Old Ways vs. The New - Part 1

Posted on Sun Mar 22nd, 2026 @ 9:20am by Captain Daegan Baas & Commander Jerome Hunt Jr. & Lieutenant Darius Korveth & Lieutenant Niami Troga & Lieutenant Ayumu Tanaka & Lieutenant JG Ryan Kellerman

1,325 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: What was Lost is Found
Location: Kril'Es
Timeline: MD 7 0900

[Surface of Kril'Es]

Kurul and Akir strode through the settlement to where the transport enhancers were in place. There were Starfleet personnel already moving about, helping to upgrade their facilities. Stopping to watch the work, Kurul had a pang of doubt as he watched the uniformed men and women worked side by side this time. ~This is a poor way to repay them for everything these people have given freely...~

His thoughts were interrupted by a hand on his shoulder as Akir spoke. "Come, our people will understand."

Kurul looked to his former shipmate, nodding. They continued on and approached the transport area, and he watched as Akir let the officer know that the Administrator wished to beam up to the Valkyrie. As he stepped into the trans port area, he knew Akir meant the Romulan people, but Kurul didn't really consider himself a Romulan anymore; ...he was Kril'Esian, ...these were his people. But he was committed now and he would see it through. Looking over to Akir, nodded subtly, and Akir nodded in return as the transporter took hold.

Darius was standing behind the others. He would have preferred a phaser rifle both because it was more powerful and he was a better shot with it. But he was pretty good with a pistol, and he was hoping he wouldn't to use any weapon. even his hands.

Their beam out was the trigger...the clock had started.

The water reclamation tower leaned a little to the west, its curved shadow stretching across the stiff, crusty ground. Posrun and the others pressed themselves into that shadow, trying to look a part of it.

They held what they had. Long harvesting poles which were sanded smooth from years of work. They were now gripped like spears. The metal tips glinted in the morning light and one of the younger youths shifted his weight then became very still when Posrun shot a menacing look toward him.

For Posrun, his hands wielded something much older: a Romulan disruptor. It felt heavy in his grip and felt more like an antique than a weapon. He kept it close to his chest and angled downward, just as Dareem had taught him.

To the east, across the square, he could see Darius standing with the other Starfleet visitors.

Looking to his right Sokah say fifteen of his people, carrying various baskets and other farming tools. Every every appearance of just another group heading to work. Two had just beamed down but most of the Starfleet engineers would be arriving soon, but time was drawing closer. His people had taken up positions last night and were ready. Was the workers neared the transport site one tripped. That was the signal.

As the Starfleet people turned, they rose and Sokah and three others fired. The first to drop were the armed security and before they even hit the ground, his other people rushed in taking their weapons, and secured the others as the unconscious security team was dragged off to the Council hall.

Liam stood next to Darius, "What's going on? We're here to help you!" Shielding Stevie as their comm badges were jerked off their uniforms.

The Half-Orion's initial reaction was instinctual. In a fight or flight situation, his default was fight. But he was also not a fool. Sometimes, revenge, or in this case, escape, was a dish best served cold. So, he played docile. Meek. He was good at fooling people. He just hoped he was good enough.

Liam helped Stevie as he was still trying to shield her. Looking back he saw one of the transport enhancers destroyed, deactivating the perimeter, as they were unceremoniously shoved by the barrel of one of their own phaser rifles, towards the Council building.

The First Officer has stood by helplessly as he watched the security officers drop. Before he could issue a command, they had been overwhelmed. This was clearly a planned ambush and not a spur-of-the-moment one. His commbadge was pulled off his chest, phaser removed from his hip, and he found himself being moved to the Council building. Finding himself suddenly gathered with the other members of the away team. "What is the meaning of thinquils?"

Darius glanced over the Executive Officer, "I think we've been played," he said in a low voice. And I'm betting things were not as tranquil and idyllic as we were led to believe. Whatever this is, it's my experience that they will let us know soon enough."

Then he lowered his voice. "Let them overplay their hand first, then look for opportunities. We won't have a second opportunity, so we'd better plan carefully."

Looking to Darius, the Commander nodded. It wouldn't take long for the Valkyrie to realize that something was going wrong. "I agree with that plan. Keep an eye on their movements."

Sokah wasn't mad at the crew member they herded into the chamber, but he acted as if he were, hoping they bought it. "Silence! Tie them up! If any of them speak again...gag them!" His people took the Starfleet people inside while he turned, looking for the others.

Dareem strode into the square as if he'd been expected. The morning light glinted on the old metallic sash at his shoulder. He had spent part of the night polishing the thing, and it had been quite a job after spending decades in that old footlocker.

He looked around at the scene: the disabled transport enhancer was still smoking faintly. The perimeter shimmer had collapsed into nothing. The Starfleet engineers now had their hands bound with rough cord and repurposed cabling. They were being pushed through the doors of the Council Hall while the unconscious security officers had already been carried inside.

Following one of the younger Romulans through the doors, his eyes fell on Sokah, who stood near the entrance.

"Any wounded?"

A grin formed as his earlier doubts began to fade. "None."


==Meanwhile==

L'ena made her way to the medical area. She noted that there were fewer patients waiting for treatment; none of them were Romulans. They were human. A slight sneer surfaced, then she quickly hid that away. Medical staff were seeing to their needs, then there was the Trill doctor from the Valkyrie.

Having a worried expression, she quickly moved towards him, a note of concern in her voice.

"Excuse me, Doctor. I came as quickly as I could. You are needed in the council hall; one of the council members is having a medical issue. Please come, hurry!" she urged him.


"On my way," Ayumu replied, none the wiser about what had just transpired as he hastily gathered up his medical supplies. "What's the councilor's current condition?"

"Rapid heartbeat, profuse sweating, trembling hands. I am not that skilled in figuring out what might be wrong with a human. It gave me cause for worry. " leading the way, keeping within the character of a concerned person. When they arrived to the area where the others were, L'ena gasped out.

"Oh my, things have gotten worse!" covering her mouth.

"Sounds like it might be hypoglycemia- tell me, does the councilor have a history of-?"

Before he had the chance to finish, L'ena was upon him like a jungle cat, the doctor finding himself pinned to the ground, her knee in the center of his back, pressing him down while his gear was taken away. Bonds were placed around his wrists, taking him to where the others were.

"What in the blazes is the meaning of this?!" he demanded, attempting to wrest free of his restraints. "We're allies, dammit!"

"Enough out of you." L'ena hissed. "You are not allies, you weaken us, with your milk toast ways. You soften us with your promise of peace, and yet you neglect our spirit and our history. We are through with this," glaring towards the doctor. "Through with you."


TBC...

 

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