UT: TFV - Operation Vanguard

Discussion in 'Fan Fiction' started by Gibraltar, Feb 16, 2012.

  1. Gibraltar

    Gibraltar Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    TFV - Operation Vanguard (Chapter 5 continued)

    Sandhurst was unfortunately all too familiar with the expression on Taiee’s face when she finally looked up from the clamshell examination bed in which Petty Officer Carnegie was contained. Taiee conferred briefly with the LMH and Doctor Multorlo before stepping through the medical sterilization field into the antechamber where she removed her HazMat environment suit. Finally, she stepped out of the bio-hazard airlock and into the main ward of Sickbay to make her report.

    “They’re both deceased, Captain, and we have absolutely no idea why or how.”

    The deluge of questions Sandhurst had been on the cusp of asking died in his throat.

    “There’s no sign of physical trauma, toxins, pathogens, radiation exposure, asphyxiation, cellular disruption, or anything else that could explain what happened. By all rights they should be up and walking around. It’s like someone threw a switch and simply turned them off.”

    Sandhurst’s jaw clenched tightly in an unconscious display of his mounting anger. “Understood, Doc. Keep at it, I want answers.”

    “Aye, sir.”

    He turned and strode into the corridor, finding T’Ser standing on the other side of the doors. “Pell and I have requested a meeting with DuaNam here on the ship,” the XO announced as she fell into step beside him. “He’ll be transporting aboard in a few moments.”

    “I want a Marine detachment in full combat gear to escort their representative to the briefing room,” Sandhurst fairly growled.

    “Is that wise, sir? We don’t know for certain that the Habertaem or their allies know anything about this. If we’re too heavy handed, we risk damaging the goodwill we’ve already established.”

    “Something in their own front yard just killed two of our people, and I find it impossible to believe that with all these other craft out here trolling through this debris field something like this hasn’t happened before.” He shot T’Ser a hard look that brooked no argument as he stepped through the parting doors of a turbolift car. “Devil Dogs in full battle-rattle, Exec. Make it happen.”

    T’Ser bobbed her head curtly as the doors hissed close on her captain. “Right away, sir.”

    *****

    “Is this show of force really necessary, Captain Sandhurst?” DuaNam asked testily as he settled into the body-sling that had been provided for him in lieu of a chair at the conference table. Two Marine sentries flanked the doorway at either end of the compartment, clad in bulky armored vests, helmets, leggings, and clutching sturdy pulse-phaser carbines that glistened darkly with implied lethality.

    “You tell me, Chief Secretary,” Sandhurst answered frostily. “I have two dead crewmen below decks and no rational explanation for what happened to them. I suspect you might have neglected to tell us of some hidden dangers in the vicinity of your station. Is that the case?”

    “We have arrangements with other species in this region, Captain,” DuaNam allowed guardedly. “I was unaware that they had any of their ordinance remaining in our system, or I would have cautioned you during your approach to the station.”

    “Arrangements with whom?” T’Ser pressed from where she sat next to Sandhurst. Pell Ojana and Counselor Liu also sat at the table, observing the exchange silently as they each assessed the interactions through their own professional prisms.

    “Their name is not important, and to be perfectly candid, knowing who they are would be more dangerous to you than not knowing,” DuaNam replied evenly.

    “What… killed… my… people?” Sandhurst inquired with exaggerated slowness to underscore the seriousness of his point.

    DuaNam clicked and squeaked animatedly as his dark, watery eyes blinked languidly in the subdued light of the observation lounge. The Universal Translator obediently relayed, “I regret that I’m not presently at liberty to discuss the mechanism employed.”

    “Do you even know the specifics of that mechanism, or are you as ignorant of it as you are your station’s own defensive systems?” Pell asked pointedly.

    That query appeared to bring DuaNam up short. The Habertaem paused, his facial expression appearing even more tormented than usual, if that were possible. “You are correct,” he said finally. “We do not have control over our own weapons emplacements. That responsibility has been assumed by others.”

    Sandhurst’s frown deepened, his face becoming a resolute mask of indignation. “When we asked permission to approach your station, we were assured there were no active hostilities in the system, or any immediate dangers to the safety of this ship and its crew.”

    “You mean the station surrounded by a cloud of debris from an obliterated battle fleet?” The UT did an admirable job of conveying the tenor of DuaNam’s incredulity. “Our assurances were that there was no one presently shooting. That remains the case.”

    “Semantics aside, are we in danger now?” T’Ser asked coolly.

    DuaNam’s ghoulish head turned toward the Vulcan officer. “It’s a strong possibility. The beings likely responsible for the deaths of your crew use In’Drahn station as bait to attract approaching refugee fleets. They are not typically attracted to single vessels, and peaceful species are of particularly little interest to them.” His head rotated to examine Sandhurst. “However, now you may have triggered one of their devices. I do not know what, if any, response may be forthcoming.”

    “You didn’t feel it necessary to share any of this information with us?” Sandhurst asked tersely.

    “And you’ve been completely upfront and transparent with us, Captain?” DuaNam shot back.

    Pell inquired, “How have we not been?”

    “The alien craft at the edge of our system that is hiding behind an invisibility screen, for instance,” DuaNam offered. “Is it a threat to us? Your ship seems to be inordinately interested in its presence.”

    Any possibility of maintaining plausible deniability evaporated with Counselor Liu’s coughing fit as he choked on the tea he was drinking. Sandhurst cast a displeased glance in Liu’s direction before setting his gaze back upon DuaNam’s disturbing visage.

    “Though we do not maintain control of In’Drahn’s weapons, the Husnock’s excellent sensor systems are another matter entirely,” DuaNam revealed with just a hint of pleasure.

    “They are Romulans,” Sandhurst admitted. “They are ostensibly our allies, but we do not know how they will react to the threat of the oncoming refugee fleets. We believe their interest is with us and our activities at present, not with you or your station.”

    “But you cannot guarantee our safety from these Romulans?” DuaNam pressed.

    “No, we can’t,” Sandhurst conceded.

    “So you see, Captain, we have both kept secrets from one another that we judged to be of lesser importance than the relationship we were establishing.”

    Sandhurst shifted uneasily in his chair. “So it would seem,” he answered.

    DuaNam continued, “The question now would seem to be in what form does that relationship continue? Despite this tragedy, I believe it would benefit us both to move forward with our association.”

    “You said we could be in danger if we remain here,” T’Ser pointed out.

    “I believe it would be in your best interest to leave our system for a time, to ensure that our ‘allies’ do not come to investigate the activation of their device. Once we can safely say no such visit is likely, you could return.”

    Sandhurst sat in silence for a long moment, mulling all that he’d heard. Finally, he addressed DuaNam. “Chief Secretary, I also believe that we’ve built a solid foundation for ongoing relations between our peoples. However, I must insist you tell us everything you know about this race in the event that we or our other starships encounter them on this mission.”

    DuaNam’s legs wriggled in unison, conveying his evident discomfort. “Your request is a reasonable one, Captain. Please understand that I am violating the Habertaem’s agreement with them by revealing this information, but I firmly believe that relations with your Federation will prove more beneficial to my people in the long run than will our continued association with the people we have come to know as our ‘benefactors.’”

    Sandhurst nodded silently, prompting DuaNam to continue.

    “They are called the Amon, and they are a predatory warrior species that we first encountered during the struggles that followed the annihilation of the Husnock. The Amon are drawn to violence, and the battles that raged between the former Husnock slave species drew them to us across vast distances. We had no effective control over the Husnock weapons aboard the station, and the Amon deduced how they might be controlled to their advantage.

    “Since then they’ve used In’Drahn as bait, to draw in both the other militarized slave species in possession of Husnock weapons, as well as the refugee fleets that are now transiting our local sectors.”

    “You said they are drawn to violence,” Pell recounted. “So, the Amon are scavengers who consume what? Technology left over from these battles?”

    “They have no need of technology, aside from the ships they occasionally appropriate from their victims,” DuaNam explained. “Though there is much we do not understand about the Amon, we have come to believe, as unlikely as it sounds, that they feed upon death itself.”

    The Starfleeters at the table shared a flurry of skeptical looks before pressing further.

    “Uh,” Sandhurst uttered as he scratched at the side of his head, “that’s going to require some elaboration.”

    “Their entire society is geared around the acquisition of an energy source that the Amon insist is released at the moment of death by sentient life forms.”

    T’Ser looked nonplussed. “That sounds like they’re feeding you misinformation, Chief Secretary.”

    “We considered that,” DuaNam replied, “but unless their entire culture is based on some ridiculously elaborate hoax, they appear to hold that concept as sacrosanct. It bears saying that they are unlike any species we have encountered, almost child-like in their outlook and beliefs, and without any concern for the larger happenings in the greater galactic community aside from such events as they can exploit to sustain themselves. They are without doubt the most formidable warriors we have met. Had they waged war on the Husnock in their prime, they may well have defeated them.”

    ”You say they acquire vessels from other species,” Pell summarized. “How will we know them when we first encounter them?”

