Heroes Never Die
Chapter 3: Figments of the Imagination
By: Dark-Elk
The flight of Wraiths slashed silently through the void of space, all but invisible with their cloaking fields activated. Ahead of them the massive Dominion convoy meandered slowly through space, its guards languishing in the ease of their duty. A click flashed across the Wraiths communications systems, and they quickly burst apart, scattering like leaves in a maelstrom. They began to form a loose circle radiating from a single Wraith, and rotated in complicated orbits around it, guarding every possible vector. Finally, the convoy was within hailing range, and the central fighter opened a channel.
"Captain of the Dominion convoy 3381-D, this is UER Commander Talas Owens, leader of Firespray Squadron. I hereby demand that you power down all weapons systems, lower any defenses, and prepare to be boarded."
-_-_-_-
"What the hell is the UER? Someone get me some intel fast!" yelled Captain Aaron Malcolm.
The command center of the Star Child exploded into motion as the deck officers began furiously pounding on the keyboards before them and conferring with their subordinates. The science officer was the first to notice something familiar about the Wraiths that were around them.
"Sir, this doesn't make any sense, but the cloaking signals on these Wraiths aren't like anything in use in the Koprulu sector, nor are they retrofitted Protoss technology. I believe, sir, that these may be from Earth."
Captain Malcolm sank back into his command chair deep in thought. Earth fighters in the Koprulu sector again? Could they have hazarded sending another fleet to take control again? But what was the UER?
"Give me onscreen communications with the lead Wraith, and keep digging up as much information about these Wraiths as you can. Try and figure out how many there are out there ASAP!"
The communications officer's fingers flew across the keypad, and then he rose one hand into the air quickly, signaling the gear's readiness.
"Commander Owens, before I agree to anything I demand additional information. What is the UER, and why have you attacked us?"
A crackle of static followed the Captains questions, and it was a few moments before Commander Owens answered. "Captain, the Dominion has fought against us before. We are the United Earth Remnant, and we are the only remnants of the UED presence in the Koprulu sector. We need supplies and your convoy has exactly what we need. If you surrender peaceably, you will be returned to the Dominion, minus your ships and cargos of course. Should you respond with hostility, we will take you down. We have over three squadrons of Wraiths out here, and we more than outmatch the pitiful fighter support the Dominion has allotted you. I am giving you exactly two minutes, and then I demand your response." With that ultimatum, the communications channel hissed, and then disconnected.
The bridge of the Star Child erupted, with the various bridge officers and advisors all clamoring to be heard. Captain Malcolm sat stoically through about half a minute before standing up and yelling "Shut up! Nothing any of you is saying is going to save our lives. Calmly, one at a time, should you feel you have something constructive to add to this rousing discussion, please feel free. Time is ticking, gentlemen."
The tactical officer was the first to speak, although rather hurriedly. "Sir, our force is severely outgunned. He's right, our fighter complement is far too weak to fend off their attack. Our capital ships' guns are too slow to target the Wraiths. Sir, we're basically defenseless against them."
"Are there any Dominion battle groups that could reach us within five minutes? Surely we could survive for at least that long," pondered Captain Malcolm.
The tactical officer touched a few buttons on his panel, and pointed to the main viewscreen, which was now displaying a navigational chart. "These are the positions of Dominion forces in relation to us. The battle group Hydra under Zeta Squadron might be able to reach us in ten minutes if they choose to respond to our distress signal. If not, well, I wouldn't want to be us, sir, because there's no one else who can get to us in time to do anything more than recover our bodies."
"If that's all we can do, we have to take the chance. Comm, send the distress signal to them via encryption channel AGILF-998. The UED, rather, the UER, shouldn't be able to break that encrypt fast enough unless they have a Science Vessel in the area. After that, we just stall," said Malcolm, and then turned to the sensor officer. "Are you picking up a Science Vessel anywhere?"
"No sir, just the faint contacts with the Wraiths. I think he may be bluffing though. I can only see emissions of about two squadrons of Wraiths. It's still far too many, but we may be able to hold them off long enough to." He broke off as the klaxons of the Star Child began blaring as more than eight dozen Wraiths suddenly appeared in front of it.
"Holy . . .shit . . ." was all Captain Malcolm could manage to sputter out.
"Captain, the commander of the UER fighters is hailing us again. I'll put it onscreen," said the communications officer. He, like the rest of the bridge crew, was sweating profusely.
"Your gamble has failed, Captain Malcolm. I am giving you one last chance. Surrender, or I will be forced to tear your convoy to shreds and be content with the salvage. If you don't think I can do all that in the ten minutes it will take battle group Hydra to get here, you're sadly mistaken." said Commander Owens. "Save your crew, Captain Malcolm. Your supplies aren't worth all of their lives. As I told you before, if you surrender none of your men will be harmed, and we'll return you all to the Dominion."
"Fine, you win. We're powering down shields and weapons now," said Captain Malcolm dejectedly. He had hoped to come out of this alive and with medals for retaining his cargo; instead he was being delivered an ignoble defeat and a dishonorable return to Dominion space. "We're cycling our aft locks to prepare for your boarding party."
He terminated the communications link, and then turned to his bridge crew. "Order the entire convoy to wipe their computer cores of all information, regardless of level of classification. They should have enough time to do that. We don't need the UER getting such a large information boon from us. Also, I want a dozen men to go to the cargo hold. Do whatever damage you can to the mission critical cargo, but leave the food and weapons alone. If we destroy those, I don't think Owens will be quite so willing to return you all to the Dominion" He sighed. "Call off the reinforcements, tell them we've been taken. No sense in them coming to rescue us now. Cooperate with the UER to your fullest capacities. No sense in anyone else dying."
With that, he turned to regard the starry horizon in front of him, the Wraiths moving to encircle the Star Child. With one swift movement, he drew his pistol, and placed it to his temple. The bridge crew looked on in horror as the Captain looked each of them in the eye.
"The Dominion can't afford to lose what I know to these bastards. This is the only way."
A slight nod to the bridge crew prompted many of them to turn around, sparing them from the sight of Captain Malcolm squeezing the trigger of his pistol.
-_-_-
"Commander Owens, I am Lieutenant Naro Saman, and I've been sent to lead you and your crew to the bridge," said a young boy nervously as the UER crew stepped through the airlocks.
"Why is Captain Malcolm not here to escort me? Tradition dictates that the captain surrender his ship," asked Owens.
"Captain Malcolm is no longer in charge of this convoy, Commander Owens. He committed suicide a short time ago," said Saman as he stepped out of the way. "Now, if you'll follow me, we can formalize the surrender." With that, he began walking down the corridor.
"Why did the captain commit suicide, Lieutenant?" asked Owens, a little off guard.
Saman turned as he squeezed through the narrow corridors. "The captain was a man of honor, Commander Owens. The thought of such ignominious defeat as this must not have been pleasant. That is the only reason I could see."
Owens just shook his head. "There's nothing honorable about suicide," he muttered under his breath. "How far is it to the bridge?" he asked aloud.
"A few dozen meters. The Star Child isn't a very long vessel, but she's wide enough to make up for it," said Saman. "We're going to regret losing her."
"Lieutenant Saman, all is fair in love and war. Now, if you and your people were willing to defect to the UER, I'm sure I could see to it that you'd retain possession of this fine vessel," said Owens as he ducked under a low bulkhead, narrowly avoiding a concussion. "But I don't see that happening."
Saman turned back, his face showing only a hint of his anger. "Not a chance. We swore our oath to the Dominion, and we're not going to break it," he said. "Here is the bridge. I'm afraid I cannot accompany you."
Owens nodded his thanks and gestured to a pair of his men that had followed diligently behind. "You two go in first." The pilots drew their sidearms and nodded, stepping through the door in unison. To their relief, the rain of gunfire they had half-expected to appear didn't. They scanned the bridge crew, looking for a trap of some sort, but couldn't find any. One of the pilots turned and waved Owens in.
Owens looked around the small bridge, meeting the gaze of each crewmember before turning to another. His eyes glanced to the foot of the captain's chair, where the captain's body had thankfully been covered by a long piece of cloth. "Who is the ranking officer of the Star Child now?" he asked.
A young man stepped forward, his light blue eyes burning with shame. "I am, sir. Navigator Eric Wheeler."
Owens nodded in acknowledgement. "Are you prepared to surrender your vessel?"
Wheeler looked away for a few seconds before answering. "I want to confirm the terms first. You said you were keeping our ship and our cargo, and that we were being dropped off on a Dominion held planet by one of your ships. Which planet?"
"What is the nearest Dominion planet, Navigator Wheeler?" asked Owens.
"From here? Probably Tarsus IX."
"Then that's where we'll return you. Is this satisfactory?"
Wheeler nodded. "I surrender the Star Child and this convoy to the UER."
"I accept your surrender," said Owens. He extended his hand to Wheeler, but wasn't surprised when Wheeler walked away. "Very well. Please move to your aft airlocks. We'll begin boarding you on the return vessel."
The Dominion crew filed off the bridge slowly and silently, heads bowed. Wheeler and the weapons officer both grabbed an end of Captain Malcolm's remains, carrying his body off of the bridge. Owens lingered on the bridge for a moment more, looking at the pool of blood the Dominion hadn't bothered to clean.
"And they wondered why the UED came out here to take control," Owens wondered aloud. He shook his head and walked off of the bridge, his two pilots in tow.
Chapter 3: Figments of the Imagination
By: Dark-Elk
The flight of Wraiths slashed silently through the void of space, all but invisible with their cloaking fields activated. Ahead of them the massive Dominion convoy meandered slowly through space, its guards languishing in the ease of their duty. A click flashed across the Wraiths communications systems, and they quickly burst apart, scattering like leaves in a maelstrom. They began to form a loose circle radiating from a single Wraith, and rotated in complicated orbits around it, guarding every possible vector. Finally, the convoy was within hailing range, and the central fighter opened a channel.
"Captain of the Dominion convoy 3381-D, this is UER Commander Talas Owens, leader of Firespray Squadron. I hereby demand that you power down all weapons systems, lower any defenses, and prepare to be boarded."
-_-_-_-
"What the hell is the UER? Someone get me some intel fast!" yelled Captain Aaron Malcolm.
The command center of the Star Child exploded into motion as the deck officers began furiously pounding on the keyboards before them and conferring with their subordinates. The science officer was the first to notice something familiar about the Wraiths that were around them.
"Sir, this doesn't make any sense, but the cloaking signals on these Wraiths aren't like anything in use in the Koprulu sector, nor are they retrofitted Protoss technology. I believe, sir, that these may be from Earth."
Captain Malcolm sank back into his command chair deep in thought. Earth fighters in the Koprulu sector again? Could they have hazarded sending another fleet to take control again? But what was the UER?
"Give me onscreen communications with the lead Wraith, and keep digging up as much information about these Wraiths as you can. Try and figure out how many there are out there ASAP!"
The communications officer's fingers flew across the keypad, and then he rose one hand into the air quickly, signaling the gear's readiness.
"Commander Owens, before I agree to anything I demand additional information. What is the UER, and why have you attacked us?"
A crackle of static followed the Captains questions, and it was a few moments before Commander Owens answered. "Captain, the Dominion has fought against us before. We are the United Earth Remnant, and we are the only remnants of the UED presence in the Koprulu sector. We need supplies and your convoy has exactly what we need. If you surrender peaceably, you will be returned to the Dominion, minus your ships and cargos of course. Should you respond with hostility, we will take you down. We have over three squadrons of Wraiths out here, and we more than outmatch the pitiful fighter support the Dominion has allotted you. I am giving you exactly two minutes, and then I demand your response." With that ultimatum, the communications channel hissed, and then disconnected.
The bridge of the Star Child erupted, with the various bridge officers and advisors all clamoring to be heard. Captain Malcolm sat stoically through about half a minute before standing up and yelling "Shut up! Nothing any of you is saying is going to save our lives. Calmly, one at a time, should you feel you have something constructive to add to this rousing discussion, please feel free. Time is ticking, gentlemen."
The tactical officer was the first to speak, although rather hurriedly. "Sir, our force is severely outgunned. He's right, our fighter complement is far too weak to fend off their attack. Our capital ships' guns are too slow to target the Wraiths. Sir, we're basically defenseless against them."
"Are there any Dominion battle groups that could reach us within five minutes? Surely we could survive for at least that long," pondered Captain Malcolm.
The tactical officer touched a few buttons on his panel, and pointed to the main viewscreen, which was now displaying a navigational chart. "These are the positions of Dominion forces in relation to us. The battle group Hydra under Zeta Squadron might be able to reach us in ten minutes if they choose to respond to our distress signal. If not, well, I wouldn't want to be us, sir, because there's no one else who can get to us in time to do anything more than recover our bodies."
"If that's all we can do, we have to take the chance. Comm, send the distress signal to them via encryption channel AGILF-998. The UED, rather, the UER, shouldn't be able to break that encrypt fast enough unless they have a Science Vessel in the area. After that, we just stall," said Malcolm, and then turned to the sensor officer. "Are you picking up a Science Vessel anywhere?"
"No sir, just the faint contacts with the Wraiths. I think he may be bluffing though. I can only see emissions of about two squadrons of Wraiths. It's still far too many, but we may be able to hold them off long enough to." He broke off as the klaxons of the Star Child began blaring as more than eight dozen Wraiths suddenly appeared in front of it.
"Holy . . .shit . . ." was all Captain Malcolm could manage to sputter out.
"Captain, the commander of the UER fighters is hailing us again. I'll put it onscreen," said the communications officer. He, like the rest of the bridge crew, was sweating profusely.
"Your gamble has failed, Captain Malcolm. I am giving you one last chance. Surrender, or I will be forced to tear your convoy to shreds and be content with the salvage. If you don't think I can do all that in the ten minutes it will take battle group Hydra to get here, you're sadly mistaken." said Commander Owens. "Save your crew, Captain Malcolm. Your supplies aren't worth all of their lives. As I told you before, if you surrender none of your men will be harmed, and we'll return you all to the Dominion."
"Fine, you win. We're powering down shields and weapons now," said Captain Malcolm dejectedly. He had hoped to come out of this alive and with medals for retaining his cargo; instead he was being delivered an ignoble defeat and a dishonorable return to Dominion space. "We're cycling our aft locks to prepare for your boarding party."
He terminated the communications link, and then turned to his bridge crew. "Order the entire convoy to wipe their computer cores of all information, regardless of level of classification. They should have enough time to do that. We don't need the UER getting such a large information boon from us. Also, I want a dozen men to go to the cargo hold. Do whatever damage you can to the mission critical cargo, but leave the food and weapons alone. If we destroy those, I don't think Owens will be quite so willing to return you all to the Dominion" He sighed. "Call off the reinforcements, tell them we've been taken. No sense in them coming to rescue us now. Cooperate with the UER to your fullest capacities. No sense in anyone else dying."
With that, he turned to regard the starry horizon in front of him, the Wraiths moving to encircle the Star Child. With one swift movement, he drew his pistol, and placed it to his temple. The bridge crew looked on in horror as the Captain looked each of them in the eye.
"The Dominion can't afford to lose what I know to these bastards. This is the only way."
A slight nod to the bridge crew prompted many of them to turn around, sparing them from the sight of Captain Malcolm squeezing the trigger of his pistol.
-_-_-
"Commander Owens, I am Lieutenant Naro Saman, and I've been sent to lead you and your crew to the bridge," said a young boy nervously as the UER crew stepped through the airlocks.
"Why is Captain Malcolm not here to escort me? Tradition dictates that the captain surrender his ship," asked Owens.
"Captain Malcolm is no longer in charge of this convoy, Commander Owens. He committed suicide a short time ago," said Saman as he stepped out of the way. "Now, if you'll follow me, we can formalize the surrender." With that, he began walking down the corridor.
"Why did the captain commit suicide, Lieutenant?" asked Owens, a little off guard.
Saman turned as he squeezed through the narrow corridors. "The captain was a man of honor, Commander Owens. The thought of such ignominious defeat as this must not have been pleasant. That is the only reason I could see."
Owens just shook his head. "There's nothing honorable about suicide," he muttered under his breath. "How far is it to the bridge?" he asked aloud.
"A few dozen meters. The Star Child isn't a very long vessel, but she's wide enough to make up for it," said Saman. "We're going to regret losing her."
"Lieutenant Saman, all is fair in love and war. Now, if you and your people were willing to defect to the UER, I'm sure I could see to it that you'd retain possession of this fine vessel," said Owens as he ducked under a low bulkhead, narrowly avoiding a concussion. "But I don't see that happening."
Saman turned back, his face showing only a hint of his anger. "Not a chance. We swore our oath to the Dominion, and we're not going to break it," he said. "Here is the bridge. I'm afraid I cannot accompany you."
Owens nodded his thanks and gestured to a pair of his men that had followed diligently behind. "You two go in first." The pilots drew their sidearms and nodded, stepping through the door in unison. To their relief, the rain of gunfire they had half-expected to appear didn't. They scanned the bridge crew, looking for a trap of some sort, but couldn't find any. One of the pilots turned and waved Owens in.
Owens looked around the small bridge, meeting the gaze of each crewmember before turning to another. His eyes glanced to the foot of the captain's chair, where the captain's body had thankfully been covered by a long piece of cloth. "Who is the ranking officer of the Star Child now?" he asked.
A young man stepped forward, his light blue eyes burning with shame. "I am, sir. Navigator Eric Wheeler."
Owens nodded in acknowledgement. "Are you prepared to surrender your vessel?"
Wheeler looked away for a few seconds before answering. "I want to confirm the terms first. You said you were keeping our ship and our cargo, and that we were being dropped off on a Dominion held planet by one of your ships. Which planet?"
"What is the nearest Dominion planet, Navigator Wheeler?" asked Owens.
"From here? Probably Tarsus IX."
"Then that's where we'll return you. Is this satisfactory?"
Wheeler nodded. "I surrender the Star Child and this convoy to the UER."
"I accept your surrender," said Owens. He extended his hand to Wheeler, but wasn't surprised when Wheeler walked away. "Very well. Please move to your aft airlocks. We'll begin boarding you on the return vessel."
The Dominion crew filed off the bridge slowly and silently, heads bowed. Wheeler and the weapons officer both grabbed an end of Captain Malcolm's remains, carrying his body off of the bridge. Owens lingered on the bridge for a moment more, looking at the pool of blood the Dominion hadn't bothered to clean.
"And they wondered why the UED came out here to take control," Owens wondered aloud. He shook his head and walked off of the bridge, his two pilots in tow.