Chapter 6

There was a question in the comments about Spock and Cassandra's back story. It can be found in my other story called "A Jump in Time." Meanwhile, thank you for your continued support and encouragement. I really appreciate it.

Italics indicates a conversation had through a mind meld or family bond.

Meanwhile up on the bridge it was organized chaos. The ship was slammed from two sides by torpedo fire as Captain Kirk yelled "Hard about Mr. Sulu! Mr. Spock, reading on the enemy vessels."

The ship banked a hard left, coming about as Spock worked furiously to read any telltale signs of where the cloaked Romulan ships were hidden. "Torpedo array epsilon seven Captain." He said quickly without taking his eyes from the viewer at his station.

The Captain's response was immediate. "Torpedo array epsilon seven Sulu…...FIRE!" Torpedoes burst from the front of the Enterprise, seven of them, laying down a pattern as ordered by the Captain. The ship jerked at each torpedo fired but continued to press forward towards the last known position of the cloaked vessels. Though seven torpedoes were fired, only three hit their mark, the rest went wild. The enemy decloaked again as both ships fired at the Enterprise. Two hard jolts were felt throughout the ship as Kirk yelled "fire phasers" at which two long bursts of blue phaser fire shot out from the ship, hitting one of the ships as the other veered away. Both cloaked again.

There was an intense focus on the bridge as everyone worked their stations, trying to gain the upper hand despite two against one. Uhura passed on damage reports to the Captain who issued repair orders without taking his focus off the screen. "Captain, the damaged Romulan vessel is cloaked but emitting an ion trail visible to my scans. Feeding the coordinates to Mr. Sulu now." Spock replied rapidly.

"FIRE!" Yelled Captain Kirk, "don't let them get away." Then to the screens he muttered "I've got you now you bastard." Again several photon torpedoes fired and this time, all four hit their mark. The protective cloak shimmered then collapsed as the vulnerable ship struggled to gain some distance from the Enterprise. Just as Kirk yelled "Fire" Spock's voice was heard urgently announcing "a third ship decloaking from astern Captain!" Two photon torpedoes left the ship just as the Enterprise took two very hard hits from behind, causing everyone on the bridge to be thrown from their seats. Several consoles sparked then shorted out, smoke billowing around the bridge as the lights flickered. It was now unorganized chaos. People struggled back to their seats. Spock was up and went to Uhura who was struggling to regain her feet. He helped her to sit then looked in her eyes, quickly diagnosing a concussion as her pupils were dilated and unresponsive despite returning bridge lights.

"Uhura, are you alright?" He inquired, trying to take his hands off the woman only to have her sway in her seat.

"I see two of everything" was her dazed reply as she blinked furiously, trying to clear her head and vision. Meanwhile Chekov was slow to sit up as he cradled his right arm bent at an awkward angle. Kirk regained his seat, pressing a button on the arm and calling to sickbay for medical help on the bridge. He ordered an ensign to take Chekov's station. A minute later, the lift doors opened as Dr. McCoy and a nurse emerged and began to assist the bridge crew.

"Spock, where did that ship come from!" Kirk exclaimed.

Back at his station Spock answered "unknown Captain. We are grossly outgunned and outnumbered." Another set of torpedoes slammed into the Enterprise, jerking it left then forward awkwardly.

"Where are the Lexington and Excalibur?" Kirk growled in exasperation as Spock called lieutenant Davison to the bridge to replace Uhura.

Sulu fought to regain control of the ship as he announced "Shields at 30% Captain. The helm is sluggish." Jim didn't need to be told the latter as he could feel the way the ship responded to his orders. It was starting to jerk and jolt at each course correction. There was little time left before they were in real trouble. Dr. McCoy and the nurse returned to the turbolift with their injured patients as Davison exited the lift, taking over the communications console.

Jumping out of his seat Jim moved quickly to Spock's position while maintaining eye contact with the main screen and instructed Sulu to start evasive maneuvers while finding any tactical advantage possible. Turning to Spock he spoke quietly "Spock, can we run?"

The Vulcan, still looking at his view screen responded just as quietly "No sir, they have us cut off from deep space. A fourth Romulan ship just appeared."

Jim paused while the Enterprise took another hit, then struck one of their vessels in return. They were still on the losing end of this battle. "Recommendations."

Spock stood, looking at the main screen, speaking so low only the Captain could hear him. "We will be significantly impaired in another 8.62 minutes after which we will not recover fast enough to avoid destruction. Ideally, we need the two starships to arrive or we are going to have to move off and make repairs."

"We can't reach open space." Kirk hesitated then met the Vulcan's eyes. "Slingshot around the sun?"

"It is a desperate move but appears to be our only option." Spock replied.

"A desperate hail Mary is what it is" Kirk muttered to himself before giving the order for the slingshot maneuver. Sulu changed course without hesitation allowing the Enterprise to pick up speed. Kirk scanned the bridge commenting to himself "the other ships should have been here by now." Turning to his First with more confidence than he felt, he was about to advise him to start his calculations for time travel when the Lexington and Excalibur arrived, taking on the four Romulan ships. As they engaged, both captains reached out to the retreating form of the damaged Enterprise. "Captain Kirk. Enterprise, can you hear me"

Everyone's head snapped up at the sound of their ship being hailed. "Davison" Kirk prompted urgently "reply to their hail and forward battle analysis from Mr. Spock." Spock had already sat down to prepare details about the cloaked Romulan ships as well as their last known positions. Davison sent it quickly while Kirk sprinted back to his chair. "Hard about Sulu!"

The Lexington surged forward, engaging the fourth ship behind the Enterprise. This allowed Kirk and Sulu to finish off the ship already damaged, then come about to enter the fray as the Excalibur took on the last two ships at once. There was enough damage to both Romulan vessels to cause them to emit a slight ion trail. With Spock's data, the Excalibur fired on one ship as it made a desperate run for Mars. The second Romulan ship came out of cloak to rapid fire a series of torpedoes at the slow moving Enterprise. Kirk had just enough time to press a button on his command chair for the entire ship to hear him yell "brace yourself" when suddenly the Lexington flew between the two, shields absorbing the enemy fire intended for the Enterprise. It raced past as Kirk yelled "FIRE".

Sulu sent out two more phaser arrays which hit the Romulan ship that wasn't quick enough to go to cloak. Getting a good lock on the vessel, Sulu fired again and there was an explosion where the ship once hid. A second explosion detonated closer to Mars as the Excalibur flew dangerously close to the ball of fire before correcting its course to veer away.

"Davison hail them." Kirk exclaimed without taking his eyes off the screen. In seconds both Captains were on a split screen.

Commodore Wesley aboard the Lexington spoke first. "Jim, you guys ok over there?"

Kirk took a moment to breath before answering "you cut it close Bob. But we're glad you showed up." Smoke continued to swirl around the bridge creating a hazy atmosphere.

Commodore Wesley turned to speak to someone on his bridge then looked back to the screen. "Ben, the new Excalibur is looking good."

Commander Benjamin Finney sat back confident, proud of his ship and crew. It showed. He radiated health and command as he answered "Just out of the shipyard 8 months ago."

Kirk joined in "that fourth Romulan ship got away. The Enterprise is too damaged to give chase."

Finney spoke up shifting positions in his captain's chair to receive a PADD from his Yeoman. "We could go after her, but I am thinking it would be better to let them go home, tail between their legs. It should give the Romulans a good reason to stay on their side of the neutral zone for the foreseeable future."

"Tell you what" Commodore Wesley offered. "The Lexington is only minimally damaged. I think we will provide an unfriendly escort to make sure they are properly encouraged to go home."

There was uniform consensus after which Bob Wesley signed off. The Lexington went to warp.

Kirk smiled tiredly at his old friend and instructor from the Academy. "You have time to come over Ben?" He asked.

"Afraid not Jim. I left some crew members and diplomats in the middle of a tough negotiation between two factions on Janus 6. Since Vanderberg retired, it has been tense, though the Hoarta are friendly enough. I need to get back to my people, but if you have a minute, I'd like to speak to you privately.

Jim stood immediately "I will have your transmission patched through to my ready room." At Ben's nod, the main screen returned to the sky and stars with Mars floating peacefully in the distance. Meanwhile everyone on the Enterprise bridge was completely spent. Silence prevailed as the alpha crew caught their collective breaths. For the moment they were safe. Several people had their heads in their hands, taking deep breaths. Others just leaned back in their chairs; eyes closed.

The door swished closed behind the Captains as they entered their ready rooms and sat at their respective desks. Screens engaged, they faced each other again. Kirk asked "Ben. How are you? I heard you were given your own command."

Commander Benjamin Finney looked at his one time student, former captain and long term friend. He nodded his head before answering "I spent several years in intensive therapy then out patient counselling while I resumed teaching at the Academy. It has been a long haul. Jamie has graduated high school and started premed at Columbia so she doesn't need me at home anymore. So, after taking half a million psych tests, showing up the younger crowd in the command track and, I quote, 'failing the Kobayashi Maru with style', Starfleet decided it was time I had my own command. I haven't looked back.

Jim smiled "I knew you would be an exemplary Commander. You worked harder for this than anyone else I know. It was a privilege to go into battle with you."

Finney relaxed his posture a bit. "Thanks Jim. Your letters of support over the years helped a lot, not to mention the glowing recommendation in my file. I'll tell Jamie I saw you next time I get the chance to send a subspace message. She will be happy to know how you are."

"Tell her I am doing well and since I will be Earth bound for the foreseeable future while the Enterprise is repaired, I would like to beam over and take her out to lunch."

"She would love that. I will get a communication off before we warp out. It's been great talking to you Jim. Wish we could have met in person and had a drink for the road, but you know how it is. Duty calls. Take care of yourself."

