A Forgotten System

Posted on Fri Feb 28th, 2025 @ 8:29am by Admiral Christopher Townsend & Fleet Admiral Damien Drake & Vice Admiral August Laird
Edited on on Fri Feb 28th, 2025 @ 8:30am

1,379 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: The Arms of Amadeus
Location: Tenth Fleet Dining room. Templar Station
Timeline: Before TFG Mission E1 "Shadows of the Empire"

Damien had been up for hours. So many issues to oversee. The Deputy Commander was scheduled to arrive in a few hours, bringing in some new intel from Starfleet ops. There were many concerns about the Amadeus Sector. Last visited it was a very violent place. But as always with the never ending Federation ideas of expansion a good idea... At what cost would this place take on the Tenth Fleet. His fleet.

Admiral Drake often ate in his quarters, however ventured out to the Tenth Fleet dining room. really pretty bleak atmosphere as many Flag Officers and support had not arrived to the station yet. He ate a wonderful meal observing traffic arrive to the station through massive observation windows. He cought a glimpse of his security officer in casual clothes close by but not obvious. "Red Mike" as he was known as a impressive bodyguard had been with Drake for several years now and with his reputation was a perfect team member.

Drake saw a few Science officers and staff but it was quiet. August Laird wandered up to the table and sat.

"Good Morning Sir, our Station has survived another shift. despite every Civilian effort to crash and burn on our hanger deck."

Admiral Drake enjoyed August Lairds sense of humor. And a Station Commander of his style was indeed hard to come by.
he lifted his cup in tribute, "Better you than me Admiral Laird. Most of these transport jerks deserve what ever they get."

August nodded in agreement. "I see the new Deputy Commander is on his way. I hear he's a young one."

"Yes, one of the new breed we have been working on. If this Townsend fellow is half of what I've been told we are very lucky to have him." Drake looked about, "I think we need to fill a few chairs around here."

" I could use a few Operations people. Or Station Traffic is off the charts right now. Could get very hazardous. I don't need that at all. You suppose you could twist a few arms and get a dozen or so assigned to us?"

"I'm sure we could make that happen very soon. I agree that avoiding as much trouble that we can is a wise choice indeed." He leaned back into the highbacked chair.

"I'm sure our new deputy will be bringing in some intel also. I'll be sending some regular patrols into the Payens System very soon. I'm working on that mission briefing now."

August was pleased about the crew additions rolling in, however he wasn't expecting to start operations in Payens just yet. But that was a call far above his pay grade. "Sir I'll get with support group and see they are ready when requested."


The low thrum of the station’s docking bay vibrated through the deck as Admiral Chris Townsend stepped off the sleek Starfleet shuttle, his boots meeting the deck with practiced precision. The hum of the force field separating the vastness of space from the bustling corridor beyond flickered behind him as he adjusted his uniform, his gaze already scanning the area.

Flanking him were two officers from Starfleet Operations, both carrying padds filled with the latest intelligence from the Amadeus Sector. But Townsend? He carried something else—presence. The kind that turned heads and silenced idle chatter.

A security officer, sharp-eyed and rigid in stance, stepped forward with a crisp nod. “Admiral Townsend, sir. Admiral Drake and Admiral Laird are expecting you in the fleet dining room.”

Townsend nodded in acknowledgment. “Lead the way.”

As he moved through the station, he took in the surroundings—the still-empty halls, the skeleton crew making do while the rest of the fleet assembled. The air carried the faint scent of recycled oxygen and fresh coffee, the ever-present signs of a station coming to life. He could feel the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders, but he welcomed it. The Tenth Fleet was his new assignment, and he would see it rise to the challenge.

Stepping into the dining room, he immediately spotted Admiral Drake and Admiral Laird at their table, deep in conversation. Townsend approached with the measured confidence of a man who had earned his position, his uniform crisp, his expression composed yet keenly observant.

Admiral Drake cought the movement of August Lairds bodyguard first. A very slight movement. He observed Admiral Townsend immediately as dig The station commander who rose from the table at attention.

Townsend gave a respectful nod. “Admiral Drake, Admiral Laird. I appreciate the welcome. I trust I’m not interrupting breakfast?”

"Please pull up a seat and join us. I was pleased to hear of your arrival." The area a silent flurry of activity as a table closeby was quickly set for the officers accompanying Admiral Townsends staff.

Townsend placed a padd on the table and slid it forward. “New Intel, Fresh from Starfleet Operations. Possible hostile activity in Payens. If we’re going to establish a presence, we’ll need to move fast.”

Drake took the padd and scanned some of the priority data.

"I fear the Fleet is correct. We have seen a increase in suspicious activity In Payens. And need to put a hard presence in that System quickly. We should be able to project some clear power and with additional support I hear from Task Force Seven get things sorted very quickly."

Admiral Laird was familiar to the Deputy Commander. His exploits were known to all. He refused to let the youthful appearance of the Deputy Commander of Tenth Fleet deceive him. August had seen many young and capable leaders in his days...

"The Halo will be departing for Starbase 113 in a few days," Townsend informed the Admiral as he settled into his seat. "My wife and daughter are on Earth—I took a shuttle to get here. I'll be staying for a few days before heading back."

" Some distance travelling indeed. However a few days here will be of large value to the Fleet."

"Is there anything specific in the reports you need me to address before I depart? Also, does the station have an assigned ship? If not, I can allocate one that was being considered for addition to the Task Force." Townsend asked.

August looked up quickly. "Yes, the station has many needs to be certain. One would be Support. We could definitely use a strong support vessel if Task Force Seven could deploy one to us." Such an offer of assistance was remarkable in command theory and Laid wouldn't even consider passing that up.

Drake nodded in agreement. "The Tenth Fleet has priority for the next Five vessels rolling into the fleet but it would be several months for the first to arrive to the station. I situation I wasn't happy about when I took command, however expect some help on this very soon. Any assistance from Task Force Seven would be noted. Your assistance also noted Admiral Townsend." Admiral Drake smiled. Admiral Laird was shocked..

Admiral Townsend leaned back in his chair, considering the request thoughtfully. "I appreciate the candidness, August," he began, his tone measured yet firm. "Supporting our allies is a priority, and I understand the urgency of your situation at the station. While the Tenth Fleet is indeed stretched thin with priorities, I assure you that Task Force Guardian is committed to ensuring operational readiness."

He continued, "We can allocate a support vessel to help you as soon as possible. I will coordinate with my logistics team immediately to assess our available resources and see if we can expedite your request. It's crucial that we maintain our operational capabilities and ensure your teams have the support they need."

"As we've seen in previous missions, collaboration across our forces can yield tremendous results," he added, glancing at Drake. "It’s in times of need that our alliances strengthen. Once we finalize the details, I will make sure to communicate any updates directly to you."

Admiral Townsend paused for a moment, a hint of a smile appearing, "And let me stress, this support isn't just a note in the log. It demonstrates our commitment to partnership in the face of adversity. We’re all in this together."

"Yes a total win for all of us."

 

RSS Feed