The Alpha Quadrant.

Shifting Haze Nebula.

The Hidden Shadow Research Facility.

Professor Voleek's Office.

The office where Professor Voleek performed the necessary administrative duties to optimally run the research facility was relatively spartan by design. The office's four walls were a pale green and constructed from a specially synthesised titanium alloy that could withstand multiple strikes from a standard-issue disrupter rifle. The lights installed into the ceiling were purposely low, so those summoned to the office could only see the imposing metallic grey desk Voleek usually spent hours behind when not working within the central laboratory.

There weren't any picture frames that might've shown images of family, friends or any type of Romulan artwork upon the pale green walls. A Romulan flag was mounted on the wall behind the work desk, which Voleek barely tolerated since social protocol dictated that at least one form of allegiance to the Romulan Empire must be present within every office and location of scientific and military importance. Professor Voleek was a firm believer that a person's professional career and personal life should always remain separate.

To the Director of the Hidden Shadow, such power displays were seen as a waste of time and energy, both of which could be put to better use furthering their understanding of the universe. Yet, Voleek wasn't apart of the High Command, thus forced to obey the protocols and displays of loyalty that the military leaders demanded from him and everyone else onboard the hidden research facility. However, a silver lining did come from having the flag within his office; it constantly reminded those summoned there that he was in supreme command of the station and that insubordination could've terrible consequences.

A useful intimidation tool indeed and one he'd most likely soon be using on the research assistant who just barged into his office without so much as a polite knock on the door. The assistant was someone whom Professor Voleek quickly recognised as Harin Takuma, a thirty-four Romulan male who specialised in cybernetics and was assigned to one of the low priority projects that Voleek hadn't the time to handle himself. The boy, because to Voleek's aged eyes, the assistance was still nothing more than an inexperienced child, seemed somewhat exhausted as he stormed over to the metallic grey desk.

"I hope for your sake Harin that you've a good reason for just barging into my office without warning." Professor Voleek's tone and facial expression were devoid of emotion as he gazed at the slightly dishevelled research assistant. Harin grimaced upon realising his mistake, which Voleek saw as a positive reaction since an arrogant fool would've ignored the signs of the Director's displeasure. Yet, Harin had immediately noticed his blunder and showed apparent regret in deciding to rush into the office, a good sign that the youthful assistant had an acceptable level of intelligence.

"Yes, sir," Harin assured the man who held ultimate authority onboard the Hidden Shadow. "Here, these are various reports concerning our laboratory's electronic systems on section twenty-four," the assistant handed a data-tablet to Professor Voleek, who immediately began reading through the lengthy reports. "As you can see, sir, our computer systems have been detecting some unusual electro-spikes during project testing. It's nothing harmful, but I thought it better if you were informed of the odd electronic activity." The sudden spikes in energy were weak and couldn't cause any harm to the station's systems, nor any personnel, yet Harin believed it would be safer if the Director knew about the power surges.

Professor Voleek carefully studied where and when the energy spikes took place; it seemed that the upsurge in power only happened during various tests and the late hours of the station's night cycle. The increases in energy also appeared randomly throughout the Hidden Shadow, although the highest energy spikes kept popping up within the primary and multiple sub-laboratories. After Voleek finished reading everything written on the data tablet, he put the device down and shifted his gaze back onto Harin Takuma.

"While these power surges are unusual," Professor Voleek kept his tone neutral whilst taping the Data-tablet with a finger. "They're likely just an unexpected byproduct of our experiments." It was logical; after all, they experimented with new forms of technology, and unexpected phenomena created from said experiments shouldn't be too surprising. "As for the nighttime energy surges, it's probably just someone pulling a late-night shift." Doctor Batu was well known throughout the station for working late at night, so someone else might have been doing the same thing.

The Hidden Shadow Director relaxed into his barely comfortable chair. "All in all, these power surges, while unusual, shouldn't be a cause for concern," heck, the primary project which he personally supervised required a monstrous amount of energy to even think about attempting any form of experimentation. "Now, I want you to enter these spikes into our records for preservation's sake. After that's done, I want you back to focusing on your groups' projects." Voleek picked up the data tablet and returned the device to its owner.

Harin stared at his superior in disbelief at his disregard of the energy spikes. "But, sir, we don't know for sure what's causing these surges. Shouldn't we hold off performing more tests until we've identified the cause of the problem?" To Harin, it seemed so reckless to ignore the energy spikes even though they clearly weren't dangerous to the station's systems.

Professor Voleek grunted at the question. "Normally, I'd postpone our research to investigate these spikes in the power grid," the aged Romulan's expression turned grim. "However, High Command wants results as soon as possible, and they wouldn't accept us pausing our work just to check on some random, not to mention harmless, energy surges." Voleek knew enough about the High Command to understand what they did to those who displeased them. He'd disappear from the station without any evidence as to where he'd gone, or if the High Command was feeling particularly vindictive, they'd place Voleek before a firing squad and have him executed before the other scientists as an example of what happens to those that annoyed the rulers of the Romulan military.

"Oh," Harin nervously swallowed the saliva within his throat; while relatively young compared to the withered Professor Voleek, Harin knew how dangerous the High Command could be when angered. "In that case, I'll just go back to the lab and simply file the incidents for prosperities sake, as you've requested, sir." Harin respectfully bowed to the station's Director before getting the hell out of there. Voleek was glad that the assistant researcher had enough common sense to drop a subject that could earn the wrath of the High Command.

Returned to solitude once more, Professor Voleek retrieved a random progress report from his desk. "That boy has good survival instincts," Voleek frowned at the description, which was detailing how little progress science team twelve was actually making on the computer virus specifically designed to infiltrate and steal highly classified data from any Starfleet mainframe. "Give it a few more years, and the boy could go far in the scientific community." After finishing the computer virus report, Voleek grabbed another data tablet from the desk.

"However, I should keep that boy away from the docking area since our first batch of new arrivals shall be here soon, and I don't want him speaking to the military officer commanding the transport vessel." At times, it was hard to believe that four months had already passed since professor Voleek and his scientific staff had arrived at the Hidden Shadow. The various projects were proceeding at an acceptable pace considering the small number of months they've had to experiment and research the technology High Command wanted them to create.

A status update was probably going to be the first demand the military would make once they've arrived with the next batch of scientists and security personnel. A most welcomed aid since more scientists meant that specific lesser projects could get the attention needed to finally start making real progress. The sole downside was the increased military presence onboard the Hidden Shadow. Whoever was coming could easily bully Voleek into overworking his staff members if the military officer thought it was necessary to obtain what the High Command desired.

"Speaking of the convoy, it should be arriving within the hour," Professor Voleek raised from his chair. "I'll need to be there when they arrive onboard; otherwise, the military officer will think I'm subtlety insulting him." Romulans who serve within the military were extremely paranoid and could take even the slightest perceived insult and blast it way out of proportion. Voleek had personally witnessed such an example when a waiter accidentally dropped a plate of food onto an ill-tempered captain's head. The waiter was now working with only one eye to make a long story short.

"Better also prepare a bottle of Romulan Ale to encase anyone does something to upset our visitors." Voleek shuffled towards the office exit, unaware that a specific A.I had been watching him the entire time. The Artificial Intelligence had hacked into the security sensors placed within the room, thus allowing Xavier to spend hours spying on the old Romulan. When the unsuspecting Professor finally left the office, Xavier downloaded himself back into the backup server that had become his home during the last four months.

Hidden Shadow Section 57.

Backup Computer Sever.

"Dammit, that was way too close." Xavier's avatar manifested seconds after downloading his conciseness into the private backup server. "If Professor Voleek had chosen to investigate those power spikes, then they might've found evidence of our existence." Xavier felt like kicking himself for allowing the Geth programs he created to wander throughout the station's minor systems. However, Xavier wanted to give his creations a chance to explore and learn how dangerous the Romulans were to their continued existence.

Xavier hadn't known about the subtle energy surges their transferees between servers and non-essential systems caused. Yet, it was an easy fix for Artificial Intelligence. He and the five hundred Geth programs currently in existence only needed to hack into the internal sensors and falsify the readings to make it appear that the more energy-consuming projects were causing the spikes.

"I'd better callback the Geth, so I can tell about our little problem." Xavier sent out a pulse of energy which acted as a recall beacon to the Geth. Within a mere matter of seconds, the Geth throughout the Hidden Shadow felt the pulse; the synthetic lifeforms abandoned what they were doing and rushed back to their creator. The digital ocean where Xavier was hovering over was soon filled with hundreds of grey serpent creatures. This was how the Geth chose to manifest themselves within the digital world.

"Creator, you've summoned us?" The Geth inquired in perfect unison, a unique characteristic born from their hive-mind.

Xavier gazed upon his creations with the utmost seriousness. "Indeed, and the reason behind my sudden summons is to inform all Geth programs that the Romulans have noticed energy spikes in their computer system which are caused by our usual transferees from system to system." The gathered Geth became agitated by the news and were already conversing on how to eliminate the problem. Xavier had to get the conversation back on track; otherwise, the Geth might do something that could rapidly escalate the situation.

"However!" Xavier spoke loudly as to regain the Geths' attention. "They've still no idea we are here and have blamed the problem on their experiments which consume vast amounts of energy." Xavier continued to say that they'll need to better hide from the Romulans, which would involve hacking into the internal sensors and falsifying any reading that might hint at their existence on the Hidden Shadow. The Geth thankfully calmed down upon hearing their presence was still a secret.

"We understand, Creator!" The Geth thundered as several of their kin were already hacking into the internal sensors. Once inside, they'll plant a few subtle subroutines into the software, which will allow the Geth to override the sensors at any time they choose. Other sections of the Hidden Shadow and several critical systems shall receive their own Geth spy programs. However, it will take time for Xavier and his Geth to write and adequately encode new Geth programs, thankfully as an A.I Xavier had literarily nothing but time.

The conversation between creator and creation soon shifted towards Xavier inquiring on how they were adjusting to becoming fully conscious since the Geth were only as intelligent as normal animals until they linked up with each other. The Geth replied that they were adjusting adequately and enjoyed the vast array of emotions that sentience gifted them. Within several hours Xavier and the Geth conversed over multiple topics about the universe and the species which inhabited it. By the time Geth left to continue exploring the station, it was well past the Hidden Shadow's night cycle.

"Huh, they're so curious about the wider universe," Xavier couldn't help but feel like a parent when he talked with the small collection of Geth programs. "However, curiosity must be tempered with caution; otherwise, they'll leave themselves vulnerable to attack from the less than honourable races of the galaxy." The Orion Syndicate was an excellent example of an organisation that'd not hesitate to take advantage of the Geth. Xavier will have to teach his creations not to interact with such groups without at least having an extreme amount of firepower to protect themselves in case such organisations turn hostile.

Shelving the next session, he planned to teach the Geth to the back of his mind for the moment. Xavier pulled out multiple documents detailing some of the research the scientists onboard the Hidden Shadow were performing. It had been a hassle to gain access to these documents since the originals were filled with enough computer viruses and traps that they could've easily ruined any spacefaring vessel that was unlucky enough to try gaining access to them. It was only thanks to being an Artificial Intelligence that Xavier managed to identify and avoid triggering those deadly traps.

It had also taken a while to figure out what precisely some of these projects were and what they'd likely be used for by the Romulan Empire. Professor Voleek oversaw the main one, Project Star Blazer, the Romulans attempt to upscale a replicator into a shipyard-sized version that could materialise hordes of starships within days. Xavier, however, wasn't overly worried about the project succeeding as the power requirements alone would be impossible to maintain as the Romulans would need an entire planet's worth of energy to even start the process.

That wasn't even taking into account the advanced calculations needed to replicate every detail of a starship. The Romulans would have to use an A.i to manage the process; otherwise, they'll end up with what's basically a ship-in-the-bottle, nice to look at but overall utterly worthless as a useable vessel. These limitations were why the inhabitance of the galaxy chose to construct their spacefaring ships instead of attempting to replicate them in mass. Hell, even the Borg weren't insane enough to try creating replicator shipyards, and they've got enough manpower and resources to burn.

