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Description
It was astonishing what a few days in orbit of Dranali IV would do for a wayward captain of the Fleet. But in no time flat, Starfleet lived up to its promise of hefty reinforcements of the like that hadn't been seen since the earliest days of the Dominion War some twelve years earlier. More than 150 vessels in total, some so new and experimental that they hadn't had the time to be properly broken in yet.

But if the previous engagement was of any indication, everyone present in the Maranello's Ready Room knew that this was for keeps--even as Admiral Karlson held court with a captive audience mostly comprised of current fleet captains via subspace.

"...the goal isn't to capture this ship, but to make absolute certain that an incursion like this will never happen again. Because I for one am getting damned tired of having to explain to the brass over at Command why certain elements from the other universe keep popping in when you least expect it. But this latest incident is proving to be the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. As you know, past encounters were pretty benign, but this latest one involving two senior ship captains has pushed Starfleet Command to declare the Kelvin universe to be off limits to all Fleet ships and personnel. As such, everyone here is under orders to carry out Operation Storm Breaker."

Hutchinson heard the collective gasps from the two front rows closest to her and a few of her senior staff exchanged looks of uncertainty with her. But she kept her silence as she nodded towards the room's main viewer.

Just wait. She silently communicated. There's more to come.

A few hands went up around the room as some fleet captains challenged this decision. One of them being Captain R'umdi of the USS Dallas.

"Sir...I don't mean to speak out of turn," the Benzite captain indicated with broad hands. "But that would mean a possible one-way trip. We don't even know how that ship got here in the first place. The initial scans from all three ships at the entry point hint at the possibility of a break in the space/time continuum. Of which, we don't know what effect an armada of this size and classification would have--should we traverse into the fissure."

"It's stable." Catherine spoke up out of turn.

"How do you know?" Someone close by piped up.

"During the battle, we kept our sensors locked onto the anomaly for any hints or clues as to how it operated. From our analyses, it turns out that it was an artificially generated construct. We think there is some sort of structure on the other side of the rift that has kept it open for the duration. We don't think this was done on accident either. We believe that this was a deliberate--if not calculated--act by outside agencies to gain a foothold into our universe."

There was stunned silence from everyone present. So deafening in fact, that anyone here could hear Stephanie Bakker's PADD drop as it fell out of her hands and hit the carpeted floor.

"That's preposterous!" Another senior captain called out from the other side of the room.

Catherine Hutchinson remained unmoved by the older man's outburst. "Jonathan...trust me. It's not. Everyone here has a copy of our scan data and know the harsh truths to which we now all bear witness towards."

"But scan data has been known to become unreliable in the past." Someone else interjected gently. "Especially when you're under fire and your systems are being taxed to the breaking point."

"Khan didn't engage us as much as he did with the others." The woman said with obvious guilt. "But it didn't mean we didn't try either."

Captain Angela Harrison didn't dispute that statement. "No one's saying otherwise." She said with equal conviction. "In fact, you're being lauded as a hero because of your subsequent actions."

Others nearer to the woman murmured in agreement.

Catherine blushed at the unspoken sentiment. "I don't feel like one. I feel...betrayed by the fact that I couldn't do more to help out."

"You did enough." Michael spoke up with unwavering support. 'You gave everyone valuable time to assess the situation firsthand and then get the hell out while the getting was good."

"Add to the fact that that ship was built with strong indications of both 24th century tech and Borg technology."

"Even though it was a century out of place? The other ships that came through were also 100 years behind us in development as well."

"We disagree." Admiral Karlson smoothly interjected. "This new front as we are calling it came from yet another universe that has similar markers to the original Kelvin timeline, but is more advanced than anything known to our science. In fact, given what you faced last week points to an unsettling reality that we are dealing with something far more dangerous than just a few stray ships from an alternate reality."

More silence from the room.

"An...invasion?" Captain Rudolph Yandel whispered in blind shock. His words set the whole room into motion as everyone started speaking up--many of them voicing their strong disbelief and worry.

