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Description
Terral the Vulcan leads Captain Castro and her comrades to the door of the Terran Imperial Governor of Vulcan. My OCs by www.deviantart.com/s2ka . A grim faced sentry stands guard at the door of the governor's private quarters. No one is allowed beyond this point except by permission of the governor personally.

"This is Captain Providencia Castro, Dr. Amirah Ashley, and Lieutenant Gabriella Gutierrez, they are here to see His Excellency." Terral introduces the trio to the guard and explains why they're here.

The guard narrows his eyes as he coldly reguards each officer with an icy gaze. Finally his stare rests upon Captain Castro, who returns his stare with her own, her brown eyes smoldering with malice.

"The governor commands that only Captain Castro be allowed to proceed. You two must remain here!" He said finally, his baritone voice echoes through the hall.

His iron gaze once again fell upon Dr. Ashley and Gabby. The two escort guards behind them raised their weapons audibly to the 'ready' position in order to insure compliance. Ashley glances over her shoulder and smiles slightly.

"Oh don't worry about us soldiers, we're not going anywhere." Ashley whispers calmly, then turns her head toward Castro who was now gazing back at her two companions with a slightly amused expression on her face.

"We'll be waiting for you right here, captain." Ashley said, barely masking her own amusement at the seriousness of the governor's bodyguards.

Gabby says nothing, preferring to simply shake her head in disbelief at the audacity of these two women. These soldiers would kill all three of them if the ladies fail to comply with the order but the doctor and the captain can't conceal their amusement at the situation.

"They really are crazy!" Gabby shouts in her mind incredulously as time seems to move in slow motion.

Castro turned back to the guard at the door .

"Let's not keep the governor waiting, shall we?" She says with a very calm voice.

The guard presses a hidden button on the frame and the heavy door quietly slides open. Castro strides past the guard and the door closes quickly behind her. Not offering her two companions even a brief glimpse of what lay beyond.

Ashley turns to Gabby and grins slightly as she places her hand on Gabby's back and slowly ushers her to the side, away from the door.

"Well kid, now we wait.." Ashley whispers, as she casts a furtive glance back at the door.

Then turning to Terral, Ashley unceremoniously clears her throat and asks

"You got anything to drink around here Mr. Vulcan?"

Captain Castro walks into the dimly lit antechamber, the scent of Vulcan incense, heavy in the thin air, assails her nostrils as the wafting blue smoke threatens her eyes. The silence of the room was deafening, and the captain could hear her pulse thunder in her head. The temperature is very comfortable for a Terran, if this was the living quarters of a Vulcan it would be much warmer.

After a few more steps Castro enters a smaller, candle lit room. The metal walls were the color of polished bronze, ancient Vulcan tapestries covered them and the great insignia of the Terran Empire hung there in a place of reverence. As Castro's sharp eyes scanned through the haze they came to rest on the familiar form at the far end of the room. Kneeling on a Vulcan meditation stone, in front of a hand crafted Vulcan mirror, clad in ordinary meditation garments was Solomon Cooper, Imperial Legate of 40 Eridani, Governor of Vulcan, Conqueror of the Nausicaans, Friend of Her Imperial Majesty Emperor Philippa Georgiou Overlord of Vulcan... and Providenca Castro's mentor, teacher, and best friend... her first and only captain..

The governor's large brown hands were folded into a Vulcan meditative bond and his eyes were closed as Castro silently approaches. She halts respectfully a few feet away from him, staring incredulously at him for a moment when a slight smile suddenly crosses his lips.

"I'm glad you didn't kill any of my guards, Pulli.." the governor said with his deep, thoughtful voice.

He opened his eyes to gaze proudly upon his old security chief and apprentice.

"The thought had crossed my mind a few times before I arrived sir.." Castro replied with a warmth that would have amazed her subordinates. Hearing Cooper call her by her nickname, 'Pulli' reassures Castro a little...

"Well, thank the stars you didn't give in to your more violent impulses.." Cooper said warmly. "It is good to see you again Pulli..."

Castro's eyes softens and her smile widens slightly at his words and tone. She allows herself to relax a little in his presence, he is the one person in this universe she trusts completely. He had saved her life several times, sponsored her in the academy where he prevented her execution after she killed three cadets and an instructor during her time there. When she graduated, he pulled strings to have her posted to his ship the ISS POTEMKIN as a security officer. During that time Cooper mentored her, teaching her how to navigate the internal politics of a starship, who to watch, how to keep your thoughts to yourself, keeping your friends close and your enemies closer... before you strike! Strike clean, hard, and public... make it a spectacle whenever possible to serve as a warning to others, you are not one to be fucked with...

