The Plan (Part 2 of 3)

Posted on 27 Jan 2017 @ 8:55pm by General ('aj) Ko'raH House of G'Iogh & Commander Medara t'Keras & Commander Aren Ban & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Senior Chief Petty Officer Martin Caine (KIA) & Sub-commander S'anara Valdran
Edited on on 27 Jan 2017 @ 8:59pm

2,713 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Episode 13 - Rogue
Location: Kreanus Colony - Deck 5, CIC
Timeline: MD 14 - 1309 hrs

Previously, on The Plan (Part 1)...

"They hunt me because they fear me!" Ko'raH interjected, balling up one of his hands into a fist. "It was not enough to banish me and my family from the Empire and to dishonor my family's name...they want to assassinate me. The High Council knows the secrets I hold and the damage it would do if I revealed their corruption. They have no choice but to silence me."

And Now, the Continuation...

[ON]

Medara stepped forward and slightly in front of the Klingon general. "The High Council appears to know the general vicinity of our operations from when they tracked the general across the border. But they do not have the technology or intelligence to ascertain where he is, exactly," she explained. "This has led to our recent problem -- mercenary commanders hired by the Empire to locate Ko'raH here in the nebula. We have intercepted and destroyed many of them, each of whom has claimed no affiliation with the Imperial Fleet or High Council. Yet they continue to cross through the Neutral Zone and violate the Treaty of Alliance between your two governments."

Martin sat quietly listening, judging by the feelings the Klingon was giving off, someone was lying. The fact that he couldn't tell specifically meant the Romulan commander was probably Tal Shiar. "Commander Ban it is my feeling we are being lead by the nose into an ambush sir. I can't tell which is lying, except to say the Klingon is being led too. Which leads me to our Romulan friend their as the leash holder and intelligence trained officer."

Aren nodded in understanding at the senior objection. He was filing it away something to think about later. Aren looked at the Galileo crew, before turning his gaze back to the Romulan commanders and the General. "I am not unfamiliar with the events that transpired during the Dominion War between Gowran and Martok. I can see why this is a problem, specifically in your case general, and I can whole hardheartedly sympathize with the the situation. However, while they may be crossing into Federation space, they seem to be doing so in search of what they consider traitor. At least that is what I am getting based off of the information that you have provided us. Regardless of the intelligence that you had at the time, in terms of what happened to the Galileo, you did engage in open hostilities with a Federation starship and kill the crew, only to turn around and ask for there help." Aren shook his head. "I am not unsympathetic, nor am I blind to the warnings that you and the Romulans have been telling us. Yes, the High Council has been sending raids into Federation space, but it seems it is in search of you, and to my knowledge, they haven't actively engaged or destroyed any Federation starships. I guess ultimately my pressing question is this, why then general, are you so amiable now after being so harsh to the Federation survivors of the Galileo? Why ask for our help? What is in it for us besides our release? And please do not insult my intelligence about the need to stop a war."

Allyndra listened and was very impressed with Ban. All she wanted was to get away from this place no matter what. A message to Akkadia, a command to House Warraquim, that was all she was looking for. All she knew and had shared with Ban was that the crew that had volunteered and reported back gave every indication that her impression was correct, this place was on a downward slope. The colony was slowly failing, machinery was wearing out with no replacement or ill fitting parts. Things were being patched and repatched but the result was that the needs of the people here were not being met and continued downward. Something had to give sooner or later even the Romulans had to know that. She suspected that the working relationship was strained, the Romulan really did not have enough firepower to push off the General's fleet when it came and as Ban indicated he had death squads hunting him and his.

Ko'raH scoffed at the Trill's questions, but mostly at the implications of his words. As if somehow the man's limited vision of the events presented him with the true reality of the situation. Part of the general began to pity the Starfleet commander, for his ignorance was not only selfish but dangerous. Ko'raH's voice turned deep and quiet and an eerie aura filled the room when he stepped closer to look down at the man. "You know nothing," he warned. "You actually believe the Klingon warships that have penetrated your sensor nets with impunity have not engaged any Federation vessels? Do you believe it is only us who is responsible for every starship reported missing in this nebula over the past two generations?" The general's eyes became severe. "If your government learned the truth of what the High Council has authorized..."

