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Captain Kearb of the Vidiian Sodality looked at his second in command, Resu. “So they have a cure,” he said in wonder. He couldn’t believe it – after so many had suffered, a cure seemed beyond anything they would have hoped to find in their lifetime. “My wife … my children … my parents … Our people are cured! We can go home… I can see my children run and play as children should. My wife will be able to paint again. My father can play his music. No more pain, no more sickness, no more early death.”
“We must verify that this is true before we release our ‘guests’. We must have the cure for ourselves,” said Resu. After so many years of fruitless searching, he was unwilling to believe a computer display. He knew that computers were untrustworthy, as well as easily altered, and only seeing himself and his crew cured would satisfy him. “Sir, I think we should continue to hold the prisoners of the St. George until we have further investigated the veracity of this cure,” said Resu.
Kearb’s commlink beeped. "Yes?"
“Sir, the Saint George and twelve smaller ships have entered the nebula.”
“I’m on my way to the bridge. Maintain our position – we are still cloaked and they will not be able to find us,” said Kearb. He turned back to Resu. "Move the donors to Med Lab One at once – and order Chief Surgeon Annik to begin the harvest."
"Yes, sir.”
JoAnna tapped the panel on the replicator’s computer. "It’s no use. I’m unable to get anything out of this besides food and a few entertainment programs."
"What kind of 'entertainment' programs?" asked Stratton
“Music files, a few holomovies. That’s about it.” Quietly, for the captain’s ears alone, she added, “I don’t think they plan to keep us here for very long.”
Stratton nodded. "I think I have an idea... JoAnna, can you try to hack into their comm system and broadcast some of that music to the Saint George?” asked Stratton
"I can try,” said Wahlund
"Ice Warriors – report in! Give me 'GO' or 'No-Go' status," said Webster
"Snow Ninja One - Go!" said Private First Class Jason Pelletier. This was his first deep space mission and Jason was more than a little excited to see live action. He tried to maintain a detached professionalism towards doing his duty against the Vidiians, but it was no use. They had kidnapped his captain (who, unbeknownst to the crew, was also his cousin) and several of his friends. He was pissed off and nothing, in his opinion, vented frustration better than blowing things up.
"Go weapons hot, flight pattern Zulu, prepare to deploy exocomps." said Webster. "WHOOOO-YAAAH! MARINES!”
Jason grinned. "WHOOOO-YAAAH! MARINES!"
On the bridge of the Saint George, "Sir, we're getting a signal from the Vidiian ship... but it’s audio only. I believe it’s…music," said the comm officer, a rookie ensign substituting for Chief Wahlund.
"Let’s hear it," said Commodore Stratton.
Over the speakers came the music. "Oooo ... oooo ... oooohhh... do it ... do the hustle! ...."
Stratton leaped out of his chair. "The Captain is alive!” he shouted. “Lock onto that signal and prepare to beam over the strike team. Alert the Ice Warriors.” His orders were obeyed within moments. “Weapons ready on my mark ... fire!"
As the Saint George fired its phasers, the transporters engaged and the tactical strike team beamed onboard the Vidiian ship, directly into the room that was holding the captain and the crew.
The exocomps attached the mines and the Ice Warriors moved into position.
"Shut off that horrible noise!" shouted Kearb.
“I can’t, sir – I’ve been locked out!” the communications officer said, incredulous and panicked. “It’s being broadcast to the St. George!”
"Sir, we are under attack!" yelled the con officer as the Saint George’s phasers shook the ship.
Before Kearb could reply, the comm officer said, “Sir, we’re being hailed!”
“On speakers,” Kearb ordered, clenching his hands into fists.
"This is Commodore Michael Stratton of the USS Saint George to the Vidiian vesse. , Surrender your ship and prepare to return our crew.”
“Raise shields and go to warp three!” ordered Kearb.
“The St. George has accelerated to warp three also,” the con officer reported as he obeyed the captain’s command.
As both ships reached warp three, the Fighters sped to warp four to get in front of the Vidiians.
“It worked!” shouted a triumphant Captain Stratton and crew as they saw the strike team materialize before them.
“Captain, I am very please to see you and the rest of the crew unharmed,” said Wade Wantoch as he passed phasers and commbadges to the kidnapped crew.
As the strike team started setting up transporter pattern enhancers, the crew perpared to move into beam-out positions. Before they could activate the enhancers or contact the St. George, a Vidiian security team burst into the room. The guards immediately opened fire, destroying the pattern enhancers and injuring several of the St. George crew.
“Take cover and return fire!” commanded the Captain over the noise as she kicked over one of the tables for cover and shot at the Vidiian nearest the door, hitting him squarely on the chest and knocking him out cold.
The remaining guards were quickly taken down by the strike team.
"See to the injured," Stratton ordered, scrambling to her feet. "Wade, can you repair those pattern enhancers?"
"Negative, sir." Wantoch said, examining the mounds of smoking, twisted metal where the pattern enhancers were. “Time for Plan B.” He pulled out a PADD. "I have the schematics of this ship – we need to go up three decks to reach their cargo bay. We can use the cargo transporters to beam the entire crew out at once.”
"What about getting through this ship’s shielding?" asked Stratton.
"The Ice Warriors have planted level four mines on the hulls and that should disrupt their systems enough so we can beam off," said Wantoch.
"Excellent plan, Mr. Wantoch," said Stratton. “Let’s see to our injured.”
“There are three with superficial wounds, and one that needs immediate attention,” a strike team member, an ensign with emergency medical training who’d been tending to the wounded, reported. Both Wantoch and Stratton looked over the crowd to see the unconscious crewman.
“Oh no…JoAnna…” Captain Stratton whispered, tears filled her eyes.
The Chief had a gaping phaser hole in her chest as wide as a dinner plate. Miraculously, the Vidiian phasers hadn’t been set on a lethal setting – They didn’t want to harm their ‘donors,’ Captaon Stratton thought bitterly – but Wahlund was badly burned and had to be in intense pain. She was conscious, but just barely.
“How far away is their sickbay?” asked the captain, dropping to her knees beside Wahlund.
Wantoch consulted the PADD. “It’s one deck below us,” he said.
“Wade, take your team and the rest of the crew and get to those transporters. I’m taking the Chief to sickbay,” said Stratton, using sheer bodily strength to get Wahlund to her feet.
“Captain … you must leave with the rest of the crew. Don’t worry about me …” came a weak, pleading whisper from JoAnna.
“Sorry, Chief, I outrank you,” Stratton said, half walking, half dragging Wahlund to the door. “No one is getting left behind to be butchered by these monsters.”
Suddenly, Wahlund’s sagging figure was supported from the other side. “Captain, I can’t let you do this alone,” Wantoch said. “The rest of the team can get the crew to the cargo bay. Let me help you get her to sickbay.”
“Bring them out of warp,” Commodore Stratton ordered.
Several small explosions shook the Vidiian ship. After a moment, they dropped out of warp.
“Saint George to Vidiian vessel, we have just detonated several small mines that are on your hull. If you do not wish to be completely destroyed, you will return our crew to us unharmed and alive,” said Commodore Stratton
“This is Kearb of the Vidiian Sodality. Give us the cure for the phage and we will return your crew,” was the reply
“Sorry, Kearb, but I don’t negotiate with criminals.” He turned to the weapons station. “Prepare to detonate the rest of the mines!” said Stratton.
“You wouldn’t dare destroy us – you would be killing your crew and your captain!” said Kearb, his voice shaking ever so slightly under an imperious sneer.
“Oh, didn’t you know – they’ve already been reported as dead to STARFLEET, so I have nothing to lose by destroying you,” said Stratton with a menacing laugh. He raised his hand to signal the detonation.
“WAIT!” screamed a panicked Kearb “I will return your crew to you! Give me a moment to locate them.” The transmission abruptly ended.
“I bet he’s going to try to fire on us when we lower our shields to beam the crew back,” said Stratton matter-of-factly.
“Prepare to open fire on that ship when they lower their shields,” said Kearb
“Stratton to Webster. Is your team ready, Tom?” asked the Commodore
“Webster here, the Ice Warriors are ready with operation ‘Snowball,’ sir,” came the reply.
The comm channel chirped, “Kearb to Saint George. Prepare to receive your crew.”
“Thank you, Kearb, prepare to receive our signal.” Quietly, Stratton said, “Now, Mr. Webster.”
With that, the Fighters simultaneously opened fire on the Vidiian’s weapon systems, effectively destroying them.
Consider that a little payback for kidnapping my wife, thought Stratton in satisfaction.
“'Operation Snowball’?” asked Captain Stratton with a grin as the Vidiian ship shook with the fire from the Fighters. “Where does Tom come UP with those corny names for his attacks?” she asked, scanning the passageway for Vidiians.
“I don’t care what he calls them; I’m just glad they always seem to be so effective,” said Wantoch, carrying Wahlund down the empty hallway.
They entered the Vidiian sickbay. Stratton leveled her phaser at the Vidiians in the room. “No one move,” she said, her voice like ice. “I’ve got an injured crewman and she requires medical assistance.”
Wade gently lowered JoAnna onto a diagnostic bed, then raised is own weapon to cover the Captain.
None of the four Vidiians in the sickbay moved. Finally, one stepped forward. “I am Annik, the chief surgeon. I will help her,” a withered looking Viddiian female.
Stratton nodded and allowed her to move to the diagnostic bed where Wahlund lay, moaning in pain and drifting in and out of consciousness.
"Sir, all our weapons systems have been destroyed," Resu said in disbelief.
“We must surrender,” said Kearb, with genuine fear in his heart. What would these people do to him?
“Surrender? I’d rather die!” Resu flashed.
“The Phage will take care of that soon enough,” Kearb said grimly. “With a surrender, perhaps these Federations will be more inclined to be merciful and cure our people.” He nodded to the comm officer. "Kearb to Saint George. We… are prepared to discuss your terms."
"Once we have the crew safely back on board, we’ll escort you to a Federation starbase for repairs,” he said aloud.
“Sir, the crew is transporting back … we have them all except for crewman Wahlund, Wantoch, and the Captain,” said the comm officer.
“Where is my wife and the rest of my crew?!” demanded a furious Commodore Stratton.
Before Kearb could respond, another voice came over the commlink. “Stratton to Saint George. Medical emergency – we need the doctor over here now!”
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