Here Comes A New Challenger

Posted on Tue Oct 24th, 2017 @ 4:28pm by Commodore Jason Myers & Lieutenant Valeria Mordin

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/3
Location: Dalacari Station "Frontier Midnight"
Timeline: June 17, 2399 @ 1300

Having gotten his final updates, and not to mention his newest promotion, Daisan Tukal was... to say the least... pleased. He wasn't pleased that such an act was necessary, but from whisperings that he'd been hearing these actions were necessary.

"Engine?" he called to the wall panel, which gave a chirp in response. "Could you relay a message to Commodore Jason Myers. Message to follow." and he cleared his throat. "Commodore Myers, I'd like to share a moment of tranquility before the coming storm. Would you kindly meet me at Outer Ring, Section Seven, Hallway Twenty?" a pause, "End message, send, and arrange for possible escort."

"Compliance." Came the reply from the computer system, and the message was sent. One of the drone security forces found Jason, and approached him in as unthreatening a manner as any drone could. "Commodore Jason Myers. Identity Confirmed. Incoming Message From Fleetmaster Daisan Tukal."

Jason looked at the drone... "On screen." he said, a little confused but mostly enthralled, thinking it was too bad the Federation didn't have these.

A small holoprojection rose out of the drone's upturned hand, showing a bust of the familiar Ts'usugi. "Commodore Myers, I'd like to share a moment of tranquility before the coming storm. Would you kindly meet me at Outer Ring, Section Seven, Hallway Twenty?" and then the projection faded from existence. "This Unit Can Escort To Requested Location. Accept?"

"Accept." Jason said as the drone directed him. After a few minutes, he arrived at the destination. "You wanted to see me?"

The halls were filled with, as one would expect, Dalacari. Some in the uniform of the Dalacari Republic, showing their service to the station and to the people, but others in civilian garb. This was a major hub, after all. Civilians, children, all walks of life in the station. A testimony to the ever presence of curiosity. Some gave Myers an odd look, either distrusting from the recent attack, or some form of mild pity that there was only one of him. Though in the end, he arrived where instructed, and was in the presence of Tukal once again, looking out a grand window to the empty stars.

"They love their open spaces." He commented, waving at a young Dalacari child as the pair went by. "Dalacari, I mean. Though, if you were them, you'd need all the space you could get. We keep our eyes open for worlds matching their Dia Platius mandate. Slightly higher gravity, large, water and land in abundance. You know, perfect." he chuckled.

"We all leave our world hoping to find more like it. Perfect matches. Though, not everything works out perfectly, as we've all found out today. Thank you for coming. I know you're a very busy man, but I wanted you to see this." and there was a sound over the general announcement channel. A gentle tone, followed by the station wide announcement. "Attention. This is the Station. Ts'usugi craft arriving in sector five one sigma four." and that's when Dalacari from all walks... be they civilian or citizen, came to those long windows to watch. Areas of the black emptiness of space seemed to get just a little darker, and then from those void came starships. Ships built for war, built to protect, and built to intimidate. Sleek designs, well armored nacelles, and turrets and arrays of weapons. First came a Destroyer. Nimble and vigilant, the same class and specifications as the impressive ICF Nebula Flare. The first ship here took a flank on the other, and the two flew in formation like old friends reunited.

Jason looked at the destroyers, rather impressed. He stood silently taking in their arrival. These could wipe out a Federation fleet in almost no time with the weaponry.

The second ships through were Cruisers. Heavily armored, heavily armed, they lumbered through space with a purpose. Like a pair of pit bulls from ancient Earth, intimidating simply on appearance. Each cruiser was twice the length of either destroyer, a full hundred meters wider, and half again as tall. Then, something cast a shadow on the cruisers, and the section of the hallway Jason and the others were in.

That shadow, was a Carrier.

One and a half kilometers long, five hundred meters wide, and thirty five decks of military power. It wasn't arriving anywhere fast, but in honesty it didn't need to. Being in visual range of a craft of that magnitude was enough.

The Dalacari in the hallway almost cheered at the sight. To them, this wasn't an instrument of terror. This wasn't a doctrine in fear. This was their hope given form. Their oldest and most attentive ally, their defenders, their shield.

"The ICF Orbital Dawn." Tukal commented as the strike group moved into a defensive posture near the station. "She's a hell of a carrier. Type 4, if memory serves. She's as slow as a planet, but hits as hard as one. Not to mention, two full squadrons of Configuration One fighters and one full squadron of Configuration Two."

"That's ... just on the carrier. You're looking at another 28 and 14, respective, across the other craft." Tukal turned and gave Jason a smirk, "So, keep me posted on who the aggressors are? I'm a man of diplomacy, but I'm a son of Ts'usu as well. Someone hurt my friends, Commodore. You understand if I want to hurt them back."

"We would do the same." Jason said. "And we want justice for those injured too. Nobody really believes that Lieutenant Mordin was a plant by your government to weaken us. I have assurances from Admiral Marquette that the JAG will throw out the charges though likely order monitoring out of abundance of caution. Commander Bartlett has told me that this goes well beyond the Delta Quadrant. It's a power play by a race we've fought at least two wars against. And by some Klingons content to tear us apart."

"And I believe you." Tukal said, simply. "And more importantly, every man and woman on those ships out there believes you. Not just because I believe you, but because they believe in what we can be together. They believe in the alliance."

He gave a smirk, "Though I don't blame you for keeping an eye on her. She's a miscreant." he chuckled. "Well, if we're going to start being friends, a little trust is in order. Your enemies are our enemies, Commodore Myers." and Tukal offered Jason a handshake. "My sword is your sword. My shield is your shield." sounded ceremonial.

"And mine yours." Jason said, returning the handshake. "I would ordinarily say that this is going to be a hell of a fight if they bring it to our doorstep. But it looks like you're already prepared."

"The battle you lose is the battle you aren't prepared for. That's tactical history one oh one, I believe is your saying?" the Ts'usugi smirked. "I should make my way over to the Orbital Dawn. I mean, after all, she's *[i]my[/i]* flagship now." he chuckled. "And when this is all behind us, if we're still on this side of the veil, we celebrate."

"You'll get no argument from me. I need to get... I'm not even sure. My flagship's transporters are buggered. Probably back to the Ops Centre where I can hail *my* fleet.

Tukal thought for a moment, then gave a smirk... "Ever travel on a Dalacari shuttle? It's eerie, really. They fly themselves."

"You may have to show us how to work that when this is all over. May this coming battle be successful. And short." Jason said as he nodded at the Shipmaster and headed towards Ops.

Commodore Jason Myers
Task Force Commanding Officer
Starfleet Command

&

Daisan Tukal
Fleetmaster / Commander
Ts'usugi Imperial Navy