Standard Disclaimer: All characters and situations related to Star Trek are wholly owned by Paramount Pictures. All the characters from the "Magnificent Seven" TV series are property of Trilogy Entertainment, The Mirisch Group, MGM Worldwide.
Since arriving on the Maverick, Nathan Jackson had discovered the simple joy of being a doctor again in being able to mend broken bones and take care of real patients. Over the last few years, he had felt himself somewhat distanced because of his research work and realised how much he missed when it required him to spend most of his time in a laboratory. However, dealing with patients on a more personal basis had its own set of problems as well. Although the twenty people inside his Sick Bay would live after their ordeal on Omega 6, he still felt as if he should have been able to do more.
At the moment, Josiah Sanchez had his hands full trying to offer comfort and counselling to the group in the face of their overwhelming loss. As he watched the older man practise his own brand of healing, Nathan could sense the frustration coming from him even though his face showed nothing but serenity. He could understand Josiah's feelings of helplessness because he knew he felt similarly impotent as well. The wounds of their flesh could heal easily enough but the wounds of the mind were something else altogether.
"They are not holding up well." He commented once he managed to grab a quiet moment with the Counsellor. "I wish there were more we could do for them."
"There are some things that are beyond us." Josiah said softly. "All of them had families or friends at the Colony," he continued. "They haven't even begun the mourning process yet because they had been so focussed on staying alive. The shock and disbelief I see in their faces is heart wrenching."
"I thought Counsellors are support to remain detached." Nathan pointed out knowing that it was anything but true of Josiah Sanchez. Nathan could see his empathy for these people despite his efforts to hide it and knew that Josiah often became more involved in her patients than he would like.
"It's not a rule that I often adhere to." Josiah confessed. "I don't believe in remaining detached. You cannot offer someone insight into their mind when you can even picture yourself in the same position." "My wife was a doctor." Josiah said with a fond smile as he remembered how Ayla used to deal with her patients and realised that it was not so difficult to talk about her any more. "She thought professional distance was more for our sake than it is for the patients."
"She was a wise woman." Nathan agreed.
Suddenly, the doors to Sick Bay slid open and the Captain, Buck and Ezra entered the room. Despite the mounting urgency of this whole affair of the intruder, Chris Larabee seemed outwardly calm. Josiah knew from experience that the casual smile he offered to the survivors was merely a facade. Buck stood by patiently as the captain made the rounds of the room, offering words of support to the patients and assurances that someone would be made accountable for the destruction of Colony 4.
While nothing could assuage their grief, the former colonists seemed somewhat happier at knowing that there would be justice for their lost loved ones. After Chris had made the rounds, he and Buck finally approached the doctor.
"How are they doing?" Chris asked and from the tone of his voice, he was not inquiring after their physical state.
"They're exhausted. Some are still traumatised but most are finally allowing themselves to grieve." Josiah spoke first. "They are angry Captain and justifiably so."
"I can understand that." Ezra replied. "If everything I loved and worked for has been obliterated the way Colony 1 and Colony 4 were, I know I would not be impressed." Ezra who was better than any of them at hiding his feelings felt incensed to the core at what had happened on Kalendra 2 and now on this world. As a security officer, he felt that he should have been able to do more to prevent the devastation, even though there was no way he could have done anything to stop it.
"Doctor," Buck spoke calmly, a sharp contrast to the thinly veiled annoyance in Ezra's voice. "We need to talk to Croft. He told us on the surface that he had some information about what happened to them."
Nathan glanced at the man in question, who was lying in his bed staring at the ceiling. The doctor could see the sorrow in the man's face and knew that there was more than just loss at work there. It was a sense of failure as well. He looked to Nathan, a man who was usually prepared for everything and this had taken him completely by surprise. There was a well of rage building inside him that was as potent as it was dangerous. If it did not find an outlet soon, Nathan dreaded to think of the consequences.
"Medically, I think he would be up to a few questions." Nathan admitted.
"And mentally?" Chris spoke for the first time. "What is his mental state at the moment, Josiah?"
"He is angry Captain, as they all are. However, in Croft it seems deeper somehow, more personal."
"He was the mining supervisor?" Chris ventured to ask.
"Yes." Josiah answered.
"How many died while they were waiting for rescue?" The Captain asked again.
"Seventeen." Ezra replied, his jaw tightening as he answered.
"It's a hard thing to lose people under your command." Chris offered. "You feel as if there is something you should have been able to do to stop it but sometimes, it's beyond your capability. Your mind knows better but it's your heart that you have to convince." At that, he made his way to Croft's bed with Buck following closely behind.
Ezra let out a sigh, exchanging a knowing glance with both Nathan and Josiah before he too, followed them towards the recovering supervisor.
Although he was glad that they had found survivors on Omega 6, Chris was disappointed that they had managed to be aid to twenty people of out an entire colony. As he walked through Sick Bay earlier, speaking to the patients and trying to assist them in some understanding of what had taken place, his anger left a deep well of hatred in his stomach. It was a feeling that seemed to get much worse when he found himself facing Lars Croft. The sorrow in the man's face was evident just as he was marked by his guilt. In that moment, Chris understood Lars' feelings better than anyone else in the room, bar none.
"Supervisor Croft." Chris introduced himself. "Captain Chris Larabee. Welcome aboard." He was going to dispense with the pleasant inquiries about the man's health. At the moment, it seemed like a foolishly redundant question.
"Captain." The man said quietly. "I want to thank you and your crew for your kindness since our arrival. We are grateful to you for our lives."
"Don't mention it," Chris said uncomfortably. "What help we were able to give you seems too little too late with how many were lost at the colony We should be thanking you for that one consolation."
"I guess neither of us are feeling terribly fortunate at this moment." Lars remarked easing back into his bed.
Chris took a step forward and met his gaze. "I seem to be the better of the two." There was a few seconds of silence before Chris decided to move on to the subject at hand. "Supervisor, you told Lieutenant Standish that there were some strange events occurring on the Colony 4 prior to the destruction. Care to elaborate on that?"
"Yes I can." Lars nodded and straightened up again. He seemed filled with purpose knowing that Chris would put the information to good use. "My team and I left the colony two days before the attack but odd things were happening before that. It started a week earlier. Our computer expert Caroline O'Shea informed as that someone had downloaded the entire contents of our main computer. Our computer is not very large for storage capacity but it is a Class 2 rating with security systems in place. Someone managed to swoop right in and download everything terabyte of information stored."
Chris exchanged a glance with Buck but neither said nothing and allowed Lars to continue.
"We thought that there might be Romulans about or something." Lars spoke again. "We even sent out a few groups to make sure there was no one around. We used our tricorders to scan for life signs. There was nothing and finally we decided that perhaps it was a computer glitch. Since no real harm was done, we let it go. However, two days before my team was meant to head out to the Gorge, one of our geologists disappeared for five hours. We could not find him anywhere. We sent out search parties, ran sensor scans and tricorder readings. We actually thought he might have fallen somewhere and died."
"But he was found." Buck guessed.
"As I said, five hours later." Lars answered. "We found him wandering about two miles from the colony. Not a scratch on him but he seemed dazed at first and had no idea what had happened. The man lost five hours of his memory."
"Were you able to detect evidence of a Transporter beam?" Ezra inquired.
"Our equipment is not that sophisticated." Lars retorted. "We scanned the area with our sensor equipment for anything unusual but there were no signs of it. All we could do was send a message to Deep Space 5, asking for a starship to come investigate."
"Deep Space 5 never received that message." Buck promptly informed him.
"But we sent it." The man insisted. "I am sure of it."
"The intruders may have intercepted the message." Ezra offered. "Secrecy is apparently a great consideration to them. Our investigation on Colony 1 indicates that they are sophisticated enough to be able to jam a subspace signal easily."
"Colony 1?" Lars asked, his eyes widening.
Chris swore under his breath. He had not intended Lars to learn about the destruction of Colony 1 yet or the possible fate that might have befallen all the colonies in this sector. Unfortunately, the damage was done. He saw Ezra winced at unwittingly exposing that bit of information. Chris merely nodded at him, indicating that no real harm had been done. Nevertheless, he did not seem happy at his faux pas but then gambling men rarely liked showing their hand prematurely.
"I am sorry to tell you that Colony 1 has been destroyed in the same way as Colony 4. That is why we came here to check on you." Chris said softly.
Lars closed his eyes as if blocking out their faces would allow him to restrain his rage. "Who are these people?" He demanded angrily. "What do they want from us?"
"Please calm down," Chris asked gently. "I know this is hard but we need to know exactly what happened that day if we are to get to the bottom of this."
Although he still seemed highly agitated, Lars did manage to settle down a little and take into consideration the Captain's request. After a moment, when he was better composed, he spoke again. "We were in the Gorge when it happened. My team and I were working underground when there was a violent earth tremor. Measured at least six on the Richter. Most of us barely managed to get to the surface when the cavern came down. We lost Ryder and Palczkewski in the cave in."
He paused a moment in order to take a deep breath. Chris got the impression that his telling of the events was causing Lars to remember them with disturbing clarity. "When we surfaced, all we saw was this cloud of white smoke in the horizon. The temperature climbed up about ten degrees above normal. Rodriguez who was on the surface told us there was an explosion. We certainly felt it down below."
Once again, Lars stopped speaking and he swallowed hard before continuing again. "We tried raising the colony but our communication channels were silent. At first, we weren't sure whether we ought to stay put in case they came after us. We hid underground for the first two days for cover until it was obvious they were not coming. We decided someone should go back to the settlement and see if anyone was left. Rodriguez, Johansson and Myers volunteered to go. I was not happy about it but we needed to know. After a lot of debating, they took the hover car and went to the colony. They got back before nightfall." His eyes drew dark and he did not need to go any further because they all shared his grief and knew what had happened next.
"They couldn't even get two hundred miles within the place." He answered. His voice was now a whisper. "The tricorder and hover car sensors went critical the minute they reached the radius of the berthol ray contamination. Even then, they came back sick with radiation poisoning. We knew then, no one had survived. If the explosion did not kill them, the radiation sickness would have."
He stopped speaking then and leaned back into his bed, with his eyes closed. Chris let his gaze move across the room and saw that both the patients and the medical crew had stopped to listen to Lars' account of things. Even Nathan who was trying to stay focussed on his other patients, seemed affected by the man's words. Chris did not even know what he could possibly say to lessen the impact of the tragedy.
"I am so sorry." Chris finally found himself saying but the words felt meaningless when spoken. "We will find out who did this, I promise you."
"Captain," Josiah finally intervened. "I think that is enough for today. Mr Croft needs his rest."
The expression in his eyes told them that he would not accept any compromise on this. Nathan seemed to stand in the background, offering a show of solidarity even though he had not voiced it. Chris knew Josiah long enough to recognise that streak of steel inside the older man when a patient's mental state was at stake.
He nodded slowly. "I think we have all that we need."
It was a lie of course. They were no closer to the answer than they were after their arrival at Colony 1. However, Lars Croft and what was left of his team needed to know otherwise.
The meeting of the senior staff an hour later did not lift the oppressive black cloud hanging over the ship. With the exception of JD who was needed on the bridge while they were all engaged in this discussion, every bridge officer was present. Morale was dropping sharply. Chris could sense the tension that was beginning to affect everyone. He did not have to be a Betazoid telepath to know that people were starting to become afraid. Something out here was killing helpless civilians indiscriminately and with callous regard. By now, the entire ship knew that intruder's vessel was emanating transwarp signatures and that naturally escalated the belief that the Borg were involved.
