Treacherous Waters - Chapter 12
Chapter 12 <Gibraltar>
“Communications interference is abating, sir.” Shanthi announced from the Science station. Gibraltar and her Velk escorts were returning to the reptilians’ home planet, and had just penetrated the last expanding sphere of subspace disruptions caused by the detonation of the mystery weapon days earlier.
Seated in the command chair, Pell Ojana turned towards him. “Let me know when we begin picking up signals from Velkohn, Lieutenant. We need to know what’s been happening there.”
The young scientist answered in the affirmative, turning back to his console and adjusting his subspace signal filters to search for known Velk transmission frequencies.
“Picking up increased comm traffic from the Velk formation, Commander,” Chief Ziang noted from Ops. “Looks like they’re calling home for updates as well.”
Nodding to herself, Pell reflected that even when they reached the planet, it could take days or weeks to convince all the vying factions to return to the negotiating table. The dialogue she and Sandhurst had established before breaking orbit had undoubtedly collapsed soon afterward. Without a dispassionate outside party to act as arbiter, the various power blocs would have fallen to bickering amongst themselves and snapping at one another like a ravening pack of Cardassian kethel hounds.
Pell heard Shanthi’s resonant voice calling out, “Now receiving Velk radio traffic, sir. I’m reading an appreciable jump in the amount of high-security encrypted transmissions in the vicinity of Velkohn.” Running a standard long-range approach scan, the lieutenant frowned, his brow furrowing. “Sensors indicate significant recent damage to planetary infrastructure. I’m seeing large population displacements from urban areas, as well as collapse of power grids, transportation networks, and commercial activity.”
Experiencing a sinking sensation in her stomach, Pell inquired, “I don’t suppose that could be attributed to some kind of natural disaster?”
Looking up from his board, Shanthi fixed her with a grave expression. “No, sir. It appears active fighting has broken out among two or more of the planet’s factions.”
“Yes,” she breathed, “of course.” Pell resisted the impulse to notify the captain straight away. Both he and Ramirez had finally agreed to try and get some sleep, having had few opportunities for prolonged rest in the past week. Gibraltar was still eighteen hours from reaching orbit of the troubled world. She would let them sleep undisturbed before breaking the tragic news that Velkohn had apparently already spiraled into open warfare. “Initiate yellow alert,’ Pell ordered.
Minutes later, Pell was in the midst of reviewing a primer on high-risk diplomatic interventions that had been authored by Curzon Dax some forty years earlier when the ship lurched unexpectedly.
Jostled in her seat, the Bajoran looked to the Ops station. “Sitrep.”
Ziang shifted the viewer to an aft orientation, showing computer enhanced representations of the Velk ships holding formation with them. Flashes of light and searing explosions clouded the image as the Velk patrol ships exchanged fire with each other. “Reading weapons fire between our escort craft, Commander.”
“I’m guessing they’ve just received updates from home,” Shanthi observed dryly.
Ensign Lightner glanced back over his shoulder from Helm as a missile impacted one of the closer Velk ships, causing it to yaw hard to port and then vanish as it tumbled out of warp in what must surely have been a terminal re-entry into normal space. “They may not be aiming at us, sir, but with all that fire we could easily end up as collateral damage.”
“Agreed,” Pell resituated herself in the center seat. “Shields up, sound red alert. All hands to battle stations.” She muttered a silent apology to Donald before calling out, “Senior officers to the bridge.”
*****
Shortly after stepping into the command center and receiving a quick briefing, Sandhurst ordered the ship to all-stop. Sensors now indicated that of the eleven ships escorting them back to Velkohn, three had been destroyed outright, four more were damaged, one of them apparently totally crippled and unable to proceed under its own power. Two of the others had continued ahead towards the planet, apparently unwilling to become involved in the fighting.
The situation was developing so quickly there was no time for a staff meeting, and Sandhurst presided over an impromptu discussion on the bridge.
“The final two Velk craft have adopted a hostile posture and are approaching the crippled ship. They’ll be within weapons range in six minutes, sir.” Ops kept the others apprised of the emerging situation. “The ship is now broadcasting a general distress call.”
