Escape From Undrheim
Posted on Mon May 18th, 2020 @ 9:08am by Captain Enalia Telvan & Petty Officer 2nd Class Ila Dedjoy & Emergency Medical Hologram (Adam Power) Mk X & Kodria Mizu & Commander Rita Paris & Lieutenant Commander Mnhei'sahe Dox & Lieutenant Commander Thex sh'Zoarhi & Lieutenant Commander Sonak & Lieutenant JG Tovanna Mah & Ensign Briaar Gavarus
Edited on on Tue May 19th, 2020 @ 12:38pm
Mission:
Return to the Core
Location: USS Hera Bridge
Timeline: 2397
The trip from deck two to the bridge in the turbolift was short, but to Enalia, it felt like it took forever after the eternity of nightmares she'd had to endure. She had watched herself, controlled by her mother, murder her crew in creative new ways over and over again, each time resulting in her own death. This time she was in control and she knew herself to be unarmed as she had left everything with her wife when she went to Commander Paris's office.
But now they were on the bridge, where most of those sequences had taken place.
As the turbolift doors opened, Enalia first glanced to Rita, Who offered a nod of support, the dark circles under her eyes evidence of her exhaustion, but she pressed on because there was work to be done. Then Enalia gingerly looked out of them across the bridge. The yellow alert lights were still flashing, and the crew that was present looked bone-weary, as if they too hadn't gotten any decent sleep in a few days. On the viewscreen, rather than the roiling black clouds, they were displaying the current status of the four ships and the connections between them.
Taking a deep breath and slowly letting it out, Enalia took a step forward just in time for the turbolift door to get tired of waiting and start to close on her, catching her shoulder as she did so. With a slight yip of surprise as it retracted and she stepped fully through it, she tugged down on her uniform jacket to compose herself.
Patting the captain on the back, Rita stepped in behind her, headed for the helm station. Or 'flight control' as it was known in this more enlightened age.
Cursing internally at her lack of composure her nightmares had given her, she quickly crossed the bridge to the command chair and slipped into it as normally as she could, ignoring the stares she could feel on her. "Status report." She could see pretty much everything between the viewscreen and the readouts on her chair, but for some reason, she wanted a more in-depth explanation of their current situation and where they were in relation to escaping.
"All four vessels are in position, the linkages are holding sound, and we're prepared to activate the graviton generators and open the stargate- oooh, I like the sound of that- to bring us back to normal space, Captain," Paris reported from the helm.
Sonak didn't turn from his station, his brow furrowed as he rechecked the data from his sensor readout as he spoke.
''Captain; sensors are detecting a graviton emission which does appear to originate from the expected coordinates of the transdimensional aperture. Sensors cannot find any astronomical bodies or phenomena that could be the source of these particles. It began to manifest itself and grow in intensity when we implemented our emissions. There is no indication that this is a refraction of our own emissions. And it does not correspond to what would be expected of this universe's gravitational universal constant and spacetime curvature.''
He knew he had distractedly spoken in a too much specialized manner to satisfy his commanding officer. He turned towards her to provide a more concrete answer.
''I hypothesize there is a specific source for these gravity waves; one which, like our own current efforts, might not be natural in origin.''
Enalia turned to listen to Sonak's explanation, nodding along as she did her best to understand it. "In other words, there's likely someone on the other side trying to open a stargate like us? Well, I can only think of one ship that might be trying to do that and one Mariposian that would talk them into it. Fire a graviton beam at the source of the fount, and let's give them a reply."
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Meanwhile, on the bridge of the USS Persephone
"Captain Naraan, I'm picking up something in our sensor sweeps," Lieutenant J'haran reported from the Science station. "In the flow of graviton particles that we're firing into space, there... seem to be errant stray particles that are rebounding, or pushing back... no, the computer says they're unaccounted for. They aren't traveling in the same direction, and their point of origin appears to be a point in the particle stream we're generating."
"That's them! They're doin' the same thing on their side, I'd bet me last piece a'gold!" crowed O'Dell as Captain Naraan rolled her eyes.
"You're certain it's not just 'our' particles reflecting or rebounding somehow, Lieutenant?" the commanding officer clarified.
"No, Captain," the science officer answered hesitantly. "These aren't behaving like our graviton stream. I think they might be from the other side of the anomaly."
