Good luck...be safe!
Pytheas 1x07 - Broken Bridges
- Thread starter BrotherBenny
- Start date
Hey guys, I'm all moved in and while I have a few minutes I thought I'd post something.
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Chapter Six
Therin Park
Laibok, Andor
Stardate 55592.9 (August 5, 2378)
The Chancellor had reluctantly granted Shar full access to the planet's construction industry in order to uncover the other three sites, and after three solid weeks of de-construction, Therin Park looked like a building site. The Andorian Imperial Guard were standing watch and keeping tourists away from the area as fifty metres below the park itself was the top of another crystalline pyramid. Archaeologists had been crawling over the Tower Hill pyramid and confirmed that it was the Temple of Uzaveh the Infinite. The Therin Park temple was a third smaller and the landscapers were expanding the dig site to completely uncover the pyramid.
Shar confided to Talen that he didn't want to wait that long. It would take weeks or months to completely uncover the temple in the middle of the capital city. Shar looked at the captain standing beside him. 'Sir, do you think that we'd be able to use the transporters to get inside?'
'Can tricorders scan past the exterior?'
'Yes sir.'
'Then the transporters should be able to find a beam in point. Do you know what to expect?'
'The archaeologists exploring the Temple of Uzaveh have been mapping everything as they go along and I would expect this temple, though smaller, to be similar in design. Talen and I will go in alone to see if we can find what was hidden in the genome.'
'I assume you have permission?'
'The Chancellor granted me full access to the other temples now that she knows what I'm looking for.'
'You told her?' th'Dolus was surprised.
Shar shot a dark look at his companion, standing a few metres away. 'Talen ignored me and told her everything. She didn't think it was likely we'd find anything more than the temple but thought it was interesting.'
'I see. Talen doesn't care about the glory like you do, Shar. He just wants to solve the genetic crisis.'
'As do I, Captain, but I have a reputation to uphold.'
'And the fact that the Chancellor is looking for a new chief scientific advisor hasn't entered into it? Believe me, Talen will be going back to his ship when he's done here. He hasn't entered an application to her office.'
Shar smiled. 'Excellent.'
'I notice you haven't either.'
'I want to see what the temples turn up.'
'The Director of the Institute of Archaeology has, maybe you should get it in now.'
'Good idea,' Shar muttered. 'Can you arrange for the transporter coordinates, sir?'
'Of course.'
Shar ran off and Talen walked over. 'Has he gone to put in his application?'
Th'Dolus smiled. 'How did you know that little trick would work.'
'I know glory hunters like him. He craves the recognition. The Chancellor would be assured re-election if she were to appoint him as her science advisor, considering his practical knowledge of genetics, history and archaeology.'
'Why are you here, Talen?' th'Dolus asked.
'I believe that the answer to the crisis lies in our DNA, and if the temples yield the answer, then I can find a mate, and not three.'
'You don't want a Sheltreth?'
'The Genome Project hasn't been able to find anything for me yet, because of my Aenar heritage. I'm too Aenar for the Andorians, and too Andorian for the Aenar.'
'And if the crisis is solved, you won't have that worry.'
'Exactly, sir.'
'A commendable plan, Lieutenant.'
'Thank you, sir.'
'I'll be back shortly,' th'Dolus said and stepped away as he tapped his combadge.
Talen turned back to the work on the site as more antigrav trucks moved away carrying tons of soil from the park. The top of the temple had been uncovered the day before and the diggers moving the topsoil away before using industrial phasers to vaporise the lower levels of soil to uncover more of the temple. At current estimates, it would be another month before the temple was completely uncovered. Talen had two more sites to uncover and four artefacts to find before leaving Andor and heading back to his ship.
Shar returned a little while later and the captain joined them again. 'The transporter coordinates are set,' he told them. 'The sensors were able to find you a cavern at the base of the pyramid, some kind of large open space. There should be plenty of room but I don't know what you're going to find. The team at Tower Hill found nothing at their coordinates.'
'Thank you, Captain,' Shar replied. 'You ready, Talen?'
Talen held up his tricorder, torch, phaser and satchel with a number of containers. 'Ready.'
Shar tapped his combadge. 'Shar to Laikan, two to transport into the temple.'
'Stand by, Thirishar,' the transporter operator replied.
A moment later they materialised in the open room at the base of the pyramid, three hundred and sixty metres below Therin Park. Talen switched on his torch and then took a step forward as the light played on the crystalline surface. A barely audible hum filled the air around them and the crystal lit up from within, negating the need for torches.
'There was no report from Tower Hill about this,' Shar muttered as the light level neared daylight.
'According to the quantum dating, this structure is about two centuries newer than the Tower Hill temple, but still several thousand years old. It was built later, and probably has a few improvements in the design,' Talen said.
'Are you detecting any traps?'
'Nothing at the moment, but we should be careful.'
'I'd like to know what happened to the knowledge about building with these crystals,' Shar said, approaching what appeared to be the central point.
'Shar, what are those crystals for?' Talen asked, scanning one of a number of crystals in some kind of tray with the tricorder. 'They've got liquid crystal inside, possibly some kind of information storage?'
'They look like they slot into here,' Shar pointed to an opening of a crystalline growth in the centre.
'Put one in there.'
Shar hesitated for a few seconds and then picked one up, slotting into the opening. A blinding light filled the room and a holographic figure appeared in front of them. It was clearly Andorian, and looked muscular. He wore the traditional dress of ancient times, complete with shield and sword.
'It's Thirishar,' Talen whispered.
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Chapter Six
Therin Park
Laibok, Andor
Stardate 55592.9 (August 5, 2378)
The Chancellor had reluctantly granted Shar full access to the planet's construction industry in order to uncover the other three sites, and after three solid weeks of de-construction, Therin Park looked like a building site. The Andorian Imperial Guard were standing watch and keeping tourists away from the area as fifty metres below the park itself was the top of another crystalline pyramid. Archaeologists had been crawling over the Tower Hill pyramid and confirmed that it was the Temple of Uzaveh the Infinite. The Therin Park temple was a third smaller and the landscapers were expanding the dig site to completely uncover the pyramid.
Shar confided to Talen that he didn't want to wait that long. It would take weeks or months to completely uncover the temple in the middle of the capital city. Shar looked at the captain standing beside him. 'Sir, do you think that we'd be able to use the transporters to get inside?'
'Can tricorders scan past the exterior?'
'Yes sir.'
'Then the transporters should be able to find a beam in point. Do you know what to expect?'
'The archaeologists exploring the Temple of Uzaveh have been mapping everything as they go along and I would expect this temple, though smaller, to be similar in design. Talen and I will go in alone to see if we can find what was hidden in the genome.'
'I assume you have permission?'
'The Chancellor granted me full access to the other temples now that she knows what I'm looking for.'
'You told her?' th'Dolus was surprised.
Shar shot a dark look at his companion, standing a few metres away. 'Talen ignored me and told her everything. She didn't think it was likely we'd find anything more than the temple but thought it was interesting.'
'I see. Talen doesn't care about the glory like you do, Shar. He just wants to solve the genetic crisis.'
'As do I, Captain, but I have a reputation to uphold.'
'And the fact that the Chancellor is looking for a new chief scientific advisor hasn't entered into it? Believe me, Talen will be going back to his ship when he's done here. He hasn't entered an application to her office.'
Shar smiled. 'Excellent.'
'I notice you haven't either.'
'I want to see what the temples turn up.'
'The Director of the Institute of Archaeology has, maybe you should get it in now.'
'Good idea,' Shar muttered. 'Can you arrange for the transporter coordinates, sir?'
'Of course.'
Shar ran off and Talen walked over. 'Has he gone to put in his application?'
Th'Dolus smiled. 'How did you know that little trick would work.'
'I know glory hunters like him. He craves the recognition. The Chancellor would be assured re-election if she were to appoint him as her science advisor, considering his practical knowledge of genetics, history and archaeology.'
'Why are you here, Talen?' th'Dolus asked.
'I believe that the answer to the crisis lies in our DNA, and if the temples yield the answer, then I can find a mate, and not three.'
'You don't want a Sheltreth?'
'The Genome Project hasn't been able to find anything for me yet, because of my Aenar heritage. I'm too Aenar for the Andorians, and too Andorian for the Aenar.'
'And if the crisis is solved, you won't have that worry.'
'Exactly, sir.'
'A commendable plan, Lieutenant.'
'Thank you, sir.'
'I'll be back shortly,' th'Dolus said and stepped away as he tapped his combadge.
Talen turned back to the work on the site as more antigrav trucks moved away carrying tons of soil from the park. The top of the temple had been uncovered the day before and the diggers moving the topsoil away before using industrial phasers to vaporise the lower levels of soil to uncover more of the temple. At current estimates, it would be another month before the temple was completely uncovered. Talen had two more sites to uncover and four artefacts to find before leaving Andor and heading back to his ship.
Shar returned a little while later and the captain joined them again. 'The transporter coordinates are set,' he told them. 'The sensors were able to find you a cavern at the base of the pyramid, some kind of large open space. There should be plenty of room but I don't know what you're going to find. The team at Tower Hill found nothing at their coordinates.'
'Thank you, Captain,' Shar replied. 'You ready, Talen?'
Talen held up his tricorder, torch, phaser and satchel with a number of containers. 'Ready.'
Shar tapped his combadge. 'Shar to Laikan, two to transport into the temple.'
'Stand by, Thirishar,' the transporter operator replied.
A moment later they materialised in the open room at the base of the pyramid, three hundred and sixty metres below Therin Park. Talen switched on his torch and then took a step forward as the light played on the crystalline surface. A barely audible hum filled the air around them and the crystal lit up from within, negating the need for torches.
'There was no report from Tower Hill about this,' Shar muttered as the light level neared daylight.
'According to the quantum dating, this structure is about two centuries newer than the Tower Hill temple, but still several thousand years old. It was built later, and probably has a few improvements in the design,' Talen said.
'Are you detecting any traps?'
'Nothing at the moment, but we should be careful.'
'I'd like to know what happened to the knowledge about building with these crystals,' Shar said, approaching what appeared to be the central point.
'Shar, what are those crystals for?' Talen asked, scanning one of a number of crystals in some kind of tray with the tricorder. 'They've got liquid crystal inside, possibly some kind of information storage?'
'They look like they slot into here,' Shar pointed to an opening of a crystalline growth in the centre.
'Put one in there.'
Shar hesitated for a few seconds and then picked one up, slotting into the opening. A blinding light filled the room and a holographic figure appeared in front of them. It was clearly Andorian, and looked muscular. He wore the traditional dress of ancient times, complete with shield and sword.
'It's Thirishar,' Talen whispered.
I can't wait to see if they get a message from this!
And another thought just popped into my mind. The Federation stooge who's helping the Cha'lav is Andorian. Can't help wondering...
And another thought just popped into my mind. The Federation stooge who's helping the Cha'lav is Andorian. Can't help wondering...
Sorry for the long break, RL has been interfering, but here's the next part...
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Chapter Seven
Ancient Temple
Under Therin Park, Andor
Stardate 55593.0 (August 5, 2378)
'I am Thirishar, Guardian of the Temples of Uzaveh. Are you worthy to enter the Temple of Zheusal, second of the heirs to the Throne of Secrets?'
Talen stood in shock as Shar stepped forward. 'I am Thirishar ch'Thane. I wish an audience with Zheusal.'
The Guardian looked down. 'You are not Zhen. Only bonded Zhens may enter the Temple of Zheusal,' he told them before he disappeared.
Shar turned to face Talen. 'I'm outside the Sheltreth window. You're not. I'll get the project working hard on your bond. Only when the bond is ready can the four of you enter the temples, probably at the same time. This is going to take longer than I thought.'
'I'm glad I took an extended leave,' Talen replied. 'This could take a while.'
Shar nodded. 'Where's the next site?'
'The Khyzhon Sea,' Talen answered. 'The temple—most likely Shanchen's—is probably an island or even underwater.'
'Why Shanchen's?'
'Because she had the water spirit to guide her, as Zheusal had the earth to protect her.'
Shar nodded. 'We should leave everything here. Shar to Laikan.'
'Go ahead,' Commander zh'Share replied.
'We're ready to go to the next site, the Khyzhon sea.'
'Captain th'Dolus is currently meeting with the Chancellor. When he's done we'll go. Prepare for transport.'
Zh'Share was waiting for them in the transporter room.
'Can the Captain not meet us there?' Talen asked once he finished materialising.
'Is there a problem, sir?' Shar asked.
'Yes, there is. A group of people broke into the Tower Hill temple a few moments ago and stole a number of artefacts. The Imperial Guardsmen were killed and the entrance damaged. We may have to call in reinforcements to keep looters out.'
'Damn, we should have foreseen this,' Shar muttered.
'Are the crystals safe?' Talen asked.
'They are for now, until the entrance is uncovered,' Shar said, and at zh'Share's sharp look, he explained what they found. 'I think Charaleas' Temple is at Tower Hill, the uppermost part which is the best place to see the stars. Thirizaz' Temple is in the Northern Wastes somewhere, near one of the largest volcanoes.'
'Incoming transport, sir,' the operator said and th'Dolus materialised.
'Sir?' zh'Share asked.
'The Imperial Reserves are being called up and the temple sites are being cordoned off. Authorised personnel only, which includes the four of us, the Chancellor and the commanding officers of the local Guardsmen.'
Shar filled the captain in on what they had found and what needed to happen before anything would be solved. He nodded and gestured for them to join him on the bridge. On the walk, he explained to them that unless they were able to produce results, the Chancellor would hand the project to someone else.
'She'll probably hand it off to th'Toraz. The man has a singular talent for getting results, by ignoring protocol and getting people killed. I doubt that she'll like his methods, and it will sour her re-election campaign.'
'Then find something, quickly,' the captain said.
'We still have two more sites to find and investigate,' Talen replied. 'And I need a Sheltreth before we can all enter the Temples.'
'If you're right,' zh'Share muttered.
'He is,' Shar said as they reached the bridge.
'Helm, take us to the Khyzhon sea. Shar, feed the helm your coordinates. The sooner we get this done, the better.'
'Aye sir.'
It took a few minutes for the ship to change position but as they did so, Shar and Talen bombarded the small ocean with the primary sensors, looking for the crystalline pyramid which would mark the location of Shanchen's temple.
'Bring up the exact coordinates on the viewscreen,' Talen said. 'Scan down to the seabed.'
'Nothing there.'
'It must be buried in the crust itself, increase sensor strength, penetrate the crust.'
A few seconds later, Shar gasped. 'There it is, buried in the crust, only the very tip is above. Is it intact? Can it have survived the rising sea levels.'
'According to the sensors, the dimensions are the same as Zheusal's temple.'
'We need to get down there and see if it is one piece. I can't tell from up here, the sensors are being blocked by something'
'No transporters then.'
'No, we'll have to take a shuttle down there.'
'Gentlemen, it will several days to outfit one of our shuttles for aquatic operations. Is there nothing you can tell me from up here?' th'Dolus asked.
'No sir,' Shar answered. 'If you will let me speak to the Chancellor, I will explain the situation in full and I'm sure she'll allow us the time we need.'
Th'Dolus sighed. 'Come with me. Zh'Share, get engineering to work on one of the shuttles.'
'Aye sir.'
Talen leaned back as the viewscreen image was enhanced to see the tip of the temple. He wondered what technology was used to build such an immense structure and whether it would be possible to recreate it. Downloading his tricorder's data into the main computer, he looked again at the elements which made up the crystal structure. His initial theory was incorrect, and a closer look elicited a gasp of surprise, which no one on the bridge heard. The elemental structure of the crystal was comprised of carbon and another, unknown, element. Theoretically, this unknown element could revolutionise synthesis and if bonded with dilithium, could even make synthetic dilithium as potent as the naturally-occurring substance.
Talen turned back to the viewscreen as Shar the captain emerged from the ready room. 'What did the Chancellor say?'
'The election is three months away. We have that long to provide concrete proof to her that we can do something about the genetic crisis, or she hands it to somebody else.'
'How soon can the shuttle be ready, Captain?' Talen asked.
Zh'Share answered. 'If the engineers work around the clock, it can be ready in eighteen hours, twenty-two at the most.'
'Then all we can do is wait,' Talen muttered.
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Chapter Seven
Ancient Temple
Under Therin Park, Andor
Stardate 55593.0 (August 5, 2378)
'I am Thirishar, Guardian of the Temples of Uzaveh. Are you worthy to enter the Temple of Zheusal, second of the heirs to the Throne of Secrets?'
Talen stood in shock as Shar stepped forward. 'I am Thirishar ch'Thane. I wish an audience with Zheusal.'
The Guardian looked down. 'You are not Zhen. Only bonded Zhens may enter the Temple of Zheusal,' he told them before he disappeared.
Shar turned to face Talen. 'I'm outside the Sheltreth window. You're not. I'll get the project working hard on your bond. Only when the bond is ready can the four of you enter the temples, probably at the same time. This is going to take longer than I thought.'
'I'm glad I took an extended leave,' Talen replied. 'This could take a while.'
Shar nodded. 'Where's the next site?'
'The Khyzhon Sea,' Talen answered. 'The temple—most likely Shanchen's—is probably an island or even underwater.'
