Senior Chief Petty Officer Jenta Solana - Honor
Rameses
((Corridor, outside Transporter Room, Deck 06, USS Ronin))
The curved blade of hers spun over and over around her index finger as she spoke, her eyes locked on the Tholian inside the transporter room, as if she was gauging distance. She knew first hand though that you don’t get near a Tholian when it dies. Their people would need to evacuate the room first.
Winters: The Senior Chief is right. The longer that thing is not secured, the more people we are going to lose.
tr’Kharis: :::coolly, without opening his eyes:: Killing it would be… satisfying. But reckless. Its disappearance without explanation may provoke deeper scrutiny from the Alliance. You may solve one problem only to invite another… far larger one.
Singh: No matter how expedient it might seem to you we do not condone the summary execution of prisoners aboard this ship, Administrator. Something you should be very thankful for.
Solana: With all due respect ma’am, if we have a hostile ship threatening ours that’s all the more reason to make sure he won’t be a problem. If we end up in a battle and take damage the last thing we need is a Tholian warrior loose on the ship butchering our people!
The passion in her tone was one born of firsthand experience. She knew the Major understood, if in a different way. Singh had been in the cockpit fighting to defend DS33 and saw her own kind of horrors at the hands of the Sheliak and Tholians.
Winters: ::turning to Solana directly:: Check your emotions Senior Chief. The Major is well aware of the risk of having that thing aboard.
The former Marine snapped to attention at that and nodded her head to the Captain.
tr’Kharis: ::soft, precise:: The Senior Chief’s instincts are correct. A Warrior loose can be… catastrophic. However, eliminating it removes a potential bargaining chip. And you will find the Alliance does not negotiate from weakness…but it does react to uncertainty.
She saw the Major’s head shake and understood how she must be feeling.
Singh: Due to your actions Senior Chief, we have an opportunity to offer the Captain an unexpected option...we need a way to contain this creature safely until it is useful to him. Any recommendations along those lines?
Solana: Yes, ma’am. ::she exhaled slowly:: We should beam it into the brig instead of trying to restrain it. Assuming we can, we try escorting that thing through the corridors to a cell it could trigger the self destruct on its suit any time it thinks it's going to cause crippling damage. They did that multiple times during the Siege when we still tried to capture a few.
Winters: ::turning to Singh:: We don't have to transport it anywhere. All we need to do is transport it off the ship and hold it in a transport buffer. We did it with a couple of pirates back in the Gamma quadrant and used a storage buffer to hold them. It was separated from the ship systems and had no way for the hostile to re-materialize without a transporter. Just needed a small power supply to keep the buffer active.
That was an interesting idea, she’d store it away for the future.
tr’Kharis: Won’t work.
She looked his way as he expounded.
tr’Kharis: All it would take is damage to the wrong sub system or too much power drain and you’ll lose it and all the intelligence it holds. It’s not just a creature, it’s a connection to the Lattice.
Singh: As much as I'd like to order one of these medics to sedate you just to shut you up, I'd be negligent in my duties if I didn't ask....what intelligence? In my experience Tholian shock troops don't tend to get briefed on much strategic intelligence. The few that survived the Siege of DS33 knew nothing beyond xenophobia and propaganda.
Solana: That’s true, but they were shock troops as you say Major. These ones seem to have been tasked with watching over this place. This one might have intel just by proximity or more. I doubt it would be sent here without being briefed on what to look for to make sure they kept working and didn’t try anything.
Winters: You were saying?
tr’Kharis: It has sensitive Lattice Alliance intel. Do you intend to interrogate it while it’s dematerialised? ::slight tilt of his head:: I know how they think. I know what they fear. I betrayed them. I can provoke them into revealing more. Leave me alone with it. I can get it to reveal something.
She saw Singh roll her eyes and Jenta did the same.
Singh: Administrator...the only person I intend to leave you alone with in the near future is yourself, once our medical team assures me you're not going to drop dead from your injuries. The only reason they're not doing that while you're on the way to the brig is because you assisted our personnel but you are quickly using up what little credit that earned you.
Jenta merely gestured in agreement with Singh. Along with an accompanying glare.
Winters: Trust you? ::beat:: Why in all the universe would we trust you?
