VERY nice...a page out of the Robau playbook, I see. (Not that it exists in this timeline. 
) A shame to lose this crew--but what a way to go!
) A shame to lose this crew--but what a way to go!
Star Trek: Pytheas - 106 - The Art of War
- Thread starter BrotherBenny
- Start date
Chapter Five
USS Independence
Kursican system
Stardate 55433.9 (June 8, 2378)
Captain Sintina Aurelia grabbed the chair as the ship shuddered under the impact of a volley of shots from two Cha'lav cruisers. She pulled herself up to sitting position and narrowed her eyes at the flanking cruisers. Being a war captain, she knew how to get the upper hand in a fight, or she wouldn't be sitting in the chair today, but the Cha'lav was a completely different enemy to any she had fought before and thought differently to any species she'd fought before.
'Faltyne, target the port ship's engines. Use two quantum torpedoes, maximum yield. As soon as the torpedoes are away, fire phasers continuously, give them something to swat at. Signal the Oxelus to keep the starboard destroyer busy for a minute.'
'Aye sir,' the tactical officer replied. 'Target locked, weapons ready.'
The ship shook under another impact. 'Helm, I need you to make evasive Weston-six as soon as we launch the torpedo.'
'Ready, Captain.'
Next to her, bin Nadal gripped the armrest of his chair.
'Fire!'
The quantum torpedo hurtled toward the enemy, and the Independence followed a few hundred metres behind, firing continuous phasers from their forward strips. The phaser barrage had the intended effect and weakened the shields enough for the torpedo to punch through. It sliced through the engines, detonating on impact and the destroyer exploded, cerulean flame dancing in the void for a few seconds before the oxygen was gone.
'Yes!' Weston crowed.
'We still have the other one to deal with,' Faltyne reminded the helmsman. 'The Oxelus has taken damage and is falling back. The other cruiser is also falling back, and the remaining fighters are providing an escort.'
'The shuttles?' Aurelia asked.
'Still chasing the fighters,' Faltyne replied and then paused.
'Lieutenant?' bin Nadal asked, noting the expression on the tactical officer's face.
'The Weisskopf is gone,' he said with furrowed brows. 'It rammed one of the crippled heavy cruisers after detonating it's warp nacelles against it. All escape pods have been launched, but the fighters are picking them off. The shuttles are having trouble catching up to them.'
Aurelia growled low in her throat. 'Helm, bring us about. Lieutenant, target the fighters and take them out. Do not miss!'
'Aye sir,' Faltyne replied. 'Three seconds to firing range.'
'Go to full impulse, look out for stragglers.'
'Aye sir,' Weston said.
The Independence side-swiped debris from two Ynelavii ships and took out two fighters before they could even reach the escape pods.
'Even the Dominion let the escape pods go,' bin Nadal muttered.
'The Cha'lav aren't interested in demoralising the troops, just destroying them,' Aurelia returned equally quietly. 'Get me a damage report.'
'I'm on it.'
'Sir, the escape pods have reached Kursica's atmosphere. The remaining fighters are breaking off.'
Aurelia considered her options. 'Give them the same chance they gave the pods,' she told the tactical officer.
'With pleasure,' Faltyne said. 'Captain Astar reports the first wave has been successfully countered. Captain Logan is asking all ships to return to original positions and wait for the second wave, which will be here in eighteen minutes.'
'All right, signal acknowledgement,' Aurelia replied with a sigh. 'All stations to make repairs as best they can. Karim, where's my damage report?'
'Hull breaches on five decks, aft torpedo launcher is out, phasers down to sixty percent charge and auxiliary shields are offline. Seventy wounded, eleven seriously, and eight fatalities.'
Aurelia slammed her fist into the arm of her chair before calming herself somewhat. 'I'm going down to sickbay. Please ask Captain Logan whether we have anything that can turn the tide of this battle.'
'We're being hailed,' Faltyne interrupted. 'It's Captain Logan.'
'What's your situation, Captain?' Logan asked.
Aurelia repeated her exec's report. 'We can't weather a second wave like that. Where the hell are the Klingons and Romulans?'
Logan grinned slightly. 'They've taken out one of the two control ships and the Cha'lav are now regrouping. We should have about an hour before they attack in their second wave. Before you give me a verbal browbeating, Captain, let me tell you that we have taken out a third of their ships, and lost only five of our own.'
'Captain Dhrex and his crew deserve more than a footnote,' Aurelia countered angrily.
'Most of the crew survived, but Captain Dhrex went down with his ship. Rest assured his death and every other that happens here today will not be a footnote. We will defend ourselves and we will win the day. Logan out.'
Aurelia tugged her uniform down and then stood to face her crew. 'He's right, we will win but it won't be because we're defending ourselves. It will be because we're making a good offence against their lines. You have thirty minutes to give me options people and I want something that will take out as many ships as possible.'
'Sir, what do we do about the Weisskopf's shuttles?' Weston asked.
'Leave that to Logan and Astar, they might be able to make better use of them than we can,' she answered. 'There will be another wing or two of fighters in the next wave and they can take those out.'
'Aye sir.'
'We could mine the system with cloaked quantum torpedoes,' bin Nadal suggested. 'As soon as they detect a Cha'lav signature, they attack and detonate.'
'It would take too long to mine a large enough area,' Faltyne replied. 'But we should keep it in mind if we need a longer-term plan.'
'I'll be in sickbay,' Aurelia replied. 'Keep thinking.'
As she made her way to where the injured lay recovering and her dead lay awaiting their afterlife, she considered her captaincy and the covert operations she was forced to take part in and the people she'd lost, the decisions she had been forced to make and the people she served with, and she realised that the centre seat was where she wanted to be. Regardless of who she had to face, friend or foe, she was a Starfleet captain and while she was in that chair she could improve the lives of countless millions, and that's exactly what she intended to do here. The Cha'lav would be made to pay for every kilometre they took.
USS Independence
Kursican system
Stardate 55433.9 (June 8, 2378)
Captain Sintina Aurelia grabbed the chair as the ship shuddered under the impact of a volley of shots from two Cha'lav cruisers. She pulled herself up to sitting position and narrowed her eyes at the flanking cruisers. Being a war captain, she knew how to get the upper hand in a fight, or she wouldn't be sitting in the chair today, but the Cha'lav was a completely different enemy to any she had fought before and thought differently to any species she'd fought before.
'Faltyne, target the port ship's engines. Use two quantum torpedoes, maximum yield. As soon as the torpedoes are away, fire phasers continuously, give them something to swat at. Signal the Oxelus to keep the starboard destroyer busy for a minute.'
'Aye sir,' the tactical officer replied. 'Target locked, weapons ready.'
The ship shook under another impact. 'Helm, I need you to make evasive Weston-six as soon as we launch the torpedo.'
'Ready, Captain.'
Next to her, bin Nadal gripped the armrest of his chair.
'Fire!'
The quantum torpedo hurtled toward the enemy, and the Independence followed a few hundred metres behind, firing continuous phasers from their forward strips. The phaser barrage had the intended effect and weakened the shields enough for the torpedo to punch through. It sliced through the engines, detonating on impact and the destroyer exploded, cerulean flame dancing in the void for a few seconds before the oxygen was gone.
'Yes!' Weston crowed.
'We still have the other one to deal with,' Faltyne reminded the helmsman. 'The Oxelus has taken damage and is falling back. The other cruiser is also falling back, and the remaining fighters are providing an escort.'
'The shuttles?' Aurelia asked.
'Still chasing the fighters,' Faltyne replied and then paused.
'Lieutenant?' bin Nadal asked, noting the expression on the tactical officer's face.
'The Weisskopf is gone,' he said with furrowed brows. 'It rammed one of the crippled heavy cruisers after detonating it's warp nacelles against it. All escape pods have been launched, but the fighters are picking them off. The shuttles are having trouble catching up to them.'
Aurelia growled low in her throat. 'Helm, bring us about. Lieutenant, target the fighters and take them out. Do not miss!'
'Aye sir,' Faltyne replied. 'Three seconds to firing range.'
'Go to full impulse, look out for stragglers.'
'Aye sir,' Weston said.
The Independence side-swiped debris from two Ynelavii ships and took out two fighters before they could even reach the escape pods.
'Even the Dominion let the escape pods go,' bin Nadal muttered.
'The Cha'lav aren't interested in demoralising the troops, just destroying them,' Aurelia returned equally quietly. 'Get me a damage report.'
'I'm on it.'
