Chapter 613

BRIDGE

CARGO SHIP BARBARY COAST

TWO MINUTES AGO

"Captain Ajax! Look at that ship! It's blinking its clearance lights!" The Helmsman reported.

Ajax looked at the viewscreen. He instantly recognized the code and deciphered it in his head. "Over my dead body!" The bridge crew looked at him.

"Maneuvering thrusters full! Turn away and start running, best speed possible! Find something to hide behind!" Ajax hit the com button on his panel. "Setol! Get me impulse power now! Warp power when able!"

"Sir, our engines are cold, as the Starfleet vessel ordered. I can't get warp power for half an hour, and the impulse engines may explode going to full power cold!" Setol said.

Ajax yelled, "They are going to take our slaves! We will be killed by the Syndicate if we don't deliver slaves next week! We gotta risk it!"

Ajax felt the impulse engines throb to life. Critical point in these engines is the next thirty seconds. "Helm! What do you have to hide behind?

"Nothing! Starfleet chose their place well."

"Turn us then to give us a spiraling course away from that Cruiser! Make it as random as you can too, that will make it more difficult to hit something vital. I'm raising shields on the starboard side." Ajax started working the controls.

The radio suddenly crackled. "Cargo ship breaking formation, this is the USS Wisconsin. Shutdown immediately or we will open fire on you."

Ajax swore under his breath. Ever since that shuttle put that unit on their antennae, they have not been able to contact anyone, except the Wisconsin herself. Ajax pushed the com button. "Then you will have to fire, I'm not giving up! You know what we have on board, any hit on us and you risk killing Federation Citizens!"

BRIDGE

USS WISCONSIN

Leonaidas said sternly, "I am ordering you to heave to and prepare to be boarded." Leonaidas saw the cargo ship starting to pitch and roll. Obviously trying to throw off their aim. Leonaidas pushed the mute button and looked at Grimm at the Weapons station. "Ben, can you disable him?"

Grimm shook his head, "He is getting too far away, and his evasive maneuvers are effective. I can't guarantee precision."

Leonaidas pushed the mute button. "Cargo ship. If you do not heave to immediately, we will fire on you."

Hotchner looked up from the sensors, "Two other ships are breaking formation, they are starting their impulse engines as well."

The situation was spiraling out of control. "JJ, put me on all the other ships now!" Jareau nodded her compliance.

Leonaidas said, "Cargo ship, last chance. Shutdown your impulse and heave-to on thrusters only."

Ajax's voice came through on the speaker. "I don't think so Captain, you won't risk injuring the Federation Citizens on board."

Leonaidas ordered, "Weapons, fire phasers! Disable that ship!"

BRIDGE

CARGO SHIP BARBARY COAST

The others in the bridge looked at Ajax in horror. Ajax said, "They will not fire, they cannot. He won't risk hurting the slaves!"

On the screen they had the Starfleet ship. They were looking at the port forward quarter of the ship. Suddenly, a phaser beam leaped out and hit their ship. On the Bridge the lights went out and the whole bridge shook violently. Sparks flew from behind panels and some conduits blew out, showering the bridge in shrapnel. Once the shaking stopped, the emergency lights came on. Ajax suddenly felt the sickening feeling of zero gravity.

BRIDGE

USS WISCONSIN

Grimm looked up from his panel, "They are severely damaged, engines are out, life support too. I have some breaches in the pressure vessel with some outgassing from those compartments."

Leonaidas looked at Hotchner, "And the others?"

"One is returning, the other is not."

Leonaidas bit his lower lip. "How long before they are out of weapons range?"

"Thirty seconds." Grimm said.

Leonaidas said, "What type of ship?"

"Norsican" Answered Hotchner.

Leonaidas pushed the com button for the fleet. "Attention Norsican ship. Shut down and come about now or be fired upon. This is your only warning."

Grimm said, "Ten seconds, and no guarantees on precision."

Leonaidas watched the Norsican ship, no change. Time almost out. "Fire."

Grimm fired, the phasers leaped out and hit the ship. The phasers cut through the hull, ate into a cargo hold that contraband weapons, and started a chain reaction onboard. Explosions rippled through and cracked the pressure hull. The explosions also caused leaks in the coolant system, which happened to be a Norsican type of coolant. The coolant was also flammable and caused a widespread fire. What resulted was the ship fragmenting in a ball of fire.

Grimm looked sheepishly at Leonaidas. Leonaidas did not take his eyes off the screen. "Any survivors?"

Hotchner shook his head, "Not from the Norsican ship. The first Cargo ship I have identified as the 'Barbary Coast' and in our attack three bodies were ejected into space."

Leonaidas asked curtly, "What species?"

Hotchner said, "Human."

"Contact Chief Kaylee, beam those bodies aboard. I want identities if possible. Bodies off the Norsican wreck as well if possible." Leonaidas ordered.

Hotchner nodded and started to work. "The Barbary Coast is currently out of tractor range, the bodies ejected out of it are as well."

Leonaidas pushed the fleet com button and said, "Attention. We will be going to retrieve the 'Barbary Coast'. Any ship that breaks formation will be fired upon. All ships are to maintain their present position. Wisconsin out." Leonaidas pushed the button again then looked at the helmsman, "Lt Studi, close to within transporter range." Turning around to Engineering he said, "Lt Tyrol, engage the tractor beam when we are within range."

The Wisconsin turned and moved toward the Barbary Coast. Once within the tractor beam range, the tractor beam shot out and grabbed the Barbary Coast. The tractor beam pulled the two ships together. Hotchner looked up and said, "Transporter reports three human bodies on board."

Leonaidas nodded and said, "Good. Let's get ourselves back into position. Lt Magnum, when is the next Badger team ready to board?"

Magnum said, "I've been in contact with Lt Gibbs. He will be ready in fifteen minutes."

"Very good. I want him over on the Barbary Coast as soon as possible." Leonaidas turned to the viewscreen, which had the Barbary Coast on the screen. "I want to see what they were trying to prevent us from seeing."

TEAM 2

SOMEWHERE IN GHUT'S STATION

Kenn was tired. Tired and hot. And sore. They had been at this for hours in this stinking place. He had got used to the smell inside the station and when he had boarded the Raptor, it felt like fresh air. Going back into the station he was hit with a wave of smelly disgust when the airlock was opened again. It seemed tougher to get over the smell this time. Kenn said while looking around, "Denozzo, are you reading Team 1 yet?"

"Not yet, but the schematics they had downloaded, I think we will be caught up to them in about a half hour. If we keep this pace." Denozzo said.

Kenn touched his earpiece, "Kenn to Lt Cdr Bauer."

Bauer's voice came through, "Bauer here. Where are you Mr. Kenn?"

"We've been following your breadcrumbs and now think we are about thirty minutes from you, barring resistance." Kenn said.

"We've had little resistance so far. I think the people here have gotten the message not to mess with the Badgers." That brought a few smiles from Kenn's team. Bauer continued, "Did you pick up supplies?"

Kenn said, "Yes sir we did. We have a fully loaded mule and as much ordinance as we can carry. I didn't know how long we were going to be stuck here so I asked for.. everything."

Bauer laughed. "Very good Ensign. We will wait for you at the assigned point. Bauer out."

Muldoon looked back at his officer and said, "Sounds like we were taking the brunt at port 2. Like we were drawing the scumbags to us."

Kenn nodded, "I guess so Chief. Let's be glad that we don't have to fight them again."

Muldoon said, "If we have to, we have to. A good fight now would break up the monotony."

Kenn shrugged, "It would, but it also would slow down us finding the Captain. We lost too much time already."

Muldoon nodded agreement. The ensign is maturing just fine, he is thinking of the main mission. He will probably turn out all right after all Muldoon thought.

TRANSPORTER ROOM 1

USS WISCONSIN

The transporter effect finished and Gibbs stepped down and walked toward the transporter console. Chief Kaylee said, "Welcome back Lieutenant. The Commander has more tasking for you."

Gibbs said, "I heard. Do you have the equipment I requested?"

Chief Kaylee nodded. "In that crate by the wall. Breathing masks for everyone. Transporter two has it as well for the other half of your team."

"How bad is it?"

Kaylee said, "The phasers hit them hard. You will not be going into unpressurized sections, but there probably are contaminants in the air."

Gibbs looked at the rest of his team and said impatiently, "You all heard her, let's get geared up. We need to search that ship before it falls apart." The other Badgers in the room started rearming and getting the breathing masks on. Gibbs reached over the console and threw the switch for the bridge communication, "Gibbs to Bridge."

"Bridge here." Lt Magnum said.

"We're ready to beam over." Gibbs stated.

"Good. Ninety five percent of the ship is still pressurized, but leaking. No life support exists and we think the gravity plating is probably inoperative." Magnum stated.

Gibbs scowled and said, "Roger that."

Magnum's voice said, "Cleared to beam over."

Gibbs said, "Roger." And turned the com system off. "Ok, no gravity, movement slow but we need a quick search. Any questions?" The team shook their head. "Then let's get going. Set your boots to automatic and let's finish this thing."

SICKBAY

USS WISCONSIN

Dr. Mallard was doing the fastest autopsy he had ever done. Yes, the three bodies that were recovered were humans. They were killed by damage from the phaser blast. Dr. Mallard pointed to a nurse and ordered, "Just place them in the morgue under stasis."

"Shall I close?"

Dr. Mallard shook his head, "No. We do not have time. Get back with Dr. Tamm on helping with the rescuees."

"Yes, Doctor." The Nurse replied.

Dr. Mallard walked over to the wall comm. Unit and pushed the button. "Dr. Mallard to Bridge."

Leonaidas' voice came through, "Leonaidas here." He sounded stressed.

"Those three bodies we beamed aboard are definitely human, and they were definitely killed by the phaser blast, or rather from the effects of it." Dr. Mallard started to explain.

"Can you give me the short story Ducky? I'm busy here." Leonaidas said.

Dr. Mallard nodded and said, "I'm sorry Commander. They died from explosive decompression. Good news as it is that I've identified them from criminal records. All three of them are criminals in the Federation. I think that…"

"They're pirates?" Leonaidas asked.

"Most likely. All three are wanted men in the Federation." Mallard said.

"Good enough for now, thanks Ducky. Leonaidas out." Mallard pushed the com switch. Well, that was a turn for the good, wasn't it?

BARBARY COAST

A flash bang materialized a split-second before the Badger team. Even though Gibbs was in mid-transport when the flash bang discharged, he could still sense it discharging. The transport finished as planned and they were in a large, dark room with lights flickering around. Gibbs also felt the sickening feeling of floating and instinctively did a swimming gesture. There were other shapes in the room, Gibbs could discern them as crewmembers. He said, "Fire!"

The other Badgers started firing at the pirates and it was all over in a matter of seconds. Gibbs managed to get his foot on the floor, and the boot grabbed automatically. "Mr. Reagan! Report!"

Reagan said in his thick Brooklyn accent, "All clear here. I think we're in engineering. Tricorder shows them heavy stunned."

Gibbs nodded, "Let's move on. We are losing air over here."

BRIDGE

USS WISCONSIN

Lt. Magnum looked up, "Lt. Gibbs reports transport complete. They beamed into their engineering, stunned everyone on sight. They are searching now."

Leonaidas nodded. "Very good. Hotch, what about that second ship?"

Hotchner said, "They are back in line."

"Any estimates on that Norsican ship we blew up?" Leonaidas asked.

Hotchner shook his head, "No sir. The fire and explosion were relatively complete. I am detecting organic matter, but no bodies. I'm afraid it will be impossible to determine who was on the Norsican ship."

Leonaidas nodded quietly. "Thank you, Hotch."

OUTSIDE BRIDGE HATCH

BARBARY COAST

The team quietly was in place. One of the Badgers looked at Lt. Gibbs and said, "Three humanoids. All are armed."

Gibbs looked at the door, "Do you think you can blow this open?"

Reagan said, "Definitely. What about trying to hack the door system?"

Gibbs said, "I don't want to give them a tip that we are here in case the hack doesn't work. Set up to blow the door. Use what you need, do not breach the hull is all I ask."

Reagan pointed at two of the Badgers, "Ok you guys, you heard the LT. Let's make sure it's big enough for a big entrance!"

The team set up and when ready Reagan looked at Gibbs. Gibbs quietly nodded his head. The cutting charges on the door blew along with a small charge in the center of the door. The center charge was used to propel the door inward, and it did go inward. It flew across the room and hit one of the humans pushing him against the far bulkhead, knocking him out. The Badgers started coming through the door and quickly stunned Ajax and Setol.

Gibbs looked around as his team did a quick search. Reagan said, "I got a manifest here. Fifteen slaves. Even where they are located."

"Ok, zip-tie them and let's go get our people." Gibbs ordered.

SOMEWHERE ELSE IN GHUT'S STATION

Kenn touched his earpiece. "Kenn to Lt Cdr Bauer."

Bauer's voice came over the earpiece. "Bauer here."

"We are just around the corner. Don't shoot us."

Bauer chuckled, "Very well, come on in."

Kenn's team moved around a corner into a wide market area. Finally, both teams were united. Kenn walked up and shook Bauer's hand. Bauer looked at Octavian, "Preacher? I heard you were coming."

Octavian said smiling, "Had to get in on the fun."

Kenn said, "With our casualties, he offered and I accepted. Been a help."

Bauer nodded with a smirk, "I bet. Let's get that ammo redistributed from the mule."

BRIDGE

USS WISCONSIN

Lt Magnum looked up. "Lt. Gibbs reports fifteen slaves."

Leonaidas said, "Good, let Ducky know. Any word from the station?"

Lt Magnum nodded, "Yes, team 1 and 2 have rendezvoused. They are now proceeding to Slimey's."

Good, now we just have to figure out where the Captain is, Leonaidas thought.

Hotchner looked up and said, "The mission, thus far, has been fruitful. We have so far liberated seventy Federation Citizens. Even if we don't find the Captain, this is a successful mission."

Leonaidas gave Hotchner a sharp look. Hotchner did a very rare stammer. "I did not mean it like that sir. I meant…."

Leonaidas said, "I understand Hotch. Thanks for trying to put a good light so far. Our main objective is the Captain of course."

The bridge was quiet. Leonaidas said, "Let's just keep doing our jobs the best we can. Not much more we can do."

INTERROGATION ROOM

SHADOW OF DEATH

Kor was furious. "This… this… Entity keeps interfering with us!"

"Are you considering that this 'angel' is real?" The Healer said.

"NO! It is just a way that his mind is coping with our probing!" Kor said angrily.

The Healer said, "Are you so sure? I find it remarkable that he is still alive.

Kor said, "It cannot be real. Somehow, this human is defeating the Mind Sifter. Every time we get close to finding out which star system the secret base is in, this defense mechanism of his kicks in and stops us. It is almost like he is taking orders from it rather than me!"

The Healer said, "Orders, perhaps. It is something more than that. Jacobs' reaction is not strictly receiving orders. It's more like a father-son relationship.

Kor shook his head. "It does not matter. The Mind Sifter was designed to make their will subject to mine. Anyone plugged into the machine must answer questions put to them. Nothing is supposed to stop that at all. Not at these power levels. I need that information; we need that information."

The Healer said, "We may very well not get it from him. It is looking more and more like this isn't going to work."

Kor glared, "There is too much at stake. The Klingon High council is planning an offensive into the Federation. Cripple the Federation then we can finish the Cardassian war. Starfleet is strong enough to make this difficult. This secret base serves as an early warning, and tips the favor to the Federation. If they have any ships at this secret base, it makes it even more of a problem. Last thing we need is a phantom fleet to come popping into existence from somewhere, like this base! I need that information!"

Kor turned to Jacobs. "You need to tell me!" Kor pointed at the holoscreen with the seven stars showing. "Which of those is where the secret base is located?" Jacobs just mouthed something. "WHICH ONE?!" Jacobs just looked at the screen and started weeping.

Kor slapped the console. "BAH! Reset everything Healer! Let's start all over."

The Healer started administering the required drugs and soon Jacobs was unconscious. The Healer said, "Give me ten minutes. I suggest you try to go farther back in his past. If what you say is right, maybe we can sneak up on the memory."

"What do you mean?" Kor said.

"Long-term memories are not that well recalled. They may seem clear, but details are often imagined rather than remembered. On the next try we should try to go far back into his past. Do you have a good history for Captain Jacobs?" The Healer asked.

"I have his dossier." Kor said.

"Reread it, look for something early in his career. Also be vague, do not pick a specific point in time, but rather an era." The Healer said.

"I think I know what you mean. Let me know when you are ready, I'm going to reread that file." Kor said.

BRIDGE

USS WISCONSIN

Lt Magnum reported, "Lt. Gibbs' team is back aboard and ready for retasking."

Leonaidas pointed to a screen behind Magnum. "Put him on screen." Magnum pushed a few buttons and Lt. Gibbs' image appeared.

"Lt. Gibbs, what's the condition of the Barbary Coast?" Leonaidas asked.

Gibbs had a stern look and his mouth was in a thin line. "Not good. It's leaking air, I estimate probably two hours before they run out. Propulsion is out, maneuvering thrusters are operational."

"Resistance?"

Gibbs shook his head matter-of-factly. "We did not give them a chance. I stunned everyone except the rescuees. We left them zip-tied. A few injuries though."

Leonaidas asked, "Who? I did not see any casualties."

"Not us, them. When we blew the door to the Bridge, it hit a crewman. Banged him up some." Gibbs said.

Leonaidas shook his head and said sarcastically, "My heart bleeds for him. Good work. So, in your estimate, they can dock with the station if needed."

Gibbs said. "Once they escape the zip-ties. Left unsupervised, they should be able to do that pretty quickly."

Leonaidas said, "Good work. We are going to send you to the other ship that broke formation. We strongly suspect there are some slaves on that ship, but their crew may give less resistance."

"Pick up and go sir? Or still search the ship?" Gibbs asked.

Leonaidas ordered, "Search the ship. Do not take any guff. Get it done quickly. We are winding down and should find the Captain soon."

"Aye aye, sir." Gibbs said.

"Bridge out." Leonaidas looked at Tyrol. "Tractor the Barbary Coast near the station. Then let them drift."

Lt Tyrol asked, "Stationary?"

Leonaidas shook his head, "No. That will be too easy to start a vector and hit something. Give them a meter per second or so delta v relative to the station. Keep them close but out of the way."

Tyrol said, "Aye aye, sir."

Lt Jareau said, "Still a lot of ships out there to search. They must be wondering what is going on."

Leonaidas turned and asked, "What do you mean?"

"Since we imposed the blackout and jammed their communications, they have seen us fire on two ships, blow up one, and a third break formation and return. They must have some questions." Jareau said.

Leonaidas said, "I hoped that the force would speak to them to stay in line."

"It does, or maybe it can." Jareau said.

"What do you mean?" Leonaidas asked.

Jareau said, "We can tell them exactly what is going on. We found some Federation citizens, met resistance, and they paid the price. If the cargo ships do not want us to tear them apart, then this is the last chance to surrender their slaves, otherwise we will rip them apart."

Leonaidas thought a little bit. "I'm going to have to think about that a little, JJ."

Jareau shrugged. "I'm just thinking out loud."

Leonaidas started weighing pros and cons. Maybe it would be good. We need to find the Captain fast. How can we work that quickly?