LtCmdr Jovenan – Someone has to take charge
Jovenan
((Golden Spire, Boraxian Cityship))
Boraxian Representative #2: ::crying:: The kidnapping… the lies… the riots… the fires… this is not the way of our people. And this is not what he promised us.
Bancroft: ::gently:: That took courage. Thank you… for choosing truth.
Doctor Bancroft placed his hand over the crying figure of the four-armed woman. Jovenan felt sorry for her; she had been promised much but left with the grotesquely twisted versions of those same promises. Could Jovenan fault her when the box she had opened contained nothing but curses? The Boraxian’s regret appeared genuine, but Jovenan’s hand never left the handle of her weapon. She had just witnessed that same woman and her companion capture their Acting Commanding Officer and other colleagues, and after so many lies, she didn’t trust a mere cry.
Jovenan: It was very brave of you to come through with us. Bergmen, see if you could find handcuffs or rope or something similar in here. ::to the Boraxian representatives:: I’m sorry, but I hope you understand that we can’t entirely trust you when moving ahead.
Bergmen nodded and retrieved a pair of handcuffs designed for a set of four hands. The other Boraxian aide looked at the Starfleet team with a blank expression, not exactly with anger or scorn, but definitely also not with the evident regret or guilt like the other one. Jovenan considered for a moment if either of them could be excused of their betrayal – they were misinformed, they were afraid with the evidence pointing in their direction, they panicked when the team returned. She wanted to get rid of the black-and-white judgement, but even if she felt sorry for them, she couldn’t justify all those steps they took to get here, and she couldn’t permit them to betray them again.
Bergmen: You didn't leave us another choice; I’m sorry.
When both Boraxian officials were handcuffed, Luirétt knelt in front of them. Jovenan wasn’t sure what they were doing. It had been a rough visit to Luirétt, expecting to walk back to the place of their confinement and prove their oppression, only to face the chaos in their absence and uncover the faults of the society they still cared about… They must have been very strong to keep going, and for a moment, when they knelt down, Jovenan worried if she had stretched them too far.
Luirétt: You can still make amends, sisters. Please, help us find their missing friends.
Boraxian Representative #2: ::sniffling:: They took your officers to the Peace of Ellet… ::holding all four hands up, palms out:: I don’t know why. I truly don’t. ::deep breath:: His name… is Andoren.
Jovenan looked at Luirétt. She was relieved that they wanted to keep helping them, but the response alone didn’t help her. “Took your officers to the Peace of Ellet”. Peace of Ellet could be a place, she hoped it was, or maybe even a person, but to her, that sounded awfully lot like a metaphor for killing. She hoped the Boraxian Yurum would know what it meant.
Jovenan: Do you know what that means?
Luirétt: I... I am aware of it, yes.
Bancroft: Response
Lt Bergmen finished restraining the two Boraxians to the chairs. Jovenan felt bad for leaving people behind and alone, but she was quite certain that someone would eventually come check up on them, whether it was the Boraxian authorities or a Starfleet team once this was all over. She didn’t know how it would end and if they’d ever be able to return there, after all, there were far too great forces in play for just the four of them. Outside the anteroom and the earshot of the restrained Boraxians, Jovenan turned to her team.
Jovenan: What do we got? Where will we find our colleagues?
Luirétt: The Peace of Ellet is a small village in the lower levels of the city. By your understanding, it would be ‘underground’... It sounds as though this ‘Andoren’ makes the place his home, though the name is unfamiliar to me.
Bergmen: We know this was an inside job. Even within their society, forces were at work against us and the social order, aiming to stage a coup.
Jovenan nodded; it seemed plausible. She didn’t know yet how the kidnapping of the Starfleet officers fit into the coup, but inciting the riot and societal unrest were far better suited as the first step in one than as a diversion to a kidnapping. Perhaps Commander Munro and the others were going to be kept as bargaining chips against the Federation or other foreign powers getting involved to the coup, although she didn’t have enough time to figure out how well that theory worked.
Luirétt: And they used our escape as an excuse to put it into action. ::downcast eyes:: We caused this…
Pursing her lips together, Jovenan hesitated what to say. She trusted Luirétt enough to believe them that they or the Yurum faction weren’t directly involved in the coup or the chaos that ensued, but she didn’t know if the people behind the plan didn’t play the Yurum into escaping. What was the correct thing to say – it’s not your fault? What if they did cause it, even if involuntarily? Did they have time for this conversation?
Bancroft: Response
Bergmen: Luirett, is there any official way how to get into this… Peace of Ellet? Do you know?
