A Prayer for the Dead - Part Eight

Posted on Fri Jan 1st, 2021 @ 2:00pm by Captain April Yamaguchi

Mission: Mission 105: The Mirror, Shattered
Location: Various Locations - Terran Imperial Headquarters - Earth, SOL
Timeline: 0800Hrs - October 4th, 2393

The soldiers of Potemkin's Shock Team Alpha were handpicked and trained by Captain Kodian El'Khaled and Commander Namura. They were chosen from the crew because of their loyalty to the previous Captain and they had simply followed Captain Yamaguchi without question, their aggressiveness and willingness to follow any order from her, and their fighting abilities. They were formed over a year ago to board enemy vessels and facilities, neutralize the threat by any means necessary, and capture the objective. They are also used for eliminating anyone the captain orders them to kill. For them to be deployed now means that no one will be left alive.

Shock Team Alpha was used to snuff out the planned insurrection against Captain El'Khaled by the followers of the traitor Robert Copland aboard the Potemkin. They are outfitted with the latest technology, body armor as a large amount of other equipment as well as the new experimental Mark 3g Assault Phaser Rifles nicknamed the 'Strumgewehr 2394' or Assault Rifle 2394.

Commander Namura has each member check their equipment and weapons as she goes over the plan of action. Lt. Okoye, the Potemkin's helmsman and chief of security, is also a member of this team from its inception. She is fanatically loyal to the ship and is always looking for a good fight. She can't wait to try out her 'Strumgewehr' in action. Commander Namura has donned her Katana, the samurai sword that has been in her family for over six hundred years. The commander is so skilled in its use, she carries it in place of her fleet issued dagger.

This mission will be a slaughter, plain and simple. Everyone who enters that conference room is considered a traitor to the Empire and will be killed. Shock Team Alpha's orders are to eliminate these people with extreme prejudice... then proceed with phase two...

Meanwhile, the captains of various starships of various types and classes are meeting in this neutral place to discuss their plan to join the cause of Rear Admiral Rodrigo Insana's interest in his claim to the throne of the Terran Empire. These men and women have all either served with Insana himself and they've declared their allegiance to him against the interim government of the Terran Imperial Senate. These people, like most Terrans, do not fully trust one another and refused to meet aboard any one captain's vessel. A neutral place was agreed upon once Imperial Governor Stephen Caldwell voiced interest in joining them in recognition of Insana's claim.

The Imperial Conference Room was designed and built for Emperor Robert Layton when he would meet with fleet personnel and various leaders in this ornate room with vaulted ceilings and gold inlay furniture. It is maintained by a small staff of human technicians. It was the scene of numerous meetings between the Emperor and his admirals when he would visit his estates on Earth.

Emperor Leyton chose his close and loyal friend Stephen Caldwell for this post after the previous governor was retired.

Now newly promoted Rear Admiral Rodrigo Insana holds court among the other assembled captains. He commands the Galaxy Class starship ISS Valiant which is currently being refitted at the shipyards. He was promoted by Grand Admiral Tom Lasky right after he declared his loyalty to the acting government. Insana is presently the breastplate and garb of a Terran lord, another title Lasky had bestowed on him for bringing these forty ship captains over and recognizing the Grand Admiral's claim. These forty ships will give Lasky a force capable of striking at the heart of the Imperial Federation almost immediately. Insana, however, is planning to betray Lasky and kill him before ascending to the Emperor's throne himself.

Rodrigo Insana checks the time as he and the others await the arrival of Imperial Governor Caldwell. The governor is known for not being prompt so it is not surprising to anyone in the conference room that he's running late. Insana will wait a few more minutes for Caldwell to arrive or he'll start the meeting without the governor. Right now Insana is basking in the glow of adoration and congratulations he is receiving from the other captains. His mind wanders back to the situation on board the Valiant with his first officer, Vera Hart. He will just have her eliminated when the refit is complete...

Insana smiles with anticipation... the future had never looked so bright...