Dauntless 1x04 - To Serve the Unwise
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Chapter Twenty
Starfleet Resettlement Camp
Eeroth IV
Stardate 57423.9
After almost three days, the crew had found every Eeroth remaining alive on the planet’s surface. Lieutenant Commander Gonzales looked at them and sighed. From a population of hundreds of millions, they had been reduced to less than nine thousand, and there was no sign of the rebels. Wright had ordered a complete search of every moon in the system and every asteroid over a certain size and they had still come up empty. Rashal had set in motion a sequence of events which had devastated his people. As they huddled together, Fahira and Dahreki together, it seemed as though they had finally left their cultural biases behind them. Doctor Maxx and his medical teams were still checking everyone out and making sure they were healthy, but he had expressed a grave concern when he looked at the numbers and did a genetic analysis. She remembered the look on every face around the table.
‘Are you sure the numbers aren’t wrong?’ she had asked, aware of the implication.
He sighed. ‘I’ve checked them five times, and I’ve had the EMH triple check them. Nine thousand two hundred and eleven people, even with the genetic diversity they have, is not enough to sustain the population. They would need three times that if they want to live beyond three or four generations.’
‘What about genetic manipulation or engineering?’ Wright asked and Parker shot him a look. It was as if she knew something.
‘That’s illegal in Federation space, Commander,’ Maxx said as if speaking to a simpleton.
‘We’re not in Federation space, Doctor, and it might be their only hope if you can devise a way to introduce a random genetic mutation into their DNA.’
Maxx frowned. ‘Other doctors have found ways of doing it, but I will not sacrifice my principles to save these people. It isn’t right.’
‘Neither is letting them die,’ Larson said. ‘Whether we like it or not, we are their only hope of survival. We owe it to them to help.’
‘No, we don’t,’ Gonzales replied. ‘The Cha’lav are the ones responsible for all this, and we’re just here to pick up the pieces and help them get back to something resembling a normal life. Not even a fleet of counsellors can help them deal with the fact that they have just lost more than ninety-nine percent of their entire race. We need to find those rebels.’
‘Why?’ Wright’s question shocked everyone. ‘They were responsible for this atrocity.’
‘I think they were used by the Cha’lav,’ Parker said. ‘And we need to find them and reintegrate them to these people a better chance of survival.’
‘A few hundred people won’t make any difference,’ Maxx replied, ‘except for a decimal place or something.’
‘It’s still something,’ Parker shot back. ‘We’re Starfleet officers. We’re supposed to do whatever it takes to help others. Isn’t that what we’re about?’
‘Not at the moment,’ Wright replied quietly. ‘We’re here to stop the Cha’lav, but instead we’ve doomed another race to near-extinction.’
‘No we haven’t,’ Parker strode up to him and yelled. ‘The Cha’lav have, and not going to stand by while you all wallow in self pity. I’m going down to the surface to get these people ready for a fight.’
‘Hold it right there, Lieutenant,’ Wright said. ‘You don’t have the authority to do that.’
‘And you don’t have the balls. Whatever agenda you’re playing here has nothing to do with these people, and quite frankly I don’t think it has anything to do with us either. We came to return a man to his people and found them in need of help. We were asked for help and now, when they are in their darkest hour, we’re turning our backs on them? That’s not what I signed up for.’
‘You’re relieved,’ he said simply.
‘Well done, Commander. Are you going to relieve your entire senior staff, or just murder them.’
‘That’s enough!’ Wright yelled. ‘One more comment and you’ll be sent to the brig instead of your quarters.’
Parker stormed out of the conference room barely missing the door.
‘Doctor, investigate the possibility of a genetic solution, one that doesn’t break the law. Gonzales, head down to the surface and see what condition these people are in. If they are able to fight, then let’s arm them with ships and weapons. If not, we’ll just concentrate on getting them healthy. The rest of you, dismissed.’
Gonzales felt a hand on her shoulder and blinked, remembering she was on the surface. ‘You alright?’ Maxx asked.
‘I’m fine, how are they?’
‘Physically they’re fine, and emotionally well in some cases. I think it’s collective shock, and we’ll have a problem when it does sink in. In the meantime, I just have to get these latest blood samples up to the ship to run some more tests.’
‘What are you hoping to find?’
‘Something that will prevent me from using the genetic option. Has Wright contacted Command at all?’
‘He says he has, but I’d need to check the logs. Why do you ask?’
‘He’s planning something. Ch’Maras and I figured something out about him, and I didn’t get a chance to tell Parker.’
‘Does it impact his ability to command the crew at this very moment?’
‘No, but it does tell why he’s been acting the way he has. Commander, this is important.’
‘I’m sure it is, and I’m not trying to make light of the fact that he’s a dangerous individual. But if what you found was legally useful in any way, you’d have used it, wouldn’t you?’
Maxx nodded. ‘It just goes to pattern of behaviour and may provide an explanation of what he’s up to. With Parker and Xeris under guard, and the rest of us being watched, we’re losing our ability to stop him.’
‘There’s a plan, Doctor. Just stick to it.’
Maxx nodded, walked to the beam-in site and requested transport. Gonzales looked around at the security guards as they moved through the camp, breaking up fights and just talking to people.
Starfleet Resettlement Camp
Eeroth IV
Stardate 57423.9
After almost three days, the crew had found every Eeroth remaining alive on the planet’s surface. Lieutenant Commander Gonzales looked at them and sighed. From a population of hundreds of millions, they had been reduced to less than nine thousand, and there was no sign of the rebels. Wright had ordered a complete search of every moon in the system and every asteroid over a certain size and they had still come up empty. Rashal had set in motion a sequence of events which had devastated his people. As they huddled together, Fahira and Dahreki together, it seemed as though they had finally left their cultural biases behind them. Doctor Maxx and his medical teams were still checking everyone out and making sure they were healthy, but he had expressed a grave concern when he looked at the numbers and did a genetic analysis. She remembered the look on every face around the table.
