Commander Sesgaard takes command of the Cromwell-B.
Coffee seems to be the central theme of the month. Everyone is getting used to thier new roles aboard Cromwell-B, and re-evaluating their relationships with each other.
Cromwell has arrived at Devu II and the Dakkus Shipyards. Refit work is on going, while the crew takes some introspective time, and time out to plan on Bear watching and Bare watching the skinny dipping crew.
The Nal'gahary have been broken up within the DFA region. Whether this is better, or just a new problem created is yet to be seen. But for the moment, there are no direct threats on the forseeable horizon, but the DFA will have to be vigilant. Broken, to the Nal'G may not mean destroyed.
Following the attack on the Desert Nal'Gahahry base, another brutal battle was fought on Babylon. An attempt by the Nal'G to capture the Command Codes of the DFA ships from the facility computers was thwarted. The defenses were multiple, from the Security team lead by Lt. Martis to defend the computer core, to unexpected and unlikely allies in Klingons, brought by the surprise re-appearance of Lt. Cmdr Sesgaard, to Duplication, and even triplication of defenders with holographic copies. In blind faith the Nal'G attacked, and the marines, led by Col Dejah and Captain Reynolds caught them in a death vise.
Admiral Fairchilde, who led the campaign against the Nal'g was critically injured, and succumbed to wounds obtained during the battle. Commander Sheldon has resigned from the Cromwell, and the DFA to attend to the Admirals last wishes. This may have been a boon to Cromwell. Fairchilde and Sheldon were staunch Starfleeters, despite being within the DFA. Will their passing change the direction the DFA Starfleet diplomatic dance is heading?
While Cromwell Crew assists in the recovery on Babylon, Word comes from DFA Command that Tirol is moving to assist new Admirals on DFA Command to help rebuild the fleet as a strong DFA centered fleet. The move ends the long command of Cromwell by Tirol. If ii were a democracy, Sheldon was not going to survive the Cromwell election. Command was turned over to Sesgaard, who was immediately dispatched to Devu.
Others are turning over new leaves. Lt. Martis has to face the transfer of her boyfriend Tirol. Trenn, and ex-Marine, who wanted to make a more peaceful entrance and positive difference, ended up in the middle of the pitched battle assisting the Security team on Babylon, A rough start for our newest counselor on board. He fit in well though, showing up to the Security Poker gamenight, and being invited to sit in with the exclusive club. His next big step will be to meet the new XO, and his boss in the counselors office, t'Kheall, the Romulan exchange officer. With Trenns negative background with Romulans, the meeting will be interesting to say the least.
As the month draws to a close, Cromwell sets sail for Devu for refit with additional science labs, and repairs at the Dakkus shipyards that help design and build her for the DFA. A hint of another cross over appears in the form of good news; Cromwell's Andorian Tactical officer's sister escaped from slavery (from the Rihannsu (Romulans)). There are now two Andorians aboard with reason for bad blood with the Rihannsu. What repercussion will this bring? Or will the DFA officers be able to walk the talk the DFA say they bring?
It has been a month of bloody battles, and life and death for the crew
of Cromwell. Having found the Nal'Gaharay command base, a full on
assault was launched by the DFA fleet. But the Nal'G did not go
quietly. Using every underhanded trick they had in the past, and
bringing out the new ones they were working on, they put the DFA on
alert, this would not be easy.
Captain Tirol has gone to the planet to place the graviton bomb, if
the marines cannot take and hold the planet. It would create a
gravimetic hole in space that would have to be travelled around for
years if deployed.
Marines Forces met hard resistance, and fought them off, taking the
city. Security forces swept in behind to hold captured areas, but
found themselves also being counter attacked by Nal'G dependants and
fighters, Prisoners of War who were infected with a virus specific to
alpha quadrant species, even the hounds of hell came out to tear
marines limb from limb. In Space Nal'G Battleships attacked against
orders, as shuttles and transports fled the planet, and there was a
steady stream of Nal'G DQ species heading to the transportation
center, even after shuttle flights seemingly were finally cut off by
the DFA fleet above.
And the battle was not just limited to striaght up fighting, and
guerilla warefare. The Alpha Virus was released within the POW
population to infect the DFA fleet as they were "rescued." The Alpha
Virus has been discovered within injured and rescued DFA Marines and
POWs within the fleet now. Can the Medical teams isolate a cure for
it? Dr Bessie Andrews and team are invading the R&D facility in
attempts to find the root cuase of the virus and turn it around.
An old grudge has finally been settled. Qas, a protegy of the Krenim
Intel officer Banor, was masterminding the unconventional warefare for
the Nal'G. Biowarfare, chemical attacks, Terrorist bombings,
hijacking shuttles and transports, were all part of Qas' plan of
attack. And all designed to draw out, and defeat the DFA fleet.
While parts of his plan were uindermined by radical actions by the
terrorist for failing to follow his instructions completely, the plan
has come to culimation. All this was deisgned to allow the Nal'G to
attack Babylon station, and then take the DFA fleet ships, one by one
as they attempt to come to the rescue of the DFA Command on the
station. Qas made three mistakes that day, and his final mistake cost
him his life in hand to hand battle with Banor. Will his plans live
on?
Steadfast loyalty seemed to be the theme this month, although many may
not have conciously recognized that was occuring. It may be
unfortunate that it take battle to forge the bonds of trust, but they
were completely evident to any who took one step back to watch. Duty
and Loyalty to the DFA from Commander MarQ, to right what was wrong,
from one of his own. Loyalty of not leaving anyone behind by Captain
(brevet) Reynolds for who no door, wall or airduct was too tight to
pursue through. Col Dejah leading the fight to the heart, and still
finding it in her own heart to help other telepaths inprisoned by the
Nal'G. Medical teams led by Dr Andrews saving so many that would have
died, by fearlessly going to the battle front for trauma surgery, and
risking her own life and her friends and families lives to save alpha
quadrant species caught up in the Nal'G webs. Aboard Cromwell, Dr
Afvillhei, was willing to step up, and place restrictions on the crew
once the virus was detected aboard Cromwell and other ships, in the
midst of battle.
Will this all be for naught? Commander Sheldon's loyalty to Admiral
Fairchilde has taken Cromwell out of the battle over the Desert Planet
on an emergency rescue of the DFA Command staff on Babylon. Will her
choice of loyalties allow the Nal'G to escape? Or has she played
right into Qas' plans? Hold on for the conclusion!