test content
Logo
What is the Arc Client?
Install Arc
(FanFic) Star Trek: Victorious - Armageddon's Flame
ryan218
Member Posts: 36,106 Arc User
Star Trek: Victorious - Armageddon’s Flame
In memory of Barry Jenner
(1941-2016)
(1941-2016)
Chapter One: Sabre Rattling
Captain’s Log, Stardate: 88027.1. U.S.S. Victorious, Commander Ryan Allington recording.
Repairs to the U.S.S. Victorious’ warp drive are proceeding according to schedule with the assistance of the Star Cruiser U.S.S. Montgomery Scott. In the meantime, I have opted to make myself fully aware of the Klingon situation.
End of Log
“The Klingon Empire has recently pulled most of its forces from the armistice lines to positions outside our surveillance range.” Alpha stands in front of Ryan’s desk as Ryan perouses Starfleet Intelligence data.
“That’s very unusual. Even when the Borg were invading their space they kept a token force on the border.” Ryan clasps his hands together.
“Starfleet is concerned they may be preparing for an offensive in retribution for the Federation’s negotiations with the Cardassian Union.”
“If that’s true…” Ryan looks up from his console. “Wouldn’t they attack the Cardassians first? If they fear the Cardassians’ new forces pose a threat, then wouldn’t they want to end that threat?”
“I have insufficient data.”
Ryan exhales through his nostrils, before tapping a control on his desk. “Computer, open a secure channel to Fleet Admiral William Ross, Starfleet Headquarters.”
A chime comes from the computer. “Security Level?”
“Omega-7. Priority Two.”
“Stand by. Connection established.”
“Alpha, if you’d stay here.”
Alpha nods as the terminal screen changes to show the ageing face of Fleet Admiral William Ross. “Commander, have you had a chance to brief yourself on the situation?”
“I have, Admiral. In fact, my Operations Officer is here with me. Have you been made aware of any Klingon Fleet build-ups near Cardassian Space?”
“No, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. The Klingons are smart enough to evade our sensor nets in that area.” Ross’ hands appear clasped together on screen. “I take it your instincts are telling you the same thing mine are telling me?”
“The Klingons are going to attempt to invade Cardassia.”
“If they do, the Cardassians don’t stand a chance in Hell.”
“Not without Starfleet’s help, anyway.”
“My thoughts exactly. I’m preparing the Fourth Fleet at Deep Space Nine. Once you are underway, I want the Victorious to meet with the Oxford, Medusa, Alexandria, Warspite and Scorpio at Starbase 224. You’ll be kept in reserve in case we need you to flank any Klingon Attack Force that may be coming.”
“Understood. Admiral, if this is an assault against the Cardassian Union, what are my standing orders if I encounter Klingon ships near or inside Cardassian territory?”
“Captain, you are to use all means available to you to protect the integrity of the Federation’s borders, but unless you are asked by the Cardassians to intervene, you are to remain neutral until you hear from Command.”
“Aye, sir.”
“Captain, I cannot stress this enough: your first priority is to make sure we have your squadron on standby if we need you. But, if you can avoid this war, you have my full confidence to do so.”
“Is there anything else, sir?”
“Yes, one more thing… This situation has the potential to go to hell in a handbasket very fast. If you have reason to believe we are in a state of war and cannot contact me, you are to assume detached operations from my Task Force and take any action you believe is necessary.”
“Understood.”
“Godspeed, Captain.” With that, the channel closes, displaying the Federation emblem on a black background.
Ryan switches the terminal off before looking at Alpha. “How long until repairs are complete?”
Alpha waits a moment to respond. “Lieutenant Dannover estimates between 6 and 7 hours.”
Ryan’s face contorts in puzzlement. “That’s a bit vague for her.”
“I surmise it relates to the Montgomery Scott’s repair itinerary, sir.”
“Right.” Ryan sighs in exasperation. Dannover was hard enough when it came to letting Starfleet Corps of Engineering mess with the ship. This was only amplified by the fact that she’d left it in the care of Chief Petty Officer Kyle Ford for almost a week. It’s only natural that she’d be trapped between the Montgomery Scott’s crew on one side and catching up on what needs fixing on the other. “Tell her I want the port nacelle fully repaired in 6 hours.”
Alpha nods with his usual android precision.
“Oh, and notify all departments. Shore Leave ends in one hour.”
End of Chapter One
Author's Notes: Okay, a few things to note. 1) As I start my university studies next week, the updates to this will either come quickly or slowly. I've saved up a backlog of chapters so this should at least be updated once a month. 2) This is one of my most ambitious stories yet, so I may in fact end up splitting it into two parts. 3) This is a direct sequel to In Cold Blood (link in my signature). If you guys have any questions, criticisms or anything else, please post it down below! My favourite part of this is getting your feedback!
0
Comments
I.K.S. Kahless, Unclaimed Space, somewhere near the Cardassian Frontier.
Lieutenant General Torpal, Son of Megh’bar, leader of the House of Megh’bar and Commander of the 3rd Battle Group of Task Force Hub’veS, ordered by the Klingon High Council to restore order to the Cardassian Union by force - Klingon order.
Torpal had to admit feeling some eagerness - a campaign of this scale will be a great amount of glory to the Empire. There’s just one question: can the Empire win?
Defeating Cardassia would be a simple task; the majority of the Cardassian Defence Force was equipped with obsolete ships, weapons and shields. Even without a 100% numerical superiority, the Cardassians wouldn’t stand a chance. Starfleet, on the other hand, would attempt to stop the invasion, and that could be a problem, to put it mildly. The campaign would rely on speed: reaching and capturing Cardassia Prime before Starfleet could effectively respond. Therefore, Torpal’s task is to ensure neither Starfleet nor the Cardassians can disrupt the Task Force’s crucial supply lines.
But what if Starfleet is able to defeat the Empire’s stretched forces in the Beta Quadrant? The words of Kahless ring in his mind: “Destroying an Empire to win a war is no victory.”
As he steps onto the Kahless’ cavernous Bridge, his ears fill with the chatter of the many technicians at the Operations stations on the sublevel running below a catwalk towards the command area. He slowly marches across the Bridge to his seat, motioning over his Lethean Aide. “The environmentals in my Quarters are malfunctioning. See to it.” The Lethean nods and leaves the bridge promptly as Orion Security Officer Lieutenant Corani Si’an hands him a PADD.
“General, the B’moth is signalling a power failure in her port nacelle. They are dropping to impulse to conduct emergency repairs.”
Torpal lets out an irritated grunt as he hands the PADD back to her. “Ensure Captain Korath understands that I expect him to rejoin the formation before we enter Cardassian Space.”
“Understood, General. There’s also a problem with the I.K.S. Kra’tok. She’s having difficulty with her cloaking device.”
“Forbid them from dropping out of warp to conduct repairs. They can make their repairs once we begin the offensive.”
“As you command, General.”
Torpal grumbles, slamming his fist on the arm of his command chair, Corani looking up from her PADD and raising an eyebrow as he roars out, “I am expected to cover the invasion of the Cardassian Union with a battle group of ships which barely function! If Starfleet made a concerted attack--!”
“General…” Corani nods to the rest of the bridge crew, who are looking over at the pair. Corani then clears her throat, resting her hand on her disruptor as the crew quickly turn back to their stations. Corani then turns back to Torpal, now speaking in a hushed tone. “Starfleet doesn’t even know we’re out here. By the time they respond, it’ll be too late.”
“Don’t be so sure of that… The Federation are far more resourceful than the High Command give them credit for. If they are able to destroy our support ships, then this campaign will have been for naught. There is no honour in that.”
***
Federation Starbase Deep Space Nine, Denorius Belt of the Bajor System. 6 Hours Later.
Captain James Kurland stands at the airlock of Upper Pylon 2 in his dress uniform as the U.S.S. Bellerophon docks with the station. After a few moments, the airlock doors begin whirring as the roll out of the passageway like cogs on a hydraulic piston arm, before Admiral William Ross walks across the airlock. Kurland nods to the veteran Admiral. “Admiral Ross, welcome to Deep Space Nine. I believe you’ve already met my Senior Officers?”
“Yes, Captain. I’ve already briefed the rest of the fleet on our mission. Is the Defiant ready for departure?”
“Yes, Admiral.”
“Good. Once you and your crew are aboard, we’ll be leaving for Prophet’s Landing.”
“Sir?”
“Our mission is to prevent the Klingon Empire from installing a pro-Klingon Cardassian Government. That means resisting their invasion of Cardassian Space when it comes. We need to be in position to reach Cardassia Prime within a day of the offensive beginning.”
“Understood.”
***
Meanwhile, in orbit of Andoria. U.S.S. Victorious.
Ryan steps onto the floor of Main Engineering, currently a chaotic arena of various engineers darting between stations in preparation for departure. Ryan walks over to Dannover, who is speaking with Lieutenant Commander Louis van Gent, the Chief Engineer from the U.S.S. Montgomery Scott. Dannover is wearing a newly-requisitioned Jupiter-4 Pattern uniform, with Operations Gold highlights under the shoulders and a grey undercoat. As she notices Ryan approach, Dannover nods to him and turns to face her CO. “Captain, we’re almost ready to reconnect the port nacelle.”
Van Gent signals his approval with a curt nod. “Confirmed. My teams are locking the replacement warp coil as we speak. You’ll be ready to leave within the hour.”
“Thank you, Commander,” Ryan says in a grateful tone, before gesturing to the Master Systems Display table between them, “But I would like to supervise the reconnection from here, if you don’t mind. I haven’t seen this procedure since my Sophomore Year at the Academy, and never outside Spacedock.”
“Of course, Commander.” Van Gent puts his finger to his earpiece in his right ear, listening for a moment before tapping it. “Acknowledged, Workpod 5. Stand by to receive instructions from CE Victorious.” He nods to Dannover. “We’re ready.”
Dannover taps the communications control for the intra-ship. “All stations, this is Chief Engineer Dannover. Stand by for Nacelle reconnection. Taking deflectors and all external systems offline in 30 seconds.” She gives Chief Petty Officer Kyle Ford a look to take those systems offline as scheduled before opening an external channel. “All workpods, this is Victorious Chief Engineer Elizabeth Dannover. Move clear of Port Nacelle. Workpods 2 and 3, lock on to the upper nacelle housing and stand by to move it into position on my mark.”
Outside, the 2 Sphinx-Class workpods, coloured in yellow with red stripes and white Starfleet chevrons along their sides, lock their magnetic clamps onto the bulky upper nacelle housing for the free-floating Port nacelle, currently exposed to space for the now-completed Warp Coil replacement. The housing is still peppered by small carbon scores from the battle with the Nausicaans within the Ushilev Nebula Days earlier, but the breaches have been patched by grey plates of tritanium alloy. After another 20 seconds, the service floodlights of the Victorious blink off and the navigational deflector shifts from its blue glow to a faded amber as it switches to inactive mode. Shortly after, the impulse engine dims into darkness.
Dannover taps the comm control again. “Pods 2 and 3, you are cleared to proceed. Computer, metric countdown on distance to connection.” The acknowledgements from the pods and the computer almost overlap each other.
Both Workpods fire their dorsal RCS thrusters, beginning their descent towards the nacelle, locked in place by a tractor beam from the Montgomery Scott. Meanwhile, the computer begins reading out distance measurements. “600 metres.”
“Activating mag-locks on the nacelle.” Dannover taps a series of controls, bringing up an image of the nacelle on the MSD table and activating the magnetic locking clamps.
“500 metres. 400 metres. 300 metres.”
“Pods 2 and 3, decelerate to 20 metres per second.”
“250 metres. 210. 170.”
The workpods make their final adjustments to lock with the nacelle as they approach the 100-metre mark. “Workpod 2 to Victorious, course is locked in and speed is green for stage 2. Please confirm.”
Dannover checks her readouts before responding. “Confirmed, Pod 2. Call the ball.”
“Commencing Stage 3 in 3…2...1… Mark.” The Workpods fire their ventral thrusters and decelerate to 10 metres per second. With 5 seconds to target, they fire again, reducing their velocity to 5 metres per second. “Locking on in 10 seconds. Extending magnetic clamps on upper casing.” The mag-locks of the upper housing extend down to connect with those of the main nacelle. “5 seconds to contact. 4...3...2...1…” There’s a shudder as the two pods’ RCS systems let out brief bursts to stabilise following contact. “Contact!”
“Retracting mag-locks. Nacelle reassembly complete. Pods 1, 4, 5 and 6, move in for final reconnection. Montgomery Scott, you can release the tractor beam.”
A voice echoes over from the ship-to-ship. “Acknowledged, Victorious. Tractor beam released. Workpods are free to manoeuvre.”
“Confirmed, Montgomery Scott. Workpods, lock on when ready.”
Ryan looks at Dannover after a thought occurs to him. “Have you done this before?”
“Once. In a holodeck simulation. At the Academy. On an NX Prototype mock-up.”
Ryan’s voice runs dry with sarcasm. “Oh. Forget I asked.”
Dannover smiles, not taking her eyes off her console. “Okay, all Pods have clamped onto the nacelle. Victorious to all pods, begin manoeuvre.”
The 6 pods, now arrayed on either side of the nacelle in 3 pairs, all fire their RCS thrusters to begin drifting towards the port nacelle pylon of the Victorious. Once again, the computer begins calling out their distance. “500 metres. 450.”
“Dannover to Bridge, disengage station keeping.”
“Understood, Lieutenant.” Heja’s voice echoes over the comm as Ford confirms the cut-off from the automated station-keeping system.
Ryan leans forward, anxious. “If this goes wrong, that nacelle has enough mass to land us in drydock for a year.”
“I know.” Dannover taps the ship-to-ship comms again. “Pod 3, you’re off-target by 2 degrees. Fire your aft thrusters for 2 seconds. Pod 4, stand by to compensate on my mark. Mark.” She watches as the nacelle pivots by a couple of degrees into docking position before extending the pylon’s mag-locks.
“300 metres.” The computer continues to ring out distances.
“Pods, begin decelerating.”
The pods continue navigating towards the pylon, firing their RCS thrusters as they go. Before long, there is a loud clunk travelling along the Stardrive section as the nacelle makes contact with the pylon mag-locks, which quickly retract, connecting the nacelle fully with the Ambassador-Class Starship with a final shudder. Ryan smiles at Dannover, straightening his posture. “Nicely done, Chief.”
“Thank you, Captain.” Dannover opens a final comm channel. “Workpods, you are cleared to disengage and return to the Montgomery Scott.”
“How long until the Warp Drive is online?”
“We need to make sure the plasma conduits are aligned properly, not to mention the deuterium conduits. Once that’s done, we can begin transferring warp plasma into the nacelle. Then it’s a simple matter of energising the warp coils. Kyle…”
“Aye, Lieutenant.” Ford checks one of the stations across engineering, before turning back. “The conduits are aligned perfectly. Gotta hand it to your people, van Gent: you did one Hell of a job.”
Van Gent smiles before stepping around to Ryan as Dannover finishes her estimate. “We should be ready to initialise the warp drive in 40 minutes.”
Van Gent addresses Ryan. “My teams just have a handful of hull plates to finish locking into position, then we’ll transport back to the Scotty. We’ll be out of your way within the hour.”
“Thank you for the help, Commander.” Ryan shakes van Gent’s hand before van Gent starts leaving Engineering. He then looks at Dannover. “Been getting along all right?”
Dannover sighs a little. “If I go over every time I’ve wanted to shove him out an airlock, we’d be here all day.” She gives a wry smile.
“I see. Carry on.” Ryan prepares to walk away, groaning as he leans on the table.
Dannover’s face flushes in concern. “Captain?”
“I’m fine. It’s just this bloody spinal injury… It keeps flaring up.”
“Have you spoken to Doctor Varenn?”
“She’s given me some painkillers, but… It’s hard to find time to take them.” He turns and leaves Engineering.
End of Chapter.
Author's Notes: I recommend listening to Star Trek: The Motion Picture Soundtrack's 'The Enterprise' during the nacelle reconnection.
Trials of Blood and Fire
Moving On Parts 1-3 - Part 4
In Cold Blood
Tessani City, Cardassia Prime. Court of Criminal Justice.
“Your honour, my client stands accused of a negligent homicide - the death of Skrain Ghulam.” Advocate Kutari Selek paces the courtroom in front of the defence and prosecution benches, looking up at the Cardassian Judge. “Mr Ghulam lost his life when the defendant’s skimmer collided with him at speed, instantly severing his spinal cord. The prosecution maintains that my client is responsible. Your honour, as you have seen, my client’s skimmer suffered a critical fault which overloaded its power system and locked the antigravity generator in the active phase. There was nothing my client could have done to prevent Mr Ghulam’s unfortunate demise. While the family will mourn his loss for some time to come, justice cannot be served by imprisoning an innocent man for the uncontrollable and unforeseeable accident which claimed Ghulam’s life.”
The judge waits for a moment before picking up his metal gavel-sphere. “This court will be in recess for 30 minutes, at which time I shall render my verdict.” He slams the gavel down twice to signal the recess.
A few minutes later, Kutari is in the courthouse lobby, filing some paperwork before a Gul walks behind him, clearing his throat to signal his presence. “Advocate Selek?”
Kutari turns around, nodding in deference. “Gul Dakar. What can I do for the Civil Defence Force today?”
“I’ve been ordered by my superiors to check up on you. How are you recovering from your experience with the True Way?”
Kutari visibly grimaces at that. He can still feel the disruptor burn on his chest from blocking Skrain Kutar’s execution blast. The show-trial the True Way kidnapped him to take part in had been a trying experience, and an unwelcome reminder of the Old Cardassia. Nevertheless, his experience has not dulled his sense of justice - in fact, it has only made him more convinced of the importance of committed justice. “I’m recovering. The wounds still ache, and the memories keep me awake at night, but I have my duties to distract me.”
“I’m glad. Cardassia needs good lawyers. I also have a message from you. It was sent two hours ago from a Federation Starship.” The Gul hands him a Cardassian PADD with a written message on it.
“Thank you.”
“You can keep the PADD. Consider it an addition to the compensation of the Detapa Council for your treatment one month ago by the True Way.” The Gul nods before walking away as Kutari begins reading the message:
To: Advocate Kutari Selek, Cardassian Ministry of Justice, Cardassia Prime.
From: Commander Ryan Allington, Starfleet, U.S.S. Victorious.
Subject: Thank you.
Mr Selek,
I apologise for not contacting you sooner: I’ve only just had the chance since my recovery. I wanted to thank you for everything. I owe you my life. You were willing to sacrifice your own life to save mine, a stranger’s. I also want to thank you for never giving up during the trial. I’m ashamed to admit it, but without you I don’t think I could have remained as defiant and strong as I did.
I’ve attached my personal comm code to this message. If you ever want to speak with me, I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Commander Ryan Allington
Stubborn Human Defendant (and Starfleet Officer!)
Kutari smiles as he finishes reading the message, before putting the PADD away for later. It was at the very least a small comfort having someone to speak to who shared his pain. After finishing his paperwork and a glass of kanar, Kutari returns to the courtroom.
***
U.S.S. Victorious, Sickbay.
Doctor Sara Varenn, the Victorious’ Trill Chief Medical Officer, scans Ryan’s spinal column with her medical tricorder as the Commander sits on top of a biobed. Shaking her head, Varenn begins her report, “Tissue regeneration is slowing down due to increased levels of stress.”
“Meaning?” Ryan fidgets slightly, a little irritated at the repeated visits, not to mention the embarrassment of needing the Doctor’s help because he forgot his medication.
“Meaning your body is producing hormones as a result of the pain. I didn’t give you a hypo of Tanaphrine for nothing, Captain. Those hormones are reducing your body’s ability to repair the nervous damage and it’s hampering your recovery.”
“Doc, you told me to take those painkillers at least once every 12 hours.”
“Point?”
“I’m usually on the bridge all through Alpha Shift, and I make myself available for most of Beta Shift. That leaves very little time for these injections.”
“Make the time.” Varenn closes her tricorder and walks over to her medical locker, taking out a surgical regenerator and a metal cane, walking back over to Ryan. “Now, the way I see it, you have 4 options: 1) you take Beta Shift off like you’re supposed to; 2) I put you on medical probation and administer the injections myself; 3) you take medical leave until you’ve fully recovered; or 4) I can place an implant in your spinal column to counteract the hormones. Option 4 is going to make the pain worse and you will need a cane.” She holds up the cane for emphasis.
“Doctor, we’re on the verge of a war. I can’t ignore the bridge for 16 hours a day right now!”
“Then I can come up to the bridge to administer the painkillers.”
“Not a chance in Hell!” Ryan’s voice rings with indignance.
“Someone should do a study on why Starfleet Captains just cannot swallow their pride, even when their health is at risk.”
“It wouldn’t be good for morale if the crew saw me needing medication on the Bridge!”
“Worse than the crew seeing you collapse onto the deck-plating walking through the corridors?”
Ryan gives her a light glare for a few moments, before relenting. “Alright, but you stay on the turbolift if we’re communicating ship-to-ship visually.”
“Understood.”
“And the treatments are suspended for combat.”
“Naturally.” Varenn walks around the biobed behind Ryan. “Take your jacket off, please.” Ryan unzips his uniform jacket, pulling it off and putting it to the side. “And your shirt.”
“Why?”
“I’m going to use the regenerator to regain some of the ground you lost by missing your injections. I need direct contact with your skin.”
“But--”
“Please, I’m a doctor. Besides,” she gives a teasing smile, “you have nothing to be worried about, if Commander Saph’s interest in you is anything to go by.”
“You don’t fight fair…” He sighs as he pulls his shirt off, looking up at the ceiling with irritation while Varenn starts her procedure, starting from the brain stem and moving the regenerator down his back, the burgundy-red beam penetrating his skin and helping to repair the damaged nerves from the beatings he sustained while in the True Way’s custody. After a few minutes, Varenn deactivates the regenerator and sets it down on a medical trolley next to her.
“There. That wasn’t so bad, now was it?”
Ryan pulls on his shirt and jacket before responding. “Thank you, Doctor.”
“Anytime. I’ll be giving you your next injection at 2100.”
“Understood…” Ryan sighs as he jumps off the biobed, stretching his arms when the internal comms system chimes.
“Engineering to Captain Allington.” Dannover’s voice echoes through the room.
“Go ahead, Lieutenant.”
“We’re ready to reactivate the warp engines, sir.”
A smile crosses Ryan’s face. 10 minutes early. “I’m on my way.”
***
20 minutes later and Ryan is standing in Transporter Room 3 with van Gent, who hands him a PADD. “All our repairs are complete and my people are ready to beam off, Captain. If you’ll provide your thumbprint, I’ll certify the Victorious as ready for active service.”
“Thank you, Commander.” Ryan takes the PADD, placing his thumb over the biometric scanner before passing it back to van Gent, who does the same.
Van Gent now tucks the PADD under his arm and stands at attention. “Permission to disembark, Captain?”
“Granted. Give Captain Hamilton my regards.”
“Aye, sir.” Van Gent steps onto the transporter pad with the last of his engineering teams. “Energise.”
As Van Gent’s team disappears in the haze of blue light, Dannover walks in, smiling a little. “Well, nice to have them off my ship.”
Ryan nods as he steps outside the transporter room and heads towards Turboshaft 1. “We’ll be setting course for Starbase 224 in a few minutes. Is there anything I should be aware of?”
Dannover shakes her head. “We’re good to go. I’d like to get hold of some extra plasma injectors while we’re at the Starbase though. Just in case.”
“I’ll send the requisition request. By the way, i don’t know how long we’ll be at Starbase, but the Oxford is currently docked at 224.”
“Oh, great, another Chief Engineer to tell me how to do my job.” She smiles and drops the sarcasm. “I look forward to it.”
With that, Ryan arrives at the turbolift and steps inside, Dannover turning down the corridor to return to Main Engineering. As the doors close, Ryan gives his destination to the computer. “Bridge.” As the turbolift whirs into life, Ryan leans against the handrail. I feel like an old man…
A few moments later, the turbolift whines to a halt as the doors hiss open. Ryan straightens up and walks over the threshold as technicians dart between the aft consoles. He glances over Tala’s shoulder as he walks past the tactical station. Tala turns her head slightly in curiosity, before Ryan smiles and nods curtly. He then inspects the helm station, stepping beside Ensign Heja Kalynn. “Report, Ensign.”
Heja looks over her shoulder at him, smiling slightly. “Warp engines are functioning normally, Captain. All systems green.”
“Good. Set course for Starbase 224, warp 8.”
“Aye, sir.” Heja sets about laying in the course as Ryan sits in the command chair.
Lieutenant Commander Michael Carter, First Officer, leans over to confer with Ryan, puzzled. “Captain, is there a reason we’re going to the Cardassian Border?”
“None that I want to discuss in front of the Bridge Crew.” He looks over at Carter. “I’ll explain later, during a staff meeting.”
“Understood.” Carter turns to the viewscreen. “Alpha, are we ready for departure?”
“Aye, sir.” Alpha responds in his monotonous fashion.
“Captain?”
Ryan shakes his head. “Be my guest, Mr Carter.”
“Ensign Heja, is our course set?”
“Aye, sir.” The Bajoran ensign taps a handful of controls on her console, locking in the course and setting the warp drive to factor 8.
“Engage.”
End of Chapter.
Author's Notes: Once more unto the breach, dear friends. Don't worry, that little scene in sickbay wasn't just filler to play for time. This links back to Ryan's experience during Trials of Blood and Fire and will be part of an ongoing character arc around him. But, with this chapter ends the beginning of our story and begins the build-up. I hope you guys are enjoying reading this as much as I'm enjoying writing it (I've still got three more chapter's to upload as a buffer if I wind up short on time for writing). Please, feel free to comment below. Constructive criticism is, as always, appreciated (as are any questions).
Trials of Blood and Fire
Moving On Parts 1-3 - Part 4
In Cold Blood
Member Access Denied Armada!
My forum single-issue of rage: Make the Proton Experimental Weapon go for subsystem targetting!
Thanks. I introduced Torpal in a very old piece (I don't even have it anymore) which never got finished due to lack of time. When I went to write 'Old Wounds', I basically disregarded the previous story, but kept certain aspects of it (Corani Si'an is a variation of a character I introduced there). I recommend reading 'Old Wounds' if you want to read more about Torpal's character (though, fair warning, an update to the forum a while back seems to have removed all the speech marks, hyphens and quotation marks in some of my fanfics. I can't remember if I fixed 'Old Wounds' yet).
He also appears briefly in 'In Cold Blood' in a scene which set up this story.
Trials of Blood and Fire
Moving On Parts 1-3 - Part 4
In Cold Blood
...
You know what, I didn't intend him to become a recurring character, but now you've said that...
Trials of Blood and Fire
Moving On Parts 1-3 - Part 4
In Cold Blood
Isn't that the way it always happens?
"he's as dangerous as a ferret with a chainsaw."
Mission Log: Day 79, Year of Kahless 1022. Lieutenant General Torpal recording.
We are now 5 days from beginning the offensive against Cardassia and renewed hostilities with the Federation. Though I still have my… reservations regarding the invasion plan, I am convinced that the Kahless and its crew will meet any challenge it may face and triumph.
End of Log.
Corani quickly raises her left arm to block as the kick swings in towards her head, bouncing off her arm as she grunts in pain, catching a left hook and a right palm-strike aimed for the ribs, locking up before lifting her knees up and causing her and her opponent, fellow Orion security officer Bekk Tilana Tri’sa, to fall to the training mat, rolling on top and locking her legs into a body scissors, quickly taking Tilana’s dk’tagh and putting it to her throat, panting as she half-growls out, “Yield.”
Tilana nods, Corani retracting the Klingon knife and pulling her to her feet, turning to the security detail gathered around them. “First rule of close-quarters combat: if you have a disruptor use it. Second rule of close-quarters combat: If you have a knife but no disruptor, use it. It’s no good having a knife if it’s anywhere except inside your enemy’s body. Here endeth the lesson.”
As the detail disperses, Corani and Tilani grab towels and dry off their sweat, Tilana looking at her. “Gotta admit, I almost had you.”
Corani laughs at that, shaking her head. “Sure. In a parallel reality!”
There’s a buzz over the communications system, as a voice crackles across in Klingon. “Lieutenant Si’an, report to the Briefing Room.”
***
As Corani steps into the Briefing room, still wearing her grey and red-panelled training, she sees Tactical Officer Talash, a Gorn; First Officer and Chief Engineer Megh’tor and Science Officer K’Etara, all sitting around the conference table with Torpal at the head. “Take a seat, Lieutenant.”
Corani takes her seat next to the menacing Gorn, who lets out an anxious hiss after waiting 10 minutes for his colleague to arrive. Torpal ignores him, leaning forward and activating the holographic display to show the fleet’s current position and the intended attack plan. “Our battle group will operate separately from the rest of the fleet, first striking the Cardassian Outpost, Karok Fen. We will then attack Starfleet’s Outpost 87 near the Minos Korva system. By this time, our main force will have engaged the Cardassian Defence Forces and will be en route to Cardassia Prime. Our mission will be to ensure no Cardassian or Federation force can attack our supply ships before the fleet reaches the Cardassian homeworld.”
U.S.S. Victorious, Observation Lounge.
“Starfleet believes that the Klingons will attempt a lightning offensive to capture Cardassia Prime and install a puppet government loyal to their interests.” Alpha is speaking in front of the starboard viewer, which shows the strategic overview of Cardassian space.
Carter raises his hand slightly off the table. “Do we know where the Klingons will attack from?”
“There has been no recorded sighting of Klingon activity near the frontier. However, it is likely that they will attack from the direction of the Betreka Nebula.”
Tala looks over at Ryan, concerned. “The Cardassians won’t stand a chance, sir.”
Ryan nods and clasps his hands together on the table. “Admiral Ross is assembling a fleet to respond to any attempted invasion at Prophet’s Landing near the old DMZ. But, we have no idea what size the Klingon Fleet is, or, for that matter, if there even is an attack coming. Our orders are to meet up with a flotilla of other Federation Starships at Starbase 224. We’ll form a detached squadron intended to hinder the invasion until reinforcements can arrive. If the Klingons are forced to abandon this little adventure, they may return to the armistice terms.”
“There are a lot of ‘mays’ and ‘ifs’ to this…” Varenn cynically points out.
Ryan nods. “That’s why I want you all to keep this to the senior staff and deputy department heads. We don’t need to concern the crew with this until we have more information. If anyone asks, this is an exercise.” He looks at Dannover, “Battle damage?”
Dannover grimaces slightly. “Warp engines are repaired, as is most of the hull plating, but we’ve been picking up fluctuations from the port primary power conduit on Deck 7. It’s not a risk right now, but if we take a direct hit there…”
“Can you repair it?”
“That depends on how much time we have at Starbase. This kind of repair usually takes 2 hours.”
“I’ll try to make sure you get them. Any further questions?” There’s silence from the others. “Dismissed.”
As the rest of the senior staff leave, Varenn stays behind, tapping her fingers on top of her medkit pointedly as she raises an eyebrow at Ryan.
“Already?”
“It’s not my fault you missed your injections.”
Ryan sighs as Varenn takes out her hypospray, loading the relevant formula.
The next morning.
Ryan lets out a yawn as he steps off the Bridge turbolift with a cup of tea in his hands, immediately walking to the command chair as Starbase 224 comes into view on the main screen. The base is standard late-23rd Century design, with a central habitat module and an engineering section mounted spinally, with several additional modules branching off containing labs, extra habitat space and even a docking bay for small frigates and auxiliary craft. Orbiting the station can be seen 4 starships: a Nebula-Class starship, the U.S.S. Oxford; a Centaur-Class patrol frigate, which Ryan recognises by the locations of blanker plates over battle damage as the U.S.S. Medusa; an Excelsior-Class, with additional armour around the warp nacelles, and the additional impulse engines which are both consistent with the post-2290s rebuilds of the class, but without the deflector bulge, which leads Ryan to surmise it as the U.S.S. Alexandria, which underwent a partial rebuild after taking heavy damage in the battle to take Chintoka during the Dominion War; and then finally is a smaller Constellation-Class Cruiser still in it’s 23rd-Century configuration. With the presence of the rest of the flotilla ships, Ryan concludes this to be the U.S.S. Scorpio. Housed within the Station Core Module’s docking bay is the Station’s ironically-named defence ship U.S.S. Warspite, a Defiant-Class escort.
“Looks like we’re the last ones to arrive.” Ryan straightens himself in his chair. “Alpha, open a channel to the Oxford.”
Carter suppresses a knowing smirk as Commander Marilla Saph’s face appears on the viewscreen. “Captain, nice of you to finally join us.” Daya remarks with a witty sarcasm.
“We had engine trouble. Something about a Nausicaan ambush. The Medusa might know more.” Ryan responds with an equal amount of sarcasm before raising an eyebrow. “There’ll be a strategy briefing at 1700. Would you care for dinner afterwards?”
Daya smiles at him, amused. “It’s a date. Oxford out.”
Ryan beams a little before clearing his throat as he notices the smirks the rest of his crew are wearing. “Alpha, hail the Medusa next.”
The Medusa’s Captain Torias Jan looks no different from Ryan’s previous encounter with him after the raid on Andoria. “Good to see you again, Captain.”
“Likewise. How’s your battle damage?”
“The Starbase repair crews have repaired most of it. The rest is mainly superficial. We’re battle-ready, Captain.”
“Glad to hear it. There’ll be a meeting at 1700.”
“I’ll be there. Medusa out.”
“Scorpio, Alpha.”
The Captain of the Scorpio is an aged captain, with a thin but full beard of grey hair with brown streaks, while his head is adorned with short-cut dark grey hair. His eyes are an icy blue and his face is winkled lightly, giving the impression of an age around his late-50s to mid-60s. “Captain Allington, this is Captain Derek Sumners of the U.S.S. Scorpio.”
“It’s my honour, Captain.”
“The honour is mine. I’ve been reading up on your service jacket. You’ve been decorated more times in the past year than I have in the past decade!”
“I’ve probably lost more years from my life expectancy in that time too. Or you’ve gained some.”
Sumners fails to suppress his laughter as he replies, “I’d certainly like to think so!”
“We’ll be holding a strategy meeting between all the captains at 1700. I look forward to meeting you in person, Captain.”
“Likewise. Scorpio out.”
Alpha turns in his chair. “U.S.S. Alexandria is hailing sir.”
“Onscreen.” Ryan stands up, groaning absently as his back aches with the motion.
The Alexandria’s Captain is a moderate-toned Bolian women, wearing a Sierra-1 Uniform. Her head bears a series of purple stripes with a split ridge running from the back of the skull to the beginning of the neck. “Captain, this is Commander Sona Cerat. We met at Starbase 12 last year.”
“That’s right. I seem to remember you criticising just about every point I made regarding the Victorious’ upgrades, despite several of those upgrades having recently been performed on your ship, I believe?” Ryan gives a wry smirk.
“And so far, Commander, I’ve seen no evidence to change my mind.” Cerat returns the smirk.
“Well then, i look forward to arguing with you about it at the strategy meeting at 1700. Victorious out.” Ryan sighs as he sits back down, looking up at the ceiling. “Is that everyone?”
Carter tilts his head a little. “The Warspite. It’s been placed under the command of Captain Sorik on-base, but I believe he’s assigned Commander Borak Tross to her for this mission.”
“Hail the base.” Ryan straightens up as Captain Sorik, a Vulcan, is shown. “Captain, this is the Victorious.”
“Victorious, this is Starbase 224. We are making preparations for departure aboard the Warspite. She will be ready to leave in 6 hours. Commander Tross will command her for this assignment.”
“Thank you, Captain. Could you tell the Commander we will be holding a strategy meeting her aboard the Victorious at 1700 hours?”
“I shall pass that along. Starbase Operations out.”
Ryan sighs again as he wipes his face with both palms. “The one saving grace about today is that I get to have dinner with Daya…”
Heja turns in her chair inquisitively. “Isn’t the doctor supposed to give you your next injection at 2100, sir?”
Ryan lets out a loud tortured groan, with a faux sob as he leans forward in his chair.
End of Chapter
Author's Notes: Not much to say on this one. It's mainly putting our players into place. We'll see more of them as the story goes on.
Trials of Blood and Fire
Moving On Parts 1-3 - Part 4
In Cold Blood
I.K.S. Kahless, Minos Korva Sector, on the edge of Cardassian Space.
Torpal watches the viewscreen in a trepidated anticipation. Soon now. Any minute General Korvak’s Command ship will send the order to enter Cardassian Space and commence the invasion. Despite his misgivings with regard to the plan, Torpal could not deny his heart - his blood. With every second the attack grows closer, the call of the warrior grows louder, his blood burning for the glorious chaos of battle, where only one thing matters: victory, for the sake of survival, as it was for their ancestors dating back to the very origins of the Klingon species.
And yet, anyone who looks at him from the outside would not see this instinctive bloodlust. Over the years, Torpal has learned to mask his feelings behind a steely facade. This is the reason he has survived to win so many battles; why he bought the House of Kal’gron to its knees when they attempted to steal his family’s lands as a young Captain of the Klingon Defence Forces, and why he has been chosen as guardian of the Empire’s newest offensive.
“General.” The communications officer turns from his station. “General Korvak has sent a signal to all squadrons. One word: Begin.”
Torpal exhales, releasing a muted chuckle at the prospect of battle. “Heghlu’meH QaQ jajvam. Lay in a course for the nearest Cardassian Border Station, maximum warp.”
As the fleet begins to decloak around them and jump to warp across the border, someone begins slamming their fist against their console rhythmically. Then another, and another. Soon the beat of battle drums echoes across the bridge. Torpal laughs with jollity as even he joins in, motioning for the helmsman to execute his orders before taking a deep breath.
“Qoy qeylIS puqloD’,
“Qoy puqbe’pu,
“yoHbogh matlhbogh je SuvwI’
“Say’moHchu’ may’ ‘Iw!”
***
Meanwhile, U.S.S. Victorious, Observation Lounge.
The captains of the combined squadron are all seated around the conference table, with Ryan at the end of it as Alpha helps with the briefing. “The Klingon fleet will likely attempt to take the most direct route to Cardassia Prime, destroying any Cardassian vessel or outpost in their path. With so little notice, the Cardassians will not be able to mount an effective defence.” Alpha shows an image of his projected Klingon attack path, striking in a straight line from the edge of the Minos Korva sector to Cardassia Prime itself.
Jan leans forward, looking at Ryan. “If that’s the case, why are we here and not forming up with the Cardassians? If the Klingons are bringing an invasion fleet, 6 ageing starships are hardly going to make a difference.”
“Don’t be so sure.” Captain Sumners raises his finger in interjection. “A blitz like this is going to consume a lot of ammunition and fuel in a very short space of time, without the opportunity to set-up a forward operating base. That means the Klingons’ logistics are going to be reliant on regular supply runs. Even a minor disruption could set them back days. If we were to destroy an entire convoy…”
“The Klingon offensive would collapse.” Ryan stands up and paces around the room. “That’s the plan we’re operating on. Admiral Ross has placed us on detached operations with our objective being to cut off the Klingon supply lines. If we’re quick enough, we can force the Klingon fleet to withdraw before they even reach the Cardassia Sector.”
“And failing that?” The Warspite’s commanding officer, Commander Jonathon Tross, looks at him from the opposite side of the table.
“Admiral Ross is assembling a response force at Prophet’s Landing, but they won’t be ready in time to prevent the Klingons from reaching Cardassia. If it comes to that, our mission becomes to delay the Klingons as long as possible.”
“This reminds me of the last war…” Sumners laments. “For the first few months, it seemed like all we could do was slow the Jem’Hadar down, and even then…”
“This time, the Klingons have no secure supply line and they’re operating in enemy territory.”
Daya raises a hand to get everyone’s attention. “Ryan, this plan is brilliant in theory, but are the Klingons really that stupid as to leave such a vulnerable supply line undefended?”
“Probably not. But that’s why Admiral Ross has provided us with the most experienced captains, and the best crews, in the fleet. Barring an Enterprising Intervention, there is no way in the quadrant a squadron this size could have better odds of success.”
Sumners shakes his fist enthusiastically. “Hear hear!”
With that, the room echoes with the chiming of the ship intercom, followed by Carter’s voice. “Bridge to Captain Allington.”
Ryan taps one of the control panels and looks at his fellow captains, who become fixated on him. “Go ahead, Michael.”
“We’ve started detecting increased comms activity across the border. It sounds like battle chatter, sir.”
Ryan’s face hardens into stone. “It’s started.”
***
Captain’s Log, Stardate: 88035.8. U.S.S. Victorious, Commander Ryan Allington recording.
The Klingon attack has been proceeding for less than 24 hours, and they have already reached the Minos Korva system. The Cardassians’ border patrols and outposts have been completely overrun, and Admiral Ross has informed me that the Intervention Force at Prophet’s Landing won’t be ready to move for two more days. So far, the Klingons haven’t attempted to strike any Federation targets, but all Starfleet vessels and facilities have been placed on war footing.
[/i]End of Log.[/i]
“The Cardassians are preparing a defence at Kaldar VII to try and halt the Klingon advance.” Admiral Ross’ aged visage is backdropped by buzzing activity behind him on the bridge of the U.S.S. Antwerp at Prophet’s Landing.
Ryan gives a cynical look, clasping his hands together as he sits in his command chair on the Victorious’ Bridge. “Do they have any real chance of success?”
“None.” Ross leans back in his seat, exhaling. “Even if they destroy half the Klingon fleet, the Klingons will still reach Cardassia Prime by the end of the week.”
“Understood. We’re ready to launch here, sir.”
“The Federation hasn’t officially abrogated the armistice yet, Commander. So far, all the Federation Council has done is condemn the invasion.”
“So my hands are tied?”
“I’m not saying that. I didn’t say anything then, and I’m not saying anything now, except that I suggest you monitor the situation and follow our regulations to the letter. Do I make myself clear, Captain?”
“Yes sir.”
“Good. Ross out.”
Ryan sighs, slamming his hand against the armrest in frustration. “Alpha, continue to monitor all Cardassian channels and keep an eye on the border. If the Klingons so much as sneeze in our direction…”
“Aye sir.” Alpha directs the ship’s primary sensors towards the border.
***
Meanwhile, I.K.S. Duras, at the head of the Klingon Fleet.
“8 Cardassian vessels and 3 outposts destroyed, and we’ve only been on the attack for 17 hours!” General Korvak roars in delight as he peruses the latest tactical reports. “The Cardassian Union is in full retreat!”
Torpal is examining the holomap of the region, overplayed by Klingon and Cardassian markers showing the positioning of their respective forces. Torpal notes that the Cardassians are indeed in full retreat, but soon turns his attention to the Federation frontier. So far, no reaction from Starfleet, aside from a pathetic expression of dismay. What worries Torpal isn’t the lack of a political response, but of a military one. Starfleet have sent no ships to the border to make a show of force and none of the usual warnings have been sent by the various starbases. “Starfleet is being far too silent. No subspace chatter from their space so far, even as one of their allies crumbles on their doorstep.”
Korvak scoffs, walking over. “The Federation Council is a committee of pacifists and children! They don’t have the stomach for a war, even to defend their ‘allies’!”
“Maybe so, but Starfleet isn’t. See for yourself: no redeployment orders, no neutrality patrols, no strengthening of defences, not even a warning against incursion by their border posts! According to this report, Starfleet is ignoring us!”
Korvak looks at him, suddenly turning far more serious. “You think they’re preparing a response force?”
“Almost certainly, General. I recommend we position my battle group to perform a recon of one of the nearby starbases. Perhaps… 224?” Torpal points to the Starbase’s location, just out of range of the picket ships’ sensor range.
Korvak shakes his head. “One Starbase out of many, Torpal. Starfleet could be preparing a force anywhere along the border. If you want to find out if Starfleet is preparing a response…,” He pans the holomap to a Cardassian Research Station within easy reach of the Federation border, “a more direct approach is needed.”
Torpal murmurs and nods in agreement.
***
2 hours later, Darma Research Station, Cardassian-Federation Border.
Gul Korin Davat, 6th Order, steps out of his office onto the cramped Operations Deck of this small Research Station. Darma Station was built in the years immediately following the Dominion War to analyse the subspace instability of the system caused by a Son’a experimental weapon demonstrated for the Dominion during that war. As a result, warp travel is restricted to factor one to avoid opening any spatial rifts, making this one of the most remote assignments a Gul could be given without it being obvious he was being punished, in this case for deliberately allowing a True Way raider to destroy a Bajoran Impulse Frigate.
6 years he’s been commanding this station, and exactly nothing worth reporting has happened, aside from the occasional Treaty Inspection by Federation ships to ensure the station is operating within the confines of the Treaty of Bajor and is, as required by that treaty, completely unarmed.
So, one can imagine the somewhat sorry state of his trousers when he sees a Klingon Battle Squadron taking up siege positions around his station, led by a Negh’Var-Class Battlecruiser no less! “Hail them!”
The harrowing image of the Klingon warships on the viewscreen is replaced by the cold exterior of General Torpal’s bearded face. “This is the Imperial Klingon Ship Kahless. Speak quickly.”
“This is Gul Davat, 6th Order, Commander of the Darma Research Station! State your intentions immediately!” Davat puts on his best poker face, doing his best to be intimidating. It isn’t working.
“You dare to make demands of me?” Torpal smiles in amusements, chuckling as he strokes his brown, unkempt beard. “You are either very brave, Cardassian, or have no idea whom you are addressing. I am Lieutenant General Torpal, Son of Megh’tor, Victor of Ka’vok II, Commander of the squadron which is now surrounding your unarmed station with weapons locked. You will surrender, or you will die. The choice is yours. You have 6 minutes.”
As the viewscreen deactivates, showing a clear path to the wall behind it, Davat turns to his Operations Chief. “Raise shields! Full Alert!” He hops down the stairs into the Ops pit as the alert klaxon blares, leaning against the main console and directing his eyes to the Glinn opposite him. “Send a distress call, all channels! ‘We’re under Klingon assault! Need immediate assistance! Civilian Operation!”
***
U.S.S. Victorious, Starbase 224.
Ryan is about to dig his fork into another potato wedge, before glancing across to his Trillian guest, whose light brown hair radiated, as always, and whose jagged, arrowhead-shaped spots captivated his gaze, as always, and whose sapphire-blue eyes were fixed on her food instead of the human host ogling her. As. Always.
After what must have been at least 5 seconds, Ryan realises that he is making an idiot of himself (which, his Trill guest would say, doesn’t take much) and returns his attention to his food, only looking up again when the Trill Commander opposite says, “You know, boyfriends are allowed to look at their girlfriends.” She looks up at him and smirks in her usual teasing fashion.
“How did you know?” Ryan smiles weakly, trying to hide his humiliation.
“My third Host fell in love with a Deltan. I know.” Commander Marilla Saph, known as ‘Daya’ to her friends after the indigenous word for ‘blue’ on the colony of her birth, mellows her smile as she blushes slightly in embarrassment.
Ryan, sensing weakness, goes on the attack. “You know, I think that’s the first time I’ve seen you embarrassed since, oh let’s see… Stardate: 82374.”
“We agreed never to discuss that again.” Daya grumbles in irritation.
“We agreed on a lot of things at the academy. How many of those agreements you actually kept…”
“That I kept? Selective memory much, mister ‘I swear I’ll never let you sing while drunk’?”
“I wasn’t even in the same room! Flores insisted on showing me this ‘brilliant new weapons programme’ she’d been working on!”
“I bet all the girls show you their weapons programmes.” Daya now smirks with relentless snark.
“Stop it…” Ryan moans in indignation as his face goes as red as the surface of Mars.
Daya laughs lightly before being interrupted by the intercom, and Alpha’s monotone voice transmitting over it. “Captain Allington to the Bridge.”
Ryan sighs in resignation, putting down his fork and standing up. “Duty calls.”
Daya nods and rises as well. “I know. I’d better get back to the Oxford.” She gives Ryan a quick peck on the lips before picking up her Command Red Sierra-2 pattern uniform jacket and walking out.
***
Within a few minutes, Ryan walks onto the bridge, pulling his hand from behind his back where it had been permanently resting since he’d entered the turbolift. “Report.”
Alpha rises from the centre chair and relieves the Operations Officer on duty before assuming his post. “We are receiving a distress call from the Darma Research Station in Cardassian Space.”
Alpha taps at his console and the voice of Gul Davat crackles across the speakers. “We’re under Klingon assault! Need immediate assistance! Civilian Operation!” There’s a shrill tone, before the message repeats.
Ryan rests his head on his right fist in thought. “What data do we have on that station, Alpha?”
“It is a standard Cardassian Research Station. Unarmed, according to the most recent inspection, conducted by the U.S.S. Seacole two months ago.”
“Civilian crew?”
“Yes sir, with the exception of the Commanding Officer, 28 security officers and a handful of technical staff.”
As Ryan curses under his breath, Carter takes his seat after returning from a meeting aboard the Starbase. “The Federation Council is still in deliberations over military intervention.”
Ryan slams his fist against his armrest in frustration, gritting his teeth. He then casts his mind back to the conversation with Admiral Ross a few hours earlier. ‘I’m not saying anything. I wasn’t saying anything then, and I’m not saying anything now, except that I suggest you monitor the situation and follow our regulations to the letter.’
“‘To the letter…’” Ryan murmurs as he begins to formulate a plan. “Thank you, Admiral.” Ryan swivels his chair round to face Tala at the tactical station. “Sound red alert!” He swivels back to face the viewscreen. “Alpha, notify the squadron to follow us! Heja, set a course for Darma Station, maximum warp!”
“Captain, what are you doing?” Carter tries to catch up in his head what Ryan had just done.
“Following orders. Ross told us to follow regulations to the letter. Starfleet General Order 2: All Starfleet vessels, where able, are to answer all civilian distress calls, no matter the origin, except when it can be ascertained that such a distress call is false with absolute certainty.”
“The Federation Council is going to be pissed.”
“Let them. I can’t just sit here while the Klingons run roughshod over the Cardassians for a treaty I helped negotiate!”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
The two smile at each other as Ryan turns to face Heja, lifting up his right hand, pressing his middle and index fingers together and pointing them forward. “Engage.”
End of Chapter.
Author's Notes: And we're off! Originally, this was going to be two chapters, with Chapter Six starting after the tactical meeting between Ryan's fellow captains, but then I realised that would have been a very short chapter, so I combined the two!
Trials of Blood and Fire
Moving On Parts 1-3 - Part 4
In Cold Blood
U.S.S. Oxford, proceeding at high warp to Darma Station.
Daya watches the stars streak past on the viewscreen as the red alert lighting pulsates, overwhelming the emergency lights as the bridge shines crimson for a moment before receding once more. On her right, Lieutenant Commander Kyle Harrison is monitoring ship’s status reports and comms from the Victorious. “ETA is 10 minutes. All decks are ready for battle.”
“Thanks, Kyle.” She stands up as the low hum of the warp engines reverberates across the Nebula-Class starship. “Open a channel to the Victorious.”
Before long, Ryan’s face is on the screen. “Go ahead, Oxford.”
“Ryan, I suggest the Oxford positions itself at the edge of the combat area to perform long-range scans - give you a better idea of what we’re dealing with.”
“Agreed. Just be ready to jump in if we need you.”
“We’ll be there. Oxford out.” As the channel closes, Daya turns to Ensign Darren Styles at the helm. “Bring us out of warp. Science, begin long-range sensor scans. Find the Klingon fleet.”
***
U.S.S. Victorious.
“Captain,” Alpha turns his head slightly towards the conn, “we are receiving the Oxford’s telemetry. 1 Negh’Var Battleship, 2 K’t’inga Battlecruisers, a K’vort-Class Cruiser and 4 Birds-of-Prey.”
Ryan stands up, tugging his uniform neatly. “Open a channel, Alpha.”
Alpha quickly keys in the communications frequency and opens the channel. “Channel open.”
“Klingon warships, this is Commander Ryan Allington of the Federation Starship U.S.S. Victorious. You are attacking a civilian target under our protection. Disengage at once. This is your only warning.”
Within a few moments, Ryan is shocked to see the haggard visage of Lieutenant General Torpal on his viewscreen. “Commander. We meet again, at last. It is my only regret that we should meet as enemies, not allies.”
“General. What is this? Explain your attack!”
“This station is the property of the Cardassian Union, a power which has violated the peace between my race and theirs.”
“The Federation renegotiated the Treaty of Bajor with them in good faith.”
“Without notifying or consulting the High Council.”
“I’m not going to argue the finer points of Interstellar Diplomacy with you General. Starfleet won’t allow the Klingon Empire to subjugate Cardassia, you know that! Is this really worth going to war with the Federation over?”
“You mistake me for a man in control, Commander. The war has already begun. All that remains is honour and death. Heghlu’meH QaQ jajvam!” With that, the channel closes.
Ryan looks to Alpha for a translation. “It means ‘Today is a good day to die.’”
Ryan sits in his seat, relaxing his spine as he does so and sighs in resignation. “Raise shields. Arm torpedoes. Ready phasers. We’re going in.”
***
I.K.S. Kahless.
“General, the Federation ships are now within sensor range! 6 starships, including 3 Heavy Cruisers!” The sensor officer calls up from his station on the Battleship’s Bridge sub-level.
Torpal nods deliberatively. “Have the Kra’tok and the Birds-of-Prey cloak, and form our Battlecruisers in horizontal line relative to the starfleet ships, with the B’moth in the centre.”
As the Klingon Battle Group arrays itself per Torpal’s strategy, the Victorious and her squadron drop out of warp at the edge of range, with the Warspite taking point ahead of a similar line-abreast of the Victorious, Alexandria and Scorpio, while the Medusa stays between the cruisers and their escort. The Oxford executes a short warp jump to put herself on the flank.
“Have the Kra’tok attack the frigate with the Birds-of-Prey. All Battlecruisers focus firepower on that Excelsior-Class starship. DaH!”
The battle ensues as the Kahless, B’moth and the I.K.S. Korath fire their disruptors and torpedoes at the U.S.S. Alexandria, with the Victorious and the Scorpio quickly wheeling around to assist. The Victorious opens with a salvo of her transphasic torpedoes, forcing the Klingon battle line to disperse and take evasive action. Meanwhile, the Medusa extends her shields around the Alexandria as the two ships combine their phaser power against the Korath.
U.S.S. Oxford.
Daya watches the battle as the Oxford begins to enter weapons range, something bothering her. “Where are their Birds-of-Prey?” She quickly paces to the science station, opening a comm channel to the Alexandria. “Alexandria, hold present course and prepare to receive a tachyon beam.” She taps a few controls and projects a tachyon beam to the Alexandria, with the Alexandria bouncing it to the Scorpio. Daya then fires a high-energy burst along that beam, waiting as the Korath breaks from the main engagement under heavy fire. “Now scan for inertial displacement.”
“Aye, sir.” The science officer begins scanning, highlighting four fast-moving groups of tachyon particles. “There!”
“Oxford to Medusa, there’s a squadron of Birds-of-Prey headed right for you, bearing 087 mark 75!”
The Medusa quickly breaks away from the Alexandria as the Warspite pulls up behind the cloaked warships and starts firing between them, forcing them to decloak and scatter.
U.S.S. Victorious.
“Excellent work, Warspite! Alpha, where’s that K’vort?” Ryan is holding on to the back of ALpha’s seat as the bridge rocks from a disruptor volley by the Kahless.
“I am reading a fifth inertial displacement. Relaying coordinates to tactical.”
“Tala, I want that ship running like a turkey.”
Tala quickly keys in a torpedo solution, firing 3 photons at the Kra’tok.
The first torpedo misses as the Kra’tok changes course at the last moment, beginning to decloak.
The second detonates around 100m short as the Kra’tok becomes fully visible.
The third glances past the forward hull as the shields come up, before slamming into the port warp coil and erupting into a red-purple antimatter explosion, sending the Kra’tok out of control for the moment.
“Direct hit to their warp drive! They’re drifting!” Tala prepares a second torpedo solution with the transphasics when the ship rocks violently. “Okay, I think that got their attention! All three battlecruisers are firing on us now!”
“Heja, back us off. Alpha, intensify forward shields!” Ryan retreats back to his seat as the ship continues to rock. “Tala, fire torpedoes on the Kahless, dispersal pattern beta!”
“Aye, Captain!” The three gold flashes fly forward, two hitting the Kahless’ shields before the third phases through and detonates against the port wing, venting drive coolant as the Kahless breaks off. “We’ve hit their drive system. The Battlecruisers are breaking off.”
“Let them go. The Medusa’s in trouble.”
The Medusa makes a high-energy manoeuvre, pitching up violently as two Birds-of-Prey overshoot while the other two stay on her aft, disruptors pulsing against the hull as the outer plating sheds with each successful hit. With one phaser beam lancing against the belly of the closest pursuer, the Medusa forces one of the birds to slow down and break off, while the Warspite pulls up behind the second and unleashing a volley of orange phaser blasts from its forward phaser cannons, before orange fire bursts out of the Bird’s hull and it disappears into fragments.
I.K.S. Kahless.
“Sir, the Kar’ak and the Ch’grin have been destroyed!”
Torpal grunts in frustration. “Order the remaining ships to cloak! What’s the Kra’tok’s status?”
“Their warp drive is inoperable and--”
Torpal turns in his seat to face the comm officer. “And what?!”
“Their cloaking device has malfunctioned again. They’re fully visible.”
Torpal curses, before turning to his helmsman. “Drop the cloak and bring us around! Take us to the Kra’tok and prepare to lock a tractor beam! Order the B’moth and the remaining B’rels to attack the Victorious’ port warp drive, attack pattern Kabar! Mak’cha!”
The Kahless decloaks and races across the Federation fleet’s line of fire as they prepare to re-engage the Kra’tok, the phaser blasts grazing against the red light of her shields before she locks a tractor beam on the Kra’tok and pulls it inside it’s warp bubble, jumping to warp.
U.S.S. Victorious.
“Lay in a pursuit course, helm.”
Heja nods and prepares the navigation system for a chase. “Ready.”
“Eng--!” before Ryan can give the order, the ship rocks hard as the Birds-of-Prey and the B’moth decloak, racing across the Victorious’ beam from starboard, battering her shields with disruptor and torpedo fire before the B’moth gets good hit as her green disruptor beam banks lance across the recently-repaired port nacelle, cloaking before the rest of the squadron can react and jumping to warp.
Carter quickly lurches out of his chair and helps Ryan peel himself off the floor, looking at Alpha at Ops. “Damage Report!”
Alpha doesn’t turn from his console. “The Port warp drive has been disabled. Repairs will take at least two hours. Starboard shields have collapsed. All Klingon vessels have disengaged from the battle.”
Ryan groans as he falls back into his chair, grunting in pain. “Get damage control on it. Move us into range of the station and prepare medical and repair teams. Notify Starfleet of our status.”
Carter looks at his CO’s pained expression and exhausted panting. “Are you alright, sir?”
“I’ll be fine, it’s just--” Ryan lets out a staggered howl of pain as he tries to stand up.
“Medical team, report to the Bridge!”
End of Chapter
Trials of Blood and Fire
Moving On Parts 1-3 - Part 4
In Cold Blood
Member Access Denied Armada!
My forum single-issue of rage: Make the Proton Experimental Weapon go for subsystem targetting!