"Do you think you can do this?", Vincent looked at T'Zohl.
"I will have to.", the Vulcan looked at the King's Fleet Commander in Chief.
Vincent took a deep breath, "Commander T'Zohl, it is my honor to award you the formal command of the Stingers Fighter Squadron and the accompanying rank of Rear Admiral. It will be your duty to turn V'Ohlet and V'Larii into fighter pilots and into true Vulcans."
"Admiral Viceroy, it is my honor to do this for the King's Fleet, for my Vulcan heritage, for Starfleet Command and for the citizens of Camelot and Medara.", the Vulcan nodded, stepping back to salute.
Vincent hoped that T'Zohl could do this. This was a big task he had given to his old friend. Vincent walked to the viewer and looked out at the Lancelot Line and ships on patrol on either side. He knew that the tiny King's Fleet had dodged a bullet. It had almost ended... again.
Only days earlier, the Darona Colonial Government had once again defied the Betazoid Alliance and declared their independence of the Alliance. The act of defiance sent Admiral Illyan Coren into a rage. He had seen so much defiance lately. He had seen Whisper removed as Governor in a baseless attack put together by a person Whisper trusted, the evil temptress Lolli Gral. Now this, the Darona Declaration.
Illyan decided that he had had enough with the behavior of the colonies. Admiral Coren informed Starfleet Command that the Betazoid Alliance would seek to retake the colony of Darona and because of the change in governance would use the same act of defiance to retake Medara as well.
Illyan at least had the courtesy to inform Admiral Viceroy that the BAS Black Orchid would lead a fleet of vessels to retake the colony and any ships choosing to stand against the occupation by the regional pre-eminent superpower would be destroyed. Illyan told Vincent to stand down and return his vessel to Earth to await further assignment from Admiral V'Roi. Illyan praised Vincent for his service in defence of Medara, in the enforcement of the Lancelot Line and in the maintenance of the Beta Zeta corridor.
Vincent truly believed it was order and asked permission to contact Nicole Branson so his civilian attache could serve him in a future assignment. Illyan then took a much more stern approach. If Branson was informed, this would be considered an act of support for the defiance of Betazoid Alliance rule over the colonies. Branson must remain on the surface. Her fate would be the same as that of the rebels of Darona. Vincent actually debated abandoning Nicole and her recent behavior.
Vincent met with Admirals Tan and Deveniss to discuss the future of the King's Fleet. These gentlemen did not share his resolve. Tan has always been a huge supporter of Nicole Branson. She gave him a chance on Station Destiny. He was a Hierarchy Clanner who had chosen to violate the caste system and try to stand out. He would not be the King's Fleet Deputy Commander in Chief without her.
Vincent needed to pull a rabbit out of the hat. He contacted Admiral V'Roi and informed him of the Betazoid Alliance plans to attack the rebels of Darona and Medara. Vincent asked the Vulcan for advice. V'Roi was overjoyed that the often rebellious leader of the small but very influential King's Fleet had come to him. This was his opportunity.
Like Vincent, with Branson in his closet, V'Roi had a pair of problem children of his own. His daughter V'Ohlet and V'Larii had been source of embarrassment for the Starfleet Commander in Chief. V'Roi told Vincent, "If you take my two girls, put them in Branson's Academy and assign them to a Vulcan who can teach them, Starfleet will support the colonial government of Medara."
Vincent had seen the dossiers for these little bitches. There is no better way to describe them. They had behaved so badly as to get expelled from the Academy in San Francisco. The Troi Institute was their only chance. Vincent knew of only one person who could help them become more Vulcan, T'Zohl.
This is why he went to his friend. This is why he put this on T'Zohl. It would cost him a seat in his Admiralty but it was worth it to save the colony. Branson often does not realize who her allies are or what they must do to keep her operating. She owes them everything.
She can have her little galas, her dalliances with the races of the Federation but it is people like Admiral Vincent Viceroy and supporters like Admiral Tan of the Hierarchy that allow her to have her fun.
T'Zohl went to meet the young ladies. Upon seeing them, she knew she had work to do. This was not going to be any fun but at least the colony would continue and the fleet would be able to continue to do what it does well.
Posted by:
Rear Admiral T'Zohl of Vulcan
Stinger's Fighter Squadron
King's Fleet Station System
Admiral Vincent Viceroy
Commander in Chief
King's Fleet
