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"Don't worry, we'll be fine. Being the Firestorm's tactical officer, I can assure you that after the things we've handled without any problems, a simple mission to an Iconian Herald Sphere won't be any problem."
He raises his head up a bit and looks directly as Rattler, although it's hard to tell since he's a Breen and thus no one can see his eyes.
"Seriously. We single-handedly destroyed a Borg Tactical Cube once. I still don't know how, but we managed. One Herald Sphere shouldn't be that bad, especially with an entire task force of ships."
The comms announce the arrival of a ship called the C.B.S. Falzon.
"Speaking of which, one of the other ships just came in, captained by a relative of mine. I'm sure the admiral will want to get him in on the mission. I better go."
The commander walks off to the transporter pad, taking the M.A.C.O.s with him.
Post edited by admiralnat on
I fly the all powerful U.S.S. Firestorm (which solos 20 man missions death free) and ninja Ten Forward posters on a regular basis!
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The admiral also hears the comm message, and goes to the transporter pad, and meets with Thot Tran of the C.B.S. Falzon.
The admiral: "Tran! How was the patrol mission near the Klingon border?"
Thot Tran: "Fine. Had to destroy a few Nausicaan Raiders, but the freighters were fine."
Admiral Nat: "Good. I have another mission for you."
The admiral passes Thot Tran a pad with information regarding the special mission to the Herald Sphere. Thot Tran nods, and then meets with Sek.
Admiral Nat thinks to himself of how well Thot Tran and his Rezreth Class Dreadnought have served him since they defected from the Breen Confederacy, then heads out to find one more captain.
I fly the all powerful U.S.S. Firestorm (which solos 20 man missions death free) and ninja Ten Forward posters on a regular basis!
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“Well!” said S’tmik as he and S’ttel re-entered the food court, “That didn’t go as expected!”
S’ttel hurried over to the replicator looking and feeling like he had just been back in front of the Academy Commandant.
“Who knew she could swear in five different languages!” S’ttel said in wonderment.
“And seven different dialects!” S’tmik added amused at his brother’s discomfort.
“And seven different dialects!” S’ttel repeated not aware that S’tmik had already just said the same thing. “But it still doesn’t help that the vast majority of my ships are still in space dock. Perhaps we could use our contacts in the Klingon Defence Force to use their yards?”
“I highly doubt it, they have the same problems we do – in fact I think they have it worse and not to mention they would have to totally retool the repair shops to handle Starfleet vessels.” S’tmik replied.
Just as both S’ttel and S’tmik reach the replicators both of their comm badges chirp.
“Hang on Mik.” Said S’ttel stepping away
“Same.” Said S’tmik stepping off to the side
S’ttel taped his comm badge opening the channel. “S’ttel, go ahead.”
“Nelan here Admiral, sorry for the intrusion but I have received a data stream and message from your sister, Admiral M’rrel. I think you should take a look at this as a priority.” Said the Voth scientist that had joined S’ttel’s crew after being rescued from the Dyson sphere contested zone. “We are in science lab one four seven on deck fourteen.”
“Deck fourteen as in deck fourteen Earth Space Dock? And you said ‘we’?” S’ttel asked slightly perturbed.
“Yes Admiral, deck fourteen Earth Space Dock, and I am here with S’tria – Admiral S’mik’s head of science. It seems they received the same stream and message the same time we did.”
“Okay,” said S’ttel now slightly worried, “I’m on my way.”
“That was S’tria, my science officer asking me to join her in science lab…” S’tmik said
“One four seven,” S’ttel finished for him, “I got the same message.”
“Looks like coffee will have to wait, it’s worrying that she contacted us both at the same time. Where is she at the moment?” S’tmik asked.
“Nakura. It was her turn in rotation to patrol and carry out anti-Tholian exercises. I was hoping her scientific expertise could find a way of shutting down their activities on a permanent bases.” S’ttel told him.
“Well it seems she may have found something!” S’tmik said “and it must be big because she pulled her Nebula class cruiser out of dry dock and got me to refit the entire sensor suite. I oversaw the work personally.”
“Well, we had better not wait, shall we?” S’ttel said motioning to the door.
“No.” said S’tmik.
Both headed towards the door wondering what was so bad that their sister had contacted them both at the same time.
Food CourtAs Ardrian Dareau is finishing up his meal...
*Help Help I'm Being Repressed*
Dareau taps his combadge, "Dareau here." "Annlova here. Firestorm 's repairs are complete and we've been reassigned to that slipway. Dock Master thanks you for your patience and politely requests you keep Chief Engineer Bowman away from ESD for the next three days."
"Thank you Commander, I may be along shortly to inspect the crews and their work. Dareau out." And Ardrian taps his combadge again.
"Sir, I liked your musical ones, well, except for the last one. Too sad." Thoreau indicates, hitching her thumb at the combadge.
"I don't know if this is Bowman's idea of a joke or she's trying to fill me in on her feelings, since I haven't let her around the Little Paradise's refit after she clobbered half the Spacedock staff and did that repair herself in like half the time."
"She's been gone for a while, how...?"
"When Kim figured out how to make these new combadge chirps, she needed my combadge frequency, and she loves to 'surprise' me with new ones. Always calls me to tell me she made the change. Though she's threatening to leave me in the dark on the next few changes if I don't smooth over the issues with the Dockmaster so she can get back to overseeing the Paradise's refit."
