From The Ashes (Parts I & II)

Posted on Oct 14, 2014 @ 1:02pm by Captain Michael Turlogh Kane
Edited on on Oct 14, 2014 @ 1:02pm

Mission: Birth Of An Empire

"FROM THE ASHES"

(Continued from "In The Hours Before Dawn")

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"No power on Earth can govern any human being who witholds their consent."
- Emmeline Pankhurst (paraphrased)

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Location: Beta Hutzel system, Romulan Star Empire
Stardate: [2.14]1014.0610
Scene: Imperial Listening Post


Sireal Ilhardae was musing about her promotion to Centurion. It had happened a little under a year ago, and even now she enjoyed the memory, stealing moments here and there to feel the pride again. Admiral Radaik herself, hero of the Battle of Prygus, had been the one to issue her with her Centurion's ceremonial sash in the Hall of Heroes. Her parents had both been in attendance, and her breast had swelled proudly when she saw them applaud her. She had held herself stiffly to attention while Radaik placed the sash on her shoulder, then snapped a crisp salute in response to the legendary Admiral's words of congratulations. Afterward, her parents had held her in their arms in the middle of the street, told her how much they loved her, and they had all gone out to eat.

It was a wonderful, warm memory, and had gone some way to curing the grief of her mother and father following her brother D'Nal's death in battle fighting the Klingon barbarians in the Triangle. He had died a good death, according to his Commander, falling at his post while engaged in starship combat with a Klingon wolfpack. D'Nal had been her parents' great hope for an influential child - while he joined the Navy as soon as his education was complete, she had languished as the overlooked daughter.

Now, a little under a year following her promotion by Admiral Radaik, Sireal had her own command. True, it was of a listening post on the edge of the Neutral Zone, but there were two dozen of her people under her command, and assignments like this were always stepping stones toward eventual command of a starship. And commanding a starship was what would really kick-start her career. It would take years, but one day Sireal determined to be the Commander of one of the new B-type Valdore-class Warbirds, of the kind commanded by Admiral Radaik herself. Then her family's influence would grow by turns. Perhaps, she mused, a senatorial career might be in the offing.

A series of chimes from the operations station startled her from her reverie. Using the centre seat's arm controls, she maneuvered the chair in its axis to face Taev, an Uhlan so young he seemed like he should still be at home in his nursery. "Report," she ordered.

Taev's brow furrowed as he tried to interpret the stream of data flashing before his eyes on his station. "Detection grid disturbance in sector zero-zero-one, dead ahead," he said. "Upsurge in warp plasma readings in that sector."

Sireal frowned. "A starship?"

"Probably several."

"Identify!" she snapped, turning the chair to face the main viewer. "Put it on screen!" The display winked into life, but all it showed was the glittering, empty starfield.

Taev shook his head. "Unable to identify. Our sensor network is being flooded with tachyon particles."

"What?" Sireal felt a chill of fear in her heart. "We're being jammed? But who - " She cut herself short. The stars on the main viewer winked mockingly at her. Alien stars, stars that shone from the other side of this Neutral Zone she guarded. Stars from the United Federation of Planets.

She caught her breath in fearful surprise. Federation starships inside the Neutral Zone, jamming her detection grid? This was incredibly rare - the Federation simply did not breach the Neutral Zone unless something very drastic was happening. It was unthinkable that they would not alert nearby Imperial outposts of their presence, because by ancient treaty any breach of the Neutral Zone without good reason was to be considered an act of war.

Suddenly, all hell broke loose. The proximity alarms blared into life, a chorus of mayhem that shook each of them to their core. On the main viewer, several starships were dropping out of warp into realspace - their silvery hulls, sky-blue nacelles and elegant, sweeping designs indicative of their origin.

"Multiple Federation starships dropping from lightspeed!" screamed Taev in panic. "They're arming weapons!"

Sireal leaped to her feet. "Transmit our sensor data to High Command! Shields up!"

On the main viewer, the leading Federation starship - one of their Odyssey-class battleships - vomited forth a volley of sparkling red torpedoes. They screamed inward on their target with a murderous imperative.

Sireal threw her arms up in terror. Thoughts flashed across her mind - the Federation was attacking the Romulan Star Empire! She hoped her sensor data had been transmitted safely. She wondered if she would ever get to serve alongside Admiral Radaik in this new war, a war that was underway right outside her listening post, a new war declared by the Federation that she was destined to see first-hand.

Her final thought, before the Federation torpedoes crashed into the superstructure of the listening post and incinerated it in a white-hot fireball that killed all twenty-five Romulans aboard, was that of this new grief her parents would have to suffer, now that both of their children were dead.

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The Federation Role Playing Game Presents
A Mind's Eye Production of a Collective Film


STAR TREK PHOENIX: BIRTH OF AN EMPIRE


Starring
Sarah Albertini-Bond as Xana Bonviva / Evangeline Montoya
Shawn Collins as Jake Crichton
Christopher Del Gesso as Russ BaShen / Rawyvin Seth
Alexandra Fowler as Kassandra Thytos / Selyara
Susan Ledbetter as Eve Dalziel
Justin Owens as Thomas Varn
Jamie LeBlanc as Aerdan Jos
Jerome McKee as Michael Turlogh Kane


FEATURING A CAST OF TENS OF THOUSANDS!
WRITTEN BY THE CREW OF THE USS PHOENIX

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Location: Paris, France
Scene: Eiffel Tower


Michael Turlogh Kane looked out at the vast expanse of Paris and stayed right the hell away from the edge. This was the first time in his life that he had made the trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and he didn't like it one bit. Indolent and shining, the City of Lights stretched languidly out on all sides in the gathering gloom of the evening, and the slim crowd of tourists was growing again as the evening swell began to roll in.

Near him, Drake took in the sights of the city, and breathed the cool air deeply inward. Seeing Kane's discomfort, he rounded on him. "Vertigo, Captain Kane?"

"Nothing of the sort," Kane said. "I'm afraid of heights is all."

Drake watched him. The Irishman had not moved from the elevator's doorway, gripping the rail beside it until his knuckles were white, his eyes wide with fear. "And yet you do not run."

"No," said Kane meaningfully. "I fight. What are we doing up here, Drake? Tell me quickly, before I turn my fear into anger."

Drake chuckled. "Bravado in the face of terror. You received your new orders earlier, yes?"

