CHAPTER EIGHT
Back to Basics
The Lexington bridge was now enveloped in smoke and fire. Consoles and stations were offline and it was taking every remaining ounce of power just to get the stations working. "Engineering to Bridge," Robin said, his voice exhausted. "I can't get the warp core or ejection systems online, the systems have been heavily damaged. There's nothing I can do."
Then a new alarm blared over the ship. The ship changed from red alert, to blue alert, as the klaxon sounded repeatedly. Intruder alert, intruder alert, the computer announced. Location decks twelve through nineteen, section twenty-one beta. Intruder alert, location decks two through ten.
"Dispatch marines on all decks!" Forester commanded, as the bridge continued to shake. Then the computer's voice came on again. Intruders located on deck one section fifteen gamma. Force fields offline. Power to emergency force fields compromised.
The bridge stopped shaking, and Forester walked over to a barely functional console. It was a tactical console, its screen flashing on and off. He keyed in several commands as well as his authorization code and the screen turned blue and white, showing a ship schematic. Self-destruct authorization required, the computer droned.
M'Giia turned from her station, a flush of anguish on her face. Forester ignored her skeptical look for a moment and focused on the screen. "Computer, this is Captain Forester authorization Forester, two-seven, gamma three."
Identity confirmed.
"Begin self-destruct sequence."
Enter command authorization for self-destruct.
"Destruct sequence one, code one, one A."
The computer beeped and Sturek stood from his station, walking over to the tactical console to key in his authorization code. "Computer, this is Commander Sturek science officer. Begin destruct sequence, code one, one-A, two-B."
The computer beeped, accepting Sturek's authorization code. Then M'Giia walked over to the console to complete the cycle. She sighed heavily and put in her code. "Computer, this is Lieutenant-Commander Vanda M'Giia communications officer. Begin destruct sequence, code one-B, two-B, three."
Destruct sequence and codes accepted. Awaiting final authorization code for self-destruct.
Forester turned and saw that the bridge was in shambles. The Lexington was a strong ship, but after several volleys with the Klingon ships, her defenses were weakening. Her shields were on the verge of total collapse, warp drive was inoperable, and weapons were severely damaged. This was the only alternative. "Code zero, zero, zero, destruct zero."
Suddenly, the bridge jolted heavily, and the bridge was now enveloped in total darkness. The console exploded in front of M'Giia and she fell to the deck, dazed. "M'GIIA!" Forester cried out, watching his friend fall to the floor. The lights went out once again, and the emergency tactial station rained sparks. The screen was now snowy white. Blank. Offline.
Self-destruct systems offline. Warp core breach in seven minutes thirty-five seconds, the computer said.
The bridge lighting returned after about two minutes, and the hum of a transporter device took into effect. It was a reddish-orange glow, and Forester knew that meant one thing: Klingons. David turned to the transporter sound and Jana was the first to react. She managed to back hand one of the Klingons and make a run for the turbolift. Then, Forester saw a weapon being immediately fired at his friend. "NO!" he called out, as he saw Jana slump down to the floor, just as the turbolift doors opened.
Ten Federation marines immediately barged onto the bridge, taking down two of the twenty Klingons that had captured the bridge. But they were disposed one by one as two Klingons attacked two marines. The Klingon commanding officer aimed his disruptor at the leader of the marines and fired, but missed as the Federation vaulted under the railing, just barely.
Forester and his crew reacted quickly, trying to help the remaining marines, but the marines were vastly outnumbered. The commander of the marines and his best man were all that remained of the ten man squad on the bridge, and the commander was killed after one of the Klingons' knocked him out with a bat'telh. The bridge was littered with dead marine bodies and two dead Klingons.
Forester walked over to the turbolift to help Jana, but his path was blocked. "She's injured!" he said. "I have to help her!" The Klingon grunted and allowed him to pass, but his disruptor was still in his hand.
Forester walked up and helped Jana up to her feet. There was another Klingon standing beside him. The bridge had been captured, and Klingons were everywhere. "What do you want?" he asked.
The Klingon did not respond; instead, he back-handed Forester, sending him to his feet. A disruptor was aimed at his head as he stood slowly, about to reach for his phaser. Then the Klingon swatted his arm away, and brought him up to his feet. The Klingon shifted his weight on Forester's left side, and started to break his arm. The sound of the human's bones cracking amused the Klingon. "STOP!" Jana cried out.
With his disruptor still in hand, the Klingon officer stopped his attempt at breaking Forester's arm. He grunted as the other officer walked past them. "Are you all right, David?" Jana asked.
The Klingon's communicator beeped. "Commander Thok Mak. We have captured engineering."
