[Galaxy] {ND] 5 Aug 2161 :: New Darwin to Earth Starfleet :: Admiral T Garroway & Adavarre' Rahndi, Dali Shireev :: "Committing Troops"

[Kate Nicholson]

<< Snip ... 
 In a small, secret communications bunker on Gamma Sagittarri II...
.... The equipment went through its initial boot up and diagnostic and the
last of four tiny yellow lights turned green, The entire process was
designed to be self-activating once the battery was engaged. Youngblood had
anticipated the fact that someone trying to utilize the equipment might be
injured or compromised, and not entirely capable of executing an entire
complex series of functions. A fifth indicator turned orange, notifying her
that the call had been initiated. Adavarre' Rahndi, the leader of the
Daliwakan people on New Darwin, waited for some response. << end snip ...

[ Earth, San Francisco, Starfleet Command ]

"You're sure this is right?"

"Checked the signal twice, Sir," the comms tech replied.  "That's the code
from Lieutenant Youngblood's brief.  It's live."

"Reroute to Alpha, log it as 'classified' until we figure out what's going
on, and inform Fleet Operations.  I'll take it from here, Senior Chief."

"Sir," the non-commissioned officer said to catch the Commander, "Shouldn't
I be /routing/ to FleetOps instead of just informing them?"

"We've all got our orders, Senior Chief."

"Aye, Commander."

The teal-piped communications officer stepped to a more secure terminal and
keyed the monitor, then began typing on the keyboard as the connection
established.  The 'loading bar' swept across the center of the screen, and a
live feed replaced the Starfleet logo background. "FleetComm," said the man
at the other end.  He was busy scratching his signature on a PADD and hadn't
yet looked at the screen.  "What have you got, David?"

"Sorry to disturb you, Admiral, but we've received a priority transmission
from New Darwin.  It's the Youngblood protocol."

Garroway looked up from the form.  There was grim concern on his face.
"You're positive?"

"It's waiting, Admiral."

"Put it through," Garroway ordered.  He knew there would be a delay as a
litany of encryption subroutines and security procedures engaged.  One
drawback of being the Starfleet Commander was that everyone took it upon
themselves to make sure everything was 'secure' for you.  Perhaps it was
necessary, but certainly it was annoying.  The screen shifted and before he
could identify the other end, he announced himself.  "This is Admiral Thomas
Garroway, Starfleet Command.  You have initiated an emergency communications
protocol.  Identify yourself and explain your situation."


// Emergency Comms Bunker //

Varre's face was caught between anxiety and a smile as the image of her old
friend Thomas Garroway, appeared on the small screen.

"Garroway!" she said with relief, but as the brusqueness of his demand
registered, she switched to an apologetic tone, or the plea of someone about
to be fired upon. "It's me, Adavarre'." She paused and waited, a victim of
the encryption delay. She nervously threw her waist length hair behind her
shoulder and had started her next statement --"You can be seeing me,
Garroway?" -- when his side of the transmission caught up and he responded
to her initial greeting.

"Varre'?" Garroway said surprised.  "Aa vah Kislah see'?" he asked in her
native language.  It had been a while since he spoke DaKee, so he hoped he
correctly asked 'Are you alright'?  As the comms measures in the background
began to sync and negate the lag, he asked, "Aa Vah OlahNaa?"

"Garroway, Klingons are here!! ...on Oonah Lotmah [Gamma Sagittarri II] !!"
Her hands danced, speaking as quickly as her voice. "They have taking over
Command Center. Taken Capt Oliver and Lutent Shepard, and Lutent Hickey for
sure. Many have run to Safe Sites, but so many be missing. We not knowing
where they are. I coming from Safe Site One to old Lutent Youngblood's
secret station he making after Nausicaans come."

Garroway listened to the small alien woman race through her situation
report, and his eyes began to take a hardness around the edges. "Varre'," he
said patiently, "slow down.  Take a breath.  How many Klingons are on Oonah
Lotmah?  Take a moment to think and count all that you've seen, and what
you've heard others have seen."

Varre' took a ragged breath, telling herself she was currently safe and
could take time to explain this situation in detail. She thought back to the
questioning in of the occupants of Safe Site #1. "They coming first into the
courtyard. Six at a time, appearing. Transporting. No shuttles first. Three,
maybe four groups coming. Some going into Command Center, some guarding
outside. More showing up at Dali dorms and Trinity. More at Shuttle Bay. I
see none," she admitted. "Alarm goes off over all Colony, telling us to flee
to Safe Sites. I was at home. Grabbed children and run back way to Safe Site
One. Chris and Tom Blackbear there. Kalevah is there. Only maybe 100 people
from 300 that should coming to Safe Site One are there."

Garroway nodded.  "Do you know how many Klingon ships are in orbit? What
kinds?"

She shook her head. "Not knowing. Loose touch with Lutent Hickey's Comms
Suite. No word from Security on ships. But Tom Blackbear saying, before
first Klingons show up, Capt Oliver & Lutent Shepard talk to Starfleet on
Earth about strange Klingon actions in their space. Garroway, my people and
the Starfleet are strong together. We can no be chasing the Klingons away;
but we trying to /hold the fort/ for help coming. You can sending us help?"

Garroway looked at the screen, as if he were looking Varre' in the eyes. "I
can and I will," he declared.  "I know of at least one ship [the ESS
Constitution] that's already in the area.  It's big and mean and full of
people that aren't afraid of Klingons.  Help is coming, Varre'.  Just hold
on."

Varre's eyes welled with tears as Garroway pledged. "We can do that," she
pledged in return. "When we should be looking for this ship? How can we be
helping?"

"She should a little more than 36 hours out," Garroway answered.  "For now,
just try to get word to your other Safe Sites, and gather as much
information as you can.  The ship will need to know all you can tell them so
they can do their best.  But stay safe, don't take any chances you don't
absolutely have to.  Understand?"

Nodding, Varre' continued to explain, "Comms between Sites is not good, but
we can be sending runners. Can't be sending runners to the ship though.
Klingons have control of Colony comms. I can coming back here and be calling
to you in 24 hours. Will that be working for you to pass news to that ship?"

Garroway nodded.  "Twenty-four hours," he confirmed.

"Aye Garroway? KeeteNah. Thank you," said the Shireev with the utmost
sincerity. "I feel strong for looking at your face. I will being back in 24
hours."

~~~
Adm Garroway, Thomas R.
Commander, Earth Starfleet

Adavarre' Rahndi
Dali Shireev [Leader]
New Darwin Colony