SD 241301.04 || "Connecting the Dots" || Plot Log || Part IV || XO || Cmdr Lansine

Posted on Sat Jan 5th, 2013 @ 5:20am by Captain Robert Lansine

940 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Romulan Ale.. I mean Aide
Location: Colony - Underground Compound
Tags: romulan, kidnapping, tal'shiar, poison, rebellion, treason, lansine

=/\= Romulan Colony – Loyalist Underground =/\=

“How exactly do you envision that?” Lansine pondered aloud. The Romulan Centurion was asking for much more than supplies and medical aid. Open rebellion against an established regime was risky enough without the variables of an ongoing civil war. Rob disliked Starfleet politics enough; embarking on a new quest to unite an alien colony surely was not something he’d take to with any bit of glee.

Aerv, the leader of the makeshift rebellion as well as the apparent principal of all organization, civilian and military, underground the colony, raised a brow, “But Commander, I haven’t finished,” his smile betrayed a side of the story Lansine had yet to hear. “I was hoping you’d ask what was in our little endeavor for you and your shipmates,” he said slyly. The Romulan man’s smile had returned, his lips parted devilishly, grin from what seemed ear to ear.

Rob paused. Romulan smiles were beginning to creep him out.

Aerv continued, “What do you humans say? ‘Quid quo pro?’ There is as much to be gained for my people as there is yours from our combined effort, Commander.”

Lansine refrained from immediately answering, only offering a look of skepticism. A man who had whisked him off the street and into an underground lair headquartering the local political rebellion and asked for his help to unthrone the reigning governor now suddenly had something to offer him.

Serious doubt filled Lansine’s mind.

“Ah, but don’t believe me, Mr. Lansine. See for yourself,” Aerv said, this time waving a finger at one of the engineers operating the holo-terminal across the room. “Show him.”

The bright blue holo-image of the planet rotating in the middle of the room in front of Lansine and his Romulan counterpart suddenly dissolved and was replaced by a translucent molecular structure; one Rob was not familiar with.

“This my Federation friend is what your people now call ‘Tango-12’,” Aerv said, walking around the large holographic representation. “A rather strange name considering its nature, but for the sake of our conversation I will spare you the Rihannsu designation,” he continued around the display, now opposite Lansine and staring through the transparent image. “This-,” the Romulan began once more but was promptly interrupted.

“Will you just get to the goddamn point,” Lansine, arms firmly crossed, said forcefully. He had had about enough of the Romulan’s dramatics, a characteristic that seemed far too common among the alien’s species. “You grabbed me off the street, took my only means of communicating with my ship, and have been parading me around your-,” he paused and looked around in frustration as he threw his hands in the air, “whatever the hell this place is. And you want me to help you? If you have something to say—say it now.”

Aerv stepped back, momentarily surprised by the human’s sudden emotional outburst. Despite their guest’s abrupt rudeness, he smiled—the man had a bit of passion in him.

Passion was good.

“Ah, yes of course, Commander,” Aerv continued, this time taking control of the hologram before them with the panel in front of him. “This chemical compound is one unique to our colony; one many of the laboring class on the surface mine from our quarries daily.”

Rob listened, however tepidly as Aerv continued dancing around his point.

“Are you aware of the Tholian and Andorian embassy bombings on Earth, Commander?” Aerv asked, looking up from the panel and through the hologram into Lansine’s eyes.

“Of course,” Rob replied sharply. The news of the attacks had filled Starfleet Security’s reports for the better part of the last month. Yet, despite this, he didn’t follow the apparent congruence of what was being presented to him and the attacks.

Aerv pursed his lips together before sighing softly, “This, Mr. Lansine,” he looked up at the revolving holographic chemical compound, “is responsible for those explosions.”

Rob’s pained expression quickly transformed into a look of confusion, “How can you be sure?”

Aerv sighed, “Our people may be cutoff from physical supplies and the hear of our Empress, but my people have many information contacts off-world.” He walked back around to Lansine. “The governor and his henchman have been supplying this chemical Orion operatives working for the Tal’Shiar. Those same people have been smuggling the manufactured final product outside Romulan space for weeks,” Aerv’s expression turned even more serious. “Commander, I have lost many for this information. I do not take their word lightly.”

The tremendous amount of new information swarmed Lansine, who until now had either felt annoyed or mildly angry at his Romulan hosts. If accurate, such information could indicate a real, and dangerous, connection between the Romulan Civil War and the terrorist attacks on Earth, and if Aerv’s informants were to be trusted, the possibility of future attacks on Federation interests across the Alpha and Beta Quadrants.

“This is… alarming,” was all Lansine could muster.

Before he could formulate anything else to add, a young distraught Romulan man bursted into the room. “Centurion, the Governor’s forces are mobilizing!” He reported frantically before bending over for a breath. “It appears the Federation vessel is sending more vessels to the surface.”

Aerv’s expression soured, “No doubt they’re beginning to become suspicious of our friend’s absence.” He looked at Lansine. “Without a way to cut through the crust’s interference I’m afraid we won’t be able to warn them,” he frowned, this time deeper than before.

“I’m afraid your colleagues are in for a surprise.”


=/\= End Log =/\=

 

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