"They will not know what hit them.", John looked at Tania as the Quasar Quest engaged on an attack vector towards Cheron IV: The Romulan Internment Camp.
"They will see only the Quest and the Tanmesad coming and when the Ferengi liberation fleet appears, the Romulan will withdraw.", John spoke confidently.
"And if they don't.", T'Zohl looked back from the Tactical Station. The Vulcan was always the logical one.
"Then at least we went down fighting.", John looked at his longtime Vulcan friend. She had served with the King's Fleet from the day it was protecting Governor's Station nearly 10 years ago orbiting Izar in the Betazoid Sector. T'Zohl had seen the Quest go through countless terrors. She had seen the mirror universe, fought for the Terran Empire and yet today she was afraid. Today she knew the rsks.
"Amen, brother.", came a voice on the comm.
"Captain S'Nii?", John announces on all channels.
"I would not miss this for all the money in the world.", the Captain of the Vulcan Victory announced.
"It is a pleasure to have you.", John smiled. If the King's was going down, they were going down together.
"Where have you been?", John inquired.
"Hiding.", S'Nii bluntly responded.
"Once the attack is secured, the troops will be on the ground.", Major Tanus announced on the King's Fleet comm.
"Major?", John was stunned. No one had even heard if the Providence had survived.
"We were waiting. No, hoping and praying we would hear from you.", Tanus announced.
"Aye, Captain.", Colonel Brown announced in the background.
"Where my dogs at?!?!", John shouted.
The sound of the Antican unit barking brought a special joy to John's heart. If they were going to go down, they would go down swinging.
"You can't kill us, we are already dead!!", Zoe shouted in the background.
"Zombie ho!!", John shouted on all channels.
The King's Fleet may have been abolished by the Romulans but she was damn straight alive and well in the hearts and minds of the officers serving in her ranks.
John took a deep breath as Commander T'Zohl announced they were about to break the horizon. This was it.
"Rebel Vessel, you have entered the protected air space of the Romulan Colony of Cheron IV. Please divert your course or prepare to be intercepted.", the Romulan voice announced on all channels.
"This is Captain John Warren of the King's Fleet Flagship, the USS Quasar Quest. The King's Fleet formally refutes the Romulan Authority over the independent colony of Camelot. The King's Fleet, Admiral Vincent Viceroy and the citizens of Camelot formally request that the Romulan occupiers withdraw from the colony or risk a counter attack.", John spoke firmly and with authority.
Vincent was in the corridors of Starbase 756 when he heard the announcement. He looked at Rear Admiral Tan, "Are you ready for this?"
The gentle soul looked at Vincent, "This is my home too."
Rear Admiral Tan took a deep breath of his own and walked over to the Operatons Console. Two Romulans were standing there monitoring the conversation, "By order of the King's Fleet, you are requested to stand down."
The Romulans reached for their phasers. Commander D'Tall and her pilots all drew their weapons, "I would not do that if I were you."
Commander Trmel appeared on the Operations Deck with several units of soldiers all wearing King's Fleet khaki colors, "Your orders, Admiral Viceroy?"
"Secure the station, Commander. It is about to get ugly.", Vincent looked at Teshra.
"Scramble the fighters.", Viceroy looked at D'Tall.
"Aye, Admiral.", the Orion smiled.
Suddenly dozens of fighters filled the sky. The firefight was about to begin.
John gasped as several Romulan War Birds appeared on the horizon, "Now is the test."
"Gul Enranet, deploy Operation Shield.", Warren ordered.
The Galor Class Tanmesad appeared on the horizon. Literally there were over 100 D'Kora Class Ferengi vessels behind him. Suddenly a stalement formed. The choice was the Romulans now. Is the colony worth the risk?
"Colonel Brown, go to full deployment. Liberate New Cyndrial at all costs.", Warren ordered on all channels.
"The Fleet brings the flyers, but DRAGONS BRING THE FIRE!!!", Major Tanus announced on all channels.
The Gorn winked at Sabrina as the unit beamed to the surface. The war had begun.
Saehir stood on the bridge of the Diana as it crested the horizon behind the Romulan Defence Fleet. She could hear the Romulans calling back to the Empire begging for orders. She thought of Praetor T'Ros. The Romulan Governor would have a million decisions to make. Was it worth a war with the Ferengi Alliance?
The Ferengi Alliance was hardly a threat to the Romulan Empire but the Ferengi are like bugs. They would fight an ugly terrorist war. It would even occur on the ground on Romulus. They are an unscrupulous people. It would take years to drive them back. The only option would be an absolute rout here at Cheron IV.
"Engage the enemy.", Praetor T'Ros announced on all channels.
