Dylan Hunt was starting to get tired of Nietszcheans. Friend or foe, they had been giving him a headache lately. ~Nietszcheans always tend to be a headache, ~ Dylan mused as he dribbled the basketball across the floor of hydroponics, the rhythm of action conveying the frustration he felt within.
The Drago-Kazov were making sure people didn't forget they were around. Despite their weakened position following the Battle of Tarazed, the Drago-Kazov weren't about to back down. Their weakened position just made them that much more aggressive - and more of a headache. Their current objective seemed to be to terrorize the weaker member worlds with quick strike and retreat operations.
And unfortunately, they were still cunning enough to stay one step ahead of the Commonwealth forces that were attempting to put a stop to the operations. Attempting to do that though was somebody else's headache, not Dylan's. Dylan and the Andromeda's current task was providing the humanitarian aid to the people affected by the attacks.
Currently, Bekka and Harper were taking supplies down to Shanarise with the Eureka Maru. The Drago-Kazov had ambushed several of the world's smaller villages, doing what they did best - terrorizing people weaker than them. Dylan hadn't seen the situation on Shanarise first hand but he had a good idea what his crew would find when they got planet side.
Part of him would rather be trying to put a stop to the Drago-Kazov. At least then he could be working some of his frustrations out. However, with the Eureka Maru in its hangar bay, the Andromeda was uniquely equipped to deal with the aftermath of the Nietzscheans attacks. From a strategic standpoint, Dylan understood his orders.
That didn't mean he had to like them.
Just like he didn't like being so far from Tarazed. There had been something to the Sarbra-Jaguar activity in the area, even if they hadn't figured out what it had been. He hadn't liked leaving with that mystery still unsolved. Nor, had he liked leaving knowing Telemachus was facing some protest against his current course of action. Not that it was unexpected. Still, Dylan didn't like leaving his friend to face it alone.
But like a typical stubborn Nietzschean, Telemachus had insisted that it wasn't a big deal. Which just supported his belief that Nietszcheans tended to cause headaches.
Picking up the ball, Dylan sent it toward the hoop with more force than was necessary. He was not surprised when the ball bounced off the rim and careened in the opposite direction.
Dylan was surprised when his gaze followed the ball's trajectory to see the rubber sphere fall right into Rommie's hand.
"A little less force would be more conducive to the object of this game, Captain," Rommie commented calmly, as if she was giving nothing more important than a weather report.
"Very astute observation," Dylan countered, motioning to the ship's avatar to toss the ball to him. "However, I don't think you came down here just to give me unsolicited basketball tips," he continued, catching the ball that Rommie sent his way with a bounce pass.
"And you would be right," Rommie replied as Dylan started dribbling the ball. "I came here to give you an update on the supply run. Bekka reports a successful landing on Shanarise. Once they get the supplies unloaded, the Eureka Maru will be on its way back to Andromeda."
"Glad to hear it," Dylan said, attempting another shot. Again, the throw had too much force behind it to go through the net. However, this time, the ball came back toward him instead of careening off in another direction.
"You know that you could have joined them on the supply run. I could have easily kept the ship in orbit while you were gone," Rommie told him as she crossed her arms as she continued to watch Dylan.
"I know that," Dylan told her, back to dribbling the ball. "And while helping with the supply run would have given me something to do, that isn't the real problem."
"So what is the problem?" Rommie asked casually, trying to slowly direct Dylan into talking his feelings out with her. Being a sounding board for her Captain was one of her functions onboard the ship.
"The problem is that Nietszcheans continue to be a major nuisance. And it isn't just the Dragons and these raids. There are also other prides who are still attempting to destabilize the rebuilding process of the Commonwealth. The skirmishes between Nietzschean prides and don't ask me why, but I know the Sabra-Jaguar have something in mind for Tarazed. It's the only explanation for their little incursion into Tarazed's perimeter. There was something more to their presence there, but for the life of me, I can't figure out what.
"I'm sure Admiral Rhade has come to the same conclusion," Rommie commented. "He never was one to simply accept things at face value and his time on Andromeda and Seefra didn't change that."
"You're right, of course," Dylan said, knowing that Rommie was right. His conversations with Rhade before leaving assured him of that. Rhade had shared with him his suspicions about the Sabra-Jaguar. However, the Sabra-Jaguar weren't the only ones that Rhade had to be cautious about. "I just hope other things don't distract him," he added as he took another shot at the hoop.
"Is there something else going on?" Rommie asked, cocking her head as she looked at Dylan.
Dylan watched the ball go easily through the net this time as he contemplated how to answer Rommie's question. Though Telemachus wasn't broadcasting, the threats he had received he had also not requested that Dylan keep what he had revealed to him secret. Still, the conversation in Rhade's office had been in confidence and Dylan didn't plan on sharing the information freely. It was why he had yet to mention the threats against Rhade to anyone. However, this wasn't just anyone. This was Rommie. It was in her programming to be his sounding board and to keep their conversations private.
Dylan retrieved the ball and then turned to face the ship's avatar. "For now, what I'm about to reveal to you should remain between the two of us, Rommie."
"Of course, Captain."
"As you know, there are people who are protesting against Rhade's bid for the third triumvir position. However, along with the public protests that are taken place, Rhade has received quite a few more personal missives voicing opposition against the campaign. He shared several with me while we were on Tarazed, and some do more than just voice a protest. Some contain outright threats against his life."
"And you're worried about him," Rommie concluded.
"Yes, Rommie, I am. He might not be a member of my crew anymore, but he's still a friend."
"Four years ago, you were saying something else entirely."
"And what is that supposed to mean?"
"Just that opinions can change. Just because people are saying things now, some simply out of fear, it doesn't mean those views will continue nor does it mean they'll follow through on the threats. Rhade is hardly the first politician to receive threats, nor is he someone I anticipate will easily be caught off guard."
Dylan smiled, bouncing the ball off the deck and catching it again.
"You're right," Dylan conceded. "However, that doesn't mean I'm not worried about him. I almost wish I didn't know about the threats giving that there isn't anything I can do about them given that Rhade's on Tarazed and I'm out here."
"No, you don't," Rommie told him. "Because I know you, Dylan, and I know you offered your help and because of that, Rhade knows that if the situation escalates he can turn to you."
"However, for all his enlightened views compared to most Nietszcheans, Rhade is still just as stubborn and full of pride as Gaheris was. He's going to be in over his head before he turns to me for help," Dylan said, as he caught the ball and tossed it in Rommie's direction.
The android easily caught the surprise pass. "I cannot disagree with you on that account," she replied.
"Yeah, that's what I thought," Dylan muttered, not sure if the AI's honesty was better than a bit of false comfort in this case. Leaving Rommie holding the ball, Dylan headed for the door. He wasn't accomplishing anything by stewing on hydroponics. Perhaps keeping tabs on the humanitarian mission from Command Deck would keep his mind off things that he had no control over anyway.
Telemachus paced his office. It wasn't that he didn't have things he could be accomplishing, there was plenty, however he couldn't focus on it. What he wanted to know was what was going on with the investigation into the incident at his home last night? However, even Falcon wasn't talking to him about that situation. His second in command had assured him it was under control and that he should let him handle it. Telemachus had a feeling Tri-Lorn had told Falcon to keep him out of the loop as much as possible.
Logically, Telemachus knew that was for the best. He was too close to the situation. It would be too easy for him to do something that might ruin their case later down the line.
Knowing that, didn't make it any easier for him to accept. He wanted to be involved. His family had been threatened and he naturally wanted to do what he could to protect them.
The door chime interrupted his thoughts. "Come," Rhade called out as he came to a stop. Turning he faced the door as it opened.
"We need to talk," Tri-Lorn said as he came into the office. The triumvir's guards stayed out in the corridor as the door slid shut behind him.
"I'm hoping what you want to talk about is an update on the investigation," Rhade replied, not moving from where he had stopped his pacing.
"I do," Tri-Lorn replied with a nod, ignoring the lack of decorum and protocol on Rhade's part. He doubted he'd be worrying about such things either in the Home Guard commander's position. "How about we sit," he added, motioning toward Rhade's desk.
Without waiting for an answer, Tri-Lorn moved toward the desk. Sitting down in the visitor's chair the triumvir waited for Rhade to join him. He didn't have to wait long as Rhade was soon sitting down in the chair opposite of Tri-Lorn. Still, the Home Guard Commander said nothing, waiting for the triumvir to say what he had come to say.
Tri-Lorn didn't keep him waiting. "Nicolas Tride, the man caught at your house last night, was convinced to take a plea deal. He'll have a reduced sentence in return for not only confessing to being a part of the attack on your home last night, but also giving up his two accomplices. Captain Falcon is overseeing the arrest of the other two men involved last night as we speak."
"And the reason for the attack? Was it because of my candidacy for triumvir?"
"It was," Tri-Lorn admitted, knowing that the information could be the thing that convinced Rhade to drop out of the race. However, he also knew that withholding the information now would only make things worse in the long run given how Rhade felt about honesty. "Tride and his accomplices came from Ridel, a human colony that was just recently liberated from Drago-Kazov rule."
"And therefore, hate all things Nietzschean," Rhade supplied, not knowing whether to continuing feeling anger toward the men or sympathy. He knew how brutal the Drago-Kazov and other Nietzschean prides could be to races they considered inferior. He had seen first hand the destruction they had left behind. Knew of the conditions that those under their rule had to live under.
Harper had harbored those same prejudices. Prejudices that had made it difficult for Andromeda's engineer to accept Telemachus as part of the crew. However, that hadn't stopped Telemachus from continuously holding out the olive branch. Thanks to the majority of the Nietzschean Prides, the negative views with which most races viewed the Nietszcheans was well deserved. However, the fact that his pride and the other Nietszcheans who made Tarazed their home had managed to coexist with the other races here on Tarazed proved that it could be done. Like with Harper though, proving that was going to take patience, perseverance, tolerance and time. Which meant that he couldn't let this group of people ruin what he was trying to accomplish, not only for his people but for his children.
What he wanted was for his children to grow up in a world where they wouldn't be hated simply because of their heritage. Chances are, that wasn't going to happen. He was too much of a realist not to accept that. That didn't mean he should stop striving for that goal and teach his children that it was a goal worth working toward. Perhaps then, the goal might be reached for his grandchildren.
Tri-Lorn didn't try arguing against the statement. The simple fact was he knew he couldn't. The statement was true. "I know you're worried about your family's safety. Tri-Laurent and I are too, as well as your own. However, if you drop out of this race, Tride and those like him win."
"A fact that Jillian has already reminded me of."
"She's a smart woman."
Rhade nodded his assent. "So, what happens now?"
"Now, we make a public example of Tride and his friends. Though Tride earned some leniency due to his cooperation, the other two men involved will not receive the same consideration by the courts. They're being charged with trespassing, vandalism and assault. There was some talk of trying to get them on an attempted murder charge, but as no one was hurt, it's a long shot at best."
Rhade shook his head. The higher charge would mean it was more likely to go to trial, where Jillian at least might be called upon to answer questions before the jury. His wife, and kids, had been through enough. The last thing he wanted to do was drag this out any longer than necessary.
"The other three charges are enough."
"Giving the way you handled the incident with the teenagers, I figured that would be how you feel," Tri-Lorn said. "Once all three perpetrators are in custody, the immediate threat to your family no longer exists."
Tri-Lorn raised his hand for silence as he Rahde opened his mouth. The triumvir had no doubt that the other man was about to protest the statement.
"However, Tri-Laurent and I are in agreement that giving the situation, there is still an increased risk to you and your family. We feel that we can keep one Home Guard soldier assigned to your family for protection without raising too much backlash. In addition, two guards from either my detail or Tri-Laurent's, will be shadowing your family in addition to your own shadow. They'll be watching and if they spot anything suspicious or there are any other threats we will respond accordingly."
Rhade couldn't suppress the sigh as he leaned back in his chair. He knew that the two triumvirs were doing the best they could.
"We're also doubling the security at tomorrow's debate," Tri-Lorn said.
"I've asked Jillian to stay home with the kids tomorrow," Rhade commented. "I know I'll never be able to focus on the debate if I'm worrying about her safety."
"Speaking of which, are you ready for the debate?"
"Well, I did some preparation yesterday before all of the excitement but I haven't even thought of it since then."
"Perhaps now that we've caught the ones behind the incident last night, you'll be able to concentrate on it some more. This is the first debate, and a good performance will go a long way. Sigmund Nietze has said he's interested in seeing the Commonwealth's democracy at work first hand. He plans to attend with the entire group that he brought with him to Tarazed. I think they're looking to see exactly how they would fit into the structure of the Commonwealth. Nietze seems interested in both you and Captain Rangor, I believe because you're both Nietszcheans who hold key positions within the Commonwealth."
"I had Sigmund and his family over to my house for dinner. He asked some poignant questions which I hope I answered in a way that put Tarazed and the Commonwealth in a positive light for him."
"Well, they're still here, so you must have said something that caught his interest," Tri-Lorn commented. He paused. "I know this isn't easy for you but I truly believe that we need you as the third triumvir. If we're going to keep the Nietzschean prides we already have in the Commonwealth, with I think the exception of the Majorum pride and the other Nietszcheans who have lived on Tarazed their whole life, then they need to feel like they have some kind of representation in the government."
"But why me?" Telemachus asked. "There are other Nietszcheans that would make a better politician than myself. Admiral Khalid for one."
Tri-Lorn got to his feet. "Because Tri-Laurent and I trust you. You've shown on more than one occasion that you're going to be straightforward and that you value honesty. I doubt that you're going to agree with us on all policies but you won't be afraid to disagree with us. Everything will be out in the open, and that is how a democracy should work. It's when things are done behind closed doors that a democracy starts to fall apart."
Not waiting for a response, Tri-Lorn left the office, leaving Telemachus alone with his thoughts once more.
