Lt. JG Nathan Richards - Co-Conspirators
tas9303
((Betazed Imperial patrol ship, en route to Her Eternal Grace’s Outpost Supremacy, in orbit of the imperial colony world of Kirilow, Delta Quadrant))
Nathan sat on one of the uncomfortable benches of the brig cell, exchanging unsavory looks with the soldier that stood guard. Every so often, he would touch the back of his head to see if it had stopped bleeding from the love tap he had received while still aboard the Targhee. He looked around at the others, who seemed to all be doing just about as well as they could be in the current circumstances. All except Rivi who Nathan had noticed was missing from the group for some time.
Vataix: Ahem. I’ve been instructed to interrogate the prisoners-in private. You may leave us.
Nathan heard Rivi’s voice come from just beyond his field of view as she approached.
Soldier: I haven’t heard anything about that.
Vataix: Because you don’t need to hear it from anyone besides me. Or do you forget that you’re talking to a Ukinix?
Nathan sat up straighter. oO Ukinix? Is that not really Rivi? Oo Many things ran through Nathan’s mind at the words he heard.
Soldier: ::coughs:: No, ma’am. I’ll be outside if you need me.
Vataix: Good.
The soldier moved to leave the room, and Rivi stepped in front of the forcefield. At least, it looked like her…
Taival: A Ukinix? What was that all about?
Vataix: I think I’ve understood what’s happened.
oO Yup, it’s her. Oo When she stepped into view, Nathan felt the reassuring calm that always seemed to follow the ambassador around. He watched as she looked around the area, searching for something. Nathan could only assume she was searching for some kind of monitoring equipment, since it sounded as if she were about to discuss what she had found out.
Vataix: But we need to be very careful. Is that understood everyone? First names only from now on.
Richards: ::Lightly touching the back of his head again, wincing:: You got it, Rivi.
Veers: Response
Iko: Response
Polgonz: Response
Vataix: I’m sure the Starfleet officers here will have heard of stories of… parallel universes and alternate timelines.
Nathan raised an eyebrow. oO Alternate timelines…of course Oo He simply nodded as the others chimed into the conversation.
Veers: Response
Iko: Response
Polgonz: Response
Vataix: It’s likely that we’ve found ourselves in one… one in which the Federation instead was known as the Terran Empire, which collapsed decades ago. In its wake, other powers rose, including evidently…a Betazed empire, now comprised of one unified house, led by Keehani Ukinix… the Mother Eternal.
Richards: Keehani as the ruler of an entire empire? ::Smirking:: I could see it.
Veers: Response
Iko: Response
Polgonz: Response
Vataix: The Betazed empire has spread to the Delta Quadrant in this universe, and Keehani is visiting the quadrant. We’re to meet her within the hour.
Nathan had a sinking feeling about being put in front of this Mother Eternal. Rivi turned towards Tri’lea, giving her full attention.
Vataix: Evidently you-or rather, the version of you in this universe-is a leader in some sort of anti-establishment revolutionary movement against Empress Keehani’s rule. My counterpart was tasked with bringing you in.
That explained why Rivi hadn’t been with them.
Polgonz: Response
Vataix: Nathan, Cara, Bec, Starfleet officers have evidently visited this universe in the past. I could use whatever you might have learned in the academy about how to deal with this universe or others like it.
Nathan thought for a moment. He had heard stories of the Terran Empire both at the Academy, and from his grandfather. They had been a ruthless force.
Richards: Well, I know the Terran Empire was a force to be reckoned with. They essentially believed the exact opposite of what the Federation believes. Expand and conquer, basically destroying any culture they came across and either killing everything or making slaves out of them. But that info is from stories passed down over generations. It’s hard to truly say what anything here could be like.
Veers: Response
Iko: Response
Vataix: They don’t recognize you’re not supposed to be here. They think you’re mercenaries hired by Tri’lea. Perhaps we can use that to our advantage.
Nathan rested elbow on his knee with his cheek on his fist.
Richards: Possibly. My only question is how exactly?
Veers: Response
Iko: Response
Richards: We don’t really have a lot of room for error. Or choice for that matter.
Vataix/Veers/Iko/Polgonz: Response
Richards: I mean, I could play up that I’m just a hired transport. But I don’t want to run the risk of being forced to abandon anyone if they just throw me out.
Vataix/Veers/Iko/Polgonz: Response
Richards: Right…Conspiring… ::Chuckling:: Well, I’d rather not die either.
Vataix/Veers/Iko/Polgonz: Response
TBC/TAGS…
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Lieutenant Junior Grade Nathan Richards
Engineering Officer
Amity Outpost
A239905NR1
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