'Sir, the escape pods have reached Kursica's atmosphere. The remaining fighters are breaking off.'
Aurelia considered her options. 'Give them the same chance they gave the pods,' she told the tactical officer.
'With pleasure,' Faltyne said. 'Captain Astar reports the first wave has been successfully countered. Captain Logan is asking all ships to return to original positions and wait for the second wave, which will be here in eighteen minutes.'
'All right, signal acknowledgement,' Aurelia replied with a sigh. 'All stations to make repairs as best they can. Karim, where's my damage report?'
'Hull breaches on five decks, aft torpedo launcher is out, phasers down to sixty percent charge and auxiliary shields are offline. Seventy wounded, eleven seriously, and eight fatalities.'
Aurelia slammed her fist into the arm of her chair before calming herself somewhat. 'I'm going down to sickbay. Please ask Captain Logan whether we have anything that can turn the tide of this battle.'
'We're being hailed,' Faltyne interrupted. 'It's Captain Logan.'
'What's your situation, Captain?' Logan asked.
Aurelia repeated her exec's report. 'We can't weather a second wave like that. Where the hell are the Klingons and Romulans?'
Logan grinned slightly. 'They've taken out one of the two control ships and the Cha'lav are now regrouping. We should have about an hour before they attack in their second wave. Before you give me a verbal browbeating, Captain, let me tell you that we have taken out a third of their ships, and lost only five of our own.'
'Captain Dhrex and his crew deserve more than a footnote,' Aurelia countered angrily.
'Most of the crew survived, but Captain Dhrex went down with his ship. Rest assured his death and every other that happens here today will not be a footnote. We will defend ourselves and we will win the day. Logan out.'
Aurelia tugged her uniform down and then stood to face her crew. 'He's right, we will win but it won't be because we're defending ourselves. It will be because we're making a good offence against their lines. You have thirty minutes to give me options people and I want something that will take out as many ships as possible.'
'Sir, what do we do about the Weisskopf's shuttles?' Weston asked.
'Leave that to Logan and Astar, they might be able to make better use of them than we can,' she answered. 'There will be another wing or two of fighters in the next wave and they can take those out.'
'Aye sir.'
'We could mine the system with cloaked quantum torpedoes,' bin Nadal suggested. 'As soon as they detect a Cha'lav signature, they attack and detonate.'
'It would take too long to mine a large enough area,' Faltyne replied. 'But we should keep it in mind if we need a longer-term plan.'
'I'll be in sickbay,' Aurelia replied. 'Keep thinking.'
As she made her way to where the injured lay recovering and her dead lay awaiting their afterlife, she considered her captaincy and the covert operations she was forced to take part in and the people she'd lost, the decisions she had been forced to make and the people she served with, and she realised that the centre seat was where she wanted to be. Regardless of who she had to face, friend or foe, she was a Starfleet captain and while she was in that chair she could improve the lives of countless millions, and that's exactly what she intended to do here. The Cha'lav would be made to pay for every kilometre they took.
BB,
Your story got off to a rollicking start. I like how you're showing the battle from different perspectives. And I like the inclusion of D'Noth's Indy crew. Aurelia is one of my favorites.
Tying the Cha'lav into ENT's Temporal Cold War is cool too. Are they connected also the Sphere Builders or the Na'kuhl (alien Nazis) or Future Guy? Are the Suliban members of the Cha'lav Hegemony?
Your story got off to a rollicking start. I like how you're showing the battle from different perspectives. And I like the inclusion of D'Noth's Indy crew. Aurelia is one of my favorites.
Tying the Cha'lav into ENT's Temporal Cold War is cool too. Are they connected also the Sphere Builders or the Na'kuhl (alien Nazis) or Future Guy? Are the Suliban members of the Cha'lav Hegemony?
Thanks, I like Sintina too.
IMO, the Sphere Builders were nothing to do with the TCW, they were just trying to gain a foothold in our realm for themselves. The Suliban were just pawns of Future Guy who was a Cha'lav-Primate (in my view). The Na'kuhl were a Cha'lav vassal species. I was planning on going back to them when Astar and her crew end up in Cha'lav space, but I don't know how far ahead that will be.
Chapter Six
USS Pytheas
Kursican system
Stardate 55434.0 (June 8, 2378)
Lieutenant K'Tyra Parker paced her quarters, thinking hard about the situation as she changed into a fresh uniform. The captain had given all alpha shift personnel a chance to shower and change considering the likely length of the next encounter with the Cha'lav. She would do the same once Gonzales, as acting first officer, returned to the bridge. The only way to prevent more deaths was to give herself up to the Cha'lav and she knew that Astar would never allow that, even though the Cha'lav couldn't be trusted anyway. What was needed was another ploy which would give them a fighting chance at winning this battle—and it came to her in a flash of inspiration.
'Parker to Astar, I think I have an idea.'
'Observation lounge in five minutes,' the captain replied.
'Aye sir, Parker out.'
She grabbed a padd and hastily scribbled down her idea and the problems associated with it. For it to work, they would need covering fire and there were only two vessels able to assist, and they both had to agree. The rest of the allied fleet would need to keep the Cha'lav busy and take the fight to them. Everyone was seated by the time she arrived and Astar let her have the floor.
'The only way we're going to stop the Cha'lav is by taking out that other control ship. Without it, the other ships will be on their own and easy targets. What I'm proposing is that two tactical teams beam aboard the control ship and take the bridge and engine room. With those sections under our control we can shut down the ship and then beam over more people to secure the Cha'lav.'
'How do you suggest we get aboard?' Gonzales asked.
'We fire tachyon bursts at their ship. They'll have to reset their shields and when they do, the teams beam aboard in stealth suits. The Gilded Talon and Ditagh will have to provide covering fire as they cloak and will confuse the Cha'lav sensors in their strafing runs. We can't do this without them.'
'What about the rest of the fleet?' Larson asked. 'We'll be leaving them three ships short.'
'The rest of the fleet will be attacking the remaining Cha'lav ships directly, outside the system. Leaving them no quarter to manoeuvre.'
'You're forgetting one thing, Lieutenant,' Astar said. 'The starbase will be undefended.'
'Not quite, sir,' Parker replied. 'While the starbase may not be as well armed as other starbases of comparative size, it still has sufficient weaponry to take out a Cha'lav cruiser. The Kursican weapons system was augmented with Starfleet technology. It is a formidable defensive force.'
'Let me speak with Captain Logan. He'll have to give final authorisation on this crazy plan of yours. In the meantime, prepare your tactical teams for insertion, security personnel only. I don't want to lose any more than I have already in this war.'
'Aye sir.'
'The rest of you, get your departments ready for insertion and attack. I want to be ready to go as soon as Logan gives the word.'
'And if he doesn't?' Talen asked.
'He will. He won't want to be playing defensive all the time,' Astar replied. 'Dismissed.'
Parker headed for her office and thought about who she could take with. All of her people had the experience and training, but she needed someone who was capable of using their initiative under fire. 'Ensign Faragas, report to my office for a briefing immediately.'
'On my way,' the Rigellian-Chelon answered.
'Parker to Xeris.'
'Go ahead, Lieutenant.'
'I need a stealth suit for Faragas, can you give me in half an hour?'
Xeris laughed. 'Are you crazy?'
'Yes or no, Commander?'
'You'll have it.'
'Thank you, Parker out.'
By the time she reached her office on deck four, which had formerly been crew quarters on the first batch of Intrepid-class starships built almost a decade ago, Faragas was already waiting outside.
'You wanted to see me, sir?'
'Come on in,' she said and sat down at her desk. 'I need two tactical teams to infiltrate a Cha'lav control ship and take the bridge and engineering sections. I'll lead one, you'll lead the other. Everyone will be wearing stealth suits—Xeris is working on one for you as we speak—and we'll be leaving as soon as we're geared up. The heads-up displays will provide a real-time view of the layout gathered from my knowledge and from astrometrics.'
Faragas looked at her and clicked his beak in what she knew was consternation. 'I take it that you believe we cannot win this battle?'
'As it happens, I don't. The Cha'lav have more than thirty ships in this galaxy, and I want to know where they are. There's also the additional problem of them being able to open a rift and bring in ships that could be waiting outside the galaxy for their moment of glory. The only way to know is get on that control ship and download the database, and interrogate that reptilian commander who wants me prisoner.'
Faragas nodded his head. 'I assume you have provided the Captain with a means of getting us aboard?'
'I have.'
'Then all that remains to do is get our gear together.'
'Pick your team, Ensign and let's get to work.'
