Re: Chapter IV - Passion
Eagle’s senior officers had assembled on the bridge no ten minutes after Culsten had called out the yellow alert.
Deen and the Krellonian had taken their respective stations at the front of the bridge, Commander Xylion sat at the science station and Owens, Edison and Tren stood close behind him while he attempted to analyze the pursuing vessel.
“Whoever they are,” said the first officer. “They seemed to be quiet determined to stay undetected.”
“Any chance of identifying the ship?” the captain asked.
“I believe we are being followed by two vessels,” the science officer responded while his fingers raced over the control console at inhuman speeds. “I detect two warp signatures. However both vessels are utilizing a modified energy shield to mask their presence.”
“A cloaking device?” Tren asked.
“Not in the conventional sense,” the Vulcan replied. “This one appears to be designed to deflect direct sensor scans. It is not as efficient as a full clocking device.”
“Efficient enough,” Edison said. “They’ve been following us undetected for who knows how long. But I guess we can rule out Romulans or Klingons.”
D’Karr who stood close by observing the officers, nodded. “If we were being followed by my people we would not have been able to detect them.”
“Whoever they are I believe it is safe to assume that their unconventional shielding device is consuming a great amount of energy,” the Vulcan explained. “Considering that they are traveling at such high speeds I find it unlikely that they are prepared for an attack.”
The captain nodded. “They’re just shadowing us. Perhaps trying to figure out where we are going,” he said and looked at the Federation agent.
“I don’t believe it,” she mumbled.
Edison turned to the captain. “In any case, we shouldn’t take any risks. If we divert course we could head to the Prellus system. A detour which shouldn’t cost us more than a day or two.”
“And lead them right into the waiting arms of the Eight Fleet,” he said with a smile. “It would be a splendid little trap,” he added and headed back for his chair at the center, closely followed by Tren and Edison.
“We cannot afford to change course,” Jana Tren said to Owens as they stepped into the command area.
“What do you suggest we do?” Edison asked. He had met Jana Tren for the first time just a few minutes earlier. It hadn’t been enough time to get to know her but he found her instantly unsympathetic. She had made an entirely cold and professional impression and seemed to make an effort to maintain a calculated detachment to Eagle’s crew. Everybody except the captain that was. It wasn’t difficult to guess that the two had a history. How far back it went and how close they had been however he didn’t know. What he did know was that she was a Betazoid and that made him very careful with his own thoughts.
“We don’t have a choice,” she said. “We need to engage them.”
Edison shook his head. “That is not a good idea. We are still licking our wounds from our last encounter with the Jem’Hadar. We can easily avoid risking lives and damage if we head for Prellus.”
“I’m afraid this is not a matter of convenience, Commander,” she said coldly. “We have to act and we have to act now,” she turned to the captain. “It is a matter of supreme urgency.”
Owens looked at her for a moment and then turned away, noticing for the first time that Leva was not at his post. A clear breach of protocol. “Mister D’Karr, could you give us a hand at tactical?”
“Certainly,” the Klingon replied and stepped up the offensive controls, relieving Lieutenant Trinik.
Michael Owens sat down in his chair. “Red alert.”
The alarm klaxons began blaring throughout the ship, bracing the crew for impending danger.
Tren sat down in the chair next to the captain.
The first officer remained on his feet, trying hard to force the frown off his face.
“Helm, bring us about,” the captain ordered.
Culsten responded and began to turn the ship.
The view screen was making it apparently clear that the ship was changing direction.
“Two Jem’Hadar attack ships detected. Dead ahead, three hundred fifty million kilometers,” reported Lieutenant DeMara Deen.
“Our mystery guests have just become a lot less mysterious,” the helmsman commented.
“What’s their status, Dee?”
“Holding course and speed,” she announced. “We’ll be in weapon’s range within two minutes.”
Edison glanced over to his left to see the determined expression on the captain’s face. Next to him sat Jana Tren, her eyes seemingly equally focused on what she had forced Owens to do. But there seemed to be something else there as well. A tad of insecurity perhaps, Edison couldn’t be certain. She suddenly looked his way as if she had picked up on his thoughts. He quickly turned away.
“We’re now in visual range,” announced Deen with the uttermost professionalism.
“On screen,” Edison said and stood once more.
The view screen showed the two bug shaped starships heading straight for Eagle. Both ships were still thousands of kilometers out but the image on the screen made it appear as if they were a mere stone’s throw away, ready to pounce on Eagle at any second.
“They’re on a direct collision course,” remarked Culsten with unmistakable tension in his voice.
Tren leaned closer to the captain. “The Jem’Hadar are prone to make suicide runs,” she whispered.
“I’m aware of that,” he replied, the painful memory of seeing a Jem’Hadar ship smashing into Agamemnon still fresh in his mind.
And yet the captain remained calmly dedicated to their current approach, showing no signs that he planned to change the ship’s heading. Tren focused on his profile, trying to get a glimpse of what was happening in the man’s head. She had never been able to read pure thoughts but she could sense strong feelings and emotions. The few bits and pieces she picked up from Owens did not help putting her mind at ease.
In the meantime So’Dan Leva had entered the bridge. He had quietly proceeded to his station and with all but an icy look had made D’Karr relinquish the tactical console. “Their weapons and shields are fully charged,” he announced.
Neither Owens nor the first officer had the time to take special note of the Romulan’s sudden arrival.
Owens’ eyes never left the view screen. “Mister Culsten, what is the distance between those two ships.”
The helmsman checked his instruments. “Four hundred eighty-six meters.”
Edison looked at the captain with a growing suspicion of what he had in mind. “That is not a lot of space,” he said, knowing well that Eagle was about four hundred and forty meters wide.
A small smile crept on Owens’ lips and Edison knew instantly that his suspicions had been right. He faced the helms station. “Lif, you think you can pull off a hammer drill?”
The Krellonian swallowed at the mention of the word. He looked down at his instruments and then back at the first officer. “It’s going to be tight.”
Owens nodded. “Do it.”
“Aye, aye, sir,” he said and returned his full attention to his station. He was going to need it. “Everybody better find something to hang on to.”
“What’s a hammer drill?” Tren asked quietly.
“You’ll see.”
Edison headed for the tactical station. “Commander, we need full power to forward shields and get ready to transfer power distribution at a moment’s notice.”
The Romulan officer nodded.
“Distance to target: five million kilometers, … four point five million kilometers, … four million,” Deen counted, “three point five million, … three million kilometers. We are now entering secondary weapon’s range!”
“Mister Leva, fire torpedoes, both targets, full spread,” the captain ordered.
Eagle fired bright blue quantum torpedoes at a rapid pace. Each projectile was catapulted out of the launcher heading straight for one of the two Jem’Hadar vessels, ten in total, five for each.
The attacking ships barely even attempted to avoid the incoming fire. Multiple impacts on both ships significantly weakened their shields but they remained on course.
“Drop to impulse,” Owens said. “Initiate hammer drill maneuver.”
This was Culsten cue. One button press later Eagle had dropped out of warp and the ship began to spin on its z-axis. While the internal dampers and the artificial gravity countermanded the effects of the ship’s sudden roll the main view screen now had the enemy ships spinning.
Tren had to turn her eyes away from the screen as she was beginning to experience a sudden oncoming of nausea.
“The Jem’Hadar have dropped out of warp.”
“They’re opening fire!” Leva warned.
But Edison knew that there wasn’t much they could do about that. The maneuver Owens had chosen required Eagle to maintain its present course no matter what.
“Steady as she goes,” the captain stressed.
The constantly moving Federation starship offered very little surface for the super charged Jem’Hadar poloron beams to connect with. Many simply zipped harmlessly past Eagle, some graced the perimeter of the shields while a few found their target.
“Shields holding at eighty-eight percent,” Leva announced from tactical, holding on to his station as the bridge shook from the impacts.
“Distance now five hundred thousand kilometers and closing.”
Culsten began to slowly shake his head and Owens realized why. The two ships on the screen where moving closer to each other, shortening the gap between them.
Edison noticed it too and he shot the captain a worried look.
“Three hundred thousand kilometers,” said Deen. “Primary weapon’s range.”
“Fire phasers,” ordered the first officer without hesitation.
Again the Jem’Hadar were unconcerned with avoiding the phased energy discharges emanating from the Starfleet vessel.
“Multiple hits. The starboard’s vessel’s shields are buckling,” Leva announced.
But Owens remained focused on the screen. “Mister Culsten?”
“I don’t know,” he said, his voice revealing his insecurity. “Not much room.”
“Yes or no?” the captain asked casually.
It took the young helmsman a second to answer. But when he did his voice was firm as steel. “We can make it.”
“Dee?”
“They’re not changing course. Eighty thousand kilometers now.”
“They’re either playing chicken…“ Edison began.
“Or they’re on a one-way trip,” finished Deen without taking her eyes off her instruments.
The first officer looked back at both the captain and Tren. Owens was still determined to follow through with the current course of action. For some reason he seemed to doubt that these particular Jem’Hadar had any intention on dying for their Founders just yet. Tren’s eyes however darted back and forth as if everybody around her had lost their minds. The steadily closing enemy ships were a clear sign to her that they meant business and she couldn’t believe the serenity that had ensued on Eagle’s bridge in light of the impending collision.
Edison surprised a smirk. He took some delight in the seemingly stiff agent’s distress. He understood now that her cold demeanor was mostly an image she had put on to fool those around her. Or perhaps it was some form of protection she had learned to apply over her years in whatever dealings she had been involved with. He had no time to give the matter too much thought however. Eagle was about to undertake one of the most dangerous combat maneuvers in the books.
Eagle’s bridge shuddered as both Jem’Hadar vessels had now intensified their firing rate as if angry at the Starfleet ship’s insistence not to veer off.
“Shields at seventy five percent,” Leva announced his voice just slightly less convincing than just moments before.
The spinning Eagle continued to shoot towards the Jem’Hadar, her nose pointed straight at the seemingly tiny gap between the two ships. It was too small to allow Eagle to pass through.
“Fifty thousand kilometers, … forty thousand, … thirty, … twenty, … ten thousand kilometers!”
“Mister Leva, concentrate all phaser fire on the port nacelle of the starboard vessel,” Owens ordered.
The concentrated barrage that followed was dead on target. The shields already weakened before gave in and the phaser blasts tore through the enemy vessel’s warp nacelle and pushing the ship away from its companion. The gap was widening.
“Lieutenant!” Owens said, directing his attention to the helmsman.
The Krellonian’s superior reflexes came in handy now as he manipulated his controls at lightening fast speeds.
Eagle – still spinning – was about to smash right into the oncoming traffic. The few thousand meters between them were melting away in seconds, bringing them ever closer to certain catastrophe. Then, just moments before the inevitable, the Federation ship froze on its z-axis, stopping all rotary motion as it was almost completely vertically aligned.
Tren gripped the armrests of her chair, her knuckles turning white.
The bridge crew collectively held their breath as they realized what would happen next.
“Drop shields!” Edison called out. It was a sacrifice that had to be made in order to squeeze the massive starship through the tiny space available. Keeping them up would have resulted in the powerful energy screen colliding with those of the Jem’Hadar and causing substantial damage to Eagle.
“Fire phasers, both targets,” the captain’s voice remain calm.
Eagle passed through the gap between the two attack ships. The phaser arrays mounted on the upper and lower part of the ship’s saucer section fired at each Jem’Hadar vessel at point blank range, nearly doubling their effectiveness. The beams tore through their shields like paper and drilled deep into their hulls.
Within seconds it was over and Eagle was clear.
“Redistribute shields,” Edison ordered, the relief in his voice hardly to be missed.
The main screen had shifted to an aft view. The weaker of the two ships had not survived Eagle’s daring maneuver. It had lost its port nacelle and was spinning wildly out of control until it was utterly consumed by a massive explosion. Eagle’s phasers had apparently ripped through their engineering section and destabilized the warp core.
The event passed without any comments on the bridge.
The second vessel even though heavily damaged was not yet beaten. In an uncharacteristic move for the Jem’Hadar the ship suddenly changed heading and jumped to warp.
Edison couldn’t quite believe it. “They’re escaping,” he said simply.
“That’s a first,” commented the helmsman and received an agreeing nod from Deen at his side.
Tren took a deep breath. “Follow them.”
Edison turned to the Federation agent. It had sounded like an order. “Excuse me?”
But she looked at the captain when she spoke again. “We need to stop them.”
Deen was equally irritated and she turned around to face the command area. “I thought this mission is too important to be delayed?”
“There is no time to explain,” she said, shrugging off the questions before returning her attention to Owens. “Mike?”
He looked at her. “Are you sure this is necessary?”
Her eyes mirrored unwavering determination. “Absolutely. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t.”
“You didn’t ask,” Deen said under her breath and turned back to her station.
Edison wanted to give the Tenarian a warning glare for being so outspoken but he couldn’t help but agree with her.
Tren did glare at Deen however.
“Very well,” Owens finally said. “Mister Culsten, engage to intercept.”
“Engaging,” the young helmsman said.
Eagle jumped to high warp, following the fleeing Jem’Hadar vessel. It had taken so much damage that it had not been able to muster much more than warp seven. It was easy prey and it soon enough reappeared on Eagle’s view screen.
“They have sustained heavy damage to their shields and weapons’ systems,” Leva announced. “Their life support system is also fluctuating.”
“Torpedoes?” asked the first officer.
Leva shook his head. “Launchers are not ready.”
Owens stood up and glanced at Leva.
“We’ve been having some trouble with the launchers since we left the starbase,” he said defensively. He did however not mention the fact that he blamed Xylion and his embarkation proceedings for the glitch nor did he reveal that he had been late earlier because he had tried without success to iron out those glitches.
“What are our options?” Owens asked knowing that the phasers would be extremely ineffective at high warp.
D’Karr stepped forward. “We could use the tractor beam to force them to sub-light speeds.”
Leva quickly shook his head. “That is not a recommended procedure.”
“Will it work?” Owens wanted to know.
“It will if we transfer warp power to the emitter. A few seconds would suffice.”
“That would drop us out of warp and –“ Leva stopped when he realized his mistake. He suddenly fumed with anger for having been shown up by the Klingon. His feral grin didn’t help matters. It took all his restraint not to throw an angry rebuttal at the arrogant Klingon officer.
Owens, either oblivious to the rivalry or choosing to ignore it, nodded. “Lock on with a tractor beam and get ready to transfer power.”
“Edison to engineering. Stand by to transfer warp power to the tractor beam emitter.”
“Yes, sir. You are aware that we will drop to impulse?”
Edison grinned. “Yes we are. Bridge out.” He turned to look at Deen. “Engage tractor beam.”
“Engaging.”
A powerful blue beam shot out from Eagle’s secondary hull and like a lasso connected firmly to the Jem’Hadar ship.
Edison narrowed his eyes “Transfer power now.”
As anticipated Eagle suddenly dropped out of warp, forcing the Jem’Hadar to sub-light as well. The tractor beam fluctuated for few seconds and then collapsed as the emitter was unable to process the amount of power it was being fed.
On the bridge the maneuver was considered a success and yet Leva noticed that D’Karr had stepped up to the controls, beginning to manipulate them. “What are you doing?”
“I’m transferring power to the phasers otherwise we blow out the tractor beam emitter,” he said and then turned to the captain. “Phasers at one hundred forty percent power.”
Owens didn’t show his surprise at the Klingons’ sudden actions. “Fire phasers.”
Leva wanted to object but decided it better to go along with the order. “Firing.”
The Jem’Hadar’s shields were no match for the overcharged phaser blast which easily pierced the ship like a knife through butter. Small explosions ripped all over the vessel’s hull and then quietly ceased. The Jem’Hadar attack vessel simply remained there, drifting and with no signs of power or life.
“The enemy vessel has been neutralized,” Leva reported nonchalantly.
Owens turned to Jana Tren already expecting what she was about to say.
“They have to be destroyed.”
There was a moment of silence on the bridge as nobody spoke. It wasn’t because Tren’s comment had come as a particular shock to them. Nor did it stem from the prospect of killing more Jem’Hadar. Eagle had faced numerous in combat before and the outcome had usually always been their complete destruction. But this was the first instance in which Eagle’s crew had been put into a position to be able to decide over life and death. Both Tren and D’Karr seemed untroubled by the dilemma but the Starfleet officers couldn’t ignore the moral implications as easily.
Owens simply nodded at his first officer.
“Mister Leva,” Edison said, “Status of the launchers?”
“Ready to fire.”
The first officer glanced at the view screen and the doomed Jem’Hadar vessel. He wondered how many Jem’Hadar were still alive. He didn’t bother checking. “Load a tri-cobalt device and fire.”
Eagle fired a single, high-yield explosive that tore the Jem’Hadar ship to bits, leaving behind nothing but dust and debris.
“Stand down from red alert,” said Owens.
The red alarm lights ceased and were instantly replaced by the bright standard illumination.
“Mister Culsten, resume our previous course and engage at maximum warp.”
“Aye, sir.”
Tren stood from her chair a small smile forming on her lips as if to congratulate the crew on their successful engagement. It quickly disappeared when she found nobody to return it.
Edison stepped up next to the captain. “Sir, could I have a word with you in private?” he asked quietly
Owens nodded. “Certainly,” he said and looked around the bridge. He noticed that Xylion, Eagle’s second officer, had already left the bridge to attend duties elsewhere. Protocol demanded that he had to hand over command to the officer next in line. He had no intention of doing so however. Instead he headed straight for the doors to his ready room, Edison in tow. “Lieutenant Deen, you have the bridge,” he said just before crossing into his office.
Deen was caught off guard and threw him a surprised glance only to see the doors closing behind the captain and the first officer. She stood from her station and immediately made eye contact with Leva who gave her a look more befitting a sworn enemy than a fellow colleague and friend.
He broke their contact when he suddenly turned away and swiftly left the bridge.
Deen walked past Tren and took the center seat.
“Lieutenant,” the Betazoid said in way of acknowledgment.
The Tenarian looked up as if noticing her for the first time. “I don’t mean to be rude, Ma’am, but regulations are quite adamant about civilians on the bridge,” she said her voice completely devoid of her usual warmth.
Jana Tren nodded slowly and turned towards the exit. However she changed her mind midway and turned back to the young Tenarian. “You know, Lieutenant, I don’t have to be a Betazoid to know that you are not being honest.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You quite obviously meant to be rude,” she said and then stepped into the turbo-lift.
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