CHAPTER FIVE

Arriving Too Late

Traveling at warp factor five, a pretty safe speed, the Lexington would arrive in the Archer system in three point one hours. The bridge was a bit tense, having never journeyed into Klingon space before. Forester remembered back during his final mission as a cadet at Starfleet Academy. David was given temporary command of the Enterprise, and he responded to a distress call from Commander Vor, military commander in charge of a relief planet in the Kurat system. The planet was under attack by the Mechlanti, and with Vor's permission, the Enterprise was granted entrance through the Neutral Zone. With clever planning and thinking, Forester and his crew managed to drive away the Mechlanti ship, without destroying it; and thus, did not involve them in the growing tensions between the Klingon Empire and the Federation.

That had been one year ago, just before Forester's promotion to captain. Now, the youth had a command of his own, the Lexington. He was priviledged to serve as the new class ship's captain. Not thinking on the past, David tapped the arms of his command chair, as he waited for something. "I am detecting a faint impulse trail in a synchronous orbit around Archer IV," Sturek said from his station.

Klingon Starbase Tr'qDuu

Six Hundred Thirty Thousand Kelicams from the Archer Nebula

Archer Defense Strike Fleet

The message was being reviewed.

The Klingon officers on duty at the starbase responded to the message, and the ships that were the nearest to the station were ready. These ships were part of the Archer Strike Fleet, the commanding officers of the fleet: General Chang and Commander Thok Mak themselves. Torlek and D'ran had accepted command of their new ships, and were a part of the fleet as well. "General," the tactical officer called from his station. "A Federation ship has entered the system."

As I had suspected, Chang thought to himself. Had the situation been reversed, and it was he who was responding to a distress call, he would do the same. But he would have something before entering. "Did they enter with authorization?"

"No, sir. They are responding to the automated distress call from the Federation starship we left disabled days ago."

Chang nodded absently. He remembered clearly back in 2285, where he led an attack in the Dante system, where a Federation convoy was leaving after a mission of their own. The Federation starship Essex had led the convoy, not knowing that the Klingons were present. The commander of the Essex was a human Starfleet captain: Allen Forester.

Chang wondered if the commander of the ship that now violated the Archer system was some brash, arrogant captain or some recent graduate from Starfleet Academy. Either way, it would be a test of his mettle as a warrior. The data on the ship had yet to return, but it would in due time.

"Stand by to deploy the fleet," Chang said. "Open a two-way channel to the G'iDah and P'Triru."

"Commanders Torlek and D'ran on viewer, General."

"Torlek, D'ran, you two were honorable captains in the Academy, but the time has come that you will engage the Federation. Take a four wing QuD destroyer squadron to engage the Federation starship."

"We shall, General," D'ran replied, cutting his transmission. Only Torlek remained, as the hum of a cloaking device came on the speakers. D'ran's fleet had cloaked and were patiently waiting for Torlek.

"General, what about you and Commander Thok Mak?" Torlek asked.

"There are two Federation starships monitoring the Archer border. Thok Mak and I will handle them."

"Of course, General."

"Qapla!"

The view screen went back to the starry backdrop in space and other Klingon warships. Torlek's ships immediately cloaked and warped away, leaving Chang's and Thok Mak's combined fleet. The general was not one to dwell on the past, as he was always looking forward to the future. No matter what transpired, the future would always be something Chang would have on his mind.

The communciations officer complied at once, and he spoke again. "The dispatched attack wings will reach the Federation ship in twelve minutes."

"Communications, inform Thok Mak's fleet to engage the Federation ships at the border."

"Right away, sir."

"Lay in a course for the border, maximum warp."

"Course plotted."

"Execute."

* * * * * *

"Long range sensors detect a faint impulse trail," Akton reported.

"Any idea as to its origin?" Forester asked.

"Unknown at this distance," Sturek answered working at his science station. "Although, it may be Federation." The Lexington continued through the Archer system. Deep in this system, a Federation starship was here, almost powerless and an automated distress call that was days old was repeating over and over.

Since entering the system, the ship had not been detected by Klingon warships. Forester ran his hands along the railing and then felt a slight vibration. "How far into the system is the ship, Corin?" David asked.

"Five parsecs away, Captain," Corin answered. "But we still don't—" Before Geoff could finish, his console beeped. "Captain, I'm picking up signs of duranium in orbit around Archer IV." Corin quickly worked his console and on the view screen, a small speck was shown orbiting the planet.

"Magnify," Forester commanded. Corin nodded and worked again. On the screen, a small square entrapped the image and extended outward. M'Giia turned from her station and almost gasped at the sight on the view screen. The image showed a charred duranium hull and scarred breaches.

Other bridge officers gasped silently as they looked at the view screen. Sturek looked to the view screen as well but did not gasp. With his clear Vulcan eyes, he managed to see the registry of the craft floating aimlessly in orbit around Archer IV. "NX-five.... six.... two.... eight.... USS Yamato."

