Star Trek the Next Generation
Rabies
Chapter 14
Aid and Rescue
The Enterprise shuttered as it was struck by Cardassian weapons. The attack started with four Cardassian ships and the Enterprise managed to disable two. But the last two were over powering the already damaged Enterprise. The Enterprise evaded a Cardassian laser and fired a spread of torpedoes at the two Cardassian ships. They struck the ships causing minimal damage. "Forward shields down to sixty percent," Data said holding on to his council as the Enterprise shook violently again, "Rear shields down to thirty-six percent."
Riker looked at Picard and said, "If they continue this attack, we will not stand much longer."
"It is imperative we get the cure in Cardassian hands," Picard holding on to his arm rests as the Enterprise shook again, "It is the only way to end this war."
There was a short power surge sound and then a whole wall of computers exploded. Ensigns Mauller and McCormick who were working by those computers were flung half way across the bridge. Picard ducked just in time as part of the computer flew over his head. Smoke began to seep out from the ceiling. Picard looked at Troi who was clutching her seat tightly.
The last two Cardassian ships circled around the larger Enterprise and fired a long burst of lasers on the Enterprise's hull. The firing began from one of the Enterprise's hull and finally stopped by the beginning of the saucer section. Explosions rippled across the hull. Riker was not able to keep his hold on his chair and was thrown to the floor. His head bounced of the floor and bit his tongue immediately tasting blood.
"Sir," Worf loudly said looking up from his council, "There are six unknown ships are entering weapons range."
"Let's hope they are not Cardassian ships," Riker said painfully as he returned t his seat limping.
"I agree," Picard said looking at his first officer.
The six unknown ships began to fire on the Cardassian ships. The Cardassian ships, which were already damaged, were no match for the approaching ships. Immediately they were disabled and with that the six unknown ships surrounded the Enterprise. Picard turned and looked at Worf. "Shields status?" He asked.
"Shields are holding at eighteen percent," Worf said looking at Picard.
"Sir," Ensign Hawke said looking at the six ships on the view screen, "We are receiving a hail from one of the ships."
"Open a channel," Picard said looking at Riker briefly before standing up. He fixed his uniform and said to his first officer, "We are in no shape to fight."
On the view screen a man with a tattoo on his fore head appeared. His jaw quivered and said, "On any other circumstances I would destroy your ship."
"On any other circumstances," Picard said sternly staring at the man on the view screen intently, "The Enterprise would not be this far in Cardassian space."
The man chuckled and said, "That is true," He paused and then continued, "My name is Chakotay, I am part of the Maquis. Our intelligence has told us you have created an anti-body for the virus."
"That is true," Picard said taking a step toward Data.
"So the only way there will be a cease fire in this quadrant is for the Cardassians to get hold of the virus?" Chakotay asked leaning back in his chair. He exhaled and continued, "That is sure risky wouldn't you agree?"
"That is true," Picard said not liking the way Chakotay was toying with him. "But this risk could end the violence."
Chakotay paused and looked at a female half Klingon-half human who approached him. She told him something and said, "I have just been informed that there fifteen Cardassian ships that will be in weapons range in four hours. I will help you get your cure to its destination."
"Unfortunately," Picard began, "Our warp drive won't be ready for two hours. But we still have impulse engines."
Chakotay didn't look happy, but instead of rebuking the Enterprise's ability to function in warfare moments, he quickly said, "We will help you until the anti-body is delivered."
The screen went blank and the six Maquis ships took their place around Enterprise. Inside engineering, Geordi ran around frantically trying to repair a coupling that held the antimatter in place inside the warp core. Smoke was coming from it and if it weren't repaired soon, the whole warp core could explode. He pressed a few buttons on a key pad on the warp core and he felt instant relief when the smoke ceased and the coupling was aligned perfectly. Now his aim was to get the shields back up and the warp drive functioning. "Ensign Muller," Geordi said approaching one of his favorite workers. He was always on time and hasn't disappointed Geordi yet. "I want you to work on restoring the shields."
"I am doing that now," Ensign Muller said tuning to face his superior officer, "In fact I have raised the shields by fifteen percent since I started just a few moments ago."
"And what about the phaser efficiency I told you to work on?" Geordi asked looking at Ensign Muller.
"I have fixed it and it is now working at a hundred percent efficiency," Ensign Muller said.
Geordi chuckled and he smiled at Muller, "You never cease to amaze me, keep up the good work.
Ensign Muller smiled brightly at Geordi and watched him briefly enter the elevator to get to the second level of engineering. Once the elevator began is ascent, Ensign Muller turned and continued his work.
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Sisko stared at the planet as it shimmered into view. All the rumors about the Cardassian prisons seemed to be true, just by the ugliness of the looks of the planets surface. There were sections of blackness which were clouds that always hovered over the desert. Besides the black clouds, there were areas of redness which, Sisko wasn't sure what it was. There were only a few bodies of waters and even those were very small. "Will the transports work through the storms?" Sisko asked turning to Miles.
"Uh yeah," Miles said turning from his council and faced Sisko.
Bashir turned to Sisko and said, "I have created suits that will mask yourself from the Cardassians scanning you, plus it will act as a shielding unit from the harsh weather on the planet's surface."
"Good," Sisko said standing up, "Let's begin than."
Sisko stood up and turned to leave when Dax said, "I'll watch her for you."
"I know you will old man," Sisko said smiling briefly before walking off the bridge.
Sisko walked to the crew quarters and before stepping into his own, he turned to watch the Nog, Bashir, and Miles walk into the crew quarters. When they entered their shared quarters, he walked into his. Before stepping into his suit that was draped neatly over his chair, he glanced at a picture of him and Jake. He picked up the picture and immediately felt a longing to be with Jake.
He stared at the picture and kissed his hand the than touched Jake. With a heavy sigh he set the picture on the desk and stepped into the suit, after removing his Starfleet uniform. Even though it looked uncomfortable, it clung to him and felt as if he wasn't wearing anything at all. Sisko stepped out of quarters and found the others waiting for him by his entrance. "Let's do this," Miles said watching Sisko exit his quarters.
They walked silently to the transporters and when they entered, Ensign Morris smile at them briefly by his council. He handed them phaser rifles and said, "Good luck sir."
Sisko smiled and stepped on the transporter pads. When the rest of the team was ready, Sisko said, "Energize."
They reappeared in huge room. There was a table and a few chairs along the wall, but that was it. On the table was an assortment of tools obviously used for torture. The chairs were metal and long enough for an average human's body. Along side of the chair were metal cuffs to old the prisoner in place. In fact on one of the chairs there was a blood stain.
Nog gripped his gun and was able to hear a total of thirty-six Cardassians in the complex. He also heard a total of six Starfleet prisoners being held in a room down the hall. He motioned for everyone to follow him. Upon entry to the hall, Nog took out a grenade type item and pressed a red button on it. He looked at Sisko and when Sisko nodded, Nog tossed it down the hall. The ball hit the ground silently and Nog saw a Cardassian pick it up and look at it. Suddenly the ball exploded and sent the Cardassian flying into the wall. Toxic smoke exited the ball and filled the hall. Sisko looked at Bashir said, "The suits will protect us."
Nog reached for another one and handed it to Miles who had a stronger arm than he did. Miles pressed the red button and threw it hard and heard an explosion. More smoke filled the hall and coughing was suddenly heard. After a few moments, Sisko looked at Nog and Nog said, "All I hear right now is a handful of Starfleet prisoners taken hostage in the last room."
"Well let us go then," Sisko said looking at Bashir and Miles.
"Our suits should protect us from the toxic smoke," Bashir said stepping up to Sisko.
Sisko smiled at Bashir and walked through the smoke holding his rifle tightly. When he crossed the first fallen Cardassian, he stepped over the corpse but when Miles approached the corpse he kicked it. It took a few moments to reach the last room. When they approached the entry, the door did not open. Sisko looked at a key pad on the right of the door. Miles approached the door and took out his tricorder. "I am having the tricorder try to find the password," Miles said looking at Sisko, "It will only take a few moments."
Nog took a step toward Sisko and said, "There are twelve Cardassians approaching this area."
"We don't have much time," Sisko said looking at the tricorder and then at Miles.
"Another minute," Miles said looking at the tricorder, "It is trying to figure out the last row."
As soon as Miles said that there was a beep from the tricorder when it finished the password sequence, enabling the door to open. It was pitch black in the room and when Sisko entered, he said, "Lights."
Nothing happened and it remained pitch black. He then used the flashlight on the rifle he was holding to have the ability to see. The rest of his team did so and Nog stood by the door way as guard. Sisko approached the prisoners and began to untie them. He counted thirteen and when they were all untied, he said to his team, "Let's go now."
The away team and the prisoners began to run through the hall. The away team gave out their hand held phasers to a handful of the prisoners. Nog fired on a Cardassian who entered the hall way at the wrong time. The Cardassian landed on the ground with a loud thud. "Come on," Sisko said leading the team into the room they were first transported to. Sisko pressed his badge and said, "Dax, we are ready for transport. Seventeen ready to beam up."
"Aye sir," Dax said.
Sisko sighed in relief when he found himself back on the Defiant. Sisko turned to Bashir and Miles and said, "Give everyone a full medical diagnostic and then give them crew quarters. Once that is done, return to the bridge."
"Yes sir," Miles and Bashir said in unison.
Sisko and Nog returned to the bridge. Dax smiled at Sisko and said, "Sensors have picked up the Enterprise and six Maquis ships on route to Cardassia."
"Nog if we set a course to join them," Sisko asked approaching Nog, "What will our ETA be?"
"Thirty-six minutes," Nog said.
"Well then," Sisko said taking a seat. He paused and thought about the situation they were in. Yes they had successfully rescuing the Starfleet hostages, but now was the hardest part of the mission. Now it was time to help end the war. "Nog set a course to Cardassia, maximum warp."