Episode 27 Who We Are Meant to Be pt. 1

*"It still fascinates me everyday, beings' abilities to change."*
—**EXEO**

### **Pre-Break**

The episode opens with AMB Olyn in their office speaking with their father, Daro Madzhin-Nil over a secure channel. He appears to be at his home. Daro has an air of regal nobility, and a commanding presence. Daro asks if Olyn is in danger. Olyn says that Daro might be in danger, he asks why, and they reply that someone on the ship told them he was a target of the Romulans. Daro remarks that Olyn must be on the ship which carried away the Romulan spy. He begins to tell them a story.

Two years ago, Daro got in a loud argument with the Federation President. He was going to be fired in disgrace. He had been (and still is) a strong advocate for Reman rights within the Romulan Star Empire. Daro's fall-out with the Federation President reached the attention of undercover Romulan agents within Starfleet. They approached him for recruitment by the Tal Shiar. The contact said they were part of an anti-Sela and pro-Reman faction within the empire. Daro immediately contacted Starfleet Intelligence. Starfleet Intelligence was able to identify the security breach, which led them to several more operatives. These events led to the defection of Sorex. After uncovering the plot, he was allowed to finish out his career. He is going to retire at the end of the month. He intends to become an advocate for Reman rights; Olyn's mother, AMB Salar Madzhin-Nil is going to remain an ambassador.

Olyn asks Daro why he pulled strings for them when they got in trouble on Starbase 105. He replies that he did good work with his second chance, and Olyn deserves one as well. He informs Olyn that his retirement was part of the price of him pulling those strings to help them out. He wants Olyn to know that he wanted to retire, and they shouldn't feel guilt. He offers to give Olyn some help on dealing with Vorta. He has CAPT Sisko's notes from his time on Deep Space 9. Olyn replies, "Yes please! He punched a Q!" They say their good-byes. Just as the transmission ends, Olyn whispers "congratulations". Olyn looks out over the promenade deck, just as the ship drops out of warp at the edge of the Yukovar System, home of the planet Yukani Prime.

The scene moves to the complex on Yukani Prime, as a Federation shuttle lands. CAPT Sull, LTCDR Prahl, LTCDR M'Qrell, LTJG Lakat, and Sorex are aboard. Sorex remains seated while the others get out. They are greeted by Tirazz. He has changed since the crew last saw him. His eye-patch has been replaced by a cybernetic eye, and his entire left arm is now cybernetic. As usual, he is naked from the waist up, except for a bandoleer. A very large Gorn walks up and hugs Sull, picking them up off of the ground. He tells them he has a new name, Slibazz. He also has a new job, he and Tirazz are in the trade business. Sull reports that Sprak is once again a DaiMon, in command of Liquidator. Tirazz replies that Sull must be a lucky person, and invites them to stay at his brand new Orion Trade Union. Tirazz says that he owes Sull a lot, and asks what they need. Sull informs him they need an Orion Interceptor. Tirazz has one condition. Since the ship he has is "his baby", Sull must take Slibazz with them. Slibazz demands a better title and more money in exchange for "baby-sitting duty"; Tirazz agrees. They go down to pick up the ship.

Prahl says that he owes Lakat a favor, and so she gets to pilot up the Orion Interceptor. Prahl departs to return in the shuttle, while Lakat flies up the rest of the away team. Sull asks the crew if anyone knows the name of the ship. Slibazz and Lakat reply in unison: "Tirazz's Baby". Lakat asks Sull for permission to buzz the bridge of USS Ross, and Sull approves. Lakat calls LT Vrenn to inform him that she will be the only one who gets to fly the Orion Interceptor, and then hangs up. Vrenn squirms in his chair, clearly distraught that he won't get to fly it. They land the ship in the shuttle bay, and MCPO Theq is there with a full engineering team to scan and upgrade it. CDR EXEO is also there. Sull asks Theq and EXEO if they are excited about going to Jateran. Sull makes a snide comment about Theq ogling the aft of end of Tirazz's Baby.

Upon seeing EXEO, Slibazz runs up and hugs them tightly. EXEO asks if he still has his gun, and he pulls it out. Theq gets a glimpse of the massive weapon and orders CPO Singh to scan it. It is a modified disruptor cannon designed for anti-vehicle warfare. Olyn arrives in the shuttle bay to greet them all. Lakat takes several selfies with Tirazz's Baby and sends them to Vrenn, who is very distressed. Olyn tells Lakat that they can feel him being sad on the bridge from down in the shuttle bay. Sull turns over command of USS *Ross* to EXEO. Prahl request permission to bring phaser rifles, and Sull approves. Sull says good-bye to Olyn and Patience. Slibazz his fascinated by the ship, and especially by Patience. Olyn has her do a trick and Slibazz gets a little nervous. M'Qrell says good-bye to Theq, somewhat awkwardly, and Theq snubs her slightly, which Sorex notices. M'Qrell warns Slibazz to be nice to Sorex. Slibazz talks about Romulan subjugation of Gorn, but assents. Lakat orders one of her science officers to bring a small plant from her quarters to put on the dashboard of Tirazz's Baby (it's the one gifted to her by YEO3 Azzmi. The away team, consisting of Sull, Prahl, M'Qrell, Lakat, Sorex, and Slibazz, take off in Tirazz's Baby.

Olyn invites Theq to dinner. Olyn and EXEO head to the bridge. On the way, EXEO tells Olyn that when she first met Slibazz, he hated holograms. Now, she gets hugs. She is amazed by beings' ability to change.

### **Post-Break**

After reading through Captain Sisko's notes, Olyn makes chicken paprikash for Theq. USS Ross swings by Narendra Station on its way to Jateran. On the bridge, tactical officer LT Gerz reports a hail from the station. ADM Hebert is surprised to see USS Ross, as it is still on leave, and not expected to report for another week. She is surprised to see EXEO instead of Sull. EXEO pointedly avoids answering Hebert's question about where Sull is. Hebert sees through her evasion, but says nothing.

As USS Ross gets closer to Jateran, Gerz reports to EXEO that they are picking up a faint distress signal. Theq clears up the signal. It's a J'Shashia signal; it's an SOS from Space Ring Observer near the particle fountain in the Jotaym system. Vrenn reports they are six hours from the station. Theq speculates that it might be a trap, EXEO agrees, but orders the ship to change course to the station.

After arriving at the station, science officer LTJG Talen runs a scan. She detects the station is where USS Ross last saw it, but it appears damaged. There are still several life forms on the station. The damage is consistent with a Romulan plasma torpedo. EXEO orders the ship to yellow alert. Vrenn looks at the damage to the station; he determines the shot was either a malfunction or a deliberate miss. The number of life forms on the station match the expected crew. Theq opens a up a channel to the station, and Dr. Yugoss replies. Yugoss gives the timeline of events. 12 hours ago a ship arrived. 6 hours ago, it made its first attack on the station. 2 hours ago it made another attack. He brings up an image of the ship; it is a *T'Varo* class Romulan warbird. It is IRW Aehallh.

EXEO calls for a meeting of senior staff. EXEO guesses that ADM Mendak is waiting to attack USS Ross as soon as it drops shields in order to rescue the J'Shashia. Vrenn calls EXEO to say they are receiving a hail. EXEO goes to the bridge, and Mendak appears on the view screen. Mendak demands that USS Ross turn over Sorex to him. EXEO replies that there is no one named Sorex aboard the ship. Mendak doesn't believe her; he expresses suspicion of holograms. He threatens to kill the J'Shashia and ends the communication. EXEO says they need a plan. Vrenn suggests detonating the particle fountain. Theq takes Talen down to Cetacean Ops to figure out how.

Meanwhile, Tirazz's Baby drops out of warp over Nimbus III. Sull recalls that Nimbus III used to be an important hub for the Orion Crime Syndicate. They ask Sorex about his connection on the planet. Sorex says he only vaguely remembers it, but that we remembers enough to get by. Sorex doesn't feel they are walking into danger. Lakat lands the ship outside Paradise City, the dilapidated capital and main settlement. They walk past the decaying ruins of the city wall, and the bright neon sign proudly proclaiming "Welcome to Paradise City". The walls are covered in graffiti.

The crew are in undercover attire. Sull is dressed in full Orion arm-candy attire, with laced up thigh high boots, short shorts, a halter with fishnetting, and barely anything else. Her Orion cultural tattoos are fully visible. M'Qrell is in full "sex kitten" mode, dressed in a red sequin dress with a long slit up one side. She has a garter on one leg, with a knife stashed away. Lakat is playing security. Her outfit resembles Cardassian military attire: black leggings, combat boots, a black tank top. Prahl is full suited up in black tactical gear, complete with mirrored glasses. Sorex is dressed like a vagabond, and Slibazz is wearing what he always wears.

The crew enter the city. Sull and M'Qrell act as Sorex's arm-candy, and the rest as his bodyguards. An Yridian bumps into Sorex, and Slibazz shakes him down for money. The crew proceeds to a dump of a bar. Sorex says Lakat should pose as the leader of the bodyguards, since a Cardassian would never work for another species. Slibazz doesn't approve, but Sorex talks him down. Lakat enters the bar first and takes a look around. The walls are covered in bright lights, and there is loud music playing. She sees 15 patrons, a scantily-clad dancer, and a heavily cybernetic bartender. She identifies three exits: the door she walked through, a large window, and a back door that appears to be covered only by a cloth. Lakat and Prahl enter behind her, and Lakat moves to check the back door. She sees nothing of interest. M'Qrell tries to listen for threat, but picks up nothing specific. The bartender asks what they want, and Lakat inquires if the city is named after the song by Guns and Roses.

Sorex struggles to remember something important. The scene moves to a flashback. In the holodeck, M'Qrell is doing hand-to-hand combat exercises with Sorex while EXEO asks him about his past. Punch, question, kick, question, etc. Sorex is clearly an expert in combat, but he's having trouble focusing. In one session, he starts to complain about it. M'Qrell suddenly attacks him, which he dodges and counters. She tail whips him and the two go flying to the ground, grappling each other. They stand up. EXEO asks another question as M'Qrell lunges at him.

Back at the bar, Sorex calms down as he looks at M'Qrell. She taps him playfully with her tail. Slowly, a crowd of armed people enter the bar. They form a crescent around the crew, and an Andorian woman steps out from the middle. Everyone else in the bar leaves. She looks at Sorex with knowing eyes, and asks if he's going to say good-bye this time. Sull introduces themselves as Vel, and asks whether the woman is an old girlfriend. Sorex tells her that he wants a favor, but she replies that he's out of favors. She asks if he remembers what she said she'd do to him if she ever saw him again. Sorex tries to play it cool, but the tension in the room rises until the woman's bodyguards raise their weapons. Slibazz gets ready to murder all of them. Sorex looks at the Andorian woman, and then tells the truth (almost): he is a former Tal Shiar agent trying to remember his past. The woman asks how he is still alive, and whether he is here about the device in his head. She says her name is Ativa and tells him to follow her.

Sorex tells Sull that he trusts Ativa for some reason. The crew follow her into the street. Outside, everyone avoids Ativa. They enter a large garage that is clearly her space. Some of her bodyguards toss their weapons aside and relax. She leads the crew into a backroom, past a locked door. The room is filled with long canisters. Sull recognizes them as storage units that the Orion Crime Syndicate uses for transporting people (slaves, smugglers, etc.) Sull almost loses control, but manages to hold it together. Ativa opens up one of the containers, revealing a Romulan. The crew can't tell if the Romulan is dead or alive.

Ativa turns to Sorex, and says "All we have to do is cut it out. Ready to deal?".

## **Cast**

* Eric Campbell - Game Master
* Revati Dhomse - Jane Lakat
* Gina DeVivo - EXEO
* Sam de Leve - Azeri Sull
* Aki - Olyn Madzhin-Nil
* Xander Jeanneret - Theq Lynadas
* Bonnie Gordon - M'Qrell

## **Non-Player Characters**

* Daro Madzhin-Nil
* Tirazz
* Slibazz
* Sorex
* Yeri Prahl
* Zhyliss Vrenn
* Amandeep Singh
* Roh Gerz
* April Hebert
* Talen
* Yugoss
* Mendak
* Ativa

## **Locations**

* Jotaym System
	+ Space Ring Observer
* Narendra Station
* Nimbus III
	+ Paradise City

## **Notable Lines**

*"I will be the only one flying this."*
—**Jane Lakat** about *Tirazz's Baby*

*"'Dat aft, though!"*
—**Theq Lynadas** about *USS Ross*

*"It still fascinates me everyday, beings' abilities to change."*
—**EXEO** about Slibazz

*"What did I tell you about thinking, today, Vrenn?"*
—**EXEO**

*"What an asshole!"*
—**Zhyliss Vrenn** about Mendak

*"Are you sure Mr. S? I love a party."*
—**Azeri Sull** to Sorex (as Vel)

*"I don't think they can afford me."*
—**M'Qrell** to Ativa

*"You were the only Tal Shiar with the common sense to get on my good side."*
—**Ativa**