She saw the shift as he settled into what was undoubtedly his element. It actually saddened her. It was like seeing an old hound so set in its ways it keeps setting off the shock collar by trying to bite people even when it knows it’s only hurting itself.
tr’Kharis: ::calm, unblinking:: Because I have already demonstrated that my survival is now… tied with yours. ::gaze shifting deliberately to Solana:: Had I wished for your destruction, I would have left you on the moon and allowed the Tholian to finish you. I require this vessel intact to take me and my people to safety. You require information I possess and information I can extract. We need each other, you don’t have to trust me…I don’t trust you! Mutual necessity is sufficient.
The Major held up a hand.
Singh: Or you're desperate and grasping at straws because you realize that you left whatever sliver of authority you had down on that moon along with the remainder of your face.
Solana: Ouch. ::she clicked her tongue against her teeth at the barb:: Spoken like an Imperial Romulan.
Winters: ::turning back to Singh:: Your call Major but I still say we put the Tholian in a transport buffer. Worse case, the buffer loses power and the problem is off our hands.
Jenta watched the contest of wills between Soldu and Major Singh with absolutely no doubt who would win that battle. There was a reason the woman was in charge of not only the flight deck but also every Marine on board the ship. She was one of the exceptions to the rule that officers didn’t get things done.
tr’Kharis: If you destroy it, you learn nothing. If you suspend it, you risk losing it. If you question it through conventional means, it will endure. ::shallow breath:: Allow me to speak with it. Under guard. Under restraint...whatever. You lose nothing by trying.
Singh: Enough. Senior Chief, Captain, I want that Tholian beamed to a holding cell and under heavy guard. The ex-Administrator here...::She let her voice hang on the 'ex' for an extra moment::...was right about one small thing Captain. We can't risk losing a potential source of intelligence about what the Alliance is doing to a power failure and we've already had several of those today. We need to give Captain Kel some options...for example, perhaps the Lattice Alliance would be interested in recovering their soldier. Perhaps they'd be even more interested in an ex-Administrator who hasn't offered us much beyond vague promises and green bloodstains on our deck.
She let the implication hang heavy in the air for a long, long moment.
Singh: Ultimately it's the Captain's decision. If you would prefer to remain aboard this vessel then I strongly suggest you start providing information yourself. Specifically what you people were doing here and how we can stop the damage you've done. If you can't help with that then I cannot imagine the Captain will have much use for you.
Winters: Understood Major.
Solana: Yes, ma’am.
tr’Kharis: Response
One of the medtechs stepped forward and gestured towards their padd.
Maro: Major...we've stabilized him but he's in pretty rough shape...we need to get him to sickbay or a little blood loss will be the least of his worries. I've also let engineering know they'll need to decontaminate the transporter room...this guy brought a lot of radiation aboard with him. You should get checked out Senior Chief, with your suit breached you were probably exposed as well.
Ishani nodded and the man moved to the head of the grav sled and began heading down the corridor towards a turbolift.
Singh: You heard the man. Senior Chief, accompany our guest to Sickbay and don't take your eyes off him until he's sedated or dead then get yourself checked over. Captain Winters, you're on prisoner transport...get them into a holding cell and setup a guard rotation. I want redundant force fields and the environmental controls on a dead mans switch...if someone doesn't push a button every thirty seconds it's going to get real cold in the security center real fast. Make sure the Tholian understands that. Clear?
Jenta offered a nod to the Major. Despite the manner in which he did it, she did owe Soldu a thank you for getting her help she needed if in a roundabout and dangerous way.
Winters: On it.
While Winters entered the transporter room she adjusted her gear out of routine.
Solana: Aye, ma’am.
tr’Kharis: Response
Singh strode after the grav sled and stared down the Romulan. She used the opportunity to slip into the transporter room and stare down the Tholian for a moment before she yanked free the blade of hers that was still embedded in its chestplate. She walked back towards the Major, twirling it to see if it had been warped during the fight.
Singh: It is not my custom to threaten an injured prisoner so instead I will make you a promise. Help us undo the mess you have created and you will be protected. Fail to do so and I promise to spend the rest of my life making you regret the rest of yours. The choice is yours.
Winters: ::smirking:: I'll make sure the cell has two bunks just in case.
