CHAPTER SEVEN
N’Gath stood on the Bat’leth’s Bridge, surveying the scene before him. A toothy, victorious smile crossed his face and behind him, Kohlok was in good spirits.
“General,” he exclaimed,” they have no shields, no weapons, and no propulsion! Now is the time to strike!”
One of the Bridge officers spoke up. “My lord, they’re using transport inhibitors on almost every deck. There is a hole in their net, though. There are four decks without any inhibition to our transporters, but our sensors cannot penetrate those areas.”
The smile slipped from Kohlok’s face. “Obviously, General, they are amassing a large security force on those decks to wipe out our troops when they beam aboard. Why else would those decks be obscured from our sensors?”
N’Gath turned to his Executive Officer with a patronizing smile. “I don’t think so, Kohlok, son of Ir’dan. There is no doubt in my mind that our quarry is a cunning man. Especially to have command of such an important ship. I believe that this is an attempt to scare us into believing that they are ready for us.”
Captain Kohlok appeared to be confused. “I do not understand, General.”
“Of course, you don’t!,” snapped his commanding officer. “That is why you are not the commander of this ship! What they are obviously doing is bluffing, and I am about to call their bluff!”
Kohlok humbly hung his head before N’Gath, but to avoid complete humiliation, he turned towards the officer who had alerted them to the presence of the inhibitors aboard the Federation vessel. “Prepare the boarding party, with only one-quarter beaming onto each of those four decks!”
When the officer scurried away from him, N’Gath turned to him. “Lead the assault, my friend,” he murmured,” for personal glory!”
* * * *
The order had been broadcast throughout every deck of Starfleet’s pride and joy. Stand by to repel boarders.
Other commands had followed. Some of them were a source of mystification for Bekk-Tamba. Only one turbolift was operational and it had been hurriedly reprogrammed to bypass Decks Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, and Fifteen. In addition to this order, all of the Jefferies tubes through those decks had been sealed. It was as if Captain Decker wanted to contain a boarding party, instead of stopping one from arriving in the first place.
The Grazerite chief engineer stiffened as the computer announced an intruder alert. He checked his security console and sure enough, some four hundred Klingon soldiers had materialized aboard, divided evenly between the four decks.
Still, he thought, at least, we’ll know soon what the captain has planned.
* * * *
Captain Kohlok materialized on Deck Twelve with a converted T6 disruptor pistol in one hand and a tradiational d’k’tang in the other hand. Expected a murderous volley of phaser fire, he was baffled to find the corridor that he was in to be empty. With a few brief commands, he ordered a small detachment of warriors to search every office, living space, and recreational area on the deck.
With the rest of his unit, he made his way speedily towards Turbolift One.
* * * *
On the Bridge, Lieutenant Commander Rylek was monitoring the progress of the invaders on his tactical console. “Captain, the group that appears to be in overall command of the raiders is approaching the turbolift.”
Decker smiled. “Let’s give them a nasty surprise. After that, we can really ruin their day.”
* * * *
Kohlok arrived at the turbolift, his eyes looking at the control unit. He pressed the button to summon it but it only answered with a flat-noted klaxon from the ship’s computer.
“Turbolift One no longer services Deck Twelve,” it informed him.
The Klingon captain raised his d’k’tang blade and smashed the controls in a rage. He turned to his troops and said,” We must find another way to enter the service tunnels on this deck.”
* * * *
Decker smirked with bitter satisfaction as he watched the security footage on the main viewscreen. It was by no means that he was a ruthless man. However, revenge and hatred for his foe had transformed him into an individual who was going to make the Klingons pay dearly for what they had done to Naveen Haldar.
“Engineering.”
“Bekk-Tamba here, sir,” came the alto voice of the Grazerite engineer.
“Mister Bekk-Tamba,” he said with a gulp,” decompress Decks Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, and Fifteen and vent them into space.”
There was a slight hesitation before he answered. “Aye, aye, sir.”
* * * *
Kohlok was aiming his T6 disruptor pistol at the sealed Jefferies Tube cover when he heard a metallic alarm at the very end of the corridor. A moment later, he saw to his horror that the boarding hatch was sliding open. He watched it inch upwards and when it reached the very top of the corridor, there was a flash of blue energy when the emergency containment field was deactivated.
For a second, it seemed like time was standing still. Then the air was drawn out of his lung with a terrifying but crushing force. He tried to yell but no sound escaped from his lips. In his final moments of consciousness, he found himself floating through the open portal.
Then his universe went dark.
* * * *
Decker looked at April McConnell. “Open a channel to the Klingon vessel, Miss McConnell.”
She slowly nodded and the computer emitted its obligatory communications chirp before the captain’s eyes became fixed upon the main viewer.
“General N’Gath, this is Captain Decker. Your boarding party is now floating in the vacuum of space. You have failed.”
He motioned for the channel to be closed.
“Captain, the Bat’leth is powering up her cadion beam projector.”
Decker’s jaw dropped. He had underestimated his enemy and their thirst for victory. He turned towards Rylek. “How much time before it’s charged?”
Decker turned to look back at the screen. Finally his gaze fell to the back of Tainer’s head. “Aerran, how long would it take us at our best speed to travel to the Bat’leth’s position?”
Realizing what the captain was proposing, the Betazoid officer looked shocked but as he was always a duty-bound Starfleet officer, he checked his readings. “Thirty seconds, sir.”
The captain wiped his brow and took a moment to think.
“All of you have made the Federation proud today. If we could make it back to Earth, I would have all of you decorated, but that ship could destabilize Federation-Klingon relations if it were to survive. We cannot destroy her with weapons, but we can still destroy her.”
He looked over at Commander Zagrovic who appeared to be calm and contemplative, even though there was a twinge of sadness in his eyes. “Aerran, engage at best speed and head straight for her. All hands, brace yourselves for ramming.”
Merrimack sailed forward on thruster power only with her courageous crew resigned to their imminent destruction. The separation between them closed. Using any power available to charge her cadion beam projector, the Bat’leth had no power to avoid the inevitable collision or the ability to fire her disruptors or torpedoes.
With just ten seconds to space before the jarring impact, Ensign McConnell called out to Decker. “Sir, a ship had just dropped out of high warp, ten kilometers behind the Bat’leth.” She waited for identification before she smiled and laughed with joy. “Captain, it’s the Ticonderoga!”
* * * *
Commander Declan Kincaid stood on the Bridge of the USS Ticonderoga, taking in the view. He appraised the situation quickly. “Sir, it looks like the Merrimack is in a pretty bad way. I think she was about to ram the Klingon ship, but when we appeared she reversed her thrusters and she’s now slowly moving away.”
Captain Weynik rose up from his command chair. With his eyestalks staring, he could see the charging cadion beam projector on the main screen as it was conspicuously glowing white and just seconds away from activation. He took action quickly and spoke to his tactical officer, Lieutenant Tanner.
“Mister Tanner, target the beam projector and fire a quantum torpedo.”
The torpedo raced through the gap between the two ships in only a couple of seconds. Though the torpedo struck the shields of the Bat’leth, the explosive energy from the weapon permeated through the defenses, smashing the projector. There was a large blast as the latent energy from the cadions burst through the interior of the Klingon vessel.
In that one attack, her propulsion system and her shield generators were obliterated.
* * * *
Decker smiled joyfully and he was further gratified when Bekk-Tamba reported over the intercom. “Captain, I can give you secondary phaser banks.”
The captain leaned towards the viewscreen as if he smelt the scent of victory in the air. “Mister Rylek,” he growled,” fire at will.”
Merrimack’s phasers sliced mercilessly into the hull of General N’Gath’s ship. Multiple small explosions could be seen erupting from her.
“I’m reading massive energy fluctuations in the Bat’leth’s warp core,” McConnell said after several shots had been fired. “She’s about to go up, sir.”
Decker was about to order Tainer to increase the distance between the ships but the Betazoid helmsman was already plotting a course parallel with that of the Ticonderoga. He also set the screen to a reverse angle as the Merrimack slowly pulled away from her would-be killer.
Everyone on the Bridge stared in wonderment as the Klingon battleship detonated in a display of brilliant light. Afterwards, the Bridge remained as silent as a grave.
* * * *
EPILOGUE
The Wardroom aboard the USS Ticonderoga was abuzz with gradually ebbing excitement, regarding the action of the day. At opposing ends of the table, both commanding officers sat. Captain Jason Decker took the head of the table while Captain Weynik relegated himself to the bottom. This was an unexpected honor placed on him, especially in the company of such a hero of the Federation as Weynik. He was happy that three more of his officers had been invited to dine, lest he feel humble and intimidated by the Roylan officer.
To his left sat the First Officer of the Ticonderoga, Commander Declan Kincaid. To his right sat Counselor Stephanie Finch, a friendly, familiar face that Decker was grateful to for accepting the invitation. Further down the table, Rylek, as Second Officer, was facing Commander Sorek, a fellow Vulcan.
On the flanks of Weynik sat Zagrovic and Counselor Sasha Hrelle who were busily renewing old friendships.
The pairings could hardly have been more poetically placed, Decker mused to himself. Certainly two Vulcans in conversation was a match made in Heaven as their discussions were focused wholly on logical assumption. The surroundings officers hushed as Weynik rose to his feet, his head barely able to see over the table.
“I would like to propose a toast,” he said, raising up his glass of genuine French red wine, bottled at a vineyard in France on Earth. “I believe that I speak for all of the citizens of the Federation when I say that we own Captain Decker and his gallant crew a debt of gratitude. Their selfless acts towards preserving the Khitomer Accords almost resulted in them making the ultimate sacrifice for what they believe in.”
Those present from the Ticonderoga charged their glasses in respect, but Decker rose up from his seat before they could consume their drinks.
“I’d like to propose my own toast to Captain Weynik and the Ticonderoga, without whom we wouldn’t be here now to thank for our lives.”
The conclusion of the toasts was also the end of the visit to the Galaxy-class starship by the Merrimack officers who departed the room quietly with the exception of Decker. He had returned to his seat when Weynik came around the table to speak with him.
“Although you said that you owe us a debt, sir, I doubt that Starfleet Command will see it that way,” he muttered gloomily. The Roylan eased himself into the chair next to him, which had been previously occupied by Counselor Finch.
“You’re right, unfortunately,” he confirmed in a weary tone. “Starfleet has viewed your actions today as reckless and unbecoming of a Starfleet officer. They told me that they were going to relieve you of your command.”
Decker smiled ruefully. “I thought as much.”
Weynik shifted in his chair. “I said, they were going to relieve you. They’re not.”
Decker looked up with a blank expression. “You mean -- “
“I mean,” Weynik interrupted him,” that Commander Kincaid and I spoke up in your defense. We told them that under the circumstances, you did what had to be done, and you did it successfully. You saved the Alpha Quadrant.”
“No, I didn’t. You did when you came to our aid.”
“Irrelevant,” snapped the Ticonderoga captain. “We were on our way because you had the presence of mind and the bloody common sense to realize that you may be over your head. You called for help. In any event, if you have been destroyed, we would have picked up the battle and advised Starfleet. The end result would have been the same in the long term, but you wouldn’t be around to see it. You did what you thought was best and I agree with you.”
Weynik placed a friendly hand on Decker’s wrist and he smiled gratefully at him. “Thank you, sir.”
* * * *
When Captain Decker entered Transporter Room Three aboard the Ticonderoga, he found Ilya Zagrovic waiting for him. He didn’t say anything to him as they stepped up onto the transporter pads and in a matter of seconds, they rematerialized on the platform in Transporter Room Two aboard the Merrimack.
“I have a surprise for you, sir,” the commander said, mysteriously.
Decker raised an eyebrow. “Do tell.”
“Well, sir,” began the First Officer,” I read in your file that you’re a friend of Thomas Paris…”
“Tom Paris. Another old colleague that I’ll probably never see again.”
“Not so, sir,” Zagrovic said decisively. “I have a friend from my Enterprise day by the name of Lieutenant Reginald Barclay. He now works on the Pathfinder project at Starfleet Communications. While we’ve been deployed, they’ve made a breakthrough. They’ve been able to make contact with the USS Voyager in the Delta Quadrant. This isn’t like the datastream transmission that they’ve been sending for a while now. This is real-time audio-visual!”
“Extraordinary!”
Zagrovic nodded happily. “Indeed so. The channel is only open for eleven minutes at one time, but using my friendship with Reg, I’ve been able to secure for you an entire transmission window for you, every week.”
Decker looked at his First Officer. “That time should be spent between crewmen and their families.”
“Reg says that they’re transmitting regularly. That gives you plenty of time to catch up with Mister Paris or acquaint yourself with Captain Janeway.”
“Decker’s eyes began to well up with tears. He had lost so many good friends over the years that he rejoiced at the opportunity to chat with someone who was so far away.
Zagrovic cleared his throat. “I’d hurry to Astrometrics if I were you, sir. Your first transmission to Voyager begins in exactly three minutes.”
Decker chuckled and pumped his hand. “Thank you so much, Commander.”
“My pleasure, sir.”
Decker walked away briskly but he stopped in his tracks and turned back towards Zagrovic. “Commander,” he said, flushing slightly with embarrassment,” I must apologize for my conduct on the Bridge at the beginning of the battle. I don’t expect you to understand but -- “
“I understand, sir,” the First Officer cut in. “I probably understand better than the rest of the crew.” The remark was cryptic and Decker didn’t quite understand what he was getting at. Zagrovic didn’t elaborate so he just smiled.
“Again, my thanks, Ilya.”
With that said, Decker hurried away to speak to a man on the other side of the Galaxy.
* * * *
Commander Zagrovic entered the Bridge to the sound of Lieutenant Tainer recounting the story of Arcadia’s involvement in Operation: Return to Doctor Tahro who had sojourned his way up to the Bridge. He went silent as he sensed the presence of the First Officer.
The commander smiled and tapped his combadge. “Zagrovic to Engineering.”
“Bekk-Tamba here, Commander,” came the Grazerite’s reply.
“Do we have warp drive now, Mister Bekk-Tamba?”
“Aye, sir. If you wanted her to, she could run the absolute speed record.”
Zagrovic smiled and sat down in the captain’s chair, looking at Tainer. “Mister Tainer, set a course for Earth. We’ll need a quick repair job at Station McKinney before we face any mad warriors again.”
Tainer smiled back. “What velocity, sir?”
Zagrovic returned the friendly smile and the gaze of the Betazoid’s pure black eyes. “Warp Six, if you please.” He paused for a moment before adding as an afterthought. “Once we’re under way, perhaps you could begin your story again? For my benefit?”
The Betazoid laughed cheerfully. “Aye, aye, sir.”
The End...
