“So just to be clear, Admiral, once you beam inside the Dyson Sphere, you will be immediately detected by the Krenim authorities. They will initiate a primary defence protocol and dispatch all units in your location. You will have mere moments to rush down and disable the equator shields allowing the Hive Fighter to pass into the equator hub and prepare to launch on the reactor. This will destroy the Dyson Sphere. If Colonel Acrylos Teero-Lau’s equations are exactly correct, the Temporal Core will obliterate the station and you will fall directly below. If you immediately activate the EVA suit, you will drop through the explosion and you will drop directly below the explosion site. Because of the intense pressure, you will have to be recovered by the USS Quasar Quest within 12 minutes of the explosion or you will die from exposure.”, D’Tall, the Orion explained to her special cargo.
“So run as fast as I can.”, Tan smiled.
“Oh hell yeah!!”, the Orion banked towards the Dyson Sphere.
“So we put all our expectations on whether or not the little fat guy can outrun a Krenim Security Detail?”, Monica looked at Deveniss.
“Aye, Admiral.”, the Selayan responded, not wanting to show emotion.
He, like Monica feared that Tan would not be able to disable the equator grid. Tan has never really ran a day in his life. He is a portly fellow. This is a lot to ask a man who was named Commodore in the Phoenix Federation simply because he wanted the title and they had no one else. He had been promoted to Admiral by Admiral Vincent Viceroy not because of his amazing leadership abilities but because no matter what Vincent wanted, Tan would go along with it and do his absolute damn-dest to make that a reality. He was loyal to a fault. This naiveté also got him promoted however briefly to look after all of Starfleet. The goal of the senior command was to use his naïve approach as a figurehead for their often unappealing policies. Tan has had a brilliant career considering he was a Hierarchy defector who betrayed his caste life to become a commanding officer in the Dyson Sphere known as Station Destiny. Deveniss reveled in the memories of his good friend. If he failed, he will have still lead a grand life in service to the King’s Fleet.
Victoria watched as D’Tall banked towards the Dyson Sphere. The beautiful human took a deep breath, she knew that once D’Tall entered the attack vector, the defences of the Krenim Dyson Sphere would spring to live and the Hive fighters would have only one shot at this. The focus would be on the Orion’s fighter and she would draw the fire as Tan entered the sphere. This would give Victoria only one dive on the bombing run. If any part of the plan failed, she would be accelerating too quickly to pull away from the shield. She would effectively slam into the invisible barrier around the Dyson Sphere. It would simply be over for her, for Admiral Tan and likely for D’Tall of Orion as well. It would simply be over.
Vincent looked out of the main viewer at the two tiny Hive fighters, especially in comparison to the immense size of the Dyson Sphere. He smiled and thought to himself, “It is always the damn mosquito that is the biggest pest and possesses the malaria that kills you.”
Vincent too thought of Tan and his broken heart at losing Summer. He wondered if that loss had clouded his judgment in volunteering for this mission. He wondered if his naïve spirit had not really assessed the dangers that he was about to face or the fact that his failure would sacrifice his own life, the life of Captains D’Tall and Victoria Viceroy. Vincent was no fool. All this was under his command. He knew that when D’Tall’s Hive fighter banked, it was headed for hell.
From this vantage point, they would have no way of verifying that Admiral Tan had achieved the sprinter’s goal and had shut down the shuttle. Vincent watched as his own daughter dove on the Dyson Sphere. The King’s Fleet were all in now.
Vincent looked at stars, “God speed, Victoria.”
“He hears you.”, Ro Arroe stood next to Vincent. The Bajoran interlaced her fingers into that of the human godfather of the King’s Fleet. She thought of the first decision in 2380, 15 years ago when Admirals Vincent and Gavin Viceroy stood with Admirals Illyan Coren and Alexander Laree and declared Governor’s Station orbiting the Betazoid Colony of Izar the first regional fleet headquarters of the King’s Fleet. She thought of all the good that the fleet had accomplished but realistically she saw the bad too. There had been genocide at Cheron VI, the first Kingdom of Camelot. There had been the horrors of the Klingon Invasion of Reykja Penthe. These outlying colonies have been in a constant state of peril. This is the universe in which they lived.
The fleet chaplain could not help but wonder what the universe would be like under the Krenim Imperium and not under the Federation. She hoped that she would never have to find out.
Victoria drove the stick forward. She had no idea where the shield began. Given its temporal nature, it was impossible to determine where the shield barrier would exist. She looked through the forward viewer, “I have faith in you, Admiral Tan. Run you fat little bastard! Run!!”
Victoria suddenly entered the equatorial projection zone. She had to be inside the shield. Focus, Vicki, Focus. She could not push that stick any further forward as she searched for the Temporal Power Vent. If she missed it, she would be going so fast that she would never get another chance. The Krenim Security Detail would capture Admiral Tan. The Detail would restore the shield and the only person with interior knowledge of any Dyson Sphere would be lost. The mission would be a failure.
Victoria saw the blackness of the vent coming so fast. She screamed, “For Click! Eat Xindi spit you bastards!!”
Captain Victoria Viceroy fired two shots entering the Temporal Vent and blasting towards the power distribution grid. The explosion was magnificent and sent the fighter spiraling into space. No one cares. Everyone heard Victoria screaming for joy. She was going to be just fine.
Commander T’Zohl banked the mighty Sovereign towards the blast site. Russia scanned every inch of space. T’Zohl started the countdown, “7 minutes remaining.”
She was so typically Vulcan it was impossible for her not to be so thorough. Commander Russia Trmel was using every tool at her disposal to find that damn EVA suit. John turned back, “Come on, Andorian. Find the Admiral!”
