So...what happened to the shuttle? Enquiring readers want to know. Wright's conditioned against teeps--even more interesting. I'm thinking he's an augment or similar...but...I guess we'll see...
Dauntless 1x04 - To Serve the Unwise
- Thread starter BrotherBenny
- Start date
And all this time I thought Wright was just your run-of-the-mill homicidal psychopath! 
This keeps getting weirder and better!
This keeps getting weirder and better!
No, I'm going to continue not to guess anything. I'm just going to sit back, relax and see where this crazy ride is going to take us.
I'm starting to really like Wright as a villain. He's mysterious, he's smart and he's quite capable. A dangerous combination, I'd say.
I'm starting to really like Wright as a villain. He's mysterious, he's smart and he's quite capable. A dangerous combination, I'd say.
Chapter Nine
Dahreki Freighter
Eeroth System
Stardate 57400.9
Rashal looked up from the co-pilot’s chair. Shortly after they’d entered this null-space region, Teliz had freed him from the cargo hold and let him roam the ship, on the condition that the engine room and private quarters were off-limits. The traitor nodded, understanding immediately, but he had given up the sins of the flesh a long time ago, even before the Cha’lav had come to destroy everything he believed in. Teliz looked rather handsome now that he had washed out the grime of rebellion. His chiselled jaw line almost made Rashal wish that something would happen, but the hard gaze in the eyes made that an impossibility. The new rebel leader sat in the pilot’s chair and called up some information. It was the same thing he did every time he’d come to the bridge in the last two and a half days.
‘What exactly are you looking for?’ Rashal asked.
‘We are safe from the Federation ship,’ he answered, ‘but we are not safe from the Cha’lav.’
Rashal’s eyes widened and he was suddenly alert. ‘Where are we, exactly?’
‘We’re in a staging ground for the Cha’lav. They would create a rift and bring a dozen vessels into this nothingness, then emerge into normal space and attack our ships. We had no idea where they came from. A Dahreki fighter discovered this place and because we were working together, we were able to defeat the Cha’lav by booby-trapping this place.’
‘Why hasn’t everyone come looking for us?’
‘Because the Fahira rebellion killed the Dahreki that knew about it and removed those Fahira who knew. The only people that know are in my cell, and you.’
‘And the Federation ship,’ Rashal reminded him.
‘They don’t know what is happening, only that one second they were chasing us and the next, we vanished.’
Rashal nodded, but kept to himself the fact that he carried a subspace transmitter that would pinpoint their exact location. At least, he hoped it would. Now that he knew they were in Cha’lav territory, all bets were off. If the transmitter worked, Wright would have sent his people in by now, and he would be back in the Dauntless’ brig. If it didn’t work, he needed to make his own plans and hope that Wright was still out there.
‘How long can we stay here? I’m sure this bucket of bolts is not exactly brimming with supplies.’
Teliz shrugged. ‘You’re right, it’s not. But I have a plan, you see. The Cha’lav were not so stupid as to have one of these null-space bubbles in our territory, they had several and no chance to remove them before they were forced to flee. We can go to any of the bubbles and escape.’
Rashal sighed. ‘So why have we been sitting here for the last three days?’
Teliz let out an even more audible sigh. ‘Don’t you see. We’re not leaving in this ship, we’re waiting for a rendezvous.’
‘I see.’
‘And that transmitter of yours, aboard this ship, will act as a decoy while we make our escape.’
Rashal narrowed his eyes. ‘What transmitter?’
‘The one you’re carrying which allowed the aliens to track us.’
‘They tracked us because you left the cloaking envelope of the asteroid,’ Rashal shot back.
‘And how did they know how to find it?’
‘Because they do this kind of thing for a living. I’ve been aboard that ship for weeks and studied their history. Their technology is constantly improving and they have crews from over a hundred different worlds.’
‘Perhaps I am wrong and you will submit to a scan?’
‘Of course.’
Teliz was taken aback, but covered well. He expected to be rebuffed, thereby proving that a transmitter was present. His bluff had been called and Rashal had to hope that Wright’s engineering team were as good as they said they were.
‘Alright then,’ the rebel said and waved a bizarre-looking instrument across Rashal’s arms, chest and legs.
The device emitted no sound.
‘Satisfied?’
‘I suppose,’ Teliz sounded disappointed. ‘Our rendezvous should be within the next few hours. Feel free to indulge yourself in a little reading.’
‘Huh?’
‘I keep lots of books on board, since I spend much of my time waiting for transports and such.’
Rashal smiled. ‘You always were a reader.’
‘And it has allowed me to stay one step ahead of my enemies,’ he smirked.
‘I would prefer to know who we are meeting with.’
Teliz shrugged. ‘I don’t think you do, not really.’
‘Meaning?’ Rashal questioned, hoping that Wright would appear quickly. This plan was fast becoming untenable.
‘I know how much you like the Dahreki, so I thought you would enjoy getting to know them a little better.’
