The Joseph Colony - Part One

Posted on Wed Mar 18th, 2020 @ 2:40pm by Commander John 'Nuke Em' Sheridan & Lieutenant Commander James "Dash" Derringer & Lieutenant Commander Stephen Franklin & Lieutenant Commander Fleur Antilles & Lieutenant Commander Gabriel Yamaguchi & Lieutenant Zyal Antilles & Lieutenant Dwayne Rodriquez & Lieutenant Savannah Yamaguchi & Lieutenant JG R'Merah & 1st Lieutenant Amy Ryan & Lieutenant JG Eric Davis & Command Master Chief Petty Officer Suguna 'Reign' Sathiyamoorti & Lieutenant JG Tienn Durin

Mission: Mission 98: Building Our New Home
Location: Deep Space, The Taurus Reach
Timeline: 0900Hrs - June 23rd, 2393

Commander John Sheridan was presently seated in his command chair on the bridge of the USS Spirit of Winter. He was content to let his crew operate and carry on with their assignments rather than bother them with status updates, the USS Spirit of Winter and another cruiser were both escorting a Viraat class heavy transport carrier, they were heading to the colony world of Joseph here a small settlement had settled here several weeks earlier. He knew that this colony was near to the Tholian border and the world was vulnerable to the Tholians.

The turbolift doors opened and out came Lt Commander Derringer. "Everything is status quo skipper," he reported simply. "The marines are settling in well as Lieutenant Ryan is handling things."

"I hope things won't be too much for her, she was asked to take on a whole new troop of marines and Federation Defense Troops for Joseph colony," Sheridan responded.

"She'll be fine skipper, she's handled this sort of lunacy before," Derringer answered with a smile.

"You've only known her what. Several weeks." Sheridan responded evenly.

"I read her file," Derringer answered, his smile did not fade.

Sheridan raised an eyebrow as Command Master Chief Suguna Sathiyamoorti spoke up. "Skipper, stop hassling the poor woman, she knows her business and what she's doing, she is presently leading her troops in yet another training exercise," she explained. "She has her troops doing four hours of classroom studies and another four hours of training."

Sheridan nodded as he could see the wisdom of what Sathiyamoorti was trying to tell him. "Alright. Well. we should arrive at Joseph soon." he commented as he regarded his Chief of Operations who in his mind looked downright odd with her full head of grey hair. "Savannah, make sure there are no unexpected surprises when we get there."

"Willdo skipper," Savannah responded with a smile on her lips, as she turned to face her skipper. "The planet has only just been charted but I'd like to do a more extensive survey of the planet, I'd like to do a more extensive survey of the planets geologic history. Call it a Placebo for my concerns."

Sheridan saw the value in her statement. "Very well. Proceed with your plan Savannah," he commented. "Tienn. would you mind helping with this?"

"Willdo," the younger Bajoran female answered before she turned and went back to her panel, a gentle smile on her lips. Tienn turned from her own panel a moment later, she nodded her head. "There is not much in the way of information available, I had hoped to expand it while we were present in the system. Thank you, Captain."

"Thank me after you have allayed my concerns and worries El-tee," Sheridan answered with a smile.

Gabriel Yamaguchi meanwhile tapped his display once. "Skipper, there are several Tholian patrols in that area, mostly small to medium starships."

"You expect trouble El Tee?" Sheridan inquired of him.

"I remain concerned but no, I don't expect trouble, at least, not right away.." Gabe answered the Captain's statement with one of his own.

Derringer raised an eyebrow as he regarded Gabriel Yamaguchi. "Are you always so cheerful Lieutenant?"

"No," Gabe answered bluntly. "Usually I'm worse. I expect the Tholians to start shit with us, they have never missed a chance to do so, why miss this one?"

Sheridan knew Yamaguchi's service record, he had also served with the Lieutenant's mother and two of his sisters. "Are there any Tholian ships on our side of the border El-tee?" he inquired.

"Not at this point sir," Yamaguchi answered quietly. "But that might change when we arrive."

Derringer regarded the younger man. "Why would they want to cause trouble with of on our side of the border?"

"Two reasons. First is because they can and second is because they do not care what we think, only what they think is paramount."

"Now that's just cynical," Derringer answered

"Its also true sir, the Tholians are highly xenophobic and they don't care who they honk off so long as they get what they want when they don't. They fight for it and are not above making others suffer for it." Yamaguchi explained.

Sheridan knew that what Gabriel Yamaguchi was saying was also true. "Yeah, but Gabe is right in what he's saying," he answered. "So as soon as we reach Joseph, we can expect some sort of trouble from the Tholians." he turned his head. "Zyal. Time till arrival?" he inquired of his chief conn officer.

"One hour and ten minutes at present speed skipper." the Cardassian female answered with a flat tone of voice.

Sheridan nodded his head. "James, contact the Arthur Curie and the San Antonio and let them know we will be detatching from the group," he commented as Derringer nodded. "Right away," he responded as Sheridan turned to his conn officer. "Helm, wait until we get a response, then take us to the Joseph system right away."

"Willdo skipper." The Cardassian female explained as she went to work preparing for the slipstream flight.

Derringer tapped the display before him. "The others answer affirmatively."

"Zyal. Hit it." Sheridan commented. Suddenly the starlines faded as the slipstream drive activated, moments later the slipstream corridor collapsed as Joesph appeared on the display. "We've arrived." the Cardassian female explained evenly.

Tienn went to work on her panel. "Starting long and short range scans." the young Bajoran female explained evenly. "I'm not reading anything around, except us," she explained.

Yamaguchi raised an eyebrow. "Yes, I read that too," he commented quietly.

Suddenly the voice of Savannah Yamaguchi spoke up. "That's alright, as the Tholians want us to think that. I have a Dreadnought entering the system at high warp. Our slipstream jump here seems to have caught their attention. Arrival in fifteen seconds."

"Red alert, all hands to battlestations, this is not a drill," Sheridan shouted.

The normal bridge lights went down as the red alert began to wail its loud tones as the lights began to flash red. "Shields are up and all missiles are armed and ready for launch." Gabriel Yamaguchi reported.

"Arrival in three seconds," Savannah reported when suddenly, there was a bright flash as a truly gigantic warship appeared before the Spirit of Winter. "Hail them," Sheridan ordered.

Yamaguchi nodded, as she proceeded to do as the skipper had asked of her. "Channel is open sir."

Sheridan rose to his feet. "This is Commander John Sheridan of the USS Spirit of Winter to the unidentified Tholian vessel presently violating Federation space. Would you mind explaining your violation of Federation space, your presence here is an act of agression and will not be tolerated."

Suddenly the Tholian appeared on the screen. "Federation Commander. You are being warned that this colony along the border is a sign of agression and we will not tolerate its existence. You have-" the Tholian started before Sheridan cut him off. "Maybe I didn't make myself clear. Tholian." Sheridan explained, despite the fact that the Tholian vessel outmassed by over twenty to one and probably outgunned him by the same. "This is Federation space and while we would prefer to live in peace with you as our neighbors, any acts of agression on this or any other colony we see fit to establish in this region will be met with the highest sanction," he commented

Gabriel Yamaguchi minded his panel. "Skipper, they are scanning us," he commented evenly.

"Tholian vessel. I'm not going to tell you again." Sheridan commented. "Either state your business or leave this space at once," he added.

Tienn raised an eyebrow as she smiled, her display revealed how the Tholians were able to get away with their new level of trickery as the Tholian commander growled. "You have been given a warning according to interstellar agreements, you will not receive another."

Sheridan nodded. "Noted, now take this warning in return. As I said, any agression will be met with force. Have a nice day. End transmission." he commented as Savannah severed the communications link. Suddenly the USS Arthur Curie and the USS San Antonio, both emerged from their own slipstream conduits before both ships began locking onto the Tholian vessel with their weapons.

The Tholian vessel turned and departed without any more drama.

Lieutenant Gabriel Yamaguchi watched in silence as Sheridan sighed softly. "Stand down from the alert. Ship to Ship, it's a dangerous game," he said evenly. "Advice the Arthur Curie to start laying down their orbital defense weapons. Also, inform the San Antonio to proceed. Let's make sure this colony is well set up." Sheridan commented with a soft sigh.

"Yessir," Derringer responded. "Well handled sir, I would not have used such strong language."

"I had no choice number one. Right Lieutenant?" he addressed Yamaguchi.

"Right sir. The Tholians respect force but only if you have the chance to hurt them, which we did." he then sighed. "They deliberately antagonized us. This isn't over skipper."

"I know," Sheridan answered with a soft sigh.