Corin looked at the view screen stunned, watching as the powerless Yamato list slowly in orbit around Archer IV. "We're too late," he said silently.

"M'Giia, any signs of survivors?" Forester asked.

M'Giia worked on her console, as sadness overcame her. She shook her head and faced her captain. "None, sir," she answered.

"Sensor records confirm that the automated distress call was sent by the Yamato, Captain," Sturek voiced.

Forester tapped a button on his chair which opened a line to engineering. "Forester to Engineering."

"Brady here."

"Robin, we've achieved orbit around Archer IV and found the Yamato adrift," Forester spoke, watching the view screen. "Prepare an engineering team, we're going to try and salvage the ship."

"Captain," Sturek spoke, looking up from his station. "Long range sensors detecting massive energy surges entering the system."

"Cloaking devices?" Forester questioned.

"Possibly. They will enter the vicinty in four point three hours."

"Robin, you have four hours to restore life support and main power to the Yamato," Forester spoke. "A cloaked fleet is on its way here."

"Understood, Captain. We'll be done in two. Brady out."

* * * * * *

In engineering, Brady and several of his engineers worked at the Main Situation console. Andrews was also with him as other engineers gathered their tricorders and other instruments needed for the salvage operation. "Beta shift, join me in transporter room two," Brady commanded, starting out of engineering. "Barcswood, you're in command until I get back. All right, let's go."

Robin and Beta shift left for the transporter room.

Beta shift stood at attention and materialized onto the badly damaged bridge of the Yamato. Fires crackled from badly damaged consoles. Circuits and wires crackled with sparks and console monitors showed snowy white, indicating it was either off-line or well beyond repair. Robin looked around and saw various bodies slumped over consoles.

"They're all dead," Andrews said without compassion.

"We have four hours to try and salvage this ship," Brady spoke.

Immediately, Brady's engineers started to work on the ship. Andrews walked over to a nearby Jeffries tube. Going down the twisting corridors without an operational turbolift was going to take at least a good hour, if not that. Other engineers roamed the bridge and waited patiently for Andrews' signal to commence with restoring main power.

Thirty minutes later, Andrews and two other engineers arrived in main engineering. The whole area was lit dimly. More circuits and wires sparked, as more consoles snowed static. Other stations were just blank. Andrews walked over to a station which went on and off, indicating there was still some power left. Shannon and another engineer immediately set to repairing the internal system. She took out her communicator, hearing it emit a chirp. "Andrews to Brady."

"Brady here."

"The entire warp system is shot. It'll take a good four hours to repair."

"We don't have four hours."

"I'll try and speed up our work."

"All right. Have you found anything we can work with?"

"Negative, sir. The secondary warp core is completely off-line."

"Which means that they could have only managed one-half impulse."

The bridge crew worked on restoring primary power from the barely functioning tactical console, which rained sparks. As Robin worked the station, he almost tripped over a slow breathing Starfleet officer. He yelped and quickly turned the body over to face him. "You.... you're Starfleet?" the man asked hoarsely.

"Yes, sir," Brady answered. "Chief Engineer Robin Brady of the Lexington."

"Captain Lyle Parker," Parker replied. "Commanding officer of the Yamato."

"Who attacked you, Captain?"

"Klingons.... They have several new ships.... a squadron of larger Birds-of-Prey.... and heavy battlecruisers.... and one battleship.... They used.... weapons which broke through our shields easily...."

David Forester was getting impatient. He drummed his fingers on his command chair, waiting for a report from Brady and his engineering team. It had been three hours already since he had sent them over to the disabled Yamato. On the view screen, the mighty ship was no longer in an erratic orbit, nor was it listing out of control.

Before he could open a channel to the away team, the bridge suddenly shook. It was a boom but well off target. Then another one. This slight rattle was close. "We're being hailed, Captain," M'Giia said from her station. "Audio only."

"Federation starship," a Klingon voice growled. "Leave the Archer system immediately, or be fired upon. This is your only warning." The Klingon had cut the line before Forester could respond.

"That's all, sir."

Forester sat in his chair uneasily. He knew that it was a mistake entering the Archer system. But his duty, his sworn oath he made when he accepted the captaincy, and the oath he made to Starfleet, made him decide his actions. As well as his heart, mind, and soul. He knew he could not let the Yamato fall into Klingon hands. "Jana, what's the location of the Okinawa and Ulysses?"

"Still keeping position outside the border."

"And the origin of the Klingon message?"

"Bearing three-two three mark six five, " M'Giia replied. "Distance: three hundred thousand kilometers."

They're close, Forester thought to himself. He swiveled in his chair and stood, studying the tactical diagram of his ship. He paced for a moment and stared out of the view screen, where Klingon warships would undoubtedly decloak and attack the Lexington. But if Forester played it smart, his ship would be escorted out of the system.

"Continue assessing to the Yamato," Forester said. "Inform Brady's team that we're out of time." The bridge set out the tasks as the bridge lighting changed from clear to red. Forester sat back in his seat and swiveled to face the view screen.

"Battle stations."