Of she who knew thee not [✱22]

Posted on Tue Jul 22nd, 2025 @ 10:22am by Captain Rovak & Commander Alex Flynn & Doctor Intharia T'Zor & SubCommander Saa & Colonel Augie Kowalski & Lieutenant Commander Atna & Lieutenant Raul Saez & Lieutenant JG Akaar Zuul & Senior Chief Petty Officer Gaz & Polyphron & Lieutenant Colonel Shoka & Tyr
Edited on on Tue Jul 22nd, 2025 @ 12:12pm

2,205 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: The Serpent's Tooth [3]
Location: Docking Lounge, F-Dock
Timeline: 2000 - MD11 (After 'He Goes to the Sky')

As the senior staff arrived, they found the Captain and Ambassador Velt sitting with Colonel Kowalski and her XO Shoka, as well as Tyr, and most unexpectedly, the Tok’ra Polyphron, who had been scarce since she was released from sickbay. With the CIC and its surrounds still out of commission, and Alpha Dock also a worksite, they had settled on Foxtrot Dock as the site for this meeting, it had the most reliable computers after all.

“Thank you all for coming. I am loath to summon you here outside duty hours, and particularly after such an intense few days, but there are several subjects of importance I am hoping to raise.” Rovak said, knowing some of them had been present at the trial or at least watching it, but wanting to ensure all the senior staff were on the same page and had the opportunity to voice any thoughts. They deserved whatever catharsis could be provided through discussion.

“For those who were not aware, Lieutenant Eris sh’Rhavar died this evening at 1903 hours from injuries sustained during the attack at the treaty ceremony.” Rovak explained in his usual unexpressive manner. Despite his tone, those familiar with his mannerisms would perceive that his unwillingness to raise his eyes beyond the level required to see the collars or equivalent of those around him demonstrated how troubled he was by this development, even an hour after the fact, and despite the best efforts of his Kolinahr training.

Flynn remained silent. She had come directly from her biobed, she was still in her hospital issue pants and top and a pair of pair of sunglasses that had been replicated for her when they realised that the less light she got in her eyes the less pain she experienced. She’d gone to the ICU window when she heard the code called, and watched the young Andorian take her last breaths despite the frantic efforts to save her. Alex expected to feel more, she appreciated the tragedy as it was, but then having encountered death firsthand at the age of six, she wondered if she wasn’t far too calloused by such things. Still, she badly wanted a drink when she thought about it.

Gaz shook his head as he heard it. He’d been too busy replacing systems in the CIC to keep track of the trial. He was glad at least that they’d decided to send the Hera creature back.

Intharia put her hand to her mouth. That poor girl.

Atna made no expression, but found any loss of life, particularly that of a starfleet officer, most distasteful. She hoped that Tau’ri justice was appropriately severe.

Raul had heard the news as it happened from the other navigators. At first he’d only been taking over sh’Rhavar’s role while she recovered, now she wasn’t coming back he wondered what this meant. But this wasn’t about him, and despite the number of emotionless Vulcan faces on the senior staff, he was sure everyone else present felt the same grief he’d been sitting with.

“Because of this, Lady Hera has been extradited and waits aboard the Bra’tac for it to depart, which will take place shortly. The Bra’tac crew have also reviewed all the current Goa’uld hosts, and found that each consents to their position. Shortly after the review to attain host consent was announced, Lord Typhon used a concealed transporter device to beam himself aboard a shuttle and attempt to flee. His shuttle was destroyed by the Bra’tac, and we have confirmed that both host and symbiote are deceased.”

Gaz just shook his head again. Typhon was more of a name and list of affectations to him than a person, but more death served nobody.

Atna deduced that the host was no doubt unconsenting. A fitting end perhaps for the symbiote, but not the man in its thrall. Intharia simply sighed, trying to focus on the positive of there being at least now more to study in the way of both Goa’uld and host biology.

That cheered Raul the littlest bit. He hadn’t taken much time to understand the dynamic of the Goa’uld and the Jaffa, but he knew exploitation when he saw it, and the Pharaoh seemed to be the only one offering any alternative.

“You didn’t have any means of tractoring a shuttle?” asked Saa.

"Not that can't be shaken off by a motivated pilot with functioning shields." Kowalski explained.

“The Colonel tells me that they will be ready to depart within half an hour. Apparently the ring-structure of the ‘supergate’ will also follow them when they go.” Rovak said, bringing attention to the large ring that still orbited, visible out the window. Before then however, the Colonel has made a proposition that I have advised her I would like to put to all of you before I make a decision.” Rovak said, giving the floor to Kowalski.

“Thanks. I know this has all been strange and sudden, and you have my sincere condolences on your loss. While the trial didn’t go the way we’d hoped, know that the Alliance of Free Worlds still considers the Federation kindred, and a potential ally, despite the inaccessible distance between us.” Kowalski said.

“Although I’m not particularly excited to lose them, two of my people have suggested that they remain behind. I know that you’re explorers, and you don’t want all the answers of the universe handed to you, so they’ll do their best to avoid interrupting your natural exploration processes, except where imminent danger might be at hand.” The Colonel told the group.

“At present you have three stargates at your disposal. They’re one of the most incredible tools imaginable, and they changed our galaxy and all its peoples beyond reckoning. There are however a lot of ways that they can go wrong. That’s why Tyr would like to remain behind, to make sure that while you’re discovering everything there is to know about them, you don’t accidentally blow up your universe, or ours.” Kowalski said.

