Star Trek Hunter
Episode 27: The Sword of Destiny
Scene 8: 'aj
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27.8
'aj*
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"I will put it bluntly," said Star Fleet Commandant Barrett th'Zoarhi. She looked out over an assemblage of a dozen flag officers and more than a hundred Star Fleet captains. Her antennae picked out a few and seemed to nod at them. "In one week of fighting we have lost 38 capital ships. We have confirmed destruction of 12 klingon ships. As bad as this ratio is, it is much worse when you consider the klingons outnumber us. We have been rushing ships into production and should launch another 20 by the end of this month, but at this rate we will not be able to keep up with our losses. In light of this, I have been given a joint directive by the Chief Counsel for United Earth Governments, Ushi Irons and the President of the United Federation of Planets, Emory Ivonovic. They have ordered me to win by any means necessary. I am authorized to set aside any regulations or policies that interfere with that directive."

The commandant was accustomed to being listened to intently and to her orders being followed without question. Her antennae picked out several individuals as they shifted uncomfortably. Star Fleet lived and died on procedure and even the most rambunctious officers found the idea of setting policies and regulations aside ominous. The commandant couldn't blame them. This is how coups got started and it was why Star Fleet required all officers to have a well-rounded, liberal education.

Commandant th'Zoarhi gave her flag officers and captains another moment to ruminate, then said, "You may not be very happy with some of the things I must to do to meet that directive. It is not my job to make you happy. My job is to win this war. To that end, Rear Admiral Serge Mykel Chekov – front and center!"

Barrett th'Zoarhi was considerably taller than average for an andorian and she towered over the bristly little Russian. She reached down, her light blue fingers deftly removing the rear-admiral bar from Chekov's collar – a black bar with two gold pips – and replaced it with a similar bar with four gold pips.

"Serge Mykel Chekov, I have spoken with all of my flag officers. There is no disagreement. Because of your repeated demonstrated ability, I am setting aside regulations and skipping the rank of Vice Admiral. You are hereby promoted to the rank of Admiral and given command of all forward operations. I am giving you an order, Admiral. Take the first, fifth, sixth, seventh, ninth, tenth and twelfth fleets and drive the klingons out of Federation space, out of romulan space and back into their own borders as described in the Khitomer Accords. Arrange for whatever additional resources you may need."

Chekov stuck out his hand, palm up. "Give me that."

The commandant's antennae flexed upward in surprise. She dropped the rear admiral rank insignia into Chekov's outstretched hand.

The captains and admirals in attendance had started to clap, but their applause died in confusion before it could begin.

Admiral Chekov picked out one of the captains and pointed to her. "Captain Red, front and center. Get those pips off your collar…"

Red was probably the only officer in the room shorter than Chekov. She was easily one of the youngest captains and had a reputation as a fighter.

Chekov attached the rear admiral bar that had just been on his collar to hers. "Rear Admiral Red, take the sixth and seventh fleets and the U.S.S. Ark and break the siege of Vulcan. As soon as you have done that, take the Ark and whatever additional ships you need into the Romulan Star Empire and evict the klingons from Saketh."

The newly promoted Rear Admiral Red saluted smartly, then turned and started pointing at various captains as she left the stage without a word.

"Well?" said Chekov to the remaining captains – his voice rough and loud. "Don't just stand around. Get to your ships! We have a war to win!" As the various captains made their way silently from the assembly room, Chekov turned toward a muscular, Italian admiral whose olive features gave only a hint of his Japanese heritage. "Admiral Yasutake… Urban, can I borrow your prowlers?"

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*'aj (thlingn Hol - Admiral)

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27.8