The entire colony remains on high alert. The Columbia Fleet rebels are everywhere. The Tacet Syndrome survivors are on the Starbases and in the colony schools and in Omega Prime. There is very high tension after Captain Crosby tried to take the Quasar Quest. Acrylos was feeling the heat at the Academy.
He hated to be helpless. He wanted to be up there but he had been out of the game for a long while serving as a professor and even as Chancellor at Rutgers. The Bajorans have lost their influence since the colonists moved to Camelot. The Bajorans still had an interest in the Latinum but their ability to get some of the trade had been very small. The Orion Syndicate and the Ferengi Trade Federation really controlled what left the colony. Acrylos longed for a time when the Bajorans were more influential. He wanted to get back up there.
He had to call in a few favors and was soon back up on the Tanmesad. He looked at Vash and then at the floor. Vash smiled, "Welcome back."
Acrylos smiled back. He went down to engineering. The Tanmesad was an old boat and she had been kept afloat by only students since Carson Warren left. Acrylos was not pleased with the status of his once proud ship. He asked Vash for supplies only to be told that all Cardassian requests would need to be submitted to Terok Grande and because of his refusal to serve in the piracy ring associated with the Latinum that was not likely to be too speedy.
Acrylos called Anora. She thought she could use her influence to get him to at least provide parts for the Tanmesad. Anora was reluctant to get involved. It had been a liong time since she and Thua'ra were close. Anora left Bajor for Terok Grande. She was shocked to see the Tacet Syndrome rebels sleeping in the promenade. They were not in rooms. They were starving. Few had any Latinum or any other currency for trading. What had happened involving the Quasar Quest had slowed any refugee claimants. The colonists did not want these mouthless freaks anymore. The colony of Columbia was supposed to a beacon for Camelot; an example of how to stand up to the Romulans. Instead, they had become just another invading force.
Anora looked at Thua'ra, "You have to give them lodging and food."
"I have to do no such thing. I should blast them out a air lock.", Varno snapped.
"Then why haven't you?", Anora snapped back.
"What has happened to you? Just when you seem to be finding your way back to the good man who saved many Bajorans at Platform 1968 during the occupation, you take a step back. You side with Legate Anwar and occupy the colony. You side with a slug and use a great gift to serve the Cardassian Union who uses the Latinum to fund rebels trying to take down Minister Garak and the Hebetian Republic. You disgust me.", Anora lectured the Cardassian.
"Give them quarters, Thua'ra. It is the right thing to do.", Anora stormed from the room.
Thua'ra stood on the rail looking out at the Promenade and its refugee filled stench. Detavva slithered out and stood with him, "You should push them out an air lock."
Thua'ra could not believe the words that came out of the mouth of the Grande Monarch. Thua'ra was given command of Terok Grande but Detavva had the real power. He was paying him tribute. He was his lackey. He thought about what Anora had said. He thought about life on Platform 1968. He thought about what he and Vash had done to the Bajoran comfort girls. He looked out at these refugees. No one wanted them especially after the Quest.
Thua'ra turned to one of his senior officers, "Begin to assign quarters to the refugees. Turn on the replicators and get them intervenous rations."
Detavva looked at Thua'ra, "What are you doing?"
"This is a god damn Grande Monarch Station. I will make those decisions.", Detavva snapped.
"Listen, you overbearing bottom feeder, this is a Terok Station built by the Cardassian Union in the Beta Quadrant. You may have occupied the station. You may have moved the station to Camelot but lets be clear, you are no damn better than they are. You are welcome to use quarters here but make no mistake about it. This is a Cardassian Station.", Thua'ra was finally growing a set.
"You have made a powerful enemy.", Detavva looked at Thua'ra.
"You have thousands of light years from your Beta Quadrant Fleet. The Romulans would never let the Grande Monarch Fleet cross the neutral zone. You, sir are welcome to stay on as a guest but your access to the command codes are hereby revoked.", Thua'ra glared at Detavva. He had never made eye contact with his host before.
Thua'ra contacted Anora and asked her if she would come to Terok Grande and serve as his Executive Officer. He told her that she was the only one who could keep him from growing astray. She was the only one for the job.
Anora smiled, "We are not a couple, Varno. You will send the necessary parts to the Tanmesad immediately."
"We are not a couple, Anora. I will send the parts on the first Hudek off the station.", Thua'ra immediately complied.
"Anora, we are not a couple yet!", Thua'ra emphacized the last word.
Anora did not respond. She had work to do. She had to pack for Terok Grande.
Posted by:
Colonel Acrylos Teero
Chief Engineer
USS / CGV Tanmesad
King's Fleet