    “There is no mistaking them,” DuaNam answered cryptically. “Few species ever set eyes upon the Amon, and most that do never live to speak of the experience.”

    “Then how do you explain their relationship with you?” Counselor Liu asked.

    “They appear to have taken pity upon us,” DuaNam said, “though for what reason we cannot fathom.” The chief secretary of the Habertaem looked to Sandhurst. “Captain, I have answered your questions to the best of my ability. I do not wish to see your people placed in further jeopardy, and I ask that you depart this system until such time as we can be assured that no Amon reconnaissance element has been dispatched to investigate the activation of their device.”

    “Very well,” Sandhurst said, rising from his seat. “Thank you for your candid responses, Chief Secretary. I hope to return to resume our diplomatic relationship when the situation is less… complicated.”

    “We eagerly await such a resumption of relations, Captain Sandhurst.”

    *****

    A half hour later, all of Europa’s crew had reported to departure stations and the ship had maneuvered clear of the debris zone surrounding In’Drahn station.

    Sandhurst keyed the comms to engineering on his armrest. “Mister Ashok, I think it’s time we put this girl through her paces. Would you concur?”

    “Yes, sir,” Ashok replied with uncharacteristic enthusiasm in his voice. “I’ll be standing by to further calibrate the injector sequencing as we progress up the warp scale, Captain.”

    “Very well, bridge out.”

    Sandhurst cast a glance over at T’Ser in the XO’s seat. “Despite the unfortunate circumstances, I think this may well prove a good first step into the Delta Quadrant, Exec.”

    T’Ser appeared unconvinced. “Perhaps, sir, but will every step we take be as treacherous and uncertain as this one?”

    “Only time will tell,” Sandhurst allowed.

    “Captain,” Pell spoke from the mission specialist’s seat on Sandhurst’s other side. “What about the Romulans? We’re only assuming that they’re following us. If they remain behind and these Amon make an appearance, things could get very ugly for them very quickly.”

    There was twenty seconds of silence as Sandhurst pondered that possibility. He frowned as though tasting something unsavory as he announced, “Ops, open a channel to the Romulan vessel, tight-beam subspace.”

    Juneau looked startled, but followed the order promptly nonetheless. “Aye. Channel open, sir.”

    “Romulan vessel, we are departing the system due to the possible arrival of a reportedly hostile force. Be advised that we have encountered some manner of cloaked device in the debris field near the station that resulted in the deaths of two of our crew, so utilize caution if you’re planning on exploring the waste zone. If we’ve proven more interesting than the locals, our next destination is the star system DS-72948, bearing zero-two-zero, mark three-zero-eight. If you elect to follow us, we will be seeing you there. On behalf of your friends in Starfleet, have a nice day.”

    In response to T’Ser’s dumbfounded look, Sandhurst merely said, “Well, technically, they are our allies.” He glanced at Pell with a mischevious smirk. "I hope you're happy. Admiral Jellico's going to have my ass for hors d'oeuvres."

    Before she could formulate a response, he directed his next order to the flight control station. “Mister Lightner, engage at Warp 2 and stand ready for engine-calibration acceleration curve.”

    *****
     
    Last edited: May 21, 2012
  2. Count Zero

    Count Zero No nation but procrastination Moderator

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    Re: TFV - Operation Vanguard (Chapter 5 continued)

    :lol: I like that message.

    I suppose we haven't seen the last of the Amon who remain as mysterious as before. The Delta Quadrant is one screwed up place.
     
  3. Nerys Ghemor

    Nerys Ghemor Vice Admiral Admiral

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    "Have a nice day." That ranks right up there with the Interstellar Shit, and "Hi, Christopher, I'm Nero," in the "Funniest Things Heard on Subspace" list. :guffaw:

    It seems to me that DuaNam is putting himself in a very difficult position here. The fact that he chose to give that information makes me think that on some level he's aware that his people are just being victimized again by the Amon and has hopes of ending that victimization.

    As far as those death-eaters ( ;) ) go, before dismissing that concept, maybe Sandhurst and company should look up the Beta XII-A entity. That creature fed on fear and anger, so it's not that far off between that and being a death eater.
     
  4. CeJay

    CeJay Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
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    I can see why Jellico is going to have kittens over this. While I loved Sandhursts' 'heads-up', he has also just thrown away a significant tactical advantage over their so-called Romulan allies by letting them know that Europa can see through their cloak.

    I liked the resolution here of going away for a while and coming back later. Not every problem or challenge can always be resolved in a short span of time. On occasions you have no other choice but to step away, do some other stuff and revisit it later.
     
