The Star Eagle Adventures IV: All The Sinners, Saints

[CeJay]

When Joseph Akinola materialized on the dais of Eagle’s transporter room for a second time, the first thing he did was to carefully inspect his surroundings.

Michael Owens was there in person to greet him. Besides him and the transporter chief, the room was empty.

“Captain, thank you for heeding my invitation,” said Owens. “Is something the matter?” he asked when Akinola didn’t speak right away.

“My first officer was quite insistent that I didn’t beam over, convinced that Admiral Schwarzkopf would have a security team awaiting me here to place me into the brig and charge me with high treason the moment I stepped on board.”

Owens nodded understandingly. “I can assure you, Captain, the admiral does no longer hold any authority on this vessel.”

“Is that so?” said Akinola and stepped down the platform. “What happened?”

“It appears the admiral informed the Tiaitan military of the location of our crewmembers.”

“I take it you have thrown him into the brig,” Akinola said sharply, trying hard to suppress his anger over the news. He had expected something like this. Ever since the Bluefin’s computer core had been attacked to extract the information, he had feared that if Schwarzkopf would get his hands on it he would use it to further endanger the missing crewmembers.

Without this blatant betrayal McBride would’ve had a good chance of retrieving T’Ser in time. Instead they had lost her again.

He could also not quite get himself to forgive Owens who had clearly played a part in this as well.

“I share your frustration. I feel equally betrayed by his actions. I underestimated how little scruple he really has. Trust me when I say that this was a mistake I will not be repeating.”

For Akinola it wasn’t quite enough. “We could have gotten our people back, Captain.”

“I understand that and I also understand that you are perfectly in your right to be angry about everything that has happened. If it makes you feel better you can blame me for part of this mess. But I’m suggesting that instead of trying to find out what went wrong, we focus on taking action to fix this and most importantly get our people back in one piece.”

“And how do you propose we do that?”

“A couple of my officers and one of yours have approached me with some new information pertinent to our current situation,” said Owens.

“One of my officers?” asked Akinola surprised. “Who?”

Owens pointed to the doors. “I’ve asked them to assemble in the observation lounge to give us a full briefing. They have refused to commence without you present.”

Akinola didn’t move right away but instead remained focused on Eagle’s captain for a moment longer. Then he headed through the doors and onto the corridor with Owens following closely.

“So, where is this observation lounge of yours?” asked Akinola sharply, hardly attempting to mask is foul mood. The news that one of his own officers had gone to Owens before approaching his own skipper had not helped to improve his disposition.

“It’s on deck two, about twenty-three decks up. The turbo-lift is this way,” he said and once again pointed in the direction.

“Twenty three?” said Akinola and followed Owens down the corridor.

Eagle’s captain grinned. “It’s a big ship. I’d get lost here myself if it wasn’t for the computer.”

“I’ve already had the pleasure of being on a Nebula,” said Akinola, keeping the tone of his voice so neutral it was impossible to tell if he was being sarcastic or not.

“I see,” said Owens. “Which ship?”

“The Sutherland.”

Owens hesitated and his visage darkened slightly. “I can assure you, this ship is nothing like the Sutherland.”

“I’m sure she’s not. But I have to admit, the rumors are wildly exaggerated. In fact she has a fine crew and a very qualified –“

A high-pitched shriek interrupted Akinola and both captains stopped and turned around to find the source of the unexpected noise.

The doors to nearby crew quarters had opened and two young women had come charging out, causing a major scene. Mostly because neither one of them was fully dressed.

The short, white haired Andorian wore nothing save for her bra and panties while her brunette, human companion’s modesty was preserved by a short bath towel wrapped around her body.

Owens recognized the Andorian as Ensign Srena, the beta-shit flight operator while the human woman was no doubt her roommate. “What is the meaning of this, Ensign?”

Srena’s eyes nearly fell out when she spotted the captain. Her blue-skinned head turned multiple times darker when she realized that he was being accompanied by another captain. Her roommate’s face turned as red as a tomato.

They both snapped to attention which considering their attire had probably been a bad idea. “Sir … I’m sorry, sir, we had a little bit of a problem, sir … and … you see … I don’t really know how to …”

“The rat,” the roommate offered but then quickly shut her mouth again when she spotted her captain’s chastising look.

“Right,” said Srena. “You see there is this Bulgallian sludge rat and –”

“All this over a rat?” said Owens.

“I should probably explain this. There was this experiment we were conducting … for a science project,” she began, but quickly stumbled over her own words, “ but then … it got loose somehow and it got into the shower and –“

“Ensign, stop. I do not care about your rat problem. You are a Starfleet officer for crying out loud. Try behaving like one. Now, I expect you to get back in there and deal with your rodent issues. Both of you.”

“Yes, sir,” they replied in unison.

“And for the love of God, put on some clothes while you’re at it.”

The two young women wasted no time to retreat back into their quarters, the threat of a roaming rat suddenly much less intimidating than remaining half-naked in front of their captain and a dozen curious spectators.

“This doesn’t usually happen here,” said Owens slowly once the doors had closed behind the two crewmembers.

“Of course not,” said Akinola but couldn’t quite get that smirk off his face.

Owens pointed towards their previous direction and they continued down the corridor.

“I believe we were talking about the Sutherland,” said the Bluefin captain who couldn’t deny getting a small amount of perverse pleasure from the embarrassing situation he had just witnessed. Contrary to popular belief he had not come across any naked women on the Sutherland. “About two years ago we were involved in a joint operation against the Maquis near the Bajor sector. We got into some tough scrapes but I must say I was quite impressed by her captain’s professionalism,” he said and watched Owens’ stony expression carefully. “Have you met Captain Shelby?”

They reached the turbo-lift and stepped inside.

“Deck two,” said Owens.

The lift immediately set into motion. “I’m acquainted with her,” he said after a moment of seemingly considering his words carefully.

Joseph Akinola smirked. “A very unique individual to say the least. I might not agree with her off duty antics but there can be no doubt that she’s a fine starship commander.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” said Owens without giving his colleague another glance. It was the last thing he would say on the subject.

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

I had to chuckle over this segment. Who would have thought that Akinola would actually speak kindly about Captain Liz Shelby? The half-naked Eagle officers screaming over a rat was a hoot. Poor Owens!

I have a sense of foreboding for Lt. Bane. Methinks that when this is over that Akinola is going to tear him a new one. I don't think Nigel will ever advance beyond Lieutenant at this rate.

So, what's the plan?

 

[DavidFalkayn]

A tense scene between the two captains lightened up with a bit of...well...skin. Poor Michael--if he's not careful, the Eagle might end up getting a reputation worse than the Sutherland's. Thanks also for the shoutout to the Suthy and Captain Shelby.

As for Lieutenant Bane--I think we're seeing why he's still a lieutenant after the Dominion War...

 

[mirandafave]

Akinola and Owens. Ah! And mention of Shelby to boot. Does the heart good.

 

[CeJay]

The truth was, Michael Owens was about as pleased about the latest developments as Joseph Akinola. Commander Star and Lieutenant Culsten had approached him out of the blue and practically demanded that they needed to share vital information with him and his counterpart on the Bluefin.

He had give them both his best annoyed look and the younger Culsten had nearly faltered under his captain’s obvious displeasure but Star had remained determined.

Owens had kept her on a short leash since she had returned from the surface and normally would not have put up with any kind of foolishness form his unwelcome acting first officer, still looking for any kind of excuse to get rid of her.

And yet he couldn’t bring himself to deny their request either. Mostly because he fully appreciated and somewhat regretted that Akinola had been kept out of the loop for far too long. If the situation had been reversed, he was certain that he would have felt equally upset with the way things had played out so far.

Now that Schwarzkopf had been taking out of the equation and the return of their crewmembers was his only priority he was fully intent on sharing everything he knew with the Border Service captain.

His other reason for giving Star some latitude was the fact that she had actually handled the situation on the surface quite well and had avoided causing a tense situation to boil over. In fact it was mostly thanks to her decisions that the breadth of Schwarzkopf’s game had come to light.

And yet he still didn’t trust her.

When he and Captain Akinola entered the observation lounge Commander Star was already awaiting them. With her was Lieutenant Lif Culsten and another junior lieutenant from the Bluefin whose name he had been told was Nigel Bane. Also in attendance were former acting first officer Xylion, Nora Laas and chief engineer Louise Hopkins. From the facial expressions of the latter three, Owens figured that they knew about as much about the nature of this meeting as he did.

Star and the two junior lieutenants stood as Owens and Akinola stepped up to the table and Eagle’s captain didn’t miss the somewhat embarrassed look on both the lieutenant’s faces.

Owens took his usual seat at the head of the table after offering his guest the seat to his left.

“Alright, we’re all here,” said Owens. “Now would you be so kind as to let us in on the big secret?”

Owens didn’t notice Culsten swallow at the captain’s unknowingly accurate choice of words.

Star took the seat at the other end of the table, the two lieutenants sat in the chairs flanking her. “I’ve asked for this meeting, sir, because I …we, have received new, pertinent information in regards to our two missing officers,” she said.

“And what exactly did you learn?” asked Akinola. “And how? And I want to know exactly how Mister Bane is involved in all of this?”

Owens regarded the Nigerian for a moment. Judging by his tone, Akinola was clearly not a happy captain for having been put into this position. He shared the sentiment.

“If you let me, I will get to this in a minute. Right now we have more urgent matters to discuss. But before we start, I need you to be aware of something else. This is going to be difficult for me to admit but you deserve to know. I am fully aware of my reputation and the fact that you don’t fully trust me. Well, I’m afraid to say that you were right not to.”

Owens looked her squarely in the eye. “What do you mean?”

The Trill fought the urge to avoid her glance. “The truth is, I’ve been in contact with rebel faction on Tiaita pretty much ever since I’ve arrived here and I have, you could say, provided assistance and advice in their fight against the government.”

The room fell quiet.

Not just a couple of jaws dropped. Nobody had expected this kind of admission from Tazla Star, not even Nigel Bane. And while most were still trying to fully understand the implications of this new fact and how to respond to it, one person acted before anybody else could.

Nora Laas jumped on her feet. “Security report to the observation lounge on the double,” she said and then looked at Star. “I knew it. I frakking knew it all along. You’ve been openly aiding these people behind our backs. You’re going straight back to prison for this, Star and this time it’s going to be for good.”

Owens watched the Trill commander nod along slowly. “Most likely,” she said so calmly, one might have thought she was talking about her dinner plans instead. “And I will fully cooperate with whatever you decide to do with me. All I ask is that you hold off throwing me in the brig until I’ve said what I came here for.”

“Hold off?” Nora said with a hearty laugh. “Hold off for what? So that you can come up with a plan to escape? I don’t think so.”

Star addressed the two captains next. “Sir, I know where our crewmembers are being held and right now I’m your best chance to get them back.”

“How do you know where they are?” Nora shot back.

“Haven’t you been listening, Lieutenant? I just admitted that I’ve been in contact with these people.”

“You have a lot of nerve, Commander. I’ll be making sure –“

“Lieutenant,” Owens interrupted.

The Bajoran glanced at her captain.

“Let her finish, please.”

“But sir, she’s just admitted that she’s been assisting these people. That’s treason. She needs to be placed under arrest and thrown into the brig. You can’t trust a word she’s saying.”

The doors swished open to allow two armed security guards to enter.

“I didn’t say I trust her, Lieutenant, but clearly she has information which might be valuable to us and I’m willing to hear her out,” he said and then turned to the security personnel. “You may wait outside.”

The specialists nodded and left.

Nora couldn’t quite believe her ears. “Sir, I must protest –“

“Duly noted, Lieutenant. Now if you don’t mind, take your seat and let her finish,” he said

Her head turning a shade of red, the security chief reluctantly sat.

Akinola spoke up. “Commander,” he said, doing little to mask the irritation and possibly disgust in his voice. “The lieutenant is making a good point. Surely you would realize what would happen if you were to admit to what you’ve done. Do you really just expect us to believe anything you may have to say?”

“Of course not,” she said. “That’s why I asked Mister Bane and Mister Culsten to join us. They are not and never have been involved with my activities here but they can verify that what I’m about to tell you is the truth.”

Owens shot a sharp glance towards the helmsman while Akinola did pretty much the same to his operations officer. Both young men squirmed uncomfortably under the meticulous gazes.

“I understand that you don’t trust me and that you have questions and I’m willing to answer them all to the best of my abilities but right now I’m your best chance to get your crewmembers back.”

“Why don’t you tell us what you know and then we will make that assessment,” said Owens, still trying to come to grips with what he had learned.

Nora snorted. “If you want to make a deal, you can forget about that.”

Star shook her head. “I’m not looking for a way out, I just want to get our people back. The first thing you need to know is that the New Light movement has split into two factions at odds with each other. A moderate group led by a man named Balik and a group of hardliners who are following Deite. Doctor Wenera is currently being kept by Balik’s people while Lieutenant T’Ser is in the hands of Deite’s group.”

“We’ve already learned all that,” Akinola said who had been briefed in detail by his first officer after the landing party had returned empty-handed.

“What you may not realize is that Deite is the our biggest problem. She is a dangerous fundamentalist and quite capable to hurt or even kill T’Ser,” Star continued. “Balik on the other hand strongly disagrees with the means with which Deite is trying to achieve her goals. He is a man of his word and he will ensure no harm comes to the doctor.”

“Commander, I don’t care if he’s the incarnation of Mahatma Gandhi,” said Owens. “I want my crewmember back.”

“That is understandable, sir,” said Bane in a slightly unsteady voice. “But we are convinced that Lieutenant T’Ser has to be our priority right now. She is in much graver danger.”

Both captains focused their attention on the Australian junior officer.

“How so?” asked Owens.

Star continued. “Deite has threatened to execute the Lieutenant unless we meet her demands.”

This caused another short silence.

Akinola was the first to break it. “What are her demands?”

“She wants antimatter and she has already made arrangements for an exchange. She will be waiting for us to bring the antimatter to her within the next four hours. If we do not meet with Deite at the prearranged location and give her what she wants or if we attempt to rescue the lieutenant, she will be killed.”

“You’ve spoken to Deite?” said Akinola.

Star shook her head. “No, not exactly. She has relied this message to us through Balik who I have been in contact with.”

“How convenient,” said Nora Laas. “So all we have to do is trust you that you’ve been told by one of these terrorists that another terrorist will be waiting for us so that we can hand her some antimatter. How foolish do you take us for, Commander?”

“It’s true, Laas,” said Lif Culsten. “We were all there when we spoke to Balik.”

“That still leaves us with at least one level of hearsay,” said Owens.

“Sir, right now it’s all we’ve got. If we do nothing, if we simply ignore her demands, T’Ser dies,” said the Australian officer with newfound firmness in his voice. “We can’t allow that to happen.”

“I agree,” said the captain. “But we’re not going to give these people antimatter,” added Owens resolutely. “The last thing we can allow is for a rebel faction on that world to get their hands on raw material which might be used in creating a weapon of mass destruction.”

Owens didn’t notice the short but significant glance Akinola shot him. Not so much because he disagreed but because he didn’t appreciate Owens making this call for the both of them without consulting him first.

“And I have no intention to suggest that we do,” said Star. “Lieutenant,” she continued and turned towards the chief engineer. “Correct me if I’m mistaken but wouldn’t it be possible to construct a device that could contain the antimatter but degrade it within a certain amount of time so that it would become useless? Something that would let Deite believe that she has want she wants without realizing that she really doesn’t.”

The engineer looked momentarily embarrassed to be made the sudden focus of the conversation. “I … I suppose so,” she said. “We could design a containment field which emits a certain variance of omicron particles. With the right variance we could technically turn the antimatter into regular matter in just a couple of hours. A standard scan wouldn’t be able to detect the omicron particles until it’s too late,” she said and became more enthusiastic with each word. She looked at the captain. “She would think she had antimatter but by the time she’ll try to apply it, it’ll be nothing more than harmless deuterium.”

“There are still too many risks. I don’t like it,” said Owens.

“Captain,” said Akinola. “I don’t like it anymore than you do and I’d be lying if I said I trust Commander Star but she is right about one thing. Right now it’s our only chance to get T’Ser back. I’m willing to accept a certain risk at this point considering the alternative.”

“There is one other thing,” said Star. “Deite will be expecting me to show up at the exchange. If I’m not there to give her the antimatter myself she will believe that we are trying to trick her and kill the hostage.”

Nora let out a heavy sigh but thought better of it to make yet another comment. Instead she looked at Owens, pleading with her eyes to disregard Star.

“Where is this exchange to take place?” said Owens, ignoring the security chief.

Tazla Star stood and walked to the computer screen embedded in the far wall. “Deite is not stupid,” she said and activated the monitor. “She has clearly thought this through. She has demanded to meet us within Tiaita’s arctic region.” The screen showed the desert planet and then zoomed into an ice-covered area near its northern pole. “It’s a dead zone. Transporters, most of our sensors and even phasers won’t work there. We can’t even use shuttles as their computer systems would also be affected. Our instructions are not to bring more than two people and to come unarmed.”

“Could we modify a shuttle to get down there?” said Owens, directing his question to his science officer.

Xylion studied the computer screen intently for a moment. “It is not impossible but it would take considerable adaptation in order to shield the vessel’s computer systems. It is unlikely this could be achieved in the time available to us.”

Louise Hopkins nodded along in agreement.

Owens watched Star carefully as she stood in front of the monitor, awaiting his decision. Trying to read the Trill was not easy and after all he had learned today he was more than a little bit hesitant to sign off on this plan. Nora was right, there was no way to be sure that she was being straightforward now. In fact, considering her admission, chances were good that she was playing some sort of game.

He thought he could see something in her piercing eyes that hadn’t been there when she had first stepped into his office. Maybe it was an honesty that she had tried to hide before or perhaps it was yet another carefully concealed deception.

Then he turned towards Joseph Akinola who after a short hesitation gave him a reaffirming nod. He wanted to take the chance that much was immediately clear and it put Owens into a difficult position. He couldn’t afford to be at odds with the Border Service captain again, not if he wanted to avoid another confrontation. But if he turned down Star’s proposal now, if he decided that the safety of Akinola’s trusted officer was not worth the risk, then another confrontation was exactly what they were going to get.

And there was simply no time to come up with an alternative plan, Deite’s tight schedule had seen to that.

“Very well,” he said. “Lieutenant Hopkins, Mister Xylion get to work on the antimatter and the device we’ll need. Whatever you do, we have to be absolutely certain that the antimatter we deliver will be unusable. If you cannot do that we will not proceed.”

The two officers acknowledged and then stood and quickly left the room.

“Commander,” said Owens, looking at Star. “Be very clear, you cannot expect us to trust you but we’re obviously not left with any other choice here. If at any point during this mission you give us the slightest reason to believe that your are trying to deceive us, I will go to whatever lengths are necessary to make sure you are held responsible.”

She nodded sharply.

“And once this is over I still expect you to provide a detailed report on your actions on Tiaita. I want to know what you’ve been doing here and why,” he said and addressed the Nigerian captain next. “Am I correct in assuming that you would like one of your crewmembers to accompany the commander on this mission?”

Akinola nodded. “Mister McBride will be joining her,” he said and looked back at Star. “But our first problem is to get them and the treated antimatter to the rendezvous point in time. Without shuttles or transporters this might prove challenging given the little time we have.”

“Actually, sir,” said Star. “I had another mode of transport in mind.”

“Sir,” said Nora, standing up and addressing her captain.

“Lieutenant, we’ve made our decision. Rest assured, all your objections will be noted in my log,” said Owens, beginning to sound tired of the routine.

“It’s not that, sir. I understand what needs to be done. I just think it would be prudent to ensure for some extra precautions considering the nature of this mission,” she said. “And the people involved,” she added, shooting the Trill a quick glare.

“What are you thinking of?” asked Star, sounding genuinely intrigued by the suggestion.

 

[mirandafave]

Can't believe Star was so upfront about it. Alas, there will have to be some sort of payback in some way.

Now we have a plan and an interesting set up for things to still go badly wrong. I wonder what Nora has up her sleeve and whether she and Star can work together.

Also this rescue mission will require our heroes to work together but Akinola and co. will have greater pressing concerns than the Eagle crew.

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

It appears that Star has come clean with Owens and Akinola. I still have difficulty fully trusting her and wonder if she has some sort of exit plan following the rescue of Wenera and T'Ser.

I'm not sure if Akinola is making a good call sending McBride along - his emotional attachment may be a detriment to the mission. No doubt McBride has already laid his case before Akinola.

Looks to be an exciting ride as the rescue mission commences!

 

[CeJay]

THIRTEEN: THE EXCHANGE​

The cylinder wasn’t much larger than the length of her forearm. She had scanned it twice since they had left Eagle and all the tricorder could pick up was a strong and stable amount of deuterium based antimatter.

Of course that had been the idea. But Star had to give Xylion and Hopkins credit. If this thing could fool their tricorders it would pass Deite’s tests with flying colors.

“We’re coming up on about one hundred twenty-five thousand meters above ground level. I don’t think I can take her any lower without risking serious system failure,” said Lif Culsten who was piloting the shuttle.

“Then that will have to do,” said Tazla Star and looked at Dale McBride who was dressed, like herself, in a black and blue thermosuit designed to withstand both the sub-zero temperatures of space and the massive heat caused by atmospheric entry. “Are you ready, Commander?”

Dale McBride gave her a sharp nod.

“Keep in mind that we won’t be able to communicate with anybody once we hit the ground.”

“Just the two of us,” he said and sealed the dark visor of his helmet. “I can’t wait,” he added, doing nothing to hide the sarcasm in his voice.

Star placed the cylinder into a specially designed backpack and strapped it on tight then she secured her own helmet and stepped up just inches from the wide open hatch at the back of the shuttle. A thin force-field layer was all that separated her from the vacuum of space.

She crossed her arms in front of her chest by holding on to her shoulders. “Ready, One.”

She heard a force-field go up behind her.

Then the force-field in front of her dropped and she was slung out of the shuttle and towards the planet.

She untangled her arms and spread out her legs as she felt the gravity pulling her towards the planet below with such immense force she could barely move at all, completely at the mercy of the forces tearing at her body.

McBride was supposed to be just seconds behind her but there was no way for her to make sure. Instead she had to divert all her focus on entering the planet’s atmosphere. Orbital skydiving might have been a popular hobby but it still required great skill and it wasn’t without its dangers for those who didn’t pay attention.

For Star this was hardly her first drop but two important factors were making this particular jump much more challenging than usual. One was the fact that they were making this drop pretty much blindly and without emergency assistance standing by. If something went wrong, the shuttle was not going to be able to beam them back to safety. If something went wrong, if the suit took the slightest bit of damage, she knew she was done for.

And then of course there were the point five kilograms of antimatter strapped to her back.

Tazla Star had never quite enjoyed orbital jumps and had only ever taken them when her varied work as an intelligence operative had as asked for it. And even though she had suggested this approach, it was only because she had been sure it was the best option to give them the time necessary to make the preparations.

But she hated the feeling of free falling at multiple speeds of sound. She hated the feeling of what she imagined an insect felt like when being squashed by a boot but most of all she hated the lack of control. Until she would hit the lower mesosphere, some sixty kilometers above ground, she was practically helpless.

For the most part of this insane journey she was left with the nagging thought that if their calculations had been off by just one percent, she would find herself so far off her trajectory that she had no hope to get to the rendezvous point in time.

And that was of course after the concern of burning up in space or turning into a falling star, courtesy of the antimatter. The irony of her own name didn’t escape her either.

The drop was uncomfortable and painful.

Star and McBride were the first persons ever to attempt a orbital jump across Tiaita’s atmosphere and there had been no time to perform the kind of tests that would have normally be carried out to ensure a smooth drop.

Star had no choice but to bite down hard on her teeth and swallow the pain.

And then it was over.

The darkness of space gradually began to be replaced by a wide open, blue sky and a seemingly infinite white landscape below.

McBride eventually pulled up alongside her. They couldn’t communicate as the effects of the dead zone were prevalent even at this altitude but a short and barely noticeable nod reaffirmed that he had come through without suffering any injuries.

Star took the lead by pitching her body forward and shooting through the thin air like an arrow. McBride followed close behind.

Thankfully the simple positioning systems imbedded into the wrists of their suits had not failed and confirmed that they were exactly where they were supposed to be.

They both deployed their chutes at the designated altitude and easily sailed the rest of the way until they landed safely onto the thick snow of Titaita’s arctic region.

Star couldn’t wait to remove her helmet. But a biting cold immediately made her regret the hasty move.

With the mean wind chill blowing snow into her face, she estimated the temperature to be somewhere around thirty below.

Her body was adequately protected by the suit but her head was feeling as if it was going to turn into a popsicle.

McBride handed her a thick parka designed for extreme temperatures and a face mask from the backpack he’d been carrying. Star took the accessories and quickly put them on.

Star then cut off her chute and consulted her positioning indicator again. When she looked up she could see nothing but snow and ice as far as the horizon. “We’re three kilometers northwest of the meeting point. We should be able to reach it in time,” she said and began to set out.

“I’ll take the cylinder.”

Star stopped and turned to look at McBride who had barely moved from the spot he had landed. “I beg your pardon.”

“The cylinder,” McBride repeated. “I’ll carry it.”

“I see,” said Star. “You don’t trust me.”

“Are you surprised? You lied to everyone. You’ve been making deals behind our backs with our enemies and as far as I know you might even be involved with them still. In fact this might all be part of your sick twisted plan.”

“If that’s how you feel, Commander, what are you doing here?”

He took a step closer. “Keeping an eye on you,” he said. “Making sure that we get T’Ser back. Now, let’s stop wasting time and hand me the backpack.”

Star hesitated for a moment as she studied the Texan’s eyes, the only part of his face visible through his mask. Then she removed the backpack. “But I was good enough to carry this during the drop,” she said as she handed it over.

“Don’t make yourself out to be the victim, it really doesn’t suit you,” said McBride as he took the bag and strapped under his thick white arctic coat. “If this thing would have breached neither one of us would be standing here now,” he added and then started out, stepping through the deep snow and walked by Star.

The Trill followed. “You don’t like me very much, do you, Commander?”

“You sure you are not a Betazoid?” he said but had already stopped looking at her. “The way you seem to be able to read my mind is scary.”

They didn’t exchange anymore words as they hiked across the icy plains and through ankle deep snow for the next seventy minutes. All the while their surroundings refused to change and even the distant mountain range, dominating the horizon barely grew closer.

The only thing that did change was the weather. The wind had picked up, blowing more snow into their faces and slowing their progress. The temperature had dropped to somewhere in the range of negative forty degrees Celsius.

Star who had taken the lead, presumably so that McBride could keep an eye on her, stopped suddenly at an entirely indistinct spot. She turned to look at the man behind her. “This is it.”

McBride took a look around. There was literally nothing there. “Are you sure?”

She checked her positioning device again and then nodded. “Positive. These are the exact coordinates we’ve been given.”

Something caught the Bluefin’s first officer’s attention. “Over there,” he said and pointed into the distance.

Star followed his gesture and then saw it too. She couldn’t quite tell what it was at first except that it moved towards them. And quickly.

After just a couple of minutes she could make it out.

Seven white and brown furred animals the size of ponies were pulling a large sled-like device across the snow. And they were fast, considering the rough weather conditions. They were at a full gallop at thirty or maybe forty miles an hour.

As they pulled closer she could make out two people riding in the bed of the sleigh.

It came to about thirty meters of Star and McBride and then turned away slightly before coming to a stop.

Star recognized both Deite and Teldro even through their heavy winter gear.

Deite jumped off the sled and took two steps towards the Starfleet officers. She took a careful look around before focusing on them. “Tazla Star?”

The Trill stepped forward, pulled back the hood of her coat and removed the mask.

Deite nodded upon recognizing her. “Did you bring the antimatter?”

McBride stepped up. “First show us T’Ser.”

“And who are you?” Deite said.

“I’m the one who is going to make your life a living hell if you hurt T’Ser in anyway.”

Star shot McBride a disapproving glance but he didn’t care.

Deite laughed. “Don’t worry we’ve kept her in one piece for you,” she said and turned back towards Teldro on the sled. “Show her to them.”

The man nodded and moved to the back of the sled where he pulled back a tarp and pushed up T’Ser. She was fully conscious but her hands had been cuffed behind her back and a piece of tape placed over her mouth. Her face was still a testament to the harsh treatments she had received earlier.

“You goddamn bastards, what have you done to her?” McBride shouted and tried to move closer.

Star held him back by holding on to his arm. “Commander,” she said sharply. “This is not the time for this.”

McBride gave the Trill a withering look but eventually relented.

Teldro in the meantime drew a gun and pointed it at the Vulcan’s temple.

“You said no weapons,” Star said.

“I said for you not to bring any weapons,” said Deite. “Now, show me the antimatter. The quicker we get this done the sooner we can all get out of this frozen desert.”

With clenched teeth McBride removed the backpack, placed it by his feet and then opened it to retrieve the cylinder. He held it up for Deite to see.

“Very good,” she said. “Naturally I’ll need to inspect it before I can release my hostage. Bring it to me.”

McBride exchange a quick look with the Trill who gave him a short nod.

The Texan looked at Deite. “Put away your gun first.”

Deite rolled her eyes dramatically. “Fine,” she said and instructed Teldro.

Her accomplice reluctantly put the weapon back into his holster.

McBride took one step forward. “And the gag.”

“You are beginning to test my patience,” Deite said.

“Do you want your antimatter?” McBride shot back.

She nodded slowly. “Do it,” she said without taking her eyes off McBride.

The tape was ripped off.

“T’Ser, are you alright?”

“I’m .. I’m fine,” she said. “But I’d sell my grandmother for some of Cookie’s hot coffee right about now.”

“Don’t worry,” McBride said. “We’ll have you back on Bluefin in no time. I promise.”

Deite was getting impatient. “That’s enough with the pleasantries. Hand me the antimatter.”

McBride took another step. “Let her go.”

“Not until I’ve verified it.”

“That’s not the way an exchange works,” McBride said. “You’ll let her go and I’ll come over to you at the same time. Then, once you have verified the antimatter you’ll let me go and everybody gets what they want.”

But T’Ser shook her head upon hearing his plan. She wasn’t willing to be exchanged for Dale McBride.

“You think you are in a position to make demands?” Deite said.

“I have something you want, don’t I? And the way I see it you are the only one here with a gun. You risk nothing.”

At that the Tiaitan woman laughed.

McBride didn’t quite understand why.

“You really think I came here with just one gun?”

McBride took an instinctive step backwards when he saw three figures emerge from underneath the sled where they had been hiding. All three men carried assault rifles which quickly drew on McBride.

“You see,” said Deite. “You really aren’t in a position to make any demands at all. Now I suggest you hand over the antimatter or I will have you shot and simply take it out of your dead hands. And that goes for your two friends as well. I really don’t care because I’ll get what I want either way. Your call.”

Star slowly stepped up to McBride. She carefully scrutinized the cold, hard look in Deite’s eyes before she whispered to McBride. “She has no intention of making an exchange. She’s planning to kill us all.”

McBride could see it too.

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

Well now, that went well. This is why I think having McBride along was a bad idea. I sure hope Star and McBride have a plan B, cause plan A is sucking big-time.

Nice portrayal of the orbital drop, by the way. I'm sure having anti-matter strapped to one's back makes it all the more more exciting!

I won't slow you down with any more comments. Back to work!

 

[DavidFalkayn]

Hmmm...of course with that anti-matter, there's always the "we'll all go together option"...

And I want to second Redshirt's comment as regards your portrayal of the orbital drop--it felt like I was diving down with them. Very nicely done!

 

[CeJay]

“I don’t understand what we are doing here,” said Lif Culsten as he walked alongside Nigel Bane through the corridors of the Samaritan, the very same freighter to which he had followed Tazla Star just a few hours earlier.

The two young officers had become fast friends afterwards both driven by similar concerns over the fate of their respective colleagues.

And so Lif Culsten had agreed to join the Australian once he had asked for his help to return onto the freighter. It was a risky plan, considering their previous clandestine actions. They both knew that both their captains would surely hand out some reprimands once they’ve had the time to review all the reports but for now they were simply too busy focusing on the latest crisis.

And that was why Bane had decided, once again, to take actions into his own hands.

“You have everyone believe that you trust Star. You had me convinced to trust her. In fact without our support they’d thrown her into the brig for sure and now you’re telling me that you don’t?” said the silver-haired Krellonian.

Bane shook his head. “It’s not Star I don’t trust, it’s Singleton.”

“Singleton?” said Culsten. “He worked with Star. Where is he?” Culsten had to admit that in all the confusion he had completely forgotten about the man who’d had him at gunpoint. He didn’t know if the man would’ve been able to kill him but thanks to Star’s quick actions he’d never had to find out.

“That’s just it,” said Bane. “He’s gone.”

“Gone? What do you mean gone?”

“As in disappeared. After our struggle in the cargo bay he vanished. Taz … Commander Star told me before she left to try and find him.”

“And you didn’t think to mention this to anybody?”

Bane stopped. “I tried. But in case you hadn’t noticed we don’t carry a lot of weight with the brass at the moment. Besides with the little time available until the exchange nobody had time to look into this. That’s why we’re here.”

“And what do you suppose we do once we find him?”

Nigel Bane placed a hand on the grip of the holstered phaser he carried. “We place him under arrest.”

Culsten nodded. “Alright, I can go for that.”

The Border Service officer indicated towards the door panels nearby. “Let’s start with his quarters.”

Naturally the doors were locked. It did take them a few minutes to manage to override the system and enter the room.

“He’s not here,” said Culsten after checking the compact quarters.

“Try to find anything that might give us an indication to where he might have gone,” said Bane.

Culsten went straight to the only computer work station while Bane began to search the quarters. But he couldn’t find hardly anything at all. No data padds, no isolinear chips, no notes, not even a spare uniform in the closet. The bed looked as if it had never been slept in. He wasn’t surprised when a tricorder scan failed to produce even a trace amount of DNA.

“You gotta hate bloody spooks,” said Bane and holstered his tricorder again.

“I might have something here.”

Bane turned to Culsten who was still working at the computer. “What is it?”

“Most of the this station’s history was deleted but somebody definitely did a lot of modifications to it.”

Nigel Bane stepped up next to the Krellonian and looked over his shoulder. “That looks like somebody accessed the transporters from here.”

“You think he beamed off the ship?”

Bane entered a series of commands into the work station and then shook his head. “If he did, these readings don’t make any sense. He initiated a dual transporter cycle. He beamed something in and out at the same time.”

“Why would he want to do that?”

“I don’t know but he must have been in a hurry, he didn’t delete the transporter log.”

Culsten checked the log. “Whatever came in materialize in cargo hold six,” he said and looked up. “It might still be there.”

Bane reached for his phaser. “Let’s find out”

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


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


******************​

“Wind three-oh-five at eighteen, distance to package four-one-seven-eight meters. Target not yet in sight. Report you have the packages,” said Solly Brin as he watched the two figures hike through the snow.

Brin and his three companions were as good as invisible. One would have had to stand inches away to make out the four figures lying on top of the icy ridge under a camouflaged tarp which blended in seamlessly with the brilliantly white snow all around them.

They were each wrapped tightly into arctic gear which did its job to keep them reasonably comfortable in the freezing temperatures. They had arrived at their position no twenty minutes before McBride and Star had touched down and they had tracked their progress ever since.

Here, at the outer fringes of the dead zone a com booster allowed for a channel to Eagle, however there was no way for them to contact the two Starfleet officers some four kilometers away.

“Spy One, I have primary package in sight,” said Petty Officer Skyler McIntyre as she looked through the scope of her TR-116 sniper rifle. The young red haired noncom was one of the best marksmen on Eagle and possibly the only one familiar with the projectile weapon which was required for this operation. She kept her sight firmly set on the distant figure of Tazla Star.

“Spy Two, I have secondary,” said Crewman First Class Jacob Steiner. The Bluefin crewmember and former Marine wielded a similar rifle. Steiner was usually in charge of the brig on his vessel but when it came to sharpshooting he had everyone beat which had made him an easy choice for the assignment.

“Alright,” said Nora Laas who like Brin had the use of powered binoculars to spot for the snipers. “They’ve nearly reached their destination. Keep your eyes open for the target. Nobody fires until I give the order, understood?” she said in a sharp tone of voice which was intended to leave no doubt who was in charge here.

“Yes, ma’am,” Brin acknowledged but without being able to keep the sarcasm out of his reply.

The Bajoran lowered her binoculars and looked at the large red man lying at her side and admittedly much closer than she was comfortable with. “Is there are problem, Chief?”

“No, no problem, ma’am,” he said without ever taking his eyes off the two figures in the distance.

“I see. So tell me, is it Starfleet you don’t like or is it me personally?”

The Orion turned to look back at her. The truth was he had taken a bit of a liking to the Starfleet security chief. He appreciated her aggressiveness and her seemingly natural distrust of people and the fact that she was not easily intimidated by him, something that wasn’t a given even among officers.

But there was something else. Something that really bothered him about her. It was the look in her eyes. He had seen it the first time they had met, when they had faced each other with phaser rifles. He had seen that look before, usually in people who had lost something very important to them. And it tended to make them unpredictable, sometimes even dangerous.

“I said I have no problems with you, Lieutenant.”

Nora laughed. “Yeah, right. Let’s have it, Chief. Speak your mind. Don’t be a coward and hide behind your rank.”

The comment stung just as it was supposed to and Brin frowned. “I’m just here to get my people back safely. And I’m concerned about your stake in this. I’ve seen how little you appear to care about Commander Star.”

“So you think that I’m not committed to this?”

He shrugged his massive shoulders.

Nora picked up the binoculars again. “I can put your fears to rest, Chief. I absolutely want Tazla Star to come out of this alive. She still has a lot to answer for and she can’t do that if she’s dead.”

Steiner and McIntyre exchanged a quick glance with each other. Differently to their superiors they had bonded very quickly during their brief training session onboard Eagle.

They returned to look through their respective scopes and for the next few minutes nobody spoke as everyone watched the two figures quietly.

The weather was getting worse.

“Wind now a twenty-four knots,” reported Brin.

The two snipers adjusted their weapons.

“Two hundred credits that if the Tiaitans don’t stick to their side of the bargain, my target goes down first,” said Steiner with a smirk.

“Oh you’re so on,” said McIntyre without ever taking her eyes off the scope. “Which means you’ll owe me double when the Vanguards defeat Alabama this weekend.”

The Bluefin sharpshooter chuckled. “Your devotion to miracles is foolish but admirable. The Crimson Tide has been undefeated and Starfleet has struggled all season. Rajak has thrown two times as many interceptions as touchdowns since he took over as the starter.”

“Well you know what they say,” said McIntyre. “All good things. Besides you don’t need a great quarterback to win the game. What you need is an uncompromising defense.”

“It is about time for the Vanguards to reach the playoffs again.”

“Chief,” said Steiner with surprise. “I can’t believe you’d take her side. Stats don’t lie.”

“And they don’t predict the future either. I think they can pull it off this year,” said Solly Brin. “Call it a gut-feeling.”

“No thanks,” said Steiner. “I’ll take the credits, thank you very much.”

“Let’s focus on the mission, shall we?” said Nora Laas sharply. “Besides we’re a long way from Alabama. Nobody here is going to see that game for weeks.”

“New contacts bearing three-two-five degrees,” said Brin. “Closing fast on our package.”

“Looks like some sort of dog sled,” said the Bajoran once she had found it. “I make out two occupants but there is plenty of room for more. Designate female occupant Tango one. Male occupant, Tango two.”

“I’ve got Tango one,” said McIntyre.

“Spy Two, has Tango two.”

Now that their targets had arrived they watched quietly and with sharp eyes as the sled moved closer and then came to a stop not very far to Star and McBride. Words were being exchanged but they was no way for them to know what was being said.

“I’ve got T’Ser,” said Brin when the Vulcan was revealed. “Damn, those bastards did a job on her.”

Solly Brin watched as the male target, Tango two, moved behind T’Ser and placed a gun to her head. “Spy Two, do you have the shot?”

“I do not,” said Steiner with frustration as he tried to realign so that he could take out the target without risking hitting T’Ser. But at this distance, considering the current weather conditions and using a projectile there was simply no way to ensure a clean kill.

Tango one in the meantime had stepped off the sled.

“My target is in the open, I can take her down at any time,” said McIntyre.

Nora didn’t give the order. Their primary mission was to ensure T’Ser’s safety and at the moment this could not be achieved by opening fire.

“Two … no, strike that. Three new targets, heavily armed,” said Brin as he watched them pop up one by one from the sled. “New targets designations from left to right: Tango three, four and five.”

“Damn it,” said Jacob Steiner understanding immediately that three heavily armed soldiers were going to make this a whole lot more difficult.

“Spy One, target Tango three; Spy Two, target Tango five. Report you have the shot and hold your fire,” said Nora.

McIntyre quickly readjusted to find the new target. “I have the shot.”

But Steiner only very reluctantly took his sights off the man who was threatening T’Ser in order to target the third gunman instead. But it made sense, better to take down somebody cleanly than waste time on an opportunity he might never get. “Spy Two has the shot.”

Nora Laas shook her head fractionally. “They don’t want to make an exchange,” she said. “We have to engage.”

“We fire now and we sign T’Ser’s death sentence,” said Solly Brin.

Nora agreed and while the Vulcan hostage had been their primary target, she had to consider the lives of the two other officers as well.

“It’s her or everybody.”

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

Okay, so there was a plan B. I should have known! Still, even the best plans never survive first contact on the field of battle. With two snipers and multiple targets, the odds of success have diminished.

Nice banter between McIntyre and Steiner. Glad to know that Bama is still a football power in the 24th century.

Now Nora has to make the call - open fire now and probably lose T'Ser or wait and risk losing McBride and Star as well.

Guess we'll have to wait on the next installment to find out.

 

[mirandafave]

Excellent segments CeJay. Love the artic stand off and the build up to something. I wonder what either side will pull out of the bag?

The description of the orbital jump was fantastic. I tried, and failed, to write such a tactic in my last story. But I liked how you conveyed and described the experience. It felt very real. Though I will add that I have no personal experience of one!

Great stuff.

 

[DavidFalkayn]

This is turning into something like that scene in "Ice Station Zebra"--it's going to get real hairy real soon.

 

[CeJay]

“She is your crewmember, Captain. You make the call.”

Akinola glared at Michael Owens.

After learning of the dilemma unfolding on the surface, Eagle’s captain had put the decision of how to proceed squarely on his shoulders. Owens had made it clear that he agreed with Nora Laas that an intervention was necessary before Deite’s people had a chance to take out Star, McBride and T’Ser but considering that the majority of those officers were under Akinola’s command he had been quite willing to leave him with the final decision.

Under different circumstances the Border Service skipper may have appreciated the deference but right now he thought it to be pusillanimous. Especially considering that he knew Owens didn’t value Commander Star nearly as much as he did McBride and T’Ser.

He didn’t believe that he wanted her dead but Akinola wanted his first officer and operations chief back unharmed a whole lot more than Owens wanted his disgraced XO.

Michael Owens didn’t want to be responsible for the Vulcan’s death even if at this point it appeared to be unavoidable.

“I’m sorry, Captain,” said Owens. “I wish there was another way.”

“Let’s give them another minute. We brought some extra firepower to this meeting as additional insurance. Maybe they’re simply doing the same,” said Akinola. His voice didn’t quite carry real conviction however.

Owens nodded and then looked at So’Dan Leva who stood at the tactical station. A simple nod let him know to reconnect him to the ground team.

“Lieutenant, continue to observe. If they take any additional aggressive actions you are cleared to take whatever measures you believe necessary to safeguard the landing party.”

Akinola frowned but didn’t object.

“Copy that, sir.”

Owens turned to the veteran skipper. “With any luck they’ll take our cylinder, leave Lieutenant T’Ser and walk away peacefully. But if not …”

Eagle’s captain didn’t have to finish his sentence.

And he didn’t get a chance either.

The turbo-lift doors opened and Nigel Bane and Lif Culsten stormed onto the bridge. They both had pained expressions on their faces but it was the Australian who looked particularly concerned.

“What’s going on, Lieutenant?” said Owens, addressing his helmsman.

“Sir, we found something that might change everything,” he said, clearly out of breath after nearly exhausting himself to return to the bridge.

“Found what?” asked Akinola. “Talk to me, damnit?” he added when the reply wasn’t immediately forthcoming.

Nigel Bane hesitantly presented a two-foot long cylinder.

“That looks just like …” Akinola stopped himself and then looked straight into Nigel Bane’s eyes. “What is this?”

But the Australian was reluctant to share this information.

Culsten stepped in. “We found this on the Samaritan. It contains antimatter. But our scans have shown signs of omicron particles which have begun to break down the antimatter inside.”

Owens took a step closer to examine the device. “That is supposed to be on the planet right now.”

Culsten nodded. “Yes sir.”

“We believe it was exchanged by Commander Singleton at some point with the use of a hidden transporter beam,” said Nigel Bane.

“Exchanged with what?” asked Owens.

“Considering Singleton works for the same people Star worked for,” said Nigel Bane. “We would have to assume that he exchanged this cylinder with an unmodified container.”

Michael Owens and Akinola looked at each other for a moment as the realization sunk in. Owens looked at the two junior lieutenants. “You are telling me that our landing team went down there with actually usable antimatter?”

Culsten nodded. “That is our assumption, sir.”

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

*******************
*******************​

​

Dale McBride understood what was about to happen.

But he hadn’t given up just yet. Deite was ruthless. After seeing T’Ser’s beaten face there was little doubt about that. But she desperately wanted the antimatter and she would take no unnecessary risks until she had it in her hands.

McBride raised the cylinder slightly. “You start shooting now, you’ll risk hitting the container and trust me, the last thing you want to do is disrupt the containment field keeping the antimatter stable.”

Deite gestured to her people to lower their rifles and they complied instantly.

Bluefin’s first officer moved slowly to shorten the distance between him and the Tiaitan rebel, always keeping the cylinder in front of him.

Deite took a step towards him and held out her hand. “Give it to me.”

“Let T’Ser go.”

“Once I have verified the content of the cylinder.”

He shook his head. “Now.”

“Or what?” Deite said. “This exchange is taking place on my terms, not yours. You want her back you do what I want, understood?”

Dale McBride stopped some four meters from Deite, unwilling to take another step without a gesture from Deite.

The woman uttered a heavy sigh. “Teldro,” she yelled to make herself heard over the loudly whistling arctic wind. “Shoot the hostage.”

“No, wait,” McBride shouted and closed in on Deite with renewed urgency, holding out the sought after cylinder for her to take. “You win.”

She reached out for the device. “Now do you see that I am the one holding all the pieces? Your spaceships and advanced weapons mean nothing. Say, how does it feel to be on the weak side?” she said with devilish delight. Her hand took hold of the cylinder but quickly found that McBride was still holding on to it. And he wasn’t letting go.

His eyes burned with raging fire. “You tell me.”

Confusion spread across Deite’s face.

Gunshots rang out like explosions.

Two of Deite’s men flew backwards even as their chests imploded in bright red blood.

While the insurgent leader tried to figure out what had just happened, McBride had already balled his free hand into a fist which connected mercilessly with Deite’s jaw.

She never saw it coming and she went down instantly. She maintained enough presence of mind however to take the antimatter cylinder with her as she fell.

McBride didn’t consider the container a priority and let it slip out of his hand, much more concerned with T’Ser and the gunman who’d had a pistol pointed at her temple.

He jumped over the fallen Deite and rushed forward and towards the sled.

Teldro had been caught equally by surprise by the invisible gunshots and the two men collapsing into the snow. And so had T’Ser. But differently to her kidnapper she had been waiting for any chance to escape since the moment she had been captured. She knew instantly that she was never going to get a better chance.

Her head flew backwards and hit the side of his face harshly. He stumbled away from her but maintained a grip on his gun and quickly brought it up to exact swift vengeance on the Vulcan.

He didn’t however see that Star, who had anticipated the sniper attack ever since Deite’s gunmen had shown up, had gone into a crouch the moment she had heard the shots. Even before her knee had hit the ground, her right hand had darted behind her back and underneath her coat to pull free a hidden projectile weapon.

She brought up the gun, steadied it with her left hand and fired two quick shots at Teldro even while he tried to bring his own gun to bear on the hostage.

Star was faster.
Both bullets hit Teldro’s right shoulder, twisting him around and pushing him clean off the sled and out of sight.

At this point no more than five seconds had passed since Star had heard the sniper fire.

She did the math.

At this distance and in this harsh weather it would take even the best marksman in the fleet at least eight to ten seconds to acquire a new target and fire again. And that was if it wasn’t moving.

But the third gunman was not going to stand still for his execution.

Concerned mostly with his own safety after watching his comrades go down helplessly, he tried to rush for cover behind the bulky sled.

While he moved he brought up his assault rifle to mow down McBride. An easy target, now that he was moving directly towards him.

“Commander, get down, now!” Star shouted.

The Bluefin officer had been too focused on T’Ser to notice the third gunman aiming at him. Realizing that he was as good as dead if he kept going, he jumped head first into the thick snow for cover.

Just in time. The bullets rattled over his head.

Star was also dangerously exposed but at least she was armed.

She moved sideward as she fired at the gunman. Unfortunately she was no expert using projectile firearms, the phaser usually being her weapon of choice, and the bullets failed to connect before he could take cover behind the sled.

Another sniper blast ripped through the air.

The force of the projectile ripped off a small chunk of the edge of the sled but didn’t find its intended target; the gunman who was hiding behind it.

It did however stir the horse-like animals which had already become agitated the moment the shooting had commenced. The sudden jolt against their carriage was enough to push them over. They whinnied loudly and set out in a quickly accelerating trot in an attempt to get away from the perceived danger.

That was when Deite, who had been floored by McBride earlier, shot up and began sprinting after the sled. Star could see that she was still holding on to the antimatter cylinder.

She took aim to take her down.

It was a mistake.

The third gunman found himself with a clear shot at the Trill. Ignoring the fact that his own cover was moving away he squeezed the trigger.

Star knew what was coming and worse, she knew she couldn’t get out of the way in time. In a last ditch effort she raised her right arm in a seemingly hopeless effort to shield herself from the incoming volley.

She screamed out in pain as the force of the multiple impacts pushed her backwards and into the snow.

Dale McBride watched Star go down and judging from the number of bullets she had absorbed he had to believe that she was dead.

Meanwhile Deite was still sprinting after the quickly departing sled and stood a good chance of catching up with it and get herself and T’Ser out of sniper range.

The third gunman, having disposed of the Trill, was now looking for him, trying to find him in the snow.

That search was quickly cut short when another high-velocity sniper bullet ripped clean through his torso. He sagged to his knees and fell lifelessly to the ground.

With the immediate danger gone, McBride was left with two options: Go after Deite or check on Star.

It wasn’t a difficult decision.

He got onto his feet and ran as fast as the deep snow and icy terrain would allow to try and catch up with the fleeing sled. He wasn’t quite sure how exactly he managed to seemingly defy the laws of physics. Perhaps it was his urge to get back at Deite or maybe it was his determination not to let T’Ser slip through his fingers again. Whatever it was, he reached the sled moments after Deite had climbed on board.

By that time it had sped up so much his only chance to get on it was to throw himself at it which of course was not easily done without any firm grip under his boots.

It was his last best chance to get T’Ser back.



Tazla Star never passed out even though the pain was pretty near unbearable. Pain was nothing new to her. She had learned to manage it.

By all accounts she was supposed to be dead.

It was her right, lower arm which had saved her life. Miraculously, seven out of eight bullets had smashed into her arm and hand. The last bullet had dug itself deep into her shoulder.

She slowly brought up her arm to examine it. The skin had ripped off most of her hand but instead of revealing blood and bone there was nothing there but a dark gray metallic alloy. She tried to move her fingers and was satisfied that they were all still fully functioning.

It was a struggle to get back onto her feet but after a couple of failed attempts she managed.

The sled was rapidly moving away from her and she found no sign of McBride. She did however spot Teldro who even though on his feet as well, appeared to be in a much worse condition than she was. He was bleeding freely from two gunshot wounds she had inflicted and was barely able to stand.

Differently to her he had managed to hold on to his gun and when he spotted Star he tried to bring it up on her. His hand was shaking so badly he couldn’t quite get the aim right.

Star knew what was going to happen and she quickly held up her left hand into the air.

Teldro misread the signal. “You think I’m going to let you live after what you’ve done?”

She slowly moved towards him and resolutely shook her head. “I’m trying to save your life.”

“Really? In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m the one with gun here,” he said, taking a couple of steps backwards, slightly intimidated by the confidence in her tone.

“True, but I have two snipers behind my back who have their sights firmly set on your sorry behind. You really only have two choices here. Live or die.”

“You’re bluffing,” he said but his voice was breaking up and he nearly stumbled over his own two feet while still attempting to backtrack in the thick snow.

Star gestured towards one of the dead gunmen. “Then explain to me how your friends here got shot. It sure as hell wasn’t divine intervention. Now, if I lower my hand, if you try to shoot me, they will fire,” she said, continuing to approach him slowly. “You’ll die.”

“What do you want?”

“Drop the gun and we’ll talk.”

He glanced over her shoulder in a futile attempt to try and spot the invisible threat. He came to the conclusions that it wasn’t worth the risk and let the gun slip out of his hand.

“Smart choice,” she said and stepped up to him. She roughly grabbed hold of his neck.

“Wait a minute, you said we’ll talk.”

“I lied,” she said and gave him a mean hook with her right fist with such force it dislocated his jaw before he lost unconsciousness. Star didn’t feel a thing.

The pain in her own shoulder however quickly caught up with her. She fell to her knees and looked into the direction where she believed the marksmen where watching her from.

“Medevac?” she whispered.

And then, zapped of all her energy, let herself fall into the snow herself.



McBride looked up after landing painfully in the loading bay of the carriage. T’Ser’s face was still badly scared and swollen but to him it was the most beautiful sight he had seen in a long time. It was perhaps in that moment that he decided that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with this woman.

However in order to do this, first he had to mange to free her.

“Are you alright?” he asked as he tried to get back onto his feet which was no small feat on the speeding sled.

“Don’t ask and I won’t have to lie to you,” she said with a small smile.

He nodded. “Can you move?”

She raised an arm to reveal a chain that had been secured around her wrist and was firmly connected to a bolted handle.

McBride looked forward to see Deite. She had not yet realized that he had followed her or that he was on the sled for that matter, too busy trying to reign in the creatures and getting them to follow her directions.

He spotted a shovel lying on the flatbed and picked it up. “Pull that chain taut and turn away. Be ready to jump as soon as you are free.”

She gave him an acknowledging nod and then did as instructed.

McBride lined up the blade of the shovel and then brought it down on the chain with all the strength he could muster. The force of the rebound nearly dislocated his shoulder.

The chain budged but not quite enough. It needed just one more hit.

“Dale!”

He turned around.

The noise of metal against metal had not gone unnoticed by Deite who had managed to wrestle back control of the vehicle.

McBride went for his second attempt.

But Deite was faster, pulling tightly on the reins and making the animals perform a sharp left turn at full gallop.

McBride lost his balance and tumbled across the flatbed with enough momentum to be thrown clear of the sled.

But something stopped him just before going over the edge.

He was still holding on the shovel and T’Ser had reached out to grab hold of the blade. “I got you.”

Deite was not done yet. McBride could see that she was retrieving a gun. He turned back to T’Ser. “Whatever happens,” he said. “Don’t let go.”

She nodded but that was before she saw Deite brining up the pistol.

The fist bullet went into McBride’s upper arm. It probably would have been his head if Deite would have had both her hands to operate her weapon.

He cried out in pain but held on to the only thing still connecting him to T’Ser.

“Dale!”

He looked up at her. “I’m fine,” he said through clenched teeth, barely able to talk as the pain spread through his entire body. “Just don’t let go.”

Deite took aim again.

“I love you,” she said and sounded almost apologetic.

He knew instantly, from the look on T’Ser’s face, that she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t watch him be killed in front of her eyes.

“I’ll come for you,” he told her just before she let him go.

The second shot rang out but hit only the empty flatbed instead.

Dale McBride was already lying in the snow, ten meters away. He watched with agony and pure frustration as the sleigh sped down the arctic tundra and taking T’Ser once again out of his reach.

 

[mirandafave]

WHOAH Lots of action there and with bullets zipping through the air, I wasn't sure how that was going to end up. I did for sure think they were going to get T'Ser back. Wrong on that account. Not the only one wrong footed considering Deite has actual antimatter now. Talk about upping the ante now.

 

[DavidFalkayn]

Really nice action work here. Taz is seeking redemption, but will her actions be enough? Very well done!

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

So close! I thought that Dale would manage to rescue T'Ser from Deite this time, but apparently not yet. Now Deite has some honest-to-God anti-matter and still has T'Ser as a hostage. Captains Owens and Akinola won't be happy.

This just gets better and better!

 

[CeJay]

FOURTEEN: THE PROMISE​

The child was giggling happily while she played with him.

A great number of things had become very confusing for Ashley Wenera. Her role had become increasingly fuzzy over recent days. Captive, healer, rebel, killer and even lover were just the few functions she had played.

She was supposed to be a Starfleet officer first. She wasn’t quite sure at what point that fact had become a secondary concern but the thought troubled her greatly.

About the only thing that still seemed clear as day was little Vekte Junior. She had built a bond with the child so strong she may have been mistaken for his mother. She had no illusions that she was nothing more than a temporary caretaker but the thought alone of leaving him, pained her. There really was nobody else to look after him and she had taken on the role almost naturally.

Wenera had never entertained the notion of starting a family of her own and yet, all of a sudden, it was becoming a not entirely farfetched notion.

“They continue to speak in high praises of your efforts.”

She turned her head to see that Balik had entered the chamber they now shared. Wenera didn’t respond. Instead she turned back to Vekte and tickled his stomach, causing him great delight.

“Leltro took a bullet in his stomach during the raid and was sure he was going to die. I swear he’s convinced you have some sort of magical powers now. He can’t stop talking about it.”

“He was in a great deal of pain,” she said without looking up. “But the bullet missed his vital organs. It was just a matter of stopping the internal bleeding. Not a big deal.”

“He certainly doesn’t see it that way,” said Balik.

When she refused to speak to him, he stepped closer to the crib. “We should talk about what happened during the raid.”

“What is there to talk about? You already explained yourself.”

“I need you to understand why I did it.”

Wenera stood and then turned to face him for the first time. “Why? Why does it matter what I think? I’m just your prisoner, or have you forgotten? You had me taken at gun point and brought to you against my will so that I can patch up your wounded.”

“You’re not my prisoner anymore, Ashley. If you want to go back to your ship I won’t stop you.”

This stunned the doctor for a moment. The truth was that she hadn’t really felt like a prisoner for some time now but to actually hear it from his lips was still startling. It dispelled any illusions she might have had about her situation. Her remaining here had become a choice and she had refused to admit that simple fact.

She walked over to the bed and sat down. She kept her eyes averted from Balik and instead focused on the child. “I don’t know if I can,” she said.

“Then stay with us,” he said and sat next to her. “The child needs somebody to care for him and your healing talents would go a long way in supporting our cause. We need you. I need you.”

“You don’t understand. I am a Starfleet officer. This is not what I’m supposed t do,” she said and got up and turned her back to Balik. “I am not supposed to get involved into any of this.”

Balik stood also. “You’re already involved. Whatever damage you wanted to avoid, it’s already been done.”

She whirled on him. “That is not fair,” she said angrily. The dying eyes of the soldier she had killed still haunting her thoughts.

“I’m sorry but it is the truth. If you like it or not, you are one of us now.”

She shook her head. “I could never be like you,” she said. “I could never kill as indiscriminately as you did during that raid. That is not what I stand for and I could never support it. It is not humane.”

He considered that for a moment. “Then don’t.”

“What?”

“I’m willing to change, Ashley, if you are willing to consider staying. Maybe you are right. We’ve been fighting this forsaken war for thousands of phases but perhaps what we need is a different perspective. A more … humane approach.”

“You’d be willing to do that?”

“I’d be willing to give it a try,” he said with a roguish grin.

“What about T’Ser? Getting her back has to be a priority.”

He nodded. “Of course. That’s why we raided the government facility in the first place. We retrieved the satellite radio array and we’re scanning the bandwidths now. It’s only a matter of time until we’ll be able to contact Deite and once we do, I promise I’ll do everything in my power to convince her to give up your friend.”

The Starfleet doctor turned away. It still didn’t feel right, none of it. But she knew she had crossed a line somewhere and she wasn’t sure if she could find her way back. When her eyes came to find Vekte again, she wasn’t so sure if she really wanted to.

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

**************************​

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

​

“We tried it your way, Commander, and it didn’t work.”

Michael Owens walked out of his ready room, followed by Tazla Star.

Louise Hopkins had eventually come through by outfitting a shuttle with a shielded computer core to allow it to operate in the arctic dead zone of Tiaita. It had arrived too late to pick up any trace of Deite and T’Ser but it had been able to quickly retrieve the Trill, Commander McBride, the sniper team and Teldro, the only surviving member from Deite’s rebel gang.

The gunshot wounds sustained by Teldro and the Starfleet officers had not been life threatening and quickly and efficiently healed. The only remnant that hinted towards Star’s injuries was a tight black glove she wore on her right hand.

“In fact, we are solely responsible for handing a terrorist group weapon’s grade antimatter,” said Owens as he stepped into the turbo-lift.

Star followed and didn’t miss the distinctly accusatory tone in the captain’s voice. “I’ll take full responsibility for that, sir. I should have foreseen something like this. I clearly underestimated Singleton and my former padrone’s resolve in this matter.”

“Deck fifteen,” said Owens and then turned to his acting first officer. “That brings us to another point, Commander. You still haven’t fully disclosed on whose orders exactly you have been acting or who else is involved in this.”

“I know what you are thinking but these are not the kind of people you can go after, sir. They are too well protected within the twisted latticework that is the intelligence community. I can give you names but they will mean nothing, trust me.”

“Trusting you is the problem.”

Star nodded understandingly.

“What assurances do I have that you were not somehow involved in giving these people the antimatter and how can we make any progress on trying to get our people back if we’re being undercut at every corner?”

“Singleton is gone,” said Star. “There’s no sign of him across the freighter fleet and he has no real allies on Tiaita. He knows that we’re looking for him so he will not dare to show his face around here again. Handing Deite the antimatter was a desperate last ditch effort to try and bring about a victory for the New Light. It was never part of any contingency plan I was aware of. But now she has a good chance of succeeding and killing a whole lot of people in the process if we don’t stop her.

As for trusting me, to be honest, I wouldn’t trust me either. You have no way of knowing, and I have no way of proving to you where my loyalties lie. It’s your decision to make and I don’t envy you for it. But I know I still have one card to play here and I’m convinced that it could get us our people back and stop Deite.”

The turbo-lift came to a stop and they both exited.

“And what card would that be?” said Owens as they continued down the corridor.

As they rounded a corner Star caught a glimpse of Dale McBride entering the security complex which contained the holding cells, Owens hadn’t spotted him.

Star quickly stepped in front of the captain. “The prisoner. Let me talk to him. Alone.”

He looked directly into her piercing green eyes. “I don’t know what kind of things you’ve done in your previous career Commander, and I’m pretty sure I don’t want to find out. But let me make one thing perfectly clear to you. I will not condone torture on my ship.”

“I won’t lay a finger on him.”

“And you expect him to talk to you?”

She nodded. “I’ve come across the man before and I know how his people think. I promise I’ll be able to get the information we need out of him,” she said. “Without subjecting him to any kind of physical harm,” she quickly added.

“You’ve made promises before, Commander, and so far you’ve come up short.”

“Agreed. But what other options do we have? And consider the stakes. It’s not just two Starfleet officers anymore. If we fail we may very well be responsible for thousands of deaths on Tiaita. I know I can stop this.”

Owens uttered a sigh. “Don’t make me regret this, Commander.”

“I won’t, sir. Thank you, sir.”

“Oh don’t thank me yet, Commander. We’re both firmly planted in the quicksand already and sinking rapidly. And as far as you’re concerned, you’re all out of lifelines.”

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

Hmmm . . . Wenera may be succumbing to Stockholm Syndrome as she's beginning to identify more with her captors than with her role as a Starfleet officer. And Star has another plan?!? Captain Owens is giving her a lot of rope. Question is, will it allow her to succeed or will she merely hang herself.

More, please!