Captive Audiences
Posted on Mon Aug 9th, 2021 @ 3:16am by Commodore Loatha Targaryen & Captain Wilkan Targaryen & Admiral Sakkath & Captain Ryan Walsh & Commander Nathan Hawkins & Commander Ash Randall & Patton O'Sullivan & Lieutenant Commander Lily Snow PhD, MD & Lieutenant Dylan Blake & Lieutenant Commander Cyrus Marner & Zoey Parker & Captain Nathan Bishop & Lieutenant Commander T'Lisha "Hawkeye" Bishara & High Commissioner Jasmine Haynes
2,802 words; about a 14 minute read
Mission:
Cheese
Location: Bridge, Starfleet One
Timeline: 2430-09-01, 08:55
Starship Log, Admiral Willian Targaryen Recording:
When we started our mission to Ni'Var I was hopeful that we could reach a peaceful resolution, that we could help build bridges between the Federation and the Romulan Star Empire. Instead, we have only found disaster. Praetor Xeri Tei was murdered while addressing the citizens of Ni'Var and my friend Gregory Coulson has been accused of the crime. Unfortunately, our actions have only served to strengthen the Romulan's evidence against him with our mission to recover him. Now, Admiral Coulson remains in the custody of the Romulans and we're going home. I fear for my friend, but I also fear for the future.
"The Praetor will be addressing the citizens of the Romulan Star Empire in five minutes, Admiral," Galatea's voice echoed through the speakers in the Ready Room.
Sitting at his desk writing the after action report, Admiral Willian Targaryen looked away for a moment at the stars streaking past the window. He had been sitting working on this report for already an hour and had gotten no further with it than he had at the beginning. He really wasn't certain where this mission had gone wrong. When they started to Ni'Var the plan was to prevent a disaster by stopping Admiral Coulson before he could act, instead the Praetor was now dead and the Star Empire was in disarray. Coulson's plan had been to save Sakkath so Willian really didn't know how they'd gotten to this point.
"Admiral?" The AI of the ship asked, now having taken on her holographic form in the room.
Willian looked up from his desk at the avatar of the ship, "Oh? I'm sorry I was caught up in this after action report."
Galatea glanced at the panel, seeing the progression. "Indeed. I had grown concerned when you did not respond."
"Didn't you just contact me?" He asked as he resumed typing.
"Three minutes ago," she countered.
The Admiral sat back in his seat and considered the implications. Had he really been that wrapped up in this? He sighed, "Thank you, Galatea. Have Admiral Luzol and the Senior Staff been notified?"
"Yes Sir," she answered quickly. "I have asked them to come to the Observation Lounge to view his remarks."
Willian rose, "Please redirect them to the Bridge. I'll join them there."
"Sending now."
Staring at the desktop and the report waiting there. The report was important, that much was true, and a nagging feeling remained in his mind that it was about to become even more important after what was to come. Despite that, he knew somethings took priority over others. Tapping the control he put the screen on standby and left the room.
Stepping onto the Bridge, Admiral Targaryen looked around for a moment. It still gave him a charge to see the Bridge of the Starship Enterprise and to know that he was responsible for its legacy, but the feeling had dimmed over the years. He was back in command of the ship after Luzol rescinded her command back to him to resume her normal duties. It was reassuring to have things returning to normal as the galaxy turned on its head.
"Admiral on the Bridge."
"As you were," he directed as he approached his seat.
"One minute," Galatea informed.
Willian sat in the center seat as his personnel started arriving. Looking at the viewscreen he watched for the fireworks to start.
Still feeling the weight of what happened hanging around his shoulders Commander Hawkins glanced at the viewer as the board cast began. He glanced toward Blake and Chire whom had both felt unsettled by the events upon the surface.
Jasmine was not use to be summoning to the bridge. Given the circumstances that they faced at the moment. She took it with a grain of salt. She looked to the main monitor as she walked onto the bridge. She wondered, why were they're fire works. This did not seem like a moment to celebrate.
Zoey was on the same lift as Jasmine. The two ladies did not really say a word to one another. Zoey knew at some point, she should make an olive branch and reach out to her. But that day, was not today. Zoey had the concerns as Jasmine, however unlike Jasmine, she could not help herself and ask. "Why are they celebrating?" She openly asked on the bridge, for all to hear.
Bishop sat in the XO's seat. The bridge was quiet the mood as well quiet, subdued. They had left a comrade behind and stuck in everyone's throat. as the broadcast begin. His eyes went to the viewscreen and he silently wondered *What next?*
Patton was at his station, waiting to see how this was going to play out. He knew the Admiral had a plan, he just wished he was privy to it. It seemed something was about to happen, his eyes went to his screen while he waited for him to speak.
Ryan was helping where ever they needed him on the bridge at the moment. If nothing else he could give advice if needed. He, like Lieutenant Parker, wondered what reason their was for this celebration.
Ash looked up from her work at the primary, bridge engineering station, shrugged, and went back to studying the data from their surprise encounter with the wormhole.
T'Lisha was of course, at her helm station, flying SF1 as usual. She too was curious as to what they would be told.
Even though Cyrus wasn't part of the bridge crew, he still went there, just to get a feel for the psychological state and also the physiological status of them as well. The past day or was it days? They seemed to have flowed together, in Cyrus's mind, have been rather hectic and definitely rather stressful. The sacrifice of Coulson to save them all, truly troubled Cyrus. It was heroic but, still it bothered Cyrus. What was going to be the fate or final fate of the man? What was the fate going to be for all of them? He moved to where he could observe but stay out of the way of the functions of the crew.
Snow only looked away from her station for a few moments to look at the screen before returning her attention to her station.
It was like clockwork. At the stroke of 09:00 hours the display began to show the image of the podium in the Ni’Var capital of Shir’Kahr and the new Praetor of the Romulan Star Empire standing behind it. No matter how many times he had thought about it in the last day the thought of Sakkath as leader of the Romulan Star Empire made Willian’s skin crawl. He had known Sakkath for a very long time, and he had the capacity to lead, but Willian also knew that there was more to this story. He could feel it in his bones.
Sakkath was dressed in traditional Vulcan attire, but there were some traces of Romulan influence within the suit. The shoulders were high and heavily defined, but Vulcan script ran along the sides of the tunic. The computer was having difficulty translating it, but Willian was certain it was something rather Vulcanish in purpose. It was certainly one of Sakkath’s defining attributes, or he was playing the part.
“Good Morning,” his voice was powerful, yet somewhat subdued. “As many in the galactic community have come to learn the Praetor of the Romulan Star Empire, Xeri Tei, lost her life in a vicious and unprovoked attack the previous day. With the support of the Senate of the Romulan Star Empire it has been agreed that we will deal swiftly with those responsible as we chart a new course for the Romulan Empire.”
His voice was more measured, his tone reflective, “It has been agreed that the Romulan Star Empire must end its historical ways if we are to move forward as part of the galactic community. When she rose to lead the Empire the Romulans had been reeling from the loss of their homeworld. Today, they are part of their ancestral community on Vulcan. After a great deal of consideration, it has been agreed that the Romulan Star Empire will disband formally and restore the Romulan Free State to power as a galactic government.”
“While we have taken a member of the Federation’s Starfleet into custody for the murder of Praetor Tei,” it was an almost imperceptible look of sorrow as the Vulcan said it, “we recognize the truth of the influence and power of our Federation Cousins. The Confederacy of Vulcan has grown in strength and influence since leaving the Federation; nonetheless, we recognize the damage that we have caused through our actions. Vulcan was part of the Federation community, our citizens having been respected leaders within the history of the Federation. Which is why, the Confederacy of Vulcan is petitioning the United Federation of Planets for dual citizenship for our world within both the United Federation of Planets and the Romulan Free State; so that we may mend the bridges that we have burned and become part of the Federation family once more. Perhaps, this shall even pave a wave to a new, lasting peace between the Federation and the Romulan peoples.”
Sakkath was firm sounding in his next statement, “We leave the decision for what form our future takes within the hands of the Federation. May this be the beginning of a stronger relationship between both of our peoples. Jolan tru and live long and prosper.”
Jasmine heard the words being spewed by Sakkath. She was still having a hard time believing what she was hearing. Her first reaction was, how can they have a peaceful transition of power, when it was created by violence.
Jasmine had no doubt that there was more to the story, than Sakkath and the others wanted to share. Even though she had just arrived on the bridge, she knew what she needed to do. "I need to speak to the President." Jasmine called out, as she got ready to leave the bridge area.
"You and about a thousand other people, Commissioner," Willian commented.
Ash nodded to herself while she listened to Sakkath and she considered the possibilities of the Romulan Free State reborn and the Confederacy of Vulcan rejoining the Federation and there was no telling what was going to come.
Cyrus could feel the prickles of goosebumps rise on his arm and all the way down his back, he shivered slightly, as if someone had walked across his grave. He still didn't like this situation, didn't like the fact that Coulson was the scapegoat. What will happen next, no one knew, well at least he didn't.