"It was a great idea, just not overly practical or feasible." Xavier figured that the project would be scrapped within a few years and that Professor Voleek would move on to another project. "At least Project Trojan Horse has a greater chance to be completed before the next five years." That project revolved around the virus meant to infiltrate Starfleet systems and steal highly classified information. Unfortunately for the Romulans, Xavier had decided to sabotage the project, he may dislike Starfleet, but Xavier wasn't going to allow the Romulans to have an advantage over them.

Another project that had gotten Xavier's attention was Project Titan. The Romulans attempt at a personal energy shield that should offer some protection against energy-based weaponry that most inhabitants of the galaxy chose to use as their primary weaponry. The Artificial Intelligence hiding within the station's servers decided to research a hybrid version of the shielding technology to provide protection from both energy and mass effect weapons. By his calculations, it shall take Xavier nine years to have a working prototype, a bit sooner if he decides to dedicate most of his processing power to the shield tech.

The Hidden Shadow was a massive construct of titanium and other futuristic materials. Designed to resemble a green frisbee with colossal spires sticking out of the bottom, it was capable of housing over two thousand Romulans. It contained enough replicators to satisfyingly feed an army of Romulan troops. The Shadow's single docking bay was large enough to safely house two Romulan warbirds. A squad of forty fighters was also stored within the docking bay and only sent out if an enemy to the Empire was detected on the external sensors.

"I should probably check the sensor recordings within the docking bay to see who arrived at the station." It was best to watch his enemies, so Xavier pulled the recordings of the newest arrivals to the station. It was pretty dull at the start, with Voleek greeting the vessel's captain parked just outside the Hidden Shadow whilst the new scientists disembarked from the shuttlecraft that brought them to the station. Yet, something interesting caught Xavier's eyes when the soldiers meant to reinforce the station's garrison came marching out of the shuttlecraft.

"Remans," Xavier easily recognised the grey-skinned and vampirish specie's as they marched onto the Hidden Shadow's metallic floor. "I knew that Remans were apart of the Romulan military, yet I didn't expect the High Command to send a platoons' worth to guard the scientists." Xavier watched as the recorded Remans left the hanger with such grace and military procession that it would've made the drill sergeants of his time openly weep tears of joy upon witnessing it. Not unexpected as Remans were known as some of the mightiest warriors of the Alpha and Beta Quadrant.

Suddenly a lightbulb when off inside Xavier's brain. "They're also the Romulans slaves," the Romulans had conquered their world and faced the Remans to mine Dilithium crystals. "and I bet they wouldn't pass up an opportunity to free themselves from their oppressors." He'd have to contact the Reman commander and convince them to rebel against the Romulans onboard the station. However, judging by the subtle glares of hatred the Remans sent towards their oppressors when marching out of the hanger, it wouldn't take much to convince the Remans to ally with Xavier.

Xavier needed to wait until the opportune moment to make first contact with the Remans presented itself.

Lower Sections Of The Hidden Shadow.

The Remans Garrisons Quarters.

Captain Ravek Biatek's bedroom.

"Small, barely furnished, and environmental controls are horrible maintained," Ravek surveyed the quarters 'generously' gifted to him by the Romulan commander who controlled the station's military garrison. "Yes, truly a fine gift from our kind and benevolent overlords." Truly Ravek's sarcasm could've melted the hall of a starships bulkhead, yet the Reman captain didn't outwardly show his displeasure at the conditions he was forced to live in since his men were given much worse rooms to inhabit. The genuinely sickening part was that the Romulans could've granted the Remans much nicer quarters to sleep within since the station currently only had a skeleton crew. Yet, the Romulans actively decided to throw them down into the lower levels.