‘Are you sure the numbers aren’t wrong?’ she had asked, aware of the implication.
He sighed. ‘I’ve checked them five times, and I’ve had the EMH triple check them. Nine thousand two hundred and eleven people, even with the genetic diversity they have, is not enough to sustain the population. They would need three times that if they want to live beyond three or four generations.’
‘What about genetic manipulation or engineering?’ Wright asked and Parker shot him a look. It was as if she knew something.
‘That’s illegal in Federation space, Commander,’ Maxx said as if speaking to a simpleton.
‘We’re not in Federation space, Doctor, and it might be their only hope if you can devise a way to introduce a random genetic mutation into their DNA.’
Maxx frowned. ‘Other doctors have found ways of doing it, but I will not sacrifice my principles to save these people. It isn’t right.’
‘Neither is letting them die,’ Larson said. ‘Whether we like it or not, we are their only hope of survival. We owe it to them to help.’
‘No, we don’t,’ Gonzales replied. ‘The Cha’lav are the ones responsible for all this, and we’re just here to pick up the pieces and help them get back to something resembling a normal life. Not even a fleet of counsellors can help them deal with the fact that they have just lost more than ninety-nine percent of their entire race. We need to find those rebels.’
‘Why?’ Wright’s question shocked everyone. ‘They were responsible for this atrocity.’
‘I think they were used by the Cha’lav,’ Parker said. ‘And we need to find them and reintegrate them to these people a better chance of survival.’
‘A few hundred people won’t make any difference,’ Maxx replied, ‘except for a decimal place or something.’
‘It’s still something,’ Parker shot back. ‘We’re Starfleet officers. We’re supposed to do whatever it takes to help others. Isn’t that what we’re about?’
‘Not at the moment,’ Wright replied quietly. ‘We’re here to stop the Cha’lav, but instead we’ve doomed another race to near-extinction.’
‘No we haven’t,’ Parker strode up to him and yelled. ‘The Cha’lav have, and not going to stand by while you all wallow in self pity. I’m going down to the surface to get these people ready for a fight.’
‘Hold it right there, Lieutenant,’ Wright said. ‘You don’t have the authority to do that.’
‘And you don’t have the balls. Whatever agenda you’re playing here has nothing to do with these people, and quite frankly I don’t think it has anything to do with us either. We came to return a man to his people and found them in need of help. We were asked for help and now, when they are in their darkest hour, we’re turning our backs on them? That’s not what I signed up for.’
‘You’re relieved,’ he said simply.
‘Well done, Commander. Are you going to relieve your entire senior staff, or just murder them.’
‘That’s enough!’ Wright yelled. ‘One more comment and you’ll be sent to the brig instead of your quarters.’
Parker stormed out of the conference room barely missing the door.
‘Doctor, investigate the possibility of a genetic solution, one that doesn’t break the law. Gonzales, head down to the surface and see what condition these people are in. If they are able to fight, then let’s arm them with ships and weapons. If not, we’ll just concentrate on getting them healthy. The rest of you, dismissed.’
Gonzales felt a hand on her shoulder and blinked, remembering she was on the surface. ‘You alright?’ Maxx asked.
‘I’m fine, how are they?’
‘Physically they’re fine, and emotionally well in some cases. I think it’s collective shock, and we’ll have a problem when it does sink in. In the meantime, I just have to get these latest blood samples up to the ship to run some more tests.’
‘What are you hoping to find?’
‘Something that will prevent me from using the genetic option. Has Wright contacted Command at all?’
‘He says he has, but I’d need to check the logs. Why do you ask?’
‘He’s planning something. Ch’Maras and I figured something out about him, and I didn’t get a chance to tell Parker.’
‘Does it impact his ability to command the crew at this very moment?’
‘No, but it does tell why he’s been acting the way he has. Commander, this is important.’
‘I’m sure it is, and I’m not trying to make light of the fact that he’s a dangerous individual. But if what you found was legally useful in any way, you’d have used it, wouldn’t you?’
Maxx nodded. ‘It just goes to pattern of behaviour and may provide an explanation of what he’s up to. With Parker and Xeris under guard, and the rest of us being watched, we’re losing our ability to stop him.’
‘There’s a plan, Doctor. Just stick to it.’
Maxx nodded, walked to the beam-in site and requested transport. Gonzales looked around at the security guards as they moved through the camp, breaking up fights and just talking to people.
I have a feeling there was more to Parker's outburst than meets the eye. Wright is being stretched...and getting overconfident.
Let's hope Parker had a plan, otherwise the outburst was pretty pointless. It could be that Klingon side in her though.
I'm surprised they're not giving 9000 people a chance to rebuild their population. If everybody thinks procreation I would have assumed that it would be enough. With a little Starfleet helps and guidance.
I'm surprised they're not giving 9000 people a chance to rebuild their population. If everybody thinks procreation I would have assumed that it would be enough. With a little Starfleet helps and guidance.
Chapter Twenty-One
USS Dauntless
Eeroth IV orbit
Stardate 57424.1
‘Mister President, I hope you’ll reconsider,’ Wright almost pleaded with the new Eeroth leader.
‘Unfortunately, the will of the people prevents me from doing so, Commander Wright. So far, your help has been effective only at damaging this world more than the Cha’lav did. Please leave this system. Return to your space station and leave us in peace.’