He slumped. ‘You sold me out.’
‘They’re offering an alliance, as long as your head is separated from your body, and considering what you did, I’m not that concerned about handing you over.’
‘I see,’ Rashal glanced around wondering whether he would be able to overpower his former friend and lover to escape or not.
An alarm sounded and Teliz leaned across to see what was going on. ‘Ah, your ride is here.’
‘Great,’ the traitor replied as another alarm sounded.
‘Damn!’
‘Let me guess, the Federation figured out your little hideaway.’
Teliz shot him a hard look. ‘What type of ship is that?’
Rashal looked at the design. ‘A relatively new design of fast-response fighter, capable of medium-warp flight, weapons equally a match to any of our warships and...’
‘Alright, it’s a nasty piece of technology, can we outrun it as sublight speeds?’
‘I have no idea,’ Rashal replied. ‘You can always try, but the Dahreki might try to attack us both.’
‘You’re still so sure of them as enemies, and maybe you’re right. But we have to stop fighting and work together permanently now that we know what’s out here. The Cha’lav will be back, and if we don’t have a united front, there will be nothing we can do, except die quick deaths. That’s the best we can hope for. Your death may bring about a new beginning for our people.’
Before Rashal could answer, a voice came through the comm system. ‘This is Commander Sheena Gonzales of the shuttle Onizuka. Stand down and prepare to be boarded. If you do not comply you will be crippled.’
‘So polite,’ Teliz replied sarcastically, activating the comm. ‘This is an internal Eeroth matter. Leave and you will not be destroyed.’
‘This is your final warning, shut down your engines and prepare to be boarded.’
‘I don’t like them,’ the rebel replied, and fired.
Dahreki Freighter
Eeroth System
Stardate 57400.9
Rashal looked up from the co-pilot’s chair. Shortly after they’d entered this null-space region, Teliz had freed him from the cargo hold and let him roam the ship, on the condition that the engine room and private quarters were off-limits. The traitor nodded, understanding immediately, but he had given up the sins of the flesh a long time ago, even before the Cha’lav had come to destroy everything he believed in. Teliz looked rather handsome now that he had washed out the grime of rebellion. His chiselled jaw line almost made Rashal wish that something would happen, but the hard gaze in the eyes made that an impossibility. The new rebel leader sat in the pilot’s chair and called up some information. It was the same thing he did every time he’d come to the bridge in the last two and a half days.
‘What exactly are you looking for?’ Rashal asked.
‘We are safe from the Federation ship,’ he answered, ‘but we are not safe from the Cha’lav.’
Rashal’s eyes widened and he was suddenly alert. ‘Where are we, exactly?’
‘We’re in a staging ground for the Cha’lav. They would create a rift and bring a dozen vessels into this nothingness, then emerge into normal space and attack our ships. We had no idea where they came from. A Dahreki fighter discovered this place and because we were working together, we were able to defeat the Cha’lav by booby-trapping this place.’
‘Why hasn’t everyone come looking for us?’
‘Because the Fahira rebellion killed the Dahreki that knew about it and removed those Fahira who knew. The only people that know are in my cell, and you.’
‘And the Federation ship,’ Rashal reminded him.
‘They don’t know what is happening, only that one second they were chasing us and the next, we vanished.’
Rashal nodded, but kept to himself the fact that he carried a subspace transmitter that would pinpoint their exact location. At least, he hoped it would. Now that he knew they were in Cha’lav territory, all bets were off. If the transmitter worked, Wright would have sent his people in by now, and he would be back in the Dauntless’ brig. If it didn’t work, he needed to make his own plans and hope that Wright was still out there.
‘How long can we stay here? I’m sure this bucket of bolts is not exactly brimming with supplies.’
Teliz shrugged. ‘You’re right, it’s not. But I have a plan, you see. The Cha’lav were not so stupid as to have one of these null-space bubbles in our territory, they had several and no chance to remove them before they were forced to flee. We can go to any of the bubbles and escape.’
Rashal sighed. ‘So why have we been sitting here for the last three days?’
Teliz let out an even more audible sigh. ‘Don’t you see. We’re not leaving in this ship, we’re waiting for a rendezvous.’
‘I see.’
‘And that transmitter of yours, aboard this ship, will act as a decoy while we make our escape.’
Rashal narrowed his eyes. ‘What transmitter?’
‘The one you’re carrying which allowed the aliens to track us.’
‘They tracked us because you left the cloaking envelope of the asteroid,’ Rashal shot back.
‘And how did they know how to find it?’
‘Because they do this kind of thing for a living. I’ve been aboard that ship for weeks and studied their history. Their technology is constantly improving and they have crews from over a hundred different worlds.’
‘Perhaps I am wrong and you will submit to a scan?’
‘Of course.’
Teliz was taken aback, but covered well. He expected to be rebuffed, thereby proving that a transmitter was present. His bluff had been called and Rashal had to hope that Wright’s engineering team were as good as they said they were.
