When's next mission out?
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Terra (MU)
Emperor Valdez was sat in his office studying strategic reports, Veel'Riz had sent the rest of Marie back to Terra and she was fully buried and laid to rest in secret. "Closure for Marie" Valdez privately noted. "It's the way she would want it, she's gone and you will not use any temporal trickery to bring her back" said Trianna entering the room. "I won't, she's in peace" answered Valdez sighing.
"Good, no more retaliations" replied Trianna forcefully. "Return his dead to him and the armor from the 300 prisoners you killed. It's only fair" answered Valdez. Trianna obeyed and ordered all recoverable RSU dead to be returned back to Veel'Riz, across the empire Trianna's orders were obeyed and the RSU dead sent back to Veel'Riz as a sign of good faith. Valdez then offered an invitation for talks to Veel'Riz to be held over subspace.
"Mother read you letter and she approved of it's structure, she nearly gave you an ultimatum. This feud or your family and you chose your family" said Trianna. Valdez picked up a family photo and shed a tear, "Trianna, reality hurts" he said afterwards. "I know, when was the last time you slept?" asked Trianna. "36 hours ago" answered Valdez refilling his coffee cup. "The staff told me you ordered a alcohol ban throughout the place, I approve now go and get some sleep before I get mother to sedate you" replied Trianna.
"Yes ma'am" answered Valdez to which Trianna thought "at least there is some part of dad still in there" and she escorted Valdez to his chambers. "See you in eight hours" said Trianna and she posted the Imperial guard to the corridor outside. "Trianna, good girl. It takes a lot to get through to your father, I must commend you on your persistence" said Teanna to Trianna as she started her lessons on how to run a household.
Post edited by theraven2378 on
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Scary amount of tractor beams in the first part. Just saying, really annoying to clear for long
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Romulan aristocracy ships in the space brawl at the end. Lots of rommie ships
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
my fault for bringing an Excelsior lol plus I've not played it in a while.
.................................................................................................................
Terra three months later (MU)
Emperor Valdez and Trianna had both decided to attend to Marie's grave and changed the white orchids in the water pot. "Marie, your mother is nearly due. We all miss you greatly" said Valdez touching the grave. "Marie, it's torn us up inside. Mom and dad have both withdrawn from public life, we're struggling to keep the family together" added Trianna. "What would you do Marie?" asked Valdez trying not to lose control.
"Sir, ma'am pardon me for the interruption but the empress has been rushed into the infirmary. Your daughter is on the way" said Valdez's guard. "Marie, we'll visit again in a few days. Mom's delivering your baby sister as we speak, when we visit again we'll tell you about your baby sister" said Trianna as she put Marie's favorite jacket onto the grave stone. "Never gets easy" said Valdez as he and Trianna were escorted to the palace infirmary.
Both arrived and immediately Teanna grabbed Valdez's hand and squeezed tightly hurling a torrent of unlady like language, "Trianna, you're not off the hook" Teanna said and made sure Trianna helped by bringing everything the doctors and midwives asked for. 26 hours later, it was over with Valdez sighing a sign of relief much to Trianna's amusement. "Your father was like that with you Trianna" said Teanna holding baby Maria Valdez.
"She's perfect" said Valdez smiling for the first time since Marie died. "Hey little sis" said Trianna smiling with tears of joy. Valdez took a seat and held Maria for the first time, ever the proud father he was the happiest he had been for a while. "Nathan, Maria will be given the best chance at life. Marie would want us to be united and we will honor Marie's memory by being a family" Teanna told both Valdez and Trianna. "We will" chorused Valdez and Trianna as Trianna held Maria.
On Betazed, Papela got the news and she sent her congratulations to the family, "Thank you Papela, any pointers?" asked Valdez over the screen. "Teach her discipline as early as possible, I'm tough on my girls for a reason and that's to keep them out of trouble" answered Papela. Valdez smiled and promised Papela that Maria would be raised on discipline and respect. Trianna had handed Maria back to Teanna as the doctor told them Teanna needed to rest. Papela got back to work after advising Valdez to be the best father he could be.
"Dad, get used to sleepless nights" joked Trianna to which Valdez answered "you're going to help, you've got to be big sister and no corrupting her with your idea of games." "Deal" replied Trianna smiling.
Post edited by theraven2378 on
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Trianna had been called to Heath's ready room, "Trianna, you've been requested by name" said Heath after telling Trianna to sit down. Trianna put her walking stick against the table as a call came from an unexpected source. "Miss Trianna Valdez, my father requests an audience with you and your captain, we need your help in mediating a blood feud" said Crown Princess Trianna over the channel. "Computer hold channel" ordered Heath before asking Trianna why she was requested.
"No idea, let's see what my counterpart has to say" answered Trianna. "Computer, resume" ordered Heath. "What's happened?" asked Trianna to her counterpart. "You know Veel'Riz, he's alive" answered Trianna's mirror. "He's dead last time I heard, what's he done?" asked Trianna. "He murdered Marie and tried to frame the Federation for it. We're sending the data now, the Terran Empire requests Federation help in preventing more needless bloodshed" answered Trianna's mirror. "You want me to try and convince Veel'Riz to stand down and return to his correct reality" replied Trianna. "Exactly but if you cannot convince him, the mad dog must be put down" answered Trianna's mirror.
"Why Los Lobos?" asked Heath. "My father knows Captain Heath, they may have different opinions but he respects her and she is the only Federation captain my father will trust. The U.S.S. Los Lobos crew given their experience with the empire would be the ideal mediators, you have been given an invitation to come to the palace on Terra but you will be escorted by Grand Admiral Solat's fleet to Terra for your own protection. We would prefer it if your father came as well, the prime minister needs to speak to him about a peace treaty proposal" answered Trianna's mirror.
"A trap?" asked Heath to Trianna but Trianna's mirror answered Heath's question with "no trap, this is a diplomatic mission but your crew will stay onboard Los Lobos to avoid any mishaps with the Terran population. My father awaits your response. Palace out" and the screen went blank. "The Terran Empire asking for Federation mediation, this is unexpected. How bad is this blood feud?" asked Heath afterwards. "It's deeply personal, he blames the emperor for his son's death in 2409 and is bent on destroying the empire, the fact the emperor acted as the bigger man after Crown princess Marie's murder and opened a peace dialogue is a change" answered Trianna.
"How close did his stunt come to breaking the armistice?" asked Heath. "Nearly but calmer minds have prevailed" answered Trianna. Heath read the data and passed it to Trianna to look over, "Veel'Riz is an old friend of my family, if I cannot convince him to stand down I may have to kill him to prevent him from hurting others but it's a last resort" said Trianna. "Thank you Trianna, up front and brutally honest as always" replied Heath, Heath then noticed a wedding ring on Trianna's wedding finger and asked "when did you get married?" "On my last shore leave, me and Ablim have been seeing each other for nearly four months and well young love took over and we had a private Human ceremony and dad gave me away as a human tradition" answered Trianna smiling. "You've moved on, that is a good thing. I won't keep you and your new husband apart for long Mrs Zolat" replied Heath smiling. "I've kept my family name, I'm a Valdez and proud" answered Trianna with a smile.
Heath dismissed Trianna and studied the data as Trianna picked up her walking stick and left the room. On Terra, Emperor Valdez got a report of Bajoran priests inciting the people. His response was swift, he ordered in Bajoran troops and they put down the riots with all priests arrested and deported to separate work camps on Nimbus III. All temples were then shut down and Bajor put inder military occupation.
Post edited by theraven2378 on
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
"Interesting situation," Admiral Janeway stated on screen. "What do you plan to do?" "Given how they've treated the Cardassians, Klingons, and Bajorans, of which there are many of all groups on board in the past I'm certainly not flying in to the heart of that genocidal mad man's Empire. If something went wrong we'd be trapped there. Besides I doubt that Veel'Riz would come there anyway." "True. So what do you suggest?" "Find some neutral territory. One ship each. We provide security." The Admiral thought for a moment. "If it goes wrong, we'll be blamed." "They'll blame us no matter what. We're everyone's scapegoat." "True. Alright, send your proposal. I'll contact our Allies and see what we can do about providing security. " "Thank you ma'am." "One more thing. Lt. Valdez, she is to be under guard constantly. If she attempts to carry out her threat of killing Veel'Riz, she is to be dealt with. We are Starfleet, we do not take sides in the form of assassination. If she can't remember that, lock her up until she does." "Yes ma'am." "Janeway out."
"Prepare my escort fleet, let's not make the same mistake twice" ordered Valdez as he boarded his personal flagship the I.S.S. Marie. The Marie was the prototype based on the Andromeda class battleship. He ordered his fleet to the neutral zone. Meanwhile the prime Trianna had her father contact Soreth of the RSU who came to the neutral zone in her Scimitar. "Increase protection for Sol" ordered Valdez with the palace guard tripled and the fleet garrison increased to 1500 ships.
"They'll want to scan us, they'll know about the temporal weapon in our deflector" noted Trianna to the emperor. "I know, we may have taken apart one weapon but the species we've erased have been erased from the computer memories. Increase the garrison for Bajor, enslave the entire population and pull down all temples. Their religion is now illegal to practice" answered Valdez. "Orders sent through, let's see how they like to live as slaves with no rights" replied Trianna smiling.
The escort fleet entered the neutral zone and took position, Valdez sent the signal through the rift and awaited Heath's response.
U.S.S. Los Lobos (Prime)
"What do you know, he came in person" said Trianna getting a scan of the I.S.S. Marie. Her face then changed to a worried look when she read the scan to Heath. "30 Antiproton arrays, 12 chroniton launchers, 20 Antiproton beam banks with a Krenim temporal weapon in the deflector. She's got temporal shielding as well and that's standard throughout the emperor's personal fleet." "She's a monster, we don't even have that level of firepower" noted Heath. "That weapon may have been used to commit temporal genocide on species he does not allow to live" answered Trianna concerned.
"Noted, Soreth send your signal into the rift and make sure Veel'Riz gets it" said Heath through the com panel. Soreth sent the signal and Veel'Riz responded by bringing a Voth City ship through into Federation space. "Emperor Valdez brought the Marie through on her own and keeping a weapon lock on the city ship opened a channel to Heath. "Let's get to business" he said over the channel. "How about you both power down your weapons first?" asked Heath. Soreth ordered Veel'Riz to stand down and the Voth city ship powered down her weapons as the Marie powered down her weapons.
Valdez then beamed a box over to the Voth ship, it was Veel'Riz's son in a dismembered state, Trianna had sure to make him unrecognizable to anything apart from a DNA scan. Trianna then turned her attention to Heath, "Captain Heath, Veel'Riz is suffering from temporal psychosis. My sister was not supposed to die for another 80 years, Lt Valdez, we've both experienced loss. It makes people do crazy things, father has not taken this well which could explain his actions towards Bajor" said Trianna over the view screen. "Agreed, I'll try and convince him not to return to the mirror. This vendetta is over" replied the prime Trianna.
"Agreed, mother nearly gave father the ultimatum of it's this feud or his family. Father chose his family" answered Trianna's mirror. Heath then put Veel'Riz through on the view screen. "Veel'Riz, this is petty. You lost your son so you killed the emperor's daughter, the problem with a blood feud is it spirals out of control to the point that innocents get caught in the middle of it, emperor is wiping out entire species honorable?" said Trianna to both the emperor and Veel'Riz. "At least your son got a warrior's death, you should have given Marie a warrior's death at least. Those species would have caused the empire's collapse, they had to be cleansed" answered Valdez to both Veel'Riz and Prime Trianna.
"History will put you up there with Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot and Khan. They were monsters responsible for the deaths of millions" replied Trianna. "That man uses genocide as a weapon, he nearly wiped my people out" said Veel'Riz. "Then you should have surrendered to save your people that pain" replied Valdez. "Both of of you, I don't care who started it, it ends today here and now" answered Trianna to both as Soreth beamed Veel'Riz onto her ship into a holding cell. "Emperor, you will rescind your orders and reopen the Bajoran temples and release the priests you deported, you will also stop the enslavement of Bajorans" said Trianna. "Captain Heath, do you agree with that assessment?" asked Valdez over the view screen, Heath answered "I do, you cannot punish an entire people for the actions of a minority." "Fine, orders have been sent. Bajor will be under military occupation but the temple will reopen but the priests can only teach what the empire approves" replied Valdez.
"I need to speak with my father's counterpart, we've got a peace treaty to sign" said Trianna over the view screen. "I agree" said Prime Valdez who had sat back and listened carefully. "Antares Station, two hours" Heath replied. "You remind me so much of Marie with that walking stick" said Mirror Trianna over the view screen. "Young lady, no ideas about them shorts" said Prime Valdez. Mirror Trianna laughed and said "I guess father is the the same in both universe on modesty."
Post edited by theraven2378 on
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Mirror Trianna was brought onboard the ship but under heavy guard. In Heath's ready room, Both Triannas were briefing Heath on the situation. "Captain Heath, I suggest keeping my father and Veel'Riz apart at all times otherwise there could be as the humans say fireworks" said Mirror Trianna, Prime Trianna was in agreement. "I concur, this treaty could be the start of better relations. Marie set the groundwork so let's finish the job she started." Heath looked over the treaty before saying to Mirror Trianna "there's a third party who needs to sign."
"The Romulan Star Union will also sign the treaty, this war must end" Mirror Trianna replied. "OK, let's get this done" answered Heath. On the station all parties were assembled to sign the treaty with Mirror Valdez and Veel'Riz kept separated by Starfleet security. Veel'Riz pulled out a knife and lunged at Mirror Valdez but Prime Trianna took the blade in her shoulder by getting in the way. Veel'Riz was then wrestled to the floor by Prime Valdez and then cuffed by security. "Valdez to I.S.S. Marie, get a medical team here. We've got a casualty, Captain Heath, what the Lt did was an act of honor. We won't forget that" said Mirror Valdez helping Prime Trianna up.
As Prime Trianna was being treated by Mirror Valdez's personal doctor, Mirror Valdez spoke to Captain Heath. "It's not fatal, you'll recover" said the doctor to Prime Trianna. "An amazing young woman, she took the blade meant for me. She's made me think about my actions of late" said Mirror Valdez to Captain Heath. "Thank you for treating her" said Prime Valdez to his mirror. "Not a problem" answered Mirror Valdez
"We have a request to make, could we get a sample of your Trianna's DNA?" asked Soreth. "Why?" asked Prime Valdez. "Marie was not supposed to die, we're going to clone her with none of the bad influences and make sure all trace of her death is removed" answered Soreth. "Cloning is illegal and unethical" replied Prime Valdez. "It'll correct the timeline to a point" answered Soreth. "I want to see the procedure to make sure we get Marie back as she was, you may have to make the human part more dominant" replied Mirror Valdez. "I'll do it" said Prime Trianna as a doctor took a DNA sample and handed it to Soreth.
"No more genocide?" asked Heath and Mirror Valdez shook her hand and agreed. "All weapons of mass destruction will be disassembled, the empire is changing for the better. Bajor will have the military occupation lifted and I move that my counterpart be made ambassador to the Terran neutral zone" said Mirror Valdez. "I want that in writing" asked Heath and Mirror Valdez wrote a personal treaty on the spot and signed it before handing the PADD over to Heath.
"Some people don't know when enough is enough" said Mirror Trianna to her counterpart. "If our fathers can learn to agree so can we. You've got to send me the codes for those boots and shorts at least" answered Prime Trianna nursing her shoulder. "Something to surprise your husband with?" asked Mirror Trianna to which Prime Trianna answered "he he" followed by a sigh of pain. Both Triannas shook on that to Heath's surprise. "that's scary, they're both getting on" said Prime Valdez to his counterpart. "Your daughter is a credit to you" answered Mirror Valdez. "Let's get this treaty signed" replied Prime Valdez.
The Treaty of Antares was signed and the agreement was ratified immediately. "May this be the start of better relations between our universes" said Mirror Valdez as he shook Prime Valdez's hand. Veel'Riz was then beamed to Soreth's ship to be held until trial. "Lt Valdez, thank you for helping me re-find my humanity, I'll be a better person for my baby daughter. She will be brought up to be a good person without the bad. The empress will send her personal thanks to your captain for what you did" said Mirror Valdez shaking Prime Trianna's hand.
All three parties then went their separate ways and Mirror Valdez arrived at Terra safely. From now on, the empire and the Federation would learn to get along.
Post edited by theraven2378 on
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Side note: Mezza is back from graveyard shift sleep after nearly a week yeah!
Terra Prime, Imperial palace
Commander Zalnos entered the lowest level and approached the guard post. He took a glance at the armored form in front of him and hid his mirth. "Your part of the Royal guard meaning you know who I am when I'm from open the door or you ancestors might have an accident."
"Someone else will still bar you way-"
"And you'll never exist, open the door, now."
The security door opened and Marion vaporized the idiot who stalled him, before leaving his dagger on the desk and proceeded down the hall. He walked swiftly his steps sure, He kept glancing over his shoulder aware that the main door couldn't be opened from this side. Never the less he went on he'd gone through a holodeck simulation nearly two dozen times and even forced himself to count the number of steps he took- the last time he'd worn a second eye patch.
He didn't waste any time upon reaching the cell shooting the key pad, and wincing as the alarms went off before proceeding into the cell... He tossed the occupant a phaser. Zalnos nodded to Admiral Sito, "You ready to get out of here? And don't ask please."
"Energize!"
On board the Vendetta Marion immediaty contacted Victoria, ' We should get out of here ASAP! just let me send a system wide message first and get us to anywhere not here!"
"What are you-? the woman began to question.
"No time put me on!... This is the Vedetta to whom ever you are. I will learn your identity and then I'm going to come for you in the dead of the night- no one frames me and gets away with it!" He tuend to O'Brien, and nearly yelled. "Why aren't we making space tracks!? Go!"
"Whaaat?"
"Do you want to run the risk of Valdes sending Shade after us?"
The helmsman didn't even wait for orders before bring the transwarp drive online.
Emperor Valdez's office
Federation Temporal agent T'Ra sat in the comfortable chair eating the strange Earth food he'd developed a fondness for- personally he wish he could get the replicator recipe or this Gyro.... What was taking so long for- the door opened in the middle of a mouthful.
Why do I still play and put money into STO?
The Foundry, and my love of Star Trek
"I do apologize for for keeping you waiting, had parental duties to handle. Let's get to business" said Valdez to T'Ra. "History did always say you were up front, it's not wrong" said the temporal agent. "Indeed, I wish to see the process that will restore Marie but you'll have to convince the empress. If the clone is not perfect, the empress will know" replied Valdez. "That's why I need to speak with the empress as well, well explain the process to her. Marie was her daughter so I'll need the mother's permission to do this" answered T'Ra.
"Explain the process" said Teanna telepathically as she entered the room and passed Maria over to Valdez. "Let's be polite, verbal communication please" said Valdez and Teanna sat down and listened to what T'Ra had to say. "We need to find the exact moment Marie was killed, what ship was she travelling on?" asked T'Ra. "She was on the I.S.S. Wolfhound being escorted by a Hestia squadron to Terra, we lost contact at 1900 hours Stardate 2411/5. The next day we got a nasty delivery" answered Valdez. "History never recorded that attack, it was never meant to happen so there is a 24 hour gap between the attack and the delivery" replied T'Ra.
"So the question is, how do we correct this timeline? 24 hours is a big gap, where would Veel'Riz have taken Marie before he killed her?" asked Valdez. "A most puzzling question" added Teanna. Valdez meanwhile was getting Maria to sleep. "Her quantum signature was detected in the Breen System, we tracked the box right to the treasure trading station at Argelis before it arrived on Terra" answered T'Ra. "Did the Breen help Veel'Riz?" asked Teanna. "The Breen do not tolerate trespassers into their space, if they co-operated with Veel'Riz then well that's unfortunate for them" replied Valdez.
"General Wray, take your battle group to the Breen system and block all trade routes in, destroy their power grid and starve them into submission" ordered Valdez. Wray acknowledged his orders and took his battle group. "No genocide?" asked Teanna to which Valdez answered "it's part of the terms with the Federation. The Breen losing their freedom will be enough punishment." "Agreed, I like the new you" replied Teanna. "Solat, in here" asked Valdez and Solat entered the office. "We need to be logical about this, we need to retrace the exact the chain of events leading up to Marie's death and grim delivery" said Solat. "Agreed, Solat you will head up the investigation" replied Teanna.
"We've got to reconstruct those fateful 24 hours, find out what exactly happened and work out a way to correct the timeline. Once Marie is ready, we remove all trace of her death and use the broadcast system to memory wipe the entire empire and insert her into the timeline just after the armistice and edit the peace talks minutes at Antares to make it look like Marie was there. T'Ra, I need you to speak to my counterpart about this, let him know what we are doing. Solat, tell Captain Heath we may need to ask her a few questions into the events leading up to the armistice being signed but be discreet about it" said Valdez.
Post edited by theraven2378 on
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
"How's the shoulder?" asked Heath. "Still a bit painful but recovering" answered Trianna, Heath had seen the look on Trianna's face when she stared her friend's killer right in the eyes. "You stood your ground and kept to your principles" said Heath smiling, Trianna, calm about the whole thing answered "I've seen the worst in people but I can see the best in people, I nearly felt the temptation to let Veel'Riz stab the emperor but I chose to stop the blade out of principle." "I know, you put the greater good before yourself. I really don't know to put you up for a medal or reprimand you, you nearly got yourself killed but you saved the emperor's life" replied Heath.
"It saved the treaty, a Federation officer stopping an assassination of the Terran emperor" answered Trianna. "What did you do with the knife?" asked Heath. "I told the emperor to keep it, the blood on that knife represents the blood of his victims" answered Trianna. "The message did get through, the Breen home world just surrendered with no civilian casualties. He showed mercy to the population" replied Heath. "Unusual but I'll reserve judgement until I see proof he's changed" answered Trianna. Heath noted Trianna's maturity over the issue. "It is human nature to seek culpability in a time of tragedy, it takes great strength to cry out against fate rather than bow one's head and succumb" quoted Trianna.
"Wise words" said Heath noting Trianna's quote. "I may have read it in one of dad's books, it stuck with me" answered Trianna. "Good quote" replied Heath. Trianna smiled and answered "a good life lesson." "Indeed" replied Heath with a smile. "My father's counterpart could beat his enemies on the battlefield but in the end he could not defeat his own nature" answered Trianna.
Post edited by theraven2378 on
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
On the far reaches of Terran Empire controlled space, the I.S.S. Athena was conducting a planetary survey of a world long forgotten in this universe.
"This planet is infested with reptiles! Why does the Admiral want to consider this world for possible colonization?" Asked Commander Dahlstrom.
Joining the commander was Ensign Kolar, an Andorian-Trill hybrid assigned to Athena's science division. "Minus the wildlife, ma'am, and this planet could serve as a viable site for the trade route between Otha and-," Kolar said before being silenced by Commander Dahlstrom.
"My scanner is picking up a life sign within ten meters of our current position?!"
Ensign Kolar looked around at her surrounding. "I don't see or hear anything."
Dahlstrom ignored Kolar, focusing on her scanner. She believed the sign of life was coming behind a nearby tree. Pacing away from Kolar, Commander Dahlstrom came across a small creature in the remains of a nest, surrounded by eggs of its previous occupants.
"The hell is that?" Dahlstrom asked.
"It looks like a small pile of hair." Kolar responded. "It was likely to be food for whatever laid those eggs." Kolar responded pointing to the eggs next to the creature.
"Is it dangerous?"
Kolar to a knee next to the creature and scanned it. "I do not believe so ma'am. It doesn't appear to have any abilities that would cause us harm."
"It also doesn't possess any skills that could benefit the Terran Empire, leave it here and continue with your assignment," Dahlstrom ordered as she left Kolar alone with the creature to check on another nearby team.
Kolar lowered her arm to pet the animal, gently stroking the creature. As she raised to her feet, Kolar heard a soft cooing noise from behind her. Reaching for her weapon, Kolar violently turned around, but to her surprise, could find nothing responsible for making such a sound.
"I'm not going insane." Kolar whispered to herself.
Looking back down at the animal, Kolar noticed the creature was moving. "Did I wake you?" calmly said as she kneeled to examine the animal a second time.
Picking the creature up, it made a soft murmuring sound, this time in the palms of her hands. "I suppose it would be rude of me to leave you here." Kolar said. "You are technically a new form of life, one I'm sure the Empire will eventually come to ignore."
Continuing to examine what was in her hands, a call came in from the Athena for her and her peers to return to the ship. "Well, I don't know what you are little fella, but you're going to be made famous by the time I'm done with you." Kolar grinned with excitement as she placed the creature and her other samples into her backpack.
- - - Science Lab - - -
"Ah, home sweet home." Kolar said as she entered the science lab emptying her bag onto the desk in front of her, as her samples from the planetary survey of Iota Geminorum IV fell, so too did the creature.
Hitting the table the creature again, let out a cooing sound. "I'm sorry did that hurt you?" Kovar said as she picked up her guest. "Commander Dahlstrom will be furious if she knew I brought you back with us to the ship."
Walking over to one of the nearby consoles, Kovar placed her guest onto the bio scanner. "Let's see what you look like on the inside shall we?" The creature continued cooing while Kolar ran her scans, the purring of the creature seemed to help Kolar relax while she conducted her scans.
"For such a small creature, you have a tiny heart, and this? Is that a stomach? If I'm not mistaken, that looks like a uterus? So you're a lady fur ball, huh?" Kolar exclaimed. "A pity I didn't have time to find another of you, we could have made quite an exhibit at the Science Academy on Trillus Prime."
As Kolar moved to work on the other samples she collected, her guest, which she had started to call 'Snuffy' continued to coo as she journeyed around the room analyzing one sample after another. "I'll be done soon, Snuffy, then I'll go to the mess hall and get us some food."
As promised Kolar had returned with a plate full of food. "See, I came back, and I even found something the Terrans refer to as cheesecake. You're going to love it!" Kolar said as she cut off a tiny piece offering it to Snuffy.
Consuming the food she brought, the creature once again cooed, distracting Kolar from her plate. "What? You're still hungry?! You're so small and yet you have a bigger appetite than I do." Kolar said placing her plate on the floor beside Snuffy.
"How could a creature such as yourself survive on such a vile and disgusting planet?" Kolar questioned as she picked up Snuffy. "You've been here a few hours, and you've shown no signs of intelligence, I am surprised your species has survived for this long, the predators on your world should have driven your kind to extinction. Perhaps you're the last of your kind?"
Kolar visually examined Snuffy, wiping some of the food she had offered it from its fur coat. "Soon, I'll be able to send my findings to the Admiral. First Contact, even with a creature as harmless as you will earn me a place in the history books!"
Several minutes later the voice of Commander Dahlstrom echoed through the science lab. "Ensign Kolar?! Why haven't you submitted your reports yet?!"
Rushing to her feet, Kolar panicked as she opened a channel to Commander Dahlstrom. "My apologies ma'am, I'll bring them to you now!" Kolar said as she collected her reports and rushed out of the room, leaving Snuffy next to the plate containing the remains of her meal.
- - - (Admiral Sito's Office - Three Days Later) - - -
"Do you two have any idea of the kind of trouble you're in?!" Admiral Sito barked at Commander Dahlstrom and Ensign Koval.
"Ma'am, Why are you blaming me?! I Didn't bring these damn things back to the ship!" Commander Dahlstrom said as she tried to shift the blame solely onto Ensign Koval.
Frustrated with Commander Dahlstrom, Sito pointed at her and started to yell. "ENA, YOU WERE THE COMMANDING OFFICER; IT WAS YOUR RESPONSABIITY TO KEEP ORDER IN MY ABSENCE!"
Shaking, Commander Dahlstrom interrupted Sito. "Ma'am, there was no way of knowing this would happen! Even if I had known-"
Sito's eyes glared at Dahlstrom. "We've recovered records from Federation ships concerning the local populace for this region; these vermin are called Tribbles!" Sito sighed as she looked through various reports of damaged systems. "Do you know what these creatures are known for?"
Dahlstrom and Koval looked at each other, both hoping the other would answer the admiral's question. "No, ma'am." They both responded simultaneously.
"Really? I would have thought it would have been obvious. Seeing as this one, which I believe you nicknamed 'Snuffy' was brought on board alone?" Sito paused looking at the vermin Kolar had placed on her desk.
"There are now two million of these creatures on board this ship! Decks ten through twenty are filled with these pests." Sito turned to Koval. "What do you suggest we do, Ensign?!"
"We could just transport them into space." Koval responded.
"We could. If the transporters were online, and the transporter rooms weren't filled with Tribbles." Sito replied.
Sito dismissed Commander Dahlstrom. Now alone with Ensign Koval, Sito unholstered her dagger, placing it into the hands of Koval. "Consider yourself lucky there was a ship nearby to provide assistance, Ensign.
"What are you going to do to me?" Kolar asked Sito trying to hide her fearful expression.
"First, you're going to read the Federation archives on the Tribbles, then you'll report back to me for your promotion to Lieutenant."
"Lieutenant?" Kolar now puzzled stared blindly at Sito.
"Promotion is the least we can do, despite the damage to the Athena, you have found an infinite supply of food for our outlying colonies. Already my chief chef is planning on creating something called Tribble stew. Apparently, it tastes a lot like chicken."
Sito then turned her attention to the Tribble on the desk, taking the dagger back from Kolar, Sito thrust her knife through the tribble, the blade penetrated Snuffy's skin, it shrieked in pain as the blade passed through it's hide.
Looking into Kolar's eyes, Sito gave the daggered Tribble to Kolar. "Take that with you, and do not do this again!"
The Los Lobos docked at Earth Space Dock, Trianna was smiling as she saw Ablim and her father waiting for her. "Trianna, I heard about what happened. You OK?" asked Ablim carefully hugging Trianna. Trianna smiled and gave him a quick kiss before answering "It was a flesh wound, I've been through worse." "I worry about you but I'm proud of you" replied Ablim smiling. "I know, risk is part of the uniform" answered Trianna.
Captain Heath was speaking with Valdez with a smile. "It went rather well all things considering" said Valdez. "I'm still debating if I should reprimand Trianna or put her name up for a medal" replied Heath. "Taking that blade for the greater good then staring my counterpart in the eye naming all the species he had wiped out and she did not hold back. I'm proud of her for that" answered Valdez. "Took strength to do that especially when one of his victims was a personal friend" replied Heath. "Indeed, I better go and help Trianna with her bags" answered Valdez as Trianna drafted both her father and Ablim to help. Naynta and Tamiko just laughed at the sight of Trianna directing traffic with her walking stick. Heath smiled at the sight.
Terra (MU)
Emperor Valdez was on subspace working out some amendments on his law reforms. "How are we going to push this through? we'll be facing resistance from the traditionalist elements" he asked to Papela. "They've been well received by the ordinary citizens here though an interesting case has emerged here. A Terran soldier has been arrested for killing a Betazoid, under the old system that soldier would have got away with it" answered Papela. "What do you have in mind?" asked Valdez.
"Let's test the new law, the soldier is guilty of the crime so we'll try him under the new law" answered Papela. "Did your people get the full facts of the case?" asked Valdez. "Kestrella headed up the case, she was very thorough. There's enough evidence to convict" answered Papela. "Go for it, I'll be interested in the result" replied Valdez. "I'm looking at religious freedom being added as well. If the people can practice their own faiths without fear of persecution, they'll be happy and loyal" said Papela. "Agreed, add religious freedom to the bill" replied Valdez.
"Done, military spending next. With the recent conquest of the Orrellius and Breen Sectors we can increase economic output from the mines in those sectors. If we cut back the fleet, it will leave us vulnerable so I move that the fleet be employed for defensive purposes" recommended Papela. "Current military levels are more than enough, I'll order all forces to take a defensive posture. How have the Breen and Deferi taken occupation?" asked Valdez. "So far apart from a few incidents very little trouble from them" answered Papela. "Increase garrison forces just in case, our engineers will rebuild their infrastructures. Let's get them on our side" replied Valdez.
"A prudent course of action, let's make sure the empire is internally stable first" advised Papela. "Consolidate then build on those foundations. I've got something for you to give Admiral Sito, it concerns Heath and her ex-Federation crew members" answered Valdez. "They cannot go back so what have you got in mind?" asked Papela. "I'm sending 750 certificates of citizenship to you and they are all signed, one for each of the ex-Federation crew. Make sure they get them" answered Valdez. "Sito will get them when the Enterprise is back at Betazed" replied Papela.
"Heath and her crew have earned them, I think Trianna should present them as one of her royal duties" recommended Valdez. "She'll be brought to Betazed by the Enterprise with a strong escort. If you don't mind, Trianna needs practical lessons in politics and learning to rule, a month here on Betazed under my tutelage here at the palace learning from me will help her with decision making" answered Papela. "Agreed, if she is to rule she must first learn to obey" replied Valdez. "I've assigned Naynta and Jodi to the new Orellius frontier. Jodi's little remark wondering how much Marie suffered has earned her that backwater posting. Naynta has also gone with her so Trianna will have no corruptive influences" answered Papela. "I hope Jodi loves convoy escort, that's what she and Naynta are both on for the next month" replied Valdez.
"Trianna will need positive influences if she is to rule one day. On a personal note, how have you been with Maria?" said Papela, Valdez was honest and answered "bonding with her, Teanna has seen the difference since I got confronted with my actions by Trianna's counterpart. Maria will be raised to be a good person" answered Valdez. "You learnt from your mistakes the hard way, it's takes a strong person to do that. I know you are trying to save Marie, so here's my advise. Don't ever let a personal grudge get out of control like that again, stand by her and give her a lot of support because she'll need it. You are being given a second chance with Marie, don't waste it" replied Papela. "Thank you Papela, I won't" answered Valdez. "I know you won't. Think about that, Regent out" said Papela and the screen went blank.
Post edited by theraven2378 on
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Since the Los Lobos was in for refit, Heath had given her crew leave to rest and recover. Trianna and Ablim had moved in together to a cottage in the sleepy Normandy town of Carentan. “You look good in Klingon armour” said Ablim looking at the wedding photos. “That was a gift from a late friend” answered Trianna smiling. “Beautiful, tough and intelligent, a perfect combination” replied Ablim with his arm around his wife's shoulder.
"The result of life's lessons. When you've seen the worst in people, you can see the best in them too. Something me and dad had to learn ourselves” answered Trianna with a smile. “Your father is a good man, took him a while to accept me” replied Ablim to which Trianna answered “you must have made an impression on him then, given what's happened dad is very protective of me.” “We had a good talk on the shuttle to the Los Lobos, he was blunt and to the point but wise at the same time” replied Ablim.
“Dad's always been like that, when I was at the academy he caught a human cadet trying it on with me. Dad was a captain then and he put the fear of whatever deity into that cadet with a when the lady say she's not interested, she means she's not interested” answered Trianna with a smile. Ablim just laughed before getting a box out. "Got a surprise for you, open the box” he said as he passed the box over to Trianna. Trianna opened it and gave her husband a thank you hug. It was a nautical compass, “may it help you find your way through the darkness” said Ablim smiling. Trianna picked up her walking stick and put a candle in a holder. "This is for my loved ones and crew mates " she said and Ablim understood and helped Trianna light the candle.
"What happened over there has made you this stronger person, I cannot nor probably will understand what happened to you but if you need to talk, tell me when your are ready" said Ablim. "I will but on my terms" answered Trianna.
In Paris, Councillor Valdez was inducting his new political aide. “Miss Maria Gomez, this is not an easy job” he said briefing his new aide. “Then I'll do my best” Maria replied. Valdez soon however had worked out who she really was. “Or should I call you Miss Trianna Valdez? I know those mannerisms very well from my daughter” he asked Maria. Maria was a bit shocked at first before she answered “me and my mother had to change our identities for our own safety. We're refugees from the mirror universe, my father committed an act of treason but got us out first to protect us from any retaliation.” “I know right before he blew up a prison along with himself, I never got chance to thank him for warning my daughter Trianna so I'll extend that thanks to you” replied Valdez as he shook Maria's hand.
“When I see Trianna next, I'll apologize to her for calling her cripple and bullying her when she was a guest of my father. He treated her like she was his own and she was never in any danger, he did it to protect her from the Regent and Naynta” answered Maria. “I know, thank you to your family for that and make sure your mother gets my personal thanks” replied Valdez. “Mother will do” answered Maria smiling. “Your secret is safe with me, you'll work here on Earth as my full time aide. I'm giving you a chance to better yourself, I don't judge people on their past but I expect you to be open and honest. No hiding things” replied Valdez firmly. “Thank you, I'll won't let you down” answered Maria.
“I know you won't, it may be difficult working for me” replied Valdez to which Maria answered “you look like my late father but you are not him like you've accepted my mother is not the same woman you lost, must have been difficult speaking to her.” “It was but we came to an arrangement that we keep it strictly professional” replied Valdez. “We still miss father but we know we're free for the first time in our lives, it was father's final gift to us and we've not wasted it” answered Maria. “Good, always be positive. You got a second chance at life, not many get that chance” replied Valdez. Maria smiled at the chance she was being given to be a better person.
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
The rather liberal use of Temporal WMDs?
..............................................................................................
Terra (MU)
The Valdez family were having a meeting. "Does the procedure meet with your approval?" asked Valdez. "Who was the DNA donor?" asked Teanna reading the PADD. "My counterpart provided a sample of her DNA but the procedure has to be done perfect to get Marie back as she was" answered Trianna. "We'll all accept her as a member of this family when she is ready to come back to us, Marie will be confused as she'll remember her death so we'll give her all the support we can" said Valdez.
"Agreed, we're not losing her again" added Teanna. "Good now that's agreed, we need to give Trianna an education. Prime Minister Lot has suggested Trianna spend a month on Betazed under her guidance learning how to rule" said Valdez. "Do I get a say in this?" asked Trianna to which both her parents said "it's mandatory." "Papela will expect me to be at her standard, I don't feel safe with Jodi and Naynta looking over my shoulder" replied Trianna. "Jodi and Naynta won't be a problem, I've put them on convoy duty for a month so you can focus on your education with Papela" replied Valdez.
"Papela does not accept excuses either, when you are on Betazed you live by her rules and you will be on time for every lesson. I gave Papela permission to discipline you if you step out of line" added Teanna as she was bottle feeding Maria. "So best behavior" said Valdez. "Trianna, as part of your royal duties you will give Captain Heath and the ex-Federation crew certificates of Imperial citizenship. I've asked Captain Heath to school you on ethics during the trip to Betazed, also make sure Sito gets the message that we're willing to put the past behind us and she's getting a clean slate. However Sito must swear an oath of fealty first" added Teanna.
"Fair enough but make sure Sito is kept under Inquisition watch, any actions that do not meet our approval must be accounted for and explained" replied Valdez. "Sito will hate that but she has to accept political oversight" answered Teanna. "To ensure all flag officers are loyal, political commissars will be attached to each ship in the fleet. If the ship's commanding officer or any of their crew act disloyally the commissar will shoot them on the spot. Make sure the Enterprise has at least 50 commissars attached to her crew, Sito is on thin ice as it is" replied Valdez. "It will be done" answered Trianna.
Earth (Prime)
Councillor Valdez was in his office working on reviewing Federation/Terran empire boundaries. Both sides had agreed that the Badlands was now the official border to be policed by both sides. "Sir, your six o' clock has arrived" reported Maria Gomez. "Miss Gomez, send Ambassador Troi in" replied Valdez as ambassador Lwaxana Troi was shown in by Maria. "Thank you Miss Gomez that will be all" said Valdez to which Maria gave Valdez a polite nod and left the room.
"Ambassador" said Valdez politely. "Paris is something special" said Lwaxana looking out of the window. "It is, ambassador, what's your government's view on the peace treaty?" replied Valdez with a question. "It's a step in the right direction though there are some in the council who are insecure at the thought of an official border with the Terran empire" answered Lwaxana. "It was a war that was not supposed to happen, too many died on both sides" replied Valdez. Lwaxana noticed the wedding pictures on Valdez's desk.
"I'm sensing sadness from you Councillor" said Lwaxana to which Valdez answered "my wife was killed in the Terran war and now I have to raise my daughter Trianna on my own, signing that peace treaty was difficult to say the least." "Then your late wife did not die in vain, we have peace with the Terran empire" replied Lwaxana. "For how long?" asked Valdez with a sigh. "Good question" answered Lwaxana ordering herself a wine from the replicator. "Well, we need to make sure that border is secure. I spoke to Admiral Riker earlier about the military situation and he's in agreement that more resources are need for the Terran frontier. Deanna did also warn me you were on Earth" said Valdez finishing his third cup of coffee.
