PLOT - JDL | Com Ivanova, Cmdr Waterhouse, Cmdr Dahe'el, Ambassador Kyym - "Hurricane Off The Port Side"

Posted on Mon Feb 2nd, 2015 @ 9:18pm by Commander Logan Grant, PhD. & Admiral Rochelle Ivanova & Commander Amelia Waterhouse

1,985 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: A Spot To Kill

Dawn came with hues not unlike the skin tone of a mewling child, soft and sweet with promise of peaches and cream, pink and satin and all of it brought about by the sweet sound of birds. Far below the alabaster towers and dramatic cathedrals, white and slate mountains loomed and pointed straight to the heavens as if to say ‘Look! Something new has come!’ and while Kyym couldn't see that newness, she could feel it leeching through her bones. A tilt of her head and the lifting of a brow didn't yield any new results, no matter how the bird-like woman tried to peer through the multiple layers of atmosphere. All she knew was that high above circled a rather unwilling Queen in a great big giant titanium colored ship. She’d been warned of Rochelle Andreevna Ivanova's noncompliance and her foolhardy nature, and she was ready and waiting.

Atlantis had gone for too long without a ruling hand and now the time had come to welcome a regent some had questioned even existed. A human woman that argued the point of ruling? Many had found the idea repugnant and awful and thought her an ingrate for snubbing her nose at such a high honor, but Kyym had reserved judgment. William had chosen one of the frail creatures as his lover and as a servant to the royal house, and now the head liaison between them, she had no place to question, only to ensure that the woman didn't leave again and chose a suitable Atlantean man to reign with. The show, and the monarchy, relied upon it. No further alien intrusion would be allowed, it simply couldn't happen and, while reserving judgment, the idea of the Queen taking a human or, Heaven’s forbid, another species as her chosen… It sent repulsed shivers down her spine and caused the Queens of old to turn in their graves.

“Make ready for the Queen and her escort. See to it that their every need and desire is met. Wine. Men. Women. Make it happen.” She said, turning to face a young male porter that stood several degrees off her flank and away from the light of dawn. “The Queen is not to be disturbed or seen by her people until we've properly prepared her. And burn her uniform. She won’t be needing it again.” Kyym sniffed and walked past him, leaving a trail of fine bright silks wafting behind her as she did.


----


Three Hours Earlier…
USS VINDICATOR
Captain’s Ready Room


“I beg your pardon? I’m here as a Starfleet officer to clean up the mess the mo—“ Rochelle bit her tongue and shook her head as she caught herself from saying something out of temper. While she was the Queen of these people, she was an officer first and foremost and she knew she’d damn well better act like one – even when faced with the animosity being presented by Atlantis Prime, “the mess that Mikkal created when he attempted to rape me and usurp the throne. Any and all business can be conducted aboard the USS Vindicator, not down on the planet surface.”

“Your Grace, I apologize, but I have to disagree.” Kyym smiled softly, trying her best to hold her own tongue while dealing with the belligerent fire haired woman on the other side of the screen. She was beautiful and different compared to the tall, willowy blondes that made up Atlantean culture, but that wasn't quite enough to grant her the power to defy her role and power. The Queen would need to find herself planetside. There were no other options, no other chances. “It’s not just the Mikkal issue that needs tending to,” she continued with a tilt of her head, “If you’re to continue ruling from afar, you will need to select another porter to travel along with you and you’ll need to name a vice regent here on the planet. I’m sorry, your majesty, but you will need to conduct business within the palace. We promise we don’t bite.” The Atlantean chuckled softly at her daffy attempt at Terran humor.

Rochelle looked towards Almar and Amelia with a pained expression. This… Was torture and everything she had feared would come about by her showing face near Atlantis Prime. It had to happen. “Give me a moment.” She replied to the Atlantean and paused the transmission without waiting for a response, the Starfleet equivalent of mute. “Now what?” She asked, folding her arms, “We've gone back and forth for a fucking hour and they’re still not budging.” A heavy sigh punctuated the statement and her head shook as she tried to consider the rest of her options. Negotiating with a brick wall wouldn't get her anywhere, no matter how blue in the face she became.

"We have to go down to the planet," Amelia answered, frowning for it. She hated the answer, but it was clear the woman who was muted on the screen before them was prepared to drag her heels until Rochelle stepped foot on Atlantis Prime. "Though I believe the recommendation that came from Intel involved not trusting them to not block the transporters, so the initial team should go down in a shuttle or other ship."

The Commodore shook her head, "there has to be another way. Has to." She emphasized and folded her arms across her chest. "What I don't get is why they won't come aboard to do business, it's not like they have anything to lose by doing so." Looking back and forth between the Cardassian and her XO, she waited for something, anything, that would save them from having to step foot on that Gods forsaken planet.

"They want you to go down to the planet because while you are onboard the Vindicator, they have no way of keeping you there, even if we were to go down in a shuttle, it gives them a chance to keep you on the planet," Almar replied slowly, his head tilted to the side in thought as he ran a hand up and down his neck scales, "Going down there would be a mistake... but I do not see a way to get them off your back."

"It's better to walk into a trap, knowing it's a trap, than to get caught unaware by one. If we prepare for it, but try to keep them from realizing we have, maybe we'll be better suited to get out of it?" Amelia fully intended both Intel and Security to have a full representation on this little trip, and do everything possible to not leave Rochelle alone. "Unless you can convince them to deal with a representative, and you stay on the ship? I doubt she'll go for it." She nodded towards the view screen to indicate Kyym.

It was plain as day that both of her officers were just as uncomfortable as she. Neither one trusted the smiling face of the Atlantean woman, and that was fine by Rochelle. Her eyes followed Amelia's gesture back to the screen and she nodded. "It's worth a shot..." She agreed and steeled herself for another round of negotiation a la Atlantis, taking the conversation off mute.

"Amabassador Kyym, as it's against Starfleet regulations to send down the commanding officer of a vessel, I ask that you accept a representative in my place. My First Officer is more than capable of negotiating in my stead and will—"

Kymm shook her head with the softest of laughs, interrupting the red human, "No, I'm afraid that just won't do, your grace. You will need to come here and conduct these trials yourself. Your First Officer has no power here, nor does the Federation. We were asked to join once before and the answer was no for many reasons. These are things that you can change in the future, but for now under Atleantean law, you really are required to make an appearance." She smiled softly looking over the other two officers standing behind the Queen. The sight of them made her mouth feel cottony with one being a Cardassian and the other being an obvious mutt, "You can bring as large an entourage as you see fit and I'll see to it that everything is prepared for them." They'd be trouble, especially the snake that watched the young Queen's every move, but there were ways of dealing with them. Divide and conquer was such an old technique, and one that would surely work again.

"As large an entourage as I want?" Rochelle seemed to perk up hearing this and a slender brow shot up as she looked over her shoulder at Amelia and Almar. If they were going to walk into a trap, they were going to walk in well prepared. "So be it." She nodded, "We'll ready a shuttle and arrive by nightfall."

The Atlantean nodded and bowed deeply to her regent, "We'll be ready and waiting, your grace." before cutting the communication link. Dawn was fast approaching and there would be scant hours between then and dusk when the Queen would arrive. Things needed to be finished, plans set in action, and intelligence spread out. The following hours and days would be their last best hope when it came to keeping the woman grounded long enough to produce a suitable heiress to the throne. It simply must be done.

Rochelle stared at the darkened screen for a few moments longer and sighed heavily. "I'm going to regret this. I know it." She said and finally let it be, turning to face her most trusted. "Ready a team and the Liberty. Give them four hours to prepare and stress that we need to get in, deliver the Mikkal verdict, and get out as quick as possible while appearing polite." Pinching the bridge of her nose, the little redhead closed her eyes — the entire thing was already giving her a headache.

"The Liberty will be ready as soon as the word is given," Almar replied with a slight smile and bow of the head, "I actually took the liberty of insulating her systems against outside tampering, there are only a few select officers who have access to her command subroutines, in the event that one of the Atlanteans attempts to... move your chariot."

For a long moment there was silence as the redhead simply stared at the Cardassian in response to his attempt at humor at her expense. If she'd been in a better mood, she may have cracked a smile at it — instead she narrowed her eyes and finally found the perfect descriptive word; "Cute." She said, "Real cute." And with that she finally dropped her hands and seemingly slumped in mock defeat. "I just want this over and done with. Let's keep that as our prerogative and keep tight."

"We'll keep a way out open for you, there is no way that we are going to let them keep you here against your will," the Cardassian replied with a light chuckle

"I'll just go knock security and Intel up out of bed. Any last minute requests or concerns for me to relay, or will diplomatic paranoia be the buzzword to cover it all?" Amelia half turned, ready to head back to the bridge, then hit the turbolift. While she could easily ping Archer via combadge, she still liked a little more hands on approach with security.

"I don't plan on staying one way or another." Rochelle replied, and nodded to both of her officers, "Diplomatic paranoia is indeed the buzzword. Let's make it happen and rendezvous in four hours."

=/\= End Log =/\=

Commodore Rochelle Ivanova
Commanding Officer
USS VINDICATOR, NCC 78213-E

Commander Amelia Waterhouse
Executive Officer
USS Vindicator, NCC-78213-E

Commander Almar Dahe'el
Chief Engineer
Second Officer
USS VINDICATOR, NCC 78213-E

Ambassador Kyym
Atlantean Minister
APB Spaceman

 

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