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Star Trek Adventurer	By : Tcr Category: +S through Z > Star Trek: Online Views: 2690 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: Star Trek is owned and copyrighted by Paramount Pictures and CBS. For full disclaimer, see Chapter 1.

Chapter List
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Chapter 13: All The Things To Come
“Glad you could join us,” Korolevna stated, turning to look at the new arrivals. “We’ve entered the Jouret System and are on course for the gateway. We’re being escorted by a Mogai-class warbird, the N’Ventar, under the command of Subcommander Esha t’Raen.”
“ETA to gateway, 20 minutes, five seconds,” Straala reported from the Helm.
“This will be a most intriguing mission,” T’Rela stated from beside the Captain’s chair. Taka glanced at the Vulcan Ambassador before returning back to the viewscreen. “Romulans, Starfleet, Klingons, even the Cardassians are requesting permission to explore the Delta Quadrant.”
“And we’ll be one of the first to make contact with new races,” Renha said, some youthfulness coming back to her. “It’s going to be quite exciting.”
Taka stepped towards her chair, her eyes unmoving from the Mogai leading the Adventurer on the viewscreen. Though a Mogai was capable of standing up to the Vesta-class, the Adventurer lacked the edge to overtake the warbird without substantial damage. Theoretically, a Mogai could destroy the Adventurer.
She slid into her chair, dragging the console around in front of her and tapping commands into it. She studied the information pertaining to the N’Ventar. Firepower and shield schematics rolled up the screen in front of her and Taka’s antennae shrunk slightly at the realization that the Romulans had further upgraded their weapons systems, augmenting them with Klingon disruptors and Federation phasers.
Though the Romulans were allies to both powers, it still made Taka uncomfortable knowing that Starfleet was trading weapons with them. Especially with the significant mistrust between all the powers present only a year before. She looked at Korolevna, her concerns written on her face.
“The Romulans are our allies, Ensign zh’An,” Korolevna said without Taka saying anything. The use of Ensign still felt strange to hear for Taka. “They’re also the Klingons’ allies, too.” She shook her head, “Not that I completely understand that.”
“They chose logically,” T’Rela stated. “The Federation and the Klingons offer strength and defense. The Romulans have also forced a treaty between them, not unlike the Organians 151 years ago. In doing so, they have secured their existence. Anyone attacking them would have the combined forces of the Federation, Klingon, and the Republic, not unlike during the end of the Dominion War.”
“Doesn’t mean I have to like it, does it?” Korolevna asked rhetorically.
“No, Captain, that is true. One does not have to like it,” T’Rela replied.
“Captain, I’m receiving a hail from a Romulan ship,” Netu announced. “The RRW Lleiset.”
Korolevna sighed and nodded as she rose from her chair. “Put it on screen, Ensign Netu.”
The viewscreen changed, showing the symbol of the Romulan Republic before disappearing, transforming into the Bridge of a distinctly Romulan vessel. A woman appeared on screen with the ridged forehead indicative of the so-called ‘Romulan nobility’. She wore the uniform of the Romulan Republic, which Taka was still unused to seeing; most vids she had seen and holorecordings still showed the Romulans with their older, Star Empire style.
“Welcome, USS Adventurer, I am Admiral Tiaru Jarok, commander of the Romulan fleets in the Delta Quadrant,” the woman stated. It took a moment before Taka remembered where she’d heard the name Jarok before.
The ‘Defector Incident’, in 2366, and Admiral Alidar Jarok, who had been more than willing to sacrifice everything to prevent a war that would devastate both sides. While it had turned out to be a ploy, his sacrifice had spurred others into action, thus laying the groundwork for the alliances that would come to pass during the Dominion War and even now. Still, Taka mused, it was a strange situation that this Admiral Jarok, whom Taka believed was his daughter, would actually have command of any vessel, even in the Republic.
“Admiral Jarok, I’m Captain Tereza Korolevna and I extend sincere thanks on behalf of the entire Federation to be allowed to participate in the exploration of the Delta Quadrant alongside yourself and the Klingons,” Korolevna said. Taka could tell being diplomatic was not the Captain’s strong suite. “I believe we have an officer exchange that needs to be completed.”
“We do, as stated in part by our three governments,” Jarok stated. “I will beam aboard your vessel with our exchange officer and two others, if that suits you.”
“It does,” Korolevna replied. “I will have Ensign zh’An meet you at the transporter room to lead you to the observation lounge.”
“That is acceptable, Captain Korolevna.”
The viewscreen reverted to its sight of the Mogai leading the Adventurer towards a glowing shape in the distance. Taka looked at her Captain.
“We’ve got a few minutes, Ensign, I wouldn’t hurry too quickly,” Korolevna stated, taking her seat again.
“Captain, might I remind you that all diplomatic actions should be taken by the commanding officer of a starship,” T’Rela stated.
“Ambassador, I appreciate your candour in situations like this, but I have total faith in Ensign zh’An’s abilities as acting first officer to perform her duties,” Korolevna answered.
“Captain, I’m reading a Scimitar-class dreadnought orbiting the gateway,” Netu stated.
“Calm down, Ensign,” Lieutenant Commander Walker stated before his Captain could. “The Romulans have been using Scimitars for a few years now. They’ve generously removed the thalaron emitters to correspond with the Khitomer accords and now they’re just like the Odyssey and Bortesqu’ dreadnoughts.”
“Doesn’t make me any less uncomfortable.”
