Posted: 2003-10-14 12:33pm
Chapter 11: Parting Shots
“If this were played upon a stage now, I could condemn it as an improbable fiction.”
Twelfth Night
Act 3, Scene iv
The Enterprise soared past a Dreadnought on fire, her hull blackened and split open in several places by heavy fire. She was slowly spinning off her axis into a dive out of the main plane of engagement. A swarm of Republic fighters flashed by the proud starship trading blaster fire and waves of proton torpedoes trailing bright blue contrails as they closed with the starship or passed by it, proximity fuses detonating with bright orange blossoms of light and fire.
The Enterprise’s droid fighter escort was severely depleted in the furious combat that was swirling around the Republic and Separatist fleet. The remaining droid fighters remained close to the Sovereign class starship, in many instances racing to take a hit from concentrated Republic fire to protect the starship, or firing in rapid bursts to intercept any incoming proton torpedoes that were coming too close to the Enterprise.
As the Enterprise cleared the dying Republic dreadnought it fired a spread of quantum torpedoes. A squadron of Republic Z-95 Headhunters flying close escort for a squadron of Y-Wings were caught in the rapidly expanding blast of the quantum torpedoes. Most of the fighters were consumed in the blast, a small number spun out of the blast radius, trailing glittering debris, missing a wing or simply tumbling madly out of control into the side of a capital ship. The Enterprise followed through with quick slashing phaser strikes at the Y-Wings trying to make an attack run on the heart of the Separatist fleet. Some of the Y-Wings managed to withstand the withering phaser strikes, their shields flaring up brightly against the assault but several were destroyed, one of their large engine struts coming apart or the cockpit section spun away from the main body.
The starship dove sharply and spun on her axis as Republic counter fire splashed around the space where she had been mere moments ago.
The battle was a furious brawl between the titanic capital ships of the Republic and Separatist fleet. Jedi Master Naz’s bold strikes to flank the Separatist fleet and directly attack the wormhole were blunted by the surgically precise counterstrokes of Sev’Rance Tan. It seemed that the Separatists had ships precisely in the right place at the right time to meet the Republic advances.
Captain Picard shook his head as sparks flared up on a council behind him to his left. Sev’Rance sat in the seat to his right, Riker to his left. Sev’Rance’s hands were in constant motion on the command pads at the armrests of her seat.
“I commend you and your Starfleet, Captain. The ergonomics of these controls is fascinating. I’ve been able to command the fleet with exceeding ease from this ship.” Sev’Rance noted with a soft smile.
“I’ll let Starfleet know as soon as we get out of this.” Picard replied with a bemused grin.
The bridge shuddered hard as turbolaser cross fire exploded nearby in an exchange between a Banking Guild Bulk cruiser and a Republic assault frigate.
“IF we get through this.” Riker noted with some concern. The scale of firepower out there was amazing.
“Captain, forward shield strength is down to 43%.” Data warned.
“Increase regenerative shield rate.” Picard ordered. “How soon can we expect reinforcements?” He asked Sev'Rance.
“Not for another 30 minutes at least. The Republic was very thorough when they planned this attack. They waited until the bulk of our fleet was repositioning and deployed elsewhere when they made this attack. I think that Captain Sisko’s Deep Space Nine will be needed on this side of the wormhole as soon as possible to provide a true defense for the wormhole.”
“Aren’t we getting ahead of ourselves?” Riker interjected.
Counselor Troi paused as she felt a spike of anger from the cold blue skinned woman.
“Nevertheless Captain, we won’t need the reinforcements.” Sev’Rance replied with a sly smile.
“Oh?” Picard wondered.
“This battle is nearly over and we have won.”
“How can you be sure?” Picard pressed.
Sev’Rance looked over at the screen and watched for a moment as the Republic assault frigate trading fire with the Banking Guild Bulk cruiser was suddenly overwhelmed by the combined fire of several Separatists heavy ships that had managed to flank and surround the assault frigate.
It exploded into a ball of fire, debris and wreckage spinning out from the epicenter of the blast.
“Because I can feel it, Captain. The tide is turning and I’m about to finish this battle.” She replied with a cold satisfaction as she entered a string of orders into her tactical pads in a flurry of precise motion.
“The tide is turning. We need to think of retreat.” Naz stated gravely to Yuess Fane. The Bothan’s eyes twitched for a moment.
“Are you sure? The losses we’re inflicting on the Separatists is mounting.” Fane pointed out.
Naz nodded.
“And ours are mounting as well. I had not counted on a protracted fleet engagement. This attack was meant as a quick strike and fade operation. The sole goal of this operation was collapsing the wormhole, not engaging a Separatist fleet.”
“Nevertheless, battle is joined and we’re tearing their wings apart.”
“Their center holds and will not break, Fane. And more importantly, our men are faltering in their hearts. Morale is flagging.”
“Not on MY fleet it’s not.” Fane spat.
Naz smiled softly. He placed a hand on his Bothan friend’s shoulder.
“Yuess, this is not a slight against you or your fleet. They were not expecting this, no one was. The casualties are mounting and many of the ship captains are starting to realize that we are not going to break through to the wormhole. Sev’Rance, she’s a sly one indeed. She can sense the turning of the tide as I do. She is already gathering for another counter attack.”
“Master Naz, strategic scans indicate a sizable Separatist relief fleet inbound. ETA: 27 minutes.” A tactical officer called out from his station.
“And so comes the final stroke. I warned you this was the greatest danger for the plan. The longer we stay here the longer we will be over whelmed.” Naz replied with a bitter frown. Fane looked into the Jedi master’s white within white eyes.
“I should have been more forceful, gotten the Fortieth tactical fleet or the First Correllian Expeditionary force.” Fane lamented.
“Not your fault, Yuess. Now we need to regroup and prepare for a fighting retreat.” Naz counseled softly.
“Is there any choice?” Fane asked his old friend already knowing the answer. Naz was renown for his tenacity in battle. He and Fane had fought in too many campaigns for the Bothan to delude himself as to Naz’s intentions and beliefs.
“No, Yuess. This needs to end now. Sev’Rance will do her damndest now to try and pin us down. If she can trap us here when the Separatist fleet arrives they will cut us to pieces.” Naz replied.
Fane nodded reluctantly.
“Alert all commands. Prepare for a fighting withdrawal. I want the center to hold position and begin withdrawing the wings.” Naz ordered.
“Aye sir.”
“It looks like they’re retreating.” Riker noted with some surprise.
“I am reading general withdrawal of all of their wings.” Data added.
“It looks as if we don’t need those reinforcements as you predicted.” Picard noted as he watched the Republic forces begin their orderly retreat, each wing slowly pulling away from the tangle of warships, simultaneously providing covering for fire for the next wing of ships.
“Our job is not complete yet Captain. We need to keep the pressure on. If we can pin them down this surprise attack can turn into a Republic defeat that will reverberate through this sector.” Sev’Rance Tan replied stonily.
“We’re lucky enough to have fought them off. The prudent thing to do is to disengage and allow them to retreat.” Riker suggested.
Sev’Rance paused and glanced sharply at Riker.
“Talk like that will not win us victory Mr. Riker. We need leaders with vision and daring. In case you have not noticed, this possible alliance hung on a thread this day and if not for the vision of your Captain you would have been stranded in this galaxy for the rest of your lives.”
Riker glared angrily at the beautiful blue skinned woman, his eyes boring into her glowing crimson ones.
“She’s right, Will. We have to push our advantage to the limit. Would you let a Dominion task force get away that easy?” Picard asked gently.
“I just think we are putting this ship at an unacceptable risk sir. I don’t need to remind you that the Enterprise was here on a fact finding mission not combat operations.”
“We’ll discuss this later, Number One.”
Sev’Rance ignore the exchange and eagerly typed in new orders for her nearest ships. The Republic could not be allowed to escape. This would be a pretty prize to bring back to her master in addition to the Federation entourage.
On screen the Banking Guild bulk cruiser that had been engaging the Republic assault frigate was under heavy fire from a retreating heavy cruiser, her port side was on fire and the Guild Bulk cruiser would not relent.
“She needs to pull back.” Picard noted with growing concern as more fires began sprouting along her hull.
“She’s trying to hold back the Republic cruiser until more support ships come in.” Sev’Rance replied coolly as she directed more ships to slash into the retreating wings. Jedi Master Naz was not going to get away that easy from her.
Picard frowned as he watch the bulk cruiser’s forward portions battered by the Republic cruisers turbolasers. He glanced down at his tactical display and saw that any nearby Separatist ships were too far away.
“She needs help. Number One, bring us in on an oblique angle, one alpha strike on the shield portion being hit by the Bulk Cruiser. Maybe we can help bring down that shield.”
“And provide a tempting target for their gunners?” Riker added with a smirk.
“I wouldn’t have put it in quite those terms, Number One, but the idea is to get some pressure off that ship.”
“That is a Republic heavy cruiser, Monarch class, she could tear this ship apart.” Sev’Rance warned eyeing Picard.
Picard returned the gaze with a bemused smile.
“Then the key here, Sev’Rance is not to get hit.” He turned to Riker. “Engage.”
“Aye sir. Mr. Data?”
“Coming in on oblique approach, all weapons on standby for alpha strike.”
The Enterprise leapt forward like an eager wolfhound and raced towards the two cruisers locked in a death struggle. The Republic heavy cruiser loomed on the view screen, her gun arrays spitting out a steady stream of green turbolaser fire. Riker watched the awesome display of fire power, knowing full well that just one of those broadsides could reduce the Enterprise to her component atoms if they weren’t careful.
Data’s hands moved along the helm controls without hesitation in a near blur as he guided the starship through the storm of enemy fire blossoming around them. His eyes did not leave the view screen while the heavy cruiser grew larger, taking up nearly half of the screen.
“Weapons standing by.” Hawk reported calmly as his hands hovered over the weapons controls.
“Closer…” Picard urged and the Enterprise shuddered as if in response to his words.
“We’re taking fire.”
“Captain, this maneuver could be too dangerous, I suggest we do not get any closer.” Sev’Rance warned quietly so only Picard could hear.
Picard did not take his eyes off the screen.
“Duly noted but weren’t you the one that admonished us on being more daring and visionary?” Picard replied dryly.
Sev’Rance shook her head in chagrin.
The Enterprise shook harder and several warning alarms beeped loudly for attention. On screen the heavy cruiser now filled the screen and they could make out the individual gun batteries firing their terrible payloads. Green turbolaser fire cris-crossed the screen etching bright bursts of exploding plasma in the star field around them. Red turbolaser fire was streaming in from the starboard side in a rain of fire that was erupting on the surface of the cruiser’s shields, creating a cascade of light from the strained shield grid as it valiantly tried to vent out the massive energy surges.
“Mr. Hawk, try to match our alpha strike to the bulk cruiser’s barrages, let’s see if we can’t bring down this shield.”
“Aye sir.” Hawk replied enthusiastically.
Riker grit his teeth as the Enterprise shook violently under their feet and a console exploded to his left, sending a crewman spilling backward screaming in pain. The cruiser finally noticed the Enterprise had drawn dangerously close to them and several batteries turned their attention to the Enterprise.
“Now.”
“All weapons firing.”
The Enterprise fired a devastating volley of fire, the quantum torpedo turret swung into action and spat out five torpedoes in the span of a heartbeat as heavy phaser arrays glowed brilliantly and fired several steady phaser bursts that danced along the cruiser’s shield like mad dervishes.
The torpedoes exploded in a plume of fire and plasma as the Enterprise spun on her axis and danced between turbolaser bolts. As she snapped past in a flash of white and ivory, rear mounted phaser slashed into action as the forward arrays switched off. Rear mounted launchers released another volley of torpedoes.
The shield flashed brightly like a lightning storm at night. A volley of red turbolaser bolts slipped past the overloaded shield and struck the hull.
“Shield momentarily overloaded, Captain.”
“Excellent work, Mr. Hawk. Mr. Data full evasive, keep us in their weapons range and prepare for another pass.”
“Captain, daring is one thing, foolhardy is another. I urge you to withdraw.” Sev’Rance exclaimed as the starship came around in a sharp turn just as two turbolaser bolts flashed by, less than half a kilometer from the hull.
“Sev’Rance, if a Federation starship cannot even keep your Republic enemies occupied or support an attack on a capital ship of what use is the Alliance then and would it be worth our while to join if we are so sorely overmatched?” Picard asked without looking at her as he examined his tactical display.
“Number One, set next quantum spread at pattern Sierra. Mr. Data, bring us in low and fast, break into pattern Gamma once we are within 500 meters.”
“500 meters?!” Sev’Rance spat and her hand gripped Picard’s shoulder like a claw. “You do not need to prove anything to anyone Picard.”
Picard glanced at her for a moment. He turned back to Data as another volley of turbolaser fire exploded around them.
“Engage.”
“Acknowledged.”
Sev’Rance stared at Picard, aghast at his actions. Could it be that she had read him wrongly? Was there some odd death wish at work here that she had overseen?
The Republic cruiser was not so trusting of its invulnerability this time and many of her batteries turned to swat the annoying starship away. A veritable cloud of heavy flak fire burst in a myriad shapes and colors around the starship.
Sev'Rance noticed right away that the volume of fire against the Banking Guild bulk cruiser had lessened dramatically. The Enterprise had done her job. Now there was only one problem – surviving this attack run.
“Captain, we have Republic fighters coming in at 67 mark 22.” Data warned.
“Continue your attack. Number One?”
“Already on it.” Riker replied. Counselor Troi watched him intently as he entered a string of command codes. Sev’Rance had granted Will command of the droid fighters escorting the Enterprise. Now Riker was bringing the last of the squadrons around to face the new threat.
He frowned slightly as the tactical display showed the last of the small dots escorting the Enterprise peeled away in a tight formation and moved to intercept the Republic threat fighters.
“We’re down an escort.” Riker muttered to Picard.
“We’re almost out of this Will.”
The Enterprise banked hard to port to avoid another blast of turbolasers and then unleashed a volley from her forward armaments. The Banking guild cruiser, wise to Picard’s tactics now, timed his own volleys to lend maximum effect to Picard’s alpha strike.
The already heavily strained shield grid simply failed under the assault and as the tight bubble of energy simply dropped around that portion of the Republic cruiser, the Enterprise’s rear mounted weapons unleashed a barrage against the open hull. Deftly avoiding the heavily armored portions, Hawk guided the phasers to dance along the open weapons ports and the torpedoes to detonate in tight clusters around exposed conduits, sensor grids and turbolaser emplacements.
Sev’Rance checked the damage and could not help but smile.
“I must commend you and your crew Captain. The Monarch class heavy cruisers are the pride of the Republic fleet. You have just help lay one low.”
“This is not quiet over yet.” Picard replied as the Enterprise suddenly lurched forward, fire alarms tripped simultaneously.
“We took a hit on the port side aft.” Data began to report when there were a few hammer like blows that seemed to drive the starship down and forward. The screen broke into a moment of static snow and when it cleared up three fighters zoomed over head and began a tight banking turn.
“Three fighters managed to slip by our fighter screen.”
“They’re coming around for another pass.” Hawk snapped as he watched the two Z-95 headhunters and a damaged Nubian fighter swinging around.
“Aft Shields are down to 12%. Port side nacelle is showing plasma leaks and I’m getting fluctuations from the warp field.”
“Engineering to Bridge.”
“Go Geordie.” Picard replied as he quickly assessed his situation.
“Captain I have to take the port nacelle off line or we’ll start venting plasma and damage our manifolds.”
“I need every erg of power I can get right now, Geordie.” Picard replied as he nodded to Riker.
“Data, full evasive, lose those fighters. Mr. Hawk, I want you to clear my sky.” Riker ordered.
“On it sir!” Hawk replied and quickly recharged the phasers. The Enterprise began to spiral away from the fighters, keeping her stronger starboard and forward shields facing the eager fighters. Her port nacelle was flickering madly, like bugs zipping into an electric field.
“Captain, I don’t have much of a choice, if the venting plasma gets into the manifold we’re liable to lose the whole nacelle or worse.” Geordie urged.
Picard sighed softly.
“Do it Geordie, but try to find me power from somewhere and try to coax more out of the regenerative shield rate.”
“Aye sir.” Geordie replied. Picard could hear the dismay in Geordie’s voice. Picard was asking for much. The Sovereign was already a power hungry beast, taking a nacelle off line was going to put the power reserves into a nosedive and Picard was asking for more power.
“Controls are sluggish Captain. I suspect some damage between here and the ODN relays.” Data noted as he tried valiantly to steer the underpowered starship out of the zone of engagement.
“Its going to be near impossible to keep those fighters off our tails.” Riker noted.
Picard watched the Monarch class cruiser, damaged and on fire slowly pulling away from the fight, the Banking Guild cruiser not relenting in her storm of fire.
“I have an idea. Mr. Data, take us in, all available power to the engines, take the torpedoes off line and shunt life support from the shuttle bays and other areas with no personnel.”
“The torpedoes sir?!” Hawk replied incredulously.
“The torpedoes aren’t going to help us much against the fighters at this range, Mr. Hawk. I’m trusting to your gunnery skills and Mr. Data’s piloting skills to get us out of this.”
“Aye sir. I won’t let you down.”
Sev’Rance watched the exchange silently, noting Picard’s calm under fire demeanor, Riker’s quiet efficiency and the bridge crew’s loyalty to their captain. No one had shown a single shred of fear or anger at their commander for putting them into this position. They were doing their jobs without faltering.
She was particularly interested in Data. He was slowly proving to be the answer that her master sought in regards to their troop problem. He had shown an amazing versatility and judgment skills that surpassed those of any battle droid yet produced by the Geonoshians and the Trade Federation.
Her eyes fell on Councilor Troi who was watching her with a hooded expression. As soon as she noted the attention the beautiful betazoid turned away quickly and focused on her station.
Sev’Rance’s eyes narrowed on the empath.
Others would have to be dealt with and soon. A slip of anger or emotion and she may be betrayed.
Troi did not know that at that very moment, she had been marked for death.
“Where?” Riker asked amazed.
“Right down her port axis, Data. All possible speed, let’s see if we can’t get some of their friendly fire to help dissuade pursuit.” Picard answered.
