Chapter 13

Decisions

1 Month later

Andromeda exited slip stream into the Bajoran system in the usual burst of white light. Beka was alone on the command deck, and after exiting from slip stream, she programmed the ship to assume a orbit around the station while reflectign on the last 4 weeks.

They had spent a month in the Sol system. The DS9 crew and Martok had left after only 3 days, not wanting to remain away from the posts, especially during a time of war. Beka had brought them back in the hastily repaired Maru. After Captain Sisko informed Starfleet command that the station had not fallen into Dominion hands again, as had been feared, Starfleet had diverted enough ships to re-establish links with the marooned station. The only exception had been Commander Worf. He had been requested to stay behind with the Andromeda crew and return to the station at a later date.

As Beka exited the slip stream control chair, she reflected on the time spent in the sol system. Of all the crew she had spent the least time on Earth. She had taken up the offer of tours around the orbital stations and been on Andromeda finishing the repairs the Maru needed. Yep, thought Beka, I'm definitely a space brat.

She didn't have the heart to ask Harper to work on the salvage ship. He had spent a lot of time on Earth wandering the streets of Boston, where he had grown up, but in their own universe. All of the crew knew that he was comparing it to home, Trance spent all her time at his side. They were getting rather close, Beka decided. Almost as close as they were before Trance had changed from being Purple to Gold.

Tyr and Worf had taken a slip capable drop ship and Tyr was teaching Worf how to pilot slipstream. In fact, Worf was scheduled to have his first solo flight later. Tyr had even asked Beka to accompany them for the trip. Andromeda had quickly noticed that there were a lot of federation scanners monitoring the flights, obviously trying to understand how slip stream technology worked.

Dylan and Rommie had spent the first week in talks with a LOT of brass. Politicians and admirals from Federation worlds, all trying to gain access to High Guard technology. They had then, with the help of Captain Sisko's father, taken a week and vanished somewhere on one of the planets more remote areas, alone.

Beka figured that Dylan needed a bit of time away.

Before returning to Deep Space 9, Bashir had given a picture of a man to all the Andromeda crew, telling them not to allow the man board the ship or talk to them for any reason, somebody by the name of......Sale? ....Sloan!!!! Beka wondered, not for the first time, who he was to have the young Doctor so serious about keeping him away from the Andromeda, but he had never been near the ship so it must have been a false alarm.

Her musing's were suddenly interrupted

" Beka, we are being hailed by DS9 "

" ON screen "

The image changed to a view of Dax sat in the command centre of the station.

" Welcome back. What are the chances of seeing you here again ? " She asked, smiling.

" Like you had to ask. " Beka smiled warmly at the Trill " Would Captain Sisko be available ? I know that Dylan is looking forward to meeting him, again "

" No, he's taking his son out for a driving lesson!! He's due back on duty in 3 hours, he can be contacted, but I'd rather not unless its urgent of course "

" No, that's fine. I know that Harper was hoping to have you assistance again. He is more determined than ever to find a way to get us home "

" I'll be over directly. DS9 out "

**************************************************************************** ****************

The Following day – DS9 Staff briefing

Captain Sisko entered the room. He sat at in the customary seat, at the head of the table. He mentally noted that all of the senior officers were present. The door at the other end of the room opened and Dylan, Rommie Harper and Tyr entered the room and after a quick round of greetings, also sat down at the table.

" I have asked the crew of the Andromeda to this meeting as they are going to be with us for the foreseeable future. After talks with the Federation council it has been decided that the Andromeda has right of passage anywhere within Federation space. However, as the crew are still determined to find a way home, they are assuming a defensive posture of DS9 until the war is over, unless they are needed elsewhere or find a way home. How is that coming Dax, Mr Harper ?"

Dax speaks before Harper

" Well, I have drawn a complete blank, but Mr Harper has a theory "

" It's not really a theory as such, but its my best guess. I've been trying to understand how we arrived here , before I can get us home. "

" I still believe that we swapped from one string to another. Since the drives have been working perfectly since I got them operating again, it must have been an external reason"

O'Brien comments with a quiet

" Makes sense "

Harper manipulates a control and the view screens around the table come to life. " This is a recording from the bridge log right before we appeared here. "

All eyes watch the recording and see the Andromeda crew at their stations on the bridge, Harper freezes the image.

