Trianna had beamed down to Bajor to do something personal. In the great temple, Trianna spoke with the Vedek Assembly and the priests debating religious issues and asking the priests for the prophet's blessing in order to work with the mostly Bajoran crew on the Brigand before lighting a bataret candle and bowing in respect. It was the least she could do given what her sister had done when she had ethnically cleansed the planet, "Major, you look like the destroyer but you are not her" said one of the priests.
"The destroyer?" asked Trianna puzzled then the priest answered "your twin sister, she was the destroyer who tried to destroy our culture, beliefs and our home." "She will no longer bother you, I executed her myself" answered Trianna showing the priests and the Vedek Assembly the proof. "Your sister's pah was corrupt, your pah is not. Major, your crew will get their blessing" replied the Kai. "Thank you, my troops will be assembled on the ship" answered Trianna and she bowed before beaming back to the Brigand. Aboard the ship, Trianna had the whole ship's company assembled and a Bajoran priest blessed the entire crew. Trianna now turned her attention to Dex Smith and Mereu. "You two, cargo bay two in 15 minutes and in PT uniform" she snapped and both Dex and Mereu ran to get changed.
In Cargo bay two 15 minutes later, Dex and Mereu were in their PT gear as Trianna entered. "Since you two were late for your last shift, you will both be running laps of deck five for one hour. MOVE IT!!!" snapped Trianna. Both Dex and Mereu spent the next hour running laps with Trianna keeping pace with them jolting them with a pain stick if they slowed down. After an hour, both Dex and Mereu collapsed exhausted. "What if the moral of the story?" asked Trianna to which both Dex and Mereu answered "be on time." "Correct answer now go and get cleaned up and changed, you're both on duty in 10 minutes" replied Trianna before she went to her quarters to get cleaned up and changed.
After 15 minutes, Trianna was in her office having a private chat with Captain Heath via subspace. "How's your first command?" asked Heath. "Stressful, lucky I have the patience of a saint especially with Mr. Smith" answered Trianna, "Well Trianna, being in command is tough. Get to know your troops and gain their trust first, treat them like they are your own children and they will follow you to the end" advised Heath. "When the General put me in charge of them, we had an arrangement. Mr. Smith is nominally in command in a Starfleet capacity, MACO capacity, I'm in command" replied Trianna pouring herself a cup of coffee. "You're doing a good job, I saw what happened on Terra. Well played in rescuing those hostages with no fatalities, when I first met you, I had doubts about your capacity to command. Good to see I'm being proven wrong" answered Heath smiling.
"I spoke with the Vedek Assembly earlier, since this ship's crew is 95% Bajoran, I asked a Bajoran priest to bless the whole crew" replied Trianna. "Smart move, know your unit's various cultures and you'll get far with them" answered Heath. "They've been blessed, I have the loyalty of the Bajoran personnel at least, the rest are loyal to me as I have my ways of keeping them in line" replied Trianna smiling. "Trianna, why change your last name?" asked Heath, "my sister shamed and dishonored the Bray name, I cannot keep it as it is too painful" answered Trianna with a sigh. "A rebirth of sorts?" asked Heath, "it is, the Empress took me in as one of her own daughters, the name Bray died with my sister" answered Trianna.
"Tough break, I hear you were the one who executed her" replied Heath. "Had to be done, she was too dangerous to be allowed to live. I'm moving on hence why I joined MACO" answered Trianna. "Congratulations on the promotion to Major, you found somewhere you fit in. You suit camo" replied Heath smiling. "Thank you ma'am, I look forward to working with you" answered Trianna smiling. "Indeed Trianna, I'll leave you to get back to your duties. Heath out" replied Heath and the screen went blank. "Back to work, let's hope it stays calm for the rest of the day" thought Trianna as she stepped onto the bridge.
Post edited by theraven2378 on
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
"I thought you were just inviting your close friends?" Sito asked. "These are my close friends," Heath answered. Heath's quarters were packed full of people. A cross section of both the old and new crews. "You trust all of them?" "I do." "Thank you ma'am," Truzena said. "You do know we can all hear you two talking." Heath smiled. "Well then let's get started. We asked you here because we wanted to apologise." A sea of confused faces looked back at them. "We've been keeping a secret from you," Sito explained. "It was my insistence not to say anything because it could have been used against us. But... the situation has changed and I now realize that I can't do it myself anymore. So we're here tell you so you can help me." "We'd gladly help if we knew what you were talking about," Paris commented. "The thing is...," Sito paused and took Heath's hand. "I love her. And During our brief excursion to the other universe, I asked the captain here... I asked her to marry me." Heath brought her other arm from behind her back to show them the bracelet. "And I said yes. Finally I can wear it in public." There was shocked silence then the room erupted in cheers and congratulations. "Thank you, but that's not all," Sito had to shout to quiet them down. "Lazy's having a baby. Our baby. Babies actually." The cheers were even louder this time. "I didn't want to say anything because it would only make her a target." "But I refuse to hide." "So I need all of your help... Hell I need the whole crew... The fleet to help me keep her safe." "With all due respect Admiral," Aunlel said. "All you had to do was ask. We will gladly be there to help." The others in the room chorused their agreement. "Thank you. We wanted to let you know before the Empress broadcast it to everyone." "Betaziod grandmother's can be a little intense," Naynta commented. Sito stood. "With that, I will leave her with all of you. She's been wanting opinions on wedding dresses for weeks now. I have to go talk with someone else about all this. She may not be as happy with it as all of you." She made her way to the door and looked back. They had already surrounded her on the couch. For the first time in a long time, Sito relaxed about her safety.
Trianna was in her office finishing up her reports to MACO command, the blissful quiet was ruined by yet another Smith sibling argument in the corridor. "Dexter, don't test my patience, you're nothing but a disappointment to the family" yelled Jasmine at Dexter's face. "You were and are dad's favorite, you could never set a foot wrong even when we were growing up" yelled Dexter back, "I'm not the one who walked out and turned their back on their family, you always blame others for your mistakes" yelled Jasmine back.
Trianna had heard enough and opened the door and calmly said to both Smith siblings "you two, in here now." Both sibling marched in and Trianna went straight to business. "You two have issues, issues that could affect the efficiency of the company and ship. That makes it my problem" said Trianna firmly. "Ma'am" answered both Smith siblings, Trianna lowering her reading glasses looked up gave both Smith siblings some hard Betazoid honesty, "you two have a lot to discuss, you will both work out your problems here with no violence. Family drives everyone mad, it's a cold hard fact." "At least I don't have a wacko sister who had to be put down like a mad dog" thought Dexter. Trianna had picked up on it and simply told Dexter "don't go there." Dexter knew Trianna was serious and realized he had hit a nerve.
After apologizing, Dexter and Jasmine began to work out their issues with Trianna acting as mediator. After an hour, both Smith siblings left the office after saluting Trianna and went to the bridge. Trianna then walked to the bridge escorted by her guards, "Mr. Zolat, you have a first name?" asked Trianna to her Betazoid guard commander. "It's Ablim, ma'am" answered Sgt Zolat, Trianna smiled and asked "Ablim, where you from?" "Medara, ma'am, it's a small city on Betazed" answered Sgt Zolat. "I grew up in Medara" replied Trianna. "You're a Medara girl, they're the crazy ones" answered Sgt Zolat smiling. "Guilty as charged" replied Trianna laughing. "Beautiful, tough and funny, my kind of woman" thought Sgt Zolat, Trianna just smiled as she picked up the thought. On the bridge, Trianna took her seat and thought "I like that one" making sure Sgt Zolat could pick it up.
"The major's in love, either that or she's claimed him" joked Hetal. "More likely claimed" added Sidis. "The feeling is mutual between me and the Sgt and yes I've claimed him so he's out of bounds" replied Trianna. "The ice queen has spoken" joked Dexter only to be met by a glare from Trianna. "No sarcasm, Mr. Smith" she said afterwards. "Dex, how many Orion matrons was it on Risa that kept you busy for 12 hours?" asked Hetal trying to get a definite answer. Dexter just thought "not this again." "It was two, that's where me and Dex started our relationship Isoisa" answered Mereu. "Not bad for a "business" meeting" joked Dexter as Jasmine just said "way too much information, I may need to see a psychiatrist" holding her head.
Dexter just laughed and said "Isoisa, thanks for freaking Jas out." "It's Jasmine not Jas" replied Jasmine face palming. "Mr. Smith, Miss Smith, try not to argue considering you've both started to make some progress" said Trianna. "Yes ma'am" answered both Smith siblings. Six hours later, Trianna was in her quarters reading some Tennyson when Dexter knocked on the door. "Enter" said Trianna then Dexter walked in said "I was out of order for the remark about your late sister." "Yes you were Dexter, so I'm going to give you some advise. Learn to get along with your sister, she's your family and she needs you to support her as you need her to support you. I'm an orphan, my family is dead. The Royal family took me in as a daughter" replied Trianna. "Trianna, if you don't mind me asking, where you two close?" asked Smith. "We were until she was murdered by a enemy of my father's, the Marie you fought against was a clone of her, even then it was hard to make that sacrifice for the good of the empire" answered Trianna.
"I had Leclerc do some digging into your sister's files, took her a while to break through the security but she found this" replied Dexter handing a PADD over to Trianna. Trianna read the PADD and after applying her security program, got into her late sister's research files only to discover a hidden cloning lab in the Imperial palace. As an insurance policy, Marie had taken the precaution of storing a DNA sample in cold storage. When her regime fell, she had an independent power supply hooked up to the lab and her DNA used to create a new clone. That clone was being rapidly grown and was already at the stage of a one year old Terran infant. "Dexter, I don't to know how you got this information, it checks out. I need to make a call. Leave me" said Trianna.
Trianna using her authorization passed on the information onto Papela with the location of the lab. "Mother, there is a cloning lab in sub basement 2 section echo 1. In the cloning vat, there is a one year old infant which is ready to be woken up. My sister cloned herself as an insurance policy just before her regime fell, this one is perfect with none of the insanity my late sister suffered from" was the message.
Post edited by theraven2378 on
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
After Leeta betrayed the Emperor and was believed to have been killed, her ship, the Enterprise-F, was reassigned to Val Shon STO short story: "Black Mirror"
Anyone know what 'Black Mirror' is or where I can find it?
The crew were on down time on the Brigand, Dexter and his team were all on the holodeck on a "team building" exercise. They had invited Trianna to join them and Trianna accepted the invitation. "Computer, Aliens. United States colonial Marines uniforms and weapon" ordered Dexter. The program activated and a fortified position was created, "Dexter, what are we fighting and what is the objective?" asked Trianna. "Trianna, it's simple hold this position against waves of extremely hostile aliens called Xenomorphs, each wave gets bigger and more difficult. If the horde reaches melee range, the program ends. Don't worry, safeties on on" answered Dexter.
"Dexter, bring it" replied Trianna as she clicked the pump action on her shotgun. For the next few hours, the team of nine held out against the holographic hordes of aliens. The program defeated them at wave 70, "well done team, you all held your ground against overwhelming odds and only lost when your ammo ran out" said Trianna smiling. "Trianna, think of this crew as your extended family. We may drive you mad but you're used to us by now" said Dexter. "I'm honored Dexter, off duty I'll consider you all friends and family in arms but on duty, let's keep it professional" replied Trianna. "Anyone know a good nickname for the good Major?" asked Dexter. "Tri might work" answered Hetal, "Ice Queen sounds better" added Jasmine. "Ice Queen it is" replied Dexter as all raised their hand in the vote.
"Trianna, we've accepted you into the Brigands" said Pitaskli. "Thanks, I think" replied Trianna smiling, "this unit needs a nickname to have as a uniform patch" said Dexter as the group walked towards the mess hall. "To Trianna's Brigands" toasted the team as they had a drinking contest. "Can Trianna here hold her drink?" asked Dexter as the tequila shots were lined up, "Is is Dexter or Dex?" asked Trianna. "Dex will be fine" answered Dexter smiling. "Dex it is then" replied Trianna as she drank the first shot. The contest lasted for another hour or so as the group were administered hyposprays by Mereu. "Dex, your crew are close knit, that closeness makes you all more effective on operations" said Trianna. "Dexter, while you may drive me crazy with your antics, you're still my older brother end of the day." said Jasmine. "That's what big brothers do, drive their sibling crazy" replied Dexter smiling.
"Fresh start Dexter?" asked Jasmine. "Done Jasmine" replied Dexter as both shook hands. An hour later Trianna was in her quarters talking privately with Sgt Zolat getting to know him better. The rest of the crew were designing a unit patch together and they came up with a pair of crossed flintlock pistols over a black backing with white skull reading "Trianna's Brigands." "We'll wait until tomorrow to unveil our patch design to the Ice Queen" said Dexter as the crew went to get some sleep. Dexter and Mereu also made their relationship public as well.
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
> @thay8472 said: > After Leeta betrayed the Emperor and was believed to have been killed, her ship, the Enterprise-F, was reassigned to Val Shon STO short story: "Black Mirror" > > > > > Anyone know what 'Black Mirror' is or where I can find it?
Couldn't find anything. Where'd you find that quote from?
The entire Valdez and Wray families were all at a family gathering. "Dad, you've got a call" said Trianna as she passed Teanna Jane over to Valdez. Valdez took the call in his office, it was Papela going through a diplomatic channel. "Have I caught you at a bad time?" asked Papela, "no not really, I'm on grandfather duties" answered Valdez. "To put it bluntly, we found something here in in the palace" replied Papela. "Of what nature?" asked Valdez, "My predecessor cloned herself, the clone is at the stage of a one year old Terran infant" answered Papela.
"That complicates things" replied Valdez concerned. "We're going to awaken her, she may need a home in your reality where she'll be watched all her life" replied Papela. "Not a problem, my brother and his wife have been looking at adoption themselves. You wish to ask them?" asked Valdez. "Would be helpful" answered Papela. "I'll get them" said Valdez as Trianna entered the room and gave Teanna Jane her feed. "Trianna, could you get your uncle please?" asked Valdez. "Yes dad" acknowledged Trianna and she left the room and got her Uncle Iblim and Aunt Lwadana. They entered the room and took a seat each. "Mr and Mrs Wray, a few questions" said Papela. "Fire away" replied Iblim. "What are your views on discipline?" asked Papela, Iblim's answered was short and to the point, "discipline must be learnt as early as possible, without it children will run riot" answered Iblim. "I agree, a firm hand from an early age teaches discipline and respect" replied Papela. "Me and Nathan were raised on discipline and hard work, mother and father insisted" replied Iblim.
"Good family values, Mrs Wray, how would you raise a daughter?" asked Papela. "With a loving but firm approach, simple as that. Me and Iblim have raised a son with the same approach" answered Lwadana. "I have a one year old female Terran infant here, she needs a home" replied Papela satisfied with the Wrays' answers. "I'll get my brother to work out the legal issues, we'll take the infant in. We own a farm on Betazed, she'll get discipline from an early age and be introduced to work when she's old enough. Family rule is everyone pulls their weight with no exceptions, we'll home school her as well" replied Iblim agreeing to take in the clone. "Mr and Mrs Wray, thank you. I'll send the papers to your brother, Empress out" replied Papela and the screen went blank.
"Nathan, you've got legal work to deal with" said Lwadana. "That I have. Iblim, since you're a lawyer I may need your help" asked Valdez. "Consider it done bro" answered Iblim.
I.S.S. Brigand, Bajor orbit (MU)
The crew were all at breakfast, "Ice, we want to run something by you" said Dexter as he presented the unit patch design to Trianna. "Trianna's Brigands, I like it. Dex, mass produce it and make sure it becomes part of standard uniform" replied Trianna in approval. "Consider it done Ice" answered Dexter. "Oatmeal again" complained Hetal, "Regulation SUAEI" replied Trianna. "Regulation SUAEI?" asked Hetal puzzled, it was followed by a collective "shut up and eat it" from the rest of crew. "It's meant to keep you alive, not look pretty" said Trianna afterwards.
"Got it Ice, you seem happier" replied Hetal, "Isoisa, I am but don't mistake that for weakness" replied Trianna. "It's called being in a relationship" added Mereu. "Dexter, you told mum and dad about Mereu yet?" asked Jasmine, "Jasmine, I'll introduce her to our folks when we're next on Terra" answered Dexter smiling. "Dex, so you and Mereu are officially a couple" said Sidis. "That they are" added Pitaskli laughing, "so romantic" added Leclerc smirking. "When's the wedding?" asked Wilkinson smiling to which T'Pamne added "they suit each other." "You are all charming, me and Mereu are taking things slowly" replied Dexter. "Best way Dex, me and Sgt Zolat are taking things at our own pace" replied Trianna with a smile.
"Does that mean I have to be in uniform when I meet your folks?" asked Mereu. "Afraid so, dad is a stickler for appearance" answered Dexter. "Got that right Dexter" added Jasmine. "We're on duty in 15 so lets finish up and get ready for work" said Trianna. The crew finished their breakfast and went to their posts, Trianna smiled, she was enjoying being around her crew even as she knew they would find some way of driving her mad.
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
"And finally, the Empress announced today the engagement of one of her daughters. Admiral Sito Thay, Commander of the Betazed sector forces is to wed one of her subordinates, Heath Layress, the Federation captain who along with her crew defected and sought asylum within the Empire. The Admiral had been the one to initiate her defection and the two had reportedly been close since her arrival. The pair reportedly actually got engaged before the attack on Terra and were recently proclaimed by the Bajoran Vedek Assembly to be the 'Emissaries' of their people. The Empress said that the two had decided to make their relationship public as Captain Heath is expecting the couples first children within the year. The Empress was reported to be ecstatic about the prospect of being a grandmother an expects the wedding to take place next month. We here offer our congratulations and best wishes to the couple and their children to come.
This is INN, the Imperial News Network."
Antares fleet yard (prime)
"Lazy! You didn't tell me you were pregnant!" "What are you talking about Augie?" She threw the PADD at her. "You're getting married and you're knocked up." Heath read the report. "Her, not me." "Yeah, for that to happen you'd actually have to date." "My mother's been talking to you again hasn't she?" "You know my brother's always had a thing for you." "Like I want to be stuck with a male version of you." "So you would rather remain Starfleet's official sacrificial virgi..." "One more word Augustine and my boot meets your backside." "As you command Admiral. But still what about it? After saving them, think we'll get an invite?" "I don't know. Its complicated. Things are changing over there. We just need to watch and see what happens."
The Brigand was back at Terra after her shakedown tests. Since the crew had performed well and gelled as a unit, Trianna granted them 48 hours leave. Dexter, Mereu and Jasmine were in the Cotswalds visiting family. "My father is career military so please be polite" said Dexter to Mereu. "I'll call your father sir then, don't worry I inoculated myself with a pheromone suppressant to avoid any issues Dex" replied Mereu. "Time to face the music" added Jasmine as she knocked on the door. "Jasmine, Dexter please do come in" said Jennifer Smith. "David, our children have come home to visit" called Mrs Smith to General Smith. "Dexter, I see military service is making a man out of you" said General Smith.
"Mum, Dad, there's someone I want to introduce you to. Meet Doctor Mereu, she's CMO on our ship and my partner" said Dexter. General Smith took one look and seeing Mereu in MACO uniform shook her hand and asked "Doctor, how long have you and Dexter been together?" politely. "Year and a half sir" answered Mereu politely. "You both happy together?" asked General Smith. Dexter just thought "seriously dad." "The feelings are mutual sir" answered Mereu. "You all must be sick of that replicated slop they serve in the military. Jasmine, Dexter, I'll need a hand preparing dinner and it's real food" said Jennifer. "Yes mum" chorused both siblings. Meanwhile General Smith was talking with Mereu before asking "so when are you two getting married?" "We're taking things slowly, it's a decision we need to be sure of" answered Mereu honestly. "David, Dexter has chosen to spend his life with this polite young woman despite her past" pointed out Jennifer. In the kitchen area both Smith siblings were chopping vegetables when Dexter just said to Jasmine "I'm going to ask Mereu to marry me" as he produced a box with a engagement ring in it.
"Serious decision there Dexter" replied Jasmine. "I'll wait until after dinner before I propose to her" replied Dexter back. At dinner, General Smith and Jennifer Smith were getting to know Mereu better. After dinner, Dexter proposed and Mereu accepted before giving Dexter a hug. "Welcome to the family Mereu, your record since joining the military has been clean despite your past" said General Smith welcoming his future daughter in law. The rest of the crew were in Tokyo having a bar crawl to blow off steam.
At the palace, Trianna was overseeing the waking operation on the clone to make she was healthy. "Stop the growth and prepare to use a sample of my DNA to permanently stabilize the clone to grow at a normal rate" ordered Trianna. The doctor in charge did what was asked and finished the procedure. "Good, remove her genetic memories just to be safe. Leave what's normal in an infant of that age" ordered Trianna. "Yes ma'am" answered the doctor and the memory wipe was completed leaving the clone with normal mental development. "I'll speak with the empress" said Trianna and she left the medical team to monitor the clone.
Trianna knocked on Papela's office door and was let in, "Mother, you wished to see me" said Trianna. "Little one, when your crew finish their leave, I've got a job for them" replied Papela. "What kind of job?" asked Trianna, "a delivery of sorts, something that requires finesse" replied Papela. "Marie's clone?" asked Trianna, "I've spoken with Mr.Valdez and his family, they're agreed to give the clone a home on the other Betazed where she will be monitored all her life" answered Papela sipping her tea. "Complete secrecy will have to be observed, as far as the empire is concerned, I executed the last empress" replied Trianna being all business.
"Hence why I'm trusting your unit with this job, you are to transport the clone to the Enterprise and pass these orders to Admiral Sito and Captain Heath. They are not to be opened until they have been passed to either Sito or Heath, they will contact TF 113 on the Federation side of the border to take delivery and transport the clone to her new family on Betazed. I've given Mr Valdez advanced warning that the clone is being moved" replied Papela calmly. "As you wish mother, the clone will be out of the empire within 72 hours, Chief Pitaskli is supervising a team in installing a quantum slipstream drive so we get to the border within 12 hours of departure" answered Trianna. "Little one, be efficient and make sure Mr. Smith and his people know that secrecy is necessary" replied Papela. "Yes mother" answered Trianna.
"You've got 48 hours off, what ever business you have on Terra, make sure it's done" said Papela as she poured two cups of tea, "Mother, you may not approve but I've started seeing my guard commander, Sgt Ablim Zolat romantically" said Trianna sipping her tea. "Does he make you happy?" asked Papela, "he does" answered Trianna. "Betazoid?" asked Papela. "He is" answered Trianna. "You'll have to introduce him when your ready" replied Papela. "Mother, congratulations on finding out you'll be a grandmother" said Trianna. "I hope you'll be a good aunt then" replied Papela. "I will be" answered Trianna. "Thank you little one now take some time off away from work, you and your people have earned it" said Papela. "Yes Mother" answered Trianna and she saluted and left the office.
Post edited by theraven2378 on
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
"How the hell is that even possible?" Captain Sito Thay demanded to know sitting in the bar. "How can two female Bajorans reproduce?" "Maybe she has both sets of reproductive organs." She grabbed the bartender by the collar. "That sadistic mirror witch is a copy of me. Are you saying that I have both sets?" "No ma'am. Not at all!" She let him go. "I was that woman's prisoner for two years. She kept me locked up. Layress shows up and she gets the run of the place then sent back. Now she's back there pregnant and getting married to her. We know where her loyalty lies don't we." "I hear she's a defective temporal copy not the original." "Oh yes. The great Admiral. Put someone who was captured by the enemy in charge of stopping them. Brilliant. You can't trust either of them." "Anything else I can get you?" "The last two years of my life back. Barring that, my bill. We have to ship out in the morning and I need to sleep this off."
Trianna's unit had removed the clone form the empire according to plan. On Antares, the Wrays took custody of the clone then left for Betazed. "Major, the I.S.S. Brigand has been reassigned to my fleet. I'll be keeping a close eye on you" said Sito. "Ma'am, you'll have no problems from me. My troops know their loyalty to the empire and will do their duty" answered Trianna. "Your senior staff have lengthy criminal records, they were the crew that did the Great Ferenginar Robbery" replied Sito.
"I'm impressed, they robbed the biggest bank on Ferenginar and got away undetected" answered Trianna smiling. "And running Imperial blockades at the Siege of Betazed before rescuing the Lot family in one last run before they used Imperial ships as shields to block any fire to hide their getaway" replied Sito. "They volunteered for service and they've been excellent so far" answered Trianna. "You defending them Major?" asked Sito, "I am. They're my unit, I'll always stand by them. If they step out of line, I deal with them" answered Trianna. "Lazy, can we put her unit to good use?" asked Sito.
"Having an extra MACO unit assigned to us would be beneficial, keep an eye on her though. The Major here was the one who turned the platforms onto her sister's fleet at Terra, Mr. Smith and his crew are also Betazed and Terra veterans with combat experience. They were the team who did the Washington raid on Terra, all hostages out alive with the dissidents all taken alive" answered Heath. "I heard about that, why didn't you act sooner?" asked Sito. "It would have led to too many collateral casualties, rushing in was not an option given the INN cameras saw the whole raid. Dead hostages would have looked bad politically and the intel gained from the dissidents arrested and detained will help find others" answered Trianna.
"Well executed operation" replied Sito. "My teams practice and train each day, even the Starfleet personnel. Captain Smith has formed new units called Hazard Teams, that brings fighting strength for ground and boarding operations to 400 troops. 200 of which are MACO and the other 200 are Starfleet Hazard Team operators as well as Computer warfare officers" answered Trianna. "Thank you Major, that'll be all. Dismissed" replied Sito. "Yes ma'am and congratulations to you and Captain Heath" answered Trianna before she saluted Sito and returned to the Brigand.
Post edited by theraven2378 on
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
"How could you do that Thay?"
"I didn't intend to get her pregnant Callie. It just... happened."
"Not just that. You're marrying her?"
"Yes, I am."
"She's controlling you. You're letting her control you."
"She is not controlling me."
"She talks back to you. She challenges your decisions. You let her dress however she wants. Anyone else who had tried those things you would have thrown them in booth. But you can't do that anymore because you got rid of them because of her!"
"Are you done?"
"I'm just getting started."
"Before you get too worked up, may I say something."
"Sure. Let's hear you defend your fedrat sex toy."
"One, never call her that again. Two, can you deny that her suggestions have not improved how the ship and the fleet has been operating? Removing the booths and using those Counselors has not only improved morale but we have accumulated so much information on the crew we could blackmail them into betraying their own families if we wanted. We never would have gotten that through the booths. Three, it's so refreshing to talk to someone who doesn't always just go 'yes ma'am' every time you ask them something. Someone who points out the flaws in your ideas, or offers suggestion on how to make it better. We've drilled order into ourselves and drilled out creativity. She provides that. Last and most important... I love her. She makes me... happy. She's makes our exile here bearable."
Callie shook her head.
"That over inflated chest of hers has you completely under her spell doesn't it?"
Thay was about to say something, then changed her mind.
"Tell me, does your little Andorian bed warmer control you?"
"Don't call her that and no she doesn't."
"Well then you won't care if I have her squadron reassigned to one of the boarder skirmish areas..."
"DON'T YOU DARE! I'LL..."
Thay stared into her eyes.
"You'll what?"
"I..."
"Yes?"
Callie lowered her head.
"They're weak," she said more trying to convince herself. "We're stronger than them. Stronger than their whole Alliance. How can they have this control over us?"
Thay put her hands on her sister's shoulders.
"They accept us for who we are, flaws and all. And...we have no defense against that. We pull them closer because of it."
"..."
"Yes?"
"I still don't like her, but she did introduce me to Cosl. So I have to be grateful to her for that."
"I'll accept that. She is carrying your nieces."
"Nieces? As in more than one?"
"Twins."
"Wow..."
"What?"
"If they're anything like you were as a child... I think I almost feel sorry for her. Almost. Have you talked to the others yet?"
"I figure I'd start with you. You're the easy one to talk to.:
"Good luck with that."
"Should be easy. Mother will just glare them in to submission."
"Now them, I feel sorry for."
Trianna had come aboard the Enterprise with her protection squad for a mission planning. "Captain Heath, you have need of my unit?" asked Trianna after saluting Heath. "Here are the targets, they call themselves the True Way" answered Heath handing the PADD over to Trianna. "Cardassian extremists, they believe the empire has no right to exist and claim to represent the Cardassian people" replied Trianna. "How much of a threat are they?" asked Heath. "Enough to destabilize Imperial control of the Cardassia sector if left alone" answered Trianna.
"Sito needs them removed, your unit has been selected" replied Heath, Trianna smiled answering "carpet bombing Cardassia is out of the question, what we need is a raid to capture their leadership as well as any intel they may have." "My thoughts exactly Major, we're going to plan the raid so I'll need Mr. Smith to run recon on the target" replied Heath. "Ice to Captain Smith, I need Leclerc here with me on the Enterprise running intel duties. Once Lt Leclerc is aboard the Enterprise, set a course for Cardassia" ordered Trianna. "Roger that Ice, Leclerc has just transported over" acknowledged Dexter Smith. Leclerc beamed straight to the bridge from the Brigand and reported "Ice I'm ready." "You're my intelligence officer for this mission, you'll report to Captain Heath while you are here" said Trianna. "Roger that Ice" answered Leclerc.
Meanwhile, the Brigand had entered the outer edge of the Cardassian system and took position to fire recon drones at the planet. Leclerc on the Enterprise patched in and would pilot the camera drone remotely. "Camera drone away, I'm using the Brigand's subspace communications as a signal booster so any footage will be sent here live" reported Leclerc. The drones all spread out tracking Cardassian communication signals as Leclerc patched herself into the Cardassian computer grid. Trianna watched the telemetry carefully looking for unusual energy sources, she found one in Lakarian City. The drone flew over as it cloaked scanning a compound on the outskirts of the city. "Keep going, move the camera two degrees down and focus on those towers" ordered Trianna with her hand on Leclerc's shoulder. "Scan them, let's see what's being powered" said Trianna carefully watching the screen. "Wait, enhance image and freeze" ordered Trianna.
"Those aren't legal, Captain Heath I need a second pair of eyes here" said Trianna noting the positions of the towers. "Those are weapons emplacements, Lt, get us a closer look" said Heath. Leclerc piloted the drone closer and it was confirmed. In the towers were illegal spiral wave disruptors set to shoot down any aerial assault that got with 20 km. "That complicates things" said Trianna as she was reading the Cardassian communications. "There's our target, Gul Kadek. Leclerc, pull up his file" ordered Trianna as all data was being read by Heath. "He's charismatic but arrogant at the same time, could that help us?" asked Heath. "Kadek thinks he is safe in that fortress of his, we need to turn his strength into a weakness" answered Trianna. "As an air assault is out of the question given those anti-air defenses, how do we get into that fortress?" asked Heath.
"Ground assault but having to move 20 km to even reach the target is not ideal. Leclerc, is there a way we can shut down power to the compound as our shuttles come in at low level?" asked Trianna. "We would have to shut down power planet wide. The compound however has back up power but it'll take thirty minutes to activate, we could also however jam the compounds sensor grid to increase our landing force's chances of landing in one piece" "That window is better than nothing, keep looking for weaknesses in that compound" ordered Trianna. "Roger that Ice" answered Leclerc. "This needs to be done without any collateral damage and casualties, last thing we need is a bloodbath on our hands" said Trianna. "Agreed, Major keep looking" ordered Heath. "Roger that ma'am" answered Trianna.
"Major, we could think about infiltrating the troops in ahead of time as a "garrison reinforcement", we could use an air assault by flying shuttles in remotely as cover to get the ground forces into assault positions. " suggested Heath. "All warfare is based on deception" quoted Trianna smiling.
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
The Brigand was back after it's recon mission as Captain Smith and his team leaders beamed aboard Enterprise. Astrometrics had been converted into a command and control centre for the operation, Captain Heath and Trianna had the team leaders assembled to brief the units taking part in the raid. "This is the target" said Trianna bringing up the schematics of the compound. "On each corner is a defense tower mounting spiral wave disruptors powered by an independent power generator. If we don't disable those towers the rest of the force cannot land" added Heath. "It's the emissary" whispered the Bajoran officers, "keep it professional Mr. Jaxa" said Trianna. "Ma'am" replied Lt Jaxa Tam and the message was passed down "be professional when in front of the emissary".
"This a two fold plan. Captain Smith, two Hazard Teams will infiltrate as close to the compound as possible. At 0130 hours, Cardassia will go dark. Computer warfare teams, your task is to break into their computer grid and overload the compound generators remotely and shut down their sensors. Electronic warfare, cut off any communication channels to prevent the target calling for help" said Heath. "Once the towers are down, the rest of force will land as close as possible and proceed to blow open entry points using spatial charges. Sharpshooter teams one, two and three will provide long range suppression fire to keep the target's head down and provide covering fire for the assault teams" added Trianna. "Once the breach has been made and the defenses shut down, Commander Wheeler and her unit will beam down to reinforce the breaching troops and fight alongside them towards the command centre and secure it and any intel" said Heath. "My unit will go after this man, Gul Kadek. Expect his security detachments to fight so you'll be facing resistance" added Trianna.
"What level of resistance?" asked Dexter. "50 True Way disciples as well as 20 officers and support personnel" answered Trianna. "70 against 450, why do they risk dying in a hopeless battle rather than hand themselves in?" asked Commander Wheeler. "Because Commander, Kadek and his followers think they are safe in their fortress. When the wolves come howling, no fortress is safe" answered Trianna. Heath just smiled at Trianna's answer, "Cmdr, this is a joint operation. You've never worked alongside Imperial special forces before, so you'll practice the raid on the holodeck alongside the Imperial MACOs" said Heath putting Wheeler's mind to rest. "We've got 48 hours until we launch so everyone involved in the raid will be practicing it until it becomes second nature. Any new intel will be shared on a need to know basis when the time is right, until then all personal communications are no longer authorized to make sure security is watertight" finished Trianna.
Heath dismissed the squad leaders and they went to gather their units. For the first time Federation trained MACOs would be training alongside Imperial trained MACOs and Hazard Teams. Trianna and Heath meanwhile kept studying the schematics of the compound to memorize them. Heath would be overall command and control from Enterprise, Trianna would lead the Imperial ground forces and Wheeler the Enterprise contingent. On board both the Brigand and the Enterprise, the crews started the practice runs of the operation. "Major, Captain, all troops taking part will have the blessing of the prophets to give them strength for their task" said Chaplain Lenaris Groba. "Thank you Chaplain, when you pray to the prophets next, ask them to bless us with victory" replied Trianna. "A Chaplain?" asked Heath, "I introduced the position aboard the Brigand as a way of improving morale, someone who can speak to the crew on a spiritual level regardless of faith and species" answered Trianna.
"Personal question here, how are you coping given recent events?" asked Heath. "I lost too much in making sure my sister was stopped. I lost my entire family because of my sister, the worst part is people still doubt my loyalty to the empire. I have to live with the deaths of my sister's victims and the fact I shot my own sister because there was no other option. If only Admiral Sito knew how close her family came to being wiped out in 2375 by my sister. The only reason Sito is alive today is because I helped save her family 36 years ago. Just because Marie was my sister, people look at me as a pariah. Someone not to be trusted at all because my relation to the Mad Empress. How does that make me feel? Angry and upset is the least of it. Some days, I wish I could purge the Terran half of me but I can't. I killed people without showing mercy because I'm good at it, I even killed my fellow Betazoids all because I was on the wrong side" answered Trianna giving Heath a piece of her mind before sitting on the floor and holding her head wiping her eyes.
"That's called reality hitting you, the empress gave you a second chance. Don't waste it, you keep that brave face up but you cannot hide from your past. You remember what you were like when we first met?" replied Heath. "An entitled bully who used violence to assert her dominance all because my stepfather was an admiral at the time" answered Trianna. "Stepfather?" asked Heath. "You heard right, the man you erased was not my father. My father was a Terran slave, one of my mother's "pets", mom was already pregnant when she married my stepfather after having my biological father murdered. My family were never perfect but I miss them everyday" answered Trianna picking herself up and punching a table. "You have to mind that temper of yours" replied Heath. "That is an ongoing issue" answered Trianna as a Trill officer glanced at Sgt Zolat only to be met a glare and a slight growl from Trianna. "Captain, I get territorial around Mr Zolat. He's mine" said Trianna. "I've noticed, Major you've been working 18 hours straight, go back to the brigand and get some rest" replied Heath. "Ma'am" answered Trianna and she left the Enterprise with her personnel and returned to the Brigand.
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
It had been a week of slithering their way through the criminal underworld to track their lost prey, but the Shadows had manged to corner the Cardasian freighter in in an asteroid field.
"What can you tell me Plague?" Shade asked her helms officer.
"It's a good place to hide, Imperial records on this area are incomplete, if there's a base in there, it's going to be well hidden... Building it would have been impossible without specialized equipment."
"Then they're just trying to loose us again I'd bet."
"Seems likely ma'am."
"Take us in.... Let's find this scared little deer shall we."
The Phantom class began to manuver through the rocks, seeking the criminals out, nearly be crushed by the massive and chaotic constantly crashing into each other space-debris. Putting the cloak back up Emma asked if there was any sign of the fugitives on sensors.
Putting up the contacts on main view screen Shade sighed, seeing that there was not one, but three freighters there. "Do we still have those stolen Star Union Parasites? I'd rather take out three targets with one blow- That is if they raise their shields." She Turned a fire like gleam filling her eyes; "Basilisk, I want boarding parties peeped and in the transporter rooms"
"About time we got the jump on this group for a change... This hunt hasn't been easy."
"Catching up with them has been to easy after everything else they've done. I'll beam over once you've secured the bridge of each ship.
The crews had been trained mercenaries- mostly... The smugglers had been 'uncooperative', Shade was stalking back and forth in front of Captain Blood-Fang, having shot the female Cardasian in the foot, and the Deferi first officer in both knees. She wasn't sure which she hated more. "We're going to play a game until you tell me what I want to know or until we've through rally searched your ships; it's called 'who can scream loudest'.
After snapping her fingers, Shade looked over her shoulder and began walking over to the captains quarters off the bridge leaving her underlings to begin the 'game'. She scowled as she approached the door, taking up her phase as it opened, and fired at the bed, taking note of the excessive amount of latinum spread all over the room and the bedding.
"The next time I catch either of you doing something like this on duty will be the last few minutes of your lives, and I won't shoot to low... I'm givjng you both an hour in the booth when we get back to the ship- and yes you'll be able to watch each other." She told the initiates. Shade turned around and closed the door. "Hmm, on second thought- Enteri'Is beam the latinum in the captains quarters into my own."
As she walked back on to the bridge of the disabled ship, a crewman passed her a PADD with a cargo manifest. "Well well well. this ship alone has enough on it for me to execute you right now: 177 Terran slaves, plus a few hundred others, weapons, various bits of random contraband, 4 Ask'Kar for Prime Contact'." Shade picked up Blood-Fang and snarled. "Where is the gem!? She placed her foot Spoon-head’s wound.
“Arrgh! Got rid of thing like we were hired to!.. That’s what you want!? Left the thing for pickup in on Vulcan’s moon! Should be in Cardasian hands by now… Funny The Empire never realized what they had in their vaults. In a temporal war, Gateway was destroyed when a massive dreadnought crashed landed into it, pieces of it were scattered through temporal portals as the Guardian of Forever died… The Alliance started looking into parts that were found on planets and learned some interesting facts about the past and future. A focusing crystal, a sapphire the size of man crashed on Terra, and once that weapon has been built, we will burn your taint from the stars!
Shade shot her point blank. “She’s insane, but set course for Terok Nor, we don’t leave something like this to chance if she’s telling the truth…
Why do I still play and put money into STO?
The Foundry, and my love of Star Trek
Dexter Smith was in his quarters listening to some music with Mereu when Trianna knocked on the door. "Enter" said Dexter and Trianna entered the room. "Ice, what brings you here?" asked Dexter, "business" answered Trianna. "Take a seat, you been crying?" asked Dexter as Trianna sat down. "You wouldn't understand" answered Trianna, "try me, if something is wrong that could affect the mission, we need to know" replied Dexter. "I had a meltdown, I may be emotionally compromised" answered Trianna. "Let me lead the mission then, if you've got problems you need to take time off to deal with them. Call it advise from a fellow misfit" replied Dexter.
"Dexter raises a good point, let us run the mission. We won't hold it against you, we've learnt to trust you so you need to trust us" added Mereu. "Ice, she raises a point, last thing we need is our commander losing control of her faculties. Think about the troops under your command" added Dexter. "Since you put it that way, I'll take it under advisement just try not to to wreck the ship while I'm on Terra" answered Trianna. "We'll update you on the mission when we complete it and give you a lift back to Terra" replied Dexter. Trianna then explained the meltdown though restricting it to non-classified parts of her past. Dexter was at a loss of words for once. "It's that messed up" said Trianna afterwards, Dexter took a few minutes for it to sink in before asking "Do we see you as a pariah?" "Not at all, you've accepted me for who I am" answered Trianna.
"You lost everything but you saved billions" replied Dexter. "At too high a cost" answered Trianna. "Maybe, running from your past won't help, trust I tried but my past always caught up with me" replied Mereu. "Ice, you're one of us and we look after our own" added Dexter. "Thank you Dexter, thank you Mereu" replied Trianna. "What are friends for, we'll give you a lift back to Terra after the mission" said Dexter. "Thank you for the pep talk, I better start packing. Congratulations on the engagement both of you" replied Trianna. She stood up and left for the Enterprise to inform Captain Heath that Captain Smith was now in command of ground operations.
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
The raid was set into motion, Trianna and Captain Heath both watched from mission control on the Enterprise. As planned, the Cardassian power grid was disabled and the troops infiltrated into Lakarian City. As they reached the compound, the defense tower generators and compound generators were overloaded as the Brigands set up the spatial charges. "3, 2,1 and detonate" ordered Captain Smith and the the compound doors were blown. Leclerc shut down the coms net as the explosion went off.
"Breach and clear now" ordered Smith and the Imperial commandos advanced and secured the transporter room. Wheeler's MACOs now beamed in on schedule. "Wheeler, take two hazrd teams with you and secure the command centre. I'll go after Kadek with my groups" said Captain Smith. On the Enterprise, Heath kept an eye on Trianna as they both observed the progress of the raid. "Good, they're fanning out" noted Trianna despondent she was not there with her troops. "Deploy the reserves" ordered Heath and the reserves were beamed down to the compound. Trianna's intel was spot on as the MACOs and Hazard teams encountered light resistance from the 70 armed Cardassians in the compound. They were stunned and their codes used to open the command centre. Smith and his group managed to corner Kadek on the roof top as he made a run for his shuttle only to be downed by a sniper's sedative round. "Brigand one to command and control, we have the package" said Smith over a secure com link.
Wheeler's teams meanwhile had found the computer core and downloaded all the intel they could find. "Wolf One to Brigand, intel secured" said Wheeler over a secure channel. "Roger that Wolf One, Enterprise we've got what we came for, we need extraction" replied Smith. "Command copies, transporter room, beam up all our troops" ordered Heath. The raiders were beamed up with their prizes, Trianna had her intelligence officer Lt Leclerc go through the captured intel as she studied the data. What they had found was enough to justify the raid, among the data they found communications to Admiral Leeta and commuications to an organization called the True way to restore the Alliance. "Looks like Kadek may need questioning" said Heath reading the captured data. Trianna was then ordered home to Terra for extended leave to deal with her issues. She beamed aboard Brigand with her victorious troops.
On the bridge, the crew cheered. "Bible, thanks for praying for victory" said Dexter Smith to Chaplain Lenaris. "Bible?" asked Lenaris to which Dexter answered "a Terran holy book from one of it's many religions, hence why I nicknamed you Bible." "Ice, in and out, no casualties" said Dexter to Trianna smiling. "Well played Dexter, I was right to listen to that advise" replied Trianna. "Ice, we'll get you back to the palace on Terra along with our prisoner" answered Dexter. "Looks like Naynta will be busy for a while" replied Trianna. "We trusted you and you trusted us, we succeeded" said Dexter. "I have personal things I need to attend to on Terra, I'll leave the ship in your good hands" replied Trianna. "You want to give the order?" asked Dexter, Trianna took the captain's chair and ordered "Hetal, set course for Terra, maximum warp. Engage." The ship jumped to warp and left the Cardassia system.
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Rondac III had been seized by a combined True Way/Klingon invasion. Despite a brave and heroic defense the little Imperial military presence was wiped out to the last soldier. Due to it's strategic importance, Imperial command dispatched the the Imperial 7th Fleet comprising 220 ships and four whole MACO divisions totaling 18000 troops. General Smith had elected to use the Brigand as his command and control centre to fight the ground war. Dexter Smith readied his troops, they were part of the first wave to land and they would face their baptism by battle.
No one said a word as their landing craft descended into the atmosphere of Rondac III. Under fighter cover provided by the fleet, the first landing craft landed and the troops poured out and secured any high ground around the landing zone. Brigand Battalion was assigned to a position marked Hill 983 on the map. As they advanced up the hill, Captain Smith noted the lack of enemy forces and on securing the high ground had his troops dig in and prepare for defense. Using the lack of enemy action, the Brigands secured their positions with trenches and what ever they could get their hands on for building a parapet. "We're blocking the only good road into the landing zone, if the enemy is going to counter-attack, they'll have to hit us here. There are only 400 of us here and we are the dam to block the flow of the enemy, we hold this position or we lose the landing zone, it's that simple. We win or we die trying no matter the odds, long live the empire" said Captain Smith to his troops. On the Brigand, Jasmine was working with General Smith overlooking the battlefield with Leclerc on Intel in command and control.
1030 hours
On the ground, the first counter-attacks started as True Way Alliance forces charged Hill 983. "Form two ranks" ordered Smith and the battalion formed two ranks, the front kneeling and the second rank standing. "Front rank, fire!!!" ordered Smith as Sidis yelled "Second rank, fire!!!." The volleys downed Alliance soldiers in droves as the Brigands made them pay for every inch of ground. Wave after wave crashed against the Brigand's position but were stopped by accurate volleys of phaser rifle fire and dug in heavy weapon and mortar turrets. The Brigands had not surrendered an inch of ground as Alliance casualties rose to alarming levels. The Brigands were not having everything their own way, they had taken 50 wounded casualties who were medivaced off the planet by transporter but no KIA. Smith knew this would be a long fight and costly, the longer as he held Hill 983 more troops could be landed without harassment form enemy action.
1450 hours
The Alliance launched another attack on Smith's position this time hoping to surround the position. Smith seeing the danger called down air support to wipe out 1500 Klingon warriors on his right flank as he wheeled round his mortar teams to rain fire down on the 600 Cardassians on his left. The spoiling attacks did their job as the Alliance troops were forced into attacking the defensive ring only to be faced by volley after volley of rifle fire from the out numbered Imperials on Hill 983 and Imperial air support. The Brigands held their positions refusing to give even an inch of ground as the Alliance infantry assaults were repulsed one after another. The fighting dragged on until dusk and the Brigands were still in control of Hill 983 as the Imperial beach head got larger. More and more Imperial troops were landing by the hour and eventually linked up with the Brigands on Hill 983 at 1800 hours. Smith did a roll call of the battalion, 100 Bajorans and Terrans wounded and medivaced with 15 Bajorans and 80 Terrans KIA out of 400. Nearly half the battalion were KIA or WIA but they had held out against 2500 Alliance attacks for 7 and a half long hours.
1900 Hours
Smith now reorganized his positions as Hill 983 was reinforced by a reserve company. Already the INN had reported the battle of Hill 983 as the Battle of Brigand's Hill as reporters did their reports on the battlefield, the Brigands were offered interviews but declined, they had more important things to deal with as they prepared for their first night on Brigand's Hill. As it began to get dark, the Brigands all stood to and prepared to hold the line expecting a night assault on the position. "All telepaths, be on alert, expect attack on this position throughout the night.
2200 Hours
The calm quiet was shattered by "Today is a good day to die" from the Alliance Klingon Warriors before they charged up the Brigand's Hill. The Brigands on the hill held their fire until the Klingon warriors were within 200 metres before they opened up with a mass volley which lit up the entire hill. "Pour it on" was the order from Smith as every weapon rained fire onto the Alliance attack. The Imperial officers encouraged the enlisted troops to fight with everything they had. It did the trick for the next eight hours, the Brigands fought off 8 repeated sentient wave assaults of up to a 1000 warriors each before the Alliance retreated from the battlefield at 0600 hours the next day as the front moved past Brigand's Hill. The Brigands were pulled out of the line and medivaced back to the fleet, Smith, Hetal and Sidis were lightly wounded while Pitaskli, T'Pamne, Wilkinson and Bible were unharmed. The Brigands then put their 95 KIA to rest in military tradition and toasted to their heroic victory on Brigand Hill.
Day two saw rapid gains made the Imperial ground forces as Imperial troops were landing and securing key population areas in blitzkrieg type assaults. The Brigands would be back in ground war reinforced a week later and they would avenge those who gave their lives defending Brigand's Hill. On Terra, Trianna watched the news reports with the Lots in Papela's office. "I should have been there with them" said Trianna depressed at being effectively grounded in the palace for treatment.
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
The Brigands were back on the Rondac battlefront as they marched up to their start positions for the final Imperial assault on the last Alliance strong hold. Arrayed on the battlefield were three entire MACO assault divisions and two extra reserve divisions totaling 28000 troops as they faced the prospect of a uphill assault. Opposing them in a strong defensive position were 6000 Cardassian and 7000 Klingon warriors dug into a compound at the top of a narrow pass. Captain Smith looked at the position and noted the strength of the front defenses.
Smith however had found a weak point and decided to use the main assault as cover to scale the cliffs and get behind the defense. At 0800, the final assault was ordered as the assault division advanced into the pass, Smith getting permission fropm hid father, took his battalion and crept up to the cliff face and attached climbing hooks into the rock face. The entire battalion now started to climb as the MACO assault was held in the pass. After an hour and a half, the Brigands were up the cliff and over the defenses and now set up transporter enhancers to bring in the reserve troops. The flanking force were soon into the compound and clearing the complex as the defenders tried to pull back only to be surrounded in the pass from both ends.
The Brigands were in no mood for mercy as they gunned down anyone foolish enough not to drop their weapons, they had to avenge the 95 lost in the Battle of Brigand's Hill, honor demanded it. For hour after hour, the defenders resisted but after 24 hours, the battle was over. After the Klingon warriors were wiped out to the last warrior, the Cardassians dropped their weapons and marched out of the pass with their hands on their heads flanked by Imperial MACOs. The MACOs were then beamed back to their ships and on the way back to Terra. Rondac III had been costly, 8500 Imperial casualties compared to 24000 Alliance casualties with another 15000 taken prisoner. The Brigands had gone into the daring flanking attack 305 strong, they had lost 20 dead which were recovered from from the battlefield along with 15 wounded, 10 lightly with 5 seriously. On the Brigand, the troops were singing and whistling as their morale soared. 8 days after they left Rondac, the troops were back at Terra and in their dress blues as they had a victory parade through Paris before they were flown to the Imperial palace.
"Majesty, Rondac III secure. Consider the retaking of Rondac as our wedding present to your family" said General Smith after bowing in respect. "Your troops performed well, this new alliance should take note of our fighting spirit. Where is the lone Battalion who held Brigand's Hill?" asked Papela. "We're the soldiers of Brigand's Hill, 400 of us went up but 205 walked down still bearing arms. We avenged the ones who never made it off the hill alive by getting a victory" answered Captain Smith honestly. "The 400 who held off 10000 for 18 hours and won a famous victory, Brigand's Hill is a symbol of Imperial strength and courage in the face of overwhelming odds" said Papela shaking each Brigand's Hill survivor standing in the palace courtyard. "Little one, how should such courage be rewarded?" asked Papela to Trianna who was stood next to her. "Give them an Imperial Unit Citation and name Brigand's Hill their first battle honor" answered Trianna smiling that all her friends had made it back home.
Trianna then noticed Sgt Zolat missing from the lineup, she frantically searched the casualty lists looking for his name until Captain Smith told her Zolat was badly wounded on the Brigand, Trianna immediately made sure Zolat and the rest of the Brigand wounded were treated in the royal infirmary at the palace by Royal medical staff. Captain Smith led Trianna to see Zolat and she took a seat and stayed with Zolat holding his hand all night as Kestrella and Papela visited the wounded awarding Imperial hearts to them. Zolat's days in the military were over however as he had been severely wounded during the final assault on the Alliance positions. Trianna introduced Papela to Zolat refusing to leave his side even as the medical staff were removing shrapnel from his wounds and treating the third degree burns.
Post edited by theraven2378 on
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
The two were were seated at the table having breakfast. Both had their faces buried in the PADDs in front of them. "Thay, have you gone to get fitted for your dress yet?" Heath asked. "Not yet. I've been busy." "The wedding is in two weeks! She's good but she still needs time to make adjustments." "I've had more important things to worry about." "Like what?" "Like keeping you alive," she said angrily. "There are those out there that find the idea of us having children so repellent that they've actually placed a bounty on you. You symbolize everything their narrow little minds hate and they would love nothing more than to see you and our children dead. So excuse me if I don't care about some stupid dress while I focus on keeping you alive." "You're so focused on security for the wedding that you've forgotten the reason why we're having a wedding. I know people want me dead. Be it this lot or Temporal Affairs, or who or whatever somebody somewhere wants to kill me. And I refuse to be afraid of them. I will not live my life in constant fear of them. I will stand out there in front of them in my wedding dress and tell them I'm not going anywhere. Deal with it." "You don't tell people with sniper rifles aimed at your head to 'deal with it'. Gods, after all this time and You still don't understand what it's really like over here." "You still don't think I can handle myself do you? After everything I've done here you still think I'm a weak little Fedrat..." "I WOULD NEVER CALL YOU THAT!" "THEN WHAT'S THE REAL ISSUE HERE?" She was interrupted by the door opening and Paris running in. "We got a response!" She shouted excitedly. "A response to what?" Thay snapped angrily Paris shied back and held up the PADD. "Those probes we fired in to the wormhole at Bajor. We got a response from one of them!" Thay waved her over. "Show me." "Probe 14, it made contact and sent back a signal." Paris said excited. "It found them! After all this time, we finally found them!" "Why did it take so long for the signal to get back to us?" Thay asked. "Distance and some slight temporal dilation," Paris explained. "We can compensate for that." "Good," Thay said nodding. " Prepare another probe with these settings. Give it ten, no a hundred times the transmission power. I'll record a message to put on it." "It'll be done within the week." Paris turned and left. "Something else to keep you from..." "Damnit Lazy, I'm afraid of losing you!" Thay put her hands on Heath's. "Losing you would hurt more than anything I could imagine! More than I could bare! If something happened to you I'd burn every planet i had to to get who was responsible and I wouldn't care how many died in the process. I... I don't want to be that person anymore. So for my sake as well as yours..." Heath closed her eyes. "I've been unreasonable." "And I've been insensitive." Heath smiled. "You think they can come up with a portable shield generator that can fit in the folds of my dress?" "I'm sure they can come up with something. I suppose I need to get my dress done so they can make one for me as well." "Probably. So how long before we hear back from them?" "Won't be before the wedding, but soon enough." "And then what happens?" "All sorts of fun." Thay pushed back from the table and stood. "Come on." "Where are we going?" "The bedroom," she smiled. "We just had our first argument. Time for the make up snogging."
