Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek or any of the characters.
This story is based on the request made by Just a Crazy-Man. Credit goes to Viper II - who's outline of a fascinating alternate timeline intrigued me. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to write this and for all of the ship and weapons assistance.
Author's Notes: Coda: TNG - Yesterday's Enterprise. The premise behind this alternate timeline is that the Enterprise-D, having been badly damaged in the ensuing battle with the Klingons, was not reverted back to the 'normal' timeline when the Enterprise-C went back through the spatial rift. In order to avoid annihilation, Picard takes the Enterprise-D through the spatial rift and ends up saving the Enterprise-C in the past. The advanced technology from the Enterprise-D accelerates many advancements for Starfleet and the Federation. The Klingons and Federation do not go to war, but actually sign a treaty.
Unfortunately, the Romulans started a war with the Klingons that eventually pulls in the Federation. Eventually, a peace treaty was signed by all parties, but relations with the Romulans were strained. One concession by the Romulans was that the Federation could now research and develop cloaking technology.
The Cardassians have decided to use this time of upheaval to invade Federation space and annex complete systems. Planets like Bajor, Minos Korva, and Setilk III, have fallen under Cardassian control. The Cardassians attack Starbase 375. When word of a massacre of citizens has occurred on Setilk III, the Federation declares war on the Cardassian Union. Fortunately, Starfleet has the newly formed Fleet Marine Force and Fleet Landing Force that are now trained and ready for ground warfare. Along with the help of the Klingon Defense Forces, under the direction of Mogh, the Federation is able to liberate Minos Korva. Life on the occupied planets under Cardassian rule is harsh, though the Maquis are gaining strength on the planets and wrecking havoc with the Cardassians' control. The Obsidian Order Agents have learned that Federation Marines were inserted on Setilk III by Klingon ships, and the Federation Marines are aiding the Maquis.
Unsung Heroes
Chapter 1
Seltilk III - The Yellow Rose tavern
The air of the tavern was of roses and alcohol. It wasn't a combination found in many places. The tavern owner, Lionel Hawks, and his family had travelled here from Texas on Earth years ago, and had brought enough of the roses to start a greenery - which was the other business the family owned. Lionel was also a member of the Resistance, and found the two businesses allowed him to meet with a wide clientele of people without drawing suspicion on him or his family.
Lionel poured the ale as he worked behind the counter and nodded to the man who ordered it.
Mathew Redmond looked around the tavern and smiled softly as the waitress brought over his ale. The young, dark haired woman looked nice enough, though you could see the fear on her face as she gazed at the Cardassian soldiers as they demanded that she come over and take their orders.
The Cardassian soldiers in occupied cities were known to take advantage of their power whenever they saw fit.
Redmond turned and focused his attention on his drink. It irked him that he just had to sit and watch, and not pummel the Cardassian soldiers. But then, that wouldn't help the situation any - it would just end up getting him arrested, or killed. He had a far more important mission at the moment.
He glanced up at the door as it opened quickly. He inwardly breathed a sigh of relief when his best friend of nearly twenty years finally arrived. He was over an hour late.
Jacob Walters plopped in the chair at the table and grinned widely as he popped his friend's shoulder. He saw the look on Mathew's face, "Were you worried?" he teased. Jacob's grin widened as Marta, his usual waitress came over quickly. They'd visited this establishment every night for the past week, and she'd become very helpful to him. "Marta, Marta, how are you this fine evening?" he gave her one of his rakish smiles.
Marta smiled and set his ale in front of him, "Almost thought you wouldn't show up tonight, your friend has been worried." she pointed out.
Jacob shrugged, "Mathew? He should know not to worry about me. Thank you, Marta." he raised his ale to her.
The woman laughed softly at his flirtations, then went to take care of another customer.
Mathew arched an eyebrow at his friend. Jacob was always the ladies' man, always knew what to say at just the right time. He shook himself and leaned closer to his friend, "Did you get the disk?"
Jacob nodded and reached into his jacket pocket, "It just took a bit more wooing than I expected." he shrugged and handed his friend the disk.
Mathew Redmond frowned, he really didn't want to know how his friend had acquired the plans of the Cardassian base just a few blocks away - as long as he got them. He quickly put the disk in his pocket. "Good, then we can get the hell out of here." he moved to get up and Jacob shook his head slowly.
Jacob casually glanced at the group of Cardassian soldiers a few tables over, "That one," he indicated the closest soldier, "is the Gul's trusted Glinn." he'd recognized the man from the intelligence the Maquis Resistance had shared with them a few days ago.
Mathew Redmond frowned, why hadn't he recognized the soldier? He looked at his best friend and smiled softly. The man always had a knack for remembering faces. "So, what are we expected to do?" Mathew and Jacob had been meeting with the Resistance since they'd arrived last week on their mission from Starfleet Intelligence. Damarus, the local Resistance leader, had asked for their help in gathering intelligence for them - since all of the known members of the Resistance had prices on their head. So, Captain Mathew Redmond and Commander Jacob Walters had been casually wandering the city and gathering information from the locals.
Jacob's grin widened, "D wants us to follow him, then they're going to grab him and question him. Supposedly, something big is about to happen. They're waiting down the block." he relayed to his friend.
Redmond nodded slowly. Perhaps they could get even more intelligence before they left this retched place. Starfleet Intelligence had been limping along in information on the Cardassians, they had effectively been caught with their pants down when the Cardassians had attacked Starbase 375 awhile back. That is why he and Jacob had been sent in, along with a slew of Federation Marines under the stealth of the Klingons' cloaked ship that did a drive by before continuing on its mission. The Marines had been transported down and Redmond and Walters had flown down in their small ship - which would be their only way of getting back to Federation space with their acquired Cardassian reconnaissance and intelligence. The Federation Marines were here to stay and reinforce the Resistance.
Redmond looked back at the Cardassian Glinn as he stood to leave and casually bantered with his fellow soldiers. He glanced at Walters as the man called Marta and quickly took care of their tab.
The two Starfleet Officers casually walked out of the tavern before the Lieutenant, then waited a few feet outside the door.
The Cardassian Glinn came out of the tavern as Jacob turned and laughed loudly at his friend.
"I'm not ready to turn in you stick in the mud! Let's go find another tavern that's a bit livelier, or why don't I just go back in and wait for Marta to get off work?" Jacob said loudly.
The Cardassian ignored the men and continued down the street to the base.
The soldier was quickly grabbed as he got to the edge of the building by the Resistance members that had laid in wait.
Redmond and Walters high tailed it and caught up as the Cardassian Glinn was knocked out and thrown into the back of a truck.
Damarus grinned at the two men and shook their hands, "Glad you could stay for awhile. Want to tag along?"
They jumped into the truck and it took off before anyone would note the missing Glinn.
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Redmond and Walters quickly jumped into their ship, the Rosetta, and started up the engines.
As Walters went through the start up procedures, Redmond turned on the system that would mask them as a Cardassian ship.
Captain Mathew Redmond was unsettled by the information they'd obtained from the Cardassian Glinn. The Cardassian Union was planning something big to boost the morale of its people. That was enough to put him on edge. But what disturbed him more was the last thing the Cardassian had said before he'd passed out.
The Glinn had explained that his Gul was upset because their regular shipment of torpedoes had been delayed, and it left them vulnerable to attacks by the Resistance and the Klingons, but that Cardassian Command had reassured them that everything would turn out okay.
Mathew Redmond had stood stoically in place and watched as the Cardassian had slumped over. Why would their usual shipment have been delayed by Cardassian Command?
Redmond and Walters had left immediately after that exchange.
Redmond looked up as Walters piloted the ship through the planet's atmosphere.
Jacob Walters glanced sideways at his best friend, "You think that Cardassian Command is re-routing the torpedo shipment for something else?" he questioned. He knew his friend was already considering the possibilities.
Mathew Redmond sighed softly. "I'm sure, but I don't know what they could be planning." He quickly looked at the reading on the consoles as they indicated approaching vessels. "We've got three Galor-class ships on our tails." he informed Jacob.
"I see them." his friend cursed as he changed their course and headed directly for Federation space. "We're not too far from Federation space, I'll red line her - you start calling for assistance. Won't do anyone any good if this intel doesn't get to Starfleet Intelligence." He started to accelerate the ship as he evaded the blasts aimed at their small ship.
The crackle of the communication system erupted in the small cabin, "Unidentified vessel, by order of the Cardassian Union, you are ordered to halt and prepare to be boarded." the voice stated firmly.
Captain Mathew Redmond clicked on the communication system, "To any Federation vessel in the vicinity, this is the USS Rosetta. We need immediate assistance. We have three Galor-class ships zeroing in on us. We are carrying Priority One intel. Repeat this is the USS Rosetta requesting immediate assistance from any Federation vessel in the vicinity." he stated calmly and he grabbed onto the console as Jacob did some kind of loop that made his stomach knot.
The ship bucketed as it was hit on the starboard side.
Redmond watched as one of the ships kept on their tail and the other two accelerated and flanked them, effectively caging them in. "Jacob!"
"I see what they're doing - let me do the damn driving!" his friend demanded as he dipped the nose and they plummeted under the vessels.
The maneuvers worked for a few minutes as he kept weaving the ship through the two vessels flanking them.
Evidently they figured out they needed to slow down and let the little ship get ahead of them, then they let loose with their weapons.
The Rosetta was flung through space as the console blew up and the engine went off line.
Mathew Redmond regained his senses as his world stopped spinning. He looked over at Jacob and gasped. He quickly unbuckled his belt and hurried to his friend. Jacob was badly burned and had pieces of the console protruding his chest. He quickly felt for a pulse on the withered flesh of his friend's throat and didn't find one. He whipped around as he heard the familiar transporter whirl behind him.
Two Cardassian soldiers aimed their weapons at him.
Mathew Redmond glanced at his fallen comrade that had managed to get him this far. He wasn't going to go down without a fight! He lunged at the Cardassian closest to him and knocked him to the deck. As they struggled for the weapon, and the other Cardassian soldier tried to get out of their way, the Rosetta shook.
The standing Cardassian's eyes widened as one of their ships blew up in front of them, the shockwave knocked him onto the floor in a heap with the other two men.
Mathew grabbed the weapon the Cardassian had lost his grip on and quickly pulled the trigger and shot both of the soldiers. He stood up quickly as the ship was bucketed again. He looked out the window and smiled as the Enterprise -C swooped in front of the Rosetta and kept it protected as four Excelsior-class ships came in laying down phaser fire on the other two Cardassian warships.
The communication system crackled, "USS Rosetta, this is Captain Jennifer Holland of the USS Enterprise. We are showing that the antimatter in your engines is becoming unstable, prepare to be transported."
Mathew Redmond touched his friend's shoulder. He wasn't going to leave him behind. All he could do was wait for the familiar feel of the transporter and hope that they'd be beamed out in time.
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