Operation: Coronet - Part One

Posted on Sun Jul 31st, 2022 @ 7:57am by Captain Tienn Kerris & Lieutenant Commander Mij Gilamar & Commodore Korelii MacRae & Fleet Captain Torilla Yamaguchi & Commander Masako Anderson

Mission: Mission 115: The Pale-Fac'd Moon looks Bloody on the Earth
Location: Various Locations - Federation Battlegroup
Timeline: 1615Hrs - November 13th, 2393

The fleet was in transit and had been for the last three hours. Rather than sit in her command chair. Torilla Yamaguchi was watching the display board before her in silence. "Masako, how recent are these scans?" she inquired of the Operations chief before her.

"Five minutes between sweeps, skipper." came the response.

Yamaguchi knew that this was all well and good but five minutes was far too long. "Start scanning the system, a full sweep once a minute." she paused. "Time till arrival?" she added.

"Arrival in eight minutes, Admiral." came the response from Commander Gilamar.

Yamaguchi paused for a moment as she had not quite yet gotten used to being addressed with the new rank she would be wearing for the duration of this assignment. Division Admiral. She pushed the thought away as she turned her attention back to the display. "Mmmm." Yamaguchi slowly smiled. "They've called in their entire fleet. Ohhhh. They know we're coming." she commented.

"Should we abort, skipper?" Tienn asked. "Give time for cooler heads to prevail?"

"The time for talk, number one... Has past. Now all thats left is an unhappy ending." Yamaguchi answered softly. "That said, Hermes alone, outguns half their fleet... They have to know that it's suicide to face us." Yamaguchi commented gently.

Tienn came over in silence before she regarded the Halanan woman over the table. "Skipper. A moment?" and with that, she indicated the very corner of the bridge. Yamaguchi nodded as she followed in silence. Tienn got to where she wished to have this chat before she turned. "Skipper. Never underestimate the value of fighting on your home turf, fighting for your homes." Tienn explained. "I know. I've been where these guys are now." she clarified.

Yamaguchi nodded. "I apologize for my lack of respect. It won't happen again," she answered quietly.

Tienn smiled. "I accept. But skipper. We do need to avoid prolonging this battle. We need to ensure these guys do not fight in vain... and those who fall, do not die forgotten." the Bajoran explained. "We can't afford to make martyrs. We'll never win anything otherwise."

"Fair enough. What do you recommend?" Yamaguchi inquired of the other woman.

"When we fight them, we either drive them off or disable them. We do not want to board their ships and attempt to capture them." Tienn paused. "You are psionic. So are they."

"Thats very true." Yamaguchi paused. "You make fair points. I will consider them in the battle ahead Commander." She knew that time was growing short and she needed to focus on the battle plot. The battle to come was going to be interesting. Everyone present knew it. "Is there anything else we should discuss?"

"No, Thats all I wanted." Tienn paused. "Thanks, for letting me speak my mind."

"Thank you, for having the guts to say what was on your mind," Yamaguchi answered with a gentle smile on her lips. "Is my flagship ready for the battle?" she asked the formal question.

"The Grey Wolf is fully at your command, Admiral." Tienn slowly smiled as if it had been her efforts thats had made it happen. The Bajoran moved back over to her chair before she sat down in it. "Mij, Time till arrival?"

"Ten seconds," Gilamar answered, in her flat emotionless tone of voice, that everyone was used to hearing. "Dropping us out of warp, in formation."

Yamaguchi tapped the display before her once. "Bright to CAG. Scramble," she commented with a gentle smile. "Let's get this done guys," she added after a moment.

Colonel Naota "Anakin" Unal nodded, he shared the name with the fine-looking lady sitting in the Captain's chair as the two had a rather unusual and strange relationship. He was centuries older than her and yet, she looked after him and ensured he had what he needed to live a full and healthy life. He smiled as he heard her voice addressing him. "Anakin to all birds, launch now. Scramble. Targets are already assigned to you. Good hunting. Out."

The space around the two Heavy Carriers began to resemble a swarm of angry bees that had been jostled from their hive. With hundreds soon emerging from their hanger bays.

The Pashenadale was the centrepiece of the entire fleet with the six Centuries out ahead and in a crescent formation, with the edges facing back towards the Valhalla class starship. In the centre was the Guardian class battleship. USS Marathon who was cruising along at a stately cruise of half impulse. All of the other Federation ships were also cruising at that speed.

Suddenly the silence was shattered by a broadband subspace message which came from the Federation flagship. "Attention, New Halanan forces. This is Rear Admiral Korelii Unal. I address you, not as a hostile party. Not as an exile. But as a citizen of New Halana." there was a momentary pause. "This is my homeworld too. The same blood flows in my veins as it does in yours... But I have a cure for the medical issues that have plagued us for so long. I don't know what you were told you had by your own government... But my cure is real. I am living proof." there was another pause. "If you require proof then I can show it to you," MacRae explained patiently, she did not rush her speech, nor did she sound unhappy or harried.

"Get off this channel Unal, you are a traitor." came the unexpected response. "You consort with alien worlds and you dare call yourself a-" was as far as the voice got before he was interrupted. "Silence, Captain. Continue Admiral... I would have proof of your claims." came a second male voice.

"Very well," MacRae answered.