Subject: SO: Fearless/Hello and Goodbye
Lt. Sholek
Stardate 9804.15
Mess Hall
"Sholek," Ensign Bradley began, "I'm curious. How did you gain the position
of Commander? I don't think you've ever told me, but you have indicated that
it occurred when you were young."
"Indeed, it did," he replied. "It began when I was almost 33. I was the chief
Engineer aboard the Tragor. We were ordered to locate a renegade bird-of-prey.
"We approached the Credian system. Based on information we had obtained, this
was the location they were hiding at. The only habitable planet in the system
was barren. As I scanned the planet, I noticed a slight sensor distortion away
from the planet. It was the renegade ship.
"What's its position, Sholek?" Commander Lemor asked.
"Heading 341.6," I answered.
"What's its status?" he asked.
I quickly answered," It is moving out of the system at impulse. It's probably
trying to get far enough away so that we would not detect it going to warp."
"Are they within weapons range?"
"No, sir. Actually, they are almost far enough away to go to warp."
"Set course away from them, then go to warp," he ordered. "We'll then
activate the cloaking devise and come around and follow them."
So we headed to warp, after which we turned around and followed the renegade ship.
As we approached them, they headed to warp. We stayed far enough behind them
to avoid being detected by their less advanced sensors.
They headed for a sector near the Romulan/Klingon border. The commander
figured the renegades were working for the Klingons. He had sent a request for
reinforcements, but as far away as we were, we knew none would arrive in time
to stop the renegades.
Eventually, they stopped less than a light year from the border. There was a
nebula nearby. It was probably the best place to set up a base between the two
empires. It made sense that they entered the nebula.
The commander assumed that, since our sensors were more accurate then theirs,
we would have an advantage over them. He assumed wrong. Their sensors were
quite superior and they had detected us back in the Credian system and had
lured us out here.
Entering the nebula, we were forced to decloak. The renegades moved out of
sensor range. Therefor, we followed their impulse plasma trail. They had back
tracked and were following us as we looked for them.
The first shot came as a surprise. The cloaking devise was damaged. The
bridge exploded in sparks. The commander and Centurion were both killed. So I took over.
"Return fire," I ordered. The blast did some damage to their bird, enough to
allow us to get out of the nebula.
We saw them leave and cloak. The distortion I detected was gone. Obviously,
they had purposely set up the distortion to make us follow them.
I knew that they had an advantage. If they closed in on our side, we would be
unable to fire on them before they fired and recloaked. Our shields had also been damaged.
Then it occurred to me. In order to bend light around the ship, the cloaking
devise uses a strong gravitational force. Normally, we don't, scan for that.
Being too close to a star would make it impossible to detect anything any
ways. But we were far from any star and the nebula could be corrected for.
We detected the gravitational force, just as I had hoped.
"Fire," I said.
The ship was totally obliterated. We set course for the nearest base.
"It didn't take long after that for me to be given my own command," Sholek concluded.
============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Fearless
Stardate 9804.17
Vehakra and Dyer had enjoyed a pleasant meal on the holodeck that evening,
then went for a walk in a holographically recreated version of a place on
Earth Dyer recommended called The San Antonio Riverwalk. It was a canal
through downtown San Antonio, with boat rides for visitors, riverside market
stands and lots of beautiful lights at night...which was the time of day the
program was set for.
After a stroll along the beautiful river for awhile, they boarded a boat
and the driver took them on a slow, meadering ride along the gentle river
waters through the city in southern Texas.
"This is really nice," Vehakra admitted. "This was a great idea, commander."
"Call me Mike," he said. "Commander is way too formal for a date."
Vehakra blushed a little, "Sorry. I think you've told me that several times tonight."
"So, when are you going to show me some of the places from your
homeworld?" Dyer asked, looking up at the holographic star-filled sky.
Veh looked down and shook her head, "I'm sorry. I can't think of any place
on Orion Prime I'd ever want to see again."
"No," he admitted. "I guess not. Stupid idea."
"Don't worry about it," she said, waving him off. "I wish I had a
homeworld I could be as proud of as you are of Earth. But unfortunately I
don't. My homeworld represents pain, and fear and slavery. That is all it will
ever mean to me."
"It's OK," he said. "Think of Earth as your home now."
Veh smiled, "Believe me, Michael, I do. Or at least I'm trying to. As I
learn more about it I think of it as a very nice place to live."
"I hate to ask, but this thing hanging over your head from your slave
life," Dyer said. "Do you suppose it will end anytime soon?"
"Not until either Captain Gortak is dead," she commented. "Or I'm dead or
recaptured. I can only hide from this thing for so long. You're the first guy
I've been out with in three years. I dated a little in the Academy, but I was
so afraid of males back then that I couldn't really get too close to a man. I
dated one guy on the Victory for awhile, and it was working out pretty good,
then he dumped me when his ex-girlfriend got assigned to the ship. That was a
major setback for me. It took me awhile to trust men, then he turned around
and pulled that.
"So, I hope this price on my head thing isn't going to be a problem for
you, Mike," Veh added. "Because if it is, then maybe we shouldn't let this
progress any farther?"
She then awaited a reply...
============================================================
Captain Sortha
Ready Room
Stardate 9804.18
Sortha was in his office reading over the team's reports and was thinking
about his meeting a few hours earlier with Captain Ben Sisko of the Defiant.
The Defiant had rendezvoused with the Fearless long enough for Sisko to come
aboard and take possession of the Orb.
Before he left, Sisko told Sortha things were about to heat up in the war
and he hoped the Federation would soon have a victory it could be proud of. To
Sortha, Sisko's words sounded as if he was talking about an attack to retake DS9.
He had wished Sisko good luck and the captain left. They were now waiting
for the supply ship Bantic to arrive and drop off Lt. T'Reija...the newest
officer to join the Fearless.
As they waited, the door chime sounded to Sortha's office. The big Gorn
looked up and said, "Enter."
Dr. Cassandra Ming, the chief medical officer for the Fearless, and Lt.
Commander Ki'lal entered. From the looks on both their face, it didn't look good.
"What can I do for you, doctor?" Sortha asked. "And Commander?"
"I've just finished a complete examination of Ki'lal, and I'm sorry to
report his K'Vak Syndrome has worsened," Ming reported, looking at the rigid,
stone faced Klingon. "I am recommending Lt. Commander Ki'lal return to Qo'noS
and seek medical attention there. I have consulted the Kolonek Institute, a
facility on the Klingon homeworld that deals with genetic diseases, and
doctors there say they will try to help him."
"I also consulted Lt. Commander Worf and he has given me leads to follow
about other blood relatives in our family I may be able to seek a DNA sample
from for the resequencing," Ki'lal said, his injured pride obvious. "So I am
here to request a medical leave of absence."
Sortha nodded, "Of courssse. Take whatever time you need. But I musst
assk, commander, what will you do if there isss no cure?"
"The Kolonek Institute will offer me other option once it is obvious I am
beyond help," Ki'lal said. "Including the Mok'tovbar Ritual."
Sortha growled a little, "Ssuicide."
"As a last resort," Ki'lal said. "I will not allow myself to become a
vegetable. I would rather die with honor."
"I wissh you the besst of luck, commander," the huge reptillian Gorn said.
"If there isss anything I can do, jusst ssay it."
"Thank you sir," Ki'lal said. "I will depart on the Bantic after it drops
off Lt. T'Reija. This will be within the hour. The vessel is bound for Outpost
45, where I will arrange passage to Klingon space. Also sir, I would ask that
you not inform the crew in advance. I do not want them to become...emotional
or setimental."
"Very well," Sortha said. "Quapla!"
"Quapla!" Ki'lal replied. He and Ming then stood and left the ready room.
Shortly thereafter, word came from the bridge that the Bantic had arrived,
and Lt. T'Reija was ready to beam over...
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/New Orders
Lieutenant T'Reija
Transporter Room, USS Bantic
Stardate 9804.19
"Live long and prosper, T'Reija," the commander of the Bantic said in a solemn
voice, but with a grin. "And thanks for some VERY interesting matches of tennis."
The captain, a dark-haired human with a little grey streak, was a talented player
and T'Reija had never tried this game before, so at first, she had lost all the
time. But her opposite was after all older (not in years, but his lifespan in
comparison to hers), so at the end, she won nearly every match. Perhaps a human
would have let the captain win on purpose from time to time, a Vulcan (especially
this Vulcan) didn't.
"Live long and prosper, Captain Finnigan."
A moment later the room faded away...
Seconds later, aboard the USS Fearless...
As she stepped of the platform T'Reija caught sight of a huge Gorn entering
the room, her new captain.
"Lieutenant T'Reija reports for duty, sir."
"Acknowledged," Captain Sortha replied. "Ensssign, pleassse ssshow our new
crew-member to her quartersss," he instructed a young woman wearing a security
uniform who stood in the doorway.
"Yes, sir. Lieutenant, would you please follow me?"
If she was a human, T'Reija would possibly find it amusing how similar
these phrases always were. As it was, she just took her suitcase and walked
beside the Asian, who was no more than 20 or 21 years old.
The quarters seemed rather comfortable and roomy, especially when she
thought back to only a few days ago, as she had shared a room with three other
people in training.
Later she would have a talk with Sortha, but for now T'Reija was quite
satisfied with an ultrasonic shower and some minutes of rest...
============================================================
Captain Sortha
Bridge
Stardate 9804.19
As Sortha stepped off the lift, onto the bridge, after greeting T'Reija in
the transporter room, he was greeted by Lt. Commander Tyrian Summers who had
been seated in the captain's chair.
"Sir," Summers said. "We just received a priority one message from
Starfleet Command. Our orders have changed. We are to proceed to Earth at
maximum warp. We will be picking up passengers approximately 12 hours after we
arrive. No further details were offered. Starfleet Intelligence will provide
further information upon our arrival."
Sortha snorted. This certainly meant the Fearless would not takepart in
whatever offensive was being planned from Starbase 375. Too bad, he thought,
he was beginning to enjoy destroying Jem'Hadar ships.
"Very well," Sortha said. "Lay in a course for Earth, maximum warp. Engage."
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Bound for Earth
Captain Sortha
USS Fearless
Stardate 9804.20
As the starfield blazed past majestically on the viewscreen in front of him
Sortha enjoyed the feel of the Fearless at maximum warp. Unlike the large
Galaxy class ships which always had an ethereal floating feel to them, the
Fearless gave its crew slight but perceptable feedback. Right now at maximum
warp Sortha could feel the resonance of the warp engines through the deck
plates. It was slight, but if one concentrated....
Yes he definitely liked this ship, and, he was getting used to its cloaking
(both normal and phased) abilities. He had had to develop some new strategies
from the frontal attack tactics that the Gorn fleet usually employed, but he,
as his father before him, took a wider view than standard tactical doctrine.
His father had been defeated many years ago by a devilishly cunning human
adversary, back before the Federation and the Gorn Hegemony had become allies.
His father had been spared by that human and consequently had gone on to
become quite an expert on the human culture and military tactics, studying all
about James T. Kirk, Captain Garth, Colonel Green, Patton, Napoleon, Tokugawa,
Caesar, Sun Tzu.
The humans, for such a pacifist race, had a great military background.
It was a natural that Sortha had volunteered to be among the first of five
Gorn exchange officers with Starfleet. Now over five years later he was the
only one left. His rapid promotions had been a source of discussion and pride
among the Gorn homeworlds, and had most likely kept him from being recalled
back to Gorn Fleet service.
It was unusual for a ship such as the Fearless to be recalled at such a
critical time during the war with the Dominion. Sortha could only imagine
what dire mission could be the cause. He was disappointed he would miss the
battle to retake DS9....it will be glorious he thought. The Fearless
continued its headlong dash back to the Sol system...Earth.
============================================================
Commander Michael Dyer & Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Fearless
Stardate 9804.17
Vehakra and Dyer had enjoyed a pleasant meal on the holodeck that
evening, then went for a walk in a holographically recreated version of
a place on Earth Dyer recommended called The San Antonio Riverwalk. It
was a canal through downtown San Antonio, with boat rides for visitors,
riverside market stands and lots of beautiful lights at night...which
was the time of day the program was set for.
After a stroll along the beautiful river for awhile, they boarded a
boat and the driver took them on a slow, meandering ride along the
gentle river waters through the city in southern Texas.
"This is really nice," Vehakra admitted. "This was a great idea, commander."
"Call me Mike," he said. "Commander is way too formal for a date."
Vehakra blushed a little, "Sorry. I think you've told me that
several times tonight."
They talked for a long time and eventually the topic of Veh's days
as an Orion slave girl. Dyer was well aware of the brutality some of
those girls were forced to put up with, and should have known better
than to bring up Orion Prime, but he wasn't one for tiptoeing around
painful subjects. Better to be open an honest about them, especially if
he wanted a relationship with this woman.
"I hate to ask, but this thing hanging over your head from your
slave life," Dyer said. "Do you suppose it will end anytime soon?"
"Not until either Captain Gortak is dead," she commented. "Or I'm
dead or recaptured. I can only hide from this thing for so long. You're
the first guy I've been out with in three years. I dated a little in the
Academy, but I was so afraid of males back then that I couldn't really
get too close to a man. I dated one guy on the Victory for awhile, and
it was working out pretty good, then he dumped me when his ex-girlfriend
got assigned to the ship. That was a
major setback for me. It took me awhile to trust men, then he turned
around and pulled that.
"So, I hope this price on my head thing isn't going to be a problem
for you, Mike," Veh added. "Because if it is, then maybe we shouldn't
let this progress any farther?"
Veh then turned silent and looked off to the houses along the shore
of the river.
Dyer was surprised by her bluntness. But he would not be discouraged
that easily.
He slid off of the seat beside Veh, and moved to a crouched position
in front of her. He reached out and took both her hands in both of his.
"Nothing from your past is going to scare me away." He looked her
deep in the eyes, and continued. "I have had a wonderful time with you
tonight. You're fun to be with, fun to talk to, fun to work out with,
not to mention the fact that I find you incredibly attractive.
"I don't care if you were one of Gortak's slaves last week, I still
want to be close to you and have you in my life."
He sat and regarded her for a minute, and she looked right back at
him. Dyer then leaned forward slightly, and kissed her.
They held that kiss for what seemed like an eternity until it was
over, and then it hadn't been long enough for Dyer. He resumed his seat
beside her and they continued to talk and laugh together along that
river in Texas for hours.
============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Fearless
Stardate 9804.21
Vehakra woke up in her quarters and smiled. Her date with Commander Dyer
the night before had been great. For the first time in a long time she had
awakened and felt truly glad to be alive.
The Orion woman showered and dressed. Back in her uniform again after
wearing civilian clothes on the last mission, she adjusted the tight-fitting
outfit and then headed off to the bridge.
According to the computer, just before she left her quarters, Veh noticed
the Fearless was headed to Earth. This was nice, she thought. Even if they
were only spending a day or two there, it might give people like Tyrian
Summers, who had a wife and child on Earth, time to visit.
Veh was soon on the bridge and there she found Captain Sortha and
Commander Dyer showing a new officer around. She was Vulcan and Veh realized
she was Lt. T'Reija, the newest addition to the team. She had already been
introduced to the captain and commander, then to Lt. Commander Summers, Ensign
Marcus, Lt. Sholek, Lt. Brynaziir and finally they got around to Vehakra, who
was at ops and Lt. Ian Quilman, who sat beside her at the helm controls.
"Lt. T'reija," Sortha said, "Meet Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal. Our
operations officer."
Veh extended a hand to the Vulcan. "Nice to meet you."
"Likewise," T'Reija said.
"This is Lt. Ian Quilman," Veh said, motioning to Ian at the conn.
The two exchanged greetings and T'Reija finally turned to the
captain,"Where will I be posted, sir?"
"Actually," the Gorn captain began. "With Ki'lal's departure, I'll need to
do ssome ressshuffling of the crew. For now, you may assist Lt. Brynaziir in
security. I will decide on a permanent posst for you when we reach Earth."
"Very well," the Vulcan said.
"Hey," Veh said as T'Reija turned to leave. "If you aren';t doing anything
this afternoon, we could get some lunch in the Officer's Lounge. Let me know."
T'Reija nodded and went to report to Brynaziir, who was acting security
chief in Ki'lal's absence.
Veh smiled, glad there was another woman aboard. She then glanced at Mike
Dyer and gave him a faint smile, just so he knew she was thinking about him.
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Heading to Earth
Ensign Jamie T. Marcus
USS Fearless
Stardate 9804.23
Ensign Jamie Marcus sat at her station on the bridge. Off-handedly she
noticed the smile Lieutenant Commander Rhikal gave Commander Dyer. She
noticed that the two of them had been spending quite a bit of time together
lately. Jamie had received a number of offers from other crewmembers for
dates but had declined them all. She had a career to worry about and she
wasn't going to get sidetracked by any mere relationship.
============================================================
Lieutenant T'Reija
USS Fearless
Stardate 9804.23
T'Reija had just been told everything she had to know about security aboard this
ship by Lt. Brynaziir for as long as she would assist him. For her, any duty
was okay, as long as she could serve the Fearless, its crew and the federation.
So, after this had been cleared, she went over to Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal's
station.
"Commander? As I could see from the schedule, both our shifts are now
over. If I may come back to your offer of sharing meal at the lounge, we
could go now, unless you have made other plans in the meantime."
Vehakra stood up almost immediately, a lieutenant JG taking her place, and
they left the bridge together.
Standing next to Vehakra in the turbo lift, T'Reija noticed that she, like
it was told of females of her race, was incredibly attractive, and she had no doubt
that a lot of young men on the ship thought that way too... but probably from a
different sight of view.
The two women began to chat a little, and even T'Reija, who normally was
very brief with words in the typical Vulcan way, enjoyed the conversation,
which they continued in the Offices lounge.
At first, T'Reija spoke about her training, her teammates who had all been
assigned to other places, and even her family back on Vulcan, a topic she
normally avoided.
Since she had ended her promising career as a scientist, their relationship had
become somehow frosty, especially with her father, Shirak. But on the other
hand, a Vulcan relationship couldn't be expected to be warm and hearty.
"What about you Commander? Tell me something about your life. To be
honest, I have never before met a female Orion."
T'Reija saw Vehakra wince, and wondered if she had mentioned a subject
unpleasant to her opposite.
"Of course, if you would rather not talk about it..."
============================================================
Internal Message
From: Captain Sortha
To: Fearless crew
Stardate 9804.23
With the departure of Lt. Commander Ki'lal and the addition of Lt. T'Reija,
I have made some adjustments to the crew positions. Effective immediately,
there are the dutystation of the Shadow Ops command crew.
Commander Michael Dyer...........Executive Officer (First Offficer)
Lt. Commander Tyrian Summers.....Tactical (Second Officer)
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal.....Security Chief
Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir.............First Assistant Security Chief
Lt. T'Reija......................Intelligence Officer (Second Assistant Security Chief)
Ensign Jamie T. Marcus...........Operations
Lt. Ian Quilman..................Helm/Navigation
Lt. Sholek.......................Chief Engineer
Please note that intelligence officer is a new position. The intelligence
officer will be the chief liaison between the Fearless and Starfleet
Intelligence. All intelligence reports, information of troop and ship
movements and other classified data will come through Starfleet, to T'Reija
and then to Lt. Commander Rhikal before being filtered to me.
Thank you,
Captain Sortha
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Arriving at Earth
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Officer's Lounge with Lt. T'Reija
Stardate 9804.25
"What about you Commander? Tell me something about your life. To be honest,
I have never before met a female Orion."
T'Reija saw Vehakra wince, and wondered if she had mentioned a subject
unpleasant to her opposite.
"Of course, if you would rather not talk about it..."
Veh shook her head, "It's OK. My life has been less than pleasant, but I
don't mind talking about it. In Orion society, women are considered property.
If you are lucky, your family arranges a marriage for you at a young age and
you eventually go to live with your husband and raise a family. Provided your
husband is a good man, it isn't so bad. Orion women not married by 21 become
property of the state and they are sold into slavery.
"My family was an average lower-class family. It was my mother, father,
brother and I. All along my parents had been working to arrange my wedding and
never figured I'd have to worry about the prospect of slavery. When I was 17,
my father could no longer pay the family taxes to the Orion government, so our
home was liquidated and -- in order to pay off long standing debts -- I was
taken from my parents and sold into slavery. An Orion pirate captain named
Gortak bought me at open auction on the Orion homeworld and I became part of
his harem of slave women.
"For two years I was enslaved aboard his command ship," Veh continued. "I
was there for his entertainment, and that of his guests. It was a difficult
life, especially since my family has never prepared me for slavery. Many of
the other Orion women in the harem had no problem with the lifestyle, because
they were raised to one day be slaves. But I was not so easily tamed and I
suffered much abuse by Gortak and his men during this time.
"Finally, we ended up in Federation space by accident after sustaining
damage in a battle and Gortak was forced to take the ship into a Federation
starbase near the Orion border," she continued. "When I learned we'd be stuck
at the strabse for a few days, I decided it was time to make my move and
escape. So, one night I made a break and got off the ship. I sought asylum
from the station commander and it was granted. Gortak demanded my return, but
the starfleet officers refused to turn me over. He finally left, but sent me a
message in which he vowed to someday reclaim me as his property and to make me
suffer for running away.
"I went on with my life. I spent a year just enjoying my freedom. I
worked odd jobs as a dabo girl, as a model, but then I started to realize
there were so few Orion women who were free outside our society that it would
be easy for Gortak to find me. I needed protection. I needed to be able to
defend myself. So I decided to join Starfleet. Thank gods my family provided
me an education. It was one of the reasons my father had been so poor, or I
could have never made it into the academy. But I got in and did my four years.
"After I graduated I served on the USS Victory for awhile, then joined
Shadow Ops and was on the Avenger. Later I ended up here."
T'Reija raised an eyebrow, "And what of the threat by this Captain Gortak?"
"He has sent his thugs after me on a couple of occasions. The first time
the Avenger was docked at Starbase 58 and Gortak's henchman, a Yridian named
Jebra N'gorl, approached me with a warning...return to Gortak without reprisal
now...or suffer in the future. I had him arrested by station security, but he
was later released.
"Then, during shoreleave on the Fearless last year, we were on Risa and I
was alone at a beach resort when N'gorl turned up again. Only this time he
brought more of Gortak's pirate friends. They beat me and nearly got away with
me, but a friend from the Fearless crew saved me...Lt. Commander
Kalahna...she's no longer aboard, but if it wasn't for her I'd be back in
slavery again."
"Did N'gorl escape?" the Vulcan asked.
"Unfortunately," Veh said. "So I know he'll be back. He has somehow been
tracking my movements, which shouldn't be too easy since I am in Shadow Ops
are our actions are a little more clandestine than the rest of Starfleet."
T'Reija looked intrigued. "Inside contacts?"
"Possibly. N'gorl hinted that Gortak's operation was now part of a bigger
criminal organization...I'm thinking maybe the Orion Syndicate, The Consortium
or some other similar operation," Veh confirmed. "I have heard that Gortak has
taken his frusutration out on my family. I received a message a couple months
ago from the starbase where I first fled Gortak. The message indicated Gortak
had contacted them and said that the bounty he had placed on my head was
lifted. But that he had purchased my family's debt to the government and had
forclosed by taking their home and possessions. It said further that the
government had revoked my mother's status as a free woman and that she was
taken as an indentured servant to work maintenance duty aboard his ship. My
father was also indentured as an engineer aboard his ship."
"What of your brother?" T'Reija asked.
"No word about him," Veh confirmed. "Last I knew, he was serving in the
Orion Defense Force...they were drafting young men because they feared
invasion by the Dominion. So that's my pathetic existence so far, T'Reija.
Pretty bad, huh?"
============================================================
USS Fearless
Bridge
Stardate 9804.25
Lt. Ian Quilman looked up from helm control and glanced at Captain Sortha
and Commander Dyer. "We are approaching the Sol system. We are 15 minutes from
arrival at Earth."
Sortha nodded, "Very good. Sslow to impulssse ssspeed. Then take us to
Earth and asssume orbit.
"Commander, once we are there, go ahead and allow the crew to take
sshoreleave on rotation sshiftsss. They have 48 hourss and then we are pulling
out...sso make thisss leave count. There iss no telling when we'll get back
here again."
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Shoreleave
Commander Michael Dyer
USS Fearless, Bridge
Stardate 9804.26
It had been a long journey back to Earth. Dyer couldn't help but wonder why
they were being pulled back to the centre of the Federation, especially during
a time of war.
He spent his time on the bridge going over efficiency reports and crew
performance reports.
This crew had worked hard over the past few months since Fearless left
Earth. They deserved a little down time. He had requested that the crew be
given a limited shore leave during their time in this sector. He hoped to be
able to rotate everyone off the ship.
He was very much lost in thought, about their upcoming mission, and about
his date with Veh the night before. He was finding himself quite smitten with
her, and found her comapany to be most welcome.
Lt. Quilman looked up from helm control and glanced at Captain Sortha and
Commander Dyer. "We are approaching the Sol system. We are 15 minutes from
arrival at Earth."
Sortha nodded, "Very good. Sslow to impulssse ssspeed. Then take us to
Earth and asssume orbit.
"Commander, once we are there, go ahead and allow the crew to take
sshoreleave on rotation sshiftsss. They have 48 hourss and then we are pulling
out...sso make thisss leave count. There iss no telling when we'll get back
here again."
"Yes sir." Dyer answered. He then went to his office and transmitted the
leave rotation to the crew. He then sent a transmission to the Shadow Ops team
informing them of their rotation.
To: All Command Crew
From: Commander Dyer
Bridge shifts will be 6 hours in duration. All Shadow Ops Command crew
will return to Fearless for one shift with the exception of Lt. Sholek who
will return to engineering, and myself who will fill Sholek's spot on the
rotation. The schedule is as follows:
Shift 1 - Commander Dyer
Shift 2 - Lt. Commander Rhikal
Shift 3 - Lt. Brynaziir
Shift 4 - Lt. Quilman
Shift 5 - Lt. T'Reija
Shift 6 - Ensign Marcus
Shift 7 - Lt. Commander Summers
Shift 8 - Commander Dyer, Lt. Sholek to Engineering to prepare for departure.
After he sent the rotation he returned to the bridge. They were entering
Earth's orbit.
Captain Sortha ordered a standard orbit.
Dyer keyed a shipwide announcement, "All hands, this is Commander Dyer. We
have entered Earth's orbit. Please see the shore leave rotations posted at the
crew consoles for adjusted shift schedules. Dyer out."
The Captain Excused himself and Commander Dyer began his first shift
monitoring the skeletal crew during this shore leave.
SIX HOURS LATER
Dyer looked up as the turbolift doors opened to reveal a beautiful Orion officer.
"It's good to see you Commander," he said as he watched her cross the
bridge to the conn.
He activated his sub-vocal communicator, "Would you be available after your
shift for some R&R on my home planet, instead of a holographic projection of one?"
She didn't say anything, only a simple nod.
"Very well then Lt. Commander, have an uneventful shift."
He flashed her a smile and left the bridge. He was almost as giddy as a
school-boy going out on a first date.
He beamed over to McKinley station to have dinner with his Mother and
Father. It was good catching up with them after so long away. After dinner,
he went to the surface to make a few arrangements before returning to Fearless
to gather Veh for their second date.
============================================================
Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
Shore Leave
Stardate 9804.27
"Commander. Since we only have 48 hrs of shore leave, and I have no real
connections on Earth, I would like to forfeit my shore leave time. I can
spend time doing idle reasearch onboard. You can give my time to others who
have more pressing need, Sir."
After being dismissed, Thoraz went to the gym for a workout, but it
wasn't quite the same, so he headed for the holodeck.
"Computer. Create program: battle sim one. Feed computer log tapes from
the gym, search pattern: Sortha, Ki'lal, Summers and Brynaziir. Also, cross
reference and add any avaialble data from past missions. Create a program for
simulating combat, armed and unarmed, with the aforementioned officers as the
main characters. If any of these officers participate in the sim, then they
will replace their holographic counterpart. Now, create random encounters
based on the data and extrapolations of that data."
"Working. ....... The program is complete."
"Save program Battle Sim I. Begin." The yellow grid lines disappeared,
replaced by outdoor scene. Projections of Sortha, Ki'lal and Summers appeared
near Thoraz. 'Just like old times' Thoraz thought.
============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Fearless
Stardate 9804.28
Security chief.
Vehakra was estatic when she learned she would be Ki'lal's replacement as
security chief. Of course, the post was only temporary should Ki'lal
recuperate and return...which Veh truly hoped he would. She loved Ki'lal as a
friend and respected him as an officer. She could only hope to perform the
post of security chief half as well as he had.
After a briefing with her new security staff, including Lt. T'Reija who
would be the ship's new intelligence officer, Vehakra went to her quarters and
got ready for a trip down to Earth.
She had mulled her decision to go down to Earth for several hours. She
feared she would encounter Gortak's people there, laying in wait to ambush her
as they had on Risa. But she wasn't about to let that pirate bastard scare her
into hiding the rest of her life.
So, the Orion planned a short trip to the surface. She wanted to visit a
couple friends working at Starfleet Headquarters and an old instructor at the
academy who had taught her virtually everything she knew about martial arts.
So, a day in San Francisco would consistute her first outing since the Risa
incident.
It was time to start living again.
============================================================
Lieutenant T'Reija
Earth, San Francisco
Stardate 9804.28
After being informed that the crew would be allowed to have shore leave on
Earth, T'Reija wondered what she should do during that time. She didn't
really know anybody closely, and places which humans found amusing didn't
occur to her in that way. Then she remembered that Shirak, her father, was on
scientific research work to the planet.
Now, she waited in his temporary office for him to arrive. He was 5.3 minutes
late already, a thing that normally wouldn't happen to Shirak. Then, at last,
he entered the room. They had planned to meet and discuss Shiraks' latest
results, after all, they had worked together for a long time even though they had
disassociated themselves from each other now.
But from the first moment she saw him, T'Reija knew something was wrong
with her father. In her entire life, she had never seen this man upset, so
something must have given him a great shock.
"T'Reija."
"Father." She couldn't manage to stay calm. "What has happened?"
Shirak sat down on a chair and folded his hands, each fingertip touching
the opposite one.
"I have to inform you, that USS Surak is being missed. Its last location
was 3.735 light years away from Gyria III, and we must assume that the ship has
been destroyed. The Gyrians are, although not well-known, a very mighty race and
also belligerent, they are said to be even more irritable than Klingons. Many warnings
have been sent by them not to approach their territory, but it was the only
possible route around cardassian space for the Surak. They have been asked for
permission to pass, the problem is that the government of Gyria changes quite
often, sometimes from one day to the other."
T'Reija felt she could no longer count on her mental barriers. Her only
thought was the USS Surak... and her mother. She felt the pain overwhelming her. It
was not only the fact, that T'Lan was most probably dead, her Katra, the Vulcan
equivalent of the human soul, would be forever lost. She would be... gone. It
had been awful to loose Sanh'hik, her fiance 20 years ago, a terrible experience
she had never gotten over with, but at least his Katra had been saved, and through
the complicated Vulcan religion, they would perhaps be reunited one day, at
least their spirits.
Of course, there was no clear evidence of T'Lars death, and that way it was
illogical to mourn. It was just... she couldn't prevent it. Nor could her father.
Only an hour later, Shirak left for Vulcan. He wanted to carry out a traditional
ritual to express his pain without harming others. T'Reija did not have this
possibility, she had to return to the ship.
So, first, she went to the Starfleet main base to find out more about the
circumstances of the incident, only to hear the same Shirak had already told her.
Then she had to go to the highest authorities, because she was in Shadow Ops,
and only they were allowed to know about her stay after departure from Earth.
They assured her they would inform her on anything new they found out.
Now, there was nothing more to be done here, so she beamed back on board,
going straight on to her quarters. A few crew-members passed her, she didn't
even notice who it was. T'Reija tried to meditate over things, but couldn't
concentrate her thoughts. This was her mother, and no Vulcan self-controll
could keep the grief away from her...
============================================================
USS Fearless
Bridge
Stardate 9804.28
It was the end of the ship's first day at Earth and Captain Sortha was in
his ready room reading over a casuality list from the war. He growled several
times as he read the names of officers he knew, from his previous assignments
and from his oreintation at Starfleet Academy when he entered the
Gorn/Starfleet Exchange Program.
He then set the padd down and closed his eyes, remembering the fallen
heros who had given their lives for the Federation.
What concerned Sortha even more was a report he'd received that the
Dominion had made its first incursion into Gorn territory. While the Gorn had
not officially entered the war, they had also refused to sign a non-aggression
pact with the Dominion. This did not set well with the Dominion.
The Gorn Hemegony had been untouched by the war, until two days ago when
a Dominion task force crossed its border and seized Shak'alas, a Gorn colony
near a junction of the borders of the Federation and Cardassian Union. Nearly
10,000 Gorn were slain in the attack.
Word had come today that the Gorn were now officially in the war. Their
fleet of ships, some Gorn built, some captured Romulan vessels, were already
being deployed and the Federation and Klingon alliance were lending some
strategic support to protect key Gorn worlds.
Sortha was glad to see his people enter the war, but in comparison to the
fleets of the Federation, Klingons, Dominion and Cardassians...they were
somewhat undersized and underpowered. He hoped they were up to the task.
As he sat in the the silence of his office, the comm-panel on his desk
chimed. It was the bridge.
"Ensign Ramirez to Captain Sortha," the voice of a young bridge officer sounded.
"What isss it, ensssign?" Sortha asked.
"Incoming message from Starfleet Command," Ramirez replied.
"Put it through to my ready room," the Gorn said, turning his desk
monitor toward him. A moment later the Starfleet emblem appeared, followed by
the face of a human male.
"Captain Sortha, I'm Admiral Jason MacIntryre with Starfleet Security,"
the older admiral said. "I have authorization from Admiral Sorvek with Shadow
Ops to utilize your ship and crew for a special assignment. I'm transferring
the admiral's orders to you as we speak."
In the lower right hand of the screen, a small window appeared and a text
message appeared, encoded in Shadow Ops coding. A moment later the scrambled
text was decoded by the ship's computer and a message appeared. It was
authorization from Sorvek for MacIntyre to assign the Fearless a mission.
"Authorization confirmed," Sortha said. "What can I do for you, admiral?"
"At the end of your shore leave, in approximately 32 hours, two people
will beam aboard your ship," MacIntryre said. "One represents Starfleet
Security and the other is a civilian with the Daystrom Institute. They will
bring with them details of the mission and will accompany you to your
destination."
Sortha nodded, "Very well, but may I asssk what this isss all about?"
"You may ask," MacIntyre said, "but I'm afraid I cannot provide you with
any details right now. My liaison will fill you in on everything you need to
know. Be prepared to receive these individuals at 0800 hours, day after tomorrow."
"Yesss sssir," Sortha hissed.
MacIntyre nodded, "Starfleet Command out."
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Shore Leave
Captain Sortha
USS Fearless
Stardate 9804.29
After receiving the message from Starfleet Command Sortha started to get
up out of his oversized chair in his ready room, then sat back down. The
loss of 10,000 Gorn on Shak'alas was a terrible loss. The Gorn measured their
population in the millions, not the billions as humans did. Although Gorn
lived much longer than humans their reproductive cycles were much slower, and
hence their populations were smaller. Each Gorn life was held in sacred
regard by the Gorn people. The standard grieving period for the loss of a
loved one lasted ten years, and sometimes included a full month of fasting and
observances after a death.
Sortha could imagine the rage his people were feeling now. He could feel
his own blood boiling, crying out to rend Dominion flesh in his own sharp
claws. The attack on Shak'ala has been cowardly from the reports he had
read. After the Gorn fleet of twelve ships had been destroyed by a large
Dominion attack force they had strafed the planet continuously instead of
beaming down for hand-to-hand combat. Apparently the Jem Hadar were not
above forsaking personal combat when their enemy was a match for them.
Sortha raised a fist to pound on his ready room table, but stopped short
remembering the last time he had done so... it had taken supply two days to
replicate him a new desk. Instead he stood up and looked out of the port in
his ready room at the starfield beyond. Looking in the direction of where
the Gorn homeworlds lay, he felt a sharp pain of homesickness and loneliness.
After some time he decided to take his shore leave after all, and decided to
beam down to SanFrancisco for several hours. Idly, he wondered how Kalahna
was doing. He was releived to hear that she was still with Starfleet working
on Bajor covertly. Oddly he missed the diminuative little Bajoran. He
decided he would seek out any of his old friends from the Academy and compare
war stories.
============================================================
Lt. Sholek
USS Fearless
Stardate 9804.29
"Sholek to Commander Dyer," Sholek said after hearing the shift schedule.
"What is it Sholek," Dyer replied.
"I do not wish to take leave, Commander. If you wish, I could use you
assistance in Engineering, though one more man will not produce any noticeable
increase in efficiency. Either way, I will stay here in Engineering." He said
it quiet bluntly as though he couldn't be forced out of Engineering by armed
security guards.
============================================================
Message from Starfleet Intelligence
TO: Lt. Commander Tyrian Summers
FROM: Admiral Huntarno
Stardate 9804.30
Commander Summers, your presence is requested at Starfleet Intelligence
Headquarters immediately. Please report as soon as you get this message. Thank you.