Kane nodded, holding the rail for dear life as the Parisian breeze wafted across his face. He felt hot. "Secretary Martine has activated the Phoenix. I'm to report to Admiral Halloway on Starbase Three at dawn. The survivors of the Discovery and the Armstrong are going to escape Earth."

"It's all happening as it should be," said Drake sagely. "The Phoenix is an incredible starship, she'll serve you well. She'll serve history well."

"No more riddles, Drake!" snarled Kane. "All this horseshit about the future, the Pendragon, the Neo-Essentialists taking over the Federation - you've given me no proof, only asked me to believe you. The only thing you've got going for you is Peter Aspinall's word, and that shrift is getting shorter by the hour. Tell me what's happening!"

Drake shrugged. "As you wish, Captain Kane. I've already told you about the future - how in nineteen years, Richard Edgerton and the Neo-Essentialists will plunge the Federation into a civil war that results in the overthrow of the Federation Assembly and the founding of a military junta - a new aggressive, imperial power with Earth as its capital."

"Yes."

"That history must change," said Drake. "That's why I've come to you. I'm going to be your guide as you fight the future, Captain Kane. By changing my history, you will preserve your own future."

The enormity of Drake was saying was not lost on Kane. More time paradoxes. "How are we supposed to do that?" he asked bitterly.

"It has already begun!" said Drake. "Secretary Martine has activated the Phoenix a day earlier than she did in my original history. The change to my past has been miniscule - so small, in fact, that I still retain knowledge of the original timeline. Still, whirlpools are born as tiny ripples."

"If the timeline changes drastically, won't you lose your perspective?" said Kane. "If we do something that irrevocably changes history, won't your memories be changed or erased?"

"That is how we will know we are on the right track, Captain Kane. At some point, history will be forever altered so that the Pendragon does not return to this time. At that moment, the Pendragon, Captain Aspinall, and even I will all vanish from this continuum like we were never here. A new timeline will have been created from that moment on."

Kane shook his head. "This is insane."

"No, Captain. What the Federation will become under the rule of Richard Edgerton is insane."

Kane forced himself to focus. "What's our first step?"

Drake placed a hand on Kane's arm. "There is a Vulcan woman of your acquaintance, Captain Kane. She served alongside you on the Century and the Discovery. She is possessed of formidable powers of the mind. Her name is Selyara."

Kane froze. It felt like the temperature had dropped ten degrees. "I haven't seen Selyara in over ten years. We didn't part on the best of terms. But before that, we were close." He used the euphemism consciously, deliberately.

"You are Selyara were in love, Captain Kane," stated Drake. "Call it what it was. Life in Starfleet did not allow for that love to grow. Instead it was stillborn, strangled at birth."

"Get to the fucking point, Drake."

"Selyara is in terrible danger. A sadistic serial murderer named Rawyvin Seth is stalking her through the galaxy. In my history, Rawyvin Seth tortured Selyara, warped her mind until it snapped. She became an horrific thing who killed uncountable thousands to satisfy her own need for revenge, a monster that manipulated entire star systems in order to watch the galaxy burn down. We have to prevent that."

"Why?" Kane held up his hand as the other man prepared a retort. "I'm being pragmatic, Drake, not cold. What does it gain us?"

"Selyara has been working as a whore on Risa," said Drake. "In her anger and fear, she has violated the minds of many people who crossed her path, including many important Neo-Essentialists. She knows their names, their locations, and has other information on their cells. She has fled to a crumbling space station in the Triangle named Limbo. If Selyara can be saved from Rawyvin Seth there, Starfleet will have a fighting chance at purging the Neo-Essentialist rot from its own ranks."

Kane's mind was whirling. Selyara's name had woken all sorts of old memories in him. So many years lost, and now fate was threading the needle of his life again. "In the original timeline, in your memory, did we try to save her?"

Drake pointed at him. "You did, Captain."

"And did I - "

"Don't ask, Captain Kane."

Kane slapped Drake's hand off his arm and put a finger in the other man's face. "I want to know! I need an enemy to fight, Drake! If it's to be the future, then so be it, but tell me that future!"

Drake nodded. "Very well. As far as I recall it, the Phoenix did try to rescue Selyara, but the attempt failed."

"How? Tell me so I can watch for it, so I can change it."

"You can't change this, Captain Kane." Drake looked out at the City of Lights, then back directly into Kane's eyes. When he spoke it was in a harsh, matter-of-fact tone. "Your attempt to rescue Selyara failed because Rawyvin Seth killed you on Limbo. I know this because I was there nineteen years ago. I saw him take your life."

Kane couldn't speak. It was an effort to form words. "Are you - "

"It's history, Captain Kane," said Drake sadly. "I only hope that this time, your death will turn Selyara to our side." He spread his arms wide in a gesture of helplessness. "I'm truly sorry. You don't see the future. You die on Limbo and Aerdan Jos becomes the captain of the Phoenix. He's the one that leads your crew in fighting the future, not you. Not you, Captain Kane."

The night wind and the lights of the city all paled away as Kane absorbed Drake's words. He gripped the hand rail tighter, but this time it was to keep himself from collapsing.

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Location: Starfleet, Headquarters, San Francisco
Scene: The centre of the web


Rear Admiral Richard Edgerton, Starfleet Chief of Staff, drummed his fingers impatiently on his magnificent mahogany-and-walnut desk and sighed irritably. He looked out at the Starfleet campus, watching the teeming thousands of people walk around beneath him like ants. Up here in his ivory tower, he hatched plans that shook worlds.

There was nothing he could do to stop the launch of the Phoenix now. Marie-Claire Martine had played her hand well. In the morning, the ship would launch, and there was nothing he could do about it.

But the game was not over, Edgerton thought carefully. The Phoenix's weakness was that it would place all his enemies in one location - the survivors of the Discovery and the Armstrong, all together in one vulnerable starship. So, then, it was time to move, to act, to initiate a failsafe he had prepared months ago.

""Nothing yet, sir," said Leonard unhelpfully.

Edgerton glowered at his assistant. Last night, a squadron of Federation starships led by the USS Carronade had swept into the Romulan Neutral Zone, spreading uncertainty ahead of their coming by flooding the Romulan listening posts with a tachyon grid. The operation had been a total success - six Romulan outposts destroyed and the Romulan colony on Beta Hutzel II annihilated. It was small colony, but it served its purpose. Three thousand smoking Romulan corpses greeted the dawn of Beta Hutzel this morning, and the best part? Nobody knew. The Federation squadron was hand-picked, the Carronade's captain a staunch Neo-Essentialist. They had been happy to kill those Romulan civilians in memory of the Incursion a decade ago. Now, all he had to do was wait.

"The waiting game," said Leonard unhelpfully.

Edgerton ignored him. The Carronade's captain had reported directly to Earth - mission accomplished - and Edgerton had ordered the entire squadron to retire from picket duty along the border and fall back to Gamma Hydra. Now, the border was dangerously undermanned and the Romulan riposte was underway. They were so predictable - they couldn't let a massacre of even a small number of their people by the hated Federation go unchallenged. Today, the Second Romulan War was finally underway.

A series of chimes from his personal computer alerted him to an incoming transmission. The screen icon indicated that it was a priority alpha message from the office of the President of the United Federation of Planets. Edgerton grinned. Right on schedule.

The chimes kept coming, and Edgerton kept smiling.

"Shouldn't you answer that, sir?" said Leonard. He was being most unhelpful today.

Edgerton assumed a blase air. "Never let them think you're anxious to hear what they have to say, Leonard. That way, you can start out in control of the conversation." He waited another moment, then activated his desktop. "Edgerton here."

His screen winked, and even Edgerton had to raise an eyebrow when he saw both the President and Vice-President of the United Federation of Planets seated behind a desk in the Presidential office. Both of them were off-worlders. Moray, the President, was a Talaxian, and Vice-President Jori Langor was a Cardassian.

When Edgerton thought about it, it made his blood boil. They had run on a 'minority' ticket - two politicians who were foreigners, not part of the Federation establishment, had been part of the Assembly for less than ten years, and who ran for office with the catchy slogan "Yes, We Can!" It was ridiculous. Now, two years into their second-term, they had pushed through a controversial universal healthcare bill (Moraycare) requiring all replicators in federal buildings around the quadrant to only dispense vegan food, and to sound an alert when someone tried to order anything high in saturated fat.

The bill had proved incredibly divisive, not least because everyone thought the Vegans were responsible for it. Edgerton hated it. Big government, telling people what to eat? Next they would be trying to stop people killing each other with phasers (Edgerton was a card-carrying member of the Federation Phaser Association - "the only thing that stops a bad sentient with a phaser is a good sentient with a phaser"), or be trying to allow holograms to marry!

He pushed such stupid notions from his head and feigned surprise. "Mister President!" he said, putting just the right amount of shock in his voice. "What is it?"

President Moray's face was grave. {{Admiral Edgerton, I have terrible news. Two hours ago, a Romulan fleet crossed into Federation space and attacked our outposts along the Neutral Zone with no warning. We have lost contact with Starbase Twenty and our pickets along the border have been overrun. They have refused all attempts at contact.}}

"My God!" gasped Edgerton, silently exulting. "Starbase Twenty is the linchpin of our defences in that region! If it has fallen, the Romulans will have a clear path straight through to Bolarus and Memory Alpha! They could turn rimward and threaten the Core Worlds!"

{{Command and control is non-existent along the old Neutral Zone,}} said Vice-President Langor. {{We have heard rumours of sabotage, of starships not following assigned patrols, conflicting orders that confuse our fleet movements. Our forces on the Romulan border appear to have been completely destroyed.}}

"This is terrible!" said Edgerton. "It's war, then."

{{The Federation Assembly is deliberating that declaration,}} said the President, {{but I don't see how they can vote for anything but. I am making a live broadcast on FedCom in one hour to inform the peoples of the Federation that we are under an unprovoked attack. In the meantime, I am calling all senior military staff together.}}

"Of course, sir," said Edgerton. "I will be there shortly. May I also recommend an emergency meeting of the Security Council?"

{{Scheduled for noon," remarked the Vie-President. {{That is why we are calling. You will, of course, be present?}}

"Yes," said Edgerton. "I pray that we can all join together in this dark hour to face this terrble new threat."

{{Indeed,}} said the President gravely. {{Moray out.}}

As soon as the screen winked clear, Edgerton chuckled aloud. "You see, Leonard?" he smiled. "Just when the rumours about the Neo-Essentialists were starting to gain ground, the Romulans invade. The politicians of this failed Federation will fall over themselves to give their support to Starfleet - specifically, to the Starfleet Chief of Staff. My good self."

Leonard was nodding. "I'm starting to receive after-action reports from the Neutral Zone," he said, consulting his PADD. "Our loyal captains and admirals have played their part well. Starfleet's ability to co-ordinate a defence has been shredded. The reports I'm seeing indicate that the Neutral Zone is entirely in Romulan hands. Starfleet has lost upwards of fifty starships and thousands of - "

"Spare me the details." Edgerton waved his hand imperiously. "We have until noon to prepare a speech of the most patriotic kind. We will affirm our belief in the principles of the United Federation of Planets. We will make an impassioned plea to the Security Council delegates to lead the way in this fight. We will use every legal document available to us - the Constitution, the Charter, the Statutes of Alpha Three, the Articles of Federation itself - to imply that failure to support Starfleet in this fight will be tantamount to treason. And then, finally, we will ask them to declare martial law across the Core Worlds and place the military in command of the government."

"I have no doubt of your skills as an orator, sir, but won't they be hesitant?"

"Of course they will. But we will reassure them that it is only a temporary measure. We will make it clear that the President will still be the head of state. We will praise them for their far-sightedness and courage. And then, once they have voted, there will be nothing to stop us. Then, my dear Leonard, we can start talking about who is really welcome in this Federation of ours."

Leonard's eyes shone. Edgerton's speech was almost hypnotic. "Federation first," he breathed, overjoyed.

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Location: Starbase Three, next morning
Scene: Airlock -> Phoenix cargo bay


It was Kane's first time aboard Starbase Three, and thanks to Drake's earlier prophecy, he knew it was going to be his last. This was where the Phoenix was docked, awaiting the transfer of her crew before launching into the void in an effort to save themselves from Edgerton's wrath. Drake's words were still weighing heavily on his mind, but there was too much to do, too much to organise, in the here and now. No doubt, he mused, he would have many a lonely hour to ruminate on what Drake had told him.

