Burning in the Skies

Posted on Mon Aug 11th, 2025 @ 1:09am by Commodore Wilkan Targaryen & Lieutenant (J.G.) Anzai Sulu & Director Aamis & Commander Zhora zh'Roothi & Lieutenant Commander Ash Randall & Lieutenant Commander Kuzos & Lieutenant Commander Sevek & Lieutenant Urvasi Elandorn & Lieutenant Rio Kholin MD & Lieutenant Amber Laurell & Lieutenant (J.G.) Dylan Blake

6,095 words; about a 30 minute read

Mission: Gaia
Location: Bridge, U.S.S. Enterprise
Timeline: 2439-06-14, 17:00

Captain's Log, Supplemental Entry:

After speaking with Director Aamis I am left with a hard decision. Do I save the crew of the Defiant, recreate their accident, or maroon them here?

---

"Commodore on the Bridge," Lieutenant Sulu announced from next to Commander Sevek as she spotted the command crew returning to the Bridge.

Commodore Targaryen nodded, "As you were." He walked directly toward the center seat, "Report, please, Commander."

"We have several CME pulses that have come out of nowhere, Captain. Not there, one moment and there the next." Commander Randall advised as she vacated the center seat to make way for the Captain. "I relinquish the bridge." The Chief Engineer added as she headed to her engineering station.

"I have the Bridge," Wilkan answered as he looked around the Bridge at the gathered crew. "Alright, people, you know that part of what's going on. Now I get to share the next bit of information. I have spoken with Director Aamis," he looked at the Vulcan Director of the Department of Temporal Investigations before returning his attention to the wider crew, "and she has shared additional, classified information that is important to our actions here. I can't go to into detail, but we have to make a choice: we either help Defiant to extract itself from the Quantum Barrier, we push them through and recreate the accident that created the Gaia Colony, or we leave and maroon them here." He couldn't believe himself that he was entertaining the third option, but he had to share it.

Crossing his arms, "Options?"

Urvasi's right ear flicked as other 'options' were added to her mission parameters. With her tail slowly moving side to side behind her, she began plotting courses within the barrier of pushing the Defiant through the quantum barrier with either tractor, shields, or cradle, then entering low orbit or leaving the barrier. She called out, "Captain, Helm, I am plotting courses for low planetary orbit with Defiant or 150Kklick orbit outside of barrier with Defiant for whichever of the first two options are chosen. As far as I know, that last option is not within any Star Fleet Mission Parameters that I have learned while being a part of Star Fleet."

"Seems to me there is a party missing from this discussion." Ash supplied, quietly, with a glance the direction of the Commodore and then the Director. "We will not accomplish pulling them out or pushing them through without their cooperation and, if we leave them to their fate, they may come up with an option of their own that no one will like much." She added, quietly.

"Normally, I would agree, Commander; nonetheless, Captain Sisko reported that Defiant's engines were inoperable during his distress call. Additionally, I would be remiss in my duties if I did not explain that the Defiant crew have allegedly committed a temporal incursion, albeit unwillingly. If the Enterprise recovers the Defiant, we will have to detain the vessel and remand the crew to DTI for admission into the Time Displacement Program." The Vulcan explained in her normal monotone.

Urvasi, in working on courses, let the previous 'choice' words echo back through her mind. Then, the words, 'recreate the accident that created the Gaia Colony' crossed through her mind. It was, then it wasn't, and now, it could be again. What if the quantum copy was to allow that needed colony for this timeline due to something that would occur in the future to happen? She began thinking about the time anomalies created in the holosuite, they had varying strengths, but she hadn't paid attention because she was avoiding them. What if... Urvasi called out, "Captain, Helm, I may have another solution... what if the Quantum copy is here to do just that, establish the colony as it is integral to something to keep our timeline whole in the future... so, I can sense temporal anomalies near us... can sciences calibrate their sensors to strength for years for the past? Then, when we pierce the barrier, I could tell them of anomalies nearby to target to find the right Temporal eddy, after which we use our shields or tractor to push the Defiant into the needed identified eddy and then get through the barrier, either in low orbit or out orbit? The effect of that action would be no need to ignore the Defiant or to remand them to DTI, while repairing the proper timeline to actually help DTI and our timeline."

