Wildflowers

Posted on Sun Oct 4th, 2026 @ 1:51am by Enterprise Officer NPC & Commander Ash Randall & Commander Zhora zh'Roothi & Lieutenant Commander Sora Bernadotte & Lieutenant (J.G.) Oakham Khen Ziren & Chief Petty Officer Kiera Targaryen

9,352 words; about a 47 minute read

Mission: 11. Recess
Location: Kecemen, Karemma
Timeline: 2439-10-21, 09:30

A low, gravelly rumble vibrated deep within Rrawran's chest, rattling the metallic casing of the universal translator collar fitted tight around his thick neck. Standing at eight feet tall, the Rorworr officer's light silver-grey and dark fur bristled as the warm, stale air of the Karemman trade district washed over the away team. Beside him, the rest of Group Gamma filed into the neon-lit concourse, but Rrawran's glowing pale eyes immediately began a mechanical, predatory sweep of the perimeter.

"Target environment saturated," his collar synthesized, the robotic, monotone voice sounding flat and emotionless in stark contrast to the deep, guttural growls echoing from his throat. With his standard issue Type 1 Phaser tucked entirely out of sight inside his inner tunic pocket to avoid drawing unnecessary civilian attention, Rrawran relied entirely on his imposing physical posture and acute reflexes to establish an immediate security envelope. "Sightlines are restricted by elevated walkways and dense civilian traffic. High probability of pickpocketing, syndicate movement, and brawl escalation."

Shifting his heavy posture, Rrawran placed his massive frame directly between Commander zh'Roothi's flank and a group of rowdy alien traders lingering outside a nearby tavern. His gaze flicked back toward Lieutenant Commander Bernadotte and Doctor Targaryen, rapidly calculating the spacing and defensive angles of their formation.

A low huff escaped his snout, translating instantly through the collar: "Security sweep active. Lieutenant Ziren and I will maintain a secondary tactical perimeter. I recommend zero alcohol consumption for assigned escorts. I am prepared to physically clear a path through any establishment that fails safety compliance."

Kiera looked around, she’d seen plenty of places like this in her years. “When you’re as old as I am you get used to visiting places like this as part of your duties. Not that this is how I planned to spend my shore leave time.”

"I thought we were on leave and this is just a secondary assignment," Ziren commented dryly. She too had a phaser safely tucked away under her tunic, but otherwise she looked every bit the part of a hybrid woman on vacation. Her attire was comfortable but practical. She walked alongside the doctor and cast her a surprised look. "Old? You don't look old at all, you appear more or less my age..."

Kiera smiled. “The upside of my genetics, I’m 134 years old. As you can imagine that’s quite a lot of years in Starfleet.”

Sora shook her head in disbelief. "And still only a Chief Petty Officer? Are you just not aiming for anything higher, or how come?" She sighed and turned to Rrawran. "You need to loosen up a little. We're on shore leave. And I don't see anyone in this group who don't know how to handle themselves if we were to come across trouble."

With a smirk, she unzipped her uniform jacket part way, revealing the golden shimmer of her Terran uniform dagger. "And you're not the only one who came prepared, just in case," she added with a chuckle, before closing her jacket up again.

“I’m in no rush to make Captain, Commander” Kiera added as she looked towards Sora. “I like moving up ranks as much as the next person, but why rush into it? As for your…item there, I don’t for a moment think that the Commodore would be very pleased that you brought it with you.”

Zhora pinched the bridge of her nose in exasperation. Finding themselves in the centre of a brawl on the streets was the last thing they needed right now. Incidents of bad behaviour would have immediately terminate leave and shred future visits for the wider network. Sora's bravado behaviour wasn't welcomed and neither was Rrawran's rigid sentry mannerism especially if they wanted to maintain a low profile.

The neon lighting that flickered across her path and the deep, heavy beat of music that reverberated her skull making her antenna twitch uncomfortably was a far distant cry from the peaceful retreat the XO had been hoping for.

"I don't want to see that again," she directed to Sora. "Understand?"

"The only situation where you would, Commander, is when it's necessary to use it. I certainly don't intend to draw it just for fun." Sora shook her head, seriously wondering whether any of these people had ever been to a civilian planet outside of Federation jurisdiction - or indeed a few inside it.

When Commander zh'Roothi reprimanded Bernadotte, Rrawran offered a single, curt nod of absolute agreement. He took half a step forward, his massive eight-foot frame casting a wide shadow over the group, and tilted his head slightly to lock his glowing pale eyes onto Bernadotte. A hidden blade in a crowded, volatile commercial district was not tactical readiness; it was an unnecessary provocation.

His collar emitted a short burst of harsh metallic static before translating his deep growl into its flat, robotic monotone: "Concealed blades attract hostile attention in non-standard sectors. Brandishing a weapon without intent to strike compromises defensive posture."

Ash sidled up next to Rrawran, the much smaller Tuansee absolutely dwarfed by the Rorworr officer and lightly bumped him with her shoulder while she made a little 'yip-growl' noise and looked up at the security officer, her head titled in what could only be deemed, curiosity. The fact the chief engineer chose to speak to Rrawran in his own language was nearly as surprising as the fact she could, to make her friendly inquiry of "Are you all right?"

A short burst of metallic static clicked from Rrawran's collar, translating his deep, warm growl into a flat, synthetic voice: "I am fine, Ash. Just keeping us safe." His ears twitched toward the noisy crowd, then settled back as he adjusted himself to be positioned between the team and the busy thoroughfare. "The heat is unpleasant, but I'm fine. I just want to make sure no one ruins our leave - or gets us stabbed because they wanted to show off a knife."

"Be glad you weren't on Iocarro," Zhora said lowly. "Let's try not to fret over the potential risks," she addressed the group. "We're here to carry out a survey, it won't harm to find some enjoyment along the way even if it means stepping out of our personal comfort zones."

"Lieutenant," Sora commented. "That's the entire point of keeping it concealed. I'd be happy to bet that most of these people around us are similarly armed. Walking around this place in our immaculate Starfleet uniforms makes us stand out. Having a big, paranoid canine looking around like everything that moves is a potential threat makes us stand out even more. Your posture, by itself, invites trouble." She shrugged. "We're on shore leave. Relax a little. I'm not saying don't keep an eye out for potential trouble, but for the sake of our own safety, try not to appear as if you're actively looking for it." She would have to have words with the Captain about forcing her on this trip when they got back, she decided.

"Command is picking up the tab so, lets track down the source of the music, check it out, and then move on." Ash suggested.

Commander Bernadotte grinned. "Now that is something I can get behind."

"Should've worn civvies commander," Ziren chuckled, indicating her own very comfortable civilian attire. "How about we split up and not keep here like a bunch of cadets on parade?"

“That’s the perfect way to get into trouble, we’re better off sticking together” Kiera added. “Larger groups tend to dissuade bad company, whereas smaller groups are easier to pick off.”

"But smaller groups are less conspicuous," Ziren suggested, "either way we should move as we're very much drawing attention. And that music is very loud, maybe we should check it out? Maybe their installation is broken..."

"We are conspicuous, regardless." Ash observed, quietly, with a flourish of her right hand to indicate herself, standing near Rrawran who, absolutely, dwarfed her and laughed. "We're, clearly, not from around here." She added and took the lead, motioning for everyone to follow her, like she was a tour guide. "...And, we're walking...walking.....And...this way...stay together. Find your tour buddy...annnd, we're walking." Ash joked while she moseyed the direction of the thump-thump of the club music.

Kiera had little choice but to follow on with the others, not that she was fussed about going nightclubbing. If that’s where her group was going then she would go too.

"We're walking," Ziren agreed with a grin, "so we're playing tourist then?"

“To a point” Kiera added. “We do have work to do don’t we?”

Rrawran’s ears flattened slightly at Bernadotte’s dismissal of his tactical posture, a quiet, rumbling huff rising from deep within him. Though his translator collar remained silent, his pale eyes narrowed as he kept his massive body positioned near the flank of the group, matching Ash’s pace as she led them toward the heavy pulse of the club. He ignored the comment regarding his appearance; in non-Federation trade sectors, visible vigilance was a proven deterrent against opportunistic threats, regardless of uniform.

As they moved through the crowded concourse, Rrawran swept the elevated walkways and shadowed alcoves above, calculating cover positions and exit routes in real time. He adjusted his stride to remain within arm's reach of the senior officers, maintaining a wide defensive shadow over the team while ensuring his Type 1 Phaser remained entirely concealed within his tunic.

"Yes. The two do go hand-in-hand, however." Ash observed, in response to Kiera, while she stayed within the security perimeter inferred by the position taken up by Rrawran. The Tuansee wasn't overly fond of the pounding music, flashing, bright lights and the general cacophony but had taken steps to mitigate their unpleasantness by wearing tactical lenses (contacts, basically) and specialized ear plugs that would double as recording devices in addition to aiding in tactical analysis.

“That they do” Kiera frowned, she tended to stay away from nightclubs and other similar places simply because she wasn’t keen on them. “For what it’s worth Rrawran I appreciate your caution and protection.” She offered a polite smile as she looked in Rrawran’s direction.

Rrawran turned his massive head slightly toward Kiera, his pale eyes softening as a low rumble echoed from his throat. His translator collar outputted in its flat, monotone cadence: "Acknowledgement, Petty Officer. Vigilance ensures survival. I will maintain my post."

Finding herself sandwiched between the security officers and Bernadotte as Ash and Kiera took the lead the Andorian glanced toward the Terrian before speaking: "How are you feeling, Sora?"

The Terran shrugged. "Wishing I had some coffee. A little bored. Otherwise, fine."

Commander Randall paused for a moment, just outside the establishment for the group to gather together. "you all know what our main objectives but I'll go ahead and remind you, just the same. The evaluation of hospitality infrastructure, trade sector taverns, nightlife security, and local culinary establishments." She rattled off, quickly, and motioned everyone forward. "Lets go evaluate some nightlife security, shall we?"

Sora stepped towards the entrance and looked at the club. "I don't like places like this," she stated plainly. "Too noisy, too chaotic. And even when they're darker inside, they have flashing lights everywhere." She shook her head. "This will give me a headache. Give me a few minutes."

She moved into a small alley next to the club, staying out of the view of random passers-by, although the rest of the group, knowing where she had gone, would be able to keep an eye on her. As much as she detested the fact that she was de facto under surveillance, she'd have to live with it, she mused as she took her dagger out from its hiding place inside her jacket, and then removed the garment itself. "Good thing I have spares," she muttered as she drew the dagger and began to cut away at the fabric, cleaning up and hemming in the cuts using her tricorder. After a few minutes, she had modified her Federation-issue jacket into a passable recreation of the cropped style she used to wear in service to its Terran counterpart. The jacket was now shortened to just below her ribcage, and the sleeves shortened to end just above her elbows.

Looking around to make sure she was hidden enough to not cause a disturbance, Sora then took off her uniform undershirt and gave it the same treatment, cropping it to be even shorter than the jacket. With the alterations completed, she put her clothes back on, and, using some fabric she had removed from the undershirt, strapped her dagger to her thigh underneath her skirt and clipped her combadge to the same fabric. Smiling, she returned to the group. "Sorry about the wait." She tapped the rim of her glasses, turning the lenses almost completely opaque. "Now are we going in there, or what's the plan?"

Kiera was keeping a close eye on Sora just as her uncle had asked her to, as much as she hated it she had been given a job to do. “I guess we are” Kiera added with a nod of her head.

"Wow," Ziren exclaimed as Sora rejoined them, "that looks amazing commander. You look amazing." The hybrid woman gave the Terran an appreciative grin. "Daring too, who knows what we find in there. This music is very loud though, I can't even make out what it is. Perhaps we should've brought auditory protection?"

"We don't have to stay long," Zhora assured the others as much as herself as the throbbing base reverberated through her limbs. "Then we can move on to sample something...less stimulating." her gaze washed over Sora's modifications. "Ash, lead the way."

Sora chuckled. "This is nothing. I had to wear a uniform like this for years, remember?" She shook her head. "Not only is the music loud, what's worse is that it's loud and awful."

His glowing pale eyes flicked over Bernadotte's modified tunic and exposed, thigh-strapped dagger. While his translator synthesized no commentary on her altered uniform, his ears flattened back against his head in silent, tactical disapproval. She had truncated her defensive coverage, restricted her movement, and secured a blade in a position that required an extra half-second to draw beneath a skirt—a clear compromise of combat efficiency.

"Sensory density inside will spike exponentially," the collar's monotone voice outputted as Rrawran stepped directly behind Ash, his massive eight-foot frame creating a physical buffer between the Chief Engineer and the surging crowd outside the entrance. His light silver-grey and dark fur bristled slightly at the deep, thumping bass vibration, but he kept his posture broad, his right hand resting inside his tunic right over his concealed Type 1 phaser. "Strobe frequency high. Auditory baseline compromised. Stay within two meters. If the local clientele escalates, we route back through the main archway immediately."

“Understood” Kiera answered as she looked giving Sora’s outfit a once over before looking away again. She could see what her uncle meant about Sora, but she wasn’t going to let one opinion make up her mind about the other woman. She would make her own opinion once she got to know Sora.

"Well, it is a cultural establishment by the looks of it. Don't Humans call this a disco or something? Where loud and bad music is the norm?" Ziren looked around then shrugged. "I recommend staying in each other's line of sight."

"The term 'disco' or 'discotheque' fell out of fashion by the end of the 20th century," Sora replied. "From then on, it was usually called a nightclub, a dance club, or just a club." She completely ignored Rrawran's comment about staying close, and stepped towards the entrance. "Interesting," she noted. "I'm not seeing a bouncer. That's what they call the security staff posted at the entrance that checks those who want to enter for things like age restrictions, and who takes the entry fee if there is one."

"I get the feeling that bouncers aren't needed." Ash commented and peered up at Rrawren, for a second or two, before she started into the club. "The security here might be a bit different than we're used to." She mused.

"Absence of physical security at the perimeter suggests automated internal measures," Rrawran's translator collar synthesized in its flat, robotic monotone, the mechanical voice piercing cleanly through the throbbing music. "Or reliance on passive localized deterrents." He adjusted his position to remain a constant, imposing wall of protection at Ash and Zhora's flank, his right hand resting inside his tunic right over his concealed Type 1 Phaser.

Sora tilted her head towards Rrawran. "Some advice, Lieutenant. Move your hand away from where you're hiding your piece. My weapon may not be particularly well-hidden at this point, but yours is. Don't make it obvious that you're carrying. Of course, there may well be a scanner here at the entrance." She pointed her tricorder at the doorway, and nodded. "Yep, there it is. Full scanner gate. I can't tell what it's scanning for, though."

"I have an idea," Ziren spoke up, while making sure her own type I phaser was safely tucked away where a person wasn't going to easily find it on a cursory inspection. "But it'll involve the big guy here to be as intimidating as he can. Sora you can flaunt your dagger if you need to and Commander zh'Roothi, you need to be as regal as you can be. You're going to be someone of importance and we're your retinue sent along to keep you safe."

"I don't think that would be appropriate," the XO replied. "Our faces may not be known on Karemma but our uniforms certainly are. Pretending to be anything else wouldn't be successful."

A low, warning huff rumbled deep inside Rrawran's chest as he shifted his weight to step in front of the scanner gate, turning his massive head toward Ziren. He raised a clawed hand to adjust the metallic collar around his neck, intending to state that tactical readiness was not a performance, but the device emitted a sharp, high-pitched whine followed by a harsh burst of static. The small interface on the collar flickered erratically before dying completely.

"Grrr-RAWWW-huff!"

Rrawran froze, his glowing eyes widening slightly in frustration as he tapped the silent translator. While the rest of the away team's standard combadges maintained localized translation matrices for standard languages (allowing them to continue speaking to one another normally) Rrawran's collar relied on an active, real-time sub-space processing link with the Enterprise's main computer to translate the complex, multi-tonal frequency of Rorworr vocalizations. With the orbital link severed, he was instantly cut off.

"Rrr-woof! Rrrr-GRR-huff-huff!" he tried again, pointing a thick, furred finger first at his collar, then toward the sky where the Enterprise orbited, and finally making a sharp cutting motion across his throat. Their comlink connection to the ship had failed completely.

"Rrr-rrr-woof!" Ash responded, the vocalizations somewhat incongruous with her appearance. "Rrawran's translator has been cut off from it's reliant processing aboard ship. I've developed something that is, self contained, but it wouldn't be of much, immediate, use." The Chief Engineer explained, for the others. "Personally, I think we've established what level of security this establishment maintains. Lets move on to some others and see if they employ similar counter measures." She suggested then immediately explained the same to Rrawran, in his own language including how she's developed a self contained replacement but it would be of no immediate use.

“Great complete comms blackout for us” Kiera sighed. That was worth noting though, no doubt security measures to stop anyone broadcasting anything from inside the club, question was what did they have to hide?”

Sora narrowed her eyes. "This is suspicious," she flatly stated as she reached under her skirt to retrieve her combadge. A quick tap confirmed that it could not connect to the rest of the team, let alone to the ship. "I'm not sure it's a good idea he goes into any of them, if he can't even communicate with us, let alone others. Still, I do think it might be a good call to investigate inside as well. If they block any transmissions, I do wonder what else they might have."

Rrawran turned his massive head toward Ash, his pale, glowing eyes narrowing with gratitude. He let out a low, gravelly series of chest-rumbles as he gestured with a clawed hand back toward the crowded thoroughfare. He then raised his arm, pointing a thick, furred finger toward the scanner gate and making a sharp, cutting motion across his throat to emphasize the total lack of communications. He let out a short, assertive growl and stepped firmly between the group and the club's threshold, his imposing frame forming an unyielding physical barrier. His ears flattened as he shook his head, refusing to let the team proceed into a subterranean choke point while completely blind to local telemetry.

"I agree with Rrawran. Proceeding is an unacceptable risk." Ash stated, feeling there was no need to translate given his, current, posture. "We should move on and establish whether what we've encountered is the norm or out of the ordinary, before we jump to any conclusions on whether it is suspicious or not." The Chief engineer suggested.

"You think that particular scanner may be the cause?" Ziren asked, reaching out to put her hand on the massive security officer's arm. "Easy big guy," she smiled encouragingly, "we're drawing a lot of attention straggling like this. Either some of us go in, or we all move along because right now with you blocking out way it really looks like we're having an issue."

“I suggest we all move on” Kiera added looking around. “We can always double back later on, but right now we’re just causing an issue that drawing attention.”

Ash nodded agreement and began to head back to the crowded thoroughfare.

"Let's go," Zhora took over leading the team away from the entrance and sneaked through the line that had gathered behind them offering them a meekly apologetic smile.

Away from the pounding baseline but still jostled by the hubbub of a rich nightlife Zhora lead them further down the concourse stopping outside a premise that was currently closed for refurbishment. "Any change?" she asked looking toward the towering figure of Rrawran

It seemed to Ziren that something had changed, especially with Rrawran out of communication commission. As they walked she continued to split her attention between their immediate surroundings and any changes in the huge lupine security officer. "So much for going out and having fun," she muttered under her breath.

“Does anyone have comms with the ship?” Kiera asked wondering if there was more to the comms problem than simply Rrawran’s problem.

Ash tapped her com-badge. "Randall to Enterprise." She called, silently counting off seconds on her left hand while she waited for a response.

Rrawran stood like a statue against the bustling Karemman thoroughfare, his fur bristling as he monitored the surrounding crowds. His glowing pale eyes remained locked on the elevated walkways and shadowed alcoves, continuously assessing sightlines and calculating exit vectors in the warm, stale air. His ears twitched as he caught the inflection of Kiera's question, though the specifics of her spoken words were little more than unintelligible vocalizations without his translator collar.

A low, gravelly huff escaped his snout as he raised a massive, furred hand, tapping the silent metallic collar around his neck. He then pointed a thick claw toward the sky where the Enterprise orbited and made a sharp, deliberate cutting motion across his throat. Repeating the gesture, he pointed directly at Kiera’s combadge, then Ash’s, and gave a slow, definitive shake of his head - hoping his physical pantomime clearly conveyed that all orbital comms and sub-space links were entirely dead.

Ash 'yipped' in understanding to Rrawran and looked to the others. "I think our mission just changed. If we've lost communications with Enterprise re-establishing communications becomes the priority." The Chief Engineer stated.

Kiera nodded. “What about the other teams? Would it be a good idea to try and get all our people together?”

"They could be anywhere." Ash pointed out, and looked to zh'Roothi. "It's your show, Zhora. At the moment, I am assuming that sub-space communications have been cut off, on purpose, by Enterprise for some reason. If we're to communicate with her it'll need to be through more, mundane, means." She added.

A heavy shadow detached itself from the crowd behind Group Gamma. A tall Gnalish male stepped into the dim light of the concourse, his digitigrade stance fluid and silent despite his powerful frame. His dark green, scaly skin reflected the neon glow, and his rigid cranial crest sloped back menacingly over his skull. The Lieutenant adjusted the collar of his Starfleet uniform, his reptilian eyes locked onto the team. He had been tailing them since the concourse archway, matching their pace with predatory patience.

"You won't find the Enterprise on standard bands, Commander," Edrakt rasped, his deep, guttural voice cutting through the ambient noise like grinding stone. His thick tail flicked once behind him, balancing his wide stance. "And your ship didn't initiate that blackout. We did. I'm Lieutenant Airskratch Edrakt, Chief Security Officer of the John Kelly," he introduced himself, his gaze lingering on Bernadotte's modified uniform and concealed blade with cool, dangerous assessment before turning back to zh'Roothi. "My ship dropped an active dampening envelope over your ship fifteen minutes ago. Standard tactical interdiction protocol. We're running a silent operation, and your team just walked right into our perimeter."

Kiera didn’t like the feeling she was getting off Edrakt, there was something she didn’t trust not that she could put her finger on what. Over the years she’d learned to trust her instincts. She waited to see what zh’Roothi would say.

Meanwhile, Ash vocalized a series of huffs, growls, yips and barks, translating what Edrakt said for the benefit of Rrawran, all the while keeping her eyes on Edrakt.

A low, rumbling huff escaped Rrawran’s snout, vibrating deep inside his body. His ears twitched backward, then flattened against his head as Ash’s yips and barks translated Edrakt’s gravelly declaration. His pale eyes narrowed, locking onto the Gnalish security officer with unparalleled lethality. He stepped fluidly between the Enterprise's team and the John Kelly officer, his thick tail lashing once in silent, tense calibration. He didn't reach for his concealed phaser, but his claws flexed, his massive body casting a long, imposing shadow over the neon-lit pavement as he established an immediate physical barrier.

A quiet, low-frequency growl rolled from his throat - untranslated, but universally understood as a clear warning. Sub-space dampening or not, any officer claiming to have intentionally cut off the Enterprise was an unverified, high-tier threat. Rrawran's eyes didn't leave Edrakt's scaly face, calculating the Gnalish officer's reach, center of gravity, and potential strike angles in a fraction of a second, waiting on Commander zh'Roothi's command to hold the line or stand down.

Ziren stepped up beside her fellow security officer, though this time she didn't put a calming hand on his arm. Equally, she didn't reach for her concealed phaser but studied their adversary instead. She tried to keep her expression neutral, but inwardly, she was seething. The Cardassian hybrid said nothing but like Rrawran, her stance was warning enough.

"Easy," zh'Roothi stepped between her security officers and Lieutenant Edrakt before the prickly heat and rising tension grew too much. Though her lithe frame lacked physical presence in comparison to those that towered over her, Zhora knew they would both respect her authority. Pressing a palm against Rrawran's torso she nudged him back a step in a clear unspoken signal to stand down.

Meanwhile, Kiera didn’t bother to move from where she stood as she looked towards Edrakt. “With all due respect Lieutenant, if you’re keeping us out of touch with the Enterprise, then surely you can arrange a channel to patch us through? After all we are fellow Starfleet Officers. I’m sure your Captain wouldn’t want Starfleet to think that you’ve been purposely interfering with another starship’s crew.”

"I suspect the John Kelly won't be concerned about that," zh'Rooothi eyed Edrakt suspiciously. "Especially if it enhances the probability of a successful mission." The Andorian folded her arms: "However, our presence is a fly in the ornament isn't? Added more pressure to an already high risk mission I bet. Now you've cut us off, what's your next step Lieutenant? Aside from gatecrashing our shore leave?"

Ash shook her head. "We're already lined up for a forced extraction would be my guess, Commander." The Chief Engineer mused, quietly.

"Your instincts are half-correct, Commander," Edrakt rasped, his voice like gravel grinding under a heavy boot. His dark green scales caught the harsh neon glare of the concourse as he folded his arms across his broad chest, deliberate and unhurried. "You aren't being extracted. And your shore leave isn't over - though its boundaries just got significantly tighter." He turned his cold, slitted gaze toward Chief Petty Officer Targaryen, addressing her point with blunt, tactical reality. "And no, Chief, I will not be opening a patch to your ship. Broadening localized sub-space carrier waves to pierce an active dampening field isn't just bad tradecraft—it draws every eyes-only array on Karemma directly to our position. Your Captain knows we are in-system, and he knows exactly why the channels went dark."

"The John Kelly is currently in high-level diplomatic talks with the Karemma Ministry of Commerce," Edrakt explained, taking a single, heavy step closer. "These negotiations are fragile, highly sensitive, and strictly under Captain Tazari's direct authority. Captain Tazari's orders regarding the Enterprise crew are absolute: you are to have zero contact with Karemma officials, trade representatives, or diplomatic delegates. None."

He looked directly at zh'Roothi, his cranial crest flaring slightly in stern, professional imperative. "The dampening field stays up to ensure no informal communications or accidental cross-talk derail the envoy's leverage. Captain Tazari has granted your team full latitude to enjoy the local civilian establishments, buy souvenirs, or drink at the local taverns—provided you stay clear of the administrative sector and refrain from discussing Federation or Starfleet policy, trade terms, or mission parameters with any native Karemman. If anyone does wander toward the negotiation spire or attempts to meddle in official business, my team will step in to escort you away."

Sora raised an eyebrow at the Lieutenant's explanation. While the angle of isolating Enterprise, as well as her crew, did make sense as a measure to stop them from inadvertently interfering with an operation, it was the claims of diplomacy that did not add up. Something much more secretive was going on. She stepped forward to the Lieutenant and introduced herself.

"Lieutenant Commander Bernadotte, Chief Ops, Enterprise. Lieutenant, I am certain that, if Enterprise had been given advance notice that there were diplomatic negotiations taking place, we would have postponed our visit so as to not risk interference. In addition to being unable to contact the ship, we are also not able to establish communications with either of the other two groups currently on Terra Firma," she added, putting strange emphasis on the last two words. "I trust Commodore Targaryen, as well as those other two groups, are also being informed of what you just told us? A full communications blackout immediately registers as a hostile act, and will lead to an appropriate reaction, which would derail your negotiations entirely."

Kiera was getting a feeling that there was more to it than was being said. “What else is there that you aren’t telling us Lieutenant? I get a feeling that there’s more than simple negotiations.”

"You're overthinking it. The Karemma aren't being restricted from communicating with anyone. Their local grids, planetary relays, and trade channels are operating normally. The blackout applies strictly to the Enterprise."

He turned his gaze back to Bernadotte, his raspy voice dropping into a hard, unyielding tone. "As for your advance notice, Commander: Captain Tazari personally met with Commodore Targaryen prior to dropping the dampening field. Whatever was said between them during that interaction is beyond our pay grades, but I'm sure Captain Tazari made it explicitly clear that your ship's presence risks muddying the waters. The isolation of your crew's telemetry and comms is the direct result of that meeting."

Edrakt rested his hand casually on his belt, stepping closer, "There is no grand conspiracy here; just a Commanding Officer making sure a high-stakes envoy isn't compromised by an unbriefed crew wandering the promenade. So, as I said, enjoy your shore leave, stay in the commercial sector, and leave the negotiations to the Kelly."

Sora shook her head. "Now that I somehow struggle to believe, Lieutenant. The Commodore would have informed us that communication would be down temporarily. Like I said, blocking communications is almost always a prelude to hostile action, and will lead to a defensive posture. Also, you haven't answered my other question. What about the other two groups, have they been informed of what's going on?"

While Sora and Kiera peppered Lieutenant Edrakt with further questions zh'Roothi hadn't moved even when the Gnalish officer with his heavy tail stepped casually closer narrowing the gap between them like a predator ready to strike. Directly behind she could feel Rrawran stiffen and a growl rumble from the depths of his throat and Edrakt continued to press his authority over the group and the situation.

"You must understand our reservations Lieutenant," she added. "If our positions were reversed I'm sure you'd be equally cautious and concerned."

"Hold that thought, Commander," Lieutenant Edrakt rasped as a sharp, rhythmic pulse resonated against his chest. Reaching up, he tapped his Communicator, his rigid cranial crest flaring slightly as he stepped away into the ambient shadow of an adjacent display archway, leaning his shoulder against the metallic casing to shield his mouth.

Ash watched Edrakt move away to whisper sweet nothings to whomever was on the other end of his combadge and blew a quiet raspberry his direction. "Something has gone sideways with their diplomatic mission and the Kelly's Captain panicked. Enterprise didn't just pop into existence and immediately beam down away teams. None of this was necessary even if their mission went to shit after we beamed down. Panic and desperation generally go, hand in hand, with malfeasance and skullduggery." She mused, quietly, while continuing to watch Edrakt. "I'm for being an ass-pain. Lets disable the sub-space tracking on our combadges, pair off, scatter, and force these a-holes to waste time tracking us down the hard way." The Chief Engineer suggested, with a little, predatory grin and an assertive swish of her tail.

"The Commodore would have logged our leave through the correct channels and Captain Tazari would have been aware of our arrival long before we locked into orbit," zh'Roothi nodded watching Edrakt mutter into his badge with increased suspicion. "I partly agree with you Ash, none of this is necessary even if their talks faltered. However, by following their lead and go rouge might backfire and give Tazari a reason to pin his failures on us. Let's hear what Edrakt has to say for himself first."

"Fair enough, Commander, though, I'm thinking there is a, better than even chance he'll be running off to try and stomp out a bigger fire or he'll be calling in the rest of the team that's lurking in the shadows around us to 'invite' us to accompany them to a secure location. Or, he may just come back and tell us to make ourselves scarce...tough to say without 'cheating'. Whatever the case, I do have an ace up my sleeve to play if it is, absolutely, necessary." Ash replied, quietly.

"With you Ash, nothing surprises me," the Andorian smirked slightly despite the tense situation.

Ash graced Zhora with the flash of a predatory grin. "You won't believe it..." She quipped.

A buzz from her pocket drew Sora's attention as the Lieutenant stepped away. She retrieved her PADD, and frowned for a moment, before chuckling. "Message from Ensign Nakai," she explained. "We have a way of communicating outside Federation channels, put together by her mother. I'll have to talk to the Captain about rolling it out to the whole crew. She says she wants to meet up to discuss some 'boy trouble'. Knowing her, that's code. Something is wrong." She glanced at Edrakt. "My latinum is on him and his people not informing the other teams, so they're on the brink of panicking."

“Maybe not panicking” Kiera added. “Just maybe they have an idea and need our attention.”

"Arrange a meeting," zh'Roothi instructed. "Maintain the ruse in case it's intercepted."

Sora simply nodded and sent a brief reply: Sure thing, I've got time. Where do you want to meet up?

Lieutenant Edrakt tapped his combadge to close the encrypted channel, stepping back out from the shadows of the archway with a cold, unyielding rigidity in his frame. His thick tail swept across the pavement with a sharp, heavy rustle, his reptilian eyes locking onto zh'Roothi and Bernadotte with dark, predatory focus.

"Your shore leave has just been officially terminated, Commander," Edrakt rasped, his guttural voice dropping into a stern, unyielding command that cut through the ambient concourse noise like grinding stone. "Lieutenant Kree'ak just intercepted your medical team at the Level One administrative hub as they attempted to access a Karemman terminal. Captain Tazari considers any further presence of unbriefed Enterprise personnel on this world a direct liability to our mission."

He took a heavy step forward, his broad chest rising as his cranial crest flared in strict professional imperative. "By order of Captain Tazari, all Enterprise away teams are being recalled immediately. You are to proceed directly to the primary beam-out coordinates at the concourse archway, maintain radio silence, and return to your ship. Our Transporter Chiefs are already arranging transport."

"By order of Captain Tazari?" Ziren could no longer remain silent. "We answer to Commodore Targaryen, and if he tells us to recall, then we will. Your captain has no authority over our measure time."

Zhora smirked as Ziren interjected practically voicing the Andorian's thoughts.

Sora shook her head. "Lieutenant. Look around yourself. Commander zh'Roothi, Commander Randall, and myself all outrank you, and Commodore Targaryen outranks Captain Tazari. Lieutenant Oakhem Khen is absolutely correct. Neither you nor your Captain are in any position to order us to do anything at all. You have cut off our communication to our ship, our crewmates, and our Commanding Officer, with no advance warning or communication. As per Starfleet regulations, such an event is to be treated as possible hostile action. As we have no contact with either Enterprise or Commodore Targaryen, we cannot confirm whether hostile action has taken place."

She took a step towards the Lieutenant. "So, here's what's going to happen. We are going to stay right here until we hear from our commanding officer, Commodore Wilkan Targaryen, and receive confirmation of this order from him. You have not given us any proof whatsoever that you are acting under the authority of Captain Tazari, nor have we been provided any evidence establishing the Captain's authority over Enterprise and her crew. Is that understood, Lieutenant?"

Her emphasis on the final word was heavy, almost threatening. Something shady was going on, and the sudden "order" to return to the ship had reinforced that conviction even further.

The Chief engineer repositioned herself so she was NOT between Rrawran and Edrakt while Sora explained, far more politely than she would have, why Edrakt was full of crap and began a more, assertive and obvious, visual scan of the area for the backup the security chief from the Kelly most certainly had lurking near by.

Lieutenant Edrakt’s dark green scales seemed to harden under the harsh neon glow of the concourse as Sora finished speaking. His thick tail lashed once against the polished pavement; a single, heavy thud that betrayed the sudden, dangerous spike in his tension. His slitted reptilian eyes swept over the group, lingering on zh'Roothi's steady smirk, Ziren's cold posture, and Rrawran's towering frame, which still stood ready to execute a strike the moment his commander gave the word.

"Rank and chain of command are convenient abstractions, Commander," Edrakt rasped, his voice dropping an octave into a low, gravelly grinding sound. He didn't step back. If anything, he settled deeper into his wide, digitigrade stance, lowering his center of gravity just enough for a combat-trained eye to recognize the shift. "In an active containment envelope, operational jurisdiction belongs to the asset on the ground. Captain Tazari is the senior officer of the lead mission vessel in this sector. Under Joint Operational Directive 12, local tactical interdiction falls entirely under his discretion."

He looked directly at Sora, his rigid cranial crest flaring wide in a clear, aggressive display of authority. "You want proof? You want a direct confirmation from Commodore Targaryen? You won't get one through a dampening field... and I am not opening a channel to give you one. You are asking for an administrative courtesy that does not exist while my ship is actively securing a high-stakes diplomatic mandate."

Edrakt raised his left arm, tapping a quick sequence into a wrist-mounted tactical display attached to his sleeve. Across the concourse, the ambient hum of the civilian crowd was suddenly punctuated by the synchronized, heavy footfalls of four additional John Kelly security officers stepping out from behind the mirrored pillars of the upper promenade. Two took up positions on the high gallery overlooking the concourse, while the other two fanned out behind Edrakt, their hands resting loosely over their holstered sidearms.

"My team is not asking for your permission to enforce a recall," Edrakt said, turning his gaze back to zh'Roothi. "Lieutenant Kree'ak has already contained Group Beta at the administrative hub, and my detail has isolated Group Alpha in Sector 4. The Enterprise away teams are being gathered. You can walk to the concourse archway voluntarily under your own steam, or my detail will escort you there under physical restraint for breaching a diplomatic boundary. Either way, Commander, your shore leave is over."

"And without confirmation, you can claim any nonsense you like," Ziren answered firmly, "and you have no authority." She looked towards her own XO, who she considered to be the authority in the absence of the commanding officer. She only had to give the word and she was certain that between herself, Rrawran and Commander Bernadotte, they could take this derelict down.

Kiera looked towards Zhora. “Commander might I suggest we don’t escalate this situation any further? We can take the matter up with the Commodore once we’re back aboard ship.” She was supposed to be the voice of calm keeping her team out of trouble, she just hoped her attempt at de-escalating the situation would work.

"That is, provided they send us back to our own ship, and don't transport us directly into their brig," Sora added, keeping her eyes fixed on the Lieutenant. "Like Lieutenant Oakham Khen said. If you truly relaying orders from your Captain, who has any sort of authority to back that up, provide evidence."

A low, subterranean rumble vibrated deep within Rrawran’s massive chest, rolling outward like distant thunder. He didn't reach for his phaser because he didn't need to. Every muscle beneath his thick, dark fur coiled into a state of kinetic readiness, a threat plain enough for any predator in the sector to read. His attention shifted with icy, calculated precision: first assessing Edrakt’s widened digitigrade stance, then flicking upward to the two John Kelly guards on the gallery balcony, measuring cover, line of sight, and falling angles. If a firefight broke out in this crowded concourse, civilian bystanders would be caught in the crossfire within seconds, an unacceptable tactical variable.

Slowly, deliberately, Rrawran stepped sideways, positioning his towering frame squarely between the upper gallery snipers and the rest of the team. He didn't break eye contact with Edrakt. Instead, he lifted one massive, clawed hand, extended a single thick finger toward the four converging security officers, and then tapped his own wrist-comm with a sharp, echoing click.

He didn't need translation for the gesture to land: We see your backup. They are already targeted.

Edrakt’s slitted eyes narrowed, his cranial crest flaring tight against his skull as he felt the immediate, physical pressure of the Wookiee’s presence.

"You're making a severe error in judgment," Edrakt rasped, though he subtly shifted his weight half an inch backward, recognizing that at this range, Rrawran could close the distance before a phaser could even clear a holster. "This isn't a tavern brawl. You are actively obstructing a Starfleet mission, authorized by Admiral Loatha Targaryen and Captain Tazari."

Rrawran let out a short, contemptuous huff through his snout - a clear, untranslated dismissal of Edrakt’s bluster - and glanced down at zh'Roothi, waiting for her directive. He wouldn't draw first blood, but the moment Edrakt's guards reached for their holsters or made a physical move, he was fully prepared to turn the concourse architecture against them.

Sora held up her hand to indicate to Rrawran to stand down. "Lieutenant Edrakt," she said, before any of the other officers could reply. "You are the one making an error here. You are the one pushing the situation towards escalation. You constantly speak of authorisation, yet you have not provided any evidence thereof. Resolving this situation would be incredibly simple for you. Just provide evidence of that authority you claim to have. A simple call to your Commanding Officer on your combadge where he confirms to us that what you are saying is true, or a written copy of your orders on a PADD. That's all we need." She shook her head. "Yet, despite the fact that we have repeatedly informed you that we do not have evidence of your identity or your authorisation, you have provided none. If I stood here, blocked all your communcations to your ship and your CO and told you that, actually, I am an officer of Starfleet Intelligence, and my colleagues and I are conducting an intelligence gathering mission that you are actively disrupting, would you believe me, without any indication of proof? Of course you would not. So why should we believe you?"

"You talk like a lawyer on a Starbase, Commander," Edrakt rasped, his voice dropping into a low, dangerous rumble that barely carried above the ambient hum of the concourse. His slitted eyes flicked from Sora to Rrawran, whose towering frame still cast a long, imposing shadow over the polished pavement. "In a tactical envelope, I don't need to present a signed PADD to enforce a perimeter, I have the force on the ground."

He took a half-step back, signaling his two security officers on the concourse floor to widen their spread, while his dark eyes remained locked on Rrawran. "And drawing hypothetical scenarios about Starfleet Intelligence doesn't change the operational reality," Edrakt continued, resting his hand firmly over the grip of his holstered sidearm. "You want proof? The proof is that my ship is holding the dampening grid, and your ship isn't answering. If you think Captain Tazari is going to step down to issue a written invitation to an Ops officer while securing a sector-defining treaty, you severely underestimate the stakes here."

Edrakt’s tail swept across the floor in a sharp, heavy thud. "I am not opening a channel, and I am not debating Starfleet bureaucracy on a civilian promenade. Your team has two minutes to proceed to the concourse archway under your own power. If you refuse, my detail will lock localized transporters directly onto your combadge signatures and pull you directly to the John Kelly's holding facility for obstruction of an active mission. Choice is yours, Commander: walk to the beam-out point and we return you to your ship, or you take the trip in wrist-restraints to our Brig."

With Rrawran's hulking frame towering over, coiled in deadly readiness to meet Edrakt’s emerging team zh'Roothi, still standing defiant against the Security Chief's advances and threats remained stonily silent.

“One moment Lieutenant” Kiera stepped up. “You did say this mission of yours was authorised by Admiral Loatha Targaryen? My name is Kiera Targaryen, Loatha is my aunt. Now I don’t think she’ll be too happy if anything happens to me, or my companions for that matter. I think you may want to check with the Admiral as to what the best course of action at this particular time might be.”

In a swift move, Ziren stepped forward, yanked Kiera's combadge from her clothes and in the same threw her own to the ground, stomping both with the heel of her foot. In a second move, she drew the 'young' woman behind her, now that she'd made herself a probable bargaining chip.

Just as Ziren grabbed Kiera, Sora reached under her skirt and drew her dagger. Rather than point it towards Lieutenant Edrakt, however, she turned towards the Bajoran. "Bad idea. Lieutenant Oakham Khen Ziren," she spoke, quietly but with a clear warning in her voice. "Release Chief Petty Officer Targaryen at once. I do not know what you intend to achieve by assaulting a fellow officer of your own crew. Whatever went through your mind, I can tell you right now, you just succeeded in making things worse. Especially for yourself, given that you just assaulted a fellow crewmate right in front of two department heads and the executive officer." She tilted her head towards Zhora. "Commander zh'Roothi, your orders?"

The tension in the sky was already taught and threatened to spark into wildfire in an instant resulting in officer on officer violence. The propisision of that coming to pass with the John Kelly's crew had been growing closer to reality as Rrawran adopting an agressive pose, however zh'Rooth hadn't considering the prospect of in fighting amongst her own team.

"Put it away Sora," the Andorian turned reluctantly from Edrakt piercing gaze and looked over Kiera noting the Petty Officer wasn't injured. "We can clear this up later."

Kiera nodded, not that she planned on pressing any charges against Ziren. She understood the motives behind Ziren’s actions if things had gone awry she had placed herself in harms way. As zh’Roothi had said it would all be sorted out later.

Rather than returning the dagger to its sheath, which was still strapped to her upper leg, she simply tucked it into her belt. "We absolutely will," she flatly stated, directed both at Zhora and at Ziren.

The Cardassian hybrid glared back but said nothing. Instead she remained positioned between Kiera and Edrakt, her body tense as if she was expecting trouble.

Ash sighed as she moved closer to Zhora, with a glance to Sora and the offer of a little, questioning shrug, not entirely sure what her gambit was. "My 'Ace' isn't able to deliver the intel I've asked for, at the moment, Commander. There is something, entirely, sideways going on down here as nothing that has transpired, so far, makes sense unless the John Kelly has bungled their mission and is, going the extra mile, to try and make it right again." She stated, with a look the direction of the John Kelly security chief. "We can't have an encounter here..." She added and now looked directly at Edrakt as she said the rest, "...it would go VERY badly and allow, whatever has been bungled, to be blamed on us." The Chief Engineer stated and looked back to Zhora. "Your call. First impressions being what they are, a mele between Star Fleet personnel would be a bad look but, personally, I really don't like being bullied. Enough, I've had to re-attain the rank of commander 3 times. Just, say the word."

"Neither do I," Zhora replied with a low tone. "However we're above such childish behaviour," she glanced towards Sora, Ziren and Edrakt briefly before turning back to Ash. "I won't let the Kelly pin their own failures on us, nor tolerate causing a scene here by tackling them in the street. As much as it pains me to say it: pull back to the extraction site and play nice. Otherwise I'd let you endure Targaryen's wrath."

"Been there...done that." Ash replied, quietly. "We'll take a walk." She added.

Kiera nodded as Zhora gave her orders to drop back was a good option in the face of provocation.

As Commander zh'Roothi finally asserted control and ordered her group to pull back to the extraction site, Edrakt’s thick tail gave a single, firm slap against the polished pavement. He gestured with two fingers, signaling his upper-gallery snipers to maintain high-angle tracking, while his two floor operatives adjusted their posture into a loose, escorting formation behind the Enterprise group.

"A prudent decision, Commander," Edrakt rasped without a nod or a polite gesture. His cranial crest relaxed slightly, though his digitigrade stance remained primed and ready. "The archway beam-out pad is two hundred meters down the main promenade. You will maintain radio silence and proceed directly to the designated coordinates." He stepped aside just enough to clear a path through the archway, his dark eyes lingering for a long, heavy moment on Rrawran before turning back to zh'Roothi.

"Our Transporter Chiefs are locked onto your remaining signals, minus the crushed badges," Edrakt added with a faint flare of his nostrils toward Ziren. "Once you are back aboard the Enterprise, Captain Tazari will handle the administrative debriefing directly with your commander. Move out."

Staying close to Kiera, Ziren glared back at Edrakt, clearly displeased with the outcome.

Sora shook her head and sighed in exasperation. "You know, Lieutenant, you really are not a pleasant person to deal with, in any way. We agreed to withdraw, yet you continue to exude pure arrogance." She gave a hollow chuckle. "I've encountered officers like you before. Suffice to say that none of their careers were particularly successful. Or long." She glanced at the other operatives. "Add to that the fact that you continue treating us as if we were hostile agents, rather than representatives of the same organization. I, for one, am looking forward to hearing what Commodore Targaryen has to say about this farce."

"Sora," Zhora called in warning. "Let's go. You too Rrawran."

The Chief Engineer of Enterprise moved along, with the others, not satisfied or dis-satisfied, with how things turned out. There was something, seriously, wrong, Ash knew it. She also sensed that it was better not knowing, exactly, what it was.

Lieutenant Edrakt’s jaw tightened, his slitted eyes tracking the sharp, disjointed interaction among the Enterprise officers. Whatever leverage he had hoped to maintain by isolating them, the tight window for forcing a quiet, back-alley interdiction on a busy civilian promenade had completely slipped through his fingers.

His wrist-display chirped in a brief, rhythmic pulse—a private, encrypted status ping from his team on the promenade gallery—confirming what he already knew. The room for escalation was gone, and forcing the issue here would only guarantee the public spectacle his captain had sent him to prevent.

Commander zh'Roothi didn't say another word. She simply offered Edrakt a cold, razor-thin smile, turned on her heel, and led her team down the main promenade toward the extraction archway. Sora, Ash, Ziren, Kiera, and Rrawran fell into step behind her, maintaining a sharp, professional stride.

Edrakt stood motionless in the shadow of the display archway, his heavy tail giving a single, rigid flick against the polished marble as he watched them walk away. He tapped his wrist display once, signaling his officers on the upper gallery to stand down, and quietly watched the Enterprise away team disappear into the crowded concourse.

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