Chapter Title: Saints and Sailors

Chapter Synapses: A planet decimated during the Federation-Dominion War becomes the center of operations for a group of pirates led by ex-Syndicate figurehead Lazarian, who sets his eyes on West.

Author's Note: I learned how to correctly do stardates!

Written by: Seraph Koji

Previously

Admiral Janeway's image was on the Hyperion's viewer "We just got a ransom letter from the Orion Syndicate. They want a stockpile of weapons in return for the life of Captain Victor Starwind." Janeway said solemnly, "Also, Lieutenant Commander Winters and Doctor Sen Asim have been sent on a secretive, covert, mission."

West flirted with Lazarian in one of Hyperion's Observitorium lounges, just enough to taunt him, "Well, I'd tell you about some of my adventures, but, of course, then I'd have to kill you, and…"

"… you'd lose your crewmen." Lazarian reasoned.

"… I'd have to finish dinner all alone." West smile a coy smile. Perhaps she was coming on too strong?

Security forces entered the lounge, making Lazarian pulled an aged Klingon disruptor from his belt.

"Don't even think about it, Lazarian, or I promise you; you won't live to regret it." West pulled her hand phaser.

And now, the continuation.

Three human men, Starfleet officers, materialized on the surface of a planet. There appeared to be no vegetation. One proceeded to scan the area.

"I doubt there's much alive down here. The War wiped this planet almost clean." The senior officer said factually.

The man scanning replied as his tricorder blipped, "I'm reading life signs."

"Gentlemen, welcome to our world." A rather well dressed Klaestron man approached the men, seemingly appearing from thin air.

"I'm Commander Joshua Livingston of the Federation starship Semisonic." The lead officer offered the Klaestron man a handshake.

"My name is unimportant. But thank you for dropping by." The Klaestron man smiled, pulling a phaser on the three men, and firing three bursts in succession, "Welcome to paradise."

"Captain's log, stardate 57279.6. We have been ordered to investigate the disappearance of the USS Semisonic, whose last known coordinates were on the border of the Cardassian Demilitarized Zone. Her mission was to assess the reproductions of the Dominion War on that planet."

"Report." Starwind ordered as the ship came out of warp.

"Sensor readings indicate a baron environment over most of the planet. Sparse vegetation, there is some interference over the southwestern continent…" Talara reported.

"Are you picking up any ships?" Starwind asked.

Talara examined her readings, "Readings are a bit hard to decipher because of the interference, but I'm reading something that resembles an Ophedian class starship."

"Open a channel." Starwind ordered, "This is Captain Victor Starwind of the Federation starship Hyperion. Can we render assistance?"

The comm. crackled back at the bridge crew. Starwind's hail came back at him in a more garbled fashion.

Collins shot Talara a confused glare.

"The ionic interference that is scattering our sensors is also affecting our transmission." Talara attempted to explain.

"Uh, guys…?" Ivano called.

"Try narrowing the transmission bandwidth." Stasrwind approached Talara's console.

"Boost signal strength and try again." Collons suggested.

"Guys… the ship…" Ivano tried to grab attention, "The Ophedian Class…"

"Transmitting again." Talara reported.

Ivano spun to face the three crowded around the Ops console. He noticed VonBach laughing quietly about the situation, "Captain!" He said urgently.

"Well, the signal reached Semisonic, but we have yet to receive a response." Collins reported.

Ivano stood with conviction, "Captain Starwind!" He said as forcefully as he was loud.

"What?" Starwind shot Ivano a glance.

"The Semisonic's engines are powering up and her she's raised her shields." Ivano reported.

Stawrind quickly moved to his chair and sat, affirmatively, "Steady as she goes, Mister Ivano."

"Recommend we raise shields and arm weapons." VonBach said hastily.

"We aren't sure she's a threat yet." Starwind responded.

"She's taking off and is on an intercept course." Talara replied.

Starwind glared at the planet. "Hail them again."

"In visual range." Ivano reported.

"No response." Talara said calmly.

"On screen." Starwind watched the ship close for a moment or two.

"Semisonic entering weapons range." VonBaach reported.

Starwind paused, "Yellow Alert, Mister VonBach." Starwind ordered.

"Semisonic is hailing us." Talara reported.

"Put them through." Starwind stood, "I've had enough of this friend or foe game."

Instantly, as the face of Semisonic's commander appeared, Starwind issued an order to VonBach, "Red Alert."

"No need to be so hostile, Victor." Lazarian smiled, "I've forgiven you, Vic."

Starwind simply responded in a stately manner, "Mister Lazarian, you have committed acts of piracy, commandeered a Starfleet vessel without authority, avoided arrest and trial, and committed kidnapping of a Starfleet officer. You are under arrest."

"Victor…" Lazarian shook his head, "I'll let you go if you give me one thing. I have my nice new pirate ship, a crew of hostages, but not the woman who stole my heart." He explained, "Please, turn over Commander Amy West."

"Captain's log, supplemental. Things have grown more complicated. A gang of pirates led by the escaped convict Lazarian has overrun Semisonic. He has put me in a dangerous position. The hostages he has aboard are in extreme danger if I do not meet his demands, which, to be fair, are rather simple. He only wants Counselor West. However, this is a demand I refuse to meet."

"Options?" Starwind asked his staff.

"A tactical strike. Hard and fast. We disable their shields and board, taking the bridge by storm." VonBach suggested.

"The Ophedian Class is highly maneuverable. The Multiphasic Cannon would be useless." Phral interjected.

"We offer him me." West said, softly.

Starwind shot her a look of confusion and shock, "What?"

"Well…" Collins strategize, "In order for Amy to beam over to Semisonic, Lazarian would have to drop the shields."

"And we could disable their shield generators in a rapid strike and beam over boarding parties instead of West." VanBach added.

"He'll propose a neutral location to meet up and transport Amy to his ship." Collins said, knowing full well that it would not be that easy.

"Are we really considering this?" Sen objected.

Starwind glanced at West, "Are you up for this?"

"What's not to be up for?" West smiled, "I'm just bait.

"Hyperion to Semisonic. We are prepared to offer Amy West." Talara transmitted.

"Status report?" Collins sat in the central chair of the bridge.

"The Captain and Commander West are on the surface." Talara reported.

Collins nodded, "VonBach, watch Semisonic's shields."

There was a long pause.

"Now! Auto-firing sequence engaged." VonBach reported.

Talara triumphantly reported, "Semisonic bow shield generators failing."

"Bridge to Transporter Room Three, now!" Collins ordered.

"Boarding parties away." The male transporter operator reported.

"Status of the Captain and Counselor West?" Collins asked.

Talara glared at her display for some time, "They must've transported to Semisonic."

"Bridge to Transporter Room Three, get us our Captain and Counselor back, Walter." Collins ordered, "We need to keep our shields down until their back. Time to get inventive, Mister VonBach."

"Bringing the Point-Defense Matrix on-line." VonBach's hands flew across the controls, unburying a program that admittedly needed more testing.

Collins stared at the ship opposed to them, "Play this one well, Joseph. I'm counting on you."

"Locking torpedoes on Semisonic. Targeting engines and weapons." VonBach said eagerly.

Collins watched as another precision strike left Hyperion's weapons grids.

"Walter!" Collins screamed into the comm., "Status report!"

The voice of the transporter chief responded, "I can't get a clear lock."

"Get one." Collins demanded, "VonBach, status of the boarding teams?"

"Lieutenant Winters' team has secured the Semisonic crew. Out other teams are taking the pirates to the brig." VonBach reported.

Aboard the Semisonic, Lazarian burst into the Astrometrics lab that Starwind and West sought safety in.

"What are you doing to my ship, Captain?" Lazarian fumed.

Starwind stood hiding West, "I've given it to its owners."

West walked from behind Starwind, a phaser pointed at Lazarian. "How many times do I have to arrest you, Lazarian, before you stay in jail?"

"Evermore." Lazarian shot West a romantically inspired gaze.

"West to Hyperion, three to beam up." West tapped her badge, "Get security ready to take a prisoner."

"Thank you, sir." The first officer of Semisonic sat in Starwind's ready room.

Starwind shook his head, "No, we didn't do much."

"You retook our ship."

"All in a day's work, Commander Livingston, believe me." Starwind smirked, "We'll be heading out soon. We have a mission to Ociana IV."

"Understood, sir." The man nodded, rising.

Starwind stopped him, "What are you going to do with Lazarian's men?"

"Take them to await trial." Livingston replied.

Starwind nodded, "Was a Bolian man named Motte accounted for?"

"No." A confused Livingston replied, "No Bolians…"

Starwind nodded, "Then be cautious. And good luck." Starwind, too, rose, "Dismissed."

"So, what was the moral here?" Ivano asked the bridge crew, who sat silent, "When the pilot says there is urgent information, he's probably right."

"Mister Ivano," Starwind entered the bridge and took his central seat, "Lay in a course of Ociana IV, and proceed at warp seven."