"It would lead to war," Medara finished succinctly. "I cannot reveal our operational strength to you in full, of course, but I assure you the Empire has done far worse than simply cross the Neutral Zone in search of Ko'raH. We have evidence of it. USS Samson in 2380, USS Bahrain in 2387, USS Lokita in 2389; these are your own vessels and crews who perished here in this nebula at the hands of High Council's mercenaries. These are renegade commanders armed with sophisticated weaponry including the D8-class who would do everything to conceal their presence and operations...including destroying any Federation vessel who they suspected might have detected their presence. Their stealth and combat capabilities make them a formidable opponent, none that any unsuspecting Starfleet vessel can defend against," she revealed. "This is why you must go to Qo'noS to assist the general. To put an end to this. It is only a matter of time -- perhaps months -- before this information cannot be contained any longer. Already our intelligence has detected several Starfleet mobilizations from Earth and nearby starbases to search for Galileo. When they arrive, I assure you, they will not be alone."

Aren shook his head in response to Medara. "I do not know where you are getting your information but the USS Bahrain was scrapped in 2387. I had friends who were serving on her, who messaged me just after the ceremony. I had drinks with them after. I watched the decommissioning ceremony, in fact I was there." Aren looked at Medara. "And while I will grant you the Samson, I saw the Lokita in drydock before I left for the Tien an Men." He quirked an eyebrow. "Commander, please. If you want our help you need give more than conjure. Please don't insult me. I have nothing but the utmost respect for the Tal Shiar. If you want our help then please give us some hard facts that I can use and justify. I don't need force deployments, but names and numbers will do." Aren said spreading out his hands. "We have proven that we are capable of trust." He looked at Medara before turning his gaze to S'anara, which seemed to linger for a moment, before drifting to the general. "I maybe in charge of crew of the Galileo, but I need some serious credibility if we are to help the person whom killed so many of the crew." Aren said as he returned his gaze to Medara. "Please help me help you."

"There is not enough time to run these games of secrets. Having been here working, working with others I can tell you that this colony of yours without major outside help is going to fail. Sooner or later it will come down to that you are going to have to reveal the location, or give up on this place if the death squads do not find it first. They find it, we are all dead, they do not and things continue then systems will fail to the point we cannot repair and death and or we will have to flee anyway with Federation and Klingon patrols looking for the rest. I do not have high hopes for those then that are determined to have attacked Federation vessels." Allyndra turned her attention to the General. "Now what begs the question in my mind is what we hope to accomplish on the Klingon home world? A Brek'tal ritual perhaps? Slay your opponent who has disposed you? Yes, you would be surprised what people tell doctors that this Martok has no male heir. What secrets do you have general that are worth bargaining for rather then just telling the High Council that your hiding out on a rock in the Nebula. As far as the High Council would be concerned they just tell the Federation a rogue general is here and the let the Federation send in a fleet to find and deal with you. They neatly get to wash their hands of the whole affair and if you manage to survive that, then in the interests of 'peace' would demand that you be turned over for crimes. This colony is between the proverbial supernova and the black hole. It dies a long lingering death, or a swift one at external foes. As the humans have saying: 'Time to place all the cards on the table.'"

"You are all fools!" Ko'raH erupted. The amount of naivety and conjecture he had just listened to made him grip his d'k tagh tightly. "You believe the High Council could reveal my presence to the Federation and absolve themselves of any blame? Hide the secrets they have hidden for over ten years? You believe your Federation would believe them?" he asked incredulously.

"I must agree with Ko'raH. Your lack of operational intelligence and understanding of relations between your governments is dangerous," Medara added in a more calm and deliberate manner. "Make no mistake -- our colony is in need of assistance and many here may die without it...but if you fail to act and understand what will happen once tensions between the UFP and Klingon Empire escalate, many more will perish. And they will not be ours, they will be your own kind. The general and I have offered you a solution to this and the means to accomplish it. Instead you refute us and theorycraft about the future of my people?" She turned towards Ban and put a hand on her hip. "I am allowing you to help yourselves and help Kreanus at the same time. We both have much to lose and everything to gain from cooperation."

S'anara remained quiet as she watched the other two trying to climb out of the hole they dug themselves in. She almost shook her head at her peer's threat.