Karlson let it go on for a minute or so more, before calling everyone to attention.

"At ease, everyone. Please. I know how this news must be to you, but for us at Starfleet Command, it's serious business. All of which you all signed up for. I do not want to hear doubt or regrets at this point. We all have a job to do. And I expect everyone here to carry it out. As per Command Order #23465, we are at war with whomever is operating this rift from the other side. Pursuant directives will be carried out by the assigned fleet captains in this armada. And I expect everyone here to follow them to the letter. Is this understood?"

Nobody argued that point at all. Everyone held their collective breaths until someone on the other side of the room raised his hand. It was Captain Kevin Dickerson of the USS Victory.

"I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade, but who will be the overall field commander of this little operation?"

Karlson smiled.

"Catherine Hutchinson."

Catherine wore a look of blind astonishment on her face.

"Me...sir?"

Others also traded looks of disbelief within her general proximity.

"But she's just a captain...!" A woman close to Catherine said.

"No longer. Catherine Hutchinson...would you be so kind as to stand for a moment?"

The woman nodded. "Yes, sir."

The older man on the main viewing screen produced an envelope from underneath the pile of folders that sat cluttered on his desk office at Starbase 618. Opening it, he pulled out a letter and read it to the group assembled in front of him.

"By order of Starfleet Command as of Stardate 81287.5, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral. Congratulations."

Catherine Hutchinson felt her heart stop for a moment as this new revelation started to sink in.

"V-Vice Admiral?" She whispered.

The room went silent for a brief moment before a small round of applause broke out. There was some cheering as well.

In the midst of this, her First Officer wore a sharkish grin of his own--knowing what this meant for him personally.

"We're going to need a bigger boat." He quipped.

Emily Pearson shushed him.

"Michael!"

"Well, it's true. I think one of those new Century-class ships that just came out. I would love to command one of those beauties."

"That's not for you to decide." The doctor groused, before everything had a chance to settle down.

"A man can dream can't he?"

***

Artwork by Jetfreak-7.

Description
It was astonishing what a few days in orbit of Dranali IV would do for a wayward captain of the Fleet. But in no time flat, Starfleet lived up to its promise of hefty reinforcements of the like that hadn't been seen since the earliest days of the Dominion War some twelve years earlier. More than 150 vessels in total, some so new and experimental that they hadn't had the time to be properly broken in yet.

But if the previous engagement was of any indication, everyone present in the Maranello's Ready Room knew that this was for keeps--even as Admiral Karlson held court with a captive audience mostly comprised of current fleet captains via subspace.

"...the goal isn't to capture this ship, but to make absolute certain that an incursion like this will never happen again. Because I for one am getting damned tired of having to explain to the brass over at Command why certain elements from the other universe keep popping in when you least expect it. But this latest incident is proving to be the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. As you know, past encounters were pretty benign, but this latest one involving two senior ship captains has pushed Starfleet Command to declare the Kelvin universe to be off limits to all Fleet ships and personnel. As such, everyone here is under orders to carry out Operation Storm Breaker."

Hutchinson heard the collective gasps from the two front rows closest to her and a few of her senior staff exchanged looks of uncertainty with her. But she kept her silence as she nodded towards the room's main viewer.

Just wait. She silently communicated. There's more to come.

A few hands went up around the room as some fleet captains challenged this decision. One of them being Captain R'umdi of the USS Dallas.

"Sir...I don't mean to speak out of turn," the Benzite captain indicated with broad hands. "But that would mean a possible one-way trip. We don't even know how that ship got here in the first place. The initial scans from all three ships at the entry point hint at the possibility of a break in the space/time continuum. Of which, we don't know what effect an armada of this size and classification would have--should we traverse into the fissure."

"It's stable." Catherine spoke up out of turn.

"How do you know?" Someone close by piped up.

"During the battle, we kept our sensors locked onto the anomaly for any hints or clues as to how it operated. From our analyses, it turns out that it was an artificially generated construct. We think there is some sort of structure on the other side of the rift that has kept it open for the duration. We don't think this was done on accident either. We believe that this was a deliberate--if not calculated--act by outside agencies to gain a foothold into our universe."

There was stunned silence from everyone present. So deafening in fact, that anyone here could hear Stephanie Bakker's PADD drop as it fell out of her hands and hit the carpeted floor.

"That's preposterous!" Another senior captain called out from the other side of the room.

Catherine Hutchinson remained unmoved by the older man's outburst. "Jonathan...trust me. It's not. Everyone here has a copy of our scan data and know the harsh truths to which we now all bear witness towards."

"But scan data has been known to become unreliable in the past." Someone else interjected gently. "Especially when you're under fire and your systems are being taxed to the breaking point."

"Khan didn't engage us as much as he did with the others." The woman said with obvious guilt. "But it didn't mean we didn't try either."

Captain Angela Harrison didn't dispute that statement. "No one's saying otherwise." She said with equal conviction. "In fact, you're being lauded as a hero because of your subsequent actions."

Others nearer to the woman murmured in agreement.

Catherine blushed at the unspoken sentiment. "I don't feel like one. I feel...betrayed by the fact that I couldn't do more to help out."

"You did enough." Michael spoke up with unwavering support. 'You gave everyone valuable time to assess the situation firsthand and then get the hell out while the getting was good."

"Add to the fact that that ship was built with strong indications of both 24th century tech and Borg technology."

"Even though it was a century out of place? The other ships that came through were also 100 years behind us in development as well."

"We disagree." Admiral Karlson smoothly interjected. "This new front as we are calling it came from yet another universe that has similar markers to the original Kelvin timeline, but is more advanced than anything known to our science. In fact, given what you faced last week points to an unsettling reality that we are dealing with something far more dangerous than just a few stray ships from an alternate reality."

More silence from the room.

"An...invasion?" Captain Rudolph Yandel whispered in blind shock. His words set the whole room into motion as everyone started speaking up--many of them voicing their strong disbelief and worry.

Karlson let it go on for a minute or so more, before calling everyone to attention.

"At ease, everyone. Please. I know how this news must be to you, but for us at Starfleet Command, it's serious business. All of which you all signed up for. I do not want to hear doubt or regrets at this point. We all have a job to do. And I expect everyone here to carry it out. As per Command Order #23465, we are at war with whomever is operating this rift from the other side. Pursuant directives will be carried out by the assigned fleet captains in this armada. And I expect everyone here to follow them to the letter. Is this understood?"

Nobody argued that point at all. Everyone held their collective breaths until someone on the other side of the room raised his hand. It was Captain Kevin Dickerson of the USS Victory.

"I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade, but who will be the overall field commander of this little operation?"

Karlson smiled.

"Catherine Hutchinson."

Catherine wore a look of blind astonishment on her face.

"Me...sir?"

Others also traded looks of disbelief within her general proximity.

"But she's just a captain...!" A woman close to Catherine said.

"No longer. Catherine Hutchinson...would you be so kind as to stand for a moment?"

The woman nodded. "Yes, sir."

The older man on the main viewing screen produced an envelope from underneath the pile of folders that sat cluttered on his desk office at Starbase 618. Opening it, he pulled out a letter and read it to the group assembled in front of him.

"By order of Starfleet Command as of Stardate 81287.5, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral. Congratulations."

Catherine Hutchinson felt her heart stop for a moment as this new revelation started to sink in.

"V-Vice Admiral?" She whispered.

The room went silent for a brief moment before a small round of applause broke out. There was some cheering as well.

In the midst of this, her First Officer wore a sharkish grin of his own--knowing what this meant for him personally.

"We're going to need a bigger boat." He quipped.

Emily Pearson shushed him.

"Michael!"

"Well, it's true. I think one of those new Century-class ships that just came out. I would love to command one of those beauties."

"That's not for you to decide." The doctor groused, before everything had a chance to settle down.

"A man can dream can't he?"

***

Artwork by Jetfreak-7.