A Night with Senator Killik [Back Post]

Posted on Wed May 31st, 2023 @ 2:07am by Colonel Galen s'Khev & Fleet Captain Maxwell Culver

2,686 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Good Will Tour: Mountain Home [Part Two]
Location: Private Banquet Room
Timeline: MD25: 1730 hours

Senator Killik watched as the double doors opened. A chill breeze blew in with the opened doors. The banquet hall was just off the entryway and the cold blew wind blew into any other room as it was opened. Now with Colonel s’Khev’s entry, the chill followed. Killik pulled his massive robe around his hefty bulk.

Barely able, much less wanting to stand, Killik summoned the Tal’Shiar officer into his hall where they would dine far better than the slop the Federation people would be eating.

“Do come in, Colonel,” Killik called, his voice raspy from the dry air of winter. “The cold air chases you so, it’s almost as if you were cloaked in it.”

Galen dusted some of the winter frost from his shoulders and stomped his boots to shed some of the snow that had accumulated. When he finished he looked up at his host with a smile. "Indeed Senator, indeed. These winters are slightly different than what we are used to. I am sure there is plenty of ale on hand to chase the chill away." He took a seat across the table from the Senator. While Galen would enjoy the quality food at this table he was more curious about the conversation that would accompany the meal.

With the doors now closed, Killik indicated more wood on the fire. “I do hope you’ve liked my Consul. I’ve heard many of the rumors about myself, but the ones I’ve heard about him…hmm. They make him sound harder than the Tal’Shiar.”

"Indeed and sometimes someone with that kind of demeanor is needed..." Galen's voice trailed off as he thought how hard he came across. He was after all Tal Shiar. "...So Senator tell me how do you find this new world? Is it suitable for our people?"

“I wouldn’t know, to be honest. Mountain Home is the third city state created since the planet was taken after the planet was abandoned.” Killik bit his lip, he’d slipped the word created, but he could slip that around to built. “It’s so damned cold, it might as well be Rura Penthe. I know I’m not well liked, but this feels like a punishment, Colonel.

“Have you any knowledge of this type of thinking when it comes to me being hidden here in the mountains?”

"I do not think that your placement here is punishment. I believe we have all been placed where it is deemed that we are needed. I thought that my placement was a punishment at first. However, now I am beginning to learn why I was given the position I was. We all must look to the larger picture." The word created was not lost on Galen. It was something he planned to explore as their conversation continued.

Killik pulled his vestments closer. “Colonel s’Khev speaking of being placed where it was deemed he was needed was evident to Killik. His role in Captain Culver’s future was now crystal clear. Where others had failed, he would succeed.

Killik had not looked to the larger picture, just told to contain the problems of Mountain Home. Now the problems were to be released, Colonel s’Khev would soon know why he was placed where he was and why he was placed there in regards to his larger picture.

A large dish was brought out with heating pots set beneath it to keep it hot. “If you’ll excuse me a moment, Colonel, and then we can eat hot food.” Killik tapped the heavy cane at his right arm.

Consul Rhetorak appeared almost like a vulture from the lofts of the ceiling. “Senator?” the Consul asked quietly, knowing the plan that Killik had likely chosen.

“I’d like the Captain to understand the way our people have lived since our arrival. Let’s have the Captain treated to our open cottages on the lower decks, Consul. A single night with the people of Mountain Home may give him insights into our happy home.” Killik smiled widely.

Turning his attention back to Colonel s’Khev, Senator Killik looked to the steaming pot. “Cream of Kren. Some of the last known to exist, but well worth this special occasion. The rest of the sides are coming out of the kitchen now. I hope you understand the urgency of the evening and you appreciate our invitation to your Captain Culver to spend an evening with us.

“We very much have been looking forward to your visit specifically, and through you to Starfleet.” Killik held a stein of ale in the air. “To you, Colonel s’Khev, our first introduction to Starfleet and to Captain Culver, your Child Prince of the Ocean.”

