Stenellis Ascendancy Log | Admiral Blyx Red, Empress Psy'Daio Nox - "Never Cry Wolf"

Posted on 241502.12 @ 10:45am by Psy'Daio Nox & Fleet Admiral Blyx Red

Mission: Reconciliation & Reconstruction [Fleet Plot]

An Empress.

Admiral Blyx Red sat utterly confounded by the information that had been relayed to her by one of her yeoman. An Empress from a world that had been fabled in silly stories for the last twenty-seven years had suddenly decided to show her face. An act that pulledl the proverbial tarp off an entirely new ball of wax. She'd known that the Stenellis people existed, what she hadn’t known was that their long lost world sat off the port-side of her station, just a few thousand lightyears away. Of course it was hidden by intergalactic badlands few ships dared to cross. In fact, as far as the little Admiral knew, the Federation had never seen a reason to; all sensors had indicated that there had never been anything of any real consequence out there. Guess again, boys and girls, a whole race of glow in the dark aquatic humanoids, and Christ only knew what else, lay hidden in wait.

“Patch the Empress through.” She finally ordered the dreadlocked Lieutenant that had brought her the news, and he nodded in perfect understanding. The door to her office hissed shut and a few seconds later the screen behind her desk sizzled to life and revealed to her the blue coiffed and heavily freckled woman. “Empress Psy'Daio, I am Admiral Blyx Red of the United Federation of Planets.” The raven haired Admiral began with a smile, “I want to extend a warm hello and appreciation of you taking time to reach out to us.”

“I assure you, Admiral, that the pleasure is all on the behalf of the Stenellian Ascendancy.” Psy’Daio replied with a genuine enough smile, “I have to admit that we had thought the Federation had given up on the sector.” She continued, though her voice rang with the same gravelly bass that one would don when speaking of insect hoards and other things of great repugnance. The sector was known for what it was; a lawless wasteland filled with several different brands of Hell. All of them served no real importance to anyone, but the Empress had long ago figured out how to herd them and exploit them. The greatest technological advancements had been made in only the most recent times, and now the race sat poised to obtain their greatest leap of all. Of course, she knew, that the Admiral likely hadn’t the foggiest idea just what kind of hornet nest lay within her arm’s reach. If she did, she’d likely have done everything she could to eradicate them before the hive could swarm. Pity was that the Ascendancy wouldn’t give them the chance. They now basked in the radiance that such a rare opportunity could afford.

Blyx nodded, “Unfortunately so. It’s a mistake that won’t be made again.” She assured the regent smoothly. “Especially at the expense of not knowing what's truly out there. I take it you’re aware of the fact we know only the tiniest bits and pieces about your empire?” The question was posed ever so carefully and Blyx’s cold blue eyes studiously picked apart the Stenellis on the other side of the screen. She was a strange looking woman, so strong and sharp, though easy to see that in her younger years she’d have been positively stunning. Time and stress, though unkind, had turned the Empress into a creature of steel and marble; hard to read and just as cold in spite of all attempts to appear contrary.

It was Psy’s turn to nod and she did so slowly as if considering the soothing and the question with great attention and care. The Federation’s little Admiral, revered to be sharp as a tack and downright dangerous, was playing right into her plans and it hadn’t been but a minute they’d been connected through subspace channels. It was almost too easy. She smiled and bowed her head graciously in admonishment, “Hence the reason I decided to reach out to your Federation, Admiral Red.” She chuckled, “I’m interested in sending an Ambassador to you as a show of good faith. We aim to learn more about your laws and society in hope that you can take the chance to learn more about our culture at the same time.” The Empress could have beamed, ever so pleased with her little plan and how well it seemed to be materializing before her very eyes.

“That sounds like a brilliant idea, your Majesty. Consider it done as soon as you have an Ambassador selected.” Blyx replied almost excitedly. She knew better than to count her chickens before they were hatched and that the road to Hell was paved with the best of intentions. Something didn’t quite sit right with her, but that something only seemed able to be revealed in due course and time. Having one of the Stenellis race aboard one of the Federation’s starships would indeed give them a chance to play twenty questions and twenty questions could easily turn into truth or consequence. It was her hope that it all could transpire peacefully and that they could be brokered into the Federation in due time. Finding the Stenellis was a bit like finding the Lost Dutchman Mine.

Psy’Daio’s head canted softly to one side, almost demurely. “I have already selected such a person, Admiral. I wish to send you my own daughter.” Again she smiled ever so graciously, sweet as honey as she lay it on thick for the benefit of getting the job done. It was what had defined her as a great ruler; she was merciless and cut throat, able to put on the most convincing of acts to get what she desired. Luckily it was a trait she’d passed down to her daughter – the very one she aimed to send to the Federation.

“Your daughter?” The Admiral questioned, her mind immediately drawing to the face and memory of her own. Aine was a precious jewel, beautiful and intelligent. While Blyx knew she’d become a brilliant officer capable of many things, she truly doubted she could ever order her off to act as an Ambassador to a foreign society. That was a leap of faith, one that threw the Admiral through a loop and left her all the more confounded by the woman on the other end of the line. Something was fishy, and it wasn’t the fact that the race was fabled as being aquatically inclined.

The Empress nodded in response, answering the dark haired human affirmatively. “I trust you will see to it that she’s well tended and safe?”

“From one mother to another, I promise you that your daughter will be safe. I’ll see to it that she’s placed on one of our flagships. The USS Enterprise has a lot of history, all of it colorful. She’s currently playing host to another Ambassador of sorts so it should be…” Blyx’s voice drifted off as she thumbed through a PADD, reading and double checking her decisions as she spoke, “a perfect union.” Of course what the little Admiral didn’t, and couldn’t possibly, know was that she’d be placing the Empress’s daughter in close quarters with the enemy of their latest acquisition; a Romulan… And not just any Romulan at that; Praetor Arrenhe t’Ahaefvthe’s nephew, a boy that intel indicated was the apple of the Praetor’s eye. Had the Admiral known of the Stenellian Ascendancy’s views, of their political movements that had embraced Cardassia against the Romulan Star Empire, an entirely different story would be set up for the telling. The brave Vindicator, complete with her stalwart little Commanding Officer, would have been choice number one.

Enterprise, however, was a name that the Empress understood and knew all too well. It offended her senses, but she knew that the ship was one of intrigue and one deeply entrenched in the Federation’s society, secrets, and lore. It was the secrets part that intrigued the Stenellian Empress the most and she nodded, “That sounds marvelous. I’m in your debt, Admiral, as is the Stenellian Ascendancy as a whole.” Playing coy was almost too easy. It walked hand in hand with kissing ass and coming across as sweet as ushukela when in reality Psy had no further use for the Admiral, or her precious Federation, beyond learning what they knew and using that knowledge as a tool to eventually destroy them. For now, though, playing nicely in the sand lot would be a far better idea than storming in half-assed and so grossly out maneuvered and manned. The Federation was one of the strongest forces in the known universe, and with them rode high the Klingons. Psy’Daio was hardly stupid enough to fall into such a trap. They’d have to wait their turn, all the while nurturing the wolf hidden in their flock of sheep and with Xue’s fiendish temper, it was likely they’d believe her cards were spread out across the playing field as a spoiled, harmless brat.

“Repay me with a tour of your world and we’ll just call it even.” Fingers flew with practiced ease as Blyx created a draft of the order that would see to it that the Princess would leave for the Enterprise by way of private shuttle through the station. From there all eyes would be on her. Every shadow would know the young woman’s name and follow through on a promise of protection… And more. Blyx wasn’t a fool. She knew the potential for this entire meeting to wind up as nothing more than a rouse designed to hide an attack ran extremely high. While a guest, the Empress’s daughter would be under the Federation’s control and easily snatched up if the need arose. Together the Federation and the Ascendancy were forced to walk on ever fragile eggshells until such a time arose that suspicion was unwarranted and they could go about their lives. It was a game of checks and balances.

A game the Empress knew all too well.

“Any time, Admiral. Just say when and we’ll be sure to show you all of our hospitality.” Off screen her fingers drummed, irritation mounting as the seconds continued to arduously tick on. The truth of the matter was that she was getting too old for these silly formalities and her patience was quickly wearing thin for the song and dance routines that came with getting results. What Psy’Daio longed for were days the Ascendancy could simply show up and take whatever or whoever it was that they desired. Days when pussyfooting around a scenario was needless and simply there for entertainment’s sake. Xue would need to do this and do it fast and well. The exploitation of technology was absolutely necessary. Four years, like it had taken with Cardassia, would be too long. “In the meantime, I’ll be sure to have my daughter and her escort readied to leave as soon as possible.” Unlike Cardassia there wouldn’t be any salivating Legates to manipulate or fend off. All Xue would need would be her wits and the one guard. One. Not a retinue of hand maidens and a full regiment of Makta. One.

“Perfect. If you’ll send us coordinates, I’ll have a shuttle depart immediately.” The Admiral nodded and offered a small, sincere smile. There was something about the Stenellis woman that didn’t quite sit right. Something about the way she looked at her, as if she were nothing more than an entertaining pet. Blyx tilted her head ever so slightly, studying the blue haired woman with carefully practiced ease. What lurked beneath refused to reveal itself, not that she’d honestly thought it would suddenly leap out at her and wave pompoms in her face, and she knew that time was going to play a critical role in the situation at hand. She could only pray that Enterprise was studious enough to spot trouble if trouble began to brew.

“I’ll have it done at once.” Psy’Daio grinned and motioned to a large male behind her. He understood his place and what she was asking and gracefully bowed his head to his Empress before taking his leave. “It’s been a pleasure, Admiral. I look forward to your coming visit and hearing the stories my daughter will no doubt have for me.” If only they knew the stories that would be told. The little Admiral’s pretty raven hair would very likely have turned white.

And now came time for the goodbyes, the posturing related to diplomacy and the worst part of her daily routine. Blyx could have cringed. “The pleasure is mine, I assure you.” She played the role so well. The sooner she was free of the Empress, the sooner she could send word to Enterprise... And a great big giant verbal punch in the throat to the last idiot that had sat command at Cold Station Theta.

“We shall soon see.” The Empress chuckled lightly, “Good day to you, Admiral.” And with that, she killed the comm. There was no need to continue on – she was an Empress, the Admiral nothing more than a warrior that sat on a false throne, and it was giving her a headache. Her fingers found the bridge of her nose, rubbing and pinching as she sat there in momentary repose. Her break wasn’t to be long winded, the sound of coming footsteps – male footsteps, heavy and plundering over the marble floors – broke her quiet and her lips became a terse line of warning. “Ready her and… For the sake of the Gods I can’t remember his bloody name, her guard, pet, whatever he is. Make sure they’re both ready and don’t bother me again until they’re gone.”

“Yes, your Majesty.” Kiv’Watt nodded and bowed to his Empress.

---

Admiral Blyx Red
Commanding Officer / Quadrant Commander
Cold Station Theta
Cheydinhall Sector

&

Psy'Daio Nox
Empress of the Stenellian Ascendancy
Queen Dowager of Aliene
Queen of Apsha