The team moved through the relay chamber like clockwork, tension deep in the air. The walls of carved rock seemed to close in as the faint mechanical hums from the central core echoed, as the release of the transmission quickly approached. Commander Rahal hovered near the control banks with her eyes scanning the streams of cascading Romulan code as Lieutenant Zemess and the Romulan engineer manipulated the interfaces with intensity. Centurion Vekar kept a vigilant watch near the entrance, sensing the weight of what was about to happen.

“Status?” Rahal asked, her voice still steady despite the tension.

Zemess did not look up as he responded, “Outer control architecture is still accessible, but it is increasingly more encrypted than expected.”

Rahal’s jaw tightened. “Then we adapt. We cannot prevent the transmission, but we can control what reaches the Quorathi.”

The engineer blinked at her, “Control it without triggering failsafes?”

Rahal nodded, “We embed our own data package. Expose the atrocities the Tal Shiar committed, reveal the Free State’s manipulations. Make sure the Quorathi see the truth. Nothing subtle. Nothing sugar-coated. At that point, failsafes won’t matter.”

Hands flew across consoles. The team split tasks. Zemess managed the timing overrides, the engineer inserted the truth payload, and Rahal coordinated the sequence. Vekar’s eyes never left the shadows, aware that every second risked detection.

“Three minutes to full release,” the engineer said. “They are pushing updates remotely. Encryption layers peeling faster than I can track.”

“Good,” Rahal said, “That gives us the moment to slip our package in. Layer it on top of theirs. When it fires, it all goes out together.”

Seconds ticked down. The relay pulsed brighter, humming with energy that seemed almost alive. The tension in the chamber was palpable.

“Ready,” Zemess whispered.

“Do it,” Rahal commanded.

The team executed the override. Lines of Romulan code flowed across displays as the original propaganda streams merged with the truth package. The hum of the core accelerated, then peaked, sending a burst of energy cascading outward. Subspace ripples traced toward Quorath III, carrying every falsified transmission alongside the evidence of Free State treachery inserted.

On the Yorktown and Devoras, viewscreens showed the broadcast unfolding in real time; pictures, videos, proof of atrocities. Council nodes and communication hubs lit up as the messages reached the Quorathi people and leadership simultaneously. The truth hit hard. For the first time, they saw the Tal Shiar for what it was: a system of fear, control, and deception.

Above Quorath III, the Free State warbird hesitated in orbit. Their sensors registered unexpected anomalies. The broadcast was not what they intended. A tense pause hung over the system as the warbird’s commander calculated the next move.

Finally, the vessel began to retreat, cloaking as it left orbit with deliberate slowness. Its presence had been challenged, its narrative exposed, and it withdrew in embarrassment rather than risk confrontation with the Yorktown and Devoras.

Rahal lowered her hands from the consoles, letting out a slow breath. Zemess leaned back, exhaustion and relief mixed in his expression. Vekar holstered his weapon, still alert but satisfied.

“It is done,” Rahal said softly, “They wanted to control the story. Now the Quorathi control it for themselves.”

The relay core’s pulse slowed, returning to its dormant hum. The chamber was silent except for the faint echoes of machinery. Outside, the first rays of Quorath III’s dawn began to filter into space, illuminating the aftermath of the clash.

Above the planet, the Yorktown and Devoras remained in silent orbit, sensors scanning, crews tense but triumphant. The Free State warbird’s retreat left the system clear, its bluff called, and its control shattered. The Quorathi now had the truth, and for the first time, the balance of influence in their system had shifted decisively.