Watraii Exchange

Posted on Sat Nov 13th, 2021 @ 6:31am by

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Saris
Timeline: Before the start of the current mission
1009 words - 2 OF Standard Post Measure

The black robed figure, donning a green, featureless mask, leaving only the eyes visible looked down at the deceased Borg Drone before her that laid haphazardly on a diagnostic table in the middle of a large scientific laboratory and then to a nearby monitor. The monitor showed the nanoprobes in the Borg were still active. She had killed the Drone and was now hoping to see how long before the nanoprobes would cease to function. So far, it had been one hour.

Looking back at the drone, she wondered briefly who the person had been before he had been unlucky or stupid enough to be assimilated. The drone showed terran features. Had he been a member of Starfleet? 'Too bad you're no Romulan or I'd gut you completely," she thought. Just the thought of a Romulan angered her. Long ago, they had enslaved her people who were once known as Vulcans on Remus, before her people had escaped and found their new home on Saris. They were the reason her people wore masks except in total privacy of other Watraii--to hide their shame in looking similar to their murderers. A beep from the computer caught her attention as she glanced back at the monitor. Underneath her mask, she grinned as she watched the nanoprobes begin to cease to function. 'One hour, ten minutes,' she made a mental note.

The sounds of a door opening caused the woman to turn as the figure of the other Watraii, dressed in black robes and green mask spoke. "T'las, are you done with that thing?" came a male's voice.

"Yes, Remar," T'las replied. "What do you require?"

"The Chancelor requests your presence at once," Remar stated simply.

'The Chancelor wants to see me?' she thought both excitedly and fearfully. The Chancelor rarely met with others and it usually meant really good things or very bad things. "I will go with you at once," she replied before calmly turning back to the drone, picking up a disruptor, leveling it at the drone and fired. The drone instantly vaporized on the spot, leaving only the slight smell of burnt flesh and circuitry in the air before being purged by the lab's environmental controls.

Setting the disruptor back onto the table, she proceeded to walk out of the lab, keeping in step next to Remar. Each were quiet as they proceeded down the long, dimly lit corridor into the lift. The entire city was built into a mountain as the surface was mostly barren and considered very dangerous due to the constant lightning strikes on the surface. Those conditions also made their homeworld a variable fortress to outsiders. "Administrative pod," Remar called. The lift began it's journey through the mountain as tons of rock passed by the lift's shaft.

"Did the Chancelor state what he wanted?" T'las asked, turning to Remar.

Remar returned her look. "No. Only that it was essential."

"The survival of our people is what is truly essential," T'Las replied, turning to look back at the passing rock formations.

There was a pause before Remar responded. "I know. Your work thus far has been admirable. Thanks to you, our weapons are even more deadly. One of our battlecruisers tested your nano phase cannon against a Romulan Valdore Class. It bypassed their shields as designed and devastated their systems, allowing our battlecruiser to make an easy kill."

"I am glad to hear that," T'las replied, smiling under her mask as she envisioned the Romulans burning in space.

A moment later, the lift slowed to a halt, revealing a brighter lit corridor. Two guards, dressed in grey robes and white masks flanked both sides of the lift exit. They were instantly recognized as the royal guards. "The chancellor is expecting you," one of the guards stated. "You may proceed T'las and Remar."

Walking down a straight corridor, the two Watraii came to a door that soon slid open to reveal an office with a view of the surface, towering above the Execution Arena. As T'las entered the office of the Chancellor, she recalled attending her first execution of a traitor when she was ten. She remembered the screams of the man as he was cooked alive by lightning bolts that struck the post he had been bound to. It had solidified her loyalty to her people and against anyone who would see her people dead. Before her was a figure dressed in a white robe with a faceless white mask with gold trim. "T'las and Remar both struck the left chest, kneeling and lowering their gaze in the process. "I bring T'las as you requested, Chancellor."

"Rise," came an older male voice as he turned to face the two. "Your duty is fulfilled, Remar. You are dismissed."

"As you command, Chancellor," Remar replied, exiting the chamber.

T'las kept her eyes fixed on the Chancellor. To avert her gaze towards Remar would be considered an insult.

"T'las, your work lately has been exemplary. You are a credit to your people...which is why what I have in store for you is hard to say. You have been selected to participate in an officer exchange program with the Federation."

'The Federation?' she asked herself yet remained quiet, allowing the chancellor to continue. They had once fought the mighty Federation, Klingon, and Romulan fleets to a standstill in 2378 in a border skirmish.

I know you may have reservations as I do but I also believe this will help improve our understanding and relationship with the Federation. You will be the first of our people to live among theirs. Learn all you can while you are among them."

"As you command, Chancellor."

"Good. You leave in exactly two hours. You have until then to get ready. I trust that will not be an issue?"

"No Chancellor," T'las replied with no hesitation.

"Good. Make us proud, T'las. You are dismissed."

"Yes, Chancellor," T'las replied before bowing slightly and then turning to exit the office. She had a suspicion her life was about to get alot more interesting.