Catherine watched ONN and burst into tears. S'Nii entered the Captain's Ready Room. Commander Callico turned around, "Sunny, I have to go!"
Captain S'Nii looked at her new Executive Officer, "Catherine, go! These are your people!"
If you want to strike at the heart of a nation, you go after the symbols of their excellence. Tabrine Mandu is a former Governor of the Phoenix Colony. He is one of the great orators of the Phoenix Federation and served as the voice of reason in the battle with the Pharoah Khaman Tal in the rise of the moderates at Cairo. Capturing Mandu and the great city of Cairo would strike at the heart of the Phoenix Colony and begin the disheartening of its people.
The Retarnee have landed on the ground before. The damage they did to Kalama, particularly in their burning retreat is still scarring that great Klingon city to this day but this, this is different. They are organized. They are ready. This is an occupation... Worse yet, this may be a colonization.
The Retarnee may have been driven from the Alpha Quadrant by the coordinated efforts of Star Fleet, the Phoenix Fleet, the King's Fleet and the Omega Fleet but this is something entirely different. Admiral Illyan Coren and Admiral John Williams have already said that resources will not be taken from the Alpha Quadrant out to the Beta Quadrant. The Phoenix Colony is in this by itself.
Vincent screamed from Governor, "All resources must be diverted to Cairo."
Elora looked at Vincent, "Don't worry, Admiral. We will turn this tide. On three other occasions, the colony has driven out invaders."
Vincent looked at Elora, "This is different. The Klingons, Romulans and Vulcans were content to occupy the colony. The Retarnee are not occupiers. They are colonizing the planet for their inhabitation. This is our life and livelihood on the line."
Elora could see the fear in Vincent's eyes. She suddenly felt her Betazoid heart get terrified as well.
Vincent looked at the fires of Cairo and legendary Pyramid of Tal up in flames. He suddenly saw what appeared to be a laser fire fight on the edge of the city. Vincent looked at Elora, "What the hell is that?"
"I will contact Commodore T'Zohl. Maybe the Dogs have arrived.", Elora hoped.
Commodore T'Zohl was looking at the same battlemap in the Colony Complex on the surface when Nicole arrived. Elora's voice boomed on the COMM, "Who is fighting back?"
"Has Colonel Brown arrived?", Elora asked.
"The Antican Defence League is preparing a parameter around the city of Paris. The Dogs have informed the colony that they will protect Paris first and then help out after that.", Nicole frowned. She and Bell were friends. He however has informed the Governor that well the Anticans are citzens of the Phoenix Colony, he is not prepared to lose his own people to the Retarnee.
Nicole was very sad. For 3 years, she had preached that this was not about race or creed. The colony was a place where people could live and work together as part of a cultural mosaic. Under Cardassian rule that dream had been lost. This was now a collection of races living in segregation and living for its own agenda.
Vincent repeated his order from space, "Who the hell is fighting back?"
T'Zohl looked at Nicole, "I don't know."
The next voice could be heard throughout the colony, "We are fighting back! This is our city!"
The voice was Tabrine Mandu, Mayor of Cairo and now symbol of the impending battle for the colony. Tabrine and Catherine Callico could be heard on all channels giving orders. The pair were shouting battle positions and now hurting the Retarnee forces at Cairo.
They thought there would be little or no resistance from the Caitians. No one would have expected the citizens of Cairo to become...
THE HELLCATS!!
Posted by:
Nicole Branson
Governor
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
Admiral Vincent Viceroy
Commander In Chief
King's Fleet
Phoenix Federation
Commodore T'Zohl of Vulcan
Commander in Chief
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
