Vausees looked down at Debrah, who had her head lying in her lap. She was playing with her hair as they relaxed in their quarters. Soft music played from the console on the bulkhead.

“Finally, some time to be able to heal and be together,” Debrah said; in a half sleepy voice.

Vausees could not agree more. The time in the alternate timeline had caused a lot of stress on her. Some with doubts about ever returning to their timeline, let alone home. Granted, the Heracles was her home but Earth and Trill, her Earth and Trill, were her homes as well.

A chime came over the intercom as the two women relaxed together on the couch.

‘Pardon my intrusion, Captain, but you have a priority one message from Starfleet Command,’ Jonton stated from the bridge.

A sigh left Vausees lips as she looked down at Debrah, “Duty calls,” she said and then replied to Jonton. “Send it to my quarters.”

As Vausees placed her thumb on the scanner, the image changed from the slow spin of the Task Force 72s logo to that of Th’lora Vehl. An irritated look crossed her face. Debrah saw it and instantly knew that the message wouldn’t be good.

***‘Captain Vausees, firstly, I would like to congratulate you on the safe return of Vice-Admiral Talon’s family from the Alternate Timeline. Secondly, I regret to inform you that you are hereby ordered to the outskirts of the Velorum Sector in Romulan Space. Where several mining colonies have come under attack. We still do not know exactly who is doing the act at this time. Nonetheless, you will assist in defense of those colonies.’***

Vausees paused the message and reached up to rub the headache that was starting to form behind her eyes. Softly she mumbles, “Not even home for a day, and we’re back at it. This time as babysitters.”

A pair of hands began to rub the back of her neck. “At least it’s not an alternate timeline,” Debrah stated as she began to press harder into the muscles of Vausees’s” neck.

Vausees was enjoying the attention from her fiance when she heard the comment. She looked into her bright emerald green eyes and glared as a soft grunt escaped her lips. She looked back down at the holographic image of the frozen features of Korlin and tapped the resume icon.

***‘Captain, your contact with a Starfleet Liaison named Viktor. Seek him out immediately upon your arrival as he will be your contact to the Remans that live and work in the mines.’***

Vausees paused once more and looked back at Debrah, “Remans. Oh great, that could only mean one thing. More Romulans to play with.”

“Maybe even some Orions,” Debrah added as she returned her attention to Vausees’ neck once more.

***‘These are trying days, Captain, but nonetheless, these are your orders. Carry them out to the utmost capabilities of your crew and the Heracles. Captain Th’lora Vehl, out.’***

Vausees looked at the holographic TaskForce 72 insignia for a while as she thought about the orders. She turned and looked at Debrah. “Time for work.”

-Bridge-

Debrah and Vausees left the lift at the same time. Debrah went to the Tactical station behind the Command chair as Vausees took a seat in the Command chair.

“Jonton, ship-wide please,” Vausees ordered

The resounding noise of the intercom activating was heard.

‘This is your Captain speaking, at this moment we are headed for the outskirts of the Velorum Sector in Romulan Space. We have been ordered to defend several mining colonies from attacks. However, we do not know who is attacking at this time. But we will do our duty and defend those colonies nonetheless. That is all.’

Vausees looked at Trever, “Helm, set course for Romulan Space, warp 8.”

Trever nodded, set in the coordinates for Romulan Space. “Course set, time for arrival; three days; at warp 8. Ready when you are Captain.”

“Engage,” Vausees said as she leaned back into her chair and watched as the stars flew past the viewscreen. 

-Proto II and Protous IV-Simix looked from the cockpit of his transport ship at what looked like a solid strand of cordage that ran from one planet to an adjacent one. ‘It is beautiful and from this distance shimmered with an ethereal look.’, he thought to himself.

Of course Simix knew exactly what that strange line was, and a line it was. From the planets of ‘Proto II’ and ‘Protous IV’, was a constant line of interplanetary commerce being imported and exported between the two planets, mostly ore and what little food that could be grown on the planets.

He himself was a recently appointed governor of the system. To him it was just a title and nothing more. Simix loved being a transport Captain more than he enjoyed what being a governor meant.

Suddenly as Simix was sitting there, staring off into space, he noticed three warp flashes near the line, and then suddenly explosions along it. His eyes widened and he swung the nose of his ship toward it.

-USS Heracles – en route to Velorum outskirts-Vausees was in her ready room reading over the profile of the Velorum Sector. She wanted to be sure that she knew just about everything that was inside of the sector before her ship and crew entered.

As she continued to prepare a chime echoed in the room and she looked up at the door.

“Enter,” she said as she waited for the person on the other side. “Cody.”

“Sorry to disturb you, Captain Vausees,” he said as he stepped in front of her desk. He was holding a stack of PADD’s under his right arm.

Vausees saw the PADD’s and instantly knew what they were, more progress reports from the department heads. “Looks like my studies are going to have to wait a little longer.”

Cody looked down at the stack for a moment before looking back up at Vausees, “I could handle this if you want to continue your studies on the Velorum Sector,” he stated, realizing just how important of a mission they were on and how his Captain was trying to do the best she could on being prepared, even if it was a tad bit of overkill.

“Nonsense,” Vausees stated as she patted the cleared corner of her desk, “after all it’s the duty of a captain to make sure that all the details are correct. Don’t you worry Cody, your time will come that you will understand what I mean,” she stated as she smiled.

“Of course, Captain,” Cody said as he placed the PADD’s on her desk.

-USS Heracles – Bridge-While Vausees was busy in her ready room, Cody had command of the ship. He sat in the central command chair and was looking over a PADD, when a soft beep came from behind him. Jonton was at his station at the operations console when the beep came in. He looked down at the console and tapped on the holographic icon that was assigned to the incoming message.

“Commander, message from Velorum Sector,” he said as he brought it up on the main viewscreen, “Audio only,” he stated when no image came up.

‘This is Governor Simix from the Proteus System. To any ship near the Velorum Sector. We are under attack from an Orion Slavemaster Battleship. Please anyone hearing this, help us.’

The message then went silent, and Cody looked back at Jonton, who was trying to reconnect to the message. Jonton shook his head.

“The message has been terminated, but I was able to verify that its origin was indeed from the Velorum Sector, and more specifically the Proteus System. Which I believe is one of the systems that we are heading for, Commander,” he stated as she brought up the Heracles’ course on the main viewscreen.

Cody stood up and looked at their course for a moment before he took a step toward the ready room.

“Commander Fergouson, the conn is your’s,” he stated just before he disappeared behind a closing door.

-USS Heracles – Conference Room-Cody looked at Vausees as she sat in silence. She looked at the holographic monitor that was built into the center of the conference room’s table. It was projecting the course that they had laid out for the mission into the Velorum Sector. Now with this transmission the plan was changed.

Both Cody and Vausees had agreed that all stops before the Proteus System would be placed on hold until after they had dealt with the Orion’s that had begun to attack that system.

Vausees reached up and pinched the bridge of her nose as she sat there, “This was supposed to be an easy mission,” she stated as she looked up at her second in command. “A simple show of force to keep this kind of situation from happening.”

Cody nodded to what she had said, “Pirates, marauders, and the occasional Orion Raider or Interceptor but a SlaverMaster Battleship,” He shook his head, “This is a going to be a handful if anything else shows up,” he stated as he looked back at the holographic image of the SlaveMaster Battleship just before the image shifted back to the Heracles’ route.

Reaching down Vausees, tapped on the intercom icon on the console that was built-in to the conference table.

‘All Senior Officers, please report to the conference room at this time.’, she said before closing the intercom.

-USS Heracles – Ideas-As the door to the room closed behind the last of the Senior Officer’s, Vausees looked at each of them. Reaching out she tapped one of the icons on her console which paused the repeating loop on the holographic display, onto the SlaveMaster Battleship.

“I need ideas on how we are going to handle this,” she stated as she pointed at the ship on the display. “And I needed them yesterday.”

Debrah and Jonton brought up both of their stations on the consoles before them and began to organize their ideas. Before too long Jonton and Debrah had an idea.

“Captain, what if we drop out of warp here,” she said as she indicated a massive gas giant near where the Orion ship would be by the time they arrived.

“It should mask our arrival and give us an element of surprise when we pop out in their blind spot,” Jonton indicated as he pointed at aft end of the ship where the engines were.”

Vausees looked at Trever and then the proposed plan. “You think you can handle it Lieutenant?”

Trever brought up the gas giant and what it was composed of. “Piece of cake,” he stated.

“Good,” Vausees said as she placed her hands on the top of the conference table. “Let’s get it done.”

-USS Heracles – Battlestations-‘T-minus three seconds’, the computer announced as the entire crew of the Heracles braced for a sudden emergency stop, inside of a gas giant with frozen methane clouds.

Suddenly the viewscreen changed from shooting stars to a fog of green-ish white vapor. “We’re here,” Trever said as he released the controls for a moment. He flexed his fingers as he sat there.

The entire time that the Heracles had been en route to this giant, he, Debrah, and Jonton had been masking their approach from any signals that might have given their position away. Now that they were here it was time to execute their plan. The only problem was, that even though they had chosen to warp into the gaseous planet, the clouds were keeping them as blind as the Orion ship. Now they needed to pop the cork and expose themselves to the vacuum of space and see if their calculations were spot on.

Trever slid his fingers over the console once more and the Heracles began to emerge out of the clouds and into space.

Vausees let out a semi-relaxing sigh when she saw the back end of the Orion ship. Without thinking she tapped on the holographic icon for ‘Red-Alert’.

‘All hands to stations. This is not a drill.’, the computer stated as the ship was configured for combat.

The lights on the bridge dimmed as red flashes illuminated the bulkheads, flooring, and ceiling, from the klaxon.

“Tactical, prepare for war!” Vausees said in a dark tone as she stared at the light blue tones of the activated engines of the Orion SlaveMaster Battleship.

“Helm, Delta pattern, four.” Vausees ordered as she pressed back into her seat.

-USS Heracles – She didn’t see that coming-As the Heracles began its attack several bay doors along the side of the Battleship opened and scores of interceptors began to engage the Heracles.

Without thinking Vausees tapped the Main Hangar intercom, “Captain Roberts, get your wing up,” she ordered and then closed the channel.

Moments later six Valkyrie fighters left the nose of the Heracles as phaser arrays light up and sent bolts of charged plasma at the hull of the Orion ship; followed closely by quantum torpedoes.

The Valkyries charged in and after the interceptors that the Battleship had unleashed. Explosion after explosion could be seen on the viewscreen as the fighters did their duty to protect the Heracles from the Battleships fighters; all the while the two ships bombarded each other with disruptors and phasers, as well as complements of torpedoes.

“Three ships decloaking off the starboard side,” Debrah stated as a D’deridex class and two Valdore type Romulan ships decloaked and headed into the battle.

The main viewscreen shifted from the Battleship to the face of a Romulan, “Captain Vax, General Viktor here, I presume that you could use a little help,” Viktor stated as all three Romulan ships opened fire with their disruptors.

The viewscreen split in two as Captain Roberts appeared. “Captain, I am detecting that the interceptors are in full retreat. Now might be a good time to end this.”

“Agreed Captain,” Vausees replied and nodded to both Kalsie and Viktor. “Follow my lead.”

Vausees turned and looked at Trever. “Attack pattern Beta-three,” she ordered. “Tactical, unleash hell.”

The Heracles suddenly pitched up exposing its underside as it bolted upward. At the peak of its climb it rolled over and began to dive down toward the center of the Orion SlaveMaster Battleship. As it grew closer to the ship a barrage of phasers and torpedoes erupted out. All of the Valkyries had followed the Heracles into its climb and were now firing upon the ship.

Viktor had his three ships dive and were coming at the Orion ship from below; their disruptors firing-at-will.

A massive explosion along the spine of the SlaveMaster Battleship caused the ship to tilt to one side as half of its engines suddenly flickered and then ceased to operate. As if on cue the ship attempted to warp away but the sudden use of power caused the ship to rip in two as the engines warped away from the front half of the battleship.

Vausees signaled the rest of the ships to halt their firing as she hailed the battleship. When no response was returned she brought the nose of the Heracles right up front and into the view of the bridge.

“Jonton, send them a message to surrender or be fired upon,” Vausees said as she looked into the flickering windows of the bridge.

“No reply, Captain,” Jonton stated.

“Do they still have the capability to reply?” She asked as she kept her eyes locked onto a single window.

“Yes, Captain,” Jonton replied.

“Kelsie, Viktor, the Orion ship has refused to reply to hails. They have the capability to reply. I have given them the chance to surrender and live but still have not replied.” She states to Kelsie and Viktor. “What would you two prefer to happen to them?”

“Well for one they have attacked my system, unprovoked.” Vikor states, “I for one want retaliation.”

“You’re my Captain, I will follow whatever orders you give,” Captain Roberts states as she sits in the cockpit of her Valkyrie, her targeting reticles flashing at the Orion’s bridge.

“So be it. Open fire,” she orders as the Heracles moves out of range and targets the smoldering remains of the Orion ship. All ships open fire and a massive explosion occurs and all the remains is a floating mass of debri. “General Viktor, I think it is time that we head for Proto II,” Vausees states as the Valkyries begin to return to the main hangar.

“Indeed,” Viktor states, “We have much to discuss.”

-Proto II – Planet side-

Vausees, Cody and Debrah stepped off of the ramp as it lowered down to the ground from the shuttle that they had taken to Proto II. They had followed Viktor from the battlefield to the planet where the Heracles was to stay in orbit. Now on solid ground they waited as guards stood with disruptors and other weaponry pointed at the group.

The planet guards had orders to hold anyone at gunpoint until told otherwise, which didn’t take long, as Viktor strolled up and gave them orders to disperse. 

“Sorry about that. I should have hailed the planet guard that you were on your way down,” Viktor stated as he motioned for Vausees and her group to follow him.

Viktor led the group to a very modest homestead and into what could only be described as a ranch house. He offered them something to drink.

“Earl Tea with a little bit of spice,” Vausees asked as she took a seat on one of the plush couches that was in the very spacious living room. 

As she sat she looked about the room. “Viktor, pardon my curiosity, but this homestead looks to be intact,” she states as she continues to look about the house.

Viktor nodded, “Yes, this is mine and our Governor’s home. It was taken shortly after the uprise from Resak on Velorum Prime,” he stated as she poured her drink and walked back over to the group.

Vausees took the offered drink and took a sip. A whistle escaped her lips as the heat slightly scorched her throat. Debrah looked at her and cocked her head to the side.

“Natural heat,” she said to Debrah; who shook her head in understanding.

Vausees returned her attention to Viktor, “So there was something that you wanted to discuss, General?” she asked as she crossed her right leg over her left and then placed the mug of tea on her thigh.

“Right to business,” Viktor said and nodded, “I like that about a person.”

He stood up and walked over to a wall-mounted monitor. As he stood next to the monitor he picked up a data-pad and looked back at the group. “Firstly, I want to thank you all for the response to Simix’s distress call for help. Secondly, I want you to know the situation as it stands on both Proto II and Protous IV.” He turned to look at the monitor and raised the data-pad. A second later the monitor shifted from a blank, black, screen to data that had been collected over the past 22hours. “As you can see most of the industrial and colonial gardens, machinations have been destroyed by the Romulans that left after Proto II declared itself independent from the Star Empire as well as the Republic,” he stated as images of smoking or ruined machines were displayed on the monitor.

Vausees leaned forward as she looked at the images. In her head she knew what she was going to need to do before Viktor had finished with his presentation. 

“… you see without these machines up and running we aren’t going to be able to sustain the remaining populations of Remans and Romulans that have stayed here to enact the independence that was fought for, after the fall of the Star Empire,” Viktor states as he turned back to look at Vausees.

“Viktor, if the Heracles leaves Velorum, you will be defenseless against further attacks. However, I am willing to send my ship back to Federation space and the nearest Starbase for the supplies that you require. While myself, and a small group of say,” she paused for a moment as she thought about the size of the away team that she would need, “No more than twelve members of my crew would stay behind to help defend from ground assaults. Would that be acceptable?” She asks as she looks the Romulan in the eyes. She could see he was doing some calculations of his own.

“I will need to run this by our Governor, but I do not see this being a problem if it will guarantee that we have a future without tyranny,” Viktor says as he looks at a chrono that was hanging on a nearby wall. “Let me run this by Simix, our governor…” Viktor was about to finish his statement when the doors to the house opened up and Simix appeared. 

“Viktor, I was told that our saviors are here?” Simix yelled from the door as he walked into the living room, and sees Vausees and her group.

-Heracles – Bridge-

Trever sat in the command seat, in silence, as Vausees explained what she needed him to do, and what was agreed upon by the systems Governor. She could see the look in his eyes as he remembered the mission to Archanis V.

“Trever, I promise you that this will not be like Archanis V,” she stated, realizing that she needed to get him to let go of that dreadful day.

Trever took a deep breath and steadied himself. He looked at his Captain and nodded. “I’ll be back in a flash,” he stated

“Remember, Lieutenant, Protos II and Protous IV are counting on these supplies,” Vausees said just before she closed the link between herself and the Heracles.

-Proto II – The Governor’s Estate-

Vausees turned and looked back at the gathering of her crew. She looked at Sukitha and nodded. The young fighter pilot had insisted that she be added to the away team, and had given a very solid reason; which Vausees could not say ‘no’ to.

“You know why most of you were chosen for this part of the mission,” she said as her eyes landed on Zyvia propped up against an interior pylon that was supporting the upper floor. She knew she could count on her to do what was necessary. “We are here to defend this estate against any that would threaten to topple the government on this planet,” she said as she continued to look at her away team. “Now spread out and keep your ComBadges open. Report anything suspicious immediately. Dismissed.”

With that out of the way Vausees stepped over to Viktor and Simix, who were sitting at a table with a poker game going on. She took a seat with them, “Deal me in,” was all that she said as Simix nodded and shuffled out 3 more cards.

–

Outside of the Governors Estate on the outskirts of a ruined factory a group of Romulans sat in the shadows. Night had begun to settle in and no campfire was light as a single tall slender Romulan looked through a pair of binoculars at the Estate from atop of a cliff that overlooked the estate’s compound. His eyes narrowed as he spotted a single Federation member inside one of the buildings on the estates compound. He turned his head to look at the others from his team.

“We attack just before dawn.”

–

Back at the compound Vausees paced the inside of the guest room that Simix had given to her and Debrah. He stated that she and Debrah should get some sleep as tomorrow was bound to be a long and hot day. However, Vausees found it impossible to relax as she had a feeling that something was wrong, what she did not know, but the feeling was there nevertheless.

Debrah on the other hand was laying on her back on a soft, plush bed, and watched as her fiance paced.

“I don’t think Simix is going to like that you wore a path into his flooring,” she stated in a teasing tone as she continued to watch Vausees.

Vausees stopped and looked at Debrah, “I can’t shake the feeling that something is going to happen, and soon,” she stated as she walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.

Debrah leaned over as she shook her head and wrapped her arms around Vausees, “You worry too much,” she said as she pulled Vausees backwards into the bed. “Besides, the grounds are surrounded by a force wall that not even Zyvia could penetrate.”

Vausees sighed as she knew that Debrah was right. They were, after all, in the most protected place in all of Proto II. She relaxed somewhat as Debrah began to play with her hair. A gesture that Debrah found relaxed her fiance when she was stressed out.

After she felt Vausees relax completely, Debrah, laid on her back as Vausees cuddled up next to her.

“You, baby,” Debrah said softly, “This place could be considered beautiful if it wasn’t for the fact that it is on a war torn planet,” she stated as she traced circles on the side of Vausees neck.

As Vausees laid there in her fiance’s arms she could see how the area could be considered beautiful, and had to agree, “You’re right about that,” she said as her eyes began to slowly close from the attention that Debrah was giving her. Sleepily she teases Debrah in a groggy voice, “You are evil sweetheart.”

-Heracles – Romulan Assault-

The Heracles begins its plotted route out of the Proteus System, when a Dinaes Warbird Destroyer and a D’deridex Battlecruiser drop out of warp. 

Trever’s eyes widen as he sees this, “Red Alert!” he yelled out as the bridge lighting dimmed and the once white ambient lights along the bulkhead and around the viewscreen changed colors to red. “Helm, evasive pattern Delta 1-4,” he orders as the Battlecruiser locks onto the Heracles.

Several Plasma beam banks on the Battlecruiser fire upon the Heracles as it attempts to flee during the evasive maneuver. The shields flair a bright bluish white as the beams impact the ship. 

On the bridge sparks showered the officers as EPS conduits overloaded from the intensity of the plasma beams. Trever covered his head from them as best as he could while still maintaining his sights on the main viewscreen. The Battlecruiser could be seen on the screen sending another volley of beams toward the Heracles.

“Sir, if we take any more of this our shields will be toast,” Jonton stated from the operations console as the bridge bucked, again from the most recent impact.

Trever knew that he had to get them out of harm’s way and fast. “Helm, evasive pattern beta three, and as soon as you see an opening punch it to warp 6,” he ordered.

The helmsman nodded in acknowledgement and input the command for the evasive pattern. 

The Heracles dove down low in a tight cork-screwing spiral as it tried once more to evade the incoming barrage coming from the D’deridex Battlecruiser. As the helmsman kept his eyes focused on the viewscreen as well as the sensors on his console an opening emerged. Not wasting any time he slid his fingers along the warp engines LCARD to warp six, and the Heracles vanished into a flash of bright blue light as it stretched out and entered into its warp bubble.

-Proto II – Assault on the Governor’s Estate-

All was quiet on the compound as most everyone was asleep. However outside the force wall shadows darted from concealment to concealment as a group of Romulans made their way toward the compound; stealth and silence were their allies at this time of night.

As they approached the compound one of the Romulans held up their hand as a guard, who was patrolling the inside of the compound, suddenly appeared near their location. The lead Romulan waited for the guard to disappear out of sight before they signaled for the group to once more advance upon the compound. Unbeknownst to them however, hidden from view, the force wall awaits them.

The group stopped just short of the hidden wall and the lead Romulan signaled for the group to hold place as he stepped forward. As soon as his foot crossed over the hidden wall his entire body surged with energy and the force wall lit up like a campfire had been set ablaze.

Lights suddenly exploded into use and flooded the section that had lit up. As the Romulan leader lay there unable to move he watched as his assault team vanished without a trace and left him to his face.

–

Vausees and Debrah shot out of bed, bare for the whole world to see. Each had a phaser in hand as they looked about in the darkness of the room that they were in. Adrenaline flooded their bodies nervous systems as they searched for the source of the sound that had instantly stirred them to being fully awake. 

They both realized at the same time that the noise was coming from outside. Debrah reached over and tossed Vausees her pants and her black tank as she slipped into her’s. As soon as their boots were on their feet they were outside and rushed for the still flickering force wall. Debrah had switched out her phaser for a rifle as she ran out toward the flickering force wall.

A group had gathered around the flickering force wall by the time the two women had reached the wall.

“What happened? Who is it?” Vausees asked as she made her way through the group. 

Viktor stood closest to the wall, wearing nothing more than his briefs and a disruptor in his left hand. He looked up at a Reman that stood near the walls energizer and nodded. As soon as the wall dropped Viktor and Debrah set upon the downed Romulan.

As they drug the slightly unconscious Romulan away the wall reset back to its inert state and Vausees followed the Romulan being drug away. Her normally light blue eyes almost appeared to glow white in the darkness as she followed Viktor and Debrah.

In her mind thoughts began to form as to who this Romulan was and why he thought to enter the Estates compound. Then she thought about what he was doing on the other side of the force wall, and was he alone.

–

Moments later inside of a bunker underground a Romulan sat in a dark room, on a cold steel chair. His hands were bound behind him and his eyes and ears were covered with a thick black double folded cloth. His mouth was closed, for the most part, by a cord of rope that was secured behind his head by a clasp.

On the other side of the room was a mirrored window that looked into the dark room, and on the other side of that mirror was a small room that held a desk that was monitoring the inside of the dark room. A hologram of the Romulan floated as Viktor, Debrah, and Vausees watched the Romulan sit in involuntary silence.

“What shall we do with him?” Debrah asked out loud as she looked at the Romulan.

Viktor replied, “Interrogation, of course.”

“We need to know if there are any more outside of the walls,” Vausees added as she focused on the holographic image of the Romulan.

“Agreed,” Debrah and Viktor said in unison.

