| |
|
Table of Contents
|
Up until a few minutes ago, DeSalle had been content to watch the chrono slowly tick away to the next comm point.
Uhura had noticed an incredible increase in local subspace communications. Then Bailey had nearly jumped out of his science station seat. It was then he proceeded to announce the arrival of the other half of the Romulan fleet!
At first, the bridge crew thought it was just a 'return to the nest,' as before. But it soon became obvious that this was not the case.
Almost immediately, most of the ships in port moved out to engage the new arrivals. There was a mixture of combat conditions. Ships were cloaked and uncloaked, but all were running with shields up and those that could, were firing weapons or maneuvering for position to do so. Loyalists were defending the praetor against revisionist's attacks.
DeSalle and the others watched in total fascination as Romulan fought Romulan in a spectacular display of pyrotechnics. Weapons of all types were being used: phasers, disrupters, plasma energy and even old style nuclear detonations could be detected. Most of the weapons were impacting harmlessly on the shielded targets, but occasionally the effects were truly devastating.
Once or twice a stray shot came close to the Enterprise; that's when DeSalle began to worry in earnest. He knew that the new screens and shields were more than a match for most of the Romulan weapons. But repeated hits, over an extended period of time, could have disastrous consequences. Another possibility made him even more nervous. Suppose a Romulan weapons' officer began tracking their stray shots and noticed the impacts on a cloaked and shielded ship. More than likely, they would assume it was one of their own, but if they decided to investigate...
Turning to Uhura, DeSalle asked, almost reluctantly, "How much longer, Nyota?"
"About twelve minutes." Her voice was quiet and just a bit shaky.
He turned back to the scene on the main viewer. "Mister Bailey, any more information on those hits we saw on the planet surface?"
Bailey was frustrated. Limited to low level scans was bad enough, but trying to sort through residual radiation from a variety of weapons, made damage assessment difficult. "Sorry, sir, the best I can do is locate the hits and their approximate discharge levels. Precise readings are difficult." Bailey's voice betrayed his frustration and he did little to hide it. "Do you want to try high energy scans or the frequency shift Saavik suggested?"
Thinking for a moment, DeSalle almost gave in, but stopped short of giving the order. "Not yet, David. Let's save it; I don't want to risk detection just yet."
Shrugging, Bailey went back to his low level scans.
Turning his attention to more immediate matters, DeSalle studied the main viewer intently. "Mister Stiles, Mister Leslie, are we ready for departure as soon as we recover our people?"
Leslie responded for both men, "Aye, sir. Updated departure course laid-in and I think I can even get us through that mess out there." He was pointing at the Romulan free-for-all on the main viewer.
"Good!" DeSalle sounded satisfied. "Now let's just hope everyone is where they're supposed to be, when they're supposed to be."
Acting C.O. Vincent DeSalle sat back in the command chair and, while no one was watching, adopted Sulu's habit of crossing his fingers.
Kirk fumbled through the dimly lit room until his eyes adjusted, then located an exit on the opposite side of the room. Just before stepping through the doorway, he readied his art weapon and prepared for the worst. The worst is just what he got.
As he stepped out into the hallway, he ran smack into two very startled Romulans. In the instant it took for the palace guards to react, Kirk worked swiftly.
Striking the first guard under the chin, he went down like a pile of bricks. Kirk shifted the movement of the weapon and followed through, turning to land the piece into the solar plexus of the second guard. A rush of air from a forced exhale told Kirk he had hit the mark. Before the Romulan could recover, Kirk struck once more by bringing the weapon up against the temple of the doubled over humanoid. Very quickly, the second Romulan hit the floor as hard as his companion.
James T. Kirk looked at the pair with an acute sense of pride. "Finally, a blow for freedom. Actually, make that three blows!"
The sounds of distant voices brought him back to alertness. He eyed the two figures on the floor before him and made a quick decision. Activating the door sensor behind him, he dragged one of the 'subdued' Romulans back into the room he had just left.
Immediately, he shed the bright red Starfleet tunic, retaining his trousers and boots. He stripped the Romulan of his outerwear and redressed himself in record time. The Romulan he had chosen was dressed in a hooded robe. It wasn't a perfect disguise, but he would not be such an obvious target any more. The hooded configuration would also have the added bonus of covering the fact that his ears were less than standard Romulan equpment. Question was, did the clothing have any particular significance? Would he be a target regardless? Was he revisionist or loyalist? Maybe he was something entirely different.
Before reentering the corridor, he retrieved the Romulan's weapon. Even in the subdued light he could make out only one setting, kill. 'So be it,' he thought to himself. 'If that's the way they want it, that's the way they'll get it.' In any event, he wasn't going back to the stasis chambers again.
Straightening the robe and adopting a confident manner, the former captive strolled into the corridor, tempered by a healthy measure of caution.
The distant voices turned out to be another pair of guards. Kirk went into an act and pointed down to his remaining victim. "Can you help? My companion has been injured."
As the two began to approach cautiously, the Romulan on the floor began to revive. 'Bad timing,' Kirk thought, 'now what do I do?'
His question was answered by the look of shock and anger from his former victim. Kirk was forced into action by the yelling of the floored Romulan.
Lashing out with his right boot Kirk put the man back to sleep. Diving over the now unconscious form, Kirk took up a position of cover, directly behind the alien.
The other two Romulans sprang into action also. As Kirk checked the two, he found them both scrambling for cover.
Gritting his teeth, James pointed his weapon at one of the Romulans. He squeezed the trigger and watched as the blue/green energy bolt ripped through the man. He screamed in agony and dropped to the floor writhing in pain. The burn phaser was performing as designed, killing slowly and painfully.
The distraction of the dying alien meant that, by the time Kirk drew a bead on the second Romulan, it was too late. The guard now had excellent cover; better than Kirk's actually.
About fifteen meters separated Kirk and his adversary, but it might have been a mile. The Admiral's mind was racing when he was struck by an idea. Pulling the weapon off the unconscious alien in front of him, he tossed it in the direction of his opponent. "I surrender!" His voice was filled with mock fear. "Don't kill me, I'm not a soldier. I didn't know what that weapon would do! I was told it was a stun weapon!"
The Romulan was not buying it, at least, not completely. "Stand up and show yourself!"
Kirk obliged but held his weapon in a concealed position.
"What is your name and title?" the Romulan barked.
The palace guard wasn't showing himself, yet. "Tiberius, special assistant to the ambassador at large," Kirk grinned at the half lie; he had used his own name.
The Romulan was still wary, but Kirk saw him relax and he began to move into the open. "If what you say is true, then why are you here? All diplomatic personnel have been placed into protective custody."
Tensing for action, Kirk explained, "I've been sent to check on the Federation prisoners, there is concern for their safety."
Now the guard was nearly fully exposed, nodding in agreement. "As well there should be, we've been signaled that the revisionists are trying to kill them. But why don't you have an escort?"
'Just a bit further,' Kirk thought. "They were killed by the one I struck! I thought you would do the same to me." 'Now, if he lets his guard down, a little bit further --'
Suddenly, there was a noise from behind the Romulan and he diverted his attention momentarily, more than enough for Kirk's needs.
The burn phaser appeared from nowhere and quickly found the mark. The energy bolt struck the astonished alien in the lower left abdomen. In terms of Vulcan/Romulan physiology, Kirk had struck the heart. The man dropped without a sound. The burn phaser had killed him before any pain could register.
Taking the Romulan's weapon, Kirk put it inside his robe. You could never tell when you might need another one.
Spock and Saavik made excellent time and were soon standing inside the main control area of the palace shield. Along the way, it was necessary to subdue or stun a half-dozen Romulans on the prowl.
The shield control room had been guarded by a large group of regular Romulan soldiers, but a battle had broken out with the revisionists. The fight between the two groups lasted a relatively short period of time, but the net effort was a very sparse number of guards for the critical facility. Of those who remained, many were wounded and, therefore, less effective. To that end, Spock and Saavik were able to gain entry with a very easy effort. The area was covered with Romulan bodies and, should anyone question why the shield wasn't working, suspecting outside interference would probably not be considered. The civil war was working in favor of the rescue attempt, at least for now.
The shields showed previous damage and repairs, so evidently it had been targeted several times before. Adhering to the principle of non-interference, or at least minimal impact, he would allow the shield to remain functional. Besides, if the shield were completely lost it might allow the revisionists to 'win the day,' then anything might happen. In any event, it would definitely constitute interference in Romulan politics.
As Saavik stood guard, Spock worked his magic on the alien computers. In just four and a half minutes he was finished. The two left behind several stunned Romulans and a very special program in the shield control computers. In twelve minutes, the shield would drop for a period of five minutes. It would be just enough time for contact and beam-ups, plus a bit to spare, just in case. It would repeat one more time, in the event another orbit by Enterprise was necessary. They did not want to be present at the shield controls when the drop occurred, but more importantly, they had to locate the captives and either confirm they had been rescued or complete the mission personally. All this had to be done in time for the next comm point.
Unfortunately, their luck ran out. Only a short distance from the stasis chambers, the floor above them came down abruptly and completely. Neither one was prepared for the event and, neither one was moving after it happened.
Chekov and Rameriz were in hiding in the back of a dead end hallway. The two had watched over three dozen Imperial guards run past their position in several small groups.
Both men were getting anxious. They were still a fair distance from the planned beam-up point, but any attempt to attempt to get there would mean certain capture or even death. Chekov couldn't let that happen to Rameriz, the man had already been through enough.
"How much longer, Captain?" asked a nervous Rameriz.
The Russian looked at his chrono and rolled his eyes. "About ten minutes."
"Can we make it on time?"
"Not at our current rate of progress." Chekov's frustration was mounting and it was affecting his mood and, worse yet, his judgement. But he had to do something, and quick. "It's now or never," he proclaimed.
They waited for another pair of Romulans to pass by and then hurried toward the beam-up point.
"I just hope we don't run into any more curious Romulans," Chekov worried out loud.
Hikaru Sulu had taken a circuitous route, looking for a way out. He was moving slowly and quietly when the sounds of weapons fire caused him to pause. Cocking his head to one side, he could hear voices but not what was being said.
Whatever the problem was, it was blocking his path towards freedom. No matter, he had the burn phaser. Any Romulan, loyalist or revisionist, that got in his way would pay dearly.
Resuming his stealthy approach, Sulu had his weapon at the ready. He could hear the conversation getting louder by the moment.
Concentrating on the source of the voices, he missed spotting a small access panel which had been left open. His right knee bumped it just enough to cause a rapid swing on its hinges and a corresponding noise of impact when it closed.
Sulu cursed his own clumsiness and incompetence. Almost immediately he heard the whine of a phaser and reacted by hitting the floor. Within a few moments, it became apparent the shot was not meant for him.
Rising from the floor quickly, Sulu took up a defensive posture, just in case. Then slowly, he resumed his journey.
As he rounded the corner of the smaller corridor, he could make out a hooded figure kneeling over a body. The obscured person was searching the body on the floor, removing something in the process.
Suddenly, the hooded figure stood up and looked in Sulu's direction.
Instinctively, Sulu began to increase the pressure of his trigger finger. The other person began to reach out his arm as if to greet Sulu, but Hikaru wasn't having any part of it. Since he had the upper hand, this person would try anything to shift the advantage. The left hand of the alien rose to push back the hood of the robe. To get a better view for a more accurate shot, thought Sulu.
It was now or never, this Romulan would pay the price for the Empire's treatment of the Starfleet personnel. He increased the tension on the trigger to maximum.
Simultaneously, three things happened, the familiar whine of a transporter, Sulu's recognition of James T. Kirk in the hooded robe and the discharge of the burn phaser!
Hikaru's face was frozen in absolute horror. Either he had just killed his old friend or the Romulans had just taken him away, for good!
Just a minute before, on board the Enterprise, David Bailey let out a yell that just about knocked DeSalle to the floor.
"What is it Bailey?" asked DeSalle.
"Sir, the palace shield just failed!" Bailey's voice was so bubbly that his enthusiasm was contagious.
The whole bridge crew yelled in response, but DeSalle cut it short. "Quiet!" He turned to Bailey. "Scan now, use Saavik's method; what can you pick up?"
Before Bailey could respond, Uhura called to the C.O. "Sir, I've got them! I'm getting several viridium signals at multiple locations. Auto relay activated; transport is beginning now!"
In the transporter room, Rand's face was etched with concern. All of her thought processes were concentrated on the discovery of an active weapon near one of the viridium transponders. Compounding the problem was the necessity of refocusing the effect. She had preset the controls to the comm point, but this signal was a considerable distance from there.
Finally she had a positive lock and the weapon's effect was neutralized. Janice looked up to check the progress of her 'guest.' The familiar face of James T. Kirk materialized before her and she let out a squeal in delight. "Sir, you're all right!"
He was equally happy to see Rand but was distracted by the scene he had just left. "Rand, did Sulu just fire a weapon at me?" He stepped off the platform and moved towards her quickly.
She was confused, "A weapon at you, sir? You mean, he was with you?"
Now standing next to her Kirk spoke excitedly, "Scan again, Janice, quick!"
Her fingers raced across the controls and she froze. "Yes, sir, I have his viridian signal."
"Bring him up now!"
Sulu's form appeared within a few brief moments. The former navigator's face was still a portrait of shock.
Rushing to the platform, Kirk greeted Sulu. "Well, Mister, you have some explaining to do!"
Hikaru stood with his mouth open, stunned. "I... I thought you were... a Romulan."
Kirk eyed the burn phaser, "Not exactly fleet issue."
Pointing at Kirk's weapon, Sulu countered, "And yours is?"
"Touche!"
Rand cleared her throat, "I've got more work to do, if you two don't mind! And you better get to the bridge on the double. DeSalle's got his hands full!"
"Understood!" Sulu turned and headed for the door in a hurry.
"What about me?" Kirk asked.
Hollering over his shoulder, Sulu responded, "Tag along if you want; I promise no one will take a shot at you."
Janice watched Kirk bolt through the doorway just as the closing mechanism activated. She noticed two more signals, close together and activated the transporter beam immediately.
Almost immediately, Chekov and another Starfleet officer appeared.
She smiled at her old friend as his form stabilized. "Pavel, it's good to have you back." She shifted her gaze, "Who's this handsome fellow?"
Rameriz blushed slightly and smiled. "Miguel Rameriz, at your command, sweet lady."
She looked past Rameriz and spoke to Chekov. "Pavel, he's worse than you ever were. You just missed Sulu and Kirk! They're on the way to the bridge!"
Chekov's grin disappeared and he became all business-like. "Right! C'mon Rameriz, let's see what's going on!"
Commander Janice Rand reset the board and two more signals came up, very faint, but there. She had almost missed them, but increasing the intensity of her search brought them to her attention.
Her brow became furrowed in concentration. The faintness of signals was creating a problem. A positive lock was just about impossible. No matter how much she adjusted the controls, no luck. Without warning, what little luck she had, ran out. The palace shields were back up and both signals were blocked, maybe forever."
|
© 2024 Brad McDonald / U.S.S. Kitty Hawk
Star Trek and all related marks, logos, and characters are solely owned by CBS Studios, Inc. This fan organization
is not endorsed by, sponsored by, nor affiliated with CBS, Paramount Pictures, or any other Star Trek franchise.
|
