TFV - Operation Vanguard (Chapter 5 continued)
Sandhurst was unfortunately all too familiar with the expression on Taiee’s face when she finally looked up from the clamshell examination bed in which Petty Officer Carnegie was contained. Taiee conferred briefly with the LMH and Doctor Multorlo before stepping through the medical sterilization field into the antechamber where she removed her HazMat environment suit. Finally, she stepped out of the bio-hazard airlock and into the main ward of Sickbay to make her report.
“They’re both deceased, Captain, and we have absolutely no idea why or how.”
The deluge of questions Sandhurst had been on the cusp of asking died in his throat.
“There’s no sign of physical trauma, toxins, pathogens, radiation exposure, asphyxiation, cellular disruption, or anything else that could explain what happened. By all rights they should be up and walking around. It’s like someone threw a switch and simply turned them off.”
Sandhurst’s jaw clenched tightly in an unconscious display of his mounting anger. “Understood, Doc. Keep at it, I want answers.”
“Aye, sir.”
He turned and strode into the corridor, finding T’Ser standing on the other side of the doors. “Pell and I have requested a meeting with DuaNam here on the ship,” the XO announced as she fell into step beside him. “He’ll be transporting aboard in a few moments.”
“I want a Marine detachment in full combat gear to escort their representative to the briefing room,” Sandhurst fairly growled.
“Is that wise, sir? We don’t know for certain that the Habertaem or their allies know anything about this. If we’re too heavy handed, we risk damaging the goodwill we’ve already established.”
“Something in their own front yard just killed two of our people, and I find it impossible to believe that with all these other craft out here trolling through this debris field something like this hasn’t happened before.” He shot T’Ser a hard look that brooked no argument as he stepped through the parting doors of a turbolift car. “Devil Dogs in full battle-rattle, Exec. Make it happen.”
T’Ser bobbed her head curtly as the doors hissed close on her captain. “Right away, sir.”
*****
“Is this show of force really necessary, Captain Sandhurst?” DuaNam asked testily as he settled into the body-sling that had been provided for him in lieu of a chair at the conference table. Two Marine sentries flanked the doorway at either end of the compartment, clad in bulky armored vests, helmets, leggings, and clutching sturdy pulse-phaser carbines that glistened darkly with implied lethality.
“You tell me, Chief Secretary,” Sandhurst answered frostily. “I have two dead crewmen below decks and no rational explanation for what happened to them. I suspect you might have neglected to tell us of some hidden dangers in the vicinity of your station. Is that the case?”
“We have arrangements with other species in this region, Captain,” DuaNam allowed guardedly. “I was unaware that they had any of their ordinance remaining in our system, or I would have cautioned you during your approach to the station.”
“Arrangements with whom?” T’Ser pressed from where she sat next to Sandhurst. Pell Ojana and Counselor Liu also sat at the table, observing the exchange silently as they each assessed the interactions through their own professional prisms.
“Their name is not important, and to be perfectly candid, knowing who they are would be more dangerous to you than not knowing,” DuaNam replied evenly.
“What… killed… my… people?” Sandhurst inquired with exaggerated slowness to underscore the seriousness of his point.
DuaNam clicked and squeaked animatedly as his dark, watery eyes blinked languidly in the subdued light of the observation lounge. The Universal Translator obediently relayed, “I regret that I’m not presently at liberty to discuss the mechanism employed.”
“Do you even know the specifics of that mechanism, or are you as ignorant of it as you are your station’s own defensive systems?” Pell asked pointedly.
That query appeared to bring DuaNam up short. The Habertaem paused, his facial expression appearing even more tormented than usual, if that were possible. “You are correct,” he said finally. “We do not have control over our own weapons emplacements. That responsibility has been assumed by others.”
Sandhurst’s frown deepened, his face becoming a resolute mask of indignation. “When we asked permission to approach your station, we were assured there were no active hostilities in the system, or any immediate dangers to the safety of this ship and its crew.”
