Station: In the Shadows

Posted on Thu Sep 4th, 2025 @ 7:43pm by Captain Rogue "Ro" Kudo {Meji Master} {Flt. Cpt.}

Mission: The Inner Flame
Location: Sector '69'
Timeline: Current

ON:

A Reman soldier ran through the corridors of the vessel he served on, sliding to a stop at the Commander's quarters/office door. The Tvaro-class Romulan Bird of Prey was not a large ship by most standards, being capable of holding no more than a crew of 200. It was the latest version of the BoP, with all its technology up-to-date with every other galactic government in existence. The free and independent Remans had made off with quite a few of them since they had been, at one time, the forced labor for building ships for the Romulans. It had taken a few years to accomplish, but one day as the newly built vessels awaited to be boarded and commanded by Romulans, twenty of the ships had been stolen by Remans who had access to every system on board each due to their working on them. With a skeleton crew on each, they warped out and went to different destinations, cloaking and awaiting the signal from the Viceroy of their rebellion. Not only was Viceroy Malikh the de-facto leader of the rebellion, he was also the last surviving high priest for the Gr'zh'n religious order. A cult of prolific Remans who were able to access awesome and strange powers, or Magick as some called it, to enforce their will. For years the Cult had lost more and more members as the modern Remans steered away from their belief in their deity Grezhok.

Fifteen years ago a single, Human female had been set as a sacrifice to Grezhok, tortured to death, revived, and then healed up and placed inside a stasis sarcophagus. She had then been placed within it and put into stasis, hermetically sealed from all outside influences. She was to be the sacrificial meal for Grezhok when he came from spirit to flesh. However, it had become apparent that the Cult's enemy, the Q Continuum had stepped in in favor of this wretched Human, granting the female powers and abilities from another galaxy. The Q who had blessed her had also granted this woman a specialized weapon from a religious order in the other galaxy, one with which she had fought against the Cult with. She had sliced and diced the Reman priests that day and left Malikh with a grievous wound he had barely survived. For the past fifteen years he had searched both high and low for this woman.

This Human woman was the only sacrifice that Grezhok would accept, having seen his followers fail in their attempt to return him to flesh. The Viceroy had no choice in the matter. Grezhok would curse them all until his divine order was fulfilled. In his efforts to locate The One, Malikh had gathered other followers from other races. Andorians, Humans, Vulcans, Romulans, whoever wanted to see the deity Grezhok come to their plane of existence and grant them rulership over the galaxy. It gave a wide variety of beings the ability to travel and look into any hints or clues as to where this woman was, or if she had somehow been killed. However, Malikh never believed she had died, otherwise Grezhok would not be so adamant that she still be used for a sacrifice; THE sacrifice.

The soldier hit the chime and was told to enter. The room within was dark, but not too dark for a Reman. Most would have a hard time seeing anything, whereas Remans lived in darkness and were opposed to bright lighting. Kneeling at his shrine to Grezhok, Viceroy Malikh brought his face up to look at the younger soldier. "What is it?"

The soldier had entered full of excitement, but now, once inside the chamber, he felt a sudden pang of fear. "Yes, Viceroy! We found her!" The soldier saw the Viceroy raise an eyebrow as only a Reman could, askance. "The One! We are certain it is her."

Malikh got to his feet quickly, but not in a rush. Great men did not rush. "Show me." He raised an arm and made a sweeping gesture towards the wall behind his command desk, a large wall monitor coming to life by use of internal sensors activating at his somatic hand gestures.

The soldier tapped at his PADD and the screen changed to the sector they were currently in even as the soldier moved over to it along with the Viceroy. The soldier centered the bird's eye image of the sector and stars, creating a red circle around one, small spot. "That, Viceroy, is M-69. The Federation starbase. SHE is there. One of their leaders I am to understand. She even began her own Order, the Meji. They possess the same powers she does, at varying degrees, of course. All of them carry their laser sword weapons."

Malikh could not help but smile. If The One had created such an Order, then she did not plan on going anywhere anytime soon. "All of this is confirmed?"

"Yes, Viceroy," the soldier said with a bowing nod from the neck. "Our agent, Pentagram, has been on M-69 for some time. Their security measures, according to Pentagram, leave something to be desired. All data sent was checked and rechecked before it was given to us, encoded. SHE is there, Sir."

"I must plot our next moves," Viceroy Malikh said, arms coming to fold over his chest. "I will contact Grezhok and seek his guidance, for we cannot move on this until we know his wishes. Maintain our position and continue to observe while cloaked. Inform Pentagram we need more information and to remain in stealth. Do not rush anything nor make mistakes. Your name, Soldier?"

"Likhon, Viceroy."

"You are now Sub-commander Likhon," The Viceroy stated. "As such, you now serve me and are my First Officer. Do not fail me, Likhon, or it will be a short-lived promotion. Dead men do not get promoted."

"You honor me, Viceroy. I shall not fail."

"Leave me, I must meditate."

Likhon gave a bow from the neck and departed even as Malikh moved back over to his shrine.

OFF: