USS PYTHEAS (Dauntless Repost)

[BrotherBenny]

Chapter Thirteen

USS Pytheas
Kursican Sector
Stardate 55274.2 (April 11, 2378)

Melex went toward his guest quarters and she headed for sickbay, intending to have more of a chat with her godson regarding his work on curing the majority of the species on board the ship.

‘Captain Astar to the bridge please,’ Wright suddenly barked over the comm as the ship went to red alert status.

‘I’m on my way, Commander, what is going on?’

‘High Lord Yannik just released a dozen escape pods and jumped to warp.’

‘Where the hell is he going?’

‘Home.’

The word hung in the air as Astar rode the turbolift to the bridge. ‘Astar to Maxx, please tell me you found a cure for High Lord Yannik?’

‘Sorry, Captain, I’m still working on his blood work. Why do you ask?’

‘He just went to warp, heading home.’

Astar winced as Maxx let out a string of Bolian curses he should have been too young to know. ‘Captain, we have to stop him. His people won't have any defence against this virus. They'll all die within a matter of days or weeks.’

‘We will, you have my word,' Astar replied and then tapped her combadge again. 'Wright, beam the escape pods into the shuttlebays, cargo bays and anywhere you can find space, and then go to maximum warp. We have to catch that ship.’

‘Already on it, sir,’ Wright replied. ‘Bringing the last of them aboard now.’

‘Have security personnel escort them all to sickbay, and seal off the deck.’

‘Aye sir, Wright out.’

Astar felt the ship jump to warp as the turbolift deposited her on the bridge. ‘Did we have any of our people over there?’

‘No sir, only the alien species, all of which are now aboard our ship.’

Astar muttered a curse of her own. ‘Estimated time to intercept?’ she asked Larson at the helm.

He looked back at her with an expression that bordered on the terrifying. ‘I don’t know what speed that ship is capable of, sir, but we’re not catching them. We're actually losing distance. They've increased their speed to warp 9.995 and increasing.’

‘Astar to engineering. Xeris, I need everything you can get out of those engines, and more.’

‘Captain, we’re already at maximum.’

Astar was in no mood to mollycoddle this particular officer. ‘I chose you as my chief engineer because I know you can do the impossible. Get us as close to transwarp as you can. We need to catch Yannik’s ship before he reaches his homeworld and wipes out his species.’

‘On it, Captain, Xeris out.’

‘Gonzales, get me Commander Dhrex, priority one.’

The Pytheas began to shake as the engines went into overdrive.

‘I have the Commander for you, sir.’

‘Commander, how close are you to Resoto Prime?’

‘About sixteen hours, why?’ Dhrex asked.

‘Yannik is infected and he’s heading home, it’s doubtful that we’ll be able to catch him before he beams down and wipes out his entire species.’

‘Maximum warp, Ensign sh’Felen, now! We’ll do the best we can, Captain, Dhrex out.’

Astar sank back into her chair.

‘We couldn’t have foreseen this,’ Wright said.

‘We should have done,’ she replied. ‘You have the conn, Commander. I’ll be in my ready room, trying to get Commander Logan to give us some help.’

‘Aye sir.’

Astar entered her ready room and collapsed into the chair behind her desk. The Pytheas was shaking fiercely and she knew that they wouldn't be able to keep up those speeds indefinitely. In fact, she knew it was more than likely that they would tear the nacelles from their struts if they continued at this speed, whatever it was.

'What can I do for you, Captain?' Commander Logan asked moments later.

'High Lord Yannik has stolen the Cha'lav ship and is using its speed to return home. It's unlikely that anyone will be able to catch him before he reaches Resoto Prime.'

'The Weisskopf?'

'Already en route, but even they are sixteen hours away.'

'I'll contact everyone we have in the region who might be inclined to assist us, Captain, but I'm not sure there's anything we can do except mitigate the damage.'

'That is what I thought, sir, but I had to ask.'

Logan nodded his head in sympathy. 'Not the way you wanted your first command to go, is it?'

'Not in the least, sir. But at least sitting in this chair I have the chance to make a difference.'

'You sound like Captain Picard.'

'I'll take that as a compliment,' Astar smiled wanly.

'When was the last time you got any sleep?'

'About two days ago, I'm feeling better than I look.'

'I hope so, because you look like hell, sir.'

'You don't have to call me sir, Commander. As sector commander you're my superior officer, in billet if not in rank.'

'You flatter me, Captain, but I will still refer to you as “sir.” It keeps the chain of command in place,' Logan replied with a smile.

'Will you call everyone you can?' Astar asked, desperate. 'I don't want to be responsible for three hundred million deaths.'

'I'll alert the Resoto military, and have whoever I can help out. The Ynelavii Cooperative might be of more assistance. I'll see what I can do. You'd better get some sleep, Captain. When you arrive, you're likely to have a major disaster on your hands, whatever happens.'

'Thank you, Commander; Astar out.'

She leaned back and stared out at the stars. During her conversation, the shaking had subsided and since she hadn't been informed that they were slowing down, she assumed that Xeris had somehow managed to increase the stability of the structural integrity field. The ship was almost twenty hours away, but that might as well have been a sector away for all the good it would do them. She would much prefer to have the slipstream drive but Starfleet were still playing about with that piece of technology, trying to get it work.

It was going to be a long day.

 

[BrotherBenny]

Chapter Fourteen

Starbase 535
Kursican Sector
Stardate 55274.3 (April 11, 2378)

Commander Lionel Logan stared at the blank screen. From what he knew about Captain Astar, he was sure that she was not the sort of person to cry wolf. He entered a sequence of commands and within seconds a Starfleet officer appeared on the screen. He had blond hair, blue eyes and wore the uniform of a Commander, but he had never served as anything more than a second officer on a starship. Now, he had a high security clearance and worked in an altogether different branch of Starfleet.

‘This had better be important, Lionel.’

‘Martin, I wouldn’t have called you if it wasn’t,’ Logan replied. ‘I’ve just received word that one of the infected people is heading home on an alien starship that is faster than both of ours. I really need some help out here. Two medium-sized ships with standard weaponry just isn't going to cut it against this enemy.’

‘I’m sorry, but you know what President Satie has said as well as I do. She wants a more insular, bare bones fleet right now. You're lucky you've got two ships of the line out there. One starbase has an old NX-class starship protecting it.'

'I need more,' Logan said. 'Where are you, anyway? You're not in your office.'

'That's right, I'm not. I'll be arriving in less than half an hour to take control of Operation Cobalt. Admiral Ranar has given me full authority in this matter, Commander.'

'I don't doubt it, but what exactly am I going to do? Run the colonies?'

'No, your task will be to fast-track Kursica's entry into the Federation and make sure the colonies are safe from the natives. If any mission hints at Cha'lav involvement, it passes to me, as your new executive officer.'

'Lieutenant Commander Osden is quite capable as my first officer.'

Madden grinned. 'He isn't a suitable first officer for a Captain.'

It took a moment for the comment to sink in. 'I'm getting a promotion?' Logan asked without emotion.

'Against my recommendation, but Admiral Ranar believed that the situation warranted it.'

'Well thanks, Commander. It's nice to know you have my best interests at heart.'

'You should have stayed an engineer, you're better with machines than people.'

'You're one to talk. Where is Osden being assigned?'

'He'll take my shuttlecraft back to Earth and be assigned to one of the new Defiant-class ships as first officer.'

'That should please him. He's been moaning about starbase duty for a while.'

'I'll be there in a few minutes, Commander. Please meet me in the shuttlebay, Madden out.'

'Commander, there's a shuttle approaching,' Osden called from Operations.

‘Send it to landing bay seven. I’ll meet the occupant there, Logan out.’

Logan hurried from his office toward the turbolift and noticed Aulyffke approaching him again. ‘I don’t have time right now, Ambassador.’

‘You are here to expedite our entry into the Federation, Commander. I would think that I would be the most important person for you to spend time with.’

‘Normally, I would agree, but I have a number of things going on at the moment that, quite frankly, are more important than your entry into the Federation.’

Aulyffke followed him into the turbolift. ‘You may be right, but unless you stop this disagreement from devolving into civil war, there might not be a Kursica to gain entry into the Federation.’

‘I have been keeping an eye on the arguments, Aulyffke, and it isn’t as bad as you’re making it out to be. Your new government needs to take a softer hand in the negotiations. You know that I can’t interfere with internal matters. Now, if you’ll excuse me I have a problem to deal with.’

‘As you wish,’ the Kursican replied and stayed in the turbolift as Logan stepped out.

Logan stopped in his tracks as he turned the corner. Standing by the door to the landing bay was a man who didn't look imposing but gave the impression of boyish charm. It was only an impression though, the man was a hard person to please.

‘Welcome aboard Starbase 535, Commander.’

‘Thank you, Commander. I’d like to be fully briefed on the current situation.’

‘Everything you have is everything I have. I sent the last databurst to the Admiral, a few hours ago. The only current concern is High Lord Yannik.’

‘Explain.’

‘He's stolen the Cha'lav vessel and is en route to his homeworld, believing that his own doctor can cure him.'

‘He must be stopped.’

‘We have everything possible chasing him, but nothing we have is fast enough.’

Madden sighed. ‘That's why you wanted something faster.'

'Yes,' Logan replied.

'You'd better give me a fuller briefing on this little hiccough. Admiral Ranar is not going to like the situation one little bit.'

'And as his lapdog you'll express his displeasure.'

'That was out of line, Lionel,' Madden said sourly.

'I don't appreciate having the rug pulled out from under me. If I was given full disclosure from the outset, I might have been able to get what pieces I do have in better places,' Logan replied. 'Since you joined Starfleet Tactical, you've become less of a human being. You used to remember what it was like to be out here.'

'I still do, but now I have the bigger picture to worry about. While you're worrying about which order the colonies should be in for supply runs, I have to juggle hundreds of personnel in dozens of sectors to make sure that we have our ears open for any potential threat.'

'So why were you assigned here, seems like a step backwards.'

'I know more about the situation than you do, Commander. I'd like to arrange a little party at oh nine hundred hours for your promotion.'

'I'll see to it.'

'Good, now if you wouldn't mind showing me to some quarters, I think I need a little shut-eye. The shuttlecraft was a little cramped.'

 

[BrotherBenny]

Chapter Fifteen

USS Weisskopf
Kursican Sector
Stardate 55275.9 (April 11, 2378)

Commander Dhrex held on to his chair as the ship shook around him. The Nova-class starships had a maximum speed of warp eight, but modifications made to some during the war had pushed that up to an impressive eight point eight; though the ship’s superstructure hadn’t received the necessary upgrades in response. He was closer to Resoto Prime by a few light-years, but even with the extra speed he had at his disposal he didn’t think he’d make it in time, and he doubted that the Pytheas would either.

‘Where’s Murdoch? I thought he’d be complaining by now.’

‘He elected to remain on DN-646 to assist with the repairs, said he needed something to do,’ Banks answered.

‘What about Marshall?’

‘He also stayed behind sir, refused to leave until he figured out how the antimatter caused the damage.’

‘How many people did we actually leave on that lump of ore?’

‘Six, sir, two more scientists and two security personnel.’

‘Inform them that we’ll return as soon as we’re able.’

‘Aye sir.’

The Weisskopf shuddered more violently than it had in the last fourteen hours and the lights dimmed to minimum, without returning to normal levels after several moments.

‘Dhrex to engineering, what the hell is happening down there?’

‘I’m shutting down as much as possible to provide extra power for the structural integrity field. If I don’t the only thing that will make it to Resoto will be debris,’ Lieutenant Cain Johnson replied testily.

‘You could have warned me,’ Dhrex shot back.

‘You would have said no and we would have had an argument.’

‘Point taken, Lieutenant. Is there anything else we can do to get more speed?’
‘No sir, we’re at warp eight-point-nine-three now, and pieces of the outer hull are flaking off.’

Dhrex sighed. ‘Estimated time to intercept?’

Sh’Felen turned to look at him. ‘We’re not going to make it, sir. I have the alien vessel on long range sensors, and they will reach Resoto two hours before us.’

‘Contact the Pytheas and inform Captain Astar that we’re too far away and have to slow down.’

‘Aye sir,’ Banks replied. ‘Is there nothing we can do to stop them?’

Dhrex considered the question. ‘Would Ynelavii weapons be any use against that ship?’

‘No sir, ours might only just be enough.’

‘Then the answer is no, there’s nothing we can do except damage control when we arrive. Sh’Felen, slow to warp-eight-point-five, and tell me how late we’ll be.’

‘Eight point five, aye sir. We’ll arrive at Resoto three point two hours later than High Lord Yannik.’

‘He could infect hundreds of people in that time,’ Dhrex murmured. ‘Get Regent Dolan for me, I want to ask him for a favour.’

‘On screen.’

‘I’m Regent Dolan, leader of the Ynelavii Cooperative. How can I help you?’

‘I am Commander Dhrex of the Federation starship Weisskopf.’

‘How can I help you, Commander?’

‘There is an alien vessel approaching the Resoto system. The same one that attacked before. However, it is now under the command of High Lord Yannik and he has been infected with a disease that will kill his entire species. I would like to ask your ships to prevent him reaching Resoto Prime by any means necessary.’

Dolan smiled wanly. ‘While I have no love for the Resoto, I am a scientist and harming life goes against every tenet I hold dear. I will try to prevent him reaching his planet, but my vessels are likely to be attacked if the Resoto realise that the High Lord is aboard that vessel.’

‘Can you ask them to assist you? We'll provide all the evidence you need.’

Dolan nodded. ‘This will cause some problems, Commander. I have also not heard from the warship I sent to look for the vessel.’

‘The Oxelus is returning at best speed, Regent. I hope to explain everything when the situation has been resolved.’

‘Thank you, Commander. I will order my ships to the Resoto system immediately. They should arrive within two hours.’

‘Thank you, Regent, Dhrex out.’

‘It’ll be close, sir.’

‘We may be causing a war by doing this, but if it works we’ll save millions.’

‘Captain Astar wishes to speak with you, sir,’ Banks said.

‘Put her through.’

‘Commander, what’s going on?’

‘I’ve asked the Ynelavii to help us as they are closer. How far behind you is the Oxelus?’

‘About an hour behind,’ Astar answered. ‘I take it you are aware of the hostility between these two races?’

‘Yes ma’am, but allowing three hundred million people to die without doing something to save them is not something I can live with.’

Astar nodded. ‘Let’s hope that they can get there in time.’

‘It will be close, Captain.’

‘Very well, you’ll be there about three hours before us, Commander. If there is any chance of stopping the spread of this thing, I want you to do everything you can, even if it means vaporising part of the crust.’

‘Captain?’

‘If a few million who might be infected have to die to prevent tens of millions dying, then it has to be done. This is a numbers thing, Commander. We won’t have any choice in the matter if we want to save those people.’

‘Aye sir.’

‘I’ll be in touch, Astar out.’

‘Just what I needed,’ Dhrex muttered. ‘Ensign, punch it up to maximum warp again. I want to make sure that we don’t have to kill any of them ourselves.’

‘Aye sir, warp eight-point-eight.’

‘Time to intercept?’

‘Two point one hours later than the alien vessel.’

Dhrex sighed. Maybe Astar was right and he would have to kill a few million. He knew in his head that it was the right thing to do, but that didn’t make it any easier for his morals to swallow.

 

[BrotherBenny]

Chapter Sixteen

USS Pytheas
Resoto Prime
Stardate 55276.5 (April 11, 2378)

“Captain’s log, supplemental; we have arrived in orbit of the Resoto homeworld to find a devastating sight. Debris litters the planet’s high orbit and evidence suggests both Ynelavii and Resoto vessels have been destroyed in significant numbers. Commander Dhrex and his security teams aboard the Weisskopf have confirmed that the Cha’lav vessel, dubbed Guxendur, under High Lord Yannik’s command, was responsible for the destruction of the combined fleet.

“Of a far greater import is the news from the surface that a number of people in the capital city have come down with a virus that resembles the Resoto influenza virus, albeit an extremely fatal strain. At least three thousand people are known to have died in the last three hours and tens of thousands more are sick.

“Doctor Maxx has asked to take a full medical complement down to the surface and I have reluctantly denied his request, even though it is likely that none of his personnel would be infected. I cannot sanction such a mission but I am fully aware that my lack of action will result in the total destruction of an entire civilisation.”​

‘Captain, incoming transmission from Starbase 535, it’s Captain Logan,’ Lieutenant Talen called from the ops station.

‘I’ll take it in my ready room,’ Astar replied and headed off the bridge.

‘Aye sir,’ Wright muttered and moved to take the centre chair.

Astar knew what was coming and braced herself for the inevitable argument she would have with the former Enterprise chief engineer.

‘You denied his request?’

Astar leaned forward in her chair. ‘Yes sir, I denied his request. Even with the full resources of my security forces at their disposal, Maxx and the other medical personnel would be completely outnumbered.’

‘So you’re placing your crew’s safety above that of a dying population?’ Logan asked, distaste colouring his tone.

‘Commander Dhrex refused to vaporise the capital city on my orders. It may have killed millions but it would have saved the populace. That is no longer possible since the outbreak has spread across the continent. Thousands are being infected every minute and hundreds are dying. Maxx no longer believes he can devise a cure, which is why he advised High Lord Yannik not to return home.’

Logan nodded. ‘Commander Dhrex has issued a formal complaint against you, Captain.'

'Let me guess, he cited a violation of the Prime Directive?'

'Correct,' Logan replied.

‘I did not violate the Prime Directive, Captain.' I was providing humanitarian aid to those in distress. I should cite him for disobeying a direct order from a superior officer.’

‘General Order 24 was superseded by the Eminiar Amendment.’

‘I did not ask him to obliterate the planet, sir. I asked him to contain the virus by eliminating its immediate breeding ground, and in this case it was the capital city.’

‘Semantics, Captain Astar.’

‘What is not in dispute is that the majority of the Ynelavii fleet and the entirety of the Resoto fleet has been destroyed. The Cha’lav have destabilised the political structure of this section of the galaxy and the Resoto are dying. The worst part is that there is nothing I or anyone else can do for them now. The planet should be quarantined under General Order Seven.’

‘I don’t think that’s still on the books either,’ Logan replied.

‘Then call Command and check,’ Astar told him. ‘Regent Dolan, the new head of the Ynelavii Cooperative, has asked for a Federation representative to begin a petition for their entry into the Federation. How’s it going with the Kursicans?’

Logan sighed at her change of subject but knew that as her equal he didn't have the authority to do anything to her. He decided that she should be reprimanded, and as sector commander he had that authority. ‘They won’t be ready any time soon, but the Ynelavii might, how far is Ynelav from here?’

‘Six light years; I hope you’re not thinking of moving that station.’

‘It wouldn’t even make it out of orbit, Captain. To the subject at hand, I’m ordering you to send your doctor down there to try and find a cure.’

Astar narrowed her eyes and set her jaw. ‘I officially protest that order and refuse to comply. You can bring me up on whatever charges you like, Captain, but Resoto is a dead world. It’s time that we left it well enough alone and got on with the mission.’

‘Which mission would that be, Captain? Learning more about the Cha’lav or exploring the sector?’

‘Both, Captain. Astar out.’

As the screen blanked, Astar leaned back in her chair and sighed. She may have just ended her career, but she believed she was in the right and would gladly face a discharge if they ordered her to send Arlon or any officer down to that planet.

‘Captain, we’re receiving a hail from the Weisskopf.’

‘Patch it through, Commander.’

‘Captain, I’ve been ordered to Ynelav IV to meet with Regent Dolan regarding their petition for Federation membership, do you need me for anything else?’

‘No, thank you, Commander. I believe we can handle it from here. Good luck.’

‘Thank you, sir; Dhrex out.’

She returned to the bridge to see Wright pacing as a number of images were on the viewscreen, each showing Resoto cities and the panic that was ensuing as large numbers of them looted, pillaged or just died in the streets.

‘Why are we watching this?’ she asked her exec.

‘We’re watching the results of your orders, Captain,’ Wright answered. ‘Thousands are dying every hour now that the virus has reached the general population.’

‘Commander, my ready room, now.’

‘No sir,’ Wright turned on her. ‘Whatever you have to say, you can say it here, where everyone can hear.’

Astar tugged her uniform down and straightened up. ‘Fine, then listen, all of you. The Cha’lav killed the Resoto, not us. We could spend the next week down there trying to find a cure until the streets are littered with the dead, until there are no more Resoto. Doctor Maxx does not think he can find a cure for them, not with their canine DNA, because he has nothing to go on, no data from which to work.'

 

[BrotherBenny]

Chapter Seventeen

USS Pytheas
Resoto Prime
Stardate 55276.6 (April 11, 2378)

There was silence on the bridge as they took in what she was saying.

She continued. 'He still wants to go down there even though the odds of finding a cure are so slim that a Vulcan would have trouble quantifying it. I think our time would be better spent on finding that Cha’lav vessel and pulling it apart. I think we should learn as much as we can about the Cha’lav so that we can stop them doing whatever it is they have come to do and make sure that we send them back.’

A smile tugged at Wright’s lips as he turned to Gonzales. ‘You heard the Captain, let’s get moving. Scan the planets and moons on this system until you find something, I doubt that the Cha’lav’s transporters are that much better than ours otherwise they wouldn’t need that nice little gateway.’

‘Captain, can you come down here,’ Maxx called from sickbay.

‘I’m on my way, Doctor. Wright, you have the conn.’

Astar wondered what the doctor had called her about as the last time they spoke he was still working on cures for as many species as possible. She reached sickbay in less than two minutes and found security posted inside and outside.

‘What’s the problem, Arlon?’

‘I’ve completed my preliminary work on the canine DNA of the Resoto, and I know why I won’t be able to find a cure.’

‘I’m listening.’

‘The Resoto did not evolve naturally from canines into humanoids. They were engineered at some point in the distant past. I doubt any of their records even hints at that. The reason I can’t find a cure is because they don’t have the thymus gland, common to all vertebrate animals across the galaxy. Without it, I can’t manufacture an antibody because their bodies don’t produce them. Whatever the Cha’lav did to make this virus work, they did a good job. There’s no way I can reverse it before the entire population is wiped out, I don’t even know if I could do it with all of Starfleet Medical helping.’

Astar listened with growing dread. ‘I want you to put all of that into your report and sent it to Commander Logan at Starbase 535 immediately.’

‘I’ll do it now, are you all right, Leza?’

Astar smiled. ‘I’m fine, Arlon. Just a little tired.’

Maxx nodded and turned back to his console. Astar shook her head at her doctor’s non-response and returned to the bridge where Wright was still trying to find the alien ship.

‘Captain on the bridge!’ Gonzales yelled as the turbolift doors opened.

‘I’m not a fan of that particular regulation, Commander,’ Astar replied. ‘Please discontinue it.’

‘Aye sir,’ the tactical officer said.

‘Any luck, Commander?’ Astar asked her executive officer.

He shook his head. ‘No sir, we’re not picking up anything at all.’

She narrowed her eyes at the viewscreen and then turned to Gonzales again. ‘Commander, you said that the hull of that ship was made of something that our sensors couldn’t penetrate.’

‘That’s right, sir.’

‘Then why don’t we use the astrometrics laboratory to look for something that we can’t see?’

Gonzales sighed. ‘Of course, wide-band active scans across the entire system should be able to detect everything, and what appears as a hole in the readings will be the ship.’

‘Captain, we cannot scan the entire system at once, it would need to be conducted in sections,’ Wright replied.

Astar smiled. ‘Technology has moved on a little, Commander. Gonzales, initialise and launch the Sensor Probe Reconnaissance Array.’

‘Aye sir,’ Gonzales replied and her fingers flew across the console.

Just below the secondary deflector dish, a section of the hull retracted and five class-9 probe cases emerged, spreading out and engaging micro-impulse engines. The SPRA sensor network was designed to augment the upgraded astrometrics lab and provide total sensor coverage of a given at the same time, making it difficult for anything to hide, especially an alien ship whose crew had no idea that anyone was looking for them.

‘It will take approximately twelve minutes for the probes to reach their optimum scanning range,’ Lieutenant Mahtani said.

‘Lieutenant?’

‘Gonzales called me to the bridge, sir. I designed the SPRA network with Doctor Nathan Bridger before he died.’

‘Doctor Bridger?’

‘Yes sir. His ancestor developed the Wireless Sea Knowledge Retrieval Satellites, or “Whiskers,” that a number of submersible vehicles used in the second decade of the twenty-first century.’

Astar shook her head in bewilderment. She knew all about the supposed happenings of the short-lived political entity known as the United Earth Oceans and some historians believed that the Macronesian Alliance was the precursor to the Eastern Coalition.

‘Is that historical fact, Lieutenant, or the ravings of a deluded man?’ Wright asked. ‘Bridger was known for his flights of fancy.’

‘Like Doctor Cochrane and his crazy story about cybernetic creatures from the future who tried to stop the launch of the Phoenix, sir?’ Mahtani asked.

‘He has a point there, Commander,’ Astar smiled at the scowl her first officer exhibited. ‘However it came about, the SPRA network is a prototype sensor system that Starfleet Research and Development asked that we test out. There are more than forty ships exploring the galaxy that are serving as test-beds for new technology before they are rolled out across the fleet.'

'I'm aware of that, sir.'

'Commander, I want you to coordinate the search for the Cha’lav vessel while I have another word with Commander Logan and try to keep this mess in perspective.’

‘Aye sir,’ Wright replied as Astar entered her ready room. ‘How long before the probes are in position?’

‘Three minutes, sir.’

‘Excellent, prepare for a full-system scan, maximum power.’

‘That will deplete our reserves significantly, sir,’ Mahtani said.

‘The warp core can handle what we need, Lieutenant.’

‘Aye sir,’ Mahtani replied and turned to the science console to relay orders to engineering.

 

[BrotherBenny]

Chapter Eighteen

Science Ministry
Ynelav IV
Stardate 55276.7 (April 11, 2378)

After the activity of the last few hours, Regent Dolan was convinced that the rebellion was not just the few dozen malcontents which First Prime Gexin had been sprouting for months but a well organised, heavily armed, and densely populated movement. Colonel Rokan had remained behind to coordinate the search for the rebels and was now caught in their net. He’d disappeared and no one had seen him for some time.

The two people, besides himself, who were the highest ranked in their respective fields and ran different areas of Ynelavii life were now in the room with him. Seated to his right was the current head of the planet’s mainstream and only official clergy, High Adept Qalas, and the leader of the armed forces and Militia Elite, General Allak. Allak had only just returned from chasing the alien craft and his tale of the devastation that greeted him when he reached Resoto was terrible, but he knew he must get back to thinking about his own planet’s problems.

‘General, Colonel Rokan has disappeared and the last time he saw First Prime Gexin, she was alive. His report stated that he left her with medics but I’ve seen no evidence of that. The only medics in the area were outside.’

‘With all due respect, Regent, don’t you think that it’s possible the “medics” he saw were rebels and they killed Gexin once Rokan left to try to deal with the rebels? This government has suffered a major attack and a full three quarters have been killed. The people are calling for blood, and at this point whether it is ours or the rebels’ probably doesn’t matter all that much. The only way to find out what really happened is to capture the rebel leaders and interrogate them.’

‘Without torture,’ Dolan cautioned.

‘Now is not the time to play it safe, sir.’

‘Now is the best time to play it safe. We will not become primitives just because a group of malcontents have dealt us a crippling blow. Find the rebel leaders and interrogate them. Find Colonel Rokan and then perhaps we’ll learn what really happened to the First Prime. Colonel Ferok can take over the day-to-day running of the Militia. I want this to be your top priority.’

Allak nodded, scratching his beard. ‘I’ll get on it right away, Regent. If you’ll forgive my hurried exit, Adept,’ he added and touched a control on his wrist. He vanished in a pillar of light.

‘The youth today are always in a rush,’ Qalas muttered.

‘Adept, please, no more of your rhetoric. I asked you here to seek your advice on the state of the people’s faith. I know that to be an effective leader I must look after their spiritual wellbeing as well as their mental and physical wellbeing and that of society.’

‘The people’s faith is under my jurisdiction, Regent,’ Qalas said plainly. ‘And since you are not a believer, I don’t think that you have a right to undertake the responsibility.’

‘That is precisely what I want to discuss with you. The people’s faith is fractured, and I think that to unite them I must know that faith. I want you to teach me.’

Qalas chuckled. ‘I cannot teach you if you do not truly believe. Besides, only the Seer can unite the people.’

‘The Seer?’ Dolan asked, slightly incredulously.

Qalas frowned. ‘If you were at all familiar with religious doctrine, you would know that the Seer was chosen by the Prophet Yotanu in the First Age to lead our people into the Second Age. The scripture is clear on the matter. “In every Age there is a chosen one. A Seer will emerge from the darkest days of the Twilight to lead the people into a new Dawn.” The first lines of the Seer Scrolls, the most ancient teachings we have.’

‘I thought you were of the Nelanii sect?’

‘I am, but I am also of the belief that the Seer sect and the Nelanii sect are merely a divergence of a viewpoint.’

Dolan sighed. ‘Is there any way to recognise the Seer?’

Qalas knitted his brows in thought. His features were pale from spending thousands of hours in the shrine outside the city, out of the sunlight. ‘The Seer will be able to read the Seer Scrolls. All we are working from is a translation made thousands of years ago, but the Seer will be able to read the original text.’

‘But how do we know who the Seer is? How will we recognise him?’

‘I don’t know. The Lesser Scrolls only advise us that the Seer will provide guidance and he will emerge in a dark time.’

‘I don't want to imagine a time darker than what we face now. I think it's time I immersed myself in the teachings of Yotanu so that I might in fact be able to recognise the Seer when he comes.’

‘Am I converting you, Regent?’

Dolan favoured the priest with a wry smile. ‘Let’s just say that I’m discovering a scientific curiosity about the religious aspect of the people I must now lead.’

‘It is a start.’

‘Thank you, Adept. Since I’m new at this, could you please try to explain to me in as secular a manner as possible what exactly the religion brings to the people.’

Qalas considered his next words carefully. ‘Everyone needs to believe in something bigger than themselves. For you, that belief manifests itself as a belief in science. For others, it is belief in a Prophet, a man from the past who supposedly heard the words of God.’

‘Supposedly?’

‘I do not believe blindly, Regent; I read the scripture and interpret it as best I can. Our language has evolved since then and many words written then do not have the same meanings today.’

‘So your faith is as much scientific as religious?’

‘I suppose you could interpret it that way,’ the Adept said diplomatically. While Dolan was essentially correct, it was not nice to hear it said so plainly, though the priest knew that he meant no malice by it. He was expressing his faith the only way he knew how, through science.

 

[BrotherBenny]

Chapter Nineteen

Science Ministry
Ynelav IV
Stardate 55276.8 (April 12, 2378)

‘I understand the need for people to believe in something more, but how does religion satisfy that need.’

‘It gives them something to cling to when things go wrong.’

‘So they can take comfort in the fact that God is always there to protect them and give them help?’

‘Something like that, yes.’

Dolan shook his head. ‘At least now I understand why some of the more fervent religious people in the city spout so much rhetoric.’

‘They’re not always trying to convert people.’

‘But they often become violent when confronted with alternative viewpoints.’

Qalas shrugged. ‘Unfortunately.’

‘I believe that the rebels are an ultra-aggressive faction, Adept. There is evidence to suggest that they believe in a literal interpretation of the scripture, not taking into account the fact that the language has changed.’

‘How are they organised?’

‘Into cells, like any good terrorist network.’

‘But they don’t consider themselves terrorists.’

‘Of course not, they consider themselves saviours.’

‘Hmmm. I don’t suppose you know who their leaders are?’

‘We haven’t been able to ascertain that yet, no, but we do have suspicions,’ Dolan replied and noticed that Qalas was on the verge of saying something. ‘Do you know who they might be?’

‘I cannot break my vows, Regent,’ the priest finally said with reluctance.

Dolan’s visage darkened with immediate rage. ‘Your First Prime is dead, most of the government have been killed or maimed, and the government headquarters has been destroyed. Now you tell me that you know who at least one of the rebel leaders are, but can’t tell me who? What happened to your sense of duty?’

Qalas trembled with rage, but he spoke in measured tones. ‘My duty is to the people. I cannot reveal what was said to me in the sanctity of the Confession.’

‘Adept, the rebels represent a danger to us all. Whether they are religious zealots or simply people with grievances, they are far too well armed to be ignored. Key government employees were involved in this attack and we must discover who they are, and who the rebels are, if we are to return to our normal way of life.’

‘That will never happen, Regent. Our normal way of life was fighting the Resoto. The Resoto are dying and we have no one left to fight. In times past, before we were united, that meant internecine squabbling and civil war. Your duty must be to prevent that from happening.’

‘If that is indeed the case, Adept, then I must know who the rebel leaders are. If I can stop them from causing any more attacks, I may be able to bring them into the fold and stop a civil war before it starts.’ There was a knock at the door. ‘Come in.’

‘Regent, I’m afraid new measures need to be put in place.’

‘Is there a problem, General?’

Allak nodded and his expression was grave. ‘I’m afraid that Minister Furan has left the building and admitted to the people that he is the leader of the rebellion. He is declaring the Navalo region a haven for the disenfranchised.’

‘What?’ Dolan jumped up in anger.

Allak swallowed. ‘Furan has rallied a number of people to his cause, Regent. They are travelling to Navalo as we speak, where Furan tells them that they can live without fear of attack from the government. He is calling it the last free city on Ynelav.’

Dolan narrowed his eyes at the priest. ‘Is Furan the only rebel leader?’

‘I cannot reveal that information.’

‘Fine, then you will be arrested for treason. General, I want a proclamation sent out to all areas. All religious gatherings are suspended until further notice. I assume you have been keeping tabs on rebel strongholds?’

‘Of course, Regent; but we don’t have the evidence to bring them in for questioning.’

‘I’m declaring a state of emergency, and suspending the Rules of Detention. Arrest any rebel you find and interrogate them. I want to know exactly what is so special about the Navalo region and what Furan has done to prevent our interference, if anything.’

‘Yes sir,’ Allak replied, turned on his heel, and left.

‘I will take my leave of you, Regent,’ Qalas said, standing.

‘You're still under arrest.’

‘On what charge?’

‘Treason,’ Dolan reiterated. ‘By refusing to reveal the identity of an enemy combatant, you become one.’

‘I don’t recall that in the Ynelavii Legal Charter.’

‘You should read the Amendments more often, Adept. The Seventeenth Amendment states in states of emergency and war, certain legal traditions will be suspended to limit bloodshed. It goes on to list those traditions, and among them are the Rules of Detention and its associated Writs.’

‘You are committing a grave act by arresting me, Regent. The people will never forgive you.’

Dolan smiled. ‘You revealed to me that you believe in the Seer scrolls, Adept. The people have always ascertained that the Seer sect is false. You have fallen from grace. I, on the other hand, have suddenly developed an interest in uniting the people under this secular banner.’

‘You’ll never succeed, Regent. The people will resist change.’

‘When I unveil the Seer, and get an actual translation of the Seer scrolls, you will see that the people will accept change. Resistance to new ideas always happens, but the strong ideas will prevail, and I will keep you in prison long enough to see that change happen.’

‘The people will destroy you, and this civilisation will fall before the Seer is found,' the Adept replied. 'Remember, Regent, the Seer will emerge from the Twilight. We have not yet reached that, and we may never reach that stage if the people resist change. Change caused the fall of the last Age of Civilisation.’

 

[DavidFalkayn]

The Resoto dead because of their leader's selfishness and the Ynelavii now looking at civil and religious war--looks like the Cha'lav's plan is coming together nicely. I liked the conversation between the Regent and the Adept--both made good points.

 

[BrotherBenny]

Chapter Twenty

Resoto vessel Guxendur
Resoto system
Stardate 55276.9 (April 12, 2378)

‘High Lord Yannik, this is Captain Astar of the Federation starship Pytheas. Please respond.’

‘I can hear you, Captain. What do you want?’ High Lord Yannik asked as he prowled the corridors of his new ship seeking out a single member of his species who was still alive.

In under a day, all the military, government and medical personnel he’d invited aboard had been afflicted by this virus that the Starfleet doctor said he couldn’t cure. Hours later, the first of them had started dying and he knew that the doctor had been correct. Only one person had returned to the planet below and now his people were dying by the thousands. He had doomed the Resoto. Only those living off-world were spared, and they were few and far between. He had even ordered the destruction of his own ships when they prevented him getting home, more needless killing. There was no one alive on this ship. Even the medical personnel who had secreted themselves in the isolation wards were dying, when they shouldn’t have been infected. It was too late.

