Plot Log | "The Police State"

Posted on 241410.02 @ 5:30pm by General Richard Sharpe

Mission: Insurrection [Fleet Plot]

= Earth =

Sharpe and his small contingent of marines had transferred their rescued captives to a neutral ship - that had been arranged to take them back to safety. He'd been at great pains to be separated from his daughter after her ordeal, but she knew the life, and she knew the obligations. She had her own, being a commissioned officer in Starfleet, and she was bound to join a ship heading into the frey - like her Dad.

Now, they were safely back on Earth, after a covert insertion in Berlin. They'd travelled under the cover of darkness to England, and they were now camped out in a safe-house in Devon.

The men were taking what little down-time they could get, what with the promise of reinforcements en-mass in their future. They all knew with a certainty that those marine troopers would rally around Sharpe and Towers - who had presumably been smuggled back to Earth for that very purpose. The final push to take back their Federation.

It had been about six days since they'd arrived on Earth, and four since they'd made it to the safehouse. Sharpe was waiting on a narrow band burst transmission that would inform him of the imminent landing of a large force of marines that would be part of the final operation. Until that signal, he would sit and wait. Well, that wasn't strictly true. He'd sent out one or two of the team on a fact-finding mission, one all the way to Sandringham, to take precise readings of their primary target. Now, they waited.

The television, for lack of a better word to describe the thing, suddenly came to life in the main room. This was a standard programming feature of viewers that when there was an important government broadcast, the government could override all viewers and transmit to the people. Under the previous regime, that system had been reserved for emergencies. Now it was used by the new administration for propaganda.

The seal of the President of the United Federation of Planets appeared on the screen, and dissolved to display the face of President Hutchins, sitting behind a desk presumably in the Presidential mansion. He looked tired, aged, and stressed - despite the best efforts to make him over for the broadcast.

"My fellow citizens." He began, and someone in the room scoffed. "We are on the precipice of a rousing victory over the rebels."

This perked Sharpe's attention from polishing his heavy cavalry sword for the ninety-second time that week, and he turned to face the viewer.

"Less than an hour ago, brave forces of Starfleet engaged the rebels on their way to invade our peaceful haven. The battle rages, and we know that our brave boys will defeat Malone and his rebellious cronies, and restore the peace." The President said.

Richard crossed his arms over his chest, and looked at the screen more intently. Someone in the room said "Oh yeah? You and what army?" But they were shushed by someone else.

"There have also been civil disturbances on many of the core worlds of our Federation, and whilst these are infrequent, and being stirred up by a criminal organisation known only as the Vanguard - a group of pirates, murderers, rapists and villians. They pose no threat to the Federation, but as a precaution, I have instructed Federation peacekeepers to impose a curfew on our citizens, and to impose a firmer enforcement of our laws, to bring peace and stability to our streets."

This was news to Sharpe, who so far had been kept mostly out of the loop when it came to intelligence from Starfleet. He supposed it was because he was all the way on Earth, and they couldn't risk compromising their intelligence by briefing him. Most of his intel came from the UFP broadcasts, and those were somewhat biased and filtered. The fact that Hutchins was saying even this, told Sharpe more than the President would've wished to say - that he was genuinely concerned about it.

"In light of the threats to our communities, I am imposing an interstellar travel embargo for the short-term, so as to prevent these terrorists from moving around within the Federation on innocent transport ships. This move is to protect our shipping captains from charges of conspiracy and terrorism, as well as to ensure the protection of our way of life. I realise these measures appear extreme, but when the safety of our children is at stake, this administration will not hesitate to do what is needed to protect our families from harm."

"He's a pompous windbag and a half." Someone in the room said, and Sharpe couldn't help but agree. He had his own choice of words, but none would be polite.

"I hope you are all safe, and I wish you a pleasant evening." The screen faded back to the UFP logo, and then the TV turned off.

"Well, that was educational." Sharpe said, and turned to his team. "Best get your shit together ladies and gents, the cavalry is on the way."

= End Log =

General Richard Sharpe