The Secession of Thane

Posted on Mon Feb 13th, 2012 @ 7:20am by Captain Alexander Gunning & Lieutenant Commander Morgan Kelly & Captain Liarra Von & Lieutenant Commander Nilani Prax & Lieutenant Commander Jonathon Bastin PhD & Lieutenant Commander Sean O'Connell

Mission: The Invasion of Thane
Location: USS Antietam, USS Jackal, USS Metis, SSS Vekk

OOC: There's one coming out after 'Where Eagles Dare' that gives some perspective on what the Sojourners & Thane people are after so no need to worry about that. I've also just included COs & XOs in this post so that it's a bit less messy.

UPDATE: Sorry, this was my bad. I've written the other post so of course *I* know what's going on. I just seem to have assumed that you guys do too. We haven't fought them yet, we're just at the tentative stage where we're circling around one another, sizing them up. Also, Vaishaa (the person in the throne) is a woman. I meant to mention that but it keeps with the theme of the post which comes after Where Eagles Dare. Sorry about that guys!

[ON]

The incoming signal was beaconed out to the other two vessels as the Antietam's communication system took a few seconds to display the visual feed on the viewscreen. The images appeared simultaneously across the Antietam, the Metis & the Jackal. The image of a darkened bridge with a prominent centre chair and sunken consoles was at odds with what many of the officers had expected. Glances were shared back and forth across the bridges of the three Starfleet ships, glances that always ended on the red pennant which hung behind the throne-like centre chair.

Its lack of movement was unsettling; so much so that it distracted from the imposing nature of the bridge itself. The symbol sat, emblazoned in gold upon it. It was almost incomprehensible to the eye, just a jumble of characters and images. Gunning shared a look with his Executive officer: it was a corruption of Vinarian Tradespeak. They could both see it.

The only sound on the bridges of the task group were their own heartbeats as they waited for the imposing figure in the centre chair to speak.

The voice came, like a low-pitched hum across the speakers. "Federation vessels, you are in violation of Sojourner space."

On the Jackal, Lieutenant Kelly was so flabberghasted by the brazen statement that he immediately double-checked the star charts to make sure there had been no boundary movements in the last few weeks. Nothing. He turned to Commander Von and shrugged with wide-eyed astonishment. They couldn't hear him, but he was reluctant to speak.

Nilani focussed much of her attention on the small console built into the arm of her chair, issuing commands, and ensuring that all stations were ready for the inevitable battle that was to come. It was only after this task was completed that she turned her attention towards the brazen statement made across subspace. The words themselves didn't surprise her much; any invader was likely to claim that the world they were fighting over was theirs, whether everybody else recognised it as such or not. It was the sheer certainty with which the woman spoke which disturbed the Trill. Usually these egotistical conquering villains were obvious boasters. Whilst a certain amount of boasting was evident here, Nilani got the sense that the woman believed what she said was true.

Gunning found himself looking around at the floor of his bridge. He wasn't sure whether they had passed through some kind of invisible wormhole and found themselves out on the brink of the Delta Quadrant but he was sure as up was up and eggs were eggs that this was Federation space. He had nothing to do but speak up for that fact.

"Unless I'm very much mistaken, you're in Federation space. This is the Thane System and I'm fairly sure you didn't buy those vessels from the Federation." Gunning crossed his legs and leaned on the arm of his chair. He couldn't explain why but he felt the sudden urge to appear casual.

"Actually Captain," the man who stood by the throne said, taking a step forward into the light, "I have passed tactical and regional control to the Sojourners under the authority of the Regency of Thane. You will be aware that we are only a protectorate of the Federation, we are not part of your group, nor are we given any of the rights, privileges or protection that your people offered almost seventy of your "years" ago."

Gunning casually stabbed a couple of buttons on his command panel, bringing up the Starfleet Facial Recognition software on the screen. In all the time he had been a command officer, he could not remember having used it once but given that he could only assume that this man represented the interests of Thane, he had to make sure.

The scan cycle ran while Gunning pretended to consider his response. He rubbed his hand across the lower half of his face, hummed and hawed while he looked around the bridge. It was not an elegant rouse in any way but it was all he had. A small bleep in the chair's panel signified that the scan had finished. The image on the screen now proudly wore the tag, in Starfleet's inimitable typeface, Akurq - Regent of Thane.

Gunning swore under his breath. "If you'll give me a moment to confer with my colleagues. Computer, mute audio." He swung round to Bastin. "Can they actually do that?" He had no idea, the intricacies of paperwork and diplomacy were lost on the former Tactical Officer.

"Technically... yes," Jon nodded, "If they submit a petition to the Federation Counsel stating that they wish to be a sovereign state under the rule of their own government, there's not a whole lot anyone can really do about it. That doesn't mean that they, as protectorates, can simply declare independence and it be legal without doing the associated paperwork... But if they've done their homework and their ducks are in a row... it would indeed be possible. We'd have to verify it with the Federation Council Diplomatic Office first, though."

"Okay. Unmute audio." The Captain stood from his chair and walked slowly towards the CONN as he spoke. "I've verified the validity of what you plan to do but I will need to check your secession documents with the Diplomatic Office of the Federation Council."

"Our documents have not yet been submitted, Captain." The Regent said, also taking a step forward. "They will be submitted to the Federation within three days. We are currently working on their completion."

Gunning looked around at Bastin. There was nothing they could do- the Regency had made their decision and they seemed to be within their rights to negotiate with these Sojourners. He took a deep breath and said reluctantly. "That would seem to be in order, Regent. With your permission, I'd like to leave the USS Jackal in the region until the documents are submitted."

"I'm afraid that won't be acceptable, Captain." The woman spat from the throne. "You will take your vessels and leave."

A call came out from the rear of the bridge. "They're charging weapons, Captain!"

"Captain, I would warn you against using hostile action against Federation vessels!" Gunning exclaimed.

"This is Sojourner Protected Space and I am not a Captain!" The woman shouted, flying forward out of her chair towards the forward console pit. "I am Vaishaa!"

The communication line was terminated as the first strike rocked the bridge of the Antietam. Gunning stumbled and managed to steady himself against CONN. He smacked the emergency comm channel. "All vessels, begin your attack patterns!"

[OFF]

USS Antietam

Captain Alexander Gunning
Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Commander Jonathan Bastin
Executive Officer

USS Jackal

Commander Liarra Von
Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Morgan Kelly (NPC - Gunning)
Executive Officer / CTO

USS Metis

Lieutenant Commander Nilani Prax
Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Sean O'Connell
Executive Officer / CTO

SSV Vekk

Vaishaa
Leader of the Sojourners

Akurq
Regent of Thane