Galen raised his stein in turn to toast. The aroma of the stew that bubbled beneath his nose was not lost. It had been quite some time since Galen had an actual hot meal, replicated food was never the same. "I believe that he will enjoy seeing how everyone lives..." Galen began in reference to the Captain. "...This is something we are going to need to know if we are to begin to make life on this world comfortable and similar to our original homeworld. I hope that you can appreciate the need for us to open up a small amount. It is my belief that is why people like us are where we are. We are here to make sure that we open our doors wide enough to get what we need but not too wide to divulge too much." Galen knew that the language he used would not be lost on the Senator.

“It can only be my hope that Starfleet reciprocates. Having you on that joke of an Intelligence pod is a start. At least that way, we have you to safeguard our important secrets from prying eyes.

“I hope you’ve been shown their open doors and open hands, as they like to extend so often, Colonel.” Killik was served in bowl that might as well have been a tureen unto itself. Small, hot loaves of bread were rushed to the table as soon as they had gone. The Senator seemed to have a larger serving staff than security swarming about, filling and refilling.

“I know that you are leading the man-child Captain to meetings with the Senate. I would be most grateful if you kept my comments about this place,” Killik paused and sucked down some ale before sucking his fingers clean, “very much to yourself. It would do an old man like me worse to find myself in other places. It’s just that a man my age, the cold does the arthritis no good. These damnable nights are the worst. Not to be grim, but we lost two engineering teams just to build this fortress in the mountains. Another thirty people in the first month.”

Galen nodded his ascent as the Senator spoke. It was all he could do to acknowledge that the Senator had spoken while he ate. The food was simply put amazing and Galen was careful to not let the Senator see how much he enjoyed it. "As to the open doors on Triton there are more than enough for me. I am a member of the crew and access to everything. Although thus far there is no information there that we have not already had knowledge of." Galen took a look around the room and was reminded of a fortress of old Earth books from the medieval period. "You know a few strategically placed braziers would raise the temperature in here greatly. As for the engineering teams I can see if the Captain will authorize the dispersal of a number of environmental suits. That should prevent them from freezing to death."

Galen knew that it would be beneficial to be helpful to the Senator. He would make sure that Captain Culver saw that as well. Besides environmental suits were not crucial technology so there should be no issue in getting them dispersed.

Killik scoffed. “Use your head, boy. Our people were wearing the best environmental suits, made by Romulans for Romulans. The engineers were well aware of the cold from the first team. No…the first team built the tunnel portions underground, used during the coldest of winter nights. All of us clambering around in plasteel tunnels, but I’m getting off point. All was going well until communications just stopped. The entire crew, a hundred of our finest young engineers, disappeared under the ground. The damndest thing, not a single body was discovered.

“The second party began as well as the first. Nearly a year later after the snow melt, they built this place. Just as the days of the past, they built the old Mill Town, this very building a replica of the Mill Town Senator facilities. Of course, Mill Town was never this cold and a replica of the interior of this exists below us, as well for the winter.

“The more modern towers were built, but not many of our people choose to live there. The wind causes the towers to creak and the freeze and thaw disturbs them, but I hear tell of stories. Creatures traveling along the mountain ridge, picking at the force fields here and there. Small sparks of, probably, nothing more than ice and snow bouncing off the high fields. Doing their jobs…

“Again, I get off track. Sending shivers down my own spine and speaking of ancient ghosts never do good. No,” Killik paused and put down his utensils for once. He wiped his face, smeared with gravy and animal fat. “The second team finished their job, even on those high ridges, the lost only two. It seemed to be when they were deciding on a route down the mountain via lift, or a tunnel through the other side and walk to the beach. I always said that drudging down that side of the mount in the winter would kill us all, so the vote for lifts was finally agreed upon.

“We thought it bring no more loss, but then team two went silent. Sixty men, only half the crew this time, but all sixty souls lost without trace.”

Killik had his tureen taken away but had the bread keep coming and ordered warm Calabrasan brandy be brought to the table. “Our people, our very own families were hit after we moved to this place. We lost thirty more sealing up that damnable tunnel system to the other side of the mountain. Bad placement of the explosives was the explanation. We almost lost the place. It might have become an expensive monument to Romulan hubris, but these people, they put their heads down and decided it was theirs.”