"I think I'll just beam back aboard..." Thoreau begins to inch back...
"You're still with me. I might need a 'good cop...'"
New Forum, new attempt at complaining about ship tiers and the exclusion of two certain "iconic" hero ships from "endgame" in STO.
Being that T5 / Fleet T5 / T5 Upgraded isn't "officially" endgame anymore (that's Fleet T6 now) can we see these excluded ships at T5 / T5.5 / T5U11...
Note, these ships have no letters after the dash in their registry numbers, whether it was 01 or 1701...
Terry sat before Councillor Lucrecia who sat before him. "Your test results check out; meaning you're technically okay for duty. But I'd like to know what you think?" she asked.
"I know I have a history, but the fact that I'm willing to work passed things should convince you I'm better," Terry explained.
Lucrecia tried to read him. "What we try and what we are aren't always the same thing. Your new mission has you excited."
Terry sat up. "A chance to get back at the Iconians? I'd be crazy to pass that up. Whatever they have going on, it's important we stop them."
"There's no disputing that." The councillor nodded. "But treading careful may be in your best interests."
Lieutenant Elihu M'Konel entered the Philadelphia's holodeck with dread and anxiety. Elihu almost jumped out of his skin when the heavy double doors closed behind him. He really did not want to do what he was going to do. He went to the wall console and stared at it for a few seconds. With a sigh, he tapped some buttons and then stepped away from it.
"Computer, load Talitha program nine."
"Talitha program nine has been altered."
M'Konel became angry. "What? By who?"
A hologram of a human man in his late forties appeared. His rank was Junior Lieutenant and his uniform was gold. He had a pretty long beard and strong, wise eyes. Elihu gulped when he saw him.
"Lieutenant Solomon?"
The hologram chuckled and opened his arms to Elihu. "So formal all of a sudden. Do you not miss your old Rabbi at all, Elihu?"
Elihu and the older man embraced. Elihu said, "Sorry Uriah. Quite the opposite actually. But why did you change my program?"
As Uriah and Elihu's hug ended, Uriah placed his hand on the younger man's shoulder. "Elihu, you cannot keep coming here."
"What are you talking about?" asked Elihu. "I came here to say goodbye to her."
"I know better," said Uriah. "Sure, that's your conscious intent, but it won't end there. You'll say goodbye today, only to come and see her again next week."
Elihu sighed, gently his spiritual mentor's hand off him. He nodded. "Maybe. How...?"
Uriah explained, "I knew I was going to die two weeks after she died, Elihu. I had a dream from God three days before it happened."
Elihu smiled. "Even in death you're faithful. I wish I could believe in something so profoundly."
"I came here and engineered this program to be activated instead of your normal one," continued Solomon, "exactly two and a half months later. I figured three months was enough time to grieve."
"'Enough time to grieve?' How can you say that?"
Uriah said, "You are stronger than you know, Elihu. Your namesake was much like you before he ascended in the chariot of fire. You are a starship commander. You must put your crew first."
"Let me ask you something, Uriah. How do you continue to pray to a God who has supposedly allowed you to die? In a plasma leak no less! I can think of only one or two more meaningless deaths!"
A deep laugh came from Uriah's slightly rotund gut. He patted Elihu on the shoulder. "My life was full. Complete. Our mission was not just to fight the enemies of the Federation, my son. It was to give people hope! Something to believe in, something greater than themselves! We're humans! We're mortal! We're capable of amazing things, but just ask the Q. Ask Aazrus. In the grand scheme of all of reality, all of the realities of the entire multiverse...what are we really? Without hope, without faith, without love, my good man, we are nothing. We are flawed, everyone one of us, not just the people of Earth. For every merciful Cardassian, there is a greedy Ferengi. For every peaceful Vuclan, there is a Nausicaan pirate. Do not let your fire for life and liberty and justice and kindness be snuffed out, Elihu! My sole purpose for being on this ship was to teach you, Elihu. Tuning impulse drives, as exciting as that was, was not my destiny. Do not doubt your purpose, Elihu. Accept your destiny..."
Elihu's shoulders noticeably slouched, but his eyes were staring intently into Uriah's. "What is my destiny? To be alone forever?"
"To everything there is a season," Uriah happily preached as he paced in front of Elihu, his hands raised in the air, "and a time to every purpose under the heavens!" Elihu's eyes welled up with tears and he gulped, feeling the passion in the projection's speech. "A time to be born, and a time to die! A time to plant, and a time to reap! A time to kill..." Uriah turned and smiled pointedly at his would-be nephew-in-law. "...and a time to heal."
Tears streamed down Elihu's face. He stepped toward Talitha's Hebrew uncle, reaching for him...
Uriah finished with, "A time to break down, and a time to build up," before he vanished.
Falling to his knees, Elihu burst into sobbing, as a portion of the remainder of the verses echoed in his mind.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance...a time to love, a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Krystal found a viewport that overlooked the Lexington. That ship was more than just an assignment for her. The Lexington had become a home. She was far from being a stock Sovereign class. With all the refits and the tweaks to her systems, she actually could give some of the newer ships a run for their money.
But she still had her doubts about the upcoming mission.
"What is it about this sphere that's got me on edge?" she asked.
Aeris entered the cargo bay where Commander Reeve and several science officers were at work scanning the area. Everyone looked busy, despite there being no results.
"Well, we're just about ready to call it quits here," Reeve said. "Is it possible this is some kind of hoax?"
Aeris glanced around, not sure what she was going to see that no one else had. "You know, Commander, I'm starting to think that as well."
She stepped away from the science officers, while Reeve followed.
"Captain?" Reeve asked.
The woman pondered. "Something M'Konel said just before he left, that I incorrectly assumed he was trying to sabotage Earth Spacedock. Supposedly, I learned that from Bradden's orders telling me to stand down, somehow, but I think the Lieutenant's utterances are what's echoing in my mind."
"You have no reason to trust him, and every reason not to," Reeve added.
Aeris nodded. "You're probably right. There's a lot I need to discuss with Starfleet."
"Spacedock Operations to any available Captains," came a general call over the comms. "Undine threat in Sol system. Repeat, Undine threat in Sol system."
Earth Spacedock
An opening from fluidic space tore through, near Earth Spacedock, and a Dromias Bio-Cruiser exited. Following close behind, three Vila Heavy Bioships, which opened fire on the Dromias Bio-Cruiser and any nearby starships. The sole operator aboard the under-attack Dromias Bio-Cruiser opened a hail to Spacedock in a desperate request for asylum.
Admiral Nat beams up to the U.S.S. Firestorm before ESD raises shields, the Firestorm taking up a position escorted by the C.B.S. Falzon and U.S.S. Sally.
He orders that they hail the Dromias Bio-Cruiser. They open the hailing frequencies and await a response.
I fly the all powerful U.S.S. Firestorm (which solos 20 man missions death free) and ninja Ten Forward posters on a regular basis!
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The other bridge crew that were on Earth arrive on the bridge, having beamed up a couple minutes ago.
Commander Scott, chief science officer, takes his station and informs the admiral that "their communications are down, and the other vessels are still firing on them."
The admiral thinks for a moment.
"They want to defect. Maybe it's some kind of telepathic message from them. Maybe it's instinct. Maybe I'm just crazy. In any case, am I the only one here that believes whoever is on board that cruiser is trying to defect from the rest of the Undine?"
No one on the bridge responds. Evidently, they agree.
"All ships. I have reason to believe that the pilot of that Dromias Bio-cruiser is trying to defect to us, and it is our duty to ensure they have the opportunity to do so. The Vila Class Battleships are trying to deny them their freedom, so we'll have to stop them, one way, or the other..."
He turns to his chief tactical officer, Commander Sek, and looks back at the view screen.
"All ships, fire at will. Do not let the Dromias Bio-Cruiser be destroyed. If that means the destruction of some or even all of the VilaClass Battleships, so be it."
The U.S.S. Firestorm, U.S.S. Sally, and C.B.S. Falzon all begin to open fire on what appears to be the lead battleship.
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The C.B.S. Falzon fires at the lead battleship with it's Breen Energy Dissipator, in hopes of disabling the vessel's weapon systems.
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The Koriskor suddenly takes hits from three starships. Nughogh snaps to his crew, telepathically, feeling every hit from the ship like he was being punched in the side. "Re-inforce the bio-shields! Return fire."
"We are supposed to keep a truce with these creatures?" one of his crews asks through the mind.
Nughogh coughs up phlegm from beneath its head due to another hit. "You know our Faction does not care for that. Fire!"
"U.S.S. Sally, target the lead ship's warp core, or whatever inside that thing resembles a warp core, and prepare your phaser lance for firing."
He turns to his chief operations officer.
"Commander, hail the lead ship. I want to give them one last chance before we destroy them."
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"Status on the Targeting sensors?" Krystal asked. Repairs weren't quite complete, and it was grating on her that one of the things that hadn't been fixed yet was Targeting.
"Still down Captain. We could set the torpedoes for Proximity Detonation, but we'd still run the risk of hitting friendlies."
"Oh for... reinforce the shields then. Turtle up. At least we can protect this thing..."
The commanding Undine of the Porenek, Talliskuh, peers at the triangle view screen on his Bridge with the Lexington and the defecting Undine ship in sights. "They must perish!"
He pushes his ship in their direction and fires a beam of antiprotons into the starboard side of both ships' shared shielding.
The U.S.S. Sally fires her phaser lance, targeting the lead ship, doing significant damage.
Meanwhile, the C.B.S. Falzon begins charging it's energy discharge capacitors, and starts draining power from the 3 Undine battleships.
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Lt. M'Konel, U.S.S. Philadelphia, crew quarters, and then the bridge
Since Elihu M'Konel had not slept in over two days, he'd passed out around 21:00. His sleep went on uninterrupted until the Undine attack that he knew was coming, at approximately 04:30.
“Captain to the bridge,” came Centurion Lydia M'Konel's nervous voice. “Time to see how our babies work.”
“Ugh,” Elihu groused to himself. He tapped his badge on the bedside table. “Coming,” he groaned, barely comprehensible.
As he arrived on the bridge, Ensign Daniel Benson, acting-security chief, announced his presence. Everyone stood to attention but Elihu waved it away.
He asked, “Are they here yet?”
“They'll be here in less than a minute,” reported Ops officer Ensign Nel Kestral.
“Cloak.” Elihu took his seat beside his aunt.
The Miranda-Centaur class light cruiser faded away into invisibility as the Philadelphia slowly orbited Earth Spacedock. Thirty seconds later, the battle commenced and the crew of the Philadelphia observed.
