Chapter 9

Acting Captain's log, stardate 57025.6: It has been fourteen hours since the Romulan boarding party retreated. Since then the Romulans have recloaked their ship and are somewhere outside of our modified sensors' range. I don't believe for an instant that they have given up their pursuit. But for now my attention has been on repairs. We are still operating on only one impulse engine, but we have recovered the main bridge; although climbing up to it is still a task. Weapons' status hasn't improved much either.

The causality list sickens me. So many have died defending the Orion including deputies who should have never been fighting. Many more are lying in sick bay. I am not sure that I am cut out for captain duty. The responsibility for the lives of so many is almost unbearable.

We are still a day and a half away from outpost Alpha-Theta. With only one impulse engine it has been slow going. I am hoping and praying that help arrives soon, but my hope is diminishing. I need a sign that there will be a happy ending to this. I am doing all I can to get the Orion back into battle condition, but frankly I think the next battle will be the end of the Orion.

"Captain."

Lindsey heard the voice, but it didn't register. She was on the bridge, and Captain Taylor was in her chair. A crewman was trying to get the Captain's attention, but she was ignoring him.

"Captain!" Lindsey couldn't understand why Captain Taylor wouldn't acknowledge her crewman.

"Lindsey!"

Lindsey woke with a jolt, and found herself on the bridge and in the captain's chair. Captain Taylor was nowhere to be found. Then all the memories came back to her.

"Captain, glad you're awake," said Henry.

"I must have dozed for a second," she answered. "What is going on?" she asked when she saw Henry's big smile.

"A ship just dropped out of warp in front of us."

"The Romulans?!" asked Lindsey as she straighten in her chair.

"No, it's a Federation vessel, a runabout by the looks of it."

"They're hailing us," said Ens. Selina Chaput.

Lindsey shook herself awake and said, "On screen."

The viewscreen changed from the image of the small long range shuttle craft to a Starflight officer in a blue science uniform with the rank of Lieutenant. "This is Lt. Wheaton of the runabout the USS Rhine, assigned to outpost Alpha-Theta. We saw you on long range scans and are puzzled as to why you didn't contact us."

"This Lindsey Lander, Acting Captain of the USS Orion. We didn't contact you because our communications array is damaged beyond repair. And that is not the only damage we've sustained. We had to eject our warp core, two of our three impulse engines are offline, and we have several other systems offline."

"Is the damage from space hazards or combat?"

"Combat. We have engaged a Romulan Warbird in battle twice. The same Warbird took out outpost Beta-Gamma. We crippled them, but they are still out there somewhere."

The runabout lieutenant gave a nervous gulp and tugged on his collar. "Well, what can I do to help, if anything?"

"Do you have a long-range transmitter?"

"A basic one, yes. But Alpha-Theta has a major communications array."

"I have a data package that I need to send to Sector Command immediately. Can you relay it for us?"

"Of course, Captain."

"I recommend that you come about on our port side, while I prepare the package."

"Copy that. Coming about on your port and matching your velocity." For a moment the lieutenant could be seen focusing on his flying, but then he stared in wonder somewhere out his viewport. "Orion, I am not going to lie to you. You don't look so good. There is significate damage to your starboard side."

"I know, Rhine. And I won't lie to you either. We are worse off than we look."

"Huh. Well, I guess we better get that transmission off as soon as possible. I'll set it up on my side. Contact me when you're ready."

The transmission was terminated, and Lindsey felt an excitement that was more than enough to keep her awake. "Navigator, what is the heading for the nearest starbase?"

Selina who was taking over for Lt. John Mikkelson while he recovered in sick bay answered, "30 degrees to port."

"Helm lay in that course, maximum safe impulse. Computer, assemble data package 'priority one,' and prepare to transmit."

"Data package assembled," said the computer voice.

"Add cover message, record on my mark."

Lindsey straighten her hair and uniform as much as she could, and Henry commented. "Did Captain Taylor also say to look good for allies as well?"

"No, but I am a Starfleet Captain. I should look the part as best I can, given the circumstances." Lindsey shook off the last of her weariness looked forward and said, "Begin recording." A beep from the computer followed and Lindsey began her message.

"This is Lieutenant Lindsey Lander, Acting Captain of the Federation starship USS Orion NCC-26532. We have been attacked twice by a Romulan Warbird who has crossed the Neutral Zone in violation of the Treaty of Algeron. The same Romulan starship attacked and destroyed outpost Beta-Gamma, the survivors of which are on board the Orion.

"Attached in this transmission is a data package. This package includes all the details of the attacks as well as the current status of the Orion.

"The Orion's status in brief is this. Captain Taylor and her senior command staff were killed in the first battle against the Romulan Warbird. We have suffered many other casualties, particularly in our security department. Our warp core was compromised, and we were forced to eject it. Our impulse engines are barely functioning, and our weapons are all but useless.

"Having delivered this message and reporting on the Romulan crimes, my only remaining priority is to get this crew to safety. But with the Orion crippled as it is and a hostile Romulan Warbird still out there, I do not believe I can do so. Included in the package is our current location, heading, and velocity. I urgently request that the nearest starship be sent to rescue us immediately. Captain Lindsey Lander, out."

Lindsey gave a sigh of relief. "Computer, end recording. Add this recording as well as our current location, heading, and velocity to the data package. Encrypt the whole package with the Starfleet Command encryption. And prepare to transmit."

"Acknowledged," said the computer voice.

"Hail the Rhine."

"Yes, Captain," said Henry who was taking over many bridge duties since they were shorthanded.

The image of the runabout's pilot came on screen. "Captain, I contacted Alpha-Theta, and they are ready to transmit."

"Thank you, Lieutenant. We are sending the package now. Please confirm." Lindsey nodded to Henry who sent the data package.

The runabout lieutenant was watching his counsel. "I have received your package. Transmitting now." After a moment he reported again. "Alpha-Theta has received your package and relayed it to Sector Command. They have received the automated response. It will take Command a couple minutes to figure out what to do."

"Understood, Lieutenant. Now I recommend that you return to Alpha-Theta. The Romulans may have figured out that we were coming to you. If you cannot defend yourselves I recommend that you evacuate the outpost."

"Understood, Captain."

"Lt. Wheaton, thank you. Your coming out here may have saved our lives."

"Your welcome, Captain. If I can return to you I will. Rhine, out."

Lindsey watched as the runabout flew in front of them and then went to warp. Henry came up to her chair and said, "Congratulations, Captain. Mission accomplished."

"Not yet. I still need to get everyone home." Nonetheless Lindsey began to rethink things. Getting that message off changed the situation, and Lindsey began to change her plans.


Acting First Officer's log, stardate 57027.2: It has been a day and half since we transmitted the package to Starfleet, and so far we have seen neither a Starfleet nor Romulan vessel. The tension is high on the ship, but so is the hope. I have every confidence that the crew will continue to do well.

I do have a concern about the Captain, and her health however.

Lindsey was sitting the navigator's seat. She and Henry had been relieving Ens. Chaput at navigation since Lt. Mikkelson was in sick bay recovering from his wound from a Romulan disruptor. Ens. Ryan was next to her at the helm. Henry had been rotating with him for that role, but was currently resting. Everyone on the Orion was weary and tired, but the bridge crew was particularly exhausted.

Just as Lindsey began thinking longingly about the bed in her quarters Henry climbed up the turbo lift on the makeshift ladder. "How did you meeting with Dr. Randle go?" asked the first officer as he entered the bridge.

Lindsey looked at him from the navigator's chair. "It went well."

"What did he have to say?"

"His sick bay is full of injuries, but he has stabilized everyone who was injured in the last attack. He might discharge Lt. Mikkelson and clear him for light duty later today. I plan on using him to relieve the bridge crew for four hours at a time, then letting him get his rest."

"What about your rest, Captain?" said Henry as he motioned his intention to take the navigator's chair.

"What do you mean?" replied Lindsey as she rose from the navigation station.

"You know exactly what I mean," said Henry in a strong tone that only a first officer could use with the Captain. "How long has it been since you slept?"

"I have dozed a few times right here in my captain's chair, as you know."

"I mean really slept. When's the last time you slept for multiple hours?"

"Before the Romulan attack."

"Exactly!" exclaimed Henry. "That was over fifty hours ago! You need to sleep."

"I'm fine. I have my coffee and my duties. I will sleep once a Federation ship arrives." Henry tried to object again, but Lindsey spoke over him. "I am not going to go off duty until we are rescued! End of discussion, Lieutenant."

Henry gave Lindsey a hard look. "Not end of discussion. If you do not get some sleep in the next four hours, I will talk to Dr. Randel. He has the authority to confine you to quarters."

Lindsey glared at Henry as he sat down in the navigator's chair. She tried her hardest to burn holes in the back of his head with her staring, but Henry ignored her and pretended to go about his duties. Finally, Lindsey let out an exhausted sigh. "I will retire to my ready room for an hour. Will that prevent you from reporting me to the doctor?"

"Four hours," negotiated Henry.

"Two hours, and no more. And I expect you to wake me. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Captain. Though I don't look forward to waking a cranky captain."

"Cranky?!"

"Having your first real sleep in fifty hours interrupted? Yeah, you're going to be cranky."

"Occupational hazard of being a first officer. Just like lack of sleep is for a captain."

"Ah, the miseries that command duty puts you through," said Henry. "I will be glad when it's over."

"Me too, Henry." Lindsey got up slowly from her chair and walked towards her ready room.

As she made her way across the bridge Lindsey heard a noise from the turbo lift. She looked over to the broken lift. Since the Romulans had stormed the bridge and destroyed the lift car, they had to make do with alternative ways of accessing the bridge. A few engineers cut a ladder out of a Jefferies tube, and welded it into the lift tube. It spanned the distance between deck 2 and the bridge. They then installed a safety net under it, just in case. Now Lindsey could hear someone climbing up the ladder. To her surprise it was Lt. Mikkelson.

Mikkelson made it up the ladder and climbed onto the bridge. He was followed by Ens. Selina Chaput. "Lt. Johnathan Mikkelson reporting for 'light duty'."

Lindsey smiled at him. "I don't know how you convinced Dr. Randel to allow it."

"I told the good doctor that a navigator doesn't use his leg much."

"In that case, I order you to take navigation. But remember, this is 'light duty.' Your shift is limited to four hours. My first officer is trying to convince me of the importance of rest. In your case I will make certain you get it."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Ens. Chaput, are you also reporting for duty?"

"No, Ma'am. I was just helping Lt. Mikkelson stay off his feet." Lindsey looked between the two junior officers. There was no real relationship between the two before, but now with a shared experience of combat a spark might be developing. Perhaps she would have to keep an eye on those two and makes sure any developing relationship did not affect their work. It was at that moment that Lindsey realized she was beginning to think like a commanding officer. She laughed at herself for a moment and then reminded herself that she was going to give up her command as soon as she returned the Orion to safety.

"Alright, Ms. Chaput, but I don't want you to lose too much of your resting period playing nurse."

"A ship is dropping out of warp!" shouted Ryan, abruptly changing the tone on the bridge. Lindsey jumped to her captain's chair. Johnathan moved with surprising speed to the navigator's chair, Henry ran to the tactical station, and Selina was already at the operations consoles.

"It's right in front of us. Captain, it's the Warbird!" reported Selina.

"On screen." Sure enough, their enemy had found them. Lindsey was staring at a battle harden and still dangerous Romulan starship. "Red Alert. Full stop. Arm torpedoes."

"Captain!" addressed Henry. "The two fore torpedo tubes each have a single torpedo, and the ventral tube has two. That is only four torpedoes. We have no other weapons."

"We have one other weapon. I was really hoping not to use it, but…"

"Their hailing us," said Selina.

"On screen." The image of a strange Romulan office who was out of uniform took over the main viewport.

"Good to see you again, Lieutenant," said the Romulan.

"You are not Colonel Gaiath."

"Colonel Gaiath? He was never on board this ship. I am a rogue officer who commandeered a Warbird for his own purposes. I act outside of the Romulan chain of command. There is certainly no Colonel here."

"Of course, there isn't," replied Lindsey. "I see your denial of the truth begins the right now. Well, it's too late. I have already transmitted all the evidence of your treaty breaking attacks on both the Orion and outpost Beta-Gamma to Starfleet Sector Command. It's over. Disengage and return to Romulan space immediately before things get worse."

"Things can't get worse, human." Then the Romulan disappeared from the viewscreen which reverted to the visual of the Warbird.

"They cut off the transmission," said Selina.

"Do you think they will leave?" asked Johnathan.

"Not at all," said Henry. "This is a suicide run for them. They will allow their ship to be destroyed and their lives ended in order to cover up their crimes."

"I would agree," said the helmsman Ryan, "if we had the power to destroy their ship. But with only four torpedoes…"

Lindsey wasn't listening to her crewmen. She was deep in her own thoughts. She had already prepared for this possibility, and she knew the call she had to make. But she had to exhaust all other options first.

"They are coming towards us with thrusters," said Selina. "They are also powering up weapons and shields. They will be in disruptor range soon."

"Captain, your orders?" asked Henry.

"Full reverse, thrusters only," answered Lindsey. Then she tapped her combadge. "Dr. Randel. Initiate protocol Lander 001."

"Captain, please confirm," replied the doctor's voice.

"Confirm: Lambda, Mu, Epsilon."

"Confirmed. Beginning evacuation of sick bay."

"Evacuation?!" Henry looked at her with alarm. "What is protocol Lander 001?"

"It is an evacuation of the Orion, that Dr. Randel and I devised in our last meeting. He is evacuating all his patients and medical staff on our shuttle craft." Lindsey turned to Henry. "Lt. Hickensen, I order you to take command of the evacuation. You are to pilot one of the shuttle crafts. Your charge is all the shuttles and escape pods. I am putting the crew in your capable hands."

"Lindsey, no! This isn't the way."

"My only goal is to protect my crew, and I can't do that if they are on the Orion!"

"They are safer on the Orion!"

"They are not safe anywhere if that Warbird is out there. So, I intend on destroying it. And I am going to use the Orion to do it."

Suddenly Henry's eyes grew as he figured out what Lindsey was going to do. "Lindsey, I…" but he had no words.

"This isn't a debate, Lieutenant! This is an order. Go to the shuttle bay now!" Then with a pleading look she begged him. "Please, Henry. I need you to take care of them."

Henry looked at her with pain in his eyes. "Yes, Captain." He turned and began to climb down the ladder, but before he left he said, "Goodbye, Lindsey."

"Goodbye, Henry." And then he was gone.

Lindsey sat in her chair and initiated a ship wide broadcast. "Attention all crew and passengers. Our enemy has returned, and we cannot fight them anymore. I now order all hands not previously instructed to go to shuttles to find the nearest escape pod and proceed to the preset coordinates. All hands, abandon ship; repeat, all hands, abandon ship."

Lindsey then turned to the bridge crew. "That means you too."

But Ens. Luke Ryan stood up. "Captain, requesting permission to stay abroad. You're going to need a helmsman, if you are going to do what I think you are doing."

Lindsey looked upon her friend and companion. "Permission granted, Ensign."

Selina also spoke from her station. "Captain, I too request permission to stay aboard."

"As do I, Captain," added Johnathan.

"Permission denied. I need the two of you to oversee the evacuation. Once everyone is off the ship then you two get in the pods and go. Understood!"

"Yes, Ma'am," said Johnathan somberly, but Selina only stood there with tears in her eyes. Then Johnathan lead her out of the bridge.

"Captain, what are your orders?" asked Ryan once it was just them.

"Continue reverse, but prepare to go full forward, thrusters and impulse."


Henry found the shuttle bay a mess as doctors and nurses were loading patients on the shuttles. Henry entered the cockpit of one shuttle, and prepared it for launch. He found that the other pilots were doing the same. Soon they were ready to go.

Then Dr. Randel entered the cockpit. "We're all set. Be a gentle as possible."

"Why didn't you tell me about the Captain's plan, Doc?"

"I thought you knew."

"Well, I didn't!" shouted Henry angrily as he launched out of the shuttle bay. But his anger was replaced with a somber seriousness when he saw dozens of escape pods launching and flying away from the Orion.

"I'm sorry," said Dr. Randel. "I guess she didn't want you to worry, or…"

"…to try and stop her," finished Henry. "The awful thing is that she was right to do so. I don't think I could have made this call. I guess that's why she's the Captain." Then Henry's gut dropped, but it had nothing to do with the shuttle. It had everything to do with losing a friend.


Selina found the evacuation to be surreal. She directed people to the escape pods and even helped some people enter the pods themselves. But she herself was in a daze. It was like a bad nightmare she couldn't change or couldn't wake up from.

On deck 5 she and Johnathan ran into Lt. Ulysses Grant, the acting head of security. "My officers have evacuated decks 6 through 10."

"Decks 2-4 are evacuated," said Johnathan. "What about the decks below the saucer?"

Grant held up his hand and tapped his combadge. "Lt. Matthews, status?"

"All lower decks evacuated except my team," replied Chef's voice.

"Copy that. Complete the evacuation and get off this ship."

"That goes for you too, Lieutenant," said Johnathan. "Selina and I will finish deck 5. We are under Captain's orders to be the last ones off the ship."

"Understood," said the security man. "Good luck."

Johnathan despite his injury was leading Selina. They finished the evacuation, and then called to the bridge. "Captain, evacuation complete. Ens. Chaput and I are heading to our pods now." All he received from the Captain was a confirmation beep. Then the Orion suddenly lurched forward.

"What's happening?" asked Selina as Johnathan pulled her down a hall.

"The Captain is going to use her final weapon."

"What weapon?"

"The Orion itself. It is a larger and more massive vessel. The collision with destroy the Warbird."

"But the Captain and Ryan!"

"Come we can't think of that," answered Johnathan. "Here we are. This is the only pod left on the deck, but we can both fit. Come on, get in."

Selina broke down in tears and sobs. But Johnathan held her in his arms. "It's alright. I'm here. Let's climb down together." Slowly he brought her down into the pod. As its door shut Selina held on to Johnathan and wept for her friends.


Lindsey received Johnathan's call. She didn't know what to say to him, so she just sent a simple acknowledgement beep. Then she gave her orders. "Full forward, impulse and thrusters. Set collision course, and adjust for any changes in the Romulan ship. Ram them with everything you've got."

"Yes, Captain," answered Ens. Ryan with a satisfaction only possible in a man who had already accepted his own death.

"Computer, transfer shields and weapons control to the captain's chair." She unlatched the hidden panel on the side of the chair and swung it in front of her. It would have been more practical for her to use the navigator's console, but Lindsey wanted to die in her captain's chair just as her hero and role model Captain Taylor had.

"Romulan Warbird, twenty kilometers and closing," reported Ryan.

The Romulan Warbird began to fire. It only seemed to have a few plasma torpedoes left, or else not enough tubes, but the disruptor arrays had been repaired. "We are taking hits, Captain."

"Let me worry about the weapons. You just focus on flying." Indeed, the forward shields were taking hits, but Lindsey compensated with energy from other systems. She even pulled from life support. They wouldn't need it much longer anyway. Lindsey also meticulously fired the four remaining torpedoes. "We are officially out of weapons."

"We still have that last weapon you referred to. Ten kilometers and closing." Then Ryan spoke deliberately. "Ms. Lander, it has been an honor to have you as my Captain."

"Mr. Ryan, I could not have asked for a better helmsman," replied Lindsey.

"Impact in twenty seconds," said Ryan.

Lindsey was just about to savor her last twenty seconds when a beeping came on her console. She looked at it and discovered it was a ship dropping out of warp.

"Impact in ten seconds, nine, eight, seven…"

Then with sudden mix of joy and horror, Lindsey realized what type of ship had just dropped out of warp.

"Abort! Abort! Hard to starboard!"

Ryan reacted instantly, and the Orion lurched to the right. Lindsey almost fell out of her chair. But Ryan shouted, "Too late! Impact in three, two… brake for impact!"

The jolt was greater than anything Lindsey had ever felt in her life. She felt herself fly out of her chair, and the last thing she remembered was a sharp pain in her left leg followed by cracking noise in her head.

Then all was black.