For the first time in a long time, Taka found herself agreeing with Netu Erra. She did not feel comfortable. Not with one of the fiercest dreadnoughts created floating around out there, waiting to attack and destroy whatever it wanted to. And she wasn’t sure she trusted the Romulans to keep with their word.
The thalaron weapon was what the Scimitar had originally been designed to employ to begin with. Removing it was a drastic weakness that the Romulans had never been one to allow. They were nothing if not pragmatic and always seeking that one way to improve their chances against the other races.
“I’ll head down to the transporter room, sir,” Taka said. She preferred to stay on the Bridge for the moment, but she had her duties to carry out and that was more important than her own, personal curiosity. Korolevna nodded.
Taka stared at the doors to the turbolift as they closed. She told the computer the destination and waited as it descended into the ship. The grey walls seemed to close around her, tightening and suffocating her as it dropped.
The doors opened and she stepped out onto the deck, passing several of the Adventurer's crew on the way to the transporter room. They separated and let her pass. Taka glanced at their pips as she walked by, seeing the black insignia of the enlisted personnel; she held herself back from smiling, though beamed on the inside. She was an officer now.
She stepped through the doors, seeing the Benzite transporter Chief behind his console. “Chief Rihka.”
“Ensign zh’An.”
“Are we in range of the Lleiset?” Taka asked.
“Coming up on range in a few minutes, sir,” Rihka stated.
“Good,” Taka said. She folded her hands behind her back and waited. “As soon as we're within range, confirm with their transporter chief and initiate.”
“Yes, sir.”
Time flew by; what seemed like seconds were really minutes. Rihka announced commencement of transport and Taka hardly believed it. It couldn't have been that long. But the four beams on the pad only proved it had been.
Taka recognized one. The brown haired, brown eyed features of Admiral Tiaru Jarok formed in front of her, standing there waiting for the beam to dissipate. The other three were unknowns to the Adventurer's acting first officer.
“Permission to come aboard?” Jarok said. She paused. “That is what you ask when someone comes to your ships, no?”
“It is,” Taka answered. “And permission granted.”
The woman standing next to Jarok looked around curiously. Fiery red hair crowned her head and sharp, green eyes darted across displays as the Romulans stepped off the pad. Even Admiral Jarok glanced across the room, a little more surreptitiously than her compatriot. Taka was not surprised; she would've been more surprised if they hadn't been scoping the room.
“My wife would love this technology,” Jarok stated. “She'd spend hours looking it over, dismantling it, working through it, and finding a way to integrate it into our ships.” She glanced at Taka. “That's not to say we need it, Ensign.”
“I'd never think otherwise,” Taka smirked. The Adventurer was still one of the more advanced ships in the fleet, even with the Odyssey-class ships rolling from the shipyards.
“Quantum slipstream drive?” the fiery redhead asked.
“The Vesta-class does have slipstream, yes,” Taka replied, motioning for them to leave the transporter room and follow her. “I have yet to experience it yet, as the time traveling from Vulcan to Jouret didn't warrant it.”
“Achieve warp 9.9 for how long?”
“We would prefer not to push it,” Taka stated as they stepped up to the turbolift. She turned to face the redhead. “The engines have been known to hold it for ten hours on other ships of the class.”
Taka stepped onto the turbolift as it opened. The four Romulans entered, too. Taka waited until it closed before announcing, “Bridge.”
It ascended in silence. Despite it, so much was spoken. Jarok glanced at the redhead when she thought no one was looking, the redhead shot a scolding look back. A gentle movement from the redhead, brushing against Jarok's hand.
Then the doors opened.
And the redhead pulled back.
“This way, please,” Taka motioned. She didn't mention what she saw, preferring not to put any unnecessary issues to start on this exchange.
Netu Erra glanced up from Tactical. She pursed her lips, saying nothing, then returning to her duties. Taka motioned towards the conference room before glancing at Erra and shaking her head.
She followed the Romulans into the room before snapping to attention. “Captain.”
“At ease,” Korolevna said. “Admiral Jarok.”
“Captain Korolevna,” Admiral Jarok stated. She looked at Lieutenant Pamei. “This is our exchange officer?”
“Yes, Admiral. Lieutenant Pamei is our Chief Science Officer,” Korolevna said.
“I'm honoured to serve aboard a Republic vessel,” Pamei said.
“We'll see after you've been aboard the N’Ventar for some time.”
Jarok didn't sound condescending in her tone, just realistic. Taka could imagine, with the differences between cultures, that many personnel didn't lasted long. She stayed behind the redheaded Romulan, arms folded behind her back.
Jarok motioned to fiery haired woman beside her. “Commander Ariatha Remora, Chief Engineer aboard the N’Ventar. As per our agreement, she will monitor and report on activities.”
“Of course,” Korolevna nodded. “We all wish to maintain proper and upstanding relationships between not just our governments, but those of the Delta Quadrant as well.”
Jarok nodded in reply. “Shall I take my leave?”
“If you will,” Korolevna answered. She nodded at Pamei, who handed her commbadge to Ariatha.
“Jarok to Lleiset, four to beam aboard, one Rigellian.”
“Aye, Admiral.”
The four people disappeared in green beams. Korolevna looked at Ariatha. “Normally I'd make a speech about what I expect from you, but Romulans have a reputation for being strict in training and performance.”
“We continue to pride ourselves on our service, but under D’Tan and the teachings of Ambassador Spock, the Republic is less rigid,” Ariatha said.
“You'll fit in quite well, then,” Korolevna nodded. She turned to Taka. “Show Subcommander Remora to Quarters 1072.”
“Yes, sir.”
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Star Trek Adventurer