The Star Eagle Adventures III: Cry Havoc

[CeJay]

Re: Chapter X - Second Front

“Nest, Alfa Chick. Bird one: touchdown, bird two: presumed KIA. Proceeding to objective.”

Major Caesar Wasco expectantly looked at Lance Corporal Lisa Sanders, the team’s communication expert once she had finished her report to Eagle.

“As expected we have no contact with the ship. I have also been unable to contact Epsilon Twelve or anyone on the Roentgen,” Sanders reported.

Wasco acknowledged with a curt nod. “Very well, maintain radio silence starting now,” he said and looked around the dark tunnel into which their shuttle had landed. It was without doubt man-made, the support beams and angular shape attested to that. Agincourt had crashed head-first into a heap of rocks that seemed to block the way deeper into the shaft. The shuttle crew had survived the rough landing mostly intact. There had been a few broken bones and a lot of bruises but nothing that Corporal Montenegro - their resourceful medic - hadn’t been able to fix. The other shuttle had most likely been obliterated by the anti-air missiles which they had so narrowly avoided. Wasco didn’t allow himself time to mourn for his men. Instead his mind was pre-occupied with how he was going to fulfill his mission with only one and a half fire teams at his disposal.

The Marine major joined Lieutenant Commander Leva who was inspecting the front part of the Agincourt which was now wedged in between the rocks.

“A lot of structural damage here,” the half Romulan explained. “But I don’t think the hull has been compromised and the engines are in relatively good shape. We might be able to take her back into orbit.”

Wasco nodded and looked away from the shuttle and at the boulders ahead. They were blocking the entire width of the tunnel but he was sure that there was enough room at the top to pass through.

“Sir.”

Wasco turned and spotted his second-in-command, the Caitian J’ret, coming his way. He had been charged to secure the tunnel entrance. “The outside seems clear,” he purred in his distinctly feline voice.

“How do you want to proceed?” asked Leva as he dusted off his uniform and stood.

“According to this map,” said Wasco and emphasized the reinforced combat padd he was carrying, “There is a large network of old mining shafts crisscrossing this entire area. One of them should get us closer to Epsilon Twelve undetected.”

Leva glanced at the padd. “How old is this map?”

“About twenty years,” Wasco replied.

The Romulan tactical officer shot the Marine commander a surprised look.

“I know it’s not ideal, Commander but it’s the best we’ve got,” Wasco replied.

“I want to have a look at the surface first,” Leva said, “Get a better picture of where we are and where we need to go.”

Wasco nodded and gestured towards two of his men. “Staff Sergeant,” he said addressing a Vulcan Marine. “I want you and Montenegro securing the shuttle and find a way over these rocks. The rest with me.”

Leva and the four Marines made their way to the entrance of the mining shaft within five minutes. Outside the temperature was hot and humid and Leva immediately broke out in sweat, regretting his decision to leave the shaft at once. The rocky terrain around them was mostly arid and yet still managed to produce a number of trees and dense crimson-hued grasses. The gravity on Ligos IV was slightly higher than on Earth causing the reddish-brown tree trunks to grow at awkward looking forty-five degree angels. To Leva the sparse forest surrounding them appeared askew and it gave him a headache to look at it for too long.

The Marines immediately fanned out, creating a small perimeter around the entrance to the mine.

Wasco consulted his padd. “According to our latest sensor data gathered from orbit Epsilon Twelve should be seven point three clicks southeast,” he said and turned into the direction he believed the outpost to be. Unfortunately their line of sight was hindered by the trees which even though unconventionally shaped had grown to considerable height.

“Lieutenant J’ret,” Wasco called out and pointed at the trees ahead.

The Caitian seemed to understand instantly. While the other Marines covered him he ran towards the tree line and then suddenly and with cat-like agility leaped onto the tree trunk nearest to him. His long tail helped him maintain his balance as he effortlessly jumped from one wide trunk to another until his orange-furred body disappeared within the crimson-colored foliage of the tree.

Leva watched with amazement.

Wasco changed a few settings on the rubberized padd and the palm-sized screen shifted to show an image of red and brown blur. It took Leva a few seconds to realize that he was looking at what the Caitian tree climber was seeing, most likely through a small sensor attached to his combat rifle. Then the picture suddenly cleared when J’ret had found a clear spot form which to overlook his surroundings.

The sensor found the outpost where Wasco had said it would be. It was not much more than a small grey structure with an attached landing pad nestled within the hills. As the image zoomed in closer Leva and Wasco noticed that the landing platform held three cargo shuttles. Neither of them could make out any movement whatsoever.

“Most of the outpost is underground,” Wasco explained as he studied the image.

J’ret zoomed out again and centered the camera on an object about a kilometer east of the outpost. At first neither Wasco nor Leva could make out what had captured the Caitian’s interest until he zoomed closer. It was a starship. A big one.

“Jem’Hadar battle cruiser,” Wasco said quietly unable to entirely hide his own surprise at this revelation.

“We didn’t know that they could land those,” Leva said, his eyes remaining glued at the image. The presence of the battle cruiser was casting large doubts over the possible success of this rescue mission. He wasn’t certain how many troops the massive vessel could carry but he was certain it far outnumbered Eagle’s entire crew complement. Whatever the Jem’Hadar were after, they were dead serious about getting it.

Leva had been so deep in thoughts of potential failure that he had not noticed Lisa Sanders quietly stepping up next to the Major and whispering in his ear.

Wasco quickly indicated to his men using hand gestures only: Possible contact, approaching northeast.

The Romulan officer gripped his phaser rifle but before he could even find his bearings Sanders and Corporal Adenji were beginning to mount a defense, their black combat rifles at the ready they slowly crept towards the approaching attackers at far angles in hopes of flanking them in between them.

Leva decided to take the middle while Wasco stayed back slightly, trying to find higher ground to operate from.

The tall reddish grass made it difficult to spot anything past a few meters but Leva could now almost feel an enemy presence. Fully aware now that they were most likely facing Jem’Hadars with the ability to shroud and become near invisible he was ready to open fire at a moment’s notice. He double checked his flanks. Both Marines were still within his field of vision, proceeding forward like wild animals on the prowl. Something black and orange moved in the trees overhead. J’ret was covering them from above.

And then sudden movement to the left, close to Adenji’s position. The African Marine had noticed it too and was slightly raising his rifle, ready to deliver a preemptive strike. He never got the chance.

A metallic blade had suddenly appeared from seemingly nowhere and was now hovering inches from his throat, paralyzing the Marine.

Leva could see the blade but not the wielder. Just as he wanted to backtrack to get a clear shot at the attacker he froze himself as he felt a weapon pointed straight at his head. He knew he couldn’t escape. He cursed himself for having been so careless as he readied himself for the point blank impact.

“Friendlies!” he heard J’ret call from above once he had finally made visual contact with their supposed attackers.

Leva turned his head carefully to see the smiling face of Corporal Chrystal Neveu holding the combat rifle to his head. She quickly withdrew it when she noticed the angry scowl on his face.

“If you were my enemy,” a very familiar voice said, addressing Corporal Adenji “You’d already be dead.”

Only then did Leva realize that the weapon that had threatened to cut off the corporal’s head was in fact a Klingon bat’leth sword and the wielder was none other than D’Karr.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Leva exploded with anger. “Don’t you think we have enough problems without your mindless games?” Some of the anger he knew was covering for the embarrassing fear that had washed over him when he had noticed the muzzle of that phaser pointing straight at his cranium. But he didn’t care. The Klingon had clearly overstepped his boundaries by a couple of leaps. “We thought you were dead!”

“Even more reason to remind you that the enemy could be anyone and anywhere,” D’Karr said in defense but without a hint of regret in his voice.

“I’m sorry, sir,” Neveu quickly interjected much more remorseful. “It sounded like a good idea when Mister D’Karr suggested it.”

“Which part of scaring the living daylights out of us sounded like a good idea?” Lance Corporal Sanders demanded who had been apprehended in a similar manner by Sergeant Shin-Ja Moon.

No answer was forthcoming.

“Marines fall in, double time,” Wasco called out without even trying to mask his annoyance.

Within a few seconds five Marines joined the three from the Agincourt on the clearing in front of the mine. They quickly lined up in front of the major who kept his eyes firmly on Master Sergeant Wes Shinksy, a red haired Marine and the highest ranking soldier of the Roentgen outfit. “Sitrep, now,” he asked sharply.

Shinksy replied without hesitation. “Sir! The shuttle was shot down. Managed to emergency beam out. One man down. Private Ed’w’a, didn’t make it. Sir!”

Wasco seemed to consider that for a moment. When he spoke again his voice had found its usual calm again. “What just happened was a stupid thing to do and you should have known better. We will discuss reprimands later. Arrange your fire teams and get ready to move out. We’re going through the mine. Assemble by the shuttle. Dismissed.”

The Marines acknowledged without verbal response and quickly followed the majors’ orders.

Leva couldn’t quite believe that Wasco had let them off the hook that easily. Once the Marines were out of earshot he approached him. “Is that it? That’s all you’re going to say about the matter?”

Wasco looked at the Romulan for a moment before he spoke. “Commander, rest assured that I will deal with this in a much more befitting manner once this mission is completed,” he said and took a small step towards the Starfleet officer, decreasing his distance to him. “To be honest, right now I’m just glad that we still have three functioning fire teams.” He then threw a look at the Klingon warrior who was also getting ready to move into the mine. “As far as the instigator of all this is concerned, he is part of your team and you’ll have to deal with him the way you see fit.” With that Wasco turned and followed his men.

Leva remained in place, his eyes fixed at the Klingon who refused to make eye contact with him. “My team? I don’t think so,” he mumbled before he headed towards the mine himself.


********

 

[CeJay]

Re: Chapter X - Second Front

Ever since joining Starfleet Academy, Lif Culsten had wanted to someday have a starship command of his own. He had always greatly admired the famous ship captain’s of the past, their accomplishments, their discoveries and the differences they had made in the greater scheme of things. He had always wished to join that elite club for the respect and for the glory and perhaps even for the fame. Taking a starship into battle, putting a crew of hundreds into harm’s way had never been part of those aspirations.

Now he watched with rigid attention the two Jem’Hadar attack ships on the view-screen as they headed away from Eagle. Only moments before they had passed the Federation starship, unleashing volleys of powerful poloron charged energy blasts, causing Eagle to shudder heavily under his feet. His hopes that the Jem’Hadar where perhaps retreating, satisfied with simply rattling the Starfleet ship were squashed seconds later.

“They’re coming around for another pass,” announced Stiller, his voice sounding slightly more stressed than usual.

Culsten jumped onto his feet. He knew it was perhaps not the smartest idea to stand in the middle of battle but he could not sit still for one more instant. “Phasers and torpedoes,” he called out. “Target the lead ship and fire.”

The Vulcan at tactical follow the order without hesitation. He was not as experienced as Lieutenant Commander Leva but Trinik had been well trained by Eagle’s chief tactical officer.

A barrage of phaser fire was unleashed by the ship’s weapon arcs and where followed by half a dozen torpedoes. But the attacking vessel’s had plenty of space to maneuver. Only two of the torpedoes found their targets.

“Lead ship has been hit,” confirmed Trinik. “Their shields are holding.”

From glancing at the view screen Culsten could tell that the enemy was back in striking distance. “Evasive actions!”

The young Andorian was equally quick to act but she had only very limited room to operate while she tried to maintain orbit.

The Jem’Hadar’s reply was immediate and devastating.

Culsten fell back awkwardly into his chair when the bridge shook as if it was situated on top of an erupting volcano. He suppressed a yelp of pain.

Wenera sat next to him, seemingly holding on to dear life. The fear in her eyes was hardly to be missed. She had never witnessed an attack from the bridge, the place where all decisions that would mean the difference between life and death for the entire crew took place. She had never had the time to worry about those things when busy in sickbay. Instead she trusted in the skills and wisdoms of the people who made those decisions. But now that she was here and she could see first-hand that Lif Culsten might not be up to the challenge of defending all their lives, the fear of death had become a very real concept.

“Are you alright?” she asked Culsten.

He nodded but didn’t take his eyes off the view screen.

She leaned closer to him. “Lif,” she nearly whispered.

He turned to look at her, for the first time noticing the doubt in her eyes.

“Can we win this?”

Culsten didn’t have an answer and he cursed himself for that. He knew that no matter how grave the situation, Captain Owens would not have hesitated to imbue confidence into his crew.

He could bear her asking expression no longer and turned away. “What is the status of those ships?”

The Vulcan replied. “Minor damage to the lead vessel. The secondary ship is undamaged.”

“Lieutenant Stiller, our status?”

“Shields at seventy-five percent.”

Everybody on the bridge did the math at the same time. Eagle was in serious trouble. And the Jem’Hadar where not going to stop. They emphasized this point when both vessels swung back around to face down the Federation ship once more.

Stiller turned away from his console to look at Culsten’s empty expression. “I suggest we break orbit. We cannot fight them effectively while we sit duck in orbit.”

It wasn’t an option Culsten hadn’t already considered. But he also knew that if he left Ligos IV now he would lose all hopes to re-establish communications with the away team as well as the rescue team with which they had also lost contact.

“Ensign, evasive pattern Echelon five, use some of that lateral space to escape,” Culsten shouted as he felt his mouth dry out. “Mister Trinik, fire quantum torpedoes, heavy spread.”

Again the officers responded instantaneously to the new commands and for a moment new hope gripped the acting captain. In his mind he could see his strategy work as long as the Jem’Hadar would keep to their current attack vector. He knew he wouldn’t be able to destroy them but he could buy some more time.

Eagle broke off hard to the left and fired eight bright blue torpedoes. But the Jem’Hadar had no intention to play along Culsten’s rules. Instead they broke formation, creating a wide margin between them into which most torpedoes harmlessly swished through. Then they bore down directly towards Eagle, concentrating their fire onto one single spot.

An EPS conduit ruptured near the view screen causing a small explosion which threw the Andorian helmsman out of her seat. The bridge was quickly filling with smoke and the smell of burned wires and isolation. The fire suppression system swiftly dealt with the flames but a smoldering fissure in the floor remained.

Doctor Wenera jumped to her feet and rushed towards the fallen helmsman. She had her medical tricorder in hand and scanned the seemingly unconscious Andorian.

Culsten watched in terror, his heart now beating faster as the scene seemed only too reminiscent of the last death Eagle’s bridge crew had suffered when Ensign Rei had been killed just a few meters away from where Srena now lay. Except for this time her death would be on his hands.

After overcoming the initial shock his first instinct was to take the now empty helm station which was after all where he was most at home. He fought the urge when he realized with immeasurable relief that Srena was getting back on her feet. She wiped away some blood from her lips and slipped back into her seat. Wenera appeared as if she wanted to protest but one look at the view screen changed her mind. The Jem’Hadar were coming back to finish the job.

“Ventral shields are below twenty percent,” Trinik warned. “We will incur heavy damage if we allow another hit in the weakened area.”

The doctor stepped right in front of Culsten, nearly blocking his line of sight of the viewer. “Lif,” she said firmly. “We need to break orbit!”

“Please, doctor,” Culsten replied and gently pushed her aside. “Srena, take us into the atmosphere thirty-five percent angle.”

“What?” she asked and looked at him with confusion.

“Just do it!”

She nodded shortly and then quickly lowered the ship’s nose.

“Full impulse.”

Eagle shot towards the planet, running like hell from the pursuing starships. The only problem with the plan – and everybody on the bridge knew – was that Eagle could not hope to survive such a maneuver. It was a starship after all, never built or conceived to enter a planet’s atmosphere. The hull would not be able to be able to absorb the stress and heat of such a steep entry angle.

“What are you doing?” Wenera asked quietly. She had figured by the crew’s reaction that whatever Culsten had Eagle do would most likely end in its destruction.

“I’m doing what I know best,” he replied. “I’m thinking like a pilot.”

“Lif,” Srena said. “This isn’t a shuttle craft. This is a three-million ton starship. It hasn’t been designed for atmospheric flight.”

But the Krellonian decided to ignore the helmsman’s observation. Instead he noticed with satisfaction that his plan – for now – was paying off. The Jem’Hadar had not expected this illogical move and where momentarily stunned with indecision. Then one of the two ships broke off to follow Eagle in close pursuit while the other remained in safe orbit.

“Structural integrity is reaching critical factors,” reported Lieutenant Stiller in a strained tone.

“Divert all auxiliary power to the structural integrity field,” Culsten replied.

Stiller shook his head. “It won’t be enough. If we maintain this angle and speed we will hit the hard deck in less than two minutes. We will be crushed like an eggshell.”

Wenera eyes widened but she bit her tongue when she noticed Culsten’s determined glance.

“Mister Trinik can you lock on the pursuing vessel?”

“Negative. Computer lock is not responding.”

Culsten could feel the perspiration forming on his face. The temperature had nearly tripled over the last few seconds. The environmental systems were unable to compensate any longer. He could feel the deck plates rumbling disturbingly, protesting the immense stress they were being put under.

“Lock on manually and prepare to fire a full spread.”

“Thirty seconds to hard deck!” Stiller shouted.

A sudden and violent jerk almost threw Culsten to the ground.

“The navigational deflector has failed,” Srena announced without being able to keep her voice free of the panic she was feeling.

Sweat pearls dropped into Culsten’s eyes. “Mister Trinik, do you have lock?”

“Negative, still compensating for atmospheric interference.”

“Hard deck in twenty seconds, we need to pull up now!”

“Trinik!”

“Partial lock achieved.”

“Good enough!” Culsten shouted. “Fire! Srena, bring her up. Hard!”

Culsten held his breath as he could hear the deck plates rattling loudly now. The view screen showed nothing but a red and yellow inferno of fire and flames. He couldn’t tell if they were gaining altitude or not.

“Sensors failing,” Stiller reported with a voice now entirely drained of life.

They were blind. They didn’t know where they were or where they were going.

“Srena!”

But the Andorian officer didn’t reply. Instead her focus was glued onto her station, her fingers racing across the panels.

The Krellonian acting captain couldn’t be sure but it felt as if the temperature was dropping again.

And then another eruption ripped him out of his seat and he landed painfully on the floor of the bridge. He tried to get back onto his feet which proved to be a difficult struggle with the immense forces pulling onto the ship. “What was that?”

“Sensors indicate the presence of a large explosion within a sixty-thousand meter radius,” the Vulcan replied doing his best to decipher the limited information his console would provide him.

“The Jem’Hadar ship?” Culsten asked.

“A likely explanation.”

Culsten glanced at the view screen which had finally cleared. It now showed the final stages of a fatal explosion within the lower orbit of the red planet. From its size and pattern he knew it could only have been a starship. Some of the torpedoes Trinik had fired had impacted on the severely weakened forward shields and hull of the Jem’Hadar ship, ripping it apart instantly.

The view-screen shifted to show a sight Culsten had never been happier to see. The stars.

“Incoming transmission,” the Vulcan announced.

Lif Culsten couldn’t believe it. Had his reckless maneuver discouraged the Jem’Hadar so much that they were now willing to surrender? Was it possible that against all the odds he would leave this arena triumphant?

“On screen.”

“Audio only.”

“Eagle this is Captain Owens, do you copy? ”

The acting captain didn’t know how he felt as he heard his captain’s voice echo over the speakers. Relieved, certainly. His worst fears had been that Owens and the entire senior crew was dead. But a Jem’Hadar surrender would remain nothing but a pleasant fantasy.

“Sir, it is good to hear your voice. Are you alright?” Culsten asked and immediately stood up straight as if Owens could someway judge his posture over the audio link.

“We are mostly alright,” replied the captain’s voice. Growing interference was making it difficult to pick up his every word however. “Listen carefully, Lieutenant. This outpost is under Jem’Hadar attack and it is absolutely vital that we repel the Jem’Hadar forces. In order to do this we will need reinforcements from Eagle.”

Culsten couldn’t suppress the urge to swallow. The captain needed his help and yet he didn’t even know how to start providing any.

“Lif!”

Wenera diverted his attention back towards the view screen. The second Jem’Hadar vessel was bearing down on them now as they reentered standard orbit. It was close. Very close.

“Ensign, full evasive. Fire all weapons!”

The ship lurched as it tried to get out of harm’s way. With the protective forces of the structural integrity field still recovering from the previous maneuver Culsten had difficulties maintaining his balance.

Eagle fired at the same time as the Jem’Hadar did.

Lif Culsten fell into the center seat as their opponents executed a strafing attack. The bridge heaved, consoles and lights flickered on and off and sparks flew.

“Ventral shields have collapsed, hull fractures on deck twelve and thirteen!” Trinik said calmly.

“What is going on up there?” Owens demanded.

“Sir, we’re under Jem’Hadar attack ourselves. I don’t think –“ he stopped himself. The last thing he wanted to do was to fail his captain. But one look at the faces of the men and women around him confirmed what he already knew to be true. Right now Eagle could not help anyone. He wasn’t even sure if they could help themselves.

“Lieutenant,” Owens said and then paused for a few moments as if distracted by something else. “Protect the ship. I need you to survive and I need this outpost to survive. If you cannot –“, a sudden spike of loud and unintelligible noise drowned out the captain’s voice. Followed by silence and then nothing.

“Captain? Sir? Please say again. Captain?”

“We have lost communications,” Trinik reported needlessly.

Culsten balled his hands into fists. He needed the captain. He needed his help and his guidance. He needed Owens to tell him exactly what he wanted his ship to do. Protect the ship and the outpost. Under the current situation there was no way he could do that. And on the view screen the barely damaged Jem’Hadar ship prepared for another devastating pass.

Culsten stood with new found determination. “Ensign Srena, come about,” he said in a firm tone. “We’re breaking orbit. Best speed.”


********

 

[DavidFalkayn]

Re: Chapter X - Second Front

Culsten had his baptism of fire and he came out pretty good. It was a bit shaky for a while, but he did what he had to do. One thing he should have noted though about those great captains he idolized--pretty much all of them at one time or another had to lead their ships in battle and put their crews and themselves in harm's way--that's as much a part of the job description as exploring new worlds and contacting new civilizations--as Culsten found out for himself.

Deen and Hopkins also had their baptism--to be honest I'm surprised either or both didn't lose that meal they'd just eaten after seeing--and smelling--such an horrific scene.

D'Karr and Leva had better quit their childish little rivalry now, because if they don't, someone is going to get killed and if that happens, I wouldn't be surprised to see one or both individuals going down to 'friendly' fire.

And as for Wenera--she seems a bit shaky here--she came through for now, but things are going to get much worse, will she be up for the challenge?

Welcome to war, crew of the Eagle!

 

[Admiral2]

Re: Chapter X - Second Front

My gut reactions on these last installments:

-After that stunt, I feel Leva is now officially justified in kicking D'Karr's ass.

-If Wenera is so all-fired worried about the way Culsten is running things, why don't she just take command and be done with it? Honestly! So far, I think he's doing the best he can under the circumstances.

And of course, all good segments.

 

[CeJay]

Re: Chapter X - Second Front

Thanks for the comments, guys.

Leva together with D’Karr is obviously spelling trouble. We’ll have to see where this will lead …

As far as Wenera is concerned I do think that she has a bit of a point. For example I do not agree with Culsten’s decision to stay in orbit and sitting duck to the Jem’Hadar who have wasted little time to do significant damage to Eagle. Okay, so Owens did manage to get in touch with the ship but it wasn’t very helpful and what if he hadn’t? Culsten’s refusal to leave could have cost him the ship …

David, I think you’re right that most people would have lost their dinner at the sight of the carnage. For some reason that was not an image I wanted associated with the two characters however. Call it artistic license

Hope you’ll continue to enjoy this.

 

[CeJay]

Re: Chapter X - Second Front

“What’s going on up there?”

Captain Owens was of course relieved to find out that his worst nightmares had not come true. His ship was still there and therefore their chances of defending Epsilon Twelve from the Jem’Hadar onslaught and surviving the attack were still in good shape.

But something was happening to Eagle. Lieutenant Lif Culsten’s voice sounded obviously stressed and the distinct sound and voices in the background could mean only one thing.

“Sir, we are under Jem’Hadar attack ourselves. I don’t think –“

Eagle was fighting for survival, Owens knew right away. And he cursed himself for it. For the fact that he had been so reckless and left his ship in a time of war, leaving it in the hands of the inexperienced helmsman. He knew he would do the best job he knew how but the fear that it might not be enough he couldn’t shake.

“Lieutenant,” Owens started but then stopped again when he caught a glimpse of Captain Zalak who stood just a few meters out, covering an intersection. The emergency transmitter had been placed quite thoughtlessly into a wall panel in a standard corridor, easily accessible but with little to no cover. Zalak, Tren and Nora provided cover while Owens was speaking to Culsten.

But the Bolian had suddenly turned towards his direction and Owens couldn’t quite tell why. Jana Tren stood at the opposite side of corridor, guarding their rear. Zalak was looking directly at her.

Owens continued but kept his eyes on the station’s commander. “Protect the ship. I need you to survive and I need this outpost to survive. If you cannot –“

A purple-hued energy blast hit the receiver and Owens jumped back as he was being showered by sparks. Zalak fired his weapon and Owens knew instantly who his target was.

Jana!

He swung around trying to warn her even though already aware that he was going to be too late.

The discharge of Zalak’s weapon missed the Betazoid by mere inches. Instead it connected with the broad chest of a de-shrouding Jem’Hadar who was making his way towards the Starfleet team. He collapsed instantly.

“We’re under attack, multiple hostiles!” Nora shouted from her position near the intersecting corridors.

Of course by then neither Owens nor anybody else had to be told. Owens gripped his rifle and hurried over to Jana Tren who had already begun to open fire at several other approaching Jem’Hadar.

Zalak and Nora began to engage the Jem’Hadar approaching from the opposite side.

Unbridled fear suddenly shot through Michael Owens when he noticed the grey-colored solider lunge towards Jana Tren. She had managed to cut down the first Jem’Hadar trying to reach her by shooting him at point blank range but didn’t have the time to defend herself against the second. Owens knew that the nimble Betazoid was no match for the two hundred pound pure muscle, killing machine bearing down on her.

He raised his rifle as he ran for her but couldn’t get a clear shot.

Jana didn’t wait for her enemy to come to her. Instead she practically jumped at him, leashing out with the butt of her weapon which connected with his lower jar. She flipped over the large rifle with lightning-fast speed so that the emitter cone stabbed into the dazed Jem’Hadar’s chest. She fired and the soldier’s body jerked backwards from the close proximity blast.

Owens reached her not one second later. His astonishment left him speechless. She had disposed of two attackers before he had been able to engage just one.

“Watch out!” she shouted, pushed him aside and fired again, this time hitting a Jem’Hadar which had taken aim at the Starfleet captain.

“You’re good,” Owens managed to say.

She shot him a quick smile. “Thank you for noticing.”

But the captain didn’t have time for more compliments. Two more Jem’Hadar had appeared and he had to dive for cover before returning fire. Tren squeezed in tight next to him inside an empty door arch. For just an instance the sweet smell of her fragrance distracted his mind, forcing him to remember the many good times they had once shared. It was however the entirely wrong time for nostalgia, he swiftly reminded himself.

The Betazoid didn’t seem to notice. She pushed past him and fired a couple of rounds into the corridor and towards their advancing enemy. “Just like old times, huh?”

Owens joined her in returning fire. “I don’t remember us ever slaying any Jem’Hadar.”

“No,” she replied as she pushed back into cover. “No Jem’Hadar but plenty of dragons.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked and shot her a sideway glance.

She smiled and fired again, finding her target and taking it out. She took a small breath. “There’s something I need to tell you,” she said as she pressed herself back against the wall next to him.

The captain looked at her expectantly.

“I know it might sound selfish, especially because the chances that we’ll die here look pretty damn good right about now.”

“Don’t say that.”

She locked eyes with him. “But I’m glad it’s you.”

Owens didn’t find words and he didn’t have much time to search for them either. At least two more Jem’Hadar where approaching and they were lusting for their blood. He went into a crouch and fired. “Live apart, die together, is that it?” he asked over his shoulder.

“Something like that,” she replied and joined him in targeting the advancing enemy.



Nora was essentially cut off from Owens and Tren and she didn’t like it. But at least half a dozen Jem’Hadar soldiers were trying to get past them and she couldn’t allow for that to happen.

Her only help in holding her side of the corridor was Captain Zalak and he had quickly proven to be an exceptional combat officer. She had to admit she was impressed. Not only had he dealt the opening salvo against their attackers he had also managed to pick up at least two others, keeping the Jem’Hadar pinned down at an intersection about ten meters away.

But she had a good idea of how their enemy liked to fight and so she wasn’t surprised when they suddenly ceased fire. She knew what was coming. They were charging and Nora would not see them coming.

She shot a look towards Zalak who stood at the opposite wall. He seemed to understand what the Jem’Hadar where up to and began to make small steps backwards.

Nora mirrored the move. Then she stopped, controlled her breathing and closed her eyes. There was still the noise of battle coming from somewhere behind her but she managed to filter it out and focus entirely on what was happening directly in front. Then she could hear the footsteps. Her weapon began to slowly track the invisible movements. Nora opened her eyes finding exactly what she had anticipated. Nothing. She fired.

The beam of her weapon made contact and the charging Jem’Hadar became visible as his lifeless body collapsed to the ground. After that it was really just a blur of images Nora perceived. Five or six Jem’Hadar suddenly appeared out of seemingly thin air and the Bajoran began to act almost as if automated. Cutting down one solider at a time until firing her weapon ceased to be practical and she engaged into hand-to-hand combat. She didn’t think about her movements, didn’t plan or strategize but purely acted and re-acted to her enemies. She ignored the piercing pain which shot through her limbs when something sharp sliced through the fabric of her uniform. She didn’t look at the damage done, didn’t even acknowledge it. Instead she continued to do what she had done all her life. She fought until she could not fight anymore.

In the end there was only one Jem’Hadar left standing and before she could fight him he was cut down from behind. Zalak had disposed of him, holding his smoking rifle he shot her an encouraging look. “You certainly know how to handle yourself in a fight.”

Nora looked him over. It took her a few seconds to realize that he had come away from the battle much better than she had. While she was bleeding from a number of wounds on her arms and legs he seemed mostly uninjured. She knew why. He was decent shot with a phaser but he was no fighter and while she had gone in to do the dirty work, he had lingered in the background, waiting for opportunities to pick of the enemy. She had a word for that. Coward.

“Are you alright?” he asked as he stepped closer.

She tried to nod stoically but when she attempted to take a few steps she suddenly realized that all the strength had drained out of her body and she sacked to the ground.

Zalak took his time to help her, first checking his surrounding to make sure no more Jem’Hadar were lying in wait for him to lower his guard. Then, when satisfied that the battle was over, he slowly approached her.

“Captain?”

The Bolian turned to see Owens and Tren approach him.

“I think your officer requires assistance,” Zalak said, indicating towards the Bajoran.

Owens nodded and knelt next to the exhausted security chief.

“I’m glad she was here,” Zalak said as Owens checked Nora over. “Without her the Jem’Hadar would have most certainly overran us.”

“Laas?” Michael Owens said softly, looking into her half-open eyes.

She nodded slowly. “I’m alright, sir.”

Tren looked at the many dead bodies surrounding them with disbelieve. “She killed all these?”

“I helped somewhat,” the Bolian replied flashing her a sly grin.

Owens took off his uniform jacket and tore it to pieces. Then he quickly began to bandage the wounds covering her limbs. “We can’t stay here,” he said. “Do you think you can walk?”

“Just … just give me a minute.”

Owens smiled. “Take two.” He stood up and turned towards Tren and Zalak, his face quickly taking on a more sober expression.

“You spoke to your ship,” the Bolian concluded. “The word is bad?”

“It isn’t good,” Owens replied. “I don’t think we can expect reinforcements anytime soon.”

“So where does that leave us?” Tren asked.

Owens didn’t have an immediate answer at hand. Without Eagle, he knew their chances for survival were miniscule at best. It already bordered on a miracle that they had just survived a Jem’Hadar attack which had clearly been designed to kill them all. And now their enemy knew that they were still facing opposition. Their next strike would come and it would come hard. And it would take more than what they had to fight them back again.

“For now I suggest we retreat to the auxiliary control room and figure out what to do from there.”

“Agreed,” Zalak said.

“What are we waiting for then?”

Owens turned around, surprised to find Nora back on her feet and ready to move. Moments later they had left the battlefield behind.

********

 

[CeJay]

Re: Chapter X - Second Front

The sight of the ominous Jem’Hadar attack fighter was increasingly growing larger on the view screen of the USS Eagle. The Starfleet ship was pushing its impulse drives to its limits but it didn’t appear to be enough to escape their much better shaped attackers.

Doctor Wenera found it difficult to concentrate on anything else but the closing enemy. She couldn’t understand their relentlessness. Wasn’t it possible to find some sort of agreement with their opponent which would not end in their utter annihilation? Surely there where matters on which they could find common ground. It was an idealistic notion of course and even Ashley Wenera realized that at the moment it was completely foolish and out of place. The Dominion was not interested in any talk that wasn’t related in some form or other to their unconditional surrender. She knew that was not an option.

“The Jem’Hadar vessel is now within primary weapon’s range,” Stiller announced from OPS. “And closing.”

“They are opening fire,” said Trinik from tactical.

Wenera held on tightly to her armrests as the ship shuddered in sync with the image of purplish energy beams leashing out from their pursuers.

A few meters in front of her, Srena, the Andorian helmsman, turned to look into her direction with a quizzical expression on her face. She needed orders nobody was giving her.

Wenera herself turned to look to her right but found the seat in the center empty. A sudden flash of panic gripped the physician as she felt entirely alone in Eagle’s command area. She quickly stood and turned towards the back of the bridge. Immediately behind her stood Trinik who now also looked upon her with expecting eyes. She didn’t know what to do. She was a doctor and not trained for command, nobody could expect her to run a starship, no less one under attack.

She found Culsten sitting at one of the aft science stations, lining the back wall of the bridge. She hastily joined him and sat down on the seat next to him. The silver-haired Krellonian seemed oblivious to the threat they were facing, his eyes instead were focused on the screen in front of him.

“Lif, please tell me you have a plan,” she said almost pleadingly.

But the junior lieutenant didn’t reply.

“Lif!” she nearly shrieked.

Culsten turned to look at her. “Doc, I think I might have found a way out of this.”

The ship shook again.

“Aft shields at fifty-six percent and falling,” the Vulcan reported. His voice however had lost some of its previous calmness. An inkling to the fact that the young Vulcan was not as well trained at hiding his emotions than some of his older kinsmen.

“Then by all means don’t just sit there but do something,” Wenera urged.

Culsten gave her a firm nod and then stood from his seat to walk back towards the command area. “Helm, adjust our heading to four seven mark two eight seven. Best speed.”

Srena instantly complied, relieved to have finally been given instructions.

“These coordinated will put us on a collision course with the moon of Ligos V,” Lance Stiller suddenly realized.

“I know.”

Wenera, who had followed Culsten, couldn’t believe her ears. “That’s your plan? To crash us into a planet?”

Culsten shook her head. “Not us, doctor.”

Wenera didn’t understand.

“I suggest you take a seat,” he said calmly and then turned back to the forward stations which were operations and helm.

“Srena,” he began. “I want you to execute a maneuver known as the Schwarzfeld Turn. Are you familiar with it?”

The Andorian turned to look at him, her eyes growing slightly bigger, her blue forehead glistering with perspiration. “Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t that one of those crazy maneuvers that got you in trouble in Nova?”

Culsten grinned. “If you prefer I’ll take over the helm for this one.”

“Not a chance,” she replied without a second’s worth of consideration. “I’ll do it,” she added with utter confidence and focused her attention back onto her station.

The acting captain took the center chair. He knew he wouldn’t want to stay on his feet for this one. He noticed Wenera’s puzzled expression. “Trust me,” he said. “The less you know about this the better you’ll feel.”

“I doubt it,” she mumbled inaudibly.

“We are approaching Ligos V B. We should be in position within one minute,” Srena reported. “Nobody blink or you’ll miss this.”

The view screen was now centered on a large white planetoid. The natural satellite did not appear to be much different in appearance to Earth’s moon except for one very important disparity. Even though its relatively small mass Ligos V B possessed a gravity pull more than ten times the strength of Earth and Eagle was already subject to the effects as the ship gained speed. Culsten knew that in order for this maneuver to work they would have to go a lot faster.

“Lieutenant Stiller, transfer all available power to the internal dampening field. Lieutenant Trinik, ready a full spread of quantum torpedoes to be fired at the conclusion of the turn.”

The two officers quickly acknowledged.

“Ten seconds,” Srena announced. “I guess this is a bad time to point out that my call sign used to be Crash.”

Culsten decided to ignore her statement. “Doc, I suggest you hold on,” he said, reaching out for his armrests.

Wenera hastily followed suit.

“Position reached.”

“Engage warp speed,” Culsten said.

“What?” But Wenera’s protestations came too late.

Eagle jumped to warp at what in cosmic terms equaled a stone’s throw away from a planetary body. But the ship remained at warp for less than a nano-second. Just long enough to bridge a gap of seventy-thousand kilometers nearly instantaneously.

The moment the ship dropped out of warp the powerful gravimetrical forces of the moon took hold of Eagle, pulling it towards the planetoid at speeds in the excess of one hundred thousand miles per second. Even with the dampening field working overtime the crew could feel the forces of the moon pressing them into their seats. The view screen mirrored an image of incredible speed as the ship slung-shot around the backside of the brilliantly white planetoid.

Srena kicked in the impulse drive just in time to push the ship away from the moon again and head-on towards the Jem'Hadar vessel which until seconds ago had been in hot pursuit.

Trinik recognized his cue as well and fired the torpedoes. Not all the bright blue anti-matter packed projectiles found their target but the ones that did were more than enough for the Jem’Hadar to momentarily lose navigational control. A moment too long it turned out.

The moon’s dense gravity pulled at the smaller ship just like it had at Eagle. But the Jem’Hadar were utterly unprepared for the effect and lacked the time to adapt. The Federation ship shot passed the bug-shaped fighter as it tumbled directly towards the planetoid’s surface.

Eagle’s crew watched with rapt fascination as the ship tried unsuccessfully to free itself from its inevitable doom. All their efforts remained in vain and it crashed onto the moon’s surface without much spectacle. A massive cloud of dust shot up from the surface and completely enveloped the marooned vessel. Even if the impact had not killed everyone on board the chances that the ship would ever be spaceworthy again where next to none.

A sudden cheer ripped through Eagle’s bridge. Both Srena and Stiller jumped to their feet as their enemies defeat had become obvious. Culsten couldn’t contain his excitement either. His first combat mission had ended in a decisive victory mostly thanks to his own ingenious plans.

He approached Srena with a beaming smile. “I don’t think I could have done a better job!”

The Andorian mirrored his smile, her cheeks blushing slightly she felt too proud to ruin the moment with a snappy reply.

Culsten looked around. “You all did a wonderful job. All of you.”

Wenera stood herself, ready to congratulate the man she now shamefully admitted to herself had doubted just few minutes earlier.

The young Krellonian noticed one person on the bridge however whose spirits had apparently been unaffected by their enemy’s demise. He hadn’t really expected much else from the Vulcan but he was surprised to find him look even gloomier than he had before. “Come on, Trinik, you got to admit that we did good.”

But the tactical officer didn’t speak instead his eyes were focused on his console.

The silence quickly started to worry Culsten. He knew the Jem’Hadar ship couldn’t have possibly survived that impact. He took a small step towards the tactical station. “Trinik?”

The Vulcan slowly raised his head to meet Culsten’s glance. When he spoke he sounded as if he hadn’t wished to speak at all. “New contacts, bearing two eight one mark eight one.”

Then he noticed Wenera’s empty expression and decided to turn around for the main view screen. He was certain he would not like whatever it was showing.

He couldn’t have been more right.

“Two Jem’Hadar attack vessels,” Trinik continued, providing unnecessary captions to the disheartening image on the screen.

Culsten sagged down into the center chair. “No,” he whispered.

“Time to intercept: Fifteen minutes, thirty-eight seconds.”

And just like that Lif Culsten’s formerly sky high disposition crashed to a new all time low. He closed his eyes hoping for nothing more than this being a cruel nightmare from which he would awake any moment now. Because in reality he knew that there weren’t nearly enough insane maneuvers that could keep them alive against such overwhelming odds.

---------------------------
Stay tuned for Chapter XI – Stakes

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

Re: Chapter X - Second Front

What a great ride! Culsten seems to be getting his feet under him, but the ebb and flow of battle against a relentless enemy may be more than he can handle. Maybe the doc will at least cut him some slack.

I don't fully trust the Bolian station commander. Something about him just doesn't seem right.

Absolutely terrific battle scenes, both in the station and in space. I must admit I'm worn out from the tension after reading these past few segments, but I'm looking forward to more. :thumbsup:

 

[Admiral2]

Re: Chapter X - Second Front

The scenes were good, and I've been trying not to nitpick technical stuff, but I can't let this go because it's blatantly wrong:

The natural satellite did not appear to be much different in appearance to Earth’s moon except for one very important disparity. Even though its relatively small mass Ligos V B possessed a gravity pull more than ten times the strength of Earth

If it's really similar in appearance to our moon, then no way in hell can that satellite have a gravitational pull ten times that of Earth! The only way that would work is if the thing had ten times the mass of Earth! And something that big wouldn't be a satellite! It would have satellites of its own!

And I don't see why you need such a drastic gravitational pull for Lif Culsten's plan to work. And if it is necessary, why not aim for a gas giant, or the star? You'd actually get better results.

 

[CeJay]

Re: Chapter X - Second Front

LoneRedShirt, I’m glad to see that the tension in this story is beginning to pay off. I hope to maintain the current momentum and keep things exciting.

And Admiral2 why must you be so scientifically minded? You are of course entirely correct and I spotted the problem while revising the story. A small sized planetoid cannot possibly create the amounts of gravity I implied here. I thought it might slip past readers but obviously it didn’t.

I will address the issue in my next revision which I’m working on now. My problem is that I want to keep the gravity high and the planet small so that Eagle can slingshot around it in a very short amount of time.

I’ll probably reduce the gravity forces a bit and make the moon a small planetoid with an unusually dense or fast-spinning core to justify the high gravity. I’m not sure if that is scientifically plausible but if not we just have to mark it off as Trek pseudo-science.

 

[DavidFalkayn]

Re: Chapter X - Second Front

I'd like to echo LoneRedShirt in that you're doing an excellent job in maintaining the action and the tension for a lengthy period of time--no mean feat! And yes, something is a bit...fishy...about Zalak. And as for Culsten--now we get to see what he's really made of as it's looking like he's facing his own Kobayashi Maru...

The dense/fast spinning core should work for story purposes--I'm not sure about its scientific plausibility either--personally, I get most of my astronomical and cosmological background and information from Sky and Telescope, Astronomy and Scientific American magazines, and if they can't help me, then it's Trekscience to the rescue; so, if all else fails, then the Trekscience route is as good as any other. What counts though is that it's a damned exciting scene.

 

[Admiral2]

Re: Chapter X - Second Front

CeJay said:And Admiral2 why must you be so scientifically minded?

I've been trying to be good! Honest Injun!

You are of course entirely correct and I spotted the problem while revising the story. A small sized planetoid cannot possibly create the amounts of gravity I implied here. I thought it might slip past readers but obviously it didn’t.

Well, it's because you didn't present it in a way we could easily suspend disbelief. You said, "It's like the Moon, but it has ten times the gravity of the Earth". That's like saying "George Washington was Chinese" or something. Y'know, blatantly wrong.

I will address the issue in my next revision which I’m working on now. My problem is that I want to keep the gravity high and the planet small so that Eagle can slingshot around it in a very short amount of time.

I’ll probably reduce the gravity forces a bit and make the moon a small planetoid with an unusually dense or fast-spinning core to justify the high gravity. I’m not sure if that is scientifically plausible but if not we just have to mark it off as Trek pseudo-science.

If you really want to do that, your best bet is to make the satellite artificial somehow. (Hey, if the Empire can build the Death Star...)

 

[CeJay]

Re: Chapter X - Second Front

Chapter XI – Stakes


Lieutenant Commander Xylion hadn’t had much luck trying to utilize the limited computer stations available in the auxiliary control room as to gain a better picture of their current situation. Without main power most of the more sophisticated functions of Epsilon Twelve were unavailable and interference from an unknown source prevented any attempts at regular communication.

But the Vulcan had not given up. Instead he had begun to improvise. He found that besides weapons a great number of other equipment had been delivered to auxiliary control room, including a number of tricorders. However just one of the hand-scanners was not sufficient to overcome whatever interference was causing their problems. The solution seemed perfectly logical. Instead of using one tricorder, Xylion had decided to use seven, all connected to each other in order to boost maximum efficiency.

The next problem was power. He knew he needed a lot more then the small hand-held devices could generate if he held out any hopes of their combined sensors to yield any results. He found an equally simple solution to that problem.

If there was something they possessed more than enough it was weapons. Crate after crate seemed to be filled with side arms, compression rifles or type-three combat phasers. And each of them was powered by freshly-charged energy cells. Xylion had removed many of them to essentially create a powerful independent power supply for his make shift sensor array.

He had cleared a large, table-like computer station which was now packed with tricorders, padds and power cells all connected to each other by a number of different colored wires. The entire apparatus looked more at home at a junk yard than a Starfleet facility.

Its appearance of course was inconsequential; all that mattered was that it worked. And that it did.

“Did you find out anything yet?” asked Ensign Germaine McAllister. The young twenty-something officer was one of about twenty station personnel who had been successfully resuscitated. Most of them had been given weapons and tasked to protect the control room.

Xylion looked up at the black-skinned officer. His head was completely shaved causing the dim light to reflect from the polished surface. He possessed an athletic body and the gold undershirt he wore led the Vulcan to assume that the man was part of the station’s security detail. “Perhaps.”

McAllister nodded. “I hope it will help us contact your ship. The sooner we get off the rock the better.”

The science officer continued to study his findings. “It is improbable that we will be able to contact Eagle with this array. Our best hope at the moment is for Captain Owens to establish communications by using the emergency transmitter.”

The ensign stepped closer. “Your captain,” McAllister said. “I don’t think Commander Monroe thinks very highly of him.”

This caused Xylion to glance at the young man. “Lieutenant Commander Monroe’s personal feelings are irrelevant.”

“Of course,” he quickly replied and then made sure that nobody was in earshot before speaking up again. “Don’t get me wrong, sir. I’m on your side. To be honest, I don’t trust Monroe.”

Xylion cocked an eyebrow in response.

McAllister took it as a sign to continue. “I mean I know she is ambitious, that’s obvious but there is something off about her, I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

Xylion returned his attention to his instruments. “It is not appropriate for you to speak of a superior officer in such a manner.”

The ensign nodded slowly. “You’re right.”

“Where is the Lieutenant Commander?”

He shrugged. “I haven’t got a clue. I haven’t seen her in almost half an hour.”

As if on cue the heavy doors to the control room opened to allow Shelby Monroe to enter. She quickly surveyed the room and then approached Xylion and McAllister.

“Speak of the devil,” the young ensign whispered and quickly shrunk away as if he wanted to avoid standing in her way. Xylion did not show a similar concern.

“I have secured the immediate area and positioned men at all major access points leading to the control room. The Jem’Hadar will not be able to surprise us again. Have you heard anything from your people yet?” she asked briskly. The tone of her voice left no doubt that she considered herself in charge now.

“Communication is still not possible and neither team has reported back yet,” Xylion replied.

“I don’t like it,” Monroe said and began to pace behind the Vulcan. “And I don’t like to sit on my hands and not do anything while we are under siege,” she suddenly stopped when she realized how much attention he was giving his apparatus. “Have you made any progress with this?”

“Rudimentary scans of our immediate surroundings seem to hint towards a large concentration of trithium radiation.”

“There has been trithium here ever since the base was built,” McAllister explained. “We’re sitting right on top of an old trithium mine.”

“My sensors show more than the acceptable levels of trithium radiation previously observed on this planet. Surface radiation has never surpassed 70 kilogray. According to my data we are currently exposed to an estimated 0.32 gigagray.”

“What?” Germaine McAllister couldn’t manage to keep his voice from spiking. “Is it lethal?” he asked exhibiting slightly more control.

“I cannot be certain without further tests,” the Vulcan replied.

Monroe began to massage her forehead. “How is that even possible? Surely the planet did not just grow a massive amount of trithium ore.”

“The only possible explanation is that the radiation is being enhanced artificially.”

“The Jem’Hadar,” McAllister concluded.

“That would be a logical assumption.”

Shelby Monroe stepped next to the Vulcan and began study his findings. None of what she saw seemed to make much sense to her and she turned to look at the science officer. “Is there something we can do?”

“A release of polarized photon particles should in theory neutralize trithium radiation. However considering the intensity of the radiation I do not believe that we could hope for anything more than a temporary solution.”

“We don’t need more than a temporary solution,” McAllister said and looked at Monroe. “Just enough time to beam us all out of here.”

“Or beam reinforcements in,” the station’s first officer replied. “Could you release these photon particles from here?”

“No. Even if main power was reestablished this facility does not allow access to the required systems.”

“There is a sensor emitter access module on this deck. Could you do it from there?”

“Possibly.”

“It’s located at the opposite end of this level but I think we should be able to get there undetected.”

“There is no guarantee that I will be able to initiate a photon particle burst without main power. I suggest we wait until Captain Owens returns or Commander Edison’s team reestablishes main power,” Xylion said.

“I do not intent to sit here and do nothing, Commander. I will do this by myself if I have to but I’d rather have somebody with me who knows exactly what he’s doing,” she said and raised her phaser rifle to indicate her readiness to move out again.

Xylion seemed to consider his options for a moment. Finally he attached a tricorder to his waist and reached for a phaser. “Your chances for success will improve if I join you.”

Monroe smirked. “Good,” she said and looked at McAllister. “Ensign, I’m placing you in command while we’re gone. Your orders a simple. Hold.”

Germaine McAllister nodded curtly and then watched silently as the two senior officers hurried out of the main doors.


********

 

[CeJay]

Re: Chapter X - Second Front

It was frustrating but there wasn’t much to do for Commander Eugene Edison. Together with Lieutenant Deen he had managed the gruesome task of removing the bodies of the slain engineers from the reactor deck, in order to free up room but mostly to allow Hopkins to fully concentrate on repairing the main generators without being distracted of the terrible fate that had befallen her predecessors.

He had to admit that he had been surprised by the young Tenarian’s ability to emotionally distance herself from what they had to do. When he had fist met her, three years earlier, he would have never imagined that the sensitive and delicate girl would ever be able to process the cruelties the universe held in store. But Deen had come a long way and now was able to control her emotions as easily as pressing a button. Or so it seemed.

Hopkins on the other hand had not yet learned to be that effective but Edison had no doubt that she soon would. Fortunately for their mission the chief engineer possessed one significant characteristic. When she was faced with challenging work she rarely ever found time to focus on anything else until the job was done.

And therefore when Edison decided to check on her progress he found her working feverishly on the base of one of the tree-high generators. She had removed most of the access panels and began to dismantle and reconfigure the circuitry behind them.

“How are you coming along?”

Hopkins, whose upper body was halfway buried inside the generator, jumped so suddenly that she hit her head against a metal grate. She swore under her breath as she crawled out of the generator.

Edison couldn’t help but smile but he managed to wipe it off his face as soon as she had cleared the casing. “I apologize; I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Louise Hopkins eyed him suspiciously. “Of course you didn’t and yet you somehow manage to do it every time.”

“I’m here to see if you need help with anything?” he said and began to look at the many parts she had removed from the device. He had a basic understanding of engineering of course but he had to admit that the schematics for a class V double fusion reactor currently eluded him.

“As I told Dee about five minutes ago,” she began. “I think I’ll make better progress if I handle this by myself.”

Edison nodded with understanding. “What’s the prognosis so far?”

“Well the bad news is that whoever shut these babies down,” she said and tapped the twenty-foot reactor. “Didn’t intend for them to ever work again.”

The first officer sighed. “What’s the good news?” he was almost afraid to ask.

“They did not have a solid background in fusion engineering.”

“So you can rectify the damage?”

Hopkins smiled. “I believe so. I just need some time.”

“You know we might not have much of that.”

She nodded. “Even more reason to let me get back to do my job,” she said briskly but then suddenly seemed to be regretting the attitude.

Edison smiled and nodded. He turned away but then suddenly stopped and returned to face her once more. “Before I forget,” he said. “There is something I found which I thought might help you.”

She gave him a quizzical look. She was certain Deen had already handed her all the tools they had been able to find.

Edison raised his hand to present her with a steel and plastic device of about five inches. It had a yellow handle attached to a narrow axial shaft with a flat tip.

“What is this?” she asked with immediate interest and took it off his hand.

“I thought you would know.”

She inspected the small device with great fascination. “It’s a screw driver. I haven’t seen one of those in years,” she said with obvious awe in her voice.

The first officer’s smile widened. “I know you like to use old tools so when I found this I thought it might help.”

Hopkins looked at him. “Do you have any idea what the practical value of such an instrument could be when trying to fix one of these generators?”

“Tell me.”

“Absolutely none,” she said in a deadpan.

“Oh.”

“But I appreciate the gesture,” she said and began to crawl back into the reactor to resume her work. She kept the screw driver with her however.

Edison turned and headed for the ladder leading him out of the room.

“Oh and Commander? You promised me a wrench. This is not a wrench.”

The first officer was already on the first rung of the ladder. “I think given the circumstances I’ve done pretty good,” he replied and continued climbing. He could not see Hopkins’ beaming smile.



“There’s just no pleasing some people,” Edison said when he stepped back out into the main control room of the engineering deck which was still effectively cut off from the rest of the station by the two large blast doors.

Deen sat at one of the few operational computer stations, trying to access any of the station’s inoperative systems. She ignored Edison’s entrance and his remark and seemed rather distracted and not by the computer console.

Edison noticed this and sat down next to her. “Are you alright?”

Deen suddenly turned to look at him as if seeing him for the first time. She then managed a small smile onto her lips. “Sure. As far as one might be given the fact that we’re surrounded by merciless killing machines intended to kill us all.”

“Point taken,” he replied with a smile of his own.

She turned her seat towards the first officer. “Commander, can I ask you a question?”

“You don’t need to ask, Dee.”

“It’s somewhat personal.”

Edison urged her to continue.

“How do you figure your relationship with Laas to work out in the long run?”

Gene Edison looked dumbfounded. He had not expected the question to be that personal. “You know about me and Laas?” he asked slowly.

Deen uttered a short laugh. “You didn’t seriously think you could keep something like that a secret on Eagle, did you?”

“No,” he said to himself. “I guess that was a foolish notion.”

“I’m sorry,” Deen said regretfully. “I could have put that more tactfully.”

He made a dismissive motion with his hand. “No, don’t worry about it. And to be honest I don’t even care who knows about it any longer.”

She nodded as she looked deep into his eyes and spotting something she had not ever seen there before. “You love her don’t you?”

“Yes,” he said without hesitation.

“When did you know?”

The first officer was about to reply when he stopped himself, giving the blonde Tenarian a suspicious look. “Why do you ask?”

As if found out she quickly turned away, returning her focus onto the computer station in a weak effort to stall the conversation. “No reason.”

“Oh no, I opened up to you and now it’s your turn,” the first officer insisted. “What is it?”

Deen swallowed and kept her glance cast downward and away from Edison. “I think I might be in love with the captain.”

Edison laughed out loudly immediately eliciting an evil eye from the young lieutenant.

“That’s not funny.”

“I apologize,” he said and raised his hands defensively. “It’s just the way you said it. I guess this might help to explain your unusual behavior over the last few days.”

Deen shrugged.

“You and the captain are very close, why do you think this revelation is such a big problem?”

The Tenarian looked at him as if he had lost his mind. “You’re kidding right? First of all he’s the captain and I’m one of his officers. And yes, we are close but not like that. In human terms I was a child when we first met. He sees me like the daughter he never had.”

Edison nodded understandingly.

“And then there is Donners.”

“Captain Donners?” Edison asked.

“Yes. I don’t know the details but they have history. And let’s not forget Agent Tren. Michael is practically eating out of her palm ever since she arrived. Haven’t you noticed?” Deen sounded uncharacteristically frustrated when she spoke. “And the truth is I’m not even sure how I feel. I mean …” she paused as she thought about her next words carefully. “It’s all very confusing. I’ve known him for such a long time. I don’t even know if I mistake affection for true love.”

Edison didn’t reply right away. This was a lot of information to digest for any person. Especially as it came as such a surprise to him. Of course he knew – like everyone else on Eagle – that Deen was the person closest to Owens but he had never suspected these kinds of feelings from her. Perhaps because of her unique attributes. She probably could have had any man she wanted. Any man, except perhaps for the one she truly wanted.

Deen suddenly smiled with embarrassment as she realized what she had just confessed to Edison. Something that up until that point she hadn’t even confessed to herself. “Here we are close to being massacred by the Jem’Hadar and I go on about my irrelevant personal problems. I’m so sorry,” she said and quickly turned away.

Edison gently put a hand onto her shoulder. “Dee, I know from my own experience that the best way to face a crisis is to talk about it. And I’m glad that you trust me enough to speak to me about this. But how about this? Let’s worry about survival today and your intricate love triangle tomorrow?”

Deen nodded. “Deal.”


*******

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

Re: Chapter X - Second Front

Seems like everyone is having relationship issues!
Seriously, that's probably a typical reaction for people who may be facing death. As they face the crisis, they begin to evaluate what's important to them.

Great character inteplay. Now you've got me suspicious about Monroe! Maybe I'm just naturally paranoid.

 

[DavidFalkayn]

Re: Chapter X - Second Front

A nice change of pace from the frenetic action of the last couple of chapters as we build towards a climax. Plenty of suspects as to who the changeling might be. Also, we get to look more into the heart and soul of the people in the landing party. Deen with her unrequited love for the captain; and I'm wondering if Hopkins might be beginning to carry a torch for Gene...

Very well done!

 

[CeJay]

Re: Chapter XI - Stakes

The stale and hot air of Ligos IV gave the hilly landscape an almost frozen appearance. The treetops stood perfectly still, no bush or fern swayed in the slightest. And there was no animal life to speak of. If any living being was trying to approach Epsilon Twelve by foot, First Teleka’clan would have been able to spot it easily from his position, eighty feet above ground on the battle cruiser’s observation terrace.

He had been scanning the surrounding hills and forests with great attention for the last ten minutes but so far had been unable to detect any kind of movement. He was certain that his superior genetically engineered vision would immediately alert him to the slightest disturbance to the natural landscape.

“We have detected the remains of one Federation shuttle craft but no signs of survivors,” reported Second Arak’ikar who stood next to his superior, patiently awaiting his new instructions.

“Just one?” Teleka’clan asked. He knew two shuttles had left the Starfleet ship in orbit and had been engaged by their missile batteries. However their limited scanning capabilities had made it difficult to verify their destruction.

“We cannot be certain if we destroyed both vessels yet. It would require more men,” the second-in-command said.

The Jem’Hadar first did not reply as he continued to survey the surroundings.

“If we have more men we could mount a much more effective search and hunt down any possible survivors.”

“No,” Telaka’clan answered briskly, never lowering the binoculars. “The Vorta’s instructions were clear. Our forces are not to be drawn away from the ship or our main objective.” What that main objective was exactly however the Vorta had still not revealed. Their mission, so far, had been to secure the Federation outpost and protect the ship. Any indication why they were here in the first place had remained knowledge solely possessed by Wenour. As far as Telaka’clan was concerned it was an ineffective way to fight any kind of campaign. But those had been his orders and he would follow them until he was no longer able to.

The slightly shorter Second took a small step closer to his superior. “With the deepest respect to the Founders,” he began. “The Vorta is a weak fool. He worries more about his own safety than the greater glory of the Dominion. He knows nothing of fighting a war. I have no doubt that without him we would have already been victorious.”

Telaka’clan lowered the binoculars. He agreed with every word Arak’ikar had spoken. He slowly holstered the magnifying device and then suddenly and without warning whipped around, instantly finding the utterly unprepared soldier’s neck. It took very little effort for him to snap it. It was quick and painless. Arak’ikar’s body dropped lifeless onto the deck.

The First turned to his men who had watched the unexpected execution with a degree of disbelief. “The Vorta command the Jem’Hadar. The Jem’Hadar obey the Vorta without question. That is the will of the Founders. That is the order of things.”

Any sign of initial shock dissipated from the hard faces of the assembled soldiers.

“Third Genu’tia.”

One of the soldiers stepped forward.

“You are now Second. Take your men into the mine and wait for my instructions.”

The newly promoted Jem’Hadar nodded without hesitation.

“Go and reclaim your lives in battle.”

As his men left Telaka’clan alone on the observation terrace the Jem’Hadar leader allowed himself a quick glance at his former second-in-command. He had served with him for almost his entire life-time. Five years of loyal service had ended not by giving his life for the glory of the Founders but because he had rightfully realized that their Vorta was an incompetent. It was a dishonorable way to die for any Jem’Hadar.

Sickened by the sight he abruptly turned and strode away leaving the mess for somebody else to clean up. He had killed his most trusted and possibly most skillful lieutenant but he knew that the real blame for his death was neither with him nor any other Jem’Hadar.



******************************************************************



Shelby Monroe and Lieutenant Commander Xylion made haste through the darkened corridors of D level. The less time they had to spend out in the open the less likely the chances of being discovered by a Jem’Hadar patrol. So far the enemy had not been sighted on this level but nobody doubted that they would eventually move down from the command level above to take control of the entire complex. Time was against them.

“The only sensor access point on this level is in the north wing,” Monroe told her companion quietly while she walked beside him with her phaser rifle held out at the ready. “Heaven knows why they decided to place it as far away from the control room as possible.”

“Sensory equipment requires significant space and is generally more sensitive than other systems,” he replied, not having noticed the sarcasm in Monroe’s voice. “The location must have been chosen for those reasons.”

“Do you believe your plan could work? If you manage to release the photons would you be able to neutralize the radiation enough to beam us out?” she asked without slowing her pace.

“It will ultimately depend on the extend of the radiation and the resources at our disposal. Theoretically the plan is sound.”

A small sigh escaped the blonde-haired officer’s lips. “There is a world of difference between theory and practice.”

They arrived at their destination no five minutes later but just before they entered the doors to the sensor emitter room Monroe froze. She turned to look down the corridor, slowly illuminating every square inch with the rifle mounted flashlight.

“Is there a problem?” the Vulcan asked.

But the Commander kept her eyes fixated on the empty corridor. “Did you not hear it?”

“I heard nothing.”

“And I thought Vulcan’s were supposed to have superior hearing.”

“Commander, I suggest we hurry.”

She nodded slowly and then, reluctantly turned away to carefully step into the room. Xylion shot a quick glance down the corridor, finding nothing, before following her inside.

To their disappointment none of the handful of computer consoles in the room were operational. Xylion quickly tried to power one up manually but remained unsuccessful.

Monroe proceeded to the far corner of the room where a ladder led both upwards and downwards into tubular access shafts. She made sure both shafts were empty before she turned to the Vulcan. “This one leads directly to the sensor override controls,” she said, pointing upwards.

The Vulcan joined her. “Where does the lower shaft lead?”

“Engineering deck I believe.”

Xylion nodded as he looked up the narrow duct. There was not enough room for more than one person and all the relays he needed access to where right inside the shaft. “I will attempt to initiate the photon burst from here.”

“Get started,” she replied sharply and headed for the doors again.

“Commander, where are you going?”

“I want to make sure we’re alone.”

“I strongly urge you to hold position within this room. We will pose an easier target if we separate now.”

But Monroe shook her head. “I disagree. If something’s out there I’d rather face it out in the open. You stay here and get those photon’s working,” she replied curtly and stepped back into the corridor.

There was no more point to protest, Xylion realized. Shelby Monroe was not listening to anyone but herself and her recklessness was beginning to cause much concern to him. At the moment however he had no choice but to do exactly what she had requested. He placed his phaser rifle against the wall – there was not enough room to take it into the shaft – and began to climb up the narrow duct.


*******

 

[CeJay]

Re: Chapter XI - Stakes

She hid it well but Michael Owens knew that his plucky Bajoran security chief was in a great amount of pain. He had managed to bandage the wounds covering her arms and legs but they hadn’t had the time to allow for the bleeding to cease and her wounds had not stopped her from taking point for the trip back to the auxiliary command center.

The four officers had remained silent ever since they had departed from the now destroyed and useless emergency transmitter. Each one of them deep in thought of what their next step should be now that any hope of swift reinforcements from Eagle had been squashed.

Owens was relieved to find that they had not encountered another Jem’Hadar patrol once they were approaching the command center again. He knew they were in no shape to fight them off again.

Then suddenly Nora came to a halt and indicated the presence of enemies ahead. The captain’s mind instantly switched back to combat mode, pushing all previous doubts aside.

He understood most of her hand signals this time. She estimated two targets around the next corner and suggested to try and flank them. Owens gave her an acknowledging nod and indicated Zalak and Tren to take the parallel corridor to approach their targets. He immediately regretted that decision when Jana and the Bolian slipped out of the sight. But it was too late.

He tried to focus on the confrontation at hand instead and approached Nora. Together they snuck up the edge of the bend ahead. Owens took a deep breath and slowly counted to five to allow the others to get into position. He gestured Nora to attack.

They shot around the corner, ready to blast their enemies to pieces. Only at the last second did he realize that their targets where wearing Starfleet uniforms.

“Friendlies,” Nora quickly announced just in time to stop Zalak and Tren to open fire.

Germaine McAllister still kept his rifle firmly pointed at Owens’ chest after the captain had lowered his.

Zalak carefully stepped behind him, placed his blue hand on the weapon and pushed it down. “It’s alright, Ensign. Relax.”

The young officers took a number of labored breaths. “I’m sorry, sir,” he said to Owens. “You scared the hell out of us. We thought you were Jem’Hadar.”

“Be thankful we weren’t otherwise you’d be dead by now,” Nora said, utterly unimpressed with the ensign and then stepped right passed him.

Captain Zalak seemed more forgiving of his officer. “Ensign, what are you doing out here?”

“Sentry duty, sir. Commander Monroe’s orders.”

“Where is she?” Zalak asked.

“She left with Commander Xylion.”

“What?” Owens asked with a mixture of astonishment and anger. “I gave her implicit instructions to stay close to the control center.”

McAllister didn’t have an answer. Instead he looked at his own captain. “It is good to have you back, sir. What do you want us to do?”

“Return to the control room for now. You’re just an easy target out here. Then we figure out what to do.”

McAllister and his partner nodded and followed Owens and the others, filling them in on Monroe’s plan on the way back.

“It sounds as if it might work.” Jana Tren said once they were back behind the relative safety of the blast doors protecting the auxiliary control room. “If they succeed we might be able to contact your ship again and beam in reinforcements.”

“That is if Eagle is still in range and available to help us,” Owens replied and took a chair, thankful to be able to rest his bruised bones for a few moments.

Nora remained standing almost as if to proof that even though injured she was a long way from being beaten. “It was a foolish decision,” she wasted no time in pointing out. “They have no protection and could easily fall victim to another Jem’Hadar attack.”

“That makes them as likely to succeed as any of us,” Zalak said.

Nora looked as if she wanted to respond but Owens cut her off. The last thing he needed now was for one of his officers to engage in an argument with the station’s commander. The chain-of-command was already ambiguous enough. With the return of Zalak he was certainly in charge of his station and all Starfleet personnel on it but he had no intention of placing his crew under the authority of an inexperienced command officer.

“Lieutenant, there are a number of medical devices in these crates. Why don’t you attend to your injuries?” Owens’ voice made it clear that it hadn’t been a question and Nora understood as she reluctantly walked away.

Owens stood up again to remain on eye-level with Zalak and Tren. “There is something about all of this I do not understand.”

The two gave him a questioning expression.

“If Archangel is supposed to be such a threat to the Dominion why haven’t they simply destroyed it from orbit?”

Zalak frowned at the Betazoid. “You told him about Archangel?”

“I showed him,” she replied without remorse. “He deserved to know,” she added and then to Owens. “The lab is too far underground for orbital bombardment to be effective.”

But Owens didn’t buy it. “They still could have buried it by taking out Epsilon Twelve. And why this stealthy attack? Why the knock-out gas? Why the tip-toeing around? This doesn’t strike me at all like the way the Jem’Hadar usually operate.”

“Perhaps your knowledge of Dominion tactics is not as extensive as you think,” Zalak replied bluntly.

“Perhaps,” Owens said quietly without any conviction. His glance was focused on Tren however. He could tell that she was suddenly very preoccupied with his line of inquiry. She didn’t want to speak about this. “But I bet there is something you haven’t told me yet. Something that might help to make sense of all of this.”

The Bolian stepped in-between Owens and the Betazoid. “Quite frankly, Captain, you already know more than you should. I suggest we focus on a way of defeating the Jem’Hadar instead of wasting time on all these questions.”

Nora Laas had found the medical supplies including a dermal regenerator which sewed up her wounds in a matter of seconds. When she realized Zalak’s aggressive stance she jumped back onto her feet to stand next to her captain. Owens’ couldn’t stop her, it was simply her nature.

Owens stepped around Zalak to approach Tren. “What does the Dominion really want here, Jan?”

She looked up into his clear blue eyes. Whatever she knew she didn’t want to say it. Ultimately however she did but not in words.

“Why do they want Archangel?” Owens asked after she had shared some of her thoughts with him.

“Ms Tren!”

“There is a chance,” she said, ignoring the Bolian and keeping her eyes locked with Michael’s “that Archangel can be turned against us.”

“What does that mean?” Nora asked. She had not seen the underground weapon and knew less about it than Owens But she had gathered that the weapon they were trying to protect was immensely important to the Federation’s war effort.

“It means that it can be reprogrammed to target us. All of us,” she said and finally turned away.

“Reprogrammed? What kind of weapon is this exactly?” Owens asked now turning to Zalak.

“It is quite possibly the most advanced piece of military hardware ever constructed. It can create powerful waves of electro-magnetic energy which actively target the Jem’Hadar genome and break it down within seconds. Theoretically it can produce an unlimited amount of radiation which will not only be able to traverse solid objects but even force-fields and outer space. Once activated it could wipe out the entire Jem’Hadar race in all the known galaxy.”

“My God,” Owens replied.

“You are saying this is a metagenic weapon? I thought those were outlawed by the Federation Council?” Nora asked, slightly better at digesting the new information.

“My dear lieutenant,” Zalak said. “Without this weapon there won’t be any Federation Council left.”

“You don’t know that,” Owens countered. “How can you justify something like this?”

Tren turned back around with a new fire burning in her eyes. “Desperate situations require desperate actions.”

“Is that your justification for genocide?” Owens shot back.

“Genocide?” she asked as if she had misunderstood him. “This isn’t genocide. The Jem’Hadar are not a race. They are an unnatural creation of the Dominion. An abomination created for the sole purpose of bringing fear and death to the galaxy. We have the chance to rid them from the universe for once and for all, can’t you see that?”

Owens had no words to offer. He did not recognize Jana Tren anymore.

“You said it could be reprogrammed to target us?” Nora said, trying to refocus the discussion again. “Does that mean that if they get possession of this weapon they could eradicate all Bajorans or Humans?”

Jana nodded slowly. “Eventually, yes.”

There was dead silence that momentarily befell the room as it took a few moments for these implications to fully sink in.

The reality of the situation was almost too much for any mind to comprehend. A battle to protect a weapon which could lead to Federation victory in the war had just become a struggle which could very well determine the fate of the entire human race, the entire galaxy.

“We have to destroy it,” Owens concluded quietly.

“What?” Captain Zalak said. “Absolutely not.”

“We don’t have a choice,” Nora came to her captain’s defense. “We are surrounded by Jem’Hadar without hopes of any reinforcements arriving soon. We cannot hold this position indefinitely.”

“I’d rather activate Archangel right now than see it and any chance of us winning the war destroyed,” Zalak shot back.

But Agent Jana Tren shook her head. “Activating it would not help us. According to Doctor Santesh-Yardo he and his team are still weeks away from it to be fully operational. We might very well end up destroying it if we tried to use it now,” she said and stepped towards the second blast door which led towards the underground lab. “But we do not have to destroy it,” she said and turned to the others again. “The lab is completely sealed off from the surface. There is no way for the Jem’Hadar to get to it.”

“Are you really willing to take that chance?” Owens asked. “You said yourself that a power surge might unseal those doors. We can’t take that risk, too much is at stake.”

She kept her eyes trained on Owens, utter determination written all over her face. “That is exactly why we cannot afford to lose Archangel now.”

“This is insane,” Nora said.

Owens was not going to give up. The situation was entirely unacceptable to him. Not too far beneath his feet rested a weapon that could destroy all life in the Federation and a few meters above them waited a massive force of Jem’Hadar soldiers dead set on acquiring it and fulfilling Archangel’s apocalyptic purpose. The odds were decisively set against them. There was only one option here and it was not open to debate. “Jan,” he said softly. “I cannot allow for the possibility of the Jem’Hadar to get their hands on this thing. It needs to be destroyed now. Surely you can understand that.”

Captain Zalak suddenly stepped next to Tren. He was holding a phaser rifle now and it was leveled right at Michael Owens. The assembled crew members in the room if not already tuned in on the debate between the senior officers now all focused on the standoff unfolding right in front of them. Some reached for their weapons.

Nora instinctively drew her own phaser, pointing it at Zalak. She cursed herself now for having discarded her rifle earlier.

Owens kept his eyes on Jana but found her expression as determined as the Bolian’s next to her. She slowly reached for her own sidearm. “I’m sorry, Michael.”

Captain Owens couldn’t believe she would be able to shoot him and yet her phaser was now pointed at him as well. He realized that Jana Tren looked like a complete stranger to him now. She was convinced of her actions and she was willing to defend her beliefs until the bitter end. “You are gambling with the lives of everyone in the Federation.”

“I’m trying to save the Federation,” she replied.

Except from the hushed sounds of the men and women surrounding them as they tried to decide whom they would support the room fell silent once again.

Finally McAllister made the first move, standing up next to Zalak his phaser rifle pointed at the two officers from Eagle. Within seconds every weapon in the room was pointed at them.

Seemingly unconcerned Nora kept her weapon firmly trained on Zalak. If anyone was going to start firing, the Bolian, she was determined was among the first to fall.

Owens didn’t bother to draw his own phaser. He knew there was no point.

“We don’t have the facilities to restrain you, Captain,” Zalak said. “But I am not willing for you to remain in close proximity to Archangel either. I have to ask you to leave.”

“And go where exactly?” Nora shot back with disbelief that their fellow Starfleet officers were perfectly happy to sacrifice them to the enemy.

“I suggest you make your way to engineering,” Jana said. “At the moment that place is as save as this one.”

“Sure, if we get there in once piece,” Nora replied.

“I regret it had to come to this,” Zalak said. “I really do. But I cannot see an alternative. Our aims are simply no longer compatible.”

Owens knew when a situation was hopeless and he had no intention of trying to challenge Zalak’s decision. But he knew that he would do whatever he could to ensure the destruction of Archangel. But this was not the right time. He indicated to Nora to head for the main doors.

“Wait,” Jana said. She reached for two phaser rifles and handed them to Owens. “Michael, please believe me I’m really sorry about this.”

He took the weapons without uttering a word.

“Please,” she begged quietly. “Be careful.”

“You’re making a grave mistake, Jana. You know that none of us might survive this but we can at least make sure that the rest of the galaxy does,” he said, trying one last time to appeal to her senses.

But Jana just smiled weakly. “I guess we could never really see eye to eye on anything.”

Michael didn’t feel like replying her smile and walked out in silence.

After they had left and were carefully making their way to the Jeffries tube access that should lead them to the engineering deck Nora spoke up again. “Sir, I think there must be another reason why the Jem’Hadar have adopted such unusual tactics?”

“What makes you say that?” Owens asked slightly absentmindedly.

“From what I can tell the Jem’Hadar surely must have the numbers to attack us directly. It just doesn’t make sense for them to stall for so long.”

“Time is on their side,” the captain said. “With Eagle preoccupied we don’t pose much of a threat to them.”

“Yes but eventually Starfleet will come looking for us, won’t they? The longer they wait to make their move the less likely their chances for success,” she said thoughtfully as they reached the hatch to the Jeffries tube. “It feels as if something else is happening here that we’re not seeing.”

Nora went into a crouch to remove the hatch.

The captain agreed with the security chief’s assessment but for some reason he couldn’t concentrate on that now. Instead his mind was too preoccupied with the fact that he had, quite possibly, just seen Jana Tren for the last time.

---------------------------

Cry Havoc will return this August with Chapter XII - Double Vision

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

Re: Chapter XI - Stakes

Wow! The doomsday scenario, only it could backfire. Zalak and Tren have a bad case of tunnel vision. And what of Monroe? Who's side is she on?

This is a really bad time to have a standoff between Starfleet officers, especially with the Jem'Hadar lurking about. I think Nora's right - there's more wrong here than meets the eye!

Great story!

 

[DavidFalkayn]

Re: Chapter XI - Stakes

This is definitely a bad news situation for Owens and the Eagle. Zalak and Tren are being both foolish and reckless with Archangel as are their superiors. Their stubbornness is going to result in far greater loss of life than need be. The events coming from this are going to leave some deep scars--both external and internal--especially for Michael Owens.