Chapter 75:
The fleet that Renée was on, after visiting New Berlin, was en-route to the Devron system. Cora sent her an encoded private transmission, "Renée, in canon Devron was part of the Neutral Zone between the Romulans and the Federation. What also happened, and will happen in timelines with a Neutral Zone and Borg arrival, is that the Borg will assimilate the sentient life on Devron 2. In the timeline of canon, it happened in 2364, but was never noted in canon, or noticed by the Federation or the Romulans. The Borg removed the life-form from the planet and added them to their cube. This was at the same time that they destroyed both Federation and Romulan border posts. Theo says to bring your music library and ambient audio player with you when you go down there."
Renée knew not to bother asking any clarifying questions, since Cora would have told her if there was anything more she knew.
The fleet arrived at the Devron system and after scanning the system, they focused on Devron 2. There were many unusual minerals there and some signs of life based on previously unknown elements. The planet was scanned thoroughly by drones and it was determined that everything interesting was underground. Different teams were sent around the planet. Renée was sent to explore the new life-form. Two marines were sent with her.
Renée flew around a bit and found a likely location and then detected a legilimency probe trying to read her mind. That would likely mean that the two marines who were non-magical humans had their minds read. Clearly the place where she noticed the probe was the place to explore.
Renée found, using a combination of magic and technology, some signs of intelligent life deep underground, but that the minerals there were confusing the results. There were some very unusual results from the unknown life form, but there was also a very distorted result that could be a humanoid, possibly Vulcan.
Her mission now also became to try to get to the possible humanoid, and offer help if it seemed appropriate. She would need to figure out what to do if the humanoid were being held prisoner by the native life.
There was semi-liquid mass of unknown matter that mostly blocked the way to readings of the humanoid. The material itself might have been the native sentient life. The material parted slightly, and Renée was able to get some digger drones through and then get a clear enough view to apparate to a cavern, bringing along the marines. They all carried magically shrunken survival kits suitable for living for months under harsh conditions. The three of them volunteered for this mission, knowing that they might be trapped there.
After they got through to the cavern, the liquid material above them recombined and became much thicker. As it closed, the communications slowly faded out and finally was blocked. The last communication from the ground team to the team in the cavern was that they will find a way to get them out of there, and to continue their mission and to offer supplies and assistance to the humanoid if it seemed appropriate, and also to try to make contact with the native life form.
Several avenues of trying to get through to the cavern were started, including by going through distant parts of the planet. Subspace communication with Starfleet reported on the situation. The Picard family seers, Luna, Cora, and Theo, said that Renée and the Marines would eventually be safe, and that this was an important mission that she was uniquely qualified for, but they did not have any further information.
Meanwhile, most of the fleet set off for the MS system, leaving three starships behind to protect the ground crew and provide assistance to the rescue effort. At the planet MS 1, a new colony was started.
On Devron 2, the ships there considered using the ship's disruptors to open a pathway, but after getting the predictions from seers and also the possibility that a sentient life-form itself was in the way, set aside that idea. The transporters could not get through, nor could apparition. Renée could detect an actual anti-apparition ward.
Renée and the two Marines in the cavern were in full environmental suits, but their scans found a breathable atmosphere with no detectable hazards. The walls of the cavern were luminescent. They decided to remove their suits and breathe the air. There was flowing water in channels, which they also determined to be safe. There were small areas with lichens that were determined to be safe for human consumption and to provide a complete nutritious diet.
Exploring further they found a man who looked like a Vulcan, but by context of the area of space they were in, was more likely to be a Romulan. He sat drinking some broth from a stone bowl, and when the three from the Federation approached him, stayed sitting and showed his empty hands. The three lowered their beam weapons, and after scanning him, determined him not to be a threat.
Renée tried to speak to him in Vulcan, then in ancient Vulcan. He replied in English, "I can speak Federation Standard. My name is Rojor and I am from the Romulan Star Empire."
"I am Renée Picard." "I am Deng Xia." "I am Chendev Georgiyevich"
Renée continued, "We are members of Starfleet and part of the Federation Alliance. If I might ask, how did you come to be here?"
Rojor answered, "I was part of a mineral survey. A living material blocked the exit. The rest of the my team escaped. That was 0.058 stardates ago." That is the equivalent to about three weeks.
Rojor continued, "The planetary life form provided a livable environment."
Renée asked, "Has it communicated with you?"
Rojor answered, "Not directly. When I asked in my language for a way to make a broth from the edible plant, it appeared. Lava appeared when I asked for heat. I asked for tea and got a new plant that is somewhat similar to a Romulan tea plant."
Renée told him, "We didn't detect any ships, or any humanoids on the planet besides yourself. When we find a way out, we'll bring you with us if that is acceptable to you."
No-one discussed the possibility of stealth Romulan ships. Starfleet intelligence did not know how advanced the Romulans were in 2027, compared to canon 2150's.
Rojor answered, "Thank you. I would like to be eventually returned to the Romulan Star Empire, if the Federation would be agreeable to that. I know it looks like I was abandoned here, but we all accept that there are limits to rescue missions, and that our duty is to the Empire. "
The three from Starfleet started asking for things for their environment and prepared themselves for a prolonged stay in the cavern. They shared their supplies with Rojor.
Someone familiar with Renée's parents time at Hogwarts would note that the Marines were acting like Crabbe and Goyle, and having no role in the conversations. That was due to Renée being a mission specialist in first contact, while their role was to ensure that everyone was safe. Being untrained in first contact they decided that anything they said could interfere with the mission.
Over the next couple of days, Renée and Rojor talked about their backgrounds. Renée said, "My family has timeline engineers. They have unique abilities. I do not have those abilities, but I have magic and other skills. The meeting of the Federation and the Romulans, and in addition, the life on this planet, represents a timeline nexus which I have been prepared to navigate."
Rojor answered, "There wouldn't be much point in us trying to negotiate relations between the Romulan Star Empire and the Federation. We do not know if we will ever leave this place, and I for one am not a diplomat, I am a mineral survey engineer. My family is not favored anymore. My great-uncle was once a Senator."
Renée played Federation music. Rojor liked the Vulcan music she played and some types of Earth music.
Renée said, "The life on this planet is scanning our minds again. I will try to communicate with it."
Renée spoke in a distorted voice, "You can call us Devronian. You can use the plural form, although the humanoid concept does not map well to our existence."
Renée spoke in her normal voice. "Is there a purpose for us being in this cavern?"
The Devronians said, "Yes, we wanted the one called Renée and the one called Rojor to meet. There was a prophecy to fulfill."
Renée said, "Your magic feels similar to that of my people. We also have prophecies, and also knowledge of timelines."
The Devronians said, "You and Rojor together have the capability of saving the future of us Devronians."
Rojor said, "You might convince me, but it is the Romulan Senate that would need to be convinced. They would tend to see unique minerals here and the desire to mine them, even if it meant attacking you."
The Devronians said, "We can offer minerals to both of your peoples."
Renée said, "Starfleet would defend this planet from the Romulans if they determined that they had sufficient strength to do so. The danger to the Devronians is not just now, but, in one timeline around stardate 2364. There is a civilization called the Borg that assimilates all before it. In that timeline, there was a neutral zone between the Federation and Romulans here. They assimilated the life on this planet, and destroyed space stations of both the Federation and Romulans, trying to provoke a war between the two. Later they came in force and were only narrowly stopped with stratagems, not superior force. Timelines do not always follow the same details, so there is no guarantee that we would win that battle."
The Devronians asked, "How would you prevent the danger to all three of our peoples?"
Renée answered, "This is where the nexus in time, that is now, in this timeline, appears. If instead of becoming enemies, the Federation and the Romulans become allies who research and build together, we could become strong enough to fight off the Borg together by the time they reach us. We would also be able to face the Dominion together, another distant civilization that will one day turn its attention to this area.
The Vulcans and Romulans could also settle their differences."
Rojor said, "That is indeed an optimistic vision. And again, I'm not the one to convince. My voice does not carry much weight in the Romulan Senate."
The Devronians said, "This is how the prophecy unfolds. You, Rojor, have more of a role to play in this than you think possible."
Renée said, "On behalf of the Federation I would provisionally offer you full membership in the United Federation. My people, the magicals of Earth, would very much like to exchange our knowledge of magic with you. The Federation Alliance would want to defend your planet, and not have you attacked unnoticed as part of a neutral zone."
The Devronians said, "We will discuss this in a three party conference. We would see the Romulans also as part of this United Federation collective. We shall create a conference center near the surface of this planet suitable to your species."
At this point a hole appeared in the ceiling going all the way to surface, and the people, along with their possessions were magically lifted to the surface by the Devronians. They were brought up by shuttle to a starship and gave a report to Starfleet.
Rojor was given guest quarters on the ship. Following the usual starfleet protocol he was not disarmed of his weapons. Certain areas of the ship were off limits to him, but he could go to the cafeteria where many discussions occurred.
Renée showed him the holodeck. She showed some scenes from Earth, and then some scenes from Vulcan, including some 3D videos filmed by Cora and Theo on their honeymoon there.
They tried different cuisines together, including getting the cafeteria to perfect some Romulan dishes.
Renée said, "I really like this Osol twist."
Rojor said, "If my people visit here, I'll ask them to send over the real thing. I'll ask for many foods and drinks, but not Viinerine, I had enough of that on the ship that brought me to Devron."
The fleet received a message from Starfleet Command, "This is an override command at the behest of Section 31. Renée Picard will direct diplomatic efforts in regards to the Romulans and the Devronians. She will have authority to direct the fleet until this order is rescinded."