still dont own star trek ^_^
Episode 1-14 Balance of Terror
Saya and Spock were on the bridge working so others could attend the wedding. Saya grinned despite herself. She hoped the young bride and groom would be very happy together. Spock informed the captain "Still no answer from Earth Outpost number two, Captain, and now number three's gone silent."
Kirk instructed them to keep on course for outpost 4 and to keep him posted. Saya pulled the wedding up on her P.A.D.D. to watch. it was sweet and though there was no bridal wear it seemed to fit well for it to be in their uniforms. Kirk was in the middle of his speech when there was an alert and Kirk was called to the bridge. "Earth Outpost four reports they're under attack. A space vessel, identity unknown." Spock filled him in as soon as he arrived.
There was no identification on the attacking vessel and outpost 4 went silent. Kirk did an all deck announcement reminding everyone that they could not have any risk or error and turned it over to Spock to explain. "Referring to the map on your screens, you will note beyond the moving position of our vessel, a line of Earth outpost stations. Constructed on asteroids, they monitor the Neutral Zone established by treaty after the Earth-Romulan conflict a century ago. As you may recall from your histories, this conflict was fought, By our standards today, with primitive atomic weapons and in primitive space vessels
Which allowed no quarter, no captives. Nor was there even ship-to-ship visual communication. Therefore, no human, Romulan, or ally has ever seen the other. Earth believes the Romulans to be warlike, cruel, treacherous, and only the Romulans know what they think of Earth. The treaty, set by sub-space radio, established this Neutral Zone, entry into which by either side, would constitute an act of war. The treaty has been unbroken since that time. Captain"
Saya wondered what these romulans looked like and guessed everyone else was just as curious. Kirk took over "What you do not know and must be told is that my command orders on this subject are precise and inviolable. No act, no provocation Will be considered sufficient reason to violate the zone. We may defend ourselves, But if necessary to avoid interspace war, Both these outposts and this vessel will be considered expendable. Captain out."
Saya wondered with a bit of amazement at the crew that was ok with that. One of the crewmen mentioned a personal history with the Romulans that caused him to lose quite a few family member in the war. Kirk reminded him it was historys war.
They soon made it to outpost 2 and Spock ran a sensor sweep. "Sweeping the area of Outpost two. Sensor reading indefinite. Double-checking Outpost three. I read dust and debris. Both Earth outposts gone, and the asteroids they were constructed on, pulverised." Kirk called everyone to their battle stations and Saya wondered what she could do of use.
5 minutes from outpost 4 and Spock verified that it was still there. They managed to contact the outpost. "Outpost four. Do you read me, Enterprise? This is Commander Hansen. Outposts two, three, and eight are gone. Unknown weapon. Completely destroyed, even though we were alerted. Had our deflector shield on maximum. Hit by enormous power. First attack blew our deflector shield. If they hit us again with our deflector shield gone. Do you read me, Enterprise?" Hansen said.
Kirk confirmed that a space vessel hit them but that it disappeared somehow after hitting them. They soon were in range for a video tie in and could see the damage caused. "Enterprise, can you see it? My command post here. We're a mile deep on an asteroid. Almost solid iron. And even through our deflectors, it did this. Can you see?" Hansen asked.
Kirk asked what Hansen had on the intruder and he replied "No identification. No answer to our challenge. Only a glimpse of it. Then they fired something at us, some form of high-energy plasma. Fantastic power. And then the whole vessel disappeared. But it's out there somewhere. Our sensors show that much. Enterprise, something coming on our viewing screen, coming at us fast."
Their screen tied in with Hansen's and a ship showed up in the middle of it out of nowhere. Kirk asked about weapons then told Uhura to make a challenge but neither worked and they sat by helplessly as a red ball of energy hits the outpost and disintegrated it. The ship again disappeared.
Kirk asked about the position of the intruder and Spock answered "Disappeared. Interesting how they became visible for just a moment."
"When they opened fire. Perhaps necessary when they use their weapon." Kirk added. Spock found a blip and went to full magnification but couldn't see anything.
"Invisibility is theoretically possible, Captain, with selective bending of light. But the power cost is enormous. They may have solved that problem." Spock explained.
Saya did the only thing she could think of to do. She studied the database information on romulans. She figured at least she would know what this threat possibly was. "The blip has changed its heading. And in a very leisurely manoeuvre. They may not be aware of us."
"Their invisibility screen may work both ways. With that kind of power consumption, they may not be able to see us." Kirk replied.
"His heading is now one eleven mark fourteen. The exact heading a Romulan would take, Jim, for the Neutral Zone and home." Spock relayed.
Kirk ordered " and will match its course and speed with the object on our sensors exactly, move for move. If he has sensors, I want him to think we're a reflection, an echo. Under no circumstances are you to cross into the Neutral Zone without my direct orders."
Battle stations was canceled and all decks went to standby alert. Styles started saying "Captain, may I respectfully remind the Captain what has happened? The Romulans have crossed the Neutral Zone, attacked our outposts, killed our men. Add to that fact it was a sneak attack." Kirk interrupted asking if he was questioning Kirk's orders. "Negative, sir. I'm pointing out that we could have Romulan spies aboard this ship."
Sulu agreed and recommended all decks maintain security alert. Kirk agreed and set all decks to security alert. Uhura picked up communications that sounded like code. "I have a fix on it, Captain. I believe I can lock on it, get a picture of their Bridge." Kirk replied for him to put it on screen and everyone sees humanoids that looked quite similar to Spock.
Saya looked between the 2 and realized they looked like they could be the same race. She also felt the rise in suspension in the bridge crew. She could predict easily that this would be bad for and would probably be destructive if he were a human having to go through what she knew he would. Saya noticed that Spock was as surprised as the rest of them.
Stiles was the first to make a comment about the connection and Kirk quickly ended it "One thing you can be sure of, Mister. Leave any bigotry in your quarters. There's no room for it on the Bridge. Do I make myself clear?"
Uhura and Spock started working on decoding the message and Saya was glad to see that at least Uhura wasn't going to distrust .
Parts of the outpost was beamed aboard the ship and everyone went to the briefing room. Saya of course followed Spock. Spock picked up a piece of the shield "From the outpost's protective shield. Cast rodinium. This is the hardest substance known to our science." Sitting down he crushes it with one hand over the table before continuing. "Lab theorizes an enveloping energy plasma forcing an implosion. Obviously, their weaponry is superior to ours, and they have a practical invisibility screen."
McCoy put it in a different perspective "You're discussing tactics. Do you realise what this really comes down to? Millions and millions of lives hanging on what this vessel does."
"Or on what this vessel fails to do, Doctor." Spock added.
An argument ensued between Stiles and Sulu about hitting an invisible target and running from the romulans being war. "These are Romulans! You run away from them and you guarantee war. They'll be back. Not just one ship but with everything they've got. You know that, Officer. You're the expert on these people, always left out that one point. Why? I'm very interested in why."
Kirk told Stiles to sit down and Spock agreed with the attack course of action. "Are you suggesting we fight to prevent a fight?" Kirk asked.
"Based on what? Memories of a war over a century ago? On theories about a people we've never even met face to face?" McCoy questioned.
Stiles injected that they knew what the Romulans looked like. "Yes, indeed we do, . And if Romulans are an offshoot of my Vulcan blood, and I think this likely, then attack becomes even more imperative." McCoy said war is never imperative and Spock replied "It is for them, Doctor. Vulcan, like Earth, had its aggressive colonisation period. Savage, even by Earth standards. And if Romulans retain this martial philosophy, then weakness is something we dare not show."
They finally came to the conclusion of attacking. The romulan ship changed course directly to a comet. It was their chance to see the invisible ship and Kirk ordered all men to battle stations.
Kirk ordered "The moment he begins entering the comet's tail, he becomes visible. End run, gentlemen. We'll swing around the other side and catch him at that moment."
Saya watched the intense battle wondering what she could do to be useful. The other ship seemed to be as smart as they were and Saya was rather concerned with their survival chances. After a bit of shooting on their side she saw Spock reach under a station to put out the flames. "It'll take time to correct, sir." Spock said as he started repairing the damage.
Saya quickly grabbed a repair kit and sat on the floor near him to help. Saya had her back to the screen in part out of concentrating on helping in the small manner she could and in part out of fear. She was thankful that she had quickly learned all the tools and their uses. It was one of the few ways she could be truly helpful. This time when there was impact Saya was prepared and braced so she didn't get hurt or tossed around too much. She had even managed to help brace Spock with her knee as he was still trying to work on the phasers.
Spock managed to get the phasers operational and the ship went back to it's old course. Saya remained on the floor putting all the tools back carefully.
Saya heard the discussion about whether to violate the neutral zone treaty or not but she figured what would be would be. They continued on and soon Spock confirmed that the motion sensor signal stopped and Sulu notified them of debris scattered where the ship was last known to be. "Vessel wreckage. Metal moulds, conduit, plastoform and a body, Captain. However." Spock said.
Saya wanted to say that one body wasn't enough to confirm the ship's demise but kept her mouth shut. Kirk asked what the however was and Spock said that it wasn't enough mass. Simple debris, not a vessel, it was a trick. Soon both ships were playing the silent waiting game.
Spock continued to make repairs as quietly as possible on the transfer coil and Saya tried to help despite the quite dim lighting. After 9 hours Spock had managed to finish repairing the coil and put his hand on the console table to heave himself up accidentally hit a button turning on something. He quickly turned it off again but the damage was done.
Kirk replied quickly and worked on out maneuvering the other ship. Spock jumped to his station and reported again "Debris on our scanners. Same type as before, sir, except, one metal-cased object!" Kirk commanded them to shoot it point blank and the ship rocked hard. Saya braced herself again and once the rocking stopped she got up.
They determined that the damage was simple and they still had weapons. Uhura was sent to navigation and Saya to communications since it was the only station she even slightly knew how to run. Thankfully she knew how to do all the basic things and some of the more uncommon things.
Kirk ordered them to play dead and Spock set things up to do so. Spock went to help with the weapons room and Saya listened to the coms. Kirk requested Stiles to fire multiple times before he actually did then once it was clear the ship was disabled told Saya to open ship to ship with video. Saya managed to get it right on the first try with video too. "Umm Hailing frequencies open Sir." Saya almost didn't remember what she was supposed to say when she got it.
Kirk stood and said "Captain. Standing by to beam your survivors aboard our ship. Prepare to abandon your vessel."
The romulan commander said "No. No, that is not our way. I regret that we meet in this way. You and I are of a kind. In a different reality, I could have called you friend." Kirk asked what value it was to die and the romulan answered "We are creatures of duty, Captain. I have lived my life by it. Just one more duty to perform." Before he went to a console and turning a switch. They watched as the whole ship exploded.
"I'm very glad I didn't get picked up by romulans." Saya uttered as Kirk finished managing what was necessary on the bridge. Sending Uhura back to communications Kirk indicated Saya " , You come with me."
Saya followed Kirk to sickbay where Kirk asked how Spock was. Spock confirmed he was fine and Kirk asked after Stiles. "I'm alive, sir. But I wouldn't be. pulled me out of the phaser room. He saved my life. He risked his life after I"
Spock cut in "I saved a trained navigator so he could return to duty. I am capable of no other feelings in such matters." Kirk then asked how many were lost and Bones verified the only loss of life was the man who was going to get married before all this started. Saya saw the sadness on Spock, even if he didn't admit to it, he did feel for the bride to be and valued life greatly.
"We finally received an answer from Command base, sir. They say they'll support whatever decision you have to make." Janice reported to the captain who gave them all a funny look and Saya snorted slightly. Spock started for the door after Kirk left and Saya followed.
"Um, ?" Saya said to get his attention. When he looked at her with a quirked eyebrow she asked "I have some of my old tech. Do you know if there is a way to charge it? I mean I imagine the P.A.D.D.s get charged since they are portable but I don't know how and would rather not fry my old tech.
Spock looked ahead again and thought about it. "If you permit me to examine the devices for an extensive time I may be able to furnish you with a device to charge them." Saya grinned and bounced slightly.
As soon as they got to her room she handed him her Ipod touch and the charger for it. "If you can create an outlet for this charger I can just switch out chargers for each of the devices." Spock took the device and they parted for the night. It had been a long shift and both were tired. Saya quickly fell into an exhausted sleep and Spock stayed up a few minutes extra to contemplate the item he had been entrusted with.
He set it and it's charger carefully in his top drawer next to the wrapping paper Saya had made for his gift at Christmas and the pressed flower he had gotten from her hair on valentines. Laying in bed after changing he brushed a hand over the bracelet she had made for him. Putting his hand against the wall he found Saya's mind asleep and contented in her well being went to sleep himself.
*END*