Rafter T Ranch

Central Mountain Region, Terra Alpha

Ethan kicked Jake in the sides with a light tap of both boot heels and the buckskin colored quarter horse jumped into action running full speed at a Black Angus cow with her tail raised high like a flag pole.  Her calf was close behind. It only took Jake a few quick bounds.  As a trained cutting horse he didn’t require direction from the rider and soon Ethan was riding along side the pair. “Ho!” Ethan shouted as he slapped his lariat against his chap covered right thigh.  Mother and calf veered right and merged back in with the herd again.

Elizabeth Kyle his much younger cousin who was also on leave from Starfleet was riding point.  David Sackett, also a cousin and ranch foreman, rode swing with his wife Trinity. Ethan was taking up the rear in the drag position.  One of the least desirable positions because of the unending work and ever present dust, but Ethan never asked someone to do a job he wouldn’t do himself.  

The snow was melting in the high country with only patches lying under trees and in the deep crevices of the northern sides of slopes.  The creeks were at full capacity, brown with mud and wooden debris as the runoff ran off the mountain and eventually into one of the oceans.

The four riders pushed the small herd of twenty-two cows and calves over crest of a hill and down into a little valley that served as the summer range for the ranch’s cattle.  Along a small creek was a round correl and a some chutes.  The chuck wagon sat outside the  correl near the creek and a tendril of grey smoke rose into the air.

Running the herd into the pen Ethan looked skyward. The sun was high.  If it wasn’t noon it was close enough.   “Let’s grab lunch,” he said to his family as the gate latched shut.  There were grins as the others stripped the saddles off their mounts and hobbled them so that they could graze. They would draw fresh horses from the remuda after lunch.  

Ethan did the same for Jake and rubbing him down and giving the horse an apple core from his saddle bags.  He had saved from earlier that morning for this purpose.   Finished grooming his horse Ethan approached thr chuckwagon.  Mrs. Ackers their house keeper looked strangely out of place cooking over the open fire,  but her movements were a deft as ever.  Trinity was seated with breaking cornbread into a plate of beans for their twins Aurthor and Diana.

“Coffee?” David asked standing next to the fire with the pot in his hand.

“Yeah,” Ethan replied.  “Of course.” He plucked a tin cup from the back of the wagon and held it out for David to pour the bitter dark-brown liquid into.  Taking a sip of the black coffee Ethan smiled.  “Nothing better than camp coffee.”

“I can think of a few things,” Elizabeth chimed up.  She was already seated in the grass with her back propped up against a log with a plate of beans on her lap.  The thick slices of bacon floating in the mixture made Ethan’s stomach grumble.

“Yeah, well so could I, but some things you can’t do in camp in broad daylight surrounded by family.,” Ethan replied as he dug out a wooden plate and a spoon from the wagon which Mrs. Ackers ladled two scoops of the browb-grey beans from the kettle over the fire onto his plate.   That was followed by a thick chunk of yellow cornbread from the nearby Dutch oven.

“That’s why you got twins and another one on the way dearie,” Mrs. Ackers said in her Northern English accent.

“I can’t depend on these bums.  Gotta grow my own cow hands,” Ethan joked.

“And you can do the growing yourself, ” Trinity shot back.  “I’m done. I hate being pregnant,  and I seriously hope you didn’t ‘forget’ your pill on purpose just to get more help on the ranch.”

Ethan chuckled,  “Naw, I certainly didn’t. I still have nightmares from the twins when they were newborns.”

“You didn’t have one on each nipple trying to tear it off,” Trinity replied.

“No, that definitely did not happen.  But still, glad it’s only one this time.”  Ethan replied as he dropped into the grass next to his wife.  Diana crawled onto his lap with a her own hunk of cornbread held in both mouth and right hand.  She had her mother’s dark hair and it flew wildly in the breeze. He ruffled her soft locks and she leaned in and kissed her father on the cheek leaving crumbs in his stubble.

“After lunch,” he announced, “Elizabeth saddle up that grey. Other than Jake he’s probably the best cuttin’ horse in the herd.  I need you to heel while David and I castrate and brand. You still remember how to rope don’t you?”

She smirked,  “I can rope better than you cousin.”

“That’s not saying much,” David teased raising his coffee in salute to Ethan.  “The man can’t rope to save his life.”

“I do just fine thank you very much,” Ethan protested through a mouthful of beans.

“Diana sweetie,” Trinity said to her daughter.  “Don’t act like your dad and talk with your mouth full.”

Bad Daddy!” Diana admonished slapping him in the chest with surprising strength for a three-year-old.  That of course elicited laughs throughout the camp. Diana returned to her cornbread with a satisfied look on her face.

“Like daughter,  like mother,” Ethan said shaking his head.

Later…

The calf bawled in protest while his mother returned an annoyed moo as Elizabeth drug the hapless animal near the fire by both back legs.  Ethan lifted the calf and wrestled it to the dirt with a knee on its shoulder behind the neck pinning it to the ground.  David already had his laser scalpel in one hand and an antiseptic spray in the other.  With quick deft hands he removed the animal’s reproductive organs tossing the offending tissue into the nearby fire to discourage flies from buzzing around everywhere.  

Trinity approached with a branding iron and pressed the cherry red steel against the calf’s right hip leaving a black chevron over a capital T.  The brand of the Rafter T Ranch.  There were few fences and the Talons weren’t the only ones running cattle in the area.  Quick identification was a must and microchips could be removed or compromised.   A brand was significantly harder compromise.

For his part Ethan pressed a hypospray against the red fur of the animal injecting it with antibiotics,  vaccines,  and yes even a microchip.  This would allow them to track the health and growth of the animal as well as the location of its movements.

With a flick of his wrist David freed the back legs from Elizabeth’s rope and tossed it in her direction which she started to coil back and trot back to the herd to pick out another calf in need of treatment.  David and Ethan released the calf and it trotted back to its mother complaining the whole way before find a teat to sooth its pain.

Ethan stretched his sore back and removed his Stetson wiping the sweat from his face, “I’m getting too old for this.”

“It’s a young man’s job,” David agreed.  

“We’re not even forty,” Trinity protested.

Ethan smirked at her and snagged a canteen of water hanging on a fence post uncorked the top, took a long drink and offered it to David who took a drink as well.  “I guess growing up on a ranch bucking hay and throwing calves and steers from about age ten ages us faster than you city folk.”

Trinity playfully slapped his shoulder.   The truth was, her back was hurting too, but she wasn’t going to give the men the satisfaction of knowing that. Besides her back always hurt. Another reason not to ever get pregnant again.

Elizabeth separated a calf from her mother.  This time a small heifer about 6-weeks old.  With a couple twirls of her rope the lasso fell around the calf’s ankles and slipped tight as she dallied off of the saddle horn. Dragging the bawling animal over to the fire she gave Ethan and David a satisfied grin.  “Nine for nine.”

“You’ll miss eventually,” David said teasing her.

“Still, you’re one hell of a hand.  Too bad you have to go back to Starfleet,” Ethan added.

Elizabeth shrugged,  “I  am needed on the Aquarius.   The ship needs her Chief Engineer.”

“Well, if you are as good of an engineer as you rope they are in good hands,” Ethan conceded as he grabbed the calf by the legs and tossed her to the ground. In tandem motion Ethan injected, clipped an ear tag into her ear and David pressed the branding iron onto her hip. Within seconds the spotted heifer was free shaking it’s head annoyed with the ear tag and confused.

Elizabeth smiled and coiled her rope, and with a smirk as she reined her horse back to the heard, “I am better.”

“Well, she doesn’t lack confidence,” Ethan said with a sigh.

The buzz of Trinity’s combadge brought them all back to the 25th Century. “Terra Alpha Control to Commander Talon.”

