Star Trek: Wings of the Renaissance
A Star Trek fanfiction by Andrew Joshua Talon
DISCLAIMER: This is a non-profit fan-based work of prose. Star Trek is the property of CBS and Paramount. Please support the official release.
Like everything else on Outpost 444, the interior decor and design of the briefing room was from the 2270s: Pastels and geometric shapes on the walls. It seemed a bit at odds with the modern screen up on the wall, and the simple, slightly uncomfortable chairs the pilots and crew had to sit in. Amati stood at the head of the room, clearing his throat loudly.
"We received a distress call from a Cardassian freighter in the DMZ thirty minutes ago," Amati stated. "They described their attackers as small Federation courier ships-Basically from the same model line as our Peregrines. According to broadcasts made by several former Federation colonies, these attacks are part of a coordinated campaign by an organization called 'The Maquis'."
Amati hit the display panel, and a map of the DMZ appeared with markers denoting the attack. Amati shook his head, looking grave.
"The Maquis have announced that their next target is what they claim is a secret Cardassian weapons depot. Our Cardassian source informs us that this is true, and it is probably the Bryma Colony or the Veloz Prime Colony," he pointed out the star system on the map, "here. Commander Shran and Sisko will handle the Bryma Colony, we will handle Veloz Prime. As these actions could lead to further tensions with the Cardassians, our orders are to enter the DMZ and defend the colony from Maquis attack."
Much muttering and whispering ensued at this. Andross leaned forward, frowning hard.
"What's going to be done about the weapons depot, sir?" He asked.
"The Cardassians assure us they will remove it," Amati said with a sniff. "Apparently rogue elements in their military were supplying arms to their colonists in the Demilitarized Zone," Amati replied promptly, nodding in self assurance without a hint of irony in his voice. "In any event, that's not our concern Gottschalk. As Commander Shran is at Deep Space Nine, and Lieutenant Commander Serkano is off leading another training flight, I will be in command. Lieutenant Mychol Jin, you will be my SIO."
A young Tullian, a Bolian cousin species, with prominent cybernetic implants along his neck and cheeks, nodded as he straightened up. "Yes sir," he replied, managing to sound professional.
"Lieutenant Suref, you're up with Ensign Ro'ad," Amati continued. "Ensign Hajar, you're with Zolnuld. And you, Gottschalk, are with Matsunaga. Get to your ships and get ready to launch. Dismissed… Except you, Matsunaga."
Keiko kept up her sunny expression, even as she tensed up just a bit. Andross shot her an anemic version of a comforting look, before he turned and headed out to his ship.
It wasn't every day you had to go and fire on your own people, after all.
Four hour laters, their four ship section was streaking for Veloz Prime. Amati's ship was in front, a pair of microphoton pods fitted underneath the wings. Andross and Keiko's ship had the same: A concession that had been granted on the grounds they could use the backups. The other two fighters lacked the pods, as Keiko had only built two sets at this point. They made due with full sized photon torpedoes held in racks, three per hardpoint.
The stars streaked past them as they flew faster than light, a breathtaking sight to be sure, that Andross found himself ignoring as he contemplated his position at the back.
"It's natural to be uncomfortable, you know," Keiko spoke, after hours of being consumed in her readings and analyses. Andross perked up.
"Hm? About what?" He asked.
"Fighting Federation citizens. Your own… Our own people," she said. Andross let out a sigh, not even bothering to deny it.
"I'm kind of glad to be playing spotter," he said, almost a lie.
"Playing spotter is important. We're AWACs," Keiko said. Andross frowned.
"What?"
"Airborne Warning and Control," she explained. "What fighter pilots back on Earth used to rely on for direction. Planes in the back, monitoring everything and telling the fighters where to go."
"Yeah. Important," Andross replied, a bit more bitter than he intended. He shook his head. "I don't feel like it's a compliment though."
"It isn't, no," Keiko said. She chuckled. "I feel more sorry for Mychol. I barely had any time to tell him how the pods work and what to look out for!"
"You focus on helping him through it then, I'll handle the sensor readings," Andross said, already looking through the sensor screen options. "Last thing we need is him getting blown up because Amati wanted some glory."
"Chevalier to Chevalier Flight, approaching Veloz Prime. Cut warp engines and switch to full impulse in twenty seconds," Amati ordered. Andross set the parameters in the computer, but still held the controls. He had practiced this enough times to get it down to the second.
"Acknowledged," he replied.
"Three… Two… One… Mark," Amati ordered. The stars returned to dots, pinpricks of light in the infinite darkness. A planet rushed up and slowed to meet them, green and fertile with a few Cardassian satellites and installations in orbit. Another group of contacts appeared, emerging from warpspeed from the outer edges of the solar system.
"Chevalier, Bran. Contacts bearing 078, mark 237. Distance, one light minute."
"Chevalier to flight, arm weapons and raise shields," Amati ordered. "Except you Bran. Stay back and only report."
Andross gritted his teeth. "Understood, Chevalier," he replied, and he slowed down to say further back. Keiko was still silent, her fingers tapping all over the controls at high speed.
It took several minutes, while Andross got more and more information from the ships. They were Federation of course: Two Condor-class Raiders, two Peregrine-class fighters and a London-class cargo ship. It was running with a high output subspace field, making it hard for Andross to sort through it.
"Keiko, I need some-"
"I've got it," Keiko said, swiftly taking over the sensors. Andross leaned back, seeing the interference gradually become more intelligible. He felt even more useless at this moment, hanging back, weapons offline…
"This is Chevalier Flight to Maquis ships: Surrender immediately or we will open fire. Repeat, Maquis vessels, surrender or we will engage you," Amati stated over the open communications. "You have no chance."
There was silence. Then…
"This is Val Jean to Chevalier flight. That Cardassian weapons depot needs to be destroyed. We have no quarrel with you if you're not going to help us. But I suggest you stay out of our way."
Andross's jaw dropped, and before he could stop himself his fingers were jamming down on the communications button on his own console.
"Chakotay?!"
More to come.