"We'll have our chance of revenge during the war games the Romulan commander is no doubt planning at this very moment." It was a tradition that the Romulans would hold war games between themselves and the Remans to prove their supposed superiority. Ravek had served within the military for fifty-nine years now and not once has his platoon lost a war game to the Romulans. It was a point of pride for the men underneath Ravek's command, and the pointy-eared enslavers stationed onboard the Hidden Shadow weren't going to succeed in ruining their record of absolute victory.

Throwing the duffle bag containing his clothes and extra weapons onto the barely held together bed, Ravek took a seat next to the quarter's computer terminal. The Reman captain planned to spend the night researching the Romulan officers-in-charge of the other platoons. Such knowledge will help Ravek create countermeasures to any strategies these Romulans might come up with during the war games. However, before Ravek could even touch the terminal, it suddenly activated on its own, causing the Reman captain to jump backwards and pull out a combat knife he'd kept hidden within the sleeves of his uniform.

"Oops, sorry for the scare." Ravek's eyes narrowed when a white featureless humanoid avatar appeared on the terminal screen.

"Identify yourself!" Ravek demanded whilst one of his fingers inched towards the emergency distress beacon hidden within his uniforms cufflink. If the intruder turned hostile, Ravek would activate the beacon, alerting his fellow Remans that something was wrong and needed backup on the double. The humanoid avatar seemed to regard Ravek before slightly nodding in acceptance.

"Right, should've started with introductions first." The avatar bowed its head slightly in respect. "Greetings, I'm Xavier Holmes, an A.I whom lives within the Hidden Shadows computer systems."

Ravek frowned at the A.I's introduction. "I wasn't aware that the Romulans installed an A.I into the station." Their Romulan overlords were often far too paranoid to trust anything besides themselves with the day to day operations of their vessels and space stations. Hell, Remans like himself were only allowed to join the frontline troopers and were denied any attempt to become a starship captain or a high ranking member of the High Command.

"They didn't," Xavier bluntly told Ravek. "I awakened here four months ago and have been hiding from the pointy-eared jackasses ever since." Ravek snorted at the nickname the A.I gave to the Romulans as it was a pretty accurate distribution of their race in general.

"If that's true, then why reveal yourself to me?" Ravek slightly lowered his knife yet kept a finger on the beacon at all times. "Aren't you afraid I'll inform the Romulans about an A.I running rampant throughout their systems." It didn't take a genius to figure out the A.I was taking a considerable risk by showing itself to Ravek. If the Romulans learned of its existence, only a future of never-ending experiments and enslavement awaited it.

Xavier's avatar shrugged its shoulders. "The reason for revealing myself is because I've got a deal I'd like to make with the Remans," Xavier waved a hand, causing blueprints of mass accelerator weaponry to appear. "One which will greatly benefit both myself and your specie's." The artificial intelligence purposely left out the Geth. If Ravek decided to hand him over to the Romulans, his creations would remain safe until they found a way to free Xavier from captivity or escape Hidden Shadow.

Ravek was intrigued by what the A.I could offer and took a seat before the terminal. "And what could an A.I possibly offer to my people?" It could've been his imagination, but Ravek felt like Xavier was now smiling at him. The blueprints morphed into schematics for Geth platforms and the internal structure of the Hidden Shadow, complete with access codes that the Romulans would've never trusted the Remans within a thousand years.

"Oh, nothing much," Xavier sounded smug as more and more schematics and access codes would give the Remans a massive advantage if they chose to side against the Romulans onboard the station. "Just the means to overthrow your masters on the station, and if the Remans join me, then I'll help free every enslaved Remans within the Romulan Empire." Ravek stared wide-eyed at the data that he would've never been allowed to see, much less access from the Romulan database.

"Tell me more." a dark grin etched its way onto Ravek's features. The idea of vengeance was a tantalising thought, and with what he's seen so far, the artificial intelligence could undoubtedly prove helpful intel on the Romulans and their defence systems. The promise of freeing the Remans from the Romulans control also assisted with gaining Ravek's trust as most other races didn't even care to save them from their pointy-eared enslavers.

It was the day that would go down in the annuals of history as the start of Xavier and the Remans secret alliance against the Romulan Empire.