"Ah need moor power!" O'Dell declared in traditional Starfleet style, though usually NOT spoken by the visiting Ensign on the bridge. Turning to eye the Captain, who, seated, was at eye level with the picayune pilot, the impulsive officer pleaded with the Captain.
"Ah know it's them, mum, they're tryin' ta find us," the pale-skinned freckle-faced unlikely officer intuited. "They're prolly firin' as much at it as we are. But if we're g'win ta help we've got to give 'er all she's got, aye?"
As the XO moved to put the junior officer back in her place, the Captain surprised him. "You may just be right, Ensign. Auxiliary power to the deflector, and let's intensify this stream, Lieutenant."
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Meanwhile, back on the USS Hera
"Captain... I'm picking up something in our sensor sweeps." Ensign John Jones called out from the Ops station. "It read as debris, but now that it's closer to the edge of the cloud front, I'm reading a faint Romulan life sign. I believe it's an escape pod. Without subspace, there's no way for it to transmit a distress beacon, so I think they've been out there for the past two days."
Enalia nodded solemnly, unable to imagine being trapped in a tiny duranium can in this nightmare place for two whole days. "That would be a good reason for it to have slipped past our scans. Have them beamed aboard and escorted to sickbay by security just in case."
"Captain..." Ensign Jones said with a touch of hesitation and more than his own fair share of fatigue in his voice. "Transporters are still non-functional in... wherever here is."
"Right..." The Trill woman glanced down at her command chair readouts for a moment. "And it's too far for a tractor. Send out a runabout then. I think the Thor has the most resilient power systems, but the Danu has regenerative power systems... Use your discretion."
"Aye, Captain." Jones replied from Ops, sending a written order to the Main flight deck, where Ensign Jessica MacNielle was acting as temporary Flight Chief in Lieutenant Commander Dox's absence. A moment later, Jones called back to the command chair. "Captain. Flight Control confirming that the Danu is already prepped for flight and can have the pod in bay 2 in... 9 minutes."
"Make it six, we're on a time crunch here," Paris countered as her fingers danced across the controls, taking in the sensor data of the graviton fount to give her a frame of reference. As she worked to lay in a course for four starships in coordination in a realm of no landmarks- another first in a long and storied career. "All right, Commander t'Rekt, are your vessels ready to begin the final countdown?"
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On the IRW Third Star, the Romulan Warbird flanking the Hera that commanded the other two ships, it’s young Commander, Arnia t’Rekt, was pacing about the bridge nervously. The workstations had been repaired and, while the ship was operating with a skeleton crew as nearly a third of her crew was currently recovering from injuries on the Hera, but she would do her job. And if t’Rekt had her way, her people would all have the chance to go home.
"We are, Commander Paris." t'Rekt replied with a nod.
That was why she had chosen to work with Captain Telvan in spite of all of her training telling her not to. She knew that if this worked and the ships made it home, she would likely be executed for her betrayal to the Empire in assisting their enemies. But she was willing to make that sacrifice. Her people were being loyal to her. Following her orders. They would not be punished if she took the complete blame, and that would have to be enough as she looked at the screen.
Tapping a button on the command chair she was still walking around, but not quite sitting in, t’Rekt opened a comm channel. “Bridge to Master Engineer. Be prepared. We shall be engaging the graviton beam at the Hera’s command.”
“Ie, Commander.” Said a voice over the comm as she pushed a different button on the same panel.
“Crew of the IRW Third Star. This is Commander t’Rekt on the bridge. All hands to duty stations. We will, Elements willing, be returning to normal space. I swore on my mnhei’sahe that I would bring you home to your families, and we are prepared to make that happen together. And together, we will earn this proud vessel that proper name. You have my word.”
As she spoke on the ship-wide frequency, she looked around at those on the bridge, most even younger than she was. Her brow was furrowed and her eyes tired, but focused. “We will be going home.”
From the opps station, the young Arrain raised a quizzical eyebrow as she looked over her control panel. “C… Commander. That channel shut down while you were speaking. I… I cannot explain what…”
And as she spoke, the two turbolifts on the left and the right of the main viewscreen opened, as four, armed Centurions rushed out with disruptors drawn to each station on the bridge. As they did, Commander t’Rekt shouted, fear in her eyes. “STAND DOWN, CENTURIONS! That is an order! What is the meaning of this?!”