Word was slowly spreading about the Romulan invasion, too. The news of it had shocked Kane down to his core. It was completely unexpected. No preceding political tension, no degredation of governmental relations, nothing that would indicate war was imminent. It had been just a few scant hours since the Romulans attacked, and already people were calling it the Second Romulan War, referencing the earlier disastrous conflict between the fledgling Federation and a much younger and smaller Romulan Star Empire. Ten years ago, the now-vanished Locusta Regime manipulated the Romulans into making a surgical strike against the Vegan system for the purposes of acquiring letridium - that conflict had been swiftly brought to a halt by the intervention of the Klingons, and ever since then an uneasy ceasefire had settled over the Neutral Zone, with both sides pointing their weapons at each other but neither wanting to shoot first. It seemed that the Romulans had decided to settle the issue. The President was due to address the peoples of the Federation on FedCom later this morning, and a Security Council meeting was being hastily convened, but by all accounts the Romulans had chosen their moment well. Their attack could not have come at a worse time, as the furore over the possible return of the Neo-Essentialists dominated Federation politics.

Admiral Nathan Halloway was with him. Old now, but still strong, the former head of Starfleet Engineering was walking and talking with him through the guts of Starbase Three, on their way to the Phoenix's docking bay. When he had retired, Halloway had nominated Adam Heyting to take his place, and the two had reached an informal agreement. Unwilling to enjoy a comfortable retirement, Nathan Halloway had kept his rank and a position overseeing special starship projects. Of those projects, the Phoenix was the finest.

"The Phoenix is the culmination of everything that's worked well across all ship classes for the past fifty years," said Halloway, leading Kane down underlit corridors inside the half-deserted Starbase. "We used the frame of Galaxy-class and Nebula-class starships, but it's more than that. We reverse engineered elements from captured Jem'hadar ships from the Dominion War. You've probably heard of the Galaxy-X variant, but we've designated the Phoenix as NX-5199, a Galaxy-Z starship."

"Can you give me an overview of her systems, sir?"

"Well, we've completely rebuilt the saucer section, adding a secondary deflector dish that's capable of opening a transwarp conduit in the event of saucer separation. We've doubled the amount of ablative armour on her superstructure. The Phoenix can stay in a fight longer and absorb more damage than any starship ever built."

"Impressive."

"That's not all. As well as having a formidable defensive systems, the Phoenix also boasts devastating offensive firepower. Multiple phaser and quantum torpedo systems, backed up with a polaron cannon network for up close and personal work. You'll find all the details on your PADD."

Kane couldn't take his eyes off the specs. The Phoenix looked like it was the most dangerous starship in the galaxy. There was even a secondary embarked craft - a smaller warp-capable starship - built into the saucer, completing a triad of MVAM units - Multi-Vector Assault Mode. With enough warning and preparation, the Phoenix could split into three separate units - the saucer section, the main star drive section, and the smaller embarked starship - each capable of acting independently for extended periods. "What sort of crew complement am I working with?" he asked.

"Ah," said Halloway, "that's where the problem comes in. We've only had twenty-four hours to launch this project - we haven't conducted a single space trial yet, although we're confident that everything will work when you push the button. The Phoenix was built to hold a crew of around one thousand, but you'll only have a fraction of that aboard. When you launch, you'll have just over one hundred people aboard the ship."

Kane shook his head. "Can the ship's system be run efficiently with so few hands?"

"You'll have to find a way to make it happen, Captain. Most of the critical systems are automated, but unless you want to have most of the ship's backup systems offline, I suggest you find new people willing to join you." They stopped at the entrance to the Phoenix's docking bay. "This is as far as I go, Captain Kane. Your new command crew are beyond this door - some you know, others you don't. You can launch the Phoenix when you're ready. Understood?"

Kane turned to him. "My thanks to you, Admiral Halloway," he said meaningfully.

The older man patted him on the shoulder. "There's a storm coming. Get your people out of here, son. Just get the hell out and find somewhere to batten down."

Halloway walked away down the darkened corridor. Kane turned on his heel and walked in to meet his new crew.

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Location: Paris, France
Scene: Federation Security Council chamber


Richard Edgerton watched carefully as the fifteen delegates that comprised the Federation Security Council prepared to cast their votes. In the centre seat, President Moray waited, ready to abide by whatever the Council decided.

The meeting had not been acrimonious at all. Edgerton's earlier assumption - that these politicians would respond through fear instead of courage - had proved well founded. The speech he had written with Leonard had been magnificent, at once both terrifying and eloquent. Backed up with increasingly bad news from the front lines of the new Romulan offensive, he had these fat-cat cowards practically eating out of his hand. When he had implored for the Council's assistance in the name of truth, justice and on behalf of those Starfleet casualties who were dying even now on the front line, he could see his political enemies bristling, but the Romulan threat was too real.

Scanning the room, his eyes met Marie-Claire Martine's. If there was anyone he would have liked to get onside, it was her. Given that their spheres of influence overlapped it would have been most useful. She was the Secretary of Starfleet, a civilian post drawing its authority from the Federation Charter. In peacetime all fleet-related matters would have gone through her office, but this was not peacetime. Everything had its season, and peace was over. This was the time of war, and once the Federation Security Council voted to temporarily suspend civilian authority over the military, then he in his military posting as Starfleet's Chief of Staff, would be the master of tens of billions of Starfleet personnel. Marie-Claire Martine's position would be defunct.

It was true, the president would still retain his authority as Commander-in-Chief, but it was a big Federation. Edgerton would be able to control the ebb and flow of the war, and as long as nobody surrendered or a political outcome was achieved too quickly, then he could bring great weights of pressure upon the President, who would in turn be forced to act at Edgerton's recommendations.

It was, Edgerton noted, all finally settling into place. On one hand, he would never have thought that he was able for this. His original timetable for doing this had been two decades or so in the future after years of consolidating his power, but needs must. One must always strike when the iron is hottest.

"We are ready to hear your votes," President Moray said. "The motion is that this Security Council suspends the Federation Charter and declares martial law for the duration of this crisis. You will vote either Yea or Nay, with a majority vote ruling."

The moment of truth, Edgerton thought.

"Delegate T'Pau of Vulcan," said Moray, "what say you?"

T'Pau rose to her feet. When she spoke, her voice was proud and clear. "The people of Vulcan will never relinquish civilian control of the military. Vulcan votes Nay."

Edgerton cursed silently. He made a mental note to have T'Pau tortured to death in a dungeon somewhere.

"Delegate Gaavr of Tellar Prime," said Moray, "what say you?"

The diminutive Tellarite got to his feet. "The people of Tellar vote Aye!" he said. "May we have victory from this unprovoked attack!"

Edgerton smiled softly. Gaavr was always going to vote aye. The Tellarite's shipping consortium had too much capital to lose from an extended conflict with the Romulans. Politicians and profit went together like power and violence.

"Delegate Drass of Bolarus," said Moray, "what say you?"

The Bolian delegate was sweating as he stood up. Reports had been flooding into his office all morning that the Romulan offensive was closing in on his homeworld, where the shattered remnants of Starfleet's Neutral Zone fleet was desperately attempting to regroup. Bolarus was a long way from Earth, but all Drass could think about was his extended family. "The people of Bolarus wholeheartedly vote Aye, Mister President. We urge Starfleet to organise and dispatch a fleet to defend my homeworld!"

"So noted," said Moray. "Delegate Kevak of Andor, what say you?"

The elderly Andorian politician stood up. "Much as it pains us, Mister President, the people of Andor vote Aye. We are loathe to lose the trappings of civilian authority over the military, but as Admiral Edgerton pointed out so eloquently in his speech, decisive action is needed now if we are to stabilise the front line. This is a crisis that needs us to act, and so the people of Andor once again answer the call of the Federation."

Edgerton nodded in agreement. He tried to nod his thanks at the Andorian, but the elderly alien looked at him with disgust and turned away. No matter, thought Edgerton.

"Delegate Fenna of Trill," said Moray, "what say you?"

Edgerton regarded the dark-haired Trill anxiously as she stood to speak. Fenna was a young unjoined woman who had only been elected as her people's representative last year. There was no telling which way she would step. "Mister President, the people of Trill ask that this vote be suspended pending the opening of diplomatic channels with the Romulans. I realise we are still in the very early stages of conflict, but should we not even consider exploring a diplomatic solution? Something may have changed within the Romulan hierarchy. This invasion may not be all it seem - "

"This vote will not be suspended as it has been legitimately called and seconded," said the President definitively. "What say you, Delegate Fenna?"

The Trill shook her head. "The people of Trill note Nay, Mister President. Too much is happening too quickly, and we cannot endorse this motion."

Edgerton felt a flush of anger. The foolish idealism of youth.

"Delegate Kala of Bajor," said Moray, "what say you?"

The tall Bajoran man had no hesitation. "The people of Bajor will not be slaves to Romulans or to anyone else, ever again. We vote Aye."

"Delegate Rennan of Betazed," said Moray, "what say you?"

The Betazoid got to his feet, holding his head high. "The people of Betazed still recall our experiences of being occupied in the First Dominion War," he said. "We have no wish to see it happen to anyone again. In solidarity with our Bolian friends, the people of Betazed vote Aye."

Edgerton steepled his fingers. It was going well.

"Delegate Clarze of Delta," said Moray, "what say you?"

The Deltan man was already shaking his head. "We stand with our friends from Trill and Vulcan, Mister President. There must always be an alternative to war. The people of Delta vote Nay."

"Delegate Geley of Benzar," said Moray, "what say you?"

The Benzite was immediately on his feet. "The industrial might of Benzar stands ready to defend the Federation," he said. "We vote Aye."

"Delegate Soliss of Cait," said Moray, "what say you?"

Edgerton knew which way the long-limbed female Caitian was going to vote. After all, her homeworld lay in the firing line if Bolarus fell. "The people of Cait vote Aye, Mister President," she said, ignoring the headshakes of the anti-war delegates.

It was almost over, Edgerton mused. Just one more vote and the issue would be decided. There were not enough delegates left to change the balance if the next one voted to support the motion.

"Delegate Truman of Terra," said Moray, "what say you?"

Richard Edgerton's heart leaped in excitement as he watched Jim Truman get to his feet, exchanging a conspiratorial glance with him. As befit his name, Truman was a total Neo-Essentialist, who had privately voiced his frustration at having to serve under foreign aliens many times to Edgerton. "The people of Earth," he said, placing emphasis on the planet's name, "vote Aye. Let the Romulans come. They will break on our shores like water."

A murmur of discontent rippled through the room as the outcome became clear. Edgerton made fists of his hands in triumph, and even as President Moray continued to call for the votes of the Efrosian, Zakdorn, Edoan and Denobulan delegations, it made no difference. Edgerton got to his feet, watching Marie-Claire Martine hastily leave the room. The journalists in the public gallery were already falling over themselves to get to a comms hub.

Run, Marie-Claire, he thought, as the world came tumbling down. Run as fast as you can, but there will be no hiding from me.

On the floor, President Moray was announcing the result of the vote. "We here gathered today do hereby declare martial law within the boundaries of the United Federation of Planets for the duration of the current crisis. Furthermore, we charge Starfleet with the defence of our sovereign territories, here represented by Rear Admiral Richard Edgerton. Admiral?"

Edgerton took out his PADD on which was written his reluctant acceptance speech. Ultimate power was finally his.

*********************************************

Captain's Log, Supplemental - the Phoenix's launch is imminent. It is an incredible craft, but hampered by its lack of a crew. I have to trust that those who are joining us are capable of taking up the slack, or this voyage might well be a short one...

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Location: USS Phoenix
Stardate: [2.14]1014.0615
Scene: Docking Bay


Michael Turlogh Kane entered the docking bay, and everyone turned to see him coming. As he stepped inside, he put his game face on, squaring his jaw and assuming as stern an air as he could muster. There was probably a lot of confusion milling around, mixed in with a lot of fear. It was his job to allay that fear, if he could.

"Captain on deck!" called a lean-faced Andorian Lieutenant Commander, and anyone wearing a Starfleet uniform fell into line beside him, standing at attention like they were on an Academy training ground, senior officers to the front, juniors to the rear. There were some civilians watching from the back of the cargo bay, but Kane ignored them, moving to the Andorian and checking his PADD.

"You are Commander Jos?"

"Yes, Captain."

Kane lowered his voice. "I regret that we were not introduced before now, Commander." He held out a hand, which the Andorian took. "Michael Turlogh Kane. We'll be launching immediately. Once we've jumped to warp and are clear of the system, let's talk in my ready room. Wherever it is," he added as an afterthought.

"Understood," nodded Aerdan.

Kane moved on, but saw the Andorian's antennae turn to follow him. He passed Solomon Arn, Russ and Kass, nodding at them all, before stopping at Byte. The gray-skinned android was standing impassively staring forward.

"Mister Byte," said Kane. "I see the reports of your positronic reformatting have been greatly exaggerated."

Byte fixed him with its beautiful conflower blue eyes. {{Professor Maddox has little interest in politics,}} it said. {{A legal attempt was made to seize me while I lay offline, but the Professor simply ignored the directive and arranged for my transfer to the Phoenix. So, here I am.}}

"Welcome aboard," said Kane. He passed the chief medical officer, deciding at once that he didn't like him, before stopping at the counselor. She was tall and wide-eyed. "Your name?"

"Eve Dalziel," she said, straightening up.

"You're not on my manifest," said Kane, checking his PADD. "You are replacing Lieutenant Phia?"

"Yes, sir."

That was the last of them. Kane wanted to say something more meaningful, but he sensed there was no point. Each of them knew what the stakes were - Richard Edgerton and Neo-Essentialists wanted them dead, and their home was no longer safe. It was time to flee. "Take your stations," he said. "We'll get underway immediately."

As the painfully small crowd moved to disperse through the ship, Xana Bonviva approached him. She had been standing with her children at the back, and they all came forward now. "Captain Kane."

Kane didn't know what to call her - Ambassador, Madame Secretary, Great Bitch of the Galaxy - so he decided to bypass it altogether. Xana Bonviva loathed him with a passion. The two of them had butted heads constantly during his short tenure in command of the Gateway space station. Kane's formal style of command and sweeping rearrangement of previous protocols had not gone down well with her. They both thought the other was arrogant and overbearing.

But there was no trace of that Xana Bonviva now. Kane recognised a desperate mother when he saw one. He saw Erika standing with her brothers and sisters - all of them looked scared.

"What can I do for you?" he said neutrally.

"It's about my husband, Commander Crichton," she said. "Last we heard - "

Kane held up a hand. "I assure you, your husband is my first priority. I made a promise to him after the Board of Inquiry. I am not leaving this system without him on board."

Xana nodded. "I'd like to be on the bridge to observe."

Kane bristled. "Out of the question."

"Why? I might be able to help."

Kane lowered his voice. "You'll be much more helpful staying out of my line of sight. Besides, Commander Crichton will need the support of his family once we bring him aboard. There may be some... action involved."

Xana seemed about to say more, but saw her children watching and checked herself. "As you wish, Captain Kane."

"Good. If you'll excuse me."

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Scene: Bridge


Kane's first view of the bridge was as spectacular as he thought it would be. It was the biggest bridge he'd ever stood on, dwarfing the Discovery's by a factor of three. Two turbolifts granted access from the rest of this enormous ship, and another two doors led into the captain's ready room and the observation lounge. The rear of the bridge rose up an incline, where the flowing counter of the SecTac station faced the main viewer. Behind it, facing the rear wall, were a myriad of bridge stations, ranging from science to engineering and all points between. Under the SecTac station, on the lower level, sat a triad of command chairs - the captain's centre seat, the first officer's to its left, and a third seat for observers. Forward towards the main viewer sat the Flight Control and Operations stations.

He put his foot forward and stepped onto the bridge. They were all already there - Aerdan standing in the centre of the bridge, Byte at Operations, Russ at Flight Control, Drake at the observer seat, and Kass temporarily manning Tactical. The place seemed to big and empty, and Kane knew this scene was being played out through the deserted lower decks. The Phoenix was built to rise up from the ashes, but there was only so much they could do with a tenth of her crew complement aboard.

Kane moved to the centre of the bridge. "Activate the viewer. Bring main computer online. Bridge to Engineering."

[[Engineering. Rochemonte here.]]

Kane frowned, remembering that Engineering was severely understaffed. "Full power, Lieutenant. Let's see what this starship Phoenix can do."

[[Warp engines online, Captain. Transwarp generators warming up.]]

Kane put a hand on Russ's shoulder. "Detach our moorings. One quarter impulse power until we're clear of the Starbase. Port and starboard thrusters to station-keeping."

One the main viewer, the umbilical cord connecting the Phoenix to the Starbase detached with a puff of smoke, and the vista changed as the Starbase fell away, revealing the giant blue globe of Earth rolling by.

"Easy," Kane said. He swore he could feel the ship's pent-up power straining to loose itself. "Steady as she goes."

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Scene: Outside


The two huge nacelles of the Phoenix, built at a forty-five degree angle to the ship to compensate for structural weakness under the old design, flared into life, churning with nascent power. In stark contrast to the typical sky-blue glow of a Federation starship, the Phoenix's nacelles burned a violent violet colour. The elegant, rounded Galaxy-class saucer was also barely recognisable, now sharply jagged and with a front chunk missing to make room for the secondary deflector dish. No silvery hull reflected the sun's light - the Phoenix's ablative superstructure was a grim battle grey.

She turned away from Starbase Three, and her impulse engine flared into life, pushing the ship towards the distant Earth.

It might have been luck, or fate, but at that moment, the glittering needle of Spacedock appeared on the far side of the blue planet. Spacedock, with all its attached starships and weapons platforms, first and last defence of the capital world of the Federation.

Phoenix glided forward.

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Scene: Bridge



"Yellow alert," said Kane, watching as the bridge lights dimmed. "Take us into a polar orbit. Pinpoint Papakura stockade and gets us overhead as quickly as possible."

"Aye, sir," said Russ. "Polar orbit in five minutes."

Kass looked up from the Tactical station. "I'm intercepting comms traffic from Spacedock. They've detected us and are launching a starship to intercept." She looked up in alarm. "Captain, it's the Enterprise!"

Kane rounded on her in shock. The flagship itself! He had no idea that it was even in-system. Was it possible that the Neo-Essentialists were controlling her too? "Who's in command?"

"She's been in drydock for a computer upgrade for a couple of weeks," said Aerdan. "As far as I know, she doesn't have a permanent crew assigned."

Kane turned around again. "Full impulse, Mister BaShen, and get ready to brake hard once we're in polar orbit. Mister Byte, full scan of the stockade's defences." On the main viewer, dwarfed by the huge mushroom of Spacedock, the silvery hull of the Enterprise was coming forward.

Kass's brow was furrowed like a ploughed field as she tried to follow the stream of data flowing across her screen. "The Enterprise is hailing us. Data transmission only. They order us to heave to and prepare to be boarded." She looked up in alarm. "Captain, they are saying that the Security Council has declared martial law! They say the Romulans have invaded the Neutral Zone! They are issuing their order in the name of Rear Admiral Edgerton!"

Kane was staggered. "Has the whole galaxy gone mad?" he exclaimed. He and Aerdan moved to Kass's side, looking at the data stream. "It looks like she's operating on impulse power only."

