Interlude – Escorts
by (G) Arrain - Lieutenant Arrienye t'Merek & Commander Isha t'Vaurek
Post Details
::ON::
Leaning against the reception desk, Arrienye read through the day's appointment logs for the Ambassador. There weren't many and that was just the way the Chief of Security liked it. Not because she disliked the Ambassador making contact with others, but because, despite the now mandatory screenings, she didn't trust any of them. With the Ambassador's gap in her schedule, Arrienye took the opportunity to finally assign a Security escort for her.
As if reading her mind, the two assigned men came from around the corner, probably from the Messhall. They were talking quietly amongst themselves but stopped once they reached Arrienye.
"Arrain," Maiell saluted his superior, watching Saren do the same. Arrienye returned their salutes with a nod. "Ready?" she asked unnecessarily. They nodded and Arrienye proceeded to walk to the Ambassador's office. She pressed the chime. Despite the tightened security measures placed around the woman, Arrienye didn't feel right simply taking the liberty to barge in and out of her presence as she wanted.
Isha knew that unauthorised entry was impossible, that a current ran constantly through the bulkhead and maintenance shaft that separated her office from an external corridor, and a field was in place to disrupt transport in or out of her offices or private apartment but she felt her shoulders tense at the noise.
Calm, Isha told herself. t'Merek had not let her down, she had accompanied each and every visitor to her office and waited patiently and impassively whilst Isha conducted her business. She was tense, perhaps because she had no scheduled appointment she reasoned as she lowered the padd that contained information pertaining to the Gabriel situation. "Enter," she said.
The two male officers waited for t'Merek to enter before following.
"Ambassador," Arrienye began, "I have picked these two officers to be your personal guards. Ullhan Saren, who will be my replacement in my off duty hours." Arrienye motioned to the tall, strongly built man on her right. He was about a head taller than t'Merek and his green-coloured uniform identified him as an officer of the Gai'Shian. Saren couldn't hide the slight look of surprise at Arrienye's words. Her replacement? He exchanged a glance with Maiell, who also didn't know his cousin had that much belief in Saren's abilities. Before they could think it over any further, she motioned to her cousin. "And this is erie'Arrain tr'Tahn. I would entrust them both with my own life, Ambassador," she explained.
Isha did not know what t'Merek had told them about the new measures but she was quite aware that many people thought her habit of going around the station alone misguided. She decided that whatever they had been told that she would let them think that her new Head of Security had persuaded her that it was not prudent for her to go out alone.
"And can I trust them with mine?" Isha asked her gaze flickering over the two men. They were both young, fit, and Isha could not help noticing from slight physical resemblances that t'Merek was related to one of them; this she did not comment on.
"I do. If you wish you may, of course, conduct your own evaluation of them," Arrienye offered. She wasn't insulted by the Ambassador's question. On the contrary, she actually found it encouraging to think the woman wasn't as trusting as she had assumed she was.
Isha raised a slim finger, the nail freshly manicured and painted in a deep shade somewhere between and green and black not unlike the fabric of the stiff and formal gown she wore. "You," she said pointing briefly at the larger man, the one that clearly was not related to t'Merek. "Tell me why you want this assignment?" she asked as she returned her hand to her lap and focussed on his response.
"It's not a question of wanting, Ambassador," Saren said. "It is a matter of duty. My squad and I were brought here with the specific duty to protect you, and that's exactly what I intend to do," he explained. "And besides, you are an Ambassador on this station. You represent the Empire. What sort of man would I be if I allowed you to be seen as unprotected?"
Arrienye stood to the side, silently watching.
"I'm sure that you are used to following orders, Uhlan, but in this place I am the Empire," she said paraphrasing something that had recently been said to her, "How will you fare if there are no orders to follow and there is only your initiative between me and an enemy?" she asked. Initiative was not encouraged among the ranks, but Isha assumed that t'Merek did not propose to prop her up between a pair of wooden bookends.
"Then I suppose I will have to use my initiative," he just said with a smirk and Arrienye rolled her eyes. She couldn't help it. For someone who was supposed to a scientist, he sure wasn't very imaginative in his answers. He definitely didn't exhibit a soldier's aura and the Chief of Security hoped it wouldn't give the wrong impression to the Ambassador.
Isha rolled her chair back slightly and rose. As she did so she reached for a slender cane that had been hooked over the back of her chair. Despite the previous day's surgery the joint was not quite stable and she chose not to trust it to bear her weight. Isha walked around her desk, the click of that cane punctuating the swish of heavy fabric.
"I suppose you will," she said passing the smaller man and stopping in front of the one she had addressed. "So use it now and convince me why I should not have you reassigned to less sensitive post," she demanded trying to force some of her lost fire behind her words and gaze.
Saren broke eye contact with the Ambassador to make it with Arrienye. She looked back at him in anticipation. He turned back to t'Khellian. "Ambassador, I was asked to come here by t'Merek," he began. "She has put all of her trust in me and to fail you in this assignment would be failing her. And I would rather die than fail my superior," he said, a moment of hesitation between the two last words as Saren caught himself after a glance from the Arrain in the corner.
A younger part of Isha was amused by his response. She had heard something similar from one of the bodyguards her husband had appointed back when she and Rh'vaurek had been enemies.
Did t'Merek realise what Saren thought of her? Isha thought not.
"And who do you most fear failing?" Isha enquired gently.
After a moment's thought, he replied with "You, Ambassador," leaving the answer very open to interpretation.
With the slightest semblance of a smirk Isha observed this honest man who had inadvertently found himself to be a tool that she could use to aid her own reconstruction. "Who will you leave behind if you die in my service?" she asked - this question was not unfair as she had asked it of every man and woman who had served as a bodyguard to her.
"A few scattered friends," he replied honestly, unable to help a small glance in Arrienye's way. One she didn't return, as always. His words were true, after all. Both his parents were dead, he didn't really have any relatives he was close to; and he was unwed with no children to orphan with his death.
Isha bowed her head very slightly acknowledging both that she believed he told the truth and her acceptance. "And you," she continued moving on to the other one, "Do I have to trust to your initiative too?" Isha inquired as she moved, click and swish to tr'Tahn.
"My initiative and training, Ambassador," Maiell nodded and Saren gave him a look. It was no secret that the Gai'Shian was thought of as a much lower faction, from both the military and social perspective, but Maiell always had a way of pointing his opinion out on the subject. Whether it was intentional or not was disputable.
Isha's fingers tightened around the handle of her cane as she kept the sensation that darted down her leg beneath her mask. Usually, such interviews ended in Isha making an excuse or finding a reason why someone or other was not suitable, but now ... well now she could not afford such an indulgence. She was asking the questions her husband had asked. "Would you care to Specify? Give me an example perhaps?"
"I have been specifically trained in personal protection of important figures and have served as a bodyguard before to Ambassador t'Aieme and Senator tr'Leinarrh before I was brought here. In fact, I was brought here to be part of your personal guard, but at the time, you found it unnecessary," tr'Tahn explained.
Was there admonishment in that statement? Isha wondered as she stared at him, and if so, why? Her own eyes flickered toward t'Merek and back again. "Now I find it necessary," she said sweeping back behind her desk, "Do you have any remarks about that?" Isha asked leaning the cane against her knee as she sat.
"No, ma'am," he shook his head, resting her hands behind his back. Arrienye shot him a look that said they'd be having a talk after their first shift.
"You're dismissed," Isha said to them, "t'Merek, remain."
Arrienye nodded to the two men as they saluted them before exiting. t'Merek let out a sigh, wondering what the hell Maiell was on. She turned to the Ambassador once they were alone.
"Would you care to explain this to me?" Isha asked. "I am a level removed from those in my service, but you, I think now have enough knowledge of me to speak freely. Sit," she suggested as an afterthought.
Arrienye sat down, crossing her legs. "tr'Tahn's mouth is two seconds faster than his brain. Fortunately, he's extremely good at his job and is a devoted officer. He can be trusted. I will be having a talk with him later," she assured the Ambassador.
"So is mine," Isha remarked tracing her fingers over her newly repaired cheek, not that holding her tongue would have made much difference. "I detected a note of judgment in his remark, t'Merek, I really cannot have an officer in my bodyguard who disapproves of me," she said.
"He does not disapprove of you, Ambassador. He does not know of the incident, so he is simply exhibiting some frustration over my new position for him. So, he disapproves of me, if anyone," Arrienye explains. "But like I said, this will not present a problem. You have my word. I will straighten him out," she vowed.
"It pre-dated that, I think," Isha said. "He resents me not having used the escort that has been available to me, of which by his own word he ought to have been part of. I do not blame him for holding the opinion, but he has no place to express it in my presence," she said.
"No, he doesn't," Arrienye agreed, frustrated with her cousin for putting her into this position. "Again, I give you my word that this will not happen again but I insist that he is the best man for the job," she assured her. Much as she disliked admitting it, Maiell was more qualified to lead a bodyguard team than her. What his problem was at the moment was beyond her, but she suspected it had something to do with the reason he was so eager to get away from ch'Rihan in the first place.
"Why?" Isha asked tMerek, her eyes cold and distrustful. "Do you believe that your relative's career is more important than my wellbeing? There are enough similarities for a competent observer to make the connection," Isha said without explicitly categorizing herself, "t'Merek, I have been both arrogant and neglectful in the past putting at risk the dignity of my office. If I have to be surrounded by muscle and metal when I leave these walls I will be, but I cannot risk that one of my own guard will cut my throat."
Arrienye looked at her, taken aback by the accusation. "Ambassador, I find it highly insulting that you believe I would put my family before my duties as an officer. And my duty is to give you the best protection I can. And tr'Tahn is a very able, and experienced officer who is just as capable to put his feelings aside to do his job to the best of his abilities. And I would never defend him simply because of our connection as cousins. I'm defending him as an officer under my command," Arrienye told her firmly.
"I agree that his conduct earlier was out of line and I *will* make sure it doesn't happen again, but I find your accusations of tr'Tahn cutting your throat to be completely misplaced and unnecessary," t'Merek told her, deciding she wasn't going to sit around to go play along with the Ambassador's new-found paranoia.
Isha continued to stare at t'Merek. She was losing control of herself, of her own judgment. If she continued like this Isha realized that fairly soon she would alienate everyone who might be of use to her, lose the goodwill that most of her staff felt toward her, and then the bastard really would have won.
Lowering her gaze to stare at the hands folded neatly in her lap Isha did something that did not come naturally to her. "I spoke in error," she said. There was no requirement for her to apologize to a subordinate but Isha felt a little humility was in order. "I have no call to question your integrity or your sense of duty nor the competence and devotion of your officer."
Arrienye watched her a moment. She knew the woman definitely had a lot to be paranoid about, considering all she'd been through. But the fact that Arrienye found herself frustrated with her hands tied over the matter as the Ambassador wished to handle it through 'official channels' was not making the situation any easier for either of them. But still, her duty was to try to appeal to t'Khellian's common sense.
"No, you don't," Arrienye agreed. "But, you were right to question tr'Tahn as my first choice," she admitted, still a bit worried for her cousin. She didn't expect Saren to prove himself more capable in this situation than Maiell.
"Your selection is acceptable to me, and I have no doubt that I will have need of them," Isha said with a sigh. She supposed that t'Merek was making investigations on her own time and would sooner or later find the answer. Despite what she had claimed Isha was searching for a solution, any solution that did not involve making an official complaint and thus widening the circle who knew, or putting any of her people in danger. She would find an answer, she just did not know when or how. "We will see how this pair measure up."
"Hopefully they won't have many tests," Arrienye admitted. "Is that all, Ambassador?" she asked, wanting to drag Maiell into her office as quickly as possible.
Isha nodded, agreeing on both counts. "Thank you, t'Merek," she said.
Arrienye just nodded, "Good day, ma'am," she said before leaving.
::OFF::
Ambassador Isha t'Khellian
&
Arrain Arrienye t'Merek
with
erie'Arrain Maiell tr'Tahn
Uhlan Saren (boht NPC-ed by t'Merek)
by (G) Arrain - Lieutenant Arrienye t'Merek & Commander Isha t'Vaurek
Post Details
| Title | Escorts | |
| Mission | Interlude | |
| Author(s) | (G) Arrain - Lieutenant Arrienye t'Merek & Commander Isha t'Vaurek | |
| Posted | Sun Jun 06, 2010 @ 11:45pm | |
| Location | Romulan Consulate | |
| Timeline | Later in the same day as Fracture |
Leaning against the reception desk, Arrienye read through the day's appointment logs for the Ambassador. There weren't many and that was just the way the Chief of Security liked it. Not because she disliked the Ambassador making contact with others, but because, despite the now mandatory screenings, she didn't trust any of them. With the Ambassador's gap in her schedule, Arrienye took the opportunity to finally assign a Security escort for her.
As if reading her mind, the two assigned men came from around the corner, probably from the Messhall. They were talking quietly amongst themselves but stopped once they reached Arrienye.
"Arrain," Maiell saluted his superior, watching Saren do the same. Arrienye returned their salutes with a nod. "Ready?" she asked unnecessarily. They nodded and Arrienye proceeded to walk to the Ambassador's office. She pressed the chime. Despite the tightened security measures placed around the woman, Arrienye didn't feel right simply taking the liberty to barge in and out of her presence as she wanted.
Isha knew that unauthorised entry was impossible, that a current ran constantly through the bulkhead and maintenance shaft that separated her office from an external corridor, and a field was in place to disrupt transport in or out of her offices or private apartment but she felt her shoulders tense at the noise.
Calm, Isha told herself. t'Merek had not let her down, she had accompanied each and every visitor to her office and waited patiently and impassively whilst Isha conducted her business. She was tense, perhaps because she had no scheduled appointment she reasoned as she lowered the padd that contained information pertaining to the Gabriel situation. "Enter," she said.
The two male officers waited for t'Merek to enter before following.
"Ambassador," Arrienye began, "I have picked these two officers to be your personal guards. Ullhan Saren, who will be my replacement in my off duty hours." Arrienye motioned to the tall, strongly built man on her right. He was about a head taller than t'Merek and his green-coloured uniform identified him as an officer of the Gai'Shian. Saren couldn't hide the slight look of surprise at Arrienye's words. Her replacement? He exchanged a glance with Maiell, who also didn't know his cousin had that much belief in Saren's abilities. Before they could think it over any further, she motioned to her cousin. "And this is erie'Arrain tr'Tahn. I would entrust them both with my own life, Ambassador," she explained.
Isha did not know what t'Merek had told them about the new measures but she was quite aware that many people thought her habit of going around the station alone misguided. She decided that whatever they had been told that she would let them think that her new Head of Security had persuaded her that it was not prudent for her to go out alone.
"And can I trust them with mine?" Isha asked her gaze flickering over the two men. They were both young, fit, and Isha could not help noticing from slight physical resemblances that t'Merek was related to one of them; this she did not comment on.
"I do. If you wish you may, of course, conduct your own evaluation of them," Arrienye offered. She wasn't insulted by the Ambassador's question. On the contrary, she actually found it encouraging to think the woman wasn't as trusting as she had assumed she was.
Isha raised a slim finger, the nail freshly manicured and painted in a deep shade somewhere between and green and black not unlike the fabric of the stiff and formal gown she wore. "You," she said pointing briefly at the larger man, the one that clearly was not related to t'Merek. "Tell me why you want this assignment?" she asked as she returned her hand to her lap and focussed on his response.
"It's not a question of wanting, Ambassador," Saren said. "It is a matter of duty. My squad and I were brought here with the specific duty to protect you, and that's exactly what I intend to do," he explained. "And besides, you are an Ambassador on this station. You represent the Empire. What sort of man would I be if I allowed you to be seen as unprotected?"
Arrienye stood to the side, silently watching.
"I'm sure that you are used to following orders, Uhlan, but in this place I am the Empire," she said paraphrasing something that had recently been said to her, "How will you fare if there are no orders to follow and there is only your initiative between me and an enemy?" she asked. Initiative was not encouraged among the ranks, but Isha assumed that t'Merek did not propose to prop her up between a pair of wooden bookends.
"Then I suppose I will have to use my initiative," he just said with a smirk and Arrienye rolled her eyes. She couldn't help it. For someone who was supposed to a scientist, he sure wasn't very imaginative in his answers. He definitely didn't exhibit a soldier's aura and the Chief of Security hoped it wouldn't give the wrong impression to the Ambassador.
Isha rolled her chair back slightly and rose. As she did so she reached for a slender cane that had been hooked over the back of her chair. Despite the previous day's surgery the joint was not quite stable and she chose not to trust it to bear her weight. Isha walked around her desk, the click of that cane punctuating the swish of heavy fabric.
"I suppose you will," she said passing the smaller man and stopping in front of the one she had addressed. "So use it now and convince me why I should not have you reassigned to less sensitive post," she demanded trying to force some of her lost fire behind her words and gaze.
Saren broke eye contact with the Ambassador to make it with Arrienye. She looked back at him in anticipation. He turned back to t'Khellian. "Ambassador, I was asked to come here by t'Merek," he began. "She has put all of her trust in me and to fail you in this assignment would be failing her. And I would rather die than fail my superior," he said, a moment of hesitation between the two last words as Saren caught himself after a glance from the Arrain in the corner.
A younger part of Isha was amused by his response. She had heard something similar from one of the bodyguards her husband had appointed back when she and Rh'vaurek had been enemies.
Did t'Merek realise what Saren thought of her? Isha thought not.
"And who do you most fear failing?" Isha enquired gently.
After a moment's thought, he replied with "You, Ambassador," leaving the answer very open to interpretation.
With the slightest semblance of a smirk Isha observed this honest man who had inadvertently found himself to be a tool that she could use to aid her own reconstruction. "Who will you leave behind if you die in my service?" she asked - this question was not unfair as she had asked it of every man and woman who had served as a bodyguard to her.
"A few scattered friends," he replied honestly, unable to help a small glance in Arrienye's way. One she didn't return, as always. His words were true, after all. Both his parents were dead, he didn't really have any relatives he was close to; and he was unwed with no children to orphan with his death.
Isha bowed her head very slightly acknowledging both that she believed he told the truth and her acceptance. "And you," she continued moving on to the other one, "Do I have to trust to your initiative too?" Isha inquired as she moved, click and swish to tr'Tahn.
"My initiative and training, Ambassador," Maiell nodded and Saren gave him a look. It was no secret that the Gai'Shian was thought of as a much lower faction, from both the military and social perspective, but Maiell always had a way of pointing his opinion out on the subject. Whether it was intentional or not was disputable.
Isha's fingers tightened around the handle of her cane as she kept the sensation that darted down her leg beneath her mask. Usually, such interviews ended in Isha making an excuse or finding a reason why someone or other was not suitable, but now ... well now she could not afford such an indulgence. She was asking the questions her husband had asked. "Would you care to Specify? Give me an example perhaps?"
"I have been specifically trained in personal protection of important figures and have served as a bodyguard before to Ambassador t'Aieme and Senator tr'Leinarrh before I was brought here. In fact, I was brought here to be part of your personal guard, but at the time, you found it unnecessary," tr'Tahn explained.
Was there admonishment in that statement? Isha wondered as she stared at him, and if so, why? Her own eyes flickered toward t'Merek and back again. "Now I find it necessary," she said sweeping back behind her desk, "Do you have any remarks about that?" Isha asked leaning the cane against her knee as she sat.
"No, ma'am," he shook his head, resting her hands behind his back. Arrienye shot him a look that said they'd be having a talk after their first shift.
"You're dismissed," Isha said to them, "t'Merek, remain."
Arrienye nodded to the two men as they saluted them before exiting. t'Merek let out a sigh, wondering what the hell Maiell was on. She turned to the Ambassador once they were alone.
"Would you care to explain this to me?" Isha asked. "I am a level removed from those in my service, but you, I think now have enough knowledge of me to speak freely. Sit," she suggested as an afterthought.
Arrienye sat down, crossing her legs. "tr'Tahn's mouth is two seconds faster than his brain. Fortunately, he's extremely good at his job and is a devoted officer. He can be trusted. I will be having a talk with him later," she assured the Ambassador.
"So is mine," Isha remarked tracing her fingers over her newly repaired cheek, not that holding her tongue would have made much difference. "I detected a note of judgment in his remark, t'Merek, I really cannot have an officer in my bodyguard who disapproves of me," she said.
"He does not disapprove of you, Ambassador. He does not know of the incident, so he is simply exhibiting some frustration over my new position for him. So, he disapproves of me, if anyone," Arrienye explains. "But like I said, this will not present a problem. You have my word. I will straighten him out," she vowed.
"It pre-dated that, I think," Isha said. "He resents me not having used the escort that has been available to me, of which by his own word he ought to have been part of. I do not blame him for holding the opinion, but he has no place to express it in my presence," she said.
"No, he doesn't," Arrienye agreed, frustrated with her cousin for putting her into this position. "Again, I give you my word that this will not happen again but I insist that he is the best man for the job," she assured her. Much as she disliked admitting it, Maiell was more qualified to lead a bodyguard team than her. What his problem was at the moment was beyond her, but she suspected it had something to do with the reason he was so eager to get away from ch'Rihan in the first place.
"Why?" Isha asked tMerek, her eyes cold and distrustful. "Do you believe that your relative's career is more important than my wellbeing? There are enough similarities for a competent observer to make the connection," Isha said without explicitly categorizing herself, "t'Merek, I have been both arrogant and neglectful in the past putting at risk the dignity of my office. If I have to be surrounded by muscle and metal when I leave these walls I will be, but I cannot risk that one of my own guard will cut my throat."
Arrienye looked at her, taken aback by the accusation. "Ambassador, I find it highly insulting that you believe I would put my family before my duties as an officer. And my duty is to give you the best protection I can. And tr'Tahn is a very able, and experienced officer who is just as capable to put his feelings aside to do his job to the best of his abilities. And I would never defend him simply because of our connection as cousins. I'm defending him as an officer under my command," Arrienye told her firmly.
"I agree that his conduct earlier was out of line and I *will* make sure it doesn't happen again, but I find your accusations of tr'Tahn cutting your throat to be completely misplaced and unnecessary," t'Merek told her, deciding she wasn't going to sit around to go play along with the Ambassador's new-found paranoia.
Isha continued to stare at t'Merek. She was losing control of herself, of her own judgment. If she continued like this Isha realized that fairly soon she would alienate everyone who might be of use to her, lose the goodwill that most of her staff felt toward her, and then the bastard really would have won.
Lowering her gaze to stare at the hands folded neatly in her lap Isha did something that did not come naturally to her. "I spoke in error," she said. There was no requirement for her to apologize to a subordinate but Isha felt a little humility was in order. "I have no call to question your integrity or your sense of duty nor the competence and devotion of your officer."
Arrienye watched her a moment. She knew the woman definitely had a lot to be paranoid about, considering all she'd been through. But the fact that Arrienye found herself frustrated with her hands tied over the matter as the Ambassador wished to handle it through 'official channels' was not making the situation any easier for either of them. But still, her duty was to try to appeal to t'Khellian's common sense.
"No, you don't," Arrienye agreed. "But, you were right to question tr'Tahn as my first choice," she admitted, still a bit worried for her cousin. She didn't expect Saren to prove himself more capable in this situation than Maiell.
"Your selection is acceptable to me, and I have no doubt that I will have need of them," Isha said with a sigh. She supposed that t'Merek was making investigations on her own time and would sooner or later find the answer. Despite what she had claimed Isha was searching for a solution, any solution that did not involve making an official complaint and thus widening the circle who knew, or putting any of her people in danger. She would find an answer, she just did not know when or how. "We will see how this pair measure up."
"Hopefully they won't have many tests," Arrienye admitted. "Is that all, Ambassador?" she asked, wanting to drag Maiell into her office as quickly as possible.
Isha nodded, agreeing on both counts. "Thank you, t'Merek," she said.
Arrienye just nodded, "Good day, ma'am," she said before leaving.
::OFF::
Ambassador Isha t'Khellian
&
Arrain Arrienye t'Merek
with
erie'Arrain Maiell tr'Tahn
Uhlan Saren (boht NPC-ed by t'Merek)