"My little one would warn you, human men usually have a hard time dealing with Betazoids" answered Lwaxana. "Not all the time, my late wife Teanna was Betazoid" replied Valdez. "The grey hair says otherwise. I have to see the president, would you be a gentleman and walk with me to the see the president?" said Lwaxana. "Ambassador Troi, would be an honor" answered Valdez. Both left the room and Valdez gave Maria Gomez the rest of the day off. At the Valdez cottage, Trianna and Ablim were both in the garden enjoying the sunset over a bottle of wine.
"Chateau Picard 2309 vintage. Good call" said Ablim smiling. "I only go for the best" replied Trianna with her arm around Ablim's shoulder. "May this be a long and happy marriage" said Ablim in a toast to which Trianna replied "Agreed. Life is all about living." "No argument from me on that" answered Ablim. "Since we're alone here, I saw my mother and friends killed right in front of me. I was held as a hostage by the Terran Empire while dad was tortured mercilessly by the Regent. I cannot forgive nor forget what happened to my family and friends" said Trianna as tears rolled down her face. "Some things cannot be forgiven but you are not alone, my parents and sister were on Risa when the Terrans attacked, they were among the dead. Your family and friends will always support you, all you need to do is ask and we'll help" replied Ablim as he gave Trianna a hug.
"My father only hit military targets in our last offensive of the war, we're to blame for Risa" said Trianna. "I forgive you and your father, my parents and sister were victims of this war as were your friends and mother" answered Ablim looking Trianna in the eye. "Then I must find peace within myself, I'm no angel but I've learnt from all this that those who cannot defend themselves must be protected from those who would do them harm" replied Trianna. "Be the white knight, we'll support you" answered Ablim. "I really hate bullies, still looking that war criminal in the eye and making him rethink his decisions felt good" replied Trianna. "I bet it did, you proved to be be stronger than you ever thought you could be. Take it as a personal victory" answered Ablim.
"It is a victory of sorts" replied Trianna. Ablim smiled at Trianna's answer and both decided to power down the house and get an early night.
Post edited by theraven2378 on
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Heath walked the familiar path to Admiral Janeway’s office. So many times she’d been called here to explain her crews “unique” behavior. The last had time had been just prior to her deployment to Antares.
So why was I called back here this time? She wondered. With the crisis over maybe she’s going to deactivate the 113th? I actually I think I’ll miss them…
She entered the outer office and Janeway’s assistant waved her on in.
“She’s expecting you.”
Heath went through the door and the admiral looked up at her and smiled.
“Relax Layress, you’re not in trouble. Well you are, but not the trouble you think.”
“I… don’t understand. ”
“During this whole crisis with the mirror universe you have shown the fore thought and drive to be proactive in heading things off. And those records from that altered timeline you sent showed the lengths you were/are capable of to protect those around you and the Federation.”
“I suppose…”
“The powers that be have made a decision, one I fully support. The Los Lobos is currently being outfitted with a command and control center designed for coordinating large groups of ships.”
“Why? With things settled I thought you asked me here to disband the 113th.”
“Whatever gave you that idea?”
“And why do I need a center like that for just eight ships?”
“Because during your time there, you had the other attack wings and support ships assigned to Antares upgraded to match the capabilities of the original nine, correct?”
“Well… yes. I wanted everyone there on the same footing if we had to fight.”
“Well we can’t have ships with weaponry like that scattered around. It was decided that all of them will kept in one place and be folded in to the 113th.”
Heath blinked in surprise.
“That’s…”
“150 ships now permanently under your command.” Janeway explained. “Not enough to count as a fleet so you are now the commander of the 113th Variable Threat Response Task Force.”
Heath’s reaction was not the typical one.
“You can’t do this to me!” she protested. “I know we’ve been a handful…”
“’Handful’… That’s the understatement of the century.”
“I don’t deserve this!”
“Actually you do. Competence is its own punishment. The rest of the 113th senior staff will be arriving tomorrow. Can’t wait to see them react to a Dominion battleship pulling in to orbit.”
“Why are they coming here?”
“To witness the ceremony.”
“What ceremony?”
Janeway handed her a PADD.
“Councilor Valdez personally requested to officiate the ceremony. It won’t be official until then but I wanted to be the first to say congratulations, Rear Admiral Heath Layress. Try not to tell anyone until then. We want the maximum amount of surprise.”
“Prophets above, I need a drink.”
All the 113th were assembled at Starfleet academy. All original crews of 113th stood to attention as Admiral (ret) Valdez ordered "at ease." All stood down and Valdez then informed them why they were in dress uniforms, "we are here to honor the 113th for their dedication to duty. All have shown adaptability when faced with a crisis, in one timeline, they held out under siege for 16 long hours outnumbered and outgunned 10-1 and succeeded at heavy cost. Their commander was Captain Heath Layress, the captain being honored today. Captain Heath Layress step forward."
Heath stepped forward walked up the podium. "Captain, please remove your rank pips" said Valdez and Heath removed her rank pips as Valdez opened a black box and pinned the Rear Admiral Pips on Heath's uniform. "Heath Layress, as my final order before I officially retire, I promote you to Rear Admiral with the privilege of rank and status as a flag officer. You've earned it, keep up the good work" he said shaking Heath's hand. "Permission to relieve you sir?" asked Heath to which Valdez answered "permission granted ma'am."
A huge roar came from the 113th as they cheered Rear Admiral Heath. Heath smiled before enacting her first order, "Lt Trianna Marie Valdez please step forward." Trianna stepped forward and Heath after reading Trianna's citation awarded her with the Starfleet distinguished service medal for her actions in saving the peace conference. "For her extraordinary act of courage in saving a tense situation, I award Lt Trianna Marie Valdez the Starfleet Distinguished Service medal" placing the medal around Trianna's neck and then shook her hand.
After the ceremony, Heath was speaking to Valdez at the bar in club 602. "Did you put my name up for promotion?" asked Heath as Valdez bought her a drink. "I did, I just decided to keep it a surprise for as long as possible" answered Valdez with a smile. "My crew must have rubbed off on you, did they put you up to this?" joked Heath. "Not this time, why would they do a thing like that?" answered Valdez with a joke. "They would" answered Heath sarcastically. Valdez just smiled as the Los Lobos crew began to empty the contents of the bar. Trianna just looked over and smiled as Valdez thought "have some fun, life is worth living."
Post edited by theraven2378 on
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Soreth pinched the bridge of her nose, what was she supposed to do with all of this, this insanity?! Star Commander Veel'Riz whom she presumed was dead at this point... To top that off she now had to deal with disarming a Voth city ship before sending them off to the Delta quadrent and possibly risk contaminating their culture with a massive number of people who believed the "distant Origin theory'. Urgh why her? She'd been able to lessen some political blowback with the logs that showed the success of the operation- the Terrans hadn't used more advanced forces at Procyon V. Maybe she'd be able to convince these Voth to just go to the Andromda Galaxy? That could solve the issue!
"Begin Personal log: I don't know what do, my father is suffering for extreme temporal psychosis from multiple timeline shifts and temporal weapon use. Daniels told me that when we started the processes of bringing Veel'Riz back he'd die in old universe- what changed? How did he break this badly? I want to help him, but at the same time I know he's committed a crime over there. I can't turn him over to the Terrans that's not justice- to my people at least; they'd never allow it. I could ask the Federation if they have any of their people have experience with this... I'm out of my depth. the man needs rehabilitation, and the law is clear in this regard."
"I've also gotten worse news, than all this temporal chaos. The Federation has officially annaxed the Badlands to the Terran Empire.... " Soreth placed her elbows on her desk and held her head in her hands sighing. "My citizens no longer feel secure outside of subspace and given the attempt to destroy the system by the Empire the Molindrans are in agreement, that the system will be staying in subspace for the foreseeable future... When I can be sure we have the boarder of the badlands secured and enough of Celestial dreadnoughts for the Empire to realize assaulting this system would be suicidal. The Breen got the message with just our fleets as is- of course they had to loose a sizable chunk of an invasion force first but I'm not willing to risk the Empire being as intelligent."
"However I'm willing to wait and see how long this treaty holds up, and then we'll move the Vanguard to assist our allies when they need it. To make a metaphor they've given misbehaving child a reward rather than a punishment.... I'm not willing to do anything to risk my people right now. The Empire believes they've destroyed this system, thus it's better for us to stay hidden anyway.... When we reappear they'll remember what it is to face a wing of Union warbirds. Until then we will lie in the shadows watching.
Brea System (Prime), 2501
By the time the Molindrans had joined the Federation, the Union's people had a large enough population that the clones were becoming less of a required resource- particularly as they embraced their brethren within the Republic. While clones still comprised of their personal defence fleet, and special forces- outside chevaliers, the Unions people were quickly finding they wished to join the alliance the Federation offered, they were already a democracy after all. The largest problem was of course something that was so entrenched in their culture it was seen as a way of life by the citizens.
Brea had become a thriving center of commence and ship production, the "heart of the Beta Quadrent" according to some. The Molindrans had constructed a massive orbital factory around the entire planet through carefully melding asteroids together. The Hephaestus shipyards had been perfectly named, although it had massive civilian sections and even luxury resorts in some of the habitat zones the exterior surface had an unbelievable number of docking ports and automated factories.
Why do I still play and put money into STO?
The Foundry, and my love of Star Trek
Both Councillor Valdez and Trianna Valdez had been invited aboard to speak with Veel'Riz one last time. "Trianna, be tactful please" said Valdez as they were led into the holding area. Veel'Riz stood up surprised to see his old friend, "Veel'Riz, how have you been?" asked Valdez concerned. "Like someone landed a shuttle on my head, I was stopped from punishing the empire" answered Veel'Riz.
"Don't you think you've punished them enough?" asked Trianna looking Veel'Riz in the eye. "Not enough" answered Veel'Riz unrepentant. "The last things to go through Marie Valdez's mind as you deprived her of her life were of fear and pain, you even enjoyed it" said Trianna confronting Veel'Riz about his actions. "You will be reintegrated and face trial for the assassination of Marie Valdez in a Federation court where you will get a fair hearing" said Valdez. "The worse part is that you have to live with the fact billions died because over a pointless blood feud" added Trianna.
"That thing nearly caused my people's end, she had to die" answered Veel'Riz. "My counterpart told me what you did, you killed her sister, why attack something that is strategically no viable" said Trianna standing her ground. "I made sure she was fully aware what was happening to her" answered Veel'Riz smiling. Trianna sickened just walked out of the room as Valdez seeing no reasoning left in his old friend signaled the guards and Veel'Riz was taken for reintegration.
Valdez and Trianna then both returned to Earth arriving 10 days later via quantum slipstream. Admiral Heath was waiting for them and greeted them. "Trianna, you OK?" she asked. "Not good, I saw into a twisted dark mind corrupted by temporal psychosis. Veel'Riz will be reintegrated and face trial for his actions in a Federation court" answered Trianna. "Thank you Trianna, now go and spend time with your family. That's an order" replied Heath. "Dad, could you give me a lift home to Carentan?" asked Trianna to which Valdez agreed to fly the shuttle himself.
Post edited by theraven2378 on
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Trianna was speaking to Councillor Valdez over the diplomatic channel. "You spoke to him" said Trianna over the channel, "we did, my Trianna saw into his mind and had to leave the room" replied Valdez. "He confessed?" asked Trianna to which Valdez answered "he gloated and told us everything, even how he made your sister aware what was happening to her" replied Valdez calmly. "That thing cannot be shown forgiveness, Councillor you understand" said Trianna, Valdez understood what Trianna meant before answering with "understood clearly, I still cannot forgive the Regent for her actions but I don't let it get in the way when I speak to her. You're angry and hurting inside, my Trianna went through the exact same thing when when she lost her mother. She's only just come to terms with what happened."
"It is human nature to seek culpability in a time of tragedy, it takes great strength to cry out against fate rather than bow one's head and succumb" replied Trianna. "Don't let it bury you, take strength from it" answered Valdez. "Agreed,my family will be at that hearing over subspace though I hope Veel'Riz suffers through reintegration" replied Trianna. "You would enjoy that" answered Valdez to which Trianna replied "damn straight." "The hearing will be held in a Federation court so it'll be a fair hearing, we may need the box as evidence, it'll have DNA evidence in it" answered Valdez. "Why not a Terran court?" asked Trianna to which Valdez answered "because the verdict would already be prearranged, last thing we need is a show trial. It would be helpful if you could cooperate with our investigation into the matter."
"My parents might have a few disagreements on that, my mother wishes to speak to you" replied Trianna as she left the terminal and Teanna took over. "Councillor, that criminal does not deserve a fair hearing" said Teanna up front and honestly. "Everyone deserves a fair hearing regardless of their crimes, if we let vigilante justice take over we are no better than the criminal who carried out the crime" replied Valdez. "So we stick to the letter of the law, let's be the bigger people" answered Teanna. "Would be a start, I've already spoken to Soreth about this. She asked for a Federation court for it's impartiality, Veel'Riz will be tried through RSU, Federation and Terran law so I'll need a copy of your legal codes" replied Valdez. "Fair enough, the box will be delivered in a sealed unit along with our legal codes" answered Teanna. "How about we combine our resources on piecing together those missing 24 hours?" asked Valdez.
"Agreed, call it a test of the treaty" answered Teanna, "this has been ugly all round, two families left grieving with damage to the timeline, your husband's use of temporal weapons has not helped matters either" replied Valdez. "You're no angel either, you are indirectly responsible for 100,000 deaths on Celes' Risa and Mars" answered Teanna. "Something both me and my Trianna have to live with, it's never easy so we're putting things right" replied Valdez. "As are we, we're honoring Marie's legacy" answered Teanna.
