Reflections in a Diamond Eye - Part One

Posted on Fri Mar 6th, 2020 @ 11:52pm by Division Admiral Sildra Vaxx-Warfield & Division Admiral April Dragon & Captain Duval Mia & Commander Jamil Newsom & Commodore Teyo Kemoke & Post Captain Sebastian Davoust & Commodore Neban Hular

Mission: Mission 72: T'Would Ring the Bells of Heaven
Location: Starbase 12 - Orbiting New Holland
Timeline: 0900Hrs - March 17th, 2392

Fleet Admiral April Yamaguchi had a wide smile on her face, she was now four months along with her rather unplanned pregnancy however with her issues from the first trimester ending, she was in a very happy mood.

Sildra Warfield regarded her. "Whats got you so happy.?" the smaller Bolian female inquired, with a good natured if somewhat suspicious grin of her own.

"I'm not throwing up today... When I don't throw up... Its always a good day." the taller then average human woman responded. "I get to spend four hours here and then two hours in the gym, then lunch and then back here for another two hours then I'm off."

"Sounds like your average routine April... Besides. being pregnant looks good on you." Warfield smiled

"Thank you Sildra... You're a nicer date then my husband is." April responded, there were a few smiles and snickers around the Operations deck at that comment as everyone knew that April had a potent sense of humor and never took things too seriously, this even included herself and when people told her she was going a great job, she passed the credit to her crew, keeping none for herself. She took great care in looking after her people regardless of rank or posting and she tried to be nice to everyone around her, she wore the rank of six star Admirals on her collar but she got by it by smiling often, being approachable and friendly.

"So... where are we with todays events?"

Captain Sebastian Davoust came over. "Well April-" he never called her by rank as she had to order him to call her by name rather then rank, even so, she had gotten to the point of threatening him with insubordination on the matter. She didn't mean anything about the event but he was confused, however after that he never addressed her by rank ever again. "-The Avalon is almost fully loaded and she'll be departing within the hour. Its the same with the Alaska, both are loading supplies for the Akurian Colony at B Kayor and their new base."

April nodded, while she processed the news and information being presented to her. "Alright, that all sounds good to me." she answered with a good natured smile on her lips. "Where are we with the USS Mount Hood... I didn't think there were any Excelsior class ships remaining... and my former brother in law commands her... His last field command or so I am led to believe." Yamaguchi shook her head. "Ahh the irony.."

Davoust smiled. "Well ...April" he hesitated on the use of her name rather then her rank but then April suspected that the man always would as he was quite formal and others had mentioned the same concern with him. While Davoust was formal, he didn't let it get to excessive levels unlike some other officers and people many of the personnel presently in Operations knew about or had served with like Admiral Edward Jellico or Fleet Admiral Alynna Nechayev. A little fact that April was profoundly grateful about. "Admiral Hunt decided to show up at the last minute..."

Yamaguchi sighed softly, the turbolift doors opened and out emerged a shorter then average Caitian officer who approached April who was scowling as she regarded the display. Davoust turned to address the newcomer. "Good Morning Captain. Welcome to our little corner of purgatory.. What can we sentence you for?"

April blinked, as she turned her head. "Captain Davoust tells a joke... Oh... My... God.." as her brain blue screened about six times back to back. "I .. Umm...umm... shit. Dammiit!"

Teyo didn't really get the joke nor did he particularly understand what he meant. "Um. what."

April sighed as she gave the Caitian a wry smile. "Don't worry about it... See I threatened him with demotion if he didn't work on it..." the taller then average human female indicated Davoust as she spoke. "It seems he took me seriously." she let out a long suffering sigh. "What can I do for you Captain?"

"Well we are about loaded up and ready to leave." Teyo responded.

April smiled. "Excellent. Send us your request and we'll clear you when the time comes." she responded, happy to have one less issue to deal with.

Just then the com system beeped. "Sir.. I have Admiral Hunt on the line.." Captain Miranda Ward commented. "He's demanding to speak with you April."

"I'll take this one." Davoust commented with a smile before he moved over to the nearby display, he activated it and sure as gravity, the image of an annoyed Admiral Jerome Hunt appeared on the screen before them. "Why am I still here Captain?.."

Davoust responded with a wide grin and in a snide tone. "Because you're loading is not yet finished..Rear Admiral. We do not cut corners to get things done in too short a timeframe, besides you are sitting on several hundred thousand tons of explosives.. I would think you would respect this fact as if they detonate because you were stupid... it would obliterate your ship and everyone aboard her faster then you can inhale breathe to scream."

"I want this finished so I can get out into space and get on the road again..."

"My guys will be finished when they are finished... Do not be intimidating them... I'd take that as a personal insult.. Admiral." Davoust responded.

Jerome Hunt narrowed his eyes as he bristled. "You will learn your place Captain.." he growled in response.

"Err.. Yessir." Davoust responded in a cool tone of voice.

Yamaguchi regarded Hunt. "Will that be all... Admiral?"

"Not quite... When will the loading be finished?" he inquired.

"In about thirty minutes... then you can...proceed." Davoust smiled at the last word.

Hunt growled softly but the screen went white before it cut to static, suddenly there was a soft booming sound that echoed through the base as the lights began to dim, the red alert alarm sounded.

April and her senior staff went to work like a well oiled machine. "Admiral.. the USS Mount Hood has just exploded... I have heavy damage to the surrounding spaces... with warheads that are still cooking off in that area."

Yamaguchi tapped her combadge. "Yamaguchi to Engineering?"

"We're on it Admiral. Disaster response is en-route, as are my guys..."
Peterson responded.

Four Akurian Vessels, a light Destroyer, two Heavy Patrol Vessels and a Heavy Fast Attack Craft were close enough to be affected by the explosion. While none were outright destroyed, the nearest vessel, one of the CPV's was severely damaged in the blast

On the ACSF Guardian of Kio, Arina Maya felt her ship tremble from the massive explosion. Prompting her to quickly move to her ships command center, where she asked for a report.

Inev gave her report. "One of the Federation ships, an ammunition ship just exploded, four of our ships got caught in the blast, a light Destroyer, two Heavy Patrol Vessels and a Heavy Fast Attack Craft. While none where outright destroyed, the nearest vessel, one of the CPV's was severely damaged in the blast. Multiple federation vessels have been damaged as well."

Arina nodded. "Contact the starbase, lets get a situation report."

On the starbase. Miranda Ward turned to April Yamaguchi. "Sir. we have one of the Akurian commanders on the line... He's offering assistance."

Yamaguchi processed the statement with a nod. "Tell them, we'd appreciate any assistance they can offer us... ask the Alaska and the Avalon to delay their departure... I feel we'll need their help as well."

Peterson turned. "Admiral. I have over forty Federation ships of various classes and types all reporting damage."

"Understandable.." Ward commented. "Considering the explosive force that was directed... We have major structural damage to the lower sections of the base and some of the armor will need to be replaced." Paterson added a moment later.

Yamaguchi sighed. "Lovely.. Evacuate all the affected areas and seal them off... use transporters from the outside ships if you need to. However you wish... Save as many people from the areas affected as possible." the tall woman responded. "Contact the Alaska and the Avalon, have them assist in this.." she paused.

Ward turned back to her display as she sent a request to both ships, asking for exactly that. A request for aid.