Game Plan

Posted on Fri Oct 14th, 2022 @ 10:31am by Captain Reuben Gregnol (Mirror) & Nalani Xaelah & Executive Officer Jake Ford (Mirror) & Evanna Belyaev
Edited on on Fri Oct 14th, 2022 @ 10:31am

Mission: Mirror Mirror
Location: Imperial Palace
Timeline: 2397
2066 words - 4.1 OF Standard Post Measure

The party was in full swing by the time the Empress finally decided to step into the ballroom that could have easily held fifty shuttles in without a stretch. It truly set the tone of the whole imperial palace if you had never seen it before. She looked around before looking at her date and smirked, the regent of Vulcan was unable to stop looking at her. She wore the imperial crown or at least a mock-up of it, in a much lighter material for her entrance before she removed it for the rest of the evening. It was too heavy to wear for too long no matter the material, it was not meant for events like this. Maybe she should have it remade into something more for her liking and use some of the jewls for a necklace but it was thoughts for another day.

The Empress wore a black dress covering just one of her shoulders, which left the other uncovered and flowed down into a delicate style of dress. Below the waist, the dress widened and had multiple diagonal layers from top to bottom. The dress reached all the way down to the ground and trailed. She could walk easily down the stairs but showed the regent favour by keeping hold of his hand for now. It would do him no good to think more of it all or show him too much favour. He would end up dead by the end of the week easily as would many others.

"I see you brought your crew, my butcher." The empress said as she spotted Gregnol among the crowd watching and waiting for her to speak.

“Well you did request it, empress.” Reuben commented glancing at the people with him.

Elegant and poised, tapered as an icicle might form, Belyaev skirted the formalities of greeting the Empress by remaining placid and entirely silent. The arm slipped through Gregnol's carried an enigmatic comfort that made it seem both entirely natural but also unquestionably appropriate. Professional, with a sprinkle of genuine relaxation. She had anticipated the regent's dress code, at least, having opted for a black gown of decidedly less opulence, though its halter-neck accentuated her posture and the gentle pinning of her hair to sit as a low braided bun, several curled stranded framing her face, was an oddly unique look amongst the dozens of garish frills and furbelows. As with every other aspect of her personality, Evanna didn't embelish, she merely added subtle accents that suggested a degree of disdain for the over-reliance of gimmicks in other's attempts to stand out.

“I did.” Nelania said with a smirk as she looked to Ford stood there in uniform with Alexis next to him looking familiar but she met so many people over the years from the butcher's crew it was hard to keep track. “You both brought guests I see.”

"My Empress." Jake made a formal salute, not meeting her eye until the sign of fealty was clear. "It is a great honour to be in your presence once again. I'm sure you remember the Fenris' helm officer, Lt Saa..." he took a half-step to allow them to interact and for him to observe closely how their relationship worked.

Dixoho gave her own formal salute having decided to wear her uniform instead of something less formal. She was proud of her medals and the deeds she had done as well as it made her more formal and less likely to be hit on. "Dixoho as always a pleasure." The Empress said with a smirk as she looked the woman over clearly enjoying what she was seeing before she turned to Jake again. "Of course I remember Lieutenant Saa. No one forgets meeting her much like yourself Ford and Gregnol. The crew of the Fenrir seems to be full of unforgettable people."

"I'm glad you think so, Empress." Jake bowed slightly again, but this time made his eye contact more deliberately. It was a thrill to hold her attention, to be in the presence of someone with such power. He wanted to bask in it, as well as to ensure that she did indeed keep him in her favour. "The pleasure is, of course, ours."

Dixoho glanced to Jake and then Alexis and rolled her eyes. She could almost read the woman’s mind about how she was playing jailer and protector that night. It suited her and it reminded Dixoho that in another universe where another path the woman would still be chief of security and Betazed would not be used as nuclear fuel for the next hundred years. Agrax would be in uniform there instead of a barely there dress purposely designed to attract. “We might make a politician out of you all yet.” The empress teased.

Jake smiled pleasantly at the suggestion. He wasn't necessarily a politician at heart but he knew how to operate in those circles. It wasn't too far different from building loyalty aboard a starship of the Imperial fleet. He glanced at Agrax, almost amused by the thought of her being involved in such things. "Did you hear that? You should thank the Empress for the compliment."

"I am sure her majesty is fully aware of my thankfulness," Alexis said in her usual aloof accent not taking her eyes from Jake. Nelania smirked and nodded.

"I am sure more Betazoid would not feel quite the same." She said making the room grew silent at the elephant in the room that the Empress had brought up. Not many people talked about the fall of Betazed so openly, they might comment on the butcher's wins but to throw it out like that stunned a few regents.

"I survived. I am thankful for that. And I thrive despite everything. So yes your majesty I am thankful for that and your compliments." Alexis said simply looking to the younger woman wondering how someone in their late twenties could ooze such calm power. Nelania laughed.

"You might have given me one of my first every honesty remarks there. Agrax was it?" Nelania looked at Ford for confirmation.

