Star Trek the Next Generation
Rabies
Chapter 7
Virus Spreading
Something suddenly caught Worf's eye. He pressed some buttons on his council and noticed weapons fire. He then scanned that area again and found out it was Romulan weapons fire. "Captain," He said looking up at Picard who turned to face him.
"What is it Mr. Worf," Picard asked with his usual concerned, yet stern look on his face.
"Long range sensors are picking up Romulan weapons fire," Worf said looking at both Picard and Riker.
"What are the coordinates of the weapons fire?" Riker asked.
Worf looked at his council again and typed in a few things, "It is by the Cluster Nebula," Worf said.
"That is where the Ghandi and the Diego were stationed," Picard said looking at Riker.
"Yeah," Riker agreed as he raised one eyebrow looking at Picard, "And that's where are weakest position by the Neutral Zone was."
"Sir," Data said, "There is an incoming message from the Defiant."
"Put it through," Picard ordered turning to face the view screen.
The Defiant's bridge appeared and Sisko said, "Captain, we have just picked up Romulan weapons fire by the Cluster Nebula."
"We also just did," Picard said taking a few steps toward the view screen, "What do you make of it?"
"As of now I am not sure," Sisko said, "But I was going to send the Defiant to check it out."
"I think that is a good idea," Picard said with a nod, "Tell me if you find anything."
"Sure thing," Sisko said, "Sisko out.
Picard turned to Data and asked, "What is our ETA?"
"One hour, twenty two minutes," Data said looking at Picard.
"Hmmm," Picard said, "I'll be in my ready room. Number one, you have the bridge."
Picard stepped into his read room and walked up to the replicator, "Earl Grey, hot."
When it appeared, Picard took it and sipped it. The tea's pungent fragrance seemed to relieve some stress. Ever since he was a young Starfleet cadet, he had felt earl grey tea was one of his favorite drinks. "Captain," Riker said. "Jeral has just hailed the Enterprise and is requesting for you."
Picard sighed and pressed his comm.-badge, "Send it to my ready room."
"Yes sir," Riker said.
Picard turned on his computer and Jeral's image filled the screen. "Captain," Jeral asked with a frown, "What is your ETA?"
"A little over an hour," Picard said, "Why do you ask?"
"My vessel is by the Neutral Zone," Jeral said.
"Jeral," Picard said with a stern face, "Do you know anything about the Romulans attacking the Cluster Nebula?"
"No not at all," Jeral said with a shocked look on her face, "I didn't have anything to do with it."
Picard shook his head in disbelief, "Jeral, I don't think that it is a coincidence that as soon as you and I made an agreement. The Romulans attack two Federation vessels patrolling the Federation side of the Neutral Zone."
"With all due respect Captain," Jeral said impatiently, "I have risked way too much to coordinate an attack like this."
"Jeral," Picard said suddenly feeling exhausted, "Why don't we discuss this further when we meet?"
"I look forward to it," Jeral said with the screen going blank right after that.
Picard drank the rest of his tea and leaned back in his chair. With a tired sigh, Picard closed his eyes.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
The Defiant stopped in front of the damaged Ghandi. There was plasma coming out from both of the nacelles. The saucer section had a major hull breach in the middle and there was fire coming from it. The hull section had black burn marks all over it. "Look like they stood no chance," Dax sadly said as she stared at the damaged ship.
"No," Sisko said staring unhappily at the ship, "Not at all."
"Sir," Nog said turning his chair to face Sisko, "I have tried scanning the ship, but I am having trouble. There is major interference and something is scrambling our scans."
"I thought it would be like that," Bashir said turning to face Nog, "I was talking with Dr. Crusher and she told me that when the Enterprise first encountered the virus, they also had trouble scanning the ship."
"Well what about the Klingons?" Nog asked, "They also encountered the Romulans wanting to spread the virus in Klingon space."
"True," Miles said looking at Nog with a small grin, "But the Klingons just destroyed any of the Romulan ships, so there wasn't much of a chance for the virus to enter their space."
"So then what should we do?" Dax asked looking at Sisko.
Sisko didn't answer right away. Dax turned her chair to face her Captain. Sisko raised his left eyebrow at her and exhaled heavily. "What do you think old man?"
"Personally," Dax said, "I would send an away team down to search the ship and find any survivors."
"Ordinarily I would agree wit you," Sisko said as he cleared his throat, "But..."
"Sir," Nog said, "Sensors are detecting a small escape pod right by the right nacelle."
"I see it," Dax said looking at the Ghandi.
"Scan the pod for any life signs," Sisko said.
"There is one," Nog said eyeing his council, "But it is very weak."
"Beam the pod to the shuttle bay," Sisko said.
Suddenly a warning bell went off and Nog quickly said, "There is an energy build up from the warp core. I estimate warp core hull breach any second."
"Did you get the escape pod?" Sisko asked looking at Nog and when he nodded, Sisko turned to Dax and said, "Get us out of here maximum warp."
The Defiant pulled away as the unstable Ghandi exploded. The Defiant shook slightly from the shock wave. Sisko stood up and said, "Bashir lets go see what we have in the escape pod. Old man, you have the bridge."
Sisko and Bashir walked out of the bride and Bashir quickly grabbed his med kit. They walked into the shuttle bay where a security team stood there waiting for him. Sisko walked up to the escape pod and opened it up. As the door slowly opened up Sisko and Bashir looked inside. Both looked at the bloody body of Commander Riker.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
A cloaked Romulan ship flew on high warp to the Cardassian border. Their ETA would be twelve hours. Admiral Jetta walked into their cargo bay with four security guards behind her. "What is our status?" She asked.
Dellkat looked at Jetta and bowed slightly, "The Federation probe is half way completed. The virus will be deployed into the air as soon as it materialized into the Cardassian planet."
"Good," Jetta said feeling pleased, "With the probe almost done, let's hope everything goes as plans. If the Cardassians find the probe after the virus is deployed, they'll think the Federation caused it. The Cardassians will then attack the Federation making our attacks easier."