‘I will be destroying your ship if you do not surrender it immediately.’

‘My people are dead, by my hand, Captain. You can have this ship if you want it. I’m venting all areas to the vacuum of space. In my last act, I will kill myself and this virus.’

‘There is no need to commit suicide, Yannik.’

‘I cannot be cured and I will not infect the remaining off-world Resoto with this plague. Let me do this, Captain. I implore you.’

‘As you wish,’ Astar replied reluctantly. ‘We will remain here until the vessel has been…cleansed.’

‘Thank you, Captain, Yannik out.’

At least he would now be able to die with what little dignity he had left. Returning to the bridge, Yannik opened all the bulkhead doors and then the airlocks. He felt himself pulled through the corridors of the ship, bouncing off bulkheads until he mercifully lost consciousness.

Yannik slipped out of the ship by the port airlock on the top deck and floated away. The airlocks suddenly clicked back into place and the bulkhead doors closed, returning the ship to its previous state. A single sensor came online and detected no lifesigns aboard. That activated a number of dormant and rarely used subroutines which in turn initialised a preset computer programme.

The ship’s engines started up and it began to move under its own power, headed for a region in the sector devoid of stars. Moments later, five people beamed over to the bridge from the Pytheas in EV suits and began to power down all the systems. The ship, sensing that its last-resort programme had been interrupted, sent out a distress call.

'Xeris to Pytheas,' the chief engineer said.

'Go ahead, Commander,' Astar replied, sensing trouble.

'We've powered down all the systems, but I think the ship might have sent out a homing beacon or distress call of some kind.'

'Stand by.'

'Sir, all sections of this vessel have been repressurised,' Maxx stated. 'It is safe to take off the suits.'

'If you don't mind, Doctor, I'll keep mine on. I have no intention of letting a virus of any kind enter my system from this vessel.'

'Xeris, Talen detected it over here as well. Download the database and get off there. Set it to self-destruct. We can't let it reach back home.'

'I don't know if that's even possible, sir,' the chief engineer replied. 'This vessel has a sophisticated artificial intelligence, much like Romulan vessels do. I'm not sure I could set the self-destruct before it realised what I was doing and stopped me from doing it.'

'Stop talking about it and attempt it.'

'Aye sir, downloading Cha'lav database to secure section of the computer core now.'

'We're getting it, Commander,' the Andorian replied from ops.

Xeris ignored him and concentrated on activating the self-destruct mechanism. Instead, he found himself lying flat on his back across the bridge. Resisting assistance from the others, he got back up and tried again.

'Captain, there's no way to initialise the self-destruct system. I recommend you let me try something else.'

'Do it,' Astar ordered. 'And do it fast. Talen tells me that we'll have the entire database in another five minutes. You have that long to do what you need to do.'

'Beam the others back and get Parker in here. She probably knows far more about this technology than I do.'

'She'll be there in less than a minute.'

True to form she beamed over forty-three seconds later.

'She's here,' Xeris muttered and turned to her. 'I suppose you were already suited up?'

'Acknowledged, Astar out.'

'Stand aside, Commander. I'll sort this problem out for you.'

'You will? How kind of you,' the Romulan replied sarcastically.

'As you rightly pointed out to the Captain, I know far more about this vessel than you do.'

'And why is that, Lieutenant?'

'That information is classified,' she replied.

'There's a surprise.'

'Done,' she said a moment later. 'As soon as the data dump is complete, this bucket of bolts will fly wherever we set it to. I also disabled the quantum tracker that was activated after Yannik vented the atmosphere.'

'Xeris to Talen, how long before the data dump is complete?'

'It just finished, sir.'

'Excellent, engage the autopilot on this vessel and send her ahead to Starbase 535.'

'Aye sir, Talen out.'

'Xeris to transporter room, two to beam up.'

'Stand by, Commander. Energising.'

As he beamed back to the ship, he couldn't help but wonder what the Cha'lav would do when they found their vessel missing. He imagined they would probably ask for it back, if not attack outright. It was time the captain got ready for a fight. When he and Parker were taking off their EV suits he voiced his concerns.

'Oh, they'll attack all right. In force. We'll have to make sure that we have more vessels than they do when that happens. If our allies in the region assist us it won't be a problem, unless the Cha'lav send more ships into the sector.'

'Just wonderful.'

 

[BrotherBenny]

Chapter Twenty-One

USS Pytheas
Resoto system
Stardate 55276.9 (April 12, 2378)

Captain Astar and the rest of the bridge crew had watched in horror as the bodies of dozens of dead Resoto were flushed into space by the tug of vacuum. There was nothing that any of them could do for Yannik or the dead, but she ship they could use. It would provide a fantastic opportunity to learn about the Cha’lav and maybe reverse engineer their technology. Commander Wright was staring at something on the console between their seats and frowning. He entered a few commands and then looked up sharply.

‘Sir, it’s starting to move under its own power,’ Gonzales said.

‘Get a tractor beam on that ship, now!’ Wright ordered.

‘Plot its trajectory,’ Astar added.

‘According to the astrometrics computer, the ship was heading for a region of space the locals call the Kursican Triangle,’ Larson said from the helm.

‘I want an away team over there to tell me what powered that ship up and why it was heading to the Triangle. I’d like to know what kind of hull that thing is constructed from and everything else we learn about it too. We may never get another opportunity.’

‘What do we do then, sir?’ Gonzales asked.

‘Then we tow it to Starbase 535 and let Commander Logan’s engineers take the ship apart if they have to. If we have any hope of stopping the Cha’lav from whatever they have planned, we’ll need that ship.’

‘I’d like to lead that away team, Captain,’ Wright said. ‘I would like Commander Xeris and two of his best engineers, and four security personnel, including Lieutenant Parker. ’

Astar nodded. ‘Good selection, Commander but I need you here. Xeris will lead the away team.’

‘Aye sir,’ Wright replied and touched the console. ‘Wright to Xeris, get three of your engineers to transporter room two. You’re going over to the Cha’lav vessel.’

‘On my way,’ Xeris responded.

‘Shouldn’t Doctor Maxx be joining them?’ Gonzales asked.

‘There’s nothing left alive over there, Commander,’ Wright replied. ‘Every room was exposed to the vacuum of space.’

‘Something started the engines,’ she muttered.

‘And we’re going to find out what it was.’

‘Wear environmental suits just in case there are any toxins over there, Commander,’ Astar instructed. 'Maxx will be able to tell if there is any trace of the prion virus left over there.'

‘Aye sir.’

‘Keep an open tricorder link, sir. I’d like you to record as much data as you can, just in case.’

‘We’ll be careful.’

‘Recall the SPRA sensors, Gonzales. We don’t need them now.’

‘Aye sir, recalling…There’s a problem, sir. I’m only receiving telemetry from four of the probes. The fifth appears to be caught in something.’

‘On screen.’

The image of the Cha’lav cruiser was replaced by that of the SPRA probe protruding from what appeared to be a tear in space.

‘Sensors, what is that?’

‘It is exactly what it appears to be, Captain,’ Mahtani said from the science console. ‘It is a spatial rupture.’

‘Leading to where?’

'I don't know, sir. I'm reading normal space on the other side. I don't think this rupture is Cha'lav in origin.'

‘Something’s emerging, sir.’

'The away team have beamed over, sir,' Talen interrupted.

‘Go to yellow alert.’

‘Aye sir.’

‘It is a vessel of some kind, Captain,’ Gonzales said. ‘Seventeen vessels, actually. They are all eleven metres in length, six metres wide and four in height.’

‘It looks like a large torpedo casing,’ Larson said.

‘Can we spare the power for a second tractor beam?’

‘Engineering reports it is possible for a limited period,’ Mahtani answered, coordinating with them.

‘Maintain sensors on the pod and engage the tractor beam.’

The pod’s momentum changed as it was caught by the Pytheas and appeared to hover before it changed direction and tried to pull away. After a few seconds it stopped moving all together, held by the tractor beam.

‘Can you make out any markings, Commander?’ Astar asked Gonzales.

‘No sir, there appears to be nothing on the outer hull at all. No markings, no airlock of any kind, not even an opening.’

Astar frowned. She had enough on her plate with the Cha’lav. ‘Hail them, let’s see if there’s something internally.’

‘Aye sir, hailing them on all frequencies.’

‘No response, Captain.’

‘Can we scan the interior?’ Talen asked from ops, having stayed uncharacteristically silent until this point.

‘Are you all right, Lieutenant?’ Astar asked.

‘Yes sir, something about this seems to be a little unnerving.’

‘Can you pull our probe back?’

‘Yes sir, it was freed when the pod emerged.’

‘Captain, that’s not a pod, it’s a bomb!’ Mahtani said suddenly.

‘Explain.’

‘Do you remember the dreadnoughts that the Cardassians used during the Bajoran Occupation and the Dominion War?’

‘Smart bombs, programmed to seek a target on its own and detonate, without risking any Cardassian lives. Efficient and brutal.’

‘I recommend we increase our distance and destroy them, sir,’ Gonzales interjected, not happy with the device sitting so close.

‘Not yet, Commander. I’d like to learn a little more about, before it blows up.’

Gonzales gritted her teeth. ‘Aye sir.’

‘Scan the interior of the lead bomb, maximum sensor gain.’

‘Aye sir, scanning.’

‘Are we picking up anything?’ Astar asked after a moment.

‘Yes sir, we’re picking up a life form of some kind.’

‘Beam it into sickbay, into a level six security field. Have security meet us there,’ Astar replied. ‘Gonzales, you have the conn.’

‘Aye sir,’ the tactical officer replied as the captain headed for the turbolift.

As Astar made her way to sickbay, she had a fast conversation with Xeris regarding a beacon, and his attempts to destroy the Cha'lav vessel. This was not turning into a very good day.

 

[BrotherBenny]

Chapter Twenty-Two

Dreadnought-class missile
Resoto system
Stardate 55277.0 (April 12, 2378)

Lieutenant Commander Gonzales beamed aboard the Dreadnought-class missile alone and immediately noticed the design was far more utilitarian than the Cardassian-designed missiles. She had taken as many engineering classes as possible while at the Academy and when she could during leave, since she believed that security officers should be able to get themselves out of a tight spot without engineers there to assist them. She activated what looked like a standard console and was relieved when the screen above it came to life. This console was not touch-sensitive but full of knobs and buttons, much like mid-twenty-second century Earth technology.

'Gonzales to Pytheas.'

'Wright here, Commander.'

'I've got the main power systems working, and it would appear that this was the only one with a lifeform in it. The others are all piloted remotely from here.'

'Can you disable them? I don't like having so many missiles so close.'

‘I believe I can sir, but it will require a few minutes.'

‘Take your time,’ Wright replied. 'We don't want a massive explosion.'

'Aye sir, Gonzales out.'

She began to press buttons and adjust knobs and was relieved when a tactical overlay appeared on the screen, detailing the locations of the missiles, the Pytheas and the Cha'lav vessel. The technology was simplistic to her, but she was still careful.

'Warning,' a computer voice stated. 'Missiles cannot be deactivated while alert status red is engaged. Do you wish to end alert status red.'

‘Yes,’ Gonzales replied. ‘End alert status red, return to alert status green.’

‘Enemy vessel in proximity, alert status yellow recommended.’

‘Alert status yellow,’ Gonzales stated. 'Deactivate missiles.'

‘Alert status yellow confirmed. Missiles locked on target but not armed.’

‘Gonzales to Pytheas.’

‘Yes, Commander?’ Astar asked.

‘I've disarmed the missiles, but they are still locked onto the Cha'lav ship. Is the alien all right, sir?’

'The alien is fine, Commander. Doctor Maxx is treating him for minor injuries and recommended I go back in a few hours. Pilot the missiles into shuttlebay two and then return to the bridge. I have a feeling that this just introduced a new wrinkle into the situation.'

'Aye sir, I'll need a few minutes to get the hang of the navigational and piloting systems.'

'We're in no hurry, Commander; Astar out.'

Gonzales moved to a different console, noting that nothing was linked in this vessel. Every aspect was controlled somewhere else. Perhaps because it was a cultural thing. There didn't seem to be any reason why more than one person was needed to pilot this missile. It didn't take her long to figure out the controls and within minutes she began to pilot the missiles toward the Pytheas. Then the engines cut own.

'Warning, missile is off-course from target lock. Adjust course immediately.'

Gonzales sighed. 'Target has been neutralised.'

'Negative, target remains intact. Alert status red enabled.'

'Damn.'

'Astar to Gonzales. what's happening, Commander?'

'The missile's computer guidance system is overriding my commands, sir. Attempting to deactivate it.'

‘The away team is back aboard, Commander. We're sending the Cha'lav ship back to Starbase 535,' Astar told her.

'The missiles will follow it, sir. I think I can stop them, but I'll need a few minutes.'

'We're making preparations to return to the Starbase, Commander. You have ten minutes.'

'Aye sir, Gonzales out.'

'Computer, listen to me. The enemy vessel has been captured by the Resoto Hegemony. It is no longer under Cha'lav control.'

'Attempting to confirm, stand by...No Resoto lifesigns detected, information provided is false.'

'The Resoto are a dead people now. My people are remotely piloting the vessel to our nearest base to learn about the enemy and stop them. If you destroy this vessel, you will be assisting the Cha'lav.'

'Scanning the enemy vessel...Scan complete. You are telling the truth. No Cha'lav lifesigns detected. Alert status green, all missiles disarmed and in hibernation mode. An alternative method of transportation is needed. The spatial rift has closed.'

'I will pilot this missile into the alternative method of transportation.'

'Acknowledged.'

'Pytheas, this is Gonzales. The missiles have been disarmed. I'm bringing them into shuttlebay two now.'

'Understood, Commander; Astar out.'

Gonzales piloted the missiles into the shuttlebay and then had herself beamed to the upper platform of the bay, watching as the missiles attached themselves to each other minimise the amount of space they took up. She was amazed at the speed with which they manoeuvred in such a small area as the shuttlebay. As soon as the seventeen missiles were sat on top of one another in two stacks of six and one of five, the engines all dulled from the ruby red to nothingness and the shuttlebay become completely silent.

She returned to the bridge thinking that Starfleet should start using these types of things instead of the Peregrine-class fighters to minimise the loss of life in future conflicts. The Federation attack fighters were modified Peregrine couriers with heavy armaments, but these missiles were essentially mobile weapons platforms with far more firepower. If it seemed like the missile was going to be captured then it could be detonated, taking an enemy vessel with it, and no Starfleet lives would be lost in the process.

By the time she reached the bridge, the Captain had gone back down to sickbay with Parker and Wright was in his own chair, clearly not feeling the necessity of moving to the Captain's one since the two chairs were only a foot away from each other.

'Please take your station, Commander and prepare for return to Starbase 535.'

'Aye sir,' Gonzales replied and relieved Snowcroft from the station.

The cadet shot her an understanding look before fleeing into the turbolift. Gonzales smiled wryly, Wright did have a way about him that rubbed people the wrong way. But from what she had seen of him, it wasn't his personality that they disliked, but his Starfleet record of getting his crewmates killed. It was not a good place for a first officer to be in, especially when he was left in command of the ship so frequently as the captain preferred to lead from the front.

 

[BrotherBenny]

Chapter Twenty-Three

USS Pytheas
Resoto system
Stardate 55277.1 (April 12, 2378)

The alien lifeform beamed aboard from the missile was a two-metre-tall humanoid. He did nothing to alarm anyone as Captain Astar and Lieutenant Parker arrived in sickbay again to question him, having been ejected earlier so Maxx could attend to his injuries which had most likely come from the rift.

‘Well?’ Astar asked her chief medical officer for the third time.

‘Captain, the universal translator is working and we can understand his language, just as he can understand ours. He is completely healthy by the same standards that I would judge even our non-humanoid crewmen. Rashal is no danger to this crew or this ship.’

‘What have you learned about him?’

‘He comes from a world called Eeroth and is a Fahir, one of two sentient species native to that world. His missile was on patrol at the edge of Eerothian territory when he was attacked by a Cha’lav scout ship. The Dahrek ship, the other native species, joined in the attack and his missile was damaged. Rashal has been drifting in his pod for more than one Standard year. He doesn’t know where he is or where his homeworld is in relation to us.’

‘You appear to have learned quite a bit, but what we have discovered from our analysis of his missile and its database doesn't confirm his story.’

‘How so, Captain,’ Maxx asked, shooting an annoyed glance at Rashal.

‘We detected a subspace rift and seventeen missiles emerged, not just one. I doubt he would be in such good condition had he been adrift for so long. No matter, we can’t return him home at the moment. He’ll have to come with us back to Starbase 535.’

‘That will be fine, Captain,’ Rashal replied in a lyrical tone.

Astar turned to face him. ‘I apologise, not speaking to you directly was rude. Can you tell me why you lied to my doctor?’

‘It is quite alright, Captain. I am used to such treatment on my homeworld. I expect it, and in turn, lying has become second nature to protect oneself from the Dahreki government.’

Astar frowned. ‘Such behaviour is beneath us, Rashal. The cultures represented on this vessel, and in all of the Federation and Starfleet, value individuality and tolerance above all else. I fear that I have not made a good first impression.’

Rashal smiled. ‘Quite the contrary. My treatment since being retrieved from my missile-ship has been most gracious. I fully expected to be imprisoned and badly-treated. Such is the expectation of my people since the Dahreki became the dominant species through conquest.’

‘Conquest?’

‘Yes, Captain. The Fahir favour colonisation and peaceful coexistence with native populations. The Dahrek conquer worlds and take slaves from the native populations.’

‘I see,’ she replied. 'Now you know we do not plan to harm you, can you tell me the truth?'

‘Wright to Astar.’

‘Go ahead, Commander.’

‘Gonzales is back aboard, sir. The missiles are all aboard and powered down; and the Cha'lav vessel is already at high warp on its way to the Starbase. We’ve also downloaded the entire database from both vessels to study.’

‘Excellent. Set a course for Starbase 535 and prepare to get underway.’

‘Aye sir, Wright out.’

‘You have also fought the Cha’lav?’

‘We have been fighting them for a little over a week, but they have caused many problems in that time, and been responsible for many deaths. The truth about your situation, please? I will not ask so kindly again.’

‘I wish you all the luck in stopping them, Captain. The Fahira have become cannon fodder in the Dahreki's war against the Cha'lav and I had been able to gather enough forces to take over at least one fleet back from the Dahreki for the Fahira. It would have given us some say in the war, but we were betrayed and I was unable to properly calibrate the rift for travel. I have no idea where I am in relation to my homeworld. That much was true.'

‘Hopefully when this current crisis is over, we’ll be able to return you to your people so you can warn them, if we're not too late by then.’

‘I would appreciate that, Captain, but the Dahreki are powerful enough to hold them off for a while longer, they have been doing so for over a year.’

‘Wright to Astar.’

‘Are we ready to depart, Commander?’

‘Yes sir, all stations report ready for departure. Although the missiles are powered down a level six forcefield has been erected around them. I felt it a necessary security precaution.’

‘Good work, Commander. I would have done the same. Has our science team begun work on the Cha’lav database?’

‘Yes sir, Lieutenant Mahtani has assembled everyone with any scientific knowledge of linguistics and cryptology.’

‘Then take us to Starbase 535, warp six.’

‘Aye sir, Wright out.’

Astar heard the nacelles move into position and imagined that she could feel the increase in speed as the Pytheas jumped to warp. She couldn’t of course, had she been able to, it would have been the last thing she felt before becoming a smudge on the bulkhead in sickbay. She turned back to Rashal and studied him for a moment.

'Rashal, could you assist us in the translation of the Cha'lav database? Your people have more experience with them than we do.'

'I will do my best, Captain, but we have not been able to capture any ships. The best we have been able to do is capture personnel and translate the documents they have on them, it is of course mostly military.'

'That will be a good start,' Astar replied with a smile and looked at Maxx. 'Can he be released from sickbay?'

'Yes, I've arranged quarters for him, Captain.'

'Parker, escort him to quarters and show him how to use the replicators. I want a guard on him at all times.'

Parker nodded and Astar left sickbay, headed for the bridge and the reports she needed to write and sign off.

 

[BrotherBenny]

Chapter Twenty-Four

Asteroid DN-646
Kursican Sector
Stardate 55278.6 (April 12, 2378)

Lieutenant Paul Marshall stood up and dusted himself off. The antimatter storage pods were losing integrity and there was nothing he could do about it. One pod had already destroyed asteroid DN-612 and there were dozens of pods on this lump of rock. The Starfleet Corps of Engineers had used antimatter explosions to create the habitats for the mining domes two years earlier. He'd just spent the better part of a day trying to figure out why that pod failed. There had been no power drain that his tricorder or the Weisskopf’s sensors could detect and he hadn’t detected any sabotage. After almost a day of scanning, poking and prodding, he had been able to find nothing to explain the loss of integrity to the antimatter shielding.

The two asteroids were several thousand kilometres apart and the pods on this one were now failing as well. Something was affecting the antimatter that their sensors couldn't detect. The other scientists and security personnel left here with him had been evacuating the scientists to whatever shuttlecraft, freighter or ore-carrier that they could to get them out of the danger zone as it was likely that the resultant antimatter detonation would most likely destroy this section of the asteroid belt and the damage would be increased a thousand-fold by the dilithium ore that riddled the belt. The one thing that made him stay when the Weisskopf was called away was that his lover, friend and fellow intelligence operative, Lieutenant Commander Miles Murdoch, agreed to oversee the evacuation since he had the requisite experience.

He knew their relationship had soured a little recently since Murdoch's extended mission in the Kursican sector but that issue was now at an end, since they were both stuck in this sector indefinitely, until the Cha'lav issue was solved. Marshall checked the chronometer on his tricorder and realised it had been nearly twenty hours since he had last eaten something. He sought Murdoch out and found him in the asteroid’s shuttlebay, working on an ancient-looking antimatter freighter. Beyond him lay a dozen shuttles and small craft of various sizes all of which were being loaded with personnel and belongings of the three hundred people from the mining outpost. Those ships weren’t going to be enough; there were still about sixty people who would be left behind. Marshall watched Murdoch’s jerky movements as he fixed something in place on the underside of the massive freighter.

Murdoch slid out and pulled himself up, wiping his hands on his uniform trousers, and then turned to face Marshall, not in the least surprised to see him standing there. 'How's it going?'

‘Not good; I wondered if you’d like to get something to eat.’

He nodded. ‘I take it you figured it out yet?’

Marshall shook his head and frowned. ‘There’s nothing wrong with the pods and there’s nothing causing a power drain. The pods are just losing integrity. I think there's something in the system that our sensors and tricorders can't detect that's doing this. But whatever it is, we have to be gone before the first pod loses integrity.’

‘How long do we have?’

‘A few hours at most,’ he replied.

‘And you still want to have something to eat?’

‘I haven’t eaten anything in hours.’

‘Fair enough, I could use the break.’

‘What are you working on that heap of junk for?’

‘From the outside it might look like a pile of rusting bulkheads, but inside it is structurally sound.’

‘You’re not planning to fly this thing?’ he asked incredulously.

‘You know that I can fly anything,’ Murdoch replied with a wry grin. ‘And besides, we need to get the rest of the people out of here somehow.’ Then he grinned. ‘The miners said if I can get them out of here I can keep it. It’s no good for hauling antimatter dilithium in its current condition.’

Marshall nodded. ‘I hope you can work a miracle then.’

‘If I don’t get it working, then the last of us will die here and I plan on making it home for my niece's birthday. Commander Dhrex left us here to figure what went wrong in the first place. Since we can't, it makes sense to work on a plan for getting everyone out of here.’

‘I know you're right, it's just frustrating that I can't figure this out. But, the sooner we get out of here the sooner we can get back to our actual mission.’

Murdoch ignored the last comment. ‘The engines on this ship are fine, ready to fly. How much antimatter can it store? We can move as much as possible from the pods into the ship. It could buy us more time.’

Marshall shook his head. ‘The freighter's storage capacity is about 15 pods worth. That still leaves over twenty pods to explode.’

‘What if we jettisoned the remaining pods further into the asteroid field?’

Marshall considered the idea. ‘It won't work. As soon as the pods were jettisoned, they'd be exposed to whatever is making them lose integrity. Without the dome's shielding, the pods would explode in seconds.’

Murdoch conceded the point. ‘I’ll keep fixing the ship; you bring the pods through and get as much help as you can.’

‘What’s wrong with this thing anyway?’

‘Stabilisers and thrusters are busted, shields are almost non-existent and the pop gun phasers have no charge because the impulse fusion core is depleted.’

‘In other words, it’s going to be a rough ride?’

‘I think I just said that, but I'll do my best in giving us enough power to get out of here.’

Marshall scowled and then rushed off, leaving Murdoch to fix the ship. He grabbed the other Starfleet personnel and told them what they were doing.

‘Find every antigrav you can and get fifteen antimatter pods into the shuttlebay, then load the antimatter into the ship's storage cells . Once you’re done, move the rest of the pods into the most shielded section of the base. Then get to the freighter and the shuttles.’

‘Aye sir,’ they replied and scattered.

Marshall went straight to the storage bay and marked the pods which had the lowest integrity. There was a marked loss in the pods closest to the outer shell of the base and he resolved to move them first.

 

[BrotherBenny]

Chapter Twenty-Five

Asteroid DN-646
Kursican Sector
Stardate 55278.7 (April 12, 2378)

‘Can you handle this yourself?' Marshall asked one of the miners. 'I’ll send the others to help you shortly. I need to start loading these onto the freighter.’

‘I can do it, Lieutenant. Thanks for saving our lives.’

‘Lieutenant Commander Murdoch has the hard part, flying us all out of here.’

‘Is it true he works for Starfleet Intelligence?’

He nodded. ‘Don’t worry, so do I.’

The young miner nodded and moved off with the pod.

‘Come on, we’d better get this antimatter aboard otherwise this rust bucket will never take off.’

Murdoch looked at him surprise and then headed up the ramp after him. ‘I’ve been inspecting the systems on board and they’re somewhat antiquated, but they’ll get us out of here. Nechayev's people will make her spaceworthy in under a week.’

'She's not spaceworthy now?'

'Paul, she's a century out of date with duotronic technology. I'm amazed this bucket is still in use, but she's holding up incredibly well.'

‘But she will fly?’

Murdoch gave him a forlorn look. ‘I thought we’d been through this. I can fly anything.’

Marshall held his hands up in surrender. ‘Can you transfer the antimatter or do you need my help?’

‘I can manage, but we have a lot of pods to transfer.’

‘Alright, I’m going to the control room to see if I can buy us some more time. I fear we have an hour at most.’

‘Warning, antimatter containment down to fifty percent,’ the computer’s feminine voice intoned.

‘Maybe less,’ Marshall amended wryly.

‘Go!’ Murdoch pushed him toward the corridor and the ramp.

Marshall ran for the control room. ‘Computer, what's the estimated time to antimatter containment failure?’

‘Antimatter containment failure will occur in forty-seven minutes, eleven seconds.’

‘Damn,’ he muttered and tried not to think about the pods crowding the room as he closed and sealed all the bulkhead doors between him and the shuttle bay, except one route to be used only if needed. He tapped his combadge. ‘Marshall to Murdoch, do you have a transporter?’

‘No, sorry.’

Marshall muttered an oath under his breath. ‘I’m gonna be running for it real quick. Be ready to go straight away.’

‘How long do we have?’

‘Warning, antimatter containment fields are down to thirty percent.’

'There's your answer. I’m coming now, the containment fields are fluctuating. I've no idea how much time is left.’

‘Move, Paul. There’s no more time.’

‘Computer, engage program Marshall-Escape-1, mark.’

The control room bulkhead started to slide shut and he ducked under it and started to run. The bulkheads were all closing in sequence and he would need to run faster to make it.

‘Come on, , I can’t keep the door open for much longer. The computer is venting the atmosphere from the entire base.’

He turned the corner into the last corridor and saw the bulkhead less than a metre off the floor. He dived for it and pulled his feet through just in time. Picking himself up again, he ran up the ramp and hit the close button.

‘I’m in.’

‘Lifting off, come and join me, Paul.’

Marshall reached the cockpit and slammed himself into the co-pilot's chair as the freighter left the mining base and into the asteroid field. There were thousands of kilometres between some of the asteroids, but that was all going to change.

‘Engaging impulse engines, full speed.’

‘Is that safe?’ he asked, sitting down.

‘Not in the least, but when that antimatter explosion hits us, we’ll need every burst of speed, and even I’m not crazy enough to go to warp in an asteroid field.’

‘Computer, aft view.’

‘Sorry, no computer that sophisticated on here,’ Murdoch apologised. ‘Told you it was old,’ he added as he hit a switch.

One of the monitors showed an aft view as the asteroid exploded. Murdoch kept one eye on the path ahead and the other on the screen beside him that told him the danger. Alarm klaxons started wailing and Marshall gasped as the explosive shockwave hit them. The freighter was tossed around and the bulkheads groaned.

'Turn her into the wave,' Marshall yelled as he gripped his seat.

'What do you think I'm trying to do,' Murdoch yelled back. 'This isn't a Starfleet vessel, it's an old freighter with half her systems out.'

The freighter turned slowly but surely into the wave, riding the shockwave like a surfer. It was over in moments, but it felt like a lifetime.

‘Can we go to warp yet?’ Marshall asked, looking at the readouts.

‘We can, but the best this bucket can do in its present condition is warp three. It’ll take us a while to get back to Starbase 535.’

‘Then let’s get a move on, we’d best meet up with the other shuttles and form a convoy. Safety in numbers.’

Murdoch nodded. ‘On that subject, do you think you can disconnect the shields from the warp engines, we'll need the extra power to use the transporter when we get to the starbase.'

'Can't we land?'

'Not anymore, the shockwave knocked out the landing struts.'

‘Any more good news you'd like to share with me?’

‘Not really, I think that about covers it.’

Marshall sighed. ‘Do you think Nechayev will upgrade this freighter for us to use while we're here?’

‘She might, but it would require weeks in dock and there's nothing close,’ he said as he engaged the warp drive. 'It would take a month to get to the nearest repair facility, and I doubt we have that much time to spare, especially with the Cha'lav getting bolder.'

The century-old freighter shuddered and bucked as it built up speed but then slipped easily into warp. Murdoch deftly brought the ship up to warp two point five, so she wasn't stressed.

'Think you could send out a distress signal for me?' he asked.

 

[BrotherBenny]

Chapter Twenty-Six

Starbase 535
Kursican Sector
Stardate 55279.1 (April 12, 2378)

'Captain, Captain Logan would like you and Lieutenant Parker to join him in his office, immediately,' Gonzales said as soon as the Pytheas docked with the starbase.

'Tell him we're on our way,' Astar replied with a sigh and turned to her exec. 'See to the download of the data we acquired and any repairs that need doing. I don't expect to be here long.'

'Aye sir.'

When Astar and Parker entered Operations a few minutes later, they looked around and saw almost an entirely new staff, even though it was alpha shift. They glanced at each other in surprise as Logan emerged from his office and stepped down to meet them.

'I gather you've noticed the change in staff?'

'We did,' Astar replied.

'It was necessary considering the new situation.'

'Which is?' Parker asked.

'The reason you're both here. Come into my office and I'll explain everything.'

Another man stood up and stepped forward as they entered. 'Commander Martin Madden. I'm Captain Logan's new first officer, and your liaison to Operation Cobalt.'

‘Operation Cobalt?’ Astar asked.

‘Operation Cobalt is the Starfleet Tactical codename for the Cha'lav threat, Captain,’ Parker answered. 'Based on a specific piece of information which I assume has now been verified?'

'It has,' Madden replied as Logan took a seat and gestured for the others to do the same. ‘Admiral Ranar uncovered evidence that Andraprani zh'Malashan has surfaced from her decade-long hiding place.’

‘Where is she?’

'She hitched a ride on a freighter headed out this way two years ago. According to the locals, she purchased a fast ship and headed into the Kursican Triangle. That was a year ago.'

'And the Cha'lav have been attacking Eeroth for around that length of time,' Astar muttered.

'Exactly,' Madden replied. 'There is one other problem.'

Logan glanced at Parker. 'Your Andorian friend aggravated the Klingons and they have sent one of their Qang-class ships to find her. We've kept what we can from them, but they will find out eventually.'

'We have to find her first,' Parker responded. 'I made a vow to stop her, whatever the cost.'

'And Admiral Ranar agrees,' Madden told her. 'That's why he has given you a code black authorisation.'

Astar turned to see the predatory gleam in her security chief's eyes. 'Is there something I'm missing?'

'Quite a lot actually, Captain,' Logan elaborated. 'Code black is Intelligence speak for one of the most difficult assignments a field agent can be given.'

'Meaning?'

'To put it simply,' Madden started before being interrupted.

'It means “terminate with extreme prejudice,”' Parker said. 'With the addendum that all Starfleet general orders and regulations are rescinded for the duration of the assignment, except for the Prime Directive.'

Astar couldn't believe what she was hearing. 'You actually practice this behaviour?'

'Only in extreme circumstances,' Madden hastily tried to appease her. 'Zh'Malashan has become a traitor and is actively assisting the Cha'lav in circumventing our technology and gaining a foothold in our territory. After what we suffered during the Dominion war I'm sure you don't want that happening again?'

'Of course not, but to sink to that level?'

'What choice do we have, Captain?' Parker asked. 'If Prani gives the Cha'lav everything she knows about our weaknesses and gaps in our defences, what chance will we have against them?'

Astar nodded. 'I concede the point, but I don't like it.'

'I won't put the ship at risk, Captain. If I find her, I'd like to use the Onizuka to go and complete the mission. It's the only vessel fast enough and powerful enough to catch her.'

'I'll see what I can do, but if push comes to shove, we'll take the Pytheas after her,' Astar stated. 'If she presents that large a risk, then you'll need all the help you can get.'

'Thank you, sir.'

'Now that's out the way, tell me about what you have regarding the Cha'lav and this alien you retrieved?'

It took somewhat under an hour to provide all the information and when they were done they were all hungry but Logan sensed Parker had something more to share and asked her about it.

‘While Captain Drummond remains alive, he remains a security risk to the Federation. The Cha’lav have sophisticated mind-altering techniques, and among them is the alien waveform that has penetrated his consciousness. He is fighting them off admirably, but he should be removed from active duty. I suggest he be transferred to the sickbay aboard the Starbase where he can be closely monitored at all times.’

‘Drummond has already been transferred to a secured section of the Starbase, along with the former alpha-shift Operations crew and the database you downloaded from the Cha'lav,' Madden informed them. 'The Eeroth database is being folded into our own star charts as we speak. What can you tell me about Lieutenant Ryan McNamara?’

‘He was instrumental in shutting down the gateway and I think he's more than earned his promotion. He's wasted as a deputy chief of security.’

‘I agree,' Logan replied and turned to Madden. ’Who's your number two?'

Madden considered the question. 'I'll talk to the Admiral. Based on what you've told me, I don't think they'll be a problem with his transfer to Tactical, or the promotion to Lieutenant Commander.'

‘Excellent,’ Logan smiled. 'How about we break for a late dinner and then get back to something resembling normality?'

'Sounds like a great idea to me,' Madden said, 'but I need to have a long conversation with Admiral Ranar about our resources in this sector, and about the Klingons and Romulans, and why they're poking their noses in.'

'We'll see you later then, Commander,' Astar said with a wry smile, not envying the man his task ahead.

'Captain, if you don't mind, I have some preparations to make,' Parker said.

'Of course, Lieutenant.'

'Enjoy your meal, Captains,' the security chief said and left the office.

 

[BrotherBenny]

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Starbase 535
Kursican Sector
Stardate 55279.2 (April 12, 2378)

It was not a particularly pleasant conversation for dinner, but Logan felt it best to discuss it in a more informal atmosphere, knowing how prideful this particular captain could be in defending her position.

'Captain, there was something I wanted to bring up, but I felt it should be just between us, as senior officers.'

'I suppose you are referring to the matter of my refusal to help the Resoto, and the resulting near-extinction of their species.’

‘I am,' Logan replied. 'I know there are a few Resoto that live off-world, Captain. They survived the extinction of their homeworld and will need our help to continue surviving.’

‘If I'm not mistaken, reports from the Weisskopf indicate they've become pirates and are attacking any vessel they think they can pillage,’ Astar replied. 'It sounds as though they're taking care of themselves, reverting to their earlier pattern of survival before being united.'

‘That isn't an acceptable survival strategy,’ Logan countered.

‘Perhaps not, but the locals are aware of this and are used to it, or have been in the past.’

‘On that point we'll have to agree to disagree, wouldn't you say?’

Astar nodded.

'Has Lieutenant Parker told you anything she shouldn't have?'

'She told me about the Cha'lav's “phase one” plan.'

‘She shouldn't have.'

'I need to know anything that could harm my people out there, Captain,’ Astar raised her voice a little. 'Ranar’s edict of strict need-to-know cost a lot of lives this time. Those losses are unacceptable and I intend to minimise those losses when it comes to my crew.’

'All right, I can accept that, and I will try to provide what information I can, but I make no promises.' At Astar's nod, he continued through his list of her issues. ‘I don’t trust Commander Wright. There is something about him that I can’t put my finger on, but I get bad vibes from him.’

‘You and the rest of my crew,’ Astar replied, which surprised him. 'He's cut from a different mould, I'll accept that, but he does his job well, and hasn't tried to kill me yet.'

'Do you believe he will?'

'If it furthers his goals, yes. But until we reach that stage, I have no complaints.'

Logan shook his head. 'All right, we'll leave that issue for now. On to more important matters. The Klingons are coming, you know that much, and with you gallivanting around the sector, I'm going to have to keep the Weisskopf close to home, and they aren't a match for the Chancellor-class ship, not even close.'

'You think an Intrepid is better than a Nova?' Astar asked. 'I think it is pointless to try and guess. They have their own agenda, just as the Romulans do.'

'You're probably right,' he replied and then slumped a little. 'I'm sorry to have to do this to you, Captain, but I’m placing a reprimand in your permanent file for your handling of the Resoto crisis,’ he held up his hand. ‘Before you tell me there was no possible way you could have cured them, I agree. I’ve spoken with Doctor Bashir on Deep Space Nine, Doctor Crusher on the Enterprise and the Head of Starfleet Medical. They all agree that even your genius doctor could not have created a cure in the time available. However, that said, you should have made a greater effort to prevent High Lord Yannik from returning to his homeworld.’

‘So I’m reprimanded, I’ll live with it,’ Astar replied. ‘I made a judgement call and I was wrong. I will have to live with those deaths on my hands for the rest of my lives. Have you made a decision about my taking Rashal back to his people?'

'Unfortunately, that's out of my hands. Admiral Ranar will make that decision. I’ve read your report on the Eeroth, and I have my people swarming all over that Cha’lav ship you brought us as a gift.'

Astar couldn't hide her lack of interest. 'Where is Rashal now?'

'He is being debriefed at the moment.’

‘Trying to learn about his people or the Cha’lav?’

‘Both, actually, but the Cha’lav threat is clearly apparent now. Starfleet Tactical want this kept as quiet as possible. On a lighter note, your field commission for Sheena Gonzales has been approved by the powers that be.’

‘Gonzales will be glad to know that.’

‘How long before the Pytheas can leave?’

‘A few hours, immediately if necessary. Is there something you want us to do?’

‘As you know, the Weisskopf was diverted to the Ynelav system after the Resoto system and left a few personnel on board asteroid DN-646. Our long-range sensors picked up a number of small vessels fleeing and then a massive antimatter explosion a few hours ago. We’ve not been able to contact any of the vessels or the Starfleet personnel which were left behind. I’d like you to head over there and find out what happened to them.’

‘I’ll recall my people, Commander.’

‘Thank you, Captain, dismissed.’

Astar exited Logan’s office and tapped her combadge, calling her executive officer.

‘Captain?’

‘Recall the crew from shore leave, we have a new assignment.’

‘Already?’

‘Yes, Commander, already. Recall the crew and set a course for asteroid DN-646. I expect to leave within the hour.’

‘Aye sir, I’ll recall the crew immediately.’

‘Good, Astar out.’

By the time she reached the bridge, Wright was standing by her chair with a small smile on his face. ‘The crew are all aboard.’

‘Clear us with Ops, Ensign. Engage at maximum warp as soon as we clear the starbase.’

‘Aye sir,’ Larson replied as the starship disengaged from the starbase.

'Ops has cleared us, Captain Logan is hailing.'

'On screen.'

'Good luck, Captain.'

‘I’ll be back with the Weisskopf’s officers as soon as I can be.’

‘Of that I have no doubt, Logan out.’

The Pytheas would be back and Astar knew that she would be returning the Eeroth to his homeworld eventually, though hopefully it would be sooner rather than later since the Cha’lav were known to be in the area.

 

[BrotherBenny]

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Mining freighter
The Kursican sector
Stardate 55279.9 (April 13, 2378)

Murdoch returned to the pilot’s seat, relieving Marshall from the tedium of sitting in the pilot's chair as the ship travelled on autopilot. He saw that the shields had been reconstituted and what weapons he did have were able to be used, but the impulse engines were still offline. They’d been travelling at low warp for about twenty hours and sensors had picked up no sign of any Federation ship other than the convoy of shuttles, runabouts and freighters.

‘You’re worried, aren’t you?’ Marshall asked from the seat behind him.

‘Aren’t you?’ he replied.

‘Of course, but I’m trying not to let it show. We made it and we’re heading home. You shouldn’t be too worried.’

‘I’m worried and I can’t tell you why. Something just doesn’t feel right.’

Marshall smiled grimly. ‘You should trust your instincts. You know what happened last time you ignored them.’

He nodded and his features hardened. ‘Have every vessel with weapons form a diamond around the others with me at its head. We’re about to be attacked.’

‘How do you…?’

‘Just make the formation.’

Marshall nodded and seconds later the proximity klaxon sounded. ‘Two Resoto ships are coming out of warp, weapons hot.’

‘Hail them, tell them we’re mining refugees,’ Murdoch sighed. 'I hate being right.'

Marshall did as he was asked, but after several seconds reported, ‘no response.’

‘Raise shields and ready phasers.’

‘They won’t do much damage.’

‘Not alone, no, but the runabouts have fairly good phasers and hopefully a couple of microtorpedoes. Send a distress call on all Federation frequencies.’

‘They’re firing,’ Marshall called out as the freighter bucked like an angry donkey.

‘Return fire.’

Marshall nodded and targeted the lead Resoto vessel’s weapons emplacements. His shots were well placed, thanks to his advanced tactical training for his life in Intelligence work, because the Resoto's shield envelope collapsed. Two of the runabouts broke formation and fired their more powerful phasers. One of the Resoto vessel’s nacelles exploded and the ship veered off, leaving just one for the convoy to deal with.

‘Nice coordination,’ Murdoch muttered.

The lone Resoto vessel dived toward the break in the upper quadrant of the diamond but two microtorpedoes blew its engines off.

‘I wonder why the Resoto are attacking us,’ Marshall muttered.

‘Perhaps we’ll find out when we return to the Starbase, but I’ll bet it has something to do with their homeworld being wiped out. They no longer have an infrastructure,’ Murdoch said. ‘How are we doing with those impulse engines?’

‘They're a lost cause,’ Marshall replied. ‘The shockwave damaged them beyond what repairs I would have been able to make.’

‘Al right then, we’ll have to hope that a starship comes along to help us then, won’t we?’ Murdoch sighed.

The proximity alarm sounded and Marshall’s eyes snapped toward the small screen. ‘A vessel is slowing to match speed with us. The sensors identify it as…Starfleet, it's the USS Pytheas.’

‘Thank god for that.’

‘This is Captain Astar of the Federation starship Pytheas, do you require assistance?’

‘This is Lieutenant Commander Miles Murdoch and Lieutenant Paul Marshall of Starfleet Intelligence. Our impulse engines are damaged and I have a lot of frightened and hungry people here.’

‘We all survived the destruction of the asteroid.’

‘I’m glad to hear it, and I know Captain Logan will be as well. If you’d like to beam over, we’ll get you settled in to more comfortable accommodations until we reach Starbase 535.’

Marshall looked over at Murdoch who just returned his gaze, his face unreadable. ‘Thank you, Captain. If you could begin transporting the miners and scientists, I'll slow to warp one. I will remain here for the time being.’

‘Understood, Astar out.’

‘You could have gone to the Pytheas; it’s a lot more comfortable over there than it is here.’

Marshall smiled. ‘I will, once everyone is safe. Then the Pytheas can take us in tow to the starbase where the engineers can make rudimentary repairs.’

‘All right, I'll get everyone prepped for transport,’ Marshall replied and headed aft.

Murdoch slowed to warp one and watched the Intrepid-class starship do the same. He hated to leave the freighter in a tractor beam, but after their flight from the asteroid field and the stresses of even low warp on the old space frame, he doubted it would be comfortable flying back to Earth. Starbase 535 had engineers capable of replacing the impulse engines and rebuilding the structural integrity field—which was going to take a heavy beating as the freighter slowed from warp one to thrusters when they reached Kursica.

‘Marshall to Murdoch, we ready to begin transport.’

‘Murdoch to Pytheas.’

‘Go ahead.’

‘We're ready to begin transport.’

‘Acknowledged, transport in progress.’

Marshall returned to the cockpit almost five minutes later. ‘We're the last.’

Murdoch took a last look around the freighter. 'She'll do, once she's been spruced up a little.'

'Are you going to name her?'

Murdoch grinned. 'When I see what she looks like, a name will come to me.'

Marshall nodded. 'Just like always.'

'Murdoch to Pytheas, two to beam up.'

As they materialised on board the starship, they saw Captain Astar and she didn't look happy.

'Captain?'

'Lieutenant Marshall, next time I'd like to know when you're going to just pop up, though I am gratified to see you safe. Can you tell me what happened?'

'I wish we knew, sir,' Marshall replied. 'Whatever caused it, our tricorders and sensors couldn't detect it.'

'Do you have the scans you took?'

Marshall held up his tricorder. 'Right here.'

'We'll see if we can get anything more out of it. Right now, I think you two need a shower and I suppose you'll want something to eat.'

'Thank you, Captain.'

'Dismissed.'

 

[BrotherBenny]

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Secure Prison Facility
Ynelav IV
Stardate 55280.8 (April 13, 2378)

Commander Dhrex walked behind Regent Dolan as they traversed the narrow corridors of the ageing prison facility. The cells they had already passed were thankfully empty but the skeletons and stench of death was plain. It did not make him think these people worthy of membership but he would hold his judgement for now. He was just here to make a preliminary report for the Federation Council. They would decide whether to assign a team of diplomats or a Starfleet representative to assist these people in preparing for membership. They passed through a stone arch and then three heavily armed guards before stopping outside another cell. This one was cleaner than the others, and smelled less, but it was still a medieval cell, even by his people’s standards.

‘Here he is, Commander, the terrorist.’

Dhrex sighed. The man was a cleric who refused to break his vows, and for this he had been imprisoned. ‘He is a cleric, is he not?’

‘He is a terrorist. By refusing to reveal the identities of enemy combatants, he becomes one of them under our legal system.’

‘Regent, if you want to seriously consider becoming a member of the Federation, this legal system will have to change. All Federation citizens have the right to freedom of speech and expression and the right not to be incarcerated for their beliefs. By imprisoning this man for not breaking his religious vows, you are making it difficult for me to recommend this world for membership.’

‘When will you submit your report?’

‘I have been given three of my months in order to gather information for my report. If by that time I do not see that your people are ready—or on their way to being ready—for membership, then that will go into my report. Do not look so crestfallen, there have been instances, recently in fact, where a world has been given a second chance.’

‘I see,’ Dolan replied. ‘My problem is that I have not had to deal with anything like this as a scientist. I am not equipped to deal with such things.’

‘That is why you surround yourself with experts on such matters, so that they might guide you into making the correct decision. You will make mistakes, everybody does, but you must make sure that yours are small. Big mistakes will be remembered forever.’

‘Being a leader is hard,’ Dolan muttered.

‘You have the strength of character, just try to believe in yourself.’

Dolan nodded and turned to the cleric. ‘Adept, will you reveal the identities of those who commit acts of aggression against us?’

‘I cannot, Regent. Perhaps when you find the Seer, he will be able to help you.’

Dolan nodded and called for the guards. ‘Release him and return him to the Yotanu Shrine.'

Dhrex smiled. 'Thank you, Regent.'

The new leader turned to the guards. 'He is under house arrest and not to leave without my express permission.’

‘Yes, Regent.’

‘Come, Commander, let me show you the Central Library. From here you and your crew can learn all of our history and see how far we have come.’

And how far you have yet to go, Dhrex thought privately. He could see the problems that Dolan would face in the short term, terrorism was always a sore subject, but the civil war which was looming over the religious divide would cause severe issues for membership. He remembered what had happened on Bajor some years ago when a terrorist coup had seized control of the government, and Deep Space Nine, and ordered Starfleet to leave. The solution to that was somewhat unorthodox and only the revelation of Cardassian intervention in the terrorist group stopped the coup in its tracks.

‘I would be delighted, Regent. I have always held a fascination for libraries, places where the records of an entire civilisation can be stored.’

‘Unfortunately, most of our records in the early times were held by the clerics, and a number of those shrines have been destroyed over the centuries, often through war or sabotage. Many of the clerics now have been translating the old scrolls and we place those electronic translations in the libraries for the people to read.’

‘Are the translations accurate?’ Dhrex asked, getting the uncomfortable feeling that religious expression was a major stumbling block.

‘As accurate as our interpretations can be,’ Dolan replied. ‘Why do you ask?’

‘Do all the scrolls follow the same sect?’

Dolan shook his head. ‘No, the Seer Scrolls are written in a much older language and few of the clerics can translate them. Even the Adept can only translate the newest Seer Scrolls and they are about ten thousand years old.’

‘I see. The Adept believes that the Seer is returning and will herald a new era for your people?’

‘Something like that,’ Dolan replied distantly.

Dhrex had hit a sore point. ‘Regent, I’m feeling a little tired. Would you mind if we did the tour of the library tomorrow?’

‘Not at all, Commander. Have a pleasant evening.’

‘I will, thank you.’

Dhrex beamed back up to the Weisskopf and prepared an initial report. It would be filed as an addendum to the preliminary report and often carried much weight in the Federation Council, especially with certain Councillors. The only problem he foresaw if the Ynelavii even got a hearing in the Chamber would be President Satie. She was currently advocating a stronger core world presence, and less exploration at least in the short time, until Starfleet had replenished itself in the wake of the war. Many in Starfleet were unhappy with this, from the lowliest crewman to the Commander-in-Chief himself, but everyone followed orders.

He only hoped that when she received the next report of Cha'lav activity, she would immediately agree with the C-in-C's recommendation to send ships out to gather new allies. This was going to be a long fight, whether diplomacy was successful or not.

 

[BrotherBenny]

Chapter Thirty

Office of Starfleet Tactical
San Francisco, Earth
Stardate 55286.2 (April 15, 2378)

The polarised transparent aluminium prevented the full glare of the San Francisco sun from blinding Admiral Andrew Ranar when he entered his thirty-ninth floor office. A steaming mug of coffee was sitting on his desk waiting for him and he inhaled its aroma as he sorted through the subspace messages that awaited him. Reading through them took most of the first two hours of his day and he then looked toward the crises that were brewing or in full swing across the galaxy. There wasn't much and he was grateful for it, since he had enough trouble with the main crisis in the Kursican sector.

Something out there had piqued Chancellor Martok's interest so he felt the need to send one of his largest battle cruisers into the area to make sure Klingon interests were served, whatever they would be. The rogue Romulan Subcommander had been officially denounced by Praetor Hiren and the tensions in that sector threatened to rival those of the Romulans who had once again retreated into their own territory, though they were allowing diplomatic relations to continue, for now. Ranar frowned at the reflected image of his greying hair and then called up the day’s meetings. It was a light schedule, all things considered, and he decided to make his protégé squirm a little.

Commander Madden’s visage appeared on his screen in just a few moments, but the human really didn’t look happy. ‘Did I catch you at a bad time, Martin?’

‘No sir, I was meditating.’

‘I haven’t had a report from two days, what's the situation out there?’

Madden sighed. ‘Commander Dhrex is having doubts about the viability of the Ynelavii as members, something about their behaviour toward religious differences and Captain Astar is prowling around like a caged animal waiting for Captain Logan to give her the all clear so she can get back into space.’

‘Surely he’s finished debriefing the Eerothian by now.’

‘Yes sir, he has, but he’s not sure he wants the Pytheas to take Rashal back to his homeworld.’

‘What possible reason could he have?’

‘He believes that Captain Astar will aggravate the situation with the Cha’lav since Rashal believes they may still be around.’

‘What is your take on the situation?’

Madden thought for a moment. ‘I think Captain Astar is the right person. She’s dealt with the Cha’lav more than anyone else in this sector and has Lieutenant Parker on board.’

‘What about the other problems out there?’

‘Captain Logan has provided very little information on Subcommander Sokal’s reasons for being there and the Klingon ship IKS Ditagh arrived yesterday, under the command of Captain Vikagh. So far the two have not intersected or spoken with each other.’

Ranar fell silent as he digested the information and made a mental note to find out whatever he could on Vikagh and his ship. ‘How is Captain Drummond?’

Madden lowered his head for a moment. ‘He’s still fighting and the drugs that Parker suggested have helped, but the alien consciousness is winning the war.’

‘Do you know how long he has and what will happen when the battle is done?’

‘According to Parker, once the alien consciousness takes complete control of Captain Drummond, it will use whatever information he has to spread misinformation and cause disruption to the people that Drummond knew best. As for how long he has, no one can say.’

Ranar knew at that moment what his decision was going to be and regretted its necessity, but Starfleet and the Federation could not allow another foothold situation to occur. ‘If it looks like he's losing, I want you to pull the plug, Martin, and make it look like an accident. If he’s going to lose, I don’t want whatever is taking control to do so completely.’

‘Are you sure, Admiral, we might be able to talk with the consciousness and find out what the Cha’lav really want.’

‘I would like nothing better, but we can’t take the risk. You have your orders.’

‘Aye sir. Can I make a request?’

‘Of course.’

‘Captain Logan doesn’t know how long the Pytheas will be if he does allow Captain Astar to return Rashal to his homeworld. He’d like another starship.’

Ranar smiled. ‘He’s lucky he’s got the two he does. I’ll speak with Starfleet Operations and see if they can spare another vessel, but we’re still spread fairly thin. Command would prefer to keep the majority of vessels that we do have close to Federation member worlds just in case.’

‘I understand that, Admiral, but I am only passing on a message.’

‘I’ll see what I can do, Commander. Is there anything else I need to know about the situation out there?’

'As a matter of fact, there is, sir. Lieutenant Marshall and Lieutenant Commander Murdoch are both working the Cha'lav investigation for Admiral Nechayev. What does she have invested in this sector?'

'I have no idea, Commander. Nechayev works to her own agenda and shares what she wants to share. She has enough pull with the C-in-C so that no one bothers her and she's working on a few important projects at the moment which are classified even higher than mine is.'

Madden nodded. 'Aye sir.'

'Remember your orders, Ranar out.'

His door opened as the screen blanked and Nechayev walked in. 'Did I hear my name mentioned?'

Ranar sighed. 'Why do you have two operatives in the Kursican sector?'

'It has nothing to do with Operation Cobalt, though they can help out if necessary.'

'Then why are they out there?'

'You know I can't tell you that.'

'Alynna, we've been friends a long time. I don't need to know the details, just the basics.'

'There's a Section Thirty-One operative out there and I want him found and debriefed before he can reach his handler. If he catches wind of Operation Cobalt, we're all in trouble.'

'Because Thirty-One would take it upon themselves to get rid of the Cha'lav whatever it takes.'

'Exactly.'

'We could use Cobalt as bait,' Ranar suggested.'

'I thought of it, which is why I'm here.'

 

[BrotherBenny]

Epilogue

Cha'lav vessel
Somewhere in the Kursican sector
Stardate 55300.4 (April 20, 2378)

The Andorian woman watched from the comfort of her ship as the other Cha'lav vessels destroyed the orbiting weapons platforms and the pathetic little ships sent against them by the population below. She marked another race off the list on her padd as the Cha'lav bombarded the planet with deadly radiation and weaponry. Nothing would ever be able to live there again. The Cha'lav-Marsupial serving as her slave brought her another report on the progress of the invasion in this galaxy and the last communique from the Conclave. Her assistance had been invaluable, even with Parker preventing the majority of the races in this sector from being eliminated. The Cha'lav had plenty more strings in their bow, and they had already began the next phase of their assault.

Even now, a fleet of forty warships was laying waste to the homeworld of this galaxy's worst enemy, setting in motion a series of events that would leave the Federation and their allies spread too thin to combat the Cha'lav invasion fleet when it arrived. An aquatic called for her attention.

'Yes?' she asked.

‘You wanted to be apprised when the Ocampa vessel surfaced,’ the alien replied in it's lyrical voice, decoded through the combadge pinned to the Andorian's chest.

‘Where is it?’

‘I've detected the signal in an area approximately eleven light years from our present position. There is too much interference in the region to localise the signal more thoroughly.’

‘Use one of the local races to find what we need. It shouldn't take more than a week or so.’

‘Can you afford to wait that long, Mistress?’

‘I have waited for ten years, another week will not make much difference.’

‘As you command.’

‘Has the local population been killed yet?’

‘They are proving more resilient to the radiation than estimates predicted.’

‘Excellent, send ground troops to round them up. They'll make excellent slaves and cannon fodder once they have been trained.’

‘The training site has not yet been selected.’

The Andorian growled low in her throat. ‘I gave you over a hundred sites to choose from. What is the delay?’

‘Your information is outdated,’ the aquatic answered. 'Many of those planets are still in territory controlled by other races.'

'Find the one best suited to the reptilians and take it by force.'

'As you command.'

'Once the aliens have been collected, split the fleet up. I want the training ground set up as soon as possible. The creatures from the Triangle must be harvested quickly, so we'll need the medical ships assigned there. The remainder of the fleet should rendezvous in the Delta Quadrant. We have much work to do.’

‘We do not have enough remaining vessels.’

‘Very well, we will rendezvous with the main fleet in the Delta Quadrant. Split the remaining ships as you see fit. Do not fail me.'

‘Of course, Mistress. It will be done.’

The aquatic swam off to make the necessary preparations and Andraprani zh'Malashan was left with her thoughts. She wished that she hadn't had to follow this course of events but could not live with herself knowing that so many trillions of people had died over the course of the war. At least this way she was able to make sure that the Cha'lav were successful with minimal loss of life. They controlled too vast an area, with too many vessels for one galaxy alone to stop them from conquest.

Smaller fleets were even now attempting to conquer the Milky Way's satellite galaxies, and from all reports were being quite successful in that endeavour. It was only this galaxy that had caused so much trouble. Her defection was purely for the numbers, allowing the war to be over before too many were killed. Once the war began, the warrior races would be the first to go, which was why her people had suffered so much at the hands of the Cha'lav. The only reason they had accepted her in this time, was because she could give them what they wanted. When her usefulness was at an end, they would kill or enslave her, and she was not going to let that happen without a fight.

'Mistress,' the marsupial wheezed, 'there is someone to see you.'

She smiled. 'Send him in.'

A Cha'lav-Reptilian entered the command centre and paused a respectful five steps from the massive command dais upon which zh'Malashan sat. 'I have the report you asked for, Mistress.'

‘Excellent, what have you found out.’

‘Starfleet has been aware of the Cha'lav since the middle of the twenty-second century. Admiral Dexx set in motion a series of events which are still being felt today.’

She narrowed her eyes. ‘Elaborate.’

‘A design feature lacking in starships in your thirtieth century was a subspace field modulator for the deflector dish. It has been in every Starfleet vessel in this timeline for the express purpose of opening a rift into the Voidspace.’

‘How did he get away with that?’

‘I’m not sure,’ the reptilian replied sourly. 'That information was not available.'

'You've done far better than I expected. Thank you,' she replied and shot him in the chest. 'Unfortunately, no one else can know that information.'

It seemed as though Dexx had been planning something since before he jumped back in time to stop her, or the war. The Voidspace was only used by the Cha'lav for the long journey between galaxies, and the only possible reason he had for including it in the design of all Starfleet vessels was for an eventual fleet to be formed to make an assault on the Cha'lav homeworld, or the Conclave. She would have to report this to them. She knew they would read it and then file it away, secure in their own superiority that no one could defeat them.

If she knew one thing about Starfleet and the Federation, it was the fact that they never gave up, and had an uncanny knack of getting out of tight spots with surprising regularity.


End


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Pytheas 1x03, The All Consuming Fire, will follow shortly. In this thread.