'Why Shanchen's?'
'Because she had the water spirit to guide her, as Zheusal had the earth to protect her.'
Shar nodded. 'We should leave everything here. Shar to Laikan.'
'Go ahead,' Commander zh'Share replied.
'We're ready to go to the next site, the Khyzhon sea.'
'Captain th'Dolus is currently meeting with the Chancellor. When he's done we'll go. Prepare for transport.'
Zh'Share was waiting for them in the transporter room.
'Can the Captain not meet us there?' Talen asked once he finished materialising.
'Is there a problem, sir?' Shar asked.
'Yes, there is. A group of people broke into the Tower Hill temple a few moments ago and stole a number of artefacts. The Imperial Guardsmen were killed and the entrance damaged. We may have to call in reinforcements to keep looters out.'
'Damn, we should have foreseen this,' Shar muttered.
'Are the crystals safe?' Talen asked.
'They are for now, until the entrance is uncovered,' Shar said, and at zh'Share's sharp look, he explained what they found. 'I think Charaleas' Temple is at Tower Hill, the uppermost part which is the best place to see the stars. Thirizaz' Temple is in the Northern Wastes somewhere, near one of the largest volcanoes.'
'Incoming transport, sir,' the operator said and th'Dolus materialised.
'Sir?' zh'Share asked.
'The Imperial Reserves are being called up and the temple sites are being cordoned off. Authorised personnel only, which includes the four of us, the Chancellor and the commanding officers of the local Guardsmen.'
Shar filled the captain in on what they had found and what needed to happen before anything would be solved. He nodded and gestured for them to join him on the bridge. On the walk, he explained to them that unless they were able to produce results, the Chancellor would hand the project to someone else.
'She'll probably hand it off to th'Toraz. The man has a singular talent for getting results, by ignoring protocol and getting people killed. I doubt that she'll like his methods, and it will sour her re-election campaign.'
'Then find something, quickly,' the captain said.
'We still have two more sites to find and investigate,' Talen replied. 'And I need a Sheltreth before we can all enter the Temples.'
'If you're right,' zh'Share muttered.
'He is,' Shar said as they reached the bridge.
'Helm, take us to the Khyzhon sea. Shar, feed the helm your coordinates. The sooner we get this done, the better.'
'Aye sir.'
It took a few minutes for the ship to change position but as they did so, Shar and Talen bombarded the small ocean with the primary sensors, looking for the crystalline pyramid which would mark the location of Shanchen's temple.
'Bring up the exact coordinates on the viewscreen,' Talen said. 'Scan down to the seabed.'
'Nothing there.'
'It must be buried in the crust itself, increase sensor strength, penetrate the crust.'
A few seconds later, Shar gasped. 'There it is, buried in the crust, only the very tip is above. Is it intact? Can it have survived the rising sea levels.'
'According to the sensors, the dimensions are the same as Zheusal's temple.'
'We need to get down there and see if it is one piece. I can't tell from up here, the sensors are being blocked by something'
'No transporters then.'
'No, we'll have to take a shuttle down there.'
'Gentlemen, it will several days to outfit one of our shuttles for aquatic operations. Is there nothing you can tell me from up here?' th'Dolus asked.
'No sir,' Shar answered. 'If you will let me speak to the Chancellor, I will explain the situation in full and I'm sure she'll allow us the time we need.'
Th'Dolus sighed. 'Come with me. Zh'Share, get engineering to work on one of the shuttles.'
'Aye sir.'
Talen leaned back as the viewscreen image was enhanced to see the tip of the temple. He wondered what technology was used to build such an immense structure and whether it would be possible to recreate it. Downloading his tricorder's data into the main computer, he looked again at the elements which made up the crystal structure. His initial theory was incorrect, and a closer look elicited a gasp of surprise, which no one on the bridge heard. The elemental structure of the crystal was comprised of carbon and another, unknown, element. Theoretically, this unknown element could revolutionise synthesis and if bonded with dilithium, could even make synthetic dilithium as potent as the naturally-occurring substance.
Talen turned back to the viewscreen as Shar the captain emerged from the ready room. 'What did the Chancellor say?'
'The election is three months away. We have that long to provide concrete proof to her that we can do something about the genetic crisis, or she hands it to somebody else.'
'How soon can the shuttle be ready, Captain?' Talen asked.
Zh'Share answered. 'If the engineers work around the clock, it can be ready in eighteen hours, twenty-two at the most.'
'Then all we can do is wait,' Talen muttered.
Damn! I was hoping to get some answers...I wonder if they'll be able to find someone soon who can get answers?
BTW, what do you see as the nature of the Andorian bond? Do you see there being some sort of telepathy involved? Or, to put it in clinical terms, will the Guardian be looking for evidence of intercourse to determine if they're bonded?
BTW, what do you see as the nature of the Andorian bond? Do you see there being some sort of telepathy involved? Or, to put it in clinical terms, will the Guardian be looking for evidence of intercourse to determine if they're bonded?
BrotherBenny,
Just got caught up on this. A pretty good story so far and you've come up with an interesting mystery on Andor. One of my favorite things about the DS9 relaunch was their take on the Andorians and I think you've done a good job taking what they've written and adding to it. You've got a real affinity for the Andorians and their culture. I also love your Andorian names.
Also like the use of the Gibraltar, and you're doing some interesting things with the ENT races.
Just got caught up on this. A pretty good story so far and you've come up with an interesting mystery on Andor. One of my favorite things about the DS9 relaunch was their take on the Andorians and I think you've done a good job taking what they've written and adding to it. You've got a real affinity for the Andorians and their culture. I also love your Andorian names.
Also like the use of the Gibraltar, and you're doing some interesting things with the ENT races.
The Guardian can tell whether they are bonded or not, but I didn't go into details in this story. I may expand on the repurcussions in later stories.
Thanks. I'm using my own methodology for Andorian names but keeping them in line with the DS9-R. As for the Gibraltar and the Xindi, i'm glad you're enjoying them.
Still a fascinating mystery.
I was a bit surprised to learn that it would take them this long to outfit a shuttle for underwater activity. Wasn't it straight forward to have the same done to the Delta Flyer in the Voyager episode with the water planet? I could be mistaken.
I was a bit surprised to learn that it would take them this long to outfit a shuttle for underwater activity. Wasn't it straight forward to have the same done to the Delta Flyer in the Voyager episode with the water planet? I could be mistaken.
Chapter Eight
USS Gibraltar
The Delphic Expanse
Stardate 55629.7 (August 18, 2378)
Lieutenant Commander Sheena Gonzales stood at the tactical console behind the captain's chair and marvelled at the fact that this old ship was still in service. The ship had been through more refits and repairs than any other vessel of its class and could still outperform some of the newer vessels Starfleet was churning out in the wake of the Dominion War. According to the latest communiques from Command, the Corps of Engineers were subtly defying the President's standing orders and building plenty of new ships, far more than were strictly needed to patrol the Federation's borders.
Gonzales sighed and hoped that the recently-released knowledge of the Cha'lav, the Amon and the small number of vessels that seemed to be entered the Alpha and Beta Quadrants from the Delta Quadrant would convince Satie that Starfleet needed a more powerful presence. Not only to show the second- and third-tier powers that they were still a force to contend with, but to show any newcomers that Starfleet was not toothless, no matter how much they had been through. It was the main reason that she had prepared the exhaustive report on the Cha'lav for the Heads of Starfleet Tactical and Starfleet Intelligence, not to mention the Commander-in-Chief as well. Her ruminations were interrupted by an alert from her console.
'Captain, we're approaching the North Star system and I'm detecting two Xindi vessels on an intercept course. One Skagaran vessel is moving to intercept.'
Astar sighed and stood up. 'Open hailing frequencies. I want to speak to all of them.'
'Channel open.'
'This is Captain Leza Astar of the Federation starship Gibraltar. We have been granted access to the Federation Embassy on North Star by an envoy of the Xindi Empire. To the Skagaran vessel, as a representative of the the Federation, I order you to stand down immediately. To the Xindi vessels, if you attack I will consider it an act of hostility and respond accordingly. Astar out.'
'An interesting gambit,' Epstein said.
'You disapprove?'
He shrugged. 'Not entirely, but I don't think such a threat will endear you to the Xindi and make them listen to you.'
She looked him square in the eye and said simply, 'it wasn't a threat.'
'Sir?'
'North Star is a human colony ceded to the Skagarans when they joined the Federation. The Xindi have annexed it. I'm not of a disposition to kowtow to them. If they attack, we'll respond.'
Epstein nodded and whispered his reply. 'I object to your behaviour in this matter, Captain, and will note it in my log.'
She nodded and turned to Weston. 'Helm, bring us into a standard orbit of North Star.'
'Captain, I tend to agree with your exec,' Logan whispered into her ear.
She turned to her unwanted chaperon. 'That is as it may be, but you're an observer and have no standing in this mission. Go file a report or something,' she replied and turned to her tactical officer. 'Gonzales, contact the Federation Embassy. I want to know who and what we're dealing with down there.'
'Aye sir,' the tactical officer replied. 'I have Ambassador Francis MacReady on the channel.'
'Put her through.'
A red-haired woman appeared on the screen, wearing clothing that almost certainly came from what Gonzales would call the Old West on Earth. It appeared that even over the last two hundred years, these people had not evolved much past what Captain Archer had reported, at least in terms of clothing.
'Ambassador, can you tell me what is happening down there?'
'Not on an open channel, Captain. Feel free to bring a shuttle down and we'll talk.'
'We've got transporter technology. It will be faster.'
MacReady shook her head. 'There's a transport shield over the capital, Captain. The Xindi don't trust us or the Skags.'
Astar nodded. 'I will bring my first officer and chief of security, is that acceptable?'
'It is, please land at these exact coordinates. I can't promise a safe landing anywhere else.'
'Acknowledged, Ambassador. We'll join you shortly.'
The channel closed and Epstein headed for the turbolift, tapping his combadge as he did so. 'Lieutenant Parker, meet me in the main shuttlebay.'
'On my way.'
'Gonzales, you have the bridge. We're taking the Heyerdahl. See if you can find where that transport shield is coming from. We may need to take it down.'
'Yes ma'am. I'm already scanning for it.'
Astar smiled. 'Excellent. I'll contact you as soon as we land,' she added as she entered the turbolift. 'Captain Logan, are you coming?'
'I'll remain on board if you don't mind, Captain Astar.'
'What is she planning?' Weston asked.
'That depends on what she learns,' Gonzales answered. 'But don't be surprised if we end up in a fire fight because the Xindi don't see things her way.'
Weston sighed. 'Why can't I be on a ship that explores the galaxy and doesn't get shot at every five minutes?'
'Because then you'd be bored, sir,' Ensign Paul Venn, the operations officer chimed in with a grin on his young face.
Weston snorted. 'Yeah, but I'd be more likely to stay alive.'
Logan stared at Gonzales as she allowed the banter to continue. He made a note on his ever-present padd. She was not cut out for command, not even for short periods. Better she returned to Starfleet Tactical.
'Shuttlebay to bridge, we're ready to depart.'
'Acknowledged, Captain. Bay doors opening. Good luck.'
The bridge officers watched as the Heyerdahl left the ship and descended toward the atmosphere.
'I have a really bad feeling about this,' Weston said at the exact moment Gonzales lost contact with the shuttle.
'I wish you hadn't said that,' she replied and stabbed her console with an angry finger. 'Gibraltar to Heyerdahl. Come in, Captain.'
Weston turned to face his own console again. 'I'm not picking them up on visual scanners. Where'd they go?'
'I have no idea,' Gonzales replied and tapped her station. 'Red alert, all hands to battle stations. All senior personnel report to your stations.'
'What's going on?' Xeris called from engineering.
'The Captain's shuttle disappeared,' Gonzales replied as the turbolift doors opened and replacement bridge personnel emerged.
'By the Elements, what now?' Xeris cursed as Gonzales took the command chair, leaving the tactical station to her replacement.
'I wish I knew,' the tactical officer and acting captain answered, stealing a glance at a stoic-visaged Logan.
USS Gibraltar
The Delphic Expanse
Stardate 55629.7 (August 18, 2378)
Lieutenant Commander Sheena Gonzales stood at the tactical console behind the captain's chair and marvelled at the fact that this old ship was still in service. The ship had been through more refits and repairs than any other vessel of its class and could still outperform some of the newer vessels Starfleet was churning out in the wake of the Dominion War. According to the latest communiques from Command, the Corps of Engineers were subtly defying the President's standing orders and building plenty of new ships, far more than were strictly needed to patrol the Federation's borders.
Gonzales sighed and hoped that the recently-released knowledge of the Cha'lav, the Amon and the small number of vessels that seemed to be entered the Alpha and Beta Quadrants from the Delta Quadrant would convince Satie that Starfleet needed a more powerful presence. Not only to show the second- and third-tier powers that they were still a force to contend with, but to show any newcomers that Starfleet was not toothless, no matter how much they had been through. It was the main reason that she had prepared the exhaustive report on the Cha'lav for the Heads of Starfleet Tactical and Starfleet Intelligence, not to mention the Commander-in-Chief as well. Her ruminations were interrupted by an alert from her console.
'Captain, we're approaching the North Star system and I'm detecting two Xindi vessels on an intercept course. One Skagaran vessel is moving to intercept.'
Astar sighed and stood up. 'Open hailing frequencies. I want to speak to all of them.'
'Channel open.'
'This is Captain Leza Astar of the Federation starship Gibraltar. We have been granted access to the Federation Embassy on North Star by an envoy of the Xindi Empire. To the Skagaran vessel, as a representative of the the Federation, I order you to stand down immediately. To the Xindi vessels, if you attack I will consider it an act of hostility and respond accordingly. Astar out.'
'An interesting gambit,' Epstein said.
'You disapprove?'
He shrugged. 'Not entirely, but I don't think such a threat will endear you to the Xindi and make them listen to you.'
She looked him square in the eye and said simply, 'it wasn't a threat.'
'Sir?'
'North Star is a human colony ceded to the Skagarans when they joined the Federation. The Xindi have annexed it. I'm not of a disposition to kowtow to them. If they attack, we'll respond.'
Epstein nodded and whispered his reply. 'I object to your behaviour in this matter, Captain, and will note it in my log.'
She nodded and turned to Weston. 'Helm, bring us into a standard orbit of North Star.'
'Captain, I tend to agree with your exec,' Logan whispered into her ear.
She turned to her unwanted chaperon. 'That is as it may be, but you're an observer and have no standing in this mission. Go file a report or something,' she replied and turned to her tactical officer. 'Gonzales, contact the Federation Embassy. I want to know who and what we're dealing with down there.'
'Aye sir,' the tactical officer replied. 'I have Ambassador Francis MacReady on the channel.'
'Put her through.'
A red-haired woman appeared on the screen, wearing clothing that almost certainly came from what Gonzales would call the Old West on Earth. It appeared that even over the last two hundred years, these people had not evolved much past what Captain Archer had reported, at least in terms of clothing.
'Ambassador, can you tell me what is happening down there?'
'Not on an open channel, Captain. Feel free to bring a shuttle down and we'll talk.'
'We've got transporter technology. It will be faster.'
MacReady shook her head. 'There's a transport shield over the capital, Captain. The Xindi don't trust us or the Skags.'
Astar nodded. 'I will bring my first officer and chief of security, is that acceptable?'
'It is, please land at these exact coordinates. I can't promise a safe landing anywhere else.'
'Acknowledged, Ambassador. We'll join you shortly.'
The channel closed and Epstein headed for the turbolift, tapping his combadge as he did so. 'Lieutenant Parker, meet me in the main shuttlebay.'
'On my way.'
'Gonzales, you have the bridge. We're taking the Heyerdahl. See if you can find where that transport shield is coming from. We may need to take it down.'
'Yes ma'am. I'm already scanning for it.'
Astar smiled. 'Excellent. I'll contact you as soon as we land,' she added as she entered the turbolift. 'Captain Logan, are you coming?'
'I'll remain on board if you don't mind, Captain Astar.'
'What is she planning?' Weston asked.
'That depends on what she learns,' Gonzales answered. 'But don't be surprised if we end up in a fire fight because the Xindi don't see things her way.'
Weston sighed. 'Why can't I be on a ship that explores the galaxy and doesn't get shot at every five minutes?'
'Because then you'd be bored, sir,' Ensign Paul Venn, the operations officer chimed in with a grin on his young face.
Weston snorted. 'Yeah, but I'd be more likely to stay alive.'
Logan stared at Gonzales as she allowed the banter to continue. He made a note on his ever-present padd. She was not cut out for command, not even for short periods. Better she returned to Starfleet Tactical.
'Shuttlebay to bridge, we're ready to depart.'
'Acknowledged, Captain. Bay doors opening. Good luck.'
The bridge officers watched as the Heyerdahl left the ship and descended toward the atmosphere.
'I have a really bad feeling about this,' Weston said at the exact moment Gonzales lost contact with the shuttle.
'I wish you hadn't said that,' she replied and stabbed her console with an angry finger. 'Gibraltar to Heyerdahl. Come in, Captain.'
Weston turned to face his own console again. 'I'm not picking them up on visual scanners. Where'd they go?'
'I have no idea,' Gonzales replied and tapped her station. 'Red alert, all hands to battle stations. All senior personnel report to your stations.'