“It's a good thing we found the Undine defector before his friends did,” Lydia commented to Lieutenant M'Konel. “We might not have been able to pull this off.”
“Pfft,” scoffed Elihu. “Sure we would have. It would've just been a little more difficult is all.”
“Sir!” Ensign Benson's voice resonated with tension and fear. “We're picking up another signal! I believe it's coming from a cloaked vessel!”
“Romulans or Klingons?” Lydia inquired of the tactical officer.
He shook his head. “Neither. Both. I – I can't tell!”
“Well tell me about the signal!” shouted Elihu. “Is it a transmission?”
“Yes, Sir!”
“Okay...then play it!”
Benson sighed. “You're not gonna like it...”
Irish rock music started playing over the bridge. Immediately, Elihu knew who was sending the signal. “Turn that garbage off!” he barked.
“I can't, Sir!” Benson reported. “A virus piggybacked on the signal and took over our communications system! The entire ship is hearing it now!”
Lydia face-palmed. “I hate The Infamous.”
“He gives Ireland a bad name,” Elihu agreed.
Kestral said, “Uh, the signal is being transmitted to all Starfleet ships now, as well as the Starbase...”
Elihu stood. “How is that possible? I want that virus eliminated and that music off now! Does The Infamous not know the meaning of 'covert operations'?”
“He's hailing us,” Benson said after finally managing to turn the music off.
“On screen,” commanded M'Konel.
As soon as The Infamous' grinning face appeared on the main viewer, Elihu regretted it. He regretted saying “on screen” and he regretted knowing The Infamous and he regretted not killing him before the rogue Irishman was lost with all hands in a battle with the Tal'Shiar. The Infamous was a notorious warlord who not too long ago ruled over dozens of small worlds scattered throughout the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma quadrants. However, he had given up his tyranny in exchange for a chance to work as an assassin in the employ of Starfleet Intelligence and the Tal'Shiar. The worst part about The Infamous, at least in Elihu's eyes, was his undeniable charm. Even Lydia fell for the renegade.
The Infamous had a generally rugged appearance. His handsome face was surprisingly clean, and pale. His piercing, energized green eyes were separated by a long blade scar that crossed nearly his entire face. The Infamous had an unshaven jowl and shoulder-length black hair that he preferred to keep disheveled. He'd once told Elihu that he liked keeping his hair and facial hair that way because “it added to his appeal, especially – but not exclusively – with women.”
“'Ello Eli mate! How goes it?” The Infamous stood there looking smug, arms crossed over his leather-clad chest.
“Terribly,” confessed Elihu. “And don't call me that. What do you want?”
Lydia said, “We thought you were dead.”
Elihu shook his head. “No we didn't. We hoped you were dead.”
“Aww, don't be like that.” The Infamous winked at Lydia. “I know somebody over there missed me. Just a little?”
Lydia glanced over at Elihu with mild shame. Elihu's eyes went wide. “Really? Him? He's a monster!”
The Infamous said, ”Hey! I am no monster! I am, in fact, human, as you well know.”
“You're a sociopath,” Lydia accused.
The Infamous pretended to be offended, as if no one had ever told him that before.
Elihu said, “That's why I cannot read you. Now kindly **** off before I finish what the Tal'Shiar started.”
“Don't you want to know who betrayed us?”
“We assumed you did,” Lydia declared.
“Oh Mon Cherie, it was, in fact, not me. I know that I often lie, but I promise that it was not I.”
“Enough with the rhymes,” said Elihu, “and get to the point.”
“It was Toreth of course!”
“And why should we believe you?” asked Elihu.
Lydia said thoughtfully, “It makes sense. She knew that since we found Donatra and de-assimilated her, Donatra would easily take over the military and force Toreth out of power.”
The Infamous also informed them, “To make things worse, Toreth was made supreme commander of the Tal'Shiar.”
“That's awful,” sneered Elihu. “But not our problem right now. Since the Cursed Fleet was destroyed, leaving only the Phili and whatever your flyin', we have no need of a Tal'Shiar presence. We can work directly with Starfleet Intel.”
“Well, you do that,” The Infamous said happily. “I'm just gonna go blackmail Toreth and take over the Romulan Republic.”
“Whatever,” Lydia grumbled. “Are you here to observe the result of our hard work or do you simply want to bother us?”
The Infamous shrugged. “I can multi-task. Doesn't look like the battle is going well for good ol' Starfleet though. Ya might wanna help out a little.”
“What about you?” Elihu demanded.
“This, uh, ship...is not ready to see combat, not just yet.”
“What are you flying?” asked Elihu, becoming more irritated.
The Infamous grinned. “You'll see, mate, sooner or later. Ciao.”
The view screen returned to the battle with the Undine ships and Elihu released a moan of frustration. He turned to Ensign Benson. “Decloak, target the lead Vila. Helm, maneuver Eli-One.”
Large chunks of the ship were blasted off through a hole in the shields by the U.S.S. Sally, sending pieces of organic compound flinging into space. The Koriskor swerved into a spin, blasting antiproton beams away at random until its weapons were offline.
Nughogh felt the agony his ship felt in his mind. He checked his triangle viewer, showing the Philidelphia decloaking and targeting his ship. As the view swivelled around, he saw that the fluidic space portal was still open and two more Vila bioships of his Faction flew through to join them.
The admiral watches the explosion on his view screen.
"Well, they had their chance. All ships, fire on the next vessel!"
The U.S.S. Firestorm makes a pass at one of the Vila Battleships, firing at them with omega-tech enhanced phasers, slowing draining the battleship's shields.
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"I'm starting to get a bad feeling about that mission..." she said to Aeris.
"Admiral Nat's special mission?"
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"I just... I can't explain it. I just have a feeling something is going to go wrong."
"Don't worry, we'll be fine. Being the Firestorm's tactical officer, I can assure you that after the things we've handled without any problems, a simple mission to an Iconian Herald Sphere won't be any problem."
He raises his head up a bit and looks directly as Rattler, although it's hard to tell since he's a Breen and thus no one can see his eyes.
"Seriously. We single-handedly destroyed a Borg Tactical Cube once. I still don't know how, but we managed. One Herald Sphere shouldn't be that bad, especially with an entire task force of ships."
The comms announce the arrival of a ship called the C.B.S. Falzon.
"Speaking of which, one of the other ships just came in, captained by a relative of mine. I'm sure the admiral will want to get him in on the mission. I better go."
The commander walks off to the transporter pad, taking the M.A.C.O.s with him.
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The admiral: "Tran! How was the patrol mission near the Klingon border?"
Thot Tran: "Fine. Had to destroy a few Nausicaan Raiders, but the freighters were fine."
Admiral Nat: "Good. I have another mission for you."
The admiral passes Thot Tran a pad with information regarding the special mission to the Herald Sphere. Thot Tran nods, and then meets with Sek.
Admiral Nat thinks to himself of how well Thot Tran and his Rezreth Class Dreadnought have served him since they defected from the Breen Confederacy, then heads out to find one more captain.
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“Well!” said S’tmik as he and S’ttel re-entered the food court, “That didn’t go as expected!”
S’ttel hurried over to the replicator looking and feeling like he had just been back in front of the Academy Commandant.
“Who knew she could swear in five different languages!” S’ttel said in wonderment.
“And seven different dialects!” S’tmik added amused at his brother’s discomfort.
“And seven different dialects!” S’ttel repeated not aware that S’tmik had already just said the same thing. “But it still doesn’t help that the vast majority of my ships are still in space dock. Perhaps we could use our contacts in the Klingon Defence Force to use their yards?”
“I highly doubt it, they have the same problems we do – in fact I think they have it worse and not to mention they would have to totally retool the repair shops to handle Starfleet vessels.” S’tmik replied.
Just as both S’ttel and S’tmik reach the replicators both of their comm badges chirp.
“Hang on Mik.” Said S’ttel stepping away
“Same.” Said S’tmik stepping off to the side
S’ttel taped his comm badge opening the channel. “S’ttel, go ahead.”
“Nelan here Admiral, sorry for the intrusion but I have received a data stream and message from your sister, Admiral M’rrel. I think you should take a look at this as a priority.” Said the Voth scientist that had joined S’ttel’s crew after being rescued from the Dyson sphere contested zone. “We are in science lab one four seven on deck fourteen.”
“Deck fourteen as in deck fourteen Earth Space Dock? And you said ‘we’?” S’ttel asked slightly perturbed.
“Yes Admiral, deck fourteen Earth Space Dock, and I am here with S’tria – Admiral S’mik’s head of science. It seems they received the same stream and message the same time we did.”
“Okay,” said S’ttel now slightly worried, “I’m on my way.”
“That was S’tria, my science officer asking me to join her in science lab…” S’tmik said
“One four seven,” S’ttel finished for him, “I got the same message.”
“Looks like coffee will have to wait, it’s worrying that she contacted us both at the same time. Where is she at the moment?” S’tmik asked.
“Nakura. It was her turn in rotation to patrol and carry out anti-Tholian exercises. I was hoping her scientific expertise could find a way of shutting down their activities on a permanent bases.” S’ttel told him.
“Well it seems she may have found something!” S’tmik said “and it must be big because she pulled her Nebula class cruiser out of dry dock and got me to refit the entire sensor suite. I oversaw the work personally.”
“Well, we had better not wait, shall we?” S’ttel said motioning to the door.
“No.” said S’tmik.
Both headed towards the door wondering what was so bad that their sister had contacted them both at the same time.
TO BE CONTINUED…
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Dareau taps his combadge, "Dareau here."
"Annlova here. Firestorm 's repairs are complete and we've been reassigned to that slipway. Dock Master thanks you for your patience and politely requests you keep Chief Engineer Bowman away from ESD for the next three days."
"Thank you Commander, I may be along shortly to inspect the crews and their work. Dareau out." And Ardrian taps his combadge again.
"Sir, I liked your musical ones, well, except for the last one. Too sad." Thoreau indicates, hitching her thumb at the combadge.
"I don't know if this is Bowman's idea of a joke or she's trying to fill me in on her feelings, since I haven't let her around the Little Paradise's refit after she clobbered half the Spacedock staff and did that repair herself in like half the time."
"She's been gone for a while, how...?"
"When Kim figured out how to make these new combadge chirps, she needed my combadge frequency, and she loves to 'surprise' me with new ones. Always calls me to tell me she made the change. Though she's threatening to leave me in the dark on the next few changes if I don't smooth over the issues with the Dockmaster so she can get back to overseeing the Paradise's refit."
"I think I'll just beam back aboard..." Thoreau begins to inch back...
"You're still with me. I might need a 'good cop...'"
