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[Mackenzie Calhoun]

here be a marker for the usual malaise of stories



as mentioned many, many times this 'season' will be in one whole thread like my beleagured Star Trek Raven Third Season (which will soon merge into Season Four). Like the Raven thread the episode titles will be on the opening page, the stories follow on from the other. Cheese willing I should get "Winter" started soon.

STAR TREK ENTERPRISE THE SIXTH SEASON: WAR

the episodes

6x1- "Winter"
6x2- "Girl Alone"
6x3- "The Merry Wives of Phlox"
6x4- "Cloak of Shadows"
6x5- "Cloak of Shadows, II"
6x6- When Once Were Explorers
6x7- Thorns of Sacrifice
6x8- Romulus Rising
6x9- The Bassen Rift Incident
6x10- A Wilting Olive Branch
6x11- Year Zero

episode titles subject to change

Edited by Mackenzie Calhoun, 10 June 2013 - 11:46 AM.

[Mackenzie Calhoun]

“Winter”



6x1

Following on from events laid out mostly in Season 5 but the finale episode, “The Drumbeat Slowly…”

I/ EARTH, 2156

“A declaration of war will thrust this quadrant into a conflagration which it will never recover from. Madness to think that the Romulan’s care that much if we were to do this.”
“It is amazing to consider the Tellarite representative’s pleas. Did Tellar not receive a high loss of life last month?”
“My Andorian comrade is misplaced in his belief that we do not care. We all received a high loss of life but how do you strike back against an enemy you cannot see or even know?”
“Ambassador Theylar please sit,” instructed Deputy Speaker Aloxis Snell. “If we shout at each other we won’t accomplish anything. It has been four weeks since the attacks on the colonies. Aside from the Yorktown’s attack there have been no other actions.”
Snell had been drafted in to deal with meetings in the absence of Minister Harry Samuels off-planet on the Moon whereas Theylar was a suitably spiky replacement for Thoris who had been recalled to Andor.
“Of course,” Theylar rasped, “but surely you understand we have been attacked and all we do is argue about it here.”
“We have to discuss it…that is the nature of the Coalition.”
Watching from the balcony just off the stairs Captain Jonathan Archer chewed on his lower lip. As well it was a month since the attacks it was also a month since he had returned to Earth.
“We’re going round in circles.”
“Possibly. The latest report from Shran suggests that the Romulan’s have either left the quadrant or have gone silent,” T’Pol said. The Vulcan held her hands by her side wearing a navy blue uniform as close to Starfleet as she would yet. “Enterprise…”
“Is still not ready despite the refit being increased,” Archer pictured his command in the skeletal dry-dock undergoing the most drastic change it had ever gone under since 2151. Trip kept joking that the ‘NX’ did stand for experimental after all.
“Admiral Gardner is not showing leadership in this matter.”
“Not much he can say until we know what we’re up against. If only we could go into Romulan space.”
“Against orders,” T’Pol simply said. “I have to see Soval later today, perhaps I can ask if the Vulcan’s will do something.”
“No need T’Pol.”
The Coalition meeting began to break up leaving Minister Snell looking quite bewildered at the table. Archer debated going down yet followed T’Pol out into the forecourt. He sighted Malcolm.
“If you excuse me, Commander.”
“Certainly, Captain. May I enquire as to whether you are still…still on for dinner?”
“2100hrs, Luigi’s in Oakland?”
“Yes. I am endeavouring to become more acquainted with human food.”
“Excellent.”
A thunderstorm brewed to the west out beyond the Golden Gate darkening the sky prematurely.

[Mackenzie Calhoun]

II/ ROMULUS

Praetor D’deridrex assessed the plans with a smile. “I like this, Valdore. How soon will they be pressed into production?”
“I took the liberty of doing so immediately. The first fighter shall be launched by the end of the week.”
“I’m impressed. If only we had a fleet of warbirds built so quickly.”
Admiral Valdore regarded the Praetor with the kind of wariness that the Praetor could not detect. Until two months ago Valdore had been imprisoned following the failure of his drones in splitting up the Coalition. D’deridrex rising into power had freed Valdore in order to make good Romulan desire to be dominant in the galaxy.
“The fighters will be one-man craft. They will need to be deployed by the warbirds hence why I’ve designed the new class of warbirds.”
“Show me.”
Valdore unfolded another large sheet of paper to show the plans of the Mark II Warbird. Like the first class it had an elongated neck extending from a main body (the bridge module was at the head of the neck) with underslung warp nacelles.
“The main body of the ship is larger to accommodate the fighters.”
“Yes, yes I can see that. How long before the new class of warbird can be launched?”
“A few months.”
“So we have fighters but not the ships to carry them.”
“I wouldn’t have thought we needed the fighters just yet. I understood we were biding our time.”
D’deridrex chuckled, “Yes we are but if these fighters can be launched as soon as you say then we should use them.”
“I don’t understand…”
“The situation is becoming more complex by the day. The Coalition are hunting down the task force –so far without success, we have the Senate here to contend with, the traditional enemies in the shadows, not to mention the Klingon’s.”
“The Gamma Hydra skirmishes have been happening for decades. If you wish I will increase the production of the new warbirds.”
“No.” the Praetor went to sit at the desk on which the plans lay. “Proceed apace. I was getting ahead of myself. Our time will come.”
Valdore returned in his private car to his base in the mountains where much of his plans were seeing fruition. He had an office overlooking the large hangar –closest to him was a Bird of Prey. Valdore’s second-in-command was waiting in the office.
“How did it go?”
“I think our Praetor is losing his mind. I want the new warbird pressed into production.”
“It’s not ready, we can’t just…”
“Just do it. We’ll iron the kinks out along the way. I think we’ll be fighting the Coalition in a few of the human months. Four months at best.”
“It’s been a long time coming.”
“Indeed it has. Make arrangements for a visit to the cloaking device facility on Remus. I want to make sure they are on top of things or we could lose out to the Klingon’s.”
“Certainly.”
D’deridrex was right about one thing, it was getting complex by the minute.

[Mackenzie Calhoun]

Quite honestly I've no idea how to go about portions, the intricacy and detailed aspects, the espionage, the subterfuge and so forth. Until someone says as much I'll plod on aimlessly like a beduoin in the Sahara that has lost his camel. Or hers, let's no discriminate.

I'll press on anyway, leaving a solitary set of footprints in the sand.

