CAP/Station: Here and There

Posted on Tue Apr 15th, 2025 @ 5:07pm by Captain Rogue "Ro" Green {Meji Master} {Flt. Cpt.} & Lieutenant Ainkara "Kara"

Mission: THE KINGDOMS COME AND GO
Location: various
Timeline: current/somewhere in between

ON:

Once more sitting behind her desk in the Ready Room, Captain Ro Green, decked out for another day as her Meji self in service to Starfleet, finished her reports for USS Nazgul and USS Capernum in regards to status and up to date logs. All of that data was compiled and sent in a coded message to M-69. She was still the Fleet Captain, and until told otherwise, she would continue to act as such. For in-person moments for a face-to-face, Green had put Lasso in charge of the Offices of Fleet Captain-M69. Being the Flight Control Chief, Gavin knew where all of M-69's assets were when it came to vessels of any kind, unless meant to be 'off the books'.

The Nazgul had been maneuvered into its slot for the ride back to Earth. Now snug within the confines of the mobile drydock facility. Ro hoped that the ship was worth the effort of a full spaceframe replacement. It would take time but the ship had done well in its short lifespan. The intercom sounded. "Captain to the Bridge."

Green stood up and went out to the Bridge, coming to stand in the Bridge center and face the window/screen. The screen showed the grinning face of the mobile dock's commanding officer, Commander Evan Daniels. "Ah. There you are, Captain," Evan's grin became a smile. He was quite possibly the most jovial officer Green had ever met. "Just wanted to wish you well, you and your crew. Excellent job having Nazgul ready for transport. Saved us some time."

Green gave a nod that was partially a nod of gratitude. "It was our pleasure, Commander. I hope the Nazgul gets a second chance."

Daniels gave her a nod, his eyes finding themselves now in an expression of sorrow. The man was truly concerned over the condition of the ship, like a loved one. "We'll give her a good go-over on the way home. If she can be salvaged, we'll find out how. Farewell, Captain."

"Good speed to you and yours, Evan. Capernum, out." Green said, with Resch shutting down the comm signal in a smooth relay of events. "Alright. We need a visit to home port. Helm, plot a course for M-69, warp one, engage when ready." As Helm did that Green stood and gave minor instructions for preparing for a transporter access to M-69 for crew free time. Ro wanted the ship free and clear since she did not plan to remain in the area for long, but to get back out there mapping and exploring. She knew she had to tighten and strengthen her connection to Sureth and Callaghan, their relationships on various levels, to really get M-69 to a place of smooth operation no matter the circumstances. Everyone assigned to serve M-69 in some capacity, whether a starship assigned as a sector port, or an officer aboard the station itself, everyone was out here on the frontier. Right where Green loved to be.

Helm announced the jump to warp even as Green finished passing on her directives. Simply put, each department prepare for light duty on all shifts for orbital station docking. USS Capernum would be set in a parking place and do a slow orbit around M-69 in that pattern so long as she was 'docked'. All the crew were doing was getting ahead on maintenance and keeping the ship on course. Every department now had a chance to catch up on anything that may have been lacking since leaving Earth and then dealing with the Nazgul situation. The Capernum was now a few hours away from a port call.

***

Lieutenant Ainkara, currently in forced labor as a bought and paid for slave. Whether mining for ores and other precious items, serving in an 'entertainment' fashion, or merely serving as a maid and assistant, this was Kara's world at this time in her life. Leaving the filth of the mining area and arriving at the double reinforced cage-lift for exiting the mines, she stood directly under the angled lens of a security camera. She had decided to be the meek servant this day.

The lock released with a thud-clank, then one cage wall lifted and the other slid aside to allow her entrance into the metal cube with one small panel. Standing within was a woman Kara recognized, and knew better than many others down here. Guard Captain Claire Faherty. Blonde hair, blue eyes, could be a model with her face and build, but strong of build and an endurance trainer. Claire had taken a liking to Kara when she first arrived, and had even began to intercede in her daily duties. A form of protection for the Voran she had decided to care for. Claire had asked herself many times over the past months being around Kara, why she had been drawn to the woman. She still had no answer other than it just felt right. Her rifle hung from the webgear on her guard gear. "Come on. We need to get moving."