At the far end of the table, Saa’s first instinct was to ask Rovak if he seriously thought Starfleet would let them keep artifacts of this importance on the station. Experience told her that whatever the Captain might intend, all three ‘stargates’ would soon be crated off to Starbase 40 under heavy escort, along with the various spacecraft they’d secured, as soon as Starfleet’s heavies could arrive on scene. That gave her, at most, a two-week window in which to study the devices, followed by possible reassignment in order to chase them. But she held back from voicing these thoughts, not wanting to disrupt a possible find of such transcendent importance.

The Colonel continued. “While we take a more hands-on approach to relations with our neighbours than your prime directive would allow, we respect your decision to offer asylum to the Jaffa. If the political situation back home were different we might not be so eager to get their leaders back, but Hera, Hekate and Typhon being off the board is enough for us to call this a win. Our concerns aside, in the months and years to come you’re looking at thousands of larval Goa’uld reaching adulthood. That’s going to present challenges. And that’s why, even though her host will be returning with us regardless, Polyphron, the symbiote, would like to remain behind in an advisory capacity, if you’ll permit it.” Kowalski concluded.

“If you have any thoughts or questions about this proposal, please make them known now.” Rovak said to the table.

Alex didn’t say anything about the proposal, she was as much here to remind everyone she was alive as anything else. She didn’t have the mental space right now to form any useful sentences.

“You knew they were planning an attack that killed one of our people and you didn’t just let it happen, you actively helped, even though you weren’t really on the bitch-goddesses side. Were we just collateral damage to you? Why the hell would we be stupid enough to trust you?” Gaz asked in a tone he would later reflect on as being less than professional.

“I do not expect your trust, nor do I think I have earned it. Quite the opposite, as you have illustrated. I will say only this in my defence; if I had believed Hera’s intention was to kill I would not have gone along with her plan. We have in truth never encountered a humanoid species who was so vulnerable to zat’nik’tel fire when healthy. If I could go back and prevent it, I would. Because I cannot, all I can offer to balance the scales of this injustice, if you will have me, is my experience and service. If you will not, so be it.” Polyphron responded, confident but appropriately downcast.

Gaz made a dismissive grunting sound, but didn’t offer any further objections.

In Lieutenant Thul’s place Lieutenant Zuul sat, he’d been quiet and listening to the exchange. After he’d met with his superior in medical and discussed various things, he joined the meeting. “Security doesn’t trust you, so you will keep us informed as to your activities while you redeem yourself here. Miss a check in and, barring Captain’s orders, you will be given an escort. I am unfamiliar with your nature with regard to a host, won’t you die without one since you had one already?” Akaar inquired.

“I was wondering that myself,” added Saa.

“I will comply with any restrictions you wish to impose.” Polyphron said. “Symbiotes are aquatic by nature. We will not survive for long unassisted outside such an environment, but the aquatic facilities aboard are quite adequate.”

Saa blinked, not having anticipated that as part of their evolutionary background, but it did make a lot of sense.

Akaar nodded his understanding and was glad that the Goa’uld can actually survive independently after taking a host unlike their universe’s Trill. “Without a host are you able to still communicate with us?”

“Yes, you have the requisite technology to facilitate communication.” Polyphron confirmed with a nod.

The purple skinned officer, Akaar nodded. “Indeed we do,” he replied but another subject came to him and he turned to the others. “One more thing, the stargates will become much contention between the other powers and us,” Akaar stated after he turned to the other senior officers, looking at each as he spoke. He stopped at Rovak when he finished. “That could give us a very quick method of getting personnel and supplies here from... somewhere back in Federation space. Where is the tricky part.”

“It is true, this technology has the potential to upset the balance of power in the known galaxy.” Rovak acknowledged. “Until we have further orders from Starfleet Command, access to the devices will be limited to senior staff. I expect the devices will be transferred elsewhere for safekeeping and study, most likely by Salvage Command. We will know more in a few days once Earth has had a chance to respond. The diplomatic repercussions will be a bridge to cross when we reach it.” Rovak responded to Zuul.

“Understood sir,” Akaar replied with a nod.

Raul was fascinated by the supergate. Learning there were smaller versions being left behind was even more amazing. He couldn’t help but look at it every now and then out the window while the others spoke. He had a lot of questions about it, but he knew this wasn’t the time. It was probably for the best that it left for the reasons Zuul and the Captain stated, he agreed to himself.

Rovak was not meaning to catch the man out, but he noticed that Saez’s eyes had wandered. He realised then that the man’s presence may have been confusing to some. “For any of you who were not aware, Lieutenant Saez, who you may recognise from the sciences division has agreed to stand in for Lieutenant sh’Rhavar as Chief Navigator while she... for now.” He corrected himself, realising he had not fully categorised her as gone in his mind.

Gaz gave a nod to the Lieutenant.

Atna and Intharia were already aware of the change, with Saez having come from their department. Atna nodded, Thari gave a slight smile.

Raul nodded and gave something resembling a smile to the crew, conscious of the solemn mood.

“Sorry to interrupt, but we’ve got a schedule to keep. We’ll have Polyphron’s symbiote back to you before departure. Thanks again for your help, and good luck with everything to come. Once we’re gone you can do what you like with the gate on Akhenaten’s Ha’tak, you have our gratitude for leaving it alone.” Kowalski told them all with a nod.

The Colonel tapped the device on her wrist, and she, Shoka and Polyphron all disappeared in another sudden flash of white light, leaving the DS13 staff behind with Tyr.

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