----



----

III/TELLAR

It was the waiting that annoyed Carrie McKnight. It was spending time with people who couldn’t give a damn. The Tellarites had their problems to contend with, the repair of a starship was not one of them. Not quite.
Yorktown had been sucker punched by the Romulan ship. As quickly as it had come it had gone.
She walked down the observation deck of the main Tellar starbase trying to ignore the sight of the NX-03 wrapped in tendrils of metal that encased her barely showing her damage. As had been the case for a month Carrie found her captain in the bar. Not that Richard J. April had been hitting the sauce just that the bar was the closest thing to normality he could find.
“Morning, sir.”
“Lieutenant.”
“Any news on the ship?”
“We should be leaving by the end of the week.”
The exchange had been what it had always been this past month except for the answer. Carrie sat on a stool by April leaning forward her long red hair rippling under the myriad lights of the bar. “You are sure of this, sir?”
“I’ve double-checked. Chief Janeway reckons he is on top of the repairs. I think we can be done certainly by the end of the week.”
“There’s been no further word from Starfleet?”
“No more than the messages having us stay put until this is done. Like Hell I’ll let one of the new ships take the credit for ridding the system of the Romulan’s.”
She smiled a little at that statement. The new ships, Discovery and Challenger were new yes and more-so sent out to the borderlands to find these intruders.
“I’m sure they won’t find them sir, they’ll leave some to us.”
April smiled back, “Perhaps. Go to the ship and tell Starfleet we’ll be ready for duty in two weeks. That way we can buy ourselves some time.”
“You mean go against orders, sir?”
“Not necessarily. We need to find those Romulan’s. Once Starfleet knows we’re active we’ll likely get pulled home for some refit.”
“I’ll get right on it.”
Carrie made the short walk to Yorktown finding on the bridge a few Tellarites helping the Starfleet engineers. She did not really mind the snout-nosed aliens though it would be nice if they did not hold back on circuits or other supplies that the humans needed. Perhaps it was a case of their people first regardless of the help the ship supplied to the colonies attacked the other month. As she made her message communications officer Kathe Hoess arrived.
“Hey, Kathe.”
“I heard you came back.” The German peeked over Carrie’s shoulder. “You want this sent?”
“Straight off as soon as I finish it. How’s your day?”
“Dull. Milt tried to get me to play tennis in the hangar.”
“Not easy I’d imagine. I find the catwalk is easiest,” Carrie chuckled at Kathe’s expression. “A tactical officer knows a ship inside and out. Besides, the ball’s easier to control in the catwalk and Chief Janeway is less likely to get annoyed at a dinged Shuttlepod.”
“Ach so.”
Carrie sent the message to Kathe’s station. The comms officer would run this through the scrambler (something only she knew well enough). Returning attention to her own monitor Carrie ran her gaze over her readings.
Strong neutrino surge ten light years away.
“I’ll be damned,” she whispered.

---

[Mackenzie Calhoun]

if anyone thinks this is a waste of time this chapter might be the clincher.

---

IV. EARTH

Trip Tucker held out the plans at arm’s length then lowered them. “The Daedalus won’t be ready for two or three months. Even then it won’t be going anywhere.”
“Just a hope I suppose,” Archer cast a look out of the starbase windows at the Enterprise. The NCC-01 (as she had become a year ago) was halfway through her monumental change. “We need a ship, I hate sitting on the sidelines.”
“Me too but we have to do things we don’t like from time to time.”
“Either it’s me or you’re becoming mellower, Trip.”
“Must be the food,” Tucker neatly sidestepped the issue Archer was prodding at. To his credit he had rarely seen T’Pol since they had returned to Earth. Adjacent to the flagship was the skeletal shape of the Daedalus NX-100. Once the ship was ready, done her sea trials Starfleet would put into production more of the class. “Heard anything more from the borders?”
“Yorktown’s pushed off to find the Romulan’s. The search field has decreased so I’d imagine it’s only a matter of time before we find them.”
“Then what?”
“They get taken out,” Archer gave a shrug, “It’s as simple as that.”
Archer led the way down the length of the space-dock command centre. “Admiral Gardner reckons that we will be up to full strength as a fleet by the end of the year. That’s assuming we have a few of the Daedalus, other ships and the like.”
“It’s optimistic,” admitted Tucker someone used to working miracles in a short order. “Other ships would involve cruisers.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve had a look into some things,” Tucker grinned. “SCE have drawn up plans for a Comet-class cruiser which will carry fighters as well as be gun-platforms.”
“So most of Starfleet is geared up for war,” remarked Archer stepping through a hatch onto the shuttle they had used to come up from San Francisco. “I want to see these plans. Give me something to do.”
“Sure. I’ll speak with SCE.”
As the shuttle pulled away Archer fixed his gaze on the Enterprise. Even under the mass of dockyard equipment she retained a semblance of beauty. Eventually she was lost to sight as the shuttle dove towards Earth.

[Mackenzie Calhoun]

I fear an element of predictability has crept back in. I might have to introduce the Orion girl orgy to rescue it.