Admrial Huntarno
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Transferred
Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers
Onboard USS Fearless
Stardate 9805.03
Tyrian was on his way out the door of his quarters to beam down to the
earth's surface to see his family when he was heard a buzzing from his
computer terminal. He went over to his desk and hit a button. A message
appeared. It was from Admiral Huntarno of Starfleet Intelligence, Tyrian was
to report to Intelligence Headquarters as soon as possible. Tyrian didn't
know what this was about, but decided to waste no time, he would have to
postpone seeing his family for a little while. He headed out the door for the
transporter room.
Tyrian waited anxiously in the waiting area outside Admiral Huntarno's
office, it seemed like he had been waiting for hours, in reality it had only
been about fifteen minutes. Finally, the lieutenant who was Huntarno's
personal aid told Tyrian he could come in. Tyrian walked into the door and
was welcomed by the Admiral.
"Welcome Commander Summers, I bet you're wondering why you are here." He
said as he smiled.
Tyrian replied, "Yes sir, I'm at a bit of a disadvantage."
The Admiral said, "Well, its very simple. The war is raging with no end
in sight, we're enduring heavy casualties, and probably will sustain many
more. We need quality trained individuals to train as many new officers as we
can, especially new Shadow Operations officers. We are having trouble
matching the Dominion in ship to ship battles, but we are doing exceptionally
well getting in and sabotaging them. That's where you come in. You've only
been in Shadow Operations a short while, but I've gone over all you're
missions and evaluations, and I think you have great potential. You've seen
more action in a year than most people see in a career. You've rose in rank
rapidly, and quite frankly, I'm impressed. Well anyway, let me cut to the
chase, you are to be reassigned from the USS Fearless."
Tyrian's eyes showed his surprise as he questioned, "Sir?"
The Admiral replied, "I know you don't want to leave the command crew of
one of the most powerful ships in the fleet, but hear me out before you decide
to be disappointed. You are going into the advanced tactical training program
for Shadow Operations for an undetermined amount of time. You are one of the
best tactically sound officers I've seen, but there some who are better. You
will learn from them, shape you're abilities with thiers. When I feel you
have learned all that you can, I will most likely transfer you to the Shadow
Operations Training Facility aboard the USS Retribution as an instructor. I
want you there to shape and train as many new officers as possible to help win
this war. As of now, you are no longer assigned to the USS Fearless, I will
contact your Captain. You are on leave for a week to visit your family I will
contact send all the information to you regarding your new assignment to you
at your residence in San Francisco. Dismissed."
Tyrian was still stunned as as he beamed back up to the ship to pack and
have his things beamed down to his home. When he was done he took one last
look at his now empty looking quarters and could'nt help but become depressed.
He walked out towards the bridge, to take a last look at the bridge and to say
goodbye to the Captain.
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/New Officer and Guests
Transfer Orders
From: Admiral Sorvek
To: Captain Sortha, USS Fearless
Stardate 9805.03
This is to notify you that I am assigning Lt. Commander Matt Foster to
replace Lt. Commander Tyrian Summers as tactical officer aboard the USS
Fearless, effective immediately. Foster is a fine officer who has served for
15 years aboard the USS Constitution-C and recently transfered to Shadow Operations.
Biographical data on Mr. Foster will follow in a seperate file transfer.
He will arrive aboard the shuttle with your contacts for the forthcoming
mission at 0630 tomorrow morning.
Live Long and Prosper.
Admiral Sorvek
============================================================
Commander Michael Dyer
U.S.S. Fearless
Stardate 9805.03
Dyer sat in his chair on the bridge. There was about three hours left on
his second shift on the bridge. As he had expected, most of the command crew
had elected not to go to the surface for more than a few hours.
Veh had gone to the surface for a while to see some friends and he had met
up with her there. They had gone on to Old New York, and had a few hours of
fun, visiting some of the historical sites. The Old United Nations monument
was of particular interest, as it was a model for the soon to follow United
Federation of Planets.
With only three hours left before their scheduled departure, most of the
crew was returning to the ship. They were awaiting the arrival of their guests
from Starfleet Intelligence, who were coming to deliver orders.
Ensign Remirez had just re-routed another message for the Captain to his
ready room. This one was from Admiral Huntarno. A few minutes later and
Captain Sortha emerged from the ready room. Almost at the same instant Tyrian
arrived via turbolift #2.
"Well," began the Captain. "I guess congratulations are in order."
"Thank you sir." Tyrian had a look of pride, but also disappointment.
Tyrian spent a few minutes in conversation with the Captain. Dyer gave
them their privacy, but then stood and excused his interruption.
"Lt. Commander, though we've only worked together for a short time, I
couldn't think of a person I'd rather have training our new operatives in
advanced tactical skills. Congratulations and good luck." Dyer always liked
Tyrian, and found him a very capable officer. He was going to miss his
expertise as second officer.
Tyrian had conversations with a few of the remaining bridge officers and
had one last long look around the bridge, before departing.
Now the command crew with the exception of Lt. Sholek was on the bridge,
and all they could do now was wait for the two Intel officers.
Dyer couldn't help wondering who Sortha would make second officer now that
Tyrian was gone.
============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Fearless
Stardate 9805.03
Veh had returned from Earth to learn that Tyrian was being sent off for
advanced tactical training. She was surprised, yet happy for her colleague.
Such training would benefit him throughout his Starfleet career...whether that
be with Shadow ops or not. While it was possible he would return to the
Fearless, nothing was definite with the war on.
Once she had said her goodbyes to Summers, Vehakra assembled her security
officers and held a staff meeting. There, she set her own rules by which she
would run the department and then introduced Lt. T'Reija. Together, she
T'Reija and Thoraz would run security...with the effciency and skill that
Ki'lal had.
"Lt. Brynaziir," Veh said as she wrapped up her first briefing as
security chief. "I'd like you to begin battle simulations for all security
officers on the holodeck. Run them in teams of six. You and T'Reija will
alternate leading the teams. We've taken on several new officers while at
Earth and I want to make sure everyone is able to work together as a team."
Thoraz nodded, "Aye sir."
Vehakra knew how much Thoraz wanted to lose the councellor image he'd
obtained in his early days aboard the ship. Just because he was Betazoid
didn't mean he had to read minds and deal with people's problems all day...he
was a security officer, for Gods sake. Perhaps, she thought, that was why he'd
been so gung ho on Bajor...he wanted to show Dyer and Ki'lal what he was made of.
Well, Veh thought, she was going to give him that opportunity as her
assistant. Him and T'Reija both.
"Alright, dismissed," Veh said. "We leave Earth in the morning...get some rest."
============================================================
Lt. Commander Matt Foster
Approaching USS Fearless
Stardate 9805.03
Lieutenant Commander Matt Foster boarded a shuttle bound for the Fearless.
Admrial Sorvek had given him a new assignment... to be on the Fearless.
Matt honestly didn't know how long it took command to give him a new
assigment but he ahd been on leave for six weeks folowing the decommissioning
of the USS Consitution NCC-1700-C which was an Armegeddon-class battle crusier.
He looked out the viewport of the shuttle and saw the Fearless's docking
bay doors open to admit the shuttle and the occupants.
There was group of officers present to pipe him aboard. Besides being
there to greet him, they were also present to welcome two humans who travelled
to the Fearless aboard the shuttle with Foster...one was a Starfleet officer,
a woman, bearing the rank of a Commander, while the other was an older human
male dressed in civilian clothing.
The Captain he noticed was there because Sortha was a Gorn. Foster had
read about Cestus Three and the incident which was official dubbed Cestus III
Incident but unofficially the Cestus Three Massacre.
Matt hadn't seen a Gorn since his first time on the Constitution and that
was a good 15 years ago.
He noticed the Romulan present which he felt was going to be good freinds with.
============================================================
USS Fearless
Main Shuttle Bay
Stardate 9805.03
Captain Sortha and Commander Dyer had arrived with several other officers
to welcome the shuttle bearing their mission contacts and the replacement for
Tyrian Summers -- Matt Foster.
Once the shuttle had landed, the occupants filed out one by one. Three
people crossed the landing deck to the Gorn and human officers.
"Welcome aboard the Fearlesss," Sortha hissed as he greeted the guests.
"You must be Lt. Commander Fosster?"
Matt Foster snapped to attention. "Lt. Commander Matthew Douglas Foster
reporting for duty, sir."
"At eassse, commander. I am Captain Ssortha, and thisss isss my firssst
officer...Commander Michael Dyer. The commander will sshow you around and take
you to your possst. You and i will ssspeak later."
"Aye sir," Foster replied.
Sortha nodded to Dyer, who returned his nod and then motioned for Foster
to follow him out of the landing bay and on the way to the bridge. Sortha then
stood and faced the two newcomers. The first was a tall, blonde human female
who was -- by human standards -- considered quite attractive. She wore the
pips of a commander and the yellow turtleneck of security. Beside her was an
elderly human male dressed in a dark, stylish suit -- civilian garb.
"I am Commander Sonya Kalavar, with Starfleet Security," she said,
shaking hands with Sortha.
"And I am Professor William Horton with the Daystrom Institute,' the
older man said, also shaking hands with Sortha...though he appeared to be
slightly nervous and intimidate by the huge Gorn captain.
"Captain Sssortha," he confirmed. "Now, can sssomeone explain what our
upcoming misssion iss all about?"
Sonya smiled, "Shortly, captain. Can you assemble your Shadow Ops team in
the conference room? We'd like to brief everyone at the same time."
Sortha tapped his comm-badge, "Sssortha to Dyer. Asssemble the team in
the conference room, our guessstsss would like to proceed with a briefing."
"Acknowledged," Dyer replied.
The captain then motioned for them to follow as he led the way to the
conference room....
Subject: SO: Fearless/Mission Briefing
Commander Michael Dyer
U.S.S. Fearless
Stardate 9805.04
Dyer and Foster walked out of the shuttle bay and were in the turbolift on
their way to the Lt. Commander's quarters.
"It's good to have you aboard Commander." Dyer commented.
"It's good to be aboard," Foster replied. "I've been on leave for six weeks
since the Constitution was decomissioned."
"Well, I hope we can make for lost time. There's usually no shortage of
action around here."
Just then Dyer comm badge chimed.
"Sssortha to Dyer. Asssemble the team in the conference room, our
guessstsss would like to proceed with a briefing."
"Acknowledged," Dyer replied.
Turning to Foster, Dyer said, "I'll show you your quarters so you can stow
your gear, and then I guess it's off to the briefing."
The turbo-lift stopped and the two officers stepped out. Dyer moved to the
computer access panel on the wall of the corridor and keyed a few sequences
and then announced, "Senior Officers report to the Confeerence room. Senior
Officers report to the conference room. Dyer out.
Dyer and Foster finished business in Foster's quarters and then retraced
their steps back to the turbo-lift and made their way to the conference room.
Captain Sortha and the two guests were already there, they were now awaiting
the rest of the team.
============================================================
Lieutenant T'Reija
Quarters, USS Retribution
Stardate 9805.04
"Bridge to Lt. T'Reija."
The woman got up from the floor, where she had sat all alone in the dark.
She knew, she couldn't go on like this, but what else could she do? Never
before had she experienced such a lack of logic on herself, and she had no
idea how to deal with it.
"T'Reija here."
"There's a message from Starfleet Intelligence, Admiral Gir'al, sir."
"Please transfer it to my quarters. T'Reija out."
She waited three or four seconds, then the dark screen lightened, showing
the Admiral's face. He looked solemn, perhaps it was only a habit of his
species, otherwise...
"Lt. T'Reija?" The Vulcan nodded. "I have to give you report of the newest
developments concerning the ship USS Surak and its missing crew. Surak has
been found in Gyrian territory - damaged and floating in space. No traces of
the crew. The Gyrians deny having anything to do with the incident. Disguised
agents are being infiltrated, but as it is with the war, this mission cannot
be considered first priority. Do you understand that?"
T'Reija swallowed. "Yes, sir, I understand completely. I request to be
informed on any new developments."
For a moment, the look of the Admiral turned sympathetic. "Of course. And
lieutenant... I am sorry. Gir'al out."
Again, the pain was beginning to overwhelm her. She began talking to
herself, the way she had learnt to do as a child, an aid to help control
motions. Humans and Vulcans were indeed very different, but some things were
the same or at least similar in both cultures.
"Now come on, T'Reija. You are a Vulcan. You have yourself under control.
And especially when you are on duty. As long as you wear this uniform, you
will behave like a Shadow Operations Officer, an Officer the fleet can't
complain about."
Just at that moment, Commander Dyers voice came out of the comm-speaker.
"Senior Officers report to the Conference room. Senior Officers report to
the conference room. Dyer out."
The Vulcan moved to the door. Duty calls...
============================================================
Lt. Commander Matthew Foster
Conference Room
Stardate 9805.04
Matt walked in the room after stowing his gear in his quarters. Maybe this
wasn't to be too bad after all he thought. Commander Dyer was a person he
could be good friends with.
Matt saw Sortha and nodded to the Gorn who didn't show a single sign of
understanding.
He took a seat by Commander Dyer and waited for the rest of the team to
arrive. It felt diffrent when he finally had gotten back to his own time after
the Constitution's final mission which ended up in preventing a dimensional
race of... themselves from entering and destroying everything they knew.
Now he being on the Fearless was a refreshing change and Foster looked
forward to what changes it would bring.
So far Foster could see it was going pretty good.
============================================================
Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
USS Fearless
Stardate 9805.05
Thoraz was in the Holodeck when Dyer sent the announcement to go to the
conference room. He instructed an ensign to take his place and continue with
the drills for the remainder of the shift.
Thoraz was still digesting the news about Tyrian. With the exception of
Sholek, who Thoraz was leery about since the mission on Romulus, he was the
last member of Red Squad still serving under Sortha.
He had heard stories when attending the Academy about officers serving
together for years and becoming a second family; myths and legends. Well, he
didn't need a second family if it meant always saying goodbye - too many
distractions. He was Assistant Security Officer on the Fearless. He would be
busy enough with work now.
Thoraz headed for the Conference Room, his mind lost in thought. Before
he realized where he was, Commander Dyer was telling him to take a seat.
============================================================
USS Fearless
Conference Room
Stardate 9805.05
The rest of the command officers arrived and were seated around the
conference table. There were two new officers among the group, and two
strangers seated near Captain Sortha.
The newcomers were introduced as Lt. T'Reija and Lt. Commander Matt Foster.
The strangers were intriduced to the team as Commander Sonya Kalavar, with
Starfleet Security, and Professor William Horton with the Daystrom Institute.
"Normally, Admiral Jaegar would provide you with your mission briefing
details," Commander Kalavar said, "but in this case we've been assigned to
brief you, because we are knowledgable of the circumstance surrounding the
mission. I'm going to turn things over to Professor Horton, who can begin by
explaining the events leading up to why we need Shadow Ops for help."
The older man nodded and stepped over to the main viewer on the wall of
the conference room behind Sortha. He accessed some data and the screen soon
displayed the picture of another human male, dark skinned, balding head, and a
goatee beard.
"This is Professor Xavier Guervera, formerly the Daystrom Institute's
leading researcher in quantum and temperol physics. Until six months ago he
headed up Project Vortex, a research assignment given to us by Starfleet.
"Project Vortex was created to research, retro-engineer and harness the
technology used by the Borg almost two years ago when they last attacked
Earth. Specifically the technology used to transport the Borg...and
inadvertantly, the USS Enterprise-E, back in time to the 21st century where
the Borg tried to alter our present by preventing First Contact."
The talk of time travel immediately put the crew on edge, and Commander
Kalavar sensed that immediately, "I can already tell you're all concerned
about the prospect of time travel in this mission...but I want to assure you
that is not what we plan to have you do. Please continue, Professor."
Horton cleared his throat, "Anyway, we were asked to research the
technology used by the Borg to create their temporal vortex so it could be
adapted for easy use on any Starfleet ship. The Enterprise-E barely got home
after the Borg incident...if it hadn't of been for their android officer, Lt.
Commander Data, it is unlikely they would have been able to time travel. And
until this technology came along, our only method of time travel was the
'slingshot' method around the sun -- a dangerous and mathematically
challenging process.
"Starfleet wanted to have this technology readily available if ever
needed, so we were charged with the task of making it easy to adapt to all
Starfleet ships so they could quickly and accurately time warp to any time
period...past of future. Dr. Guervera headed up the project and we made great
progress. Then, things took a turn for the worse about six month ago.
"Guervera began talking about the potential use for this technology,"
Horton explained. "At first his talk was of using it for historical research,
then it changed to ideals that have no place at the institute or in the
Federation itself. He talked about using it to right past wrongs...to fix
mistakes of the past, to prevent tragedies..."
"To rewrite history," Lt. Commander Rhikal muttered.
"Precisely. His talk got him into some trouble with our superiors at the
Institute and nearly caused the project to be shut down," Horton continued.
"But he curbed his talk and dismissed it as nothing more than theorizing on
potential uses for the technology. Things got better, until he did something
we never anticipated....he changed history.
"On a test run of the technology, which was adapted for use on a
mothballed starship Starfleet loaned to us, Guervera led a team back in time
where we were supposed to observe an historical incident. We chose the
Jaspaara Mining Incident of 2167...a rather obscure event which was actually a
pivotal moment in the history of the Federation. It was at a time of great
growth within the Federation and the early endeavours of Starfleet. The mining
colonies of the Jaspaara Cluster were rich with much needed dylithium so
Starfleet could power all of the starships it was building for exploration.
There was a labor dispute and dylithium from the mines was embargoed to the
Federation for four years after the labor leader was assassinated by what the
miners believed was a Starfleet officer. It later turned out to be a Klingon
undercover operative and the dispute was settled, but it had been a major
setback for Starfleet who desperately needed the dylithium."
Captain Sortha looked at his fellow officers, all of whom were sratching
their heads and looking at Horton in disbelief. The Gorn finally spoke, "I
remember no ssuch incident from hissstory."
"That is because Dr. Guervera prevented the assassination from happening
during our test observation mission six months ago," Horton said. "He altered
history. To those of us on the mission, we returned remembering the original
story, but history had been altered when we returned and there was no record
of anything more than a six month labor dispute and a short strike which was
resolved by the Federation. "
"My God," Dyer interjected. "What effect did this have on the timeline?"
"We had explored 17 more star systems than in the original timeline,"
Horton said. "The labor leader went on to live 58 more years and spawned four
children, 16 grandchildren, and so on and so on. We gave up trying to figure
out how badly the timeline was changed. Fortunately it didn't cause any major
damage that we could see...but the implications were bad enough. The project
was shutdown and Guervera was let go from the Daystrom Institute."
"That's where Starfleet Security comes in," Kalavar said. "The Institute
asked for our help in investigating tampering they discovered to their
computer systems last month. We learned the tampering actually took place
right after Guervera was let go and that it had been covered up. A deeper look
into the situation revealed that shortly after his termination, Guervera
somehow got back into the Institute and downloaded all of his work from the
Vortex project. He then left and hadn't been seen or heard from since.
"We picked up his trail a few weeks ago," she continued. "We learned that
he had obtained a retired Oberth-class science ship and had taken it to a lab
he had set up on Qal'Nagath VI...an uninhabited planet in Sector 435-G, in
unclaimed space beyond the Federation's borders. We further learned he had
continued his research and was trying to make the Oberth vessel time travel
capable. His intentions are likely to continue experimenting with alterations
to the timeline. There is even talk he may freelance the services of his
vessel to anyone who wants to go back in time and alter some aspect of the
past they do not like."
"That is most illogical," T'Reija chimed in. "To do so would jeopardize
everything we know as the present."
Horton nodded, "It is very illogical, but for some reason Xavier Guervera
is fascinated with the ramifications of such alterations to time...and he must
be stopped."
"Why us?' Thoraz asked, trying to get a sense from the two outsiders about
why they wanted the Fearless for this mission.
"Because we also have learned that Guervera has allied himself with some
rather nasty mercenaries who provide security for his project," Kalavar said.
"And because Starfleet wants this matter handled swiftly and effeciently.
They want Guervera's operation shutdown, his materials seized and they want
him put out of action...brought in either dead or alive. The best way, they
felt, was to send in a Special Forces unit. Fearless can hopefully accomplish
the task within a day of its arrival."
"It will take us the better part of a week to reach the frontier,"
Commander Dyer said. "We'll be far from the fighting."
"Starfleet realizes this is a bad time to take a ship like Fearless out of
the war, but the altering of the timeline could have a far more catastrophic
effect," Kalavar said. "Also, the professor and I will be joining you for the
mission. We are going along to confirm that the project is shutdown and all
the materials and data are seized."
Professor Horton then looked around at the crew, "Are there any questions?"
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Briefing Wraps
Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
Downtime [personal log] -- BEFORE THE BRIEFING
Stardate 9805.05
Since returning from Bajor, Thoraz spent most of his time in the Holodeck.
His program complete, he began to program random environments and encounters.
Before Ki'lal left he let Thoraz make copies of some programs Ki'lal got from
Commander Worf. While working, Thoraz realized that his programs hads
elements of all the cultures he had studied -Vulcan, Romulan, Terran, Klingon,
Alphan, Gorn, Cardassian, Nausican, Dominion, Ligonian, Kzin, Rigelian,
Elasian, Talarian, Ferengi, Zibalian, CHalnoth and Tanuguan; but there was
nothing from Betazed!
Thoraz decided to check the library tapes for info about the ancients of
his own culture. After several hours of research Thoraz's eyes began to sting
and water. Just as Thoraz was about to stop for the evening he found what he
had been looking for. An obscure reference to his primitive ancestors. After
transferring all related files to a PADD Thoraz contacted Betazed for more
files. After the files had been recieved by subspace Thoraz added these to
his PADD and headed for the Holodeck.
As he was working he was interrupted by the Computer. "Lieutenant as
requested this is your alarm check. Your duty shift begins in one hour."
Thoraz quickly packed up his stuff and headed to his quarters.
------
After his shift, Thoraz grabbed something to eat and headed for the
Holodeck again, food in hand. After a few more hours of programming he was
finished.
"Computer. Create a Torna Jahss, as per specifications." Immediately a
item materialized in front of Thoraz. He quickly fastened the long, slim
metal device to his forearm and put his tunic on over top. In a race of
telepaths it is hard to surprise your enemy in an aggressive situation, so his
primitive ancestors had developed the ultimate melee weapon. It resembled a
miniature rapier, but was attached to a spring loaded cage-like mechanism. A
hair thin trigger
extended to the palm, invisible to all but the most intense scrutiny. If your
opponent can sense your actions, he/she can avoid them and counterstrike; but
this weapon took almost less time to activate than the thought was to do so.
In practice hands it could be very deadly, especially if anything was added
to the blade surface, which was extremely strong by itself. Certain plants
contain fluids that can incapacitate an opponent in various ways. Now,
practice could begin in earnest.
============================================================
Lt. Sholek
Mission briefing
Stardate 9805.05
"I have a question, Profesor," Shoek said. "We have had the ability to use
the slingshot method for over a century. Since its first use, however, no one
had concieved of trying to prevent its use."
"I do not understand what you are trying to say, Lieutenant," Profesor Horton said.
"The ability to time travel is not new. Only now that we are seeing it in a
new light do we actually try to do anything about it. For a century now, no
one knows how many times the slingshot method has been used to time travel. We
only know of those that were performed by Starfleet crews. The calculation are
easy enough to comeby with a powerful enough computer. Spock even dared to
guess when he could not get precise calculations. We may have been living in a
universe altered by time travel many thousands, even millions of times. Yet
now that we know some crazy loon intends to use it, we're doing something."
============================================================
Mission Briefing
Horton Addressing Sholek
Stardate 9805.05
"Lieutenant, the slingshot method has indeed been available for some time,
but the computations are difficult to make at best. because of this
unpredictability, few have attempted a slingshot maneuver.
"We've been fortunate the Klingons have placed restrictions on their own
people using time travel...they do not consider altering the past to be
honorable. The Romulans have experimented in the technique, but their leaders
have maintained a policy of not using it. The Cardassian Obsidian Order once
had a program in place in which it was going to alter the outcome of several
wars using time travel, but they made too many mistakes in their computations
and after six ships were destroyed in the slingshot attempt they gave up.
"One mistake in a slingshot maneuver and the attempting ship would be
destroyed, or flung into a time period they hadn't planned to go into. Not to
mention the intense drain on the power supply of the attempting vessel...which
has caused crystals to loose their matrix, resulting in a loss of warp power
for the return trip home.
"Now we have a new technology which eliminates all the uncertainties there
were with the slingshot method. There are a minimum of calculations involved,
only thing required is a ship with an altered main deflector used to generate
the temperol field which opens the vortex," Horton continued. "And we have a
rogue scientist who is actively planning to alter past events for his own
experimentation...and he plans to freelance his services, which means there's
no teling who might want to time travel to affect the course of history."
Kalavar cleared her throat and joined in, "Starfleet Intelligence reports
that the Pakleds, the Breen and the Ferengi have all made contact wih
Professor Guervera in the past six weeks inquiring about his research and the
possibility of contracting his services. So that is why we are interested in
shutting him down."
============================================================
Captain Sortha
Conference Room
Stardate 9805.07
Captain Sortha growled softly to himself. He didn't like the thought of
someone messing with the timeline. He liked HIS reality. "Has Starfleet
taken any measures to temporally shield its records so they will be unaltered
and we will know our true history? This madman could change history and we
wouldn't even know it."
============================================================
Mission Briefing
Horton addressing Sortha
Stardate 9805.07
"Unfortunately, short of sending Starfleet records through time, there is
no way to temporally shield the records," Horton confessed. "The Daystrom
Institute is working on a plan, sanctioned by the Federation Office of
Temperol Affairs, to create a chamber at the institute which would exists in a
vortex between time and space. We're still working on that one...however."
============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Mission Briefing
Stardate 9805.08
In her new role as security chief, Vehakra has listened to the briefing and
one question came to mind immediately.
"What more can you tell us about these mercenaries Guevera is working
with?" the Orion asked.
"It is a group of mercenaries called the War Dogs," Kalavar proceeded to
explain, handing out padds containing information on the group. "They number
about 25 and are led by a former Akamarian Gather clan chieftain named
Debaran. The crew is made up of assorted races, primarily human, Akamarian,
Orion and Ferengi. They operate from a retired Romulan Bird of Prey which has
been upgraded and outfitted with the most recent technology and weapons. The
ship is rumored to have a cloaking device as well...but that is unconfirmed.
They carried out contract raids along the Federation border and the frontier
for several years now. They are wanted by the Federation, the Klingons and the
Romulans for various crimes."
Vehakra nodded and looked over the data, then turned her attention back to
Horton and Kalavar, "I'm unfamiliar with Sector 435-G, what more can you tell
me about this region?"
"It's on the edge of Federation space, right on the frontier. Starfleet
has only begun to explore that region of space in the past five years,"
Kalavar explained. "The closest Starbase is three days from the border. There
is Federation Outpost 489 located in the Follokin system...that's about 18
hours from the Qal'Nagath system, where Guevera's base of operations is
located. It's a small station with about 100 Starfleet personnel. Its used as
a supply depot and stopover for exploration vessels headed into the frontier.
Fearless will probably pass close by there on the way to Qal'Nagath. Other
than that, there are few places worth mentioning. Most of the inhabited worlds
in that region of space are pre-warp civilizations. A couple we've made First
Contact with, but they are still coming along. The closest large consortium of
worlds nearby is the Ferengi Alliance and the Orions."
Vehakra stirred a little in her chair at the mention of her people. She
was familiar enough with the region to know its proximity to Orion space, but
she didn't need reminding of it.
============================================================
Mission Briefing
Kalavar and Horton wrapping up
Stardate 9805.08
"Are there any more questions?" Horton asked.
The crew was silent. Sortha and Dyer could tell the crew was on edge.
Nobody liked dealing with time travel scenarios...even if they weren't the
ones having to make the jump through time.
"Very well," Sortha said. "We depart within the hour for Qual'Nagath.
Commander Dyer, work with Commander Kalavar and Dr. Horton on all tactical
data they have on Guevera'sss base and the mercenary outfit."
"Aye," Dyer confirmed.
"Lt. Sholek, you have sssome familiarity with Borg technology," Sortha
continued. "Work with Dr. Horton to find out what we'll be dealing with when
we get to Qul'Nagath. Although we are not sssupossed to be time travelling
ourssselvess, I want the ability to do sso if the ssituation
warrantsss...ssuch assss a pursssuit of Guevera and his mercenariesss through
time...if it comes down to that."
Sholek nodded, "Yes sir."
"Lt. T'Reija, sshow our guestss to their quarterss," Sortha said,
standing up. "Disssmisssed."
============================================================
Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
Security Office
Stardate 9805.08
After the Mission Briefing, Thoraz went to security office to review his
team's performance. The team was coming together rather well, but Thoraz
scheduled more sessions. He wanted his team to think and act as one. Even
though the others weren't telepaths, it was still possible to train them to
anticipate the actions of their opponent.
Thoraz decided to organize the security personnel into 5 groups and then
discuss the distribution with Commander Rhikal.
Team Alpha would consist of Thoraz, Ensign Marquilles, Ensign Tomas, and
the enlisted personnel Tor'vas, Elas, Wong, Rigess, B'lal, Corey and Dart.
Team Beta would be Lt T'Reija, Ensign Bok, Ensign Kathar, and enlisted
personnel Schmid, Lowe, Gordon, Moss, Ashito, Mwamba and Styles.
Team gamma would consist of Ensign Ramirez, Ensign Cyr, and elisted
personnel Kravras, Koto, Sung, Barsfield, Lairat, Cusho, Gorvo, and Finista.
Team Delta would consist of Ensign Ngalo, Torbis, and enlisted personnel
Davis, Argyle, Myhtas, Shoonbayu, Nibez, Yelto, Wood, and Hakuneh.
Team Epsilon would consist of Ensign Swiftfoot, Ensign Anukitukt, and
enlisted personnel Toral, Chtalis, Kvorak, Stamp, Edraw, Orr, Kumpanash and
Reyson. Thoraz headed for Rhikal's office with his PADD.
"Commander, do you have a minute?"
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Departing Earth
Lt. Commander Matthew Foster
Conference Room
Stardate 9805.11
Matt was a little worried about that updated Romulan Bird of Prey that was
an old bucket that had gotten fresh ordinance and he hoped they wouldn't pose
a threat.
As soon as everyone filed out he remained with Dyer and Sortha.
"Captain,I'd like to ask permission to upgrade our tactical systems. If
they have indeed updated that Bird I'd like to see if there is any weaknesess
we can exploit to our advantage. With Breen somehow wishing to contract the
professor's services I think it's best to get everything we can. I've heard
about that system It's supposed to be a binary system from all astromnical
records but I don't think so. An Oberth class ship wouldn't be able to
withstand the quantum sigularties of a single star."
"Proceed, commander," Sortha said.
As soon as Sortha dismissed him he headed for his quarters. He unpacked and
noticed there was a holo from his days on the Consitution. He remembered the
way Captain Anson had ringed the Horvakan Diplomats bluff with a equal bluff
of her own.
Commander Gar was a interesting indivdal to be as a first officer. A
klingon first officer was a intresting feat but never the less he made a good
friend with the big burly guy while on the Constitution.
Reflections of the past quickly went by him as he finally got settled in
and changed into a duty uniform that accuratly fit him. Foster headed for his
office to get into the swing of things on the department and to aquaint
himself with his people.
As soon as he walked in he noticed and informal gathering of the personell.
"And I heard he was re-assigned because of the mis judgement of the officer
of the watch on his command." said a officer wearing a Lieutenant junior
grade rank.
"Well then you heard wrong. The Consitution was decommissioned because of
her time travel between time lines."
They jumped at that sound.
"May ask who you are sir?"
"I'm Lieutenant Commander Matt Foster, the new Tactical chief. And you're
way out of your league. May I have your name sir before I run you through?"
There was defiant and other cheers as they saw a potential fist fight.
Foster crossed his arms about his chest and made a look that might have
been enough to melt titianum.
"Lieutenant Carl Masterson, I'm the acting chief here and my word is boss."
Matthew looked annoyed and he shook his head from side to side and
spoke,"Disciplined eight times for disobeying direct orders. Arrested twice
for insurobnation of a superior officer. Busted down in rank to Lieutenant
junior grade. Graduated 176 out of a class of 180 now that's a disgrace."
"I warn you sir I have a black belt."
Foster retorted,"Good then it can keep your pants up."
People snickerd around and Dyer came in to check on how the new tactical
officer was getting along.
"I see your getting to know your people."
"Yeah we're like peas in a pod Commander." said Masterson
"Don't try that on me." said Dyer
Foster swore later he'd have a one on one with Masterson as soon as he had
the chance.
Dyer led him to his personal office.
============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Security Office
Stardate 9805.11
Vehakra was busy going over security reports when Thoraz Brynaziir entered
the security office, located in the brig, and approached her with a padd in hand.
"Commander, do you have a minute?" Thoraz asked
Veh offered her assistant a smile and set down the report she was reading over.
"Of course, what can I do for you?"
Thoraz handed her a PADD and as she looked it over, he offered a brief
narrative, "I've organized the security officers into five groups. Here are
the results of my efforts."
Vehakra studied the plans and slowly nodded, "This is good, lieutenant.
Let's go with this. Announce the new security teams to he staff and meet with
the team leaders to get them oriented. We had 15 security personnel transfer
out when we reached Earth and 20 transfer in, so there's a lot of new people
with us."
"Yes sir," Thoraz said.
"And Thoraz...nice job," the Orion woman smiled. "Keep up the good work."
Brynazirr nodded, "I will, commander."
When the betazoid had left, Veh returned her attention to her security
reports...all the while thinking about her plans to meet Commander Dyer after
their shifts ended that evening so they could spend some time in a martial
arts combat holoprogram Veh had picked up in San Francisco -- Klingon Death
Arena. It sounded like a lot of fun!
============================================================
Lieutenant T'Reija
Conference Room
Stardate 9805.11
"Lt. T'Reija, sshow our guestss to their quarterss," Sortha said, standing
up. "Disssmisssed."
"Aye, sir" The lieutenant replied. She brought the two men too their quarters.
"Is there anything else?"
"No thank you," Horton said.
T'Reija left. The Alpha security team had just finished its shift, so hers
began.
As they were only at the beginning of their mission, nothing extraordinary
occurred and her work was just routine. Then a young Bolian ensign came
towards her.
"Li... lieutenant..." he stumbled, his eyes nervously moving from one side
to the other. "May I ask you a question, sir?"
"Speak freely, ensign."
"Well, I heard that there was a mission briefing, and of course I know, that if
the crew will be informed on the mission, the captain will do so. I... will it be
risky? I wouldn't ask, but my wife is having our first child in a couple of
months and I don't want her to become a widow."
T'Reija raised one eyebrow. She just wanted to give the young man a cutting
answer, but then she halted. He really seamed very nervous, and... frightened.
As many were.
"Ensign, I cannot inform you of anything considering the mission.
Especially in times like this, with the war going on and everything, no mission can be
considered as safe. And as starfleet officer, especially here on this ship, we
have to take these risks."
She was right, she knew that. But the Bolian had made her think. Even the best
officers could get shaken by the thought of dangerous missions, leaving loved
ones behind, never knowing if they would return. Would they return this time?
============================================================
USS Fearless
Bridge
Stardate 9805.12
It was time to depart for Qal'Nagath.
Both Captain Sortha and Commander Dyer arrived on the bridge just moments
before the ship was to leave. The crew members were at their stations and all
systems checked out. Fearless was in tip-top shape and ready for action.
Sortha sat down in his oversized captain's chair and checked out reports
before turning his attention to a newcomer on the bridge. It was Commander
Sonya Kalavar. She had come up from her quarters to see the launched of the
Fearless.
"Welcome, commander," Sortha said. He then motioned to the empty chair
beside Dyer. "Have a ssseat."
The attractive blonde smiled and sat down, "Thank you captain. I must say,
I am quite impressed with this ship. I've never been aboard a Sovereign-class
starship."
"Then you are in for a treat, commander," Sortha said. "Fearlesss is a
ssstate-of-the art vesssel."
Kalavar smiled, then glanced at Michael Dyer seated beside her. Dyer was
busy reading a report handed to him by the new tactical officer, Matt Foster
and didn't notice the woman looking at him.
"Commander Dyer," Sonya said. "Perhaps you could show Professor Horton and
I around once we are en route. It will take us a week to reach Sector 435-G.
We're going to need to know our way around this magnificent starship."
Absently, Dyer nodded. "Sure."
"Great," she smiled. It wasn't until after he agreed that Dyer realized
there was something more going on behind Kalavar's pretty smile...and if
Vehakra caught wind of it she wouldn't probably like it.
"Sir," Foster reported from tactical. "Starfleet Command is hailing us.
Audio only."
"On sspeaker," Sortha said.
"This is Starfleet Command. USS Fearless, you are cleared for departure.
Maintain a speed of one-quarter impulse until you've passed the outer markers
then you are free to go to warp."
"Underssstood, Sstarfleet," Sortha said. "Fearlessss out."
"Helm," Dyer said."Break orbit and lay in a course for Sector 435-G.
Maintain one-quarter impulse as instructed."
"Aye," Lt. Quilman responded. "Course laid in."
"Engage," Sortha said.
Quilman entered the commands and a moment later the Fearless came around
and gracefully left Earth's orbit. As she did so, the forward viewscreen
displayed the image of a small convoy of ships arriving at Earth...they were
reminants of the Seventh Fleet arriving back at Earth after their defeat by
the Dominion. The crew solemly looked on as the Fearless passed over the
battered hulls of the ships and sped out to space....away from the war, away
from the fighting.
Everyone couldn't help but feel cheated that they were being taken off
the front lines for this mission.
Within minutes, Quilman announced they'd cleared the outer markers and
Sortha nodded, "Set course and prepare to go to warp 8."
"Course laid in," Quilman confirmed.
"Warp ssspeed, Mr. Quilman," Sortha said. As the ship lept to warp and
left Earth behind, Sortha turned to Dyer. "Commander, why don't you give our
guessstss the grand tour."
"Yes sir," Dyer said.
As Kalavar and Dyer left to get Professor Horton, Sortha turned to Lt.
Commander Foster, the 'new guy' who was taking Tyrian Summer's place, and
said, "Commander, you have the bridge. I'll be in my ready room."
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/The Other Woman
Commander Michael Dyer
U.S.S. Fearless
Stardate 9805.13
Dyer entered the Tactical scenario room. He thought he check in to see how
Foster was making out with the staff. When he entered he heard snickering from
a group of about 7 officers and enlisted. They were standing around Lt.
Masterson, and Lt. Commander Foster.
"I see your getting to know your people." Dyer broke the tension.
"Yeah we're like peas in a pod Commander." said Masterson
"Don't try that on me." said Dyer shooting Masterson a look. Dyer had
written Masterson up twice himself since he'd been on Fearless. He was a 49
year old Lieutenant, who was never going to acheive any higher rank than that
because of his unwillingness to take orders.
The two officers entered Foster's office, and the closed behind them.
"Don't mind him Matt," Dyer began. "He's a bull, but he's relatively harmless."
"I've handled worse," Foster admitted. "Besides, he'll find that I'm a
formidable adversary."
Dyer and Foster spoke for a few more minutes, then Dyer let Matt get back to work.
LATER THAT DAY...
Dyer left his quarters to head to the bridge. They were about to leave
Earth and his place was on the bridge. As he reached the turbolift, he met
Captain Sortha.
"Captain." Dyer said.
"Commander, how isss Lt. Commander Fossster sssettling in?" He posed as
they stepped onto the turbolift.
"Bridge." Dyer ordered the computer.
"Very well sir. He had his first run in with Masterson today, but I think
he'll do fine." Dyer was pleased with the way Foster had handled Masterson earlier.
"That'ss good." Sortha said as the turbolift stopped and the two officer's
stepped off and took their seats on the bridge.
Dyer turned to his console where he monitored all of the key systems the
ship would use during departure. He mainly liked the view as they left the
solar system, and trained a sensor array to the aft as the main view was
focused on the forward view. He liked to watch Earth become smaller and
smaller until you could see it at all and it was out fo sensor range.
He barely even noticed when Sonya Kalavar arrived on the bridge and took a
seat next to his. She spoke with the Captain briefly and then turned to him.
"Commander Dyer," Sonya said. "Perhaps you could show Professor Horton and
I around once we are en route. It will take us a week to reach Sector 435-G.
We're going to need to know our way around this magnificent starship."
Absently, Dyer nodded. "Sure."
"Great," she smiled.
The regular departure sequence of events transpired. The ship navigated
the solar system at impulse speeds and the Sortha gave the order to go to
warp. As the ship lept to warp andleft Earth behind, Sortha turned to Dyer.
"Commander, why don't you give our guessstss the grand tour."
"Yes sir," Dyer said.
Dyer spent almost four hours showing the two visitor the ship. As they
proceded it became clear to him that Commander Kalavar knew this ship almost
as well as he did. She had most assuredly studied schematics somewhere. He
proceded with the tour and even had to call Veh and postpone their date for an hour.
When he finally showed up in the holdeck, she was noticeably upset.
"I cannot stand around and wait for you all night Mike."
"I know, I would have been here on time, but the Captain asked to to give
Professor Horton and Commander Kalavar around the ship. I'm sorry."
Dyer hoped that this one incident wouldn't interfere with their budding
relationship. He really like Veh, and didn't want to do anything to screw this up.
============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Fearless
Stardate 9805.16
Vehakra listened to Dyer's explanation about his absence and she conceded
that he in fact had no choice...Sortha had ordered him to give the guest's a
tour and he, as First Officer, was obligated to do so. There was no reason for
her to be mad, this was a starship and they were the crew...this wasn't the
last time duty would have to come before pleasure.
"It's OK," Vehakra told Mike as she took his hand. "Sorry I seemed
mad....its just that I only have a short break then I have to get back to
security...I've got drills to run and reports up to here to read. But I've
still got a couple of hours and I thought we could have dinner at a nice
restaurant holoprogram I found. It's a cafe under the Eiffel Tower in France."
Dyer smiled and nodded, "Sounds great."
She ordered up the program and led Dyer into the holodeck by the hand....
SEVERAL HOURS LATER....
Vehakra had changed back into her uniform from her casual clothes and was
back on duty. Her dinner with Mike Dyer had gone great and they were planning
to get together again after the mission. Veh wanted to take things slowly.
Relationships were new to her and she didn't want to plunge into this thing
head first.
The Orion security officer entered her security office and found a tall,
attractive blonde human female standing at her desk reading over a report. As
she approached, Veh recognized the woman as Commander Sonya Kalavar.
"Late night, commander?" Vehakra asked.
"Oh, yes. I couldn't sleep," Kalavar said. "I thought I'd come down and
see how your security unit operates...since I am from Starfleet Security."
Vehakra rounded her desk and sat down. "And do we meet Starfleet's
expectations?"
"Yes, everything seems to run very efficiently around here," Kalavar said.
"You've done well."
"Well, the credit really goes to Lt. Commander Ki'lal, my predecessor. He
ran a really well disciplined unit," Rhikal explained. "I have an excellent
assistant as well, Lt. Brynaziir."
Kalavar set down the padd she'd been reading and leaned forward on Veh's
desk. "So, commander, what can you tell me about Commander Dyer. I met him
earlier during a tour of the ship and I really like him."
Vehakra knew this couldn't just be a coincidence. She then remembered that
Mike had contacted her during the tour with Kalavar and Horton, so it was
likely the commander had overheard his brief conversation with Veh and knew
they were dating.
She calmed herself, trying to keep from becoming angry. Kalavar was a
superior officer and she had to remain respectful.
"Oh, well, professionally he's a great first officer," Veh said.
"How about personally?" Kalavar asked. "Is he involved with anyone?"
"As a matter of fact....no, he's not involved, so to speak. He and I have
been on a few dates together...off duty," Vehakra said.
Kalavar smiled, "I see. Sorry, I didn't mean to be nosey."
"No problem," Vehakra said.
"So if you're just dating, you aren't...serious, right?" the blonde asked.
Veh wanted to punch her lights out...really bad. She looked up from her
desk and cast a nasty glare at Kalavar which the commander did a good job
ignoring as she maintained her smile.
"Sir, may I speak freely?" Vehakra said, standing up to her own
formidable six foot height.
Kalavar looked at her with a smug grin. "By all means, lieutenant
commander."
"First of all, commander, we are on a mission....a rather important
mission. Don't you think your timing to land a new boyfriend is a little bad?
Secondly, if you wish to pursue Commander Dyer....do so by all means. He has
good taste and I don't think I have anything to worry about."
"Are you finished?" Kalavar asked with a sneer.
"Yes," Rhikal confirmed. "Commander."
"You are a former slave girl, correct?" Kalavar asked.
Veh, seething beneath her cool facade, nodded.
"Then trust me, lieutenant commander, he's involved with you for the
thrill," she said. "An officer like Commander Dyer isn't going to get himself
seriously involved with a woman of your...background."
"I realize you are a superior officer, but I am the security chief of
this ship and I have work to do," Vehakra said with a icy tone. "So with all
due respect, Commander Kalavar....get out of my office."
Sonya Kalavar smiled at Vehakra and then slowly turned and sauntered out
of her office. "See you around Commander Rhikal."
When she was gone, Vehakra cleared her own desk with a sweep of her arm,
smashing a coffee mug and scattering several padds on the deck. "Bitch!" she
snarled, before kicking the chair away. She stood there, alone in the security
office and cursed in Orion for several minutes until she settled down. Veh
then set about picking up the mess she'd made.
She decided she would not tell Mike about the encounter with Kalavar. It
was up to Dyer to decide who or what he wanted.
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Tactical Research
Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
Security Office
Stardate 9805.16
After having gone through the security personnel list and receiving
approval from Commander Rhikal, Thoraz returned to his station.
It was true that recently there were a lot of personnel changes aboard the
Fearless, so Thoraz decided to go over the list of personnel by department.
Under the direct command of Commander Dyer:
Bridge Officers: Commander Rhikal, Ops - Ensign Marcus, Ensign Dan
Tomlinson, Ensign Sarah Korvas, Ensign Tumpak and Ensign Jiro Ngawa
Conn- Lt. (jg) Ian Quilman, Ensign Deanna Corvella, Ensign Bill Lund, Ensign
Magnusen and Ensign Elise Brandt.
Science - Lt. T'Par, Ensign Raphael Stein, Ensign Huan Chang, Ensign Ehlert,
Ensign Steve Slavicek, Ensign Robert Storch plus 19 specialists [enlisted and/or civillian]
Stellar Cartography - Lt. Sorlan, Ensign Mishigawa Ashito, Ensign Yordan
el-Djira, Ensign Micah Weiss and Ensign Keziah. plus 15 specialists
Under the direct command of Doctor Ming - Medical- Lt. Brett Mathews, Lt
Francis Black, Lt Br'Kash, Lt Id'ix, Lt. Adrian Hollings, Nursing staff
Ensigns: Jason Darby, Sally Jahn, Ned Brown, Juan Corazon, Stacie Overman,
Kevin Baer, Lana Amendt, Mikhail Kostnikoff, John Kelley, Al'mahil, Gitalid,
Suhara Prakatra plus 25 medics: Donald Pazia, Angar Rima, Imar Sharifa, Todd
Jamsin, Ana Varida, Benjamin Yaffra, Lucas Abiah, Sanji Dhimitri, Entara Kai,
Bolas Tor, Semas Cosht, Sen Dax, Edward Rettel, Sam Chisum, Neamh, Lorrie Oggins, Mary Cuthbert,
Stylix, Modan Borazon, Ollta Aquila, Avaarluk, Terry Penrick, Tiful, Uwa Kalindi, Sun Kwum
Under the direct command of Lt. Sholek
Engineering- Lt [jg] John Shariel, Lt. Sandra Staedt, Ensigns Bradley,
Simko Ajari, Hassad Khoura, Tom Webb, Vernon Marvell, Olaf Lars, Hal Wallace,
Sekka Oba, Merex, Oonagh. plus 38 specialists: Jennifer Peyton, Tamil Rashida,
Enar Shayna, Yael, Dura Zuleik, Lyle Adair, Tovax Bix, Angela Darius, Vemer Gamal,
Suhail Jhabez, Mustafa Khalil, Sqan, Alunwu, Bolan Mitral, Robert Allencourt
Keturah, Curla Nola, Franklin Pallas, Gina Chiana, Lumak Raisa, Gary Skyler,
Allen Tamar, Xanthe, Jackson Conor, Carlos Boaz, Vita Dov, Corbin Torquil,
Charles Malachi, Demah Jex, Tyler Innis, Paul Akiba, Billy Bear, Tranmar,
Karin Munoz, Khalsa, Fred Kusugak, Shamhlu, Krowchuk
Under the direct command of Commander Foster
Tactical- Lt. Carl Masterson, Lt. Steven MacTaggart, Ensigns Sahmi Singh,
Remas Tolbin, Jonas Robarts, Lilly Andrews, Awail Nasri. plus 19 enlisted:
Thalass, Zendria, Kolar Amadeo, John Aram, Hillary Jeleni, Zebulon Arlad,
Pierre Ashan, Kervon Baroka,
Ally Karis, Zem Averix, Chal, L'sreq, Bodan Moginie, Teyl Athuir, Mosha Arun,
Teena Greyfox, Anthony Kristopopoulos, Zoltan Rumanciuk, CHar'Rikel
============================================================
Lt. Commander Matthew Foster
Onboard Fearless
Stardate 9805.18
After having a brief meeting with Commander Dyer and finshing up placing
his stuff in his quarters to the exact point he liked it he headed up to the
bridge.
He informed Captain Sortha they were allowed to depart. He saw Dyer wince
as he was asked to take their guests on a tour of the Fearless. He didn't
like the way the professor had conducted the briefing but he had to put up
with it.
"Aye sir." said Foster as Sortha had handed the bridge watch over to him
because he was the only other command level officer. He watched Sortha go.
even though Matt wasn't fully accustomed to seeing a Gorn as a captain he
could swear he heard the weariness and worry in his Commanding Officer's
voice.
He walked away from his console and sat down. And called up a list of
strategic locations near their target system in which the Oberth could
resupply itself. Also he ran up a check list to see if the Oberth was re-armed.
What he read shocked him.
The Oberth was re armed with more than she had when she was a starfleet
science vessel.
Quantum Torpedos
Experimental Plasma Torpedos
Photon phased phaser array.
And numerous others. Foster was right away thinking on who might have
supplied them. Breen were one good race. The Orions were another bet. But the
most interesting would be the Ferengi.
They were smugglers,arms dealers,drug lords you name it they've done and
worse. At least Foster couldn't pin this one on Da'mon Tok becuse Tok hadn't
done operations in Federation Space for eight years.
Later that morning......
Matt met up with Dyer and was walking in stride with his new friend.
"Commander, I saw you on the bridge earlier it appeared you didn't like being
a babysitter."
"Yeah, Commander Kalvar has been a pain. It's a miracule that the commander
is enjoying the use of our holodecks at the moment."
"I've got Masterson, MacTaggart, Singh, Tolbin and Robarts all trying to
get noticed for assistant tactical chief."
"Now there's a surprise."
Foster turned to his left and noticed the Professor in the mess hall.
"Wonder what the professor is doing in here. I've got a list about that
Oberth, Captain Sortha's not going to enjoy reading it."
Dyer started to take a sip of his drink when he stopped and said,"How's
that Matt?"
"The professor's name is listed as one of the contacts. Plus a whole bunch
of people. Three systems could have helped out that Oberth. And one of those
systems has a Ferengi Damon in charge."
That caught the first officer's attention....
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/The Journey Continues
Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
Security Office
Stardate 9805.19
Thoraz had finished going through the list of personnel on the Fearless
when his shift was over. He passed Commander Rhikal on his way out.
"Good evening Commander."
After a quick stop at his quarters to change clothes and grab something to
eat he headed for the Holodeck. Thoraz wasn't sure what to make of the
advisors that had come onboard, but he had a week to observe them before the
mission truly began. Before reaching the holodeck, Thoraz made a detour.
"Come"
"Hi Marquilles. I was just passing by and thought I'd stop for a minute.
I just wanted to say I am impressed with how well you have adjusted to this
new assignment. Keep up the good work. In no time at all you'll be part of
our family here."
"Thank you, sir. I guess my childhood had some merits. My father was in
Starfleet as well. We were constantly moving to to locations where it was
possible for officers to have their children along."
"Well, I think some of that credit is yours alone. See you tomorrow. I
have a new training session planned. We will be operating against the other
teams as well as the computer.
Better get some rest."
Then Thoraz headed for the Holodeck. 'Good advice I gave Marquilles.
Too bad I don't follow it myself. But, this program is improving nicely.
I'll only spend a few hours in it anyway.' he thought.
Several hours later, the computer interrupted Thoraz in the middle of a
new scenario.
"Lieutenant, your duty shift begins in one hour."
Thoraz froze. Had he spent all night in the holodeck? He shut down the
simulation and raced through the ship to his quarters, bumpimg into the
captain as he rounded a corner.
"Sir. Sorry, Sir. I, umm, have to change before my duty shift begins. I
lost track of time, I shouldn't have been running so fast. Sorry, sir."
Sortha eyed the lieutenant for a moment, then hissed, "Carry on, Mr.
Brynaziir...and try getting sssome ressst before we reach Qal'Nagath."
The lumbering Gorn then stepped around Brynaziir and headed off toward
the bridge.
Thoraz arrived on time for his duty shift at the security office.
"Hi Lt. T'Reija. Anything to report?" Thoraz asked as he relieved the
Vulcan officer knowing that there would almost certainly be nothing to report.
"Lieutenant, you appear to be at less than optimum appearance this morning."
"Oh, I ended up working on a personal project later than I anticipated.
Don't worry, I'll be up to the job today."
"Lieutenant, Vulcans do not worry. I was merely stating a fact."
"Yes, I know. I have studied Vulcan history and culture quite
extensively. I was merely using a coloquial expression. My parents are both
scientists. So I grew up being exposed to many varied cultures and it has
become a hobby of mine to learn what I can of the culture of those I meet and
work with. Currently I am researching the Bolians." Thoraz stated as he made
his way over to his desk.
"Oh, Lt. T'Reija. Before you leave, I was just wondering how you would
say Beta Team is working out? I mean how are they working together as a team?"
============================================================
Commander Michael Dyer
U.S.S. Fearless
Stardate 9805.19
Dyer had been walking and chatting with Matt Foster for a couple of
minutes. He was thinking about how great Veh was about the mixup with their
combat date on the holodeck the night before.
"I've got Masterson, MacTaggart, Singh, Tolbin and Robarts all trying to
get noticed for assistant tactical chief." Foster said.
Matt sounded like he was hinting for some advice.
"Now there's a surprise. Masterson is the senior officer among the five.
But his attitude toward superior officers has left him unpromotable. He is
very capable, and has spent most of his years in Tactical, so he is a wealth
of experience if you can handle working that closely with him." Dyer was
offering help, but the decision was Foster's to make with Captain Sortha.
"Before you talk to any of them though, I'd talk to Captain Sortha. He may
make one of the Shadow Operatives your assistant tactical officer. Even the
lower ranking operatives constitute the Command Crew on the ship, and out-rank
more senior officers due to their training and special assignments."
Foster turned to his left and noticed the Professor in the mess hall.
"Wonder what the professor is doing in here. I've got a list about that
Oberth, Captain Sortha's not going to enjoy reading it."
Dyer started to take a sip of his drink when he stopped and said, "How's
that Matt?"
"The Professor's Name is listed as one of the contacts. Plus a whole bunch
of people. Three systems could have helped out that Oberth. And one of those
systems has a Feregni Damon in charge."
That caught the First officer's attention.
"That's an interesting bit of info that the professor forgot to mention at
the briefing, isn't it." Dyer was beginning to get concerned about the
civilian involvement in this mission. "Let's go see the Captain on this." With
that he and Matt downed what was left of their synthehol, and headed for the bridge.
As they reached the door, Sonya Kalavar came through the door.
"Commander Dyer, could I see you for a moment?"
Dyer sighed very noticeably. "Go ahead Matt. I'll see you later." Foster
left to go and see Sortha with the info about the Oberth.
"What can I do for you Commander?" He asked the Intel Officer.
"I just wondered if you had time for a drink. I'd like to talk to you for a
while. You seem like someone I'd like to get to know better."
Dyer couldn't believe how bold she was, but I guess you didn't get to be in
her position without being bold. He needed to shut this down and fast.
============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Fearless
Stardate 9805.19
Vehakra couldn't get over how boldly Commander Kalavar was pursuing Mike.
It was really starting to get to her. While she and Dyer hadn't discussed the
problem, she could tell he was uneasy about something...and she guessed it was
probably Kalavar's actions.
As she stood in the turbolift headed down to deck 19, Veh shook her head
when she realized she was being silly over the whole thing. Dyer wouldn't dump
her for Kalavar. The blonde was coming on way too strong. Mike wouldn't go for
it. Kalavar was only going to make an ass out of herself, and Veh just hoped
she was around when it happened.
The lift stopped and deposited Vehakra on deck 19, and the Orion woman
found herself in engineering. She stepped out of the lift and walked through
engineering. Around her the crew was hard at work keeping Fearless running
smoothly. Once she was comfortable at the reigns of security, she hoped her
department would function as efficiently as Sholek's did.
Then she spotted the Romulan officer standing at a console checking
readings with an ensign at his side. She approached Sholek, a padd in her
hand, and waited for him to finish before she spoke. When he was done at the
console he looked up, saw Vehakra and nodded, "Commander. What brings you to
engineering?"
"I've been working on some upgrades to the ship's internal security
sensors and I wanted to run them by you for your input," Veh said, hoping not
only for his help but maybe to mend the rift between him and the team which
occured during the mission to Romulus a couple of months earlier. "In fact, if
your staff has time, I'd like them to perform the upgrades...they're the
engineers, my guys are only trained to shoot people and beat the hell out of them."
Sholek looked at her, his face expressionless.
"That was a joke, Sholek," the Orion woman remarked. She then handed him
a padd with the upgrades on them and awaited Sholek's reply...
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Suspicions Aroused
Lt. Sholek
Engineering
Stardate 9805.20
Ensign Jennifer Bradley approached Sholek. "Here is the computer report on
the upgrades to the system you made," she told him. "Weapon efficiency is up
5%, sensors 6%, and shield out put up 18%."
As Sholek examined the report, Lt. Commander Rhikal walked into Engineering.
She approached Sholek, a padd in her hand, and waited for him to finish
before she spoke. When he was done at the console he looked up, saw Vehakra
and nodded, "Commander. What brings you to engineering?"
"I've been working on some upgrades to the ship's internal security sensors
and I wanted to run them by you for your input," Veh said, hoping not only for
his help but maybe to mend the rift between him and the team which occurred
during the mission to Romulus a couple of months earlier. "In fact, if your
staff has time, I'd like them to perform the upgrades...they're the engineers,
my guys are only trained to shoot people and beat the hell out of them."
Sholek looked at her, his face expressionless.
"That was a joke, Sholek," the Orion woman remarked. She then handed him
a padd with the upgrades on them and awaited Sholek's reply.
"I believe we can actually improve on these upgrades, Commander," he replied.
"Jennifer?"
The ensign, startled at being spoken to, replied, "Yes Lieutenant."
"I would like you to assemble a team to take care of these upgrades for
Commander Rhikal. Have Lieutenant Shariel look at them and see if he can
improve on them."
"Aye sir," Bradley replied.
"Is there anything else Commander?" he asked Veh waiting for a reply...
============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Engineering
Stardate 9805.20
Vehakra looked at Sholek and shook her head. "No...not really. I guess I
just want to say I'm sorry I haven't been very receptive of you since the
Romulus mission. I commanded the away team and I guess I was a little put off
by you behavior. I hope we can put it all behind us. That's all."
Veh then turned and left for her security office...
============================================================
Captain Sortha
USS Fearless
Stardate 9805.20
Lieutenant Commander Rhikal's and Lieutenant Thoraz's comm badges beeped
almost simultaneously. As they tapped their badges and announced themselves
they were greeted by Captain Sortha's deep hissing voice, "Would you both join
me in holodeck one for some hand-to-hand combat sscenarioss?" the Captain
inquired. Veh and Thoraz looked at each other, it was of course not an
invitation, but it was a surprise. The Captain was not known to personally
invite officers into one of his holodeck simulations which generally involved
combat with adversaries far in advance of what standard size humanoids could
handle. Veh and Thoraz glanced at each other and answered, "on our way sir."
They soon met Captain Sortha on the black and yellow grid of the
holodeck. "Sortha program number 51" the Captain announced without preamble.
Immediately a raucous disorienting caucaphony of sound assailed them and they
were surrounded not by standard terrain, but by rapidly shifting geometrical
patterns. It was thoroughly disorientating. Veh and Thoraz looked at each
other, then the Captain, "Who are our adversaries sir?" thoraz asked.
"Me" the huge Gorn responded, "attack, now." Veh and Thoraz weren't sure
what was going on, but they trusted their Captain enough to believe he
wouldn't hurt them ...seriously. Veh and Thoraz moved together, attempting
to get Sortha in a position where they could attack him simultaneously.
Strangely it seemed easy to move to box the Captain in even despite the
wailing sounds and lights that assailed their ears. Seeing a chance they
both sprang, Veh attempting a choke hold while Thoraz tied up the Gorn's arms.
Easily they were able to grapple with him, after several seconds the group
crashed to the floor. Now thoraz and Veh were getting worried...this seemed
too easy. Soon they found out why. As they were struggling Sortha had
occasion to speak directly into their ears the following message: "I don't
trust our visitors. Ssomething doess not sseem right. Lieutenant, use
whatever you must to ascertain their true intentions, Commander be ready to
implement a security override of any and I mean any system on this ship and
keep track of their wherabouts on the ship." After several more minutes of
combat, Sortha ended the simulation. "Thank you, your skills have improved
conssiderably" Sortha announced. "Back to your posts."
As Veh and Thoraz left, they realized the extreme measures the Captain
had taken to make sure their conversation wasn't overheard. The big Gorn
seemed slow and plodding normally...but they had learned that his judgement
was usually sound.
Later...
Captain's Ready Room
Sortha poured over the reports on the Oberth that Foster had given to
him. Quite an assortment of armaments... even a match for the Fearless.
Presumably they had upgraded other systems as well to keep up with the
increased power demands.
There must be vary little room left on that ship he mused. Quantum
torpedoes... dangerous, but maneageable. Plasma torpedoes.... now that was a
topic area Sortha was very well versed in. The Romulans had used Plasma
torpedoes for years nad the Gorn had countered with their own. Sortha was
probably the most knowledgeable officer in Starfleet on the tactics associated
with plasma torpedoes. The phased phaser array was also hard hitting, but
manageable... with skill.
"Commander Foster, see what information you can dig up on these weapon
systems and their interactions with an Oberth class ship. Often when you
upgrade a sship of thiss ssize with thiss much weaponry, ssome ssort of
catastrophic dessign flaw develops. Ssee if you can hypothesize what that
might be. Enlisst the help of any sstaff you need. Dissmisssed."
============================================================
Lieutenant T'Reija
USS Fearless
Stardate 9805.21
Thoraz arrived on time for his duty shift at the security office.
"Hi Lt. T'Reija. Anything to report?" Thoraz asked as he relieved the
Vulcan officer knowing that there would almost certainly be nothing to report.
"Everything is working within normal parameters. Lieutenant, you appear
to be at less than optimum appearance this morning."
"Oh, I ended up working on a personal project later than I anticipated.
Don't worry, I'll be up to the job today."
"Lieutenant, Vulcans do not worry. I was merely stating a fact."
"Yes, I know. I have studied Vulcan history and culture quite
extensively. I was merely using a coloquial expression. My parents are both
scientists. So I grew up being exposed to many varied cultures and it has
become a hobby of mine to learn what I can of the culture of those I meet and
work with. Currently I am researching the Bolians." Thoraz stated as he made
his way over to his desk.
"Oh, Lt. T'Reija. Before you leave, I was just wondering how you would
say Beta Team is working out? I mean how are they working together as a
team?"
"Up to now, there has been no incident that could make me believe
otherwise. Especially Ensign Bok and Ensign Kathar have done their jobs with admirably.
Nevertheless, I have noticed that there is an illogical feeling of fear among
some of the crew."
"What makes you believe that"
"During my last shift, a young Ensign asked me about the mission briefing.
Of course," she threw in, seeing that Thoraz wanted to say something. "Of course
I did not tell him anything. But he seemed to be... terrified of the thought
that this mission could be dangerous. What it, without doubt, is. Missions involving
timetravel are, as you most certainly know, never without risk, even if we
aren't supposed to travel through time."
"I know," replied Thoraz
"And it will not exactly help if our crew is frightened of every new mission
that COULD involve a risk. I cannot understand this attitude, as it is illogical and
emotional, but I will not judge a young officer because of it. I just thought
you would like to know."
With these words, Lt. T'Reija left to continued with her work in her quarters.
There was, undoubtedly, enough of it left for two people, and she wanted to get
finished before she allowed herself to take a rest. That was the way she always did,
everything had to be done to the end before she started something new. She
couldn't deny that her capability of concentrating had suffered from the
concern about her mother, so she often worked extra hours after the Beta Team
was already off work.
That, again, made her even more tired at times, but she was determined
not to let anybody take note of it.
Some time later, in her quarters...
The doorbell rang. The Vulcan didn't even take notice of it. Then it rang
again, so she said "Come in."
It was Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal.
"I hope I am not interrupting anything..." the Orion began slowly.
"Not at all, Commander. What can I do for you?"
"Well, my shift is still two hours to go, and I thought we could go to the
lounge, unless you have already had meal..."
"No, I haven't eaten in the last 21 hours. Your offer is acceptable. Thank you.
I will just finish this off, it will take no longer than 5 minutes."
It really didn't take longer, so the two women went to the ships lounge, were
T'Reija ordered a medium sized green salad from the replicate.
"You haven't eaten in 21 hours, and that's all you're having now?" Vehakra
asked surprised.
"Vulcans do not need much food."
The Lt. Commander didn't ask further, but still looked a little astonished.
"Lt. T'Reija, we don't know each other for a long time yet, but I strongly
believe you are worried about something."
"Worried?"
"Yes, you seem... confused."
"I am sorry. I didn't have much sleep in the last few days."
"If there is anything you want to talk about..."
No, she didn't want to talk about it, about her feelings. Not to the commander,
not to anybody. But T'Reija could see, that her personal situation had influenced
her work, so at the end, she did tell Vehakra the whole story about her mother
and the USS Surak and her concern.
"I know," she ended, "that my behaviour is highly emotional and that it is
disturbing the actions of the ship, if one of the leading officers lets him-
or herself be controlled by motions in this way. It is... unacceptable. It
is... perhaps... human. But I am not human!"
With these last words, her sight suddenly grew black and she collapsed.
She had not only had had nothing to eat in the last 21 hours, she also had had
no sleep...
============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Lounge
Stardate 9805.21
Veh nearly spit out her food when she saw T'Reija tumble backwards out of
her chair and crash to the floor. The Orion bolted around the table and came
to her side, bending to check her pulse and respiration. She was alive and her
vitals were fluctuating a little...but she otherwise seemed OK.
"Lt. Commander Rhikal to sickbay," Veh said, tapping her comm-bagde.
"Transport Lt. T'Reija to sickbay...medical emergency."
A short time later, Vehakra was standing beside T'Reija in the sickbay as
the Vulcan lay unconscious on a biobed. On the other side of her, Dr.
Cassandra Ming was hard at work checking her over and administering
hyposprays.
"Tell me, commander," Ming began. "Do you often work your officers so
hard they collapse?"
"What!?" Veh snapped back. "What's that supposed to mean, doctor?"
"This woman is suffering from exhaustion and malnourishment," Ming said.
"I don't think she'd eaten or slept in days."
"Believe me, doc, I haven't worked her hard at all," Veh said. "She's
been logging regular shifts...but I can't account for her actions off duty.
She mentioned tonight she'd not eaten or slept in some time."
"Well, it takes a lot to knock a Vulcan off their feet...and she really
got knocked down bad," Ming said. "But she'll be OK. I am ordering her to get
a minimum of 10 hours sleep immediately and for her to begin eating three
balanced meals daily."
Veh nodded, "I agree. I'll see that she carries out those orders."
A moment later T'Reija stirred and her eyes fluttered open. She was
momentarily disoriented as she slowly figured out where she was.
"I lost consciousness?" the Vulcan asked.
"I'll say," Veh remarked. "You're lucky you didn't injure yourself in the
fall. Guess you have a hard head, right?"
"What happened?" T'Reija asked.
"You forgot to eat or sleep for who knows how long," Vehakra said, a hint
of anger to her voice. "I can't have my security officers passing out from
hunger and exhaustion. Mind telling me what's going on, T'Reija?"
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Entering Sector 435-G
Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
USS Fearless
Stardate 9805.22
Thoraz headed for the captain's Ready Room.
"Captain. I ran that diagnostic you requested. All systems appear to be
functioning within standard parameters. I will continue periodic checks. By
the way, Sir, I was doing some research on a new presentient species. It is a
rather interesting species- very aggressive. If they were sentient I'd say
they would advance, or try to, very quickly, almost ambiciously. Not at all
like an older order of life on that same planet, which is much more gentle,
with almost a concerned and caring attitude about them.
"Are there any other systems you want me to check, sir?"
Later ....
Thoraz headed to the lounge area after his shift was over. He took a PADD in
along to make it appear as if he was working on something. In reality he was
hoping to be able to observe the visitors.
Shortly after he arrived, Thoraz spotted Professor Horton entering the
lounge. The professor looked tired as he was seated and order something to eat.
============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Fearless (After leaving T'Reija in sickbay)
Stardste 9805.23
Vehakra's body still ached after the hand-to-hand simulation with Captain
Sortha. Even though he had only used the simulation as a cover to voice
suspicions about Kalavar and Horton, it had still been an effective workout.
The Orion woman knew she would not want to have to fight Sortha in hand-
to-hand combat -- ever. He was a much too formidble opponent.
She had taken what the captain said quite seriously though and she and
Thoraz had been monitoring the actions of their guests since the conversation.
But so far, she couldn't see where either was up to no good...except Kalavar
and her relentless pursuit of Dyer.
Still, Veh had run several security scans of the Fearless, aiming to find
any tampering with ship's systems, or the use of listening devices...and there
were none. She had assigned members of Thoraz's team to keep watch on the
guests...discreetly following the activities around the ship by tailing them
and monitoring them with the computer.
So far, all was well.
============================================================
USS Fearless
Bridge
Stardate 9805.24
The Fearless was on the outer edge of the Federation, rapidly approaching
that region known as the Frontier. It had been more than a day since the ship
had seen or heard another Starfleet vessel, and two days since last coming
within visual or sensor range of a Federation planet, colony, outpost or starbase.
Commander Dyer was in command of the bridge when Ensign Jamie Marcus
reported from ops news they had all been waiting to hear.
"Sir, we have entered Sector 435-G," Marcus reported. "I have Outpost 489
in the Follokin system on long range sensors. That is the last Federation
outpost we'' encounter. In two hours we'll enter unclaimed space and sixteen
hours after that we'll reach Qal'Nagath."
Foster nodded, "Sir, I have confirmed there are six ships at or
approaching Outpost 489. Three are independent freighters, one is an old
Federation civilian scout ship, one is a Vulcan science vessel and the last is
the USS Monitor, a Sabre-class starship assigned to patrol duty in this
sector. Other than those ships, there is no one else besides us on the
Federation side of the Frontier."
"Orders, sir?" Quilman asked, to confirm whether they were to continue
silent running on to Qal'Nagath or not....
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Silent Running
Lieutenant T'Reija
USS Fearless, Sickbay
Stardate 9805.25
A short time later, Vehakra was standing beside T'Reija in the sickbay as
the Vulcan lay unconscious on a biobed. On the other side of her, Dr.
Cassandra Ming was hard at work checking her over and administering hyposprays.
"Tell me, commander," Ming began. "Do you often work your officers so
hard they collapse?"
"What!?" Veh snapped back. "What's that supposed to mean, doctor?"
"This woman is suffering from exhaustion and malnourishment," Ming said.
"I don't think she'd eaten or slept in days."
"Believe me, doc, I haven't worked her hard at all," Veh said. "She's
been logging regular shifts...but I can't account for her actions off duty.
She mentioned tonight she'd not eaten or slept in some time."
"Well, it takes a lot to knock a Vulcan off their feet...and she really
got knocked down bad," Ming said. "But she'll be OK. I am ordering her to get
a minimum of 10 hours sleep immediately and for her to begin eating three
balanced meals daily."
Veh nodded, "I agree. I'll see that she carries out those orders."
A moment later T'Reija stirred and her eyes fluttered open. She was
momentarily disoriented as she slowly figured out where she was.
"I lost consciousness?" the Vulcan asked.
"I'll say," Veh remarked. "You're lucky you didn't injure yourself in the
fall. Guess you have a hard head, right?"
"What happened?" T'Reija asked.
"You forgot to eat or sleep for who knows how long," Vehakra said, a hint
of anger to her voice. "I can't have my security officers passing out from
hunger and exhaustion. Mind telling me what's going on, T'Reija?"
"I... I'm not quite sure." Her head ached as if someone would use a
compressed air breaker on it and the room sort of rolled from side to side.
T'Reija concentrated on one point of the room and tried to hold it, she
managed after some seconds.
"I suppose I HAVE been working a little hard lately, I will be more
careful from now on. I assure you something like this will not happen again."
"No, do you want to tell me, what's REALLY going on, or do I have to get
you suspended from duty?"
"Suspend! Why?" T'Reija asked taken aback.
"Because in this state of yours I can't let you work unless I know what's
going on."
