*** Somewhere in the Royal Palace * Kzenti *** Papalas Tu'Cko and his second in Command Papalasik Chu'dy walked slowly towards the room where the human counselor was held captive. Tu'Cko was in charge of the Kzenty Intel operations and now he wanted to clear some things with the captive. Tu'Cko knew how to do his job and he was very surprised about the actions the human's did in the last 3 hours. " Do you think this human female will co operate with us?" Chu'dy asked as they approached the door step in step Tu'Cko noded: "She will cooperate to get the newest informations from us. From what we have seen till now, she would do nothing to cause trouble to her ship, but on the other hand, she will do everything to help her crewmates ... and we will give her the chance" Tapping the door mechanism, the door opened after a small moment. Used to his power, Tu'Cko entered the room first, looking for the human woman." Athena was standing in of the corners that the door was near when it opened. She watched two Kzenti enter. "Can I help you," she asked to their backs. Tu'Cko looked at Athena with an unhidden despite. He thought only little about the humans. He had never a good opinion about them and their recent actions just confirmed his opinion. For himself, he spoke against inviting the humans for this event in the royal council. Klingons would be far more suitable in his mind. But the Queen decided and his loyality was beyond question. "Yes" he said plainly, "I need to know the reasons why are you still here? Why havent your crew go and rescued you?" He knew Chu'dy was behind him and waited for him to enter in the room. He was wearing a portable holoprojector and now he waited for him to set it up. Athena met the man's gaze and didn't answer. Instead she took a couple of steps toward the center of the room. Chu'dy looked at Athena coldly. He had little respect for this race. "Your friends seem eager to abandon you." he said."Why do they show so little care about you?" Athena answered coolly, "I know my responsibilities and so do my friends." It was a short answer with a variety of meaning. Tu'Cko snorred: "You dont feeble human. Nor you nor your crewmates. Since your ship arrived here all what you humans have done is a head of rubbish. Your responsibility was to reveal our plans and stop us" He looked with despite at the human woman near him: "and what you have done? What do you know about our plans?" Chu'dy waited for Athenas reply knowing well that Tu'Cko was a master at this type of interrogation. "Speak up human" he said "Why are you delaying? Do you expect your friends to return?" "Your plans were never what you said," she responded. She was only giving them enough information to raise their ire but not enough of answer to give them any information. Tu'Cko shook his head. The cyborg implants on his neck made is shaking 10 times in a second ... <<OOC ... like a little fan>. "You only repeat our words human, but that is clever. Thats the first sign of inteligence we have got from your species. I wonder how could you build up such a large organisation like the Federation" Chu'dy asked: "What position of power do you hold in this Federation of which you are so proud?" "I hold the position that I was assigned," she answered and turned away to hide her small smirk. Tu'cko nodded: "Lieutenant Athena Wellington, Counselor on the USS Chimera, Starfleet Special Forces ship, half human, half Betazoid. But you havent answered the question ..." "If you know the answer then why ask the question. Its a waste of time," Athena replied and started a liesurely stroll around her guests in the small room. "You think to read our minds Counselor? " Chu'dy asked, following Athenas movements. " Is that the ....'power'...that you hold there? "No, I wouldn't put it that way exactly," Athena continued as she continued on her circular path. Knowing the she could be of no danger to him or Chu'dy, Tu'cko didnt play much attention to the movement Athena was doing. "What is it then human? By what power or chance did you create your valuable Federation? Till now we have seen nothing like that" "Your title implies that you counsel others....about what?" Chu'dy asked as Athena passed in front of him. Athena stopped so that she could meet the man's gaze, but her concentration was on the table behind him. It still held food and drink which she hadn't gave much more than a look over. "Different things," She answered. Tu'cko smiled: "All right human. Please have a look at this". He pointed to the portable device Chu'dy had set up and waited for him to activate it. A holopicture was created ... little asteroids all around in the picture ... and a small shuttle. Light gray ... clearly Federation origin. "Thats a team that was sent from your ship towards one of our research stations. Again something I dont understand ... they went openly, with no means how to hide themselves from our sensors. Just the flight pathway tried to hide the shuttle and I must say the pilot isnt the worst one I've ever seen. But neverthelss that, your shuttle is just on the edge of our defense platform network. I wonder if you will tell me now, WHY shouldnt I activate the platforms?" Looking at Chu'dy he waited for Athena's reply. "It might be interesting to see how they react to a small display or our defence.What would you say to that counselor?" Chu'dy asked. "I'm sure they would do their best, but that's not what you really want to know," Athena answered politely. She watched as a couple of items on the table began move a bit and absently said, "Its difficult to say who's more deceptive you or the Romulans." She didn't think about her words and only the mens actions would reveal how dangerous her actions were. "Whats the human word you use for deception? ... bluffing? ... you think I am bluffing. Watch then human". Tu'Cko had an absent look for a moment and then on the holopicture all three of them could see a purple phaser beam hitting the shuttle. White and blue strings bursted from the shuttles shields and everyone could imagine the cracking sound as the shuttle's shields were destroyed. "Whats the shuttle's status?" he asked looking at Chu'dy. " Their shields are gone ofcourse." Chu'dy replied in an almost disinterested tone."They are defenceless...what now Counselor...what would you counsel in such a situation?" "I didn't mean you specifically were bluffing. I meant more that this really wasn't a peacable meeting for you and the Romulans are after something and using this diplomatic mission as an excuse to get close," she answered. She thought for a minute or two before adding, "but hasty judgements often lead to things we can't take back." She remained silent for a while but then added one little bit more, "I fear my own mistake was in answering any of your questions." With her last words one of the dishes near the edge of the table toppled over the edge even though no one was standing by it. Tu'Cko jumped like a panther, rolled on the floor twice and got up again in a half kneeling position, a large hand phaser pointed in the direction where the crashing sounds came from. Chu'dy meanwhile spun round and siezed Athenas wrist in an iron grip "What do you try human?" he said in a low and threatening tone."You think your trick can save your friends?" Athena grimaced and swallowed the wince that rose in her throat and looked the man in the eye and asked, "What trick?" Tu'cko raised his hand and said: "Release her". He stook up from his half kneeling and said: "You have no device with you human, so it means that it was either a chance or you have some powers that are based not on physical strength. Anyway, you've earned some respect from me" He sqeezed his eyes for a moment before continuing: "Maybe this is your strenght, make other to underestimate you and then use means and powers one would not expect" Looking at Chu'dy he said, "let the shuttle continue its way. I want to see what 'tricks' the humans will show us in the station." Chu'dy dropped Athenas wrist from his grasp. "As you command Papalas" he said, eyeing Athena to gauge her reaction. Tu'cko looked at Athena: "Please dont think I will spare your crew, if they wont have any 'tricks' to show us, they all will die!" Athena kept her features schooled and only gave a slight bow of her head to show her respect in return. She then turned away from them and let a single tear fall down her cheek for those that were in the shuttle and for the aching in her wrist. Chu'dy turned to his companion with a questioning eye. "Let's go" Tu'cko said. **** End Log *** Lt Athena Wellington Counselor USS Chimera & Papalas Tu'Cko (npc) Mumacik & Papalasik Chu'dy (npc) Rangi