Naynta had invited Trianna to assist in interrogating the True Way prisoners. "Lets start with Kadek first" suggested Trianna and she signaled the guard to drag Kadek to the interrogation chamber. Kadek was sat down on a chair and restrained when Trianna and Naynta started their questioning. "One rule here, we ask the questions and you answer. Failure to comply will result in injury" said Naynta smiling. "Where's Leeta?" asked Trianna sizing up what arm to have fun on. "Why would I betray my mistress?" answered Kadek only for Trianna to beat him down clearly enjoying it.
"Where's Leeta?" asked Naynta and Kadek didn't answer. "Wrong choice" said Naynta as she put the agonizer on full laughing at the same time. "Lets be creative" said Trianna, Naynta smiled as the door into the corridor closed. All anyone in the prison complex heard was Kadek's screams for the next day and a half as Trianna and Naynta took it in shifts inflicting pain and injury on him. The physical and mental damage caused followed by a telepathic interrogation was enough to get a location of Leeta's fleet. Next Kadek was interrogated day after day as Trianna and Naynta started their cycles of physical and mental assaults, slowly they were beginning to piece together the scale of the True Way organization within the Alpha Quadrant.
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Cardassia was been an Intelligence goldmine and Rondac confirmed large scale military forces were taking to the field. "Mother needs to see this" said Naynta as Kadek was thrown back into his cell. Naynta laughed as she passed the PADD over to Trianna to read. "Omarian Nebula, so Leeta has allied with the Dominion. The True Way is a cover for her operations against us, explains how they were able to field a military" said Trianna. "Let's question more, we need a bigger picture" replied Naynta as she picked out another prisoner. It was the same cycle of mental and physical assaults followed by telepathic interrogation, each True Way officer was questioned in this manner and the intelligence gained was getting deeper into True Way operations. After spending nearly a fortnight questioning prisoners, Trianna and Naynta presented their findings to Papela.
"Have all the prisoner's confessions confirmed Kadek's story?" asked Papela. "They have, we intercepted communications from Ar-558 going through the wormhole at Bajor. They were tracked to the Omarian Nebula in the Gamma Quadrant, Dominion transmissions were also intercepted coming back through" answered Naynta. "The Dominion don't usually allow non Dominion members to be in their space alive, the True Way are a front for Leeta and her Dominion allies" added Trianna. "Makes sense, given her losses, Leeta asking the largest military in the galaxy for help seems the most likely" added Naynta. "The Dominion will only have an alliance if they get something out of it, most likely they would want full control of the Bajor sector because that wormhole is the most important site strategically in the Alpha Quadrant" added Trianna. "With our losses of late, a Dominion invasion led by Leeta's forces is the last thing we need at this time" added Naynta. Papela listened carefully to what was being said before telling both Naynta and Trianna to leave the room so she could decide how to act on the new intelligence.
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Papela sat in her room, eyes closed. Her untouched cup of tea had long gone cold. It might have looked to some that she was sleeping, but she was far from it. Her mind was a blur processing information. Her eyes snapped open as she telepathicly called for her aid. She was typing out her instructions as they entered. "I want this file sent to this person. Tell them my daughter's wedding is in twelve days and to have it done by then. Have Admiral Sito send the attached message to the Vedeks on Bajor. Tell Admiral Heath to have her fastest ship on standby for their response. Put all the rest of the fleet on alert. Tell them that there may be disruptive elements with opposing views to what's going on. They are to report any any thing out of the ordinary to me, yes me and my staff at once. I've no time for reports to work they're way up the chain of command. Now you go." The aid departed. Papela sipped her cold tea. "Computer begin recording. This message is only to be released on genetic confirmation of my death. Attention my people, this is your Empress. If you are hearing this then I am no longer with you. I can only hope that when I crossed into the beyond it was with a smile on my lips and a cup of tea in my hand. You now face a time of uncertainty and chaos. Most importantly you may be fighting over who should lead. I may not be able to help you with most things, but on this I can calm the waters. I, Papela Lot, declare that the person who shall succeed me in ruling the Empire shall be..."
Dexter Smith and his unit had been recalled from medical leave. "Looks like we're shipping out again" said Dexter to his crew over breakfast, Trianna was with them having been cleared for field service after her therapy sessions. To hide her painful past, she had Papela remove it all by a mind wipe but she kept her more analytical skills and combat skills. Trianna did however adopt a fatalistic sense of humor and it showed at breakfast. "Ladies, gentlemen" said Trianna as she took her traditional seat. "Ice, good to have you back" said Dexter smiling.
"How's Zolat?" asked Hetal showing concern for her friend, Trianna smiled before answering "my Imzadi is fine though scarred from his injuries but his military days are over. He's been released from the hospital and mother has let have a compound in Shuri to ourselves" "He's a friend of ours, during the final assault on Rondac he saved our lives when a plasma grenade went off as he threw it back towards the enemy. On Brigand's Hill, he took a phaser round in his shoulder evacuating the badly wounded even giving up a seat on the medivac shuttle for a Bajoran who was in a worse state than him" replied Dexter. "Oh great, FNGs" said Sidis looking over to the table next to them. "More fresh meat for the grinder" added Wilkinson looking at the Terran, Vulcan and Andorian replacements. "Most of them will be dead or wounded in their first battle" noted Pitaskli.
"So true, we do the jobs no one else will" said Dexter. "Like holding a hill with only 400 against 10500 and keeping control of the hill. The FNGs have had nothing like that, all of them look like they just qualified high school" added Leclerc. "Great we got draftees, most they've ever had to fight for is their own street credibility not on a major battlefield" replied Sidis. The calm of the mess hall was spoiled by a flare up, "move out of my way Bajoran!" shouted Pvt Maccini as he pushed Lenaris out of his way. Trianna got up and walked over to Maccini before grabbing him and sending him flying over a table. "Just because you are Terran, you think you are a big man" said Trianna gripping Maccini by his collar. "I don't answer to Betazoid trash" answered Maccini, Trianna just put him into an arm lock before signaling the guards to take Maccini to the booth, "full duration, give him five hours for his racism" ordered Trianna and the guards dragged Maccini away for punishment. "Ouch, sucks to be him" said Jasmine seeing Maccini incur Trianna's wrath.
"Rule one, never be racist to Ice or any of the senior staff. You won't like her when she's angry" said Dexter. "Rule two, never cross the boss" added Hetal. "Thou shalt not cross Ice unless thou is stupid and dumb enough to do it" added Lenaris taking his seat at the table. The senior officers had their jokes as Trianna rejoined them and had her breakfast. Lenaris did a little prayer with the senior officers for the prophets to watch them as they did their duty and all officers went to their posts. "Great, orbital defense drills" said Dexter looking through his orders for the day as he took the captain's chair on the bridge.
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Four days before the ceremony, a series of warning buoys was placed around the Terran system. They warned that any ship approaching cloaked should not travel beyond that point without revealing themselves. Failure to do so would result in immediate destruction. Ten ships however ignored that warning and continued onwards. These were Imperial ships. Each came from a different sector, but all were united in their cause; killing the Betazed usurper and destroying her abomination progeny. Any taint of that other universe had to be removed along with those who embraced it. On board the lead ship Captain Morgan Astole smiled as they passed through the detection grid unnoticed. Their contact in the defense ministry had given them the frequency to bypass Terra's defenses. They would hide in the atmosphere Jupiter, and when the time came they would... His thoughts were interrupted by the explosion of two of his ships. "Report!" He yelled. "Disruptor fire from above," his tactical officer reported. "But there's nothing there... Incoming!" "Evasive maneuvers!" Astole ordered as a plasma torpedo grazed the hull. It struck the ship next to them. The explosion destroyed the ship and disrupted cloaks on the rest. "We're exposed. Shields..." Was as far as he got before a torrent of disruptor bolts tore the other ships apart. "Sir, we're being hailed. Audio only." "Put it through," he growled "Intelligent or a fool. Which one are you?" A female voice asked. "What's the difference?" "A fool tries to fight something they can't see and dies painfully of asphyxiation when I split open their hull. Intelligence tells who helped them bypass the security system and gets to leave here alive." Astole didn't hesitate to put his own survival first. "Commissioner Danten in the defense ministry. He contacted all of us to organize this." "Smart. You'll live to have a good dinner tonight while tonight they dine on pain." "Serves him right for setting us up to fail like this. He told us we'd be invisible to all Terran ships, he..." Astole trailed off as the realization hit. "I think you may be too smart," the voice said. "A pity for you and your crew. We can't have you spreading that information. Good bye." Astole next order died in his mouth as the plasma torpedo vaporized his ship. " Incursion terminated," the voice transmitted. "Inform the Empress that someone named Danten is conspiring against her."
Trianna and her team of Brigands were on stakeout duty on Danton's residence, Dexter and his team were in position waiting for permission to say "knock knock" with their battering ram. Trianna was hidden on a roof overlooking Danton's dining room watching the target have a meal waiting for permission to fire. "Eye's on target, permission to scare him" asked Trianna lining her rifle up. "Bandit team, prepare to breach on the sniper's shot" ordered Papela watching the drone footage from the palace along with her daughters. "Time to mask up, the empress wants him terrified first. We can rough him up but don't don't kill him" ordered Dexter.
The team then moved up to the door and waited for the signal. Trianna waited until Danton had picked up a glass of red wine before she fired, the glass shattered in Danton's hand marking him out as the target. At that moment, Dexter shouted "knock knock" and proceeded to smash the door open with the ram before the team stormed into the foyer and dining room. "Search the house, turn it upside down if you have to. Now Mr. Danton, we need a word" ordered Dexter. "Perimeter access codes, where are they?" asked Sidis. "Look for them" answered Danton as he was cuffed. "Wrong answer. Boss, he needs another scare" said Dexter as another bullet destroyed the wine bottle on the table.
"The codes, where are they?" asked Dexter politely. "On my computer, you won't access it though" answered Danton. "Cypher, you're up" said Dexter as Leclerc got to work breaking into the computer. "It won't take her long to break into your computer but there is an easier option, tell us the computer access code" said Dexter as Danton's house was trashed around him. "Found the codes" reported Leclerc. "Where was the last transmission sent?" asked Dexter. "To a Captain Astole moments before his ship was destroyed" reported Leclerc.
"Let's take him in for questioning, I want this house scoured" ordered Dexter as the Brigands cleared each room of any files, PADDs and computers. All Danton knew was blacking out as he was transported to the palace cells.
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Trianna, Dexter and Naynta were questioning Danton. "Who are your associates? I want names now" asked Dexter as he nodded to Naynta for her to do her worst. "Give us names and I will stop my associate here" said Dexter as Naynta activated the agonizer. "He's resisting" pointed out Trianna as she jolted Danton with a pain stick. "Telepathic interrogation it is then, ladies he's all yours" said Dexter after roughing Danton up some more. "Both Trianna and Naynta made Danton hit rock bottom as a list of names was pulled out.
"Admiral Tuvok, Fleet Admiral Riker, Captain Wesley Crusher, Gul Kadek and Admiral Leeta. Leeta would profit the most from an attack by a proxy ally" said Naynta. "Agreed, his links with the True Way may be part of a bigger scheme" replied Trianna. "How far does this go? We may be looking at traitors within our own government here and in Starfleet" asked Naynta. "It makes sense, on Rondac, the True Way troops were using Imperial issue weapons. Weapons that could only have been provided from Terra, the code numbers from the weapons captured on Rondac match weapons that went missing from a defense depot here on Terra" added Dexter. "Weapons that killed or wounded 8500 Imperial soldiers during the battle" added Naynta. "180 of which were my soldiers" said Trianna. "Let's take this evidence to her Majesty, it may warrant her personal attention" suggested Dexter concerned at the fact Imperial weapons were making their way into True Way hands.
Both Trianna and Naynta both agreed and the three officers took their findings straight to Papela. Papela read the reports and listened carefully to what was being said. "Make Danton sweat, put more pressure on him" ordered Papela before she told Dexter, Trianna and Nanyta to leave and carry on with the questioning. Papela poured a cup of tea as she studied the evidence carefully.
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Danton was woken up by Dexter blowing a air horn. "Must be 30 plus hours without food or drink, I want the names of your friends both in Starfleet and in the government. Comply and you eat" said Dexter brazenly eating a bacon and egg sandwich in front of the cell. "Still could be worse, when my associates get started on you, it's going to be painful and they're here" Dexter added afterwards as Trianna and Naynta entered the holding area eating cereal bars. "How long can a Terran last without food and water?" asked Naynta. "A month tops for food but only a few days without water. Mr Danton here has been deprived of food and water for last two days, the lack of sleep as well is causing issues" answered Dexter as Papela and Ablim Zolat entered the holding area.
"Mr. Smith, if Mr. Danton here does not co-operate, have your people pay a visit to his family" ordered Papela ramping up the pressure. "Ladies, if you will please" said Dexter as Trianna and Naynta got creative on Danton. "Why arm enemies of the empire?" asked Papela. "Terra for Terrans only" answered Danton spitting at Papela. "Mr. Zolat, rough him up" ordered Papela. Zolat and Trianna now started beating Danton as Naynta began her telepathic interrogation. "All this can stop if you co-operate, why have you been arming the True Way with Imperial weapons?" asked Dexter blowing the air horn in Danton's ear. "We'd rather not get your family involved but if you don't answer they will get a visit from some friends of mine" said Trianna as she opened a second cereal bar. "Oh you're hungry, how uncomfortable is that or is it the thirst?" said Naynta eating a cereal bar in front of Danton.
"Sidis, take a team of Brigands to pay Danton's family a visit and make sure you frighten them" ordered Dexter. "Consider it done" replied Sidis over the combadge. "I can cancel those orders if you answer our questions, what's more important your allies or your family?" said Dexter as he had a cup of strong tea. "Why did you arm the True Way?" asked Trianna as Naynta used Trianna's pain stick followed by another telepathic assault. "Kill me" muttered Danton but Trianna heard it and applied more pressure. "Answer our questions and you might get your wish" said Naynta smiling. "Two ways here, the easy way of you giving us all the information willingly or I'll ask my associates to extract it the hard way, how much damage could they do to your mind?" said Dexter as Trianna and Naynta started ripping information our of Danton's mind.
"Thank you, that's all we needed to know" said Papela as the plot to assassinate her was revealed in full. Sito and Heath's names were on the True Way and Imperial traitor's kill list, it was timed for the wedding day. "Major, I want your most loyal sharpshooters on the palace roofs and in the towers overlooking the throne room. Mr. Smith, make sure Terra is watertight security wise on the ground. Tell your first officer to keep the Brigand in orbit and stop any ship trying to enter orbit without authorization, destroy them if you have to" ordered Papela after Danton was dragged back to his cell to await his fate, "as you wish your Majesty" answered Dexter. "Yes mother, Imzadi we'll be busy" said Trianna as Naynta, Trianna and Zolat escorted Papela back to her office.
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Trianna was in her quarters trying on dresses with Hetal's help. "What about this red number?" asked Trianna, "too modest, you need something that shows your beauty but in a respectable manner" answered Hetal honesty. "Isoisa, good point" replied Trianna as she changed into a navy blue dress in her changing room. "Zip me up please" asked Trianna calling Hetal in. Hetal zipped up the dress and commented "blue is your color, it shows your beauty but in a respectable way without showing too much skin." "Blue it is then, you looking for promotion Isoisa?" replied Trianna smiling. "Not in that way" answered Hetal honestly. "Hmm shame, I need someone who I can trust in my bed now my Imzadi is on Terra full time. Don't worry, Ablim does not mind me having a bed warmer and confidant" replied Trianna smiling.
"How did you know?" asked Hetal surprised at Trianna's offer to her. "Why my dear Isoisa, your thoughts since we met gave it away" answered Trianna with a smile. "Well, the wedding is tomorrow so we have time to kill" replied Hetal with a smile. "Plenty of time for us to get to know each other better" answered Trianna smiling as she computer locked the doors so no-one could disturb them. Elsewhere, the rest of the crew were preparing for the wedding security. At the palace, everything was checked to make sure no explosive devices were present and all guests into the palace checked fro any weapons and explosives as the snipers practiced their long range shooting. At crew dinner later that day, the senior staff noticed Trianna and Hetal exchanging smiles over the dinner table.
"Why do I get the feeling this is the calm before the storm?" asked Dexter to his crew. "We must be vigilant" answered Mereu with full agreement from the rest of the officers. "Call it gut instinct but something does not feel right" said Dexter noting the calmness. "Dex is worried, I know that look" said Jasmine concerned. "Yeah, this does not sit well" added Sidis, "this conspiracy makes us nervous" added Leclerc. "Tomorrow, everyone needs to be on their A game. If it goes to plan then we'll consider it a success but if there is an attack, we must deal with it" said Dexter. "Logically, a wedding makes a good trap" pointed out T'Pamne, "too true" added Wilkinson. "Well, we've all got to be up early. Isoisa, I would like your company in my bed tonight" said Trianna. "No comment" said Dexter as the officers put away their dishes and all went to get an early night.