Trinity sighed tapping her combadge,  “Go ahead control.”

“Admiral Korlin with Starfleet Intelligence is on a Priority 1 line for you.”

“Understood. Prepare to lock onto my combadge and beam me directly to my house.”

“Stand-by.”

A second later a transporter beam enveloped Trinity  leaving Ethan and David alone. “Looks like you’re going back to work,” David observed.

“Looks like it,” Ethan replied.  It was always nice to come home and there was always more work than they could manage. “You’re going to need to hire some people to finish the branding.”

“Nah, I don’t think so. We’re almost done.  After what we did today that pretty much just leaves the stragglers.   I can use a stun phaser for the rest.”

Ethan sighed. He didn’t like using those since it needlessly stressed the animals out and had a nasty habit of causing cardiac arrest in cattle, but with David alone he wasn’t going to herd let along rope and hold the calves down.  “You do what you gotta do I guess.  Oh, Jake’s due some new shoes.  Have Scott take care of him this week will you?”

“He’s already on the list,” David replied of their farrier that came once a week to work through their herd of horses.

Ethan nodded as he grabbed the next calf Elizabeth brought to them and tossed it to the ground.

That night…

Ethan kicked off his boots outside on the porch.   The single bulb lit the area in a soft glow of yellow.  The crickets were singing ther night songs and the air was still.  In the distance coyotes howled.  A pack had either made a kill or they were fighting over the remains of some carrion.

Carefully setting the boots next to the door he entered the house  to fresh coffee in the air and a plate of food that smelled suspiciously like meatloaf covered in a cloth to keep the flies out of it.  Hanging his black Stetson on the hook he unbuckled his gun belt and hung that on the hook near his hat.  His rifle he placed high up on on the rack near the ceiling well out of reach of the children.

Wynonna Ackers was at the sink finishing up the dishes from the meal and smiled as he walked in.  “You have a strong odor of man who has put in a full day’s work dearie.”

“That’s and understatement.  I’m ready to go back to work so I can relax,” he joked.  “Trinity?”

“Oh, she’s putting the twins to bed.  You want a coffee Ethan?”

“In a bit,” he said with a tired smile. Going to the twins’ room he stood in the doorway not wanting to interrupt as Trinity read to them some kid’s book about horses, dogs and the like.  When Trinity finished Ethan walked into the room. He tucked in Diana while Trinity tucked in Arthur.   

With  a kiss on her forehead she wrinkled her nose, “Eww. You stink daddy.”

Ethan chuckled,  “I haven’t had a shower yet. Goodnight Princess.”

“Goodnight daddy.”

He and Trinity switched places and he kissed Arthur on the forehead,  “Goodnight Bug.”

“Goodnight daddy,” he said with a small grin. “I can’t wait to grow up and run cattle like you.”

“It’s hard work,” Ethan replied.  

“I know, but it’s honest work.”

Ethan chuckled,  “And where did you hear that?”

“Grandpa.”

“Well, Grandpa would know wouldn’t he? He’s real old.”

Author giggled and Ethan pulled the covers around his son’s chin. “Goodnight little man.”

With their Goodnights done Ethan and Trinity stepped out of the room turning the light off and pulling the door mostly shut allowing the hallway light to shine through the crack. Husband and wife were halfway down the hall before they spoke.

“So, what did Korlin want?”

“Seems like the Romulans are acting up again ” Trinity said with a sigh.  “You have a mission.”

“I figured that much. When do we leave?”

“The crew that are on Terra Alpha are set to rendezvous on the Pike at 0700 in the morning .  I have the rest meeting you at Starbase Bravo.   I’ve sent the mission details to your terminal on the Pike.”

Ethan nodded, “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. You get to put ears on.”

“Undercover?” Ethan sighed, “great.”

