Chapter 19
A Time for healing
Ben Sisko sat in his office. He had heard nothing from the Andromeda since he had been forced to escort the medical convey out of the battle zone. No sightings had come in. It had been 5 days, and his concern was growing.
" Captain, report to Ops "
Kira, he knew, shared his concerns, but the tension and worry in her voice for the last 5 days had now gone, which had him curious.
As he left his office and entered Ops, he noticed that all his staff were staring at the screen. Out of the corner of his eye he saw that Martok was present as well. He glanced up at the main view screen
" The Andromeda Ascendant " Breathed Kira. " We are being hailed "
" On screen "
Beka Valantine's face appeared on the screen. Behind her Sisko saw Riker, O'Brien Worf and Tyr. Tyrs face had some fierce bruising.
" Captain Valentine, I'm glad to see you all again, "
" As I am to see you " Beka replied " Returning your officers "
" Thank you, but they won't be thanking anyone when they see the pile of work awaiting them " Sisko joked. He noticed that nobody on the Andromeda was laughing
" I am also requesting your permission to retain the services of Doctor Bashir a while longer. " Beka said, all breeziness in her voice gone.
" I see, may I ask why ?" Concern showing on his face
" It's Dylan! During his captivity, the Jem Hadar forced him to fight "
" in the Arena...... " Martok interrupted, his hand going to his scarred face without realising " It is a horrible thing to endure. " He then turns to Tyr, " is that how you were injured "
" Yes, however before and after the fights the Jem Hadar administered a drug into Dylan "
Beka interrupts " According to the scans Andromeda has been able to make it is called Ketralcell White "
Sisko is shocked by this " I didn't think that was possible, the White was designed to keep the Jem Hadar dependant on it. "
" Dylan is..... not having the best time right now, and this is beyond the skill of our medic."
" Of course Dr Bashir can stay on board, as long you have need of his services. In truth, he probably wont leave anyway. Do you require anything else ? "
" No not really. All of the officers on loan to the Andromeda have asked permission to extend their assignments "
" The DS 9 personnel of course can stay aboard. The three Enterprise officers will have speak to their Captain. "
" Thank you Captain. Would you and General Martok care to join me for a meal perhaps ? " Beka offered, not feeling like entertaining the two officers but knowing that it was the sort of thing that Dylan would want her to be doing.
" I'd love to "
" Great, we'll be ready for you at.........18:00. Andromeda out "
As the image of DS 9's operations centre disappeared from the main view screen Riker then addresses Beka
" Beka, request permission to use the comm to contact my ship. I've spoken to Data and La Forge, and we would like to stay on board at least until Dylan recovers "
" Commander " calls O'Brien starring at the sensor display " The Enterprise is here, orbiting DS9 "
" Andromeda " Riker calls " Hail the Enterprise please "
Captain Picard appears on the screen
" Will, its good to see you again " He then looks at Beka " Forgive me I realise that your not Captain Hunt......"
" Sir, allow me to the Andromeda's XO Captain Beka Valentine "
" Captain Hunt is currently under the weather. I am currently in command "
" I see, is there anything that we can do to help ? "
" Thank you for the offer but with the help that is being supplied by DS 9 ...."
Riker then interrupts
" With respect, I have a suggestion. Dr Bashir is currently trying to find a cure for Captain Hunt, I know that he would like a second to consult, Dr Crusher is a very experienced Doctor "
" I will have her visit the Andromeda as soon as possible. Can we have transporter co-ordinates ?"
Tyr speaks for the first time
" I'm afraid that the Andromeda's armoured hull will not be penetrated by your transporter. She will have to come in a shuttle. "
" Understood "
Beka pauses, assessing Picard. If this man could inspire the loyalty of men like Riker La Forge and Data she knew she had to spend more time with him. Besides, this was the sought of thing Dylan would do.
" Captain I am having a informal meal with Captain Sisko and General Martok at 18.00. They have both seen the ship, would you and Mr Riker care to join us? "
" Indeed I would "
" Very well, if you could be here by 17:00 I will give you a brief tour of the ship before the meal "
" Perfect. Until then, Enterprise out "
**************************************************************************** ************* Beka stood outside the Hanger bay slightly before 17:00. Harper approached.
" Dylan would be loving all this formal meeting of Captain's " Harper pauses " How is he ? "
" The same, quiet as a mouse one minute and raving mad the next. He keeps demanding more, that's all he says More. Bashir has already been able to lessen the severity of the swings, and now their bringing a second doc with them to help"
" Good. Listen, since I have to join you for dinner, do I have to seat next to the Klingon, Mitpok ? Have you seen the way he eats ?"
" Martok, and yes you do! "
" OK, well I'm going to go and meet O'Brien and La Forge. I told them I'd show them one of the power relays "
Commander Riker came hurrying the corner as Harper leaves.
" Sorry I'm.....not late yet. I tried finding my own way, and got lost, again. "
" That's ok, it took me 3 months when I first came on board to be able to go an entire day without getting lost" Beka laughed.
Just then the hanger door swung open and Captain Picard walked out followed by Dr Crusher
Quickly Riker introduced everyone.
Crusher got straight down to business.
" Captain Valentine, I have brought some equipment with us from the Enterprise, I think it would be best if I were to go straight to the medical bay, would it be possible to have the equipment taken there.
Beka nods
" Andromeda "
Picard and Crusher jump backwards as holographic version of Andromeda appears between them and Beka. Riker tries to keep a grin off his face.
"Please have the Dr's equipment taken to Medical, and show her the way "
"aye"
As Crusher and Andromeda walk down the corridor, Beka leads Picard and Riker the other way.
" Well, Captain, I'n not too sure where to begin. I'll be honest, Dylan is usually the one who does the diplomatic tours "
" That's ok Captain Valentine, I prefer the informal tours anyway. I have studied all the information I could find on the Commonwealth, it's vessels, the Nitchean pride system what is now referred to as the fall and you quest to rebuild the commonwealth. " He pauses " Commander Riker mentioned that it would be good to have a basic knowledge before the tour "
Beka smiles at the frank honesty of the man
" Ok then. This is a Glorious Heritage Class Heavy Cruiser. Its official designation is the Shining Path to Truth and Glory, but is more commonly refereed to as the Andromeda Ascendant. It's official crew complement is 4000, with an additional regiment of Lancers. The Andromeda is the 12th of Glorious Heritage class to be built. More were planned, but with the Nitche betrayal the war was over before anymore could be fitted out. "
" I imagine that the capture of one of these would have been a high priority "
"It was " came a new voice from behind them.
" Captain, allow me to introduce Tyr Anazasi out of Victoria by Barbarosa of the Kodiak pride. This is Captain Jean Luc Picard of the Starship Enterprise "
" Captain, Commander "
Tyr greets, and then gestures from them to continue walking " The Amber pride attempted to captured the dockyards where the 13th Glorious Heritage vessel, the Knowledge in Moonlight, was being built. The only thing that was still to be installed was the slipstream drive and the ship had yet to be supplied with basic supplies and ammunition. The only crew it had on board where the dockyard engineering technicians. When the construction yards were attacked they engaged the grapples, snaring the prides 3 best warships, and their main troop carrier and towed them straight into the systems sun. "
" The Amber pride were removed from the alliance of prides, and their world abandoned to the High Guard as punishment of the failure "
Beka continued the tour
" The controlling program is actually an AI capable of splitting into.... " Beka never had chance to finish her sentence as the group rounded the corner, Picard's jaw actually dropped. There was the holographic version of the ship, talking with a real life and computer screen version of itself.
The hologram and screen version suddenly vanished, leaving the Avatar to greet the main group.
**************************************************************************** ************* Rommie smiled at the group and approached.
" Greetings Captain Picard " The gestured for them to continue walking and headed the way they had just come from .
" As I was saying, the AI is capable of splitting into separate manifestations. We have the ship version, which can only appear on monitor's. This version IS the Andromeda. To make it easier to interact the ship is also very fond of using the holographic version. On occasion, however, the Andromda needs a physical form off the ship, to move things, repel boarders and can send a copy of itself into a Avatar, as you have just seen."
" If the Avatar is on a planet, and the Andromeda has to leave the system, the Avatar can operate for a long period of time independently from her ship self. "
As they rounded a corner, they saw six legs sticking out from a access panel.
" Let me introduce our chief engineer. " Beka taps Harper on the leg, and after a few moments Harper and La Forge and O'Brien all emerge.
" Captain Picard " O'Brien shoots to attention
" Captain " La Forge also says, looking like a kid caught with his mouth full of sweets, and Harper simply grins
" Hi Boss "
" This is going to be an interesting tour " Picard decides.
**************************************************************************** *************
Beka sat in Dylan seat at the head of the table in the officers mess, and surveyed the room. Down her left side, with their backs to the viewing ports sat Tyr, nearest to her, then Harper, Worf with Riker at the end. Rommie was still in the medical bay with Dylan. Twice they had needed her strength to restrain him.
Opposite them, again starting nearest her was Captain Sisko, then Captain Picard, and General Martok. There were two places at the end of the table, and they were just waiting on the arrival of the two doctors.
Trance had taken Dax, O'Brien and La Forge into the crew mess for their meal.
" Where's Data ? Sisko asked, before taking a sip of his drink.
" Keeping Rommie company " came a unexpected voice.
All heads turned to see Crusher and Bashir enter the room. They looked please with themselves.
Bashir quite happily took the seat next to Martok. They had both been replaced by changelings and been held on the same prison camp. Crusher took the seat facing Beka.
" We figured out what they were trying to do to Captain Hunt " Crusher says. " They were experimenting with ways to making alpha quadrant species as dependant on white as the Jem Hadar. "
" That way " cuts in Bashir " They would only have to get us hooked on the drug to capture the quadrant, rather than fight a prolonged war because we would give them anything for more white "
" How many doses do you think the Dylan had received ? " Tyr asked
" Only one, perhaps two " Crusher answered " They have added something into the mix, which alters the brains ability to decide what it wants to do. There was some damage to his brain, which he have now repaired. "
" We have come up with a mix of drugs that will cure him of the need for anymore white, but the treatment course will take at couple of week " Bashir finished
Everyone congratulated the two doctors, and the meal progressed. As the last course was being finished, conversation began to start again. Riker had not had a chance to find out how the Enterprise had made it to DS 9 when she should still be in space dock.
All conversation falls way so they could hear Picard's answer.
" Well after the incident with the USS Larne, Admiral Jellico was ordered to take command of a small group of ships and head for the front lines. He had to report to Starbase Icarus, where the Enterprise was being repaired, where his squadron was being assembled. It was only one day front the front. "
" He had a small task force of 6 ships, two defiant class escorts, two Intrepid class high endurance combat ships, a ageing Heavy Cruiser, the USS Ambassador, which had been called up out of retirement and a Sovereign class dreadnought, the USS Olympic, which was his flagship. They encountered a group of 8 Cardassian Galor and Kledan class warships while scouting the L'Varian system"
" The fight was apparently going quite well, considering the ships there were against, until Admiral Jellicio decided that the Captain T'Valnar, who commands the Olympic, was taking to many risks because the shields strength had dropped to 47%. He relieved the Captain on the spot and ordered that phaser power be reduced by 45% and the excess power be diverted to the shields. "
Riker then interrupt's
" But with phaser power reduced they would not have been powerful enough to breach the shields on either of the type of ship they were up against "
" Indeed, and the only reason that the ship had been taking so much a beating is that they had taken on three of the vessels so the others could have an one on one battle. T'Valner's plan was to hold them at bay while the until the other ships could reduice the odds and then come to his aid. Within minutes off reducing phaser power one of the Galor class's broke away from the Olympic and destroyed the Ambassador with a barrage from astern. "
Picard pauses
" It gets worse. The Olympics crew then relieved the Admiral of duty on the grounds of being incapable of commanding a star ship, let alone a group in battle. The Admiral rejected the idea and fired at the security officer, however he missed and hit the bridge engineering console. That caused a short in the shield command circuits and lowered the shields "
" The ops officer and the XO managed to restrain the Admiral while the tactical officer raised the shield, but the engineering section took once hell of a beating while the shields were down. "
" The Federation ships had reduced the odds down to 6 against 5 by now, but thanks to the shield failure the Olympic had lost main power and was a sitting target. The Cardassian's broke the engagement to regroup. The two Defiant's were ordered by Captain T'Valner to take defensive positions near the Olympic and the two remaining Intrepids took positions ahead of the group "
" Captain T'Valner realised that the Olympic stood no chance, he had been gambling on having his main power restored before they re-engaged. As they began to take fire again, the Defiant class is really to small to act as blocking starships, he ordered them to retreat and was about to signal his surrender."
" Before he could transmit his surrender, however, four Klingon K.Vort destroyers led by the IKS K'Impecs' Honour decloaked on the Cardassian flank. Within minutes only two Cardassian ships were left, who managed to flee the system. "
" K'Impec's Honour ? " Martok interrupts " I believe that is Captain C'Tanaga's ship, that old fools not in Gre'thor yet ? "
" Indeed not, and I know of five ship Captains who were very glad to see him " Picard responds, before continuing
" Upon his return to Starbase Icarus, Jellico had a court martial and was found guilty of conduct unbecoming an officer, incompetence, sabotaging a Star Ship and attempted assault. " He has been sentenced to 15 years incarceration at the penal detention centre in New Zealand."
" The damage to the Olympic is along the belly of the craft, while the Enterprises was on the upper decks, so we simply scavenged all the parts the Enterprise needed and got over here as soon as possible. We entered comm range of DS 9 three days ago"
Martok grumbled to himself with laughter. He realises that everyone is looking at him
" I met the Admiral a number of years ago, he told me, after some blood wine, that the Alpha quadrant would be a better place without Klingon's. I wonder if that is still his opinion ? "
A Time for healing
Ben Sisko sat in his office. He had heard nothing from the Andromeda since he had been forced to escort the medical convey out of the battle zone. No sightings had come in. It had been 5 days, and his concern was growing.
" Captain, report to Ops "
Kira, he knew, shared his concerns, but the tension and worry in her voice for the last 5 days had now gone, which had him curious.
As he left his office and entered Ops, he noticed that all his staff were staring at the screen. Out of the corner of his eye he saw that Martok was present as well. He glanced up at the main view screen
" The Andromeda Ascendant " Breathed Kira. " We are being hailed "
" On screen "
Beka Valantine's face appeared on the screen. Behind her Sisko saw Riker, O'Brien Worf and Tyr. Tyrs face had some fierce bruising.
" Captain Valentine, I'm glad to see you all again, "
" As I am to see you " Beka replied " Returning your officers "
" Thank you, but they won't be thanking anyone when they see the pile of work awaiting them " Sisko joked. He noticed that nobody on the Andromeda was laughing
" I am also requesting your permission to retain the services of Doctor Bashir a while longer. " Beka said, all breeziness in her voice gone.
" I see, may I ask why ?" Concern showing on his face
" It's Dylan! During his captivity, the Jem Hadar forced him to fight "
" in the Arena...... " Martok interrupted, his hand going to his scarred face without realising " It is a horrible thing to endure. " He then turns to Tyr, " is that how you were injured "
" Yes, however before and after the fights the Jem Hadar administered a drug into Dylan "
Beka interrupts " According to the scans Andromeda has been able to make it is called Ketralcell White "
Sisko is shocked by this " I didn't think that was possible, the White was designed to keep the Jem Hadar dependant on it. "
" Dylan is..... not having the best time right now, and this is beyond the skill of our medic."
" Of course Dr Bashir can stay on board, as long you have need of his services. In truth, he probably wont leave anyway. Do you require anything else ? "
" No not really. All of the officers on loan to the Andromeda have asked permission to extend their assignments "
" The DS 9 personnel of course can stay aboard. The three Enterprise officers will have speak to their Captain. "
" Thank you Captain. Would you and General Martok care to join me for a meal perhaps ? " Beka offered, not feeling like entertaining the two officers but knowing that it was the sort of thing that Dylan would want her to be doing.
" I'd love to "
" Great, we'll be ready for you at.........18:00. Andromeda out "
As the image of DS 9's operations centre disappeared from the main view screen Riker then addresses Beka
" Beka, request permission to use the comm to contact my ship. I've spoken to Data and La Forge, and we would like to stay on board at least until Dylan recovers "
" Commander " calls O'Brien starring at the sensor display " The Enterprise is here, orbiting DS9 "
" Andromeda " Riker calls " Hail the Enterprise please "
Captain Picard appears on the screen
" Will, its good to see you again " He then looks at Beka " Forgive me I realise that your not Captain Hunt......"
" Sir, allow me to the Andromeda's XO Captain Beka Valentine "
" Captain Hunt is currently under the weather. I am currently in command "
" I see, is there anything that we can do to help ? "
" Thank you for the offer but with the help that is being supplied by DS 9 ...."
Riker then interrupts
" With respect, I have a suggestion. Dr Bashir is currently trying to find a cure for Captain Hunt, I know that he would like a second to consult, Dr Crusher is a very experienced Doctor "
" I will have her visit the Andromeda as soon as possible. Can we have transporter co-ordinates ?"
Tyr speaks for the first time
" I'm afraid that the Andromeda's armoured hull will not be penetrated by your transporter. She will have to come in a shuttle. "
" Understood "
Beka pauses, assessing Picard. If this man could inspire the loyalty of men like Riker La Forge and Data she knew she had to spend more time with him. Besides, this was the sought of thing Dylan would do.
" Captain I am having a informal meal with Captain Sisko and General Martok at 18.00. They have both seen the ship, would you and Mr Riker care to join us? "
" Indeed I would "
" Very well, if you could be here by 17:00 I will give you a brief tour of the ship before the meal "
" Perfect. Until then, Enterprise out "
**************************************************************************** ************* Beka stood outside the Hanger bay slightly before 17:00. Harper approached.
" Dylan would be loving all this formal meeting of Captain's " Harper pauses " How is he ? "
" The same, quiet as a mouse one minute and raving mad the next. He keeps demanding more, that's all he says More. Bashir has already been able to lessen the severity of the swings, and now their bringing a second doc with them to help"
" Good. Listen, since I have to join you for dinner, do I have to seat next to the Klingon, Mitpok ? Have you seen the way he eats ?"
" Martok, and yes you do! "
" OK, well I'm going to go and meet O'Brien and La Forge. I told them I'd show them one of the power relays "
Commander Riker came hurrying the corner as Harper leaves.
" Sorry I'm.....not late yet. I tried finding my own way, and got lost, again. "
" That's ok, it took me 3 months when I first came on board to be able to go an entire day without getting lost" Beka laughed.
Just then the hanger door swung open and Captain Picard walked out followed by Dr Crusher
Quickly Riker introduced everyone.
Crusher got straight down to business.
" Captain Valentine, I have brought some equipment with us from the Enterprise, I think it would be best if I were to go straight to the medical bay, would it be possible to have the equipment taken there.
Beka nods
" Andromeda "
Picard and Crusher jump backwards as holographic version of Andromeda appears between them and Beka. Riker tries to keep a grin off his face.
"Please have the Dr's equipment taken to Medical, and show her the way "
"aye"
As Crusher and Andromeda walk down the corridor, Beka leads Picard and Riker the other way.
" Well, Captain, I'n not too sure where to begin. I'll be honest, Dylan is usually the one who does the diplomatic tours "
" That's ok Captain Valentine, I prefer the informal tours anyway. I have studied all the information I could find on the Commonwealth, it's vessels, the Nitchean pride system what is now referred to as the fall and you quest to rebuild the commonwealth. " He pauses " Commander Riker mentioned that it would be good to have a basic knowledge before the tour "
Beka smiles at the frank honesty of the man
" Ok then. This is a Glorious Heritage Class Heavy Cruiser. Its official designation is the Shining Path to Truth and Glory, but is more commonly refereed to as the Andromeda Ascendant. It's official crew complement is 4000, with an additional regiment of Lancers. The Andromeda is the 12th of Glorious Heritage class to be built. More were planned, but with the Nitche betrayal the war was over before anymore could be fitted out. "
" I imagine that the capture of one of these would have been a high priority "
"It was " came a new voice from behind them.
" Captain, allow me to introduce Tyr Anazasi out of Victoria by Barbarosa of the Kodiak pride. This is Captain Jean Luc Picard of the Starship Enterprise "
" Captain, Commander "
Tyr greets, and then gestures from them to continue walking " The Amber pride attempted to captured the dockyards where the 13th Glorious Heritage vessel, the Knowledge in Moonlight, was being built. The only thing that was still to be installed was the slipstream drive and the ship had yet to be supplied with basic supplies and ammunition. The only crew it had on board where the dockyard engineering technicians. When the construction yards were attacked they engaged the grapples, snaring the prides 3 best warships, and their main troop carrier and towed them straight into the systems sun. "
" The Amber pride were removed from the alliance of prides, and their world abandoned to the High Guard as punishment of the failure "
Beka continued the tour
" The controlling program is actually an AI capable of splitting into.... " Beka never had chance to finish her sentence as the group rounded the corner, Picard's jaw actually dropped. There was the holographic version of the ship, talking with a real life and computer screen version of itself.
The hologram and screen version suddenly vanished, leaving the Avatar to greet the main group.
**************************************************************************** ************* Rommie smiled at the group and approached.
" Greetings Captain Picard " The gestured for them to continue walking and headed the way they had just come from .
" As I was saying, the AI is capable of splitting into separate manifestations. We have the ship version, which can only appear on monitor's. This version IS the Andromeda. To make it easier to interact the ship is also very fond of using the holographic version. On occasion, however, the Andromda needs a physical form off the ship, to move things, repel boarders and can send a copy of itself into a Avatar, as you have just seen."
" If the Avatar is on a planet, and the Andromeda has to leave the system, the Avatar can operate for a long period of time independently from her ship self. "
As they rounded a corner, they saw six legs sticking out from a access panel.
" Let me introduce our chief engineer. " Beka taps Harper on the leg, and after a few moments Harper and La Forge and O'Brien all emerge.
" Captain Picard " O'Brien shoots to attention
" Captain " La Forge also says, looking like a kid caught with his mouth full of sweets, and Harper simply grins
" Hi Boss "
" This is going to be an interesting tour " Picard decides.
**************************************************************************** *************
Beka sat in Dylan seat at the head of the table in the officers mess, and surveyed the room. Down her left side, with their backs to the viewing ports sat Tyr, nearest to her, then Harper, Worf with Riker at the end. Rommie was still in the medical bay with Dylan. Twice they had needed her strength to restrain him.
Opposite them, again starting nearest her was Captain Sisko, then Captain Picard, and General Martok. There were two places at the end of the table, and they were just waiting on the arrival of the two doctors.
Trance had taken Dax, O'Brien and La Forge into the crew mess for their meal.
" Where's Data ? Sisko asked, before taking a sip of his drink.
" Keeping Rommie company " came a unexpected voice.
All heads turned to see Crusher and Bashir enter the room. They looked please with themselves.
Bashir quite happily took the seat next to Martok. They had both been replaced by changelings and been held on the same prison camp. Crusher took the seat facing Beka.
" We figured out what they were trying to do to Captain Hunt " Crusher says. " They were experimenting with ways to making alpha quadrant species as dependant on white as the Jem Hadar. "
" That way " cuts in Bashir " They would only have to get us hooked on the drug to capture the quadrant, rather than fight a prolonged war because we would give them anything for more white "
" How many doses do you think the Dylan had received ? " Tyr asked
" Only one, perhaps two " Crusher answered " They have added something into the mix, which alters the brains ability to decide what it wants to do. There was some damage to his brain, which he have now repaired. "
" We have come up with a mix of drugs that will cure him of the need for anymore white, but the treatment course will take at couple of week " Bashir finished
Everyone congratulated the two doctors, and the meal progressed. As the last course was being finished, conversation began to start again. Riker had not had a chance to find out how the Enterprise had made it to DS 9 when she should still be in space dock.
All conversation falls way so they could hear Picard's answer.
" Well after the incident with the USS Larne, Admiral Jellico was ordered to take command of a small group of ships and head for the front lines. He had to report to Starbase Icarus, where the Enterprise was being repaired, where his squadron was being assembled. It was only one day front the front. "
" He had a small task force of 6 ships, two defiant class escorts, two Intrepid class high endurance combat ships, a ageing Heavy Cruiser, the USS Ambassador, which had been called up out of retirement and a Sovereign class dreadnought, the USS Olympic, which was his flagship. They encountered a group of 8 Cardassian Galor and Kledan class warships while scouting the L'Varian system"
" The fight was apparently going quite well, considering the ships there were against, until Admiral Jellicio decided that the Captain T'Valnar, who commands the Olympic, was taking to many risks because the shields strength had dropped to 47%. He relieved the Captain on the spot and ordered that phaser power be reduced by 45% and the excess power be diverted to the shields. "
Riker then interrupt's
" But with phaser power reduced they would not have been powerful enough to breach the shields on either of the type of ship they were up against "
" Indeed, and the only reason that the ship had been taking so much a beating is that they had taken on three of the vessels so the others could have an one on one battle. T'Valner's plan was to hold them at bay while the until the other ships could reduice the odds and then come to his aid. Within minutes off reducing phaser power one of the Galor class's broke away from the Olympic and destroyed the Ambassador with a barrage from astern. "
Picard pauses
" It gets worse. The Olympics crew then relieved the Admiral of duty on the grounds of being incapable of commanding a star ship, let alone a group in battle. The Admiral rejected the idea and fired at the security officer, however he missed and hit the bridge engineering console. That caused a short in the shield command circuits and lowered the shields "
" The ops officer and the XO managed to restrain the Admiral while the tactical officer raised the shield, but the engineering section took once hell of a beating while the shields were down. "
" The Federation ships had reduced the odds down to 6 against 5 by now, but thanks to the shield failure the Olympic had lost main power and was a sitting target. The Cardassian's broke the engagement to regroup. The two Defiant's were ordered by Captain T'Valner to take defensive positions near the Olympic and the two remaining Intrepids took positions ahead of the group "
" Captain T'Valner realised that the Olympic stood no chance, he had been gambling on having his main power restored before they re-engaged. As they began to take fire again, the Defiant class is really to small to act as blocking starships, he ordered them to retreat and was about to signal his surrender."
" Before he could transmit his surrender, however, four Klingon K.Vort destroyers led by the IKS K'Impecs' Honour decloaked on the Cardassian flank. Within minutes only two Cardassian ships were left, who managed to flee the system. "
" K'Impec's Honour ? " Martok interrupts " I believe that is Captain C'Tanaga's ship, that old fools not in Gre'thor yet ? "
" Indeed not, and I know of five ship Captains who were very glad to see him " Picard responds, before continuing
" Upon his return to Starbase Icarus, Jellico had a court martial and was found guilty of conduct unbecoming an officer, incompetence, sabotaging a Star Ship and attempted assault. " He has been sentenced to 15 years incarceration at the penal detention centre in New Zealand."
" The damage to the Olympic is along the belly of the craft, while the Enterprises was on the upper decks, so we simply scavenged all the parts the Enterprise needed and got over here as soon as possible. We entered comm range of DS 9 three days ago"
Martok grumbled to himself with laughter. He realises that everyone is looking at him
" I met the Admiral a number of years ago, he told me, after some blood wine, that the Alpha quadrant would be a better place without Klingon's. I wonder if that is still his opinion ? "