‘Alright then,’ the rebel said and waved a bizarre-looking instrument across Rashal’s arms, chest and legs.
The device emitted no sound.
‘Satisfied?’
‘I suppose,’ Teliz sounded disappointed. ‘Our rendezvous should be within the next few hours. Feel free to indulge yourself in a little reading.’
‘Huh?’
‘I keep lots of books on board, since I spend much of my time waiting for transports and such.’
Rashal smiled. ‘You always were a reader.’
‘And it has allowed me to stay one step ahead of my enemies,’ he smirked.
‘I would prefer to know who we are meeting with.’
Teliz shrugged. ‘I don’t think you do, not really.’
‘Meaning?’ Rashal questioned, hoping that Wright would appear quickly. This plan was fast becoming untenable.
‘I know how much you like the Dahreki, so I thought you would enjoy getting to know them a little better.’
He slumped. ‘You sold me out.’
‘They’re offering an alliance, as long as your head is separated from your body, and considering what you did, I’m not that concerned about handing you over.’
‘I see,’ Rashal glanced around wondering whether he would be able to overpower his former friend and lover to escape or not.
An alarm sounded and Teliz leaned across to see what was going on. ‘Ah, your ride is here.’
‘Great,’ the traitor replied as another alarm sounded.
‘Damn!’
‘Let me guess, the Federation figured out your little hideaway.’
Teliz shot him a hard look. ‘What type of ship is that?’
Rashal looked at the design. ‘A relatively new design of fast-response fighter, capable of medium-warp flight, weapons equally a match to any of our warships and...’
‘Alright, it’s a nasty piece of technology, can we outrun it as sublight speeds?’
‘I have no idea,’ Rashal replied. ‘You can always try, but the Dahreki might try to attack us both.’
‘You’re still so sure of them as enemies, and maybe you’re right. But we have to stop fighting and work together permanently now that we know what’s out here. The Cha’lav will be back, and if we don’t have a united front, there will be nothing we can do, except die quick deaths. That’s the best we can hope for. Your death may bring about a new beginning for our people.’
Before Rashal could answer, a voice came through the comm system. ‘This is Commander Sheena Gonzales of the shuttle Onizuka. Stand down and prepare to be boarded. If you do not comply you will be crippled.’
‘So polite,’ Teliz replied sarcastically, activating the comm. ‘This is an internal Eeroth matter. Leave and you will not be destroyed.’
‘This is your final warning, shut down your engines and prepare to be boarded.’
‘I don’t like them,’ the rebel replied, and fired.
Cross...double-cross...and now an armed shuttle going up against the rebels. I'm curious to see what Wright does now.
My head is spinning with the double crosses, triple crosses, and surfeit of treachery!
Oh, and have I mentioned that I think Wright is a conniving bastard?
Oh, and have I mentioned that I think Wright is a conniving bastard?
My head hurts!
Not as bad as some people's backs with the backstabbing and double crossing going on.
Not as bad as some people's backs with the backstabbing and double crossing going on.
Are you folks seriously telling me that you like my villainous commander? can't figure him out? Good!
You'll get there eventually.
You'll get there eventually.
Chapter Ten
Shuttlecraft Onizuka
Null-space bubble 47
Stardate 57401.1
Lieutenant Commander Sheena Gonzales held on to her console as the shuttle took the impact of the plasma charge from the Eeroth rebel ship. She muttered a Betazoid curse as she backed off and moved a few degrees to starboard. Two security officers were along for the ride and both winced as the charge hit the unprotected hull. Shields didn’t work in the null-space bubble and weapons were severely limited as well, making both shuttles even. Gonzales didn’t want to fire, since the rebels had previously done nothing to harm Federation interests, but she had her orders and intended to follow them. The fact that the rebel ship had now fired meant that she could now retaliate, within reason and abiding by her questionable orders.
‘Fire phasers at their engines and weapons,’ she ordered.
‘Aye sir, firing,’ Cadet Snowcroft replied under the watchful eye of the more senior Andorian security officer, chief petty officer Reshakella zh’Velan.
The low-yield phaser beam impacted the rebel’s hull and scorched it, but did little else. ‘No damage,’ zh’Velan replied.
‘We need to do something, I’m not letting them get away,’ Gonzales muttered as the first rebel ship moved away. Whatever Wright has planned is going to cause trouble for everyone concerned and it’s my job to make sure that doesn’t happen.
‘Commander, Captain Wright’s got all the sensor capabilities we have looking for the other bubbles. He can’t go far,’ Snowcroft added, following protocol by naming Wright as her commanding officer with the correct title. ‘We could try routing the phaser beam through the deflector dish. It would make it stronger and the beam won’t weaken as much before hitting the other ship.’
‘But we’d only get one chance at it before burning out the dish.’
‘Three, actually,’ Snowcroft replied.
‘This is Commander Gonzales, stand down. This is your final warning,’ she said over the comm and turned to the others. ‘I don’t expect a response.’
The shuttle shuddered.
‘I guess that’s it then,’ Gonzales replied with a smirk. ‘Fire when ready.’
The flyer’s deflector dish glowed and then released a quarter-metre-thick beam of intense phaser fire at the rebel ship which paused in its flight. ‘Their engines have been disabled.’
‘Excellent. Will the transporters work?’
‘No sir,’ zh’Velan answered. ‘We’ll have to dock with them. And the other rebel ship has decided to do a runner, apparently their stomachs weren’t up for a little fight.’
‘Alright then, let’s go.’
As she manoeuvred the flyer toward the other ship, she was suddenly reminded of a holograph that she saw of Voyager’s original Delta Flyer and the unusual configuration of knobs and dials which the helmsman had insisted on, wanted to feel himself flying the shuttle rather than just tapping panels as she was currently doing. It was an interesting but one she couldn’t see Astar allowing. That thought brought her firmly back into the present and she latched on to the conversation she’d had with Wright regarding this very mission.
‘Commander, we need to make sure that the Eeroth are able to repatriate all of their people, including the rebels,’ Wright had informed her. ‘To do that, we need to find and talk to the rebels. Allow them to air their grievances and get President Janar to listen.’
‘Will he survive then?’
‘Maxx thinks so. He’s done all he can and he’s watching over the Fahira doctors tending to the President.’
Gonzales nodded, but knew in her own mind that Janar wouldn’t survive. Physically he might but his emotional wounds were far too severe. The Eeroth should be looking for a new leader, but she wasn’t going to tell Wright that. ‘What do I do when I catch up to the rebels?’
‘Do what you have to. You have my authorisation to fire on them first if the need arises. We can’t afford to leave this region in the hands of warmongers, not if they want to have a fighting chance when the Cha’lav return.’
‘You think they will?’
‘They will, while the null-space bubbles are intact, which is why I have the science team working on a way to destroy them. Now, take the Onizuka, it’s the best chance we have of being intimidating and friendly at the same time.’
‘Aye sir.’
‘Dismissed.’
She didn’t like the way Wright acted as if Astar was going to be incapacitated on a permanent basis and made her feelings known to Parker before she left. Parker seemed to be working on something else besides the captain’s attempted murder, but assured her that everything she was working on was linked, somehow. The two women disliked each other but were on the right track when it came to believing something was off about Wright. Gonzales wondered, and not for the first time, if she could access Wright’s personnel file without him being aware of it.
‘Sir, we’re within two metres,’ Snowcroft said.
‘I see it, Cadet,’ Gonzales replied. ‘Both of you get ready to board, and be careful. They might have booby-trapped the airlock, or they might be waiting for you.’
‘Aye sir,’ zh’Velan replied.
‘On second thoughts,’ she muttered. ‘Snowcroft, get back here. Keep on your toes. I’ll go with zh’Velan as soon as we’ve docked. You be ready to get us out of here.’
Snowcroft stood by the pilot’s chair as the Onizuka made contact with the hull of the other ship. ‘Sir, you should go.’
Gonzales nodded. ‘Zh’Velan, where’s my phaser rifle.’
‘Right here, sir,’ the Andorian replied as she tossed it to the Betazoid tactical officer. ‘Tricorder isn’t detecting any booby-traps.’
‘We’ll have to hope it’s accurate. Open her up.’
The hatch in the side of the flyer slid open to reveal a similar hatch in the side of the rebel ship. Zh’Velan used the manual release to open said hatch and then stood back.
Nothing happened.
Both woman cautiously moved into the Eeroth ship and noticed that they had entered in the cargo hold. The Andorian glanced at her tricorder and held up two fingers, then pointed forward. Two people on board, both in the cockpit of this tramp freighter. Gonzales walked up the stairs first and the doors slid open to reveal both men sitting in chairs with weapons aimed at each other.
‘Put them down, now,’ she ordered.
‘Him first,’ they replied simultaneously.
Zh’Velan moved to Gonzales’ side and they shared a look. Adjusting their rifles to heavy stun, they fired. Both men fell to the deck and their weapons cluttered aside.
‘That was too easy,’ zh’Velan muttered.
‘Sirs, I’m picking up an increase in power from the engines over there,’ Snowcroft called, her voice tinged with worry.
‘We’re on our way,’ Gonzales replied as they each lifted one of the unconscious rebels and headed for the hatch.
Shuttlecraft Onizuka
Null-space bubble 47
Stardate 57401.1
Lieutenant Commander Sheena Gonzales held on to her console as the shuttle took the impact of the plasma charge from the Eeroth rebel ship. She muttered a Betazoid curse as she backed off and moved a few degrees to starboard. Two security officers were along for the ride and both winced as the charge hit the unprotected hull. Shields didn’t work in the null-space bubble and weapons were severely limited as well, making both shuttles even. Gonzales didn’t want to fire, since the rebels had previously done nothing to harm Federation interests, but she had her orders and intended to follow them. The fact that the rebel ship had now fired meant that she could now retaliate, within reason and abiding by her questionable orders.
‘Fire phasers at their engines and weapons,’ she ordered.
‘Aye sir, firing,’ Cadet Snowcroft replied under the watchful eye of the more senior Andorian security officer, chief petty officer Reshakella zh’Velan.
The low-yield phaser beam impacted the rebel’s hull and scorched it, but did little else. ‘No damage,’ zh’Velan replied.
‘We need to do something, I’m not letting them get away,’ Gonzales muttered as the first rebel ship moved away. Whatever Wright has planned is going to cause trouble for everyone concerned and it’s my job to make sure that doesn’t happen.
‘Commander, Captain Wright’s got all the sensor capabilities we have looking for the other bubbles. He can’t go far,’ Snowcroft added, following protocol by naming Wright as her commanding officer with the correct title. ‘We could try routing the phaser beam through the deflector dish. It would make it stronger and the beam won’t weaken as much before hitting the other ship.’
‘But we’d only get one chance at it before burning out the dish.’
‘Three, actually,’ Snowcroft replied.
‘This is Commander Gonzales, stand down. This is your final warning,’ she said over the comm and turned to the others. ‘I don’t expect a response.’
The shuttle shuddered.
‘I guess that’s it then,’ Gonzales replied with a smirk. ‘Fire when ready.’
The flyer’s deflector dish glowed and then released a quarter-metre-thick beam of intense phaser fire at the rebel ship which paused in its flight. ‘Their engines have been disabled.’
‘Excellent. Will the transporters work?’
‘No sir,’ zh’Velan answered. ‘We’ll have to dock with them. And the other rebel ship has decided to do a runner, apparently their stomachs weren’t up for a little fight.’
‘Alright then, let’s go.’
As she manoeuvred the flyer toward the other ship, she was suddenly reminded of a holograph that she saw of Voyager’s original Delta Flyer and the unusual configuration of knobs and dials which the helmsman had insisted on, wanted to feel himself flying the shuttle rather than just tapping panels as she was currently doing. It was an interesting but one she couldn’t see Astar allowing. That thought brought her firmly back into the present and she latched on to the conversation she’d had with Wright regarding this very mission.
‘Commander, we need to make sure that the Eeroth are able to repatriate all of their people, including the rebels,’ Wright had informed her. ‘To do that, we need to find and talk to the rebels. Allow them to air their grievances and get President Janar to listen.’
‘Will he survive then?’
‘Maxx thinks so. He’s done all he can and he’s watching over the Fahira doctors tending to the President.’
Gonzales nodded, but knew in her own mind that Janar wouldn’t survive. Physically he might but his emotional wounds were far too severe. The Eeroth should be looking for a new leader, but she wasn’t going to tell Wright that. ‘What do I do when I catch up to the rebels?’
‘Do what you have to. You have my authorisation to fire on them first if the need arises. We can’t afford to leave this region in the hands of warmongers, not if they want to have a fighting chance when the Cha’lav return.’
‘You think they will?’
‘They will, while the null-space bubbles are intact, which is why I have the science team working on a way to destroy them. Now, take the Onizuka, it’s the best chance we have of being intimidating and friendly at the same time.’
‘Aye sir.’
‘Dismissed.’
She didn’t like the way Wright acted as if Astar was going to be incapacitated on a permanent basis and made her feelings known to Parker before she left. Parker seemed to be working on something else besides the captain’s attempted murder, but assured her that everything she was working on was linked, somehow. The two women disliked each other but were on the right track when it came to believing something was off about Wright. Gonzales wondered, and not for the first time, if she could access Wright’s personnel file without him being aware of it.
‘Sir, we’re within two metres,’ Snowcroft said.
‘I see it, Cadet,’ Gonzales replied. ‘Both of you get ready to board, and be careful. They might have booby-trapped the airlock, or they might be waiting for you.’
‘Aye sir,’ zh’Velan replied.
‘On second thoughts,’ she muttered. ‘Snowcroft, get back here. Keep on your toes. I’ll go with zh’Velan as soon as we’ve docked. You be ready to get us out of here.’
Snowcroft stood by the pilot’s chair as the Onizuka made contact with the hull of the other ship. ‘Sir, you should go.’
Gonzales nodded. ‘Zh’Velan, where’s my phaser rifle.’
‘Right here, sir,’ the Andorian replied as she tossed it to the Betazoid tactical officer. ‘Tricorder isn’t detecting any booby-traps.’
‘We’ll have to hope it’s accurate. Open her up.’
The hatch in the side of the flyer slid open to reveal a similar hatch in the side of the rebel ship. Zh’Velan used the manual release to open said hatch and then stood back.
Nothing happened.
Both woman cautiously moved into the Eeroth ship and noticed that they had entered in the cargo hold. The Andorian glanced at her tricorder and held up two fingers, then pointed forward. Two people on board, both in the cockpit of this tramp freighter. Gonzales walked up the stairs first and the doors slid open to reveal both men sitting in chairs with weapons aimed at each other.
‘Put them down, now,’ she ordered.
‘Him first,’ they replied simultaneously.
Zh’Velan moved to Gonzales’ side and they shared a look. Adjusting their rifles to heavy stun, they fired. Both men fell to the deck and their weapons cluttered aside.
‘That was too easy,’ zh’Velan muttered.
‘Sirs, I’m picking up an increase in power from the engines over there,’ Snowcroft called, her voice tinged with worry.
‘We’re on our way,’ Gonzales replied as they each lifted one of the unconscious rebels and headed for the hatch.
Can't be easy when you suspect your commanding officer to have sinister motives but you cannot prove it. I guess unless somebody has the guts to stand up to him and relieve him of duty everybody just has to go along.
The questions is, where exactly are they going?
The questions is, where exactly are they going?
Gonzales is caught between a rock and a hard place. She has to be very careful where she treads. While she suspects, correctly, that Wright is up to no good, she's got no proof...very shaky and dangerous ground for her.
Chapter Eleven
USS Dauntless
Eeroth system
Stardate 57401.3
Rashal and Teliz were both safely ensconced in the brig and were being watched over by the most intimidating security people she had; President Janar was recovering in secured quarters and guarded by the largest security officers she could use; and to top it all off she had a homicidal maniac in command of a starship with no proof to remove him. Whatever the Cha’lav had come aboard for, she could find no sign of them and Wright had agreed to let it go since no apparent damage had been caused. Lieutenant K’Tyra Parker couldn’t even gain access to his file to find out anything more than the basics, which didn’t tell her anything she didn’t know. The padd which Mahtani had given her contained directions to open a spatial rift to somewhere and the poison with which the Astar symbiont had been poisoned was difficult to replicate, but not impossible. There was still enough in the device to run a full spectrum of tests on it, and it was discovered to be from a plant native to Trill which had no effect on the humanoids, just the symbionts.
Wright had never been to Trill, so his paltry file stated, and if he was going to get the poison it would have to be weaponised. There was no way he could have purchased it prior to the kidnapping mission, since he had no idea who his commanding officer would be, so he must have created it on board...or grown it. Since the biochemical composition of the poison itself was difficult to replicate, it must have been grown from the seeds which did not contain the poison and therefore would not have triggered the bio-filters on board. Parker knew that he wouldn’t be stupid enough to keep the plant in his quarters which meant it would be kept in the hydroponics or airponics bays.
‘Computer,’ she called, ‘show me all information on the Tenaran Ice Orchid.’
‘Working,’ the female-toned computer replied and moments later a lilac-coloured plant with seven petals appeared on her screen.
It was beautiful and had actually been used for medicinal purposes in ancient times before Joining was fully understood. Parker read the fifty-seven pages on the plant and realised that the hydroponics bay would be the best place to find the plant. She decided that she would remove it from the ship and hopefully it would lead her to Wright.
‘Computer, where is Doctor Maxx and is he alone?’
‘Doctor Maxx is in sickbay. He is alone.’
‘Doctor Maxx, meet in the hydroponics bay, immediately,’ she said, tapping her combadge.
‘Acknowledged.’
The young Bolian was there first, and Parker could see that the shallow ridge bisecting his face was pale, indicating that he was tired and probably stressed as well.
‘Do you have something?’ he asked.
‘I do, have you ever been to the Tenaran Ice Cliffs on Trill?’
He nodded. ‘They’re beautiful.’
‘So are the orchids found in that region,’ she replied as they entered.
‘I remember the captain mentioning something to me once about those orchids, I picked a few for her quarters on Trill.’
‘And she told you not, but didn’t tell you why?’ Parker suggested.
Maxx’s eyes widened. ‘The sap is deadly to the symbionts!’ he slapped his forehead. ‘Why didn’t I think of that before. I remember now, I’ll go and replicate the antidote now.’
‘Replicate it, but don’t give it to the captain yet.’
‘Lieutenant?’ The Bolian asked in a warning tone.
‘We still don’t know who was responsible and what they plan to do with her out of the way. I know this isn’t exactly by the book, but we need to know what is going on.’
‘I suppose it can’t hurt,’ Maxx replied sourly. ‘The stasis chamber will prevent any further damage. At the first sign of trouble with the power systems, I’ll have to bring her out of it and give her the antidote, otherwise the symbiont will die, very quickly, and she’ll most likely die as well.’
Parker nodded, hoping that it didn’t get that far. ‘Thank you, Doctor.’
‘Go find what that bastard is doing,’ he replied and walked out.
‘Computer, display activity logs over the last three months for the hydroponics bay. Download to this padd and the secured core in my quarters.’
‘Acknowledged, download complete.’
Parker was on her way to engineering to find out where the poisoning device had come from when the ship shuddered violently and red alert was automatically engaged.
‘All personnel report to battle stations,’ Gonzales’ voice spoke across the ship. ‘Lieutenant Parker report to the bridge.’
She tapped her combadge. ‘On my way.’
When she got to the bridge she glanced at the viewscreen and saw something that she did not expect to see. The Cha’lav were back and the Eeroth were clearly badly placed to launch an attack. But there was an added wrinkle. These ships belonged to the Cha’lav-Aquatics, not the Primates, Insectoids or Reptilians who were usually attacking this galaxy and she said as much.
‘What does that mean?’ Wright asked.
‘Different factions of the Cha’lav are attacking different regions of our galaxy, they’re definitely planning an widespread invasion, but this isn’t the way they normally do things,’ Parker replied.
‘Explain!’
‘The Cha’lav have a strict hierarchy of their respective phenotypes. The Aquatics are high-up and generally do not do the dirty work like this. The humanoid phenotypes do this kind of work which means that this was not sanctioned by the ruling body.’
‘So we’ve got rogue Cha’lav?’ Gonzales asked with a sigh. ‘How big is the empire anyway?’
‘It’s alright, Lieutenant, we might not know where you got the information from, but we know you have it,’ Wright added.
‘About two hundred and sixty thousand galaxies, give or take.’
Gonzales blinked. ‘Two hundred and sixty thousand galaxies?’
‘Yes sir, this empire is millions of years old.’
‘We’re being hailed,’ Gonzales said. ‘It’s the Cha’lav.’
‘On screen,’ Wright ordered.
A wall of water appeared on the viewscreen and a whale-like lifeform swam toward them from the distance. ‘We have no quarrel with you, Starfleet. Leave us be.’
‘You attacked this world, I’m not kindly disposed toward you at the moment.’
‘We did not attack this planet, nor any other in this galaxy. We work for a group who...wish for the current expansionist regime to end,’ the Cha’lav-Aquatic replied. ‘I suggest you order all the Eerothian vessels to withdraw to at least one hundred million kilometres from their planet.’
‘What are you planning to do.’
‘Repair the damage wrought by our brethren.’
‘How?’ Mahtani asked, interrupting before Wright could.
‘Our technology is not to be shared.’
‘We can do the same without causing any collateral damage. The shockwave from whatever you plan will likely destroy their moon.’
The Cha’lav-Aquatic paused. ‘How soon can you be ready to implement your technology?’
‘We’re ready now,’ Mahtani answered, hoping that his team were in fact ready.
‘Very well, proceed.’
‘Thank you,’ Wright replied and the screen blanked. He turned to Mahtani. ‘Lieutenant?’
‘Five minutes, sir. We’re loading the torpedo tubes now.’
‘Okay,’ Wright replied as he settled into his chair. ‘Let’s see what happens.’
USS Dauntless
Eeroth system
Stardate 57401.3
Rashal and Teliz were both safely ensconced in the brig and were being watched over by the most intimidating security people she had; President Janar was recovering in secured quarters and guarded by the largest security officers she could use; and to top it all off she had a homicidal maniac in command of a starship with no proof to remove him. Whatever the Cha’lav had come aboard for, she could find no sign of them and Wright had agreed to let it go since no apparent damage had been caused. Lieutenant K’Tyra Parker couldn’t even gain access to his file to find out anything more than the basics, which didn’t tell her anything she didn’t know. The padd which Mahtani had given her contained directions to open a spatial rift to somewhere and the poison with which the Astar symbiont had been poisoned was difficult to replicate, but not impossible. There was still enough in the device to run a full spectrum of tests on it, and it was discovered to be from a plant native to Trill which had no effect on the humanoids, just the symbionts.
Wright had never been to Trill, so his paltry file stated, and if he was going to get the poison it would have to be weaponised. There was no way he could have purchased it prior to the kidnapping mission, since he had no idea who his commanding officer would be, so he must have created it on board...or grown it. Since the biochemical composition of the poison itself was difficult to replicate, it must have been grown from the seeds which did not contain the poison and therefore would not have triggered the bio-filters on board. Parker knew that he wouldn’t be stupid enough to keep the plant in his quarters which meant it would be kept in the hydroponics or airponics bays.
‘Computer,’ she called, ‘show me all information on the Tenaran Ice Orchid.’
‘Working,’ the female-toned computer replied and moments later a lilac-coloured plant with seven petals appeared on her screen.
It was beautiful and had actually been used for medicinal purposes in ancient times before Joining was fully understood. Parker read the fifty-seven pages on the plant and realised that the hydroponics bay would be the best place to find the plant. She decided that she would remove it from the ship and hopefully it would lead her to Wright.
‘Computer, where is Doctor Maxx and is he alone?’
‘Doctor Maxx is in sickbay. He is alone.’
‘Doctor Maxx, meet in the hydroponics bay, immediately,’ she said, tapping her combadge.
‘Acknowledged.’
