Seekrit Transmission
Posted on August 14th, 2015 by Ilaihr and Kuari

By Ilaihr and Kuari

Ilaihr was walking beside the magnificent dragon; Lady Kuari, along the beach with a smile on his face. They had been tasked with finding an unblocked frequency, and getting a message past the Starfleet informational barricade; but first they had to throw off some of the suspicion of their earlier gathering off. Ilaihr hadn’t done anything so cloak-and-dagger in years; it was exhilarating.

Kuari kept an eye inland, occasionally turning her head to look behind them, which she thought she could get away with fairly easily without being suspicious since her eyes were set similarly to a bird’s. The only sounds were their feet crunching in the sand and their quiet conversation, both of which were mostly overwhelmed by the roar of the surf.

“Are there any guards taking notice? Have we eluded the earlier lot?” He asked calmly, knowing her eyesight and field of view was definitely superior to his, whilst he kept his mind’s eye on the emotions nearby.

“As far as I can tell,” Kuari replied. “I don’t know about higher tech, though. We’re not suspicious enough for anyone to bother, are we?”

“One can only hope.” He chuckled. “I used to do a lot of things like this in my ‘youth’; I learnt that it pays to be at least a little cautious. I mean, we’re not trying to evade Nausicaan pirate patrols or Tal Shiar operatives, but something is not right with Starfleet at the moment.”

Kuari suddenly focused both eyes on Ilaihr, her voice hushing further and her steps momentarily faltering. “You really think it’s Starfleet?”

“My relationship with Starfleet and the Federation is a long one. Not always amiable, I admit. But with the war, the death of the President, and now this… I do not like the flow of events.” He looked out at the twin suns setting in the sky, and breathed in the ocean spray. “We must all be prepared for things we may not readily accept.”

Musing silently on his words, Kuari walked alongside Ilaihr for a few moments before answering. “It does seem possible. If there are people in Starfleet hurting others, I hope we can do something to stop them.”

“As do I. But first, we have to help Kathryn and Alexis get off the planet by finding them a good communication frequency. While I don’t know what they are doing, I know that I do not need to know. And I am always happy to help two young’uns in love.”

Nodding, Kuari attempted to puff out her chest a little, but it was difficult while walking on all fours. “Well wherever you need to go, I’ll protect you.”

Ilaihr chuckled and nodded at her. “I am glad.” He smiled. “I used to employ a pair of Breen bodyguards, who we affectionately named The Twins. While I can swing this cane, I have never been much for personal defence; my time on Mount Seleya made me a pacifist.”

As they walked, Ilaihr kept an eye out for a secluded communication terminal with rapid exit points, in case they get rumbled and have to make a quick getaway.

Kuari smiled widely. “Brains over brawn?”

“That has always been the aim. Although, my hand has been forced on occasion. It’s actually how I ended up with four sons.” He quickly tried to wash over that last comment as they left the beach to walk along the beachfront, hoping to see a suitable terminal amongst the various Risan squares.

The Rucara puzzled over Ilaihr’s last comment, and she was the type to ask whatever question was on her mind, but she had lived this long tempering her curiosity and in this case she had the sense not to ask. As they left the beach and approached more buildings and places people could hide, Kuari became much more alert, her pointed ears angling and her large eyes watching everyone and everything. Most people appeared to be tourists, laughing with each other or otherwise chatting amicably. Her tactical training had taught her that the best spies emulated this type of activity, but she doubted very highly that any such arrangements would be implemented quickly enough to be watching them. Kuari concentrated on seeking out anyone alone and quiet.

Ilaihr sensed a little tension in Kuari. He rested his hand on her shoulder and emanated an air of his calm to her; regardless of how uneasy he actually was. As he looked around, he located a small seating garden, with a terminal in place. The area was surrounded by trees and flower pots, was sufficiently secluded and quiet in comparison to the rest of the area, and had a number of trailing paths leading off of it.

“That looks like the perfect spot, my dear.”

Kuari glanced at Ilaihr, following his line of sight then quickly looking away as they made their way towards it. “All right.”