“Aye sir.” Data replied without hesitation.
“Try and keep her steady, Mr. Data. I need to draw some beads here.” Hawk added.
“I will try but I cannot guarantee that I will not engage in some extreme maneuvers to evade fire.” he replied evenly.
“Yeah, Ok Data.” Hawk replied with a smirk.
Data blinked for a moment and shrugged as he began his evasive maneuvers right down the port axis of the Republic cruiser.
Hawk worked the phaser controls and peppered the area behind the Enterprise with phaser fire. The Republic fighters bobbed and weaved between the crimson phaser blasts as they closed on their wounded prey.
“We have to withdraw.” Naz urged.
“The 7th wing is still tangled up with the damned Separatists. “Freedom’s Spear” is under heavy attack from that alien ship and a few Separatists support ships. What do you expect me to do?” Fane asked sharply.
Naz girded himself for the reaction.
“We withdraw, leave the 7th wing behind.”
Fane stared expressionless at the obsidian skinned Jedi master. Nothing was said for a few heart beats then Fane exploded.
“What in the name of the Republic are you saying?! That we leave the 7th wing behind?! you say that with such ease Naz.” Fane hissed.
“Calm yourself, anger will gain you nothing save cloud your judgment.” Naz counseled quietly.
“No, anger will allow me to say this to you without regret or hesitation. You advise me to leave the 7th wing behind as if you were telling me to leave behind a handful of fighters or a dying wreck of a ship. We’re talking about 20 ships, their fighters and thousands of lives Naz.” Fane replied, voice dripping with contempt and anger, his facial fur bristled.
“I’m talking about 100’s of ships and tens of thousands of lives Fane.” Naz replied evenly.
The Bothan glared at the calm Jedi master.
“You make that order. I will not.” Fane spat and turned his back on Fane.
“Yuess…” Naz gently reached out to touch his friend’s shoulder.
Fane pulled his shoulder away from the Jedi master.
“You have to realize that if we stay and fight the Separatist fleet will surround us, trap us and destroy us. The Republic would lose an entire battle fleet as opposed to a single attack wing. Surely you can see the military necessity.”
“One wonders, Jedi master Corvuss Naz whether you would make that order if there were Jedi among the attack wing.” Fane replied darkly.
Naz was dumbstruck.
“You know I would.” Naz replied after a moment of disbelief and shock.
“I served in the 7th wing when I was but a youth. I still have friends there.”
“And I do not?” Naz snapped.
“Sirs. Separatists task force will emerge from hyperspace in 5 minutes.”
Both men stared at each other for a long moment as the battle continued to rage around them, every second of their silence countless men and women were dying in the void beyond.
“Alert all commands.” Naz began and his voice was husky with emotion, his eyes never leaving Fane’s. “Begin making the calculations for the jump to lightspeed.”
The command staff exchanged troubled glances.
“Sir,. the 4th attack wing requests permission to lead a counter attack to free the 7th wing.” the tactical officer said quietly, watching the Jedi master intently.
Fane said nothing but crossed his arms deliberately. He would not make this any easier for Naz. Naz was the overall field commander, in the end it was his fleet, his commission by the Republic, but Naz would be the one to give the order to leave the 7th wing behind.
“Navigation, time for the 4th attack wing to initiate counter assault?” Naz asked already knowing the answer.
“Three minutes.”
“They cannot free the 7th wing in two minutes of battle. I will not risk losing the 4th wing as well. Sev’Rance Tan is just waiting for us to pounce.” Naz replied.
“Give…the…order.” Fane said quietly and grimly.
Naz stared at the Bothan and found no sympathy or help in his eyes. He gathered his cloak around him and strode down to the navigation station.
“Alert all commands. We retreat now.”
“Aye sir.” the tactical officer replied flatly.
He felt the surge of anger among the bridge crew, and as the order disseminated among the fleet he could feel the outrage and anger spreading like a storm.
“Get us out of here now.” Naz ordered tightly.
“You heard the Jedi master.” Fane added and politely stepped off the bridge. Naz walked over to one of the bridge windows and placed a hand on the armored glass, watching the 7th wing, swarmed by Separatist ships now slowly pulling away as the fleet pulled back. The wing fought on, turbolaser bolts still flashing out brightly in the dark void until, as the fleet pulled further and further back accelerating to make the jump to lightspeed, all that could be seen of the 7th wing was the flashing green bolts of their defiant courage.
“A bold stroke indeed”, Naz lamented softly to himself.
Naz bowed his head as the fleet jumped to lightspeed.
“It is over.” Sev’Rance announced.
Picard watched as the last of the Republic ships finally surrendered. The attack wing had fought valiantly, chewing up the Separatist forces that tried to overwhelm them. It was only when the Separatists relief forces arrived that the Republic forces finally relented when they saw that there was little else they could do.
“I’m glad to see that your forces have not taken to learning the lessons of other rebel groups and take out your frustrations and anger on the government forces you fight against.” Picard noted with relief. He was afraid that as the Republic forces fought on harder that the Separatists would become frustrated and not accept the inevitable surrender that was to come.
He had to admit that he had his doubts at first. Sev’Rance was very aggressive and merciless in combat but now she was proving that not only was she an implacable warrior but also a humane victor. His estimation of the Separatists had risen dramatically.
“Make sure that every Republic soldier is accounted for and given a field ration and any medical assistance we can spare. Once they have been secured prepare them for processing on the Anvil.”
“The Anvil?” Troi asked.
“Yes, it is the penal colony we have set up in a secret location in the Rim. There the Republic prisoners are held until the conflict is over.”
“I assume similar arrangements have been made for Separatist prisoners?” Riker asked.
“We occasionally hear rumors, some good some horrifying of what the Republic does to our own. Our prefer to believe that they are as human as we are.” Sev’Rance replied.
“Sir, we’re receiving a hail from the fleet commander.”
“Put it on screen.”
The Neimodian, Numus Dalas was smiling broadly as he appeared on the screen.
“Sev’Rance a wondrous victory! And Captain Picard, my fleet captains which to pass on their praise of your actions, particularly Captain Husar of the Assessor.”
“The Assessor?” Picard asked.
“The Banking guild Bulk Cruiser you assisted in bringing down the Monarch class cruiser. In a one on one, a Republic Monarch class would easily defeat a bulk cruiser but you helped tipped the odds in his favor. He is most appreciative.”
“I was merely doing what I could to help.”
“And if the rest of your Federation does as well as you, I have no doubts that we will soon embrace victory.” Dalas said his odd accent lending an almost comical tone to the praise as he clasped his hands together in joy.
“Let’s not count our chickens.” Riker added.
The look on Dalas’ face was priceless.
“We were lucky no clone troopers or Jedi were on board any of these ships or things could have ended far bloodier.” Dalas added.
“Why is that?” Picard asked.
“Clonetroopers are fanatics, Captain. They fight to the death. Much like our own Mandalorians, they never surrender. And the Jedi…well they are an entirely different animal. Not so much mindless fanatic as unstoppable killing machine. I’ve seen Jedi knights empty out entire droid carriers holding off boarding actions. Put the two together and that is a vicious combination.” Sev’Rance replied darkly.
An aide stepped into view and whispered something into Dalas’ ear.
“Uh, Sev’Rance. Count Dooku is requesting the Enterprise’s presence at the Capital immediately.”
“Of course. Inform him that we are coming.” Sev’Rance replied. She turned to Picard and gently touched his forearm. Her eyes gazed into his. “And now Jean Luc, we shall step into a whole new world.”
Picard regarded her for a moment, her crimson glowing eyes looked into his eagerly.
“I suppose that we will.” He replied.
The sound of construction was loud on the promenade, at some points culminating in ear aching shrieks as metal was wrenched from places or plasma cutters sliced through armor. Many people walking the promenade would be forced to cover their ears for a moment as the sounds would pass like wounded predators howling in the night.
For a Ferengi, there were no romantic notions of what the sounds were like.
“This is MADDENING.” Quark shouted over the roar of something being wrenched apart.
Odo nodded slightly, taking note of the Ferengi’s discomfort.
“You’re lucky that Captain Sisko managed to talk the engineers to work on the more massive projects now and not during the night cycle.”
“Does it matter?” Quark replied bitterly as he tried unsuccessfully to block out the sounds with two wadded up cotton balls.
“What do you mean?” Odo asked curiously.
“I’m a Ferengi, Odo, you would have thought that after all these years you would have realized that. Night shift, day shift, this noise reverberates through the hull and it sounds like they’re hammering right in my bedroom.” Quark snapped.
“As usual you exaggerate.” Odo snorted.
“And look at what it’s done to my bar.” Quark continued his tirade. Odo glanced around at the mostly empty bar.
“Some of your regulars are here.” Odo noted. Morn sat several stools down from them staring into his drink. Worf and General Martok were seated at a table to their right deep in a discussion.
“Great, some blood wine, prune juice and a black hole. I can just hear my profits going up, up, up.” Quark sneered. A new cacophony of cutting metal and shrieking steel filled the air and Quark grunted in pain.
“I’m sure that’s not all you’re hearing Quark. By the way have you given any thought to the state of your profits when the Separatists begin passing through here?”
“What are you talking about? All I’ve seen are their droids, which they seem to have plenty of…” Quark glanced over Odo’s shoulder as a trio walked into the bar. “And them.” He indicated the three new comers. Each wore the distinctive battle armor of the Mandalorian super commandoes, they carried their helmets snugly under their arms. They had been stationed on Deep Space Nine to help provide security while the upgrades were completed.
Odo was not particularly pleased with their presence on the station. He took it as an affront to his own competence that they did not trust him with guarding the station from threats to its security. They trusted him when the Klingon threat had loomed, and the Dominion war was about to break out but now this was too much?
He was meaning to speak frankly to Sisko about it.
The Mandalorians were not loud and boisterous like the Klingons, nor emotionless killers like the Jem’Hadar but there was something different about them. They walked like specters of death, they were comfortable with it and that was obvious in the way they carried themselves, the way they spoke, death was around them and like angels of death they frightened those around them.
So even though their leader laughed and smiled, there was a darkness there that unnerved most others.
Mostly.
Odo glanced over at the Klingons.
Martok and Worf were eyeing the Mandalorians with barely concealed interest. Odo had noticed that the Klingons were drawn to the Mandalorians much like moths to a flame. The Mandalorians did not return the favor. They tended to stick to themselves.
“Well?”
“Well what?”
“Aren’t you going to serve them? Paying customers seem so hard to find these days.” There was a hiss of plasma that sounded as if a giant snake were loose in the bar quickly accompanied by the tear of something else and the bar shook as if a giant foot had stepped overhead.
Odo knew that Chief O’Brien was in heaven at this very moment. The Separatist workers, supplemented by the Federation corps of engineers and a veritable army of droids were basically rebuilding the station from the ground up.
Odo had seen some of the weapon arrays being installed from the upper observation deck and he was impressed. The size of the batteries was an indication as to what sort of firepower the station would soon be able to bring to bear. But the one change that was soon to go underway was the one that had O’Brien most excited, something about the installation of a hypermatter reactor.
What was hypermatter and why it had the Chief so excited was beyond Odo. Sometimes the action of solids could still be so confusing for him.
“You know what they’re going to order, Odo? Water. Antaran Water if they feel adventurous but water and some simple salads.”
“Reasonable diet for warriors, no?”
“Klingons don’t eat like that.”
“They don’t strike me as being cut from the same cloth.”
“What does Garak have to do with this?” Quark replied confused.
“Sorry?” Odo was bewildered by the sudden shift in gears.
“Oh, you’re using Humon idioms now, eh?” Quark noted with some distaste. He shook his head and clucked his tongue as he nodded to a waitress who walked over to the Mandalorians.
“Take it from me, Odo. Humon culture, particularly Federation humon culture is insidious. Don’t let yourself get sucked in or you’ll end up like my brother Rom.”
“Happy and married with a bright future ahead of him?” Odo replied without missing a beat.
Quark waved Odo’s words away like pesky flies. “You mark my words. This whole Separatist Galactic civil war business is something we’re going to regret.”
“Oh?”
Quark picked up a datapad and walked back behind his bar during a moment of relative quiet.
“The lobes know. This whole alliance thing feels wrong somehow, like things aren’t supposed to be this way.”
“I suppose you would have preferred having the station fall into Dominion hands.” Odo replied sardonically.
“As weird as that sounds, Odo, that just feels right to me.”
Odo shook his head.
“You are incorrigible.”
“What I am is a business man and war is bad for business. This is a galactic war, a war we have no right being involved in.” Quark replied. For once, Odo could not disagree.
Back at the table in the corner Martok and Worf watched the Mandalorians as they seated themselves. Even the casual motion of sitting seemed like an intricate dance, they moved with a supple caution that spoke of intimate experiences with danger and death.
“Not one of them sits with his back to the door. I noticed this the second time I saw them seated here.” Worf noted as he rolled the cup of prune juice between his hands. Martok nodded gruffly.
“They are warriors, of that there is no doubt. Captain Sisko has been told that they are the most dangerous warriors in this new galaxy.”
Worf said nothing as he watched them interacting with the waitress.
“But there is one thing we do not know about them Worf.”
“What is that?”
Martok leaned in close and clasped Worf’s forearm in a tight grip.
“We do not know if they have honor.”
Worf looked into the general’s only eye.
“There would be one way to know and that is to talk with them.”
Martok sat back as if stung.
“You have lived among these humans too long, Worf. One does not speak of honor. Honor is in the acts, in the very breath of a warrior. These Mandalorians do not strike me as honorable warriors. They seem more like lovers of death.” Martok eyed them for a moment and grunted. “And it does not help that they seem to be human in every respect.”
“Captain Sisko is human.” Worf noted. He had reflexively defended his human friends from Martok’s knee jerk reaction to the race. Worf had lived among them long enough to know that the old Klingon prejudices simply did not hold water.
“Precisely. Captain Sisko’s honor is worn on his heart like a badge. One can see his honor these Mandalorians however walk among us like ghosts. Besides Worf, how honorable can one be when you go into combat wearing battle armor that makes you into a walking tank? I have not seen a blade among them.” Martok noted derisively.
“What do you intend to do about it?” Worf asked.
Martok nodded to himself slowly. He took a large drink of his blood wine.
“Honor is seen in actions Worf and I intend to read their actions and their honor.”
Worf said nothing but would not be surprised if Martok simply walked up to one of them and initiated combat. Luckily, Captain Sisko seemed to have anticipated this possibility and ordered all Klingons on the station to treat the Separatists with respect and that included the Mandalorians.
“And of the treaty? What has Gowron said?”
Martok looked back at Worf blinking for a moment at the sudden change in conversation. Worf was subtly trying to change the subject. Now was not the time, he could feel it. They would gain nothing from challenging the Mandalorians.
“Gowron is opposed to entering into a treaty with these Separatists at this time. He feels we do not know enough about them to commit the empire to a war of this scale.”
“Eventually the Empire will have to make a decision. We cannot simply stand by the wayside while the Federation engages in glorious combat in another galaxy against insurmountable odds.” Worf said wistfully.
“We?” Martok noted with a hint of bemusement.
“I meant you and the Empire of course.” Worf quickly corrected himself.
Martok nodded and chuckled.
“We may yet make steal you away from your precious Federation my friend.” Martok laughed and slapped Worf on the shoulder. “Now…about these Mandalorians.” Martok turned his eye back on the silent warriors sitting at the table drinking water and watching the crowd with a detached interest of a butcher to his carcass.
Worf sighed softly.
“Are you well, Senator?” Bastion asked softly as he watched the beautiful young senator seated across from him in the small dining room in her Nubian transport.
“Yes, I’m just not hungry.”
“Still blaming yourself for what happened back on Camlan?” Bastion asked knowing the answer already. Her dedication to the peace movement had never faltered but Bail Organna had quickly vaulted to the fore as the leader of the movement. Bail was not afraid to publicly criticize the Supreme Chancellor. Amidala was constrained by the fact that Palpatine was from Naboo, and very popular back home.
“I know what you’re going to say Bastion.” she replied looking up at the young Jedi with golden hair, his blue eyes shown like pieces of sapphire in the light of the ship.
“Really? I was going to ask you if you were going to eat that?” Bastion replied pointing to a piece of fruit at the edge of her plate.
Padme stopped short for a moment and looked down at her plate and started to laugh softly.
“That’s the spirit, my lady. You are far too beautiful to be frowning like that.” Bastion replied with a smile of his own, his teeth shown brightly like pearls. He nodded to her and she acquiesced as he took the fruit.
“Every time people ask me why they call you the laughing Jedi I repeat the things you say so casually. Frankly Bastion you are the happiest person I have ever met.”
“You think I’m funny? You haven’t seen my impression of Master Yoda.” Bastion said with a wry wink.
“Is that even allowed you rogue?” she replied with a playful slap of his shoulder.
“I am a Jedi Knight, milady and I can do as I please as long as I live the ideals of the order.”
She shook her head ruefully. Some days the only bright light during these dark days were her hours spent with Bastion. She had never seen him angry, sad, upset. He was always smiling, always laughing, even in battle.
Her thoughts briefly flickered to Anakin. He rarely laughed anymore.
“You miss him don’t you?” he asked.
She stared at him for a moment, eyes narrowed on the Adonis like Jedi.
“No…no, milady, I was not peaking, it’s just very obvious on your face. You and Anakin are very close friends, most everyone knows that. You’ve known him since he was a child. So did I by the way and I don’t know how you put up with him.”
“He is a good man.” she protested.
“Of that there is no doubt.” he replied with a laugh. He leaned forward and whispered to her in a conspiratorial tone. “I swear by the Force milady, he has made brooding into an art form.”
“He had much on his mind.” she stopped herself. It was Bastion’s way to make fun and she was acting like an over protective woman.
“I just don’t know mila---“
“Bastion, you’ve known me long enough to call me Padme.”
“Very well, Padme.” Bastion replied inclining his head towards her. “You don’t have to defend him so vigorously Padme.” he began. Padme took a sip from her drink watching the young Jedi. “It’s not like you’re married or anything silly like that.”
She choked on her drink and coughed loudly as she tried to clear her throat. Bastion leaned forward with concern.
“Are you alright?” he asked suddenly concerned and leaned forward.
“Yes…” she managed to choke out.
Bastion shook his head smiling and rose from the table.
“I’ll go check the navigational controls, we should be at Coruscant within the hour.”
She nodded still coughing.
“If this were played upon a stage now, I could condemn it as an improbable fiction.”
Twelfth Night
Act 3, Scene iv
The Enterprise soared past a Dreadnought on fire, her hull blackened and split open in several places by heavy fire. She was slowly spinning off her axis into a dive out of the main plane of engagement. A swarm of Republic fighters flashed by the proud starship trading blaster fire and waves of proton torpedoes trailing bright blue contrails as they closed with the starship or passed by it, proximity fuses detonating with bright orange blossoms of light and fire.
The Enterprise’s droid fighter escort was severely depleted in the furious combat that was swirling around the Republic and Separatist fleet. The remaining droid fighters remained close to the Sovereign class starship, in many instances racing to take a hit from concentrated Republic fire to protect the starship, or firing in rapid bursts to intercept any incoming proton torpedoes that were coming too close to the Enterprise.
As the Enterprise cleared the dying Republic dreadnought it fired a spread of quantum torpedoes. A squadron of Republic Z-95 Headhunters flying close escort for a squadron of Y-Wings were caught in the rapidly expanding blast of the quantum torpedoes. Most of the fighters were consumed in the blast, a small number spun out of the blast radius, trailing glittering debris, missing a wing or simply tumbling madly out of control into the side of a capital ship. The Enterprise followed through with quick slashing phaser strikes at the Y-Wings trying to make an attack run on the heart of the Separatist fleet. Some of the Y-Wings managed to withstand the withering phaser strikes, their shields flaring up brightly against the assault but several were destroyed, one of their large engine struts coming apart or the cockpit section spun away from the main body.
The starship dove sharply and spun on her axis as Republic counter fire splashed around the space where she had been mere moments ago.
The battle was a furious brawl between the titanic capital ships of the Republic and Separatist fleet. Jedi Master Naz’s bold strikes to flank the Separatist fleet and directly attack the wormhole were blunted by the surgically precise counterstrokes of Sev’Rance Tan. It seemed that the Separatists had ships precisely in the right place at the right time to meet the Republic advances.
Captain Picard shook his head as sparks flared up on a council behind him to his left. Sev’Rance sat in the seat to his right, Riker to his left. Sev’Rance’s hands were in constant motion on the command pads at the armrests of her seat.
“I commend you and your Starfleet, Captain. The ergonomics of these controls is fascinating. I’ve been able to command the fleet with exceeding ease from this ship.” Sev’Rance noted with a soft smile.
“I’ll let Starfleet know as soon as we get out of this.” Picard replied with a bemused grin.
The bridge shuddered hard as turbolaser cross fire exploded nearby in an exchange between a Banking Guild Bulk cruiser and a Republic assault frigate.
“IF we get through this.” Riker noted with some concern. The scale of firepower out there was amazing.
“Captain, forward shield strength is down to 43%.” Data warned.
“Increase regenerative shield rate.” Picard ordered. “How soon can we expect reinforcements?” He asked Sev'Rance.
“Not for another 30 minutes at least. The Republic was very thorough when they planned this attack. They waited until the bulk of our fleet was repositioning and deployed elsewhere when they made this attack. I think that Captain Sisko’s Deep Space Nine will be needed on this side of the wormhole as soon as possible to provide a true defense for the wormhole.”
“Aren’t we getting ahead of ourselves?” Riker interjected.
Counselor Troi paused as she felt a spike of anger from the cold blue skinned woman.
“Nevertheless Captain, we won’t need the reinforcements.” Sev’Rance replied with a sly smile.
“Oh?” Picard wondered.
“This battle is nearly over and we have won.”
“How can you be sure?” Picard pressed.
Sev’Rance looked over at the screen and watched for a moment as the Republic assault frigate trading fire with the Banking Guild Bulk cruiser was suddenly overwhelmed by the combined fire of several Separatists heavy ships that had managed to flank and surround the assault frigate.
It exploded into a ball of fire, debris and wreckage spinning out from the epicenter of the blast.
“Because I can feel it, Captain. The tide is turning and I’m about to finish this battle.” She replied with a cold satisfaction as she entered a string of orders into her tactical pads in a flurry of precise motion.
“The tide is turning. We need to think of retreat.” Naz stated gravely to Yuess Fane. The Bothan’s eyes twitched for a moment.
“Are you sure? The losses we’re inflicting on the Separatists is mounting.” Fane pointed out.
Naz nodded.
“And ours are mounting as well. I had not counted on a protracted fleet engagement. This attack was meant as a quick strike and fade operation. The sole goal of this operation was collapsing the wormhole, not engaging a Separatist fleet.”
“Nevertheless, battle is joined and we’re tearing their wings apart.”
“Their center holds and will not break, Fane. And more importantly, our men are faltering in their hearts. Morale is flagging.”
“Not on MY fleet it’s not.” Fane spat.
Naz smiled softly. He placed a hand on his Bothan friend’s shoulder.
“Yuess, this is not a slight against you or your fleet. They were not expecting this, no one was. The casualties are mounting and many of the ship captains are starting to realize that we are not going to break through to the wormhole. Sev’Rance, she’s a sly one indeed. She can sense the turning of the tide as I do. She is already gathering for another counter attack.”
“Master Naz, strategic scans indicate a sizable Separatist relief fleet inbound. ETA: 27 minutes.” A tactical officer called out from his station.
“And so comes the final stroke. I warned you this was the greatest danger for the plan. The longer we stay here the longer we will be over whelmed.” Naz replied with a bitter frown. Fane looked into the Jedi master’s white within white eyes.
“I should have been more forceful, gotten the Fortieth tactical fleet or the First Correllian Expeditionary force.” Fane lamented.
“Not your fault, Yuess. Now we need to regroup and prepare for a fighting retreat.” Naz counseled softly.
“Is there any choice?” Fane asked his old friend already knowing the answer. Naz was renown for his tenacity in battle. He and Fane had fought in too many campaigns for the Bothan to delude himself as to Naz’s intentions and beliefs.
“No, Yuess. This needs to end now. Sev’Rance will do her damndest now to try and pin us down. If she can trap us here when the Separatist fleet arrives they will cut us to pieces.” Naz replied.
Fane nodded reluctantly.
“Alert all commands. Prepare for a fighting withdrawal. I want the center to hold position and begin withdrawing the wings.” Naz ordered.
“Aye sir.”
“It looks like they’re retreating.” Riker noted with some surprise.
“I am reading general withdrawal of all of their wings.” Data added.
“It looks as if we don’t need those reinforcements as you predicted.” Picard noted as he watched the Republic forces begin their orderly retreat, each wing slowly pulling away from the tangle of warships, simultaneously providing covering for fire for the next wing of ships.
“Our job is not complete yet Captain. We need to keep the pressure on. If we can pin them down this surprise attack can turn into a Republic defeat that will reverberate through this sector.” Sev’Rance Tan replied stonily.
“We’re lucky enough to have fought them off. The prudent thing to do is to disengage and allow them to retreat.” Riker suggested.
Sev’Rance paused and glanced sharply at Riker.
“Talk like that will not win us victory Mr. Riker. We need leaders with vision and daring. In case you have not noticed, this possible alliance hung on a thread this day and if not for the vision of your Captain you would have been stranded in this galaxy for the rest of your lives.”
Riker glared angrily at the beautiful blue skinned woman, his eyes boring into her glowing crimson ones.
“She’s right, Will. We have to push our advantage to the limit. Would you let a Dominion task force get away that easy?” Picard asked gently.
“I just think we are putting this ship at an unacceptable risk sir. I don’t need to remind you that the Enterprise was here on a fact finding mission not combat operations.”
“We’ll discuss this later, Number One.”
Sev’Rance ignore the exchange and eagerly typed in new orders for her nearest ships. The Republic could not be allowed to escape. This would be a pretty prize to bring back to her master in addition to the Federation entourage.
On screen the Banking Guild bulk cruiser that had been engaging the Republic assault frigate was under heavy fire from a retreating heavy cruiser, her port side was on fire and the Guild Bulk cruiser would not relent.
“She needs to pull back.” Picard noted with growing concern as more fires began sprouting along her hull.
“She’s trying to hold back the Republic cruiser until more support ships come in.” Sev’Rance replied coolly as she directed more ships to slash into the retreating wings. Jedi Master Naz was not going to get away that easy from her.
Picard frowned as he watch the bulk cruiser’s forward portions battered by the Republic cruisers turbolasers. He glanced down at his tactical display and saw that any nearby Separatist ships were too far away.
“She needs help. Number One, bring us in on an oblique angle, one alpha strike on the shield portion being hit by the Bulk Cruiser. Maybe we can help bring down that shield.”
“And provide a tempting target for their gunners?” Riker added with a smirk.
“I wouldn’t have put it in quite those terms, Number One, but the idea is to get some pressure off that ship.”
“That is a Republic heavy cruiser, Monarch class, she could tear this ship apart.” Sev’Rance warned eyeing Picard.
Picard returned the gaze with a bemused smile.
“Then the key here, Sev’Rance is not to get hit.” He turned to Riker. “Engage.”
“Aye sir. Mr. Data?”
“Coming in on oblique approach, all weapons on standby for alpha strike.”
The Enterprise leapt forward like an eager wolfhound and raced towards the two cruisers locked in a death struggle. The Republic heavy cruiser loomed on the view screen, her gun arrays spitting out a steady stream of green turbolaser fire. Riker watched the awesome display of fire power, knowing full well that just one of those broadsides could reduce the Enterprise to her component atoms if they weren’t careful.
Data’s hands moved along the helm controls without hesitation in a near blur as he guided the starship through the storm of enemy fire blossoming around them. His eyes did not leave the view screen while the heavy cruiser grew larger, taking up nearly half of the screen.
“Weapons standing by.” Hawk reported calmly as his hands hovered over the weapons controls.
“Closer…” Picard urged and the Enterprise shuddered as if in response to his words.
“We’re taking fire.”
“Captain, this maneuver could be too dangerous, I suggest we do not get any closer.” Sev’Rance warned quietly so only Picard could hear.
Picard did not take his eyes off the screen.
“Duly noted but weren’t you the one that admonished us on being more daring and visionary?” Picard replied dryly.
Sev’Rance shook her head in chagrin.
The Enterprise shook harder and several warning alarms beeped loudly for attention. On screen the heavy cruiser now filled the screen and they could make out the individual gun batteries firing their terrible payloads. Green turbolaser fire cris-crossed the screen etching bright bursts of exploding plasma in the star field around them. Red turbolaser fire was streaming in from the starboard side in a rain of fire that was erupting on the surface of the cruiser’s shields, creating a cascade of light from the strained shield grid as it valiantly tried to vent out the massive energy surges.
“Mr. Hawk, try to match our alpha strike to the bulk cruiser’s barrages, let’s see if we can’t bring down this shield.”
“Aye sir.” Hawk replied enthusiastically.
Riker grit his teeth as the Enterprise shook violently under their feet and a console exploded to his left, sending a crewman spilling backward screaming in pain. The cruiser finally noticed the Enterprise had drawn dangerously close to them and several batteries turned their attention to the Enterprise.
“Now.”
“All weapons firing.”
The Enterprise fired a devastating volley of fire, the quantum torpedo turret swung into action and spat out five torpedoes in the span of a heartbeat as heavy phaser arrays glowed brilliantly and fired several steady phaser bursts that danced along the cruiser’s shield like mad dervishes.
The torpedoes exploded in a plume of fire and plasma as the Enterprise spun on her axis and danced between turbolaser bolts. As she snapped past in a flash of white and ivory, rear mounted phaser slashed into action as the forward arrays switched off. Rear mounted launchers released another volley of torpedoes.
The shield flashed brightly like a lightning storm at night. A volley of red turbolaser bolts slipped past the overloaded shield and struck the hull.
“Shield momentarily overloaded, Captain.”
“Excellent work, Mr. Hawk. Mr. Data full evasive, keep us in their weapons range and prepare for another pass.”
“Captain, daring is one thing, foolhardy is another. I urge you to withdraw.” Sev’Rance exclaimed as the starship came around in a sharp turn just as two turbolaser bolts flashed by, less than half a kilometer from the hull.
“Sev’Rance, if a Federation starship cannot even keep your Republic enemies occupied or support an attack on a capital ship of what use is the Alliance then and would it be worth our while to join if we are so sorely overmatched?” Picard asked without looking at her as he examined his tactical display.
“Number One, set next quantum spread at pattern Sierra. Mr. Data, bring us in low and fast, break into pattern Gamma once we are within 500 meters.”
“500 meters?!” Sev’Rance spat and her hand gripped Picard’s shoulder like a claw. “You do not need to prove anything to anyone Picard.”
Picard glanced at her for a moment. He turned back to Data as another volley of turbolaser fire exploded around them.
“Engage.”
“Acknowledged.”
Sev’Rance stared at Picard, aghast at his actions. Could it be that she had read him wrongly? Was there some odd death wish at work here that she had overseen?
The Republic cruiser was not so trusting of its invulnerability this time and many of her batteries turned to swat the annoying starship away. A veritable cloud of heavy flak fire burst in a myriad shapes and colors around the starship.
Sev'Rance noticed right away that the volume of fire against the Banking Guild bulk cruiser had lessened dramatically. The Enterprise had done her job. Now there was only one problem – surviving this attack run.
“Captain, we have Republic fighters coming in at 67 mark 22.” Data warned.
“Continue your attack. Number One?”
“Already on it.” Riker replied. Counselor Troi watched him intently as he entered a string of command codes. Sev’Rance had granted Will command of the droid fighters escorting the Enterprise. Now Riker was bringing the last of the squadrons around to face the new threat.
He frowned slightly as the tactical display showed the last of the small dots escorting the Enterprise peeled away in a tight formation and moved to intercept the Republic threat fighters.
“We’re down an escort.” Riker muttered to Picard.
“We’re almost out of this Will.”
The Enterprise banked hard to port to avoid another blast of turbolasers and then unleashed a volley from her forward armaments. The Banking guild cruiser, wise to Picard’s tactics now, timed his own volleys to lend maximum effect to Picard’s alpha strike.
The already heavily strained shield grid simply failed under the assault and as the tight bubble of energy simply dropped around that portion of the Republic cruiser, the Enterprise’s rear mounted weapons unleashed a barrage against the open hull. Deftly avoiding the heavily armored portions, Hawk guided the phasers to dance along the open weapons ports and the torpedoes to detonate in tight clusters around exposed conduits, sensor grids and turbolaser emplacements.
Sev’Rance checked the damage and could not help but smile.
“I must commend you and your crew Captain. The Monarch class heavy cruisers are the pride of the Republic fleet. You have just help lay one low.”
“This is not quiet over yet.” Picard replied as the Enterprise suddenly lurched forward, fire alarms tripped simultaneously.
“We took a hit on the port side aft.” Data began to report when there were a few hammer like blows that seemed to drive the starship down and forward. The screen broke into a moment of static snow and when it cleared up three fighters zoomed over head and began a tight banking turn.
“Three fighters managed to slip by our fighter screen.”
“They’re coming around for another pass.” Hawk snapped as he watched the two Z-95 headhunters and a damaged Nubian fighter swinging around.
“Aft Shields are down to 12%. Port side nacelle is showing plasma leaks and I’m getting fluctuations from the warp field.”
“Engineering to Bridge.”
“Go Geordie.” Picard replied as he quickly assessed his situation.
“Captain I have to take the port nacelle off line or we’ll start venting plasma and damage our manifolds.”
“I need every erg of power I can get right now, Geordie.” Picard replied as he nodded to Riker.
“Data, full evasive, lose those fighters. Mr. Hawk, I want you to clear my sky.” Riker ordered.
“On it sir!” Hawk replied and quickly recharged the phasers. The Enterprise began to spiral away from the fighters, keeping her stronger starboard and forward shields facing the eager fighters. Her port nacelle was flickering madly, like bugs zipping into an electric field.
“Captain, I don’t have much of a choice, if the venting plasma gets into the manifold we’re liable to lose the whole nacelle or worse.” Geordie urged.
Picard sighed softly.
“Do it Geordie, but try to find me power from somewhere and try to coax more out of the regenerative shield rate.”
“Aye sir.” Geordie replied. Picard could hear the dismay in Geordie’s voice. Picard was asking for much. The Sovereign was already a power hungry beast, taking a nacelle off line was going to put the power reserves into a nosedive and Picard was asking for more power.
“Controls are sluggish Captain. I suspect some damage between here and the ODN relays.” Data noted as he tried valiantly to steer the underpowered starship out of the zone of engagement.
“Its going to be near impossible to keep those fighters off our tails.” Riker noted.
Picard watched the Monarch class cruiser, damaged and on fire slowly pulling away from the fight, the Banking Guild cruiser not relenting in her storm of fire.
“I have an idea. Mr. Data, take us in, all available power to the engines, take the torpedoes off line and shunt life support from the shuttle bays and other areas with no personnel.”
“The torpedoes sir?!” Hawk replied incredulously.
“The torpedoes aren’t going to help us much against the fighters at this range, Mr. Hawk. I’m trusting to your gunnery skills and Mr. Data’s piloting skills to get us out of this.”
“Aye sir. I won’t let you down.”
Sev’Rance watched the exchange silently, noting Picard’s calm under fire demeanor, Riker’s quiet efficiency and the bridge crew’s loyalty to their captain. No one had shown a single shred of fear or anger at their commander for putting them into this position. They were doing their jobs without faltering.
She was particularly interested in Data. He was slowly proving to be the answer that her master sought in regards to their troop problem. He had shown an amazing versatility and judgment skills that surpassed those of any battle droid yet produced by the Geonoshians and the Trade Federation.
Her eyes fell on Councilor Troi who was watching her with a hooded expression. As soon as she noted the attention the beautiful betazoid turned away quickly and focused on her station.
Sev’Rance’s eyes narrowed on the empath.
Others would have to be dealt with and soon. A slip of anger or emotion and she may be betrayed.
Troi did not know that at that very moment, she had been marked for death.
“Where?” Riker asked amazed.
“Right down her port axis, Data. All possible speed, let’s see if we can’t get some of their friendly fire to help dissuade pursuit.” Picard answered.
“Aye sir.” Data replied without hesitation.
“Try and keep her steady, Mr. Data. I need to draw some beads here.” Hawk added.
“I will try but I cannot guarantee that I will not engage in some extreme maneuvers to evade fire.” he replied evenly.
“Yeah, Ok Data.” Hawk replied with a smirk.
Data blinked for a moment and shrugged as he began his evasive maneuvers right down the port axis of the Republic cruiser.
Hawk worked the phaser controls and peppered the area behind the Enterprise with phaser fire. The Republic fighters bobbed and weaved between the crimson phaser blasts as they closed on their wounded prey.
“We have to withdraw.” Naz urged.
“The 7th wing is still tangled up with the damned Separatists. “Freedom’s Spear” is under heavy attack from that alien ship and a few Separatists support ships. What do you expect me to do?” Fane asked sharply.
Naz girded himself for the reaction.
“We withdraw, leave the 7th wing behind.”
Fane stared expressionless at the obsidian skinned Jedi master. Nothing was said for a few heart beats then Fane exploded.
“What in the name of the Republic are you saying?! That we leave the 7th wing behind?! you say that with such ease Naz.” Fane hissed.
“Calm yourself, anger will gain you nothing save cloud your judgment.” Naz counseled quietly.
“No, anger will allow me to say this to you without regret or hesitation. You advise me to leave the 7th wing behind as if you were telling me to leave behind a handful of fighters or a dying wreck of a ship. We’re talking about 20 ships, their fighters and thousands of lives Naz.” Fane replied, voice dripping with contempt and anger, his facial fur bristled.
“I’m talking about 100’s of ships and tens of thousands of lives Fane.” Naz replied evenly.
The Bothan glared at the calm Jedi master.
“You make that order. I will not.” Fane spat and turned his back on Fane.
“Yuess…” Naz gently reached out to touch his friend’s shoulder.
Fane pulled his shoulder away from the Jedi master.
“You have to realize that if we stay and fight the Separatist fleet will surround us, trap us and destroy us. The Republic would lose an entire battle fleet as opposed to a single attack wing. Surely you can see the military necessity.”
“One wonders, Jedi master Corvuss Naz whether you would make that order if there were Jedi among the attack wing.” Fane replied darkly.
Naz was dumbstruck.
“You know I would.” Naz replied after a moment of disbelief and shock.
“I served in the 7th wing when I was but a youth. I still have friends there.”
“And I do not?” Naz snapped.
“Sirs. Separatists task force will emerge from hyperspace in 5 minutes.”
Both men stared at each other for a long moment as the battle continued to rage around them, every second of their silence countless men and women were dying in the void beyond.
“Alert all commands.” Naz began and his voice was husky with emotion, his eyes never leaving Fane’s. “Begin making the calculations for the jump to lightspeed.”
The command staff exchanged troubled glances.
“Sir,. the 4th attack wing requests permission to lead a counter attack to free the 7th wing.” the tactical officer said quietly, watching the Jedi master intently.
Fane said nothing but crossed his arms deliberately. He would not make this any easier for Naz. Naz was the overall field commander, in the end it was his fleet, his commission by the Republic, but Naz would be the one to give the order to leave the 7th wing behind.
“Navigation, time for the 4th attack wing to initiate counter assault?” Naz asked already knowing the answer.
“Three minutes.”
“They cannot free the 7th wing in two minutes of battle. I will not risk losing the 4th wing as well. Sev’Rance Tan is just waiting for us to pounce.” Naz replied.
“Give…the…order.” Fane said quietly and grimly.
Naz stared at the Bothan and found no sympathy or help in his eyes. He gathered his cloak around him and strode down to the navigation station.
“Alert all commands. We retreat now.”
“Aye sir.” the tactical officer replied flatly.
He felt the surge of anger among the bridge crew, and as the order disseminated among the fleet he could feel the outrage and anger spreading like a storm.
“Get us out of here now.” Naz ordered tightly.
“You heard the Jedi master.” Fane added and politely stepped off the bridge. Naz walked over to one of the bridge windows and placed a hand on the armored glass, watching the 7th wing, swarmed by Separatist ships now slowly pulling away as the fleet pulled back. The wing fought on, turbolaser bolts still flashing out brightly in the dark void until, as the fleet pulled further and further back accelerating to make the jump to lightspeed, all that could be seen of the 7th wing was the flashing green bolts of their defiant courage.
“A bold stroke indeed”, Naz lamented softly to himself.
Naz bowed his head as the fleet jumped to lightspeed.
“It is over.” Sev’Rance announced.
Picard watched as the last of the Republic ships finally surrendered. The attack wing had fought valiantly, chewing up the Separatist forces that tried to overwhelm them. It was only when the Separatists relief forces arrived that the Republic forces finally relented when they saw that there was little else they could do.
“I’m glad to see that your forces have not taken to learning the lessons of other rebel groups and take out your frustrations and anger on the government forces you fight against.” Picard noted with relief. He was afraid that as the Republic forces fought on harder that the Separatists would become frustrated and not accept the inevitable surrender that was to come.
He had to admit that he had his doubts at first. Sev’Rance was very aggressive and merciless in combat but now she was proving that not only was she an implacable warrior but also a humane victor. His estimation of the Separatists had risen dramatically.
“Make sure that every Republic soldier is accounted for and given a field ration and any medical assistance we can spare. Once they have been secured prepare them for processing on the Anvil.”
“The Anvil?” Troi asked.
“Yes, it is the penal colony we have set up in a secret location in the Rim. There the Republic prisoners are held until the conflict is over.”
“I assume similar arrangements have been made for Separatist prisoners?” Riker asked.
“We occasionally hear rumors, some good some horrifying of what the Republic does to our own. Our prefer to believe that they are as human as we are.” Sev’Rance replied.
“Sir, we’re receiving a hail from the fleet commander.”
“Put it on screen.”
The Neimodian, Numus Dalas was smiling broadly as he appeared on the screen.
“Sev’Rance a wondrous victory! And Captain Picard, my fleet captains which to pass on their praise of your actions, particularly Captain Husar of the Assessor.”
“The Assessor?” Picard asked.
“The Banking guild Bulk Cruiser you assisted in bringing down the Monarch class cruiser. In a one on one, a Republic Monarch class would easily defeat a bulk cruiser but you helped tipped the odds in his favor. He is most appreciative.”
“I was merely doing what I could to help.”
“And if the rest of your Federation does as well as you, I have no doubts that we will soon embrace victory.” Dalas said his odd accent lending an almost comical tone to the praise as he clasped his hands together in joy.
“Let’s not count our chickens.” Riker added.
The look on Dalas’ face was priceless.
“We were lucky no clone troopers or Jedi were on board any of these ships or things could have ended far bloodier.” Dalas added.
“Why is that?” Picard asked.
“Clonetroopers are fanatics, Captain. They fight to the death. Much like our own Mandalorians, they never surrender. And the Jedi…well they are an entirely different animal. Not so much mindless fanatic as unstoppable killing machine. I’ve seen Jedi knights empty out entire droid carriers holding off boarding actions. Put the two together and that is a vicious combination.” Sev’Rance replied darkly.
An aide stepped into view and whispered something into Dalas’ ear.
“Uh, Sev’Rance. Count Dooku is requesting the Enterprise’s presence at the Capital immediately.”
“Of course. Inform him that we are coming.” Sev’Rance replied. She turned to Picard and gently touched his forearm. Her eyes gazed into his. “And now Jean Luc, we shall step into a whole new world.”
Picard regarded her for a moment, her crimson glowing eyes looked into his eagerly.
“I suppose that we will.” He replied.
The sound of construction was loud on the promenade, at some points culminating in ear aching shrieks as metal was wrenched from places or plasma cutters sliced through armor. Many people walking the promenade would be forced to cover their ears for a moment as the sounds would pass like wounded predators howling in the night.
For a Ferengi, there were no romantic notions of what the sounds were like.
“This is MADDENING.” Quark shouted over the roar of something being wrenched apart.
Odo nodded slightly, taking note of the Ferengi’s discomfort.
“You’re lucky that Captain Sisko managed to talk the engineers to work on the more massive projects now and not during the night cycle.”
“Does it matter?” Quark replied bitterly as he tried unsuccessfully to block out the sounds with two wadded up cotton balls.
“What do you mean?” Odo asked curiously.
“I’m a Ferengi, Odo, you would have thought that after all these years you would have realized that. Night shift, day shift, this noise reverberates through the hull and it sounds like they’re hammering right in my bedroom.” Quark snapped.
“As usual you exaggerate.” Odo snorted.
“And look at what it’s done to my bar.” Quark continued his tirade. Odo glanced around at the mostly empty bar.
“Some of your regulars are here.” Odo noted. Morn sat several stools down from them staring into his drink. Worf and General Martok were seated at a table to their right deep in a discussion.
“Great, some blood wine, prune juice and a black hole. I can just hear my profits going up, up, up.” Quark sneered. A new cacophony of cutting metal and shrieking steel filled the air and Quark grunted in pain.
