It was a nice fall day on New Canada, the birds were chirping and the cool breeze reminded Richard of his days on earth in New England during the fall of the year. He gave a smile at that thought and then looked around to see he was still on New Canada. Commodore Wallace was sitting near the podium, listening to the Governor of New Canada giving the usual speech.
Wallace was asked to attend the grand opening of the first eight story building on New Canada. It was the tallest building on the planet now. It would serve for different offices and living accommodations. It was state of the art and took three months to build. Governor Parker thought that the grand opening would serve as a good symbol of something after the cease fire was signed three days ago. So Commodore Wallace agreed to attend and give a few remarks. He was trying to think what he could say and then came the call.
"Without further delay Commodore Richard Wallace," Governor Parker said as he stepped off to the side. Wallace saw a few bright flashes from some cameras. He stepped up to the microphone and looked at the large crowd and saw the colonist and Major Boyle's Marines.
"Afternoon. I was told to give a few remarks, well I am not one to give a rousing speech. So I'll just say this. I remember when there was nothing here and you made a fairly decent home and life here. Then came the Son'a they tried to throw you out but failed. After that massacre you rebuilt the world you created down here. Now you have a perfect home and life here and that impresses me more than battlefield heroics. So without further delay I hereby open this building." Wallace turned and aided the Governor with cutting the yellow ribbon.
Richard talked with a few of the colonist key officials, when an aide for the Governor arrived and excused himself and was wanting Wallace's attention. "Excuse me Commodore."
"Yes."
"Admiral McCaffee is wanting to speak with you priority one," the aide said pointing towards the two story Colony's administration and city hall building.
"Very well thanks." Richard was interested in seeing what was so important. He raced to the office where the computer screen had the Star Fleet insignia on it. Wallace pressed the button and McCaffee appeared.
"Yes Admiral?"
[I have situation that requires your services immediately.]
"What is the problem."
[Vince Kelly. He's been conducting terrorist operations against the Federation the last two months. He seems to have about 34 followers, we can't say for sure. Anyways the USS Sentinel was sent to find him and bring him in. That was four days ago and no word since from Captain Reynolds. We tried to contact him but with no luck.]
The word 'Kelly' brought mixed emotions and anger to Wallace's mind. "Ok, so what are your orders?"
[Find the Sentinel, and Kelly if possible. I'll be sending all information we have on Kelly and his actions since July 29 this year. Report in two days. McCaffee out.] The screen went blank and Wallace slammed his right fist into the palm of his left hand. He then turned to see Governor Parker.
"Sorry sir, I need to leave as soon as possible." Richard quickly beamed back to the Station and had his senior staff assembled in the Conference lounge. Everyone except Lieutenant Kassia was there. Wallace believed it would be best to leave her out of this briefing. He would have liked to have left Lieutenant Deveraux out too but needed his Science skills.
"I've just received orders." Wallace paused and leaned back in his chair, he studied the reactions to his senior staff. They were all mixed some looked enthused others looked unhappy, mainly Commander Loran.
"Sir your kidding right?" Loran paused and looked at Wallace leaning forward.
"Nope. This comes from McCaffee." Wallace said picking up a pad from a stack of pads that Commodore Wallace's aide Ensign Quinn had placed there and prepared for this briefing.
"Sir we're understaffed, our supplies are down 56%. Not to mention we have the Lakota scheduled to dock for a Warp Drive refitting," Loran said showing his unpleasant feelings toward the orders he had not yet heard.
"Command knows that Commander. We have been ordered to find and help the USS Sentinel. There has been no contact from them in almost three days. They are currently about 15 hours away on the opposite side of the Briar Patch. " Wallace pressed a few buttons on the PADD in hand.
"Good. Doesn't sound too difficult," Commander Mallory said sitting to the left of the Captain.
"That's the easy part. The Sentinel was in pursuit of one Vince Kelly." Wallace paused as he heard some of the officers shoot out remarks. Deveraux wasn't afraid to show his feelings.
"Zat piece of Targ dung. I'd grab him by his bullocks and..." Wallace interrupted him and said, "Easy Lieutenant. I bent over backwards to get your promotion to Full Lieutenant don't make me regret it."
"Zorry Zir."
"Listen I know you all have feelings of hatred. Well when I read what that piece of work has done the past two months, it makes me want to do things I promised that I would never do again. Our first priority is to find Captain Reynolds and the Sentinel crew. I need a status report of the Arizona, Garek."
"She's docked and ready for action, Commodore," Garek responded.
"Good, I will take 32 crew so not to leave you strained on the station if Kelly decides to attack here. Commander Carter I'll take you and Lieutenant Commander Vasser. Your Banshees are not yet fully operational am I right?" Wallace said handing a PADD to Commander Carter which was the latest status report of the damaged Banshee fighters.