'What's going on?' Xeris called from engineering.
'The Captain's shuttle disappeared,' Gonzales replied as the turbolift doors opened and replacement bridge personnel emerged.
'By the Elements, what now?' Xeris cursed as Gonzales took the command chair, leaving the tactical station to her replacement.
'I wish I knew,' the tactical officer and acting captain answered, stealing a glance at a stoic-visaged Logan.
Well, Astar still certainly acts like a loose cannon, doesn't she? Whether she's doing this because she's already in so much hot water from everything else that she doesn't care, or whether it's a calculated act, I'm not entirely sure, but she's definitely playing a risky game here, both with the Skagarans and Xindi, AND with the crew she's working with (who seems not to trust her all that much).
And now a vanishing shuttle. This is SO not good.
And now a vanishing shuttle. This is SO not good.
Chapter Nine
Shuttlecraft Heyerdahl
North Star colony
Stardate 55629.8 (August 18, 2378)
Lieutenant K'Tyra Parker was thrown from the pilot's seat the moment the shuttle entered the atmosphere. By the time she reached the controls again, the shuttle was in free fall, hurtling toward the surface at a speed which would instantly kill the three of them. A quick glance told her that both Astar and Epstein were unconscious on the deck, but she couldn't help them until they were safely on the ground. She tried to angle the shuttle back toward the upper atmosphere but found she couldn't. The main computer was offline so she grabbed a tricorder from under the console and looked at the readouts. There was an energy field enveloping the upper atmosphere, and they were caught in some kind of tractor beam which was pulling them down to the surface. Fortunately, she located the source of the beam and fired the shuttle's phasers, neutralising it with a surgical strike, and most likely killing whoever was manning the device. Parker grabbed the console as the shuttle's momentum carried it on the wind and it took her several precious seconds to regain control.
'Ambassador MacReady, this is Lieutenant Parker of the Gibraltar, please come in.'
'Is there a problem, Lieutenant?'
'Yes ma'am. The captain and first officer have been injured, and an energy field is preventing us from returning to the ship. There is also an energy field around the city, preventing me from landing the shuttle at your coordinates. I need an alternative landing site.'
'I'm sorry, Lieutenant. The only other safe landing point is the spaceport outside the capital. It will be along walk to the Embassy and not a very safe one.'
'What happened? Where did that energy field come from?' Parker as she angled the Heyerdahl toward the spaceport.
'The energy field is a Xindi weapon designed to protect the planet from orbital bombardment. I don't know why they activated it. I'll speak with the Xindi Governor in a moment.'
'Thank you, Ambassador; Parker out.'
Parker didn't believe a word of it and was sure that there would be a contingent of armed Xindi waiting for them the moment they stepped out the shuttle. Now that she was sure she wasn't going to be fired at, she activated the autopilot and went to check on the others, medkit in hand. A brief scan confirmed that both Astar and Epstein were fine, with no concussion or other injury. They had both been knocked unconscious by the activation of the energy field. Parker administered each of them a dose of inaprovaline, an all-purpose stimulant/curative.
'What happened?' Astar asked as she woke, and Parker filled her in as Epstein came to. 'You think she's lying?'
'I think she's involved in what happened, yes. She seemed far too calm about it. And I'm pretty sure the Xindi governor was in the room as well. Just a gut feeling though.'
Astar sat down and held her head for a moment. 'How long before we land?'
'About two minutes, then we have a walk into town if there aren't Xindi soldiers waiting for us.'
'There will be,' Epstein said. 'It appears that we've stumbled into one of their frequent internecine squabbles. The Xindi races are always trying to outdo one another and everyone else gets caught in the crossfire.'
Astar looked at him. 'Not this time. Whatever happens, no one is going to get caught in the crossfire. At this moment in time I would be quite happy to get every human being off the planet, kick the Skagarans out the Federation, and leave the Expanse to the Xindi.'
'Can we get everyone off the surface?'
'The Gibraltar was outfitted as an emergence evacuation ship during its last refit. It can hold 2000 comfortably.'
'There were six thousand people when Captain Archer visited two hundred years ago, wouldn't there be more now?'
'There would be, had the Xindi not annexed the planet. I'm guessing about a third were killed.'
'That still leaves 4-5000 depending on population growth. A lot more than we can handle.'
'The Skagarans will help. They are Federation members.'
'They don't act like it.'
'So we'll teach them, or my recommendation to the President will be to remove them.'
Epstein nodded and Parker could see that he didn't like Astar's musings. 'I thought you Starfleet types always tried diplomacy first?'
Astar sighed. 'It might not look like it, Commander. But I've had first hand knowledge of Xindi behaviour. I know how they think and act. Diplomacy rarely works. They like evidence and action and I intend to show them that the Federation doesn't take kindly to their planets being annexed. The Skagarans should have notified us of this when it happened, or before if they knew it was going to. It doesn't look good for them at the moment.'
'We're landing,' Parker said. 'And there are eleven armed Xindi waiting for us. I hate being right.'
'What do we do?' Epstein asked.
'You tell me, Commander.'
'We can't fight, not without being attacked first.'
'We were,' Parker muttered.
'You don't know that, Lieutenant. You're speculating. We can't run, not with that energy field in place.'
'So?'
'We allow ourselves to be taken prisoner. Find out what is happening and attempt escape.'
'Brilliant logic,' Parker said sarcastically.
'He's right, Lieutenant. Once we're inside, we'll be able to tell who we can trust and who we can't. Who's involved and who isn't. In the meantime, Gonzales will be hammering the ears of anyone who'll listen about blasting the energy field into particles and rescuing us.'
'A sound plan,' the security chief replied. 'But I don't see it working,' she added as the shuttle touched down.
Astar stepped out the shuttle into hot sunshine covering the spaceport in a shimmering haze. Epstein followed, passing his commanding officer a phaser, and then Parker, who aimed her phaser rifle at the Xindi.
'Lieutenant?'
'I won't make it easy for them. They've probably been told to take us alive. I'll do the same. It's set to stun.'
She sighed. 'Fine.'
A Xindi-Reptilian stepped up to them. 'Drop your weapons and come with us.'
'And you are?'
'Giving you an order!'
'Lieutenant, I think you may have been right about their motives,' Astar said and raised her phaser. 'Step back or I will fire.'
Shuttlecraft Heyerdahl
North Star colony
Stardate 55629.8 (August 18, 2378)
Lieutenant K'Tyra Parker was thrown from the pilot's seat the moment the shuttle entered the atmosphere. By the time she reached the controls again, the shuttle was in free fall, hurtling toward the surface at a speed which would instantly kill the three of them. A quick glance told her that both Astar and Epstein were unconscious on the deck, but she couldn't help them until they were safely on the ground. She tried to angle the shuttle back toward the upper atmosphere but found she couldn't. The main computer was offline so she grabbed a tricorder from under the console and looked at the readouts. There was an energy field enveloping the upper atmosphere, and they were caught in some kind of tractor beam which was pulling them down to the surface. Fortunately, she located the source of the beam and fired the shuttle's phasers, neutralising it with a surgical strike, and most likely killing whoever was manning the device. Parker grabbed the console as the shuttle's momentum carried it on the wind and it took her several precious seconds to regain control.
'Ambassador MacReady, this is Lieutenant Parker of the Gibraltar, please come in.'
'Is there a problem, Lieutenant?'
'Yes ma'am. The captain and first officer have been injured, and an energy field is preventing us from returning to the ship. There is also an energy field around the city, preventing me from landing the shuttle at your coordinates. I need an alternative landing site.'
'I'm sorry, Lieutenant. The only other safe landing point is the spaceport outside the capital. It will be along walk to the Embassy and not a very safe one.'
'What happened? Where did that energy field come from?' Parker as she angled the Heyerdahl toward the spaceport.
'The energy field is a Xindi weapon designed to protect the planet from orbital bombardment. I don't know why they activated it. I'll speak with the Xindi Governor in a moment.'
'Thank you, Ambassador; Parker out.'
Parker didn't believe a word of it and was sure that there would be a contingent of armed Xindi waiting for them the moment they stepped out the shuttle. Now that she was sure she wasn't going to be fired at, she activated the autopilot and went to check on the others, medkit in hand. A brief scan confirmed that both Astar and Epstein were fine, with no concussion or other injury. They had both been knocked unconscious by the activation of the energy field. Parker administered each of them a dose of inaprovaline, an all-purpose stimulant/curative.
'What happened?' Astar asked as she woke, and Parker filled her in as Epstein came to. 'You think she's lying?'
'I think she's involved in what happened, yes. She seemed far too calm about it. And I'm pretty sure the Xindi governor was in the room as well. Just a gut feeling though.'