---

V. Tellar space

Richard April perched on the edge of his command chair pensively.
“Chief, I can still feel the deckplates vibrating. Are you sure you’ve trimmed the manifolds?”
“As best as I could.”
“Just have to make do,” the captain said to himself. The viewer showed the remains of a nebula scarring the stars a murky brown. “Are we on top of that neutrino surge?”
“Scans show that the field is dissipating. It’s around here that the surge was, sir.”
Milt Hamilton’s report was confirmed by Carrie who was doing a series of tactical scans. “By all reports there are a dozen enemy ships. It’s possible they have a massing point somewhere in the borderlands.”
“God help us if it’s here,” April remarked with some humour. “All stop Tyler let’s see what’s out there. Milt, ping the area.”
“Sir?”
“Like submarines did in the old days. A sonar ping just to see if there was anything out there.”
“Right, sir,” the science officer turned his chair around playing with his controls for a moment. “One single ping.”
Carrie imagined the sonar ping as it coursed out from the starship into deep space. She studied her own console seeing the readings change as the sensor echo extended. Abruptly towards the end her numbers ran up fast. “Sir, possible contact on the edge of the nebula. Request one more echo.”
“Milt.”
This time the readings held firm after the echo passed into the nebula. “Sir, confirmed. At least two contacts.”
“Neutrino emissions are dense sir,” Milt Hamilton added, “they must be underway.”
“Polarise the hull plating, Carrie but not anything else. It could be something else out there.”
Carrie dreaded to think what else could be hiding out there if it was not the Romulan’s. “Sir, they’re heading into the nebula.”
“After them Tyler, full impulse.”
Entering the nebula caused a brief system overload, consoles and lights flickering, the impulse engines faltering but on they carried. The nebula’s murky brown became that of an amber hue. “Slow to one third. Carrie how big is this nebula?”
“Based on the Vulcan database at least 10,000 kilometres in volume.”
“Oh lord the ocean is so big and my boat so small,” April said leaving his chair he walked up to Tyler resting a hand on the chair then added to Carrie, “Silent running all decks.”
For a moment she did nothing then nodded, “Aye sir.” Silent running was a little futile with a ship that could not cloak facing off ships that could. Before long the ship was effectively silent with compartments sealed. On screen it was possible to feel the sheer scale of the nebula with clouds of debris adding some atmosphere to the moment.
“Neutrino is all over the place,” Hamilton said after half an hour. “Scans are inconclusive.”
“Can’t you filter the results?”
“Trying sir but the sensors just aren’t enough.”
“Welcome to the twenty-second century Milt,” quipped Tyler.
On the Yorktown progressed slowly its sensors sweeping out every so often to try and catch the contacts.
Twelve Romulan ships to catch, the murderers of thousands of innocent people…
“Romulan Bird of Prey decloaking directly astern!” Carrie called out as her sensors suddenly came alive.
“Tyler, hard port full impulse Z-minus-10.”
The NX-03 surged ahead to the left dipping its bow as it did so. Just as it did so a second Bird of Prey materialised ahead of them.
“Sweet Moses,” whispered Carrie staring at the screen as the green vessel shimmered into view.
“Starboard!” April barked. “Carrie, red alert.”
As she did that Carrie McKnight brought all phase cannons and torpedoes online. Moving to starboard a third Bird of Prey materialised.
“Fire phase cannons.”
The driving momentum of the Yorktown had something to do with the first volley of weapon fire passing over the Bird of Prey’s starboard nacelle. The second volley was properly aimed drilling into the Bird of Prey hard. It was a blow hard enough to push the ship to the side as the NX-03 drove past.
“Steer to port, bring us about Tyler. Carrie return fire.”
Engaging three of the bastards was suicidal, Carrie thought but kept silent. Richard April was as experienced as any in the fleet including Archer and Hernandez. As one the first two Birds of Prey fired. Great blobs of furious red energy blazed in towards them.
“Sir, impact in five seconds.”
“Too late, Milt. Carrie, shields to fore.”
Too late indeed for the twin blazes of energy smashed into the Yorktown exploding matter in the nebula as well as portions of her saucer. Carrie saw Milt and Kathe thrown over their consoles as the port side of the bridge lit up in flames.
“Reverse course, Tyler. Find some cover!”
“I’ll try sir.”
“Torpedoes won’t launch,” Carrie cursed. “Sir!”
“I heard you. Medical emergency on the bridge.”
It went quiet after that as the ship found cover in the clouds. All the while the Romulan’s held position.

[Mackenzie Calhoun]

VI. ROMULUS

Praetor D’deridrex toasted Valdore.
“To the enterprise.”
“Sir,” Valdore sat in the former’s office wondering what this latest meeting was about. In recent days the production of vehicles (of all types) had increased to a war-setting. Until this year the Romulan war machine proceeded at a steady pace with a set amount of vehicles built per year. Perhaps not since the border conflict with the Klingon’s had the Romulan war machine been geared to such a pace.
“I have spoken with the senate. There are those who believe we should not be pursuing war.”
“I would say they are afraid of it going against the Empire.”
“We are still biding for time. Unfortunately the mission to Qo’nos is on hold. The agent I was going to send has been transferred to Vulcan.”
“Why Vulcan?” Valdore was treading on ground uncertain to him.
“I intend to destabilise the old enemy from within. It would be a delightful subplot should the war fail and we are left with a destroyed Vulcan.”
The problems with Vulcan had stemmed from the moment centuries ago. Still it permeated everything the Romulan’s did whatever the century. Admittedly it would be good to see the logical bastards go down with Romulus ascendant.
“I want you to go see the Klingons.”
“Me?” Valdore put down his Ale. “Praetor, I am needed here.”
“Your second-in-command is more than able from what I assume. Take one of the warbirds. If you like I can place a senator at your disposal.”
That sounded something completely different to Valdore’s ears. He once had been a senator until the drone disaster.
“A junior diplomat perhaps.”
“Someone to mould to your way of doing things?” D’deridrex grinned slyly. “I think it can be arranged. Take as long as is needed on Qo’nos. When the outcome is decided, be it in our favour or not, return immediately.”
“How can I have assurance that this is not an attempt to remove me from the picture?”
The Praetor leant forward his drink sloshing violently as he did so.
“Because I believe in honouring my words to those I trust. Without you Valdore we will not achieve our goals.” He slowly slunk back into his chair. “Paranoia is a byword for Romulus. You have my assurance.”
As evening settled over the capital Valdore saw his second in command making sure that the fort would be well and truly held in his absence. Then he proceeded to his warbird currently in orbit. Here he was confronted by a dark haired woman dressed in a black jumpsuit.
“I am Senator Vernak.”
“Senator,” Valdore said heavily. “You’re the one sent by the Praetor?”
“Personally selected,” she said coldly. “Is this a problem?”
“As long as you can speak Klingon this shouldn’t be a problem.”
This was going to be terrific, he thought sarcastically.

[Mackenzie Calhoun]

Well, onwards. I'd do what some do and ask for feedback and comments but don't worry. I'm told the viewers count is meaningful as it means somebody reads. Pfft.