The was empty at this early hour. Ethan was wearing a pair of greasy overalls. With his unkempt hair andsalt and pepper beard he like any one of hundreds of freighter crews that visited Starbase 4 every day.  Approaching a shuttle bay Ethan entered an access code given to him by Starfleet Intelligence  for this mission.  The code disabled all security protocols for thr Bay, and if a nosey security officer started looking into it  it would lock out their computer and alert SI.

Entering another series of commands the massive bay doors parted. Almost as soon as they opened fully the doors closed shut with  heavy thunk leaving the bay  empty as before.  Suddenly green painted Romulan shuttle decloaked in the middle of the bay.

Entering the bay Ethan approached the shuttle as the airlock on the side opened with a hiss of air and whir of servos . A Romulan woman stepped out, glanced around. Seeing Ethan she approached,  “You Are as punctual as your mother.”

Ethan politely smiled, “Governor Tomarah.”

Governor Tomarah T’Sei was a former warbird commanderthat had crossed paths with Rebecca Talon back during the Dominion War. In fact his stepmother har rescued the Romulan and her ship.  After the war Tomarah joined the Romulan Senate until the destruction of Romulus and Remus left the Star Empire in shambles and many of thr people refugees. Aligning herself with the Romulan Republic she became governor of a fefugee colony and led one of the few colonies not completely riddled wirh corruption.  What wasn’t on her dossier.  At least not on any official dossier was that Tomarah T’Sei had cut her teeth as an agent of the Tal Shiar as she worked her way up the ranks of the Imperial Navy, and she still had contacts on Rator.  It was those contacts Ethan hoped to exploit.

“Commander Ethan Talon. You haven’t the look of the young child anymore.”

“I was in my teens when weast met on the Dennver,” Ethan observed.   “I’ve done a little growing since then.”

The Romulan nodded.  “Indeed you have. Just as handsome as your father though.”

“What can you tell me about Tal Shiar operatives on Velorum?”

Tomarah shook her head,  “Nothing. All of my contacts still associated with the agency are not part of those that need to know.”

Ethan wasn’t surprised,  but it was worth asking.  Sighing he made another scan of the bay looking for anything that was out of place. “And our cover IDs?”

Tomarah nodded, “I got you and your team all legitimate indemnification.  Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get all of you Tal Shiar credentials.  Not even low-level credentials to get through the door let alone access their database,  but I did get four of those. I suggest the field office I’m Re’kor Provence.   It’s smaller than the one in the capital city,  so security should be more manageable when you inevitably trip alarms.”

Ethan nodded taking the Romulan data rods and tablet she Romulan handed to him. “Thank you.”

“You can thank me by not dying. I respect your mother too much to know that I am the cause of her pain.”

Ethan nodded, “I understand Governor.  I understand all too well.”

Ethan had changed into a Starfleet uniform… sort of.  He wore the trousers and the black undershirt with three commander’s pips but opted to leave off the jacket. He entered the after-crew lounge aboard the USS Zebulon Pike with Governor Tomarah T’sei at his side.  His crew was already assembled in the cramped aft compartment.

“Good morning,” he greeted as he slid into his seat at the head of the table.  Tomarah took an empty seat to his right.  “I’m sorry we had to cut your leave short, but we have a mission. This is governor Tomarah.” Ethan introduced the Romulan woman at his side, “She will be acting as a mission advisor.” He entered commands into the embedded keypad on the table and the holo-emitter in the center of the table activated showing the head of a Reman slowly rotating. “This, my friends, is Resik, the new provisional leader of Psi Velorum.”

“You!” Jolie yelled as she reached for her hidden phaser and paused as she realized that Tomarah wasn’t the same one that they had seen a few days ago. She shook her head and relaxed. “Pardon me, Governor.”

Tomarah gave Jolie a quizzical look but simply nodded her acknowledgment. “Until recently he was a pit boss. He lead a group of Reman rebels,” Tomarah added, “and has managed to inspire almost everyone on Velorum and unite the factions.   Something of a miracle.”

