The Fleet is Gathering - Part Two

Posted on Sun Feb 23rd, 2020 @ 9:57pm by Fleet Captain Torilla Yamaguchi

Mission: Mission 5: Skyfall
Location: Various Locations - Starbase 400
Timeline: 1000Hrs - January 7th, 2389

Mike waited for the small talk among the Officers gathered to die down. “Most ships in the Fleet will be ‘picket’ ships, vessels long the blockade line sweeping the area with active sensors as well as being a link in a mobile tachyon detection grid. The rest of us will be designated as ‘intercept’ ships. These vessels will be responsible to responding to and intercepting any contacts picked up by the tachyon net or sensors. Your ship’s individual assignment is being transmitted to your PADDs, now.”

Mike then pointed at the right display, “This is our route to the operational area. Deep Space 14 will be the staging area. From there, all ships will deploy to their assigned areas.”

Mike then nodded to Sevlek, “Admiral Sevlek will provide additional information regarding the Krazzle positions and possible locations where the Typhon Pact may try to run the blockade.”

Jake raised an eyebrow. "Sir, do we have a threat assessment of what Typhon pact forces are in the area?" he inquired.

Torilla smiled as she looked at her husband, 'trust him to go for the throat' she mused. 'I see he wants to know where his playmates will be located'. she added as she kept her thoughts to herself.

Lee raised an eyebrow at the comment from Jake but had figured bound for someone to ask that.

The Vulcan Admiral nodded at Bremer as he stepped forward and entered commands on the podium. Both screens changed to show a series of locations marked along the border. He began speaking, "The locations displayed on the monitors have the highest probability of being possible penetration points for Krazzle and Typhon Pact blockade runners. Starting from your right-most position they are identified as Zeta-1 and are identified continuously through Zeta-4-1. There are 41 locations that have the highest chance of seeing an engagement and it will be up to each of you to follow the orders I am about to assign that supersede any other order you are given: Hostile actions and deadly force are only authorized if your vessel is fired upon first. Targets should be disabled, boarded and prisoners taken alive."

A pause, "Every group of picket ships will have a troop carrier designated that will be responsible for boarding enemy vessels. Those vessels have already been equipped for mass holding cells and their commanders notified of their role."

"Our primary goal in this assignment is to contribute to the mounting evidence that the conflict against the C'hakilian people is not in the best interest of the Krazzle Republic. While the fleet in engaged in its own activities, a vessel is being sent to meet with representatives of the Krazzle and C'hakilian governments on a Starfleet base to come to a resolution in this conflict that does not involve the Federation, Klingon or Cardassian governments to engage in full-scale war."

Sevlek turned and motioned towards Zandusky, "This is Captain Zandusky, he is commanding my flagship, the U.S.S. Gladiator and is assigned as the fleet's command and control vessel. All orders will be routed from the Fleet's commanders via the Gladiator unless Captain Zandusky informs otherwise." He turned to Bremer, "Admiral Bremer is my assigned Field Commander of this fleet, he has my full support in any decisions he makes and if you disobey an order he gives you, you have disobeyed an order I have given you. This mission is important to the balance of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants."

"I now turn the podium back over to Admiral Bremer for any additional information he feels necessary." Sevlek stepped away from the podium as Bremer stepped forward.

Mike nodded to Sevlek, then looked down at Jake Yamaguchi, “To answer your earlier question Captain.” The screen on the right changed back to an ‘over head’ view of operational area which included parts of Federation space and all of Krazzle and C’Hakilian territories. “The Krazzle are known to have over fourteen hundred vessels assigned to the invasion with another eleven hundred remaining within their own borders. The C’Hakilian fleet, in contrast, has less than five hundred vessels remaining in service at this time. As I said earlier, our mission here isn’t to start a war, it’s to gather additional evidence of Typhon Pact interference. I want, and require, ALL ship commanders to air on the side of caution. Don’t fire unless fired upon, and then to disable. Picket ships are to maintain their positions, let the intercept ships run down any blockade runners.”

Mike paused to look around a moment, "Starbase 400 will serve as the Flagbase for this, and all operations around the war zone. Vice Admiral T'Lar will be in command here and will be able to dispatch additional ships to the area if needed, as well as serving as primary repair facility. Starbase 400 will also monitor the Federation and Klingon borders for any incursions, just in case."

"Why is Starbase 400 the command base, with DS14 within the operations area?" Captain Ro asked.

Mike replied as frankly, "Starbase 400 is better equipped. Also, with the peace conference being held at DS14 and the Krazzle there, I'd prefer we not have all our eggs in one basket."

Leget Evek, commander of the Cardassian forces then spoke up, “I see here my ships have been divided up between different groups. Many of my ship commanders have expressed...uneasiness with serving with Klingons.”

General G'Tar jumped to his feet, “The Cardassian petaQ is afraid of us”

Mike spoke up, “Enough, both of you! You’re the commanders for your respective groups and you’re acting like children.” He glared at G’Tar and Evek, “I’ve integrated more of the most of the groups to help build cooperation and mutual respect. We're all in this together, working as work, and I expect that out of the both of you, setting the right example, do I make myself clear?”

Evek slowly nodded, while G’Tar grunted, both of them sitting down.

Mike looked around the room for a few moments, then asked, “Any other questions or concerns?”

Andrew raised his hand and once acknowledged by Admiral Bremer, spoke "What about any Typhon Pact ships already in the conflict zone and inside the blockade border? They will be able to assist the Krazzle regardless of any blockade of the area. Are we going to go after them?"

"Intelligence does believe there are a few Romulan, possibly other Pact vessels within Krazzle space, but none have taken active part in the conflict. The last thing they want, is to be seen actively supporting the Krazzle because it would bring us in on the side of the C'Hakilians, actively. I believe if there are hostile ships within the zone, they will keep a low profile. If they attempt to run the blockade to get back to Romulan space, or open space, they too till be subject to be stopped and boarded."

Mike looked around, "Anyone else?"

When no one responded, Mike said, "All right. We'll depart here in two hours. That'll give the last few ships undergoing resupply and maintenance to finish, brief your crews if you haven't already, and get something to eat. The Station's Promenade is open to all. Dismissed."