THE BATTLE FOR NOW
CHAPTER I
"Captain's Log, Stardate 20231." Captain Jellico's mind strays for a moment. Snapping himself out of it, he continues; Ahem. "Captain's Log, Stardate 20231.5, he barks into his terminal with a renewed, authoritative edge in his voice. "The USS Cairo has completed 14 months of mapping Quasar's in Sector 17 and is heading back to Starbase 24".
Slamming the monitor closed he swings his chair around, surveying his Ready Room, stopping at the window, staring intently, as if looking for something. "What is wrong with me?" He thinks to himself. He had always been proud of his Ship and his accomplishments. But since his return from the Enterprise, he has found himself uneasy, dissatisfied with his command. He had proven himself capable of commanding a Galaxy Class Starship, why had Star Fleet not given him one to command? He proved his mettle by rescuing Captain Picard and by his handling of the Cardassians!
The Enterprise is the flagship of the Federation; it's crew given much more consideration than other ships. Captain Jellico was sure the reports of the Enterprise's Senior Staff sabotaged any chance of his gaining command of a Galaxy Class Starship. "Ryker, Troi........you sure left my cheese out in the wind, didn't you?" "All I need is one more chance to distinguish myself." He thought assuredly. "Just one...more....chance!
"Captain to the Bridge!" Captain Jellico snapped back to the here and now; "On my way!" As the doors to his Ready Room opened, the Bridge was a hive of activity! "Report!" He demanded as he took the Captain's Chair. "3 Klingon Battle Cruisers approaching, dead ahead!"; responded Commander Nah- Rub, the Cairo's Andorian 1st Officer. "On Screen!"; snapped Jellico! "Open Hailing Frequencies! This is Captain Jellico of the Federation Starship Cairo. What can we......" "The Klingon Battlecruisers are raising shields and powering up weapons!" Interrupted the excited Tactical Officer! "What the hell are they doing?"; asks Jellico to no one in particular? "Sir"; Science Officer Yamata interjects; "these readings can't be right." "Get to the point, Lieutenant!" Jellico replies, impatiently. "Sir"'; Yamata continues; "These Battlecruisers are Kayless Class!" "Kayless Class? They haven't been in service in 300 years!" Nah- Rub says in disbelief. As if a cruel response to Nah-Rub's disbelief the Cairo is rocked by a Phaser blast! "Believe it Number One! Shields up!" Orders Jellico! "Captain, shall we head for Starbase 24 and notify Starfleet Command?" Nah-Rub, anxiously asks. " Hold on Number 1, I think we can handle 3 Kayless Class Battlecruisers. They're probably held together with spit and chewing gum!" Jellico smugly replies.
"Helmsman, set course for 4420 mark 3400, initiate battle sequence Jellico 5! bring all tubes to bear on the lead ship!" Jellico orders. In 3 blinding flashes, the Klingon ship is debris. "Well, let's see if the rest of those rust buckets have the stomach for..." Jellico is interrupted by Yamata. "Sir, about those rustbuckets......they're in mint condition! Like they've just come off the line!" The Cairo takes two critical hits. It looks like Captain Jellico has just overdrawn his ego account. Number 1 informs the Captain that the port Nacelle has ruptured and suggests they retreat. "Not on your life!" says Jellico, "they're only Kayless Class. I'm not turning my tail and running from two 300-year-old ships! I'll show StarFleet what a real Captain can do! Heading 047 mark 432, attack sequence Jellico Alpha!". As the Battlecruisers close in it is obvious that whatever action Star Fleet takes on Captain Jellico, it will have to be posthumous. In seconds the Cairo is no more.
CHAPTER I
"Captain's Log, Stardate 20231." Captain Jellico's mind strays for a moment. Snapping himself out of it, he continues; Ahem. "Captain's Log, Stardate 20231.5, he barks into his terminal with a renewed, authoritative edge in his voice. "The USS Cairo has completed 14 months of mapping Quasar's in Sector 17 and is heading back to Starbase 24".
Slamming the monitor closed he swings his chair around, surveying his Ready Room, stopping at the window, staring intently, as if looking for something. "What is wrong with me?" He thinks to himself. He had always been proud of his Ship and his accomplishments. But since his return from the Enterprise, he has found himself uneasy, dissatisfied with his command. He had proven himself capable of commanding a Galaxy Class Starship, why had Star Fleet not given him one to command? He proved his mettle by rescuing Captain Picard and by his handling of the Cardassians!
The Enterprise is the flagship of the Federation; it's crew given much more consideration than other ships. Captain Jellico was sure the reports of the Enterprise's Senior Staff sabotaged any chance of his gaining command of a Galaxy Class Starship. "Ryker, Troi........you sure left my cheese out in the wind, didn't you?" "All I need is one more chance to distinguish myself." He thought assuredly. "Just one...more....chance!
"Captain to the Bridge!" Captain Jellico snapped back to the here and now; "On my way!" As the doors to his Ready Room opened, the Bridge was a hive of activity! "Report!" He demanded as he took the Captain's Chair. "3 Klingon Battle Cruisers approaching, dead ahead!"; responded Commander Nah- Rub, the Cairo's Andorian 1st Officer. "On Screen!"; snapped Jellico! "Open Hailing Frequencies! This is Captain Jellico of the Federation Starship Cairo. What can we......" "The Klingon Battlecruisers are raising shields and powering up weapons!" Interrupted the excited Tactical Officer! "What the hell are they doing?"; asks Jellico to no one in particular? "Sir"; Science Officer Yamata interjects; "these readings can't be right." "Get to the point, Lieutenant!" Jellico replies, impatiently. "Sir"'; Yamata continues; "These Battlecruisers are Kayless Class!" "Kayless Class? They haven't been in service in 300 years!" Nah- Rub says in disbelief. As if a cruel response to Nah-Rub's disbelief the Cairo is rocked by a Phaser blast! "Believe it Number One! Shields up!" Orders Jellico! "Captain, shall we head for Starbase 24 and notify Starfleet Command?" Nah-Rub, anxiously asks. " Hold on Number 1, I think we can handle 3 Kayless Class Battlecruisers. They're probably held together with spit and chewing gum!" Jellico smugly replies.
"Helmsman, set course for 4420 mark 3400, initiate battle sequence Jellico 5! bring all tubes to bear on the lead ship!" Jellico orders. In 3 blinding flashes, the Klingon ship is debris. "Well, let's see if the rest of those rust buckets have the stomach for..." Jellico is interrupted by Yamata. "Sir, about those rustbuckets......they're in mint condition! Like they've just come off the line!" The Cairo takes two critical hits. It looks like Captain Jellico has just overdrawn his ego account. Number 1 informs the Captain that the port Nacelle has ruptured and suggests they retreat. "Not on your life!" says Jellico, "they're only Kayless Class. I'm not turning my tail and running from two 300-year-old ships! I'll show StarFleet what a real Captain can do! Heading 047 mark 432, attack sequence Jellico Alpha!". As the Battlecruisers close in it is obvious that whatever action Star Fleet takes on Captain Jellico, it will have to be posthumous. In seconds the Cairo is no more.