"Thank you, we'll make sure Veel'Riz faces justice for the kidnap and assassination of Crown Princess Marie Valdez, Valdez out" replied Valdez as the screen went dark. "I trust this man more than I trust any other Federation official to handle this" said Teanna to Trianna. "It's a fair compromise with the use of laws, give him a chance" answered Trianna. "He's known loss, he understands exactly what we're going through" replied Teanna.
Post edited by theraven2378 on
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Comments
Thank you.
.........................................................
Terra (MU)
Emperor Valdez was sat in his office studying strategic reports, Veel'Riz had sent the rest of Marie back to Terra and she was fully buried and laid to rest in secret. "Closure for Marie" Valdez privately noted. "It's the way she would want it, she's gone and you will not use any temporal trickery to bring her back" said Trianna entering the room. "I won't, she's in peace" answered Valdez sighing.
"Good, no more retaliations" replied Trianna forcefully. "Return his dead to him and the armor from the 300 prisoners you killed. It's only fair" answered Valdez. Trianna obeyed and ordered all recoverable RSU dead to be returned back to Veel'Riz, across the empire Trianna's orders were obeyed and the RSU dead sent back to Veel'Riz as a sign of good faith. Valdez then offered an invitation for talks to Veel'Riz to be held over subspace.
"Mother read you letter and she approved of it's structure, she nearly gave you an ultimatum. This feud or your family and you chose your family" said Trianna. Valdez picked up a family photo and shed a tear, "Trianna, reality hurts" he said afterwards. "I know, when was the last time you slept?" asked Trianna. "36 hours ago" answered Valdez refilling his coffee cup. "The staff told me you ordered a alcohol ban throughout the place, I approve now go and get some sleep before I get mother to sedate you" replied Trianna.
"Yes ma'am" answered Valdez to which Trianna thought "at least there is some part of dad still in there" and she escorted Valdez to his chambers. "See you in eight hours" said Trianna and she posted the Imperial guard to the corridor outside. "Trianna, good girl. It takes a lot to get through to your father, I must commend you on your persistence" said Teanna to Trianna as she started her lessons on how to run a household.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
.................................................................................................................
Terra three months later (MU)
Emperor Valdez and Trianna had both decided to attend to Marie's grave and changed the white orchids in the water pot. "Marie, your mother is nearly due. We all miss you greatly" said Valdez touching the grave. "Marie, it's torn us up inside. Mom and dad have both withdrawn from public life, we're struggling to keep the family together" added Trianna. "What would you do Marie?" asked Valdez trying not to lose control.
"Sir, ma'am pardon me for the interruption but the empress has been rushed into the infirmary. Your daughter is on the way" said Valdez's guard. "Marie, we'll visit again in a few days. Mom's delivering your baby sister as we speak, when we visit again we'll tell you about your baby sister" said Trianna as she put Marie's favorite jacket onto the grave stone. "Never gets easy" said Valdez as he and Trianna were escorted to the palace infirmary.
Both arrived and immediately Teanna grabbed Valdez's hand and squeezed tightly hurling a torrent of unlady like language, "Trianna, you're not off the hook" Teanna said and made sure Trianna helped by bringing everything the doctors and midwives asked for. 26 hours later, it was over with Valdez sighing a sign of relief much to Trianna's amusement. "Your father was like that with you Trianna" said Teanna holding baby Maria Valdez.
"She's perfect" said Valdez smiling for the first time since Marie died. "Hey little sis" said Trianna smiling with tears of joy. Valdez took a seat and held Maria for the first time, ever the proud father he was the happiest he had been for a while. "Nathan, Maria will be given the best chance at life. Marie would want us to be united and we will honor Marie's memory by being a family" Teanna told both Valdez and Trianna. "We will" chorused Valdez and Trianna as Trianna held Maria.
On Betazed, Papela got the news and she sent her congratulations to the family, "Thank you Papela, any pointers?" asked Valdez over the screen. "Teach her discipline as early as possible, I'm tough on my girls for a reason and that's to keep them out of trouble" answered Papela. Valdez smiled and promised Papela that Maria would be raised on discipline and respect. Trianna had handed Maria back to Teanna as the doctor told them Teanna needed to rest. Papela got back to work after advising Valdez to be the best father he could be.
"Dad, get used to sleepless nights" joked Trianna to which Valdez answered "you're going to help, you've got to be big sister and no corrupting her with your idea of games." "Deal" replied Trianna smiling.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Trianna had been called to Heath's ready room, "Trianna, you've been requested by name" said Heath after telling Trianna to sit down. Trianna put her walking stick against the table as a call came from an unexpected source. "Miss Trianna Valdez, my father requests an audience with you and your captain, we need your help in mediating a blood feud" said Crown Princess Trianna over the channel. "Computer hold channel" ordered Heath before asking Trianna why she was requested.
"No idea, let's see what my counterpart has to say" answered Trianna. "Computer, resume" ordered Heath. "What's happened?" asked Trianna to her counterpart. "You know Veel'Riz, he's alive" answered Trianna's mirror. "He's dead last time I heard, what's he done?" asked Trianna. "He murdered Marie and tried to frame the Federation for it. We're sending the data now, the Terran Empire requests Federation help in preventing more needless bloodshed" answered Trianna's mirror. "You want me to try and convince Veel'Riz to stand down and return to his correct reality" replied Trianna. "Exactly but if you cannot convince him, the mad dog must be put down" answered Trianna's mirror.
"Why Los Lobos?" asked Heath. "My father knows Captain Heath, they may have different opinions but he respects her and she is the only Federation captain my father will trust. The U.S.S. Los Lobos crew given their experience with the empire would be the ideal mediators, you have been given an invitation to come to the palace on Terra but you will be escorted by Grand Admiral Solat's fleet to Terra for your own protection. We would prefer it if your father came as well, the prime minister needs to speak to him about a peace treaty proposal" answered Trianna's mirror.
"A trap?" asked Heath to Trianna but Trianna's mirror answered Heath's question with "no trap, this is a diplomatic mission but your crew will stay onboard Los Lobos to avoid any mishaps with the Terran population. My father awaits your response. Palace out" and the screen went blank. "The Terran Empire asking for Federation mediation, this is unexpected. How bad is this blood feud?" asked Heath afterwards. "It's deeply personal, he blames the emperor for his son's death in 2409 and is bent on destroying the empire, the fact the emperor acted as the bigger man after Crown princess Marie's murder and opened a peace dialogue is a change" answered Trianna.
"How close did his stunt come to breaking the armistice?" asked Heath. "Nearly but calmer minds have prevailed" answered Trianna. Heath read the data and passed it to Trianna to look over, "Veel'Riz is an old friend of my family, if I cannot convince him to stand down I may have to kill him to prevent him from hurting others but it's a last resort" said Trianna. "Thank you Trianna, up front and brutally honest as always" replied Heath, Heath then noticed a wedding ring on Trianna's wedding finger and asked "when did you get married?" "On my last shore leave, me and Ablim have been seeing each other for nearly four months and well young love took over and we had a private Human ceremony and dad gave me away as a human tradition" answered Trianna smiling. "You've moved on, that is a good thing. I won't keep you and your new husband apart for long Mrs Zolat" replied Heath smiling. "I've kept my family name, I'm a Valdez and proud" answered Trianna with a smile.
Heath dismissed Trianna and studied the data as Trianna picked up her walking stick and left the room. On Terra, Emperor Valdez got a report of Bajoran priests inciting the people. His response was swift, he ordered in Bajoran troops and they put down the riots with all priests arrested and deported to separate work camps on Nimbus III. All temples were then shut down and Bajor put inder military occupation.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
"Interesting situation," Admiral Janeway stated on screen. "What do you plan to do?"
"Given how they've treated the Cardassians, Klingons, and Bajorans, of which there are many of all groups on board in the past I'm certainly not flying in to the heart of that genocidal mad man's Empire. If something went wrong we'd be trapped there. Besides I doubt that Veel'Riz would come there anyway."
"True. So what do you suggest?"
"Find some neutral territory. One ship each. We provide security."
The Admiral thought for a moment.
"If it goes wrong, we'll be blamed."
"They'll blame us no matter what. We're everyone's scapegoat."
"True. Alright, send your proposal. I'll contact our Allies and see what we can do about providing security. "
"Thank you ma'am."
"One more thing. Lt. Valdez, she is to be under guard constantly. If she attempts to carry out her threat of killing Veel'Riz, she is to be dealt with. We are Starfleet, we do not take sides in the form of assassination. If she can't remember that, lock her up until she does."
"Yes ma'am."
"Janeway out."
"Prepare my escort fleet, let's not make the same mistake twice" ordered Valdez as he boarded his personal flagship the I.S.S. Marie. The Marie was the prototype based on the Andromeda class battleship. He ordered his fleet to the neutral zone. Meanwhile the prime Trianna had her father contact Soreth of the RSU who came to the neutral zone in her Scimitar. "Increase protection for Sol" ordered Valdez with the palace guard tripled and the fleet garrison increased to 1500 ships.
"They'll want to scan us, they'll know about the temporal weapon in our deflector" noted Trianna to the emperor. "I know, we may have taken apart one weapon but the species we've erased have been erased from the computer memories. Increase the garrison for Bajor, enslave the entire population and pull down all temples. Their religion is now illegal to practice" answered Valdez. "Orders sent through, let's see how they like to live as slaves with no rights" replied Trianna smiling.
The escort fleet entered the neutral zone and took position, Valdez sent the signal through the rift and awaited Heath's response.
U.S.S. Los Lobos (Prime)
"What do you know, he came in person" said Trianna getting a scan of the I.S.S. Marie. Her face then changed to a worried look when she read the scan to Heath. "30 Antiproton arrays, 12 chroniton launchers, 20 Antiproton beam banks with a Krenim temporal weapon in the deflector. She's got temporal shielding as well and that's standard throughout the emperor's personal fleet." "She's a monster, we don't even have that level of firepower" noted Heath. "That weapon may have been used to commit temporal genocide on species he does not allow to live" answered Trianna concerned.
"Noted, Soreth send your signal into the rift and make sure Veel'Riz gets it" said Heath through the com panel. Soreth sent the signal and Veel'Riz responded by bringing a Voth City ship through into Federation space. "Emperor Valdez brought the Marie through on her own and keeping a weapon lock on the city ship opened a channel to Heath. "Let's get to business" he said over the channel. "How about you both power down your weapons first?" asked Heath. Soreth ordered Veel'Riz to stand down and the Voth city ship powered down her weapons as the Marie powered down her weapons.
Valdez then beamed a box over to the Voth ship, it was Veel'Riz's son in a dismembered state, Trianna had sure to make him unrecognizable to anything apart from a DNA scan. Trianna then turned her attention to Heath, "Captain Heath, Veel'Riz is suffering from temporal psychosis. My sister was not supposed to die for another 80 years, Lt Valdez, we've both experienced loss. It makes people do crazy things, father has not taken this well which could explain his actions towards Bajor" said Trianna over the view screen. "Agreed, I'll try and convince him not to return to the mirror. This vendetta is over" replied the prime Trianna.
"Agreed, mother nearly gave father the ultimatum of it's this feud or his family. Father chose his family" answered Trianna's mirror. Heath then put Veel'Riz through on the view screen. "Veel'Riz, this is petty. You lost your son so you killed the emperor's daughter, the problem with a blood feud is it spirals out of control to the point that innocents get caught in the middle of it, emperor is wiping out entire species honorable?" said Trianna to both the emperor and Veel'Riz. "At least your son got a warrior's death, you should have given Marie a warrior's death at least. Those species would have caused the empire's collapse, they had to be cleansed" answered Valdez to both Veel'Riz and Prime Trianna.
"History will put you up there with Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot and Khan. They were monsters responsible for the deaths of millions" replied Trianna. "That man uses genocide as a weapon, he nearly wiped my people out" said Veel'Riz. "Then you should have surrendered to save your people that pain" replied Valdez. "Both of of you, I don't care who started it, it ends today here and now" answered Trianna to both as Soreth beamed Veel'Riz onto her ship into a holding cell. "Emperor, you will rescind your orders and reopen the Bajoran temples and release the priests you deported, you will also stop the enslavement of Bajorans" said Trianna. "Captain Heath, do you agree with that assessment?" asked Valdez over the view screen, Heath answered "I do, you cannot punish an entire people for the actions of a minority." "Fine, orders have been sent. Bajor will be under military occupation but the temple will reopen but the priests can only teach what the empire approves" replied Valdez.
"I need to speak with my father's counterpart, we've got a peace treaty to sign" said Trianna over the view screen. "I agree" said Prime Valdez who had sat back and listened carefully. "Antares Station, two hours" Heath replied. "You remind me so much of Marie with that walking stick" said Mirror Trianna over the view screen. "Young lady, no ideas about them shorts" said Prime Valdez. Mirror Trianna laughed and said "I guess father is the the same in both universe on modesty."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Mirror Trianna was brought onboard the ship but under heavy guard. In Heath's ready room, Both Triannas were briefing Heath on the situation. "Captain Heath, I suggest keeping my father and Veel'Riz apart at all times otherwise there could be as the humans say fireworks" said Mirror Trianna, Prime Trianna was in agreement. "I concur, this treaty could be the start of better relations. Marie set the groundwork so let's finish the job she started." Heath looked over the treaty before saying to Mirror Trianna "there's a third party who needs to sign."
