Re: Commission: "The Stonewall Resistance"
Fleet Admiral’s Log, Stardate 86107.6. It has been a week since the battle with the Borg fleet. Since then, most of our ships have returned to Earth Stardock to undergo repairs, though a few have remained to assist with helping Vega Colony recover and analyze the wreckage of the Borg vessels. I would have rather that this new fleet be born without such bloodshed and loss, but at least it was successful in defending the Federation from what could have been a devastating attack. Now the only question is what our next move shall be.
Nick looked out one of the large observation windows the reception lounge and let out a small sigh. Over a month ago, he had been standing in this very same room after being promoted to the rank of rear admiral. His idea to restart the Borg Task Force had been met with skepticism by his peers. Though he took little joy in being proven right on this matter, he was at least glad that his efforts since his fateful discussion with Quinn had not been futile. He looked over his shoulder at the room, which was now full of captains and senior officers from the ships that made up the week-old Stonewall Fleet, and grinned. There was a lot of work to do, but at least this time he would have a lot of help.
“I am surprised, Nicholas. I have always observed you to be much more social than this.”
Nick looked to his side and saw T’Rehes and T’Laris standing there, both in typical Vulcan stoic fashion. When Nick didn’t immediately answer, T’Rehes tilted her head in her usual sudden, staccato manner.
“Is something wrong?”
Nick shook his head. “No, I’m just tired. Since we returned to Earth, I don’t think I’ve had more than ten minutes to myself.”
T’Laris raised an eyebrow. “Is that unexpected? You and Admiral T’Rehes took command of a battle that was not only a success, but perhaps vital to the survival of the Federation. From what I have observed of most cultures within the Federation, including your own, this normally entails a great deal of attention.”
Nick only chuckled at the Vulcan’s analysis. “Not unexpected, just... overwhelming. Especially when there’s also the matter of organizing the new fleet.”
“Regarding that topic,” interjected T’Rehes’, “I have a number of reports and requests you should read that have come in from our member crews. A statistically high number of ships lost their commanding officers in the battle, and there is a particularly interesting report from one such ship, the Pandora, regarding the behavior of the Borg boarding par--”
“Is this really the time for this? Let him enjoy this bit of celebration!”
The three looked over at Zepari, who had interrupted T’Rehes and thrust a drink into Nick’s face. Nick eyed the glass suspiciously, but Zepari shook his head.
“Don’t worry, it’s a standard synthehol drink.”
Nick could have sworn he then heard Zepari mutter something about the ‘good stuff’ being kept somewhere. He looked past Zepari and noticed, in the rear corner of the room, Quinn and Ethan speaking. He made a mental note to ask them about it later, as he had a feeling it had to do with a some more... unspoken... matters. Zepari followed his glance and frowned.
“I wonder what that's all about," muttered Zepari.
Nick had a feeling it might be about what he had discovered with regard to Terev and Gallagher, but he said nothing. It wasn't for public discussion, even with the other captains.
T’Laris took the ensuing silence as an opportunity to ask a question that had been on her mind.
“Admiral, I have been meaning to ask you. After our ships returned to this time through the temporal distortion, why did you order us not to destroy the gate, even after the Pendragon succeeded in coming through?”
Nick took a rather prolonged sip from his drink. The only two people he had explained this action to were T’Rehes and Quinn. He noticed T’Rehes studying him as he tried to come up with an answer that wouldn’t violate the Temporal Prime Directive. Finally, he looked at T’Laris and grinned.
“Let’s just say that one day you’ll thank me for my restraint.”
The cyptic answer prompted an eyebrow raise from T’Laris, but she took didn’t inquire further. Zepari, on the other hand, rolled his eyes Nick just shook his head with a grin in response and looked back out the window at the blue planet below.
“It will be nice to have a day of shore leave. I’m thinking a day at the beach. If I don’t get some natural light soon, I might have to start taking vitamin D supplements.”
T’Rehes tilted her head slightly. “Actually, Admiral, the lighting on all Starfleet starships is designed to provide the wavelengths necessary for the human body to produce that vitamin.”
Nick was about to tell T’Rehes it was a bad joke when a chime sounded throughout the lounge, which drew everyone’s attention to a podium at the front, behind which Admiral Quinn was standing. He cleared his throat and spoke.
“As you all know, we are there today to commission the new Stonewall Fleet. It has already enjoyed an important success in the defense of the Federation and, indeed, all sentient life in the Alpha Quadrant. However, instead of listening to me speak, I think it would be best if we heard from the Fleet Admiral himself. Admiral Ford, would you care to say a few words?”
Everyone in the room looked back at Nick. He looked over at T’Rehes, who immediately caught what he was thinking and gave a quick, terse shake of her head.
“I appreciate the offer, Nicholas, but I believe it would be best if you were the sole speaker.”
Nick looked at her for a moment, then nodded and walked to the podium at the center of the room. He looked out at the faces of captains and officers looking back at him. Save for a few admirals, most were members of the new fleet. They were now, to some degree at least, under his command. He realized that in the same way he through of his ship as home and his crew as his family, he would likely come to think of the fleet the same way. The thought brought a soft smile to his face as he spoke.
“I wish there wasn’t a need for this fleet. I wish that we didn’t need a special force to fight the forces that work against the Federation and its ideals of equality, mutual cooperation, and independence. Unfortunately, that is not the galaxy we find ourselves in. There is a need for this fleet, possibly more so than ever in the Federation’s history as we find ourselves facing threats from all sides. All that said, I am proud to find myself in this endeavor with all of you, who have already demonstrated your exceptional ability and dedication. All of us represent so many different species, worlds, and cultures... and I believe that, in the months to come, we will be able to face any challenge with the strength that comes from that diversity. Thank you.”
The assembled captains and officers broke out into applause as Nick finished his short speech. He looked at the gathered fleet members, then to T’Laris, Zepari, and T’Rehes, then finally out at the stars that shone behind them all. He found himself smiling again and realized that the future of the galaxy looked just a little bit brighter.
Space. The final frontier.
These are the voyages of the Stonewall Fleet.
It’s continuing mission, to draw strength from diversity
To defend the ideals and peoples of the Federation
And to boldly go where no one has gone before!
((That's a wrap for "The Stonewall Resistance"! I'd like to thank Mandy for commissioning me to write this story back in June. Holy crap, it's been five months. Sorry this took so long, Mandy! I'd also like to thank Mandy, Nick, Zep, Bradley, and Brandon for sitting down me with for interviews about their characters so I didn't go off half-cocked. Finally, I'd like to thank you for reading this story. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.))
Nick looked out one of the large observation windows the reception lounge and let out a small sigh. Over a month ago, he had been standing in this very same room after being promoted to the rank of rear admiral. His idea to restart the Borg Task Force had been met with skepticism by his peers. Though he took little joy in being proven right on this matter, he was at least glad that his efforts since his fateful discussion with Quinn had not been futile. He looked over his shoulder at the room, which was now full of captains and senior officers from the ships that made up the week-old Stonewall Fleet, and grinned. There was a lot of work to do, but at least this time he would have a lot of help.
“I am surprised, Nicholas. I have always observed you to be much more social than this.”
Nick looked to his side and saw T’Rehes and T’Laris standing there, both in typical Vulcan stoic fashion. When Nick didn’t immediately answer, T’Rehes tilted her head in her usual sudden, staccato manner.
“Is something wrong?”
Nick shook his head. “No, I’m just tired. Since we returned to Earth, I don’t think I’ve had more than ten minutes to myself.”
T’Laris raised an eyebrow. “Is that unexpected? You and Admiral T’Rehes took command of a battle that was not only a success, but perhaps vital to the survival of the Federation. From what I have observed of most cultures within the Federation, including your own, this normally entails a great deal of attention.”
Nick only chuckled at the Vulcan’s analysis. “Not unexpected, just... overwhelming. Especially when there’s also the matter of organizing the new fleet.”
“Regarding that topic,” interjected T’Rehes’, “I have a number of reports and requests you should read that have come in from our member crews. A statistically high number of ships lost their commanding officers in the battle, and there is a particularly interesting report from one such ship, the Pandora, regarding the behavior of the Borg boarding par--”
“Is this really the time for this? Let him enjoy this bit of celebration!”
The three looked over at Zepari, who had interrupted T’Rehes and thrust a drink into Nick’s face. Nick eyed the glass suspiciously, but Zepari shook his head.