"Well done, well done. The bridge has been captured with little resistance." He smiled mischiefously at Forester, as a Klingon walked toward the communications station. "Open a channel to General Chang."
"Channel open."
The view screen showed the image of four Klingon ships, three D-7s and the Yejquv Ghop, surrounding the Lexington's aft quarter. Then the smiling face of General Chang came onto the view screen. "General, the Federation ship has been disabled. Our boarding parties encountered little resistance."
"Well done, Thok Mak. Well done indeed." Then Chang drew his attention to Forester and his crew, but his voice was solely for Forester. "I commend you on your bravery, Captain Forester. But you should have heeded our warning."
"I demand an explanation for this attack!" Forester replied. "The Fleet will not--"
"You demand?" Chang chuckled softly as he continued talking to Forester. He leaned forward on the view screen to emphasize what he was saying. "You.... demand? My dear Captain, look around you. You are in no position to make demands. Thok Mak and I are your new commanding officers, and you and your crew will do what we ask, as we ask."
"And if we don't?" Forester asked, trying to sound like a warrior. He remembered back when he reenacted a simulation similar to the events of 2282 with a madman named Khan. This madman was holding a warden hostage on his ship, and Forester devised a plan to rescue the warden. He remembered his exact tone and was using it now to speak to Chang. If we don't, what then; you'll execute my crew and me? That won't accomplish anything."
"I sense a warrior's heart inside of you, Forester. You're quite bold to say such words." Chang smiled and continued. "I've heard them before." Before Forester could say anything, Chang beat him to it. "Wasn't there someone close to you who died in the Dante System, Captain? Uncle Aron or Rallan. Ah! Uncle Allen. Captain of the Essex. I should let you know, I led the attack in that system."
Forester yelled and tried to charge forward, trying to reach out to the view screen and punch Chang as if the General was near by and he could strangle him. A blur flashed behind him, as a bat'tleh hit him in the back. David groaned in sharp pain as he fell to the floor. Surprisingly, the blade did not go all the way through his back. It was just enough of a blow to leave him breathless.
"Just before we leave for Federation space, we must unload the crew. Assess repairs to their warp drive, and lay in these corrdinates." Chang input several commands on his console, and Thok Mak waited for them.
"Yes, General." One of Thok Mak's officer's pushed his way toward the conn and helm console. The console was blinking on and off, but the Klingon officer managed to get it online. The officer turned and faced Thok Mak.
"Commander, the most speed we can achieve is warp four," the officer said.
"That will suffice," Chang replied. "Have you received the corrdinates?"
"The corrdinates have been received. Course laid in, sir."
"Execute."
The Lexington's engines groaned slightly, as they sounded like they were going to fall apart.. The view screen shifted as the stars now started to turn into needles of light, as the ship now jumped to warp four.
It had been at least an hour since the battle in the Mempa system ended. Forester's bridge crew was being escorted to lower decks by the Klingon boarding party. They were taken down to the shuttle bay. When they arrived, they were greeted by Corin and Brady.
"David," Corin said, his voice almost eager. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," Forester replied, his Klingon escort still walking with him. Then the Klingon officer shoved Forester's bridge crew into the crowded shuttlebay. "How's the remainder of the crew?"
"All of my staff is dead, sir," Robin said. "We should've seen them coming in Engineering, but they overtook us in minutes. They damaged sensors on that deck."
Then Corin noticed Forester helping Akton try to sit down. She was wounded, but not heavily. The disruptor had gouged her back, a sore spot developing quickly. But she was all right. Jana noticed Corin looking at her and she shook her head. "I'm all right," she said.
The crew began to assess their situation. After a moment's silence, Forester spoke after feeling the vibration of the ship. "Somehow, we've gone to warp," he said, "but not at warp seven." His hand felt the thrumming of the warp generators in Engineering. "Warp four."
"The Klingons must have routed power from impulse to warp," Robin replied.
Forester nodded, but he did not understand why they were still in Klingon space. "Sturek, just before we were attacked, were we near any planets, excluding Archer IV?"
"There was one planet deep in the Klingon frontier. But I was unsure as to its actual location."
"We need to get to a station, send out an emergency distress call," Forester said.
"And take back the ship," Robin replied.
The bridge was functioning once again, but the primary and secondary weapons remained offline. It would take time to repair them. Time was a luxury the Klingon boarding party had, and the entire Lexington crew did not have much. Commander Thok Mak sat in the captain's chair, looking out at the view screen, as their destination now loomed closer. "There," he pointed out to the planet that just came into view. "Slow to one-quarter impulse."
"Right away, sir," the helmsman replied. The Klingon officer's fingers corresponded with the order, and the Lexington dropped out of warp. The Klingons had arrived at their destination. Now all that remained was to punish the crew for their intursion of the Archer system.
