Intersection [Joint Project - Quasar Quest ~ Alliance of Guardians]

John was furious. He turned to Laren, "Dammit, can we get a transcript of what's going on over there? Why the hell doesn't the infernal Cardassian respond. F*ck!! Vash answer the damn post."

Laren had never seen John like this. She had heard about the so-called "cowboy diplomat" but he had never seen anything like it before. Laren could not get the transcipt from their bridge.

=A= Commander John Smith to the Bridge. =A=

Laren ordered the Chief Intelligence Officer to the bridge. Laren looked at John. Before she could ask him, he responded, "Are you looking for these?"

Laren hated John Smith already for his Sector 31 past and the fact that he seemed to know things before her creeped her out. John gave her and Captain Warren the transcripts from the Tanmesad.

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The Tanmesad and the Quasar Quest are well known to one another. Vash Enranet knows John Warren. Hell, he served as Executive Officer aboard the Tanmesad. John went rogue and joined the Galactic Order and attacked the Tanmesad after his son Robert was killed aboard the Tanmesad. Vash was not suprised when John called him as he entered the Torros System to inform him that the Alliance of Guardians had been commissioned by the Federation to enforce the existing Cardassian Border and the Dominion Neutral Zone. Vash knows that the video of the Tanmesad and the Quasar Quest is perhaps the most famous video in the history of the Omega Fleet.

Vash also knows that with the retrofit complete that the Quasar Quest, a Sovereign Class Star Ship could easily outmatch the Galor Class Cardassian Vessel. Vash turned to Tamryn, "Do not respond. Continue on our current course."

Tania heard the yellow alert and appeared on the bridge. Vash looked at his first officer, "Remember, Commander Branson, I gave you the option to leave the Tanmesad at Governor's Station."

Dalin T'Zohl, even though it was still new to her, loved her new title and her restored role. T'Zohl looked at Vash, "We are about to enter the neutral zone. This is our last chance to slow enough to remain in the Torros System; to remain in Cardassian Space."

Vash looked at the staff, "10 years ago, the Dominion took something from Cardassia. You may believe that we deserved to suffer greatly for our mistreatment of the Bajorans and suffer we have. For the last 10 years, we have lived with our own dismay over the behavior of the Detapa Council. Today, though, we take something back. Today, Cardassia, and not the militant tyrants of the Detapa Council and the Cardassian Union but the peaceful, democratic Hebetian Government, takes something back. Something that belongs to us; more than property, more than territory, REDEMPTION."

Vash tapped his COMM badge.

=A= Carson, all shield to maximum. =A=

=A= Aye, Dal Enranet. We are at maximum shields. =A=

T'Zohl called it out, "We are no in the neutral zone."

Tania looked at Tamryn, "The Quasar Quest is once again warning us to vacate the neutral zone."

Vash never spoke.

Tamryn called it out once more, "The Jem'Hadar are now formally requesting that we withdraw from the neutral zone."

Vash keyed the COMM link.

=A= My name is Dal Vash Enranet of the Cardassian Guard Vessel, the Tanmesad formally announcing the annexation of 1700 km of territory pushing the neutral zone to the other side of outpost 371, here after known as Torros Sia, the 8th planet in the Torros System. Any action to enter this territory will be considered an attack on Cardassia, the Hebetian Government of Minister Elim Garak and on the Harde Fleet of the Torros System. =A=

Tamryn started yelling, "Captain Warren is screaming at you to withdraw Vash. He demands you acknowledge him or face the consequences."

Three Jem'Hadar vessels dropped out of warp and prepared to engage the Tanmesad.

Tamryn screamed, "The Weyoun is acknowleding the Federation support and thanking them for their integrity."

Tania snapped, "This is bullshit."

T'Zohl smiled, "No, Commander Branson, this is chicken. Who bites first?"

The Jem'Hadar vessels banked hard and began their attack run. Vash yelled to Carson, "Hold us together, Garresh."

Tania looked at Vash, "If the Double Q engages, we are finished."

Vash looked at Tania, "I guess the Double Q has a decision to make. Every great ship comes to an intersection. It must choose. Side with the law; however unjust or side with honor; no matter the cost. Captain John Warren is at that intersection. He must decide."

