Chapter 30

Grab Her and Go!


On board USS Yamato II

Near Z'ha'dum

April 7, 2203

1pm

Garrison Hollifield knew that even with the larger fleet than he had expected that their chances were not great for beating the Ragendora and whatever fleet they had at Z'ha'dum. He had decided on a course of action that would give them a fighting chance at least. It was risky, riskier than an all-out attack, but this seemed to him like the best way to beat their enemies.

"Are we ready," he asked Captain Suarez, and Suarez nodded and stayed focused on his display. They came out of warp near the planet, and the other ships began to jump in nearby.

"Sir, enemy ships headed towards us. Directly ahead. Reading 24 Jem'Hadar fighters, seven Cardassian vessels, and other assorted ships," said Lieutenant Sharon Thrace, addressing her captain.

"Take us in, Lieutenant.," replied Suarez, who then turned to Hollifield, "Picking anything up?"

"Yeah, she's there. It's going to be trickier than we expected, but it's still possible. My telepathic abilities were picking her up earlier before we came out of warp, so she evidently must be plugged into a communication center or something."

"It's what I expected. I've learned to hope for the best and expect the worst. Since life sometimes doesn't give you either, I expect something in the median.," Suarez commented, then lurched forward in his chair as his ship took a blast from behind.

Thrace yelled out, "Sir! Ships coming behind us. Computer identifies them as Comet Empire ships!"

"They're not nearly as mobile as the other ships. Let them get closer and when they get to within ten clicks, send a spread of quantum torpedoes their way!"

The fleet kept coming towards the planet, with the Yamato leading the way. The old ship took out the Jem'Hadar with brutal efficiency, and made their way to their assigned point in space and stood their ground.

"Captain, Yamato has reached firing point. Message says they're ready for phase two of the plan!"

"Thank you, Lieutenant. Mr. President, can you give us a fix on her location?"

Hollifield scanned over the console and found the location of where the person they were after was. "I've found her vital signs. See if you can get a lock on and try and beam her out of there!"

Another blast rocked the ship, this time from underneath them. "Who the hell was that?"

"Drakh cruiser just jumped in, sir! Whitestars moving to intercept! We've got lock-on sir! Ready to transport at your command!"

"Do it," commanded Suarez, and Thrace activated the transporter beam.

Flashback

Z'ha'dum

December 28, 2260

Hollifield was on the planet, much to his surprise. Alwyn had happened to be with him when he had received word that Sheridan had taken off to Z'ha'dum with his wife. He knew that his wife had been changed by the Shadows, but he didn't know just how much. If Sheridan were turned against the forces of light, it would be a huge blow against the Rangers.

They managed to get underground, sliding through a membrane of shadow skin near an entrance. "Reading anything, Alwyn," asked Hollifield.

"Nothing substantial yet. I detect other mage energy, but I'm not sure who exactly is here. I'm almost sure Elizar and Razeel are here, but I don't know who else has betrayed us."

Dan Tanner and a Narn named G'Leel were with them. Tanner broke out an odd piece of equipment that he used to scan the area as well. Hollifield didn't know exactly how it worked, only that what Tanner called a "tricorder" could give them vital information. "There's a passageway descending down over to our left. It goes down a gentle slope deep inside the planet, about a mile to a mile and a half."

"Let's get started then.," Hollifield said, breaking out his phased plaser gun, and handing another pistol to G'Leel. "Trust me, you'll probably need this."

The foursome made their way down deep inside the planet, trying to find Sheridan and his wife. Hollifield began to scan carefully around the area with his telepathy, being careful to avoid detection because the Shadows hated telepaths. He knew, though, that their hatred didn't prevent them from plugging the rogue telepaths they had received from Psi Corps into their ships. The evidence had pretty much convinced him that President Clark was definitely in league with the Shadows, because they had to have used him as a go-between to get them from the Corps.

They came out into an open area and saw something that shook them to the bone. "My God, is that what I think it is?"

Alwyn soberly shook his head. "It's like I told you long ago, Garrison. Shadow technology is a real darkness in the galaxy. I knew that the tech that we technomages received upon initiation was from the Shadows, but I never knew that they made it from sucking the life energy out of their hostages."

Tanner tapped Alwyn on the shoulder and pointed up, pulling them all back as he quickly whispered, "Those humanoids in Shadow skin are getting too close. We may need to go back and find another way."

From another entrance, two other people came into the area. Alwyn spread his arms out and pushed the other three slowly back, out of view. "It's Elizar and Razeel. They are nearing that huge vat at the center of the room."

They retreated back up the passageway as they heard Elizar say, "Soon, Galen will come and try to seek his revenge. But the Shadows have plans for him, and I intend for him to fulfill his role!"

Hollifield grabbed Alwyn as he tried to go back down the passageway. "We'll get him before he makes it down here, Alwyn. Right now, we have to find Sheridan and get him out of here."

Alwyn reluctantly nodded and walked with them back up the passagewayThey continued their search for Sheridan, knowing that time was running out."

On board Yamato II

April 7, 2203 1:20pm

Hollifield rushed into the transporter room. "Be ready to take her off that pad and put her onto the gurney quickly! Don't let her have the chance to let her Shadow implants interact with any computer systems!"

The crew had been briefed on the possibility of Anna using her tech inside her to merge with the ship and take it over. They stood by the pad and waited for Thrace to try again with the transporter beam. They had failed the first time, and this was their last chance. The battle was heating up outside, and they had to grab her now or lose their chance for good.

The beam activated and soon a figure materialized on the pad. "It's her! Grab her, quickly," Hollifield said as they dragged her onto the gurney. "Sedate her! Hopefully this will make things easier!" A medical technician placed a hypospray to Anna's neck and injected her with the medication, but it seemed to have no effect. "Activate the force fields on the gurney! We need to get her to sickbay!"

Anna cried out, "The Eye! Where is the Eye?"

The med tech asked, "What does she mean by 'the Eye'?"

Hollifield nodded, "It's a long story."