Liberation
Several hours later the Federation fleet exited warp on the edge of the system. The largest assembled Starfleet force in history, 21 Destroyers and Scouts backed up by 4 Cruisers. Minutes later they were joined by a large Cardassian fleet of 6 Destroyers and 15 Cruisers and 2 Troop Transports.
Vice-Admiral Tala, though the second highest ranked officer in the fleet, was in charge because she had all the info on the situation.
"Comm. Hail the lead Cardassian vessel."
The viewscreen changed to show a burly Cardassian.
"Gul Jara, what is the situation in the sector?"
"Only 5 ships are present. A Troop Transport, Colony ship, Scout and 2 Cruisers remain. A pity, we have an impressive fleet."
"Yes, but it still serves the purpose of showing the Klingons we mean business."
"It will. What is the battle plan?"
"We warp in. Take out the cruisers and then destroy everything else. The Outpost isn't completed yet, right?"
"Correct. It is still not operational."
"Good. Prepare to go to warp in 10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1…Go."
The Fleet entered warp and exited seconds later. The Klingon ships were caught by surprise but still managed to start manoeuvring not long after the Fleet arrived. The battle was short. The Federation and Cardassian Cruisers quickly showered the cruisers with torpedoes. The Battlecruisers tried in vain to manoeuvre away but were quickly destroyed. The Scout managed to escape by using its superior speed and using the Colony ship as a shield from torpedoes. The Scout disappeared in a flash of light. Colony ship was too slow and was soon destroyed. The Troop Transport was still tethered to the semi-completed Outpost when it went to full impulse to escape, ripping it apart. The Destroyers made a quick phaser pass on the station before the Cruisers destroyed it with torpedoes.
"Vice-Admiral, Gul Jara is hailing us."
"On screen."
"Well, Vice-Admiral Tala that was enjoyable. I enjoy watching Klingons die and flee for their pitiful lives but we must be off," said Gul Jara.
"So soon?"
"Alias. The Cardassian Military Government has another Klingon system that is to be the next member of the Union."
"I wish you luck Gul Jara. Thanks for your help."
"So, is Starfleet staying here?"
"At least until the Troops arrive."
"Conquering a system! I thought that was against your high strung Federation ideals," said the Cardassian mockingly.
Tala felt anger. "The Klingons already subjected the people of this system we will simply free them."
"Call it what you may, I must be off. It was a pleasure doing business with you."
The viewscreen changed to show the Cardassian ships moving off before entering warp.
"Damn Cardassians. They enjoy this kind of thing, killing and conquering. Lives mean nothing to them," said Tala. "Gland they're gone. Hail, Admiral Hewitt. Tell him he has command from now and tell him our orders are to guard this system from anyone, the Klingons, the Romulans, the Cardassians. We hold this system no matter what."
For 4 months the Federation Fleet stayed in Yridia. Twice repelling the Klingon counter attacks on the sector. Federation diplomats tried to get the Klingons to leave the system but they refused. The populous started to riot against the Klingons soon after the Federation fleet arrived, the Klingons responded by slaughtering them. The Yridians formed a Resistance against the Klingons 2 months after the Federation blockade began. Hundreds of Thousands of Yridians joined the resistance and were secretly trained by and supplied with equipment by Starfleet Intelligence, it was hoped that they would force the Klingons off their planets without Starfleet sending down any troops. At first they scored many victories but the Klingons soon cracked down hard. Soon most of the planets were embroiled with war. The FNS covered the whole thing and soon Federation citizens were crying "Free Yridia! Free Yridia!" Yridia became so important that Admiral Masters moved in and took command over three months after the blockade begun. He took command of the Hawkesbury, an Excelsior class cruiser. He was in his ready room reviewing Starfleet's status when his first officer came in.
"Sir, here is the latest Intelligence Report on Yridia."
"Thank you."
Jonathan took the datapadd and read it.
"The resistance lost 4 more base! This isn't good."
"No, it isn't. Over 2000 were killed," said his first officer. "One of the Intelligence Teams on the main planet had to get involved with the fighting yesterday. Two men are injured. They had to retreat from the capital to the surrounding mountains. This is their last Stronghold on the planet. Most of the other planets in the system are in the same boat. They are getting beaten back. It looks like the resistance is going to be killed as well as our Intelligence Teams."
