Resignation Letter [Part 9] - Final Stamp

Posted on Fri Oct 18th, 2024 @ 1:00pm by Lieutenant JG Zai & Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami

1,216 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well
Location: In the Vastness of Space
Timeline: --- The Past ---

ON:

“Captain, the Keldar is coming on sensor mode. They are transmitting the correct code.”

“Good. Set course for intercept. The quicker we get out of Federation space the better and if there is two of us… all the better if battle is necessary.”

The ships sailed towards one another. Both war birds edging closer and anticipating the moment of meeting but for different reasons.

In five hours both ships called all stop and the two birds faced one another.

“Captain. The Keldar is hailing us.”

“On screen.” The Klingon logo shifted and turned but the face that greeted the Captain and Bridge crew of the Klingon ship that had just let Adrianna Baciami escape was not that of a Klingon. Instead a pair of bright lavender eyes greeted them. Long black hair hung in an over shoulder ponytail. The man seated in the captain’s chair stood.

“Captain Korag it is a pleasure to meet you.”

“Who the hell are you and why are you on a Klingon ship.”

The man with the lavender eye shrugged. “As if it is hard to obtain one. There are many arriving on Capella and many more in the system. As to who I am my name is Xingtian an ally from Capella, we were sent to help you escape. Did you get Baciami?” He knew full well that she’d escaped but he had to play his cards right if he wanted to get Vance out.

“How do I know you are an ally?”

“We’re transmitting orders from the high council now.” They were fake, of course, but good enough to fool these idiots. “Tell me you at least saved the General.”

“The General is here. Hold.”

Xingtian walked back to his seat and sat down as Korag muted the call. Within minutes the dumb Klingon was back. “Verified. We need to leave this space. Starfleet is on the way.”

“Understood. Before we do I am told you have a Mr. Vance Adams there.”

“He is…our guest.”

Xingtian smiled. “I’m sure. Along with the orders you received you will see that the high council wants him alive. I have doctors here that can tend to Capellan Physiology that is why I am here to ensure he reaches the high council still alive, what happens after…is up to them.”

Korag smiled. “Well he did help the female escape."

“I see. Disappointing but we’ll get her back.” Xingtian held in the sigh of relief. To Vance Baciami was important and he’d promised if something went wrong he’d get her out. This little trip was a backup plan Vance had in his pocket.

“Prepare to transport the prisoner with two of your finest guards to our med bay.”

“Understood. Korag out.”

Xingtian did finally let out the sigh. The two guards were Klingons he'd bribed. They worked for him so getting them back was priority too. He turned to Ace and Tolek, the Vulcan tactical officer he’d been working with on his side mission for years. “Prepare the sickbay and the doctors. As soon as their shields are down cut our transporters and tell them they will be operational in a few moments we are having issues. You have five minutes to get the files. Can you do it?”

Tolek gave a nod. “Yes. Our … friend on their ship is ready. He’ll get them and transport back while we’re getting Vance.”

The whole thing took several minutes to set up but the plan seemed to flow smoothly. Within ten minutes Xingtian watched Vance materialize onto the transporter pad. “Now! Shields up and fire on the other ship. I want them destroyed!”

There was a loud hum as the shields engaged and a thumping noise as the phasers fired. The ship lurched into motion and was in warp before the other ship fully disintegrated.

Xingtian was on his knees by Vance’s side. “Vance…can you hear me?”

“Zee…make sure,”

“Don’t talk.” He used his sleeve to wipe the blood that trickled from his friends mouth.

“Make sure Adri is alright. Protect her.”

“A promise I give you. Now Silence. The doctors will take care of you.”

Xingtian watched as the medical team took over. “Set course for the Tricari moon we’ll switch ships there and drop Vance off with their medical staff. They are the best. Get the information ready to send to Starfleet and the video of the ship being destroyed. Confirm the general is no more an issue and ensure they can’t trace it to us."

Tolek gave a nod. "I never thought I'd see the day of you playing the Hero." The Vulcan kept Zee's gaze. "Also keep in mind that we have three days until we must be back at Vulcan.”

“Yes yes, my ship will be back to pick me up and I shall be under Fang’s watchful gaze. Hurry up. Max warp.”

“What about Baciami?” Tolek asked.

“The Denobulans have confirmed she never made rendezvous. She was picked up by Starfleet. Ship was September or something. She’s safe now. Let’s get Vance taken care of first we’ll worry about other things later.



A Few Days Later…


The coms rang on the September with a message waiting for Adri to pick up. It was Dugger Hanson a friend of hers at Starfleet Intel with an unusual update.

Adrianna had managed to make it home to Rome. Her flat still in one piece. She'd been grieving Vance, only telling her mum the full story. Her mum had been nothing but apologetic, but in truth, Adrianna only said she was in Starfleet, she never said what division. They could never have known. It had helped a little though. Adrianna flicked through a few journals that she had retrieved from Vance's place. It wasn't much, but there were a few entries about her which had made her smile. She was digitizing them and encrypting them-- for her eyes only, before destroying them.

"Ciao Dugger," she simply answered the call, although quickly switched to standard, "hi, what can I do for you?"

"Got news on that Klingon you help rescue sort of."

Adrianna kept a poker face, although inside she felt hopeful of Vance surviving. She nodded for him to continue.

"Short of it is they met another Klingon vessel shortly after you left and the other Klingon vessel, after a bit of time destroyed them." He shrugged.

"Sorry, say again?" Her stomach dropped.

"The Klingons you were with were destroyed by another Klingon cruiser." He scratched his head. "Not sure why but hey it was helpful to us. We also got some good data from that...it mysteriously showed up in our system but hey it was helpful." He smiled. "Thought you would want to know."

Adrianna nodded silently, "thanks for letting me know. I'll be reporting to San Fran next week, so we'll do coffee. Oh, got to go. Sorry. Bye." She quickly ended the call. She picked up a mug that she had been holding and launched it across the room in a mixture of emotions, mainly anger and despair.

There it was: the answer. There was no way Vance had survived.

Her love was dead.


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