The Final Frontier 8

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Text File | 1995-02-23 | 14.7 KB | 393 lines

TF01 3,The Hunter - Part 2 4,by Stuart Mackaness The Vanguard Chronicles - "The Hunter" ---------------------------------------- by Stuart Mackaness --------------------- PART TWO The sleek lines of the Vanguard cut through space at at warp five. The streaking stars shot past her as she overtook their light. With a silent roar the stars slowed to their usual illuminated pin pricks and the Vanguard dropped to impulse speed. On the bridge, Commander Halk was receiving the latest report from Ops. "The Draken reports that the Crystallio is not in the Muhadra nebula and she is now expanding her search perameters to the neighbouring systems." Karma said. "Understood, relay message to Starfleet command." She replied. Karma sudenly peered at her readouts closely. "What the..?" She muttered. Halk stood up sharply from the command chair. "What's the problem Karma?" "Sir, the Draken reports that it's under attack!" Karma cried in disbelief. Halk snapped her head round to Hermandez who nodded. "Confirmed sir, the Draken is under attack." She replied. "Helm, lay in interception course with the Draken, warp nine." Halk barked. Dean at Conn immediatly began making the necesary computations. "Course laid in sir!" he announced. "Engage!" Halk replied with a snap of her hand in a forward direction. The Vanguard lept forward with a scream from the warp nacelles. The stars streched once again and she launched off into warp. Halk slapped her communicator."Commander Halk to Captain Warner." She called. "Warner here, why have we jumped to warp speed?" "The Draken's under attack, this could answer alot of our questions." Halk replied. "Understood, I'm on my way. Warner out." The channel closed. Halk returned her attention to the viewscreen. "Red alert!" She ordered. A wailing siren began, and red flashes pulsed down the bridge. Imediately a tension filled the bridge, Halk imagined she could touch it. It was like this on the last mission of the Marco Polo, a meeting with an unknown vessel. She only hoped that this mission was more successful than her last stint in the captain's chair. The turbolift doors parted and allowed Warner onto his bridge. Karma turned round to face the captain. "Sir," she reported, "I am detecting two vessels ahead. One is the Draken, but I do not seem to be able to identify the other craft." Warner acknowledged this with a nod and then moved over towards his seat at the centre of the bridge. "E.T.A. lieutenant?" He demanded. "At warp nine, four minutes." The young officer replied. "Step up to warp nine point two." Warner ordered. "Aye sir." He responded. The floor beneath him squealed as the ship reached it's top speed. An automated message from the computer confirmed this. "Warning, warp engines reaching maximum output. Automatic shut down in twelve minutes." Before Warner could worry about the engines, the starfield on the viewscreen slowed to it's familiar, stationary position. Set against the starry background, the Constellation class Draken lay adrift. Her hull pitted with fiery wounds. Circling her was a ship at least twice her size. That made it nearly as long as the Vanguard. Two wicked prongs jutted out from her underside, and a third prong which was projected out from the front was firing blasts of energy at the dying starship. "Target phasers and photons Lieutenant " Warner ordered. "What particular locations do you want me to target?" Hermandez asked, her hands tapping away at her station. "Do you know what areas are dedicated to weapons, defence and propulsion?" Warner asked dryly. "No sir." Hermandez admitted. "Then target and fire at your discretion." "Aye sir." Warning klaxons sounded, only to be drowned out by the hollow roar of a salvo of torpedoes ripping from their tubes. They exploded over the enemy vessels powerful shields. A second later several blasts from the ships phaser banks cut through space, the beams splaying across the protective screens as well. Hermandez consulted her tactical display. "Their shields are partially weakened on the port side. No apreciable damage to structure." "What's the condition of the Draken?" Halk demanded. Hermandez examined her readouts again. "Partial forward shields, sixty five percent damage to saucer, twenty nine percent damage to nacelles. They have lost primary power on all decks and their weapon systems are non functional, warp drive is non functional." "Life signs?" Warner snapped. "Negative, there are radiation and decompression readings on most decks, the bridge has been destroyed." she replied. Without the bridge, piloting the ship out of the area was now more difficult. Warner turned to face the view screen, the four hundred lost souls already weighing heavy on his mind. The Draken was still there... but the enemy ship was gone! "Where the blazes has it gone to?" Warner cursed. Halk turned to Ops. "Did it jump to warp or cloak?" she demanded. "Negative," Karma replied, "it swept past us and disappeared." "Disappeared?" Halk repeated skeptically. The ship shook violently, Halk lost her footing and fell to one knee. Warner slipped back into his chair, gripping the armrests as he did so. Hermandez cluched the upright tactical console for stability. "Report!" Warner cried. As he spoke, the agressor swung up from below the viewer. It then twisted and faced them, the weapon emitter glowing terribly. Hermandez coughed, embarassed at some undisclosed fact. "Aparently the ship was underneath us." she said quietly. Halk looked furious. "Underneath us!" "How the hell did they pull that one off, Tactical?" Warner demanded. "I don't know!" Hermandez cursed. "They're making another pass!" Dean called from conn. "Brace for impact!" Warner called. * * * The blast slammed into the ship sending her spinning. The shields continued to flicker with residual energy from the blast. A large gouge had appeared on the underside of the saucer section. A secondary blast erupted from the impulse drive, debris sent hurtling away from the stricken vessel. On board, medical was in a state of turmoil. Bio-beds were sent onto their side, flames began to rise from the shattered medical office. Several nurses and technicians were lying prone on the tilted deck. Acrid black smoke began filled the air, choking those who weren't already dead. Dr. Li Levitt pulled himself along the floor. He could see the partially buckled exit doors. Laying next to them was Nurse Migadun, her arm visibly broken. Across sickbay, Ensign Rav was struggling to his feet by using a viewport as leverage. Li knew Andorians were tough, but when the first explosion wrecked the surgery, he received part of the explosion full in the chest. Levitt presumed that Rav's chitenous body carapace probably saved him from mortal wounds, although his yellow tunic was stained red from a jagged piece of metal which had buried itself deep in his torso. Li already knew his left leg was broken, probably in two places. This was nothing more than a nuisance. He had taken more damage during two years in the Bajoran underground, than in his entire twelve year career in Starfleet. Not that he missed his wayward years on Bajor. He had taken more Cardassian lives than he saved Bajoran. He was a doctor there only in name, he was more at ease with a phaser than a tricorder. But that was years ago, he should concentrate on his present. Straining, and ignoring the pain from his leg, Li pulled himself further up the pitched deck. The exit was now only a few metres away. Nurse Migadun had passed out from the broken arm, bone was now visibly protruding from above her elbow. Without thinking, Levitt pulled out his tricorder. By a miracle it was still attached to his utility belt. He flipped it open with one hand and ran a scan over the unconscious nurse. Satisfied that she wasn't losing too much blood, Li resumed his crawl towards the exit. On the bridge it was a different story. Except for a small fire by turbolift two, there was no appreciable damage. Hermandez was at tactical, slightly unnerved by the awesome power displayed by the enemy ship. Warner was not impressed. "Mr. Hermandez, Kindly explain to them that firing on a Starfleet vessel is not acceptable." He said testily. "Aye sir." She replied. With a roar another four photon torpedoes were sent hurtling towards the ship. They exploded on it's phenomenal shields. An angry bleeping noise began to emit from Hermandez's console. "Damn!" She cursed. "Port launcher has overheated, and is now shutting down." Warner took this in, and then signalled to conn. "Take us away from here lieutenant." He ordered. "Sorry sir, that last hit took out the impulse engines." he aplogised. Warner didn't miss a beat. "Begin evasive manoeuvres with quad thrusters at full power. Plot a course out of the system at warp nine." Halk gave him a look. "I'm not running away without a fight Number one, but if our weapons aren't having any effect then I'm not about to sacrifice this ship and crew in a vain hope of doing something." "Of course sir!" she said quickly. If Warner saw through this, he didn't show it. He mearly gave a curt nod and then ordered tactical to fire the phasers and single working torpedo tube. Halk inwardly chastised herself, she was trying to make him seem as bad a Captain as she was. That wasn't true or fair, she only hoped she could make it up to him somehow. Putting these thoughts aside she focused on the image on the screen. The ship was making another pass. This time the explosion was far more distant. The bridge was completely undamaged. "Shield status!" Warner demanded. "Shields at twenty one percent." Hermandez replied instantly. "Is it enough to withstand another hit?" Halk asked quietly. She didn't want to worry the crew. Hermandez just gave a slow shake of her head. Warner's communicator chirped. He slapped it angrily. "Warner here." It was Gart, his Chief Engineer. "Captain we've got a coolant leak, but I think we can handle it. Will it get any rougher?" he inquired. "I'm afraid so Chief, I need more power to the shields can you rustle up any?" Warner asked. "Captain, the energiser's taken a direct hit, all primary systems have got to come off line now or she'll blow." the Tellarite protested. "All primary systems?" Warner repeated. That would mean he'd lose his shields altogether, along with phasers and warp drive. "I'm afraid so sir." Gart replied. "Okay Chief, do it now, but give me minimal power to the warp drive." Warner said after a few seconds. There was a slight pause. "I'll see what I can do." He muttered. Warner smiled slightly. "Thanks Chief, you're the best." "Don't I know it sir." The Tellarite grumbled. "Gart out." "Enemy vessel preparing to fire!" Warned Hermandez. Warner got to his feet. "Helm, lay in course heading two, one, zero mark eight." If the blast hit, chances were that the Vanguard wouldn't be able to return fire. It would be the end of them all. An Andromeda class starship suddenly dropped out of warp ahead of them. The blast struck it squarely on the port nacelle. The nacelle shuddered and then blew apart. Explosion after explosion ripped along the hull. The Andromeda groaned and writhed under the punishment and then was sent spiraling away. A trail of fiery plasm marking it's path. The hunter sat there for a moment, not quite understanding how it's prey had escaped destruction. Why had this other beast saved it. Were they mates? A relative perhaps. Whatever the case, the odds were now against it. Two more of the creatures were aproaching and its prey looked as though it was going to attack again. It would be a good idea to think of a new strategy for the next time they met. Streching out like a rubber band, the ship shot away. "Enemy vessel has left battle zone." Hermandez said needlessly. Halk watched the Andromeda spin away. "Status of Captain Cherery's ship?" She demanded. Karma examined her sensor readouts. "The secondary hull has been ruptured on all decks, plasma fires are now spreading to the saucer section." Halk tapped her communicator. "Transporter rooms one and two, begin beaming survivors from the Andromeda." Halk realised that Warner was muttering something under his breath. "Sir?" she inquired. Warner was still coming to terms with the Vanguard's latest escapade. "Commander," he said slowly, "have you any idea how close that was?" Halk looked at Hermandez. "Lieutenant." She prompted. "One thousend four hundred metres between us and the blast when the Andromeda appeared." She said immediately. "No!" Said Warner desperatly. "I mean, we should be dead." A dark look came over Halk. "I've been in closer." Warner knew there was some hidden meaning in this but decided he hadn't time to sort out Lyrinda's problems. Why was it that when Counselor Reboxski was needed most she was attending a conferance at the Hernashy colony. He examined the report which Yeoman Lasaari handed him. He had to make a move. On the viewer, a faint line of plasma was still noticable in the distance. The Andromeda was now adrift. "What's her condition?" Warner demanded. "Plasma fires are spreading to remaining nacelle." Hermandez replied. As if on cue the Andromeda blew apart, the anti-matter annihilating the vessel. Except for the odd fragment of debris, nothing remained. Warner watched the reflection of the explosion on the gloss surfaces on the bridge. "What a waste." He murmered. "Did we get them all off?" Halk asked. "Negative, there were still twenty six life signs aboard when she blew." Hermandez replied. "Damn." Warner cursed. "Begin repair work, I want to get back on the trail while it's still fresh. The crew began hurring to various stations. "Meeting at 1400 hours please people." He ordered. "Lieutenant, send a copy of the full damage report to my quaters." Then, running his fingers through his long greying hair, he left the bridge. Dean waited until Warner had gone and then turned round to face Halk. "Commander, what's up with the Captain?" Halk looked at Dean, smiled briefly, and then began ordering the damage report. Taking this as her subtle way of showing her loyalty, Dean swivelled back round and concentrated on his own job. * * * The Hunter moved forwards, a new target in sight. It had taken a flesh wound from the fight and was eager to prove to itself that it could still best an opponent.