10ebbor10
DON'T PANIC
- Location
- Present
Shipyards need resources, advanced industry and personnel. Can't just plop them down in the middle of nowhere.
To Boldly Go... (a Starfleet quest)
- Thread starter OneirosTheWriter
- Start date
- Sci-Fi
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- Tags
- star trek exploration fully automated luxury gay space communism top level canon (canon) #hashtagcontent all-encompassing space amoeba cardassian boy bands cardassian magical girls darkest bureaucracy debate makes the qm cackle like palpatine hoh is an empire quest it has to be foreign infiltrators more ships ship happens singers delenda est starfleet this is not an empire quest ur waifu is collective?
Shipyards need resources, advanced industry and personnel. Can't just plop them down in the middle of nowhere.
I think Earth/Sol is seen as relatively neutral, actually, given it's capital status and the relative lack of bad blood between the humans and the other three.
(Posting from phone.)
This fails to take into account we have an Admiral who gives bonus to Doctrine and Foreign Analysis research. I would like to keep her leveraged and do foreign analysis when we aren't doing Doctrine. If nothing else, our FA team could use the experience to get to level 2.
Of course, keeping always in pursuit of Doctrine would be good too.
This fails to take into account we have an Admiral who gives bonus to Doctrine and Foreign Analysis research. I would like to keep her leveraged and do foreign analysis when we aren't doing Doctrine. If nothing else, our FA team could use the experience to get to level 2.
Of course, keeping always in pursuit of Doctrine would be good too.
Jenny
anonymous user
- Location
- maryland
- Pronouns
- She/Her
It occurs to me - we could promote a non-Human admiral to direct Utopia Planitia. We already have an Andorian, Rinias ch'Vohlet, running San Francisco Fleet Yards; maybe having an alien directing the largest shipyard complex Starfleet has ever operated would be a useful political move? (Maybe even Rinias, to be honest; he's got a good record so far).
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- Location
- somewhere
Trinnarv Xursh, male Tellarite chief of staff of Shipyard Operations should also be qualified.
I don't think we can pick someone for that position without controlling personnel, though. But we can pick an alien for commander of the Academy, that should be the next vote. Surely a competent Vulcan will be available.
If my plan wins we are going to do both, I intend to use all currently available tech teams in their specialty, we'd still be saving 43 rp for next year.
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pheonix89
Wants to be Seven Of Nine
- Location
- North American Plaguelands
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Assuming a lowered rate of event RP gain, and factoring in the new research colony, that would still leave us with enough to activate almost all the teams next time.
Edit: Quick analysis on the Refit programs were presented with. I am assuming for the sake of argument that the cost of a refitted ship is equal to base price plus refit cost.
A Refit Miranda is slightly cheaper than a stock Centaur, and loses one point of Presence to gain one point of Shields. A very good trade for an escort. Also, we've got a lot of Mirandas. First priority refit, will make the fleet significantly stronger
Refit Constellation is still in need of a replacement, but the refit program buys us time to do that. Also keeps Challorn in play for longer, which is nice. Refit Constellations are still worse than Constitutions in every way save price, and lose much of their cost advantage over Connies.
Refit Centaurs are very nice ships, but we've only got a single Centaur. The main reason to do this program is that Refit Centaurs can absolutely hold down the escort role till we develop and deploy successors to the Oberth and Constellation.
Given that Excelsiors were still very good ships in DS9, we won't need a successor for them for a while.
Edit: Quick analysis on the Refit programs were presented with. I am assuming for the sake of argument that the cost of a refitted ship is equal to base price plus refit cost.
A Refit Miranda is slightly cheaper than a stock Centaur, and loses one point of Presence to gain one point of Shields. A very good trade for an escort. Also, we've got a lot of Mirandas. First priority refit, will make the fleet significantly stronger
Refit Constellation is still in need of a replacement, but the refit program buys us time to do that. Also keeps Challorn in play for longer, which is nice. Refit Constellations are still worse than Constitutions in every way save price, and lose much of their cost advantage over Connies.
Refit Centaurs are very nice ships, but we've only got a single Centaur. The main reason to do this program is that Refit Centaurs can absolutely hold down the escort role till we develop and deploy successors to the Oberth and Constellation.
Given that Excelsiors were still very good ships in DS9, we won't need a successor for them for a while.
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- Location
- somewhere
The new research post is only going to be relevant for the research budgets of 2307 onwards. We need to wait a full year to request a research post, and another year for it to be constructed. Still, enough rp to activate all teams again is not all that unlikely.
The more interesting question is if we are going to be able to get an additional tech team next year, though. We already have 50 pp worth of must buys (academy upgrade, research post, diplomatic pushes with Betazoids and Amarki).
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pheonix89
Wants to be Seven Of Nine
- Location
- North American Plaguelands
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Nope, we have one completing Q4 this year.
Edit: Did we ever get full stats for the Amarki flagship?
Edit Edit: Just checked the first contact with them, it had Combat 6, Hull 5, Shields 7, but I have no clue if that factors in any crew boni it might have had. If there weren't any crew boni, then that design is significantly more powerful than an Excelsior in combat - equal Combat rating, but +1 Hull and +2 Shields. Of course it was fighting Enterprise in that ritual starship duel, so that didn't really matter.
Edit Edit Edit: If it's comparable Science/Presence/Defense to an Excelsior we might want to license the design when they join.
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- Location
- somewhere
There were lots of ways you could have made clear you were talking about Biroth instead of Athos V you know...
When you say "the new research colony" right after we get an opportunity for a new research colony people are naturally going to assume you are talking about that one. We have been waiting for Biroth for 1 1/2 years now so of course it's already factored into expectations.
pheonix89
Wants to be Seven Of Nine
- Location
- North American Plaguelands
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Ugh. Note to self: When posting sick, always double-check wording.
I have to say that establishing a colony is not something would think of after hearing of a planet inhabited by parasites capable of preying on humans.
I would think that a big station/shipyard like that needs a lot of "industry" to be present in a system which limits the places you can build one. And since we built/expanded shipyards in pretty much every system we had a serious presence in I really doubt anybody will think we favour humanity. Hell if you worry that much about simply focus on appoint aliens into the higher ranks for the next few turns.
- Location
- USA
So all in agreement for activating every team this year?
pheonix89
Wants to be Seven Of Nine
- Location
- North American Plaguelands
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Looking like it. We've got enough, and we're running enough income there's no real opportunity cost to doing it.
I assume everyone will want to keep the Analysis team on the Romulans until we've got level 1 across the board, then switch to Klingons.
The question is where to point our shiny new doctrine team. I'm in favor of Combined Fleet, because the fleet design doctrines aren't mutually exclusive, and we can reliably trigger it's listed bonuses by just staying IC. OTOH, swarm and Lone Ranger are de facto mutually exclusive because they are basically planning for numerical superiority and inferiority respectively.
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- Location
- USA
Lone Ranger still has use as it kicks in for our ships on Explorer missions. Also it reduces how much the combat score from explorer class ships count towards our combat cap. Still combined fleet is the main one I want to focus on from that group, with Lone Ranger as a secondary, so maybe a 2 to 1 for tech levels.
- Location
- somewhere
As I've said before I'm for Lone Ranger in peace time and Combined Fleet in wartime. Lone Ranger first because we are going to spend most time at peace and it's not useless during war either.
- Location
- somewhere
It has been asked, and the answer is that it's not possible.
Agree on Line Ranger as first doctrine researched. We will be pumping out an Excelsior a year soon enough.
- Location
- Germany
Even given that, we will have to research light cruisers and escorts before a war starts if we want to build them quickly enough to be of use.
I am not that convinced that resource efficiency doesn't matter in peace time. For one, we still have 87 points of Combat rating to fill before we hit the limit, at least. Additionally, if we research a Defensive Doctrine, the combat value of ships stationed either in the home systems or in the border zones doesn't count for gauging militarization.
Does anyone have an opinion which of Fleet in Being or Forward Defense is the better doctrine?
- Location
- somewhere
It's not that resource efficiency doesn't matter at all during peace, at the very least it allows replacing ships more often and mothballing the older ones, just that it's not the most important consideration. And maybe you are getting the wrong impression on what a focus on Explorers during peace time would mean? I mean similar numbers of Escorts, Light Cruisers and Explorers in the home fleets (something like 30 - 30 - 40) and a bit more focus on Ship Design - Explorer than on the others, but still researching those as well and maybe ending up being 1 level lower there on average.
