[Galaxy] 2161.12.10 - The Romulan View

[Anna H.]

Romulan Senate, Antechamber, Romulus
 
 
Senator
 Padek was distraught, but strove to contain his disappointment with the
 Cheron results within his own mind.  The Praetor was furious, and had 
already executed the entire general staff.  It was only a matter of time
 before he turned the Tal Shiar loose on the senate, and since he was a 
fervent supporter of the campaign plan that failed, he summarized he 
would be high on their list.  Padek had taken steps to protect his 
family, sending them to an outlying planet far from the halls of 
treachery that was the Romulan Senate.  Now that his own had been 
preserved, it was now time to counterattack.
 
"Agents
 have already begun the interrogations,
 old friend," he said quietly to his closest ally.  "There is a block of
 the conservatives that feels the Praetor has gone too far."
 
Giellun
 i-Hrienteh tr'Elehu laughed aloud, although there was little humor in 
it.  "There is /always/ a block of conservatives who feel the Praetor 
has gone too far.  What matters is how /many/ there are.  Are they just a
 few? If so, they had better protect their secrecy or I can /assure/ you
 they will soon meet the same fate that the fleet commanders did.  But 
if they are many ...."  His voice trailed off suggestively as he finished checking the room with a detector.  
 
Padek
 nodded.  "There is certainly strength in numbers.  If you have 
contacts, others that feel as we do, then they should be urged to come 
forward for the vote."
 
Giellun made a slashing motion with his 
right hand.  "You assume too much, /Senator/.  Anyone who feels 'as we 
do' is /certainly/ not going to come forward for a vote! Think about it! The Praetor is 'cleaning house', he knows that if there is to 
be a coup /now/ is a perfect time! Do you believe it is only we who 
have seen this?"
 
"I'm sure we are not.  The Tal Shiar have taken
 a semi-cautious approach up until now.  That could indicate that there 
are other groups who feel as we do."  He contemplated this for a moment,
 and sighed.  "There is too much at stake.  We must move now."
 
"Have you not noted the 
increase in security? Have you heard of the disappearances? Senator 
Avrak i-Jeiai tr'Masfarik has not been seen in three days, his house is 
closed up, his family gone as well.  All due to the speech he gave 
wherein he made the mistake of mentioning 'changes' coming for the 
Rihannsu.  If we decide to tread this path at /all/ we must tread it 
lightly."  Giellun was nervous -- and rightly so.  Never had it been 
more dangerous to oppose the Praetor.  Never.
 
Pakek shook his 
head in frustration.  "He was a fool.  My people have said he had no 
idea how many allies he had.  He simply threw in his lots and was 
vanquished."  He looked over at his companion.  "Not unlike the 
all-or-nothing gamble that has us where we are now.  Hundreds of years, 
and we have never suffered a defeat like this one."
 
Giellun's breath hissed as he inhaled through his teeth. "The Neutral Zone. 
 My ancestors are cringing with shame.  It is an imaginary wall behind 
which we hide, while they celebrate.  My blood is burning, my friend."  
Giellun merely stated what all Romulans felt -- the shameful defeat at 
the hands of the Humans and the boot-licking band of allies they'd 
collected was still a rancid painful thorn gouging into his heart.  The 
fleet decimated ... the Praetor shamed ... the glorious future vision of an expanded Empire
blown apart in one vicious battle.
 
A thoughtful expression 
slowly flowed across Padek's face, as he stared off into the distance.  
"However, this may present an opportunity."  He glanced back at 
Giellun.  "The humans did not press their advantage.  Our long-range 
scouts have not detected any of their ships passing through the system 
where the battle took place.  It is quite possible they have suffered 
losses as heavy as our own." "But
 the /Humans/ were not alone ... and from what I have heard, the 
/allies/ were only able to bring together a small part of their fleets."
 He was quiet for a minute or so.  "Nucleonics.  They shattered our 
fleet with nucleonics."  Giellun shook his head, his proud face marred 
by a frown.  "Padek ... you are my friend.  You know my fourth name.  You know that you can trust me, and I trust you.  Tell me -- what are you thinking?" "This...neutral
 zone may play into our hands.  It buys the Empire time.  Time to 
develop more advanced ships and weapons, to rebuild our strength in 
relative comfort and safety.  The humans have pledged not to cross it.  
Our intelligence suggests they will dominate this new...Federation...of 
alien beings.  It seems as though they value honesty above many other 
traits, including their own survival."  A
 grim smile appeared.  "We will watch for them, and when we have 
acquired an advantage..." "Pradek."  Giellun hesitated, then grunted assent. "Then
 we /must/ counsel the Praetor for patience.  He is young, he would leap
 at their throats /now/.  You know how that would end."  He made another 
slashing gesture with his left hand.  "We have been weakened.  But we 
have to find a way to tell the Praetor this without saying it." Pakek pursed his lips.  "He has counselors that feed on their rivals.  Finding a way to separate him from them is of utmost importance.  Any other way would lead us all to an early grave." "That, too."  Both stood there, looking out the huge window at the icicles that hung from the eaves.  "He hunts tomorrow.  We both are part of the entourage.  Let us try to win his ear.  Let us counsel patience and a build-up of our strength and technology for a long-term relataliatory view.  Even if it takes one hundred years ... the Humans will curse their ancestors for their treatment of the Rihannsu."  Giellun's glittering black eyes were fierce. "And if he does not agree?" "Then he will be convinced.  We will tell him his name will be revered throughout the Empire, even one hundred years hence." "And if he will not listen?" "Then he will be removed!" The sibilant whisper sounded louder than any shout. They stared at each other for a moment, then Pakek made the fist to chest salute, which Giellun returned ... saluting their loyalty to the /Empire/, not the figurehead.  Then both turned and stared out the window.  Winter gripped the land with an icy fist.  Just like the one Giellun felt closing around his heart.  <OOC - ... and so it begins.  :) >   PakekRomulan Senator&Giellun i-Hrienteh tr'ElehuPraetorial Aide <Pakek apb Steve, Giellun apb Anna>
        
     		 	   		  
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