---

VII. YORKTOWN

Carrie waved a hand over her console. “I wish we could vent this smoke.”
“Do that and we’ll alert the Romulan’s as to where we are,” April said standing the opposite side of her desk. “I need a weapons status.”
“Everything’s knocked out.”
“Including sensors?”
“You bet,” Carrie spread her hands apart getting up from her seat. “I’ll try to do what I can sir but without help from engineering it’ll be tricky.”
“I know. Try your best, Lieutenant.”
April crossed over to his communications officer who had both hands to her ears. Gingerly tapping her he smiled, “Anything, Kathe?”
“Whispers, sir. I think it’s the ships communicating but I can’t be sure.”
“Carrie?”
“Still nothing sir.”
April clenched his fists returning to lean against his chair. “If they know where we are they’re playing with us. If they don’t they’re awfully cocky.”
“Sir, maybe we should make a dash for the exit and get help. We’re in no shape to continue fighting.”
“You of all people Carrie are the last I would have thought of suggesting that.”
“It’s…sir, it makes sense. I’d rather get back at the bastards in an effective ship than one beating to hell and back.”
“Recommendations noted,” April sat in his chair. Silence went over the bridge though a palpable heavy silence that made Carrie sweat. A few minutes on her console went dark. She cursed and got on her knees to rip open a panel to do some more messing with the cables. When she stood she found just one monitor working yet even that did so sparingly. Neutrino was off the chart but this was a nebula so there we go.
When a tremor ran through the deck the first time no one paid much attention to it nor the second time but the third was bigger. Carrie held onto her console feeling it vibrate like pneumatic drill.
“My console just lit up like a Christmas Tree!” Milt Hamilton exclaimed. “Nuclear explosions about…fifteen hundred kilometres off sir.”
“Depth charges,” said April with a growl. “Mr Drummond. Prepare to move.”
“I’m moving sir.”
“Not in that way.”
Carrie smiled a little then added, “Sir the tactical screens are down. I’ve no idea what we’re facing.”
The explosions in the nebula were not getting closer though were increasing in frequency.
“Feels like a few ships,” Milt said trying to gauge his readings. The monitor was awash with interference. “Three or four.”
“Engineering, can we have hull plating?”
“You can try. I can’t guarantee it’ll last. Energy wise we’re all over the place.”
“Thanks chief. Carrie, weapons?”
“Down sir.”
“Polarise the hull plating.”
The explosions suddenly ceased leaving an eerie silence.
“I don’t know about anyone else but that leaves me with a bad feeling,” said Tyler eying the screen.
“Reverse engines, full!” snapped April. Tyler did not need a second telling pulling down on the lever hard adjusting trim. On screen the wavering blend of energy abruptly vanished replaced by the shadowy outlines of a Romulan Bird of Prey.
“Damn,” Carrie whispered. She searched her console for a sign of life just as April ordered full ahead. Tyler questioned the order then had it back.
Yorktown appeared to give a kick before it raced ahead trailing nebula gases in its wake. Seconds after this it collided with the Bird of Prey on the starboard wing. The alien ship gave way in time though too late to safe it. As the Starfleet ship raced clear the Bird of Prey silently exploded. On the bridge fresh fires had started forcing Carrie from her position.
“Get us out of here, Tyler. We’ll try for Tellar.”
“Tellar might be too far,” said Hamilton.
“Then we’ll take our chances.”

===

[Mackenzie Calhoun]

I've lost the thread again, hence this rather uninspired piece.

---

VIII. ANDOR

“There’s been no word from the Yorktown in two weeks. We have to assume she’s been destroyed.”
Jonathan Archer studied T’Pol for a moment in the lounge of the makeshift Coalition building (a kind of embassy for non-Andorian members of the Coalition of Planets).
“I think we should have an open mind concerning the Yorktown.”
“Very well,” T’Pol knew Archer well enough not to press on this issue. She remained standing by the door as if waiting for a moment to leave. “Now that we are on Andor, do we get a ship?”
“I’m waiting to see what happens. Shran’s off someplace and the Earth representative here doesn’t think we should have one. Bureaucratic nonsense about something or other.”
“Jonathan,” the use of his name made him stare at her. “I might be a Vulcan but I find the waiting around unproductive. If we are to do something we need a ship and find these Romulan ships.”
“Do you have an idea?”
“If I can get on a ship I believe I can help us find the Birds of Prey,” T’Pol kept her hands behind her back. Archer could not see the hands clench. He could not know the thoughts concerning the Romulan’s that were going through her mind.
“It’s what I like about you. You’re unflappable confidence.”
If only he knew.
T’Pol walked over to him ignoring the sudden flapping of the curtains created by the Andorian wind. “Time is of the essence, Captain.”
“You’re right,” Archer stood heading for the door. “Best come with, T’Pol. You always have an ability to unnerve the Andorians.”
Eyebrow arched in that familiar way she followed.

**

Lieutenant Commander Malcolm Reed pushed his way down through the old market snowflakes dusting his landing party jacket. At the back of his mind was the image of the Yorktown spinning lifelessly through space. He found it hard to believe that the ship would be lost. All because no one had heard from them in a couple of weeks did not mean it was lost.
At least he kept telling himself that.
Reaching the end of the market he found Trip and Mayweather standing under a doorway with a pronounced ledge.
“What’s going on?” asked Trip shuffling his feet in the cold.
“Captain has managed to wrangle an Andorian fighter. Can just about fit us in.”
“You mean a cruiser?”
“No, fighter,” Reed smiled. “Andorians have a slightly different view on things than we do it seems. We need to hurry, Shran’s covering our back until we’re gone.”
“And we head out to the borders?” Mayweather said.
“Quickly,” confirmed Reed. As they headed off he asked of Mayweather, “Do you think you can handle this thing?”
“I should be able to.”
The fighter was on a separate, private pad away from the main city. It was a squat version of the familiar warship. Boarding it they threaded their way up the ship down the only corridor off of which lay the cramped quarters, mess room and so on. The bridge was probably the biggest room of all with a fairly familiar layout concerning the consoles. T’Pol nodded at them as they assumed their stations.
“A timely arrival, gentlemen. We have five minutes to leave.”
Archer said nothing sat in the somewhat comfortable looking command chair. Mayweather took a moment looking over the console then pushed a lever. The bridge began to gently hum as the engines built up.
“Good start Travis,” Archer said, “now…up.”
Grinning somewhat Travis took a steering lever in hand and pushed forward. The fighter lurched into the sky swinging around on its axis before Mayweather accelerated into the snowy skies.
“If I’m reading this correctly, we’re airborne,” said Tucker sat adjacent to Reed.
“Well done Travis. Commander T’Pol has set the course. Let’s go and find the Yorktown.”
“Yes, sir.”


---

I should start to write these as I did my James Bond stuff.

[Mackenzie Calhoun]

sweet mustafar's raven, nothing in a month and a half!?!?!?!??!?

Argh, what's the use?

---

IX. QO’NOS

Valdore hated Klingons. He hated Klingons and he hated Qo’nos.
In fact anything remotely smelling of Klingon.
So when the chancellor’s representative walked out of the hangar control room towards the shadows under the Bird of Prey Valdore put on a brave face stepping out to meet him with Vernak in tow.
“Chancellor M’rek welcomes you to the homeworld. Though we are all surprised at the visit.”
“You do know we were coming?” Valdore asked.
“Indeed, through the Tholian Ambassador,” the Klingon said. “Follow me, please.”
The party left the hangar (the Bird of Prey to be guarded by Valdore’s security detail) heading to a dark-windowed security car. Valdore only assumed it was a security car judging by how low it rode. That and the Romulan’s had something on Romulus quite the same –exclusively belonging to the Tal Shiar.
The Chancery was a typical Klingon structure in being dark, foreboding, grim looking and even to a point, angry. Even on a bright day it did not look the kind of place that the Romulan wanted to be in. At least he had Vernak with him. Along the way he found out that the moody looking Romulan had some skills that would benefit if they got into trouble along the way.
“I am the emissary from the Romulan Praetor,” Valdore said feeling somewhat foolish as he stepped into the hooded light of the Chancellery. The cavernous interior of the Chancellery was almost familiar to him through intelligence reports that had come from a spy they had in the 2120’s. Needless to say that spy had not lasted long. Surrounding Valdore at an even distance were Klingons in ceremonial robes. Valdore was surprised at the mixture of flat-headed and ridged Klingons. Romulan scientists theorised it would be less than ten years before the flat-forehead was dominant.
“Welcome to the empire,” a voice rumbled from the darkness ahead of Valdore. Valdore could make out a faint outline of someone in a throne like chair. “We are bemused that the Praetor would want to send someone in the heart of his enemy’s empire.”
“It is a changing world,” Valdore stepped forward not noticing how Vernak matched his step. Perhaps she thought he would get himself into some physical danger. “A changing universe if you prefer.”
“Spare the Empire your pathetic words,” the voice sounded sound like faint thunder. A shape moved from the throne emerging into the shadowy light. As it did so, so others took shape under the light all with hands clenched before their armour. The figure though had long silvery hair and impressive looking armour. Even Valdore had to take stock. “As Chancellor of this Empire I do not take kindly to the Romulans coming here for any reason.”
“We want to extend a hand of friendship to you…”
“Against the Humans and their allies?” M’rek snorted. “We’re not fools. We can see that the expansion of this Coalition has presented a problem for Romulus. You’re threatened.”
“As you should be too,” shot back Valdore. “Don’t you think the Coalition will want to extend into this sector too?”
“We might be a warrior race but we’re not stupid. The Coalition is quite peaceful or has this escaped your notice. The only time they have been provoked, the Humans at that, is the Xindi threat. We knew the Romulans were paranoid, this is something else!”
Laughter lifted up into the high ceilings making Valdore’s cheeks flush green. He took half a step forward. “Chancellor, we can benefit each other if you join our alliance. You do not necessarily have to join us in our fight against the Coalition but technology wise I’m sure we can make exceptions.”
“Sir,” hissed Vernak.
“Your woman has a problem with this, Admiral.” M’rek began to walk past Valdore studying the lithe Romulan female. “Yes, I can see why!” he whirled on Valdore. “She hates us and we hate the Romulans. How can we benefit each other? Maybe your cloaking device perhaps.”
“No,” Valdore said.
“Then how? Or…do you just want a buffer here between you and Earth? I warn you, Admiral, the Humans are not as stupid as you might think. This Jonathan Archer has a certain legend on Qo’nos as you might realise.”
“Jonathan Archer IS not ALL of the HUMAN RACE!” bellowed Valdore surprising everyone.
“Oh…but he is,” M’rek whispered deliciously, “you see…he is typical of that species. Make a study of their history, Admiral and you’ll find numerous incidents over a thousand of their years. We will meet you again tomorrow, Admiral.”
At that the entire council chamber went into the darkness. Outside Vernak took Valdore sharply by the arm.
“You jeopardised this mission!”
“And you are not helping. Contact Romulus and find out what we can do. If they don’t respond we make what deals are necessary but the sooner I’m off this stinking planet the better!”
Valdore stormed off towards the waiting hover-vehicle leaving Vernak seething before she resentfully joined him.

[Mackenzie Calhoun]

As always when I post away I debate on skipping or speeding up chapters just to get to the end.

Echo, echo...

---

X. ANDORIAN BORDERLANDS

Captain’s Star Log: March 3, 2156

It is with some sense, perhaps, of historical irony that Commander Tucker has dubbed this ship the “Beagle”. The name of Darwin’s ship over three centuries ago. All the same we have reached the desired location. The “Yorktown” must be out here. The loss of the NX-03 would prove a great blow to the fleet. We have commenced active scanning.

T’Pol had her eyes narrowed as she used the Andorian scanner the lens glowing a bright green.
“It would seem the Andorians have designed this without Vulcans in mind.”
“No kidding,” said Tucker to one side.
“Search for all kinds of things…,” began Archer.
“Thank you, Captain but I have been a science officer for almost as long as you have been a Starfleet officer.”
Archer caught Tucker’s mock intake of breath and winked, “That’ll teach me.”
Joking aside it had been fairly serious for the few days they had been out here travelling from Andor. The fighter though of a size to carry them all had to stop every so often to allow for a sort of recharge. Tensions had run high along the way as being in such a space without pause was quite trying. There was also the added threat of the Romulans out here.
“Ion trails,” T’Pol remarked quietly adjusting her scope with her right hand whilst her left altered her sensors. “They are numerous. Concentrating my readings.”
Reed puffed out his cheeks silently. Carrie had been playing on his mind. Could someone have such an effect on him? It seemed so. How extraordinary.
“Ion trails are traced with neutrino. I believe we have found the route of a Bird of Prey.”
“Heading…?” asked Archer.
“Away into the borderlands. It’s possible that the Yorktown is out there.”
“Hunted like a dog,” Tucker growled. “After them, skip?”
“Worth a shot. T’Pol give the co-ordinates to Travis. Take us out, ensign.”
It was hardly the Enterprise but the little fighter would do its job well.
How well though was yet to become apparent.
They raced off into the hinterlands with its vast unexplored territories that for all their searching neither the Vulcans nor the Andorians had made much off. Archer hoped that some trace of the NX-03 remained or the ship itself lest this has been a search in vain. Trouble is the Andorian borderlands were those between Andor and Vulcan (where P’Jem lay) out to the Romulan border (the known one) out beyond planets like Taugus and Horst.
Thus a virtual needle in a virtual haystack.
Following the neutrino trail led them away from any major planets or indeed any on scopes that no one had yet placed a name to from Earth.
“Ahead lies a nebula, a small asteroid field and remains it would appear of a ship,” T’Pol announced. She flicked her gaze to Archer. “One ship.”
Archer could do nothing until they were closer. As they did a greenish-yellow nebula grew until it filled the screen and more. The asteroid field had passed by to the right yet the ship remains drifted here.
“Intense scans,” T’Pol said. “Romulan. Evidence of a warp core implosion. Phase cannon residue.”
“Malcolm.”
Reed had managed to get some hold of his controls even if some of the buttons had been labelled. “Several hits. Can trace it back to Yorktown.”
“April’s in the nebula,” Archer said shifting in his seat awkwardly, “take us in, Travis. Trip can you polarise the plating on this thing?”
“Sure. It’s not too bad for an Andorian.”
With the plating polarised the Beagle pressed into the nebula.
“The neutrino trail has been lost,” T’Pol explained, “refining my scans for impulse turns.”
“Ready weapons, Malcolm. Just in case.”
On they went for maybe half an hour their ship trailing the gases from its wings and dorsal fin.
“Sir, something’s not right,” Malcolm said frowning. “Neutrinos all off the chart…”
“Communications are being jammed,” snapped Hoshi turning in her seat. “Repeat, jammed.”
“Hard starboard,” shouted Archer.
Astern two Romulan Birds of Prey materialised and opened fire immediately. Much of their disruptor fire missed the Andorian ship but some did hit it. Archer held onto his armrests as the ship shook hard. “How we doing Trip?”
“Plating is weakening already.”
“Full ahead,” Archer ordered Travis. “Aft torpedoes, Malcolm.”
Reed’s torpedoes missed and still the Birds of Prey kept on. Relentlessly they fired weakening the plating further until finally…
“Ship approaching,” Travis leant the Beagle port-wise as the Yorktown trailing both plasma and nebula gases shot past blazing away. One Bird of Prey exploded straightaway possibly having been damaged beforehand but the other held up. It took a second quick pass for the NX-03 to finish it off.
“That was nice and quick,” Trip remarked sweat trickling down his face.
“Yorktown hailing,” Hoshi said sounding relieved. “Captain April.”
Richard April was smiling on his bridge –burnt and scarred in places such as the consoles.
“Jonathan, I don’t know whether it was a case of you coming to rescue us or you being rescued by us.”
“No. Same here. Let’s get out of here and convene.”
“Lead on.”
“Travis, take point. Full impulse.”

[Mackenzie Calhoun]

I can't keep it going much longer.

---

XI. ANDOR

A week later.

“A worrying development perhaps, pink skin,” said Shran turning away from the balcony of the Coalition building. The chill air was countered by some heating ducts built into the lounge. In seats were April, Archer, T’Pol and Trip. April looked the most tired out of the humans for reasons clear to Shran of course. The Andorian swirled his sunset drink around in the glass watching the ice clink noisily. “Do you think the time is near?”
“Not yet but it’s edging closer. I imagine the Romulan’s are trying to feel out the situation,” Archer answered.
“This would be logical. It is time to warn the Coalition Council,” suggested T’Pol.
“Jumping the gun aren’t we?” Tucker asked. “We don’t know if the Romulan’s will try something soon. They’ve been edging their way along now quite cautiously I’d have thought.”
“They’ll do something soon,” Richard April said harshly. “They have to do don’t they? Attacking ships at random.”
“It could be a stalling action,” Tucker re-joined, “even if it looks like something else. What if they’re not as ready as we are?”
“Five NX class ships,” murmured Archer catching Shran’s eye.
“It’s not too better on our end,” Shran said huskily. “None of the Coalition fleets could tackle a full scale war.”
“Even the Andorians.”
“Even us,” Shran said to Archer. “What is Starfleet’s plan?”
“New class of ships but I imagine something might be in the pipeline. There are forces at work on Earth that I don’t fully comprehend.”
Archer ignored the blank looks he got. He wasn’t even sure if Section 31 existed let alone confident enough to tell these people. Best to keep it under his hat.
“I am going to return to Earth. We’ve done what we set out to do. Hopefully the Enterprise will be finished soon.”
“I can’t bear waiting around,” growled Trip.
“Then you do what you can on the ship,” Archer shot back a little hotly, “we need to be prepared and I want Enterprise ready first.”
A slightly chastened Tucker nodded slowly. “Yes sir.”
“I’m going to get some waste,” April said. “Thanks for the meet Jonathan.”
Soon it was just Shran and Archer left. The Andorian went to the drinks counter pouring a fresh sunset watching the amber liquid fill his glass slowly then reached for something else. He handed the second glass to Archer who stared into it. “Jim Bean. I believe it’s human.”
“So they say, thanks,” Archer took a sip and was surprised to find it was quite strong. “Not synthesised.”
“Hardly,” Shran slumped into an adjacent seat. “War is inevitable. It is the process of life that we must face it every so often.”
“My grandfather fought in the Third World War on Earth. After his posting in Africa he fought in Asia,” Archer murmured staring from his chair out of the balcony into Andor. “Some of the stories he told…He once said to me we had seen the last of war.”
“Earth might have but this is a new chapter of mankind,” Shran told him. “Consider this. If those Vulcans had not found you in 2063 you would have no war. No Xindi, no nothing. Safe on your planet.”
“Your point?”
“Risk is part of your life, Jonathan Archer. Humans can’t expect it to be an easy ride for them all because it’s them that are experiencing the life. Romulus has been around for longer than you have maybe even longer than mankind, who knows. The short story is that you must expect this. In the future you’ll face more threats.”
“You’re a sound advisor,” Archer took another gulp of his drink letting the fire burn into his belly. “Will you join us?”
“I will,” Shran hefted his glass. “To the alliance.”
“To the alliance.”

[Mackenzie Calhoun]

XII. STARFLEET COMMAND, EARTH

March 22, 2156


Admiral Black turned to his monitor next to which were blurred images of something against an asteroid.
“I’ll refine this.”
The images sharpened to become four grounded Romulan ships.
“You’ll see that they are Birds of Prey. Our long range sensor probe was lucky to capture this in time.”
“This means that they’re mobilising,” Gardner said heavily as if fearing something less.
“The ships were what we’ve encountered so far though it stands to reason that there would be others,” Black said.
“Unless the Romulan’s were as unprepared as we are,” Archer said. He tried to ignore Gardner’s reaction. Black with his strong goatee seemed intrigued. “Sir, what else…”
“The probe was destroyed,” Black interrupted, “the last image it recorded was a Romulan Bird of Prey up close. We have reason more than ever to assume that the Romulan’s will shortly commence action against the Coalition if not the foremost allies that of Andor and Vulcan.”
“Lying as they do they would be in the first path of attack,” murmured T’Pol. Despite her Starfleet-esque jumpsuit she was the only Vulcan present. Soval and Stonn had been turned away from what had become a top secret Starfleet meeting. “Does Starfleet have intelligence on a start?”
Black exchanged a look with Gardner. “None yet.”
If they had, they wouldn’t tell us, Archer thought. He caught T’Pol’s gentle arch of a brow. “I see.”
“Our latest estimates show that Enterprise will be ready soon for departure. A good two weeks now. When she is completed make for the borderlands. We need to find out soon what is going on.”
“I thought we had an idea.”
“Archer,” Gardner practically hissed, “you have your orders.”
“Then I’ll be on my ship,” Archer stood walking out with T’Pol.
“The new Enterprise will enable us to travel for longer without pause as well as an enhanced weapons system,” T’Pol reminded Archer. “We will have an advantage.”
“I didn’t intend on commanding a battleship,” was the stony reply.
“We must prepare for war in order to keep the peace.”
He stopped staring into her blue eyes then smiled a little. “That’s what they teach you on Vulcan?”
“Amongst other things.”
“Come on, we’ll be late.”

Same day, Qo’nos
Klingon Empire

Chancellor M’rek poured out his bloodwine for his guests with a smile.
“The Romulan admiral is a hot tempered man. How is he now?”
“Angrier,” responded M’rek’s chief of staff General Weng with his back to the setting sun. At the entrance to the large veranda balcony three guards stood impassively. “The longer you keep putting him off from a meeting the angrier he gets.”
“Perfect. And his communications?”
“Monitored,” said the other, head of Klingon intelligence, General K’ter. “We let them go through but admittedly they do take days to reach Romulus.”
“Anything of note?”
“Nothing that would flatter us,” K’ter said hefting his glass of bloodwine. He took a sniff. “2140?”
“2141.”
“Good vintage all the same.”
“Generals we must prepare ourselves for war but not one we’re involved in. I do not believe that joining either the Coalition or the Romulan’s would benefit the Empire. It would only if we could affect it from the sidelines.”
Weng nodded, “I see your meaning, Chancellor.”
“As do I, sir. Whom do we sabotage though?”
M’rek smirked, “I don’t believe I specified a side, General.”
Weng laughed and stood bowing slightly. “To the Chancellor.”
“No, for the Empire,” M’rek said.

……

Star Trek Enterprise Sixth Season continues in Episode 6.2 “A Girl Alone”

Enterprise Season Six: The Coming of the War

Previously: Enterprise Fifth Season

5.1. Far From Heaven
5.2 Relative
5.3 The Frontier
5.4 Patterns of Change
5.5 Dark Beginnings
5.6 The Empress, Part 1
5.7 The Empress, Part 2
5.8 Multiplications
5.9. Traces
5.10 Whispers
5.11 My Enemy, My Ally
5.12 On Starfleet’s Secret Service
5.13 The Drumbeat Slowly…

[Mackenzie Calhoun]

uh-oh, a new story.

---

STAR TREK ENTERPRISE 6x2

"A Girl Alone"

PROLOGUE/ March 24, 2156

Hoshi Sato woke feeling quite miserable.
For a long frightening moment she was quite disorientated. Then she recognised her new surroundings. Sluggishly she climbed out of bed thinking of what to do.
“The time is 0600hrs,” the computer whirred mechanically.
“I’m up, I’m up,” she said groggily. She went to have a shower then changed into her uniform. As she sat on the edge of her bunk she ran a hand across the new badge stitched onto her arms. YORKTOWN NX-03 around the edge with stars twinkling around a starship. “Why did I accept this posting?”
Because she owed Captain Archer a favour and like those who served under him she would do what he asked as she had great loyalty unto the captain. If it were not for him she likely still would be teaching and for all her fears concerning space she was out here doing something adventurous.
Sure, adventurous with war spoiling with someone whose face remained well hidden.
The bridge of the Yorktown was just like Enterprise albeit with two beams towards the middle of the bridge down which light throbbed in time with the beat of the ships mechanical heart. Yorktown had been launched with much of the improvements that should have been on the previous two but such was the very nature of the NX-class that they were done on the 03. Hoshi took her position without ceremony. It was her third day into what was meant to be a month-long assignment until the NX-01 was finally finished (the refit had now been delayed into April) and NX-03’s regular comms officer, Kathe Hoess was well.
“Good morning,” a voice said quietly. Hoshi looked up startled into the face of the flame-haired Lieutenant Carrie McKnight, ships tactical officer.
And Malcolm’s girlfriend.
Hoshi looked away pressing at her console, “Hey Carrie.”
“Coffee?” Carrie hefted a pitcher she held with a mug in the other hand emblazoned with the logo of the ship. “Fresh from chef.”
“Okay, thanks.”
“Still finding it alright on the ship?”
“Yes, it’s…different.”
“Can you imagine Kathe was allergic to Andorian lip cream?”
“What was it for?”
Carrie chuckled, “Like lip balm. Keep the lips moist on hot planets. I guess Kathe thought she was going to be posted to Vulcan soon.”
Hoshi managed a laugh as she pressed her antenna to her ear. The sounds of the galaxy played out and she went into her zone. Carrie appreciated this resting her mug quietly down. Hoshi was only faintly aware of the others on the bridge. Science officer Milt Hamilton, helmsman Tyler Drummond or even Captain Richard April who took the other mug from Carrie.
Hoshi began to regulate as she often did searching for something. The guttural sound she suddenly heard made her heart skip a beat as well as somehow drop.
“Sir, Klingon communications.”
“Can you understand what they’re saying?”
Hoshi turned to access her personalised Klingon algorithms on the database that she had downloaded from Enterprise.
“Something about the homeworld but it doesn’t sound important.”
“Keep on it just in case. What with the Romulan’s out this way we don’t want to get in a middle of something like that.”
“Understood, sir.”


--
CREW OF YORKTOWN NX-03

Captain Richard J. April
Commander Milt Hamilton (SciOff)
Lieutenant Carrie McKnight
Ensign Tyler Drummond
Doctor Fitz Kennedy (CMO)
Lieutenant Commander Edward Janeway (ChEng)
Ensign Hoshi Sato (secondment from NCC-01)

ROMULAN DELEGATION TO QO’NOS
Admiral Valdore (commander defence forces, Romulus)
Senator Vernak (Klingon expert)

QO’NOS
M’rek (Chancellor)
General Weng (Defence commander)
General K’ter (intelligence)

---

[Hellfighter]

Huh, Hoshi's been transferred? At least it'll be a month, unless the plot says so...

[Mackenzie Calhoun]

Yes, indeed. All...revealed...etc

At least you've broken up the steady stream of posts in this thread.

[Mackenzie Calhoun]

I/ Qo’nos, Klingon Homeworld

After a month (human month anyway) Admiral Valdore still hated Klingons. Actually, no, he loathed the very sight and smell of them. Confronted with as he was the chancellery for the third or so time since he had arrived on the home world he had no patience with them before him.
“We cannot guarantee anything like space stations in exchange for Klingon participation in the war. It is an unfair compromise.”
“Admiral, Senator, you both do not realise –nor do your people- the task you ask of us,” the deep baritone of Chancellor M’rek rumbled in the lightened chamber. “Joining the Romulan Empire in this war does not benefit us fully.”
“Than what will?” said Senator Vernak with careful patience. The attractive female senator from the Kathar region on Romulus stood a few feet in front of Valdore. The admiral himself hid himself partially in shadow. For too long they had been on this lump of rock and for nothing.
“The ceding of planets on our border to the Klingon Empire.”
“No,” Valdore said with a shake of his head, “no planetary concessions.”
“The border has long been in dispute, admiral. Now is our chance to settle the dispute.”
“Not likely,” Valdore said. “I am not in a position to help you like that chancellor. We can benefit each other by joining together against the humans.”
“And the Vulcan’s and Andorians and Tellarites,” M’rek waved a hand counting them off. “The entire coalition is up in arms.”
“Not quite,” Senator Vernak persisted. “You will find that by joining our alliance we can present a stronger front against them. The time to act is upon us.”
“I fail to see how it can benefit the Klingon Empire,” said the previously silent General Weng. The commander of the Klingon Defence Forces had his fingers hooked into his great belt containing a ceremonial dagger and disruptor. “Perhaps the Romulan Empire will allow us the secrets of the cloaking device. That would benefit us greatly.”
Valdore stepped forward literally cutting off Vernak. “We will see what we can do, General.”
“If you’ll join us,” Vernak added loudly.
They were seen out not that Valdore was happy still. Outside in their air conditioned car Vernak hissed at him like a venomous snake.
“You would consider the cloaking device, you of all people!?”
“I believe I said that whether or not we do is something else entirely,” Valdore then shook his head. “I won’t let the Klingon’s get their hands on the device and if the Praetor thinks we should I’ll fight to the end.”
“You’ve already been imprisoned on Remus.”
He stared at the dark haired senator, the so-called expert on Klingons that so far had not gotten them off this planet. Their absence was likely missed to some people back on Romulus. Not to many though, not those who mattered.
“We need to get off this planet one way or the other, Senator even if it means lying and fooling the Klingons. If it means promising something we have no way of giving such as the cloaking device then so be it.”
Vernak stayed silent until they reached their base at the Romulan building on the fringes of Qo’nos’ capital. The Romulan presence on the Klingon home-world had never been much and wouldn’t ever achieve the status that other aliens had. There had been distrust between the two empires for centuries enough to keep it that way.
Valdore sent his latest missive to Romulus not really confident that anyone would read it. It seemed D’deridrex had moved him out here for his own benefit. The trouble that had led to Valdore imprisoned on Remus –those cursed drones- had left an indelible mark on his reputation. Valdore looked over his last sentence.
“It is my belief that the Klingons will not join us no matter what we promise them and therefore I aim to return to Romulus no later than a month from now.”
He would make sure it was sooner by hook or by crook.

[Mackenzie Calhoun]

II/Yorktown NX-03

Captain’s Log: March 25, 2156

The time is being spent trying to find out what the Romulan’s might be up to. We’re holding position near where Earth freighters ply their trade en route into Andorian and Tellarite space. It is such a large one to cover that one ship isn’t really enough. We are supposed to have the Columbia out there but there has been no word from Erika Hernandez for a couple of days now. The Bassen Rift is likely affecting things as far as communications are concerned.

“I’ve got three ECS ships on scope,” Carrie was saying as she consulted her monitor. “Two bound for Andor, one for an outlying colony.”
“Tag the third one. Are they all travelling solo?”
“Just the third one sir. The other two are on a similar trajectory with a few cochranes between them.”
“Third one?”
“ECS Atlas Star.”
April glanced over at Hoshi. “Ensign, anything on communications?”
“Nothing from the freighters sir, there were some whispers of communication from somewhere else but I couldn’t pinpoint them. I might have to replay the tapes.”
“Do so, please. Do you know Romulan communication?”
“Some.”
Hoshi liked a challenge even if it was replaying tapes and trying to find out something of note. She took up her recordings from the past hour zeroing in on what she had heard. Boosting her amplifiers she leant over her console her hands manipulating her keyboards like a concert pianist. She had heard that Romulan distress signal months ago that had led the Enterprise into an asteroid field and almost resulted in the loss of Malcolm and T’Pol. Yes, she’d delve into her records…
Richard April watched his temporary communication officer then wandered over to Carrie. “I should give Archer a box of cigars for lending us Sato.”
“She’s a good officer, sir. A little impetuous but good.”
“You served with her before joining us properly?”
“Of course.”
“Odds of bumping into our green-ship friends.”
“Slim,” Carrie unfolded her arms staring intently at her CO. “We’ll bump into them, sir.”
“Let’s hope, not literally.”
Hoshi peered at her main monitor lining up the sound bars alongside the ones from the Romulan distress signal. She had had enough from the minefield incident two years ago yet it was not quite enough. The bars just about lined up so she went back to these whispers. If only she could get much more of a sample. She thought back to her teaching in Brazil and how she encouraged her students to look around the problem. So Hoshi fiddled with the sample to the point she could stretch it out. The bars changed and she played them back. The words that had been a whisper jumped in volume, the words also took on a standard language…
“Captain!” she called over April. “I might have something.” She turned off her headset and played from her speakers the small soundbyte she had. A voice rasped over static:
“It is my belief that the Klingons will not join us no matter what we promise them and therefore I aim to return to Romulus no later than a month from now.”
April raised his eyebrows. “That’s quite something, Hoshi, anymore?”
“No, sir. There was some more but even I can’t decrypt it. The message was a long-range one in that it must have started in Klingon space. Might explain where it’s being sent, Romulus.”
“If it’s top secret, as I’m assuming it is, why isn’t it being rerouted?”
“I guess the sender doesn’t care too much.”
“Good work Hoshi. Keep on monitoring,” April clicked his fingers. “Mr Drummond, set course for the trade routes where the Atlas Star is moving. When you have the course engage at warp 3.”
“Aye, aye sir,” Tyler Drummond brightened. At last, movement.
Hoshi felt a little relieved yet something wasn’t right. Once she figured it out she might actually feel better.

[Hellfighter]

Wonder if it's a trap?

[Mackenzie Calhoun]

Hellfighter, on 05 October 2011 - 04:57 PM, said:

Wonder if it's a trap?

only time and stiff drinks will tell