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pheonix89
Wants to be Seven Of Nine
- Location
- North American Plaguelands
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Lone Ranger's big advantage is that it has peacetime benefits. None of the other doctrines help Explorer Corps missions.
Doctrine wise? I don't know, and I'm not really planning on deciding till after getting at least level one of Lone Ranger and Combined Fleet.
Doctrine wise? I don't know, and I'm not really planning on deciding till after getting at least level one of Lone Ranger and Combined Fleet.
Omake - Admiral Aelin - AKuz
AKuz
Been Better
- Location
- A Rising Tide of Horrors
- Pronouns
- She/Her
The Crowning Exultation of Admiral Aelin
Stardate 21469.7
First Battle of Kadesh:
By the time the second wave of Biophage smallcraft arrive Admiral Aelin of the Confederacy of Amarkia Navy has come to the realisation that he is going to die.
He'd always thought that the warrior's Crowning Exultation was a myth; a legend limited to stories and fairytales. He'd heard the stories of the moment when an Amarki warrior-knight knows that he or she is going to die, there is a focus that descends upon the Knight as they resolve to themselves, deep in their hearts, to die as gloriously as possible. To sell their lives dearly for their people and their cause.
He'd considered it a fable. But now he was living it.
He beams down confidently at a wavering junior officer, "Never fear, Ms. Aylo, chin up! We didn't come all this way to give up at the first sign of trouble!"
The young officer slowly smiled back, feeling her courage strengthen off of his confidence.
He stalks back across the bridge, briefly catching himself on a railing behind his flag captain as Riala dives away from an infected ship. "That goes for all of you! Never in all our history has the Galaxy needed the courage of Amarki Knights than in this battle!"
He smiles to himself, it was a galaxy that was a lot larger than it was even four years ago.
Stardate 20617.8
The screen winks off and the image of the alien bridge vanishes taking the image of the White-haired blue Captain with it.
Aelin snorts and turns to his flag captain, "Well Captain, I guess the old Rings of Karakia trick doesn't work anymore."
The woman puffs up in annoyance, a single lock of hair loosened from a usually tight bun waving in her face, "Those aliens cheated! Distracted us!"
Aelin laughs and waves his hands dismissively, "Captain Illandra, they won with fair Knight's cunning. If we were thirty years younger I'd challenge them to a rematch as soon as we got back to Amarkia. But I know when I've been beaten, I've been getting complacent in my old age."
He laughs again, looking around at the Riala's officers and crew, most of whom were a third to a quarter of his years, "You know Captain? I was considering retiring? And I've made up my mind now."
The Captain that he's served with for decades starts in surprise, eyes wide, "Sir! You are as capable as you've ever been! Ever since we were squires together for Admiral Rael you were the best! You can't leave… us, the ship needs you!"
"Oh don't worry, I'm not leaving you right away, I'm going to stick around for another few years yet!" he sighs, "I'm just planning to get out of the way of the future, it's coming fast and the wise must know when to get out of the way."
The Captain's nostrils flare, "Admiral, I must protest, you are the best man that I have had the pleasure to serve with, do not sell yourself short."
The Admiral snorts again, "Thank you for the vote of confidence, Captain, but I know which way the wind is blowing. I can feel it." He points at the screen, at the gangly sleek collection of shapes that is the Federation ship. "The future is out there, with them."
"Well I guess if it's going to be that way, I'll leave with you, sir. You need me to watch your back."
NOW:
The lights flicker as Admiral Aelin slowly lowers Captain Illandra onto the deck, "You can rest now, Captain, our ship is in good hands," he nods towards the young Amarki crew operating the consoles, "The future has no place for old warhogs like us anyway"
The grey-haired Amarki woman nods slowly as the life in her eyes slowly fades, trying to raise her head, "...Aleshe...I've always…"
"Shhhh" says the grey-haired Admiral, putting out a hand to steady her as the ship's gravity shifted slightly, "I know Laie..." he smiles sadly, wiping a rivulet of teal blood off of her forehead, gently shifting frayed locks of hair as well.
The last breath escapes the Captain's mouth as it slowly forms the ghost of a smile, and she closes her eyes for the last time.
