Chapter 16: "Fracas"

=/\= - =/\=

"Commodore, the Umbra decloaked and is taking heavy fire," Lt. Cmdr. Lyle Edmundson reported. "Her shields are down. She won't be able to take much."

"Life signs?" Anthony Grego looked at his Science Officer.

"One," Fist Lt. Syn Carax answered, looking up at her captain, "it's Halanan."

"Beam him off of there," the Commodore ordered.

"Establishing transporter lock," Cmdr. T'Luz informed.

Greco furrowed his brow, gazing at the Defiant class ship caught in the middle of Romulan and Klingon fire exchange. He clenched his jaw when space was lit up by an explosion as the small ship disintegrated.

His head snapped around to his XO, "Did you get him?"

T'Luz exhaled with force. "Yes, sir. I beamed him directly to sickbay."

"Good." Greco stood. "I'm doing down there. You have the conn, Commander." He didn't wait for any protest, but stepped into the turbolift and held the door open for just a moment. "And, Commander, keep in contact with Hvaid. Assist him with any means necessary and coordinate battle strategies. Once I'm off the ship, drop the cloak and get shields up."

"Commodore, I still believe this to be illog..."

Greco held his hand up to stop his Vulcan XO in mid-sentence. "We've already disgust this. I must go. I must find Michaev. No more debates." He let the lift door shut.

=/\=

"I'm fine! Would you just get off of me?" Timir pushed Doctor Karpenko away.

"You're a most impossible man," the CMO grumbled, "You've sustained nerve damage from the close-range veapon's discharge, for crying out loud."

Anthony Greco stepped into sickbay, making a beeline directly to Lev and Timir.

"Commodore," Timir sounded relieved when he caught sight of Tony, "would you please tell your CMO to back off?"

"I'm glad to see you alive." Greco smiled.

Timir slid off the bio bed and took a few steps toward Greco, trying to slip out from under Karpenko's scrutiny. "Commodore, Michaev beamed to the mining vessel with his agents and left his helmsman behind, and then Temba turned on the guy and killed him. He morphed into a huge beast with razor-sharp claws. I think he might have killed Mirok the same way. And then he beamed over to the mining ship, too, leaving me to be blown up..."

"Ok ok," Greco motioned the Halanan operative to slow down, "we don't have time to discuss it all. We know Michaev is on the mining ship, and we've got an assault team ready to beam over and take him into custody." He put his hand to Timir's chest, "Sit back down, let the Doc take care of you. I'm on my way to the transporter room to accompany the team. I just wanted to check on you."

"Vhat did I tell you, Mister Timir," Lev Karpenko noted, "it's all in good hands."

"Let me go with you," Timir requested.

"He's sustained injuries, Commodore," the Doctor warned. "He should rest. I vant to give him a full check-up."

"I'm fine, I told you!" Timir snapped at the CMO more vehemently.

"We can handle it," Greco assured the Halanan, pushing him back to the bio bed. "I really need to go."

"Commodore," Arhea's voice came over Greco's commbadge, "we're ready. Where are you? We need to get a move on."

"Commodore," Timir pushed the Greco's hand off with more determination after hearing Arhea's voice, "you'll need me."

"Timir," Greco began to reason. He glanced at Lev, who was setting up a hypospray injection.

"I must go. Please," Timir insisted.

Tony sighed, then motioned to Karpenko to put the hypo down. "Fine. Let's go then."

"Sure," Lev grumbled, crossing his arms, as the two men rushed out, "don't listen to the doctor. Vhat do I know, right?" He wagged his head. "I only vent to medical school for how many years?"

=/\= - =/\=

The clanking of metal filled the air around the Lagga's control center as the fierce battle between Agent QT and the Romulan Tal'Shiar officer, Terrh, was still in full force.

Having reached the level of platforms that he and his agent had stepped out on when leaving the lift earlier, Boris Michaev ascended toward the control center once more; this time directly approaching the area from the front.

Just as he was poised to rise onto the platform one step below the control area, silence fell over the scene. Had one of them been killed?

The Admiral stepped up and peered onto the battlefield. Both combatants were still standing, though farther apart at the moment with the control console separating them. Both still held their weapons at ready, though once again simply circling each other around the obstacle. Both staring at one another with intense hatred in their eyes.

=/\=

Terrh was breathing hard. He could feel the intensity of the fight wearing on him. This woman was fierce and unrelenting. He wasn't sure how much longer he would be able to hold her at bay and was glad for the few moments of breathing the sudden break in action afforded him.

He narrowed his eyes and curled his lips in a snarl, hoping to hide his exhaustion from her behind a grim expression. She simply stared back at him with an icy glare from her bright blue eyes, seeming as refreshed as when they had started the battle.

His respite was only too short-lived.

Like a cat, QT jumped atop the control console and launched another attack, accompanied by a fearsome battle cry. Terrh brought his sword up to slash at her as she sprung in his direction from her elevated position, only to watch her body twist and sail over his blade in a sideways whirl.

He turned with her and brought the weapon back around, slicing at her feet as she landed. She jumped back, though he caught one of her legs. Blood immediately flowed from the gash. A defiant growl escape her throat, but the wound did not slow her.

Empowered by his partial success, Terrh turned the movement of his blade back into the other direction again and swiped it across at the height of her head, hoping to decapitated her. Though the woman had already dropped to her knees in apparent anticipation of the move and was poised to throw one of her daggers into his unprotected torso.

Terrh realized it in mid-swing and grabbed the sword firmly with both hands. She'd kill him with a dagger to his heart, but he would deal her a blow from above that would kill her as well. With all his might, he brought the sword straight down at her, awaiting the sharp pain of her dagger piercing his chest.

Though, instead, she had realized his change of movement and leaned back, crossing her two dagger to parry the sword's downward blow and hooking one of the curved quillons of her dagger's cross guard around the Romulan's blade.

Terrh's two-toned eyes met her cocky gaze with surprise as he grasped the fact that she was about to twist his weapon from his hands. A brief expression of victory flashed in her eyes as she relished the moment. Though her arrogance came at a high price.

Her eyes suddenly widened in shock.

The Romulan had done the only thing he could do: lean into his sword and drive it forward... right into her throat.

=/\=

"No!" Michaev cried out.

Terrh shot him a triumphant glance as he gave the gurgling agent's body a shove with his boot, pushing her over the edge of the platform.

"You bastard." Michaev put his foot on the control platform, his phaser trained on the Tal'Shiar agent.

Somewhere down below, QT's daggers clattered onto another platform. Her limp body hit its edge and plummeted farther, until it slammed onto a cross-walkway.

Terrh laughed scornfully. "You think you're going to do something with that?" He pointed to Michaev's weapon. "I thought you had learned by now."

"I still have my hands," the SFI agent spouted. "You think they don't teach us hand-to-hand combat?"

The Romulan grinned. He reached down and pulled a knife from his boot. "And you think I only carry one weapon?" He waved it at the Admiral, motioning him to come and step up onto the control center platform.

Michaev stepped back instead, seething through gritted teeth.

=/\=

Terrh stumbled slightly as the impact of weapons fire shook the mining ship. A string of curses left his mouth. He darted to the control console and tapped around in haste.

"Shields activated," a male voice confirmed.

Another volley hit the ship, though this time the rumbling and shaking was milder. But Terrh knew he couldn't just sit around with the Lagga; enough hits and the shields soon would be drained. He briefly glanced out the large, rotund window. Space outside was lit up by explosions and fire exchanges.

=/\= - =/\=

A few levels below the control center, five people fully materialized in the dimness of the Romulan mining vessel.

"Commodore," a muted voice came over Anthony Greco's commbadge, "someone just raised shields over there. We've only managed to beam you and your team in."

"Damn," Greco grumbled, tapping his badge, "Alright, thanks. We'll manage. Keep an eye on the ship's shields. If you see them going down, maybe you can beam reinforcements over." He glanced at the four with him, "Until then, we're on our own."

"We'll be ok for now," Arhea assure Tony. "There were only four SFI agents, right?" She glanced from Greco to Timir and back.

"Right," Timir confirmed. "With the helmsman gone. But remember, Temba is somewhere loose on this ship, too." He warily looked around the area, "Just where... that's the question."

"Let's move," Greco instructed, "and stay sharp."

"This way." Arhea motioned them to follow her. "Control center is up there."

=/\=

It only took the small assault team a few minutes to ascend to the control center level. They split. Greco and the two officers went one way, and Timir and Arhea the other way, approaching the control platform from both sides.

Somewhere from up ahead, Michaev's voice echoed through the section of the ship. "Damn coward! So, now you'll just hide up there on your protected platform, hm?" he griped, furious at Terrh having done away with QT. "Come off your high horse and down here. Fight me like a man," he challenged.

"And let you shoot me down?" Terrh laughed scornfully. "What kind of fool do you take me for?" He gestured with his hand, "Come up here, and we'll fight like men."

"You going to throw your knife away?"

"And take a chance?" The Romulan looked at Michaev disbelieving.

"Would make us even," the Admiral grumbled.

Terrh laughed again. "Why would I want us to be even? This is not some competition to measure our prowess against one another and appease your pride." His expression went to ice, "I've got control of the ship. You don't. You can either pace around down there and complain or come up here and fight me hand-to-hand. It makes no difference to me." He snarled, "You're just too cowardly to take a chance. You want this ship, don't you? Well, come and get it."

"I'll get it alright," Michaev's anger flared, "you'll see! You'll see soon enough." A menacing look flashed up in his eyes. "As soon as my agents have the rift drive plugged in, we'll be taking this vessel on a little ride." A smirk curled up the corner of his lips. "Who do you think is in control now?"

Terrh's gaze shifted to the control console. A few taps. He realized somehow he had been blocked from control of Engineering. A slew of curses followed.

=/\=

"You're out of your mind!" Arhea stepped from the shadows that had concealed her.

"You!" Michaev whirled around, staring at her darkly.

Timir put his hand on her shoulder and tried to pull her back, but she shrugged him off.

"And you!" The Admiral's glare shifted to the Halanan.

"The rift drive has only been tested on very small crafts," Arhea continued, ignoring Michaev's stare, "It would rip a big ship like this one apart if you tried to pass through a generated rift. You must know that." She frowned. "Surely you can't be that crazy."

"I wouldn't bet on it," Timir muttered at her side.

"You should know how it works," Michaev grinned, "T'Ashal. Right? Wasn't that the preferred mode of transportation of your beloved Ra..."

"Captain T'Ashal died on Abraxas," Arhea corrected him with a defiant glare, cutting him off.

The Admiral laughed menacingly. It brought him delight to see that he had hit a sore spot on her. "Well, I suppose we'll all find out soon enough, since you'll be joining us for the ride. Just as soon as I get word it's ready," he smirked, "Nothing any of you can do about it."

=/\=

"Fracas," Anthony Greco stepped from his concealment on the opposite side of the control platform, "stop this all. Now!"

Boris Michaev snapped around. Surprise and intrigue twinkled in his eyes, "Now there's a name I haven't been addressed with for a while." His grin widened. He motioned around with his phaser. "What're going to do, Hydra? Shoot me?"

The two Starfleet officers stepped to either of Greco's sides. The Commodore shook his head. "You know you're outnumbered. Just call this off and save us all a lot of trouble."

"Hydra?" Arhea looked slightly confused.

Michaev heard her and turned back to look at the former Starfleet Captain. "Ohh... I see he hasn't told you about his days in Intel, has he now?"

"I thought you were with Internal Affairs?" She glanced past Michaev and to Greco.

"I am... now."

Michaev cackled. "Surprise, surprise," he took a couple of steps back toward the edge of the control platform, "maybe my good friend Hydra needs to tell you about our adventures together when we both worked for SFI." He shot a glance at Greco. "Come on now, Commodore," his voice carried sarcasm with it, "you look at me with disdain, but you know you can't wash your hands in innocence either. No matter how high and mighty you think you are now."

"Shut up, Fracas," Greco snapped at the SFI officer. "And get down from there."

Michaev frowned. "Over my dead body..."