Tales of the USS Bluefin - 5: "Fatal Distraction"

[TheLoneRedshirt]

USS Bluefin
Sector 10146, Warp 9.2

"Red alert! Shields to maximum, bring phasers on line and standby with forward torpedo tubes," ordered Captain Akinola as the Bluefin closed in on its quarry.

Akinola turned to T'Ser, who had relieved Lt. Bane at OPs. "Commander, open a channel to that vessel."

T'Ser turned to her console then turned back after several minutes. "No response, captain. They're ignoring our hails."

"Then broadcast a warning in the clear. Heave-to or we will open fire."

"Aye, sir."

* * *

Orion Syndicate Vessel Salturias
Sector 10146, Warp 8.9

"The Federation ship is hailing us again - they say they will open fire if we do not stop," said Rash to the Supreme.

Deven Marak-Sar brought a fist down on the arm of his command throne. "Arm phasers and torpedoes! Prepare to engage and destroy that ship!"

"Supreme," Rash said, carefully, "They are faster and more maneuverable. Their fire power is nearly a match for ours, perhaps we should . . ."

Deven leveled a long phaser pistol at the first mate. "Watch your tongue, Rash, or I'll burn it out!"

Rash's eyes narrowed dangerously, but he stopped speaking. He turned back to his console and brought the weapons systems on-line. "Phasers and torpedoes ready, supreme."

"Fire a spread of torpedoes!"

* * *

USS Bluefin
Sector 10146, engaging Orion Super-Raider

"Incoming torpedoes!" shouted McBride from tactical.

"Evasive! - pattern gamma delta one. Mr. McBride, target a spot between their warp nacelles and fire the Mark 22s!"

The cutter rolled sharply to port as four of the Orion torpedoes tracked toward them. Just as quickly, the cutter rolled back to starboard and two torpedoes launched from the forward bay.

"Helm, z-minus 5000 meters!" barked Akinola.

The Bluefin dropped suddenly relative to its previous plane of travel. It continued to roll as it kept pace with the Salturias. Three of the Orion torpedoes flew by, their guidance systems unable to lock on to the wildly maneuvering cutter. The fourth gained a lock, however, and tracked in, detonating against the forward shields of the primary hull.

The impact and release of energy by the Orion torpedo cascaded through the forward section of the saucer, overloading circuits and tossing the crew about. On the bridge, several boards overloaded, sending glass shards and sparks flying. A screen adjacent to T'Ser's station blew, sending fragments flying. T'Ser flew out of her chair and hit the carpeted deck. She did not move.

McBride made as if to run to T'Ser's aid but Akinola shouted, "Man your station, XO! Helm, get us directly astern of that ship." Akinola moved to check T'Ser and found a strong, steady pulse in her neck. "She's okay, just knocked out." He tapped his commbadge. "Akinola to sickbay, medical emergency on the bridge!"

"Acknowledged, captain," said an unfamiliar voice. "We're taking in casualties down here, but a team's on the way. Doc's up to his elbows right now!"

"Understood, Akinola out." He moved to OPs and checked the sensor hood. "Damn!" he muttered. "The rat traps didn't work. XO, target their nacelles and fire phasers!"

* * *

Orion Syndicate Vessel Salturias
Sector 10146, engaged in battle with the Bluefin

The Orion vessel shook as two explosions rocked the ship. "Damage?" queried the Supreme.

Rash shook his head. "Shields are holding. Apparently they detonated as electro-magnetic bursts, but all systems show normal."

"What of the Federation ship?"

Rash smiled. "One of our torpedoes hit their saucer. I am reading fluctuations in their shields."

Deven's lips pulled back in a feral grin. "Prepare to fire phasers - target their bridge!"

* * *

USS Bluefin

Twin beams of phased energy shot from the forward Type VIII batteries of the Bluefin. The bolts impacted the raider's aft shields which flared and crackled in a kaleidoscope of competing energies.

"Our turn, you bastard!" muttered Akinola, "Fire a spread of torpedoes, Mr. McBride."

As the cutter's phasers hammered against the shields of the Salturias four torpedoes streaked toward the port nacelle of the raider. The combined explosions overwhelmed the already stressed shields which buckled and collapsed, allowing the Bluefin's phasers to find their target. The port nacelle glowed red for a moment, then exploded in a cascade of plasma, ribbons of blue and white energy trailed behind the stricken ship while sparks flew and swirled like fireflies.

Immediately, the Salturias dropped from warp as the Bluefin did likewise.

* * *

Orion Syndicate Vessel Salturias

"Fire, damn you! Why don't you fire?" screamed Deven Marak-Sar.

"We've lost phaser tracking! I'm seeking to re-establish a lock now!" said Rash, as he frantically surveyed the boards where multiple warning lights flashed and klaxons sounded.

"What happened? What did they hit?"

"They destroyed our warp nacelle and aft shields are down. The explosion damaged the port impulse vent as well." He turned to the Supreme. "We're moving on momentum only."

"Fix it! I want that ship destroyed!"

Rash shook his head at the enraged Orion. "We can't - it would take a shipyard weeks to . . ."

Rash never finished his sentence as a beam from Deven's phaser vaporized his head.

* * *

"Mr. Fralk, bring us in close to that ship. I want their weapons taken out, including those point defense ports." Akinola turned. "XO, I want you to lead the boarding operations. Meet Chief Brin in the armory. I expect that they have hostages on board, so set weapons for heavy stun. Your priority is to secure that ship first, then rescue ops, understood?"

McBride glanced again at the still form of T'Ser. He swallowed and turned to the captain. "Yes sir, I'm on it."

Akinola grabbed McBride's arm before he left the bridge. "Dale - she's going to be okay. Don't you take any dumb chances on that ship!"

McBride managed a weak grin. "Hey, skipper, you know me. Careful's my middle name!" He hurried into the lift.

Akinola returned his gaze back to the screen and the drifting but still very dangerous raider. He shook his head. "You screwed up, Akinola," he said to himself.

* * *

 

[Dulak]

Deven Marak-Sar had better hope he gets captured and put away for a long long time in a nice cushy Federation Penal colony. I'm sure the Syndicate is not going to be pleased at having it's new toy nearly destroyed and captured before that New Starship smell even wore off...

 

[DavidFalkayn]

Overconfidence is a dangerous thing--so is carelessness...

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

Orion Syndicate Vessel Salturias

Supreme Deven Marak-Sar shoved aside the headless body of Rash and seated himself at the weapons console, frowning at the failure indicators surrounding the controls for the main phaser arrays and torpedo launchers. He searched the board until he found what he was seeking - the controls to the point-defense weapons.

Without bothering to target the weapons, he activated all of the portside phasers and hit the firing control.

* * *

USS Bluefin

The cutter shook as multiple phaser bursts from the Orion vessel hit their shields. Fortunately, the fire was ill-aimed and ineffective.

"Report!" shouted Akinola.

Lt. Bane, who had replaced the injured T'Ser, answered. "Shields holding, no damage. I think they're firing blind, sir."

Akinola's expression was grim. "Well, we aren't! Mr. Fralk, take out those weapons ports - Fire!"

The phaser batteries on the starboard side of the saucer opened up, raking across the weakened shields of the raider. A second volley penetrated the shields, wreaking havoc on the gun ports of the Salturias, effectively de-fanging the Super-Raider.

* * *

Orion Syndicate Vessel Salturias

The weapons console began to spark ominously and Deven threw himself on the deck before it exploded in a shower of flames and shards of ceramaloy and aluminum. He picked himself up and hit the inter-ship control on the command throne.

"All hands, this is Supreme Deven Marak-Sar. It is evident that we are about to be boarded. Prepare to repel boarders - anyone who brings me the head of an officer will be richly rewarded! Fight hard! Fight Well! Leave no Feddie survivors!"

He slapped off the inter-ship control, then walked to a locker at the back of the bridge. Reaching in, he pulled out a large Klingon-made disruptor rifle. He pulled the primer lever and the rifle whined to life as the heavy capacitors charged. "You haven't beaten me yet!" he growled.

* * *

USS Bluefin

Commander McBride and Senior Chief Brin walked around the assembled boarding party, checking equipment, offering words of encouragement, and giving final instructions. McBride went to the front of the armory and motioned for quiet.

"You know the drill. The Orions will be heavily armed and likely will shoot to kill. They don't have anything to lose." McBride looked around the room, making eye contact with as many of the gathered men and women as he could. "Be careful, stay with your partner and don't take unnecessary risks. More than likely there are hostages on that ship. Our sensors were damaged by the torpedo hit, so we don't have a good idea about where they are or how many. Use your combat scanners and your Mark I eyeballs. Senior Chief?"

Senior Chief Brin pumped an arm, "Team one, assemble in transporter room one. Team two, transporter room, two. Team three, you will follow after Team one. Double check your weapons - heavy stun only! Let's go - move! move! move!

The heavily armed and armored boarding teams double-timed their way to the transporter rooms, led by Commander McBride, Senior Chief Brin and Chief Deryx. McBride's team one mounted the transporter platform. He pulled the blast visor of his helmet down and held his phaser carbine with the muzzle toward the deck.

"Energize!" he said, more calmly than he felt.

* * *

T'Ser opened her eyes slowly. She was dizzy, nauseous, and her entire body hurt. She tried to sit up, but the dizziness got worse and she collapsed back onto the bio-bed.

A female voice spoke to her. "Hey! Easy, commander! You took a heavy jolt to your system when that console overloaded."

T'Ser tried opening her eyes again, this time managing to focus on the freckled face and red hair of Corpsman Janie Riley. Riley smiled and patted T'Ser's arm. You're going to be fine, commander, but you need to rest right now."

T'Ser shook her head and forced herself upright, ignoring the wave of nausea that washed over her. "Can't," she grunted, "I need to get back to the bridge."

Dr. Baxter came over and placed a restraining hand on the obstinate Vulcan. "Commander, you need to lie back down, right now. You suffered a nasty electrical shock - fortunately, your Vulcan physiology enabled you to survive - but if you don't behave, your recovery period will just be longer. Now, I mean it - lie down! That's an order!"

T'Ser acquiesced and allowed Corpsman Riley to assist her back into a prone position. Momentarily, she heard the hiss of a hypospray at her neck and the world disappeared once more.

* * *

Orion Syndicate Vessel Salturias

McBride materialized into a scene from Hell.

Phaser fire erupted at the boarding party before they fully materialized. A stray bolt ripped the commbadge off McBride's armored vest before he could bring his weapon around. The impact knocked him back and he staggered over the prone figure of Crewman Ikuzo, dead from a phaser shot to the throat.

McBride quickly rolled off of the dead man and returned fire in the direction from which the green bolts flew.

"Take cover!" McBride shouted, a rather superfluous command as those that had survived the beam-in were already doing just that. As the boarding team's fire became more effective, the incoming Orion fire began to lessen. McBride looked around to get his bearings. They were at a junction between two corridors in a space about four meters square. He consulted his combat scanner, strapped to his forearm. There were five lifeforms with energy weapons 10 meters ahead, in the direction of the bridge. He also read a dozen more lifeforms, also with energy weapons approaching from the corridor on the right. Using hand signals, McBride indicated for the surviving team members to move down the opposite corridor. He raised up and fired a burst from his phaser carbine, allowing the team to move out. He maintained his fire as he ran after them.

* * *

Rani hugged his little sister, Stori tightly as the ship rocked and the lights dimmed and flared. He could hear shouting and what he thought was weapons fire in the distance. He had no idea what was happening, but the experience was terrifying.

"I won't let anyone hurt you, Stori, I promise!" he
whispered fiercely into her ear. He reached under the mattress and pulled out the small dagger that he had fabricated, grasping it tightly against his chest. He silently prayed to the gods and goddesses of his clan that he could keep his promise to Stori.

* * *

Teeva had a much better idea of the situation than did Rani. The Green Orion woman had survived space battles before and figured that the ship was involved in a fight for its life. She hoped it was a Federation ship. If it was a Klingon vessel . . . well, no point dwelling on that!

The ship lurched much harder this time and the lights in her cell went out. Emergency lights came on, emitting a sour, yellow glow. Teeva heard a soft "click" from the agonizer collar. Hesitantly, she reached for the damnable torture device and gave it a tug. The collar opened and she quickly removed the offending item from her neck.

She stood and cautiously moved to the door of her cell. She tossed the collar, expecting it to stop in a shower of sparks. Instead, it sailed on through the doorway, landing with a metallic clank.

Her heart beating rapidly, she eased out of her cell. Looking both directions, she ran forward into the darkness.

* * *

Chief Brin and team two materialized in a storage room filled with crates. He checked his scanner and found the outside corridor to be clear. "Sanders, you're with me. Gandy, Torleson and Vormish, you three head aft to engineering. I want the shields down and the weapons off-line. I don't care how you do it, but I want it done yesterday!"

The team acknowledged their assignment and moved quickly out into the corridor and headed aft. Senior Chief Brin and Corpsman Sanders headed forward toward the bridge, their stubby phaser carbines in the ready position. Solly reached down with his left hand and drew a vicious-looking knife from a sheath on his thigh. A small smile of anticipation formed on his face.

* * *

 

[DavidFalkayn]

Boarding actions are always incredibly dangerous and brutal--close quarters, confusion, fear--you did a good job capturing that in this segment--and the fight has just started.

 

[Gibraltar]

Wow, a nice setup followed by an excellent action sequence. You really feel like you’re right there with McBride and the others in that narrow corridor, fighting the good fight. The first domino has been displaced, and now the others are following obligingly to their inevitable conclusion. Again, you’ve captured the gut-wrenching angst of impending doom in this story, and like a good movie where I both love and despise the conclusion, I find myself wishing that this one time, the ending would be different.

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

Orion Syndicate Vessel Salturias

McBride and the three surviving members of Team one stopped near another junction between corridors.

"What is this, a maze?" asked Crewman Ali, in a frustrated tone.

"Probably designed this way to slow down people like us, crewman," responded McBride. He checked his scanner again. "Looks like left is a dead-end and right goes in the wrong direction."

"Straight ahead, sir?" asked petty officer Lucy Rice.

"Straight ahead it is," replied McBride. "Ali, take point. Lucy, you're on me. Thorm, you've got our six. Let's move!"

The boarding team moved ahead quickly toward the bridge of the raider.

* * *

Teeva moved furtively toward the ship's bridge, being careful not to be seen. She came toward a junction and froze. Several bodies were lying on the deck. Two were wearing dark coveralls and armored vests. Looking around, she moved up on the scene of recent battle. She came to the first body and turned it over, grimacing at the hole that had been burned through the man's throat. She ignored the eyes, still fixed in a look of surprise and shock. Searcing him quickly, she found a phaser pistol and a knife. She grabbed both, setting the phaser on it's highest setting, before moving forward again, dancing past the corpses of the raider's crew.

* * *

USS Bluefin

Akinola resisted the urge to drum his fingers on the arm of the command chair. He watched, impatiently, as Lt. Bane and Lt. Commander Gralt conferred over their sensors, or lack thereof. Bane fiddled with his controls, trying to regain some of the sensitivity that had been lost in the battle. Gralt simply shook his head.

"Bane, you can't just make adjustments to get the frakkin' system to work. The best parts of the sensors are floating along beside us in little pieces!"

"I'm aware of the, commander," Bane said patiently, "but if I can get the targeting scanners to do a bit more than they're designed for, we may get a better picture of the inside of that ship."

"Targeting scanners?" asked Gralt incredulously, then he paused, rubbing his chin. "Huh, hadn't thought of that. Deities! That might work! Move over, Bane!"

Akinola shook his head. Gralt and Bane were the two biggest "tech-heads" on the ship, but they spent more time arguing than anything else. "Gralt, how are the repairs coming up front?"

Gralt turned, "What? Oh, they're coming along fine, sir."

"Good. Why don't you see if you can put a fire under them and speed it up some."

Gralt, never one to miss an opportunity to chew ass, smiled a wicked smile. "Now there's a fine idea! I'll attend to that right now!" The Tellarite moved toward the lift, a look of gleeful anticipation on his face.

After the lift doors closed, Bane said, "Thanks, cap'n!"

"Don't mention it, Mr. Bane. Just get us some eyes and ears so we can follow the action," said Akinola, leaning forward but keeping his eyes on the drifting raider.

* * *

Orion Syndicate Vessel Salturias

McBride felt his scanner vibrate and he checked the screen. A text message informed him that engineering was secure and that all of the weapons and shields were off-line. His satisfaction turned to sadness, however, as the message also informed him of two more casualties among the boarding party. He tapped an acknowledgment, then sent a message to Senior Chief Brin, requesting an update. Brin indicated that he and Sanders were nearing the bridge, apparently in a parallel corridor. McBride passed along Team one's status report, "Two KIA, remaining team also headed to bridge. Will rendezvous with you asap." Crewman Ali was about to move forward, when McBride stopped him and pointed at his scanner. Ten lifeforms were approaching quickly.

McBride moved the team back to a better defended point where they took up firing positions.

* * *

Teeva found the maintenance corridor she had been seeking. Before her fall from favor with the Marak-Sar clan, she had been one of the principal designers of the ship. She knew it like the back of her hand and that knowledge would give her an advantage over that bastard, Deven. She squeezed into the corridor, crawling on her hands and knees toward the bridge.

* * *

McBride gave a quick hand signal, and Team one opened fire on the Orions. Their first volley took out four of the crew, but the rest quickly ducked back into alcoves and unleashed a furious volley of their own.

McBride cursed, realizing that he had opened fire too soon. Now, they were about to be pinned down by a force still superior in number and firepower. He looked around and spotted a ladder alcove less than five meters.

"Ali!" McBride whispered loudly. The crewman turned with a questioning look. McBride signaled for him to lob a stun grenade down the corridor, then to follow.

Ali pulled the grenade from his vest, set the timer, and hurled it down the corridor to a chorus of shouts and curses. Team one quickly headed down the ladder as the grenade exploded in a cacophony of sound and light.

* * *

McBride lost his footing on the narrow ladder and half slid, half fell most of the distance, landing on Petty Officer Rice.

"Sir? No offense, but get the hell off of me!" said Rice.

"Sorry!" said McBride, rubbing his shoulder. He looked around at their surroundings.

McBride and his team were in a dark, dank corridor, lit only by emergency lanterns. As his eyes adjusted, McBride realized that they had stumbled onto dozens of holding cells. The smell was pretty intense. Most of the cells still gave off a tell-tale blue glow of a security force field. A few, however, appeared to be open. McBride turned to face his team.

"Okay, engineering is secure and Chief Brin is on the way to the bridge. Let's make a quick check of the cells before working our way forward. Don't worry about releasing anyone yet, unless you see someone in serious distress, understood?"

He received a chorus of affirmatives.

"Ali, you and Thorm head back that way while Lucy and I check out ahead. Meet back here in five," McBride ordered.

* * *

Rani heard furtive footsteps in the hallway. He tried to stay still, holding Stori tightly. Maybe whoever was there wouldn't see them in the low light.

Suddenly, a large, dark figure appeared in the doorway. Rani froze at the apparition. Whoever, whatever it was towered in the doorway, silhouetted by the faint light from the corridor, a weapon of some kind was in the creature's fist. Rani's heart began to pound in terror and he tightly squeezed the dagger in his sweaty hand.

* * *

Senior Chief Brin and Corpsman Sanders had managed to move forward without encountering any resistance, thus far. Rather than being pleased, Solly was becoming concerned that they were heading into an ambush.

As if on cue, green disruptor bolts began to impact the deck plating at their feet and scorch the bulkheads. One bolt ricocheted and hit Sanders in the chest plate of his armored vest. He went down with a grunt of pain and surprise. Solly grabbed Sanders by the collar and drug him into a shallow doorway as the disruptor fire continued, unabated. He held his phaser carbine around the corner and squeezed off several shots, blindly. A taunting voice came down the corridor.

"You'll have to do better than that, Feddie! I've got lots of guns and lots of time. Why don't you lay down your weapon and I'll kill you quick, saving me the time of skinning you alive!"

"Skin this!" shouted Chief Brin as he banked a stun grenade off the opposite wall. It clattered in the direction of their tormentor and detonated with a deafening BLAANG!

Solly checked Sanders, who was alive but unconscious, the armor saving the corpman's life. The senior chief tapped Sander's commbadge and whispered, "Emergency beam-out." Momentarily, the corpsman disappeared in the shimmering energy of the transporter beam.

Brin checked his scanner, and found that it had been damaged in the fire fight. Disgusted, he stripped it off his forearm, put his head near the corner and listened.

No sound emanated from the dark corridor. He reset his carbine into the "kill" range, and slid out in a low crouch. No one was visible in the murk. The smell of ozone from the brief battle tickled his nose. He began to move forward in a crouch.

Out of the darkness, a large, Green Orion man appeared, running straight at Solly, brandishing a large sword. He screamed a war cry of challenge at Solly, who calmly shot the man in the face. The Green Orion ran several more steps before realizing he was dead and collapsing at Brin's feet.

"Asshole!" said Solly, with contempt. Stepping over the corpse, he moved forward, carbine up and ready.

* * *

McBride was stunned. In the dim, foul-smelling cell were two small children huddled in the corner, their eyes wide with terror.

"Goddamn bastards!" he fumed in a cold rage. In a softer tone he said, "Hey kids! It's alright, my name is Dale. I'm with the Border Service. You're both safe, okay?"

He knelt down and removed his helmet, setting the phaser carbine on the deck and gesturing for the two children to approach. McBride did not realize that his commbadge, which contained the universal translator, was still lying on the deck where they beamed in. The two children did not speak Standard, so McBride's booming voice was threatening and confusing, rather than reassuring.

* * *

Though frightened, Rani knew this was probably the only chance he had to defend Stori. The creature had knelt and was gesturing to him. Rani was all to familiar with such a ploy. Bad things awaited him. But this time, he could make bad things happen. Cautiously, with the dagger hidden behind his back, Rani began to approach the huge man.

* * *

McBride smiled. "That's it. Good! Come on over here, I won't hurt you!" He watched with relief as the boy, a young Red Orion, cautiously stood and moved slowly toward Dale. McBride nodded encouragingly to the child. "Good, good, that's it! We're here to help you son. We just want to take you home, okay?"

The wide-eyed boy approached more closely, still silent and obviously afraid. At that moment, his scanner vibrated with a message from Team three. He took his eyes off of the boy to acknowledge.

* * *

Rani didn't know what the box on the man's arm was, but he heard it buzz softly and the man's attention was diverted.

Suddenly, with a cry of fear and fury, Rani swung his arm in a wide arc, bringing the make-shift dagger around with surprising speed and force into the side of McBride's exposed neck.

* * *

McBride felt a hard jolt of pain in his neck and fell over under the surprise impact. He instinctively reached to his neck and felt something hard and narrow protruding from it.

Rani's aim could not have been better for him or worse for McBride. The small piece of sharpened plastic pierced McBride's carotid artery and the point punctured his trachea. Arterial blood began to pour down his airway, making breathing difficult.

Still in shock and confusion over what happened, McBride made a fatal decision. He grabbed the offending dagger and pulled it from his neck. Instantly, blood geysered from the wound. McBride futilely tried to staunch the flow, but already his vision was fading and his pulse, thready. He turned his gaze upon the small boy, and before his throat completely closed off with blood, he gurgled, "'s okay..." Then Dale McBride's vision went dark and he fell over, absolutely still.

For a few minutes, Rani watched in rapt horror and fascination as the flow of blood ebbed and began to pool.

Then, Rani began to scream.

* * *

Petty Officer Rice had checked the other cells ahead of McBride, finding several occupied by women of various races who cajoled and cursed her as she passed, and one cell that was empty. She was finishing her check when she heard a shrill, thin scream. Immediately, she raced down the corridor, protocol be damned.

"Commander! Commander McBride! Where are you?"

She ran past the cell where McBride lay, before skidding to a halt and running into the cell. She was shocked with what she saw.

"Oh God, No! Commander! - Sir? SIR?"

Throwing down her weapon and kneeling in McBride's blood, she tapped her commbadge hard. "Rice to Bluefin, medical emergency! Two to beam out, NOW!"

Rice cradled the mortally wounded commander as the transporter effect took hold. Rani watched in both horror and fascination as the two black-clad figures shimmered and disappeared into thin air.

The Orion boy simply stood still for several minutes, a large, still spreading pool of blood surrounding his bare feet. He then slowly moved back to his wide-eyed sister. He sat by her, trembling, and put an arm around her. A tear cut a trail down his dirt-smeared cheek.

* * *

USS Bluefin

In Sickbay, T'Ser suddenly sat bolt upright in her bio-bed, sleep displaced by a sudden overwhelming sense of loss and dread.

"Something's wrong!" she said in a tremulous voice.

* * *

 

[DavidFalkayn]

I knew it was coming and it still felt like a gut punch when it happened. The sad thing is that the kid acted for the noblest of reasons--to protect his sister. Had the translator worked, had someone else been there with McBride, had this...had that occurred--the sad thing is this is what happens in these situations. Stuff just happens so fast and you're pumped up on adrenaline and fear and emotion.

This has been a very painful action for the Bluefin and its crew. From my count, they've taken fifty percent and possibly higher casualties from their boarding parties--that's some very vicious fighting.

And Solly channels Malone and Indiana Jones as that Orion found out what happens when you bring a sword to a gunfight.

The recovery from this one is going to be a very painful one.

 

[Gibraltar]

Yeah, knowing this was coming didn’t make it any easier. A senseless death that could have been averted by any number of factors. As Dale discovered, when it’s your time… it’s just your time. The repercussions are going to be gut-wrenching, I have no doubt.

Very well done.

 

[BrotherBenny]

A toast to Commander Dale McBride, lift your drinks and salute a fine Starfleet officer.

Hoo-yah!!

 

[Gibraltar]

[raises toast] I'll drink to that! [/raises toast]

"Alert the dead in Sto-Vo-Kor, a warrior is arriving!"

 

[TrekkieMonster]

Xeris said:
A toast to Commander Dale McBride, lift your drinks and salute a fine Starfleet officer.

Hoo-yah!!

To Commander McBride.

And I agree, even though I knew it was coming (and I'm sure I'm not alone in predicting exactly how, by whom and with what weapon), that didn't lessen the anguish.