Posted by:

Dal Vash Enranet
Commanding Officer
USS / CGV Tanmesad

Commander Tania Branson
Executive Officer
USS / CGV Tanmesad

Dalin T'Zohl of Vulcan
Flight Commander
USS / CGV Tanmesad

Garresh Carson Warren
Chief Engineer
USS / CGV Tanmesad

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Captain John Warren was furious that Vash had called him out. The Jem'Hadar were about to engage the Tanmesad. Three on one. The Tanmesad would be overwhelmed. John knew that Vash had played the Federation exactly as he wanted to. The Omega Fleet would look heroic. They had publicly renounced his mission to expand the Cardassian border to Outpost 371.

The Alliance of Guardians were commissioned to protect the border and now the Fleet would have to decide. Let the Tanmesad fail and perhaps seriously hurt the provisional government and the fledgling Federation - Cardassian Relationship or attack the Jem'Hadar and appear, at least to them that the Federation supported Cardassian Expansion.

John looked at his staff, "Its your call. We can sit here and hope for some sort of act of heroism and a miracle by the Cardassian vessel or we can engage the Jem'Hadar."

Cameron looked at John, "I served on the Tanmesad. I have many friends over there. We cannot let them fail. Engage the Jem'Hadar."

=A= I will not sit idly by and watch the Jem'Hadar who attacked and nearly destroyed not ony this vessel, but the Mother Theresa, the Christmas Wish, the Princess Diana and Governor's Station. This is not a border war, this is a terrorism response. Attack the Jem'Hadar =A=

Thomas Smythe was almost yelling through the COMM link from engineering in response.

Laren was a Bajoran and a Federation officer, "Our mission is to enforce the Deep Space Nine Treaty and not to support Cardassian Expansion. These are Cardassians."

Captain Warren looked at John Smith, "The mission is clearly defined, Captain. The Quasar Quest is to maintain the current neutral zone. I wish them good luck, nothing more."

Captain Warren looked over at Marine Captain Elliott, "The marines are in service to the most senior officer, Captain Warren. We will do as ordered."

Autumn Laree turned to John, "My cousin is over there, Captain. Engage the Jem'Hadar."

John looked around in wonderment. It seemed like an hour went by when in fact it was mere seconds, "Lt. Faulkner, engage the COMM link."

"This is Captain John Warren, Commanding Officer of the USS Quasar Quest in service to the Alliance of Guardians. The Guardians formally identify the three Jem'Hadar vessels as members of the squadron that attacked Governor's Station. These vessels are considered terrorists and invaders. They will stand down and surrender or be destroyed."

Laren looked at John, "How the hell do you know they were at Governor's Station?"

John grinned, "Its a bluff, Laren. I don't know but they don't know that I don't know."

Cameron grinned, "This is Commander Cameron Viceroy, Executive Officer of the USS Quasar Quest, we have formal images of the attack and can verify the presence of the three vessels. You will stand down."

The Jem'Hadar suddenly paused their attack. There was a long stalemate. John turned to Autumn and Nikki, the Security Chief and Marine CO.

"Lt. Laree, time to go war.", John called it out.

The Sovereign Class vessel greatly outclasses the Jem'Hadar. The Quasar Quest took out the three Jem'Hadar Vessels. Autumn Laree is among the finest shooters ever to grace a security station.

John Smith engaged the COMM link, "The United Federation of Planets does not support the expansion of the Cardassian Union to Outpost 371. The USS / CGV Tanmesad is requested to withdraw from the neutral zone."

Captain Warren smiled and turned to Lt. Carleton Faulkner, "C [see], take us over 1300 km and put us in deep orbit around the Torros Sun."

Laren looked at John, "But that will exactly enforce the Cardassian expansion."

John looked at Laren, "I am no stellar cartographer, I don't know where the line should be. I think we were simply mistaken, the line should have been over there."

Laren was furious and stormed off the bridge. She hated the Cardassians. John laughed at her response.

Cameron pointed to John, "Well done, Captain Warren. Well done."

John looked around his ship. His staff had passed their first real test; while most of them thinking of Laren Kira. John can be a handful. He followed his federation responsibilities but he too accomplished his goal; secret support of the Tanmesad.

Posted by:

Captain John Warren
Commanding Officer
USS Quasar Quest
Alliance of Guardians

Commander Cameron Viceroy
Executive Officer
USS Quasar Quest
Alliance of Guardians

Lt. Thomas Smythe
Chief Engineer
USS Quasar Quest
Alliance of Guardians