The exodus of the Retarnee Ground forces will be remembered as a high point in the war with the Retarnee. It was supposed to be the end of the terror that has been the rise of the Retarnee. They were in full retreat. The devastating destruction of the Retarnee moon served to send the message.
The message was supposed to be "Go home and leave us alone!"
The message became...
"If you mess with us, you will pay a huge price."
This message could not be sent without the darkest moment in Phoenix Colony history. Dominic Montgomery's hatred of Nicole Branson is well documented and his desire to make her suffer for humiliating and destroying his father is known throughout the world. His resolve to do this has in the past been only superficial but the use of Section 31 to take Second Connthians and then to ally with the Retarnee to inflict the greatest losses in the history of the Pheonix Colony on the surface below will forever be remembered.
"Black" Dominic and his Section 31 operatives, convinced that an alliance with the Phoenix Federation is bad for Star Fleet and very upset with the power held by Admiral William Hunt entered Second Corinthians killing Rear Admiral Eugenio Coren and Lt. Lavender Coren in route to occupying what is now known as the Black Hole Sun...
Dominic Montgomery had used Star Fleet's own engineering corps. to reverse engineer the weapon used on the Retarnee moon and applied its structure to the weapons system on the "Black Hole" unleashing the power of the Betazoid Wormhole on the surface below. The devastating loss of Wells City, a symbol of Star Fleet and Phoenix Fleet Cooperation with the Star Fleet retirement community there was the first firing of the weapons.
It was not until the firing upon Kalama leaving the Klingon's homeless. The devastation was overwhelming that the Klingon loss of life is believed to be close to 612,000 Klingons dwarfing the loss of life at Berg'hel on H'Atoria Prime as the worst Klingon loss of life in the region ever. The demonic Dominic Montgomery calling himself, "Black Dominic" and wearing the black Star Fleet Uniform of Section 31 literally screetched with delight as the cities were destroyed below.
The ships of the King's Fleet soon moved between the planet and the station. Captain John Warren ordered the ships to form a living wall to prevent further devastation. Everyone was at a loss to explain how this was possible.
The solution became apparent when Thua'ra and Thandie Varno appeared on the screen behind Dominic Montgomery and a station filled with Section 31 operatives. Dominic looked at John, "If you don't think that I will fire, you are foolish. I have already killed Admiral Coren and his daughter. What makes you think I will not fire on the surface."
John was stunned when Astranna, the Duchess of Stranin and the Retarnee Military Commander appeared over his shoulder laughing, "You cannot defeat us, Captain Warren. The Phoenix Colony will become yet another world in the Retarnee Empire. Stand down!"
Commodore Tan looked on from Station Atlantica on New Terra, too far away to be effective. He looked at Summer, "We have failed, Commander."
Summer looked at the floor knowing in her heart the lost lives on the former Second Corinthian Station. She knew that the Commodore was correct. They had failed.
Commodore Tan tapped his combadge, "President Hunt, this is Commodore Tan, I resign my commission in charge of the organization of Fleet defences. I have failed in the Viceroy Vector blockade of the Phoenix Colony."
The Hierarchy clanner who had served the Phoenix Fleet as Station Destiny commander. He had served the Phoenix Fleet in command of Governor's Station and several cities on the surface. He was a great man. Today however he had failed. He had made a mistake. He had failed to identify the rise of Section 31. For that, he laid on his own sword.
Commodore Tan placed his combadge on the counter and walked from Station Atlantica. Summer looked at Tan for a long time and then she too laid down her combadge and followed. Lassie Coren was dead. She failed too. The colony was devastated. The Phoenix Federation had been dismantled by the Retarnee - Montgomery Alliance.
Astranna addressed the surface and the Viceroy Vector Line Ships, "We have allied with Admiral Dominic Montgomery. The Retarnee will recognize the right of Star Fleet to occupy the Alpha Quadrant as the United Federation of Planets and agree to not attack these worlds. In exchange, the United Federation of Planets will cede the worlds of the Phoenix Federation to the Retarnee Empire and the City State of Straninburg and its Matriarch, Lady Stranin. You will stand down and prepare to use your ships to evacuate the colony. This world will be used to service our empire. You will comply with this order or you will be destroyed."
John looked at Dawn, "Recommendations, Number One?"
Dawn looked at John, "We are outnumbered, outgunned and outmatched, Commodore Warren. This is a grand ship with a grand tradition of defying the odds. Today, we stand on the Viceroy Vector with a choice. We can stand down and help remove as many people as possible from the colony or we can stand up for what is right and die in defence of the honor of 13 million people. I think the choice is simple. The line was drawn by Admiral Vincent Viceroy. Our leaders have decided that today, we stand and fight and to disobey that order would do a great disservice to Admiral Eugenio Coren, to Lt. Lavender Coren and to the greatest loss of Klingon life ever. Commodore, today we stand and fight."
John grinned, "I could not have said it better myself."
"Duchess Astranna of the Retarnee, this is Commodore John Warren, Task Force Commander of the King's Fleet in service to the Phoenix Colony and the Phoenix Federation and it is my duty to inform you that the line must stand. The line will not move. Today we stand against Tyranny. Today we stand against the Retarnee!!", John grinned.
The hoots could be heard across the comms. The Viceroy Vector will stand.
Posted by:
Admiral Vincent Viceroy
King's Fleet Commander in Chief
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
Based on Instructions from
Nicole Branson
Widow of Lt. Lavender Coren
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
