After exiting the gateway, the Tsengate took in the sights of New Romulus once again. "We did it. We're home."
"It's not like we got lost for seven years," countered Venus.
It was then the sight of the Odyssey-class U.S.S. Valhalla crossed their screen and hailed. Admiral Cid blinked on. "Everything okay over there? That was a close one."
"Thank you for your assistance," said Kitsu. "You, along with the Klingons were able to hold them off long enough for us to do what we had to do."
The older, greying human nodded. "Just doing what Starfleet does... and Klingons, apparently. Good luck to you and your ship, Commander."
"I'm not so sure about this ship," Kitsu said, looking around at all the damage and exploding pipes. "We may have over-estimated the abilities of a 23rd century class vessel in the 25th century."
Cid wondered. "Think they'll make another one?"
"Plenty of scrap parts left at the shipyard. Anyway, we hope to see you again someday. Tsengate out."
Captain Jo'el Isaakar recalled his ex-wife's plea when she had been infected by a virus that dropped her body temperature substantially many years ago. Now, he was gripping Efiah Isaakar's bicep as she dangled over the ledge. Efiah was his daughter.
"Whatever it Takes"
Efiah was 17, a Republican cadet. Her slightly pointed ears and mildly shaped brow denoted her father's partially Romulan heritage. Her dark skin and beautifully long black hair denoted her mother's African heritage.
"Climb!" her father growled through gritted teeth as he struggled to hold on.
Efiah tried to pull herself up his outstretched arm. Jo'el could not reach with his other hand, for it was grasping the small tree beside him, to keep him from going over the edge.
But his daughter's panic was taking its toll. "I can't," she whimpered fearfully.
Jo'el heard the boots rushing around the rock face behind him. He would not be able to get Efiah up, and even if he had, she would be tortured, TRIBBLE, and killed most gruesomely by the men who no doubt now saw the two by the cliff.
So Jo'el had to make a decision. A quick certain death for his daughter, or a slow painful death full of fear and humiliation.
He took the third option. "I love you."
"No," gasped Efiah.
Jo'el released his grip from the tree just as a couple of gloved hands were about to grab him. He and Efiah slid off the ledge and over the cliff.
Efiah crawled off her father's corpse, which had shielded her from much of the impact on the sharp rocks. Unfortunately, the blood and gore that covered her left her traumatized. Thankfully, as she tried to recover from her shock for the next several minutes, those who pursued her would not be able to get down to them for some time.
So she just sat there, staring blankly...
5 Years Later...
Subcommander Efiah Isaakar exited the holodeck wearing the same cadet's uniform she'd worn 5 years previous, but the holographic blood of her father had disappeared. Her visage was that of stone, even when the young lieutenant who'd been courting her hesitantly walked over.
"Subcommander, how - how are you doing this morning?"
Efiah cast a barely perceptible glance to the young Romulan officer. "Report."
"Commander Lurren is requesting your presence on the command deck, Ma'am."
"Very well." Efiah turned a corner and looked over at the lieutenant. "Oh. You're still here."
"Are you okay, Subcommander?"
Efiah stopped at the sealed entrance to her quarters and gave the lieutenant a glare. "Dismissed."
After he left, she unlocked the door and entered, closing and locking it behind her. Efiah began to change in front of the mirror. She'd only managed to unfasten the top of her tunic before her own cold glower began to affect her. Suddenly she punched the mirror, shattering the glass and smearing it with green blood.
Minutes later, Efiah appeared on the bridge wearing a new command uniform and bandage on her hand. She immediately noticed New Romulus on the view screen.
As she took her position, Commander Lurren looked up, saw her hand, and shook his head. "You should see the doctor about that."
Efiah ignored his comment. "I expect the council will not be happy to see us return from our mission early."
"They would be, had we succeeded," Lurren told her, casting her another disappointed look.
The Valdore class warbird M'Konel's Legacy came to a geo-synchronized orbit over New Romulus.
General Nat'al remained seated in his chair on the bridge of the Natius. "What now? They know we're out here, you know."
"So?" asked Tovan Khev.
Nat'al just pulled out his pistol and shot Tovan Khev again, turning to the science officer, a Reman named T'Kek, "thoughts?"
"Permission to speak freely?" asked T'Kek, receiving a nod from Nat'al. "We had decided to remain independent, with help and resources from the Klingons," he said, looking to S'kkorra and Nat'as, then back to Nat'al, "because we thought that would give us the freedom to act on potential threats to our people... without any of their politics, or any other such issues, getting in our way. Or the possibility of their believing we were simply too good at getting something done and trying to make us do things their way."
Nat'al nodded and motioned him to go on.
"If this other ship's crew is any indication, that won't be any problem," finished T'Kek, "we should consider joining the Republic. Emphasis on consider. I think we can all agree we wouldn't want to make the wrong choice too rashly."
"I mussssst agree," stated Nat'as, "I am sure the Klingon Defense force, and our house, would remain open to join operationssss between uss regardlesss."
S'kkorra nodded in agreement, "I'm with Nat'as, he's right. Either way, you likely lose nothing."
Nat'al turned to each of his crew, watching their looks back to him, "I don't want anyone feeling betrayed either way. The decision needs to be unanimous. If too few of us decide to join the Republic, those who choose to join can do so, and leave the ship to those of us who decided against it. I'll only turn in the ship if we all agree. Inform me of your choices either way, and I can make arrangements."
He got up, turning to T'Kek, "inform the rest of the crew. Do it personally, Commander."
Nat'al walked for the door, finding Tovan Khev, again, on the other side, "your vote doesn't count," Nat'al said to already reincarnated Tovan, pushing him aside and heading for the general's quarters.