"Of course, Guard Captain." Meek and mild, Kara stepped within and made sure to remain at the perfect distance from a non-slave, according to etiquette. "I should have been quicker."

Claire gave some side eye to Kara, looking her up and down, seeing that she was in submissive mode. Either it was one of her episodes, or she was working shit out. It has been right around 40 days since her last escape attempt, she thought to herself, her eyes going back to a neutral spot. "You did fine for not knowing." Claire Faherty stepped forward and tapped the keypad on the one small panel. She did this every time she had Kara with her. All others she moved enough to block their view of the keypad. Claire would make the effort for visual drama on the camera, but would move in such a way that the keypad was still observable. She knew damn well that Kara would have no choice but to remember the code for opening the gateway to the inner city. Dark Harbor was a playground for the wealthy and the downtrodden. An everything goes atmosphere throughout, even with a form of law enforcement to make sure that some kind of order was maintained. The Prefect of Dark Harbor ran a court, similar in all aspects to ancient barons and counts serving a stronger lord who was the same as a king or queen.

All this had been explained to Kara, over time, as Claire began to entrust her with knowledge no other slaves were ever given. Again, Claire had no idea why she was choosing to help this person. She just felt close to her, protective, like a sister. "You know," Claire said as she got in next to Kara as the lift was nearing their destination level. "You can prove yourself and rise out of the pits. "I wasn't always the Guard Captain. I was you, once."

Kara could not keep the surprise from her expression. She kept it far more subtle due to effort, but the eyes belied the truth. "You were a slave?"

"I was." The lift came to a stop as Claire said that so she hit the release and the lock opened again as she pulled up on the handle to get the door to begin to open. Once it did they stepped out together as she got back to what she was saying. "I was used and abused, but I took it and made it my sole purpose while here. There is an old Earth philosopher who said; that which does not kill us, makes us stronger. His name was Friederich Nitzsche."

"A sound conviction for such a small quote." Kara liked that saying, it caused a sudden churning in her core. All her Iconian training, for combat, was coming back to her mind. Things she had pushed away from her mind because there were some combat intiatiaves that were both brutal and gory. But, now, she reveled in those memories, having trained in all of them. She even lifted her hands as they walked along inside the super clean inner corridors and halls of Dark City. In her mind's eye she could actually see the slathering of various colors of blood from beings she had killed in combat. Sometimes combat that was merely a slaughtering of scared beings who were no threat but were used as an example. "Are you saying that you are grooming me for an apprenticeship?"

Claire gave a laugh, her eyes truly lit up with delight as she looked over at her...friend. "No, no. Nothing like that. Although..." She reached out and got Kara to stop and turn to face her. "I got this far, and in this position, because I don't muck around. If not for my weapons training and my body discipline, I would have been dead several times over. Guard, citizen, or prisoners with jobs, you have to be able to truly discipline them all. That may mean a street executions. It's harsh but, believe me, there are those who still need to see those examples as they try to rise higher than allowed." Claire got them into her offices and closed the door, setting up 'white noise' devices all around the room. "If I send you to execute a prisoner you have to be able to do it without question. Please, trust me on this. I deliberate for days on a situation before a final judgement is made. Some don't get whacked, but most do. If they reach that level of it usually means that they are a lost cause and will be a major disruption if not handled. How things work in Dark Harbor. The Prefect expects things to run smoothly and keep filling the coffers."

"You give the order, it will get done," Kara said in response. "I'm not at all squeamish." That, and if it got her out of the pits then so much the better. She would play enforcer and keep guards and people in line. "I will kill whomever you tell me to. In that duty, Captain, I just ask that I be allowed to do that for both sides. Guards and others. I want some power over them for a change."

Claire Faherty had stood and listened to the little list of wants, arms crossed over her chest as she twirled one of her blonde pigtails in her fingers. She wanted to mete out some vengeance, she thought to herself. Good, I could use that. "Okay. Done. But, this is how this goes. You'll get to know who is to be trusted and who isn't from those that choose to 'follow' me. Our own inner council. You are mine. My soldier. I expect absolute loyalty. I get a whiff of betrayel you'll end up targ food. Did that stick?"

