[IRW Aylhr] Penumbra - SD242105.25 - [Backlog] Past Imperfect Pt 5 - Shiarkek

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

[3 Months Later… Kaohht Yhisu]

Shiarkek stood in front of the large display windows and studied the scene outside. Roving constellations slowly flowed past. One could get lost in their movements, like some strange celestial dance. While the pinpricks of moving light looked like stars to his eyes, his mind knew the truth. Those constellations represented hundreds of ships organized into wings. Moving slowly in spherical orbits around the new station. Those ships were the ever-growing fleet that would, hopefully, evict the Klingons from the Derex system.
Closer, dozens of cargo and troops transports were docking and undocking from the station. All the activity made him think of a hive of sindaram with all their little workers moving frenetically to complete a common task. In this case, the task was to make war with the Klingons, and he had to admire the scene. It had been such a monumental effort to get to this point. When Shiarrael demanded a forward operating base so near Derex he knew it would be impossible to build a station in such a short amount of time. "It is pure madness" is what he had told her, but she was not dissuaded. "Find a solution" is what she demanded. After consulting tirelessly with his staff, they were able to find a dilapidated station in the Tirol system. It took them four weeks to completely gut the old station and refit it with new power, weapons, and defensive systems. Once they finished the upgrading and augmenting it took them another three weeks to drag it to its current position.
Even that had not been an easy feat- the Klingons had discovered their plan and sent a strike force to destroy the station. Fortunately, the station was in place when the strike force arrived. It also helped that Shiarrael had already arranged to surround the station with a cloaked and self-replicating plasma minefield. When the Klingon forces charged past their limited ship defenses and hit the minefield they were decimated. There was a great deal of pleasure felt when watching their ships rendered to pieces by the emerald conflagrations. Stubborn as they were the Klingons had tried one more time to attack the station. They had detonated the warp cores of two Vorcha-class cruisers to punch a hole in the minefield. It worked, but only partially. Only a half dozen of their vessels made it through, only to be cut down by the upgraded weapon systems of the station. It was after that incident that he decided on a name for the new station, partially inspired by Shiarrael's much-loathed nickname, Yhisu.
With the arrival of their full force a few days ago he knew it was unlikely the Klingons would attempt to attack the station a third time. Though it certainly would bring him a great bit of pleasure to see them cut down again.
"Admiring your work Shiarkek?"
Startled from his thoughts Shiarkek turned around to see the tall and lithe figure of Raha standing behind him. The commander of the Hhveir Ri'hwathech wore the light green casual uniform of the Galae with a newly emblazoned wing on her collar along with that customary smirk of hers as she approached him. It was a rueful look, probably the same expression that a Thrai had as it toyed with its prey. If he was being honest though, he did not mind the toying when it came from Raha. If there was one person among Shiarrael's staff that he genuinely enjoyed the company of, it would be Raha. There was a natural understand and banter between them- ever since she was a young erie'Arrain aboard the Ishae'Thrai decades before. "Is it wrong for an artist to admire their work? And you." He gestured to the new emblem on her collar "Ael'Riov now?"
"Yes." She groaned as she moved next to him and took in the view beyond the windows. Shiarkek noticed she smelled like the flower of a ryllh tree, sweet and refreshing "unfortunately. Shiarrael felt it was time I moved beyond babysitting my class and has given me a whole damn school of idiots to look after." Raha chuckled "that school being the second Wing."
"The second wing?" Shiarkek frowned "that means you will be over Riov tr'Vastaram."
"Ah yes, that bloviating buffoon." Raha smirked and looked at him "do you think I will give that old fool even a minute of my time? I wish he would scream at me as he did poor Ael'Riov tr'Narek." She lifted her fist "I will not hesitate to knock him back into his mother's womb. Fool. Who has time for that?"
Shiarkek chuckled "you are as crude as I remember."
"Crude?" She laughed at that "I am honest. There is a difference. Plus, when one spends as much time around Shiarrael t'Rehu as I, this type of language becomes second nature." Raha smiled and Shiarkek strangely found that her expression warmed him. "But I should get to the point. Shiarrael sent me to get you. She is completing an impromptu inspection of a few of the ships already here. When she gets done, she will meet with the entire senior fleet staff aboard the Hhveir Ri'hwathech. You have-" she paused and glanced at her wrist communicator "about three hours to finish up here and move aboard my ship."
Caught off guard by the shortened timeframe he frowned "three hours? That seems rather sudden. Has something happened?"
"The last two wings are arriving ahead of schedule. The Galae'EnRiov does not want to delay any longer than necessary now that this Kaohht is fully operational and supplied. Thanks to you of course." She gave him a small nod in acknowledgment "it's almost time to give your Klingon friends a little bit of fun. "
"Great." Shiarkek smiled but he couldn't help but feel a tinge of anxiety. Suddenly a flurry of thoughts entered his mind, and he knew they were all nonsense. Things like wondering if the weapons systems aboard the Kaohht were configured correctly or if the minefield cloaking system was calibrated right. He knew the answer to all those things was yes, but in his mind, he couldn't help but wonder what if. With a deep breath, he steadied his thoughts, focused on Raha's smile, and then nodded his head. "I'll finish up quickly and join everyone aboard."
"Good." Raha clapped her hands together "we'll have to get together for a group training session. How long has it been since we have trained together? Ten? Fifteen years? I'm sure the crew would love to see us throwing each other around."
He frowned intimately remembering their training sessions aboard the Ishae'Thrai. Usually, it was him that was being thrown around. Not that he didn't have some talent for the martial arts- but Raha was a zealot. "I'm a bit older…I'm not sure I would fare as well against you."
She cracked her knuckles and grinned maliciously "nonsense Shiarkek. We'll have fun." With a wink, she started walking off "so much fun."

[To be continued…]

Sindaram – Generic term for insects.
Yhisu – Romulan term for "Dread." Shiarrel t'Rehu's nickname as a Riov was "Riov Yhisu" a reference to her extremely strict command style at the time.
Hhveir Ri'hwathech – Vessel name that translates to "Battle Queen." Serves as the Galae'EnRiov's flagship.
Ishae'Thrai – Vessel name that translates to "Blazing Wolf." Destroyed circa 2401.
Ryllh – A flowering tree that produces fruit that resembles Terran avocados but tastes similar to mangos.

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