It had been 5 days since the battle of the Briar Patch and a day and half since Captain Wallace returned to Supply Base 901. The station was headquarters for the task force assigned to fight this war. 8 ships made up the task force. Captain Roberts was in command of the task force. His job was to try and bring a swift end to the war. Roberts knew the enemy could be contained in this sector, mainly due to the their lack of transwarp technology. Roberts had came up with a plan to strike the Mullura fleet head on in traditional warfare. Of course Captain Wallace and Captain Benteen, both veterans of the Dominion War knew this tactic was flawed.
Over the past 9 hours Wallace and Benteen worked on a war plan they knew it would work. They had proposed it to Roberts and Command it was quickly approved. Wallace had to carry out the first part of the mission. And that was what he liked. Richard had called a meeting of his senior staff. Now part of the staff was Major Boyle, a Marine Fighter ace. It was early by most respects, but Wallace didn't care. He believed that they all could sleep soundly. When this war is done and won. It was 0631 hours according to the station's newly restored and repaired computer. Richard had been up for almost 19 hours strait, but refused to show his fatigue.
Lieutenant Kelly approached the Captain, as he was the last one to enter the conference lounge. The room was full. Wallace was at the head of the table, to his right Commander Garek, to his left was Colonel Tarik. Major Boyle was to Tarik's left, followed by Lieutenant Anderson, and Lieutenant Kassia. To Garek's right were Lieutenant Sovick, Commander Carter, Chief Murphy, and the station's doctor, and last was Lieutenant Kelly.
"Morning. Crew. Let me get to business. We are at war. No way around it. However we can contain it to this sector. The enemy has no transwarp capable ships. Captain Roberts was going to go for an all out assault. Captain Benteen and myself opposed such an attack. Instead we will spread the enemy out thin." Wallace stood up and walked over to the view screen and pressed a few buttons.
The view screen showed a map, on part a large part was Dominion held area, the other showed the star system where Morristown was and a little bit past that area. Wallace spoke and pointed his finger at the Dominion territory. "The Lakota equipped with a sensor masking system will scout their space. And map everything the Jem'Hadar need to survive. Breeding caches, ketracell white. Barracks and ship yards. After they complete their mission, which will take three to 4 days. Captain Roberts will order raids to hit those targets. Our target is to scout out the star system Morristown is in, and hit and destroy any supplies heading towards the troops holding it.
We scaned Morristown and find out where and how many troops are holding it. We relay the information back to here. Where Colonel Tarik will plan the invasion. Commander Loran will refit the other task force members with the Sensor Masking system, I want first priority to the Lakota and see if they did it right. Commander Carter your to patrol with along the Jem'Hadar Border. Let them know we are still here. We leave in two hours. We all have work to do. I'll meet Kassia and Sovick on the Arizona Bridge." Wallace shut the view screen off and waited as the staff left the lounge one by one.
Major Boyle walked up to Captain Wallace, and had a serious face as usual. He stood about a foot away. "Captain, I was wondering since we are on New Canada. Will we be joining the Invasion of Morristown?"
"More then likely. Why?" Richard looked at him with uncertainty.
"I need to reevaluate my crew. I have some new people that I am unsure of. Thanks sir." Boyle walked out, and Wallace followed to the Command deck.
The Command deck was busy with activity. Captain Roberts was over by the Operations station. Wallace walked over to Captain Roberts. The two men were basically the same height. Wallace walked up along side the captain. "Sir we will be leaving soon. Any further orders?"
Roberts turned and looked at Richard and said." Yes scanners pick up a Jem'Hadar raiding party heading this way, 4 attack ships. They will be here within 8 hours. I want Banshee squadron to deploy to intercept."
"Very well. Makes no sense sir."
"What doesn't?" Roberts asked.
"The Jem'Hadar tactics. Unless they are probing is defense grid, but even then that's still costly." Wallace said walking over to the Communications station, and open a comm channel to the Banshee's briefing room.
[Yes.]
"Commander this Captain Wallace we are picking up a Jem'Hadar patrol heading for the station, four attack ships. ETA 8 hours. Intercept and destroy."
[Aye sir. Carter out]
Richard left the Command deck for the Arizona. Once on the Arizona Ensign Razek greeted him. He handed over a status report. The report was how many personnel were now attached to the Arizona. 36 total. Most were Engineers and tactical personnel. Wallace walked down to his chair, and looked over at the empty chair that was Garek's, and felt a little loss with out his number one. He took his seat and pressed the comm channel button on the arm of the Command Chair. "Chief Murphy how's everything in Engineering?"
[Good sir, just waiting for another load of torpedoes and some spare parts if we run into any trouble.]
"Ok. Chief let us know when your ready to leave."
[Aye sir.]
The next 25 minutes were spent loading supplies and extra weapons. Medical supplies were also brought on board. All the personnel were armed with type II phasers. Wallace took his seat, as did the rest of the crew.
"Ensign take us out, at a quarter impulse power. Lieutenant Sovick activate the Sensor masking system. All decks yellow alert." Wallace said putting a few things down on a PADD. The Arizona left the docking birth and cleared the station after 6 minutes. And then accelerated to Warp 10.2