Past is Prologue - Part Five

Posted on Fri Jan 1st, 2021 @ 1:59pm by Captain April Yamaguchi

Mission: Mission 105: The Mirror, Shattered
Location: Various Locations - Terran Imperial Headquarters - Earth, SOL
Timeline: 1845Hrs - October 3rd, 2393

Captain Yamaguchi walked into the dimly lit antechamber, after a few more steps Yamaguchi entered a smaller, candlelit room. The metal walls were the color of polished bronze, ancient tapestries covered them and the great insignia of the Terran Empire hung there in a place of reverence. As Yamaguchi'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 large Vulcan meditation stone, in front of a handcrafted Vulcan mirror, clad in ordinary meditation garments was Stephen Caldwell, Imperial Legate of Sol, Governor of Earth, Conqueror of the Klingons, Friend of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Robert Leyton, and April Yamaguchi'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 Yamaguchi silently approached. She halted 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, Yama.." 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.," Yamaguchi replied with a warmth that would have amazed her subordinates. Hearing Caldwell calls her by her nickname, 'Yama' reassures Yamaguchi a little...

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

Yamaguchi's eyes softened and her smile widened slightly at his words and tone. She allowed herself to relax a little in his presence, he was the one person in this universe she trusted completely. He had saved her life several times during the long war with the Klingons. When she graduated from the academy, he pulled strings to have her posted to his ship the ISS Potemkin as a security officer. During that time Caldwell mentored her, teaching her how to navigate the internal politics of a starship, as the Federation had become the Empire when who's friends had rapidly become one's enemies. 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. Because that was the system that Robert Leyton had created and nurtured because of his fears and terrors, supplied by the Dominion. Leyton had been a hard Emperor until he had been assassinated two weeks earlier by an Imperial traitor who had quickly been captured and executed.

Caldwell had taught her the importance of having a small but loyal core of followers, people who owed you everything and who you have ultimate control over. They would help keep you alive and be instrumental in gaining power. Reward them when they perform well, admonish them when they don't, kill them instantly if they show any signs treachery. Yamaguchi had taken his teachings to heart, following them to the letter and rising steadily through the ranks, becoming Captain Caldwell's chief bodyguard and head of security on the Potemkin. Even after Caldwell had sex with Torilla to ensure the harlot got a reprimand removed from her file.

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

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

The night before he left Potemkin to take up his governorship, Caldwell called his protégé to his cabin and gave her some final advice. He told Yamaguchi 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." Caldwell explained. "You must be smarter. You'll see him coming a mile away but don't make a move against him until you're 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, Caldwell dismissed Yamaguchi. She would be among the officers and crew who saluted him as he left Potemkin for Earth. 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 Yamaguchi killed Handsteiner, she did receive a congratulatory note from Caldwell when she was confirmed as the captain of Potemkin but nothing else since. Until a few days ago when they were ordered to the San Fransisco Shipyards for a scheduled refit, she received an invitation to dinner from the governor.

"It's good to see you too sir," Yamaguchi 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.

"Yama, 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 Imperial Federation 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 overrun us in quick order." he paused. "We need something new..."

Yamaguchi set her jaw upon hearing Caldwell's words. She knows what he is saying is true, alliances are being forged and battle lines were drawn up. Soon it will be Terran against Terran and very bloody. Something would need to change.

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

"Good!" Caldwell 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 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 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 Yamaguchi toward the door.