“You mean the station surrounded by a cloud of debris from an obliterated battle fleet?” The UT did an admirable job of conveying the tenor of DuaNam’s incredulity. “Our assurances were that there was no one presently shooting. That remains the case.”
“Semantics aside, are we in danger now?” T’Ser asked coolly.
DuaNam’s ghoulish head turned toward the Vulcan officer. “It’s a strong possibility. The beings likely responsible for the deaths of your crew use In’Drahn station as bait to attract approaching refugee fleets. They are not typically attracted to single vessels, and peaceful species are of particularly little interest to them.” His head rotated to examine Sandhurst. “However, now you may have triggered one of their devices. I do not know what, if any, response may be forthcoming.”
“You didn’t feel it necessary to share any of this information with us?” Sandhurst asked tersely.
“And you’ve been completely upfront and transparent with us, Captain?” DuaNam shot back.
Pell inquired, “How have we not been?”
“The alien craft at the edge of our system that is hiding behind an invisibility screen, for instance,” DuaNam offered. “Is it a threat to us? Your ship seems to be inordinately interested in its presence.”
Any possibility of maintaining plausible deniability evaporated with Counselor Liu’s coughing fit as he choked on the tea he was drinking. Sandhurst cast a displeased glance in Liu’s direction before setting his gaze back upon DuaNam’s disturbing visage.
“Though we do not maintain control of In’Drahn’s weapons, the Husnock’s excellent sensor systems are another matter entirely,” DuaNam revealed with just a hint of pleasure.
“They are Romulans,” Sandhurst admitted. “They are ostensibly our allies, but we do not know how they will react to the threat of the oncoming refugee fleets. We believe their interest is with us and our activities at present, not with you or your station.”
“But you cannot guarantee our safety from these Romulans?” DuaNam pressed.
“No, we can’t,” Sandhurst conceded.
“So you see, Captain, we have both kept secrets from one another that we judged to be of lesser importance than the relationship we were establishing.”
Sandhurst shifted uneasily in his chair. “So it would seem,” he answered.
DuaNam continued, “The question now would seem to be in what form does that relationship continue? Despite this tragedy, I believe it would benefit us both to move forward with our association.”
“You said we could be in danger if we remain here,” T’Ser pointed out.
“I believe it would be in your best interest to leave our system for a time, to ensure that our ‘allies’ do not come to investigate the activation of their device. Once we can safely say no such visit is likely, you could return.”
Sandhurst sat in silence for a long moment, mulling all that he’d heard. Finally, he addressed DuaNam. “Chief Secretary, I also believe that we’ve built a solid foundation for ongoing relations between our peoples. However, I must insist you tell us everything you know about this race in the event that we or our other starships encounter them on this mission.”
DuaNam’s legs wriggled in unison, conveying his evident discomfort. “Your request is a reasonable one, Captain. Please understand that I am violating the Habertaem’s agreement with them by revealing this information, but I firmly believe that relations with your Federation will prove more beneficial to my people in the long run than will our continued association with the people we have come to know as our ‘benefactors.’”
Sandhurst nodded silently, prompting DuaNam to continue.
“They are called the Amon, and they are a predatory warrior species that we first encountered during the struggles that followed the annihilation of the Husnock. The Amon are drawn to violence, and the battles that raged between the former Husnock slave species drew them to us across vast distances. We had no effective control over the Husnock weapons aboard the station, and the Amon deduced how they might be controlled to their advantage.
“Since then they’ve used In’Drahn as bait, to draw in both the other militarized slave species in possession of Husnock weapons, as well as the refugee fleets that are now transiting our local sectors.”
“You said they are drawn to violence,” Pell recounted. “So, the Amon are scavengers who consume what? Technology left over from these battles?”
“They have no need of technology, aside from the ships they occasionally appropriate from their victims,” DuaNam explained. “Though there is much we do not understand about the Amon, we have come to believe, as unlikely as it sounds, that they feed upon death itself.”
The Starfleeters at the table shared a flurry of skeptical looks before pressing further.
“Uh,” Sandhurst uttered as he scratched at the side of his head, “that’s going to require some elaboration.”
