Star Trek: New Privateers

On to Remus and Sonis...

2009-06-28T14:26:00.000-07:00

"We are two minutes from short-range Romulan sensors", said Dio.

Danzar climbed out of a small space in the floor. "That should do it", he said. "Dio, execute our disguise". Dio promptly touched a few controls. There was a momentary audible hum.

"Our disguise is working. Telemetry is a match, and we have passed the outer security perimeter", said Dio.

Guinan smiled at Dio and Danzar. "Nice work, guys. I didn't think you had it in you".

Dio stepped away from the pilot's chair to make room for Danzar. Danzar sat down and touched a few controls. "We'll slow to impulse as instructed. Course set for Remus. Sonis has some sort of homing tag, we've found the frequency. Dio, get over to the transporter control. Once I see it, I'll send it to your station".

"OK", said Dio.

"How are we going to get Sonis off the planet if he's wearing a homing tag?" asked Guinan.

Danzar smiled and replied, "Because he won't be wearing it when I beam him aboard".

"You can do that?" asked Guinan.

"Sure. But it's our secret", said Danzar with a grin.

Guinan beamed. We just might pull this off, she thought.

Danzar tensed slightly and barked, "All right Dio, coordinates are coming over". Danzar's hands danced over the keyboard and he continued, "I'm setting a maintenance override for the shield generator over Sonis' facility. We've got 12 seconds before the shield comes back up. Now, Dio!"

"I have him" said Dio. "Coming through now"

Dio piloted the Robin on a long arc away from Remus. The transporter shimmer ebbed to reveal Sonis standing on the pad with a look of disbelief and his arms out in front of him. A 2-centimeter hole of scorched flesh in Sonis' chest was clearly visible.

Once the final hum ended, his arms slumped to his side, he fell to his knees, and collapsed in front of the transporter pad. Guinan gasped, and Dio turned his head. Danzar came over for a quick vitals check and muttered, "Dead".

"Is that from.....?", asked Guinan.

"Disruptor fire", interrupted Danzar. "We'll never know what happened".

"There's something we have to do" said Guinan.

"Do?" asked Danzar. "What now?"

"Get him home. On Romulus", said Guinan.

"Danzar, we have a Romulan security vessel hailing us", said Dio.

"Give him static, Dio", said Danzar. He turned to Guinan and answered, "All right. But this will be quick". Danzar then heaped Sonis' body back on the transporter pad.

"Dio, go to maximum warp in ten seconds, destination, Neutral Zone!", said Danzar.

"Got it", said Dio. Danzar had pulled Sonis' home of record from Romulan personnel files and beamed the body onto the porch of his family homestead. An older Romulan woman discovered the arrival and held his remains while weeping quietly.

The Robin went to warp as a volley of Romulan disruptors lanced past the ship's former position.

Revelations...

2009-06-28T12:34:00.000-07:00

As Cierek materialized on the Enterprise's transporter pad, Captain Picard stepped forward and offered the traditional Vulcan salute. It always intrigued her that Picard would learn a custom that he would rarely have reason to use.

"Peace and long life, Cierek of Vulcan."

"Live long and prosper, Captain Picard."

"It's good to see you in uniform again, Commander. I must warn you. Some members of my senior staff may take offense."

"The offense will be short-lived, Captain. Admiral Nechayev has granted temporary level 12 security clearance to your senior staff. I will be able to inform them of my current status."

"Good. Now, if you'll follow me, I've arranged to have this meeting in one of our more secure conference rooms. The corridors have been cleared per your request."

Cierek lowered her head in acquiescence and followed the captain down the deserted corridor to conference room 2. They walked in silence. Picard had apparently also learned of the Vulcan distaste for what humans called small talk.

As they entered the conference room, Commander Worf took one look at the commander in the all-black uniform of Starfleet Intelligence and leapt to his feet, growling. "Captain, with all due respect, sir, that p'taq should not be wearing a Starfleet uniform! She was court martialed after all."

"Worf!" Beverley Crusher shouted. "There are things you don't know. You might want to hold off on saying things you'll regret."

As Commander Riker began to rise, Captain Picard cleared his throat. "Gentlemen. Ladies. Your attention."

Immediately, the senior staff quieted and gave the Captain their full attention. "Thank you. Now, if you'll be patient, I'm certain Commander Cierek can explain things to your satisfaction. You may begin, Commander Cierek."

Cierek walked to the view screen as the captain took his seat. After bringing up an image of Vulcan from the database, she turned to face her audience. "First, let me remind you that this is a level 12 security briefing. You must never repeat anything you hear today. Is that understood?" When heads nodded all around, she began again. "You have heard reports concerning my court martial and separation from Starfleet. Let me assure you that those reports are incorrect. I am Commander Cierek, Starfleet Intelligence, currently assigned to black ops."

"Excuse me, Commander," Data interrupted. "When you say black ops, are you referring to Section 31?"

"No, Commander Data. I am referring to Unit Alpha. Unit Alpha is assigned to infiltrating and monitoring rogue operations within Starfleet and/or Federation space. Occasionally, these operations are useful. When they are not, it is the duty of Unit Alpha to ensure that they do not become dangerous. Until recently, I was assigned to infiltrate Section 31. After that organization attempted to recruit me, Starfleet saw fit to assign me to Unit Alpha's operations monitoring Section 31. My public court martial made them less suspicious of my loyalties and allowed me to rise to the highest levels of the organization."

"Commander?"

"Yes, Commander Worf?"

"Please accept my apologies for my earlier outburst. It was unwarranted and unprofessional."

"Apology accepted. Now, if we may begin with the briefing. This, as you may know, was Vulcan. The planet was destroyed in a now classified incident nearly 100 earth years ago. The truth of that incident must now be revealed for reasons you will soon come to understand. Please note that the information I provide will violate the Temporal Prime Directive and must not be shared with anyone not currently present in this room..."

After the Fire...

2009-06-27T17:37:00.000-07:00

Cierek watched as her mate slept, enjoying one final moment of emotion before she would be required to wake Velarek for meditation. A single tear slid down her cheek as she contemplated the good fortune of finding her mate here and the possibility that her actions over the next few months could destroy all that Cierek had found again in her mate's arms.

She was just about to rise to wake Velarek when the computer alerted her to an incoming message. Calming herself as well as she could without meditation, the Vulcan slipped from the bedroom to answer the message from the comm center in her living room.

"Computer open channel," she ordered as she sat down.

The face of Captain Jean-Luc Picard filled the screen. "Commander Cierek, I hope all finds you well."

"All is well, Captain. Is everything ready?"

"It is. Come to the Enterprise and we'll discuss the arrangements. We can't afford to discuss it over the comm, even if it is a secure channel."

"I have a... personal matter to attend to this morning. I can beam up at 1100 hours."

"Acceptable. See you then. Picard out."

Time of the essence, Cierek woke Velarek and began the meditation ritual that would snuff out the last small flickers of the Pon Farr. As logic returned, Cierek reflected on the events of the last week.

She'd returned to earth after an encounter with the time ship USS Relativity on her last mission. The USS Relativity had brought her through a time portal and shown her how a single temporal incursion endangered everything she knew. She'd always assumed that her universe had split with this one in the past, before Vulcan was destroyed. After all, she had never heard of an unsuccessful attempt to destroy her planet. She was incorrect. This universe would split from hers in the future and affect her past.

In her universe, Ambassador Spock would successfully stop the destruction of Romulus by a supernova a few months from the current date. In this universe, he would fail and be suspected of having destroyed Romulus. As an act of misguided vengeance, a rogue Romulan would go back in time, destroy Vulcan and forever change this timeline. Somehow, the ripple of destruction had only reached the present a few days before, a new history being rewritten instantaneously.

Ultimately, that act would also destroy this universe and her own. The artificial black hole where Vulcan had once been was beginning to destabilize. Within a year, it would become completely unstable, destroy this universe and every universe branching from it in the future and the past, including her own. Finding Admiral Spock and ensuring he was successful in his mission would be the only way to stop that from happening. They gave her information on how this could be achieved, then brought her back. Temporal mechanics gave her a headache.

She'd immediately returned to earth to meet with Beverly Crusher, a friend of hers since their academy days and one of the few Starfleet officers with security clearance high enough to know Cierek's true status. On her way to Beverly's apartment on earth, she'd encountered an El Aurean named Guinan who seemed to know her though they'd never met. She'd heard that El Aureans could sense temporal shifts, but she'd always suspected that that was an exaggeration.

The USS Relativity had told her she needed to contact certain people who had been connected to her in the "real" time line. This Guinan had been first on the list. They'd been vague as to how she knew this Guinan, but insisted she would be more than willing to help. After securing the El Aurean's cooperation and bringing Dr. Crusher on board with her plans, she'd returned to her apartment just as Dr. Polaski contacted her for help with her patient.

Hours Later

She'd had a long conversation with Velarek over breakfast. They'd discussed their lives and their careers. Cierek had considered giving her mate the "official story," but had ultimately told her the truth. Well, most of it. She had no interest in explaining temporal mechanics. Cierek was intrigued by how different this Velarek's life had been yet how much she resembled the Velarek from her universe. She wondered how much of this would change if she completed her duty successfully.

With these thoughts in mind, she bid farewell to Velarek and contacted the Enterprise for permission to beam aboard. The Captain had seen fit to run the transporter himself as a precaution, so when she arrived, they were alone in the room.

The Fire That Burns...

2009-06-27T17:34:00.000-07:00

Cierek stood outside the door to Velarek's room and steeled herself for the upcoming confrontation. Velarek would either accept her as mate or attack her. If she accepted her, Cierek would have to use every ounce of her control not to be overwhelmed by the call of her mate.

Cierek would later reflect upon this moment and determine that the shock of discovering that her mate existed in this universe had compromised her logic. Vulcan tradition demanded that the partner not affected by the Pon Farr meditate to strengthen his or her resolve before the mating could begin. This tradition allowed some semblance of order in the midst of the chaos of the blood fire.

On this day, however, Cierek forgot tradition and duty as she entered the hospital room of the woman who was biologically identical to the woman who had first been her mate decades ago in another universe. Velarek, who was lying on the examination table staring at the ceiling, did not acknowledge her presence, so Cierek waited, taking inventory of the similarities and differences between this woman and the Velarek from her universe.

This Velarek had long hair while her Velarek had short. This Velarek lacked the small scar on her chin that her Velarek had as a result of an incident in her childhood. This Velarek wore the uniform of a Vulcan counselor. Her Velarek had been a priestess. In other respects, they were completely the same. The scent of her mate, both this Velarek and her Velarek, wafted across the room to her nostrils just as the woman's familiar smooth voice caught Cierek's attention.

"Who are you?"

"I am Cierek of Vulcan..."

"Vulcan does not exist," Velarek growled as she sat up and gazed at Cierek. "It was destroyed long before my birth."

"In my universe..."

"Your universe? You are the one who came through the rift?"

"Yes." Cierek attempted to keep her answers short. She didn't want to antagonize the woman, whose suspicion of her seemed to be growing.

"Why are you here, Cierek of Vulcan?"

"I am your mate," Cierek declared, as calmly and clearly as possible.

"My mate," Velarek laughed as she rose to her feet. "I am certain my parents did not send you. They would hardly consider a woman from another universe to be a good choice for a son-in-law."

In the primitive part of herself that swirled beneath the calm veneer of logic, Cierek acknowledged that she had missed the sound of Velarek's laughter, although she'd only heard it in the few times that they had mated. This thought disturbed her. She was supposed to ground her mate by standing firm on the strength of Vulcan logic. She was failing.

