Chapter 23: For The Republic
July 2413
“That has to be it, Commander, it matches the signature of the Bird of Prey detected at Hfihar and DS9.”
“Something isn’t right…” Commander Merik responded, “Cloak the ship and bring us to the far side of the planet. Prepare a shuttle for launch.” As the RRW Vathos moved invisibly around to the opposite side of Nimbus III, the unregistered Klingon Bird of Prey in question continued its derelict orbit. The seemingly-abandoned vessel was presumed to belong to the rogue Klingon assassin, Tralk, that the Republic crew had been assigned to locate and capture.
In the Vathos shuttlebay, Commander Merik and Doctor Kirina t’Nalah were preparing to depart along with a pair of Reman security officers. “We’ll make a pass within transporter range of the derelict on our way down,” the Commander spoke to the Remans first, “Once aboard, secure the ship and signal when it’s safe for a salvage team to move in.” The middle-aged Romulan man looked to the redheaded doctor next, “You and I will test out that new scanner of yours and go locate our friend Mr. Tralk.”
The shuttle departed and deposited the security duo as planned, before heading for the surface. Once onboard, the pair of Remans quickly realized that they had beamed aboard a hornet’s nest. They avoided or defused several traps laid for them before succumbing to a nerve toxin that had been released as soon as the ship detected lifesigns aboard. Evidently, Tralk never intended to return.
On the ground, Merik and Kirina made short work of Tralk’s efforts to remain hidden and proceeded to a makeshift safehouse at the bottom of a large canyon. They stormed the structure, expecting a fight, but instead found only partially charred wreckage. A fire had been set, only recently. Judging from the sloppy work by an expert assassin, they must have missed their target by mere minutes.
Not ready to give up, the pair set to work trying to find any consoles or documents that were salvageable; anything to give them a hint as to Tralk’s destination or next target, or how he’s remained one step ahead of them the whole time.
“What was that?” Merik asked in a hushed tone. Not having heard anything, Kirina’s gaze lingered on her tricorder as she continued trying to activate one of the consoles. By the time she looked over to the Commander, he had just barely managed to draw his weapon and fire towards the door when he was struck in the chest by a disruptor bolt. He slumped to his left, colliding with a table before reaching the ground, lifeless.
Kirina’s gasp in surprise was cut short.
“Do not move, Romulan, or you will die with him.”