Cooper taught her the importance of having a small but loyal core of followers, people who owe you everything and who you have ultimate control over. They will help keep you alive and be instrumental in gaining power. Reward them when they preform well, admonish them when they don't, kill them instantly if they show any signs treachery. Castro took his teachings to heart, following them to the letter and rising steadily through the ranks, becoming Captain Cooper's chief bodyguard and head of security on the POTEMKIN.

Castro loyally followed Cooper's orders for ten years and a dozen successful yet harrowing campaigns that brought glory, prestige, and wealth to her and the crew. Cooper recommended Castro for the Imperial Valor Award and accompanied her to the Imperial Palace on Earth where Emperor Georgiou personally gave her the award. A rare thing. That's when Castro really learned about Cooper and Georgiou's close friendship.

When Cooper was promoted by the Emperor to Legate and made Imperial Governor of Vulcan, he wanted Castro to take over as captain of the POTEMKIN, but was out maneuvered by his treacherous first officer Commander Handsteiner. Handsteiner appealed to his allies in the Imperial Court for the captaincy stating Castro is too 'young and inexperienced' for such an important command. The Emperor agreed and Cooper did not push too hard, explaining " you have to know which battles to fight and when not to". That incident had exposed Cooper's enemies at Court and he would make careful moves, destroying each one over the next few years. Castro would watch from afar as her mentor masterfully avenged himself and her.

The night before he left POTEMKIN to take up his governorship, Cooper called his protégé to his cabin and gave her some final advice. He told Castro to 'keep her eyes open',

"Handsteiner will try to kill you, but not out of hand. He will try to set you up, bring some bogus charges against you and have you executed." Cooper explained.

"You must be smarter. You'll see him coming a mile away but don't make a move against him until you're absolutely ready. Have your people in place and turn one or two of his. That will be easy because he is a miser and he doesn't pay them well. When all is ready, strike! Be bloody, bold and resolute! If you want POTEMKIN, take her!"

With those words of advice Cooper dismissed Castro. She would be among the officer's and crew who saluted him as he left POTEMKIN for Vulcan. As he de-materialized he looked her square in the face and winked. They would not see or speak to each other for seven years. After Castro killed Handsteiner, she did receive a congratulatory note from Cooper when she was confirmed as captain of POTEMKIN but nothing else since. Until a few day ago when they were ordered to the 40 Eridani Shipyards for a scheduled refit, she received an invitation to dinner from the governor.

"It's good to see you too sir." Castro said barely containing the happiness that welled up inside of her.

"But I must admit, I was a bit concerned when I got your dinner invitation. I thought it might be a death sentence in disguise." She confesses nervously.

Cooper's smile widens a little, obviously very touched by her confession. He knows that admitting fear to anyone was an anathema to Castro, who would rather swallow neutronium than show any weakness.

"Pulli, you are one of the very few people whom I trust implicitly." He said warmly as his eyes burned deeply into hers.

"I invited you here to discuss important matters. There are storm clouds on the horizon and the Terran Empire is in danger of imploding. Civil war is upon us, and these fools are going to lead the empire to destruction. If they don't wreck the empire by fighting each other they will weaken it enough that our enemies will over run us in quick order."

Castro set her jaw upon hearing Cooper's words. She knows what he is saying is true, alliances are being forged and battle lines drawn up. Soon it will be Terran against Terran and very bloody.

"Whatever it is sir I'm in.." She declares, already committed to anything the governor has come up with.

"Good!" Cooper says happily "I knew I could depend on you, that's why I invited you to dinner. I invited Ashley because she is my ex-sister in law and she always makes me laugh. I know she's extremely loyal to you and I really know she'll enjoy what we will be doing."

"What will that be sir?" Castro asks nearly bursting with anticipation.

Cooper stands up from the meditation stone showing no sign of difficulty or discomfort.

"Come, let us dine tonight and enjoy the meal as we hone our plan of action and make lists of names of men to die." The governor says as he ushers Castro toward the door.

"Oh, and I have someone here I'd like you to meet...." he adds as they stop near the governor's bedchamber..

Castro gazes into the candle lit room as someone stirs on the bed....