"Yes sir they require some additional repairs," Carter replied with a little bit of resentment in her voice.
"Mister Deveraux and K'Tag you'll join me on the bridge in thirty minutes. I need the Marines to rest Colonel Tarik, if there was a fight I need your boys rested," Wallace said standing up and tucking his tunic. "We all have work to do. Those leaving on the Arizona we'll be departing in 25 minutes. "
Richard wasn't too sure about this mission. He knew deep down that his feelings against Kelly may cloud his judgment. However he knew that he had to do what needed to be done regardless of his feelings. Wallace also knew that the station was in need of refitting and crew replacements. The crew compliment had never exceeded 185, and was now at 102. Wallace also knew the Marines were severally undermanned with only 34 Marines. Deep down Richard hoped no fighting would have to be fought for awhile. He believed his crew deserved a rest.
"Sir who's in charge while your away?" A female voice sounded from Wallace's port side. He turned to See Commander Mallory. "Commander Loran is the next command. I'm sorry but he is when I'm not around followed by Tarik and such." Wallace never made clear the command structure of his command and this sort bugged the Commander. But being the person she was she said, "Yes sir," and moved on without further debate.
Commodore Wallace saw the doors of the turbolift open and reveal the bridge of the Arizona. Wallace saw the usual bridge crew at their stations. Lieutenant Deveraux was at the Science station. Chief Murphy was at the master engineering station going over last minute information. Lieutenant K'Tag was Tactical II and appeared to be running a certain kind of test. Razek and Carter were at the forward control stations sharing information. Richard just stood there quiet for a few minutes and took in the scene, then an Ensign broke the silence.
"Commodore on the Bridge. I mean..." The Ensign was a young 23 year old human male.
"At ease Ensign and crew, and while I'm on the bridge it's Captain regardless of rank. Commander Carter, prepare to launch. Chief, I want warp speed as soon as we clear the station. " Wallace stepped off the turbo lift and walked towards his command chair.
"Sir, desired speed?" Carter asked running her fingers over conn starting the ships departure.
"Warp 14. We've yet to test the transwarp speed past 12. I feel she can handle it."
The Arizona started off at Warp speed 15 seconds after leaving its berth in SB901. Wallace and the crew talked over the past two months' activities on Vince Kelly. It was clear that he was indeed a clever and violent person. He had bombed the Federation embassy on Risa killing three Marines and injuring 15 others. Kelly then stole two Raider class ships from a dry dock three days later. Kelly's last act was an attack on a cadet cruise. He attacked the Republic killing 13 Cadets. Everyone agreed that Kelly needed to be taken in.
Sixteen hours later the crew and Arizona would find the Sentinel. Wallace ordered all stop and impulse power and approached the Sentinel. The Sentinel was a Century class starship, and was dead in space. Plasma was smoking from the starboard nacelle. The saucer section had three hit marks.
"Lieutenant K'Tag scan the Sentinel," Wallace said standing up from his chair.
"Yes sir. I'm reading 105 life signs. They appear to have lost warp drive and are in the midst of repairs. It's hard to say, the warp core is leaking plasma and radiation. Their comm system is down," K'tag said trying to scan more of the damaged lifeless ship.
"Ensign Razek, send the following message. This is Commodore Richard Wallace of the USS Arizona. We are about to send an away team over to help." Wallace walked over to Lieutenant Deveraux who was looking like he was scanning something.
"Lieutenant, you have something?"
"Zir it may be nothing. I am picking upz a subspace distortion," Deveraux said as he went back to work.
"Lieutenant do a..." Wallace was unable to finish his sentence when K'Tag shouted out loud. "Sir two Raider class vessels decloaking 1400 kilometers."
"Damn! Raise shields." Wallace said heading back to his command seat. Damn it! Wallace thought.
"Sir we appear to have no ship functions." K'Tag said getting frustrated. "Sir it appears that someone has sent a virus that has wiped out our command capabilities," Carter said as a bright light illuminated the entire bridge area and crew. Next thing the whole bridge crew was onboard a different vessel - the USS Sentinel.
Wallace and the other officers looked around in amazement, to see Captain Reynolds and four other bridge officers on the bridge. "Captain?" Wallace said sort of dazed.
"Yes, it seems the person in question got what he wanted," Reynolds said looking at the Commodore. "Sir, we're receiving a message from Vince Kelly," A crewman said from the communications station.
"We can receive but not send," Reynolds said knowing Wallace's question.
The view screen came alive with Kelly's face. [Hello Captain. See I am going to spare you because I'm going to take everything that means something to you away. That includes your precious Arizona. You try and hunt me down you'll regret it. Commander Kelly out.]