He straightens up, he can still feels his Exultation, the calmness settling onto his shoulders, he knows what he needs to do as he listens in on the chatter of his officers, "Bring us into the gap, Squire Aylo."
"Yes sir!" the young officer says, she obeys but her tone is confused.
He settles into the centre of the bridge standing with his hands clasped behind his back, "Knights of Amarkia! The enemy is scattering the fleet. We need heroes to close the gap and buy time for Captain Ka'Sharren to reorganize the fleet." he shifts his stance slightly to adjust for the shifting of the deck under his feet. "Bring us toward the Romulan formation."
He hopes he can buy enough time for the Andorian woman, if anyone can save the day it is her.
Stardate 20762.3
Aelin nibbles on the Federation sweet vegetables as he talks to the Starfleet Captain and Federation diplomats. The Amarki man considers that he really should have made Captain Illandra come with him, she has always had a sweet tooth.
"So, Admiral, how are you enjoying your visit to Enterprise?" the Andorian's uniform has gleaming metal awards and golden ribbon on it, highlighted against the crimson and black, it is an interesting choice of fashion, very unlike the elaborate Amarki dress uniforms; even the regular uniform is busier.
He considers gushing about the powerful vessel, about the smart and disciplined officers and crew, but it's beneath his dignity to gush, he decides on small talk instead, "I'm enjoying her buffet spread almost as much as I enjoyed her chasing me through the rings of Karakia"
Aelin enjoys watching the polished smiles of the diplomats flicker wondering if Captain Ka'Sharren had found some way to anger an important alien dignitary, "Which is to say, I am enjoying myself a great deal, I can't remember if I told you how much fun it was fighting Enterprise, I've never gotten such a good fight." He chuckles at the diplomat's attempt to hide his relief.
"It might not have looked like it at the time, but, well, I don't like losing, especially in front of my best friend's daughter." Ahhh Leaniss…. the youngest of Kornae's daughters, she was a nice girl if a bit impulsive at times, as the Captain would find out in her own time.
"Speaking of Senator Leaniss, I had expected her here tonight, I remember seeing her name on the guest list." says the Starfleet Captain, perking up at the mention of the junior Senator, as the other Andorian chips in something else.
Aelin smiles smugly, Leaniss has already told him her plans, he's always been "Uncle Aelin" to her, ever since she was a small child. "Ah, well, I'll let that stay her surprise."
The smile doesn't leave as he exchanges some more pleasantries waiting for the girl he sees almost as a daughter to arrive. If there was anyone deserving of Leaniss' affections it was the talented and charming Captain Ka'Sharren.
NOW:
"Enterprise reports that her task force is coming to our relief."
Aelin smiles slightly, "Thank you Squire." He knows that Enterprise will never get to Riala in time, the waves of deadly Biophage vessels were too strong, his ship had already destroyed dozens and dozens of them and yet more came.
"Keep up your courage fellow Knights!!" he exults, laying a hand on the shoulder of a wavering officer, "Our Courage is key to victory." His voice softens, "Our friends need us"
He leans forward, inspecting the tactical display as the lights dim to emergency power with a shudder, "Excellent shooting Knight Jaelee! Even Enterprise finds herself in your shadow."
The grey-haired Amarki returns to his spot in the middle of the bridge, standing tall and confident, hands clasped behind his back. Some few of Riala's officers and crew would live, their bravery having given time for the fleet to reform, having fought harder than any other ship in the fleet.
Aelin still feels it, feels his death coming. The calmness and focus of his Crowning Exultation are at the heart of Riala's successes, his crew holding onto his confidence like a life raft to keep themselves afloat in a sea of fear, and following his nearly prescient orders to stay ahead of the Biophage's attackers.
He calls out more orders, if he is to die here, he dies happy, there is no higher calling, no greater glory, than defending friend and family.
Stardate 21467.5
"All decks reporting ready Captain," The grey-haired woman nods at her Squire and turns to her long time comrade.
"Admiral, all decks report ready for departure," she says with a heel click and salute.
Aelin smiles at her formality, hands clasped behind his back, "Of course, Captain, take us out" he says, returning the salute.
"Set course for the Federation fleet, warp 8." She leans in as her subordinates call out the regular and comforting chatter of a ship underway. "So, Admiral, I thought we'd decided to retire?"
"Well." he chuckles, "I figure that this old warhog has one last fight in him, one last gift to the future."
"Be that as it may, sir, should we really be fighting these people's wars?" The Captain's mouth is set in a dismissive frown.
"Remind me to show you the data later. It is every bit as scary as they say." He gestures to the officers on the bridge. "Anyway, how else are we supposed to show off the best ship in the fleet? I know that I'm eager to show the galaxy what we are capable of"
"Well sir, I hope that they appreciate it. And you, sir."
NOW
The blue swirl fades and Lieutenant Leaniss spins around, looking for the man she considers her Uncle, the medics that had come aboard Riala with her dispersing to assist the injured bridge crew. Captain Ka'Sharren stands next to her, face unreadable as she scans the shattered bodies of Amarki knights that she'd failed to save.
Leaniss jumps when someone grabs her shoulder, and spins around. It's a junior officer, a Squire with an arm hanging limply at her side and teal blood matted into her once smartly tailored and fashionable uniform. "Senator… follow me."
The young woman leads them to a room adjoining the bridge, a small conference room. There are two bodies set atop the table. The first is Captain Illandra; Aelin's longtime companion. She is laid out with care, someone has even taken the time to wipe clean her face and straighten out her uniform to regulation standards… and next to her, laid out with the same level of care is her Admiral, a bundled up uniform set under his head. He isn't breathing.
"H-how long?" asks Leaniss, stumbling at the sight, Ka'Sharren catching her with a strong arm.
"He barely outlived the fifth wave ma'am. He brought us through intact." The junior officer swallows heavily and blinks back tears. "He kept us all alive ma'am."
Leaniss should have come over immediately, she shouldn't have met with the Kadeshi, she should have been next to Uncle Aelin when he passed on.
Still leaning on her Andorian ex-wife for emotional support she approaches the makeshift bier.
She takes a deep breath and straightens up, arm only loosely touching Nash now.
No, she tells herself. He would have told her to do her duty, that he would keep. There are tears in Lieutenant Leaniss' eyes. "He would have wanted to go out this way," she says, swallowing heavily. "Fighting for what is right, in defense of friends and family." The Amarki officer takes a shaky breath, "I will lay the first stone on his death monument myself."
"I will be there with you, Larai," the Starfleet Captain says softly before she moves to a parade ground stance; saluting the fallen Admiral with her free right hand. "I want your people to know how much we appreciate you sacrifices… how much we appreciate his service."
Stardate 21469.7
Diplomatic message to the Confederacy of Amarkia said:
First Battle of Kadesh:
By the time the second wave of Biophage smallcraft arrive Admiral Aelin of the Confederacy of Amarkia Navy has come to the realisation that he is going to die.
He'd always thought that the warrior's Crowning Exultation was a myth; a legend limited to stories and fairytales. He'd heard the stories of the moment when an Amarki warrior-knight knows that he or she is going to die, there is a focus that descends upon the Knight as they resolve to themselves, deep in their hearts, to die as gloriously as possible. To sell their lives dearly for their people and their cause.
He'd considered it a fable. But now he was living it.
He beams down confidently at a wavering junior officer, "Never fear, Ms. Aylo, chin up! We didn't come all this way to give up at the first sign of trouble!"
The young officer slowly smiled back, feeling her courage strengthen off of his confidence.
He stalks back across the bridge, briefly catching himself on a railing behind his flag captain as Riala dives away from an infected ship. "That goes for all of you! Never in all our history has the Galaxy needed the courage of Amarki Knights than in this battle!"
He smiles to himself, it was a galaxy that was a lot larger than it was even four years ago.
Stardate 20617.8
The screen winks off and the image of the alien bridge vanishes taking the image of the White-haired blue Captain with it.
Aelin snorts and turns to his flag captain, "Well Captain, I guess the old Rings of Karakia trick doesn't work anymore."
The woman puffs up in annoyance, a single lock of hair loosened from a usually tight bun waving in her face, "Those aliens cheated! Distracted us!"
Aelin laughs and waves his hands dismissively, "Captain Illandra, they won with fair Knight's cunning. If we were thirty years younger I'd challenge them to a rematch as soon as we got back to Amarkia. But I know when I've been beaten, I've been getting complacent in my old age."
He laughs again, looking around at the Riala's officers and crew, most of whom were a third to a quarter of his years, "You know Captain? I was considering retiring? And I've made up my mind now."
The Captain that he's served with for decades starts in surprise, eyes wide, "Sir! You are as capable as you've ever been! Ever since we were squires together for Admiral Rael you were the best! You can't leave… us, the ship needs you!"
"Oh don't worry, I'm not leaving you right away, I'm going to stick around for another few years yet!" he sighs, "I'm just planning to get out of the way of the future, it's coming fast and the wise must know when to get out of the way."
The Captain's nostrils flare, "Admiral, I must protest, you are the best man that I have had the pleasure to serve with, do not sell yourself short."
The Admiral snorts again, "Thank you for the vote of confidence, Captain, but I know which way the wind is blowing. I can feel it." He points at the screen, at the gangly sleek collection of shapes that is the Federation ship. "The future is out there, with them."
"Well I guess if it's going to be that way, I'll leave with you, sir. You need me to watch your back."
NOW:
The lights flicker as Admiral Aelin slowly lowers Captain Illandra onto the deck, "You can rest now, Captain, our ship is in good hands," he nods towards the young Amarki crew operating the consoles, "The future has no place for old warhogs like us anyway"
The grey-haired Amarki woman nods slowly as the life in her eyes slowly fades, trying to raise her head, "...Aleshe...I've always…"
"Shhhh" says the grey-haired Admiral, putting out a hand to steady her as the ship's gravity shifted slightly, "I know Laie..." he smiles sadly, wiping a rivulet of teal blood off of her forehead, gently shifting frayed locks of hair as well.
The last breath escapes the Captain's mouth as it slowly forms the ghost of a smile, and she closes her eyes for the last time.
He straightens up, he can still feels his Exultation, the calmness settling onto his shoulders, he knows what he needs to do as he listens in on the chatter of his officers, "Bring us into the gap, Squire Aylo."
"Yes sir!" the young officer says, she obeys but her tone is confused.
He settles into the centre of the bridge standing with his hands clasped behind his back, "Knights of Amarkia! The enemy is scattering the fleet. We need heroes to close the gap and buy time for Captain Ka'Sharren to reorganize the fleet." he shifts his stance slightly to adjust for the shifting of the deck under his feet. "Bring us toward the Romulan formation."
He hopes he can buy enough time for the Andorian woman, if anyone can save the day it is her.
Stardate 20762.3
Aelin nibbles on the Federation sweet vegetables as he talks to the Starfleet Captain and Federation diplomats. The Amarki man considers that he really should have made Captain Illandra come with him, she has always had a sweet tooth.
"So, Admiral, how are you enjoying your visit to Enterprise?" the Andorian's uniform has gleaming metal awards and golden ribbon on it, highlighted against the crimson and black, it is an interesting choice of fashion, very unlike the elaborate Amarki dress uniforms; even the regular uniform is busier.
He considers gushing about the powerful vessel, about the smart and disciplined officers and crew, but it's beneath his dignity to gush, he decides on small talk instead, "I'm enjoying her buffet spread almost as much as I enjoyed her chasing me through the rings of Karakia"
Aelin enjoys watching the polished smiles of the diplomats flicker wondering if Captain Ka'Sharren had found some way to anger an important alien dignitary, "Which is to say, I am enjoying myself a great deal, I can't remember if I told you how much fun it was fighting Enterprise, I've never gotten such a good fight." He chuckles at the diplomat's attempt to hide his relief.
"It might not have looked like it at the time, but, well, I don't like losing, especially in front of my best friend's daughter." Ahhh Leaniss…. the youngest of Kornae's daughters, she was a nice girl if a bit impulsive at times, as the Captain would find out in her own time.
"Speaking of Senator Leaniss, I had expected her here tonight, I remember seeing her name on the guest list." says the Starfleet Captain, perking up at the mention of the junior Senator, as the other Andorian chips in something else.
Aelin smiles smugly, Leaniss has already told him her plans, he's always been "Uncle Aelin" to her, ever since she was a small child. "Ah, well, I'll let that stay her surprise."
The smile doesn't leave as he exchanges some more pleasantries waiting for the girl he sees almost as a daughter to arrive. If there was anyone deserving of Leaniss' affections it was the talented and charming Captain Ka'Sharren.
NOW:
"Enterprise reports that her task force is coming to our relief."
Aelin smiles slightly, "Thank you Squire." He knows that Enterprise will never get to Riala in time, the waves of deadly Biophage vessels were too strong, his ship had already destroyed dozens and dozens of them and yet more came.
"Keep up your courage fellow Knights!!" he exults, laying a hand on the shoulder of a wavering officer, "Our Courage is key to victory." His voice softens, "Our friends need us"
He leans forward, inspecting the tactical display as the lights dim to emergency power with a shudder, "Excellent shooting Knight Jaelee! Even Enterprise finds herself in your shadow."
The grey-haired Amarki returns to his spot in the middle of the bridge, standing tall and confident, hands clasped behind his back. Some few of Riala's officers and crew would live, their bravery having given time for the fleet to reform, having fought harder than any other ship in the fleet.
Aelin still feels it, feels his death coming. The calmness and focus of his Crowning Exultation are at the heart of Riala's successes, his crew holding onto his confidence like a life raft to keep themselves afloat in a sea of fear, and following his nearly prescient orders to stay ahead of the Biophage's attackers.
He calls out more orders, if he is to die here, he dies happy, there is no higher calling, no greater glory, than defending friend and family.
Stardate 21467.5
"All decks reporting ready Captain," The grey-haired woman nods at her Squire and turns to her long time comrade.
"Admiral, all decks report ready for departure," she says with a heel click and salute.
Aelin smiles at her formality, hands clasped behind his back, "Of course, Captain, take us out" he says, returning the salute.
"Set course for the Federation fleet, warp 8." She leans in as her subordinates call out the regular and comforting chatter of a ship underway. "So, Admiral, I thought we'd decided to retire?"
"Well." he chuckles, "I figure that this old warhog has one last fight in him, one last gift to the future."
"Be that as it may, sir, should we really be fighting these people's wars?" The Captain's mouth is set in a dismissive frown.
"Remind me to show you the data later. It is every bit as scary as they say." He gestures to the officers on the bridge. "Anyway, how else are we supposed to show off the best ship in the fleet? I know that I'm eager to show the galaxy what we are capable of"
"Well sir, I hope that they appreciate it. And you, sir."
NOW
The blue swirl fades and Lieutenant Leaniss spins around, looking for the man she considers her Uncle, the medics that had come aboard Riala with her dispersing to assist the injured bridge crew. Captain Ka'Sharren stands next to her, face unreadable as she scans the shattered bodies of Amarki knights that she'd failed to save.
Leaniss jumps when someone grabs her shoulder, and spins around. It's a junior officer, a Squire with an arm hanging limply at her side and teal blood matted into her once smartly tailored and fashionable uniform. "Senator… follow me."
The young woman leads them to a room adjoining the bridge, a small conference room. There are two bodies set atop the table. The first is Captain Illandra; Aelin's longtime companion. She is laid out with care, someone has even taken the time to wipe clean her face and straighten out her uniform to regulation standards… and next to her, laid out with the same level of care is her Admiral, a bundled up uniform set under his head. He isn't breathing.
"H-how long?" asks Leaniss, stumbling at the sight, Ka'Sharren catching her with a strong arm.
"He barely outlived the fifth wave ma'am. He brought us through intact." The junior officer swallows heavily and blinks back tears. "He kept us all alive ma'am."
Leaniss should have come over immediately, she shouldn't have met with the Kadeshi, she should have been next to Uncle Aelin when he passed on.
Still leaning on her Andorian ex-wife for emotional support she approaches the makeshift bier.
She takes a deep breath and straightens up, arm only loosely touching Nash now.
No, she tells herself. He would have told her to do her duty, that he would keep. There are tears in Lieutenant Leaniss' eyes. "He would have wanted to go out this way," she says, swallowing heavily. "Fighting for what is right, in defense of friends and family." The Amarki officer takes a shaky breath, "I will lay the first stone on his death monument myself."
"I will be there with you, Larai," the Starfleet Captain says softly before she moves to a parade ground stance; saluting the fallen Admiral with her free right hand. "I want your people to know how much we appreciate you sacrifices… how much we appreciate his service."
Diplomatic Message to the Confederacy of Amarkia said: