Vash looked at Tania as the other ships in the Eagle's Talon Romulan Task Group descended upon the USS Tokyo Sunrise and watched in sheer horror as the Romulans cut the mightly Sovereign into pieces.
Vash looked at Tania, "We need to affect rescue."
"We will wait until the Sunrise joins the New Japan in the Amanda Corridor. Hunt has made it clear to both the Federation and the Romulans that the zone must remain neutral territory. Once the two ships are inside, we will affect a rescue.", Branson responded.
"Inform the colony, we have two Sovereign Class Vessels with full crew military complements in severe distress and inform them that the casualty count will be massive. Inform Commodore Viceroy and Captain Warren that we will need other ships to serve as medical transports. The Galor Class is simply not enough ship.", Vash ordered.
"Inform Glinn Laree to set up triage.", Vash ordered.
"She is the Tactical Officer.", S'Ari observed in a truly Vulcan way.
"She is a Betazoid. With Dr. Lodge on the surface in the damn MASH unit, we need the next best thing. She is the only one who can at least communicate with those unconscious. Beside after her actions in support of Amy Turin, she better follow orders.", Vash barked showing his Cardassian side.
"Inform Vice President Branson that the Romulans have driven the Federation forces back. The loss of these two Sovereigns leaves only the Washington defending Starbase 185.", Vash looked at Tania knowing that Tania would secretly like to visit with her daughter anyway.
Tania disappeared into the ready room. Vash looked at S'Ari, "Stinger, lets get as many of the live ones that we can."
Nicole arrived at the McCoy to see the devastation. There were so many wounded. The Romulan statement had cleary been made. The Beta Quadrant political lines would not change. The United Federation of Planets dominated the Alpha Quadrant but the Romulans control the Beta Quadrant.
Every doctor from every ship was here trying to put the young Federation officers and enlisted staff back together. They were covered in blood and burned badly. Magenta walked over to Nicole, "This is called a Dermal Regeneration Stimulator. Pass it over the burned parts very slowly."
"I am no doctor, Magic.", Nicole looked terrified.
"Today, you are.", Magenta grabbed her hand and led her to a table. A beautiful blond woman lay on the table. Nicole looked at her. Magenta pulled the sheet back. Her entire body was burned from the breast line down. The cold air touched the burns and the beautiful young lady moaned in sheer pain. A tear streamed down her cheek. The salt entered her wound and she screamed in horrible pain.
Nicole vomited on the floor. She started to run from the room. Magenta grabbed her arm. The bottom of Nicole's chin was still wet from the ugliness of saliva. Magenta picked up the tool and gave it back to Nicole.
"I can't.", Nicole cried out.
"Nicole, these people are dying. You have to.", Magenta pushed the dermo-generator into her hand.
"Orderly!", Magenta screamed.
Nicole looked at the young lady and proceeded to move slowly down her body. Nicole was in a continual state of nausea and was on her feet for 10 straight hours moving very, very slowly with the generator. The process was amazing to watch. Nicole's dress stunk with the stench of vomit and blood but at about 1800 hours she made it to the toes. She looked at the blood laying naked on the table. Her beauty would light the room.
"How will I know if I did any good?", Nicole asked as the chaos continued.
Meadow walked over, "It will take several hours for the surgeries done before you started to take effect. Go home, Nicole."
Nicole walked into the house. Brenna ran up to give her a hug, "Yuch! You stink."
Nicole laughed, "I am headed for the shower."
Nicole stood in the shower and then started to cry. She slipped down to the floor of the shower as the water rushed over her naked body. Nicole had seen the devastation of the sheer power of the Romulans. The will of this great empire is once again reestablished across the quadrant.
Nicole sobbed. The Phoenix Federation has a grand history. It is a special place. Nicole, Tim and William can be very proud of the accomplishment but the truth is, they are a bit player. They are small and insignificance. The Federation does not attack because Admiral John Williams holds a position of esteem in Star Fleet as the Head of Star Fleet Intelligence and sees William Hunt as a hero and deserved as his protectorate. The Romulans, what is preventing the Romulans from attacking?
If the Romulans chose to attack, it would be over. Nicole sobbed. All her hard work would be for not. She needed to have peace with the Romulans. She needed some gaurantees.
President Hunt is always threatening the city of Vorta'Rome. The threat is sometimes necessary but Nicole, even in her niavete, understood that attacking Romulan soil, even on the colony would leave her beloved cities looking like the USS Tokyo Sunrise and the USS New Japan ~ devastated and begging for help.
The girl was the one burned and left scarred on the outside but Nicole had suffered a different kind of scarring. She will never forget vomiting in the operating theatre or coming the realization that in the end, despite her great rank and standing, she is nothing more than the help. Her colony is beautiful and worthy of looking at but it can burned and left in ruins in mere moments.
Nicole sobbed as Magenta turned off the shower and handed her a pink towel, "Here you go sweetie."
Nicole hugged Magenta dropping the towel to press her naked body against the doctor's, "Does it ever get better?"
"No, Nicole. You just have to survive it.", Magenta hugged her tightly.
Posted by:
Nicole Branson
Vice President
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
Based upon concept developed by
Commodore Vincent Viceroy
Military Commander In Chief
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
Thanks Cam
Special Guest Appearance by
President William Hunt
who helped develop the concept on MSN last night
Phoenix Federation