The Commander of Starfleet One rose from his chair and walked toward the viewscreen as the starfield passed them during their journey home, "The implications of the Vulcans returning to the Federation would be far reaching, not only for the Federation but for the Romulans as well. I wonder what will happen."
Having Coulson sacrificed left Ryan with a sour stomach. He was having a hard time accepting what he had just heard. It didn't sit well with him and he agreed that it seemed far reaching. What were they really up to?"
"I don't like this." Patton spoke as he looked around. "I am certain most of you are feeling the same way. One of our own takes the fall and they join the Federation. And the cost to us, even one, seems too high."
As Jasmine left the bridge to consult with the President, unlike the admiral she did not need a reason to see him. She was his chief of staff and one of the few people that can reach out to him. As Jasmine left, Zoey looked at Patton, and nodded in agreement. "Hard to say anything positive, when they have a fleet aimed right at us." Zoey suggested openly.
"Fortunately we've crossed back into Federation Space," the Admiral confirmed with a glance to the Helm. "They come here then it is war."
"We weren't supposed to come riding to the rescue." Ash announced to no one in particular. "And, that about sums things up." She added.
Willian thought about what the Chief Engineer said, letting himself ponder if for a long moment as he looked at the viewscreen. The stars slid by quickly, effortlessly as the familiar patterns of Federation territory took hold. Had they been unwilling pawns, never meant to come to the rescue? Was that their lot in history? A footnote in the triumphant return of the Vulcans to the Federation? Were they really that unimportant to the plot of this mission? That they had no purpose, that it would always have gone down this way?
"No," he answered, "quite the opposite. We were always a means to an end."
Ash shrugged but didn't comment further. The Engineer didn't agree but was not going to argue the point. There was far too much else to do.
"Now what, Captain? We had to leave a sacrificial lamb behind, sure he was willing to do so, still it just doesn't sit right at all. The needs of the many out weigh the few or the one." Marner scoffed at that quote he just said.
Patton looked over at their command officer. "This isn't going to be swept under the rug. At least for me, I know it wont be something I will be able to get over. We left a man behind and we're expected to just go on as if it didn't happen! It isn't that simple!"
"Right now Admiral Coulson is the least of our concerns," Admiral Luzol said entering the Bridge from the side entrance.
Willian looked up at his wife, "Not to us."
"Admiral Coulson made his choices. He chose to violate the law and now he's paying a price for it," Luzol said as she approached the command arena. "He may not be guilty of what he is accused of, but his even being there has put us all at risk. The Federation itself could have been plunged into war by his breaking through the Neutral Zone without authorization and a lot of good people would have been lost that didn't have to be."
"Where do we go next?" Zoey asked, as she looked around the bridge. "Do we head to New Vulcan Colony and assess the repercussion's of the Admiral's decisions from there?" Zoey asked, thinking they should. It was not her call to make, and she knew that.
Luzol looked at the strategist and nodded, "New Vulcan sits right on the border with the Klingon Empire, has a dilithium rich sister world, and is practically defenseless at the moment aside from an ancient support vessel. Starfleet Command has a Tactical Wing under the command of Admiral Martinez aboard the Tianjin already underway, but we are going to deploy an additional inspection team to further assist." She looked at her husband, "For now maintain course and speed for Earth."
"You heard the lady," he said to Commander Bishara as she worked the Helm.
Zoey walked over to a secondary station. And brought up the tactical analysis charts. She wanted to see what ships were in the area. She had a smile on a her face, when she heard that Tianjin was leading a force, to assist New Vulcan.
Patton wasn't at all happy with the way Luzol had referred to Coulson as if he was nothing now. At least to him it seemed that way. He knew he needed to just be professional and do his job for now. He had said his piece. It still felt in the back of his mind that they should have done something.
"Understood sir, steady on course for Sol...er Earth," T'Lisha said. Muttering, 'We should have done something'.
"I need to speak with you in private, Admiral," Luzol said as she walked toward the Ready Room exit.
Willian nodded, "Nathan you have the Bridge."
Commander Randall continued to study the data gathered during the Wormhole event looking for an explanation, not for the event itself, but for what happened during the vent; the resonance that manifested in the dilithium matrix of the slipstream/warm of the star drive AND the sister core in the saucer section, the temporal and quantum distortions and what the Chief Engineer experienced as well. Ash wasn't about to say anything, to anyone, on the subject until she was 100% certain...should she live that long, anyway.
"Aye sir." Bishop replied smoothly as he moved to the center seat and wondered what their next move was going to be. As the ship sped toward Earth, putting New Vulcan and Admiral Coulson far behind for the moment.
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