"No, no, no, Aaron. I'm telling you, that if Patton had been alive during America's civil war, there is no chance that Robert E. Lee would have been able to get even close to Gettysburg." Tac Wilson said.
Peterson replied, "True, but it would have been a good fight. What if they were either on the same side, or going head to head at the Alamo?"
"Well, I think that..." Tac was interrupted by the intercom.
"Grasmick to all senior officers, report to the observation lounge." Captain Grasmick said over the intercom.
"I wonder what the old man wants now." Tac said.
"I don't know," Peterson said, "but he sounded pissed."

"Three million people. THREE MILLION DAMN PEOPLE! The Dominion won't get away with it this time." Grasmick said.
Tac and Peterson walked in and sat down. Peterson asked, "What happened?"
"The Dominion attacked the Federation colony on Stewert IV. Killed all three million inhabitants." Grasmick said.
"Bridge to Captain Grasmick," Ensign Tobin said, "Admiral Bennett for you on subspace."
"Patch it through in here," Grasmick said, "What do you want me to do, Bob?"
Bennett looked stunned, "You must be able to read my mind. I'm putting you in charge of the operation."
"How so?"
"Total. Now you get to build that mammoth fleet you always dreamed about when you were a kid. Have your fleet reandeavouz at Starbase 639. Bennett out."

By the next morning, the Sovereign was well on its way to Starbase 639. Grasmick was briefing Ryan in the observation lounge, "So far, I've got 400 available Starfleet ships, I've got 300 ships courtesy of General Martok and the Klingons, and the Romulans are bringing 290 ships. That's not even the half of it."
Commander Ryan asked, "What is the other half?"
"10 fighter squadrons, plus somthing special. Starfleet is sending in 7 ships from the Zetan National Guard."
"Only 7 ships?"
"Yep, only 7, but we aren't talking small ships. They are sending in the supercrusier, five battleships, and a dreadnought."
"Oh shit, boss, the supercrusier?"
"Yes, Alex, the supercrusier."
"You must be truly angered by the attack.
Grasmick gave Ryan an evil look, "Oh?"

The space around Starbase 639 was beginning to get crowded. "Mystic to Sovereign, we're here." Grasmick heard a familiar voice from the Mystic.
"Glad you could be with us Captain Schleicher. Grasmick out." Grasmick was also relieved to have his friend's ship in his fleet.

"Ok, all Federation, Klingon, and most of the Romulans are here. When can we expect to go beat the royal tar out of the Jemmies?" Ryan was getting anxious to go.
"When it is time, Alex. First we," Grasmick was interrupted by the doorbell, "Enter." General Martok, Captain Schleicher, and Romulan General Cereus walked in the room.
"Gentlemen, please come in! I've asked you three here to discuss tactical strategy. Now, do you three think that if we..." General Cereus interupted Grasmick.
"Enough of this 'discussion', let us come to the point. If we are to defeat this large Dominion fleet, we should leave to hunt it immediately."
Grasmick had to chuckle a little bit, "Clint, explain to General Cereus why it is a bad idea to interupt me."
Captain Schleicher turned toward Cereus, "Don't do it."
"Come, come, Captain Grasmick, has it gotten so bad for you that you need to have your friends do your dirty work?" General Cereus was a rather devious man.
"Heh, heh, heh. General," Gramick then grabbed Cereus and slammed him up against the observation room's wall, "if you talk like that to me again, next time I'll use a phaser."
"Romulans, you fight without honor." Martok said.
"Thank you, General, " Grasmick said as he set down Cereus, "Now, who would like to discuss strategy?"

"Admiral, we deceided to have half of the Klingon and Romulan ships cloaked at one time. That way we can scare the crap out of the Jemmies when they decloak out of no where." Gramick was breifing Admiral Bennett.
"Sounds good, kid. One more thing, try not to start an incident with the Romulans."
"You heard about me and Cereus?"
"The whole Starfleet knows. Stay out of troble, Bennett out."
Grasmick thought to himself for a minute, then said to himself, "God help us."
The doorbell to his ready room chirped, "Enter." Captain Schleicher walked in.
"Hey, Clint. Have a sit down." Grasmick said.
"Let me ask you a question. How is it that you managed to get the supercrusier from the Zetan National Guard, AND the Avalon and the Odyssey? The supercrusier I can understand, but those two Sovereign-class ships? That I don't get." Schleicher said in an inquisitive tone.
"Well, I did it in much the same way I got about everything back when we were in school. I was damn lucky."

The fleet was beginning to fall into formation. The word finally came down from Captain Schleicher, "Mystic to Sovereign, my division is in position."
"Thank you, Captain Schleicher. Sovereign to all ships, prepare to depart. Set course for the Stewart system." Grasmick said.
"All ships are in position, Captain." Ryan said.
"Thanks, Alex," Grasmick said, "Alright people," Grasmick was saying to the bridge crew, "it is custom for a starship captain to give a little inspirational speech before leading the ship into battle. Well I wish Bennett was here, because I'd like to hear it, too. I've only got a few words to say," Grasmick then looked up, "Almighty God, protect us from the Dominion, and protect us as we defend the Federation, Amen. End of speech, let's go to work people."
"Course set for the Stewart system, sir." Ensign Tobin said.
"Sovereign to all ships," Grasmick said, "follow us," Grasmick looked at Ensign Tobin, "Engage."
The Sovereign and the rest of Grasmick's fleet all jumped into warp.

