Chapter Title: TheInfanta
Chapter Synapses: Hyperion is assigned to escort a princess from a remote planet to a Regional Summit. The task is complicated, however, when her attendants take over the ship.
Written by: Seraph Koji
Starwind and Collins stood in the transporter room as a woman materialized on the transport pad. She was similar to a human and wore an elaborate dress.
"I am Alma, daughter of King Elanis." She introduced herself, "My attendants are preparing to transport aboard."
"I am Victor Starwind, this is my first officer Dorian Collins." Starwind introduced himself.
"Bridge to Starwind, three small vessels have exited the atmosphere." Talara's voice came clearly through the comm. system.
"Our escort. My father insisted." Alma said, quickly.
Starwind nodded, "Dorian, show our guest to her quarters."
"First Officer's log, stardate 57711.8. After beaming aboard the ambassador from the planet Altair IV, we have set course for Mellase II, the site of the conference on Developing Planets of the Beta Quadrant. I expect the mission to be largely uneventful."
VonBach hummed a tune while gazing blankly at his console. Starwind and Collins talked about the Altairan ships.
"No match for us, sir. Weapons and shields are both rather basic. They are straining to keep up with us at Warp 7." Collins said, "In the event of combat, Hyperion will probably wind up defending our escorts."
"Captain, our warp field is destabilizing." Ivano reported as the ship dropped out of warp.
"Not again." VonBach sighed.
"Bridge to Engineering." Starwind called. There was no response. "Bridge to Phral." Still nothing, "Computer, locate Chief Phral."
"Chief Phral is in Main Engineering."
"VonBach." Starwind looked over his shoulder. VonBach made for the turbolift.
"Captain, command functions are being routed to Main Engineering." Talara screamed as her console flickered.
"Red alert. Ivano, all stop, Wintetrs, raise shields." Starwind rose to his feet as consoles around the bridge flickered, "Computer, lock out all command functions. Authorization code: Starwind Delta Five Three Echo."
The consoles went dark.
"VonBach, get to Main Engineering. I want to know what the hell is going on down there." Starwind almost screamed.
Altairan men with phase compression rifles stood in Main Engineering. One of them picked up Phral, who was sitting on the floor with his badge removed, and brought him to a control console. "Make the shields fall." The man ordered.
"Never!" Phral replied angrily.
The Altairan man pointed the rifle at Phral, but the soft feminine voice of Alma stopped him, "Chief Phral will help us, won't you, Chief?" Phral turned his head. Sure enough, Alma was behind him. She walled up until she was right behind Phral, "Now, let's overload a shield generator."
"I'mm not going to help you." Phral replied candidly.
"You don't have to, Chief." Alma pressed a key on the display, "Because I can. But someone needs to overwrite your Captain's security lockout."
"It would be a Level Nine restriction. The only person on this ship with that high an authorization code is the Captain." Phral responded, "I couldn't help you if I wanted to."
"I disagree." Alma pushed another key on the display, "Your aft ventral shield generator just overloaded, Chief Petty Officer Phral."
"Our men are beaming aboard." One of the guards reported.
"Now, Phral, should I send my men to the Bridge to take over operation of your ship, or should I send them to Environmental Controls, and decompress the Bridge." Alma replied, with a girlish smile.
"I'll try to overwrite the security lockout." Phral grudgingly started to work on the control console.
VonBach stood in the corridor outside Main Engineering. "Bridge to VonBach, we have an intruder alert on deck 24, aft armory."
"Dispatch a security team." VonBach whispered, "I'm kinda busy." He finally approached the door, tossed in a plasma grenade, and dove to the side, "Computer, erect a level ten force field around the Warp Core."
Bursts from the compression rifle shot into the corridor. VonBach heard the fire suppression system spring to life and snuff out his grenade's explosive potential.
"Damn clever princesses." He drew his pistol-like phasers.
Starwind watched the under-powered escort craft circle Hyperion on the viewer. ""I knew we should have picked up our marine compliment while we were at a Starbase,"
"We don't need marines." Winters said, standing at Tactical, "We have Joseph."
"Then we don't need enemies either." Collins joked, "Knowing VonBach, the hostages will get caught in the crossfire."
"Bridge to VonBach, what's your status?" Starwind asked.
"From what little I can tell," Talara stared at her console, "They disabled the comm.."
Starwind trhought a moment, "Time to retake our ship." He removed an acess panel on one wall of the bridge, revealing a number of phasers of multiple variations. He grabbed a simple hand phaser, "Computer, shut down all bridge stations. Place a Level Nine restriction on all tactical data."
"What are you doing?" Collins asked.
Starwind looked at her as he tossed Talara a compression rifle, "I'm getting my ship back." He tossed out weapons to Winters and Ivano as well, "You have the bridge, Commander. For all it's worth." He said, walking toward the turbolift.
VonBach's comm. badge sat on a console as VonBach himself sat on the floor. "If you hadn't beamed over a battalion of solders." He hissed.
"But I did, Commander." Alma replied in a very bitchy tone.
"Why are you doing this?" VonBach demanded.
Alma laughed, "Not that I have to explain myself to the likes of you, but I'm not a real princess. I'm the daughter of a King, yes, but my mother was not noble. My mother was a concubine. I grew up a pirate, and used my father to my means as I saw fit. The blackmail that I was his slave's daughter was enough to get my way. Now a Federation ship, that is a prize I wanted to add to my personal armada. So I took the place of the Princess."
"Aww… touching." VonBach said sarcastically.
"Guard, shoot him." Alma ordered.
The guard readied his rifle.
Starwind entered, hands raised, "I am prepared to release the command lockouts. But you must promise not to harm my crew."
"Sir!" Phral and VonBach cried in shock.
Starwind looked to VonBach, "I am responsible for every member of this crew, Joe. I can't let her go out and kill Commander Collins or yourself." He winked, "But Princess Alma, I need you to take this comm. badge. You see, I can only unlock the command pathways from the bridge."
"And I won't know when you release them? And you can't just contact Engineering?" Alma asked.
Starwind shook his head, "I'm sorry, Princess, you've disabled our comm. system. Of course, you could just activate these two."
Alma nodded, "Why would you tell me that?"
"Because you have stormed my ship, Highness. I'm sure if I tried anything, you'd have my crew executed." Starwind replied, playing it by ear at this point.
"Go. Get me access to the command pathways." Alma ordered.
Starwind walked briskly out of the room and down the corridor. He entered the turbolift, where Alma's guards were not present. "Transporter Room Two." The doors closed.
"In just a few moments, I'll be in command of your little vessel." Alma taunted VonBach, "And when I am, I'll beam you all off on the nearest rock."
"Honor among thieves?" VonBach asked scornfully.
"Something like that." Alma smiled.
"Are we ready?" Starwind asked winters as he entered the transporter room.
Winters, with a security detail, stood on the transport pad, "Ready."
Starwind hit his badge, "Starwind to Alma, I'm releasing the command lockouts…" he entered a few commands into the transporter console. Winters signaled to him and stood in an offensive posture, "Now."
"Good." Alma walked over to the control console, "Computer…" She began to disolve in a stream of light, "Aw, damn it."
She materialized on the transporter pad with Starwind's phaser pointed at her, "There's been a change of plans, your Highness."
"My solders will kill your crewmembers in Main Engineering and start executing the rest of your crew." Alma smiled, "You've lost, Captain."
"I beg to differ. You see, materialized in your place were my top six security officers. They've killed your men by now. And are already beaming your other men to their respective ships." Starwind stated simply, "It you'd be so kind as to start walking to our brig, Princess."
"And what would you do then?" Alma asked.
"Warp away and leave your ships in the dust." Alma began to walk but Starwind motioned for her to stop, "Computer, release all security lockouts on my authorization."
"The game is yours, Captain." Alma said, walking out of the transporter room, followed closely by Starwind and a phaser.
Shortly thereafter, Starwind sat on the bridge. Talara and Ivano entered, "Mission accomplished." Talara reported, "The Princess' ships were totally disabled."
"Infanta, actually." VonBach corrected, "Her mother was a concubine, meaning she was a King's daughter not eligible to be considered in the chain of succession. She's not a Princess, she's an Infanta."
The bridge crew stared at VonBach.
"What?" VonBach asked, confused.
Starwind couldn't help but laugh, "Mister Ivano, set course for the nearest Starbase."
"Based on recent events, recommend Hyperion take on a compliment of marines." Winters suggested.
Starwind nodded, "Agreed. Dorian, put in a personnel request."