"The Romulan Star Union will also sign the treaty, this war must end" Mirror Trianna replied. "OK, let's get this done" answered Heath. On the station all parties were assembled to sign the treaty with Mirror Valdez and Veel'Riz kept separated by Starfleet security. Veel'Riz pulled out a knife and lunged at Mirror Valdez but Prime Trianna took the blade in her shoulder by getting in the way. Veel'Riz was then wrestled to the floor by Prime Valdez and then cuffed by security. "Valdez to I.S.S. Marie, get a medical team here. We've got a casualty, Captain Heath, what the Lt did was an act of honor. We won't forget that" said Mirror Valdez helping Prime Trianna up.
As Prime Trianna was being treated by Mirror Valdez's personal doctor, Mirror Valdez spoke to Captain Heath. "It's not fatal, you'll recover" said the doctor to Prime Trianna. "An amazing young woman, she took the blade meant for me. She's made me think about my actions of late" said Mirror Valdez to Captain Heath. "Thank you for treating her" said Prime Valdez to his mirror. "Not a problem" answered Mirror Valdez
"We have a request to make, could we get a sample of your Trianna's DNA?" asked Soreth. "Why?" asked Prime Valdez. "Marie was not supposed to die, we're going to clone her with none of the bad influences and make sure all trace of her death is removed" answered Soreth. "Cloning is illegal and unethical" replied Prime Valdez. "It'll correct the timeline to a point" answered Soreth. "I want to see the procedure to make sure we get Marie back as she was, you may have to make the human part more dominant" replied Mirror Valdez. "I'll do it" said Prime Trianna as a doctor took a DNA sample and handed it to Soreth.
"No more genocide?" asked Heath and Mirror Valdez shook her hand and agreed. "All weapons of mass destruction will be disassembled, the empire is changing for the better. Bajor will have the military occupation lifted and I move that my counterpart be made ambassador to the Terran neutral zone" said Mirror Valdez. "I want that in writing" asked Heath and Mirror Valdez wrote a personal treaty on the spot and signed it before handing the PADD over to Heath.
"Some people don't know when enough is enough" said Mirror Trianna to her counterpart. "If our fathers can learn to agree so can we. You've got to send me the codes for those boots and shorts at least" answered Prime Trianna nursing her shoulder. "Something to surprise your husband with?" asked Mirror Trianna to which Prime Trianna answered "he he" followed by a sigh of pain. Both Triannas shook on that to Heath's surprise. "that's scary, they're both getting on" said Prime Valdez to his counterpart. "Your daughter is a credit to you" answered Mirror Valdez. "Let's get this treaty signed" replied Prime Valdez.
The Treaty of Antares was signed and the agreement was ratified immediately. "May this be the start of better relations between our universes" said Mirror Valdez as he shook Prime Valdez's hand. Veel'Riz was then beamed to Soreth's ship to be held until trial. "Lt Valdez, thank you for helping me re-find my humanity, I'll be a better person for my baby daughter. She will be brought up to be a good person without the bad. The empress will send her personal thanks to your captain for what you did" said Mirror Valdez shaking Prime Trianna's hand.
All three parties then went their separate ways and Mirror Valdez arrived at Terra safely. From now on, the empire and the Federation would learn to get along.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Commander Zalnos entered the lowest level and approached the guard post. He took a glance at the armored form in front of him and hid his mirth. "Your part of the Royal guard meaning you know who I am when I'm from open the door or you ancestors might have an accident."
"Someone else will still bar you way-"
"And you'll never exist, open the door, now."
The security door opened and Marion vaporized the idiot who stalled him, before leaving his dagger on the desk and proceeded down the hall. He walked swiftly his steps sure, He kept glancing over his shoulder aware that the main door couldn't be opened from this side. Never the less he went on he'd gone through a holodeck simulation nearly two dozen times and even forced himself to count the number of steps he took- the last time he'd worn a second eye patch.
He didn't waste any time upon reaching the cell shooting the key pad, and wincing as the alarms went off before proceeding into the cell... He tossed the occupant a phaser. Zalnos nodded to Admiral Sito, "You ready to get out of here? And don't ask please."
"Energize!"
On board the Vendetta Marion immediaty contacted Victoria, ' We should get out of here ASAP! just let me send a system wide message first and get us to anywhere not here!"
"What are you-? the woman began to question.
"No time put me on!... This is the Vedetta to whom ever you are. I will learn your identity and then I'm going to come for you in the dead of the night- no one frames me and gets away with it!" He tuend to O'Brien, and nearly yelled. "Why aren't we making space tracks!? Go!"
"Whaaat?"
"Do you want to run the risk of Valdes sending Shade after us?"
The helmsman didn't even wait for orders before bring the transwarp drive online.
The Foundry, and my love of Star Trek
"I do apologize for for keeping you waiting, had parental duties to handle. Let's get to business" said Valdez to T'Ra. "History did always say you were up front, it's not wrong" said the temporal agent. "Indeed, I wish to see the process that will restore Marie but you'll have to convince the empress. If the clone is not perfect, the empress will know" replied Valdez. "That's why I need to speak with the empress as well, well explain the process to her. Marie was her daughter so I'll need the mother's permission to do this" answered T'Ra.
"Explain the process" said Teanna telepathically as she entered the room and passed Maria over to Valdez. "Let's be polite, verbal communication please" said Valdez and Teanna sat down and listened to what T'Ra had to say. "We need to find the exact moment Marie was killed, what ship was she travelling on?" asked T'Ra. "She was on the I.S.S. Wolfhound being escorted by a Hestia squadron to Terra, we lost contact at 1900 hours Stardate 2411/5. The next day we got a nasty delivery" answered Valdez. "History never recorded that attack, it was never meant to happen so there is a 24 hour gap between the attack and the delivery" replied T'Ra.
"So the question is, how do we correct this timeline? 24 hours is a big gap, where would Veel'Riz have taken Marie before he killed her?" asked Valdez. "A most puzzling question" added Teanna. Valdez meanwhile was getting Maria to sleep. "Her quantum signature was detected in the Breen System, we tracked the box right to the treasure trading station at Argelis before it arrived on Terra" answered T'Ra. "Did the Breen help Veel'Riz?" asked Teanna. "The Breen do not tolerate trespassers into their space, if they co-operated with Veel'Riz then well that's unfortunate for them" replied Valdez.
"General Wray, take your battle group to the Breen system and block all trade routes in, destroy their power grid and starve them into submission" ordered Valdez. Wray acknowledged his orders and took his battle group. "No genocide?" asked Teanna to which Valdez answered "it's part of the terms with the Federation. The Breen losing their freedom will be enough punishment." "Agreed, I like the new you" replied Teanna. "Solat, in here" asked Valdez and Solat entered the office. "We need to be logical about this, we need to retrace the exact the chain of events leading up to Marie's death and grim delivery" said Solat. "Agreed, Solat you will head up the investigation" replied Teanna.
"We've got to reconstruct those fateful 24 hours, find out what exactly happened and work out a way to correct the timeline. Once Marie is ready, we remove all trace of her death and use the broadcast system to memory wipe the entire empire and insert her into the timeline just after the armistice and edit the peace talks minutes at Antares to make it look like Marie was there. T'Ra, I need you to speak to my counterpart about this, let him know what we are doing. Solat, tell Captain Heath we may need to ask her a few questions into the events leading up to the armistice being signed but be discreet about it" said Valdez.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
"How's the shoulder?" asked Heath. "Still a bit painful but recovering" answered Trianna, Heath had seen the look on Trianna's face when she stared her friend's killer right in the eyes. "You stood your ground and kept to your principles" said Heath smiling, Trianna, calm about the whole thing answered "I've seen the worst in people but I can see the best in people, I nearly felt the temptation to let Veel'Riz stab the emperor but I chose to stop the blade out of principle." "I know, you put the greater good before yourself. I really don't know to put you up for a medal or reprimand you, you nearly got yourself killed but you saved the emperor's life" replied Heath.
"It saved the treaty, a Federation officer stopping an assassination of the Terran emperor" answered Trianna. "What did you do with the knife?" asked Heath. "I told the emperor to keep it, the blood on that knife represents the blood of his victims" answered Trianna. "The message did get through, the Breen home world just surrendered with no civilian casualties. He showed mercy to the population" replied Heath. "Unusual but I'll reserve judgement until I see proof he's changed" answered Trianna. Heath noted Trianna's maturity over the issue. "It is human nature to seek culpability in a time of tragedy, it takes great strength to cry out against fate rather than bow one's head and succumb" quoted Trianna.
"Wise words" said Heath noting Trianna's quote. "I may have read it in one of dad's books, it stuck with me" answered Trianna. "Good quote" replied Heath. Trianna smiled and answered "a good life lesson." "Indeed" replied Heath with a smile. "My father's counterpart could beat his enemies on the battlefield but in the end he could not defeat his own nature" answered Trianna.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
- - - ( Mirror Universe ) - - - ( Iota Geminorum IV ) - - -
On the far reaches of Terran Empire controlled space, the I.S.S. Athena was conducting a planetary survey of a world long forgotten in this universe.
"This planet is infested with reptiles! Why does the Admiral want to consider this world for possible colonization?" Asked Commander Dahlstrom.
Joining the commander was Ensign Kolar, an Andorian-Trill hybrid assigned to Athena's science division. "Minus the wildlife, ma'am, and this planet could serve as a viable site for the trade route between Otha and-," Kolar said before being silenced by Commander Dahlstrom.
"My scanner is picking up a life sign within ten meters of our current position?!"
Ensign Kolar looked around at her surrounding. "I don't see or hear anything."
Dahlstrom ignored Kolar, focusing on her scanner. She believed the sign of life was coming behind a nearby tree. Pacing away from Kolar, Commander Dahlstrom came across a small creature in the remains of a nest, surrounded by eggs of its previous occupants.
"The hell is that?" Dahlstrom asked.
"It looks like a small pile of hair." Kolar responded. "It was likely to be food for whatever laid those eggs." Kolar responded pointing to the eggs next to the creature.
"Is it dangerous?"
Kolar to a knee next to the creature and scanned it. "I do not believe so ma'am. It doesn't appear to have any abilities that would cause us harm."
"It also doesn't possess any skills that could benefit the Terran Empire, leave it here and continue with your assignment," Dahlstrom ordered as she left Kolar alone with the creature to check on another nearby team.
Kolar lowered her arm to pet the animal, gently stroking the creature. As she raised to her feet, Kolar heard a soft cooing noise from behind her. Reaching for her weapon, Kolar violently turned around, but to her surprise, could find nothing responsible for making such a sound.
"I'm not going insane." Kolar whispered to herself.
Looking back down at the animal, Kolar noticed the creature was moving. "Did I wake you?" calmly said as she kneeled to examine the animal a second time.
Picking the creature up, it made a soft murmuring sound, this time in the palms of her hands. "I suppose it would be rude of me to leave you here." Kolar said. "You are technically a new form of life, one I'm sure the Empire will eventually come to ignore."
Continuing to examine what was in her hands, a call came in from the Athena for her and her peers to return to the ship. "Well, I don't know what you are little fella, but you're going to be made famous by the time I'm done with you." Kolar grinned with excitement as she placed the creature and her other samples into her backpack.
- - - Science Lab - - -
"Ah, home sweet home." Kolar said as she entered the science lab emptying her bag onto the desk in front of her, as her samples from the planetary survey of Iota Geminorum IV fell, so too did the creature.
Hitting the table the creature again, let out a cooing sound. "I'm sorry did that hurt you?" Kovar said as she picked up her guest. "Commander Dahlstrom will be furious if she knew I brought you back with us to the ship."
Walking over to one of the nearby consoles, Kovar placed her guest onto the bio scanner. "Let's see what you look like on the inside shall we?" The creature continued cooing while Kolar ran her scans, the purring of the creature seemed to help Kolar relax while she conducted her scans.
"For such a small creature, you have a tiny heart, and this? Is that a stomach? If I'm not mistaken, that looks like a uterus? So you're a lady fur ball, huh?" Kolar exclaimed. "A pity I didn't have time to find another of you, we could have made quite an exhibit at the Science Academy on Trillus Prime."
As Kolar moved to work on the other samples she collected, her guest, which she had started to call 'Snuffy' continued to coo as she journeyed around the room analyzing one sample after another. "I'll be done soon, Snuffy, then I'll go to the mess hall and get us some food."
As promised Kolar had returned with a plate full of food. "See, I came back, and I even found something the Terrans refer to as cheesecake. You're going to love it!" Kolar said as she cut off a tiny piece offering it to Snuffy.
Consuming the food she brought, the creature once again cooed, distracting Kolar from her plate. "What? You're still hungry?! You're so small and yet you have a bigger appetite than I do." Kolar said placing her plate on the floor beside Snuffy.
"How could a creature such as yourself survive on such a vile and disgusting planet?" Kolar questioned as she picked up Snuffy. "You've been here a few hours, and you've shown no signs of intelligence, I am surprised your species has survived for this long, the predators on your world should have driven your kind to extinction. Perhaps you're the last of your kind?"
Kolar visually examined Snuffy, wiping some of the food she had offered it from its fur coat. "Soon, I'll be able to send my findings to the Admiral. First Contact, even with a creature as harmless as you will earn me a place in the history books!"
Several minutes later the voice of Commander Dahlstrom echoed through the science lab. "Ensign Kolar?! Why haven't you submitted your reports yet?!"
Rushing to her feet, Kolar panicked as she opened a channel to Commander Dahlstrom. "My apologies ma'am, I'll bring them to you now!" Kolar said as she collected her reports and rushed out of the room, leaving Snuffy next to the plate containing the remains of her meal.
- - - (Admiral Sito's Office - Three Days Later) - - -
"Do you two have any idea of the kind of trouble you're in?!" Admiral Sito barked at Commander Dahlstrom and Ensign Koval.
