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Plata #48497 Kings & Queens – Above All Else
Alliance leaders meet on Khitomer to discuss their next steps and priorities.
By Fero May 28, 2025, 08:00 AM
Alliance banners fluttered in the temperate Khitomer winds that made their way into the Hall of Heroes through a purified ventilation system. The stone torches had been lit, and the vast space, vacated – mostly. Gathered around a holographic galaxy map sat three figures, locked in heated debate.
“Above all else, we must quell rebel activity in the quadrants!” Chancellor L’Rell slammed her fist onto the round table before her, threatening to leave a dent in its metal frame.
To her right, Admiral Jorel Quinn struggled to maintain his usual composure in the face of such a passionate display. Even so, he squared his shoulders and puffed his chest to reassert himself.
“L’Rell. Above all else, we must remain unified,” he retorted, eager to set aside the concerns of his Klingon counterpart. “Through the Iconian War, Na’kuhl assassination attempts, the Hur’q conflict, civil wars, as you know yourself... Unity has always kept us strong.”
The Chancellor narrowed her eyes and snorted in response.
“Unity? Strength? You are beginning to sound like the Aetherian petaQ, Quinn!” she hissed through gritted teeth, hurling her disdain in the admiral’s direction.
With a dismissive flick of the wrist, L’Rell sent a ripple through the holographic display suspended above them, causing it to tremble ever so slightly. For a brief moment, stellar constellations shifted uncomfortably and planets distorted, as the hologram bent and rippled under the weight of her words. It was as if the interface itself had recoiled at the mere mention of the Aetherians.
A violent clang interrupted their tense exchange, prompting the Alliance leaders to glance over at a nearby side entrance. A Betazoid attendant entering the chamber with a large pitcher of tranya had collided with a ceremonial flambeau upon meeting the gaze of L’Rell’s right-hand, J’Ula. Catching the charged nature of the conversation, she halted mid-stride and made a sharp pivot, retreating from the room wordlessly.
“Quinn sounds like Thaseen-Fei because Thaseen-Fei sounds like us. The Aetherians have been observing and studying the Alliance, copying our mannerisms. You read the report.” Proconsul D’Tan had been quietly observing the debate for some time now.
L’Rell and Quinn felt the weight of the Proconsul’s words. Not only had a powerful, interdimensional species of Iconian Borg been watching them, but they had managed to replicate their behavior, down to word choices.
Still, the idea of comparing a Klingon to an Aetherian was enough to eventually wrest L’Rell from her silence.
“Speak for yourself, D’Tan! This foe is nothing like a Klingon. She does not fight like one, nor does she behave like one. She is deceptive and devoid of honor,” the Chancellor shot back at the Proconsul’s suggestion.
The rhythmic sound of footsteps travelled across the room, as an imposing, sabre-toothed figure emerged from a shadowy corner of the room and walked into the natural light that seeped through the glass ceiling. Ksenneta’s feline eyes gleamed with an unsettling intelligence as he made his way towards the conference table, tail swishing behind him with every step.
“Chairman,” Quinn proclaimed, rising to greet the Ferasan.
“Please, sit,” Ksenneta answered, interrupting the admiral with a hand-wave before claiming a seat of his own. “Computer, re-activate interface. Pull up Alliance HQ’s most recent inbound reports.” The hologram shone brightly as it shifted to display several points of interest below the now stable galaxy map.
“Gentlebeings, esteemed Alliance members, let us continue,” the Chairman proposed in his usual, unctuous voice – a diplomatic mask that was hard to shed – even in the most private of circles. “Last time we met to discuss our interests, we agreed to convene on the Lukari homeworld under the guise of a fractured alliance,” Ksenneta mused, tapping his pointed fingernails against the table as he spoke.
Quinn, L’Rell, and D’Tan all exchanged a knowing look, a flicker of recognition in their eyes. Ksenneta continued.
“In truth, most of you refused to host the Aetherians here on Khitomer because you distrusted them, but did not wish to say so openly. President Okeg and I decided to trust you, and as it turns out… You were right,” he conceded.
“But, it also turns out that this semblance of a fracture is dangerously close to materializing itself and becoming real. As Admiral Quinn has already remarked, we must remember why we forged an alliance to begin with. Let us not lose hope now.”
D’Tan folded his arms in response.
“Our priorities are different,” argued the Proconsul, turning to face the Trill next to him. “What do you make of that, Quinn?”
“Perhaps. But those priorities won’t matter if we fall prey to assimilation – or… fusion.” Quinn’s expression darkened.
“It is true,” Ksenneta added. “We have not seen such a threat since the Changelings and their infiltrators. It seems the Aetherians also fuse at the DNA level, at least to some degree. Surely, our priority is to understand how we can counter them, or undo their efforts. Director Hugh of the Cooperative seems confident about the prospect de-fusion, should Thaseen-Fei best us.”
L’Rell exhaled sharply.
“This is not a matter of removing mere Borg augmentations, but of reversing a genetic fusion at the cellular level. It will not be easy, and it will take time. There is no guarantee this will work,” she cautioned.
“I see. Well, let us discuss these differing priorities then,” Ksenneta replied, steering the conversation in a direction he hoped would be more constructive.
“The Romulans believe retrieving stolen or missing resources is of paramount importance. The consequences of highly advanced technology falling into the wrong hands... Well, the dangers are almost unimaginable,” D’Tan warned.
L’Rell and J’Ula looked at each other and shared a smirk. Sela’s many reckless gambits across time and space, which had endangered others through the very actions D’Tan now spoke of, came to mind. Despite their diametrically opposed views, it somehow still made the Proconsul’s speech seem painfully ironic to the Klingon representatives. D’Tan and Quinn, uninterested in this tacit moment of mockery, paid them no mind.
“And what of Thaseen-Fei, and neutralizing the Aetherian threat? What of determining the nature and origin of this Chimeran specimen our captains allege to have come face-to-face with?” Quinn countered.
D’Tan shook his head fervently.
“We do not even know in which corner of this multiverse Thaseen-Fei is hiding. Director Hugh’s research seems encouraging, but ultimately, progress is slow,” he sighed. “Meanwhile, my best and brightest keep getting pulled into Borg-related crises. The Aetherians are surely watching us from behind the veil, mocking our attempts at gaining the upper hand.”
L’Rell muttered a string of Klingon expletives under her breath, then leaned forward in her chair with power and authority.
“D’Tan. I gladly send my warriors into glorious battle to fight the Borg – they are no match for the Empire.” She turned to face Ksenneta. “But what use is fighting the Borg, any Borg, if we let chaos reign across our own galaxy.” Her eyes darted towards the Federation admiral. “Quinn. You speak of unity. If we do not secure this galaxy first, then there will be no one left to fight beyond it.”
“Point taken,” Ksenneta nodded. “What else?”
“Refusing to consider the wishes of my people could lead to unrest among the Great Houses,” she added.
“Well, who better to cease such unrest than you and your Torchbearer.” D’Tan leaned back in his chair and motioned towards J’Ula who had occupied the seat beside him and begun sharpening two mek'leths with a volcanic whetstone. The scrutiny of prying eyes stopped her in her tracks.
“What? I didn’t bring the other ones today,” she growled.
Ksenneta returned his attention to the galaxy map.
“Anything else?” he inquired.
Quinn paused solemnly before waving his hand over the holographic interface, prompting it to display new points of interest.
“There is also the matter of the missing kida shard, tracked by Admiral Kuumaarke of the Lukari Concordium. Then, we must consider our Iconian allies posted at their bastion inside the Jouret System Dyson Sphere. Finally, it’s true that there are reports of rebel activity and incursions in multiple sectors, not to mention the unexplained ship malfunctions…”
The room fell into heavy contemplation as Quinn listed off every issue the galaxy was now faced with. A sense of gloom could be felt across the table, followed by a long, lingering silence once again. Ksenneta was first to break it.
“Then, let us tackle it all. One priority at a time. Admiral, Chancellor, Proconsul – reach out to our allies across the quadrants, and set up an open channel,” he commanded. “Let them know we are ready to quell some rebels, secure some resources, and that above all else,” he paused to mark the moment, “Our people will stay united, and ultimately, undefeated.”
The fragility of the Alliance was undeniable, despite just over a year of peace between the factions. L’Rell and Quinn gazed at each other intensely, as they so often did, taking stock of what was now at stake if the galaxy refused to unite. With a nostalgic look in his eyes, Quinn opened his mouth as if to offer some words of encouragement, only to be interrupted by a chime. The Betazoid attendant had reappeared, peering cautiously into the room from behind the side door’s threshold, tranya pitcher in hand. Ksenneta looked up at her, then back at the tired but stoic faces before him.
“Meeting adjourned.”