"Your parents did not send me."

"No, they sent that useless male," Velarek spat out with disgust. "You seem a more attractive prospect, but it is forbidden. You are female."

"I am female. Nevertheless, I am your mate. Listen to the sound of my voice. Allow it to bring you peace..."

As Velarek stepped closer, Cierek could feel her resolve slipping. Her voice began to crack as she repeated the mantra meant to calm her mate. Cierek's telepathic senses had always been more sensitive than those of other Vulcans. In the past, she had used her greater abilities to her benefit. As her mate's emotions washed over her, however, Cierek's sensitivity became a curse.

Before Velarek could come into contact, Cierek fled to the ensuite. After splashing her face with water, Cierek stared at herself. Emotions too subtle for any non-Vulcan to detect were reflected in her eyes. She tried to calm herself, to breathe, to begin the meditations. Nothing worked. She could feel Velarek's growing passion through the door. She stared at her own hands as they shook, pale green blood oozing where her fingernails had dug into her right palm.

The ancient primitive within Cierek struggled against Vulcan civility. The primitive demanded. The civilized Vulcan attempted to deny its demands. The primitive won.

"She is your mate. Claim her."

Cierek strode out of the ensuite, all doubts washed away. Velarek gasped as Cierek pulled her into her arms and pressed her lips to hers. Whatever restraint was left in them was burned away as the blood fire began to rage. In one final act of will, Cierek called for an emergency beam to her apartment near the Academy, where she carried her mate to the bed and claimed her at long last.

Entering Romulan system--

2009-06-23T16:07:00.000-07:00

Guinan woke with a start from her catnap and turned to Danzar. "Sonis is on Remus. I sense him."

"All right", said Danzar. "We'll dock on Romulus, clear customs, and arrange transportation to Remus", talking with a tone tinged with insecurity.

"CUSTOMS!??" answered Guinan. "Kira Danzar does not go through customs. How the hell do you expect us to last ten seconds there?", squawked Guinan, eyes wide.

"So what do you propose, she-who-knows-ME-so-well?" quipped Danzar.

Guinan let loose an audible grunt. "The Danzar I knew would mask the ship and beam out Sonis from orbit. Grab and go WAS something he could do very well."

Danzar looked at Guinan as if he had seen a ghost.

"Come on, I, I can't believe I'm having this conversation with you!" said a surprised Guinan. She sensed confusion in him, fear.

Danzar rubbed his hands nervously as Guinan continued, with a quick exhale. "Look, the Danzar I knew was a legend because he fought the establishment. He knew every technological loophole in many allied and alien technological systems. Your crew counted on you to do the technologically unbelievable. You're like, Harry Houdini with some of the escapes you've designed. Now you're sitting here telling me...that person is not you? Because if that is what you're saying, this mission and this galaxy are doomed."

Dio gave Danzar a long stare.

"Harry who?" asked Danzar.

Guinan exhaled and asked, exasperated, "Can you do this or not?"

Danzar smiled and replied, "We've got work to do. Dio, take the helm. I need to re-configure the shield generators." He moved past Dio at a near sprint.

"Well I must say that is the liveliest I have seen him for some time", said Dio.

"That's my guy", said Guinan.

How this got started...

2009-06-21T20:44:00.000-07:00

Danzar returned to his chair with two cups of Nasean Tea. He gave one to Guinan. "Here. I find this to be very refreshing."

"Thank you" said Guinan as she took a sip. Her palate was immediately charged with the scent of cherries and a rich, smoky taste with a sweet finish. Guinan looked visibly impressed, and could feel some of the tension slipping away.

"So", said Danzar, "Tell me about yourself".

"I am an El Aurian. I am over seven centuries old, and my race are known as listeners. We can also sense changes along timelines and alternate possibilities." She took another sip then continued, "So, are you still skilled as an engineer? Or just a gun bunny?"

Danzar was taken a bit aback by her direct questions. "Well, I trained as a youth on ore freighters. Learned everything there was to know about keeping those old clunkers going. Even a few things on how to avoid detection."

"What about computer hacking?" asked Guinan.

"Sure", said Danzar. "My father was a expert in computers and demolitions. Taught me all he knew. However, my current line of work doesn't permit me to do much more than falsify death certificates".

Guinan nodded with approval. Danzar shifted in his seat.

"So, what led you to find me on that prophets-awful station named Terok Nor?" asked Danzar.

"I came across an old acquaintance on Earth. A Vulcan name Cierek, on her way to visit an old friend. She said she had come through some sort of time portal. I sensed something massive had changed, days before her arrival. Let's say we were .... close.", replied Guinan.

"I don't know any Vulcans personally", replied Danzar.

Guinan nodded and continued, "While that is true now, it wasn't always so. She asked me to find you, then Sonis, Dio, then T-Rex, then K'Rob, and find her on Earth. She would explain then."

"Cierek" mulled Danzar. "Something tells me I should know the name, but I don't".

"Right", said Guinan, "It's the effect of the event. The destruction of Vulcan".

"Guinan that was around a hundred years ago!" said Danzar. "You mean Vulcan wasn't supposed to be destroyed?"

Guinan held up a hand to quiet Danzar. "'Supposed' is a relative term now. The event happened. A new timeline is developing. Which brings us to the question of the red matter".

"Red Matter?" asked Danzar, then re-traced his memory as he continued, "Caused Vulcan to implode. The Romulans, Klingons, and Federation forged a pact to never use it again. Not that I believe it, but that's what is published".

"Which is why you and the rest of your crew have to steal it before it falls into the wrong hands", replied a calm and focused Guinan.

Danzar gazed upon her in horror.

