On Bended Knee

Posted on Mon Jul 31st, 2023 @ 2:20am by Caeda & Lieutenant Commander Andrei Petrov & Lieutenant Commander Yana Petrova & Petty Officer 1st Class Jackie King

Mission: S1 Episode 5: Ex Post Facto
Location: Conference Room, Vengeance
Timeline: Date 2371-08-20 at 1600
2635 words - 5.3 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

Investigators from the Shadow Fleet had swarmed the Numiri moon searching for as much information as they could find on the kidnapping of the Terran officer. First, they took over the site where she had been held with manpower alone, but then they started to demand cooperation from the leaders, and figure out what was going on. Finally, after the work of several days, the Executive Officer of the Vengeance has been empowered to call a summit of the Banean and Numiri members for the sake of negotiating a lasting peace treaty. At least, that’s what was being said.

The conference room on board Vengeance has been set up by the command slaves with refreshments, drinks, and an appropriate number of seats. The alien delegations were set to arrive before Andrei Petrov was to step through the door.

Targa - or more appropriately now, Chief Minister - Molen Syr had arrived with three other Baneans in her delegation. She herself was still wearing her military uniform solely for the fact she frankly didn’t own anything else more appropriate to this setting, and buying new clothes hadn’t exactly been a priority for obvious reasons. The other three with her were civilians of some sort.

The Numiri were led by Supreme Commander Dhas. The Numiri did not have traditional surnames, so none were provided. He also had three others with him, and they were all dressed in military uniform displaying various ranks. They sat stoically in their appointed spot. The tension in the room was thick, and it wasn’t solely because of the animosity between the two species, but also who they were waiting on.

The aliens had been walked through the alternative entrance to the conference room which was provided through a separate hallway which ran behind the back wall of the room to keep them off the Bridge. That hallway had been lined by ten of the most stalwart Kazon men they had ever seen, standing tall and still with dead eyes; armed to the teeth. In the room, however, an entire squad of Terran Security Officers stood around, making it perfectly clear where the balance of power lay.

The doors opened without any special announcement and in-walked Lieutenant Commander Andrei Petrov with a military stride, a scowl on his face so deep it actually matched the hatred in his eyes. He didn’t play friendly upon entering, nor did he signal to either party that he was there to play games. Behind him, Yana Petrova followed and Jackie King walked silently; nervously. He sat down at the chair at the edge of the table and looked from one delegation to the other, saying nothing. The two Terran women sat in chairs placed behind him. He wanted to see what these aliens would do first.

The Numiri had not had the direct pleasure of dealing with Andrei at his best so they sat there in silence equal to his own. Syr however, had, so when Andrei and his women were settled she greeted him with a respectful bow of her head which the other Baneans mirrored. “Commander Petrov.”

“Chief Minister.” He said, a certain irony in his tone, seeing as he had placed her in that position by force, and given her enough support that she could claim it for herself. He leaned back in his chair, his visible eye staring at her and the eye behind the patch taking in readings on her. “It seems the Numiri are solely responsible for the suffering of our crew member, and that they conspired to use her as a tool for their own advancement. It also seems they attempted to frame you and your people for their own actions. Considering that, what do you think I should do to them?”

Syr was absolutely too intelligent to even give a hint of “I told you so” as she sat there, but there was anger and frustration below the surface. So many of her people had already died because the Terrans hadn’t even given a chance for explanation and had been so focused on this being something done by the Baneans. From her understanding, that single focus had almost cost them their officer.

She was also intelligent enough to be extremely happy that Cassiel hadn’t died.

“You were very clear of the consequences that would befall my people should your Lieutenant not be found,” Syr began, “I think it only fitting you start there.”

Andrei turned his eyes to the Numiri leader, a smile breaking in his face, wide eyed and frightening.

“Syr is being dramatic, Dhas. What I said, I said in a fit of rage. I can’t be held responsible for some, admittedly, extreme threats, can I? After all, I was very upset that someone would DARE” he shouted suddenly, pounding his fist on the table with a loud bang. “Capture one of our officers and torture her, using her as a prop.”

He leaned toward Dhas, his smile gone; his hatred obvious.

“What do you think, Dhas? Whose blood could wipe away the guilt here? Your Banean friends are very quick to throw you under the shuttle; they want you to suffer for what you put them through. What you put all of us through.”

When Andrei slammed his fist on the table, the three Banean civilians jumped slightly and one gave an alarmed chirp. Syr in contrast sat calmly, but had briefly averted her eyes from him.

Dhas, ignorant of the fire in front of him, spoke, “Commander Petrov, is it correct to assume that you have been part of battles and wars before?”

“Of course I have.” Andrei said, leaning back and looking perfectly in control. His eye, however, was still unwaveringly intense. “What’s your point?”

“In times of conflict, for the good of your people and facing the chance of victory after years of strife, would you not take a risk such as we did? Unfortunately, sacrifices sometimes must be made for the good of a people.” Dhas explained as if this were perfectly reasonable. “Your woman has been returned to you alive.”

Andrei watched him, his irritation at the man’s perspective sending a visible wave of anger through his body. Why were these people so daft? He had to make the man pay for what he had said; for the tone he had taken, which was one of indifference instead of one of respect. He stood then, drawing himself to his full height, and slowly rounded the table until he was standing right behind the Numiri delegation. He looked up and caught the eye of the Baneans.

“It really is a shame you’re so flippant. Though, I suppose you don’t understand the new order of your society; the new order of the quadrant actually. Some species learn quickly, and some do not. We care not for your hierarchies, or your rules, but above all of them; above all of you is even the lowest and meanest Terran. You are nothing to us, we care about you less than we care for our dogs. And you will speak to us, and about us with respect, or there will be pain, and tears, and blood!”

Andrei drew his dagger from his side and grabbed the collar of the Numiri officer sitting next to Dhas. With great and repeated force, he drove the blade down into the man over and over again, piercing chest, and stomach, and face, and shoulder, and anything in range of his wild swing. The number of strikes was innumerable, and he seemed to grow in frenzy, with each one until his hand, uniform, and face were covered in blood, as well as the table and those around them. Many of the onlookers stood at the shocking display, and even the security officers looked with surprise. Breathing heavily, Andre returned to his seat, placing the dagger on the table in front of him.

“Try again.” he said to Dhas through lips stained with Numiri blood.

Syr was no stranger to this, but even she looked away. It was limited in its effectiveness though given the power of Andrei’s movements with his hand, black Numiri blood was raining in little droplets everywhere including onto the Baneans. The Numiri looked absolutely stunned as the remaining ones were covered in their comrade’s blood, his screams still ringing through their ears despite them having gone silent nearly a full minute ago. Even at Andrei’s prompt to try again, there were long beats of silence. Finally, Dhas spoke again.

“The Baneans should be blamed for their own failures. It is their weakness that made all of this happen in the first place.”

“How do you reason that?” Andrei asked, an eerie patience about him, considering he was smeared with Numiri blood.

“This operation had been a long devised plan by our intelligence agency. The pieces had already been in place for weeks without the Baneans having any idea they had been infiltrated. It was due to this negligence on their part that allowed us to so easily change our plan. Had they been more intelligent and observant, this would have never happened in the first place.” Dhas was in a rather difficult position. He couldn’t deny the fact that they had taken the Terran woman and used her for their own benefit; they’d been caught with her after all and denying it would have done them no favors. This battle was certainly uphill, but it wasn’t an impossible one to win in his view. It would just take careful execution and pointing out the failings of the weaker race.

“You’re saying that it’s the Banean’s fault that they were such easy marks for you?” Yana asked from her seat behind Andrei and in front of the three windows at the front of the room.

“Yes.” Dhas confirmed, looking at Yana with his small dark eyes.

Yana smiled an amused smile. She had been completely unphased by her son's attack on the Numiri man and she was hardly bothered now.

“Perhaps you’re right, at that.” Andrei said with a neutral expression. “But I’m bored with the subject, quite frankly. I’ve been sent here to find one ally and one enemy and that is very much what I intend to do. Now it’s time for each of you to tell me what you can do for the Empire.”

“What is it you desire?” Dhas asked immediately, not giving Syr a chance to speak.

Syr for her part, seemed quite content to let the Numiri man dig his own hole. She had been present when they had done this song and dance the first time, so she knew exactly where that kind of question would land the man.

Andrei raised a hand in the air to indicate that Jackie was up. She stood and placed one PADD in front of Syr and another in front of Dhas. Each device held only the demands for their side and each would have no idea what Andrei was asking of the other. She sat down again, and they gave them a chance to read it over.

Both delegations turned in on each other to discuss the terms presented on the PADDs. The Numiri seemed more upset even though unknown to them, their list was much shorter than the one being held by the Baneans. Syr was perturbed by the first two items on the list, and the slight disgruntled chirring sound coming from the three other Baneans only reinforced that. To offer up six hundred people on two of their ships plus another hundred and twenty to be given outright into slavery was… a staggering thought. She knew the “crews” of the ships wouldn’t be anymore than slaves either with these people.

But seven hundred odd people to save what was left of their race?

“One hundred and twenty people as slaves?” Dhas asked incredulously and looked at Andrei.

“I’m glad they teach basic reading on your world.” Andrei said dryly, giving no more than that. “Is that a problem for you? Remember, what you’ve done is almost the worst crime you can commit: kidnapping and harming a Terran. Our friendship, therefore, comes at a price.”

“I do not object to a price being paid, but enslavement? I would rather give you a hundred and twenty to kill outright as payment. Blood for blood.” Dhas’ voice was strained.

“Perhaps I’ll get them anyway, Supreme Commander.” Andrei said, a sick grin on his face. “It’s just a gesture of friendship. If you don’t wish to accept, then we’ll simply befriend your rivals and destroy your planet. Does that sound more to your liking?”

“I have a question, if I may.” Syr spoke up finally, but waited on Andrei to give her permission to continue.

He looked at her and nodded wordlessly.

“This first request… are these people to be treated as,” she hesitated, trying to find the right words, “will they be treated as hired mercenaries, or something else?”

“My father is interested in expanding the Shadow Fleet by adding Captains and crews. When we receive payment for services rendered, tribute from allied worlds, or other forms of income, the proceeds would be shared with the crews of these ships.” He said, answering the question he wanted to answer rather than the one she actually asked. “That should make things clear enough. Money for membership.”

“In what time frame would you be expecting all of this?” She followed up, aware she hadn’t gotten a real answer, but she knew he hadn’t misunderstood her.

“Within two days.” He said dryly again.

The Banean took a deep breath. “I am willing to accommodate these terms, but we will need more than two days.”

Andrei could see she was telling the truth through his patch as much as it could read Baneans. She wasn’t trying to stall or deny him what he asked.

“If you can’t find the men in two days, I will gladly find them for you.” He said in an almost bored voice before turning his head to the other side. “And you, Dhas. What do you say?”

“I can provide the slaves and the gems within two days. If you want quality picks on the others, it will take time.” Syr insisted, her voice firm but not challenging.

Dhas looked between the two of them, frowning deeply and then back down to the list in front of him.

“We’ll accept.” He said hastily.

“Good.” Andrei said to the man before turning back to the woman on the other side of the table. “Dear Syr, we’ll work it all out. Don’t worry. Don’t worry.”

He stood then, indicating that the meeting was over.

When he moved his chair, both delegations startled slightly, though the Numiri were quicker to settle than the Baneans. They all looked hopelessly confused.

“Wait… who did you pick?” Dhas’ voice strained slightly.

Andrei laughed immediately, and the amused chuckling lasted several moments before it died down enough for him to speak.

“Who did I pick!” He said, placing his hand on his mother’s shoulder for a second. “Dhas, I’m not the Captain. Ivan Petrov, my Father, will pick. If I were you, I’d have my tribute ready in two days. Now get out.”

The aliens looked at each other stupidly before moving to comply with some modicum of haste. Nobody wanted to be the last one out of the room, and they all had work to do it seemed. Unfortunately for both sides, they had no idea what was about to befall them.

END