Unreliable Exploration - Preventative Measures

Posted on Thu Mar 12th, 2020 @ 2:57am by Rear Admiral Heather Yamaguchi-Johnson

Mission: Mission 85: My Soul's in Arms, and Eager for the Fray
Location: USS Yankee Clipper - Near the Gnosh'thar system
Timeline: 1630Hrs - May 16th, 2392

Rear Admiral Heather Yamaguchi-Johnson narrowed her eyes as she watched the last of the Klingon ships that had attacked her force slowly rotate on the vacuum of space. Noen of the ships was intact as they had all been demolished by weapons fire from the Seventh Fleet, who had now extended about forty percent of their ordinance stocks in the battle to liberate this star system.

"Are there any more signs of any Klingon ships remaining?." Yamaguchi-Johnson inquired of her personnel around her.

"Nothing that I can see sir." came the response from one of her people.

"That was about two hundred or so ships that we attacked."

"A hundred and eighty-four to be exact Admiral." a Bolian female responded from Yamaguchi-Johnson's immediate left.

"That's too few," Yamaguchi-Johnson responded with a smile. "As soon as we bring up our support ships, they will either attack them or us or both." the tall female smiled. "It is what I would do." she paused. "Alright. Let's go flush these idiots out," she commented.

"Aye sir." the young Bolian responded. "Deploying Starfighters to look for cloaked ships."

Yamaguchi-Johnson was about to open her mouth when the last of the Klingon second fleet suddenly emerged from their cloaks at point blank range and started shooting. This attack caught much of the Seventh by surprise as Federation ships reacted piecemeal, some evading while others simply stood their ground and began returning fire.

Yamaguchi-Johnson noticed the attack for what it was, a last-ditch effort to drive the Federation from this system. "All ships focus your fire on the larger enemy ships, target their battleships and carriers first. Destroyers and light destroyers, screen our large guns and use your missiles from range. Try to distract them with your massed missile swarms." Yamaguchi-Johnson paused. "Cruisers, cover our larger ships from their ships and look for chances and opportunities to maximize your damage." she then smiled. "Starfighters, cover our ships, carriers, support our other ships with your support craft." she sucked in a breath. "Everyone else, break and attack."

Several Federation Guardian Class battleships slowly turned to face the enemy before letting loose thousands of warheads between them, before cutting loose with their phasers, the effect on the Klingon fleet was ragged at first but before more concentrated as the Klingon flanks began to cluster together, in an attempt to evade the Federation's missile swarms.

Yamaguchi-Johnson watched from her command bridge in silence. The battle was developing fast and furiously as ships from both sides hammered away at each other with a ferociousness that bordered on downright insanity, suddenly one Klingon warship exploded due to the effects of being outnumbered and heavily outgunned by four to their one.

The Klingon fleet crumbled as the force launched several swarm attacks on the Federation fleet. Before long the Klingon leader hailed the Yankee Clipper.

"Put the General though," Yamaguchi-Johnson responded, knowing this could be a repeat of what had happened to Talon Yeager, eleven days earlier. The man had threatened to rape Talon before he would murder her. He had then fled the scene leaving Talon looking over her shoulders now. Heather didn't wish a repeat of that event on herself.

Heather found herself looking onto the destroyed remnants of a Klingon warships bridge with General Chap'ogh of House Charin facing her, he looked wounded as he sighed softly. "Admiral Yamaguchi-Johnson. You have fought well, it was an honor to die at your hands... I can't demolish my own ship... I ask.. for Mauk-To-Vor."

Yamaguchi-Johnson smiled as she gently sang the warrior's anthem of the Klingon Empire in Klingon no less. "Qoy qeylIs puqloD.
Qoy puqbe'pu'.
yoHbogh matlhbogh je SuvwI'
Say'moHchu' may' 'Iw.
maSuv manong 'ej maHoHchu'.
nI'be' yInmaj 'ach wovqu'.
batlh maHeghbej 'ej yo' qIjDaq vavpu'ma' DImuv.
pa' reH maSuvtaHqu'.
mamevQo'. maSuvtaH. ma'ov."

The translator turned it into English which came across as "Hear! Sons of Kahless.
Hear! Daughters too.
The blood of battle washes clean
The Warrior brave and true.
We fight, we love, and then we kill.
Our lives burn short and bright,
Then we die with honor and join our fathers in the Black Fleet where
we battle forever, battling on through the Eternal fight."

"You honor me, Admiral. It is a pity we must meet as foes..." General Chap'ogh of House Charin lamented. "Now... Grant my request."

Yamaguchi-Johnson's eyes widened ever so slightly. "Yes General. I will grant you safe passage to Sto-Vo-Kor!" she responded before she tapped her combadge. "Bridge, this is the Admiral. Target the Generals ship. Demolish it."

"Sir, there are Klingon life signs aboard."

"I know, they wish to die in battle rather than live with their defeat, their commanding officer is requesting I finish this battle. I have agreed. Open fire Captain."

Commander Siaxx Dhald nodded. "Weapons are ready."

Captain Elizabeth "Beth" Jones nodded her head. "Grant them, their last request.."

Dhald nodded as she tapped the firing stud on her display once, sending forty missiles into the Klingon ship, the warship was reduced to a lifeless ruin of scrap metal.

Yamaguchi-Johnson sighed as she knew she would mourn General Chap'ogh of House Charin and his passing. "He died a warrior's death. That's all he could ever want.," she commented quietly. "Let's see to our own wounded and fallen," Yamaguchi-Johnson added a moment later. "Let's go to work on sorting out our own problems."