  5. BrotherBenny

    BrotherBenny Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    He can tell Jellico, and the Romulans, that the Habaertum divulged the information about the Romulans...just saying ;)
     
  6. Blip

    Blip Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Hahahahahahahaha
     
  7. Dnoth

    Dnoth Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Here's to hoping the Romulans will remember Sandhurst's courtesy in the future...

    I like the idea of turning this mission in to one big story arch. Besides, there is always the chance of seeing the Amon again on the trip back home. :evil:
     
  8. TrekkieMonster

    TrekkieMonster Commodore Commodore

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    A very interesting turn of events. The Delta Quadrant is definitely full of interesting - and lethal - characters. DuaNam is clearly a very practical individual. Let's hope his colleagues see his disclosures in the same light. I'm very much looking forward to seeing the Amon (I remember them from DarKush's tale). And knowing our intrepid author, I think we can be fairly certain they will appear at some point, to quite dramatic effect (while our dear Gibraltar is always one for mystery and surprise, he is most definitely not one to leave Checkov's (Anton, not Pavel) proverbial gun on the wall.) :p

    I also wanted to comment on Sandhurst's exchange with Verrik: I thought it was very nice the way you made what would otherwise come off as mostly "emotional reactions" seem imminently logical. :vulcan:

    Oh, and I have to agree with BrotherBenny: if push came to shove, Sandhurst could honestly tell the Romulans that the In'Drahn station sensors were capable of detecting them, which could serve to protect both the Romulans and the denizens of the station.

    The question remains, of course, what other mischief can the Romulans cause our heroes? Tune in next week, same Trek time, same Trek channel. :mallory:

    Have a nice day. :p
     
  9. Gibraltar

    Gibraltar Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    TFV - Operation Vanguard (Chapter 5 continued)

    Sandhurst, Ashok, and Lieutenant(j.g.) Lascomb stood around the master system’s display table in engineering, staring at the status schematic of the propulsion system laid out before them holographically in mid-air.

    “There it is,” Ashok noted dourly. “The same fluctuation at the five terawatt threshold, right as the pressure reaches twenty-five kilopascals.” He reached out with a finger, tracing it along the plasma conduit leading from the reaction chamber to the port warp nacelle. “It’s creating a harmonic phase variance in the plasma stream that the injectors in the nacelle are unable to completely compensate for.”

    “And that’s what keeps knocking us out of warp whenever we try to push any faster than nine-point-two?” Lascomb asked.

    “Yes,” Sandhurst said, just barely reigning in a disconsolate sigh. “It’s a byproduct of the dilithium crystal re-alignment we had to carry out to solve the intermix-ratio problem.” He stepped back, leaning against an unmanned auxiliary console as he rubbed his face tiredly. “We’ll need to design a custom phase discriminator module and place it about ten meters out from the core along the port conduit. That should attenuate the phase variance.”

    Lascomb shook her head. “It’s like every fix we make to the system to overcome one problem just creates a whole host of other problems.”

    “Welcome to designing a propulsion system from scratch in the field, Mister Lascomb,” Sandhurst said with a lopsided smirk. “Simulations are all well and good, but until you actually run a ship through her paces, you never know what issues are going to crop up that you didn’t predict during the design phase.”

    “Yes, sir,” she answered, her head buzzing with calculations and imaginary diagrams as she laid the mental groundwork for designing the discriminator module.

    “Okay, I have some issues to take care of topside,” Sandhurst said. “Then I’ll come back down and help brain-storm this further. Perhaps we can get ahead of the curve and get this engine up to speed. Running full out, it should be able to get us up to nine-point-nine-eight-three and keep us there for seventy-two hours or longer.”

    “A mint,” Ashok breathed hopefully. He caught Sandhurst’s quizzical look and scowled in response. “Isn’t that the human aphorism?”

    “Amen,” Sandhurst corrected with a chuckle and he patted the enormous Bolian on the shoulder. “And I share the sentiment, Lieutenant.”


    *****

    Four captains and their executive officers sat around a large circular meeting table, along with Vice-Admiral Jellico and Task Force Vanguard’s Strategic Operations officer, Lt. Commander Lar’ragos. In reality, each of the pairs were on a holodeck (or in Gallant’s case, a holotank) aboard their respective ships, their images relayed into a collective holographic simulation that made it seem as though they all shared a single room in real-time.

    Jellico addressed the gathering. “With assistance from Europa and their superlative sensor array, and incorporating data culled from our advance-reconnaissance probes, we’ve put together a series of starmaps and timetables projecting the courses and speeds of the next wave of nomadic alien fleets.”

    A holo-starmap appeared above the table, detailing the sector all four starships were presently occupying, and the sectors immediately adjacent. A cluster of parallel lines appeared, transiting the closest coreward sector and lancing through the border of their present sector. Jellico resumed his seat, turning the floor over to Lar’ragos who began to narrate the animated display. “We’ve detected an incoming formation of fifty-three vessels traveling at Warp 7.9. The ships appear to be of varying sizes, and likely include a mix of personnel transports, cargo carriers, and defensive picket ships. They will enter this sector in roughly nine days, and if they remain on their present course they will come within four light-years of the system containing In’Drahn station.”

    Another cluster of warp signatures took shape, these already within the sector and maneuvering at low warp to what appeared to be an intercept point with the oncoming formation. “Galaxy has been tracking this group for over a week now. We’ve observed at least three separate skirmishes between this force and smaller groups at the periphery of three star systems along their present course. We believe this to be former Husnock slave species crewing Husnock warships. They seem to be trying to carve out a piece of territory without much success, as despite their superior firepower, they’ve been rebuffed by the locals inhabitants in every system they’ve attempted to enter.”

    The image of the ‘slave’ formation grew until the wire-frame shapes of boxy, heavily armored Husnock warships could be discerned. “Given the former slaves lack of success against the locals, we have every reason to believe that the incoming formation of ships will effectively steamroll their defensive line. However, by observing that confrontation from a safe distance, we should be able to glean a great deal of information on the approaching ships’ armaments and defenses.”

    Europa will move to the following coordinates and take detailed scans of the battle while Gallant will take up position in the upper atmosphere of the gas giant in the outskirts of the DL-9384 system. This will effectively hide them from both sides of the impending confrontation. From there, after the engagement is concluded, Gallant will make a high-warp run into the battle zone and attempt to collect debris samples from both sides for metallurgical analysis and intelligence gathering purposes.”

    “Once we’ve processed the data from these forays we’ll expedite a socio-political profile for First Contact. We’ll then ask them to divert to an uninhabited local system and inform them that they’re moving into a heavily populated area of the galaxy. If they refuse, we’ll then try various intervention tactics, to include utilizing Captain Sandhurst’s IFEW device, which might successfully depolarize the warp coils of their ships and effectively strand them at impulse speeds.”

    “For how long?” asked Commander Worf, XO of the Galaxy.

    “Until such time as they agree to relocate to a viable planet in the local area,” Lar’ragos explained.

    “And if they refuse?” Worf prompted.

    “Then we move on to intercept the next incoming group,” Jellico announced, interceding in the discussion. “They can either comply, or we leave them to drift, at the mercy of the locals.”

    Worf eyed the admiral with a guarded expression, mindful of the man’s time aboard the Enterprise-D, and his controversial actions that resulted in the shaking up of the ship’s close-knit senior staff. “And if the IFEW weapon does not work, sir? What then?”

    Jellico shot a glance at Captain Tryla Scott, Galaxy’s captain, to judge whether she would reign in her impetuous XO. Scott, however, was just as interested as Worf in hearing the answer, and kept her own counsel.

    “In that case, Commander, we’ll try one of the several other experimental weapons in our arsenal on them. Unfortunately, any number of them would likely prove significantly more lethal than breaking their engines.”

    “Leaving refugees to die by crippling their vessels in deep space or killing them outright with whatever horrors Starfleet R&D has seen fit to produce hardly seems honorable, Admiral,” Worf declared, the challenge in his tone unmistakable.

    “And this debate is over, Mister Worf!” Jellico shot back, his face pinched and red. “Of all people I would have thought a member of a warrior species would understand the necessity of cutting a potential enemy off at the knees.”

    Worf fell obediently silent, though his hooded eyes blazed with barely controlled rage. Sandhurst reflected that Worf and Jellico occupied the same holodeck aboard Galaxy, and wondered briefly if the admiral would leave the compartment with his limbs intact.

    The remainder of the meeting proceeded without disruption, and two-by-two the participants vanished from the simulated communal briefing room until only Jellico and Sandhurst remained. Prior to the meeting Jellico had sent Sandhurst a memo requesting a one-on-one following the briefing.

    Sandhurst regarded Jellico across the table, his posture and bearing relaxed. “Reporting as ordered, sir,” he remarked dryly.

    “I read your report on the Amon revelation,” Jellico said. “What’s your take on the situation?”

    “Tough to say, Admiral. The Habertaem obviously believe what they’re saying, and I have no reason to doubt their assessment of the Amon’s martial prowess, but as for the whole ‘feeding on death’ business… I’m not sure if that’s just folklore or savvy public relations on the part of the Amon.”

    Jellico nodded, his face beginning to resume its original tint as his blood pressure settled. “I do take issue with your decision to alert the Romulans to our ability to see them,” he said after a moment. “You were the one who argued to me that it was a strategic advantage that we’d ought to keep for as long as possible.”

    “So I did,” agreed Sandhurst. “And I continued to believe that right up until the moment when I had to decide whether to place the Romulan ship in jeopardy or not.”

    “What proof did you have that they would have been in harm’s way?” Jellico asked, his tone surprisingly even.

    “Concrete proof? None. However, I knew that the Habertaem and their allies could see them through their cloak, and they couldn’t get us out of the system fast enough in fear of the Amon.”

    “And on that flimsy evidence you gave away arguably our most significant advantage on this mission thus far?”

    “Admiral,” Sandhurst said, the merest hint of exasperation creeping into his voice. “We’re out here alone, completely cut off from timely reinforcement. Intercept Group 1 is eight weeks away at maximum warp. There is a strong possibility that we might have to call upon the Romulans for help at some point. As such, what I’ve done, hopefully, is prove to them that their safety is more important to us than the advantage of our being able to track them under cloak.”

    “How can we be sure they’ll lift so much as a finger to help us if we get into trouble, Captain Sandhurst?”

    “We don’t, sir. But they’re as isolated out here as we are. I’m taking a leap of faith in that regard.”

    Jellico eyed him coolly for a long moment before nodding once, definitively. “Okay, then, Captain. It was your call to make, and you made it.” He referenced a padd briefly. “How is your engine situation coming along?”

    “We can hold Warp 9 for up to sixty hours. We’re working on chasing down the rest of the propulsion issues, but I haven’t got an ETA for you yet on when we’ll be able to push our estimated top speed.”

    Jellico smirked. “You still think that was smarter than installing Ra-Havreii’s original engine design?”

    Sandhurst pursed his lips thoughtfully. “As we haven’t blown up yet, I’m going to say ‘yes.’”

    Jellico grunted approvingly, “Me too, Sandhurst. Anything else?”

    “Only that you might be better off tasking me with any deployments of experimental weaponry, sir. Bearing in mind Captain Scott’s history, she’ll likely agonize over the use of the alpha-weapons, or whatever else Galaxy’s carrying as a contingency. And as her XO almost went to the mat with you over the very same issue, he’ll only be reinforcing her hesitation.”

    Tryla Scott was the youngest Starfleet officer ever to earn the rank of captain in the history of the service. However, her brilliant career had been interrupted fourteen years earlier by the Parasite Crisis. Hundreds of Federation ambassadors, bureaucratic functionaries, and high-ranking Starfleet personnel had been taken over by a mysterious parasitic species, to include Scott herself, and she had committed dark deeds at the hands of her puppet-masters.

    Before the alien conspiracy was discovered and thwarted, scores of the Federation’s best and brightest had perished or been compromised by the parasitic creatures. Afterwards, though those under their thrall were not blamed for their actions, Scott was plagued by demons, driven nearly mad by the memories of atrocities committed by her own hands.

    Overcome with shame and regret, Scott had resigned from Starfleet and headed into deep space, where she’d ended up serving nearly a decade as a ShipsMaster with the Nyberrite Alliance. She had returned to Starfleet at the outset of the Dominion War, determined to fight to protect the home she’d left behind. Once again, Scott proved her mettle as a starship commander, and she had continued to serve into the post-war period. She had won a position on Task Force Vanguard due both to her intimate knowledge of the Nyberrite Alliance, as well as her formidable service record.

    A scowl creasing his features, Jellico asked, “You think she won’t do her duty?”

    “I think it would be best for everyone if you didn’t put her in a position to have to make that choice in the first place, Admiral.”

    Jellico absorbed that slowly and then nodded almost reluctantly. “I’ll take that under consideration.” He observed Sandhurst for a long moment. “Thanks for the talk, Captain.”

    “Anytime, sir.”

    *****
     
    Last edited: May 25, 2012
  10. Gibraltar

    Gibraltar Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
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    It is indeed. Thanks for the comments! :)

    An astute observation of DuaNam's outlook and motivations.

    Interesting point.

    Sometimes putting it on the back-burner is the best strategy.

    Nah, that would be fibbing to a superior officer!

    :D

    A mint, brother! ;)

    Yes, Vulcans are quite skilled in that regard. ;)

    True, but that wouldn't really be owning up to the decision, would it?
     
  11. CeJay

    CeJay Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2006
    Ok, that was a rather mild chewing out from Jellico, giving proof that the old fox is not all fire and brimstone after all. Just, you know, 80 percent or so. I thought it was an appropriate and measured response to the situation.

    It's good to see Captain Scott again after her rather unfortunate appearance in Darkush's excellent story. Looks like she's gone through her own crucible in the years since. Would be nice to get to see more of her and see how she's turned out.

    Sandhurst's warning words no doubt are foreshadowing events still to come. I'm curious to see if the man who ordered an orbital assault which killed his own first officer will show any more reluctance deploying some sort of super-weapon.
     
  12. Admiral2

    Admiral2 Admiral Admiral

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    Langley
    Of course he can be reasonable when you confront him with reason and not just "My captain wouldn't do that!" whining. I keep telling you people: Jellico is THE MAN.

    My worry is the restraint being shown in the face of these refugee hordes. They're fighting wars on the way to the quadrant, if they get there "conflict resolution" is going to be useless. I disagree with Worf and THE MAN. Use the superweapons on the aggressors now instead of waiting and broadcast to everyone else: "See, this is what we can do. Slow the hell up and let's talk about this."

    But that's just me. :angel:
     
  13. BrotherBenny

    BrotherBenny Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2005
    Location:
    BrotherBenny
    Interesting segment.

    It's given me something to think about writing my stuff.

    I don't like Jellico, and I never have. I probably never will, but having him as TFV's operational command leader (at least for IG-3) does make sense. He has the big mentality that a lot of flag officers don't. He has to think long term and that's a definite must for a mission of this magnitude.
     
  14. Nerys Ghemor

    Nerys Ghemor Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2008
    Location:
    Cardăsa Terăm--Nerys Ghemor
    While Jellico was not nice, he did at least strike me as a more credible military officer than the majority of Starfleet officers. (For instance, I could see my Spirodopoulous developing respect, though not liking, of Jellico, in a way that I know he would never feel for Picard.)
     
  15. Gibraltar

    Gibraltar Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2005
    Location:
    US Pacific Northwest
    TFV - Operation Vanguard (Chapter 5 continued)

    Despite the sedatives and the REM-sleep inducer at his bedside, the dream came for him yet again. It was largely the same as it had been, the images and conversations changed only fractionally over time. This particular dream had been with him since Gibraltar, over seven months now.

    He knelt in supplication before the glowing sculpture that throbbed with raw power, the heat from its delicate whorls and facets bathing him in a comforting warmth. They were near the heart of the massive cube, far above the great forest at its core.

    ‘The dark lord comes for you, Zeischt,” the armored woman spoke as she emerged from behind the sculpture. Her voice was pleasantly melodic in spite of the dire message she conveyed. “You will be powerless to defend yourself. His will is strong, his hatred pure, his resources many, and his patience has been great.”

    “What must I do?” he asked, daring to raise his eyes to gaze upon her radiant beauty.

    “To be one with us is to have always been so, and so shall it be. A threat against one is a threat upon us all. Your brothers and sisters stand with you.”

    Sandhurst sighed with frustration. This dream, and his responses, had long ago become entrenched, a rote exchange set in stone. Tonight, for some reason, seemed different. He felt as if he had more control, a more objective eye for the details of the ephemeral play. His response reflected that newfound command of his dreaming state. “Really? Could you be any more obtuse? It’s not that I don’t enjoy a mortal threat upon my life as much as the next captain, but if you could just… I don’t know… maybe give me a little bit more to work with than vague portents and mystical double-speak?”

    Her expression changed from one of concern to that of amusement. “He is closer than you think,” she said.

    “Still not helping,” he exclaimed.

    “He’s here!” she cried.

    Sandhurst started awake, gasping for air, staring upwards at the ceiling of his cabin as his heart thundered in his chest. Well, at least this time I was a little more proactive, he thought numbly.

    “Bad dreams?” a voice inquired from across the room.

    He sat bolt upright in bed, his hand reaching out to slap the interface set into his end-table, activating the lights and calling for a security response to his quarters. The sudden rush of light illuminated a youthful looking male figure sitting against the far bulkhead in a chair facing the bed.

    “Hello, Donald.” The human-looking male was ebony-skinned, with close cropped hair, piercing brown eyes and an expressive mouth that seemed to be on the verge of breaking into a triumphant smile. “It’s been a while, though I think quite a bit longer for me.”

    Sandhurst’s eyes darted involuntarily to the doorway into the corridor, causing the man to surrender to his burgeoning grin. “They won’t be coming, Donald. I’d rather we weren’t disturbed.”

    “Computer,” Sandhurst called out, “intruder alert in the captain’s quarters!”

    There was no response whatsoever from the computer and the door remained vexingly closed.

    “That’s a good look for you,” Sandhurst said finally, trying to keep his voice casual despite the terror that was knotting his guts.

    “Isn’t it, though?” The man stood from the chair and stretched theatrically. “Watching you sleep is not nearly so entertaining as you might imagine.”

    “Apologies,” Sandhurst replied. “I’ll try to remember to wear my sparkly pajamas for you next time.”

    “Ah, there’s the acerbic wit I’ve so dearly missed!” the man laughed. The tenor and cadence of the laughter, despite it being in a different voice, was familiar enough to send a thrill of dread racing down Sandhurst’s spine.

    “What the hell do you want?” Sandhurst spat, suddenly tired of the cat-and-mouse repartee.

    “What do I want?” the man parroted. “I wanted a great many things, Donald. Things that were ultimately denied me because you and your friends conspired to thwart me.” He clapped his hands together, directing his radiant smile at Sandhurst. “If you’d let me go about my business, I’d have left willingly. Alas, I’m now stranded here, cut off from my home and subject to the vagaries of your dull little corner of the multiverse.”

    “And so, what brings you here… Baron?”

    “Oh,” the Baron purred, “vengeance, of course. Surely the purest of motives.”

    “Good,” Sandhurst breathed with mock relief. “I was afraid you’d lost that special psychotic narcissism that made you so… you.”

    “And again with the humor!” the Baron chuckled. “False bravado doesn’t suit you, Donald. You think as long as your mouth is running you won’t piss yourself from fear.” He shrugged. “Regardless, I just wanted you to know that my revenge will soon be at hand, old friend.”

    “Well, gosh, thanks for stopping by. It’s been great catching up. Let’s do this again never,” Sandhurst offered.

    The Baron tsk’d sadly, his face a mockery of regret. “The pity is that until now you were blissfully unaware that my plans have already been set in motion, and with each passing moment you move inexorably closer to the point where you’ll suffer so grievously that you’ll beg me to kill you.”

    “Why don’t you?” Sandhurst barked suddenly, rushing the Baron from where he’d stood alongside his bed. There was a flash of yellow energy just before Sandhurst’s fist made contact with the younger man’s face, and the captain found himself flung backwards to crash heavily into the transparent aluminum viewport above his sleeping alcove. He collapsed awkwardly onto the bed, groaning as he assessed his likely broken left arm and what was almost certainly a concussion. “Why… why not just kill me and be… done with it?” he asked in a voice partially muffled by the crumpled bed sheets.

    “Because, Donald, death is a release from torment. I wish you see you wracked with agonies so visceral and relentless that you will do my bidding just to be allowed the privilege of taking your own life.”

    Sandhurst had no answer for this except to vomit loudly into his sheets.

    “Oh, do try and be safe, Donald,” the Baron said by way of farewell. “I’d hate to have gone to all this effort just to see you killed in the line of duty.”

    “Computer,” Sandhurst called out again, his swimming head on the verge of sinking into unconsciousness.

    This time his query was greeted with the computer’s response tone.

    “Me… medical emergency, captain’s quarters,” he rasped as the blackness claimed him.

    *****
     
    Last edited: May 26, 2012
  16. Count Zero

    Count Zero No nation but procrastination Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2005
    Location:
    European Union
    Well, I didn't see that coming! :eek: If there's one thing you don't need in a crisis (or really, ever) it's an evil Timelord. How did the Baron escape? Did I miss that or is that still a mystery for now?
     
  17. Admiral2

    Admiral2 Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2004
    Location:
    Langley
    The Baron's back.

    Great.

    Never a police box when you need one...
     
  18. TrekkieMonster

    TrekkieMonster Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2001
    Location:
    The Hub of the Universe
    Heeeeeeeeeeeee's BAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

    I am both thrilled at what this portends storywise ... and scared spitless! Seriously. :eek: :devil:
     
  19. admiralelm11

    admiralelm11 Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2009
    Location:
    Vancouver, WA
    Paging Counselor Liu...! Holy crap! That's an exciting twist. :eek::eek:
     
  20. CeJay

    CeJay Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2006
    Donald's nemesis returns. Man I had almost forgotten about the sadistic time traveller. At the very least I didn't expect to see him again. Big mistake.

    Good thing that Pava, the Baron's greatest foil is part of Vanguard as well. Hopefully this time, the good guys can stop this mad man for good.