In Thunderous Applause, Part One
Posted on Jul 05, 2015 @ 2:15am by Captain Siobhan Reardon & Sardak & Selyara Chen & Fleet Admiral Richard Edgerton
Edited on on Jul 05, 2015 @ 12:17pm
Mission: The Tangled Webs We Weave
“In Thunderous Applause, Part One”
(Continued from “Confessions”)
"A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find that after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us."
-John Steinbeck
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Location: USS DEMETRE
Scene: Bridge
Stardate: [2.5]0704.2322
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Sardak rocked violently in his chair as the klaxon and sounds of battle echoed slightly throughout the bridge. Tapping commands into his arm chair caused a quick change in view being broadcast. Battle had never been something that he enjoyed; but, surprises, let alone surprise attacks, were something he despised all together. As the ship lurched again Sardak turned to the tactical station who occupant was frantically firing back as best as she could.
Weapon fire streaked across the star filled void striking the shields of the USS DEMETRE and those of their original Romulan attackers. There had been but only one communique before the two Starfleet vessels joined the fight, one message sent by the lead ship in text form, we are your friends. Sardak stared at the screen before pointing slightly and tapping in commands into his console. As a coordinated attack began Sardak watched as the small Romulan scout was disabled and began drifting in space upon its original attack course.
Sitting back he tapped the console on his chair again opening a channel, "Romulan ship, this is the USS DEMETRE. You have entered Federation space and are hereby commanded to stand down and prepared to be boarded.
The only response that came was silence that ended by the sudden destruction of the ship. Sardak eyes raised slightly before turning to his tactical officer, "self destruct?"
The young woman shook her head slowly before looking at her console as an incoming message began to display. Looking down Sardak nodded before the screen split between the bridges of the two remaining ships.
[[Good evening Secretary Sardak, we are...]]
Holding his hand up Sardak took a deep breath, "pleasantries are not required here captain state your intentions."
There was a silence, not normal for conversation, normal for plotting that lingered on the air, [[ I'm not sure what you mean Mr. Secretary.]]
"To place the question simply captain why are you here," he replied lifting his head.
[[Why to answer your distress call and escort you back to the safety of sector 01,]] the young captain from three secondary shipped responded , [[starfleet regulation...]]
Sardak slowly raised his hand again, "do not quote regulation to me as if I am a unlearned civilian captain. I have served in Starfleet I'm well aware of the regulations concerning distress calls. Also as I am not under your jurisdiction as my division is it own I will be staying here finishing my task as no distress call was sent from my ship."
Both captains frowned slightly before nodding, [[very well but we regret to inform you of the dangers in the area and must insist under order of Admiral Edgerton who is...]]
"I am fully aware of Admiral Edgerton and his newly provisioned powers but as I told Secretary Martine, I do not answer to him," he stated looking to both.
Sighing the captains nodded before excusing themselves ending the transmission. Sardak sat there for a moment watching waiting as the ships moved off slowly. It wasn't until the torpedoes came flying from beneath the DEMETRE striking one of his would be rescuers that he understood fully what was about to happen.
"Sir message from both ships requesting our surrender and reasons for firing upon them," the tactical officer exclaimed.
"Shields up prepare for..." he shouted as phasers streaked by making contact with his shields
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Location: Starfleet Headquarters
Scene: Martine’s Office
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The Canadienne made a satisfied noise as she slipped off the taupe slingbacks and tossed them carelessly under her desk. The chiffon skirt of her tailored aqua dress floated around her as she plopped down in the chair. Richard had asked her to review previous peace treaties as a prelude to getting the Trill back on the Federation’s side, and there was a deadline involved for her report. It was a chance to be alone, less fettered by the more feminine persona she had cultivated. She needed a few hours in the haven of her office to recharge. It appeared to be a welcome sign that he trusted her more; she didn’t know it was only a diversion.
“You owe me one, MC,” John Hiram said, waving a PADD at her.
Marie-Claire gave him a smirk. “All you have to do is sit there, look interested, and take impeccable notes. It’s not like you’re expected to speak.”
Her assistant raised an eyebrow. “You’d better hope so, otherwise the slew of obscenities that will be broadcast from here to the Gamma Quadrant-”
“You’d never do that,” she chided. She had insisted on Hiram being present at the urgently called meeting in her stead, suspecting the smarmy Admiral of trying to engineer something in her absence, and surprisingly Edgerton hadn’t fought the idea. “You always play by the book.”
Hiram gave her a wry smile. “Someone has to. It certainly wouldn’t be Madam Secretary.”
She looked up at him with a gracious but guilty stare. “I don’t like this either.”
John sighed. “I know. Have there been any new... developments?”
Her blue eyes narrowed. “No. Maybe he’s stalling.”
“Isn’t that what you’re doing?”
Martine leaned back in her chair. “Touché. He may be arrogant, but he’s not stupid. Perhaps it was foolish of me to think he’d ever consider bringing me into his inner circle.”
Hiram brought the PADD to his forehead and lowered it with a flourish, like he was interpreting a large tarot card. “I’ll try to read between the lines at the meeting, if you catch my drift. Maybe there’s something else that can be exploited to further gain his trust.”
She breathed deeply, frustration mixed with relief. “Thank you, John. I appreciate you.”
He turned to leave, but then back-tracked, inspired by a thought. “Your replicator recipe for crepes. The ones with the seafood.”
“Crêpes aux fruits de mer avec bechamél?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
“That’s what I want in return.” He went to leave once more, looking amused and a little smug.
“Deal… Did anyone ever tell you you’re a cheap date, Mister Hiram?”
There was a pause. "Never… I would like a bottle of 2424 Domaine Leflaive Puglini Montrachet to go with it."
Marie-Claire muttered something under her breath in French, probably a curse. “I stand corrected.”
John Hiram smiled broadly as he left. “You’d better get right on that- the meeting’s not going to take all day.”
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Location: Starfleet Headquarters
Scene: Admiral Edgerton's Office
Time Index: about 20 minutes later
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It had been sometime since there had been any upsetting news regarding his plans; but, with delay comes surprise, something that Richard Edgerton knew. Drinking from his cup slowly the newly elected militaristic head of Starfleet smiled slightly, as his assistant came through the office door, walking quickly, laying a padded down the man waited.
Reaching out Edgerton read the news taking slow sips from his cup, "oh, it seems our rescue party has found Secretary Sardak and are reporting he has fired upon them without provocation and was caught speaking with an enemy ship. There is even a communication recording."
