-
Plata #46688
Link.
Kings & Queens - Heartless
Matriarch L’Miren is reaching out to Admiral Kuumaarke about a matter of great concern and urgency.
By Fero November 25, 2024, 09:00 AM
Admiral Kuumaarke’s communicator chirped, cutting through the quiet hum of her ready room aboard the Reskava. The moment of solitude she had carved out for herself disappeared in an instant. After many stardates in battle against the Borg alongside her Khitomer allies, she had finally managed to find a moment of respite. Or so she thought.
Kuumaarke exhaled sharply, slumped back in her chair, and activated her communicator with a subtle gesture. A bright display prompting an authorization code flared into existence before her. “Classified?”, she raised an eyebrow before straightening her posture. “How unusual.” She glanced around the room for good measure, then dictated: “Computer, input access code: Kuumaarke 9-0-0-6-4-4-2-7-3”. “Access granted”, replied the Reskava. The display screen shifted to reveal a decrypted subspace transmission meant for her eyes only.
. . .
To: Admiral Kuumaarke, Lukari Concordium
From: Matriarch L’Miren, Ancient Iconia
Stardate: 90182.49
Subject: A Matter of the Heart
Admiral Kuumaarke,
I am reaching out to you about a matter of great concern. A sacred Iconian artifact, dear to my people in ways not easily described, has gone missing. We believe it was stolen after our encounter in the Dyson Sphere.
To be clear – we do not suspect the Lukari, nor any of our other allies. My message is addressed to you personally not only due to the trust we Iconians place in you after coming to our aid, but because this artifact was most recently sighted in your dimension, near the Lukari border.
Judging by its trajectory, the presence of nearby antimatter emissions, and the lack of a warp trail, we have concluded its ejection into your system was a mere accident – one that occurred during a jump to another dimension. Since this sighting, we have been unable to locate the artifact. In other words, the trail has gone cold.
I understand that my description of this item and its potential has so far been vague - for the safety of your people, and ours. I believe it is best we discuss the details in an encrypted call at your earliest convenience.
Until then, may you know only safety and prosperity,
L’Miren.
. . .
Kuumaarke leaned forward in her chair, processing the transmission with a furrowed brow. A stolen artifact, released into her own star system – and by accident, no less. Possibly. She thought back to her run-ins with the Iconians. Such an artifact would surely be ancient and formidable, like all other Iconian apparatus she had seen, not to be trifled with.
5 hours later… The Reskava approaches the Japori Sector.
The majestic Dyson Sphere of the Jouret system opened, letting through an impressive Iconian ship. A soft chime of an incoming transmission permeated the bridge of the Reskava. “On screen,” Kuumaarke commanded. L’Miren’s face filled the viewscreen, her features serious, but a quiet relief in her eyes.
“Matriarch L’Miren, it is good to see you, despite the circumstances.” Kuumaarke smiled.
“Likewise, Admiral,” L’Miren responded with a quick nod. “Thank you once again for your help in defending our bastion against the Borg. We could not have done it without you and your allies.”
“No thanks necessary, Matriarch, we would gladly do it again if need be, though, regrettably, I arrived a little late…. The loss of your World Heart pains me.”
“Unfortunately, I think… I feel, that it was the only way – a necessary compromise for the safety of our people. During times of war, difficult situations call for difficult decisions.”
“You’re right,” Kuumaarke replied, “but this isn’t what you contacted me about, is it?”
“Correct.” L’Miren’s eyes darkened. “Sometime between the end of our battle inside the Dyson Sphere and your departure, an important piece of ancient technology was taken from us,” she continued, her voice sorrowful. “It was last sighted in the Hrith system, only a couple of lightyears away from the Lukari homeworld.”
Kuumaarke approached the viewscreen. “I am guessing you need someone to retrieve it for you?”
“Hopefully, at some point. For now, we need someone to scout the location and its surrounding systems.” L’Miren paused, and then shook her head slowly. “Neither T’Ket, nor V’Lar, nor I can abandon our bastion at present. Though our warriors are fierce, and our resolve remains unshakeable, our defences are weakened.”
“I understand. So, what exactly is it I’m going hunting for?”
“Admiral,” L’Miren cautioned, “I’d ask that you clear your bridge.”
Kuumaarke glanced around her bridge, meeting the gaze of several officers who awaited her orders. “I see… of course.” She walked over to the Captain’s chair and took a seat. “Clear the bridge! Matriarch, I’ve encoded our transmission. The line is secure.”
L’Miren followed suit, clearing her own bridge before speaking. “Someone has taken an activated kida shard from us.”
“Kida?” Kuumaarke was unfamiliar with the term.
“The kida is a gem…. A primordial structure that grows and self-replicates on the Iconian homeworld.”
“Amazing, how beautiful!”
“And powerful. Some ancient texts refer to the kida gem as the Dream Gem.…” L’Miren paused. “Others more sinisterly, as… the Devil’s Heart.”
Kuumaarke’s eyes widened. “I see.”
“Smaller shards in their inactive state were once harvested from the greater gem and used as currency among Iconians. However, long ago, we discovered that these shards emitted an energy so intense it could activate portals and gateways. That is, if harnessed correctly.”
“In essence, this kida is the source of all your transportation?”
“Kida shards make transportation between two different places in the blink of an eye possible.” L’Miren turned away from her viewscreen briefly, scanning her surroundings, before turning back again. “But - when placed in untrained hands, kida shards can act as catalysts for unstable vortices, instead of reliable two-way portals.” She inhaled sharply. “Imagine such a shard falling into the wrong hands.…”
“They could be weaponised. Yes, that would be quite the disaster,” Kuumaarke concurred. “I understand the urgency of the situation, Matriarch, and as a scientist, your concern in regards to the misuse of your technology.… Send me the coordinates of this kida shard’s last sighting. The Reskava will scout the location for you.”
L’Miren tilted her head down in a subtle but almost reverent gesture. “My gratitude knows no bounds. Your kindness and cooperation shall not be forgotten.” L’Miren raised her head. “One last thing, Admiral. I do recommend you bring along back-up, in case something goes wrong.”
Kuumaarke smiled. “Don’t you worry. I know just the person.”