USS Comet, NCC-271279, orbiting Rura Penthe
Amy rushed towards the shuttles that were landing in the shuttlebay, followed by her medical team. Axel got off the shuttle along with Lt. Soto and Terry Young, the three of them carrying a Klingon soaked in blood, with two metal blades sunk on his back.
"Amy! We need emergency medical assistance!" ordered Axel as soon as he saw her. "Help Dr. Duvak bringing the other survivors to sickbay" he said and went into a turbolift.
"What happened?" asked Amy to Dr. Duvak, as they both tried to carry a Klingon woman, and the rest of the survivors assisted each other so they could get to sickbay.
"We were attacked by the most vicious creature I've ever seen" he replied.
They got to sickbay as Axel was storming out with Cdr. Markus.
"Amy, do whatever you can but don't let them die!" he said and went into another turbolift with Cdr. Markus.
Axel and Cdr. Markus got to the bridge and Cdr. Peterson rose to his feet.
"Cap…" he began.
"No time for explanations. Henry, set a course to Kronos, maximum warp. Jenna, contact Starfleet Command and the Klingon High Council immediately."
"Yes, Captain" she said. After a few minutes, both the Klingon High Chancellor and VAdm. Hayes appeared on splitscreen.
"Cpt. Vargas, what happened?" asked VAdm. Hayes, looking at Axel's wounds and bruises.
"Vice Admiral Hayes… your Honor" said Axel, addressing both VAdm. Hayes and the Klingon High Chancellor respectively, "we made contact with something down there. There are no records of the species in our files, but it was ferocious. One of the survivor guards managed to beat them in the end, an honorable warrior" he added, for the Klingon Chancellor, "but he sustained heavy wounds. We are trying to save his life."
"Don't do such a thing!" yelled the Klingon Chancellor. "Don't deprive him of the honor of Sto-Vo-Kor! He will have died in battle, let him."
Axel looked at VAdm. Hayes, who nodded, so he turned to look at the Klingon Chancellor.
"As you wish" he complied. "We're on our way to Kronos to deliver the other Klingon survivor and an Andorian prisoner."
"How long 'till you get here?" asked the Klingon Chancellor.
"We should be getting to Kronos in less than 24 hours. We're going at maximum warp."
"We will be expecting you by the border of the Neutral Zone with a patrol ship. Do not cross the Neutral Zone without the escort" ordered the Klingon Chancellor.
"Captain, we're counting on you to get to Kronos and return to Starbase 24 as soon as possible" added VAdm. Hayes. "Adm. Jenkins is on his way to rendezvous with you in Kronos as well."
"I'll do my best. I've lost a lot of men today, Vice Admiral, we need to rest."
"Your men died with honor" said the Klingon Chancellor with a solemn voice. "We will not forget their sacrifice."
The Klingon Chancellor ended the transmission, and after a court farewell, so did VAdm. Hayes. Axel left Cdr. Markus in charge and he went back to sickbay.
Amy was running back and forth trying to tend the injured. Some had mere bruises, but there were other with deep cuts and a few broken bones. The Andorian female, Tharia, was out of danger but she was lying still in a bed as silent as possible. Kara, the Klingon woman, was recovering in her own bed, being tended by Dr. Duvak. Axel came into sickbay just when she confirmed the death of Bor'Ka.
"Is he…?" he began.
"There was nothing I could do" said Amy.
"Well, according to the Klingon Chancellor, he died with honor" replied Axel. "How is the rest of the crew?"
"Two with broken ribs, one with a splintered femur, another with a broken arm and all of them bruised badly. Crewman Hernandez nearly bled to death. What happened down there, Captain?"
"Later, not the best time. We will rendezvous with a Klingon escort on the edge of the Neutral Zone and then continue our way to Kronos."
"We're going into Klingon space?" asked Amy in surprise. "Why can't they just pick up their people and we move on?"
"Orders from VAdm. Hayes" explained Axel.
A few hours later, Axel was in the briefing room with his senior officers. He had just explained what had happened to Amy and Cdr. Peterson, who hadn't been witnesses of the horror they lived in Rura Penthe.
"It's a shame we weren't at least able to recover the energy weapon" said Lt. Soto. "We may have been able to learn some of its technology."
"I bet the Klingons will think the same thing" said Cdr. Peterson.
"We will meet with the Klingons soon, so we better go back to the bridge" said Axel.
"I will go back to engineering and make sure the warp core is holding" pointed Cdr. Peterson. "We need to keep those EPS manifolds checked when traveling at maximum warp."
The USS Comet dropped out of warp on the edge of the Neutral Zone, and was met by three Vor'cha battle cruisers. After a quick word with the captain of the lead ship, they reassumed course to Kronos.
"Dr. Vargas to the bridge" Axel heard Amy through the comlink.
"Yes, Doctor, what is it?" inquired Axel.
"The Andorian is not in her bed, we can't find her."
"On my way" replied Axel and closed the channel. "Cdr. Markus, you have the bridge."
Axel gestured Lt. Soto to follow him and they both went to sickbay. Amy was talking to a few assistants and Dr. Duvak.
"How did this happen?" asked Axel.
"No idea, Captain" replied Dr. Duvak. "At least she didn't hurt the Klingon. That would have meant trouble for us."
"Lt. Soto, return to the bridge and ask Cdr. Markus to run a bioscan on the ship. We need to find her quickly" asked Axel.
"Yes, Captain" said Lt. Soto, and he left.
Captain's log, stardate 50669.36
We should be getting to Kronos in a couple hours. We have located the body of the Andorian in a room on D-deck. She appears to have committed suicide. After discussing it, we have decided to take her body back to Andoria as soon as we are done with the Klingons in Kronos.
"Dropping out of warp, Captain" signaled Henry.
"Thank you, Henry. Cdr. Markus, you have the bridge. I'll take the gig along with Lt. Soto and the Klingon down to the surface."
Axel signaled Lt. Soto and they both left the bridge on their way to sickbay. Kara was on her feet, aided by Amy, and the corpse of Bor'Ka was on a stretcher covered by a red and green blanket with the emblem of the Klingon Empire.
"Your brother was an honorable man" said Axel to Kara, while they were boarding the Apollo.
"He now feasts in Sto-Vo-Kor with our ancestors" she replied.
"Captain, two Klingon shuttles are waiting for us to escort us down to the Klingon High Council building" said Lt. Soto.
"Let's go, then."
The Apollo detached from the saucer of the Comet and followed the two Klingon shuttles into the planet.
We haven't been detected.
We have followed our prey and reached their home planet.
Our vengeance is at hand.
Klingon High Council, Qo'noS
Axel was standing with Kara in the middle of the Klingon High Council chamber. Kara had finished recounting what had happened since they detected the vessel entering the atmosphere, up until the point where they had been found by the crew of the Comet. Axel continued the story and told them about the attack from the creature. They didn't refer to it as a ghost, but as a predator: always in search of new prey, always a hunter in the shadows. Lt. Soto came in then, he was pushing the hovering stretcher with the body of Bor'Ka.
"This is one of the most honorable warriors I've met" said Axel with a solemn tone of voice. "He fought bravely and fiercely against this predator, fought for his sister and for his allies, but above all, fought to defend the glory of the Klingon Empire. He died fighting his enemy."
"He will be given all of the honors he deserves" said the Klingon Chancellor, standing up.
The rest of the Klingons of the council hammered their fists on their desks. Axel and Lt. Soto made a reverence and were escorted outside by two guards. They had walked a few meters when the Klingon Chancellor came out of the room.
"Captain" he called.
"Your honor" replied Axel, turning around.
"You are an honorable man. You kept your word and you aided our people. Please, accept this as a gift from an ally" he said and handed out a D'k tahg knife, the one that had belonged to Bor'Ka.
"It will be an honor to have it from you" replied Axel, taking it.
After another reverence, they returned to the gig and then to the Comet.
"You seem to know pretty well how to deal with Klingons" said Lt. Soto when they took off.
"My father told me everything about them when I was a child. He said that if I ever encountered them, I had to be very careful and respectful at all times. I had to speak of honor and try to think as a warrior."
"Your father is a wise man."
"He is indeed" agreed Axel, with a smile.
They docked under the saucer of the Comet and returned to the bridge.
"Captain, you came in just in time" said Cdr. Markus from the sensor terminal.
"What is it, Commander?" asked Axel sitting on his chair.
"An unknown vessel has de-cloaked about 4000 kms from our position."
"Klingon?"
"No sir, something else."
"Jenna" said Axel, turning around "open a channel and try to contact them."
"Yes, Captain" she said, and a few second later she added "they're responding, Captain. Frequency open."
"On screen" said Axel.
When the creature appeared on screen Jenna screamed, and Lt. Soto, Cdr. Markus and Axel rose rapidly to their feet. It was of the same species than the one they had fought in Rura Penthe, however, was clad in a more elaborate armor, adorned with a red cape, and didn't have a mask on. Its physical features were practically the same.
"My name is Captain Axel Vargas, of the Federation…" began Axel.
The creature interrupted him with a growl and began making a series of purring sounds.
"The UT doesn't recognize the language, Captain" said Jenna.
"What do you want with us?"
The predator began making those sounds again and the UT finally picked it up.
"… honor to the Clan" finished the creature.
"Who are you?" asked Axel. "We can live in peace."
"There is no such thing. You are prey, we are the Yautja. We are hunters. You dishonored the Clan. We will restore it."
Axel was about to reply but the Yautja closed the channel.
"They're charging weapons" said Lt. Soto.
"Red alert! Tell the Klingons to open fire!" ordered Axel.
A beam of plasma was shot from a cannon on one side of the Yautja ship and one of the Vor'cha battle cruisers blew up when receiving the impact.
The Comet began firing its phasers and torpedoes, along with the remaining two Klingon ships. Another plasma beam hit the Comet, but the shields took most of the impact.
"Forward shielding down to 20%" said Lt. Soto. "They won't hold another attack like that."
"Target their weapons, fire quantum torpedoes."
The Yautja ship was charging another plasma beam when the cannon was destroyed by the torpedoes, but another beam from the other side was shot and the Comet took the hit.
"We lost starboard shields, Captain!" signaled Lt. Soto.
"Hull breaches are being reported on all decks" said Jenna.
"Seal those sections, and return fire!" ordered Axel.
"Sir, there are more ships dropping out of warp" said Cdr. Markus.
An Intrepid Class ship dropped out of warp near the site of battle, along with two Klingon Birds of Prey, and began firing at the Yautja. The Vor'cha battle cruiser that was left fired a set of torpedoes and Axel ordered Lt. Soto to fire quantum torpedoes.
The Yautja ship stopped firing and there were a set of explosions from the inside, breaching most of the hull, and the bow of the ship exploded, leaving the stern section adrift. Axel managed them to recognize the registry of the Intrepid Class ship: it was the USS Oracle, Adm. Jenkins' ship.
"Captain, the Oracle is hailing us" signaled Jenna.
"On screen" said Axel.
"Cpt. Vargas" said Adm. Jenkins when the image came up.
"You couldn't have timed your arrival better, Admiral" said Axel. "We were getting a beating here."
"I had a hunch that you were going to require assistance."
"And you were right, as usual."
"We will escort you back to Starbase 24, there we can complete repairs on the Comet and I can brief you personally on your next mission."
"We will prepare for warp, then" agreed Axel, and the transmission ended.
Our ship has been destroyed. I'm the only survivor, but not for long. My injuries are deep and I can feel the blood pumping out of my body. I should send a signal to our Clan, so they can destroy these enemies and restore honor to our people, but my wristpad is damaged. The only remaining thing to do is to destroy the rest of the ship.
I can barely reach for the controls, but I did it. Now… it's time…
Axel was the first to see it when the transmission ended: the stern of the Yautja ship was emitting electrical bursts, there were more inner explosions, and then the whole ship exploded in an enormous mass of blue fire.
The USS Oracle was near so it received the impact of the shockwave from the explosion, and one of the Birds of Prey was destroyed by it. Axel rose to his feet as he saw one of the nacelles of the Oracle blow up and part of the saucer being breached.
"Cdr. Markus! Scan for Adm. Jenkins' signal and bring him to the Comet" ordered Axel.
"I got him locked, Captain" said Cdr. Markus. "His signal is weak but he's still alive."
"Trasnporter room" said Axel over the comlink in his armchair, "energize!"
"We have him" said a voice over the comlink a few seconds later. "He's unconscious, but alive."
"Take him to sickbay and get ready to transport as many survi…" he interrupted himself when he saw the Oracle's saucer section explode, followed shortly by the secondary hull.
Axel sat back on his chair and lifted a hand to his face.
"Captain, the Klingons are hailing us" said Jenna.
"On screen, Ensign" acknowledged Axel.
"Captain" said the Klingon who appeared on screen. "We will escort you back to the border of the Neutral Zone."
"Thank you. We will leave immediately."
"Qapla'!" said the Klingon raising a fist to his chest.
"Qapla'!" replied Axel.
"Henry" said Axel looking at him. "Set a course to Starbase 24, maximum warp."
"Aye, Sir."
A couple minutes later, they were on their way.
Captain's log, supplemental
We're on our way to Starbase 24. We hope that we don't encounter any more Yautjas on the way, as the Comet is heavily damaged and we won't be able to sustain another battle. Dr. Vargas has treated Adm. Jenkins' injuries, but he doesn't seem to regain conscience. As far as she has told me, and after confirmation by Dr. Duvak's mind meld, the Admiral seems to be in a deep coma, induced by the trauma he received on his head.
As soon as we reach Starbase 24, I'm supposed to contact Starfleet Command, so that VAdm. Hayes can brief me on our next mission.
Axel returned to the bridge. He had lost track of how long he had been locked up in his quarters, but he guessed that they should be arriving shortly.
"Henry, how long 'till we get to Starbase 24?"
"About half an hour, Captain."
Axel sat down in his chair and pressed the comlink to address the whole crew:
"Attention all crew, this is the Captain. We're nearing Starbase 24 and we will be docking to make repairs on the ship. Any personnel, who are not directly involved in the repairs, take some time to yourselves, write or call your families, read a book, get some rest. We will get a new mission after the repairs are finished, and according to Cdr. Peterson that may take about a week. You've all been doing an excellent job and you deserve a short shore leave."
Axel ended the transmission and left the bridge again. A few minutes later, he felt the soft sound of the ship dropping out of warp. He looked through his window and saw Starbase 24 as they approached and sighed.
After the experiences from the last few days, he could also use some rest.