The Joseph Colony - Part Four

Posted on Wed Mar 18th, 2020 @ 2:48pm 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: 1915Hrs - June 23rd, 2393

The turbolift doors opened as Commander John Sheridan walked onto the bridge, he had several of the alpha watch crew members and senior staff with him, Savannah went to her post, she looked somewhat disheveled as did Zyal Antilles as she looked like she had just stepped out of a shower as her hair was all over the place and she wasn't wearing her usual makeup. Of the two women, Zyal looked far worse but that was because she had been spending time with her wife.

Gabriel tapped the display as Sheridan regarded him. "Report?"

"The Tholian Dreadnought who hassled us earlier has returned," Yamaguchi answered. "They have not yet locked weapons onto us and nor have they hailed us," he explained. "The Arthur Curie is making ready to deploy the first of her weapons emplacements and the San Antonio has moved to screen the Arthur Curie from the Tholians, should it become needed." Yamaguchi went onto explain.

"Fine work Lieutenant." Sheridan knew what the Lieutenant had planned, the San Antonio had asked if the Spirit of Winter had needed help but Gabe had said no, so she had moved to screen the more important ship remaining, the carrier. Sheridan was quite pleased, he knew that Lieutenant Yamaguchi had leadership abilities and that they would surface when needed, he had seemed ample evidence that said Gabriel Yamaguchi was very much his mother's son, his parents would be very pleased with these developments and his mother, in particular, had good cause to be proud of her son. "Savannah, hail the Thollians, please. I'd like to say a few words to them."

"Channel open." the young female responded as she worked the control panel before her.

"This is Commander John Sheridan to the Tholian Dreadnought that's trespassing inside Federation space." Sheridan introduced himself without any preamble.

The screen lit up with the display of a Tholian vessel's bridge or command center. "I warned you, Commander, that your transgressions would be answered with force." as the Tholian growled and demanded in its harsh, metallic tone of voice.

"I see," Sheridan answered in a flat tone of voice. "So we are to go to war over this world that's inside Federation space." he then let out the breath of air in his lungs in one single huff. "I don't know what's worse here. The fact that you're prepared to do it or the fact that I don't understand why you're prepared to do it." Sheridan explained. "You could destroy my ship and the other two ships present but you'll also destroy the peace that presently exists between our two peoples," he explained. "Perhaps you could tell me exactly what the issues here is and we can discuss it."

"Some secrets must remain hidden." the Tholian answered for the first time since the transmission started. "You will not defile the sanctity of the gods."

Derringer looked more confused than anything else as Sheridan noted the same looks on many of the senior staff on the bridge. "I have no idea of what you are talking about Commander. Some details please, would be nice." Sheridan added.

"No. You have been given a warning, you will withdraw from this world." The Tholian demanded

"No," Sheridan answered. "It is you who shall withdraw, as this is Federation space," Sheridan answered, his tone indicated his patience had more or less been totally exhausted by this point.

"What began in fire, will end in blood, we do this not for us, but for you, but you will pay the price for your own misdeeds." the Tholian commander answered before the channel was severed and the Tholian vessel quickly reoriented itself. A moment later it shot forward into warp and was gone.

Sheridan raised an eyebrow. "I wonder what any of that meant." he mused aloud. "Anyone got any comments?"

"They could be screwing with us skipper." came the voice of Lieutenant Eric Davis.

"But to what end?" Tienn inquired, she regarded the handsome engineer from the port side of the bridge. "They had no reason to screw with us, they didn't start shooting at us and they did not directly threaten us." the Bajoran woman explained.

Gabriel Yamaguchi nodded. "Mmmm. Its something on the planet below us or something with the planet itself, we should at least consider it, just in case."

Sheridan nodded. "Anyone else?"

"The Tholians came across the border and started being belligerent. They then gave us cryptic and confusing messages as to why. This is all just one big psyops job they are pulling on us, we should just ignore it and carry on as usual," commented R'Merah.

Zyal Antilles turned her head. "I agree with Gabriel. It's only this world the Tholians are appearing at and doing this. Whatever game this is." the young Cardassian female paused. "I believe we should proceed with caution, simply because they can come across the border and do whatever they like with no warning or no response from us."

Sheridan nodded. "Alright, we'll add an early warning network to the planet's defenses in addition to what we're already installing. I'll draft up a report for command and send it along, if anyone has anything they wish to submit for my report, do so in writing so I can make your concerns and comments heard," he explained. "In the meantime, however, we'll look the planet over and see if we can find anything odd about it." he paused. "Tienn. I'm going to leave that task with you and Savannah as before, feel free to use whatever resources or people you need. "If there is something odd here that can cause a Tholian to lose its little-marbled mind then I wanna know about it," he explained. "Gabe, I want you, Eric and Dwayne to handle the early warning system. Suguna, I'm going to have you handle informing the colony of these developments and reassuring any frayed nerves, you're better at that then I am," he explained. "R'Merah, I'm going to have you assist Lieutenant Ryan with her training efforts, impress upon her and her trainees, the gravity of the situation and inform her things have changed." he paused a moment. "Questions?"

There was silence around the bridge.

Sheridan smiled. "Alright guys, let's do this."