Jake nodded, amused by the interaction. At the very least, the Empress' vocal statements about the Betazoid would draw some attention. Hopefully that remained on Agrax and not himself or Gregnol. "One of our finest interrogators, Empress," he said, affirming her with a sly grin. "Have you yet encountered Belyaev, another of the Butcher's best?" he motioned to Evanna, hoping that in continuing to draw more eyes that it would continue to take them away from himself.

An upwards sweep of Belyaev's eyebrows did little to disturb her placid expression, though it did bring the weight of her attention to bear on the smooth-talking groveler for a moment before Evanna accepted the necessity of formally acknowledging their hostess. "Vashe Velichestvo," the scientist dared, dipping her head in tempered deference before following with a formal translation, "Your Majesty."

“I believe we have met at the previous celebration.” The empress commented glancing behind her at a regent before looking at Evanna again. “What is it you do on the Fenrir?” She wondered interested.

"Up until recently," Evanna replied evenly, "I was primary systems analyst. And assistant to the science chief," she added, though it was difficult to view that aspect of her career as holding much merit. At best, she'd been used as an administrative scapegoat. "Now," she added, the faintest glimmer of amusement altering, in miniscule detail, the way the light caught her eye, "I am the science chief."

“My how the lowly rise. Keep going Belyaev. Never know how far you will get with that attitude and star power.” The Empress commented smiling. “So tell me, science chief, what do you currently do on my vessel?”

And so the waltz continued. Belyaev, roughly the same vintage as the Empress, had a very similar experience with maintaining a presence of mind well beyond her years. A necessity, given where she'd come from, and a vital arsenal now in decoding the subtext of the regent's conversation. The Empress knew very well what Sciences had been charged with, just as she likely had a very firm idea of where this particular scientist had been recruited from. Evanna had been around long enough to recognise a test when it smacked her in the face. She offered the other woman a faint smile. "As instructed."

Nalania looked as if she had found the most wonderful prize for a moment before her gaze cooled to look at Gregnol. "You have a tricky one here. I like her. I can see why you do." She commented. "I would like a formal reminder of your instructions later on," She whispered so Belyaev could hear clearly but no one else.

Evanna dipped her head, a subtle acknowledgement. She'd anticipated the discussion, particularly now that Gregnol's intervention threatened to draw too much of the spotlight on what was intended, as far as the science chief had ascertained, to be a very hush-hush project. The arm looped through the Captain's made a subtle adjustment to its grip, surreptitious communication without elaboration, and Belyaev fell back into accustomed silence.

Gregnol glanced down and offered a small nod as the Empress moved from the group of Fenrir to other people and Gregnol glanced to Ford. "Went well." He said without a moment of hesitation as it could have gone a lot worse with how the Empress went hot and cold on most people.

"For now," Ford acknowledged, watching the room hawkishly. "The Empress was the least of our worries." He motioned at Evanna. "She was a useful addition. More eyes on the women than on the two of us," he smirked slyly.

Evanna's gaze traversed the entire length of the man, from his toes to his deplorably conniving grin.

“If you need me to cause a scene I am sure I can do that.” Dixoho commented as she turned on her heels and grabbed the nearest drink and sauntered away towards one of the regents to start playing her own games.

"You know, this could be far more enjoyable to watch than I expected," Jake said, glancing at the Butcher. "If you still want out, there's a Tellarite sitting in the corner just waiting to bubble over into a fight."

“I am not ready to leave yet.” Reuben responded. “And neither can you. You know the deal.” The man added as he gripped Evanna closer and looked at Alexis as she stared around.

Jake rolled his eyes. Of course the Butcher wanted to keep up this ridiculous charade.

"What are we attempting to achieve?," Evanna asked, her gaze directed up to the man beside her. There had been a very minimal debriefing, little more than an order to get dressed and present herself, but the scientist was astute enough to know that her Captain had a more pressing agenda than socialising with the Empire's finest. She craned her neck towards the dancefloor. "Perhaps we should make attempts to appear suitably occupied."

“We are attempting to work out which one of these regents are whispering to the Empress and are keeping us here instead of sending us after our enemy.” Gregnol muttered revealing to Evanna. He was fed up of being docked with the Imperial Palace whilst he knew the Cardassians were out there as well as his wife if the rebel Captain was to be believed.

The blonde's gaze tracked their other party members. "Then perhaps we will have the most success if we divide our attentions." Cool, crystal clear logic. As tempting as it would have been to read judgement, even ridicule, for her companions into Evanna's expression, it was as fluidly neutral as always. She dipped her head towards the dancefloor, a more meaningful gesture. It was, as she had some previous experience with, quite the political chessboard, if you knew how to play it correctly.

“Stay with him.” Gregnol said pointedly to Alexis as she just stayed quiet and stared at the Terran’s around.

“Yes Captain.” Alexis whispered looking at Jake with barely contained amusement that he had chosen her of al people to go there with him.

“Then go!” Gregnol barked watching as the other duo disappeared off. He glanced down at his partner. “Let’s find out all we can about Hoth.”