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.


Federation Starbase Deep Space Nine, Bajoran Sector

2370

Birds chirped overhead as the summer sun shone down on the beautiful glen. Ancient ruins, elegant Roman pillars, grew out of the brush like marble tree trunks. The scent of pine and cedar filled the air with every gentle brush of wind. Keiko kept her eyes closed, enjoying the smells and the feel of the warm sun on her skin.

A gunshot broke the tranquility, and numerous birds screeched and took to the sky. Keiko's eyes snapped open, and she looked over in slight annoyance at her companion. He was a tall, handsome man with neatly coiffed brown hair, deep blue eyes, and a pointed chin. He was dressed in an elaborate, aristocratic blue uniform, gold buttons shining in the sunlight. He lowered his hunting rifle, a slight smirk on his face.

"That's not helping," Keiko said. Trieze Kushrenada shrugged, reaching down to pat a large, panting dog.

"Your silence isn't helping either. So, I chose to break it," he stated. He whistled, and his dog trotted off happily into the underbrush to find the bird Trieze had downed. Keiko watched it run off, her arms still crossed under her chest.

"Hunting was banned on Earth for a few years," she said. Trieze hummed thoughtfully, laying his rifle on a small table nearby. A woman, brown haired, wearing glasses and in a dark red uniform, dutifully began to clean it.

"A strange law. I take it the ban didn't last very long?" Trieze asked. Keiko shook her head, snorting.

"No. It was ridiculous. So ridiculous human nature couldn't cope. So they abolished it."

"Mm. There's some hope then," Trieze admitted. "To hunt for meat, to seek sustenance and struggle for it: That's human. Part of our genes since we were born."

His dog reappeared, a pheasant held between his gleaming teeth. The dog bounded up to Trieze, and he knelt down to bring the dog closer. He rubbed the dog's head, and the animal released its prize into his other hand. He took hold of the pheasant and took it up, putting it on the table. With practiced ease, the lady took the bird, and exchanged it for Trieze's loaded rifle.

"That is the true order of things," Trieze said, stepping back up to look through the iron sights of the rifle. Keiko snorted.

"And for men to fight one another?"

"Of course," Trieze said, He sighed. "It can be beautiful, to fight. For a glorious cause, for freedom and salvation. For two people to struggle and push themselves to the limits, showing who they truly are. For peace."

"You thought it was beautiful, but you hated what happened afterwards. You hated the death, the waste, the destruction," Keiko argued back. Trieze nodded.

"Yes. As do you." He lowered the gun and looked back at Keiko intently.

"So why do you study the ways of war, Keiko Matsunaga? Why do you try to improve them?"

Keiko looked down at her hands, and then out at the trees. "Because without strength, your ideals are useless. Ideals must be backed by force of will and steel, and you must allow yourself to defend them. You can't be good unless you have the strength for it." She looked over at Treize's gun. "With powder and steel," she said, nodding to the rifle. "Or with fusion and light. You can only be as good as far as you can back it up."

"Yet," Trieze spoke again, "strength can lead to conquest. To pointless wars, to demonstrate their strength. The character matters, just as much as the strength."

Keiko snorted. "Not likely with this bunch-"

"And yet, is this not the fear they feel?" Trieze asked, looking over at Keiko. "They have faced all consuming military force, conquerors and monsters of unfathomable strength. They are reminded of the past. A past so terrible they have done everything they could to erase it and distance themselves from it."

"The Borg are worse than anything Colonel Green could conjure up," Keiko argued back, eyes narrowed. "And who knows what else could be out there? Things even more terrible than we can imagine!"

"It is for this they cling to this mindset. The fear of becoming these monsters," Trieze explained. "Justified with rhetoric and yet behind it all is fear."

"So what? What's the alternative, go extinct?" Keiko demanded. Trieze shook his head.

"You don't see the battle for what it is," he said. "And make no mistake: It is a battle." He aimed his rifle again, having caught a flash of movement in the brush. "A battle for hearts and souls. A battle to be strong… But to not let that strength control you. Whether by pacifism or militarism, arrogance will lead to the same place: Self destruction."

"I don't want to turn Starfleet into a bunch of jackbooted thugs!" Keiko raged. "Or aristocrats who see war as a meaningless game!" She stood up and tossed aside the chair. She glared death at Trieze. "But this isn't working either!"

"No," Trieze said, looking intently at her, utterly unperturbed by her anger. "But you're not working, either. You're not fighting the battle the right way, Keiko. You're fighting your anger while you fight the bigger battle. A war on two fronts, and you're not fighting either properly."

Keiko stopped, and sighed. She sat back down, feeling limp.

"So… You think I should take the job on Deep Space Nine," she said wearily. Trieze shrugged, lowering his rifle.

"It doesn't matter what I think. What matters is what you think," he pointed out. "You're avoiding the battle there, too."

Keiko was silent, and just watched Trieze as he continued to try and pick out a target in the trees ahead. She rubbed her hands together, feeling cold. Trieze shook his head, and let out a heavy sigh.

"The battle is always there, Keiko. We can deny it and ignore it, but it is always going to be there. Waiting."

The holosuite doors opened behind her before she could respond. She didn't react, just listening to the footfalls on the grass. The doors shut slowly.

"Keiko?"

She looked over her shoulder. It was Andross: Looking strange in his standard Starfleet uniform, out of his flight suit. He looked around, and gave Keiko an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry to interrupt-"

"No! No, it's all right," Keiko replied. She looked back at the woods. "Come in."

Andross walked up, his keen eyes analyzing everything he saw.

"What game is this?" He asked.

"Mobile Suit Gundam Wing," Keiko replied automatically. Andross raised an eyebrow, looking Trieze up and down. He glanced over at Keiko.

"... Are you sure?" He asked. Trieze merely smiled politely and nodded.

"Ah, hello-Lieutenant Gottschalk, I believe?" He asked. Andross blinked.

"Yes, that's me," he replied. Trieze nodded, and put his feet together. He stood at attention, and saluted sharply.

"I've heard a great deal about you," Trieze said. "I'm glad Keiko has found a-"

Keiko cleared her throat, loudly. Trieze's smile grew a bit wider.

"-pilot and friend as good as you," he said. Andross nodded, and returned the salute just as sharply.

"Thank you?" He asked, still a bit bemused. Trieze bowed, and then walked back to the table to discuss things with the lady in the glasses. Andross watched them go, and looked over at Keiko with a smile.

"I'm impressed. You programmed the characters so well. I… I forgot he wasn't real."

Keiko nodded. "Back in the day we had trouble with realistic simulations. We got so much right but there was always something just a little off in people. Facial muscles and the eyes." She looked up at the sky with a soft sigh. "Maybe… It's a matter of art, and not science."

"Maybe," Andross said with a nod. "Computer, chair." Another chair appeared, and Andross took hold of it to sit down. They enjoyed the soft sound of bird song. Andross knit his fingers in front of him, thoughtful.

"I heard a rumor from Zira," he said. "About Commander Sisko offering you a job here."

"It's hardly a rumor when she eavesdropped, is it?" Keiko snorted. "You know, I had a cat back on Earth. She didn't gossip."

"Must have been nice," Andross observed. Keiko snorted.

"Yeah… So?"

"So?" Andross echoed. Keiko shook her head.

"It's a good position. I've worked with Ben-Commander Sisko before," she said. "At Utopia Planitia Yards, after Wolf 359. His reputation might help a lot. Get me where I want to go."

"Where is that?" Andross asked. Keiko shrugged. She glanced over at him with a sigh.

"Helping to protect the Federation," she said. Andross smiled.

"I thought you were doing that now. With us," he said gently. Keiko wanted to smile. She dearly wanted to. It just didn't come.

"It… Isn't enough," she admitted softly. "I feel like I'm not doing enough good. That I'm not fighting hard enough."

"Nobody fights harder than you in this squadron," Andross insisted. "Without you we'd all be dead. A dozen times over."

"I'm fighting for you. But I could be fighting for all of Starfleet," Keiko said. She shook her head. "Having to put up with endless morons who just… Just can't understand! Who could be covered in the blood of billions and still keep prattling on about pacifism!" She slapped her knee, hard, a flash of pain joining the rage inside her. "Colonel Green didn't give a shit about peace, or freedom, or understanding! He wasn't stupid, he wasn't 'unenlightened'! He just wanted power! And more power! Because he wanted it! And he took it!"

She gripped her knees harder, her fingernails digging into her skin.

"Some people… Some beings just don't care about logic. They don't care about understanding. They just know they can take what they want, and take it. And don't care about everything they destroy-Some relish it."

She looked directly at Andross, biting her lower lip. He looked back, silent. She turned her head back to the forest.

"I saw… I saw a whole world die because of evil bastards who wouldn't be appeased. Who couldn't be reasoned with. They just wanted to watch the world burn, and lord over the ashes. That hasn't changed. It never will change." She shut her eyes. She felt Andross take her hand, and squeeze it. She squeezed it back.

"... I can't do that here," she whispered.

"Why does it have to be you? Why do you have to run?" Asked Andross. Keiko shot a deadly look at Andross.

"I'm not!" She hissed. "I…" She looked back at the woods, blinking away tears. "I'm not running away," she whispered. "Am I?"

Andross's arms came around her. He pulled her tight into a hug. She let him, not resisting at all. She sighed softly at his warmth, and leaned into it. He was so warm…

A klaxon blared over the loudspeaker. Yellow lights flashed over them. Keiko and Andross stood up, almost stumbling over each other.

"Yellow alert, yellow alert, all personnel to duty stations. Yellow alert, yellow alert, all personnel to duty stations," the computer's stiff voice announced in a dull tone.

"What's going on?" Keiko asked, looking around.

"Let's find out," Andross said, squeezing her hand. She squeezed back, before abruptly pulling her hand away. Andross kept his hand out briefly, and then pulled it back. His face was stony.

"Yeah. Let's go," he said. Keiko nodded, as Andross headed for the holosuite doors. Keiko spared a last glance at Trieze. The aristocrat smiled, and bowed. Keiko returned the bow.

"Computer, end program," she said. The field vanished, replaced by a green, mechanical room. She rushed to the entrance, pausing just long enough to pull out a data chip from the computer interface. She slid it into her pocket, and hurried to catch up.


It was amazing how fast things can change in life. One day, the Earth was vibrant and living. Then it was a nuclear wasteland. One day, the only thing Keiko had to worry about was the Borg and the Cardassians.

Now, there was something new. The Dominion. One of their ships had come through the wormhole. A "representative" had beamed right through the shields, walked right through a containment field, and delivered news: They had wiped out the New Bajor colony, destroyed dozens of Federation and other Alpha Quadrant vessels, and captured Commander Sisko. They would not tolerate "further" interference, and had furnished a PADD from the New Bajor colony as proof of their actions. Then, the being (a Jem'Hadar he called himself) beamed out, and his ship flew off-Impervious to the tractor beam they'd thrown at it.

The PADD had been analyzed-It was from New Bajor, all right. Down to the serial number.

Commander Shran had gathered Andross, herself, Suref, Pops and Jin in the Operations center of the station. The rest of the senior staff was gathered too, along with Captain Keogh. He'd arrived with his ship, the USS Odyssey, a big Galaxy-class starship. At the moment, they were working on what they knew, and what they were going to do next. Keogh had taken command, the senior most officer in the room. He had a cool, easy confidence about him. Like a grandfather who knew how to work on a car engine and could still shoot a buck between the eyes.

"I've spoken with Starfleet Command," Captain Keogh said, setting down a PADD. On it were extensive notes he'd been reviewing. "They've authorized us to take the USS Odyssey into the Gamma Quadrant, and assess the threat posed by the Dominion."

"What about Commander Sisko? You're not going to just leave him in their custody, are you?" Major Kira, the Bajoran second in command, asked intently. Keogh shook his head.

"I have no intention of leaving any of our people in the hands of the Dominion. Not if I can help it." He looked around. "I'll be taking a section of 477th with us, too, to screen us."

"And us, too," Lieutenant Jadzia Dax insisted. The captain looked around at the senior staff, a frown on his face.

"Are you sure that's wise? With the exception of Major Kira and Mister O'Brien, none of you've had much combat experience."

Andross made to answer, but the doctor of the station, Julian Bashir, interjected.

"We've fought the Maquis!" He insisted. Keogh shook his head, his face a kind but hard smile.

"The Maquis have lightly armed shuttlecraft. I expect the Jem'Hadar to have sharper teeth," he stated. He nodded to Shran. "This is a job best suited for veterans."

"Veterans or not, you're going to need all the help you can get," Dax insisted. Keogh glanced at Shran. The Andorian shook his head.

"Enthusiasm is welcome, but in practical terms," he began. Keiko found herself speaking.

"Uh, sirs. If I may?"

And suddenly the captain and commander's eyes were squarely on her.

"Yes, Warrant Officer…?" Keogh prompted.

"Matsunaga," Shran said. "She's our engineering expert." He nodded to her, and she kept going.

"While the fighters are better armed and faster than the runabouts, the runabouts are tougher and have better sensors," she said. "In addition, Lieutenant Dax's scientific expertise would let us better analyze the Dominion ships. We need every advantage we can get."

Dax smiled at the compliment. Keogh hummed thoughtfully.

"You think it's that dire then, Matsunaga?" Keogh said. Keiko nodded.

"Yes sir. They know how to beam through our shields, move through our forcefields, and throw off our tractor beams," she stated. "For all we know, they've taken apart every ship of ours on that list, and unlocked all our secrets. We cannot afford to take any chances."

Miles O'Brien interjected. "I've been making some custom modifications to the runabouts, sir. Letting them carry a heavier torpedo armament." He glanced at Pops, the old Tellarite looking interested. "I can apply it to the runabout from Outpost 444, too. In just three hours."

Captain Keogh nodded. "All right. That'll give us time to offload non-essential personnel from the Odyssey. Get to work, we leave in three hours. Dismissed!"

The other officers got going. Pops chuckled and shook his broad head.

"Three hours, as he cuts off his own arm," the old Tellarite huffed. He clapped Miles on the shoulder. "Come on! If I don't keep you from disfiguring yourself, your wife will never be able to put up with you again."

"At least there's one person who can put up with me. One more than you," he snorted back, answering the Tellarite's insult properly. Pops laughed and he and the Chief headed off. Shran gathered his pilots together.

"Our fighters are on the way via a transport ship. They'll be here in one hour. Sort out the weapons loads."

"Hope they were properly packed," Jin commented. "Would hate for them to be knocked around like last time."

"I made sure they'd take good care of them," Shran stated. "Andross, I'll need you to coordinate with me and the Odyssey's tac officer: Let's see what would be the best strategy."

"Aye sir," Andross said with a nod. Captain Keogh cleared his throat, and the fighter pilots looked at him. "Chief Warrant Officer Matsunaga, a word?"

"Ah, yes sir," Keiko said, resisting the urge to glance back at her squadronmates. She knew what they would see. She walked up to Keogh, who gestured to allow her to head into an adjacent room. She went first, nodding to him, as the door opened on a small conference room. Keiko walked in, Captain Keogh following. The door shut behind them, and Keiko turned and stood at attention.

"Yes sir?" She asked. Keogh smiled.

"At ease, Matsunaga," he said. "I just wanted to say…"

Keiko's keen mind began working on numerous possibilities. She'd started the moment the door opened. What was he on about? She'd never met or even heard of the man before. Had she hit one of his relatives? Had she-

"Thank you," the captain finally said. Keiko blinked.

