Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1998 16:57:39 -0500
The USS SAMARA was easing away from the docking ring around Deep Space Nine. Yuchtar and Kirok had returned in a somewhat somber mood from the Admiralty meeting and no one really wanted to know just what had gone on in that meeting with the Klingons and the Romulans. Only Doctor Prozac was jabbering as if everything was normal.
"I still say it was completely within my rights to voice my concerns like that, Admiral and I don't like being - "
"Doc, give it a rest, will you?" It was General Kirok who had spoken.
Having spent several years with Yuchtar, he knew what the set of her jaw and that glare in her eye could mean, and he really didn't want to have to dodge any blows right now.
"What?" Prozac said.
"You heard me - the meeting is over and we all need a breather, okay?"
To emphasize his point, he shook his head toward the stoic Admiral and rolled his eyes.
Prozac finally understood. "Right, right - I'll, uh, be in sick bay if you need me." He quietly exited the Bridge and the tension level eased considerably.
"Helm," Yuchtar said wearily. "Put us in a stationary orbit around the station and wait for further orders."
"Aye, sir."
Just as the SAMARA got far enough from the docking bay to release mooring lines, there was an explosion in the bay that traveled up both lines and struck the ship. Being docked, the shields were, of course, not activated, so the force of the explosion shook the ship and the Helmsman, Navigator and Captain were thrown back against the far wall.
Kirok had thrown himself beneath the Captain's chair and was unscathed.
"Yuchtar!" he yelled. "You're not dead, are you?!"
"Just a little," she mumbled before losing consciousness.
Doctor Prozac's face was lined with worry as he spoke with the Fleet Admiral an hour later via vid link. "The Navigator didn't make it and the Helmsman is barely hanging on. The Admiral was farther away from the impact, but she's hurt pretty bad, sir. She hasn't regained consiousness yet and her vital signs are erratic. In a way, sir, I'd like to keep her on board where I can keep an eye on her, but it just might be safer to leave her on station. What do you think, Admiral?"
"How long will it take to repair damages to the ship?"
"Only a few hours - there was nothing seriously damaged."
"Can you handle command of that ship as we head into this battle, Commander?"
It was a very serious question and Prozac was only momentarily tempted to answer flippantly. Instead, he straightened himself and replied, "Yes, Sir, Admiral!"
"Very well, Commander. When repairs to the SAMARA are complete, brief me on Yuchtar's condition and I'll decide then where to keep her while she recovers." With a slight smirk, Fleet Admiral Bailey added, "You can bet she'll be hell on wheels as soon as she regains consciousness."
Prozac grinned as well. "Yes, sir, don't I know it."
"Carry on, Commander!" The Fleet Admiral signed off and his image blinked off the screen.
"You heard the Fleet Admiral!" Prozac said to everyone standing around in consternation. "Let's get moving! We have a war to win!" Everyone started bustling on repairs and Kirok grinned.
VAdm Yuchtar zantai-Klaan
Military Operations Commander, USC
Officer Commanding, USS SAMARA
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Stardate 9808.12
Two and a half days later the Okuda docked at DS9 and Adm.Castle immediatly asked for the where abouts of Adm.Starr or Adm.Bailey.
"Kira to Sisko." Kira said.
"Sisko here, go head major." Sisko responded.
"I thought you should know that the Okuda has docked and the her captian is on the station." Kira told Sisko.
"Have him report to my office, I'll meet him there along with Adm.Bailey, Sisko out." Sisko said in a monotone voice.
"Major Kira top Adm.Castle." Kira said.
:Castle here." I responded.
"Sisko says he'll meet you here in his office with Adm.Bailey."Kira related.
"Okay, I'm on my way." I said picking up my pace.
A couple of minutes later I was standing outside of Sisko's office. After a few more minutes Sisko had still not arrived and I started to get restless. I had important information to relay that might have deadly results. When Sisko did arrive he didn't look happy, for that matter neither did Bailey. I followed them both into Sisko's office, the door closing automaticly behind me.
"Why the hell were you not here for the command meeting on the combined fleet assault?" Sisko demanded angerly.
"Communications were ignored also." Bailey commented.
"First I'd appreciate it if you'd show me the respect my rank demands." I told Sisko. "Now the reason I was late was the IKV Hov voS intercepted my ship and gave me some frighting news." I amitted.
"But not to even say you'd be late is unresponsable." said Sisko.
"Give me a chance to explain my actions." I pleaded.
"Go ahead, were listening." responded Bailey.
"Two days ago the IKV Hov veS interecpted my ship. The captian, one Cmdr. Koloth stressed an in person meeting to relay important information. It seems that while out on patrol a KFS Imperial Security vessal encountered three Jem'hadr vessals although two were destroyed a third escaped into Tholian Space. What concerned him and now me is that while in Tholian Space a Cardassian Galor Class ship attacked. I couldn't trust subspace communications with this information." I related to Sisko
and Bailey.
"Cardassian and Dominion ships in Tholian Space?" exlaimed a surprised Sisko.
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Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1998 10:49:17 -0700
From: "Gul kremin"
Subject: Cardassia
"Hold Position and wait."
"But sir, those ships?" The young officer swung round to face Gul kremin, head of the 8th order.
Gul kremin studied the scene before, ingnoring the young officer.
A mass of ships had come into view, all of them in orbit of terok nor.
She hissed, "What are they doing?"
"Get me the commander or Terok Nor, now."
"Hailing deep Space Nine."
She hissed again, "what a silly name."
"No response."
"What?"
Gul Kremins anger rose, and her suspicions grew.
"Keep trying".
She watched as the Valcar swung into position behind them. She smiled, Cardassia had its chance for glory yet.
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Admiral Starr had been closeted with the Klingon and Romulan Fleet Coordinators for two hours. Between the three of them, with her in the middle, they had assigned positions for each ship in their respective fleets.
Starr left the meeting after posting positions to the Starfleet ships while the Klingons and Romulans posted their own positions.
She didn't like the idea of the Fleet Admiral having his ship in front of the Starfleet wave. It didn't have a cloaking device like her ship the U.S.S. Sun Eagle and the U.S.S. Definant. Both these ships would head the Starfleet wave with the Fleet Admiral's ship and the U.S.S. Quicksilver leading the rest of the uncloak Starfleet pack.
***
Kbee entered the bridge, in a somewhat more manageable mode. All her ships where ready to go, at her command.
"Get me Adm Starr and HQ."
The view screen flicked on, and split in two, showing both the Admirals.
"ALL GEC ships are ready to move. Let me know which fleet you want them in and they'll be there in minutes. May I remind you the mariner has a cloak so if you want her in the elite squad say so now."
There was silence for a few seconds, before the FAdm spoke, "Yuctars been injured."
"What?", Kbee said. Then she shook her head. "I've just had word that Commodore Sati is on her way to drop off my new counsellor. She can take Yuctar back to Station Delta's extensive facilities if you want."
Adm Starr wasn't listening to the conversation, she was obviously busy trying to assign all the ships, and prepare for the attack. Now that the Cardassians had shown up along her border it made her task even more difficult.
"I await further instruction."
Kbee cut the link, and disembarked the ship to meet with Commodore Sati, Ensign Brack and the new Commander of the USS Boomer.
They met outside the bajoran temple.
***
Gul Kremin watched the masses of Federation ships swarm like flies around Terok Nor and Bajor.
She laughed.
"Little do they know what's coming to them. Inform Cardassia. Get that Vorta up here, and get me the Valcar."
The Glin acknowledged her and carried out those orders. He knew that the Gul's feeling towards to the Founders pets where less than civil. The Vorta were nothing more than slaves in Kremins eyes, and Cardassians were superior.
"Valcar, on screen."
***
T'mara waited onboard the IRW Tal'Mar for her orders.
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