"You too Ben. Command suits you."

Ben smirked "of course it does." The screen cut out as both men laughed. Kirk watched the Excalibur NCC-1664A begin to turn under impulse power. She was a powerful ship Jim thought. He waited to watch them go to warp, then returned to his own bridge.

Kirk sat down in the captain's seat staring out at the main viewer, letting his crew have a few well deserved minutes. No one noticed Mr. Spock sitting straight back in his chair, taking three meditative breaths, in through his nose and out through his mouth. Placing his fingertips together, he closed his eyes in concentration. 'Skye' he called out in his mind. "Sa-fu, answer me.'

After waiting just 14.3 seconds there was a faint mental answer 'sa-mekh?'(father)

Even Spock could not deny the deep sense of relief at the sound of the boy's voice through their familial bond. That's when he realized he did not feel his wife. "I am here. Skye, where is your ko-mekh?' (mother)

He felt the jolt of panic come through their bond coupled with a very strong desire to cry despite fighting hard to resist that impulse. Starting to feel truly alarmed Spock heard the faint voice of his son again. "Ko-mekh is here but she is not awake. Half of the adults are unconscious.….Sa-mekh, can you come now?" Skye asked tentatively.

Spock opened his eyes, directing his attention to the Captain. "Jim, I am in communication with Skye. The children are fine but some of the adults seem to have passed out in the nursery. I would calculate 32.65% of the crew have succumbed to unconsciousness when several decks temporarily lost pressure. Permission to leave the bridge, check on sickbay then go to Skye for a few minutes."

Kirk looked at his first then answered "denied. You will check on Skye first, I will call down to sickbay myself Mr. Spock." Jim saw the flash of gratitude cross the Vulcan's face before he closed his eyes again briefly before leaving his post for the turbolift. Jim assumed he had answered Skye, shaking his head in amazement at the versatility of their family bond. Looking down at the console to his right, he flipped the switch to connect him directly to sickbay. "Sickbay, this is the Captain."

To his immense relief, it was Bones who answered "Jim, we're still with you. I'd say a good 35% of the ship's complement passed out due to a temporary pressure fluctuation. Most are fine. We are dealing with battle injuries right now. I will get back to you later. McCoy out." Jim flipped the channel closed again, taking a deep breath as he turned his attention to damage reports from around the ship.

Several decks below Spock stopped to help two injured crew members to sickbay. One of them was a lieutenant he worked closely with in the science lab who looked like he had a concussion and a broken left leg. He was rather dazed and was being helped by another crew member who wasn't doing so well herself. Fortifying his mental shields, he came upon the struggling duo, calmly stating "here, let me help you." With that he replaced Lois, Cassandra's friend, on the injured man's left side. She stepped away, gingerly cradling a gash that ran from her shoulder down to the elbow. It was poorly wrapped causing her to immediately favor that side.

The injured man gazed over to the person suddenly supporting literally most of his weight and startled in surprise. "Sir…"

Keeping his eye on the corridor Spock replied "I will assist you to sickbay Lieutenant Stanton. You have a concussion and broken leg." As much as the scientist would have liked to say something more, it was all he could do to avoid passing out from the pain in his leg and the fog in his head. He tried to be of some assistance to his superior officer as they limped their way along. Finally, after what seemed like the longest time ever, they arrived where nurses immediately helped the man to a biobed. They promised to return then ran to continue helping others stumbling in including Lois. At least he was laying down now. Spock turned to leave when Stanton tried again. "Commander..." His voice came out weaker than he had anticipated but of course Spock heard him and turned back to the 35 year old man. "I appreciate your assistance. We were not managing very well."

Spock would have told him no thanks was necessary but being on his second five year tour onboard the Terran Starship, he accepted his human shipmates' need to express gratitude. Walking the several steps it took to return to his bedside, the Vulcan answered accordingly. "It is favorable that I came along when I did. I have found your work to be exemplary and would like to see you back in the lab soon." Just then two nurses arrived which allowed Spock to nod once to his co-worker before heading out of sickbay to go to the nursery, glad to be done with the conversation. Behind him, he left a totally stunned scientist as medical staff began their assessment. Spock did not give compliments lightly and in the four years Stanton had worked under the Vulcan, that was the first time he had received one. A slight smile touched his lips as a hypo went off at his neck.

Spock walked briskly down the next corridor, mentally reaching out to Skye again. 'Skye.' No answer. 'Sa-fu, answer me.'

Spock finally heard a hesitant response from a small voice 'Sa-mekh?'

Spock quickened his pace, arriving at the doors to the nursery in 18.43 seconds. It did not open. He came up short, looking over the door before going to the manual override panel to the right of the door. He opened it, quickly punching in a code to the keypad. Nothing happened. Having no tools, he took a steadying breath, centered his mind then mentally reached out to the child on the other side of the barrier. 'Skye, the door is jammed. It will take me a few minutes to open it.'

'Father. Hurry. Mother is not waking up.' Skye replied quickly.