Solana: I would believe her, Soldu. The Major makes good on her promises.
tr’Kharis: Response
She raised a brow when the Major patted down her flight gear but otherwise said nothing.
Singh: I'm going to report what has transpired to the Captain...if he chooses to speak with you do not waste his time. Until then...cause no trouble.
Jenta would have to give her knives a thorough inspection and maintenance as usual when she was able to. For now, both blades returned to their sheaths at the small of the back of her EV suit. It was bulkier than the Marine versions she preferred. She would have to make a mental note to use the more tactical of the two suits next time.
Winters: ::with a beaten tone:: Understood Major.
Solana: I’ve had enough trouble for one day.
tr’Kharis: Response
Ishani offered Captain Winters and the Senior Chief a curt nod before turning on her heel and heading in the opposite direction. Michele looked to Solana and nodded as she also turned to the transporter room and moved to help transport the Tholian to the brig. Over her shoulder Michele threw the Senior Chief a quick warning.
Winters: Watch your back with that Romulan Senior Chief.
Solana: And you with that Tholian, Captain. He’s wounded but that one is no slouch in a fight.
tr’Kharis: Response
With that Jenta walked alongside the grav cart carrying Soldu, her rifle casually slung over the chestplate of her EV suit as they entered the turbolift.
Solana: While I don’t care for your methods, it would be dishonorable of me to not thank you for helping me with the Tholian.
tr’Kharis: Response
She felt the lift shift the moment the doors closed and glanced at the medtech who looked like they were trying to become part of the wall.
Solana: We have good reason to. After all, since we met you you’ve shown that you’re Imperial Romulan through and through. I’d bet ten strips of latinum that the only reason you did what you did was to protect your honor after you made the choice to help me instead of shooting me in the back with my own weapon earlier.
tr’Kharis: Response
She smirked slightly.
Solana: I was fully prepared to show you how good my knife throwing skills were should you have tried. But you have more honor than you pretend you have. If only you could free yourself of the prison of your old Empire’s way of thinking.
tr’Kharis: Response
The Orion stood, her back against the wall of the turbolift but her eyes and her rifle, while pointed down, between her and him. She was not letting her guard down.
Solana: I saw how Aduko and you were together. That’s speaks of friendship or if nothing else, mutual respect. It’s why you didn’t shoot me in the back and why you even put yourself in harm’ way with the Tholian in the transporter room. You knew your best shot at helping your people, the ones with whom you served with down there, who were your responsibility, was to help us help you. Was it opportunistic? Of course, you’re a Romulan old enough to have lived through the peak of your Empire and seen it fall in an instant. Splinter and half of your kin move on to try and better themselves, while the other half cling to their old doctrine like a dehydrated man scrambling for a mirage. You may not want to admit it, Soldu but I think your time on this moon made you more like us than you’d like to admit.
The doors of the turbolift opened and the medtech couldn’t step out fast enough to get the grav cart moving again.
tr’Kharis: Response
Solana: Well don’t worry. I don’t expect you to swear any oaths on a Dathe'anofv-sen.*
tr’Kharis: Response
Solana: I told you. I used to serve with a half Romulan. ::She winked::
tr’Kharis: Response
Her comm badge chirped to life with Winter’s voice.
Winters: =/\= Winters to Senior Chief Solana. The Tholian is in the brig. I am headed there to personally babysit this thing. =/\=
Solana: = /\= Good. Make sure you tuck it in. Can’t have it staying up past curfew. =/\=
The line closed and the grav cart turned to enter through the main double doors of Sickbay, near ward C.
tr’Kharis: Response
Solana: I’m going to suggest we keep a restraining field on your biobed so you don’t hurt yourself trying to be cunning. ::her tone softened:: But I’ll let Aduko know you’re here and assuming he’s been cleared by medical, there shouldn’t be any issues letting him visit you. ::she quickly added:: I’ll have one of the nurses come by and give you an update on the state of your people. Given the amount of radiation down there I’m sure some didn’t make it, but I know you want to know either way.
tr’Kharis: Response
*Romulan honor blade.
[tags/End of Act 3 for Solana]
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Senior Chief Petty Officer Jenta Solana
Security/Tactical CQC Specialist
As simmed by
Commander Toryn Raga
First Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
Writer ID: A239410TR0
https://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php?title=Toryn_Raga