9 Salvation

The team had received the pertinent data from the Orion Syndicate's databanks and left. As they were boarding the flyer, Shar took Macen aside.

"I can give you seven days. After that Johnson will be offworld and in the heart of the Orion Confederacy. As you already know, the Ekosians are coming with an arms shipment. These arms will be used in support of the coup that will occur of Blek is still in office after that deadline. I know you said you would strike on the third day of your visit here, but can you really manage such a thing on such short notice?" Shar spoke.

"Ask Daveed B'nner," Macen replied.

That silenced Shar. No Syndicate agent would ever forget what Macen's compatriots had done after B'nner killed Macen and his Vulcan wife. The mystery of how the pair had been restored to life was shrouded in legend. The tellers of such stories, though typically reliable, were never believed.


The SID team flew back to the spaceport. There they rejoined Grace and Auray. The two pilots were thrilled to learn that they would have a role to play in upcoming events.

Macen loaded the info on the padds onto the ship's computer. From there, Grace and Auray loaded their own padds and dutifully followed along as the team dissected the data. What was quickly decided was that Blek needed to be observed throughout tomorrow. His comings and goings had to be charted. He had two meetings during the day and it would prove useful to observe his security team in action.

Daggit quickly ruled out an extraction from Blek's domicile. It was too heavily fortified and defended. They might as well strike Mount Fildkirk and try their hand against Brazzinik's Battalions. No one relished that particular thought. Just to be certain though, Radil shared her knowledge of the Battalions' strengths. She also revealed that Brazzinik had five companies on Felkor. Two would be on duty at all times. Two would be on stand-by and the remaining one would enjoy a furlough.

"We'll need more flyers," Macen decided, "Hannah, you'll pilot one. Auray, you have another and Eric, you have the third."

"But there are four approaches to the compound," McMasters pointed out.

"But we're going to have two stationary units and one mobile. Ensign Auray, how are you at blending into normal traffic?" Macen wondered.

"How do you mean, sir?" she asked.

"I mean, can you repeatedly fly around the compound without attracting official attention?" he clarified.

"Just say the word," she promised.

"Good," Macen grinned, "Because I want you to do the opposite."

"Say what?" she yelped.

"I want them to know you're there. Be obvious. I want them at their highest stage of alert. Then we'll know what a worst case scenario will look like," Macen explained his reasoning.

"If you say so, sir," Auray relented.

"And stop calling me 'sir'," Macen instructed, "I'm not in Starfleet anymore."

"Yessir!" Auray's cheeks darkened to a deeper shade of blue, "I mean…"

"I understand," Macen said with a longsuffering air. He turned back to his padd, "When Blek departs Hannah will follow them. Rab, Jenrya, you'll be with her. Watch his security when he disembarks. I want to know if we can mount a snatch and grab at a scheduled destination."

"I take it that leaves you and me with Eric back at the compound," Rockford observed.

"Yeah, and I have an idea," Macen said.

"Oh?" her eyebrows lifted, "Do tell."

"It's a surprise," Macen replied.

Rockford looked over towards McMasters, "We're going to get shot at."

"Not necessarily," Macen said defensively.

"Darling, all of your plans involve us getting shot at," Rockford duly informed him.

"We'll get to shoot back," Macen offered as way of consolation.

"I might just shoot you," Rockford warned.

"Where's the fun in that?" Macen asked.

Rockford's laugh was one of sheer delight, "Trust me, it'd be fun."

Macen's expression was less than mirthful.


Sleeping in the runabout was a crowded affair. Macen and Rockford shared a cot in the rear lounge. Radil and Auray shared the other cot. Both were familiar with sleeping with members of a female gender and felt comfortable spooning.

Grace grabbed a biobed and McMasters took the other bed. Grace warned McMasters that he'd better not snore and he laughed, "Like your boyfriend doesn't."

Grace was mortified. How did he know Ian had a light snore, almost like a purr? Fortunately for Delaney, Grace found it charming. Of course the thrill would eventually wear off.

Daggit strapped himself into the seat at the Tactical station and slept there. As an Angosian Augment, he would have been just as comfortable on the deck. He just wanted ready access to the defensive systems in case the Felkorian constables came calling. While he could be comfortable anywhere, he preferred sleeping by Parva's side. He'd grown used to her blazing warmth. And besides, her supple curves were much more inviting than a crash harness.


The next morning they rented their extra fliers and went to work. Grace and McMasters each set down on nearby landing platforms. They'd only be able to stay for a short time before building security investigated them. Meanwhile, Auray was making her circles of the Conciliator's building. Watching her through sensor glasses, Macen grinned; "Auray is doing just fine. Blek's security detail has to be going insane."

"His motorcade is supposed to deploy in three minutes," Rockford reminded him.

"Wait, they're deploying a flyer," Macen took a sensor reading, "It has police markings and disruptor cannons. Wave Auray off."

Rockford commed her, "Auray, it's time to break off. You have a pursuit vehicle after you. Lose them and then join us at the spaceport."

Auray acknowledged and flew off with the security flyer in hot pursuit. Next, the motorcade deployed. It consisted of two flyers fore, a limo, and two flyers aft. Grace immediately took off after them.

"I hope Hannah's smart enough to keep a low profile," McMasters fretted, "They're seriously outgunned."

"Hannah knows what she's doing. Now, get us in that landing bay before they seal it," Macen instructed.

McMasters gunned it and the flyer shot forward. He noted Macen was wearing a wry expression, "What?"

"I was just wondering if we could go back and get my teeth," Macen dryly commented.

"You wanted us in there. Well, the roll down gate is already closing. It's gonna be tight as it is," McMasters warned.

They did scrape the roof of the flyer across the gate as it was rolling down. It was essentially a cabled net intended to simply keep people from entering. The questions were, how strong was it, and would it trap them inside?

The flyer came to a halt. The entire level below the Chief Conciliator's residence was a parking and maintenance garage. It wouldn't take long for the remaining security staff to mobilize so they had to be quick.

The trio exited the flyer and the all drew their sidearms. The first guard appeared and Rockford gunned him down. As discussed, their phasers were set on stun. The Felkorians didn't have that option nor would they be inclined to use it if they had it but Macen wanted to minimize casualties.

They stormed up the stairs into the residence. Two guards had them pinned down in the foyer. Macen was exchanging fire with them while Rockford weighed her options.

Pulling a stun grenade out of her belt, she armed it, and then lobbed it in between the two guards. The energy wave lashed out and stunned the pair despite their armor. Macen kept a cover position and Rockford surged forward. She made it to the main hallway and stopped. She took a scan with her tricorder while Macen and McMasters followed her.

Rockford held up three fingers. Macen nodded then waved in the direction of the hallway with his free hand. She braced up against the wall and held up three fingers and then counted down. When she curled her last finger she spun around the corner and began firing at targets as they presented themselves.

Macen crossed the width of the entrance, firing as he did so. He made it to the other side and Rockford sought shelter. Macen tilted his hand to the left, then held it straight up, and then tilted it to the right. Rockford nodded. That was indeed where their foes were located.

Macen pointed at McMasters. Rockford jerked her thumb towards him and shrugged. Macen made a motion, acting like his phaser was a breech loader, and he was inserting a round. Rockford grinned and gave him a thumbs up. She whispered into McMasters' ear and he started grinning like the proverbial Cheshire.

He pulled what looked like a flare gun out of his jacket. Opening the breech, he pulled a cylindrical round out of a bandolier that he wore. Sliding the round in, he snapped the gun shut. Rockford stepped out of the way and allowed McMasters to take her place. He made a finger gun with his hand and aimed down the hallway.

Macen spun around the corner and began to fire. The three Felkorian guards returned that fire. McMasters poked his head around and got his bearings. Then he stepped out and fired the gun. He hopped back around the corner as the Felkorians started shooting at him as well. Macen did the duck and cover.

The three guards stared at the round embedded into the floor between them and then they stared at one another. It pinged and they all barked a yelp as it detonated. The round discharged a burst of neural electricity. Since most humanoid nervous systems were triggered by the same bioelectric energy, the round was effective for most races.

After the initial blast, the Felkorians lay twitching. That effect quickly wore off and the SID trio calmly waltzed past them and into the Conciliator's office. Macen headed straight for the comp/comm. Rockford surveyed the room. McMasters stayed with the aide's desk.

Macen fished a padd out of his belt and linked it to the computer. It carried one of T'Kir's tapeworms. Ostensibly, it would unlock the network's security restrictions and grant access to any and all files.

The worm successfully loaded and within minutes access was granted. He was searching for files detailing Felkor's arrangements with the Orion Syndicate. What he discovered was larger than that. Rockford hurried over as she saw him turn white.

"What is it? What's wrong?" she inquired.

Macen returned the computer to stand-by mode and broke the link in between the padd and the network, "We need to go."

"What is it?" she stubbornly refused to budge.

Macen told her what he'd discovered. Rockford fumed, "So all of this has been a game."

"Essentially. Blek is going to break faith with the Federation whether he stays in office or not," he confirmed it, "The plan all along was for a squadron to rush in and get ambushed."

"And instead they got us," Rockford said with distaste in her mouth, "I don't know whether to laugh at the irony or cry."

"Look at it this way, at least we aren't breaking our contract," Macen offered.

Rockford just glared at him.

"Guys!" McMasters poked his head in, "The computer out here is tied into the security system. Someone is still running around here and they've recalled the flyer that was chasing Auray."

"ETA?" Macen inquired.

"The call went out when we first entered the residence so I assume they'll be here any minute now," McMasters informed them.

"Time to move," Macen ordered.

"Gee, you think?" McMasters quipped but he hustled.

McMasters put the flyer in reverse and smashed into the security fence. Designed to keep flyers out and not in, it broke free of its brackets and fell the dozens of stories straight down towards the streets below. McMasters aimed at the direction the spaceport lay and gunned it.

The guards' flyer spotted them exiting and whipped around and started to pursue. Their disruptors opened fire and the rental flyer was struck several times. McMasters grinned.

"I don't think you'll be getting your deposit back. Between the roof, the rear, and the weapons fire I'd say we'll end up owing the agency money," he grinned.

"Can you think of anything to lose them?" Macen wondered.

"Yeah, but we may get a little more banged up," McMasters warned.

"I think I'm already going to have to buy them a new flyer anyway," Macen replied.

"Strap in. This is gonna get hairy," McMasters instructed.

He steadied the steering yoke with his knees while he pulled on his own crash harness. This made them a steady target of convenience. He had everyone sound off when they were ready. When everyone had confirmed their preparation he dove the flyer…straight down.

Descending through layers of traffic, he dodged and weaved around crossing flyers and transports as best he could. They glanced off of several vehicles in different levels. The guards doggedly pursued them, firing their weapons the entire time.

They were in the teen levels when the guards' flyer was smashed head on by a large transport. The wreckage of the flyer continued to spiral downwards. McMasters leveled out and joined traffic. In the same level, the stricken flyer was hit again by yet another transport. This time it was flung into the opposing lane and hit head on by another flyer. It returned to falling and eventually smashed into the long forsaken streets below.

McMasters was quite pleased with himself, at least he was until he looked over and recognized Macen's displeasure; "What's wrong? We escaped them."

"I thought I made it plain that I wanted a zero body count," Macen expressed.

"When did you go so soft? Back in the Maquis…" McMasters began.

"We aren't in the Maquis," Macen snapped, "Those days are over, Eric. What worked then doesn't work now."

"Well, you certainly don't seem to think so most of the time!" McMasters accused, "One minute we aren't talking prisoners and then we suddenly are. Which is it going to be?"

"It all depends upon operational necessity," Macen was trying to stay calm but he was getting irritated and more than a tad defensive, "Our contracts determine our limits. That changes with each contract."

"That's stupid," McMasters vented.

"It's our life. Can you or can you not live it?" Macen wanted to know.

McMasters gave it serious thought before he finally spoke, "Yeah, I can live with it."

"Then you can stay with the team," Macen decided.

McMasters suddenly realized his future had been on the line. Although he'd only been with the SID unit for eighteen months, he instinctively knew he'd miss it. The members of the team had become his friends. Although Parva wasn't a member of the team, she regularly consulted with him. She respected his opinion and would want a second opinion or some advice on a project of hers.

Grace had become a dear friend as well. She'd been adrift after the loss of T'Kir. McMasters had put her to work on a complete refit of the Corsair and they'd grown close as the work progressed.

It seemed odd to McMasters that his two closest friends were women. Unavailable women at that. In fact, the only female member of the team that was available was Tessa and she was available to everyone. But the truth was, there was only one woman for him: Lisea Danan. Despite her marriage to Tom Riker, he still fantasized about her.

No women, real or holographic, had ever known him the way that she had. It had stuck with him. Every relationship afterwards became compared to those two weeks with Danan and it fell apart. He knew it bordered on delusional obsession and he didn't give a damn. Danan was the woman for him no matter whom she thought she was married to!


They regrouped at the spaceport. The rental agency did indeed ream Macen inside and out for the damages. He paid the overinflated price of buying a new flyer and left. Fortunately, they wouldn't need any more flyers while they were here.

Daggit reported that a snatch and grab at the hotel was impossible. Auray had listened in to official police chatter and discovered Blek was staying in the hotel until a replacement for the security net was installed. Work crews were already on it and they expected to be finished this evening.

Blek was refusing to move until morning, late morning, and several breakfasts later. Radil proposed taking him in the hotel. A lively debate arose and finally Grace interrupted.

"The easiest place to take him is the route," she declared. Every eye turned to her, "He has the least amount of protection while the flyers are en route. Reinforcements aren't readily available; they have to be called in."

She hesitated and Macen urged her on, "Keep going, Hannah."

She moved to the lounge's table and Rockford left her seat so Grace could sit down. Grace activated the touch screen controls and after selecting the map reader app, she traced the motorcade's route, "This is the route they took to get to the hotel. According to Auray's intercepts, they feel it's secure so they're retracing their steps to get back. What I noticed while we followed them is that this tower is unfinished."

She highlighted a tower along the route and then she expanded it, "The top thirty floors are an expansion to the lower levels. The roof is already reinforced. That means we could drive the motorcade into the superstructure, land on the roof, and then pursue them before they can escape the jamming field we'll have in place."

"You thought of this on your own?" Macen asked.

Grace shrugged, "Traffic was light."

"Well, it's brilliant," he declared. Grace smiled great big and practically glowed with pride.

"Rab, can you shoot down some of the flyers before herd the limo into the superstructure?" Macen wondered.

"What happened to zero body count?" McMasters snidely asked.

"I got some good readings on their flyers with my tricorder today. I should be able to disable them enough where they have to fall away without blowing them up or send them hurtling towards the ground," Daggit looked to Macen, "That's assuming we're using the Corsair."

"You bet your bippy we're using her," Macen grinned.

"My what?" Daggit was completely befuddled by the reference.

"Never mind," Macen waved the thought away, "We have an idea folks, now let's turn it into a plan."