" You can see here this white energy pocket ?" Harper asks pointing at the screen "Well, we were over stressing the engines really badly at this point, and I believe that we ran into any energy wave coming towards us on a slipstream string. But because we had so much power going to the slip drives, that energy wave, rather than normally destroy us, pushed us backwards. "

" That was why Beka was having so many problems controlling the ship. Once the power was cut to the drive, there was nothing holding the energy back, so the built up energy struck the ship, but instead of simply destroying us, it was so powerful, it hit us so hard that we actually shifted back in time and into a different reality. I can only think that we emerged here was because this wormhole is the only place that it is possible to exit slipstream safely without power to the slip stream engines. "

There was a silence as the two assembled crew's dissected the information. Tyr was the first to speak

" If this theory is true, what can cause such an energy wave to travel the slip stream routes ? "

" A multiple nova bomb detonation "

Rommie speaks " But the only people that ever had the ability to manufacture NOVA bombs are "

" Vedrans. The controlling race of the Commonwealth " Tyr interrupts " They were most probably trying to isolate another system from the route "

" Why would they being doing that ? " The question came from Kira " What's the point, people can still get to the system the old fashioned way "

" No, they canrt! In our universe, nobody uses your type of FTL drives. You travel from one system to the next by direct flight. We don't, therefore if you could disrupt the strings attaching a system to the network, then you effectively cut yourselves off from the rest of the universe. " Harper explains " If nobody can get there, nobody can hurt you "

" What is a NOVA bomb ? " Odo asks, very concerned at the Andromeda's reaction and Harper's explanation.

" A very powerful bomb, capable of destroying a entire system. " Rommie answered. " Developed as a direct response to the Magog threat. Only three class of ships in the High Guard fleets are designed to carry them! However, it seems that the Vedrans have found a way of detonating one, effecting the stream network, but not the system itself. I wouldn't even know where to begin how the theory that is possible"

" So, we are stuck here " Tyr surmised.

" If that is the case, why did the readings from the Wormhole alter? Before you arrived? " Sisko asks

" Because they came backwards in time, then the effects also go backwards, like an after effect " Dax answered. " Could it be possible to simulate such an event ? " She asks Harper

" Only if you want a star system destroyed. We are not able to manipulate the effects of the blast like the Vedran's obviously are "

Rommie interrupt's Harper " Captain Sisko, I must ask that neither you or your staff reveal or mention NOVA bombs to your superiors."

" And why is that ? " Sisko asks, not happy about the prospect of lying to his fellow officers

" When we arrived in the Sol system, Dr Bashir gave me a picture of a man, one Mr Sloan "

All DS 9 crew look at Bashir, who shrinks under their glare. Rommie saves him by continuing to speak before Bashir can

" He has just tried boarding the Maru "

**************************************************************************** *************

" Where is he now ? " Odo demands, getting to his feet.

" He is now on board the ship. Attempting to hack into the database. If he gets in there, there is no AI to restrict his access. He also has Trance and Beka"

" Rommie, Tyr " Dylan orders

" Odo, Worf " Sisko says at the same.

All four bolt from the room. Everybody else follows, trying to keep up.

Rommie outruns everyone, with Odo Worf and Tyr following.

As she approaches the Maru Rommie plans the quickest route to get to Sloan, knowing exactly where he is through her link with the Maru.

Almost without slowing she enters the ship, extending her lance to its fully deployed length. Sloan is standing with his back to the room. To late realised that someone had entered the room. Before he can react Rommie swings the lance, hitting him on the side of the head. As he lands on the deck, Odo enters, with Tyr and Worf arriving seconds later.

**************************************************************************** *************

At the request of the DS9 crew, Sloan had been placed in the Andromeda's brig, Bashir revelation that he uses transporter's to escape pursuit on previous occasions made the ship the perfect cell. When he came to Andromeda alerted all hands.

Dylan, Rommie, Tyr, Beka, Harper, Sisko, Bashir and Odo entered the jail, leaving Trance alone on the command deck.

" Ah, Doctor Bashir " Sloan starts as he sees the group approach.

" Be quiet " Bashir snaps " I knew that you would go to any length to achieve your objectives, but you really have outdone yourself this time Sloan. But I must say that you look good in a cell"

"I imagine that you would say that, but you all know that I'm only doing what's best for the Federation " Sloan responds as he sits up. He places one hand on his fore arm. As he does he notices a small bracelet on his wrist.

" By possibly angering a potential powerful ally? This sort of action could easily turn a powerful ally into a formidable enemy " Sisko interrupts, " You really are in need of another knock on the head "

" Captain " Rommie says " He is trying to activate a small recording and scanning device which he has implanted in his arm "

" You mean the one that you deactivated "

" Yes "

Sloan's face losses some of it's confidence, he slowly stands and begins to shuffle across the brig without lifting his foot.

" He is now trying to activate a beacon, located in the heal of his shoe " Rommie informs them " It has been deactivated "

" So what do you plan to do with me ?" Sloan asks the group " You know that you'll not hold me for long. My associates would never allow that "

" I have asked a friend to do me a favour " Sisko states simply " You are quite right, we could never keep you behind bars very long. "

" Oh, yes, and who would that be ? " Sloan sneers, confident that the morals these people posses who stop them from doing anything to harm him.

" General Martok "

" The Klingon ? " Sloan asks, going pale but remains slightly smug. " There is no way a Klingon jail can hold me "

" The bracelet on your arm will prevent any transporter beam rescuing you " Tyr informs Sloan, why slumps back, losing more of his composure. " If your associates want to rescue you, they are going to have to show up in person rather than simply whisk you away "

" Yes, it seems that Section 31 has no friends in the Empire. Especially since you aided the Duras family, during the civil war " Odo pauses " A civil war that you had no need to be involved in. Do you have any idea how many lives were lost. "

" And as Martok lost his first born son to the opening shots of that war, he is more than happy to do me this favour " Sisko states " Think of it as more of a extradition by a foreign government "

Suddenly the door opens and the Klingon strolls in with Worf at his side

" So this is the P'Tak " Martok looks at Sloan as Andromeda opens the cell " My house calls for vengeance "

Worf and Martok step into the cell, they grab an arm each and drag Sloan out of the brig.

No one ever dared to ask either Klingon what happened to agent Sloan.

**************************************************************************** *************

Harper spent more and more time in his machine shop, going over different ways to re-create the accident. Dax came and went every day, but even the optimistic Trill was beginning to lose hope of a solution.

Harper had failed every time in his attempts to get them home. Well, once he had got them home, and the only drawback was the fact that the Andromeda exploded.

The crew were slowly starting to accept the fact that they could not get home. Dylan had called a briefing to discuss this very point. Harper glanced at the timer on the wall, and realised that he had to get moving soon.

Leaving his workshop he headed to the command deck. He bumped into Beka, both heading in the same direction, there was an awkward silence between the two friends, Harper wanting to apologise for not being able to get them home, and Beka trying to figure out the best way to tell him that nobody blamed him.

" Hey Harper "

" Hey "

They walked the rest of the way in silence. Once all of the crew had assembled on the command deck, Dylan spoke

" I guess you all know why we are here. " He pauses " I think that we all have to face facts. Despite Mr Harper's best efforts we are stuck here. "

Tyr speaks up " We have no immediate problems. We are well supplied with food, there are plenty of planets to refuel the ship, we have a haven in the form of the Federation, we out gun everything in the quadrant. "

" The people here are nice " Trance states, trying to sound positive, who had realised long ago that she had no helpful hints this time.

" None of us really have a home in our universe. " Harper states. " For the last two years we have been trying to create a chance against the worldship, but here there are no Magog, no slave planets, none of the hell that we are all used to. Would it be so bad if we stayed? "

" To balance things out. Here, we have two allies, the Federations and the Klingon's. We have one enemy, the Dominion. " Beka states " If we became active in this war, it's obvious that we would tip the balance in favour of the allies. If we didn't, nobody would be shooting at us. "

Tyr continues her point

" But if we were able to return to our universe, we would have to endure constant attack from most of the pride's. Constantly having to watch our backs as most of our allies tried to exploit us and to top it all off, the Magog world ship is getting closer and closer. "

Once Tyr finished speaking, everyone went quiet, looking at Dylan.

" Alright, whether we stay or go is, at the moment, irrelevant. We still don't have a way to get home, much less whether we should. Mr Harper, if you could please continue to try and find us a way home, and then we'll have this conversation again "

" Will do big boss, but I'll warn you know, I'm pretty much out of idea's. It musta took the Vedrans years, and I do mean years to be able to manipulate a NOVA detonation the way we want to. And they had the entire Commonwealth's resource's to throw behind the project. "

" I know, Mr Harper. But at least this way we will have the option "

Suddenly Andromeda appears in holographic form

" There is no more factor you have over looked " She informed her crew " We only have one NOVA bomb left on board. If we experiment and get it wrong, and survive the blast... "

" We'd been stuck here anyway " Trance finished

**************************************************************************** ****************

Three days after the crew meeting, Tyr and Dylan are stood in the command deck. They both are looking at the tactical monitor, looking at the readout for the system.

Since links to DS 9 been re-established, there had always been a presence of allied warships in the system, but their numbers had steadily, and more recently, rapidly grown

" That's makes it now more than 150 ships in this system " Tyr states

" Andromeda, moves us away from the station " Dylan commands

" Aye "

" They must be planning a major offensive "

Andromeda appears in holographic form in front of the two officers

" Captain, we are being hailed by the station"

Dylan gestures to the screen

Sisko's face appears on the monitor

" Hello Captain Hunt

" Captain Sisko "

" I have been ordered to ask a favour of you. "

" Really "