Then, from off of the lift, stepped her SubCommander. Taron ir'Faan, with a cold expression on his young face.
"Commander t'Rekt, in the name of the Tal'Shiar, you are hereby placed under arrest for the crime of colluding with the enemies of the Empire, providing them with state secrets, and conspiring against the interests of the Romulan people. I hereby commandeer this fleet in the name of the Senate and consign you to the brig so that you may contemplate your future execution. Centurions, take her away."
As they hauled the Commander off of her own bridge, SubCommander ir'Faan settled into the command chair and pressed the comms button. "Attention crew of the IRW Sei... This vessel is now under the command of the Tal'Shiar. Prepare to leave this miserable place immediately." He then cut the comm and pressed another. "Attention commander of the Federation starship. This fleet is now under the command of the Tal'Shiar, SubCommander Taron ir'Faan commanding."
"It is only my personal mnhei'sahe that demands me to give you this warning, but your destruction is now assured now that we have taken over the fleet. Commander t'Rekt has been deposed for her treachery... Her blatant disregard for rules and regulations... For conspiring with the enemy! The treasonous whore will get what is coming to her!"
It was obvious that he was more than a little unhinged at this point, but he was able to compose himself after a few moments and continue. "I demand that you detach all cables and cease all graviton emissions immediately before we begin our plasma torpedo bombardment upon your pitiful Starfleet garbage scow."
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Back on the bridge of the USS Hera, Enalia rested her face in the palm of her hand at the incoming transmission before giving Rita a knowing look that almost said 'Please take his toys away from him.'
"Subcommander, please," Rita Paris implored across the audio channel, her tone earnest and hopeful. "It's in all of our best interest to work together. Won't you please reconsider your course, and work with us to all get back to normal space? Surely you can see the benefit of cooperation in this case?"
As she spoke, the nimble fingers of the time-tossed temptress were busily punching in alphanumeric strings of character, preparing them for transmission.
Over the ship's speakers, you could almost hear the sputtering of the SubCommander as he replied. "You sycophantic, lying, brainwashed dogs! I see you for what you are! You preach cooperation and peace with sickeningly sweet words to placate your victims just so you can disarm your prey and strip them of their dignity. Then once they're defenseless, you warp them into just another mindless, peacemongering, cookiecutter society just like the rest. Well, I'm not falling for that! In the name of the Empire, you'll never have my soul! Prepare all weapons! Fire at will!"
There was a pause as there seemed to be a panic on the other bridge. "What do you mean none of your commands are working?"
While she considered explaining, Rita Paris wasn't particularly inclined to explain that Commander t'Rekt had anticipated this, and actually handed over the command codes of the three D'deredix battlecruiser. Because Romulan treachery was boundless, and everyone had anticipated this... except, of course, for Subcommander ir'Faan.
"Subcommander, all three of our vessels are moving into position, and we have been locked out of helm, weapons, navigation... we have no control over any of our systems, sir. They seem to be overridden... and we've even been shut out of the overrides!" the centurion at the helm station reported, frustrated beyond all measure.
"Are you having issues SubCommander? Is your mutiny not going so well? I'm sorry, but we expected you to try and sabotage our efforts to save us all. Now be a good boy, sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride while we make sure your asses survive long enough to regret your actions." Still leaning against her hand, Enalia tapped at her chair controls to close that channel and open a ship-wide one across all four ships.
When she spoke, rather than speaking in Federation common, she spoke in Romulan out of respect for the other three crews and let the UT translate for her own crew. "Attention all crews. We are now engaging our plan to escape this non-space. Man your stations and prepare for reversion to normal space. Elements be with us."
Closing the channel, the Trill woman took a deep breath and motioned towards the viewscreen. "Engage all generators and take us in as soon as the stargate is stable."
Sonak reported from his station.
''I will be sending our sensor scans to them as a back up to ensure accurate telemetry and monitoring for the transition.''
Over the Hera's comm, a chirrup was heard. "Captain. This is Ensign MacNielle on the Flight Deck. Our runabout has returned and docked. The escape pod is locked down and security and medical are taking care of its occupant now. Outer doors are closed and the flight deck is secure."
The spotted woman grinned wryly, hoping they weren't leaving anyone else behind. "Thank you MacNielle. Just in time to not get left behind."
