[USS Charon, Ready Room]
Hands loosely clasped behind her back, Sakarra stood quietly by one of the windows showing part of the marvelous vista outside. The brightly lit room clearly outlined her placid features, just as it showed the terrible wrath in the CO's violet eyes.
She was not looking forward to this, but accepted the confrontation as inevitable. And despite it all, the young Vulcan was at peace with herself.
T'Pelar's eyes could have frozen Mount Tar'Hana's lava when she was led into the room by an unhappy Commander Marcus. Though she spared the young one standing by the window barely more than a glance, the sentiment was quite clear.
"What is the meaning of this, Captain?" drawing herself up to her full, not unimpressive height, the councilwoman's teal-blue gaze came to rest on the woman glowering at her with the look of a rabid Shatarr about her.
Dylan stood behind T'Pelar, His own Height not affording him much of an advantage over the woman. He had made arrangements with Alice to assist Commander Falcon and Lt Dlya in preparing Security for what would most assuredly be a battle for the Temp'Shar.
Shiarrael who had been standing quietly with hands draped against her sides suddenly moved- it was a quick but precise movement. Her right hand met the Vulcan's cheek with a thunderous clap sending the Vulcan woman spiraling to her knees. Shiarrael could see Marcus flinch- "Commander, get out. I promise I will not kill her." As she watched the Vulcan touch her cheek with a slightly indignant look about her Shiarrael smoldered with the fury of the firefalls but resisted the urge to unsheathe her honor blade and squelch this pitiful ember. Keeping her fury at bay she slipped behind her desk and sat down "you do not know the meaning of this? Your people have been arrested; do you honestly think I find you that dim?" Shiarrael picked up the lone PADD on her desk and tossed it before T'Pelar's feet-
"We know about the Temep-Shar." Even mentioning its name caused Shiarrael's blood to boil "how dare you put this ship in such danger." Her eyes narrowed "but that is a discussion I will save for another time" her fists tightened briefly "I have decided to continue to look for the Temep-Shar, if it still exists, then we will destroy it. I will not consider any protest from the Vulcan science ministry in this regard."
Dylan stood fast. He was aware that he was risking his career, but in his eyes; every time he turned his back something either happened to the Captain or her children. He would not allow this situation to get beyond his control, not while he was still chief of security. "With all due respect sir, both of these women are in custody. This situation has placed this ship in grave danger and poses an unacceptable security risk. Regulations would dictate that I am required to be present during any 'Debriefing'. While I have no doubt to your skills, I will not risk the safety of you or anyone else on board during this situation. You may of coarse file a formal complaint with Command if you wish. I assure you that nothing in this room will leave this room if that is your wish sir." he said.
"And what is it you believe you know, Captain?" slowly T'Pelar rose to her feet and if her voice had been cold before, it was enough to send an Andorian running for firewood now. She brushed some dirt off her robe with the piqued air of one who has been bumped into by a rowdy canine and fixed a haughty stare on the insolent one "The 'evidence' your pet Sehlat has brought you? I had not thought you one to take a Vulcan's word at face value, let alone one who has ample reason to despise your kind."
Although the tall woman pointedly ignored the lone human in the room, she duly noted the spilt second glance t'Rehu threw in the direction of the still figure by the window.
"Yes, it seems she has failed to mention a number of things. But no matter. The data you have in your possession is not only classified, it has been obtained illegally and you would be wise to return it. Just as you would be wise to reconsider your position. Destroy the Temep Shar ? – and you wonder why you were not told."
Disdain and barely veiled contempt radiated off T'Pelar as she looked down her nose at the narrow-minded creature before her "You truly believe we had not anticipated the Tal'Shiar's lapdogs to follow our trail? Once the ship is found, it will be instructed to download its entire memory core before self destructing. And if it is too damaged to do so automatically…" she made a small, dismissive gesture "… there are V'Ket on board for this very reason. It will be done before any Warbird has time to comprehend what they have seen. And even if they decide to take Charon … there will be nothing for them to find."
Not that T'Pelar truly expected this so called Captain to understand a word of what she was saying. But when quite unexpectedly, a low, melodious voice answered her with a timbre that was most irritatingly familiar, she realized there was one who might deduce precisely what her plan had been.
"Thy logic is in abeyance, T'Pelar." Sakarra did not bat an eyelash when the elder Vulcan snapped around. Hands loosely clasped behind her back, she remained unmoved under the teal gaze, filled with obvious loathing.
"Vhilshá tù. Kam'nahru."
"Traitor I may be." The young Vulcan stated calmly, and if there was a touch of sadness in her black eyes it was quickly overshadowed by a look the other knew all too well. The fierce regard of one who is rapidly approaching the limit of her patience.
"Yet thee are blinded by arrogance. To take the Sundered for fools …"
Sakarra shook her head and turned her attention to her CO, dismissing T'Pelar's presence as surely as if the other had ceased to exist.
"I suspect the councilwoman refers to an adaptation of V'Shar protocols, Captain. If sensitive data cannot be allowed to fall into hostile hands, it will be encrypted in such a manner that it will act as a Valit – burrow into any memory frame available and 'jump' from one available network to the next until it has reached its destination. They were not only anticipating Warbirds – they were in fact counting on them to become unwilling carriers. Logical to assume the study of Savant has made it possible to greatly refine this process as well. It is highly likely to succeed – if one considers Charon and any possible survivors of Temep Shar … expendable."
The last piece of the puzzle fell into place and despite it all, Sakarra nearly laughed. T'Pelar had thought to play them all for fools – Charon, the Star Empire, V'Shar … but the old man had placed his pawns too well.
[To be continued ...]
Captain Shiarrael t'Rehu
Commanding Officer
Commander Dylan Marcus
Chief Security Officer
Lieutenant Commander Sakarra Tyrax
Chief Helm
USS Charon
T'Pelar
Vulcan Science Council
