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Corinthian Station
Orbiting Betazed
Alpha Quadrant
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"Dammit, Illyan. Launch the fighters through the gateway. I don't care if you have to turn the fu**ing Outpost into a graveyard, you will return Orchid to me.", Addison yelled.
"Captain Laree, the war is over. The Earth is liberated. The Betazoid people owe a great debt to the Phoenix Fleet and Admiral William Hunt. I will not risk that relationship on your lust for Orchid.", Illyan spoke was a profound sense of reason, given his history.
"Listen old man. Orchid is my property. She damn well should be here.", Addison screamed.
"No, you listen, Captain Laree. Orchid is no one's property. She is my daughter. She was NOT happy here. She was NOT happy with you. I would have loved it to be some other way but it was not. She is happy with Nicole Branson.", Admiral Coren responded.
"You are soft, old man. You and Loiza once stood by me. Now you are willing to give up your daughter to that publicity hungry, upwardly mobile bitch. I am not willing. I am not.", Addison stormed from the offices of the Admiral.
Within moments, an aide came in, "Admiral, Captain Addison Laree has stolen a yacht and has entered the Beta Quadrant Gateway near Outpost 294 heading to the Phoenix Colony."
"Ma'am. Ready my ship. Inform Loiza that I am going after Addison and Orchid.", Illyan explained.
"Yes, Sir.", the aide responded.
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Outpost 395
The Phoenix Colony
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Orchid, Nicole, Brenna and Trista had put flowers in their hair and had wandered down to the River Covington. It was like a miracle. Things were like they were before. They were special, close and kind. Orchid and Nicole even played tag with the girls. It was so beautiful. Little Trista stumbling and bumbling around in the grass.
Nicole thought of Admiral Tim Veltkamp and the goal he had instilled in her very existence. "Make a home for everyone."
This was what she saw in the children playing, in her beautiful Orchid and in the beauty of the River side park. Things could not be more wonderful.
The day seemed to fly by. Nicole wanted this moment to last forever. If she only knew...
As evening began to set in, the image of the Space Yacht passed over the river heading for the lily pads. No one thought much of it. As the Village slowly began to be restored as a business hub, the beautiful yacht were beginning to be a more common site.
The image however of the BSS Star Light, the newly commissioned ship of Admiral Illyan Coren. Nicole suddenly got her back up. She was prepared for a challenge from Illyan. He would be coming for Orchid.
As they walked up to their modest suburban house, the Admiral showed up in a hover car. he stepped out and walked over to ladies. He hugged Orchid and watched as little Trista ran up to her grandfather.
Illyan turned to Nicole, "Have you seen Addison? He is coming and he is hell bent on taking Orchid back."
"And you aren't?", Nicole snapped, very sarcastically.
"I will admit, Vice Admiral that I would like Orchid back but the last 2 months have taught me that I cannot always have what I want.", Illyan explained.
Almost as soon as he had finished, Addison Laree showed up. He looked at Orchid, "Orchid, you will come back to Corinthian Station with me!"
"Addison, I will not.", Orchid responded.
Addison pulled a phaser, "You will come back to Corinthian with me!!"
Orchid picked up little Trista, "I will not."
Addison looked at Nicole, "You bitch!! You ruined everything!! You will know the same pain I know."
Addison fired at Orchid. The sheer power of the burning phaser passed through the little Trista and penetrated the chest of Orchid. Orchid fell into the arms of Nicole.
Illyan burst into tears as he could see the pain in Nicole's eyes. Nicole held Orchid close to her chest as the beautiful daughter, doctor, wife and mother died in her arms.
Nicole just held her. Illyan looked at Addison as the young Captain took his own life, collapsing to the ground.
Nicole had seen so much tragedy and now her daughter and her wife were dead in the courtyard of her little house.
Christine came over to cover the incident but she thought of only one thing. Nicole had been her rival. Hell, Nicole once even slugged her in the face but no one should have to endure this. Christine explained the incident to the people of the colony.
These are called watershed moments; moments that bind a people. The military had been mistreated horribly recently but seeing its figurehead suffer so seemed to remind people what they brought to the colony.
Posted by:
Vice Admiral Nicole Branson
Star Fleet Executive Officer
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Fleet
Christine T'Nley
Omega News Network
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Fleet
