by Commander Salvek
80828.0900
...continued from part one
-=USS Serendipity=-
80828.0900
...continued from part one
-=USS Serendipity=-
Salvek felt the vibration in the deckplates, and the ship leapt to warp. He jogged through the corridors back to his quarters, where Kellyn was quickly rousing Arie to send her to the Blakeslee's quarters.
"What's going on?" She asked.
"Sylph." Was all Salvek said, as he vanished into the bedroom, and back out a moment later in his uniform.
"Have the trapped us?" Kellyn asked.
"No, but I believe they may have trapped the Captain. Report to the Alchemy. We may need her firepower."
Despite being a prototype ship in terms of its engines, the Alchemy still carried an impressive amount of firepower. It would likely take both vessels to defeat the Sylph.
"I love you." Was all he added, as he left to take his place on the bridge. Rada was already there, handling the engineering station at the side of the bridge.
"Work on a way for us to be able to scan the interior of Sylph bubble, based on what you know of it's composition. Coordinate with Mr. Samson."
"Already on it, sir. We'll need to look beyond the subspace barrier to see from the outside looking in, a little different than before when we were on the inside, but I believe we can do it."
Satisfied, Salvek took up the Command chair.
"Status of defensive systems, Mr. Blakeslee?"
"Shields and weapons fully charged, sir."
"Time to Klaestron?" Salvek asked Ensign Hok. He wondered where February Grace was, but decided now was not the time to discuss it. If she had a reason to defer to Hok, Salvek was sure it was legitimate.
"Two hours." He reported.
"Very well. Tactical, perform battle readiness drills until our arrival."
Salvek listened to the buzzing on the bridge, as each crewmember prepared for what was ahead. The passage of time seemed to go neither fast or slow to Salvek. The two hours was just that, two hours. As they approached their destination, Salvek opened a channel to the ship.
"As you are all aware, we are approaching what we believe is a Sylph vessel. It is my opinion that they have captured a vessel captained by Zanh Liis. The Captain along with several other members of our crew, was sent to Klaestron to rescue an individual. This mission was supposed to be classified, but I feel now circumstances have changed due to the Sylph influence, and you all need to be aware of just what lies ahead. Salvek out."
There was silence on the bridge after the announcement. Nothing more needed to be said. Ensign Hok finally spoke, to report their position.
"We have arrived at Klaestron." He said, simply. "Dropping to impulse."
"Scanners." Salvek ordered.
Rada and Micah Samson worked side by side on their modifications, and brought a hazy image up on the screen. There were three vessels before them. The Rixx Rewards, the Sylph, and what Salvek recognized as a Starfleet Temporal Investigations Jump ship.
"This explains the size of the field, sir. The Sylph are consuming ten times as much energy as they did to ensnare us, to keep both of those ships in place." Rada reported.
"Can we collapse the bubble as we did before?" Salvek asked.
"Not from the outside." Rada said.
"Life signs?"
"I'm detecting life signs on each ship, very faint. Almost coma like readings. Normal life signs on the Sylph vessel."
"Can we hail the them?"
Sue Tenney attempted to call either of the two non-Sylph ships, but received no response. Then she tried, at Salvek's order, to contact the Sylph.
[We are engaged in a mission of healing, please leave this system. If you attempt to disrupt our work, we will defend ourselves by capturing your ship.]
Rada actually let out a short laugh from the engineering station. "Impossible, sir. Their power systems are completely maxed out trying to hold the two ships in place."
"We do not agree to your terms. It is you who will cease your activities, and depart the system. Any further attempts to capture and hold these or any other Starfleet vessels will be deemed as an act of war."
[There is nothing you can do to stop us. Please allow us to help your people.]
Zander motioned for Tenney to mute the conversation so he could speak.
"They might be right about that. We can communicate beyond the subspace barrier into the bubble, but our weapons are useless." Zander reported.
"Understood. Open channel."
"Open."
"Sylph vessel. You have one hour to leave this area of space, or we will defend ourselves. Serendipity out."
"So how do we get them out?" Rada asked.
"I just bought you one hour to answer that question, Mr. Dengar." Salvek said.
*Great.* Rada thought.
"I have a suggestion." Blakeslee said.
"By all means." Salvek said.
"Highly localized bursts from quantum torpedoes have been known to disrupt the subspace barrier. If we did it just right, we could crack open a window into the Sylph bubble, and use our phasers to disable their ship."
"But if the bubble collapses, all three ships will be destroyed." Rada said.
"Not immediately." Zander noted. "Each ship will return to normal space for just a moment, as the bubble collapses, correct?"
"Right," Rada said. "We'd have about five seconds maximum before they are destroyed."
"Five seconds, just enough time to activate each transporter on the ship. How many life signs between the two ships Mr. Samson?"
Micah scanned each vessel. "Seventeen on the Starfleet vessel, six on the Betazoid vessel."
"We'll need the Alchemy too, just to be safe. I wouldn't want to beam twenty-three people to this ship all at once." Rada said.
"Agreed. Mr. Blakeslee, work out a firing pattern for each ship, then take whomever you need to assist you on the Alchemy. you will be in command of that ship. Mr. Samson, work with each transporter operator so they know exactly whom they are locking on to, on which ship. Run a level five diagnostic on all transporters. you each have your orders, any questions?"
There was silence in answer. "You all know what you have to do. Good luck."
Salvek assisted Rada and Zander, as the trio determined the precise yield required on the weapons to "crack the window" so to speak. Twenty torpedoes, from each ship, would be enough to accomplish their goals, with about thirty seconds of firing time available to the phasers before the breach they opened in subspace closed.
Zander loaded the firing sequence into each ship's computer, and departed to take commander of the Alchemy. As the hour time limit approached, Salvek attempted one last time to reach a diplomatic solution with the Sylph.
"Sylph vessel. Your hour is up. Please release our vessels. This is your final warning."
Silence.
Salvek looked into the distance, where the Alchemy hovered, pointing directly back at the Sera. If one did not know better, one would think the two ships were about to attack each other, but the true enemy lay in between them, invisible to the naked eye.
"Very well. Mr. Talbot, signal the Alchemy, and fire at will."
Salvek heard the hum of energy, as the torpedoes shot forth from the ship. Each traveled to a seemingly inconspicuous point, and detonated on cue.
"Subspace barrier has been breached!" Rada reported.
"Ready phasers."
"Ready!"
"FIRE!"
Again the Sera hummed with energy as the phasers tore through the breach, striking the Sylph vessel inside.
"Direct hit from both ships. The Sylph power drive has been destroyed!" Samson reported. "The bubble is collapsing!"
"Transporters!" Salvek ordered. Each operator waited closely for the moment, and reached out to grab their assigned targets. Debris burst forth from subspace into normal space.
"Status of vessels?" Salvek asked.
"All three ships destroyed, sir." Talbot reported.
At the science station, Micah Samson smiled as the report came from below.
"Commander, all twelve of our targets have retrieved, alive and well, in the transporter room."
"Alchemy is reporting all eleven of their targets have also been recovered. They are requesting permission to dock." Tenney reported.
"Granted." Salvek said, "You have the bridge Mr. Dengar."
Salvek rushed below, to the transporter room where Zanh Liis was supposed to be. She was just waking up, and was clearly groggy as she laid on the deck. He offered an arm to steady her as she attempted to stand.
"What happened?" She groaned, upon seeing Salvek.
"The Sylph, Captain. They ensnared your vessel as you attempted to escape Klaestron."
"What?" She asked, then her eyes flew open, and she grabbed the shirt of his uniform. "WHAT? Klaestron? We can't be there. The funeral. Keiran's funeral. We saved Carrick but Keiran died, we buried him on Earth. You were there with me! Don't you remember?"
"You've been under Sylph control for some period of time, Captain. I'm sorry but I have no such memories of attending a funeral. You and your rescue team never made it back from Klaestron, and I am certain Keiran O'Sullivan did not die."
"How can you know that?" Zanh Liis asked, terrified to think what the answer may be.
"Because, Captain," Salvek extended a hand, not to her, but to the person next to her. Despite the man's size, Salvek lifted him to his feet with ease. "He is standing right next to you."
-=USS Alchemy=-
Tears spilled down her face as she left her station to head for the transporter room. She still couldn't hear him, but they had told her he was aboard, and alive. She entered the room, where a medic was watching over him.
"He won't be awake for a while yet. The Sylph couldn't control him because of his telepathic abilities, just like before, so they gave him a massive amount of sedative to keep him asleep." The medic said.
She knelt at his side, and her tears spilled from her face to his cheeks. She brushed them aside, and ran her fingers through his hair. She then picked up his limp, lifeless hand in hers, and guided it towards her belly.
"Dabin, my darling Dabin. I want you to meet someone." February said, as she placed his hand on her body. "This is your child. You're going to be a father."
She gathered him up, and cradled him in her arms, determined to hold him like this, until he awoke.
********************
Commander Salvek
First Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
Commander Salvek
First Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012