Roadblocks - Part One

Posted on Sun Jul 31st, 2022 @ 7:52am by Vice Admiral Paul Emerson & Rear Admiral Carl "Thunderhead" Patterson

Mission: Mission 115: The Pale-Fac'd Moon looks Bloody on the Earth
Location: Various Locations - Starbase Vanguard
Timeline: 0800Hrs - November 11th, 2393

On the Starbase. Sitting in his office was Paul Emerson. He had decided he needed to get this rather large and stupid piece of administrative detail out of the way before anything else went wrong. Emerson suspected he might need to ask the Fourteenth for several ships as the Ninety-second was short of their own ships. Most were either undergoing maintenance or were down for the count on account of dealing with various assignments.

Emerson sighed softly as he looked at the display on his desk. Many ships were down for the count as a result of various reasons. Some were busy with assignments and some were down because of upkeep. "Well. shit." Emerson muttered to himself. "This is a fine mess I've found." he sighed softly. He contacted Rear Admiral Carl "Thunderhead" Patterson, only to find out most of the fleet was simply not available for anything other than what it was doing but he did have half a dozen ships available for this effort. "I'm sorry Admiral but I didn't expect any of this to happen. Most of the Fourteenth is on patrol. As a result, they've been handing off most of the busy work to me and my guys as a result."

"Alright, what capital class ships do you have?" Emerson inquired of his Executive officer. Last he had heard of Patterson and his whereabouts, he was presently based off of the USS Valhalla, these days.

"Thats the problem. I only have the two capital class ships at the present time." Patterson explained. "As it happens. It's the Grey Wolf and the Hermes. Both ships should be heading back to the dock for reprovisioning as they are starting to run low on their stocks," he added.

"Lovely," Emerson answered in a tone that indicated it was anything but. "Send any replenishment ships you have and replenish both ships and their escorts," he commented. "I have a feeling we're going to be sending them to take a look and see what's happening at New Halana," he added.

"I'll detail the Avalon and the Benson to handle both battlegroups," Patterson answered as he picked up a PADD and went to work jotting down notes. "Jamil has never let me down and Phoolan will do well with this task. I've seen both handle worse."

Emerson nodded his head with a gentle smile. "Both of them should be commanding bigger and better ships of the line," he answered. "However, the fates that be, have other tasks for both our friends today," he commented.

"I'll cut those orders as soon as I get off the coms with you. I suspect this will get really stupid, really fast." Patterson rumbled in his usual form of address, quick and direct to the point.

"You saw their broadcast?" Emerson asked him, knowing that he had done so.

Patterson nodded. "I did. I assume you did as well," he commented. "Hopefully this doesn't get stupid because I am prepared for the alternative if this does so."

Emerson raised an eyebrow. "How do you figure?" he asked, out of curiosity.

Patterson smiled. "I would tell my ships and battlegroups to tighten their patrols. The Halanans are no match for us, this won't stop them from trying small scale raids against us, long-distance warhead strikes on us or worst of all. False flag attacks using a third party as an unknowing patsy." he explained. "Let's not lose sight of the fact that these are the people that created Torilla Yamaguchi and she's a potent psi. I'm glad she's married to Jake... Not to mention that she's on our side of matters rather than against us," he explained.

"You make fair if somewhat uncomfortable points..." Emerson answered quietly. "I will tell Torilla you said hello when I chat with her shortly."

"Do that sir." Patterson then suddenly grinned. "Also, if you'd be so kind. Please remind her that she still owes me ten credits." as he grinned at his boss.

Emerson groaned softly. "I am sure that you can handle that one yourself. Do you not like Torilla or something?" he asked. "You are always asking me to pass messages along for you. It's almost embarrassing," he added.

"Thats because your wife agrees with me that you need to get out more." Patterson regarded his boss with a smile. "So will you pass on that message?"

"Now you're just being an asshole," Emerson answered with a long-winded sigh. "I swear. I wonder why I tolerate you at times," he added. "Fine, I will so inform the good Captain that you mean to rob her of her hard-earned money." Emerson shook his head. "Emerson out." with that, he hung upon the other man as he sighed. "Emerson to com centre. Get me Division Admiral Sildra Vaxx-Warfield, please. Tell her its priority."

The answer came back. "On it Admiral. Placing your call now."