[Tal'Shiar Citadel: Central Core, ch'Rihan]
He was beginning to spend more and more time in the room. It had everything he needed and no one bothered him there. Those unfortunate Colonels that tried to bug the entryways were always finding monitoring equipment destroyed in some new way shape or form. Everything in their investigations pointed towards faulty material, even if the material had been personally inspected by the Colonels to be top of the line equipment.
It amused him to keep them in the dark like this. They knew that a General had taken to occupying the central core of the citadel again, but they could not tell who it was. They were good, yes they were quite good, he doubted that anyone but himself and his associates could have kept the Colonels in the dark for so long. The room itself was magnificent. Rumors abounded across the Agency and in citizenry of just what the Generals kept to themselves. Some of the rumors indicated a den of inequity rivaling that of any Orion Red Light District. Other's said it was simply a massive repository for knowledge and that anything could be learned about anyone in there. The truth itself was far simpler and far more eloquent. Past the impossibly large and well guarded doors was a simple cylindrical room, kept green through artificial means. In the center were three objects, one was an ancient tree, its seeds brought with the one of the followers of S'Task from Vulcan during the great exodus. The other was a pool of ancient fish again from the Rihannsu's ancient homeword. Those were more recently acquired, around the time of the formation of the Tal'Shiar. A stone bench sat off to the side of these two magnificent sights for quiet contemplation. It was here that the General sat and thought.
It had been a very long time in coming. Frankly the General wondered if he would ever be forced into this position at all or if it would resolve itself on its own. He sat there in silent meditation taking in a deep breath every few minutes as he maintained a level of calm and composure. Eventually though the thought that had been growing in the back of his head came to fruition. They could wait no longer, this current instability had to stop. Things were beginning to grow out of control and that threatened their mission. The Romulan way of life must continue. Deep down that was the only one goal of the Tal'Shiar. Everything else was simply a means to that end.
To that end, it was only the Agency that knew the truth and how best to execute it. They held no ties to families or to anything that might bind them to outside distractions. It was only they who were truly capable of dictating how the Romulan way of life must continue.
The idea that one political faction or the other had the truth in any matter was folly. None of them had the truth on their side. Yes occasionally they blundered onto the truth after grasping about in the dark. That was what had happened to the AAnikh Clan and its many decedents. They had stumbled upon to the truth in the past and they had been riding it to the centers of power on chi'Rihan ever since. The Zorek Clan on the other hand were still groping about in the dark like lost children, scared of what the future might bring and so they wish to lash out at it.
The General rose up from the stone bench, his black uniform neatly pressed with no visable rank insignia as he moved to one of the walls on the curved wall. As he approached the wall slowly disengaged and a portion of it moved outward and up. Inside was listening and broadcast equipment. State of the art, beyond anything else in the Empire, at his fingertips. He could send a message so encrypted that it would take the best minds of the Federation decades to even begin to attempt to crack the code. However that was not what the General would even use it for. Instead he sent a trasmission out in the open with no encryption. The relay points would carry his message across the Empire in a matter of seconds.
"Autumn leaves," was all the message said.
The policy was known as "Open Door" in the Agency. Missions like this one were known only to two or possibly three people and could be initated on the recieving of a codeword. To anyone else listening in to the code word the message was simply two words or background chatter.
But to the intented target, the message had a much different meaning.
[ch'Havran AAnikh Estates]
It was around three in the morning when the plan was slated to begin. In the morning hours a dark shadowed figure was beamed through the supposedly impenatrable walls into a back room off of the bedroom of the Praetor. The man stayed perfectly still as he adjusted to his surroundings, he took stock of weither or not he had been discovered, finding his insertion to be without any problems, he opened the door slowly from the side room and moved over towards his target. Of all of the men, women, and aliens that he had killed or been sent to kill over the century that he had been in the agency, this was a first.
This one called for compassion.
The method of execution was even gentle by most standards. The Agent took a glass of water that he was told would be nearby the Praetor's bed and stirred in the contents of a small white package. The white powder inside dissolved without trace from odor or taste. When the Agent was satisfied he then leaned over and shook the aged and now infirm Praetor gently, to wake up.
