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Author's Forward: For those who have not read the first three installments: (part 1, part 2, part 3) I can only assume you were either captured and held incommunicado by Orion pirates or were still flogging the Double Plasma Holding Cost. Too Much???? dead horse. Either way you probably now realize the futility of that situation. Well, now you have an opportunity to spend your time much more usefully.
Since we last visited with you, much has happened. {Isn't it annoying how some writers just try to make themselves at home in you mind? They coming visiting at the most unacceptable hour, take over your favorite chair, hog the TV remote and finish off those last two slices of pizza you were going to reheat and eat while watching "Friends".} I had just purchased a Gorn Heavy Battlecruiser, christened the GCS Toga Terrorizer, which is still of course just a cruiser. It's the Gorn equivalent to going to an auto dealer intended to buy the standard model and getting soaked for the undercoating, fancy seat covers, and the fuzzy dice hanging from the mirror.
We have since participated in a number of battles, many of them memorable for the violent weapons exchanges, the dazzling maneuvers by friends and foes alike, and the intensity of the post victory kegger parties afterwards. If there is anything your average Gorn likes more than fighting to the death is endlessly retelling the tale in dimly lit bars to patrons either too scared to run away or blissfully passed out on the floor. Gorns aren't particular about who they talk to, as long as someone else is buying the drinks.
Maybe sometime I will regale the forum with stories of those battles. It just depends on who's buying...
SPOILER ALERT!!!! If you have not played the mission "J'Accuse", you have two choices. One, you can bookmark this web page and come back later after you have completed the mission....
No, I didn't think you could wait. So your second option is to read on, vaguely assured that it is very unlikely that the Captain and crew of the GCS Toga Terrorizer actually completed the battle the way it was meant to be fought.
As usual, the battle described below actually occurred in SFC2 as written. I have only filled in a few of the more personal details that Taldren was unable to include in the game engine. Due to schedule requirements the game had to be finalized before Taldren knew whether or not Joe Liberman would be elected to the post a heartbeat away from the most powerful governmental office on the planet. Taldren knows that Joe has a long, long memory. And he holds grudges.
Let us begin the tale...
"Captain, incoming collect call from High Command. Shall I accept the charges?"
"Damn cheap flag staff! Do they think we are made of credits out here? Well, very good, Gzznttn. Bring it up on the main viewscreen."
"Greetings, Captain. Admiral Tsklwqqln here. I hope your currently voyage is going well? The keggers especially memorable? I certainly hope so, because I am about to order you to undertake a mission from which you have little chance of survival."
The bridge crew was visibly shaken by the Admiral's statement. This was certainly a bad sign since the average Gorn's brain would still be fixated on trying to establish the etymology of the Admiral's name. The second favorite activity for a Gorn, after self-destructive indulgence of course, is establishing the origin of a family name so that genealogy can be established. It can be of vital importance to a Gorn to know if the being next to you in a bar is somehow related, since this can measurably increase the probability of being bought a drink.
"Admiral, please let me switch our conversation to the communications station in my stateroom" I said, although I knew that this would be of little use in keeping the information private. It was probable that the crew had already replaced the listening devices in my stateroom which my personal guard had discovered and removed from there only this morning. Gorns are inquisitive beings, and if they cannot uncover information the old fashion way through intimidation and limited violence they will eventually try something more subtle, although it might be difficult for them to change their habits. The Gorn Intelligence service is rumored to have used truth serum on their tape recorders. It seems that the officers didn't like the story they heard the first time.
"There is no time for that, Captain. We need to contact the Organians, but the ISC is using Caller ID and blocking all our calls. You must go to their home system and contact the Organians directly"
"Sir, isn't it unlikely that the ISC will let us even NEAR Organia, much less contact them?"
The Admiral looked momentarily annoyed. Perhaps he had just been reminded it was his turn to buy the drinks? "Captain, we have already considered that. We have arraigned for an allied ship to assist you in this endeavor." The Admiral's hand quickly moved to his back pocket as he spoke. Yes, it was his turn.
"As much as I admire the Federation" I said, "It's unlikely that offering the ISC discount prices on airline tickets will carry much weight with them."
"Your ally this time will not be from the Federation. It will be a Romulan warship."
Everyone on the bridge of the Toga Terrorizer was stunned into silence. The only movement was the slow swing of the fuzzy dice suspended above the viewscreen.
I pondered this unexpected turn of events for a moment. "Admiral, this is a unexpected turn of events! After the horrors of this war, how can we ever trust the Romulans again? How can they ever trust us again? How, sir," I almost broke down into tears, "How can I ever trust you again, Sir?"
The Admiral appeared to be disturbed by this, but the source of his discomfort was quickly revealed to be a steward who was waiting out of camera range. The admiral briskly motioned the steward over and took a drink from his tray. His smile quickly returned to his face.
"There, there, Captain. Things will turn out all for the best. I'm sure you will meet someone, in time..." The Admiral gazed wistfully for a moment, then the hard steel of his eyes returned. "You have your orders Captain. And one more thing..."
"Yes, Admiral?"
"The code name for this assignment is Operation J'Accuse."
"Come again, sir? J'Accuse? What bearing does an old nineteenth century Earth political dissertation have on this?"
The Admiral smiled. "The rumors have it that Erik Bethke had to do a report on the paper in high school and received a failing grade. It haunts him to this day."
The second half of the final installment will be posted.... soon.