Captain Paige arrived at Kalama and was very upset to be steered around by Hon'Tihl Kabarann. Honey took Alexander to the great hall. With grand pomp and circumstance, General Chikace Larle entered the room closely followed by members of her staff.
"Captain Alexander Paige.", Casey looked at the Captain.
"Lt. Larle.", Paige mocked owing to Casey's starfleet rank on Starbase 92. He was pissed off that he was about to chastised by a Klingon who has 1/2 his rank.
"General Larle.", the security officer retorted in a deep Klingon voice.
"General of what?", Paige snorted.
"The city of Kalama includes over 10,000 Klingons and serves a large repository for Omega Enriched Dilithium, you human dog.", the officer snorted.
"Easy.", Casey smiled, "The Captain is our guest."
"Speaking of guests.", Casey looked over as Honey led Nicole Branson and Commodore Viceroy into the room, followed closely by Fleet Admiral Tim Veltkamp and Vulcan Ambassador T'Loridel.
"Finally, a voice of integrity.", Paige nodded to Admiral Veltkamp.
"Why is the Vulcan here?", Paige then asked.
"T'Loridel will be negotiating the terms upon which the marine prisoners of war will be returned to the United Federation of Planets.", Branson interrupted.
"There are no POWs. There are only captives.", Paige shouted.
"Calm down, Captain.", Vincent snapped. He had grown tired of the UFP acting like they were better than the PF.
"This video was delivered by the IKS Martok showing the USS Flagstaff, the USS Nimitz, the USS MacCarther and the USS Potter attacking the Klingon Colony of M'Payel without provocation. The Beta Battalion was the clear aggressor.", General Larle explained as the Heads Up Display showed the 3 D images at massive size in the Great Hall.
"The Colony is located on territory claimed by the United Federation of Planets. The Beta Battalion is instructed to protect those interests.", Paige snapped.
"Under the Phoenix Federation Charter, the non-planetary atmospheric asteroids within the Beta Quadrant were reclassified as open for colonization.", T'Loridel interrupted.
"Who asked you?", Paige snapped.
"I invited her.", Admiral Veltkamp responded, "She is here to interpret the law."
"Under this charter reference, the Klingons were permitted to occupy the atmospheric planetoid so long as there were no acts of aggression against either the PF or the UFP.", T'Loridel responded.
"The House of M'Payel never made such a threat.", General Larle glared at Paige.
"Colonel Paige attacked without provocation and then attacked us, the City of Kalama without provocation once more. These marines are now prisoners of war. Their release will need to be negotiated.", Larle continued.
"This is exactly what we feared would happen, Branson. You people are not the superpower here. You are our Canada to the US in the 2000s. You walk around here acting like you are something special because you have a powerful raw material (for Canada Oil; for the Phoenix Colony Dilithium) but you are not a superpower. You have power because you are associated with the Federation.", Paige mocked.
"The taps could be shut off at any moment.", Branson growled owing to the same threat often used by Canada in the 2000s.
Paige looked at T'Loridel, "What will it cost us to get the Colonel, the Flagstaff and the prisoners back?"
"There is no cost, Captain Paige. This is not about cost. This is about acknowledgement of the agreement signed 3 years ago between William Hunt and the United Federation of Planets. The Phoenix Federation not only has the right to exist but the United Federation of Planets owes them a great deal. You need to acknowledge this both in letter and in action.", T'Loridel responded.
"Amen.", Nicole smiled.
"This is not a religious matter.", T'Loridel sounded so Vulcan but broke up the tension with her comment.
"When will my staff be released?", Paige responded.
"As soon as we have confirmation from Paris that there is a clear understanding that it was Colonel Goddard who attacked the House of M'Payel and a formal apology from the United Federation Of Planets to President William Hunt and a formal apology from the United Federation of Planets to the Klingon Empire.", T'Loridel responded.
"I will make the request.", Captain Paige responded.
"As will I.", Admiral Veltkamp responded.
"There is one more thing.", Branson stopped Paige from leaving.
"You will have to have Colonel Goddard come here to apology to General Larle personally.", Branson smiled.
"I will not.", Paige responded.
"Perfect. I could always use another ship.", Viceroy responded. The USS Flagstaff was in Jersey City.
"Keeping the Flagstaff would be considered an act of aggression, Commodore.", Paige snorted.
"What do you mean? We have salvage rights in the Beta Quadrant. Check your charter, Captain Paige. President William Hunt is no fool. We simply salvaged the Flagstaff.", Viceroy winked at Paige.
"Colonel Goddard will be here." Paige complained.
Posted by:
Nicole Branson
Vice President
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
Commodore Vincent Viceroy
Military Commander In Chief
Pheonix Colony
Phoenix Federation
Fleet Admiral Tim Veltkamp
Federation Liaison
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