“Their entire society is geared around the acquisition of an energy source that the Amon insist is released at the moment of death by sentient life forms.”
T’Ser looked nonplussed. “That sounds like they’re feeding you misinformation, Chief Secretary.”
“We considered that,” DuaNam replied, “but unless their entire culture is based on some ridiculously elaborate hoax, they appear to hold that concept as sacrosanct. It bears saying that they are unlike any species we have encountered, almost child-like in their outlook and beliefs, and without any concern for the larger happenings in the greater galactic community aside from such events as they can exploit to sustain themselves. They are without doubt the most formidable warriors we have met. Had they waged war on the Husnock in their prime, they may well have defeated them.”
”You say they acquire vessels from other species,” Pell summarized. “How will we know them when we first encounter them?”
“There is no mistaking them,” DuaNam answered cryptically. “Few species ever set eyes upon the Amon, and most that do never live to speak of the experience.”
“Then how do you explain their relationship with you?” Counselor Liu asked.
“They appear to have taken pity upon us,” DuaNam said, “though for what reason we cannot fathom.” The chief secretary of the Habertaem looked to Sandhurst. “Captain, I have answered your questions to the best of my ability. I do not wish to see your people placed in further jeopardy, and I ask that you depart this system until such time as we can be assured that no Amon reconnaissance element has been dispatched to investigate the activation of their device.”
“Very well,” Sandhurst said, rising from his seat. “Thank you for your candid responses, Chief Secretary. I hope to return to resume our diplomatic relationship when the situation is less… complicated.”
“We eagerly await such a resumption of relations, Captain Sandhurst.”
*****
A half hour later, all of Europa’s crew had reported to departure stations and the ship had maneuvered clear of the debris zone surrounding In’Drahn station.
Sandhurst keyed the comms to engineering on his armrest. “Mister Ashok, I think it’s time we put this girl through her paces. Would you concur?”
“Yes, sir,” Ashok replied with uncharacteristic enthusiasm in his voice. “I’ll be standing by to further calibrate the injector sequencing as we progress up the warp scale, Captain.”
“Very well, bridge out.”
Sandhurst cast a glance over at T’Ser in the XO’s seat. “Despite the unfortunate circumstances, I think this may well prove a good first step into the Delta Quadrant, Exec.”
T’Ser appeared unconvinced. “Perhaps, sir, but will every step we take be as treacherous and uncertain as this one?”
“Only time will tell,” Sandhurst allowed.
“Captain,” Pell spoke from the mission specialist’s seat on Sandhurst’s other side. “What about the Romulans? We’re only assuming that they’re following us. If they remain behind and these Amon make an appearance, things could get very ugly for them very quickly.”
There was twenty seconds of silence as Sandhurst pondered that possibility. He frowned as though tasting something unsavory as he announced, “Ops, open a channel to the Romulan vessel, tight-beam subspace.”
Juneau looked startled, but followed the order promptly nonetheless. “Aye. Channel open, sir.”
“Romulan vessel, we are departing the system due to the possible arrival of a reportedly hostile force. Be advised that we have encountered some manner of cloaked device in the debris field near the station that resulted in the deaths of two of our crew, so utilize caution if you’re planning on exploring the waste zone. If we’ve proven more interesting than the locals, our next destination is the star system DS-72948, bearing zero-two-zero, mark three-zero-eight. If you elect to follow us, we will be seeing you there. On behalf of your friends in Starfleet, have a nice day.”
In response to T’Ser’s dumbfounded look, Sandhurst merely said, “Well, technically, they are our allies.” He glanced at Pell with a mischevious smirk. "I hope you're happy. Admiral Jellico's going to have my ass for hors d'oeuvres."
Before she could formulate a response, he directed his next order to the flight control station. “Mister Lightner, engage at Warp 2 and stand ready for engine-calibration acceleration curve.”
*****
Sandhurst was unfortunately all too familiar with the expression on Taiee’s face when she finally looked up from the clamshell examination bed in which Petty Officer Carnegie was contained. Taiee conferred briefly with the LMH and Doctor Multorlo before stepping through the medical sterilization field into the antechamber where she removed her HazMat environment suit. Finally, she stepped out of the bio-hazard airlock and into the main ward of Sickbay to make her report.
“They’re both deceased, Captain, and we have absolutely no idea why or how.”
The deluge of questions Sandhurst had been on the cusp of asking died in his throat.
“There’s no sign of physical trauma, toxins, pathogens, radiation exposure, asphyxiation, cellular disruption, or anything else that could explain what happened. By all rights they should be up and walking around. It’s like someone threw a switch and simply turned them off.”
Sandhurst’s jaw clenched tightly in an unconscious display of his mounting anger. “Understood, Doc. Keep at it, I want answers.”
“Aye, sir.”
He turned and strode into the corridor, finding T’Ser standing on the other side of the doors. “Pell and I have requested a meeting with DuaNam here on the ship,” the XO announced as she fell into step beside him. “He’ll be transporting aboard in a few moments.”
“I want a Marine detachment in full combat gear to escort their representative to the briefing room,” Sandhurst fairly growled.
“Is that wise, sir? We don’t know for certain that the Habertaem or their allies know anything about this. If we’re too heavy handed, we risk damaging the goodwill we’ve already established.”
“Something in their own front yard just killed two of our people, and I find it impossible to believe that with all these other craft out here trolling through this debris field something like this hasn’t happened before.” He shot T’Ser a hard look that brooked no argument as he stepped through the parting doors of a turbolift car. “Devil Dogs in full battle-rattle, Exec. Make it happen.”
T’Ser bobbed her head curtly as the doors hissed close on her captain. “Right away, sir.”
*****
“Is this show of force really necessary, Captain Sandhurst?” DuaNam asked testily as he settled into the body-sling that had been provided for him in lieu of a chair at the conference table. Two Marine sentries flanked the doorway at either end of the compartment, clad in bulky armored vests, helmets, leggings, and clutching sturdy pulse-phaser carbines that glistened darkly with implied lethality.
“You tell me, Chief Secretary,” Sandhurst answered frostily. “I have two dead crewmen below decks and no rational explanation for what happened to them. I suspect you might have neglected to tell us of some hidden dangers in the vicinity of your station. Is that the case?”
“We have arrangements with other species in this region, Captain,” DuaNam allowed guardedly. “I was unaware that they had any of their ordinance remaining in our system, or I would have cautioned you during your approach to the station.”
“Arrangements with whom?” T’Ser pressed from where she sat next to Sandhurst. Pell Ojana and Counselor Liu also sat at the table, observing the exchange silently as they each assessed the interactions through their own professional prisms.
“Their name is not important, and to be perfectly candid, knowing who they are would be more dangerous to you than not knowing,” DuaNam replied evenly.
“What… killed… my… people?” Sandhurst inquired with exaggerated slowness to underscore the seriousness of his point.
DuaNam clicked and squeaked animatedly as his dark, watery eyes blinked languidly in the subdued light of the observation lounge. The Universal Translator obediently relayed, “I regret that I’m not presently at liberty to discuss the mechanism employed.”
“Do you even know the specifics of that mechanism, or are you as ignorant of it as you are your station’s own defensive systems?” Pell asked pointedly.
That query appeared to bring DuaNam up short. The Habertaem paused, his facial expression appearing even more tormented than usual, if that were possible. “You are correct,” he said finally. “We do not have control over our own weapons emplacements. That responsibility has been assumed by others.”
Sandhurst’s frown deepened, his face becoming a resolute mask of indignation. “When we asked permission to approach your station, we were assured there were no active hostilities in the system, or any immediate dangers to the safety of this ship and its crew.”
“You mean the station surrounded by a cloud of debris from an obliterated battle fleet?” The UT did an admirable job of conveying the tenor of DuaNam’s incredulity. “Our assurances were that there was no one presently shooting. That remains the case.”
“Semantics aside, are we in danger now?” T’Ser asked coolly.
DuaNam’s ghoulish head turned toward the Vulcan officer. “It’s a strong possibility. The beings likely responsible for the deaths of your crew use In’Drahn station as bait to attract approaching refugee fleets. They are not typically attracted to single vessels, and peaceful species are of particularly little interest to them.” His head rotated to examine Sandhurst. “However, now you may have triggered one of their devices. I do not know what, if any, response may be forthcoming.”
“You didn’t feel it necessary to share any of this information with us?” Sandhurst asked tersely.
“And you’ve been completely upfront and transparent with us, Captain?” DuaNam shot back.
Pell inquired, “How have we not been?”
“The alien craft at the edge of our system that is hiding behind an invisibility screen, for instance,” DuaNam offered. “Is it a threat to us? Your ship seems to be inordinately interested in its presence.”
Any possibility of maintaining plausible deniability evaporated with Counselor Liu’s coughing fit as he choked on the tea he was drinking. Sandhurst cast a displeased glance in Liu’s direction before setting his gaze back upon DuaNam’s disturbing visage.
“Though we do not maintain control of In’Drahn’s weapons, the Husnock’s excellent sensor systems are another matter entirely,” DuaNam revealed with just a hint of pleasure.
“They are Romulans,” Sandhurst admitted. “They are ostensibly our allies, but we do not know how they will react to the threat of the oncoming refugee fleets. We believe their interest is with us and our activities at present, not with you or your station.”
“But you cannot guarantee our safety from these Romulans?” DuaNam pressed.
“No, we can’t,” Sandhurst conceded.
“So you see, Captain, we have both kept secrets from one another that we judged to be of lesser importance than the relationship we were establishing.”
Sandhurst shifted uneasily in his chair. “So it would seem,” he answered.
DuaNam continued, “The question now would seem to be in what form does that relationship continue? Despite this tragedy, I believe it would benefit us both to move forward with our association.”
“You said we could be in danger if we remain here,” T’Ser pointed out.
“I believe it would be in your best interest to leave our system for a time, to ensure that our ‘allies’ do not come to investigate the activation of their device. Once we can safely say no such visit is likely, you could return.”
Sandhurst sat in silence for a long moment, mulling all that he’d heard. Finally, he addressed DuaNam. “Chief Secretary, I also believe that we’ve built a solid foundation for ongoing relations between our peoples. However, I must insist you tell us everything you know about this race in the event that we or our other starships encounter them on this mission.”
DuaNam’s legs wriggled in unison, conveying his evident discomfort. “Your request is a reasonable one, Captain. Please understand that I am violating the Habertaem’s agreement with them by revealing this information, but I firmly believe that relations with your Federation will prove more beneficial to my people in the long run than will our continued association with the people we have come to know as our ‘benefactors.’”
Sandhurst nodded silently, prompting DuaNam to continue.
“They are called the Amon, and they are a predatory warrior species that we first encountered during the struggles that followed the annihilation of the Husnock. The Amon are drawn to violence, and the battles that raged between the former Husnock slave species drew them to us across vast distances. We had no effective control over the Husnock weapons aboard the station, and the Amon deduced how they might be controlled to their advantage.
“Since then they’ve used In’Drahn as bait, to draw in both the other militarized slave species in possession of Husnock weapons, as well as the refugee fleets that are now transiting our local sectors.”
“You said they are drawn to violence,” Pell recounted. “So, the Amon are scavengers who consume what? Technology left over from these battles?”
“They have no need of technology, aside from the ships they occasionally appropriate from their victims,” DuaNam explained. “Though there is much we do not understand about the Amon, we have come to believe, as unlikely as it sounds, that they feed upon death itself.”
The Starfleeters at the table shared a flurry of skeptical looks before pressing further.
“Uh,” Sandhurst uttered as he scratched at the side of his head, “that’s going to require some elaboration.”
“Their entire society is geared around the acquisition of an energy source that the Amon insist is released at the moment of death by sentient life forms.”
T’Ser looked nonplussed. “That sounds like they’re feeding you misinformation, Chief Secretary.”
“We considered that,” DuaNam replied, “but unless their entire culture is based on some ridiculously elaborate hoax, they appear to hold that concept as sacrosanct. It bears saying that they are unlike any species we have encountered, almost child-like in their outlook and beliefs, and without any concern for the larger happenings in the greater galactic community aside from such events as they can exploit to sustain themselves. They are without doubt the most formidable warriors we have met. Had they waged war on the Husnock in their prime, they may well have defeated them.”
”You say they acquire vessels from other species,” Pell summarized. “How will we know them when we first encounter them?”
“There is no mistaking them,” DuaNam answered cryptically. “Few species ever set eyes upon the Amon, and most that do never live to speak of the experience.”
“Then how do you explain their relationship with you?” Counselor Liu asked.
“They appear to have taken pity upon us,” DuaNam said, “though for what reason we cannot fathom.” The chief secretary of the Habertaem looked to Sandhurst. “Captain, I have answered your questions to the best of my ability. I do not wish to see your people placed in further jeopardy, and I ask that you depart this system until such time as we can be assured that no Amon reconnaissance element has been dispatched to investigate the activation of their device.”
“Very well,” Sandhurst said, rising from his seat. “Thank you for your candid responses, Chief Secretary. I hope to return to resume our diplomatic relationship when the situation is less… complicated.”
“We eagerly await such a resumption of relations, Captain Sandhurst.”
*****
A half hour later, all of Europa’s crew had reported to departure stations and the ship had maneuvered clear of the debris zone surrounding In’Drahn station.
Sandhurst keyed the comms to engineering on his armrest. “Mister Ashok, I think it’s time we put this girl through her paces. Would you concur?”
“Yes, sir,” Ashok replied with uncharacteristic enthusiasm in his voice. “I’ll be standing by to further calibrate the injector sequencing as we progress up the warp scale, Captain.”
“Very well, bridge out.”
Sandhurst cast a glance over at T’Ser in the XO’s seat. “Despite the unfortunate circumstances, I think this may well prove a good first step into the Delta Quadrant, Exec.”
T’Ser appeared unconvinced. “Perhaps, sir, but will every step we take be as treacherous and uncertain as this one?”
“Only time will tell,” Sandhurst allowed.
“Captain,” Pell spoke from the mission specialist’s seat on Sandhurst’s other side. “What about the Romulans? We’re only assuming that they’re following us. If they remain behind and these Amon make an appearance, things could get very ugly for them very quickly.”
There was twenty seconds of silence as Sandhurst pondered that possibility. He frowned as though tasting something unsavory as he announced, “Ops, open a channel to the Romulan vessel, tight-beam subspace.”
Juneau looked startled, but followed the order promptly nonetheless. “Aye. Channel open, sir.”
“Romulan vessel, we are departing the system due to the possible arrival of a reportedly hostile force. Be advised that we have encountered some manner of cloaked device in the debris field near the station that resulted in the deaths of two of our crew, so utilize caution if you’re planning on exploring the waste zone. If we’ve proven more interesting than the locals, our next destination is the star system DS-72948, bearing zero-two-zero, mark three-zero-eight. If you elect to follow us, we will be seeing you there. On behalf of your friends in Starfleet, have a nice day.”
In response to T’Ser’s dumbfounded look, Sandhurst merely said, “Well, technically, they are our allies.” He glanced at Pell with a mischevious smirk. "I hope you're happy. Admiral Jellico's going to have my ass for hors d'oeuvres."
Before she could formulate a response, he directed his next order to the flight control station. “Mister Lightner, engage at Warp 2 and stand ready for engine-calibration acceleration curve.”
*****
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I like that message.
) go, before dismissing that concept, maybe Sandhurst and company should look up the Beta XII-A entity. That creature fed on fear and anger, so it's not that far off between that and being a death eater.
If there's one thing you don't need in a crisis (or really, ever) it's an evil Timelord. How did the Baron escape? Did I miss that or is that still a mystery for now?
