Tying Up Loose Ends

Posted on Sun May 23rd, 2010 @ 7:54pm by Captain Vorn Krace

Mission: Borderline Diplomacy
Location: USS Iapetus - Bevrud Orbit
Timeline: MD08 1738hrs

As Vorn settled into the seat in the familiar cockpit of the Aeroshuttle, he sighed, contented. It had been just under two hours since Lissek had left orbit, and while staying in constant communication with the Iapetus, Vorn had been busy trying to finish up the job they were originally sent to fullfill on Bevrud. The negotiations with the new First Minister - who had assumed the role after an emergency ballot had been held amongst remaining non-Shintaka government officials - had gone extremely smoothly, and Kutan had even stated that, in honour for the services Vorn and his officers had provided him, he would not take part or attempt to secure a treaty between Bevrud and the Elyshan Empire. With an initial treaty signed between Vorn and First Minister Hitamikan, Bevrud was well on its way to becoming a protectorate, followed by a full fledged member of the United Federation of Planets.

At the thought of the Elyshan Sovereign, Vorn turned in his chair to look past his officers and Lt. Commander Archer - who's mission was now complete on Bevrud - to Kutan, who sat at the back of the chamber, behind a darkened console. Regardless of how much intelligence the Elyshans may or may not have on Federation runabout systems, Vorn wasn't going to give them anything extra. With the destruction of Kutan's ship, Vorn had offered to give the Elyshan a ride to the Iapetus in orbit, and loan him one of their old Type-18 Shuttlepods. It was something that Archer and Gunning both likely had misgivings about him doing, but Vorn knew that the shuttlepod was an aged craft, and there were likely decomissioned versions of the craft in civilian hands all over the quadrant, and he had already ordered the removal of all weapons and systems that wouldn't be required in its journey to Elyshan space.

As Vorn swivelled his chair back to face the front, while Peter - whom Vorn had told to pilot the vessel back up to the Iapetus - lifted the ship off the landing pad, he closed his eyes and relaxed, slipping into a short nap during the ascent to orbit, tired as he was after the days on the surface as a fugitive.

Being woken by the metallic clangs as the clamps sealed around the AeroShuttle, once it had manoeuvred precisely into its port on the underside of the saucer section, Vorn stood and turned to lead the party out into the bowls of his ship. Instructing Gunning to escort Kutan to the shuttlebay, and informing Archer that he would have quarters assigned for her while they travelled back to Federation space, he made his way to the bridge.

"As soon as Kutan's shuttlepod is away, set course for Deep Space 7, warp 8," he ordered as he walked through the crimson doors of the command centre. Settling down into his chair, he rubbed the armrests fondly, murmuring quietly to himself; "home, sweet home."

Looking up at the viewscreen, he watched as the shuttlepod carrying Kutan arced away from them, before vanishing into warp speeds, and allowing them to commence their own journey. "Engage," Vorn ordered.