"Two bogeys and five fighters in support.", Lindsay looked back at Vash on the bridge of the Tanmesad.
"Identifying beacons?", Vash observed.
"They are Bajoran Fleet.", Lindsay looked down at the still odd to her Cardassian Console.
"It is good to have you back.", Vash smiled having had to give S'Nii and Lindsay to the Quest for two weeks shared assignment.
"Your orders, Gul Enranet?", Lindsay looked back.
"Contact Admiral Viceroy and then contact General Ro of Bajor and ask about the mission.", Vash demanded.
"The Bajorans are laying claim to the residual Omega Sands currently being processed at the COAL mine.", Commander S'Nii looked at Vash, reading the statement from General Ro Anora.
"Are you prepared to intercept?", Lindsay looked at Vash.
"One Galor against this many ships. Um... no.", Vash mocked, looking at Commander Leo.
"Starbase 756 is confirming that the ships are targetting the COAL processing facility.", Lindsay read the statement from Sabrina Madison-Laree.
"Engage the necessary flight pattern.", Vash took a deep breath. He had been in tough a few times. This was a bad one.
"Where is the Quest?", Galileo stood up. This was the first time he had been in this situation with command responsibilities.
"Too far to intercept.", Lindsay frowned.
Vash looked at the viewer and took a deep breath. With the two vessels baring down, it could be the end of the Tanmesad.
The ship bares the Cardassian word for shield in its title. Today it will serve to protect the colony of Camelot serving to shield the colony from a growingly aggressive Bajoran Republic.
Vash looked at Galileo, "Thank you for everything, Galley."
Commander S'Nii stood up and saluted Gul Enranet. Given all her failings in command, Vash had given her another chance when few else would.
Lindsay left her post and gave S'Nii a hug. If they were going to go out, they were going out together.
Suddenly, a booming voice was heard on all channels...
"We are the Borg. We will add your biological distinctiveness to our own. Prepare to be assimilated. Resistance is futile."
Lindsay screamed... The words were so haunting from her childhood. She started to cry and held S'Nii close to her. Vash turned to Galley who was literally gripping the chair as he sat down.
Vash took a deep breath as the Bajorans turned tail and headed into the Beta Ursae sun. Vash looked at Lindsay, "Can we outrun the cube?"
"Not a chance in hell in this bucket.", Lindsay wiped her eyes jumping back into the tactical chair.
"Evasive manouevers.", Vash announced.
"We are the Borg Cube V (Vee) in service to Black King, prepare to be boarded.", the voice boomed on all channels.
Vash looked at Galileo, "On this day, we believed that Bajor wold have its revenge on the Tanmesad and perhaps that would be fitting considering its involvement more than 20 years ago in the occupation. Now we stand ready to be taken by the Borg, an old enemy of the Federation we now are attempting to protect. Doom is doom, no matter the shade."
Four Borg operatives entered the bridge followed closely by Gul Thua'ra Varno. Vash's mouth dropped to the floor, "Huh?"
"Your wishes, My Majesty.", the operative looked at Varno.
Vash was still without words. Galileo finally broke the silence, "Gul Varno??"
"The Black King.", Thua'ra looked at the Caitian who had been a long time friend.
The four operatives knelt down at his feet, "My liege."
Vash finally spoke, "What the fu**??"
His words were highly inappropriate for a commanding officer in the King's Fleet but truly conveyed what everyone was thinking, what the fu**?
"Banished from the armies of Legate Anwar for my inability to secure the colony of Ephyra and the rich reserves of Omega Sands therein and unwelcome in the King's Fleet because of my association with the Cardassian Union, I did the next best thing. While serving on the Tanmesad, I remembered the Black Knights of Amleth Prime, the renegade Borg Unit oblivious to the fact that the Borg had lost the war with the Federation and running rogue in the Cardassian Amleth Sector. These renegades needed direction. They needed leadership. They needed a new King.", Varno proudly bragged.
"I boarded the cube near Amleth III and proceeded to establish the Monarchy of Vee. Today, the Black Knights of Amleth Prime worship me as their King and I have provided the direction they needed. I remembered a story that Nicole Branson and Admiral Tim Veltkamp told me a long time ago. These two visionaries proclaimed that the Federation will only find true peace when our enemies rally as one against tyranny and oppresson, when Cardassian, Romulan and even the Borg fight for the common good, fight for their home. Those words stick with a person. I still believe in them. The only way for the King's Fleet to accept me is the same way it accepted Hon'Tihl Kabarann. The Klingon came to the rescue. Today, I, the Black King, have rescued the King's and its colony. The Black Knights are here to help you.", Varno boasted.
"And how do I know you and these rogues can be trusted?", Vash asked.
"Therein lies the question that makes the dream of Veltkamp, a visionary and Branson, an innocent very difficult to fulfill. You have to be able to trust your enemy to have your back.", Varno looked at Vash.
"Do you trust me?", Thua'ra looked at Vash and his command staff.
There was a long silence. Vash thought about the Kah'Less King, the Klingon Bird of Prey that could often be seen now in patrol around Starbase 756. He thought of the gift of the IRW Princess Diana from Romulan Praetor T'Ros, the regional Romulan Governor. He thought of the aged Miranda Class, the USS Chicago. The King's Fleet was nothing more than a rag tag bunch of rejects, almost perfectly highlighted by the USS / CGV Tanmesad itself.
How fitting would it be for the group of misfits longing to fulfill an age old dream of Omega Fleet founder Admiral Tim Veltkamp to provide a home for all to be joined by a Borg Cube?
Vash looked at his old friend. They had shared a command on Platform 1968 fighting for the enemy, Cardassian Union. They had shared a command in the Omega Fleet and the Phoenix Fleet aboard the USS / CGV Tanmesad. They had fought each other in the Cardassian Civil War on two occasions year apart. They had fought each other over the occupation of Ephyra. They had been enemies and they had been friends.
Vash knew someone had to make the first move. He looked at Varno once more and announced the catchphrase of the Fleet he served, "Long live the King..."
The words seemed oddly appropriate as he extended his hand to the Black King, Gul Thua'ra Varno.
Varno shook his hand and looked around the bridge, "Long live the King."
Posted by:
Gul Vash Enranet
Commanding Officer - USS / CGV Tanmesad
Camelot
King's Fleet
Written by Nicole Branson
Gul Thua'ra Varno
Borg Cube Commander - The Black King - Borg Cube V
Camelot
King's Fleet