"Ma'am, Why are you blaming me?! I Didn't bring these damn things back to the ship!" Commander Dahlstrom said as she tried to shift the blame solely onto Ensign Koval.
Frustrated with Commander Dahlstrom, Sito pointed at her and started to yell. "ENA, YOU WERE THE COMMANDING OFFICER; IT WAS YOUR RESPONSABIITY TO KEEP ORDER IN MY ABSENCE!"
Shaking, Commander Dahlstrom interrupted Sito. "Ma'am, there was no way of knowing this would happen! Even if I had known-"
Sito's eyes glared at Dahlstrom. "We've recovered records from Federation ships concerning the local populace for this region; these vermin are called Tribbles!" Sito sighed as she looked through various reports of damaged systems. "Do you know what these creatures are known for?"
Dahlstrom and Koval looked at each other, both hoping the other would answer the admiral's question. "No, ma'am." They both responded simultaneously.
"Really? I would have thought it would have been obvious. Seeing as this one, which I believe you nicknamed 'Snuffy' was brought on board alone?" Sito paused looking at the vermin Kolar had placed on her desk.
"There are now two million of these creatures on board this ship! Decks ten through twenty are filled with these pests." Sito turned to Koval. "What do you suggest we do, Ensign?!"
"We could just transport them into space." Koval responded.
"We could. If the transporters were online, and the transporter rooms weren't filled with Tribbles." Sito replied.
Sito dismissed Commander Dahlstrom. Now alone with Ensign Koval, Sito unholstered her dagger, placing it into the hands of Koval. "Consider yourself lucky there was a ship nearby to provide assistance, Ensign.
"What are you going to do to me?" Kolar asked Sito trying to hide her fearful expression.
"First, you're going to read the Federation archives on the Tribbles, then you'll report back to me for your promotion to Lieutenant."
"Lieutenant?" Kolar now puzzled stared blindly at Sito.
"Promotion is the least we can do, despite the damage to the Athena, you have found an infinite supply of food for our outlying colonies. Already my chief chef is planning on creating something called Tribble stew. Apparently, it tastes a lot like chicken."
Sito then turned her attention to the Tribble on the desk, taking the dagger back from Kolar, Sito thrust her knife through the tribble, the blade penetrated Snuffy's skin, it shrieked in pain as the blade passed through it's hide.
Looking into Kolar's eyes, Sito gave the daggered Tribble to Kolar. "Take that with you, and do not do this again!"
The Los Lobos docked at Earth Space Dock, Trianna was smiling as she saw Ablim and her father waiting for her. "Trianna, I heard about what happened. You OK?" asked Ablim carefully hugging Trianna. Trianna smiled and gave him a quick kiss before answering "It was a flesh wound, I've been through worse." "I worry about you but I'm proud of you" replied Ablim smiling. "I know, risk is part of the uniform" answered Trianna.
Captain Heath was speaking with Valdez with a smile. "It went rather well all things considering" said Valdez. "I'm still debating if I should reprimand Trianna or put her name up for a medal" replied Heath. "Taking that blade for the greater good then staring my counterpart in the eye naming all the species he had wiped out and she did not hold back. I'm proud of her for that" answered Valdez. "Took strength to do that especially when one of his victims was a personal friend" replied Heath. "Indeed, I better go and help Trianna with her bags" answered Valdez as Trianna drafted both her father and Ablim to help. Naynta and Tamiko just laughed at the sight of Trianna directing traffic with her walking stick. Heath smiled at the sight.
Terra (MU)
Emperor Valdez was on subspace working out some amendments on his law reforms. "How are we going to push this through? we'll be facing resistance from the traditionalist elements" he asked to Papela. "They've been well received by the ordinary citizens here though an interesting case has emerged here. A Terran soldier has been arrested for killing a Betazoid, under the old system that soldier would have got away with it" answered Papela. "What do you have in mind?" asked Valdez.
"Let's test the new law, the soldier is guilty of the crime so we'll try him under the new law" answered Papela. "Did your people get the full facts of the case?" asked Valdez. "Kestrella headed up the case, she was very thorough. There's enough evidence to convict" answered Papela. "Go for it, I'll be interested in the result" replied Valdez. "I'm looking at religious freedom being added as well. If the people can practice their own faiths without fear of persecution, they'll be happy and loyal" said Papela. "Agreed, add religious freedom to the bill" replied Valdez.
"Done, military spending next. With the recent conquest of the Orrellius and Breen Sectors we can increase economic output from the mines in those sectors. If we cut back the fleet, it will leave us vulnerable so I move that the fleet be employed for defensive purposes" recommended Papela. "Current military levels are more than enough, I'll order all forces to take a defensive posture. How have the Breen and Deferi taken occupation?" asked Valdez. "So far apart from a few incidents very little trouble from them" answered Papela. "Increase garrison forces just in case, our engineers will rebuild their infrastructures. Let's get them on our side" replied Valdez.
"A prudent course of action, let's make sure the empire is internally stable first" advised Papela. "Consolidate then build on those foundations. I've got something for you to give Admiral Sito, it concerns Heath and her ex-Federation crew members" answered Valdez. "They cannot go back so what have you got in mind?" asked Papela. "I'm sending 750 certificates of citizenship to you and they are all signed, one for each of the ex-Federation crew. Make sure they get them" answered Valdez. "Sito will get them when the Enterprise is back at Betazed" replied Papela.
"Heath and her crew have earned them, I think Trianna should present them as one of her royal duties" recommended Valdez. "She'll be brought to Betazed by the Enterprise with a strong escort. If you don't mind, Trianna needs practical lessons in politics and learning to rule, a month here on Betazed under my tutelage here at the palace learning from me will help her with decision making" answered Papela. "Agreed, if she is to rule she must first learn to obey" replied Valdez. "I've assigned Naynta and Jodi to the new Orellius frontier. Jodi's little remark wondering how much Marie suffered has earned her that backwater posting. Naynta has also gone with her so Trianna will have no corruptive influences" answered Papela. "I hope Jodi loves convoy escort, that's what she and Naynta are both on for the next month" replied Valdez.
"Trianna will need positive influences if she is to rule one day. On a personal note, how have you been with Maria?" said Papela, Valdez was honest and answered "bonding with her, Teanna has seen the difference since I got confronted with my actions by Trianna's counterpart. Maria will be raised to be a good person" answered Valdez. "You learnt from your mistakes the hard way, it's takes a strong person to do that. I know you are trying to save Marie, so here's my advise. Don't ever let a personal grudge get out of control like that again, stand by her and give her a lot of support because she'll need it. You are being given a second chance with Marie, don't waste it" replied Papela. "Thank you Papela, I won't" answered Valdez. "I know you won't. Think about that, Regent out" said Papela and the screen went blank.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Since the Los Lobos was in for refit, Heath had given her crew leave to rest and recover. Trianna and Ablim had moved in together to a cottage in the sleepy Normandy town of Carentan. “You look good in Klingon armour” said Ablim looking at the wedding photos. “That was a gift from a late friend” answered Trianna smiling. “Beautiful, tough and intelligent, a perfect combination” replied Ablim with his arm around his wife's shoulder.
"The result of life's lessons. When you've seen the worst in people, you can see the best in them too. Something me and dad had to learn ourselves” answered Trianna with a smile. “Your father is a good man, took him a while to accept me” replied Ablim to which Trianna answered “you must have made an impression on him then, given what's happened dad is very protective of me.” “We had a good talk on the shuttle to the Los Lobos, he was blunt and to the point but wise at the same time” replied Ablim.
“Dad's always been like that, when I was at the academy he caught a human cadet trying it on with me. Dad was a captain then and he put the fear of whatever deity into that cadet with a when the lady say she's not interested, she means she's not interested” answered Trianna with a smile. Ablim just laughed before getting a box out. "Got a surprise for you, open the box” he said as he passed the box over to Trianna. Trianna opened it and gave her husband a thank you hug. It was a nautical compass, “may it help you find your way through the darkness” said Ablim smiling. Trianna picked up her walking stick and put a candle in a holder. "This is for my loved ones and crew mates " she said and Ablim understood and helped Trianna light the candle.
"What happened over there has made you this stronger person, I cannot nor probably will understand what happened to you but if you need to talk, tell me when your are ready" said Ablim. "I will but on my terms" answered Trianna.
In Paris, Councillor Valdez was inducting his new political aide. “Miss Maria Gomez, this is not an easy job” he said briefing his new aide. “Then I'll do my best” Maria replied. Valdez soon however had worked out who she really was. “Or should I call you Miss Trianna Valdez? I know those mannerisms very well from my daughter” he asked Maria. Maria was a bit shocked at first before she answered “me and my mother had to change our identities for our own safety. We're refugees from the mirror universe, my father committed an act of treason but got us out first to protect us from any retaliation.” “I know right before he blew up a prison along with himself, I never got chance to thank him for warning my daughter Trianna so I'll extend that thanks to you” replied Valdez as he shook Maria's hand.
“When I see Trianna next, I'll apologize to her for calling her cripple and bullying her when she was a guest of my father. He treated her like she was his own and she was never in any danger, he did it to protect her from the Regent and Naynta” answered Maria. “I know, thank you to your family for that and make sure your mother gets my personal thanks” replied Valdez. “Mother will do” answered Maria smiling. “Your secret is safe with me, you'll work here on Earth as my full time aide. I'm giving you a chance to better yourself, I don't judge people on their past but I expect you to be open and honest. No hiding things” replied Valdez firmly. “Thank you, I'll won't let you down” answered Maria.
“I know you won't, it may be difficult working for me” replied Valdez to which Maria answered “you look like my late father but you are not him like you've accepted my mother is not the same woman you lost, must have been difficult speaking to her.” “It was but we came to an arrangement that we keep it strictly professional” replied Valdez. “We still miss father but we know we're free for the first time in our lives, it was father's final gift to us and we've not wasted it” answered Maria. “Good, always be positive. You got a second chance at life, not many get that chance” replied Valdez. Maria smiled at the chance she was being given to be a better person.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Something/one which has distracted her.
..............................................................................................
Terra (MU)
The Valdez family were having a meeting. "Does the procedure meet with your approval?" asked Valdez. "Who was the DNA donor?" asked Teanna reading the PADD. "My counterpart provided a sample of her DNA but the procedure has to be done perfect to get Marie back as she was" answered Trianna. "We'll all accept her as a member of this family when she is ready to come back to us, Marie will be confused as she'll remember her death so we'll give her all the support we can" said Valdez.
"Agreed, we're not losing her again" added Teanna. "Good now that's agreed, we need to give Trianna an education. Prime Minister Lot has suggested Trianna spend a month on Betazed under her guidance learning how to rule" said Valdez. "Do I get a say in this?" asked Trianna to which both her parents said "it's mandatory." "Papela will expect me to be at her standard, I don't feel safe with Jodi and Naynta looking over my shoulder" replied Trianna. "Jodi and Naynta won't be a problem, I've put them on convoy duty for a month so you can focus on your education with Papela" replied Valdez.
"Papela does not accept excuses either, when you are on Betazed you live by her rules and you will be on time for every lesson. I gave Papela permission to discipline you if you step out of line" added Teanna as she was bottle feeding Maria. "So best behavior" said Valdez. "Trianna, as part of your royal duties you will give Captain Heath and the ex-Federation crew certificates of Imperial citizenship. I've asked Captain Heath to school you on ethics during the trip to Betazed, also make sure Sito gets the message that we're willing to put the past behind us and she's getting a clean slate. However Sito must swear an oath of fealty first" added Teanna.
"Fair enough but make sure Sito is kept under Inquisition watch, any actions that do not meet our approval must be accounted for and explained" replied Valdez. "Sito will hate that but she has to accept political oversight" answered Teanna. "To ensure all flag officers are loyal, political commissars will be attached to each ship in the fleet. If the ship's commanding officer or any of their crew act disloyally the commissar will shoot them on the spot. Make sure the Enterprise has at least 50 commissars attached to her crew, Sito is on thin ice as it is" replied Valdez. "It will be done" answered Trianna.
Earth (Prime)
Councillor Valdez was in his office working on reviewing Federation/Terran empire boundaries. Both sides had agreed that the Badlands was now the official border to be policed by both sides. "Sir, your six o' clock has arrived" reported Maria Gomez. "Miss Gomez, send Ambassador Troi in" replied Valdez as ambassador Lwaxana Troi was shown in by Maria. "Thank you Miss Gomez that will be all" said Valdez to which Maria gave Valdez a polite nod and left the room.
"Ambassador" said Valdez politely. "Paris is something special" said Lwaxana looking out of the window. "It is, ambassador, what's your government's view on the peace treaty?" replied Valdez with a question. "It's a step in the right direction though there are some in the council who are insecure at the thought of an official border with the Terran empire" answered Lwaxana. "It was a war that was not supposed to happen, too many died on both sides" replied Valdez. Lwaxana noticed the wedding pictures on Valdez's desk.
"I'm sensing sadness from you Councillor" said Lwaxana to which Valdez answered "my wife was killed in the Terran war and now I have to raise my daughter Trianna on my own, signing that peace treaty was difficult to say the least." "Then your late wife did not die in vain, we have peace with the Terran empire" replied Lwaxana. "For how long?" asked Valdez with a sigh. "Good question" answered Lwaxana ordering herself a wine from the replicator. "Well, we need to make sure that border is secure. I spoke to Admiral Riker earlier about the military situation and he's in agreement that more resources are need for the Terran frontier. Deanna did also warn me you were on Earth" said Valdez finishing his third cup of coffee.
