Risa - Part 2
Posted: January 4th, 2015, 9:39 am
Tdurkan approached Kutrizian Sodu, who was standing at the bar on the far side of the room talking to the Andorian serving drinks. “Where is R’misse?” he asked.
Kutrizian turned to look at him. “Who?”
“R’misse, the pink-furred Caitian serving drinks earlier,” Tdurkan explained. “I thought she’d still be here.”
“She’s packing her bags,” the Andorian said.
“She’ll be working somewhere else now,” Kutrizian added. Chuckling at Tdurkan’s confused expression, he decided to explain. “Don’t worry, big guy, I have you covered. I said I’d find you a ship, and R’misse will be among the crew.”
Tori wandered over. “Did you say we’re getting a new ship? What type?”
“Probably a used freighter that will take three months of work to make operational,” Tdurkan guessed sarcastically. “He told the Captain prior to her capture that he needed to contact some scrapyard dealers.”
“No freighters,” Kutrizian assured them. “I actually have two options for you. The first is a Jem’Hadar Attack Ship scrapped sometime after the Dominion War. The dealer said it was only used once, and has some phaser damage along the starboard nacelle. The other option is my Risian corvette. It’s the 2409 model and flashier than the Lachesis, but I plan to buy the 2410 model when it comes out in a few weeks.”
“We’ll take the Attack Ship,” Tdurkan decided.
“Absolutely not!” Tori objected. She put her hand on her hip. “I have nothing against the Jem’Hadar, but there is no way I am going to spend all my time renovating thirty-four year old flimsy Dominion trash. We’ll take the corvette; at least then we’ll know our ship is spaceworthy.”
“Always trust the engineer to know the better ship,” Tdurkan said. He turned back to Kutrizian. “The Lachesis was a warship. Can your Risian corvette perform in combat?”
“I thought you’d pick the corvette,” Kutrizian smiled. “The aftermarket modifications should prove adequate, but the highlight of the ship is the engine. The impulse drive alone is souped up enough to get you to low warp. She’s fast, and can outrun pretty much anything you might encounter. I’ll provide you the full specs later.”
* * *
Several minutes later, everyone was once again seated in the conference room. For the most part, everyone was seated in the same places as before, although Tdurkan noticed a few Starfleet officers from the U.S.S. Solzhenitsyn, who had not made it to the earlier session. Chief among them was Admiral Fitzwiliam, who had arrived moments earlier insisting to speak with Admiral Rig. That brief encounter was cut short, however, when the President of the Federation stepped up to the podium, and the staff at Kutrizian’s resort provided additional seats for the newcomers. “As we continue, does anyone have any questions based on our earlier discussions?” the President asked.
The Tellarite from the Federation Security Council stood up. “Mr. President, my colleague and I were discussing One of Twelve’s threat level based on the assessment given by the Chief Medical Officer from the U.S.S. Lachesis, and we wish to know why Lieutenant Commander Sururo recommends staying out of her way. Are we not here to get in One of Twelve’s way, and prevent her from taking further action against the Federation or its neighbors?” He looked directly at Sururo. “What is it about One of Twelve that makes it so undesirable for us to cross her?”
“There was a report in her medical files, which should be available as MEDLOG 0771-79657-10-75 on your PADD, containing a conversation during her rehabilitation that seemed to be a turning point in her development,” Sururo answered. “She learned something by reviewing Starfleet’s sensor data from the battle where she was captured, and that discovery greatly improved her willingness to accept her liberation. I believe her discovery and the conversation from that day are the keys to understanding how to retain her as an ally, or make her into an enemy.”
“And what did she discover?” the Bolian asked.
“I don’t know,” Sururo told him. “Most of that conversation was redacted from the log, and the Starfleet Intelligence files are not available to us. The uncertainty of what transpired, combined with her strategic prowess, is why she is so dangerous for us to cross at this point.”
“Then who would know?” The Bolian wondered.
“Starfleet Intelligence might have the answer,” Sururo told them, “but I think you would get the best answer from Petralla Wegere, the psychologist assigned to her rehabilitation. She was the one who had that conversation with One of Twelve.”
