[Prelude] pNPC Rixx - Almost Call Home
Jamie LeBlanc
((Romulan StarBase Cestis II – Just within Romulan Space, near the Romulan Neutral Zone))
Colonel Vorsek watched dispassionately as the scout ship Rhanssa was brought into spacedock under tractor beams. Subcommander Jurel had already given his report – twice – claiming that the subspace interference and dangerous gravimetric disturbances in the Azure Nebula had caused critical damage to their systems, forcing them to return to Romulan Space before the Rhanssa’s cloaking device failed.
And the only thing that was currently preventing Vorsek from executing Jurel the moment he walked through the door was the fact that both of his reports were surprisingly aligned and this was the third shuttle that had been mysteriously hampered from completing its scouting duty in the Azure Nebula – each with a different Subcommander and crew.
So he knew it wasn’t Jurek’s fault, and yet he still very much wanted someone to blame. Vorsek himself had superiors who wanted information – information they couldn’t get, information that had some aggravating holes in it. Information Vorsek couldn’t provide, even though it was his job to get it.
This wasn’t going to be a pleasant conversation for either of them.
~*~
Two hours later Subcommander Jurel returned to the Rhanssa, suitably fearing for his life and regretting every military choice he had made in the past two years. He, too, needed someone to take his vitriol out on.
Unfortunately, the two Sublieutenants on the bridge were unpleasantly dull targets to vent his spleen at. Teelis Terik had the disconnected air of a Vulcan about her as if she was constantly suppressing her emotions just to get under his skin. Sometimes he could see her left eye twitch and he knew she was suppressing a reaction, but that was the best he could get from her. Venak T'Rhiu was even worse, approaching every conversation as if he had already faced far worse and Jurel’s rage was merely a minor inconvenience.
Worse, both had something of a point. Jurel didn’t have high enough rank or good enough social standing to eliminate his crew unless they could be prove insubordinate or traitorous. Merely being emotionally manipulative was far from a crime in the Romulan Free State – in fact it was lauded by many of his superiors.
But it was galling when it was directed at him.
Jurel: Colonel Vorsek wants the sensor logs that prove our ship was damaged by gravimetric interference.
T’Rhiu: We provided Vorsek with all of our sensor logs already.
Stated as plain, emotionless fact.
Jurel: But they don’t show the damage! ::he growled.::
Terik: Because the same subspace wave that damaged our ship, damaged our systems.
Jurel sat heavily in the command chair and swallowed a distasteful look. It was all so… convenient. Everything had come together to ensure they simply didn’t get the information they were looking for and couldn’t give the information to Vorsek.
Jurel: All well and fine until he wants to kick us out of the nearest airlock.
T’Rhiu: That would be a compassionate choice, Subcommander. I’m sure he could think of far worse for all of us.
Again, stated without malice or emotion. And Jurel knew it was true. But it was galling to hear it come from a subordinate.
Terik: Perhaps the Colonel should lead his own mission into Federation and Klingon Space and see if he can gather the data he is looking for.
Silence hung around the bridge of the Rhanssa. Each of them knew that Vorsek had used them and would have discarded them had either Starfleet or the Klingons discovered the scout.
The silence widened into a heavy oppressive decision that hung over Subcommander Jurel’s shoulders.
Jurel: We all know he won’t do that. Not until he’s sure there is something in that nebula worth risking a border violation for.
T’Rhiu: And what if there is nothing there. Nothing but his own paranoia and pride?
Silence again.
A thought entered Jurel’s mind. Vorsek was using him. Using him like a tool – an object. A piece on a Rasat board.
He might be one of the best scouts on the border, but he wanted no part of being a pawn in someone else’s game.
Jurel: How long will the repairs take?
Terik: Thirteen cycles, Subcommander.
Not long. But just long enough to reach out to his cousin and request reassignment. There were other areas of the Free State that could use his skills.
Someone else could be played by Vorsek.
~*~
Two days later Subcommander Jurel took the Rhanssa back to Romulus, for reassignment in the Rhensa sector. He took his crew with him, Terik and Rehu on the bridge with him.
Venak T'Rhiu was reassigned. He signed the orders and completely forgot about him. The only thing he remembered is the man’s cold stare on the bridge and then that, too faded.
No matter, Jurel would go where he could make a difference for the Free State. Vorsek could have his nebula and his paranoia and his mind games.
~*~
A Kobheerian freighter pulled out of Romulan space headed towards Capricalia with one passenger. He said his name was Drin Jerol.
Yesterday his name was Venak T'Rhiu.
Tomorrow it would be something completely different.
The name didn’t matter. Jurel had gotten too close. Killing him would have been suspicious. Now he would never come back.
There would be others. Someday he would have to deal with Vorsek directly.
But for today, that was good enough.
The man the shadows called Rixx relaxed as he hitched a ride back to a place he could almost call home.
~*~
tbc…
~*~
pNPC Nacien Rixx / Venak T'Rhiu / Drin Jerol
Criminal? Orion Syndicate? Free Agent?
~Julian Beck
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