Laying the PADD down he smiled softly before standing and straightening his tunic. Walking to the replicator placing the cup back into its alcove watching it vanish as quickly as it appeared. Turning back he sighed a sigh of relief before moving to his balcony over looking the view of the council hall. Stepping outside stretching Edgerton looked behind, "it's about time for the emergency meeting has the council arrived?"
Shaking his head the young man smirked, "not all sir only those that were called here mysteriously and we are still looking into that."
"And the others," he mused placing his hands on the railing.
"We are ensuring their safe arrival as we speak as well as the protection of the president and the former secretary," he replied quickly.
Edgerton nodded placing his hand over his brow as if covering from the sun. In a flash the sky was lit ablaze and set asunder with the sound of destruction. As his face began to glow and warm from the heat Edgerton's eyes stayed fixed the flames dancing in his pupils, "very good."
The Council Hall, long the heart of Federation bureaucracy, was a smoldering ruin. Screams of panicked onlookers were drowned out by the roar of flames, clawing at the clear blue sky, leaving black scars of smoke. It would take an hour for emergency teams to contain the blaze, and several days after that to comb through the rubble.
There were no survivors.
Less than an hour after the attack, Richard Edgerton was being loaded into an evacuation shuttle, surrounded by Starfleet security. Swarms of FedCom reporters surrounded the shuttle platform, too far away for any sleeper agents hidden among them to take shots at Edgerton and his entourage, but not far enough to stop them from shouting their questions at the shuttle, even as it slowly lifted off. Without worry, and a vast amount of contempt, for those that were below waiting for answers Edgerton’s gaze fixed on the the smouldering mound that was once a hallowed hall of progress and power now cleansed from the corruption that polluted for far too long.
“Sir, we will be at the rendezvous point in an hour,” the pilot called out slightly looking back before resuming his course facing forward.
Nodding Edgerton raised his hand, “ensure we are not being followed by anyone civilian or otherwise this meet and greet is to be kept in the utmost secrecy.”
All the pieces were moving, at a neck breaking speed, which Richard had struggled to keep in front of; but, it seemed now that he had the upper hand and all the cogs were spinning to his musical direction. He knew where every major player was and had the utmost confidence that his plans would unfirl as he so desired. Leaning back he began reading over a padd of reports and communiques from the skilled, yet limited, forces of the neo-essentialists station throughout the sector.
The trill succession was being handled as a “diplomatic” party made its way to discuss the situation and successful return of Trill into the Federation fold. The only wild card who was being carefully watched and guided was the flame haired do gooder Reardon; but, she would be dealt with if necessary. The protective details that had been scouring the planet looking for the families and friends of the USS Phoenix have been mostly successful, locating said individuals and escorting them to a rendezvous point for their own safety. The only loose ends that remained to be tied were the loose cannon and terrorist, Secretary Sardak, the crew of the Phoenix and her extensions, and the complete protection of the Federation President.
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Location: USS ZHUKOV
Scene: Bridge -> Ready room -> Briefing Room
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Alpha shift was in full swing, and Captain Siobhan Reardon occupied the center seat with a thoughtful calm. She had a blank look, not because she was mindless at that moment, but actually the bulk of her energy was wrapped up in her internal dialogue, saving no room for adopting a particular expression. Keep the diplomacy for later, she mused.
Oddly enough there had been no chance to use the skills which had supposedly placed her aboard the Ambassador-class vessel in the first place. Before the meeting with the Romulans, the rug had been pulled out from under them, plans abruptly changed, and instead they were ordered to head to Trill for diplomatic negotiations instead.
A starship was the only place Sio could picture herself, and orders were orders. But she was far from blind to the inner workings that guided them. The communications now appeared to all pass through or uncomfortably close to Edgerton, even though it had been Secretary Martine who had initially arranged Siobhan’s emancipation of sorts.
The redhead, unable to change circumstances, focused on being prepared. She had studied footage of Fenna, the young woman who had been elected Trill Delegate to the Federation about a year ago. She carried herself like a skittish colt at times, but she was a powerful orator and genuine in her desire to represent Trill interests.
Her second in command, Commander Jonah Britt, was half Trill, and Sio sought his counsel both from a native’s perspective, and as an ExO with years of experience. There was a modicum of gratitude there in the imperfect situation as it allowed her a chance to build a rapport, which had been lacking in their hasty launch. Teamwork was something that could be encouraged, but it couldn’t be forced. And deep space was a cold and difficult proving ground.
There had been little to no conversation between the trio of ships as they moved through space towards their destination, the Trill homeworld. The two other ships had been ordered to escort the ZHUKOV, with the excuse that they would ensure a safe arrival. What Sio hadn’t been able to figure out, was if the two ships that were now alongside her were loyal to Edgerton and his Neo-Essentialists, or not. She assumed the worst, and so far no evidence had shown itself to prove otherwise. Trust was a commodity in very short supply, and her doubts extended to her own crew as well. Martine and her staff had made an effort to screen them, but that didn’t mean everyone was squeaky clean. The only contact that had been made to the ZHUKOV was by the Captain of the first ship, the USS EISENHOWER, a straight faced Tellarite that seemed to have little to no personality at all; but, the second ship, the USS SUMTER seemed a highly uncharacteristic and more mysterious vessel, in Sio’s opinion, to send on a diplomatic mission. The ship had taken liberties to keep communication to an absolute minimum, thus extending the mystique.
From what she could devise was that the SUMTER was a war destroyer, an Akula-class mark three, and it came with all the bells and whistles to fit its designation. The only information that she could get out of the EISENHOWER’S captain was that they had both been assigned to escort and protect the ZHUKOV and her crew from any possible threats, both domestic and foreign. The words ‘domestic threat’ didn’t sit well with Sio, given the situation, but they were a distinct possibility, considering that the Trill had seceded and most Federation worlds kept their own ships for any number of reasons. But which enemy was worse: the one that might be lurking in the shadows, or the one that was sitting beside you?
“Ma’am, we will be arriving at Trill within the hour," a voice rang from the navigational station of the bridge, jarring Sio back out of her inner thoughts.
