USS Enterprise NX-300
Captain's Log. Stardate 323.08
We've been at high warp for almost three days now and we're almost at the rendezvous with the fleet, although most of the fleet is capable of Warp 7, our faster ships… other then Enterprise are travelling at Warp 6 so the slower ships can keep up. Three hours ago, we received a message from Captain Walker, she had to dispatch three Starships led by the USS Venture to Outpost Four, they've come under heavy attack from a fleet of Romulan Warbirds, since Enterprise is only fifteen minutes away at Warp Eight, we've altered course to intercept.
On a more personal note, I received a message from home, my father has taken ill, and there is nothing I can do from here.
End Log Entry.
Cruising at Warp 8, the USS Enterprise made great time as it finally dropped out of warp as the three Federation Starships seemed to be engaged in combat with four vessels of unknown design, as they approached the battle zone, the shields and weapons on the large Starship activated as it closed on attacking ships.
"This is the Federation Starship Enterprise to enemy vessels; you have entered Federation space and are attacking Starfleet property. Withdraw immediately or we will be forced to open fire. This is your only warning" Archer said sternly into the open channel.
"I very much doubt they'll leave sir" Reed smiled.
"Worth a try, Mister Reed. Target the lead ship and disable its engines. Let's announce our true presence"
"With pleasure sir!"
Screaming towards the combat zone and under the expert hands of the Security officer, bolts of Phaser energy slammed into the shields of the lead enemy vessel as the remaining enemy vessels broke off there attacks on the smaller Federation ships and outpost and moved to intercept the large Prototype heavy cruiser. On the bridge of the lead Enemy ship, explosions tore through the consoles as the powerful new weapons from the large vessel continued a barrage against its shields weakening them with each shot. Stood at the Command Console, the commanding officer of the vessel laughed slightly as he give his orders to the rest of his fleet to engage the new Starfleet vessel.
"All vessels, converge on that ship as instructed. Disable her; we will then bring her back to the homeworld as a gift for the Praetor Himself!"
"Admiral, the shields on that ship are far more advanced then anything we have previously encountered. Our weapons will simply not get through"
"One insect bite may be annoying, but many can hurt. Continue firing, evasive pattern. Take us closer to that ship; I want a full tactical scan of that vessel"
"Yes, Admiral!" Called out a Centurion.
Avoiding the weapons fire, the tiny Romulan Vessel bounced off the Enterprise shields as they ran a full scan while the allied vessel continued an attack against the new Starfleet Vessel.
"Readings coming through now sir… Multiple Phaser banks on all leaves, of unknown design, some form of advanced Photon Torpedo systems. Unfortunately that is all I can detect, their shielding is far more advanced then we had anticipated"
"Understood, what about Warp Capability?"
"Unknown, but judging by the size and shape of those new Engines… she would probably be in the Warp 7 maybe warp 8 range"
"I see, order all ships to withdraw from battle. Have one of the ships return under cloak to monitor this area"
"Yes Admiral!"
Breaking off mid attack, the three Romulan ships turned away from the ship as the Enterprise continued her Phaser attack until they had disappeared into warp. Shocked, Commodore Archer stood in the centre of his bridge as he looked around towards Commander Reed who shook his head slightly.
"I don't know sir, they just left!"
"Jon, before they went into warp… one ship scanned us"
"It was a test, all this for a damned test to get Enterprise into this sector so they could assess our capabilities. Any idea what they saw T'Pol?"
"Our shields are far more advanced then the rest of the fleet, although the Romulans have found a way to scan beyond a vessels shields, we have no way of knowing what they saw if anything"
"Understood, have the fleet stand down… status of Outpost Four?"
"She's taken server damage sir, Life support is still active, another few more shots and she'd be in pieces"
"Outpost Four wasn't the target, we where. What are they after?"
"Unknown sir" Reed sighed.
"Captain, receiving a signal from the Outpost, they are requesting assistance"
"Hoshi, have the other ships render assistance. Reed, maintain alert status… keep your weapons active incase they come back. Briefing of the senior staff in one hour, it want to know what the hell is going on out here"
"Sir, should I contact Captain Walker?"
"Do it. Have the rest of the fleet set a course here. Best possible speed"
One Hour Later…
Although the majority of Starfleet vessels followed the long established lineage of the NX-Class ships, the new warp eight-engine design called for a complete redesign of the Enterprise. The powerful vertical warp core standing several decks high, the warp core itself was moved from the traditional 'Saucer' shaped primary hull into a separate cylindrical section blow the saucer connected by an angled 'Neck' like structure with the powerful warp nacelles positioned on the same level and out at an angle from what was now called the primary hull of the ship. Now firmly placed inside the secondary or 'Engineering Hull' the warp core, primary and secondary computer core made up the majority of the secondary hull leaving space for scientific laboratories, the primary deflector dish, with the secondary located at the front of the primary hull and the large shuttlecraft hanger bay at the rear of the secondary hull allowing easier access in and our of the vessel for any smaller craft.
Following the slight curve of the saucer section, the briefing room was located below the main bridge, with a large wooden look table that mirrored the curve of the room perfectly, small oval shaped windows lined the wall of the room giving the illusion of space as the stars moved past slowly while Enterprise orbited the damaged the Outpost. Sat calmly in his seat at the head of the table, Commodore Archer took a deep breath taking in the odour of the new vessel as his command Staff took their seats as a computer screen behind him displayed the ship's status on the standby screen. Sat to his immediate left sat Captain T'Pol, the beautiful Human Vulcan Hybrid unlike any Vulcan he had ever met in his long and distinguished career with Starfleet. Delicately tied behind her head, her long blonde hair curved elegantly into a sensual display of intricate patterns yet, with a long ponytail reaching down between her shoulder blades. Too her left sat Captain Charles Tucker III, often affectionately named 'Trip' a brilliant Engineer responsible for many of the advances with the new Warp Engine design. Although both T'Pol and Trip where of command rank and could accept a command of their own, they had both decided to remain under Archer's command.
Sat to Tucker's left was the unusual Denobulan Doctor named Phlox, perhaps the last officer to sign onto Enterprise, yet an invaluable officer. Sat facing Phlox, Lieutenant Travis Mayweather, a Starship pilot of incredible skill with a long family history onboard vessels dating back to the first Cargo ships to utilise warp technology, to his right was Lieutenant Hoshi Sato, recently married and an expert in Xeno-Linguistics and finally, Commander Malcolm Reed ever at his post next to the Captain. Once offered a Command of his own onboard the USS Lantree, he turned down the command due to it being a Science Vessel.
"So, what do we have on that Romulan ship?" Archer sighed.
"As I suspected, they scanned us with a powerful sensor array. Our shields absorbed most of the energy, but they did break through just enough to gather some basic information on our capabilities"
"Like What T'Pol?" Reed sighed.
Although they operated onboard a vessel with Military rank status, once in the briefing room, Captain Archer made it clear that rank was left at the door unless he so stated, which was uncomfortable for some officers.
"Nothing to write home about Malcolm…" Trip smiled. "I've adjusted our shields to negate that effect…"
"No, I've got a better idea. Why not give them a false reading?" Travis smiled.
"What do you have in mind?"
"We could set up a few sensor shadows around the ship, make it seem like we are armed heavier then they think"
"Can it be done Malcolm?"
"Of course… I'll need help from Trip and Travis, but… yes" He laughed.
"Make it so!" Archer smiled. "Malcolm, you once served with Captain Walker, am I right?"
"Yes, she was… my department head onboard the USS Pegasus"
"What can you tell me about her, something that's not in the files of course"
"Well, she's an incredible officer. She taught me most of what I know…"
"Her file states she has had more engagements with the Romulans then any other officer, Colonel Shran included" Archer said with a slight smile.
"Yes sir, when I was on the Pegasus, we lost our Captain and First Officer during an attack… the boarder wars. She took command of a beaten and heavily damaged Starship and turned the tide against them, which earned her a battlefield promotion to Captain. For over a month we limped back to home port, when we got back, she'd clocked up a kill rate of eight Romulan ships"
"All in the records Malcolm" Trip laughed.
"What isn't in the records… Trip, is that her fiancé was the Captain of that ship. They say that a Klingon can taste the blood of their enemy before they enter battle, a blood lust. I thought it was a myth, until I saw it in her eyes. The Pegasus was a write-off; she was given command of the USS Tempest. She's spent the past years searching for the ship that got away, the vessel that killed her Fiancé, during which time she has taken down an impressive number of enemy ships… rumour has it, she has even killed a Romulan with her own hands"
"She knows what a Romulan looks like?" T'Pol said quickly.
"Yes. Two years ago, Starfleet Command received a message from a Yaridian freighter, the Romulans have placed a price on her head… they are afraid of her, the call her… I cannot pronounce it, but translated it means… 'Red Haired Demon With Breasts'"
Smiling slightly, Hoshi looked up at the roof as she translated the name into Romulan in her mind as Phlox spoke aloud.
"I have met the Captain, Commander she is far from a Demon, quite attractive actually. Her breasts and hair colour aside…"
"It's just a name Phlox" Archer laughed. "What else Malcolm?"
"She has the keenest intellect I have ever seen, someone once claimed she was genetically augmented. But that was never substantiated by Starfleet Medical"
"I performed that test Commodore, I found no evidence of Genetic Manipulation… however, her intellect is off the charts" Phlox smiled.
With a questioning look too his Chief Medical Officer, Archer's attention was distracted as the door to the briefing room slide open and a young woman of around 30 earth years of age entered. For a brief moment, she stopped at the door and looked around with a slight smile as she spoke with a soft feminine voice.
"Don't forget Phlox, you also propositioned me. Good hearing as well, Commodore Archer, Captain Charlie Walker, reporting as ordered"
"I wasn't aware of your arrival Captain" He said as he stood to greet her.
"My idea… Malcolm?" She laughed.
"Hello Captain. It's good to see you again"
"Wow, you look good!"
"You too ma'am"
Shocked at her attire, T'Pol stood slowly as Walker entered the briefing room wearing civilian clothing, on her left hip was a standard Starfleet weapon, on her right hip hung a blade of Klingon design.
"Why are you not in uniform Captain?" T'Pol spoke firmly.
"Long story… Malcolm, my offer still stands. We could use you"
"Thank you, but I'm assigned here" Reed smile graciously.
"Orders can change Malcolm… do me a favour, stand up?"
Rolling his eyes slightly, Malcolm stood and turned to face her as she smile slightly followed by a powerful punch to the left side of his jaw sending him too the floor hard. Leaping too his feet, Archer grabbed her hand as she smiled slightly.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"I've owed him that for years!" She growled.
"Security to the…"
"That's okay T'Pol…" Reed smiled. "I deserved that. I see you don't forget"
"Not likely. Commodore, sir. Please, let go of my hand"
"It's okay sir"
Slowly standing, Reed wiped the blood from his mouth as he stood face to face with the unusual Starfleet Captain as she laughed slightly.
"Alright Charlotte, I'll pay"
"Forty credits" She laughed.
"The bet was twenty" He said calmly.
"Hey, twice… remember?" She laughed. "You'll have to show me how to do that one day"
"Do what?" Trip smiled.
"Something to do with his tongue and a certain…"
"Okay, enough! Too much information" Archer said quickly.
"Alright, why am I here… I was close Malcolm; I've been tracking him for months. I know who it is, you made me a promise, remember?"
"I remember"
"What promise?" Hoshi said with interest.
"Wow, you're more attractive then I heard. I know a great place on Setlec V…"
"Captain! What are you talking about?" Archer demanded.
"Another time Hoshi…" Walker winked. "The Romulan that killed Karl. I know who he is… I've been tracking him for years, I got close… so damned close and then… nothing"
"What are you talking about Captain?" Archer demanded.
"Sir, when I was assigned to the Pegasus a Romulan vessel attacked us. Almost destroyed us, heavily crippled they just sat before us, almost nose to nose before they decided to turn and leave"
"Leave, why?" T'Pol said with interest.
"Apparently, they didn't find enough sport in finishing us off. They believed we'd be dead in a few days anyway, why waste a Torpedo?" Walker said through gritted teeth. "I've been chasing the commander of that ship ever since. Two weeks ago, I finally caught up with him, near the Klingon boarder…"
Two Weeks Earlier…
Glistening in the light from the dying star, the bluish-silver starship cruised through space at warp 6.5 towards the co-ordinates where the Romulan vessel had been spotted several days earlier. On the bridge, Captain Charlotte Walker, often called Charlie by her crew and close friends, sat perched on the end of her command chair as she kept a watchful eye on the helm before her. Too her left, her Chief Tactical Officer and First Officer monitored his weapons systems as they prepared to enter battle against Charlie's own personal nemesis, the Romulan officer she had been in pursuit of for years. Her own personal grudge against this one commander had taken over her many times almost elevating her in status too a dangerous enemy to he Romulans. The official account of her kills against Romulan ships where over twenty enemy vessels, however the number was much higher due too shared kills with other vessels. She had heard from Starfleet Command that several Romulan vessels had been dispatched to destroy or capture her vessel in the hopes of taking her back to Romulus as a prisoner of war however, as many people know, the Romulans do not take prisoners.
"Closing on the target Charlie" Called out the Tactical Officer.
"Ships?"
"Four, nothing we can't handle" He smiled darkly.
"The Bortias?"
"I see her, her weapons and shields are off-line. Looks like she's taken some damage"
"Billy, what's our ETA?"
"One minute Charlie" Replied the young helm officer.
"All hands, this is the Captain. Battle Stations… We're going in. Billy you know what to do"
"Of course. If I time this just right, we'll drop out of warp between those ships as planned"
"Clive, all power to weapons and shields… All hands, clear the outer hull. Stand by with emergency bulkheads and forcefeilds. This is going to get a little rough people, but it's nothing we cannot handle. Remember your training…"
Her unusual command style had worked many times in the past on many engagements with the enemy forces. With each attack on Romulan ships she had always used different and unusual tactics sometimes even adapting Romulan and Klingon tactics too the needs of her ship during her missions. Although many of her crew had been replaced, she had a tendency to frighten less experienced officers with her sometimes terrifying and what others could see as reckless tactics.
Dropping out of warp between the four enemy ships, the USS Tempest unleashed her weapons into the unprotected hulls of the enemy ships as they scattered to regroup. Jumping too her feet, Charlie smiled darkly as she pointed at a vessel limping away slowly while the three remaining ships formed on the stern of the Tempest firing their disrupters at full power.
"Charlie, aft shields are at 75% and falling, we can't keep this up"
"Divert all power to aft shields. Clive, I want the Bortias turned to dust. DESTROY HER!" She yelled.
"I'm a little busy with the three up our ass at the moment…"
Quickly, Charlie's head spun around as she fired a twisted look at the Tactical officer, sighing deeply he nodded slightly as he spoke.
"Give me a moment, Billy… can you shake them?"
"Sure, if you want. Captain?"
"Maintain course. Clive I want that ship out my skies… do it, or I will!"
The USS Tempest, was a Type IV Heavy Cruiser, sometimes referred to by enemies as a Federation Destroyer Class, designed and built along the traditional Starfleet specifications. A large saucer shaped vessel with two powerful warp engines hung below the main section of the vessel. A large and powerful ship originally designed a replacement for the NX Class Cruiser, the class had been through many design changes over the years as more missions and roles where placed upon the design. The USS Tempest NCC-267 was the last of her class too leave Spacedock, sometimes referred to by civilians as an 'Upside Down NX-Class' since the end of the war with Romulus decades earlier, the Tempest had been designed with state of the art weapons and shields as a test bed for the new designs placed onboard the latest vessel named Enterprise.
Looking over the sensor readouts once more, Clive nodded as he diverted all available power to the aft shield grid while a Romulan Starship broke formation and screamed over the Tempest firing it's weapons along the main section of the ship before breaking off to port, quickly followed by a second ship breaking to starboard while the third vessel continued it's attack on the aft shields.
"What are they doing?" Billy called out.
"They're trying to get us to break off our pursuit. Maintain course and speed. Torpedoes, full spread… target the Bortias' main engines"
Four deadly torpedoes launched from the Tempest and screamed towards the enemy ship before them, they could not have been more then a ship length away from the vessel before it disappeared into warp. Screaming aloud, Charlie looked at the screen before her as she yelled out her next order.
"Pursuit course, maximum speed. NOW. Follow that Bastard!"
"On it!" Billy replied.
"Charlie, the remaining vessels are taking up position around us, blocking our way"
"DESROY THEM!" She ordered.
"Shields are down to 20%, we must withdraw!" Called out Clive.
"No!" Charlie growled.
"Captain… Charlie, we must withdraw or we'll loose the ship"
"We're so close!"
Forcing back her own emotions, she turned back too her command chair as the ship rocked hard in all directions from the enemy weapons fire. Streams of phaser energy ripped from the Tempest as they attempted to fight off the three Romulan ships. With the shields failing and hull armour almost buckled, she nodded slightly as the Tactical Officer attempted to clear a space for the Tempest to escape, finally leaping into warp the Tempest disappeared as the three enemy ships altered course to intercept the much wanted vessel and her commanding officer.
"Charlie, picking up a large fleet directly ahead"
"Ohh now what?" She sighed. "Romulan?"
"No. Starfleet… the Romulans are breaking off pursuit" Clive sighed with relief.
"Set course for the fleet, best possible speed. Clive, you have the bridge"
"Aye sir!" He nodded.
Although every Federation Starship and Outpost maintained the command structure, Captain Walker had always allowed a certain relaxed attitude on her ship to the point of almost leaving rank and titles back in Spacedock. Although many other ships throughout the fleet had used a similar system, more so amongst the command staff, Charlie had always hated her rank title seeing as if most of her crew had served with her for many years and helped her through her darkest moments when she lost her husband to be at the hands of the Romulans. The effect upon her was not a pleasant one as she had retreated to what her crew had called a dark and twisted place deep inside, sometimes she had even terrified her own crew to the point of some of them requesting a transfer off her ship and complaints being made against her. Nevertheless, being the only daughter of a Federation Council Member allowed her a certain amount of flexibility on her personal file.
Present Day…
A full report on Romulan Fleet movements had been given to the Commodore by the unusual Starship Captain, with a slight smile on his face; Archer nodded as she sat at the far end of the Briefing Room table while the experience Enterprise crew listened with interest at the reports of her last engagements with enemy forces. Taking a deep breath, she looked around the table at the command staff of this state of the art vessel as she smiled and spoke calmly.
"So, I ask again. Why am I here Archer?"
"On this ship, my ship. We respect the chain of command… Captain" Archer smiled slightly.
"Of course sir, sorry sir. Force of habit"
"I've heard of your relaxed command style Miss Walker, you have an impressive number of kills under belt, and a large collection of complaints from your former crewmembers"
"They can't take a joke sir" She laughed. "Why am I here?"
"We engaged a Romulan fleet earlier, we where scanned before they warped away…"
"We belief the attack against the Outpost was a ploy to draw Enterprise into the fight…"
"They wanted to assess your abilities T'Pol?" Walker sighed.
"We believe so. It's been no state secret that Starfleet has designed a new class of Starship. You've had more encounters with the Romulans then any other Starship Captain…" T'Pol replied.
"Lucky I guess" She smirked.
"What can you tell us about them Captain? Rumour has it you've seen a Romulan in the flesh"
"Reman actually sir. They are an… undesirable cast of the Romulan species; they consider them a sub-species believed to have evolved alongside the Romulans… something like Neanderthals and Humans. They really are ugly bastards sir. Tucker, I know you've got a certain… affection for old movies"
"Yes…" He smiled. "And it's Trip"
"Forgive me. What do you know about an old 20th Century movie named… Nosferatu?"
Smiling, he leaned forwards as he spoke with affection for the old movie.
"Nosferatu the Vampyre. Based on the vampire mythology. 1979 directed by Werner Herzog if I remember right, based on an old 1922 German movie…"
"I was actually talking about the old 1922 silent movie. The way the creature looks in that old movie is similar to what a Reman looks like. Grey skin, not at home in the light, fangs pointed ears, the whole nine yards"
"Wow, ugly" Trip laughed.
"Apparently the Romulans use them as slave labour and foot soldiers. I'll have Clive send everything we have to you Commodore, it ain't much though sir"
"Thank you, that will be a great help. Have you sent this information back too Command?"
"The first thing I did Hoshi. Unfortunately the specimen I encountered was… in no fit state once I was finished with it" She sighed with regret.
"I assume your Doctor took scans of the corpse? I'd love to take a look at the readings"
"Of course. Phlox stop looking at me like that, as I told you before; I have no compulsion to become wife number three. And stop looking at my chest"
"Sorry" He sighed.
"Didn't you get a good look during my… examination?"
"All that aside, I have some new… orders for you" Archer smiled.