Chapter 3.2
Posted on Wed Jul 12th, 2023 @ 12:10am by Commander Jessica (JJ) Barnes-Jamison & Lieutenant Commander Broka & Lieutenant Commander J'Lena G'Rall House of Morlag & Lieutenant Commander Serena Rush & Captain Ken Jamison & Lieutenant Commander T'Lisha "Hawkeye" Bishara & Lieutenant JG Anzai Sulu & Lieutenant Ilbis Ilkun MD & Lieutenant JG Zomuul jav Ghul & Gul Slorir Varin
Edited on on Wed Sep 6th, 2023 @ 4:13am
4,852 words; about a 24 minute read
Mission:
No Sleep Tonight
Location: USS Valhalla / CDS Thrarim
Timeline: 2431-05-31, 00:05
Doctor Ilbis Ilkun still couldn't believe what was happening. Less than a day ago the Enterprise had been on patrol and watched helplessly as a Cardassian force invaded and captured a star system. Now he had been temporarily assigned to the Valhalla to assist with the capture of one of the Cardassian ships due to the presence of Interstellar Coalition originating weapons aboard it. He still couldn't believe that Admiral Targaryen had ordered them to hijack another government's vessel. The Cardassian ships belonged to a sovereign nation and, despite the fact that they'd recently claimed several worlds as their own, the successful hijack could lead to war.
Clicking his razor sharp claws together, the Chelon Doctor watched as the Cardassian Hideki Class vessel grew in size on the forward viewscreen. Due to its speed and agility the Hideki was primarily a patrol ship within the Cardassian fleet, but they were also used to perform hit and run attacks against larger vessels as needed. Scans conducted by Enterprise suggested that it had been outfitted with Interstellar Coalition weapons and, while not as strong as those on other vessels, there were no indications that the weapons of this ship wouldn't produce the data needed to build defense against the Coalition's weapons. That was the theory anyway. Ilbis only hoped it was true.
Lieutenant Zomuul jav Ghul, sitting at the Science console, turned away from the wall mounted workstation, "Sensors are showing that the Cardassian vessel has been disabled."
Feeling like a fly on a wall at a pivotal moment in time Commander Serna Rush glanced nervously at Captain Jamison and JJ. The counsellor was wondering for the umpteenth time if they were about to throw the first punch that would lead to further conflict by attempting to secure the Cardassian vessel.
Doctor Ilkun had heard the Science Officer's announcement. He mumbled, under his breath, "thus begins the war to end all wars."
"Doctor please spare us your doom and glum at least until after the mission." Ken replied dryly. "As of now, we have a ship to captured and its secrets to uncover and unlock."
Elly stood behind her boss, Lt. Ghul, staring at the Console. She was waiting for the data from the atmospheric probe before she could scuttle off to the Labs to prepare to bring the Cardassian ship aboard. Their department was going to be all-hands, she just knew it. She snickered a little at the exchange, but then quickly transferred the data from the Console to her PADD, and ducked out. She hated command stuff, it was boring AND required a certain mettle-a mettle that the Botanist didn't have. After a moment, she had returned to the lab, sending a note up to the Deck, for Lt. Ghul. *Sir, the atmospheric readings are a bit touchy; that ships giving off some radiation. Should I alert ops and engineering to make sure shields are up? We're all going to need EV suits, too.==/\==
The Tellarite got right to it, "Prepare yourself to join the away mission."
Elly replied. ==/\==Aye, sir.==/\== She hauled herself down to the Labs to prepare-she grabbed an EV suit, just in case, a Tricorder, and some sample kits. Just because they were infiltrating a Cardassian ship didn't mean that she didn't want to get swabs and air samples. She tucked all of these items into a go-bag, and double checked that her uniform was sharp. She still looked fine-like she was working, but ready to go. She tapped her badge once more. ==/\==Sir, I am ready on your order.==/\== She called down the channel, stepping out to head for the Transporter room.
Lieutenant Sulu approached from the Mission Operations Station at the rear of the Bridge, "In their current condition we are going to need to hurry if we're meant to recover the ship with as few casualties as possible." She could hear herself as she said it, but even Anzai didn't believe the words that came from her mouth as she said them. It was almost as if she was another person in that moment, a sort of more depraved form of impostor syndrome. "Our team will be ready to depart in less than five minutes."
Ken nodded. "You have a wonderful grasp of understatement Lieutenant. Time is most definitely of the essence. So, get the teams in place and prepare to implement the capture of our prize."
"Immediately, Captain." She got to business. "We will consist of two teams," the Security Chief for the Enterprise announced. "I will lead the first team to capture the Bridge with Commander Bishara and Lieutenant Clarke. Team two will be responsible for capturing Engineering and stabilizing the ship and will be led by Lieutenant Reeves with Doctor Ilkun stabilizing the atmosphere and Commander G'rall stabilizing the ship."
For all of her talk before, Elly was suddenly a bit uneasy. She was, after all, a botanist, not an Ops specialist or something. Still, she knew her way around a Cardassian, and around a phaser. She didn't particularly LIKE it, but she could handle it. "Aye, sir." Team one, for infiltration. Fun times.
She looked at the Captain, "Would you like to accompany us, Sir?"
Ken looked at Sulu, "Are you sure I wouldn't muck up your operation Lieutenant?" He asked with a grin.
"If you'd like to join us we'd be happy to have you along, Captain," the Security Chief proposed before looking at her counterpart from the Valhalla, "Provided that your Chief and XO are supportive."
Rush frowned at the conversation: "Are you sure that's wise Captain?" she asked Jamison brazenly. "Considering what the consequences of these actions could entail I would recommend you stay on the bridge sir."
Doctor Ilkun stood next to the Environmental Control console as the situation unfolded on the Bridge of the Valhalla. The Chelon Doctor had been listening intently on the discussions going on and the preparations. He wasn't exactly sold on the whole scenario, which he had made abundantly clear, but he was adapting all the same.
Jamison looked over to Serena. "Easy Serena. I haven't said I was going; I was just exploring the idea. However, I will leave the away team in the capable hands of Lt. Sulu and I will stay here where you and JJ can keep an eye on me." The last said with a grin.
"We're ready to depart," the Security Chief of the Enterprise confirmed. "Away teams to transporter rooms, phasers on stun."
As the transporter beam finished its rematerialization sequence Lieutenant Ilbis Ilkun wondered exactly what he could expect aboard the Cardassian Hideki Class starship. Ever since this mission was announced and they were ordered to capture a Cardassian vessel the Chelon Doctor had been worried that they would start a war. Now he was even more convinced. The Cardassian ship that they were engaging had reported that its Chamber's Coil had overloaded and that radiation was flooding the ship. Life signs were sporadic and barely registered. So, essentially, Starfleet was ordering them to capture a ship that was in an emergency.
What he saw when they arrived surprised him more than anything that he could imagine. As the transporter beam finalized he was surprised to find the Cardassian Officers standing before them, weapons holstered and undefended. At the center chair their leader, Gul Slovir Varin, stood waiting. "I am Gul Slorir Varin, Commanding Officer of the Cardassian Starship Thrarim, and my crew and I hereby request political asylum within the United Federation of Planets."
Elly's hand crept towards her phaser. She didn't trust these people, but of course, she wouldn't fire unless fired upon. It was more or less for her comfort. It was there. Good. She dropped her hand again. "Sir..." she urged, quietly. "I can transport back with the party...you won't need an Engineer; they have their own, most likely."
The Cardassian Weapon's Officer looked at the Science Officer as her hand briefly went to her Phaser, "I can assure you that you won't need that here. We have no desire to go to war today."
"We apologize for the deceit," the Cardassian Gul interjected. "We had to be incredibly careful to make this look like an accident and nothing more, which is why we still need a qualified Engineer's help. Admiral Targaryen and I had worked out a plan to recover one of our Interstellar Coalition outfitted vessels for the Federation, but he suspected that someone onboard your Space Station may have been working with the True Way and would have exposed our actions. That was why he setup this mission to capture a ship rather than risk our being discovered and destroyed."
The Cardassian Engineer spoke next, "We made a little too good of a show. Our Chamber Coil really has overloaded. While there is no real radiation danger, well yet anyway, if we don't get the engines back online then we could find ourselves a quick target."
