26

The Heart of Virtue

Inside the Delta Flyer Fibonacci, Alexandria, Genevieve, and Alexander watch as the explosion subsides. Alexandria, seated at the right, is stationed at operations, Genevieve is beside her at Helm control, and Alexander at tactical just behind her.

"If the Breen didn't know we were here before, they sure know now," jests Munro.

"Commander, I am detecting a vessel approaching at high velocity!' reports Worf.

"Battlestations!" announces Picard. "Charge phaser banks, divert warp power to the shield grid."

"Worf, when the Breen are in range, open up our special present for them."

"Aye, commander,"

"Munro, keeps us shielded and breathing. When things go south, beam us down to the planet surface."

"You realize the Breen don't take prisoners,"

"I know," solemnly replies Picard.

"Aye, commander," replies Munro.

Genevieve taps her helm control console.

"I'll keep them busy finding a target,"

"At their current velocity the Breen battleship will arrive in 47 seconds,"

As the trio wait for the impeding attack, Genevieve decides to use the time they have left to ask a question.

"What is the Heart of Virtue?" she asks.

Worf gives a confounding look. "Commander?"

"What is it?" she asks, looking over her shoulder. "I want to know."

Alexander straightens up to answer

"It is the way, of a true warrior," Worf answers, with an enlightened tone. "The trefoil symbol that represents our people originally was the mark of the House of Kahless. That mark was derived from an ancient weapon wielded by Kahless, the unforgettable. He believed that each edge represented the three virtues that every Klingon must master to walk the warrior's path."

"And they are?"

Alexander eyes widen. "Duty, honour and loyalty," he recites. "It is said that when a Klingon has mastered each of these three virtues, he will have achieved true enlightenment."

"Or she," adds Munro

Genevieve rewards Alexandria with an approving smile. Worf simply grunts. A proximity alarm breaks the philosophical moment.

"Commander, Breen battlecruiser incoming,"

"Then let's give them what they came here for," with a determined voice. "A fight."

"Intercept in 3 seconds,"

The massive Breen battleship blasts over the tiny Delta Flyer and takes a position at the prow of the Fibonacci.

"Fire phasers," orders Picard

Fibonacci fires a duo of phaser pulses at the Breen battleship; however, it does not return fire.

"Damage,"

"Negligible damage to their shields," reports Worf.

"What are they waiting for?" exclaims Picard.

"They're scanning us," says Munro, as she analyzes the telemetry coming across her console.

"Commander, they are passing over us," reports Munro. "They're not taking the bait!"

"They will…" says Picard, with confidence.

The Breen battleship swoops over the Delta Flyer in cavalier fashion.

"Worf, now!" says Genevieve.

Alexander targets one of the ten high-yield photon torpedoes floating behind the Delta Flyer and fires. The first torpedo explodes, causing a violent chain-reaction.

"Worf," prompts Genevieve.

"Shields have dropped to 78%, minor damage to hull," reports Worf.

"I think we've just pissed them off," remarks Munro and she watches as the Breen battleship alters course. "They're turning around."

"That's my cue," quips Picard "Initiating evasive maneuvers."

=/\=

On the bridge, the main viewer displays the icon of the Fibonacci drawing the icon of the Breen battleship away from the icon of the Enterprise. But all Jonathan sees is a tiny dot pursed by a large insidious circle.

"Captain, the Breen battleship is now pursing the Fibonacci," reports Saren.

=/\=

The tiny Delta Flyer darts through space as the massive Breen battleships gives chase. A volley of stinging disruptor fire passes just wide of the hull.

"Whoa," cries out Munro, as she holds onto her console to brace herself.

A second strike finds it target and rocks the Delta Flyer to its core. Sparks fly out of the back end of the Fibonacci. Alexandria glances over to Genevieve. "Commander," says Munro, with a disturbed look. "The transporter systems are inoperable."

"Hold on!" warns Picard, "Hull breach, starboard side!"

"Worf, Worf!" yells Picard

Alexander is immersed in battle and doesn't respond.

"I've got it!" exclaims Munro.

Genevieve glances over and nods to her. Alexandria jumps out of seat and retrieves a plasma torch and begins to welding a plate to seal the breach.

=/\=

On the bridge, Jonathan slouches in his chair. It is cold to the touch as he watches the computer-generated representations do battle on the main viewer.

"Fibonacci's shields have dropped to 31%," reports Riker. "They can't sustain this level of attack."

"Captain, the Breen battleship has passed the far side of the planet," reports Saren.

Jonathan is not sure whether it was guilt or shame that forces his head to drop when he begins to give the order. "Helm, set a…"

"Captain," interrupts Riker, "I am detecting another ship."

"Identify!" orders Kirk.

"It's the Gallant!" Erupts Riker in euphoria.

