Red Rain
By Thalia Drogna
"How many?" asked Darwin, oblivious to the open com channel. It didn't matter if Enterprise knew their plans, they could probably detect the ships on their own long range scanners by now.
"Sixty ships, same pattern as those that attacked Fenner and Trip," said Carter.
"Sixty!" said Fenner. "Three were enough to nearly kill me and Trip. If Hathaway hadn't come and saved our necks."
"We've got them too," said Archer. "Who are they and what do they want?"
"They're known as the Hunters," said Trip. "They're deadly, and they don't like us very much. Now would be a really good time for you to get Enterprise out of here."
"Trip, we're not leaving without you," said Archer.
"Captain, I'm where I need to be. This is one fight that you don't want to get involved in," said Trip. "You'd better leave now before things hot up."
"No," said Archer. "You're stuck with us. Colonel, it seems as if you could do with some help, where do you want us?"
Darwin's lips twisted up in an almost smile. "This station is pretty well armed, but more fire power is always welcome."
Trip heard Lieutenant Reed's voice in the background, "Sir, I suggest we position ourselves above the station."
"Did you hear that, Colonel?" asked Archer.
Darwin looked over at Carter, who gave him a brief nod in assent. "That's affirmative, my weapons officer agrees," said Darwin. "Carter, switch off the automatics and let them in."
"Yes, sir," said Carter. He disabled the automatic defences while Enterprise made it's approach to the station.
"What about the NX-Theta? Fenner and I could take it out," said Hathaway.
"We should be fine on the station. We might need the NX-Theta if we have to evacuate," said Darwin. "Let Enterprise get our backs."
"Colonel, I think we need to discuss what we're up against here," said Archer over the com.
"It's a long story," said Trip.
"Then you had better get started," said Archer, "the rate those ships are approaching, we don't have much time."
"It's all to do with a mission we went on about two years after I joined the unit. It's kind of complicated, but we had our memories of the whole mission erased. Kanatova hypnotised me and got me to remember what had happened," said Trip.
"Hypnotised you?" said Archer with incredulity. "Never mind, just tell me what happened."
Trip gave Archer the details of everything which had happened on Karavia. The other MACOs let Trip tell the story since he was the only one that had actual memories of the events.
"So the fleet that's attacking you are after the information to build this Quantum Computer?" asked Archer.
"Well, I don't reckon that they actually want the information themselves, I think they just don't want anyone else to have it," said Trip.
"Do you have the information on how to remove the data?" asked T'Pol.
"We can't be sure, but we think the information on the memory download machine was deleted along with the mission files," said Trip.
"Why did you delete the mission files? You must have known that you'd need the information later," said Archer.
"We did what we thought would protect Earth," said Darwin. "I for one don't want the Hunters attacking the Research and Development Complex back on Earth, or destroying San Francisco just to get rid of the information that we're carrying in our heads. I don't even remember doing any of this, all we have is what Trip remembered under hypnosis."
"Memories recovered under hypnosis have been known to be unreliable," said T'Pol, sceptically.
"I know," said Trip, "but even unreliable memories are better than no memories at all."
"That is not necessarily the case," said T'Pol.
"T'Pol, we've got bigger problems at the moment. These guys are tough as nails and we're going to need all our fire power to destroy them," said Trip.
"We're up against overwhelming forces," said Darwin.
"They don't seem that tough," said Reed on Enterprise. "The three that were attacking Mister Fenner self-destructed before we could get more than a couple of shots off."
"That was because they knew they were out-gunned by Enterprise," said Trip. "They didn't want to risk capture. Enterprise could take down three of them easily, but I'm not so sure they could take down six. We've got sixty to worry about. These things are piloted by machines, they don't have to worry about g-forces from acceleration or human error. Fenner and I were real close to becoming their latest victims back at the brown dwarf."
"But we know that phase cannons can destroy them," said Darwin.
"On full power, and in a concentrated blast," said Carter. "It took everything that the NX-Theta had to take down that one Hunter. We couldn't have dealt with another one. And we had surprise on our side that time."
"You should try hiding the parts for a phase cannon in a museum requisition order," said Hathaway. "I did the best I could, but if I'd wanted anything more powerful people would have got suspicious."
"You didn't tell me that it was so close," said Trip.
"You were out of it with a concussion for most of the journey here," pointed out Carter.
"So how much fire power do we have?" asked Archer.
"Water's Edge is rather better armed than the NX-Theta," said Darwin.
"I thought that it might be," replied Archer. "We were able to detect some of your weapons on our scans but I'm guessing you've got more than we were able to detect."
"Even with Enterprise, we don't have enough fire power to take down sixty ships," said Carter.
"But we're going to try, right?" asked Rush.
"Oh yes, Corporal, we're going to try, but I think we need a backup plan," said Darwin.
Enterprise hung above Water's Edge like some sort of guardian watchdog. The reality wasn't that far away from the image, Enterprise's scanners were busy keeping tabs on the approaching fighters.
"It's like they're swarming," said Reed looking at the scanner image.
"Their behaviour is unusual," said T'Pol. "This is not a standard battle tactic."
"They don't need tactics if Darwin is right about how tough they are," said Archer.
"Sir, a formation is breaking off. They're coming in for an attack run," said Reed.
"How many?" asked Archer.
"About half the fleet," said Reed.
"What are the rest of them doing?" asked Archer.
"They're moving in the opposite direction. I think they're trying to circle behind the station," said Reed.
"Move us to meet the first group, Mr Mayweather," said Archer. "Water's Edge will just have to deal with the rest."
"Yes, sir," said Mayweather, slightly nervously. Meeting thirty ships in a full frontal assault wasn't his idea of a good time, especially when the whole crew of Enterprise were relying on his piloting skills to get them through this.
They hit the fighters head on, the Hunters' parting to keep from crashing into Enterprise whilst opening fire on the advancing ship. Simultaneously the long range guns of the station opened up, giving them covering fire. The polarised hull plating was able to deflect a couple of glancing blows from the Hunters and Mayweather kept them moving so the small fighters had a hard time getting a lock on Enterprise. Lieutenant Reed had already begun to return fire as Enterprise ducked and weaved through the seething mass of tiny ships. They knew that they couldn't keep it up forever, but they just had to keep as much of the fleet busy as they could while Water's Edge put into action their backup plan.
"Enterprise have met the first group," said Carter. "It looks like they're going to surround us and come in from both sides."
"Everyone ready?" asked Darwin. He received a chorus of "yes, sir" from Hathaway, Kanatova, Carter and Fenner. They were manning the shorter range weapons, while Trip and Rush worked on the backup plan. Each MACO was covering a quadrant of the sky around them. The automatic weapons would take out most of the attackers but they were going to need some help if the station was going to defend itself against such a large number of fighters.
"Here they come," said Hathaway.
The main station weaponry targeted the approaching fighters. The lead three exploded immediately as fire was concentrated upon them. Darwin moved between the weapons stations, observing his officers as they took on the attackers. So far they were keeping the fighters outside a cordon of fire, with the close range weapons picking off any which strayed through the net. Enterprise had engaged the fighters just inside the range of the biggest of the station's guns, taking down several fighters before they could cause trouble. However, for the attackers it was simply a war of attrition, they only had to keep coming to wear down the defenders.
Each of the MACOs was working to the absolute limit of their abilities just to keep the fighters from breaking through and they were slowly losing round even with Enterprise's help.
"Sir, we're not going to be able to keep this up," said Hathaway.
"I can see that, Major," replied Darwin, "just do the best you can and keep them off our backs while Trip does what he needs to."
Suddenly the station shook with the impact of weapons fire and klaxons sounded as the emergency systems detected a hull breach.
"We're venting atmosphere on levels six and seven," said Kanatova. "Bulkheads are sealing automatically. We've lost one of beta section's long range cannons."
The hole that the missing cannon created allowed another couple of fighters to slip through and make an attack run on the station. The fighters pulled away as Enterprise bore down on them, chasing them back out past the perimeter. Kanatova called out the damage report, minor this time. The first hit had been a lucky one for the attackers and would undoubtedly open them up to further hits.
"Trip," said Darwin into his communicator. "Please tell me that this isn't going to take as long as you thought."
"Sorry, sir. I'm working as fast as I can down here, but I need another twenty minutes to get this rigged," said Trip.
"We don't have twenty minutes, Trip," said Darwin.
"Sir," said Hathaway, "you'd better see this. They're changing tactics."
Darwin went over to Hathaway's station and looked over her shoulder at the scanner readouts. He saw six fighters forming a triangle formation, one fighter a spearhead at the tip, two behind that and then three behind them. He watched as they turned to face the station head on and swoop towards them. "They're on a collision course," said Darwin in realisation.
"Kamikaze," said Hathaway.
"Take them out, if they hit us…" said Darwin.
"Already on it," replied Hathaway, firing at the new formation. All around them the rest of their attackers were following the first six and forming into triangles. The first formation was destroyed efficiently by Hathaway's guns but the others were now starting their attack run.
"They're going to hit," shouted Fenner, as one too many fighters entered his quadrant and two slipped through the cordon.
"Trip, Rush, brace for impact," Darwin just had time to snap into his communicator before the two ships hit. He held onto the console in front of him as the whole station shook around them. Something in the war room exploded and burst into flames, sparks showering onto the floor. Darwin grabbed a fire extinguisher and dealt with the blaze.
"Everyone okay?" he asked, looking around at his officers. He received a series of affirmative replies but he knew that okay was a relative term in this case. Fenner had a nasty looking cut on his head from where he'd been thrown against his console, Carter clutched a hand around his chest in obvious pain, and Kanatova had been ejected from her seat but was picking herself up off the floor. They couldn't spare the time to deal with minor wounds at the moment.
"Trip, Rush?" Darwin asked hoping that both men had been able to brace themselves before the ships had hit.
"We're fine," came the Southern drawl. "Rush got a little toasted on an overloaded circuit but it's nothing serious."
Darwin breathed a sigh of relief. "Keep this frequency open, Trip. I think you'd better keep one ear on what's going on up here."
"Yes, sir," said Trip.
"They're reforming," said Hathaway. After the first attack, several of the triangles had lost ships and now the broken formations were merging to re-complete themselves. "We've got incoming."
"How's Enterprise doing?" asked Darwin.
"They're hanging on," said Carter. "Kamikaze tactics don't work so well against a moving target."
"Sir, that last hit took out one of the short range batteries," said Kanatova. "And the emergency bulk heads have closed on the access to the generator room. Trip and Rush aren't going to be able to get out."
"Damn," said Darwin. "Did you hear that Trip?"
"Yes, sir. Don't worry about us, I'll figure out something. There's more than just the main access way out of here," said a crackled voice over the com.
"Sir, there's too many of them," said Hathaway. "We've got three fighters about to…" Hathaway didn't finish her sentence as the three ships impacted. This was far more damaging than the previous hits since the final fighter in the group had been aiming directly for the War Room. Enterprise had been able to deflect it slightly with a torpedo but nothing could prevent the impact. The fighter hit one level above the War Room. Darwin was floored by the ensuing explosions and he hit his head hard on the ground as he fell, driving himself into the red darkness of unconsciousness.
When Darwin regained his senses the War Room was in chaos. Fires had broken out around the room. Smoke clouded the air, panels and wires hung from the ceiling, and a strong smell of burnt plastic hit his nostrils. He could see Fenner moving debris to get to Hathaway, who lay under the pieces of a broken tactical display. Kanatova was slumped over her own console, unmoving. Carter was stirring but lethargic in his movements. Darwin got to his feet carefully, taking stock of his own aches.
He went over to Carter and helped him up before moving to Kanatova. Apart from a fast forming bruise on her head she seemed unhurt but she wasn't waking up either. Hathaway had picked herself up with some help from Fenner.
"We're venting atmosphere from the War Room. The emergency bulkheads have malfunctioned," said Carter. "We need to get out of here and shut them manually before the whole station is depressurised."
"Fifty percent of automatic weapons batteries are still functioning," said Hathaway, looking at the remains of the weapons console beside her. "Everything else is down or damaged."
For a second Darwin surveyed the remains of the War Room. He retrieved his communicator from his pocket and tried to raise Trip and Rush but he was met with static. Carter tried his own communicator with the same result. They had no idea if the last hit had killed Trip and Rush, or if it was simply that their communicators were no longer working. They knew they didn't have the luxury of time to send out a search party to discover one way or the other. If they stayed on the station with only fifty percent of the weapons then the Hunters wouldn't hesitate to destroy them, it was as good as being defenceless.
Three pairs of eyes came to rest on their commanding officer.
"Game over, boys and girls, let's get out of here," said the Colonel.
Darwin pulled the still unconscious Doctor to her feet. Realising that she wasn't going to wake up, he threw her over his shoulder in a fireman's lift. They left the War Room, shutting the bulkheads behind them, heading towards the docking bay and the NX-Theta. The station shaking around them as more attacks found their mark on the stricken Water's Edge.