'Aye sir.'
'Astar to Parker.'
'Parker here, sir.'
'Captain Logan has given the mission a go, and both Subcommander Sokal and Captain Vikagh have agreed to take part. How are your preparations going?'
'I'm just picking the teams now, sir. We should be ready to go in thirty minutes.'
'You have twenty. The Cha'lav are regrouping faster than we expected them to.'
'Acknowledged, Parker out.'
'You knew we would be given the go ahead?'
'Starfleet doesn't like to play defence when offence is preferable.'
The Rigellian nodded. 'I look forward to this battle, Lieutenant. The Cha'lav have to be stopped and we are the vanguard of their downfall.'
'Well put, let's get to work.'
USS Pytheas
Kursican system
Stardate 55434.0 (June 8, 2378)
Lieutenant K'Tyra Parker paced her quarters, thinking hard about the situation as she changed into a fresh uniform. The captain had given all alpha shift personnel a chance to shower and change considering the likely length of the next encounter with the Cha'lav. She would do the same once Gonzales, as acting first officer, returned to the bridge. The only way to prevent more deaths was to give herself up to the Cha'lav and she knew that Astar would never allow that, even though the Cha'lav couldn't be trusted anyway. What was needed was another ploy which would give them a fighting chance at winning this battle—and it came to her in a flash of inspiration.
'Parker to Astar, I think I have an idea.'
'Observation lounge in five minutes,' the captain replied.
'Aye sir, Parker out.'
She grabbed a padd and hastily scribbled down her idea and the problems associated with it. For it to work, they would need covering fire and there were only two vessels able to assist, and they both had to agree. The rest of the allied fleet would need to keep the Cha'lav busy and take the fight to them. Everyone was seated by the time she arrived and Astar let her have the floor.
'The only way we're going to stop the Cha'lav is by taking out that other control ship. Without it, the other ships will be on their own and easy targets. What I'm proposing is that two tactical teams beam aboard the control ship and take the bridge and engine room. With those sections under our control we can shut down the ship and then beam over more people to secure the Cha'lav.'
'How do you suggest we get aboard?' Gonzales asked.
'We fire tachyon bursts at their ship. They'll have to reset their shields and when they do, the teams beam aboard in stealth suits. The Gilded Talon and Ditagh will have to provide covering fire as they cloak and will confuse the Cha'lav sensors in their strafing runs. We can't do this without them.'
'What about the rest of the fleet?' Larson asked. 'We'll be leaving them three ships short.'
'The rest of the fleet will be attacking the remaining Cha'lav ships directly, outside the system. Leaving them no quarter to manoeuvre.'
'You're forgetting one thing, Lieutenant,' Astar said. 'The starbase will be undefended.'
'Not quite, sir,' Parker replied. 'While the starbase may not be as well armed as other starbases of comparative size, it still has sufficient weaponry to take out a Cha'lav cruiser. The Kursican weapons system was augmented with Starfleet technology. It is a formidable defensive force.'
'Let me speak with Captain Logan. He'll have to give final authorisation on this crazy plan of yours. In the meantime, prepare your tactical teams for insertion, security personnel only. I don't want to lose any more than I have already in this war.'
'Aye sir.'
'The rest of you, get your departments ready for insertion and attack. I want to be ready to go as soon as Logan gives the word.'
'And if he doesn't?' Talen asked.
'He will. He won't want to be playing defensive all the time,' Astar replied. 'Dismissed.'
Parker headed for her office and thought about who she could take with. All of her people had the experience and training, but she needed someone who was capable of using their initiative under fire. 'Ensign Faragas, report to my office for a briefing immediately.'
'On my way,' the Rigellian-Chelon answered.
'Parker to Xeris.'
'Go ahead, Lieutenant.'
'I need a stealth suit for Faragas, can you give me in half an hour?'
Xeris laughed. 'Are you crazy?'
'Yes or no, Commander?'
'You'll have it.'
'Thank you, Parker out.'
By the time she reached her office on deck four, which had formerly been crew quarters on the first batch of Intrepid-class starships built almost a decade ago, Faragas was already waiting outside.
'You wanted to see me, sir?'
'Come on in,' she said and sat down at her desk. 'I need two tactical teams to infiltrate a Cha'lav control ship and take the bridge and engineering sections. I'll lead one, you'll lead the other. Everyone will be wearing stealth suits—Xeris is working on one for you as we speak—and we'll be leaving as soon as we're geared up. The heads-up displays will provide a real-time view of the layout gathered from my knowledge and from astrometrics.'
Faragas looked at her and clicked his beak in what she knew was consternation. 'I take it that you believe we cannot win this battle?'
'As it happens, I don't. The Cha'lav have more than thirty ships in this galaxy, and I want to know where they are. There's also the additional problem of them being able to open a rift and bring in ships that could be waiting outside the galaxy for their moment of glory. The only way to know is get on that control ship and download the database, and interrogate that reptilian commander who wants me prisoner.'
Faragas nodded his head. 'I assume you have provided the Captain with a means of getting us aboard?'
'I have.'
'Then all that remains to do is get our gear together.'
'Pick your team, Ensign and let's get to work.'
'Aye sir.'
'Astar to Parker.'
'Parker here, sir.'
'Captain Logan has given the mission a go, and both Subcommander Sokal and Captain Vikagh have agreed to take part. How are your preparations going?'
'I'm just picking the teams now, sir. We should be ready to go in thirty minutes.'
'You have twenty. The Cha'lav are regrouping faster than we expected them to.'
'Acknowledged, Parker out.'
'You knew we would be given the go ahead?'
'Starfleet doesn't like to play defence when offence is preferable.'
The Rigellian nodded. 'I look forward to this battle, Lieutenant. The Cha'lav have to be stopped and we are the vanguard of their downfall.'
'Well put, let's get to work.'
Hmm...I wonder how heavily manned a Cha'lav cruiser is? Let's hope a lot of the crew can be neutralized before our team goes over there! Somehow I don't trust the Cha'lav not to see through stealth suits...
Chapter Seven
USS Pytheas
Kursican system
Stardate 55434.1 (June 8, 2378)
Lieutenant Parker was putting her helmet on when Astar entered transporter room one. The other five members of her team were already in their stealth suits and she couldn't even tell who they were, but would be able to once the heads-up display on her helmet was activated. In transporter room two, Faragas and his team were also gearing up for the insertion. Their timing needed to be perfect which was why the computer had been programmed to transport them as soon as the Cha'lav control ship's shields were down. They needed just four seconds for the sequence to complete—and she hoped it was going to be enough.
'Are you ready, Lieutenant?'
'Yes sir, we should begin the tachyon run now.'
'The rest of the fleet are in position, delta formation, and Captain Logan is ready to defend the starbase,' Astar told her security chief. 'We'll take point in formation and then break to fire the tachyon pulses. Once we start, you can be sure the Cha'lav will attack us without mercy.'
Parker nodded her agreement. 'Show them the same consideration, Captain.'
'Of that you can have no doubt,' the captain replied and turned on her heel.
'Sound off,' Parker ordered her team.
'All systems functioning normally,' Hoya said, the Benzite sounding breathless through the suit.
'All green,' Snowcroft added.
'All systems are go,' zh'Velan chimed in.
'My suit is fine,' D'rass hissed.
'All good, Lieutenant,' Yuri Delco replied.
'Faragas, are your people all set?'
'Yes sir, all suits are green.'
'Parker to Astar, we're ready down here.'
'Acknowledged, bridge out.'
Parker waited, knowing that she would be unlikely to feel the tachyon pulses being fired and that the first moment she'd know it was successful was when the computer beamed her team onto the Cha'lav ship. She didn't have to wait long. The formation had already been on the move when they started to get into their suits. The transporter cycled up and her team dematerialised from the Pytheas' transporter pad, materialising inside a cargo bay on the cavernous control ship.
'Weapons hot, set to kill,' Parker ordered. 'Move out.'
Taking point, she led her six-person team into the corridor. They encountered no resistance and she used hand signals to direct them. Heading along the corridor toward the forward part of the ship, they found a trio of Insectoid security guards on patrol and took them out before they could fire a shot. Unfortunately, an crewman passed by and let out a shriek. Snowcroft silenced him but the alarm had been raised and a klaxon sounded across the ship. Parker knew the Cha'lav couldn't use the gas trick they had done once before because there were too many people and they were in the middle of a battle, so she guessed they would just beam more security personnel into the section.
'Incoming,' D'rass hissed and pounced on a guard just as he finished materialising.
