Chapter 4 Diplomatic Orders
Obi-wan stepped out of the elevator and approached an old man sitting in a type of throne, hands bound in energy to the armrests. Behind him, a fierce battle was raging in the stars. Massive starships and tiny fighters all fighting to stay alive and destroy the enemy. The older man looked behind the two men who had come to rescue him. "Count Dooku." He whispered.
Obi-wan and the younger man turned to see an old but fit man with gray hair and a full grey beard, standing on a balcony of sorts. Behind him were two large mechanical guards. "Get help, you're no match for him he's a Sith Lord."
Obi-wan turned with a smile to the man bound in the chair. "Chancellor Palpatine, Sith Lords are our specialty.
"Your swords please. We wouldn't want to make a mess of things in front of the Chancellor." The old man said before leaping into a summersault and landing on his feet.
"This time we will do it together." Said Obi-wan.
"I was about to say that."
The two men took off their heavy cloaks and grabbed two handles from their belts. From those handles sprung blades of plasma contained in a magnetic field. Both had a blue color.
Dooku took his own blade and turned it on, a distinctive snap-hiss signaled its activation. This sword had a blood red color.
The three man approached each other and were about to engage when a voice came over the comm. "Bridge to Captain Maxwell."
Maxwell sighed. "Computer freeze program. Go ahead."
"The engineers have finished our upgrades and you're receiving a message from Admiral Quinn."
"I'll take it in my quarters. Recall all crew on leave and standby to get underway."
"Yes sir."
"Computer save program and exit holodeck." He ordered
The computer beeped in acknowledgment the scene around him faded to a yellow-grid pattern and a door opened to a corridor. Maxwell went to his quarters and changed into his uniform, then tapped the comm. panel.
"Admiral Quinn." He said in greeting.
"Lieutenant Maxwell. Good to see you are settling in as a captain. I have a diplomatic mission for you. A quick run between Vulcan and P'Jem. A Vulcan Ambassador named Sokketh is to be taken to the monastery at P'Jem. Normally the Vulcan security service would handle it but there are rumors of Klingon raiders deep in our space. Protecting the Ambassador is your top priority. You'll find the Ambassador on Vulcan. Once there escort him to P'Jem." Said the Admiral.
"Understood sir. We'll get going right away. By the way I never got the chance to thank you for these upgrades."
"You earned them Lieutenant." He replied and the channel closed.
Maxwell went to the bridge and found Flores in the center chair.
"Captain on the bridge." Said a crewman.
"As you were. Status report."
"Sir, the last crewmembers have beamed aboard. We're ready to go."
"Very well. T'Vrell contact Utopia control and request permission to depart."
"Aye sir."
"Helm, standby thrusters, once we're clear of the system take us to Vulcan."
"Aye sir."
"Captain, Utopia control has granted us permission to depart."
"Very well. Ensign, take us out."
"Aye sir."
The Essex cleared its moorings and the thrusters ignited. The ship moved forward slowly at first then cleared drydock. Engine power went up and the impulse engines came online. The ship began moving much faster and quickly cleared the system. The nacelles flashed before the ship jumped to warp.
It was only a few hours to arrive at Vulcan once they arrived in orbit the Ambassador's aide contacted the ship.
"Captain, we have arrived at the Vulcan system. Ambassador Sokketh's aide is hailing us." Reported T'Vrell.
"On screen and take us into standard orbit ensign."
"Aye sir."
A female Vulcan appeared on the viewscreen. "Greeting Lieutenant Maxwell. I am T'Pela, Ambassador Sokketh's aide. Thank you for agreeing to escort the ambassador to P'Jem. Ambassador Sokketh is currently attending a ritual to honor the end of the Kal Rakk holiday. He will be done soon, but the Ambassador is…hesitant to use transporter technology. His bias against the transporters is not logical but I have come to accept it. I believe that Sokketh would be much more comfortable traveling to the Essex by shuttlecraft. I have received clearance for you to land near the ambassador's location. I look forward to meeting you in person, Lieutenant."
"Understood. I'll be down momentarily. Flores you're with me. T'Vrell you have the bridge." Replied Maxwell.
"Yes sir." Replied T'Vrell.
Maxwell and Flores went to the turbolift and went to the launch-bay. The Essex was a modern replica of the older NX-class but so were the shuttles with all the modern safety features a vessel would have. The ride down to the planet was uneventful to say the least. They requested clearance to land and Vulcan control responded.
"Starfleet shuttlecraft this is Vulcan orbital control, we have logged your flight trajectory and you are cleared to land at the requested coordinates. Welcome to Vulcan please…enjoy your stay."
"Thank you control. Alright Flores put us on the deck." Replied Maxwell
She nodded then hit some more controls, the shuttle banked hard left then came about 180 degrees and landed softly. She smiled at Maxwell. "That was certainly one of your better landings." He said playfully.
"Watch it Lieutenant. I'm armed…" she replied
"Stay with the shuttle I'll be back soon."
Maxwell exited the shuttle and began walking up the rise towards the temple where Sokketh is supposed to be. When he reached the top he looked around but couldn't find him. A helpful Vulcan quickly pointed him out and Maxwell approached. The ambassador noticed and raised his hand in the traditional Vulcan salute.
"Welcome to Vulcan." He said
"Thank you, ambassador Sokketh. Are you ready to leave?"
"This is ridiculous. Access to P'Jem is limited to preserve the sanctity of the monastery. No outsiders are allowed on the planet without the permission of Savin, the leader of the order who maintains the planet. Ordinarily this would not be a problem, but Savin has chosen this moment to illogically question my visiting the monastery. He is refusing to grant leave for me to meet with the Abbot at P'Jem." The Ambassador said, his voice getting slightly emotional.
"Can this trip wait until Savin changes his mind?" asked Maxwell
"If I do not complete my journey to P'Jem now then I would have to delay it until after the trade conference at Coridan. That could take weeks." He replied
"I wonder why Savin won't grant you permission." Maxwell said
"I fear I have spent too much time off world. While I find it easy to deal with others, my own people can be…stubborn. Perhaps you could speak with Savin. I know he has a great deal of respect for Starfleet and you might have an easier time than I have." Said Sokketh
"I'll talk to him then…where can I find him?"
"He is right over there." Sokketh said pointing out the man.
Maxwell approached the man and introduced himself. He asked several questions and Savin voiced many concerns and…suspicions? Maxwell was beginning to wonder himself but he had his orders. "Is there any way I can persuade you to allow Sokketh to visit P'Jem?" he asked
"I will permit it if you will pledge to me, on your honor as a Starfleet officer that no harm will come to P'Jem. Sokketh says his reasons for visiting are private and I will accept that. But only if you are with him. I have found Starfleet to be a most trustworthy organization. Please protect the sanctity of our refuge." He replied
Maxwell thanked Savin and returned to Sokketh. "I've spoken with Savin; we can leave at your convenience."
"Excellent, our departure has been delayed long enough by the whims of one man. I am prepared to leave at once."
"Very good. We have a shuttle waiting at the bottom of the hill." Replied Maxwell.
"T'Pela attend to the matter we discussed earlier. I am leaving with the Lieutenant to board my shuttle."
"Yes ambassador have a safe trip. Live long and prosper." She replied
Maxwell lead the Ambassador down the rise to the shuttle. Flores was waiting outside. "Ambassador Sokketh this is Ensign Elisa Flores, our shuttle pilot and my first officer."
"Greetings Ensign."
"Ambassador."
"Lieutenant, this is not a Starfleet issue shuttlecraft is it?" asked the Ambassador.
"Old design outside, modern tech underneath. A quite capable craft." Said Maxwell.
They stepped inside and Sokketh took a seat in the back while Maxwell sat up front with Flores.
"This is Vulcan orbital control; you are cleared for departure."
The shuttle lifted off smoothly can quickly gained altitude. In ten minutes they were in orbit, another five was required to dock with the Essex. A security honor guard met them as they came out, along with them were some of the senior officers.
"Ambassador may I present my senior staff, T'Vrell is my science officer, Kolez is my chief of security and Zarva is my chief engineer." He said
Sokketh bowed in greeting to them. "I need to meditate and prepare for my meeting with the abbot at P'Jem. If you have no objections I will retire to my quarters." He said
"Of course. Ensign Williams will see you to your quarters." Replied Maxwell motioning for a crewman.
"Right this way Ambassador."
Maxwell and Flores went back to the bridge. "Helm, take us out of orbit and set course for P'Jem, warp 3."
"Aye sir. Course plotted and laid in."
Maxwell pointed his hand forward. "Engage."
It was a very short trip to P'Jem. But when the ship dropped out of warp there was a surprise waiting for them in the form of a strange energy reading.
"Captain, I'm getting an odd energy reading from dead ahead. We should scan the area before taking the Ambassador down."
"Very well. T'Vrell?"
"Scanning…three Klingon Birds of Prey decloaking!" she reported.
"Red Alert!"
"Captain they are hailing us!" reported the comm. officer.
"On screen."
"You have a foul shape-changer on your ship. Turn the creature over to us or we will destroy you."
"You're gonna have to be more specific. There are eighty people on this ship."
"Your so-called 'Ambassador' Sokketh is an Undine also known as Species 8472. I say again turn it over to us or be destroyed."
"I'm going to need more than your word that our guest is an Undine spy."
"You insult my honor? Doubt my word?"
"Well it's not that I don't trust you…it's just…I don't trust you. You know since we are at war and stuff…besides I have no proof that what you say is true."
"Then you will be destroyed as will the spy aboard your ship!"
With that the channel closed and the ships opened fire. The Essex shook violently and returned fire. Phaser fire spewed out from multiple ports along with a flurry of the new quantum torpedoes. Two of the Klingon ships immediately exploded. The third was damaged but managed to get in a good hit and the shields went down. A new alarm sounded, one that no captain ever wanted to hear.
"Intruder alert! Five groups on B deck."
"Alert security, T'Vrell, Flores come with me. Potter, you have the bridge." Ordered Maxwell.
The three officers grabbed rifles from an arms locker and went to B Deck. When the turbolift door opened they were in the middle of a firefight, phasers and disruptors crisscrossing the corridor. Maxwell leaned out and added his fire to the security team then tapped his combadge. "Maxwell to Williams, the Klingons have boarded and they're after the Ambassador. Protect him at all costs!" he said
"Understood sir. Additional security is already here- get down!"
The channel closed with static. The ship shook again, an internal explosion probably a grenade.
"Ensign? Ensign!" Maxwell repeated his call but there was no answer. He looked at Flores "Let's go."
Maxwell, Flores and T'Vrell piled out of the turbolift they were taking cover in and darted across the corridor. Maxwell led the way around to the Ambassador's quarters. The scene before them was gruesome. Ensign Williams was barely recognizable, there were two other security officers badly burned but there were about five Klingon bodies, indicating a fierce fight had taken place. There was no trace of Ambassador Sokketh. T'Vrell crouched to scan one of the Klingons, and noticed something peculiar. "Captain, take a look at these readings. Fragments of non-humanoid DNA and…this is odd. The DNA is a triple-helix. Very dense." She reported.
"Triple-Helix?" He snapped his fingers in recognition "Oh crap! Computer, locate Ambassador Sokketh." Maxwell asked.
"Ambassador Sokketh is not on the ship." The computer replied
"How and when did he leave?"
"Logs indicate that Ambassador Sokketh transported to P'Jem less than five minutes ago."
"Maxwell to Kolez, report."
"All Klingon boarding parties eliminated sir. Twelve dead, twenty wounded."
"Have a security team met me in the transporter room. On the double. Ambassador Sokketh is an Undine. The Klingons were right. Flores you're with me. T'Vrell, stay here and help the wounded. Tell Kolez he has the bridge."
Maxwell and Flores rushed to the transporter room, waiting for them was a six-man team all decked-out in full body armor. Maxwell led them up onto the platform. "Phasers on stun. Remember, this is a monastery we're beaming down too. No unnecessary collateral damage. Understood?" He said
"Yes sir." They all replied
"Very well. Energize."
Maxwell, Flores and six security officers beamed down to P'Jem following the coordinates input by Ambassador Sokketh. The immediate area was secure so Flores scanned the area. "I'm detecting several Klingon and Vulcan life-signs. I can't find the Undine though."
"I don't think you'll be able to. They can mask their life-signs as something else. We'll have to find him ourselves. Come on." Replied Maxwell.
Maxwell led the team up a series of steps and as they reached the top they found four Klingons overlooking the cliff. On Maxwell's signal everyone fired at once on all four targets. The phaser pulses punched through the personal shields of the warriors and killed all four. They continued up the path and managed to sneak up on three Klingons pointing disruptors at a group of Vulcans.
"Hand over the shape-changer and we'll let you live!" one demanded.
Before the Vulcan could respond a trio of phaser blasts stunned all three Klingons who then collapsed in a heap. Maxwell approached the lead Vulcan.
"Thank you for your assistance. We will attend to the wounded. The Klingons seek the Abbot at the top of the hill, please hurry." He said
Maxwell nodded and the team moved halfway up a grassy hill before they were ambushed by half-a-dozen Klingons. Maxwell raised his rifle and fired at any target. It wasn't long before the fight ended. He turned to ascertain the status of his team and saw Flores standing beside two of his officers on the ground. "Olson and Harrison are dead sir." She said quietly.
Maxwell sighed and tapped his combadge. "Essex, away team reporting, two KIA, lock onto Olson and Harrison and beam them up."
"Acknowledged."
"We need to keep moving." Maxwell said
The away team moved to the top of the hill and found 'Ambassador Sokketh' crouched over an unconscious Vulcan Abbot. Sokketh recognized him and stood with a smirk.
"Such emotion on your face…I see know my deception has been exposed. Pity, capturing the Abbot so we could replace him as well would have been beneficial. But we are strong. We will prevail. You weak and the weak shall parish!" he said before suddenly transforming into a tall, tri-pedal being a form Maxwell quickly identified as Species 8472.
"Open fire!" he yelled
The entire away team opened fire with their weapons hitting the creature repeatedly. After only a few minutes of sustained fire the Undine ran away transforming into a Klingon. "Bothersome creatures! Why should I trouble myself with such insignificant beings? When the Klingons will do my work for me…" he said then ran down a flight of stairs to a pair of Klingons. "Warriors! Prepare for battle. There is a group of Starfleet officers behind me. One of them is the foul shapeshifter. I am returning to the ship, don't let them leave this planet alive."
"Kapla!"
"Yes sir."
Maxwell and Flores aimed their rifles from the top of the hill. Both of them carried sniper rifles for long range support. A pair of targeting beams sprang from the rifles and a second later a powerful phaser bolt lashed out, vaporizing both Klingons. "So much for doing his work for him." One of the officers quipped.
"Don't get cocky, there are more Klingons further down." Maxwell said then led his team from the stone stairway to a dirt trail leading to a flat area. Two Klingons were hiding in the brush on the hill but they were detected and shot. Another half-dozen Klingons waited at the bottom of the hill, so Maxwell spread his team out and snuck through the brush. Since the Klingons were in an open area nowhere near any buildings he pulled out a photon grenade, pressed the button on the top and silently rolled it into the middle of the group of Klingons. Two seconds later, the grenade exploded vaporizing two Klingons and badly burning two more. That left two for the team to deal with. A flurry of phaser pulses from the security team's full auto rifles put them both down. The team moved into the area where the Klingons had been but couldn't find the Undine. "Flores, scan the area."
She pulled out her tricorder and made a quick scan. "Looks like he got away sir. But I'm getting residual transporter indications. He probably beamed up to a hidden ship in orbit. I recommend we return to the Essex." She said
"Very well. Maxwell to Essex, six to beam up."
The away team disappeared from the surface of P'Jem, leaving behind a surprisingly undisturbed monastery.
Maxwell strode onto the bridge, Flores right behind him. "Mr. Kolez, report."
"Sir, the ship is secure and sustained minor damage from the fight and boarding parties. Eighteen of the wounded are stable the other two are still in critical condition. Starfleet is sending a small task force to assist us."
"Very well. Scan the area for Undine ships."
"Yes sir."
T'Vrell came out of the turbolift and took her station. "Captain, there is an undine ship on an intercept course. They are powering weapons."
Kolez spun from his chair at the communications station. "We can't take on an Undine ship alone. Starfleet reports our backup is sixty seconds away." He said
"So we only have to hold out for one minute. Suggestions?" Maxwell said
"Sir, we should transfer all power to shields and focus our fire on the larger plasma torpedoes they fire. It might just give us a chance."
"Very good, but balance our power between shields and weapons, auxiliary power to engines and maneuvering thrusters. Helm, keep us mobile, but move us into an attack position, pattern Alpha One. Torpedoes, maximum yield. Open fire with everything we've got, and give me a countdown until reinforcements arrive on my tactical display." He said
The Essex came about and fired phasers and torpedoes at the Undine ship. But Kolez was right, even with the newer quantum torpedoes they barely made a dent in the enemy ship's shields. "Torpedo incoming." Flores reported.
"Target phasers and fire."
Her hands darted across her tactical board switching targets and firing phasers in less than five seconds. The first few shots missed but the next spread of phasers found its target and the plasma torpedo dissipated. Flores refocused on the ship itself and fired another volley of high yield torpedoes. She initiated a level one beam overload on the forward phaser array and a thicker more power beam shot out but still didn't damage the enemies shields much. It seemed hopeless as another torpedo got too close for comfort. Then just before it impacted the reinforcements showed up and took it out. Two tier two cruisers, two escorts and a science vessel turned and opened fire on the Undine ship. The Essex took up position in the fleet and coordinated fire began wearing down the shields. Eventually they collapsed and the ship was destroyed but the Essex was heavily damaged by the explosion.
"Captain we're being hailed." Reported T'Vrell.
"On screen."
An Andorian captain appeared on the viewscreen.
"This is Captain Thelin of the U.S.S. Kirk. Glad to see we got here in time to lend a hand, Lieutenant. Perhaps you'll return the favor someday. Thelin out."
"Appreciate the help. T'Vrell, scan the debris maybe we can get some information out of it. Bridge to Engineering, Zarva; damage report." Said Maxwell
"Aye sir." Replied T'Vrell
"We're venting plasma from the port nacelle, there are also hull breaches on decks B and C. No additional casualties reported." Zarva reported
"Time to Utopia Planitia?" Maxwell asked
"The best I can give you right now is warp two. A few weeks minimum." Zarva replied
"Very well. Helm, lay in a course, best speed." Ordered Maxwell
"Course plotted and laid in." replied the helmsmen.
"Engage."