Rallying the Troops
Posted on Sun Jul 26, 2020 @ 9:49pm by Admiral Alan Markus & Ensign Vorath & Lieutenant Cassandra Kennings & Lieutenant Commander Thomas Riley & Lieutenant Commander Amber Jones & Lieutenant Meesa Etara & Lieutenant John Hunter & Lieutenant Ben'ja H'ol'na & Lieutenant Daphne Dunne & Ensign Gwendolyn Clarke & Ensign Kolvan Murroe
1,099 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
The Binary Suns
Location: DQ/BQ
Timeline: Concurrent with Racing Against Time
"The K'ret'ara sector has been dark for 72 hours," Admiral Markus said. "That's 71 hours too long. Get probes out there immediately and get me an idea of what's going on over there."
"Yes, Admiral," Lieutenant Billings said.
"Then we need to send the Saint George out to--"
"Admiral!" Ensign Vorath said over the comm system, his Vulcan calm sounding somewhat strained, "Priority One transmission, Sir."
"Here?" Markus said to Billings, pulling his terminal closer and pulling up the transmission. His brow furrowed and he jumped out of his seat. "Get the Saint George back here now! Recall all ships on assignment and get me Captain Edwards on a secure channel!"
"Aye, Sir," Vorath said, closing the channel.
Markus came around his desk and chucked a thumb at the door. "Out," he said. Billings left quickly, leaving the Admiral alone in his office. Alan snapped his fingers and the screens along the opposite wall stopped displaying station data and local information, and changed to a tactical overview of the Milky Way, along with several highlighted sectors in detail.
"Captain Edwards for you sir," Ensign Vorath's voice said.
"Captain, drop what you're doing and contact all our assets," Alan said. "It's started."
“Enemy is returning fire!” Gul Moren shouted as phaser beams blasted the rocks they were crouched behind.
“Yes, I think we all realized that, thank you, Grael,” Cassandra said as her cheek was scraped by shrapnel.
Richard ducked as another phaser beam shot over their heads. “This is your idea of a ‘simple negotiation’ hm?”
“How was I to know the Illarians were going to betray the peace talks?” Cassandra said.
“You mean other than the nine centuries of documented historical records I showed you saying that’s what they always do?” Richard countered.
“I never doubted your research,” Cassandra said, gently. “But we still had to try.”
“I know,” Richard sighed as the security officers returned fire again. “But given the circumstances, I really wish you had stayed back.”
Cassandra folded her hands on her stomach, protectively, and looked around the edge of the boulder they were using for cover. Suddenly, her combadge chirped.
“Exon to Sanders,” Amber’s voice said.
“That had better be the cavalry,” Richard said as another shot whizzed by.
“Unfortunately yes, but not yours,” Exon said. “Is that phaser fire?”
“Yes, we’re a bit besieged by peace talks,” Cassandra said. “What’s going on?”
“A coup,” Exon said. “The Federation President, among others, has been kidnapped and is about to be found guilty in some kangaroo court. It’s virtually a civil war all the way back to Sol.”
“Good God,” Richard said.
“Not so much,” Exon said.
“Unfortunately, we’re not in a position to make a hasty getaway,” Cassandra said. “But if we can extricate ourselves from this, we’ll see about sending help.”
“Acknowledged. Good luck,” Exon said and the channel closed.
“Gul Moren!” Cassandra called. “We need an immediate exit!”
“We’re officially packing it in?” Moren shouted over the weapons fire.
“Correct. The Theans are on their own for the time being. We have an emergency that takes precedence.”
“Understood. We’ll have a path to the runabout cleared in two minutes!” Moren said, signaling to his officers.
The turbolift doors opened and Doctor Jones walked quickly across the bridge to her station. “Rah-tu and Golem are enroute. Spectrum is detained, but will try,” she said.
“Good,” Captain Edwards said, turning in her chair. “Meesa, any progress on finding another shortcut home?”
“Negative,” the Orion woman said, growling in frustration. “If there are any in the area, I’m not detecting them. So far our best bet is the one in the Alaris system.”
Captain Edwards wasn’t thrilled by the notion, but if that was their best bet of getting to Earth in time, she didn’t see many alternatives. “Where is the Victory right now?”
Meesa brought up a map of the quadrant and a blinking dot appeared. “There, headed for….Borg space?”
“Why in Tartarus are they headed there?” Amber said.
Tiffany stared at the screen, then sat up straighter. “I know why. Jas, if we pull out all the stops, can we intercept?”
“They’ve got more power in their slipstream drive than we do,” Meesa warned.
“That wasn’t my question,” Tiffany said, looking back at the helm. “Jasmine?”
“Maybe,” Jasmine said. “But they have a head ssstart on usss. Even with our relative distancsse, we may not be able to ssstop them.”
“I don’t want to stop them,” Tiffany said. “Get us there asap. Don’t wait for orders if you need to adjust course.”
“Aye, Captain,” Jasmine said. “Setting courssse.”
“Engage,” Tiffany said.
“You’re not going,” Richard said, in what had to be the most forceful tone Cassandra had ever heard from him. They’d had a quick rush back to the runabout, the entire diplomatic entourage running as fast as they could, with Cassandra huffing and puffing behind them. Most of their team was occupying the cockpit and bunks, giving Richard and Cass the small common area in the rear compartment to themselves.
“Richard,” Cass began as she sat down in a chair, relief in her voice.
“No, I’m serious, Cassandra,” Richard said. “I’m putting my foot down on this one. You cannot go charging into battle in your condition.”
Cass put a hand on her growing belly. “I hate the thought of them going into something like this on their own.”
“I know,” he said. “But we have bigger responsibilities now.” He knelt in front of her, put his hand on top of hers on her swollen belly and looked deep in her violet eyes.
Cassandra let out a breath and sat back in her chair. “You have my word,” she said. “I will not run off on you to rush to Earth.”
“Thank you,” he said, standing up to sit next to her.
“You and I need to stick together,” she said firmly, squeezing his hand.
“I agree,” he said.
“So you’ll be coming with me,” she said.
“No, wait--”
“We’ll need a ship,” she said, standing up with a grunt. “Captain Williams will want to see to it personally, but she’ll be needed on the station. We’ll have to use Gul Moren’s ship. A Keldon-class cruiser will give us enough protection to get in and out, and won’t tip off anyone whose side we’re on.”
“Cassandra!” Richard said, sternly, following her out of the room.
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