The falling guard scattered the others who had no idea what they were shooting at and started firing blindly hoping to hit something.
'Everybody down low and fire,' Snowcroft said and the others followed her lead, crouching or just hitting the deck and firing their phasers or phaser rifles.
The six remaining guards were taken out quickly but more materialised. 'We have to get out of this section or we're going to get pinned down,' Delco muttered as he fired three shots in quick succession.
The phaser rifles were capable of firing pulses or beams and he had his in pulse mode, which seemed to be more effective. 'Pulse mode, everybody,' Parker ordered as she rose and moved forward. 'We need to get off this deck. There should be a service hatch fifty metres ahead.'
'We're going to have to work for it,' Snowcroft said as another phalanx appeared in front of them.
The six of them fired continuously as they stepped forward, changing position so the guards couldn't hit them but it was inevitable that one would get hit and D'rass took a blast on his suit which immediately failed. He stumbled and fell, ripped off his useless helmet and jumped into the fray before Parker could stop him. His suit had prevented the kill shot from being fatal but it still hurt and the suit smouldered from the burn.
'Careful with your fire.'
Snowcroft and Delco stepped aside from each other and took out the guards trying to flank them just another slammed into Delco. Before Snowcroft could change position, the guard lifted Delco off the ground and snapped his neck. Snowcroft used her rifle as a club and sent the guard sprawling before she finished him off with a pulse blast and turned to the others still fighting.
'Maria, stop!' Parker yelled.
Snowcroft did not heed the warning and fired continuously at anything that moved. Guards and crewmen who couldn't scramble out of the way fast enough all fell before her rifle as she almost single-handedly cleared the path to the service hatch.
'All clear,' she turned to face Parker as the others approached.
'We'll be back for him,' Parker promised on a person-to-person comm.
'No we won't,' the cadet replied angrily. 'This is a suicide mission and you know it. As long as we take out the control ship our job is done. We're security and we're expendable.'
'How did you know?' Parker asked as they stepped through the hatch and began climbing.
'This ship can hold over four thousand people. Twelve security officers will not be enough to secure the ship. You want us to get to the bridge and engineering and destroy them.'
'Yes I do, but I have no intention of dying here. There is a way to get off this ship and it is risky. It hasn't been tried by anyone other than Lieutenant Torres on Voyager five years ago but it's the only way. The Pytheas will have to be extremely close to the control ship to get us off.'
'I'm going to make sure we succeed. The rest is up to you,' Snowcroft promised and Parker switched back to the team comm line as they climbed up the starboard forward service shaft.
USS Pytheas
Kursican system
Stardate 55434.1 (June 8, 2378)
Lieutenant Parker was putting her helmet on when Astar entered transporter room one. The other five members of her team were already in their stealth suits and she couldn't even tell who they were, but would be able to once the heads-up display on her helmet was activated. In transporter room two, Faragas and his team were also gearing up for the insertion. Their timing needed to be perfect which was why the computer had been programmed to transport them as soon as the Cha'lav control ship's shields were down. They needed just four seconds for the sequence to complete—and she hoped it was going to be enough.
'Are you ready, Lieutenant?'
'Yes sir, we should begin the tachyon run now.'
'The rest of the fleet are in position, delta formation, and Captain Logan is ready to defend the starbase,' Astar told her security chief. 'We'll take point in formation and then break to fire the tachyon pulses. Once we start, you can be sure the Cha'lav will attack us without mercy.'
Parker nodded her agreement. 'Show them the same consideration, Captain.'
'Of that you can have no doubt,' the captain replied and turned on her heel.
'Sound off,' Parker ordered her team.
'All systems functioning normally,' Hoya said, the Benzite sounding breathless through the suit.
'All green,' Snowcroft added.
'All systems are go,' zh'Velan chimed in.
'My suit is fine,' D'rass hissed.
'All good, Lieutenant,' Yuri Delco replied.
'Faragas, are your people all set?'
'Yes sir, all suits are green.'
'Parker to Astar, we're ready down here.'
'Acknowledged, bridge out.'
Parker waited, knowing that she would be unlikely to feel the tachyon pulses being fired and that the first moment she'd know it was successful was when the computer beamed her team onto the Cha'lav ship. She didn't have to wait long. The formation had already been on the move when they started to get into their suits. The transporter cycled up and her team dematerialised from the Pytheas' transporter pad, materialising inside a cargo bay on the cavernous control ship.
'Weapons hot, set to kill,' Parker ordered. 'Move out.'
Taking point, she led her six-person team into the corridor. They encountered no resistance and she used hand signals to direct them. Heading along the corridor toward the forward part of the ship, they found a trio of Insectoid security guards on patrol and took them out before they could fire a shot. Unfortunately, an crewman passed by and let out a shriek. Snowcroft silenced him but the alarm had been raised and a klaxon sounded across the ship. Parker knew the Cha'lav couldn't use the gas trick they had done once before because there were too many people and they were in the middle of a battle, so she guessed they would just beam more security personnel into the section.
'Incoming,' D'rass hissed and pounced on a guard just as he finished materialising.
The falling guard scattered the others who had no idea what they were shooting at and started firing blindly hoping to hit something.
'Everybody down low and fire,' Snowcroft said and the others followed her lead, crouching or just hitting the deck and firing their phasers or phaser rifles.
The six remaining guards were taken out quickly but more materialised. 'We have to get out of this section or we're going to get pinned down,' Delco muttered as he fired three shots in quick succession.
The phaser rifles were capable of firing pulses or beams and he had his in pulse mode, which seemed to be more effective. 'Pulse mode, everybody,' Parker ordered as she rose and moved forward. 'We need to get off this deck. There should be a service hatch fifty metres ahead.'
'We're going to have to work for it,' Snowcroft said as another phalanx appeared in front of them.
The six of them fired continuously as they stepped forward, changing position so the guards couldn't hit them but it was inevitable that one would get hit and D'rass took a blast on his suit which immediately failed. He stumbled and fell, ripped off his useless helmet and jumped into the fray before Parker could stop him. His suit had prevented the kill shot from being fatal but it still hurt and the suit smouldered from the burn.
'Careful with your fire.'
Snowcroft and Delco stepped aside from each other and took out the guards trying to flank them just another slammed into Delco. Before Snowcroft could change position, the guard lifted Delco off the ground and snapped his neck. Snowcroft used her rifle as a club and sent the guard sprawling before she finished him off with a pulse blast and turned to the others still fighting.
'Maria, stop!' Parker yelled.
Snowcroft did not heed the warning and fired continuously at anything that moved. Guards and crewmen who couldn't scramble out of the way fast enough all fell before her rifle as she almost single-handedly cleared the path to the service hatch.
'All clear,' she turned to face Parker as the others approached.
'We'll be back for him,' Parker promised on a person-to-person comm.
'No we won't,' the cadet replied angrily. 'This is a suicide mission and you know it. As long as we take out the control ship our job is done. We're security and we're expendable.'
'How did you know?' Parker asked as they stepped through the hatch and began climbing.
'This ship can hold over four thousand people. Twelve security officers will not be enough to secure the ship. You want us to get to the bridge and engineering and destroy them.'
'Yes I do, but I have no intention of dying here. There is a way to get off this ship and it is risky. It hasn't been tried by anyone other than Lieutenant Torres on Voyager five years ago but it's the only way. The Pytheas will have to be extremely close to the control ship to get us off.'
'I'm going to make sure we succeed. The rest is up to you,' Snowcroft promised and Parker switched back to the team comm line as they climbed up the starboard forward service shaft.
Snowcroft's inability to restrain herself may have done a lot of damage to the Cha'lav now, just as it did to the Cardassians in the Mirror Universe--but what happens if someday she is so drunk on her bloodlust that she can't tell friend from foe? She also seems to have some problems following the chain of command...it looks like commitment, but if she were to ever turn against her team leader if she thought they weren't moving quick enough or decisive enough for her, that could present a major problem as well.
And I can't wait to see what their plan for getting off the ship is, if they succeed in capturing the Cha'lav captain!
And I can't wait to see what their plan for getting off the ship is, if they succeed in capturing the Cha'lav captain!
If you have ever watched the Voyager episode Scorpion, you'll know how they do it.
As for Snowcroft, the bloodrage is not total, she is still aware of friend or foe in a limited fashion, though this will come out when I reveal her other parentage.
It's been a long time since I've seen Voyager...I guess I'll have to go to Wikipedia and look it up.
