King Toal'Dius - We will fetters put upon this fear / Which now goes too free-footed.
Jania Nis
(( Rebirthing Rooms, Royal HQ, Koreli IV ))
For some unexpected reason, Toal’Dius thought of his brother. It had been a long time ago; at the time his brother was barely four husks old. His name back then had been Ths’ng’in’Grend, and he had been as far from the kingship as he was from life today. Even that bastard child of his was but a twinkle in the eye.
Then, Toal’Dius had sat at his brother’s side on the banks of Lake E’dlik’Sor and thrown stones into the lake’s reddish-purple surface. Each rock sizzled as it sunk slowly into the thick scum on the top of the lake--the nearly two-meter froth of halophilic microbes that had grown from years of dumping salty waste products into the lake.
“Don’t think of deals as mutually advantageous,” his brother had said. “They are more like battles. Only one party should win.”
Toal’Dius: If we find a way to work together here and now, we can form a contract. If not, there are ways you shall work for me that are not as beneficial for you. But know this--if my family’s rivals get their hands on this planet, you could be putting the Federation’s entire access to the Kissoban Reach into jeopardy.
It was a true enough statement--others hated the Federation even more than he did, and they were ready to force them out if they witnessed another one of the Federation's showings of force.
Moydol: Do you think the Federation bargains with terrorists!?
Rouiancet: Consider the Caboto. The Zet attacked one of the few Starfleet ships in the Gamma Quadrant, and instead of reducing our presence here, Starfleet's mission profile increased and the number of our ships increased tenfold. I'm warning you, Toal'Dius, for your own sake if nothing else. Do not do this.
Of course Toal’Dius had nothing to do with the Caboto attack. It’s not as though Zet government was a monolith. That was what made them so special, compared to these Federation fools. If a Zet wanted to do something, and they had the resources to do it, they did it.
Toal’Dius: Now who is threatening? Now who is proving their intentions?! Did you ever come here to help us, or was it always to steal this territory from our rightfully-acquired hands? You know the Danni … :: it almost disgusted him to say the word :: -voted- on their contract with us. It was approved by a majority of the planet.
Moy’Dol took a few deep breaths in the silence that followed.
Moydol: Sorry, Captain. It’s hard not to react to this murder.
Toal’Dius’s eyes narrowed.
Rouiancet: (with one brow raised) Just so. (to Toal'Dius) You've drawn your conclusions, and we've drawn ours. Now, the consequences?
Toal’Dius: The consequences of declaring a sitting monarch a murderer of his own sibling?
Moydol: Well it’s obvious that someone killed him and you’re in charge, (sarcastically) your highness.
Toal’Dius: I have much patience with you, shown you things outsiders should probably not see, and am repaid with suspicion and threats of violence. You will not leave until you have been before a court.
Rouiancet: Very well.
In one motion, Lia’Rou’i’an’Cet drew her dreaded weapon and fired at the door's locking mechanism. Toal'Dius was well away from the blast, but he shielded his face and shouted in anger and shock anyway. As though he was no monarch at all, she had the gall to simply stride right out of the room. A noble gesture in its bravery, but a pointless one.
Moydol: Response
As she stepped into the room outside, she must have realized she was surrounded, because she froze. Some of the most elite Zet soldiers of his entire species stood waiting for her. A Deathless general led them, and he’d been paid in advance.
Then there were Toal’Dius’s dozens of attendants, who stood ready to rush in and protect their rightful ruler. A cynical smile slowly peeled open his mouth at the showing of force.
Toal'Dius: You cannot believe we fear you, queen. You cannot believe that we are such cowardly creatures as to let our vibrissae tremble with danger at the sight of two lone aliens shooting off their little lazer guns. You cannot believe you can behave however you wish on a Zet world and walk away free creatures.
He said it, but he -was- afraid. He knew what he wrought by angering the Federation. He had been warned of them; so had his brother, so why had the fool called them here?
Still, he needed to show strength--unmatched strength. The ship they’d come in on would not dare firing on buildings containing its own leader; as long as he was beside her, he would be completely safe. And if the other Zet -did- arrive, it would be easy enough to blame the whole situation on Federation interference.
Rouiancet: Clear the way. We are leaving.
Moydol: Response
Toal'Dius: Arrest them, both of them!
[End Act I for Toal’Dius]
King Toal'Dius
Supreme Director
Koreli IV
O240108JN2