Episode 19


Hidden Threats


Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18

Back to the story


Chapter 1

{Days Later, 1000 hours, Captain's Ready Room}

Priscilla was just finishing up her daily report to Command based on the morning's staff meeting. All she needed now was the reports from the other ships. She had gotten really good at having her report done in time for the daily Captain's meeting.

It was a five way communication between each ship in the task force. With help from the Griffin's Engineering department the Braithwrite had been fixed up before the deadline Priscilla had set, so there were now five ships. Instead of rearranging patrol routes and schedules, Priscilla stationed the Braithwrite near the one known alien gate.

Most people would have thought the ships could just stay near the gate and that would be the best protection. But analysis of the alien ship's attacks and other sightings - the locations, times, directions of approach, etc. - by the Science department indicated that either there had been more than one alien ship, which was unlikely, or there had been more than one gate.

So the task force was patrolling both for potential other alien ships and for other gates, not that they had a reliable method for detecting a gate.

The meeting was a short one. Captain Collins reported no activity at the gate, but that his crew believed they had a way to shut it down. They wanted a couple more hours to run simulations before a live test to be sure. Captains Doewer of the Ticonderoga, Jensen of the Berlin, and Milandrieh of the Elisim all reported status quo. Priscilla reported the same with the Griffin.

They then decided it would be two more days before the ships that had exchanged personnel for Ship Leave would meet up to switch them back. That meant Tovaal's sister would remain on the Griffin for two more days and Commander Davidson would remain on the Ticonderoga, as would all the other officers that were visiting family or friends. The Captains all wished each other luck before signing out.

Priscilla added Captain Collins' report to her own, then sent it to Starfleet. Leaning back in the chair, she sighed. A moment later she stood and went to the replicator. "Green Tea, boiling." She carefully picked up the cup that materialized then went back to her desk and set it down there while she waited for it to cool enough to drink.

She was happy people were getting to see those they hadn't in a long time. She briefly wondered how Davidson and son were doing. One getting to know the father from his youth all over again, the other getting caught up on a decade and a half he didn't remember.

But she was also a bit resentful of the situation. After she had been informed of the formation of the task force she had been told that Starfleet hadn't decided on which ship to send as the third. So she had started doing some research of her own to make a recommendation. It had turned out the Dark Angel was the closest ship of sufficient offensive power. But Command chose the Elisim instead. Now, while others were spending happy time together, Priscilla was sad she hadn't gotten the chance to spend the same time with her husband.

She turned her computer terminal towards her to open a communication to the Dark Angel. If she couldn't spend time with him, she could at least talk to him more often while their ships were somewhat close together.

"Captain to the Bridge," her commbadge announced.

She sighed, but only slightly. Then walked out to the Bridge.

"Report."

"We're detecting some odd readings," Anna said from the computer terminal her face was buried in.

"Captain," a distracted voice said. Priscilla turned to see Alexandria stepping off the turbolift with a slightly perplexed look on her face.

"Yes Counselor?"

"Remember when I said there was someone scared on the alien ship?" Priscilla nodded. "I'm sensing the same person again, still scared. But... I'm not sure how. I think, whomever it is, is alone.


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Chapter 2

"Captain," Krasinski reported, "subatomic meson and lepton activity is increasing directly off the starboard nacelle...."

"Back us off, Lt. Maxwell" Myst ordered

"Yellow alert," Daem called.

"...it appears to be a wormhole opening," Krasinski continued. Myst turned to the science station.

"Lieutenant have there been any reports of a wormhole in this sector?" Myst inquired.

Daem shot a quick glance at Myst but just as quickly focused back on the view screen and said not a word. She didn't have to use her Betazoid skills to know what was coming next, but she knew her El'Aurian heritage would come in handy.

"Captain, a report of a reoccurring wormhole in this or any sector other than near the planet of Bajor would be most highly improbable," Krasinski said. "Wormholes by their very nature of being unstable, of course as you know,

causes us to neither be able to predict, nor track them. In fact it has become questionable that the Bajoran wormhole is a naturally occurring entity given that we believe there are aliens that reside in and possibly have some way of using the wormhole. The only other wormhole once believed stable, that near Barzan II was..."

"Captain," Daem conveniently finding the need to interrupt, "what looks to be an escape pod is coming through the wormhole."

"There appears to be a very faint life sign aboard," Rinali reported. "I do not believe it is human, however it is so faint that it is not possible to tell what it is."

"Does the pod have maneuverability?" Myst asked.

"Negative," said Rinali.

"The pod's life support system is failing," Krasinski reported.

"Engineering, I need a tractor beam on the pod off our starboard nacelle," ordered Myst. There was a few seconds of silence on the bridge.

"We've got it," came the voice of Lt. Aiden from engineering.

"Bring it into Shuttle Bay 2." Myst replied.

"Captain, I suggest we set up a secure area in sick bay in the event that life support fails completely and we need an emergency beam out," Daem proposed. Myst nodded.

Daem activated her comm badge. "Doctor Stone I am going to have a force field erected around a bio-bed, we may need to transport an unknown patient."

"Acknowledged" answered Stone.

Daem then activated her comm badge again. "Lt. Crawford, please erect a level three force field around bio-bed five in sickbay, then get a transporter lock on the occupant in the pod."

"Aye, aye sir" answered Crawford.


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Chapter 3

{Sickbay}

"Doctor, are you ready?" Crawford inquired. The Lieutenant knew he was ready, but obviously wanted to make sure that the ship's medical team was also just as ready for whomever, or whatever was about to be brought aboard.

"Go ahead," Stone replied.

What materialized in front of him on the bio-bed made him take a moment of pause. Stone looked at the nearly unconscious being, "Captain? You better come down hear. You need to see this."

"I will be right there." Captain Myst did her usual scan of her personnel and then began walking towards the turbo lift door giving her orders. "Daem, Travin with me. Zosin you have the bridge."

The trio reported to Sick Bay as had been requested. When they walked into the room they were taken aback from what they had seen on the bio-bed, just as Dr. Stone had been initially. "Cardassian?" Captain Myst thought aloud. "But what happened to him?"

Commander Daem then spoke up, "He may look Cardassian, but I don't think he is."

Doctor Stone then motioned the threesome to the other side of the bio-bed that was originally hidden from them by the angle at which they had entered. As they approached the opposite side, Stone spoke, "Quite right, Doctor Daem. Look at this." Doctor Stone pointed to what remained of the beings face. The group could now clearly see the burns and melting away of what appeared to be an elaborate disguise. "It looks like whoever this is, was disguised to look like a Cardassian."

"But why?" the Captain again thought aloud. Most of Myst's thought process was focused on the possibilities and theories rummaging around in her head as to what this visitor's role was in any of what was going on, more then keeping things quiet.

"Sir, I am afraid we won't know anything until he becomes conscience naturally. If we bring him around, we may kill him. His system wouldn't be able to handle the shock," Stone explained.

Captain Myst nodded. "Travin set up a security team right here. Until we get answers, I want him under full surveillance." Myst then looked at Stone, "Once you get anything from him, let me know."

"Aye, Sir."

Myst and Daem left the room while Rinali set up what was necessary in Sickbay.


{Assistant's Science Office}

Meanwhile, Vosch and Dumas were running their daily routine diagnostics and scans. "Terri, did you see that? That signature trace just before the wormhole opened." Vosch asked as if he had just discovered that Santa Claus is real.

"Yes," Terri replied. "It doesn't look like anything abnormal except for the fact there probably should not be a stable wormhole here. But lately, nothing would surprise me." Terri finished with a chuckle.

"Not that signature trace… that one. The one just before the opening." Vosch pointed to the monitor to better clarify for Terri. "Look familiar?"

"You mean like the one just before our encounters with the Caramani?" Terri asked.

"Exactly." After a few moments of studying and working out overlays, he called Lt. Krasinski. "Lt. Krasinski, we have found something very interesting. I am sending it to your console."

Krasinski studied the finding on her bridge console and called Davidson over. "What do you think?"

Davidson just looked and began to smile. "Looks like your science team may have found a thread for us to pull on to make the whole mystery of this technology come into view." Davidson then tapped his comm. badge, "Karanek, Dumas… good work. Send these files over to Lt. Aiden. Vosch I want you to go meet up with him," Davidson spoke and then paused looking for the okay from Krasinski. After she nodded approval, Jack continued, "See what the two of you can come up with."

"Aye, Sir" Vosch replied.

Just as Vosch was about to leave, doubled over in obvious pain gripping his sides. Terri seemed panicked, "Vosch are you okay?"


{Sickbay}

Meanwhile, in Sick Bay the eyes of the strange visitor opened, "You must stop them. If the Cardass...," the visitor then blanked out for only a moment and started on another tangent, "Mordin, don't do it. Don't condemn your brethren. Don't sell out to the Card..."

The visitor then fell back into unconsciousness.


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Chapter 4

They had been in hour two of training in knife fighting techniques when the yellow alert sounded.

"You still owe me thirty-one hours of your undivided attention, 'Nat. A bet is a bet." Aiden couldn't stop smiling. She was a better student than she was willing to admit.

"Thirty. We're rounding off for alert interruptions."

"Have I tired you out already?" he asked, toweling off.

"This would be the only way you could do it, cheater," and she stuck her tongue out at him.

"Do I get my hour back if I offer you some time at the phaser range?"

"We'll see." She pulled her uniform top back on. "See you back on station," she whispered, and then she dashed out.

Aiden was in third cycle, so he figured he had more time. "More time" proved to be about thirty seconds before his com badge beeped.

Picking it up, he muttered, "Solasho here. Go ahead."

"This is Karanek. Did I wake you?"

"No, sir. What can I do for you?"

"We have some trace readings from a wormhole that just opened up that bear a strong resemblance to our current quarry. As soon as your shift starts, I want every correlation you can come up with."

"I'll start on it now, sir."

"Have you had enough rack time, Lieutenant?"

Aiden smirked at the layers of double-entendre that his superior would not be privy too, thanking a few obscure Klingon heroes that the default communication for the Federation was audio only, and then answered crisply, "I'm quite rested, sir. Thank you for your concern. I'll collect the data from you directly and then report as soon as I have something."


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Chapter 5

{Earlier, just outside of Sickbay}

"Commander," Alexandria called after Jaquelle as the XO headed off with the Captain. Jaquelle indicated to Priscilla she would catch up later, and turned towards the Counselor.

"Yes?"

"I'd like to speak with you," Alexandria said as she caught up with Jaquelle. "Lieutenant Travin is busy at the moment...." She looked back towards Sickbay and paused a moment, as if listening to something. "I'm wondering if I'm the only one sensing... whatever it is I'm sensing?"

Daem paused a moment as well, reaching out for, well, anything out of the ordinary. "You will have to be more specific," she said finally.

Alexandira shook her head. "It's hard to describe. I can sense the... alien in Sickbay. He- it? It's what I was sensing before as being afraid. But now that I'm so close to it- him, it's feels like there's something... else? More? I'm not really sure. It's almost like an echo. A psychic echo of his feelings. But I can't tell where it's coming from."

"Can you tell where it's not?" Daem suggested. "Narrow down the possibilities, then try to focus on it. Perhaps that will help." Alexandria nodded. "I also recommend speaking with Travin when she's finished setting up security. She's become more attuned to noticing subtle things over the last year."

"Thanks, Commander."


{Bridge}

"Captain," Zosin acknowledged as Priscilla came back onto the Bridge. He stepped away from the command chair, not that he had been sitting in it, to return it to her, and headed back to his own station. As he went he continued speaking. "The Braithwrite reported in that the gate has been permanently terminated."

That sounded like good news to Priscilla. "So their plan worked?"

"No, sir," Zosin replied. "Apparently the gate self-destructed. They are still trying to determine the cause."

Priscilla pondered that as she sat down.


{Ten Forward}

Nina looked at the dish she had just prepared. She frowned and turned it so she could see the other side. Somehow, it had gone bad in the five minutes it had taken her prepare the eggs to do with it.

"This makes no sense," she commented to herself. She was about to call Riv (Ten Forward's host), when a loud crash occurred behind her. She jumped around, her Mother's instincts kicking in for a second. Seeing no children were hurt, obviously since children weren't allowed in the "kitchen", she looked around curiously.

Riv came in looking worried. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," she waved it off. "It wasn't me. But I was the only one in here."


{Later, Bridge}

"Captain, we're receiving a distress call," Zosin announced.

"From?" Priscilla asked.

"And another one," Zosin added before he could reply to the Captain's question. "The first is from Telitha mining station, the second is from a small freighter in almost the opposite direction."

Priscilla frowned. "We can only respond to one. Contact the Berlin."

"Aye, sir," Zosin replied.

"Ensign Unguf, lay in a course to the mining station."

"Aye, sir," came the Conn Officer's response as Zosin reported communications with the Berlin had been established.

"Captain Myst," the Berlin's Captain said as the communication came on screen.

"Captain Jensen," Priscilla greeted the main viewscreen quickly. "We're receiving two distress calls. I'd like you to answer one for us-"

"Captain," Zosin interrupted. "We're receiving another distress call." He looked up at the main viewscreen with confusion. "It's from the Berlin."

Captain Jensen raised an eyebrow. Priscilla frowned. "Is everything okay Captain?"

"Yes, quite," Jensen replied. "We're not sending a distress signal."

"Captain," a voice from behind Jensen called out. "Sensors are picking up some faint readings. It looks like another gate."

"Captain," Zosin announced. "A fourth distress call."

Priscilla did her best to hide her disgust at the situation that was developing.

"Sounds like you have your own problems," Jensen said. "We'll investigate the new gate, and will keep you apprised."

"Very good," Priscilla replied.

"Berlin out."

After the other Captain disappeared from the screen, Priscilla turned to face Zosin. "Are any of the distress calls real?"

"I don't know, sir."

"Contact each one, find out."

"On it, sir."

She sat back down in her chair. It was very bad for them to be receiving fake distress calls during the potentially dangerous situation this sector was in. How would they be able to tell if a real distress call came in? Would the amount of time it took to verify it be too long? "If they are all false, get Engineering up here to fix the problem, and fast."


{Hours more later, Engineering Lab}

Aiden was fixated on all the data before him. He was so entrenched in his work he didn't notice someone else enter the Lab.

"No no," Shannon said from over Aiden's shoulder, starling him. He looked up at the half-Vulcan half-Human as she pointed past him to the second screen. "This actually maps to over here."

Putting aside the 'who are you', 'what do you think you are doing', and the 'its nice to meet such a lovely woman' for a moment, Aiden looked at what the woman was showing him. She was in a Starfleet uniform so he gave her the benefit of the doubt. "That doesn't correlate," he finally replied.

She put down a PADD before him. "Yes it does, you're just missing some data."

He looked at the data on the PADD briefly. "Where did this come from?"

"Mostly from the Ticonderoga, but I cross referenced with data from back when I was on the Kitty Hawk."

Aiden hmm-ed as he started to see answers he'd been looking for for the last couple hours.

"I don't think you need me anymore," Tovaal announced from where he was still standing next to the door.

"I found my way just fine, thank you," Shannon shot back playfully.

Aiden ignored Tovaal as his mind dove back to work. "Have you considered-" he started to say to Shannon when the entire lab went dark.


{Main Engineering}

"Jason," Daniel called out. "We've lost contact with all labs on Deck 22."

"What?"

"Main power's been cut to the deck," Daniel reported. "The order appears to have come from the Bridge. I've tried comm badge and terminal to terminal communications with Deck 22, but they've been disrupted somehow. There are at least six crew members on that deck."

"That's also were the analysis of the wormhole is going on," Crawford observed. He touched his comm badge. "Main Engineering to Bridge. Why did you cut power to Deck 22?"

There was a pause. "No one here did so," came the reply.


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Chapter 6

Jaquelle walked back into sickbay. She looked over to bio-bed 5 and at the entity in it. It was totally unrecognizable to her as any life form she had met. Standing near it was security officer Edward, but just near, obviously

there was a force field between Edward and the entity. Jaquelle could not sense any feelings from it at all. She walked closer.

