JL | Commo Ivanova, Kalina Zett | "Bearing Gifts" pt 2/2

Posted on Sat Apr 14th, 2018 @ 4:16pm by Commodore Rochelle Ivanova

Mission: Lacuna

"I do." Rochelle nodded, another sip of tea going down the hatch, "Insist on storming the auction, however... I'm open to your suggestions on how to do it. We wouldn't bum rush them like a hoarde of Mongols coming over the wall." She snorted disdainfully at the very thought, "If we did that they'd slit their throats and be done with it." Her eyes, darker, leveled on Zett again as if there were some understanding to be found and shared - a notice that they weren't complete dissimilar in tactics and knowledge. Common ground was a frightening thing to find. Frightening... And comforting.

Zett looked at her a moment, thinking, following bits of thoughts that led to bigger bits of growing realization, taking the time to examin the details of the woman's face.

The rescue plan would be irrelevant -- an unnecessary risk -- if Zett had won the bid. And she will win it; Dani was out there, fixing the offers, bribing parties, paying off several participants to fake a competitive bidding war, some bid on one woman while others on the other, ensuring a win, removing suspicion, reducing the chances of complications...

But that wasn't quite the plan, was it... If it had been, the conversation would be about contingencies; how to get in and rescue the women if the bid fails or just in case there are problems, or in the case that they're caught or...

There was no if in the Commodore's question. Or in her eyes.

The Trill shifted, licking her lips thoughtfully, her gaze fixed on the pale woman before her, searching, examining, looking for... There it was. Undoubtedly. The fire; hot, and explosive and burning through the pale skin, shining through the tired eyes. That's what Dani was talking about; the Firestorm. That's Rochelle Ivanova.

"You're not planning to leave quietly even if we win the bid, are you?" The Trill asked, her fingers lightly tapping on her emptying cup, her eyes square on Rochelle's.

Million dollar question and Rochelle didn't even flinch as she simply answered, "No." One word. One syllable. She may as well have said 'let the motherfuckers burn' for the way her mouth wrapped around lovely little reply. She set her own empty cup down and re-crossed her coltish legs, moving to whisk a stray bit of hair back over her shoulder, "I have no intention of letting them off the hook. Once my people are secured, I expect you to take Dani and your people and get as far away from the auction site as fast as you possibly can. Burn out your engines if you have to." Tired though she was, Rochelle had never been one to mince words and while Andrea would have been proud of her disciples earlier display of decorum and diplomacy, she'd likely have blanched and suffered a stroke if she heard the way the young Commodore spoke now and further closed the gap between light and chaotic neutral.

Zett nodded slowly, her eyes still fixed on Ivanova's, her warmth fading. This was no longer a meeting with a tired lost friend who needs assistance... this was a dangerous contender with absolute will. Zett's lips curled upwards, slightly. That's what she was more used to, she noted to herself, though it was also a radical shift to the expectations of everyone who was currently participating on her side. She started to see what Dani liked about this woman, though she hadn't quite yet decided if she could follow.

Peaceful Starfleet my ass, Dani.

"You realize there are other people on that station," Zett intoned, her voice not accusatory as it was curious, as if it didn't actually matter to her, but she was curious to see if Ivanova, at all, gave even a shred of a damn. "Innocent of the crime of kidnapping or selling your people. Some of them are even innocent in general." She took a sip, never dropping her gaze, fascinated at this turn of events, wondering just how far she has underestimated pajama-wearing Starfleet.

There was a shrug, gentle as spring rain, "I have zero interest in injuring the innocent. They'll be given their chance to get clear, but if they're stupid enough not to take that chance than my conscience is clean." Maybe her father's altruistic symbioses with the Klingons was truly genetic - that personality type that left them bent on defending honor and destroying any and everything that stepped out of line or threatened their happy status quo. Maybe now without Landon holding the leash attached to a proverbial pinch collar, Rochelle was free to explore that path without fear of rejection or dishonoring the memory of a once good Captain. Vindicator was hers, not Landon's. She was not responsible for his fall, but rather had given him a chance to rise again and he'd abused the privilege. A mistake that wouldn't happen again. This wasn't about Landon Neyes, though, this was about a woman who had had enough of being trifled with and now ended the charade with the ultimate check mate. She wouldn't go running to her father or Ch'Krang. She wouldn't go running back to Atlantis. She'd handle it herself with the aid of an old friend and from there she'd make her statement without ever leaving her chair.