Amber sat listening to the options, she didn’t feel qualified to make a justified comment on the matter so instead she remained quiet to see what would be chosen as the way to go.

Like Amber, Kuzos sat and listened to all the back and forth talk which wasn't accomplishing anything as far as he could see, He stifled a yawn as he listened to see if anything might come up that would require his input.

"To attempt to cross through the barrier would be futile," Aamis interjected. "The solar activity runs the risk of solidifying the barrier even beyond what the Enterprise is capable of navigating."

Wilkan looked over at the DTI Director, "If you have nothing positive to say, Director..."

The Vulcan tilted her head, "I am merely attempting to safeguard the crew of this vessel, Commodore, as you commented earlier you feared I would not prioritize."

"I see your point," Targaryen commented as he looked around the Bridge. "Still, to ensure the safety of all parties, Lieutenant Moore please remove the Director from the Bridge."

"I must protest this course of action, Commodore. I was sent here to advise," the DTI Director defended.

And Wilkan interrupted this time, "Which you have done, and we have taken under advisement, Director. Thank you for your service. Please remove the Director," he looked to the Security.

"I will be reporting this to Starfleet Command, Commodore, especially that you removed me from the Bridge during a critical juncture," Aamis protested as she was escorted toward the Turbolift.

Wilkan looked at the Counselor, "I'd say that the Director was emotionally compromised, what do you think, Counselor, Doctor?"

"I would suggest the Director was probably deeply affected by the prospect of responsibility (joint or otherwise) for a decision that might have resulted in 'The blood of innocence burning in the skies' Commodore" the CMO replied, agreeing with the 'emotionally compromised' assessment. "I have to admit, it's enough to unsteady anyone's nerves and in my medical opinion it did so for her. She seemed to be 'lost in the beating of the storm' as it were, Sir. However, I would defer to the Chief Counsellor's greater expertise in observing and assessing distress and instability, if she disagrees?"

“I don’t disagree that the Director was unsteady.” Amber added as she joined in the conversation. “But as for emotionally compromised I’ll reserve judgement until I’ve had more time to assess her. As a Vulcan being called emotionally compromised could cause a lot of problems for her, hence my caution.”

Targaryen listened to his Doctor and the Counselor closely, considering their words very carefully. The Counselor was right, they did need to assess the Director. "You make an excellent point, Counselor, and I think that a full workup is warranted. Please see to it," he looked first at Amber, then Rio, "both of you."

Amber nodded. “Of course Commodore.” She offered a polite smile to Kholin as well.

"Aye Sir" Rio concurred.

"So," the Commodore continued, "we have a crew out there that need our support, even if its not the route we want to go. What are our options to push the Defiant through the Barrier?"

Kuzos spoke up. "If this had been a Dominion ship, the Director just would have been shot or met with some unfortunate accident. Also, does anyone else feel that the Director has a different agenda than we do? I feel she is not on the same page or reading from the same book we are."

Sevek thought for a moment. Ignoring Kuzos's comment, this was not to time nor place to have this discussion, at least to him. His brain logically working through the problem. With a few calculation, he determined it would be challenging but not impossible. "Commodore. In order to push the Defiant through the barrier, we would need modify the tractor beam to be able to penetrate the barrier. Additionally, we would need to make certain that it does not succumb to the same effects to the Defiant. It won't be impossible, but it will be challenging." He stopped at looked at the Commodore.

"We can deal with the Director later," the Commodore chose to answer their Tactical Officer first before turning toward the Science Chief, "We need to get to work on that plan before one of these solar flares seals the barrier, with the Defiant in it."