The young Bolian was there first, and Parker could see that the shallow ridge bisecting his face was pale, indicating that he was tired and probably stressed as well.
‘Do you have something?’ he asked.
‘I do, have you ever been to the Tenaran Ice Cliffs on Trill?’
He nodded. ‘They’re beautiful.’
‘So are the orchids found in that region,’ she replied as they entered.
‘I remember the captain mentioning something to me once about those orchids, I picked a few for her quarters on Trill.’
‘And she told you not, but didn’t tell you why?’ Parker suggested.
Maxx’s eyes widened. ‘The sap is deadly to the symbionts!’ he slapped his forehead. ‘Why didn’t I think of that before. I remember now, I’ll go and replicate the antidote now.’
‘Replicate it, but don’t give it to the captain yet.’
‘Lieutenant?’ The Bolian asked in a warning tone.
‘We still don’t know who was responsible and what they plan to do with her out of the way. I know this isn’t exactly by the book, but we need to know what is going on.’
‘I suppose it can’t hurt,’ Maxx replied sourly. ‘The stasis chamber will prevent any further damage. At the first sign of trouble with the power systems, I’ll have to bring her out of it and give her the antidote, otherwise the symbiont will die, very quickly, and she’ll most likely die as well.’
Parker nodded, hoping that it didn’t get that far. ‘Thank you, Doctor.’
‘Go find what that bastard is doing,’ he replied and walked out.
‘Computer, display activity logs over the last three months for the hydroponics bay. Download to this padd and the secured core in my quarters.’
‘Acknowledged, download complete.’
Parker was on her way to engineering to find out where the poisoning device had come from when the ship shuddered violently and red alert was automatically engaged.
‘All personnel report to battle stations,’ Gonzales’ voice spoke across the ship. ‘Lieutenant Parker report to the bridge.’
She tapped her combadge. ‘On my way.’
When she got to the bridge she glanced at the viewscreen and saw something that she did not expect to see. The Cha’lav were back and the Eeroth were clearly badly placed to launch an attack. But there was an added wrinkle. These ships belonged to the Cha’lav-Aquatics, not the Primates, Insectoids or Reptilians who were usually attacking this galaxy and she said as much.
‘What does that mean?’ Wright asked.
‘Different factions of the Cha’lav are attacking different regions of our galaxy, they’re definitely planning an widespread invasion, but this isn’t the way they normally do things,’ Parker replied.
‘Explain!’
‘The Cha’lav have a strict hierarchy of their respective phenotypes. The Aquatics are high-up and generally do not do the dirty work like this. The humanoid phenotypes do this kind of work which means that this was not sanctioned by the ruling body.’
‘So we’ve got rogue Cha’lav?’ Gonzales asked with a sigh. ‘How big is the empire anyway?’
‘It’s alright, Lieutenant, we might not know where you got the information from, but we know you have it,’ Wright added.
‘About two hundred and sixty thousand galaxies, give or take.’
Gonzales blinked. ‘Two hundred and sixty thousand galaxies?’
‘Yes sir, this empire is millions of years old.’
‘We’re being hailed,’ Gonzales said. ‘It’s the Cha’lav.’
‘On screen,’ Wright ordered.
A wall of water appeared on the viewscreen and a whale-like lifeform swam toward them from the distance. ‘We have no quarrel with you, Starfleet. Leave us be.’
‘You attacked this world, I’m not kindly disposed toward you at the moment.’
‘We did not attack this planet, nor any other in this galaxy. We work for a group who...wish for the current expansionist regime to end,’ the Cha’lav-Aquatic replied. ‘I suggest you order all the Eerothian vessels to withdraw to at least one hundred million kilometres from their planet.’
‘What are you planning to do.’
‘Repair the damage wrought by our brethren.’
‘How?’ Mahtani asked, interrupting before Wright could.
‘Our technology is not to be shared.’
‘We can do the same without causing any collateral damage. The shockwave from whatever you plan will likely destroy their moon.’
The Cha’lav-Aquatic paused. ‘How soon can you be ready to implement your technology?’
‘We’re ready now,’ Mahtani answered, hoping that his team were in fact ready.
‘Very well, proceed.’
‘Thank you,’ Wright replied and the screen blanked. He turned to Mahtani. ‘Lieutenant?’
‘Five minutes, sir. We’re loading the torpedo tubes now.’
‘Okay,’ Wright replied as he settled into his chair. ‘Let’s see what happens.’
Yes let's see what happens! TROUBLE would be the most likely answer
Interesting--the Cha'lav's own factional disagreements coming into the mix. And yes, Wright is turning into a most fascinating villain.
That is a most interesting development. Looks like the Cha'lav's are heading for possible civil war. Also nice to see some suprisingly reasonable enemies for once. Wright might be a homocidal lunatic but you gotta give him credit for thinking on this feet here.
Oh and 260,000 galaxies?!? Seriously?
Oh and 260,000 galaxies?!? Seriously?
you can conquer a lot of places in seven million years
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