Chapter Eight
Cha'lav Control Ship
Kursican system
Stardate 55434.1 (June 8, 2378)
Faragas and his team materialised in the auxiliary maintenance bay. There was no one on duty repairing any fighters or shuttles and he used hand signals to make his team split up. Two teams of three, one to exit the bay on the upper level and one team to exit on the lower level, increasing their chances of survival and mission completion. Cadet Jenak, Crewmen Richardson and th'Hakin took the upper level while Crewmen Zinkin and Ballantine joined Faragas by the doors on the lower level.
Faragas raised a hand and the six burst out into the corridors, stunning a dozen crewmen who were going about their business. A moment later, as they headed service hatches at the end of the corridors, klaxons sounded and the Chelon realised that his superior was in trouble. Unfortunately he wasn't going to be able to help her unless he was able to take engineering and shut down the warp core, which would make the ship go to auxiliary power and severely limit it's ability to help in the fight. He could only herd his people through the ship and make sure they did their part, but be ready to take the bridge or reroute control if necessary.
'Let's go, this section is going to be flooded with gas or guards in less than a minute.'
'Unlikely, sir,' Zinkin said. 'Parker's team will be keeping the security forces busy while we get to engineering. They won't have expected two infiltration teams.'
'She's got a point, boss,' Ballantine agreed. 'The faster we get there, the less likely they are to notice us.'
'All right. Richardson, take your team down the port service shaft to the aft section of the upper engineering deck. I'll take my team through the starboard shaft to the forward section of main engineering.'
'Aye sir.'
The open com-link meant that he could hear all the orders given by his team, but not by Parker's. They'd decided on different frequencies just in case they were caught and their equipment used for counter-espionage. Faragas entered the service shaft last, and then swung the hatch back into place. The size of the ship was good for him considering his size compared to a Starfleet ship, he didn't need to duck through doorways or hug the wall if other large officers were walking by.
'Sir, this hatch is welded shut,' Richardson told him almost half an hour later. 'They're going to hear us if we try and burn through.'
'Go down to main engineering and we'll the forward and aft sections at the same time.'
'What if those hatches are sealed as well?'
'We'll blow them.'
'Aye sir,' Richardson replied with a chuckle.
The alarm klaxon stopped and Faragas wondered for a brief moment whether or not Parker's team had been captured. Then he held on tight as an explosion rocked the ship. He had no way of telling whether that came from a hull breach due to the battle raging outside, or if Parker and her team had blown up a section of the ship to throw off their pursuers.
'We're in position,' Richardson called.
'As are we,' Faragas replied. 'The hatches are sealed here as well. We'll have to blow them. Set the charges.'
'Who seals an escape route from engineering?' Jenak asked. 'Unless they're using slave labour.'
'That's unlikely, considering the possibility of sabotage or mutiny,' the Chelon countered.
'Charges set,' th'Hakin said. 'Detonation in five.'
Five seconds later, both teams flooded engineering as the doors blew inward. Using their heads-up displays, they were able to see the bewildered engineers and soldiers and took them all out with a heavy stun. Disruptor fire from above melted the deck where it hit and they dived for cover. The suits had been shorted out by proximity to the explosion.
'Set to kill,' Faragas ordered and everyone changed settings.
Well aimed shots took out three soldiers on the upper level but Richardson was felled by a pulse that melted his insides instantly. Th'Hakin and Jenak lay down covering fire for each other as they moved around engineering and took out two more guards. Faragas, Zinkin and Ballantine were mostly hidden from view and took turns taking pot shots at the soldiers on the upper level who moved into view to get a better line of sight on their near-invisible attackers.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Jenak and th'Hakin climbed to the upper level and took out the rest of the soldiers, leaving just bewildered engineers who cowered under consoles. Surprisingly, none of them had tried to sound the alarm.
'All clear up here,' Jenak said.
'Get these engineers secure and seal us in here,' Faragas said. 'th'Hakin, I want you to start entering the commands Lieutenant Parker gave you. The sooner this ship is shut down, the better.'
'Aye sir,' the Andorian thaan replied as he reached one of the main consoles. 'Blast doors are coming down now. Shut-down sequence should take approximately three minutes. We should disable the auxiliary systems as well.'
'Do it.'
He watched as his remaining three team members herded the engineers into the chief's office and sealed them in. In a large area such as this, only eleven engineers were on duty. It was a disquietingly small number, but this was the main engineering facility on the ship, so the astrometric scans told them.
'Sir, there's a problem,' th'Hakin said. 'My commands are being overridden from the bridge.'
'Go to plan B,' Faragas replied, having expected this issue.
Th'Hakin nodded sagely and took out his phaser, aiming it at the engineering console.
'Wait!' one of the engineers cried out. 'You can disable the warp core over there. It's an emergency shut-down.'
'How do I know you're not lying?'
'I'd rather be a prisoner of war than dead,' the engineer replied and the others agreed.
'You heard the man,' Faragas said, indicating the console the engineer had pointed to. 'What species are you?'
'Cha'lav-Primate, low caste,' he shrugged. 'Small enough for manual labour.'
Faragas snorted in derision.
'Shut-down in progress,' the Andorian said with a grin just before a blast from a hidden soldier disintegrated him.
Cha'lav Control Ship
Kursican system
Stardate 55434.1 (June 8, 2378)
Faragas and his team materialised in the auxiliary maintenance bay. There was no one on duty repairing any fighters or shuttles and he used hand signals to make his team split up. Two teams of three, one to exit the bay on the upper level and one team to exit on the lower level, increasing their chances of survival and mission completion. Cadet Jenak, Crewmen Richardson and th'Hakin took the upper level while Crewmen Zinkin and Ballantine joined Faragas by the doors on the lower level.
Faragas raised a hand and the six burst out into the corridors, stunning a dozen crewmen who were going about their business. A moment later, as they headed service hatches at the end of the corridors, klaxons sounded and the Chelon realised that his superior was in trouble. Unfortunately he wasn't going to be able to help her unless he was able to take engineering and shut down the warp core, which would make the ship go to auxiliary power and severely limit it's ability to help in the fight. He could only herd his people through the ship and make sure they did their part, but be ready to take the bridge or reroute control if necessary.
'Let's go, this section is going to be flooded with gas or guards in less than a minute.'
'Unlikely, sir,' Zinkin said. 'Parker's team will be keeping the security forces busy while we get to engineering. They won't have expected two infiltration teams.'
'She's got a point, boss,' Ballantine agreed. 'The faster we get there, the less likely they are to notice us.'
'All right. Richardson, take your team down the port service shaft to the aft section of the upper engineering deck. I'll take my team through the starboard shaft to the forward section of main engineering.'
'Aye sir.'
The open com-link meant that he could hear all the orders given by his team, but not by Parker's. They'd decided on different frequencies just in case they were caught and their equipment used for counter-espionage. Faragas entered the service shaft last, and then swung the hatch back into place. The size of the ship was good for him considering his size compared to a Starfleet ship, he didn't need to duck through doorways or hug the wall if other large officers were walking by.
'Sir, this hatch is welded shut,' Richardson told him almost half an hour later. 'They're going to hear us if we try and burn through.'
'Go down to main engineering and we'll the forward and aft sections at the same time.'
'What if those hatches are sealed as well?'
'We'll blow them.'
'Aye sir,' Richardson replied with a chuckle.
The alarm klaxon stopped and Faragas wondered for a brief moment whether or not Parker's team had been captured. Then he held on tight as an explosion rocked the ship. He had no way of telling whether that came from a hull breach due to the battle raging outside, or if Parker and her team had blown up a section of the ship to throw off their pursuers.
'We're in position,' Richardson called.
'As are we,' Faragas replied. 'The hatches are sealed here as well. We'll have to blow them. Set the charges.'
'Who seals an escape route from engineering?' Jenak asked. 'Unless they're using slave labour.'
'That's unlikely, considering the possibility of sabotage or mutiny,' the Chelon countered.
'Charges set,' th'Hakin said. 'Detonation in five.'
Five seconds later, both teams flooded engineering as the doors blew inward. Using their heads-up displays, they were able to see the bewildered engineers and soldiers and took them all out with a heavy stun. Disruptor fire from above melted the deck where it hit and they dived for cover. The suits had been shorted out by proximity to the explosion.
'Set to kill,' Faragas ordered and everyone changed settings.