Being that T5 / Fleet T5 / T5 Upgraded isn't "officially" endgame anymore (that's Fleet T6 now) can we see these excluded ships at T5 / T5.5 / T5U11...
Note, these ships have no letters after the dash in their registry numbers, whether it was 01 or 1701...
Terry sat before Councillor Lucrecia who sat before him. "Your test results check out; meaning you're technically okay for duty. But I'd like to know what you think?" she asked.
"I know I have a history, but the fact that I'm willing to work passed things should convince you I'm better," Terry explained.
Lucrecia tried to read him. "What we try and what we are aren't always the same thing. Your new mission has you excited."
Terry sat up. "A chance to get back at the Iconians? I'd be crazy to pass that up. Whatever they have going on, it's important we stop them."
"There's no disputing that." The councillor nodded. "But treading careful may be in your best interests."
The Captain agreed. "I'll do my best."
Lt. M'Konel, Philadelphia holodeck
Lieutenant Elihu M'Konel entered the Philadelphia's holodeck with dread and anxiety. Elihu almost jumped out of his skin when the heavy double doors closed behind him. He really did not want to do what he was going to do. He went to the wall console and stared at it for a few seconds. With a sigh, he tapped some buttons and then stepped away from it.
"Computer, load Talitha program nine."
"Talitha program nine has been altered."
M'Konel became angry. "What? By who?"
A hologram of a human man in his late forties appeared. His rank was Junior Lieutenant and his uniform was gold. He had a pretty long beard and strong, wise eyes. Elihu gulped when he saw him.
"Lieutenant Solomon?"
The hologram chuckled and opened his arms to Elihu. "So formal all of a sudden. Do you not miss your old Rabbi at all, Elihu?"
Elihu and the older man embraced. Elihu said, "Sorry Uriah. Quite the opposite actually. But why did you change my program?"
As Uriah and Elihu's hug ended, Uriah placed his hand on the younger man's shoulder. "Elihu, you cannot keep coming here."
"What are you talking about?" asked Elihu. "I came here to say goodbye to her."
"I know better," said Uriah. "Sure, that's your conscious intent, but it won't end there. You'll say goodbye today, only to come and see her again next week."
Elihu sighed, gently his spiritual mentor's hand off him. He nodded. "Maybe. How...?"
Uriah explained, "I knew I was going to die two weeks after she died, Elihu. I had a dream from God three days before it happened."
Elihu smiled. "Even in death you're faithful. I wish I could believe in something so profoundly."
"I came here and engineered this program to be activated instead of your normal one," continued Solomon, "exactly two and a half months later. I figured three months was enough time to grieve."
"'Enough time to grieve?' How can you say that?"
Uriah said, "You are stronger than you know, Elihu. Your namesake was much like you before he ascended in the chariot of fire. You are a starship commander. You must put your crew first."
"Let me ask you something, Uriah. How do you continue to pray to a God who has supposedly allowed you to die? In a plasma leak no less! I can think of only one or two more meaningless deaths!"
A deep laugh came from Uriah's slightly rotund gut. He patted Elihu on the shoulder. "My life was full. Complete. Our mission was not just to fight the enemies of the Federation, my son. It was to give people hope! Something to believe in, something greater than themselves! We're humans! We're mortal! We're capable of amazing things, but just ask the Q. Ask Aazrus. In the grand scheme of all of reality, all of the realities of the entire multiverse...what are we really? Without hope, without faith, without love, my good man, we are nothing. We are flawed, everyone one of us, not just the people of Earth. For every merciful Cardassian, there is a greedy Ferengi. For every peaceful Vuclan, there is a Nausicaan pirate. Do not let your fire for life and liberty and justice and kindness be snuffed out, Elihu! My sole purpose for being on this ship was to teach you, Elihu. Tuning impulse drives, as exciting as that was, was not my destiny. Do not doubt your purpose, Elihu. Accept your destiny..."
Elihu's shoulders noticeably slouched, but his eyes were staring intently into Uriah's. "What is my destiny? To be alone forever?"
"To everything there is a season," Uriah happily preached as he paced in front of Elihu, his hands raised in the air, "and a time to every purpose under the heavens!" Elihu's eyes welled up with tears and he gulped, feeling the passion in the projection's speech. "A time to be born, and a time to die! A time to plant, and a time to reap! A time to kill..." Uriah turned and smiled pointedly at his would-be nephew-in-law. "...and a time to heal."
Tears streamed down Elihu's face. He stepped toward Talitha's Hebrew uncle, reaching for him...
Uriah finished with, "A time to break down, and a time to build up," before he vanished.
Falling to his knees, Elihu burst into sobbing, as a portion of the remainder of the verses echoed in his mind.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance...a time to love, a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
But she still had her doubts about the upcoming mission.
"What is it about this sphere that's got me on edge?" she asked.
Aeris entered the cargo bay where Commander Reeve and several science officers were at work scanning the area. Everyone looked busy, despite there being no results.
"Well, we're just about ready to call it quits here," Reeve said. "Is it possible this is some kind of hoax?"
Aeris glanced around, not sure what she was going to see that no one else had. "You know, Commander, I'm starting to think that as well."
She stepped away from the science officers, while Reeve followed.
"Captain?" Reeve asked.
The woman pondered. "Something M'Konel said just before he left, that I incorrectly assumed he was trying to sabotage Earth Spacedock. Supposedly, I learned that from Bradden's orders telling me to stand down, somehow, but I think the Lieutenant's utterances are what's echoing in my mind."
