Extremum Proelium - Part I - The Gathering Storm
Posted on Tue Mar 18, 2025 @ 1:32pm by Commodore T'mpest Michaels & Lieutenant Alanna Wells & Commander Cara Letsul & Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Means III & Major K'doc Valadorn & Lieutenant Annora Tessaro & Civilian 'Arrival' Geral Lasuma & Ensign Matilda Cromwell & Charghwl'IH of the House of Soval
Edited on on Wed Mar 19, 2025 @ 12:54pm
1,771 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Tergum In Tempus
Location: Deep Space 5 and Pangaea
Timeline: Leading up to the attack
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Between Tarelis Dilithium Station and DS5
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Charghwl'IH sat in command of his House's flagship while the waited. He had gathered the majority of the fleet assigned to guard the region. A token force was would remain while they warped to the station. All they needed was the word from the station and they would jump to warp.
Rising from the seat he paced for a third time. Even having Vulcan heritage and training; he could be patient if needed but still...he hated waiting.
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N'AQ
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Khylara was manning communications on the Klingon B'rel class ship named N'AQ. It was captained by Major Tsinira Vishti. She looked towards where her husband, K'doc Valadorn, stood, manning the tactical station. A call had been received, for help in defense of a station. The call was answered, with the N'AQ flying there with two other ships.
"Major Vishti, do you wish me to contact the other two ships?" Khylara looking towards the captain.
Vishti kept her eyes on the view screen, watching and wait. " Inform the other ships that the n'aQ will be cloaking and ready for battle. Also narrow the sensor width and extend to maximum range, I want to know what we're up against. "
K'doc reported the ships status. " All stations report ready for combat, Photon launchers loaded and ready. Sensors narrowed and probing the area around DS 5, I will report when we have any additional information "
"I will do so." Khylara sending off a message to the other ships that were alongside them.
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USS Tiahuanaco
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T'mpest approached the station, keeping far enough out to not be caught between the station and the invading forces. She instructed ops to send a docking request, half expecting it to be rejected for some spurious reason. Would they turn away a Starfleet ship? It would have to be a good reason. At least the Tiahuanaco was a science ship. A well-armed and shielded ship, but a science ship nonetheless. She looked harmless enough. For now.
"Picking up the Cuzco. They're fifteen minutes out," the petite officer at security reported.
"Good. If we don't hear from the station in the next five minutes, hold position." She already had a response prepared, just in case.
"Aye, ma'am. Five minutes."
T'mpest looked around the bridge at her officers. All were volunteers and all knew what was at stake. They were a good crew. She hoped this would not be a good day to die.
The communications officer picked up the message and passed it along to T'mpest
"Captain, the N'AQ has sent a message that they are here with us and are going to be staying cloaked, until the signal is received."
"Excellent. Respond that the message was received. Now, we wait for the Cardassians to make their move."
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BAG END
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it had been two days since Alanna received the message from herself. She'd informed everyone she could on the planet, her shuttle was hidden in the woods and protected by the white trees. Her data files and all her backups were also hidden where they wouldn't be found, just in case the battle went as poorly as she imagined the last one had. If not, why send a message to prepare?
She'd gone over that question every hour since. What was worse, Jason was missing. She couldn't sense him anywhere on the planet. Well, that she could reach, which was most of it. He wasn't on the station, which she hoped meant he was off doing something to make sure they all survived. She hadn't even found the captain. But she did have a good idea where she was. Sort of. The last time Alanna detected her, she was heading toward one of the forbidden areas. Then she disappeared. Once this was all over, Alanna would inform command on the station where to look for her.
But for now, she could only watch from her shielded and concealed research station. The force field was a recent addition, after the Cardassians began harassing the scientists.
She reached out telepathically to Brianthe. "Where are you?
"Gathering white leaves for storage. If there are wounded, this may be a better food option than rations. And it gives me something to do. Your tension is palpable."
Alanna sighed. "Sorry. I can't help it. The whole planet seems to be radiating anticipation."
"Doubtful. The woods are peaceful enough. Anyway, you get somewhere safe, just in case. Isn't it about time?"
Alanna nodded. Then shook her head and smiled. "I'm considering getting in the shuttle to see if I can help."
Brianthe filled her mental tone with mirth. "You're not a trained fighter pilot. You're needed to monitor communications. I'll be back as soon as I'm finished and we'll do something then."
"Fine." Alanna went back to her secret room at the top of Bag End where she kept her monitoring equipment and began to check over what had come in over the past hour.
She wasn't certain if the tension she felt was from her foreknowledge of the attack, not knowing where Jason was, or her heightened awareness of the Cardassians and Marines. Whatever it was, she couldn't let it alter her routine. She had to keep monitoring and recording. She had to trust that the plans set in motion were enough.