"Sir?"

Keogh smiled, like an old man proud of his granddaughter.

"The Tac 3.2 update for the Galaxy-class. I believe you were responsible for that?"

"Uh, I worked on it, yes. I wasn't the only one," Keiko said modestly. "It was based on new data from the Enterprise-D and their encounters with the Borg, the Romulans-"

"And it saved our hides," Keogh stated firmly. He walked over to one of the windows, looking out and up. Keiko followed, a bit awkwardly. She followed his gaze up to the form of the Odyssey, shining above, docked to one of the claw-shaped pylons. Keogh smiled fondly at his ship high above, warmth in his eyes.

"We were assigned to deal with rogue Klingons, those still on the side of the Duras after their civil war. Their Chancellor, Gowron himself, personally assured us they had only a few Birds of Prey and an old battlecruiser or two." Keogh snorted, and Keiko nodded. She grimaced as well: Seemed politicians were just as clueless no matter what species they were.

"And?" Keiko prompted.

"They had a fully operational Vor'cha-class attack cruiser waiting for us," Keogh said. He chuckled, and looked back at Keiko. "Without that upgrade, we'd have been caught entirely unprepared. I have every confidence in my crew, of course. I've tried to make them the best, and I've succeeded. We succeeded. But those notes and instructions and suggested tactical maneuvers? That gave us the edge. So," he nodded with a smile, "thank you."

"You're welcome, um, sir," she replied, feeling a bit awkward. Keogh raised his eyebrows.

"I also heard what you did to Commodore Decker," he said mildly.

"Um," Keiko flushed, looking aside. "You did, huh?"

"Took me a while to put a face to the name," Keogh said. He then grinned. "Glad I did: Funniest damn thing I ever heard."

"Really?" Keiko asked. She smiled, feeling less worried.

"Commodore Decker is an old fool, still coasting on his family name. The only difference between how he was when he was a smarmy twerp at the academy and now is the number of skirts he chases," Keogh snorted. Keiko nodded with a smile, a small laugh coming out of her. He returned the smile.

"So I'm glad you're with us. Competency is something vital, and we need it." He patted her on the shoulder. "I want you to work with my tactical officer. We've only got three hours, so get to work on what we know about the Dominion."

"Yes sir!" Keiko chirped.


The transport ship arrived: A London-class transport, USS Lagos. And after some final consultations with the tactical officer aboard the Odyssey, Keiko was beamed aboard with the rest of the squadron. The cargo bays of the ship were wide, almost completely empty, with their ships safely secured: A welcome surprise given the last time.

They got to work on prepping their fighters, Andross smoothly taking sliding into the cockpit and running the pre-flight check for their own. Keiko made to get in too, but a hand on her shoulder stopped her. Zira was there, smiling sunnily up at Andross.

"Just need to borrow Keiko for a moment, be right back," she said. The pretty Orion led Keiko away, near her fighter. "Keiko, can you double check the sensors on my ship? I don't want Hajar to yell at me."

"I guess I can do that," Keiko replied hurriedly. Zira led her up to a console hastily set up alongside the Peregrine. Keiko ran through the checks on the sensors and other systems, just to be thorough, as Zira leaned in close.

"So… About the job Commander Sisko offered," Zira began. Keiko rolled her eyes. Of course.

"I haven't decided yet," she said stiffly. "And your timing sucks."

"We're going into battle, we can't just put it off," Zira pointed out. Keiko sighed, running another diagnostic on the tactical systems.

"Maybe," she admitted. Zira leaned in.

"Keiko, I get that you want to save the Federation. I really do. I admire that about you," she said, her eyes showing nothing but sincerity. "So I understand the conflict."

"And?" Keiko asked, glaring at her. "Why do I have to make the decision right now? Why do I have to do anything? I might decide not to, you know!"

Zira nodded. "I know," she said. "But if it's twisting you up inside with just the option? Maybe you need to pull back and let it go. At least," she held up her hands, "for a little bit. Especially since we are about to enter combat."

Keiko sighed, and slowly nodded. "It's not my first time," she reminded the Orion. Zira nodded.

"I know," she said. "I just don't want to see you die because you were too wrapped up in yourself."

Keiko turned to Zira. The Orion woman looked solemn: An unusual sight. Keiko shook her head.

"I don't know what's going to happen," she said, "but let's try to assume we're going to live through this. All right?"

"I never assume anything," Zira said. "Life can be so short, and I just want you to not have any regrets. They'll haunt you and everyone else after death."

Keiko sighed softly. She did a final check on all systems. "You're good to go," she told Zira. "And… I'll try."

Zira beamed, and hugged her. "Good," she said. She then gave her a quick peck on the lips, making Keiko flush and stutter.

"H-Hey! Don't get so familiar!" She cried, pulling away. Zira laughed.

"Ah, uptight humans! You're always so much fun," she giggled. She headed off, climbing into her fighter behind the annoyed looking Hajar. "Take care out there!" She said with a wave. Keiko returned it, a small smile on her face.

"You too."

It didn't take long after that for their little flotilla to head for the wormhole. Keiko herself had seen footage of it, of course. They all had. To actually go through the swirling, blue and white maelstrom was something else entirely.

"It's incredible," she breathed, looking around the vast swirling energies, to the strange event horizon beyond that seemed to ripple like water. "It's… Nothing like the theories we had."

"Well, it was built by people a lot smarter than us," Andross said. Keiko nodded, gazing in wonder around the strange passage.

All too soon, the trip ended and they exited out on the other side of the galaxy. The mighty Odyssey followed after their four fighters, with the runabouts Mekong, Orinoco and Farbanti in tow. The group of ships set course for the system Commander Sisko was supposed to have gone to for his son's camping trip, and they jumped to warp.

They reached the system in only around 20 minutes, and cruised at impulse towards the inner worlds. Only one planet was habitable, and the trail left by the runabout Rio Grande led right for it, so they followed the path.

It was at this time their sensors went off, and Keiko checked the readings of the intruders against what they'd gotten off the Jem'hadar ship that had come through the wormhole.

"Confirmed: I read three… No, four Jem'hadar vessels," Keiko reported, the data confirmed along the communications links between all the Federation ships. "Approaching at high impulse speed."

"Red alert. Shields up. Arm weapons,"

Keogh ordered.

"Chevalier Flight, increase speed," Shran ordered. Andross complied, and soon the four ships were accelerating. The runabouts trailed behind, staying near the Odyssey. "Fan out and stay with your wingmates."

"Acknowledged," Andross returned.

The Jem'hadar ships screamed into view, moving fast in a tight formation. By her readings, each of the vessels were about four to five times the mass of their Peregrines at least, but had a much higher power output. That said, the readings were getting more difficult to analyze.

"Chevalier 1 to Orinoco, my sensors are being jammed," Keiko reported. "What are you seeing?"

"Looks like active ECM. I'm sort through it and-Power spike! Break off! Break off!" Dax shouted. Andross imediately pulled hard to starboard, a barrage of white energy blasts erupting from the Jem'hadar ships. The smallcraft evaded, the Jem'Hadar ships flying like they were one vessel and plowing through their formations. Andross reacted on instinct, flipping around to get behind the ships and chase them. Suref's Peregrine followed, sticking close. The Mekong wasn't able to evade fast enough, so opened up with hers phasers at the Jem'hadar ships while trying to dive below them. The Jem'hadar vessels responded with a withering hail of fire, a few shots of which hit the runabout's engines and sent it spiralling away.

"Mekong! Mekong, do you read?" Shran barked.

"We read! Engines are offline, we've got a hull breach in the rear compartment!" Bashir shouted over the comms.

"Farbanti, assist the Mekong and get out of there. We've got this," Keogh ordered, and the Odyssey's powerful phasers lashed out, her two massive saucer emitters lit up and letting loose two powerful beams. The Jem'hadar shifted in their formation, one vessel breaking and taking the fire. The beams kept punishing the lone attack ship, until they punched through and struck the little ship dead on. It went up into a massive fireball, the debris flying everywhere. Keiko found herself cheering…

Until the other three ships, using the opening presented by their fellow's sacrificed, opened up with a furious storm of beam weapon fire. The blasts shot right to the hull of the Galaxy-class starship, pummeling the joint of where the engineering hull met the neck of the ship. They kept this fire concentrated, more shots striking across the neck all the way to the stardrive's impulse drive. A final flurry of shots in the Jem'hadar's pass struck the port nacelles, gouging out craters in the warp field coils.

The lights of the Odyssey abruptly dimmed, her port warp nacelle flickering like a burnt out lightbulb. The ship's attitude control began to suffer, as her thrusters fired frantically to right the mighty ship. Keiko's cheer died, her jaw dropping.

"Odyssey! Odyssey, this is Orinoco! What happened?" Dax's voice shouted over the comms.

"Their weapons went right through our shields! Some kind of polaron beam!" Keogh reported, the faint sounds of people shouting and the ship rumbling going on in the background. "Main power has been taken out, along with our forward torpedo launcher! Power distribution systems are offline, trying to re-route!"

The Jem'hadar ships swung back around, still with that eerie, incredible precision. Andross accelerated to full impulse, shooting past the Odyssey.

"Hang on Odyssey!" Andross called. "I've got you…" He locked phasers and pulled the trigger, orange beams lashing out at the Jem'hadar ships and hitting… Nothing. "What?! Keiko!"

"Engaging," Suref said, but his fighter's phasers also hit nothing. The Jem'hadar returned fire, and the fighters broke out of the path of the beams. Once again, they flew by, still tight in their formation. "I have missed."

Keiko's fingers flew over the console. She checked the sensors-No, they were working fine except for…

"It's the active jamming!" Keiko shouted. "They're actively jamming our targeting sensors when we try to lock on!"

"All ships, close to point blank range and engage the Jem'hadar! Protect the Odyssey!" Shran ordered.

"Orinoco to Odyssey, did you try changing shield frequencies?" Dax asked, her runabout throwing phaser fire at the Jem'hadar fighters from a close orbit around the mighty starship.

"We went through the entire electromagnetic spectrum! No effect at all!" Keogh shouted. "We are diverting shield power to the weapons!"

"We're picking up the Rio Grande, Captain," Dax continued. "We're going to rendeavous!"

"All right! Get the runabout, get Sisko and then let's get the hell out of here!" Keogh ordered. "Shran, buy us time!"

"Understood!" Shran responded. "Split them up, people!"

Andross, Suref at his side, closed the range with the nearest Jem'hadar ship making another run at the Odyssey. The two fighters opened up, their beams finally making contact with the Jem'hadar vessel and lighting up its shields. It turned, staying in formation and firing its beams backwards. Andross pulled up hard, Suref breaking with him to avoid the shots. Shran's fighter, along with Hajar's were attacking from the other side, the same result. It did mean the next pass, only one Jem'hadar fighter was hitting the Odyssey-Raking its beams across its engineering section.

The Odyssey returned fire with a few weak phaser blasts-Pulsing the beams to try and get them functioning with what they could get out of the shield generators. It wasn't much, but it did force the Jem'hadar to break. One of them streaked for the Mekong, the Farbanti already orbiting it.

"Suref, I'm going to play bait. Get ready with the micro-photons," Andross ordered.

"Acknowledged," Suref replied.

Andross pursued this one, firing phasers. The beams lashed out and struck the rear of the scarab-shaped vessel, and it swung about to engage them directly. Andross dove hard, as Suref went high. The Jem'hadar ship dove after Andross, its beam pulsing around them and filling space with deadly energy.

All the while, Keiko's fingers were furiously working, her mind accelerating. "Suref, throw every micro torpedo you have at the junction between the generators on the back! Quickly!" She shouted.

"Understood," Suref replied. A moment later, Suref's fighter dove down on the Jem'hadar vessel like an avenging angel, its microphoton pods launching a rain of death. The shots landed like hail on a roof, the shields of the Jem'hadar fighter lighting up before giving up the ghost. The shields were down.

"Andross!" Keiko shouted. Andross flipped the Peregrine around and launched his own microphotons, pulling the ship down beneath the beams of the fighter. Every shot landed on the unshielded ventral hull of the vessel, puncturing and exploding into the vulnerable hull.

The Jem'hadar ship flew past them, tumbling as internal explosions began to rock and shake it from within. Until ultimately, the vessel exploded. The shockwave rattled the Peregrine's hull, but Andross kept control as he pushed his impulse engines to full. Andross finally let out the breath he was holding, panting hard.

"Got him!" Andross gasped. Keiko nodded, checking her sensors again. Another communication came through, on the general band.

"Rio Grande to all ships, we've got Commander Sisko and everyone else," O'Brien called. Keogh sounded relieved.

"Understood! Everyone, withdrawal! Back to the wormhole!" Keogh ordered. "We've got what we came for!"

Keiko checked on everyone else: Shran's Jem'hadar attack ships had been forced away from the Odyssey, Shran's lone fighter pursuing them to keep harassing them with bold attacks. Hajar and Zira's fighter was back nearer the Odyssey, working with the Orinoco to provide protection for the massive starship as it slowly limped away. The Farbanti was towing the Mekong with its tractor beam, leading the way for the withdrawal.

Abruptly, one of the Jem'hadar fighters broke from the engagement, and screamed at the Odyssey at full impulse. A dark feeling settled into Keiko's gut.

"Odyssey, incoming Jem'hadar!" She shouted.

"This is Chevalier 4, we've got them,"

Zira called out over the comms. Her fighter charged at the Jem'hadar ship, firing its phasers, determined to drive them away. Just as before.

The distance closed, smaller, smaller… Keiko gripped her console harder. The Jem'hadar fighter had to break, it was taking damage. Why wasn't it-?

"Chevalier 4! Break! Break!"

Shran ordered. The Peregrine finally pulled away, but too late: The Jem'hadar fighter put on even more speed, and smashed through the fighter, cutting it in half and sending the pieces spinning away into large plasma explosions. Keiko's gut fell into oblivion, her body going cold.

"Zira! Zira, respond, respond-!"

The horror wasn't over yet though. The Orinoco fired her own phasers, missing the fast moving purple starship that was already damaged. The Odyssey herself fired another few weak blasts, striking the fighter's starboard nacelle. Yet its purpose, what it had intended from the start, was fulfilled.

The Jem'hadar ship rammed into the Odyssey's forward engineering hull, vanishing into a gigantic explosion of heat, light and debris. The starboard nacelle was struck by the largest pieces of the doomed ship, shattering it and causing another explosion as the warp coils buckled and bled plasma. The explosion diminished, just enough to see the raw, burning remains of the forward engineering hull of the Odyssey. All her power systems and transmissions died as power abruptly failed every system. The ship buckled, shuddered, and began to drift. Keiko hit the communications key.

"Odyssey! Odyssey! Please respond! Please-!"

The warp core went up like a nova, and the entire Odyssey exploded into a massive, short lived sun. The flames died in the vacuum, as quickly as they appeared, leaving only the white hot corpse of the once mighty vessel. Keiko ran through her sensors, the shock leaving her disconnected but still functional. Her slim hope evaporated: No lifesigns detected.

None in the debris field of the Odyssey. None in the pieces of Zira and Hajar's fighter.

Nothing but death.

"... Shran to all ships," the Andorian commander said, his voice grim. "Set course for the wormhole."

"Understood," Andross responded softly. He set course, his fingers stiff. "... Keiko? Keiko?"

Keiko didn't respond. She found her arms encircling herself tightly as she shivered.

She was so cold right now…


More to come!