Stuvok looked down upon the lifeless Andorian body laid upon the floor with eyes open and a disturbing smile on his face. Stuvok would never forget what he had seen. Never. Never in his lifetime. There was a good chance he will never forget the disturbing scene and it will haunt him until his dying days. He took out a phaser and aimed at the blue body. He pressed the trigger. All that was left of the body was a dark scorch mark on the gray floor. The remaining survivors were being quarantined but not without some security officers being ravaged and dug at by the women than the men. It was a intriguing discovery to see women were the more aggressive than the men.

Stuvok did not wish to see the fall out.

Star Fleet coming in, or, worse, the Klingon Empire.

The Andorian had given little information to the Romulan except. . .

For one tiny, incy bincy fact.

"Mr Stuvok," S'Chess said, entering the small quarters.

Stuvok turned in the security officer's direction.

"Jolan tru," Stuvok said.

"Did you find out the fraud's name?" S'Chess inquired.

"He served on the Enterprise," Stuvok said. "I am not sure if he is a fraud at all."

"Why?" S'Chess said.

"How else would the colonists be treated," Stuvok said. "they need a doctor . . ."

"Not a fraud," S'Chess finished. "your service has been beneficiary, it is a shame you won't stay to continue it."

"I do not believe my stay is warranted," Stuvok told the woman.

"Jolan tru," S'Chess said.

"Jolan tru," Stuvok replied, with a nod.

S'Chess turned away then exited the room. Stuvok was not able to handle what he was seeing. He was going to make the life changing decision. Stuvok had told his colleagues that he would be committing an act of honor preservation, when in reality, he was going to defect out of the Romulan Empire with his family. He placed the phaser onto the table then sat down into the chair. He had seen the doctor's previous state before beginning his interrogation with the Andorian. The Andorian had shown the Romulan what state he was in. And it disgusted him. Stuvok combed through his hair. He had to get off the planet. Immediately. He was trembling. He came to a book shelf. He shoved the bookshelf aside to reveal a medium sized door. He tapped on the small screen.

The two doors rotated away to reveal a cock pit and screens that revealed the floral life growing over the small but cloaked shuttle craft. He looked back into the dark room and scanned for the belongings that he should take. He had nothing of value except for his family. The craft was large enough to carry a family of four. It would have to do. His pregnant mate and two little boys. They shouldn't have to face what hell is going to be struck at the empire for torturing a former star fleet officer. He had hacked into star fleet files to see the roster of who had been on it years ago. He went inside the cloaked shuttle craft and the doors closed behind him. He sat down into the seat. Our scene panned away from the inside of the quarters to Istak's office. She was filling out paper work on a small padd. S'Chess entered the room with her colleague S'Chev by her side. S'Chev was shorter than S'Chess. The room was dully colored.

Istak looked up from the padd.

"Report," Istak said.

"We have an former officer from the USS Enterprise in our custody," S'Chess said.

"The USS Enterprise?" Istak repeated.

"Affirmative, Commander," S'Chev said.

"Excellent," Istak said.

"Captain," S'Chess said. "if there were more accomplices, then the Enterprise will be coming here."

"Let them," Istak said. "the Empire will triumph their democratic defense."

"It will start a needless war," S'Chev said. "I advise that we let the fraud be."

"Needless?" Istak said. "The Praetor will not think so."

"You have not heard the stories of those who had tried and failed to start a war with Star Fleet," S'Chess said. "unity is their strength."

"Our strength is drawing their nasty side out," Istak said. "and show how not so different they are to us," She looked over toward S'Chess. "You are dismissed, Centurion S'Chess," S'Chess shared a glance with S'Chev then went out of the room. "Sub-Commander, what were you thinking being against me like that?"

"The Praetor would not like the loss of exceptional officers like us," S'Chev said. "as our counterparts say: it is illogical and senseless."

"Not to me." Istak stood up then walked around toward the taller woman.

"As sub-commander of these Romulan officers," S'Chev said. "I am obligated to ensure we represent our empire and protect our dignity."

"And you think I am taking away your dignity?" Istak asked.

"K'Hathen, our dispatched Klingon, is considering Hegh'bat," S'Chev said. "apparently, this officer was a honorable well known individual in the Klingon territory."

"Haven't heard any former officers going around helping Klingns in the quadrant," Istak said.

"He brought dishonor to his house by what he had done," S'Chev said. "If that doesn't speak volumes regarding dignity then I don't know how else to say it."

"I will speak to him--" Istak started to say.

"You will not speak to my officer," S'Chev said, cutting off the commander. "I have given him my expressed permission."

Istak frowned back.

"I can speak to him as I wish," Istak said.

"I find that difficult for you to do as he is in Sto-vo-kor," S'Chev said. "he committed earlier after the doctor was taken from his charge with my attendance," She gripped the edge of her wrist, painfully. The Klingon wiping his blood on his sleeve as the Romulan held his free hand while trembling watching the life vanish from his eyes. She was not his biological sister so she was not worthy to be the one to kill him. "I am unhappy how it turned out."

"You are compromised," Istak said, taking out her weapon.

"As are you," S'Chev said. "I rather be under the command of Charvanek than you."

"Say hello to K'Hathen for me," Istak said.

"I cannot join in his heaven as I am not a warrior," S'Chev said.

"That is my point," Istak said, raising the phaser.

Istak fired at the sub commander with the setting on high.

Within a bright shimmer of light, S'Chev was no more.