Commander T’Ros leaned back in the pilot seat of her shuttle, sipping tea and watching the ground pass by 10 miles below them. She looked at the readouts and pointed.
“ETA to the colony is 30 minutes.”
Commander Deivan closed the channel to the Yang. “My officers got back ok. They were scanned on the way, But the Romulan fleet took no action.”
“But they know the ship was short a person.”
“Yea, my guess is they will be spending the next day or so scanning the surface looking for that third body.”
She set the cup down. “Fine, give’s them something to do.”
Deivan started keying the communications controls, attempting to locate Vice Admiral Branson.
“There is a very nice restaurant in Wells City.” T’Ros started. “and a good landing area near by where we can quietly set down .”
“The name of the place?”
“The Back Nine. The layout of the room will suit us.”
Deivan nodded and finally established a link to the Vice Admiral on a secure channel. He waited patiently until the Admiral appeared in the screen.
Nicole leaned over Lisa. The Romulan had perfect timing. He always seems to catch Nicole in a nap. The stress of the colony had been too much and girls were simply having a rest when the interruption occurred.
“Good afternoon Vice Admiral Branson.” Deivan shuffled in his seat. “I have an urgent request. Can you meet with me in Wells City, in a Restaurant called the ‘Back Nine’ in say an hour? Alone? ”
"I will.", Nicole jumped to her feet.
She looked down at Lisa, "Duty calls."
“I have someone that would like very much to speak with you.”
"Your insight has proven most valuable. I will meet you in 60 minutes.", Nicole exclaimed.
"Thank you Admiril." and Deivan closed the channel. He looked over at T'Ros, "What are you going to say?"
She got up and refilled her tea. "It's deal time. We're going to see just how far she can go to save lives."
"On both sides." Deivan said.
"On both sides."
Thirty minutes later the expensive yaht decended and slowed as it approached Wells City. T'Ros engaged the cloaking device and the craft disappeared from view. On the outskirts of town was a large park area and T'Ros landed in an elongated patch of grass. Deivan looked thru the front screens at a large structure on a hill in front of them.
"Do you know what this is?"
"I believe you call it a 'Golf Course' she said getting up and going to the back.
"Well, I hope it's a slow day, or someone is going to have a very interesting day!"
T'Ros changed her attire in the back. Doning a long hooded robe to cover her head. It had just enough color and pattern not to look bland. She picked up her package and headed for the hatch. It was a ten minute walk to the clubhouse and another five to find the resturant.
As they entered, the greeter eyed them up and down. "There will be two of you dining?"
"One more on the way." Deivan said. "We need a table near a window." pointing across the dining room at a place they could watch their landing site.
"Certainly Sir. And who will be joining you?"
"Vice Admiral Branson. so if you could keep the ajoing tables vacant, she would appreciate it."
The greeters attention went up at that. "Most certainly Sir. This way."
They were seated and it wasn't a long wait before Branson appeared.
She walked up to the table and stopped short when she recoginzed the face under the hood.
"T'Ros!!", Nicole jumped back. She reached for the phaser on her hip. She thought of Victoria Viceroy and the horror that was the kidnapping.
Deivan jumped up and placed his hand on the admirals arm. "Don't. Please, sit and hear us out."
"Why did you bring her here?", Nicole asked.
Commander T'Ros motioned for Branson to take a seat. "Please Admiral. We have much to discuss and time is of the essence." T'Ros brought up the bag she had brought and placed it next to Branson.
"What the hell is this?", Nicole was growing impatient.
"Proof of what I'm about to tell you."
"Oh my god. Is this what I think it is.", Nicole dropped the small bag.
"That is what is left of the imposter in Vorta'Rome. Commander Deivan was correct in his guess of the switch in leadership at Vorta'Rome. I can retake control of the city, if we understand each other."
"How can this be?", Nicole asked, suddenly bewildered. She had let this occur under her nose. She was embarrassed and a bit ashamed. She thought of Christine T'Nley and the Omega News Networks complaints that she did not know what she was doing. Perhaps they were right.
"I will take the place of the imposter. They will never know they have the REAL T'Ros back At this time they do not know she is missing. But that won't last long. With me in place, I can work to control the events that are spinnin g out of control."
"The Romulans have taken Wells City and with an imposter at the helm of Vorta'Rome they control 2 of 4 major centers. I believe they will attempt to take the colony.", Nicole could feel the fear in her own voice.
"They will try. But I will do what I can to prevent it.. There is a price however."
"I would appreciate the help.", Nicole remained bewildered and lost.
T'Ros squared her shoulder and looked at Deivan, he nodded his agreement of what was to be proposed. "I will do everything I can to prevent the Romulan take over of the colony. I will, when possible provide intelligence to Commander Deivan on Romulan plans and fleet movements that I feel would help keep the bloodshed to a minimum. For this you must do two things. First, You must not tell anyone, and I mean anyone of this agreement. You must convince the Federation to drop the Extradition request. And you will have to deal with some not so nice actions I may have to take to convice the Romulan Senate I am the Imposter. Second. You will on occasion give me something I can feed back to the Romulan Senate. Any Disinformation must be so believable as not to through suspision on me. This ,Admirial has to be a two way street. My goal as yours should be, is to keep the causality list as low as possible. " T'Ros reached across the table, her hand almost touching the Admirial. "No one can win the war that is to come. And there is no way to prevent it. But, together, we can save lives. Together we can keep this colony from falling into Romulan hands. But I must have an answer now.. Or I disappear forever and you get god knows who in command at Vorta'Rome."
"Please help me save my colony.", Nicole was literally begging. She did not know what to do.
Deivan looked out the window, a storm front had blown up suddenly, in minutes there would be a downpour. "Take the deal Admiral. Yes, it could cost all of us our lives, but the alternative,....... is millions killed for nothing. "
Nicole got up and headed for the Capital. Retribution was about to get much uglier.
Posted by:
Commander Ranvir Deivan
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Yang Liwei
Phoenix Fleet
Vice Admiral Nicole Branson
Territory Omega Governor
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Fleet
