CHAPTER THREE
War? With the Klingon Empire?
"Last week," Rotherfort started, watching an attack unfold on his view screen. The images came courtesy of a listening post outside of Klingon space. The destruction and disabling of ships choked the admiral up slightly, so he started again. "Last week, three Klingon warships attacked three Federation ships escorting a freighter convoy outside of the Archer System. They must have used a science cruiser to temporarily jam our listening post's sensors."
"Why would the Klingons attack Federation ships just inside of Klingon space?" Forester asked, slightly confused, "and ignoring the Treaty of Algeron nonetheless." Rotherfort studied Forester's glance. The kid had obviously been reading up on his star charts. But Forester was no longer a kid. He was a Starfleet captain, in command of one of the fleet's newest ships.
"The Klingons thought we were spying on them," Kirk replied. "The three ships, Harrisburg, Alexandria, and Yamato, were sent to escort a convoy out of the Archer system, and if the Klingons arrived in the area, they were to fall back and return to Starbase 12, where other ships would engage the Klingons."
"Yamato has not reported in and we fear the worst has happened," Captain Sulu chimed in. "Yamato's assignment was to oversee that the convoy was successfully protected and patrol the Romulan Neutral Zone, should the Romulans take advantage of three ships on the outskirts of Klingon space cross them."
"Vell, ve have not heard from the Romulans since the incident with Nimbus III," Commander Chekov spoke, "but the Klingons alvays seem to show up vhenever it suits them."
As Forester listened intently to what his former instructors said, Rotherfort eyed the young captain. The events that transpired in the days he was on a shakedown cruise on the Lexington were surprising. "Your mission, Captain Forester, is to join the Ulysees and the Okinawa near the Federation-Klingon border in the Archer system. Monitor the situation there, but do not cross the border."
"And if the Klingons cross?" Forester asked, sounding as if he was in the perspective of a Klingon commander. If he was a Klingon commander, he would cross. "What then, sir?"
"Then exercise extreme caution when pursuing them, especially in near-by nebulae," Kirk replied.
"Sir?" Forester questioned, confused.
"Reports from the Yamato's long range sensors detected a dense nebula within the Klingon Neutral Zone," Rotherfort stated. "Try and avoid it all costs."
"Yes, sir."
Colonel West, who had been quiet during the briefing, now handed Forester a datacount, which had numerous names and ranks. Forester took the datacount in his hand, glancing at the contents. "If I might ask, Colonel," David started, reading the datacount, "what is this list?"
"The list before you, Captain," West began, "is a list of sixty marine officers. While this briefing was going on, I have asked that sixty of my men transfer to the Lexington. They report to me, but they will follow your orders."
"If it comes to a full-scale Klingon invasion, Excelsior and Enterprise will offer assistance," Sulu added.
"Dismissed," Rotherfort said. The class of 2290 shifted to attention and left the office.
"Captain's Log, Stardate 9431.3. Our mission is taking us to the Archer system, just near the outskirts of the Klingon border. We are to join the Uysses and Okinawa and scan the border should the Klingons cross the border. Colonel West has dispatched sixty of his special marines to serve as Lexington's security officers. With Klingon warships in the Archer system, we will have to be cautious.
The Lexington arrived at the Archer system without incident. The ship's warp drive hummed down, and the cruiser now traveled to the rendezvous point. In space, the command cruiser slowly sped toward two other ships, the Okinawa and Ulysees, both ships relatively new to the fleet and recently christened, waited patiently for the Lexington's arrival.
"Sir," M'Giia called from her station, turning to face Forester. "The captain's of the Ulysees and Okinawa are hailing." M'Giia turned back to her station, awaiting Forester's command.
"On screen," David replied.
On the view screen, the Okinawa and Ulysees slowly came into view. The ships showed their aft side, as in front of them was the entire Archer system, as well as cloaked Klingon ships. The screen changed to the bridge of the Okinawa, fully staffed. The bridge looked very well advanced, but the ship itself was smaller than the Lexington. "This is Captain Joesph Cross of the Okinawa, awaiting your command."
Cross' image faded out on the view screen and another captain filled the screen. "This is Captain Nathaniel Riley of the Ulysees, your orders are ours to follow."
The view screen went back to the image of the Okinawa and Ulysees, both scanning the border of the Archer system. The bridge was silent. Boredom immediately crept over the bridge, and Forester was almost tired of it. "Scan the Archer system for any Klingon ships. Sturek," he said, rising from his chair. "You have the bridge. I'll be in my quarters."
Sturek nodded as Forester took his leave. He headed for the turbolift and the doors whooshed open upon his entrance. They closed as the computer spoke to him. "Level."
"Deck six." Forester sighed as the turbolift took him to his destination.
With Forester heading for his quarters, in main engineering, Robin Brady was just getting off duty. Shannon Andrews waited for him to get off duty as she was already in her quarters. It was 1620 hours, and Brady ended his shift. One of his engineers waited and took up the vacant position. Brady headed for the turbolift and boarded it. "Level," the computer said.
"Deck twelve."
The doors closed and Robin ascended up a couple of decks.
Robin arrived at deck twelve without delay. The lift doors opened, and he walked through the corridor. Officers nodded as he passed by. He rounded the corner, looking up at the door sign on the door. He smiled when he saw the doors open. Shannon greeted him with arms wide open. Brady walked in nervously, and the doors closed behind him.
"Hi," Shannon said, walking over to a table.
"Uhh, hi," Robin replied, still nervous.
"Don't be nervous, Robin," Shannon assured. "We're just having dinner."
"Nervous? Who's nervous?"
Shannon giggled at the small joke and walked over to the food replicator. She keyed in some commands on the console and something that smelled good was dispensed of. Robin looked out the window, seeing the beautiful stars. Shannon set the food on the table and walked over to the chief engineer.
"Stargazing?" she asked.
"Hmm? Oh. Yeah. I guess you could say I'm thinking of home."
"Where's home for you?"
"Colorado. Denver, Colorado."
"I'm from San Francisco."
"I've never been to San Francisco, except as a cadet at the Academy."
"When we get back, maybe I'll show you around the city."
"I'd like that, Shannon."
Shannon smiled as she and Brady sat across from one another, about to enjoy their dinner.
Forester walked down the corridors of deck six, adjusting his uniform. He now understood why Captain Kirk had done it so much. The uniforms were comfortable granted, but there were times when he just needed to show a little bit of his tunic. He entered into his quarters, going over the mission this day. He walked over to the desk and sat down. He worked a console and read about the new marine officers who had just transferred to the ship. Many of them were his age, and only some were older.
Before he can go through the sixty names on the list, the comm signal whistled. "M'Giia to Forester," M'Giia said.
Forester reached over for the comm button. "Forester here," he replied.
"Captain, we're receiving an automated distress call from within the Archer system."
"On my way."
Forester exited his quarters and walked back down the corridors to the turbolift. He did not have to wait long as the lift doors opened. He walked into the car and headed up to the bridge. The ride up was short and uneventful as Forester now walked on the bridge, M'Giia rising from the captain's chair. "Report," he said.
"A distress beacon has been located within the Archer system. It is Federation in origin."
"Can you identify its source?"
Sturek worked his console, gathering readings from the Federation distress beacon. He turned to face Forester, who was otherwise picturing who awaited him and his crew inside the Archer system. M'Giia also worked her station, as they tried to piece together who sent out the beacon. "It's from the Yamato," M'Giia said quickly.
"Confirmed," Sturek reported. "The Yamato's course is erratic, but as of this time, she is at bearing 132, mark 16. She is in a low orbit around Archer IV."
Many things went through the young captain's mind. Should he cross and risk a whole-scale war? Or should he wait for the Okinawa and Ulusses or enter without authorization? Forester remembered back at the Academy, his final mission to prove that he had what it took to be a captain of a starship. A Klingon outpost in the Kurat system was under attack by the Mechlanti, and Forester was given permission to cross the Neutral Zone to stop the threat. He did not destroy the Mechlanti, rather they were not involved in the growing tensions between the Empire and the Federation.
"Plot course for Archer IV, Jana," Forester finally said, coming to a decision he was unsure of. Jana and Geoff quickly turned to face Forester, making sure that they heard the order correctly.
Just like their final Academy training mission with the Mechlanti, Corin and Akton froze, stunned at the order issued. "Sir, that planet is near the Klingon border," Corin protested. "If we're discovered—"
"I'm well aware of the risk, Geoff," Forester answered, not heatedly, "but I will not sit back monitoring the Archer system should the Klingons finish their job on the Yamato."
There were no other officers on the bridge that protested. Forester now moved over to the command chair and tugged his uniform again. He sat down and rested back. "Send to Okinawa and Ulysses," he began, turning his chair to face M'Giia. "We have picked up an automated distress signal from Yamato. Remain positioned here and await further instructions."
"Aye, sir, sending now," M'Giia calmly replied.
"Warp five, Corin."
"Aye, sir."
You're taking them to their death if you cross into Klingon space without authority, Forester thought to himself. But you're doing the right thing.
Forester looked to the view screen, knowing what had to be done. He looked to his crew, and then the view screen. "Engage." In space, the Lexington sailed smoothly into an arc, heading for Archer IV. The little prickets known as stars began to change to long streams of light, as the starship's warp drive was fully charged. Then the ship was gone in a stream of blue light, traveling now at warp speeds.
With the Lexington under way, a message was immediately sent to the nearest base that a Federation starship had just crossed over into Klingon space without authorization.
