Three Captains, One Problem (Part 1)

Posted on Sun Nov 12th, 2023 @ 4:19am by Captain Maho Takahashi & Captain Shimakaze Zh'gero & Commander Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke

1,088 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Operation Tokyo Return
Location: USS Myogi
Timeline: A few hours after 'It's A Numbers Game,' before 'Touring the Facilities'

[Transporter room 1 - Deck 6 - USS Myogi]

Two transporter beams of blue and white light shimmered into existence above the Myogi's transporter pad before forming into two women dressed in Starfleet Command red. One was an Andorian while the other was a human. Both were shorter than Maho, but the Andorian compensated for her lack of height by wearing platform heels. The Andorian had four rank pips on her chest while the human had only three: Captain Shimakaze Zh'gero of the USS Haruna and Commander Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke of the USS Akina both stepped off the transporter pad where Maho was waiting for them:

"Welcome aboard:" Maho said, welcoming the two commanders to Task Force Jomo's former flagship with a handshake to both of them. "Also, nice to finally meet you in person, Commander."

As her lack of a fourth rank pip showed, Minna was the newest captain among the three, having been given command of the Akina following the untimely demise of her previous commanding officer.

"Thank you, Captain." Minna responded. "I hope you enjoyed my impromptu performance while leaving Sol."

"It was a beautiful performance, Commander." Maho said.

"Praise for the commander aside," Shimakaze butted in. "Is there any reason you decided to call us over here?"

"Captain, you of all people should know just how organized those rioters back on Earth were." Maho reminded her Andorian counterpart. "With many of the extremist groups that attacked Starfleet Headquarters still at large, the last thing we need is to have our ship-to-ship communications intercepted. Plus, since this matter concerns our guests we've been tasked with transporting and escorting, I felt it would be better to meet in person. We'll have this discussion in my quarters. I take it you two know where you're going?"

"Captain, I walked the Akina for two years before Felnoir took command." Minna explained. "Plus, I've had two weeks to jog my memory."

"Excellent, then let's be on our way." Maho declared, leading the way out of the transporter room.

As the three of them walked, Minna accelerated her pace to walk abreast with Maho.

"So, Commander; how goes the Akina's return to flight?" Maho asked, acknowledging the Commander's gesture as wanting to talk.

"Not good, if I'm honest:" Minna muttered. "Rallying such a demoralized crew after everything that's happened has been... Challenging, to say the least."

Maho smirked.

"Well, if it gives you any perspective, Commander; you certainly have an easier time of it than I did when I was first given command of the Myogi:" She explained. "Imagine on top of everything else, you had to put together a brand new crew from scratch, with only Commander Sakamoto and a few others remaining from your crew compliment."

"No kidding; you actually had to do all that?" Minna muttered in disbelief.

"Indeed. But you must admit, I think I did an alright job, given my constraints." Maho said modestly.

---

[Captain Takahashi's Quarters - Deck 2 - USS Myogi]

When the three Captains entered Maho's quarters, Maho assumed a spot in the sitting area.

"Feel free to replicate yourselves something before we begin." She motioned towards the kitchen replicator.

Shimakaze replicated herself a club soda while Minna replicated a root beer. She would have replicated a regular beer, but she did have to return to duty after whatever Maho had called her over to discuss. Together, they both assumed spots in the sitting area, both within Maho's field of vision.

"Computer, secure quarters:" Maho ordered. "Deactivate all sensors and close exterior blast shields."

The computer beeped in acknowledgement as the outside doors locked with a click, and within seconds, large blast shields lowered over the windows, blocking out the stars and turning the feel of the room from a space on a starship to that of an underground bunker.

"Why all the secrecy, Takahashi?" Shimakaze asked. "Are you seriously concerned someone is going to peek in through the window?"

"One can never be too cautious concerning Taiga Aisaka:" Maho explained. "Now, Commanders; how much has Starfleet actually told you about what we're doing?"

"As far as the Akina and her crew know, this is simply an escort mission, requested by yourself and granted by Starfleet Command." Minna explained.

"I have to concur with Commander Wilcke." Shimakaze added bluntly. "Though we're only doing this because you beat us fair and square. But, anyway; all Starfleet has told us is that we are to escort the Myogi to Beta Antares Fleet Yards and be ready for military action against Federation Citizens if it came down to it."

Maho sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

Of course, Starfleet only gave them the readers' digest version: She thought.

"Well, it's a bit more than that:" Maho said. "Commanders; you both saw the trial that lit this whole fucking powder keg, yes? The one where the Tal Shiar was trying to blame Starfleet for the destruction of Alvatar colony?"

"Yeah, that was one mess of a trial:" Minna giggled nervously. "I'm surprised that Miyahara was asked to lead a Starfleet side of the prosecution. That seemed rather strange."

"The Romulans wanted the verdict to be surefire, so they turned to the man with an otherwise spotless conviction rate." Maho sighed. "I'm sure the events that followed need no introduction."

"You mean after the trial?" Shimakaze proposed.

"Precisely:" Maho responded. "After the trial concluded, Taiga Aisaka, the officer whom was being tried... Her name became a buzzword among conservative media being sold conspiracy theories by Miyahara that he actually won the trial and won it by a landslide, but he had gotten massively defrauded."

"But why would he do that?" Minna asked. "Up until recently, Miyahara seemed like a respectable fellow who stood for law and order, not against it."

"Simple;" Shimakaze spoke. "By using his influence to undermine public confidence in our justice system, Miyahara was hoping to have a revote called, and that would be when the previously free and fair trial would be overturned, and he would re-seize power. Classic dictator strategy."

"So, something like Leyton's attempted coup in 2372?" Minna asked.

"Something like that." Maho said. "Though I believe the circumstances were somewhat different back then. But, anyways, our mission is clear: Taiga Aisaka is aboard the Myogi, and we are taking her to Beta Antares, where her ship, the USS Tokyo, is undergoing final repairs."

"You don't seem too pleased about it, Captain." Shimakaze said. "I can feel your thinly-veiled anger from across the room."

To be continued...

 

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