"At your pleasure, Captain. We're in position, powering up graviton generators," Rita reported from the helm, guiding all four starships simultaneously as she directed them to open a stargate between them. Muttering to herself as she often did on the bridge, Rita grinned in bemusement. "First time for everything..."
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On the bridge of the USS Persephone
"Captain! The Graviton readings are spiking. SOMETHING is definitely happening. We are beginning to experience gravimetric shearing." Lieutenant J'haran reported, as the blue-furred young man ran his fingers across his console.
"Helm, compensate." The Persephone's Captain said as she tapped the control on her command chair. "Persephone to Captain Garnak. Please lock your towing tractors on now, we believe it has begun."
At the rear of the Intrepid-class starship, was a much smaller Romulan vessel. An almost miniaturized version of the classic T'liss class Romulan Bird of Prey, it activated a shimmering green beam that locked onto the Persephone.
"Freight Eagle to Presephone," Came the voice of the Romulan pilot of the small ship that the Persephone had recovered after the initial rift had collapsed. "Towing tractor is secure. Engines at full thrust. We shall not be moving this day, I can assure you."
It was an act of colossal trust on the part of the Persephone's mistress as her people had repaired the tiny craft. Ensign O'Dell of the Hera had given the man star charts. With all of that, once that singularity was opened, there was nothing but the word of a Romulan to keep him from disengaging the tractor and letting the Persephone be pulled in while he escaped. The thought was going through a few crewmember's minds at that exact moment, as Captain Naraan looked over to Ensign Fiona O'Dell, the young pilot that fought to convince everyone to trust one another.
"The Starfleet way, Ensign O'Dell?" the stern-looking Cervan said with a light nod and the slightest hint of a smile on her lips.
"Aye mum, that's what the Commander calls it," O'Dell replied, not looking away from the screen as her right hand gripped the back of the flight control station's chair. "We come wi' the open hand, not the clenched phaser. We offer trust to get trust, we try to understand other cultures and respect 'em, while we try to show we're the good guys, not say so. Leastways, that's how the LC put it when she explained it to us, but it seems to be the decent thing to do, aye?"
While her answer was thorough, it was clear that while she had comported herself in a cavalier fashion up til now, with the actual arrival of the event, she was nervous for her shipmates. After all, her family was over there... the closest ones she had at least, even if some of them were off making babies. You two had better've taken care of each other over there or else...
Finding that she could not finish even contemplating that outcome, O'Dell's grip on the chairback tightened a bit as concern showed on her face.
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USS HERA
"Graviton generators at maximum power, activating synchronized sequence... now!" The lost navigator pressed the virtual button, and the activation code went out over the makeshift network. Ionization and static energy crackled along the cables as they hummed to life, and space... rippled, flexed, and like a magic mirror coming into focus, there beyond the singularity, was the twinkling of stars in normal space, and the view of the prow of an Intrepid-class starship waiting for them on the other side.
Without waiting for a command, all four vessels began a roll maneuver Paris had designed, which would keep the cabling of the stargate structure stable, while the vessels, in a graceful and coordinated maneuver, all slipped from the anomalous space, as Paris had described it, into real space, over the course of 23 tense seconds.
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IRW THIRD STAR
On the turbolift of the Romulan Warbird, Third Star, Commander Arnia t’Rekt was flanked by the two armed Centurions under the command of her former SubCommander, Taron ir-Faan. On her way to the massive, but largely empty starships brig as her ship had been seized from her control. But even still, she knew the traitor would not get far, for she had foreseen his betrayal and had the foresight to warn the Captain of the U.S.S. Hera and make preparations for the inevitable.
The Commander was a young woman. Extremely young to be a Commander, especially by Romulan standards, but she was no fool. "Did ir-Faan promise you power? Rank? Did he say that the Empire would reward you for your treachery?"
"Quiet, traitor. We all know what you've done. You've sold us to the Federation for your own skin, and when we return to the Herathworlds with the shattered remains of that Starfleet, we will be heralded as heroes." One of the two guards said, with a contempt sneer.
"You presume that you will ever see the skies of the hearthworld again. That is short-sighted, Centurion." t'Rekt said, as the doors to the lift opened. Suddenly, the lift was alight with the green flash of disruptor fire and the halted shouts of shock as the two centurions fell on either side of t'Rekt, who stood and hung her head for a moment.