"Okay. I will tell you what I know, Commander. On shore-leave lately, I
met Shirak, my father. He told me, that USS Surak, the ship my mother serves
on as first officer, is being missed. I hadn't felt very good at that time
already, but then it wasn't anything serious. Starfleet Intelligence gave me
regular information, and as I'm Intelligence officer, no one else saw these
transmissions. The ship has been found, but without crew. It is suspected they
either are dead or held captive by a race named Gyrians for an unknown reason."
"That of course is very regrettable, and I feel with you, T'Reija, but..."
"No... I am aware, that this alone is no reason for my... behaviour. And I
am not looking for excuses. But I wasn't finished yet. My mother and I always
had a strong bond between us, as I had to my father before I left Vulcan. But
the bond to my mother held, even then. She is... or was... a strong telepath,
so strong, that she needed extra training to shield herself from others. I too
have high PSI-factors, and that is the only way I can explain my recent
disorientation. It shouldn't be happening. Vulcans aren't long-distant
telepaths, and from her to Gyria III there IS quite a distance. Vulcans can
only contact when touching, or perhaps even over a short distance, but not
that far. I KNOW she is alive, can you understand that? I... feel it, I feel
her presence. I feel her... her feelings, too. At least I think it is her. And
they aren't very pleasant."
"Could you be more specific about that, lieutenant?" the Orion woman asked
patiently.
"I sense... pain... whatever it is, it is getting weaker by the hours that
pass. It is no physical pain, more... mental. I can't say more, I don't KNOW
anything else."
"Then why didn't you say anything?" Vehakra seemed, apart from looking
concerned, annoyed. "Nobody would have cut your head of because of it."
"I know. I'm sorry. But at first, I didn't know what was going on. And as
I suspected, something... stopped me from telling anybody. I think it was her."
"Why should she stop you from reporting what you know?"
"Because... she doesn't want help. She doesn't want someone to risk his
life in rescuing her or the rest of the crew."
"Not even her crewmates? That does sound strange."
"The USS Surak is a ship on which most of the crew are Vulcans... oh! It
is so clear now! I... I..." Her sight went black again, but with all her
strength she managed to stay conscious.
"What is it you see? T'Reija? T'Reija! Dr. Ming?" Vehakra was about to
look for the doctor.
"No," T'Reija hold her back "no, I'm okay. There is a Vulcan legend saying
that if many minds are combined, every distance is possible to bridge. That
was in the ancient times, when my people were brutal, martial, illogical. The
time before Surak, the great philosopher, came. That must be the way they can
contact with me. And my mother, as, probably, the strongest telepath there,
has contacted me. Not my father, he wouldn't understand... but I can..."
"What shall we do now? Contact Starfleet Intelligence?"
"No, we... I... yes, we will have to do that. Commander... would you do
that for me? The doctor gave me a sedative, and I will have to sleep now. I
will... explain the whole situation to them when I awake. And then I will go
back to my post, where I belong."
"But..."
"The place where I belong," the Vulcan murmured, falling to sleep in
result of the sedative.
============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Fearless
Stardate 9805.25
Vehakra wanted to help T'Reija, but the Fearless had entered Sector 435-G
and Captain Sortha had ordered communications silence. She wouldn't be able to
contact Starfleet Intelligence now until the communications ban was lifted.
She was concerned about T'Reija, about the telepathic stress she was
under. There had to be something she could do to help. And the answer soon
came to her.
"Lt. Sholek, Lt. Brynaziir, report to the security office," Vehakra said,
tapping her comm-badge. "I need to speak with both of you."
Perhaps the ship's accomplished telepaths could help resolve T'Reija's problem...
============================================================
Lt. Commander Matt Foster
On Fearless
Stardate 9805.25
Matt walked out after being dismissed from the captain's ready room and he
headed straight to his office. As usual Masterson was there holding court.
"On your feet Masterson we've got work to do. McTaggart get me anything
from the database that suits well with Oberth class and the ramifications
of re-designing a Oberth class. Hiller get in touch with Science labs and see
if you can get a plasma sheild up in defense of these Plasma Torps," Foster
said as he touched a panel that opened up the cic section of the tactical
headquaters.
"Let's see here... Those systems.... And the damon..."
It was only the start of they would soon find out. Dyer enterd and saw
that the whole department was working and that Masterson was actually not
being so defensive. Lights were working and an aide gave Foster a file
folder...
They were busy...
"Seems we've got something on how we can track that Oberth. Davidson
check through that supplies list we were able to get from those contacts."
Dyer walked up to the table that Matt was reviewing the star chart and
had folders and padds strung out.
"Seems you've got the whole damn department working!!" said a very
surprised Dyer
"That's right I had a little word about teamwork and they shaped up. We're
tracking the Oberth through what we've received an hour ago that came in from
that damon."
Matt handed Dyer a padd.
"This is who I think is assisting the good doctor in his research."
"A former starfleet officer?"
"Not just any former starfleet officer, highly decorated and yet thought
long dead."
"Description matches those of Retired Rear Admrial Simon Kroog."
"Bingo. He is the one that supposedly that helped the good doctor and
Horton get the Oberth, And word has it he is in command of the Oberth."
============================================================
Commander Michael Dyer
USS Fearless, bridge
Stardate 9805.26
Dyer commanded the Fearless from his side chair. He still found Sortha's
chair too big for his human frame. He'd been going over some reports when
Ensign Jamie Marcus reported from ops news they had all been waiting to hear.
"Sir, we have entered Sector 435-G," Marcus reported. "I have Outpost 489
in the Follokin system on long range sensors. That is the last Federation
outpost we'll encounter. In two hours we'll enter unclaimed space and sixteen
hours after that we'll reach Qal'Nagath."
Foster nodded, "Sir, I have confirmed there are six ships at or approaching
Outpost 489. Three are independent freighters, one is an old Federation
civilian scout ship, one is a Vulcan science vessel and the last is the USS
Monitor, a Sabre-class starship assigned to patrol duty in this sector. Other
than those ships, there is no one else besides us on the Federation side of
the Frontier."
"Orders, sir?" Quilman asked, to confirm whether they were to continue
silent running on to Qal'Nagath or not....
"Maintain cloaking device. If we can pick those ships up on long range,
they'd be soon able to pick us up if we aren't cloaked, and I don't want to
draw curiosity to our mission." Dyer siad.
Dyer continued, "We will continue silent running to Qal'Nagath. Maintain
radio silence."
He then notified the capatin of their location and condition. The captain
agreed that cloaked was the best way to slip out of Federation space undetected.
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Preparing to Meld
Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
Sick Bay
Stardate 9805.27
"Commander. Lt Brynaziir reporting for duty, sir!"
When Thoraz heard what assignment the commander had for him, his
expression changed slightly before he corrected himself.
"Sholek, you studied on Vulcan, right? Did you learn the Mind Meld technique?"
"Can it be used with more than one person?"
"Here is what I propose. I can contact minds from a distance, but I am
not sure how this would affect someone in a mind meld. We could both try to
establish contact and hopefully together piece this puzzle together. That
might prevent either of us from losing ourself in T'Reija's mind. What do you think?"
============================================================
Lt. Sholek
USS Fearless
Stardate 9805.28
Sholek entered the security office and noted that Lt. Brynaziir was not
present yet.
"Commander Rhikal," he said, "the upgrades you had requested are almost
complete."
"Thank you Lieutenant," replied Veh.
Lt. Brynaziir entered the office and Veh told them about Lieutenant T'Reija.
Brynaziir said:
"Sholek, you studied on Vulcan, right? Did you learn the Mind Meld technique?
"Can it be used with more than one person?
"Here is what I propose. I can contact minds from a distance, but I am not
sure how this would affect someone in a mind meld. We could both try to
establish contact and hopefully together piece this puzzle together. That
might prevent either of us from losing ourselves in T'Reija's mind. What do you think?"
"It would be illogical for the Commander to ask me here if I was not capable
of performing a mind meld," Sholek answered. "The best solution would be for
me to mind meld with Lieutenant T'Reija. I have studied the technique for
almost 40 years and am quite adept. The only other possible solution would be
for you to either enter the lieutenant's mind or to try to contact what ever
entity is in contact with her. Trying together would interfere and make it
difficult for either of us, unless you are an extremely talented telepath,
which you are not."
============================================================
Lieutenant T'Reija
USS Fearless sickbay
Stardate 9805.30
T'Reija had woken up only 15 minutes ago. Dr. Ming had asked her if she
wanted another "painkiller", what she hadn't accepted. Now she was left alone,
thinking. Right after she had opened her eyes, she had asked the doctor when she would
be able to go back to her duty. Dr. Ming refused to tell her, so T'Reija had
no idea, how long she would have to stay here. She hoped she could go on with
work when the ship reached Qal'Nagath.
Suddenly, someone came into sickbay, it was Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal,
Lt. Sholek and Lt. Brynaziir, coming straight towards her.
"Lieutenant?" Vehakra asked. "How are you feeling?"
"Under the circumstances, my physic and psychic status is normal,
commander." That was the Vulcan expression for "feeling rotten". T'Reija
actually managed to lift herself up. "Lt. Sholek, Lt. Brynziir, I assume Lt.
Commander Rhikal has informed you about the details. I also suppose you have
some sort of plan, as you three are here in sickbay together?"
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Answering All Stop
Lt. Sholek
USS Fearless
Stardate 9806.01
Sholek walked to the right side of the bio bed. He put his right hand on
the left side of T'Reija's face.
"Our minds our one," he began to say. "My mind to your mind. Your thoughts
to my thoughts."
He pushed deep into her mind. He sensed a presence. The thoughts and words
of a great number of people flooded Sholek's mind.
From out of the chaos of voices, one was the strongest. It said, "...
============================================================
Captain Sortha
USS Fearless
Stardate 9806.01
As the Fearless arrived at sector 435-G Captain Sortha brought the ship to
a full stop and ordered the Fearless' powerful sensors to probe the area
around Qal'Nagath. The Fearless possessed the best sensor suite of any mobile
ship in Starfleet, and their powerful capabilities were being used to the maximum.
Sortha had ordered Lt. Sholek to attempt to develop some sort of temporal
shielding to protect the Fearless against any chronological based attacks that
the modified Oberth might be able to generate. He had also drilled the crew
on tactics and responses to possible attacks from the types of weapons the
enemy reportedly possessed. He had also ordered Ensign Marcus to research the
past histories of all major players involved in the situation, including the
two visitors on the Fearless. He had instructed her to attempt to find some
reason one of the people involved might want to alter the timeline in the
past. Sortha knew from experience that personal vendettas often drove
powerful men to the actions they ultimately take. Perhaps a clue as to the
intentions of the enemy could be gleaned from such an investigation.
The Fearless remained on station at full efficiency as her sensors probed space....
============================================================
USS Fearless
At Full Stop
Stardate 9806.01
"Captain," Foster reported from tactical. "I have Qal'Nagath on long range
sensors."
Captain Sortha nodded and turned in his chair to Ensign Marcus.
"Marcusss, I want detailed ssscansss of the sssystem. Particularly the planet where
Gueverra isss."
"Iım on it," Marcus announced.
Marcus looked up from her sensor screens. "Sir, I'm detecting an Oberth-
class starship in orbit of the sixth planet. She appears to be inactive. I'm
also detecting what looks to be debris near the Oberth. We're too far out to
determine what that is...but the debris is artificial."
Sortha turned to Dyer, who looked back at Gorn and raised an eyebrow.
"What about the planet sssurface?" Sortha asked.
"Iıve got the science station on the sensors....it also appears to be
inactive," Marcus said. "Iım getting a negative energy signature from it.
We're too far out to scan for life forms or the structural integrity of the
ship or the base."
"I've got a bad feeling about this," Dyer said. "Recommend we go to red alert."
"Activate weapon ssystemss," Sortha said. "Maintain cloaking device but
ssstand by on the sshieldss. Continue ssenssor sscanss."
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Jamie's Report
Ensign Jamie T. Marcus
USS Fearless
Stardate 9806.02
Jamie busied herself with collecting the information that Captain Sortha
had requested. Although she was due off duty in half an hour, she worked into
her time off so that she could have the information for the Captain. Within
an hour she reported the results of her research to Captain Sortha:
Sonya Kalavar -- Rose quickly through the ranks. Rumored to have been
romantically involved with several high ranking officers. There was an inquiry
two years ago by Starfleet Internal Affairs about her involvement with an
admiral just before her promotion to commander. There was a complaint filed by
those passed over for the promotion that Kalavar exchanged favors for the
promotion. No wrongdoing was found, but shortly after the investigation, the
admiral in question retired and Kalavar was transfered off to the office of
temperol affairs...considered a step down from the security work she had been
doing. This is her first important case. She has applied for transfer to
Starfleet Intelligence, but was denied twice. Nothing drastic in her
background she would want to change.
Dr. Horton -- Noted time travel researcher with the Daystrom Institute. Was
assigned to the Borg technology project by Dr. Gueverra. He and Gueverra are
old friends from their days together at the Vulcan Science Academy, where they
were exchange students for two semesters. Horton and Guerverra had a falling
out just before Guerverra got booted from the Borg tech project. Horton
disagreed with Guerverra's ideas about altering time to repair "incidents"
from the past. He was the individual who brought Guerverra's ideas to the
Daystrom Institute's attention and he was named Guerverra's replacement on the
project after he left. He is reported to be saddened over his ended friendship
with Gueverra, but determined to prevent the doctor from further disrupting
time. His wife was killed in the first Borg attack, but there is otherwise
nothing in his background he may wish to alter.
Dr. Xaiver Gueverra -- He has long been fascinated with time travel and
parallel universes. His ideas about purposely altering time didn't come out
officially until the incident at the Daystrom Institute, but old colleagues
said he was fascinated by the topic for years. He questioned how history would
change if someone prevented the assassination of the old Earth president, John
Kennedy, or if the Federation had never been founded, or if the Klingon Empire
had been allowed to die 80 years ago before the Khitomer Conference. His
personal life is fairly uneventful. No wife or children, no major
tragedies...he does see himself as being a far greater man than he truly is.
He thinks very highly of himself and sees himself in an elevated position of power.
Ferengi Clients -- Starfleet Intel says the Ferengi's who were reported to be
interested in meeting Guerverra to discuss a time travel venture are led by a
Damon named Tonak. Tonak is a rather mundane damon who has aqcuired very
little wealth and power. He also has many enemies. His reasons for seeking the
technology are unknown.
Pakled Clients -- the exact names of the Pakleds seeking Gueverra are unknown,
but Pakleds generally seek out any new technology they can find to make
themselves more powerful.
Breen Clients -- little is known about this group. The breen are generally
troublesome and cannot be trusted. They are mortal enemies with the
Cardassians and have suffered greatly since the Dominion arrived on the scene.
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Qal'Nagath Discovery
Lieutenant T'Reija
Sickbay, USS Retribution
Stardate 9806.04
Sholek walked to the right side of the bio bed. He put his right hand on
the left side of T'Reija's face.
"Our minds our one," he began to say. "My mind to your mind. Your thoughts
to my thoughts."
He pushed deep into her mind. He sensed a presence. The thoughts and words
of a great number of people flooded Sholek's mind.
From out of the chaos of voices, one was the strongest. It said, 'I am...'"
Then the voice stopped for a second. T'Reija had her eyes shut, and so
had Lt. Sholek. The Vulcan started speaking, it was her voice, but it was also
different.
"I am... T'Lan... from Vulcan. I will... give a report of our situation,
before... before it is to late. You must... listen, for I will no longer be
able to keep contact after this."
There was a clicking noise in the room, and T'Reija suspected someone made a
record of this. A logical decision. Then she continued concentrating on T'Lans
voice, for she was now sure it was her. Lt. Sholek did the main contact, but
it all went through T'Reijas mind. She started speaking again, stumbling over
the words.
"My ship... the USS Surak... was flying threw Gyrian space. We were attacked,
many lost their lives, including the captain, so I took over command. But our
ship is only a science vessel, not made for a fight. We were soon captured and brought
to the homeworld of the Gyrians. They... they used a mental weapon on us,
every day for 10 to 14 hours without pause. The 23 human crewmen fought hard,
but they couldn't come up against the mental strain. They... died. The same
happened to 15 members of other species and 4 Vulcans. Our ship had a crew of
571. Only 248 survived both the attack on the ship and the treatment of the
unknown weapon, mostly Vulcans. We decided to try and establish contact using
an ancient ritual long forgotten by most Vulcans. Unanimously, we decided to
ask not to search for us longer. We are willing to die.
"Our only hope is, that the Gyrians decide to let us go after a change of
government. We do... have some contacts to a group of rebels, but they were
not able to free us.
However, they are positive that the government will change again soon. We
do not know, whether this will turn out good or bad for us. The
administration that reigns now has the intention to join the Dominion, that
is the reason for our capture. They want to find out more about the
federation defences and forces. This is the last contact we are able to make.
We are getting weaker. We will soon either die or be rescued. T'Reija...
before we stop, I have to tell you one last thing... I... you know, we always
control our emotions. We try never to hate, or enjoy, or laugh over a joke,
or... love. Now that I will perhaps die, I want to tell you... I love you and
Shirak. And the others. You were and are the most important persons in my
life. And I, as well as your father, regretted your decision of joining Starfleet and
especially the Shadow Operations. You would have been such a good scientist...
you are, but you could have been a professional, one of the best, if you had
studied even more... what I want to tell you, before I go... I respect your
decision, and I hope you will fulfill whatever purpose you made it for.
Live... long and... in Prosper."
Suddenly, T'Reijas voice changed to her own, now very shaky voice.
"Live long and in Prosper, mother. Or die... in peace."
The contact ended. It was silent in the room, only the clicking noise of
the record was to be heard. T'Reija rang for self-control. Then she stood up,
still shaking. A glitter could be seen in her eyes, tears that would never be
spent because she would always stop them.
"She..." The Vulcan started. "She is gone. Time will tell, what happens
now. We will send the record of this to Starfleet when our mission is completed and we
can contact Starfleet Intelligence again. I will ask the doctor to let me go to my
quarters now. At my next shift, I will report for duty." She now really had to
wipe the tear away, pretending to feel her forehead, although probably everybody
had noticed her emotional reaction. "I... thank you for your help, Lt. Sholek. And
for your offer of helping me, Lt. Brynaziir. And of course, Commander Rhikal, for
suggesting a mind meld. I owe you my gratitude."
With these words, she went to the other side of the room, and talked to
Dr. Ming. The Asian woman seemed to be unpleased with something, but after a while
she nodded. T'Reija then left sickbay, thoughtful, sad and confused.
============================================================
USS Fearless
Bridge
Stardate 9806.06
"Detailed scans coming in, sir," Ensign Marcus reported. "The deflector
unit of the Oberth is gone...it has been removed."
Commander Kalavar, who was on the bridge, looked at Dyer and Sortha. "The
deflector is crucial in generating the temperol field used for the Borg time
travel method. Guerverra would have modified and adapted this deflector system
specifically for use in time travel."
"Sir, I'm detecting a large hull breach in the saucer section of the
Oberth," Foster said, as he made a tactical scan of the ship. "Looks like she
was in a fight, but the worst of the damage looks like it was caused by an
overloaded phaser array."
Vehakra Rhikal snickered at security. "They blew themselves up?"
"I had consssidered that posssibility," Sortha said. "That ssship was not
designed for the kind of weaponry Guerverra added to it. Not with all the time
travel modificationsss."
"Massive internal damage," Foster reported. "Looks like they ejected their
warp core. This must have happened, maybe 10 hours ago. Most of the decks are
still flooded with radiation. It's making it hard to get a good scan for life signs."
"Captain," Marcus chimed in. "A scan of the ship's hull reveals it was
recently in a nebula...there is a fine coating of dust on the exterior of the
ship which appears to be nebula dust."
"What'sss unususal about that?" Sortha asked.
"The nearest nebula is three days from here, in the Romulan Neutral
Zone," Marcus said. "And the composition of the dust is unusual. It doesn't
fit the the composition of any explored nebulas cataloged in the Starfleet
database. I don't know where the Oberth has been recently, but it was in a
nebula no one has seen before."
"Maybe they were out in the frontier," Quilman offered. "A test run."
"Starfleet records indicate the nearest nebula in the frontier is four
days from here. Unexplored...the computer says maybe two weeks."
Sortha looked at Kalavar and Dyer, then stood and lumbered over to Foster
at tactical. "Sscan the sscience compound on Qal'Nagath."
Foster worked for a minute, then look up. "It has been attacked. The
building is without main power. Battery backup is functioning in some
sections. Life signs are fluctuating. The science facility is in the middle of
a rain forest...the area around it is teeming with life...and radiation leaks
from the attack are making it hard to tell exactrly what or who is down there."
"Any idea what the debris field wasss we picked up?" Sortha asked.
"It appears to be the wreckage of a ship," Foster said. "Romulan in design."
Everyone looked at Sortha and Dyer for direction.....
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Orders
Lt. Sholek
Fearless
Stardate 9806.06
Two hours prior to arriving at Qal'Nagath....
Lt. Sholek entered the captain's ready room.
"I jusst heard about T'Reija," Sortha said. "Good work. How are the
modificationss coming along?"
"The shields have been adjusted to protect us in the case of a temporal
disturbance," replied Sholek. "It will hopefully protect us much like the
temporal anomaly did for the Enterprise. It time is altered, we shouldn't feel
its affects, but it won't do us any good unless we can get our deflector
modified to use for temporal teleportation. We are working on that too, but it
is difficult do to limited resources and limited knowledge of the technology."
============================================================
Lt. Commander Matthew Foster
Onboard Fearless
Stardate 9806.06
"Number of surviors?" asked Dyer
Foster worked at his board and gave a grave look as he spoke,"Long Range
Sensors can't penetrate that much ionization that's around from the debri field."
"Ssso there is no way of telling?" said Sortha
"Apparently so Captain."
They edged closer to the Oberth and it looked like a smoking ruin about to
collapse upon itself. "Captain, readings indicate the orbit is decaying and is
slowly rotating towards a fall towards the planet."
They all looked at each other and relaized what might happen. "Where's a
possible safe crash location?"
"Ocean is the best spot but I don't recommend letting it decay. I suggest
we correct the orbit with tractor beams and when we're finished here we
should tow it back to McKinley station to remove all those new devices."
said Foster
"Removal of those devices is a good idea and back at McKinley is the best
choice." commented Dyer
Everyone awaited Sortha's answer to his two officers. Of course everyone
kept glued to the viewscreen showing the Oberth and debris from a romulan
ship. Foster couldn't be sure but it looked like it was debris from an old,
surplus Romulan Bird of Prey...possibly belonging to the mercenaries working
for Professor Gueverra and with the weapons systems that was used it looked
that the Romulan ship took a beating before it possibly self-destructed.
Foster relaized that the only other way to obtain answers was to beam down
and over to the Oberth. Even so they weren't sure about the amount of survivors.
============================================================
Captain Sortha
USS Fearless
Stardate 9806.07
Sortha did some quick calculations in his head. "Lieutenant" he said
looking at Quilman, "determine based on our knowledge if the Oberth could have
travelled to any known nebula in this time/space continuum and returned within
the confines of it going missing and our subsequent pursuit." The nearest
nebula was a good distance away, and quite possibly the Oberth had not been in
any nebula...at least not in this time frame.
Then, there was the mystery of the missing deflector dish. If the
Romulan cruiser had been destroyed and the Oberth was damaged beyond repair,
then there must either have been a third ship or.... the deflector was in
another time.
"Tactical" sscan the ssystem intenssely. Determine if there are any
other ion trailss into or out of this ssystem.. also ssearch for any residual
warp core signaturess. Helm plot us a coarse around any bodies in this
system where another ship could be hiding from our scans. Use an erratic
flight path and speed changes sso that a hiding sship can't keep a planet or
ssomething between uss"
"In the meantime, Commander Dyer assemble two away teamss, Lieutenant
Commander Rhikal will lead one onto the Oberth, and Lieutenant Commander
Fosster will lead one to the sstation below. Lt. Commander Rhikal, take a
ssecurity detachment, a sscience team, and an emergency medical team to
invesstigate the Oberth. Marcuss you are with Lt. Commander Rhikal. Wear
radiation ssuitss. Conduct close range scans for any temporal effects that
we've documented to determine if that Oberth has been involved in time travel.
Try to ssalvage as much information from the data banks or any other means as
you can. Be thorough. Lt . Commander Foster, take a ssecurity detachment
under the command of Lieutenant Brynaziir, a sscience team and a medical team
for any possible ssurvivors. After we've conducted our sscan and run of the
ssystem we'll do a quick beam-down to minimize our exposure. Tactical...I
don't want any ssurprises, let me know the second you detect any possible
threatsss.
"Commander, after you've got the away team leaders squared away, I want you
to analyze the remains of that Romulan ship. First, determine if it is a
current vintage Romulan sship, ssecond, determine if the Oberth could have
done the type of damage it received. Factor in that the Admiral was
commanding the Oberth. Give me a tactical analysiss of the battle based on
current debris location, energy ssignatures, and coordinate that with any
recordss Rhikal's away team uncoverss. Quilman, keep an eye on that Oberth
and get our people off there if it looks dangerous, and keep an eye on her
orbit. We've got ssome time before it decayss completely and I'd rather get
ssome data before I highlight the Fearless to the whole ssystem by tractoring it."
As the team began to depart for the transporter room, Quilman indicated
his readings showed the existence of departing ion trails from the
system...degradation of the trails suggested they were at least eight hours
old. Though an exact heading could not be determined, the ship appeared to
have been on course for Federation space.
Sortha found this interesting, considering Fearless hadn't passed any
ships en route from Federation space to Qal'Nagath after they cleared the
Outpost...some 16 hours earlier. This indicated the possible use of a cloaking
device.
"Quilman, get on thossse ion trailsss. Sstart tracking," Sortha said.
"Proceed with transsport of the away teams...make a quick flyby of the Oberth
and the planet to make the transsport."
With that, the captain's orders were put into action...
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Teams Away
Captain Sortha
USS Fearless
Stardate 9806.09
Sortha congratulated Sholek on the construction of the temporal shielding.
"Good work Sholek, we'll see if we can't find some more information to help
you with modifications to the deflector dish. Now, that we have temporal
shields, establish a subspace link with the nearest Federation database
library and set up a computer subroutine to compare their records with ours.
I want to know as soon as possible if there is any change in the time
continuum...that may give us a clue as to the whereabouts of our meddling
time-playing adversaries should they start time travelling."
============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Fearless
Stardate 9806.09
Vehakra Rhikal and Jamie Marcus arrived in the transporter room, dressed
in radiation suits and toting phaser rifles. Assembled there were some members
of security's Gamma Team: Ensign Ramirez, Ensign Cyr, and elisted personnel
Kravras, Koto, Gorvo, and Finista.
"Gamma Team, you're with us," Veh ordered as they entered the transporter
room. "We're beaming aboard the crippled Oberth-class ship. No life signs have
been detected, but sensor readings are indeterminate. Set weapons for stun."
As they prepared to beam out, Thoraz and his team of security officers
showed up, followed by Matt Foster who would command the away mission to the
planet. Behind them all was Commander Michael Dyer who entered the transporter
room and looked at Veh with concern.
"I'm OK," Veh mouthed thewords to Dyer as he watched her and the team move
onto the transporter pad. He gave a faint nod and Veh smiled back at him.
Shortly after they were in position, the transporter chief beamed them over to
the Oberth...
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Away Team One
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Oberth Science Ship
Stardate 9806.13
The away team materialized on the battered bridge of the Oberth.
Originally commissioned as the USS DeVille some 57 years ago, the Oberth had
been completely refitted with weapons and equipment when it fell into
Professor Gueverra's hands.
The team looked around and saw barely one or two consoles on the bridge
that hadn't been blown out. Black burn marks covered the walls and instrument
panels. Scattered on the deck were the limp, broken bodies of ten people who
had worked for Gueverra...now all dead.
"Damn," Vehakra said, shining her wrist light around the bridge. "This
little ship took a beating."
Marcus scanned all the bodies and shook her head as her readings came up
all dead. It looked like the overloading of the ship's weapon system had blown
out all the consoles and killed most of the bridge crew in the process. Poor bastards.
Veh walked over to one of the few functioning bridge stations and checked
out its readings. She soon accessed the weapons and nodded as she found out
what happened.
"Idiots," the orion murmered as Jamie came to stand beside her. "This
ship was so overpowered with weapon systems it didn't have a chance. Two
minutes into battle, they tried firing all phasers and plasma torpedoes and
overloaded the system."
"Any information on what kind of ship they were fighting?" Jamie asked.
Veh frowned, "The sensor logs are a mess. We'll be lucky to salvage 10
percent of the data. The computer core is barely functioning. Most of it is
fried. It looks like it was a small, agile ship that attacked unexpectedlty.
The ship appears to have been orbiting the planet with the Oberth's
knowledge...then suddenly turned on them and attacked."
"From the warp drive and weapon systems on that other ship, I think it
was some kind of civilian Federation ship...similar to a Maquis
Raider....maybe a scout ship of some kind," Jamie said, looking over Veh's
shoulder to examine the data. "Though it does appear to have some upgrades.
And from these tetrion emmissions...I'd say one of its augmentations is a
cloaking device."
"That explains how it got past us on the way in," Vehakra said. "OK. I'm
going to take Ramirez, Kravras and Gorvo with me and go check out deflector
control. Jamie, you and others stay here and download as much data as you
can....sensor logs, crew logs, anything you can find in what's left of the
computer core. We'll be back after a sweep of the ship."
Marcus nodded and began the task of downloading the data to a portable
computer module they brought with them, while Vehakra gathered her troops and
started out for the engineering section. On the way out, she made a quick
check of the ship's conference room and captain's ready room...both situated
off the bridge.
While the conference room was empty, Vehakra made a gruesome discovery
in the ready room.
"Oh my God!" Veh stammered as she opened the door. There, inside the
room, hanging from the ceiling, was an older human male. He was hung upside
down, he had been cut on various parts of his body and left to die. Vehakra
went in a scanned him, only to learn he was dead.
"Who is it?" Marcus asked, coming to the door.
"Admiral Simon Kroog," Vehakra said, checking out his face and scanning
his retina. "Our retired Starfleet admiral appears to have been butchered like
an animal. Someone tortured him before killing him....probably during a
boarding action following the ship's demise."
Ensign Jefe Ramierz came to the door, looking a little pale in the face.
"Sir, we found two more crew members of this ship hung like this one....both
dead. They were in the turbolift."
Vehakra stepped away from the admiral's corpse and picked up her rifle.
"Come on. Let's go check out the rest of the ship. I've got a bad feeling
about this. Marcus, contact Fearless on a coded frequency. Tell them about
what we've learned so far."
With that, Veh and her officers moved out....
============================================================
Lieutenant T'Reija
USS Fearless
Stardate 9806.13
T'Reija entered the turbolift. She still felt a little taken aback from
the psionic stress she had been under especially in the last few hours, but
after the mind meld, a good meal and rest, she felt well enough to report for
duty again.
"Bridge", she ordered the computer, and the turbolift started moving. Soon
after the doors opened. Captain Sortha was on the bridge, and she went
straight towards him.
"Lt. T'Reija" the captain exclaimed. He had probably awaited her in a few
hours at the earliest.
"Lt. T'Reija reporting for duty, sir," The Vulcan woman told him.
"Have you recovered far enough yet? Hasss the doctor releassed you for
duty?" the Gorn asked.
"Of course, sir. I am fully capable of fulfilling anything my work will
request from me. What is my assignment?"
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Survivors
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Oberth science ship
Stardate 9806.17
Veh and her team made their way into the bowels of the Oberth ship. They
had to mostly use jefferies tubes to bypass the turbolifts, which were dead in
their tracks with the shipıs massive power loss.
After about 20 minutes, they exited an access conduit in the ship's
deflector control area of the engineering section. As they stood and
stretched, and had a look around, Vehakra immediately noticed the deflector
relays were gone -- all of them had been removed.
"Ramierez," Vehakra said. "Check out the deflector unit itself."
"Aye, sir," the Hispanic security officer said, moving forward through the
deflector control area.
Vehakra and the rest of the team looked around some more, shining their
flashlights on gaping holes in the ICARS wall units where the unknown raiders
had gutted the ship's deflector system.
"Rhikal to Marcus," Veh said, tapping her comm-badge.
"Marcus here," the young ensign replied. "Go ahead."
"Deflector control is a mess. Somebody has taken all of the crucial
deflector systems," the Orion woman said. "It looks like it was done quickly,
but efficiently."
"That makes sense. The time travel components are all incorporated into
deflector control," Marcus replied. "Whoever took it can simply modify and
reinstall the deflector system in another ship and they would be able to
create the temporal vortex."
Ramierez returned and shook his head. "The whole deflector unit...dish and
all has been removed. Looks like they left a workpod tethered outside where
the deflector should be...it appears to be the workpod assigned to this ship."
"You hear that Jamie?" Vehakra asked.
"Loud and clear," Marcus replied.
"Well, whoever took those deflector components is going to need a station
or something to put it back together inside another ship," Vehakra said. "They
can't just slap it back together and expect it to work. Not if they are retro-
fitting it for use on another vessel. I'll bet they planned to steal the
Oberth, but the weapon overload forced theym to reconsider."
"That is possible," Jamie said.
"We're going to finish up down here and head back up to the bridge," Veh
said. "Rhikal out."
The team spread out and began to work their way back through the battered
Oberth. Occasionally, theyıd have to sidestep an area, or use a different
corridor because emergency forcefields were in place in some sections where
the hull had been breached in the fight. Veh figured whatever energy was being
emitted from the ship's batteries, it was going toward life support and those
forcefields.
Eventually they reached engineering and found it oddly quiet. That was
because the usually throbbing, glowing warp core was gone...jettisoned out the
keel of the ship when it went critical.
As they looked around, Vehakra drew her tricorder and scanned. The radiation
in the engineering section had mostly dissipated, but there was enough around
to still present a danger. That was where her tricorder logged a faint
lifeform signature nearby.
"Over there," Veh said, motioning to an area of fallen debris and fiber
optic cables hanging from the ceiling. "I'm detecting a lifeform."
The team approached the pile of wreckage and aimed their rifles at it. As
they got closer, they found a body amid the debris...a human male was pinned
under the ceiling panels and other rubble.
Two security officers in the group pulled the man out and helped get him
to his feet. The man groaned a little and Veh scanned him with her tricorder.
He was about 25, with blond hair and a muscular physique, wearing a jumpsuit
they had seen the other members of Gueverra's crew wearing on the science
ship.
"Who...who are you?" he asked, trying to get his bearings and look around.
"Were from the Federation starship Fearless," Veh said, still scanning him.
He appeared to be OK, other than a moderate phaser burn on his chest and a
sprained ankle. "Who are you?"
"Dave Semelek, I am...or was the engineer for this ship," the man said. "We
were in a fight...the warp core started to breach...I cleared the other
engineers out of the section and stayed behind to manually eject the
core...that's the last I remember."
"Did you see who attacked the ship?" Vehakra asked.
"No," Semelek admitted. "Everything happened too fast."
"You appear to be all right," Vehakra said. "Were you a friend of Dr.
Gueverra's?"
"No, he hired me from my last job as an engineer on a Devarian freighter,
while I was in port a couple months ago," the man said. "I didnıt really know
him. I just kept his ship running."
"Do you know anything about the last mission he took this ship on?" Veh
asked. "Where it went? What time it traveled to?"
The man looked at Veh oddly. "You...know about the professor's work?"
"That's why we're here," she said. "Now what do you know?"
"Not much, actually. He never told any of us where he was taking the ship,"
Semelek said. "I was down in engineering the whole time. Only the bridge crew knew."
"What about the clients?" Veh asked. "Do you know who they were?"
"Not really...humans, but I don't know where they were from or what they
hired him to do," he said. "Sorry....Dr. Gueverra never told us much."
Vehakra sighed. "OK. Letıs take him back up to the bridge with us. Move out."
The group headed back up into the ship, bound for the bridge....
============================================================
Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
Security Team Alpha
Stardate 9806.19
"Ensign Marquilles, divide the team up. I want a security officer with
each group. Search the base as the commander instructed. I will try and gain
access to the computer logs from here. Keep all comm badges on open frequency."
"Aye sir."
============================================================
USS Fearless
Bridge
Stardate 9806.20
As the Fearless waited for word from the away teams, Commander Dyer
approached Sortha on the bridge.
"Sir, sensor readings confirm the wreckage orbiting nearby is that of an
old Romulan bird of prey. There is a 98-percent probability, according to the
computer, the ship is the same vessel owned and operated by the mercenaries
who were providing security for Gueverra's project," Dyer confirmed. "Looks
like the ship was destroy in a battle. Residual energy patterns in the debris
suggest it was attacked by a powerfully armed ship...probably using Klingon or
Breen disruptors of a very high quality."
"What about the warp sssignature we detected as we entered the ssytem?"
Sortha asked.
"It was bound for Federation space," Dyer confirmed. "Possibly Outpost 489
located in the Follokin system. The one we passed on the way in."
Sortha nodded, "That'ss 18 hours from here. That meanss they've got
approximately an 8-10 hour jump on usss."
"If Outpost 489 was their destination," Dyer added. "No word yet from the
away teams other than they are recovering survivors. What are your orders, sir?"
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Leaving in a hurry
Lt. Commander Matthew Foster
Down Below
Stardate 9806.21
Foster was used to seeing death tolls mount. Ever since he served on the
USS Hood during the Cardassian War. There was answers leaking somewhere no
matter what or when they would show themselves.
"Lieutenant Brynaziir?"
"Engineers have reported mininum power restored. Hospital reports death
toll is rising. We only have about 5 survivors total Commander."
"Noted Lieutenant. What have your teams found any signs of attacking
personell?"
Thoraz shook his head.
"That's what bothers me Commander. All signs show a orbital bombardment."
"Contact one of the engineering teams and have them check the logs let's
check the shuttle deck. In the meantime let's report in. Foster to Fearless.
We've only got partial main power systems operational down here. Engineering
teams report main power could be online in about another 3 hours at best. Lt
Brynaziir and myself were to check the shuttle deck down here. Orders Captain?"
"Stand by," Commander Dyer's voice replied. "That captain is receiving a
report from Rhikal's team."
============================================================
Captain Sortha
USS Fearless
Stardate 9806.21
Sortha heard Marcus and Rhikal's report about the missing deflector relays
on the Oberth and he considered where the thieves who stole the time travel
equipment were likely headed.
He then made a decision...
"Sortha to away teams....pack up whatever you have and return to Fearless
immediately. Helm lay in a course for Station 489. As soon as the away
teams are aboard, maximum speed to station 489, engage cloak before moving.
Tactical get me a feed to the USS Monitor."
After several minutes, the youthful face of Captain Evan MacGregor filled
the screen. The burly red-haired and bearded Scotsman wore a perpetual grin.
"What can I do for you Captain Sortha?" MacGregor inquired.
"I need you to head for sstation 489. The ssituation is thiss. There is
a hostile sship.. posssibly under cloak that needss to dock there to make
repairss. They have destroyed one Federation sship already. The intruderss
are unidentified, sship type unknown. They may be humanss. It is imparative
they be sstopped. We are about 18 hours behind the enemy sship and they have
an 8 hour head start on us. We'll top out our warp sspeed and try to make
that up. Captain, they can't be allowed to make repairss. They have a weapon
onboard that is highly classified and powerful. If they get it online there
may be ssevere repercussionss for the Federation. I suggest you evacuate any
survivors on the station and disable itss repair capabilitiess. Right now the
sstation is not ressponding. It may be compromised. Use extreme caution."
The burly Scotsman now looked serious but still had an impish grin,
"Looks like we'll be shakin down this ship a wee bit earlier than expected.
Aye Captain, we'll hold down the fort for ye...or we'll blow it up. MacGregor out."
============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Bridge of the Oberth
Stardate 9806.21
Vehakra and her team arrived with the sole survivor of the beaten Oberth-
class science ship. They were greeted by Jamie who had successfully uploaded
the Oberth's sensor logs and personal records of the crew to the
Fearless..though much of the data was badly damaged and possibly irretrievable.
"Who's this," Jamie asked as Veh's team arrived with the large, muscular
engineer they'd rescued.
"Dave Semelek," the big blond man said, extending a hand to Marcus. "I
can't thank all of you enough for rescuing me. I thought I was a goner."
"Well, unfortunately I can't say we were able to help the rest of your
crew," Vehakra said. "It appears everyone else is dead. There was a violent
boarding action against this ship. The persons responsible torturer some
members of the crew and then killed them."
Semelek shook his head. "I can't believe this has happened. So, what now?"
"We need to get back to Fearless. You still need to get that phaser burn
treated and I'm detecting the onset of radiation poisioning in your
system...though it looks like you fought it off rather well. You must have
ejected that warp core just in time."
"Looks like my efforts were in vain," Semelek said sorrowfully.
"How did you get that phaser burn, anyway?" Veh asked. "You didn't
encounter the boarding party, did you?"
Dave shook his head, "I don't recall. I certainly should remember
encountering intruders and being shot, but my mind is drawing a blank."
"Maybe Dr. Ming can help retrieve your short term memory. It might have
been the shock of the accident you were in...or the radiation," Veh said.
A channel from the Fearless opened, it was Captain Sortha. "Sortha to away
teams....pack up whatever you have and return to Fearless immediately."
Veh looked at Jamie. "That sounded serious. OK, everyone you heard the
captain. Let's go!"
After everyone had gathered their gear, they assembled in a group on the
bridge. "Rhikal to Fearless. Transport the away team plus one survivor."
============================================================
Foster's Away Team
Surface of Qal'nagath
Stardate 9806.21
Foster got word from the Fearless that they were to pack it in and get
back to the ship. He knew the captain had his reasons for needed to depart so
quickly...he just hoped they weren't leaving survivors...or clues behind.
"Ensign Darius, report," Foster said, tapping his comm-badge. "Tell me you
got the rest of the data from the base's computer core?"
"I got what I could. Someone unleashed a destructive virus into the
computer system, probably during the attack," Darius reported. "I was able to
download some data. It will take some time to sort through."
"Good, pack it in and get ready to transport," Foster said.
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Pursuit and Breakthrough
Lt. Commander Matthew Foster
Down Below on Qal'Nagath
Stardate 9806.22
After ordering Darius to pack up what they got the medical teams have
already beamed aboard. Thoraz and Darius met Foster as he was taking one
last look at the area.
"Foster to Fearless standby for beamout. You guys got what we need?"
"Yes sir...."
Foster looked Thoraz in the eye,"You have something else Lieutenant?"
"I wish I knew what we were leaving behind. Suvirvors I mean."
Foster knew what the man felt and he had felt it many years before. "I
understand Thoraz. Fearless beam us up."
They all beamed up and Matt's team was greeted by Commander Dyer. "We got
what we could. Are the rest of the suvirors in sickbay?" asked Foster
"Yep Matt. We've got the whole sickbay working. Come on let's head to the
bridge were running for station 489 as fast as we can. We've got the USS
Monitor assisting."
"Well let's go."
They headed up to the bridge as fast as they could without waiting for any
other news.
============================================================
Lieutenant T'Reija
USS Fearless/Bridge
Stardate 9806.22
T'Reija headed towards Commander Dyer, who stood a few meters behind
Captain Sortha. The Captain was sitting in his chair, it was only a few
minutes ago he had given the command to plot course to Outpost 489.
"Commander Dyer?" The Vulcan woman said. "I have read through the reports
you gave me." She indicated towards the PADD he had passed her after she had
reassigned for duty.
"Good," Dyer simply responded. "Then you know how urgent our mission is."
"Naturally. Captain... I wondered..."
The Gorn turned his head.
"Could there be any more... survivors, I mean, behind there? Is it
possible that we are leaving anyone behind?"
Captain Sortha thought a second. Then he spoke: "Lieutenant, are you
quessstioning my ordersss?"
"No, of course not, sir. I am only trying to get an idea about the
circumstances of our mission. As second assistant to the security chief,
Commander Rhikal. As both she and Lt. Brynaziir weren't here, it is only
logical for me to make myself a picture."
"We cannot exclude this posssibility, lieutenant. But at the moment our
firsst priority isss to sstop the proffesssorsss planss."
"I understand, sir. Thank you for your time."
A little confused (though she wouldn't have admitted it if asked), T'Reija
left to see Commander Rhikal, who had just returned. She hoped to gain new
information from her.
============================================================
Commander Michael Dyer
U.S.S. Fearless
En Route to Outpost 489
Stardate 9706.23
The teams all made it back to the Fearless in one piece, and even brought
along what survivors they found. Even at maximum warp, it would take the ship
at least 15 hours to reach the outpost. Dyer was not going to waste the time.
"Dyer to all senior staff, report to the ready room." Dyer called. He
didn't really need to do a ship wide page, but it let the entire ship know
that something big was happening.
Everyone, with the exception of Sholek, was already on the bridge, so they
didn't have long to wait. He arrived in less than three minutes from
engineering. During an operation like this, they were the busiest department,
making sure that the warp drive continues to operate at maximum efficiency,
even at high warp for an extended period.
"I'll get right to the point everyone. I don't want to waste time during
this long flight. I'm going to coordinate a series of battle drills. These
will be ship wide and involve all teams." Dyer glanced around the room.
"I know that you'll all be in a state of readiness for our upcoming
confrontation, but I want to make sure that the rest of the crew are equally
prepared. The drills will be conducted from the secondary bridge. You will
all report to your stations there in 1 hour, 30 minutes.
"Take the next hour to ensure that your teams are getting on with preparing
the ship for our actual situation. Are there any questions?"
Dyer responded to the few questions the crew posed, and then headed for the
secondary bridge on deck 5. The ship was designed, as were most starships, so
that in the event the bridge was destroyed, the ship could still function with
emergency bulkheads in place and limp back to a starbase. It was the perfect
place to conduct a drill, especially when you disconnect it from the rest of
the ship, and connect to the holodeck's computer and imaging system.
He had a lot of work to do in 90 minutes.
============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Fearless
Stardate 9806.23
Vehakra and Jamie had returned from the Oberth and removed their radiation
suits. Back on duty, they headed up to the bridge after having secured the
Oberth's engineer, Dave Semelek, in sickbay.
They boarded a lift and headed up to the bridge. As the lift rose through
the Fearless, Veh looked over at Ensign Marcus.
"Once we take care of business on the bridge, you and I need to start
going through that data you dowloaded from the Oberth's computer core," Veh said.
Jamie seemed distracted, but nodded after a few seconds.
"Everything OK, ensign?" Veh asked.
"Yes," Marcus replied. "I've just got some things on my mind. One of them
is that musclebound engineer we recovered from the Oberth. He seemed more like
a soldier than an engineer?"
Veh nodded, "I'm having mixed feelings about the guy too. He seems
legitimate, but I'm curious about why he wasn't hurt worse and how he avoided
radiation poisoning if he was in the engineering section with the warp core
before it was ejected."
"Maybe he's one of those mercenaries working for Dr. Guevera," Jamie said.
What were they called...the War Dogs?"
"Could be. Maybe he's posing as a clueless engineer to keep out of
trouble," Vehakra said. "Even if he's one of the War Dogs, he doesn't
necessarily present a threat to us. Those mercs are probably wanted by the
Federation and he's hoping to pass himself off as someone else. Still, we'd
better not take any chances."
Veh tapped her comm-badge. "Rhikal to Brynaziir."
"Brynaziir here, go ahead commander," Thoraz replied.
"Send a couple of security officers down to sickbay," Veh said. "Have them
keep an eye on the Oberth survivor...Semelek."
"Is there a problem?" the Betazoid asked.
"I don't think so, but I want him watched anyway," Veh said. "I'll
question him later about a few things."
"Acknowledged," Thoraz replied.
Soon thereafter, the lift stopped at the bridge and Veh and Marcus stepped
out. Veh scanned the room and saw Mike Dyer. Their eyes met and they exchanged
smiles. She knew he was glad to have her back on the ship, safe and in one piece.
Veh and Jamie then issued their report to Sortha and told him about the
missing deflector unit, the data fragments they were able to recover from the
ship's computer and the survivor...Semelek.
"Also, sir," Veh added. "We're uncertain of Semelek's identity. Jamie and
I think it is possible he is one of the mercenaries who was working for
Guevera, now posing as an innocent Oberth crewman to keep a low profile."
Sortha scowled. "Where isss thisss man?"
"In sickbay, under guard," Veh replied. "I'll question him later. Right
now, we'd like to see if we can find a crew roster in the data we recovered
from the ship's computer. If we determine he's not Semelek or a member of the
crew, it will give me more ammo to use when interrogating him."
Sortha nodded, "Proceed. You have 90 minutess before Commander Dyer needss
you in the battle bridge for the drillsss. Keep your guards in sssick bay alert."
"Aye, sir," Veh replied. She and Jamie then set to work on the data
fragments, and provided Sholek with a copy of the data so he too could work on
it from engineering...
============================================================
Lt. Sholek
Engineering
Stardate 9806.23
Lt. Sholek was going over the sensor log data from the Oberth's computer core
that Ensign Marcus had retreived. The sensors should have recorded everything
from star positions and ship position as well as the intensity of the time vortex.
Using that information, he might be able determine when and where any time
alteration took place and where to look in the Starfleet history data banks
to determine what was changed.
***
While the data was so badly damaged, it was difficult to get something
concrete, Sholek was able to determine nothing had disrupted their time line
as they knew it...but the ship had indeed gone to a place which had not
existed in almost 100 years.
He was able to confirm through analysis of the helm logs from the Oberth
that the ship had been in a region of space called the Mutara Sector...where
there had once been a nebula where a great battle had been fought. In that
battle, a device called Genesis had been detonated and it consumed the nebula,
forming the gas and dust into a planet where one had not existed before. That
planet later became unstable and destroyed itself.
Sholek next analyzed the nebula dust found on the exterior of the Oberth
and found a match. The Oberth had recently been in the Mutara Nebula, sometime
in the past. Question was now when and why.
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Fatal Error
Lt. Sholek
Stardate 9806.24
USS Fearless
Sholek took a few moments before drills to confront the Captain in his ready
room. When he entered, he was right behind Jamie Marcus, who was also there
presenting a report.
"Captain," he began, "based on the logs recovered from the Oberth and the
dust recovered from the same ship, I have come to the conclusion that the
professor traveled more than 100 years in to the past and encountered the
Mutara Nebula. Are you familiar with that nebula."
"Yess," Sortha replied. "As well as what happened at about that time. What
would Guevera want at that time?"
"I could only speculate sir," answered Sholek. "Much of the data from the
logs was damaged. I cannot determine anything else."
============================================================
Ensign Jamie T. Marcus
USS Fearless
Stardate 9806.24
Jamie hesitantly approached Captain Sortha in his ready room. "Sir, I
have some suspicions about where the unidentified dust came from. "
"Proceed Ensign" Sortha ordered, glancing from Sholek to Jamie.
"I remember my grandfather telling me about prisoners who were tortured
like the ones we found on the station. It was done by a renegade named Khan
from the twenty-third century. If the Oberth was able to do time travel, it
might have returned to that time. The battle took place in the Mutara nebula."
"That would be consssitant with Lt. Ssholek's analysisss," Sortha said.
"Now we need to figure out why Guevera would go there. Dismissed. Continue
working on that data."
============================================================
Captain Sortha
USS Fearless
Stardate 9806.25
Once Jamie and Sholek were gone, Captain Sortha tapped his comm-badge.
"Sortha to Commander Rhikal," the Gorn said.
"Rhikal here," she replied.
"Keep a constant eye and heavy guard on anyone we pulled off the ship or
station," he said. "Run them all through thorough medical exams."
"Yes sir," Veh replied.
============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Fearless
Stardate 9806.25
Veh heard an urgency in Sortha's voice. This mission was taking an unusual
turn. Why would Guevera travel back 100 years, enter the Mutara Nebula --
possibly at the same time as the battle between the USS Enterprise and Khan's
stolen ship...the USS Reliant? It made no sense.
The Orion security chief scanned over the files from that battle. She
quickly re-familarized herself with the details. The only think she saw of
potential interest was the Genesis Device. Those files had been sealed for
nearly a century by Starfleet after the devastaing chain of events the first
Genesis Device set off. Maybe Guevera or his clients wanted Genesis? But the
timeline had not been altered. Time still showed that the device detonated and
Khan was killed.
Whatever it was, Veh didn't like it one bit.
She tapped her comm-badge. "Rhikal to T'Reija."
"T'Reija here, commander," the Vulcan replied.
"We have a few survivors from Dr. Guevera's group down in sickbay," Veh
began. "The captain wants them watched closely. I have a couple of security
officers down there now. Take two more officers with you and go down there and
keep an eye on things. Also, tell Dr. Ming, privately, to conduct complete
physical scans of all the survivors."
"What is she to look for?" the Vulcan asked.
"Anything unusual," Vehakra replied. "Rhikal out."
============================================================
USS Monitor
Sector 435-G/Federation Space
Stardate 9806.25
"We've got them," Lt. Darkan reported from tactical, a hint of excitement
to his deep Rigellian voice. "I'm detecting the same, faint warp signature
leaking through a cloaking device, bearing one-two-five mark four-eight."
Captain Evan MacGregor nodded in satisfaction. "Helm...lay in a pursuit
course. Darkan, prepare to fire next time you can lock onto that signal."
The Scottish captain was tense. The USS Monitor had been making its way
back to Outpost 489 when the ship detected a faint warp signature on long range
sensors, bound for the outpost. From all indications it was the mystery ship
Captain Sortha on the Fearless was looking for.
It was on an outward bound course for Outpost 489 and appeared to be the
same warp signature Fearless had discovered in the Qal'Nagath system. Still
nearly two hours out from the Outpost, with the mystery ship was still another
two hours away on the very edge of long range sensors, MacGregor decided to
intercept the ship before it became more of a problem.
Monitor closed the gap with the mystery ship in just under an hour and
soon picked up the faint warp signature...apparantly leaking through the mystery
ship's cloaking device. She must have been damaged in battle, MacGregor
thought, as they pursued the ship.
"Hail them," MacGregor said. Darkan nodded when the channel was opened.
"This is Captain Evan MacGregor of the Federation starship Monitor, to
cloaked vessel. You are ordered to surrender your ship and standby to be
boarded. We can see through your cloaking device and you are suspected of
carrying stolen weaponry."
MacGregor glanced at his tactical officer, who soon shook his head. "No
response. The warp signature is heading into the Rendari asteroid field."
"Continue pursuit, Ensign Yenha," the captain said to his helm officer.
"Standby on weapons."
Monitor continued its pursuit into the asteroid field, trying to get a
shot at the mysterious warp signature. Finally, as they closed in for the
kill, MacGregor decided to let Fearless know they were about to save the day.
"USS Monitor to USS Fearless," MacGregor said. "Captain Sortha....please respond."
The Gornıs face appeared on the viewer. "What isss it, captain."
"We have your mystery ship, captain," MacGregor said with a smile. "We are
seconds from capturing and boarding it. We're in the Rendari asteroid field.
We'll transmit coordinates. What are your instructions."
As Sortha began to speak, the transmission suddenly terminated and the
screen dissolved in static. MacGregor's head shot around at Darkan.
"We're being jammed, captain," Darkan said. "Its coming from the cloaked ship."
MacGregor scowled. "OK...if they wanna play that way, fine...we'll stop
their jamming frequency once and for all. Darkan, fire at will next time that
signal is visible."
They continued their pursuit into the asteroids, until suddenly there was an
explosion ahead of them. Darkan analyzed the explosion and turned to the captain.
"That appeared to be a collision between a ship and one of the asteroids,"
the Rigellian said. "I'm scanning some debris and what appears to be a couple
of escape pods. Orders?"
"Bloody fools, they got themselves killed trying to evade us," MacGregor
muttered. "Take us in for a closer look, scan for survivors."
The Monitor moved in closer and scanned the debris. "I've got some debris
out there...also scanning the two pods. There appears to be fluctuating life
signs in the escape pods."
"Prepare to transport the pods aboard," MacGregor said. "Maybe we can get
some answers from those survivors."
The ship got close enough to transport and MacGregor gave the order to lower
the shields.
"Sir, the jamming is still in effect," Darkan reported. "They must have
deployed a probe or something to jam us."
MacGregor frowned, then his eyes suddenly became wide with surprise and
realization. He'd made a critical error.
"Get those ships back up!" the captain ordered.
"Ship decloaking aft of us!" Darkan shouted as he tried to raise shields and
target the aggressor.
"Evasive maneuvers!" MacGregor shouted, getting out of his chair. "They're
firing," Darkan said as he activated the shields. But he was too late.
Dual streams of energy ripped into the Monitor, followed by a volley of
photon torpedoes. MacGregor silently cursed himself as the ship was shaken and
jarred to its core....he had made a costly mistake.
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Uncertainty Ahead
Lieutenant T'Reija
USS Fearless, turbolift
Stardate 9806.27
"Sickbay", T'Reija instructed the computer, and the turbolift moved
immediately. The lift vibrated softly, but no pulling could be felt because of
special gravity generators. Without them, users of the lift would be either
pulled to the ceiling or pushed into the floor, both not very advisable. Then,
only seconds later, the vibration stopped and the doors opened.
"Ah, Lieutenant T'Reija," Dr. Ming said from the other end of the room,
moving towards her. "I bet you are here for your medical checkup. I wouldn't
have though that to go so quickly, my experience with Vulcans is, that you
have to force them into sickbay," she grinned.
T'Reija waited until the doctor had reached her. "Your experience,
doctor, proves to be right. I do not have time for a checkup now, I'll report
to you when our mission is finished. The survivors from Dr. Guevera's
group..." she automatically lowered her voice, even though she couldn't be
heard by any of them. "Commander Rhikal wants you to make complete physical scans."
Dr. Ming frowned. "What? I have made the normal checkups on them - which
you should have, too - and they seem okay apart from their injuries. And
anyway, what should I look for that I can't find in a normal scan? And why is
my sickbay flooded with security officers?"
"Just see if there's anything suspicious. Indications to time-travel,
unusual readings, everything. And the security officers are necessary.
After all, these people come from Dr. Guevera."
Dr. Ming frowned again, but then started the arrangements for the scans.
The Vulcan tapped her comm-badge.
"T'Reija to Bok and Mwamba", she called two reliable people of her team.
"Report to sickbay immediately. T'Reija out."
Only two minutes later, the two crewmen arrived. She instructed them to
have an eye on the professors people, without these hearing it of course. She
took a look at the survivors. They all seemed harmless, but you never knew...
perhaps they more to do with it that they had told them...
============================================================
Captain Sortha
Bridge of the USS Fearless
Stardate 9806.28
Sortha let out a hiss almost as loud as the static that now filled the
screen "Ssssssssst MacGregor you were ssuppossed to dissable the sstation sso
they could not reattach the deflector disssh, not engage them." Sortha rose
to his feet out of his oversized captain's chair. The big Gorn Captain did
not look pleased. "How far out are we from the assteroid field" Sortha
demanded.
"At least another hour sir" Jamie Marcus responded.
Sortha walked from one side of the bridge to the other, his heavy feet
thumping the deck plates. Now there was no way to know the outcome of the
battle. If MacGregor was successful he'd be a hero, but if not, he'd have
fallen to the number one strategy of any enemy... divide and conquer. Sortha
had wanted to engage the enemy jointly with MacGregor, but the human's
impatience had prevented that. "Any contact with the station?" Sortha asked.
"They are still maintaining silence or are unable to respond" Ensign
Marcus responded.
Sortha could not let that ship dock at the station and reattach the
deflector dish. "Inform me immediately if we restablish contact with teh
station or MacGregor. Lieutenant Sholek to my ready room" Sortha ordered, and
strode off to the solitude of the Captain's sanctuary.
Captain's Ready Room, USS Fearless
After Sholek had reported, Captain Sortha explained what he wanted.
"Lieutenant, I am going to ssend a message to the sstation. I want it boosted
sso that any of their ssystemss, even ssecondary will pick it up if they are
operating. I am going to use their command override prefix code to order the
sstation to sshut down everything except vital life ssupport atmosspheric and
environmental ssystemss. I want you to do two thingss. Firsst include a code
that will prevent anyone else from engaging any of the sstations's systemss,
and ssecond, attach a virus that will sshut the ssystem down even if they have
changed their prefix code You may need to defeat any countermeasures already
in place. With our ssensor ssuite, you'll have all the toolss you can dream
of Ssholek. Let'ss ssee what you can do" Sortha said with a toothy grin. It
was time to check out the Fearless' ECM capabilities.
**(ECM=Electronic Counter-Measures)
============================================================
Commander Michael Dyer
Secondary Bridge, U.S.S. Fearless
Stardate 9806.29
Dyer spent the next half-hour preparing the secondary bridge for the
battle drill. He isolated the consoles from the rest of the ship. He
tied the entire bridge systems to the main holodeck computer. He then
set up the simulation. The information from the computer would be fed
to all the consoles and readouts. If the crew did not know that this was
a drill, they would not be able to tell from their readings.
The senior officers reported on time as requested. They all took
their stations and the simulation began...
"Sensors are picking up three large build-ups of tachyon particles
Commander." Foster reported from Tactical.
"Enough of a buildup to hide a ship?" Dyer asked.
"Definitely."
"Lt. Quilman, take us to within 50,000 kms of those readings. Red
Alert, shields up."
"Lt. Cmdr Foster, I want you to lock a full spread on those energy
surges and fire on my command."
"Sir," Foster said, "Three Romulan warbirds decloaking ahead."
"Fire!!!"
The volley of phaser fire and photon torpedoes sped from Fearless and
hit their target. One of the ships was badly damaged. The other
suffered negligibly and returned fire.
"Direct hit to our forward shields. Down to 73%" Foster reported.
"Helm! Attack pattern Delta IV! Let's see what you've got Mr.
Quilman."
The Fearless pitched and yawed and evaded the enemy fire, while
getting multiple shots and disabling the three Romulan ships. The
exercise lasted about two and a half minutes. The crew performed
incredibly well and Dyer was pleased with their success.
They spent another half-hour in simulations, and then Dyer dismissed
the crew to their regular assignments to tie up any loose ends before
they reached the outpost. He then made his way to the bridge.
...He found the Captain in his oversized command chair. Dyer handed
him the PADD with his evaluation of the simulations.
"The crew performed most efficiently sir. Not much time for
anything new, just some good old fashioned dog fighting."
Dyer began going over reports from the rest of the ship. The entire
ship was on Alert status. The crew was tense. Some shore leave would be
in order after this. He hoped the war would allow it.
============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Fearless, bridge security station
Stardate 9806.29
Vehakra slammed her clenched fists on the console in front of her. She was
frustrated after hours of trying to decipher the data they'd brought back from
Qal'Nagath. So far, nothing of importance.
She rubbed her eyes and returned to her task. Veh tried filtering the
data once more, trying to defragment the information to weed out inperfections
and restore it to its original state. She ran the data through another
sequence and suddenly, a large cache of data was deciphered.
The Orion woman cjhecked the data and found a file that was now 85
percent deciphered. She quickly scanned the file and found it to be of major
importance.
According to a personal log of Dr. Xavier Guevera, a ship bearing
citizens of a colony called New Paradise had arrived at Qal'Nagath to discuss
hiring Guevera to transport them back to the 23rd century for an undisclosed
reason. Guevera was eager to meet with them to discuss their request, for this
would be the trial run of his modified Oberth-class ship. The colonists, he
noted in the log, were human but they lived outside the Federation.
It wasn't much, but it was a start.
"Captain, I think I have something," Veh announced.
The Gorn, still fuming over the loss of contact with the USS Monitor,
stood and approached Veh's station.
"What isss it, commander?" he asked.
"The name of the planet Guevera's clients are from," Veh said, displaying
the text only log entry by Guevera. "Its all I've been able to get from this
jumbled mess of data we downloaded from that ship."
Sortha studied the data and slowly nodded. Vehakra then awaited his next
order....
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/So It Begins...
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Fearless
Stardate 9806.29
Vehakra had been ordered by the captain to learn more about the colony
called New Paradise. She quickly accessed the ship's computer and within
minutes she'd found the data.
New Paradise was founded in the early years of the 22nd century. A group
of nomadic humans, descendants of the feared genetically built soldiers of the
Eugenics war which ravanged the Earth at the end of the 20th century, left
Earth to build a new life for themselves. Year of persecution by "normal"
humans had prompted the genetically perfect people to leave...as well as the
desire to keep their gene pool fresh and untained.
Nearly 10,000 Eugenic descendents left Earth on the same route an earlier
group of refugees from the war had taken in 1999....a group led by the
infamous Khan Noonian Singh. They never found Khan, but they did find a
habital world called New Paradise. There, they built a colony and have lived since.
The colonists have grown to number nearly 150,000 over the past two
centuries. Despite some trade, they have remained cut off from the
Federation..refusing to join after they learned Starfleet killed Khan and his
followers. They trade openly with the Ferengi and various other non-aligned worlds.
Vehakra found the data interesting, but unnerving. It was beginning to
look more and more like the New Paradise colonists had gone back in time for
something involving the evil Khan Singh. The possibilities were disturbing.
She downloaded the data and delivered it to Sortha.
============================================================
Captain Sortha
USS Fearless
Stardate 9806.29
Sortha immedietely ordered data on the colony called New Paradise.
Within minutes Veh informed him that New Paradise was founded by Eugenic
soldier refugees who fled earth hundreds of years ago......
Hours later.......
The Fearless dropped majestically out of its high speed warp bubble as it
arrived at the Rendari Asteroid Field in Sector 435-G of Federation Space.
Within seconds, the Fearless' sensors found no trace of the Monitor or the
mysterious cloaked ship.
Foster scrutinized his sensor readings: "Sir, there are signs of a battle.
Residual weapons discharge. I'm also detecting a warp signature that left here
a few hours ago. It seems to be bound for Outpost 489. It is the Monitor's
warp trail."
Sortha said nothing, just hissed. Then he spoke, "Continue sscanning.
Bridge to Ssholek...I need my communications boosssted. Report on your
effortsss."
"Sir," Foster said excitedly. "I picking up lifepods adrift in the
asteroid field. They belong to the Monitor. I'm detecting more than 75 life
signs in all."
"That's about half of the crew of the Monitor," Sortha muttered. "Bring
us within transporter range."
Jamie Marcus approached Sortha, standing close by. "Sir if we drop
shields to beam aboard the survivors, we'll be a sitting duck if they're out
there cloaked" she whispered.
"I am well aware of that Ensign" Sortha hissed. Unfortunately she was
right. If the Fearless dropped shields and the enemy ship was still out there
he'd have more than 50 casualties on the Fearless' crew at least. "Full
scan" Sortha ordered. Scans revealed no sign of any other ships. The quiet
on the bridge was deafening as only the instruments could be heard. After
seeing the scans of the recent attacks on the Oberth somehow Sortha thought
that his enemy would not have left one quarter of the crew of the Monitor
alive without a good reason.....
============================================================
USS Fearless
Sickbay
Stardate 9806.30
Dr. Cassandra Ming stepped up to the biobed where Dave Semelek, the
engineer
from the Oberth-class ship, was laying. She had performed some basic medical
tests on him, but sheıd been having trouble getting a detailed genetic scan
because of some residule radiation in his system.
Semelek was casually lounging on the biobed. He and the other survivors
had been kept detained in sickbay, but so far he was the only one Ming was having
complications with. He was very cooperative, but the radiation he'd been
exposed to was still having some effects on the equipment.
Oddly, Ming thought, the radiation hadn't harmed him in any way. He had
enough in his body to be concerned about, but it didn't seem to weaken or
make him ill in anyway.
She approached Semelek and began to run the medical tricorder over his body.
Around the room, four security officers, including Lt. T'Reija, stood watch
over Semelek and the other science station survivors.
Finally, sheıd been able to eliminate enough of the radiation in his body
to get an accurate reading. Immediately, she began seeing abnormalities in his
genetic makeup.
"Mr. Semelek," Ming said, still checking the readings. "You have been
genetically altered."
"No, doc, I haven't," he said. "This is the way I was born."
"Then...you are the offspring of someone who was genetically engineered,"
Ming commented as T'Reija stepped closer, curious of the findings. "You have
elevated strength, sight, hearing and reflexes. Your auto-immune system is
beyond anything I've ever seen in a human. Even your brain shows some
improvement over human standards."
"Hmmm," Semelek said, sitting up on the table. "I've never noticed anything
unusual, doctor. I wonder how I got this way?"
"I'd like to run a few more tests," Ming said., "There also seems to be some
kind of implant in your ear and throat."
T'Reija read the tricorder readings and raised one eyebrow. "That's a
subvocal communicator unit. It is currently receiving a coded micro-burst
transmission from outside the ship. Why do you have this?"
"So I can send and receive transmissions," Semelek said. "I must stay in
contact with my people at all times."
"What do you mean?" Ming asked. T'Reija became very suspicious and her hand
began to drop toward her phaser.
But Semelek was much, much faster.
He punched T'Reija in the face without warning and the Vulcan security
officer tumbled backwards, her half-drawn phaser dropping to the deck. Ming
drew a hypospray from the pocket of her lab coat, but before she could inject
its contents into Semelek, he knocked it from her hand and then seized her in
a headlock.
The first two security officers to see what was going on drew their
phasers and started toward Semelek. The big human snapped Dr. Mingıs neck
without a second thought and picked her lifeless body up before heaving it
across sickbay and striking the two officers, sending them both sprawling to
the deck.
A phaser blast struck Semelek in the back and he staggered a little, before
standing back up and turning toward the source. The other two security
officers were on the opposite end of sickbay and one had shot him on a stun
setting. It wasn't enough to even slow Semelek.
He scooped T'Reijaıs phaser up from the deck before the Vulcan could sit up
and retrieve it, then dove for cover behind a medical station in sickbay. He
found a nurse cowering there and grabbed her by the back of her uniform,
pulling her to her feet in front of him.
"Let her go and surrender," one of the security officers shouted. Semelek,
using the nurse as a bodyshield, fired and his phaser blast struck the officer
in the chest. He fell backwards in a shower of sparks, the shot had been
fatal.
Semelek, his phaser in the woman's back, starting to back up toward the
door. "No one move. No one do a thing or I will vaporize her on the spot.
We're going to take a little walk."
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/You Have Your Orders
Captain Sortha
USS Fearless
Stardate 9807.05
T'Reija returned to sickbay in time to see Sortha hurl Semelek across the
sickbay with his full strength. He smashed into the wall with such force
several compound fractures broke through his skin and a great deal of blood
smeared the wall and pooled around the lifeless body. "Captain..." she
whispered.
Sortha turned as his sensitive hearing picked up his officer's whisper.
Just then Lieutenant Sholek's voice came over Sortha's comm badge: "I was
able to use the prefix codes on the station. I had to push our comunications
system to the limit and it took quite a power drain as compared to normal
comunications. I sent a bug with it to disable the computer temporarily to
slow down any attempt to bring the station back online."
"Good work, Ssholek. Ssortha out." Sortha turned to T'Reija who was still
staring at the bloody mess on the floor. "Lieutenant...lieutenant!" Sortha said.
"Yes sir" T'Reija answered after another pause.
Sortha considered the situation for a moment. "Dr. Ming was a friend of
mine, we had served together for some time. Nobody, or no thing, harms any of
my crew with impunity" Sortha said forcefully. Pausing again he decided to
share some more information with T'Reija who was apparently having some
difficulties adjusting to her new duties, with the possible death of her
mother, and now this critical...and most likely soon to be extremely bloody
mission. "On my world, our birth rates are slow, and each child is treasured.
This care for our people follows into adult life. We will sacrifice any
material to save one of our people. It is our way. No Gorn life is taken
without retribution, no family member slain without blood taken. We Gorn,
are much more like the Vulcans of antiquity than your people today." After
another pause, Sortha continued "Now, please see to it that the rest of our
visitors are secured." Turning to the other security officers who were now
filling sickbay Sortha ordered "Clean up that messs, and ssee to it that all
measures be taken with Dr. Ming and teh other casualties."
Sortha strode toward the bridge: "Commander Dyer, what is the situation
with those lifepods?"
"We've matched the lifesigns with those in Starfleet records Sir.
They're all members of Monitor's crew. We've also scanned the pods for any
explosives or other harmful materials and they check out."
"Very good Commander" Sortha replied. He was rapidly gaining confidence
in his exec who had performed well to date. "It appears the Monitor has been
captured. Inform Starfleet, and change our prefix code as per General Order
134. I'll be on the bridge shortly. Sortha out."
Once on the bridge Sortha watched Commander Dyer handling the rescue of
the Monitor's crew. It was slowing them down, but Sortha couldn't leave them
there. There were a good many wounded and many of the pods were damaged. It
was apparent they had been left alive for a reason. Almost to a man, they
were enlisted members of the crew. No officer higher than an ensign was left
alive. Once onboard the survivors were placed in sickbay under extremely
tight security being handled by Lieutenant Commander Rhikal herself. Reports
from the survivors all told the same story. The ship had been caught with its
shields down. The first attack had disabled the bridge killing all the
command crew. Armed boarders had beamed into critical sections of the ship
and started killing, taking no prisoners. Crewmembers without an effective
means of mounting a resistance had taken to the lifepods.
Sortha and his command officers were meeting in the bridge conference
room. All could hear the straining of teh ship's engines, which served as an
undertone to their own sense of urgency. Foster was just giving the latest
intelligence report. "The Monitor is approximately three hours out from
Outpost 489. She's making warp 9.7. She should arrive at the station a full
hour before we do. There are no other Starships within the vicinity to lend
assistance. Several are in route but none are closer than 15 hours. The
Eugenicists will not be able to change the deflector dish before we arrive if
the professor's estimates are correct. We have sent a disabling code to the
station as well which should serve to slow them down further. The enemy most
likely caught us on their scanners when we were in the asteroid field. If
they are smart they will know we are coming after them at the station, so
they'll be ready. They will most likely have control of the station as well
as the Monitor and their unidentified ship. The Monitor can't cloak, but the
enemy ship most likely can. They know they can't change the dish before we
arrive so they'll be planning to finish us off first, then change the dish at
their leisure."
"Thank you Mr. Fossster," Sortha said, "It comes down to thiss, If we
don't stop them, there's no other sship that can. They have a time travel
device, and ssince they lost the Eugenicss warss, there's a good chance they
will want to correct that."
Sortha let that sink in. The crew didn't need a universal translator to
translate what the Captain had just said. This mission was do or die.
Sortha continued on "According to Commanders Dyer and Foster's tactical
estimates there is a good chance they may outgun uss. I'm going to want to
have a few ssurprisses for the enemy.
"Commander Dyer: I want you work with Lieutenant Sholek to outfit two of
our shuttlecraft with some special equipment. Outfit the Vigilance (the
runabout with the cloaking device) so that it will be able to replicate our
transponder code and warp signature exactly. It won't have to be for long.
Also outfit it so that we can control it remotely. The second shuttle I want
readied with remote piloting capabilities and a charge powerfurful enough to
take down that stations's shields."
"Lieutenant Commander Rhikal: I want you to prepare the ship and crew for a
boarding action by those genetically enhanced vermin. Our people can't go
one-on-one against them, so inform the crew, make sure our anti-intruder ship
systems, internal forcefileds etc are working at full efficiency. Also, keep
a tight lid on the people we picked up earlier from the Oberth and the station.
"Lieutenant Commander Foster: I want to hear a full report on possible
strategies those Eugenicists might try.
"Lieutenant T' Reija and Lieutenant Brynaziir: I want you to organize the
survivors of the Monitor's crew who are in shape to fight. Give me a report
on numbers and capabilities. Train them as a strike team and to repel
boarders. Make sure they ALL check out to be who they appear to be first.
And, Lieutenant Brynaziir, I'll want to hear anything that you might be able
to pick up.
"Lieutenant Commander Foster and Lieutenant Quilman: I want you to
simulate a very small emission or something that will allow the Monitor to
track us. They think they have an agent on board. Let them continue to think
that. Do it so it would seem to them that it would be highly unlikely that we
would catch it. Then work with Commander Dyer so that the same emission can
be replicated by the runabout.
And finally, Sortha turned to Jamie. "Ensign Marcus: I want you in my
ready room after this briefing. I want you to tell me about the run in your
great grandfather had with Khan Noonian Singh."
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Making Preparations
Commander Michael Dyer
U.S.S. Fearless Bridge
Stardate 9807.10
Dyer had been scanning the life signs of the pods as they began to group
together amongst the asteroids. He had just completed his scans when Captain
Sortha entered the bridge.
"Commander Dyer, what is the situation with those lifepods?"
"We've matched the lifesigns with those in Starfleet records Sir. They're
all members of Monitor's crew. We've also scanned the pods for any explosives
or other harmful materials and they check out."
"Very good Commander" Sortha replied. "It appears the Monitor has been
captured. Inform Starfleet, and change our prefix code as per General Order
134. I'll be on the bridge shortly. Sortha out."
Dyer executed the Captain's orders expeditiously. Once he had the
survivors onboard they were placed in sickbay under extremely tight security
The entire command crew had gathered in the conference room. It wasn't too
long before Sortha had handed out the assignments. The crew was extremely
busy trying to accomplish the tasks before they reached the outpost.
Dyer was working with Sholek to install the duplicate transponder and
simulate the warp signature. Sholek was working on the Vigilance, Dyer on the
McKenzie, on of their shuttles. Each ship had a team of engineers installing
the remote link to allow the ships to be controlled from the bridge.
Dyer had finished with the transponder. He then moved to work on the
explosives. He removed the photon warheads from two torpedos, and placed them
in an access panel in the nose cone of the shuttle. The detonating mechanism
he had installed, would trigger the devices when they came in contact with the
outpost's defense shield. With the ship being piloted at maximum impulse, the
explosion of the warheads coupled with the nacell explosion, and the
matter/anti-matter injection chamber would bring down the shields an anything
in a .5 kilometer radius.
He took a moment to fill Sortha in on their progress.
============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Fearless
Stardate 9807.10
Dr. Cassandra Ming was dead. From the look on the captainıs face and the
tone of his voice when the announcement came from sick bay that one of the
patients had turned on the doctor and had taken a hostage, Veh knew he was
disappointed in her.
He had instructed her to increase security in sickbay, just in case the
QalıNagath survivors werenıt as harmless as they seemed. And she had taken the
reasonable precautions....four armed security officers and one of her security
assistants posted in sickbay seemed -- at the time -- like more than enough.
But when it turned out Semelek was biogenetically enhanced, five officers
may as well have been one. She had failed to perform her duties as ordered and
Ming's death was on her hands.
Vehakra felt sick inside. She had so wanted to be in charge of security
and was pleased when she was picked to take Ki'lal's place....but now she was
regretting ever taking the job.
The ship had just taken on more passengers....survivors from the Monitor.
She was taking no chances this time. Vehakra posted 10 security officers in
and around sickbay as the surviving medical staff tended to Monitor's injured,
while she arranged quarters for the rest of the survivors in one of the lower
decks -- an empty section of cabins used to house ground forces in the event
Fearless was ferrying troops.
This particular section of the ship was somewhat spartan in
accomodations,
but was easy to contain with forcefields and provided minimal computer access.
She also posted another squad of guards in this section, headed by Thoraz
Brynaziir. Weapons were all set at maximum stun.
With this accomplished, Vehakra began running drills throughout the ship
to prepare the security staff for a possible boarding action by the individuals
who seized the Monitor.
She had been running the drills for more than an hour when Commander Dyer
showed up during a break. Veh was going over performance reports in the
doorway to the messhall, where the security force had just "neutralized" a
group of borders who were actually Fearless security officers assuming the
role of the "hostile enemy force."
"How's it going?" Dyer asked.
"Good. Response times are coming along well. I've simulated enemy transports
into engineering, the battle bridge and the hangar bay," the Orion woman
said. "The most recent was to the crew quarters and messhall. Best response
time yet."
"You don't seem too happy?" Dyer asked.
"I'm just thinking about Dr. Ming and the way the captain reacted to me when
he heard the news from sickbay," Vehakra said, not looking at Dyer. "It's my
fault she's dead, Mike. I failed as security chief. I wasn't prepared. Now the
doctor is dead and Captain Sortha regrets making me security chief."
Dammit! She felt tears welling in her eyes. She never allowed herself to
cry on duty and in front of her commanding officer. She choked back the sob
rising within her and forced the tears to subside.
============================================================
Outpost 489
Sector 435-G
Stardate 9807.11
The last of the Outpost's eight man security force fell to the forces
commanded by Khan Noonian Singh. With the fighting over and a group of nine
outpost survivors gathered in the main cargo bay, Khan and his new right hand
man, Yonan Gregar, came aboard the station.
Dressed in a comfortable set of khaki civilian clothes, his white hair
pulled into a pony tail behind, Khan walked along the line of prisoners and
looked at each one with a cold stare. None of them recognized him, especially
since the image of him in the history books didn't include a huge scar running
down his face -- left there from his brush with death aboard the USS Reliant a
century earlier.
If it hadn't of been for Gregar and Dr. Guevera's time travel ability,
Khan would have perished there in the Mutara Nebula. But the Oberth arrived in
the nebula minutes before the end...just in time to see the Enterprise limping
away at impulse speed as the Genesis Device built up to an explosion. The
Oberth, undetected by Enterprise because of the nebula, came alongside the
Reliant and beamed a team of Gregar's people aboard. They recovered Khan from
the bridge of the shattered ship...already unconscious and nearly dead from
his injuries. They beamed back with him and the Oberth left the nebula
immediately, then leaping forward to the 24th century and returning to
Guevera's base of operations.
Khan's injuries had been repaired by the miracles of 24th century
medicine, but the wound to his face was too severe to repair with the simple
medical facilities of Guevera's Oberth...so it was a scar he would bear from
now on.
Injuries aside, Khan had found himself in a new world of wonder when he
arrived in the 24th century. So much had changed. He was pleased to hear that
Admiral James T. Kirk was dead....but was disappointed the admiral had not
perished in the Genesis blast. He considered taking Guevera's device to go
back in time and finish Kirk once and for all...but there was so much more he
could do with the ability to leap from one time to another.
Instead of seeking vengeance, he could merely change time.
So he ordered Gregar and his followers -- a radical militant group from
the colony the Eugenic descendants had settled on -- to seize Guevera and his ship.
But the good doctor put up a fight.
In the battle, Gregar's heavily armed corvette destroyed an old Romulan
Bird of Prey used by some mercenaries working for Guevera, and then went to
contend with the well-armed Oberth-class science ship. Unfortunately, however,
the battle didn't go well for the Oberth and it overloaded its weapon
system....making it useless to Khan and his plan to travel back to 1999, so he
could win the Eugenics War and claim Earth as his prize.
So, Khan ordered the Oberth stripped of its modified deflector equipment
so it could be installed on the corvette. En route to Outpost 489 to get the
work done, they encountered Captain MacGregor and his USS Monitor...which they
promptly seized. Now, with a Starfleet ship at their disposal, the deflector
controls could be interchanged much more easily and the Monitor would soon be
his chariot for his return to Earth in the late 20th century.
Khan's thoughts returned to the prisoners on Outpost 489. There were nine
survivors in all -- five humans, one Andorian, two Vulcans and a Trill -- one
of the Vulcans, a female, was the commander in charge of the station.
"Excellent work, Yonan," Khan said. "And the station?"
"Minor damage," Yonan reported. "Shields and weapons systems are fully functional."
"Good," Khan said. "Establish the cargo bay as a detention center. Move
the rest of the Monitor's crew here as well. If we are backed into a corner,
we can use them as hostages. The cargo bay can be depressurized....killing all
inside...should we meet with much oppositon from this ship...the USS Fearless."
"Should I have our people proceed with the improvements to the Monitor?"
Yonan asked.
"Immediately. I want that ship ready for time travel as soon as
possible," Khan said. "And ready this station for a boarding action....just in
case this Gorn captain and his crew find a way through our defenses."
Yonan smiled. "I have a few things in store for them, should they come."
"Excellent, my friend," Khan said. "I will be in the commander's office."
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Approaching Outpost 489
USS Fearless
Bridge
Stardate 9807.14
"Captain," Matt Foster reported from the tactical station. "I have Outpost
489 on long range sensors."
Sortha turned toward the tactical officer in his chair. "And the Monitor?"
"Docked with the station," Foster said. "The Monitor is transmitting a
garbled message. It indicates that the ship has been retaken by the crew and
is docked with the station for protection and repairs. They are asking for
assistance from any nearby ships."
Sortha looked and Dyer and the commander shook his head. "Blatant trap."
"Indeed," Sortha muttered. "If Khan Ssingh is on the Monitor, he isss much
ssmarter than that. Quesstion isss, what doesss he have up hisss sleeve?"
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Battle Begins
Lt. Sholek
Stardate 9807.15
USS Fearless
"Sholek to Captain Sortha," Sholek said after tapping his comm-badge. "The
modifications to the Vigilance and the other shuttle are finished. Controls
have been routed to the bridge."
============================================================
Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
USS Fearless
Stardate 9807.16
Thoraz had his Team running drills for a couple of hours.
"Very good. We should be able to do this in our sleep. In fact let's
simulate boarding actions in the dark. I want all security officers to be
able to run through this ship blindfolded. That way, if we are surprised in
any way, we will still have the
'home turf' advantage. Ok people, let's move. Marquilles, lead the team
through the drills; I will have Delta Team take over down here with me."
"Thoraz to Security Team Delta. Report immediately to the lower decks.
All other security personnel not currently assigned to a specific location
report to Ensign Marquilles for briefing.
Lt. Brynaziir out."
"Thoraz to Commander Rhikal."
"Go ahead Lieutenant."
"Commander, I have the security teams familiarizing themselves with the
ship layout so they can run through the ship in the dark confidently, in case
we are boarded so we will have the advantage. Any other instructions?"
============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Fearless
Stardate 9807.17
Veh didn't have enough time to seek comfort from Dyer about her mistake
which cost Ming's life. The ship was nearing Outpost 489 and they all had work
to do. She ended her team's traning drills and ordered them all to suit up in
phaser armor and to ready weapons. It was time for the real thing.
As her team suited up in the ship's armory, Thoraz contacted her looking for
instructions.
"I want you to coordinate all onboard security during the upcoming fight,"
Vehakra said. "If there's a boarding action, you and your team will be
responsible for ship's security. I'll be leading any away team action over to
Outpost 489. So wrap up your drills and get your people ready. Protect key
areas of the ship. Rhikal out."
============================================================
USS Fearless
Bridge
Stardate 9807.16
"Captain," Matt Foster reported from the tactical station. "I have Outpost
489 on long range sensors."
Sortha turned toward the tactical officer in his chair. "And the Monitor?"
"Docked with the station," Foster said. "The Monitor is transmitting a
garbled message. It indicates that the ship has been retaken by the crew and
is docked with the station for protection and repairs. They are asking for
assistance from any nearby ships."
Sortha looked and Dyer and the commander shook his head. "Blatant trap."
"Indeed," Sortha muttered. "If Khan Ssingh is on the Monitor, he isss much
ssmarter than that. Quesstion isss, what doesss he have up hisss sleeve?"
============================================================
Commander Dyer
U.S.S. Fearless, Bridge
Stardate 9807.16
"Sir, I suggest we deploy the Vigilance. Head her for Outpost 489 at
standard cruising speed, transmitting standard hails the whole way.We can then
head away at high warp to come around from the oposite direction and hopefully
take Kahn, or whoever is on that station by surprise."
"Once we are in range of the station, we can use the cargo transporter to
beam the shuttle craft off of the ship, so that we don't have to decloak.
Power her up and ram her. The explosives in her nose, will bring the sheilds
down, and we can beam a team onto the station to take her back."
"By the time they realize that the runabout isn't Fearless, it'll be too
late."
Dyer gave the captain some time to think about the plan while the Fearless
zoomed toward the Outpost.
============================================================
Captain Sortha
USS Fearless
Stardate 9807.17
Sortha considered the situation. With the Monitor docked with the station
there was the possibility of striking both simultaneously. "Send this
message" Sortha ordered. "This is USS Fearless we are sending assistance.
Stand by. Where is the enemy ship? Out."
Sortha turned to his exec, "Well number one, if they want to play stupid
we'll oblige them and see what develops. Launch the two shuttles
simultaneously, and have the Vigilance take up our 'emission leak' have ours
stop and their's start simultaneously. Then have the Fearless radically
change course and have the Vigilance continue on our former course."
============================================================
USS Fearless
Bridge
Stardate 9807.17
Commander Sonya Kalavar and Dr. William Horton arrived on the bridge as
the plan was put into action. Kalavar approached the captain.
"Sir, request permission to join any away team sent to the Monitor,"
Kalavar said. "The recovery or destruction of the time travel equipment is my
responsibility. I must see that it is all accounted for."
============================================================
Ensign Jamie T. Marcus
USS Fearless
Stardate 9807.17
Jamie Marcus breathed evenly and deeply. She had to maintain good
composure in front of her new command. She had been placed in charge of a
group of twenty-five crewmen from the monitor. They had been armed with
phaser rifles and body armor from ship's stores. Word had spread around the
ship that their enemy was none other than Khan Noonian Singh, her
grandfather's arch rival.
Her pulse quickened at being able to fight the same enemy. In the back
of her mind she wondered... if these people could use this device to go back
in time to bring Khan into the future, could she not go back in time to
Veridian where grandpa Jim had died?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the ship going to red alert and a message
that they had arrived at outpost 489. Shifting her phaser rifle, she eyed her
command. They were all survivors from the monitor, mostly ordinary crewmen,
although she had found out there were two security officers in the bunch. The
others were a mix of engineering or ship services technicians. Her post was
transporter room two and her orders were to stand ready for intraship beaming
to fight borders on the Fearless or to be beam over to an enemy ship.
============================================================
Outpost 489
Command Center
Stardate 9807.17
Khan arrived in operations and approached Gregar at his post. "What is it?"
"The Fearless has hailed us," Gregar said. "They are offering to render
assistance and are requesting to know where the enemy ship is."
Khan smiled. "They must have went to the asteroid field by now...they know
about our capture of the Monitor. They are up to something."
"My Lord," Gregar said, looking at his sensor screen. "They have launched
a shuttle and recloaked. The shuttle is approaching. Also, I am detecting what
appears to be some kind of plasma leak visible through the Fearless' cloak. It
is still on course for the station."
Khan frowned and paced the ops center behind Gregar, his hands clasp
behind his back. "Too easy...we have no indication the Fearless was damaged
anytime recently. Why would she be leaking plasma? No, my friend, it is a
trick. Fire phasers at the shuttle and the plasma leak. Do not allow them to
reach us. Have your troops suited in armor and ready to repel borders. Also,
standby with our little present for the Fearless...whenthe time is right."
The station opened fire immediately, and phaser blasts ripped through
space, ripping the shuttle apart. The explosives detonated and the blast was
powerful enough to damage the station's shields...but not enough to drop them.
The next salvo of phaser fire tried to hit the Vigilance, which was
disguised as the Fearless' "plasma leak". With targeting sensors briefly
thrown off by the concussion of the explosion, the shots missed and Vigilance
slammed head on into the station's outer shields...
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Being Hailed
Commander Michael Dyer
U.S.S. Fearless
Stardate 9807.18
Dyer watched on the main viewer as the little ships were deployed. The
moment the shuttle was destroyed he turned to the Captain, who merely nodded.
"Lt. Quilman, increase speed of the vigilance to full impulse, heading 202
mark 323. When she's within 10 kilometers of the station drop her shields."
Dyer did not like the idea of destroying the little runabout. He had a
special affinity for her ever since their mission to Romulus.
"Aye sir." Quilman answered.
The sensors showed the plasma leak increase speed and head directly for the
station. The outpost's phaser banks attempted to lock on time and again, but
the shuttle's explosion must have caused some inaccuracies in the targeting
scanners on the outpost.
The Vigilance performed as she had been ordered and slammed into the
stations shields at full impulse. The energy from the shield surged through
every system on the ship and overloaded the warp coils, causing them to
immediately breach. The explosion was powerful, and from the main viewer of
the Fearless Dyer could see the shimmer of the shields dropping. The explosion
most likely overloaded the shield generators. It would take an experienced
Starfleet engineer as long as 6 hours to repair. Someone without the
knowledge of the system, 10 - 12.
"Sir," Dyer reported. "The explosion has taken out the Outpost's shields.
It should take them anywhere from 6 - 12 hours to repair them, depending on
the extent of the damage."
Dyer stood beside the helm as Fearless came about and came to a full stop
about 1 light year from the Outpost. While the crew awaited the Captain's
orders, Dyer was glad he wasn't going to have to be the one to explain to
Admiral Jaegar why his runabout was destroyed.
============================================================
Lieutenant T'Reija
USS Fearless, Bridge
Stardate 9807.18
"Captain Sortha" T'Reija approached the captain. He sat in his large
command chair and she thought he still seemed taken aback from the death of
his friend, Dr. Ming, but was - as always - well prepared for anything that
could happen.
"Yesss, lieutenant?" he asked almost immediately.
"Team Beta is well prepared for battle, even under extra-ordinary
circumstances like no or minor gravity, without light and so on. They all run
through a special holodeck training and none of them failed at the end. I have
now sent most of them to rest, so they are fresh when they are needed. I also
made a medical check on the other survivors. No implants, and no signs of
genetic enhancements."
The captain looked surprised. "You did the check-upss? You are no medical
officer and apart from the general training in you time at the Ssstarfleet
academy, you had no medical training, asss far ass I can ssee from your
Ssstarfleet record."
"Among other things, I studied Biologies at the Vulcan Science Academy.
Part of my training was a thorough medical training by one of the best Vulcan
doctors."
"Pleassse, go on" the Gorn replied.
"I did the check-ups, sir, and after running several tests on them, I had
them too well-prepared for battle, in case we get entered. There were security
officers around all the time, and I believe I have taken enough care to ensure
no further killings. I am... captain, I am sorry for what happened on sick-
bay. Perhaps if I had been faster, if I had taken more of my security team
with me..." She had been thinking about the happenings in sick-bay a lot, and
although she would act in the same ways again, she had the feeling she could
have done more. And she had made a decision.
"Captain, maybe this is the wrong time, as we can be attacked every minute,
but I wanted to tell you... I won't report the... incident with Semelek to
Starfleet Intelligence. Sir, if you or someone else reports and if the
examining magistrate should ask me questions, I won't lie. But I will point
out the Gorn sociology and philosophy, and that the Federation respects the
laws of different planets. Perhaps I can help to let the case - should you be
charged - be run by your planets government instead of the Starfleet
committee, and then you would probably be acquitted from the accusation. I
just wanted you to know."
============================================================
Outpost 489
Operation Center
Stardate 9807.20
Khan and Yonan stood up after nearly being knocked to the deck by an
explosion which had buckled their shields. Gregar dispatched an engineering
team to try and get the shields back up, and they took a couple of he
Starfleet prisoners with them to make them help.
"They have knocked out shields off line," Gregar frowned. "We should move
to the Monitor."
"Hail the Fearless," Khan said calmly.
"Sir, they aren't likely to speak with us at the moment," Gregar said.
"Hail them, Yonan," Khan repeated in a stern tone. "It is time we got
their attention."
Gregar sighed and did as he was told. He began hailing the Fearless and
awaited a reply from Captain Sortha.
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Rapid Strike
Captain Sortha
USS Fearless
Stardate 9807.21
"We're being hailed" Foster reported from tactical.
"From where!" Sortha demanded.
"The station sir, it's Khan" Foster reported, "He wants to talk."
Sortha considered his options. If he opened fire, Khan's other ship
could respond after Fearless had powered its phaser reserves down attacking
the station. The Fearless would be vulnerable.
"Helm take us to course 270 mark 10, then bring us to 90 mark 20. As we
pass the station decloak and lock tractors onto the Monitor for .5 seconds,
full power then release. "
"Taking them into the station?" Dyer asked.
"Yes, we'll see if that's a suitable reply to his hail. That should be
enough to cause some damage but not destroy them outright." Sortha responded.
The Fearless swooped down above the station and decloaked as it locked
tractors onto the Monitor. The tractor locked onto the Monitor and pulled it
hard into the station. With only thrusters for station keeping the Monitor
was able to offer little resistance and the close proximity of the ship to the
station left the crew scant time to react. The two collided and the Monitor's
shields flared brightly as it attempted to stop the momentum of the ship from
smashing into the station. They held for a millisecond but collapsed with the
force of the collision.
One warp nacelle crumpled as it slammed into the station's deutonium hull,
and the ship pivoted bringing it's other nacelle around to become entangled in
the station's superstructure. Multiple explosions racked the Monitor and the
station, as electricity sparkled over the Monitor and the station.
Foster looked up from his tactical board. "Port sields are at 78 percent.
Aft shields took a pounding...they're at 62 percent. Minor secondary hull
damage on deck eight. Light damage to the port nacelle. All decks reporting no
casualities."
"Now receive his transmission" Sortha ordered. "Receive it into a stand-
alone communications buffer secure storage bank. Full electronic
countermeasures, and defenses.
============================================================
Outpost 489
Stardate 9807.21
Khan and Gregar were nearly thrown to the deck as the station rocked
beneath them. Both men steadied themselves and returned to the tactical
station. Fearless had decloaked and was attacking the Monitor....though Gregar
couldn't immediately tell how.
"Fire!" Khan snarled.
And fire Gregar did. The station's two phaser banks which had firing arcs
on the Fearless fired and the twin beams of energy slammed into the port
shield's hard. The Eugenics descendent then fired a volley of five quantum
torpedos at the Fearless, three of which hammered the ship's aft section as
she dropped the tractor beam and moved off out of weapons range.
"Damn them!" Khan barked as he checked sensor readings. "The Monitor is
damaged!"
Gregar looked at the readings and agreed. One warp nacelle was twisted
and tangled in the superstructure of the station. Damage reports coming in
from Monitor weren't good. She had extensive internal damage as well.
"Its over, My Lord," Gregar muttered. "Monitor is not salvagable. We
might still be able to escape aboard the corvette...it is out there, cloaked,
waiting for us to summon her."
Khan glared at Yonan Gregar. "In good time, my friend. First things
first. We have a Gorn to kill. I plan to wear his skin as a cape before this
day is through."
An indicator on the tactical panel signaled an incoming message and
Gregar checked the data scrolling across the small screen.
"It's Fearless. They wish to speak with you," Gregar said, turning to
Khan as damage reports from both the station and the Monitor came in.
"All in good time. First, give me a video feed from the cargo bay," Khan
said. Gregar brought up the image of the Starfleet prisoners in the cargo bay
and then looked at his Lord. "Now, send in your guards and have them stand by."
Yonan instructed three of his soldiers to enter the cargo bay, armed with
phaser rifles, whic hthey trained on the hostages.
"Now," Khan said. "Open a channel to the Fearless."
After the transmission was filtered through the ship's encryption system,
Khan found himself staring a viewscreen filled with the big Gorn captain.
"Captain Sortha I presume," Khan said. "I assume I need no introduction.
Your actions have caused me a great inconvenience. And for that, a penance
must be extracted."
Khan motioned to Gregar with a nod and the younger man keyed his
controls, transmitting an image of the cargo bay to Fearless. As soon as the
image appeared on Fearless' viewscreen, Khan gave the order to execute two
prisoners. A female Trill and a young human male...both members of the
Monitor's crew...were instantly gunned down. Several Starfleet officers tried
to charge the soldiers, but were cut down with a widebeam stun blast before
Khan's men backed out of the cargo bay and sealed it behind them.
"Now, captain, unless you want more lives on your hands I suggest you
stand down," Khan said. "I believe I have made myself clear. Khan out."
Singh then looked over at a nearby science station in the operation
center and there stood Dr. Xavier Guevera, flanked by two of Gregar's soldiers.
"Doctor, stand by with your surprise," Khan said. "Sortha is likely to
take the bait and when he does, we shall be ready for him."
Guevera smiled, "The instant he takes action, we'll be ready...provided
he doesn't chose to destroy us all first. He appears to be a very un-typical
Starfleet officer."
"Lives are at stake, he'll attempt a rescue," Khan said.
"And what if he doesn't?" Gregar asked.
"Then we shall die," Khan said dryly. "I have been dead before, Yonan. I
am prepare to go there again."
"You can't die yet," Guevera added. "You and I have history to change, Khan."
"Do not think I am fully convinced you are going to help us willingly,
doctor," Singh said. "You still must prove yourself to me."
"When I deliver you Sortha's skin, then will you be convinced?" Guevera smiled.
"That will be a monumental task, doctor," Khan said. "If you do that, I
will trust you without question."
"Then we just need to wait," Guevera said with a sinister smile. "He'll
come soon...very soon."
===========================================================-
Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
USS Fearless
Stardate 9807.21
Thoraz was making his way throughout the ship checking on his teams. They
were obviously nervous. He couldn't blame them. Most of the crew was human -
no match physically for the genetically enhanced opponents they would soon
face. Thoraz had established checkpoints throughout the ship manned by
auxiliary personnel, mostly from the sciences as the rest of the crew were
busy with other tasks. All they had to do was watch for boarders and monitor
computer terminals.
The security teams were on the move constantly, either patrolling
restricted areas like the lower decks, or on broader ranges throughout the
ship. They were spread thin but Thoraz thought it was best to have a few
people over lots of area rather than the other way around.
'How do you predict the actions of a three hundred year old, genetically
superior being from another time? ', pondered Thoraz.
He had checked the library computer for any info in this Khan.
Unfortunately there was not much to help Thoraz there; and being that Khan was
from another time, there weren't many around who had either dealt with him or
faced him. Ambassador Spock was the one noteable exception. As Thoraz
was walking around a corner, lost in thought, he almost walkied into Commander Rhikal.
============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Fearless
Stardate 9807.21
Vehakra nearly ran into Thoraz as she and her security team rounded the
corner. They were on their way to the transporter room to await orders for a
possible transport to Outpost 489....if it ever was to come.
"Lieutenant," Vehakra said, holding her rifle away toward the floor.
"Report."
"We're ready, sir," Thoraz confirmed. "All the security teams are deployed
and ready to repel boarding parties."
Veh nodded. "Good work. I'mtaking my team to the transporter room to
await transport incase we board them first. T'Reija will be meeting us there.
You're in command of the ship board defense."
As Thoraz went to reply, the ship was slammed several times by weapons
fire, then the battle ceased almost as quickly as it happened. Red alert
sirens sounded and crew members rushed about to deal with damage from the attack.
"I guess we've engaged the enemy," Veh said. "We'll be in the main
transporter room. Carry on, lieutnant."
Rhikal and her team them hustled off to the transporter room to await the
captain's orders.
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Tables Are Turned
Lieutenant T'Reija
USS Fearless
Stardate 9807.26
T'Reija hurried to the transporter room as soon as Commander Rhikal's order
had reached her. It didn't take long until she arrived. On her way, she came
past several security officers, some of her team, but most from others. They
were prepared for battle. They had to be prepared.
When the Vulcan entered the transporter room, Commander Rhikal and her
team were already there.
"Any orders to transport yet?" T'Reija asked her.
============================================================
Captain Sortha
USS Fearless
Stardate 9807.26
Khan was as despicable as history had told Sortha thought as he saw the
hostages killed. He is without honor the big Gorn thought. He'd have to do
something quick.
"Tactical, target the weapon emplacements on the bottom side of the
station and fire!" The Fearless streaked by underneath the station
surgically taking out the weapon emplacements. The Fearless came around for a
second pass underneath the station. "Boarding parties stand by for
transport" Sortha ordered. "Engage infrared visors on your battle armor
helmets, it'll be dark and zero G where you are beaming to in three sseconds."
As the Fearless passed the station again, Sortha targeted the environmental
control areas on the station and the Monitor and fired. Since they were
Federation designs, the Fearless' targeting computer knew just where to hit
them. Without shielding they quickly melted into slag. The lights on the
station went out and everybody inside suddenly became weightless. At the same
time the Fearless boarding parties beamed onto the enemy ship and station.
The Fearless' shields snapped back up directly after the transport just in
case the Corvette was in a position to fire. Sortha hoped that moving close
by the station to transport would make any firing angle difficult for the
Corvette... besides it would hopefully have to decloak to fire anyway.
Boarding Party Assignments:
Commander Dyer/20Security: Station Bridge
Lieutenant Commander Rhikal/15 Security: Monitor Bridge
Lieutenant Commander Foster: Fearless Guard Duty
Lieutenant Brynaziir/15 Security: Station Hostage Rescue
Lieutenant T'Reija/15 Security: Monitor Engineering
Ensign Marcus/20 Monitor crew: Station Engineering
Good Luck Teams!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
============================================================
Outpost 489
Operations Center
Stardate 9807.26
The station was rocked with weapons fire as the Fearless attacked the
station's weapon emplacements. Being this was a lowly outpost, they managed to
do little damage to the Sovereign-class starship as it made its run.
Khan and Yonan steadied themselves as the Fearless struck the
environmental controls. The lights flickered out and Yonan quickly bypassed
life support and gravity through other subsystems. As he worked, Khan shot a
glance at Dr. Gueverra.
"Stand by, doctor," Khan said. "He is making his move."
"I'm ready," Gueverra muttered. "But all the damage the Fearless has done
is going to make this difficult."
"Do not fail me doctor," Khan hissed.
"Wait!" Gueverra said as emergency lighting in the ops center kicked in.
"I've got something. Yes. The Fearless has activated multiple transporter beams."
Khan smiled for the first time since the attack began. "Predictable to
the last. They will attempt to free the prisoners and subdue or kill us. Can
you do it?"
Gueverra studied the sensor screen, then inputted some commands. "Already
done. I've initiated the chroniton burst. Now I've locked up one of the
transporter beams. I am now sending the chroniton burst along the Fearless'
own transporter beam."
"This had better work," Yonan said, then turning to Khan. "My Lord, we are
about to get visitors. It's time to have the corvette beam us out."
Khan nodded and keyed his wrist communicator. "Doctor?"
"I don't know yet if it worked," Gueverra stated.
"We'll figure it out on the corvette," Yonan said as about 20 figures
began to materialize in the station's operations center. "Let's go!"
Yonan also keyed his own communicator and he took a hold of Gueverra's arm
and he and the doctor, as well as Khan, suddenly were enveloped in transporter
beams just as Commander Dyer and his team materialized in operations. But Dyer
had no time to react to Khan's escape, because 10 remaining Eugenics
terrorists in operations aimed their weapons and opened fire on his team...
============================================================
USS Fearless
Bridge
Stardate 9807.26
"Transport initiated," Foster told Sortha.
"Get ready to raise ssshieldsss again," Sortha said anxiously. "That
corvette isss ssstill out there."
"SIR!" Foster suddenly blurted out. "The station is sending some kind of
pulse back along the transporter beam."
As Sortha stood and snapped, "What?!!" Doctor William Horton from the
Daystrom Institute dove for the tactical controls and yelled, "Dammit! Isolate
transporter controls from the rest of the computer! Quickly!"
Foster's eyes got big and he let the elderly doctor seize the controls.
Horton began to shutdown the transporters as they finished sending the
boarding parties, but he was too late to stop the pulse completely.
The ship suddenly shuddered all around them and sparks flew from several
bridge stations. Warning sirens blared everywhere and several crew members
were tossed to the deck.
As the ship stopped shaking, Foster immediately began checking his station
as Horton stepped aside.
"What wasss that, doctor?" Sortha asked.
"A chroniton pulse. They used our own transporter lock to piggyback a
burst of chroniton energy from Outpost 489 to the Fearless," Horton muttered.
"I saw Xavier Gueverra use this same tactic ten years ago when the science
ship we were aboard was attacked by Romulans. He waited for them to begin
beaming boarding parties aboard and fired a similar pulse back along the
Warbird's transporter lock...which is essentially an energy link from our ship
to them. Such a tactic is more efficient when piggybacked on a direct energy
feed from one ship to another, or through a tractor beam..."
"I get the point, doctor!" Sortha snapped. "Fosssster, what'sss our ssstatuss?"
"Shields are down. We have weapons but phaser and torpedo locks are
offline. The main computer is down. We don't have warp power either, and all
the transporters are down," Foster said.
"The boarding partiess?" Sortha asked, fearing the worst.
"Sensors indicate fighting aboard the Outpost," Foster said. "They appear
to have made it."
"The chroniton burst won't effect anyone in the transporter beam, the beam
is just used as a carrier for the chroniton pulse," Horton said. "I know, we
still had to contend with a group of eight Romulans when Gueverra did this 10
years ago. The Warbird wasn't as lucky as we were...I managed to shut down
your transporter system in time to prevent the pulse from frying every system
in the ship. Ten years ago it caused the Warbird to suffer a core breach."
"I thank you for your asssisstance....but it would have been nice to have
known about thisss tactic before," Sortha hissed as he checked his own
computer screen.
Horton nodded, "I apologize, I didn't think Xavier was helping Khan
willingly...apparently I was wrong."
"Apparently," Sortha muttered.
"Captain, a corvette-class ship has decloaked off the port bow. They're
locking weapons," Foster said evenly as he checked his screen. "Their
ship...its armed to the teeth."
Sortha pondered the situation and then gave his orders....
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Hand-to-Hand
Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
Beaming to Outpost 489
Stardate 9807.27
Thoraz and his team didn't have time to react. They had barely
materialized on the Station when the Eugenics warriors began firing on them.
It was a trap. Good thing for all those drills; most of the team was firing
back at the Eugenics having been prepared for an attack.
"Phasers on maximum stun. Return fire and take whatever cover you can
find people.
"Marquilles, we need to move to a more defesible position. Take 3 people
and scout ahead. I'll hold position here. We can't remain here too long, it
is too open. Spread out people. Remember your zero G training."
"Thoraz to Commander Dyer. We are under attack. It appears that they
were ready for us. I am trying to maneuver my people into a more defensable
location. I will contact if the situation worsens or when we make contact
with the hostages. Thoraz out."
'How did they know to expect us? I'll have to schedule zero G training
sessions on a regular basis from now on also.' he thought.
"Ensign, cover me for a while", Thoraz said turning to the security guard
near him as he began to concentrate.
'They may be stronger, faster and smarter, but can they stop a telepath?
Let's see what they know' Thoraz mused as he began to scan the Eugenics
warriors that had them pinned down.
============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Monitor
Stardate 9807.27
Vehakra and her team of officer materialized on the bridge of the USS
Monitor. Immediately the shooting began.
Her team consisted of 15 security officers -- all of Team Delta and half of
Epsilon. All were dressed in black phaser armor and carried compression pulse rifles.
Around them, about 10 Eugenic warriors from the New Paradise colony were
attacking. They had been prepared for a boarding action. The first salvo of
shots rained down on her team and Chief Petty Officer Luma Shoonbayu was
killed, while Chief Don Reyson was injured.
The team started shooting back and the bridge became a crisscrossing of
phaser blasts. Four Warriors of Singh were stunned right away in the hail of
phaser fire. That' when the remaining six Eugenic warriors emerged from their
cover and engaged the team in hand-to-hand combat.
Crewmen Yelto and Wood were beaten down in seconds by one genetically
enhanced soldier who closed for hand-to-hand. The two Fearless security
officers weren't prepapred for the sheer rute force of such and individual.
This was going to be a tough fight.
Veh leveled another shot with her rifle, only to feel it ripped from her
fingers by someone who moved up behind her. She spun and faced a two meter
tall man rippling with muscles. He threw a punch at her and smashed Veh in the
mouth, sending her reeling backwards over the operations station on the bridge.
As the soldier moved toward her, she released the fasteners which held her
phaser armor on, tossed the helmet aside and rolled free of the bulky armor as
the man tried to kick her in the side.
Dressed in her uniform pants and the gold turtleneck tunic of her uniform,
Veh rose to her feet and assumed a fighting stance. The big warrior came at
her and threw another punch, which Vehakra sidestepped. She seized his arm in
midair and used his own momentum to throw him off balance, toppling him to the deck.
As he got back up, Veh moved in and kicked him square in the face. His
head snapped back, but he managed to drive a fist into her solar plexus,
doubling her over in pain. The man rose to his feet and kicked Vehakra in the
leg, knocking it out from under her and sending her sprawling to the deck.
Around her, she noted that the rest of the security team was holding its
own, but not by much. A couple of the team were unconscious on the deck and a
couple more didn't look too well. Veh saw the soldier coming at her again and
she hooked a leg in behind his and brushed his legs out from under him,
sending him crashing onto his backside.
Veh sprang from the deck and landed on the man, driving a knee into his
throat as they fell back on the deck. He tried to throw her off, but Veh
managed to slip her legs around his neck and rolled off him, keeping his neck
locked between her legs.
She squeezed hard and th man started thrashing around. Veh held on for
dear life to the base of a console while she literally used her thighs to
choke the life out of him. She maintained the vice-like grip on the Eugenic
warrior and he gasped and rolled around, clawing at her legs to break her
hold. Veh continued to hold on, until finally she felt the life ebb from the
warrior and he became still.
She made it a point to twist his neck hard, snapping the vertabrae inside,
just to make sure he was no longer a threat. Then she rose and looked around, panting.
Chief Toral and Crewman Chtalis were both dead, and Ensign Ngalo, Chief
Davis and Chief Stamp were all unconscious. The last of the Eugenic warriors
on the bridge were now unconscious or dead.
"Ensign Swiftfoot, quick, security scan of the Monitor," Vehakra ordered.
"Let's see if there are any more soldiers on this ship."
The Native American security officer ran to the tactical station and
checked the security board. "We've got five more down in engineering, near
deflector control."
"Swiftfoot, take charge here," Vehakra said, scooping up her phaser rifle
and then turning to a Tellerite ensign. "Ensign Anukitukt, bring Nibez and
Kvorak and let's get down to deflector control."
Together, they headed off to deal with the last of the warriors who had
captured the Monitor.
============================================================
Commander Michael Dyer
Outpost 489, Operations
Stardate 9807.28
Dyer and his team of 20 security officer's materialized in the Outpost's
operations section. They prepared with weapons drawn, but were not prepared
to have ten of Khan's men open fire on them as they materialized.
The team lost 6 men as they materialized. The rest of the team dove for cover.
"Everyone, set rifles on maximum!!" Dyer was not going to play with
these genetically enhanced humans. They had killed six young officers, and
would die as well.
"Thoraz to Commander Dyer. We are under attack. It appears that they were
ready for us. I am trying to maneuver my people into a more defensible
location. I will contact if the situation worsens or when we make contact
with the hostages. Thoraz out."
Dyer did not take the time to reply to Thoraz. The ensuing fire fight
lasted for minutes, but seemed like hours. Two more officers were vaporized
before it was over, and several of the survivors were wounded.
Dyer managed to kill two of the most aggressive of the assailants himself.
He was seeking some retribution for the lives of his officers.
When operations was secure, Dyer moved to the Tactical console. He was
amazed to see that there had been a carrier wave pulse sent through the
transporter beam to the Fearless, he hoped Matt had got the computer locked
out in time to prevent any damage.
He sent 10 of the remaining officers out to locate the other teams, and
secure the rest of the outpost.
He switched on the main viewer and scanned for the Fearless. He was
surprised to see her sitting facing Khan's corvette. He checked the systems,
and found that the Fearless' attack had been very successful, and that all
of the weapon systems were destroyed. He was glad to see that the deflector
array was still operational.
He ordered one of the Ensign's who was still in operations to re-route all
available power to the main deflector array. He keyed the sequence and locked
on the outpost's tractor beam to the corvette.
He didn't know how many of Fearless' systems were damaged but he hoped this
would help them out a little. He moved to the next console and activated the
carrier wave program, which had been left running. Using the Outpost's tractor
beam, Dyer used Khan's own trick against him. It was now
just a matter of time before they found out if it worked.
"Dyer to all boarding parties, report in." He wanted to hear from his
teams, and he wanted to hear Veh's voice.
============================================================
Lt. Sholek
Engineering
Stardate 9807.27
Sparks flew all over Engineering as systems were damaged by the chroniton
pulse. Sholek quickly examined the damage readout.
Shields were down and warp engines were off line until he could get a repair
crew to fix them.
"Sholek to Sortha," Sholek called out, "We cannot survive an encounter with
our shields down. I suggest we engage the phased cloak, it is separated from
the main system and suffered no damage. Repair crews are rushing to conduct
repairs but it will take hours before we have all systems back up and running properly."
============================================================
Captain Sortha
USS Fearless
Stardate 9807.27
Listening to Sholek, Sortha turned to Foster. "The phased cloak, isss it
operational?"
Foster nodded, "Yes sir, but with the amount of damage sustained, I don't
think it would function long enough to be effective. It draws too much power."
Sortha uttered a particularly appropriate Gorn swear word, and then let
out a string of orders.
"Sholek, get on repairs immediately...and prepare for a lot more," he
began "Evasive maneuvers hard aport! Shuttle crews to the shuttles and
launch at will. Engineering, I want shields back online now! Transfer all
emergency and battery power to navigational shields now!"
The Fearless banked hard aport heeling over at an extreme angle as the
Corvette opened fire. Multiple streams of energy poured out of the Corvette,
half missed, but the other half hit the Fearless at an oblique angle on the
primary saucer section. The navigational shields flared weakly, then
disappeared. The remainder of the blast ripped into the Fearless' ablative
armor, blasting chunks off, but for the most part leaving internal systems alone.
On the bridge the Fearless shook violently. "Sholek, any chance of
sshields?" Sortha demanded.
Down in engineering Sholek and his team were working frantically. "The
circuits are pretty fried Captain, I can reroute the systems to backoff
systems that were offline when we took that pulse but it'll be five minutes at least."
In five minutes, they could be swiss cheese Sortha thought. "Initiate
shipwide lockdown" Sortha ordered quickly. Throughout the Fearless, bulkhead
doors slammed shut, compartmentalizing the ship to reduce loss of life due to
hull breaches.
"Continue evasive maneuvers, take us around the station and keep them
between us and the Corvette." Sortha quickly strode to his ready room and
got his personal weapons and quickly donned the major pieces of his personal
armor. The Corvette chased the Fearless around the station twice, hitting
glancing blows several times which the Fearless' resistant ablative armor
deflected with only minor damage. However each time the Corvette gained
ground. The next pass they'd have the Fearless directly in their sights.
"Sir shuttle crews ready to launch." Foster reported from tactical.
"Launch!" Sortha ordered. Quickly five shuttles sped out of the stern of
the Fearless immediately taking evasive maneuvers.
"Khan probably has the scent of blood in him right now" Sortha stated.
"Helm, prepare to reverse course 180 degrees, bring us to point blank range.
Weapons crews prepare to fire. Torpedo room, lock and load a full spread of
quantum torpedoes, overload configuration."
Overloaded torpedoes were packed with more energy but they were good for
short range only as they quickly became unstable.
"Foster prepare to take command of the Fearless. Defense teams eight,
nine, and Ten prepare for transport. Sholek, you're in charge of repelling
any borders."
On the tactical the Corvette was just clearing the station to get a lock
on the Fearless... "Now!" Sortha ordered. The Fearless corkscrewed around
and headed at the Corvette, "collision course helm, bring us to point blank
range! Auxiliary transporter room prepare to beam us onto the enemy ship."
The Fearless loomed large on the front viewscreen of the Corvette.
Heaven knew what Khan was thinking now Sortha thought. Off to one side of the
bridge, one of the older lieutenants on the Fearless whispered the ages old
saying of men on a ship ready to take a full broadside... Lord protect us from
what we are about to receive....
Destruction! Both ships fired almost simultaneously, and at point
blank range. Fortunately for the Fearless the Corvette was firing with little
chance to aim, so that vital areas couldn't be specifically targeted. Still
the damage was painful. Multiple hits were scored on the front saucer
section and primary hull of the Fearless. Astrophysics was wiped out, as were
crew quarter sections 34-A through 35-J, as well as several phaser banks. The
Front deflector dish was hit multiple times and destroyed. Numerous other
hits caused hull breaches throughout the ship. Fortunately most of the vital
engineering sections were toward the rear of the ship, and most remaining
power systems escaped serious damage.
The Fearless' pain was not unanswered however. It laid a barrage of the
awesome energies a Sovereign class vessel (with an angry captain) could
unleash. The torrent of phaser power and full spread of overloaded quantum
torpedoes impacted the front shields of the Corvette. It was too much for the
smaller ship. In a dramatic splash of color and conflicting energy the
shields collapsed and the ship was spun crazily on its axis. It was unclear
how much damage the smaller ship had received.
On the bridge of the Fearless, the dim red emergency lights provided the
only illumination. A haze of steam and smoke filled the bridge, and a loud
rattling pounded off to one side of the bridge as the sound of escaping air
from a hull breach starting filled the bridge. The bridge could breach at any
moment... "Computer, transfer command to engineering" Sortha managed to
rasp as he and others choked on the fumes swirling around the bridge.
"Auxiliary transporter -wheeze- room -wheeze- ener...gize"
Down in auxiliary transporter room three, an ensign and two technicians
frantically made the correct transporter locks and beamed the Captain and
defense teams 8,9 and 10 into unoccupied sections of the corvette...
As Sortha materialized he saw four members of a five man armed Starfleet
squad materialize around him. The fifth materialized halfway in a bulkhead in
a gruesome mix of flesh and metal. The team quickly fanned out covering the
room with their weapons ignoring the limp form of their comrade. There would
be time for sorrow and burials later. Right now they had a job to do. The
lights on the Corvette were dimmed, indicating some level of damage had been
done, and the omnipresent throb of a ship's warp engine was not to be heard
either. Sooo Sortha thought, this was going to be personal after all....
============================================================
New Paradise Corvette
Adrift Near Outpost 489
Stardate 9807.28
Yonan Gregar and Khan Singh stood up and looked around the bridge of the
corvette. Sparks flew from most of the instrument panels and members of the
Warriors of Singh group were scattered around the deck, dead or unconscious.
"My Lord," one of the warriors still left standing said. "The Outpost is
trying to send a chroniton pulse through to us as we did to the Fearless!"
Yonan looked at his tactical board and half smiled. "Dr. Gueverra's buffer
program is still running. We're safe. You should have shut down that program
before we left the station, doctor," he said, looking around for Gueverra
through the smoke and sparks which filled the bridge.
"Man the weapons," Khan told Gregar. "We will finish them."
Yonan Gregar glared at Khan, "We can't do anything to them, sir! We're
dead in space!" He moved to the ops station and scanned the Outpost. "The only
chance we have is to beam to the main hangar on Outpost 489. There's a
runabout there. We could use it to get back to New Paradise...we could rebuild
the group there, maybe seize control of the colony."
"NO!" Khan shouted, his eyes blazing with anger. "We must kill them...must
destroy Kirk! I will not fail again!"
"My Lord!" Yonan shouted. "Kirk is dead. You are no longer in the 23rd
century. We have a different war to fight now."
Khan collected himself and regained his composure. "We will not run,
Yonan. We shall stay and fight. If I cannot return to the past and conquer
Earth...then I shall die here. In battle."
"Sir," Yonan said, becoming aggitated and bewlidered by the unexpected
insanity of Khan's leadership. "We have Gueverra and our people on the Monitor
are pulling the time travel components. We can retrieve them with the runabout
and go back to New Paradise. Get another ship there and outfit it with the
device. We could carry out your plans within a year. Let's go, now, before it
is too late."
"It...is too late, Yonan," Khan said. He then motioned to the deck a few
feet away where Dr. Gueverra was sprawled on the deck, a piece of a console
embedded in his face and throat. "The good doctor is dead. Without him, we
cannot carry out the retrofitting of the time travel technology. It is over."
Yonan had finally had enough. His quest to bring Khan to the 24th century
had failed, miserably. Khan was supposed to lead an uprising on New Paradise
by the militant Warriors of Singh...not go back in time to conquer Earth. Now
Khan was ranting about dying in some glorious battle against James Kirk -- who
was already dead.
It was time to put a stop to the madness.
Khan turned to check the ship's tactical station and as he turned his back
to Yonan, Gregar drew his phaser and leveled it at Khan. It was time to set
things right.
As he went to pull the trigger, Khan suddenly whirled around and threw a
knife at Yonan. The blade impailed Gregar's throat and he fell back to the
deck, clutching at his severed windpipe. Khan walked over and stood above
Yonan, glaring down at him.
"When your ancestors swore their allegiance to me, 300 years ago on Earth,
none of them would have even considered betraying me like this," Khan spat.
"When you swore your allegiance to me two weeks ago, I expected the same from
you. I was wrong...and now you are dead."
Seconds later, Yonan died.
Khan looked around at mixed reactions from the other surviving Eugenic
warriors on the bridge. He looked each and every soldier up and down, then
spoke. "We are being boarded by Starfleet. We can sit here and wait to be
captured or killed, or we can fight. We are superior to these beings. We are
genetically perfect. Follow me, and I will lead you to salvation....or we will
die glorious death fighting the oppressive military of trhe Federation."
The surviving eight soldiers on the bridge looked at each other, then at
Khan, and they all stepped forward and joined him. Khan smiled and held up his
Indian kris dagger in one hand and a phaser in the other, "Signal the rest of
the survivors on the ship and tell them to repel all borders...this fight is
not over!"
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Battle Rages On
Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
Outpost 489
Stardate 9807.30
Thoraz was rudely brought out of his concentration by a grazing shot. His
plan was successful to a degree, but then he saw what was happening around
him. Three people lay dead near him, and five Eugenics were on the floor with
five in a fighting retreat.
"The hostages!" blurted Thoraz. Looking around he saw the lifeless bodies
of Tomas, Barsfield and Cusho. Farther away Corey and Dart were also down,
but were they dead? Thoraz had no time to worry about that. Marquilles,
Tor'vas, Wong and B'lal were somewhere behind him. "Marquilles, the Eugenics
have retreated, try to meet me at the cargo bay. Thoraz out."
"Ensign Cyr, gather the remaining members of the team and follow me. We
have to get to the hostages before the Eugenics do. I have a bad feeling about this.
"Thoraz to Commander Dyer. Five to ten percent of the 10 Eugenics warriors
made a fighting retreat from us. I think they are going after the hostages.
Marquilles has 3 officers and will try to meet my people at the cargo bay. I
hope we can get there in time.
"I have a bad feeling about this - these warriors are fanatical to the
last, they had thoughts of killing the hostages. We are en route now, but
we're going slow incase they have set up another ambush for us. Any orders, Sir?"
============================================================
Commander Michael Dyer
Outpost 489, Ops
Stardate, 9807.30
"Any orders, sir?" Thoraz was concerned for the safety of the hostages.
Dyer didn't have to be a telepath to know that.
"I have a security team trying to locate you. I'll send them to the cargo
bay and hopefully we can cut off the Eugenics and secure the hostages. Follow
the retreating eugenics, and save those hostages. Good luck Lt. Dyer out!"
============================================================
Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
Outpost 489
Stardate 9807.30
After Thoraz heard from Commander Dyer he made a decision.
"Elas, Rigess, you're with me. Ensign Cyr, take Koto, Finista as well as
Corey and Dart, if they can keep up. My team will will charge ahead, we're the
bait for any more ambushes. Cyr, continue to move up cautiously. Marquilles
and Dyer's team are converging at the cargo bay as well.
"We have to save those hostages. Any objections? Good. Let's go."
With that, Thoraz, the Andorian Rigess, and the Rigellian Elas ran down
the corridor. Thoraz was scanning telepathically for the Eugenics as they ran
full speed ahead.
As they came to corner Thoraz sensed the thoughts of 2 warriors;
"Here we go boys" he called to others as they sped past the Eugenics.
Before they could react and fire at the fleeing starfleet officers, Cyr's team
was there to keep them busy.
Soon after Thoraz came to a halt and motioned for the other 2 to do the
same. In a whisper Thoraz said" we're here. There are three ahead. Two are
standing guard, one is accessing the cargo bay controls. Ready? Let's do it"
he said as the others nodded.
The three rounded the corner, firing their phasers just as Marquilles'
team, accompanied by Dyer's team, came from another corridor.
Thoraz ignored the guards and headed for the third warrior, slamming into
him from behind. Thoraz quickly rose and concentrated on the door. Knowing
that his security personnel would handle the Eugenic warriors he concentrated
on the door. "Blast. We're too late. They begun the decompression sequence
and smashed the controls. There is once chance for the hostages yet, if I can
bypass the controls with the manual override in time." he yelled as he worked
furiously with the controls and the override panel. Someone help me pull the lever, the
decompression is starting and I am fighting the extra pressure. Thoraz felt
someone move up shoulder to shoulder with him, looking over he noticed the
blue skin of Rigess.
Together they strained against the lever, slowly, ever so slowly they saw
the doors start to open, but would they get the doors open wide enough for the
hostages to squeeze through? Would they be able to hold it open long enough?
Would the hostages be able to move against the pressure to freedom and life?
============================================================
Ensign Jamie T. Marcus
USS Monitor
Stardate 9807.30
Jamie beamed down into the zero-G gravity of the station. She was in her
element, having majored in zero-G combat at the academy. The station ws also
dark, the only illumination coming from dim red emergency battery powered
lights. It was a surreal scene. She had been beamed into a room adjoining
the hostages.
Quickly three members of her team placed charges against the wall.
According to their tricorders the hostages were on teh other side of the room.
Moving back, she activated the charges blowing several large holes into the
room where the hostages were. Quickly she pushed off the deck and shot
through the opening, followed by other members of the team.
In the next room, everyone was still spinning weightless. She and her
team began targeting the Eugenic warriors. Without gravity, they could not
use their superior strength against them, and unlike the Starfleet crew, they
had not been trained in zero-G combat.
As Jamie and her team moved, Khan's people had already begun to
depressurize the cargo bay. The actions had happened at the same exact time,
but now it was too late for Jamie and her team to stop...they had entered a
depressurizing cargo bay....
============================================================
Lieutenant T'Reija
Monitor Engineering
Stardate 9807.30
T'Reija beamed over to the Monitor's engineering sector with 15 security
men, and when they arrived, there was no light and zero G. Although this
situation had been prepared in holodeck simulations, it was an awkward feeling
to transport from
normal to no gravity. But she and the men and women in her team couldn't allow
themselves only a second of hesitation, because they could be detected
anytime.
Quickly, they hid behind consoles or other things standing around, holding
themselves down, weapons ready. Through the infrared visor T'Reija could see
some of the monitors crew. There weren't many in engineering, only 4 or 5, so
it wouldn't be too hard to overwhelm them, at least that was what T'Reija thought.
"Fire," she hissed towards her team, and in the same moment, she and the
others fired. The phasers were set on the highest possible stun, but it
wouldn't hold long with the genetically enhanced opponents, so they had to act quickly.
Unfortunately, nobody noticed the man who came from behind them. In the
meantime, lights and gravity were back online. One of the security men was hit
by a shot of one of the opponents and fell, another woman was stroked at the
shoulder but she could move out of the way. While doing this, she kicked the
rifle out of the man's hand, and it scattered through the room. A crewmen hit
him with a shot, but he merely stumbled. Before anyone else could shoot him,
he slung his arm around the neck of the wounded woman.
"I have a hostage!" he shouted. Why did these genetically enhanced people
always manage to get a hostage? "One wrong move and she's dead! Now, everybody
drop his weapon!"
T'Reija put her weapon down, she stood a bit behind the man, and signaled
everyone else to do the same.
"You are so weak, nothing compared to us. And you thought you would find
the great Khan here, so easily? You are inferior creatures, Khan is already
gone. He will be laughing at your humble tries to... ahhh!" The man sank down
unconscious, after T'Reija had used the Vulcan neck grip.
"Nobody's perfect" she stated in a short moment of humour. "Good, get
something to tie these men up, and quickly, before they wake up." They hadn't
killed them, although the men wouldn't have hesitated to kill them. Even if
they would die later on, T'Reija was bound to her ethics which condemned
killings that weren't absolutely necessary.
T'Reija went over to the man who had been hit earlier, and felt his pulse.
He was alive, but very weak, and blood was everywhere. It didn't look good from him.
"Where... where am I?" Bok - that was his name - asked. "Am I... dead?"
"No, you're not dead, and you won't die, not if I can help it, do you
understand me?" T'Reija asked.
"Yes, lieutenant. I... ahh... I am okay. Please, move on, I will be... alright..."
The Vulcan beckoned one of the others to do first aid on the wounded man.
T'Reija tapped her comm-badge. "Lieutenant T'Reija to Captain Sortha."
"Ssortha here. Lieutenant, thiss issn't the besst time..."
"Of course, sir. But... according to the statement of a member of the
Monitor's crew, Khan isn't here anymore. We also have a badly wounded
crewmember. Awaiting orders, captain."
============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Monitor
Stardate 9807.31
Phaser blasts travelled up the corridor at them as Veh and her team
stepped off the turbo-lift on deck 10, where the deflector controls were
located.
Vehakra and her troops flattened out against the walls and returned fire.
"There are two of Khan's men at the end of the corridor, right outside
deflector control," Ensign Anukitukt, a short, furry Tellerite muttered.
"Tricorder shows three more inside."
Veh fired a couple more shots, then ducked back for cover. "We've got to
get in there. They are probably gathering the time travel equipment for
transport back to the corvette."
She withdrew a stun grenade from her belt and activated the sphereical
device. She waited for a lull in the fighting, then stepped out and tossed the
grenade down the corridor. There was a flash, followed by a burst of energy.
When they looked back down the corridor, both soldiers were
down...unconscious.
Veh led the team down the corridor to the deflector control door. As she
passed the two soldier sprawled on the deck, Veh shot both of them with her
rifle on maximum stun. She wasn't taking any chances.
At the door, she learned the men inside had destroyed the panel
controlling the door mechanism, and then they had welded it shut with a phaser.
"Nibez, do you have those explosives I had you bring?" Veh asked.
"I'm on it," he saidm knowing what she wanted before she asked. The tall
Orion woman stepped aside and let the young Egyptian enlisted crewman step by
her and start rigging the door with explosives.
Veh withdrew a nanoprobe from her belt pouch and fed the device through
an open air vent next to the doorway. She then got out her tricorder and used
it to manuver the visual probe down the ventilation duct until it could look
through into the deflector control area.
There, she saw the three Eugenic offspring -- two men and a woman -- as
they stood around the disassembled components of the time travel modified
equipment. She tuned the audio survelliance to her subvocal communications
unit and she could see and hear what the Eugenics were doing.
"...the corvette isn't responding," one of the men said.
"Then we access the site-to-site transporter and beam us and the parts
aboard one of Monitor's shuttles," the woman said. "We'll go to the rendezvous
and await Yonan and Khan there."
The others nodded and one turned to a console and started working on the
transporter.
"Nibez?" Veh asked. "The door?"
"Another minute, commander," he said, sweating.
Veh cursed in Orion beneath her breath. She then keyed her subvocal
communicator. "Rhikal to Fearless."
A moment later, a voice replied. "Sholek here. Go ahead, commander."
"Sholek?" Veh questioned. "What's going on?"
"The bridge was damaged and command has been transferred to engineering.
The captain beamed over the Khan's ship," Sholek explained. "In fact, I am the
only senior officer left on board."
Vehakra nodded and continued, "I need you to beam from my current location
into deflector control."
"Commander," another voice said over the communicator. "This is Commander
Sonya Kalavar. Since I am the ranking officer, I am taking command of the
Fearless. What is the status of the modified deflector controls?"
Vehakra gritted her teeth. Time was wasting. "Commander. I need to get in
there now. They are about the attempt an escape with the controls!"
"Those components cannot leave that ship with anyone but our people,"
Kalavar said. "How are they going to do it?"
"Commander!" Veh shouted. "I need that transport! Now!"
She looked at the tricorder images and watched as the three individuals
and the components dematerialized from deflector control.
"Dammit!" Veh added to her last statement. "They just beamed out.
Presumably to the hangar bay. We've got to stop them commander!"
"The Fearless is without warp or impulse at the moment," Kalavar said
dryly. "I have only one choice left."
Vehakra could tell what it was Kalavar was going to do by the tone of her
voice. "NO! Transport me to the hangar bay!"
"Transporters are offline," Kalavar said. "I'm sorry, commander. Fearless out."
"NO! Damn you!" Vehakra said.
"What's she going to do?" Chief Dennis Kvorak asked, nervously.
"That stupid bitch is going to fire on the Monitor!" Vehakra said. "Rhikal
to Monitor away team! Brace yourselves! I think we're about to be attacked!"
============================================================
USS Fearless
Engineering
Stardate 9807.31
Commander Sonya Kalavar knew what she had to do. The deflector equipment
modified by Dr. Gueverra to open the Borg temporal vortex had to be destroyed.
In her current condition, the Fearless could not hope to stop a fleeing
shuttle. This was the only way.
"Lt. Sholek," she said cooly. "I am taking command of the USS Fearless in
the absence of the captain, first officer and second officer. I order you to
target the USS Monitor and destroy it. I realize targeting locks are offline,
so use whatever means necessary to hit that ship. Do you understand?"
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Orders Countermanded
Captain Sortha
Aboard the corvette
Stardate 9808.01
Aboard the corvette, Captain Sortha and the four remaining members of
defense team 10 edged forward down the long hallway. Over his comm unit
Sortha heard Kalavar assume command of the Fearless.
Cursing he flattened up against the wall, and listened in. Kalavar had
assumed command of the Fearless and was ordering it to target the Monitor.
She was obviously not above killing Federation personnel for her moment in the
spotlight.
"Fearless, Fearless thiss iss Captain Sortha. My original order for
Lieutenant Sholek to take command sstandss. Lieutenant Sholek, assume command
of the Fearless immediately. Sortha to shuttle crewss, prevent any escape
attempts from either the station, Monitor, or the corvette. Priority is now
the Monitor... execute! Sortha out."
Idiot headquarters paper pusher Sortha thought. He had launched the
shuttles just for such a purpose. If the Fearless and the Corvette had taken
each other out, the shuttles could turn the tide of battle. Fearless had
launched five shuttles... now more than a match for any eugenists attempting
to escape. As it turned out, the Fearless ahd managed to neutralize the
corvette without major critical damage, however her power systems were still
powered down.
Suddenly five Eugenists opened fire from the other end of the hallway.
One member of Sortha's team was hit right away and was blown backwards
sizzling with the force of the energy discharge. On a ship action like this
often there was no place to hide and you had to fight it out.
The battle was intense with neither the Starfleet members nor the
eugenists giving ground. First second: The trained Starfleet security
officers managed to target and kill two eugenists, the eugenists retrained
their weapons for another volley. Second two: the remaining three eugenists
fired as the Starfleet team fired back. One Starfleet member received a blast
to the arm which severed it, flinging the burning appendage back down the
hallway, another Starfleet member caught a blast in the chest that was
partially deflected by her body armor, howver the concussive force knocked her
over unconscious. The third eugenist shot landed on Captain Sortha's
breastplate and slammed him up against the wall hard. The four Starfleet
officers shots found three of the eugenists. Two were killed outright by
phasers set on disintigrate, while the third received a blast to his leg which
toppled him. Second three: the remaining eugenist swept the Starfleet team
with a constant burst of energy fire. The Starfleet officer who had lost the
arm landed on the deck howling in pain, and Captain Sortha shook off the force
of the blast with his breastplate smoking where the shot had landed.
The other two Starfleet security officers returned fire. One of them was
caught in teh eugenist energy beam and was fried. Second four: the
remaining eugenist standing was hit by the shots from the remaining two
starfleet officers, one of them now dead, and was blasted into oblivion.
Second five: The eugenist which had been wounded in the leg managed to bring
his weapon back up, howver he was hit by blasts from teh remaining security
officer and Captain Sortha.
The hallway was now clear. The unwounded security officer assisted his
two wounded comrades, one that was unconscious, one which had a severed arm...
Sortha ordered him to remain there and assist the wounded officers as Sortha
continued on....
============================================================
Lt. Sholek
Stardate 9808.01
Fearless Engineering
"Lt. Sholek," Commander Sonya Kalavar said coolly. "I am taking command of
the USS Fearless in the absence of the captain, first officer and second
officer. I order you to target the USS Monitor and destroy it. I realize
targeting locks are off-line, so use whatever means necessary to hit that
ship. Do you understand?"
"I understand," replied Sholek, "but you seem to be acting in an
unrational matter. We will not fire on the Monitor."
"I gave you an order, Sholek," Commander Kalavar said fiercely.
"However," replied Sholek totally calm, "I am in command for now. "Lt.
Shariel, engage maneuvering thrusters and put us in front of the Monitor's
shuttle bay. When bay doors open, engage tractor beam and fire a low beam
phaser pulse to disable the weapons. They can't raise shields until they are
clear of the bay so you will a few seconds to hit."
"Yes sir," answered Shariel.
The Fearless slowly moved in front of the doors. In engineering, everyone saw
the bay doors begin to open just as the Fearless set in position.
============================================================
Commander Sonya Kalavar
USS Fearless
Stardate 9808.01
"Lt. Sholek, you are in no position to countermand my orders!" Kalavar
said after remaining speechless for several seconds. "We can't risk letting
Khan's men escape with that time travel device!"
Captain Sortha's orders then blared across the speakers in engineering and
Sholek shot Kalavar a look which said: "Go ahead...challenge me now."
The tall, attractive blonde folded her arms across her chest and sulked
away to a corner of engineering where Dr. Horton stood, watching the goings on.
"This is an outrage," she muttered. "Starfleet is going to hear about
this."
"Commander," Horton said. "If the crew is unsuccessful in stopping Khan
from getting away with the time travel technology, then there won't be a
Starfleet to go back to. So please shut up and listen...I'd like to know
what's going on."
She shot the doctor a foul look, then sighed and went back to watching
Sholek's people at work.
============================================================
Commander Michael Dyer
Outpost 489, OPS
Stardate 9808.02
Dyer had been working in Ops, trying to keep a handle on all of the away
teams. He was also curious to find out if his carrier wave pulse had been
successful. The corvette appeared to be dead in space near the Fearless, so it
appeared so.
"Ensign, can you get transporters on-line, I want to get to the cargo bay."
Dyer was left with an ensign, and a yeoman, both security people, he hoped
they were adequate engineers as well.
"It'll take me a couple of minutes, sir. The system doesn't seem damaged,
I just need to find the power."
Dyer stepped to another console when the alarms started to sound. The
cargo bay was being depressurized, but there was a breach in the cargo bay
containment system. The entire station would be depressurized.
He entered a few commands and rerouted control to ops. it only took a
few seconds, but it seemed like an eternity, trying to prevent all of his
teams on the station from being killed. He overrode the depressurization
sequence and the cargo bay door began to come down. The oxygen levels began
to rise, and the station was safe.
"Commander," It was Ensign Sanders. "I have transporters on-line."
At the same moment Dyer's open comm channel picked the conversation
between Kalavar and Veh. This was not good, where was the Captain?
"Ensign, lock onto any human life signs aboard the Monitor, and beam them
here! And hurry!" Dyer was of course worried.
"Sorry sir! Khan's people have engaged a transporter scrambler on the
Monitor," the ensign reported. "It will have to be disabled before we can
transport anyone on or off."
"Dyer to all away teams! Brace yourselves. Everyone get as far away from
the perimeter of the station as possible." With the Monitor inside the
station's shield perimeter, if she exploded, the station would suffer severe
damage. All he could think was 'what a closed minded fool'. Kalavar should
never have attempted to assume command in a combat situation.
As Dyer watched the viewer in Ops, the Fearless did not attack. Instead,
Sholek's voice broke through on the station's speakers. "Sholek to away teams.
I remain in command. Fearless will cover the possible attempted escape of
Khan's men from the shuttle bay."
Dyer tapped his comm badge, "Sholek, what's our status?"
"We have maneuvering thrusters only. Estimate three minutes to get engines
back on-line."
"Helm, as soon as the away teams are off of the station move us away from
the station as quickly as possible."
Dyer began to feel more comfortable, but he wished he was back on Fearless.
============================================================
Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
Outpost 489, cargo bay
Stardate 9807.02
Thoraz could see into the cargo bay through the small crack in the door
they were attempting to open manually. The clock was ticking and the pressure
increasing as the bay was slowly being depressurized.
Thoraz could see Ensign Marcus and the Monitor crew inside. They were
attempting to from a human chain from the doors Thoraz was trying to pry opne
through the bay to the hostages. The hostages began to slowly make their way
toward Thoraz.
The two Fearless security personnel strained even harder against the force
of the depressuring bay, attempting to get the doors open far enough for the
hostages and Monitor crew to squeeze through to safety.
"Sir, why don't we use a phaser on the door?" asked one of the security
personnel behind Thoraz.
"Because Mister, that would endanger us all and the rest of the station,
such as it is."
Finally, the door was open just enough for some of the hostages to exit
into the corridor. Others were attempting to remove excess clothing while
still holding onto the human chain.
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/...To the Last Breath
Captain Sortha
Khan's corvette
Stardate 9808.03
Sortha continued toward what he thought was the bridge section of the
corvette. The deck plans were fuzzy in his head, but he had been on a number
of similar vessels several times. He could hear battles going on in
adjoining hallways as the other two Fearless squads slugged it out with the
eugenists. As Sortha moved down the hallways of the enemy vessel he blasted
each relay station he came across. Systems were winking on and off throughout
the ship.
Finally Sortha came to the junction he was looking for, the transporter
master relay. With a quick blast Sortha melted it into slag.
After running down several more hallways the big Gorn knew he was getting
close to the bridge. His suspicions were confirmed when he was attacked by
two berserk eugenists who came out of a cabin firing. Fortunately for the
Gorn, they were more gung-ho than accurate and their first shots missed,
smashing into the wall behind Sortha.
He quickly levelled his two phaser rifles and let off a series of pulsed
phaser blasts that quickly annihilated the two attackers. However a third
came out of a cabin close behind him and hit him in the back of the head with
a phaser rifle. Staggered, Sortha went to one knee. The eugenist was packing
quite a punch. He kicked his leg out and swept the eugenist just as he was
bringing his weapon to bear. He went down on the deck hard neck to Sortha.
The big Gorn rolled bringing a massive elbow down onto teh face of the
eugenist. Blood sprayed as his nose cartilidge was crushed and pushed into
his brain. He quivered uncontrollably.
Ahead of Sortha was what he thought was the door to the bridge. Picking
up the still quivering eugenist, Sortha approached the door, using him as a
body shield. He let one of his phaser rifles hang by its strap by his side as
he held the other ready. Approaching the door, he walked into its sensor
range and it swooshed open, obviously a trap.
Quickly he pushed the quivering eugenist through the door onto the small
bridge. Instantly the quivering eugenist was hit with multiple energy
discharges. Inside Sortha saw Khan and three huge eugenist bodyguards all
armed to the teeth. Ducking to one side of the door, Sortha quickly detached
a flash-bang grenade from his belt and hurled it into the room. It went off
with a flash and deafening explosion.
Inside Khan was thrown against a console hard as were his bodyguards.
The big Starfleet lizard was coming through the door now... weapons drawn...
shooting down one of his defenseless bodyguards.
Howling in rage, Khan happened to notice the bridge self-defense
activation control. Knowing his men were stunned unable to fight, he
depressed it activating the bridge self-defense systems. Almost immediately
a phaser turret descended from the ceiling, its target... any life form with a
weapon.
Sortha had just finished blasting one eugenist when he heard and saw the
bridge self-defense system being engaged. Quickly he dropped his weapons
attempting to eliminate himself from the computers threat detection analysis,
however they still dangled from the straps attached to his armor.
"Die lizard" Khan spat as the bridge self-defense system opened fire.
Sortha's weapons were far enough away from him to be classified as separate
targets, however the blasts they took from the bridge self-defense systems
weaponry flung the Gorn back and forth violently causing him to crash hard
onto the deckplates.
Khan's remaining two bodyguards had had their weapons knocked from their
hands by the concussive force of the flash-bang grenade, presumably they were
somewhere on the bridge.
"Killllll himmmmm!!!" Khan yelled to his bodyguards who were recovering
from teh earlier blast. All people in the bridge fought their way groggily to
their feet attempting to shake off the effects of the blasts they had taken.
As Sortha made it to his feet he was rushed by the two eugenist
bodyguards. They were almost as big as he was, and each took one side as they
barrelled into him. Since all three wore armor they made an incredible sound
as they hit.
Recovering from the impact each eugenist grabbed one of Sortha's arms.
Together they were stronger than the big Gorn captain, and they were able to
hold his arms tightly. Sortha hadn't fought someone his size for some time,
but he also wasn't the largest Gorn in the Gorn Starfleet either. He had gone
up against larger Gorn than he, and bigger than both these eugenists combined.
Allowing them to hold onto his arms Sortha raised one arm higher than the
other as he grasped the wrists of the eugenists at the same time. With a
grunt he lowered his body so that he could pass under his raised arm. Quickly
he pivoted contracting his arms with all his might. He was now holding onto
the eugenist on his left with his right hand and the one on his right with his
left. pulling his arms close to his body he brought the two eugenists
crashing headfirst into each other. The crack of their skulls was sickening
and they quickly released his arms and sank to the floor.
Another threat surfaced. Now Sortha had his back to Khan and Khan
quickly slipped an arm around Sortha's neck, putting him into a half-nelson.
The gray-haired man was incredibly strong, perhaps even stronger than his
larger bodyguards. Sortha could see the cable-taunt rippling muscles on his
forearm below his chin. Khan quickly side kicked Sortha's knee from behind,
setting him off balance and Khan pulled him backwards to the floor in a crash
of arms and legs. Khan still had him in the half-nelson and was attempting to
wrap his legs around Sortha's torso, as Sortha laid on his back on top of
Khan who was also on his back with his stomach touching Sortha's back.
"You will join me in hell" Khan hissed into Sortha's ear as the two
struggled. After I kill you you I will beam off this vessel and recover the
time-travel equipment. Perhaps my friend I will go back in time and kill the
rest of your family as well."
"Your time travel equipment is dessstroyed Khan" Sortha spat out between
gasps of air... "Enssign Jamie Kirk has already destroyed them."
"Ensign who?" Khan asked wildly.
"Ensign Jamie Kirk, the grand daughter of James Kirk....Khan. Foiled
by... Kirk...once ....again...in another place and time...you...just ....can't
.... win...can you??"
"Arrrrrggghhhhhhhhh!" Khan yelled as he used his legs to kick into
Sortha's side. They were painful but it allowed Sortha to get his legs free.
He was quickly running out of oxygen. Any normal human being would be
unconscious by now, but the big lizard had a good air supply, and could go
without air for extended periods of time... much like crocoldiles on old
Earth.
The Gorn captain wrapped his thick ankles and feet under a conduit, giving
him leverage. Basically doing a sit-up he raised himself and Khan's upper
torsos off the deck. Then slamming his body back, Sortha bodyslammed Khan
into the deck, hitting his face with the back of his head in the process. He
raised up again and repeated the procedure, and again. Finally Khan let go
dazed and bloodied. Sortha rolled off him. The man's grip had been the grip
of a fanatic. Both beings stood.
Khan launched a wicked roundhouse at Sortha which he managed to block with
his left hand, and Khan then jabbed landing a blow on Sortha's snout which
caused an eruption of reptilian blood to spew forth. He launched another
roundhouse punch with his left hand, but Sortha blocked that one. With that
hand on the inside of Khan's guard Sortha quickly straightened and plunged his
hand fingers rigid into Khan's neck.
Sortha's clawed fingers penetrated Khan's throat and found the man's
jugular. With that, the fight was over. Sortha curled his fingers as he
withdrew his hand, and his claws ravaged the man's jugular, severing it in
several places simultaneously. Khan grabbed his neck with one hand as he
backed away shocked. A stream of blood several feet in height sprayed out as
Khan's powerful heart pumped strongly. Staggering he sat back into a chair
staring at the Gorn.
"Nooghhhrrrr nottttt againgghhrrrh" he rasped as his life's blood
continued to leave him quickly.
"No quotationsss from Moby Dick thisss time Khan" Sortha spat out as his
foot whipped forward catching the sitting Khan directly under his chin. With
a loud crack his neck severed. Slowly Khan slumped to the floor. His eyes
were still open, staring defiantly even in death.
============================================================
Ensign Jamie T. Marcus
Outpost 489
Stardate 9808.03
Almost as soon as Jamie and her team blew a hole into the cargo bay,
Khan's soldiers started to depressurize the bay even with four of their own
people inside watching the hostages. In a fierce gunfight that had everyone
holding onto something, taking a quick shot, sliding toward the bay doors, and
holding on again Jamie and her team of Monitor crewmembers managed to kill the
four eugenists. However three of her ten person squad were killed.
Now she had another battle on her hands. "Quick, grab a neighbor and
hold onto something anchored down. The pressure was increasing as the air
rushed past, soon there would be no air. That was good and bad...once the air
was gone there would be no force to push them into space, but also there would
be no air to breathe. Jamie knew they would have about 30 seconds to make it
to a door and get everyone out.
"As soon as the air goes out everyone dash for the doors and tie onto the
power conduit next to the door after the air is gone..." Jamie's words
vanished with the atmosphere in the cargo bay. Quickly she and the others ran
toward the doors that Thoraz had open only a crack. The force of the escaping
air from the crack was not so bad and Jamie and the others managed to stagger
to the door and lash themselves to objects around the door.
Quickly they started loosing consciousness. Once Thoraz opened the door
there would be another rush of powerful air. As the door opened Jamie and
the Monitor crew got some more air as it whipped past them into space. Inside
she could see Thoraz and his team braced against the stream.
"As soon as the air is gone rush through the door, then we can seal it
and repressurize it by opening another interior door..... "
Once again the air was gone and Jamie started herding the Monitor crew
members into the room Thoraz was in. They had to work fast. About thirty
Monitor crew made it inside before they started loosing consciousness. Inside
the door she saw Thoraz wavering about to pass out. They'd have to shut the
door or they'd all lose consciousness. She saw Thoraz pausing... about ready
to faint and she thought "CLOSE THE DOOR" at him.
Blinking groggily Thoraz hit the door close button and the door whooshed
shut. Inside the room another security officer opened the interior door and
warm air washed over the unconscious crew. Outside the door in the cargo
bay, Jamie and the five members of her team who had not made it into the door
lost consciousness. Jamie's last thought was "I got most of them to safety,
and Lt. Brynaziir will come back for the rest of ............"
============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Monitor
Stardate 9808.03
Veh and her team arrived at the Monitor's hangar bay as the warning lights
came on, indicating the bay was about to depressurize.
Slamming a green fist against the sealed door, Vehakra looked through the
window on the door and saw a warp-capable shuttle rising off the hangar deck
and turning toward the slowly opening hangar doors.
"Rhikal to Fearless. A shuttle containing two of Khan's men and the time
vortex modified deflector components is about to take off," The Orion woman
announced, keying her sub vocal communicator. "Don't let them escape!"
"Don't worry commander," Sholek's voice replied. "We're on it."
Veh turned to Kvorak and Nibez, her shoulders slumped in defeat. "It's in
Sholek's hands now. Let's make a final sweep of the Monitor."
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Mopping Up
Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
Outpost 489/Cargo Bay
Stardate 9808.05
The whole deck was depressurizing. Marcus and her team had gotten the
hostages to the doors, and Thoraz's team had taken them from there.
Reluctantly, Thoraz had to close the door before they too died. Once the
door closed, everyone began to recover quickly, and Thoraz once again tried to
work with the fried controls.
Just then, the indicator lights showed that the pressure inside the cargo
bay had been restored. But who had saved them?
"Commander Dyer. The hostages are safe. Marcus and her team are still
inside the cargo bay, but the pressure has been restored. I don't know who
saved them, but we should be able to reopen the doors and get them out before
anything else happens. "
"Marquilles, leave 4 people here, take the rest and escort the Monitor
crew to the bridge and assist the Commander."
"Aye sir. Rigess, Elas, B'lal and Ensign Cyr stay here. OK. people, let's
move out. I want a scout group to move ahead of us and a rear guard as well,
just in case they are more surprises on the way."
As the rest were leaving, Thoraz and his team began the process to reopen
the door, which was somewhat easier now that there was equal pressure on both
sides. Once the doors were open, Thoraz helped Marcus and her team through.
"Well done ensign. We'd better leave the area, just in case of a hull breach.
B'lal take point. Let's move people."
============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Monitor
Stardate 9808.05
Vehakra and her team finished their sweep of the Monitor and found no more
of Khan's men present. Unfortunately, some more captive Starfleet officers --
crew members of the Monitor -- were found dead after they had been executed by
Khanıs soldiers.
Otherwise, the ship was silent and crippled, her nacelle still entanged in
the superstructure of the outpost.
"Rhikal to Fearless. The Monitor is secured," Veh said, arriving on the
bridge where she keyed her subvocal communicator. "Awaiting orders or
extraction of the Away Team. Please acknowledge."
============================================================
Lt. Sholek
Stardate 9808.05
Fearless Engineering
"The shuttle is in the tractor beam," yelled one of the ensigns in
Engineering.
"Fire low level phasers," ordered Sholek. "Try to disable the weapons first,
shields second, and then warp capability."
On the monitor in engineering, a phaser blast fired from the Fearless missing
at first but quickly moved over weapons, shield, and warp systems. The blast
was powerful enough to damage the systems but not enough to destroy the shuttle.
"Tractor it into the Fearless bay," Sholek said, glad to see that everything
was going as he planned. "Erect a level 1 force field around the shuttle."
The shuttle was pulled by the tractor beam into the bay.
============================================================
Commander Sonya Kalavar
USS Fearless
Stardate 9808.06
Kalavar drew her phaser and turned to a group of security officers in
engineering. "Let's go have a look at that shuttle. We'll secure the time
travel components."
The officer yielded to her rank and joined her, and together they headed
to the shuttle bay.
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Back on the Ship
Commander Michael Dyer
Outpost 489
Stardate 9808.07
Dyer began to receive reports from all of the away teams, including Captain
Sortha. Once Khan's dampening field was deactivated, he began to beam
engineering teams to the station to begin repairs.
"Dyer to Sholek." He had a request. "Once the team is off the Monitor,
could you send a team in a shuttle to remove the Monitor from the station's
superstructure. They will be better able to maneuver than the Fearless."
"Certainly commander," came Sholek's reply.
Dyer went on with the process of exacting whatever repairs he could. He
had several teams of engineers beam over from the Fearless. He was even
surprised that some the Monitor's crew found that they were in good enough
shape to lend a hand.
He hoped that they would be authorized to hang around for a few days to get
the station up and running again.
============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Fearless
Stardate 9808.09
Vehakra and her team beamed back aboard the Fearless. Veh deployed several
officers to help move those members of Khan's force who had been captured into
secure cells in the brig.
"Rhikal to Lt. T'Reija. I'd like you to oversee the security detail in the
brig," Vehakra said after stepping down from the transporter pad. "We're going
to have a number of biogenetically enhanced soldiers locked down in the brig
and special precautions will have to be in place. I want to make sure none of
them get out. I want a team of security officers on duty in the brig around the clock."
"Aye sir," the Vulcan replied.
"Computer," Vehakra said, opening the neck of her gold tunic. "Locate
Commander Kalavar."
The computer chirped, "Commander Sonya Kalavar is in the hangar."
"OK team, stow your gear," Vehakra said, walking toward the door. "I've
got business to attend to on the hangar deck."
Veh was seething. Kalavar was going to kill her, Jamie and the rest of the
team on the Monitor during the battle. Thank the gods Sholek put an end to her
little power trip. Now it was time to give Sonya a piece of her mind.
When the Orion security officer arrivedomn the hangar deck, she saw
Kalavar and Dr. Horton standing near a control console. Kalavar was directing
security officers around as they led the two Eugenic warriors off the captured
shuttle and beamed them directly to the brig.
"Commander Kalavar!" Veh snarled as she approached the big blonde. "May I
have a word with you?"
Kalavar frowned. "In a minute, commander. I'm busy right now. Dr. Horton,
I'll need you to come with me and identify the deflector components we found
in the Monitor's shuttle. Let's make sure everything is accounted for."
"This won't wait, commander," Vehakra said, placing a hand on Sonya's arm
to stop her as she walked away.
Kalavar stopped and whirled around, "Take your hands off me, Lt. Commander
Rhikal. Or have you forgotten my rank?"
"With all due respect, sir, I haven't forgotten the fact you were going to
kill me and my team over on the Monitor. And the resulting destruction of that
ship probably would have destroyed the Outpost," Veh said, her tone one of
anger. "I want to know what the hell they teach you at Starfleet Security,
because what you tried to do was stupid....sir!"
"You are out of line, Lt. Commander," Kalavar said. "I don't owe you and
explanation. I had a job to do...ensuring that time travel equipment didn't
leave the Monitor. We couldn't risk Khan's men going back in time to cause
anymore damage."
"The situation was under control!" Veh shot back. "Securing the shuttle
with a tractor beam, as Sholek did, was sufficient. Hell, destroying the
shuttle once it launched would have been good enough. You were just going to
kill all of us without hesitation."
"If you hadn't have let those men escape to the shuttle bay, I wouldn't
have been put in that situation," Kalavar replied. "We're all just lucky
Sholek's plan worked."
Vehakra resisted the urge to punch Kalavar. She hated this woman with a
passion right now. She just hoped the captain ripped her a new one when he got
back on the ship and settled in.
"Fine, commander," Veh said. "I won't continue to remain 'out of line'.
But I will say I think you are a poor commander and an even worse Starfleet
officer. Now go make sure your precious deflector controls are on the shuttle,
because I've got prisoners to tend to."
As Veh turned and walked away, Kalavar cleared her throat then spoke,
"Rhikal...you are dismissed. And, make sure you stay out of my way on the trip home."
"It'll be a pleasure," Veh snapped, before heading off to check in with
her crew.
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Reaction to Kalavar
Commander Michael Dyer
U.S.S. Fearless
Stardate 9808.10
Dyer stayed on the station until the monitor had been removed. The ship
was scrap. It would have to be towed to a shipyard to be stripped of all
useful equipment. There were now four repair crews working on the station.
The teams were made up mostly of the station's survivors and those from the monitor.
He was pleased with the progress that they were making. Most of the
station's primary systems were repaired. Some of the structural problems
were going to have to wait for the Starfleet core of engineers, but the
force fields were holding the vacuum of space at bay.
To top it all off, the Fearless was nearly at 100% again. Sholek's crew
had exacted repairs most efficiently.
Commander Kalavar had contacted Starfleet intelligence and reported her
great success story. She was also storming around the ship, very vocally
complaining about Veh's objections in the hanger earlier.
Dyer was giving her a little while to cool off, before confining her to
quarters for the duration of the trip. He would not have this inexperienced
officer undermining the command structure of this ship. The jury was still
out on her.
============================================================
Lieutenant T'Reija
USS Fearless
Stardate 9808.10
In a ray of sparkles the security team under Lt. T'Reija beamed back
aboard the USS Fearless. 16 in all, and they had lost none. Not yet. Ensign
Bok was doing really bad. The bleeding had stopped, but the young Bolian
crewmember had lost a lot of blood and had fallen into a coma. T'Reija didn't
know, if he'd ever be conscious again.
"T'Reija to sickbay. Prepare for emergency transport. We have wounded
crewmember, he's in a coma and breathing and pulse are weak."
"Sickbay confirmed"
Ensign Bok was beamed to sickbay immediately. His usually blue skin looked
very pale. And he was only one of the many which had been wounded, or worse,
even killed. T'Reija would pray for them after her duties. Although Vulcans
didn't have many specific religions like Humans, they had many mourning
rituals and prayers.
"Rhikal to Lt. T'Reija." It was Commander Rhikal.
T'Reija tapped her comm-badge.
"I'd like you to oversee the security detail in the brig," T'Reija heard
Vehakra Rhikal say through the speaker of her communications device. "We're
going to have a number of biogenetically enhanced soldiers locked down in the
brig and special precautions will have to be in place. I want to make sure
none of them get out. I
want a team of security officers on duty in the brig around the clock."
"Aye sir," the Vulcan replied. This time, she would take no chances of
only one of them escaping anywhere.
"Ensign Kathar, Crewmen Gordon, Schmid and Ashito, you will join me to the
brig. Crewman Lowe," she addressed the woman who had been wounded earlier.
"Report to sick-bay and get that shoulder of yours treated. Everyone else goes
to his post. If your shift is already over, you are free to go to your
quarters or do any recreational activities, although I advise you to get some
rest. Perhaps I'll need you in the brig later on, even if it's not your
regular shift. But we are all exhausted and nobody should work a full shift
right now. Understood?"
Everyone nodded or muttered an "Aye, sir". Nobody like to do off-hours,
but they would of course when told so. Then everybody left the transporter room.
Minutes later in the turbo lift
T'Reija and three of her team were heading for the security area, where
the survivors of Khans men were hold in the brig, when Commander Sonya Kalavar
entered the turbo lift.
"Lieutenant" she nodded towards the Vulcan, completely ignoring the
others. Undoubtedly, she didn't expect any reprimands from the Vulcan like she
had gotten from Vehakra Rhikal. She was wrong.
"Commander, with all due respect, may I point out that your behaviour in
the battle was illogical? You would have sacrificed the lives of many
crewmembers for no reason, and put the outpost to risk. Not to mention the
disregard of orders coming directly from the Captain."
The Commander looked at her with glinting eyes. "Sometimes lives have to
be sacrificed. What I did was right, and that Lieutenant Sholeks plan worked
out was pure luck. You as Vulcan should know that Starfleet is no safe playground."
"I know the risks. And I would not hesitate to give my live if it would
save the ship, as the needs of the many outweigh those of the few.
Nevertheless, I don't think your decision was acceptable, and I am glad that
Captain Sortha put Sholek in command, not you." And, after a pause, she added
"Sir." The three crewmembers looked at each other wondering. They hadn't ever
seen their superior complain about anything towards a higher ranking officer.
The commanders eyes narrowed and she pressed her lips together hardly. In
the few minutes she had taken command, she made no friends aboard this ship.
"Are you finished, Lieutenant?" She emphasised T'Reijas rank as to show
that she, a commander, was superior. "If not, notice the rest in your security
report. I don't have the time to hear the complains about my way to command
from every single person on board. I advise you to be more careful in the future.
Not even Vulcans are flawless, and I will note every single mistake you will do aboard
this ship, every tiny error."
T'Reija could hear Ensign Kathar mutter something towards the Asian woman
Ashito (rumours went these two were getting very well acquainted and would
take shore leave together, not that T'Reija listened to these rumours),
and she also noticed that Ashito tried to hide a grin when he was finished.
Obviously, it was a remark about the Commander, and even more obvious, it
wasn't too friendly. Luckily, Kalavar didn't notice, and at that moment, the
turbolift opened and the Vulcan and her team moved out, leaving an angry Sonya
Kalavar behind.
"Wow!" Kathar expressed. "You really blew her up."
"Ensign," T'Reija replied calm as ever, although deep inside her she felt
an emotional response called humour. "I 'blew' nobody up. All I did was my job
as a leading security officer."
"Alright, sir. But I still think you did a great performance in there,"
Kathar told her with a grin.
============================================================
Captain Sortha
USS Fearless
Stardate 9808.10
Captain Sortha beamed back over to the Fearless, after the Corvette had
been secured by more Starfleet personnel. He wanted to see how extensive the
damage the Fearless had taken. From the reports he had heard, the Fearless
was not pretty, but once her electronic systems were rerouted she would be
combat ready. Control of the ship had been transferred to the auxiliary
bridge as the main bridge was being repaired. Sortha had appropriated a
cabin next to the auxiliary bridge as his captain's ready room and after
making sure things were under control, he went there to take off his armor.
He was more sore than he had been in a long time. The eugenists had proved to
be formidable opponents. Especially Khan, the maniac had possessed the power
of a madman. Sorth was glad the biogenetically enhanced maniac was dead once
more. However with the existence of the time travel device....
After taking off his armor and changing into a non blood-soaked or phaser
burned uniform, the captain hit his comm badge: "Commander Kalavar, report to
cabin 43-G."
"Be there in a minute Captain" Kalavar responded.
"Now, .. Commander" Sortha hissed. Hitting his comm badge again, he
directed Commander Dyer to personally oversee the safety of the time travel equipment.
============================================================
Commander Sonya Kalavar
USS Fearless
Stardate 9808.10
Commander Kalavar arrived at Sortha's makeshift ready room and pressed the
door chime. It was silent a moment, then the big Gorn replied, instructing her
to enter the room.
As she walked in, Kalavar saw Captain Sortha standing at the window
looking out at Outpost 489 which hung in space nearby. As she stood at
attention, Sortha kept his back toward her and stared out at the station and
the badly damaged USS Monitor. Also now docked with the station was the
corvette used by Khan's men.
"You wished to see me, sir?" Kalavar asked after Sortha ignored her
several seconds.
Slowly, he turned to face her. From the look in his eyes, Kalavar knew he
was not a happy Gorn...
=============================================================
Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
Return to the Fearless
Stardate 9808.10
The security teams were making their way to the transporter rooms.
Marquilles had things well in hand. Whenever they passed a Eugenist, one
officer would check for lifesigns and if any were found, an armed escort would
take the Eugenist in front of the main group. In all total, Marquiles found 3
still alive, so his security team was severely depleted by the time he got the
Monitor crew to the transporters. Transport was uneventful. The prisoners
were beamed over first and escorted to the brig. Marquilles followed with the
Monitor personnel and made sure they were all assigned quarters.
Thoraz took his team and searched the rest of the station, just in case
someone or something was overlooked.
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Kalavar Off to the Brig
Captain Sortha
USS Fearless
Stardate 9808.12
Captain Sortha strode over to Commander Kalavar. The once defiant
officer now looked up somewhat meekly as the huge Gorn Captain towered over
her. In his usual blunt style the Captain didn't mince words.
"Commander, according to Sstarfleet regulationss you attempted mutiny.
You and every one else aboard the Fearless heard me transsfer command to
Lieutenant Ssholek. Once a Captain dessignatess ssomeone as having the conn
they are the Captain of the ssship, regardless of rank. In addition, you
mutinied in battle, which, if you check Ssstarfleet regulations, is one of the
few capital offenssess sstill on the bookss."
Sortha loomed over Kalavar who was feeling very very small by this point.
Hitting his comm badge Sortha ordered Ensign Marcus to report. She did
quickly, as Sortha coldly eyed Kalavar.
"Your actions will be reported to Starfleet Command, until then you are
confined to the brig. That'ss all...Ms. Kalavar." Without a word, she
followed Jamie out the door.
============================================================
Commander Sonya Kalavar
USS Fearless
Stardate 9808.12
"Your captain is insane!" Kalavar protested to Jamie Marcus as she was
escorted to the brig. "He can't do this! I had my orders!"
Jamie held back a smirk. "So do I. And I'm taking you to the brig."
"Starfleet Command will hear of this," Kalavar barked. "I can't wait to see
the look on his face when my CO personally comes aboard the Fearless and lets
me out of the brig. Then there will be hell to pay."
"Whatever," Jamie said, opening the door to the brig. "After you, commander."
============================================================
Lt. Sholek
USS Fearless
Stardate 9808.12
Sholek looked over the report handed to him by Ensign Franklin Pallas.
Ensign Pallas headed up the removal of the Monitor from the station while Sholek
began repairs on the Fearless.
The Fearless was almost up to peak performance again. Sholek was readying
his report for the captain.
Sholek hadn't seen Kalavar since he captured the shuttle and was glad of
that. She probably would lash out at him verbally and he had no time to
discuss her flawed logic.
Sholek left Engineering and headed towards the battle bridge to give his
report to the captain.
============================================================
Lieutenant T'Reija
USS Fearless; sickbay
Stardate 9808.14
T'Reija had left Ensign Kathar in charge in the brig and had went to
sickbay, where Ensign Bok lay on a biobed, his eyes shut, his skin had the
colour of a pale spring sky on Earth instead of the bright blue tone which was
normal for Bolians. He didn't move. His physical condition was stable for the
moment, but he was still in the coma.
T'Reija was just about to leave, after waiting 43 minutes at his side,
when he opened his eyes.
"Lieu... sir, did we make it?" It was a simple question, out of concern
for the ship, Earth, the federation, but regardless of its shortness, Bok
seemed to have troubles talking even these few words.
"Yes. Yes, we 'made it'."
"Good." Bok was obviously relieved.
"Ensign, you might be interested in the fact that I put you up for a
recommendation for a promotion to Lieutenant JG. You did fine work down
there." Was it hallucination on T'Reijas sight or was Bok smiling at her? She
decided it would be the last. And, with a more humourous tone, she added "That
is if you ever come out of sickbay." She had learned that a touch of humour
could cheer some people up.
"I intend to, sir. And... thank you."
"No need to thank me. You would deserve it."
"Oh yes, I forgot, Vulcans don't thank and don't apologise."
"Precisely." The Ensign surely seemed to feel better, and although he must
suffer from pain, he was on the best way to recovery. As he reached out to the
table beside him for the hypospray the nurse had left there for him, to milder
the pain, T'Reija gave it to him without a word. It showed effect quickly, and
Bok went to sleep.
A few minutes later, back in the brig
"How is he?" Crewman Ashito said at once when T'Reija entered the room.
"Ensign Bok will recover."
"Thank heavens", Crewman Gordon - one of Bok's numerous close friends -
exclaimed. T'Reija hold back any comment on that.
"Lieutenant, I hope I'm not bothering you when I ask", Ensign Kathar threw
in, "but we were talking about shore leave, and I wonder where you will spend yours?"
T'Reija decided not to go into the fact that duty and free time should be
hold apart - after this mission, even she left her people a little freedom on
that. They needed a psychic buffer, and what better than to talk about
something as pleasant as shore leave.
"I will go back to Vulcan to do some scientific studies." And to clear up
certain family business. Right after her shift in the brig, she would have to
contact Starfleet to report about the crew of the USS Surak. Not a very
pleasant thought, but rather painful to her.
============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Fearless
Stardate 9808.14
Veh sat in her office, located off the brig, and lowered her head
mournfully. She was reading over the casualty reports and noted than nearly
one dozen Fearless security personnel perished in the conflict with the
renegades from New Paradise and their leader -- Khan Noonian Singh.
Both Lt. T'Reija and Lt. Brynaziir arrived in her office as ordered and
stood at attention in front of her desk. She looked up at both of them and
managed a smile.
"I just wanted to commend both of you on a job well done," Vehakra said.
"Despite high losses, your officers did well. It was a tought fight, even for
seasoned veterans. Unfortunately, we have a lot of young officers serving with
us and they aren't always ready for a fight like this. Try to keep up morale
among the surviving security officers. We need to keep them focused on our
victory so they don't become overwhelmed by our losses. Thank you...both of
you...dismissed."
============================================================
USS Fearless
Orbiting Outpost 489
Stardate 9808.14
Sortha read over the reports. With the exception of the badly damaged
bridge and some extensive damage to some areas of the hull's ablative armor,
Fearless was repaired and ready to get underway.
Three relief ships had arrived to help repair Outpost 489 and the USS
Monitor. The survivors from both the station and the ship had expressed their
gratitude to the Fearless and her crew for freeing them from Khan and his men.
Khan's corvette had also been impounded and would be towed to the nearest
Starbase when the relief ships returned to their duties. Now, with a brig full
of Eugenic warriors, and one irritated Starfleet commander, Fearless was ready
to head home....at Sortha's command.
Her orders had come from Shadow Ops -- return to Earth for repairs and a
one month shoreleave for the entire crew....
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Departing for Earth
Commander Dyer
U.S.S. Fearless, Battle Bridge
Stardate 9808.15
Dyer was glad that Sortha had taken the hard line with Kalavar. She
deserved to spend some time in the brig.
Dyer went over the efficiency reports form the ship. Even the repairs on
the Main Bridge were going well. They should have everything up and running
by the time they reached Earth.
When his duty shift was over, he retired to his quarters with a PADD
containing the casualty list from the mission to the station. He began to
write letters of condolence to the families of the fallen.
He hoped that Veh might stop by, but he would definitely go and see her
tomorrow. Now that it was announced that they were to have shore leave for
30 days, he hoped they could make some plans for vacation together.
=============================================================
Captain Sortha
USS Fearless
Stardate 9808.15
The relief ships had arrived and repair crew were hard at work on the
Monitor and Outpost 489. Fearless had 15 of Khan's men in the brig, all of
whom would be delivered to a transport bound for a Starfleet holding facility.
There, they would wait for trial. Fearless would rendezvous with this
transport en route to Earth.
Sortha, satisfied the ship was done with its mission, decided it was time
to get underway. After bidding his well wishes to the relief ships and the
surviving crew of both the Monitor and the Outpost, he gave the order the crew
had been waiting for.
"Helm, set course for Earth. Execute."
END TRANSMISSION
Subject: SO: Fearless/Earthward Bound
Ensign Jamie T. Marcus
USS Fearless
Stardate 9808.18
Jamie was in the process of escorting Commander Kalavar to the brig. The
woman was making threats constantly. It was really starting to make Jamie
ill. Kalavar was just the sort of bureaucratic paper pusher type that line
officers loathed. She seemed like some brass brat who was used to getting her
way. She was really working herself up into a good steam over the entire matter.
As they were walking down a hallway and passing the door to a transporter
room Kalavar made a quick move and jumped into the room, activating the door
controls as she did so. The door started closing but not before Jamie was
able to get her foot in the door. The door hit her foot, hard, but the
safeties triggered and the door swished back open.
As it did, Kalavar hauled off and punched Jamie in the face. It bloodied
her nose, but she had taken far worse. Basically it just pissed her off.
Kalavar made a line toward the transporter with some unknown purpose. The
woman was not acting rationally and Jamie wondered if there could be some
ulterior motive.
Despite limping on her sore foot Jamie managed to effect a flying tackle.
Kalavar went down and Jamie quickly put her in an effective headlock. Kalavar
was still ranting when additional security arrived and hauled her physically
off to the brig. Jamie quickly made her report to Lieutenant Commander Rhikal.
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Fearless
Stardate 9808.18
Vehakra stood in cargo bay two and stared at the flag draped coffins which
lined the room. In all, 23 members of the crew had lost their lives on this
mission -- between the hand-to-hand combat and the space battle.
Rhikal passed by the rows of caskets and looked sorrowfully at each. Then
she reached the casket of Dr. Cassandra Ming and she stopped and looked down
at it in silence.
"I....am so sorry, doctor," she whispered. "It was my fault. I should have
had more security personnel in sickbay. I failed. Now there's nothing I can do
to bring you back."
Her thoughts went back to the way Captain Sortha regarded her after the
incident in sickbay and how disappointed he had sounded when addressing her.
He had said nothing to her about it since they'd left and he acted as if
nothing had happened. But deep down she knew he was dissatisfied with her over
the lack of security posted in sickbay.
Veh was suddenly jarred from her thoughts by her comm-badge chirping. She
tapped it gently and responded.
"Rhikal here," she said.
"Sir, this is Ensign Marcus," Jamie's voice responded. "I was escorting
Kalavar to the brig and she tried to escape into the transporter room. When I
went after her she punched me. I managed to capture her and have placed her in
the brig."
Veh rolled her eyes. "Good work Jamie. Are you OK?"
"I'm fine," Marcus said. "I just wanted you to know. I question her
motives for trying to make a run for the transporter..we're in space at warp.
There's no place for her to go."
"I'll let the captain know. T'Reija's in charge of the prisoners in
sickbay. Have her keep and eye on Kalavar too," Veh said. "Rhikal out."
Vehakra took one last look at Ming's casket and placed a hand lighting on
the black, polished surface, before turning and departing the cargo bay. As
she left, she nodded to the four man honor guard she'd placed inside the room.
She headed up to the auxiliary bridge and when she came off the lift, she
saw Sortha standing there, taking a report from and ensign. Veh approached her
commanding officer and stood at attention.
"What isss it, commander?" the Gorn asked.
"Several things I need to report, sir," Veh said. "I have posted an honor
guard in cargo bay 2 for our dead. I've also placed a security squad in the
brig to keep an eye on the prisoners. Also, I just got word from Ensign Marcus
that Commander Kalavar attempted to escape into a transporter room a few
minutes ago. Jamie apprehended her after a brief altercation. She is now
locked up in the brig."
Sortha frowned. "Where did ssshe think ssshe wasss going?"
"Unknown, sir," Vehakra said. "Unless she was planning a site-to-site
transport within the ship."
"Could be," the Gorn nodded. "But why?"
"With your permission, sir, I could question her?" Veh said.
"Proceed," the Gorn said. "Isss there anything elssse?"
"One more matter sir. I was in contact a short time ago with New Paradise
Colony. It took several tries but they finally responded to my inquiries. I
wanted to know if they had any arrest warrants for the Warriors of Singh. They
confirmed that they did not.
"They did, however, indicate that word of Khan's arrival from the past had
reached their colony and while it had served to bolster their radicals, like
the the Warriors of Singh, that it had also encouraged their scientific
communit Apparently after all these years...centuries....they are gradually
thinning their gene pool. Non-Eugenic genes have been introduced through
contact with the outside and as a result, they could become nothing more than
plain humans within in the next two generations.
"The return of Khan, a pure-blooded Eugenic soldier from the 20th century,
had prompted some hope by New Paradise's scientific community that they might
obtain some of his DNA to use toward replenishing their gene pool."
Sortha scowled. "What point are you you trying to make, commander?"
"Not a point, really, I'm just passing on New Paradise's request for
Khan's corpse or a sample of his DNA," Veh said. "The bodies of he and his
followers who were killed are in the ship's morgue."
"Yesss, I know," Sortha muttered. "That wasss Ssstarfleet'sss idea, not
mine. They wanted Khan and the othersss brought to Earth."
"I told the administrator of the colony to whom I spoke that the decision
wasn't really ours to make," Vehakra said. "That is up to Starfleet Command.
But I told them I'd pass along their wishes to you."
"Thank you," Sortha grumbled. "Dismissed."
As she turned to leave, she saw Mike Dyer standing nearby and she smiled
to him. As she passed hi,, she whispered, "How about dinner in the lounge
tonight? 1800 hours?"
=============================================================
Lieutenant T'Reija
USS Fearless
Stardate 9808.18
"Lieutenant T'Reija, I have been waiting for you to establish contact."
Admiral Gir'al said. She had contacted Starfleet Intelligence right after her
duty shift in the brig. "And I certainly have good news for you, lieutenant.
Oh, but what am I talking, I'll let someone else handle that. Please wait a moment."
The screen faded to black, but after a few seconds, another face appeared,
not as clear as the Admiral's, as the distance was larger, but there was no
doubt who it was: T'Lan of Vulcan, her mother. Outwardly, T'Reija stayed calm,
but she could not deny the emotion of great relieve she felt.
"Mother." She said it cool, but T'Lan had always seen her emotions. "You are alive."
"You always had the tendency to state the obvious. Yes, I am alive. The
rebels I mentioned in our mind meld managed to rescue those who had survived
shortly after our contact. At present I am assisting them in forming a stable
government. But as soon as the repairs on the Surak are completed, I will be
reassigned... as the captain."
So she had been promoted. No wonder, after what had happened to her and
the rest of the crew on the planet. T'Reija had no doubt that T'Lan would be a
good captain.
"I presume you won't be on Vulcan then in the next month?"
"No, unfortunately not. I am needed here." T'Lan was much better at
mastering her emotions than T'Reija, but somehow her daughter sensed that she
would rather be back to Vulcan with Shirak, her husband.
The crackling of the computer went louder as contact was getting unstable.
"I will be there with father. I am having shore-leave for the next four
weeks. I have to stop now. Mene sakkhet ur-seveh, T'Lan." The Vulcan greeting
was accomplished by the traditional hand sign.
"May you also live long and prosper, T'Reija."
T'Reija now lay down for rest. Security in the brig was seen to and
despite of her Vulcan endurance, T'Reija felt tired.
=============================================================
Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
USS Fearless/Quarters
Stardate 9808.18
With the mission over and an extended shore leave, Thoraz decided to
contact his parents on Betazed. After talking with them he found out an old
family friend would be passing through the space lanes nearby.
The Captain's Ready Room
Thoraz rang the chime on the door and the captain replied, "Come."
"Captain ... "
"Yesss lieutenant?"
"I was wondering, sir, if it would be possible to rendezvous with the S.S.
StarTrader at these coordinates?" Thoraz asked, handing the captain a PADD.
"He is an old family friend on his way to Betazed with a cargo and will
provide me with transportation home, if that is alright with you."
"Permisssion granted. You desserve it Lieutenant."
After leaving the captain's ready room, Thoraz headed to his quarters to
pack. His thoughts turned to home and family. 'I wonder if they've changed as
much as I have' he thought.
The Memorial Service and later celebration went well. Thoraz had all the
right words, at least for the others. However, for all his advice he needed
some for himself. He was in a reverie when he noticed his comm badge signal.
"Thoraz here."
"Lieutenant, you have a subspace communication."
"Put it through to my quarters."
"Thoraz. Good to see you again", said the Merchant. "I will be at the
rendezvous coordinates in 2 hours. See you there."
"Good to hear from you Simon. See you in 2 hours. Thoraz out."
END TRANSMISSION