Post 26 Leadership

Posted on Tue Jun 22nd, 2021 @ 9:11am by Commodore Cyndi Song & Lieutenant Alister McKeon
Edited on on Fri Jun 25th, 2021 @ 11:32am

Mission: Mission Guardian Shield
Location: Captain’s Ready Room
Timeline: Before achieving orbit

Alister entered the Ready Room and sat down in the chair facing the Commodore. “Well we have managed to piece together more of what’s going on and we have I believed put names to the leaders on the planet.”

"That's good news, what have you found out?" Cyndi asked


“The leader of the Rebellion is General Kava, commander of the Third Corps before the coup attempt. Going thru our records and what we can still access of the planetary database we know his great grandfather was a Captain on the staff of the last Federation Field Marshal. It appears about sixty years ago in an effort to appear more united to the UPF they started to allow former prominent Federation families back into planetary politics and the military. What we’re seeing looks like an attempt to overthrow the Republic and replace it with the Federation a continuation of the war that brought about a single planetary government.” He paused and pulled up an image of an older Ireidae, black hair cut short with piercing purple eyes.

"I met him years ago," Cyndi commented "The Prime Directive comes into play here. Do you think replacing the Republic and switch over to the Federation continuation is for the best? This coup has caught everyone off guard and is close to a major fight breaking out."

“Not sure,” Alister said after a moment of thinking, “The Federation was far more of a closed democracy with most of the top leaders both political and military being reserved to certain families. The Republic has allowed upward mobility at a greater rate. We also have another player.” He pulled up an image of a female Ireidae sitting extremely proper in a chair blonde hair in a simple yet elegant pony tail. “The third continent has seen no fighting because of her Princess Meriva rightful heir to to the throne and current head of the Royal Family of Meriva. The surrender treaty that ended the war removed the title of Queen and removed them from politics but they’ve managed to maintain some power by sheer will and personality, especially in their former domain. A few units seemed to be ready to join the rebellion but where quickly overpowered by a combination of local police backed up by units from the Royal Guard Regiment that the treaty allows for the personal protection of the crown. So far the military has remained in their barracks as she has called for ceasefire.”

"If she's any kind of a leader the ceasefire should be enough by her order. Problem is the rebellion and the amount of power and following they have. I've never heard of a surrender treaty that eliminates the title of Queen, there has to be more to it," Cyndi commented "I've also never heard of a surrender treaty. Royal families are usually left with titles, some may have no meanings other than the name. Let me ask you this, what are your thoughts to restoring the ruling party to full authority?"

“When the Royal Army failed to drive the Republic forces back into the sea in the last war, the Royal family saw the writing on the wall. When they dragged the last Federation President out of a bunker from the ruins of the Federation capital he was executed on the spot on live TV along with much of the surviving government and military leadership including some of their families,” Alister said, “The King at the time decided to both spare his people the ruinous fight to the last of the Federation and hopefully save his own life. The Republic for their part had been horrified at the executions and where tired and exhausted from war at that point accepted the surrender in exchange for the Royal family giving up claims to the throne.” He glanced at his PADD, “The Republican government is in tatters but they have started to rally around Provincial Governor Kenton with the military under the command of General Hanscom CO of the elite 3rd Division.”

Alister paused and closed his eyes briefly, “I’m not sure the Republic government has been stable and this coup was completely out of left field. They have done their best to put the war behind him trying to unite people behind the Republic, reaching out toward both their former opponents. I also don’t see either side backing down until after at least initial clashes. I’m not sure if at this moment war can be avoided. We know two of the planetary defense batteries have been destroyed by their garrisons before being overwhelmed by rebel forces. I think blood shed might be unavoidable.”

"Getting a royal family to give up titles and power is not an easy feat. There are and will be those who are loyal to the royal family even if they have no real power," Cyndi said "My parents have never had to face that. But I do also agree with you that a war is going to break out and I strongly suggest we bring the Princess aboard where she'll be safe and any other members of the royal family that may be alive. We need to be ready for anything as well as what either side wants for a new treaty."

“She won’t flee, one of her direct ancestors refused to leave the palace even when enemy bombers started to rain down explosives on the building. Said if his people couldn’t flee to safety he won’t,” Alister replied, “The military situation is difficult in the former heartland of the Federation government forces have been pushed back to a pair of ports with their backs against the ocean no guarantee they can hold out without additional reinforcements. Right now the main threat is the two brigades moving toward the capital the government has scrapped together a brigade from about eight or nine different units in a defense before the capital but I doubt it’ll be more then a speed bump. The race will be can the 182nd motorized reach the capital before the rebels.” Alister pulled up a map of the primary continent, “Neither side has yet to make a big push to move additional troops by air or sea but we do believe both are preparing for a major air sortie to support the attack or defense of the capital. Given our speed we should arrive just before the rebels slam into the makeshift brigade in their path.”

"I can increase our speed if need be,' Cyndi commented "We're going to need both ground and by the sounds of it now aerial assault. What are your thoughts? Major Hurd's people are ready and First Lieutenant Rivers Personal fighter can cloak. We need to get a handle on this before it gets any worse."