Lieutenant Sulu, knowing she was in operational command of the mission, knew she had to make a judgment call and quickly. She looked at the two engineers, "Do you think that you can help them get this ship back online?"
J'Lenna spoke up quickly, " Well what ever we are going to do let's get it done quickly. I don't want to be irradiated and we need a new coil. Can it be replicated or is there something else we can use in the meantime? I don't think I can fashion a new one from our stores," she said.
T'Lisha spoke up, "Well of I can get the helm back on line and up to snuff, I can fly this baby," she said emphatically.
"That won't be necessary," Gul Varin interrupted. "We would be more than capable of flying our ship back to Deep Space 12, we just need to have the protection of your mothership. Would that be possible?"
Sulu looked at her group, "Let's find out. Lieutenant Clarke, please make notification to Captain Jamison aboard the Valhalla regarding our discovery and request instruction."
"Yes, ma'am," she said, pulling up her PADD. She clicked on her radio. ==/\==Clarke to Bridge. Captain. We have a request from our...guests for a tow to DS12. But also we'll need a safe area to quarantine some of the crew. Please alert Medical we'll have radiation exposure incoming. Will await further orders. Clarke off.==/\==Now it was time for her to be on her game.
"Understood Lieutenant." Ken replied and then tapped his combadge. "Jamison to Sickbay. Set up radiation protocols. Sickbay will be receiving crew with radiation exposure." He continued. "Jamison to Engineering. "Prepare tractor beams to tow our guests ship to DS12."
"I would recommend that we quarantine the crew to common areas," Doctor Ilkun recommended. "That way we can limit radiation exposure."
"Lieutenant Reeves and you can see to that," the Lieutenant ordered. "Would you be able to provide necessary parts to our engineers to assist you?" This was directed at the Cardassian Engineer.
The Engineer considered it, "We have very limited stores aboard the ship, being a scout class vessel. We could potentially take the equipment from the weapons arrays..."
"Out of the question," Anzai interrupted. "We are under orders to secure the Coalition weapon your vessel carries."
Slorir rose his hand, "What's more important? Our lives or the weapon?"
The Security Officer didn't take the bait. "Do you think that you could potentially fashion a device?" The Doctor asked the Engineer and Helm. It was mainly moot with the tractor beam, but it would be nice to have the ship able to travel under its own power if something went wrong.
Elly cleared her throat. "Science can probably assist, as well. Show me your console, please, so I can maybe pinpoint what went wrong," she said to the Cardassian woman at her side.
The Cardassian rose from her console, stepping aside to allow the scientist access.
Elly settled in, and tapped some buttons to bring up her interface. She ran some tests, and turn to the Cardassian. "Let those run. Atmospheric scans, internal sensors, and foreign body scans."
"Gul Varin," the Lieutenant returned, "Your lives are incredibly important to all of us, but so are the lives of the citizens that will be impacted if we fail to acquire that weapon, Sir. The Vulcan maxim that the needs of the many outweigh those of the one are perhaps the most apt for our situation. If we fail here and the Interstellar Coalition, aided by the True Way, comes to power it could be the end of an entire way of life for the galaxy."
"Some may call that evolution, Lieutenant," the Cardassian suggested.
The young woman shrugged, "Maybe, but we can't take the chance. Prepare the vessel for towing."
Elly sat at the Cardassian ship's console, doing her best to access the database. A few things were on her mind-a simple power failure-BUT Cardassian tech should've picked that up on an Engineering scan. An atmospheric anomaly of some kind was also likely out here. Perhaps high radiation or even a black-hole type event that sent the systems haywire. She wished she'd paid more attention during the computer tech classes at the Academy, but really, how was she supposed to focus when she was sat next to a REALLY hot Bajoran?! Really. "Sir, ma'am. Permission to send a probe out?" She asked. At least it was something.
"Good idea, but we can conduct those investigations while we are under tow," Lieutenant Sulu answered reaching for her communicator.
JJ had been very quiet through most of this situation. Something just felt wrong. She couldn't put her finger on it. Finally, after spending several minutes just drumming her fingers on her arm rest in contemplation she looked at Ken and said: "You are either getting old or learning restraint, a few years ago you would have jumped at the opportunity to be on that boarding team."
Ken smiled as JJ made her observation. "Not old at least I hope not and I still want to go but I think it is my priorities have shifted JJ. I have a ship to look after, along with you and Hayley to think of. You both are very important to me; in case you didn't know." He grinned at her.
"Oh, I'm not saying I would not have stood up and quoted regulation to you if Rush hadn't beaten me to it." JJ retorted with a smile.
She shifted in her chair. "This just feels wrong. This is very un Starfleet. We're not raiders."
Ken nodded, "Oh, I have no doubt about that at all JJ." He saw her shift and could feel her uncomfortableness with the situation. "No, we aren't." He agreed. "However, we are protecting the Federation and we need to see the Interstellar weaponry it carries. I'll be happy to discuss this with you further but right now we are pressed for time."
"Aye sir...holding my tongue until a more appropriate time." JJ never called him Sir anymore unless it were some very formal event or she was annoyed with him. JJ had been in charge of monitoring the ships repairs after returning from it's last mission, and there were briefings she missed or not asked to attend. She didn't like the feeling that things were being withheld from her by Ken. Or maybe he truly wasn't withholding information. She just wasn't sure and that made her very uncomfortable.
Ken knew JJ as well as he knew himself and he knew she was uncomfortable and some of that uncomfortable feeling had to do with him. He sighed inwardly. He didn't want or need problems with his executive officer who was also his wife. " Thank you JJ. I appreciate that and I promise when this is over. We will have a long talk. Just the two of us."
"Valhalla, this is Sulu."
Ken tapped his combadge. "Go ahead Lieutenant."
"We're ready to tow the Cardassian vessel back to DS12, Captain. We have a contingent of officers aboard, however, whom have requested asylum within the Federation," she looked at their leader, "I believe them to be genuine, Sir. They said that they had a plan in place with Admiral Targaryen to make this look like a theft to help them safely escape."
Ken shared a look with JJ . "Well, this is certainly an unexpected surprise. I wish Targaryen had bothered to let me know." He sighed more than slightly annoyed.
"Me too, Captain, me too." Sulu's agitation could be heard.
"Get ready Lieutenant. We'll be leaving shortly.
At the sound of Will's name Counsellor Rush shook her hear mutely as they shared a colourful history, one that was always slightly blurred between truth and lies in order to achieve the objective even if that meant tossing out the rule book and keep secrets. Bitterly she wished she was attending to the crewmembers exposed to radiation in the common area and hadn't heard this latest update.
At the rear mounted Science Station, Tellarite Lieutenant Zomuul jav Ghul's console went crazy as red indicators began flashing dramatically around him. Reaching forward he began typing on the keyboard, selecting the different indicators as he worked. The centralized LCARS display switched from a generalized map of the region to a more specialized one. He sighed as he looked at it,
"Their words may be all well and good, but the truth is much more clear. The Cardassian ship just emitted an Anti-Cloak Scan. It's a high capacity scan that, frankly, just lit us all up like a Human's Christmas tree. The Cardassian fleet has to have seen us."
"Well, that's just dandy." Ken replied. "Lieutenant Sulu. Get ready." Ken tapped his combadge again. "Engineering lock the tractor beams on the Cardassian vessel. We need to leave now!"
"We're ready, Captain."
At the Science Station, the Tellarite Science Officer typed on the keyboard. "We're locking on with tractor beam now, Captain."
Ken nodded, "Good, very good." He replied a little impatiently.
Now, Rush really, really wished she was below decks and oblivious to the potential ambush coming their way. "Can we disabled or disrupted the scanner?" she asked.
"We're leaving Counselor, not going to hang around and wait for the Cardassians to get here." Ken answered as he swivelled in his chair. "Red Alert. Shields up, bring the weapons online Nathan."
JJ jumped up and walked around behind Nathan. If they got into a battle situation it sometimes was an advantage to have a second person standing by near tactical. "Ken, maybe we can blind them long enough to get away. If we flood the area with tachyon radiation, it should distort their sensors and buy us time to escape."
Ken mulled what JJ suggested. It was a good idea but one that couldn't be sprung too soon or it would be wasted. "Good idea JJ. Make the necessary arrangements but don't flood the area until I say so."
The Tellarite had an alarm beep on his workstation. Typing quickly, he looked at the readouts, "I'm detecting weapons fire aboard the ship we have under tow. Cardassian disruptor from the look of it."
"So much for the peaceful surrender," Rush muttered lowly.
"It certainly is looking that way," the Science Officer said with a huff. He typed on the control console, "At least one bit of good news is that the rest of the Cardassian Fleet is leaving the area. They appear to be on course back to Cardassian territory from the looks of it."
Commander Broka looked up from the Operations console, the former Chief Engineer turning toward the rest of the Bridge Crew, "Signal from the Enterprise. We're to return to Deep Space 12."
Ken nodded, "Acknowledge the message Mr. Broka." He replied simply before turning to look at JJ. "So much for your idea JJ and it was a good one." He spoke to the helm officer. "Plot a course back to DS12. Warp five, let's give our guests a nice, smooth ride. Once we get back we can take that Cardassian ship apart." Silently he thought of the upcoming talk he and JJ were going to have and he braced himself for it.
JJ returned to her seat. She looked at Ken and gave him ‘the look’, but said nothing and looked back at the view screen.
On the Bridge of the Cardassian Starship Thrarim, Gul Slorir Varin stood next to the forward crescent shaped workstation typing on the panel as the Technician did her best to do the same. Seconds ago the small Hideki Class ship had began to emanate a sensor pulse designed to find cloaked vessels. While it was a normally good thing to have available, in this instance it would clearly identify the ship to any onlookers among the Cardassian's main fleet. They had to get it shut down otherwise the entire Cardassian Fleet would descent upon them and this whole charade would be over before it even had a chance to start.
Slorir wanted his people to be free, which was why the True Way was such a danger to not only the Federation but the Cardassian Republic itself. They had only been democratic for a short while, but so many strides had already been made to promote the Cardassian people. When they came to him with an opportunity to infiltrate and expose the True Way he did not hesitate. He was one of the first ones in line, and put his ship on notice to be on the front line.
Now, they were at risk of destroying the whole damned thing. The Federation needed this weapon and, more importantly, so did Cardassia. The Interstellar Coalition was the most dangerous government in the galaxy and right now they had decided that the True Way were the rightful leaders of Cardassia. They could not let them have this weapon. They had to get it to people who could use it for good.
"The Federation ship has locked the Tractor Beam upon us," the Technician informed, "but the Anti-Cloak Scan just reinitialized."
At the Tactical workstation the Weapon's Officer looked at his sensor readouts, "If the Fleet has found us they can be here in less than thirty seconds. I've completed a tactical analysis and, frankly, neither ship will survive the attack if they launch one."
"The Valhalla's a Galaxy II Class Starship," Sulu interrupted, "It can handle a lot more than you think."
"Perhaps, but they would swarm. That would be hard to survive," the Weapon's Officer continued.
It was actually Doctor Ilkun who added, "We are a lot more resilient than you may think."
Varin nodded, "Indeed they are. So are our vessels though." He returned to his chair, looking out the door as he walked toward his raised chair and saw something he did not anticipate. "Doctor?"
Before they could react the golden beam of a Cardassian Compressor Phaser bolt flew through the Bridge of the Thrarim. It barely missed Gul Varin, who moved at the last second, but the bolt slammed into the chest of the First Officer and threw him across the Bridge and into the bulkhead. The First Officer fell to the ground, a gaping hole through the center of his chest as his eyes grew wide.
Additional bolts dashed through the room, missing the people but slamming into the large wallmounted stations and consoles. Sparks erupted from the damaged panels and fire could be seen behind them. Gul Varin was next to his XO on the ground, surveying him quickly, "It's not as bad as it looks. You're going to be fine."
But it was too late. The XO looked up at his Captain and smiled weakly, "You really need to quit being a diplomat." He fell to his side upon the deck, the wounds being too much.
The Captain looked at those on the Bridge, "We have to stop her. We have to get this ship to the Federation."
Elly moved quickly; pulling out her phaser and aiming it at the Cardassian. "FREEZE. Drop it," she said. She was only a scientist, yes, but she was the closest Fleet officer to the offender. "One of you cover my six, please," she said, aloud. "I WILL fire first, try me," she warned. The Botanist was a go-getter type, and she'd eat her hat if she were going to die today.
The Cardassian Doctor looked at the woman before her, setting the Disruptor to the ground then rising back to her full height, "You have no idea what you have unleashed here today. The Interstellar Coalition will defeat the Federation and bring a renewed peace and order to the galaxy. You are already too late." Clenching her fists in an unnatural fashion, the Cardassian woman began to glow as a hidden suicide chip started to power. Within an instant she was vaporized from the inside out.
Anzai Sulu sighed, seeing the lost crewmember before them, "You did well, Lieutenant, I know it might not seem that way, but you saved us all."
Elly sighed. "Thank you, ma'am," she said, quietly, reholstering her phaser. She was aware she might be in trouble later. It wasn't exactly par for the course for a Science officer to behave this way, but Elly wasn't a typical science officer. Still, if she said this one event wouldn't affect her, she'd be lying. "Further orders, ma'am?" She asked, turning around to Sulu.
"Let's get you all back to the Valhalla. A small team will be more than enough to help the Cardassians manage." Tapping her communicator, "Valhalla, this is Team 1. We've secured the Cardassian ship, Captain, and are ready to be taken to base."
Jamison's reply was quick in coming back. "Very good Lieutenant. We're heading for home. Sit back and enjoy the ride."
"Thank you, Captain," she pecked at a few of the buttons on her wrist mounted keypad. "I've identified the personnel that are safe to return to the Valhalla, including a few Cardassian passengers. The transporter room can energize when ready. Sulu out."
Lieutenant Sulu watched as members of her away team and the crew of the Thrarim dematerialized around her. Letting out a sigh of relief, the Security Officer crossed her arms and turned toward the viewscreen. The Cardassian Commander, Gul Slorir Varin, and two technicians remained on the vessel under tractor.
"We will arrive at the Federation Outpost in about two hours," the Cardassian woman at the Helm announced.
"Thank you," the Cardassian Gul answered as he noticed Lieutenant Sulu still standing nearby. "I thought that you'd return with your colleagues."
The Security Officer shook her head, "I felt more comfortable riding into the sunset here with you, Gul Varin."
"Ah," the Gul chuckled as he held a glass in his hand. He brought it to eye level, carefully studying the amber colored contents. "To the victor go the spoils," he downed the drink in a quick motion and set it aside.
Sulu shook her head, "I wouldn't exactly call either of us victors, Gul..."
"I wasn't referring to us," the Cardassian mused. He looked around, taking in a deep breath of the synthetic air of the ship, "I have commanded this vessel for almost a century, been a member of the diplomatic corps, and spent more time with your Federation than you've been alive, Lieutenant. The victors in all of this, my dear, are the dead. For they've already escaped this war that we face," he looked at the bottle of Kanar that sat on the deck as he said it. "That's the question that you haven't asked me, Lieutenant. You never asked why. Why I agreed to be a spy, why I agreed to help your Admiral recover this ship. Why I would betray so many Cardassians."
"I assumed you would tell me when you were ready," the young Lieutenant answered. "But, you never betrayed the Cardassians, Gul, if anything you've helped to save them."
Varin laughed, "If only the galaxy were that simple, Lieutenant. I am a patriot wanting to build the Union back better than ever. This ship became part of the reason why I betrayed everything I stood for. I've spent my life preparing to fight a war against your Federation that I hoped would never happen. This ship was built to fight, but the True Way rebuilt it to start one." He picked up a bottle of half finished Kanar, holding it carefully, "And there were personal reasons."
Anzai saw the Cardassian holding the bottle of Kanar, "Your wife? She's the one that led you to this."
Slorir nodded. "My wife thought as you did, she wanted a stronger galaxy where the Cardassians lived in peace with its neighbors, and," he paused before letting out a sad laugh, "well, I'm a patriot."
"Welcome to the Federation, Gul," Lieutenant Sulu said with sadness as the enormity of what Gul Varin had said sunk in.
Slorir nodded, "I hope that it was worth it."
"So do I," Sulu answered as she looked forward.
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