AN: Salutations and bienvenue! Not a lot of action in this chapter, but I promise there will be next time!
Admiral's log, Stardate: 86462.89:
It has been one week since we arrived on Defera and joined forces with the Klingons to protect the Deferi and to get the bottom of the Breen's interest with the Preservers. The study of the ruins, while fascinating, has yielded less than satisfactory results, due in no small part to the constant attacks from the Breen, both on the planet and on Deferi ships around the sector. I've contacted Command and they are putting me through to someone who might lend us their aid.
Zevil sat at the desk in his quarters aboard the Quinzel, waiting for the subspace transmission to go through and thinking about the past week. Most of the crew avoided him like the plague after hearing about the alliance with the Mo'Kai's crew, most leaving the area if he walked in or blatantly ignoring him.
When they had to interact with him, they were strictly professional. Gone was the camaraderie that they used to treat him with before, just cold answers and business demeanors, but at the time they were almost hostile towards him, Tynizi and Vic especially.
The only exceptions to this seemed to be the Vulcan crewmembers and Dinah, who saw the logic of his decision, but they did bluntly state that they didn't agree with his decision and that they believed it was 'highly likely to fail'.
To make matters worse, Tyufia and Vex were avoiding him even more than the rest of the crew if that was possible. Vex he could understand, she was the one hurt most by Ariat and her captain's machinations, but Tyufia's actions made little sense. He could only surmise it had something to do with Tynizi.
He didn't believe for a moment that the Bajoran would or could forebid Tyufia from seeing him, that would be too out of character and relationship suicide, so he had to assume she was avoiding him to not exacerbate the situation between her love and her best friend/boss.
'This is for the good of the Federation and the galaxy as a whole.' He said in his mind, repeating it like a mantra. He hated that he had to do things this way, but it was the only way to make inroads to peace with the Klingons, help the Deferi, and complete his Delta Recruit mission.
He was saved from further thoughts about his mission as the call went through. The screen lit with a face of a dark yellow skinned woman. Dark, bony spots framed her face, arching at her forehead and trailing down her nose. Her chestnut brown hair rested in a ponytail on the back of her chair. "Captain O'Neill, it's a pleasure to meet you." Zevil said with a smile he meant but didn't really feel. "Admiral Kassai speaks very highly of you."
"The pleasure is mine, Admiral." O'Neill offered a respectful nod. "And while unfortunately my opportunities to speak with Admiral Kassai have been few and far between lately, she may have slipped a word of praise here and there about you as well, Sir." She gave Zevil a genuine smile. "What can I help you with?"
"It's a bit of a long story, but I'll try and explain the situation as best I can." So Zevil did, telling her of the Ambassadors request, the Breen attacks on the ruins, and their partnership with the Klingons. "And now we've lost contact with two transports in route to the outer colonies. There were more than 400 Deferi on those vessels, and with the rising threat from the Breen the Ambassador fears the worst.
"I'd dispatch the Quinzel or the Mo'Kai, but then that would leave the planet with one less defender." Zevil gruffly said, his frustration with the situation clear in his voice. "Your mission is to find the Deferi ships and, Valix willing, if there are any survivors bring them home safely."
O'Neill listened intently as the Admiral explained the situation. Her expression betrayed her growing concern, each new detail only serving to intensify the sensation. The Breen invasion was bad enough, but its goal being something more sinister than mere conquest was deeply troubling.
She nodded thoughtfully as Zevil finished speaking. "Send us the coordinates of the transports' last known location. We'll do our best to track them down." She tapped away at a PADD. "I'll keep you posted on our progress, Admiral."
"I'm sending the coordinates now," Zevil did so, a relieved sigh escaping his lips as he sent the coordinates his smile grateful when he looked up, "thank you Captain." Zevil was about to sign off, but he lingered for a moment with the line open as a thought crossed his mind. 'Absolutely not! That would be ridiculously unprofessional!' Apparently, he was quiet long enough for the Captain to notice.
O'Neill eyed him curiously for a moment after tapping at her PADD again. "It seems there is something else on your mind, Admiral." The stars in the window behind her stretched as her ship went to warp. "Anything I can help with?"
Zevil warred with himself for a moment longer, before succumbing. "Admiral Kassai seems to trust you with her thoughts and secrets, and knowing Lydana the way I do, that is quite the feat." Zevil collected his thoughts before he told her his issues with the crew and his friends.
"The worst part is," He told her as he got to the end of his woes, "I can understand why Vex and the crew feels the way they do, but I'm not doing this to hurt them, I'm doing this to save lives for Valix's sake!"
The captain nodded thoughtfully. "I think this… temporary alliance with the Klingons is risky, however I believe it is a step in the right direction." She hummed briefly. "J'mpok doesn't seem to be in any hurry to make peace with the Federation, but this General Xrithath is yet another voice in favor of cooperation." She paused, gathering her thoughts. "Might be a chance to get us closer to a formal cease fire. A chance that cannot be wasted." She let out a heavy sigh. "It is difficult to balance personal involvements and the good of the Federation as a whole, but I believe you're making the right choice here, Sir. Unfortunately I have no advice on how to convince your friends of it as well."
"Thank you, Captain, it's nice to hear that I haven't made a mess of things in everything I've done thus far." Zevil told her, a grateful smile on his face. "I'll see if I can salvage my friendships," he deflated slightly, but determination and resolve was in his eyes and in his voice as he continued, "but if I can't it's a small price to pay if I not only save lives, but also help to restore peace between the Federation and the Klingons."
"Best of luck, Admiral. I'm sure they will see the merits of your actions." O'Neill offered him a reassuring smile. "Whatever the outcome you know where to find me, Admiral. I'm always happy to help." She hummed amusedly. "A friend of Admiral Kassai is a friend of mine at this point I suppose."
"The same to you captain." Zevil told her with a small bow of his head, a smile easily spreading on his face. "If ever you need my help, do not hesitate to call on me. May you find peace and a safe journey within the Night Cloaks embrace." With the traditional farewell of his people said, Zevil signed off.
Before he could be alone with his thoughts and consider Captain O'Neill's advice, his badge beeped. "Rogers to Admiral Zevil."
'Oh good,' Zevil thought cynically, 'it's my biggest fan.' While the other members of the crew were subtler in their displeasure, Vic was a tad blunter. "Go ahead." Zevil replied reluctantly.
"Your best friends from the Mo'Kai are on their way over." She replied, her disgust at the situation clear. "Captain wanted me to let you know."
"Thank you, Commander. Please inform the Captain Vex that I expect her to be there and not skip it to sulk in her ready room like a petulant child." That was a little harsh, but Zevil was getting tired of being treated like the villain when he made the right call.
"I'm sure you can do that-"
"That was not a request, Lieutenant Commander, it was an order from a high-ranking officer." Zevil snapped coldly, cutting off Vic's reply. "You might be in Intelligence, but I am still a Starfleet Admiral, and you will follow my orders. Is that understood?"
There was a beat of silence, and if Zevil concentrated, he could feel fury building within the human officer, before Vic responded with a clipped "Aye sir." The line went dead and Zevil tiredly whipped his face with his hands.
"Valix, give me strength." He moaned dejectedly, before pulling himself together and heading to the conference room.
"He called me a what?" Vex growled as Zasva relayed the Admiral's message. Zasva had heard the exchange between the Admiral and the Operations chief. Figuring it might be better coming from her, Zasva told Vic that she would inform Vex of the Admiral's…request.
"I don't think you need me to repeat that, sir." Zasva told her Captain calmly, trying not to piss off her captain more than she already was.
Vex let out a frustrated noise from her throat as she got out of her chair and marched toward the door. "Fine! He wants me there, I'll be there! I just hope he doesn't expect me to contribute and be helpful!"
"I know you feel that way, and I sympathize," Zasva quickly said as she stepped in front of Vex and held her hands off in a calming gesture, "but maybe we need to consider taking a different approach than blatant insubordination." Zasva paused, choosing her words carefully, "I also want to suggest we try and be a little more… helpful towards the Admiral."
"Like he was helpful when he threw us under the bus with the Klingons?" Vex shot back as she tried to move around the Aenar, but Zasva stepped in front of her. "Zasva." Vex warned, not liking how her first officer was getting in her way, metaphorically and literally.
"Hear me out." Zasva requested, voice calm and soothing, trying to quell the rage she could feel roiling inside her Captain's mind. "Letting our hurt feelings known was okay at first, but we can't keep this up, it's detrimental to morale and an alliance with the Klingon's- I know we don't want an alliance with these Klingons," Zasva defended, raising her hand up again to ward off her Captain's reply, "but we need to start somewhere and more importantly, the Deferi need us to do this.
"Even you can't argue the Mo'Kai has been invaluable in helping to keep Defera safe." Zasva raised a brow in challenge, daring her Captain to argue with her. Vex couldn't and it actually pissed her off even more, but she was starting to see that anger was more petty than righteous. "Plus," Zasva rolled on with a gentle and chiding tone, "do you want to lose one of your oldest friends because of a Command decision? A decision I know you agree with deep down?"
"I guess not." Vex grumbled petulantly, deflating but aiming a glare at her First Officer. "How is it that I'm the one with six lifetimes, but you're the wise one?"
"Because I'm smarter than you." Zasva said matter-of-factly, a cheeky grin spreading on her porcelain hued face.
Vex let out a bark of laughter at that, the act feeling cathartic after a week of letting her anger master her emotions. The joy she felt died too quickly though as a dark thought crossed her mind. "I still might lose him if our investigation reveals something terrible."
Zasva grimaced, momentarily happy that she might have succeeded in lifting her captain's mood, but now remembering their other Zevil related problem. "Have the Grey Cells picked up anything?" She asked.
"Yes, but the last attack damaged the computer core, so it's taking a little longer for the recordings to be processed." Vex told her, annoyed to have her search for answers delayed. "I've sent a copy of the recordings to Lydana to see if she can get through them faster, but she's busy with the New Romulus relief effort, plus anything too secret for me to know about, to give it priority."
She looked at her ready room's chronometer and cursed. "We better get going, don't want to make our guest's think I'm being a 'petulant child'." Vex grumbled, moving past Zasva to leave.
Zasva sighed defeatedly. 'Baby steps. Better than nothing I suppose.' The Aenar thought tiredly adding a note to herself that the next time she felt something off about a friend or high-ranking officer, she was going to keep it to herself, less stressful that way.
"Ah, Captain Vex," Zevil greeted them coldly as the two latecomers walked into the conference room, "how nice of you to actually join this time. I hope this meeting, about the safety of innocents below us and the enemies attacking them, isn't taking you away from your other clearly vital duties."
Vex and Zasva were indeed the last to arrive, everyone else already having taken a seat around the table. On one side sat Dinah, Vic, Tynizi, and Tyufia, Xrithath and Zevil at the heads of the table (the former sitting in a specially made chair that would hold his weight and size), a young Ferasan male by the name of M'krrt (the Mo'Kai's chief science officer) and Ariat seated on the other side of the table, leaving the only seats available between Zevil and Ariat.
Feeling the cutting reply on the tip of her captain's tongue, Zasva quickly gave an excuse. "My apologies, Admiral, it's my fault we're late." Zasva told Zevil, her tone chastised, "There was a report I had to go over with her and time got away from us."
Zevil made a humming noise in the back of his throat, not sounding like he believed her but not commenting on it. "Take your seats then, I've already started the meeting without you." He turned his attention to Dinah as the two took their seats, Vex ignoring the flirtatious smile Ariat sent her as she reluctantly sat next to Zevil. "Lieutenant Violet, you were saying that you've discovered a correlation with these ruins and another that was discovered some time ago?"
"Yes, Admiral." Dinah told him, standing up, tapping away at a PADD in her hands and bringing up a holographic image of ruins that looked almost identical to the ruins below them on the planet. "After consulting the ship's records, I have found that this site closely resembles a Preserver site in the Begen System."
"Was there anything of significance discovered at that site that would aid us here?" Asked Xrithath, his tone interested. Vex didn't know much of the KDF General, only that he was well respected by the High Council despite being a non-Klingon and that he had started out as a science officer. Vex had laughed when she realized that he was like an anti-Lydana.
"Yes, General, I believe there is." Dinah imputed a new set of commands and three humanoid figures appeared atop the ruins. "The indigenous people there were able to access the site by performing a ritual." As Dinah spoke, the humanoids arranged themselves in a particular pattern. "Records indicate that three people arranged themselves atop plinths, forming arrows to point East, South, and then Southeast."
"Some kind of ancient pattern lock?" Ariat wondered aloud, her brows furrowed in thought.
"Fascinating." M'krrt observed, the light from the hologram making his warrior markings, which loosely resembled a skull, glow a haunting pale blue on his purple fur. "The level of technology for a species so ancient is magnificent. Think of what we could learn from them."
"Can we duplicate this ritual, Dinah?" asked Vex, interested despite herself. The truth of the matter was, on any other day, she loves this kind of stuff: discovery, learning new things from new and ancient civilizations, 'boldly going where no one has gone before' and all that, but it was hard to be excited by an experiment when your lab partner was a sociopath with no soul.
"Yes, Captain, I believe we may find it applicable to this site." Dinah answered as she dismissed the holo images and looked up. "That is all the data I have, sir."
"Thank you, Lieutenant Violet." Dinah sat back down and Zevil addressed Xrithath, "What's the status of the Mo'Kai, General?"
"We sustained damage to our starboard nacelle during the last attack along with minor problems with a few internal systems and our scanners," the Gorn told them, "but my chief Engineer assures me that we will be ready for battle the next time the cowardly petaQs show their faces."
"If they have faces under those helmets of theirs." Ariat added with a chuckle, earning her eye rolls from captain and crewmate and unamused glares from the others. "Tough crowd." Ariat pouted before her face changed to a cruel smirk, "I remember you all having a much better sense of humor the last time I was here."
Tynizi looked like she was about to explode, so Zevil spoke up. "Captain Vex, the status of the Quinzel?"
Taking a moment to calm her anger, Tynizi wasn't the only one who was pissed off at the Cardassian's statement, she told him "Our scanners are on the fritz too, one of our fore phaser banks is inoperable, and the computer core took a major hit, but it's nothing Chief Jorgensen can't handle."
"How is Clyde? He must miss Elias and their children terribly." Simpered Ariat in faux concern.
"You don't get to-!" Tynizi began to shout, shooting up to her feet and her voice raising in volume with each word, but Zevil cut her off.
"I think that's all the relevant details, General." He told the Gorn officer, sending a death glare towards Tynizi as Tyufia put a calming hand on her arm as she reluctantly sat down. "I propose we send down our away teams to test out the Lieutenant's hypothesis in an hour?"
"Agreed Admiral." Xrithath rose, aiming an irritated glare toward his second in command which, she of course answered with a wicked smirk. "Commander Iset and Lieutenant M'krrt will meet you with their security escort." Saying no more, he turned and left, his subordinates following him with only Ariat sending a wink Vex's way as she walked out the door.
As the others started to get up Zevil, who had remained seated, spoke up. "Captain, Commander's Utprut and Islop, and Lieutenant Commander Ejpiz, remain here." He cut his cold gaze to the other two officers, "Lieutenant Violet and Lieutenant Commander Rogers, you are dismissed."
"Xavius, with respect, you can't order my officers-" Vex stated to say but cut herself off when Zevil cut a chilling glare her way. She had never seen her friend look at her like that before, even when he was his most angry with her, it gave her pause.
"I can when you've shown an inability to do so yourself." He told her just as coldly before he turned back to the two officers. "You are dismissed." Unsure of what to do, the two officers' left the room, only Vic leaving reluctantly and with a curious glance her captain's way.
Once they were gone and the other's resumed their seats Zevil spoke up, his gaze and voice softening as he addressed Tynizi. "Lieutenant Commander Ejpiz, while you might not think so, I do sympathize and understand your anger toward Klingon Intelligence and their operatives." His voice then changed, his glare returned and his voice became cold again, "That however does not give you the right to be disruptive during meetings or to treat allies with anything less respect."
"They are not-" Tynizi argued, but Zevil interrupted her.
"I did not give you permission to speak, Lieutenant Commander!" Zevil said harshly, raising his voice enough to be heard over her. Tynizi snapped her mouth shut with an audible click, the set of her jaw tightening as she did so. "Now," Zevil continued, "you will not only treat the crew of the Mo'Kai, including Commander Islet, with respect and if this behavior continues, I can guarantee you a formal disciplinary hearing in your future. Dismissed."
Quickly getting up, her hands balled up into fists and shaking in apparent anger, Tynizi started to walk out, but stopped, turned around, and leaned onto the table angrily. "You can sit there and judge us for how we're not showing respect to our 'allies', but if the tables were reversed and it was Hakeev you had to work with, would you be doing any better?!"
"Tynizi/Lieutenant Commander!" Tyufia, Vex, and Zasva shouted at once.
Zevil, however, raised his hand to stop any further action from the three women. "Your opinion is noted, Lieutenant Commander." He responded emotionlessly, "I'll make sure to add it in my report to the Admiralty." Tynizi winced at that and tried to say something, but Zevil steamrolled right over that. "That will be all, and this time I suggest you leave before I make that disciplinary hearing a certainty."
Taking his advice and sending an apologetic glance to Tyufia, Tynizi quickly left. "Not you three." Zevil said when the others started to get up.
Giving each other perplexed looks, the three women sat back down. Figuring it might help mend the distance between them, Vex started to say "Xavius, I would like to apologize for-"
"There is a great deal you should apologizing for, Captain Vex, but I doubt it's your fault the Lieutenant Commander knew about that…issue." Zevil slid a frosty gaze at Tyufia, making her fidget and look away. "What I just did, is something this ship's command staff, you two," he pointed a clawed finger at Vex and Zasva when he looked back to them, "should have done a week ago."
"Excuse me?" Vex asked offended before her voice turned into an angry growl as she slowly stood up. "Are you trying to tell me how to run my ship?"
"Captain…" Zasva cautioned, trying to stop her captain before she exploded.
"When you, yourself, seem to be emotionally compromised and incapable of doing your job?" He asked, his tone becoming even colder now, standing as well. "Yes, yes I do."
"Xavius, that seems a little-" Tyufia tried to calm him, but Zevil cut her off.
"You're supposed to be an example of professionalism to your crew," Zevil seethed, anger starting to color his voice, "instead you've thrown professionalism out the window and treat me like I'm the enemy when I'm trying to help people!"
"The only people you're helping is Klingon Intelligence!" Vex shouted back, throwing her hands in the air. "The first chance they get, they will stab you in the back! I've seen it all before!"
"No, Vex has! Jicsi is still learning about herself and has no room to judge me on my command decisions!" Zevil shouted and something in Vex snapped. With her dying breath Thaxci had made her Vex's host, Ariat had tried to kidnap her and kill her crew because was Vex's host, so she is Vex and she will not have anyone say different. It was offensive and tantamount to heresy in Trill culture.
"At least I've never lost a ship because I thought I didn't deserve my promotion!" Vex roared her face red with anger. As soon as the words left her mouth, Vex immediately regretted them as Tyufia gasped in shock and Zasva's unseeing eyes widened, but it was Zevil's reaction that was the worst: he looked like he had just been slapped in the face by full-grown mugato and a look of utter betrayal crossed his face before went blank and emotionless.
Before Vex can even think of an apology, Zevil backed away from her. "I think that concludes our business, Captain Vex," His voice was a subdued monotone, lacking his usual coldness when he was angry, a sure sign that Vex had cut deep with her words, "as well as your part in this mission."
"W-what do you mean?" Vex croaked out, her voice hoarse from yelling and sluggish with shame.
"I had chosen this ship and its crew because I thought I could rely on them…clearly I was wrong." His words carried no emotion, but they still hurt Vex as if they did. "After the away teams and I have finished on the planet, I will contact Captain O'Neill and order her to come to Defera after she is done with her assignment and have the Relentless relieve you.
"Commander Utprut," Zevil said, making her jump in surprise at being spoken to for the first time, as he proceeded to the door. "when the Quinzel leaves, she will be taking you back to Earth Space Dock, where you will be overseeing the rest of the Hades' repairs."
"You want me to go?" Tyufia asked, hurt that her friend and Captain was sending her away. No matter the situation, Zevil had never disregarded her thoughts or sent her away from his side. They were always a team, working together ever since the Academy.
"Like I said before, I thought I could rely on the people on this ship." Zevil told them as he walked out the door, not looking back. "I was wrong, and I would prefer no more of my dirty laundry be aired to the rest of the crew."
Vex dropped down into her chair with her shoulders slumped and head in her hands. "What did I just do?" She lamented, her tone and very being exuding defeat.
"You stabbed one friend in the heart and another friend in the back." Tyufia spat as she marched out the door, not even looking at her friend. Tyufia had always run hot to Zevil's cold, it was why they made such a good team.
"Remember how we talked about not losing a friend earlier?" Asked Vex to Zasva after a long silence, face still in her hands as she gave a humorless chuckle. "I think I just lost both my best friends." Zasva's only response was to place a comforting hand on her captain's shoulder.
AN: No action, but lots of DRAAMMAAA! I would like to thank my dear friends Kretolus and MaliceUnchained for helping me with this and lending me their characters. If you haven't read their stuff, you're missing out.
Till next time, I bid you adieu!
