Old Ways vs The New - Part 5

Posted on Mon Mar 30th, 2026 @ 9:59pm by Captain Daegan Baas & Lieutenant M'Tala "Hobbes" Clan Hrasi & Ensign Garath Of the House of Varal [Baas] & Commander Jerome Hunt Jr. & Lieutenant Darius Korveth & Lieutenant Urushi Yaotome & Lieutenant Ayumu Tanaka & Lieutenant JG Ryan Kellerman
Edited on on Mon Mar 30th, 2026 @ 10:00pm

1,263 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: What was Lost is Found
Timeline: MD 7 - 1000

...Previously...

[Inside the Council Chamber]

Within half a second, Dareem had his disruptor unholstered and pointed at Liam.

"Do not move," the elder Romulan commanded, his eyes showing no hint of bluff.

Arim made the most of the opportunity, man-handling Liam with two meaty hands, pushing him to the center of the chamber.

Dareem motioned nonchalantly to Stevie with his disruptor. "That one as well."

Another young Romulan forced her to her feet, directing her to follow Liam.

Turning back to Sokah, Dareem whispered, "This is why we fight. The Federation is like a jeper snake--a soft and cloy creature to all outward appearances. But always ready to strike against us."


[Outside The Council Chamber]

Jared and Jayna had gathered an ever growing group and amount some information. Seeing Andelra he called out carefully.

She noticed the gathered group and walked toward them.

"Jayna, Jared," she said with concern in her voice. "What is happening?"

Looking around towards the Council building and back Andelra, "Seems a group of Romulan Councilors and a group of followers have taken our new friends hostage. We haven't found any of the other councilors either..."

Jayna spoke, "My great grandfather (Kurul) is missing too."

"Hostage?"

Andelra was beside herself. "But... why?"

Looking from Jayna and back to Andelra shrugging. "I don't know. Somebody probably wants something, but the people from that ship put me back together and helped a lot of others. I'll be damned if I'm gonna let some self righteous asshole mess that up."

"Now, now," Andelra chided Jared. "Let's be certain what's happening first before we cast blame."


[On the Bridge]

The bridge crew watched as Dareem drew his disruptor. Who he was aiming at could not be seen but everyone had heard a woman's voice.

Daegan spun about to order the channel mute and address Kurul, but the Administrator was already speaking.

"DAREEM DON'T! You gave me your word..."

As Daegan watched, he saw the glare of hate in Kurul's aid's eye, but it wasn't at him, his glare was drilling into the back of Kurul.

Darius had managed to loosen his bonds, but not free himself. Prudence would dictate that he free himself first, or at least continue to attempt to do so, before attempting to attack. But Darius didn't always act prudently. He saw an opportunity, and he took it. He pushed himself to his feet and launched himself toward Dareem's back.

Urushi had turned in her chair, her eyes locked on the viewscreen. She glanced over at Bass, letting him know that she was ready. Her symbionts memories were screaming in her head, its previous experience as a Starfleet Captain flooding back to her. She knew that Bass had to act, and he had to act soon. She also knew, that she had to assist where and when she could.


[Council Chamber]

The room had gone completely silent. Even the small sounds seemed to fade: the shuffle of a foot, the heightened breathing of one of the more frightened hostages--all had gone quiet the moment Stevie and Liam had knelt on the cold floor at the center of the bare chamber.

Dareem watched them. They were not kneeling perfectly--no one ever did the first time. Stevie adjusted herself, shifting her weight while Liam's shoulders remained still and square.

He unholstered his disruptor with care, his fingers finding the weapon and the surface around the stock worn smooth where his hands had gripped it for over a century. It called to him to wield it though it remained as patient as its owner.

Behind him, Posrun held his own weapon to the back of Doctor Tanaka's head. The young Romulan's breathing was audible if one were close enough to listen for it.

"Doctor," Dareem said without turning, "you will describe what you see."

At that moment, Dareem leveled his disruptor at the two kneeling hostages, angled slightly downward to account for the height of both Stevie and Liam.

Through the communicator, Kurul's voice shouted:

"DAREEM DON'T! You gave me your word..."

Before he could fire the weapon, breath exploded from his lungs as something collided into him from behind. Both he and the other individual hit the hard floor together, Dareem spinning onto his back while the attacker, the Orion officer--still bound--came down heavy next to him.

Sokah moved swiftly and kicked the Orion forcefully in the gut as he tried to rise.

The others had pressed their weapons into the other hostages to prevent any other action.

"Somebody get me the hell out of here!" Doctor Tanaka shouted as he attempted to roll out of harm's way.

Another was dragging the Doctor back to the group, as Sokah dropped the Orion back to his place.

Jerome sat in the corner looking around at all the other hostages. In all honesty, he didn't get the play here. This would not end well for their captures. "Is everyone alright?"

"Well, we're not dead yet, so that's one thing we've got going for us," Doctor Tanaka sighed.

Dareem rose to his feet, still struggling to find his breath, casting a deadly look in the direction of Darius.

"Hang this one by his wrists," he said loudly, pointing at the Orion officer. "Put him in a tension position and he will reconsider any future foolish attempts."

Turning back to Liam and Stevie, he attempted to brush away some of the hair that had fallen into his eyes. The disruptor had remained in his hand the entire time and he was no prepared to make use of it.

"Kurul," Dareem said carefully, noting his friend's reaction only moments ago. "We must do this. We must show our teeth. We must show that we are prepared to go the distance."

Pausing again, he swallowed.

"Captain Baas, you seem to believe this is a negotiation. I will show you the difference between negotiation and demonstration."

Without any hesitation, Dareem lifted his disruptor and fired at the two Starfleet engineers kneeling only a few feet away. His expression was one of grim determination as the green beam of energy struck them.


[Bridge - USS Valkyrie]

Having heard his name he turned back to the view screen to see Dareem fire the disruptor. The older model disruptors were a cruel weapon, even by 23rd century standards, causing an agonizing death. There was a pair of screams followed by silence.

Daegan turned and gestured for the channel to be muted.

Kurul was stunned and looked to the Captain. "Captain, I assure you that this was not suppos..."

At that moment Akil moved, but he was being watched.

Garath's phaser was coming up even as he called out. "NOW!"

Hobbes had kept one leg braced against the console and spun as he leapt tackling the Administrator.

At the same time Akil dropped to the deck a blade falling from his hand.

Stepping over to now stunned Romulan, he picked up the knife. "Seems that you were not to survive this either, Administrator."

Kurul was helped to his feet by the same man that had tackled him to the floor. "What can I do?"


[Outside The Council Chamber]

The sound of disputor fire and the screaming of the victims could be heard by anyone in the center of town and Jared looked to Andelra. "There's your answer."

"Ancestors protect us!" Andrela cried. "What do we do?"

Jayna's hand went to Jared's shoulder stopping his reply and she stepped forward. "There is a way to contact the ship...the shuttle."


TBC...

 

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