Chapter 12

Within twelve hours of last speaking with the Romulan delegation a decision was finally reached regarding the detainees aboard Aegeus. The Romulans were willing to allow the Humans to remain in the custody of the Federation so long as they offered testimony about their actions. Praetor Tal'Aura had presented the option with a sense of resignation that seemed to indicate that decision was reached by a consensus she did not agree with.

The quorum that Renel and Sullivan were to appear in front of was to be held on Romulus. The Federation delegation would be present along with each of the Romulan representatives and officers from the Romulan Imperial Security force.

They convened in the chamber where the diplomatic meetings were being held. Praetor Tal'Aura sat in her usual place, flanked on one side by Proconsul Tomalak and the Chief of Imperial Security, Admiral Malek, on the other. She waited dispassionately as the others gathered and took their seats. It did not surprise her, somehow, when Commander Donatra chose a seat at the table across their circle with Admiral Janeway and Captain Riker. The Commander's allegiances were becoming more apparent every day, and Tal'Aura suppressed the urge to delight in Donatra's coming downfall. The Romulan people would not abide Federation interference much longer.

Riker waited until everyone in the room was settled. His gaze swept the interior, pausing for just a moment when it reached Deanna, who sat with Ambassadors Karal and T'Kara at the table most adjacent to his position. When she nodded, signaling that everyone in the room was as ready as they were going to be, he tapped his combadge. "Riker to Aegeus, energize."

A shower of light filled the center of the room, and in the circle that each of the tables formed around that center, three individuals materialized. David Sullivan stood between security officers from the Sovereign-class ship where he was being detained. Lieutenant Michael Ayala scanned the room, and satisfied at its security, he glanced at the ensign on Sullivan's other side and indicated the two of them could step back. They moved to the edge of the circle, only a few steps from Sullivan, and stood with their hands clasped behind their backs.

"David Sullivan," Admiral Malek leaned forward to affix the man in his dark glare. "Do you know why you have been brought before us today?"

Sullivan inclined his head. He stared at the Romulans with the same disinterest he had been showing the Starfleet officers. "Rumor has it that if I answer your questions, I get sent to a Federation Penal Colony where I get to live. If I don't, you'll toss me somewhere a lot less pleasant." He shrugged. "My sense of self preservation is a lot stronger than anything I was paid for this, so let's get on with it. What do you want to know?"

"For what purpose was your team formed?" The question came from Delegate Muran.

"We were given targets inside the Romulan border," Sullivan replied, "most of them were pretty soft; small colonies, a couple of outposts. We were told to create enough damage to draw attention. I'd say it worked, Starfleet showed up."

"How did you manage to cross the Federation sensor net at the Neutral Zone without being detected?" Ambassador Karal studied the man closely. He was belligerent, but not wholly uncooperative.

"We didn't." Sullivan drawled, sarcasm filling his tone. "I'm here aren't I? That basically indicates we were detected."

"You were able to mask your presence as sensor noise," Kathryn pointed out. "It took time to discover the interference and translate the pattern. Was someone on the starbase helping you?"

"No." Sullivan cared for Starfleet even less than he did the Romulans. "We had a ship, a small transport cruiser. We were given a device that was a hold over from the war. The Cardassians we hired supplied it. The device put off a modulating pulse that reflected the sensor scans so it looked like noise when we crossed the net."

"Then the Cardassians that were part of your group were hired mercenaries?" Commander Donatra's eyes narrowed. "Or did they hire you for the purpose of gaining access to Federation ships?"

"They had the ships," Sullivan explained. "There are mercenaries all over what used to be the DMZ. The Syndicate hires some of them, the rest take whatever jobs they can get. We try to stay out of Starfleet's way, being detected is…" His lip curled when his eyes flickered toward the uniformed officers, "inconvenient."

"The Romulans in your group," Proconsul Tomalak drew his attention, "how did you come to be involved with them? I find it, unusual, that any Romulan would choose to align himself with a Federation convict."

Sullivan was impassive to the Proconsul's disdain. "They came to us," he said. "They wanted someone willing to do a job for a price that could get their hands on Federation ships. It was important to them that it look like the attacks originated from our side of the Neutral Zone." Sullivan shrugged. "After all the drama between Starfleet and Shinzon, we just figured the Federation had managed to piss off another power in the quadrant. If there was going to be fallout, why not be on the winning side. It helped that the price was right."

Delegate Denel sat forward in his seat. The Romulan's eyes narrowed. The Human was being far more forthcoming than they had anticipated. "Where were your orders coming from?"

Sullivan's gaze moved around the room. His eyes finally settled on the Praetor, who had so far only watched the proceedings. "I think what he means is, who had the most to gain from creating trouble between the Romulan Empire and the Federation, when it looked like an alliance was about to happen?"

"If you have information, Mr. Sullivan," Malek snapped, "then share it. Otherwise, we will call this quorum to an end and have you moved to one of our holding facilities."

"We were told that we would be doing the Empire a favor. Centurion Dekar was dispatched, along with operatives from—"

The remainder of Sullivan's statement was lost in the sudden movement from a corner of the room and the ensuing chaos.

The sickly green flash of a disruptor beam lit the room. Its beam hit Sullivan in the center of his chest. He froze, mouth open in a wordless scream as the beam burned through his body. He disintegrated from the inside out. There was more movement as the Praetor's security forces moved to shield her and remove her from the room. The flashes of green light continued as the disruptor was fired again.

"Down," Commander Donatra ordered. "Everyone down!" She pushed the table in front of them onto its side and used it as cover as she drew the disruptor at her side and aimed it at the Imperial soldier who had broken rank to assassinate the Human detainee.

"Riker to Titan," The Captain raised his voice over the yells and crashes in the room. "Lock on to our people and get us the hell—" The rest of his command was lost in the explosion that came from behind them. Chunks of stone and glass blew inward with the detonation. The debris dug into his shoulder and arm where he was struck. His ears popped and rang, a result of the sound and the sudden change in the pressure of the room as a hole was opened in the wall behind them.

The Starfleet security officers had been informed that their phasers would not be permitted inside the chamber, but that order had not set well with Lieutenant Ayala. A small hand phaser slid into his hand as he knelt near the table where the Federation Ambassadors had taken cover at Commander Troi's suggestion. His eyes swept the room in the direction the original disruptor blasts had come from. There were Romulan officers moving into position to protect their respective superiors, but through the commotion he identified the Centurion that started the skirmish. Ayala took aim and fired, even as another detonation rocked the room. He felt the heat of that explosion from his left and from the corner of his eye, witnessed of one of the Ambassadors falling.

Ayala struck his combadge. "Aegeus, the chamber has been compromised, get us out of here." He heard a shout from the other side of the room and turned toward it to see Ensign Donahue throw himself at another attacker. As the transporter beam took hold, Ayala saw the disruptor blast move in the direction of the Captain and Admiral and thought he might have heard the sizzle and grunt of it striking a body.

When he rematerialized aboard Aegeus Mike looked around. He found only Ensign Donahue and the two ambassadors. His gaze shot to the transporter console. "Chief?"

"Titan initiated a beam-out at the same time," the Chief reported. "We concentrated our beams on the signals of our own teams and those closest to them." Her fingers moved across the console. "Titan reports they have the rest of our personnel."

Ayala nodded and turned. Donahue was standing, seeming uninjured. Ambassador T'Kara was also gaining her feet, and although she appeared to be dazed, the Ambassador did not appear to be injured. The same could not be said of Karal. "Beam the Ambassador to Sickbay," he told the Chief.

"Paris to Ayala," the Captain's voice filled the room as the Ambassador was beamed away, "report, Lieutenant."

"Ambassador Karal is on his way to sickbay," the Lieutenant replied. "Ambassador T'Kara is unharmed."

"Captain," T'Kara straightened where she stood. "I would like to return to Titan as soon as possible. The Admiral and I will need to contact the Federation Council and report what has happened immediately."

"I'd like to accommodate you, Ambassador, but we've gone to red alert. Captain Riker has ordered us to break orbit and rendezvous with the rest of our fleet at the border." The Captain paused. When he spoke again, his tone had dropped, growing grim. "The Admiral has been injured. The Captain has taken command of the fleet until her status is determined."

The Ambassador watched the Lieutenant's eyes darken and his jaw clench. At his sides, his hands curled into fists. Beneath his uniform his muscles seemed to ripple in response to the Captain's report. When she met the officer's gaze she realized it was fury that she was witnessing. "I understand, Captain. I will coordinate with Captain Riker from here. Please let me know when we have arrived at the border."

"Will do, Ambassador. Lieutenant Ayala, have the Ambassador shown to temporary quarters and report to the bridge."

"Aye Captain. Ayala out." He turned where he stood. "Ensign Donahue, please take Ambassador T'Kara to deck eight, section twenty-three," the VIP quarters were more than sufficient to temporarily house the Andorian representative. "The replicator will provide anything you need," he told the Ambassador.

"Thank you, Lieutenant," the Ambassador nodded, "and for your quick actions on Romulus. Whatever our current status, I am certain it would have been a lot worse if not for your fast thinking."

To his mind, he wasn't fast enough, but the Lieutenant acknowledged her praise. "If you will excuse me." Mike took his leave of them and headed toward the bridge. When he arrived, he found the Captain seated in his command chair and the lights dimmed to their alert status. "Sir," Ayala strode toward the center of the bridge.

"Lieutenant." Paris's usual clear, blue-eyed gaze had gone pale, like ice, with the shift of his mood to grim outrage. "What happened down there?"

"There were two attackers in the chamber," Ayala replied. "They opened fire before Sullivan could reveal who had engaged his group's services. He was killed first, direct hit by a Romulan disruptor." They all knew it was a terribly gruesome way to die. "How many were actually involved, I'm not sure we can know yet. There were two detonations, small yield. They were specifically targeted to the areas of the room where the Federation delegates were located."

"Damn." Paris sighed. "Our sensors picked up phaser fire in the chamber right before we beamed you back. I don't suppose you can explain that? The Romulans were pretty adamant our people remain unarmed."

Ayala lifted his arm and the small phaser appeared in his hand again. "Standard issue," he shrugged. "It seemed more prudent to err on the side of caution, Captain."

"Indeed." His head inclined. "Is that a Maquis trick, Lieutenant?"

He wasn't sure if he read censure or respect in the Captain's gaze. It was hard to tell at the moment, given the other man's preoccupation with their status. "No, Captain. That was a Voyager trick."

A corner of Jake's mouth lifted in a mirthless smile. "If I ever meet your Mr. Tuvok, remind me to thank him."

"Actually," Ayala grew somber, "you can thank the Admiral for that one." He watched the other man's expression grow more hooded and debated the rest of his statement. "I can't be certain, Captain, but as we were leaving, I think she caught a stray disruptor beam."

"I see." Jake's grip tightened around the arms of his chair. He felt a chill move down his spine. It settled in the pit of his stomach and stayed there, forming a large chunk of ice that sent a numbing sensation through the rest of his body. His jaw ticked. It was all he could do not to grind his teeth together. "Take your station, Lieutenant."

The Captain averted his gaze to the view screen in front of him. He stared at it and focused every ounce of his attention on the stars they were streaking toward. He wouldn't think of how she looked that morning, standing in front of the viewport in his cabin, her legs bare beneath the pale green of one of his knit pullovers. With her hair tousled and a cup of coffee in her hands, she seemed to reflect the glow of the planet. Jake shoved the memory aside and locked it behind a thick wall. He sent the feel of her, tucked perfectly against him, with it and thought of nothing else but the gentle vibration of the ship beneath his feet and the cold blackness of space in front of them.

KJKJKJ

Aboard Titan the scene in the transporter room was more chaotic. The moment the officers materialized, the transporter chief launched into action, "Medical emergency in Transporter Room one, Dr. Ree please—"

"No time for that," Captain Riker snapped. He witnessed the Admiral falling just before the transporter beam encompassed them. "Beam the Admiral directly to sickbay." His gaze swept over Deanna quickly, and while she was covered in dust from one of the detonations, she was unharmed.

"Ambassadors T'Kara and Karal were beamed to Aegeus with Lieutenant Ayala and Ensign Donahue," The transporter chief reported, even as he sent the Admiral away, into sickbay's waiting custody.

The Captain nodded. He slapped at his combadge as he headed toward the door. "Riker to bridge, Commander Vale contact Aegeus, break orbit and get us the hell out of here. Then I want you to send a transmission to the rest of our fleet, tell them I'm taking command. I want our ships to fall back to the border until we have a better idea of what the hell is going on."

"Captain?" The Commander's concern came through the comlink loud and clear, "You are taking command?"

"The Admiral was injured on the surface. We don't know her status right now, Commander. I'd rather not speculate. I'm on my way to the bridge, you have your orders."

"Aye, Captain."

He caught the barely guarded concern in Deanna's gaze as they strode toward the turbolift on that deck. "I'm not overreacting," he told her. "We don't know who was behind that attack, but both those Centurions were wearing Imperial Fleet badges, and the only guards present from the fleet were supposed to be from Commander Donatra's forces."

"Which means that she was either behind the attack," Deanna said, sounding far calmer than she actually felt, "or her faction has been infiltrated by someone who wants us to believe she was."

"Exactly, and that means we have no idea who we can trust. Considering what happened the last time we were guests of the Empire, I'd rather not take our chances. We'll regroup with the rest of the fleet and hopefully by then we'll know something about the Admiral's condition." He led her into the turbolift. "In the meantime, I'll get an update from Captain Paris and speak to the Ambassadors."

While he called for the bridge, Deanna called for deck six. "I'll go to sickbay," she explained. "Doctor Ree may be too busy to provide regular updates."

Will nodded grimly. "Lets hope whoever was behind those attacks along the border and trying to prevent this mission from succeeding didn't just start a war." The Federation Council might not let it come to that, but a civil war inside the Empire, that seemed entirely more likely to happen now.

They parted ways at Deck 6 and the Captain continued on to the bridge. Commander Vale rose from the command chair when he appeared. "Status report, Commander?"

Only minutes had passed since their last conversation, but Vale did have one piece of information to relay. "We've transmitted your orders to the rest of the fleet. We're on our way to the rendezvous point, traveling at warp 9. We should arrive in approximately three hours." At normal cruising speed it would have taken almost a day to reach the predetermined coordinates. "I also regret to inform you that Aegeus has reported that Ambassador Karal's injuries were too extensive. He died shortly after being transported from the surface."

"Dammit." Will's hands found his hips. He had hoped to wait until they reached the border to contact Command. He wanted to be able to report more than they knew at present. "That's going to change things. Contact Command. Patch it through to my ready room. Commander Troi is in sickbay with the Admiral, make sure she is aware of the situation."

"Captain." Christine watched him cross the bridge and disappear inside his ready room. She exchanged a look with the Lieutenant at tactical. "What the hell happened down there?"

There was no answer that any of the bridge crew could supply. They were as far in the dark as the rest of them. The tension on the bridge was an almost tangible entity. They could all feel it. Their situation had changed from hopeful to uncertain in the blink of an eye, and the knowledge that it could deteriorate further was doing little to allay their concerns.

The thick cloud of it followed Will into his ready room. He stood just inside the door for a moment and let his shoulders slump beneath the weight of it. If any mission could go belly-up in the space of a few minutes, trust the Romulans to be behind it. He had tried to bury the majority of his distrust, to let go of old prejudices and ideals. It was hard not to bend under the weight of them now, when he had a dead Federation Ambassador and an injured Starfleet Admiral.

He scrubbed a palm across his face and grimaced at the feel of dust and grit in his beard. He hadn't allowed himself time to stop on the way to the bridge. Will walked into the 'fresher attached to his office and took a minute to at least grab a washcloth before he returned to his desk. By the time he had finished wiping away the worst of the grime he brought back from Romulus, the call to Earth had gone through.

His computer terminal chirped quietly as it lit with the image of Admiral Nechayev. "Admiral." He didn't bother with pleasantries, and for the first time, he was glad the CO he was dealing with would appreciate that fact. "I'm afraid the situation with the Romulans has become critical."

That the Captain was contacting her, instead of Admiral Janeway, did not bode well. The Fleet Admiral's shoulders squared as she braced herself for his report. "What's happened, Captain?"

"Exactly what we were afraid of, Admiral." Will braced a hand against the edge of his desk and leaned his weight on his other elbow as it rested against the arm of his chair. "Either Commander Donatra wasn't truthful with us, or the influence of the factions trying to undermine our mission goes a lot deeper than we thought." In as concise as an update as he could manage, Will described the events on Romulus and relayed their current status.

"That is a problem, Captain." The admiral's eyes narrowed. "I will relay your situation to Admiral Shanthi and the Council. I'm not willing to give up on the situation just yet, but it may be out of my hands. Is there any word on the Admiral's condition?"

"Not yet. I'm taking that as good news." No updates from sickbay meant the medical staff was still working on the situation. He knew that either Deanna or Dr. Ree would update him as soon as that changed.

"Very well, Captain. I would appreciate an update as soon as you have one. In the meantime, continue on your current course and stand by for further instructions. Nechayev out."

The screen went dark and Will leaned back in his chair. He tugged at his uniform jacket and released a long sigh. He needed to talk to the other Captains in his fleet, but first he was going to get a clean uniform and drop into sickbay. He couldn't sit still waiting for the other shoe to drop; that was never the kind of officer he was and he had no intention of being that kind of Captain. Will took just a moment to finish centering himself before he launched into action again. Patience, the ability to exist in any given moment was something that Deanna had been trying to teach him for as long as he had known her. It seemed to him like she still had her work cut out for her.

Will counted his breaths until he felt some of the tension leave his shoulders. As he finally stood from behind his desk, his mouth twisted into a small smirk. It was possible his wife's lessons had been more affective than he originally believed.

KJKJKJ

Back on Romulus the chaos was being managed by the military. Both attackers were dealt with quickly, before their motives could be ascertained. Proconsul Tomalak waited in his office for his aide's report. Taeg did not disappoint.

"Commander Donatra has retreated to her ship," the aid explained. "The Valdore has left orbit, as have two other vessels loyal to her faction. I believe she is gathering her fleet."

Tomalak cast an impassive look at the aide. "Commander Suran?"

"Dead. Imperial security will report that he was caught in the crossfire of the attack. The Praetor has returned to the Imperial Palace. She was unharmed."

"That is unfortunate, but not unexpected," Tomalak stated. The Praetor was not the target of the attack. She might still prove useful to them. "What is the status of our forces?"

"Our fleet is moving into position around Romulus. The Remans have been driven back to their pits. Three of our ships have been sent to intercept the vessel carrying their elders. They will be destroyed before the day's end." A dangerous smile curved Taeg's mouth. "Our plan is falling into place, sir."

"You have done well, Taeg, but we should not celebrate yet. We have not yet achieved all our goals. What of the Starfleet operative that our intelligence officers discovered on Beloren?"

"The operative was able to leave Beloren before our officers could intercept him. They are tracking his movements. It will not be long before he is in our custody." Taeg folded his hands in front of him. "The Starfleet ships have also left orbit. Our sensors indicate they are headed back to the neutral zone."

"Let them go for now," Tomalak decided. "They have eight vessels in our space. We are not equipped for an engagement of that size at this time. We will continue to exercise patience."

"Yes, Proconsul."

Tomalak turned his attention to the view outside his office windows. Military forces were moving into the capital city. Any unrest among the people would soon be quelled. His plan was going exactly as he had expected. Soon he would begin to repair the fractures within the Empire, and when that was done, he would seize power for himself. The Federation that had, in its arrogance, thought they could bring peace would soon feel his fury. Time was on his side. Let them continue to play a game of alliances. Watching the Federation provide the means of their own destruction would be an added bonus to the rewards he intended to reap for his efforts.

-TBC-