With an eager smile, Lochlan ran her hand over the soft fabric of her jade green dress hanging in her closet. She'd spent part of the afternoon browsing the shops on the Promenade hoping to find something new… something special to wear that evening.
It had been a while since she'd bought herself something new and the beautiful long dress in the window display had been perfect for what she was looking for. The green color would send a definite message to her date that she was interested while likely going over Sisko's head.
She'd already chosen the silver jewelry to complement the dress and laid them out on her vanity near her makeup and hair accessories. Preferring more practical footwear, Lochlan didn't own a pair of high heels, but she did have a pair of kitten heels she'd bought the last time she'd gone shopping with her mother on Vulcan.
It wasn't that she didn't like high heels. They were beautiful and did wonders to lengthen one's line, but as a Starfleet Officer anything could happen at any time and she felt anxious and uncomfortable when wearing anything that would hinder her ability to respond in a crisis.
Of course, it could just be her Vulcan half insisting on practicality and preparedness.
Behind her on the bed, Lochlan heard one of her corgis yawn, Fergus probably, and she padded over to the bed to rub his and Mickey's exposed bellies.
"Alright you two…," she chuckled as they began nodding off again. "Time for mom to shower. Big date tonight."
A nice hot water shower sounds more relaxing than a sonic shower…, she thought as she adjusted the controls to her preference and stripped. The water began raining down, pelting the shower walls and floor. The soft sound immediately began soothing her nerves.
She hadn't been on a date in many years.
"Bozelli to Captain Lochlan."
Lochlan stopped with one leg in the shower and let out a quiet exhale of frustration as she paused her shower so she could hear better.
"Lochlan here," she answered the comm in a neutral tone. "Go ahead, Carla."
Untimely interruptions were all part of what she signed up for when she accepted the captaincy, she reminded herself.
"Admiral Ross will be arriving at Deep Space Nine in twenty minutes and requests a meeting with you and Captains Sisko and Solok aboard the station at that time. Captain Sisko will meet you at Airlock 3 in 15 minutes."
With a silent sigh of resignation, Lochlan powered down the shower.
"Acknowledged. I'm on my way," she said.
Withdrawing her one leg from the shower stall, Lochlan padded back to her closet and pulled out a fresh uniform instead of her new dress.
"Well, it looks like I'll be seeing the guys tonight but for business and not pleasure. The joys of never truly being off duty," she muttered to herself. "Go figure."
Sisko and Solok were already at the airlock when she arrived. The two men appeared to be engaged in some sort of casual conversation if their relaxed body language was anything to go by.
Lochlan cocked her head in surprise. That was certainly a change on Sisko's end given his history with the Vulcan.
Like most of the others in Sisko's circle, Lochlan hadn't gotten the low down on his dislike of Solok until the now infamous baseball game of 2375. And even then, the information slithered its way to her through the grapevines of intership gossip channels.
She winced as she recalled how busy and stressed they'd all been during the Dominion War. A part of her wondered why Sisko hadn't told her about the whole thing himself, but in the grand scheme of things at that time, it just hadn't been a priority.
"Gentlemen," she greeted them before grumbling.. "Can't even take a shower in peace…"
Sisko's eyes lit up with amusement.
"Duty waits for no one, captain," he smirked.
Lochlan snorted and took up a similarly relaxed position to the left of Sisko with her hands gently clasped behind her back.
She and Solok stole a glance at each other in a way that suddenly gave her that feeling of "butterflies in the stomach" as humans described it.
She knew what that meant. Nervousness. Anticipation. Excitement. Hopefulness.
Oh shit, I wasn't actually expecting to start falling for this guy…, she thought with trepidation.
Instantly the deep rooted, long held fear returned and she dropped her gaze, nervously tucking a wayward strand of hair behind one delicately pointed ear.
Why did I open myself up to this again? We're Starfleet Officers. This only ever ends in pain…
Feeling Sisko's knowing, concerned gaze on her, she met his eyes with what she hoped was a reassuring look.
"We'll talk about it later," he murmured softly.
Though his tone was warm and comforting, it was also a warning. He would not forget and they would talk about it later.
Lochlan nodded, taking a deep calming breath before the trio's attention was jerked back to the loud groan of the airlock opening to admit Admiral Ross.
"Welcome back, Admiral," Sisko said as Ross joined them, rounding out the small group.
"Thank you, Benjamin. I wish it were under less urgent circumstances. Sadara. Solok. It's good to see you both. It seems like our paths crossed more often when there was a war on, unfortunately "
Solok gave a brief nod of agreement.
"Peacetime does lend itself more toward Starfleet's primary mission of exploration. It does also have the less pleasant side effect of reducing opportunities for friends and comrades to see each other in person through increased distance and fewer ship rendezvous," he acknowledged.
"It does," Ross agreed and then brought the subject around to why he was there. "Unfortunately, I can't discuss the mission details out in the open like this so if we could head for the wardroom I can fill the three of you in."
The trio of captains chose their seats at the long table and looked at Admiral Ross who took up the spot at the head.
The older human leaned forward earnestly, resting his elbows on the table and clasping his hands in front of him.
"Are you all aware of the recent uptick on Vulcan in calls for Vulcan secession from the Federation?" Ross asked.
The three captains glanced at each briefly as if curious what the others knew.
"Yes, sir," they chorused, turning back to the Admiral with concern.
"They crop up now and again, but I thought they hadn't really been taken seriously in recent years," Sisko said.
"It's possible that the passage of time has had a weakening effect on numbers who are pro isolation," Lochlan suggested. "Even our most elderly now don't know a time before the Federation and only a handful of those might have had parents that were born prior to First Contact. When you've been raised in an environment where aliens live and work alongside you, it's difficult to imagine life any differently."
Sisko tugged on his shirt and swiveled his chair a little to his left so he could see Lochlan better.
"Unfortunately, for those raised with racist and xenophobic attitudes it's just as difficult to imagine life any differently from their own perspective either," Sisko pointed out. "Hate and fear is taught from one generation to the next and the cycle continues until individuals choose to educate themselves and teach their own children better."
Ross lifted his index fingers, one in each direction toward Lochlan and Sisko.
"You've both made excellent points and I wish we had the time for a more in depth discussion, but I'm afraid that in this case the newest incarnation of the Vulcan Isolationist Movement has chosen violence," Ross informed them grimly. "Violence on Vulcan is rare so at first the Vulcan authorities thought the first attack was an isolated incident committed by someone probably mentally ill, but they've continued over the last week."
He stood up and touched a few buttons on the panel near the viewscreen on the wall behind his chair.
"This is just a sample of one of the more recent attacks, but believe me… there's more."
The four officers fell silent as they watched aghast as a cloaked figure stepped out of the shadows and slapped a small device on the back of a Vulcan Starfleet Officer which promptly beamed him to some unknown location. An accomplice approached the officer's companion, a young human woman, also Starfleet, and shanked her in a vital area with a knife of Vulcan design.
Lochlan sucked in a breath in horror. Whoever had knifed the human woman had knowledge of human internal organ arrangement. It was unlikely she survived without immediate medical intervention.
"Bold of them to attempt this in broad daylight," Sisko shook his head, amazed. "But how do we know the VIM is behind this?"
Ross tapped another button and the image zoomed to an inscription etched on the blade in Vulkhansu. He glanced at Solok and Lochlan who had both visibly tensed. Solok blinked several times as if unable to trust what his eyes were telling him. Lochlan simply stared at the image, all color drained from her face.
"Restore our bloodlines. Eradicate the impure," Solok translated hoarsely.
He looked over at Lochlan, concern deepening the lines of his face.
"Are you able to elaborate on the other incidents you are aware of?" He asked Ross. "If a pattern can be discerned that would be most beneficial."
The Admiral nodded, taking his seat again and resuming his original posture.
"What we know so far is that over fifty other Vulcans or Vulcan hybrids have been abducted in this manner since last week. The full Vulcans that have been taken were identified to be related to or closely affiliated with non Vulcans in some way. Spouses, parents, friends, long time colleagues… The Starfleet Officer that you saw in that surveillance footage had just arrived on Vulcan to begin personal leave with his human wife and visit family."
Lochlan stood and went to the window to her left. Her hands came up to rub up and down her upper arms as if she were freezing. She could practically feel the eyes of the others boring into her back.
"It seems as if the VIM aims to discourage further Vulcans from developing or maintaining close personal relationships with offworlders," she concluded. "Through fear of violent repercussions among non Vulcans and logic among Vulcans. It is illogical to risk violence or even death to oneself by forming relationships that may invite such."
She shuddered visibly and clasped her hands, one inside of the other against her mouth and chin. Behind her, she heard a chair move and a few seconds later she was joined by Solok, who attempted to reassure her.
"Even among our people, logic will give way when there is something of value to fight for. And more emotional species often push through fear for the same reason. It is entirely possible that the VIM has miscalculated their intimidation factor," he reminded her.
"He's right, Sadara," Ross joined in. "The VIM has likely bitten off more than they can chew."
She nodded, but was still deeply troubled by it all. There was no telling how those abducted were being treated and Lochlan struggled to keep her thoughts from drifting into dark territories like torture and death. With an effort, she reined in her turbulent emotions and stilled her thoughts. Catastrophizing this early wouldn't be helpful.
"Over fifty incidents of violence on Vulcan in a week is unheard of, Admiral. Why are we just now hearing about it?" Sisko asked, gesturing at the still image on the viewscreen.
"Vulcan authorities likely requested that Starfleet and the media cooperate in suppressing the information in order to avoid widespread panic, especially among more emotional species," Solok explained without a hint of sarcasm. "Though it is surprising to have heard nothing at all, even mere gossip, by now."
Lochlan nodded in agreement.
"The Vulcan government would attempt to control the release of such information until more progress in resolving the situation is made."
"But wouldn't informing the population allow those potentially affected to leave Vulcan until the perpetrators have been caught?" Sisko countered.
"And then the perpetrators could possibly follow those people offworld and then the situation is no longer confined to Vulcan. And that's not to assume that it is, but for the moment there are no occurrences of this anywhere but Vulcan," Lochan returned.
Sisko's face scrunched up in frustration and his fist landed lightly on his chair arm, but he turned his attention back to their senior officer.
"You mentioned a mission, Admiral," Sisko reminded Admiral Ross.
"I did," Ross acknowledged.
That brought Lochlan and Solok back to the table, though this time Solok chose to sit next to her rather than across from her. It felt oddly comforting to have this Vulcan she didn't know very well yet be so close by.
"Despite our best efforts, neither Starfleet Intelligence nor the Vulcan authorities have had any luck in locating where the victims have been taken. We want to use Lochlan as as bait in an effort to locate them and any members of the VIM."
Solok straightened in his chair, seemingly appalled at the idea.
"We do not know if those abducted previously are still alive. We would possibly be sending Sadara to her death," Solok said, his tone bordering on terse.
Lochlan turned her chair to the right and glanced back at Solok.
"Needs of the many…," she shrugged. "Whoever they are, they obviously can't be allowed to continue."
Solok leaned forward towards her, resting his right arm on the table. His blue eyes were filled with irritation and some other emotion she couldn't quite identify.
"I am aware," he ground out tensely, sounding almost insulted. "But that doesn't mean risking your life impulsively."
"Alright, you two," Ross interrupted them. He leaned back in his chair. "I'm sorry. I wish we knew more about what you're going into, but as a hybrid, Sadara has a good chance of getting a trip to where the others have been taken. We'll hide some gear on her that will relay back to us the information we need so hopefully she won't be there too long."
He paused and focused on Solok who still looked unconvinced and pert
Solok, with the T'Kumbra here at the station for the next month, I'm bringing you along to assist. I promise we will do everything we can to bring her and everyone else back alive. You will be working together. Gather whatever you need from your quarters and meet me at airlock 3 in an hour. You two can knock your heads together and come up with a plan on the Reliant. Dismissed."
They all rose from their chairs and Lochlan hurried out the door. Solok and Sisko watched her retreating back with concern.
"You know I expect her back in one piece, right?" He instructed Solok, half seriously, half jokingly.
"Understood. Though at this point it is difficult to distinguish whether or not you are functioning as her friend or her protective older brother," the Vulcan grumbled.
"Both," Sisko said ominously, again only half serious. "and I noticed you got pretty protective of her too. She made it through Wolf 359 and the Dominion War. She'll be alright," Sisko reminded himself as much as he was Solok.
With a nod, Solok left the Wardroom to catch up with Lochlan.