Divided

[Salissa t'Vlack]

She recieved the message, and responded by sending the following:

We will meet in an hour Riov. Be on time I am expecting a full report.

[Riov Liordra t'Takar]

Liordra exited to the Oira, acknowledged the Subcommander and those officers who having seen her enter had saluted, and continued across to the lift.
It was not often that she was seen unescorted in the corridors and she noted several surreptitious glances. When she reached t'Vlack's quarters, she stood outside, momentarily self-conscious and feeling like she had when she was much younger and starting her training at the War Academy. Did she desire approval for this so much? She had recognized the feeling and now dismissed it. Such feelings of anxiety could serve a purpose, but not now. She activated the alert and waited.

[Salissa t'Vlack]

When the chimes rang she looked to see who it was. Seeing it was the Riov she stared at the image on the monitor for a minute. Then steeping her finger tips to finger tips forming a perfect pyramid. She sat back and waited to see the reaction of the other. Finally after 2 minutes she spoke up.

"plhere Riov" (enter)

[Riov Liordra t'Takar]

The door was not opened immediately nor was there any acknowledgment. She glanced at her chrono. She was not early, nor was she late. It was precisely one hour since she had received the message. The Khrein had said to be punctual so it was unlikely that she was not here herself. It was discourteous to keep her waiting just as it would have been if she had been late for the appointment but Tal'Shiar kept their own customs and codes. There was nothing she could do but wait until t'Vlack chose to admit her.

"Plhere. Riov." Her chrono revealed that it had been a full two siuren-a she had been standing there before the order had come. She entered, having ensured that any trace of her annoyance had first been erased from her expression.

She did not salute. Galae and the Tal'Shiar did not exchange courtesies in this way, but she came to attention in acknowledgment of the Khrein's rank and waited for her to speak.

[Salissa t'Vlack]

She looked her over as the Riov walked in. Taking in more from the subtle hits her body spoke of. She gestured to a chair. And waited for her to sit.

"You asked for this meeting Riov, and I informed you I expected a full report. You can start with what you wanted to speak to about or your report first." Her eyes never leaving the S'-Riov eyes.

[Riov Liordra t'Takar]

She sat, though not comfortably. "The report is the reason I asked to see you, Khrein. Your position in the fleet as Liaison resolves a number of difficulties regarding procedure. It was the Tal'Shiar who ordered us to Delta III and our subsequent orders were from Starfleet to aid and assist U.S.S. Aryes. You are representative of both."

"We have been able to determine with certainty that the sphere was an experimental ship equipped with a drive system capable of simultaneous travel within both time and space. For reasons undetermined, the drives on the sphere malfunctioned and it now travels according to a predetermined program which the Borg are aware of and follow. While this experimental ship was not salvageable, the information regarding it's construction was and according to the Chief Engineer's report, it is possible for us to build them."

"Further, we have proof that Starfleet Intelligence is aware of this technology and had made a prior attempt to retrieve it." She slipped the disc form inside her tunic. "This disc contains all the necessary files to follow the sphere and repair it or to construct our own."

She stood and placed the disc on t'Vlack's desk then sat again.

[Salissa t'Vlack]

She was recording the entire report. She kept her eyes on her the entire time. Her eyes diverted only for a moment to look at the disk after being placed on her desk.

"What has your engineer told you concerning this? And what have you told him?"

[Riov Liordra t'Takar]

"Arrain Quol was very enthusiastic in his belief that the difficulties that caused the Borg ship's drives to malfunction could be easily surmounted and then adapted to our own use. This information comes from his report. I have not spoken to him further regarding it."

t'Vlack's gaze never left hers but the Khrein never gave anything away of her own feelings. Was she pleased or disappointed? Not being able to tell anything was worse than knowing. There was no opportunity to prejudice her answers in a way that might gain her favor.

[Salissa t'Vlack]

"You gave him no instructions concerning this device, at all. Is this the only copy of the disk and report? Could he have contacted Star Fleet concerning this?" Again there was no change in her demeanor, her gaze never leaving t'Takars eyes.

[Riov Liordra t'Takar]

"Dhat, Lhhei. No instructions, no copies, no communications and he has taken an oath of loyalty. Only three have seen the contents of the disc. The Daise'Dheno who found it, the Subcommander and myself."

The Khrein had not shifted her gaze but the intensity of it had changed and seemed to search more deeply than it had before.

[Salissa t'Vlack]

She looked down for a brief moment and then moved her eyes swiftly back to t'takar's eyes.

"I will forward this to both High Command and Star Fleet, after reviewing it. This Captain Shran, could he have the same information?"

[Riov Liordra t'Takar]

A shadow crossed Liordra's face at the mention of StarFleet. She had hoped the Khrein believed as she did, that an alliance with the Federation did not presuppose that all acquired information would be shared.

"Captain Shran will have only had the distorted scans and any observations his crew may have made while in Engineering. Neither will permit him more than conjecture."

[Salissa t'Vlack]

She saw a slight change in t'Taker's expression. A sly smile crossed her lips for just a second.

"Perhaps, or maybe his crew gained more knowledge then you realize. At any rate, if they did, they did. Make no judgments or orders concerning this device. I will inform you when, and if it will be so ordered."

She sat back and looked down at a padd on her desk her eyes scanning it briefly. When she looked up again her head was slightly tilted to the left, and her chin was at shoulder position. Her eyes went up to look directly into the Riov eyes once again.

"Do you have any comments, suggestions, or questions to offer?"

[Riov Liordra t'Takar]

t'Vlack was more discerning that Liordra would have liked. She knew of course that Liordra could not have been at all certain of what information Shran might have, despite the convictions of her statement. She knew too that Liordra would, if the situation permitted, have gone forward with some preliminary testing of the drive elements.

"Nothing..Khrein that I am certain you will not have already considered." Her voice conveyed obediance of but not satisfaction with t'Vlack's orders.

[Salissa t'Vlack]

She sat back and looking at the Riov. "How do you find this assignment working so closely with the Federation?"