Astar sat down and held her head for a moment. 'How long before we land?'
'About two minutes, then we have a walk into town if there aren't Xindi soldiers waiting for us.'
'There will be,' Epstein said. 'It appears that we've stumbled into one of their frequent internecine squabbles. The Xindi races are always trying to outdo one another and everyone else gets caught in the crossfire.'
Astar looked at him. 'Not this time. Whatever happens, no one is going to get caught in the crossfire. At this moment in time I would be quite happy to get every human being off the planet, kick the Skagarans out the Federation, and leave the Expanse to the Xindi.'
'Can we get everyone off the surface?'
'The Gibraltar was outfitted as an emergence evacuation ship during its last refit. It can hold 2000 comfortably.'
'There were six thousand people when Captain Archer visited two hundred years ago, wouldn't there be more now?'
'There would be, had the Xindi not annexed the planet. I'm guessing about a third were killed.'
'That still leaves 4-5000 depending on population growth. A lot more than we can handle.'
'The Skagarans will help. They are Federation members.'
'They don't act like it.'
'So we'll teach them, or my recommendation to the President will be to remove them.'
Epstein nodded and Parker could see that he didn't like Astar's musings. 'I thought you Starfleet types always tried diplomacy first?'
Astar sighed. 'It might not look like it, Commander. But I've had first hand knowledge of Xindi behaviour. I know how they think and act. Diplomacy rarely works. They like evidence and action and I intend to show them that the Federation doesn't take kindly to their planets being annexed. The Skagarans should have notified us of this when it happened, or before if they knew it was going to. It doesn't look good for them at the moment.'
'We're landing,' Parker said. 'And there are eleven armed Xindi waiting for us. I hate being right.'
'What do we do?' Epstein asked.
'You tell me, Commander.'
'We can't fight, not without being attacked first.'
'We were,' Parker muttered.
'You don't know that, Lieutenant. You're speculating. We can't run, not with that energy field in place.'
'So?'
'We allow ourselves to be taken prisoner. Find out what is happening and attempt escape.'
'Brilliant logic,' Parker said sarcastically.
'He's right, Lieutenant. Once we're inside, we'll be able to tell who we can trust and who we can't. Who's involved and who isn't. In the meantime, Gonzales will be hammering the ears of anyone who'll listen about blasting the energy field into particles and rescuing us.'
'A sound plan,' the security chief replied. 'But I don't see it working,' she added as the shuttle touched down.
Astar stepped out the shuttle into hot sunshine covering the spaceport in a shimmering haze. Epstein followed, passing his commanding officer a phaser, and then Parker, who aimed her phaser rifle at the Xindi.
'Lieutenant?'
'I won't make it easy for them. They've probably been told to take us alive. I'll do the same. It's set to stun.'
She sighed. 'Fine.'
A Xindi-Reptilian stepped up to them. 'Drop your weapons and come with us.'
'And you are?'
'Giving you an order!'
'Lieutenant, I think you may have been right about their motives,' Astar said and raised her phaser. 'Step back or I will fire.'
Sorry for the delay people, but the madness is finally over.
I am now married and can get on with my life (
)
I will post another chapter either Wednesday or Thursday and then every day or every other day until it's complete.
I also start working on the next Pytheas story while also working on my original fiction so expect a long delay in posting after Broken Bridges is completed.
I am now married and can get on with my life (
)I will post another chapter either Wednesday or Thursday and then every day or every other day until it's complete.
I also start working on the next Pytheas story while also working on my original fiction so expect a long delay in posting after Broken Bridges is completed.
CONGRATULATIONS!!! Is your wife a Trekkie? Does she read your stuff?
And I look forward to the new sections, too.
Is your wife a Trekkie? Does she read your stuff?And I look forward to the new sections, too.
No and no, though once I buy TOS I will try to get her into it again.CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Thanks!! It's coming right up.
Chapter Ten
Spaceport
North Star colony
Stardate 55629.9 (August 18, 2378)
The Xindi soldiers raised their own rifles in return.
'This will get us nowhere. You will not be harmed,' the Reptilian said.
'Why don't I believe you?'
Before he could answer, a skimmer pulled up beside them and Ambassador MacReady stepped out, pushed at phaser-point by a Xindi-Insectoid. 'I'm sorry, Captain,' she said.
'So am I,' Astar replied and fired at the Reptilian soldier.
She ducked and rolled as Epstein and Parker fired their own weapons before moving. Three soldiers, including the Reptilian in charge, fell to the ground and MacReady used the distraction to her advantage, freeing herself from the Insectoid with a backward kick to its leg. She grabbed the rifle it held and fired. The Insectoid dropped to the ground as three more Reptilians did, felled by Astar and the others. The remaining five decided to up the ante and changed their rifles to a kill setting.
'Set to kill,' Astar ordered as she did the same and fired.
Parker and Epstein followed suit, taking out another soldier each and MacReady took out another. The remaining soldier valiantly avoided two shots before getting two in the chest. As soon as Astar was sure there would be no more firing, she stood up, dusted herself off and turned to the ambassador.
'What the hell was that about?'
Parker took the rifle from the ambassador as Epstein walked up to them. 'I don't like being shot at,' the acting first officer added.
'The Xindi annexed North Star over twenty years ago. We fought back as best we could but they had superior numbers.'
'What about the Skagarans?'
MacReady's face became pained. 'The single vessel in orbit is one of five remaining Skagaran ships, Captain. They were the strongest opponents of the Xindi assault once the Empire made itself known. The Skagaran homeworld is nothing but a volcanic wasteland. It was destroyed by a similar weapon that your Captain Archer destroyed two hundred years ago.'
'They built another Superweapon?' Epstein asked.
'It's the Empire's greatest weapon. Any planet that resists too hard is blasted to dust.'
Epstein turned to Astar. 'I think that settles it, Captain.'
She nodded. 'How many people still live on North Star?'
'Two and a half thousand,' she replied as a tear meandered its way down her cheek.
Astar tugged her uniform tunic down. 'Where does that energy field originate?'
'The garrison in the capital, why?'
'We're going to take it down, and get these people back to Federation space.'
'North Star is our home.'
'Not if the Xindi Empire has anything to say about it,' Parker retorted sourly.
MacReady's face brightened. 'Maybe you could speak to the Emperor. He might listen to you.'
'Really?' Epstein wasn't convinced.
'The Empire was formed twenty-three years ago when an alien ship crashed on New Xindus. The survivors were powerful creatures who looked similar to the Xindi and they killed the Xindi Council. The Republic fell within a year and the aliens still control the Empire. If you could speak to them...'
Parker stepped forward. 'You said the aliens looked similar to the Xindi. How?'
'They were reptilian in appearance, some insectoids and a few primates. Why do you ask?'
'Cha'lav!' Parker practically spat the word.
'Cha'lav?' MacReady asked.
'Long story,' Astar replied.
'We have time. You can tell me as we ride back to the Embassy.'
'Captain,' Parker said, 'I'm invoking Code Black status for the remainder of this mission.'
'Lieutenant, there's no evidence that Andraprani was even here.'
'Did you read the full terms of the order?'
'No. What I did read was enough.'
'Wait here,' she replied and ran to the shuttle, returning a moment later with a padd. 'Read section five.'
Astar did so and sighed, passing the padd to Epstein, who nodded and handed it back to Parker.
'What's going on?' MacReady asked.
'I'm in charge of this mission now,' Parker replied and explained the situation as they climbed into the skimmer.
By the time they reached the Embassy gates, MacReady was fully versed on the Cha'lav threat and what it meant for the galaxy if the aliens were to succeed. 'Can we stop them?'
'The Captain's plan is our best option. We'll leave you here while we go to New Xindus, take out the Cha'lav leadership, and then let the Xindi get on with their lives. We'll return here and with the remaining Skagaran ships, we'll evacuate everyone back to Federation space.'
'Most people won't want to leave.'
'Then we'll stun them and beam them up. This region, even with the Xindi back in charge, is not stable enough for the few of you that are left to survive on your own. Right now, Starfleet can't even afford to spare a single ship on regular supply and patrol runs to make sure that you're all alive, let alone safe. In my opinion the best thing to do is get you out of here. Captain, do you agree?'
'Unfortunately, I do. I'm aware that you may not like to be relocated, but it is the safest option. Somewhere close to the core worlds and you'll be well-protected.'
'How many Xindi are in the garrison, and which species?'
'It's controlled by the Reptilians, with Insectoid and Reptilian guards, Primate servants and Aquatic engineers. Probably fifty all told.'
'Any human or Skagaran slaves?'
'Not that I know of.'
'I'd like to do this without killing any of them, Lieutenant.'
'So would I, sir, but knowing the Xindi the way you do, is that a likely scenario?'