“She is unavailable,” Kutrizian quickly said. “Mrs. Wegere is currently on a prolonged assignment assisting Romulan elderly overcome the trauma of losing their homeworld and families. It’s a small colony on a protoplanetoid orbiting Beta Pictoris. The considerable debris cloud and instability of the system means they have limited outside contact. You’d have to go there to talk to her.”
“How do you know this?” the Tellarite asked.
“She and I worked with One of Twelve from the start,” he shrugged. “I’ve kept in touch as much as is feasible.”
“Someone will need to go find Mrs. Wegere,” the President said.
“Or we could go about this the easy way,” the Tellarite interrupted. “You said earlier we could reprogram her nanoprobes to kill her. It would save time and Federation resources, and we wouldn’t need to track her down.”
“Let’s not rush to action without first knowing more about her intent,” Commander Tdurkan quickly disagreed. “One of Twelve knows something we do not, and until we learn more about the clue she gave us, we cannot know with certainty if she is the primary threat or if someone else is.”
“This is very interesting,” the Bolian from the Federation Security Council said. “We just went from One of Twelve being one of the greatest threats the Federation ever faced to being little more than a bynote, perhaps even an ally. Why are we even here?”
“We’re here because of the names on that list she gave us, and the suggestion that they are the threat to the Federation,” Kutrizian said.
The President looked at Kutrizian. “Mr. Sodu, did your search on those names turn up anything?”
“Yes, sir,” Kutrizian said. “No fewer than twenty of them disappeared in the past couple days, to include eight persons from Starfleet.” He tapped a few controls on his PADD, and the names lit up on the viewscreen at the front of the room. “There could be more, but it seems some of these people are relatively unknown to my sources.”
“I know that person,” Admiral Fitzwiliam quickly said, pointing at the viewscreen. “It was Admiral Sonatra who ordered me to come to Risa and meet with Admiral Rig. I cannot believe he would be involved in anything nefarious.”
“I don’t know why most of these people are listed, including Admiral Sonatra,” Kutrizian quickly said, “but we know this is more than just a birthday party guest list. One of these people, Admiral Werralk, allegedly sabotaged the very mission he gave One of Twelve, ultimately leading to her capture. I would assume the others are related somehow.”
“I refuse to make such an assumption,” Admiral Fitzwiliam huffed. “I am a Starfleet officer, and I do not cry ‘heresy’ easily.” She turned to the Andorian sitting beside her. “Shelana, make sure we have those names before we leave.” She sat back, and crossed her arms, silently signaling her displeasure at the idea that her former teacher could be involved in anything he shouldn’t be doing.
“And while you’re at it, Admiral, how about trying to contact Mrs. Wegere,” Aennik Okeg said. “I’m sure Mr. Sodu can provide you with the information necessary to find her.”
“Very well,” she grudgingly agreed, more interested in absolving her former mentor from any perceived crimes than investigating the motivations of a former Borg drone. She would hardly argue a Presidential order in council, and noticed no trace of recognition despite having encountered the President previously.
The President looked at Admiral Rig. “While Admiral Fitzwiliam is engaged in her investigations, I would like Admiral Rig to lead the battle group to find One of Twelve. On this short notice, I believe we can assign up to ten ships to rendezvous with the Helicon.”
“The Helicon, sir?” Rig asked. “Is there something wrong with me using the Moogie’s Revenge?”
“This is no longer a clandestine operation,” Aennik Okeg told him. “The Klingon Empire and the Romulans are probably already aware of One of Twelve’s dangerous intent. They need to know the Federation takes her just as seriously, or our diplomatic efforts with both factions could be compromised. You will lead a Starfleet battle group with a ship of Starfleet origin. Find her before someone else does, make a show of force, and hope she does not choose to fight. I will assign a ship for Commander Tdurkan and his crew, and they will also be in your group.”
“Actually, I already have a ship for them to use while the Lachesis undergoes repairs and refitting,” Kutrizian said. “She might not be of Starfleet design, but she’s just as capable.”
“Very well,” the President gave in. “Commander Tdurkan can use that ship in the interim. It will save us time requisitioning another ship.” He looked around the room at the captains and their crews. “You all have your orders. Mr. Sodu will provide his facility for coordination and command while you find One of Twelve and deal with the threat she poses. As you head your separate ways, please relay any further discussion through him. Thank you for your time and cooperation.” As the President walked from the room, those seated stood to show their respect.