He looked toward Ash and Commander zh'Roothi, "How long will it take to convert the Tractor Beam to Repulsor mode?"

"Already configured, Captain. Modifications to make it reach through the barrier will take a minute or two and we'll need to be much closer for a broad beam application so we have minimal sheer and don't risk pushing a hole through Defiant." Ash replied, looking to zh'Roothi. "Maximum effective range will be ten to twelve kilometers and we'll be pushing the tractor beam array to its limit and beyond." She added.

Upon hearing 'push through the barrier', Urvasi realized this maneuver would mean the Enterprise would not need to pierce the barrier and come up to the Defiant. However, that may still be needed, so she added, "Captain, Helm, Courses laid in for next to barrier for maneuver. Also, I have created courses in case of needing the Enterprise to pierce the barrier to get closer to the Defiant, then exit post haste when maneuver is completed." She verified the Pain Hypo was in her tunic pocket and available to inject into her thigh for if barrier penetration was required.

Wilkan looked to his First Officer, "Standby to engage repulsor."

"Standing by," zh'Roothi acknowledged having remained quietly thoughtful during the ongoing discussion. She'd been contemplating the Director's motive behind this entire mission and how perhaps the Enterprise was about to fulfil her intentions by toying with their compassion for fellow Starfleet Officers in distress.

"Chief, keep an eye on those solar flares and coordinate with the Helm. How close can you get us without putting the ship at risk of traversing the barrier?" He asked their Navigator after giving instructions to the Science Officer.

Nodding, Sevek turned back to his console and continued to monitor the solar flares. "As of right now, sir, we are safe. Solar activity is mainly unpredictable. We may only have seconds or minutes to get clear of it before it hits us."

Urvasi sensed out with her psi to the barrier. As it was a quantum barrier, there were hyperspatial energies at the edge that flowed with gravity fluctuations from planet and barrier. She concentrated harder and found a thin 'membrane' of energy at the edge of the quantum barrier she could track. She called out, "Captain, Helm, 1.5 Kilometers, a little over double of Enterprise length. I can track the quantum barrier edge with my psi, so, we can be this close, unless you want to keep us at the standard ten thousand Kilometer distance."

With a flicker of uncharacteristic nervousness zh'Roothi glanced over to the helms officer. She was concerned Elandorn's suggested distance would be too close, and therefore put the ship at risk should the repulsor fail. Though she'd witnessed the woman's natural abilities on the holodeck earlier the XO wasn't keen to put them into action so soon having seen how much it cost the Lieutenant.

"We can't risk failing at this," the Enterprise's Commanding Officer answered. "Take us as close as you safely can, Lieutenant."

Ash looked to Urvasi and quirked just a hint of a smile. They were going to navigate the ragged edge of temporal chaos. It was very exciting and, in a way, intoxicating though the engineer couldn't have explained just how the intoxication worked and doubted anyone could. "Tightrope walking in a hurricane..." Ash mused, quietly.

Urvasi heard Ash as she was actively listening to any people on the bridge, with emphasis on the Captain. A memory was triggered from her time on Existence Point Planet as she added to the muse, "With all that will come in between..."

Kuzos simply nodded as he again questioned his decision to accept a field commission and become part of the Enterprises's crew. They had endless meetings and even when action was decided they talked about it. He felt more of an outsider than before he accepted the commission.

"The temporal shields need to be closely monitored during these maneuvers," the Commodore added to his orders. "Commander Kuzos, you'll be in charge of that."

Kuzos inclined his head slightly, "Understood Commodore. I will see to it." He replied simply.

"We only have one shot," Wilkan was solemn. "Execute."

Urvasi called out, "Captain, Helm, Engaging impulse hop... 1.8 kilometer from Barrier, maneuvering thrusters.... 1.65... 1.5 Kilometers and holding steady. Impulse engines in station keeping mode, maneuvering thrusters at my discretion. Special Quantum Warp Course for penetrating barrier plotted for final push just in case, and micro warp jump plotted outward to escape for just in case. Helm is station keeping and ready for Repulsor and further commands, sir."

"Engaging the repulsor," zh'Roothi announced as the beam lanced forward toward the smaller vessel.

From tactical, Kuzos spoke up, "Temporal shield are in place and holding.... so far." As his eyes stayed glued to his board watching for anything out of the ordinary.

Wilkan Targaryen watched from the center seat as the purple repulsor beam struck against the crippled Defiant, pushing it against the barrier away from the Enterprise. If it weren't so tragic, it would have been a triumphant moment as the Enterprise worked to free the Defiant from its prison. If only they weren't sending it to a grave.

At the helm, Urvasi's tail suddenly stiffened as the fur along the tail stood straight out. The repulsor beam pushing on the Defiant caused a reaction within the Quantum Barrier, which appeared in Urvasi's Empathic Psi senses as a bright sun corona around the Defiant. Her entire body stiffened with stress, her muscles tensing as a grimace appeared across her muzzle while her ears laid back upon her head. While her simulations were about the Enterprise entering the Barrier, nothing was about the Defiant being pushed through the Quantum Barrier and creating those Hyperspatial Temporal anomalies. She managed to not let out a sound, despite her nose capillaries bursting once more due to the utter clenching of her entire body at the sunburst before her even as she maintained seeking the edge of the Quantum Barrier, despite being 'blinded'.

Suddenly, the Enterprise started to rock as the temporal energies struck against the shields. Lights began to flicker all around them and the consoles started to wink in and out. Power was in flux throughout the Enterprise and the engines were just as unhappy. Wilkan looked at his Engineer, "Auxiliary power!"

"Auxiliary power engaged." Ash responded, calmly, and, again, looked over to Urvasi. "I have your back, Urvasi, if you need to spread the load." She added.

At the helm, Urvasi's ears were laid back, her tail straight out, fur sticking straight out. Even her head hair was sticking out from its usual swept pattern along her head and down her neck and shoulders. She did not hear Ash as she rode the Temporal waves emanating from the Defiant as it was moved across the Quantum Barrier. Her entire attention was upon trying to fricking detect the edge of the Quantum Barrier in front of the Enterprise and to keep them save. She saw a jutting of the edge and moved the ship 3 Kilometers away using maneuvering thrusters, keeping that oh so delicate balance of being 1.5 Kilometers away from the barriers edge. She did not feel the blood seeping from her muzzle and dripping into her lap, the safety of the ship and its distance paramount to all other considerations except the Captain's commands. Anything from Targaryen was above anything happening around her.

"Commander, start altering those shield harmonics to try to block out these energies or this is going to become a real short trip," Targaryen ordered of his shoulder.

Kuzos bit back a sarcastic reply and instead opted for the more diplomatic one. "Altering shield harmonics as we speak Commodore."

"Full astern," the Commodore added quickly.

Urvasi quickly replied, "Full Impulse against Temporal waves engaged. Ship moving away 23 KiloKlicks, and now station keeping... Quantum Barrier reacting to movement of Defiant, request surge to finish maneuver before Solar Flares reach Barrier and cause sequential consequences to Defiant and Enterprise...." Her entire body was still clenched at the helm, her muzzle and face in hard lined grimace. Within her mind, she was glad the Enterprise was not the entity to pierce the barrier as the Temporal shield would add more energies for the Barrier to react to along with the rest of the Energy Shields and engine energies. She was not sure she would survive as no one accounted for energy to energy from ship to Quantum Barrier. Her entire focus was now upon pushing the Defiant through the barrier to save them as well as keep the Enterprise safe. She managed to ignore the multiple after echoes of the 'sun' in front of her to track the 'planes' within the 'sun's' hypersphere radius. She felt nothing, only feeling driving the Enterprise, not feeling or seeing the becoming a steady flow of blood flowing down into her lap.

Aware of how Urvasi had responded to the pressure of their situation even if it was on the holodeck previously Commander zh'Roothi glanced over to the helms officer with a grimace. "Medical team, to the bridge."

Amber moved from where she was sitting, she wasn’t a medic but she had enough training to know what she was doing. Moving around to Urvasi she was shocked to see the condition she was in. “Hang on Urvasi, we’re going to get you some help.” She moved to get an emergency medkit, pulling it out and taking it across with her. “Let's see what’s going on here.” She pulled out a medical tricorder to run a scan, hopefully Rio would be arriving at any moment to help.

Urvasi did not acknowledge Amber being beside her as her entire focus was upon the Defiant, the Barrier, and the Panel before her. Her eyes were mere slits with their attention upon the console as her hands moved to keep any stray fields escaping the Quantum barrier from getting near the Enterprise. The Medical scan showed the blood coming from her muzzle was from several small capillaries had burst, Urvasi's skeletal muscles tensed and not relaxing due to the strain she was under, and two regions of her brain showing very high multiple spiking waves (these regions were known by Medical to be the areas for her active Empathic ability).

On the brain wave spikes, there was one very large Spike continually there, it's amplitude only changing a little (The Defiant Moving through the Quantum Barrier, the 'sun' Urvasi was trying to ignore). Several of the other spikes were changing in amplitude and seemed to be in an unusual cadence (These were the thrown off temporal anomaly energy bubbles large enough to harm the Enterprise that Urvasi was dodging that the sensors couldn't see until past the front navigation shielding). There were some much smaller fluctuating 'noise' waveforms within the spikes (The Quantum barrier edge Urvasi was tracking).

If the sensor data and the medical spike data were to be compared, they would be very similar to what the sensors of the ship were picking up, but the ship's sensors were showing what was happening multiple seconds after what Urvasi's brain was picking up. Also, the spikes within Urvasi's mind were broader and larger, picking up more of the hyperspatial and gravity portions of the Temporal anomalies than the Enterprise could 'see'.

The blood flow was slowing as Urvasi's blood clotted within the capillaries, but there was still some flow as sometimes the clot wouldn't hold, or another burst from constant strain upon the body. Urvasi felt like she was trying to hold up a hovercar thrown upon her. The medical scanner did take note of a Hypo in her tunic pocket just under her left breast, the medicine inside a pain-killer designed for Urvasi to affect her nerves lightly. As the Enterprise was not going to pierce the barrier, Urvasi had not taken it, not knowing that the Enterprise pushing the Temporal Stasis locked Defiant to transverse through the barrier would create a constant 'sun' in front of her Psionic 'Eyes'. Her hands created some commands, sent them off to sciences and tactical, then darted across the maneuvering controls to shift the Enterprise upwards towards the left, moving 'over' a temporal bubble that had been thrown off the Quantum Barrier due to the increasing solar flare activity. The sensors spotted the anomaly as it passed under them. Despite how she looked, Urvasi was still doing her job of piloting the ship.

Rio received the summons from Commander zh'Roothi to get a Medical Team to the Bridge so she quickly tagged in the on-calls and adding herself to their sides, grabbing her trusty personal med-kit from the side as she called to her ACMO to take over. With a slap of her palm onto her Comm Badge Kholin instructed =^= Computer, Emergency Medical Transport - three to the Bridge =^= and a surge of blue light and vibration engulfed the team and transported them as instructed.

As soon as they completed their materialization, Rio saw immediately that Urvasi was bleeding and looking close to collapse. She could also see that Amber was helping her. "Soltari" she instructed, "get me some scans of Lieutenant Elandorn's A's and E's please". "Hughes" - take a regenerator to her most obvious bleeds and seal the burst capillaries please". "Amber, thank you for helping. What can you tell me please?" she let the others in the team get the main checks and first-aid underway and turned to get the latest update from her colleague Lt Laurel.

Amber was glad that Rio had arrived to take over. “The bleeding has been steady yet constant since I came over to help, I took these readings so you could see what’s been happening.” She passed the medical tricorder to Rio to see for herself. “I think this is all linked to the effect of the temporal barrier.”

"Thanks for doing these scans" Rio acknowledged, looking at the results. "Yes, you're right, it's pressure... excessive pressure and overload symptoms, almost certainly due to the effects of the barrier. I'll get some regeneration going to repair the breaks and stop the bleeding, then I'll have to reproduce some plasma for her to recreate new top up cells." Turning to her emergency team, Rio looked across at Soltari. "What are you getting Sol?" she asked and on being shown the hand held scanner and its results, Rio frowned and nodded slowly. Then turning to Hughes she went through the same updating routine and again her frown deepened.

"Right, Sol, please shift to regen and help Hughes with fixing the capillaries as they break and mend what you can from earlier as well. I'm going to boost the production of new red blood cells and I'll monitor the white count as I'm doing it. We have to keep Urvasi's system repairing itself or letting us assist it to do so." she explained.

Even though Urvasi's complete focus was on sensing and piloting, once contact with made with her muzzle, she was able to realize others were nearby, and if they were at her muzzle... she must have burst some capillaries again. Upon touches, she would move her muzzle for better placement for the medical people, however, she would also say in a gravely voice, "Don't block Vision... Don't block Vision.. " She also now realized from how her facial muscles were hurting that she was maintaining a probably rather unpleasant grimace with her muzzle. Well, it couldn't be helped, not until after the Defiant was pushed through the Barrier. Then, her empathic senses picked up a new large time bubble forming at the Quantum Barriers Edge which buried her fully once more into her task... keeping the Enterprise safe. She quickly calculated the needed course changes, sent them to sciences and tactical, then engaged the course correction with the helm.

Amber was listening to every word. “I understand, you need to focus on the barrier. We'll do what we can for now.”

Rio nodded in agreement, not taking her eyes off the scan guided regeneration and her team colleagues and their contributions to the medical intervention they were all deeply involved in, attempting to limit damage and/or accelerate healing for Urvasi as she continued to battle with the strain of her struggles to do the almost impossible.

"Sevek, any news on the flares or these energies? Can you map them?"

Sevek turned from his scanners to face the Commodore, "I would increase our efforts if possible. Flares are starting to increase in intensity. I have mapped the sun's photosphere. I have mapped out the sunspots and have determined the locations of the flares, sir." He pushed a button and an overlay of the sun came onto a partial area of the screen, not to completely take over. Three spots were highlighted, "I am most worried about these three spots, sir."

Wilkan looked at the details on the viewscreen, carefully comparing the details that the Chief Science Officer had found with his own memories of navigation from ages ago. Enterprise could withstand a direct impact from a Level 10 shockwave, but the Defiant was much older and could only withstand a Level 5 at best. The solar flares or the barrier could rip it to pieces in no time and then this was all for nought.

"Work with the Helm to keep us steady and prepared, Commander," the first direction went to the Science Officer then his Exec, "How much longer until the Defiant is through?"

"Uncertain," zh'Roothi responded working feverishly to keep the beam continuous as not to lose the Defiant through the transition and maintain the Enterprise at the same time. "The solar activity has affected the density of the barrier, I would estimate three to four minuets." Beeping from the console interrupted her: "They're hailing us."

Urvasi heard the Captain's orders to Sciences and indirectly to herself. Her fingers deftly checked to verify her coordinated changes were being sent to Sciences and Tactical several seconds before she was making them. She could not give them any more warning, though, as this close to the barrier, she was having to track the formation and then release of the temporal bubbles, but she could only see them when they were big enough for her to sense through the 'blinding brilliance' of the Defiant moving through the Quantum Barrier while also focusing for the 'minute' of the quantum barrier edge. Suddenly, her right leg had a brief, fast spasm, then returned to tensed once more.

Looking at the Doctor and the Counselor as Lieutenant Elandorn was struggling at the Helm, "I'm not liking the looks of that. Zhora, beam the Doctor and the Lieutenant to Sickbay please. Ash, take over at the Helm for the time being."

"Yes Sir." Ash responded while she finished making adjustments to maintain auxiliary power levels and then stationed herself to take over helm.

"Understood," zh'Roothi welcomed the order having been increasingly concerned of the Lieutenant's welfare as attempted to remain at her station.

Urvasi, a part of her mind always cognizant of any Spoken commands by the Captain, heard his order about beaming her away and having the Chief Engineering Officer take over for her. She called out, "Captain, Helm, I can pilot till the ship leaves the ba....." and then her motes scattered as she was beamed to Medical.

Ash took over helm control the instant Urvasi ceased to occupy the space and picked up where the Lieutenant left off, to the best of her ability. The Chief Engineer settled in to maintain their 1.5k distance from the barrier, eyes closed and her fingers dancing across the interface of helm control, while she 'tracked' the ragged edge of the temporal distortions that bubbled along the edge of the barrier thus delineating its position relative to Enterprise. "Maintaining position, Captain." Ash announced, quietly.

Hearing the repeated trilling of the communications alarm, Wilkan relented, "Open channel to the Defiant."

As soon as the screen switched from the view of the Defiant being pushed through the barrier to the Bridge of the Defiant, Wilkan saw a true image of exactly what they were doing to the legendary crew. The entire gathered crew were busily working at their stations, several of which were blinking on and off as if they were embarrassingly low on juice. At the Helm, Commander Jadzia Dax was quickly typing on the computer panel while Commander Worf was standing next to Chief O'Brien at the Operations console working on the same panel. Captain Sisko was scowling.

"Wil, what the Hell are you doing?"

Wilkan rose from his chair and walked back toward the forward workstations, "I'm sorry, Ben, but we have no choice. If this works the timeline will be restored to what it should be. We need to..."

The screen abruptly switched back to the Defiant being pushed by the Enterprise's tractor beam. He didn't have to wait to know what was going on, instead looking at his own display and getting his answers. The Defiant was powering its weapons. In its weakened state it was no match for the Enterprise, but they could do some damage if they struck. Worse, it would still be three to four minutes before the Enterprise pushed the Defiant through the barrier.

"Kuzos," he turned to their Tactical Officer, "do you think that you could reinforce the forward shields and not lose the temporal settings?"

Kuzos looked at his board for a few seconds then raised his head showing the bright smile that Commander zh'Roothi hated. "I see no reason why I cannot Commodore." As his fingers danced across the console. "Forward shield have been strengthened and temporal setting s remain intact."

He looked at his Helm, "All ahead full toward the Defiant, Ash. We're going to push them with our shields."

"Aye, Captain. All ahead full." Ash confirmed as she engaged full impulse and Enterprise surged forward and almost, immediately, the Enterprise shook and rattled violently, like it had impacted a solid mass. "Barrier breached." She added, while adjusting course and speed to 'safely' make contact with Defiant without crushing the smaller ship, by accident. "Ten seconds to contact." She added.

In medical, Urvasi tried to reach Ash through telepathy. ~Ash, Urvasi, now that I don't have to open myself wide to track the edge of the quantum barrier, I can keep my senses closed enough to not be blinded... there is a very large time anomaly bubble forming to your right at 95 degrees 23 kilometers away at 11 kilometers down. You have 25 seconds before it is fully formed and starts seeking the Enterprise. I will keep track of it for you.~

~Thank you, Urvasi. I see it out there but there's nothing for it. Hopefully we will get the Defiant pushed through the barrier before it is able to fully form because there's a possibility we may not be able to withdraw. Our shields, while they are protecting us, also provide an energy interaction that could stick us fast.~ Ash explained, while she continued to pilot the Enterprise toward Defiant.

~Your Welcome Ash. And, yes, the interaction drove past my deliberate not use of my psi to be detected. The more energy, the more interaction. the less energy, less interaction is what I am tracking. I hope this information helps. As you can detect and track, I gladly leave the piloting in your hands. I am available if needed.~ Urvasi quit the communications while leaving an active psi telepathic beacon available for Ash to contact her if desired.

"Sound collision throughout the ship, Commander," Wilkan ordered as the Enterprise approached the smaller ship. "Maximum power to shields!"

"All hands, brace for impact," zh'Roothi announced across the ship as they surged forward towards the Defiant.

Kuzos looked at the board, this was wrong rather their approach was wrong. Their initial thrust would not be enough for them to clear the barrier. There had to be another way. He looked at his board again and an idea came to mind. It was a longshot but it was all they had.

In the center seat Wilkan Targaryen watched as the Defiant grew in size on the viewscreen, the barrier coalescing around it while the Defiant's shields struggled against the coming night. Electrical and temporal energies crossed over the smaller ship's shield bubble, like waves crashing against the shore. In an immense flash of static filled energy, the Enterprise's shields joined the fray, pushing into the Defiant with incredible force and power, dislodging the older ship and pushing it through the barrier.

Now they had to stop the Enterprise from taking Defiant's place, "All astern. Send all available power to the engines!"

"Full reverse." Ash confirmed while she implemented the Captain's order. "A very large temporal anomaly has fully formed near by, Captain, and is coming straight for us." the Chief Engineer, added, looking the direction of the Commodore, her eyes closed while she continued to coax the ship backward against the increasing drag of the barrier.

"Rerouting power," zh'Roothi announced making the adjustments in the hopes they could escape before sustaining serious damage or worse, becoming trapped in limbo themselves.

The Enterprise shook and struggled against the barrier as the shields took damage from the closing quantum stream. Wilkan looked over his shoulder, "Keep scanning the barrier for weaknesses. We need to find a way out of here!"

Kuzos looked at his board and had an idea it was a longshot but it was a shot and right now they were getting nowhere fast. "Commodore, I recommend we drop our shields. It will eliminate the barrier's hold on us for us to reverse course and escape."

Wilkan looked at the Vorta Tactical Officer for a moment, considering the implications of lowering their shields. He knew one thing, Kuzos wouldn't recommend such a plan unless he truly believed in it. "Maintain all astern," the Commodore ordered looking at Ash then turned back toward Kuzos, "drop shields."

If it went as planned as soon as the shields dropped Enterprise would pull back like a bat out of Hell. If it didn't go as planned, well the chances of the Enterprise being destroyed went up to near certainty.

Kuzos gave a curt nod, stabbed at button on his console and announced, "Shields have been lowered." and the effect was immediate as the Enterprise began to rocket back through the barrier.

"Six seconds until we exit the barrier." Ash announced, quietly. "The temporal anomaly is closing. Adjusting course to delay a temporal incursion. Impact imminent in 8 seconds." The Engineer added, dispassionately.

The Commodore looked at the displays carefully, studying them as if preparing for the final exam of their lives. Ash wasn't wrong: the anomaly was closing in on them. If they stayed on the path they were on they'd impact the anomaly and be smack dab in the middle of a temporal incursion of their own, pursuing Defiant into the past.

The feelings of the anomaly were growing inside of him, triggering the feelings of the af-kelt his species was known for. This wasn't a good sign. It meant that they were far closer to the anomaly than they'd imagined. They needed decisive action, and now was the time.

"Ash, Warp 1 engage," he motioned to take the ship away, knowing that their jump would propel them away from the barrier and the anomaly.

"Aye, sir, Warp 1 engaged." Ash responded, the ship entering warp as she responded.

Wilkan Targaryen watched the viewscreen as the Enterprise spun around and jumped to warp, escaping the threat before them. The Defiant had been pushed through, but what fate awaited them?

 

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