Deadly maneuvers

"I got them !" Lucida announced, her fingers dancing over the transporter controls. She smiled as Mouse, Wiuen and Ray rematerialized in front of her. "Welcome onboard."

From a smoky cockpit Stryker piloted the runabout through the subspace shockwave, caused by the destruction of the shuttle's warp core. Stryker sat at the auxiliary flight console, the primary console was in ruins when it exploded, right in Talisa's face.

The Pegasus had a tractor beam locked on the Griffin, dragging the helpless vessel behind them. Pegasus rattled as it come in contact with the Phoenix's debris. "Hull stress tolerance is critical ... Structural Integrity at 37 , I am raising shields." Lucida announced.

Two torpedoes streaked past. The computer issued an audio and visual warning as Stryker manually placed a total override on the runabout's safety protocols. "Stryker, auxilary power depleted. Transferred to the engines." Lucida reported from her console.

"Hold on to your lunch!" he yelled as he suddenly increased the thrust beyond recommended safety limits.

Another blast hit the runabout causing the unoccupied science console to explode in a shower of sparks. "We need to get out to here, " Lucida yelled. "Shields at 33 "

"Do we have any torpedoes ?" Stryker inquired while excuting wild maneuvers.

"Five micro-photon torpedoes. No phasers."

"Hot slag, is that all ?" Stryker muttered. Why is Starfleet shuttles so lightly armed ? If I had the Landale, I'd have the upperhand here.

"Specky, fire all torpedoes, random dispersion. Program them to wait twenty seconds, then track any energy signature no matter how faint, and home in on it."

Her console acknowledged its input commands, "Done! Torpedoes away."

Five torpedoes streaked out of the forward launchers, each flying off in its own direction. "We are out of here!" Stryker muttered as the runabout banked abruptly, and engaged its warp engine, dragging the Pegasus along. A flash of light indicated where they crossed the threshold of lightspeed. To safety.

Hostage

Ten minutes later.

Mouse, Ray and Wiuen was still feeling a little stunned, narrowly escaping death is not a familar sensation to the trio.

Lucida scanned the sensor logs, "Hey. I found something."

"What is it ?"

"I found a metal signature on the sixth planet, possibily a starship or an outpost." Lucida announced.

"Well done Specky. At least we know who was shooting at us."

"Everyone!" Alice cried from the cockpit, "Look at this."

On the tiny monitor, a subspace message was being broadcast. An alien woman, pale orange skin, her forehead was rised, looked like it had was cut from stone. Her pants and the ones around her was dirty green, their 'shirts' was linen, long strips of white, coiled around their bodies. An Avian ambassador was in chains, a dozen bruises was easily visible. "I am Star Colonel Goiando varina Dusueru, eleventh generation leader of the Free Star League. For the last 20 years, we have been attacked and nearly systematically wiped out by Thallonians, the Kziniti and the Breen. Even the Dominion killed half a million of us just for the hell of it. We've taken your respective ambassadors. Our demands are simple. Supply us with capital starships, 2 Galaxy class ships from the Federation. 2 Cruisers from the Klingon Imperial Empire and 2 Warbirds from the Romulan Star Empire. You have 3 days to meet our demands or we will kill your ambassadors, slowly of course. And we will continue to plunger your planets and kidnap your people. It is our right to live, I will not be denied of what is fair."

"Bastards." Ray scowled.

"Idiots." Alice cursed. "This nebula will destroy the subspace signal long before it reaches the perimeter."

"It will be a miracle if anyone else can pick up and be able to make sense of a signal as weak as this one." Lucida added.

Wiuen's playfulness vanished, he was dead serious now, "We have to do something. Something like this can easily start a wide scale war. We need a leader."

"We should turn back. Walk away, we are in over our heads." Mouse nearly yelled.

"Then what ?" Ensign Perl said. "Millions will die if this spin out of control. The Alpha Quadrant is full of trigger happy soldiers. I prefer peace over losing the rest of my family."

"We must push forward." Lucida said. Stryker noticed MRess seemed lost in thought.

Everyone looked at Ensign Perl. The Betazoid's dark eyes looked at everyone, "Hey. No! I am a science officer. Certainly not leader material."

Ray and Stryker then turned to Alice. "Don't even think about it." Alice complained. "I am security alright, but I do not feel comfortable doing this."

Perl, Mouse, Alice and Lucida looked at Ray. Ray considered the idea, but then rejected it. "I am not your leader. I am a plain and simple engineer at best."

Wiuen looked at his friend, "We do have someone with battle experience onboard."

"You." Stryker told Wiuen. Wiuen shook his head, "Rakurai. You must more experience than I do."

"Hell no." Mouse protested.

"No." Stryker responded. "You are older Wiuen. Unless Ensign Perl takes charge, that means you or Lucida must take command."

"Edenian rules do not apply here." Ray said, anger in his voice.

Wiuen looked at Stryker, "You are a natural leader pal. Situations like this is what Ael Grene prepared you for."

Stryker gave Wiuen the mother of all death glares, "Shut up."

"Here you are. Six years later, and still denying yourself. Your future, and your destiny." Wiuen countered.

Stryker got up, intending to rip Wiuen apart when Alice touched his elbow. She whispered something to him. After a minute, Stryker sighed. "I will do it."

"Alright." Wiuen grinned.

"Wait a second." Ray said. Mouse did not like what was going on either, "No."

Perl read Alice's mind, speak outloud, "Strength of courage, faith, and hope. Stepping forward to do what is right when your call comes in. Now is our time."

"Yes." Alice said, giving a weak smile.

Perl looked like she braced for something to hit her, then steadied herself. She looked at Ray and Mouse, "No buts about it. That is an order."

"Yes sir." Mouse and Ray answered.

Stryker was still angry at Wiuen for provoking him, "I warn you now Wiuen. Do not call me, fearless leader."

Staring into the flame

Fifty minutes later.

"Mission log entry, stardate 56733.1: Cadet Rakurai Stryker reporting.

The Griffin and Pegasus has taken heavy damage in a pinched battle. The shuttlecraft Phoenix has been destroyed, no fatalties. But Lady Oratrei has been abducted. The Avian and Romulan ships were boarded, their respective diplomats kidnapped as well. In prepation of a rescue mission, we are transferring spare parts and replicator matter from the shuttlecraft Pegasus.

Lieutenant Talisa Soto was seriously injuried, she is in statis now. Cadet Lucida says her condition is critical, and her face will need reconstructive surgery. Lieutenant Perl, Cadets Wiuen and Raymond Briggs made modifications to the biobed on the Pegasus, turning it into a statis chamber for Lieutenant Soto. Ensign Perl will pilot Pegasus back to the Aurora to transfer Lieutenant Soto, so she can get the medical help she urgently needs. And to relay our message and status report as long range communications is not possible in this region of space.

Ray estimate repairs on the Griffin would take about four hours. Wiuen is working a transporter modification. Meanwhile, MRess and myself is modifying the shield generator to create a reflective shielding effect in preparation of returning to the Nelkarite outpost to rescue our ambassadors."

Stryker asked Wiuen to take the helm. Wiuen slid into the pilot's seat. Lucida, who had a rudimentary knowledge of the shuttle's controls, slid into the co-pilot seat.

Stryker downloaded a copy of the sensor scan of the enemy ship and basic layout of its systems onto a pair of PADDs. "Hm." He began to pace in the back of the runabout, stopping once in a while to enter something into a PADD and looking at the monitors. Mouse looked at him but he did not quite register her presence during the entire time he was pacing.

Mouse was treating injuries in the sleeping quarters section of the runabout Griffin. Everyone had a number of bruises, bumps, scrapes, and bad cuts. Lucida and Perl both has mild injuries on their heads, a few bumps on their faces and head from repeated impacts with unsecured objects.

Nearby, Wiuen removed a maintence panel in the cabin and set it aside. Ray held an engineering tricorder and ran it over the components. The results were very discouraging. "Look at this wave guide, no wonder it gave out..." Ray complained, looking at the severely damaged engine module, "How would it get that way? It's not from the thrusters, that's for sure."

Wiuen shrugged, "Could be alloy fatigue or power surge ... the hull took a brutal beating as well."

"From what?" Wiuen asked, leaning in closer to him. "Probably one of Stryker's wild maneuvers..."

"Those wild maneuvers saved your hide, genius." Stryker said.

"That would be my fault." Lucida admitted. "I transferred too much power into it."

"No, it is my fault telling you to do that." Stryker argued.

"Get out of here, you two." Ray told Lucida and Stryker. "Your presence will only delay repairs."

They left the cabin. "Engineers are really touchy, aren't they ?" Lucida whispered to Stryker. He nodded. "mmmm ... Specky. For a science officer, we were amazing at the tactical console earlier."

Her eyes turned grey, her way of blushing, "It is basically the same as launching probes. I have alot of experience doing that in simulated situations."

One hour, seven minutes later.

He was lost in thought when Alice and Ray checked in on him. He was still pacing. "How is the planning going ?" Alice inquired.

"And quit with the pacing already. You're driving me completely crazy." Mouse said a little louder than she meant. "What is the plan ?"

"Don't worry Mouse. I do not need a plan." Stryker mocked her. "I'm sure my good looks and charm will get us through this."

Ray was angry, "Stop joking around."

Stryker turned serious again, "I studied the scans, whatever fired on us was sitting on the planet, its energy signature was masked somehow. I have calculated the most direct path to take in locating our ambassador. The marauder group is called the Lashiec. Their starships and outpost employ a very simple design and deck layout, should make it so much easier to pull this off."

He continued, "Specky is replicating Surface Operation Blank uniforms for us now. MRess modified our tricorders to dampen our lifesigns so we cannot be detected with basic sensors alone. There is nothing we can do about video sensors though. But atleast with our new reflective shield we stand a very good change of not being detected."

Stryker could see the feeling of dread and uncertainty written on their faces. "I hate to point out the obvious," Stryker stated, "but were not really unprepared for this mission. We had to drain the replicator's supply to get the equipment was needed and the task at hand is not easy. But we were trained well, we can handle almost anything thrown our way. The peace between the Federation and Romulan Star Empire is at stake, that task is in our hands."

Ray, MRess and Alice exchanged glances and nods. Everyone was still uncertain and scared. Stryker turned to Wiuen, "How is the transporter modifications coming along ?"

Wiuen sipped his large coffee mug before answering. "The modifications are almost complete. I believe the runabout's transporter signal will be effectively masked as an anonymous, low power shift in the EM band when we beam onboard."

"Well done pal."

Ensign Perl's voice played over the ship to ship comm-channel. "The Griffin's warp core is functional again. Ready for departure."

Frowning, Stryker said, "Launch immediatly, and good luck."

"Acknowledged. Good luck to you too. Griffin out."

Two hours, thirty-one minutes later.

"All systems repaired and operational." Ray reported.

"Atleast 60 to 76 of normal parameters." Wiuen added.

Stryker looked at everyone. Time for an inspirational speech I guess. "Everyone listen up please."

"This is a dangerous operation, we need to be very precise. No more holodeck trails and training. The operation must be flawless. The moment someone raises the alarm, means that we have been detected, and our changes of surviving this little trip goes out the window..." he trailed off.

"Rise or fall." Wiuen said.

"We will rise." Stryker promised them.

"What do we know about them ?" Ray asked.

Stryker answered, "The Kreel are short, as tall as Lucida. Nelkatites are quite tall but like Caitians, their ability to absorb damage is less than magnificent. We will proberly run into Ferengi, Orions and other pirates as well. Orions fight quite well. The Kreel's uniforms is much like our uniforms. Security officers wear a heavily padded purple jacket, buckled at the waist. Padded skintight trousers." Stryker paused, recalling as much as he could remember. "Command uniforms are made of two piece of the same colour, no texture expect beading on the shoulders, small polished stones on the belt. Every foot decorated with a feather. Engineering officers wear a textureless plain purple two piece uniform and Medics wear a textureless plain golden two piece uniform top, with green pants."

The calm before the storm

The runabout silently approached the sixth planet. Everyone prayed that they will slip past any hidden sensor networks without being detected. Stryker relieved Wiuen and took the helm again. Soon the veil of an open space gave way to an atmosphere and clouds started rushing at them. This half of the planet was currently in its night cycle.

"Status of refective shields ?" Stryker asked.

"Fully functional." Ray answered.

"I seriously doubt we have been detected." Wiuen told them.

Alice felt a knot forming in her stomach. Stryker ceased his clicking of the buttons at his console. He looked over her shoulder towards Alice. "You all right, Alice ?" Stryker asked. "You look a little pale."

His voice snapped Alice out of her thoughts. Surprised, she gave a small eep and frantically waved her hands in denial. "Nothing, nothing! Absolutely nothing."

"I refuse to believe that."

She smiled thinly. "It's just that I've never really done anything like this for real before."

"You are ready for this Alice." Stryker replied.

"We're approaching the outpost, " MRess reported from the secondary science console. "I cannot pinpoint the source specifically at this range, " he said, a concerned tone in his voice.

"This isn't going very well," Lucida noted to her companions.

"Means we have to this the hard way," Stryker said dryly.

Dipping, the runabout swept above the surface of the ocean. He checked his altitude readouts, level flight at 31.3 meters. Speed: 256 km/h.

Mouse tapped him on the shoulder, "Hey lizard breath, do we have to fly so low ?"

"Where is your sense of adventure ?" he grinned. Mouse groaned. "Besides, this way we will decrease the possibility of being detected. And I could always fly lower."

Wiuen looked out the cockpit window. "I sure would like to go swimming right now."

"Me too." Stryker admitted. Mouse smiled darkly to herself as she imagined drowning them.

Lucida pressed a series of buttons on her console and a small image shimmered into view on a side viewscreen. The screen was equipped with a holographic projector, allowing about a finger-length of apparent depth. It displayed a large section of a mountain range, and it spun to show all three dimensions clearly. The computer was unable to render the middle of the mountain range due to a lack of sensor information. "Its ahead, 8200 kilometers on bearing 019." Lucida announced.

"Any power readings ?" Stryker asked.

"No" Lucida answered as she looked at the complex readings her console was displaying. "MRess, there is something here."

From the science console behind the pilot's seat, MRess was running scans of his own. "I see it. It is a cloud of some kind."

He paused. "That's odd. The cloud seems to be jamming me, somehow. It seems to emit a sensor jamming frequency naturally, and that frequency fluctuates rapidly. I cannot figure out its patterns, but its certainly an interesting form of defense."

"It is safe to fly into that cloud ?" Stryker inquired.

"Hold on," MRess continued. "Specky, try fluctuating your sensor frequency at a slightly slower rate than that of the cloud. Perhaps you can match frequencies and get us an analysis."

"I'am on it." Lucida replied as she entering commands into her console. Stryker increased the runabout's altitude as a continent approached.

"Someone is trying to look like a cloud. But that thing is no cloud," MRess replied, shaking his head. "It is an extremely complex sensor cloak which fluctuates its jamming frequency rapidly up and down."

Lucida scanned the maze of information on her console, trying to make sense out of chaos. "A generator with regular emissions has to work pretty hard to create an illussion like this."

MRess scratched his mane, "It fooled our more basic sensors into thinking it was a cloud. It also possesses weak electromagnetic shielding, which seems to have been altered to help project the illusion of a cloud. A convenient location to hide something."

"There we go." Lucida grinned. Sensors started recording the interior of the 'cloud.'

"Well done Specky!" Alice and Ray said in unison.

"You are a genius." Stryker said.

Lucida's grin seemed infectious, "Hey, I amaze myself sometimes."

MRess frowned once he saw what's inside, "I am detecting an outpost of some sort and a single ship. Its engines are offline."

"Lifesigns ?" Stryker inquired.

"None that I can detect. But I found a weak shield vector, it is large enough to fly through. We need to skim the treeline to do it though."

"Child's play." Stryker grinned arrogantly.

"Famous last words." Ray added. Stryker was going to say 'oops' just to get a reaction from Mouse or Ray, but figured that might not be a good idea. Morale was dangerously low already.

A minute later, the Griffin flew through a small gap in the shield barrier. Silence descended for a moment, stretching into the uncomfortable as the small craft neared the complex. The runabout's thrusters fired, slowing the vessel. With careful maneuvering of the controls, Stryker eased them down until the ship hung suspended amidst the mountains.

Beneath them, the pirate ship loomed dark and heavy, an alien dreadnought with no windows, no signs that there could be life within its fearsome belly. A dozen scorch marks lined its dirty red hull. The outpost too shared its share of scorch marks across its large grey domed surface.

Stryker was silently praying, Watch over and protect us Ael Grene.

Lucida and MRess scanned the ship and outpost. Alice collected the data as an image shimmered into view on a side viewscreen. It was a large section of a mountain range, and it spun to show all three dimensions clearly. "No lifesigns or power readings on the ship." Lucida reported. "Even life support was taken offline. It is basically just a metal shell now."

The outpost was a large, round structure. "I cannot scan the interior." Lucida reported. "But we can beam into the structure. I will program the transporter now."

"Final equipment check." MRess called out. They confirmed, each was wearing a surface operation blank 'battle dress' uniform and equipped with a type 2 phaser, a spare energy cell and a modified tricorder. MRess and Wiuen carried a small backpack containing engineering tools. Lucida carried a medical tricorder and a small med-kit. Mouse replicated an hypospray containing a vial of anesthezine. Ray and Stryker chose a phaser rifle instead of the pistol.

"Are you sure this is safe ?" Alice gripped the arms of her chair tightly.

"Perfectly," Stryker said, at the same time Wiuen said, "No."

Alice's eyes widened. "Ah - just kidding, Alice." Wiuen laughed at her expense.

"You have an odd sense of humour." Alice noted acidly.

"Hides the fact I'm nervous. I thought everyone knew that."

"You must be nervous a lot Wiuen, considering all your bad jokes." Stryker piped in.

Lucida looked at them, "Now that you've gotten that out of your system, can we be grown-ups for a while ?" she added with sarcasm.

"Certainly." Alice smiled in spite of herself.

Alice whispered to Stryker, "I am scared."

He whispered back to her, "I am scared too. I have this a prickling sensation across my spine... sometimes I think I hear voices I can not properly understand."

"Then this is it, " Wuien punched his fist into his open palm. "I can feel the adrenalin rush already."

"Let's do it." Stryker commanded, the familiar pre-battle calm descending over him like a shroud.

Alice smiled at Wiuen with a sense of dark humour, "More of a stomach turning sensation if you ask me."

Wiuen double-checked the modified transporter's settings. He set it to energize on a delayed timer, "Ten, nine, eight ... "

Next Chapter
To the rescue

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