Nodding, she straightened her posture and stood up before looking around the bridge with an emerald gaze, displaying nothing but confidence. The crew had been carefully selected with the limited time that they had before leaving Earth, yet the possibility was ever-present of an Essentialist being among them. It was important to her to give as little outward energy to that theory as possible. Apparently, Thoris P’Trell hadn’t gotten the memo. Since their reassignment, he practically lived on the Bridge, often looking worried, his antennae slightly crossed. She looked to her left and nodded at him, trying to reassure the Council representative and escort. He met her eyes and weakly mirrored her affirmative. "Very good. All senior staff, please report to the the briefing room in twenty minutes. I'll be in my ready room. Lieutenant, you have the bridge."
With that, the CO’s legs began the short and quick walk to the Captain's ready room, which, fortunately, had been recently updated along with the rest of the ship. It was true that most Ambassador-class ships had been retired, and this one had seen better days. However, the ZHUKOV was space worthy and able to pack a punch if needed. Many of the ship's systems had been given a once over with the necessary upgrade here and there; but somehow, most of her original interior was left in tact, including the spartan quarters, much to the crew's surprise. It was both austere and nostalgic.
Upon entering, Sio walked around the room, running her hand along the desktop and other surfaces, before sitting down in the chair. Despite the challenges, It was good to be back, even if it meant being away from the Academy and in harm's way again. Sitting back in the chair, she let her mind slightly wander before calling up the data on what Starfleet had on the situation on Trill. Her thoughts leaned toward the Romulus delegation at the Starbase, wondering if her absence had been explained. Maybe there was a way to get a message to them, without either of her escorts knowing.
"Computer, open a secure priority channel to Secretary Martine and begin recording," she stated, pushing a stray copper tendril of hair off her forehead as a beep responded from the computer. "Madam Secretary, it has come to my attention that a situation has arisen on Trill that requires my particular talents. I have been ordered to rendezvous with the Trill government and bring about a peaceful solution to this situation, please be advised that my previous assignment has been placed on hold until further notice. End transmission."
A secondary beep followed by the words ‘transmission complete’ on the desk top console caused Sio to sit more comfortably in her chair while reading the status reports coming from Trill and the Starfleet officers stationed there. The governing body of the planet has officially declared secession from Federation. A planet declaring secession, was something totally unheard of and grievous in Sio's mind; but, what was the root cause of this? What started it all?
Time seemed to drift by as she looked through strand after strand until more than twenty five minutes had passed, making her late for her own staff meeting. She took note of the time, but still laid back in her chair a little longer, thinking about how her officers would react to the information she had discovered. She hoped their responses would help her shape her understanding of the crew. If there was any time to view the situation at hand through a semi-retired Counsellor’s discerning eyes, it was now. Then, quickly, she was on her feet and moving towards the briefing room, trying her best to look as though she meant for this to happen, to give the crew a moment together to get to know one another if they had not already done so.
As the doors to the briefing room swished open Sio stepped in, announcing, “If everyone would kindly find their seats, we will begin. I apologize for my tardiness. But, there is quite a lot of information to go through and very little time in which to do it.”
The meeting went on for about fifteen minutes, placing the ZHUKOV, EISENHOWER, and SUMTER twenty five minutes away from Trill. The command staff were already briefed on their role in the situation, as most of them would not be actively needed planetside. Reardon didn’t expect this to be a dangerous situation, as Trill was still a civilized world, separated from the Federation or not; however, the mission’s importance and goal was quite clear: they were not to leave without convincing Trill to re-join the Federation and make certain their issues were addressed.
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Location: Earth
Scene: Camp Eureka Sub-base -> Camp Site
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The shuttle slowly descended upon the desert its visual image being distorted through the heat emitting from the sand itself only to disappear beneath the vastness of the sand dunes. Slowly the shuttle descent was far removed from the sun’s light as the overhead door which once again began to be hidden beneath the sand that was now materializing, from transport, on top of the door after being dumped into the landing port when the doors opened. Richard stood and watched the walls of the port as the interior lights began to illuminate the exterior of the shuttle.
As if suddenly commanded, the room opens up and there below the shuttle a fully functioning base. Taking in a deep breath Richard smiled before looking around visually inspecting everything that he could from the main view port of the shuttle almost as if a child ready and eager to open a present. When the shuttle landed and the doors opened Richard Edgerton stepped out tucking a padd beneath his arm before nodding to the officers that were awaiting him.
“Status report,” Edgerton began as he walked towards the central command structure.
Stepping forward a Vulcan male handed him another padd, “the camp is ready and awaiting the first arrivals. The holo emitters are functioning normally so that anyone that just so happens to fly over will see nothing but desert as you did when you arrived.”
“What about the massive power signature that the emitters and power cores will be giving off,” Edgerton stated reading over the padd and handing it back.
Nodding the Vulcan took the padd, “the emitters will be barely traceable by any ship that is not specifically looking for a holographic presence, or without starship sensors; and, the power cores are down here with us so far below the sand that it would be almost impossible to detect them from anything in orbit or without starship sensors.”
A young marine quickly ran up to the Admiral and saluted, “sir, the first group of detainees…”
Edgerton raised his finger before wagging it and clicking his tongue, “campers, marine, campers.”
“Yes sir, the first group of campers has arrived and Secretary Martine is with them,” the young marine continued.
At the mention of the Secretary of Starfleet, Edgerton’s face almost went soft. The past few months, he felt her stance weakening, her attitude towards him changing. If there had been more time, maybe a strong partnership could have been forged. The juggernaut of his own plans had simply exceeded the usefulness of the liaison, and in the end he found Martine a sympathizer and nothing more. Alternating his path, Richard walked into a nearby corridor before entering a transporter room and proudly stepping on the padd. “One to the surface.”
The blue shimmer of the transporter filled the area before dissipating only to fill a small portion of the Camp site above. To call Camp Eureka a camp site, was almost a joke as it was a fully functioning town that almost completely resembled the town’s pictured in the first nuclear test sites in what was the United States of America. As the shuttles landed Edgerton waived his hands slightly smiling his best smile as Secretary Martine emerged followed by the council members who were left, and several civilians. Closely behind them there were five other shuttles that began to descend and finally land expelling those inside. As the crowd that had now formed stood there and watched the shuttles leave, men, women, children, human and nonhuman alike looked around stunned. Stepping closer Richard smiled before waving them closer and gathering them together.
“If you will all please carefully listen I will explain all that is happening,” Edgerton’s smile was his best reassuring smile, “Madam Secretary, Council Members, and our esteemed friends, welcome to Camp Eureka. Many of you were quickly relocated from your homes and or work places without much warning only a request for trust and reassurance that it was for your protection. I assure that you are all here for this very reason. As many of you know or may have heard the Federation Council was destroyed late yesterday evening taking the lives of many of our delegates. For this reason Council Members you were placed here and your families and friend brought here as well in the circumstance that someone would harm them. It is with also this reason, that those of you-”
Marie-Claire Martine heard Edgerton’s voice as a tinny echo behind the pounding of her heart. There was a part of her that was uncomfortably numb. The explosion, evacuation, and everything that followed was a blur. The man that was the embodiment of evil had spared her life, only to let her unknowingly offer John Hiram as a sacrifice. Richard must have gotten a good laugh out of that one. She could taste the bile rise up in her throat. *Quel Enculé*, she thought.
The rumblings from the crowd were divided strictly along the lines of the family of the PHOENIX and the Federation council. The Federation council’s family members took it as a matter of course. They were here to be protected, they knew this day would come. The PHOENIX’s friends and family were far more wary- they only knew that something had gone drastically wrong, and their loved ones had snuck away under the cover of darkness, suddenly fugitives rather than respected explorers- they were unsure of Edgerton’s motives. Were they prisoners? Were they being held as assurance of good behavior?
A slight scuffle of noise came from one side of the crowd, and a hatchet-face teutonic woman of middle aged raised a hand and stepped forward. She was wearing the uniform of a Federation cargo ship, and the rank of a Senior Chief Petty Officer. Her expression was sharp and annoyed.
“Sir, I think there’s been a mistake,” she said. Her voice was the voice of someone who is used to being obeyed as soon as an order left her mouth. “None of my family has any ties to the Federation council, nor to the crew of the USS PHOENIX.”
The Vulcan that had greeted Edgerton leaned over to whisper into his ear. “CPO Risa Chen, she’s the adopted mother of Selyara Chen. That’s her husband Erik, her daughter Lily, grandchild Jasmine, and son-in-law Braiden Edwards.”
“Ah, Mrs. Chen, you’re here because we’re worried about your safety given the jailbreak on Jaros II.” Edgerton smiled reassuringly. “We think your adopted daughter might be in league with the Romulans, and we want to keep you safe.”
Risa looked slightly mollified, and said something softly and angrily to her husband, a gentle looking Chinese man with a kind eyes and laugh lines everywhere on his tanned face. There was a gentle rumbling among the onlookers, and then finally someone from the back of the crowd yelled something. The rest of the crowd took up the cry and finally the words coalesced into a single roar.
“Are we prisoners? Are you using us to get at the crew of the PHOENIX?” A tall, thin, silver haired man in the front demanded. Next to him a pretty strawberry blonde glared sullenly at the floor, while a graceful redheaded man who was clearly her brother stared at Edgerton with a liquid gaze that seemed to take in every detail.
“If this is for our safety, then why were we whisked away here in the dead of night with no warning?” A tall dark skinned woman with grey eyes and hair the color of pitch tar chimed in. “Why were the people who came to our houses armed? Why weren’t we allowed to tell anyone we were leaving?”
Her statement was bolstered by the knot of people around her, and Edgerton could feel the unease rising. He raised his hands supplicatingly.
“I know it wasn’t the best way to handle it, but we needed to move quickly, you see the PHOENIX is on a top secret mission vital to supporting the Federation’s fight against our enemies. We were worried that the Romulans pull back from Bolarus was a feint, and that they would be coming after you as a way to blackmail the crew of the PHOENIX.” Edgerton lied. “Now you’re all tired, you were scared, settle down, find your accommodations, sleep, and then we’ll eat and have another meeting to answer any of your questions.”
The crowd demanded answers to which some were quickly angered and became violent at the lack of care that had been given. A young man from within the crowd had managed to find a smooth stone on the ground and with very good accuracy send it through the air into Edgerton’s direction.
Edgerton’s smile remained as the rock quickly slide through his body before holding up a finger and clicking his tongue again, “Did I forget to mention that I am not here, this is a holographic representation. I am currently in my office having left this area moments ago. If you will all excuse me, I have a speech to make.”
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Scene: Ground Zero Federation Council Site
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Standing before the rubble of the once prestigious Federation Council Hall, Richard Edgerton’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the crowd for any face that his security force did not allow through after thoroughly being scanned. The contained area almost seemed to swell and explode with the amount of bodies that were clammering into the space. Many had come for answers, some for a story that they could get out before their counterparts, and others just to see the face of someone that they had come to trust. Many questions were being shouted above the din as others called out for justice and for security for their homes from the travesty of the attack that destroyed a long standing symbol of peace.
Standing there was the Federation President holding his hands up to the crowd reassuring them of the devastation and that all has been thoroughly investigated and quickly dealt with to hold those responsible accordingly. The speech lasted almost thirty minutes and the crowd seemed to have calmed, if only for the moment as Richard took the podium.
“Friends, family, my fellow Federation citizens. I come to you today not as an Admiral in the Federation, not as a man with authority; but, as a broken hearted brother in arms, friend, husband, and father to be. Late in the evening I stepped out on my balcony to the horrible sight of this beloved symbol of peace, cooperation, and exploration behind me a blaze and the lives of those contained within snuffed from existence in senseless violence that we had thought no longer capable by anyone among us. It is with a heavy heart that I must fulfill my duty and inform you as a citizen of this great Federation that it was not a foreign government that acted upon this site in hateful destruction, or someone that we have not seen before; but, someone who we have already warned and brought to trial that has been set free. It is the results of the investigation that I hold in my hand; but, before I read these aloud I ask you to remember to hold these and only these responsible for this heinous disaster.”
The crowd almost leaned forward as if they were baited and ready to take action against the person next to them if he said their name. Shouts from the back rang out in anger for justice and for the names of those responsible. Taking a moment Richard took a deep breath and sighed before continuing, “It is the results of the investigation combined with others that has shown us the true identity of the attacker to be a one Captain Michael Kane and the crew of the USS PHOENIX with the cooperation of Romulan espionage groups that caused this travesty.”
The crowd stood in shock and some began crying aloud that it was not true. The mob seemed to be turning on Richard before someone quickly suggested that proof be displayed. Edgerton slammed his hand down on the podium before activating a display behind him showing the PHOENIX being “stolen” from spacedock, destroying a prison full of innocent ex-starfleet personnel, as well as, docking at LIMBO at the same time as a major Romulan Warbird docked.
“Friends, friends please! I did not want to believe this myself as I thought Captain Kane and his crew were honorable and upheld the oaths that were taken by Starfleet Officers; but, you can not deny that the evidence is mounting. You yourself see that prison that was maliciously attacked, the meeting with a Romulan Warbird in a sector to which no Starfleet Vessel would go, and this finally the device used and recovered was a romulan device that employed a cloaking signature not unlike the USS CENTURY, which Captain Kane so famously uncloaked above our beloved Paris. It is with a sad heart that I must declare the USS PHOENIX and her crew outlaws, terrorists, traitors, and defectors hereby charged with espionage, terrorism, murder, and theft of Federation property. They will be given no quarter!”
It was with a thunderous applause and cheer that Edgerton raised his hand and bowed slightly away before sliding into the group of marines that were waiting to whisk him away.
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Location: Martian Colony
Scene: Common Plaza
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The slightly paunchy and unkempt man scanned the atrium every few minutes for something out of the ordinary. Once more, like the thousands of other times he had done so, there was nothing to greet him besides countless unassuming faces of the colonists... and his own fear.
Aleksey Nikitin had tried to create a new life for himself, far enough away from his Terran haunts so he wouldn't be so much of a target anymore. Secretary Martine had warned him looking for Bonnie Reardon's killer wasn't a safe pursuit, even as much as she hoped he would be able to trace the killing to the upper echelons of the Federation. But given the amount of times he had looked over his shoulder, he wasn't sure if he had chosen wisely. Martian politics and social interests weren't as treacherous and flashy as what he was used to, and fewer stories of lesser importance had his byline these days. However, that was preferable to the alternative- an obituary.
He tucked into his chicken matzoh ball soup and chicken salad sandwich. Sadly, the Martians didn't seem to know a thing about how to make a proper corned beef. Alek had settled into a routine of sorts. He kept to himself as he observed, investigated, and reported like he always had. For all intents and purposes, he tried to make it feel like a vacation. But it would never be home.
Without warning, all the monitors in the food court synchronized in a splashy display of the logo of the free world's largest news agency. {{This is Dilbert Davis with FEDCOM. We interrupt regularly scheduled programming to report a large explosion at Federation Council Headquarters in Paris late yesterday evening. The death toll has not been formally announced, but it is rumored that the majority of the Council are dead, injured, or unaccounted for at this time. Rear Admiral Richard Edgerton has declared a state of emergency due to the tragedy. Several reporters tried to get a further statement as Edgerton fled to what is presumed to be a safer location. No official comment was given but we come to you live with a statement from the Federation President and Admiral Richard Edgerton. }}
As the crowds gathered around the monitors showing the speeches and the images of devastation and espionage began to ring through the corridors and food court. Sitting there Aleksey’s eyes narrowed with each wild claim only to recoil with each demand for justice and scream of horror and anger towards the crew of the PHOENIX. Many people were initially skeptical, shouting against the Admiral as he declared a crew of a ship that housed those that served Starfleet loyal only to be swayed.
“Justice,” one man shouted as he held onto his Bajoran wife and daughter, “justice!”
A young Andorian woman held her hands to her eyes crying almost uncontrollably as her grandfather happened to be in the building that evening and had not returned home for what they thought was a long deliberation. Standing there holding her close a young human male shook his head his face turning red with anger, “I hope they find them and bring them all to stand for their crimes.”
“Stand for their crimes, they should be blown from the stars,” a young off duty marine yelled, before turning to the crowd urging all that were willing to enlist and join the hunt.
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Location: Trill -> USS ZHUKOV
Scene: City Street -> Sickbay -> Bridge
Time Index: Three Weeks Later
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“Go, go, move!” Sio shouted, before running from the previous cover of the building that she was in. She dove slightly, and her lowered head and body entered a doorway mere seconds before phaser beams singed and pockmarked the door frame behind her.
Looking around and catching her breath, Sio took a moment to collect herself as the away team huddled near each point of entry, returning phaser fire at their assailants. It was impossible to imagine how they had ended up this way. The talks had started on a positive note and gone very well, much easier than the CO had believed possible, until one night she was taken aside and taken on a tour through one of the most sacred of places that the Trill hold dear. That night, in the hallowed Caves of Mak’ala, everything changed as her eyes were opened to the whole situation that was unfolding. Systematically, key persons with positions in the Trill government were being kidnapped or eliminated. Sio had found it hard to believe until she began fact-checking with the officials that she had first met upon their arrival, only to find that most were “on holiday” or “on sabbatical”, and until they returned, their duties were being filled by others, relatively unknown and unheard of.
The Trill Ambassador and Council representative, who had fled Earth before the secession, were her main point of contact and source of information which lead her to find this evidence. The remaining governing body of Trill was becoming devoid of experience and familiarity. Within the past week one of the remaining leaders had been injured in a suspicious ‘accident’. Sio sighed as the noise of the battle intruded on her concerns.. Why would they do this? There were dotted lines connecting the conspiracy to Federation Officers, Marines, and a Captain. Why would they have a hand in killing or neutralizing those that were in opposition, only to them to replace them with ill prepared replacements? It stunk of Neo-Essentialist hands.
[[ZHUKOV to Rh...lease...ome...n…]]
Sio’s eyebrows perked as she tapped her commbadge, “ZHUKOV we read you, please respond.”
[[Cap...bar...ting...gnal. Pl...se...and by]]
Sio’s hand clutched her phaser tightly as she waited. The silence seemed to linger for more than an eternity before it was disturbed again by phaser fire. A shot rang out striking above the head of a Trill delegate, causing the woman to begin crying in fear of her life. Turning and shooting out the window, Sio watched as a Marine fell to the ground.
[[ZHUKOV to Captain Reardon, Please come in]]
“ZHUKOV, it's good to hear your voice,” Sio stated with a sigh of relief, “what’s going on up there?” She hoped her son Drey was alright.
[[There’s been a full transmission blackout ever since you beamed to the surface. Something jamming communications. If it wasn’t for the assistance from the EISENHOWER and the SUMTER it would still be that way- the ships’ combined power broke through the interference and we were able to pinpoint your location.]]
Dammit. The EISENHOWER and the SUMTER couldn’t be trusted. Sio now knew that her suspicions were correct. They were in cahoots with Edgerton. If they were okay with bringing the away team back, that meant a certain attack on them and/or the ZHUKOV. “Emergency transport protocol, nine to beam directly to Sickbay!” Sio shouted, realizing the phaser fire had become unusually quiet and distant.
As the blue haze of the transporter beams engulfed the team, a scarlet hue filled the area milliseconds before it was set ablaze in photonic energy from the strike of a torpedo. The once proud portion of the city was now laid in ruin as a photon torpedo launched from orbit obliterated several city blocks.
Sio, fortunately, now sat crouched in Sickbay, a microfine haze of dust and weapons discharge settling around her and the rest of the away team, before she spun on her heels, running out of the door towards the bridge screaming, “Red alert!”
Less than two minutes later, as Sio came flying out of the turbolift like a banshee, seeking to consume the poor unfortunate souls that put them in danger’s path, the rest of the Bridge crew chaotically scrambled to their posts. Her orders were rapid, direct, and to the point, putting distance between the ZHUKOV and her escorts, only to be warned that both ships had raised their shields and were coming to bear. With one breath, time synchronized, and all three ships’ Captain’s minds seemed to be one, if only for an instant, before on all three bridges with the same tone and same rate of speech as if giving it power unto itself a word was uttered, “Fire!”
Siobhan braced herself from an attack from both sides, but within seconds it was clear they were only being hit on the starboard side. “More power to starboard shields!”
“On it,” Lieutenant Commander Naamah, the Ktarian OPS officer helped at the tactical station.
With the fury of avenging angels a full spread of photons and phaser fire had been unleashed on the unsuspecting EISENHOWER from the USS SUMTER. Much to everyone’s surprise, the ship that was to follow the same orders as the EISENHOWER, destroy the ZHUKOV and ensure military control of Trill, had turned on its partner. The ZHUKOV quickly redirected its attack so it was just on the EISENHOWER. As the volley of torpedoes and phaser blasts struck and ultimately penetrated the shields of the ship, they finally came to a halt as she began to lazily spin, disabled, and no longer a current threat.
Reardon looked down at her clenched, trembling fists, not realizing she had been standing during the exchange of fire.
“Ma’am, we are being hailed by the SUMTER,” the ZHUKOV’s comm officer stated.
It was about damn time. “On screen,” Sio said slowly sitting down in her chair before a smile creeped across her face. “Why I never-”
{{Oh, lass, you would never have expected and neither did they. I told you, I did not like the look of that Edgerton fellow, so much so, that we negated our early retirement and helped ourselves to a bit newer vessel with all the bells and whistles,” Sylvester Kinderman stated before winking at her. “Now we best be goin’ before our scurvy friend regains her teeth and voice to alert the higher ups to my little mutiny}}
“Going, where?” Sio asked, puzzled. A familiar looking man appeared next to the erstwhile Pirate. Plain brown hair and brown eyes, wearing a boring tan coverall.
{{I can explain that Captain Reardon, allow me to reintroduce myself, my name is Drake.}}
“We’ve already met, at Starfleet Academy, remember? No need to be so formal.”
Drake looked uncharacteristically confused. {{That was likely one of my clones. I’ll explain more once we’re clear of this interruption. Warp coordinates are being provided for rendezvous.}}
Commander Britt walked over to the helm controls, nodding at Siobhan when the information was received, and entered the coordinates.
“On my mark, Captain Kinderman. Three, two… one.”
With precision and a gigantic flash of light both ships disappeared in a warp jump towards an unknown destination.
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Location: Earth
Scene: Street of Camp Eureka
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The population of the camp had almost doubled since that day as more and more were brought being related or known to the crew of the PHOENIX or anyone that might be involved. It was ever clear that many people were being selected just out of the remote possibility of having some weight over any of the crew, majorly over that of the senior officers. It was the fact that a family had appeared about the second day with the last name Chen that peak Martine’s interest. How, coincidental, it was that a family with the very last name of the woman that the PHOENIX was going to apprehend and possibly try to gain support of would find themselves here.
“Excuse me, Madame Secretary this is CPO Risa Chen,” the Andorian ambassador stated before looking around and walking away.
Smiling Martine motioned with her hand as the man sat down, “it’s a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Chen. I am…”
“I know who you are madam secretary; but, why would you wish to speak with me is the question that I would like to have answered,” he stated quietly and quickly.
“Well Mrs. Chen i’m curious as to how you fit in all of this, most of us here are related to the PHOENIX and as I helped crew the ship i’m familiar with most of their names, and..” she continued before he stopped her.
“Chen is not one of them, we know,” he stated looking back at her with equal puzzlement.
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Scene: Unnamed Bar
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“You’re a hard man to find sec,” Mav stated as Sardak held up his hand.
The vulcan stared at the man and quickly began, “we have no time for pleasantries, if you want the Federation as you know it to survive then you must listen.”
The two men sat and Mav listened as Sardak continued to fill him in on the details of his encounter with the escorts and all the information that he had been compiling on Edgerton. The two of them exchanged arguments and some intelligence as the relationship of opportunity began to grow into something that would be akin to trust, for the moment. It was with great conviction and almost full emotion that Sardak explain to the Marine the danger that was coming and the storm that was brewing and how if we did not act now then all those that had been taken would be lost for ever.
It was almost too good to be true for Mav to believe, he was not as sure as Sardak was that Edgerton would do what he was explaining but there had to be something going on as the whole atmosphere on the planet had changed. The only choice that was left on the table as Sardak quickly exited the bar and disappeared into the darkness of a nearby alley was, what would the marines do when and if the time came to choose.
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Location: Ground Zero Federation Council
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Standing before the remaining rubble of the once prestigious Federation Council Hall, Richard Edgerton’s heart beat quickly and would almost sound as if the work to clear the mangled mess behind him had not been halted, to his mind at least. The crowd before him was mediocre at best; but, still the ranks swarmed with civilians extolling the praises of the Admiral and eager reporters looking for their next opportunity. The crowd’s attention was taken and held as their hearts filled with pride and sought answers only to have those answer given by their beloved President, Moray. Richard would say this for the man, he was one very effective crowd control measure, if only to serve this purpose and none other.
As Richard took the podium he smiled a weighty smile before holding his hands up in the air, “my fellow citizens I come before you with news of victory and triumph!”
The crowd cheered as if they had been told some great victory had been achieved. Sure the news about the PHOENIX had been sparse and filled with phantom sightings from lonely traders or merchants to add value to their cargo; but, it was still the goal and chant of the faithful for Justice for all, Justice for the dead.
