Disclaimer: see Chapter 1

A/N: Rapid update warning in case anyone missed Chapter 17 which I posted yesterday.

Chapter 18

Within the domed building, Trip was getting impatient. He checked his chronometer again. This was taking far too long. Malcolm should have got the charges laid and be back by now. What was taking so much time?

Travis moved to his side. "Sir?" he said, reading Trip's body language.

Trip shook his head. "Something's wrong, Travis," he said keeping his voice low. "It shouldn't take this long."

Kemper overheard him. "If he had been caught, we would've heard," he said. "The Lieutenant would have made sure of that."

Trip mentally added 'or we would've heard a shot', but said nothing. He wasn't going to be the one to sow doubts here. However, he did start to plan how they might disable the forcefield some other way if in fact Malcolm hadn't succeeded. Perhaps they could track down its power source? He couldn't see anything in this lobby but perhaps one of the other rooms held the key. He was just about to suggest that they explore those rooms when the outside door sprung open and Malcolm threw himself through, ignoring the array of MACO weapons that tracked his entrance.

Malcolm was soaked - the rain had seemingly picked up. He pushed the wet hair from his face and brushed his sleeve across his forehead. "All done," he said with a half grin. "Sorry about the delay." He threw the bag around behind him again and held out his hand for his rifle.

Trip handed it over without a word, his hammering heart steadying a little at Malcolm's return. He had to be sure though. "Are all the charges set?" he asked. "The warning beacons?"

Malcolm nodded as he settled the rifle strap on his shoulder. "Yes, Sir." He pulled out his controller and gave it to McKenzie. She would be responsible for initiating the explosions. She took it without a word and concentrated on her chronometer.

"Right then," said Trip swinging around to look at everybody. "Everyone ready?"

They murmured quiet assents.

"Let's go," said Trip, pointing to the door to the portal room.

All the team save McKenzie and two other MACOs entered the room. A bare light bulb suspended from frayed cord was the only illumination. Trip couldn't help but grin at Hoshi's skeptical glance around the unexceptional room. It was most definitely a product of this war-torn era and not at all glamorous or romantic. He wondered if Hoshi was seeing it in those terms, but he would have to wait to discuss her impressions. Right now he had a mission to lead.

Malcolm had placed himself at the head the team. They stood apprehensively in front of the strange wall which would spirit them, Alice-through-the-Looking-Glass style, to another world. Trip moved next to Malcolm who glared at him, motioning him back. But Trip wanted to be well up in front. There was no telling when the Thraxians might detect their intrusion and he had to have enough time to work on the energy network. He shook his head at Malcolm and gestured him to carry on.

With an exasperated jerk of his head but unable to argue, Malcolm faced the wall, poised to jump through the portal. He fluidly brought his rifle into both hands and signaled the others. The MACOs ranged alongside Trip and Malcolm with weapons ready. Trip lightly touched the wall to activate the blue rippling curtain of light.

The humans glanced at each other nervously and then ran at the portal. Trip had a ridiculous fleeting thought that perhaps they wouldn't be able to pass through and would rebound onto their backsides, but the portal held to its promise. The curtain of light was an insubstantial barrier. They passed through it without hindrance and into the portal room.

The room was deserted. Malcolm and the MACOs ran on to take position at the opening onto the corridor and peered around the corners. Kemper gave the 'all clear' hand signal - there was no one to be seen. Trip understood the gesture and wondered how long it would be before the Thraxians detected them. He felt a shiver up his spine at the prospect of meeting Rav once more.

Trip went to inspect the console in the center of the deserted room. No destination was selected. There was alien script or symbology here, as he remembered from their previous journey through this room. He waved Hoshi over to take a look then joined Malcolm.

"Ready?" asked Malcolm.

"Yeah," said Trip, brushing one hand over his phase pistol and the other patting the pocket containing his PADD. That was purely a precaution. Everything on the PADD was etched in his memory. He had thought through the steps so many times now he didn't think he would need the electronic backup. Still, it made sense to carry it. "Travis?"

"Yes, Sir," said Travis. "Ready."

Trip took a deep breath. "Let's go then."

Trip and Travis, together with their MACO escort led by Kemper, plunged forward through the opening and set off along the corridor in the direction of the power network

As Trip charged along, he heard a muffled thump from behind him. The gas had been deployed. That meant that the Thraxians had found their crewmates. His pulse rate increased by a couple of notches.

Then Kemper, scouting out ahead, halted suddenly at a corner and jumped back, causing his comrades to come to a rapid stop behind him. He raised his launcher and he fired off a canister of Phlox's gas around the turn. Several other canisters sped after it fired by the other squad members. The green vapor spread quickly ahead of them, driven by the air recycling system.

Kemper risked a glance around the corner, and then turned back to his comrades. He grinned, gave a thumbs-up and pushed onward around the turn.

A couple of Thraxians lay unconscious on the floor, one spread-eagled on top of the other in what might be interpreted as a compromising position. One of the MACOs gave an amused snort at the sight. Trip was impressed with the effectiveness of Phlox's gas. It had done what it was supposed to and remarkably quickly too. He ran on with renewed hope. They had to succeed.

When the group reached the heart of the power network the MACOs spread out to cover its approaches, barely giving the pulsing energy conduits a second glance. In contrast Trip and Travis stood gazing at the immense structure, their eyes roving over the pipes and controls.

As Trip stood before the reality of the complex maze once more, his earlier feelings of awe resurfaced. When he had been constructing the model of system on his terminal on Enterprise, he had dealt with it almost as an abstract problem to be solved. This actuality sent goose bumps along his arms. Trip looked up at the network of conduits and valves, marveling once more at its construction. Whatever else the Thraxians were, they had access to some impressive engineering talent. The technology here was incredible.

Trip felt intimidated by the Thraxian brilliance in being able to achieve this feat. How could he hope to harness the energy for their own aims? He gave himself a metal shake and pushed those thoughts to one side. He focused instead on the work he had to carry out. It all depended on him.

Travis said quietly, "Still amazing, huh?"

"Yes, it is that," agreed Trip. He felt a pang of regret that if all went as he hoped, he would be the person to bring it to destruction. He flashed Travis a sad smile. "Let's do what we need to," he said.

Trip stepped closer to the daunting presence of the structure. He allowed himself a moment to study the system again, running his eyes along the major conduits and noting the valves. The indicators ran ceaselessly through the spectrum, showing that there were huge gouts of energy flooding through the system, minutely balanced.

It was mostly as he had remembered. There were a couple of discrepancies but it was not a problem. He could adapt his plan to cope with them. Trip gave a sigh of relief. It was possible. It could be done.

Trip rubbed his hands together as he mentally stepped through the protocol a final time before putting it into practice. He turned to Travis and said, "Ready?"

"Aye, Sir," confirmed Travis.

"Any problems, just say."

Trip gave Travis a now confident grin and set to work. Travis had been tasked to deal with the more obvious junction diversions while Trip figured out the override functions and the failsafe system.

They worked mostly in silence, Trip acting quickly but with precision as his mind focused on the task. Travis was more hesitant but was able to progress independently for the most part. The occasional dull thump of a distant launcher could be heard but even that did not impact on Trip's consciousness.

All of Trip's attention was directed at the job at hand. For him there was nothing else. Beyond the pipes, controls and mechanisms were only hazy surroundings. The near-mystical feeling that encompassed him when working with such matters, the deep knowledge that gave him an almost instinctive feel for what was true, what connections worked, didn't fail him.

"Look out!" A shout from Travis dragged Trip back to mundane existence.

Trip jumped back, startled. He turned to see Travis pointing, saw a Thraxian in flowing robes raise his weapon. "Down!" Trip shouted, throwing himself to the ground.

Travis hadn't needed to be told and was already out of the line of fire, sheltered by a vertical conduit.

A blast of energy seared overhead, vaporizing the atmosphere and melting part of a wall beyond them. Trip swallowed hard as he caught the acrid fumes in his nostrils. Immediately he was back in the room with Rav, and there ahead of him was Jonathan Archer pulling the trigger. Trip squinted at the shapes, seemingly overlaid on a ghostly vision.

The Thraxian moved a step closer, snapping Trip back to reality. He blinked rapidly and pulled his phase pistol from its holster, finding a true aim on the alien. As the alien lifted his weapon again Trip fired, his beam impacting a moment before the red lance of Travis' shot met its target. The Thraxian staggered, then laughed, and resumed his slow approach.

Trip yelled, in a voice lent power by desperation, "Kemper! Here!"

Echoes ran around the structure and that surprised Trip. He wondered irrelevantly about acoustics.

The Thraxian paused as if unsure of what Trip's cry might mean but then carried on implacably – slow but unstoppable.

Trip scooted around, attempting to keep the pipes between him and their adversary. Travis was now right alongside him, shifting his phase pistol to its higher setting. Trip did the same, but he had a sinking feeling. These aliens were tough. No doubt that was why they had developed such fearsome weaponry of their own.

The two men scanned anxiously around. They were running out of options. Trip gave another shout for Kemper, dismayed that he hadn't answered already. Had the MACOs been caught out? Were they under attack elsewhere?

Then a loud boom sounded and the air turned green. A gas grenade!

Trip watched fascinated as the Thraxian took a breath, then another, and then slowly keeled over, his weapon falling from his fingers. Trip knew the gas had no adverse effect on humans but seeing its effectiveness was unsettling. He felt an irrational urge to hold his breath.

Kemper's arrival was announced by a hoarse shout and running footfalls. "Sirs," he gasped out. "I'm sorry."

One of Kemper's team rushed across to check the fallen alien then carried over to the entrance from which he had appeared to guard it.

Trip found he was trembling. Was that being under fire or the brief flashback? He took a deep breath, feeling his body responding, and said to a concerned Kemper, "He didn't get us. We're okay." He shot a quick look toward Travis to verify that that indeed was the case, and Travis gave a nod of agreement.

Kemper grimaced. "I haven't got enough people to guard all the potential approaches. We'll keep laying down gas and rotate positions."

Trip said, "We've nearly finished." Without waiting for Kemper's reply he set back to work, speeding up his actions to make up for lost time. Kemper set off to make his deployments.

"Nearly there," grunted Trip to Travis, closing yet another valve. He stood back to survey his work. Muttering under his breath, he traced around the paths through the piping with one finger dancing in the air to help him keep track.

Kemper returned to see how they were getting on.

Satisfied it was as good as it could be, Trip turned to Travis and Kemper. "That's it," he said. "All set. It'll blow in about five minutes."

Kemper nodded. "Understood. Return to the portal, Sirs. We'll stay to stop the aliens shutting it down. We'll follow in two minutes."

"No longer," warned Trip. "I can't be that precise." He ran a hand over the nearest piece of pipe work. Already the vibration was building as more energy than it was designed for streamed through the path.

Kemper gave another nod, and swung his rifle to guard position as Trip and Travis took off for their exit.

---------------

The MACOs were distributed around the door to the portal room and in the corridor outside. They had dealt with several Thraxian incursions by firing the gas canisters at them. That had stopped the assaults for the moment. Were the aliens trying to regroup, wondered Malcolm. What if they had respirators? No matter - in that case the MACOs had their rifles and grenades. One way or the other, this portal would remain secure.

Hoshi stood near the central console - motionless. Malcolm was concerned that perhaps this was too much for her. Had they all been too anxious about the Captain? Not given sufficient thought to her?

Then she glanced up and he caught a glimpse of a smile. "This is useful," she said indicating the console. "There's some script here. I'm getting a head start!"

He saw she was already making progress. She was not frozen, as he had feared. It was time to get the information Phlox required.

One of the MACOs - Woods - ran back from the forward position down the corridor.

"Situation report," rasped Malcolm.

Wood said, "Quiet for now. The chamber is secure. We're ready if they try again."

Turning to call to Hoshi, Malcolm found she was already at his back. "Ready?" he asked.

"Yes," she said.

"Keep close."

Malcolm jogged cautiously down the corridor and ducked into the chamber with all the desks and monitors, nodding to the MACO at the opening. When Malcolm had last been here the aliens had been engaged in the war games. Now the monitors still flickered but the aliens were quiet, sleeping tranquilly courtesy of Phlox.

Hoshi gasped as she took it in. "There are so many of them," she said studying the nearest Thraxian. "I hadn't realized they are so big!"

"Can you access the database from here, Ensign?" asked Malcolm, determined to keep the pace up. They didn't have long.

"Uhh, yes, I think so," said Hoshi, searching about for a free desk. The nearest ones were all occupied by aliens slumped across them.

Malcolm saw her dilemma. "Here. Use this one," he said, propelling the erstwhile user - an American-uniformed alien - onto the floor with some degree of satisfaction. He gave a final shove with a foot to get him away.

Hoshi saw a sneer transiently twist his face. Most unpleasant, she thought, but then she was at the terminal and all other thoughts fled as she concentrated wholly on her task. She didn't register that Malcolm was checking each of the Thraxians as she worked.

The Thraxian language was logical, Hoshi discovered with relief. She was able to make rapid progress because of their propensity to add ideographs alongside the script. Some were unintelligible but others were unmistakable and she could use these to cross-reference.

So engrossed was Hoshi that she didn't hear Malcolm's words to her. It was only when he touched her shoulder that she noticed he was speaking to her urgently.

"Hoshi - We have to go now. Get what you can and leave." He glanced at his chronometer. "McKenzie should have blasted the forcefield emitters by now."

Hoshi bit her lip and swiftly downloaded what she fervently hoped were relevant parts of the database. She fancied she could feel the floor begin to tremble. Then she realized it was no illusion. The results of Trip's efforts were starting to become evident.

"Ensign!" urged Malcolm, body tense and eyes wide as he looked around them and at the floor. "There's no time! Take what you've got and go, otherwise it'll be too late!" He plucked at her arm.

Needing no further encouragement, Hoshi picked up her PADD and rushed out of the room, followed by Malcolm who ordered the MACOs to follow them back to the portal room.

Trip and Travis were already at the portal room when Malcolm and the others ran in. Trip glanced at his chronometer. "Three minutes," Trip rapped out. "Everyone out, now!" He swept his arm toward the portal itself.

Hoshi and Travis stepped through the portal and vanished.

Malcolm signaled to the MACOs with a jerk of his rifle. "Go!" he ordered. "Get the others in the building back to the ship too." The MACOs followed the two Ensigns back to Earth where, if all were going to plan, Walsh would transport them back to Enterprise.

Trip said to Malcolm, "There's still Kemper and his team."

"I'll wait for them. You go, Commander."

Trip hesitated for a moment only. "Two minutes, Malcolm."

"Acknowledged," said Malcolm, not looking at him, his whole attention centered on the corridor. He exhaled in relief. "Here they come. Go, Commander!"

Trip allowed himself a grin. "See you on the other side!" he said, and disappeared into the other reality.

Malcolm didn't look at him. Kemper and the others thundered along the corridor. "Go!" shouted Malcolm. They carried on past him without checking pace and through the portal.

'A minute and a half', thought Malcolm turning to follow after them. He could feel the trembling beneath his boots grow as the tremendous energies fought their constraints. Trip wasn't going to be far wrong with his estimate. It was time to leave.

A bellow erupted behind him. Startled, Malcolm spun around. A Thraxian was framed in the opening.

It was Rav, still wearing that abhorrent Nazi uniform.

'Well', thought Malcolm, 'you wanted to get even with him didn't you? Be careful for what you wish for...'

Without delay, Malcolm brought his rifle to bear, an action mirrored by the Thraxian. Malcolm got his shot off first – a hit square to Rav's chest. Rav staggered but kept his feet as his own shot went wild, raking across a wall to leave a gouged track edged by black debris.

Malcolm cursed. He hadn't had an opportunity to test their rifles against the aliens. The Thraxians were tougher than he had anticipated. He thumbed his rifle to a higher setting, desperately hoping it would be enough, at the same time jumping back to evade the Thraxian who was drawing aim on him. Malcolm knew he had to keep the portal open, at whatever the cost.

Rav snarled, "This is no game! You are dead, human!"

Now the ground was shaking and Malcolm could hear a low rhythmical booming noise. Rav looked around in apparent shock, but then grinned as he returned his attention to Malcolm. Rav fired. Malcolm stumbled backwards as the energy bolt skimmed past. It barely touched his weapon but that was enough to instantly raise its temperature to an unbearable level. Malcolm yelped and swore. Despite his determination, he couldn't keep hold of the rifle. His reflexes took over and it dropped from his hands, swinging from the shoulder strap. He made an ineffectual grab at it, darting a glance at the slowly advancing Thraxian.

Rav took aim again, walking toward the console in the unsettling characteristic double-jointed manner of his kind.

In desperation, Malcolm flung himself backward and to the side, anything to confuse the alien's aim. At last Malcolm managed to seize hold of his still red-hot weapon. Whatever else happened, Rav couldn't be allowed to change the console setting. Gritting his teeth against the pain, Malcolm lifted his rifle and let rip at the alien - he was dead in his sights.

The weapon sputtered ineffectually. Rav laughed - a genuine but cruel enjoyment.

"Sod it!" shouted Malcolm in utter frustration as he glared at his rifle's misshapen barrel. He was lucky it hadn't blown up in his face.

Doing the only thing left to him, Malcolm unshipped his rifle and turned it about to serve as a club. He readied himself to leap at Rav. He had only seconds to hold out. If he could keep the Thraxian back for those few seconds Enterprise would be safe. The power would be unleashed through the portal and nothing would be able to stem the flow.

Malcolm blinked away the sweat from his eyes, stance wide, poised for action.

The Thraxian lifted his weapon once more. Malcolm dived away to one side, rolling across the floor. Rav followed with the muzzle, fired...

Malcolm watched in astonishment as the console in front of him melted into a lumpy deformed unidentifiable mass. Rav lowered his weapon with a grunt. As the alien peered perplexed at the mess, Malcolm jumped up and sprinted for the portal, laying each foot to the floor with all the power he could muster. Nothing he could do here now would change matters. The console had had it. Either the portal was shut down or it was locked open.

Another energy bolt chased him as he threw himself headfirst at the portal, a loud hammering filling his ears with the liberation of the energy field.

TBC