Path: newsspool2.news.atl.earthlink.net!stamper.news.atl.earthlink.net!elnk-atl-nf1!newsfeed.earthlink.net!newsswing.news.prodigy.com!prodigy.net!newsfeed.cwix.com!border1.nntp.dca.giganews.com!nntp.giganews.com!newshosting.com!nx02.iad01.newshosting.com!yellow.newsread.com!bad-news.newsread.com!news-toy.newsread.com!netaxs.com!newsread.com!POSTED.newshog.newsread.com!not-for-mail Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated Approved: ascem@earthlink.net Organization: Better Living Thru TrekSmut Sender: ascem@earthlink.net Message-ID: From: Istannor@Aol.com MIME-Version: 1.0 Mailing-List: list ASCEML@yahoogroups.com; contact ASCEML-owner@yahoogroups.com Subject: New: TOS : A Higher Duty: PG: /28 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Lines: 247 Date: Sat, 04 Dec 2004 05:55:22 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 209.198.142.218 X-Complaints-To: Abuse Role , We Care X-Trace: newshog.newsread.com 1102139722 209.198.142.218 (Sat, 04 Dec 2004 00:55:22 EST) NNTP-Posting-Date: Sat, 04 Dec 2004 00:55:22 EST Xref: news.earthlink.net alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated:85920 X-Received-Date: Fri, 03 Dec 2004 21:55:30 PST (newsspool2.news.atl.earthlink.net) Title: A Higher Duty Author: Istannor Contact: Istannor@aol.com Series: TOS Rating: PG13 for violence Part: 24/28 Codes:TOS Summary: This is set during the second 5 year voyage of the Starship Chapter 24 The COM went off. "Dr. McCoy," it was Spock, "you need to escort the Lady Therenna to the bridge. We have company." McCoy turned the now normally sleeping Kirk, over to Dr. Chapel's able hands and walked with Renna to the bridge. When they arrived, J'usreyan and M'arenn were already there, along with Admiral Komack. On the screen, in front of them, was the largest Romulan ship McCoy had ever seen, along with two normal sized battle cruisers, flanking it on either side. He stood, stunned at the immensity of the flagship. It was covered with drawings and writings, obviously of import, but since he didn't read Romulan, it all looked like scratchings to him. "I'll be damned." The very human expression was a shocker coming from Renna's mouth. Obviously the meld had given her more than a sense of invincibility. "Open a hailing frequency, Lt. Uhura." Spock requested calmly from the command chair. When Uhura gave him the go ahead, he began to speak. "This is Commander Spock, in temporary command of the USS Enterprise. Please identify yourselves." "This is The Praetor's Wrath, I am Centurion Srashk. I seek communication with M'arenn Al S'Thor." Spock nodded to M'arenn. "This is M'arenn al S' Trask, of the house Royal, address me as I am. They know, and give us due honor." "As you wish, my lady." The figure bowed deeply. "Your presence is required. Our Commander would speak with you." "I hear and obey." She turned to Mr. Spock. "Can you beam me over, I must speak with our Flag Commander. I would prefer that the others remain here, especially Shthrass and C'Thuth. It would be better if the rest of the conspirators not know we have them, until it is absolutely necessary." "A logical precaution, Lady M'arenn. Mr. Chekov, escort the Lady to the transporter room, and see that she gets safely to that ship." "Now wait one minute, Mr. Spock. What makes you think it is in our best interests to beam her back over? She is our best security against attack." Admiral Komack came up to stand beside Spock. "I disagree, Admiral. Our best defense is the three other Federation ships in orbit, and the fact that no member of their party has yet broken their word to us. Unless you have an overwhelming objection, I suggest we proceed." Komack thought long and hard. "Very well, Spock, proceed, but at the first hint of treachery, I want you to blast them all out of the heavens. Make sure you target the Praetor's Flagship first." Spock was sure the last was said for M'arenn's benefit. "Understood Admiral. Go, Mr. Chekov." M'arenn beamed over. It was a full hour of tense waiting, before the Romulan flagship signaled them again. It was M'arenn again. "Enterprise, we wish to come and speak with your "guests" if we may. In addition, our Commander has a personal request to make." "I am listening." "Our Commander wishes to meet with Captain Kirk, if it is possible." Spock looked at McCoy who nodded once. "Tell the Commander, we welcome him, and are honored by his presence. We move to comply." Spock looked at Renna, she was relaxed and smiling. "Is their something you wish to tell me, Renna?" Her smile if anything grew larger. "No, Spock, I think I will enjoy seeing your surprise." She positively glowed. His response was a raised eyebrow as he crossed to take her elbow lightly and escort her from the bridge, followed by Jus, Komack, and Ambassador Davis. They waited in the Transporter room with a full honor guard, or security detail, depending on your point of view. The signal finally came and Scotty initiated transport of the party from the Romulan ship. The Imperial party materialized on the pad. An armed honor guard surrounded the person's of M'arenn and a tall man with a definite family resemblance. Spock stepped forward. "I am Commander Spock. You honor us with your presence," he recited formally. "This is Admiral Komack of Starfleet Command, and Ambassador Davis ..." Ambassador Davis bowed smoothly and Komack looked at her as if she had taken leave of her senses. "Your Imperial Highness, it is an honor to finally meet you. I thank-you for the courtesies your staff has always shown us in our past dealings." M'arenn stepped forward. "This is Massrit Al S' Trask, Most high, favored of the elements, Praetor of the Romulan Empire. All hale his glorious presence." "Enough of titles, M'arenn," the man behind her stepped lightly off the transporter pad like a born athlete. He had the indefinite look of a person of Vulcan heritage somewhere between fifty and one hundred and fifty. His hair was close-cropped and lightly dusted with gray. His form was slim and well muscled. No, not an athlete, a warrior, born and bred. Spock could feel Komack coil beside him. He stepped forward to intervene. "We welcome you and give you guest right." The Praetor looked at Spock with a renewed sense of appraisal. "You know our customs." "It is my duty to collect any pertinent data in the eventuality it may prove useful." Spock acknowledged with a slight nod of his head. "I see." He looked at the Vulcan completely now, perhaps seeing him for the first time. "I would like to see your prisoners first, if I may, Commander Spock. I am in great need of knowing what other poisonous creatures I harbor, unsuspected." "As you wish, however, I must request our own security be in attendance." "I will be there also," Komack interjected. The Praetor looked at the Admiral for a long moment, then turned towards Spock. Komack was not the danger here. The Vulcan was. "As you wish, Admiral. Sister," he gestured towards Renna to join he and M'arenn, "attend me. I have need of your skills." "Yes, my Lord." Therenna bowed and walked to the side of her brother, the Praetor. She was about to be asked to perform an act on the prisoners that on Vulcan would have been considered a crime of rape. She was going to force a meld on them. "IDIC," Spock thought to himself and quietly led the way. His earlier threat against the Klingon, he was sure had been a bluff on his part, or was it? Suddenly, he was not sure he had been truly, only bluffing. Renna's services were not needed. The sight of the Praetor and the simple presence of someone Shthrass knew could drain him and leave him for a mindless hulk, were enough to cause a virtual diarrheal confession. The Praetor had the names of all of Shthrass' co-conspirators, at least the ones he knew, in less than twenty minutes. Satisfied he turned to Spock. "He is yours, Vulcan. We do not care what you do with him. Romulus does not know him. His family, his titles, his name are forgotten. He never existed. If you cut off his genitalia and force-fed them to him, we would not notice." The Praetor exited, leaving behind a very terrified Romulan in his wake. "Can we meet the Captain, now, Admiral Komack? I understand he was injured in the defense of our family, therefore I will not take offense if he is too weak to meet with us." Admiral Komack waited to respond. "I think Praetor, that it would be best if we met first. The Federation has requested that, I and Ambassador Davis, take this opportunity to iron out some small difficulties our two governments have experienced." "I am not here for a diplomatic conference, Admiral. I came only to retrieve my family, and deal with any conspirators I might find. I have people who do that sort of thing for me." "I do understand your eagerness to withdraw, Praetor, but time well spent is never wasted. I am sure the Captain will be better able to speak with you tomorrow. In the meantime, we can take this opportunity to come to a meeting of the minds." The Praetor seemed about to object, when Renna gently grabbed his arm. "Brother, he was sorely injured. Though I do not agree with the Admirals intent, what he tells you is, in essence, true. I do not think we could arouse him any time soon, anyway." She looked to McCoy for confirmation. "He almost died in our defense. It would not honor us to tax him more." The supreme ruler of the Romulan Empire looked at his younger sister with love and great tenderness. Finally, he smiled. "As you wish, Renna. Come, Admiral, I find myself with exactly twenty-four hours on my hands. Perhaps, we can put it to use, as you say. M'arenn, Jus, attend me please. Mr. Spock, you will notify me when the Captain is awake, I trust?" "I will." "Very well. Admiral Komack, Ambassador Davis, I am at your disposal, so to speak. Please, do not abuse the privilege." The party walked towards the Transporter room where they beamed down to the Federation embassy to begin a tentative diplomatic dance, with the Praetor and his staff. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ASCEM messages are copied to a mailing list. 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