Into the Breach

[Cptn Corizon 0]

Internally, it took Corizon less than a few seconds to begin analyzing the situation. He’d spent weeks…no make that months examining and evaluating the volatile situation in the Gamma Quadrant. In truth, the reason he’d been assigned to Excalibur had been no small coincidence.

 

Corizon found himself in the lobby outside Vice-Admiral Nugira’s office. The secretary smiled at him. “The Admiral will see you.”

 

He walked in to find Nugira surrounded by PADDs. “Admiral…”

 

“Commander,” Nugira’s voice was labored and stressed. “I am sorry to call you here on such short notice…”

 

“But…” Corizon shifted his weight, his ears standing to either side. Normally he wouldn’t have thought the first thing about being called into the Nugira's office. Since the Dominion War, Nugira had been charge of ATAG and as a senior field analyist, debriefing usually occurred one on one with Nugira. But something was…different now.

 

“But…” Nugira said finally looking up from the paper work. “If you haven’t been watching, the Romulans have been busy stirring up things in the Gamma Quadrant.”

 

Corizon lifted his brows. He’d read the reports, “So I’ve read…”

 

“Well,” Nugira said motioning with his hands. “Captain Sorehl was at the fore front of the Dominion War, and Day’s had plenty of expiernce with battles…”

 

Nugira paused. “But no one in the Quadrant really has much experience in planning for all out war. If things break down…like some of your colleagues think it will…they’ll need your experience.”

 

Corizon nodded his understanding. “So what will be my posting?”

 

“Excalibur needs an Executive Officer.”

 

“Sir?”

 

“Don’t complain. It won’t do you any good.”

 

“I just wasn’t expecting that sort of posting…” Corizon couldn’t hide his displeasure or his scowl.

 

“Oh stop pouting…and don’t even think of giving me the puppy dog look…it doesn’t work for my hound dog…it won’t work for you.”

 

Corizon frowned. “Of course sir.” Though he’d wanted to try it for spite.

 

“Besides,” Nugira continued, “You’ll keep your position with ATAG. Since your posting is classified to begin with, I see no reason to discontinue your services. I’ll expect weekly reports. You can just send them along with your reports to command. Use your ATAG clearance, no one will raise questions.”

 

Corizon nodded. “Understood, sir.”

 

“Very good Ah-Windu. Your transport to Deep Space 4 leaves in three hours, from their you’ll hop a ride on the USS Lotus to Camelot Station.”

 

Corizon nodded his understanding.

 

“Dismissed.”

 

Standing on the bridge, lit by the dim lights of Red Alert, getting ready to go into the breach of impending war, Corizon saw the wisdom of sending him to the Gamma Quadrant. Though he still couldn’t believe that the Hundred were capable of such…massive attacks. Nor could he believe they would act so…openly. They risked alienating the few sympathizers they had with in the Dominion, and risked destablizng the hegemon, which could have far reaching consequences.

 

More importantly, he was worried about Camelot Station. It’s continued existence only served as a symbol everything the Hundred stood against. And he knew that Camelot was not capable of defending themselves against the apparent strength of Hundred. Of course the fact that the dispatch was three days old didn’t help his worried mind.

 

It seemed the weapon of war, the Morningstar, would be thrust into use much sooner than anyone anticipated. The last battle simulation showed Corizon that there was much work to be done.

 

He had twenty days to get the crew ready for war, ready to return to a demolished Camelot and he intended to make the most of that time.

 

Glancing at the chrono above the monitor, he noticed the three hours were almost up. Once more this crew would be sent into the breach. Would they be able to stop the break out?

 

“Lt. Summers,” Corizon leaned forward in the command chair. “Notify the crew that we will be departing in five minutes…”