In The Mirror.. A Stroll Through The Catacombs

Description
Terral the Vulcan leads Captain Castro and her comrades to the door of the Terran Imperial Governor of Vulcan. My OCs by www.deviantart.com/s2ka . A grim faced sentry stands guard at the door of the governor's private quarters. No one is allowed beyond this point except by permission of the governor personally.

"This is Captain Providencia Castro, Dr. Amirah Ashley, and Lieutenant Gabriella Gutierrez, they are here to see His Excellency." Terral introduces the trio to the guard and explains why they're here.

The guard narrows his eyes as he coldly reguards each officer with an icy gaze. Finally his stare rests upon Captain Castro, who returns his stare with her own, her brown eyes smoldering with malice.

"The governor commands that only Captain Castro be allowed to proceed. You two must remain here!" He said finally, his baritone voice echoes through the hall.

His iron gaze once again fell upon Dr. Ashley and Gabby. The two escort guards behind them raised their weapons audibly to the 'ready' position in order to insure compliance. Ashley glances over her shoulder and smiles slightly.

"Oh don't worry about us soldiers, we're not going anywhere." Ashley whispers calmly, then turns her head toward Castro who was now gazing back at her two companions with a slightly amused expression on her face.

"We'll be waiting for you right here, captain." Ashley said, barely masking her own amusement at the seriousness of the governor's bodyguards.

Gabby says nothing, preferring to simply shake her head in disbelief at the audacity of these two women. These soldiers would kill all three of them if the ladies fail to comply with the order but the doctor and the captain can't conceal their amusement at the situation.

"They really are crazy!" Gabby shouts in her mind incredulously as time seems to move in slow motion.

Castro turned back to the guard at the door .

"Let's not keep the governor waiting, shall we?" She says with a very calm voice.

The guard presses a hidden button on the frame and the heavy door quietly slides open. Castro strides past the guard and the door closes quickly behind her. Not offering her two companions even a brief glimpse of what lay beyond.

Ashley turns to Gabby and grins slightly as she places her hand on Gabby's back and slowly ushers her to the side, away from the door.

"Well kid, now we wait.." Ashley whispers, as she casts a furtive glance back at the door.

Then turning to Terral, Ashley unceremoniously clears her throat and asks

"You got anything to drink around here Mr. Vulcan?"

Captain Castro walks into the dimly lit antechamber, the scent of Vulcan incense, heavy in the thin air, assails her nostrils as the wafting blue smoke threatens her eyes. The silence of the room was deafening, and the captain could hear her pulse thunder in her head. The temperature is very comfortable for a Terran, if this was the living quarters of a Vulcan it would be much warmer.

After a few more steps Castro enters a smaller, candle lit room. The metal walls were the color of polished bronze, ancient Vulcan tapestries covered them and the great insignia of the Terran Empire hung there in a place of reverence. As Castro's sharp eyes scanned through the haze they came to rest on the familiar form at the far end of the room. Kneeling on a Vulcan meditation stone, in front of a hand crafted Vulcan mirror, clad in ordinary meditation garments was Solomon Cooper, Imperial Legate of 40 Eridani, Governor of Vulcan, Conqueror of the Nausicaans, Friend of Her Imperial Majesty Emperor Philippa Georgiou Overlord of Vulcan... and Providenca Castro's mentor, teacher, and best friend... her first and only captain..

The governor's large brown hands were folded into a Vulcan meditative bond and his eyes were closed as Castro silently approaches. She halts respectfully a few feet away from him, staring incredulously at him for a moment when a slight smile suddenly crosses his lips.

"I'm glad you didn't kill any of my guards, Pulli.." the governor said with his deep, thoughtful voice.

He opened his eyes to gaze proudly upon his old security chief and apprentice.

"The thought had crossed my mind a few times before I arrived sir.." Castro replied with a warmth that would have amazed her subordinates. Hearing Cooper call her by her nickname, 'Pulli' reassures Castro a little...

"Well, thank the stars you didn't give in to your more violent impulses.." Cooper said warmly. "It is good to see you again Pulli..."

Castro's eyes softens and her smile widens slightly at his words and tone. She allows herself to relax a little in his presence, he is the one person in this universe she trusts completely. He had saved her life several times, sponsored her in the academy where he prevented her execution after she killed three cadets and an instructor during her time there. When she graduated, he pulled strings to have her posted to his ship the ISS POTEMKIN as a security officer. During that time Cooper mentored her, teaching her how to navigate the internal politics of a starship, who to watch, how to keep your thoughts to yourself, keeping your friends close and your enemies closer... before you strike! Strike clean, hard, and public... make it a spectacle whenever possible to serve as a warning to others, you are not one to be fucked with...