Meanwhile, back on the bridge of the Third Star, the Centurions that had removed the officers from their control stations were struggling to regain control of the vessel. "SubCommander ir-Faan! Nothing is working! All of our command codes have... have been rewritten. All of the consoles are useless."
With almost every other word, ir-Faan smashed a fist into his now useless command chair console to try and punctuate his point as he railed against the hand fate had dealt him. "Those filthy human bitches! I knew they were treacherous. The whole Federation is full of animals like them. They fill your ears with sickeningly sweet platitudes of peace and diplomacy, all the while removing your fangs and leaving you defenseless! Secure the database at all costs! Purge our systems and prepare for self destruct! This is one Rihannsu they'll not find so toothless! For the glory of the Empire, they'll not have our secrets!"
"I cannot access the databases! I cannot access the self-destruct protocols, SubCommander! We're completely locked out! They've changed our command codes! Came the voice of a Centurion frantically pressing inactive buttons on a panel. But with all of ir-Faan's Centurions working stations on the bridge, nobody was watching the lifts.
"They left YOU fanged and defenseless, Taron." Came t'Rekt's voice as her own centurions rushed the bridge from the turbolift, getting the drop on ir'Faan's men. "No more of our blood need be spilled this day. Open your eyes and LOOK, proud fools!"
The young, exhausted Commander waved her arm towards the viewscreen, and where had been the endless, roiling void of nothingness was again, a familiar cornucopia of stars. "We are free of the madness of that realm! That realm that our command had abandoned us too once they had their prize." And for a moment, all on the bridge of the Third Star, all young and all inexperienced, stared in awe at reality, restored.
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USS PERSEPHONE
Across the distance, from the bridge of the Persephone, there were gasps as the leading edge of the Hera and then three Romulan Warbirds pressed through the visual distortion in space.
"There they are, Captain! It's the Hera!" Came the call from the Opps station as Captain Naraan replied with her trademark, nonplussed countenance, in spite of the massive forces that were shaking her ship harshly. "We can all see that, Ensign. Thank you. Helm, prepare to pull us back to a safe distance as soon as they are fully clear and the singularity is closed. Science, disengage the graviton beam immediately and Captain Garnak, as soon as we signal you, disengage the tractor beam and pull to a safe distance."
All stations and the voice of the Romulan on the towing vehicle replied in the affirmative as they watched the ships clear the rift.
Silently, Fiona O'Dell mouthed a prayer, whether out of habit or actual faith, she couldn't say. But her shipmates had made it back. So hopefully, so too had her little family. Don't be dramaaaatic, Fiona. Of course they're alreet.
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USS HERA
"Captain!! Sensors show all ships are 60% of the event horizon of the rift!" Ensign Jones called out from the Ops station as the mighty starship shuddered with the gravimetric shearing from the singularity they were still generating. "Sub-Space frequencies are re-establishing and... what is that? Sensors show... something approaching from the other side of the rift, Captain?"
Staring at her own readouts, Enalia almost had to do a double-take at what she was seeing. "Please tell me I'm not seeing what I think I'm seeing. Are those... Tentacles? Or... Mister Sonak? Clarification please."
It took a moment for the Vulcan to make sense of what his scanners conveyed to him. In the end, he could only transfer the data to the viewing computer of the bridge so that they would all see what he was seeing.
''Captain; I am unable to clarify. What our sensors are recording... it is defying all known laws of science. For lack of a better term, it is... beyond our comprehension of reality.''
On screen it was like looking into the depths of an ocean; green waves of alternating darker hues with shades of a color no one could name. It gave a feeling of depth beyond the very notion of a void, a deepness that went from the eyes to the soul. The sight of it defied the senses, stirring a hurtful silence from one's ears and a vague stench and foul taste of vomit as if one's entrails were festering.
In the deafening silence of the limitless void, something was heard. A shrill echo, like the whistling of someone's last breath.
It was a flute.
And amidst this unfathomable abyss, something stirred.
Their eyes wanted to shut yet they could not tear away from the slow, sickening undulation of the cosmic sea. The movement of the waves slowly tried to take shape.
'Tentacles' the captain had suggested. For a moment, it indeed looked like slimy tendrils dancing towards them. that is what best the rational mind could make out of the chaos of form and movement, of color and mass that was slowly filling up the screen. But then, they coalesced at the edge of everyone's vision like the closing of long goo-dripping fingers grasping at their flesh to tear it away and clutch their souls, ripping it out to present it to the heart of the abyss.
And the center of the void was opening like a maw, star-sized jaws piled one within the other into infinite depth, with rows and rows of serrated teeth licked lustily by bloodied tongues burning red like wild comets; a maw was opening, one maw for every soul on board. An around every maw was a circle of pale flashing orbs liker blinking eyes looking at their bared thoughts with pure hatred, and hunger, shedding tears of blood and pus from a thousand open wounds on a writhing, putrescent mass of decaying flesh that was coming towards the ship, closer... closer... closer...
And the flute sang madness looming closer to their minds, to their souls, closer... closer... closer...
Enalia, the only one with two minds, forced herself to tear her eyes away from the viewscreen and looked down at the status of their escape from that nightmarish place. The last warbird was just now clearing the event horizon of the realspace side of the singularity. "Collapse the stargate... Collapse it... Shut off the graviton generators."
But no one was responding.
They couldn't hear her.
She could barely hear herself.
With the flute still drowning out most of her thoughts and refusing to look at the viewscreen, she launched herself at the helm controls, past Rita and tapped at the controls almost sluggishly, shutting down the generators herself even as the world seemed to slowly spin further away from her.
But the stargate wasn't closing fast enough.
Even as the three warbird graviton generators shut off, rather than shutting off the Hera's she programmed it to send a feedback pulse at as high of a power range as it could and initiated it so that at least this end would collapse and seal up. Without hesitating, she initiated the pulse, almost immediately frying the generator and several EPS conduits supporting the deflector, taking it offline.
But it had the desired effect - this side of the hole was no longer open.
Slumping on the helm controls for a moment, Enalia let out a sigh of relief as her mind cleared. "Status report."
Sonak, not having to reassess his mind from any emotional disruption, was first to answer. But his tone of voice betrayed how deeply he was confused still by what he had experienced.
''The aperture is... closed. The singularity... has collapsed. We are back in Einsteinian Space. Spacetime has resumed it's course along established parameters. There is no trace detected of... whatever we experienced in the other reality.''
"Ah, sorry Captain," Rita began to snap out of it, realizing Enalia was at her station, and that she had been sucked into the void of chaos from beyond the stars, by an entity that defied their three-dimensional laws of space in time. They had escaped the colour out of space, and from the whisperer in the darkness, the haunter of the dark, the horror out of time, who dwelled beyond the wall of sleep.
The Unnamable, from beyond.
"All four vessels report damage to the graviton generators from a feedback surge, Captain, but minimal damage reports coming in. It looks like we did it, ma'am. Minor residual graviton particles detected, but nowhere near the concentration for a transdimensional event." It was a bit beyond her conventional scope of reporting, but Paris was overcompensating just a tad for having been paralyzed at her station. "Should we discuss turning over control of the battle cruisers back to the Romulans now, Captain?"
"Yeah, let's see if they're willing to hand control back over to Commander t'Rekt," Enalia replied, returning to her command chair. "And please stand down from alert status and signal our safe return to the Persephone. I have a feeling there are a few people over there that were a bit worried about us."
And as if on cue, Ensign Jones turned and called back to Enalia. "Captain. We're being hailed by the Third Star now."
Seemingly with great enjoyment, Enalia motioned towards the viewscreen and took her time saying the words, "On screen."
On the screen, the Commander t'Rekt stood, looking a bit more haggard than the last time Enalia saw her, but she was sitting in the command chair, where she belonged. "Captain Telvan. You have the thanks of us all in fulfilling your promise to return us to normal space. During the incident, thankfully our preparations were fruitful, and I have control of the ship once more. My mutinous SubCommander is on his way to our brig as we speak. Thankfully, I still had my share of loyal crewmembers who..."
Glancing down to the view of where Rita was sitting at the Hera's helm, t'Rekt didn't quite smile, but the feeling was there nonetheless. "... who still had hope we could succeed. We owe you much."
"I swore on my honor that you would be returned home safely, Commander. As I see it, that job is only half done." The Trill captain settled into her chair and considered her next words carefully. "If you would give me a bit more time, I'd like to make sure that you'll be welcomed back to the Empire. Last we had heard, Rendall was a rogue agent and all of her assets and privileges stripped from her by the Senate."
"Thus I would negotiate on your behalf for your safe passage and return to your homes." Enalia continued. "If you would allow this."
There was the slightest hint of a change of expression on the young, but still decidedly Romulan commander. The indication for Enalia to read that the idea what Riov Rendal was a renegade was unknown to the woman. "I have... had my suspicions regarding this operation and it's... dubious planning... for the last few days, Captain. And your words... confirm, to some degree... those suspicions."
"I will discuss this with the Commanders of the First Star and the Fourth Star, but I believe they will agree with me that... negotiation may be in order. That said, I would like to discuss this at greater length once we have the opportunity. Thank you." t'Rekt finished with a respectful bow.
As she did, Ensign Jones spoke back quietly, "Captain, we are also being hailed by the Persephone."
"Thank you for your trust, Commander t'Rekt. It has been an honor serving with you and I look forward to doing so in the next few days as well." Enalia then motioned for Ensign Jones to switch the viewscreen over to the Persephone. "Unencrypted so there are no secrets between our new allies."
As the captain of their fellow intel ship appeared on screen, another familiar face appeared next to hers, and Enalia could almost feel the relief spread across the bridge. "It's great to see you both," she said with a wide smile filled with relief.
"As it is to see you all safely returned, Captain Telvan." The tall, usually stern-looking Cervan woman said, with the hint of a proud smile upon her lips. "And while we were pleased to be of much-needed assistance, I would be remiss were I to not say that the actual plan of how we would actually help came courtesy of your own Ensign O'Dell and the pilot of the Romulan Freight Eagle parked at our side."
As she spoke, Captain Naraan stepped slightly aside to let Fiona take center-screen.
Grinning ear to ear, the stunt pilot sprite waved gaily from the main viewer. "Aboot time ye got here, mum! I was afraid alla me big talk aboot ye and the Hera was g'win ta turn oot to be joost hot air if ye dinna show oop! This here's Cap'n Garnak," she declared, pulling the somewhat reluctant Romulan into frame with her. "Him and me was the ones what figured oot how ta light a candle in the window for ye, and he even held the Persephone from gettin soocked into the rift. A right hero, me friend Garnak, aye Captain?"
"Captain Garnak, Ensign O'Dell, Captain Naraan, you have played a key role in the rescue of the brave crews of four vessels. We and our families are eternally in your debt." With those words Enalia bowed her head respectfully.
"Your words honor us, Captain Telvan. For us, we are simply glad that all are well. And Indeed, Mr. Garnak was... as invaluable in our efforts, as Ensign O'Dell says. And while you are her superior, and such factors are at your own discretion, my report will attest to her service, and my recommendation for commendation in these unique circumstances." Captain Naraan said, allowing just a bit more of a smile out.
The Trill woman now had a wide smile once more on her face as she replied. "Pending your report, I see no reason not to hold up any commendations. I'll be generating quite a few for those among both of our crews as well as requesting them for several members of the Imperial Navy crews for valorous conduct during cross-cultural rescue operations. That includes you as well, Captain Garnak, though I don't know your actual affiliation."
"I am no Captain, I am afraid. I am... allkha. Conscripted into service. I have no rank or military affiliation, save that the military owns the vessel and my contract for services." Garnak replied neutrally, not quite raising his eyes to meet Enalia's. "But you have my thanks."
Enalia's smile faded as she knew that word well and she suspected it went far further than she liked. "Then I'd like to debrief you at the same time as Fiona, and perhaps we can discuss things in further detail, if you're willing. I believe your future, as well as the crews of those aboard the three warbirds that we have become friends with, will need careful diplomatic negotiations if we are to reunite you with your families safely."
"As you wish, Captain. I shall assist however is needed." Garnak nodded, a light bow, then stepped back.
Stepping back to the center, Captain Naraan spoke. "Excellent. We shall make the necessary arrangements then, Captain Telvan. Your support vessels are safe and in optimal condition, so Ensign O'Dell will be overseeing their, and her own, return to the Hera presently. Once again, it is good to see you are safe."
The spotted captain chuckled softly, that piratical grin finally gracing her face. "It's good to be safe and sound on this side of... Wherever we were. Next time we meet up, the first round of drinks is on me."