"Ensign Edward, drop the force field just long enough for me to enter," she said quietly, still concentrating on the entity.

"I'm sorry sir, my orders are to not let anyone within the force field," Edward replied.

Jaquelle looked over at Dr. Stone who had looked up from his work when she entered.

"Is there some need for the quarantine, Doctor?" Jaquelle asked.

"Not my order, Doctor" Stone answered with an amused smirk.

Jaquelle suddenly felt the first lighthearted moment she had experienced all day. She turned back to Ensign Edward.

"And who is this person who gave you this order that would override mine?" she said, knowing full well that Captain Myst would not have directly given this ensign such an order. She knew who the order was from and she would sense Ensign Edward's mixture of confusion and trepidation.

"Um, the order came from Commander Travin, Ma'am er, Sir," he said hesitantly.

"Well, why don't we just get Commander Travin down here," she said trying to keep a straight face. She acivated her comm badge. "Commander Travin to sick bay," Jaquelle called out.

"On my way," said Travin in her usual no-nonsense voice.

Jaquelle could sense that Edward was now very worried.

"Don't worry Ensign, you did just fine. I needed Commander Travin anyway," Jaquelle said soothingly.

Within minutes Travin was in sick bay. Jaquelle explained to her what Counselor Sandraian had expressed.

"...so, I'd like to go into the force field to get closer to the entity, but I'd like you to help. Maybe you can reach something that I can't," Jaquelle stated.

Travin had her shields firmly in place so Jaquelle could not read her mind. But she did note that Travin looked a bit uneasy. Nevertheless, Travin did not miss a beat. She nodded to Edward and he in turn took down the force field. The two of them walked up to the bio-bed. Jaquelle sat in a chair next to the entity. Travin stood ramrod straight on the other side of the bed. Jaquelle could sense something, but it wasn't from the entity, not directly. It

was echoed through Travin, or was it? Jaquelle finally understood what Alexandria meant. But then she sensed an awareness, this time coming from Travin and she understood.

" It's coming from deck 22," Jaquelle said to Travin.

"Yes," said Travin. "The feeling we are picking up from this entity is being transmitted from deck 22 where the analysis of the wormhole is taking place."

Jaquelle quickly stood and walked toward the force field. Travin followed. The field went down before they hit it. Jaquelle activated her comm badge.

"Lieutenant Krasinski shut down all research on the wormhole." Jaquelle ordered. "Do you read me?"

There was no response.

"Lieutenant Crawford, we need communication with deck 22 immediately, Krasinski is with the engineering team there and we are still getting no response," Jaquelle called.

"Defoe has gone to correct the situation," Crawford answered.

Jaquelle turned to Travin

"We need security down there now," she said, then realized without reading Travin's mind what the answer would be. "You're already on it, aren't you."

Travin nodded then turned quickly and headed to the turbo lift to meet the security team already on it's way to deck 22.


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Chapter 7

Shannon's data had prompted a huge leap forward in Aiden's research. Finally, he was prepared to test his hypothesis on the alien gate technology. Quickly he set up the simulation, as the Griffin was not currently near a gate. Not wanting to risk the entire network, he isolated a single sensor group that would be slaved to the lab he was working in and began his reprogramming. It wasn't a particularly risky test, but the sensor would have to use a polarized gluon emission to gain its readings, and broadcasting anything when the local space was compromised was always a risk.

His com badge chirped once a moment after he began the test, but everything went dark before he could even reach to answer. Even the deck lights were out. When touching his com badge resulted in no contact beep, he crouched to recover the emergency battery from his data core pack under his workstation.

The sound that followed was not the transporter noise he was accustomed to, but the displacement of air was unmistakable. Aiden's hands moved from the pack to his weapons case, which he hadn't bothered to return to his room for some reason. Better to be lucky than good most days....

A soft tweet, something almost pleasant to the ears, sounded a half dozen meters away. The sickening thud of an engineer slumping to the floor nearby confirmed his instincts. Closing his eyes, he rose like a ghost from his unintentional hiding place, dueling knife reversed in his left hand.

The closest intruder moved slowly to Aiden's senses. The feel of his movements betrayed this one's dependence on artificial sensory enhancements with a narrow field of vision. The rifle was pointed at Aiden when his blade sang, but the trigger was never pulled. A three man team was now reduced to two as the creature collapsed with its head loose on its neck. A quick stab at the next closest resulted in a soft noise, but did not even divest it of its weapon. Lamenting his lack of knowledge of their anatomy, he was forced to sink his knife into the next intruder again, a dangerous loss of time in a razor thin opportunity. The third, stunned by the ferocity of Aiden's rush, failed to act in the space of the Lieutenant's delay in finishing his comrade. A casual flick of the knife spattered blood across the last commando's vision equipment, and then a true strike into the softly thumping center of the humanoid's torso left Aiden's immediate space quiet.

He gave himself a few guilty seconds to ascertain that there were no others in reach before calling out, "Intruder Alert! Officer down!" Security would have to arrive soon, but would it be soon enough with the deck so thoroughly blacked out?


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Chapter 8

{Deck 22, Engineering Lab}

Tovaal had stayed well clear of the Griffin's Engineer as he handed the attackers quick defeat. Tovaal waited what he felt was a safe amount of time - weighed against his immediate need to go to his sister and make sure she was... alive, at least - before bolting from his spot by the non-opening door.

"Shannon," he called as he carefully felt around in the dark where he had heard her fall. Getting no response, he called out just after Aiden's call for security, "Medical Emergency! Deck 22!"

Aiden cursed softly under his breath as he noted neither call received an answer. "This is more than just a power outage," he observed aloud. He turned back to his station, or whatever station it was he was closet to now, deciding to try and find a technical way out of the lab. The first thing was to locate a tricorder. As an independent tool, not needing to interface with anything else, it would likely still have power source and not be affected by whatever damping effect was causing the communications blackout.

It was easy enough for Tovaal to find Shannon, harder to locate a proper place to check for a pulse. He only relaxed after confirming she was still alive. But in the complete dark and without any sort of equipment, he had no way of telling how bad off she was.


{Deck 22, Elsewhere}

A Jeffries Tube access cover fell to the deck. A single light shined from the other side of the opening, quickly sweeping the immediate area. Revealing nothing, the light's owner finished climbing down the ladder that lead from the deck above and out onto the deck. Two officers followed him.

The two took up positions, monitoring the corridor in each direction with the lights attached to their arms. The first put his head back into the tube, looking up.

"We're on the deck, sir," he called. "No sign of intruders here."

"Move on to the next intersection," Zosin replied. "The next team is on its way down."

The plan was to search the deck, as usual for a situation like this. But without the comm system they had to be creative about coordination. Travin had decided to use a relay system. Each team reporting to the one following it, and so back to the tube. Zosin was co-ordinating from Deck 21 because, of course, Travin had wanted to lead from the scene. So she was down on Deck 22, moving with a team that had started on the opposite side.


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Chapter 9

{Bridge}

Jaquelle sat on the bridge in the first officer's chair, watching her monitor and listening for the progress of the search teams. Normally watching and listening patiently was her forte. But this time she kept switching her monitor from deck to deck, from life signs on the ship, to the space outside. She was impatient, something extremely uncharacteristic for her. She was troubled by the feeling she had in sickbay while sensing the entity.

Jaquelle finally sat still and tried to feel the emotions of the people on deck 22. She wanted them to be alive. She wanted them not to be scared. Actually, she really would like them to be scared so that she could sense them, but she knew they wouldn't be, they were Starfleet.

Jaquelle was very strong as empaths go, she could read minds when in the presence of a telepathic society and most of the time did not like the sensation. But occasionally in situations like this she wished she were a full telepath. She couldn't single out the people on deck 22, but then she thought, maybe Sandraian could

"Captain," Jaquelle said, "permission to work with Ensign Sandraian in attempting to identify crew members on deck 22."

Myst understood the request and nodded. Jaquelle activated her comm badge.

"Ensign Sandraian, please meet me in the conference room."

There was no answer.

"Ensign Sandraian, respond," Jaquelle said.

"Was she also on deck 22?" Myst asked.

"Not to my knowledge," Jaquelle replied. "Computer, where is Ensign Sandraian?"

"Ensign Sandraian is in her quarters," responded the voice of the computer.

Myst nodded and Daem left the bridge.


{Sandraian's Quarters}

Jaquelle rang the chime for a third time, but again there was no answer, however she could sense that Sandraian was inside.

"Security override, Daem, First Officer," she said. The door to Sandraian's quarters slid open. Jaquelle stepped inside. She could hear Sandraian...singing. She could sense that Sandraian didn't have a care in the world. Jaquelle called to her, but Sandraian just kept singing. Finally Jaquelle walked all the way in. Sandraian was painting, and singing.

"Ensign," Jaquelle said. Sandraian finally turned.

"Hello," Alexiandria said in a lyrical voice and continued painting.

"You do know we are in a yellow alert situation, don't you?" Daem said in a calm even tone.

"Oh, yes, yellow, that's what I need," Alexiandria said as she paused to study her painting.

"I need your help in trying to sense for crew members on deck 22." Jaquelle continued.

Alexiandria slowly turned to Jaquelle, no longer smiling, and yelled.

"I can't listen anymore. There are too many voices. There are too many people in too close of an area. And there are voices out there, too. I was not trained for this. I can't do this. I quit!" Alexiandria turned back to her painting, picked up some yellow paint and started to sing.

Jaquelle stood for a moment and took it all in, then turned and left. When the doors closed behind her she activated her comm signal.

"Doctor Stone, you are needed in Counselor Sandraian's quarters," Jaquelle said. "You will need to override the door security to get in."

"Is there an emergency?" asked Stone.

"She is not injured, but I am relieving her of duty," was Jaquelle's only response.


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Chapter 10

{Assistant’s science station at Stellar Cartography}

Ensign Dumas entered the room noticing Vosch sitting quite still at the console. She continued to examine as he failed to acknowledge she was in the room. "Vosch? Are you okay?" When her inquiry went unanswered, she approached. She then touched Vosch on the shoulder. The environ-suit he was wearing collapsed out of the chair and onto the floor. "Vosch!" Dumas screamed now with a state of panic in her voice. After seconds of shaking and no response, Terri remembered the pregnancy. She reached for her comm badge, "Sick Bay... medical emergency in Stellar... Vosch has collapsed..."

Dr. Stone’s voice came over the link. "Understood. Having him transported to sick bay." Dr. Stone then contacted Commander Daem and informed her of the events taking place with Vosch and that the issue with Sandraian would have to take a back seat for the moment. Daem acknowledged and went to sick bay.


{Deck 22: Search Party}

As the security team continued its pattern search, they approached the next intersection. From around the corner, but out of view a momentary flash was spotted. "Sir, did you see that?" After a quick acknowledgement, the team began to run towards where the light had been witnessed.

"Zosin, send back-up to… " A momentary pause came as came as Travin made her best guess as to where her team was at present. "I believe we are just outside where Tovaal and Aidan were doing their research."

"Aye sir. Location confirmed and back up is on the way," Zosin informed.


{Deck 22: Engineering Lab}

A faint light entered the Engineering Lab. It was a peaceful, soft light around a visage, which walked towards Shannon. Aidan recognized the visage as it looked like a small version of Vosch. Tovaal, however, had never seen Vosch outside his suit, and under the circumstances, was not about to wait to see if this intruder was friendly or not. Tovaal was about to strike when Aidan, with blade poised if needed, placed a hand in front of Tovaal signaling him to wait a moment. Aidan whispered just loud enough for the visage to hear him, or so he guessed.

The visage turned to him and said, "No… Lumaren." The visage then turned towards Shannon and unfurled his wings. A warm sensation and calmness washed over them. Just then the doors to the lab were forced open by Travin and her team, just in time to see the visage’s light fade slightly as a small howl was let loose. The howl had a weird sensation that intensified as the light continued to fade. Before totally going out the howl stopped. The visage then turned and walked over to Tovaal. He held about the usual Vulcan greeting with his hand. "Your sister is stabilized, but she will still need medical attention. I can do no more." He then turned to Aidan. "More important you learn how to terminate the gate then control it. You are not ready for what lies beyond." With that the visage faded.


{Simultaneous at Sick Bay}

Commander Daem entered sick bay to see Doctor Stone just finishing the removal of Vosch’s environ-suit. "What is wrong with him?" Daem asked with concern.

"I don’t know. Right now he is totally unresponsive and nothing I have has been able to wake him."

As they spoke, Vosch begin to shake and convulse. His biorhythms plummeted and Dr. Stone went to work. He darted around not even acknowledging anything Daem could be or would be saying. Nothing Stone was doing would bring Vosch’s vitals back up. "I don’t know enough about his physical make up," was all he said.

Just then, Vosch’s eyes opened and the shaking stopped. His head turned and stared at the alien across the way. "Save Lumaren. Don’t lit him take my Lumaren." Vosch’s eyes then closed as he grasped his stomach and fell back to sleep.


Back to Top

Chapter 11

Aiden suppressed a shudder as the rush of the moment ran out of him. This angel... was this what his ancient ancestors felt in the presence of the Sky Fathers? Obviously, this was not a holy one, as what Sky Father would ever counsel against the holy quest of science... but... he would speak with the Captain before continuing his research.

As the security team was working their way in, Aiden felt the moment that had called him to action passing. He walked to his kit and cleaned his blade with the ceremonial cloth, silently commending the souls he had crossed to whatever hereafter they had earned in life.

Mind back on the present, he asked the security team, "Any word on other decks? How far did the dampening reach?" He felt a few of the officers eyeing his kit, but he let it slide. If he had overstepped somehow, he would answer whatever charges might come.

With as little humor as he could manage, he stated, "Judging by the hostile response, I'd say I was on to something...."


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Chapter 12

{Engineering Lab, Deck 22}

The power flickered on.

"Engineering to Commander Travin," Crawford's voice sounded through a now working comm badge. "As you can tell, we've managed to punch a hole in the dampening field for the time being at your location and one on the opposite side of the deck. No clue as to how long before we can negate the entire thing."

Tovaal went quickly to Shannon and knelt to the deck. He placed his hand on the area where she'd been shot, his face a very human mix of worry and anger. He forced it to pass before he looked up to the others.

"Acknowledged," Travin tapped her comm badge and replied to Crawford.

"We need to finish getting power back to the rest of the ship," Tovaal addressed them. "This was a Caramani strike unit. When they are not heard from, there will be more of them, and they will be heavily armed, so we might also get weapons to the crew." He was now standing, and holding the small phaser that Shannon always carried on her belt. His gaze fixed on Travin: "You should also make sure that there are security teams on the Bridge and in Sick Bay; one of their favorite tactics is to take out a ship's medical personnel so that we cannot recover our wounded."

"How is it that you know so much about this particular enemy that until a little while ago was a complete mystery to us?" Rinali asked, her suspicions up in light of the Conn Officer's rather astute assertion.

"We... have a history. But this is not the time nor place to get into it. And whoever that was is right; we most definitely must destroy that gate." He tapped his comm badge. "Tovaal to Transporter Room: two to beam directly to Sick Bay; Shannon has been injured and requires immediate attention."

"Stand by," came the reply. A moment or two later, the Vulcans were gone, and Travin turned to Aiden.

"Are you going to be all right down here?" she asked.

"We'll manage," he nodded. Zosin's sent backup arrived just then.

"Commander?" the lead Lieutenant asked as the rest of his team fanned out into the room, weapons at the ready.

"Looks like everything's all right down here, for now. Station a couple of men here and send the rest to Sick Bay. We're going to continue our sweep. And be on your toes... apparently there's a chance there will be more coming."

"Understood. Good hunting."

"Better hope not," she called back on her way out the door.


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Chapter 13

{Main Bridge}

"Captain," Ensign Chris Edward called out from Tactical. "We're receiving an emergency update from the Berlin. They report they are under attack by intruders and have lost warp drive. No sign of a ship, which leads them to believe the attackers must have come from the gate they are investigating. They're systems are slowly being crippled. The message becomes garbled after that, then stops abruptly."

Priscilla frowned. "Ended abruptly because they lost communications? Or because they were destroyed?"

"Long range sensors did not record any explosions," was the best answer Edward could give.

"They are investigating one of the artificial gates. It's reasonable to assume they are under attack by the same people we currently are," Priscilla mused aloud. "Who's the closest of the task force?" she asked.

As Edward looked up the answer, Jaquelle stepped off a turbolift with a frown of her own. "All thirteen crew members on Deck 22 have been identified and Security has been informed," she reported as she walked towards her seat. "Seven have already been found, two are in sickbay currently."

Priscilla nodded, but feeling there was more to be said she gave Jaquelle a raised eyebrow.

Jaquelle lowered her voice, indicating her next words were for the Captain only, whether or not anyone else overheard. "Ensign Sandraian has been relieved duty for the rest of our mission, if not longer pending the Doctor's evaluation."

Priscilla filed that information away. It was something to be dealt with later, unfortunately. She would have liked to have moved on it now, her crew was always a priority. But her crew was a priority and right now they all were in danger from the intruders. So was the Berlin's. She looked to Edward.

Instead of getting the answer she wanted, his station beeped a notice to him. "Incoming message from the Braithwrite," he informed the Bridge. "They report cascading system failures. A slow cascade, but it's beginning to affect critical systems."

Priscilla looked to Jaquelle. "They're not near a gate anymore," she said simply as fact.

"Perhaps intruders boarded before that gate was collapsed?" Edward ventured an answer.

Priscilla looked back to him. Not believing he was in trouble, but getting the feeling he needed to explain himself, he added, "We weren't able to detect our intruders when they boarded. And now cannot because of the dampening field. Perhaps the Braithwrite hasn't found any evidence of intruders yet, but they could still be there, causing the same problems the Berlin reported."

Priscilla nodded. "A reasonable theory." She frowned again. "Unfortunately that makes three ships under attack. It would appear they have decided to try and take us out before proceeding with whatever their original plans were."

"At least they are no longer attacking and destroying defenseless targets," Jaquelle commented.

"Unless they manage to make us defenseless targets," Edward pointed out.

Priscilla ended all the speculation and started handing out orders. "Edward, send the Ticonderoga to help the Braithwrite and the Elisim to help the Berlin. If the Braithwrite still has warp, tell them to proceed towards the Ticonderoga for assistance, and then to us. We're going to remain here for now, to make sure this gate is guarded. The Elisim and Berlin are to guard the other as best they can for now." She then tapped her comm badge. "Bridge to Travin. Rinali, I want Security stationed at ALL possible entrances to critical systems, including Engineering."

"Aye sir," Rinali responded. "I am also stationing teams in Sickbay, as we have been informed the Caramani like to make sure their enemies can not recover wounded, and on the Bridge." As if on cue, a turbolift opened and a team of four security officers stepped out. One immediately began handing out weapons to the Bridge crew.

Priscilla did not like that, but being as the team was already there, she didn't countermand Rinali. "If Security starts being spread to thin, do not hesitate to move our team to a more needed area," she replied to Rinali.

"If," was all Rinali replied in acknowledgment. "Travin out."

Priscilla tapped her badge again. "Bridge to Engineering."

"Crawford here."

"Jason, get all your staff and any Science staff working on the gate down to main engineering and have them work from there. Security will be down shortly to guard against the intruders."

"Yes sir, Security's already here," he replied. "We're copying all current research and findings into the protected archives as well," he informed her.

"Good."

"Engineering out."

"Take us to yellow alert," Priscilla then ordered. "Wether from the gate, or from the dampening field, I fully expect another attack is coming."


{Main Engineering}

Jason looked to Daniel, who grinned wryly. "We're in for a whole lotta trouble," he commented.

Jason nodded. "Make room for the research to continue here... somewhere. They're going to want to bring in special equipment."

"On it," Daniel replied and headed off.

"Crawford to Karsinski. The Captain wants all your personnel working on the gate to relocate to Main Engineering for protection purposes."

"Acknowledged," Anna's voice replied.

"Crawford to Solasho, Belieze, and Rawlins. Report to Main Engineering, you'll be continuing your work down here." After receiving two acknowledgments, and one notice from Security that the third was still in the dampening field, Jason then walked out to the main room of Engineering. "Everyone listen up! We're locking down all critical systems. And I want everything monitored for any out of the ordinary behavior. If the intruders are using our own systems against us, or sabotaging them, I want to know before they are successful."


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Chapter 14

Commander Jack Davidson stood at one of the operation stations at the rear of the bridge on the Ticonderosa. He had been asked by the Captain Doewer to perform the same duty he had on the Griffin, Operations. The Ticonderosa was temporarily without a chief of operations and the Doewer did not hesitate to

call upon Davidson, the senior, to fill in once the crisis started. In fact the Captain considered this to be a most fortunate turn of events to have the most experienced Ops officer in the fleet aboard when he was needed most.

Jack had no hesitation in assuming the position, but in the back of his mind was concerned about not alienating his son, who was a junior officer on board. Their reunification was strained at first, but it was starting to really

warm up, and he didn't want anything to stifle that, but duty called.

"Captain," Davidson said, "I have received information from the Griffin that the attacks appear to be Caramani strike units. They seem to be able to board ships undetected and are heavily armed. The recommendation is to station armed security units around and in sickbay and engineering. Their strategy is to cause a slow cascade of failure in ship's operations then strike quickly and forcefully while taking out sickbay so enemies cannot heal their injured."

Captain Doewer barked out orders quickly consistent with Davidson's information. Doewer commanded the Ticonderosa like a well oiled machine and the

crew responded superbly to his style.

"Captain," Davidson continued after the orders, "The Berlin and the Braithwrite are under similar attacks and the Braithwrite is trying to get to us

for help. Their warp drive just went off line."

"Conn, intercept course with the Braithwrite, now," Doewer crisply ordered. "Engineering, the Braithwrite will need our aide, see to it that we are ready for whatever they need."

"Captain," Davidson continued, "from the information I have found I believe I can trace Caramani life signs to see if they are hiding on the Ticonderosa."

"Do it." was all that Doewer said. Davidson was already working on it.

"Captain, no Caramani aboard.," Davidson reported. "But I can detect where they are on the Braithwrite. I am encrypting that information and sending

to the Braithwrite now."

"Of course" said Doewer, The Griffin, the Berlin and the Braithwrite were near gates. "Contact the Berlin and give them information as to how to find the intruders."


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Chapter 15

{Bridge}

Ensign Edwards continued to monitor the long range scans when he noticed a small subspace disturbance. He realized that there was something out there but couldn't figure out what it was. Commander Daem had just come back to the bridge after ensuring all was secure in the sick bay under Travin's capable personnel.

"Report?" Daem inquired as she walked onto the bridge.

"The information from Commander Davidson has been received and forwarded to engineering and science. However, we do have something else to look at." Edwards followed.

Daem looked back at the ensign who was diligently working his console. And waited for Edwards to continue. "Sir, we are picking up a distortion of a larger size." Edwards paused for a moment; "It appears to be headed straight for the Griffin."

"Yellow alert." Daem commanded. She then hit her comm badge, "Captain, I believe you should come to the bridge."

"Will be right there, Jaquelle," responded Captain Myst. In a matter of moments Myst was on the bridge. "What's going on now?"

Commander Daem deferred to Edwards who had been monitoring the distortion. "There is a distortion that is approaching the Griffin at sub-warp speed."

"Cloaked ship?" Myst inquired.

"Could be sir. But it would have to be a ship of considerable size." Edwards responded. "Sir it has stopped."

"We are being hailed, Captain," Ensign McClain said.

"On screen," replied Myst.

On the screen appeared a well-dressed Romulan, obviously sporting the rank of Commander that was customary to their uniforms. "I am Commander Radaik of the praetor Tajan. We have been monitoring your situation from a distance and believe we have something you can use to help. Request permission for me and my chief engineer to board."

Myst gave the hand signal to mute the screen and then looked towards Daem. "They do appear to be sincere, Captain," Daem said.

Myst again motioned ever so slightly and then responded, "Permission granted, prepare to be beamed aboard." Following the exchange the Tajan decloaked, revealing one of the largest ships in what was left of the Romulan fleet. Myst then hit her comm badge, "Travin and Krasinski, meet me in Transporter room 2." Myst then looked at Daem, "You have the bridge. Keep monitoring for the Caramani as Davidson indicated, especially focusing on the medical areas and sick bay."

Daem just nodded as Myst left to meet the visitor.


{Captain's Ready Room}

After greeting the Romulan guests with all of the appropriate decorum that Myst had learned in her training, Travin escorted Myst and the Romulans to the Captain's office.

"Captain," Radaik began, " Thank you for seeing us. We too have been having issues with the Caramani, all be it not as much as the Federation as of late."

Myst looked over the Romulan, who was obviously as concerned about their safety against the Caramani encounters as she was. "You mentioned you have something?"

Radaik smiled faintly and nodded. "I heard that you were a `to the point' Captain, I like that." Radaik looked back to one of her compatriots. "Hand her the file."

The Romulan placed the computer file on the table in front of Myst. "What is this?" Myst asked.

"It is a Federation archive chip." Travin responded not realizing the question was more rhetorical in nature. All that went through Travin's mind was that a former enemy of the Federation, and the word former was used loosely, had Federation property, which very well could contain sensitive information.

Radaik then spoke up, "We got this off of a Caramani spy that we captured during one of the recent attacks on one of our Warbirds. They obviously have the ability to pierce our cloaking technology. When we realized that it came from your Federation ship, the Kitty Hawk, we thought it should be returned to you. Unfortunately, all we could decipher is that it belonged to you and had the keys to the gate project they were working on before it was destroyed. I am hoping it will give you answers to helping stop or at least control this technology." Radaik paused to let Myst and her staff digest the information. "It has a secret code, which I believe one of your crew members may have. Perhaps one that worked on or with the Kitty Hawk."

Myst looked at Radaik sternly wondering how would she know anything about her crew, or where would she get access to that information.

Myst then thanked Radaik and led the entourage back to the transporter where they shook hands and the Romulans then departed. Myst then looked towards Krasinski, "Go to engineering and analyze this."

"Aye sir," Anna responded with a gleam in her eyes like a child at Christmas.


Back to Top

Chapter 16

Aiden's emotions were all over the place when he joined the analysis team. The warning to cease research on this line... the blood on his hands, no matter how justified... the urgency with which these aliens attacked, as though driven for their very survival. He wasn't going to sleep well tonight.

Then he found out that the information came from Romulans... albeit indirectly. How far did this madness stretch?

While his emotions spun madly, his intellect worked on the problem at hand. He could be divided and function -- it was just terribly taxing. The data streams in front of him began to merge with the information already in his mind from his research. Detection schemes and countermeasures began to form in his imagination as ingrained knowledge blended with theory and new data. Did it matter if the "angel" would approve of what he was conceiving?

In the periphery of his awareness, he perceived other engineers being pulled from this project to aid in local repairs, and then the repair of other ships. A flicker of concern crossed his mind, then disappeared.

The Chief, Aiden, and many others from a half dozen different departments all finally met to make their recommendations to the Captain. Some of their proposals....

He shuddered. The future diplomatic options would likely be limited if they used one of the countermeasures they had developed. This one promised a cascade of drive failures in any ship rigged to utilize the gate technology. Such a craft would breach with such violence that the crew would require several minutes to get far enough away in pods to survive, and they would likely not have that much warning. It's only advantage over the other proposals was that it was reasonably guaranteed not to do any permanent damage to the local space-time.

There were other, less violent countermeasures, but those tampered with subspace reality a handspan past their current technology's reach. The consequences... unknown.

This was a moment when he had no envy for those in command. This was a decision he would not want to have to live with. Bad enough to have touched it, let alone hold it in your hands and point it at another sentient being....

After the meeting, everyone remained for a moment, looking at each other with thoughts of what they might be obliged to unleash writ large across their faces. The Chief had to dismiss everyone a second time to clear the room.

Aiden left. He needed to hit something that would not feel his blows. His muscles, his mind, his very soul screamed for that release, and he couldn't say no any more....


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Chapter 17

{Conference Room}

Shannon and Tovaal entered the Conference Room in response to the Captain's summons. Already seated there were Myst, at the head of the table with Commander Daem on her right, and Commander Travin to the Captain's left. Lt. Krasinski sat next to Travin. In front of her was the Federation archive chip that the Romulan Commander had turned over. She had as of yet been unsuccessful in gaining access to the information contained on it, though she was able to identify it as belonging to Tovaal. Thus having had Radaik's supposition borne out (and having recently been informed that her new Conn Officer and her newest enemy shared a past), Priscilla had decided that it might be a good time to have that talk with Tovaal that she never got to have when he first came aboard.

"You wished to see us, Captain?" Tovaal asked as he and Shannon took seats across from each other.

"Yes," she replied as Anna passed the archive chip to him. "A Romulan Commander named Radaik gave that to me recently. She claims that she got it from a Caramani spy her crew captured. Do you recognize it?"

"Yes," he admitted without hesitation.

"Is there Gate information on there?" Daem asked. Tovaal had plugged the chip into the console in front of him, and was scanning the access protocol.

"Quite a bit, in fact. Along with a lot of other information we thought lost when the Kitty Hawk was destroyed. Ah, this code looks like one of yours, Shannon...."

He moved from his seat to let his sister work. In short order, she had deactivated the security lock, and a stream of schematics, surveillance images, and tactical information began to scroll down the screen. She transferred it to the big screen on the wall of the room.

Myst studied the information for a minute before returning her attention to the Vulcan officers.

"And how exactly were you involved in obtaining this information? Commander Travin informs me that you and the Caramani have history?"

"Correct." Daem noted a darkening in his emotional state, but it didn't register on his face. A look at Shannon was a little more telling. "As you recall, Starfleet had gotten word of the Caramani gate, and sent the Kitty Hawk to investigate. This report had come from Romulan intelligence, which discovered that the Cardassians were trading information on the Alpha Quadrant with an unknown source through a network of informants that included Ferengi, Uridians and the Breen. We found the gate, and destroyed it. Approximately one month after that, it was reported that a Romulan Warbird was destroyed by an unknown attacker. They suspected the Caramani, and Starfleet sent the Kitty Hawk on a series of missions with a Romulan counterpart, to gather tactical data on them. The data on this chip is what we collected."

"So why isn't any of this in the Starfleet database?" Travin asked.

"This is the original archive that Tovaal and I compiled," Shannon replied. "We were attacked before we could get it back; we assumed it lost when the Kitty Hawk was destroyed. All of the information that Starfleet has right now is what the two of us could remember, plus whatever recent data you have sent them. Everything else we are telling you here was ordered classified by Admiral Jellico and Admiral Nechayev."

"Who attacked you?" Myst inquired.

"The first shots seemed to come from the Romulan ship," she continued. "Then there was a small contingent of Breen ships that seemed to come out of nowhere. They went for the Romulans first and then came after us. We have never been able to conclusively prove that the Caramani were involved with that attack, but Starfleet agrees with us that it is more than likely."

"And where were the Cardassians in the middle of all this?" Daem put in.

"Busy denying everything," Tovaal answered, "as they usually do. But they were attempting to set up a partnership with the Caramani similar to that which they struck with the Dominion."

"Well, we all know how that one ended...," Anna spoke for the first time.

"The theory was that where the Dominion failed, the Caramani would succeed, given both the weakened state of the Federation and the relative strength of the Caramani, in that they had not just expended most of their military power fighting a war. In exchange for their help, the Caramani had agreed to a non-aggression treaty with Cardassia, and would give them a limited amount of economic aid after their war with the Federation ended."

"This all happened some time ago, correct?" Anna said. "So what happened to their so-called war?"

Tovaal and Shannon exchanged a look, years and memories seeming to pass between them in an instant.

"We happened," Shannon said. It would be an understatement to say that she sounded less than pleased about it.

"We were given orders to use our information to track down the most important informants and assassinate them," Tovaal continued after a moment. "In total, there were four. After Shannon went to the Ticonderoga, Starfleet learned the location of their Caramani contact, a supposed council leader of some capacity. Because of my knowledge and experience, I was attached to a special operations unit that was sent to kill him. We were successful."

"Doesn't seem to have dimmed the fervor for their cause," Rinali observed.

"And it most likely will not."

Myst sat for a long minute, taking in everything she had just heard. She hated to think that Starfleet would have seen the need to be driven to such drastic tactics. She understood that not all fights were fought above-board, but still....

"So why you two specifically? Knowledge and experience aside, there are other people who are trained for that sort of thing, whose ranks don't usually include bridge officers."

"We volunteered," Tovaal said, "out of some misguided need to avenge those who were lost on our ship. Neither of us is proud of it, and it is something that I personally try very hard to forget."

Priscilla nodded, filing all of this newly disseminated information away for another time when she'd be free to ponder it, and refocused her thoughts.

"Anna, is there anything in there that Engineering can use to pad out their ideas for shutting down these Gates?"

"There's so much here that it'll take a little going over to get to, but there sure does look like it."

"Okay. Get back down there and get on it. Make sure Jason and Aiden get a good look at it as well."

"Yes Sir."

"All right, everyone, dismissed."


Back to Top

Chapter 18

{U.S.S. Griffin - Conference Room}

Priscilla lingered behind her chair as her officers left the room to their tasks or posts. Jaquelle didn't even stand up. After the rest had left she turned her chair to face the Captain, but didn't say a word. Priscilla stood in thought, Jaquelle knew she would speak when she was ready.

"We're on the brink of a war," Priscilla finally vocalized. "A war of which we have no idea how potentially vast it could be, how much of a threat or how long."

"That's not what's really bothering you," Jaquelle observed to help her Captain get to the heart of the matter.

Priscilla sighed. "No. What bothers me is that there are people in Starfleet that think its okay to break the ideals and values that we stand for." She waved her hand in dismissal as she turned towards a window. "Forget the rules and regulations. They can't account for everything circumstance that might need them to be," she paused as she chose her next word carefully, "bent. But there are just some things that can *not* be acceptable."

Jaquelle nodded and joined her at the window. "So what are you going to do?"

"What I have to."

"Even if it means taking those same measures?"

Priscilla looked hard at the stars, as if trying to force an answer that could solve all their problems. "No," she finally answered. "I couldn't cross that line. Even if I wanted to."

Jaquelle nodded, she had known that. She also knew they both knew it wasn't going to be that simple. "That could cause more damage, more loss of freedom or life," Jaquelle stated, playing devil's advocate.

"I know," Priscilla replied quietly.

"Unless?" Jaquelle prompted Priscilla's next statement.

"Unless I...," she started to say, then shook her head. "Life is too precious. There is *always* another option," she insisted. "We just need to find it..."

Just then the ship rocked.


{A few minutes before, Bridge}

Lieutenant Ferris sat in the Captain's chair. Since Commander Davidson's leave, Ferris had been seeing a lot of Bridge time. He was happy to have the experiences, he was learning quite a lot in a short amount of time about the overall operations of a ship. Typically, as the Assistant Operations Officer, he only handled small portions of things. Big things, sure, but they tended to be isolated to one or two systems or departments. It had only taken a few short hours before he had decided having to keep the big picture of everything that was going on in the ship in the forefront of his mind all the time was quite a talent, and had developed a much larger appreciation of what his senior officer had to do all the time to keep things running as seamlessly as possible. What all Chief Operations Officers did all the time. And yet, he found himself enjoying the larger responsibility and the challenge of the job. This was defiantly what he wanted to do with his life.

It didn't hurt that it also meant sitting in the Captain's chair every day for a shift.

"Lieutenant," Zosin spoke from the Security station behind Ferris. "We're receiving a message from the Ticonderoga, Commander Davidson." He paused a moment as the message appeared in front of him. "It a way to detect the Caramani strike teams," he summarized.

And again his superior impressed Ferris. Ferris had started trying to figure a way to find the intruders, but finally had given up deciding it was a problem Science or Security would be better suited to solving. "Pass the method on to your teams," Ferris told Zosin, deciding this wasn't big enough to interrupt the Senior Staff's meeting, he'd tell them when it was over.

"Aye," Zosin replied simply. A moment later he added, "There's a second message. It claims there is a device-"

Just then the ship rocked.


{A few minutes before, Main Engineering}

Crawford and Solasho, not having been in the second meeting, returned to Engineering. "Let's see if we can't come up with something more to the Captain's liking," Crawford said to Solasho along the way.

"I can show you everything I've got," Aiden agreed as they walked into Main Engineering.

Jason nodded at Ensign Chris Edward as the pair walked by the Security officer and his squad in charge of protecting Engineering to let the Ensign know things were okay currently.

"If I overlooked something, it would take a new set of eyes to find it," Aiden continued.

Jason smiled at the confidence of his officer. "I'm sure you've figured out all you could. From what I heard it sounds like you make some extrapolations as well."

"I throughly tested all my theories-" Aiden started to justify.

"No, I didn't mean to say you took wild guesses," Jason corrected himself. "That last idea of yours on how to show down the gates is quite ingenious. Good work."

Aiden nodded. "Thank you sir."

"But so long as we have the time, and new information, we need to try and find another better option," Jason finished.

"One the Captain won't have to think over?" Aiden offered.

Jason nodded. "Let's get to work."

"Sir?" Ensign Mcalister's voice called out. Jason stopped turned to look. Aiden did as well since Jason was his new partner for the time being.

"Yes?" Jason replied.

Mcalister held up an object as he approached. "I found this tucked away behind a fiber optic bundle under an access hatch to a Jefferies tube, on the other side of an EPS conduit."

Jason looked at Mcalister as he reached out to accept the object. "What made you decide to look in such a place?" he wondered.

Before Jason's had could firmly wrap around the object, Ensign Edward appeared as if from nowhere and snatched it from both Jason and Mcalister. He took two large steps, almost one legged jumps, away from the officers as he quickly called out "Computer! Drop the blast doors around Main Engineering now!" Then hurled the object as far as he possibly could down one of the hallways leading away from Engineering.

The doors were half way down when the object disintegrated and gave off a blinding light and deafening sound, and the ship rocked.


{U.S.S. Ticonderoga}

Captain Doewer scowled at the object in his hand, then turned his attention to the Caramani in the brig cells before him and scowled at them. "Get rid of this," he ordered the closest security officer and thrust the deactivated bomb at the officer.

Commander Davidson walked in. "I sent the information on how to find the Caramani and their devices to all the ships," he informed Doewer.

"The Braithwrite?" Doewer asked.

"She had a bomb too," Davidson reported. "She'll be fine eventually. We managed to get the bomb off their ship just before it blew, so the only damage is the sabotage. There's nothing there we can't fix."

"Security teams are bringing in the last two Caramani in now," Adams', Doewer's Security Chief, announced.

"So everything's under control," Doewer summarized. "Except we still don't know how to detect or track their transport devices."

"They don't have any on them," Adams assured his Captain. "It looks like it was a one way trip for them."

"But how did they get from the Braithwrite to here?" Doewer demanded to know.

The Caramani in the cells remained quite, as they had been since their capture.

"Perhaps the three that were left on the Braithwrite have the answers," Davidson offered.

"Bridge to Captain," a voice came over the comm.

Doewer tapped his badge. "Captain here."

"Sir, the Berlin has been destroyed," the voice reported.

Doewer's scowl at the Caramani deepened. "On my way," he replied.


{U.S.S. Elisim}

The red alert sirens blared. The ship settled as the inertial dampeners kicked in. The Security Chief's hand rested against the console where it had managed to key the command to raise the shields a split second before the ship had been accosted by the explosion of the Berlin.

Captain Milandrieh stood in silence with the rest of the crew. First out of shock, then out of respect for the lost. There was no need to ask for life signs, it was obvious there wouldn't be any. Finally she turned from the screen.

"Hull breeches on Decks 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 15, and 18," the Security Chief reported. "Force fields are holding."

"Find any Caramani on this ship NOW," Milandrieh started handing out orders. "Get help to our wounded. Forget the repairs, there's no time." She looked hard back at the screen. "Destroy that gate."

The Security Chief hesitated for a second. "Captain, we haven't received orders from the Griffin."

Milandrieh nodded. "I know. Destroy the gate."

"Aye, sir."


{U.S.S. Griffin}

Priscilla and Jaquelle stepped onto the Bridge. "Report!" Priscilla ordered.

"Explosion on Deck 36, just outside of Main Engineering," Zosin announced. "Portions of Decks 34 to 36 are gone. However Main Engineering is under lock down and appears to be mostly intact. Hull breeches from Deck 30 to Deck 42. Only half the force fields are in place. We're venting atmosphere. Sickbay is attempting to respond to wounded calls. Security is tracking the Caramani intruders."

"The helm's not responding," Tovaal added. "I'm seeing the beginnings of a cascade failure in the system."

"Result?" Priscilla asked.

"One of the nacelles is going into a feedback loop with a damaged Deuterium injection reactor. If we don't stop it in the next few minutes, we're looking at another explosion," Tovaal explained.

"Engineering's either stuck wherever there are, or responding to damage reports," Priscilla figured aloud. Zosin nodded confirmation.

"Sir," Ferris said, not looking up from the readouts before him. "I recommend releasing the nacelle, we don't currently have enough resources to attend to everything as it stands now, and we're losing power from the warp core. We'll be on reserves in seventeen minutes."

Priscilla frowned. "Do we still have transporters?" she asked.

"Currently."

"Use the transporters to recover all personnel on decks 30 and lower, except for Main Engineering. Someone get in contact with Engineering and coordinate evacuating injured and any damage control teams necessary," Priscilla ordered. "Then shut off all power and life support to those decks, again except for Main Engineering. Ignore repairs to those decks that do not include critical systems, we'll deal with them later. That will solve our atmosphere issues and should help sickbay and lessen the power drain."

"That will give us almost forty minutes until we're on reserve power. That should be enough to stabilize the power gird," Ferris reported, "but not the nacelle."

Priscilla looked to Tovaal. "I agree with the Lieutenant's assessment," he replied to the Captain.

"Very well, release the nacelle," she ordered.

As everyone started to work, Zosin called to the Captain. "Incoming messages." He held his voice steady as he reported everything there was to say. "The Elisim reports both the Berlin and the gate near them have been destroyed. The Ticonderoga has everything under control both on their ship and the Braithwrite, and reports Caramani prisoners. She is towing the Braithwrite to our position."

"Has the war started?" Jaquelle asked quietly.

Priscilla looked at the gate that was now in the corner viewscreen. "Yes," she replied. Then she turned to Jaquelle. "Let's see if we can end it."

Priscilla moved to her chair and sat down. "Maxwell, send a probe into the gate. I want to know what's on the other side."

Knowing they couldn't send transmissions through the gate, Tovaal quickly programmed a probe to travel a specific distance, then reverse course and return to the ship. "Sir, I am not sure a probe can travel through the gate," he warned.

"We're about to find out," Priscilla informed him.

The probe launched. Just then the gate started to change. "It's opening," Zosin announced.

But instead of the probe going through, a ship emerged, blocking the way. "It's Caramani," Tovaal confirmed by sight and memory.

"Red alert," Jaquelle called out.

"Sir, two more ships are coming through the gate," Zosin announced. "No, three."

"How far away is the Ticonderoga?" Priscilla asked.

"Two hours, thirty minutes if they leave the Braithwrite."

"Not enough time," someone observed quietly.

"Sir, the Romulans are coming," Zosin announced. No one who remembered back to when the Tajan had arrived before had to ask how he could tell.

Priscilla nodded slowly. Then she stood and straightened out her uniform. "Open a channel," she ordered.

Zosin did as instructed. "Channel open," he replied.

"Caramani vessels," Priscilla addressed the view screen calmly and sternly. "If you surrender now we will refrain from destroying your gates and those ships which carry the technology that operates the gates."

"No reply," Zosin said after a moment. "They are attempting to scan us."

"Let them," Priscilla said, then addressed the viewscreen again. "Yes, we are crippled, but we can still carry out our mission. And just so you are fully convinced of that," she turned back to Zosin and lowered her voice so the open comm wouldn't catch it. "Fire one of the counter measures. Be certain to miss."

"Aye sir," he replied, and followed orders. The counter measures were the weapons designed to cause a cascade in the targeted ship if it were rigged to utilize the gate technology. The point of this demonstration was to make the Caramani aware of the technology and what its results would be.

Everyone waited for the results. "They are powering weapons," Zosin finally announced. "We are being hailed," he added.

Priscilla smiled for only a second, then turned back to the screen.

"We can destroy your ship before you could ever hope to destroy all of ours. Then we-"

"We're not the only ones with the knowledge to do what we just demonstrated. We have been sending our findings out constantly," she warned them.

Just then a Romulan face appeared on screen, joining in on the communications. "And we very much appreciate the Federation's sharing," Commander Radaik said with a wicked grin. "So much so that we do not wish our informants to come to any more harm," he stated to the Caramani with an edge in his voice. "Surrender," he then ordered.

The Caramani Captain frowned. He looked off screen.

"They are scanning the Romulan ship," Zosin informed the Griffin's bridge crew.

Then the Caramani cut communications. After another moment, Zosin spoke again. "The Caramani ships are retreating back through the gate. The Tajan is powering weapons."

"Which?" Priscilla asked.

"The same as we just used. They are targeting the lead ship," Zosin replied.

"They'll let the others get away," Tovaal said, but without any indication in his voice of how he felt about that.

Priscilla pursed her lips. There was nothing she could do to stop them. She was sure no one had given the Romulans this solution to the Caramani gate problem, so she was also now sure the Romulans had cracked Starfleet's latest encryption.

"They're making a statement," she explained in response to Tovaal's observation. "Warning the Caramani what will happen if they come back. Prepare to beam as many Caramani off the lead ship as we can once their shields fall. Try to get those who won't be able to make it to escape pods, if possible."

The Romulans fired. Everything happened as expected. All but the lead Caramani ship make it through the gate. The lead ship started suffering cascading failures. The Griffin saved as many as they could before having to back off so as not to be caught by the ship exploding.

The only surprise was that the Romulans aided in getting the Caramani off the ship before it exploded.


{A day later, U.S.S. Griffin, Captain's Ready Room}

"The Romulans wanted their own prisoners to interrogate," the Admiral on Priscilla's screen reasoned. "Thank you for the update, on everything." Priscilla nodded. The Admiral picked up a PADD and read from it. "The Ticonderoga is going to escort the Braithwrite into dock for repairs. The Elisim is returning to Earth for a hearing, the outcome of which I am certain will be dependant on what the exact results to subspace have occurred based on their actions. The Griffin is to report to Deep Space Fifteen. They have the closest starship repair facility bay large enough to house a Galaxy class ship." The Admiral put the PADD down. "The chip recovered from the Romulans will be picked up from there so that-"

The door chime rang.

"Come," Priscilla called reflexively.

Anna stepped in, holding the chip with a happy grin.

"Just one moment, Admiral," Priscilla interrupted. "I think you want to hear this." She turned the console around to half face Anna, then motioned for Anna to proceed with her report.

"We have a way to prevent the Caramani gates from forming," she announced. "There is a specific type of matter-energy combination we can saturate subspace with that will be harmless to subspace but prevent the gates from forming in our space. Even if one already exists, this will prevent it from being able to open!"

Priscilla smiled. (And so ends the war,) she thought.

"Excellent," the Admiral responded. "Send your finding to headquarters. Starfleet out."


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