"Yes," said Aerdan, pointing at the relevant data. "I'm not sure that she's operating at full capacity either. I'm willing to bet that she's been hastily launched with a Neo-Essentialist skeleton crew aboard." He was watching Kane intently. "What are you thinking, Captain?"

Kane's jaw was set. "I'm thinking a quantum torpedo into one of their nacelles will startle them. They have no way of knowing what kind of offensive capabilities the Phoenix has. Whoever's in command over there is going to be wary."

Aerdan armed a torpedo and plotted a firing plan. "You want to make them afraid of us?" he asked wryly, his antennae turning to face him.

"I want to make them shit themselves," grated Kane. "Let's take back our fear from them, Mister Jos. They've been hunting us too long. Fire when ready."

******************************************

Scene: Outside


From the aft section of the Phoenix, a blazing white-hot quantum torpedo dropped into space and screamed into life, bolting forward as if snapped from an elastic band. If there had been any air in space, it would have ignited in flames.

The torpedo covered the distance between the two starships, crashing into the Enterprise's shielded port nacelle. The sky-blue shield bubble absorbed the blow, but the ship gave an awful wracking shudder as the force reeled through the hull.

A moment later, it had stopped dead in its tracks.

***********************************

Location: Starfleet Headquarters, San Francisco
Scene: Edgerton's office


Richard Edgerton was still celebrating. He hummed the tune to 'Rule, Britannia!' to himself and did a little shimmy while Leonard watched. Reports and messages of congratulations were filling up his inbox from obsequious politicians eager to ingratiate themselves with him. They sat alongside increasingly desperate pleas from Bolarus as the Romulan fleet rampaged through the Neutral Zone. Less than an hour into his new job and everyone wanted to be his friend.

"You've done it, sir!" said Leonard. "You've won!"

Edgerton stopped his humming and quit swaying his hips. "Not so, Leonard, not so," he said purposefully. "This is only the beginning. I've already scheduled meetings with the heads of Starfleet Intelligence and Section 31. I need a secret police, I need a propaganda machine, I need to consolidate. I also need an heir," he murmured as an afterthought. "Fetch my wife from wherever the hell she's nursing her bleeding heart and bring her to me."

Leonard was looking grave. "The Phoenix has been launched. She's crippled the Enterprise and is moving into orbit."

"Really? I wasn't expecing that," said Edgerton. "Nevertheless, it's far too late. The Security Council's vote is inviolable. Alert the fleet of the Phoenix's launch. Strip them all of their ranks, make them pariahs. Wherever she runs to, she cannot hide. Sooner or later they'll all be dead, and that ship will be a smoking hulk."

"Yes, sir. Anything else?"

Edgerton pursed his lips. "Begin black-bagging anyone you think might be stupid enough to speak out against the benevolent new regime. Let's start with anyone who voted against me, and make sure someone puts a knife to the throat of Marie-Claire Martine."

"It will be done," said Leonard happily.

********************************************

Location: USS Phoenix, high above
Scene: Bridge


Papakura stockade was coming into view on the heavily-magnified main viewer. Built to the north of Auckland in the early twentieth century, the site had grown in size since then and now dominated most of the road traffic around the north of the city. When the United Earth came into being, the infant Starfleet made use of this purpose-built stockade for use as a prison camp, and since then, hundreds of thousands of prisoners had passed through its gates, from traitors to murderers to captured prisoners of war. Now, thousands of New Zealanders were protesting outside its fences, a great having sea of people that ebbed and rolled like the tide.

In response to his hail, the satanic visage of Colonel T'Prell appeared on the main viewer. {{What is the meaning of this?}} the Vulcan asked sternly.

Kane got to his feet. "This is Captain Michael Turlogh Kane of the starship Phoenix. You are holding my chief engineer, Jacob Crichton, and I am here to break him free."

{{I know of no such person. I am Vulcan. I do not lie.}}

"You insult your own people, Colonel," said Kane harshly. "Our sensors have already pin-pointed Commander Crichton's bio-signs. In twenty seconds I will use the Phoenix's armament to destroy your ground shield generator. I advise anyone working in that building to flee immediately or be obliterated along with it. Phoenix out." The screen disappeared, and Kane turned to Kass. "Just enough power to knock out the shield. Make sure none of the protestors are harmed. Fire when ready."

An orange phaser beam lanced out from the forward array, disappearing down into the atmosphere. Aerdan looked up from the ExO's chair. "Shield generator destroyed."

"Beam Mister Crichton directly to sickbay," said Kane.

A moment later, Aerdan nodded. "Commander Crichton is aboard."

"Warp speed," said Kane. "Set course for the Triangle."

"Sir?" asked Russ.

"I'll explain later, Mister BaShen. Best speed, if you please."

*********************************************

Scene: Outside


The Phoenix turned on her axis and angled into the void. She seemed to stiffen as her inertial dampers activated in response to the warp field's generation. Then, like a catapult, she snapped forward, and was gone into the long night.

***********************************************

- Truncated encoded data message transmitted moment later -

FROM: Kane, Captain Michael Turlogh, Commander, USS Phoenix
TO: Maverick, Brigadier-General Bret, Commander, USS Acreman


Reason to believe political prisoners being held at Papakura Stockade, New Zealand STOP limited engagement to retrieve crew-member STOP base now on high alert, believe all personnel are Neo-Essentialists STOP Estimate ten thousand plus civilians surrounding compound STOP remaining prisoners need help STOP sending marine to do a marine's job STOP good hunting, General!

************************************************

Scene: Desktop terminal, somewhere in the Federation


The message went out from the centre of the spider's web in the very same hour that Edgderton gave the order. Specifications, armaments, shield types, deck layout - every single piece of information that the Neo-Essentialists could gather on the Phoenix and her crew. Culled from scraps of deleted records, transcripted from interrogations of yard engineers who worked on her systems, or simply correlating data from matching ship types, it all went out.

As the message spread through subspace, hundreds of times the speed of light, hitting Starbase comnets, being picked up by the hailing frequencies of roving starships, it elicited various reactions. Those who hailed Admiral Richard Edgerton as a visionary with a new future for the Federation took careful note of the message, storing it in databanks and resolving to destroy the Phoenix if their paths should ever cross. Others, who looked with worry or confusion at the series of new edicts coming from Starfleet Command, edicts of martial law and one new leader, also made careful notes, determining that whatever these people had done to earn the enmity of the new regime, it probably made them heroes.