* * *
Admiral Rig walked over to Commander Tdurkan. “The President said to hope One of Twelve chooses not to fight, and everyone else seems to think we have better chances of winning a small moon at dabo. Do you think she will be that combative?”
“She is an enigma, as are her methods,” Tdurkan told him, “but if I had to guess, I think she would attempt to avoid a confrontation with us until she can build up sufficient forces. At this point we believe she only has her clones and a handful of drones, but that may change in the time it takes us to find her.”
“Then we should expect a fight,” Admiral Rig decided.
Tdurkan shook his head. “Not necessarily, Admiral. When One of Twelve was created, her purpose was to fight the Federation for the Borg Collective. The complete destruction of her enemies was her mandate, and influenced every strategy she used. Her liberation, however, exposed her to another option: to allow one’s enemies to survive despite their defeat. I believe this option will influence her current strategies. Take for example the ships she has encountered in the past couple days. Even if she could completely destroy them, she took only what she wanted, and left. If One of Twelve chooses to fight, we would not come out unscathed, but I believe she would limit her actions only to our defeat, not our destruction.”
“Is there any assurance she would maintain those recent tendencies rather than reverting to her original Borg mandate?” Admiral Rig wondered as Admiral Fitzwiliam stepped up beside him.
“That is the reason Admiral Fitzwiliam needs to find Mrs. Wegere,” Tdurkan said. “She is the only one who could begin to interpret One of Twelve’s actions to determine her intent.”
“I met One of Twelve once, two years ago,” Fitzwiliam interupted, “but it was enough for me to learn she is a very solitary person with few cares beyond efficiently maintaining her distance from others. I have no clue how she made it through Command School.”
“It is too bad you do not know her better,” Tdurkan told the Admiral. “One of Twelve is not without her quirks and social integration difficulties, but she has worked very hard to make exceptional progress in the past year. She is not the same person now that she was when you met.”
“I can tell you think very highly of her,” Admiral Fitzwiliam replied diplomatically. “I am sure your opinion is well-earned.”
“We have work to do,” Admiral Rig told them. “Let’s find One of Twelve, and bring her back to the Federation.” He tapped his combadge. “Helicon, one to beam up.”
Kutrizian turned to look at him. “Who?”
“R’misse, the pink-furred Caitian serving drinks earlier,” Tdurkan explained. “I thought she’d still be here.”
“She’s packing her bags,” the Andorian said.
“She’ll be working somewhere else now,” Kutrizian added. Chuckling at Tdurkan’s confused expression, he decided to explain. “Don’t worry, big guy, I have you covered. I said I’d find you a ship, and R’misse will be among the crew.”
Tori wandered over. “Did you say we’re getting a new ship? What type?”
“Probably a used freighter that will take three months of work to make operational,” Tdurkan guessed sarcastically. “He told the Captain prior to her capture that he needed to contact some scrapyard dealers.”
“No freighters,” Kutrizian assured them. “I actually have two options for you. The first is a Jem’Hadar Attack Ship scrapped sometime after the Dominion War. The dealer said it was only used once, and has some phaser damage along the starboard nacelle. The other option is my Risian corvette. It’s the 2409 model and flashier than the Lachesis, but I plan to buy the 2410 model when it comes out in a few weeks.”
“We’ll take the Attack Ship,” Tdurkan decided.
“Absolutely not!” Tori objected. She put her hand on her hip. “I have nothing against the Jem’Hadar, but there is no way I am going to spend all my time renovating thirty-four year old flimsy Dominion trash. We’ll take the corvette; at least then we’ll know our ship is spaceworthy.”
“Always trust the engineer to know the better ship,” Tdurkan said. He turned back to Kutrizian. “The Lachesis was a warship. Can your Risian corvette perform in combat?”
“I thought you’d pick the corvette,” Kutrizian smiled. “The aftermarket modifications should prove adequate, but the highlight of the ship is the engine. The impulse drive alone is souped up enough to get you to low warp. She’s fast, and can outrun pretty much anything you might encounter. I’ll provide you the full specs later.”
* * *
Several minutes later, everyone was once again seated in the conference room. For the most part, everyone was seated in the same places as before, although Tdurkan noticed a few Starfleet officers from the U.S.S. Solzhenitsyn, who had not made it to the earlier session. Chief among them was Admiral Fitzwiliam, who had arrived moments earlier insisting to speak with Admiral Rig. That brief encounter was cut short, however, when the President of the Federation stepped up to the podium, and the staff at Kutrizian’s resort provided additional seats for the newcomers. “As we continue, does anyone have any questions based on our earlier discussions?” the President asked.
The Tellarite from the Federation Security Council stood up. “Mr. President, my colleague and I were discussing One of Twelve’s threat level based on the assessment given by the Chief Medical Officer from the U.S.S. Lachesis, and we wish to know why Lieutenant Commander Sururo recommends staying out of her way. Are we not here to get in One of Twelve’s way, and prevent her from taking further action against the Federation or its neighbors?” He looked directly at Sururo. “What is it about One of Twelve that makes it so undesirable for us to cross her?”
“There was a report in her medical files, which should be available as MEDLOG 0771-79657-10-75 on your PADD, containing a conversation during her rehabilitation that seemed to be a turning point in her development,” Sururo answered. “She learned something by reviewing Starfleet’s sensor data from the battle where she was captured, and that discovery greatly improved her willingness to accept her liberation. I believe her discovery and the conversation from that day are the keys to understanding how to retain her as an ally, or make her into an enemy.”
“And what did she discover?” the Bolian asked.
“I don’t know,” Sururo told him. “Most of that conversation was redacted from the log, and the Starfleet Intelligence files are not available to us. The uncertainty of what transpired, combined with her strategic prowess, is why she is so dangerous for us to cross at this point.”
“Then who would know?” The Bolian wondered.
“Starfleet Intelligence might have the answer,” Sururo told them, “but I think you would get the best answer from Petralla Wegere, the psychologist assigned to her rehabilitation. She was the one who had that conversation with One of Twelve.”
“She is unavailable,” Kutrizian quickly said. “Mrs. Wegere is currently on a prolonged assignment assisting Romulan elderly overcome the trauma of losing their homeworld and families. It’s a small colony on a protoplanetoid orbiting Beta Pictoris. The considerable debris cloud and instability of the system means they have limited outside contact. You’d have to go there to talk to her.”
“How do you know this?” the Tellarite asked.
“She and I worked with One of Twelve from the start,” he shrugged. “I’ve kept in touch as much as is feasible.”
“Someone will need to go find Mrs. Wegere,” the President said.
“Or we could go about this the easy way,” the Tellarite interrupted. “You said earlier we could reprogram her nanoprobes to kill her. It would save time and Federation resources, and we wouldn’t need to track her down.”
“Let’s not rush to action without first knowing more about her intent,” Commander Tdurkan quickly disagreed. “One of Twelve knows something we do not, and until we learn more about the clue she gave us, we cannot know with certainty if she is the primary threat or if someone else is.”
“This is very interesting,” the Bolian from the Federation Security Council said. “We just went from One of Twelve being one of the greatest threats the Federation ever faced to being little more than a bynote, perhaps even an ally. Why are we even here?”
“We’re here because of the names on that list she gave us, and the suggestion that they are the threat to the Federation,” Kutrizian said.
The President looked at Kutrizian. “Mr. Sodu, did your search on those names turn up anything?”
“Yes, sir,” Kutrizian said. “No fewer than twenty of them disappeared in the past couple days, to include eight persons from Starfleet.” He tapped a few controls on his PADD, and the names lit up on the viewscreen at the front of the room. “There could be more, but it seems some of these people are relatively unknown to my sources.”
“I know that person,” Admiral Fitzwiliam quickly said, pointing at the viewscreen. “It was Admiral Sonatra who ordered me to come to Risa and meet with Admiral Rig. I cannot believe he would be involved in anything nefarious.”
“I don’t know why most of these people are listed, including Admiral Sonatra,” Kutrizian quickly said, “but we know this is more than just a birthday party guest list. One of these people, Admiral Werralk, allegedly sabotaged the very mission he gave One of Twelve, ultimately leading to her capture. I would assume the others are related somehow.”