As they approached, Ilaihr was more direct in sensing the emotions and thoughts of those they passed, making certain that he and Kuari were not being watched. Unsurprisingly, many were checking out Kuari and her wings, but Ilaihr sensed nothing malicious or covert. He quickly walked up to the console and started checking the comms, which were still being blocked. He slowly opened an access panel on the terminal and began fiddling with the internal circuits inside.

“First we need to secure it before proceeding.” He said in a hushed tone.

“And you know how to do that?” Kuari whispered back.

“It shouldn’t be too difficult… though I have been known to be wrong on occasion….”

With one hand inside the terminal and the other typing away, he ummed and ahhed as he attempted to scramble the locator, bouncing it’s signal between a number of other panels in the region.

Trying not to look suspicious but also not look at what Ilaihr was doing, Kuari lowered her belly to the boardwalk and attempted to look comfortable and people watch while Ilaihr wrestled with the terminal. After a couple of minutes, two people stopped nearby, smiling. The woman called over to Ilaihr.

“Ohh, sir, I love your…um, what is it?” She said, indicating Kuari.

He turned around, looking down at Kuari then back up to the passers by. “She is my companion, and is a magnificent sentient being… who belongs to no one.” He scowled at them. “And it would be appreciated if you apologise!”

Kuari looked up at her, and when the woman looked back with wide eyes and a confused expression, Kuari smiled and simply said, “Hi.” The woman jumped in surprise.

“Ohh, I’m…I’m terribly sorry.” Seeming too embarrassed to continue conversation, she shuffled away, dragging along the man with her.

“I do apologise for that my dear.” He said to Kuari with a sincere smile. “Some people…”

Giggling, Kuari angled her long neck towards Ilaihr. “It’s okay, I’m used to it. I like to have fun with it, actually.” Normally, she wouldn’t have let the woman walk away feeling the way she did, but they were trying to be covert, and it wouldn’t do to have strangers hanging around.

“I understand.” He chuckled lightly. “But I don’t have to like or agree with their assumptions. I have seen all too well how those kinds of assumptions can go. People need to be more open minded.”

“I suppose so,” Kuari conceded from down on the ground, still watching everyone who passed. “The way I see it, everyone is a product of their experiences. If they’re not used to something, they won’t consider it. To me, it just means there aren’t a lot like me in this quadrant. There are only three Rucara in the Alpha Quadrant that I know of, and probably the Beta Quadrant, too.”

“I suppose you would be what people call exotic. You are one of the most unique species I have ever encountered, and I am friends with a Horta.” Ilaihr smiled.

He looked back to the terminal, double checking that he had scrambled the locator, before entering a number of frequency modulations that he had obtained a number of years ago, from some old Obsidian Order contacts. “I’m going to send a test communication to an old friend…” He entered the communication coordinates: Cardassia.

After a few long moments, a shadow-shrouded face appeared on the screen. “What can I help you with old man?” Whoever it was spoke with a calm, yet unnerving tone.

“This is simply a test…” Ilaihr replied in an equally calm tone.

“Why would you, of all people, need to send a secure transmission in this manner… and from Risa?”

“That is not your concern old friend. What is the current security level?”

“Starfleet communications have detected the transmission. I hope you have taken the proper precautions.”

“I have.”

“They are beginning to triangulate the source. Your time is up. Whatever you require this for… you will have 90 seconds at the most… Good luck, old friend.” The screen went blank, as the figure was quickly replaced by the Risan insignia.

Ilaihr quickly placed the panel back onto the terminal. “I believe it is time to go my dear.” He said to Kuari with a sense of urgency.

Quickly rising, “Kuari danced from foot to foot. “Casual or are we running?”

“I dont run for anything; too old for that malarkey. Besides, if we run it will seem suspicious.”

Walking alongside Ilaihr, Kuari matched his pace and posture. “Let’s hope it’s enough for Harper and Wright.”

As they moved out of range of the terminal, Ilaihr sensed hustled thoughts approaching it. He took a deep breath and relaxed, not turning around to look. “They are clever girls. I am sure 90 seconds will be more than enough. In the meantime, we should distance ourselves from this place.”

They returned to the beach, quickly and quietly. “I will give the information to the commanders later. I had the sense they had plans for the moment anyway.”