Aren looked at the commanders and then to the general. "I am hearing your warnings, and while I am not disagreeing with them, I am merely pointing out some inaccuracies." He said before returning his attention back to the two Romulan commanders. "So far you have told us nothing but a general synopsis of what you would like us to do. That is all well and good but we need more information. I do understand the gravity of the situation, and, at least to a point, I can understand why you want the general taken back to the High Council." He paused for a moment as he looked to Martian and then to Allyndra.

Martin said quietly almost to himself, "So whom was it that cut us off from intelligence."

Allyndra smiled at that. "Alright then as I said, what do you want us to do exactly? No one is going believe us or deal with us and you indicate we are missing information. Again, time to catch everyone up."

Aren nodded in agreement. "As my second said, while we may not fully agree to the what you are purposing, I have an idea of what you would like us to do. But we require a more information. I need more than just warnings to give to the crew in order to get them to help the individual who not just destroyed their ship, but also killed their captain. So please give us a more detailed account of what you would like us to do, so I can better brief the situation to our department heads." Aren said meeting the Romulan commander's tone and demeanor.

Medara had listened to enough debate surrounding the colony's current affairs. Though it was healthy at times to exchange differing points of views, no such diplomatic efforts were possible without serious consideration, deliberation, and resolutions. And of course, none of that could help her colony's current plight.

"We need you and your crew to take one of our vessels, travel to Qo'noS, then conduct negotiations with the High Council on our behalf," the Romulan curtly explained. "It will not be an easy mission, but your crew's knowledge of Federation protocol will give you the best chance of passing through the Neutral Zone undetected. And...as much as my people and the Klingons fault your government for its manipulations and imperialism, you are all quite skilled diplomats. Your standing general orders give you an understanding and acceptance of different political landscapes; your current status as a Federation crew also gives you a certain degree of neutrality with the Empire. The council will listen to your negotiations with more sincerity than one of our own could ever hope for."

Commander Medara turned toward the nearby large holographic display then tapped several sequences into the Romulan calligraphy on the side panel. An astronomic display of the surrounding nebula and nearby Federation territory suddenly came to life. She zoomed the view out with manipulations of her fingertips atop the display, then panned the view over to the Federation-Klingon border.

"General Ko'raH has agreed to provide you with one of his vessels for the journey. It is a K'Tinga-class battlecruiser named IKS DuJa'Q which served as part of Gowron's forces during the Dominion War," Medara revealed. "You will command this vessel and, under cloak, proceed through the Federation and Klingon sensor nets lining each side of the Neutral Zone." She adjusted her fingers to zoom the view in on the narrow boundary between the two major factions. "The DuJa'Q's cloak will allow you to remain undetected in Federation space, and your knowledge of your own sensor capabilities will allow you to pass through your side of the boundary. Ko'raH has the details of the Klingon sensor network and can send you the EM monitoring frequencies and required sensor modulations to allow you to remain undetected."

"Your entry point at the border will be near Khitomer, in sector 055 grid 0207. Once you are within Klingon territory, you will proceed to Rura Penthe at maximum warp to maintain the illusion of being a transport vessel in case you are detected. Once you approach Rura Penthe, you will divert directly to Qo'noS along this bearing," Medara explained while pointing to the display which now had a dashed course line superimposed over it to show the projected path of the starship.

Ko'raH stepped forward and stood next to Medara as he began to take over the terminal phase of the briefing. "I estimate your voyage will take approximately ten day cycles to complete. When you arrive at Qo'noS, you will no doubt be discovered in short time. The homeworld is the most fortified star system in the entire quadrant. It is then that you will use your Federation skills of diplomacy to negotiate an audience with the High Council," he said. "Once you have arrived in front of the council, you will offer Kreanus' terms."

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

CMDR Medara t'Keras
Colony Administrator
Kreanus Colony
[PNPC Ko'raH]

General Ko'raH, House of G'Iogh
Fleet Commander
Kreanus Colony

Cmdr Aren Ban
Executive Officer
USS Galileo

SCPO Martin Caine
Chief of the Boat (CoB)
USS Galileo

Cmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical and Second Officer
USS Galileo

SCDR S'anara Valdran
Colony Administrator
Kreanus Colony

RSS Feed