Well aimed shots took out three soldiers on the upper level but Richardson was felled by a pulse that melted his insides instantly. Th'Hakin and Jenak lay down covering fire for each other as they moved around engineering and took out two more guards. Faragas, Zinkin and Ballantine were mostly hidden from view and took turns taking pot shots at the soldiers on the upper level who moved into view to get a better line of sight on their near-invisible attackers.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Jenak and th'Hakin climbed to the upper level and took out the rest of the soldiers, leaving just bewildered engineers who cowered under consoles. Surprisingly, none of them had tried to sound the alarm.
'All clear up here,' Jenak said.
'Get these engineers secure and seal us in here,' Faragas said. 'th'Hakin, I want you to start entering the commands Lieutenant Parker gave you. The sooner this ship is shut down, the better.'
'Aye sir,' the Andorian thaan replied as he reached one of the main consoles. 'Blast doors are coming down now. Shut-down sequence should take approximately three minutes. We should disable the auxiliary systems as well.'
'Do it.'
He watched as his remaining three team members herded the engineers into the chief's office and sealed them in. In a large area such as this, only eleven engineers were on duty. It was a disquietingly small number, but this was the main engineering facility on the ship, so the astrometric scans told them.
'Sir, there's a problem,' th'Hakin said. 'My commands are being overridden from the bridge.'
'Go to plan B,' Faragas replied, having expected this issue.
Th'Hakin nodded sagely and took out his phaser, aiming it at the engineering console.
'Wait!' one of the engineers cried out. 'You can disable the warp core over there. It's an emergency shut-down.'
'How do I know you're not lying?'
'I'd rather be a prisoner of war than dead,' the engineer replied and the others agreed.
'You heard the man,' Faragas said, indicating the console the engineer had pointed to. 'What species are you?'
'Cha'lav-Primate, low caste,' he shrugged. 'Small enough for manual labour.'
Faragas snorted in derision.
'Shut-down in progress,' the Andorian said with a grin just before a blast from a hidden soldier disintegrated him.
So the doors of engineering are permanently sealed off--and these guys are low-caste...are they just sealed in there for the duration of the voyage, knowing they'll die if they screw up?
And I wonder about that hidden soldier--an ambush, methinks!
And I wonder about that hidden soldier--an ambush, methinks!
Chapter Nine
Command and Control Centre
Cha'lav Control Ship
Stardate 55434.1 (June 8, 2378)
'General, internal security has been compromised!' the Tactician cried out. 'We have intruders on deck twenty-seven and main engineering does not respond to commands.'
'Send soldiers, and keep your mind on the battle,' the Cha'lav-Reptilian leader replied absently. 'These Federation people and their pathetic allies should be no match for our might, and yet we are losing ships faster than they are.'
'The half-breed knows our weak points. She has been helping them,' the Tactician responded. 'You should have just destroyed the Federation vessel.'
'Perhaps, but I need to know what they know. Prepare a boarding party.'
'I will need to divert soldiers from the search for the intruders.'
The General finally turned to look at the pathetic Insectoid. 'Where are the soldiers?'
The Insectoid tactician shrank bank. 'Protecting the Andorian on her cruiser, General. As you asked.'
'You left us with little defence, you insufferable fool. Go, I want you to personally see to the capture of the intruders.'
The Insectoid nodded and headed for the exit when the doors blew inward, rocking the ship and splattering him across the deck. Five aliens in black suits entered the command centre and fired at everyone by a console, felling them instantly. The one in front took off her helmet.
'General, I believe you know who I am.'
The ageing Reptilian attempted to stand but two of the suited figures stepped forward, weapons raised. 'What do you want, half-breed?'
'I want you to order your ships back into the Voidspace and leave this sector, and this galaxy.'
'I don't take orders from you,' he replied with a smile and then turned to his own command console. 'I see that engineering is now under your control. That won't last long.'
'Keep your claws where I can see them, General.'
'I think your time has just about run out,' he said as he entered a sequence of commands faster than her eye could see. One of the black suited figures fired at the console and the General screeched, grasping the stump of his wrist. 'You will pay for that.'
The figure pulled off its helmet. 'Consider that a down payment on my revenge.'
'Snowcroft, stand down.'
'Aye sir.'
'Now, where were we?' Parker asked sweetly. 'Oh yes, your surrender.'
'Never!'
A klaxon sounded and a male computer voice intoned. 'Shields inoperative. Weapons systems offline. Main power failing.'
'You did this!' the General said.
'Yes, order your fleet to stand down.'
'Computer, signal the fleet to commence pattern black,' he said. 'Now watch everything you have worked for crumble to dust.'
'Acknowledged.'
Snowcroft headed for a console and looked up at Parker. 'The Cha'lav are heading for the starbase. There's no way it can stop the whole fleet.'
Parker nodded and touched a control on her suit. 'Faragas, how you doing down there?'
'We're all clear, sir.'
'I want you to scuttle the ship. Signal the Pytheas for beam out when you're ready.'
'Sir?'
'Code Angelo, Ensign.'
'Aye sir, Faragas out.'
'So I am to die at your hand? You are the animals we believed you to be.'
'You're not dying at all,' Snowcroft said as she stepped forward. 'You're coming with us.'
'I would rather die.'
'That's as it may be,' Parker replied. 'But you will be taken aboard our ship and held as a prisoner of war. Signal the evacuation if you care at all for your crew.'
The General looked at her for a moment and then used his good claw to tap out a single command. 'There.'
'All crewmembers to assigned evacuation pods,' the computer voice informed them. 'This vessel will self destruct in seven minutes.'
'Satisfied?'
'For now.'
Parker smiled as the transporter beam took her people and one prisoner. She rematerialised on the Pytheas transporter pad and three security officers were waiting for her. They took the General into custody and she quickly stepped down as Astar entered the room.
'Captain, a successful trip.'
'So I see, the database has also been completely downloaded. Where are the fleet going?'
'To take out the starbase,' she replied. 'We need to get there first.'
'I'll order all ships to fall back to the starbase. You did a good job.'
'I lost one, and I don't know how many Faragas lost.'
'We have a high-level prisoner for Madden to interrogate and we've destroyed two control ships and over half their fleet. I'd say that was good going.'
'Sir, these thirty odd ships represent only about half the total number they have in the galaxy. Hopefully the database will provide more information on where the other ones are.'
'Where do you think they are?'
'I think that Andraprani is leading them somewhere.'
'The Delta Quadrant is where she's supposed to be headed.'
'The rest of the Cha'lav ships are probably with her then,' Parker replied.
'Gonzales to Astar.'
'Yes, Commander?'
'Priority one from Captain Logan, sir. He says that three cruisers are on an attack vector and there are more heading in.'
'Plot a warp jump to take us just outside weapons range of the starbase, Commander. I'll be there momentarily. I think it's time we used the missiles.'
'Aye sir, I'll prep them for launch. Gonzales out.'
'I guess we have another battle to wage,' Astar muttered. 'Get yourselves checked out and then return to your assigned station.'
'Aye sir.'
As Astar returned to the bridge, Faragas entered and she knew he'd lost someone. 'I'm sorry, Lieutenant.'
'Who?'
'Richardson and th'Hakin.'
'Did we recover their bodies?'
'I've got Richardson's, but th'Hakin was disintegrated.'
Parker sighed. 'His killer?'
'Jenak put some holes in him.'
'Both our cadets performed extremely well today. I'm putting them both in for commendations.'
'Bitter sweet,' Faragas murmured.
'Come on, let's get ourselves checked out. We might have more work to do today.'
'Are we expecting trouble on Kursica?'
'I think the Cha'lav may land ground troops. We're going to have to lead as many people as we can against them.'
'The Cha'lav are starting to itch my beak.'
Parker grinned a little. 'Well, you know what to do then.'
Command and Control Centre
Cha'lav Control Ship
Stardate 55434.1 (June 8, 2378)
'General, internal security has been compromised!' the Tactician cried out. 'We have intruders on deck twenty-seven and main engineering does not respond to commands.'
'Send soldiers, and keep your mind on the battle,' the Cha'lav-Reptilian leader replied absently. 'These Federation people and their pathetic allies should be no match for our might, and yet we are losing ships faster than they are.'
'The half-breed knows our weak points. She has been helping them,' the Tactician responded. 'You should have just destroyed the Federation vessel.'
'Perhaps, but I need to know what they know. Prepare a boarding party.'
'I will need to divert soldiers from the search for the intruders.'
The General finally turned to look at the pathetic Insectoid. 'Where are the soldiers?'
The Insectoid tactician shrank bank. 'Protecting the Andorian on her cruiser, General. As you asked.'
'You left us with little defence, you insufferable fool. Go, I want you to personally see to the capture of the intruders.'
The Insectoid nodded and headed for the exit when the doors blew inward, rocking the ship and splattering him across the deck. Five aliens in black suits entered the command centre and fired at everyone by a console, felling them instantly. The one in front took off her helmet.
'General, I believe you know who I am.'
The ageing Reptilian attempted to stand but two of the suited figures stepped forward, weapons raised. 'What do you want, half-breed?'
'I want you to order your ships back into the Voidspace and leave this sector, and this galaxy.'
'I don't take orders from you,' he replied with a smile and then turned to his own command console. 'I see that engineering is now under your control. That won't last long.'
'Keep your claws where I can see them, General.'
'I think your time has just about run out,' he said as he entered a sequence of commands faster than her eye could see. One of the black suited figures fired at the console and the General screeched, grasping the stump of his wrist. 'You will pay for that.'
The figure pulled off its helmet. 'Consider that a down payment on my revenge.'
'Snowcroft, stand down.'
'Aye sir.'
'Now, where were we?' Parker asked sweetly. 'Oh yes, your surrender.'
'Never!'
A klaxon sounded and a male computer voice intoned. 'Shields inoperative. Weapons systems offline. Main power failing.'
'You did this!' the General said.
'Yes, order your fleet to stand down.'
'Computer, signal the fleet to commence pattern black,' he said. 'Now watch everything you have worked for crumble to dust.'
'Acknowledged.'
Snowcroft headed for a console and looked up at Parker. 'The Cha'lav are heading for the starbase. There's no way it can stop the whole fleet.'
Parker nodded and touched a control on her suit. 'Faragas, how you doing down there?'
'We're all clear, sir.'
'I want you to scuttle the ship. Signal the Pytheas for beam out when you're ready.'
'Sir?'
'Code Angelo, Ensign.'
'Aye sir, Faragas out.'
'So I am to die at your hand? You are the animals we believed you to be.'
'You're not dying at all,' Snowcroft said as she stepped forward. 'You're coming with us.'
'I would rather die.'
'That's as it may be,' Parker replied. 'But you will be taken aboard our ship and held as a prisoner of war. Signal the evacuation if you care at all for your crew.'
The General looked at her for a moment and then used his good claw to tap out a single command. 'There.'
'All crewmembers to assigned evacuation pods,' the computer voice informed them. 'This vessel will self destruct in seven minutes.'
'Satisfied?'
'For now.'
Parker smiled as the transporter beam took her people and one prisoner. She rematerialised on the Pytheas transporter pad and three security officers were waiting for her. They took the General into custody and she quickly stepped down as Astar entered the room.
'Captain, a successful trip.'
'So I see, the database has also been completely downloaded. Where are the fleet going?'
'To take out the starbase,' she replied. 'We need to get there first.'
'I'll order all ships to fall back to the starbase. You did a good job.'
'I lost one, and I don't know how many Faragas lost.'
'We have a high-level prisoner for Madden to interrogate and we've destroyed two control ships and over half their fleet. I'd say that was good going.'
'Sir, these thirty odd ships represent only about half the total number they have in the galaxy. Hopefully the database will provide more information on where the other ones are.'
'Where do you think they are?'
'I think that Andraprani is leading them somewhere.'
'The Delta Quadrant is where she's supposed to be headed.'
'The rest of the Cha'lav ships are probably with her then,' Parker replied.
'Gonzales to Astar.'
'Yes, Commander?'
'Priority one from Captain Logan, sir. He says that three cruisers are on an attack vector and there are more heading in.'
'Plot a warp jump to take us just outside weapons range of the starbase, Commander. I'll be there momentarily. I think it's time we used the missiles.'
'Aye sir, I'll prep them for launch. Gonzales out.'
'I guess we have another battle to wage,' Astar muttered. 'Get yourselves checked out and then return to your assigned station.'
'Aye sir.'
As Astar returned to the bridge, Faragas entered and she knew he'd lost someone. 'I'm sorry, Lieutenant.'
'Who?'
'Richardson and th'Hakin.'
'Did we recover their bodies?'
'I've got Richardson's, but th'Hakin was disintegrated.'
Parker sighed. 'His killer?'
'Jenak put some holes in him.'
'Both our cadets performed extremely well today. I'm putting them both in for commendations.'
'Bitter sweet,' Faragas murmured.
'Come on, let's get ourselves checked out. We might have more work to do today.'
'Are we expecting trouble on Kursica?'
'I think the Cha'lav may land ground troops. We're going to have to lead as many people as we can against them.'
'The Cha'lav are starting to itch my beak.'
Parker grinned a little. 'Well, you know what to do then.'
Chapter Ten
Starbase 535
Kursican system
Stardate 55434.2 (June 8, 2378)
'Three cruisers on approach vector,' Lieutenant Commander Ryan McNamara said as he stared at the Core, the table in Ops where everything happened. 'They will be in weapons range in less than ten minutes.'
'Send a message to Captain Astar, I need some ships back here now,' Logan replied.
'The rest of the Cha'lav fleet are five minutes behind them. Our ships will be here momentarily.'
Logan sighed. 'Red alert, seal the Vault, raise shields and prepare for battle.'
'Should we warn the Kursicans?' McNamara asked.
'Open a channel to Regent Juhstraffe, gold channel.'
'Aye sir, channel open.'
'Regent, I need you to get everyone inside their homes and get security to every major population centre. We have a major battle going on up here and I don't want your people to get hurt.'
Juhstraffe appeared on the main Ops screen. 'Thank you for the warning, Captain, but I have already taken steps to protect my people. I also have a surprise for you.'
'Sir, six vessels are approaching from the far side of the first moon,' McNamara said with surprise.
'Regent?'
'My fleet, Captain, at your service and ready to defend the Kursican people.'
'Thank you, Regent. Be safe,' Logan said and cut the channel himself. 'Ryan, have them form a ring around the starbase, equidistant from one another.'
'Defensive pattern echo-seven, aye sir.'
'Time to weapons range?'
'Four minutes,' he replied and then glanced at his readouts. 'The Pytheas just arrived with the Ditagh, the Gilded Talon and the Independence. The other ships are taking the Cha'lav from behind and slowing them down.'
'I guess we're about to see just how much of a pounding this place can take.'
'Yes sir, all weapons systems are charged and ready.'
'As soon as the Cha'lav are in range, lock targets and fire at will.'
'Yes sir, two minutes to weapons range. The Kursican ships have broken formation, sir. They're going after the cruisers, two a piece.'
'On screen. Give them covering fire.'
The four screens in Ops lit up and showed the battle raging. The Kursican vessels were hammering the Cha'lav cruisers but were barely holding their own. They just didn't have the firepower to make enough of a difference. The Starfleet ships had now joined the battle and were loosing their quantum torpedoes and devastating barrages of phaser fire at the cruisers. A quartet of destroyers entered the fray followed by the Everest and the Ynelavii ships, excluding the Oxelus, which had to fall back.
'Sir, the destroyers are heading this way, they've broken through the Ynelavii line.'
'Even numbered launchers, fire!'
Logan watched as two dozen torpedoes hurtled toward the destroyers. One was destroyed, one lost shields and the other two kept coming.
'Odd numbered launchers, fire!'
The third destroyer exploded but the fourth kept coming, even though it was breaking apart.
'Sound collision alarms,' Logan ordered as huge fragments peppered the shields. 'Where's that second destroyer?'
'Heading for the planet.'
'Take it out, phaser and disruptor banks, fire!'
The second destroyer wobbled and then blew apart, fragments heading through the atmosphere.
'That was too close, Commander,' Logan said as the starbase shook slightly. 'What the hell was that?'
'Fighters, Captain. They're attacking the shield emitters directly with strafing runs. They're too close to get a lock.'
'Who's out there?' the captain asked, trying to see through all the debris flying around.
'The Independence is leading the shuttles against the fighters. The Everest, the Ditagh and the majority of the allied ships are keeping the bulk of the remaining ships away. The Pytheas, the Gilded Talon and the rest are assisting the Kursican ships against the cruisers.'
Logan watched the battle unfold as McNamara fired with every clear shot he had. The three Cha'lav cruisers had taken out half the Kursican ships and two more Ynelavii Cooperative vessels. The Pytheas suddenly executed a bizarre manoeuvre and almost rammed one cruiser, which exploded as the Pytheas flew through the expanding debris cloud. The Everest took a couple of torpedoes to the hull and fell back, out of the battle and one of the two remaining cruisers made a suicide run at the Gilded Talon. Both vessels exploding in the upper atmosphere of Kursica.
