Beg, Steal or Borrow – Complications
by Commander Isha t'Vaurek
Post Details
A wall panel stood propped at an angle against the desk, a twist of ODN cables spilling out from the gap it left, tangling across the floor and up to the portable computer interface that stood active on Isha’s desk.
As the row of tiny blue lights blinked on one by one Isha released the device and pushed to her feet sucking her forefinger where the nail had twisted and torn; she tasted blood. Her bypass was active, and if she could get one of the ships to respond to her transmission she could speak to them without either the station or the consulate being aware.
Waiting, Isha rested her elbows on the surface of the desk and ran her fingers into her hair, holding them there as though her head might fall off if she released it; she did not have much time.
Isha glanced at the bypass, five lights blinked back at her from the darkness; once it was down to one she needed to reconnect the relay before the it faded and they realised their systems had been compromised. Then people would start asking questions that she had neither the time nor the inclination to answer.
A minute, maybe two crept by.
“Come on,” Isha muttered, impatient at the delay and chagrined at the fact that she was the one having to make contact with them.
The first light brightened then faded, leaving four.
“Have you a visual?” a voice asked. Isha dropped her hands to the desk and extended a finger allowing visual communication.
Drawing in a breath she straightened, “You are not Riov H'daen tr’Rehu,” Isha stated as her screen flickered to show the head and shoulders of a man.
“And you are not Ambassador T’Maec Liun,” he replied evenly. “Thus far we are equal.”
“There has been a change of responsibility at the Consulate, Enarrain,” Isha replied. “Am I to conclude that being unaware of this situation you have mistakenly communicated your purpose to Liun?” she asked.
“You may conclude that if you wish,” the Enarrain replied. “What do you expect to achieve by this exchange?”
“Tell me what you whispered to tr’Rehu when he communicated with the station, Nraehhi'Saehne?” Isha said; there was little point in pretending that she didn’t know what he was. She wondered how long he would continue to pretend that he was unaware of her identity.
“Before you start making demands,” he said, “You can tell me how an Ambassador has access to the code that you hailed me with.”
The second light flared and faded. Three left.
Tal’Shiar imirrhlhhse’enh, Isha thought, “I hailed tr’Rehu,” she responded without a hint of a smile.
The man chuckled, “True, true, but it’s me you wanted to speak with, isn’t it?”
“That depends on whether or not you plan to continue wasting my time.”
“Are you expecting visitors, Ambassador?” he asked with studied nonchalance, “I thought we might have a leisurely discussion. I assume this channel is secure.”
“For a short while,” Isha admitted. She knew what he expected from an ambassador, it was there in the contemptuous way he spat the word from his lips; she could play that well enough, after all, self-preservation was an instinct that caused people to abuse all levels of authority. Let him think he knew her motivation. “I need to know what is going on. If there is any threat to the station I need to arrange my departure,” she said breathily.
“That didn’t hurt, did it?” he replied, a smug smile spreading its way across his face. “I think I’d like to speak with you again, if only to get an answer to my question,” he said, “so my advice to you is to leave well within the next thirty six hours, return to ch’Rihan and don’t look back.”
Isha nodded, “Why here?” she asked.
“Why we’re clearing the way for the road to the stars,” he replied. He was still chuckling as he cut the connection.
Isha sat back in her chair, he hadn’t said much, he hadn’t even given her his name but she was certain that he didn’t believe a word of that nonsense.
Why would he give her a warning? Because it never did harm to pick up a friend who owed one a favour. A light on her panel blinked; an encrypted transmission sent from the missionary ship at the same time the Nraehhi'Saehne had cut the link.
Her eyes widened in disbelief as she read the transcription; to think, Tahir had come to her for help, Isha thought, now she didn’t know whose side she was supposed to be on. It was enough to make her forget the bypass, almost.
Her head spinning, Isha sprang to her feet and removed the device at exactly the same moment the last light blinked out.
“So I’m to be the messenger,” she muttered out loud; what in the name of the elements were her federation hosts going to say when she marched in passed on the accusation of theft and the threat of retribution.
OFF:
Ambassador Isha t’Khellian
by Commander Isha t'Vaurek
Post Details
| Title | Complications | |
| Mission | Beg, Steal or Borrow | |
| Author(s) | Commander Isha t'Vaurek | |
| Posted | Sat Jan 31, 2009 @ 11:22pm | |
| Location | Isha's Quarters | |
| Timeline | SD7. 14:00-ish |
As the row of tiny blue lights blinked on one by one Isha released the device and pushed to her feet sucking her forefinger where the nail had twisted and torn; she tasted blood. Her bypass was active, and if she could get one of the ships to respond to her transmission she could speak to them without either the station or the consulate being aware.
Waiting, Isha rested her elbows on the surface of the desk and ran her fingers into her hair, holding them there as though her head might fall off if she released it; she did not have much time.
Isha glanced at the bypass, five lights blinked back at her from the darkness; once it was down to one she needed to reconnect the relay before the it faded and they realised their systems had been compromised. Then people would start asking questions that she had neither the time nor the inclination to answer.
A minute, maybe two crept by.
“Come on,” Isha muttered, impatient at the delay and chagrined at the fact that she was the one having to make contact with them.
The first light brightened then faded, leaving four.
“Have you a visual?” a voice asked. Isha dropped her hands to the desk and extended a finger allowing visual communication.
Drawing in a breath she straightened, “You are not Riov H'daen tr’Rehu,” Isha stated as her screen flickered to show the head and shoulders of a man.
“And you are not Ambassador T’Maec Liun,” he replied evenly. “Thus far we are equal.”
“There has been a change of responsibility at the Consulate, Enarrain,” Isha replied. “Am I to conclude that being unaware of this situation you have mistakenly communicated your purpose to Liun?” she asked.
“You may conclude that if you wish,” the Enarrain replied. “What do you expect to achieve by this exchange?”
“Tell me what you whispered to tr’Rehu when he communicated with the station, Nraehhi'Saehne?” Isha said; there was little point in pretending that she didn’t know what he was. She wondered how long he would continue to pretend that he was unaware of her identity.
“Before you start making demands,” he said, “You can tell me how an Ambassador has access to the code that you hailed me with.”
The second light flared and faded. Three left.
Tal’Shiar imirrhlhhse’enh, Isha thought, “I hailed tr’Rehu,” she responded without a hint of a smile.
The man chuckled, “True, true, but it’s me you wanted to speak with, isn’t it?”
“That depends on whether or not you plan to continue wasting my time.”
“Are you expecting visitors, Ambassador?” he asked with studied nonchalance, “I thought we might have a leisurely discussion. I assume this channel is secure.”
“For a short while,” Isha admitted. She knew what he expected from an ambassador, it was there in the contemptuous way he spat the word from his lips; she could play that well enough, after all, self-preservation was an instinct that caused people to abuse all levels of authority. Let him think he knew her motivation. “I need to know what is going on. If there is any threat to the station I need to arrange my departure,” she said breathily.
“That didn’t hurt, did it?” he replied, a smug smile spreading its way across his face. “I think I’d like to speak with you again, if only to get an answer to my question,” he said, “so my advice to you is to leave well within the next thirty six hours, return to ch’Rihan and don’t look back.”
Isha nodded, “Why here?” she asked.
“Why we’re clearing the way for the road to the stars,” he replied. He was still chuckling as he cut the connection.
Isha sat back in her chair, he hadn’t said much, he hadn’t even given her his name but she was certain that he didn’t believe a word of that nonsense.
Why would he give her a warning? Because it never did harm to pick up a friend who owed one a favour. A light on her panel blinked; an encrypted transmission sent from the missionary ship at the same time the Nraehhi'Saehne had cut the link.
Her eyes widened in disbelief as she read the transcription; to think, Tahir had come to her for help, Isha thought, now she didn’t know whose side she was supposed to be on. It was enough to make her forget the bypass, almost.
Her head spinning, Isha sprang to her feet and removed the device at exactly the same moment the last light blinked out.
“So I’m to be the messenger,” she muttered out loud; what in the name of the elements were her federation hosts going to say when she marched in passed on the accusation of theft and the threat of retribution.
OFF:
Ambassador Isha t’Khellian