'No, it isn't.'
'Then our only option is to take the whole garrison out.'
'What will you do about the Xindi civilians?'
'If they stay out of the way, nothing. They're free to live here. But we need to get back to our ship. Does the Embassy have any Federation Marines stationed there?'
'No, only Skagaran Marines and North Star Militiamen.'
'They'll have to do. When does night fall?'
'In about three hours.'
'I want to be ready to go in five hours. We'll need all the explosives you have. Can you contact our ship at all?'
'No, the shield prevents all communication signals from getting through, but we do have sensors to tell us what is going on outside.'
'We might be able to use that to send a message. Hopefully, Gonzales will understand it.'
Spaceport
North Star colony
Stardate 55629.9 (August 18, 2378)
The Xindi soldiers raised their own rifles in return.
'This will get us nowhere. You will not be harmed,' the Reptilian said.
'Why don't I believe you?'
Before he could answer, a skimmer pulled up beside them and Ambassador MacReady stepped out, pushed at phaser-point by a Xindi-Insectoid. 'I'm sorry, Captain,' she said.
'So am I,' Astar replied and fired at the Reptilian soldier.
She ducked and rolled as Epstein and Parker fired their own weapons before moving. Three soldiers, including the Reptilian in charge, fell to the ground and MacReady used the distraction to her advantage, freeing herself from the Insectoid with a backward kick to its leg. She grabbed the rifle it held and fired. The Insectoid dropped to the ground as three more Reptilians did, felled by Astar and the others. The remaining five decided to up the ante and changed their rifles to a kill setting.
'Set to kill,' Astar ordered as she did the same and fired.
Parker and Epstein followed suit, taking out another soldier each and MacReady took out another. The remaining soldier valiantly avoided two shots before getting two in the chest. As soon as Astar was sure there would be no more firing, she stood up, dusted herself off and turned to the ambassador.
'What the hell was that about?'
Parker took the rifle from the ambassador as Epstein walked up to them. 'I don't like being shot at,' the acting first officer added.
'The Xindi annexed North Star over twenty years ago. We fought back as best we could but they had superior numbers.'
'What about the Skagarans?'
MacReady's face became pained. 'The single vessel in orbit is one of five remaining Skagaran ships, Captain. They were the strongest opponents of the Xindi assault once the Empire made itself known. The Skagaran homeworld is nothing but a volcanic wasteland. It was destroyed by a similar weapon that your Captain Archer destroyed two hundred years ago.'
'They built another Superweapon?' Epstein asked.
'It's the Empire's greatest weapon. Any planet that resists too hard is blasted to dust.'
Epstein turned to Astar. 'I think that settles it, Captain.'
She nodded. 'How many people still live on North Star?'
'Two and a half thousand,' she replied as a tear meandered its way down her cheek.
Astar tugged her uniform tunic down. 'Where does that energy field originate?'
'The garrison in the capital, why?'
'We're going to take it down, and get these people back to Federation space.'
'North Star is our home.'
'Not if the Xindi Empire has anything to say about it,' Parker retorted sourly.
MacReady's face brightened. 'Maybe you could speak to the Emperor. He might listen to you.'
'Really?' Epstein wasn't convinced.
'The Empire was formed twenty-three years ago when an alien ship crashed on New Xindus. The survivors were powerful creatures who looked similar to the Xindi and they killed the Xindi Council. The Republic fell within a year and the aliens still control the Empire. If you could speak to them...'
Parker stepped forward. 'You said the aliens looked similar to the Xindi. How?'
'They were reptilian in appearance, some insectoids and a few primates. Why do you ask?'
'Cha'lav!' Parker practically spat the word.
'Cha'lav?' MacReady asked.
'Long story,' Astar replied.
'We have time. You can tell me as we ride back to the Embassy.'
'Captain,' Parker said, 'I'm invoking Code Black status for the remainder of this mission.'
'Lieutenant, there's no evidence that Andraprani was even here.'
'Did you read the full terms of the order?'
'No. What I did read was enough.'
'Wait here,' she replied and ran to the shuttle, returning a moment later with a padd. 'Read section five.'
Astar did so and sighed, passing the padd to Epstein, who nodded and handed it back to Parker.
'What's going on?' MacReady asked.
'I'm in charge of this mission now,' Parker replied and explained the situation as they climbed into the skimmer.
By the time they reached the Embassy gates, MacReady was fully versed on the Cha'lav threat and what it meant for the galaxy if the aliens were to succeed. 'Can we stop them?'
'The Captain's plan is our best option. We'll leave you here while we go to New Xindus, take out the Cha'lav leadership, and then let the Xindi get on with their lives. We'll return here and with the remaining Skagaran ships, we'll evacuate everyone back to Federation space.'
'Most people won't want to leave.'
'Then we'll stun them and beam them up. This region, even with the Xindi back in charge, is not stable enough for the few of you that are left to survive on your own. Right now, Starfleet can't even afford to spare a single ship on regular supply and patrol runs to make sure that you're all alive, let alone safe. In my opinion the best thing to do is get you out of here. Captain, do you agree?'
'Unfortunately, I do. I'm aware that you may not like to be relocated, but it is the safest option. Somewhere close to the core worlds and you'll be well-protected.'
'How many Xindi are in the garrison, and which species?'
'It's controlled by the Reptilians, with Insectoid and Reptilian guards, Primate servants and Aquatic engineers. Probably fifty all told.'
'Any human or Skagaran slaves?'
'Not that I know of.'
'I'd like to do this without killing any of them, Lieutenant.'
'So would I, sir, but knowing the Xindi the way you do, is that a likely scenario?'
'No, it isn't.'
'Then our only option is to take the whole garrison out.'
'What will you do about the Xindi civilians?'
'If they stay out of the way, nothing. They're free to live here. But we need to get back to our ship. Does the Embassy have any Federation Marines stationed there?'
'No, only Skagaran Marines and North Star Militiamen.'
'They'll have to do. When does night fall?'
'In about three hours.'
'I want to be ready to go in five hours. We'll need all the explosives you have. Can you contact our ship at all?'
'No, the shield prevents all communication signals from getting through, but we do have sensors to tell us what is going on outside.'
'We might be able to use that to send a message. Hopefully, Gonzales will understand it.'
Oooh...I KNEW I smelled Cha'lav involvement! That's WAY outside the Kursican sector, but it seemed like the next most logical staging ground for an assault--multispecies empire, close to the core worlds...man, that is NOT good.
Chapter Eleven
USS Gibraltar
North Star orbit
Stardate 55630.1 (August 18, 2378)
Lieutenant Commander Sheena Gonzales did not deign to react to the Xindi General's threats. The Skagaran vessel was cowering behind a moon and the Gibraltar was being flanked by the two Xindi ships. She'd had just about enough of not being able to do anything while half the ship's senior officers were out of contact or dead. It was time to do something and the Xindi could like it or lump, she really wasn't bothered which since the General had been hurling insults at her for the last two hours.
'Weston, take the ship for a low pass over the atmosphere.'
'Sir?'
'We're not going to try and go through the energy field, not yet, but I want to get a reaction from the Xindi.'
'They're going to shoot at us.'
'I sure as hell hope so. This ship was given a tactical upgrade for the mission to put an end to the Maquis and it is in fighting form. We're going to give the Xindi a bloody nose and hope they back off.'
'And if they don't?'
'We kick them in the balls.'
'Yes sir,' Weston said.
'Belay that, Lieutenant. Commander Gonzales, that is unacceptable behaviour.'
'You heard me, Weston,' she replied, ignoring him.
The Gibraltar dived toward the upper atmosphere, making a low pass and almost grazing the energy field. As expected, the Xindi took exception and fired a warning shot—which rebounded off the energy field and crackled against the Starfleet ship's shields.
'Whoops,' Weston muttered sarcastically.
'Tactical, fire phasers, continual fire until I give the order to stop. Aim for their weapons emplacements.'
'Yes ma'am.'
A phaser barrage pounded the lead Xindi ship's shields into oblivion before slamming into the disruptor arrays and torpedo launchers.
'Nice shooting,' Gonzales said as the lead ship backed off, its companion moving to intercept the Gibraltar. 'They won't fall for the same trick twice.'
'They're up to something, ma'am,' the beta-shift tactical officer replied. 'The lead ship is launching something.'
'And the other ship is between us and them, preventing a sensor lock. Nice tactics, but we have a few tricks of our own. Target the second Xindi ship with a couple of photon torpedoes, just enough to nudge them out the way.'
'No need,' Weston replied. 'Whatever they launched is coming this way.'
Gonzales threw herself into the command chair and slammed her palm against the comm in the armrest. 'Xeris, I need every joule to the shields you can give me.'
'What's happening?'
