9 Salvation
The night was spent largely as the evening before. They received a communiqué from Shar the next morning outlining Blek's departure time and route. Macen wisely neglected to say that they'd worked out the route but he made a point of confirming the departure time.
Grace lifted the Corsair off of the tarmac ten minutes before Blek's motorcade was to depart. Auray sat beside her, acting as OPS Officer. Daggit had the Tactical station. Macen had bumped McMasters out of the cockpit. The Engineering console now acted as an Infosys board. That was a special command option McMasters had created for Macen.
The engineer joined Radil and Rockford in the rear lounge. They sat around the table, strapped into their seats. They didn't have any clue as to what kind of hairy maneuvers Grace would attempt. Even with the artificial gravity and inertial dampers it was still far too easy to get thrown from your seat when you couldn't anticipate what was coming next.
The Corsair filed a flight plan and made like she was slowly lifting off. Grace slowed the process to a crawl and was queried by Traffic Control.
"Sorry Traffic," Grace lied, "I seem to be having difficulties with my impulse manifold. Give my engineer time to lock it down."
They shunted her to a holding pattern over the city. Grace swung into it and came on to approach over Blek's hotel. Macen studied the sensor readings. Suddenly he grinned.
"The motorcade is setting out," he announced, "Okay Hannah, do your thing."
Grace pitched the runabout into a dive. The Corsair came up on the unsuspecting motorcade. It was then that Traffic Control put out the alert that the Federation runabout was off course and in the city. The guards in the flyers immediately spotted the spacecraft.
"You're up, Rab," Grace announced.
Daggit fired his first phaser volley. It disabled the engine of the lead flyer. It began to sink out of the traffic lane. The second shot damaged the next flyer guiding the limo. It couldn't keep up and fell away. Now Daggit used narrow misses to "steer" the limo.
The two rear flyers split up. One dropped back behind the Corsair and opened fire on her. The runabout's shields were holding but they wouldn't be able to land with the shields up. So Daggit had to divert his attention to disabling the chasing aircraft.
By the time he got back to the limo, it was almost too late. He fired with every forward phaser and got the limo redirected so that it crashed into the framework of the construction site. The remaining flyer followed it in.
The limo was on the 64th Floor and the runabout landed on the roof, right above the floor. The SID team piled out of the ship, fully armed and loaded for anything. Radil and Daggit descended the closest stairwell. Grace and McMasters took the lift while Macen and Rockford ran to the opposing stairwell.
Radil and Daggit appeared even as Grace and McMasters did. Two guards opened up on Grace and McMasters. The Kelvan and the human sought shelter behind different support columns. The bundle of girders deflected the disruptor fire. Grace returned fire and McMasters joined her.
While the guards' attention was focused on the pilot and the engineer, Radil hoisted her phaser cannon and unleashed several salvos at the limo. Daggit wracked a round into his grenade launcher. He unloaded a photon grenade at the flyer. Another one followed as did another. The right side of the flyer was a gutted ruin as Daggit slung his grenade launcher and began to use his phaser rifle.
Meanwhile, the guards formed up as best they could to try and keep the SID under cover while they extracted Blek to the other stairwell. Pulling the Chief Conciliator out of the limo, the four free protective services men started hustling him towards the remaining stairwell. The race would occur over ground with minimal cover. The only protection was the support girders but they would have to risk it.
"Why haven't you called for help?" Blek asked in a panicked voice as he crouched behind the limo.
His Protective Agent in Charge explained to him, "The Starfleet vermin have erected a jamming field. We can't talk amongst ourselves much less to the outside world. We need to get to the lower levels of the building, out of range of their jammers."
"How do you know it doesn't cover the entire building?" Blek wanted to know.
"They're using their runabout to jam our signals. That means the field has a very limited range. Runabouts, even Starfleet ones, only have so much power to spare," The PAC explained, "Now we have to get you across that empty space and to that stairwell. Do you see the stairwell?"
Blek nodded and the PAC spoke again, "I need to hear you say it. Do you see the stairwell?"
"Yes, I see it," Blek confirmed.
"When I give the word, we're going to run to that stairwell. The detail will move with you so you'll be safe. We'll be all around you, do you understand?" the PAC asked.
Blek nodded, "I understand."
The PAC signaled the other three agents and then he said, "Go!"
Blek had an agent in front of him, one on either side, and the PAC behind him. The PAC worriedly watched as Daggit picked off the agents left behind. As soon as one presented an available target, Radil would nail them with the cannon.
The agents at dealing with Grace and McMasters were down and the pair was trying to reposition to get a decent shot at their huddle. The guard to Blek's right laid down suppressive fire but Grace managed to hit him. The PAC took his place and forced Grace to retreat.
They reached the stairwell door and the lead agent swung it open and started to sweep the area visually and with his weapon. Unfortunately for him, Macen and Rockford were laying in wait. The agent was immediately stunned by Macen. Rockford, who'd been waiting pressed up against the wall, shot the agent to Blek's left.
The PAC forced Blek behind him. Radil and Daggit were the furthest away so he'd have a moment before the rear was threatened again. He began rapidly firing into the stairwell. Rockford simply scooted to her left and was safe. Macen hopped to his right and took cover behind the wall.
The PAC backed Blek up. The Chief Conciliator was terrified out of his mind. Why was Starfleet after him? Sure he'd taken an admiral and his men hostage, sure he was holding the Federation ambassador, sure he'd tried to threaten these people, but why would that make them hostile? On Felkor it was a typical negotiating tactic.
"Hey! Big boy!" Radil called out from the limo.
The PAC swung Blek around so he could face the accursed Bajoran and shoot her. Her phaser cannon blew him over. Blek was left all alone, standing in the middle of the vast area, trembling and whimpering.
All of the SID team members surrounded him. Macen grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and began guiding him to the nearest stairwell. Blek protested all the way, but he obediently followed direction.
They reached the roof level and marched Blek to the runabout. Inside Auray had news to report.
"The Constabulary has dispatched four flyers to investigate reports of our shooting the fuzzball down," she stated.
"Hey!" Blek yelped.
Radil shoved him forward with the emitter of her phaser cannon. She herded him to the lounge area. He plopped down into a chair. Radil kept the cannon's emitter placed in his chest. Rockford knelt beside Blek.
"Give me your wrist," she instructed. She used a pair of binders and locked his wrist to the chair's center support strut.
She got up and turned to Radil, "Get rid of that cannon while you can. I'll watch Fido here."
McMasters arrived, "How's the pooch?"
"He's probably been in better moods," Rockford replied as she took a seat. McMasters took the one to Blek's left. Radil returned and sat down.
"We'd better strap him in. Hannah let me know that we're running from the constables," Radil warned.
"My people will find you and kill you," Blek promised.
Rockford only fastened the waist belt, "Your people already have a new leader."
"That's impossible," Blek said defiantly.
"We get local channels. Want to watch the news and see?" Rockford smiled thinly.
She activated the table's touch screen. She then activated a comm channel and surfed until Blek told her to stop. A local news station reported Blek's death at the hands of "Starfleet terrorists". Vice Conciliator Ner had already been sworn in as Chief Conciliator. The planetary Constabulary was on high alert with orders to bring in the murderers, dead or alive.
"But I had assurances," Blek said weakly.
"From Shar?" Radil asked, "He made the deal that got you out of office. The deal was 'dead or alive'. We prefer alive. So you'll be an exile. So what? The Federation is very accommodating even to traitors."
"What makes you say that?" Blek's panic level was starting to rise again.
"We know about your intended change of allegiance," Rockford said coldly, "You really thought the Typhon Pact would offer you better terms?"
The Typhon Pact was a collective of sovereign, star faring governments. It was composed of the Romulan Star Empire, the Breen Confederacy, The Tzenkethi Coalition, the Gorn Hegemony, the Tholian Assembly, and the Holy Order of the Kinshaya. It had taken some doing to unite the xenophobic Tholians and Gorn with outside forces. The Romulans and the Breen had once been enemies but times had since changed. None of the members states easily allied with outsiders yet their desperation had been great enough to bring them together.
In response, the Federation and the Klingon Empire expanded the Khitomer Accords to include the Cardassian Union and the Ferengi Alliance. The Cardassians had been a recent inclusion. Gul Maret's Unionists had fallen prey to a popular uprising that they'd inadvertently fostered. Democratic leaders were back in control. The proposed constitutional monarchy was established at long last and the government wasted no time in formally allying itself with the Federation and the Klingons.
The Ferengi, still guided by Grand Nagus Rom, saw their inroads into the markets of the Typhon Pact dry up and they sought protection from the encroaching Orion Syndicate and the ever expanding Meirkus Conglomerate. The UFP, the Klingon Empire, and the Cardassian Union had all been weakened by recent events, whether Borg incursions or internal strife, and their markets were open to what the Ferengi had to offer. The Accords also paved the way to the Protectorate regions and thus an economic boom was created on Alliance worlds.
Despite the Ferengi's official sanction, they faced stiff competition in the Protectorates from the Orion Syndicate. The Orions, struggling to stay relevant in the modern era, were rapidly expanding their concerns, often times with government assistance. Felkor was but a symptom of a widespread disease.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Blek found his voice but he sounded weak and defeated rather than defiant.
"You'd best hope that we find the admiral and his party unmolested or we'll take it out of your hide," Radil warned. The look in her eyes told Blek she meant every word.
"Move it!" the Master Sergeant from the Brazzinik's Battalions commanded as his troops herded Johnson, Delaney, Striker, the two Security officers, and Ambassador Blevins out in from of Mount Fildkirk.
They were marched out into a landing field. Shar's limo was already there and the Andorian greeted Johnson.
"So Admiral, we meet at last," he said.
"I take it you're the brains behind this operation?" Johnson wondered.
"You flatter me. Think of me as a humble facilitator," Shar urged.
"I rather doubt you're all that humble and you have the stench of the Orion Syndicate all over you," Johnson replied.
"Yes, but I also arranged for your release. So a little gratitude should be forthcoming," Shar challenged.
"You have to know what I think of the Syndicate," Johnson said gruffly, "You're only releasing me because it's convenient to do so. You're gaining something somewhere."
"Yes, we did," Shar chuckled.
"We?" Johnson asked.
"Yes, we," Shar said coldly, "You'll learn all about that soon enough."
One of the battalion troops reported to the Master Sergeant and the Sergeant in return reported to Shar, "We have a Danube-class runabout coming in hot. It looks as though the entire Constabulary force is on their heels."
"Prepare for a touch and go," Shar warned.
The mercenaries scrambled.
"Hannah, we have constables on our tail," Macen reported as he viewed the sensor readings.
"How many?" she asked.
"All of them," Macen said grimly.
"I'm boosting speed. If we get some distance between them and us then we can make a landing, gather everyone up, and take off again just as the Felkorians catch up with us," Grace hypothesized, "Rab, think you can use the chase armament to discourage pursuit?"
"I've just been waiting for someone to ask," Daggit grumped.
"You have permission to engage the enemy," Macen said dryly.
"Right," Daggit said tersely as he went to work.
Grace swiftly outran the horde of flyers. She swung in on the landing tarmac before the fortress. Several Battalion troopers scattered as she came at breakneck speeds. However she came to a halt and gently sat the runabout down. The hatch opened and Macen appeared.
"Macen?" Johnson couldn't quite believe it.
"Don't just stand there," Macen shouted, "Get aboard."
The Starfleet officers and the ambassador looked to Shar. The Andorian nodded, "I suggest you follow his instructions. His pursuers will be here in any moment. Your compatriots are the most vulnerable here on the ground waiting for you."
"Everybody board the runabout!" Johnson ordered. He turned to Shar, "This isn't over."
Shar was amused, "It is on this planet. Trust me Admiral; we'll meet again in the near future."
"I wish I could say I'm looking forward to it," Johnson countered.
"Bob! Haul ass or get left behind!" Macen yelled.
Johnson ran to the runabout and boarded her. Delaney had been standing by in case the admiral needed help. He was the last to board. He sealed the hatch.
"Hannah?" Delaney excitedly asked Macen.
"At the CONN but I think you can wait to have a moment," Macen advised, "Gentlemen, if you'd proceed to the rear lounge, you can get situated. This is going to be bumpy."
The runabout lurched as Grace used the antigravs to lift it off the ground and threw the impulse throttle to maximum all at the same time.
"I see what you mean," Johnson said with a wry grin.
"Hannah, I love you," Delaney called before exiting the cockpit.
"I love you too, you big goof. Now strap yourself in," she called back.
Macen strapped up his crash harness as he checked the sensors, "They've caught up with us."
"Shields are up," Daggit reported as he shrugged on his harness. As soon as he'd finished that chore he began to return fire. The Constabulary flyers were targeting them and firing as opportunities arose.
Grace climbed into the atmosphere. Auray had strapped in and spelled Grace as she strapped in. The Andorian warned her partner, "This is where they opened up on me."
"Rab, tie me into the tactical sensors," Grace requested. The runabout shook as the first disruptor bank hit it.
"Let's see if we can avoid that," Grace murmured.
She began a series of evasive maneuvers. She deftly dodged one burst after another. Auray gaped at Grace's skill. Little did she know that Grace wasn't even remotely human despite all appearances to the contrary.
Grace cleared the disruptors' range with only a half dozen strikes against the shields. They were weakened but they held. What they discovered beyond the lunar range was a flotilla of Typhon Pact ships. Romulan Warbirds, Breen cruisers, Tzenkethi warships, floated beside Tholian and Gorn ships. The Corsair was immediately hailed.
"Route it to my screen," Macen instructed Grace.
Of all the people to appear on his screen, Commander P'ris was the least expected of them. She wore an uncomfortable smile, "Greetings Commander."
"Hello to you as well," Macen returned her greeting, "Been here long?"
"Long enough," was all she'd say, "You are free to go but the Imperator will escort you out of the system."
"Is that the Warbird you're aboard?" Macen asked.
Her chin ducked once in a tense nod, "There will be no further communication between our vessels. You will return to the Obsidian and then depart the system. The Intrepid will leave as well. This territory is now closed to the members of the Khitomer Accords. Test our resolve at your peril."
Macen frowned. He couldn't help it. P'ris was obviously working under duress but unless he could her off of that Warbird, there was nothing to be done.
"I've transmitted your approved transit route. Do not deviate from this path. I repeat, do not deviate from the path," P'ris warned.
Macen could've sworn there was something in her voice. A slight catch perhaps. He forwarded the data to Grace. She perused it and snorted. Macen tried to hide his resultant smile.
"Very well, Commander. We shall abide by your terms…for now," Macen replied.