"Like epoxy of the gods," Kara replied, an evil grin playing on her face. If not mistaken, Claire saw a ever-so-slight flaring of amber in the brown of Kara's eyes, just a glowing flash like the last flare of a cinder. It was gone as quick as it came. Did she imagine that? "You pull me from the pits and I will be your loyal servant, your confidante, and your friend. In whichever order you choose, of course. First thing first, though, if you don't mind me saying?"

Having no idea where Kara was going with this, it did make Claire curious. "What did you have in mind?"

"A cleansing. Enough to get you recognized enough to attain Lady. Get you your own estate and surrounding community. A little game of thrones is always exciting amongst nobles." Kara gave another grin. Claire could see that the grin was genuine. But, the creepy part was that the feeling was genuine behind the eyes and grin, although one could see clearly that there was a sinister quality to them which is what initially drew people in. Kara had changed much since her stay here. But, after what she had been through, it was no surprise that the one time mud hut had built herself into a fortified keep where only a select few were allowed within her emotional walls. "We need to impress the Prefect, or a few of his Department Ministers. Plus, you would be a damn good politician. You know this place way too well, Claire."

Claire thought on what had been said, liking the idea very much. She had climbed this far, serving without question and never having asked for anything above and beyond what was expected for a job well done. "I could ask for an appointment when the next family line ends. There are usually a few a year that just could not succeed. My record is spotless."

"There you go, then, Miss." Kara's eyes kept glancing towards Claire's private office bathroom, complete with all amenities. "Could I...Would it...Claire, please!" She kept stumbling over her words, still being a servant to this woman, but her need to truly bathe and change into fresh clothing and shoes had peaked. "Can I have a bath and a change of clothing? Please!"

Giving a wide smile, Claire laughed again. "I am so sorry, Kara. Your oath is on record. Come on, we'll get you some clothes from the lockers, your choice as to how you'll dress. But, it will be recognizable by other guards. No blending into the population unless we order you to."

Kara picked out several items of clothing, some socks and all terrain boots with a medium soft heel and sole for soft footfalls even with terrain grip. Made from a material that did not squeak as it moved across a floor while gripping it. Going back to the bathroom, her small pile of clothes in hands, Kara went in to bathe. And, bathe she did. The first hour was spent scrubbing her self nearly raw with loofa sponges, the back scratcher coming in handy for just scrubbing away filth. Hair washed twice while in the tub, then once the bath water was drained, all the muck going with it, Kara started the shower and bathed all over again, making sure that all the grime everywhere was truly gone. Getting out and drying off, Kara saw to getting her hair scrub dried and then pulled back into Dutch braids since her hair had grown quite long over time. Once that was done she donned the black catsuit with a built in hood. Wide enough for comfort but made in a way that where one set the cowl on the head could afford more privacy from prying eyes, or be enough to just add allure for hiding one's eyes from others. Either way, hoods were not a strange thing to see in society.

Coming out, the knee high jump boots adding a dark allure to Kara's presence. As if this little outfit she had chosen had brought forth a hidden alter ego. The alter ego that was above and beyond being servile. The voice in her head would direct her to do, or try, something. And, over and over in her mind, Kara would hear a mantra. A mantra that made her feel powerful, energized, and ready to destroy all that stood in her way.

"Peace is a lie. There is only Passion.
Through Passion, I gain Strength.
Through Strength, I gain Power.
Through Power, I gain Victory.
Through Victory my chains are Broken.
The Force shall free me."

Kara took that to heart. The Force? She had heard others speak of this strange power. The last she had heard of speaking about this mysterious energy field had been Mister Loewen. They had sat several times and enjoyed chatting during off hours. He was a Meji, he had said, then gave a very brief discussion as to what that was. Kara waved it off. That philosophy would be antithetical to her own way of thinking these days. Once she had slid her catsuit on and got her boots on, Claire came into the bathroom carrying some tactical gear.

"This is an over the shoulder strap rig. You can have weapons on the shoulder strap, shoulder holster style, and use the belt for other things or, set it up however it would work best for you. Point is, you get some weapons and tech to carry with you. As my assistant, which carries weight by the way, you will have your own small office. You are my first line of offense against both the uppity guards, and any who test us among the population."

Taking the gear, Kara figured out how it was supposed to go on and got strapped up. Belt, tactical holster on right hip. A shoulder strap angling up and over the left shoulder, with a spot for a badge showing the symbol for the current Prefect. All guards, no matter where they worked, were all subject to the Prefect above all others. Once she had it all on straight, her form fitting black outfit blending quite well with the shadows since it was an off-black, with a hint of brackish dark grey in it, like night time at 3AM on Earth. Stand still long enough and people's eyes begin to lose you to the shadows. Small disruptor pistol for under her arm, along with a double-edged black combat knife in matching self sharpening scabbard. Larger particle weapon as a sidearm, another disruptor with which Claire pointed out the settings. Usual setting, thermal five. It was kill or severely damage, depending on where the shot was placed. There was no need for stun in Dark Harbor. Break the laws of the Prefect, pay a painful price for all to see. A good deterrent against rampant chaos and murder sprees.

Ainkara checked herself in the full length mirror. "I feel like a whole different person." She said, back by that inner voice she had been hearing a lot lately. ~The real you is beginning to show. Exercise your powers, push your limits, follow your feelings; your instincts~ "I should get to my office and at least read up on my responsibilities and...limitations. I will not be kind to those who choose to test our limits, Lady Claire."

Claire, liking the sound of the accolade, gave a grin. "I expect nothing less. You are my enforcer, my cudgel, my scalpel." She stepped in closer, toe to toe with her guest. "You are my friend and my most trusted confidante. Your loyalty will aid me in achieving my goals one plan at a time. Prefect Ezzok is easily manipulated if done so in a way that he will always benefit. The more, the better."

"Understood," Kara gave a nod. It felt great to have weapons, to be clean. It was time for her tenure to begin. First priority; cleanse the guard ranks within this section of town until an estate for Claire could be had. Any who remained would be loyal and aid in building something lasting, with strength and honor. "I shall take a walk and read the terrain. I'm sure challenges will be forthcoming. How do I deal with them, my Lady?"

"If they attack you, even put hands on you, you are free to defend yourself." Claire was looking her in the eye, driving home the next point with her gaze. "Destroy them and absorb that kill. Take the reputation and let it grow as it will. Become dangerous, Kara. Mysterious. Erotic. Right there close enough, yet untouchable. I need that. Someone that no one, no matter how good, can read."

Liking the sound of being the mysterious shadow that protected Lady Claire from dangers all around, and served her Mistress with unbreakable loyalty, Kara would have power second only to Claire. In time she could manipulate Claire, too. But, she was a sharp wit and a perceptive mind. This would take time and patience, something that her newfound self seemed content to do. It felt right to ease back and take a break while her mind mulled things over subconsciously. "I am yours, Lady." She dropped to one knee and bowed her head. "Command me."

Claire rolled her eyes and stepped in, pulling Kara to her feet. "Stop that, right now. We," her hand went back and forth a few times as she went on. "Are in this together. I'm the Guard Captain for the palace and keep contingents. About 87% of them are in league with me. We all think alike. You are my Magistrate. You make sure that my directives are seen to, however you see fit."

"So, we're partners playing rolls as we work to take over," Kara mused, giving a grin and continuing before Claire could respond. "I am on board for that. As I said, first step, get you an estate as Lady Claire. You can then name Ministers for various tasks."

Claire liked the sound of that. "Let's begin our expansion, Magistrate Kara. Your power is second only to my own. Let's go see the Prefect." Her eyes went up and down Kara's body. "He may ask for something...unpleasant."

"It's only unpleasant for the first few minutes," Kara stated, her tone denoting complete detachment from such an assault on her physical being. "After that, turn that energy around. Once they are headed for completion then they are open to spiritual assault. I can then plant seeds in their subconscious and wait to see which takes hold and play it out. In short, I win the fight and guide them where I need them to achieve my goals over theirs and leave them thankful."

Another evil grin crossed C;aire's face. "Get me to Prefect, Kara. From there, we figure it out."

Ainkara gave a guttural moan/chuckle from the core. Her eyes were squinting into a casual slitting, the cynicism and malevolence clear. "Consider it done. You cover for me, take the heat, we will come out on top...Prefect." She gave an evil smile at that, making Claire smile back. "You get Prefect, I get to go home."

"Deal."

***

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