"Elle to transporter room two."

Elle froze mid-chew of her lentil soup. She swallowed it, coughed, and tapped the nearest comm. "On my way," she said, and coughed again to dislodge the one remaining lentil.

She tossed the rest of her soup back into the recycler and bolted for the transporter room. The captain, Spock, Bones, Lt. Kerasus from Linguistics, and Commander Ael were waiting for her.

"Elle," the commander greeted, giving her a mischevious grin.

Elle returned the grin. "Commander Ael," she replied.

Kirk's gaze narrowed between them but he let it go. He nodded to Chief Kyle. "Energize."

Elle frowned as someone beamed aboard. Another Romulan, the subcommander. Tafv. The commander's son. The traitor. Oh no. She bit her lip hard enough to draw blood.

Spock caught sight of her pale face and gave her a concerned eyebrow.

Elle forced herself to stop biting her lip and twisted her fingers in the hem of her shirt. She shook her head.

Ael handled the introductions with aplomb. When she got to Elle last, Tafv stopped mid-nod and swept her with a critical gaze.

"Subcommander," Elle said politely, trying to hide her nervousness.

He bowed. "Miss Wilcott." He looked away, back to Ael and Kirk, his expression questioning.

"The Intrepid has been taken," Kirk said. "We'll have to implement your commander's plan sooner rather than later."

Tafv inclined his head in understanding, and he looked so Vulcan in that moment, Elle wanted to cry.

They all got back on the transporter dais. "Have the rest of the department heads beam over immediately following us," Kirk ordered. "Energize." And they beamed over to the Ineau.

-/\-

Watching Captain Kirk introduce Commander Ael t'Rllaillieu and her son, Subcommander Tafv, to the thirty-six department heads and senior officers of the three remaining starships was possibly the funniest thing that had happened all year. Nobody got violent about it, thank the Great Bird, but it had been five minutes and people still hadn't quieted down.

The captain let them have their outburst; he snagged Elle and walked her over to the far side of the briefing room. He rubbed a hand over his face. "Is this going to work?" he asked bluntly.

"It has to," Elle said. She glanced at Ael and Tafv, a somber spot of grey and rust amongst the colorful Fleet uniforms. "I trust Commander Ael."

Kirk's eyes narrowed when he realized what she wasn't saying. "Is there reason to be concerned?"

"I don't know," Elle said. "Maybe. I'll have to speak to the commander about him."

"You can't," Kirk replied immediately.

Elle thought of mnhei'sahe, of another Romulan commander's face. "I have to. She'll understand."

"You can't," Kirk said. "Not without revealing your status."

Oh yeah. Elle bit her lip. "I'll figure out a way," she said. "And I know when he's going to make his move, so we'll be prepared on our side, anyway. I'll tell you later."

The assorted crews were starting to settle down. Kirk straightened his uniform shirt and put on his game face.

"You got this, captain," she said, and followed him back to the main table.

The captain called the meeting to order, and Spock took over the job of describing the problem, and the plan. "The Romulan Empire has been targeting and abducting Vulcans for the last year using artificially generated ion storms in an attempt to clone telepathic brain matter, to use as mind control against its own people and its enemies," Spock said, and his matter-of-fact tone shocked them all into silence. "The program is based on a research station orbiting Levaeri V. That is where the Intrepid will be. The plan is to fake the Bloodwing's capture of the Enterprise. Once in tow, the ships will stop at Levaeri V under a pretext. Once there, both crews will storm the research station, retrieve the Intrepid and the Intrepid's crew, and either capture or destroy the cloned brainmatter. We will then return to Federation space."

The reaction to Spock's dry recitation could be likened to a dull roar. Elle fought the urge to put her hands over her ears.

"It would break almost every reg in the book," Captain Walsh was saying. "Allowing hostiles into classified areas. Entering into private alliances with foreign powers. Espionage again. Destruction of private property..."

"I have those powers, Mike," Captain Kirk said calmly. "That's what unusual breadth of discretion is for."

"I know. But-" Walsh broke off with a muttered sigh. "I don't like it, but Ael's idea is the best we've got, then."

Tafv spoke up. "I assure you, gentlefolk, that this is a sacifice for us, as well. We have nothing to gain from it. If it succeeds, we will have nothing but disgrace. We are all willing to risk that for the Commander's sake. It's a matter of mnhei'sahe. But we face far worse if we fail."

Elle pressed her lips together.

"Noted, Subcommander," Kirk said. "One moment. Lt. Kerasus, mneh-what?"

Lt. Kerasus explained the concept.

"It's like what the Greeks used to call agape," Elle chimed in, when they still looked confused. "A love based on moral principles, not emotion."

Tafv gave her a sharp look, and Ael gave her a curious one.

Lt. Kerasus gave Elle a high five. "That's exactly what it's like. Excellent references."

Elle grinned, red-faced.

One of the junior officers brought confirmation that the Intrepid had been captured and taken over the Romulan boundary line.

"That's it, then," Kirk said. "Approximately forty Romulans will beam over from Bloodwing to Enterprise. Commander, Subcommander, if you could beam back with Dr. McCoy, Mr. Spock, and Elle to work out quartering for your crew. Everyone else, you have your assignments. At towing speed, it'll take two and a half days to get to Levaeri. Dismissed."

Everyone hurried out, except for the three Star Fleet captains.

Elle trailed behind Spock as their group made for the transporter room.

"How did you know what mnhei'sahe is?" Tafv asked her.

Elle lifted her chin, didn't look at him. "I was told."

"By whom?" he demanded.

"By a Romulan commander."

The quiet, sharp inhale from both Romulans might as well have been a shout.

Spock ushered them into the transporter room.

-/\-

As soon as they were fully materialized, Spock directed Elle to go with Doctor McCoy and assist him with replicating the necessary intradermal translators. Elle went without a fuss; Tafv made her nervous.

"You think you can handle it?" McCoy asked kindly, as they coaxed the replicator into spitting out forty-five translators. "Or do we need to keep you on busy work so you don't interact with them?"

"I think I can handle it," Elle said, after a long second. "And I'm not just saying that."

"If there's a point where you can't, you just let me know," McCoy said. "If not, there's still time for you to go with Constellation."

"And miss all the fun?" Elle said, scandalized. "This is my chance to really talk to Commander Ael, to meet her crew, to learn some cool moves. They're so cool, Bones."

"To possibly die?" McCoy pointed out.

Elle waved a hand. "We all almost die all the time."

"Well, you're not wrong," McCoy admitted.

"And besides," Elle said. "This is important."

The comm whistled. "Captain Kirk to Elle."

"Elle here," she said, smacking the nearest wall comm.

"Come to my quarters as soon as you're able. We need to have that conversation."

Elle grimaced and looked over at Bones, who waved her away. "I'm on my way. Elle out." She gave Bones a hug and went to speak to the captain.

He was waiting for her with a hot mug of apple cider and Spock. "All right, Elle," he said, gesturing her to take a seat. "Before anything else catches us by surprise, spill. All the details, everything you remember, everything about subcommander Tafv, the whole shebang."

Elle obediently told him everything she remembered from reading the novel, and everything she remembered about Tafv's attempt at taking over the Enterprise. "He times it so the mission on Levaeri station still gets accomplished," she said. "We won't have to worry about that."

"We'll just everything else," Kirk said dryly, and leaned back in his chair with a sigh. "How do we keep getting into these messes?"

"Well, the ship is named Enterprise," Elle said. "This is just another big enterprise."

Kirk sat up and scowled at her. "Have you been talking to the Commander?"

"No," Elle said.

"That's exactly what she said, about names, naming things."

Elle smiled. "That part always made sense to me. Names have power. What did K't'lk say, about naming the circumstances you wished to create?"

Kirk shook his head. "Naming the circumstances of not actually surrendering the Enterprise to the Romulans is all I want."

"And the Intrepid," Elle said. "And the giant jar of brain matter."

"And that," Kirk conceded.

-/\-

The "battle" between the Bloodwing and the Enterprise was swift and painless, and before Elle finished her schoolwork for the day, the Enterprise was being towed through the Neutral Zone by a Romulan ship.

She took up a beanbag in the Main Rec Room to play Minecraft and watch as the various Romulan personnel entered to be assigned translators and posts. It was a strange sight, but the assorted Enterprise crew seemed more curious than hostile. Good.

Spock came into the Rec Room, scanned the area, and walked over to her. "Come along," he told her.

She dropped her game and got to her feet. "Where we goin'?" she asked.

He led her to a training room with two other security personnel, Martinez and Peele. "With Romulans onboard, instead of your science lessons, I am going to teach you how to do the Vulcan nerve pinch, as well as several forms of suus mahna that will serve you well against an opponent with greater bone density such as Vulcans or Romulans. Or Klingons."

Elle frowned. "I thought you were going to test my esper rating again before you did that?"

"This will be the test," Spock said, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "If you can do it, you are high enough on the rating to learn it."

Elle grinned. "Cool. Let's do it."

Peele volunteered as the first guinea pig. Spock explained where the nerve cluster was, how to apply the appropriate pressure, and how to send a burst of neuropathic energy through the nerves. "Go ahead," he said. "Lt. Peele, please refrain from becoming tense."

"I'll try my best," Peele said doubtfully, but he let Elle find the nerve cluster along his shoulder.

Elle took a deep breath, tried to do what Spock showed her, and pinched.

Nothing happened. Peele and Martinez traded a long-suffering look.

"Try again," Spock said.

She moved her fingers a few millimeters, concentrated, and pinched hard.

Peele dropped like a rock.

Martinez whistled, impressed. "Nice."

Spock's lips quirked up. "Adequate."

Peele, at their feet, stirred and groaned. "Ow," he said.

Elle helped him up. "Sorry," she said, as he rubbed at his sore neck.

"No, that was good," Peele said, grimacing. "It's an important technique."

Spock had her do it twice more until he was satisfied she had learned the technique. Then they moved on to using the neck pinch while fighting. After a short break, Spock showed her two different self-defense combinations. One to escape a hold, and one to knock out an opponent. "We will practice these two forms every day, until you are competent," he said.

"What if I end up using them before I'm competent?" Elle asked.

Spock just scowled and looked grave. "We shall have to pray that does not happen."

Elle paused. "Do Vulcans pray?"

Spock quirked a not-smile. "That is a discussion for another day, ax'nav. It is time for my shift on the bridge."

Elle went to her quarters, showered, changed, and headed to the mess hall to eat. As soon as she sat down with her sandwich, the red alert began to whoop.

"Red alert," Spock's voice announced. "Battle stations, battle stations. This is not a drill."

A moment later the all call came on with a different voice. "This is t'Rllailleiu," Ael said. "Rihannsu, report at speed to your assigned posts. Helmets all, and make sure any distinguishing insignia of Bloodwing about you are removed. If in doubt about any necessary action, consult with your 'prisoners.'" Even over the comm, you could hear her wry grin. "Remember, you are supposed to be Cuirass crew, do nothing to attract attention to yourselves when we are monitored. Honor to you, and mnhei'sahe. Out."

Elle stuffed the sandwich in her pocket, chugged her juice, and ran for her quarters, her heart hammering with adrenaline. What was going on?

The red alert whooped for another minute and then went quiet.

Elle waited. And waited. She couldn't eat, her stomach was cramping from nerves. It was another ship, calling to check on them. What was taking so long? What was going on? Had they been discovered?

An eternity later, which the chrono informed Elle was actually thirty-four minutes, Spock announced, "all clear."

Elle threw herself backwards on her bed and let herself breathe. Simba crawled up her side and nestled under her chin, purring soothingly. It helped a little.

-/\-

Elle couldn't sleep. Tomorrow was the big day. Elle's role was to keep her head down and play baby civilian, but the tension on the ship was a physical weight on her lungs, one that kept her mind awake and buzzing.

She slipped out of bed, tucked her meal card into her boot, and went down to the Observation Deck. There was no one there, so so get her favorite seat on the cushioned bench. These were alien stars, belonging to Romulan rulers.

The door slid open and someone came in with near silent steps.

"Commander," Elle said, catching sight of her in the transparisteel reflection.

"It's very late for you, isn't it young one?" Ael asked, coming to sit on the bench beside her.

They were same height. It was odd. Elle couldn't imagine possessing the sheer amount of presence Ael commanded. "Couldn't sleep," Elle replied. "I'm nervous."

"Understandable. And what do humans do when they are nervous?"

Elle smiled slightly. "I don't know about all humans, but I like to watch the stars and meditate. Play games. I'm learning pottery."

"Communing with the Earth," Ael said. "Something to keep you grounded as you journey through space. A wise choice."

Elle smiled. "I've never thought about it like that." She watched Ael's profile as the Rihannsu looked at the stars. "Are you nervous?"

"Do you want an honest answer?" Ael asked.

"If you wish to give it," Elle replied cautiously.

Ael smiled. "Are you sure you are not the captain's daughter? That was a good answer."

Elle quirked a grin. "Only on paper, commander, but thank you. He is a very good teacher."

"He is a good man," Ael said. "I could not have come to anyone else with this." She raised an eyebrow. "I am surprised they allowed you to come on this venture. If we fail-"

"We won't fail," Elle promised.

"You are so sure?"

Elle thought of Tafv. Winced. "I have faith," she said. "In my captain, in my crew. In your mnhei'sahe."

"And that if my crew?" Ael asked, dark eyes sharp and analytical.

Elle's tongue froze to the roof of her mouth. The captain's command warred with her urge to tell the truth and she just stared at the commander mutely.

"I see," Ael said softly. "Who of my crew will betray me?"

Elle looked down at her white-knuckled clasped hands. "It's-" she couldn't. "It's, he, they were cousins. It's mnhei'sahe, too."

Ael stilled beside her. "Tafv."

Elle bowed her head. "I'm sorry."

"How did you know?" Ael asked.

"I spoke to her," Elle said. "I didn't want her to die. She said she wouldn't die, only, lose her names. And it was loyalty to her people that made her let us take the device. We talked about Rihannsu with honor, ones that would keep the Empire from killing itself, like you."

"I could do nothing for her," Ael said, sorrow in her eyes though her voice remained steady.

"I kept them," Elle said. "Her names."

Ael stared at her. "What?"

"Her names." Elle fidgeted. "I'm not Rihan, I don't have to follow your rules. So I wrote them down. All four. They're in my quarters."

Ael stared at her. "Why?" she asked.

"Someone had to," Elle said. "She did something good. She should be remembered. And, I know one day we won't be enemies, so, why not start now?"

"And Tafv?" Ael asked. "How did you know his intentions?"

"Thirty minutes access to cultural database," Elle said, which was not a lie, instead of saying, 'I read it in the book about your life.'

Ael stood, and for a brief second she looked small and tired, backlit by the stars. "Elements bless you, child," she said gently, and placed her hand on Elle's head. Then she squared her shoulders and went off to troubleshoot betrayal in the ranks.

Elle slid off the bench and sat on the floor, hoping uneasily that she hadn't just condemned a man to death.

The call came a half-hour later. "Elle, report to my office." The captain sounded tired.

Elle unfolded herself from the floor and answered the summons. Kirk and Spock were waiting for her, and she said immediately, "I didn't tell her. She guessed."

The captain grinned humorelessly. "Yes, the commander has a habit of doing that, doesn't she? You're not in trouble, Elle, she told us she pressed you for information."

"I didn't tell her about the book," Elle said.

"You're becoming quite the little diplomat."

Elle made a face. "Ew."

Kirk laughed. "Regardless, good job keeping your cool."

"What's she going to do about Tafv?" Elle asked.

"She's going to confront him," Kirk said. "Hopefully he changes his mind, but if not... it's under her jurisdiction."

"Okay." Elle bit her lip. "I hope everything's going to be okay."

Kirk kissed the top of her head. "It's going to be okay. Get some rest, kiddo. Big day tomorrow."