With a rheumy laugh that turned into a cough, he looked at the Colonel. He’d once been a fine man like Galen, but not anymore. Not since the lies. Lies he repeated right here in this room. Truth was, he knew how to heat the building, but this cold was his to suffer with those thirty - men, women and children - pulled from their beds by invisible enemies in the dark.

Invisible enemies his troops watched every night as they probed the force fields. The Romulan people weren’t liars, well, except for him, and that was why he ruled coldly. Because all it would take is one open mouth. One odd comment. One tiny clue.

And they would all have to die. Starfleet too, if they were still around.

Galen let the comment about the environmental suits slide. He knew, and was not ashamed to admit, that Starfleet suits were far superior to those used by Romulans. However, that did not seem to be the point at the moment. "With all this loss of life did you send anyone out to investigate? With what you just said it did not seem as if you had. It seems as if you just kept going with the plans. If you did investigate I should very much like to see the results of that investigation."

“There were no official investigations, Colonel! Empty corridors, left behind equipment, no men, no evidence. If they grew mad because of the cold or the emptiness of the place, who knew? It was far too dangerous to search by foot and risk becoming lost, as suspect their teams did. Even flying outside our flight perimeters sent magnetic readings, gyroscopes and compasses to go haywire. It’s the Senate’s official account that both teams were lost in the worst of the winter storms, succumbing to hypothermia and running off into the wild, only to freeze to death. The thirty we lost, they were a team that made it through to the other side of the tunnel. Same story, they were unable to find their way back when their equipment failed. It is why we no longer allow visits outside our flight paths or “investigations” to the other side of the peak. It is a most uninhabitable place anyway, before the equipment failures.”

"Perhaps... But there has to be a reason for the disappearances. For the equipment failures. Senator, I must say, with all due respect, that I find the lack of information to be deplorable. If it is a resource problem, as if you do not have the manpower at hand to investigate, then I am sure I can convince Captain Culver to spare some people. If it would make you feel better, I will lead those teams. It will be a fact finding mission and nothing more." Galen was curious to see how the Senator would take the suggestion. The fact that so many Romulan lives were lost, and the investigation was cursory at best, puzzled and worried Galen to no end.

Killik dipped his hands in a bowl presented to him, clearly to clean his greasy hands and fingers before attending to his face. “I’m afraid you will have to take that up with the whole of the Senate in the morning, Colonel. I am not the sole purpose in calling for shortened investigations. In fact, I was not appointed City State Senator until Mountain Home was near completion.

“If it soothes your sense of indignation, you can check the records on the matter. I called for further investigation each time. I was not in the majority. I bear this city and our lost on my conscience.”

"I will indeed take it up with the Senate come morning," Galen replied, perhaps a tad too curtly. He took the last spoonful of food from his bowl and smiled. "Perhaps we should move this conversation to something a bit more enjoyable."

“The only thing more enjoyable in this place, Colonel, is the warmth of the fire, the memories of our lost homeworld and drowning them in a vat of whatever alcohol is nearby.

“As much as you are being kind, I do not think you have the desire to watch me indulge in drink and memories of times lost. Better times, Colonel. The future was so bright for the Empire…”

Galen raised his glass with what was left of his ale and stood. "Indeed they were. And here is to the brightness yet to come." He motioned his glass to toast and then took the last swig of ale. "Senator with your permission, this has been an excellent meal and even better company. We should do this again."

“So long as I live, Colonel, you are a friend of the Killik’s for generations to come, young man. May your days be filled with many more bright days…learn to make peace with the Federation or the Empire will die…as all things do.”

"Wise words Senator." Galen said and then turned to leave the chamber. He only hoped that Killik would have the wisdom to follow them and help his people.

“Good night, Colonel. You shall see my acts of protection and peace toward the Starfleet,” Killik answered, his head and eyes drooping as one.

 

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