T'ourous Rextilicon (aka T-Rex)

2009-06-21T18:18:00.001-07:00

Position: Operations Officer

Early Life: T'ourous was born in Balugad City-State on Gorn. His father is T'ranous Rextilicon, a war hero from the Second Romulan War, receiving 4 awards for courage. Commander T'ranous died while ramming his mortally-damaged destroyer Bruticus into the warp engines of a Romulan warbird, destroying three adjacent warbirds as well. Admiral T'ranous' exploits are chronicled in popular Gorn literature, and are required reading for all Gorn military cadets.

T'Ourous' grandfather is chronicled in Starfleet history after fighting a Federation officer over a dispute on Cestus III.

Education and Career:

T"Ourous entered the Gorn Military Acedemy on a scholarship, and excelled during his course work, branching infantry. He graduated second in his class, losing by one vote to a classmate whose father was the academy commandant. T'ourous had saved the classmate's life during cadet cruise, by carrying him 2 km to an aid station after an engagement with the Kzintis. T'Ourous lost Distinguished Honor Graduate, but gained the respect of Admiral Anklyo Saurusoliton, one of the Gorn Defense Fleet's most decorated commanders. T'ourous was brought aboard the GDF Mastodon, and was promoted to Operations Officer in two years' time. He would remain in the position for the next five years, and would be one of the more popular officers in the fleet, known for his military cunning and excellent soldier treatment.

Admiral Saurusoliton had a keen eye for opportunity, and wanted to groom his young lieutenant in a manner which would continue the legacy of T'Ourous' father. T'Ourous eagerly accepted his transfer to Starfleet as the first Gorn to participate in the Federation Officer Exchange Program. T'Ourous was quickly given the nickname "T-Rex" by his new human commander due to his striking resemblance to the Terran prehistoric creatures.

T-Rex's first mission aboard the USS Melbourne was to join a large task force to combat an invasion of Federation space by a race known as the Borg. The commander of the Melbourne refused to heed the advice of T-Rex and the First Officer who were pleading with him to make adjustments to the shields before entering combat. The commander refused, not wanting to take the additional time required to re-configure the shields and phasers. T-Rex would later state he felt it was a personal pity to ask crewmen he couldn't even name to die. Starfleet transmitted a death notice to the Gorn Defense Force, but have never sent a corpse.

He fought three waves of Borg boarding parties with his reliable sidearm, his gauss blaster. Because of his efforts, hundreds were able to evacuate the doomed vessel. T-Rex was eventually able to escape in a shuttle and hide amidst the wreckage as the Melbourne's life support systems finally failed. T-Rex was not awarded by Starfleet for his uncommon valor in the final hours of the battle until nearly ten years later.

He swore he would never deal with Starfleet again, and refused to return to his homeworld as a failure. Opprtunity arose as a small bird of prey began surveying and accumulating wreckage. T-Rex encountered and befriended the band of pirates and helped them assemble their ship, The Jolly Roger.

K'Rob recognized the talented warrior, and discovered a kindred warrior spirit which made the two fast friends. T-Rex now acts as the Jolly Roger's Operations Officer, acts as a personal guard to K'Rob, and advises him on military strategies.

Recent Events:

A Gorn historian, Klarto Deciduon, has researched into T-Rex' military record and cleared his name as a hero. T-Rex's exploits have come under recent reviews, and is being finally given the recognition he is due as a fallen warrior at Wolf 359. Starfleet has awarded him the Federation Legion of Merit. The problem is, he cannot return home, or risk undoing the honors he has bestowed on his family earned "posthumously".

Lariah Matachanel

2009-06-21T17:25:00.000-07:00

Lariah Matachanel

Position: Intelligence/Counter-Intelligence Operative

Early Life:

Born on Rigel IV into a family of slaves under the employ of Garvon the Dreadful, a Ruddy, second-rate pirate with a first rate mean streak. At the age of eleven, she was wagered and lost in a game of domjot to an Orion merchant named Rhiannon the Pale, who became the closes thing to a mother she has ever known.

She holds disdain for Starfleet after being groped at a very young age by a Star Fleet ensign. She gave him a black eye and a broken arm for his poor decision.

Education and Career:

Lariah has not spent a day in a formal academic institution.

Rhiannon quickly discovered the young girl's striking beauty, and tremendous singing voice. Rhiannon booked her on many performances and found very quickly she could sell out venues at the tender age of 13. However, Lariah had no interest in being a singer for the rest of her life, and struck a deal with Rhiannon which would change her life forever.

Lariah wanted to join Rhiannon's other, more lucrative venture, pirating. Rhiannon agreed, and Lariah became quite the decoy, sending innocent pleas for help on emergency channels to lure many vessels to be pilfered. In return, Lariah was an eager student for her talented mentor, learning the ways of interstellar commerce, by the book, and not.

Lariah's skills include speaking 4 languages (Klingon, Romulan, Gorn, and Cardassian) as well as being a shrewd businesswoman, a master of disguise with numerous aliases, and a formidable fighter. Her Orion dialect carries over when she speaks Federation, giving her a slight southern accent when she speaks, something which seems to entice human males.

She met K'Rob on Rigel IV while she had been finishing up a mission with the Klingon Imperial Intelligence. Lariah recognized K'Rob, and attempted to seduce him and return him to Kronos for a handsome reward. K'Rob's counter-offer proved to be more appealing, and after a night of much bloodwine and bruises, Lariah rescinded on bringing in the renegade Klingon, and K'Rob gained a formidable and trusting ally as she became K'Rob's Intel Operative for the Jolly Roger.

Recent Events:

Lariah remains in the employ of K'Rob, however, she is still free to pursue her other ventures, including continuing her work with Klingon Imperial Intelligence.

At Hangar 18

2009-06-21T09:07:00.000-07:00

The two turned the corner and noticed the large runabout as Danzar began, "Well, there she is, The Robin", with a jab of his hand.

Guinan looked aghast. "What a piece of junk!"

Danzar waved her off. "She'll make Warp 5. She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, lady. I've made a lot of special modifications myself." He then waved a gesturing hand and spoke with all the kindness he could muster. "All aboard".

Guinan nodded to Danzar as she walked up the ramp. She was startled to hear another voice.

"I was curious as to what was taking so long. I was beginning to become concerned for your safety." said the metallic-tinged voice.

"Dio?" asked Guinan, with a mix of surprise and curiosity.

"Yes, Dio", said Danzar. "My..er..financial manager. You know him too?"

Guinan looked at Dio with admiration. "Yes, of him. I had never gotten to meet him, until now. I am Guinan. It is good to finally make your acquaintance", she said warmly.

Dio gave a partial bow and replied, "The pleasure is mine, Miss Guinan".

"Well now that we've dispatched with the pleasantries, can we be under way?" asked Danzar.

"Of course", replied Guinan, taking a seat in the co-pilot chair. She could not help but be pleasantly surprised that despite the ship's hardscrabble exterior, the interior was clean as a whistle.

"Under way? Where?" asked Dio.

"Romulus", replied Danzar with a mix of dread and excitement.

"Romulus?" asked Dio. "That is a most unusual course heading".

"We have someone important to find. And I'm tripling you fee", said Guinan.

Dio wasted no time going to his jump seat and buckling in. "You heard the lady, Danzar. Let us go".

Danzar sat in the pilot's chair and steered the vessel out of dock. Once clear, they went to warp.

After a moment, Danzar asked, "Who's the lucky Romulan?"

"A doctor named Sonis", replied Guinan. "However, I'm getting a different ... feeling ... about him. Something has drastically changed, and I cannot .. see him".

"Are you saying we may be going after a dead guy?" asked Danzar.

"That would make your job infinitely easier then, wouldn't it?" quipped Guinan.

"Sure, but what about your mission?" asked Danzar.

Guinan smiled. "Keep flying. I don't like conjecture."

"Got it.", answered Danzar. "Press the glowing green button on the console, please". Guinan did so.

"Thanks", said Danzar. "We're on auto pilot. I need to go look at the warp drive. We're two days away at this speed. When I get back up here, I want to learn everything you can tell me about this mission. I have a replicator behind you if you need something. Excuse me." Danzar stepped away.

While on Terok Nor...

2009-06-20T22:45:00.000-07:00

Danzar tossed the beaten heap of flesh to the ground in front of Dukat. "Here Gul. Per our agreement."

Dukat smiled and purred, "Excellent. You are quite the bounty hunter. Here"

Dukat handed Danzar a case. Danzar quickly opened it and nodded approvingly.

"It's all there", said Dukat with a venomous smile. "Now please leave me and this wretch alone".

Danzar felt a small bit of hesitation about leaving Ro Laren with Gul Dukat. A bounty is a bounty, he thought.

He departed the large operations center and made the journey to the Promenade and a watering hole named Rom's.

He was stopped at the door by a human woman wearing flowing azure gowns and a matching headdress.

"Do I know you?" asked Danzar.

"No", said the woman. "But I know you."

Danzar became impatient. "I don't like games", he replied, while trying to step past.

"No games", said the woman, matching his gaze and refusing to yield. "It is important".

Danzar relented. "Very well. Let's walk and... talk. And you are?"

"Guinan", said the woman. "And something terrible has happened".

"So why not go to security, eh..Guinan?" asked a quizzical Danzar. "Why me?"

"Because you're the only one who knows how to save your captain", she replied.

"Captain?" asked Danzar. "I'm a bounty hunter. I work alone".

"That wasn't always the case", replied Guinan.

"There is also the matter of my fee", said Danzar, placing obstacles to attempt to free himself of this lunatic.

"I'll triple it", retorted Guinan. "All you have to do is get us to the Guardian and save your captain. You do have a ship, right?"

"Yes", answered Danzar. "If this is a trick, I'll put you out an airlock with the rest of the flotsam".

"Deal", said a stonefaced Guinan.

They both walked off toward Hangar 18.

Meanwhen...

2009-06-20T05:28:00.000-07:00

"Well, that was a hell of a thing..." K'Rob said aloud, slowly lifting his bulky frame from what he assumed was a marble floor covered with the dirt of the ages. His head pounded like he had drunk about seven kegs of Romulan ale, but he didn't remember drinking any... or for that matter, where he was or how he dad even come to be lying on his back in the dirt.

"Captain K'Rob?" a weak voice called from nearby, "Are you okay?"

K'Rob opened his eyes, which started to regain their focus. "That depends... Are you a human?"

The stocky, dark haired woman in the blue uniform produced a medical tricorder from her hip and pointed it at him warily. "I've never seen the guardian react that way before. It's like it intentionally blocked you from entering. What do you remember?"

"I remember getting past the Starfleet security patrol around the planet. I remember landing on this pitiful rock and capturing you... what was it you were doing out there on that mesa again?"

"It's called meditating. It provides focus for the mind."

"Not as much focus as the mok'bara discipline apparently, or I never would have been able to sneak up on you." K'Rob said, refering to the ancient Klingon martial art.

"You said that the first time too. Right before you demanded that I take you to the planet's treasure."

"Well, that sounds like me all right. Then you brought me here to this thing... which protected us from the... what did you call it?"

"Einstien-Rosenberg Chronal Bridging event. Something happened that changed our timeline..."

"Right... I remember now. It eliminated all traces of the Federation science outpost here, the security ships above, and my ship."

"Leaving us both stranded here."

K'Rob stood up and looked again at the rough, oval device. It was going to be one of those days.

Cierek Visits Earth and Finds Home

2009-06-07T10:59:00.000-07:00

Cierek walked quickly across the grounds of Starfleet Academy, doing her best to ignore the stares of passersby. She wondered if she would ever fully adjust to this timeline. After having spent most of her life in a universe where Vulcans numbered in the billions and continued to play a vital role in Alpha Quadrant politics, Cierek found it unusual to be an oddity to the many who had never seen or met a Vulcan in person.

When she'd carried out her field studies on this planet decades ago in her own universe, she'd had to constantly remind herself not to become too ensconced in the thriving Vulcan community of cadets, scientists, diplomats and bureaucrats that called San Francisco home. She was, after all, on Earth to study humans. Now, in this universe, she found it almost disconcerting at times to see another who looked like her but had never walked beneath the heat of the Vulcan sun or prayed in the ancient temples of her homeworld. These others were of her people but not of her world. They were different in ways Cierek could never explain even to herself, though they strove to maintain the Vulcan culture in which she had been raised.

It surely complicated matters that few of her species ever left the colony erected for them after the wholesale destruction of their home planet. Few was, at least, greater than none. As Cierek slipped into Starfleet Medical Headquarters, her thoughts turned to the one who had brought her here today.

Dr. Polaski had contacted her asking her assistance with a difficult case, a Vulcan woman exhibiting unusual symptoms that she didn't recognize. Attempts to get answers from the Vulcan medical community had been futile and the Starfleet medical database held limited information on Vulcan physiology. The patient herself would only say that she could not discuss the matter with outsiders. Shortly after Polaski had sent her query to the Vulcan Medical Council, a Vulcan male arrived, having been dispatched from the colony. Polaski's patient had attacked him and he soon left as quickly as he had come.

That is all that Cierek needed to know, so she quickly told Polaski she would come and closed the channel. Within an hour, she had transported to the main San Francisco transport station and was on her way to Starfleet Medical. It had been 48 hours since the onset of recognizable symptoms. She hoped it was not too late. She knew nothing of this woman, not even her name, but the loss of even one Vulcan life had taken on a greater meaning to her in this world.

As Cierek entered Dr. Polaski's office and all but demanded to see the patient's records without so much as a hello, the good doctor didn't even flinch. She'd only met a handful of Vulcans and had little reason to get to know one personally, but she'd heard that they could be a bit blunt for most people's taste. When Polaski pulled the patient's records up on the viewscreen, she would've sworn that she'd seen a brief look of shock cross the Vulcan's features.

"Do you know this woman? You looked...," Polaski began, unsure how to tell a Vulcan she'd seemed emotional.

"I knew her in my universe. I did not consider the possibility that her bloodline had survived. If I had known..."

"Were you friends?"

"Velarek is... was my mate." And there it was again, a brief flicker of emotion before Vulcan calm reasserted itself. "I do not know if this is appropriate."

"Appropriate?" Polaski asked, before a thought dawned on her. "I guess Vulcan culture doesn't leave much room for homosexuality, considering..."

"True homosexuality is a rarity amongst my species. Bisexuality is more common. In some cases, sexual orientation can be detected in infancy and an appropriate same-sex mate can be chosen if necessary. At other times, it does not present itself until the first... until adulthood. In my world, this was deemed logical and completely appropriate. Logic cannot overcome the limitations of biology. In this world, my species is endangered, our home destroyed. Reproduction carries far more importance and those deemed homosexual are often left unmated. The needs of the many..."

"Outweigh the needs of the one." Polaski finished, completely unaware that, for a Vulcan, being unmated meant certain death. "I can see where that might be..."

"Why did you contact me?" Cierek interrupted.

"Well, that came out of nowhere."

"We have never met. I am not a doctor. It would seem illogical for you to contact me in this matter."

"Dr. Beverly Crusher is an old friend of mine. She told me that you were here on Earth and that you probably knew enough about your species medical issues to at least offer some insight. Heaven knows your people weren't any help! You'd think they'd want to do something to save a Vulcan life considering..."

"They did do something. They sent her intended mate."

"Intended mate? He wasn't much help either. He wasn't even a doctor and gave me no information on what I could do to help her. He demanded privacy, went into the room and came out with a bloody nose. He returned to the Vulcan colony immediately after that. Now, I've got an emotional Vulcan on my hands who could be dying for all I know..."

"She is dying. She will die if I cannot..."

"Can't what?" Polaski asked, completely confused by whatever it was the Vulcan was trying not to say.

"We do not discuss it with outsiders."

"Look! I'm sorry if you think I care about Vulcan privacy, but I don't. I'm not letting you near my patient until you tell me what you're intending to do."

"She is my mate."

"No, she was your mate in a different timeline. You don't even know this woman!"

"You are correct. But biologically, she is my mate. That is what matters now."

"I'm not following..."

Resigned to what she must do, Cierek put out her hand to stop the doctor's impending tirade. "Computer. Seal this office with a level 12 security lockout. Security authorization code: Cierek Theta Alpha 785."

**Security seal authorized and activated. Level 12 clearance or greater needed for deactivation.**

"Wait! You were court martialed! You shouldn't have any security clearance, much less level 12."

"You do not need to know, Doctor, nor do you wish to know. As for the matter at hand, your patient is undergoing the Pon Farr, her first I believe. Velarek must mate or she will die within 24 hours. I am biologically suited to mate with her, but if I do, she may never be permitted to return to the Vulcan colony."

"You've never met this woman, but you intend to mate with her in violation of Vulcan law? I don't know if I can permit this."

"You will permit it or she will die. Please know that it is not unusual for a Vulcan not to meet her mate until the first stages of the Pon Farr. It is likely that she had not met the man who came to her before and he was surprised to find that she rejected him as a mate."

"But you supposedly mated with her counterpart decades ago. Wouldn't she already be mated by now?"

"My entrance into the Pon Farr was unusual. I was very young but I was injured. The injury instigated the Pon Farr. I too rejected my intended mate and Velarek was chosen to replace him. She had not yet entered her first true Pon Farr when I was brought to your universe."

"Pon Farr? Is that like puberty?"

"No. The Pon Farr is the blood fever, the overwhelming drive to mate. It occurs only every seven years in most Vulcans. We must mate or..."

