The fight was going badly. Aboard the Buran, Commander Kurn struggled to target the Empire ships as the enemy fire threw the bolt after bolt at them. The first screen of Federation vessels had been destroyed and the second screen was fast disintegrating. The Buran and her sister ships were using every trick they had to keep the Empire away from the Bonestell.
“Captain,” Kurn roared, “the Bonestell has taken hits!” Pausing in his report, he launched a spread of the new quantum torpedoes at an Empire cruiser. They struck, and half of the saucer section vanished in fire. “They’re shields are down to 62%!” Another impact rocked the Buran. Onscreen, the enemy cruiser pinwheeled away, smashing into the port nacelle of another ship. It was, apparently, a Federation vessel because both ships went up in a massive detonation that signaled the activation of a hyper-sensitive self-destruct mechanism. The shock wave tossed the Buran like a fluttering leaf.
Captain Francisco “Frank” el’Sabra picked himself up off of the deck. “Damnit, we can’t take any more of this. With Nick missing no one is in charge.” He paused for a moment and the Bonestell took a stray hit, visible on the screen. “K’Ehleyr! Signal the Bonestell to jump home. Then tell whoever’s left it’s time to go!” His first officer spun towards the communication console to execute his orders. Frank shook his head. “Nick, there’s going to be hell to pay for this!” Nobody heard him over the chaos of battle.
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“Captain!” Lieutenant Nog’s voice was just a bit shrill. The Seleya fled through space towards Rigel at warp 9. “I’ve been monitoring the battle at Jupiter. Something’s happening, sir!”
“Well, are you going to tell us what it is?” M’Benga’s voice held more than a trace of sarcasm. Nog flushed a pale yellow.
“Sorry, Commander. The remaining Federation signatures just…vanished.”
Sanjay hung his head in his hands. “So the Fleet is destroyed,” he said.
“No, sir. They all vanished at once, pretty much. Not like before when they were…” Nog’s voice trailed off as he realized what he had been about to say.
Sanjay’s head came up. “Then they jumped away?” For the first time since the battle had begun his voice held hope.
Mitchell stepped into the conversation. “Captain, our long range sensor logs show that peculiar energy wave that the labs reported. I’d say the survivors got away clean.”
Sanjay winced at the use of the word “survivors” but forced a smile. Tapping his combadge, he said, “Venetti, let me know the moment you think it’s safe to use Smiley’s device. We’re going home.”
Venetti replied, “Aye, sir. It looks like Mr. Perling was more right than I thought. It should only be a few more minutes.”
“Thank God,” M’Benga declared, the emotion obvious in her voice. Sanjay could only nod in agreement.
**********************************
The Enterprise rocked again under the withering Borg fire. “Damage report!” Picard demanded.
“Captain, the shields are holding. These Borg aren’t adapting very well to the changes in shield frequencies.” LaForge sounded amazed.
“Maybe whatever the Empire did to bring them to heel affected their abilities. We’ll take full advantage, if that’s the case. Ensign, order the left wing to come about to 249 mark 180. Tell them to use a salvo of torpedoes simultaneously on the lead sphere and then repeat with the next. We’ll take them one at a time if we have to.” Picard turned back to LaForge. “Geordi, how are the teams at the Fracture doing?”
When LaForge opened his mouth to answer a blinding flash flooded the Bridge. As the viewscreen dampers cleared, the remains of a Borg sphere drifted past the Enterprise’s bow. “Sir, they’re nearly finished. Maybe two more minutes.”
Picard nodded and said, “Order the entire defensive globe to contract on the Federation-B contingent.” Another flash bathed the Bridge. Another sphere was reduced to its component parts. Picard pursed his lips in a grim smile. It was nearly time to leave this place.
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Valeris strode into the Throne Room.
“Report.” The Emperor’s voice cracked sharply across the vast room.
“I have been monitoring the Queen-node. The attackers are proving surprisingly resilient. They seem to have armor and weapons specifically designed to counter the Black Fleet.” A hint of curiosity had crept into her voice. “Could we have a traitor informing the Federation of our strengths and weaknesses?”
Spock pondered for a moment. Then he raised one eyebrow. “Perhaps they have the Borg in their universe. It would be logical to assume the possibility.” He paused a moment and then said, “Valeris, run a simulation. Determine whether or not the Queen-node could reach through the Rip. Perhaps we can recruit some unwitting allies.” Valeris bobbed her head and left.
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“Captain.” Picard lifted his head dully, almost apathetically.
“What is it, Number One?”
“Sir,” Data said, “The Federation ships have vanished. The only one left is the craft which fled towards Rigel.”
Picard roused himself from his slouch. “Well, if they went back through the Rip I suppose whatever was going to happen back home is over one way or the other.” He narrowed his eyes and peered at Data. “Perhaps we should pursue the straggler after all. Mr. LaForge?”
“Engines coming on line now, sir.” LaForge’s voice was calm, nearly as calm as Data’s. Picard grunted acknowledgement. Rising, he tugged at his leather jacket.
“Mr. Data,…pursue!” He brought his right hand down in a chopping motion. The I.S.S. Enterprise leaped further away from Earth and outwards towards Rigel and the Seleya. Picard thought it would be little more than a morsel but something was better than nothing.
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) Glad you liked it. I posted it at Hopestation in its(almost) entirety for ease of reading.
). If you're happy with the first few chapters of your work-in-progress, why not begin posting them and continue your work on the remainder.