“It is with great joy and pride that I announce the return of the wayward child and the re-entry of Trill into the Federation. After three long and almost disastrous weeks of negotiation Captain Tha-Lar of the USS EISENHOWER was able to negotiate the re-entry and dispatch two traitorous captains that would have destroyed all Trill, murder their governing body, and destroyed his ship and crew. He returns a hero of the Federation and the murderous Captain Siobhan Reardon and Sylvester Kinderman of the USS ZHUKOV AND SUMTER have been dispatched to never be heard from again!”
The crowd’s cheers were there but the news was not what they expected. Although the re-entry of trill was something great to hear the information being displayed about the ships that had attacked the EISENHOWER and lost did not match up in the minds of those now paying attention. The pieces were beginning to not fit together and the lackluster shine had tarnished.
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Location: Martian Colony
Scene: Common Plaza
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The crowd in the common plaza was a bit low, considering it was midday and around the time that most occupants of the city wanted to eat lunch, given Terran time tables. The colony had been abuzz and enlistment into Starfleet had grown considerably along with that into the Marines, at least from this part of Mars. It was if a long dormant trait of patriotism and pride which had been dead and quiet in so many hearts, now had been kindled and burned fiercely ansd brightly. There were those longed to serve, hoping to find their glory in the destruction of the traitors who had themselves destroyed the peace they so loved.
Aleksey Nikitin, or ‘hey you’, as many of the passersby called him that wanted him to either take their photo, or just get out of the way, sat quietly and began eating his matzoh ball soup. It nagged at him that nobody knew who he was- he was an award winning journalist, for pete’s sake. Everything he had worked for was slipping away in the cold impersonal locale of a Martian food court. It was only moments before he had the strangest feeling of deja vu when the monitors covering the area sprung to life, showing a live report of Admiral Richard Edgerton, the hero and pride of Starfleet.
{{This is Dilbert Davis with FEDCOM. We interrupt regularly scheduled programming to bring to you a live broadcast from Admiral Richard Edgerton }}
The riff raff slowed to a stop and looked up at the monitors, listening and watching. There were muffled and soft cheers of joy and excitement from different areas of the atrium, but the once thunderous applause had been replaced by watchful waiting and bated breath.
“Wait, that small ship took out those bigger ships,” a small child asked his father as he pointed out an obvious flaw in the story, “Why didn’t the cooler, bigger, ships win, Daddy?”
The man hushed his child as they listened further only watching and waiting before stepping to the side as an older woman screamed at the monitor, “You liar, I served with Captain Kinderman, he’s no traitor. Turn this garbage off, turn it off!”
The crowd watched the woman as she began extolling the virtues of her old Captain, only to be escorted by two young Marines away from the food court as whispers and panic began to spread. Aleksey watched the woman walk into the Marine office as he shook his head, hoping that she would emerge unharmed; but, his gut was telling him otherwise.
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Location: Earth
Scene: Office of the President, United Federation of Planets
Time Index: Two weeks later
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“Mr. President, this is a fool's errand,” Edgerton stated standing and beginning to pace across the room.
Raising his hand, Moray, took in a deep breath before looking around the room, “Richard, we’ve been through quite enough already and if there is a chance that I can end this war with meeting this delegation of Romulans then I will do so.”
Edgerton rubbed his temples, “sir, you don’t understand we have kept you safe only because we can control what is around you. The second you agree to this meeting on whatever planet it is, they will kill you.”
Smiling the Denobulan sighed, “fortunately for you they have agreed to meet me on Vulcan.”
“On Earth,” Richard shouted, “they’ll send an invasion force for sure.”
Shaking his head Moray turned his monitor, “see for yourself, there is an uncloaked scout ship enroute to Vulcan as we speak. I have already issued orders to have them extended diplomatic courtesy.”
“Mr. President, we don’t know how many ships could be cloaked, how are we supposed to protect the core worlds from a cloaked fleet,” Richard begged only to be stayed as Moray moved from his desk patting the man on the shoulder.
“You’ve been a good friend and advisor since the absence of Secretaries Bonviva and Martine; but, you must trust me on this,” he stated before walking out the door, leaving Edgerton in the office... alone.
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Scene: Edgerton’s Office
Time Index: Two Days Later
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Edgerton slowly drank from his cup of coffee as he watched the live feed being sent to the monitor over a secured channel in his office. He had advised the President that a sparse fleet would be standing by in case he should need assistance and a detachment of marines are awaiting orders aboard the ship that he was to arrive upon. Of course Moray had assured the man he was being paranoid and to put faith in diplomacy once again. The stage had been set as the parties converged on the meeting hall to exchange pleasantries.
Audio began filtering in as Moray began calling out warm welcomes and salutations before moving only three steps away from the Romulan delegation stopping in his tracks. Edgerton sat on the edge of his seat, something was wrong, pressing the command into his console and executing the small fleet warped into system and the marines beamed to the planet only to watch as a beam of disruptor energy lanced across the sky striking President Moray leaving only a scream before vaporizing his body. In the same instant the delegation of Romulans disappeared in what looked like a transporter beam and the scout shipped turned to leave only to be destroyed by the small fleet now awaiting it.
Edgerton’s face was frozen as the scene played out before him and the Federation delegation quickly dematerialized and the fleet, along with the President's escort ship, warped toward Earth. It was horrific, it was disastrous, the President had been killed, and only after he noticed the holograms of the Romulans were holograms. Rubbing his temple he sat back and called out to Leonard who was already nearby. The assistant quickly rushed into the room looking around before coming close to the desk.
“Leonard, please make a note to enhance the capabilities of the holograms that are being used, the whole operation almost went up in smoke when the target noticed they were holograms to soon,” Edgerton stated before looking at the screen, “ oh and Leonard, prepare for the Vice, I mean new President’s arrival, we have work to do.”
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Scene: Office of the President, United Federation of Planets
Time Index: Two Days
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“Relax, Mr. President, please relax,” Edgerton gestured with his hands trying to reassure
“Don’t call me that,” the Cardassian shouted his nerves physically shot from the paranoia that had set in with every turn. Something wasn’t right in their mind; but, it was as if every night someone invaded their dreams and replayed that awful day over and over again only allowing Moray’s scream to echo in the silence.
“Whether you like it or not, that is what you are and it's time to step up to the plate or,” Edgerton stopped shaking his head.
Turning quickly the looked at the man who Moray had come to trust as an advisor, “or what? Tell me or what?”
“Step down and let the next one in line take the reigns,” Edgerton sighed, “ which would work if we had a next one.”
Scoffing to himself and looking out the window Jori Langor’s eyes wildly moved from corner to corner, “ you’d like that wouldn’t you to have me gone.”
Edgerton sat straight up, “i beg your pardon.”
Waving his hand Jori shushed the man, “not you, the ones hiding in the shadows. They would like me dead; but, i’ll beat them to it, take the target off my head.”
“Mr. Pres...Mr. Vice President what are you talking about,” Edgerton stated standing to his feet.
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Scene: Campe Eureka
Time Index: Two Days Later
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Something big was happening and with all the threads of the fates dangling around them, and the new acquaintances that Martine had made in the camp, however she could not find out what. There were whispers of everyone finally getting to go home or being set free, or something of the sort; but, no one was really putting any stock into the whole situation. Marie-Claire herself was standing by a monitor in a building that they had come to learn was styled after an old time malt shop, or what resembled it, when she was tapped on the shoulder. Turning, the woman’s eyes widened as she almost jumped for joy within herself at the sight before her.
“Madam Secretary, I believe that you have been here for quite long enough,” Sardak stated, looking around finishing his physical count of those in the building.
Martine nodded her head in surprise. She mentally questioned his calm demeanor, temporarily forgetting he was Vulcan. “I would agree Mr. Sardak, but what do you propose we do about it? We can’t just leave all these people.”
Sardak nodded, “I understand your desire to take them all; but, we may not be in a position to do so.”
Martine sighed as the reality set in on the situation and she almost found herself saying ‘the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few’. She tried to believe her skills were still needed for the many, not just this few. Standing there, transfixed, she looked around a few moments before realizing that no ships had come in, and no one had reported any strangers walking the camps, “Mister Secretary, just how exactly did you get here?”
Sardak looked over at her. “It took longer to find you than expected; but, eventually we found you, even from orbit.”
As if Sardak had said some secret alarm word or phrase the entire camp was alerted and alarms and klaxons began blaring as if an air raid of old was about to happen. Moving to the window and looking outside, Sardak shook his head as a young man pointed to the malt shop out to a group of Marines who were already headed his way. Shaking his head, Sardak turned to Martine before looking to his left. “We don’t have time for this, beam her up now, and send down an image. We need them to believe it’s real.”
Within seconds, Martine’s figure was whisked away only to be replaced by a holographic version of her. Martine looked around as if confused, now viewing Eureka through a holodeck projection while aboard what was presumably Sardak’s ship. “What's going on?”
Holding his hand up, he said, “We are using the compound’s own holomatrix to project ourselves within the camp. Act normally.”
It took only moments before the Marines entered the malt shop and Sardak turned, drawing a phaser against them. “Run, Madam Secretary, Run!”
Martine turned to run, only to be struck by phaser fire and the holographic image disappear as if it was vaporized. Sardak stepped back caught off guard looking at the men not sure what to do. Holding the phaser in hand, slowly letting it drop to the floor in defeat, he sighed. “You have me, now what?”
Stepping into the room, Richard Edgerton smiled, “Well, Mister Secretary, as you assisted admirably in helping me clean up one last miniscule thread, you have shocked me, as I was quite sure that you would not show your face on Earth at all. Your reward is that you... die.”
In an flash, Sardak’s hologram was struck with phaser fire as well, causing the program to react as if he had been vaporized.
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Location: USS DEMETRE
Scene: Bridge
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Martine walked onto the Bridge of the unfamiliar ship, shaking her head ruefully before looking at Sardak. “That was very peculiar… but helpful.”
Nodding, Sardak sighed, “It had to be as realistic as we could get it, and the algorithm for causing the hologram to “vaporize” is harder than it looks; but, it bought us time. How many are we able to carry?”
A young Andorian woman turned, “The camp populace is over two hundred souls Sir, and we have the ability to carry only fifty, maybe seventy five if we double up.”
Sardak took a breath, attempting to keep logic in the forefront. “Get who we can, make sure that we get the delegates and then begin taking families.”
Martine’s heart sank at the thought that almost one hundred and seventy five people would be killed, or worse, once Edgerton found out that some were missing. The woman rubbed her head and nodded finally making her mind up that it was the only course of action before a console began beeping.
“Sir, there is a coded transmission from Specialist Lawrence, it gives coordinates for a planet that he is requesting we rendezvous at as soon as possible,” the young Andorian woman stated before turning back to her post.
Sardak looked at the coordinates before nodding with satisfaction. “Very well; but, first we have an appointment with a Romulan delegation that your Captain Reardon was not able to keep and has been waiting for news for quite some time.”
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Scene: Ground Zero Federation Council Hall
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Standing before the cleared workzone of the once prestigious Federation Council Hall, Richard Edgerton’s chest swelled with pride. It had been some time in the making and with carefully dangerous plan alterations that he had expedited the completion of his plans; but, it all had come to the complete fruition that he desired. There was no fan fare and the majority of the attendees were reporters that had been forced or urged to come by their respective agencies or Edgerton’s entourage ensuring the successful broadcast of all the announcements to come. After moments of silence the interim president of the Federation, the former Vice President, began his speech. The words, were almost lackluster, empty, and hollow as if it had been programed into him.
The speech didn’t last as long as Richard would have liked; but, it did serve as the segway that he needed to take the podium. There was no sound of thunderous applause, no cheers for success, only the lights of the cameras upon Edgerton’s face remained as he began his weighty duty.
“My dear friends and family of the United Federation of Planets, it is with a heavy heart and mind that I step into this role. It is with no lightness or glee that I assume the awesome responsibility of protecting not only you; but, your family and friends as well. I commit to you to find these terrorists and murderers that have plagued our lovely Federation for far too long. I also lay before you this promise, that at such a time that this threat is over, and we are able to invoke a time honored tradition once again I will stand aside and relinquish this authority but until now I stand before you as your newly appointed, President, with all the powers thereof and hereby declare martial law.”
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A massively multiplayer post by:
Justin Owens as
Secretary Sardak
Alix Fowler as
the beleagued Chen family
Shawn Collins
pinch hitting for a evil dictator
Susan Ledbetter as
Captain Siobhan Reardo