“Both sides have sent messages informing us they will respect our neutrality,” Alister said, “As long as we’re flying Federation IFFs on the shuttles and not pass straight thru active dogfights we should be safe. As for the ground more danger from stray shots or someone trying to get cute and decide the embassy is less fortified then the main front line they should be as safe as can be. We don’t have enough Marines or fighters to force both sides apart. I don’t even know if they would except that level of interference. I’m not sure we’re going to be able to stop the fighting until they want to stop fighting.”

"So in the meantime we sit back and wait and the longer we do the worse it's going to get. I'm not even sure I want to risk assuming orbit around the planet but rather a moon where we can remain neutral," Cyndi commented.

“That choice I’ll leave in your hands but that would require shuttles to pick up any delegates for meetings over teleportation.” Alister said leaning back in his chair, “I’m afraid this is going to be a rough one, but our options are limited I'm afraid. The UPF doesn’t interfere in internal matters, that and the planets acceptance into the Federation was not without difficulty. Humanity, and the Vulcans pushed for the acceptance. Most worlds saw their conflict to unite under a single government as a sign the world was not ready for greater integration.” Alister shrugged his shoulders, “Earth had more then it’s fair share of wars before we almost managed to blow ourselves back to the Stone Age. Vulcans despite all their logic and being free of emotions managed near the same thing on Vulcan. I doubt the UPF would have the will to directly interfere even if it was an option.”

"I can't think of any planet that has not had it's share of conflicts, fights and the like my own included. My parents were lucky to remain in power and finally get the fighting to stop. It wasn't long after we joined the Federation and I entered Starfleet. This situation is boarding on the Prime Directive. What do you recommend?" Cyndi asked

“We need to hope that Major Hurd shows a great deal of restraint,” Alister said with a heavy sigh, “He can’t provoke either side if he’s attacked openly he can defend himself but can’t launch preemptive strikes or respond with overwhelming force to overshots or stray shots. If we go to hard it will be seen as taking sides. I’m hoping something turns up in my investigation that you can use, but that runs it own risk. Hopefully we can get the info before heavy fighting breaks out in the capital. If it goes completely sidewise for us I’ll get you info but you might have to disavow us Starfleet Officers. We’ll go in civilian clothes and concealed side arms. Intel should have a safe house or two for us if that becomes needed with additional gear.”

"I'll speak to the major and if you have to go in as non Starfleet I'll have Doctors Bjorgo and Long inplant homing devices under your skin so we can keep a lock on you at all times. We can't take sides in this," Cyndi commented.

“We’ll keep our comm badges with us,” Alister replied, “They can keep a lock on those. If it’s needed I don’t want to risk having a signal that we can’t ditch. I plan to carry documents and proof we’re Starfleet but if it is going to cause the diplomatic side of things issues.” He shrugged his shoulders, “We understand the risk each time we have to deploy.”

"Just as I know the risks every time I send someone off on an away mission, I know there is the chance I'll have to contact families that a loved one is not coming back or when there is a fight there is always a chance the ship can be destroyed," Cyndi agreed.

“I’ll have Lt JG Susan Connors, fill in keeping you updated,” Alister said, “She’s one of the better analysts I’ve worked with and won’t flood your inbox with too much raw data but make sure it’s filtered. That and she’ll keep the slicers under control and not run crazy while I’m gone.”

"That won't be a problem, I'll restrict it to myself only for the time being," Cyndi replied

Alister laughed, “Not worried about the info worried about a few bored slicers deciding to make their own fun. We sometimes call it the delinquent branch since most get spotted in their teens trying to hack into secure databases. Sadly the best of them sometimes forget they can’t hack every database in the sight and need a firm hand to keep them on the straight and narrow.”

"I have a colleague who I taught with at the Academy who is a science officer and she's able to hack it a lot of things. Last I knew she was on Risa," Cyndi replied "As I told my students no matter how good you are there is always someone better."

Alister shrugged, “We always want the ones that believe they are the best and no one can touch them. But that’s getting off topic, I doubt the main military players will come up for piece talks. We might get the Provincial Governor, I would assume each will send someone with diplomatic or political experience plus a small Security detail that our Chief of Security will need to keep an eye on.”

"I agree and I'll want to make sure the ship is secure too. I'll have guest quarters prepared but on different decks just in case," Cyndi said, “How soon before we arrive?"

“Six hours,” Alister said without needing to glance at the clock, “Just enough time for me to grab some sleep in my office, pretty sure that’s going to be a precious commodity over the coming days.”

"Your probably right, when we're close call a meeting and explain to everyone what you need from them," Cyndi said "And who is going to do what."

“Copy that,” Alister said with a nod as he stood up from his chair, “I’ll forward any info we gather before the meeting.”

"Do that and get some rest," Cyndi said getting to her feet. "I'll go meet Paul for breakfast and wait for your meeting,"

“See you in a few hours ma’am,” he said heading for the door and his office to catch a cat nap.