The Dynasty and three other Starfleet vessels are now engaging the two Orion cruisers being used by the Order of Kodar. The two ships are quickly destroyed, and the now disabled Belgrade is surrounded.
Grand Emtoc Zarayn is furious. His support ships have been destroyed, and his own ship is now surrounded, with its weapon systems and shields offline. The terrorist leader is now holed up in engineering with what's left of his followers.
"No matter what, we fight to the last man! For Kodar!" Zarayn shouts.
The Starfleet away teams turn their attention to the Kobadan Generator, which is located in one of the Belgrade's cargo bays. The device is now unguarded, and is quickly destroyed.
"Now that this thing's been taken care of, why don't you take the girls back to the ship?" Jen asks.
"No. I'm staying. I have to make sure they're safe. The only way I can do that… is to see this through to the end." Lorza answers.
"I could order you back to the ship." Jen says.
"Vezzi and I… are the only ones who know how Zarayn thinks. He will not be an easy opponent. I know you want to take him alive, but that may not be possible." Lorza says.
"We have our orders." Jen says.
"Do you want him alive, or do you want us alive? You might not be able to get it both ways." Vezzi says.
"He'll kill us all, or die trying." Lorza says.
"We will try our best to take him alive, but as Commander Vezzi has pointed out… it is also my duty to protect this away team. If I have to choose between Zarayn and us… I choose us. Alright, Lorza. You can stay. But, I want the girls back on the Dynasty now." Jen says. Lorza nods, then looks at her daughters.
"Zala, Zyri… you're going to have to go back to the ship now. I'm sending you straight to sickbay. Dr. T'leth will check you out. I know she has the emotional range of a calculator, but you will behave yourselves when you are in sickbay. No messing with any of the medical equipment. Is that clear?" Lorza asks.
"Yes, mama." Zala and Zyri say in unison.
"Good. I'll see you soon." Lorza says.
"Hey guys… kick Zarayn's ass for us." Zala says.
"We will destroy him." T'Gor says. This draws a laugh from Zala.
Lorza hugs her daughters, then taps her combadge.
"Lorza to Captain!" Lorza says.
"Thomas here. Go ahead, commander." Jack says over the comm.
"We have the girls. They're safe. I'm sending them back to the ship." Lorza says.
"What about you?" Jack asks.
"I'm staying. I have to see this through to the end." Lorza answers.
"Understood. Is Commander Dalton in earshot?" Jack asks.
"I'm right here, captain." Jen answers.
"How's it going over there?" Jack asks.
"We have disabled the Kobadan field, and it appears that what's left of the enemy forces are now in engineering." Jen answers.
"Do you need me to send anyone else over?" Jack asks.
"I think we can handle it, sir." Jen answers.
"Alright, then. Contact me when you've secured that ship." Jack says.
"Aye, sir. Away team out." Jen says. Lorza taps her combadge again.
"Lorza to Dynasty, lock onto Zala and Zyri. Beam them directly to sickbay." Lorza says.
"Understood. Energizing." A male voice says over the comm.
Zala and Zyri vanish as they are transported to the Dynasty. Jen taps her combadge.
"This is Dalton! All teams proceed to engineering! I want the Grand Emtoc taken alive!" Jen says.
The away teams make their way to the Belgrade's engine room, where Zarayn and his surviving followers await.
"Lorza and Vezzi… I'm impressed. You have disabled my command ship and destroyed my support vessels. A brilliant military strategy that is almost worthy of respect." Zarayn says.
"You can thank my husband for the brilliant strategy. His plan. His mission." Lorza says.
"You hold this infidel in such high regard…. That you mate with him. This is a disgrace to our people." Zarayn says.
"You… are the disgrace." Lorza says.
"Your time with outsiders has weakened you. Of course, you have always been weak. You could not bring yourself to kill me when you had the chance!" Zarayn says.
"I'm weak? What about you and those who follow you? You sold out our people to the Dominion! You're all damn cowards, worshiping a false god!" Lorza says.
"Blasphemer! Heretic! Warriors of Kodar, kill them all!" Zarayn shouts.
"Weapons free! Take the Grand Emtoc alive!" Jen shouts.
The opposing forces start firing on each other. It takes continuous fire from several phasers just to bring down one kasari. Fortunately, Lorza, Jen, Vezzi, Raven, and T'Gor are armed with polaron disruptors, which are much more effective against their enemy. In the chaos, Zarayn manages to escape to the engine room's upper deck.
"He's getting away!" Lorza shouts.
"Go! Vezzi! T'Gor! Go with her! Team two, back them up!" Jen shouts.
Lorza, Vezzi, and T'Gor lead a team of security officers to the upper deck, where Zarayn is now standing at an engineering console.
"That's the warp containment system!" Lorza says.
"He's trying to blow up the damn ship!" Vezzi shouts.
Vezzi runs to the console, and tackles Zarayn, knocking him to the floor. Zarayn punches Vezzi in the face, leaving her momentarily dazed. As Zarayn gets to his feet, he pulls out a dagger, and tries to stab Vezzi. Vezzi manages to stop him at the last second, and the two struggle for control of the weapon. Eventually, Zarayn prevails, and stabs Vezzi in the stomach. Seemingly unfazed, Vezzi continues to fight.
"You can't keep this up for long. The poison should be starting its work anytime." Zarayn says.
"Poison? Zelpac venom I assume. You people were always fond of it." Vezzi says.
"Correct. It won't kill you. But, in a moment, you won't be of much use to anyone." Zarayn says.
Vezzi and Zarayn continue their fight. After a few seconds, Vezzi seems to slow down, and her attacks start to become erratic.
"Vezzi! Back off!" Lorza shouts.
"No! I can… take him!" Vezzi says. Her speech is now somewhat slurred.
"You can barely stand! Back off! We'll finish this! Ensign Yeager, get her back to the Dynasty!" Lorza says. One of the security guards, a young blonde man, approaches Vezzi.
"No! I can…" Vezzi says.
"Now, Vezzi! Ensign, get her to sickbay on the double! Tell Dr. T'leth it's Zelpac Venom! She'll know what to do!" Lorza says.
"Yes, commander!" Ensign Yeager says.
"Vezzi, please…" Lorza says.
"Fine…" Vezzi says, struggling to speak as she stumbles to a nearby wall. Ensign Yeager stands beside her, and taps his combadge.
"Yeager to Dynasty! Medical emergency! Two to beam directly to sickbay!" Yeager says. Seconds later, he and Vezzi vanish as they are beamed away. Zarayn seems to not care, as he simply stands still and observes.
"A pity. Vezzi is very likely the best fighter among all of you. She will recover, but it will be too late for her to do you any good." Zarayn says.
"I am going to give you one chance to surrender. I suggest you take it." Lorza says.
"You know me better than anyone here. What do you think my answer will be?" Zarayn asks.
"I had to ask. Starfleet regulations." Lorza answers.
"Their rules weaken you." Zarayn says.
"Their rules stop me from being a monster like you." Lorza says.
"You are like me. You are a fool to deny it." Zarayn says.
"I am nothing like you! Terrorist. Murderer. Religious fanatic. Child killer. Need I go on?" Lorza asks.
"You couldn't take me alone. You had to bring yourself a klingon. They are such fragile things. Almost as weak as humans." Zarayn says. T'Gor growls.
"I see why you hate him so much. Let me teach this… petaq a lesson." T'Gor says. He starts to move forward, but Lorza raises a hand. T'Gor stops.
"No, T'Gor. You've seen what I can do. He'll snap you in half." Lorza says.
"Let your klingon fight me, Lorza. If he wishes to die quickly, I will indulge him." Zarayn says.
"No. This is between the two of us." Lorza says.
At this moment, Jen arrives with the rest of the away team, and the officers point their weapons at Zarayn.
"Stand down, Lorza. We'll take it from here." Jen says.
"I see you have brought a superior officer with you. Foolish. The humans and their infidel ways hold you back. You may have defeated my followers, but this is not over. This fight… is about the two of us. Send your Starfleet crew back to their ship. We will fight… according to the old ways." Zarayn says.
"No. The old ways failed us. We are a scattered, broken people. Your… insanity destroyed our world! Now, we've had our revenge. Your order… is destroyed. All that's left is you. I could end this now by killing you. But, I won't. I have my orders. You're under arrest, Zarayn. You will stand trial, and you will answer for your crimes!" Lorza says.
"Give it up, Zarayn! All of your followers are dead or captured, and we have you surrounded! There's no escape! Get down on the floor, and put your hands behind your back. Now." Jen says.
"There will be no surrenders today." Zarayn says, as he takes a small, silver ball from his robe.
A Kajaran grenade? He'll kill us all! Lorza thinks.
"Everyone out of here now!" Lorza shouts.
"What is that? A bomb?" Raven asks.
"One with a very short fuse, now go!" Lorza answers.
The Starfleet officers start heading for the service ladders and turbolift. Lorza charges toward Zarayn, and grabs his wrists. With all of her strength, Lorza seems able to hold Zarayn in place.
"You too, Lorza!" Jen says.
"He'll blow up the warp core if I don't stop him! Go!" Lorza shouts.
"Dammit, Lorza!" Jen says.
"I'm the only one that can do this, and you know it!" Lorza shouts.
Damn. She's right. If we don't stop him, he could kill us all. Still, I can't leave her here to die. We have to do something. Jen thinks, as she taps her combadge.
"T'Gor! Suro! Sniper positions on the outer corridor! Take him out!" Jen shouts.
"Go, Jen!" Lorza shouts.
"I'm not leaving you!" Jen shouts.
"I don't know how long the fuse is! It can go off anytime!" Lorza shouts.
"Thirty seconds to be exact. If you wish to live, commander, I suggest you leave now." Zarayn says.
Jen aims her disruptor at Zarayn.
"All I have to do is shoot you! Then, Lorza can switch that bomb off!" Jen says.
"If you think you are such a good shot, then proceed." Zarayn says.
"No, Jen! Go! There's a chance I might be able to survive the explosion! You won't! If you want to help… get to a safe distance and get that emergency force field up!" Lorza says.
"Do you realize what you're asking me to do?" Jen asks.
"Yes, I do. If this area isn't shielded, the explosion could take out the warp core, and that would kill all of you. Forget me. Think about the team. You don't have much time left, now go!" Lorza says.
"Bloody hell! Alright, fine! But… you live! That's an order!" Jen says.
"I'll try my best!" Lorza says.
Jen hesitates for a moment, then leaves for the lower deck. Lorza and Zarayn are now all that remain on the upper deck.
"Only a matter of seconds left. Are you ready to die, Lorza?" Zarayn asks.
"If I have to." Lorza answers.
"I will be blessed by Kodar for all of eternity. My soul is prepared. You will die an infidel, and you will spend eternity in the fires of Vagon." Zarayn says.
"Funny. That's what I was going to say about you, since Kodar doesn't exist." Lorza says.
"I will be with my god soon. Your mockery means nothing to me." Zarayn says.
Zarayn hits Lorza in the stomach, then heads toward the warp core.
No! I have to stop him! No matter what! If I have to die to protect my family, then so be it! Lorza thinks.
Lorza quickly recovers, then picks up her disruptor. Without hesitation, she shoots Zarayn in the back. As he falls to the floor, he drops the grenade.
No time to disarm it, so I'll just have to hope Jen gets that force field up! Maybe I can get out of the blast radius in time! Ah, Jeffries Tube! If I can make it… Lorza thinks.
Lorza runs to the nearby Jeffries Tube hatch, and presses the control to open it. It is at this exact second that the grenade goes off.
The explosion shakes the engine room, but is contained to the upper deck, thanks to Jen getting the force field up. The warp core is undamaged, and the away team is no longer in danger.
The away team members who had previously left make their way back to the engine room. Jen leads a small team to the upper deck once the fires have been put out by the ship's computer. The area is now a mess, with shattered consoles and fallen debris. The team immediately finds Zarayn's charred corpse.
"I don't see Lorza. Where is she?" Raven asks.
"Lorza!" Jen shouts.
"She didn't answer. If she was alright, she would have answered." Raven says.
"We don't know anything yet, ensign. Keep it together, okay?" Jen asks.
"Aye, sir." Raven says.
"Lieutenant… is there any way she could have escaped quickly enough? Jeffries Tube access? Storage locker?" Jen asks. T'Gor scans the area with his tricorder.
"There is a Jeffries Tube access this way, commander." T'Gor answers.
"Alright. Lead the way." Jen says.
T'Gor leads the away team to the Jeffries Tube hatch, which is opened.
"It's open! Does that mean she…" Raven says.
"We don't know anything yet, ensign.T'Gor, scan for lifesigns." Jen says. T'Gor scans the area with his tricorder.
"I am detecting one lifesign, very faint… two point four meters ahead." T'Gor says.
"I'll go. The rest of you stay here." Jen says.
Jen enters the Jeffries Tube, and immediately spots Lorza, lying face down just a few feet from the entrance.
"She's in here!" Jen shouts. She crawls toward Lorza, and slowly turns her over, revealing the extent of her injuries. Lorza has numerous burns all over her body, and seems unresponsive when Jen tries to wake her. Jen takes out her tricorder, and starts scanning.
Okay… there's still a pulse and she's breathing. Just… very slowly. I think this is that Kasari hibernation thing she told me about. Come on, Lorza! Don't you die on me! Jen thinks.
"Is she…" Raven says.
"She's alive, but she's in rough shape, and she's unconscious! T'gor! Take charge of the away team! I'm taking her back to the ship!" Jen shouts.
"Understood!" T'Gor says.
"Dalton to Dynasty, medical emergency! Two to transport to sickbay!" Jen says.
Jen and Lorza are transported to the Dynasty's Sickbay. Doctor T'Leth, the ship's Chief Medical Officer rushes to the unconscious Lorza, accompanied by two nurses.
"Get her to biobed one." T'Leth says. Lorza is carried to a biobed, while Jen taps her combadge.
"Dalton to Thomas!" Jen says.
"Number One?" Jack asks.
"I'm in sickbay, captain. I think you'd better get down here." Jen says.
I have decided to make some changes to the direction of this story, which is why there has been such a long gap between chapters. Since there won't be an actual war in the story for a while, I realized that the title "Years of War" probably didn't make much sense to readers, so this story will be split into three stories. This first part will now be called "Path to War", and will follow our main characters as they get to where they need to be for the second story, which will use the "Years of War" title. The first story still has a long way to go, as Lorza still needs time to develop as a leader. Eventually, she will be a captain, but… I'm not going to give away anymore than that for now. You'll just have to read the story, and see what happens. Thanks, everyone.