"It was stupid of us to think that a Resistance of a couple of hundred thousand people could beat an army of millions. How many Troop Transport do we have?"
"4."
Admiral Masters sat back. Troop Transports were huge and held over ten thousand troops and their equipment. So he only had around 50000 troops to invade with. But he had no other options.
"Commander, deploy the fleet for orbital bombardment. Pull out the Diplomats from the planet and inform me when we are ready.
Soon the Fleet was in a buzz. Scouts, Light Destroyers, Destroyers and Light Cruisers started to surround the planets in low orbit. After several hours the Fleet was in position. The Hawkesbury was orbiting the Capital city of the main world of the system.
"Hail the Klingon Commander."
An Anger Klingon appeared on the screen.
"General, we are though talking, surrender now or we will be forced to open fire."
The Klingon laughed. "You insult me human. I will never give this system up."
"You are in a hopeless situation, General. Your Klingon Empire is falling apart; they will not be sending any help. We control the space in this sector."
"Yes, but I control the planets."
"Here is your ultimatum. You have 5 hours to surrender your forces and hand over the system to the Federation or we will remove you by force."
"This is what I say to you ultimatum."
The Klingon cut the transmission.
"Sir, I'm reading massive deployment of forces all over the planet. We have a large number of troops moving from the capital towards the Resistance Stronghold. Sir, I'm getting reports from around the system of Klingon deployment. I think you have your answer."
"I wish it didn't come down to this. All ships are ordered to bombard Klingon forces and facilities."
All over the system Federation ships fired phasers and torpedoes into the atmosphere of the planets. In seconds Klingon facilities were levelled. Klingon forces were bombarded mercilessly. On the main planet as the Klingons left the urban areas to go to attack the Resistance stronghold Federation ships attacked, killing thousands. After 40 minutes of non-stop bombardment the fleet stopped.
"Report."
"All ships report targets destroyed. We have an estimate of 14 million killed, mostly Klingons."
Jonathan shook his head. 14 million died because of the order he gave. Before he got too upset with himself he remembered that the Klingons had forced his hand.
"The Klingons are sending more troops to the Resistance Stronghold."
"Prepare for another bombardment."
Again the Federation Fleet rained death on the Klingons.
"Send the Troop Transports in to the capital. Maybe if we take the capital the Klingons will surrender. All ships cease bombardment, we will serve as fire support for the Marines once they land."
The 4 huge Troop Transports broke formation and entered the planets atmosphere. Once the vessel were in the planets atmosphere over a hundred drop ships launched from the Troop Transports. These drop ships were filled to the brim with Marines and headed for various strategic locations. This wasn't the main force, a large percentage of the Marines were still in the transports. Wherever the ships landed is where the main force would disembark. All four ships converged on the capital. Drop ships had already landed and their troops were commencing with their attacks. The resistance stronghold outside the capital received several drop ships with reinforcements. As more troops landed the orbiting ships received requests for fire support. At irregular intervals ships in orbit would fire their weapons on the planet. In under a day the capital was under Federation control.
It took a week for the Starfleet Marines to Liberate the world. As news spread of the world's liberation, the smaller worlds, which had a small Klingon presence, successfully revolted and reclaimed their world. As for the larger worlds, in the following week the Marines were deployed on these worlds and liberated them all. In over two weeks of fighting 8000 Marines were killed or injured, plus over 100 members of the Intelligence teams on the planets, nearly 30 million Klingons were killed with millions injured, most of these deaths were from Orbital bombardment. Unfortunately over 5 million Yridians were killed, most were civilians. This was the price for Yridia's freedom.
Mere hours after the system was liberated several Ferengi vessels entered the system. They were intercepted by the Light Destroyer Rockford.
"Ferengi vessels, this is the USS Rockford. State your intentions."
"Federation vessel," said a gravely voice over the speakers. "This is Ambassador Jek, I'm here on behalf of the Ferengi Consortium to see the ruler of Yridia."
"I'm sorry Ambassador, I have no knowledge of any Ferengi vessels allowed in system…"
"Hail, the President of Yridia. He will confirm our presence here."
After several tense minutes the Rockford hailed the Ferengi and let them pass.
It didn't take long for other Ferengi ships to arrive it soon became clear that the Ferengi were spending hard credits on the Yridians. The news that Starfleet expected soon came, Yridia would sign with the Ferengi.