Part One - Returning
York Class Destroyer CSR Corvidae
Zenith Jump Point, Attenbrooks
Deep Periphery
12th August 3052Star Captain Greta Lankenau, commanding officer on board the Corvidae, sat at the desk in her ready room adjacent to the bridge. The stresses of the last few weeks showed clearly in her expression and the dark bags under her eyes attested to a serious lack of sleep. The desk was covered with reports, requisition forms and requests all demanding her attention but she simply sat staring at them like some epiphany was about to reveal itself in their multitude of pages. It never came.
Instead a chime from the door dragged her from her reverie.
“Door openâ€, she intoned and the door to her room obediently slid silently into the bulkhead wall. Beyond it stood Otto, Greta’s executive officer.
“Star Captain, I apologise for the interruption but we have received an HPG transmission from the Home Worlds. Your presence is requested in the briefing room.â€
Greta immediately rose to her feet, thankful for the distraction from her desk. “Of course, Otto.†She stated as she strode towards the door. Otto turned on his heel and they both walked over to the holotank on the bridge.
Her second shift comms officer was already there preparing the message to play. “The signal was weak, Star Captain, as it was transmitted from an unidentified ship and broadcast from the edge of Home Worlds. The image will be scratchy at best.â€
“I will receive this news however it looks. I trust you to do your best.†Greta responded.
The comms officer nodded and pushed the button to play the message. Within the holotank the shape of a man coalesced.
“
To whomever receives this message, I am Star Captain Verne, formerly of Clan Cloud Cobra. I must keep this short as we will soon return to the cluster to continue the fight. We are not many but we survive; on Albion, on Tokasha, on Strato Domingo and others. The enemy continues to gain ground but we have fought back and we have won some victories. The creatures, these Daleks, they are not invincible. We can defeat them but we need all the Clans to return. Bring your warriors and help us take the fight back to our mutual enemy. No one Clan remains in the Pentagon or cluster worlds, we are now united. This may seem strange but it was borne of necessity to survive. We are one; we are Clan. Come back to your brethren and take back what is ours.â€
The already grainy and distorted image waivered and threatened to cut out entirely.
“
The Soc…..come you. They h…lan to def…rus.â€
The image dropped away leaving the holotank dark and silent. Greta stood for a moment, lost in thought.
“What if we can save them? What if we can save the homes that our Great Father delivered us to? Do we not owe it to His memory to try?â€
Otto rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “We should present a case before Khan McKenna, Star Captain.â€
“Yes, of course. The advance fleet is at Transfer Station P3. Message ahead and ask Khan McKenna for a meeting there. We will jump as soon as we are at full charge.â€
“Aye sir.†Otto responded and immediately moved off towards the comm station.
Potemkin Class Cruiser CSR Eden Rose
Nadir Jump Point, Transfer Station P3
Deep Periphery
13th August 3052Of the two figures standing awaiting Greta’s entrance, it was the second which made her nervous. She had known Star Admiral Asif Cole for a number of years now as he commanded the former Lum garrison fleet of which her ship had been a part. The imposing figure of Khan Lynn McKenna was a different story.
Star Admiral Cole greeted Greta as she entered and indicated a seat for her to take. Khan McKenna took a seat at the briefing room table directly opposite wearing a concerned look on her face. She opened the dialogue.
“We will make a start,†she stated as Asif took a seat beside her. “Star Captain, we received your relayed message with some interest but, frankly, it was your request that has me concerned. Why would you want to return to the Home Worlds knowing that death likely awaits you?â€
Greta inwardly calmed herself as she formulated her reply.
“Khan McKenna, the message we received proves that there are survivors in the Home Worlds. They have not yet fallen. This Star Captain Verne stated that the fight goes on and that they have won some victories. I feel it is our duty to go back and support our Clansmen. We may yet tip the balance.â€
“You may not.â€
Greta bowed her head for a moment. “You are right, my Khan. It may be a fool’s errand that leads to my death…â€
“And that of your entire crew.†McKenna interrupted.
“Yes, my Khan, and my crew, but is that any reason to abandon fellow warriors in their hour of need? We are all Clan, regardless of which Clan we serve. In our history we have only ever truly been united once, during Operation Klondike and the retaking of the Pentagon Cluster against a common foe. Now we have that chance again, to stand shoulder to shoulder against an enemy who would see our way of life destroyed and to fight to keep the Way of the Clans alive. My crew know where this course of action could lead and they are all prepared to accept their fate if it means we could save the worlds that the great Kerensky found for us.â€
Greta realised her voice was rising so paused to calm herself. In that moment her Khan once again spoke.
“You can certainly deliver an impassioned speech, Star Captain Lankenau. Bargained well and done. If you survive your upcoming ordeal you may make a good Khan one day.†Lynn McKenna smiled.
“Thank you, my Khan,†Great bowed her head briefly then raised it with a surprised look on her face as the reality sank in. “Upcoming ordeal…â€
Lynn McKenna rose from her seat. “You may take the Corvidae and all she carries, two Clusters I believe, and return to the Home Worlds. You have my authority to do whatever is necessary to bring our enemy down, if that is possible, but if the situation appears irreversible… if our Home Worlds are indeed lost to us… you will make best speed to re-join the exodus fleet. Is that understood?â€
Greta rose and saluted her Khan. “Aff, Khan McKenna. I vow it on my Bloodname.â€
McKenna nodded, satisfied with her Star Captain’s answer. “Then you are dismissed. Make whatever preparations you need and depart as soon as you and your crew are ready.â€