‘What if the Cha’lav come to finish the job?’
‘Then we’ll die on our own terms. Please leave this system, we’ll attend to the rebels ourselves, they are our people after all.’
The screen blanked and Wright sighed. Around him, the bridge crew clearly felt that they could have done more for the Eeroth but things had not gone well. Rashal had been freed and handed over and the rebels had appeared from an asteroid and given up, unable to bear responsibility for allowing the Cha’lav to use their weapon against them.
‘Ensign Larson, set a course for Starbase 535, warp six.’
‘Sir? We can’t just leave them.’
Gonzales interjected. ‘They asked us to leave, Ensign. Staying now would violate the Prime Directive.’
‘Aye sir, course and speed laid in.’
‘Let’s go,’ Wright said and the Dauntless jumped to warp. ‘Gonzales, you have the conn, I’ll be in my quarters.’
‘Aye sir.’
Wright entered the turbolift and willed his heart rate down to normal. ‘Deflector control,’ he ordered.
As the turbolift descended, Wright considered his options. His plan was suicidal at warp so he needed a convincing excuse to slow to impulse. An explosive decompression would automatically trigger alarms and a warp core shutdown, but he would need to be careful not to get caught, his command crew didn’t trust him as it was. The doors opened and Wright found his path blocked by Lieutenant Commander Xeris and Lieutenant Parker.
‘Aren’t you two supposed to be confined to quarters?’
‘Aren’t you supposed to be leading this crew instead of whatever agenda you have?’ Xeris shot back. ‘I’ve countered the modifications you had Jamal make before you killed him.’
Wright smiled. ‘Computer, initiate program Wright-1-1-4.’
‘Unable to comply, secondary deflector system has been disengaged.’
Wright kept his composure as the two officers approached him. ‘Initiate programs Wright 1-1-5 and 1-1-6.’
‘Acknowledged,’ the computer replied and Wright dematerialised.
He reappeared on deck six in the control room for the secondary deflector dish and started the program to charge the secondary deflector. That done, he made his way through Jeffries tubes to the captain’s mess and proceeded to overload the bioneural gel packs and cause an explosion which he hoped would blow out the deck, and therefore slow the ship. After several moments and no warnings, he muttered a curse and realised that they were tracking his movements.
‘Computer, activate all remaining Wright-1 programs, cascade effect.’
It was a last-ditch attempt to slow the ship and put his plan into motion.
‘Commander, Wright’s heading down to deflector control,’ ch’Maras said.
Larson turned round. ‘What’s going on?’
‘Gonzales to Xeris, he’s heading your way.’
‘Acknowledged.’
‘Commander?’ Larson asked again.
‘Ensign, please concentrate on your console.’
‘I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I wasn’t included in your plans to mutiny.’
‘This isn’t a mutiny,’ ch’Maras replied. ‘We ‘re retaking the ship from a dangerous killer.’
‘Jamal?’
‘Yes, Wright killed him, we found his tampering buried in the program Mahtani used.’
‘Right then,’ Larson replied and returned his gaze to the helm console.
‘Xeris to bridge, he’s gone. He beamed out somewhere.’
‘Get to the secondary deflector room, he’ll try to use the tertiary system.’
‘On our way, Xeris out.’
Ch’Maras waited as long as he could but it was taking too long to catch him. 'He’s in the captain’s mess, trying to blow out the section.’
‘Lock him out!’
‘I’m trying, but he’s just activated a whole slew of programs to stop me.’
‘Can you stop him?’
The Andorian looked up. ‘I’m not sure, but as long as we stay at warp he can’t activate the deflector.’
‘Gonzales to Xeris, get back down to engineering. We have to stay at warp.’
‘Right, Parker’s on her way to the mess.’
‘He’ll be long gone.’
‘Internal sensors put him there.’
‘He dumped his combadge, scanning for his lifesigns...his quarters, hurry.’
‘Commander, we should activate all the forcefields on the ship,’ Larson said. ‘It’ll slow him down.’
‘We can’t afford to alert anyone else, we don’t know if he’s working with anyone on board.’
‘What else can we do?’
‘I’m not sure; ch’Maras, how’s it coming?’
‘I’ve shut down two of the programs but there’re still two more.’
Gonzales slammed her fist on the console. ‘Damn him.’
‘Is it time?’
Gonzales nodded. ‘Bridge to sickbay.’
‘Maxx here.’
‘It’s time.’
‘Aye sir, sickbay out.’
‘We’ve lost his biosignature,’ ch’Maras muttered. ‘What the hell is he doing?’
‘I’ve had enough of this,’ Gonzales said and tapped a few keys. The red alert klaxon sounded. ‘This is Commander Gonzales to all hands. Commander Wright has killed Lieutenant Jamal Mahtani and is currently loose on board this ship with technology to mask his biosigns. He is to be considered extremely dangerous and if any crewman spots him, call for security immediately. All non-essential personnel please report to your quarters and remain there until this situation has been resolved, that is all.’
‘We can do more,’ Larson said.
‘Not yet, I want to give our people time to reach their quarters. Then I’ll seal them all in and activate all the forcefields. We’ll have him trapped.’
‘Not quite, he can still use the Jeffries tubes.’
‘His movements will be limited.’
‘Lock out his voice codes,’ ch’Maras suggested.
‘I did that as soon as he activated those programs, Lieutenant.’
The Andorian nodded. ‘We just have to stay one step ahead of him. Where will he go next?’
‘Engineering, he’ll have to slow us down if he wants to do anything, so that’ll give him his best chance of success.’
The Dauntless suddenly shook and the rattle was felt by everyone on the bridge.
‘Bridge to engineering, what happened?’
‘I’m not sure,’ Xeris replied with a sigh. ‘But we’re slowing to impulse.’
USS Dauntless
Eeroth IV orbit
Stardate 57424.1
‘Mister President, I hope you’ll reconsider,’ Wright almost pleaded with the new Eeroth leader.
‘Unfortunately, the will of the people prevents me from doing so, Commander Wright. So far, your help has been effective only at damaging this world more than the Cha’lav did. Please leave this system. Return to your space station and leave us in peace.’
‘What if the Cha’lav come to finish the job?’
‘Then we’ll die on our own terms. Please leave this system, we’ll attend to the rebels ourselves, they are our people after all.’
The screen blanked and Wright sighed. Around him, the bridge crew clearly felt that they could have done more for the Eeroth but things had not gone well. Rashal had been freed and handed over and the rebels had appeared from an asteroid and given up, unable to bear responsibility for allowing the Cha’lav to use their weapon against them.
‘Ensign Larson, set a course for Starbase 535, warp six.’
‘Sir? We can’t just leave them.’
Gonzales interjected. ‘They asked us to leave, Ensign. Staying now would violate the Prime Directive.’
‘Aye sir, course and speed laid in.’
‘Let’s go,’ Wright said and the Dauntless jumped to warp. ‘Gonzales, you have the conn, I’ll be in my quarters.’
‘Aye sir.’
Wright entered the turbolift and willed his heart rate down to normal. ‘Deflector control,’ he ordered.
As the turbolift descended, Wright considered his options. His plan was suicidal at warp so he needed a convincing excuse to slow to impulse. An explosive decompression would automatically trigger alarms and a warp core shutdown, but he would need to be careful not to get caught, his command crew didn’t trust him as it was. The doors opened and Wright found his path blocked by Lieutenant Commander Xeris and Lieutenant Parker.
‘Aren’t you two supposed to be confined to quarters?’
‘Aren’t you supposed to be leading this crew instead of whatever agenda you have?’ Xeris shot back. ‘I’ve countered the modifications you had Jamal make before you killed him.’
Wright smiled. ‘Computer, initiate program Wright-1-1-4.’
‘Unable to comply, secondary deflector system has been disengaged.’
Wright kept his composure as the two officers approached him. ‘Initiate programs Wright 1-1-5 and 1-1-6.’
‘Acknowledged,’ the computer replied and Wright dematerialised.
He reappeared on deck six in the control room for the secondary deflector dish and started the program to charge the secondary deflector. That done, he made his way through Jeffries tubes to the captain’s mess and proceeded to overload the bioneural gel packs and cause an explosion which he hoped would blow out the deck, and therefore slow the ship. After several moments and no warnings, he muttered a curse and realised that they were tracking his movements.
‘Computer, activate all remaining Wright-1 programs, cascade effect.’
It was a last-ditch attempt to slow the ship and put his plan into motion.
* * *
‘Commander, Wright’s heading down to deflector control,’ ch’Maras said.
Larson turned round. ‘What’s going on?’
‘Gonzales to Xeris, he’s heading your way.’
‘Acknowledged.’
‘Commander?’ Larson asked again.
‘Ensign, please concentrate on your console.’
‘I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I wasn’t included in your plans to mutiny.’
‘This isn’t a mutiny,’ ch’Maras replied. ‘We ‘re retaking the ship from a dangerous killer.’
‘Jamal?’
‘Yes, Wright killed him, we found his tampering buried in the program Mahtani used.’
‘Right then,’ Larson replied and returned his gaze to the helm console.
‘Xeris to bridge, he’s gone. He beamed out somewhere.’
‘Get to the secondary deflector room, he’ll try to use the tertiary system.’
‘On our way, Xeris out.’
Ch’Maras waited as long as he could but it was taking too long to catch him. 'He’s in the captain’s mess, trying to blow out the section.’
‘Lock him out!’
‘I’m trying, but he’s just activated a whole slew of programs to stop me.’
‘Can you stop him?’
The Andorian looked up. ‘I’m not sure, but as long as we stay at warp he can’t activate the deflector.’
‘Gonzales to Xeris, get back down to engineering. We have to stay at warp.’
‘Right, Parker’s on her way to the mess.’
‘He’ll be long gone.’
‘Internal sensors put him there.’
‘He dumped his combadge, scanning for his lifesigns...his quarters, hurry.’
‘Commander, we should activate all the forcefields on the ship,’ Larson said. ‘It’ll slow him down.’
‘We can’t afford to alert anyone else, we don’t know if he’s working with anyone on board.’
‘What else can we do?’
‘I’m not sure; ch’Maras, how’s it coming?’
‘I’ve shut down two of the programs but there’re still two more.’
Gonzales slammed her fist on the console. ‘Damn him.’
‘Is it time?’
Gonzales nodded. ‘Bridge to sickbay.’
‘Maxx here.’
‘It’s time.’
‘Aye sir, sickbay out.’
‘We’ve lost his biosignature,’ ch’Maras muttered. ‘What the hell is he doing?’
‘I’ve had enough of this,’ Gonzales said and tapped a few keys. The red alert klaxon sounded. ‘This is Commander Gonzales to all hands. Commander Wright has killed Lieutenant Jamal Mahtani and is currently loose on board this ship with technology to mask his biosigns. He is to be considered extremely dangerous and if any crewman spots him, call for security immediately. All non-essential personnel please report to your quarters and remain there until this situation has been resolved, that is all.’
‘We can do more,’ Larson said.
‘Not yet, I want to give our people time to reach their quarters. Then I’ll seal them all in and activate all the forcefields. We’ll have him trapped.’
‘Not quite, he can still use the Jeffries tubes.’
‘His movements will be limited.’
‘Lock out his voice codes,’ ch’Maras suggested.
‘I did that as soon as he activated those programs, Lieutenant.’
The Andorian nodded. ‘We just have to stay one step ahead of him. Where will he go next?’
‘Engineering, he’ll have to slow us down if he wants to do anything, so that’ll give him his best chance of success.’
The Dauntless suddenly shook and the rattle was felt by everyone on the bridge.
‘Bridge to engineering, what happened?’
‘I’m not sure,’ Xeris replied with a sigh. ‘But we’re slowing to impulse.’
And so the hunt is on.
What a tense segment. For a moment I thought they'd be able to stop Wright but it looks like he got what he wanted. Now, what's he got planned with this much talked about deflector? And is anybody going to be able to stop him?
Answers to these questions and more, soon. Or so I hope.
What a tense segment. For a moment I thought they'd be able to stop Wright but it looks like he got what he wanted. Now, what's he got planned with this much talked about deflector? And is anybody going to be able to stop him?
Answers to these questions and more, soon. Or so I hope.
Chapter Twenty-Two
USS Dauntless
En route to Starbase 535
Stardate 57424.2
As the starship slowed to impulse, Lieutenant K’Tyra Parker cursed the fates which had led her here. Yes, she’d been living on borrowed time in the future, waiting until the Cha’lav succeeded in destroying everything she held dear, but at least she didn’t have to contend with problems like this. Everyone was too busy fighting for their very existence on starships that were held together with luck and willpower to try and pull stupid stunts like this. But here, in one version of her distant past, where life was good and all the worst battles of the time were over, one man was trying to cause a boatload of trouble and she only suspected his true motives. A hastily-convened conference between the senior staff had aired all the suspicions and possibilities and they all agreed that the simplest explanation was the right one, the question that burned in all their minds, was why Wright was doing this. She suspected that before the day was out, she would have her answer, and that she wasn’t going to like it very much.
Holding a mek’leth in the right hand, Parker slowly crept up on the deflector room, where the tertiary deflector system was located. She was expecting it to be locked and was therefore surprised when the doors slid open at her approach. Aaron Wright strode out and stopped in his tracks as he spotted her. Instead of running, he smirked and walked toward her, seemingly without a care in the world. Parker adjusted her stance, prepared for an attack, but Wright just walked past her and continued down the corridor. She regained her senses quickly and followed, not doing anything to provoke him but watching where he went.
‘Parker to bridge, Wright’s ignoring me as if I wasn’t even here. I’m following him at the moment, release the forcefields on this deck.’
‘Lieutenant?’
‘Send someone to tertiary deflector control to stop whatever he’s doing, and have security standing by.’
‘I’m sending ch’Maras, security is standing by on all exit points to deck six. Care to tell me what’s going on?’ Gonzales asked.
‘I have no idea, but I think it’s important.’
‘Don’t do anything rash, and keep this channel open.’
‘Aye sir.’
Parker slipped the mek’leth into her trousers at the small of her back, a trick she learned as a child, and let Wright lead her. She kept pace with his unhurried walk as the starship’s acting captain led her toward his quarters. She hadn’t expected it but nevertheless could not allow him access to anything he had in there.
‘Commander, stop,’ she called out to him.
Wright turned to face her, the same smirk on his face. ‘There’s nothing you or this crew can do to stop me, not now.’
‘Stop you from doing what?’ she asked in a carefully neutral tone.
‘Please, Lieutenant, don’t insult my intelligence. I’m sure you and the others have consulted with the good doctor about the readings taken in the hydroponics bay.’
‘What readings?’
Wright sighed. ‘As you well know, my quantum signature does not match yours. All I’m trying to do is get home, the least you could do is allow me that, since you aren’t able to return to your home.’
The Klingon hybrid scowled. ‘My “home” was corrupted by the Cha’lav and I came here to stop them from doing the same again. Everyone I ever knew or loved is dead, there’s nothing for me there, even if I could return. What is so bad about living here?’
‘I have a duty to my people and I intend to fulfil it.’
‘At what cost?’
‘What is that supposed to mean?’
‘You’ve killed one Starfleet officer and if your jacket is to be believed, been responsible for several more deaths. What is to stop me killing you here and now?’
‘That would be your sense of duty, Lieutenant. You would never be able to beat me in a fight, your Klingon strength notwithstanding, but you still believe in the Federation and Starfleet and their famed justice system. I’ve been on both sides of the fence and my side is infinitely more preferable, there’s less pretence about being who you really are. Quite frankly, I’m fed up of pretending to be the good Starfleet Commander who does what he’s told when the Captain tells him to. I’m going home, and you’re all coming along for the ride.’
‘Did you get all that, Commander?’ Parker asked.
‘Loud and clear, and recorded for posterity,’ Gonzales answered. ‘Commander Aaron Wright, you are hereby relieved of command. I am taking command of the Dauntless and if you would please relinquish your lockout on the deflector systems, we can deal with you in short order.’
‘Sorry, Commander, I can’t do that,’ he said and walked into his quarters.
‘Now what?’ Parker asked.
As if answering her question, the lights suddenly faded into complete darkness.
‘Gonzales, can you hear me?’
‘Get back up here, there’s nothing more we can do.’
‘On my way.’
Choosing the safest route, Parker reached the bridge through the Jeffries tubes, a journey of almost fifteen minutes, and stood at the tactical station.
‘Report!’
‘All power systems throughout the ship are being rerouted through the tertiary deflector system. We’ve just lost the warp engines, shields, weapons and impulse engines,’ Parker replied.
‘The secondary deflector is powering up. Three minutes until fully charged,’ ch’Maras added. ‘Do you think Maxx was able to do it?’
‘Let’s hope so,’ Larson replied.
‘Life support down to minimum levels,’ Parker said.
‘Deflector at maximum charge in two minutes.’
The turbolift doors opened and Wright strode onto the bridge. He was no longer wearing his Starfleet uniform, instead favouring an earth-toned tunic. Ch’Maras moved to stop him but Gonzales waved him back.
‘Satisfied, Mister Wright?’
‘Almost.’
‘One minute.’
‘What happens next?’
‘Once I’m home, I’ll take a shuttle and you’ll be free to do as you please.’
‘Time,’ ch’Maras whispered.
The Dauntless began to shake as the awesome power being channelled through the deflector dish was released in a stream of energy. Four points of energy streamed into one as a spatial rift began to form. Everyone on the bridge watched as the rift grew and the ship moved, imperceptibly at first but the rift increased in strength almost exponentially and pulled the starship in.
‘Thirty seconds until rift boundary,’ ch’Maras reported as the lights came back on.
The energy stream stopped.
‘Main power is coming back online,’ Parker added. ‘Weapons, shields, engines, we’ve got everything.’
‘Yellow alert.’
‘You won’t need it.’
‘We’ll see,’ a female voice said from the door to the ready room.
Wright turned to face her.
‘I’d like my ship back now.’
‘It’s all yours, Captain.’
USS Dauntless
En route to Starbase 535
Stardate 57424.2
As the starship slowed to impulse, Lieutenant K’Tyra Parker cursed the fates which had led her here. Yes, she’d been living on borrowed time in the future, waiting until the Cha’lav succeeded in destroying everything she held dear, but at least she didn’t have to contend with problems like this. Everyone was too busy fighting for their very existence on starships that were held together with luck and willpower to try and pull stupid stunts like this. But here, in one version of her distant past, where life was good and all the worst battles of the time were over, one man was trying to cause a boatload of trouble and she only suspected his true motives. A hastily-convened conference between the senior staff had aired all the suspicions and possibilities and they all agreed that the simplest explanation was the right one, the question that burned in all their minds, was why Wright was doing this. She suspected that before the day was out, she would have her answer, and that she wasn’t going to like it very much.
Holding a mek’leth in the right hand, Parker slowly crept up on the deflector room, where the tertiary deflector system was located. She was expecting it to be locked and was therefore surprised when the doors slid open at her approach. Aaron Wright strode out and stopped in his tracks as he spotted her. Instead of running, he smirked and walked toward her, seemingly without a care in the world. Parker adjusted her stance, prepared for an attack, but Wright just walked past her and continued down the corridor. She regained her senses quickly and followed, not doing anything to provoke him but watching where he went.
‘Parker to bridge, Wright’s ignoring me as if I wasn’t even here. I’m following him at the moment, release the forcefields on this deck.’
‘Lieutenant?’
‘Send someone to tertiary deflector control to stop whatever he’s doing, and have security standing by.’
‘I’m sending ch’Maras, security is standing by on all exit points to deck six. Care to tell me what’s going on?’ Gonzales asked.
‘I have no idea, but I think it’s important.’
‘Don’t do anything rash, and keep this channel open.’
‘Aye sir.’
Parker slipped the mek’leth into her trousers at the small of her back, a trick she learned as a child, and let Wright lead her. She kept pace with his unhurried walk as the starship’s acting captain led her toward his quarters. She hadn’t expected it but nevertheless could not allow him access to anything he had in there.
‘Commander, stop,’ she called out to him.
Wright turned to face her, the same smirk on his face. ‘There’s nothing you or this crew can do to stop me, not now.’
‘Stop you from doing what?’ she asked in a carefully neutral tone.
‘Please, Lieutenant, don’t insult my intelligence. I’m sure you and the others have consulted with the good doctor about the readings taken in the hydroponics bay.’
‘What readings?’
Wright sighed. ‘As you well know, my quantum signature does not match yours. All I’m trying to do is get home, the least you could do is allow me that, since you aren’t able to return to your home.’
The Klingon hybrid scowled. ‘My “home” was corrupted by the Cha’lav and I came here to stop them from doing the same again. Everyone I ever knew or loved is dead, there’s nothing for me there, even if I could return. What is so bad about living here?’
‘I have a duty to my people and I intend to fulfil it.’
‘At what cost?’
‘What is that supposed to mean?’
‘You’ve killed one Starfleet officer and if your jacket is to be believed, been responsible for several more deaths. What is to stop me killing you here and now?’
‘That would be your sense of duty, Lieutenant. You would never be able to beat me in a fight, your Klingon strength notwithstanding, but you still believe in the Federation and Starfleet and their famed justice system. I’ve been on both sides of the fence and my side is infinitely more preferable, there’s less pretence about being who you really are. Quite frankly, I’m fed up of pretending to be the good Starfleet Commander who does what he’s told when the Captain tells him to. I’m going home, and you’re all coming along for the ride.’
‘Did you get all that, Commander?’ Parker asked.
‘Loud and clear, and recorded for posterity,’ Gonzales answered. ‘Commander Aaron Wright, you are hereby relieved of command. I am taking command of the Dauntless and if you would please relinquish your lockout on the deflector systems, we can deal with you in short order.’
‘Sorry, Commander, I can’t do that,’ he said and walked into his quarters.
‘Now what?’ Parker asked.
As if answering her question, the lights suddenly faded into complete darkness.
‘Gonzales, can you hear me?’
‘Get back up here, there’s nothing more we can do.’
‘On my way.’
Choosing the safest route, Parker reached the bridge through the Jeffries tubes, a journey of almost fifteen minutes, and stood at the tactical station.
‘Report!’
‘All power systems throughout the ship are being rerouted through the tertiary deflector system. We’ve just lost the warp engines, shields, weapons and impulse engines,’ Parker replied.
‘The secondary deflector is powering up. Three minutes until fully charged,’ ch’Maras added. ‘Do you think Maxx was able to do it?’
‘Let’s hope so,’ Larson replied.
‘Life support down to minimum levels,’ Parker said.
‘Deflector at maximum charge in two minutes.’
The turbolift doors opened and Wright strode onto the bridge. He was no longer wearing his Starfleet uniform, instead favouring an earth-toned tunic. Ch’Maras moved to stop him but Gonzales waved him back.
‘Satisfied, Mister Wright?’
‘Almost.’
‘One minute.’
‘What happens next?’
‘Once I’m home, I’ll take a shuttle and you’ll be free to do as you please.’
‘Time,’ ch’Maras whispered.
The Dauntless began to shake as the awesome power being channelled through the deflector dish was released in a stream of energy. Four points of energy streamed into one as a spatial rift began to form. Everyone on the bridge watched as the rift grew and the ship moved, imperceptibly at first but the rift increased in strength almost exponentially and pulled the starship in.
‘Thirty seconds until rift boundary,’ ch’Maras reported as the lights came back on.
The energy stream stopped.
‘Main power is coming back online,’ Parker added. ‘Weapons, shields, engines, we’ve got everything.’
‘Yellow alert.’
‘You won’t need it.’
‘We’ll see,’ a female voice said from the door to the ready room.
Wright turned to face her.
‘I’d like my ship back now.’
‘It’s all yours, Captain.’
Epilogue
USS Dauntless
The Spatial Rift
June 4th, 2380 (Stardate 57424.2)
The rift enveloped the starship like a glove and a single, blinding flash of light was the only visible sign of transition. As the afterimage faded, Captain Leza Astar stepped toward her former first officer and shoved him backwards. He stumbled and fell into his chair, looking up at her with pity in his eyes. She gestured for Parker to stand by him and then turned to face the viewscreen. She sat down and clutched the arms.
‘ch’Maras, where are we?’
‘Checking, Captain. According to the quantum scans, we’re in the mirror universe recorded by Captain Kirk and the crew of Deep Space Nine.’
‘Are there any ships in the area?’
‘Yes sir,’ Gonzales replied, having returned to her post. ‘One vessel in range, I’m reading it as a Defiant-class vessel, on an intercept course.’
‘Red alert,’ Astar ordered.
‘All stations report ready.’
‘Hail the ship.’
‘Captain, I recommend we do not interfere.’
‘Recommendation noted, Commander, but the ship is headed our way and I would rather know beforehand what the hell was going on, before they get into weapons range.’
‘Aye sir, hailing frequencies open.’
‘This is Captain Leza Astar of the Federation starship Dauntless to the Defiant-class starship. We have no intention of joining the war with the rebellion and wish only to return home.’
The starfield vanished from the viewscreen, replaced by the image of a well-known man. ‘General Smiley O’Brien, Terran Rebellion,’ the curly-haired Irishman replied and then noticed Wright. ‘Where the hell did he come from?’
Astar glanced in Wright’s direction. ‘You know him?’
‘Yeah, I do. He’s currently a prisoner of the Alliance.’
‘A prisoner?’
Wright stood up and Parker stepped forward in warning. ‘Eight years ago, I found an ancient device on Earth and figured out how to use it, but it was useless until I found the planet it came from, while surveying for ores for the Alliance. As soon as I landed, I was drawn to a cave system. The next thing I know, the device is burnt to a crisp and I’m stuck in your universe.’
‘You were the lucky one,’ Smiley snorted and turned to face Astar. ‘Your universe’s Aaron Wright became a troublemaker and ended up on Terok Nor. He was the favoured slave of the Intendant until Sisko came along. When we took over, he wasn’t able to escape and the Alliance took him.’
‘We have to get him back, Captain,’ Gonzales said.
Astar nodded. ‘I know, somehow.’
‘We can help you, but you need to help us first,’ Smiley said and help up a hand to forestall an argument. ‘I’ve known enough people from your side to know that you won’t help us defeat the Alliance. Right now, we have a bigger problem. When your Major Kira and Doctor Bashir came through the wormhole, they made their presence known to some very powerful creatures.’
‘Go on.’
‘These creatures allied themselves with an empire on the other side of the wormhole and they’ve been trying to exterminate us ever since. The Bajorans have almost completely been wiped out by them.’
‘An empire from the other side of the wormhole, that sounds like...’
‘Captain, I’m picking up three ships approaching, extreme edge of our sensor range. Without the astrometrics away we’d never have seen them.’
‘Can you tell who they are?’ Astar asked. ‘From this distance, and their energy signature, if I didn’t know any better I would say that it was the Dominion.’
Smiley sighed. ‘The Vorta Imperium, the slaves of the Pah Wraiths. We need to leave, now.’
Astar nodded. ‘Lead on, we’ll follow. What do you know of the Changelings?’
‘Odo’s species? The Vorta hunt them down like prey, using their foot soldiers...’
‘The Jem’Hadar,’ Gonzales muttered. ‘I thought we were finally rid of them.’
‘You defeated them?’ Smiley’s eyes widened in shock. ‘You have to help us.’