Be it known to all who hear or see these words, it said, that the starship designated USS Phoenix, and all aboard her, are hereby declared outlaws, traitors, and enemies of the United Federation of Planets, upon whom the death penalty is summarily imposed. Their Starfleet commissions are revoked forthwith, and any sentient being within the reach of this message who aids or abets these fugitives will be treated as accomplices also deserving of the highest censure. Signed, on behalf of the United Federation of Planets, Richard Edgerton, Starfleet Chief of Staff.

As for the ship itself? She sails onward, bound for far shores, the singular purpose of her crew keeping her rudder straight as she ploughs the furrows between distant stars.

Ahead, the Triangle, and the ancient, decaying space station named Limbo. Ahead, a first reckoning.

******************************************

Location: Starfleet Headquarters, San Francisco
Scene: Edgerton's Office


It had been a long day, mused Edgerton, as he prepared to leave Starfleet Headquarters for a private villa on the Presidio. There would be good food, something to drink, and some relaxing company waiting for him. Killing democracy with fear was not something that could be done without some exertion.

He paused as the realisation of what had happened hit him. Martial law. Starfleet in command of the government. And he, Richard Edgerton, Neo-Essentialist, in command of Starfleet. And all done without a single shot being fired. It was monumental.

First things first. Drag out the new Romulan war while eliminating his political opponents.

He opened the door to his marble balcony and stepped outside as the evening fell over Golden Gate. Autumn sunshine blazed down over the bay, sparkling on the water, and he was suddenly seized with a paroxysm of elation. Richard Edgerton threw his head back to the sky and whooped with joy, a long laugh of pure unadulterated victory.

Alarmed, Leonard rushed out onto the balcony. "Sir? Are you alright?"

Edgerton nodded. All his blood was on fire. Ultimate power!

"We've sent out the message denouncing the crew of the Phoenix," said Leonard. "All their commissions have been rescinded. They've been stripped of their ranks. Like you wanted, they're nothing anymore."

Edgerton nodded again. Everything he had ever done in his life had led him to this point. It was an ending of sorts, but also the most exciting new beginning that he could have dreamed of. "Can you see it, Leonard?" he hissed, eyes ablaze.

"See what, sir?"

As the sun set over San Francisco it was rising on a new day in Paris, in Mars, in Vulcan. All across the myriad worlds of the Federation, people were rising to a life changed utterly. Edgerton knew it was more than a new day.

"In the morning, the sun rises on my new world. Can you feel this empire being born?"

Leonard nodded. He could see it.

*****************************************
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NRPG: Provoked by a Neo-Essentialist act of war, the Romulan Empire has launched the largest invasion of the Federation in history. Thousands of Warbirds across multiple fleets are sweeping into the Federation, and Starfleet is powerless to co-ordinate a response, paralysed from within by the Neo-Essentialist rot. The Neutral Zone has collapsed, and what history will remember as the Siege of Bolarus is about to begin.

On Earth, Admiral Edgerton has taken advantage of the confusion to seize control of the government, assuming dictator-like powers under the pretence of leading the fightback. Not many know that he is the leader of the Neo-Essentialists, a subversive organisation dedicated to the overthrow of civilian authority and the installation of a military junta.

Against this backdrop, the crew of the Phoenix have fled Earth, escaping into the stars armed with nothing but the truth and one of the most advanced starships ever built. Going on nothing more than a wild story about changing future history, they are running from their lives, and into more danger than they ever bargained for.

A new war is coming. YOU are the weapons. Fight the future!

(i) The Romulan front is not a theatre for our posts on the Phoenix. It's all happening in the far distance. We'll be picking up snippets of information here and there, but we'll be out of the loop for the duration of our voyage to the Triangle. Everyone has heard of it by now though. Maybe your characters know someone who is on or near Bolarus?

(ii) All our characters have been ignominiously stripped of our ranks. See those rank pips on the collar in your mind's eye? Might as well take them off. They don't mean anything to anyone who does Edgerton's bidding. Will we ever be reinstated back into the fleet? Time will tell, but right now we are a ship of outlaws and pariahs, fugitives from our own homes. How will your characters react, knowing they can never go home while Edgerton lives, and their careers are over?

(iii) We are bound for Limbo, a decrepit space station in the Triangle that lies perilously close to the Romulan border. As outlined in the post, Selyara has fled there seeking sanctuary from the deadly attentions of Rawyvin Seth. Civil war might be coming, but if we can rescue Selyara, the information she carries in her mind will allow loyalist Starfleet officers to begin to purge the Neo-Essentialist rot in their ranks.

(iv) The Phoenix is running on a skeleton crew. I will draw up a crew manifest in a day or two and NRPG you, but the ship is currently running around a tenth of its capacity. This means that much of the secondary systems are offline, and many decks are dark and silent. Sound carries on a starship, no matter how muffled the deck plates are, and sounds in the dark can be quite scary.

Use your next post to get to know your new ship and crew. There will be reunions and introductions, worries and caregivings in the initial couple of days while we figure out what the uncertain future holds. When you've all posted, we'll advance the story and arrive on Limbo.

Our player character manifest is:

CO: Kane
ExO: Aerdan Jos (Jamie)
CEO: Jake Crichton (Shawn)
FCO: Russ BaShen (Chris)
Cns: Eve Dalziel (Susan)
MCO: Kassandra Thytos (Alix)
Civilians: Xana Bonviva (Sarah), and Thomas Varn (Justin)

Our initial NPC manifest is:

CMO: Cade Foster
Ops: Byte
CSciO: Solomon Arn

as well as your families and other NPCs. Our NPC manifest will be more fully explored in my upcoming NRPG, which will include Sylvia, Cindy, Owen etc.

You can find ship specifications on the Phoenix (a Galaxy-Z class starship) on the "Files" section of the FRPG's Facebook page. There are pictures there too if you need an idea of what she looks like.

I'm always online if you want to chat and share an idea about how to progress the story.

TAYLOR: You can start your Liberation of Papakura story now.

Lastly, hello to our new Observer, CM Davis. Your mate Chris is a total nerd. He likes Star Trek and writes stories where he pretends to be the pilot of a starship ;)


Jerome McKee
the Soul of (Captain) Michael Turlogh Kane
Commanding Officer
USS PHOENIX

"He speaks an infinite deal of nothing!"
- Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice", Act 1, Scene 1.117

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