Introduction: Romulus

She arrived via a secret underground passage. Not a secret passage to the Tal Shiar, but secret nevertheless. She was amused at the elaborate security precautions -- various sensor cloaks and scramblers designed to keep out prying eyes, the majority of which had already been compromised by that Romulan intelligence agency. Not that she would ever betray what she knew -- the less information given out, the less you have to cover for, so the maxim went.

A servant escorted her into his private office, then silently departed. Opulantly furnished by Romulan standards, the room gave the impression of restrained power. Too ostentatious for her tastes though. She had spent her life keeping to the background, making sure that her star did not shine bright enough to garner her undue attention. A political target was the last thing that she wanted to become.

The attacker fell on her from above, bearing them both into the plush carpet. She recovered quickly, twisting and squirming to get her assailant off her back. They rolled around and knocked into pieces of furniture, toppling them over and making a racket. Finally, she managed to get her opponent in front of her, then kneed him and jammed her elbow into his throat, causing him to gasp and roll away. That gave her the time to pick up a vase and crack it over her attacker's head, felling him.

Silence, except for her heavy panting.

Stupid, very stupid. Never let your guard down.

Someone slowly clapping. "Excellent," boomed a voice from behind her. "It's good to see that commanding a starship has not made you soft."

She slowly got up, trying her best to maintain her composure. "Senator Kassus," she began, "I see you're still testing me."

"Always, Major Sela, always."

"Senator, you didn't summon me just to see if I could still defend myself."

"Please, Sela, no need for formality with me. Call me Morror."

"I prefer to keep our relationship professional."

The Senator sighed, "as you wish Major. And you're right, I have a job for you."

Sela waited for the Senator as he sat down at his desk and poured himself a glass of ale. "My informants have reported that Senator Merek has sent his whelp to the Federation. He thinks that the young pup will be able to procure the Phyrox Plague cure that he so desperately needs."

"That's treason! The Senate has expressly forbidden contacting the Federation. He must be arrested at once."

"Tempting, but not advantageous enough. You will intercept Merek's son and bring me the cure. With it, I can become powerful enough to challenge the Emperor himself!"

"Now you speak treason! I should--"

"You will do NOTHING! Nothing but what I say. I own you, or have you forgotten?"

Sela gave Kassus a withering glare.

"You are dismissed."

Sela turned to leave. "And Major, do not fail me this time."