Ramirez, who’d arrived on Deck 1 less than thirty seconds after the captain, took a seat at her station in the well. She looked up at Sandhurst who was now ensconced in the command chair. Electing to play devil’s advocate, she offered, “Do we intervene to save the crew of the disabled ship?”
Pell answered before Sandhurst could muster a reply, “This is clearly an internal Velk matter. Any attempt by us to interfere could be interpreted as a violation of the Prime Directive.”
Giving the diplomatic officer a patient yet pointed look, Sandhurst countered, “They’re asking for help, and this doesn’t constitute a battle now that their ship is no longer a viable threat.”
Respectfully, sir,” Pell interjected, “that line of reasoning will never fly with an after-action review. We know better.”
“We could beam the crew off and let the other faction destroy the ship. That neutralizes the primary danger to them anyway, right?” This from Lightner, who had turned around in his chair to join the debate from the Helm station.
Nodding in agreement with the ensign’s sentiments, Shanthi offered up, “We’ve got time to warp in and beam the survivors off. If the other faction objects, we can simply render the rescued Velk over to a nonaligned third party on the planet who can hold them until the fighting is over.”
Pell was still focused on Sandhurst like a laser, seemingly impervious to the input from the others. “This is developing into a full scale war, Captain. Any actions on our part that might be perceived as taking sides would completely undermine our position as a neutral arbiter.” She softened her expression, glancing at Ramirez. “I don’t want to see those Velk officers die any more than you do, Commander, but though helping them might salve our collective conscience in the short term it will effectively end our mission right here, right now.”
Rarely one to offer unsolicited input, Ashok turned from his work station. “What of the group that ship’s crew belongs to? How will we appear to them if it’s discovered that we sat by and did nothing while their comrades were slaughtered?”
Ramirez quirked an eyebrow in silent accord with the taciturn engineer, leveling what she hoped was an appraising look at her captain.
“Three minutes,” Ziang updated from beside Lightner, the chief petty officer still facing the viewer and monitoring the countdown.
Feeling nearly every gaze in the room locked solidly on him, Sandhurst took a long moment to weigh his options. Watching the chronometer on his armrest display, he gauged many possible outcomes that might result from a rescue of the crew…
“We’re now being hailed directly, Captain.” Ziang stayed facing forward, doubtless reluctant to make eye contact with Sandhurst.
Donald watched the chrono approaching the two minute mark as he spoke, “On audio, Chief.”
The message was marred by static and the pops and hiss of barely functional comms equipment. “Gibraltar, please respond. We have taken damage to our propulsion and weapons systems and are unable to defend ourselves. The approaching ships have allied themselves with the Numander Front and are refusing to accept our surrender! Please assist us, Gibraltar!”
Toggling off the transmission from his chair, Sandhurst cast a glance over his shoulder at Lar’ragos, noting, “You’ve been quiet, Lieutenant. Anything to add?”
Lar’ragos had stood vigilantly at the Tactical console just behind the captain’s chair, remaining uncharacteristically mute during the earlier exchange. His expression inscrutable, the smaller man spoke softly, “You’re equally damned no matter what you decide, sir. Myself, I’d rather be condemned for saving lives than for doing nothing and watching others die.”
Sandhurst turned back to face the screen, appearing to have come to a decision. “Stations, people,” he ordered. As the senior staff returned to their duties, Sandhurst launched into a litany of commands. “Helm, warp jump us in between the threat vessels and the crippled ship. Exec, have all transporter rooms ready to commence evacuation of that vessel, and make sure Sickbay is standing by for casualties. Tactical, if the oncoming Velk ships open fire, I want you to throw off their aim with the tractor beam. If their warheads explode prematurely as a result, I won’t lose any sleep over it.” Turning to look at the Engineering station, Sandhurst said, “Mr. Ashok, be prepared to extend our shields around that ship should it become necessary.”
A chorus of voices acknowledged his commands, and Gibraltar leapt forward, transitioning through warp space only briefly before coming to rest alongside the wounded patrol ship. Her counsel having fallen on deaf ears, Pell resumed her station in the well, opposite that of Ramirez.
“Forty-five seconds until threat vessels are in firing range,” Ziang stated, tracking the progress of the oncoming ships.
Ramirez called out, “Transporters are bringing the first wave of survivors aboard, sir.”
“Incoming transmission from the approaching ships, sir.”
Setting his jaw, Sandhurst dipped his chin slightly as he eyed the forward screen. “On the viewer, Chief.”
A male Velk in military garb took shape there, his cranial protrusions flared in agitation. “Captain, I warn you not to assist these traitors. Their kind have taken up arms against the rightful government of the Numandrian province. Even now, their death squads are butchering the females and offspring in our home cities!”
Trying to sound a reasonable note, Sandhurst replied, “It is not our intention to prevent the destruction of the vessel. You may do with it as you please. I will not, however, sit idly by while helpless people are killed in front of me, regardless of the crimes of their allies on Velkohn.” He sat forward, consciously trying to project an aura of calm towards the enraged ship commander. “Barely half an hour ago you and the men aboard that ship were brothers-in-arms. They’d have given their lives for you, and I’m certain you’d have done the same for them. Am I to believe a single transmission from your homeworld has swept all that aside?”
“Visual records of our nesting crèches and homesteads burning while our females are being defiled have a way of focusing one’s attention, Captain.”
Sandhurst grimaced, forced to concede the point. “Nevertheless, those men aren’t responsible for those crimes, and I won’t see them killed outright for their affiliations. If you wish to try them as criminals after this conflict has ended, that’s your choice.”
“So much for your vaunted Federation neutrality,” the Velk captain spat. “This is your final warning, leave now or I’ll have no choice but to fire on your vessel.”
Muting the transmission, Sandhurst looked to Ramirez. “Status of the evacuation?”
Looking tense, she replied, “They’ve got two crew pinned under a partially collapsed bulkhead in the engine compartment. We can’t beam them out due to radiation leakage from their reactor.”
His expression pinched, he enabled audio. “Velk warship, we are initiating an evacuation of the damaged vessel. I ask you not to interfere. If you attempt to do so, I will use whatever force is necessary to safeguard my ship and the vessel under our protection.”
“If you are in range wh—“
Sandhurst terminated the conversation and stood, “Ashok, extend our shields around that ship and keep them up, no matter what. Use whatever you have to, including life support if necessary.” Moving for the turbolift he tapped his combadge, “Lt. Taiee, meet me in transporter room two immediately, prepare for blunt trauma, crushing injuries and radiation exposure. Ashok, I’ll need one of your engineers and an industrial phaser cutter as well.” Sandhurst stepped into the turbolift, calling out, “Exec, you have the bridge,” as Lar’ragos darted between the closing doors to join him.
Pell and Ramirez exchanged a troubled look as the XO left her station to move to the captain’s chair. “What just happened?” Pell asked, genuinely confused.
“He changed the rules,” Ramirez replied as she seated herself.
“He does that a lot,” the Bajoran observed.
Ramirez nodded grimly.
*****
Arriving minutes after the rest of the team after conferring with Ramirez by communicator, Sandhurst maintained the crouch he’d assumed prior to beaming over to the wounded ship. He eased himself through low-ceilinged corridors filled with sparking power taps, ruptured coolant lines, and flickering lighting. His radiation-hardened EVA suit protected him from the toxic gasses that obscured the passageways, and his helmet’s faceplate served to visually enhance his surroundings, allowing him to navigate the dark, buckled hallways on his way to the engine room.
He arrived to find Lar’ragos already on scene, standing in front of a sealed pressure door in his own EVA garment. Sandhurst moved to step past him, but the lieutenant blocked his path. “Sorry, sir. Lt. Taiee’s orders. She says you can’t go in there.”
Scowling through his faceplate, Sandhurst muttered, “Pava, this isn’t the time for joking around.” Again, he moved to pass, but found himself anchored by Lar’ragos’ vise-like grip on his bicep.
“I’m not kidding, Captain,” the El Aurian said, his flinty tone carrying across the comms channel and into Sandhurst’s helmet. “Taiee says you absorbed too much radiation last year in the E’Mdifarr belt. I’m sure you remember the mission, it’s the reason the Maquis put that hundred bars of latinum bounty on your head.” In response to Sandhurst’s grimace, Lar’ragos moderated his tenor, “I have standing orders not to allow you to go in there. She and Petty Officer Hervolt have things under control.”
“I came over here—“
“Yes,” Lar’ragos cut in, “you came over here to be all heroic and take charge. We all get that, sir. However, according to the CMO you can’t go in there, and to be blunt, right now your place is on the bridge of your ship.”
Sandhurst’s acerbic response died in his throat as the ship lurched, causing him to brace himself against the bulkhead.
Lar’ragos’ frowned inside his helmet, “Looks like Ramirez and Pell aren’t having any better luck with the other Velk than you did.”
Another jolt sent both men scrambling for purchase on the already shaky looking walls. Sandhurst’s comms receiver crackled, Ramirez’s voice punching through the radioactive interference in the vicinity. “Sir, we’re taking a beating out here, and with our shields extended around the patrol ship, we’re draining power fast. Estimated time to shield failure is three minutes, fifteen seconds.”
“Understood,” he replied, setting the chronometer on his suit’s wrist display.
He stood in silence with Lar’ragos as the ship was buffeted by repeated blows to the fragile shield bubble surrounding both vessels. Seconds ticked past. After a particularly viscous blow, Ramirez commented through Sandhurst’s receiver, “Faster would be preferable, sir.” The edge to her usually icy calm demeanor communicated the seriousness of their situation more fully than her words.
The door juddered open with difficulty, Taiee and the engineer Hervolt shuffled out, supporting an injured Velk between them, Taiee’s hand actually extending into the man’s torso, pinching off an arterial bleed. The medical officer paused to look up at Sandhurst, her expression tight. “The damn protoplaser suture won’t work in this radiation.” Craning her head inside her helmet to look back through the doorway, she added, “We can’t get the other man out, sir. There just isn’t enough time to cut through the support that’s crushing him.”
Leaning in to look for himself, Sandhurst caught sight of a Velk engineer writhing in pain beneath a solid looking strut that lay atop his midsection and legs. “You couldn’t give him a sedative?” he asked, trying to keep the dismay out of his voice.
“No, a sedative would have killed him with his blood pressure as low as it is. And now I have to get this man to safety first,” she said firmly, “then I can go back and put the other man under.”
“No time,” Sandhurst said, checking his chrono. “We’re losing shields in less than two minutes. It’ll take nearly that long to get this one moved to the beam-out point.”
“Can you give them a hand with him, Captain?” Lar’ragos asked. “I’ve got this.” He reached into the open medical kit dangling from Taiee’s shoulder by a strap, grasping the charged hypospray delicately in his gloved hand.
Sandhurst shared a brief yet telling glance with his security chief, then nodded curtly. He moved to support the other side of the injured Velk so that Taiee could concentrate on keeping him from bleeding out.
As they moved off down the corridor, Lar’ragos discharged the hypo into the air, the sedative dissolving in a brief mist. He drew his phaser and stepped through the door into the engineering compartment.
*****
“C’mon, c’mon,” Ramirez muttered under her breath from where she stood just behind the Ops and Helm stations.
Chief Towsend’s voice announced, “Lt. Lar’ragos is aboard, sir,” filling the XO with a surge of relief. On the viewer, Gibraltar’s failing shields shimmered under the barrage being laid down by the attacking Velk ships. Calling back to Ashok, she said, “Draw the shields in.” She reached out, touching Lightner’s shoulder, “Ensign, get us out of here, any heading, Warp 5.”
Gibraltar pulled in her shields and shot away, leaving the now abandoned Velk ship to the mercy of her sisters, whose continuing fusillade erased her from the universe seconds later.
*****
