Commodore Tan was in no way ready to be Chief of Staff. He had been asked by D'Solos Vreenak because of his experience in negotiations and in peaceful ambassadorial work on Governor's Station. He stood over the HUD with the new Secretary of Defence, his beloved Summer Vasa. He looked that center of the city, still burning and wondered what, if anything could be done.
Vincent just paced. He thought of the message from President William Hunt about simply leveling the city or worse the use of biological weapons. He thought of the long range message from Captain Chiyeko Yamiguchi with a similar tact. Tan wanted a more viable solution.
Major Tanus would occassionally come into the room to provide an update on th reorganization and the readiness of the ground troops. Colonel Brown came in but stood silent. He was just as embarrassed as Governor Vreenak about the loss at Kalama. Tan looked back at Bell but did not speak.
General Kabarann entered the room, "Planning?"
Tan looked at Hon'Tihl, "Trying to figure out what to do."
"No, planning a wedding?", Hon'Tihl looked at Tan.
"That might be better transferred to Summer.", Tan smiled.
Summer looked at Hon'Tihl, "Are you certain?"
"Ishka himself said it before. In the time of the great city states of Earth, often treaties were based upon alliances formed out of marriage, either of the heads of state or of their children. Remember, Nicole Branson herself sacrificed her honor to keep the colony safe. It is my turn.", Hon'Tihl looked at Summer.
"But to the Ferengi?", Summer shook her head.
"Obviously, he likes me. If he messes up, I will knife him and this will be over. Either way, the city of Kalama wins, the Kingons win. In battle, it is not about how you win, it is about winning. Songs of great victories are sung about the victor not the fallen.", Hon'Tihl raised her fist.
Summer looked at Tan, "I will inform the Ferengi."
Tan nodded.
Onboard Governor's Station, Elora contacted the surface, "Commodore Viceroy, are you there?"
Vincent tapped his combadge, "Go Ahead, Commander."
"Have you seen Commander S'Nii and Commander Lindsay Viceroy?", Elora asked.
"No, why?", Vincent responded.
"Is Major Tanus there?", Elora asked.
"Yes.", Vincent responded.
"Major, have you seen Captain Alexis Bladon or Major Starwolf?", Elora asked.
"No.", Tanus looked at Vincent puzzled.
"What is the problem, Commander?", Tanus asked.
"We have had a strange sighting report near the Omega Fighter Platforms and we have had an unauthorized launch from Jersey. General Smith has refused to answer any of my calls.", Elora explained.
Vincent looked at Summer, "Can you verify from here?"
Waverly looked at Summer, "I can do this."
Wave and Summer did not see eye to eye. She saw Summer as an opportunist grabbing the secretary of defence role when Bell was removed and she was asked to step down. Waverly walked back in, "Confirmed."
"What are they up to?", Vincent responded.
"Elora, how many fighter pilots are on the station?", Vincent asked.
"The entire fighter squadron left for the hover platforms with Major Starwolf.", Elora responded.
"How many fighter pilots are on the platforms?", Vincent demanded, getting more excited.
"There are no fighter pilots reported on the platforms.", Elora responded puzzled.
Tanus looked at Tan, "What the heck is going on?"
General Kabarann contacted the 3 Birds of Prey in high orbit, "General Olarg, respond."
"Hon'Tihl, my love.", the father of the House of Olarg responded.
"What is going on, General?", Hon'Tihl responded.
"The line of Olarg will not be polluted by a Ferengi National. This has to be this way.", General Olarg responded.
"What?", Kabarann begged.
"Captain Bladon and I have been working on a project.", the Klingon General responded.
"My Captain Bladon!", Tanus exclaimed.
"Get your ground forces ready... We are retaking the city!", Olarg screamed.
"Klingons, the fighters will soon launch. Prepare for battle.", Olarg let out a deep Klingon howl.
Tanus looked at Brown, "You heard the man!"
Vincent looked at Tan, "Where the hell are the fighters gonna come from?"
Shayna Edison walked in, fresh from her Hellraiser Assignment...
"From here.", Edison called up the Governor's Station image on the HUD.
"What the hell is that?", Vincent snapped.
"This is the USS Jersey Devil, the fighter launch platform built for Alexis Bladon and General Olarg by the Jarada after the fall of Kalama.", Shayna responded.
"On whose authority?", Vincent shouted.
"This is a private business deal between the Klingon Empire and the Jarada.", Shayna responded.
"Not on my freakin' colony.", Vincent shouted.
"Who the hell is piloting that monstrousity?", Vincent demanded.
"The platform is under the command of Commander S'Nii and being flown by Commander Lindsay Viceroy for the Fighter Command under Captain Alexis Bladon.", Shayna explained.
"How the hell do you know?", Vincent snapped.
"Caitlin Wu just sent the dossier.", Shayna held up the PADD.
"God damn intelligence! They need to keep command informed.", Vincent tossed the PADD across the room.
The fighters began to bombard the city over and over again as the Phoenix Defence League once again entered the city of Kalama. Taryn Strausser watched from the Omega Academy holding her breath. This would be the second time in 2 weeks that the war had taken an ugly turn on the ground. The new air support made the war with the Ferengi must more ferocious but favorable for the entering forces.
The image of Colonel Belvedere Brown and Major Tanus of Gorn standing in the center of the city holding up their phaser weapons will be an enduring one. The colony had retaken the city.
Ishka walked out on the platform of the mighty Klingon City and shouted, "I have engaged my second Omega Weapon in the tunnel behind this monument. You may have achieved victory but the city will be your tomb."
The laugh from the mouth of the Ferengi, still wearing Klingon Robes was so haunting and could be heard on all ONN channels throughout the colony. Bell turned to Tanus. The pair had been many things, even lovers. He extended his hand, "It has been an honor to serve with you."
On the Devil, S'Nii looked at Lindsay, "We need to plug the explosive potential."
"But how?", Lindsay exclaimed.
"We could sacrifice the ship.", S'Nii responded.
Lindsay started to cry. She had done a lot to get the ship built. She wanted to prove herself worthy to her Uncle. She wanted to be known as a Viceroy, as a part of the legendary lineage of the name. S'Nii knew the sacrifice made by Lindsay. Someday, she would tell Vincent about it. One day, he would know that his niece had given more than anyone else could to save the city of Kalama.
Lindsay looked at S'Nii, "Encoding the coordinates."
"I will inform Captain Warren and Commander T'Zohl where to pick up the pods.", S'Nii responded.
"This is a great thing you have done.", S'Nii kissed Lindsay on the nose.
Ishka screamed, "I will see you all in hell!"
Behind him, the USS Jersey Devil fell into the courtyard with a catastrophic explosion sealing off any Omega Potential as the image of escape pods could be seen exploding off in space. Ishka turned around and started screaming, "No! No! No! No!"
Several Marines entered the balcony from the back, "General Zek Ishka of Ferenginar, you are under arrest!"
Ishka tapped his combadge and disappeared into transporter hue. Many Klingons entered the great hall howling and shouting. Vincent, Nicole, Hon'Tihl and Governor Vreenak arrived in the city with the foul smell of fires burning still filling the air.
Alexis and Adayus walked from their fighters towards Major Tanus. Alexis looked at Tanus, "Fleet brings the Flyers...."
Tanus shouted, "DRAGONS BRING THE FIRE!!"
Tanus snapped to attention, "Someday, Captain, you will have to explain what the hell you were doing."
"The project falls to Phoenix Intelligence under the authority of Caitlin Wu and the Geyn Cheko.", Alexis responded.
"Gecko knew too.", Tanus shook his head.
General Kabarann walked over to Alexis. She extended her hand, "Thank you."
Hon'Tihl grabbed Alexis and gave her a hug. Alexis smiled, "I am not the hero here. Like every other soldier, Klingon or otherwise, I just did my job. The one who is the hero here is Lindsay Viceroy. She got the Devil built."
Vincent looked at Alexis, "How? How did she get that monster built?"
"I think I should let her tell you.", Alexis responded.
Christine walked over, "The Quest is confirming the pick up of your niece and Commander S'Nii."
Vincent looked at Christine, "How did she get this done?"
"I don't think you want to know.", Christine responded.
"You know.", Vincent snapped.
"I just found out.", Christine looked at Vincent.
"You have to tell me.", Vincent ordered.
"I agree with Alexis. Lindsay should tell you.", Christine responded.
"T'Nley, Branson once punched you in the face. I could do much worse.", Vincent growled.
Christine looked at Vincent and then pulled PADD from her pack. Vincent looked at the image of his beautiful niece and General Smith.
"I am gonna kill him.", Vincent exclaimed.
Christine looked at Vincent, "Easy, Commodore. The colony is a safe place today because of her actions. This girl sacrificed her honor to get a ship built to safe the colony and then gave that ship up just to make sure that peace would be restored. You need to know the truth but her sacrifice is diminished if you react like an overprotective a**hole. She is the hero. Treat her as such."
Vincent looked at Christine. He was impressed by her truthful words, "Will you tell?"
"I will tell the ONN audience only this... Commander Lindsay Viceroy and Captain Alexis Bladon have lead the heroic rescue of the city of Kalama. Their accomplishments are the stuff of legend and their story belongs here on the Phoenix Colony.", Christine looked at Vincent.
"Now if it was Branson, I may take a different tact.", Christine chuckled. Vincent laughed.
D'Solos looked at Vincent, "Thank you, Commodore."
"The honor belongs to my niece, Commander Lindsay Viceroy and my future in-law Commander S'Nii of Vulcan.", Vincent could not believe he was saying those words. The girls had done him proud.
Posted by:
Commander T'Zohl of Vulcan
Flight Commander - USS Quasar Quest
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
Commodore Vincent Viceroy
Chief of Staff - Colony Fleet
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
Christine T'Nley
Omega News Network
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
Based upon early morning MSN Conversation with
Chancellor Nicole Branson
Omega Academy
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