“Don’t worry, it’s a standard synthehol drink.”
Nick could have sworn he then heard Zepari mutter something about the ‘good stuff’ being kept somewhere. He looked past Zepari and noticed, in the rear corner of the room, Quinn and Ethan speaking. He made a mental note to ask them about it later, as he had a feeling it had to do with a some more... unspoken... matters. Zepari followed his glance and frowned.
“I wonder what that's all about," muttered Zepari.
Nick had a feeling it might be about what he had discovered with regard to Terev and Gallagher, but he said nothing. It wasn't for public discussion, even with the other captains.
T’Laris took the ensuing silence as an opportunity to ask a question that had been on her mind.
“Admiral, I have been meaning to ask you. After our ships returned to this time through the temporal distortion, why did you order us not to destroy the gate, even after the Pendragon succeeded in coming through?”
Nick took a rather prolonged sip from his drink. The only two people he had explained this action to were T’Rehes and Quinn. He noticed T’Rehes studying him as he tried to come up with an answer that wouldn’t violate the Temporal Prime Directive. Finally, he looked at T’Laris and grinned.
“Let’s just say that one day you’ll thank me for my restraint.”
The cyptic answer prompted an eyebrow raise from T’Laris, but she took didn’t inquire further. Zepari, on the other hand, rolled his eyes Nick just shook his head with a grin in response and looked back out the window at the blue planet below.
“It will be nice to have a day of shore leave. I’m thinking a day at the beach. If I don’t get some natural light soon, I might have to start taking vitamin D supplements.”
T’Rehes tilted her head slightly. “Actually, Admiral, the lighting on all Starfleet starships is designed to provide the wavelengths necessary for the human body to produce that vitamin.”
Nick was about to tell T’Rehes it was a bad joke when a chime sounded throughout the lounge, which drew everyone’s attention to a podium at the front, behind which Admiral Quinn was standing. He cleared his throat and spoke.
“As you all know, we are there today to commission the new Stonewall Fleet. It has already enjoyed an important success in the defense of the Federation and, indeed, all sentient life in the Alpha Quadrant. However, instead of listening to me speak, I think it would be best if we heard from the Fleet Admiral himself. Admiral Ford, would you care to say a few words?”
Everyone in the room looked back at Nick. He looked over at T’Rehes, who immediately caught what he was thinking and gave a quick, terse shake of her head.
“I appreciate the offer, Nicholas, but I believe it would be best if you were the sole speaker.”
Nick looked at her for a moment, then nodded and walked to the podium at the center of the room. He looked out at the faces of captains and officers looking back at him. Save for a few admirals, most were members of the new fleet. They were now, to some degree at least, under his command. He realized that in the same way he through of his ship as home and his crew as his family, he would likely come to think of the fleet the same way. The thought brought a soft smile to his face as he spoke.
“I wish there wasn’t a need for this fleet. I wish that we didn’t need a special force to fight the forces that work against the Federation and its ideals of equality, mutual cooperation, and independence. Unfortunately, that is not the galaxy we find ourselves in. There is a need for this fleet, possibly more so than ever in the Federation’s history as we find ourselves facing threats from all sides. All that said, I am proud to find myself in this endeavor with all of you, who have already demonstrated your exceptional ability and dedication. All of us represent so many different species, worlds, and cultures... and I believe that, in the months to come, we will be able to face any challenge with the strength that comes from that diversity. Thank you.”
The assembled captains and officers broke out into applause as Nick finished his short speech. He looked at the gathered fleet members, then to T’Laris, Zepari, and T’Rehes, then finally out at the stars that shone behind them all. He found himself smiling again and realized that the future of the galaxy looked just a little bit brighter.
Space. The final frontier.
These are the voyages of the Stonewall Fleet.
It’s continuing mission, to draw strength from diversity
To defend the ideals and peoples of the Federation
And to boldly go where no one has gone before!
((That's a wrap for "The Stonewall Resistance"! I'd like to thank Mandy for commissioning me to write this story back in June. Holy crap, it's been five months. Sorry this took so long, Mandy! I'd also like to thank Mandy, Nick, Zep, Bradley, and Brandon for sitting down me with for interviews about their characters so I didn't go off half-cocked. Finally, I'd like to thank you for reading this story. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.))
