Once more he was falling, but now it seemed more real. He watched his ship go up in flames as Klingon ships fired at the hull. His eyes opened once more. "…Only a dream." He said as he sat up. It had been two days since they began their search. They found slight pieces of wreckage but the main saucer section was still missing. "Sir, there is something you should see." Came the voice of Rukia. Renji stood up and spoke. "I'm on my way." When he reached the bridge he saw his fear. The saucer of the Kongo drifted on the viewscreen.
"There is some sort of dampening field over her hull. A well placed phaser burst should cancel the field." Renji nodded. "Do it." The phaser burst struck the hull, but instead of the field dissipating, It grew stronger. Soon the field acted as a barrier over the hull. "What happened?" Renji asked. "It seems as if the Klingons have a new dispersion field to stop any transport of officers." Hanataro said softly as he turned back to the screen. "I guess they don't want any enemies to get off a dying ship. Not very honorable on their part." Renji thought to himself. "Could a runabout safely pass through the field?" The bridge felt silent. "Is he crazy? If it cant whoever is aboard the ship would die in an instant. And even if it could go in, what guarantee was there that it could leave?" Hanataro wondered, most of the crew thought the same.
"Well then, Rukia, your with me. Meet me in shuttlebay two. Get me a data uplink from the ship to the runabout. I want you to record everything it does." Renji barked as he and Rukia headed for the turbolift. Hanataro nodded to signify he had heard and began to work on the uplink. The doors to the Turbolift closed. "Shuttlebay Two." Rukia said and the turbolift sped towards its destination. "Don't worry Rukia, we've faced Hollows, Vizards, Espada, and rouge Klingons. We can handle a small barrier." Rukia smiled and nodded. "Right." Decks flew by the windows of the turbolift as it came to a stop at the Shuttlebay. The two soul reapers walked onto deck with phasers at their side until they finally came to a stop. The Chicago sat in the shuttlebay with it's door open. Rukia took her seat at the tactical station as Renji manned helm. "This is the Chicago we are ready for departure." Renji said. "Chicago, you are clear to launch. Good luck sir." Came the voice of the controller. With an agile leap the runabout darted out of the launch bay and headed towards the Kongo.
"Rukia, bring the SIF to full. If we loose some paint I would like to keep my air." Rukia nodded as the ship slowly drifted towards the saucer section of the wrecked Ambassador class ship. Ever since the emergency launch the shuttle bays had sealed shut. The only way in was a direct space walk to the bridge. Slowly the ship approached the field. "Alright Rukia…here it goes." Slowly the ship drifted into the field and slipped through. "And were in. hail the Courageous." Rukia nodded, after a moment the console beeped, signifying that a link could not be established. "Captain, I can't get a transmission out, it must be the barrier." Renji sat and shook his head. "It's fine, this should only be a few minutes. We just go in, grab the computer core, and get out." Renji stated as he stepped out of the runabout. His feet were on the registration number. Once clearly defined, the ship name was now charred from phaser fire. Renji walked foreward, deeply saddened at the sight. The two silently boarded the bridge. Blood was strewn from the tactical seat to the turbolift. Softly Rukia asked "Who could walk with a wound that severe?" Renji sighed and spoke "I could…I did." Rukia once more looked depressed and sighed as she walked to the back console and opened it up. He looked around and saw the Computer core memory chips and began to remove them, Rukia meanwhile, seemed fixated on the stars as she strained her sight to see what was happening. "Renji, another ship is coming in." Renji grabbed the rest of the chips as he stood up. "Alright, let's go!" The pair began to walk to the Chicago when a blue light appeared from the unknown vessel. The two looked at each other and began to run towards the shuttle as the light slammed into the wreckage of the Kongo.
"Red alert! Get a phaser spread on that ship, I want it to come after us, not the Kongo!" Shouted Lieutenant Beau. He was the second in command. The Courageous drifted into firing range as it fired its disruptor cannons onto the attacking ship. As the enemy cruiser jolted from the impact it fired a massive, red torpedo. Beau stared at it as he saw Renji and Rukia running for the shuttle but it was to late. The torpedo slammed into the Kongo's remains, forcing it to collapse in on itself. He saw two bodies floating in space. Rukia and Renji floated unconsciously and aimlessly through the dark void. "Lock transporters on them, and try and get those data chips!" Jason shouted at Hanataro. Within a moment the two bodies glowed blue and disappeared. A moment later Hanataro spoke up. "Captain Abarai and Commander Kuchiki are aboard. And…we are being hailed." Jason looked at the viewscreen for a moment, the cruiser looming in its sight. "Open a channel." Hanataro nodded as an older looking man, with glasses appeared on the screen. "This is commander Aizen of the Espada flagship Klurong. Lower your shields and prepare to be boarded, if you do not comply you will be destroyed." With a smile he added, "I advise you lower your shields." Jason glared at the screen and stepped foreward. "I am commander Jason Beau. First officer of the federation Starship Courageous. We are also the flagship of the SSE program. Any act of aggression will be taken as an act of war. I understand you enjoy toying with us but I nor Captain Abarai take kindly to threats." Beau ordered. Sweat dripped down his brow as he anxiously waited for Aizen's reply. Both bridges were silent as Aizen's grin turned to a grimace as he spoke. "Well, then it seems I only have one option left." The image of Aizen disappeared as the large battlecruiser began firing at the Courageous. The bridge shook as the concussion of the impact blasted a security officer over the tactical arc.
The turbolift door opened behind them as Captain Abarai limped out and stepped towards the tactical arc. "Hanataro, bring us about on a retreating course. Keep us slow and straight then vent plasma from the port nacelle." Hanataro looked at Renji as sparks flew between the Captain and the tactical officer. Slowly the Courageous came about as its nacelle began to vent plasma. The battle cruiser fired as it came on a parallel course with the Courageous. Renji smirked as it flew into the wave of ignitable gas. "Alright, now send off a burst of Plasma then close the vents and fire phasers at the cloud on my mark." He ordered. The lumbering cruiser drifted into the cloud as Renji's smirk widened. "Fire." With his words, a bright orange beam ripped through the cloud, detonating it and seemingly destroying the cruiser. "Alright, now set course for Earth, maximum warp." The Courageous came out of the fireball and jumped to warp leaving the enemy cruiser in it's trail.
TO BE CONTINUED IN
THROUGH THE FIRE AND FLAMES