"Cause and Effect"

Posted on 241403.18 @ 6:31pm by Fleet Admiral Kerry Malone

Mission: Insurrection [Fleet Plot]
Location: Starfleet Command, San Francisco
Timeline: Following: "Dangerous Times"

There had barely been enough time to get the word out to those on the list, when UFP Security Forces began marching onto Starfleet Campus. They formed a huge dark blue wave as they surged towards the Starfleet buildings, looking for their targets. Some had, by sheer luck, managed not to be on campus that day - many were not so lucky.

They marched into Starfleet Tower, and were attempted to be detained by Starfleet Security, but were swept aside. They'd had no warning, so were unable to mount a proper defense of their building. Alerts raced up and down the building, but for many, it was merely enough time to be alarmed.

The Security personnel spread out and began jogging through the building, bursting into specific offices and hauling out the occupants, amid some protest from staffers and the flag officers in question. They were forcefully grabbed and hauled out of the building in restraints, marched out. Some were simply shot out of hand, if the perpetrator was on a special list.

The 'cleansing' of Starfleet Command was beginning.

For his part, Malone had received the warning from Sharpe. God knows how he'd managed it, given the tight control they had over both of them, but managed he had. Some of the people on the target list had been liberated already, but Malone knew that many more wouldn't be so lucky.

The problem was, the UFP Security Forces had counted on Starfleet Command's own defenses to act against the Admirals, because there was a transport inhibitor field always on over Starfleet Tower, to prevent abductions and unwanted beam-ins. They were counting on this field to prevent escapes. However, another problem was that they had to surge up thirty floors to get to the more senior members of the Admiralty that they wanted to 'arrest'. That gave them time, and time was a commodity precious to both sides.

As soon as the alert was sounded, Malone had already made arrangements, he merely needed to activate them. His first step was to shut down the security protocols surrounding Starfleet Campus. This would remove the transport inhibitor field, allowing transports. He knew this would work both ways, so he had to be quick.

Those destined for arrest were already marked with isolinar tags, and the moment the field came down, were beamed aboard the USS Ticonderoga - Malone's personal flagship. Others, who were not on the list, were selected to be beamed up, whist a small cadre opted to stay behind, to be part of the new administration that was doubtless to be formed.

A small squad of marines, who had been assigned to Malone's protection detail, as well as the members of Starfleet security assigned to that detail, formed up outside the CinC's office, and guarded the entrance ramps, as the last of the escapee's made their break for it. Malone was on the list, and everyone knew it. They would protect their charge, until he left, then they would stand down. They were following orders, and probably wouldn't suffer too harshly - all hoped.

During the evacuation/arrest, Malone seconded himself inside his office, and worked furiously at his console. They were trying to shut him out of the LCARS network, but he had help. There were still people loyal to Starfleet Command, and were fighting the hackers by hacking themselves. It wouldn't be long, and they figured there was a window - and Malone needed it. He activated a fleet wide broadcast, priority one, to all Starfleet ships;

"To all Federation starships within range of this transmission, this is Admiral Malone. Starfleet is falling victim to a Coup`et`tat on Earth, and will soon be replaced by forces opposed to the ideals of the Federation and Starfleet. I call upon all Captain's to stand fast and loyal to your oaths of loyalty to the Federation you serve, and to Starfleet Command. I will soon be ousted from my legitimate office, and replaced by another who will call upon you for service under the uniform code. I urge you to resist. I urge you to either rally under my flag, or take your ship into deep space, and stay there until further instructed. Confirmation code will be 'Excalibur Two Six Four Delta'. If orders do not contain that code, disregard all orders from Starfleet Command."

"Starfleet Command has fallen. I say again, Starfleet Command has fallen. Good luck to you all, and God Bless. Malone out."

With that, he activated the secure broadcast, and then activated a subroutine that would destroy all the computers and consoles in the building - thereby making it unusable, and any data within unrecoverable. "Computer, activate program, Malone Five, Engage."

The consoles in his office exploded with an electrical fiss as the EPS grid overloaded and shorted out everything. With that done, Malone walked out of his office as UFP Security Forces broke past his defenders.

"Fleet Admiral Kerry Malone, under orders of the Council of the United Federation of Planets, you are hereby under arrest for the crime of state treason." Said one of the leaders.

"But of course." Kerry said, calmly. "There's only one problem."

"Oh?" The security officer asked. Stupid man.

"Yes, you're assuming I'm going to come quietly." Kerry said, smiling.

"Seize and secure!" The officer ordered.

"Energize!" Kerry barked, and he immediately began to dematerialize.

"Fire!" The leader barked, but it was too late. Malone was gone.


On the bridge of the Magellen class Ticonderoga, Kerry walked out of the turbolift to the assembled command crew. All loyal.

"Welcome aboard Admiral." Captain Alexia Nolan, the CO of his ship, smiled at him.

"Thank you Captain." He said, as he strolled down the starboard ramp. "Are our guests settled?"

"All safe and secure sir." She reported. "Your message got away." She confirmed.

"Good." Kerry said. "We have one last transport. Lock on to Highclere Castle, and beam Mister Sharpe aboard."

"Yes sir." She said, and went to her chair console to activate the appropriate commands. A few moments later, Sharpe stood on the bridge of the Ticonderoga.

"Ah, you got my message then." Sharpe smirked.

"Evidently." Malone scowled, then the ship rocked.

"Starships coming up on us. They fired a warning shot. We're being ordered to stand down and prepare to be boarded." Reported the Ops Officer.

Kerry looked at Alexia, and smirked. "There's nothing in this system that can stop the Tico, Captain."

"Indeed not, sir." She smiled back. "Helm, take us to warp. Set course three three eight mark twelve. Engineering, spin up the slipstream drive, once we're clear of Earth, take us to slipstream."

"Sir, they're repeating their order to stand down or be fired upon." Ops said. "However, there are five starships coming up behind them, ordering THEM to stand down."

"Send a signal to those starships, tell them where to head to once we're clear." Kerry said. "Make sure its cryptic."

"Very good Admiral." Ops reported, as the ship rocked again, this time as a volley of torpedoes struck the shields.

"Impact on the forward shields array sirs, no damage. Shall I return fire?" Tactical reported.

Alexia looked to Kerry for confirmation, but he shook his head. "No, I will not order a starfleet vessel to fire upon another. We're not there yet. Get us out of here, Captain."

"Aye Admiral." Alexia replied.

"Course laid in Captain, ready on your order." Helm reported.

"Get us out of here, Mister Hunter, now." Alexia ordered, taking the large center seat, as Malone and Sharpe sat down on spare seats along the starboard side.

The massive Magellen class battleship swung around on its axis, and the warp nacelles charged for three seconds, alerting the pursuers what it was about to do, but without enough time to do anything about it. The other five starships similarly charged up, and almost as one, six ships left Sol System at maximum warp.

= End Log =

Fleet Admiral Kerry Malone
Former Commander-in-Chief, Starfleet
Leader, Federation Revivalists
"Viva La Revolution!"