“I refuse to make such an assumption,” Admiral Fitzwiliam huffed. “I am a Starfleet officer, and I do not cry ‘heresy’ easily.” She turned to the Andorian sitting beside her. “Shelana, make sure we have those names before we leave.” She sat back, and crossed her arms, silently signaling her displeasure at the idea that her former teacher could be involved in anything he shouldn’t be doing.
“And while you’re at it, Admiral, how about trying to contact Mrs. Wegere,” Aennik Okeg said. “I’m sure Mr. Sodu can provide you with the information necessary to find her.”
“Very well,” she grudgingly agreed, more interested in absolving her former mentor from any perceived crimes than investigating the motivations of a former Borg drone. She would hardly argue a Presidential order in council, and noticed no trace of recognition despite having encountered the President previously.
The President looked at Admiral Rig. “While Admiral Fitzwiliam is engaged in her investigations, I would like Admiral Rig to lead the battle group to find One of Twelve. On this short notice, I believe we can assign up to ten ships to rendezvous with the Helicon.”
“The Helicon, sir?” Rig asked. “Is there something wrong with me using the Moogie’s Revenge?”
“This is no longer a clandestine operation,” Aennik Okeg told him. “The Klingon Empire and the Romulans are probably already aware of One of Twelve’s dangerous intent. They need to know the Federation takes her just as seriously, or our diplomatic efforts with both factions could be compromised. You will lead a Starfleet battle group with a ship of Starfleet origin. Find her before someone else does, make a show of force, and hope she does not choose to fight. I will assign a ship for Commander Tdurkan and his crew, and they will also be in your group.”
“Actually, I already have a ship for them to use while the Lachesis undergoes repairs and refitting,” Kutrizian said. “She might not be of Starfleet design, but she’s just as capable.”
“Very well,” the President gave in. “Commander Tdurkan can use that ship in the interim. It will save us time requisitioning another ship.” He looked around the room at the captains and their crews. “You all have your orders. Mr. Sodu will provide his facility for coordination and command while you find One of Twelve and deal with the threat she poses. As you head your separate ways, please relay any further discussion through him. Thank you for your time and cooperation.” As the President walked from the room, those seated stood to show their respect.
* * *
Admiral Rig walked over to Commander Tdurkan. “The President said to hope One of Twelve chooses not to fight, and everyone else seems to think we have better chances of winning a small moon at dabo. Do you think she will be that combative?”
“She is an enigma, as are her methods,” Tdurkan told him, “but if I had to guess, I think she would attempt to avoid a confrontation with us until she can build up sufficient forces. At this point we believe she only has her clones and a handful of drones, but that may change in the time it takes us to find her.”
“Then we should expect a fight,” Admiral Rig decided.
Tdurkan shook his head. “Not necessarily, Admiral. When One of Twelve was created, her purpose was to fight the Federation for the Borg Collective. The complete destruction of her enemies was her mandate, and influenced every strategy she used. Her liberation, however, exposed her to another option: to allow one’s enemies to survive despite their defeat. I believe this option will influence her current strategies. Take for example the ships she has encountered in the past couple days. Even if she could completely destroy them, she took only what she wanted, and left. If One of Twelve chooses to fight, we would not come out unscathed, but I believe she would limit her actions only to our defeat, not our destruction.”
“Is there any assurance she would maintain those recent tendencies rather than reverting to her original Borg mandate?” Admiral Rig wondered as Admiral Fitzwiliam stepped up beside him.
“That is the reason Admiral Fitzwiliam needs to find Mrs. Wegere,” Tdurkan said. “She is the only one who could begin to interpret One of Twelve’s actions to determine her intent.”
“I met One of Twelve once, two years ago,” Fitzwiliam interupted, “but it was enough for me to learn she is a very solitary person with few cares beyond efficiently maintaining her distance from others. I have no clue how she made it through Command School.”
“It is too bad you do not know her better,” Tdurkan told the Admiral. “One of Twelve is not without her quirks and social integration difficulties, but she has worked very hard to make exceptional progress in the past year. She is not the same person now that she was when you met.”
“I can tell you think very highly of her,” Admiral Fitzwiliam replied diplomatically. “I am sure your opinion is well-earned.”
“We have work to do,” Admiral Rig told them. “Let’s find One of Twelve, and bring her back to the Federation.” He tapped his combadge. “Helicon, one to beam up.”