Carolyn leaned forward, “What little I know about the political parts of all that,” she gestured at the holograph with a cautious eye, “…I don’t think miracle quite covers it…sounds like some either hard deal-making was made or some blunt force trauma motivation is being enforced.”  She sat back, her mind focusing on the picture of Resik.

Jolie leaned back in her chair, “Carolyn, I think we know about as much as a monkey fucking a football,” she stated as she looked back at the Reman leader on display.

“Be that as it may,” Ethan continued, “Resik has requested Federation aide.  To say Starfleet is leary about angering the wrong people on Rator and turning an uneasy truce into a shooting war would be an understatement,  but in principle, we support this independent movement.”

“The Romulan Republic is making overtures to the Psi Velorum government,” Tomarah added. “I believe both sides feel the other is just a little too provisional.   I cannot argue that point.  Accepting them could be problematic for the Republic and we can’t stop the Empire if Rator decides that enough is enough and annexes the planet again.  The Federation is their best bet.”

Carolyn shook her head, “This is going to be tricky and full of diplomatic space mines.  We piss off the wrong person or group…and all hell…, well in this case…more hell is going to break loose.”  A sigh, “They’re not wrong.  The Federation is the most stable thing they could hold onto in this whole situation.”  A question surfaced in her mind, “What about the Prime Directive?”

Ethan nodded, “The Prime Directive was discussed.  Aside from my opinion that particular decision is well above my pay grade.  This comes from the top fleet brass here.  Now, this is where we come in.  There is concern that there are Tal Shiar agents on Psi Velorum and they are there to undermine the Resik Administration.   To what degree we don’t know.  While assassination is not exactly Romulan style it isn’t above them either.”

“It is a near certainty the Tal Shiar is present on Psi Velorum,” Tomarah confirmed with a conviction that suggested she knew more than wadding public knowledge. “And, I assure you,  they aren’t there to take in the sites and enjoy the local cuisine.”

“So we’re going to Velorum to root out the wee buggers?” Dougal asked.

Ethan shook his head, “No, we’re going to infiltrate a Tal Shiar field office on Rator.”

“Bloody hell!” Dougal exclaimed.

Crawford looked to the Romulan governer to Talon and back again, “We never do things easy, do we?”

“No,” Ethan confirmed, “the easy way isn’t in our job description.”

“Well, I’m glad we have the cloak.  Speaking of which where’s Audren?” Aimee asked.

“Unfortunately Sub-Commander Swiftblade will not be joining us,” Ethan stated. “She is back on Talaria engaged in the  Moltoval Ritual and is indisposed at the moment.”

“Moltoval?” Dougal asked.

“It’s Narlin mating season.  Hylons don’t have the physical need like Narlins, but the ritual is deeply spiritual to those on Talaria.  It has the same religious undertones as Ramadan,  but with the celebration of Mardi Gras,” Aimee said. “Audren had warned me about this.  With all that’s going on, I had forgotten about it.”

“Sounds like a bloody rock concert,” Dougal said with a smirk.

“Enough,” Ethan announced.   “Carolyn you will just have to manage the cloak. Also, you have six hours to get our power signature to look like a Romulan transport ship.”

Crawford furrowed her brows, “The cloak I can handle.  The power signature…that’s going to take some work.” She put up her hands, “But I can do it in six hours.”  She nodded to Governor Tomarah, “I may ask for your assistance, Governor.”

Tomarah nodded, “I am no engineer,  but I know what an appropriate Romulan power curve looks like.”

The CEO smiled quietly, “With our powers combined, we’ll get us in and under the wire…hopefully with no problem.”

Ethan entered commands into his keypad and the image of Resik changed to that of a yellow and black wireframe representation of a small settlement shimmered into existence.  “Our mission parameters are simple: Infiltrate the Tal Shiar field office and steal whatever intelligence we can get on Psi Velorum including any names of operatives present on the planet.” He pressed a key and an animation of the Pike appeared and landed in a clearing outside of the settlement. Ethan continued,  “We will remain cloaked and land three clicks outside of town.” A dashed path in yellow led from the ship to a small building in the center of town.  “Jolie this operation is yours. You will lead Tomarah, Carolyn, and Mikaela into the building.  Aimee, Dougal, and I will remain with the ship as an extraction team.”

Jolie looked over the laid-out course as Tomarah spoke.

“I was able to obtain two authentic low-level Tal Shiar credentials for  Ms. Kyo and Crawford.   I am a well-known traitor so my identity will not be questioned.   Ms. Kovalev, you also will be provided with a Romulan citizen ID, and their records will show that you are an associate of mine.” Tomarah handed out Romulan PADDs containing their new identities.  “Ladies, these are legitimate credentials,  but it’s up to you to sell it. You will need to know your backstory backward and forwards.  Any slip-up or hesitation we are all doomed and our only hope is for quick deaths.  We aren’t strolling into the market here.  This is one of the most secure facilities in the Quadrant. The only more difficult facility would be the Tal Shiar Headquarters.”

Crawford looked over her PADD, a sly smile, “Dad always said I was a drama queen in high school.  Guess I get to test that theory out.”

Jolie looked away from the holographic display, “Actually, Tomarah, there is one person, recorded and still alive, that has snuck into and out of the Tal Shiar HQ,” she stated as she looked at the PADD in front of her.

“Then you know what to expect,” Tomarah replied hiding her annoyance with Jolie.

Mikaela stayed silent and accepted the PAAD. She silently read over it, looking at the key details. Her time undercover would serve her well, though it was limited in experience. She looked around at everyone else, then at the map, analyzing it as she was wont to do.

Ethan nodded and pressed more buttons. The map changed to that of the interior plans of the field office.  The console that contained the needed information flashed red. “Jolie,  what do you think?  You’re team lead on this op.”

“It’s doable but I am more concerned with sympathizers.”

Jolie then widened the map to show a small village that was along their course.

“Sympathizers?” Tomarah asked raising an eyebrow.  “We should get little attention especially disguised as Romulans.”

Crawford frowned.  She would have agreed with the governor, but the concern from Julie was enough to get her thinking and asking, “You think they’re more than they seem?”

“Tomarah, with all due respect, after what this crew has been through, and some of the shit that was have witnessed. I wouldn’t put it past anyone to drop a dime on some new-looking faces that suddenly show up out of the blue,” Jolie said as she nodded in agreement with Carolyn’s comment. “We all know that things tend to not look like what they appear to be. It’s one of the reasons why we are who we are and why we operate as we do. We see things that normal people and normal fleeters don’t.”

The Romulan woman stiffened and while her expression remained neutral Jolie’s words struck a nerve, “The settlement is not so isolated that a new face isn’t unexpected,  and the Tal Shiar documents cost me most of what little favors and connections I have left inside the Empire. You should be able to walk into Tal Shiar Headquarters with it, not just some field office.  Even if questioned,  stick to the cover story that you have captured me and my associate and you are taking us in for questioning.  Every good magician uses distraction.  Use me as such.”

Jolie shook her head. “I couldn’t in my right mind place someone that is under my command in such danger. Even if it meant a greater success,” she stated as she looked at Tomarah. “Not even you.” She looked back at the laid-out plans and thought for a moment, “We’re just going to have to hope that ‘luck’  is on our side,” she said with a resigned tone to her voice that was followed by a soft sigh as she returned the map back to its original size.

“I have been doing this a long time Commander,” Tomarah said crossing her arms.  “You weren’t even in diapers when I was a Tal Shiar operative aboard the Empire’s Warbirds.”

“Tomarah won’t be able to step foot on Rator III without her immediately being arrested. She served on the senate so it won’t just be the Tal Shiar that recognizes her. Either she sits on the sidelines for this or you stick to the plan,” Ethan said. “It’s your call, Jolie.  I can assign Dougal in her place, but I think her insight would be useful, and she’s right about the benefits of distraction.   It’s a covert operative’s greatest ally too.”

A growl left Jolie’s lips when she know that someone was right about something she objected to. She looked at Ethan, “You know this is wrong, cowboy,” she stated in a lowered voice. Nevertheless, she turned to Tomarah, “Gear up,” she says before she turned back to Ethan. “Have Dougal and the remainder of the crew on standby, just in case.”

Jolie then turned away from the CIC table and headed for medical. It was time for her to get her Romulan face-lift.

Ethan glanced at the others and shrugged,  “You have your orders. Dismissed.” Ethan watched the crew move out of the lounge leaving him with just Tomarah.  They sat in silence,  him sipping his coffee.

“Your first officer is not pleased.  Do you think she has the right temperament?” Tomarah asked.

Sighing he leaned forward on the table, “She’s got to learn sometime. I can’t lead every mission,  nor should I, but I have a feeling she’ll figure something out.”

Tomarah raised an eyebrow,  “If she doesn’t kill everyone first.”

Ethan winced. The governor was right. “Then she’s washed out, but she’s at the end of her chances in Starfleet and I have faith in her. Known her and her family far too long.  Good people and even better officers.”

Rator III…

“Ethan, we’re approaching Rator III. We’re still undetected, but that’s only because our countermeasures are working.” Mikaela piped up as her hands moved swiftly to evade the numerous patrols surrounding the planet.

“Thank you, Mikaela.” He glanced over at Jolie, “Small miracles.”

Jolie looked at Ethan as she thought to herself, ‘small miracles, indeed.’

“Take us out of warp,” Ethan said sitting up in his chair.   The Zebulon Pike was approaching Rator III at last after spending nearly a week running silent and dodging Romulan patrols.  Now here they were.  “Carolyn initiate Blue Alert.  Adjust the cloak to compensate for atmospheric entry.”

Crawford tapped at the console and the lights on the bridge faded to the blue alert as the computer announced they were going to blue alert. The lights in the wall of the bridge began to flash intermittent blue to remind them that indeed they were going into the atmosphere.  It took a moment, but the ship was soon ready, “All stations report secure and ready for blue action – ship ready and able.”

The Pike was buffeted as it entered the atmosphere. The cloak was far less effective while in the atmosphere where gaseous particles was physically pushed and moved around, but if no one was looking hopefully no one would notice.   They broke through the clouds as they passed over the target settlement.  The landing zone was centered on the viewscreen.   A clearing of relatively level grass field surrounded by tall leafy trees. A small stream pierced the northern boundary.

The ship entered the atmosphere and glided though the air heading for the landing zone.

Ethan glanced down at the readouts on his armrest and entered a few command, “All systems to station keeping. Bridge to Lt. MacDonald and Dr. MacDonald, please be on standby.” He turned to his first officer,  “the mission is yours Jolie. Godspeed.”

Standing up Jolie looked at the viewscreen for a moment before she nodded to Ethan. She then turned about and exited the bridge. A moment later she stood on the ramp that was lowered to the surface of the planet. 

—

While the Zebulon Pike was entering the atmosphere several Reman workers stood near the landing zone. A place that they had been informed of by the Federation that help would be arriving at. 

One of the workers looked over at their foreman as the sound of a ship approached, “Is this a good idea?” they asked as a tall lanky woman watched a ship approach them. “I do not know, but we are out of options, and besides we have requested Federation help.”

—

Tomarah stared at the humans around her disguised at Romulans.  Slipping on a pair of fetters and sighed. Her home was gone. Her old life was gone with the destruction of Romulus and the rise of Shinzon.  Now, here she was helping the Federation against her own people.  How things changed.  She would have never guess that her life would play out this way, set in motion following a meeting with a Captain Talon many years ago.  The old ways just wouldn’t work.  The Republic learned that, but the Empire seemingly never did.

In the distance she could see the tops of the buildings of the settlement, built in that classic Romulan architecture.  It almost felt like home. Almost. She nodded to Jolie indicating that she was ready.