"What have we learnt?" Chris asked opening the meeting.
"The weapon used on Colony 4 is undoubtedly the same type used on Colony 1." Alex volunteered first. She was apart of the Away Team that had transported to the destroyed settlement after survivors had been picked up. Hers was the most up to date information. "We were unable to remain on the surface for more than a few minutes otherwise the Transporter would have lost its lock on us. The whole area is in an advanced state of subatomic flux, definitely more pronounced than what we found on Colony 1 owing to the time differential."
"The same destruction?" Chris inquired.
"Absolutely." Ezra answered firmly. "The colony was utterly obliterated. Like Kalendra 2, nothing was left standing. No buildings, no machinery, not even bodies. The only reason we know there were any at all is because of the DNA residue left behind."
Chris nodded, taking it all in. "Our science officer has theorised that this complete destruction is for the purpose of concealment more than it was for an attack."
"Concealment?" Josiah exclaimed. "What could be so important enough to justify such an extreme action?"
"Buck," Chris turned to his first officer. "Let them in on what Captain Krista told us."
"Sure," Buck nodded and began. "When we arrived at Deep Space 5, we were told that the entire contents of the station's computer core had been downloaded. There were no ships close enough to do this when the theft took place and yet it did. The intruder penetrated all Starfleet security protocols and took the data out of the main computer without raising a single alarm. According to Supervisor Croft, the same thing was done on Colony 4 prior to the attack and we believe the same took place on Colony 1, although we'll never really know for certain. Our intruder seems to need information and a great deal of it. We're guessing that what they took from Colony 1 and 4 did not meet their needs and so they moved on to Deep Space 5."
"So this is definitely not the Borg." Mary stated. "The Borg have never displayed any need to learn anything of our species. After its initial contact with Picard's Enterprise, it had all the adequate information about us. Besides, they learn by assimilation."
"Precisely." Alex took up the lead once Buck turned the proceedings. "This is someone new. We know that they have sophisticated weapons at their disposal, capable of destroying large areas without impunity. Their weapons are capable of affecting matter on a subatomic level, one of which we have no defence. We know that our shields will not withstand penetration by this weapon if they were capable of slipping through the shields of a starbase. Further more, they are either capable of matter displacement technology that far exceeds ours or they possess a cloaking system unlike anything we have ever seen.. Deep Space 5 navigational logs show no ships in the sector during the download and yet we know that there must have been a ship for it to have taken place."
"What Commander Styles is saying," Chris broke in at that moment. "Is that we're outgunned and under powered to match the intruder."
"So then what?" Vin Tanner spoke up. Chris noticed that the officer of the con was starting to become more vocal in these meetings even though it took some time for him to work up the nerve. Chris noticed Alex giving a smile of encouragement to continue adding his voice to the discussion and was pleased that someone else other than himself was taking a personal interest in the welfare of the young helmsman.
"We can't run," the Vulcan continued. "Doing that is just going to prove to them that we're weak and ripe for an invasion if they aren't thinking it already. We've got to show them that we got teeth, spite our weaknesses and that if they try to take the Federation, they'll have to fight for every inch of space between here and Sector 001."
"I agree with Mr Tanner." Ezra spoke readily. "We must provide them with a reason to think that invading the Federation or the Alpha quadrant will be less profitable with the amount of opposition they will be facing. Unfortunately to do so we alone will have to face their ship and prevail. "
"We don't believe that an attack is what they have in mind." Buck answered. "They seem to be after something in particular."
"I agree," Chris added. "They have no reason to conceal themselves they way they do. If they are even half as formidable as we know them to be, we are no match for them. After obtaining so much Federation data, they ought to know it as well. My hunch says that they want something specific and they're not going to tip their hand until they get it."
"It does not look like we are in much position to stop them." Mary remarked, having heard the opinions on the table.
Chris did not say anything for a few seconds as he deliberated on that question. "We have to find them." He said firmly. "Since we don't know what their intentions are in regards to this accumulation of data, we can't exclude the possibility that these attacks are prelude to invasion. Our course is clear. We have to find the intruders and if it is not possible to negotiate some kind of peace agreement with them, we will have to use any means necessary to protect the security of the Federation."
"I can offer a solution in that regard," Julia remarked. "Although I warn you it is extreme."
"Go ahead, lieutenant." Chris replied, deciding that they had no choice at the moment and extreme might make all the difference when they faced the intruder.
"This is an alternative that can be used as a last resort if all our other efforts to stop the intruder fail. With some minor adjustments to the magnetic containment shield, we can create a relay on the bridge to precipitate a containment breach."
"A self destruct?" Ezra exclaimed.
"A self destruct would merely destroy the ship with little damage to the surrounding area." Julia continued. "Creating a containment breach with the amount of antimatter we possess would destroy any vessel in the resulting shock wave, despite their level of technology."
"Is that really necessary?" Josiah asked. He did not like to think that his first commission on board a starship would be his last.
"If all else fails," Chris answered. "It very well might be. Make your adjustments Lieutenant, create the relay. However, only me and Buck should be able to initialise it."
"Of course." Julia said promptly."
"Captain," Ezra spoke up. "Under the circumstances, I recommend that we remain on yellow alert."
"Good idea." The captain agreed. "In the meantime, I want Alex and you to find some way of protecting ourselves from this weapon of theirs. There should be a way to keep the shields from destabilising when it comes into contact. Study the data accumulated from the two sites, see what you can come up with."
"Yes Sir." Neither Alex nor Ezra seemed very optimistic.
"Nathan and Josiah, I want you to inform the civilians on board that it would be wise to make preparations in case of evacuation."
"Evacuation?" Nathan eyes flew wide open.
"Doctor," Chris said patiently. "If the situation warrants it, we will separate the ship. The saucer section can return to Deep Space Five without the loss of any more lives than necessary. A minimum complement is required to operate the starboard section of the ship, so we will be able to confront the intruder."
Nathan did not need to read the Captain's mind to know that whoever remained on the starboard section would not return at all. The gesture was one of suicide but under the circumstances, if such a thing could ever be called reasonable, it was a necessary sacrifice.
Chris glanced at Mary and saw that she did not at all like the idea of a suicide course and the concern he saw was not just for her son, he was certain. There was something in her eyes as she looked at him that captured his gaze long enough for Chris to realise that her worry for him was not because he was her captain but something more. Unfortunately, this was hardly the time for him to explore the depth of her growing emotions to him.
"We will proceed immediately, Captain." Josiah said softly. He did not want it to end like this, not so soon after their launch from Earth Star Base. The crew barely knew each other, let alone the ship. His heart ached knowing that they might not ever get the chance to learn anything at all. "What shall we tell them?"
"You inform them that this is a routine precaution when entering a critical situation." Chris answered. He let his gaze move through the room and he could tell that his crew was afraid. Bridge officers did not show their apprehension easily but their grim expression told him that they shared the sentiment to a small degree. "I know things don't look good for us at the moment. However, this is mostly because we know very little about the intruder. Everything unknown poses a threat so we must learn everything about them that we can. Learning about our enemies will allow us to understand what motivates them. If we can discover what it is they need, we may come to a peaceful solution. However, I personally am not ready to believe this is a simple invasion. If they wanted to, the intruders have the technology to force an confrontation and win quite easily. I think all this concealment has another purpose and we need to know what that is."
"I agree," Buck lent his voice to the Captain's speech in a show of command solidarity. "Their actions show a fanatical need to remain anonymous and whatever reason may be, it could give us an edge."
"We hope." Nathan remarked.
"Hope is all that Leonidas had at Thermopylae." Chris said with a faint smile. "Yet he managed to save a great many lives even though he had a very small force." The captain pointed out.
"True," The doctor nodded. "Except that Leonidas died in the process."
"Commander Styles," Ezra said unable to suppress a yawn of weariness. "I do believe we are exhausting ourselves."
The science officer rubbed her eyes to shake the weariness out of them and decided she could not disagree with Ezra's opinion that they were pushing themselves hard. They had working at an empty station in Engineering for five hours now and had made very little headway in fulfilling the Captain's request in finding a defence against the intruders' weapons system. A difficult task in itself when one considered that they had not the least idea of how the thing work. Well, that was not entirely true, Alex decided. She knew something of the physics that made what it did possible but not the mechanics of such a device. The truth was, all their work would just be speculation until they actually saw the weapon in use. Alex had not planned on getting that close.
"The captain wants a workable solution soon." She replied and ran his calculations through the computer station once again.
"I know." He said calmly. "However, we will not find one if we work ourselves into exhaustion. This is no time for anyone to be anything less than fit for duty. We are not helping anyone by pushing ourselves like this nor are we helping the ship. The Captain needs to be able to rely on us and he cannot do that if we are anything less than alert."
He was right. Alex let out a visible sigh of defeat. She looked around Engineering and saw new faces had come on shift since she and Ezra started working on the problem of devising a reliable defence against the intruder. Chief Engineer Julia however, was the exception. The woman was still working on creating a relay between the anti-matter containment and the bridge. She shuddered inwardly at the thought that they might actually be forced to use that desperate option. However, she did note something else during the past hours of being here.
"You're right." She said turning back to Ezra. "Let's call it a day."
"Good idea." He answered. "Why don't we meet back here at 0800 hours in the morning."
"I could use the sleep." Alex answered. "Maybe it will give me more ideas on how to deal with the problem."
He nodded in agreement and the his gaze shifted furtively towards entirely different direction when he thought Alex was busy gathering her data pads and not paying attention.
"It would help if you just go ask her out." Alex said with a wry smile.
Ezra looked at her and felt an involuntarily flush of red in his features. He had hoped that no one had noticed him gazing in the direction of Julia Pemberton throughout the evening, least of all the Science Officer he was working with. "I have no idea what you are talking about." Ezra said neutrally, betraying nothing because he was terribly embarrassed at being discovered. He could not help it though. Each time he saw that shimmer of red hair, he was utterly lost to the sparkle of it and wanted nothing more to run his fingers through it and see if it was really hair or strands of fine copper, not to mention those incredible emerald eyes. He wanted to stare forever in those pools of colour.
"Of course not." Alex answered with a little smile. "Well it's your business." She had no intention of involving herself further in this matter and wanted nothing more than to soak in the tub for an hour before going to bed. "I'll see you tomorrow." Alex replied before making her exit.
Ezra watched her go unable to deny that she was right, he should go over there and say hello to Julia Pemberton. After all, considering what she had spent most of her labour during the last day upon, it would be prudent to seize the moment before they were forced to make the ultimate sacrifice. Clearing his throat and wondering when in the hell he ever felt this nervous, Ezra lingered a moment at the work station, powering down the computer base in order for it to be utilised by someone else before he crossed the space between them. Ever since he had laid eyes upon her, he felt butterflies in his stomach and felt somewhat ridiculous about it. He was a grown man after all and the chief of security no less and he had never had any trouble approaching the opposite sex about anything. He had faced Ferengi traders, Romulan assassins and drunken Klingons, there was very little he had seen in his lifetime could make him flinch, there was no reason why he should feel so anxious about talking to a petite redhead.
"How is our doomsday device progressing?" Ezra asked as he came up along side of her.
"Fine." She answered still working on the device and responded without looking up. "Its about time you got up the nerve to talk to me. A girl could start to feel a little offended by how long it was taking you. I was actually starting to believe that I'd have to go ask you myself and that would not do, I'm an old fashioned girl after all." She met his gaze long enough to flash him a radiant smile.
Ezra winced inwardly and felt supremely stupid. "Was I that obvious?" He asked clearing his throat, feeling his embarrassment burn to the tips of his ears but it did not feel too terrible in light of her own revelations.
"Not at all," she replied, her fingers working deftly over the innards of the relay sitting on top of her workbench. "You wore quite the poker face but then I am told that is your expertise isn't it?"
"I have been known to indulge in games of chance." He replied casually, wondering how deeply she had made her inquiries about him and rather annoyed that as chief security officer, someone could do so without his being any the wiser.
"I hear you are a bona fide card sharp and that if there's a game on thos ship, you know about it." She continued to work, not looking at him. "You're a bundle of contradictions Mr Standish." She paused and then added. "Fortunately," she offered him a teasing wink. "I like paradoxes."
"Really?" Ezra found himself smiling, now that he had recovered from the surprise of finding out that this titan haired beauty shared possibly the same feelings for him that he had for her, if she had been determined enough to go find out all about him. "I have been told that I am something of a riddle."
"Now that's more like it Commander," she continued to tease. "I like it when you take the initiative."
"Are you always this sure about yourself Miss Pemberton?" Ezra asked folding his arms and staring at her. He had thought simply staring at her was enough to send tingles through his skin. He had no idea that she was this enchanting to talk to as well. Ezra thrived on challenges and a woman who could knock him off his poised feet was quite formidable indeed.
"Not always," she remarked, her eyes moving up and down his form as if she had made some secret decision about him she was not about to let him know about just yet. "Then there are times when I know without doubt that this is the best thing for me."
Ezra could actually understand that. How many pivotal moments in his life had come upon him knowing just the right thing to do? He could not even count, whether or not it was in a card game or accepting this posting under Chris Larabee's command, Ezra had known with an instinct that made him the gambler he was today, that there could be no other choice but the one he had made. His heart leapt inside his chest knowing that she had come to that same decision about him. However, he was not about to become too presumptuous by that fact because Miss Pemberton herself was something of a riddle and she liked to play games.
That was fine with him, games were his speciality.
Chris stared into stars beyond the window of his Ready Room when the door chimed softly.
"Come in." He sang out after a letting out a weary sigh.
The door slid open and Josiah walked into the room, cradling a bottle of blue liquid. He knew that the doctor had a collection of exotic spirits that had come on board with him from Earth. Usually, the emergence of a bottle indicated that Josiah felt particularly verbal and had selected him as company. According to the chronometer on his desk, Chris saw that it was approaching 1900 hours. That meant he had been sitting in this chair, staring into space for almost a good hour.
"To what do I owe this visit?" Chris asked sitting up in his chair. He could not deny that Josiah's presence was a welcome one. The Counsellor was the one person around whom he could unburden himself to completely, within reason of course.
"I thought you could use some of this." He gestured to the bottle in his hand.
"What is it?" Chris inquired, learning forward to examine the contents closely after Josiah had put the bottle down on his desk.
"Romulan Ale." The doctor answered.
"Ah, mother's milk." Chris grinned and rose from his chair. He went to the replicator panel and made a short request from the computer. After a brief shimmer of energy, Chris returned to the desk with two clear crystal glasses.
When Josiah had filled both receptacles, Chris took a deep sip from his glass and was savoured the taste in his mouth. It was particularly pleasing that the ale was authentic. Somehow, he was not looking forward to a synthehol-flavoured substitute. For a few minutes, neither man spoke but Chris was sure that Josiah was reading his thoughts and his mood more clearly than spoken words could ever express.
"You think the strain is getting to me." Chris stated putting down his glass. "
Josiah smiled, knowing that the question was rhetorical. Not that he would have answered it anyway. He knew Chris had a great deal of difficulty articulating how he felt and such conversations needed to be proceeded with delicate caution.
"Your attitude at the briefing earlier hardly inspired confidence." Josiah answered after a while. He could not deny that Chris's words during that meeting had bothered him a great deal. "Comparing us to Leonidas of Sparta is somewhat fatalistic don't you think?"
"I was trying to be realistic." Chris responded coolly. "I don't think that our chances of surviving this encounter is any secret. Even a fool would have to recognise that the odds are against us."
"You don't know that." Josiah pointed out firmly. "In fact, no one knows that for certain. We haven't even sighted the enemy. All we have is a great deal of speculation and not a lot of practical knowledge. Your strategy should not be focused on the outcome of us not surviving the encounter. Even Starfleet's finest needs to have hope they can come out of this alive."
"I don't need to see it with my own eyes to know what happened on Colony 1 and 4 was anything but formidable. Wishful thinking is not going to change that." Chris retorted unable to deny that he was starting to feel defensive.
"I agree with that assessment as well as you do." Josiah answered not willing to let this matter slide just yet. "The intruders, whomever they are, is capable of destroying all of us. However, we should not make it any easier for them to do it. Assuming that the best than we can hope for during an encounter is to take them with us, is not the way to proceed. You did not think that way when we faced the Borg. The man I put back together in Starfleet Medical would never have sat still for that!"
"What do you want from me?" Chris snapped. "I am doing the best I can! Do you think this is any easier for me? I've waited all my life for this." He looked around the room. "All my life, I've worked hard and done everything expected of me and all my life everything I want is taken away through no fault of mine. My son and my wife just to start with. I get over that as best I can and finally get my own ship. Do you think I could have been given the chance to enjoy her, at least for a while? No, on our first mission out, I have to be saddled with this! An intruder that will most likely cut through out shields and turn us into solar dust before we even have time to respond! It's not fair!"
"Life isn't fair and you of all people, should know that by now." Josiah responded just as vehemently. It was no secret that he thought of Chris Larabee as more than a friend. Chris was the son he always wanted. He loved his own son dearly but Sanda had always been so practical and levelheaded. Sanda had taken after his mother and seldom needed Josiah's guidance or understood his father enough to tolerate that seed of wanderlust inside his veins. From the first moment he had met Chris Larabee, Josiah felt a kinship that was deeper than friendship. It was a bond as thick as blood because Chris understood that wild streak of madness that gripped all great pioneers over the precipice of destiny.
Chris had given him a chance to realise a dream. At point in his life where he thought all dreams were ended. So Josiah Sanchez was not going to allow protocol or anything else to keep him from helping that brave man who had saved him from himself.
"You are the Captain of this ship." He continued hammering away. "You are the standard by which everyone on board measures himself. Yes, you are still new to them but they believe in you because you are the man who saved the Rutherford. Most of the ships destroyed by the Borg did not allow for survivors but yours did. You saved half your crew when most others were lucky to escape with a handful. Don't you think everyone on board knows that?"
Chris said nothing and his silence further infuriated the Counsellor. "How dare you think anything becomes simpler when you are a Captain. You worked all life for this and you of all people should know the price that comes with that Captain's gold, you've paid it more than any man has to pay for anything. We need you to be strong for us or no one on board this ship is going to survive the confrontation. That Captain Larabee is something I do not need to be telepathic to know."
Although the words seemed to bounce of him, Chris knew otherwise. The substance of them had penetrated right to his core and touched upon that secret part of himself he wised no one could see. Josiah was right of course. Chris almost expressed a faint smile at that realisation but managed to hold it. Counsellor Josiah Sanchez reminded him of his father so much that there were times when it was hard for him to distinguish this passionate doctor from the father who dithered about in his library of musty books. To this day, whenever he smelt stale paper, Chris remembered his father. Now, he no longer even needed that. He just had Josiah.
"You are a pain in the ass Counsellor." Chris conceded finally before taking another sip of his ale. "But what you said has been duly noted."
"Well," Josiah shrugged. "I am glad that something did."
"I don't want to lose another crew Josiah," the young captain said honestly. "This is more than I expected from my first command. I wanted to get to know everyone before it came to this. I never got to know the people on the Rutherford. I was too busy being first officer and preparing myself for my first command to understand how important the people are. Its important to know people while there's still time." He looked away and crushed mercilessly the private pain that had made a sudden resurgence at that remark. "I wanted Buck to be my first officer because I promised myself that when I came on board, I wasn't going to let the crew simply become uniforms to me. Buck has a way of doing that."
"I can imagine," the Counsellor replied gently. "Look I don't need to tell you that things don't always turn out the way they're meant to. Starfleet made you a Captain because you've got that spark inside of you than most fleet officers would sell their souls to have. Do what Chris Larabee wants to do, from the gut, no hesitation or no regrets. I have more faith in that impulse than anything in the rule book."
"Thanks," Chris chuckled softly. "But I may tear the ship apart by throwing out that book."
It felt better being able to admit to someone that he was not as confident as everyone expected him to be. Once again, he thanked whatever reasoning had led him to making Josiah the offer of the post of Counsellor. He had a feeling that if they were to survive the next few days, Buck and Josiah between them both were going to have to become gyroscope that centred his emotional balance and give him a swift kick when he needed it.
"Incidentally," Josiah spoke, moving to a completely different subject altogether even though he was uncertain if this topic would be as well received as the earlier had been. If anything, it was likely to be just as provocative. "I don't mean to pry but I thought I'd mention this since I am Counsellor and I'm responsible for bringing this up no matter how awkward it may be."
"Of course not." Chris said wearily. There was little point trying to guess what Josiah was getting at. Sooner or later, the man would make his point. "Go ahead anyway."
"You have some very strong feelings about Lieutenant Travis."
Chris eyes met Josiah's sharply. That was the one thing he wanted no one on board to know. Buck had been giving him enough hell on the subject, trying to play matchmaker by goading him into spending more time with the woman. Now, he had to contend with Josiah too. Although he knew both Buck and Josiah meant well, there were some things that he considered to intimate to share with anyone and his feelings for Mary definitely fell into that category.
"That my friend is none of your business." Chris said dryly.
"Ah," Josiah said abruptly before adding. "I see."
Even though he was not smirking or smiling, or showing any outward expression on his face, Chris knew Josiah well enough to know that his mind was actively analysing Chris's response. The remark was meant to bait him and to Chris's chagrin, the ploy was working quite effectively. Unable to resist, Chris found himself asking. "What do you see?"
"Nothing." The man said innocently.
"Why don't I believe you?" Chris glared with a brow raised.
Josiah hesitated as he tried to put the feelings he was sensing between the two people into words that could accurately describe the situation. After a moment of consideration, he finally responded. "It just felt like I sensed an emotional attachment between you and her." At that, he looked up quickly to see Chris's reaction.
The captain did not seem the least bit concerned. "Believe me," Chris replied. "Whatever you sense was probably not mutual."
Josiah downed the last of his drink and then rose to his feet. The captain remained seated and looked deep in thought. Despite the woman's aloof manner, Josiah had been a Counsellor enough to know that was not the case, not in the slightest. He waited for a second before he added quietly, "I wouldn't say that."
The Captain looked up at him instantly with eyes widened once the implications of that remark sank into his brain. "What do you mean?" Chris asked, a great deal more animated than Josiah had seen him in some time. "Did you she say something?" He asked unable to contained the excitement in his voice that his feelings for Mary might be reciprocated. Josiah tried not to laugh but it was difficult to control his facial expressions at that point.
"It's getting late." The man replied evasively. "You can keep the bottle of ale. I've got more down in my office." Josiah estimated he had precious few moments left before he starting laughing.
"Wait a minute!" Chris declared heatedly. "You can't just leave! What did you hear from? This is not funny, Counsellor, I want to know."
"Should I pass her notes for you too?" Josiah grinned as he started for the door.
"I could make it an order you know!" Chris tried again, ignoring the remark. Although he knew he was playing into Josiah's hands, the edge of his curiosity would not be abated. "Come on Josiah, this is not funny. What does she think of me?"
"Goodnight Captain," The Counsellor grinned and made a speedy exit before his Captain started the practice of keelhauling again.
Vin Tanner was at the bar indulging in a something called Boston mud cake when he heard a voice behind him. Looking over his shoulder, he took the seconds before he actually faced the person to try and recognise the voice because his memory for these things was quite good and he was usually able to identify them immediately. However as he finally faced the speaker, Vin found himself surprised by whom it was.
"Lieutenant Richmond." He said unable to hide his shock especially after how she had treated him at their first meeting.
"Hello Vin." She said with a smile.
Vin wanted to know since when they had become so familiar with each other that she was calling him by his first name. "Can I do something for you Lieutenant?" He asked cautiously, uncertain of what she wanted of him. From the corner of his eye, he saw the door to Four Corners sliding open and felt eager to end this discussion with the lieutenant when he saw Alex Styles walking into the room. Alex paused a moment and surveyed the room before she caught sight of him and Charlotte. Vin panicked thinking she might leave seeing he was not alone but instead her expression changed. If he did not know better, he would say it hardened as she came towards them.
"My friends and I," Charlotte glanced at a few women seated at the table at the far corner of the room who were watching the proceedings with great amusement. "We wondered is it true that Vulcans reach sexual maturity much later than humans?"
Vin stared at her with no idea of what to say. He could understand her curiosity of course; Vulcan sexuality was one of the most closely guarded aspects of the culture. There was very little on it for the knowledge of the general public remembering the hell he had gone trying to find something on the subject himself. However, the smirk on her face did not appear as if she were making the inquiry for the pursuit of knowledge but rather to embarrass him.
"That's true." He stammered, aware that she was waiting for an answer and decided the truth was the best he could do at this moment.
"So you're not sexually mature yet." She pointed out because according to his record, he was young by Vulcan standards. "You're a virgin."
Vin turned deep red and was about to stand up and make a hasty departure when Alex reached them both. The science officer had heard the exchange and was giving the crewmen who were witnessing this entire event a scathing glare that sent them scurrying. Charlotte Richmond had not noticed her yet since she was too busy humiliating the Vulcan in public.
"A virgin!" Alex announced herself by exclaiming loudly. "I would hardly think so." Charlotte turned to see the commander's and visibly gulped when she realised that Vin's relationship with the third ranking officer on the Maverick was anything but professional.
Vin could share Charlotte's astonishment when he felt Alex's hand slid over his shoulders, caressing the length of his muscle. Her palm inched languidly over the curve of his biceps, pausing long enough for her to feel the taut flesh beneath his uniform. While he was uncertain of what she was doing, he could not say that it did not feel unpleasant to have him touch him. So few people wanted to touch Vulcans and even fewer wanted to touch him because he was something different. However, nothing could prepare Vin for the surprise he got when she pressed her mouth against his and slipped her tongue through his teeth.
He had never been kissed this way before and knew that human males found this very arousing but he found it more pleasant to have her skin against his and to be able to breathe in the scent of her hair. He liked how her palm felt against his cheek and the way her body moved closer to his and was disappointed when she pulled away. Alex gave him a little wink, which he did not understand and kept her arm where it was over his shoulder before saying sweetly. "Vin, darling. Do you think I could have a moment with the lieutenant alone?"
Why was she calling him darling and what had happened to her voice? Vin thought to himself. "Okay." He said uncertainly, picking up his plate of Boston mud and retiring to one of the free tables.
As soon as he was gone, Alex turned her eye on Charlotte who was starting to look very nervous. Alex could not blame her, she had good reason to be afraid. It was never wise to anger the third in command of a starship.
"Commander...." Charlotte started to stammer.
"Lieutenant Richmond," Alex said with pure ice in her voice "I believe you are in stellar cartography am I correct?"
"Yes Sir," Charlotte nodded, seeking moral support from her friends who had all but disappeared in the light of her troubles.
"Unless you want to be spending the next six months on monitor duty during the graveyard shift I suggest that you limit your interaction with Lieutenant Tanner to a professional basis. If I find out that you are harassing him again about his Vulcan heritage, I'll have you brought up on charges of Xenophobia, do you understand me?"
"Yes Sir," she replied promptly and clearly shaken because xenophobia was grounds for immediate dishonourable discharge form Starfleet.
Alex took a step closer to her and whispered in a softer voice. "You fuck with me on this one and I'll eat you alive. Do we understand each other, lieutenant?"
"Perfectly," Charlotte swallowed and started to leave when Alex spoke.
"I did not say you were dismissed, Richmond." She looked at the woman coldly.
Charlotte's face flushed red with anger but held her tongue because anything she said would immediately be construed as insubordination.
"Now you're dismissed." She remarked with a little smile of satisfaction and was pleased to see Charlotte slinking away fearfully before Alex went to find Vin.
"I'm sorry about that." Alex said sliding into the seat next to him in the booth where he was waiting for her. "She really got to me."
"She was trying to embarrass me." Vin replied even though he was more curious as to why Alex had done what she had instead of Charlotte's cruelties. "Why did you kiss me?" He asked.
Alex cleared her throat and tried to think of an answer since there was no real reason to except perhaps the fact that she did not want anyone sniggering behind Vin's back. "I didn't want her to make fun of you and to put to rest any further comments she might have regarding your sexuality." She answered him truthfully. "Did you mind?"
"No," he shook his head in answer. "Its just no one has kissed me before."
"Well when you're in a position to appreciate it, I'm sure there will be a line." She smiled warmly and then stood up. "I've put in a long day so I'm going to get some rest. You take care okay?" Alex said as she left him.
Vin watched her go and decided that when he was in a position to appreciate it, he would not want anyone else but her.
It was time.
Josiah had been correct. It was well past the moment when Chris Larabee had to forget his insecurities as a new Captain and remember what it was that made Starfleet promote him. He had earned the right to wear Captain's gold and whatever happened from this point onward, it would happen without him doubting himself. He was taking Josiah's advice to conduct himself as he always had, from the gut, with no hesitation or regrets. The crisis ahead called for something innovative and no quarter for self-recrimination. His crew needed to know that he had some kind of plan no matter how desperate the situation became.
He sat on his bridge, allowing confidence to seep back into his bones for the first time since this whole thing had began. Chris forced his caution and fear for his crew into a place reserved for when the time was appropriate. All that could be done at Colony 4 had been accomplished. As expected, there was no other survivors' left to find. All that was left of Omega 6's inhabitants were the handful of emaciated miners in SickBay.
"Ezra." Chris spoke. "I want you to send a communication to Deep Space 5 attention Captain Krista on security frequency."
"Yes Sir." Ezra returned promptly.
Chris took a deep breath and focused on what he wished to say. "Inform DS5 that there we have found Colony 1 and 4 destroyed by an unknown force that uses a weapon that leaves severe berthol poisoning in its wake. We have reason believe that Colony 9 may have similarly been destroyed and that Captain Krista should make an immediate investigation of any colony in this sector that has not made its monthly status reports. Tell her, we are unable to make an investigation ourselves as we have detected transwarp signatures of an unknown origin and are pursuing to investigate."
There was a moment of silence on the bridge as the news sunk into everyone. Only Buck seemed unaffected by the Captain's decision. "Alex," he said calmly glancing over his shoulder. "Begin a wide beam scan for transwarp signatures and relay your findings to helm control."
"Aye Sir." Alex answered coolly.
Chris could understand the apprehension on his bridge. The Dominion, the Cardassians and the Klingons were threats that Starfleet could cope with. They had never been able to truly manage a Borg assault. Victory had come mostly through luck and the intimate knowledge of the Collective possessed by Jean Luc Picard. If these intruders were at the same technological level as Borg as Chris suspected they were then everyone had good reason to be afraid.
"Are we telling Starfleet command what we're doing?" Buck inquired quietly.
"Not yet." He answered. "I'd like something more concrete than a transwarp signature to identify the intruders. We'll transmit the moment we have more information."
"It is likely they would have moved out of this sector by now." Vin remarked. "The attack here was several weeks ago. That is sufficient time to distance themselves from this area."
"I agree." Chris nodded in consideration. "However, I think they're still here. Their strategy tells me they have not found what they are looking for yet."
"I agree." Buck nodded please to hear from Vin. The young man was slowly coming out of his shell of course, being kissed in public by one of the most beautiful and inaccessible women on the ship could do much for a person's ego.
"They have no reason to fear us Lieutenant," Chris stated for Vin's benefit. "After what they've been able to do in our space, I think that it is a foregone conclusion that we are not much of a threat to them. However, they've nonetheless attacked our most remote colonies, where distress signals could take days to reach the nearest starbase or chanced upon by a passing ship. It poses the question of why would they need to take such precautions?"
"I must admit a certain amount of confusion on that point as well." Ezra confessed.
"I think Alex is correct in her theory that what happened on all the colonies is some twisted science experiment. That is why they have attacked only remote colonies, not because they're worried about us coming after them but because they want time to be able to make a comprehensive study without their potential subjects being alerted to their presence."
"Maintaining scientific purity." Alex nodded understanding the premise completely.
They want to observe their specimens in their natural environment without the contamination of their presence to alter results." She paused a moment to consider the possibilities. "You think that they are still here because they have risked their experiment by downloading the contents of Deep Space Five's main computer."
"This sector of space is their laboratory,." Chris explained now that everyone was attuned to what he was thinking. "They attacked the colonies only after downloading all data the colony computers and after a live specimen was taken for study. Unfortunately, this was not sufficient to provide the results expected so they moved on to another colony and possibly all the settlements in this area." Chris seriously hoped that was a worse case scenario. He was hoping only Colony 1, 4 and 9 had been effected.
"I understand," Vin replied. "The volume of data on a colony computer can be limited Captain with extended periods between upgrades. All information is in some way related to the science required for survival."
"Exactly," the captain smiled once again given proof that Vin and he had some symbiotic connection that allowed the youthful Vulcan to pick up his thoughts easily. "However, colony computer information does not contain specific information. You can go to any starbase's computer and get the complete history of Federation starting from Zefram Cochrane's launch until the minutes of the last meeting of the Federation Council. Everything we are is in a starbase computer. I think our intruder were looking for something specific and did not find it despite at the colonies."
"Having downloaded the entire contents of DS5, it's possible that they have their answer." Buck reminded the Captain.
"That is a possibility." Chris replied honestly. "There is a part of me that hopes that they found what they needed and have returned wherever they came so that some other captain can deal with this at another time. However, my gut instincts say no." He saw that Buck was looking at him sceptically and allowed a faint smile to steal across his face. "Let's just say that I have an intuition that they are still around and we need to find them before they go home. If weakness is what their experiments were meant to prove then I don't think their next encounter with us will be as controlled."
"Agreed." Even Buck had to admit that while the question of the intruder's continued presence in the sector might be in doubt, the results following their return home would not. "Vin's right, we can't show ourselves to be any weaker than we already have."
Anything Chris was going to say in response to that statement was lost when Alex broke into their conversation. "Captain, I've located a partial trail emanating from the transwarp signature around the planet."
"Good," Chris nodded. "Vin, lock onto those readings and proceed at Warp 2."
"Ezra, inform the crew, we are now preparing to leave orbit." Buck instructed the security officer. "Recommend that we go to yellow alert, Captain."
It seems as if they were forever at yellow alert lately, Chris sighed but his first officer's recommendation was a correct one. The situation certainly warranted it. "Good idea." He replied. "Do it."
Buck moved out of ear shot as Chris concentrated on the viewer before him. The ship had started to veer away from Omega 6 and the parting shot of the planet saddened him to the core. All the promise of its future had ended with the black stain of charred earth against its polished yellow surface. It was an awful tombstone for the brave people who had tried unsuccessful to tame this world so far from civilisation. As the Maverick kicked into warp, Chris made himself a silent promise that this was not going to be the beginning of things to come for the Federation.
The intruder had dropped a gauntlet in front of him. Captain Chris Larabee was going to pick it up and he was going to die before allowing it to be thrown at anyone else.
The transwarp trail was weak. They had expected that much. As the ship moved farther and farther away from Omega Prime, Chris was struck by the tale of Hansel and Gretel, forced to follow a trail of breadcrumbs to find their way home. As expected, the outermost colonies had been struck first because the trail led back to Kalendra 2. Having nothing else but that scant evidence to go on, Chris had no choice but to back track in their pursuit of the intruder.
In the meantime, there was nothing to do but wait. Buck and Ezra were running the bridge crew through simulated battle drills, an action Chris fully approved. Within days of the first attempt, the crew had attained an almost perfect efficiency rating. All across the ship, each department was preparing themselves for battle. He knew from Buck's reports on crew evaluation that Julia Pemberton was pushing herself and her Engineering crew to the point of revolt. Every system had to be checked and then rechecked. Her determination to ensure that Engineering be prepared, almost had a quality of human stubbornness to it.
The Counsellor informed him that the civilians on board were starting to fear the worst. While Chris could not blame them for being afraid, he did not intend to initiate a premature saucer separation before time. There was not much he could do about that problem except to project the image that they were far from being outgunned. He made special visits to the school where he answered the questions of the younger members of his crew. Their questions were the questions of children and Chris tried to be as honest as possible without being patronising or having to lie. At the Counsellor's behest, he showed everyone including the Starfleet personnel that he was at least, was unafraid of what lay ahead.
Unfortunately, while the problems with the crew seemed abated for the moment, Chris was faced with some very realistic conclusions regarding the enemy. If the intruders were travelling at transwarp speed, then their pursuit was going to be a slow process of never reaching enough velocity to catch up unless the intruder slowed to standard warp. The likelihood of that occurring was remote. Somehow, the Maverick had to find a way to get the intruder's attention, long enough for them to stop and look, allowing the ship to close the distance.
"I say we try something radical." Chris declared at briefing for the senior staff a few days after they took up the chase.
"Radical Sir?" Buck stared at him and immediately felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. Radical and Chris Larabee were a dangerous combination.
"Yes." He nodded, letting his gaze sweep across the faces before him. Only Josiah seemed unsurprised by what he was about to say and had the good grace to keep it to himself. "At the moment we are faced with the problem of an enemy that we will not be able to catch up to because they are travelling at speeds far greater than us. True, the transwarp signature will take us where the intruder has been but not to a face to face confrontation. While some might argue the sensibility of meeting them in open combat, until we see them face to face, we cannot possibly understand what we are fighting or devise a way to win. All the information we have is speculative at the moment. We do not know what their intentions are or if their technology is as formidable as it appears. Therefore, we need to slow them down."
"Considering that we do not even know where they is going to make it difficult." Ezra replied.
"Let's work on the assumption that they are in this sector of space still." Chris responded. "It's a place to begin. Now they've been operating under a silent running and taking great pains to hide themselves from us. What if we send out a subspace signal on all frequencies and bands that we are tracking a possible invasion force from unknown alien species. This species possesses weapons capable of molecular destabilisation and is responsible for the destruction of all our colonies in this sector of space. We will put out a general alert rallying all Starfleet vessels in this area to rendezvous with us before we continue our pursuit. In the meantime, we will also advise all non Starfleet ships to vacate until things are safe."
"Captain, are we really intending summon all those ships?" Mary exclaimed in surprise. Apparently, she was the only one willing to voice it at that moment.
"Of course not." He said quickly. "We will also send a coded transmission to Starfleet Command to inform them what we are planning."
"So we wait for them to come find us?" Ezra asked sceptically. "Captain, with all due respect, we have no idea we are any match for the intruder when it arrives. Is it wise baiting them like this?"
Chris understood his concerns and knew that his question was on everyone's mind at the moment. However, he had spent a great deal of time on this plan and knew the risks involved. Most of that time had been expended on devising a scenario in which they would escape with their lives as well as defeating the intruder. "No it is not wise," he answered her truthfully. "Unfortunately, we have no choice. This is the only way we can meet them face to face. However, I am not prepared to sacrifice this ship is any kind of heroic gesture so if you give me a chance to explain, I'll tell you what we will do."
Ezra fell silent. "I apologise if I spoke out of turn Captain."
"No apology necessary," Chris said quickly. "I expect my senior staff to point out matters of concern. In this case however, I am aware of the danger."
"Then you have a plan Chris?" Buck asked, hoping to hell it was a good one or a lot of lives were going to be lost.
"We will move to these co-ordinates." Chris picked up his data pad and handed it to Buck.
The first officer took a moment to study the information before him before his right brow raised and he nodded in understanding. "An interesting choice." He answered after a moment. "You want to take us to the edge of Vikaris Quasar?"
"Because the quasar has high intensity energy fields surrounding the stellar mass and should be capable of disrupting sensors to extremes?" Vin spoke, venturing a guess at the captain's intention since he did not think Chris would knowingly play a hand where he was at a disadvantage.
"Even that of the intruder." The Captain said with a smile at Vin's acumen. "It may be enough for us to make a quick get away if necessary."
"It could work," Buck agreed. "It could be highly dangerous for them to use their weapon in this area in the event that stray fire could have adverse effects on the quasar itself."
Chris had to confess he did not think of that possibility but was glad that his first officer had reinforced his decision to take this course of action with that point.
"Captain," Alex spoke up. "I may have a suggestion as well."
"Any suggestions at this time are welcome." Chris replied, eager to hear what Alex had to say.
"I think I may have an answer as to why they were able to reach Deep Space Five without being detected by sensors or bypassing all security protocols." Alex said slowly. "I was reading all the literature on cloaking devices and all forms of cloak effect the physical environment in some way, even if they are not immediately detected. However, there were no such effects reported with DS5."
"Yes, that's right." Chris answered wondering where this was going.
"I think I know what you're talking about, Commander." Julia suddenly declared. "You are speaking of a cloak that does not operate using physical laws that we know of."
"Yes Sir," Alex nodded, grateful that someone understood the point that she was making. "A few years ago, the Enterprise D reported the Romulans had been experimenting with a kind of cloak that uses phase shifts instead of standard light and energy refracting methods."
"I remember the report." Julia added her support. "Captain, every object that we know of in the universe operates on a specific atomic frequency, whether animate, inanimate, organic or inorganic. If the phase frequency of an object is altered for any reason, it is no longer in phase with the rest of the universe. Therefore it is capable of moving through an object without those of us in the normal frequency being aware of it."
"You're saying this ship could have parked itself next to the station and did whatever it wanted to before leaving again and all without any sensor registering its presence?" Chris asked.
"Absolutely," Alex said flashing Julia a wry smile. "The Enterprise almost lost two of its officers when they were out of phase like this. They were only able to get them back by flooding the local area with high intensity radiation which brought them back into phase."
"Our engines are capable of venting similar radiation into space on a rotating basis while we are awaiting for the intruder to arrive." Julia offered.
"I see what you mean." Ezra declared. "We could create a buffer zone between the intruder and the ship. The moment, they enter the zone, they will become visible to our sensors enough for a target lock."
Chris eased back into his seat feeling pleased with his staff's performance. For the first time since coming on board, he could see bonds being forged between them and comraderie being formed. He met Josiah's gaze and although he had not much to offer during this meeting, he too was pleased at the result. "Well Captain," Josiah replied after a moment. "I think we have a plan."
"I agree." He returned her radiant smile. "Commander," he looked at Alex. "I think you should assist Julia with your plan down in engineering. We need to get this buffer zone operating as soon as possible. It may be our once chance at taking them down."
Chris hoped it would be enough.
Sitting at the Captain's table in Four Corners, Chris was given a panoramic view of the Vikaris Quasar. It hung beyond the starboard side of the ship, emblazoning the dark sky with turbulent swirls of white and amber tongues of energy, culminating in a maelstrom of cosmic proportions. From this distance, the illumination from the stellar mass lit up the room as if it was daylight. The Maverick sat beyond the event horizon of the immense gravitational pull of the dense stellar body. From this distance, the electromagnetic energy level coming from the star was almost off scale. All sensors and scanning devices on board the ship had increased gain in order to function. Chris had selected the region for the reason specifically.
The Vikaris Quasar had been named after the explorer whom first charted the area. Unfortunately, Vikaris also became the first known casualty of his discovery when his ship became ensnared in the powerful gravitational field of the spacial phenomenon. The Vikaris Quasar was so massive that it filled an area of space that could normally accommodate a thousand suns. It radiated such powerful electromagnetic fields that sensors would be completely useless to any ship trying to scan it. For all these factors, Chris had brought his ship here. The Vikaris Quasar could very well end up saving all their lives.
The captain had no illusions about the Maverick chances with the intruder. By all accounts, speculative or not, the ship that was capable of reducing a single colony to utter destruction was more than a match for a galaxy class starship. However, he was not about to let their murder go away unpunished neither was he going to let them believe that the Federation was incapable of fighting back. The battle to be waged had far deep implications than simply destroying the enemy. This was a fight for survival for the Federation and possibly the entire Alpha Quadrant.
However, to win he had to be realistic and understand the limitations of his ship. He had brought the Maverick here because if the intruder overwhelmed them with its weapons, they could lose themselves in area thanks to the Quasar. He knew it was a risky assumption, believing that the intruder would not be capable of scanning for them with all the interference from the mass but it was all he had to go with. If they needed to recuperate after the encounter, there was no better place for it.
Chris noticed that many crewmembers had come to Four Corners to take in the view and Chris could not blame them for that. While he could not admit to sharing any of the excitement held by the crew at viewing the stellar mass, he could not deny that it was indeed an awesome spacial display. Normally, he would appreciate the sight to its fullest, however, on this day, his mind and body were too focussed on the attack he knew would come.
The light atmosphere around him was a thin disguise hiding the fact that the ship was poised on battle alert. Even though the numbers in the recreational lounge kept the bartenders and servers busy, none of these were civilians. Families and non-Starfleet personnel were restricted to their quarters until further notice.
After a few moments of star gazing, he returned to the data pads before him, reading Buck's up to date department status reports. So far, it appeared that the Maverick was ready for whatever was coming at them. Taking another sip of his rapidly cooling black coffee, Chris was pleased to note that Engineering had installed the cloaking device. Technically the use of the device was only permissible if they engaged the Borg but he fully intended to use it if it meant saving his crew from an equally formidable enemy.
Besides, who was to say that the threat posed by the intruder only affected Federation space? There was no evidence to support the notion that the rest of the Romulans was any safer than they were.
He reminded himself to put in a note of commendation in Alex's permanent record because her performance to date certainly earned such credit. From what he understood from Buck's report, the anti-phase buffer was already on line, thanks largely to Alex's tireless efforts and meticulous design. Even Julia had made comment of her efficiency.
"You seem much better in spirit." Inez remarked, announcing his presence.
"I am a little." Chris admitted. "We are as ready as we will ever be for the intruder. The department heads have outdone themselves in getting us to this point. I am proud of my crew." He confessed.
"You have to take some credit in all that you know." The sultry woman remarked.
"I don't think so." He shook his head. "There are good people in charge of those departments and they know their jobs. I had very little to do with their performance."
"I think you are being somewhat modest Captain," She retorted. "A good captain knows when to pull back and let his people prove themselves. The talk I've been hearing around the room about you has been very promising. People are starting to place a great deal of faith in you simply because of that."
Chris rolled his eyes in disbelief. "I fail to see why. We've hardly come under fire yet and I have been guilty of being so cautious lately, I can hardly see straight."
"Well no one said you were perfect," the bartender smiled warmly. "Just promising."
Chris started to laugh a little when suddenly, the lighting inside Four Corners changed to a bright crimson shade that made everyone stop what they were doing instantly and pay attention. Less than a millisecond had passed when the inevitable sound of emergency klaxons began their shrill cry across the room and throughout the ship.
The ship was on red alert.
Chris put down his coffee and jumped to his feet. Any memory of their previous conversation was quickly forgotten as he turned to Inez. "Get to your quarters." He ordered tautly and then hurried past the woman, joining made the exodus out of Four Corners with the rest of the crew. Within minutes, Four Corners seemed like a ghost town with half empty glasses of beverages and forgotten data pads, replacing the tumbleweeds and dust blown street devoid of life.
Chris was striding forcefully towards the nearest turbo lift when he tapped his com badge. "Larabee here, what's going on?"
"The buffer has been breached Chris." Buck's voice betrayed the tension of the moment. Chris could well understand that, who could remain calm at a time like this?
"I'll be there shortly."
The door to the turbo lift slid open just as he made his approach and he joined the other crew men inside who were rushing to their place on the ship. Their faces showed their fear and for that Chris felt somewhat gratified. He did not like to think that he was the only one who felt fear even if he was the one person on the ship who could not show it.
When he arrived on the bridge the klaxons had become silent although the angry red glow of the alert still blinked on and off under their panels. As the first officer sighted him, Chris saw Buck immediately vacating the Captain's chair and taking the first officer's seat alongside it. The bridge seemed to be the epicentre of all the excitement. The tension present was as sharp as a razor's edge and everyone present seemed to be walking on it.
All senior bridge officers were present at their posts, with gazes that alternated from the view screen before them and the consoles at their individual stations. As Chris looked at the viewer, he could understand their fixation. Although the energy field projected by the ship was invisible to the naked eye, it was clear that something had entered its web. Strands of energy were cackling across the space as an image of something trapped within it began fading in and out of existence. While these flashes were too rapid for him to make out exactly what they were seeing, the ship's computer was no doubt recording the event and that would be useful for analysis at later time.
He had taken no more than a few steps onto the bridge when Buck who was eager to deliver his report on the present situation greeted Chris. "What's happening?" the captain demanded, wasting no time as he placed himself in his chair.
"The intruder penetrated the energy field approximately 67 seconds ago. Unfortunately, the method used to shift phase is extremely effective, it is still maintaining the integrity of its cloak. Our attempts to scan the vessel has been ineffective at this point.. However, I don't believe they consider us a threat yet. It has not withdrawn from the buffer zone. We do detect low level energy readings consistent with sensor beams. I think they are trying to analyse how we are generating it. "
"They're holding position." Chris observed. "That's a sign of a great deal of confidence."
"Captain," Buck spoke again. "I recommend we intensify the field. It appears that we've succeeded in weakening their cloak, we should continue doing so."
Chris disagreed with that. Although the intruder was still hidden by its cloak, the Maverick sensors were capable of locking onto its position with the brief images they had since the ship was holding position. Even as Buck was speaking, he could see shades of grey flash into existence before their eyes. The ship was larger than anything he had ever seen. While much of it remained concealed, Chris could see that its size easily eclipsed that of a Borg vessel nor did it have an unimaginative cube design. The bursts of static energy became more frenzied and with each eruption, more of the alien vessel began to appear.
"I don't think so, Commander." Chris said firmly. "If their cloak is completely compromised, then their shields will go up. At this moment, we are in the best position we will ever be to neutralise them. I say we don't waste the chance." At that he turned to Ezra. "Security, get a target lock on them immediately."
Ezra nodded and let his fingers fly over the security console to comply with the order. "Target acquired Sir." He called out after a moment. Alex had adjusted their phasers to emit the same kind of energy that the buffer was using in order to cut through the intruder's cloak and bring the ship back to normal phase during detonation. If they had the chance to utilise either the phasers or the quantum torpedoes with this adjustment then it was possible for them to strike a serious blow to the enemy despite its cloaking system.
"Charge all weapons." Chris instructed. "We may only get one shot at this."
"Captain, recommend that we make an attempt at communication." Mary suggested. "We should at least offer a greeting or even a warning of some kind."
"I'm sorry Mary." Chris said abruptly. "Under normal circumstances, I would be the first to agree with you but we've already shown too much weakness. We have them in the open, we may never get another opportunity."
"Understood Sir." She said compliantly. Despite her abhorrence to violence, Mary could not deny the realities of this situation. The intruder was here and it was vulnerable. After the destruction of Colonies 1 and 4 and who knows how many others, first blood had already been drawn. The time for civilised behaviour had passed. In truth, the very notion of war was an atrocity in itself. Attaching a set of rules to that kind of behaviour seemed pointless. Besides, no matter how much she tried not think about it, her son was on this ship.
"Lock on photon torpedoes and fire at will, Ezra." Chris ordered. His eyes were firmly fixed on the image of the vessel in his view screen. The security chief was similarly focussed on the security console panel and moved swiftly complete his demand. Like Chris, he too felt the need to attack now was imperative. Ezra did not believe their advantage, if it was that at all, would last very long. However, as he studied the readings on her console he was forced to re-evaluate that estimation drastically.
"Captain!" Ezra exclaimed. "I'm reading a large energy build up. I think they're charging some sort of weapon."
Chris looked up sharply in time to catch the emergence of a silvery bolt of energy escaping from the intruder's unseen weapons array. "Evasive pattern Delta!" The captain shouted.
Vin knew the reference and immediately, reversed thrusters at maximum warp just the energy bolt reached them. His skills though excellent were not enough to keep them from taking the brunt of the energy blast. The Maverick was flung backwards as if a child had swatted it away like an unwanted toy. Across the saucer section of the ship, the blast triggered a series of eruptions under the duranium plate shielding of the ship. Bulkheads ruptured and emergency containment force fields fell into place.
Everything that was not bolted down on the bridge went flying in all directions. Chris had only managed to stay in his chair by holding on to its arms as tightly as possible. In the background, he could see every console on the bridge coming alive with warning lights. As the science station began to hiss with tendrils of smoke and bursts of static energy, Ezra tore Alex away from her console just as it shattered beneath her. The blast sent pieces of glass upward like the spray from a geyser. Chris did not even want to think what would have happened if she had caught the shrapnel in the face.
He saw Buck on the floor where the first office had been thrown. A streak of blood was escaping from the cut on his right ear where he had been cut by the spray of glass. Chris himself was all right but judging from the angle of space before him, it was obvious that they were no longer moving and one of their thrusters had been damaged.
Mary was at his feet and he immediately reached for her to help her up. She appeared dazed and her hair was tousled over her face but she seemed unharmed.
"Are you alright?" He asked softly as he helped her back into her chair next to him.
"Yes," she answered, brushing her hair back, clearly afraid but trying her best to hide it. "I'm fine." She said with a smile and gave him leave to see to the rest of his crew with a look. Chris nodded in understanding and returned his attention to his ship and the rest of his crew.
"Damage report!" He demanded.
A response took a moment but eventually it came. "Science station is destroyed." Alex answered breathlessly trying to control the pain she was in. "We absorbed enough energy to short out every overload circuit on the Maverick. We are lucky that most of the bridge systems are still on line."
Chris did not think they were that fortunate. As he looked at the viewer before him, he could see the intruder's ship had disappeared once again. No doubt, this initial attack was to keep the Maverick from intensifying the energy field and rendering their cloak ineffective. However, now that their cloak was fully operational again, it meant the intruder could be anywhere.
"Engineering, damage report."
His words hung in the air and Ezra felt his chest pounding, praying that Julia was all right even though he should be focussed on the rest of the ship. He could not help it, she was becoming more to him than Ezra had thought any woman could possibly be in his heart. He did not want to imagine the possibility that she was hurt.
There was no answer. For a few terrible seconds, Chris wondered if anyone was still alive in engineering. He was struck with the awful though that everyone was dead and he did not like one bit how such a possibility felt to him. "Engineering, please respond." Chris repeated himself and raised his eyes to meet Buck. Neither man wanted to say the worst out loud but it hung in the air like a pregnant drop of water, waiting to fall.
"Lieutenant Pemberton here Sir." Her voice was heard after what seemed like an eternity.
Everyone on the bridge seemed to let out a visible sigh of relief. Although Ezra was hiding the true extent of his pleasure at hearing her voice, he was nonetheless extremely grateful that she was alive and well.
"Glad you're still with us," Chris said quickly, wanting to waste no time by expressing his feelings on her state of health. "What's our status?"
"The warp engine is off line. The energy burst was meant only to disable main power so that we would be forced to disengage the buffer field we were using to disrupt their cloak." She explained quickly. "We have impulse speed but our long range sensors are down and we are utilising reserves and battery power until we are able to bring the warp engines back on line."
That did not sound good. "Do we at least have phaser power?" Chris asked.
"I can provide you with ten minutes of power to the phasers before we are forced to disengage. Extended use will endanger our energy reserves. We will be floating dead in space."
It was better than nothing and at least they would be able to get out of here alive. "Understood but we need thruster control immediately Lieutenant."
"I already have a team working on it Sir. Thrusters should be functioning in approximately two minutes.
"We may not have two minutes." He retorted. "We're hanging dead and easy prey. Get it done now. Larabee out."
"Ezra," Chris turned to the security chief. "Can we get re-establish that torpedo lock on the intruder at all?"
Ezra did not answer but it was obvious that he would try no matter how much the odds were against it. "I will see what I can do Sir." He had been tending to the cuts and bruises on Alex and JD but hurried back to his console. Chris saw his brow furrow in frustration as he tried to make some light of the readings before him. "I am sorry Captain but the long range sensors are down. The hostile would have get pretty close before a perimeter alert is sounded. I will attempt to boost the gain to our short range scanners."
"Without the buffer field, our sensors are ineffective Captain." Alex groaned. "They're probably under cloak again."
"Which means their shields are still down." Chris retorted and thought quickly. They still the advantage of the enemy ship not being able to use its shield until its cloak was disengaged. No matter how powerful they were, the intruder would not be able to raise its shields until the cloak was fully disengaged. It was not much of an advantage but it was the only one they had.
"Captain," Vin called out. The Vulcan was fighting the urge to go to Alex but knew their survival depended upon his remaining at his post. "Thruster control just came back online."
"Ezra, how are we going on locating the intruder?" Chris asked again.
"I am still not detecting anything Captain." Ezra answered. Even with Buck at his side working to increase their signal gain on the short-range sensors, he could find nothing tangible at which they could aim.
"Vin." Chris said quickly. "Take us towards the Vikaris Quasar. Evasive pattern Beta."
"Yes Sir." The helmsman nodded and fed the order into his console. The Maverick began moving immediately at full impulse speed, zig zagging throughout space as it tried to avoid giving its invisible opponent a target at which to fire.
"Incoming!" Ezra suddenly shouted as he saw the high energy burst appear on the console screen before him.
The Maverick banked hard as a bolt of energy streaked past her bow so closely that Chris could almost feel it graze their hind quarter. The ship lurched forward slightly but suffered no other ill effects as it continued its hasty departure towards the Quasar.
"Target the phasers in the direction of that last blast and fire in a full spread!" Chris ordered again. "That ought to keep them off balance long enough for us to get to the Quasar! Vin, I want to swing around the mass's circumference and skim as close enough so that the electromagnetic interference obscures the intruder's sensors." The manoeuvre was tricky but Vin was without question the finest helmsman that Chris had ever seen and if anyone could get this ship to do what it needed to save all their lives, Chris was sure it would the Vulcan.
"I'm on it." Vin said confidently, none of the insecurities that dogged him present in his voice as he moved the great ship.
The Maverick made a sharp turn and started flying directly for the huge stellar mass. The sheer size of it soon eclipsed the viewer until all they could see was a radiating screen of power white light. The ship heaved as the phasers were fired.
"Give us a rear view." Chris said to no one in particular. In a moment, the image of the view screen revealed the phaser blast travelling away from the Maverick in an expanding web. As they detonated in succession, Chris saw a shimmer of energy in one particular spot. He let out a sigh of relief realising that Alex's idea to outfit the phasers and the torpedoes to penetrate the cloak had worked. The hull of the intruder's ship became visible for a moment. "Ezra, lock on quantum torpedoes to that location and fire!" He ordered again.
The quantum torpedoes exploded from the ship in rapid succession striking that area where that image had faded in and out of existence again.. The first and second impacted nothing but the last two reached their target and Chris saw a flare in the darkness. Immediately, the hull of the intruder's vessel became visible again. Judging from the charred marks across its surface, Chris estimated they had managed to do some damage.
"Should we fire again Sir?" Ezra asked even though the urge to park fifty torpedoes down the enemy's gullet was very tempting.
"No." Chris said after a moment. "We've got the chance to make a getaway, let's not waste it. We need to be in better shape then we are now before we force another confrontation. If they put up their shields and come after us, we're finished. Stand down for now, Lieutenant."
Ezra nodded in understanding. The Maverick was not just a Starfleet ship. She carried the families of almost everyone on board. The Captain was not willing to risk their lives when the odds were stacked against them and Ezra agreed with that assertion. "Aye Sir."
"Captain, we are entering the event horizon of the quasar," Buck announced.
"Good," Chris nodded. "I take it that sensors are now ineffective?"
"Yes Sir," the navigation officer answered. "We are operating on pre-programmed co-ordinates."
Prior to the engagement, JD had entered the co-ordinates on how close they could approach the quasar to remain hidden but keep from frying themselves in the process. Since they could not rely on their sensors to guide them, Vin would have to fly the ship using the guidance of the ship's navigational computers. On the viewer, Chris could see nothing but static as the electromagnetic fields generated by the quasar had rendered it effective, neither could they tell if the intruder was in pursuit or not. Since they were still in one piece, Chris assumed that for now they were safe.
Taking a deep breath, Chris rose from his chair to assess how much damage had been done to the bridge. There was shattered glass everywhere, live wires hanging from open conduits and damaged panels. The red emergency light was flashing although no one was taking any interest in it. For a moment, he was struck by the image of the Rutherford during those last few minutes prior to her demise. Chris sincerely hoped the Maverick would not meet its fate the same way. He had barely the opportunity to get to know this ship and his people and was determined not to lose either.
Ezra was kneeling over Alex who was resting against the wall opposite her damage station. Judging from the scorched marks on the skin of her arms and the redness on her face, the woman had suffered some severe injuries. JD was nursing an awful cut on his forehead, that was kept from gushing only because he was holding the sleeve of his uniform against the wound.
Chris went to Buck and saw his old friend wipe a smear of blood from his cut ear. "That could have gone better." He remarked.
"We're alive Captain," Darien answered. "And I believe we gave them something to think about as well."
"Not that we could tell." Chris sighed. "Still, we survived our first round and we have some useful data about their ship."
"Chris," Buck replied. "The odds weren't in our favour to survive the first encounter so we've done okay by any standard."
"Chris looked at Buck with a faint smile. "You're such an optimist."
Buck let out a weary sigh as if it this was one of those things that he had to put up with when dealing with Chris. "I'm just calling it as I see it."
"Right," the captain retorted mischievously. "Now, go away and do your first officer stuff."
Buck rolled his eyes and went to get Alex to the SickBay, leaving Chris alone for a moment. He turned to Mary who was watching the view screen, mesmerised by the approaching quasar as Vin brought the Maverick closer to the stellar phenomenon. "You alright?" He asked tenderly.
She turned to him and nodded. "Is it always this exciting on a starship?" She asked, a hint of teasing in her voice.
"Oh yeah," he said feigning nonchalance. "This is quiet. You ought to be around when the action really heats up."
Mary chuckled slightly and replied. "Ooh I can't wait."
"I will say this for them, they are persistent!" Chris spoke over the sound of the thundering reverberating shaking his ship. It had been almost a day since their encounter with the intruder's vessel. During that time, the Maverick had been periodically altering its position across the event horizon of the quasar in order to avoid the concussion blasts being hurled at them. As the electromagnetic interference from the Vikaris Quasar obscured sensor capabilities of both ships, the intruder, determined not to let them escape started using a different tactic to draw them from their hiding place. Utilising concussion charges, they had been bombarding the area mercilessly for the past twenty hours. Fortunately, the sheer size of the stellar mass made it impossible for them to cause any real damage aside from the incessant noise moving through the hull of the Maverick.
"Captain," Buck said trying to sound unperturbed in the face of the constant pounding to which the ship was being subjected. "I advise we move the ship again. Judging from the internal sensors, the last detonation was 20 kilometres from our port bow."
"Carry on commander." Chris agreed.
"Vin," Buck walked up to helm control, having decided against trying to compete with the noise to be heard. "Thrusters only, proceed 26 degrees to vector 8 for precisely ten minutes."
Although nothing could see seen on the viewer in front of him, Chris had become accustomed to his ship to know the sounds its engines made. He could feel it when the ship was moving, recognise the change of tone when she came to a standstill or when she slipped into warp. Technically, inertial dampeners were supposed to prevent him from feeling anything but Chris did not believe any amount of technology could sever the bond between a captain and his vessel. Even now, he could feel the thrusters being ignited as they slowly glided forward..
Despite the chaos around them, the Maverick was holding up well. At the moment, members of the engineering staff were scattered across the bridge, repairing consoles and getting vital bridge systems back online. All overload circuits had to be replaced and then enhanced considerably to avoid a repeat performance should they come under similar fire again. Most of the bridge crew present were junior officers. Chris had sent most of his senior officers to get some well-needed rest. However, Buck had declined the offer citing the first officer's place was on the bridge with his captain. Chris did not even try to argue that statement since Buck would have found some way to remain on the bridge no matter what.
Fortunately, no one was seriously injured during the attack. Although third degree burns could be considered severe, most of the injuries sustained were superficial, being cuts, bruises and burns. Alex was still in SickBay, being treated for her injuries. She had sustained third degree burns to her hands and Nathan did not want to release her prematurely, despite Alex's vehement insistent at returning to duty. Chris had acquiesced enough to allow her to attend the staff meeting later.
In the meantime, Josiah was hard at work, providing counselling to the families and children on board whom no doubt were having anxieties about their present situation. However, for most part, crew morale seemed better than he expected. Although they had been forced to withdraw from the engagement, they managed to do so in light of their opponents' abilities was reason enough to feel some measure of pride at their durability.
"Hold position, Vin." Buck's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. Suddenly, the reverberations rocking the ship seem to ebb away into the distance. In Chris's estimation, the respite would not be for long. After all, he had to be realistic. They had been playing this game with the enemy for some time now. It would not take long for the intruder to realise that they had slipped from under the net of concussion charges again. Like before, the intruder would recalibrate its target area and the game would resume once more.
"Well." Chris let out a sigh as Buck returned to his seat next to the Captain's chair. "At least it will be quiet when the senior staff meeting begins. I wonder how long they will keep this up."
"As long as it takes to locate us." Buck returned automatically. "Chris, you realise the moment we emerge from the shadow of this quasar, they'll find us."
"I am aware of that." Chris said tautly. "Unfortunately, we don't seem to have a great deal of options. We have to face them."
"I agree," Buck nodded. "However, perhaps we should think about calling n reinforcements Chris."
Chris looked at him sharply, disliking that idea immediately.
He knew his reasons were partially selfish but he could not help it. This was his first true test as Captain of the Maverick. Although he tried not be swayed by feelings of inadequacy by asking for help so soon after his promotion, Chris could not bring himself to take that course of action yet. Aside from his own self-interests, there was also another issue to be considered. The intruder was one ship. The point of all this beyond stopping the intruder's incursions into Federation space was to provide a convincing deterrent should this be a prelude to invasion. Somehow, summoning a fleet of starships to deal with one enemy vessel was a declaration of weakness they could ill afford to make. This was a test of strength and he knew it. Chris was convinced facing them in equal numbers was the only way to ensure the future safety of the Federation.
"Not just yet." Chris answered after a few seconds' deliberations. "The time may come when I will be forced to take that course of action but for now, I rather us be the only one in the line of fire."
"Even if we are destroyed?" Buck asked again.
Chris wondered if he was being intentionally brutal or was it simply realism. For the sake of their cohesion, he decided it was the latter. "If we are destroyed, none of this debate will matter." He responded. "If invasion is their goal then our dying will prove they are more than a match for any Starfleet vessel. I prefer to give them a good fight before that happens. However, we have proved that ingenuity can hurt them. We beat the Borg by being innovative, I have to believe we can do the same here."
"We need more information on what they are." Buck mused out loud. "While all evidence seems to indicate an invasion of the Federation, there are elements that just don't fit."
"Explain." Chris asked Buck to elaborate. Although he understood those curious elements his first officer was alluding to, Chris wanted Buck's input on them. If there was one thing that Chris had learnt in the short time he had served with Buck, their difference worked and now more than ever, that method of deduction was absolutely essential.
"If this was an invasion, why such unusual targets?" Buck asked. "There are far more sensible targets for an invasion force to test themselves against then defenceless Federation colonies. Deep Space Five is less than ten lights years away. That has got to be a more reasonable target. During the Romulan incursions into our space in the last century, they tested themselves against a starbase. Even the Cardassians and the Dominion have been reluctant to engage colonies until actual declarations of war were made. While I still think that this is an elaborate experiment, I can't understand why." He confessed.
"Perhaps, there is no rationale to their behaviour, Buck." Chris countered. "We assume that they operate under logical codes of behaviour but their reasons my be so alien to what we know that we would never have considered it. Until we met the Borg, it was beyond our belief that a civilisation could function the way they do."
"That is true but we're missing the crucial element to this situation and it is vital for our well being."
Chris did not doubt that one bit, but like Buck he was at a loss to guess what that could be. Instead, he eased back into his chair and tried to focus on something else for a change. A clear mind was as important as good health, Josiah always said. He had been thinking of nothing else but the intruder the past few days and he was sure that Buck was doing the same as well. Perhaps a change of subject might be in order. Standing up, he walked over to the helm station to see how Vin was doing. The Vulcan appeared to be in deep thought as he maintained the ship's position next to the quasar. "How are you doing Vin?" He asked.
Vin met his gaze immediately. The question had taken the Vulcan by complete surprise and his expression showed. "I'm doing okay Chris." Vin replied, aware that the Captain did not mind being called by his first name when they were speaking privately.
Chris had read Vin's personal record and knew that his parents had died when he was five years old. His foster family was on their way back to the Federation when they crashed into an uncharted world and were marooned there for many years until they were eventually rescued. Vin had then been transported back to Earth with his family and had resided at their ranch in Texas. Since it was almost impossible to identify his Vulcan parents, no attempt had been made and the boy had become something of a problem to Vulcan authorities since he was too old to adopt their disciplines or live according to their harsh way of life. If Vin had any Vulcan left within him, it was existed in only the slightest degree
"You did good Vin," Chris commended. "No one could have gotten us out there any faster."
"Thank you," the young man answered trying not to become affected by the captain's praise. "Is Alex gonna be okay?" He asked after a moment. He had been at this station ever since the attack and had not much chance to see about her welfare. When he had stopped in on SickBay, Nathan had explained that she was still undergoing treatment.
"According to Doctor Jackson, she driving them crazy to let her out of sick bay." Chris explained. Buck had told him about the incident in Four Corners that had the ship buzzing with the rumour that the Vulcan was having a relationship with Alex. Inez who had witnessed the scene had set people straight but it was obvious that the kiss had a profound effect on Vin.
"Good." He nodded, please to know that she was alright before he returned his gaze to the console before him.
"You're from Texas aren't you?" Chris asked.
"Yeah." Vin replied. "My parents had a horse ranch up there."
"It's a lot like Vulcan there you know." Chris revealed, aware that Vin had never visited his home world. "Hot and dry. I've never been there myself. I'm from Boston originally."
"Your father was an English Professor." Vin stated.
Obviously, he had done a little investigation on his captain as well, Chris thought with a faint smile. Well, that was fair. "Yes, I spent most of my childhood in his campus library at Harvard University. Dad believed no data pad could enhance the reading experience like traditional leather bound books."
Vin considered that point before responding. "My mother was a xenobiologist at the Academy of Science and she liked keeping her records on paper. I still have a lot of her books."
For a moment, Chris saw something that was akin to deep affection in the Vulcan's expression. Chris knew then without even asking that Vin and his mother had an extremely close relationship. Perhaps as close as he and his own father had been. "I would never get rid of them myself." Chris commented.
"You've been to Vulcan?" Vin asked.
"A long time ago," Chris replied. "I had a furlough there."
He remembered visiting the famous Vulcan landmark when he was an ensign. Seleya was majestic mountain covered in red earth that seemed to be holding the amber sky on its shoulders. Chris recalled thinking that only a planet full of logicians could produce one of the most mystical places in the galaxy. Seleya held the spirit of Vulcan history in every grain of red sand and rock on its mantle. Only Ulluru in the Australian Outback could possibly match it for sheer spiritual mystery.
"Perhaps you should go for a visit on the holo-deck." He suggested.
"I don't know." Vin replied.
"I tell you what, permitting we survive this week. I'll go with you." Chris offered.
"That is not necessary." Vin retorted.
"Nonsense," Chris replied deciding he was not taking no for an answer. "It will be my pleasure."
Anything else Vin might have said in protest remained unspoken at the sudden opening of the turbo lifts doors. Julia made her appearance with Nathan and Alex for their scheduled meeting.
Chris let out a sigh as he turned to Buck. "I'm afraid we'll have to continue this later Vin. Buck. Its time to rally the troops."
"All in all captain, the civilian crew members are holding up well." Josiah completed his brief summary on the emotional state of the crew. "They seem to believe that if the situation was truly critical you would have separated the ship by now. As you haven't done that yet, it is proving to be a measure of your confidence that we will come out of this safe."
Chris listed to Josiah's report and wondered if the Counsellor had any idea how close he had come to making the decision to separate the saucer section. If he had this day to live over again, he was uncertain whether or not he would have kept from giving that order. While he had planned their strategy on using the quasar as their safety net should they need a place to hide, even he had to acknowledge that the Vikaris Quasar was only a temporary measure. Chris could not deny that the issue of saucer separation had been in mind since escaping into the sphere of the quasar.
"Thank you Counsellor," Chris said in return. "Your efforts to bolster confidence have been exemplary." At that, he looked to Buck. "What's next?"
"Engineering." Buck answered.
"Right," he nodded and faced Julia. "What is the status of the warp engines at this point?"
"The warp engines are online, however, I require another three hours for my engineering team to complete work on reinforcing all our overload circuitry. Should we encounter the intruder again, I would like to prevent the same damage from recurring."
Chris could not disagree with that statement. "A wise precaution." He nodded. "I think we can hold position for that amount of time. However, we need to strengthen our shielding considerably. Their weapon came straight through us."
"We are attempting to divert more energy to the shields." Julia replied automatically as if she had expected that response. "However, our shields were barely capable of preventing the weapon from completely destroying us. It may be a case of our shields being unable to compete with that amount of power." She retorted.
"Captain," Ezra spoke up after a moment. "Alex and I have been working on an idea after our analysis of their weapon." He glanced at the injured science officer before returning his gaze to the captain.
"I am open to suggestions." Chris replied.
"Despite our last encounter with the intruder," Ezra began, "we did have the opportunity to observe this weapon of theirs. As we knew before hand, their weapon works on destabilising the atomic bonds of all forms of matter, be it energy or solid objects. That is why, they were able to obliterate Colony 1 and 4 so completely and why our shields were almost powerless against it."
He was not saying anything that none of them were unaware of but Chris allowed him to continue anyway, confident that this summary was only a prelude to the idea he and Alex had developed.
"Go on." He urged however, reminding Ezra subtlety that time did not allow for overly lengthy explanations.
Ezra was wise enough to catch the hidden meaning and came quickly to the point. "Alex and I believe that it is possible for us to develop a defence against this weapon. Since our phasers already work on a modulating frequency which adjust phaser power to penetrate Borg shielding, I do not see why we cannot adapt our shields in the same manner."
"You mean to adapt our shields to function as Borg shields?" Julia declared.
"No," Alex spoke up instead, knowing that she was better able to take up this part of the explanation than Ezra was. "I mean adapting our shield using the same principle if not the method. This weapon destabilises atomic bonds. What if we keep rotating the shield modulation continuously, so their weapon is unable to get a fix on our shield frequency long enough to effect its subatomic structure. Our shields are energy based and are created on the basis of altering the phase mode of energy particles. It too has an individual frequency the intruder's weapons have to define before it can be destabilise. If our computers can keep altering the frequency at short, random intervals, we may be able to keep their weapon from damaging us as substantially as before."
"It will be a tremendous drain on our power reserves." Julia stated firmly.
"I agree," Ezra argued. "However, it's better than no defence at all. They crippled us from just one blast. Any advantage we can get is better than nothing at all. Each time they have to recalibrate their weapons to penetrate our shields, is time we have to attack or if necessary escape."
"That's a good point." Chris spoke up, impressed with the duo's work. "How soon can you get the shields adapted for this?"
Alex looked at Ezra before speaking. "With Ezra's help and an extra pair of hands from Engineering, we can get it online in five hours."
"Is that acceptable to you Lieutenant?" Chris looked at Julia. "Can you spare a member of your team?"
"No problem that." The engineer remarked neutrally.
"I do see a problem." Nathan who had been quietly listening until now spoke. He was eyeing Alex sharply. "Alex, you ought to be resting. You are still not completely recovered from your injuries."
"I feel fine." She protested grumbled.
"I wouldn't argue with the doctor if I were you." Chris offered Alex that sympathetic piece of advice.. "Besides, I have to agree with the Doctor. Five hours of the kind of work you intend may be pushing it a little. Dermal regeneration if I am not mistaken works only if the patient is sensible enough to get some rest."
"Precisely." Nathan retorted.
"Buck," Chris turned to Buck "Is there any reason why you can't assist Ezra with this work if Mr Alex gave you her specs?"
Buck shrugged, meeting Ezra's gaze and then Alex's. "None whatsoever Captain. I'm sure Commander Styles has done considerable research and calculations into the shield modulation and I don't see any difficult in working from her specs."
At that, Alex seemed a little happier. Chris knew that compromise would appease the doctor and his science officer. "Since we are all agreed on that, let's move on." Chris announced. "Now, we need to seriously discuss the possibility of separating the ship."
At that, the room went deadly silent. A moment ago, the talk in the room was filled with the possibility of showing the intruder that they were a force to be reckoned with. However, now it appeared that the Captain was not as confident as he appeared to be at all regarding their chances. Chris noticed the sudden silence in the room and realised immediately what was going through their heads.
"Look," he said quickly. "Don't look so shocked. I'm not admitting defeat in any case however, we should be prepared if we are forced to exercise that option. Separating the ship is going to be a last resort that I am far from contemplating at the moment."
After making that announcement, he saw his staff release a sigh of relief knowing that this was merely a precautionary discussion and not a fatalistic one. "Now," Chris began again once he had their undivided attention. "Ensign Dunne, I believe you have a command level training?"
JD nodded mutely. "Yes I have," he answered. Obviously, it was not a request often made of him.
"Good," he replied without missing a beat. "In the event of separation, you will join the saucer section."
He looked as if he might protest but did not when he realised that the command was the correct one. If the saucer section were to separate, then they needed one of the bridge officers to take command. JD did not like having to leave but understood why the Captain was making the order. "Yes Sir."
"That goes for you too Nathan." Chris said quickly.
"You'll need a doctor." Nathan objected as Chris knew he would.
"The EMH program will do in a pinch and you're needed on saucer section where the bulk of the crew will be." Chris replied, preparing himself to do battle with the doctor on this issue.
"Those damn things are not a real doctor!" Nathan retorted. "If the program is damaged in any way, you will be without medical assistance. I have plenty of junior doctors under my command who can provide medical support to the saucer section. I should remain on board."
"Captain," Buck spoke up suddenly. "He 's right."
Nathan seemed genuinely surprise to receive support from such an unexpected quarter but he did not question it.
"All right," Chris conceded. "You can stay." However, nothing was changing Chris' next decision. "Josiah, you're going though."
"But...." the Counsellor started to protest.
"I'm sorry but there will be a lot of frightened people on the saucer section, you need to be there to deal with them." Chris said firmly.
The look on Chris face told Josiah that the Captain would be unmoveable on this particular subject. Although Josiah did not want his first assignment on a ship to be his last, he started to realise that it was not his decision to make. These were risks Josiah was very aware of when he signed on board and that included obeying the Captain's orders no matter what their personal relationship.
"If you think its best." He nodded in agreement.
"I do.' Chris replied, glad that Josiah understood his reasoning. This exchange went unnoticed by the rest of the crew and Chris's only indication to Josiah was a slight nod of acknowledgement.
"All right," Chris said after a moment. "If that's all there is, you're all dismissed."
After all, they could not waste time preparing themselves for Round Two.