“I am trying.”, Russia snapped back.
“Don’t try, just f**king do it.”, Captain John Warren stood up,
“Come on, Tan, where the hell are you?”
Wolf shouted, “I got him.”
The human Faulkner dove the Double Q on the target site. John looked at Russia with a stern look. He tapped his combadge,
“Beam Dr. Skylight Greene directly to the Quasar Quest sick bay.”
“We will dispatch a King’s Fleet Medical Officer.”, Dr. Chikace Larle responded from the Camelot Clinic.
“This is not a request, doctor. We need the damn Chief Medical Officer for the entire fleet. If Tan dies, I will personally see you court martialed.”, John was not asking.
“Aye, Captain.”, Casey responded.
Skye followed Commander Russia Trmel into the Quest Med-Bay. She looked at Tan as the Emergency Medical Hologram activated the preservation chamber. John soon joined the group, “Save my man, Doc.”
“Aye, Captain.”, Skye smiled.
She began to frantically try to stabilize the exposed Hierarchy alien. So little is known about their physiology but she knew what stable looked like. Skye looked at John and Russia, “Here goes.”
Dr. Skylight Greene deactivated the pressure chamber. Admiral Tan took a huge breath. The entire room breathed in and held.
Tan looked at John, “It is very cold in here, Captain Warren.”
John Warren has seen it all. He took the Quasar Quest into the Mirror Universe. He has lost two children in service to the King’s Fleet. He has always maintained his composure. John teared up, “You are right, Admiral. Commander Trmel turn up the damn heat. The Admiral is cold.”
Russia looked at John, “Aye Captain. It will be my pleasure.”
“Inform Admiral Viceroy that we have Tan and he is stable and coherent.”, John ordered.
Admiral London Todd burst into the Operations Stations of Hatherton Station, “Viceroy!!”, he screamed.
Vincent turned around. London looked at the King’s Fleet Admiral, “This was a Starfleet Operation. The f**king temporal benefits of the Krenim technology could have advanced Starfleet and the Federation 10000 years.”
“Arrest this man. He is to be charged with treason! He is a terrorist who has destroyed a valuable Federation asset.”, Admiral London Todd told his security detail. The officers moved towards Vincent.
“Belay that order.”, United Federation of Planets President Pasha Trmel of Andoria entered the Hatherton Operations Platform.
“This is a military matter, Madam President. You have no authority here.”, Admiral London Todd looked at Pasha.
“Last time I checked next to the words President of the United Federation of Planets are the words Commander in Chief.”, Pasha snapped back.
“Please, those words are largely figurative. I run Starfleet. You cut the ribbon at some embassy or colony dedication ceremony. Stay out of my way.”, Admiral London Todd griped at the President.
“Not anymore you don’t!”, Pasha shouted, “By Presidential Decree, I hereby appoint Commodore Antoinette Viceroy Starfleet Commander in Chief.”
“Your f**king girlfriend; I highly doubt that the Admiralty will support that.”, London snapped.
“The Admiralty has been briefed on the risks associated with the Dyson Sphere passing through the Andorian Gateway. The Admiralty has been briefed on the activities of the King’s Fleet in the alternate universe. The Admiralty supports the Presidency of President Pasha Trmel and the decision is hers and hers alone.”, Agent Caitlin Wu walked into the room.
“You two faced b**ch. I refuse the change in authority. My vessels will move against Federation One and anyone who supports Commodore Antoinette Viceroy!”, London shouted.
“The Romulan Star Empire supports the leadership of Commodore Antoinette Viceroy and reports the decision of the Temporal attack on the Romulan Empire as an act of aggression against the Romulan people.”, Admiral D’Vreenak Suran beamed into the Operations area of the Hatherton.
“The United Federation of Planets deeply apologies for the attack and suffering of the Romulan people and identifies the act of aggression as a war crime. We have identified Admiral London Todd as responsible for the terrorist act and as an act of good faith hereby turn over Admiral London Todd to the Romulan representative Admiral D’Vreenak Suran.”, Pasha looked at the Romulan.
“You can’t!”, London shouted. He barely got the words out before Suran and Admiral London Todd disappeared.
“With that out of the way, it is my honor to promote Commodore Antoinette Viceroy to Fleet Admiral and offer all authority, privilege and responsibility that position offers.”, President Pasha Trmel looked at Antoinette.
“Would it be unprofessional for me to kiss the President?”, Toni smiled.
“I don’t think anyone in this room would have a problem with that.”, Pasha smiled, grabbing her human lover.
Vincent waited for the embrace to finish, “Your orders, Admiral?”
“Starfleet officially recognizes the authority of all regional fleet authorities operating in the known quadrant theatres and thanks them for their ongoing support of the ideals of the original founders of the Federation, scientific exploration and peaceful diplomacy, to seek out strange new worlds and to boldly go where no one has gone before. As long as these are your driving principles, Starfleet formally recognizes your authority to lead these people.”, Admiral Antoinette Viceroy saluted Admiral Vincent Viceroy.
“Aye Admiral.”, Vincent smiled.
“There is one thing.”, Toni silenced the room.
“What is it, Ma’am?”, Vincent looked at his niece.
“Destroy everyone with the ridiculous reference to the 1998th Fleet. You are now and shall forever be Kings!”, Admiral Toni Viceroy smiled.
“It will be my pleasure.”, Admiral Vincent Viceroy smiled.
Posted by:
Commander T’Zohl of Vulcan
Voice of the King’s Fleet Vessels
King’s Fleet
Admiral Vincent Viceroy
Commander in Chief
King's Fleet