U.S.S. Gallant explodes out of warp and fires a stinging phaser burst accompanied by a volley of photon torpedoes at the Breen battleship. But not before a blast of disruptor fire hits the Fibonacci like a sledge-hammer, spinning the craft wildly in space.

Jonathan leaps from his chair, "Helm, reverse course, bring us about."

"Aye, sir," complies Dailia.

Enterprise comes about and races towards the Gallant. Gallant and the Breen battle ship exchange vicious fire, and for a few seconds the Breen battleship seems to be getting the better of the Gallant when the Enterprise swoops in across from the Gallant and takes position beside her.

"Tactical, target photon torpedoes and fire at will," orders Kirk.

"Aye sir, locking weapons, firing!'' says Riker.

"Direct hit, bow shields have weakened," reports Riker.

Another stinging phaser burst and volley of photon torpedoes from the Gallant also find their mark. Outnumbered, the Breen battleship hesitates to continue the fight.

"Sir, the Breen battleship is backing away…," exclaims Dailia. "They are withdrawing."

"Captain!" screams out Riker in horror. "The Fibonacci!"

=/\=

The Fibonacci spins uncontrollably in space. Inside toxic smoke fills the cabin.

"Enterprise! Comin," pleads Picard.

"Commander, they can't hear us," Munro coughs. "We've lost main power."

Genevieve vision begins to blur and see losses consciousness.

=/\=

Meanwhile the Enterprise races towards the Fibonacci's position.

"Are we in range yet?"

"Negative, sir," replies Dailia. "Eta, 10 seconds."

"Push it!"

Dailia expertly pilots the Enterprise towards the drifting Delta Flyer.

"We are in range," announces Riker.

A sinusoidal wave form distorts erratically on Saren's science station display.

"Captain," Saren says, with discernible concern. "The Fibonacci's warp core is going critical."

"Transporter Room 1," squeals Kirk. "Get them out of there."

A blinding light flashes across the main view as the Fibonacci explodes.

"The Fibonacci…" trails off Riker in shock. "She's – she's – gone."

By most measures, it's a small explosion. Inconsequential. But for the crew of the Enterprise, it is life altering.

"Kirk to Transporter Room 1, report!"

Jonathan stands in the centre of the bridge paralyzed.

"Standby," replies the Transporter Room officer.

Jonathan's mind flashes through events that lead to this moment: The Kobayashi Maru, Alexander bumping his shoulder and leaving with Dailia on his arm, Genevieve's quarters, the team meeting in his quarters, the celebration at Far Point Bar, beat down of the bullies at Starbase 3, seeing the Enterprise in spacedock, rescuing the lifepods and escaping sector 3-1-0, Alexandria's confident smile, Marina saving Captain's Sisko's life, Genevieve standing at the door, Genevieve and him in the ready room…

His tactics were sound, Saren would have said. Enterprise could have never evaded the Breen battleship. The decision to send the Delta Flyer as a diversion was inescapable. But when he asked if he could live with this outcome, Jonathan is forced to answer no. It didn't matter the Enterprise was saved, for the sacrifice was too great of a burden for him to bear. In this moment the needs of the few, outweighed the needs of the many.

Another second passes, Jonathan begins to anticipate the worst. He begins to grapple with fact he had sent them to their deaths. Deep down he knew it should have been him aboard the Fibonacci. By the third second Jonathan is on the verge of a nervous breakdown as guilt begins to fills his veins.

"Transporter room…" barks Kirk. "Do you have them?!"

"Transporter room to Bridge," replies Picard. "We are on board and safe."

A thunderous applause ignites on the bridge and a wave of relief washes over Jonathan.

"Sir, the Gallant is hailing us," informs Riker.

"On main viewer," replies Kirk.

"Gallant to Enterprise – comin."

"Enterprise here."

A young woman rises up from the captain's chair and approaches into better view.

"Enterprise, I am Captain Akira Sulu of the U.S.S. Gallant, are you alright?" she asks.

"Yes, yes we are Captain Sulu, thank you."

"The Breen ship has withdrawn," conferring with her PADD at hand. "Our scans indicate you've suffered considerable damage."

"We have, but we are ok," replies Kirk. "How did you find us?"

"We've been scanning the system ever since you transmitted the warning. However, we were unable to triangulate your position due to the solar activity of this system's star. When our long-range scans detected a massive explosion near the second planet, I ordered an intercept," she explains. "Captain Kirk, the Gallant would be honoured to escort the Enterprise to Star Base 375."

"The honour would be ours, Captain Sulu," says Kirk. "We accept, thank you."

"Since we are on the subject Captain, I count two that the Enterprise owes the Gallant," she smiles.

Jonathan smirks. "And here I thought you weren't keeping count."

A faint glimpse of a coy smile appears on her face before the transmission ends.