Post # 1 Distress Call

Posted on Mon Jun 7th, 2021 @ 8:13am by Commodore Cyndi Song & Lieutenant Alister McKeon
Edited on on Thu Jun 10th, 2021 @ 3:31pm

Mission: Mission Guardian Shield
Location: USS Amandora
Timeline: Current

OFF: This will begin our new mission. Numbers return to One.
Many thanks to the Chief Intel Officer for this mission!

ON:

Alister rolled over muttering at the constant chime from his computer indicating a priority comm message. Getting up a rubbed his eyes tiredly keying in a acceptance audio only on his end. His eyes widen as he saw Lieutenant Katherine Peterson on his screen, the normally calm slightly spaced look of the top code slicer from his class. He keyed the visual feed no longer carrying about his lack of a shirt, “Katie, what’s wrong,” he asked concern on his voice.

The red head blinked her green eyes, “They’re dead, all of them the ambassador, his assistant, and most of the planetary government. The whole planet has went up, yesterday a mob tried to attack the embassy made it thru the front doors before...”. She paused trailing off into nothing.

“Katie,” Alister said rapidly pulling up her station and the personal assigned to the embassy, “Where is Commander Lee, he’s the station chief?”

“I don’t know he went missing before everything happened,” Katie said, “They killed two of the local guards and a Marine one broke thru the door to my office and I....”

“It’s alright Katie,” Alister said with a small smile, “It’ll be alright, we’re not too far away. Get who ever is in charge of the diplomats to send a distress signal. I’ll get us moving that direction right now, I need you to send my department everything you have.”

Katie nodded, “Thank you, I didn’t know what to do, I’m just a slicer I’m only hear to help with comm intercepts.”

Alister nodded, “You did the right thing calling out, lock down the embassy until we get there. I need to sign off and get us heading in that direction and wake up the Commodore. It’ll be alright Katie.” He saw the red head nod her head before cutting the connection. Grabbing a uniform from his closet and grabbing two cups of coffee and some pastries he started for the Commodore’s quarters.

=^=Bridge, CIO divert course to the planet Aeternea maximum speed my authority, Intelligence priority Alpha. Authentic Zulu Seven Four Break Alpha.=^= He heard a confirmation from the duty officer before arriving at the Commodore’s door and sighed, “Computer open door Intelligence override priority Alpha. Authentic Zulu Seven Four Break Alpha,” he said up into the air.

He entered the Commodore’s quarters placing the coffee and pastries on a table. Taking a slight breath he squared his shoulders and entered the bedroom, “Commodore,” he said gently giving her shoulder a shake, “You need to wake up something has happened that needs your immediate attention. I have coffee and pastries on the table outside and have a brief summary at this time.”

Cyndi sat up rubbing her eyes and glanced over at Paul who was still sound asleep "I'll be right out,"

Turning he exited the bedroom and set down on one of the chairs pulling his PADD and rereading the rapidly updating file his analysts where sending him. A few breaks as some more senior people where awoken and started looking over the data.

Pulling on her robe and belting around her waist Cyndi walked into the dining room picking up a cup of coffee before taking a seat "What's happened?"

“The planet Aeternea, has erupted into Civil War,” Alister said quietly keeping his voice low to avoid disturbing the Admiral’s sleep. “The Prime Minister, bulk of the Parliament, Military Chiefs, and our ambassador, assistant ambassador and their top aides where killed in a bombing of the Parliament building during a ceremony to commemorate the hundred year anniversary of the Republic of Arternea emerging as the lone planetary government from a long brutal war among the Ireidae nations, with the military defeat of the Arternea Federation and Arternea monarchy surrendering once Republic forces got ashore and the Royal Army’s counter attack failed to drive them once more back into the sea. To make matters worse it appears a mob attacked the embassy we’re still getting a full casualty total but two local guards and a Marine have been killed. Four Federation civilian staff have been severely injured one of which is actually Lt Commander Wilkins, the deputy station chief for Starfleet Intelligence. Commander Lee the station chief is missing and current whereabouts are unknown at this time. The Marines and Security of the embassy regained control of the grounds but over thirty civilian casualties have been confirmed.” Alister took a sip of his coffee, “In addition to the bombing a large section of the planetary defense force has revolted against the government. Heavy fighting has broken out in two of the three continents, and from the reports two mechanized brigades loyal to the rebels are moving toward the capital.”

"They need us as soon as we can get there," Cyndi said taking another sip of her coffee "Don't worry about waking Paul he can sleep through anything.

“Prime Directive is in effect as far as I can tell, but we do have a need to secure the embassy from further attacks and with the world being so close to the Romulan border and its potential for a future fleet base getting both sides to avoid another few decades long war would be in Federation interest,” Alister replied taking the opportunity to snag a cream and strawberry danish from the plate.

"That it would," Cyndi agreed as she picked up a bear claw and took a bite "We can't let the Romulans get a foothold in this sector. What do you suggest? I can get us there in several hours

“We’re already moving that way at our best speed,” Alister said from his seat, “We’re technically still waiting for the distress message to be sent once someone can find out which of the diplomatic staff is actually in charge and they stop panicking.”

Cyndi nodded "Good enough there, how long before we arrive? One thing I've learned is nothing is gained from panicking but in situations like this I can understand it. How did you hear about this?"

“I got a call from an old classmate on the planet, according to the regs until Wilkins can recover she’s senior to anyone else and is acting station chief,” Alister replied to the question, “We can use her comm call if the diplomats are still panicking, but I think Katie can get someone to send out a message. She’s not operations trained and I’m surprised she was sent this close to the border but when she doesn’t overthink things her first instincts are usually correct.” He drained his coffee cup dry, “As for suggestions, get Major Hurd and his men on planet and secure the embassy while you try to get the two sides to talk possibly with the Amandora being neutral ground to get a ceasefire in place. I’ll take my team down to the planet the fact the Commander Lee disappeared before the bombing I wonder if he was on to something.”

"Highly possible," Cyndi agreed "I'll call a briefing with Hurd, Jackson, Rivers and anyone else you feel should be there. Let's hope your contact gets the message out soon. I can hold the talks aboard ship, it is neutral ground and probably the safest place right now.”

“The XO, we could even make it a full senior staff briefing, if talks are being held here Security will need to be informed especially with the Marines deployed to the planet. And if we have that many senior officers awake might as well cancel the rest of the senior staffs beauty sleep,” Alister said with a slight smile. “We should be arriving in system in five hours. If you can give me let’s say ten minutes for my people to go back over the info we have and get a chance for the more senior analysis to get some eyes on the raw data should be able to get a better idea of what we are dealing with maybe with some proper background and possible numbers.”

"Ten minutes is good, it will give me a chance to get in the shower and get dressed," Cyndi said "I'll have the CMO, ACMO, science chief and the assistant chief as well as the wing commander. If there is chance Romulans are close Herculoid, Rivers and Long need to be there too."

Alister shrugged his shoulders, “That’s fine by me, but our options are limited, unless we can find Romulan interference then it’s a strictly internal matter. I’ll leave you to get ready.” He gave a nod the Commodore as he stood up, “If you need anything else let me know.”

"I'll see you in the briefing room," Cyndi said getting to her feet "If anything comes in that I need to know about between now and the briefing let me know. Otherwise I'll see you in ten minutes."

OFF: