Getting to the Expanse was easy, no Romulans in the way, no Klingon raiders. This had seemed to be a fortunate gift. However, the Enterprise crew had quickly learned the reason for this "blessing". The Delphic Expanse was a hell hole, and anyone in their sane mind would stay the hell away from it.
Their first encounter with these spacial anomalies had literally blown out their weapons array. So, in essence, they had enough firepower to crush a sand castle. Trip would've thanked some deity for sparing their engines, but it seemed rather pointless. Had someone been watching over them, a lot of shit wouldn't have happened already.
Trip stepped out of the turbo-lift as it opened at the bridge. He had gotten the message, (right in the middle of his damn shower) that he was required on the bridge.
"Status report"
The young helmsman turned back to his console, "There's a ship approaching Sir, heavily armed."
"And they're not responding to hails Captain" added Hoshi, her nerves not at all frayed.
Trip's eyes narrowed in thought, pondering their options. "We can't afford to risk them being hostile." He finally decided, with a shake of his head. "Take us out of here Travis, warp two"
"Aye Sir." The Ensigns hands flew over the console, preparing for their departure when suddenly the ship convulsed, knocking Trip to the ground. He dragged himself into his chair, holding onto it for balance as the ship lurched again.
A haze of green appeared, well, actually a couple of them, as Trip realized what was happening. Transporter! He lunged at the comm panel, he had to warn his crew.
"Attention all hands! We're being boarded! I repea-"
He had to cut the message short, because there was a really pissed off alien and he doubted he'd wait. The phaser beam went over his head as Trip threw himself to the ground. Shit! They really should have kept some phasers up here!
Thankfully, Reed was almost as paranoid as his crazy side had been. And without missing a beat he drew his phase pistol and started firing.
The aliens, not focusing on the Tactical Officer, were quickly drawn to him as the stun setting left them unaffected. Reed didn't have enough time to change tactics before a beam of green energy hit him square in the chest.
Not sparing a second, Trip dived for the fallen weapon. Falling a couple inches short, he looked into an aliens face, laughing at him with all his piercings shaking, as if they to gained some mirth from his death.
Without warning a petite form crashed into the snarling hostile, destabilizing him just enough so that Trip had ample time to snatch up the phaser, dial the setting to its highest point, and fire. Quickly whipping around he took aim and shot the remaining aliens on the bridge. After missing a couple times, the bridge was in worse shape than the pirates had left it. Well, dammit, he was an engineer not a soldier, and it wasn't his fault these bastards were fast as hell.
"Cap-tain" a voice croaked from besides him.
Turning around his eyes went wide in shock, fear, and a lot of other things displayed clearly on his face.
"Dammit! Someone get a medic up here!" Hoshi was sprawled on the floor, a vicious looking dagger protruding from her abdomen, a pool of blood spreading out.
He knelt down beside her. "Hoshi no, jus-, just hang on, we got the doc coming up, please Hoshi, just-"
Her face contorted in agony, she groaned, not having enough energy left to scream. She looked into her Captains face, she could see the tears starting to fall slowly down his cheek. "Captain." She looked deep into the depths of his eyes. She raised an arm, biting on the insides of her mouth to keep from moaning. "Trip" she whispered faintly, stroking a tear away from his face. Before her body went limp, and her hand fell back to the floor.