The USS Titan
Standard disclaimer, you all know the score. (Yeah, 5-1, ha ha). Sorry it took so long, I'll try to update more often, but.ugh.
Chapter Three: Initial Talks
The talks started the next morning; a meeting with King Myand'r. The captain and the commander attended the meeting, while the other two were shown around the base by Prince Ryand'r. The conference took place in a small room just off from the throne room. Dick and Donna were accompanied by Koriand'r, in her official capacity as heir to the throne. Also present was Captain Karras, one of the King's advisors.
"Good morning captain, commander." Myand'r greeted them cordially. "I trust you slept well."
"Thank you, sir, the rooms were most comfortable," Dick replied.
They all sat around the table, which was round to allow equality in discussion. Dick was impressed by King Myand'r, and by the way that he didn't seem to let his royal status go to his head. He seemed to be a well- respected ruler, and very involved with his people.
"The rebels seem to have heard of your arrival."
"We had a run-in with three Gordanian ships on our way here," Donna explained.
"They appeared to be prepared to kill us to prevent the success of this mission," Dick continued, "we were forced to shoot them down."
"I'm not quite sure how they got involved," the King said.
"It seems, from the few that we have captured, that they are expecting something from the rebels," Karras spoke up, "in return for defeating us."
"The other side have knowledge of our defences," Myand'r informed the two humans, "secrets that were only known to my immediate family and staff here. We don't know who."
"But we have ideas," Koriand'r cut in, "don't we, father?"
"We have no proof of any of that," he warned, "do not be hasty, daughter."
She frowned, but said no more on the matter. Karras frowned too, apparently agreeing with the Princess.
"It would be helpful if we could speak to the rebels," Dick said, "to help stop the fighting."
"Are you sure?" Myand'r asked.
"You're not planning to meet them, are you?" Karras spat angrily. "You want to.speak with them? They are murderers!"
"That's enough, captain!" the King spoke.
"The best way to stop this is to talk," Dick said, "or at least, to try to. It's worth at least an attempt."
"They would not take kindly to any of our side visiting them," Myand'r said, "your team would have to go alone. Will you take your own shuttle?"
"It would probably be the best idea." Donna asked. "How can we contact them?"
"Probably on your own shuttle comm unit," Karras answered, "my tech officer can give you the frequency."
"Thank you. We'll probably try to see them tomorrow," Dick looked at the King, "unless you have something else planned?"
"Not at all," the King replied, "if it will stop this war, then we must not stand in your way."
* * *
Garth and Roy were guided along the long corridors of the base. Prince Ryand'r, their guide, was an interesting talker, explaining everything that they wanted to know. They had seen the scanning systems on the top floor, where quiet, tired-eyed Tamaranians watched their screens. The hospital floor was, Ryand'r told them, simply an overflow from the main hospital, which was another building not far from the palace. Both crewmen were shocked, as even this small ward was full to bursting of injured Tamaranians; men, women and children.
The weapons store was in the basement. Racks of guns stretched along the walls, but Roy, running his eye over them, could see that many of the guns were empty of ammunition. Picking one up, he examined the bullet loader.
"Why don't you keep these loaded?" he asked Ryand'r, "it seems that you need more weaponry."
"We, uh, don't have enough ammo for those," the Tamaranian shrugged, "we've got plenty for CP3's but."
"You've only got a load of CP2's, right? Well, I think there's a way to modify it."
"You do? How?" Ryand'r looked surprised, and very interested. Garth was surprised as well; this didn't feature in any Federation training.
"If you get a knife, like this one," Roy explained, pulling out his own, "and trim away this rim here, like so," he demonstrated, "then it'll fit in a CP2 chamber easily." He picked up a gun and slid the modified bullet into it.
"That's great!" Ryand'r exclaimed, "can you show some of our armourers how to do that?"
* * *
Captain Grayson and Princess Koriand'r walked along from the conference room. Donna had gone to find the other two, while the King and Captain Karras went back to organizing parts of the military operation. They strolled in silence, until Dick asked Kory
"What did you mean, you have 'ideas'? When you said about someone who gave information to the enemy."
"Not here," she whispered, speeding her steps. As she was a good six inches taller than he was, Dick had to hurry to keep up.
When they reached the door to her room, Kory motioned him in and locked the door behind her. If Dick had any apprehension about being locked in a room with the beautiful princess, he didn't show it.
"We think that the traitoress is my sister, Komand'r," Kory stated blandly.
"Your sister?" Dick looked surprised. "But why?"
"She used to feel left out, because she was born without the power of flight. She's always hated me because I can fly."
"Aren't all Tamaranians able to fly?"
"Most can. But there's always some who can't. Komand'r was always jealous, as I was my parents' favourite. When we both got sent away to do warrior training on Okaara, she got sent away for being too vicious and callous. She just wanted to be taught to kill and didn't, still doesn't, have any concept of mercy. We never saw her again after she left."
"So you think that she's the one who told the other side about the Citadel defences?"
"Yes, but it's more than just that."
Kory looked down, and some of her bushy red hair fell across her face, hiding it. Her shoulders shook slightly, and a tear splashed to her knee. Feeling somewhat awkward, Dick put his hand on her shoulder.
"It'll be alright," he tried to comfort her, "we'll do the best we can."
She turned her head towards him, and their faces were suddenly very close. Neither moved for a moment, not willing to pull away. They started to draw closer, before Dick remembered that he was here on a diplomatic mission.
"Uh.I should really get in touch with the others," he said, backing away, "to, uh, organise the meeting."
Standard disclaimer, you all know the score. (Yeah, 5-1, ha ha). Sorry it took so long, I'll try to update more often, but.ugh.
Chapter Three: Initial Talks
The talks started the next morning; a meeting with King Myand'r. The captain and the commander attended the meeting, while the other two were shown around the base by Prince Ryand'r. The conference took place in a small room just off from the throne room. Dick and Donna were accompanied by Koriand'r, in her official capacity as heir to the throne. Also present was Captain Karras, one of the King's advisors.
"Good morning captain, commander." Myand'r greeted them cordially. "I trust you slept well."
"Thank you, sir, the rooms were most comfortable," Dick replied.
They all sat around the table, which was round to allow equality in discussion. Dick was impressed by King Myand'r, and by the way that he didn't seem to let his royal status go to his head. He seemed to be a well- respected ruler, and very involved with his people.
"The rebels seem to have heard of your arrival."
"We had a run-in with three Gordanian ships on our way here," Donna explained.
"They appeared to be prepared to kill us to prevent the success of this mission," Dick continued, "we were forced to shoot them down."
"I'm not quite sure how they got involved," the King said.
"It seems, from the few that we have captured, that they are expecting something from the rebels," Karras spoke up, "in return for defeating us."
"The other side have knowledge of our defences," Myand'r informed the two humans, "secrets that were only known to my immediate family and staff here. We don't know who."
"But we have ideas," Koriand'r cut in, "don't we, father?"
"We have no proof of any of that," he warned, "do not be hasty, daughter."
She frowned, but said no more on the matter. Karras frowned too, apparently agreeing with the Princess.
"It would be helpful if we could speak to the rebels," Dick said, "to help stop the fighting."
"Are you sure?" Myand'r asked.
"You're not planning to meet them, are you?" Karras spat angrily. "You want to.speak with them? They are murderers!"
"That's enough, captain!" the King spoke.
"The best way to stop this is to talk," Dick said, "or at least, to try to. It's worth at least an attempt."
"They would not take kindly to any of our side visiting them," Myand'r said, "your team would have to go alone. Will you take your own shuttle?"
"It would probably be the best idea." Donna asked. "How can we contact them?"
"Probably on your own shuttle comm unit," Karras answered, "my tech officer can give you the frequency."
"Thank you. We'll probably try to see them tomorrow," Dick looked at the King, "unless you have something else planned?"
"Not at all," the King replied, "if it will stop this war, then we must not stand in your way."
* * *
Garth and Roy were guided along the long corridors of the base. Prince Ryand'r, their guide, was an interesting talker, explaining everything that they wanted to know. They had seen the scanning systems on the top floor, where quiet, tired-eyed Tamaranians watched their screens. The hospital floor was, Ryand'r told them, simply an overflow from the main hospital, which was another building not far from the palace. Both crewmen were shocked, as even this small ward was full to bursting of injured Tamaranians; men, women and children.
The weapons store was in the basement. Racks of guns stretched along the walls, but Roy, running his eye over them, could see that many of the guns were empty of ammunition. Picking one up, he examined the bullet loader.
"Why don't you keep these loaded?" he asked Ryand'r, "it seems that you need more weaponry."
"We, uh, don't have enough ammo for those," the Tamaranian shrugged, "we've got plenty for CP3's but."
"You've only got a load of CP2's, right? Well, I think there's a way to modify it."
"You do? How?" Ryand'r looked surprised, and very interested. Garth was surprised as well; this didn't feature in any Federation training.
"If you get a knife, like this one," Roy explained, pulling out his own, "and trim away this rim here, like so," he demonstrated, "then it'll fit in a CP2 chamber easily." He picked up a gun and slid the modified bullet into it.
"That's great!" Ryand'r exclaimed, "can you show some of our armourers how to do that?"
* * *
Captain Grayson and Princess Koriand'r walked along from the conference room. Donna had gone to find the other two, while the King and Captain Karras went back to organizing parts of the military operation. They strolled in silence, until Dick asked Kory
"What did you mean, you have 'ideas'? When you said about someone who gave information to the enemy."
"Not here," she whispered, speeding her steps. As she was a good six inches taller than he was, Dick had to hurry to keep up.
When they reached the door to her room, Kory motioned him in and locked the door behind her. If Dick had any apprehension about being locked in a room with the beautiful princess, he didn't show it.
"We think that the traitoress is my sister, Komand'r," Kory stated blandly.
"Your sister?" Dick looked surprised. "But why?"
"She used to feel left out, because she was born without the power of flight. She's always hated me because I can fly."
"Aren't all Tamaranians able to fly?"
"Most can. But there's always some who can't. Komand'r was always jealous, as I was my parents' favourite. When we both got sent away to do warrior training on Okaara, she got sent away for being too vicious and callous. She just wanted to be taught to kill and didn't, still doesn't, have any concept of mercy. We never saw her again after she left."
"So you think that she's the one who told the other side about the Citadel defences?"
"Yes, but it's more than just that."
Kory looked down, and some of her bushy red hair fell across her face, hiding it. Her shoulders shook slightly, and a tear splashed to her knee. Feeling somewhat awkward, Dick put his hand on her shoulder.
"It'll be alright," he tried to comfort her, "we'll do the best we can."
She turned her head towards him, and their faces were suddenly very close. Neither moved for a moment, not willing to pull away. They started to draw closer, before Dick remembered that he was here on a diplomatic mission.
"Uh.I should really get in touch with the others," he said, backing away, "to, uh, organise the meeting."