For The Empire (Part 1)

Posted on Sun Jan 17th, 2021 @ 12:56pm by Alexis Agrax (Mirror) & Captain Reuben Gregnol (Mirror) & Chief Helmsman Dixoho Saa (Mirror) & Executive Officer Jake Ford (Mirror)

Mission: Mirror Mirror
Location: ISS Fenrir
Timeline: 2396
1353 words - 2.7 OF Standard Post Measure

The bridge watched was fine. Dixoho had nothing to do other than sit in the Captain’s chair as he was busy elsewhere doing who knows what. He was surprised it was her sat there when Fenruse was back on board if Betazoid’s were allowed to be Imperial Starfleet Officers she would be the Executive Officer. She had been fast-tracking from Engineering to Command with her looks and skills. It almost made the Trill jealous but she would never admit it in person. She glanced back at the man stood at the Security console. She had barely gotten to know him but with limited senior officers on the Bridge, it seemed like a good chance right now without his witch around him. “Bored Ford?” She questioned.

Jake's gaze snapped up to the young woman. He'd seen her around, of course. The helmswoman didn't seem to hold strong loyalties to anyone, but she hadn't made enemies either. She was pretty neutral in the political spectrum of the senior officers. Harmless, he'd assumed. "How could I be bored when I have such things to look upon?" he snorted. His eyes roamed, as ever appreciating the female form, especially in the Imperial uniform that left very little to the imagination. "What do you want, Saa?"

"I am sure the yeowomen will be happy to know that you have relieved their boredom." The woman commented with a snort as she looked back at the screen for a moment before looking to where his eyes darted to a young woman who looked a little fearful in the ridiculous uniform that Gregnol made her wear. It was almost worse than what the inquisitors wore or lack of what they wore. "Nothing. I just have never had you on the bridge before without Gregnol or..." She frowned not able to remember the new executive Officers name but that was not anything unusual. They were not important to the Trill.

"So now you choose your moment to address me?" He shook his head firmly. "You don't have anything of value to me that would make a conversation worth my while. Do you?" His eyes lingered intently, waiting to see what she might offer up.

Dixoho laughed just a little. She had been once upon a time why Gegnol kept her on board despite her husband having been murdered she was a better link to the non-Terran crew than any other person onboard. Nathan would be proud if he was not in the vacuum of space right now dead. It had been sweet revenge on getting her own back but she did miss him occasionally. “Depends on if you want to be killed in your sleep by non-Terrans. I am sure they would enjoy that and not even sure an Inquisitor would stop that happening.”

"That sounded suspiciously like a threat," he remarked, a faint grin crossing his lips. "My my, little Dixie. You finally grew a pair. How interesting." His fingers traced the dagger at his belt, mostly to remind her how he wasn't shy about starting a fight, even on the bridge, if challenged.

"Oh I have always had a pair and they are much bigger than yours. I do not need witches to protect me." Dixoho commented on with a smirk as the yeowoman snorted into her console.

"Witches?" He frowned. "Ah, the telepath. No, I don't need them to protect me either. I've lasted this long on the Butcher's ship without help." In fact he'd flourished, if he was bold enough to admit it. His power playing behind the scenes had elevated him without requiring him to cut off too many loose ends. Now he had a loyal group of followers ready to back him if the moment called for it.

"You lasted this long because of Agrax has a fondness for you. She is sentimental for the days where she was the security Chief instead of the whore of the ship. Do no doubt that Lieutenant. You have been helped this far because the Witches have protected you for whatever reason." Dixoho had thoughts and reasons of why they had been doing but they would do nothing in the grand scheme of things.

"Fondness? Protection?" Jake snorted. "Hardly. Agrax has been playing the long game since I arrived. She was loyal to the Butcher." He crossed his arms. "I suppose now she's been relegated back to her old job as whore then."

Dixoho shook her head and snorted. “Believe what you want Ford. But she could have left you that day in the gym. Everyone is aware of it pretty sure the mats are still sticky from the blood as a reminder.” She reminded him with a grin as several people around the bridge laughed as well. It was well known what had happened, every detail had been discussed on how he had survived such an attack. “She might be playing a long game but witches are unkillable and somehow so are you. It’s interesting to know what you possess that makes you that valuable to her and even Fenruse is respecting that.”

"Perhaps it's fear," He answered. "She knows what it would cost her to oppose me. Or perhaps she wants a taste of a real Terran." He smirked again. "The Butcher wasn't enough for her."

Dixoho actually turned from the Helm console to look at Jake and bravado he had in saying that on Gregnol's bridge. "I am sure if he heard you saying that he would cut out that tongue of yours and use it to clean his boot," Dixoho commented as the Bridge fell silent.

"I am sure I would," Gregnol announced from the doorway as he walked in with Alexis.

Jake stiffened to attention, spying the new arrival. He locked eyes with the Captain a fraction, saying nothing. He clocked Alexis, too. She looked the same she usually did, but he could tell that underneath the outer shell there was something else going on - something that bothered her. It was something he would investigate later.

Gregnol looked at Jake before rolling his eyes. “Some tongues are not worth my boots attention.” He muttered watching Dixoho saunter away from his chair with a nod to him. There was nothing to report so communication was not needed. Alexis took the seat to his left silently watching the stars in front of them as Dixoho took her usual position at helm. “So how long until we approach Phados Prime?” He demanded.

“14 hours.” Dixoho to him as she confirmed her assistants course was correct. She glanced back at Gregnol watching his features. Phados prime was the shoreleave planet for the quadrant. Lots of whore houses, casinos and clubs. It just was not known if it was shoreleave or not yet.

"I'd ask if we're there on business or pleasure," Jake commented. "But these days those things seem to be overlapping. Wouldn't you agree, Agrax?" He shot her a look, testing her mood.

“That is my business until I tell you differently,” Gregnol said simply not even bothering to look up from the information he was looking at. He knew Alexis would have some witty retort she always did but he needed her for once to shut up.

"Suit yourself..." Jake muttered under his breath. His eyes lingered on Alexis, still trying to get a sense of what was going on with her. That she had remained silent was a little unusual, even while in the presence of the Butcher.

Alexis knew his eyes were on him and shook her head hoping he got the message and moved on to whatever it was that he was doing. Dixoho narrowed her eyes at them all before turning away. She had no time for there drama today. "You do not need to know what the Emperor has asked us to do. You just do it." Gregnol said making a salute at the mention of the Emperor.

"For the Empire." Jake acknowledged, signalling a salute that many others on the bridge mirrored. Once again he watched Agrax's reaction, but said nothing further.

Just what was going on?