Return for Innocents (I)
As we returned to federation space, the first thing we got was a message from command, telling us to return to Romulus immediately.
“What’s the hurry, Admiral? What happened?”, asked Captain Martin. “Rakun, the Romulan Praetor has been killed.” Martin looked over to Cmdr. MacKinnon, who returned his look. He knew that she was thinking the exact same thing, as he was. “Admiral! Orion is underway!” - “Good. Keep me posted.”
Upon return to Romulus Orion was hailed by Tvarek:”Captain Martin. How good to see you again. How can I be of help today?” Martin was not sure, how to react. So he shot into the blue: “So, which of the two Rakuns was killed?” - “Oh, that is an easy question.” He paused. “Well then, tell me the answer.”, Craig demanded. “The answer is, that I don’t know. One of them killed the other. And the other one lies in a coma since the incident.” - “So who is in charge now?” - “I am!”, Tvarek spoke these two words with such power and ignorance, that Martin knew, that he wouldn’t set a foot on that planet ever again, befor this issue was settled. “We expect the ‘other’ Rakun to die within the hour. Which makes ME Praetor of the Romulan empire.” - “But I thought, you were the leader of some kind of underground movement?” - “I still am. But, as I was the first to whitness, what had happened, I too was the first to pick up the Insignia, which mark our emperor.” - “And with that Insignia you automatically become Praetor?” - “Too right you are my friend. Too right you are.” The Captain told Jerry to cut the line. “We have to find out which Praetor had got killed.” - “Yeah. How do you plan on doing that?”, Alexa obviously had some doubts. But Martin didn’t know what they should do next.