Luirétt: I-I’m sorry, I don’t- No Yurum has ever been allowed access. It’s a safe haven for hurting Yurum, who need to be sheltered for their own protection…
The fact that Luirétt didn’t know how to go to Peace of Ellet was unfortunate, but the latter part caught Jovenan’s attention. What did they mean by “safe haven for hurting Yurum”? The idea of an asylum for the abused Yurum came to her mind first, but that didn’t sound right considering the escape of these Yurum, the lack of access and the wording “for their own protection”. She feared it might have instead been a place where the other Boraxians forcibly removed the Yurum who didn’t behave according to the societal norms. She had heard of the Vestal virgins of Earth’s ancient Rome, another sacred and sacrosanct group who upon breaking their vows were buried alive so to avoid spilling their blood. The comparison didn’t give her any more comfort.
Jovenan: Then we have to find our way there. Andoren and his troops must have accessed it somehow.
Bancroft: Response
Bergmen: Ensign, you saw the entire footage. Did you notice where they took the captain and the others after taking them hostage?
Bancroft: Response
Luirétt: I wouldn’t recommend going through those tunnels. We have no way of navigating them with precision… ::considers::
Another dead end, it seemed. Jovenan rubbed her forehead. She barely knew what she was doing, in her very few times leading a team, she hadn’t needed to work in such an alien environment with so few teammates and so few resources. Leading a battle from the bridge of the Artemis had been a horrifying event, but even then, she had a shipful of her colleagues and the armaments of the Starfleet’s flagship to the Borderlands in her disposal. Now she couldn’t even find a way to a place on the same ship. It wasn’t the first time for her to be stuck and without communications, but it was certainly the first time leading in such conditions.
Jovenan: Options, please.
Bancroft/Bergmen: Response
Luirétt: I may not know how to get there, but I may know a way to contact the Peace of Ellet. Though, we have as much chance of getting in contact with their captors, of course…
Well, that might be their best shot. Negotiations with the terrorists were rarely advised, but talking with the kidnappers could give them some clues of their hiding place and give them some sense of their motivation and objectives… not to mention the knowledge that their colleagues were alive to begin with.
Jovenan: That has to do it. Please, show us the way.
Bancroft/Bergmen: Response
Luirétt nodded and started their way upwards to the top of the Spire. Jovenan and the two other officers followed them, passing by sights that grew more and more opulent at every step they took. Although not a universal law without exceptions, those of the higher standing often placed their offices and operational centres above the lesser officials – after all, the bridge and the Captain’s ready room was almost always on deck 1 in starships despite the obvious tactical disadvantage. Jovenan figured they were reaching the top of the Boraxian society, just as a rather intimidating aide blocked their way.
Veteran Aide: L-Luirétt!? You’ve.. Returned to us? Oh, praise be.
The aide approached Luirétt. It wasn’t an aggressive gesture, but after seeing the desire that pushed the crowd to compete for Luirétt’s attention in the Commercial district, Jovenan was wary. Luirétt gently blocked the embrace.
Luirétt: Beloved sister, I need your aid. Advocate Chavrainne and the delegation from the Federation have been forcefully moved to the Peace of Ellet. Please, allow us access to the Network.
The aide hesitated. Jovenan left leading to Luirétt, but she was ready for the possibility that the muscular Boraxian was about to turn against them.
Veteran Aide: But- ::brief sigh:: Understood. But Luirétt, please, leave the communication to me and the officers. This is not for you to do.
Despite her relief and joy that the woman was willing to help them, a frown surfaced on her face as she looked at both Boraxians. Luirétt didn’t object with being sidelined, quite the opposite, they nodded in apparent submission. Jovenan considered doing so in their behalf, but decided against that… for now.
Jovenan: Please, show us.
Bancroft/Bergmen/Luirétt: Response
Now following the older Boraxian, the team made it through a highly decorated corridor into another room. The opulence seemed to cease to the door – although still designed in accordance with what Jovenan would consider appropriate to an admiral, it was clear that this space was intended primarily for the staff of the resident of this part of the Spire. The walls of the room were covered with various screens and hardware access hatches.
Veteran Aide: This room serves the communications of the Household. We can try to contact the Advocate and your officers from here.
Jovenan: Communications? ::to the officers:: We could try to breach the communications block-out with this equipment. Use the help of our new friend ::nods towards the Veteran Aide:: and contact the Artemis, while Luirétt and I will try and call Peace of Ellet.
Bancroft/Bergmen/Luirétt: Response
Jovenan walked around one of the terminals that sat in the middle of the room. She ignored the dismayed expression on the senior aide’s face.
Veteran Aide: This is not what…
Jovenan: Sorry. Luirétt, I don’t know how to operate this device, but you do, right? You contacted our ship, after all. You have to lead me on this.
Bancroft/Bergmen/Luirétt: Response
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Lieutenant Commander Jovenan
Acting XO (Chief Science Officer)
USS Artemis-A
E239911J11