That was a mark of power. Unbridled and untouched... And rather unfathomed. In many ways she hoped and prayed to whatever Gods were listening that day that she'd never have to do it again but knew, if pushed, she'd unleash hell to bring back her crew... Her family.

Zett's smile grew as she drew another sip from her cup, still examining the woman in front of her with some measure of amused respect. She was impressed. Not quite by the plan, though. She found that to be rather wasteful; There were quite a number of people and organizations on that station that would be a lot more useful in the long run if they are allowed to remain alive -- and active. But those were her considerations, her calculations. Clearly, the fiery Starfleet officer had used completely different math. But she was impressed by the guts of it all. And here she thought Starfleet was a blind naive entity, insisting on 'justice' for all, whether they like it or not.

"Well, then." She was going to have an interesting time speaking to Dani after this meeting. At the very least, she'd have to tell the woman to change course and shift plans. There was no longer just an option for violence. Violence was now pretty strongly assured.

"Seeing as you choose the bloody version, I guess my role as a 'friend' would be to offer you assistance. I can get you help on the ground; we have sources down there, which I'd rather not be blown to bits by Starfleet fury." Her expression didn't change, but she did consider, for a moment, who was important enough to be spared. There were a few. The favor they would owe her would be... significant.

"And since the bid is irrelevant, think we have enough money now to hire you some guns. In fact, there's enough money to hire you a small army, if you really want, but I don't think you will appreciate their... training." She smiled coldly, but amusement still graced her eyes. How much blood do you want, Rochelle Ivanova?

There was silence for a moment and Rochelle's brilliant blue eyes narrowed slightly as she considered options and words and actions, "Whatever happens will be interspersed with the team I send. And here's where I share with you a bit of information which really isn't something you couldn't get on your own... Lieutenant Commander Stacker is a MACO through and through. He will likely want to bring his old jarhead buddies along and he will go because he's Intel. The same way Archer will go. From there i send a Scientist that will be able to keep Si'a Dai'xun alive and calm throughout the process." The question was hardly answered, but it was. It didn't stop Rochelle from continuing, "From there let it burn. The men directly responsible for taking my people... Make examples out of them. The facility? Level it. Make it known that this will not be tolerated again. Whatever... Riches there are to be found, money, whatever... Take it and divide it between you and whoever. I have no interest in it, but it's to go to a good cause." She finished, leaning back in her seat.

"I don't want as much blood as you think, but I want to take the head off the beast and make it known that I will not accept being toyed with. That the Vindicator, and its sisters, are not to be poached from and should it happen again... Mm." Her head shook and her eyes closed, "I think you understand." Scorch the Earth, salt their fields, burn their villages... It was unavoidable now, "And tell Dani... Tell her that this is the only way. The game has gone on too long and I'm tired of it."

"Oh, I understand," Zett noted, but she wasn't sure it was exactly what Rochelle meant. She understood what was about to happen, and, to some extent, the why, but for the necessity of this... No. Beyond being a complete waste of resources and potential for one of the more interesting black market station in the area, this action would be an extreme measure of overreaction that will, undoubtedly, have a steep price. Starfleet will make a point, but it will also make enemies. Quite a lot of them.

She couldn't help wondering if this was the point of this whole thing. If they were played, all of them; it would have been ingenious, for one of the lower crime hubs, to formulate and execute a plan that ends with Starfleet destroying their competition and making enemies of whatever remained. That, undoubtedly, would have been Zett's game plan... if only they were in need of a new terf.

Maybe one day.

"I'll tell Dani about the change of plan, but this specific point, Commodore," Zett leaned back in the sofa and smiled coolly, "you might have to explain that one yourself. She's not much for the scorched earth strategies."

