Chapter Seven
Status reports flooded into the bridge of the replica Enterprise while Acting Captain William T. Riker browsed over the reports as he attempted to keep his eyes awake with Klingon Coffee from one of the three mobile Replicators beamed over by the USS Alexander. On perhaps his forth or fifth cup of coffee in almost an hour, his hands had begun to shake from the intense level of caffeine as it flowed through his system at almost warp speed while his eyes darted back and forwards between the Padds he held in each hand as he read the reports on both screens with ease.
Since the discovery and recovery of his transporter 'Twin' many years ago, both men named William T. Riker had promised each other to take a separate path in their respective careers. Concentrating mainly on his command abilities, William T. Riker had worked hard to gather new and much needed skills for his chosen path which would one day lead him to the command of his own vessel, while his 'Twin' named W. Thomas Riker had left the Enterprise-E after several days to serve onboard the USS Tempest, an Akira class starship of legacy status. After rekindling a former relationship with the then Enterprise Diplomatic Officer, Lieutenant Commander Deanna Troi, Thomas Riker served onboard the Tempest for several months before he married Deanna Troi in a private ceremony on Betazed, her homeworld. With a wife and child on the way, Thomas Riker quickly arose through the ranks of Starfleet and surpassed his 'Brother' as he took the rank of Captain and the position of commander of the USS Titan with his wife and child at his side, something which had hurt William Riker, believing it should be his life and his career.
Sipping once more on the cold coffee, Riker sighed to himself as the large Klingon officer walked towards him.
"What can I do for you Worf?" Riker smiled.
"Repairs are almost complete… Chief, sorry… Commander O'Brian believes the shields will be at 90% within the hour. Commodore Sisko has sent us a further 15 Quantum Torpedoes, Geordie is adapting them as we speak"
"Great. How long before we can get underway?"
"Two hours sir. Lieutenant Stahl is working with several engineers from the Alexander and the designers of this ship, hopefully we can press past warp eight by the time we need it" Worf reported.
"This bucket of bolts is falling apart around us as we speak…"
"Sir, she was never meant to enter into battle. This vessel was supposed to be in a museum by this point. However, I have every confidence that this vessel, like her namesake will survive this day… and victory will be ours"
"I wish I shared your confidence, Worf. I should have gotten this ship to safety, instead I almost got us all killed" Riker sighed.
Slowly sitting down, the large Klingon Officer nodded slightly as he spoke.
"Forgive me for saying so Captain… you have not been the same since you received the personal message several months ago, is there something wrong?"
"No, not really… You remember Tom, my…"
"Brother?" Worf said quickly.
"Something like that. I got a message from him, he was offered and took his first command, the USS Titan" Riker laughed.
"I… see. So you are jealous of his… success?"
"Jealous? No… perhaps. It should've been me" He grunted.
"Then who would be sat in that chair now, Your brother? You are William Thomas Riker, first officer of the Federation Flagship. In a situation where the Captain of the vessel is unable to command, and during a fleet situation… you have the authority to…"
"I know the rules Worf" Riker barked.
"Do you? You're authority does supersede his, as does your knowledge of Command. The USS Titan is little more then a large and glorified Science Vessel"
Laughing, Riker took one sip of his drink as he replied.
"This has got to be a first, you trying too cheer me up" Riker snorted.
"Perhaps, think about it!"
The gas had filled every area of the ship, with the exception of the main bridge. As he scanned the small facility before them, Picard attempted to locate the remaining crew as Steele accessed the ship's transporter system and began beaming the survivors back onto the ship while Picard spoke to his subordinate in an attempt to keep his mind clear.
"So tell me Lieutenant, how did you become an officer. I was not aware that Starfleet would promote people with a criminal record"
"Long story sir… lets just say it was a battlefield commission" Steele said as he began transporting the crew back.
"How so?"
"Alright, I was onboard the USS Eldridge…"
"I see!" Picard said with a hint of sadness.
""Yes sir… you understand now. When we where boarded… I protected the bridge and the remainder of the command staff as long as I could, the only way in or out of the bridge was past me and I have a certain… instinct for explosives, it served me well in my former career. I defended the bridge as long as I could, I lost my right arm in a fight with a very large Cardassian" Steele smiled as he continued with his work.
"Your right arm?"
"Yes sir, this one is… cybernetic sir. Organically grown flesh, muscle and veins over a lightweight composite endoskeleton. A very large and angry Cardassian used what appeared to be a Klingon Bat'Leth, he severed my arm…halfway between my elbow and shoulder. I think it was pure adrenaline but I killed him, I don't know how before I dragged the then unconscious Captain to the nearest escape pod with my remaining arm. With most of the crew dead… we managed to escape. A week later, I awoke in a Starfleet medical facility after being in a medically induced coma… I later learned that only myself and the Captain survived, the Cardassians destroyed all of the escape pods they could find. Before she was hit by debris and I dragged her to the nearest escape pod, she set the autodestruct and jettisoned a copy of the ship's logs. She was commended and cleared of any wrong doing in abandoning her ship… I was given a new arm and a battlefield commission" He smiled as he beamed the final group over to the Enterprise.
"That is all of them. We have forty five survivors" Picard sighed.
"My god. I'll take the helm, transfer weapons and shields to the helm. Sir, I'm going need everything you can give me from the remaining engine" Steele said quickly.
"Of course… Captain!" Picard laughed.
"Funny sir, very funny. Attention all hands. Brace for impact… we're about to break out of Spacedock. If anyone is able… get to engineering, we're going to need everything you give" Steele called out.
"I believe that is my job Lieutenant. But you are correct, this is the Captain, we need those engines online, any senior engineer contact the bridge!"
Screaming into life, the large impulse engines ripped away at the primary hull as the ship rocked hard in all directions while explosions tore through the bridge once more and fires broke out on the abandoned consoles and carpeted floors. Climbing to his feet, Steele looked down at what remained of his helm controls as he reported quickly.
"We're free…"
"Lieutenant, set course for…."
"The helm is almost dead… I'll have to do this manually…. Getting us the hell out of where ever we are… best speed" Steele coughed as smoke filled the bridge.
"I can give you half one half impulse, plus navigational thrusters Lieutenant"
"I'll take them sir!" Steele smiled. "Bringing us around 90 degrees, any chance of weapons?"
"Two torpedoes still in the tubes… they are armed and at your command"
"Targeting scanners are off-line. This will be… interesting"
Switching the torpedoes to manual steering, Steele fired the two weapons directly at the station before them as he piloted both torpedoes with the manual system. As they slammed into the small Spacedock facility before them, secondary explosions tore through the facility until it finally exploded in a violent display of energy.
"Nice firing Mister Steele" Picard smiled.
"What the hell happened?" Steele said slowly. "That shouldn't have happened"
"It looks like you hit a secondary system… perhaps a power conduit or a…"
"Perhaps sir" Steele replied slowly.
Standing slowly, he reached behind his back and drew his weapon on his Captain as he walked slowly away from the helm.
"Lieutenant, put away your weapon!" Picard demanded.
"Throw your weapons on the floor and step back. That was too damned easy!" Steele ordered.
"Lieutenant, lower your weapon. You are this close too…" He said as raised his hands.
"Nothing… that was easy, all of it was. You might as well stop this charade now… I'm not playing along anymore!" He said as he kept his weapon aimed on the Captain.
Lowering his hands with a dark smile, the Captain walked around the railing before him and stepped onto the lower half of the bridge.
"You don't have to play along with anything… Lieutenant. We have what we need, the command codes… and now, the Enterprise" Picard smiled.
"You? Why?" Steele said with shock.
"You don't understand… but you will" Picard smiled. "This vessel… is worth more to us then you know"
"To who?" Steele growled.
Darkness overtook him for a brief moment before he felt cold, terrible cold, hunger and thirst. In the distance, a scream could be heard, a blood curdling scream of pain and terror. Almost with each heartbeat, the screaming became louder until a brilliant white light almost overpowered his senses as the screaming echoed around whatever room he was in until finally he realised, the screaming was not in the distance, but coming from his own mouth as finally an intense pain ran through his body like a blade of fire running through him.
Slowly, his eyes opened as he looked around as saw the same darkened room he escaped from, in the centre of the room, a small console had been placed before him. Wires ran back and forwards between himself and the console as they pulsed with energy while voices spoke in the harsh Reman language before one of the large Reman guards noticed that eyes where open and focused on them.
"Ahh, I see you have finally awoken. So much the better. You are full of surprises Lieutenant Steele, very few can resist the Mind Siphon as you did. However, we have the command codes for the Enterprise main computer. What, nothing to say? No… jokes or rhymes?" The Reman laughed.
"Mary… had…" He smiled.
"You have revealed much to us Lieutenant, much more then you imagine. You're arm for example…. Very impressive, we have nothing like it!"
Smiling darkly, the Reman guard pointed to the young officer's right arm as the pain continued to echo through his body. With the horrible taste of blood at the back of his throat, he slowly looked at his right arm as his eyes widened in shock at what he saw. Flesh hung off his arm and dripped with blood creating a large puddle on the floor below mixed with muscle and tissue from his arm as all that remained was the metallic skeleton with the circuits and intricate circuitry exposed. Screaming in terror, he looked at what remained of his arm as he yelled past his pain.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING TO ME?"
"We wish too know everything about this… advancement. Now that you are awake, the Doctor can continue with his… examination" Da'Kar smiled darkly.
"I'm going to kill you… all of you!" He wept in pain.
"Not likely. Tell me, how much of your body is organic and how much is cybernetic? Our sensors have not been able to detect this… amazing advancement"
Using what ever strength he could, he clenched the mechanical fist tightly as he attempted to fight past the pain which rang through his body like a flame.
"First… I'm going to kill your guards. Then your doctor, what I have planned for you, you ugly bastard, you will beg me to kill you" He screamed past his pain.
"Ohh, I think not!" Da'Kar laughed. "But thank you for cheering me up somewhat. Now, how much of your body is cybernetic? Is the strength in your right arm greater then your biological arm, or is it as weak as the rest of you?" He continued.
"Release me… and I'll show you!" Steele demanded.
"I think… not. We do have ways too determine those questions. You can tell us, or we will either cut away at you until we find what we need…"
"My lord!" The Doctor said quickly. "Perhaps an autopsy will reveal those answers, the information we have received from the other has been… very interesting"
"Of course, but for the moment, this… creature could be the next step. Somehow they have been able to augment Humans with cybernetic limbs. We should study one while it is alive, after which… you can perform your autopsy" Da'Kar laughed.
"As you wish My Lord!" The Reman Doctor bowed. "Perhaps if I remove the flesh… here, on it's left arm it will give me a chance to see if this creature has further augmentation" The Doctor pointed towards his left elbow.
"What ever you need" Da'Kar laughed once more.
"Should I sedate the specimen sir?"
"No… when this… creature has had enough of the pain, he will tell us what we wish too know"
Smiling, the doctor walked towards Steele as he held out an blood stained old style surgical scalpel. As the blade sliced into his flesh, Steele screamed in pain as blood flowed from his elbow. Steele's eyes locked on the doctor at his side as for a moment, their eyes met. All the Steele could see was a slight apology in the Reman's eyes as he cut further into his elbow and sliced into the bone beneath the skin.
"My lord, this arm appears to be organic" The Doctor said with regret. "The report claims that only the right arm is synthetic"
"Very well…" Da'Kar nodded. "Have you determined how they have managed to interface this technology with his biological systems?"
"Not yet sir"
"I see, an autopsy will inform you of that?"
"Yes sir" The doctor said with regret once again.
"Then kill this creature… and perform your autopsy. Inform me once you find out how Starfleet has accomplished this amazing feat"
"Yes My Lord… as you wish" He bowed.
As he left the room, the guards followed the leader of the facility as the Doctor stood before the almost semi-conscious lieutenant.
"Stay awake" He demanded.
"I'm gonna rip your throat out" Steele mumbled. "You'd better kill me now"
"I would never do that" He nodded slightly. "Lieutenant, listen very carefully. Your ship is being held at the other end of the facility, this station has a small crew of mainly engineers and slaves. I'm sorry for what I had too do to you, however… it was necessary in order too maintain my cover"
"Cover?" He said as he spat blood onto the floor.
"Hear me… focus on my voice!" The Doctor whispered. "I have learned that several Starfleet Vessels are on their way here, they believe your crew is dead and they have orders to destroy your ship and this facility… I need your help"
Fading in and out of consciousness, the heavily injured Lieutenant attempted to focus on the voice in his ear with every ounce of strength he had left.
"Who are you?" He whispered.
"A long story, call me… a Free Romulan. Yes, you heard me correct. I have been surgically altered too appear Reman, my task was too kill Da'Kar… before you arrived I could not get close…"
"I will not… be your…"
His head rolled back as the Doctor slapped his face hard and bought him back to consciousness.
"Focus Mister Steele. Your crew are all but dead, killed by the Reman and loyal Romulan guards, those who aren't are about too be transported back to what was once called Romulus… now Remus Prime. They are too be sold into slavery. With your help… I maybe able too stop this"
"Go screw yourself!" Steele replied while dazed and confused.
"Steele, we can save you and you're the survivors of your crew…"
"Who… is we?" Steele mumbled.
"The others. All that remains of the Tal'Shiar…."
The name of the Romulan security service brought his attention back onto the man before him as tears ran from his eyes while blood flowed from his mouth, nose and ears.
"We've been hiding for many years… training, gathering resources and infiltrating the Reman Unity. The capture of Enterprise has presented us with an opportunity too act and act now!"
"What?" He said as he forced a laugh.
"As I said, we need your help. We need Starfleet too act now… I will replace your body with one of the dead from your crew… assuming you don't kill me, I will release you from your binds and transport your too a cloaked vessel nearby, my people will make sure you receive medical attention as they attempt to locate one of your vessels"
"Nice try" Steele laughed. "So I can be transported back to what did you call it… Remus Prime?"
"No, We have… few ships left Lieutenant. They will take you too safety, however… something you must know. The Remans have many spies within Starfleet… you must find them. One is about too be dealt with as we speak"
"And I should believe you… why?" Steele mumbled once more.
Reaching into a pocket on his medical coat, the doctor pulled out a small green data crystal and placed it in his cybernetic hand and closed his fingers gently as he spoke.
"This is a list of all Reman Operatives within Starfleet and the Federation that we could gather, their names and cover names… locations… everything you need to know too stop them before the final assault on Starfleet is made"
"Final assault?" Steele replied as he attempted too stay focused.
"The Unity is slowly taking over the Federation… key people in high places. Your… Captain was among them"
"Picard?" Steele gasped.
"He was one of the first, a clone of Picard. Unfortunately he was killed two years ago after being replaced…"
Releasing the Lieutenant's organic hand, the Doctor stepped backwards slightly after handing him the key too the shackles which held him in place. After releasing his cybernetic hand and his feet, the Lieutenant fell to the ground hard as he clenched his fists tight while covered in his own blood. Forcing every ounce of strength he could, he quickly stood and grabbed the doctor with is cybernetic arm and squeezed his throat as the disguised Romulan gasped for air.
"Give me… one reason not too kill you!"
"Because… you need me! You… can not… free your people…"
The cold, hard cybernetic finger slowly punctured the skin of the Doctor as he gasped for air and winced in pain slightly. Thinking over his choices, he released the doctor and nodded slightly as the doctor stood.
"Thank you for believing me"
"I didn't say I did. I could use a… hostage just incase you're lying to me"
The plan was explained too the Lieutenant before the Doctor transported a body into the large room where Steele was being held. Taking a large blade in his hand, the doctor severed the right arm of the body and sealed the wound as Steele looked at the face of the body lying before him.
"He's the right age… right height and build. I will have too create wounds which emulate yours. This body was specifically chosen because it's blood type is the same as yours" The doctor said slowly.
"This body had a name…"
"What was his name?" The doctor said slowly.
"I don't know… I wasn't exactly… well liked aboard ship once my past came out. Josh Hendricks I think… but I do recognise him, he was a good man… a wife and twin daughters, barely two years old"
"I'm sorry, but we must act fast Mister Steele. I'm transporting you directly to the Caesar's Medical facility… the doctor is named O'Mara… She is expecting you"
"If you're lying to me… there will be no place in this galaxy you can hide" He said darkly.
"I know. My name is Tomalak, the Commander of the ship is my daughter, she will know what to do. Good luck Lieutenant"
