Post 515: Judgment Day Part One

Stardate: 71023.0030
Title: Judgment Day, Part One
Author: =/\= Zanh Liis
Scene: Bridge, USS Independence
Time: Following "Dialogue"
-------------------------------------
"Channel open, Sir."
-------------------------------------

"Commander Salvek," Zanh said, feeling enormous relief that she was finally speaking to the Vulcan again. "Who is with you and what do you need?"

[The Alchemy's crew survived the crash but we have injured, and the ship needs to be repaired before it will be able to leave the surface. We are with four hundred and sixty Yensuli women and female children. Widows and orphans who have been, according to their chosen leader Andara Tybelle Maffe, stranded here by those on the fourth planet.]

Zanh immediately looked over at Attender Maffe, and caught the expression on his face when heard the name of the leader of the fifth planet. *That cannot be a coincidence,* Zanh thought. He noticed her staring, and immediately looked away.

Salvek continued. [This has apparently been going on for hundreds of years, Captain. Thousands left here to die. A few have survived, only to live in poverty and exile. We require all the aid you can offer, Captain, as soon as possible. We have lost a significant amount of our safe shelter and cannot survive in the snow on the frozen surface for long.] He paused, [Have you been able to reach the Alchemy?]

"Yes, they're fine for now. Stand by, we'll be dispatching Away Teams to help you as soon as we can."

[There is one more thing, Captain. Lieutenants Reece and Grace are trapped in a collapsed tunnel beneath the surface. We do not have the ability to rescue them, given our current circumstances.]

"Lt. Blane is in a shuttlecraft near the surface. Give the coordinates of their location to Delgotta and she will get them to Blane. Help is on the way, for all of you. Zanh out."

She turned back to Tegget, her voice a low growl. "Before you ever get to withdraw your application to the Federation, I will tell everyone what you've done."

"That's it. We're leaving." Tegget huffed, and he indicated for Maffe and Sarl to follow him to the turbolift. Zanh shook her head 'no' to the security officers who had escorted them to the bridge, and the two burly men formed a human barrier between the Yensuli and the lift.

"If you hold us against our will, you will live to regret it, Zanh Liis."

"I might. But you forget, Proconsul, there are still six really ugly ships flanking mine, and you have yet to tell them to stand down. So tell them. Then you're going to recall the one from the surface. After that, we will discuss your departure."

Tegget turned bright red with anger, and Vedek Jariel, who had been watching up until this point, felt now was the time to step in.

[[We do not want this situation to end in bloodshed,]] he signed animatedly, and Zanh lent him her voice. [[Even if your ships destroyed the Independence, with or without you on it, Proconsul, we both know that your military is no match for the combined allies of the Federation. Why start a war that you surely cannot win?]]

"He's a wise man, Tegget." Zanh interjected. "You should listen to him."

[[Why not try to salvage what ever you can of your reputation,]] Jariel counseled. He was playing to Tegget's ego, knowing that no amount of posturing on the man's part could save that reputation now. [[This may not end well, but it does not have to end disastrously. For either of our peoples.]]

"Hail the lead ship," Tegget replied finally. Once the channel was open, he cleared his throat. "This is Proconsul Tegget. Stand down your weapons, but remain nearby, and wait for the signal that I am ready to transport to your location."

[Acknowledged, Proconsul.]

"Aren't you forgetting one little thing?" Zanh asked, raising a finger in his direction.

Tegget's eyes bored through her as he addressed his fleet again. "Tell the ship on the surface of the fifth planet to withdraw."

[Immediately, Proconsul.]

"Confirm that it's leaving N'Dura," Zanh was unwilling to believe unless she saw it herself.

"There it goes." N'Dura replied.

"We will take our leave of you now, Captain Zanh." Tegget waved his hand dismissively in her direction. "If Gilmore had come, none of this would have happened." He remarked offhandedly to Sarl, who nodded emphatically.

That was it. Zanh Liis had had enough.

Jariel saw the look in her eye and immediately put himself between her and Tegget, physically, with an expression on his face that begged her patience and restraint.

[[Perhaps we can conclude our discussion in the conference room, Captain.]] He hoped a change of venue might help to diffuse the situation.

"No." She took a step forward, and pointed to the spot upon which she planned to stand her ground. "Here. I want what I'm about to say to be a matter of public record."

======================
=/\= Zanh Liis
Acting Commanding Officer
USS Independence NCC-90791