"You have no reason to trust him, and every reason not to," Reeve added.
Aeris nodded. "You're probably right. There's a lot I need to discuss with Starfleet."
"Spacedock Operations to any available Captains," came a general call over the comms. "Undine threat in Sol system. Repeat, Undine threat in Sol system."
Earth Spacedock
An opening from fluidic space tore through, near Earth Spacedock, and a Dromias Bio-Cruiser exited. Following close behind, three Vila Heavy Bioships, which opened fire on the Dromias Bio-Cruiser and any nearby starships. The sole operator aboard the under-attack Dromias Bio-Cruiser opened a hail to Spacedock in a desperate request for asylum.
He orders that they hail the Dromias Bio-Cruiser. They open the hailing frequencies and await a response.
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Its commanding Undine, Nughogh, snarled from his stool at the main controls. Several of its crew worked the surrounding controls on the narrow Bridge.
"The enemy vessel has been hit," one of his crew reported, telepathically. "Their communications are offline."
Nughogh made an odd creature noise. "Not good enough. We must try to destroy that vessel completely. Fire antiproton array."
"Lieutenant?"
"They aren't responding, admiral."
The other bridge crew that were on Earth arrive on the bridge, having beamed up a couple minutes ago.
Commander Scott, chief science officer, takes his station and informs the admiral that "their communications are down, and the other vessels are still firing on them."
The admiral thinks for a moment.
"They want to defect. Maybe it's some kind of telepathic message from them. Maybe it's instinct. Maybe I'm just crazy. In any case, am I the only one here that believes whoever is on board that cruiser is trying to defect from the rest of the Undine?"
No one on the bridge responds. Evidently, they agree.
"All ships. I have reason to believe that the pilot of that Dromias Bio-cruiser is trying to defect to us, and it is our duty to ensure they have the opportunity to do so. The Vila Class Battleships are trying to deny them their freedom, so we'll have to stop them, one way, or the other..."
He turns to his chief tactical officer, Commander Sek, and looks back at the view screen.
"All ships, fire at will. Do not let the Dromias Bio-Cruiser be destroyed. If that means the destruction of some or even all of the VilaClass Battleships, so be it."
The U.S.S. Firestorm, U.S.S. Sally, and C.B.S. Falzon all begin to open fire on what appears to be the lead battleship.
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The Koriskor suddenly takes hits from three starships. Nughogh snaps to his crew, telepathically, feeling every hit from the ship like he was being punched in the side. "Re-inforce the bio-shields! Return fire."
"We are supposed to keep a truce with these creatures?" one of his crews asks through the mind.
Nughogh coughs up phlegm from beneath its head due to another hit. "You know our Faction does not care for that. Fire!"
"U.S.S. Sally, target the lead ship's warp core, or whatever inside that thing resembles a warp core, and prepare your phaser lance for firing."
He turns to his chief operations officer.
"Commander, hail the lead ship. I want to give them one last chance before we destroy them."
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Nughogh screeches in anger. "They think they can protect him?? Annihilate the humans!"
The Koriskor swoops around and blasts a highly charged antiproton beam into the U.S.S. Sally's forward shields, weakening them significantly.
"Still down Captain. We could set the torpedoes for Proximity Detonation, but we'd still run the risk of hitting friendlies."
"Oh for... reinforce the shields then. Turtle up. At least we can protect this thing..."
The commanding Undine of the Porenek, Talliskuh, peers at the triangle view screen on his Bridge with the Lexington and the defecting Undine ship in sights. "They must perish!"
He pushes his ship in their direction and fires a beam of antiprotons into the starboard side of both ships' shared shielding.
"Can we at least eyeball it?" Krystal asked.
"Maybe... but we'd still risk..."
"Then DO it already! Go manual targeting!"
A few phaser beams lance from the Lexington... and miss.
The U.S.S. Sally fires her phaser lance, targeting the lead ship, doing significant damage.
Meanwhile, the C.B.S. Falzon begins charging it's energy discharge capacitors, and starts draining power from the 3 Undine battleships.
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02:00 Hours, Federation Ship Standard Time
Lt. M'Konel, U.S.S. Philadelphia, crew quarters, and then the bridge
Since Elihu M'Konel had not slept in over two days, he'd passed out around 21:00. His sleep went on uninterrupted until the Undine attack that he knew was coming, at approximately 04:30.
“Captain to the bridge,” came Centurion Lydia M'Konel's nervous voice. “Time to see how our babies work.”
“Ugh,” Elihu groused to himself. He tapped his badge on the bedside table. “Coming,” he groaned, barely comprehensible.
As he arrived on the bridge, Ensign Daniel Benson, acting-security chief, announced his presence. Everyone stood to attention but Elihu waved it away.
He asked, “Are they here yet?”
“They'll be here in less than a minute,” reported Ops officer Ensign Nel Kestral.
“Cloak.” Elihu took his seat beside his aunt.
The Miranda-Centaur class light cruiser faded away into invisibility as the Philadelphia slowly orbited Earth Spacedock. Thirty seconds later, the battle commenced and the crew of the Philadelphia observed.
“It's a good thing we found the Undine defector before his friends did,” Lydia commented to Lieutenant M'Konel. “We might not have been able to pull this off.”
“Pfft,” scoffed Elihu. “Sure we would have. It would've just been a little more difficult is all.”