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Pangaea
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Means had deployed his Marines throughout the area. The unscheduled training deployment to the surface was likely unknown to the Cardassians but in the event they did know he left a good portion of his forces at the training site. Every one of them ready and waiting.
His assault vehicles were deployed and concealed to protect not only the portals but the research compound as well. He had moved the those in the compound inside the mountain containing the portals and his Marines had taken their place ready to engage anyone dumb enough to attack
Now they waited.
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Deep Space Five
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Matilda was on the Operations Level manning one of the stations there. She heard her console beep as she had been running scans. Her eyes widened and she turned to whomever was there. "I have several ships coming in our direction, and they are not our ships. They look like Cardassian ships and uh what are those?" pointing to the unfamiliar ships. "Want me to go into red alert?"
Petty Officer Kryzth looked up from the security console as the fleet showed up on sensors, right in the sector they were told to keep an eye on.
"This does match the security bulletin warning about an increased threat of Cardassian reprisal."
He pulled up data on the other ships.
"Looks like they convinced the Xi’Cadians to join them."
It was then Commander Ryan stepped down from his office.
"That doesn't look like a friendly fleet. Take us to Red Alert Ensign, then send out a general request for assistance. Try to hail the Cardassian fleet. They're probably up to no good but we have to at least give them a warning."
"Yes Commander." Matilda responding with opening hailing frequencies. "Sir it is open"
The security officer turned XO put on his best stern voice, trained from years of dealing with miscreants.
"Attention Cardassian fleet. You are entering Federation space, state your intentions or leave at once. Any hostile actions will be met in kind and will be considered an act of war."
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PROMENADE
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It was business as usual for Geral. With the increased revenue from the Tarelis system and the exclusive trade agreement he had negotiated at the same time his profits were like nothing Lasuma Enterprises had ever seen. His company had been extremely profitable for a long time but the amount of latinum being added to his bottom line was unreal...and a lot of the Tarelian products hadn't even hit the markets within the Federation, the Klingon and Romulan Empires, and Cardassian Union.
He had been quite impressed with his yacht purchases and he had reach back to the manufacture to get their marking materials of any models of freighters they might have. That data had come in almost immediately and the various ship models they offered would suit his needs perfectly.
Setting the tablet aside he leaned back picking up his glass swirling the bourbon slowly he got up from his desk and went down to the kitchen and out into the promenade. Even with the normal activity something didn't feel right. Without even looking he spoke, knowing Dorian was there. "Anything new from T'Lul?"
Before Dorian could reply klaxons sounded and lights shifted. "Contact the T'Lul. She where she needs you. Are the yachts ready?"
"Ready to go, just in case."
"Good, Go! I will handle things here."
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In The Evil Librarian Bookshop, Bastille heard the klaxons and froze. What was going on? She ran to the front door and looked out onto the promenade. People were running every which way. Some to their shops and others to the nearest turbolifts. But she knew there was no safe place on a starbase. Safer, yes, but during an attack, anywhere away from the outer hull should be protection enough. The station had strong defenses. Still, she locked her door, closed the blinds, and went into her office to try and stay calm until she heard the all clear.
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Maintenance Bay
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In an agreement reached with her counterpart, Annora stayed out of the way until the time of the actual attack. No need to muddy the timeline any further than had already occurred. Now that the alarm had sounded, it was time to jump into action. She emerged from the makeshift quarters in full combat gear; most had been brought with them on their trip through time with the rest borrowed from the station's stores. The Chief and Lt Lee were not far behind her. For the time-being they were to take up position near the lower docking bay until it was clear where security teams were needed.
OFF
Charghwl'IH of the House of Sovol
Klingon Ambassador
Deep Space 5
Khylara Valedorn
N'AQ
Major Tsinira Vishti
Captain
N'AQ
Captain T'mpest Michaels
Commander
USS Tiahuanaco
Lieutenant Alanna Wells
Chief Science Officer
Bag End, Pangaea
Lieutenant JG Brianthe Oaxaca
Botanist
Deep Space 5 and Pangaea
Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Means III
Marine CO
Deep Space 5 and Pangaea
Ensign Matilda Cromwell
Operations Officer
Deep Space 5
Petty Officer Kryzth
Operations
Deep Space 5
Commander Caleb Ryan
Executive Officer
Deep Space 5
Geral Lasuma
Owner
Lasuma Enterprises
Dorian Torel
Bodyguard/Henchman
Lasuma Enterprises
Bastille LaGrange
Owner
The Evil Librarian Bookshop
Lieutenant Annora Tesaro
Chief Security Officer
Deep Space 5
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