"I realize this." Rochelle's response was one of musing more than snottish quip. Dani had always been gentle and kind when it came to these sort of things... To a degree. Pushed hard enough and Dani would snap - and that's exactly what had happened here. Rochelle had snapped. Composed as she may be, she'd been wounded too many times and this time they'd gone too far. Instead of coming at her head one, they'd sunk to a new level and poached from her people. Worse, they endangered the lives of an unborn member of Rochelle's collective family - that only served to rub rock salt in the wounds. She wouldn't tolerate it. Couldn't. Her head shook slowly as she truly mulled it over, "Archer will be handling this for me when it comes time to be wherever it is they are. His orders will be to end the program, but only after the my people are secured. I don't care if you have to bid on them, cash out, and leave and wait for a rendezvous, but that is what I want."

The Phoenix canted her head to one side, peering deeply back into the cooler voids of the Trill's eyes, "You and I know so very little about one another, Kalina Zett, but know that this is not an easy choice to make and I've weighed the options and risks since the second I was informed of the kidnapping. I don't spill blood unless I have to. I don't spill innocent blood as a rule. I ask that you keep it as clean as you possibly can. This isn't a free for all."

"We'll make sure to prioritize our engagement to not stand in your way," Zett nodded, but notably, promised nothing. She, too, was not someone to spill blood for nothing -- but if Starfleet was going this route, the options are uncertain, and death tends to follow more death. She will not go guns blazing... but where this will actually go, she couldn't quite promise yet.

There was a lot to do now, a lot of plans to change, and, most importantly, there was a talk to be done with Dani. She wasn't too enthusiastic about that one for this particular subject.

Another nod, this one of perfect understanding and Rochelle uncrossed her legs in order to get them beneath herself in preparation to stand, "Wonderful. Then we understand one another perfectly." She chuffed, finally convincing her body to assume a vertical position instead on being perched in a seat, "I believe we're done here then?"

"I have the coordinates ready for you in a secure PADD," Zett nodded, placing her cup back on the small table, pressing a small button on it. "And I have a little trinket we picked up that might be useful to you. It came from the same ship that took your people; it might help you find it. And you can use it as an excuse as to why I wanted to see you in person, if anyone confronts you about it." Or if whoever is involved in this is setting you up... She thought, and glanced up at the opening door, as her assistant walked in with the box, offering it to Rochelle.

"You can contact me to let me know what kind of ground support you might want. As I said, I can get you troops, or other ground support. Do keep me in the loop, Commodore. We don't want to get in each other's way." She gave Ivanova a knowing smile, and gestured at the gift box.

Holding the box, the redhead weighed it in her hands before rubbing her thumb across the metallic bit of ribbon that bound it shut, "Dani never skimps on presentation, does she? If there's a glitter bomb in here, I'm going to be irritated." Her words were barely a mutter as she realized that Kalina intended for her to open her gift right then and there in that very office on the Bristol. There was more story, maybe an explanation, to be told. The ribbon became careful short work, untying with delicate ease and from there off came the lid. The PADD would remain within as Rochelle picked up the piece of heat shield from within. "Heat shield?" She asked, turning it in her hand to study it, "Better come with a VIN number." Of course not. VIN numbers were for old Terran vehicles.

And then it dawned. It wasn't so much the trinket that was given, but what was on the trinket that was given. Dust. Microbes. Paint particles. The molecular composition. No two ships, even if they were built at the same yard and traveled the same set of routes in unison for their entire careers, would be exactly alike. There in lay the hook, line, and sinker needed to tweak sensors and find the bastards. This time when she smiled with was wry and came with a tiny little huff of a laugh, "Clever. I thank you for this marvelous gift and that fine cup of tea, miss Zett. Expect to hear from me shortly, and send my love to Dani."

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Commodore Rochelle Ivanova
Commanding Officer
USS VINDICATOR, NX-78213-F

Kalina Zett
Head of the Zetarah Corporation
Acting Captain of the Bristol