This was not how it was supposed to go. The Romulans were supposed to see the sheer numbers and withdraw. 10 to 20 Romulan War Birds would take heavy damage against 100 D'Kora Class Ferengi vessels. They would probably win but it would come at a price.
Honey looked at Saehir, "What are we going to do?"
"You heard the Praetor, we attack.", Marrus looked at Kabarann.
"Our own. There is no honor in that.", Hon'Tihl grumbled.
"We are no match for 20 Romulan War Birds.", Saehir looked at Hon'Tihl.
"There is always honor in being on the winning side.", Saehir sounded cold and Romulan for the first time.
"There is a way.", Deveniss looked at his sometime lover.
"If we got between the ships at maximum warp and then detonated the singularity within the engines, it would rip apart most if not all of the Romulan vessels.", Deveniss explained.
"And us too.", Saehir looked at Deveniss.
"Today is a good day to die.', Hon'Tihl saw the honor in the plan.
"Not if we dropped out into pods prior to the engagement.", Thua'ra announced.
"And are left floating in space to die.", Saehir looked at the Cardassian.
"But the colony and the King's Fleet would be saved.", Thua'ra had betrayed the colony on Ephyra. He had sided with the Erosians. He had done irreparable damage to his reputation. If he was meant to die to pay that debt so be it.
"I would rather die, singing songs of our great sacrifice to Stovokor than to side with the Romulans.", Honey looked at Saehir.
Saehir looked at Deveniss. The old Selayan had loved her when no one else would. She had been exiled to the colony once before. She had returned to Romulan status and was commanding both the station and the flagship of the regional feet. She had power.
The choice was hers. Power and privilege as an occupying force or no status as a citizen of a minor colony. Deveniss was a old Selayan. He would not live forever then what would happen.
Saehir was torn. She had to decide. Honey looked at Commander Marrus, "Saehir, the Romulans are engaging the King's."
Marrus turned to Varno, "Prepare the pods."
Thua'ra looked at Saehir, "It has been my intense honor to serve with you, Commander."
Deveniss interlaced his claw into her dainty hand and they walked towards the pod. He opened the door and stepped inside, "See you on the other side."
Deveniss pointed to the next pod. Saehir jumped inside his pod, "If we are going to die, we are going to die together. I love you, old man."
Deveniss had never known tears. Tears were a human thing but a spec of water flowed down his cheek. He looked at Saehir, "I love you too, little lady."
Saehir hugged him tight resting her head against his chest as the hatch blew.
The Ferengi loses were horrendous. The fighter losses were horrible. There is no way to know exactly how many were lost.
As the Diana joined the fight, it looked as though all was lost. John looked at Tania, "I want to thank you and even your daugher for the opportunity to do something special again."
Tania started to cry, "I want to thank you John for making this right. Even though we lost, we did the right thing."
Commander T'Zohl stood up and turned around and saluted her commanding officers. The flash of light was so brilliant no one aboard the Quest could even see. The flash cleared and the Romulan vessels lay in a shambles filling space wih a graveyard and monument to the legacy of the IRW Princess Diana. The original Diana under the command of Captain Trista Coren once flew headstrong into a Borg Cube for the greater good.
On this day, Commander Saehir Marrus did that legacy a fitting tribute. The Diana is no more but the threat is no more.
Thandie looked at Vash, "Oh my god!"
"What is it, Glinn Varno?", Vash was still stunned by what happened.
"its my father. He has activated his Obsidian Order Beacon.", Thandie announced.
"Where the hell is he? I thought he was lost with the Diana.", Vash shouted.
"On the fringe of the firefight. There are at least 20 Romulan escape pods.", Thandie squealed.
"You son-of-a-bitch!!", Vash gleefully swore.
"Rescue them all.", Vash ordered.
"I formally acknowledge the liberation of the Colony of Camelot.", Daimon-Ress Komol announced on all channels.
"All will recognize the authority of Governor Zek Ishka of Ferenginar.", Komol anounced.
"Wait!", John snapped.
"The Diana saved the colony.", John shouted.
"A deal is a deal.", Komol grinned.
"The colony is liberated as per our agreement. Are you prepared to risk a war with us?", Komol smirked, knowing he had them. He had them all.
"The civilian authority is hereby passed to Governor Zek Ishka of Ferenginar.", Admiral Vincent Viceroy announced on all channels.
Komol could be heard laughing on all channels.
Posted by:
Commander T'Zohl of Vulcan
Voice of the King's Fleet Vessels
Camelot
King's Fleet
Based on Concept Developed by
Nicole Branson
Chancellor - USC University
Camelot
King's Fleet
Story approved by
Admiral Vincent Viceroy
Commander in Chief
King's Fleet
