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worffan101
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Adaptation of "Uneasy Allies". Credit for the mission that this is based on goes to Cryptic Studios. Credit for the amazing vistas and art in that mission presumably goes to Tacofangs, our forum overlord, may he live forever.
Cast:
High Admiral D'trel irAehallah, CO, RRW Vengeance, flag officer in command, Romulan Republic Second Fleet: Linda Hamilton
First Omek'ti'kallan: Chiwetel Ejiofor
Subcommander Daysnur: Alan Tudyk
Subcommander Zel: Kevin Michael Richardson
tongbûrz Joh'Kghan: Jim Cummings
Commander Kadel, CO, RRW Temer: Morena Baccarin.
Subcommander Khimek: Robert Irvine
Lieutenant Commander Tia Shrall: Jennete Goldstein
Sela: Denise Crosby
Taris: Lani Minella.
Praetor Velal iRatleihfi trHrienteh, Praetor of the Romulan Star Empire (Fvillhu sShiar iSaeihr Rihan): Stephen Yoakam.
Commander Seken, IRW Haakona: Sean Maher because Sean Maher is cool.
Fleet Admiral Klau trKererek: Bill Corkery
Supreme High Lord Inevitably-Fated-for-Greatness, CO, Inevitable wrath of the Invincible Sword of Supreme High Lord Inevitably-Fated-for-Greatness: BRIAN BLESSED.
Mtara, intelligent Iconian: BRIAN BLESSED.
"First? I just got a priority hail from Temer City; it's the Proconsul."
"Ferenginar," swore First Omek'ti'kallan. "Bridge to Daysnur. Second, cut the therapy session short, we need the Admiral on the Bridge. Third, send it to my PDA."
"Yessir."
The Jem'Hadar read the message quickly. And cursed again.
"By the Criminal One's accursed latinum Get every ship in the fleet on the comm, NOW. Notify the Federation and the Klingons as well; Sela has escaped prison, and High Admiral D'trel just got the kill order."
"Should I use the red line to Praetor Velal, sir?"
"Yes. He wants the treacherous Ferengi spawn as much as we do."
The turbolift dinged, and D'trel walked out, sword drawn and eyes smoldering with rage.
First Omek'ti'kallan's mouth tightened in what an experienced observer would recognize as a grim smile.
"Get Velal on the line, now. Route it to my ready room. First, coordinate from here."
"Yes, sir!"
***
"Fvillhu," said D'trel politely. "I'll skip the formalities and get to the point: As you may have heard, the false Empress has escaped. I've been ordered to take her in, using lethal force if necessary, but I am also bound by the Khitomer Treaty to hand her over to you under Article VII, Subsection Three, paragraph six, line I honestly don't care but it said that if one of our sides caught her and lost her the other side got the claim. How do you want her?"
"Rahaen'Enriov, a pleasure. I want the pretender Sela, alive, and in my custody. I want what she knows about the Iconians. I want any plans she has halted, and I want her head on a pike outside the Deihuit. I'll give you and your Kreh'ddhokh mol'Rihan all the help I can manage in pursuit of those goals."
"I can do that, and I know that tr'Kererek won't begrudge you in the slightest after this latest embarrassment," confirmed the Rihan woman. "I've got my fleet forming up as we speakhey, Zel, tr'Kererek just sent me a likely course! Hook up with the spy satellites in Iota Pavonis!"
"Hold on a moment," Velal said suddenly. "What is it, erei'Enriov? What? Oh, ariennye, damn Lloann'mhrahel, always sticking their noses where they don't belong D'trel?"
"Here."
"We just got a distress call from a Lloannen'galae shuttlecraft in the Hobus system. She's under attack by Galae s'Shiar Rihan warbirds, but we can't contact the commanders of those ships. We suspect Sela. I'm sending a task group to investigate "
"No need, I'm on border duty. We can be there in three minutes with slipstream."
"Excellent. I will have EreiEnriov trHaldas meet you at the target area with Warbirds Vermithrax and Rakhoi schRihan, along with any support vessels we can scrape together.
"Zel, is my fleet in formation yet?"
"Yessir! RRW Temer, RRW Bloodsword, and RRW Empress Ael are in formation, ready to engage quantum slipstream!"
"Get us moving, Hobus system, now! Velal, I'll call you when the Pretender is in custody and we can figure out an exchange."
"Understood. Please try not to inflict too much damage on our warbirdswe have few enough left as it isbut I will be issuing death warrants for their senior staff shortly. Good hunting."
"Bedah, fvillhu." The com terminated as Zel engaged the slipstream drive.
***
"The Khre'Enriov's got to execute SOME of them," said Riov Kadel t'Aanikh, scratching her bald, scaly head idly as ch'M'R Temer leaped through slipstream-space. "That's just plain incompetent, not even the Lloann'mhrahel gives prisoners hypernet-connected devices."
"Still seems a bit inhumane to execute the guards," noted Tialana "Tia" sh'Shrall, science officer and Federation liaison. "I know you aren't Human, but your state's barely a year old and is made mostly of former farmers and refugees. You can forgive a few slip-ups. And besides, we both know that our best have been deployed to the Delta Quadrant."
"Which is why I voted Raptor Party," grumbled Kadel. "If tr'Tellus were ekhifv temajhaere, we wouldn't have put a third of our ships in that Elements-forsaken hole."
"There's an old Human saying," growled Subcommander Khimek, a scarred Reman man who sat at the tactical station. "'The grass is always greener on the other side'. You don't know what tr'Tellus would do if he were in power, not until he is. Just like I don't know what the Havran Power Coalition would do if we got into power, even though I voted straight HPC. Dropping out of slipstream in fifteen seconds."
"When we drop out of slipstream, cloak us immediately," ordered Kadel, back to business. "We'll have backup from a pair of Shiar warbirds that'll be there in a minute, but knowing the enriov we'll be scraping up the charred wreckage before they show up."
"I think that she has more control than you give her credit for," said Khimek, dropping the little warbird out of slipstream and activating the cloak.
"Really? This is the same D'trel who lasted four hours infiltrating the Tal'Shiar before she snapped and killed fifteen of them with their bare hands? Set us up for a strike on that Mogai-class's rear arc. Energy weapons to surgical strikes."
"Besides, she murdered that Kobali on live holo," added Tia. "That freighter's loaded with weapons, by the way, don't get caught by it while we take on the warbird."
"Keep us behind that warbird, nice and easy, let the enriov talk. And Tia, I agree that she has temper control issues, but what was she supposed to do?"
"Not execute an allied leader? I'll admit that he was a monster, but there were riots on sixteen planets after the news broke."
"Not because of the execution, though; that FNN expose on the Kobali set them off. Khimek, can you hack their systems under cloak?"
"It may be possible to do so. You, Sublieutenant, take the helm."
On the viewscreen, Kholhr decloaked.
***
"Hail all of those ships, now."
"On screen," reported Zel.
"Galae s'Shiar Rihan warbirds, this is Rahaen'Enriov D'trel ir'Aehallah, of the Kreh'ddhokh Mol'Rihan. In the names of Fvillhu Velal i'Ra'tleihfi and Ekhifv Temajhaere D'tan I order you to cease fire, or I will attack. Lloannen'galae shuttlecraft, you are hereby ordered to break off your attack and power down your engines and weapons, now."
"Getting a response from warbird Haakona, sir."
"Onscreen."
"We don't surrender to you, Republic traitor," snarled the young Riov on the viewscreen. "Especially not to one arrogant b*tch in a puny escort!"
"Mind your manners, Riov. D'trel to the fleet, decloak and disable them."
The young Rihanha's eyes went wide as two Aehlal-class battlecruisers decloaked on his flanks and blasted his ship's shields into nothing with their opening volley.
"Kadel, reposition and take the freighter. First?"
"Firing." The little warbird positively thrummed as superheated plasma scarred Haakona's hull, burning engines, weapons, and shields into ash in seconds.
"Lesson one, Riov. When a flag officer threatens you, she's got the firepower to back it up. Reposition on the freighter, redistribute shields forward!" Disruptor fire snapped out from the freighter, but the little warbird's shields held easily.
"Forward shields at 74% and regenerating. Perhaps you should take that position they offered you as a temporary instructor at the Academy," rumbled Omek'ti'kallan.
"Perhaps. Kadel, now."
Temer tore out of empty space and dropped a series of crackling polaron pulses into the freighter's rear arc. Kholhr leaped forwards, past the disabled Haakona, and launched a blitzkrieg of cannon and torpedo fire at the upgraded freighter's broadside as it tried to turn.
"Bring us close, polarize the hull plating to throw off tractor beams."
The freighter fired another volley, and the warbird shook. Behind, one of the battlecruisers approached, weapons ports spitting green fire, as the second seized the Imperial ship. On the other side, Temer pounded ruthlessly at the freighter's shields.
"Jump us."
The freighter reeled as a microsingularity bloomed at the opening of a momentary Einstein-Rosen Bridge at its side, and Kholhr reappeared through another tear in spacetime thousands of meters out, spinning with lightning speed to bring its weapons to bear once more.
"Open fire."
The freighter, redistributing its shields to the other flank, was caught unawares as corrosive plasma fire burned across its hull, frying shield emitters and melting weapons ports.
"Surrender codes broadcast, sir," said Zel.
"Good. Lloannen'galae shuttlecraft, this is your final warning. Power down your vessel immediately or we will fire on you."
"No! Don't shoot!" The Trill whose face appeared on the viewscreen was young, terrified. "Oh, High Admiral, thank goodness you've "
"Sienov'rhienn, tractor her shuttle in, fix it up and take care of her. Kadel, secure the freighter. tr'Rehu, secure the warbird."
"Sir," said Min'tak'allan from his console, "I've got activity on the surface. Romulan lifesigns, one possible Vulcanoid."
"First, Zel, with me. Min'tak'allan, you have the Bridge."
The helmsBreen and Jem'Hadar followed the Rihanha to the turbolift. "Deck 7."
***
"Set weapons to stun," snapped D'trel, sword sheathed and rifle out. "We're in Shiar space, so we follow the Khitomer treaty page 10. Clear?"
Her officers nodded their assent.
"Kadel, you were here before, right?"
"Aue, rekkhai. I led a team to take the facility when Taris was here.
Good. Youre with Zel and JohKghan. You know turak?
Only the basic signs, rekkhai. I did some training exercises with them during the initial negotiations by the Rift.
Enough to coordinate?
Aue, rahaenEnriov.
Good. Omek, Daysnur, with me. Move out.
Bodies ahead, noted the JemHadar, flicking on his visor tac plot as he shrouded. Reman. Obiseks forces.
Ariennye. Kadel, stay alert. Dtrel checked the bodies, mindhound and First standing guard. Galae sShiar Rihan-issue assault disruptors. Its the defectors.
Three minds, ahead and to the left, growled Daysnur. Romulan, young, professional. Soldiers.
First, take them.
Yes, sir. Omektikallan moved in silence, and quickly blasted the three Rihannsu without bothering to deshroud.
Move in. Weapons hot.
Dtrel wore modified Klingon Honor Guard armor; duritanium plating painted in a matte shade of very dark green, not quite true black, with the joints muffled by carefully-arranged padding. A Human might have found it heavy, but to a Rihanha it was relatively light. The woman loped down the corridor, the Lethean in sleek black Counter-Command exo-armor close behind.
Six in the room ahead. They have some cameras but no automated defenses, theyre aware of us.
Kadel, pincer maneuver, you know the drill.
Aue, rekkhai.
Dtrel, abandoning all subtlety, shot the door in.
Six very surprised Imperial defectors, anticipating a traditional Rihan tactic of a wait and creatively stealthy attack, were stunned into submission in seconds.
Someones trying to activate the gateway! warned Zel.
Grapple guns. Move.
Dtrel shot out the plastiglass screen, taking a running leap into space. She raised her arm and shot her grapple gun into the ceiling as she began to fall, swinging into the room below as Zel and Omek sprayed weapons fire on the shouting defectors, the Rihannsu scrambling to find new cover.
They lasted about ten seconds.
A blonde Rihan woman in ornate Imperial robes looked up from the console next to an Iconian gateway; Dtrel sat on the bubbling rage as she had practiced.
How dare
Sela got no farther, as Dtrel punched her in the abdomen, kneed her in the groin, and pinned the wheezing Empress to the gateway with her forearm.
Hello, Pretender. Fvillhu Velal wants you alive so he can personally execute you. Im no friend of the Shiar iSaeihr Rihan or its archaic legal codes, and I think youre more valuable alive, at least for now, but Im bound by the Khitomer treaty to deliver you to him. Kadel, back to your ship, well done here. Kholhr, six to beam up.
***
Sela had tried bluffing with Lieutenant Selans life. Fortunately, Dtrel wasnt stupid, and EreiRiov Khimek from chMR Temer was an information warfare specialist. The ex-Borg was recovering in Sickbay, and complaining that Selas programming had somehow lost his piano lessons and sixteen of his innumerable training simulations. Daysnur, standing like a lethal shadow behind Dtrel at the interrogation table, rolled his eyes at the memory.
This is how it will work, said Dtrel. You will tell me what the Iconians are planning. You will give me what I need to stop them. And then I will turn you over to Velal. If you refuse, I will have Daysnur here rip everything out of your treacherous skull and turn you over to Velal. Do I make myself clear?
So hypocritical, sighed Sela with a slight titter. You claim to be so noble, so much better than me and my Empire, but youre really even worse! Remember when you worked for Hakeev? Shot your friends? Killed that cute little
Sela cut off, choking, as Daysnur stabbed into her mind, the sheer rage that fueled his strike breaking through her walls and searing her neurons in agony.
Never, ever mention that to my patient ever again, the Lethean snarled mentally. Ive mind-wiped her twice now over that. If you mention Hakeevs sick experiments or what he did to Dtrel one more time, I will personally burn every single neuron in your evil little brain down to the last synapse without a trace of hesitation or regret. Do you understand me?
Sela choked out a scream, clutching her skull. Yes! Yes, I do! Make it stop, please! Make it STOP!
Daysnur relented. Hed feel bad about that later, but NOBODY messed with his patients heads.
EreiRiov?
Just a small matter, sir. Nothing important.
What was she talking
Creepy holoprogram that sick TRIBBLE Hakeev had in his files. She mustve thought it was real.
Dtrel gave him a long, hard look as Sela gasped for breath, but Daysnur kept his scaly features carefully neutral.
As you were, then, the woman said at last. Now, Sela. Something that you fail to understandand that Riov Seken and his command crew will doubtless soon discoveris that you are no longer rhRhiyrh. You no longer control worlds or fleets. You control nothing but dust, epohhs and Cardassian voles. You are powerless, Pretender. The remnants of the Grand Fleet serve Fvillhu Velal and the Deihuit now; the officers who defected to you will be forced into early retirement if theyre lucky, or executed for treason if theyre not. Do you understand, Empress of rats and mice?
You lie! cried Sela. My people love me! They need their Empress
Your rats and mice only follow you for the crumbs you leave behind. The Rihan people have moved on, traitor. Give me the information in the next five minutes or I order Daysnur to rip your mind out of your brain.
Sela sneered arrogantly. Do your worst, Thaesha-f*cking b*tch. I bet your Federation wh*re lovers will just LOVE to hear about your torture techniques.
Dtrels response was colder than the depths of interstellar space. My love was a Rihanha. You will not speak of her again. Give me the information or it will be taken from you.
You really think that you can do this? That you intimidate me? That you can beat the Iconians?
Yes, said Dtrel calmly.
Youre pathetic, spat Sela. I am your Empress, and yet still you defy my will! You need me, High Admiral, just as I need you.
I need the information in your brain, and I have a trained mindhound whos spent ten years of his life hunting Undine infiltrators. Even Cardassian interrogation resistance training will do you no good. Give me the information.
You think you have time for this? laughed Sela. Even now, the Iconians are marshalling a fleet the likes of which this galaxy has never seen
And you still have four minutes to give me the information before it is taken from you.
You call yourself a Rihanha? snarled Sela, haughty empress demeanor gone in the face of rage. I am better than you in every way! You HAVE to work with me; you NEED me! Your pathetic rebel state, your fleet, they are nothing before the Iconians!
And again, you have four minutes. Three, now.
Ill never talk, spat Sela. I have endured far worse than you ever have or ever will!
Omektikallan laid a firm hand on Dtrels shoulder as she tensed. The Rihan womans voice was absolute zero as she spoke. I doubt that very much, Pretender. EreiRiov! Break her.
Daysnur nodded silently, moving forwards again. Sela shivered, her arrogant mask slipping. Wait! Wait, Ill talk! Ill talk! The Iconians cant travel through time! Their brains are saturated with chroniton particles, which lets them navigate their gateways perfectly, but they cant travel through time without losing their memories! They have to stay in the here and now! I have a set of gate coordinates, for the sphere theyre using to marshal an invasion force, but Tariss gateway is nonfunctional and I need one that works to get into the sphere!
Shes telling the truth, growled Daysnur. We can use Hakeevs gateway in the Nopada system. Tal Shiar forces might be there, its outside our space.
Good idea. Ill head to the Bridge and set a course; you deal with this. She gestured angrily towards Sela. First, with me.
You really are stupid, arent you? asked the Lethean as he briskly hauled Sela to her feet and snapped on some plasticuffs. The smugly superior attitude, the arrogance even before you tried to play tough, you were in an incredibly weak bargaining position, not to mention making the trained soldiers, mercenaries, and JemHadar all around you extremely annoyed. Why the f*ck would you keep going?
Im the Empress! growled Sela, struggling in his grip, but Daysnur stabbed into her motor cortex and the woman went limp with a gasp of pain. I deserve their loyalty. It is my right as Empress to behave as I choose, and
You really know jack sh*t about running a country, dont you? muttered Daysnur. The greatest things youve accomplished were failing to bring the House of Duras to power, failing to sabotage the Federation flagship, failing to hold an Empire together, failing to use subspace weapons on Vulcan, and failing to stop a band of loosely-affiliated rebel groups from taking down said Empire. Sure, you escaped an Iconian prison, after months. But the Iconians are demonstrably arrogant to the point of stupidity, just look at the Supreme High Whatsit who attacked QonoS early this year. Frankly, everything youve done so far is a marginal success at best.
Sela was intolerable all the way to the Brig.
***
You have the intel? asked Dtrel.
Yes, sir, said Daysnur. Had to rip some of it out of her, but I can work the gates and I know the coordinates. I also have eighteen lists of what she wants to do to me; shes good at mental defense, but Im better.
Good. Oh, Sickbay just called. Turns out that Trill had a neural parasite on her spine.
What?
That was my reaction, too. Looks like the Iconians wanted Sela silenced before we could get the intel; fortunately, they failed. Were headed to the Nopada system with Imperial backup; the defectors are in custody.
Fleet is in formation, confirmed Zel from xir station. Imperial warbirds Vermithrax and Revenge of Romulus are synched to our TacNet.
Go.
Space warped, and the warbirds leaped away at a considerable exponent of the speed of light.
***
Approaching the Nopada system, High Admiral, reported Zel from xir station.
Weapons running hot, rumbled Omektikallan. Plasma projectile loaded and ready.
Reading one Dderidex-class warbird in orbit of Nopada Prime, coming back as IRW Sword Eagle. Tal Shiar, sir
Zel, I want you to drop us out niiiice and easy, maintain cloak. Dtrel to the fleet, maintain cloak and surround the TalShiar ataen. Dtrels voice was taut, but she was under control. Enriov tAimne, I want the Shiar vessels to flank them, were slowing to provide an initial strike and a distraction. Kadel, pull around with them and engage at your leisure.
Detecting three more warbirds, one Dderidex-class, two Dhelan-class, on the other side of the system, said Mintakallan, tail swishing. Pasting it to the TacNet.
Dropping out of warp, maintaining cloak, said Zel.
Space shifted and bent, and the warbird streaked back into normal space at a considerable fraction of the speed of light, a planet appearing and rapidly approaching on the viewscreen as Zel throttled back hard, but not too hard. Sword Eagle is moving, they mustve seen the tachyon bust, warned the Ferasan.
The ship came onto the viewscreen, Zel slowing but aiming for an intentional overshot.
Decloak and fire everything, snapped Dtrel.
The warbird rippled out of cloak, corrosive plasma bolts shrieking out of the cannon ports, plasma projectiles roaring from their tubes at a considerable fraction of the speed of light, and whipped past the TalShiar vessel fast enough and close enough for the two ships shields to overlap and waver momentarily. Sword Eagle reeled as Kholhr veered off and pulled around for another attack run, shields redistributing as fires burned all along the massive warbirds starboard hull. Return fire lashed out, and Kholhrs red alert sirens blared.
Kadel, now!
Temer rippled out of space on the port side of the battleship, lilac-colored polaron beams and cannon pulses striking out and ripping into the larger warbirds shields, which wavered and died moments before a pair of high-yield quantum torpedoes slammed into Sword Eagles hull; the ensuing explosion of thoron radiation ripped a hole in the battlecruisers side.
The stricken warbird fired a torpedo volley, catching Temer on its belly as it wheeled off, but Kholhr fired again, cannons ripping apart the meager shreds of shields that remained and torpedoes slamming into the hull.
Sword Eagle detonated and imploded in a ball of fire.
They got out a distress signal! warned Mintakallan. Warbirds inbound!
Cloak us, now! Kadel, do the same!
Another TalShiar battlecruiser flanked by a pair of Dhelan-class escort warbirds dropped out of warp, cloak down. Dtrel looked to Mintakallan, who shook his head; no telltale tachyon bursts that would indicate a cloaked ship dropping out of warp.
Open fire.
The Imperial cruiser Vermithrax materialized directly behind one of the escorts, plasma torpedoes and caustic plasma beams lancing out into the smaller warbirds relatively undefended rear arc. The other Imperial warbird, a broad-winged Mogai-class, opened fire with its cannons into the cruisers rear arc; return fire slammed into its shields.
Kadel, get the other escort! Vermithrax, we are moving to assist. Zel, attack pattern Haakona Four!
Locked and loaded, confirmed the Breen. Commencing attack pattern...Opening fire!
Kholhr cloaked, dove sideways and down, and tore upwards out of its cloak below the stricken escort, blasting through it with a torpedo volley and nimbly dodging the ensuing shockwave.
Bring us about for an attack run on that cruiser!
Kholhrs relatively meagre aft weapons fired again as it wheeled in space, inflicting light damage on the cruisers shields as the sirens blared. Plasma beams lanced out, and the Tvaro-class ships shields flared.
Fire again!
The warbird thrummed again as Omektikallan fired another volley from the cannons and launched another set of torpedoes. The cruisers shields are failing, sir!
Vermithrax, take them down!
The Imperial warbird spat green fire from its beam arrays, and the TalShiar vessel reeled, repositioning as the Mogai-class broke off. The TalShiar Dhelan-class tried to pursue, but Temer decloaked and fired all weapons, searing apart the escorts rear shields and sending two quantum torpedoes into its engines. The escort imploded.
Bring us about for an attack run, Zel, you know the drill.
Singularity fully charged, the Breen acknowledged. Weapons hot.
Three two one jump us!
As the TalShiar cruiser veered to avoid the apparently-suicidal escort, Kholhr blasted forwards in a temporary hole in space-time. The collapsing singularity left behind tore at the larger ships superstructure, while Kholhr wheeled in space, bringing its formidable cannons to bear.
Fire!
The plasma cannons blazed, and the Dderidexs shields broke, fires springing into life all along its hull.
Torpedoes!
Vermithrax pulled away as Omektikallan fired, the torpedoes slamming into the TalShiar warbirds hull. The warbirds superstructure finally gave in, and the singularity core imploded in a wave of fire and dust.
Regroup, get me a scan of the surface. Is Hakeevs base still occupied?
Reading Romulan lifesigns on the planet, reported Mintakallan. The gateway is not active, yet.
I can use the gateway, noted Daysnur. Sela knew a lot more than I expected.
Good. You, Omek, and JohKghan with me. Zel, coordinate the assault teams, I want one here and one here. Give the Imperials a chance, they can run one of the teams. Lets move!
***
Oh for the love of thrummed Mtara, watching the space battle via the feed from Hakeevs old snare satellite, Why the argh. Stupid Empire, stupid Inevitable Fate moron, stupid damn species
She looked down at her report. It contained about three sentences of actual useful information, and fifty sentences of titles, acknowledgements, self-effacing sycophancy, and a paragraph describing the magnificence of the superior for whose desk it was destined.
Not for the first time, Mtara wondered how the hell her people had gotten so much more advanced than the lesser races, anyway. Her immediate superior was a pretentious buffoon even by Black Caste standards (part of why he had been stationed as a Tertiary Subadjunct Deputy Shift Manager, a term that was a very fancy way of saying cushy job for an important dudes idiot kid, and left him nominally responsible for the re-conquest of the home galaxy), but even the more competent Iconians thought that walking into enemy headquarters, vaporizing a few of said enemys leaders, and making an arrogant speech in full view of the armed enemy army was a sound tactical strategy.
Of course, the Inevitable Fate moron previously mentioned, who was unfortunately Mtaras immediate superior, had been killed multiple times but always seemed to survive, through means that baffled not only his own limited intellect but also the greatest scientists in the entire Empire.
Which was not necessarily a good thing, given that Mtaras pretentious immediate superior thought that he was the universes gift to everything, even after multiple disintegrations.
Shed better go get the Heralds ready for the invasion. Damned servitors, damned pretentious boss, damn her own intelligence for making her SEE this travesty of an Empire for what it was.
***
Doors locked.
I have the key, said Daysnur. Nicked it off of Selas brain.
The doors slid open. Dtrel held up a hand for silence.
<Use turak hand-signs, were all fluent, yes?>
The rest of the team confirmed silently.
<Good. We send Omek in first, then me. Daysnur, observe my cranium, and if I start to slip you either knock me out or take control of my brain and get me the eternal nothingness out of there.>
<We might need to teach you some new phrases,> signed JohKghan. <And I think that you missigned eternal nothingness there. Its eternal nothingness, not obscure coitus.>
<On my list. How good is that shroud armor of yours?>
<Good enough to stand behind a Hirogen ongbûrz in ambush without being seen.>
<Good. You cover me. Put up your HUDs. Move out.>
Omektikallan shrouded, moving silently down the corridor. Daysnur signed off rapidly.
<Six men, two women. Four men in the mess hall on the right, the rest in the armory on the left. Theyre spread out, no chance at a trap shot.>
<We will hunt them,> signed the turak, and she buzzed up her shroud armor.
Dtrel gave the two warriors the time she thought they needed to get into position, and nodded to Daysnur. Then she walked quietly down the hall, blinking in a specific pattern to activate her HUDs remote targeting systems. It took two tries--new-fangled tech--but it worked.
Dtrel switched it off, squeezed her Federation-made projectile rifle, and ducked around the corner into the mess hall, squeezing off a shot that took one of the TalShiar soldiers in the head. The man dropped without even a scream.
Man down! Return fire! ReturnAAAHhhH!! The second soldier took a kartakin to the back. The other two turned at his scream, but the First was already shrouding and rolling to the side, and their desperate disruptor shots went wide.
Dtrel popped up from behind a table and took the third man in the back of the head with a frag round. The result was unpleasantso much so that the last soldier doubled over and threw up instantly at the sight, which got his neck swiftly broken by the JemHadar.
Hey! shouted one of the women from the armory, stepping out into the hallway. Whats gah!
Daysnur shot the woman in the chest with his Counter-Command rifle, and she crumpled.
Enemy contact! Enemy AaaAAhhh!! One of the remaining men screamed in agony as a spot of unremarkable wall grew a muscular tail, burly arms, and a set of massive fangs. His scream choked off into a gurgle as JohKghans fangs buried themselves in his throat.
The remaining soldiers turned, but the turak was fast and strong, swiftly moving the dying Romulans body to cover herself. The first two shots burned through the dying mans back, killing him instantly.
Daysnur sprinted down to the second door alongside Dtrel, and the remaining Romulans had enough time to turn at the sound of pounding feet before they died.
<Secure the area,> signaled Dtrel. <JohKghan, leave it to rot. It does not deserve Ungkat.>
The turak looked up, a little affronted at the presumption, but shed been given the run-down, she knew Dtrel and she knew the TalShiar.
No more minds, reported Daysnur. Safe to talk.
Move in. Hakeevs office?
Ahead. I have the codes.
Good. Move, well cover you.
Yessir. Youre doing very well, sir.
Thank you, ereiRiov.
Daysnur made a beeline for a console, smirking victoriously as it booted up.
Right. Lets see Files generalized evil, you dont need to see this, sir. Logs videos Goddess, he has that? What a sick TRIBBLE
What is it?
Unpleasant videos of unpleasant things, marked Meriks Art. Our boy was a collector. Here we go, Secret door controls. I think that this is important
He tapped the console, and something rumbled.
Omek, check that!
There is a passage, rumbled the JemHadar, and a gateway!
Good. Move, people!
Ill boot up the gateway and set the destination, said Daysnur. But first
He pulled out his gun and shot the console, which exploded.
F*ck intel, let the world forget Hakeev. As fast as f*cking possible.
***
As soon as First Omektikallan stepped through the gate, he felt the wrong-ness.
<You hunt-ready?> signed JohKghan.
Yes, growled Omek softly, But this place this place is not right. It is a thing of Ferenginar.
I feel it too, hissed Daysnur. Lots of minds, all so alien I dont feel comfortable touching them.
Move out, said Dtrel quietly. Weapons hot. Use as little tech as possible other than stealth.
They made their way cautiously but swiftly up the Iconian ramp, Omek shrouded and JohKghan under her armors stealth. The Romulan and Lethean followed close behind as they approached the doorway to the next room; Dtrel flattened herself against the wall and carefully peered out.
<Ahead,> signed Dtrel. <One woman, my kind by sight. Take her quietly.>
Omektikallan moved forwards silently, but as he stepped over the threshold into the room, the floor buckled slightly under his foot. There was a blare of alarm, and the Romulan ahead turned.
What snarled Taris, shocked. No! I need more time! She hit a button, and two pairs of Solanae flying drones hummed to life. Deal with them! Ive almost succeeded!
Damn it, snarled Dtrel. Eliminate them, quickly!
A high-density disruptor pulse from Daysnurs rifle holed one of the drones as Dtrel rolled onto her back, plugging one of the drones with a frag round. The third drone fell to the ground under the weight of a coldly efficient turak hunter, and JohKghans spear pierced it once, twice, three times.
The fourth drone shot an antiproton pulse at Dtrel, but the Rihanha rolled sideways with lightning speed, and Omektikallans polaron gun blasted the drone out of the air.
Move! EreiRiov, hack one of those consoles and mine every bit of intel you can get!
Already on it, sir.
The other two stood watch while Daysnur shouldered his rifle and plugged a computer spike into one of the Iconian computers.
***
You LET THEM IN???
Mtara was fuming with rage. Her superior laughed dismissively and stroked his chitinous mustachio. Mtara wanted to remove it and shove it down his throat.
Of course I allowed the puny servitors in! How better to show them the magnificence of my supreme glory and invincible fleet?
But what if they have weapons, or something that can sabotage the fleet or the sphere? Are you completely brain-dead???
Have care how you speak! I am inevitably fated for greatness!
Mtara thrummed angrily. TRIBBLE this. You get back to the servitors, I have to get the fleet briefed. Servitor 19762!
Yea, Mistress? hissed a multi-eyed Herald, groveling before Mtara. Inwardly, she sighed.
WIth me. I have a plan that must be put into action.
The best part about this plan was that either way, she won. Either she got the Empire and did as she pleased or the Empire got a boot up its rear and started using actual common sense.
***
Taris! called Dtrel. Theres nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. Its over!
No! growled the older Rihanha, dangerously close to the edge of the Iconian balcony. The Iconians will answer me! They have to!
They dont want to, Taris, growled Dtrel, stepping slowly closer. They destroyed our homeworld on purpose. They cant travel through time becauseDaysnur, what was the technobabble you said stopped Iconians from time-travelling?
Their bodies and nervous systems are dependent upon specifically-aligned chroniton particles, its what lets them orient through their gateways. They cant travel through time in conventional ways because itd destroy their minds.
Right. That. Let me put it to you straight; that Iconian fleet? The one thats blocking out the sun, thats marshaled in this sphere that just jumped from the Andromeda galaxy? Its not for rebuilding the Shiar, let me tell you that. It has one purpose: To destroy every civilization in the Alpha Quadrant.
But the Iconians sobbed Taris. If I pray to them, if I ask them the right way, they can fix it! They will undo Hobus, I know they will!
Dtrel looked at the broken woman before her, and sighed.
Daysnur?
Taris choked, froze, and collapsed forwards. Dtrel darted forwards and pulled her away from the edge.
She intact?
Give her a second or two, sir.
Taris pushed herself up, gasping for breath. Please Just give me one chance! I can bring back our world, I can bring back the people who died
If you dont come with us now you wont even have that chance!
Further debate was cut off by a massive, malevolent Iconian ship rising from beyond the balcony with a malevolent thrum.
Daysnur, who thanks to mining Sela for intel knew Iconian runes, translated the ships inscription as Inevitable Wrath of the Invincible Sword of Supreme High Lord Inevitably-Fated-for-Greatness.
I SEE YOU! thrummed the massively-amplified voice of an Iconian.
RUN! screamed Dtrel.
Even Taris pulled herself to her feet and ran.
***
They made it ten feet through the doors before the complications arrived.
An Iconian gateway opened in mid-air, and a tall, slender form stepped out.
It was black as the deepest night of interstellar space, with corsucating streamers of electricity flowing through its body instead of blood. A piece of chitin, thin and mustachio-like, adorned its large, tapering head.
The Iconian stepped out of its gateway, observed the humanoids diving for cover, and laughed.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!!! YOU ARE NO MATCH FOR THE UNSTOPPABLE POWER OF SUPREME HIGH LORD INEVITABLY-FATED-FOR-GREATNESS!!!! Look upon me, and tremble! For I shall bring down upon you a world of pain, the likes of which you have never
Mighty one!
Inevitably-Fated-for-Greatness stopped. WHO DARES a servitor? Hah! A puny lesser that knows its pathetic place! Speak, lowly worm!
Mighty one, I beg of you but one small favor, said Taris, prostrating herself before the Iconian.
Speak, servitor, and pray that Supreme High Lord Inevitably-Fated-for-Greatness is in a mood to grant your insignificant desires.
O Mighty One, I pray to thee, and do humbly request that you go back in time, and stop Hakeev from causing the Hobus event, so that our homeworld may be
The Iconian started laughing again. Ahahahahahahahahaaa!!!!! Puny servitor! You do not understand; we INTENDED for your planet to burn! AHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!! All of your pathetic species will kneel before my unstoppable power, for my glorious destiny shall be fulfilled over your trampled bodies, and I shall
He paused as another eye-searing tear in reality opened, and another, bluish-black Iconian with a more feminine-looking body emerged.
Oh, what do you want NOW, One-Word-Name? Every syllable dripped with condescension and arrogance.
Why dont you just vaporize the damn servitors? asked the other Iconian. You have nigh-divine power, USE IT already! Creators before us, how does the Empire even run?
HA!! Foolish one, you cannot understand what it means to be Iconian! To revel in the glory of unbeatable power, to know that a glorious fate is a foregone conclusion, to know that these puny servitors cannot oppose us in any way! Why would I destroy them when I can still describe my perfection to them?
The other Iconian groan-thrummed. And youre just a Tertiary Subadjunct Deputy Shift Manager. Right. I suppose nows as good a time as anyIm launching a coup, and since Im apparently the only person in the entire Iconian Empire with a functioning brain, you idiots are going to be too busy describing how great you are to stop me. And then I will destroy the servitor scum quickly and judiciouslylike so. The second Iconian stuck out its hand, and Taris vaporized without even a scream.
Supreme High Lord Inevitably-Fated-for-Greatness looked like his head was about to explode, apoplectic with rage. HOW DARE YOU???? I hadnt finished describing my unbelievable glory to
About sixteen disruptor and polaron bolts blew his head into fragments as a frag round from a TR-116 projectile rifle embedded itself in the second Iconians abdomen. The monster screamed, and Dtrel fired again, this time puncturing the exoskeleton of the Iconians head.
The monster crumpled.
Incendiary! barked the Rihanha, and Omektikallan threw with pinpoint accuracy, a plasma grenade flying out and igniting the center of the room.
Hose it!
Disruptor and polaron fire seared out, sterilizing the area containing the Iconians bodies. Just in case.
Move! Go for the gate!
Sir, thats at least the second time youve killed that Iconian! shouted Zel as they bolted.
I know! Someone needs to teach that hlai-f*cking son of a mogai how to f*cking die already!
First Omektikallan was not a man who laughed often, but even he had to suppress a snicker.
Get to the gate! Jump, jump!
Something tall, multi-eyed, and roaring with rage emerged from an Iconian gateway behind them; Dtrel shot it in the head. It didnt drop.
GO!! Go, go, go, go, go!
Daysnur and JohKghan leapt first, the turaks powerful legs taking her compact form into the air with incredible speed and strength. Dtrel and Omektikallan followed, side by side.
Behind them, the Herald roared again with rage and fired a bolt from its staff, but too lateRihanha and JemHadar hit the open gate and passed through.
***
Fvillhu? asked Velals secretary. The former general, now Praetor, looked up from his paperwork. My apologies, Fvillhu, but RahaenEnriov Dtrel is here to see youwith Sela.
Send her in, said Velal, straightening and putting his stylus down.
Fvillhu Velal iRatleihfi, said Dtrel, entering with a slight bow. I bring you the traitor Sela, in accordance with the Khitomer Treaty. I turn her over to your custody; she is yours to deal with as you will. Behind her, a Nausicaan and a JemHadar half-dragged the protesting former Empress through Velals simple plastic-and-metal doors, forcing her down into a chair.
Ah, Velal replied, smiling grimly. Thank you, RahaenEnriov. Did she talk?
I have a mindhound. Hes telling your people everything he mined as we speak.
How dare you treat me like this! spat Sela. Velal, I demand that you have this b*tch and her thugs executed for their impudence!
I will not, growled Velal. I worked long and hardopposite Dtrel here, I might add Dtrel grimaced ruefully to achieve peace with the Krehddhokh molRihan and keep the Shiar intact. Im not going to jeopardise it for a traitorous incompetent with a chronic compulsion to stab others in the back. Centurion! Cuff her.
A burly Rihanha guard nodded, stepping forward to shackle Sela to the chair. The Nausicaan and JemHadar stepped back at a nod from Dtrel. Sela snarled with outrage and tried fruitlessly to break free.
How dare you! I am not some common criminal! I am
Shut up, traitor. Dtrel, thank you for bringing her to me; I assure you that she will be punished appropriately for the crime of high treason.
You cant do this! I am your Empress!
Silence, traitress! Velal thundered. I put you on your throne because I thought you a better option than Taris, and I regretted that choice for years as I watched you destroy the Shiar for your own vanity! He visibly struggled to regain his composure, gripping the PADD so hard the screen cracked. Finally he gritted out, Your name will be thrice written and thrice burned, and you will be sent to the firing squad. A more merciful death than you deserve for the soldiers you wasted at Thaei, both times, not to mention your incompetent interference in the Khelloannmhrahel civil war, your so-called leadership causing six systems to rebel and secede in the last full year of your rule alone, and last but far from least the warbird crews I must now cashier because I can no longer trust them. Guards, take her away! And gag her as well. I am sick and tired of hearing her poisoned tongue.
Sela protested until one of the guards clapped her hand over the former Empresss mouth and she was dragged out of the room.
Of all the arrogant, self-centered grumbled Velal. Give me the Deihuits incessant bickering any day actually, scratch that, I think the Deihuits bickering is on the same level of irritation. Thank you for your assistance, RahaenEnriov.
I merely did as our treaty commanded me to, said Dtrel with a shrug. I will return to molRihan now that our business is completed, but please ensure that Ambassador trEthian witnesses the execution himself, as prescribed under Article Ten.
Of course, Velal replied courteously. Good day, RahaenEnriov.
Good day, Fvillhu. Kholhr, three to beam up.
Authors note:
So here we see an intelligent Iconian. Unfortunately for the Iconians, she gets killed because she loses patience with her idiot boss.
SHLIFFG is notably hammy and pretentious even for an Iconianthink Anubis or Apophis, from SG-1, as opposed to most Iconians (think random Goauld) or Mtara (think Baal). Hes the scion of a really important Iconian, who is in the relatively lowly position of supreme commander of the invasion force mostly because itd be an insult to his parents for him to be anything less; and like mildly incompetent middle managers of every administration ever, he thinks hes the universes gift to the universe.
Dtrel is at the top of her game in this, stable, controlled, and at that perfect balance of medication where everythings going smoothly. Which lets us see her Command and Commando specs in action.
I really didnt like having to ally with Sela, as she proved herself to be an arrogant, borderline Mary-Sue, selfish, nasty hypocrite on top of being a tyrannical despot. Since the only reason shes still around is her intel, and Dtrels crew contains at least one telepath whos trained for hunting Undine infiltrators (and once soloed an Undine in a psychic duel and WON), the logically preferable option was to have Daysnur mine her for intel.
On top of that, in the continuity that me and starswordc write in, the Empire is led by Praetor Velal after Selas disappearance and he isnt going to be happy about her coming back. Especially since a lot of her actions can be considered treason. He also has to order the executions of the warbird commanders who went over to Sela (treason), and has to force their crews into early retirement (dereliction of duty for not disobeying orders to commit treason). Hes justifiably angry about this.
There are a couple of Easter Eggs in here for another project that starswordc and I are working on, if you know where to look.
I hope that you enjoyed, and do please leave comments and feedback (positive or negative).
Cast:
High Admiral D'trel irAehallah, CO, RRW Vengeance, flag officer in command, Romulan Republic Second Fleet: Linda Hamilton
First Omek'ti'kallan: Chiwetel Ejiofor
Subcommander Daysnur: Alan Tudyk
Subcommander Zel: Kevin Michael Richardson
tongbûrz Joh'Kghan: Jim Cummings
Commander Kadel, CO, RRW Temer: Morena Baccarin.
Subcommander Khimek: Robert Irvine
Lieutenant Commander Tia Shrall: Jennete Goldstein
Sela: Denise Crosby
Taris: Lani Minella.
Praetor Velal iRatleihfi trHrienteh, Praetor of the Romulan Star Empire (Fvillhu sShiar iSaeihr Rihan): Stephen Yoakam.
Commander Seken, IRW Haakona: Sean Maher because Sean Maher is cool.
Fleet Admiral Klau trKererek: Bill Corkery
Supreme High Lord Inevitably-Fated-for-Greatness, CO, Inevitable wrath of the Invincible Sword of Supreme High Lord Inevitably-Fated-for-Greatness: BRIAN BLESSED.
Mtara, intelligent Iconian: BRIAN BLESSED.
"First? I just got a priority hail from Temer City; it's the Proconsul."
"Ferenginar," swore First Omek'ti'kallan. "Bridge to Daysnur. Second, cut the therapy session short, we need the Admiral on the Bridge. Third, send it to my PDA."
"Yessir."
The Jem'Hadar read the message quickly. And cursed again.
"By the Criminal One's accursed latinum Get every ship in the fleet on the comm, NOW. Notify the Federation and the Klingons as well; Sela has escaped prison, and High Admiral D'trel just got the kill order."
"Should I use the red line to Praetor Velal, sir?"
"Yes. He wants the treacherous Ferengi spawn as much as we do."
The turbolift dinged, and D'trel walked out, sword drawn and eyes smoldering with rage.
First Omek'ti'kallan's mouth tightened in what an experienced observer would recognize as a grim smile.
"Get Velal on the line, now. Route it to my ready room. First, coordinate from here."
"Yes, sir!"
***
"Fvillhu," said D'trel politely. "I'll skip the formalities and get to the point: As you may have heard, the false Empress has escaped. I've been ordered to take her in, using lethal force if necessary, but I am also bound by the Khitomer Treaty to hand her over to you under Article VII, Subsection Three, paragraph six, line I honestly don't care but it said that if one of our sides caught her and lost her the other side got the claim. How do you want her?"
"Rahaen'Enriov, a pleasure. I want the pretender Sela, alive, and in my custody. I want what she knows about the Iconians. I want any plans she has halted, and I want her head on a pike outside the Deihuit. I'll give you and your Kreh'ddhokh mol'Rihan all the help I can manage in pursuit of those goals."
"I can do that, and I know that tr'Kererek won't begrudge you in the slightest after this latest embarrassment," confirmed the Rihan woman. "I've got my fleet forming up as we speakhey, Zel, tr'Kererek just sent me a likely course! Hook up with the spy satellites in Iota Pavonis!"
"Hold on a moment," Velal said suddenly. "What is it, erei'Enriov? What? Oh, ariennye, damn Lloann'mhrahel, always sticking their noses where they don't belong D'trel?"
"Here."
"We just got a distress call from a Lloannen'galae shuttlecraft in the Hobus system. She's under attack by Galae s'Shiar Rihan warbirds, but we can't contact the commanders of those ships. We suspect Sela. I'm sending a task group to investigate "
"No need, I'm on border duty. We can be there in three minutes with slipstream."
"Excellent. I will have EreiEnriov trHaldas meet you at the target area with Warbirds Vermithrax and Rakhoi schRihan, along with any support vessels we can scrape together.
"Zel, is my fleet in formation yet?"
"Yessir! RRW Temer, RRW Bloodsword, and RRW Empress Ael are in formation, ready to engage quantum slipstream!"
"Get us moving, Hobus system, now! Velal, I'll call you when the Pretender is in custody and we can figure out an exchange."
"Understood. Please try not to inflict too much damage on our warbirdswe have few enough left as it isbut I will be issuing death warrants for their senior staff shortly. Good hunting."
"Bedah, fvillhu." The com terminated as Zel engaged the slipstream drive.
***
"The Khre'Enriov's got to execute SOME of them," said Riov Kadel t'Aanikh, scratching her bald, scaly head idly as ch'M'R Temer leaped through slipstream-space. "That's just plain incompetent, not even the Lloann'mhrahel gives prisoners hypernet-connected devices."
"Still seems a bit inhumane to execute the guards," noted Tialana "Tia" sh'Shrall, science officer and Federation liaison. "I know you aren't Human, but your state's barely a year old and is made mostly of former farmers and refugees. You can forgive a few slip-ups. And besides, we both know that our best have been deployed to the Delta Quadrant."
"Which is why I voted Raptor Party," grumbled Kadel. "If tr'Tellus were ekhifv temajhaere, we wouldn't have put a third of our ships in that Elements-forsaken hole."
"There's an old Human saying," growled Subcommander Khimek, a scarred Reman man who sat at the tactical station. "'The grass is always greener on the other side'. You don't know what tr'Tellus would do if he were in power, not until he is. Just like I don't know what the Havran Power Coalition would do if we got into power, even though I voted straight HPC. Dropping out of slipstream in fifteen seconds."
"When we drop out of slipstream, cloak us immediately," ordered Kadel, back to business. "We'll have backup from a pair of Shiar warbirds that'll be there in a minute, but knowing the enriov we'll be scraping up the charred wreckage before they show up."
"I think that she has more control than you give her credit for," said Khimek, dropping the little warbird out of slipstream and activating the cloak.
"Really? This is the same D'trel who lasted four hours infiltrating the Tal'Shiar before she snapped and killed fifteen of them with their bare hands? Set us up for a strike on that Mogai-class's rear arc. Energy weapons to surgical strikes."
"Besides, she murdered that Kobali on live holo," added Tia. "That freighter's loaded with weapons, by the way, don't get caught by it while we take on the warbird."
"Keep us behind that warbird, nice and easy, let the enriov talk. And Tia, I agree that she has temper control issues, but what was she supposed to do?"
"Not execute an allied leader? I'll admit that he was a monster, but there were riots on sixteen planets after the news broke."
"Not because of the execution, though; that FNN expose on the Kobali set them off. Khimek, can you hack their systems under cloak?"
"It may be possible to do so. You, Sublieutenant, take the helm."
On the viewscreen, Kholhr decloaked.
***
"Hail all of those ships, now."
"On screen," reported Zel.
"Galae s'Shiar Rihan warbirds, this is Rahaen'Enriov D'trel ir'Aehallah, of the Kreh'ddhokh Mol'Rihan. In the names of Fvillhu Velal i'Ra'tleihfi and Ekhifv Temajhaere D'tan I order you to cease fire, or I will attack. Lloannen'galae shuttlecraft, you are hereby ordered to break off your attack and power down your engines and weapons, now."
"Getting a response from warbird Haakona, sir."
"Onscreen."
"We don't surrender to you, Republic traitor," snarled the young Riov on the viewscreen. "Especially not to one arrogant b*tch in a puny escort!"
"Mind your manners, Riov. D'trel to the fleet, decloak and disable them."
The young Rihanha's eyes went wide as two Aehlal-class battlecruisers decloaked on his flanks and blasted his ship's shields into nothing with their opening volley.
"Kadel, reposition and take the freighter. First?"
"Firing." The little warbird positively thrummed as superheated plasma scarred Haakona's hull, burning engines, weapons, and shields into ash in seconds.
"Lesson one, Riov. When a flag officer threatens you, she's got the firepower to back it up. Reposition on the freighter, redistribute shields forward!" Disruptor fire snapped out from the freighter, but the little warbird's shields held easily.
"Forward shields at 74% and regenerating. Perhaps you should take that position they offered you as a temporary instructor at the Academy," rumbled Omek'ti'kallan.
"Perhaps. Kadel, now."
Temer tore out of empty space and dropped a series of crackling polaron pulses into the freighter's rear arc. Kholhr leaped forwards, past the disabled Haakona, and launched a blitzkrieg of cannon and torpedo fire at the upgraded freighter's broadside as it tried to turn.
"Bring us close, polarize the hull plating to throw off tractor beams."
The freighter fired another volley, and the warbird shook. Behind, one of the battlecruisers approached, weapons ports spitting green fire, as the second seized the Imperial ship. On the other side, Temer pounded ruthlessly at the freighter's shields.
"Jump us."
The freighter reeled as a microsingularity bloomed at the opening of a momentary Einstein-Rosen Bridge at its side, and Kholhr reappeared through another tear in spacetime thousands of meters out, spinning with lightning speed to bring its weapons to bear once more.
"Open fire."
The freighter, redistributing its shields to the other flank, was caught unawares as corrosive plasma fire burned across its hull, frying shield emitters and melting weapons ports.
"Surrender codes broadcast, sir," said Zel.
"Good. Lloannen'galae shuttlecraft, this is your final warning. Power down your vessel immediately or we will fire on you."
"No! Don't shoot!" The Trill whose face appeared on the viewscreen was young, terrified. "Oh, High Admiral, thank goodness you've "
"Sienov'rhienn, tractor her shuttle in, fix it up and take care of her. Kadel, secure the freighter. tr'Rehu, secure the warbird."
"Sir," said Min'tak'allan from his console, "I've got activity on the surface. Romulan lifesigns, one possible Vulcanoid."
"First, Zel, with me. Min'tak'allan, you have the Bridge."
The helmsBreen and Jem'Hadar followed the Rihanha to the turbolift. "Deck 7."
***
"Set weapons to stun," snapped D'trel, sword sheathed and rifle out. "We're in Shiar space, so we follow the Khitomer treaty page 10. Clear?"
Her officers nodded their assent.
"Kadel, you were here before, right?"
"Aue, rekkhai. I led a team to take the facility when Taris was here.
Good. Youre with Zel and JohKghan. You know turak?
Only the basic signs, rekkhai. I did some training exercises with them during the initial negotiations by the Rift.
Enough to coordinate?
Aue, rahaenEnriov.
Good. Omek, Daysnur, with me. Move out.
Bodies ahead, noted the JemHadar, flicking on his visor tac plot as he shrouded. Reman. Obiseks forces.