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Comments
Trianna had beamed down to Bajor to do something personal. In the great temple, Trianna spoke with the Vedek Assembly and the priests debating religious issues and asking the priests for the prophet's blessing in order to work with the mostly Bajoran crew on the Brigand before lighting a bataret candle and bowing in respect. It was the least she could do given what her sister had done when she had ethnically cleansed the planet, "Major, you look like the destroyer but you are not her" said one of the priests.
"The destroyer?" asked Trianna puzzled then the priest answered "your twin sister, she was the destroyer who tried to destroy our culture, beliefs and our home." "She will no longer bother you, I executed her myself" answered Trianna showing the priests and the Vedek Assembly the proof. "Your sister's pah was corrupt, your pah is not. Major, your crew will get their blessing" replied the Kai. "Thank you, my troops will be assembled on the ship" answered Trianna and she bowed before beaming back to the Brigand. Aboard the ship, Trianna had the whole ship's company assembled and a Bajoran priest blessed the entire crew. Trianna now turned her attention to Dex Smith and Mereu. "You two, cargo bay two in 15 minutes and in PT uniform" she snapped and both Dex and Mereu ran to get changed.
In Cargo bay two 15 minutes later, Dex and Mereu were in their PT gear as Trianna entered. "Since you two were late for your last shift, you will both be running laps of deck five for one hour. MOVE IT!!!" snapped Trianna. Both Dex and Mereu spent the next hour running laps with Trianna keeping pace with them jolting them with a pain stick if they slowed down. After an hour, both Dex and Mereu collapsed exhausted. "What if the moral of the story?" asked Trianna to which both Dex and Mereu answered "be on time." "Correct answer now go and get cleaned up and changed, you're both on duty in 10 minutes" replied Trianna before she went to her quarters to get cleaned up and changed.
After 15 minutes, Trianna was in her office having a private chat with Captain Heath via subspace. "How's your first command?" asked Heath. "Stressful, lucky I have the patience of a saint especially with Mr. Smith" answered Trianna, "Well Trianna, being in command is tough. Get to know your troops and gain their trust first, treat them like they are your own children and they will follow you to the end" advised Heath. "When the General put me in charge of them, we had an arrangement. Mr. Smith is nominally in command in a Starfleet capacity, MACO capacity, I'm in command" replied Trianna pouring herself a cup of coffee. "You're doing a good job, I saw what happened on Terra. Well played in rescuing those hostages with no fatalities, when I first met you, I had doubts about your capacity to command. Good to see I'm being proven wrong" answered Heath smiling.
"I spoke with the Vedek Assembly earlier, since this ship's crew is 95% Bajoran, I asked a Bajoran priest to bless the whole crew" replied Trianna. "Smart move, know your unit's various cultures and you'll get far with them" answered Heath. "They've been blessed, I have the loyalty of the Bajoran personnel at least, the rest are loyal to me as I have my ways of keeping them in line" replied Trianna smiling. "Trianna, why change your last name?" asked Heath, "my sister shamed and dishonored the Bray name, I cannot keep it as it is too painful" answered Trianna with a sigh. "A rebirth of sorts?" asked Heath, "it is, the Empress took me in as one of her own daughters, the name Bray died with my sister" answered Trianna.
"Tough break, I hear you were the one who executed her" replied Heath. "Had to be done, she was too dangerous to be allowed to live. I'm moving on hence why I joined MACO" answered Trianna. "Congratulations on the promotion to Major, you found somewhere you fit in. You suit camo" replied Heath smiling. "Thank you ma'am, I look forward to working with you" answered Trianna smiling. "Indeed Trianna, I'll leave you to get back to your duties. Heath out" replied Heath and the screen went blank. "Back to work, let's hope it stays calm for the rest of the day" thought Trianna as she stepped onto the bridge.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
ISS Enterprise
"I thought you were just inviting your close friends?" Sito asked.
"These are my close friends," Heath answered.
Heath's quarters were packed full of people. A cross section of both the old and new crews.
"You trust all of them?"
"I do."
"Thank you ma'am," Truzena said. "You do know we can all hear you two talking."
Heath smiled.
"Well then let's get started. We asked you here because we wanted to apologise."
A sea of confused faces looked back at them.
"We've been keeping a secret from you," Sito explained. "It was my insistence not to say anything because it could have been used against us. But... the situation has changed and I now realize that I can't do it myself anymore. So we're here tell you so you can help me."
"We'd gladly help if we knew what you were talking about," Paris commented.
"The thing is...," Sito paused and took Heath's hand. "I love her. And During our brief excursion to the other universe, I asked the captain here... I asked her to marry me."
Heath brought her other arm from behind her back to show them the bracelet.
"And I said yes. Finally I can wear it in public."
There was shocked silence then the room erupted in cheers and congratulations.
"Thank you, but that's not all," Sito had to shout to quiet them down. "Lazy's having a baby. Our baby. Babies actually."
The cheers were even louder this time.
"I didn't want to say anything because it would only make her a target."
"But I refuse to hide."
"So I need all of your help... Hell I need the whole crew... The fleet to help me keep her safe."
"With all due respect Admiral," Aunlel said. "All you had to do was ask. We will gladly be there to help."
The others in the room chorused their agreement.
"Thank you. We wanted to let you know before the Empress broadcast it to everyone."
"Betaziod grandmother's can be a little intense," Naynta commented.
Sito stood.
"With that, I will leave her with all of you. She's been wanting opinions on wedding dresses for weeks now. I have to go talk with someone else about all this. She may not be as happy with it as all of you." She made her way to the door and looked back. They had already surrounded her on the couch.
For the first time in a long time, Sito relaxed about her safety.
Trianna was in her office finishing up her reports to MACO command, the blissful quiet was ruined by yet another Smith sibling argument in the corridor. "Dexter, don't test my patience, you're nothing but a disappointment to the family" yelled Jasmine at Dexter's face. "You were and are dad's favorite, you could never set a foot wrong even when we were growing up" yelled Dexter back, "I'm not the one who walked out and turned their back on their family, you always blame others for your mistakes" yelled Jasmine back.
Trianna had heard enough and opened the door and calmly said to both Smith siblings "you two, in here now." Both sibling marched in and Trianna went straight to business. "You two have issues, issues that could affect the efficiency of the company and ship. That makes it my problem" said Trianna firmly. "Ma'am" answered both Smith siblings, Trianna lowering her reading glasses looked up gave both Smith siblings some hard Betazoid honesty, "you two have a lot to discuss, you will both work out your problems here with no violence. Family drives everyone mad, it's a cold hard fact." "At least I don't have a wacko sister who had to be put down like a mad dog" thought Dexter. Trianna had picked up on it and simply told Dexter "don't go there." Dexter knew Trianna was serious and realized he had hit a nerve.
After apologizing, Dexter and Jasmine began to work out their issues with Trianna acting as mediator. After an hour, both Smith siblings left the office after saluting Trianna and went to the bridge. Trianna then walked to the bridge escorted by her guards, "Mr. Zolat, you have a first name?" asked Trianna to her Betazoid guard commander. "It's Ablim, ma'am" answered Sgt Zolat, Trianna smiled and asked "Ablim, where you from?" "Medara, ma'am, it's a small city on Betazed" answered Sgt Zolat. "I grew up in Medara" replied Trianna. "You're a Medara girl, they're the crazy ones" answered Sgt Zolat smiling. "Guilty as charged" replied Trianna laughing. "Beautiful, tough and funny, my kind of woman" thought Sgt Zolat, Trianna just smiled as she picked up the thought. On the bridge, Trianna took her seat and thought "I like that one" making sure Sgt Zolat could pick it up.
"The major's in love, either that or she's claimed him" joked Hetal. "More likely claimed" added Sidis. "The feeling is mutual between me and the Sgt and yes I've claimed him so he's out of bounds" replied Trianna. "The ice queen has spoken" joked Dexter only to be met by a glare from Trianna. "No sarcasm, Mr. Smith" she said afterwards. "Dex, how many Orion matrons was it on Risa that kept you busy for 12 hours?" asked Hetal trying to get a definite answer. Dexter just thought "not this again." "It was two, that's where me and Dex started our relationship Isoisa" answered Mereu. "Not bad for a "business" meeting" joked Dexter as Jasmine just said "way too much information, I may need to see a psychiatrist" holding her head.
Dexter just laughed and said "Isoisa, thanks for freaking Jas out." "It's Jasmine not Jas" replied Jasmine face palming. "Mr. Smith, Miss Smith, try not to argue considering you've both started to make some progress" said Trianna. "Yes ma'am" answered both Smith siblings. Six hours later, Trianna was in her quarters reading some Tennyson when Dexter knocked on the door. "Enter" said Trianna then Dexter walked in said "I was out of order for the remark about your late sister." "Yes you were Dexter, so I'm going to give you some advise. Learn to get along with your sister, she's your family and she needs you to support her as you need her to support you. I'm an orphan, my family is dead. The Royal family took me in as a daughter" replied Trianna. "Trianna, if you don't mind me asking, where you two close?" asked Smith. "We were until she was murdered by a enemy of my father's, the Marie you fought against was a clone of her, even then it was hard to make that sacrifice for the good of the empire" answered Trianna.
"I had Leclerc do some digging into your sister's files, took her a while to break through the security but she found this" replied Dexter handing a PADD over to Trianna. Trianna read the PADD and after applying her security program, got into her late sister's research files only to discover a hidden cloning lab in the Imperial palace. As an insurance policy, Marie had taken the precaution of storing a DNA sample in cold storage. When her regime fell, she had an independent power supply hooked up to the lab and her DNA used to create a new clone. That clone was being rapidly grown and was already at the stage of a one year old Terran infant. "Dexter, I don't to know how you got this information, it checks out. I need to make a call. Leave me" said Trianna.
Trianna using her authorization passed on the information onto Papela with the location of the lab. "Mother, there is a cloning lab in sub basement 2 section echo 1. In the cloning vat, there is a one year old infant which is ready to be woken up. My sister cloned herself as an insurance policy just before her regime fell, this one is perfect with none of the insanity my late sister suffered from" was the message.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Anyone know what 'Black Mirror' is or where I can find it?
The crew were on down time on the Brigand, Dexter and his team were all on the holodeck on a "team building" exercise. They had invited Trianna to join them and Trianna accepted the invitation. "Computer, Aliens. United States colonial Marines uniforms and weapon" ordered Dexter. The program activated and a fortified position was created, "Dexter, what are we fighting and what is the objective?" asked Trianna. "Trianna, it's simple hold this position against waves of extremely hostile aliens called Xenomorphs, each wave gets bigger and more difficult. If the horde reaches melee range, the program ends. Don't worry, safeties on on" answered Dexter.
"Dexter, bring it" replied Trianna as she clicked the pump action on her shotgun. For the next few hours, the team of nine held out against the holographic hordes of aliens. The program defeated them at wave 70, "well done team, you all held your ground against overwhelming odds and only lost when your ammo ran out" said Trianna smiling. "Trianna, think of this crew as your extended family. We may drive you mad but you're used to us by now" said Dexter. "I'm honored Dexter, off duty I'll consider you all friends and family in arms but on duty, let's keep it professional" replied Trianna. "Anyone know a good nickname for the good Major?" asked Dexter. "Tri might work" answered Hetal, "Ice Queen sounds better" added Jasmine. "Ice Queen it is" replied Dexter as all raised their hand in the vote.
"Trianna, we've accepted you into the Brigands" said Pitaskli. "Thanks, I think" replied Trianna smiling, "this unit needs a nickname to have as a uniform patch" said Dexter as the group walked towards the mess hall. "To Trianna's Brigands" toasted the team as they had a drinking contest. "Can Trianna here hold her drink?" asked Dexter as the tequila shots were lined up, "Is is Dexter or Dex?" asked Trianna. "Dex will be fine" answered Dexter smiling. "Dex it is then" replied Trianna as she drank the first shot. The contest lasted for another hour or so as the group were administered hyposprays by Mereu. "Dex, your crew are close knit, that closeness makes you all more effective on operations" said Trianna. "Dexter, while you may drive me crazy with your antics, you're still my older brother end of the day." said Jasmine. "That's what big brothers do, drive their sibling crazy" replied Dexter smiling.
"Fresh start Dexter?" asked Jasmine. "Done Jasmine" replied Dexter as both shook hands. An hour later Trianna was in her quarters talking privately with Sgt Zolat getting to know him better. The rest of the crew were designing a unit patch together and they came up with a pair of crossed flintlock pistols over a black backing with white skull reading "Trianna's Brigands." "We'll wait until tomorrow to unveil our patch design to the Ice Queen" said Dexter as the crew went to get some sleep. Dexter and Mereu also made their relationship public as well.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
> After Leeta betrayed the Emperor and was believed to have been killed, her ship, the Enterprise-F, was reassigned to Val Shon STO short story: "Black Mirror"
>
>
>
>
> Anyone know what 'Black Mirror' is or where I can find it?
Couldn't find anything. Where'd you find that quote from?
Memory Beta
The entire Valdez and Wray families were all at a family gathering. "Dad, you've got a call" said Trianna as she passed Teanna Jane over to Valdez. Valdez took the call in his office, it was Papela going through a diplomatic channel. "Have I caught you at a bad time?" asked Papela, "no not really, I'm on grandfather duties" answered Valdez. "To put it bluntly, we found something here in in the palace" replied Papela. "Of what nature?" asked Valdez, "My predecessor cloned herself, the clone is at the stage of a one year old Terran infant" answered Papela.
"That complicates things" replied Valdez concerned. "We're going to awaken her, she may need a home in your reality where she'll be watched all her life" replied Papela. "Not a problem, my brother and his wife have been looking at adoption themselves. You wish to ask them?" asked Valdez. "Would be helpful" answered Papela. "I'll get them" said Valdez as Trianna entered the room and gave Teanna Jane her feed. "Trianna, could you get your uncle please?" asked Valdez. "Yes dad" acknowledged Trianna and she left the room and got her Uncle Iblim and Aunt Lwadana. They entered the room and took a seat each. "Mr and Mrs Wray, a few questions" said Papela. "Fire away" replied Iblim. "What are your views on discipline?" asked Papela, Iblim's answered was short and to the point, "discipline must be learnt as early as possible, without it children will run riot" answered Iblim. "I agree, a firm hand from an early age teaches discipline and respect" replied Papela. "Me and Nathan were raised on discipline and hard work, mother and father insisted" replied Iblim.
"Good family values, Mrs Wray, how would you raise a daughter?" asked Papela. "With a loving but firm approach, simple as that. Me and Iblim have raised a son with the same approach" answered Lwadana. "I have a one year old female Terran infant here, she needs a home" replied Papela satisfied with the Wrays' answers. "I'll get my brother to work out the legal issues, we'll take the infant in. We own a farm on Betazed, she'll get discipline from an early age and be introduced to work when she's old enough. Family rule is everyone pulls their weight with no exceptions, we'll home school her as well" replied Iblim agreeing to take in the clone. "Mr and Mrs Wray, thank you. I'll send the papers to your brother, Empress out" replied Papela and the screen went blank.
"Nathan, you've got legal work to deal with" said Lwadana. "That I have. Iblim, since you're a lawyer I may need your help" asked Valdez. "Consider it done bro" answered Iblim.
I.S.S. Brigand, Bajor orbit (MU)
The crew were all at breakfast, "Ice, we want to run something by you" said Dexter as he presented the unit patch design to Trianna. "Trianna's Brigands, I like it. Dex, mass produce it and make sure it becomes part of standard uniform" replied Trianna in approval. "Consider it done Ice" answered Dexter. "Oatmeal again" complained Hetal, "Regulation SUAEI" replied Trianna. "Regulation SUAEI?" asked Hetal puzzled, it was followed by a collective "shut up and eat it" from the rest of crew. "It's meant to keep you alive, not look pretty" said Trianna afterwards.
"Got it Ice, you seem happier" replied Hetal, "Isoisa, I am but don't mistake that for weakness" replied Trianna. "It's called being in a relationship" added Mereu. "Dexter, you told mum and dad about Mereu yet?" asked Jasmine, "Jasmine, I'll introduce her to our folks when we're next on Terra" answered Dexter smiling. "Dex, so you and Mereu are officially a couple" said Sidis. "That they are" added Pitaskli laughing, "so romantic" added Leclerc smirking. "When's the wedding?" asked Wilkinson smiling to which T'Pamne added "they suit each other." "You are all charming, me and Mereu are taking things slowly" replied Dexter. "Best way Dex, me and Sgt Zolat are taking things at our own pace" replied Trianna with a smile.
"Does that mean I have to be in uniform when I meet your folks?" asked Mereu. "Afraid so, dad is a stickler for appearance" answered Dexter. "Got that right Dexter" added Jasmine. "We're on duty in 15 so lets finish up and get ready for work" said Trianna. The crew finished their breakfast and went to their posts, Trianna smiled, she was enjoying being around her crew even as she knew they would find some way of driving her mad.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
"And finally, the Empress announced today the engagement of one of her daughters. Admiral Sito Thay, Commander of the Betazed sector forces is to wed one of her subordinates, Heath Layress, the Federation captain who along with her crew defected and sought asylum within the Empire. The Admiral had been the one to initiate her defection and the two had reportedly been close since her arrival. The pair reportedly actually got engaged before the attack on Terra and were recently proclaimed by the Bajoran Vedek Assembly to be the 'Emissaries' of their people. The Empress said that the two had decided to make their relationship public as Captain Heath is expecting the couples first children within the year. The Empress was reported to be ecstatic about the prospect of being a grandmother an expects the wedding to take place next month. We here offer our congratulations and best wishes to the couple and their children to come.
This is INN, the Imperial News Network."
Antares fleet yard (prime)
"Lazy! You didn't tell me you were pregnant!"
"What are you talking about Augie?"
She threw the PADD at her.
"You're getting married and you're knocked up."
Heath read the report.
"Her, not me."
"Yeah, for that to happen you'd actually have to date."
"My mother's been talking to you again hasn't she?"
"You know my brother's always had a thing for you."
"Like I want to be stuck with a male version of you."
"So you would rather remain Starfleet's official sacrificial virgi..."
"One more word Augustine and my boot meets your backside."
"As you command Admiral. But still what about it? After saving them, think we'll get an invite?"
"I don't know. Its complicated. Things are changing over there. We just need to watch and see what happens."
The Brigand was back at Terra after her shakedown tests. Since the crew had performed well and gelled as a unit, Trianna granted them 48 hours leave. Dexter, Mereu and Jasmine were in the Cotswalds visiting family. "My father is career military so please be polite" said Dexter to Mereu. "I'll call your father sir then, don't worry I inoculated myself with a pheromone suppressant to avoid any issues Dex" replied Mereu. "Time to face the music" added Jasmine as she knocked on the door. "Jasmine, Dexter please do come in" said Jennifer Smith. "David, our children have come home to visit" called Mrs Smith to General Smith. "Dexter, I see military service is making a man out of you" said General Smith.
"Mum, Dad, there's someone I want to introduce you to. Meet Doctor Mereu, she's CMO on our ship and my partner" said Dexter. General Smith took one look and seeing Mereu in MACO uniform shook her hand and asked "Doctor, how long have you and Dexter been together?" politely. "Year and a half sir" answered Mereu politely. "You both happy together?" asked General Smith. Dexter just thought "seriously dad." "The feelings are mutual sir" answered Mereu. "You all must be sick of that replicated slop they serve in the military. Jasmine, Dexter, I'll need a hand preparing dinner and it's real food" said Jennifer. "Yes mum" chorused both siblings. Meanwhile General Smith was talking with Mereu before asking "so when are you two getting married?" "We're taking things slowly, it's a decision we need to be sure of" answered Mereu honestly. "David, Dexter has chosen to spend his life with this polite young woman despite her past" pointed out Jennifer. In the kitchen area both Smith siblings were chopping vegetables when Dexter just said to Jasmine "I'm going to ask Mereu to marry me" as he produced a box with a engagement ring in it.
"Serious decision there Dexter" replied Jasmine. "I'll wait until after dinner before I propose to her" replied Dexter back. At dinner, General Smith and Jennifer Smith were getting to know Mereu better. After dinner, Dexter proposed and Mereu accepted before giving Dexter a hug. "Welcome to the family Mereu, your record since joining the military has been clean despite your past" said General Smith welcoming his future daughter in law. The rest of the crew were in Tokyo having a bar crawl to blow off steam.
At the palace, Trianna was overseeing the waking operation on the clone to make she was healthy. "Stop the growth and prepare to use a sample of my DNA to permanently stabilize the clone to grow at a normal rate" ordered Trianna. The doctor in charge did what was asked and finished the procedure. "Good, remove her genetic memories just to be safe. Leave what's normal in an infant of that age" ordered Trianna. "Yes ma'am" answered the doctor and the memory wipe was completed leaving the clone with normal mental development. "I'll speak with the empress" said Trianna and she left the medical team to monitor the clone.
Trianna knocked on Papela's office door and was let in, "Mother, you wished to see me" said Trianna. "Little one, when your crew finish their leave, I've got a job for them" replied Papela. "What kind of job?" asked Trianna, "a delivery of sorts, something that requires finesse" replied Papela. "Marie's clone?" asked Trianna, "I've spoken with Mr.Valdez and his family, they're agreed to give the clone a home on the other Betazed where she will be monitored all her life" answered Papela sipping her tea. "Complete secrecy will have to be observed, as far as the empire is concerned, I executed the last empress" replied Trianna being all business.
"Hence why I'm trusting your unit with this job, you are to transport the clone to the Enterprise and pass these orders to Admiral Sito and Captain Heath. They are not to be opened until they have been passed to either Sito or Heath, they will contact TF 113 on the Federation side of the border to take delivery and transport the clone to her new family on Betazed. I've given Mr Valdez advanced warning that the clone is being moved" replied Papela calmly. "As you wish mother, the clone will be out of the empire within 72 hours, Chief Pitaskli is supervising a team in installing a quantum slipstream drive so we get to the border within 12 hours of departure" answered Trianna. "Little one, be efficient and make sure Mr. Smith and his people know that secrecy is necessary" replied Papela. "Yes mother" answered Trianna.
"You've got 48 hours off, what ever business you have on Terra, make sure it's done" said Papela as she poured two cups of tea, "Mother, you may not approve but I've started seeing my guard commander, Sgt Ablim Zolat romantically" said Trianna sipping her tea. "Does he make you happy?" asked Papela, "he does" answered Trianna. "Betazoid?" asked Papela. "He is" answered Trianna. "You'll have to introduce him when your ready" replied Papela. "Mother, congratulations on finding out you'll be a grandmother" said Trianna. "I hope you'll be a good aunt then" replied Papela. "I will be" answered Trianna. "Thank you little one now take some time off away from work, you and your people have earned it" said Papela. "Yes Mother" answered Trianna and she saluted and left the office.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
"How the hell is that even possible?" Captain Sito Thay demanded to know sitting in the bar. "How can two female Bajorans reproduce?"
"Maybe she has both sets of reproductive organs."
She grabbed the bartender by the collar.
"That sadistic mirror witch is a copy of me. Are you saying that I have both sets?"
"No ma'am. Not at all!"
She let him go.
"I was that woman's prisoner for two years. She kept me locked up. Layress shows up and she gets the run of the place then sent back. Now she's back there pregnant and getting married to her. We know where her loyalty lies don't we."
"I hear she's a defective temporal copy not the original."
"Oh yes. The great Admiral. Put someone who was captured by the enemy in charge of stopping them. Brilliant. You can't trust either of them."
"Anything else I can get you?"
"The last two years of my life back. Barring that, my bill. We have to ship out in the morning and I need to sleep this off."
Trianna's unit had removed the clone form the empire according to plan. On Antares, the Wrays took custody of the clone then left for Betazed. "Major, the I.S.S. Brigand has been reassigned to my fleet. I'll be keeping a close eye on you" said Sito. "Ma'am, you'll have no problems from me. My troops know their loyalty to the empire and will do their duty" answered Trianna. "Your senior staff have lengthy criminal records, they were the crew that did the Great Ferenginar Robbery" replied Sito.
"I'm impressed, they robbed the biggest bank on Ferenginar and got away undetected" answered Trianna smiling. "And running Imperial blockades at the Siege of Betazed before rescuing the Lot family in one last run before they used Imperial ships as shields to block any fire to hide their getaway" replied Sito. "They volunteered for service and they've been excellent so far" answered Trianna. "You defending them Major?" asked Sito, "I am. They're my unit, I'll always stand by them. If they step out of line, I deal with them" answered Trianna. "Lazy, can we put her unit to good use?" asked Sito.
"Having an extra MACO unit assigned to us would be beneficial, keep an eye on her though. The Major here was the one who turned the platforms onto her sister's fleet at Terra, Mr. Smith and his crew are also Betazed and Terra veterans with combat experience. They were the team who did the Washington raid on Terra, all hostages out alive with the dissidents all taken alive" answered Heath. "I heard about that, why didn't you act sooner?" asked Sito. "It would have led to too many collateral casualties, rushing in was not an option given the INN cameras saw the whole raid. Dead hostages would have looked bad politically and the intel gained from the dissidents arrested and detained will help find others" answered Trianna.
"Well executed operation" replied Sito. "My teams practice and train each day, even the Starfleet personnel. Captain Smith has formed new units called Hazard Teams, that brings fighting strength for ground and boarding operations to 400 troops. 200 of which are MACO and the other 200 are Starfleet Hazard Team operators as well as Computer warfare officers" answered Trianna. "Thank you Major, that'll be all. Dismissed" replied Sito. "Yes ma'am and congratulations to you and Captain Heath" answered Trianna before she saluted Sito and returned to the Brigand.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
ISS Enterprise
"How could you do that Thay?"
"I didn't intend to get her pregnant Callie. It just... happened."
"Not just that. You're marrying her?"
"Yes, I am."
"She's controlling you. You're letting her control you."
"She is not controlling me."
"She talks back to you. She challenges your decisions. You let her dress however she wants. Anyone else who had tried those things you would have thrown them in booth. But you can't do that anymore because you got rid of them because of her!"
"Are you done?"
"I'm just getting started."
"Before you get too worked up, may I say something."
"Sure. Let's hear you defend your fedrat sex toy."
"One, never call her that again. Two, can you deny that her suggestions have not improved how the ship and the fleet has been operating? Removing the booths and using those Counselors has not only improved morale but we have accumulated so much information on the crew we could blackmail them into betraying their own families if we wanted. We never would have gotten that through the booths. Three, it's so refreshing to talk to someone who doesn't always just go 'yes ma'am' every time you ask them something. Someone who points out the flaws in your ideas, or offers suggestion on how to make it better. We've drilled order into ourselves and drilled out creativity. She provides that. Last and most important... I love her. She makes me... happy. She's makes our exile here bearable."
Callie shook her head.
"That over inflated chest of hers has you completely under her spell doesn't it?"
Thay was about to say something, then changed her mind.
"Tell me, does your little Andorian bed warmer control you?"
"Don't call her that and no she doesn't."
"Well then you won't care if I have her squadron reassigned to one of the boarder skirmish areas..."
"DON'T YOU DARE! I'LL..."
Thay stared into her eyes.
"You'll what?"
"I..."
"Yes?"
Callie lowered her head.
"They're weak," she said more trying to convince herself. "We're stronger than them. Stronger than their whole Alliance. How can they have this control over us?"
Thay put her hands on her sister's shoulders.
"They accept us for who we are, flaws and all. And...we have no defense against that. We pull them closer because of it."
"..."
"Yes?"
"I still don't like her, but she did introduce me to Cosl. So I have to be grateful to her for that."
"I'll accept that. She is carrying your nieces."
"Nieces? As in more than one?"
"Twins."
"Wow..."
"What?"
"If they're anything like you were as a child... I think I almost feel sorry for her. Almost. Have you talked to the others yet?"
"I figure I'd start with you. You're the easy one to talk to.:
"Good luck with that."
"Should be easy. Mother will just glare them in to submission."
"Now them, I feel sorry for."
Trianna had come aboard the Enterprise with her protection squad for a mission planning. "Captain Heath, you have need of my unit?" asked Trianna after saluting Heath. "Here are the targets, they call themselves the True Way" answered Heath handing the PADD over to Trianna. "Cardassian extremists, they believe the empire has no right to exist and claim to represent the Cardassian people" replied Trianna. "How much of a threat are they?" asked Heath. "Enough to destabilize Imperial control of the Cardassia sector if left alone" answered Trianna.
"Sito needs them removed, your unit has been selected" replied Heath, Trianna smiled answering "carpet bombing Cardassia is out of the question, what we need is a raid to capture their leadership as well as any intel they may have." "My thoughts exactly Major, we're going to plan the raid so I'll need Mr. Smith to run recon on the target" replied Heath. "Ice to Captain Smith, I need Leclerc here with me on the Enterprise running intel duties. Once Lt Leclerc is aboard the Enterprise, set a course for Cardassia" ordered Trianna. "Roger that Ice, Leclerc has just transported over" acknowledged Dexter Smith. Leclerc beamed straight to the bridge from the Brigand and reported "Ice I'm ready." "You're my intelligence officer for this mission, you'll report to Captain Heath while you are here" said Trianna. "Roger that Ice" answered Leclerc.
Meanwhile, the Brigand had entered the outer edge of the Cardassian system and took position to fire recon drones at the planet. Leclerc on the Enterprise patched in and would pilot the camera drone remotely. "Camera drone away, I'm using the Brigand's subspace communications as a signal booster so any footage will be sent here live" reported Leclerc. The drones all spread out tracking Cardassian communication signals as Leclerc patched herself into the Cardassian computer grid. Trianna watched the telemetry carefully looking for unusual energy sources, she found one in Lakarian City. The drone flew over as it cloaked scanning a compound on the outskirts of the city. "Keep going, move the camera two degrees down and focus on those towers" ordered Trianna with her hand on Leclerc's shoulder. "Scan them, let's see what's being powered" said Trianna carefully watching the screen. "Wait, enhance image and freeze" ordered Trianna.
"Those aren't legal, Captain Heath I need a second pair of eyes here" said Trianna noting the positions of the towers. "Those are weapons emplacements, Lt, get us a closer look" said Heath. Leclerc piloted the drone closer and it was confirmed. In the towers were illegal spiral wave disruptors set to shoot down any aerial assault that got with 20 km. "That complicates things" said Trianna as she was reading the Cardassian communications. "There's our target, Gul Kadek. Leclerc, pull up his file" ordered Trianna as all data was being read by Heath. "He's charismatic but arrogant at the same time, could that help us?" asked Heath. "Kadek thinks he is safe in that fortress of his, we need to turn his strength into a weakness" answered Trianna. "As an air assault is out of the question given those anti-air defenses, how do we get into that fortress?" asked Heath.
"Ground assault but having to move 20 km to even reach the target is not ideal. Leclerc, is there a way we can shut down power to the compound as our shuttles come in at low level?" asked Trianna. "We would have to shut down power planet wide. The compound however has back up power but it'll take thirty minutes to activate, we could also however jam the compounds sensor grid to increase our landing force's chances of landing in one piece" "That window is better than nothing, keep looking for weaknesses in that compound" ordered Trianna. "Roger that Ice" answered Leclerc. "This needs to be done without any collateral damage and casualties, last thing we need is a bloodbath on our hands" said Trianna. "Agreed, Major keep looking" ordered Heath. "Roger that ma'am" answered Trianna.
"Major, we could think about infiltrating the troops in ahead of time as a "garrison reinforcement", we could use an air assault by flying shuttles in remotely as cover to get the ground forces into assault positions. " suggested Heath. "All warfare is based on deception" quoted Trianna smiling.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
The Brigand was back after it's recon mission as Captain Smith and his team leaders beamed aboard Enterprise. Astrometrics had been converted into a command and control centre for the operation, Captain Heath and Trianna had the team leaders assembled to brief the units taking part in the raid. "This is the target" said Trianna bringing up the schematics of the compound. "On each corner is a defense tower mounting spiral wave disruptors powered by an independent power generator. If we don't disable those towers the rest of the force cannot land" added Heath. "It's the emissary" whispered the Bajoran officers, "keep it professional Mr. Jaxa" said Trianna. "Ma'am" replied Lt Jaxa Tam and the message was passed down "be professional when in front of the emissary".
"This a two fold plan. Captain Smith, two Hazard Teams will infiltrate as close to the compound as possible. At 0130 hours, Cardassia will go dark. Computer warfare teams, your task is to break into their computer grid and overload the compound generators remotely and shut down their sensors. Electronic warfare, cut off any communication channels to prevent the target calling for help" said Heath. "Once the towers are down, the rest of force will land as close as possible and proceed to blow open entry points using spatial charges. Sharpshooter teams one, two and three will provide long range suppression fire to keep the target's head down and provide covering fire for the assault teams" added Trianna. "Once the breach has been made and the defenses shut down, Commander Wheeler and her unit will beam down to reinforce the breaching troops and fight alongside them towards the command centre and secure it and any intel" said Heath. "My unit will go after this man, Gul Kadek. Expect his security detachments to fight so you'll be facing resistance" added Trianna.
"What level of resistance?" asked Dexter. "50 True Way disciples as well as 20 officers and support personnel" answered Trianna. "70 against 450, why do they risk dying in a hopeless battle rather than hand themselves in?" asked Commander Wheeler. "Because Commander, Kadek and his followers think they are safe in their fortress. When the wolves come howling, no fortress is safe" answered Trianna. Heath just smiled at Trianna's answer, "Cmdr, this is a joint operation. You've never worked alongside Imperial special forces before, so you'll practice the raid on the holodeck alongside the Imperial MACOs" said Heath putting Wheeler's mind to rest. "We've got 48 hours until we launch so everyone involved in the raid will be practicing it until it becomes second nature. Any new intel will be shared on a need to know basis when the time is right, until then all personal communications are no longer authorized to make sure security is watertight" finished Trianna.
Heath dismissed the squad leaders and they went to gather their units. For the first time Federation trained MACOs would be training alongside Imperial trained MACOs and Hazard Teams. Trianna and Heath meanwhile kept studying the schematics of the compound to memorize them. Heath would be overall command and control from Enterprise, Trianna would lead the Imperial ground forces and Wheeler the Enterprise contingent. On board both the Brigand and the Enterprise, the crews started the practice runs of the operation. "Major, Captain, all troops taking part will have the blessing of the prophets to give them strength for their task" said Chaplain Lenaris Groba. "Thank you Chaplain, when you pray to the prophets next, ask them to bless us with victory" replied Trianna. "A Chaplain?" asked Heath, "I introduced the position aboard the Brigand as a way of improving morale, someone who can speak to the crew on a spiritual level regardless of faith and species" answered Trianna.
"Personal question here, how are you coping given recent events?" asked Heath. "I lost too much in making sure my sister was stopped. I lost my entire family because of my sister, the worst part is people still doubt my loyalty to the empire. I have to live with the deaths of my sister's victims and the fact I shot my own sister because there was no other option. If only Admiral Sito knew how close her family came to being wiped out in 2375 by my sister. The only reason Sito is alive today is because I helped save her family 36 years ago. Just because Marie was my sister, people look at me as a pariah. Someone not to be trusted at all because my relation to the Mad Empress. How does that make me feel? Angry and upset is the least of it. Some days, I wish I could purge the Terran half of me but I can't. I killed people without showing mercy because I'm good at it, I even killed my fellow Betazoids all because I was on the wrong side" answered Trianna giving Heath a piece of her mind before sitting on the floor and holding her head wiping her eyes.
"That's called reality hitting you, the empress gave you a second chance. Don't waste it, you keep that brave face up but you cannot hide from your past. You remember what you were like when we first met?" replied Heath. "An entitled bully who used violence to assert her dominance all because my stepfather was an admiral at the time" answered Trianna. "Stepfather?" asked Heath. "You heard right, the man you erased was not my father. My father was a Terran slave, one of my mother's "pets", mom was already pregnant when she married my stepfather after having my biological father murdered. My family were never perfect but I miss them everyday" answered Trianna picking herself up and punching a table. "You have to mind that temper of yours" replied Heath. "That is an ongoing issue" answered Trianna as a Trill officer glanced at Sgt Zolat only to be met a glare and a slight growl from Trianna. "Captain, I get territorial around Mr Zolat. He's mine" said Trianna. "I've noticed, Major you've been working 18 hours straight, go back to the brigand and get some rest" replied Heath. "Ma'am" answered Trianna and she left the Enterprise with her personnel and returned to the Brigand.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
It had been a week of slithering their way through the criminal underworld to track their lost prey, but the Shadows had manged to corner the Cardasian freighter in in an asteroid field.
"What can you tell me Plague?" Shade asked her helms officer.
"It's a good place to hide, Imperial records on this area are incomplete, if there's a base in there, it's going to be well hidden... Building it would have been impossible without specialized equipment."
"Then they're just trying to loose us again I'd bet."
"Seems likely ma'am."
"Take us in.... Let's find this scared little deer shall we."
The Phantom class began to manuver through the rocks, seeking the criminals out, nearly be crushed by the massive and chaotic constantly crashing into each other space-debris. Putting the cloak back up Emma asked if there was any sign of the fugitives on sensors.
Putting up the contacts on main view screen Shade sighed, seeing that there was not one, but three freighters there. "Do we still have those stolen Star Union Parasites? I'd rather take out three targets with one blow- That is if they raise their shields." She Turned a fire like gleam filling her eyes; "Basilisk, I want boarding parties peeped and in the transporter rooms"
"About time we got the jump on this group for a change... This hunt hasn't been easy."
"Catching up with them has been to easy after everything else they've done. I'll beam over once you've secured the bridge of each ship.
The crews had been trained mercenaries- mostly... The smugglers had been 'uncooperative', Shade was stalking back and forth in front of Captain Blood-Fang, having shot the female Cardasian in the foot, and the Deferi first officer in both knees. She wasn't sure which she hated more. "We're going to play a game until you tell me what I want to know or until we've through rally searched your ships; it's called 'who can scream loudest'.
After snapping her fingers, Shade looked over her shoulder and began walking over to the captains quarters off the bridge leaving her underlings to begin the 'game'. She scowled as she approached the door, taking up her phase as it opened, and fired at the bed, taking note of the excessive amount of latinum spread all over the room and the bedding.
"The next time I catch either of you doing something like this on duty will be the last few minutes of your lives, and I won't shoot to low... I'm givjng you both an hour in the booth when we get back to the ship- and yes you'll be able to watch each other." She told the initiates. Shade turned around and closed the door. "Hmm, on second thought- Enteri'Is beam the latinum in the captains quarters into my own."
As she walked back on to the bridge of the disabled ship, a crewman passed her a PADD with a cargo manifest. "Well well well. this ship alone has enough on it for me to execute you right now: 177 Terran slaves, plus a few hundred others, weapons, various bits of random contraband, 4 Ask'Kar for Prime Contact'." Shade picked up Blood-Fang and snarled. "Where is the gem!? She placed her foot Spoon-head’s wound.
“Arrgh! Got rid of thing like we were hired to!.. That’s what you want!? Left the thing for pickup in on Vulcan’s moon! Should be in Cardasian hands by now… Funny The Empire never realized what they had in their vaults. In a temporal war, Gateway was destroyed when a massive dreadnought crashed landed into it, pieces of it were scattered through temporal portals as the Guardian of Forever died… The Alliance started looking into parts that were found on planets and learned some interesting facts about the past and future. A focusing crystal, a sapphire the size of man crashed on Terra, and once that weapon has been built, we will burn your taint from the stars!
Shade shot her point blank. “She’s insane, but set course for Terok Nor, we don’t leave something like this to chance if she’s telling the truth…
The Foundry, and my love of Star Trek
Dexter Smith was in his quarters listening to some music with Mereu when Trianna knocked on the door. "Enter" said Dexter and Trianna entered the room. "Ice, what brings you here?" asked Dexter, "business" answered Trianna. "Take a seat, you been crying?" asked Dexter as Trianna sat down. "You wouldn't understand" answered Trianna, "try me, if something is wrong that could affect the mission, we need to know" replied Dexter. "I had a meltdown, I may be emotionally compromised" answered Trianna. "Let me lead the mission then, if you've got problems you need to take time off to deal with them. Call it advise from a fellow misfit" replied Dexter.
"Dexter raises a good point, let us run the mission. We won't hold it against you, we've learnt to trust you so you need to trust us" added Mereu. "Ice, she raises a point, last thing we need is our commander losing control of her faculties. Think about the troops under your command" added Dexter. "Since you put it that way, I'll take it under advisement just try not to to wreck the ship while I'm on Terra" answered Trianna. "We'll update you on the mission when we complete it and give you a lift back to Terra" replied Dexter. Trianna then explained the meltdown though restricting it to non-classified parts of her past. Dexter was at a loss of words for once. "It's that messed up" said Trianna afterwards, Dexter took a few minutes for it to sink in before asking "Do we see you as a pariah?" "Not at all, you've accepted me for who I am" answered Trianna.
"You lost everything but you saved billions" replied Dexter. "At too high a cost" answered Trianna. "Maybe, running from your past won't help, trust I tried but my past always caught up with me" replied Mereu. "Ice, you're one of us and we look after our own" added Dexter. "Thank you Dexter, thank you Mereu" replied Trianna. "What are friends for, we'll give you a lift back to Terra after the mission" said Dexter. "Thank you for the pep talk, I better start packing. Congratulations on the engagement both of you" replied Trianna. She stood up and left for the Enterprise to inform Captain Heath that Captain Smith was now in command of ground operations.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
The raid was set into motion, Trianna and Captain Heath both watched from mission control on the Enterprise. As planned, the Cardassian power grid was disabled and the troops infiltrated into Lakarian City. As they reached the compound, the defense tower generators and compound generators were overloaded as the Brigands set up the spatial charges. "3, 2,1 and detonate" ordered Captain Smith and the the compound doors were blown. Leclerc shut down the coms net as the explosion went off.
"Breach and clear now" ordered Smith and the Imperial commandos advanced and secured the transporter room. Wheeler's MACOs now beamed in on schedule. "Wheeler, take two hazrd teams with you and secure the command centre. I'll go after Kadek with my groups" said Captain Smith. On the Enterprise, Heath kept an eye on Trianna as they both observed the progress of the raid. "Good, they're fanning out" noted Trianna despondent she was not there with her troops. "Deploy the reserves" ordered Heath and the reserves were beamed down to the compound. Trianna's intel was spot on as the MACOs and Hazard teams encountered light resistance from the 70 armed Cardassians in the compound. They were stunned and their codes used to open the command centre. Smith and his group managed to corner Kadek on the roof top as he made a run for his shuttle only to be downed by a sniper's sedative round. "Brigand one to command and control, we have the package" said Smith over a secure com link.
Wheeler's teams meanwhile had found the computer core and downloaded all the intel they could find. "Wolf One to Brigand, intel secured" said Wheeler over a secure channel. "Roger that Wolf One, Enterprise we've got what we came for, we need extraction" replied Smith. "Command copies, transporter room, beam up all our troops" ordered Heath. The raiders were beamed up with their prizes, Trianna had her intelligence officer Lt Leclerc go through the captured intel as she studied the data. What they had found was enough to justify the raid, among the data they found communications to Admiral Leeta and commuications to an organization called the True way to restore the Alliance. "Looks like Kadek may need questioning" said Heath reading the captured data. Trianna was then ordered home to Terra for extended leave to deal with her issues. She beamed aboard Brigand with her victorious troops.
On the bridge, the crew cheered. "Bible, thanks for praying for victory" said Dexter Smith to Chaplain Lenaris. "Bible?" asked Lenaris to which Dexter answered "a Terran holy book from one of it's many religions, hence why I nicknamed you Bible." "Ice, in and out, no casualties" said Dexter to Trianna smiling. "Well played Dexter, I was right to listen to that advise" replied Trianna. "Ice, we'll get you back to the palace on Terra along with our prisoner" answered Dexter. "Looks like Naynta will be busy for a while" replied Trianna. "We trusted you and you trusted us, we succeeded" said Dexter. "I have personal things I need to attend to on Terra, I'll leave the ship in your good hands" replied Trianna. "You want to give the order?" asked Dexter, Trianna took the captain's chair and ordered "Hetal, set course for Terra, maximum warp. Engage." The ship jumped to warp and left the Cardassia system.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Rondac III had been seized by a combined True Way/Klingon invasion. Despite a brave and heroic defense the little Imperial military presence was wiped out to the last soldier. Due to it's strategic importance, Imperial command dispatched the the Imperial 7th Fleet comprising 220 ships and four whole MACO divisions totaling 18000 troops. General Smith had elected to use the Brigand as his command and control centre to fight the ground war. Dexter Smith readied his troops, they were part of the first wave to land and they would face their baptism by battle.
No one said a word as their landing craft descended into the atmosphere of Rondac III. Under fighter cover provided by the fleet, the first landing craft landed and the troops poured out and secured any high ground around the landing zone. Brigand Battalion was assigned to a position marked Hill 983 on the map. As they advanced up the hill, Captain Smith noted the lack of enemy forces and on securing the high ground had his troops dig in and prepare for defense. Using the lack of enemy action, the Brigands secured their positions with trenches and what ever they could get their hands on for building a parapet. "We're blocking the only good road into the landing zone, if the enemy is going to counter-attack, they'll have to hit us here. There are only 400 of us here and we are the dam to block the flow of the enemy, we hold this position or we lose the landing zone, it's that simple. We win or we die trying no matter the odds, long live the empire" said Captain Smith to his troops. On the Brigand, Jasmine was working with General Smith overlooking the battlefield with Leclerc on Intel in command and control.
1030 hours
On the ground, the first counter-attacks started as True Way Alliance forces charged Hill 983. "Form two ranks" ordered Smith and the battalion formed two ranks, the front kneeling and the second rank standing. "Front rank, fire!!!" ordered Smith as Sidis yelled "Second rank, fire!!!." The volleys downed Alliance soldiers in droves as the Brigands made them pay for every inch of ground. Wave after wave crashed against the Brigand's position but were stopped by accurate volleys of phaser rifle fire and dug in heavy weapon and mortar turrets. The Brigands had not surrendered an inch of ground as Alliance casualties rose to alarming levels. The Brigands were not having everything their own way, they had taken 50 wounded casualties who were medivaced off the planet by transporter but no KIA. Smith knew this would be a long fight and costly, the longer as he held Hill 983 more troops could be landed without harassment form enemy action.
1450 hours
The Alliance launched another attack on Smith's position this time hoping to surround the position. Smith seeing the danger called down air support to wipe out 1500 Klingon warriors on his right flank as he wheeled round his mortar teams to rain fire down on the 600 Cardassians on his left. The spoiling attacks did their job as the Alliance troops were forced into attacking the defensive ring only to be faced by volley after volley of rifle fire from the out numbered Imperials on Hill 983 and Imperial air support. The Brigands held their positions refusing to give even an inch of ground as the Alliance infantry assaults were repulsed one after another. The fighting dragged on until dusk and the Brigands were still in control of Hill 983 as the Imperial beach head got larger. More and more Imperial troops were landing by the hour and eventually linked up with the Brigands on Hill 983 at 1800 hours. Smith did a roll call of the battalion, 100 Bajorans and Terrans wounded and medivaced with 15 Bajorans and 80 Terrans KIA out of 400. Nearly half the battalion were KIA or WIA but they had held out against 2500 Alliance attacks for 7 and a half long hours.
1900 Hours
Smith now reorganized his positions as Hill 983 was reinforced by a reserve company. Already the INN had reported the battle of Hill 983 as the Battle of Brigand's Hill as reporters did their reports on the battlefield, the Brigands were offered interviews but declined, they had more important things to deal with as they prepared for their first night on Brigand's Hill. As it began to get dark, the Brigands all stood to and prepared to hold the line expecting a night assault on the position. "All telepaths, be on alert, expect attack on this position throughout the night.
2200 Hours
The calm quiet was shattered by "Today is a good day to die" from the Alliance Klingon Warriors before they charged up the Brigand's Hill. The Brigands on the hill held their fire until the Klingon warriors were within 200 metres before they opened up with a mass volley which lit up the entire hill. "Pour it on" was the order from Smith as every weapon rained fire onto the Alliance attack. The Imperial officers encouraged the enlisted troops to fight with everything they had. It did the trick for the next eight hours, the Brigands fought off 8 repeated sentient wave assaults of up to a 1000 warriors each before the Alliance retreated from the battlefield at 0600 hours the next day as the front moved past Brigand's Hill. The Brigands were pulled out of the line and medivaced back to the fleet, Smith, Hetal and Sidis were lightly wounded while Pitaskli, T'Pamne, Wilkinson and Bible were unharmed. The Brigands then put their 95 KIA to rest in military tradition and toasted to their heroic victory on Brigand Hill.
Day two saw rapid gains made the Imperial ground forces as Imperial troops were landing and securing key population areas in blitzkrieg type assaults. The Brigands would be back in ground war reinforced a week later and they would avenge those who gave their lives defending Brigand's Hill. On Terra, Trianna watched the news reports with the Lots in Papela's office. "I should have been there with them" said Trianna depressed at being effectively grounded in the palace for treatment.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
The Brigands were back on the Rondac battlefront as they marched up to their start positions for the final Imperial assault on the last Alliance strong hold. Arrayed on the battlefield were three entire MACO assault divisions and two extra reserve divisions totaling 28000 troops as they faced the prospect of a uphill assault. Opposing them in a strong defensive position were 6000 Cardassian and 7000 Klingon warriors dug into a compound at the top of a narrow pass. Captain Smith looked at the position and noted the strength of the front defenses.
Smith however had found a weak point and decided to use the main assault as cover to scale the cliffs and get behind the defense. At 0800, the final assault was ordered as the assault division advanced into the pass, Smith getting permission fropm hid father, took his battalion and crept up to the cliff face and attached climbing hooks into the rock face. The entire battalion now started to climb as the MACO assault was held in the pass. After an hour and a half, the Brigands were up the cliff and over the defenses and now set up transporter enhancers to bring in the reserve troops. The flanking force were soon into the compound and clearing the complex as the defenders tried to pull back only to be surrounded in the pass from both ends.
The Brigands were in no mood for mercy as they gunned down anyone foolish enough not to drop their weapons, they had to avenge the 95 lost in the Battle of Brigand's Hill, honor demanded it. For hour after hour, the defenders resisted but after 24 hours, the battle was over. After the Klingon warriors were wiped out to the last warrior, the Cardassians dropped their weapons and marched out of the pass with their hands on their heads flanked by Imperial MACOs. The MACOs were then beamed back to their ships and on the way back to Terra. Rondac III had been costly, 8500 Imperial casualties compared to 24000 Alliance casualties with another 15000 taken prisoner. The Brigands had gone into the daring flanking attack 305 strong, they had lost 20 dead which were recovered from from the battlefield along with 15 wounded, 10 lightly with 5 seriously. On the Brigand, the troops were singing and whistling as their morale soared. 8 days after they left Rondac, the troops were back at Terra and in their dress blues as they had a victory parade through Paris before they were flown to the Imperial palace.
"Majesty, Rondac III secure. Consider the retaking of Rondac as our wedding present to your family" said General Smith after bowing in respect. "Your troops performed well, this new alliance should take note of our fighting spirit. Where is the lone Battalion who held Brigand's Hill?" asked Papela. "We're the soldiers of Brigand's Hill, 400 of us went up but 205 walked down still bearing arms. We avenged the ones who never made it off the hill alive by getting a victory" answered Captain Smith honestly. "The 400 who held off 10000 for 18 hours and won a famous victory, Brigand's Hill is a symbol of Imperial strength and courage in the face of overwhelming odds" said Papela shaking each Brigand's Hill survivor standing in the palace courtyard. "Little one, how should such courage be rewarded?" asked Papela to Trianna who was stood next to her. "Give them an Imperial Unit Citation and name Brigand's Hill their first battle honor" answered Trianna smiling that all her friends had made it back home.
Trianna then noticed Sgt Zolat missing from the lineup, she frantically searched the casualty lists looking for his name until Captain Smith told her Zolat was badly wounded on the Brigand, Trianna immediately made sure Zolat and the rest of the Brigand wounded were treated in the royal infirmary at the palace by Royal medical staff. Captain Smith led Trianna to see Zolat and she took a seat and stayed with Zolat holding his hand all night as Kestrella and Papela visited the wounded awarding Imperial hearts to them. Zolat's days in the military were over however as he had been severely wounded during the final assault on the Alliance positions. Trianna introduced Papela to Zolat refusing to leave his side even as the medical staff were removing shrapnel from his wounds and treating the third degree burns.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
In transit to Terra (mu)
The two were were seated at the table having breakfast. Both had their faces buried in the PADDs in front of them.
"Thay, have you gone to get fitted for your dress yet?" Heath asked.
"Not yet. I've been busy."
"The wedding is in two weeks! She's good but she still needs time to make adjustments."
"I've had more important things to worry about."
"Like what?"
"Like keeping you alive," she said angrily. "There are those out there that find the idea of us having children so repellent that they've actually placed a bounty on you. You symbolize everything their narrow little minds hate and they would love nothing more than to see you and our children dead. So excuse me if I don't care about some stupid dress while I focus on keeping you alive."
"You're so focused on security for the wedding that you've forgotten the reason why we're having a wedding. I know people want me dead. Be it this lot or Temporal Affairs, or who or whatever somebody somewhere wants to kill me. And I refuse to be afraid of them. I will not live my life in constant fear of them. I will stand out there in front of them in my wedding dress and tell them I'm not going anywhere. Deal with it."
"You don't tell people with sniper rifles aimed at your head to 'deal with it'. Gods, after all this time and You still don't understand what it's really like over here."
"You still don't think I can handle myself do you? After everything I've done here you still think I'm a weak little Fedrat..."
"I WOULD NEVER CALL YOU THAT!"
"THEN WHAT'S THE REAL ISSUE HERE?"
She was interrupted by the door opening and Paris running in.
"We got a response!" She shouted excitedly.
"A response to what?" Thay snapped angrily
Paris shied back and held up the PADD. "Those probes we fired in to the wormhole at Bajor. We got a response from one of them!"
Thay waved her over.
"Show me."
"Probe 14, it made contact and sent back a signal." Paris said excited. "It found them! After all this time, we finally found them!"
"Why did it take so long for the signal to get back to us?" Thay asked.
"Distance and some slight temporal dilation," Paris explained. "We can compensate for that."
"Good," Thay said nodding. " Prepare another probe with these settings. Give it ten, no a hundred times the transmission power. I'll record a message to put on it."
"It'll be done within the week." Paris turned and left.
"Something else to keep you from..."
"Damnit Lazy, I'm afraid of losing you!"
Thay put her hands on Heath's. "Losing you would hurt more than anything I could imagine! More than I could bare! If something happened to you I'd burn every planet i had to to get who was responsible and I wouldn't care how many died in the process. I... I don't want to be that person anymore. So for my sake as well as yours..."
Heath closed her eyes.
"I've been unreasonable."
"And I've been insensitive."
Heath smiled.
"You think they can come up with a portable shield generator that can fit in the folds of my dress?"
"I'm sure they can come up with something. I suppose I need to get my dress done so they can make one for me as well."
"Probably. So how long before we hear back from them?"
"Won't be before the wedding, but soon enough."
"And then what happens?"
"All sorts of fun." Thay pushed back from the table and stood. "Come on."
"Where are we going?"
"The bedroom," she smiled. "We just had our first argument. Time for the make up snogging."
Naynta had invited Trianna to assist in interrogating the True Way prisoners. "Lets start with Kadek first" suggested Trianna and she signaled the guard to drag Kadek to the interrogation chamber. Kadek was sat down on a chair and restrained when Trianna and Naynta started their questioning. "One rule here, we ask the questions and you answer. Failure to comply will result in injury" said Naynta smiling. "Where's Leeta?" asked Trianna sizing up what arm to have fun on. "Why would I betray my mistress?" answered Kadek only for Trianna to beat him down clearly enjoying it.
"Where's Leeta?" asked Naynta and Kadek didn't answer. "Wrong choice" said Naynta as she put the agonizer on full laughing at the same time. "Lets be creative" said Trianna, Naynta smiled as the door into the corridor closed. All anyone in the prison complex heard was Kadek's screams for the next day and a half as Trianna and Naynta took it in shifts inflicting pain and injury on him. The physical and mental damage caused followed by a telepathic interrogation was enough to get a location of Leeta's fleet. Next Kadek was interrogated day after day as Trianna and Naynta started their cycles of physical and mental assaults, slowly they were beginning to piece together the scale of the True Way organization within the Alpha Quadrant.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Cardassia was been an Intelligence goldmine and Rondac confirmed large scale military forces were taking to the field. "Mother needs to see this" said Naynta as Kadek was thrown back into his cell. Naynta laughed as she passed the PADD over to Trianna to read. "Omarian Nebula, so Leeta has allied with the Dominion. The True Way is a cover for her operations against us, explains how they were able to field a military" said Trianna. "Let's question more, we need a bigger picture" replied Naynta as she picked out another prisoner. It was the same cycle of mental and physical assaults followed by telepathic interrogation, each True Way officer was questioned in this manner and the intelligence gained was getting deeper into True Way operations. After spending nearly a fortnight questioning prisoners, Trianna and Naynta presented their findings to Papela.
"Have all the prisoner's confessions confirmed Kadek's story?" asked Papela. "They have, we intercepted communications from Ar-558 going through the wormhole at Bajor. They were tracked to the Omarian Nebula in the Gamma Quadrant, Dominion transmissions were also intercepted coming back through" answered Naynta. "The Dominion don't usually allow non Dominion members to be in their space alive, the True Way are a front for Leeta and her Dominion allies" added Trianna. "Makes sense, given her losses, Leeta asking the largest military in the galaxy for help seems the most likely" added Naynta. "The Dominion will only have an alliance if they get something out of it, most likely they would want full control of the Bajor sector because that wormhole is the most important site strategically in the Alpha Quadrant" added Trianna. "With our losses of late, a Dominion invasion led by Leeta's forces is the last thing we need at this time" added Naynta. Papela listened carefully to what was being said before telling both Naynta and Trianna to leave the room so she could decide how to act on the new intelligence.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Papela sat in her room, eyes closed. Her untouched cup of tea had long gone cold. It might have looked to some that she was sleeping, but she was far from it. Her mind was a blur processing information.
Her eyes snapped open as she telepathicly called for her aid.
She was typing out her instructions as they entered.
"I want this file sent to this person. Tell them my daughter's wedding is in twelve days and to have it done by then. Have Admiral Sito send the attached message to the Vedeks on Bajor. Tell Admiral Heath to have her fastest ship on standby for their response. Put all the rest of the fleet on alert. Tell them that there may be disruptive elements with opposing views to what's going on. They are to report any any thing out of the ordinary to me, yes me and my staff at once. I've no time for reports to work they're way up the chain of command. Now you go."
The aid departed.
Papela sipped her cold tea.
"Computer begin recording. This message is only to be released on genetic confirmation of my death. Attention my people, this is your Empress. If you are hearing this then I am no longer with you. I can only hope that when I crossed into the beyond it was with a smile on my lips and a cup of tea in my hand. You now face a time of uncertainty and chaos. Most importantly you may be fighting over who should lead. I may not be able to help you with most things, but on this I can calm the waters. I, Papela Lot, declare that the person who shall succeed me in ruling the Empire shall be..."
Dexter Smith and his unit had been recalled from medical leave. "Looks like we're shipping out again" said Dexter to his crew over breakfast, Trianna was with them having been cleared for field service after her therapy sessions. To hide her painful past, she had Papela remove it all by a mind wipe but she kept her more analytical skills and combat skills. Trianna did however adopt a fatalistic sense of humor and it showed at breakfast. "Ladies, gentlemen" said Trianna as she took her traditional seat. "Ice, good to have you back" said Dexter smiling.
"How's Zolat?" asked Hetal showing concern for her friend, Trianna smiled before answering "my Imzadi is fine though scarred from his injuries but his military days are over. He's been released from the hospital and mother has let have a compound in Shuri to ourselves" "He's a friend of ours, during the final assault on Rondac he saved our lives when a plasma grenade went off as he threw it back towards the enemy. On Brigand's Hill, he took a phaser round in his shoulder evacuating the badly wounded even giving up a seat on the medivac shuttle for a Bajoran who was in a worse state than him" replied Dexter. "Oh great, FNGs" said Sidis looking over to the table next to them. "More fresh meat for the grinder" added Wilkinson looking at the Terran, Vulcan and Andorian replacements. "Most of them will be dead or wounded in their first battle" noted Pitaskli.
"So true, we do the jobs no one else will" said Dexter. "Like holding a hill with only 400 against 10500 and keeping control of the hill. The FNGs have had nothing like that, all of them look like they just qualified high school" added Leclerc. "Great we got draftees, most they've ever had to fight for is their own street credibility not on a major battlefield" replied Sidis. The calm of the mess hall was spoiled by a flare up, "move out of my way Bajoran!" shouted Pvt Maccini as he pushed Lenaris out of his way. Trianna got up and walked over to Maccini before grabbing him and sending him flying over a table. "Just because you are Terran, you think you are a big man" said Trianna gripping Maccini by his collar. "I don't answer to Betazoid trash" answered Maccini, Trianna just put him into an arm lock before signaling the guards to take Maccini to the booth, "full duration, give him five hours for his racism" ordered Trianna and the guards dragged Maccini away for punishment. "Ouch, sucks to be him" said Jasmine seeing Maccini incur Trianna's wrath.
"Rule one, never be racist to Ice or any of the senior staff. You won't like her when she's angry" said Dexter. "Rule two, never cross the boss" added Hetal. "Thou shalt not cross Ice unless thou is stupid and dumb enough to do it" added Lenaris taking his seat at the table. The senior officers had their jokes as Trianna rejoined them and had her breakfast. Lenaris did a little prayer with the senior officers for the prophets to watch them as they did their duty and all officers went to their posts. "Great, orbital defense drills" said Dexter looking through his orders for the day as he took the captain's chair on the bridge.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Four days before the ceremony, a series of warning buoys was placed around the Terran system. They warned that any ship approaching cloaked should not travel beyond that point without revealing themselves. Failure to do so would result in immediate destruction.
Ten ships however ignored that warning and continued onwards. These were Imperial ships. Each came from a different sector, but all were united in their cause; killing the Betazed usurper and destroying her abomination progeny.
Any taint of that other universe had to be removed along with those who embraced it.
On board the lead ship Captain Morgan Astole smiled as they passed through the detection grid unnoticed. Their contact in the defense ministry had given them the frequency to bypass Terra's defenses.
They would hide in the atmosphere Jupiter, and when the time came they would...
His thoughts were interrupted by the explosion of two of his ships.
"Report!" He yelled.
"Disruptor fire from above," his tactical officer reported. "But there's nothing there... Incoming!"
"Evasive maneuvers!" Astole ordered as a plasma torpedo grazed the hull. It struck the ship next to them. The explosion destroyed the ship and disrupted cloaks on the rest.
"We're exposed. Shields..."
Was as far as he got before a torrent of disruptor bolts tore the other ships apart.
"Sir, we're being hailed. Audio only."
"Put it through," he growled
"Intelligent or a fool. Which one are you?" A female voice asked.
"What's the difference?"
"A fool tries to fight something they can't see and dies painfully of asphyxiation when I split open their hull. Intelligence tells who helped them bypass the security system and gets to leave here alive."
Astole didn't hesitate to put his own survival first.
"Commissioner Danten in the defense ministry. He contacted all of us to organize this."
"Smart. You'll live to have a good dinner tonight while tonight they dine on pain."
"Serves him right for setting us up to fail like this. He told us we'd be invisible to all Terran ships, he..."
Astole trailed off as the realization hit.
"I think you may be too smart," the voice said. "A pity for you and your crew. We can't have you spreading that information. Good bye."
Astole next order died in his mouth as the plasma torpedo vaporized his ship.
" Incursion terminated," the voice transmitted. "Inform the Empress that someone named Danten is conspiring against her."
Trianna and her team of Brigands were on stakeout duty on Danton's residence, Dexter and his team were in position waiting for permission to say "knock knock" with their battering ram. Trianna was hidden on a roof overlooking Danton's dining room watching the target have a meal waiting for permission to fire. "Eye's on target, permission to scare him" asked Trianna lining her rifle up. "Bandit team, prepare to breach on the sniper's shot" ordered Papela watching the drone footage from the palace along with her daughters. "Time to mask up, the empress wants him terrified first. We can rough him up but don't don't kill him" ordered Dexter.
The team then moved up to the door and waited for the signal. Trianna waited until Danton had picked up a glass of red wine before she fired, the glass shattered in Danton's hand marking him out as the target. At that moment, Dexter shouted "knock knock" and proceeded to smash the door open with the ram before the team stormed into the foyer and dining room. "Search the house, turn it upside down if you have to. Now Mr. Danton, we need a word" ordered Dexter. "Perimeter access codes, where are they?" asked Sidis. "Look for them" answered Danton as he was cuffed. "Wrong answer. Boss, he needs another scare" said Dexter as another bullet destroyed the wine bottle on the table.
"The codes, where are they?" asked Dexter politely. "On my computer, you won't access it though" answered Danton. "Cypher, you're up" said Dexter as Leclerc got to work breaking into the computer. "It won't take her long to break into your computer but there is an easier option, tell us the computer access code" said Dexter as Danton's house was trashed around him. "Found the codes" reported Leclerc. "Where was the last transmission sent?" asked Dexter. "To a Captain Astole moments before his ship was destroyed" reported Leclerc.
"Let's take him in for questioning, I want this house scoured" ordered Dexter as the Brigands cleared each room of any files, PADDs and computers. All Danton knew was blacking out as he was transported to the palace cells.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Trianna, Dexter and Naynta were questioning Danton. "Who are your associates? I want names now" asked Dexter as he nodded to Naynta for her to do her worst. "Give us names and I will stop my associate here" said Dexter as Naynta activated the agonizer. "He's resisting" pointed out Trianna as she jolted Danton with a pain stick. "Telepathic interrogation it is then, ladies he's all yours" said Dexter after roughing Danton up some more. "Both Trianna and Naynta made Danton hit rock bottom as a list of names was pulled out.
"Admiral Tuvok, Fleet Admiral Riker, Captain Wesley Crusher, Gul Kadek and Admiral Leeta. Leeta would profit the most from an attack by a proxy ally" said Naynta. "Agreed, his links with the True Way may be part of a bigger scheme" replied Trianna. "How far does this go? We may be looking at traitors within our own government here and in Starfleet" asked Naynta. "It makes sense, on Rondac, the True Way troops were using Imperial issue weapons. Weapons that could only have been provided from Terra, the code numbers from the weapons captured on Rondac match weapons that went missing from a defense depot here on Terra" added Dexter. "Weapons that killed or wounded 8500 Imperial soldiers during the battle" added Naynta. "180 of which were my soldiers" said Trianna. "Let's take this evidence to her Majesty, it may warrant her personal attention" suggested Dexter concerned at the fact Imperial weapons were making their way into True Way hands.
Both Trianna and Naynta both agreed and the three officers took their findings straight to Papela. Papela read the reports and listened carefully to what was being said. "Make Danton sweat, put more pressure on him" ordered Papela before she told Dexter, Trianna and Nanyta to leave and carry on with the questioning. Papela poured a cup of tea as she studied the evidence carefully.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Danton was woken up by Dexter blowing a air horn. "Must be 30 plus hours without food or drink, I want the names of your friends both in Starfleet and in the government. Comply and you eat" said Dexter brazenly eating a bacon and egg sandwich in front of the cell. "Still could be worse, when my associates get started on you, it's going to be painful and they're here" Dexter added afterwards as Trianna and Naynta entered the holding area eating cereal bars. "How long can a Terran last without food and water?" asked Naynta. "A month tops for food but only a few days without water. Mr Danton here has been deprived of food and water for last two days, the lack of sleep as well is causing issues" answered Dexter as Papela and Ablim Zolat entered the holding area.
"Mr. Smith, if Mr. Danton here does not co-operate, have your people pay a visit to his family" ordered Papela ramping up the pressure. "Ladies, if you will please" said Dexter as Trianna and Naynta got creative on Danton. "Why arm enemies of the empire?" asked Papela. "Terra for Terrans only" answered Danton spitting at Papela. "Mr. Zolat, rough him up" ordered Papela. Zolat and Trianna now started beating Danton as Naynta began her telepathic interrogation. "All this can stop if you co-operate, why have you been arming the True Way with Imperial weapons?" asked Dexter blowing the air horn in Danton's ear. "We'd rather not get your family involved but if you don't answer they will get a visit from some friends of mine" said Trianna as she opened a second cereal bar. "Oh you're hungry, how uncomfortable is that or is it the thirst?" said Naynta eating a cereal bar in front of Danton.
"Sidis, take a team of Brigands to pay Danton's family a visit and make sure you frighten them" ordered Dexter. "Consider it done" replied Sidis over the combadge. "I can cancel those orders if you answer our questions, what's more important your allies or your family?" said Dexter as he had a cup of strong tea. "Why did you arm the True Way?" asked Trianna as Naynta used Trianna's pain stick followed by another telepathic assault. "Kill me" muttered Danton but Trianna heard it and applied more pressure. "Answer our questions and you might get your wish" said Naynta smiling. "Two ways here, the easy way of you giving us all the information willingly or I'll ask my associates to extract it the hard way, how much damage could they do to your mind?" said Dexter as Trianna and Naynta started ripping information our of Danton's mind.
"Thank you, that's all we needed to know" said Papela as the plot to assassinate her was revealed in full. Sito and Heath's names were on the True Way and Imperial traitor's kill list, it was timed for the wedding day. "Major, I want your most loyal sharpshooters on the palace roofs and in the towers overlooking the throne room. Mr. Smith, make sure Terra is watertight security wise on the ground. Tell your first officer to keep the Brigand in orbit and stop any ship trying to enter orbit without authorization, destroy them if you have to" ordered Papela after Danton was dragged back to his cell to await his fate, "as you wish your Majesty" answered Dexter. "Yes mother, Imzadi we'll be busy" said Trianna as Naynta, Trianna and Zolat escorted Papela back to her office.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Trianna was in her quarters trying on dresses with Hetal's help. "What about this red number?" asked Trianna, "too modest, you need something that shows your beauty but in a respectable manner" answered Hetal honesty. "Isoisa, good point" replied Trianna as she changed into a navy blue dress in her changing room. "Zip me up please" asked Trianna calling Hetal in. Hetal zipped up the dress and commented "blue is your color, it shows your beauty but in a respectable way without showing too much skin." "Blue it is then, you looking for promotion Isoisa?" replied Trianna smiling. "Not in that way" answered Hetal honestly. "Hmm shame, I need someone who I can trust in my bed now my Imzadi is on Terra full time. Don't worry, Ablim does not mind me having a bed warmer and confidant" replied Trianna smiling.
"How did you know?" asked Hetal surprised at Trianna's offer to her. "Why my dear Isoisa, your thoughts since we met gave it away" answered Trianna with a smile. "Well, the wedding is tomorrow so we have time to kill" replied Hetal with a smile. "Plenty of time for us to get to know each other better" answered Trianna smiling as she computer locked the doors so no-one could disturb them. Elsewhere, the rest of the crew were preparing for the wedding security. At the palace, everything was checked to make sure no explosive devices were present and all guests into the palace checked fro any weapons and explosives as the snipers practiced their long range shooting. At crew dinner later that day, the senior staff noticed Trianna and Hetal exchanging smiles over the dinner table.
"Why do I get the feeling this is the calm before the storm?" asked Dexter to his crew. "We must be vigilant" answered Mereu with full agreement from the rest of the officers. "Call it gut instinct but something does not feel right" said Dexter noting the calmness. "Dex is worried, I know that look" said Jasmine concerned. "Yeah, this does not sit well" added Sidis, "this conspiracy makes us nervous" added Leclerc. "Tomorrow, everyone needs to be on their A game. If it goes to plan then we'll consider it a success but if there is an attack, we must deal with it" said Dexter. "Logically, a wedding makes a good trap" pointed out T'Pamne, "too true" added Wilkinson. "Well, we've all got to be up early. Isoisa, I would like your company in my bed tonight" said Trianna. "No comment" said Dexter as the officers put away their dishes and all went to get an early night.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius