Delicate Approach

Posted on Mon Jun 30th, 2025 @ 4:19pm by Captain Shran dh'Klar & Commander Jonathan Grayson

1,457 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Wounds From the Mirror
Location: USS Washington

The Washington continued its journey to its destination, and Shran had decided upon a tactical assault using the disguised sensor output the Washington was now putting out as a sound ruse to get in close to the Saber before beaming over teams to the bridge, engineering, deck 4 near sickbay, and a fourth team to outside the cargo bay where he believed the crew would be held.

The Washington slowed to impulse, making its approach as if it were the freighter that sensors was telling other vessels in the area in was. It looked as if Rija's part of the plan was working. Shran looked to Jon as the two sat on the bridge, both men looking content that the ship and plan had managed to make the approach without a snag thus far.

"Range to Saber one million kilometers and closing" Ibarra stated from Ops.

"Maintain course, slow to half impulse. Nice and easy L'Rissa. We are just a freighter delivering cargo" Shran said in a soothing tone.

"Aye sir" L'Rissa purred from the helm.

"750,000 kilometers and closing. Transporter range in 30 seconds" Ibarra reported.

Everything seemed to be going in their favor. And then the first strange event happened. "Captain, we are being hailed. It is coming from the Saber, and it appears to be you calling yourself" Ibarra reported.

Shran looked to Jon. "He couldn't possibly know we are here" he said, almost questioning the sheer coincidence this had to be.

Jon shook his head, "Yet it appears he does. We have to remember, you have to remember, he thinks like you do sir for the most part. So, he would know tactics like you do and would think of some cloak and dagger approach. Perhaps he gained information from Captain Parker?"

"You may have a point, but our clandestine approach was the idea of Lt Rija. As for Kay providing information, I can't imagine it. She's a trained intelligence operative. She could hold up against Romulan mind probes. I suppose it possible, but..."he trailed off. "No use holding off on this. If they know we are here, then it might be to our advantage to talk with them, see what we can gleam."

"Do you want me to talk to him sir? You can listen and observe. Maybe gain more by listening to the conversation then by being a part of it." Jon offered.

"You feel up for that Jon? I know what he did to you" Shran replied.

"Trust me sir, I remember what he did to me and to Sam. I need to face him sir."

"Very well Commander. Just don't let him goad you. Let's see if we can gain any insight" Shran replied.

"No sir. He won't. Jon answered firmly. Turning his head, he spoke to Ibarra, "Open hailing frequencies please Ibarra." he said calmly as the main viewscreen came alive with the bridge of the Saber.

The bridge of the Saber was dimly lit, the predominant color being red from the alert status lights. The Mirror Universe Shran sat in the command chair like a defiant conqueror of ancient times. His demeanor was cold, perhaps even a bit arrogant as he stared through the viewscreen to the Washington, almost as if he were looking past Jon and searing for his opposite. No one else was visible at the moment on the Saber bridge save one, Capt Parker who looked battered and bruised with her uniform torn ragged and splattered with blood, and mostly notably, what looked like a steel slave collar around her neck connected to a chain that ran up to Shran's hand, where he held the end firmly.

The dark Mirro Andorian stood and looked at Jon through the viewscreen, "I must admit, I did not think I would be speaking with you. Where is that sad excuse for an Andorian that dares to call himself Shran?"

"Nor I you. He's attending other matters." Jon replied simply. His stomach clenching at seeing the Mirror Shran and remembering the pain, the terrible soul searing pain. He took in the form of Captain Parker; she looked like she had been put through the ringer. The humiliation of having a slave collar fastened around her neck was bad enough but there was the added humiliation of having a chain attached to the collar and Mirror Shran holding it like she was some animal. Jon couldn't see Parker's hands or feet, but he guessed they were bound in some way as well.

"I doubt that, but you were always such a good liar. You needed such work to loosen that tongue of yours. I would enjoy having you under my blades again, or perhaps that doctor that was with you. What was her name again...Samantha perhaps" he said with a sneer. "I see that you remain my double's loyal henchman, but I recently learned that you gained a personal bounty, became a family man. I would bet you'd do nearly anything to protect that spouse of yours, and even more to protect children. It was easy to learn about you, all of you really, once the good captain here gave me access to your files" he said as he yanked on the chain, forcing Parker out of her prostrate position and up onto her knees, showing off her body more and what savagery she had endured.

Jon forced himself to remain calm. He knew the Mirror Shran was just baiting him, hoping he would react, give him a weakness to exploit. " Only you enjoyed it and you'll forgive me and I hope you will be terribly upset if I decline that encounter to relieve past times, with you." He paused for a moment before continuing, "Are we having this conversation to discuss what is in my personal file?" Jon asked calmly. With Captain Parker now on her knees, he could see more of the terrible abuse she had suffered at the Mirror Shran's hands. The slave collar was tight around her neck; it probably restricted her breathing to an extent as well.

"Not at all Commander. I was simply surprised that you were the one to answer the communique. I would think you are buying time, that perhaps my counterpart is trying to infiltrate my ship. I assure you, beaming over here without permission would prove deadly" Mirror Shran responded.

Capt Parker tried to glance toward the viewscreen, showing her face slightly. Her long dark brown hair was a mess and hung covering her face partially. Despite her hair covering her face, she peeked through with her green eyes, hoping she might signal Deanna, whom she saw sitting at Ops. Suddenly, she brought her hands up to her head, show her wrists were bound in thick leather restraints as she wailed out in pain. The viewscreen suddenly went black.

Shran stood and looked at Jon, "That was certainly unexpected."

Deanna quickly spoke up, "She was trying to signal. I was starting to read her thoughts when the channel closed. Something or someone over there is capable of blocking telepathy."

"Well..." Jon replied, "we know a few things. One, he knows we're coming. Two he has Captain Parker as a prisoner and more than likely the rest of the Saber crew. He told us beaming over wasn't an option. Three, he hasn't been gentle with Captain Parker either. Her uniform was in tatters, and she's been physically beat. I'm guessing with that attempt she tried, she in for another beating."

"None of that was a surprise. We know what type of a sadist he is. He hasn't killed anyone at least. He would've bragged if he had" Shran replied. He looked over at L'Rissa, "All stop. Keep us just outside of transporter range."

"Aye sir" L'Rissa replied.

"We aren't seeing something. He has an advantage we need to discover and nullify" Shran said aloud.

Jon looked at Shran and Deanna, "Sir, what if there is a mirror here, in the crew? That could be at least part of his advantage."

Shran looked to Jon, "If so, we are in a potentially vulnerable situation. We'll need Sam to figure this out medically. I suppose the only person we can dismiss is myself, but only because we just saw him."

"True enough sir. Deanna can scan me to verify I'm who I say I am, and she and Callie can verify each other." Jon suggested.

"Not to add to the insanity, but we need to determine if everyone is who they say they are. Until we do, we can't trust anyone" Shran replied in a serious and distressed voice. "We need Sam up here. This is starting to get into the same sort of issues we faced during the war screening for changelings."

 

RSS Feed