Vincent took Nicole in the back room of the Phoenix Federation Headquarters literally yelling at her that her rescue was part of a plot to set up the Vidiian control of the Omega Sands. Nicole cried, "It was a miracle."
"This is no miracle, Nicole. This is a plot.", Vincent shouted.
"Who told you?", Nicole snapped.
"Commander T'Ros.", Vincent replied.
"Oh, the Romulans. Perfect.", Nicole snorted.
"Listen, Nicole. This is a fact. Lydia Sanderson is some sort of Vidiian plant. The USS Plymouth is not some great pilgrim ship. It is a organ storage freighter designed to provide materials for the Vidiians to harvest the Omega Sands.", Vincent explained.
"Prove it.", Nicole shouted.
"There may be a way.", Acrylos walked in with Cherry and Elora Vasa.
Vincent turned to the Engineer, "You have come up with a solution."
"This is a mobile emitter", Acrylos tossed the famous Voyager developed EMH system on to the table.
"This is what the Vidiians are using to hide their appearance. Lydia Sanderson is wearing one as a religious icon.", Acrylos explained.
"I believe we can jam the emitter.", Acrylos smiled.
Vincent looked at Acrylos, "Exceptional, Commander."
"How soon can we begin?", Viceroy requested.
"We will need the support of a ship to bounce the signal off of.", Acrylos ordered.
"I will contact Lindsay right away.", Vincent responded.
"If she is not too busy...", Acrylos sarcastically responded.
Vincent did not like the reference. He already had one problem in Nicole. He did not want Lindsay to be a problem too.
The Wrath of Prometheus moved into position at the direction of Cheerful Vasa. Elora manned the Operations console at the Federation Complex. Acrylos ran through the protocols setting up to jam the mobile emitters and expose the Vidiians.
Nicole grabbed a shuttle and headed out to Boston. Magenta was out there clammering on the fence with the Pilgrims. Nicole grabbed her arm, "Magenta, this is not true. This is a fraud."
Magenta snapped, "How can you say that? Look at you. You are better. Lydia is the savior and the Sands of the Universe are what makes us whole."
Nicole shouted, slapping Magenta on the cheeks, "It is fake. The whole thing was a set up."
"Nicole, I am a scientist. I know you were ill. I know your bones were broken. I saw the sands make you well. How can you not have faith?", Magenta nearly cried.
"Amen.", one of the pilgrims shouted.
Nicole looked at Magenta and shook her head.
Acrylos looked at Elora, "Go..."
Cheerful responded, "Go..."
Alexis Bladon, aboard the USS Wrath of Prometheus, "Beam acquired, bouncing back. Prometheus is go."
The beautiful Lydia Sanderson turned to her believers as the emitter failed.
The image filled the pilgrims with a huge fear as other officers in the Vidiian assualt were revealed. Captain Lydes Erson was revealed.
Nicole looked on in horror as ONN began broadcasting the truth. The Pilgrims are not some sort of grand escape to a new opportunity from Earth but were brought along as Organ donors as the Vidiians fight the phage. The HUD images were broadcast into the sky.
Erson screamed, "This is a trick. We are not Vidiians. We are pilgrims. The sands of the universe are here to make you whole."
Magenta looked at Nicole and then ran off. She looked like her heart had been stolen from her chest. Nicole looked at Bill and then at the Marines, "Colonel Brown, take them down."
Brown had wanted to do this for a week, "Yes, Ma'am."
The marines captured the very small contingent of Vidiians and dispersed the believers. Many of them were heartbroken. Their life was over. They thought this was a great pilgrimmage. Instead, this is a horror story.
Erson screamed, "You will all pay. My mission is complete. I brought the source of our organs here to match the source of our dilithium. The Vidiians are coming. In time, you will be nothing more than what you should be. Domesticated animals raised for your organs!!"
Nicole arrived at her home in Little Lakaria. Magenta was packing her things. Nicole yelled, "What are you doing?"
"I am finished with this life, Nicole. I cannot deal with the chaos that is the Phoenix Colony.", Magenta started to cry.
"I spoke to my mother. My father is returning to Corinthian Station as well. He will be resigning as Governor. The Vidiians exposed us for what we are. Betazoids are believers. We want to believe. The underhanded world that is the Phoenix Colony and the Phoenix Federation is nothing more than a struggle for us. We cannot live here. Look, Hunt himself was subversive in the formation of the Colony. It is only a matter of time before you will have to keep things from me, Nicole. We are finished.", Magenta grabbed her suitcases and stormed out.
Nicole stood there alone. Brenna came up and held her hand as they watched Magenta leave. Brenna looked up, "Are the Vidiians really coming?"
"Yes, my dear. They are coming.", Nicole looked down.
"Is it gonna be like the Romulans and the Klingons?", Brenna asked.
"No, its far worse. The Romulans wanted the colony. The Klingons wanted the colony. Both were content to rule the inhabitants. The Vidiians want the colony, but Brenna.", Nicole knelt down.
"The Vidiians don't want us.", Nicole frowned.
"Are we in danger?", Brenna asked.
"I don't know. We do have something they don't have.", Nicole reassured Brenna.
"What's that?", Brenna asked.
"We have the Dogs of War.", Nicole thought of Belvedere at Boston.
"Do you think Mommy Magenta is coming back?", Brenna asked.
"Not this time, Brenna. She was embarrassed by the whole situation. We have not been happy recently. You know that.", Nicole frowned.
"Are you okay?", Brenna asked.
"I am sad. I loved her but we have grown apart. We need to get on with both of our lives.", Nicole smiled at Brenna's maturity for her tender age of 12.
"We will be okay, Mom.", Brenna smiled.
"I sure hope so.", Nicole looked at the beautiful pink and black sky.
Posted by:
Nicole Branson
Vice President
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
Commodore Vincent Viceroy
Military Commander In Chief
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
Commander Acrylos Teero
Chief Engineer
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