Winning.
"It's not like we got lost for seven years," countered Venus.
It was then the sight of the Odyssey-class U.S.S. Valhalla crossed their screen and hailed. Admiral Cid blinked on. "Everything okay over there? That was a close one."
"Thank you for your assistance," said Kitsu. "You, along with the Klingons were able to hold them off long enough for us to do what we had to do."
The older, greying human nodded. "Just doing what Starfleet does... and Klingons, apparently. Good luck to you and your ship, Commander."
"I'm not so sure about this ship," Kitsu said, looking around at all the damage and exploding pipes. "We may have over-estimated the abilities of a 23rd century class vessel in the 25th century."
Cid wondered. "Think they'll make another one?"
"Plenty of scrap parts left at the shipyard. Anyway, we hope to see you again someday. Tsengate out."
Captain Jo'el Isaakar recalled his ex-wife's plea when she had been infected by a virus that dropped her body temperature substantially many years ago. Now, he was gripping Efiah Isaakar's bicep as she dangled over the ledge. Efiah was his daughter.
"Whatever it Takes"
Efiah was 17, a Republican cadet. Her slightly pointed ears and mildly shaped brow denoted her father's partially Romulan heritage. Her dark skin and beautifully long black hair denoted her mother's African heritage.
"Climb!" her father growled through gritted teeth as he struggled to hold on.
Efiah tried to pull herself up his outstretched arm. Jo'el could not reach with his other hand, for it was grasping the small tree beside him, to keep him from going over the edge.
But his daughter's panic was taking its toll. "I can't," she whimpered fearfully.
Jo'el heard the boots rushing around the rock face behind him. He would not be able to get Efiah up, and even if he had, she would be tortured, TRIBBLE, and killed most gruesomely by the men who no doubt now saw the two by the cliff.
So Jo'el had to make a decision. A quick certain death for his daughter, or a slow painful death full of fear and humiliation.
He took the third option. "I love you."
"No," gasped Efiah.
Jo'el released his grip from the tree just as a couple of gloved hands were about to grab him. He and Efiah slid off the ledge and over the cliff.
Efiah crawled off her father's corpse, which had shielded her from much of the impact on the sharp rocks. Unfortunately, the blood and gore that covered her left her traumatized. Thankfully, as she tried to recover from her shock for the next several minutes, those who pursued her would not be able to get down to them for some time.
So she just sat there, staring blankly...
5 Years Later...
Subcommander Efiah Isaakar exited the holodeck wearing the same cadet's uniform she'd worn 5 years previous, but the holographic blood of her father had disappeared. Her visage was that of stone, even when the young lieutenant who'd been courting her hesitantly walked over.
"Subcommander, how - how are you doing this morning?"
Efiah cast a barely perceptible glance to the young Romulan officer. "Report."
"Commander Lurren is requesting your presence on the command deck, Ma'am."
"Very well." Efiah turned a corner and looked over at the lieutenant. "Oh. You're still here."
"Are you okay, Subcommander?"
Efiah stopped at the sealed entrance to her quarters and gave the lieutenant a glare. "Dismissed."
After he left, she unlocked the door and entered, closing and locking it behind her. Efiah began to change in front of the mirror. She'd only managed to unfasten the top of her tunic before her own cold glower began to affect her. Suddenly she punched the mirror, shattering the glass and smearing it with green blood.
Minutes later, Efiah appeared on the bridge wearing a new command uniform and bandage on her hand. She immediately noticed New Romulus on the view screen.
As she took her position, Commander Lurren looked up, saw her hand, and shook his head. "You should see the doctor about that."
Efiah ignored his comment. "I expect the council will not be happy to see us return from our mission early."
"They would be, had we succeeded," Lurren told her, casting her another disappointed look.
The Valdore class warbird M'Konel's Legacy came to a geo-synchronized orbit over New Romulus.
"So?" asked Tovan Khev.
Nat'al just pulled out his pistol and shot Tovan Khev again, turning to the science officer, a Reman named T'Kek, "thoughts?"
"Permission to speak freely?" asked T'Kek, receiving a nod from Nat'al. "We had decided to remain independent, with help and resources from the Klingons," he said, looking to S'kkorra and Nat'as, then back to Nat'al, "because we thought that would give us the freedom to act on potential threats to our people... without any of their politics, or any other such issues, getting in our way. Or the possibility of their believing we were simply too good at getting something done and trying to make us do things their way."
Nat'al nodded and motioned him to go on.
"If this other ship's crew is any indication, that won't be any problem," finished T'Kek, "we should consider joining the Republic. Emphasis on consider. I think we can all agree we wouldn't want to make the wrong choice too rashly."
"I mussssst agree," stated Nat'as, "I am sure the Klingon Defense force, and our house, would remain open to join operationssss between uss regardlesss."
S'kkorra nodded in agreement, "I'm with Nat'as, he's right. Either way, you likely lose nothing."
Nat'al turned to each of his crew, watching their looks back to him, "I don't want anyone feeling betrayed either way. The decision needs to be unanimous. If too few of us decide to join the Republic, those who choose to join can do so, and leave the ship to those of us who decided against it. I'll only turn in the ship if we all agree. Inform me of your choices either way, and I can make arrangements."
He got up, turning to T'Kek, "inform the rest of the crew. Do it personally, Commander."
Nat'al walked for the door, finding Tovan Khev, again, on the other side, "your vote doesn't count," Nat'al said to already reincarnated Tovan, pushing him aside and heading for the general's quarters.
Winning.