'The Xindi have a manned probe like the one they used on Earth in the twenty-second century.'
'By the Elements,' he cursed. 'You'll have it.'
'It's rotating into position to fire at us.'
'Photon torpedoes, fire!'
Seven photons sped from the Gibraltar to impact on the weapon, but its shields only wavered fractionally.
'That worked well,' Weston muttered.
'They're firing!'
The beam slammed into the Gibraltar's shields and sent the ship spinning out of orbit. Weston managed to get the ship back under control within a few seconds, but the damage was done. The weapon disappeared and a moment later debris from the Skagaran ship floated in low orbit around the moon they had hidden behind. The Xindi weapon returned to its previous position and aimed its beam at the Gibraltar again.
'Not this time,' Gonzales said through clenched teeth. 'Quantum torpedoes, full spread, maximum yield. Blow that thing out of orbit.'
The tactical officer didn't reply as she fired. The four quantum torpedoes shredded the weapon's shields like a tree in an ion storm and then vaporised the weapon itself.
'The Xindi ships are retreating, preparing to go to warp.'
'Let them go.'
'They'll be back with more ships,' Weston added.
'I know, but until they do we have an opportunity to rescue the Captain and the others, if we can get that energy field down.'
'Ma'am, I'm picking up a faint signal from the orbital sensors. They're surging at regular intervals.'
'Analyse the pattern and run it against all known ciphers, ancient and modern.'
'Yes ma'am.' Gonzales waited impatiently for several minutes as the young tactical officer did her job. 'It's Morse code. Just a few words, beginning with the Captain's authorisation code. “Four hours...energy field down...”'
'At least we have a time frame and we know they're alive,' Gonzales said and looked at the expanding debris field from the Skagarans. 'They must have known about the weapon. No wonder they tried to hide.'
'Ma'am, I think you might want to look at this.'
'What is it?' Gonzales said as she approached the tactical station.
'I'm using the ship's primitive astrometrics lab to get the layout of the Expanse, and I'm only detecting a few Skagaran vessels.'
'How many?'
'Four now, the one just destroyed was their fifth vessel.'
'What? They should have over fifty. What the hell is happening around here?'
'I don't know, ma'am.'
'Take a shuttle and see if you can find their computer core. Hopefully enough of it will be intact that we can figure something out. Maybe the Captain has learned something helpful.'
'We'll find out when she gets back,' Weston replied grimly. 'I don't like the way things are turning out in this backwater.'
'Lieutenant, pipe down. On this ship things always seem to go to hell,' Gonzales told the bridge officers. 'All we can do is wait, and hope that we have four hours.'
'Aye sir.'
Gonzales leaned back in the chair and sighed. When she joined Starfleet, all she wanted to do was protect everybody else, which is why she'd joined security and worked her way up to chief of security. She didn't want to be a tactical officer, nor did she want to be on the command track. At least she hadn't until recently. With a homicidal first officer and Astar off the ship or incapacitated so often over the last few months, she had had more than her fair share of time in the big chair, and she'd gotten to like it.
Perhaps when all this was over, she'd talk to the captain about a transfer to command. Logan had left the bridge at some point during the attack, no doubt to write her up for insubordination.
USS Gibraltar
North Star orbit
Stardate 55630.1 (August 18, 2378)
Lieutenant Commander Sheena Gonzales did not deign to react to the Xindi General's threats. The Skagaran vessel was cowering behind a moon and the Gibraltar was being flanked by the two Xindi ships. She'd had just about enough of not being able to do anything while half the ship's senior officers were out of contact or dead. It was time to do something and the Xindi could like it or lump, she really wasn't bothered which since the General had been hurling insults at her for the last two hours.
'Weston, take the ship for a low pass over the atmosphere.'
'Sir?'
'We're not going to try and go through the energy field, not yet, but I want to get a reaction from the Xindi.'
'They're going to shoot at us.'
'I sure as hell hope so. This ship was given a tactical upgrade for the mission to put an end to the Maquis and it is in fighting form. We're going to give the Xindi a bloody nose and hope they back off.'
'And if they don't?'
'We kick them in the balls.'
'Yes sir,' Weston said.
'Belay that, Lieutenant. Commander Gonzales, that is unacceptable behaviour.'
'You heard me, Weston,' she replied, ignoring him.
The Gibraltar dived toward the upper atmosphere, making a low pass and almost grazing the energy field. As expected, the Xindi took exception and fired a warning shot—which rebounded off the energy field and crackled against the Starfleet ship's shields.
'Whoops,' Weston muttered sarcastically.
'Tactical, fire phasers, continual fire until I give the order to stop. Aim for their weapons emplacements.'
'Yes ma'am.'
A phaser barrage pounded the lead Xindi ship's shields into oblivion before slamming into the disruptor arrays and torpedo launchers.
'Nice shooting,' Gonzales said as the lead ship backed off, its companion moving to intercept the Gibraltar. 'They won't fall for the same trick twice.'
'They're up to something, ma'am,' the beta-shift tactical officer replied. 'The lead ship is launching something.'
'And the other ship is between us and them, preventing a sensor lock. Nice tactics, but we have a few tricks of our own. Target the second Xindi ship with a couple of photon torpedoes, just enough to nudge them out the way.'
'No need,' Weston replied. 'Whatever they launched is coming this way.'
Gonzales threw herself into the command chair and slammed her palm against the comm in the armrest. 'Xeris, I need every joule to the shields you can give me.'
'What's happening?'
'The Xindi have a manned probe like the one they used on Earth in the twenty-second century.'
'By the Elements,' he cursed. 'You'll have it.'
'It's rotating into position to fire at us.'
'Photon torpedoes, fire!'
Seven photons sped from the Gibraltar to impact on the weapon, but its shields only wavered fractionally.
'That worked well,' Weston muttered.
'They're firing!'
The beam slammed into the Gibraltar's shields and sent the ship spinning out of orbit. Weston managed to get the ship back under control within a few seconds, but the damage was done. The weapon disappeared and a moment later debris from the Skagaran ship floated in low orbit around the moon they had hidden behind. The Xindi weapon returned to its previous position and aimed its beam at the Gibraltar again.
'Not this time,' Gonzales said through clenched teeth. 'Quantum torpedoes, full spread, maximum yield. Blow that thing out of orbit.'
The tactical officer didn't reply as she fired. The four quantum torpedoes shredded the weapon's shields like a tree in an ion storm and then vaporised the weapon itself.
'The Xindi ships are retreating, preparing to go to warp.'
'Let them go.'
'They'll be back with more ships,' Weston added.
'I know, but until they do we have an opportunity to rescue the Captain and the others, if we can get that energy field down.'
'Ma'am, I'm picking up a faint signal from the orbital sensors. They're surging at regular intervals.'
'Analyse the pattern and run it against all known ciphers, ancient and modern.'
'Yes ma'am.' Gonzales waited impatiently for several minutes as the young tactical officer did her job. 'It's Morse code. Just a few words, beginning with the Captain's authorisation code. “Four hours...energy field down...”'
'At least we have a time frame and we know they're alive,' Gonzales said and looked at the expanding debris field from the Skagarans. 'They must have known about the weapon. No wonder they tried to hide.'
'Ma'am, I think you might want to look at this.'
'What is it?' Gonzales said as she approached the tactical station.
'I'm using the ship's primitive astrometrics lab to get the layout of the Expanse, and I'm only detecting a few Skagaran vessels.'
'How many?'
'Four now, the one just destroyed was their fifth vessel.'
'What? They should have over fifty. What the hell is happening around here?'
'I don't know, ma'am.'
'Take a shuttle and see if you can find their computer core. Hopefully enough of it will be intact that we can figure something out. Maybe the Captain has learned something helpful.'
'We'll find out when she gets back,' Weston replied grimly. 'I don't like the way things are turning out in this backwater.'
'Lieutenant, pipe down. On this ship things always seem to go to hell,' Gonzales told the bridge officers. 'All we can do is wait, and hope that we have four hours.'
'Aye sir.'
Gonzales leaned back in the chair and sighed. When she joined Starfleet, all she wanted to do was protect everybody else, which is why she'd joined security and worked her way up to chief of security. She didn't want to be a tactical officer, nor did she want to be on the command track. At least she hadn't until recently. With a homicidal first officer and Astar off the ship or incapacitated so often over the last few months, she had had more than her fair share of time in the big chair, and she'd gotten to like it.
Perhaps when all this was over, she'd talk to the captain about a transfer to command. Logan had left the bridge at some point during the attack, no doubt to write her up for insubordination.
Yeah, being insubordinate is a REALLY good way to get on the command track. Now that we have this, AND Astar's behavior, I wouldn't be surprised if the admiralty's going to be gunning to break up this entire command staff when they get back.
