her head, Rendal moved around the room in an attempt to appear more relaxed. "Once we reach ch'Rihan, you will be allowed the opportunity to send a curated message to your... Pardon me if I mispronounce this... Miradonian wife. What either of us does from there is up to your actions from this point forward."

"However, I believe that it is an understatement to say that we... dislike... one another." Rendal paused and leaned in so that she was face to face with Dox, one hand on the desk, her face an impassive jade mask. “As for what happened in the chamber yesterday… If you ever pull something like that again… I will personally ensure that you, or whatever is inside of you, will never set foot on ch’Rihan for the safety of the Imperium.”

Meeting her gaze, Mnhei'sahe never wavered in keeping her own face passive in spite of everything Rendal had said. Internally, the young Starfleet officer was barely containing her anger. Barely keeping herself from saying what she really wanted to say, but externally, she was calm and impassive looking. "I am an officer. And regardless of your feelings of that and Starfleet, you, I'm sure, understand that that means I am trained and capable of following orders regardless of my personal feelings regarding the person giving them."

So Mnhei’sahe didn’t say that she was glad the Valkyries took her intended considering what Rendal had since done to Mnhei’sahe’s family. Furious that Rendal would lord Mona over her as a carrot then threaten her because Rendal was unprepared for something that Mnhei’sahe and her mother had warned the Royal Romulan could happen multiple times, regarding unleashing the cosmic forces that had once occupied her mind. Those thoughts, she kept to herself as she tried to stay focused on what would keep them talking and therefore kept her breathing.

"My grandmother covered many elements of Rihannsu culture and social structure in my lessons with her. And while there was an emphasis on the functionality of the senate and its role in the tricameral system for obvious reasons, would I be correct in assuming that your's will have a different focus, since you wish to discuss the defense of ch'Rihan?"

"You would be astutely correct," Rendal replied, tapping in the unlock code for the computer terminal and moving away. "I was not sure what level of education you had on the Imperial Navy, the Tal'Shiar, and the distinct roles of each, so I decided we would begin there."

"However... Unlike most who would only show you the positive... more... recruitment poster... sides of both... I will instruct you in the darker sides of each as well." The Royal Riov paced the room slightly as the initial lesson plans came up on the screens. "Nothing state secret level, mind you. However, I will not gloss over historical facts such as massacres and mistakes made by both. After all, if we do not learn from our history, we are doomed to repeat it."

Glancing at the screen which changed from the simple screen saver of the spinning sigil of the Star Empire to a data display, Dox replied. Not the reply she wanted too as the first thought that wanted to spring from her lips was a reminder that Rendal's desire for Genesis tech is EXACTLY the kind of history nobody should ever seek to repeat, but she thought better of it.

"My grandmother took a similar track. Her perspective being much the same. One can't fix problems in government if one refuses to see what's wrong." Mnhei'sahe replied. She was knowingly parroting things her grandmother said in their tutelage, but it helped her keep her cool.

"However, she argued that the Tal'Shiar has far overreached itself in its growth of power. Historically, never a good thing for our people except that it always incites change, often for the better. Deposing the Ruling Queen and establishing the Senate and Pratorate... Deposing the rule of the Three when three Senators wielded ultimate power over the government, and so on." Dox added. She had paid very close attention to her Grandmother and wanted to make sure Rendal knew it.

"Hmph... It's not my place to argue over what type of government the Imperium should have or deserves..." Rendal muttered this almost as if she had some stake in it at some point as she moved over to the window and stared out of it. "However, I will not argue that the Tal'Shiar is overreaching. We should be defending the people rather than policing their actions. The original concept of the Tal’Shiar was to police the governing bodies and military but quickly grew out of control as its leadership craved more and more power. Back when it was originally founded, it was a sort of investigations bureau, if you will, responsible for keeping public and civil servants in check and in rare cases to act as security to protect them from intelligence threats from other governments."

Her gaze not leaving the window, Rendal motioned towards the computer. "For now, we will focus on the subjugation of the Reman people, why some feel that this was wrong, their impact on the Romulan economy, and the role that both the Navy and the Tal'Shiar played in their struggles throughout history and more specifically during the Dominion war and during the... Shinzon Rebellion..."

The muscles in the back of Mnhei’sahe’s neck tensed up at Rendal's words. The woman who brainwashed her grandmother to get her way and tried to do the same to her now preaching that the Tal'Shiar shouldn't be policing the actions of others was a staggeringly high level of hypocrisy Mnhei'sahe assumed was designed to bait her into reaction. Or perhaps, not reacting was what Rendal wanted. To see how much Dox could take and still comply. Test that officers training. Or it was possible that this was what she really believed and the sad fact that it ran contrary to how she functioned was something she could no longer see, so lost in her own self-righteousness. Regardless, Mnhei'sahe complied as it was a way to run out the clock as long as possible.

Looking at the screen, the information lesson came up as Rendal spoke. The history of the Reman people of ch'Havran, ch'Rihan's sister world, was a long and sordid affair that spoke to the worst traits of her people. "You seem to have an opinion regarding that subjugation, Riov?"

"They are a resilient and resourceful people. Fully one-third of my crew and household are Reman and I consider it an honor to serve with them." Rendal replied before catching herself. "My opinions are unpopular and inconsequential in the current political climate however, so it is fact that we must deal in and the fact is that many unfortunate actions led to the present state of affairs."

Narrowing her eyes slightly, Dox looked down at the screen. Opinions weren't inconsequential to the young captive in the slightest as it gave her valuable information about the character of her captor. Of WHO she was dealing with. And listening, Mnhei'sahe was finding a very interesting picture painted of a zealot who believed strongly, even in her own lies. But she replied plainly, still working the contempt out of her voice. She may have been Rihannsu, but she studied under a Vulcan master and was using everything she learned from Sonak to keep her emotions in check.

"Then... how are we to proceed, Riov? What is the structure of these lessons?" Dox asked. "My grandmother generally started with... something of a lecture on the subject of study, then left me to read through the files to discuss afterwards."

Riov Rendal sighed more heavily than last time and leaned against the frame of the window she was looking out of. Again with the mention of her grandmother. It was beginning to become tiresome and slightly frustrating. "First off I believe I owe you an apology. I have held you to my standards without attempting to understand you. I have attempted to bring the same ruin to your family as mine has. And you have proven yourself stronger of character and of discipline. However, you are you and while I will hold you to your oaths, I must hold the rest of your family to theirs."

"I believe that may be where the disparity between us is. Your parents and your grandmother swore an oath to the Imperium and my mnhei'sahe demands that I hold them to that oath. You've sworn an oath to Starfleet and the Federation... And it seems something more has sworn an oath to you. I must not ignore those oaths. The common people of ch'Rihan have made no such oaths but are the citizenry that I have sworn an oath to defend above all else, from all threats, foreign and domestic."

"In my view, as a Royal, that defense extends to the people of all worlds in the Imperium, including the Remans." Rendal paused a moment to collect her thoughts. "In that vein, you have my condolences and apologies for the death of your parents. However, you must understand that I have acted in accordance with what my mnhei'sahe has demanded, with or without all of the information needed at the time. I am sure you have objections to this."

"You would be astutely correct, Riov." Hearing her own name and it's meaning used to justify Rendal's actions turned the young woman's stomach, her anger being pushing itself back up as she swallowed hard and took a breath. "That said... what oath did my grandmother break that required what's been done to her?"

"Rendal held up two fingers. "Your grandmother was training you to be her successor and even registered you thus. This is a betrayal of her oaths for two reasons and once you displayed a continued will to resist and act in the best interests of the Federation, my hand was forced or my own loyalty would have been called into question. One, I can not allow a potential Federation spy into the government. Two, once you made your declaration, she could not be allowed to continue to proceed unchecked."

"So... Here we are allowing you to study and educating you on our history and such. What you do with it is up to you, and apparently you are immune to any form of coercion so there's no fear of that. Hence, basically, we are giving you, a potential Starfleet spy and intelligence asset, as much information as you'd like about our... your... society that would normally be available to anyone that went through higher education."

Processing everything Rendal had just said, contradictions aside, Mnhei'sahe stood up from the desk and turned towards the royal Riov with her arms folded behind her back. "My actions were in the best interests of the galaxy, of which the Federation and the Imperium are a part. I've been diplomatically trying to make you see that what you wanted from me would have harmed the Imperium and its people... possibly beyond repair. My Starfleet training said to say nothing while I was here. Do nothing. Make no concessions. No compromises. I was a prisoner and I was trained to give my captors nothing. Instead, I compromised... I listened and I talked and I tried to reach across the gap of over two centuries of animosity between governments that has caused nothing but tragedy. An animosity that is the only reason we have to talk like this, because I’m not simply free to go home because of that distrust."

"Because that was what MY mnhei'sahe demanded of me… that I put aside my own personal desires and even my personal grudges… to act in the best interests of the galaxy. And yes, act in the best interests of the Rihannsu people. I'm not a spy, I'm a pilot, and an officer, and a wife, and a daughter. I am also a citizen of the Federation and, as you said, my name has been entered into the records of the house Rul. Which makes me a citizen of ch'Rihan as well. And if I can find a way to help both, then I have to do so... even if neither home will accept me again when this is all over because of my choices. Because that's the oath I swore."

“And as a Tal’Shiar agent that believes in the old ways, I will hold you to that oath. That is the oath I swore.” Rendal then motioned back to the screen. Shall we continue with our history lesson? Or would you prefer we convene to the sparring hall early? I had planned on combat training after lunch to gauge your skill with a sword.”

Tensing up slightly, Dox had to contain herself. She could control her rage with the woman across from her here, talking. But with a weapon in her hand, she knew she would be at a disadvantage in every way. She had developed decent skills under the tutelage of Baroness von Alcott, but feared that in such a scenario, she would not be able to control herself properly. Give up her hand too easily. Better to delay that as long as she could. “History seems… a good place to start. Learn about the trees to understand the forest and all.”

“Excellent choice. First we will learn of the moment the Tal’Shiar took an active role in the suppression of the populace… Beginning with the Remans… Then we will assess your skills with the blade after lunch.” Rendal nodded solemnly as she dove into the lesson at hand.