[Galae Facilities, I'Rak Prime]
Less than two weeks had passed since his departure from Coravus Prime, though Lhaetan would have sworn to anyone that years already passed. The young Rihannsu had been allowed to spend two days back on his family's estate just outside of Mhiessan on ch'Rihan. There had been a celebration with his siblings and close family, with song and dance that had lasted nearly the duration of his leave time. It had been very satisfying, knowing just how proud his family was.
"Lhaetan," his father, Senator Deletham i-Mhiessan tr'Valkar had said after pulling him onto an outside patio, bathed in the light of ch'Havran. "I know you have long lived in the shadows of your brothers. But I know that you will bring great honor to our name, son. There is no more a patriotic duty than serving in the Galae."
Growing up on ch'Rihan, the youngest son of a large family, Lhaetan tr'Valkar had never been allowed much time with either of his parents. Nearly all of his youth had been spent in relentless study, moving from one subject to the next, preparing for the military service demanded by the Empire. And his father had been correct, for most of his life his own accomplishments had been overcast by those of his siblings.
"And I know," his father had continued, a firm hand gripping his son's shoulder, "that it will take no time at all for you to find your place in this world, my son."
Of all the praise that had been given to him over those two days, that one statement, made in paternal love and respect, had been most inspiring.
Now, just over a dhaei later, the erie'Arrain found himself seated at a desk in a dimly-lit chamber on board the space station orbiting I'Rak Prime, with a figurative stack of back-logged intelligence reports waiting on his computer console. The Arrain overseeing the local Tal'Diann department had quickly seen to loading him up with enough to keep him busy for the next khaidoa or two.
There was plenty of interesting information held within the computer files; this fleet had had been dispatched on training maneuvers, that vessel had encountered that hostile force. There were even bits and pieces concerning a number of Starfleet activities.
And that's where he found a name he recognized.
Shiarrael t'Rehu.
Lhaetan stared at the name on the computer screen for over half an hour as he tried to place it. Had he heard his father speak her name? Or perhaps she had been a friend of one of his aunts or uncles? Maybe a commanding officer of one of his older siblings?
What was more interesting was, after he had finally been able to move past the name, was the contents of the file itself. Serving as a Captain on board the Starfleet vessel Charon, it seemed that Shiarrael t'Rehu had become something of an enemy of the state. Several vessels from the 25th Fleet, following the RIS Endless Sky, had been dispatched to locate and retrieve a vessel called the 'Temep'Shar.' t'Rehu and her crew had apparently interfered with the operation, though the latest reports from Vaek'Riov tr'Sahen showed that their mission had been a success. The Endless Sky was en route to I'Rak Prime with the Temep'Shar.
Closing that report he ran a search for any mention of t'Rehu or the USS Charon across the database, indexing for the most recent. He was both surprised and frustrated by the number of times that woman or her ship was directly referenced.
Lhaetan transferred all the most recent files onto a datapad and set it aside. It would make for plenty of late-night reading. And a call home would be worth it to find out just who this woman was, and how he previously knew of her.
But for now there were more reports to read and file, and the Arrain would want to know about the Temep'Shar...
[To Be Continued]
erie'Arrain Lhaetan i-Mhiessan tr'Valkar
Galae tlaru'Saehne (Intelligence Officer)
