The power generated by the spinning core of the Reykja was supposed to be be the crowning return of Colonel Acrylos Teero and the establishment of the most valuable tool in the the Starfleet universe, a gateway generator.
Acrylos was going to retrieve the Santa Maria from the inner fabric of the universe and the King's Fleet would once again become critical to the universe once more. Great trading powers and even great military powers would be coming to the King's Fleet to create pathways between trading partners or to assist in secret attacks. The potential was endless.
This was something different that sand Dilithium from the Phoenix Colony or even snow Dilithium from here in the Beta Penthe sector. This was potentially paradigm shattering.
Acrylos also wanted to give the citizens of Camelot a break from the harshness of the cold. These people deserved more. They did not deserve the igloos of Whitechapel. The colonists lived a very harsh life. The cold was ever present. This was their existence. Jack Frost, now known as Jack The Ripper was always stocking them.
The colonists suffer from dilutions of grandeur. They see themselves as so important as a buffer state but in reality they are little more than pawns in the bigger chess match between the Romulans and the Federation. The greater politics are often lost to the colonists. Despite the very best efforts of Christine T'Nley, the politics at that high level are too far removed from the Klingon Sector to be accurately reported. No one gets to see the inner workings.
As Colonel Teero made final preparations for activation, ugly back door deals were being made to put the Federation in the hands of the beautiful T'Sir Suran. The Romulan would become President of Starfleet as a demonstration to her people of the efforts being made to restore peace. The colonists know all too well about Romulan military might having seen the attempts at genocide at Medara and Cheron. As part of the move, the aging T'Ros would be named head of Starfleet Command. The Romulan would be given an inner circle of Starfleet advisors to keep her in check. This was a dangerous but important change in Federation history.
Teero had invited President Galileo Leo and Admiral T'Zohl to the North Pole of Reykja Penthe to watch his gateway open and to watch the Santa Maria return. This was going to be a great moment in history; the birth of the gateway potential. Instead, Colonel Teero was making his presentation to President Elect T'Sir Suran and Admiral T'Ros of Romulus.
Acrylos turned on his great machines produced from the his industrial replicator technology and from the remnants of the Bolt. He literally started to shake Ashe watched the cloud cover that had kept the Reykja so cold lifted and the sun appeared. The cheers from the gallery were echoed throughout the planetoid. The sun was out. The gorgeous blue hue of Beta Penthe could be seen throughout the colony. It was a wonderful experience.
Acrylos smiled as a watery film formed in the archway. He grinned, "Here it comes" as the Santa Maria appeared slowly emerging from the film. The giant burrowing vessel exposed itself. Acrylos pumped his fist. The Bajoran had done the unthinkable. He had recreated an Iconian Gateway. He had to see Xact Tchilack. He had so many questions. This was the greatest day.
Suddenly, several Romulan warbirds appeared and destroyed the gateway. Acrylos and his engineers ran i terror as the giant starships destroyed his replicators. He dived into the melting snow as the horror of Cheron and Medara repeated itself. Acrylos was on ihis knees crying out as the Romulan vessels disappeared.
"Why?", he shouted.
"This technology is just to dangerous. It cannot be allowed to fall into the wrong hands.", T'Sir observed as she walked towards her shuttle.
"But I thought you represented the Federation!", Vincent shouted.
"I do, Admiral. The senior command was briefed this morning on the mission. Starfleet did not want a regional fleet to have the potential authority over such a critical and revolutionary transportation mechanism. If the gateways are re activated, they will be reactivated under the authority of one or both of the superpowers. They will not be activated under the authority of an exiled Bajoran Colonel or a fleet command that contains a removed Starfleet Admiral and his two eunuchs.", T'Sir showed the darkness of her Romulan arrogance.
"But why the replicators, at least we could have seasons.", Acrylos cried out.
"Given the time to think, you would probably get this going again. We could not risk it. The cold restricts. Jack the Ripper grips you all in fear.", T'Sir waved as the shuttle bay closed.
The warbirds fired on the Santa Maria sending the gateway generator crashing into the surface.
There were a lot of tears shed watching the potential game changer fall into the surface of the planet. Acrylos rushed up to Xact and Tegora as they emerged from the ship. Acrylos hugged Tegora, "I am so sorry. This was supposed to be a celebration and all I have brought you is this."
Tegora held the Bajoran, "No, Ace. We are home!!"
Xact looked at Acrylos and James, "We have so much data to interpret."
"Huh?", Acrylos looked at the Xindi hybrid.
"If we are going to rebuild and if we are going to get seasons for the Reykja, we need every log and every sensor reading from the Maria.", Xact smiled.
Acrylos smiled. This was the very spirit of the colony. They did not get broken, they get set back. They don't quit, they dust the snow off and they get going again.
Posted By:
Lieutenant Commander T'Zohl of Vulcan
Voice of the King's Fleet Vessels
King 's Fleet
Colonel Acrylos Teero
Chief Engineer
King s Fleet
Based on a Decision by
Admiral Vincent Viceroy
Commander in Chief
King's Fleet
To put a Romulan in charge of Starfleet to liven up the storylines