What went through the old Rihannsu's mind, when he was awakened in the middle of the night to find one of his countrymen dressed in a black trenchcoat, was something that the Agent would wonder for the rest of his days. He could see the suprise in the old Praetor's face and eyes, the narrowed calculating look that had bested so many peers over the years. Finally there was the exhale of a large breath that had been heen held in.
Acceptance.
The Praetor could see the rank insignia in the dim light of the outside lights. He was a Colonel in the Tal'Shiar. That was what had caused the acceptance. The Praetor could not even speak now, could not even cry out for help. The Colonel removed one of the black gloves that he wore gently taking the aged hand in his own before he revealed one of his many gifts that had helped him in his missions over the years.
'Praetor Aehkhifv i-Latasalaem tr'AAnikh. You have given centuries of your life to the service of the Romulan way of life. You have seen the rise and fall of Empreror's, Republics, and the glory of our people restored to the ways of the past while tempering our passions to avoid the mistakes of the past,' the Colonel said over the telepathic link he had so briefly established. He was an Elementa, one of the Wind. 'Your service is nearly unparalleled in modern times... But times change. Disorder is threatening our people, chaos in our leadership threatens our very way of life. It is time for a new generation to handle the mantle of leadership, one that shares the same ideas that you did.' He let it sink in what the Colonel was saying to the dying Praetor.
'Are you ready to preform your last service for the Empire and our people?' The Colonel asked as he withdrew his hand and severed the link. The old Praetor nodded his head once, slowly as it was the only way he could move after his massive stroke. The glass was offered to the Praetor who took it in his hand and with the slightest hint of a smile raised it in saluted to the Colonel before the drank its contents. The Colonel withdrew the glass standing back watching as the Praetor fell into the last sleep of his life before he was enveloped in the green quantum mist of the transporters.
[Tal'Shiar Citadel Central Ring, 2 minutes later]
The General clipped a single leaf from the ancient tree there in the middle of the green room contemplating just how next to trim the tree when suddenly the side wall began to make a low audible beep. Still contemplating his next move the General moved silently across the grass until the wall opened and he peered inside and saw the listening device. Several messages had been acquired recently. Many of them Agency, some of them Galae messages. One in particular stood out to him.
"Green," was all the message said.
The General smiled broadly. He looked at the tree one final time and then back to his pruning sheers for a moment before he placed them into his pocket. That would be all for now, there wouldn't need to be more pruning for the time being. Things were back on the right rack...
The Grand Praetor was found the following morning, dead. His doctors had missed a growing heart condition with all of the focus being so much on his recent stroke. His heart gave out in the middle of the night and he died in peace and in no pain.
[Latasalaem ch'Havran, Ahaefvthe Estate]
A gentle morning breeze rustled the curtains through the open window. Argelian carefully reached out and caught the velvet fabric and tied it securely. Casually leaning against the stone frame he watched Eisn rise above the far hills. Just above the glowing radiance, ch'Rihan's a pale face loomed in the warming violet sky. The rusty orange sunlight bathed his face distorting its natural olive into a deep bronze giving him a likeness to one of the old statues that lined the halls of the senate. Next to him, on a small table, the crackling of ice could be heard as the sunlight poured through a glass of water. Argelian picked up the small glass allowing droplets of condensation to fall to the floor as he brought it to lips and sipped the cold liquid. Setting the glass down he closed his eyes and inhaled the air- it was cool and crisp, lacking the heaviness of Ch'Rihan's own deluged atmosphere.
A slight rattling caught his attention and his eyes snapped open. Next to him glass and table began vibrating as a loud hum in the distance turned into a familiar roar. The house shook noticeably but Argelian remained still as a bomber decloaked just above the courtyard and extended its landing struts. When it touched down he watched the back ramp lower and several individuals exit. With the sun to their backs however they appeared simply to be dark silhouettes. Down the adjacent hallway he could hear the hurried footsteps of the servants as they rushed to greet the visitors properly. Picking up the glass of water Argelian took another sip as three more silhouettes rushed out. It took the group a minute to finish proper introductions before they were finally led to meet him. He could hear the boot-steps echoing through the hall but did not budge his attention from the rising sun, which was now slightly obscured by the bulky bomber rudely staining his courtyard.
"Lord Verelan." His servant tr'Jinal addressed him and Argelian finally twisted around to see his visitors. "EnRiov t'Knei and Ael'Riov tr'Huani." Jinal finished and bowed. The officers followed suit.
Argelian recognized both of them easily. He lifted his hand in a dismissal gesture towards the servants and had them close the doors so he and his officers could speak in privacy "you could not have contacted me through the secure communication net?" His tone was stale as he addressed them "bringing such a craft here- you have startled the livestock. The hlai are easily unsettled."
"Forgive the intrusion Galae'EnRiov." T'Knei dipped her head again "however we are merely following your orders that any news about the Grand Praetor should not be sent over the communication net- secure or unsecure."
Argelian felt a cold chill seep into his spine. "AAnikh is dead?" He asked- it was a simple question and it elicited a simple response. T'Knei nodded her head confirming his suspicion. Ever since AAnikh had the stroke rendering him both unable to walk and speak it had become all but certain that his time was numbered. In the intervening period Argelian had personally headed the process of preparing for the transition. Although he had mentally prepared himself numerous times for the news it still caused a great deal of sorrow. He inhaled deeply and composed himself "return to the bomber, I will be there shortly."
The pair nodded and left the room leaving him alone. "Lord AAnikh." Argelian turned around and stared into the blinding brightness of Eisn. He gripped the curtains and wept silently while obscured from scrutiny. Tr'AAnikh had been more than a friend- he was a second father.
[AAnikh Estate]
It had been a quit ride- there was no flitter traffic to be scene as they made their way to the AAnikh estate on the other side of Latasalaem. When the bomber touched down Argelian's deputy, Shiarkek, had already arrived and was waiting. When he exited the bomber the younger officer caught him in stride "Galae'EnRiov I have done as you have asked. All communications from Eisn are being jammed for the moment. Gai'Shian troops are being positioned around ch'Rihan and ch'Havran to keep calm once the announcement is made. Our forces along the Klingon and Federation neutral zones are also being increased. Should either dare to use this event to their advantage they will regret it dearly."
The Klingon and Federation did not concern him- neither would be so stupid. He simply nodded his head at Shiarkek "good work." At the entrance to the large estate tr'Merrok, AAnikh's personal physician stood in vigil, when Argelian approached the elderly physician bowed his head "forgive me Argelian. I failed him."
"Was it a painful death?" Argelian looked at Merrok- the heated exchange of their last meeting not forgotten.
"No, he died in his sleep." Merrok answered somberly. The answer brought Argelian some comfort and he patted the physician on the shoulder before making his way into the estate. When he stepped inside he could hear it- the sound of weeping echoing through the cavernous estate. He slowly, followed by Shiarkek and t'Knei, made his way down the long and sullen hallways to AAnikhs bedchamber. When he rounded the far corner he could see all of the servants kneeling down in the hallway facing AAnikh's chamber. Many were weeping quietly others comforted them between tears. Argelian slowly navigated his way through the crowd to the Praetor's room. Shiarkek remained at the doorway as Argelian and t'Knei stepped in.
"He is peaceful." T'Knei said quietly. She walked up to the bed and slid a hand across the linens straightening a single wrinkle. At the head of the bed the Praetor appeared to be in a peaceful slumber. Argelian's steps became heavy as he approached the bed- finally unable to bear the weight he fell to his knees and leaned forward pressing his hand against the cold marble floors. He gritted his teeth for a moment and then bowed his head so low that his forehead touched the cold marble and uttered "Lord AAnikh." Behind him the servants followed suit and began chanting "hru'hfirh." With a deep sigh Argelian pushed himself up and turned around leaving the room. When he reached the door he looked at Shiarkek "send the announcement."
It is often said that history is a fluid thing- always changing. We write history as we wish to see it. History changes with us. We create and we rewrite it to suit our needs. I have always wondered what history will say of me when I have gone. Will they see me as a fool or the old and tired man that I am? Perhaps history will forget me all together- oh well. In all my years I have learned that only one thing is really true in such a vast and uncertain universe: we live and we die. – From the memoirs of Aehkhifv i-Latasalaem tr'AAnikh, D' khaiell hel na stelam-a.
That day only a single transmission echoed out from Romulus- "Grand Praetor Aehkhifv i-Latasalaem tr'AAnikh has passed."
[End]
Tal'Shiar & NPCs written by Jake (Prescot)
Argelian & NPCs written by Thomas
Previous Post (for understanding): http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/romulansenate/message/60
