Chapter 4.1

Posted on Fri Feb 3rd, 2023 @ 12:45am by Minister Zehoi D'ian & Director Esoria sh'Vreshaa

737 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: No One Gets Left Behind
Location: Cerulean
Timeline: 3189-03-16, 12:15

Minister Zehoi D'ian was sitting in her room seething. The Orion Syndicate was her birthright as the descendant of the legendary Melani D'ian. Through her the Orion Syndicate became a galactic power, even if a vassal state of the Klingon Empire. Through her they grew into a force to be reckoned with. Then, with the stroke of a galactic disaster, all of that changed. In the wink of an eye the galaxy changed as the entire dilithium supply of the known worlds went inert. Billions died, millions of ships were lost, and thousands of worlds were made inaccessible. That was all that it took for the Emerald Chain to emerge supreme.

Being the descendant of their grand unifier, most would think that life was grand for Minister Zehoi D'ian. At first it was. The Orions and the Andorians made great strides with the creation of the Emerald Chain and were able to accomplish amazing things. In time that changed as more and more worlds joined the Chain and supplanted what had come before. Eventually, new leaders emerged with the promise that they could offer a better life. People like Osyraa and Esoria sh'Vreshaa were the catalyst for her own destruction.

And Zehoi knew the truth about the Emerald Chain. Like every other world, every other government, every other empire they were dying a quick death. Her a close Andorian friend named Ryn knew the truth that the Chain was running out of dilithium and would soon be unable to keep up the charade that they'd become. Instead of sharing the reality with the citizens, the Chain silenced her. She and Ryn were able to escape, but she had no idea what happened to her comrade after their escape. She hoped he was ok, but she had a feeling Osyraa had not given up.

And Esoria sh'Vreshaa had made Zehoi her personal enemy. Even though Zehoi had escaped and hidden away on Cold Station 12, that had been short lived. The Federation found her, rescued her, and now found themselves targets of the Chain for their actions to help her. Even now she watched as the Cerulean approached her target, reconfigured into combat formation.

"What, Princess?" Esoria's voice was full of irritation.

At least her name still carried some power. Zehoi D'ian turned toward the hologram of her old friend and current captor, "What is our status, Director?"

"You do know that you're a prisoner on this ship?" Esoria asked with annoyance.

"And, despite that, I still have the title of Minister, which means I'm entitled to answers," the Orion woman countered. "Unless Osyraa removed those honorifics?" Zehoi hoped that she had. The new leader of the Emerald Chain was many, many things and she hated Zehoi. She had not denied that she was going to strip Zehoi and her family of their titles and, most likely, she already had.

The answer was sickening. Esoria sighed, "You still have your rank and title. Very well, we're on approach to Risa. They have sent out a distress signal because their weather grid is malfunctioning. Your friends from the Enterprise are also in orbit and I'm about to blow them out of the sky."

"Isn't Risa a Federation world?" D'ian questioned.

"They are, but they've also applied for membership in the Chain," Esoria answered. "That's a little after your time, Princess. Their problems have really influenced their believe in the Federation's ability to help them."

It didn't take a genius to solve the puzzle, "The Chain sabotaged their weather grid didn't they? Just like Kwejian."

"Sorry, that's above my pay grade," the Andorian deflected. "But, the Enterprise is trespassing in our territory and I am duty bound to respond."

"You will stand down," the Minister demanded.

Esoria smirked, "I will do nothing of the sort. Besides, I have some new friends aboard that are more than willing to help me in my efforts to overcome that ship's influence. Better strap in, Minister, you're going to get to see the Federation Flagship blown to bits." The Andorian laughed as her hologram faded away.

Zehoi ran to the window and looked out at the Federation ship as it filled the viewport praying that Esoria was wrong. From what she knew of her brief time aboard that ship though she knew that the Enterprise would be hard pressed to survive against the Cerulean in her current state.

The Orion Minister prayed for a miracle.

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