‘We’ll see about that, but right now we need to leave.'
‘We’re heading back to Terok Nor.’
‘In orbit of Bajor?’
‘Where else?’
‘Mister Larson, set a course for Bajor, maximum warp.’
The Dauntless will return in Fragments of Control
USS Dauntless
The Spatial Rift
June 4th, 2380 (Stardate 57424.2)
The rift enveloped the starship like a glove and a single, blinding flash of light was the only visible sign of transition. As the afterimage faded, Captain Leza Astar stepped toward her former first officer and shoved him backwards. He stumbled and fell into his chair, looking up at her with pity in his eyes. She gestured for Parker to stand by him and then turned to face the viewscreen. She sat down and clutched the arms.
‘ch’Maras, where are we?’
‘Checking, Captain. According to the quantum scans, we’re in the mirror universe recorded by Captain Kirk and the crew of Deep Space Nine.’
‘Are there any ships in the area?’
‘Yes sir,’ Gonzales replied, having returned to her post. ‘One vessel in range, I’m reading it as a Defiant-class vessel, on an intercept course.’
‘Red alert,’ Astar ordered.
‘All stations report ready.’
‘Hail the ship.’
‘Captain, I recommend we do not interfere.’
‘Recommendation noted, Commander, but the ship is headed our way and I would rather know beforehand what the hell was going on, before they get into weapons range.’
‘Aye sir, hailing frequencies open.’
‘This is Captain Leza Astar of the Federation starship Dauntless to the Defiant-class starship. We have no intention of joining the war with the rebellion and wish only to return home.’
The starfield vanished from the viewscreen, replaced by the image of a well-known man. ‘General Smiley O’Brien, Terran Rebellion,’ the curly-haired Irishman replied and then noticed Wright. ‘Where the hell did he come from?’
Astar glanced in Wright’s direction. ‘You know him?’
‘Yeah, I do. He’s currently a prisoner of the Alliance.’
‘A prisoner?’
Wright stood up and Parker stepped forward in warning. ‘Eight years ago, I found an ancient device on Earth and figured out how to use it, but it was useless until I found the planet it came from, while surveying for ores for the Alliance. As soon as I landed, I was drawn to a cave system. The next thing I know, the device is burnt to a crisp and I’m stuck in your universe.’
‘You were the lucky one,’ Smiley snorted and turned to face Astar. ‘Your universe’s Aaron Wright became a troublemaker and ended up on Terok Nor. He was the favoured slave of the Intendant until Sisko came along. When we took over, he wasn’t able to escape and the Alliance took him.’
‘We have to get him back, Captain,’ Gonzales said.
Astar nodded. ‘I know, somehow.’
‘We can help you, but you need to help us first,’ Smiley said and help up a hand to forestall an argument. ‘I’ve known enough people from your side to know that you won’t help us defeat the Alliance. Right now, we have a bigger problem. When your Major Kira and Doctor Bashir came through the wormhole, they made their presence known to some very powerful creatures.’
‘Go on.’
‘These creatures allied themselves with an empire on the other side of the wormhole and they’ve been trying to exterminate us ever since. The Bajorans have almost completely been wiped out by them.’
‘An empire from the other side of the wormhole, that sounds like...’
‘Captain, I’m picking up three ships approaching, extreme edge of our sensor range. Without the astrometrics away we’d never have seen them.’
‘Can you tell who they are?’ Astar asked. ‘From this distance, and their energy signature, if I didn’t know any better I would say that it was the Dominion.’
Smiley sighed. ‘The Vorta Imperium, the slaves of the Pah Wraiths. We need to leave, now.’
Astar nodded. ‘Lead on, we’ll follow. What do you know of the Changelings?’
‘Odo’s species? The Vorta hunt them down like prey, using their foot soldiers...’
‘The Jem’Hadar,’ Gonzales muttered. ‘I thought we were finally rid of them.’
‘You defeated them?’ Smiley’s eyes widened in shock. ‘You have to help us.’
‘We’ll see about that, but right now we need to leave.'
‘We’re heading back to Terok Nor.’
‘In orbit of Bajor?’
‘Where else?’
‘Mister Larson, set a course for Bajor, maximum warp.’
The Dauntless will return in Fragments of Control
From the frying pan into the fire...
Only problem was, Astar wasn't completely accurate--it wasn't so much a matter of the Federation defeating the Dominion as lucking out...
The Vorta Imperium controlled by the Pah-wraiths...bad news...very bad news...
Only problem was, Astar wasn't completely accurate--it wasn't so much a matter of the Federation defeating the Dominion as lucking out...
The Vorta Imperium controlled by the Pah-wraiths...bad news...very bad news...
Now this is a decidedly disturbing turn of events!
Just when you think it's safe to go back to the mirror universe . . .
Just when you think it's safe to go back to the mirror universe . . .
The Wright mystery finally revealed ... only to lead us into another, potentially quite epic storyline. Very well done.
I loved Astar's sudden return. She wants her ship back. Well, you can't keep a decent captain down.
Great story and the next one could turn out even better.
I loved Astar's sudden return. She wants her ship back. Well, you can't keep a decent captain down.
Great story and the next one could turn out even better.
I left loads of clues to Wright's history, do you remember them and playing along with me or are you seriously telling me I had you? 
I wanted a reason for the Dauntless to have to remain in the MU and I wanted to explore the MU Dominion, so the prologue of Fragments of Control will be up by the weekend, hopefully.
I wanted a reason for the Dauntless to have to remain in the MU and I wanted to explore the MU Dominion, so the prologue of Fragments of Control will be up by the weekend, hopefully.
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