SRR Ra`KalenChapter Twenty-Two: A Political Officer's Orders
[SD 239905.13 - Kalen, Political Officer, Jarik tr`Nerik]

He watched the officer mutter a few passionless words about today's job.

"Who are you? T'Vor's killer?" tr'Nerik rolled hie eyes at the erie'Arrain. The fellow Rihanha had a mirthful, sarcastic grin on his face.

"Not unless tr'Geirrh was being cheated on," he uttered.

Tr'Nerik sighed and glanced down into his plate of vineriine thinking about that old fable of how heaven and hell were forged, how Vorta`Vor and Arreinye were a result of a revengful fued from the death of a loved one. How ironically true that a soapy love ghalai (swarm) was the plot basis when compared to his own people.

"Au-jov fiv." (you do inspire) tr'Nerik rebuttaled with sarcasm, glancing up.

"Well," the erie'Arrain said. "Then I'll be going." He stood up. The officer had been finished for a moment when tr'Nerik came over and sat down across in the rjha'dinglh (equiv mess hall). The room was busy with occupants from all over the ships. tr'Nerik noticed that the dinglh was much more elegant on this ship than his galae ones, however it still kept militaristic. Indirect lighting and higher quality furnishings seemed apparent of a good morale booster but still keeping the aura that the dinglh could easily be destroyed without a tear of it's pleasantries.

Tr'Nerik smiled slightly and spoke out as the officer began bringing his tray to the khlenai, to be reprocessed into the ship's matter supply. "Don't be too precocious about the empire. I can tell them things about a certain erie'Arrain being a little too daunting."

The young Rihanha chuckled. "Tell them our political officer needs to be replaced. Perhaps by a dha'rudh-Uhlan swai thya-vrrul ie'yakk." (idiot guard with a very foolish disrupter)

* * * * * * * *


tr'Nerik glanced at the time on the monitor.

"Etrehh," he called out

A crisp tone of beeps rang through his quarters, the standard computer acknowledgement.

"Communications line e-delta 5 1 2, authorization Nerik thi-khi-io-io-tho."

Another myriad of computer responses emanated from around him and the display monitor ahead of tr'Nerik scrolled with information definitive of encryption algorithms.

He sighed as the screen paused to await a response and lifted a cup of lagga tea to his lips, sipping it's mildly sweet herbal liquid.

Suddenly the mhehorael isignia appeared, a nei'rrh gripping ch'Rihan and ch'Havran in it's sienae-a. Then it dissapeared to the crisp face of a military woman.

"Vaek'riov Haina t'Sulrin," tr'Nerik said as if this was the right comlink but not the right person. He nodded, setting the tea down.

"Ah, *Arrain* tr'Nerik is it?" she inqueried thoughtfully.

He nodded again.

"Well getting to business. It isn't customary for a Vriha'Erien in the fleet to have been aquainted with such a position so quickly but I do believe this will be favorous to you and the Kalen." She spoke convincingly of someone who had known tr'Nerik for a long time but she hadn't.

He let out a breath. "Political officer--has not always been on my mind. The Ra'Kholh's own officer was a unpleasant kllhe."

"I understand," she replied motherly. He tried to not glance away as her narrowed eyes seemed to glance into tr'Nerik's soul. She was dignant and held her posture evenly as if looking down on him even through the screen. "However, circumstances are not so of protocol as you might believe. The political officers of galae vessels are not entirely as informed as they wish you to believe. It's the atmosphere of fear they like to envoke. They truly aren't as cruelly gifted in power as some Tal'Shiar agent."

"I'll be sure to rethink my stereotype." tr'Nerik reserved himself. He didn't want her to be too judgmental when it came to missions. He knew that most of the time, decisions made by these galae daise-a were highly influenced by trust. He would earn her trust but not his mind. "The decein up the command chain overlooks those political agenda collectors."

t'Sulrin lightly grinned. "Don't be worried, we have your respectable advice. I know--" she stopped. Her mind drifted a moment as she recoiled her sentence. "I know... that t'Kazan was adamant on your ability months ago."

He saw no more background to that statement and lifted his brow subtly.

"In all matters. The business I was talking about has to do with tr'Raith. In the relinquishing of the captured members, political intentions have drastically been altered throughout the quadrant. The galae has been working end on end repairing or conducting internal stabilization procedures..."

tr'Nerik took a breath in, knowing what internal stabilization could mean. Although it isn't exactly the most efficient thing to do, a myriad of covert objectives while the appearance of a natural fleet is sustained, can be a very classified operation. Especially when Tal'Shiar are sometimes invited to sustain internal agenda. "And how is this with Raith?" he asked.

"Raith is to be under your guidance. Going against what you may believe about the Commander pleading guilt for a PO's answer, you will now act as his counselor. A Rei'Krannsu ship is of perpetual loyalty and quality. Most of the time he will seem to insist on your cooperation rather than his."

He nodded, glancing at a specialized ISD next to the monitor, recording vital information and Sulrin's objectives. He noticed her attention drawn away for a second, possibly the end of the briefing. Although she spoke vaguely, he was well aware of what he needed to do.

t'Sulrin was well aware that this comlink was not entirely spy-proof. "I also hear tr'Danlek may be joining the ship?" she off-handedly asked.

"Rumors," he started, thinking about the past days. "But they seem substantial. He may not even choose to come aboard. Given he served with me, Raith and t'Kazan together, he may still possess offensiveness. Becoming legionnare status because of her indirectly, it's as if at times he felt like a puppet, doing nothing to perpetuate his own career."

She gave a nod, understanding but beside the point. "Still. If he decides to join the ship, you can have your little reminiscing and jockily attitude but don't become too aquainted that you dare trust him."

tr'Nerik was held at a subtle awe. Her comment was almost threatening. It was not his place to question such a order, it was reasonable, but to him it was personal. He silently held his rage to curse a myriad of words at her but he just nodded. "Of course t'Sulrin."

"Good... tr'Nerik." She smiled gradually, the wrinkles edging around her mouth. Her face seemed as if fixing up her briefing to sound pleasant.

He smiled back, inside, disdainfully.

"You have your orders.

The screen blinked out.

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