Divided

[Riov Liordra t'Takar]

Oct 27, 2008 16:23:45 GMT -5 Veralen Sahen said:

She looked at her scans and softly stated so no one could hear her especailly the Feddies. "Favdt."

Then in an even voice not loud enough to sound alarmed but loud enough for the Riov to hear.

"Riov, they have weapons fully charged and aimed at us. Suggest we follow thier lead."

She shook her head. "Nothing that would make us appear hostile." The Andorian Captain was already suspicious of them, she would give him no reason to compound that suspicion.

[Veralen Sahen]

She was sure she misunderstood, but knew she hadn't. Was the Galae' becoming weak? Why wasn't there a demand they stand down? She took a deep breath and remained silent.

"As you wish Riov." She allowed the ship to remain defenseless in her eyes.

[Riov Liordra t'Takar]

Oct 27, 2008 16:20:36 GMT -5 Captain Shran said:

Shran's face is unreadable and unsmiling, his antennae still. "We have done nothing yet but scan the crash sight. It is a Borg sphere." He pauses a moment to let her consider that information.

"My First Officer was about to lead an expedition down to the surface. You are more than welcome to send a team down yourself... but of course I'm sure you wouldn't object if I sent some of my own personnel along with you... in the name of cooperation..."

"If cooperation is your concern, I would not object to having our teams work together as one, but if your intent is to ensure a cooperation spawned by your mistrust of our presence here, I must decline. We are not your adversary Captain, despite the long held prejudices between our peoples."

[Lt Aidan McKenzie]

Aidan realized that weapons were fully charged and he tapped a few keys to bring them back to stand by mode, but he left target lock still active

He heard the other captain speak of trust, especially since there is a treaty signed between the Romulans and the Federation now

He spoke up "Yes, we should trust each other, especially since we're all supposed to be friends, not snarling our teeth at each other.. Besides, what caused all the mistrust between us in the first place"?

Since he was from the early 21st century, he had no clue on that matter

[Captain Shran]

Shran antennae twitched at the unwarranted comment from the junior officer, but he continued to address the screen. "As a personal rule, Commander, I am not inclined to trust anyone who does not give her name at the start of a conversation, but beyond that it is your motives I mistrust."

Shran sat back in his chair. "It is too convenient for you to show up here. The Alpha Quadrant hasn't seen a Borg in many years, and now not only do we find a crashed sphere, but a Romulan Warbird along with it... If our positions were reversed, what would your instincts be telling you, Commander?"

[Reha Khev]

She turned in her seat and wrote a message to the Riov and sent it to her console.

"Riov t'Takar pay attention to his antennas. Their antennas are in almost constant motion, they will speak what his feelings are. Because hes so closely monitoring his, to make them inactive, leads me to believe he is hiding something or possibly being untruthful. As a race they don't smile and never have naturally, but some have learned how to mimic a smile to fool and confuse others."

[Riov Liordra t'Takar]

"Whatever my instincts tell me, I temper them with courtesy, Captain. The fact that my orders come from Starfleet as your's do supersede the fact that this ship is a Warbird. My name was provided to you on the orders I forwarded and if you mistrust my motives as you say, then my name surely will not convey the trust you seek. Whether my appearance is convenient or merely coincidental is hardly relevant. Both of us are here to do a job and I suggest the time stop being wasted on unconfirmed suspicions."

The message light on her console blinked and the saw it was from Khev. She looked off to the side and down appearing to be waiting on Shran's answer while she read the message.

[Captain Shran]

"I have said all which I have to say. My suspicions are neither hidden nor unclear. Yet, because I suspect you of ulterior intentions does not hinder my duty or my orders. We look forward to your assistance, Commander.

"I will even go so far as making the first point of compromise. I will send with you two officers whom I trust. They will aid you and foster the spirit of cooperation. In exchange you may send one officer with my team. Hopefully with these liaisons in place we will find a measure of trust between us."

[Riov Liordra t'Takar]

"Thank you, Captain. Those arrangements would be most suitable. I will have my officer transport over as soon as possible."

She closed out the comm and turned to Zareth.

"I want you to take this assignment. On the surface, it will appear you are only there to participate as a part of the team and to monitor and report on their activities, however there will be more to it. I will keep you apprised ."

[Captain Shran]

Shran nodded once to the Romulan before the viewscreen winked back to a picture of the orbiting Warbird.

Once the screen was clear he turned to his tactical officer. "Ensign, we have talked in the past about your verbal outbursts during negotiations. I welcome all suggestions on this bridge, but not within earshot of those who could use a stray comment against us." He stood once again. "You will need to guard your tongue better when you are among the Romulans."

He turned to his helmswoman. "Captain Inid, I do hope you will keep our tactical officer in line... I want both of you to transport over to the Romulan ship. You two will act as our liasons."

His antennae pulled back slightly. "I want both of you to keep your eyes open. Regardless of what the Commander claims my intuition tells me there is more ice below the surface than we are aware of." He nodded to both of them in turn. "Captain, Ensign... Make preparations and leave when you are ready, and keep your comm open."

He walked off the bridge into his ready room.

[Lt Aidan McKenzie]

After he made his comment, he saw the Captain's antennae twitch again, like he was annoyed at what he said. He shook his head slightly, that seemingly the constant reaction to what he says. He just let the two Captains talk it out

When the other captain winked off the screen, Captain Shran turned toward him "Ensign, we have talked in the past about your verbal outbursts during negotiations. I welcome all suggestions on this bridge, but not within earshot of those who could use a stray comment against us. You will need to guard your tongue better when you are among the Romulans."

"But.." he sputtered out then shook his head "Yes, Sir. I will guard my tongue a little better next time." The he heard him tell the Helmswoman "Captain Inid, I do hope you will keep our tactical officer in line... I want both of you to transport over to the Romulan ship. You two will act as our liasons."

His mouth dropped open and he nearly exclaimed "me"?! but he didn't then heard the captain continue with "I want both of you to keep your eyes open. Regardless of what the Commander claims my intuition tells me there is more ice below the surface than we are aware of." Shran nodded to him and Inid "Captain, Ensign... Make preparations and leave when you are ready, and keep your comm open."

He managed to get out a "uh.. yes, sir" before Shran made it into his ready room

He turned to Inid with a mix of surprise, confusion and nervousness "What's a liason? How can I be one if I don't know what one is. Is that like choosing a person to represent a group?

He then went back to the comment Shran made about guarding his tongue "and how am I supposed to know anything if I don't ask any questions"?

[erei'Riov Saren Zareth]

He listened as the the two Riov's faced off verbally, glancing behind the Andorian Riov when their Amnei'Saehne spoke out of turn

He kept his thought to himself, thinking the saehne was inexperinaced and he told Liordra this when the comm had ended "It seems there Amnei'Saehne is a bit.. inexperianced in negotiations and dealing with us"

It was then she turned to him "I want you to take this assignment. On the surface, it will appear you are only there to participate as a part of the team and to monitor and report on their activities, however there will be more to it. I will keep you apprised ."

He gave a nod "Ie, Lhhei. I will keep my eyes and ears open.. and the comm channel so you can monitor what is occuring"

He paused to see if she had anything further to add

[Riov Liordra t'Takar]

It was the best resolution she could have hoped for, given the Andorian Captain's proclivities. They were actually more alike in this than many might have observed. This alliance was a tenuous thing. There was still considerable mistrust on both sides. She had used the alliance and the concept that despite their differences, they were both serving the same interest, to strengthen her argument and a lesser Captain might have been pressured to fold. Shran however, made no secret of the fact that he did not trust them and would not be cornered diplomatically. He was correct too that if the situation was reversed, she would not have taken her eyes on off them for a moment.

There would be no possibility, she thought, unless it became a situation of outright deceit and theft, that they would be able to retrieve the equipment as ordered. The one thing that acted in their favor was that no team had yet been sent down to the site. Nothing had been disturbed and no one knew yet what to expect. Another factor to be considered was the Khrein. She would of course know of Dhivael's orders but whereas if was fortunate that she was there to bear witness to what happened, if Liordra failed in any way to do everything possible, that too would be known.

"Erein t'Stellam, I want you to lead the exploratory team. Take Khev and, she paused and considered, the Daise'Paectum. I want detailed information. What type of ship is this? Why have we not detected any life signs? Catalog every piece of equipment working or not; dimensions, ease of removal, energy sources. Everything is to be considered important. Ssuej-difv?" (Do you understand, sup to inf mode)

She waited for t'Stellam's acknowledgment before turning to Zareth. "Subcommander, as you have just heard, this mission is more than salvage, there is technology here that has the potential to give the advantage of power to whomever holds it. I am certain you understand how important that knowledge may be to the Empire and to the Rihannsu people."

[erei'Riov Saren Zareth]

He turned to look over at the Daise'Dheno when the Riov has turned to address her "Erein t'Stellam, I want you to lead the exploratory team. Take Khev and, she paused and considered, the Daise'Paectum. I want detailed information. What type of ship is this? Why have we not detected any life signs? Catalog every piece of equipment working or not; dimensions, ease of removal, energy sources. Everything is to be considered important. Ssuej-difv?" (Do you understand, sup to inf mode)

He saw and heard t'Stellum acknowledge her orders and then the Riov turned back to him "Subcommander, as you have just heard, this mission is more than salvage, there is technology here that has the potential to give the advantage of power to whomever holds it. I am certain you understand how important that knowledge may be to the Empire and to the Rihannsu people."

He gave her a nod, with a stern but cool expression "Ie, Riov. I understand this is very important. I shall secure this technology for the Rihannsu Empire"

[Lyretha t'Stellam]

"Ie Riov" Lyretha understood they were to leave as soon as was possible. Captain Shran had said that his team was just about to transport. The Leih would not want the Federation officers to be given any allowance or advantage.

She commed engineering. "erei'Arrain Quol, report to the oira immediately."