Another wing of fighters broke through the rear lines and destroyed the Jarvis and the Babylon before commencing their attack runs on the starbase itself. The Independence, the Scobee, the Onizuka and the Giza took up flanking positions and took out the fighters as they approached the starbase.
'What in God's name is that?' Logan asked, pointing to the central screen, where the largest Cha'lav vessel yet seen just dropped out of warp.
'That must be where the new fighters just came from.'
'I need whatever we have focussed on that monstrosity,' Logan ordered.
'This is McNamara to all ships, focus your fire on that behemoth,' he said and then paused. 'Look, they're leaving.'
Logan watched in utter surprise as the remaining Cha'lav vessels flocked to the enormous ship, entered gigantic shuttlebays and then there was a single blinding flash of light which shook the starbase to its core. When the screens reset, the ship was gone.
'I want to know what our losses were. Did you get much on sensors?'
'I got plenty,' McNamara said and looked up in shock. 'Captain Drummond is gone, sir. Everything is gone. Every physical piece of Cha'lav technology and the corpses we have. It's all gone.'
'Check with the Pytheas and see if their prisoner has gone. In the meantime, start the clean-up operation. There's a lot of debris out there. Ask Juhstraffe where, if anywhere, those hull fragments landed. We'll have to get rid of those as well.'
'Aye sir. Captain Astar reports that her prisoner was not taken. It appears as though we were the target of the transporter beam. Damage reports are starting to come in. Our losses were sixty percent but the Cha'lav fared worse.'
'See if you can get through to Madden. I saw the Everest take a pounding.'
There was a pregnant pause before McNamara responded. When he looked up, his face told the story. 'The Everest is gone, sir.'
'What do you mean, gone?'
'The crew of the Oxelus saw that Behemoth beam it up.'
Starbase 535
Kursican system
Stardate 55434.2 (June 8, 2378)
'Three cruisers on approach vector,' Lieutenant Commander Ryan McNamara said as he stared at the Core, the table in Ops where everything happened. 'They will be in weapons range in less than ten minutes.'
'Send a message to Captain Astar, I need some ships back here now,' Logan replied.
'The rest of the Cha'lav fleet are five minutes behind them. Our ships will be here momentarily.'
Logan sighed. 'Red alert, seal the Vault, raise shields and prepare for battle.'
'Should we warn the Kursicans?' McNamara asked.
'Open a channel to Regent Juhstraffe, gold channel.'
'Aye sir, channel open.'
'Regent, I need you to get everyone inside their homes and get security to every major population centre. We have a major battle going on up here and I don't want your people to get hurt.'
Juhstraffe appeared on the main Ops screen. 'Thank you for the warning, Captain, but I have already taken steps to protect my people. I also have a surprise for you.'
'Sir, six vessels are approaching from the far side of the first moon,' McNamara said with surprise.
'Regent?'
'My fleet, Captain, at your service and ready to defend the Kursican people.'
'Thank you, Regent. Be safe,' Logan said and cut the channel himself. 'Ryan, have them form a ring around the starbase, equidistant from one another.'
'Defensive pattern echo-seven, aye sir.'
'Time to weapons range?'
'Four minutes,' he replied and then glanced at his readouts. 'The Pytheas just arrived with the Ditagh, the Gilded Talon and the Independence. The other ships are taking the Cha'lav from behind and slowing them down.'
'I guess we're about to see just how much of a pounding this place can take.'
'Yes sir, all weapons systems are charged and ready.'
'As soon as the Cha'lav are in range, lock targets and fire at will.'
'Yes sir, two minutes to weapons range. The Kursican ships have broken formation, sir. They're going after the cruisers, two a piece.'
'On screen. Give them covering fire.'
The four screens in Ops lit up and showed the battle raging. The Kursican vessels were hammering the Cha'lav cruisers but were barely holding their own. They just didn't have the firepower to make enough of a difference. The Starfleet ships had now joined the battle and were loosing their quantum torpedoes and devastating barrages of phaser fire at the cruisers. A quartet of destroyers entered the fray followed by the Everest and the Ynelavii ships, excluding the Oxelus, which had to fall back.
'Sir, the destroyers are heading this way, they've broken through the Ynelavii line.'
'Even numbered launchers, fire!'
Logan watched as two dozen torpedoes hurtled toward the destroyers. One was destroyed, one lost shields and the other two kept coming.
'Odd numbered launchers, fire!'
The third destroyer exploded but the fourth kept coming, even though it was breaking apart.
'Sound collision alarms,' Logan ordered as huge fragments peppered the shields. 'Where's that second destroyer?'
'Heading for the planet.'
'Take it out, phaser and disruptor banks, fire!'
The second destroyer wobbled and then blew apart, fragments heading through the atmosphere.
'That was too close, Commander,' Logan said as the starbase shook slightly. 'What the hell was that?'
'Fighters, Captain. They're attacking the shield emitters directly with strafing runs. They're too close to get a lock.'
'Who's out there?' the captain asked, trying to see through all the debris flying around.
'The Independence is leading the shuttles against the fighters. The Everest, the Ditagh and the majority of the allied ships are keeping the bulk of the remaining ships away. The Pytheas, the Gilded Talon and the rest are assisting the Kursican ships against the cruisers.'
Logan watched the battle unfold as McNamara fired with every clear shot he had. The three Cha'lav cruisers had taken out half the Kursican ships and two more Ynelavii Cooperative vessels. The Pytheas suddenly executed a bizarre manoeuvre and almost rammed one cruiser, which exploded as the Pytheas flew through the expanding debris cloud. The Everest took a couple of torpedoes to the hull and fell back, out of the battle and one of the two remaining cruisers made a suicide run at the Gilded Talon. Both vessels exploding in the upper atmosphere of Kursica.
Another wing of fighters broke through the rear lines and destroyed the Jarvis and the Babylon before commencing their attack runs on the starbase itself. The Independence, the Scobee, the Onizuka and the Giza took up flanking positions and took out the fighters as they approached the starbase.
'What in God's name is that?' Logan asked, pointing to the central screen, where the largest Cha'lav vessel yet seen just dropped out of warp.
'That must be where the new fighters just came from.'
'I need whatever we have focussed on that monstrosity,' Logan ordered.
'This is McNamara to all ships, focus your fire on that behemoth,' he said and then paused. 'Look, they're leaving.'
Logan watched in utter surprise as the remaining Cha'lav vessels flocked to the enormous ship, entered gigantic shuttlebays and then there was a single blinding flash of light which shook the starbase to its core. When the screens reset, the ship was gone.
'I want to know what our losses were. Did you get much on sensors?'
'I got plenty,' McNamara said and looked up in shock. 'Captain Drummond is gone, sir. Everything is gone. Every physical piece of Cha'lav technology and the corpses we have. It's all gone.'
'Check with the Pytheas and see if their prisoner has gone. In the meantime, start the clean-up operation. There's a lot of debris out there. Ask Juhstraffe where, if anywhere, those hull fragments landed. We'll have to get rid of those as well.'
'Aye sir. Captain Astar reports that her prisoner was not taken. It appears as though we were the target of the transporter beam. Damage reports are starting to come in. Our losses were sixty percent but the Cha'lav fared worse.'
'See if you can get through to Madden. I saw the Everest take a pounding.'
There was a pregnant pause before McNamara responded. When he looked up, his face told the story. 'The Everest is gone, sir.'
'What do you mean, gone?'
'The crew of the Oxelus saw that Behemoth beam it up.'
Now just HOW big was the Everest?? If it's as big as I'm thinking it is, that makes Gul Berat's maneuver during the Dominion War look like child's play!!!
And Captain Drummond is gone? Was this before he died completely, or was he still hanging on? I seem to recall something about his life support being cut off...
And Captain Drummond is gone? Was this before he died completely, or was he still hanging on? I seem to recall something about his life support being cut off...
The Everest is a Defiant-class ship. The Behemoth is more like the size of Earth Spacedock lying on its side, since it has the capability to dock almost every Cha'lav vessel except the control ships.
They still had his corpse in stasis, prior to shipping back to Earth.
Ooooh, interesting...makes me wonder if perhaps the Behemoth pulled an Imperial Star Destroyer and now has the Everest INSIDE it.
(Oh, and for a size comparison--considering I was dealing with the smaller version of the Hidekiy-class, the more runabout-like version, this is VERY impressive for what it says about Cha'lav power sources and technology!)
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