Chapter Title: In the Line of Duty
Chapter Synapses: Part two of two. Hyperion takes the front lines in the defense of Earth, and using a force of great destruction, closes the wormhole (hopefully) for good, but Hyperion loses one of her own.
Written by: Seraph Koji
Previously
VonBach entered Starwind's ready room, "You read the news from Sector 001?"
"I was aboard the starship Fairview at the time. We first thought she was some kind of Dominion trap, but once we boarded her… well it's safe to say she wasn't." Hayes began recalling a story of Cosmos' discovery.
"We are from another galaxy here to retrieve Vixnavis." The booming alien voice filled Hyperion's bridge, "Your species will be exterminated as retribution."
"New to the fleet is the Defiant class Potomac, the Yeager class Renewed Valor, the Sovereign class Sussex, the Galaxy class Rembrandt, and the Excalibur class Enigma. This brings out count to 32 ships." Ivano reported from the helm.
Talara's face showed a pure horror, "Sir, reading 35 enemy vessels."
"This is their first wave?" Collins watched as ship after ship exited the wormhole.
Starwind stared at the enemy fleet, a mixture of awe and fear about him, "All hands, battle stations."
And now, the conclusion.
The Hyperion's bridge shook. "They are using Multiphasic Cannons to burn away our smaller ships. Gamma Squadron is suffering heavily." Talara reported.
"Return fire! All torpedo bays target on Thal'kek. Charge the Multiphasic Cannon. Watson, I want a back-up plan for closing that wormhole, and I want it last week." Starwind ordered.
"Aye, sir!" Watson ran to the turbolift.
"Torpedoes barely had an effect. Their hull is regenerating." Winters, observing the tactical situation from a workstation now devoted to secondary tactical controls, reported.
"Multiphasic Cannon charged." VonBach gleefully notified Starwind.
"Fire!" Starwind stared down the lead enemy ship.
VonBach smiled, "Regenerate from this." The swirling ball of plasma flew toward the Thal'kek.
"Problem. The Thal'kek was barely effected by the weapon." Winters reported.
"A new ship is entering the battle. It's the Voyager! She's firing Transphasic Torpedoes at the lead ship." Talara reported.
Winters let oyut a glee-filed squeal, "We have a kill!"
"A channel to Voyager." Starwind ordered. The son of Admiral :Paris stood on the bridge of the Intrepid class, an Asian male next to him, "Captain Paris, Commander Kim, better late than never."
"Captain Starwind, might I suggest you start loading your Transphasic Torpedoes." Paris smiled, "We'll take point until the rest of the fleet can penetrate their shields."
"Good idea, Tom." Starwind smiled, "Thanks."
Paris shook his head, "Harry dragged me here, thank him."
"It was nothing. Voyager out." Kim closed the channel.
"Odd…" Collins looked over to Starwind, "Why would a ship from another galaxy use Borg-inspired shield harmonics?"
"Let's not dwell, Dorian. The point is we can hurt them now." Starwind tried to reassure his first officer.
"Yeah!" VonBach smiled, "Who cares how, as long as the bad guys go boom."
"I'm actually inclined to agree with VonBach on this one." Starwind said, a bit of shock in his voice, "Bridge to Armory, start replacing Photon Torpedoes with the Transphasics we have in stock. And get people making more." He paused, "Bridge to Astrometrics, I want a class-nine probe ready to go through that wormhole and feed us telemetry from the other side."
"The fleet is moving in on Voyager, she's taking a pounding, even with her Transphasic hull armor." Winters reported.
"Ivano, take us in close to Voyager. VonBach, I want to be a real distraction, meaning I need options." Starwind ordered.
"Multiphasic Cannon. It doesn't have as profound an effect as the Trasphasic Torpedoes, but it'll slow them down." Winters suggested.
VonBach offered another idea, "Fusion Catalyst. Cle-"
"No." Starwind said instantly.
"We could release fighters. We look more hostile than Voyager, they'll lay off her and focus on us. We don't need to be a threat, as long as they think we are a threat." Collins suggested.
"Do it." Starwind ordered, "Armory, I want my torpedoes."
"Kill count up to five." Winters reported.
"Only thirty to go." Ivano said with a cynical tone.
"Torpedo tubes 1-5 are armed, the rest are slowly coming on-line." Talara reported.
Starwind smiled, "VonBach, fire at will!"
"Four positive hits, two kills." Winters reported.
"28." Collins counted down.
"Three more of our ships have been lost. We're down to 25." Winters reported.
"Keep firing 'till we're out of Transphasics, VonBach!" Starwind ordered.
"Collins to Watson, what's your status?" Collins tapped her badge.
Watson's voice replied, "Running several simulations in Astrometrics. By the way, the probe telemetry is coming in now."
"Oh…" Talara said dispondantly, "Captain…"
"How many ships are ready to come through?" Starwind asked.
Talara stared blankly at the data for a minute, "Well, sir, I'd err on the side of millions."
"Watson, I want that damn thing closed!" Starwind screamed.
"The Catalyst." Collins shot a glance at Starwind, "If we fire an F.C. through the wormhole…"
"No way of knowing if it would make it through. What if it goes off in the wormhole?" Starwind shook his head, "Too risky."
"We need something, sir." Winters looked at Starwind, "We just lost the Sussex."
Starwind stared into the battle for a moment, "Winters, give me battle projections."
The image on the viewer became replaced by a graphical representation of the battle. The ships from both sides fell in number 'till the inevitable happened; suddenly a constant stream of enemy ships poured from the wormhole, overrunning the system.
"If we close the wormhole, we can stand a chance." Winters reported as the viewer image returned to the battle.
"Watson to Bridge, I have something. You can overload the wormhole generator and destabilize the wormhole by creating a massive energy serge just past the event horizon. Like the energy from a warp core implosion or from…"
"… a Fusion Catalyst?" Starwind asked.
"The F. C. might also cripple their fleet on this side and the other." Watson concluded.
VonBach eagerly stared at Starwind.
"Yes, Mr. VonBach, we have a go for the Fusion Catalyst." Starwind sighed. "Hyperion to the Fleet, retreat to Earth's orbit. All except Voyager. Voyager, quickly adapt your armor's polarity to the following modulation, and prepare for heavy casualties." Starwind sighed, "Computer, initiate Fusion Catalyst launch sequence. Recognize Captain Starwind, Victor."
On Hyperion's dorsal hull a large launch bay opened.
"Computer, deploy Fusion Catalyst. Recognize First Officer Collins, Dorian."
A giant torpedo flew slowly out of the launch bay.
"Encoding target." Winters typed frantically.
"Computer, arm Fusion Catalyst. Recognize Chief Tactical Officer VonBach, Joseph."
The torpedo shimmered and hummed to life.
"Computer, bring Catalyst launch commands on-line." Starwind saild calmly, "I hate doing this."
"Worked fine the first time, sir." VonBach watched as a large read button labeled 'Launch' appeared on his display. He happily pushed it.
The Torpedo speed toward the wormhole, fast enough that the enemy ships had no clue what hit them.
"Ivano, Voyager, get the hell out of here!" Starwind ordered as a bright light shined from the wormhole. It quickly expanded to consume the two ships.
The bridge, as well as the rest of the ship, rocked and tossed with the power from the Catalyst, Consoles exploaded into flames and people flew across the bridge.
"Fire suppression systems not responding!" Talara reported.
"Mr. Ivano!" Starwind looked at the helmsman who wasn't moving, "Medical emergency on the Bridge!"
"And everywhere else!" a nurse replied, "Dr. Sen is unconscious. Chief Engineer Bronski is down here as well. As is Amy West. All severely injured."
"Collins, take helm." Starwind hit his badge, "Bridge to Engineering, Mr. Phral, you're in charge down there, right? Get me every ounce of power you can from those engines. I will not die in my own bomb!"
Collins pushed the engines to their maximum sub-light speed. "Five seconds to normal space."
Another console exploded, knocking VonBach to the ground. VonBach did not return to his feet.
"We will make it, Commander!" Starwind saw darkness peak through the blinding white explosion form the Catalyst.
The Hyperion shot into normal space.
"Voyager made it too. The Wormhole protected Jupiter Station, so the only damage was to enemy ships." Talara reported.
Winters smiled, wiping the blood from her face where she was injured, "The wormhole is gone, and so is every single enemy ship."
"Captain Paris for you, sir." Talara sighed with relief.
Paris appeared on the screen, "Vic, that's a tough ship you got. Remind me to avoid war games with her."
"I will, Tom." Starwind sat back in his chair.
But the consequences of the fight were far from through…
"He and I knew one another since Destiny left dry dock. He got himself decorated in the Dominion war and through the years was one of my best officers." Starwind said, standing above a casket, "There have been too many funerals lately, and I'm sure he'd have agreed. He was noble, and a smart fellow, though he didn't show it. I respected him greatly."
The room around the casket fought tears as an ensign played the naval salute, and the casket was beamed into space.
"He got on my nerves once or twice, but I'll miss him." Collins admitted.
Starwind watched the casket float away "Rest in peace, Gregory Bronski."
Later, Starwind sat with Phral, the Denobulan engineer who would now be running things in Engineering.
"Rest assured, sir, I'll keep the engines running and the lights on."
Starwind nodded, "Mr. Phral, would you care to send the formal news to Bronski's next of kin? You knew him as well as I."
"I would be delighted to, Captain."
"Dismissed."
"Captain's log, supplemental. In the past few hours I have stared down a new enemy and authorized the use of the Fusion Catalyst. And I lost my chief engineer. Thankfully, the others injured in the battle are expected to make a full recovery. As for those lost in the battle on other ships, they died in the line of duty. Nobly."
