Once again, thank you. It's funny how a story sometimes goes in a direction not even you as the author expect. 
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CHAPTER 19
Supplemental
USS Independence, Deck Seven
H’Kan System
The bronze-skinned captain rounded a corner after a quick stop at the armory to find her boarding team was already waiting for her. All told, the boarding team consisted of: Lieutenant Faltyne, Senior Chief Hatora – an Illyrian, herself, and six other gold-clad security personnel. She had hoped to see more. It hadn’t dawned on her how severe the casualties had been thus far between the battle and the infiltrator. This really was all that was left of the ship’s security forces. Three of the crewmen were wearing phase-absorbing armor and helmets. All were armed with pulse rifles. She noticed stun and photon grenades dangling off some of their uniforms.
Senior Chief Hatora was already in the umbilical, which was securely fastened to the
Philly’s docking hatch. The Illyrian was setting up shape charges to breach the hull.
The Andorian informed her, “Chief Hatora will need a few more seconds to calibrate the charges.”
Aurelia understood it was a precise operation. If the explosives were misaligned, they would destroy the docking corridor as well. It simply couldn’t be rushed.
Several moments later, the Illyrian with his distinctive ‘V’ shaped forehead ridge, emerged from the umbilical. “We’re set.”
The team braced themselves for the blowback. The captain gave a nod to the chief. A rush of hot air and a flash of fire later, Sintina ran into the smoky corridor. She soon found herself in the
Philadelphia. The resistance she expected wasn’t there. The darkened halls were empty. The rest of the boarding party joined her. They paused there only for a moment. Then, the captain ordered, “Let’s get to the bridge.”
Supplemental
Shuttlecraft Sharlin, Near the USS Independence
H’Kan System
The Type-10 shuttle was sluggish with one impulse engine out. The last fighter and the
Cullen were circling about each other in front of the two larger starships. The
Cullen’s shields were nearly gone. The
Javelin’s was at 50%. Karim opened fire, but missed. He was concerned about hitting the
Cullen, since he couldn’t achieve a target lock. The Type-8 received another hit from the more maneuverable fighter. Her shields were down.
The first officer called out, “
Cullen pilot, use your emergency transporter to beam to the
Indy. Do it now!”
“Aye.”
A few seconds later, another beam lanced at the shuttle. The
Cullen disappeared in a fireball. There was no time to confirm if the pilot made it out. The
Javelin promptly turned to intercept him and opened fire.
Karim dipped the shuttle down into a dive. He managed to avoid the volley, but nearly collided with the dorsal side the
Independence. He pulled back up hard, reacquired the hostile, and fired everything he had. Two of the six phaser beams hit their target. He launched three consecutive photons as well. The first one glanced off the fighter’s shields. The other two missed and the target as he altered course. Even with the glancing blow, the
Javelin’s shields were all but gone. The problem was, so were Karim’s. It came down to who would land the next hit.
Bin Nadal couldn’t afford to play cat and mouse anymore. He had to be aggressive. Phaser beams and photons let loose constantly. He headed directly for the fighter. All he had to do was hit the damn thing once! The
Javelin was quick and agile. It parried between the shots. But Karim had him on the run.
Without warning, the fighter came to a stop. Bin Nadal didn’t react in time, he over shot the hostile. Karim had less than a second to act. If he didn’t, that
Javelin would have him dead to rights. He initiated a warp pulse just as a micro-torpedo would have finished him.
Within a fraction of a second, he found himself several kilometers away from the battle site. The Persian quickly brought the shuttle about. He had remembered several years ago the
Stargazer warp jumped toward its enemy and visually confused them. It was called the Picard Maneuver, since it would take awhile for light to catch up, it would appear that there were two of him in the fighter’s window. It wouldn’t trick the fighter pilot long, but maybe just enough to get a good shot off.
Bin Nadal initiated another warp burst to the
Javelin and immediately opened fire with photons and phasers. The barrage tore into the craft, reducing it to rubble.
As he sighed in relief, the computer informed him,
“Hull micro-fractures have increased in size. Explosive decompression imminent.”
Supplemental
USS Philadelphia, Deck Twelve
H’Kan System
Aurelia’s ponytail bobbed constantly as she and her team were now in a full run toward the bridge. So far, they had encountered only two unarmed, black clad personnel. Both were swiftly stunned.
Lieutenant Faltyne was growing concerned. Perhaps this altered
Sovereign was more automated, so it didn’t require many crewmembers. Even so, he would have expected higher resistance by now. He glanced at the chief running beside him, knowing he was thinking the same thing. They had little choice, however, but to follow their captain; who was barreling ahead.
As she was sprinting, the captain nearly ran into more Section 31 operatives from an adjoining corridor. She brought up her phaser as she recognized them. It was Easton, “Data,” and Collins. Before she could react, the phaser was stripped from her hand by the android. Bones in her hand cracked and popped. She retreated out of his reach as she cried out. By then, her team had opened fire.
Lore, obviously not liking the odds, withdrew back into the hallway in which they had come. Collins quickly pulled Easton with them.
Collins led the three into the nearest door. Once inside, Lore quickly locked the hatch. It was very barren room. The operative quickly realized it was one of many unused crew quarters. It was small, probably intended for enlisted personnel. There were no windows. And no way out.
Lore groaned, “And now what fearless leader? We’re trapped in here and it won’t take them long to get through that door.”
The former Starfleet officer was no fool. The directorate recruited him for a reason. He was nearly a genius, devious, and calculating. He had gotten his team out of tougher situations than this when he was part of Starfleet Special Mission Team 11. Yes, he was a heartless killer, but he was a professional one. He had no qualms about standing his ground and fighting it out, but only when he felt he had the advantage. This wasn’t one of those times. Captain Aurelia had taken him by surprise with her warp core attack. He had been improvising since then.
A phaser was beginning to cut through the door.
Collins extended a hand toward Lore, “Give me that phaser.” The android did so. He continued, “If they can cut through the door, we can cut through the deck to a lower level. The Captain’s Yacht is only two decks down.” He adjusted the settings on the weapon.
“It will take you longer to cut through the deck plates than it will take them to get through the hatch,” observed Lore.
“Not if I be less subtle about it,” rejoined Collins. “Level 16 should do it.” He pointed the phaser at the deck.
Lore picked up a terrified Easton and got up against a nearby bulkhead.
With a single shot, the weapon had created a meter wide hole in the floor. Unceremoniously, Lore dropped his captive into it. He quickly followed. Collins picked up the rear.
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