"Or you die?"

"There are usually two other options. A period of constant meditation or a fight to the death. It has been too long in this case for meditation to have any effect. Velarek must mate or she must fight. My previous mate was killed in a shuttle accident. I am unmated. I am suitable. Would you prefer that I challenge her to a fight to the death?"

"No. Do what you must. I'll make sure you have some privacy."

"Computer, deactivate security seal. Security authorization code: Cierek Theta Alpha 785."

**Security seal deactivated**

As Cierek left the room without so much as a goodbye, Polaski made a mental note to remind herself to find out why exactly a former Starfleet officer had level 12 clearance.

Cierek made a mental note to ensure that any notes Polaski might take on their meeting were deleted from the medical database.

Captain K'Rob, sole survivor the house of R'Oceri.

2008-09-10T10:28:00.000-07:00

Captain K'Rob is the Klingon Captain of the Starship Jolly Roger. Known for his unconventional tactics and warped (for a Klingon) sense of humor, his unusual personal style let him rise quickly in rank in the Klingon Defense force.

After leading his taskforce in several successful military campaigns, K'Rob took a mate named C'har, of the house of Duras. When the Klingon Civil War happened, K'Rob pledged his men and ships to his wife's house against his better judgement and wound up on the losing side of the war. During the fighting, K'Rob's home on Q'ronos was destroyed by an inexperienced Klingon Captain (on the side of the Duras) and his wife was killed.

K'Rob snapped and turned on the inexperienced officer (destroying three starships in the process) before being removed from command by his own crew. His honor destroyed by turning on his allies, he was not granted the general amnesty afforded to the followers of Duras at the end of the war and served five years in the Rura Penthe penal colony. Upon his release, he began a self-imposed exile from the Empire, falling in with a band of Orion pirates before cobbling together his own ship and crew.

He captained the Jolly Roger for seven years before his crew went their separate ways, and he personally fell upon hard times. Although much of it was beyond his control, he always attributed his run of foul luck to losing the keys to the ship. He was last reported hunting in the jungles of Risa with a teenage Klingon that was reported to have an unusually greenish hue to his skin.

Eyrin

2008-08-24T19:07:00.000-07:00

Position: Yeoman, House servant

Early life:

Born in the Yalala Province of Deltan, Eyrin was a promising artist and sculptor. Her parents also found an interesting facet to her personality: she loved to travel fast, and was quite a daredevil. Which naturally put her into an aviator program which landed her in Starfleet Academy. She graduated in the lower part of her class as a helmsman, having suffered damage to her GPA from crashing...a holo-simulator.

Her first assignment was aboard the USS Istanbul, a supply vessel. She performed well, and was given shore leave to visit Risa, where she met a young Starfleet officer named Reg Barclay. Barclay had met her at one of the nightclubs, and talked to her about his limited interaction with "real" women. Eyrin didn't quite understand what he meant, but was willing to bring the young man up to speed, so to speak.

Scandal broke when Eyrin became pregnant, and requested transfer to Barclay's vessel, which his commander refused. The matter was kept from Barclay, and charges were brought against the young ensign. Eyrin was discharged from Starfleet for fraternizing with a superior officer and violating her Deltan Oath to Starfleet. She and her expected were left to fend for themselves on Risa, which is where she encountered Chaching and Danzar, who were looking for a suitable servant for the Jolly Roger's home. Both agreed Eyrin was a suitable fit, and her distrust of the Federation made her an ideal candidate. The crew lobbied her to K'Rob, who felt a pang of sympathy, and allowed her and her child to reside in the house as their servant.

Recent events:

Sonis delivered her child, a girl named Ilunia, three months ago. She remains a faithful and able servant of the house, and is also able to maintain the various special equipment the crew utilizes. Eyrin has yet to join the crew in space, and would jump at the chance to pilot the ship, since the considerable power of the engines would be absolutely exhilarating for her.

Dr. Sonis

2008-08-18T18:45:00.000-07:00

Position: Ship's Doctor

Early life:

Born in the village of Persutie on Romulus, his mother was a schoolteacher, and his father was a farmer. Sonis got the inspiration to become a doctor from his uncle Yartel, a surgeon working in nearby Vastor City. His childhood and upbringing were typical of a Romulan child, and he successfully passed his necessary rites of passage to adulthood.

Education and Career:

Upon completion of his mandatory enlistment in the Romulan Navy, he returned to complete his medical degree, placing near the middle of his graduating class. He went to work as a physician, and took up practice in the emergency room of a major hospital in Vastor City. He became their chief physician in four years' time.

He would spend the next thirty years of his life treating all nature of emergencies and trauma, never aspiring for anything more in life. He had a wife named Keeta, and three sons: Marcurk, Tolanot, and Dyser. Dyser would leave his family to grieve silently after dying during his trials at age ten. Keeta became extremely depressed. Sonis buried himself deeper in his work.

Recent Events:

After four years of living a stoic existence with a miserable wife and dead-end job, he was urged to accompany a friend to a lecture on what he believed to be some sort of ancient history lesson. It ended up being a lecture by a Vulcan named Spock who began speaking of the "re-unification" of the Vulcan and Romulan people. Sonis became interested, and helped transmit information through underground contacts to energize the movement.

Word of his seditious activities reached his administrators, who terminated his employment. The Ministry of Internal Affairs deemed him too valuable an asset to immediately terminate, so they gave him the option of accepting a lowly administrative position, which would cause shame to his entire family line, or be exiled from Romulan society.

He chose exile, and departed Romulus. He has picked up odd jobs with various merchant vessels, claiming Vulcan descent in order to not arouse suspicion. While between jobs on Risa, he met Danzar and T-Rex, who were looking for new doctors, since they grew tired of the unpredictable nature of their frequently-hacked EMH. After a few rounds of Saurian Brandy, Sonis agreed, and told them who he truly was. To his relief, they didn't even blink.