"My little one would warn you, human men usually have a hard time dealing with Betazoids" answered Lwaxana. "Not all the time, my late wife Teanna was Betazoid" replied Valdez. "The grey hair says otherwise. I have to see the president, would you be a gentleman and walk with me to the see the president?" said Lwaxana. "Ambassador Troi, would be an honor" answered Valdez. Both left the room and Valdez gave Maria Gomez the rest of the day off. At the Valdez cottage, Trianna and Ablim were both in the garden enjoying the sunset over a bottle of wine.
"Chateau Picard 2309 vintage. Good call" said Ablim smiling. "I only go for the best" replied Trianna with her arm around Ablim's shoulder. "May this be a long and happy marriage" said Ablim in a toast to which Trianna replied "Agreed. Life is all about living." "No argument from me on that" answered Ablim. "Since we're alone here, I saw my mother and friends killed right in front of me. I was held as a hostage by the Terran Empire while dad was tortured mercilessly by the Regent. I cannot forgive nor forget what happened to my family and friends" said Trianna as tears rolled down her face. "Some things cannot be forgiven but you are not alone, my parents and sister were on Risa when the Terrans attacked, they were among the dead. Your family and friends will always support you, all you need to do is ask and we'll help" replied Ablim as he gave Trianna a hug.
"My father only hit military targets in our last offensive of the war, we're to blame for Risa" said Trianna. "I forgive you and your father, my parents and sister were victims of this war as were your friends and mother" answered Ablim looking Trianna in the eye. "Then I must find peace within myself, I'm no angel but I've learnt from all this that those who cannot defend themselves must be protected from those who would do them harm" replied Trianna. "Be the white knight, we'll support you" answered Ablim. "I really hate bullies, still looking that war criminal in the eye and making him rethink his decisions felt good" replied Trianna. "I bet it did, you proved to be be stronger than you ever thought you could be. Take it as a personal victory" answered Ablim.
"It is a victory of sorts" replied Trianna. Ablim smiled at Trianna's answer and both decided to power down the house and get an early night.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Heath walked the familiar path to Admiral Janeway’s office. So many times she’d been called here to explain her crews “unique” behavior. The last had time had been just prior to her deployment to Antares.
So why was I called back here this time? She wondered. With the crisis over maybe she’s going to deactivate the 113th? I actually I think I’ll miss them…
She entered the outer office and Janeway’s assistant waved her on in.
“She’s expecting you.”
Heath went through the door and the admiral looked up at her and smiled.
“Relax Layress, you’re not in trouble. Well you are, but not the trouble you think.”
“I… don’t understand. ”
“During this whole crisis with the mirror universe you have shown the fore thought and drive to be proactive in heading things off. And those records from that altered timeline you sent showed the lengths you were/are capable of to protect those around you and the Federation.”
“I suppose…”
“The powers that be have made a decision, one I fully support. The Los Lobos is currently being outfitted with a command and control center designed for coordinating large groups of ships.”
“Why? With things settled I thought you asked me here to disband the 113th.”
“Whatever gave you that idea?”
“And why do I need a center like that for just eight ships?”
“Because during your time there, you had the other attack wings and support ships assigned to Antares upgraded to match the capabilities of the original nine, correct?”
“Well… yes. I wanted everyone there on the same footing if we had to fight.”
“Well we can’t have ships with weaponry like that scattered around. It was decided that all of them will kept in one place and be folded in to the 113th.”
Heath blinked in surprise.
“That’s…”
“150 ships now permanently under your command.” Janeway explained. “Not enough to count as a fleet so you are now the commander of the 113th Variable Threat Response Task Force.”
Heath’s reaction was not the typical one.
“You can’t do this to me!” she protested. “I know we’ve been a handful…”
“’Handful’… That’s the understatement of the century.”
“I don’t deserve this!”
“Actually you do. Competence is its own punishment. The rest of the 113th senior staff will be arriving tomorrow. Can’t wait to see them react to a Dominion battleship pulling in to orbit.”
“Why are they coming here?”
“To witness the ceremony.”
“What ceremony?”
Janeway handed her a PADD.
“Councilor Valdez personally requested to officiate the ceremony. It won’t be official until then but I wanted to be the first to say congratulations, Rear Admiral Heath Layress. Try not to tell anyone until then. We want the maximum amount of surprise.”
“Prophets above, I need a drink.”
All the 113th were assembled at Starfleet academy. All original crews of 113th stood to attention as Admiral (ret) Valdez ordered "at ease." All stood down and Valdez then informed them why they were in dress uniforms, "we are here to honor the 113th for their dedication to duty. All have shown adaptability when faced with a crisis, in one timeline, they held out under siege for 16 long hours outnumbered and outgunned 10-1 and succeeded at heavy cost. Their commander was Captain Heath Layress, the captain being honored today. Captain Heath Layress step forward."
Heath stepped forward walked up the podium. "Captain, please remove your rank pips" said Valdez and Heath removed her rank pips as Valdez opened a black box and pinned the Rear Admiral Pips on Heath's uniform. "Heath Layress, as my final order before I officially retire, I promote you to Rear Admiral with the privilege of rank and status as a flag officer. You've earned it, keep up the good work" he said shaking Heath's hand. "Permission to relieve you sir?" asked Heath to which Valdez answered "permission granted ma'am."
A huge roar came from the 113th as they cheered Rear Admiral Heath. Heath smiled before enacting her first order, "Lt Trianna Marie Valdez please step forward." Trianna stepped forward and Heath after reading Trianna's citation awarded her with the Starfleet distinguished service medal for her actions in saving the peace conference. "For her extraordinary act of courage in saving a tense situation, I award Lt Trianna Marie Valdez the Starfleet Distinguished Service medal" placing the medal around Trianna's neck and then shook her hand.
After the ceremony, Heath was speaking to Valdez at the bar in club 602. "Did you put my name up for promotion?" asked Heath as Valdez bought her a drink. "I did, I just decided to keep it a surprise for as long as possible" answered Valdez with a smile. "My crew must have rubbed off on you, did they put you up to this?" joked Heath. "Not this time, why would they do a thing like that?" answered Valdez with a joke. "They would" answered Heath sarcastically. Valdez just smiled as the Los Lobos crew began to empty the contents of the bar. Trianna just looked over and smiled as Valdez thought "have some fun, life is worth living."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Soreth pinched the bridge of her nose, what was she supposed to do with all of this, this insanity?! Star Commander Veel'Riz whom she presumed was dead at this point... To top that off she now had to deal with disarming a Voth city ship before sending them off to the Delta quadrent and possibly risk contaminating their culture with a massive number of people who believed the "distant Origin theory'. Urgh why her? She'd been able to lessen some political blowback with the logs that showed the success of the operation- the Terrans hadn't used more advanced forces at Procyon V. Maybe she'd be able to convince these Voth to just go to the Andromda Galaxy? That could solve the issue!
"Begin Personal log: I don't know what do, my father is suffering for extreme temporal psychosis from multiple timeline shifts and temporal weapon use. Daniels told me that when we started the processes of bringing Veel'Riz back he'd die in old universe- what changed? How did he break this badly? I want to help him, but at the same time I know he's committed a crime over there. I can't turn him over to the Terrans that's not justice- to my people at least; they'd never allow it. I could ask the Federation if they have any of their people have experience with this... I'm out of my depth. the man needs rehabilitation, and the law is clear in this regard."
"I've also gotten worse news, than all this temporal chaos. The Federation has officially annaxed the Badlands to the Terran Empire.... " Soreth placed her elbows on her desk and held her head in her hands sighing. "My citizens no longer feel secure outside of subspace and given the attempt to destroy the system by the Empire the Molindrans are in agreement, that the system will be staying in subspace for the foreseeable future... When I can be sure we have the boarder of the badlands secured and enough of Celestial dreadnoughts for the Empire to realize assaulting this system would be suicidal. The Breen got the message with just our fleets as is- of course they had to loose a sizable chunk of an invasion force first but I'm not willing to risk the Empire being as intelligent."
"However I'm willing to wait and see how long this treaty holds up, and then we'll move the Vanguard to assist our allies when they need it. To make a metaphor they've given misbehaving child a reward rather than a punishment.... I'm not willing to do anything to risk my people right now. The Empire believes they've destroyed this system, thus it's better for us to stay hidden anyway.... When we reappear they'll remember what it is to face a wing of Union warbirds. Until then we will lie in the shadows watching.
By the time the Molindrans had joined the Federation, the Union's people had a large enough population that the clones were becoming less of a required resource- particularly as they embraced their brethren within the Republic. While clones still comprised of their personal defence fleet, and special forces- outside chevaliers, the Unions people were quickly finding they wished to join the alliance the Federation offered, they were already a democracy after all. The largest problem was of course something that was so entrenched in their culture it was seen as a way of life by the citizens.
Brea had become a thriving center of commence and ship production, the "heart of the Beta Quadrent" according to some. The Molindrans had constructed a massive orbital factory around the entire planet through carefully melding asteroids together. The Hephaestus shipyards had been perfectly named, although it had massive civilian sections and even luxury resorts in some of the habitat zones the exterior surface had an unbelievable number of docking ports and automated factories.
The Foundry, and my love of Star Trek
Both Councillor Valdez and Trianna Valdez had been invited aboard to speak with Veel'Riz one last time. "Trianna, be tactful please" said Valdez as they were led into the holding area. Veel'Riz stood up surprised to see his old friend, "Veel'Riz, how have you been?" asked Valdez concerned. "Like someone landed a shuttle on my head, I was stopped from punishing the empire" answered Veel'Riz.
"Don't you think you've punished them enough?" asked Trianna looking Veel'Riz in the eye. "Not enough" answered Veel'Riz unrepentant. "The last things to go through Marie Valdez's mind as you deprived her of her life were of fear and pain, you even enjoyed it" said Trianna confronting Veel'Riz about his actions. "You will be reintegrated and face trial for the assassination of Marie Valdez in a Federation court where you will get a fair hearing" said Valdez. "The worse part is that you have to live with the fact billions died because over a pointless blood feud" added Trianna.
"That thing nearly caused my people's end, she had to die" answered Veel'Riz. "My counterpart told me what you did, you killed her sister, why attack something that is strategically no viable" said Trianna standing her ground. "I made sure she was fully aware what was happening to her" answered Veel'Riz smiling. Trianna sickened just walked out of the room as Valdez seeing no reasoning left in his old friend signaled the guards and Veel'Riz was taken for reintegration.
Valdez and Trianna then both returned to Earth arriving 10 days later via quantum slipstream. Admiral Heath was waiting for them and greeted them. "Trianna, you OK?" she asked. "Not good, I saw into a twisted dark mind corrupted by temporal psychosis. Veel'Riz will be reintegrated and face trial for his actions in a Federation court" answered Trianna. "Thank you Trianna, now go and spend time with your family. That's an order" replied Heath. "Dad, could you give me a lift home to Carentan?" asked Trianna to which Valdez agreed to fly the shuttle himself.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Trianna was speaking to Councillor Valdez over the diplomatic channel. "You spoke to him" said Trianna over the channel, "we did, my Trianna saw into his mind and had to leave the room" replied Valdez. "He confessed?" asked Trianna to which Valdez answered "he gloated and told us everything, even how he made your sister aware what was happening to her" replied Valdez calmly. "That thing cannot be shown forgiveness, Councillor you understand" said Trianna, Valdez understood what Trianna meant before answering with "understood clearly, I still cannot forgive the Regent for her actions but I don't let it get in the way when I speak to her. You're angry and hurting inside, my Trianna went through the exact same thing when when she lost her mother. She's only just come to terms with what happened."
"It is human nature to seek culpability in a time of tragedy, it takes great strength to cry out against fate rather than bow one's head and succumb" replied Trianna. "Don't let it bury you, take strength from it" answered Valdez. "Agreed,my family will be at that hearing over subspace though I hope Veel'Riz suffers through reintegration" replied Trianna. "You would enjoy that" answered Valdez to which Trianna replied "damn straight." "The hearing will be held in a Federation court so it'll be a fair hearing, we may need the box as evidence, it'll have DNA evidence in it" answered Valdez. "Why not a Terran court?" asked Trianna to which Valdez answered "because the verdict would already be prearranged, last thing we need is a show trial. It would be helpful if you could cooperate with our investigation into the matter."
"My parents might have a few disagreements on that, my mother wishes to speak to you" replied Trianna as she left the terminal and Teanna took over. "Councillor, that criminal does not deserve a fair hearing" said Teanna up front and honestly. "Everyone deserves a fair hearing regardless of their crimes, if we let vigilante justice take over we are no better than the criminal who carried out the crime" replied Valdez. "So we stick to the letter of the law, let's be the bigger people" answered Teanna. "Would be a start, I've already spoken to Soreth about this. She asked for a Federation court for it's impartiality, Veel'Riz will be tried through RSU, Federation and Terran law so I'll need a copy of your legal codes" replied Valdez. "Fair enough, the box will be delivered in a sealed unit along with our legal codes" answered Teanna. "How about we combine our resources on piecing together those missing 24 hours?" asked Valdez.
"Agreed, call it a test of the treaty" answered Teanna, "this has been ugly all round, two families left grieving with damage to the timeline, your husband's use of temporal weapons has not helped matters either" replied Valdez. "You're no angel either, you are indirectly responsible for 100,000 deaths on Celes' Risa and Mars" answered Teanna. "Something both me and my Trianna have to live with, it's never easy so we're putting things right" replied Valdez. "As are we, we're honoring Marie's legacy" answered Teanna.
"Thank you, we'll make sure Veel'Riz faces justice for the kidnap and assassination of Crown Princess Marie Valdez, Valdez out" replied Valdez as the screen went dark. "I trust this man more than I trust any other Federation official to handle this" said Teanna to Trianna. "It's a fair compromise with the use of laws, give him a chance" answered Trianna. "He's known loss, he understands exactly what we're going through" replied Teanna.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius