Vincent walked into Nicole's office at the Omega Academy. Lavender was sitting at the desk reading a PADD.
"Where is she?", Vincent asked.
"How should I know? She left in a huff this morning because I would not go after Merken Vreenak. I have not seen her since.", Lavender responded.
"Vincent, you need to come to the McCoy Institute.", Brooklyn interrupted on the COMM.
"Why?", Vincent responded.
"You just need to come here.", Brooklyn responded.
Vincent and Lavender arrived at the Institute as Pheonix Protective Services brought Nicole Branson in on a stretcher.
"What happened?", Lavender exclaimed.
"Please god, let her be okay.", Lavender shouted out.
"She is badly beaten but she will recover.", Dr. Greene looked at Vincent.
"She was attacked by the Klingons in Kalama.", Skye explained.
"You went to Kalama, you stupid fool!", Lavender looked at the unconscious Branson.
Vincent tapped his combadge, "Where is General Kabarann?"
"She is on her way to the hospital. She had denied responsibility for the attack.", Brooklyn responded.
"Get me Caitlin Wu on a secure channel.", Vincent ordered.
"Is there someplace I can take this?", Vincent looked at Skye who led him into her office.
"Where is Captain Vreenak?", Vincent demanded without even a hello to Wu.
"The Romulan is in the Great Hall in Kalama.", Caitlin responded.
"The Klingons will release Vreenak if they receive the data crystals from all the Romulan ships. The Romulans have refused. They are not as open as the Pheonix Federation or the Phoenix Colony.", Caitlin continued.
"What is on the crystals?", Vincent demanded.
There was a long silence. Vincent repeated, "What is on the crystals?"
"The Romulans will not release the crystals.", Caitlin repeated from the T-Rex.
"Answer the question!", Vincent demanded.
"The Romulan Star Empire was told by Admiral Dominic Montgomery that the United Federation of Planets had evidence that the Cetuin Slave Army was leaving Straninburg to attack H'Atoria. The Romulans chose not to relay that information to the Klingons chosing instead to allow the Klingon city of Berg'Hel to be attacked by the Cetuin.", Caitlin explained.
"The crystals will clearly show that the Romulans could have prevented the attacks at H'Atoria.", Caitlin paused.
"Worse yet, the information provided by Admiral Dominic Montgomery to Praetor T'Ros included the Cetuin plans to attack the Romulan colony of Nequencia. T'Ros never prevented the attack because it would allow her to move more ships into the region to further her own political ends. She let her own people be killed in order to increase the size of the Eagle's Talon Task Force to possibly attack either the Klingons or even the Phoenix Federation.", Caitlin continued.
"We don't have the crystals to give the Klingons.", Vincent observed.
"You don't have the crystals.", Caitlin corrected.
Vincent was always amazed of the resources of the double agent.
"The Phoenix Colony will provide the information to the Klingon Empire in exchange for the release of Mayor Merken Vreenak.", Vincent responded.
"Be careful, Commodore. Giving this information to General Kabarann will only serve to aggrevate the already difficult relationship between the Romulans and the Klingons. You will have destabilized the region.", Caitlin explained.
There was a long silence. Vincent looked at D'Solos and then at the Nicole on the hospital bed and then tapped the combadge, "Colonel Brown, we have confirmation on the location of Mayor Merken Vreenak. Unleash the Dogs of War."
D'Solos looked at Vincent, "You are putting the Dogs of War into Kalama?"
"You have invaded my city.", General Kabarann entered the hospital central area.
"You kidnapped my father.", D'Solos turned sternly to the Klingon. Vincent knew that she was not pleased with his use of the Phoenix Defence League but she was not prepared to discuss that in front of the Klingon General.
There are many great images in the history of the Phoenix Federation. Stories are still told about William Hunt standing in front of the Federation Headquarters after defeated Emperor V'Ros. The image of President Hunt still adorns the courtyard of William Hunt Square in Wells City. The USS Wrath of Prometheus also once stood in Wells City as a monument to the USS Wrath of Achilles, the famous Flagship and first ship of the Phoenix Fleet.
A new image now joins this great history. The image of Colonel Belvedere Brown and Colonel Taryn Strausser exiting the great hall in the center of Kalama with Captain Merken Vreenak draped over their shoulders. Colonel Brown is a legend to his people. He fought the Borg at Antican B7. He fought the Romulans and the Vulcans on the ground on the Phoenix Colony earning the legendary nickname Dogs of War for the Phoenix Defence League. His stature has never been in question. Twice he has been taken out of the battlefield and given the rank of General and each time he has returned to the role of Colonel and brought honor to the marine corps.
Taryn Strausser has paid dearly to the Phoenix Defence League. She gave her leg and arm to the colony the last time she was in Kalama. Her pain and suffering have become an integral part o the training of marines at the Omega Academy. War is real and the injuries are real. Taryn now stands beside Colonel Belvedere Brown as a hero of the colony. She helped rescue Mayor Merken.
Praetor T'Ros contacted Commodore Viceroy at the McCoy Institute, "We have confirmation of the rescue. This will not be forgotten or go without notice, Commodore."
Vincent paused for a moment, "There are things known between negotiators in the harsh world of interplanetary politics. These things could hurt each others standing but are kept secret for the betterment of all involved. These too will not be forgotten or go without notice, Praetor."
T'Ros knew what Viceroy meant. She knew that he knew. There was simply silence on the Romulan end. Vincent looked at D'Solos who also looked puzzled by his comment. He was not prepared to put the young governor in the thick of this either. Montgomery and T'Ros had committed horrible acts of attrocity in allowing the Cetuin to attack in the hopes of creating the current state of political unrest. D'Solos needed to be pure. She needed to be above all that political bullsh**!
Bell showered and dismissed his troops. It was time to go home. For the past 48 hours, they had been in Kalama; back in hell. He headed to his home in the Village. Colonel Belvedere Brown opened the door to find Waverly Wayne standing in the center of their living room.
"I saw you with Colonel Strausser. She is like you. She is a soldier. I saw how you looked at her. Maybe you would be better off with her.", the Talosian hybrid looked at Colonel Brown.
Bell started to laugh, "Taryn is a man's man. I do respect her a great deal as a soldier but she has no interest in an old Antican."
"Taryn likes Girls?", Waverly looked Bell feeling a bit stupid.
"Oh yeah. She is one of the boys.", Bell laughed, pulling Wave in closer. "You are my girl."
Waverly grinned. Bell looked at her, "Taryn may like you even. With that beak of yours, you might be quite a catch."
"Ewwww!", Waverly shook her head, spinning around in the arms of the mighty Antican, thrusting her butt against his groin.
"Baby, I have been on the battlefield. I am exhausted. I need a shower and a bed.", Bell hugged Waverly.
She grinned rubbing against the Antican, "Its time to celebrate..."
Soon the Talosian hybrid was bent over the table and they were celebrating...
Lavender walked over to Nicole, "You are an idiot!!"
"I had to try.", Nicole looked up from the hospital bed, "You wouldn't."
"That part of my life is over, Nikki. You have to come to see me as just a doctor. I am not going back to that dark place ever again.", Lavender responded.
"I love you.", Nicole responded.
"And I you.", Lassie looked down, "Just don't ever do that again."
Vincent and D'Solos got into the shuttle to head back to the Federation Complex, "Saving my father is something I will never forget Commodore."
"He is colony. He is one of us.", Vincent looked at her.
D'Solos leaned her head onto his shoulder.
Posted by:
Commodore Vincent Viceroy
Secretary of State
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
Loosely based on MSN Conversation with
Nicole Branson
Chancellor - Omega Academy
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
And on the Challenge of
Christine T'Nley
Omega News Network
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