“Sir!” Ensign Benson's voice resonated with tension and fear. “We're picking up another signal! I believe it's coming from a cloaked vessel!”
“Romulans or Klingons?” Lydia inquired of the tactical officer.
He shook his head. “Neither. Both. I – I can't tell!”
“Well tell me about the signal!” shouted Elihu. “Is it a transmission?”
“Yes, Sir!”
“Okay...then play it!”
Benson sighed. “You're not gonna like it...”
Irish rock music started playing over the bridge. Immediately, Elihu knew who was sending the signal. “Turn that garbage off!” he barked.
“I can't, Sir!” Benson reported. “A virus piggybacked on the signal and took over our communications system! The entire ship is hearing it now!”
Lydia face-palmed. “I hate The Infamous.”
“He gives Ireland a bad name,” Elihu agreed.
Kestral said, “Uh, the signal is being transmitted to all Starfleet ships now, as well as the Starbase...”
Elihu stood. “How is that possible? I want that virus eliminated and that music off now! Does The Infamous not know the meaning of 'covert operations'?”
“He's hailing us,” Benson said after finally managing to turn the music off.
“On screen,” commanded M'Konel.
As soon as The Infamous' grinning face appeared on the main viewer, Elihu regretted it. He regretted saying “on screen” and he regretted knowing The Infamous and he regretted not killing him before the rogue Irishman was lost with all hands in a battle with the Tal'Shiar. The Infamous was a notorious warlord who not too long ago ruled over dozens of small worlds scattered throughout the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma quadrants. However, he had given up his tyranny in exchange for a chance to work as an assassin in the employ of Starfleet Intelligence and the Tal'Shiar. The worst part about The Infamous, at least in Elihu's eyes, was his undeniable charm. Even Lydia fell for the renegade.
The Infamous had a generally rugged appearance. His handsome face was surprisingly clean, and pale. His piercing, energized green eyes were separated by a long blade scar that crossed nearly his entire face. The Infamous had an unshaven jowl and shoulder-length black hair that he preferred to keep disheveled. He'd once told Elihu that he liked keeping his hair and facial hair that way because “it added to his appeal, especially – but not exclusively – with women.”
“'Ello Eli mate! How goes it?” The Infamous stood there looking smug, arms crossed over his leather-clad chest.
“Terribly,” confessed Elihu. “And don't call me that. What do you want?”
Lydia said, “We thought you were dead.”
Elihu shook his head. “No we didn't. We hoped you were dead.”
“Aww, don't be like that.” The Infamous winked at Lydia. “I know somebody over there missed me. Just a little?”
Lydia glanced over at Elihu with mild shame. Elihu's eyes went wide. “Really? Him? He's a monster!”
The Infamous said, ”Hey! I am no monster! I am, in fact, human, as you well know.”
“You're a sociopath,” Lydia accused.
The Infamous pretended to be offended, as if no one had ever told him that before.
Elihu said, “That's why I cannot read you. Now kindly **** off before I finish what the Tal'Shiar started.”
“Don't you want to know who betrayed us?”
“We assumed you did,” Lydia declared.
“Oh Mon Cherie, it was, in fact, not me. I know that I often lie, but I promise that it was not I.”
“Enough with the rhymes,” said Elihu, “and get to the point.”
“It was Toreth of course!”
“And why should we believe you?” asked Elihu.
Lydia said thoughtfully, “It makes sense. She knew that since we found Donatra and de-assimilated her, Donatra would easily take over the military and force Toreth out of power.”
The Infamous also informed them, “To make things worse, Toreth was made supreme commander of the Tal'Shiar.”
“That's awful,” sneered Elihu. “But not our problem right now. Since the Cursed Fleet was destroyed, leaving only the Phili and whatever your flyin', we have no need of a Tal'Shiar presence. We can work directly with Starfleet Intel.”
“Well, you do that,” The Infamous said happily. “I'm just gonna go blackmail Toreth and take over the Romulan Republic.”
“Whatever,” Lydia grumbled. “Are you here to observe the result of our hard work or do you simply want to bother us?”
The Infamous shrugged. “I can multi-task. Doesn't look like the battle is going well for good ol' Starfleet though. Ya might wanna help out a little.”
“What about you?” Elihu demanded.
“This, uh, ship...is not ready to see combat, not just yet.”
“What are you flying?” asked Elihu, becoming more irritated.
The Infamous grinned. “You'll see, mate, sooner or later. Ciao.”
The view screen returned to the battle with the Undine ships and Elihu released a moan of frustration. He turned to Ensign Benson. “Decloak, target the lead Vila. Helm, maneuver Eli-One.”
Large chunks of the ship were blasted off through a hole in the shields by the U.S.S. Sally, sending pieces of organic compound flinging into space. The Koriskor swerved into a spin, blasting antiproton beams away at random until its weapons were offline.
Nughogh felt the agony his ship felt in his mind. He checked his triangle viewer, showing the Philidelphia decloaking and targeting his ship. As the view swivelled around, he saw that the fluidic space portal was still open and two more Vila bioships of his Faction flew through to join them.
"The weak must perish!"
The Koriskor exploded.
"Well, they had their chance. All ships, fire on the next vessel!"
The U.S.S. Firestorm makes a pass at one of the Vila Battleships, firing at them with omega-tech enhanced phasers, slowing draining the battleship's shields.
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