Sonis has resigned himself to the fact he will never see his family again, and allowed the Empire to concoct an obituary on his behalf. Two Romulans know Sonis is still alive, and they are sworn to secrecy. His children are now grown, and have pursued paths which do not require interstellar travel. Keeta died one year ago. He carries a nagging guilt that his moments of irresponsibility and weakness led to her demise.

He uses his trauma specialties to help the crew through any sort of scrape, proving more knowledgeable than most medical programs. He also fills in as a laboratory scientist, and has been helpful in areas of botany, geology, chemistry, and forensics.

His hobbies include homebrewing (which he uses to pick up extra money), and fishing.

Cierek of Vulcan

2008-08-14T18:10:00.000-07:00

Cierek, daughter of Sakonna and Xon, was born in the city of ShiKahr. Like all Vulcan children, she began training early in the methods that allowed her people to overcome the violent nature that combined with their technological prowess, had nearly destroyed them. She was an adept student and quickly drew the attention of the Tohlar Academy, the primary school that prepared young Vulcans for eventual entrance into the Vulcan Science Academy.

In her early 20s, Cierek entered the Pon Farr. When the mate her parents had chosen in her childhood arrived, Cierek struck him and demanded he be removed from her presence. An examination revealed that Cierek was ko-ka-ashausu and a female mate, a young temple initiate, was quickly chosen.

At the Academy, Cierek studied anthropology and archaeology, spending much of her off time examining ancient ruins in the foothills of the L-langon Mountains. After receiving early graduation, she began pursuing an advanced degree in exo-anthropology and became particularly fascinated by humans. While doing field work on Earth, Cierek was recruited by Vulcan Intelligence and began a double life as both scientist and spy.

At the age of 46, Cierek was travelling on the Federation Starship Expedient when it disappeared while in orbit around Vulcan. Dragged through a rift in the space-time continuum, the Expedient emerged in a universe where Vulcan no longer existed, having been destroyed in the mid-23rd century. Cierek and two Starfleet officers were aboard a shuttle investigating what appeared to be the sudden disappearance of her home planet when the Expedient was dragged back through the rift.

Unable to ever return to her own timeline, Cierek made the logical choice to combine her skills as an intelligence officer and her familiarity with humans to make a new life for herself in Starfleet. She spent much of her career assigned to the Starfleet Marines working "unofficial" missions. Denied access to a Vulcan mate due to her now-endangered species obsession with procreation, Cierek married a human woman, who died when Cierek was of the ripe young age (for a Vulcan) of 72.

And that's where the story gets a little murky.

The Official Story: At the age of 74, Commander Cierek was court martialed for conduct unbecoming an officer in relation to a classified occurrence on Angel One. Set adrift once again, Cierek made the logical choice to use her talents as wisely as a disgraced former Starfleet officer could, joining the ragtag crew of the Jolly Roger under the command of Captain K'Rob. Quickly gaining the Klingon's trust, Cierek became his First Officer and often took command on their black ops missions. During one such mission, the call of the "wild" led to an impromptu marriage of convenience with the ship's human transporter operator.

The Rumors: Scuttlebutt in Starfleet circles is that Cierek went into Pon Farr unexpectedly while on Angel One and attempted to mate with a high ranking diplomat, who took none too kindly to being made the femme and beat the Pon Farr right out of the Vulcan.

The Truth: The truth will be revealed in time.

Kira Danzar

2008-08-12T19:10:00.000-07:00

Position: Engineer

Early Days: Kira Danzar was born in the mines of Delevane on Bajor. He admits he does not know the day he was born. His mother died in infancy, and he was raised by his father, who escaped the mines, and became a member of the resistance. He spent his childhood fighting the Cardassian occupation, wielding a weapon at the age of six. His father was a former soldier, and taught him his specialty- demolitions. His father died as a prisoner in a labor camp, being shot in the back of the head by a Cardassian, when Danzar was only eight. Danzar witnessed the execution. He escaped from the first of what would be many detention centers.

He stowed aboard an ore freighter and was discovered by a kindly engineer named Maran. Maran kept an eye on his new study, and tutored him in the science of starship engineering, especially transporters. To Maran, who was not the most ambitious, Danzar was a quick study, and allowed Maran more time for the bottle.

Adolescence: Danzar picked up what Maran could teach him about ships, and parted company with him in order to seek his fortune. While making his way across the galaxy, hitching on with vessels needing engineering help, he made his way to Risa, where he encountered some Orions attempting to smuggle a Klingon cloaking device back aboard their vessel. Danzar followed them on board, and sabotaged the ship by overloading their disruptor couplings. He escaped by beaming into a neighboring vessel's pattern buffer. The vessel happened to be the Federation vessel Valiant, and arrested Danzar for destroying the Orion vessel and stowing aboard a Federation ship. This encounter gave Danzar the lifelong belief about the Federation not caring what is right, only what benefits them. He also hold the Federation responsible for a great deal of the bloodshed when Cardassia abdicated its hold on Bajor.

Adulthood: Attempting to secure a quieter life, he returns to Bajor upon the end of the occupation. He meets and quickly marries Ren Glorra, and attempts to earn a living as a maintenance technician. However, he discovers the Cardassian who murdered his father is still on Bajor, and quickly moves to kill him, and does so by detonating his palatial estate, killing him and his Bajoran wife, and eight Bajoran servants. Ren Glorra turns him over to Bajoran authorities, and he spends two years in prison until he escapes and stows away to Risa.

On Risa, he meets a former Klingon commander who happened to also have been recently released from Rura Penthe for being on the wrong side of the Klingon Civil War. The Klingon's name is K'Rob. Danzar is brought to meet K'Rob's crew, and quickly makes an impact by becoming the engineer who can pull them out of any thinkable jam with his mix of guile, creativity, and vast technical knowledge stemming from keeping antique ore freighters in functioning order.