-A Dinaes Warbird Destroyer and A D’deridex Battlecruiser-

Both the destroyer and the battlecruiser had set up a geosynchronous orbit above Proto II and both commanding officer’s were in deep discussion, on board the battlecruiser, as to what needed to be done.

“Xandis, you fool, how could you let that puny Federation ship getaway!” Ri’veetha yelled as she sat in her command seat, her face giving no trace of emotion as she looked at Xandis as he walked onto her bridge. 

His sharp edged face remained emotionless as he looked at his counterpart as she sat high up in her seat. “Me? You couldn’t hit the broadside of a Borg Cube if it sat still,” he retorted as soon as he took a seat next to her.

“So what now?” She asked as looked over at the viewscreen of Proto II floating in an inky black background of stars.

“How about we hail them and see who answers,” Xandis stated as he too looked at the planet on the viewscreen. 

“Agreed,” Ri’veetha stated as she looked over at her communications officer, “Open a channel to the planet.”

The Romulan communications officer wasted no time as he opened a channel to the planet.

“This is Admiral Ri’Veetha of the Romulan Republic D’deridex Battlecruiser U’miahl, requesting a response from the Governor of Proto II. Respond now or be fired upon,” Ri’Veetha said in a harsh but serious tone

Vausees stood in the living room of the Governor’s house as the primary monitor lit up with the features of a Romulan. Everyone in the room turned their attention to the monitor and listened to what was being said. No one dared to breathe as the message was being sent to them.

When the message ended, and the monitor returned to its static state, Vausees turned and looked at Simix and Viktor. She could see the terror in Simix’s eyes as he looked at Viktor.

Viktor turned and walked out of the living room. Vausees watched him until he disappeared from view. Her attention then returned to Simix, and she stepped over to him.

In a low tone, she spoke to him, “Don’t worry, my Hazard teams specialize in these kinds of situations,” she reassured him as Debrah walked up and gave the Governor a nod. Vausees nodded to her fiance and turned to follow Viktor’s path.

–

She found him outside leaning against a post that held up the second floor. The sun was just starting to crest on the horizon as she stepped up next to him.

“What’s on your mind, Viktor?”

“I know who that Admiral is.”

This caught Vausees by surprise, “Oh?” she replied.

“She’s known to lead a vast armada. With well over hundreds of Republic warbirds and was once part of the Tal Shiar,” he stated as he looked out over the compound at the horizon and an incoming sandstorm. “I expect her to send down her ground forces in that storm,” he says as he indicates the approaching storm.

“What are we looking at, General?”

“Two if not three units of Romulan guard.”

Vausees shook her head and looked out at the approaching sandstorm. “I’ll get my team’s, up to speed,” she said as she turned about and headed back in, as a gust of warm wind sent up some dust.

–

Back inside, Debrah sat next to Simix and was helping the Governor understand what Vausees had meant by her statement about the Hazard team’s when Vausees entered. The sound of the door sliding open and then closed, caused Debrah to look over.

Vausees nodded to Debrah as she walked over to a private corner. Debrah nodded back and stood up.

“I’ll be right back, Governor,” she stated as she stepped away from him and walked over to Vausees.

“Viktor knows exactly who we are dealing with,” she told her fiance.

Debrah nodded as she looked around the living room. She knew what was coming next.

“Let the Hazard team’s know that a small Romulan force will be coming inside of an approaching sandstorm and to take to the defensible positions inside the estates compound,” Vausees said as she looked at Debrah.

Debrah nodded as she looked back at the Governor. “What about him?” she asked as she returned her attention to Vausees.

“He is to stay inside this building, and under any circumstances is he to leave without being told to and is under guarded escort,” Vausees replied as she looked over at Simix. She could see that the terror was still in his eyes, though not as bad as before. “Thank you for talking to him,” she said as she looked back at Debrah.

Debrah shrugged, “It was nothing, just a simple explanation of what you had meant earlier.”

Vausees nodded, “Thank you nonetheless, as I can see it has helped him come down.”

-Battlecruiser U’miahl – The Plan-Ri’veetha looked at the holographic image of the planet displayed above the table near the rear of the bridge on the U’miahl. She had been studying the plans she and Xandis had discussed a few hours ago. When no one from the planet’s government had replied to their demands for complete surrender of the planet.

They had called her bluff on the bombardment of the planet. She had hoped that she was only dealing with a bunch of new federation officers that would freeze under her scare tactics. When that had failed, she brought up the image of the ship that had fled and realized that she was, in fact, messing with a battle-hardened crew of the USS Heracles.

She had heard of the Heracles from the news of the Federation’s involvement with the “The Hunters of D’Ghor” in what was classified as the Archanis Operation. Ri’veetha had been impressed by the balls their captain had shown during that time; even after being injured,, their captain kept herself in the fight. To Ri’veetha, that was something that she honored about their captain.

Ri’veetha had hoped to meet this captain one day, but now, under these circumstances. She was not honored, but she knew that this captain would give her one hell of a fight if push came to shove.

