CHAPTER TEN
On the bridge, Jon had ordered the hull plating to be polarised, but the ship still rocked heavily from the violent encounter. The crew were tossed about and he watched in sympathy as they picked themselves painfully off the deck.
"Everybody ok?"
Heads nodded as they maintained their posts, faces pinched with anxiety. Jon turned to Ensign York, deputising at Tactical.
"Can you target their weapons array?"
"I'm trying, sir, but I can't get a lock. The readings are all over the place, it doesn't make any sense."
Jon suddenly recalled T'Pol's suggestion that the alien vessel may be using a distortion field to emit an exaggerated image.
"Re-calibrate again, and keep doing it until the sensors recognise what's out there, then get a lock and fire."
"Sir, that could take hours!"
"You got somewhere to go, Ensign?"
York noted the tone in the captain's voice and turned back to his console.
"Sorry sir. I'll get right on it."
Jon thought it was time for a pep talk with his bridge crew. "Ok people, the enemy is smaller but more manoeuvrable, so we're in for a bumpy ride until we can outsmart them. Maintain your posts, Commander Tucker and I are counting on you. Travis, time for some fancy flying. Make us the hardest moving target they've ever tried to hit."
Travis gave a huge grin in spite of the tension. "YES SIR!"
The intercom sputtered to life beside the captain. "Phlox to Captain Archer."
Jon's heart missed a beat. "Archer, go ahead Doctor."
"Captain, I'm sure that you're doing everything possible to terminate the attack we've just engaged in."
"Your point, Doctor?"
"This continued assault is playing havoc with the delicate equipment in sickbay, not to mention that the lurching of the deck makes it hard to continue one's work."
"Have you been injured?"
"Not I, thankfully, but I've had to strap Commander Tucker to his biobed for fear of him being thrown off, and Ensign Cutler has sprained her wrist."
"Sorry, Doc, but as you said, we're doing everything we can. Let me know if you're having any power fluctuations and I'll re-route what I can. On the plus side, the away team has found our contact, and we'll have them on board as soon as possible."
"That's splendid news, Captain. I'll let Commander Tucker know immediately."
Jon smiled sadly at the doctor's words. He knew that Phlox talked to his coma patients, but how he longed for Trip to open his eyes, give his trademark cheeky grin, and reassure him that he was fine. Maybe soon…
^*^*^*^*^*^
"Doctor, a patrol is checking houses in the next street. Perhaps they've picked up the transmission signal from the communicator. It's not safe to stay here."
One of Mendos' companions had gone outside to reconnoitre. Mendos explained the situation to the two officers.
"Our Resistance party is constantly being hounded. When the authorities do catch any of us, it's not pretty. A mock trial takes place behind closed doors, swiftly followed by a public execution."
"Where I come from, that's called a Kangaroo Court," Malcolm interjected.
T'Pol spoke. "Logic would dictate that we should re-locate, Doctor, but I must risk a further communiqué with the captain to advise him of our situation, and suggest that he maintains radio silence."
"Agreed, but let's do that as we move. That'll make it harder for them to triangulate the signal's source."
Mendos' aides checked the street before the party moved out, hugging the walls and staying in the shadows. After several twists and turns, and about 10 minutes of scurrying from one shadow to the next, they arrived at their new safe house. T'Pol had made brief contact with the ship, but Hoshi had breathlessly informed them that Enterprise was under attack and still couldn't use the transporter.
"We will have to wait and hide, Doctor. This may take some time."
TBC
Sorry this was a bit on the short side, but reviews welcome.