| FAdm. Malone | "Coming up short"

Posted on 241412.09 @ 11:30pm by Fleet Admiral Kerry Malone

Mission: The Fight For Peace [GQ Plot]
Timeline: After "The Wedding of Patrick & Kassi Harper"

=/\= Runabout "Philip Hughes" =/\=

Malone sat at one of the aft stations of the runabout cockpit, as he was ferried from Starfleet Command to the USS Ticonderoga, which was in one of the massive spider-cages that formed McKinley Shipyards. The Tico was undergoing a massive refit just prior to their extended detachment to the Gamma Quadrant, turning her into a floating command ship capable of operating independently of a starbase for long periods of time. With the loss of Starbase Zetari, there was no suitable resupply point within the Gamma Quadrant - although there would be places to trade with, other species willing to supply provisions for resources. The Tico had been wholly dependant on being within a month's travel time of a resupply point - now she could endure deep space for much longer.

Adding to this were enhancements to her command and control suites, her communications systems, her sensor arrays, and various other upgrades and improvements to make her a much better ship for long duration use. Something that had been made very clear during the civil war was that she was not designed for long duration use - designed as a battleship - so she'd had a major overhaul to make her far more user friendly. That had involved some compromise on her specifications, but Malone had agreed that the need for a dreadnought class starship wasn't a primary consideration. Her sister ships, the USS Magellen and the USS Charan were getting similar make-overs when the yards could fit them in.

Designed as fleet command ships as well as super battleships, they weren't really practical with the new vision of Starfleet that Admiral Hark wanted to bring forward. The Dreadnoughts would be kept in reserve for a day when such a monster would be needed, but a peacetime force hardly needed such a vessel. They would spend their days at the fleet reserve depot at Regulus, confined to the mothball fleet. Maintained, but never used. It seemed a shame to Kerry that such fine ships be relegated to decay in the fleet storage depot, but he could see Hark's need to improve Starfleets image as a peace force, not a military navy.

However, an Admirals privilege was that he could pick his own flagship, and Malone had opted to keep the Ticonderoga as his own. He and she had served together for many years, and he came to think of her as his real home, from the days he'd been made a Rear Admiral and given the Ticonderoga and her Battle Group. Nearly a decade of service together since then, he had no intention of trading her in for one of the fleets newer ships, like the vaunted Odyssey class. If he wanted to go to space in a luxury yacht, he'd book a charter on an Orion Royal Cruiser.

As the runabout came around the shipyard structure, Malone looked up from his PADD to view the ship. It was as impressive as she always was, and he would be glad to set foot aboard her once again. He'd not been aboard since their return to Earth at the end of the war. He'd not seen the refit, and he was already curious, as they came about to approach the ship from aft - to see that her nacelles were glowing green, not blue.

"Experimental Warp Drive, Admiral." One of the pilots added, noting the Admiral's curiosity. "A little present from our Klingon friends, in gratitude for our help in saving the Empire. Starfleet have been clamouring to get their hands on it, but Captain Nolan won't let them have it. Chancellor Ch'Krang said it was a personal gift to his ally, Admiral Malone."

"I'll be sure to send the Chancellor a few barrels of the '23 Blood Wine I acquired." Malone smiled, revelling in seeing the specs of this new drive.

The runabout entered the main hangar bay, and touched down gently on the deck. Malone rose from his chair, tugged his tunic straight, and made his way to the door, as his personal staff came out of the aft cabin to join him. He nodded to them, and then allowed the Ferengi Ensign to open the passenger hatch.

The door opened to reveal the main hangar deck for the fighter wing assigned to the Tico. The fighters had been pushed back against the far bulkhead, and two double-file rows of Starfleet personnel in uniform waited for the Admiral. As he stepped out of the runabout hatch, a Chief Petty Officer blew on a bosuns whistle, the age old call of an officer coming aboard. The assembled crew snapped to attention, as Malone stepped onto the deck. Captain Alexia Nolan came up to greet the Fleet Admiral, wearing her dress uniform.

"Permission to come aboard, Captain." Malone asked, the age old traditions were observed on this ship.

"Permission granted Admiral." Nolan replied, and offered a hand, that Malone accepted.

"How soon can we get under way, Captain?" Malone asked, as he began to walk down the aisle that the crew had formed on the deck.

"At your word, Admiral." Nolan replied.

"The word is given, Captain Nolan. Take us to the fleet rendezvous point, speed at your discretion." Malone replied, turning on Alexia. "Can the ship take going to warp?"

"Yes sir, although the Chief Engineer doesn't want to push the engines too much until they've settled in." Nolan replied.

"Oh spare me from over cautious Chief Engineers." Malone sighed. "They all want to cuddle their engines, wrap them in a protective blanket, and not let captains play with their toys. Go give him a slap, and tell him I expect this ship to perform as it always has - new engines or no."

"I'm sure *she'll* object to that, Admiral." Nolan corrected him.

"What happened to Commander Thomas?" Kerry asked.

"Transferred." Nolan replied, cautiously. "Commander Jessica Viscotti is... different... to Jeff Thomas."

"Should I be concerned?" Malone asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Only if you cross paths with her, Admiral. She's somewhat... outspoken." Alexia added, being conservative.

"I see, one of those." Malone sighed. "I assume I'm being punished then."

"Only the same as the rest of us." Alexia replied. "Otherwise, ship is ready in all respects."

"Good, signal the fleet to head to the rendezvous point." Malone said, as he stepped out into the corridor, leaving Nolan to her business.

"About the fleet, Admiral..." One of his aides responded. "Here's the updated list."

Malone accepted the PADD and read it as they walked down the corridor, then stopped when he finished. "You can't be serious?"

"Very." Came the reply.

"This isn't a Fleet, its a Flotilla." Kerry snapped.

"Starfleet Operations picked us bare, Admiral." Another aide added. "They felt that the security and stability of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants is more of a priority than policing the Gamma Quadrant. Admiral Hark expressly wanted to point out to you that if the Alpha Quadrant falls, there won't be any reason to protect the Gamma Quadrant."

"I'm going to have to get used to this, aren't I?" Malone sighed, realising he wasn't used to not being in command.

"Yes sir." The aide agreed. "We still have a sizable force, just curtailed from previously, as the ships and crews are needed elsewhere. Admiral Hark did want me to remind you that there are other Starfleet ships out there that you can try to recall to duty, to bulk up your fleet."

"So we've gone from a fleet of one hundred and seventy five ships, to a fleet of eighty one. Technically, that's not even a fleet." Malone sighed.

"Its still called the fifth fleet, Admiral."

"What's in a name..." Kerry sighed. "Oh well, I guess Hark has his priorities, and I have to agree, the Alpha Quadrant is a bit more of a priority than exploring and policing the Gamma Quadrant. I should be grateful I still have most of my exploration ships. I'm just going to come up short on combat ships."

"Command emphasises that if you can find the USS Medusa, she'll make up the shortfall of at least five starships. The USS Crazy Horse is also out there, and she'd make up at least three smaller ships."

"Yes, but does command realise that means I have to put up with Captain Hunter?" Malone scowled. "Oh hell, I'll just send Sharpe to deal with him. Sending one objectionable arse to deal with another seems a good strategy."

"I'm sure General Sharpe would object to being called an arse, sir."

"Oh like I care what that man thinks. Just get him and his marines aboard the Carolina." Malone scowled further, and headed into his quarters for some peace and quiet.

= End Log =

Fleet Admiral Kerry Malone
Commander, Gamma Quadrant Command