So she continued to study every aspect of the planet. Looking for some advantage to perhaps taking out the Heracles’ captain. Then, she noticed that a sandstorm was heading toward the compound where the Federation captain was held up in.

Contacting the Sol’dobi, she informed and ordered Xandis to have his guards ready for deployment within the hour as she watched the sandstorm raced towards the Governor’s Estate.

-Proto II – Sandstorm-Vausees stood on one of the pylons that contained a part of the force wall. She looked out over the sun-baked grounds in the valley of two mountain ranges that surrounded the estates compound. The sandstorm was closer than it had been when Viktor had shown it to her a few hours ago. She guessed they had an hour, two at the most, before this valley and the mountains would be engulfed in the storm, and the guards that Viktor had said would be hidden within it.

–

Inside the compound, Debrah sat across from the Romulan that had tried to enter the compound last night. Her normally bright emerald green eyes were dark as she looked into the Romulan’s eyes. She dismissed Zyvia a few minutes ago from the interrogations they had been ordered to perform.

To their amazement and astonishment, the Romulan had remained silent and unmoved since he was placed inside the room. Debrah had kept her eyes locked on the Romulans’ eyes as she sat there in silence. She was determined to weather and wear the man down with her own silence. She had perfected a tactic over the years, both during her time in the Federation and as a civilian captain.

The Romulan remained silent, but inside he was starting to break. Inside his mind, he was at war with himself. He hated the silence that the woman that sat across from him was demonstrating. Unable to contain himself any longer, the Romulan blinked and leaned back against the chair he was in.

“What do you want?” the Romulan asked as he sat there, his emotions still in check as he continued to look at Debrah.

On the outside, Debrah’s face was blank, but on the inside, she was celebrating. She swallowed and leaned forward in her chair, “Your name, for starters.”

“T’himix,” he replied as he remained motionless. Anyone looking at him would have thought he was dead, except for the subtle movement in his chest as he breathed.

–

Vausees had stood behind the one-way glass as Debrah sat in silence. She had never seen her fiance so patient with anyone. The look gave awe to Vausees as she watched her. A smile creased her lips when she watched the Romulan break under the constant silence that Debrah had given.

When she heard the name, she turned to Zyvia, who was already looking up the name. She walked over behind Zyvia and looked at the monitor as the image of the Romulan appeared, along with a ton of data on him.

“A Romulan spy,” she said softly.

“Not just any Romulan spy,” Zyvia stated as she indicated the faction, “Republic.”

Good work, Zyvia.”

“Thank you, Captain.”

Vausees walked over to the door that led into the room, where Debrah and T’himix sat. As the door closed behind her, she moved to stand next to him. She placed her hands down on the sides of the metal table and leaned in close. “Gotcha,” is all that she whispered as she pushed off the table and took a seat next to Debrah, who had a confused look.

“It appears that our Romulan is, in fact, part of the Republic and a spy for them,” Vausees stated as she leaned back in the chair and folded her arms over her chest.

Debrah looked back at T’himix, “Is she right?”

He shrugged, “It matter’s not because I know very soon that I will be released,” he said in a tone that said he knew something that they didn’t, “and you Federation types will either be dead or imprisoned.”–

Outside Viktor stood on the balcony of the second floor. His eyes were glued to the storm as it approached. He looked down at the men and women standing along the compound’s walls.

“Ten minutes,” he said before turning around and headed inside.

As he entered the building, he walked down a flight of stairs and entered the interrogation room. His eyes fixated on Vausees for a moment before he motioned with his head that he needed to speak with her.

–

Deep in the center of the sandstorm, Romulans moved silently within it. Their tracks were covered instantly by the intensity of the storm.

Xandis moved with his guards as they marched toward the Governor’s Estate. Each member of the Romulan guard wore eye protection and facial protection. All around them, a reddish, golden haze covered everything that they could see. The only reason they knew where they were going was because each guard’s GPS device constantly indicated their precise location and the final destination, the Governor’s Estate. 

-Report of the Heracles-Acting Captain’s Log:

It has been two days since Captain Vax placed me in command of the Heracles once more. Just like the last time, we were attacked nearly instantly once we departed from the orbit of Proto II. During the time that we have spent at warp eight, I had had time to think about what the captain had said just before we had departed. I still feel confused about the death of my sister and the part that I played in the Archanis Operation. I need to contact our Task Force’s Commanding Officer as soon as I am able to.

Trever walked over to the ready room’s replicator, “Jestral tea and a small potato salad,” he said as he stood there and watched as a small glass mug materialized with the tea. Next to the mug a small bowl appeared, filled with a creamy potato salad.

Reaching in he removed the items and returned to the captains desk. After taking a small sip and a bite of the potato salad he sat there savoring the flavors of the two items as the thought about what else was needed in the log.

Captain Vehl needs to know what has happened in the Velorum Sector. I need also to inform her that Captain Vax stayed behind and has ordered me to make the supply run for the people of the Proteus System. We will arrive at Starbase twenty-three in just under an hour. Computer End Log.

Trever read over the log before he submitted it to the ships memory. A sigh left his lips as he wondered what the captain was doing and if she and the rest of the away team were ok. He shook his head when he realized that there was nothing that he could do about them at this time and that he needed to focus on the mission at hand.

-Starbase 23-Trever sat in the command chair as the Heracles approached the starbase. He kept his eyes on the structure as they approached. It amazed him how much it looked different from the command chair. Granted he had seen the base from the helm station, closer to the viewscreen, but this view gave him shivers.

“Helms contact station control and advise them that we are here to load supplies for Proto II,” he ordered the helms officer that had replaced him for the time being.

“Yes, Captain,” the helmsman said as his fingers flew over the console.

“Ops, set the ship to condition blue once we have the coordinates for the loading docks,” Trever said to Jonton, as he waited for station control to reply.

“We have instructions to proceed to docking bay delta 4,” Helms said as they looked back at Trever.

“Make it so, helms. Nice and steady.”

“Copy, Captain.”

Jonton’s fingers flew over the operations console as he set the ship to, ‘condition blue’. As the command was given then lighting on the bridge shifted from its yellow, white-ish hues to a light blue hue.

“Condition set, Captain,” Jonton informed Trever as he looked up at the other ships on the viewscreen as they passed them by on their way to the delta side of the Starbase.

Moments later the delta 4 dock came into view and the Heracles slowed down further as the nose approached the docking clamps. A gentle thud was heard, followed by an equally gentle shake as the ship came to rest in the docking cradle.

“Ops, ship-wide, please,” Trever asked Jonton.

A signal came over the ship’s intercom, which got everyone’s attention.

“This is Acting Captain Neif, we have docked at Starbase 23 to load up our cargo bays. As well as any open rooms on this ship. Furthermore, I expect us to be back underway in three hours. That is all,” he announced as he stood up from the command chair and headed for the nearest lift that would take him down to the cargo bays.

Moments later Trever stood near the airlock as the station’s umbilical attached to both the starboard and port airlocks on the ship. As the ships scanners indicated that the umbilical was safe, Trever unlocked the hatch and stepped out.

He took the nearest lift to the stations command center near the top of the central spire. As soon as his foot left the lift a Lieutenant walked over to him. “Lieutenant Commander Nief, welcome back to Starbase Twenty-three,” the Lieutenant said as they held out a hand to Trever. “I see that you have requested supplies for the people on Proto II,” the Lieutenant stated as they looked down at a PADD that they had in their hand.

Trever nodded, “I need those supplies yesterday,” he said as he looked the Lieutenant in the eyes.

With a nod the Lieutenant replied, “I have the supply and engineering departments already fulfilling your request. In the meantime our stations scans have detected some minor damage to your main deflector array and dish. I would recommend that while the Heracles is here that the damage be repaired.”

“How long?” Trever asked

“No more then a full day to complete both tasks; the supplies and the repairs,” the Lieutenant stated as they handed over the PADD for Trevers authorization code for both tasks.

He took the PADD and placed his thumb on the scanner and then entered in his code. He haned the PADD back to the Lieutenant and nodded before turning around to head back to the lift and the Officers guest quarters.

–

Laying in his quarters Trever thought about what the captain and the away teams were up to. His mind drifted to them fighting the Romulans, however, as he thought of this he saw his sister being killed once again. A sigh left his mouth and he opened his eyes to see the bland spartan room.

Sitting up he moved from the bed to the nearby desk.

“Computer, secured channel to Captain Vehl, the Commanding Officer of Task Force 72,” he requested.

A soft beep was heard and then a calm feminine voice was heard, “Channel secured.”

Trever watched as the logo of “SB-23” was replaced with “TF72”. It spun in a slow twisting circle as the connection was being established.

A moment later the logo disappeared and a slightly older Trill woman dressed in command colors appeared on the built-in desk monitor.

‘Lieutenant-Commander Neif.’ the woman paused for a moment before she continued, ‘Where is Captain Vax?’ she asked as she looked at Trever.

He looked back at the Captain. “Captain Vehl, Captain Vax is currently in the Velorum Sector, overlooking the Proto II planet personally.”

‘Why is she not contacting me?’

“She ordered me, from the planet, to return to Starbase Twenty-three to secure machinery and food supplies for the people of Proto II.”

‘Did her First Officer try to stop her from staying behind?’

“Negative, Captain. Commander Bettencourt followed the Captain down to the surface,” Trever stated before he leaned back slightly against the back of the chair he was sitting in. “It was then that a pair of Romulan warships entered the system. I came under fire as soon as I was about to leave orbit,” he said as he looked Vehl in her eyes. “I can only assume that by now a Romulan ground force is on the planet.”

Vehl nodded to Trever. ‘Anything else to report, Commander?’

“Nothing at this time.”

‘Good job, Commander, kept the fleet informed,’ Vehl stated before the connection stopped and the bases logo reappeared.

As he sat there he reached up and tapped his ComBadge, “This is Acting Captain, Neif. We will be departing tomorrow morning at 0600 hours.” He closed the connection to the crew’s Combadges