Star Trek: The Nara-Maru Files
Akagi-Maru Incident
Ignoring the many cries for help was the most difficult thing that the crew of the Defiant had to do while on this mission so far as all that Colonel Kira Nerys could do was to sit in the tiny Ready Room and listen to the cries for help. Her assignment was simple, locate the Rogue Jem'Hadar ships and destroy them as ordered by Starfleet Security and the Dominion Founders themselves whilst under the watchful eye of former Constable Odo, even though Kira was still uncertain of Odo's new loyalties to his own people.
Crackling over the speakers, a voice begun to fade in for a brief moment before it became lost in the ever changing hum of the many voices, some recorded distress signals and some still transmitting. Leaning forwards quickly, Kira accessed the computer system before her as the voice once again begun to call out over the background noise, quickly tapping her Bajoran Communicator, she called out her orders.
"Bridge, I'm picking up a distress signal, very weak… channel, 103.1. Identify and locate the source"
"Yes Ma'am" Called out Nog. "I have it. It appears to be from a Jem'Hadar ship… shall I set course?"
"Alert the fleet, maximum warp. I'm on my way" She called out as she stood. "All decks, Battle-Stations"
In an instant, the remainder of the combined fleet turned before leaping into high warp in the opposite direction towards the location of the distress call while the Klingons onboard their ships could almost taste the promise of battle and a glorious death. As the three smaller and combined fleets merged into one, they saw on their viewscreens the unmistakable shapes of eight Jem'Hadar vessels as one of the vessels, which had been crippled was being towed by another. Keeping the Klingon's thirst for blood at bay had almost become a full-time job for the remaining Starfleet crews but under the direct orders of Chancellor Martok himself, the commanders of the Klingon vessel had to obey Colonel Kira's own orders during this delicate assignment.
"Captain, we are approaching weapons range… in one minute"
"Thank you Nog" Kira said slowly. "Odo, are you sure that this is what the Dominion wants?"
"They have broken away from the Dominion Nerys, they have been raiding civilian transports in this region. Our decision is clear, they must be punished" Odo replied firmly.
"You've changed Odo…"
"Have I? I wasn't aware of it. But for now, we should follow those ships. They may take us to the rest of their renegade fleet"
"Agreed" Nog said calmly. "If we open fire now, the others will go underground and scatter across this sector"
"Alright, maintain course and heading, match their movements at every turn…"
"Yes Captain. Alerting the fleet" Nog said slowly as he worked his console. "The fleet is responding"
Onboard the Akagi Maru, Asami remained pinned to the deck plating of the bridge by the large piece of debris which had fallen from the ceiling as Worf knelt at her side with an Iolian Medical-Kit while Teela paced back and forwards across the damaged bridge as tears rolled down her face and her anger beginning to grow once again.
"Worf?" She called out past her tears.
"I have healed her wounds. However, she has internal bleeding, several fractured ribs and it appears as if her legs have been crushed by the debris"
"What?" Teela said as she almost fell onto the floor. "Should we, should we move her?"
"She requires medical attention but I wouldn't risk moving her until we can…"
Almost instantly, a sound echoed through the damaged vessel as Teela quickly ran towards the nearest active station as shock appeared over her face while she spoke.
"Sensors are picking up a vessel, very large and very close. I can't identify it, they are too badly damaged… arm yourself Worf" She called out quickly.
As she stepped at his side and knelt down, a transporter beam activated in the centre of the bridge as four forms materialised before them. Instantly, a large sigh of relief echoed over Teela's face as she holstered the weapon in her hand and stood quickly.
"Thank god it's you… we need help. How the hell did you find us?" She called out quickly.
"We monitored a large shockwave in this region, we've been picking up calls for help for the past two hours. We almost overshot you… lucky for you, we know how to find you now" Called out a tall and bearded man.
"Thank you for stopping by. Asami needs help, she's pinned under some debris Commander" She said quickly.
"Worf?" Called out the large bearded man as Worf stood with his weapon aimed at him.
"Commander Riker? We need help…"
Quickly walking towards the debris, Riker and two security guards took a hold of the large piece of debris as Worf and Teela took both ends while the third Security guard ran around them and grabbed the injured woman by her arms as Riker counted slowly.
"On my mark, three… two… one… lift!"
Using their combined strength, the debris refused to move as Asami remained trapped and unconscious under the large piece of metallic debris. Gasping for breath, Riker looked up at Worf and shook his head slowly before he turned towards Teela and spoke.
"It's too heavy, we need something to lift it"
"Try again!" She yelled.
"You don't understand… it's to heavy!" Riker replied harshly.
"No! try it again, this time it will move. Trust me!"
Sighing deeply, Riker and the security team took a hold of the debris as Teela remained motionless and closed her eyes. In her mind, she could see what needed to be done and as they attempted to lift the debris, straining against the weight, it almost appeared as if some force was helping them as it slowly lifted off of the ground while the security guard pulled Asami free of the debris. Shock gripped Riker and the Security team as they let go of the debris and remained motionless, seemingly floating in mid-air as blood began to trickle from Teela's nose and eyes slowly.
"Teela. Teela!" Worf called out. "Let it go!"
"No! I can see it, it's beautiful!" She said as a calm smile crept over her face.
"Let it go!" He demanded once more.
In an instant, her eyes opened as the debris fell onto the floor with a heavy metallic bang as Riker stood shocked by what he had seen with his own eyes.
"Will someone tell me what the hell just happened?" Riker cried out.
"What? Ohh, that was me… Commander Riker, please… I beg you, take care of Asami?"
"Commander, she needs urgent medical attention" Worf said quickly.
"Riker to Enterprise, away-team plus three to beam directly to sickbay… energise"
Materialising directly in the Enterprise Sickbay, the medical staff instantly sprang into action as the away team plus Worf and Teela where pushed aside quickly. Gently lifting the injured woman onto a Bio-bed, Doctor Beverly Crusher called out her orders after a quick briefing from Ambassador Worf on her injuries . After being ordered to remain outside of sickbay for the duration of the delicate operations needed to save Asami's life, Teela once again paced the corridor as Riker leaned against the wall while he spoke.
"… And when we detected what appeared to be your ship, we moved in as soon as we could"
"Do you have any idea what caused the shockwave Commander Riker?" Worf said sternly.
"Yes, Mister Ambassador… that sounds strange Worf. It was caused by an ancient 'Booby-Trap' triggered by the USS Defiant whilst in pursuit of what they believed to have been the Rogue Jem'Hadar fleet. They've lost over half of their fleet due to the shockwave. So far, we've rescued three ships and their crews. We've had to establish a triage centre in holodeck one along with the E.M.H program" Riker said quickly. "Teela, will you please… stop pacing?"
"Was I? I'm sorry" She replied nervously.
"What happened back there, how did you do that with the debris?"
"As well as telepathic, a small fraction of the Iolian population are rumoured to have some form of telekinetic abilities. Don't be shocked Teela, Asami told me. She also said that you need to control your abilities and… made me promise that if you… get out of control that I should stun you and place you in the Cryo-tube for the journey to your homeworld"
"WHAT?" Teela yelled as a trembling sound could be heard from the deck plating.
"She is… afraid that you are loosing control and could pose a serious danger to yourself and her" Worf said harshly.
"I would never… consciously hurt her" Teela said quickly.
"She knows that…"
"Bridge to Commander Riker, internal sensors are detecting some unusual readings in your area. Can you explain this?" Called out Data's voice over his communicator.
"What?" Teela replied. "Is that, is that me?"
"Understood Mister Data. Keep me informed, Riker out. If that is you, you need to stop what you are doing"
Almost instantly a calm flowed over her as the rumbling stopped as she took a deep breath and exhaled twice as the ever present hum of a Starships engines and equipment could be heard along with the nearly 1'000 voices of the crew and those rescued filled her mind once more as she searched the many voices for the one she wanted and needed to hear the most. Finally, the doors of the Sickbay opened as Doctor Crusher exited and looked directly at Teela as her face dropped with fear at what she now knew from the doctor's mind.
"There is very little I can do. I've stopped the internal bleeding, but the damage in her legs is irreversible" Crusher said slowly.
"What?" Teela said with agony in her voice. "What, what do you mean?"
"All I can do now, is give her something for the pain. Our medical facilities are not set up for this at the moment, we're to far stretched with the other survivors. I've drafted in as many of the crew with medical background as I can. I need to get her to a Starbase, but I am… afraid by that time, the damage will have already been done. You'll have to face the facts that Asami will loose both of her legs"
"No!" Teela said as she walked towards her, with her fists clenched. "Do something!"
"I give you my word, I've done everything I can. She's awake and asking for you…" Crusher said, apologetically.
"Can we get a Doctor who is not afraid too take care of my damned WIFE?" Teela yelled in her face with anger.
Her anger continued to grow as she pushed past her, slamming her shoulder into the Doctor which sent her slamming into the wall harshly. Stepping towards the isolated bio-bed, Teela's eyes welled with tears as she stepped at Asami's side and looked into her eyes as she looked up at her with a slight smile and spoke.
"You look a lot like someone I know… has anyone ever told you that?" Asami said with slurred speech.
"Sam? It's me… it's Teela…"
"Ohh! Yeah, I know you. Why is this room white? Have you redecorated again Mom?" She replied slowly.
"Asami? What's wrong with her?" Teela said to the nurse at her side.
"Due to her injuries, we had to use an excessive dosage of pain killers. I've never seen this reaction before. Is she allergic to anything?" Said the nurse with concern as she scanned her with a Tricorder.
"No. she's perfectly healthy"
"Hello. You're very attractive" Asami smiled to the nurse. "Where is daddy? You can't miss him, he's tall… with a beard. There he is" She said as she pointed to Riker with a smile. "Hi daddy… I thought you where home…" She with an almost infectious laughter.
"Asami, Sam… Look at me?" Teela cried out.
"Ohh, hey… You look a lot like someone I know… has anyone ever told you that?" She laughed once more.
"Yes, once. Sam, I need you to focus for a moment. You've been injured, you where on the bridge of the Akagi-Maru, do you remember that?"
"Akagi-Maru? What a funny name for a Starship… wait a minute, shockwave… we couldn't out-run it… we tried to surf it. An explosion… pain, oh god the pain. Teela?" She said as she focused slowly.
"Yes-yes… I'm here, I'm not leaving. Honey, your legs are badly damaged" She said as tears rolled down her face.
"My legs, I can't feel my legs…. What happened, why can't I feel my legs?" Panic overtook her as she tried to sit, only to be gently pushed back down by the nurse.
"You need to rest Miss Hirayama"
"Screw-You! Why can't I feel my legs?" Asami yelled. "Teela, what the hell is going on, why can't I feel my damned legs?"
"The doctors say… there is a possibility that you could loose your legs due to the injuries you sustained…" Teela said as she held her hand and wept.
"W-W-W-What? No!" She said as tears rolled down her face.
"I'm sorry. I'm so very sorry. I should've listened to you… we should've stopped last year. Whatever happens, we'll face it together. We'll buy that company and build those ships, anything you want Sam. I'm not going anywhere, I promise you"
"Don't be sorry. Doctor, what-what can be done?"
"All I can do is keep you comfortable" Crusher said as she entered sickbay with a cut on her jaw.
"Your ship has sustained heavy damage, she can't be salvaged. I'm sorry" Riker said slowly.
"NO!" Asami yelled. "Bring her into the main hanger-bay if you have too. I will not loose our ship"
"I'm sorry Asami. She's too large to fit inside the Enterprise. What would you like us to do with her?" Replied Riker.
"The technologies onboard need to be salvaged. Allow me to take a team over… then I will set the auto-destruct" Teela said as she locked her eyes onto her wife's.
"Teela, the cloak, give it too them. It's the most advanced we've ever created… Starfleet could use that technology, especially now"
"Are you sure Sam? It would be… incompatible with their systems"
"You'll find a way to make it work Teela, you built the thing… find a way to make it work. Commander, may I ask for something?" Asami said with tears rolling down her face as she fought against the drugs in her system.
"If we can do it" Riker replied sternly.
"Please, take me home? Iolian medical technologies are more advanced then Starfleet. I don't want to loose my legs anymore then you would. Please, I beg you. Take me home to Iolia? I'll give you anything you need, the cloak, the armour… everything Starfleet needs to remain safe and protect the Federation from her enemies" She begged Riker with tears in her eyes.
USS Defiant.
Starship Log.
Colonel Kira Nerys Recording…
For twelve hours we have been monitoring the Jem'Hadar vessels while under cloak and it has not been an easy task since we have no other choice but to ignore the cries for help from stranded and damaged vessels. We have followed the Rogue ships towards a Class Nine Nebula, I can not seem to shake the feeling that this entire mission is not as it seems. Before we enter the nebula itself, several modifications have been made to the cloaks on all ships…
Dropping to one-quarter impulse power, the remainder of the combined fleet slowly followed the renegade Jem'Hadar fleet into the nebula cautiously while following the spiral course set by those they are pursuing. Although the clearly overstretched cloaking shields appeared to be working, the sensors on the vessels began to erratic signals as Lieutenant Nog maintained his course.
"Colonel, they are altering course once more. Maintaining our distance, this doesn't feel right Ma'am" Nog said slowly.
"I know what you mean" Kira replied with caution in her voice. "… Something isn't right. Can they see us in here?"
"No ma'am. The cloak is operating perfectly" Replied the bridge Engineer on duty.
"I don't like this…" Kira said as she stood slowly. "We are… picking up all kinds of distortions in the area…"
"Colonel, I'm registering open space ahead, they're heading directly towards it. Shall I maintain course?" Nog said quickly.
"Do it!"
"Yes… Ma'am!" Nog said with a large smile.
Leaving behind the large dust cloud the cloaked battle-ready fleet entered a section of the ancient nebula where it appeared as if a new Star system was being born from the death of an ancient star continuing the cycle of life within the galaxy. Before them, a large ring of asteroids and rubble seemed to continue on as far as the sensors could see as millions of large rocks ranging from mountain to small moon sized where being created before a star similar in size to the centre of the Sol system itself. For a moment, the bridge crew where lost in the majesty of what they saw before them, the birth of a new star system itself until alarm klaxons sounded over the bridge of the USS Defiant as forty-seven fully armed and battle-ready Jem'Hadar ships of various sizes and makes screamed from the vast asteroid field towards them.
"AMBUSH!" Kira yelled. "How the hell did they know…"
"Ahh Colonel, we're being hailed by the led Jem'Hadar ship" Called out the communications officer with surprise.
"What?"
"You are being hailed, by name!" She said once more. "Audio only, on the speakers"
"Attention Colonel Kira Nerys of the combined Federation-Klingon fleet, you have entered the territory of the New Dominion Forces. This is your first and only warning, leave immediately or you will be destroyed"
"Open channel. This is Colonel Kira, you are in violation of the Federation-Dominion Treaty and you have attacked several freighters in this region…"
"Colonel please, you are in no position to make any demands. We have claimed this region of space as our own and as such, you are in violation of our boarders" Replied the harsh male voice. "You will decloak your ships and leave this region NOW. This transmission ends…"
"What the hell is going on? Get Odo up here now!" Kira said with a deep anger.
"Colonel, I believe that Odo is… regenerating"
"Well Mister Harris, kick over his damned bucket then. Get him up here!" She yelled to a security officer.
"Umm… Colonel, we're picking up another signal on an encoded channel. You're not going to believe this. On screen… now"
Shifting from the image of the large rogue fleet before them, the face of an alien man appeared on the screen with a slight smile on his face as he spoke.
"Attention combined Federation-Klingon fleet, I am General Withermanisis of the Iolian Second Expeditionary Forces. Colonel Kira, We have been monitoring your progress for sometime now, we stand ready to assist you. Decloak your vessels and arm your defensive systems…"
"What? How the hell did you know? Never mind, your timing is perfect" Kira said as a large smile echoed over her face.
"You have friends that you do not even know exist Colonel. Nevertheless, Teela of the Akagi-Maru contacted us… she had called in a few favours"
"Remind me to thank her later Nog. Attention all ships, drop your cloaks… battle stations"
The small Federation-Klingon fleet dropped their cloaks before the large armada of Jem'Hadar ships as their shields and weapons sprang into life quickly. As the main viewscreen switched to that of the Jem'Hadar fleet, like a stone thrown into a pond of water, a vast armada of Iolian Heavy Cruisers began to appear, surrounding the renegade enemy fleet as Kira slowly walked towards the helm with a large smile. Each Iolian vessel was a mirror of the last, a dark grey coloured vessel with a large triangular hull and four warp nacelles, neatly hidden away above and below the hull itself which gave a perfectly streamlined appearance to the vessels themselves.
"Attention Renegade Jem'Hadar fleet, you are outnumbered by a vastly superior fleet, jettison your weapons cores and return to the Gamma Quadrant or you will be destroyed… this is your only warning" The Iolian General said with force.
Almost instantly, the outnumbered enemy fleet begun to turn towards the Iolian ships which surrounded them as their weapons fired and harmlessly bounced off of their shields as the general spoke with a slight laughter in his voice.
"Alright, have it your way. USS Defiant, I recommend that you move your fleet to a safe distance… All ships, fire!"
Almost instantly a large ring of deep green energy flowed from one ship to the next in a large ring-like formation as the Defiant crew looked on with interest at what was happening before them. As the energy ring connected with itself, a shockwave rippled through space as it began to crush each former Dominion ship like an egg before a vast explosion tore through space and slammed into the shields of the Iolian fleet before it disappeared.
Nog's jaw seemed to hit the helm below him as he spoke with instant shock and awe.
"Wow! I am glad they are on our side"
"Same here Lieutenant" Kira said slowly.
"Attention USS Defiant, you may now leave this region of space along with your fleet. This fleet will search this region of space for any remaining Renegade vessels, and thank you for your assistance. Your sensor logs of the weapon we have just used, have been deleted and replaced, remember one thing… we are now watching you and your alliance with the other powers. Have a good day, Iolian fleet… out!"
"What?" She called out quickly.
"Sir, he's right… our logs have been altered!" Cried out the security officer.
"Logs? What are you talking about Ensign?" Kira said slowly.
"Ma'am?" He said with confusion.
Throughout everything that had happened in the past few moments, Kira looked up at the debris field before the USS Defiant confidant in the fact that they had followed their orders with regards to the Renegade Dominion Fleet itself and with no damage caused to the fleet itself and a fully expended ordinance of Quantum Torpedoes, the fleet turned slowly towards Federation space as Kira sat back down in the Command Chair with content in her choices.
USS Defiant.
Starship Log.
Colonel Kira Nerys Recording…
I am pleased to report that we have carried out our orders with regards to the Renegade Dominion fleet, although seriously outnumbered, the remaining fleet has been victorious and we have set course back towards Deep Space Nine, although one thing still bothers me, why did the Jem'Hadar fleet not defend themselves?