Chapter Text
Terran Empire
Were all young adults this infuriating, or was it just this one? Maya was arrogant, surely stemming from the fact that she felt entitled to rule an empire and saw her inherited genetic enhancements as a sign of superiority. La’an had encouraged this at first to earn the girl’s trust, but after a few months of living and working closely with her, she regretted taking that approach. Sometimes she regretted choosing to work with Maya in the first place. She seemed to want results without putting forth any effort, eyes always distant and glazed over whenever La’an tried to explain any necessary details about the Terran Empire’s history and culture.
“Maya.” La’an was exasperated. She and Maya sat at the table, PADDs strewn about. Maya slouched in her seat, her eyelids heavy. “Let’s talk about something else. You’ve still never told me the details of how exactly you usurped your father, or why.”
“I don’t see why the details matter.” She avoided looking at La’an when she spoke.
La’an should have expected this. So far Maya had always been frustratingly evasive and cagey when asked even the simplest of questions. “I need insights into your psyche, your motives, your strengths and weaknesses. This could be essential to insure your success as a future emperor.”
“He had power, and I wanted it, is that not reason enough? My understanding is that this is the same way anyone accomplishes anything in your empire.”
“Then tell me how,” La’an pressed. “I’ve been dying to know just how you pulled off such an incredible feat.” Hopefully encouraging Maya’s inflated ego would encourage her to open up.
La’an shifted her weight in her seat, and as she considered her answer for a moment she had a nervous look on her face, “In the interest of transparency…it was a collaborative effort.”
“These things require cooperation and coordination. I don’t think any less of your accomplishment.” Of course she hadn’t done it on her own, La’an never thought that was the case,
“I…managed to convince a number of my father’s inner circle that he needed to be replaced and that I was the best choice.” Maya’s spine straightened up, and she sat alert.
La’an studied the younger woman closely. Every sign of a person hiding something. “And as his heir, they accepted you?”
Maya looked away and took a deep breath to brace herself. She was definitely hiding something, and she was a terrible liar. “If only it was that simple. I should have been his heir, but instead it was my younger brother.”
“And why did he favor your brother?”
“That doesn’t matter!” Maya slammed her fist on the table as she shouted. She hit a PADD, shattering the screen and cutting her hand. She turned her head to look up at the ceiling, shaking her hand to chase the pain away.
A smug smile appeared on La’an’s face. There was something to uncover here, in time she would. “If you aren’t too agitated, I have one more question.”
“I can’t guarantee that I’m not, but go on.” Maya still wasn’t looking at La’an, instead looking down to examine her injured hand.
“The reports stated that the augments from the Botany Bay were unwaveringly loyal to Khan. What exactly did you say to convince them to betray him?” Unless Maya had some secret skills as a persuasive orator, something wasn’t adding up.
Maya paused, the look of fear on her face was unmistakable. “It didn’t take much convincing. After so many years living on Ceti Aloha V, they could see his flaws and only needed someone bold enough to do something about it.”
An evasive answer if ever she heard one, but La’an knew better than to press the issue to far all at once. “How very lucky for you.” La’an stood. “Take some time to calm yourself, we have a busy afternoon. I have a meeting with Commander in Chief Spock, and I was able to get permission for you to come along. So far as anyone else knows, you’re a cousin of mine from the Martian colony. Let me speak for you, less chance that a gap in your knowledge might give you away.”
“Wait…” Maya sprang to her feet. “If he trusts you, if it’s so easy for you to get an audience with him, then what’s the need for all this waiting and planning? Why do you even need me, if you can, with so little effort get close enough to slit his throat?”
“Maya, for someone who has successfully staged a coup you seem hopelessly clueless. It takes more than a successful assassination, one must also either subdue or replace an entire power structure and take necessary measures to ensure political stability. These thing can’t be rushed.”
“Of course,” Maya conceded.
“And later tonight we have a meeting with some associates of mine, the leaders of the Society for Terran Traditions. With them, there is no need to hide your identity, but it would still be in your best interest to let me do the talking.”
“Third assassination attempt this week,” Doctor McCoy grumbled as he knelt beside an unconscious man, scanning him with a tricorder, “I’m getting too old for this shit.”
“Be that as it may, Doctor,” the Vulcan began. “There are few people I can trust. You fill a role no one else can.”
“Wish I didn’t have to…” Slowly and carefully he got back to his feet. This was a man who should have retired years ago. “Look, Spock, I know you’re trying to set a good example, and I admire it, but maybe if these men are trying to kill you, you might deter them a little bit more if you responded with something stronger than a Vulcan nerve pinch. These guys clearly aren’t going to be receptive to the non-violent approach. That sounds more ‘logical’ to me.”
“Commitment to my ideals is only one of many factors that influence my choices, Doctor. Within this man’s memories is information. If he had assistance, he knows the identity of his con-conspirators. If he worked alone, he knows the vulnerabilities that allowed him to come so close to success.”
“Law of large numbers, Spock. Eventually one of them might get lucky.”
“Or, perhaps, Doctor, with continued practice I will continue to become more and more proficient at foiling their attempts.”
“Well, I hope you’re right. Guess he had better be taken into custody and interrogated once he comes to.”
Security was tighter at the Commander in Chief’s office. In the old days a respected admiral could go where they pleased without question, but Spock was more selective in who he allowed to get close to him. Damn Vulcan coward.
There was a tense moment getting through security with Maya’s forged credentials, but La’an held enough authority and gravitas in her presence that few people dared to question her. As an aide led the pair to Spock’s office, La’an gave Maya a shrewd look, hoping that would be enough to remind the young woman to keep her mouth shut. Maya was highly intelligent, but lacked tact and common sense.
Inside the office seated at the desk was a Vulcan man with gray hair and a tidy beard. He rose from his seat and stepped to the other side of the desk to great them.
“Commander in Chief, an honor as always.” No Terran salute, Spock didn’t care for it anymore. “And a relief to see you alive and well. I heard about the recent attempt on your life.”
“Assassination attempts, Admiral, are an unfortunate yet constant fact of my life.” Spock answered as he went back around to sit at the desk.
“This is Maya, the cousin I mentioned.” La’an and Maya sat in the chairs on the other side of the desk. “She has talent and ambition that I’m afraid would have wasted on the Martian colony. I’d like to thank you again for giving her this opportunity to see the inner workings of the Terran Republic.”
Spock nodded. “A simple favor to grant. Tell me, Admiral, how are the restorations aboard the Portland progressing?”
“Better than I had expected,” La’an replied. “As you know, Captain Albrecht has an attachment to the old, violent ways, but even she has begun to come around, if reluctantly. Her crew, though, seem to be more forward thinking. I felt a sense of optimism when I spoke to them.” Her response was carefully crafted to give Spock a favorable view of the situation aboard the Portland, but with just enough critique to keep it believable.
“Exactly as I predicted. This is a common occurrence. Those in power fear to lose it without the unjust systems that put them in place, while those who stand to benefit the most embrace reform with open arms.”
“Perfectly understandable,” La’an replied. “Also, I thought I might mention. The Portland’s Chief Medical Officer is a Vulcan, T’Ralia. Do you know her?”
Spock raised an eyebrow. “Admiral. It is not a reasonable assumption to think that I would know every Vulcan.”
“Perhaps not, but Vulcans with successful careers in Starfleet are exceptional.” La’an shrugged.
“In any case, this time your assumption was close to the truth. I have not met T’Ralia, but I do know of her. Her family has a reputation.”
“Oh?” La’an hadn’t felt any genuine curiosity for the personal details of the Portland’s doctor, but now her curiosity was piqued, “What sort of a reputation?”
“Her parents were instrumental in ending several uprisings. I’m curious, what was Doctor T’Ralia’s opinion of the reforms?”
“Favorable.” La’an had not actually spoken a word to the Vulcan doctor, but to admit that might make it seem like she hadn’t done her due diligence aboard the Portland. “She said it was logical to reduce suffering and build a more stable state.”
Again, Spock nodded. “Curious though, that she favors reform when her family had always worked in the Empire’s best interest.”
“I’m sure they found their own way to use logic to justify their actions.” La’an offered,
“Indeed. Admiral that was all I planned to discuss. Was there anything else from your time abroad the Portland that you wished to share?”
La’an shook her head. “Nothing comes to mind, no. As always, we’ll stay in communication.”
“Of course, Admiral.” Spock turned slightly to address Maya. “I hope observing this meeting has been enlightening.”
“It has,” Maya answered, her voice more pleasant and warm than La’an had ever heard. “Thank you for this opportunity.”
Spock stood, and a moment later the two women rose to their feet as well. Instead of the traditional Terran salute he did a gesture with his hand that originated on Vulcan, one that used to be outlawed for being pro-alien, Frankly, La’an found it vulgar.
“Live long and prosper.”
La’an and Maya were back at the table, a repeat from that morning with La’an’s patience wearing thin and Maya nearly bored to tears. They had several hours until the next meeting, and La’an intended to make good use of them.
“You’ve met you greatest adversary, Maya. What was your impression of that meeting?”
“A waste of time. It would have been just as effective to send a detailed report.”
La’an stood up and took a few steps away to let her frustration dissipate. Coaching along someone so immature and naive was not something she expected to have to do to prepare to retake an empire. “I went to great lengths and assumed great risks to get you in that room. Now tell me what have you learned from your meeting with Spock?”
“You never told me he wasn’t Terran.”
“I never thought it was necessary. ‘Spock’ is about as Vulcan as a name can be.” This was tedious, navigating the absolute (if perfectly understandable) depths of Maya’s ignorance.
“And I’ve only met one Vulcan before, so I had no way of knowing,” Maya pointed out. “Still, it’s an important observation, even if it is an obvious one.”
“How so?” It was an insult to the Terran Empire to be ruled by a non-Terran, but beyond that Spock’s race was a basic, objective fact of his being, in the same way that he had a beard and was tall.
“He has an advantage with aliens that you and I will never have” Maya explained.
“Perhaps, but their opinions have no value when they exist to be conquered and ruled.”
“But there’s so many of them! Can they really all be controlled by might alone? Or what if they react violently to seeing a leader who famously took pity on them replaced by a Terran?”
“They have been ruled by might alone for centuries. There is no reason to believe that this approach would cease to be effective or that sufficient force would not be able to quell future uprisings.”
“And it would still be wise to prepare for possible uprisings rather that arrogantly assume that they pose no threat?”
“Point taken.” That was something La’an hadn’t considered on her own... maybe working with Maya would be worth the trouble after all. “Tell me what else you learned from meeting Spock.”
“He trusts you, without question. Someone tried to kill him this morning, but he met with you and let you bring an unknown guest as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Why is that?” Maya looked toward La’an for an explanation, but La’an remained silent, forcing Maya to puzzle it out on her own. “He must trust you…because of a common history.”
La’an nodded. “We served together on the Enterprise, decades ago. Much of his old crew supported his radical views, his rise to power, and his reforms. He made the mistake of thinking anyone who shared an amiable history with him would be receptive to his extreme views. For one who disagreed but wanted to bide their time, blending in was simply a matter of saying the right things. I never agreed with him, but I saw strategic value in keeping my opinions to myself.”
“And there are others like you, who Spock trusts?”
Another nod. “A few, yes. And you’re going to meet some of them tonight.”
“Admiral,” Maya asked as they waited for their guests. “Shouldn’t you be a bit more secretive about this?”
“Oh no, Maya. No further precautions are necessary. Some of Spock’s reforms work in our favor. He guarantees freedom of assembly and freedom of speech. We can gather and criticize him as much as we please without consequence. Of course, planning a coup fall outside of the realm of protected speech, but so long as no records are kept we have plausible deniability.”
A chime at the door.
“Come in,” La’an called. The door slid open, and the man who stepped inside greeted La’an with a Terran salute, which she returned. Maya also gave her best attempt at a Terran salute.
“Joseph M’Benga. You’re the first to arrive. Let me introduce you to Maya Noonien Singh, daughter of Khan Nonnien Singh and the new leader of the augments on Ceti Alpha V.”
Perplexed, M’Benga tilted his head and gave Maya a thoughtful look. “Not who I was expecting to meet, but I trust La’an’s judgment.”
Hikaru Sulu, Erica Ortegas, and Nyota Uhura also joined them, each with a similar surprised and skeptical response.
It was crowded with all six gathered around a small table meant for four. Their group was small yet powerful.
“As you can see,” La’an began, “We must adapt to a significant change of course. Khan is dead, but in his place we have an allegiance with the woman who was able to overthrow him. The augments are just as loyal to her as they were to her father.”
“Bullshit!” Ortegas interrupted. While everyone else had a similar sense of decorum as if they in the captain’s ready room on a star ship, Ortegas acted more like she was in a crowded bar. “You promised to bring back Khan, and instead you show up with some random kid and a story that’s impossible to prove.”
“I have medical records to prove her genetic heritage.” La’an remained calm in spite of the outburst.
“Medical records can be forged. I still don’t believe it,”
“Erica Ortegas, have you forgot the vow we took?” La’an taunted. “If you abandon the cause, your life is forfeit. I can reasonably claim that I killed any one of you in self defense after an attempt on my life.”
Silence.
“Hey, I’m not abandoning anything.” Ortegas held up her hands in a sign of defeat. “I just think this seems like a long, elaborate waste of time.”
“I think you might change your mind once we have a team of augments on our side.” La’an spoke with calm control. “Maya and I will be returning to Ceti Alpha V to collect them, and in the mean time I need each of you to prepare for our return. Uhura, the credentials you forged for Maya allowed her to get right into Spock’s office. We will need falsified documents for the augments, nothing complicated, just enough to prove identity.”
Uhura nodded.
“Sulu and Ortegas I need detailed information on every assassination attempt in the past year. M’Benga, when the augments arrive, you will advise Mayaon how best to command them. Those are your orders. If there are no further questions, I have no need to take any more of your time.”
Sulu had left just before Ortegas, so she had to walk at a clipped pace to catch up with him. The air was cool and damp from recent rain, and moving quickly even for a short stretch made her hear flutter, and unwelcome reminder that her youth was behind her.
“Hey, Hikarku!” She called.
Sulu stopped and turned to face Ortegas, “You know, most people don’t call me by my first name.” His voice was cold and flat.
“It’s not a problem, is it?” Damn. She was trying to build an alliance, and might have already messed it up with such a tiny mistake,
“Usually, yes, but I admire your boldness.” He took a step closer, and a sly smile appeared on his face. “And what about you? Erica or Ortegas?”
“Look, that’s not what’s important.” Should have just called him Sulu like everyone else. “What did you think about everything La’an said? Do you believe it all?”
“It’s far fetched. A little too far fetched.”
“Exactly. And I don’t think someone who cooks up wild stories is the best choice to be emperor.” This might take less convincing than she thought. Maybe the others might think La’an was out of her mind too,
“I agree, but I don’t think we should try to remove her just yet. Let her do the hard work, and once the throne is within her grasp…”
“…Take it out from under her nose.”