The Alpha Quadrant.

Shifting Haze Nebula.

The Hidden Shadow Research Facility.

Central Security Hub.

The central security hub was the pulsating heart of Hidden Shadow's entire defensive systems. The location chosen to be the security hub was within the deepest layer of the research facility and reinforced with enough energy resistant materials that it would take a plasma torpedo to even stand a chance of penetrating the hub should it ever enter into lockdown. Special emitters were installed into the security hub; when activated, the emitters would send out a signal which prevented any form of transporter technology from removing the Romulans from the security room.

The security hub itself wasn't much different in decor than Professor Voleek's office. Dull green walls with only the Romulan flag acted as the sole decorative item upon their surface. Security monitors were installed on the pale green walls, showing images of various sections of the research facility. Furniture meant for functionality over personal comfort was placed within a circle of computer terminals that had two small gaps on both sides to allow security personnel to get into the centre without continuously jumping over the terminals.

The only locations on the Hidden Shadow not possessing any security cameras were private quarters reserved for high ranking Romulan officers and high clearance scientists, primary labs where the most secretive projects were being worked on and the Reman barracks. The reason why the Remans weren't being monitored was that the Romulans arrogantly believed their warrior slaves wouldn't dare challenge the might of the Romulan Empire. A belief they'll surely come to regret in the not too distant future.

Today the Hidden Shadow's absolute commander of the Romulan garrison, Major Soteen Orruth, was personally overseeing the monitoring efforts of the facility's security systems along with nine other Romulans of lesser rank. Ten Romulan soldiers continuously staffed the security hub at any given hour of the station's day/night cycle. Every twelve hours, the Romulan soldiers assigned to monitoring duty were switched out for a more well-rested group, thus ensuring that the Romulan warriors maintained station security without exhausting their troops.

A junior officer marched over to Major Soteen; he gave his superior a Romulan

salute once the distance was crossed. "Major Soteen, sir!" The nearly hundred-year-old Romulan shifted his gaze towards the junior officer. "I have the latest sensor readings from sections five, thirteen and twenty-one as you've requested, sir!" The junior officer handed over a data tablet containing the relative information. Major Soteen accepted the data tablet without even acknowledging the junior officer and thoroughly analysed the sensor data.

It took only a few minutes for Major Soteen to analyse and memorise every detail on the data tablet. "The sensors on these levels are off by a factor of 1.2 seconds," without any fanfare, the Romulan Major returned the data tablet to his subordinate. "Have an engineering crew sent to these sections to fix the problem as swiftly as possible." The junior officer saluted the military veteran before heading off to the communication station so he could contact an engineering team to relay the message that Major Soteen wanted the sensors on sections five, thirteen and twenty-one to be recalibrated to perfection.

Satisfied that the sensor problem would soon be sorted, Soteen shifted focus to the northern wall covered with security monitors. The Major watched from the centre of the terminal ring, constantly manned and operated by five Romulans as protocol demanded, as scientists and those underneath his command went about their daily routines. Images from various sections of the Hidden Shadow flickered and changed to new locations every thirty seconds as was standard with Romulan security cameras.

Hours passed peacefully within the security hub as Soteen oversaw and maintained the safety of the Romulans stationed onboard the Hidden Shadow. Until a few minor experiments within the bio-labs went out of control during standardised testing, which forced the Major to evacuate the laboratory and send in a squad of troopers, equipped with flamethrowers, to contain and eliminate the biological contaminants that escaped their containers. The Major, plus the nine Romulans assigned to monitor duty, watched as the contaminated laboratory was bathed in bright orange flames.

"It seems the Remans have the situation under control." A soldier, Romulan operating one of the computer terminals, casually remarked whilst those within the hub watched the squad of Remans, wearing environmental suites created to protect people from biological threats, march throughout the laboratory while burning everything within their line of sight. It was honestly an intimidating sight to behold as the masked Remans slaughtered the bio-experiments with emotionless efficiency; some experiments tried to fight back only to be ruthlessly terminated by the Remans combined firepower.

Major Soteen openly scoffed at the terminal operator's words. "Of course, I wouldn't have sent the Remans into the outbreak zone if I'd thought they couldn't handle it." It is also unsaid that Soteen preferred the Remans to endanger their own lives instead of the Romulans underneath his command. To the Major's eyes, Remans were a lesser species, along with most of the other none Romulan populations within the universe. They thus should be proud to serve and eventually die for the glory of the Romulan Empire.

The more experienced officers nodded in agreement with their commanding officer. "Agreed the Remans might be lesser than us, but their combat efficiency shouldn't be underestimated," a creature that resembled an ape, only skinner and covered with purple fur, attempted to knock over a Reman only to get a knife embedded into its throat. "Also, according to our readings, the Remans should cleanse the entire laboratory within the next twenty minutes." The ape creature tried to remove the knife from its throat only to roar in agony as the Remans burned the poor beast to cinders.

Soteen grinned with satisfaction. "Excellent, have the scientists examine and catalogue everything remaining within the bio-lab after the Remans are done." Of course, the damaged or destroyed equipment will need to be replaced as soon as logically possible. The cause for the lab incident would need to be identified so High Command knew whether to punish the scientists for negligence for the proper safety procedures or just write the enter incident as an accident which should be learned from so that it could never happen a second time.

"Yes, sir." The Romulans operating the terminals collectively saluted before getting to work on fulfilling Major Steen's orders. After twenty minutes passed, the Remans marched out of the bio-lab after ensuring that everything that might threaten the research facility was eradicated. Ten minutes later, the scientists, lead by several Romulan guards, entered the burned laboratory and began the lengthy process of examining and cataloguing everything within the bio-lab. A job Soteen knew would take several days to fully complete.

Soteen watched the Remans as they walked through the hallways towards the elevators which would lead to their race's barracks. "Hum, perhaps it's time we proceed with the first war game," more reports and updates flooded into the security hub, yet Soteen only gave those reports little attention at best. "After all, it is better that we remind the Remans why they're lesser to us Romulans and preferable before any of the vermin get any bright ideas." The Major's gaze moved towards a subordinate currently going over some report concerning a power outage on section forty-three.

"Are preparations on the enviro-simulation deck complete as I've requested?" Soteen's inquiry caused the Romulan reading the power outage report to jump slightly in fright. It had taken only thirty seconds for the subordinate to realise that the Major had been addressing him and, not wanting to gain his direct superior's ire, immediately assessed the relative information from the terminal.

"According to the data, the engineers have indeed finished with the preparations just as you've requested, sir." The enviro-simulation deck comprised the entire 150 through 200 sections of the Hidden Shadow and, as the name suggested, was used to simulate different kinds of environments. The simulation deck was where the war games against the Remans was going to be held; thus, Major Soteen planned to have the engineers alter the environment to give his soldiers the advantage when the time came to play the first war game.

"Excellent," Soteen smiled at the news. "Have the engineers give the Remans equipment that is of lesser quality than what our men shall be using." Other races throughout the Alpha Quadrant would've called the Major a coward and dirty cheater for what he was planning against the Remans, yet Soteen wouldn't have cared for their option on the subject. "Also ensure that the Remans armour is less protective than standard protocol demands of those undergoing a simulated war zone." With these tactical advantages, Soteen was confident that those Remans living within the lower sections of the station would finally be defeated by the hands of their betters.

The finer details were discussed between Major Soteen and the other Romulans present. The platoon assigned to battle against the Remans would be from the 121st light infantry. They shall be placed within an outcropping of massive stones giving the Romulan platoon a natural defence against disruptor fire. The outcropping would also be on a hill facing the northern jungle where the Remans will be located for the start of the war game, giving the 121st a higher positional advantage. Add-in that Soteen was plotting to hand over the Remans communication frequency when the skirmish began, and it appeared unlikely that the Romulans shall lose the game.

"Yes, by the time the war game begins, the Remans will have already lost." Soteen laughed at the genius of his plot. When High Command learned that he finally put that upstart Ravek Biatek in his proper place, they'd surely reward the Major for his efforts in maintaining the Romulan superiority. Probably with a promotion if fate was on Soteen's side when the news eventually reached the homeworld.

To Soteen's eyes, nothing could ruin his plans now.

The Remans Garrison Quarters.

Captain Ravek Biatek's Private Quarters.

"So the Romulans are plotting to cheat during the war game, which is scheduled to take place next week?" Honestly, Ravek wasn't surprised that the Romulans were planning on manipulating the environment to their advantage nor their little scheme to give his troopers less quality armour and weapons. Other Romulan commanders Ravek had served over the years had tried similar tricks to gain victory over his platoon. However, giving away their communication frequency was a new yet easily avoidable issue for the Reman platoon.

"Yep, the pointy-eared jackasses seem pretty insistent that your platoon loses the war game." Xavier's avatar nodded while manipulating vast amounts of tactical data he'd manage to steal from the security hub. Xavier had been surprised when a Geth spy program, which was inserted into the security systems, had made urgent contact to inform the Artificial Intelligence of what Major Soteen was plotting against his allies. When Xavier learned everything, Soteen was planning, he immediately contacted Ravek and told the Reman of the situation.

"The Romulans have always felt the need to prove themselves better than everyone else in the universe," Ravek grunted whilst writing a report concerning the bio-containment breach which happened a few hours ago. "The constant victories my forces have gained against their supposedly superior soldiers has infuriated the Romulans for years." It had always amused Ravek when a Romulan commander was forced to admit that his men were better fighters than those born from the so-called master race.

"Sounds to me that the Romulans have a superiority complex," an understatement of the millennia. "However, as stupid as Romulans generally are when their superiority is called into question, you should plan counter strategies for when they start to cheat in the simulation." Xavier couldn't offer much in the way of help as any outside interference might lead to the Artificial life-form getting caught by the Romulan security teams who'd be watching the match with hawk-like intensity.

"I've already got a plan in place to deal with the Romulans little schemes," Ravek finished writing the necessary report and sent it to Major Soteen's personal terminal, which was located within the man's quarters. "When the time comes, we'll show these Romulans why my soldiers are undefeated in the war games." Whether cheating or not, Ravek's platoon had emerged victorious against every Romulan they've ever battled against in the simulators throughout the Romulan Empire. Ravek saw no reason to change that winning streak now.

Xavier's avatar stared at Ravek for a moment before nodding. "That's good to hear." The A.I was already scheming up a way to watch the war game without the Romulan spectators realising he was there. Perhaps Xavier would use the cameras underneath his control to remotely view the battlefield and, if necessary, subtly prevent the Romulans from creating new ways to cheat when they realise that Ravek wasn't going to fall for their tricks.

"Now, with our little discussion involving the war game has been dealt with," Xavier switched the tactical data with a schematic of the Hidden Shadow's interior. "We can move on to finalising the details of our plans against the Romulans onboard the station." The schematic was folded into a 3D version and highlighted critical areas of the Hidden Shadow such as the power core, hanger bay, environmental controls, primary laboratories and sleeping quarters of the Romulan soldiers and high ranking officers.

Ravek folded his hands together and rested his head upon them whilst studying the schematic. "Indeed, the Geth parts you've had us smuggle out of the laboratories and hide within none used sections of the research facility are almost at the optimal numbers that we need to enact the plan." During the night cycle, Xavier would override the camera systems surrounding the replicator lab and sent an image loop into the security cameras, allowing Ravek's men to enter the laboratory and replicate the Geth parts without fear of getting caught by the Romulan security guards.

"Excellent," the featureless avatar gave off the feeling that it was smiling with pleasure at how their progress was going. "Have the Remans onboard the next convoy contacted us yet?" Ravek had sent out a message to the two platoons of Reman infantry who were meant to further reinforce the Reman garrison. The message itself was contained within a subspace frequency that only the Remans knew existed. They periodically used the subspace frequency to share information without the Romulans ever knowing about it.

Ravek clicked his tongue. "They've contacted us a few days ago and have eagerly agreed to turn against the Romulans onboard the convoy." The two lieutenants commanding the platoons currently on their way to the station had shown a great deal of bloodlust when Ravek told the duo about the secret rebellion being plotted on the Hidden Shadow. "They'll seise the vessel when the time comes to rebel against the Romulans and operate it until the final phase of the plan." The two platoons will transport over to the station and link up with Ravek's own forces when that happens.

"Make sure the lieutenants know not to heavily damage the Romulan vessel during their battle for control," Xavier banished the schematics of the Hidden Shadow. "We'll need it mostly intact if our endgame is going to succeed without a hitch." The Geth should take care of the technical problems the final phase need to succeed. Yet, without a Romulan vessel to finalise the plan's vital part, specific details would need to be modified before the Remans, Geth and Xavier himself could leave the Hidden Shadow.

"I understand," Ravek entered some commands into the terminal. "I'll send a message to them stressing the importance of capturing the Romulan vessel without heavily damaging its internal components." It would be challenging yet not impossible for the Remans to achieve, especially when their Romulan masters hadn't a clue what was soon to be happening to their secret base and the convoy, which would arrive in three months.

Xavier and Ravek talked for a few more hours, going over the plan and improving anything that might increase their odds of success, no matter how minor. When the communication systems announced that it was time for sleep, Xavier chose to leave the Reman captain alone for the night and vanished into the depths of the station's digital ocean. Ravek shut off the terminal and went to bed. However, before entering a deep slumber, Ravek made a mental note to gather his troopers and discuss how they'd crush the Romulans underneath their boot heels.

The Romulans wouldn't know what hit them when the next week came and the first war game was enacted.

Captain Ravek would make sure of it.