Cooper taught her the importance of having a small but loyal core of followers, people who owe you everything and who you have ultimate control over. They will help keep you alive and be instrumental in gaining power. Reward them when they preform well, admonish them when they don't, kill them instantly if they show any signs treachery. Castro took his teachings to heart, following them to the letter and rising steadily through the ranks, becoming Captain Cooper's chief bodyguard and head of security on the POTEMKIN.

Castro loyally followed Cooper's orders for ten years and a dozen successful yet harrowing campaigns that brought glory, prestige, and wealth to her and the crew. Cooper recommended Castro for the Imperial Valor Award and accompanied her to the Imperial Palace on Earth where Emperor Georgiou personally gave her the award. A rare thing. That's when Castro really learned about Cooper and Georgiou's close friendship.

When Cooper was promoted by the Emperor to Legate and made Imperial Governor of Vulcan, he wanted Castro to take over as captain of the POTEMKIN, but was out maneuvered by his treacherous first officer Commander Handsteiner. Handsteiner appealed to his allies in the Imperial Court for the captaincy stating Castro is too 'young and inexperienced' for such an important command. The Emperor agreed and Cooper did not push too hard, explaining " you have to know which battles to fight and when not to". That incident had exposed Cooper's enemies at Court and he would make careful moves, destroying each one over the next few years. Castro would watch from afar as her mentor masterfully avenged himself and her.

The night before he left POTEMKIN to take up his governorship, Cooper called his protégé to his cabin and gave her some final advice. He told Castro to 'keep her eyes open',

"Handsteiner will try to kill you, but not out of hand. He will try to set you up, bring some bogus charges against you and have you executed." Cooper explained.

"You must be smarter. You'll see him coming a mile away but don't make a move against him until you're absolutely ready. Have your people in place and turn one or two of his. That will be easy because he is a miser and he doesn't pay them well. When all is ready, strike! Be bloody, bold and resolute! If you want POTEMKIN, take her!"

With those words of advice Cooper dismissed Castro. She would be among the officer's and crew who saluted him as he left POTEMKIN for Vulcan. As he de-materialized he looked her square in the face and winked. They would not see or speak to each other for seven years. After Castro killed Handsteiner, she did receive a congratulatory note from Cooper when she was confirmed as captain of POTEMKIN but nothing else since. Until a few day ago when they were ordered to the 40 Eridani Shipyards for a scheduled refit, she received an invitation to dinner from the governor.

"It's good to see you too sir." Castro said barely containing the happiness that welled up inside of her.

"But I must admit, I was a bit concerned when I got your dinner invitation. I thought it might be a death sentence in disguise." She confesses nervously.

Cooper's smile widens a little, obviously very touched by her confession. He knows that admitting fear to anyone was an anathema to Castro, who would rather swallow neutronium than show any weakness.

"Pulli, you are one of the very few people whom I trust implicitly." He said warmly as his eyes burned deeply into hers.

"I invited you here to discuss important matters. There are storm clouds on the horizon and the Terran Empire is in danger of imploding. Civil war is upon us, and these fools are going to lead the empire to destruction. If they don't wreck the empire by fighting each other they will weaken it enough that our enemies will over run us in quick order."

Castro set her jaw upon hearing Cooper's words. She knows what he is saying is true, alliances are being forged and battle lines drawn up. Soon it will be Terran against Terran and very bloody.

"Whatever it is sir I'm in.." She declares, already committed to anything the governor has come up with.

"Good!" Cooper says happily "I knew I could depend on you, that's why I invited you to dinner. I invited Ashley because she is my ex-sister in law and she always makes me laugh. I know she's extremely loyal to you and I really know she'll enjoy what we will be doing."

"What will that be sir?" Castro asks nearly bursting with anticipation.

Cooper stands up from the meditation stone showing no sign of difficulty or discomfort.

"Come, let us dine tonight and enjoy the meal as we hone our plan of action and make lists of names of men to die." The governor says as he ushers Castro toward the door.

"Oh, and I have someone here I'd like you to meet...." he adds as they stop near the governor's bedchamber..

Castro gazes into the candle lit room as someone stirs on the bed....

In The Mirror.. A Stroll Through The Catacombs