Star Trek Hunter Episode 12: Prisoner in the Ice Castle

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Continued from Episode 11: Intersections and Reunions

Star Trek Hunter
Episode 12 – Prisoner in the Ice Castle​

“Andorian imperial succession has always been an extremely emotional and intensely violent affair. Since the Andorian Empire became one of the three founding governments of the United Federation of Planets, and with federation mediators, under the Federation Charter, playing a central role in facilitating succession, the death toll has been significantly reduced. In the opinion of andorian historians, an imperial succession with an official death count of less than a thousand is considered a bloodless transition.”

“It is crucial that federation mediators do not try to play god in these transitions. It is never our role to choose the new emperor or to allow the royal families choose the new emperor. Our role is to ensure an orderly process and help all parties to accept the inevitability of the outcome on the ground – to sanctify this outcome and prevent endless reprisals. It is by far the most difficult and delicate negotiation I have ever conducted, and I conducted the vast majority of it in complete silence, without ever saying a word.”

Ambassador Sarek, Notes on the Fifth Federation-Mediated Succession of the Andorian Empire.

​

 

[Gibraltar]

^^Love these fascinating cultural tidbits!

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Star Trek Hunter
Episode 12: Prisoner in the Ice Castle
Scene 1: Ice Hole

12.1
Ice Hole​

Tactical Specialist Belo Rys was on the far right cable. Tactical Specialist Jarrong was in the lead on the left. Ensign Tolon Reeves was up one level collecting samples near the anchor points for the lines. Four carbon fiber cables snaked down from the anchors above, running down a sheet of frozen sea water. The cavern was bitterly cold, but there was very little air movement and the ground operations team was prepared with insulated uniforms that were just short of being full EVA suits.

The tactical team was descending in a staggered line. Jarrong, on the left, was the first to drop, then Belo Garr, then Belo Cantys, then Belo Rys on the right. This allowed Rys to keep an eye on the rest of the team to spot any trouble with their descent and take action or alert the team. To avoid detection, they were relying on their heat vision instead of lanterns – a gift of their cardassian heritage.


Chief Flight Specialist Dewayne Guth had brought them in the wagon as far down into the cavern as the wagon could safely descend, then flew up out of the cavern, where he was station keeping nearby. Strongly magnetized metal deposits in the ice prevented the use of the transporter. Belo Rys, Belo Garr and Belo Cantys were each carrying a pattern enhancer, but within another hundred meters, these would also become useless - the magnetic deposits too strong for even the enhancers to punch a transport signal through. They would leave these devices behind on the next ledge.

Nearly a thousand meters further down, Investigator Buttans Ngumbo was scouting the ledge system, helping to guide the tactical squad down. He was using a small flashlight, but relying primarily on his superior olfactory sense. So far, they had not encountered any resistance - which Rys did not find comforting. There was no doubt this facility had been used as a prison, but if no one was guarding the main entrance, it could be a sign that the facility had been abandoned.

After descending for well over three hours in near total darkness, the tactical team joined Buttans on the bottom level. This lowest level appeared to cover about 500 square meters, but with no evident doors or passageways.


"Dead end," Jarrong whispered.

"Something smells hot," Buttans observed. "Smell it?"

Jarrong had the best heat vision of the group - she was able to make out her cousins and Buttans as undulating wraiths of heat, but there was no other source of heat down here. "It isn't down here,"

"I think it's up one level," Investigator Buttans said.

Jarrong saw it - a faint heat source within one of the walls above. "It's a trap!! GO UP GO UP GO UP GO UP!!"


Each of the squad members was still connected to the fiber cables they had used for descent. They slammed their hands on controls located on the left breast of their uniforms. Jarrong wrapped one arm under Buttans' crotch and threw him over her shoulder before activating her emergency recoil. Pulleys far above jerked and whined, quickly pulling the tactical squad members up the sides of the shaft as melted seawater crashed through one of the frozen walls.

Buttans, still hoisted over Jarrong's shoulder, his face against her back, helped unhook her from one pulley system and attached her to the next. Her cousins recovered the pattern enhancers they had left on this level, detached themselves from this pulley system and attached and activated the next as insidious hissing and crashing noises became louder below.

Tolon was waiting at the next level. With the speed and precision of dancers, Belo Rys, Belo Garr and Belo Cantys detached their cable systems, deployed the pattern enhancers and ushered Jarrong (still carrying Buttans) and Tolon into the triangle with them before activating the pattern enhancers.

"NOW!! Now NOW NOW!!" screamed Tolon. He was still screaming when the cavern started to dissolve in an array of patterned lights, to be replaced by the rear staging area of the wagon. He only started to breathe properly once the transporter beam cycle was complete and he could see that his team was safely aboard the wagon.

A viewscreen against the interior wall displayed the same scene that Chief Guth and Midshipman Tammy Brazil were observing up in the flight cabin - the camera on one of the pattern enhancers capturing the other two falling off the dissolving ledge, before falling itself into the freezing, watery abyss.


"That was way too close," Belo Garr observed.

"Trap," said Tolon, breathing hard.

"Um, Jarrong?" said Buttans, "You can put me down now…”

12.1 (of 19)​

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Crew of the U.S.S. Hunter: (Ship's Interactive Holographic Avatar - Hunter).

At-Large Appellate Justice, Captain Minerva Irons.
Chief Executive Officer - Commander David Pepper.
Chief Operations Officer - Lieutenant Commander Mlady.

Medical Director - Commander Tali Shae.

Assistant Medical Director - Lieutenant Jazz Sam Sinder.

Epidemiologist - Lieutenant Napoleon Boles.
Ensign Chrissiana Trei.

Forensic Specialist - Midshipman Sif.
Emergency Medical Hologram - Dr. Raj.
Tactical Medical Hologram - Dr. Kim.​

Director of Flight Operations - Lieutenant Kenneth Dolphin.

Assistant Flight Director - 2nd Lieutenant Gaia Gamor.

Navigator Johanna Imex.
Navigator Eli Strahl.​

Ensign Ethan Phillips.

Chief Flight Specialist Dewayne Guth.
Flight Specialist Dih Terri.
Flight Specialist Joey Chin.
Flight Specialist Winnifreid Salazaar.​

Director of Ground Operations - Lieutenant Tauk.

Assistant Ground Ops Director - 2nd Lieutenant T’Lon.

Investigator Lynhart Shran.
Investigator Buttans Ngumbo.​

Ensign Tolon Reeves.

Tactical Specialist Jarrong.
Tactical Specialist Belo Rys.
Tactical Specialist Belo Garr.
Tactical Specialist Belo Cantys.​

Director of Engineering - Lieutenant Sarekson Carrera.

Assistant Engineering Director - 2nd Lieutenant Moon Sun Salek.

Midshipman Tammy Brazil.
Transporter Engineer K'rok.​

Ensign Sun Ho Hui.

Flight Engineer Yolanda Thomas.
Flight Engineer Thomas Hobbs.
Flight Engineer Tomos.
Flight Engineer Kerry Gibbon.​

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Star Trek Hunter
Episode 12: Prisoner in the Ice Castle
Scene 2: Investigator Shran Walks Into a Bar...

12.2
Investigator Shran Walks Into a Bar…​

Investigator Lynhart Shran had taken advantage of his time on Earth to refresh his wardrobe. His silvery gray shirt had French cuffs and Belo Cantys had selected platinum cuff-links for him. A new pair of Red-Wing shoes - a deep maroon with ornate patterning, new dark denim jeans with a heavy crease. Even his large leathery looking overcoat had a new silvery sheen to it and a broad collar had been added. Despite his age, Shran still had a ring of hair around the sides of his head that was mostly brown - his craggy features were entirely human except for his large antennae.

As a hybrid, Lynhart Shran was less welcome in most places in Laikan, the capital of Andoria, than humans or other non-andorians.

And this bar, tucked into a back alley, was one of those places where he would be least welcome. Seedy bars full of seedy characters doing seedy things could be found on nearly any planet or moon with humanoids and Andoria was no exception. This establishment did not have a name - only a number in andorian numerals. The door was firmly shut and a large andorian - much larger than Shran - was posted outside to see that it stayed that way to all except for known patrons. And Shran did not qualify.


Shran flipped up the collar on his overcoat, creating a shell around the back and sides of his head and strode directly up to the door-warden.


“You know you’re not…” the andorian started as Shran walked up to him. The door-warden stopped talking as Shran drew an exceptionally large firearm from under his coat and in a single, smooth movement, placed the business end directly under the door-warden’s chin, forcing his head back against the door.

“Allow me to get the door for you, sir…” the door-warden managed. He started to reach behind his back. Shran casually spun the firearm around, delivering a vicious blow to the side of the andorian’s head, sending a spray of bright blue blood across the door. Shran grasped the unconscious andorian’s wrist and placed the door-warden’s hand on the door’s access panel.

The door slid open and Shran dropped the door-warden’s wrist, stepped over his semi-conscious body and walked inside, the door sliding shut behind him. A few seconds and a number of loud but muffled explosions later, followed by a crescendo of muffled screams, the door slid open again and seedy looking andorians came pouring out, stumbling over the semi-conscious door-warden. One andorian made it out of the door, then his head exploded.


Inside, the bar was a mess. While at least a half-dozen heavily armed andorians had taken protected positions and were returning fire, none of them seemed to be able to actually hit Shran as he strode up to the bar, selecting and taking down his targets with relaxed precision. Three andorians made the mistake of turning over a steel table and firing at Shran from behind it. One of these stood up to take a shot, just in time to see Shran casually toss a grenade as he walked by, which landed behind him. The grenade exploded just as it hit the floor behind the table.

As half the room was suddenly awash in shrapnel, phaser and disrupter beams and bullets continued to cut through the room. Shran dropped the repeating musket he had been carrying, hopped up, sat on the bar, lifted his legs, spun around and hopped down behind the bar. One andorian who had been hiding behind the bar pointed a disrupter at the old investigator’s face. In a single move Shran turned the hand and disrupter back toward its owner and forced him to discharge it at himself.

Someone shot Shran in the back with a disrupter - the old man’s leathery overcoat dissipated the beam. Shran drew his phaser and turned around, phaser in one hand, disrupter in the other. The andorian who had shot him dropped his disrupter and raised his hands beside his face. Both were crouched behind the bar.


“Hello, Shrib," Shran said to the andorian in front of him. He then lifted his gravelly voice so that it could be heard throughout the establishment: "If you want to live, stop shooting and drop your weapons.” There were a few more desultory shots - as if the weapons themselves were confused. Then the clatter of weapons being dropped as the people holding them did the math. “Walk out - now!” Shran shouted from behind the bar.

Shran looked at the andorian he had captured behind the bar. His voice was quiet but intense, rough. “I’m not going to bind your hands, Shrib. You run away from me, I won’t just kill you. I’ll kill everyone you care about first and make you watch. You’re going to give me everything I want from you, the first time I ask, and if I’m in a decent mood and if you’re very lucky, you might get out of this alive.”

Shrib was clearly terrified, his face almost blank with disbelief. “You can’t do this, Star Fleet…”

“The only uniform I’ve ever worn is the Andorian Imperial Guard,” Shran said. “For 30 years. They reactivated me this morning. Now we’re leaving through the front door. Pull yourself together.”


When they stood up, the bar was empty except for nine dead andorians.

“You killed nine of our people…” Shrib said.

“Actually, I only killed seven of them. Somebody took advantage of the mayhem to settle a few scores.” Shran looked around. “Bihr th’Rhaotrehr, Ashyss th’Vhaanet…”


Shrib’s antennae flexed wide and forward, almost laying down on his face. “The Ebar syndicate… They’ll be coming after you now.”


Shran made an amused noise. “I have 198 - make that 205 confirmed kills as an eliminator for the AIG. Most of them andorian. The Ebar syndicate is just going to have to get in line with everybody else. Now out!”

12.2 (of 19)


​

Author's Note: Investigator Shran is not Star Fleet - he's a contracted civilian investigator. Before becoming a private investigator, Shran spent 6 years as a detective for the New York City Police Department. Prior to that he was an Eliminator First Class for the Andorian Imperial Guard (essentially a military assassin.)

 

[Gibraltar]

Review 12.1 - Yeesh, they un-assed the area by the narrowest of margins! That Op could have gone horribly, lethally wrong all too easily.

 

[Gibraltar]

Review 12.2 - Oh, my. Shran is a bad, bad man when he tosses away his thin veneer of civility. Methinks he's going to get the answers he's after, or his already substantial body count will grow even larger.

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Review 12.1 - Yeesh... That Op could have gone horribly, lethally wrong all too easily.

It's almost like someone was expecting them...

Review 12.2 - Oh, my. Shran is a bad, bad man when he tosses away his thin veneer of civility...

Stone cold killer - very much like Irons.

Thanks!! rbs

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Star Trek Hunter
Episode 12: Prisoner in the Ice Castle
Scene 3: Standing Requirements

12.3
Standing Requirements​

In a government building in Laikan, Justice Minerva Irons stood in a traditional andorian courtroom. Because Andoria was cold all the time, she had eschewed her usual civilian clothing in favor of the black Star Fleet JAG uniform - thin red piping around the neck and on the cuffs the only sign of the Star Fleet functional uniform color code. Over this she wore her judicial robe. Under most circumstances, this combination was too warm for comfort, but even with these layers, Irons was still cold. Like all andorian courtrooms, this room had no chairs or tables.

Commander David Pepper and Dr. Tali Shae, neither of whom had the benefit of a robe over their SF JAG uniforms, seemed quite comfortable. Both had been born on this moon. Tali Shae was fully andorian and Pep, although he had never grown antennae, had an andorian grandfather. This had proved useful to Irons in the past when trying cases under andorian civil law.

Three andorian judges were in the room as well, one representing each party to the mediation. Their role was not to judge the case, but to judge the judge - in this case, Justice Irons. Representatives of each party to the mediation were also present - and impatient for the initiation of mediation. This was a three-way mediation and each party was allowed five representatives. With the zh’Ithirith, th’Ravonet and Shav representatives standing close to one another, there was a small forest of antennae twitching in agitation like tall grasses in a strong wind.


“When will this mediation begin?” asked one of the more irritated representatives from House th’Ravonet. “We have been standing here for more than three hours.”

Justice Irons remained silent, but opened her eyes and looked at her interlocutor. Mediation would, by andorian legal customs, begin no less than two hours after she broke her silence. The cold was making her feel her age, but within the andorian justice system, Irons was famous for holding her silence for days – weeks – in one famous case more than a month to delay the beginning of forced mediation and allow events to be sorted out on the ground.

Andorians were not particularly good at staring contests and after a few moments of looking into Justice Irons’ light brown eyes, serene Chinese features, slight hints of vulcan and trill ancestry, the andorian who had complained about waiting had to look away. Irons had mastered the ability to be intimidating without trying to appear intimidating.


Andorian law provided an out for nearly every legal custom, including delaying the start of mediation. Typically this involved challenging the court’s champion, who was required to be of andorian blood, to single combat. Because of his andorian grandfather, Commander Pepper qualified and he had been challenged on a number of occasions. In hand to hand combat, andorians relied on their superior speed and balance. Andorians challenging Pep had quickly come to realize that the giant’s size did not in any way affect his speed or balance and he had earned a reputation for winning such contests usually within less than a minute.

Irons was counting on Pep’s reputation to help her hold this trial off until she received the signal she was awaiting.


What andorians were exceptional at was standing contests. Within a few minutes, groups of andorians who were standing and waiting would synchronize, until their antennae were moving in unison, setting the balance and movements for the group. Non-andorians were at a serious disadvantage. While Minerva Irons appeared outwardly calm, she was running through her Tai Chi training program in her mind, picturing each move and making minute adjustments to her stance to reduce the pain. Both the standing and the cold were getting to her much more than they had in the past and an acute observer, like Dr. Tali Shae, could notice subtle signs of stress and discomfort on her face. It was going to be a long, painful week – quite possibly much longer…

12.3 (of 19)​

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Star Trek Hunter
Episode 12: Prisoner in the Ice Castle
Scene 4: Toeing the Line

12.4
Toeing the Line​

Lt. Tauk and 2nd Lt. T’Lon were aboard the U.S.S. Hunter in the Ground Operations Center, downloading information from publicly available resources and additional Imperial resources only available due to Justice Irons’ status as an appellate justice not only within the Federation Tribunal, but also within the Andorian Imperial Court – a status very rarely afforded to non-andorians.


“Investigator Shran has placed himself on leave status and deactivated his communicator,” T’Lon said. “I cannot locate him – he was in Laikan.”

“He is on leave and not currently under your supervision,” Tauk replied without looking up.

“He seemed rather disturbed at the failure of his initial source. He didn’t say anything, but I could hear it in his voice – he seemed quite upset.”

Tauk continued working without responding.

T’Lon looked at her commanding officer, weighing her words, then said, “You know him better than I do. I am concerned he might do something rash.”

“Don’t be,” Tauk replied, still absorbed in the information on his workstation.

T’Lon raised an eyebrow and watched Tauk. It was evident the ferengi had no intention of furthering this discussion. It was also evident to her that he was parsing his words carefully.


Investigator Shran’s workstation beeped, indicating successful communication – which very few people knew how to access independently. Lt. Tauk looked up briefly at his vulcan 2nd lieutenant, then back at his workstation. T’Lon observed her commanding officer for a few moments, then walked over to Shran’s workstation and accessed it. A vast amount of data had been uploaded – schematics, maps, lists of cyphers with code…

“It appears Investigator Shran has uploaded a new potential location, sir,” T’Lon said.

“It also appears that the Investigator was reactivated by the Andorian Imperial Guard,” Tauk replied. He sent a document to T’Lon’s workstation. “They recommissioned him and assigned him an unspecified number of targets related to Imperial security.”

“Is that allowable under his agreement with Star Fleet?” T’Lon asked.

“Only when he is on leave,” Tauk replied.

“So why is he sending us information about potential locations for the abductee?”

“Presumably, he is doing so under orders from the Imperial Guard. We need to research this information thoroughly. I’m certain Shran would not have sent it if he did not think there was a good chance this is where the hostage is being held, but we don’t know where his information is coming from and whether it is a current source.” Tauk returned his attention to his workstation.

For a few moments the two lieutenants, alone in the Hunter’s ground ops center, worked silently, pulling down telemetry on the location that Shran had uploaded and pouring over the additional information he had sent.


The silence was interrupted by the communication system, carrying Navigator Eli Strahl’s voice from the bridge, only a few yards away on the same deck. “Lieutenant Tauk, I am forwarding a transmission from Sub Commander Oshreb Sav of the Andorian Imperial Guard.”

Tauk activated a viewer behind his desk. “This is the Hunter’s Ground Operations Director Tauk, Go ahead, Sub Commander.”

An andorian wearing the blue and white uniform of the Capitol Division of the Imperial Guard appeared on the viewer. “Director, I am forwarding a file regarding a facility you are investigating on the ground in the area of Bespatel, Southern Region. The Imperial Guard offers this information in assistance of your ongoing operations on behalf of the Andorian people. Please note that this file is not cleared for evidentiary use and for reasons involving andorian security, cannot be used in either an andorian or federation court.”

Tauk nodded. “Understood, Sub Commander. We greatly appreciate the assistance. Please extend our gratitude to the appropriate parties.”

“I will do so and enjoin you to not speak of this transaction to any andorian or official of an andorian institution.”

“Understood, agreed and appreciated,” Tauk said.

Sub Commander Oshreb Sav gave a curt salute with his antennae and abruptly ended the transmission.


T’Lon looked up. “Four months of telemetry on the location Shran sent us.”

“We need to review every moment of this information to make sure we have a good location before retargeting the wagon,” Tauk said.

“I am uncomfortable that you so easily promised not to inform any andorian or imperial official,” T’Lon said. “That would include the captain as well as the commander and Dr. Tali Shae.”

Tauk looked at her with some surprise. “I don’t report to any of those people. I report to the Chief of Operations – Lieutenant Commander Mlady. I cannot make promises about what she will report to her commanding officer, but she is neither andorian, nor an official of any andorian institution.”

“You make a lot of fine distinctions,” T’Lon objected.

“Fine distinctions are what our work is all about. You know I that am dying, T’Lon. I want you to be prepared to take this seat when I can no longer do the job. You need to let me know whether you can live with toeing those fine lines and making the tough calls. T’Lok did – she taught me this trade.” Tauk glanced at Shran’s vacant workstation. “Well, she and Shran. This operation is as high stakes as we have ever been assigned. You know how vital it is that we succeed here. If that means making some rough calls and drawing really fine lines, that is part of what it means to wear the black uniform.”

12.4 (of 19)​

 

[Gibraltar]

Review 12.3 - Gah, this sounds excruciating, even to someone with Irons' reserves. I'm still a bit fuzzy as to the necessity of this particular trial, but I'm sure if the judge is suffering to this extent it must be of vital importance.

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Review 12.3 - Gah, this sounds excruciating, even to someone with Irons' reserves. I'm still a bit fuzzy as to the necessity of this particular trial, but I'm sure if the judge is suffering to this extent it must be of vital importance.

The opening quote from Ambassador Sarek gives a clue about the gravity of this situation...

Thanks again for the reviews!! rbs

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Star Trek Hunter
Episode 12: Prisoner in the Ice Castle
Scene 5: Canada on Ice

12.5
Canada on Ice​

Johnny Canada was a friendly looking man with light brown hair, a light brown beard and an easy smile. The various federation species had become so adept at reading human expressions that his easy charm worked not only with humans but was read by andorians, vulcans, bolians and others to make him appear entirely innocuous. Canada was not from Canada and Canada was not his actual name - just his preferred alias.


At the moment, Canada was the only person in this back alley of Reitel, a northern suburb of Laikan, who appeared entirely at ease. Along with three other humans, he was meeting with a small group of nervous looking andorians - separatists. What the separatists desperately needed was information and the only safe way to provide that would be verbally, in person. They were here to provide the House of Shav information on Star Fleet resources, personnel, intentions. Canada was the go-between - the person bringing the buyers and sellers together. As ordered. From the mouth. He had no idea why, but why was not his responsibility.

Abruptly, his three human companions, one of whom was a Star Fleet officer, began waving their hands crazily in the air and howling - high pitched shrieking growing louder - their hair standing on end. Canada reflexively crouched. The andorians reflexively shot and killed all three shrieking humans, then turned their guns on Canada - too late. Canada used a pair of very high quality andorian phase pistols - made nearly 200 years ago when andorians really cared about making high quality weapons.

Five quick pinpoint shots and Johnny Canada had just killed the andorian contacts he had worked for months to cultivate. He turned to look at his human companions. Although clearly dead, they were still convulsing and their hair was smoking.

Canada idly scratched an itch on his neck and was surprised his neck was wet. His phasers dropped numbly from his hands, making a very high quality noise as they smacked on the concrete. He reached back up and removed a tiny splinter from his neck and looked at it with growing confusion as the back alley swirled annoyingly around him, the smell of the color nine was almost deafening… Johnny Canada crumpled to the concrete, unconscious.


Canada woke up in what appeared to be a warehouse. He was seated in a chair that was designed for a human, his hands tied behind his back. He tried his bonds, just the gentlest tug, and felt them tighten slightly. Tied by an expert - Canada was going to have to talk his way out of this. He flexed his forearms slightly, feeling the number of loops and the design of the knot - Section 31. So his captor was Section 31 and knew that he was Section 31. That was no guarantee that he would get out of this alive, but it was a hopeful sign. His captor was smart and, depending on his assignment, might be reasoned with.


“Nice guns,” came a voice from behind Canada. Canada suppressed a startle reaction. He should have heard the man behind him walking or breathing or shifting his weight. His breathing could easily be heard now - he had a bit of a wheeze. Canada listened carefully - it was a real wheeze - which meant his captor had been suppressing it.

“Any chance I might get them back?” Canada asked after a period of silence.

“Eventually. If you survive this,” said the man with the wheeze. “You know what I am. I know what you are. But I know something you don’t. You have been uncomfortable with the orders you have received recently. So uncomfortable that you recently received an order from the mouth. More than one. And you’ve been uncomfortable with those as well.”

Canada found himself again having to suppress his startle reaction. This agent was really good. There was no point in denial. Nor in confirmation. He let his silence speak for him.

“That’s what I thought,” said the wheeze. “The mouth is compromised. You already know it. What you do not understand is how.”

Canada again let silence speak for him.

“I will leave you with this: Vulcans. It is not a conspiracy. It is a disease. I will return in two hours. Hold your silence and I will reward you. There are five others here, but they are gagged and cannot help you in any way.”

The wheeze was suddenly absent.

12.5 (of 19)​

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Star Trek Hunter
Episode 12: Prisoner in the Ice Castle
Scene 6: Sister Ship

12.6
Sister Ship​

Lt. Commander Mlady, Lt. Kenny Dolphin and 2nd Lt. Gaia Gamor were rotating shifts in command. Ensign Ethan Phillips and 2nd Lt. Moon Sun Salek had more or less camped out in the tactical unit, anticipating deployment at any moment. The untimely death of Empress Zashah zh’Ithirith had brought about a perennial crisis within the Federation. Under the Federation Charter, andorian imperial succession was to be mediated by a non-andorian representative of the Federation Tribunal who was required to be expert in andorian law and admitted to the Imperial Court.

While the Andorian Imperial Guard was officially non-partisan, many of the flag officers came from one or another of the three succession-qualified royal families and open civil war had occasionally broken out among guard units during previous succession disputes. Additionally, each of the three succession-qualified houses maintained their own small fleets of interceptors and at least one larger war ship.


At the moment, two Intrepid class starships – the U.S.S. Vox and the U.S.S. Intrepid - were currently stationed in orbit of Rings, the gas giant about which Andoria orbited and an Escort class starship, the U.S.S. Valiant, was in orbit of the home-moon of the Andorian Empire.

The U.S.S. Hunter, small, squat and dark, was not as impressive as these larger and more heavily armed starships, but oddly had a disproportionate impact because of Lt. Dolphin’s reputation following the Battle for Pillo, in which he had more or less single-handedly destroyed three nausicaan heavy cruisers in less than three minutes.

Several parties were counting on that reputation to help prevent the dozens of andorian heavy interceptors being fielded by the various royal families from firing on each other or on Andorian Imperial Guard vessels – or on Star Fleet - as had happened during the last succession mediation fifty years previously.

Lt. Commander Mlady was in command when the Hunter’s sister ship, the U.S.S. Prowler, fresh out of space dock, arrived. While the operation was under the actual command of Captain Serge Mykel Chekov of the U.S.S. Intrepid, communications were being coordinated through the U.S.S. Hunter to serve as a constant reminder to the andorians of Lt. Dolphin’s presence. Following this unusual protocol, the captain of the U.S.S. Prowler reported in.


“U.S.S. Hunter, this is the U.S.S. Prowler, Sagittarius Hunter commanding.”

“Prowler, this is the U.S.S. Hunter, Mlady commanding. Did I hear your name correctly?”

“Affirmative, Hunter, this is Captain Hunter, commanding the Prowler. The irony is not lost on me.”

“I was referring to your given name, Captain,” Mlady responded.

“Oh… Um… Well, my sisters’ names are Aquarius and Gemini and my brothers are Taurus, Cancer, Libra and Leo,” Captain Hunter replied with a faint smile. “Mom’s a bit of an astrologer. I brought along some friends. They’re currently grouping on the far side of Rings.”

“I’m glad they came along. We have been monitoring increasing movement and grouping among interceptors we suspect are being piloted by Shav supporters. We may need to show some teeth.”

“We will be ready, Lieutenant Commander. I checked in with Captain Chekov a few minutes ago and Commander Red’s squadron are checking in with him now.”

“They gave Red a squadron? Wasn’t she on suspension four or five times at the academy – and a few times since?” Mlady asked.

Captain Hunter smiled. “Red’s a firecracker and would just as soon punch you in the mouth as talk to you. But she has a killer’s instinct for combat and an ability to get people to follow her into battle. If things get ugly up here, we’ll be glad she’s here.”

Navigator Johanna Imex, currently standing watch at the tactical and communication station, interrupted, “Sir?”

“Thank you Captain Hunter,” Lt. Cmdr. Mlady said. “It appears duty calls. Someday I would like to introduce you to the U.S.S. Hunter,”

“I heard your ship is artificially intelligent,” Captain Sagittarius Hunter replied. “I will look forward to meeting him, Lieutenant Commander. Prowler out.”

Mlady swiveled to look at Imex.

“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Imex said. “But we have a Commander Red requesting permission to board. She wants to meet with you, Director Dolphin and Doctor Jazz.”

12.6 (of 19)​

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Star Trek Hunter
Episode 12: Prisoner in the Ice Castle
Scene 7: Shran's Aviary

12.7
Shran’s Aviary​

Five andorians, two humans and a bolian sat in the middle of an apparently abandoned warehouse somewhere north of Laikan. All of them were tied to their chairs. All but the bolian and one of the humans, Johnny Canada, were gagged. The andorians’ antennae were bound, preventing movement, which was causing them to become disoriented and nauseous. None of them were blindfolded.


Investigator Lynhart Shran dragged a chair and an Andorian Imperial Guard military issue sniper’s phaser rifle into the center of the group. He laid the rifle in the chair, then walked around the perimeter of the group, removing gags and allowing them to fall around the necks of those who had been gagged when he had entered the room.


“Now I have a collection of song birds, but you are only allowed to sing when I tell you. Abuse this privilege and the gag goes back into your mouth.” Shran stepped into the middle of the circle, picked up the rifle, straddled the chair. “I am Lynhart Shran of the Andorian Imperial Guard, Eliminator First Class. And I have orders naming each of you. Which means all of you are, as of this moment, dead. But I will not kill you if I do not need to. You can walk out of this building alive under one condition, my little songbirds: Sing.”

Shran pulled up the image of a pair of young andorian boys on a viewer, walked over to Shrib. Showed it to him. “House th’Ravonet.”

Shrib’s antennae bristled when he was shown the image on the viewer. Anger, fear and desperation competed for dominance on his face. But he did not hesitate to respond. “Everyone thinks House Shav kidnapped Sin th’Ravonet - the preferred heir and presumptive emperor. I don’t think they did. House Shav has military muscle, but they’re navigating with a broken antenna. They might be able to take th’Ravonet in a straight up military raid, but they don’t have the covert resources to kidnap the heir right out of Castle th’Ravon.”


Investigator Shran looked about the room, gauging the reactions of his other prisoners, then nodded, appeared satisfied. He unbound Shrib’s antennae. Shrib was visibly relieved. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and lowered his head, started to seriously shake.

Shran pulled up an official looking document in andorian script on his viewer. He walked over to the older bolian woman - showed it to her. She was already shaking.

“I’m already terrified, sir. You didn’t need to show me that.”

“House zh’Ithirith,” Shran said…

12.7 (of 19)​

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Star Trek Hunter
Episode 12: Prisoner in the Ice Castle
Scene 8: Red Hot

12.8
Red Hot​

Lt. Cmdr. Mlady, Dr. Jazz Sam Sinder and Lt. Kenny Dolphin were gathered in the medical office as Commander Red pulled her interceptor into one of the Hunter’s vacant interceptor bays.


“Where is she from?” asked Dolphin.

“Bushehr, a seaport in southern Iran,” Mlady responded.

“Red is a strange name for a Persian.”

“She changed her name to that when she was seven - in protest.”

“Seven years old? What was she protesting?” Dolphin asked.

“I don’t think anyone knows,” Mlady answered. “I only know of her by reputation, but I have a fair idea why she wants to meet with you in the presence of an executive officer and the acting chief medical officer…”

“I want to have sex with the flyboy here,” Commander Red said as she strode into the medical office.


Dolphin whirled to face her, “What???”


Red was about 30 years old - small, dark, taut, evidently Persian, and aggressively beautiful. “I’ve been analyzing the movement of Imperial Guard interceptors, House Shav interceptors, interceptors from the other two houses. House Shav is rotating their interceptors through a series of drills and maintenance. Our intelligence indicates the pilots that brought those birds up here were engineers. They’re getting swapped out for combat pilots as they go through their maintenance cycles. I estimate they are about 20 hours away from making a move against one of the other two royal houses and the Guard won’t stop them. Which means in about 20 hours, my squadron will be on the front line to keep that from happening. I want your notch on my bandolier when I go up against them.”

Dolphin rolled his head back, a bewildered expression on his face, spread his hands, then dropped them to his sides. “Sure. Why not?” he said, shaking his head, eyes wide with disbelief.

Dr. Jazz stared at him as though the Hunter’s director of flight operations had suddenly been transformed into a large potted plant. Mlady barked - it took Dolphin a moment to realize she was laughing. He had never heard her laugh before.

“You sound so thrilled,” Red said.

“You’re the one who wants my notch on your bandolier,” Dolphin said, still bewildered. He took a deep breath, shook his head.

“Dolphin,” Mlady said, “you may use my quarters. Just clean up when you’re done.” She walked up to Dolphin, hooked her finger into his collar. He had to lean down for her to whisper in his ear: “Malloriah Uhr left a gift for me. It’s in the top drawer in the wardrobe. Let it inspire you…”

“Um… thank you?” Dolphin straightened up and turned toward their guest, still more than a little bewildered. “Commander, if you will follow me, please…” Dolphin stepped toward the door.

Red turned behind Dolphin’s back, looking at Jazz and Mlady. She made a motion with her hands as though she were wringing a wet rag and mouthed the words “He won’t last five minutes…”


Mlady was still chuckling after the two pilots walked out of the medical office.

“He’s been here a year,” said Dr. Jazz. “And I still really don’t know that man. I would never have guessed he would react like that…”

Mlady had a wicked glint in her eye. “Want to watch?”

“What???”

“With Dr. Tali Shae down on the moon, you’re the acting chief medical officer. Regulation 4:410 Section 6-37(a)5.13 gives you the option if, in your opinion, the patient in your charge might be at risk to his health, to require medical supervision…”

Dr. Jazz boggled at the diminutive 2nd officer. “Unbelievable!!”

“Oh come on…” Mlady teased. “I want to know what he’s going to do with that buggy-whip Mallory left for me…”

12.8​

Authors note: The buggy-whip is a callback to episode 11.9 in which Mlady allowed Malloriah Uhr to use her cabin to get it on with the ship's interactive holographic avatar. The buggy-whip goes on to have a little story arc of its own.

I will eventually reveal what Commander Red was protesting when she changed her name to Red at age seven... I think that's in Episode 24 - A Trillian Problem.​

 

[Gibraltar]

Review 12.4 - Plots within plots. The Andorians are especially opaque here, assisting Hunter but making sure to cover their tracks in the process.

 

[Gibraltar]

Review 12.5 - Oh, Canada! Sorry, couldn't help myself.

So, this guy is another badass Section 31 operative, and apparently someone Shran feels is worth recruiting. The core of 31 has been compromised by the OG-BK, leaving the organization most likely to stop the culprit utterly toothless.

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Review 12.4 - ...The Andorians are especially opaque here, assisting Hunter but making sure to cover their tracks in the process.

Competing political factions are at work within the Andorian Imperial Guard... Sub Commander Sav is walking a tightrope and carrying out operations without informing his superiors (to give them plausible deniability.)

Review 12.5 - ...The core of 31 has been compromised by the OG-BK, leaving the organization most likely to stop the culprit utterly toothless.

Considering that OG-BK, Chief Justice Scrivax, is Section 31's enforcer and everyone who knows him is justifiably terrified of him... that's a fair assessment. I didn't realize when I wrote this scene that Canada would be a returning and increasingly important character... Just like his namesake, he makes an art of being underestimated. Even by the writer.

Thanks again for the reviews!! rbs

 

[Gibraltar]

Review 12.6 - Starfleet's brought out the big guns for this party... well, the biggest guns they can without making an interstellar fuss about it with a Galaxy or Sovereign-class ship leading the charge. I think I'm going to find this Commander Red somewhat interesting.