As Cmdr Harkleroad sat in the command chair of the Victorius and watched the Vorta and RAdm Kbee on his view screen his mind was drawn to the fact that his crew was still green. His ship hadn't been used in years since it
was decommissioned. Now, having been quickly overhauled after having been pulled from the Mars Shipyard's boneyard because of the need for ships to fight in this war.
He felt like he was in a dream! Travelling towards the Cardassian border to join the fleet he was suddenly struck with a situation where the fleet needed every hand it could get. Was he ready to fight the Jem'hadar, was his crew ready, was his ship ready. Cmdr Harkleroad stood up from chair and said to the operations officer, "You have the bridge, transfer this transmission to my ready room." The view screen flashed back into the space-scape as the commander walked across the bridge and into his ready room.
He sat down at his desk and stared at his terminal waiting for a command. In anticipation of the order that he knew was soon to receive, he called the bridge over the intercom, "Set course for the current position of the
Mariner and engage at maximum warp!"
Even though he knew that the Mariner was at least 7 hours away at top speed he knew that his ship was going to need to be there. "Computer send the following message, priority one, to RAdmiral Kbee in command of the USS
Mariner as soon as the current incoming transmission terminates...'RAdmiral, this Commander Harkleroad of the Victorius. I have set an intercept course for your position and I am awaiting your orders. Harkleroad out.'"
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Adm A* had seen the Vorta and Captain Jason on her view screen as she sat in her chair on the bridge of the Nazgul. "Lt. Jaleel," A* commanded her communications officer, "open a secured frequency to the Mariner."
Through the intership comm. A* advised her Engineer, Lt. jg V'thnela, to ready weapons for attack on Jem'hadar. V'thnela had modified photon torpedoes just for those ships. "Lt. Shaw," she turned to her XO, "you may get to test your new technique for healing wounds from Jem'hadar weapons after all." Her XO said something under her breath, but A* did not have time to pursue it. "RAdm Kbee here" A* could here the stress in Kbee's mind. She did not take
lightly the capture of one of her Captain, indeed, Captain Taylor had served with the Nazgul for several years before joining the GEC, so A* also took this personally.
"Kbee, the Vorta have been open to trades in the past, I would guess that is what he wants now. Find out what he is willing to trade for Jason. Where is the Falcon now, do you need the Nazgul to investigate it's condition?"
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Kbee didn't answer the Admiral straight away. Instead she sent a message.
" USS Falcon is at co-ordinates as follows *** mark ***. USS Victorius will arrive in 7 hours.
USS Nazgul, please investigate. Transmission of our data incoded. Assign USS Victorius to return USS Falcon to Deep Space Nine. "
The message was sent in Kbee's personal code that very few people knew so that hopefully nobody could intepret it.
RAdm Kbee turned to the Vorta, " How can I help you? "
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As the FAdm sat on DS-9, getting ready to leave and set course for one of the
task forces to do a inspection and a general troop morale boost! Capt Sisko joined him,
talking as they were walking they headed to the Docking ring were the USS Akagi was. All of the sudden Dax called to Sisko. "Go ahead old man," he answered. The FAdm smiled at Sisko, still calling her old man hummm, he thought. Dax replied to Sisko," I have something that long range communication was picked up it's RAdm Kbee's task force, I think you better get up here."
"On our way. " he said.
Sisko looked over at FAdm Cliff, "Where is RAdm Kbee's task force?"
"On the edge of Dominion space", said the FAdm.
Sisko face turned funny as they got on the turbo lift," Ops", Sisko cried out........
The FAdm hit his communication pin, " Lt. Smith make all preparation for getting under way and going to maximum warp as soon as I am on board". " Aye Sir" he called out. Sisko looked over at him, "What do you think is going on ......I have no idea, I haven't been able to look over logos these days, being that close to Dominion space I am afraid to see what has happen, Should I have the Crew on the Defiant man there station,".
"Yes Capt, do that,", was the worried Admirals only reply.
"Sisko to Ops, tell the Crew on the Defiant to man their stations."
"Aye sir" , Ops called out.
"Capt how many ships are station here at DS9,"
"We have 7 stationed around this area."
"Very well have 3 more prepare to get under way with us."
"Very good Sir", he said. The FAdm and Sisko got off the lift and walked over to Dax and started reading RAdm Kbee's and Adm A*'s transmission. The FAdm Called out go to yellow alert the station klaxon went off and officers started moving around.
"Tell the USS Hermes, USS Republic, and the USS Lalo to take station with the Akagi, Tell the Defiant to take up with the Akagi as Lead ships. Capt you will take the USS Republic and the USS Lalo on your side and the Akagi and the Hermes will be at port side."
"Aye sir", he called out.
"Dax, beam me to the Akagi, lets get under way as of yesterday." The FAdm stepped up
on the pad, "energize". The FAdm beamed on to the Akagi's bridge.
" All ships are forming up."
" Very well, release docking clamps thruster to maximum, all ships are forming up. Very well take us to Maximum Warp, Open a channel secured to RAdm Kbee and Adm A, send it to all ships from our battle group to all the battle group of RAdm Kbee's".
::: Channel is open sir ::::::: RAdm Kbee and Adm A, we are on our way to
reforce you, we have 5 ships, tactical status is the Hermes is a Nebula
Class with weapons pod, Republic and Lalo is Excelsoir Class, Akagi is
Galaxy class and the Defiant you are aware of. We should be in rang within 4
hrs, If you can hold them off till we get there, Also RAdm Kbee we need to
talk..........Close Transmission.......
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RAdm Kbee listened to the Fadmirals message as it came in. She was taking a much needed break from her negotiations with the Vorta. She sighed, knowing exactly what the last sentence of the message meant. Her mind flicked else where, she had three ships with her at the present, the USS Victorius would arrive in 6 hours and the FAdm would be here in four. She planned her next move.
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As Cmdr Harkleroad stepped back on the bridge the security officer informed him that long range sensors were picking up a battle group leaving from DS9 on intercept course with the Mariner, Falcon, Nazgul. "Incoming
transmission from the Fleet Admiral Commander, he is confirming that his group is on intercept prepared to back up the GEC ships on the border of Dominion space." The commander paused for a second as he stood in the
centre of the bridge then he began to give commands, "Navigator set an intercept course for USS Nazgul around Cardassian space; bring the ship to just outside Jem'hadar standard sensor. We should be arriving just before
Admiral Cliff and I would like to see what is in front of us before we go in there head strong! Engage that course at maximum warp. Cmdr Harkleroad to chief engineer, I want all ship's system including weapons fully
operational and available immediately! Computer, put me on shipwide. Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to join Admirals Kbee, A*, and Cliff for an encounter with the Dominion. I have all the confidence that you will
prove the Victorius to be a great ship. The Victorius WILL help to make the Federation victorious in this war! Harkleroad out."
The commander sat down in his chair and picked up his PADD. On his screen was a tactical map of the fleet, he stared at the number of ships converging at the Mariner's position. Even though he knew his crew was able, he hoped that they would prove themselves to fleet and show the ability that he saw in them. He knew that this encounter would make a lasting impression on the rest of the fleet of his new ship and crew, he hoped they would be everything that could. "Cmdr Harkleroad, this is engineering...all weapons systems on are online and available." Cmdr Harkleroad was pleased that everything onboard the ship was going smoothly, he just hoped that what was going on with the Jem'hadar would go down just as smooth. "Operations, open a channel to the USS Mariner. RAdm Kbee, the Victorius is on and intercept course for the USS Nazgul. We will be there shortly, just before FAdm Cliff's group if all goes well. Are weapons systems are operational and we are prepared
for the worst. Keep me informed! Harkelroad out."
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