It took a day and a half to get to the Stewart system, and space around the planet began to get crowded. "I don't get it. Why the hell would the Dominion just attack the planet and run?" Tac asked.
"Hit and run, a classic maneauver," Grasmick said, "That is, they just wanted to kill everyone and get the hell out of here or they wanted to kill everyone and set a trap."
"But the Dominion isn't supposed to have cloaking technology." General Martok said.
Grasmick replied, " 'Supposed to' it the key phrase there, but that isn't the only way to set a trap. What is your opinon, General Cereus?"
"They may be trying to lead us somewhere." Cereus replied.
"That may be true, but logic suggests that the best way to set a trap is to have your prey go to one location where you lure it to," Tumok said, "However, it is possible that the Dominion did set a complex trap, just attacked only this planet, or are in hiding nearby. We did detect a set of energy signatures that were 'facing' in a logical direction for an escape path."
Grasmick said, "Tumok, those were heading toward Breen space. The Breen aren't involved in this war."
"Yet." Captain Schleicher said.
"You may have something there, Clint, but that brings up another question. Why the hell would the Dominion attack the Breen? They are in no conditon to fight the Federation, the Klingon's, and the Romulan's," Grasmick replied, "but that is where we will begin looking. What is the nearest class M planet close to the Breen border that would seem to follow those energy signatures?"
Tumok replied, "JJ11389."
Grasmick said, "Oh great, a planet with a designation. Gentleman, get back to your ships and set course for JJ11389."

Grasmick looked sat alone in the Sovereign's obeservation lounge. "What do I do now?" He thought. He then looked at the display of models of ships of previous starships Sovereign, until he came to the Excelsior-class. Grasmick said to himself reading a description under the model, "USS Sovereign NCC-2798, Excelsior-class, fought and died valiantly during the Cardassian War." He was then interpupted by the intercom.
"Bridge to Captain, we are approaching JJ11389." Commander Ryan said.
"I'm on my way."

Grasmick sat down in his seat on the bridge. "Slow to impulse. Signal the fleet to do the same."
The Sovereign and Grasmick's fleet dropped to impulse, and instantly everyone was shocked.
"What the hell?" Grasmick said. He and everyone else in the fleet were farther from the planet then they thought, and staring at a Dominion fleet.
"And a trap it is, Captain. I count at least 1,600 ships, including one of those that make a ship drop out of warp." Tac said.
"Signal the fleet to engage, and tell them not to stop moving until we break through the other side. Now might be a good time to have our cloaked Klingon and Romulan friends to decloak as well."

"SIR, JEM'HADAR CRUSIER DEAD AHEAD!" Tobin said.
"TAC, THROW A TRI-COBALT BARRAGE AT 'EM!" Grasmick ordered.
"FIRING, DIRECT HIT, THAT SHIP IS GONE!" Tac said.
The Sovereign and the rest of Grasmick's fleet was getting hit, and getting hit hard, but not without taking some Jem'Hadar ships down with them.
"Captain, we've lost at least 40 of our own ships, the Klingons have lost about 50, and the Romulans losses are still being calculated. Our Zetan ships are the only ones with minimal damage, they've also taken out 150 ships on their own so far, with the Y'nir Ra'min responsible for 90% of that." Ryan said.
"Thanks for the info, Alex. Damage report, Tumok?" Grasmick said.
Tumok replied, "We have a hull breach on the port side, decks 21 and 22. We are still dumping drive plasma to keep the warp drive from blowing itself apart."
"CAPTAIN! The Mystic, the Avalon, fighter squadrons 1 and 6, and us are about to make it through the Dominion fleet!" Tobin said.
"Tell the Mystic and Avalon to keep the Dominion fleet from pursuing us and help other ships make it through. Tell those fighter squadrons to assist." Grasmick said.
"Aye, sir." Ryan said.
"Now, don't stop until we get to that planet." Grasmick said.

Five minutes later, the Sovereign was at the planet. "Captain, you are being hailed by name." Tac said.
Grasmick said, "Open a channel."
Tac said, "Channel open."
Grasmick said, "This is Captain Brandon Grasmick of the Federation starship..." Grasmick was interrupted by the Vorta who was calling him.
"Captain Brandon Melvin Grasmick; commanding officer of USS Sovereign, registry NX-74222. I know who you are and about you, quite well. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Treyon. Specifically, Treyon 7. You have been responsible for the death of two of my predecessors. How is it that a certain Klingon general named Chang quoting your Earth's Shakespeare put it, 'To be, or not to be?' " The video went dead, but the audio stayed on so Treyon could speak over a one-way communication line.
"Tac, where is Treyon's ship?" Grasmick asked.
Tac replied, "I don't know, but he did mention General Chang, a man I believe you hate for trying to kill Captain Kirk with a spruced up Bird of Prey with that funky cloaking device."
"Did you say funky cloaking device, Tac?" Grasmick asked, "I do believe that at least one Dominion ship has a cloaking device."
Just then, a torpedo was fired at the Sovereign, coming from out of no where, and hit the ship on the underside of the saucer section.

To be continued...