[IRW Aylhr] Penumbra - SD242105.22 -[Backlog] Past Imperfect Pt 1 - Shiarrael t'Rehu

A Mission Post by Riov Rhaego tr'Neyl
Mission: Penumbra
Location: Various
Timeline: 15 Years Ago

OOC: Still working out kinks with the email list. If you have issues toss me a message on discord! This is the first of several logs that will go out to set the stage for the current environment.

[IRW Javelin]

"Five seconds until fleet arrival."
"Battlestations," Shiarkek said. His eyes gazed intently at the main viewer as turquoise battle lighting washed over the command deck. He could feel the tension prickling against the hairs of his neck with anticipation.
"Four…"
"Three…"
"Two…"
"One…"
"Exiting warp now!"
Standing up Shiarkek turned towards the holographic tactical display behind him. The blue-green spherical grid suddenly lit up with green and red swirling pinpoints. "Report." He said.
"The Klingon forces are concentrated around Ch'Derex. It doesn't seem that they are making any moves towards us. The bulk of their forces are remaining in stationary orbit." T'Niya said. The strategic operations officer slid her fingers through the holographic grid and touched individual points creating windows of magnified sensor readouts "no movement."
"No movement…" Shiarkek murmured eying the tactical display. Most of the red pinpoints were spinning around a blue orb at the opposite end of the display from the green of his fleet. What are they doing? Are they ignoring us? "What do you think Riov?" He asked.
"I'm not sure Rekkhai. One would think that an enemy fleet's arrival would cause some type of movement but they don't appear to be interested in our arrival at all." T'Niya said.
"The Klingons are cowards. They're too afraid to face us." Someone spoke from across the bridge to a chorus of cheers and laughter.
"Enough." Shiarkek said his attention shifting momentarily to bridge crew "focus on your stations." He sighed and returned his gaze to the tactical display. He felt slightly insulted. He expected the Klingons to be down their throats as soon as they exited warp. Even with the technological cloaking advantage, such a large fleet should have been easily detected. The Klingons would have known they were coming. So why not meet them out in battle on arrival? They were Klingons after all- barbaric creatures who lusted for battle. Yet, they were simply idling. Why? Returning to the command throne he sat down. "Perhaps they need a little motivation? Set course for ch'Dherex. Have wings one through seven pull forward. Wings eight through sixteen will form up alongside. The rest will stay back for now."
"IE Rekkhai!"

[Romulus, Galae Command]

Eisn's dimming visage filtered through the blinds creating tawny bars of light across from Shiarrael's desk. Dusk was beginning to settle upon the Capital of the Star Empire. Shiarrael's eyes focused on the holographic screen that hovered about four inches above her desk. Lines of texts slowly scrolled across. Every once so often she would reach out and press her finger into the display causing the text to pause. She repeated this action about a hundred times over before finally surrendering to her frustration. She reached forward and pressed all five fingers into the screen and then slung the holographic display across the room. The rectangular display gracefully flowed across the room but fizzled out of existence just before it reached the far sidewall. She leaned back in her chair and chuckled realizing how less fulling that action had been in practice. Had it been an actual screen, one made of metal, glass, and all the tiny components within, it would have been different. "Elements damn these holographic contraptions." She said and then sat up and looked at her door as the sound of muffled boot steps just beyond began to echo into her office.
The entire command center was barren save for a small number of support staff and servants who milled about doing regular cleaning duties. The floor her office was on was almost entirely devoid of personnel with most of the fleet commanders either with Shiarkek's fleet or engaged with other duties off homeworld. As the sound of boot steps continued to grow louder she pressed the display control on her desk and watched as another screen magically folded out of the void mocking the futility of her previous action.
"Display command floor security footage." She ordered the floating rectangle. On the screen a grid of a dozen square displays appeared, each one depicting a section of the Galae command floor. Shiarrael studied the whole grid before focusing on the one just outside the rotunda that led directly to her office. There, just about to move off-screen into the rotunda, was a phalanx of Gai'Shian security personnel leading a dark-robed figure. A senator and their escort, no doubt, but who? She could only see the back of their head as the group moved off-camera. She switched her attention to the rotunda display just in time for the group to arrive in the top left corner of the screen. The sharp hawk-faced figure that moved towards her door was unmistakable, it was the Proconsul.
Her mind barely had time to register this information before one of the Proconsul's guards slammed his fist into her door in a thunderous knock. Shiarrael frowned at the unnecessary noise and pressed the display control causing it to fold away. Standing up she rounded her desk and stood in front of the door "Argelian, why are you causing such a commotion so late?"
The door opened and the Senator took a few steps into her office smiling. He lifted his hand and twirled a finger in the air. Taking the signal one of the guards grabbed the door handle and closed it behind the Senator. Once the door clicked shut behind him he smirked "am I inconveniencing you EnRiov?"
"I don't like surprises Argelian." She gestured to the large plush chair across from her desk "but honestly, I have been losing my mind going over the first fleet's resource distribution report. Such mindless work does not suit me." She moved to the small kitchenette on the other side of her office but watched the Senator from the periphery of her vision as he accepted her invitation and sat down in the chair. "A distraction will do me well- depending on the distraction. Tea or wine?"
He laughed. "Yes, it always depends on the distraction no?" He craned his head and peered over her shoulder "is that a bottle of rylhrhh?"
Shiarrael grabbed the bottle of pink-violet liquid and held it up for him to look at "straight from Khadra, year 2292, a rare vintage." So rare that the thought of sharing it right now made her mentally groan. There were few things rarer than good wine in this elements cursed universe.
"A small amount."
With slight relief, she grabbed two small glasses out of the cupboard and filled them both halfway. Walking back to her desk she sat on the edge of her chair and set both glasses down. Gently shoving the Proconsul his glass she leaned back in her chair "so what is the distraction you are bringing to me tonight Argelian?"
Catching the glass the Pronconsul brought the rim up to his nose and inhaled slowly. He let out a sigh as his eyes closed slightly "what a wonderful aroma. You have great tastes Shiarrael." He looked up at her "curiosity."
"Curiosity?" Shiarrael echoed and picked up her own glass tracing the rim with a finger "mere curiosity doesn't deserve a visit no? If you had a question you could have easily reached out to me through the communication network. So cut the hlai shit and get to the point." She smiled, an expression that didn't suit the terseness of her previous comment.
The Proconsul grunted and smiled "straight to the point as always." He said and carefully sipped at the wine before setting the glass down on the desk "tr'Shiarkek should be in battle if not about to go into battle against the Klingon forces over Derex. There has been a great deal of debate in the Senate about what we will do if he fails. Many would love for him to become Galae'EnRiov but if he fails, well, that will complicate matters. I want to know t'Rehu. Do you think he will succeed?"
Shiarrael frowned. This still sounded like a bunch of hlai shit. Why was he asking her? There was an ulterior motive here. She knew Argelian. She knew him before he became a Senator. Tr'Shiarkek had been his Chief of Staff when he was Galae'EnRiov. He could make that assessment himself. Looking at him she continued to trace the rim of her glass "why do you need my assessment? Have you not served with Shiarkek yourself? Certain you know his capabilities as well as I."
"I do know." He said "but what I want to know, is whether or not you see him as I do. If Shiarkek fails we will need a Galae'EnRiov of capability. This mess along our border with the Klingons has been nothing short of a catastrophe. Allowing the Klingons to take Derex? Quite a blunder."
Blunder? What an understatement. Khre'Riov tr'Dneiarhh should face the gallows for that incompetence. When she found out he had sent a bulk of his fleet on a far-flung exercise in a fit of pique leaving the Derex system vulnerable she was enraged. Yet, he was not her problem to deal with. In fact, Galae'EnRiov tr'Thrai had died before the matter could be resolved and now the mess lingers, even with Shiarkek's war fleet. "My assessment? Shiarkek is a competent officer. He excels at fleet organization and it will be hard to find few of any officers with his level of expertise at fleet management, but-" she paused to consider her words more carefully.
Argelian took interest in her last word and leaned forward "but?"
"But, he lacks the ability to improvise. He is very detailed at planning. No doubt. Shiarkek plans for as many contingencies as he and his staff can think of. But, if those plans do not flow to his design he has a great degree of difficulty with improvising alternatives. If the Klingons do as expected he will succeed."
Argelian nodded his head "but Klingons don't always do as expected."

[IRW Javelin]

"Klingon battleships decloaking to our flank"
Shiarkek leaned forward in the command throne as the viewscreen switched to a two-dimensional tactical view. Behind his throng of emerald green wings, several red blips appeared and then collectively rammed into the wings. The wings scatted in several directions like a hand swiping into a bunch of flies. "Bring us about and-"
"Main Klingon force is now moving towards our position. The left flank has broken."
"Bring have wings three and four reinforce the left flank. All other ships focus on the main Klingon fleet." Shiarkek felt his chest tighten as he watched the viewscreen. Everything was turning into a chaotic mess. How did they not detect those Klingons?! "What is taking wings three and four so long?!"
"Another Klingon force has decloaked behind our forces! Several ships are reporting significant damage. IRW Morrhae'Vnu has been destroyed. IRW Aylhr has taken significant damage and is on emergency power."
"Two more ships destroyed."
"Shiarkek we must withdraw." T'Niya appeared next to the command throne and grabbed hold of his shoulder as the ship shook beneath their feet "the Klingons have us disorganized and in disarray. If we don't regroup they will charge through our fleet with their main force!"
No! No! Shiarkek stood up defiantly "all ships come about. Target the Klingon forces on our left flank-"
He felt t'Niya grip his shoulders tightly "if we turn and expose our rear to the incoming forces we'll be shredded!"
He shrugged and pulled his shoulder away from her grip. "We will not fail to these barbaric creatures. Bring us about and open fire!"

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