Swords and Insults - Part Four

Posted on Sun Jul 31st, 2022 @ 7:54am by Captain Tienn Kerris & Lieutenant Commander Mij Gilamar & Fleet Captain Torilla Yamaguchi & Lieutenant Commander Egon "Cutting Edge" Schuller & Commander Masako Anderson

Mission: Mission 115: The Pale-Fac'd Moon looks Bloody on the Earth
Location: Various Locations - USS Grey Wolf / USS Hermes
Timeline: 0700Hrs - November 12th, 2393

Commander Tienn Kerris was sitting in her seat, off to the right of Torilla Yamaguchi. Both of them had been on the bridge of the USS Grey Wolf for almost an hour now. The two were quickly conferring on various local customs and the like. It was so the Commander could make a good impression for her first meeting. "They might try throwing something from the native tongue at you, if so then let the universal translator handle the matter. They might take offence at you for it, citing that you refused to learn the native language... But thats just people being trivial."

The Bajoran nodded. "Fair enough. I'll do what I can," she explained with a gentle smile.

Thats when Lieutenant Commander Mij Gilamar turned her head. "Skipper, we're fifteen seconds out," she reported.

Yamaguchi rose to her feet. Her conference with Commander Tienn was now over, and the Bajoran also rose to her feet. "Bring us out of warp. Locate the USS Hermes..." Yamaguchi answered.

Lieutenant Commander Egon Schuller turned as he went to work. "Aye Captain... I've located the Hermes, she has the USS Pembrooke with her." the scientist reported a moment later. "They are adjusting course to intercept us."

"Good. This will make our lives easier." Yamaguchi commented. She then turned to Tienn. "You ready number one?"

"I am as ready as I will ever be, skipper," Tienn answered, a gentle smile on her face. "No pressure..."

"You'll do fine." Yamaguchi gently rubbed the other woman's shoulder with her hand. Yamaguchi then went and sat back down in her chair. "Hail the planet. I'd like to talk to someone from the government, please?" Tienn inquired of Lieutenant James O'Halloran.

O'Halloran nodded. "Aye Commander, placing your call," he commented. He went to work only a second later. He turned back to Tienn after a moment. "No response."

"Is the channel open?" Tienn inquired in her usual gentle tone of voice.

"Aye, but nobody is picking up," O'Halloran answered.

"Alright, let me try another way." Tienn then cleared her throat as she began her usual preamble. "Halanan government, this is Commander Tienn Kerris of the USS Grey Wolf. I've come to seek an arrangement to end the hostilities that now exist between our two governments. Is there any way we can meet so we can discuss the matter at hand?" she inquired.

Tienn waited as she got back only silence. She frowned. "Close channel," she commented. She then turned to the science station. "Egon, what are you seeing out there?"

"I'm reading over a dozen Halanan ships closing with us..." came the expected response.

"Raise shields, yellow alert," Yamaguchi commented as she rose to her feet. "I can assume they do not wish to speak with us regarding the matter. They fear we will call them to account for the issues that led us to these events taking place here and now." Yamaguchi slowly smiled. "I can only assume they do not wish-"

"Incomming fire!" came the voice of Lieutenant Commander Marie Hasti-Antilles. She was new to her rank and posting, but her service record had said she would serve very well in this post. Yamaguchi and Tienn both sat back down in their respective chairs as six warheads all appeared before spending themselves against the shield of the USS Grey Wolf.

Yamaguchi knew that nothing would be resolved here. "Status of those other ships?" she asked. "They are all targeting us as well." came the report from Commander Masako Anderson. "I guess they wanna dance with us, skipper," she added.

"I guess so," Yamaguchi answered softly. "Also, alert the Hermes... Tell them to withdraw. I won't start a shooting war here, today." she commented. "Yes, we could take them on and we could deal with all twelve ships but we also run the risk of taking major damage and risking ourselves and they still won't talk to us." Yamaguchi clarified her orders with an explanation.

Tienn nodded in agreement. "What's our next move after that?" she asked.

"We alert Starfleet and request instructions," Yamaguchi answered quietly. "I do not want to start a shooting war with my own people today. The status of my exile or not, be damned." she paused. "If I did, then the Halanan's would want me dead, and they will resort to any means necessary to make it happen," she explained. "No, get us outta here, number one."

"Aye Captain," Tienn answered. "Helm, power up the slipstream drive and set course for the rendezvous point. Advise Hermes and her escort to do the same."

The Grey Wolf was withdrawing before she shot forward and with a flash of bluish-white light, she was gone. The Hermes followed, along with her escort moments later. Leaving the Halanan fleet unengaged. "We did it... We won General." a young officer cried.

"We won nothing boy." General Silas Montross answered, he smiled as he felt the mind of a rather powerful psi on the Federation lead ship. He found himself going over the list of the known exiles. "I will be in my office. Rhen'var. The watch is yours." and with that. Montross strode into his office as he considered the two minds he was facing. "Computer, display a list of all known Halanan exiles presently serving in the Federation Starfleet," he commented.

Six names were displayed on his monitor. Three of those were personally known to him. One of those was supposed to be his mate, but an offworlder had gotten to her first. He had sullied her with his foul presence. "Torilla Unal. I will take you to wife and you shall be mine, at long last." as a smile graced his lips.