Ariennye. Kadel, stay alert. Dtrel checked the bodies, mindhound and First standing guard. Galae sShiar Rihan-issue assault disruptors. Its the defectors.
Three minds, ahead and to the left, growled Daysnur. Romulan, young, professional. Soldiers.
First, take them.
Yes, sir. Omektikallan moved in silence, and quickly blasted the three Rihannsu without bothering to deshroud.
Move in. Weapons hot.
Dtrel wore modified Klingon Honor Guard armor; duritanium plating painted in a matte shade of very dark green, not quite true black, with the joints muffled by carefully-arranged padding. A Human might have found it heavy, but to a Rihanha it was relatively light. The woman loped down the corridor, the Lethean in sleek black Counter-Command exo-armor close behind.
Six in the room ahead. They have some cameras but no automated defenses, theyre aware of us.
Kadel, pincer maneuver, you know the drill.
Aue, rekkhai.
Dtrel, abandoning all subtlety, shot the door in.
Six very surprised Imperial defectors, anticipating a traditional Rihan tactic of a wait and creatively stealthy attack, were stunned into submission in seconds.
Someones trying to activate the gateway! warned Zel.
Grapple guns. Move.
Dtrel shot out the plastiglass screen, taking a running leap into space. She raised her arm and shot her grapple gun into the ceiling as she began to fall, swinging into the room below as Zel and Omek sprayed weapons fire on the shouting defectors, the Rihannsu scrambling to find new cover.
They lasted about ten seconds.
A blonde Rihan woman in ornate Imperial robes looked up from the console next to an Iconian gateway; Dtrel sat on the bubbling rage as she had practiced.
How dare
Sela got no farther, as Dtrel punched her in the abdomen, kneed her in the groin, and pinned the wheezing Empress to the gateway with her forearm.
Hello, Pretender. Fvillhu Velal wants you alive so he can personally execute you. Im no friend of the Shiar iSaeihr Rihan or its archaic legal codes, and I think youre more valuable alive, at least for now, but Im bound by the Khitomer treaty to deliver you to him. Kadel, back to your ship, well done here. Kholhr, six to beam up.
***
Sela had tried bluffing with Lieutenant Selans life. Fortunately, Dtrel wasnt stupid, and EreiRiov Khimek from chMR Temer was an information warfare specialist. The ex-Borg was recovering in Sickbay, and complaining that Selas programming had somehow lost his piano lessons and sixteen of his innumerable training simulations. Daysnur, standing like a lethal shadow behind Dtrel at the interrogation table, rolled his eyes at the memory.
This is how it will work, said Dtrel. You will tell me what the Iconians are planning. You will give me what I need to stop them. And then I will turn you over to Velal. If you refuse, I will have Daysnur here rip everything out of your treacherous skull and turn you over to Velal. Do I make myself clear?
So hypocritical, sighed Sela with a slight titter. You claim to be so noble, so much better than me and my Empire, but youre really even worse! Remember when you worked for Hakeev? Shot your friends? Killed that cute little
Sela cut off, choking, as Daysnur stabbed into her mind, the sheer rage that fueled his strike breaking through her walls and searing her neurons in agony.
Never, ever mention that to my patient ever again, the Lethean snarled mentally. Ive mind-wiped her twice now over that. If you mention Hakeevs sick experiments or what he did to Dtrel one more time, I will personally burn every single neuron in your evil little brain down to the last synapse without a trace of hesitation or regret. Do you understand me?
Sela choked out a scream, clutching her skull. Yes! Yes, I do! Make it stop, please! Make it STOP!
Daysnur relented. Hed feel bad about that later, but NOBODY messed with his patients heads.
EreiRiov?
Just a small matter, sir. Nothing important.
What was she talking
Creepy holoprogram that sick TRIBBLE Hakeev had in his files. She mustve thought it was real.
Dtrel gave him a long, hard look as Sela gasped for breath, but Daysnur kept his scaly features carefully neutral.
As you were, then, the woman said at last. Now, Sela. Something that you fail to understandand that Riov Seken and his command crew will doubtless soon discoveris that you are no longer rhRhiyrh. You no longer control worlds or fleets. You control nothing but dust, epohhs and Cardassian voles. You are powerless, Pretender. The remnants of the Grand Fleet serve Fvillhu Velal and the Deihuit now; the officers who defected to you will be forced into early retirement if theyre lucky, or executed for treason if theyre not. Do you understand, Empress of rats and mice?
You lie! cried Sela. My people love me! They need their Empress
Your rats and mice only follow you for the crumbs you leave behind. The Rihan people have moved on, traitor. Give me the information in the next five minutes or I order Daysnur to rip your mind out of your brain.
Sela sneered arrogantly. Do your worst, Thaesha-f*cking b*tch. I bet your Federation wh*re lovers will just LOVE to hear about your torture techniques.
Dtrels response was colder than the depths of interstellar space. My love was a Rihanha. You will not speak of her again. Give me the information or it will be taken from you.
You really think that you can do this? That you intimidate me? That you can beat the Iconians?
Yes, said Dtrel calmly.
Youre pathetic, spat Sela. I am your Empress, and yet still you defy my will! You need me, High Admiral, just as I need you.
I need the information in your brain, and I have a trained mindhound whos spent ten years of his life hunting Undine infiltrators. Even Cardassian interrogation resistance training will do you no good. Give me the information.
You think you have time for this? laughed Sela. Even now, the Iconians are marshalling a fleet the likes of which this galaxy has never seen
And you still have four minutes to give me the information before it is taken from you.
You call yourself a Rihanha? snarled Sela, haughty empress demeanor gone in the face of rage. I am better than you in every way! You HAVE to work with me; you NEED me! Your pathetic rebel state, your fleet, they are nothing before the Iconians!
And again, you have four minutes. Three, now.
Ill never talk, spat Sela. I have endured far worse than you ever have or ever will!
Omektikallan laid a firm hand on Dtrels shoulder as she tensed. The Rihan womans voice was absolute zero as she spoke. I doubt that very much, Pretender. EreiRiov! Break her.
Daysnur nodded silently, moving forwards again. Sela shivered, her arrogant mask slipping. Wait! Wait, Ill talk! Ill talk! The Iconians cant travel through time! Their brains are saturated with chroniton particles, which lets them navigate their gateways perfectly, but they cant travel through time without losing their memories! They have to stay in the here and now! I have a set of gate coordinates, for the sphere theyre using to marshal an invasion force, but Tariss gateway is nonfunctional and I need one that works to get into the sphere!
Shes telling the truth, growled Daysnur. We can use Hakeevs gateway in the Nopada system. Tal Shiar forces might be there, its outside our space.
Good idea. Ill head to the Bridge and set a course; you deal with this. She gestured angrily towards Sela. First, with me.
You really are stupid, arent you? asked the Lethean as he briskly hauled Sela to her feet and snapped on some plasticuffs. The smugly superior attitude, the arrogance even before you tried to play tough, you were in an incredibly weak bargaining position, not to mention making the trained soldiers, mercenaries, and JemHadar all around you extremely annoyed. Why the f*ck would you keep going?
Im the Empress! growled Sela, struggling in his grip, but Daysnur stabbed into her motor cortex and the woman went limp with a gasp of pain. I deserve their loyalty. It is my right as Empress to behave as I choose, and
You really know jack sh*t about running a country, dont you? muttered Daysnur. The greatest things youve accomplished were failing to bring the House of Duras to power, failing to sabotage the Federation flagship, failing to hold an Empire together, failing to use subspace weapons on Vulcan, and failing to stop a band of loosely-affiliated rebel groups from taking down said Empire. Sure, you escaped an Iconian prison, after months. But the Iconians are demonstrably arrogant to the point of stupidity, just look at the Supreme High Whatsit who attacked QonoS early this year. Frankly, everything youve done so far is a marginal success at best.
Sela was intolerable all the way to the Brig.
***
You have the intel? asked Dtrel.
Yes, sir, said Daysnur. Had to rip some of it out of her, but I can work the gates and I know the coordinates. I also have eighteen lists of what she wants to do to me; shes good at mental defense, but Im better.
Good. Oh, Sickbay just called. Turns out that Trill had a neural parasite on her spine.
What?
That was my reaction, too. Looks like the Iconians wanted Sela silenced before we could get the intel; fortunately, they failed. Were headed to the Nopada system with Imperial backup; the defectors are in custody.
Fleet is in formation, confirmed Zel from xir station. Imperial warbirds Vermithrax and Revenge of Romulus are synched to our TacNet.
Go.
Space warped, and the warbirds leaped away at a considerable exponent of the speed of light.
***
Approaching the Nopada system, High Admiral, reported Zel from xir station.
Weapons running hot, rumbled Omektikallan. Plasma projectile loaded and ready.
Reading one Dderidex-class warbird in orbit of Nopada Prime, coming back as IRW Sword Eagle. Tal Shiar, sir
Zel, I want you to drop us out niiiice and easy, maintain cloak. Dtrel to the fleet, maintain cloak and surround the TalShiar ataen. Dtrels voice was taut, but she was under control. Enriov tAimne, I want the Shiar vessels to flank them, were slowing to provide an initial strike and a distraction. Kadel, pull around with them and engage at your leisure.
Detecting three more warbirds, one Dderidex-class, two Dhelan-class, on the other side of the system, said Mintakallan, tail swishing. Pasting it to the TacNet.
Dropping out of warp, maintaining cloak, said Zel.
Space shifted and bent, and the warbird streaked back into normal space at a considerable fraction of the speed of light, a planet appearing and rapidly approaching on the viewscreen as Zel throttled back hard, but not too hard. Sword Eagle is moving, they mustve seen the tachyon bust, warned the Ferasan.
The ship came onto the viewscreen, Zel slowing but aiming for an intentional overshot.
Decloak and fire everything, snapped Dtrel.
The warbird rippled out of cloak, corrosive plasma bolts shrieking out of the cannon ports, plasma projectiles roaring from their tubes at a considerable fraction of the speed of light, and whipped past the TalShiar vessel fast enough and close enough for the two ships shields to overlap and waver momentarily. Sword Eagle reeled as Kholhr veered off and pulled around for another attack run, shields redistributing as fires burned all along the massive warbirds starboard hull. Return fire lashed out, and Kholhrs red alert sirens blared.
Kadel, now!
Temer rippled out of space on the port side of the battleship, lilac-colored polaron beams and cannon pulses striking out and ripping into the larger warbirds shields, which wavered and died moments before a pair of high-yield quantum torpedoes slammed into Sword Eagles hull; the ensuing explosion of thoron radiation ripped a hole in the battlecruisers side.
The stricken warbird fired a torpedo volley, catching Temer on its belly as it wheeled off, but Kholhr fired again, cannons ripping apart the meager shreds of shields that remained and torpedoes slamming into the hull.
Sword Eagle detonated and imploded in a ball of fire.
They got out a distress signal! warned Mintakallan. Warbirds inbound!
Cloak us, now! Kadel, do the same!
Another TalShiar battlecruiser flanked by a pair of Dhelan-class escort warbirds dropped out of warp, cloak down. Dtrel looked to Mintakallan, who shook his head; no telltale tachyon bursts that would indicate a cloaked ship dropping out of warp.
Open fire.
The Imperial cruiser Vermithrax materialized directly behind one of the escorts, plasma torpedoes and caustic plasma beams lancing out into the smaller warbirds relatively undefended rear arc. The other Imperial warbird, a broad-winged Mogai-class, opened fire with its cannons into the cruisers rear arc; return fire slammed into its shields.
Kadel, get the other escort! Vermithrax, we are moving to assist. Zel, attack pattern Haakona Four!
Locked and loaded, confirmed the Breen. Commencing attack pattern...Opening fire!
Kholhr cloaked, dove sideways and down, and tore upwards out of its cloak below the stricken escort, blasting through it with a torpedo volley and nimbly dodging the ensuing shockwave.
Bring us about for an attack run on that cruiser!
Kholhrs relatively meagre aft weapons fired again as it wheeled in space, inflicting light damage on the cruisers shields as the sirens blared. Plasma beams lanced out, and the Tvaro-class ships shields flared.
Fire again!
The warbird thrummed again as Omektikallan fired another volley from the cannons and launched another set of torpedoes. The cruisers shields are failing, sir!
Vermithrax, take them down!
The Imperial warbird spat green fire from its beam arrays, and the TalShiar vessel reeled, repositioning as the Mogai-class broke off. The TalShiar Dhelan-class tried to pursue, but Temer decloaked and fired all weapons, searing apart the escorts rear shields and sending two quantum torpedoes into its engines. The escort imploded.
Bring us about for an attack run, Zel, you know the drill.
Singularity fully charged, the Breen acknowledged. Weapons hot.
Three two one jump us!
As the TalShiar cruiser veered to avoid the apparently-suicidal escort, Kholhr blasted forwards in a temporary hole in space-time. The collapsing singularity left behind tore at the larger ships superstructure, while Kholhr wheeled in space, bringing its formidable cannons to bear.
Fire!
The plasma cannons blazed, and the Dderidexs shields broke, fires springing into life all along its hull.
Torpedoes!
Vermithrax pulled away as Omektikallan fired, the torpedoes slamming into the TalShiar warbirds hull. The warbirds superstructure finally gave in, and the singularity core imploded in a wave of fire and dust.
Regroup, get me a scan of the surface. Is Hakeevs base still occupied?
Reading Romulan lifesigns on the planet, reported Mintakallan. The gateway is not active, yet.
I can use the gateway, noted Daysnur. Sela knew a lot more than I expected.
Good. You, Omek, and JohKghan with me. Zel, coordinate the assault teams, I want one here and one here. Give the Imperials a chance, they can run one of the teams. Lets move!
***
Oh for the love of thrummed Mtara, watching the space battle via the feed from Hakeevs old snare satellite, Why the argh. Stupid Empire, stupid Inevitable Fate moron, stupid damn species
She looked down at her report. It contained about three sentences of actual useful information, and fifty sentences of titles, acknowledgements, self-effacing sycophancy, and a paragraph describing the magnificence of the superior for whose desk it was destined.
Not for the first time, Mtara wondered how the hell her people had gotten so much more advanced than the lesser races, anyway. Her immediate superior was a pretentious buffoon even by Black Caste standards (part of why he had been stationed as a Tertiary Subadjunct Deputy Shift Manager, a term that was a very fancy way of saying cushy job for an important dudes idiot kid, and left him nominally responsible for the re-conquest of the home galaxy), but even the more competent Iconians thought that walking into enemy headquarters, vaporizing a few of said enemys leaders, and making an arrogant speech in full view of the armed enemy army was a sound tactical strategy.
Of course, the Inevitable Fate moron previously mentioned, who was unfortunately Mtaras immediate superior, had been killed multiple times but always seemed to survive, through means that baffled not only his own limited intellect but also the greatest scientists in the entire Empire.
Which was not necessarily a good thing, given that Mtaras pretentious immediate superior thought that he was the universes gift to everything, even after multiple disintegrations.
Shed better go get the Heralds ready for the invasion. Damned servitors, damned pretentious boss, damn her own intelligence for making her SEE this travesty of an Empire for what it was.
***
Doors locked.
I have the key, said Daysnur. Nicked it off of Selas brain.
The doors slid open. Dtrel held up a hand for silence.
<Use turak hand-signs, were all fluent, yes?>
The rest of the team confirmed silently.
<Good. We send Omek in first, then me. Daysnur, observe my cranium, and if I start to slip you either knock me out or take control of my brain and get me the eternal nothingness out of there.>
<We might need to teach you some new phrases,> signed JohKghan. <And I think that you missigned eternal nothingness there. Its eternal nothingness, not obscure coitus.>
<On my list. How good is that shroud armor of yours?>
<Good enough to stand behind a Hirogen ongbûrz in ambush without being seen.>
<Good. You cover me. Put up your HUDs. Move out.>
Omektikallan shrouded, moving silently down the corridor. Daysnur signed off rapidly.
<Six men, two women. Four men in the mess hall on the right, the rest in the armory on the left. Theyre spread out, no chance at a trap shot.>
<We will hunt them,> signed the turak, and she buzzed up her shroud armor.
Dtrel gave the two warriors the time she thought they needed to get into position, and nodded to Daysnur. Then she walked quietly down the hall, blinking in a specific pattern to activate her HUDs remote targeting systems. It took two tries--new-fangled tech--but it worked.
Dtrel switched it off, squeezed her Federation-made projectile rifle, and ducked around the corner into the mess hall, squeezing off a shot that took one of the TalShiar soldiers in the head. The man dropped without even a scream.
Man down! Return fire! ReturnAAAHhhH!! The second soldier took a kartakin to the back. The other two turned at his scream, but the First was already shrouding and rolling to the side, and their desperate disruptor shots went wide.
Dtrel popped up from behind a table and took the third man in the back of the head with a frag round. The result was unpleasantso much so that the last soldier doubled over and threw up instantly at the sight, which got his neck swiftly broken by the JemHadar.
Hey! shouted one of the women from the armory, stepping out into the hallway. Whats gah!
Daysnur shot the woman in the chest with his Counter-Command rifle, and she crumpled.
Enemy contact! Enemy AaaAAhhh!! One of the remaining men screamed in agony as a spot of unremarkable wall grew a muscular tail, burly arms, and a set of massive fangs. His scream choked off into a gurgle as JohKghans fangs buried themselves in his throat.
The remaining soldiers turned, but the turak was fast and strong, swiftly moving the dying Romulans body to cover herself. The first two shots burned through the dying mans back, killing him instantly.
Daysnur sprinted down to the second door alongside Dtrel, and the remaining Romulans had enough time to turn at the sound of pounding feet before they died.
<Secure the area,> signaled Dtrel. <JohKghan, leave it to rot. It does not deserve Ungkat.>
The turak looked up, a little affronted at the presumption, but shed been given the run-down, she knew Dtrel and she knew the TalShiar.
No more minds, reported Daysnur. Safe to talk.
Move in. Hakeevs office?
Ahead. I have the codes.
Good. Move, well cover you.
Yessir. Youre doing very well, sir.
Thank you, ereiRiov.
Daysnur made a beeline for a console, smirking victoriously as it booted up.
Right. Lets see Files generalized evil, you dont need to see this, sir. Logs videos Goddess, he has that? What a sick TRIBBLE
What is it?
Unpleasant videos of unpleasant things, marked Meriks Art. Our boy was a collector. Here we go, Secret door controls. I think that this is important
He tapped the console, and something rumbled.
Omek, check that!
There is a passage, rumbled the JemHadar, and a gateway!
Good. Move, people!
Ill boot up the gateway and set the destination, said Daysnur. But first
He pulled out his gun and shot the console, which exploded.
F*ck intel, let the world forget Hakeev. As fast as f*cking possible.
***
As soon as First Omektikallan stepped through the gate, he felt the wrong-ness.
<You hunt-ready?> signed JohKghan.
Yes, growled Omek softly, But this place this place is not right. It is a thing of Ferenginar.
I feel it too, hissed Daysnur. Lots of minds, all so alien I dont feel comfortable touching them.
Move out, said Dtrel quietly. Weapons hot. Use as little tech as possible other than stealth.
They made their way cautiously but swiftly up the Iconian ramp, Omek shrouded and JohKghan under her armors stealth. The Romulan and Lethean followed close behind as they approached the doorway to the next room; Dtrel flattened herself against the wall and carefully peered out.
<Ahead,> signed Dtrel. <One woman, my kind by sight. Take her quietly.>
Omektikallan moved forwards silently, but as he stepped over the threshold into the room, the floor buckled slightly under his foot. There was a blare of alarm, and the Romulan ahead turned.
What snarled Taris, shocked. No! I need more time! She hit a button, and two pairs of Solanae flying drones hummed to life. Deal with them! Ive almost succeeded!
Damn it, snarled Dtrel. Eliminate them, quickly!
A high-density disruptor pulse from Daysnurs rifle holed one of the drones as Dtrel rolled onto her back, plugging one of the drones with a frag round. The third drone fell to the ground under the weight of a coldly efficient turak hunter, and JohKghans spear pierced it once, twice, three times.
The fourth drone shot an antiproton pulse at Dtrel, but the Rihanha rolled sideways with lightning speed, and Omektikallans polaron gun blasted the drone out of the air.
Move! EreiRiov, hack one of those consoles and mine every bit of intel you can get!
Already on it, sir.
The other two stood watch while Daysnur shouldered his rifle and plugged a computer spike into one of the Iconian computers.
***
You LET THEM IN???
Mtara was fuming with rage. Her superior laughed dismissively and stroked his chitinous mustachio. Mtara wanted to remove it and shove it down his throat.
Of course I allowed the puny servitors in! How better to show them the magnificence of my supreme glory and invincible fleet?
But what if they have weapons, or something that can sabotage the fleet or the sphere? Are you completely brain-dead???
Have care how you speak! I am inevitably fated for greatness!
Mtara thrummed angrily. TRIBBLE this. You get back to the servitors, I have to get the fleet briefed. Servitor 19762!
Yea, Mistress? hissed a multi-eyed Herald, groveling before Mtara. Inwardly, she sighed.
WIth me. I have a plan that must be put into action.
The best part about this plan was that either way, she won. Either she got the Empire and did as she pleased or the Empire got a boot up its rear and started using actual common sense.
***
Taris! called Dtrel. Theres nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. Its over!
No! growled the older Rihanha, dangerously close to the edge of the Iconian balcony. The Iconians will answer me! They have to!
They dont want to, Taris, growled Dtrel, stepping slowly closer. They destroyed our homeworld on purpose. They cant travel through time becauseDaysnur, what was the technobabble you said stopped Iconians from time-travelling?
Their bodies and nervous systems are dependent upon specifically-aligned chroniton particles, its what lets them orient through their gateways. They cant travel through time in conventional ways because itd destroy their minds.
Right. That. Let me put it to you straight; that Iconian fleet? The one thats blocking out the sun, thats marshaled in this sphere that just jumped from the Andromeda galaxy? Its not for rebuilding the Shiar, let me tell you that. It has one purpose: To destroy every civilization in the Alpha Quadrant.
But the Iconians sobbed Taris. If I pray to them, if I ask them the right way, they can fix it! They will undo Hobus, I know they will!
Dtrel looked at the broken woman before her, and sighed.
Daysnur?
Taris choked, froze, and collapsed forwards. Dtrel darted forwards and pulled her away from the edge.
She intact?
Give her a second or two, sir.
Taris pushed herself up, gasping for breath. Please Just give me one chance! I can bring back our world, I can bring back the people who died
If you dont come with us now you wont even have that chance!
Further debate was cut off by a massive, malevolent Iconian ship rising from beyond the balcony with a malevolent thrum.
Daysnur, who thanks to mining Sela for intel knew Iconian runes, translated the ships inscription as Inevitable Wrath of the Invincible Sword of Supreme High Lord Inevitably-Fated-for-Greatness.
I SEE YOU! thrummed the massively-amplified voice of an Iconian.
RUN! screamed Dtrel.
Even Taris pulled herself to her feet and ran.
***
They made it ten feet through the doors before the complications arrived.
An Iconian gateway opened in mid-air, and a tall, slender form stepped out.
It was black as the deepest night of interstellar space, with corsucating streamers of electricity flowing through its body instead of blood. A piece of chitin, thin and mustachio-like, adorned its large, tapering head.
The Iconian stepped out of its gateway, observed the humanoids diving for cover, and laughed.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!!! YOU ARE NO MATCH FOR THE UNSTOPPABLE POWER OF SUPREME HIGH LORD INEVITABLY-FATED-FOR-GREATNESS!!!! Look upon me, and tremble! For I shall bring down upon you a world of pain, the likes of which you have never
Mighty one!
Inevitably-Fated-for-Greatness stopped. WHO DARES a servitor? Hah! A puny lesser that knows its pathetic place! Speak, lowly worm!
Mighty one, I beg of you but one small favor, said Taris, prostrating herself before the Iconian.
Speak, servitor, and pray that Supreme High Lord Inevitably-Fated-for-Greatness is in a mood to grant your insignificant desires.
O Mighty One, I pray to thee, and do humbly request that you go back in time, and stop Hakeev from causing the Hobus event, so that our homeworld may be
The Iconian started laughing again. Ahahahahahahahahaaa!!!!! Puny servitor! You do not understand; we INTENDED for your planet to burn! AHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!! All of your pathetic species will kneel before my unstoppable power, for my glorious destiny shall be fulfilled over your trampled bodies, and I shall
He paused as another eye-searing tear in reality opened, and another, bluish-black Iconian with a more feminine-looking body emerged.
Oh, what do you want NOW, One-Word-Name? Every syllable dripped with condescension and arrogance.
Why dont you just vaporize the damn servitors? asked the other Iconian. You have nigh-divine power, USE IT already! Creators before us, how does the Empire even run?
HA!! Foolish one, you cannot understand what it means to be Iconian! To revel in the glory of unbeatable power, to know that a glorious fate is a foregone conclusion, to know that these puny servitors cannot oppose us in any way! Why would I destroy them when I can still describe my perfection to them?
The other Iconian groan-thrummed. And youre just a Tertiary Subadjunct Deputy Shift Manager. Right. I suppose nows as good a time as anyIm launching a coup, and since Im apparently the only person in the entire Iconian Empire with a functioning brain, you idiots are going to be too busy describing how great you are to stop me. And then I will destroy the servitor scum quickly and judiciouslylike so. The second Iconian stuck out its hand, and Taris vaporized without even a scream.
Supreme High Lord Inevitably-Fated-for-Greatness looked like his head was about to explode, apoplectic with rage. HOW DARE YOU???? I hadnt finished describing my unbelievable glory to
About sixteen disruptor and polaron bolts blew his head into fragments as a frag round from a TR-116 projectile rifle embedded itself in the second Iconians abdomen. The monster screamed, and Dtrel fired again, this time puncturing the exoskeleton of the Iconians head.
The monster crumpled.
Incendiary! barked the Rihanha, and Omektikallan threw with pinpoint accuracy, a plasma grenade flying out and igniting the center of the room.
Hose it!
Disruptor and polaron fire seared out, sterilizing the area containing the Iconians bodies. Just in case.
Move! Go for the gate!
Sir, thats at least the second time youve killed that Iconian! shouted Zel as they bolted.
I know! Someone needs to teach that hlai-f*cking son of a mogai how to f*cking die already!
First Omektikallan was not a man who laughed often, but even he had to suppress a snicker.
Get to the gate! Jump, jump!
Something tall, multi-eyed, and roaring with rage emerged from an Iconian gateway behind them; Dtrel shot it in the head. It didnt drop.
GO!! Go, go, go, go, go!
Daysnur and JohKghan leapt first, the turaks powerful legs taking her compact form into the air with incredible speed and strength. Dtrel and Omektikallan followed, side by side.
Behind them, the Herald roared again with rage and fired a bolt from its staff, but too lateRihanha and JemHadar hit the open gate and passed through.
***
Fvillhu? asked Velals secretary. The former general, now Praetor, looked up from his paperwork. My apologies, Fvillhu, but RahaenEnriov Dtrel is here to see youwith Sela.
Send her in, said Velal, straightening and putting his stylus down.
Fvillhu Velal iRatleihfi, said Dtrel, entering with a slight bow. I bring you the traitor Sela, in accordance with the Khitomer Treaty. I turn her over to your custody; she is yours to deal with as you will. Behind her, a Nausicaan and a JemHadar half-dragged the protesting former Empress through Velals simple plastic-and-metal doors, forcing her down into a chair.
Ah, Velal replied, smiling grimly. Thank you, RahaenEnriov. Did she talk?
I have a mindhound. Hes telling your people everything he mined as we speak.
How dare you treat me like this! spat Sela. Velal, I demand that you have this b*tch and her thugs executed for their impudence!
I will not, growled Velal. I worked long and hardopposite Dtrel here, I might add Dtrel grimaced ruefully to achieve peace with the Krehddhokh molRihan and keep the Shiar intact. Im not going to jeopardise it for a traitorous incompetent with a chronic compulsion to stab others in the back. Centurion! Cuff her.
A burly Rihanha guard nodded, stepping forward to shackle Sela to the chair. The Nausicaan and JemHadar stepped back at a nod from Dtrel. Sela snarled with outrage and tried fruitlessly to break free.
How dare you! I am not some common criminal! I am
Shut up, traitor. Dtrel, thank you for bringing her to me; I assure you that she will be punished appropriately for the crime of high treason.
You cant do this! I am your Empress!
Silence, traitress! Velal thundered. I put you on your throne because I thought you a better option than Taris, and I regretted that choice for years as I watched you destroy the Shiar for your own vanity! He visibly struggled to regain his composure, gripping the PADD so hard the screen cracked. Finally he gritted out, Your name will be thrice written and thrice burned, and you will be sent to the firing squad. A more merciful death than you deserve for the soldiers you wasted at Thaei, both times, not to mention your incompetent interference in the Khelloannmhrahel civil war, your so-called leadership causing six systems to rebel and secede in the last full year of your rule alone, and last but far from least the warbird crews I must now cashier because I can no longer trust them. Guards, take her away! And gag her as well. I am sick and tired of hearing her poisoned tongue.
Sela protested until one of the guards clapped her hand over the former Empresss mouth and she was dragged out of the room.
Of all the arrogant, self-centered grumbled Velal. Give me the Deihuits incessant bickering any day actually, scratch that, I think the Deihuits bickering is on the same level of irritation. Thank you for your assistance, RahaenEnriov.
I merely did as our treaty commanded me to, said Dtrel with a shrug. I will return to molRihan now that our business is completed, but please ensure that Ambassador trEthian witnesses the execution himself, as prescribed under Article Ten.
Of course, Velal replied courteously. Good day, RahaenEnriov.
Good day, Fvillhu. Kholhr, three to beam up.
Authors note:
So here we see an intelligent Iconian. Unfortunately for the Iconians, she gets killed because she loses patience with her idiot boss.
SHLIFFG is notably hammy and pretentious even for an Iconianthink Anubis or Apophis, from SG-1, as opposed to most Iconians (think random Goauld) or Mtara (think Baal). Hes the scion of a really important Iconian, who is in the relatively lowly position of supreme commander of the invasion force mostly because itd be an insult to his parents for him to be anything less; and like mildly incompetent middle managers of every administration ever, he thinks hes the universes gift to the universe.
Dtrel is at the top of her game in this, stable, controlled, and at that perfect balance of medication where everythings going smoothly. Which lets us see her Command and Commando specs in action.
I really didnt like having to ally with Sela, as she proved herself to be an arrogant, borderline Mary-Sue, selfish, nasty hypocrite on top of being a tyrannical despot. Since the only reason shes still around is her intel, and Dtrels crew contains at least one telepath whos trained for hunting Undine infiltrators (and once soloed an Undine in a psychic duel and WON), the logically preferable option was to have Daysnur mine her for intel.
On top of that, in the continuity that me and starswordc write in, the Empire is led by Praetor Velal after Selas disappearance and he isnt going to be happy about her coming back. Especially since a lot of her actions can be considered treason. He also has to order the executions of the warbird commanders who went over to Sela (treason), and has to force their crews into early retirement (dereliction of duty for not disobeying orders to commit treason). Hes justifiably angry about this.
There are a couple of Easter Eggs in here for another project that starswordc and I are working on, if you know where to look.
I hope that you enjoyed, and do please leave comments and feedback (positive or negative).
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