Chapter 6 Stop the Signal
Maxwell and the crew of the Essex returned after forty-eight-hours to find their ship upgraded once again. Maxwell went to Earth Spacedock after Quinn ordered him to report to his office.
"Lieutenant, welcome back. We've been able to decrypt some of the signals you intercepted at the listening post. Our intelligence believes there is at least one more such station out there. What we do have is the location of a signal repeater that boosts subspace transmissions to and from these stations. Your orders are to report to the Bomari system, find the repeater and follow the signals back to the listening post. Once you find it, you are authorized to use whatever means necessary to neutralize the outpost. If at all possible, recover that stations computer data as well but consider that a secondary objective." Quinn said
"Yes sir. But it will take some time to get there, sir. Almost a week at warp five." Replied Maxwell
"We've upgraded your engines; you should be able to push warp seven. That should cut a few days off your trip. Will you need anything else?" Quinn asked
"No sir. We'll get the job done." Maxwell replied
"Good. When you get back I'll have another assignment for you. Oh and by the way, the paperwork hasn't come through all the way yet but…congratulations Lieutenant Commander." Quinn said with a smile.
"Thank you, sir."
"Come back from this mission and I'll have another pip for your uniform and a selection of ships to choose from. As well as the authority to promote officers under your command. You've earned it. Dismissed."
"Yes sir and thank you."
Maxwell walked to the transporter with a bit of a spring in his step. It was almost unheard of for an officer to make Lieutenant Commander in less than six months, much less right out of the Academy. Then again, it's unheard of for a cadet to be promoted to Lieutenant right out of the Academy too. He beamed aboard the Essex and it departed the station and jumped to warp. He assembled his senior officers in the Captain's mess and explained the mission. He also informed them of his pending promotion…and theirs. They were all excited to hear that they were being promoted.
"Before you tell anyone else, let me remind you that these promotions are pending and they also assume we come back from this mission. So don't screw us up by getting killed ok?" Maxwell said
It took the Essex four days to get to the Bomari system. Along the way Maxwell conducted several mock battle drills to keep his crew in top shape. He wanted to make sure his crew was ready for anything. The Essex dropped out of warp on the edge of an asteroid belt. There was some kind of particle in the area that slowed the ship, full impulse was not available. T'Vrell conducted a scan as soon as they arrived.
"Sir, the Klingons are using low-frequency subspace carrier to transmit their stolen signals. I'll have to scan all frequencies to find the one they are using. But we'll need to get closer to the repeater to lock onto the right frequency." She said
"Do it." Ordered Maxwell. He then leaned over the helm. "Ensign, take us in. One-half impulse."
"Aye sir."
A moment went by then T'Vrell reported. "I've got it sir. Frequency 17.1"
"Trace the destination."
"The signal is bouncing off another repeater further in-system. I've sent the coordinates to the helm."
"Take us there."
The Essex got within five kilometers before a trio of Klingon Birds of Prey decloaked and opened fire. The shields held while the ship returned fire. Repeated phaser strikes destroyed one and a torpedo spread destroyed the other two.
"It does not appear that they got off a signal to any other ships…I have the location of the listening post. Somewhere between the binary moons of Bomari II." T'Vrell reported
"Ensign, lay in a course and engage."
It was a short warp jump to Bomari II. Flores reported Klingon ships and three transporter inhibiters in orbit above the listening post. They were unshielded but sensors indicated ships in the vicinity possibly guarding the devices.
The first disruptor was unguarded and destroyed with a pair of torpedoes. The second was guarded by a single Bird of Prey but it posed no challenge for the NX replica. As the ship passed over the listening post a trio of B'rel-class Birds of Prey decloaked and fired from behind. An evasive pattern by the helmsmen put the enemy ships under the Essex's main guns. A full spread of torpedoes destroyed the ships quickly. A quick scan found no more enemy ships and a weakened transport inhibiter field. The Essex moved to the last one and destroyed it with a series of phaser strikes. With the last generator down the field collapsed and transporters were enabled. Maxwell, T'Vrell, Zarva and Kolez beamed down to the listening post.
"I received authorization to destroy this base before the mission began. Once we have the database we'll destroy it from the ship. A couple of quantum torpedoes ought to do it. Let's start with the door to the left. Standard assault formation, move." Maxwell said.
The team stacked up next to the door, two on each side. Maxwell waved his hand in front of the door to trigger the sensor. The door opened to reveal a room of four Klingons who didn't turn when the door opened. They probably assumed it was their comrades. Maxwell smiled. Single phaser shots to the back were sufficient to put the inattentive warriors down. There was nothing else of interest in the room so they moved on. Kolez took a moment to scan the structure with his tricorder. "Curious. This listening post seems to be almost an exact match to the one we boarded a few months ago. These alloys appear to be all replicated."
"They replicated the entire base?" asked Maxwell
"Even industrial replicators can't make an entire base. They probably replicated sections of it and put it together out here. Prefabricated buildings." Said Zarva.
The team moved forward and found more Klingons further down the hallway. An alarm sounded as four more Klingons moved to engage them. Disruptor fire and phaser bolts crisscrossed the hallway as a fierce firefight broke out. Maxwell took cover and used his full auto rifle's secondary fire to provide suppressing fire while Kolez tossed a grenade. The grenade took out three Klingons and wounded the last. The last Klingon made a last-ditch effort to cause damage by lunging at Maxwell with a dagger. T'Vrell was the first to turn and put a phaser beam into the man's back. "Thanks T'Vrell."
She nodded. "The door ahead is sealed. We'll have to blast it open in order to gain access to the door."
"That's why I brought this little beauty." Said Kolez fishing a circular device out of his belt. "This ought to punch a nice big hole in the door."
Maxwell recognized it as a photonic breaching charge. "Yeah just make sure there is atmosphere on the other side. I don't want to get sucked out into space."
"What and ruin my promotion?" Kolez said with a smile.
"Oh you're worried about your promotion?" asked Maxwell as the team stacked up next to the door.
Kolez laughed lightly as he placed the charge. "Breach charge set…clear!" he yelled.
A large explosion blew most of the door into the next room. Kolez tossed a photon grenade as a distraction as the team rushed in. surprisingly there were only three Klingons in the entire very large room. The pair of warriors went down quickly. The Sword master took more hits but eventually collapsed. "Zarva, computer core." Maxwell said
Zarva rushed to the console and began typing. Suddenly the sound of Klingon transporters filled the room. A half-dozen Klingons had beamed in. "Cover Zarva!" yelled Maxwell. The team contracted to protect the engineer as she hacked the computer core. Maxwell and his team put out a fierce amount of fire from full auto and split beam rifles. The ensign security officer went down as did Kolez. Maxwell covered T'Vrell as she gave him a hypospray. Kolez got back on his feet and drew his sidearm and kept firing. Five Klingons had gone down but there was something different about the last one. He seemed…stronger than normal.
The team got their answer as the Klingon melted away to reveal an Undine infiltrator who was immediately beamed away. "That transporter was not Klingon." Kolez said
"The Undine must be behind the war, playing both sides against each other. We have to destroy this base and inform Starfleet Command. Zarva, download the computer core data to the ship." Ordered Maxwell.
It didn't take long to download the data but the ship contacted them before they were done. "Sir, sensors are picking up an Undine ship on the far side of the moon. We need you back up here sir." Flores reported
"Understood."
"Got the info sir." Said Zarva
"Energize"
Maxwell strode onto the bridge. "Report." He said
"Sir, there is a small Klingon fleet engaging the Undine ship. We should be able to destroy it if we can work together." Reported Flores.
"Standby Alpha Strike. Helm, bring us into firing range, make it obvious that we're targeting the Undine ship."
"Yes sir."
The Essex swooped in between a pair of Birds of Prey firing on the Undine ship. A tachyon beam drained the shields a little and a full alpha strike of phasers and torpedoes didn't do much damage. It took some time but the Undine ship eventually exploded. Maxwell expected weapons fire but was surprised when T'Vrell reported the Klingons hailing them.
"On screen." He said
"You have aided us in battle Lieutenant and I respect your bravery. In honor of your actions I will not destroy you…today. Next time you will not be so fortunate."
"Perhaps someday we'll fight on the same side Captain." Maxwell replied
"Perhaps…" the Klingon agreed.
The Essex warped back to Earth Spacedock where Lieutenant Maxwell and his senior officers met with Admiral Quinn. "Well done Lieutenant. The information you found will certainly help our war effort. In light of your performance and that of your crew, I hereby promote you to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. You'll also be getting a new ship, your choice of a Constitution Refit, Nova Science Vessel or Saber-class escort. Talk to Lt. Laurel at the shipyard." He said while pinning the rank pip to the collar of Maxwell's uniform.
"Thank you, sir." Said Maxwell
He turned to his bridge crew. "By the authority vested in me by Starfleet Command I hereby promote all of you to the rank of Lieutenant. I look forward to working with you all for a long time." He said pinning a second pip to the collars of Flores, Kolez, T'Vrell and Zarva's uniforms. "Now follow me to the shipyard. Time to pick our new ship."