"The Gnat."

[FredM 0]

ORIGIN: Task Force BSA QP0 Flagship Tjan

DATE: 11293 19 Rebmetpes

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"Mr. Hergin, prepare for warp jump. Course bearing zero-zeo-eight by two-six-nine," the tall Andorian stated with his hands folded behind his back. The Lieutenant who was the Tjan's navigational control officer nodded and turned to the two junior officers stated in chairs before him. Too soft to hear outside of the three person triangle, orders were spoken to get the massive vessel moving.

 

Fleet Admiral Werin was not standing where he had been seemingly welded for the weeks prior. The area behind the massive sensor diagram was vacant, clearer now that the ship was running on normal lighting. The tall Andorian continued to circle the bridge, ensuring all stations were prepared for their eventual jump to faster than light travel.

 

Commander Reji glanced up from the numerous individuals in his alcove, "Primary batteries are offline. All magazines have been cleared and are ready for transport." The tall figure simply nodded his head slightly and continued his circle without further movement. This exchange was followed almost immediately by a medium built officer turning in their chair to the left of the bridge, "Sir, all ships acknowledge they are ready for departure."

 

The tall figure nodded, leaned over and pressed a control. "Command to Admiral Werin. Sir, all stations are prepared for Sol star group departure," he said glancing upward at the ceiling. There was no response, not that one had actually been anticipated. Yet within a few minutes, the Andorian in his fifties stepped onto the bridge of the Tjan and glanced around as if uncertain of what he had heard. Passing the two security guards who were stationed just inside the hatch, Werin walked down the small flight of steps and back to his usual position behind the sensor platform.

 

"Visual of the fourth planet in the system...", the Fleet Admiral said softly. This caused several stations to start with a murmur of activity. A week or so earlier and the uplink from Fleet Captain Tervin's Detailed Scout Battery Group JM 4/7 would have had the image on the viewer almost immediately. Yet such was not the case, as now the Tjan and the other fourteen ships of Battle Attack Group QP0 were the only Andorian assets still in the physical confines of the pinkskin system. As such, the request took an annoying ten seconds to complete.

 

Finally the forward viewer of the nerve center of the massive Tjan came to life, showing the red planet the Terrans called Mars. Not more than three weeks earlier, the GS94832 Battle Carrier, with it's fifty decks and deadly payload, had been poised to deliver it's lethal load and turn the surface of this planetoid orange.

How so much had changed in so little time. "Magnify full the coordinates," the Admiral ordered. Two seconds later the screen blurred slightly and when refocused showed the support structure of what Terrans called a dry-dock. Inside, the item which had brought them to this system could be clearly seen...the ship known now as Challenger.

 

In Andorian Military circles, the ship was now designated as a neutral item. Privately however, many were still overly concerned regarding the Terran's continued push for a military buildup. Two months ago, Fleet Admiral Werin would have agreed. Now, while not certain, he questioned the wisdom of such thoughts. The Andorian lowered his antenna and shook his head, turning his back to the viewer and leaning on the sensor display. "Take us out navigator...," Werin said deep in thought.

 

As the massive Tjan slowly turned and headed out under sublight speed, it would be almost one hundred and fifty years until a vessel of similar size would enter the system intent on destruction. Even then, that craft would not be one of alien origin but actually of Terran construction. The galaxy was full of ironies.

 

The taller blue skinned figure approached and tilted his head, "I still do not know what to make of these pinkskins. We come to vaporize them, yet even now are moving into a position to ensure their new gnat is able to leave it's nest without incident." The Andorian of fifty chuckled and nodded ever so slightly, "It is an interesting concept. Yet...for some odd reason, I doubt very much we have seen the last of your gnat Commander."

[Ens_Watson 0]

ORIGIN: Task Force BSA QP0 Flagship Tjan

DATE: 11293 19 Rebmetpes

:D BSA? The Boy Scouts of America have a task force? :)

[LoAmi 0]

Nah... Bovine Serum Albumin ... Got Milk?

 

or ... Business Software Alliance ... They're sending in this large Andorrian ship to attack the software pirates on Earth.

Edited September 12, 2004 by LoAmi

[FredM 0]

:D BSA? The Boy Scouts of America have a task force? :)

Hey there,

 

You know what's funny? Being an Eagle Scout, I never even realized I'd been using the "BSA" initials until you pointed it out. LOL.