Well written. Gut wrenching, but well written.

A toast.

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

[raises glass]To Mr. McBride - We hardly knew ye, lad. Safe journeys and fair weather to ye![/raises glass]

Damn.

Thanks for the kind words. It ain't over yet, though.

 

[CeJay]

I'm still playing catch up with a lot of posts but this I just had to read.

Can't really add much to whathas already been said. You did promise an uncompromising boarding sequence and you have certainly delivered.

It speaks for your great characters building and writing skills that the death of a barely established character is recieved with such sorrow.

Excellent stuff and I fear this story won't get any easier to read now that we'll have to deal with the consequences of what has happened.

 

[Dulak]

I've been putting off reading this last section until I could read it in one sitting, alone. I'm glad I did, but dang. Very powerful writing, echoing CeJay, a testament to your ability to endear us to a character so quickly. Must have been difficult writing him, knowing he was a gonner.

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

USS Bluefin

Akinola finally gave in to impatience and stood over Lt. Bane at his station. "Any luck, Mr. Bane?"

Bane frowned in concentration as he tweaked focus and gain controls on his console. "Some, sir. The targeting scanners aren't designed for life-form readings. I'm having to reprogram them and make crude adjustments." He turned and gave Akinola a meaningful look. "And,in the meantime, we won't be able to target our weapons."

Akinola patted Bane on the shoulder. "Understood, Mr. Bane. Hopefully we won't be needing weapons any time soon. If we do, well . . . we'll do the best we can."

Seated next to Bane at the auxiliary comm station, Ensign Maya Vashtee suddenly stiffened and held her earpiece tightly to her head. With a distraught expression, she turned. "Sir? Petty Officer Rice just beamed over with Commander McBride . . . The commander is," she hesitated, tears welling up in her eyes. "It sounds real bad, sir."

Akinola felt a chill of dread. "Thank you, ensign." He tapped his commbadge. "Bridge to sickbay."

There was a noticeable pause before a voice answered, "Sickbay, Riley here." There was a note of anxiety in the corpsman's clipped words and the background noise of near bedlam.

"I understand Commander McBride has been injured. What's his status."

There was another pause. "Sir, we're swamped right now. All I can tell you is that Dr. Baxter has the commander in surgery and that we're doing everything we can," Riley spoke to someone else, "No, no, put R'mirt in bed one. Sanders, Sanders! Get back in that bed, dammit! Sorry, sir, got to go. Sickbay out."

Akinola swallowed. He wanted to rush down to sickbay, but knew he couldn't abandon the bridge while the operation on the raider was still underway. With a sick feeling in his gut, he sat once more in the command chair and stared at the image of the battered raider, wondering how many of his crew would die today.

* * *

Orion Syndicate Vessel Salturias

Senior Chief Brin came to another junction in the corridor He frowned at the lack of lights in every direction. Without his scanner, he was walking blind.

His sense of smell probably saved his life. A sudden, pungeant odor from his right alerted him to the presence of someone else. He began to turn and duck, as a large knife skimmed across the back of his vest, cutting the webbing. The impact threw Solly off balance and he lost the grip on his phaser carbine when he hit the deck. He rolled quickly and hopped up, knife at the ready.

A very large, fat, Green Orion stood before him holding a Klingon d'k tahg, with its three deadly blades. The fat Orion hacked and coughed, spitting a nasty wad of phlegm on the deck. "So, little man," he wheezed. "You want to fight me, eh? So did the Klingon who gave up this blade to me. You don't look nearly as tough!" He grinned, revealing stained teeth.

Brin grinned back. "That blade's a counterfeit. I can tell by the rust on it. A real d'k tahg can't rust. You must have bought it from an old woman at a bazaar!"

The fat man's smile faltered a bit. "It will serve my purpose. Do yourself a favor and surrender now. I'll make it quick for you."

Brin's expression became cold. "No. And you don't need to surrender either. I have no intention of making this quick." He crouched slightly, holding his knife in the ready position. "Kurala tosh vara!" Solly growled, using an old Orion phrase, part challenge, part insult.

Fat man roared in anger and indignation and moved forward with surprising speed. Kurala mar veit!

The sounds of the fight reverberated down the corridors for several minutes, followed by several more minutes of anguished screams and wet sounds, then silence.

* * *

USS Bluefin

"Doctor, I can't get a blood pressure reading . . ."

"Open up the other femoral artery, too - his blood volume is nil! . . ."

"Still flat-line on EKG and EEG . . ."

"Cortical stimulator . . ."

"Push the plasma Mendez. Move! . . ."

"Doctor, don't you think . . . ?"

"If you're not going to help, get the hell out of my way!

"20 cc's of Cordrazine . . ."

"No response to cortical stimulator . . ."

"Turn it up again . . ."

"Doctor . . .Please, doctor. He's gone! You've got to stop . . ."

* * *

Calvin Baxter walked out of the small operating theater, a dazed look on his drawn face. He leaned against the bulkhead for a moment, eyes closed, trying to gather himself.

Baxter took several deep breaths, then straightened. He ran a quivering hand through his disheveled mane of white hair, and steeled himself. He walked around the corner into the pandemonium of the main ward. All of the bio-beds were filled with the wounded and the dying. Corpsmen were moving frantically from bed to bed, ministering to the injured.

In bed four, T'Ser sat. A haunted expression on her face. Baxter made eye contact with her and felt his throat tighten with barely contained emotion. He moved through the chaotic scene toward her. She began to shake her head slowly.

"No, no, no . . ." T'Ser said softly as tears began to spill down her cheek.

Baxter came over to her and, unable to speak, wrapped his arms around her tightly. T'Ser's body began to shake as she began to weep.

After a moment, Baxter found his voice. "T'Ser, I am so sorry. So, so sorry. I tried. Lord knows, I tried. He was just too far gone . . ."

* * *

Orion Syndicate Vessel Salturias

Brin grimaced as he held a hand tightly over the wound on his shoulder. It hurt like the seven hells, but at least he was alive and functioning. The same could not be said for the remains of his assailant.

The senior chief took no pleasure in the carnage before him. He had given in to battle-lust and taken out his rage on the Green Orion, who now lay dead and dismembered on the blood-slick deck. Now, he was weary, and alone. The screams of the dead man reverberated in his head.

But Solly still had a mission to complete. He pulled a bandage from a thigh pouch and sealed his shoulder wound, before wiping off the blade of his knife and replacing it in its scabbard.

He was reaching to pick up his carbine, when a voice called, "Don't bother. You won't be needing that. Step away from the rifle."

Solly cursed himself for losing focus and awareness of his surroundings. He'd allowed someone to sneak up on him. He slowly raised and turned toward the voice.

The young,Red Orion male that came out of the shadows was brandishing a Klingon infantry disruptor rifle. Solly had no doubt that if the young man pulled the trigger that he'd not only kill Solly but possibly blow a hole through the side of the ship.

Deven Marok-Sar frowned slightly at Solly, perplexed to see an Orion in a Starfleet uniform. "You! What clan are you?"

Solly snorted. "I rejected my clan before you were born, whelp. My adopted name is Brin, Solly Brin."

A small smile of recognition formed on Deven's face. "Oh, yes. I've heard of you, Solly Brin. I'm sure the Elix clan would pay handsomely for your head. Alas, the situation does not allow me the time for such endeavors. You will, however, make a fine hostage as we leave together in my private shuttle."

Solly allowed himself a small, insolent grin. "So, you are the Supreme of this vessel? Your clan must be a minor one to allow a pup barely weaned to command such a vessel."

Deven did not seem perturbed with Solly's insult. "Actually, I did have to kill my two older brothers. My father rewarded my shrewdness with this ship." He raised the weapon, taking aim at Solly. "And, seeing the trouble you've caused me, I think I will forgo taking you as hostage and kill you now, instead."

Brin saw the flash and heard the high-pitched warble of an energy weapon. The sound was completely wrong for a disruptor, Brin observed in a detached fashion.

Deven Marak-Sar writhed in momentary agony, then faded to nothing as the full-power phaser blast destabilized his molecular integrity and he ceased to exist.

Teeva walked around the corner, phaser still held at the ready. She glanced at the small, scorched mark on the deck where Deven had stood a moment earlier. "I told you I'd kill you!" she said in a tone of defiance. She aimed the phaser toward Solly for a moment, assessing him, then she lowered the weapon.

"You must be the fleeter," she said.

Brin nodded. "And you are?"

"Teeva will do," she said. "I'm a former employee of the Marak-Sar family."

Brin gestured forward. "Anyone else that way?"

Teeva shook her head. "The second officer seems to have lost his head."

Brin regarded her with amusement. "You don't seem too shook up by all of this."

Teeva flashed a brilliant smile. "Honey, for me it's just another day at the office." She began to move past Brin, cautiously.

"Where are you going?" asked Brin. "We need to evacuate you off of this vessel."

"I've got my own ticket off, thanks anyway!" Teeva winked and trotted down a corridor.

Brin shook his head, weariness once again washing over him. He tapped his commbadge. "Brin to Bluefin."

"Bluefin, Vashtee here."

"Ensign, I've lost my scanner and have no idea where anyone else is. Can you get a fix on my position and tell me what the hell is going on?"

* * *

USS Bluefin

Captain Akinola gazed at the pale, still form of Dale McBride, still lying on a gurney in his blood-soaked uniform. Akinola's arm was around T'Ser, who was quiet and composed. She finally broke the silence.

"Somehow, I knew this was coming," she said, quietly.

"Sooner or later, it comes to all of us, T'Ser."

"I know. But I really had a sense that Dale's time was coming soon. It's nothing I can put my finger on, captain - just a feeling."

"Is that why you turned down his proposal?" he asked, gently.

T'Ser shrugged. "Partly, maybe. I just wanted to spend our time in the 'now.' He was always caught up in the future." A tear trickled down her face. "Now, there is no future."

Akinola squeezed her closer. "I don't believe that, T'ser. Don't you believe it either. There's always a future. And I don't know what's on the other side of this life, but I'll bet you anything that Dale McBride will be there waiting on you."

T'Ser smiled sadly. "That's a beautiful thought. I wish I could believe that."

Akinola looked at the Vulcan woman. "We all need something to hope in, T'Ser." He looked back at the body of his dead friend. "I choose to believe that somehow, someway, there's something else, another chapter. Whatever that may be."

T'Ser nodded slowly. "I'll consider that, captain."

* * *

EPILOGUE

Five Mark VI torpedo cases were draped with Federation flags on the hangar deck. The crew of the Bluefin sat in chairs, facing the make-shift coffins and the podium where Captain Akinola was concluding the memorial service for their fallen comrades.

". . . Let us, then, remember with pride, affection and honor, our fallen crew mates . . . Crewman Kari Ikuzo, Petty Officer Second Class Lars Torleson, Crewman Francis Poleque, Petty Officer First Class Vormish L'Sahlaarn, and Commander Dale McBride."

Akinola looked around at the somber faces of his crew, his family. Some were stone-faced, others tear-streaked, while others reflected profound loss and sorrow.

"Today is a day of mourning. But we will best honor these brave souls who gave gave the ultimate sacrifice by how we conduct ourselves from this point on. I have no doubt that, could they speak today, they would tell us, 'Carry on, carry on, keep fighting the good fight, don't give in to sorrow but remember us through your deeds.'"

Akinola turned in a very old book. "One of the ancient texts from Earth has a very appropriate phrase: 'Greater love has no man than this, than to lay down his life for his friends.'" Akinola looked around at the gathered crew. "Always remember, these fallen comrades died doing what they loved. They would do it again to protect anyone of us or any innocent being." He paused a moment, again scanning the faces of the crew, pointedly making eye contact with as many as possible. "I am so very pround of them, as I am very, very proud of you. Please join me in a moment of silent reflection before we dismiss."

Senior Chief Brin, stood up ramrod straight and barked, "Attention on the deck!"

As one, the gathered crew of the USS Bluefin hit the deck and stood at attention, eyes fixed ahead, lost in their private thoughts. Akinola stood with his head bowed for a minute, then nodded at Solly who barked, "Dis-missed!"

As the crew filed out, Akinola noticed that Admiral Bateson had been watching from the back of the crowd. Akinola went over and shook Bateson's hand. "Thank you for coming, admiral."

Bateson's eyes were misty with barely contained tears. "Fine job, Joseph. A damned hard thing to do. Well done."

Akinola shook his head. "They preached their own funeral through the way they lived, admiral." He turned away slightly, his throat tightening. "I've lost crew mates before, admiral. Hell, we both have. But this time . . ."

Bateson nodded and squeezed Akinola's arm. "Sometimes are just harder than others, Joseph. I hope you listen to your own advice - what you just told those men and women. Carry on, Joseph, carry on."

* * *

Palo Duro, Texas, Earth
Two weeks later . . .

T'Ser stepped out of the rented hover-car into the west Texas heat. A small, white frame church, centuries old, sat by itself on the arid land, surrounded by scrub brush and trees that swayed gently in the dry breeze.

T'Ser took in the vista for a moment and raised her face to the warm sun, basking in the dry heat. It was the best Terran weather she had experienced in her life.

She walked across the parking lot to the front doors of the church building, her footsteps raising puffs of dust off of the unpaved parking area. An eclectic variety of vehicles surrounded the church - luxury hover-cars, econo-skimmers, a-grav lorries, and even an old, wheeled truck emblazoned with a rusting "Chevro-Lectric" badge on a battered tail gate.

T'Ser paused at the double doors of the church. A small sign on the building identified it as "Palo Duro Baptist Church." It identified the pastor and listed the schedule of services. T'Ser ran her hand over the sign, then pushed the door open.

The air inside was markedly cooler. She came into a small foyer where a few people were gathered, speaking in soft tones. A few regarded her with puzzled looks, but most did not notice her presence. She remembered the custom of signing the guest register, then walked into the sanctuary.

The building had a high, vaulted ceiling with exposed wooden beams. An aisle bisected the wooden benches that lined both sides of the room. At the end of the aisle of burgundy carpet stood an open casket containing the empty shell of the man she had loved. Lost in the moment, she moved forward toward the casket where a tall man and shorter woman with sad expressions stood by.

She came to the open coffin and looked down at Dale, now in a dress Starfleet uniform. His color was no longer pale, but he appeared waxen, his hair too neat, his expression too blank. Though she had promised herself she would not cry, tears began to blur her vision.

T'Ser felt a gentle hand on her arm and she turned. The woman who had been standing by regarded her with compassionate eyes, eyes that looked like Dale's. The woman smiled and spoke.

"You're T'Ser." It was not a question.

"Yes ma'am, I hope you don't mind . . ."

The woman embraced T'Ser tightly and T'Ser tentatively put her arms around Dale's mother, slowly but steadily returning the embrace. The tall man whose tear-stained, weather-beaten face so resembled Dale, put his arms around both women.

They simply stood there, holding each other, for a long time.

* * *

 

[Dulak]

Bravo.

 

[DavidFalkayn]

A powerful ending to a powerful story. This was a hard one for the Bluefin and everyone aboard her.

Very, very, nicely done!

 

[Gibraltar]

Just an amazing finish to a fantastic story. The raw emotion generated by your characters is enviable, and especially so for McBride, a man we barely knew. Despite that unfamiliarity, his loss seen through the eyes of characters we’re more familiar with gives us a strong sense of how much he was loved and valued by his crewmates, T’Ser most of all.

Kudos, sir. Very well done.

 

[CeJay]

Congratulations on an incredibly successful and utterly depressing story!

As already suspected the scenes with T'Ser what simply perfect. The epilogue especially was a flawless exercise in mood setting. Few words but those you did chose were all winners.

I hope you will have opportunities to use some of the lessons the crew has learned here in future stories. I will keep my eyes on T'Ser. She handled the loss quite coolly here but I'm certain she kept plenty of stuff back.

What a terrific story!

Eagerly anticipating more.