“I’m sure that’s not all you’re hearing Quark. By the way have you given any thought to the state of your profits when the Separatists begin passing through here?”
“What are you talking about? All I’ve seen are their droids, which they seem to have plenty of…” Quark glanced over Odo’s shoulder as a trio walked into the bar. “And them.” He indicated the three new comers. Each wore the distinctive battle armor of the Mandalorian super commandoes, they carried their helmets snugly under their arms. They had been stationed on Deep Space Nine to help provide security while the upgrades were completed.
Odo was not particularly pleased with their presence on the station. He took it as an affront to his own competence that they did not trust him with guarding the station from threats to its security. They trusted him when the Klingon threat had loomed, and the Dominion war was about to break out but now this was too much?
He was meaning to speak frankly to Sisko about it.
The Mandalorians were not loud and boisterous like the Klingons, nor emotionless killers like the Jem’Hadar but there was something different about them. They walked like specters of death, they were comfortable with it and that was obvious in the way they carried themselves, the way they spoke, death was around them and like angels of death they frightened those around them.
So even though their leader laughed and smiled, there was a darkness there that unnerved most others.
Mostly.
Odo glanced over at the Klingons.
Martok and Worf were eyeing the Mandalorians with barely concealed interest. Odo had noticed that the Klingons were drawn to the Mandalorians much like moths to a flame. The Mandalorians did not return the favor. They tended to stick to themselves.
“Well?”
“Well what?”
“Aren’t you going to serve them? Paying customers seem so hard to find these days.” There was a hiss of plasma that sounded as if a giant snake were loose in the bar quickly accompanied by the tear of something else and the bar shook as if a giant foot had stepped overhead.
Odo knew that Chief O’Brien was in heaven at this very moment. The Separatist workers, supplemented by the Federation corps of engineers and a veritable army of droids were basically rebuilding the station from the ground up.
Odo had seen some of the weapon arrays being installed from the upper observation deck and he was impressed. The size of the batteries was an indication as to what sort of firepower the station would soon be able to bring to bear. But the one change that was soon to go underway was the one that had O’Brien most excited, something about the installation of a hypermatter reactor.
What was hypermatter and why it had the Chief so excited was beyond Odo. Sometimes the action of solids could still be so confusing for him.
“You know what they’re going to order, Odo? Water. Antaran Water if they feel adventurous but water and some simple salads.”
“Reasonable diet for warriors, no?”
“Klingons don’t eat like that.”
“They don’t strike me as being cut from the same cloth.”
“What does Garak have to do with this?” Quark replied confused.
“Sorry?” Odo was bewildered by the sudden shift in gears.
“Oh, you’re using Humon idioms now, eh?” Quark noted with some distaste. He shook his head and clucked his tongue as he nodded to a waitress who walked over to the Mandalorians.
“Take it from me, Odo. Humon culture, particularly Federation humon culture is insidious. Don’t let yourself get sucked in or you’ll end up like my brother Rom.”
“Happy and married with a bright future ahead of him?” Odo replied without missing a beat.
Quark waved Odo’s words away like pesky flies. “You mark my words. This whole Separatist Galactic civil war business is something we’re going to regret.”
“Oh?”
Quark picked up a datapad and walked back behind his bar during a moment of relative quiet.
“The lobes know. This whole alliance thing feels wrong somehow, like things aren’t supposed to be this way.”
“I suppose you would have preferred having the station fall into Dominion hands.” Odo replied sardonically.
“As weird as that sounds, Odo, that just feels right to me.”
Odo shook his head.
“You are incorrigible.”
“What I am is a business man and war is bad for business. This is a galactic war, a war we have no right being involved in.” Quark replied. For once, Odo could not disagree.
Back at the table in the corner Martok and Worf watched the Mandalorians as they seated themselves. Even the casual motion of sitting seemed like an intricate dance, they moved with a supple caution that spoke of intimate experiences with danger and death.
“Not one of them sits with his back to the door. I noticed this the second time I saw them seated here.” Worf noted as he rolled the cup of prune juice between his hands. Martok nodded gruffly.
“They are warriors, of that there is no doubt. Captain Sisko has been told that they are the most dangerous warriors in this new galaxy.”
Worf said nothing as he watched them interacting with the waitress.
“But there is one thing we do not know about them Worf.”
“What is that?”
Martok leaned in close and clasped Worf’s forearm in a tight grip.
“We do not know if they have honor.”
Worf looked into the general’s only eye.
“There would be one way to know and that is to talk with them.”
Martok sat back as if stung.
“You have lived among these humans too long, Worf. One does not speak of honor. Honor is in the acts, in the very breath of a warrior. These Mandalorians do not strike me as honorable warriors. They seem more like lovers of death.” Martok eyed them for a moment and grunted. “And it does not help that they seem to be human in every respect.”
“Captain Sisko is human.” Worf noted. He had reflexively defended his human friends from Martok’s knee jerk reaction to the race. Worf had lived among them long enough to know that the old Klingon prejudices simply did not hold water.
“Precisely. Captain Sisko’s honor is worn on his heart like a badge. One can see his honor these Mandalorians however walk among us like ghosts. Besides Worf, how honorable can one be when you go into combat wearing battle armor that makes you into a walking tank? I have not seen a blade among them.” Martok noted derisively.
“What do you intend to do about it?” Worf asked.
Martok nodded to himself slowly. He took a large drink of his blood wine.
“Honor is seen in actions Worf and I intend to read their actions and their honor.”
Worf said nothing but would not be surprised if Martok simply walked up to one of them and initiated combat. Luckily, Captain Sisko seemed to have anticipated this possibility and ordered all Klingons on the station to treat the Separatists with respect and that included the Mandalorians.
“And of the treaty? What has Gowron said?”
Martok looked back at Worf blinking for a moment at the sudden change in conversation. Worf was subtly trying to change the subject. Now was not the time, he could feel it. They would gain nothing from challenging the Mandalorians.
“Gowron is opposed to entering into a treaty with these Separatists at this time. He feels we do not know enough about them to commit the empire to a war of this scale.”
“Eventually the Empire will have to make a decision. We cannot simply stand by the wayside while the Federation engages in glorious combat in another galaxy against insurmountable odds.” Worf said wistfully.
“We?” Martok noted with a hint of bemusement.
“I meant you and the Empire of course.” Worf quickly corrected himself.
Martok nodded and chuckled.
“We may yet make steal you away from your precious Federation my friend.” Martok laughed and slapped Worf on the shoulder. “Now…about these Mandalorians.” Martok turned his eye back on the silent warriors sitting at the table drinking water and watching the crowd with a detached interest of a butcher to his carcass.
Worf sighed softly.
“Are you well, Senator?” Bastion asked softly as he watched the beautiful young senator seated across from him in the small dining room in her Nubian transport.
“Yes, I’m just not hungry.”
“Still blaming yourself for what happened back on Camlan?” Bastion asked knowing the answer already. Her dedication to the peace movement had never faltered but Bail Organna had quickly vaulted to the fore as the leader of the movement. Bail was not afraid to publicly criticize the Supreme Chancellor. Amidala was constrained by the fact that Palpatine was from Naboo, and very popular back home.
“I know what you’re going to say Bastion.” she replied looking up at the young Jedi with golden hair, his blue eyes shown like pieces of sapphire in the light of the ship.
“Really? I was going to ask you if you were going to eat that?” Bastion replied pointing to a piece of fruit at the edge of her plate.
Padme stopped short for a moment and looked down at her plate and started to laugh softly.
“That’s the spirit, my lady. You are far too beautiful to be frowning like that.” Bastion replied with a smile of his own, his teeth shown brightly like pearls. He nodded to her and she acquiesced as he took the fruit.
“Every time people ask me why they call you the laughing Jedi I repeat the things you say so casually. Frankly Bastion you are the happiest person I have ever met.”
“You think I’m funny? You haven’t seen my impression of Master Yoda.” Bastion said with a wry wink.
“Is that even allowed you rogue?” she replied with a playful slap of his shoulder.
“I am a Jedi Knight, milady and I can do as I please as long as I live the ideals of the order.”
She shook her head ruefully. Some days the only bright light during these dark days were her hours spent with Bastion. She had never seen him angry, sad, upset. He was always smiling, always laughing, even in battle.
Her thoughts briefly flickered to Anakin. He rarely laughed anymore.
“You miss him don’t you?” he asked.
She stared at him for a moment, eyes narrowed on the Adonis like Jedi.
“No…no, milady, I was not peaking, it’s just very obvious on your face. You and Anakin are very close friends, most everyone knows that. You’ve known him since he was a child. So did I by the way and I don’t know how you put up with him.”
“He is a good man.” she protested.
“Of that there is no doubt.” he replied with a laugh. He leaned forward and whispered to her in a conspiratorial tone. “I swear by the Force milady, he has made brooding into an art form.”
“He had much on his mind.” she stopped herself. It was Bastion’s way to make fun and she was acting like an over protective woman.
“I just don’t know mila---“
“Bastion, you’ve known me long enough to call me Padme.”
“Very well, Padme.” Bastion replied inclining his head towards her. “You don’t have to defend him so vigorously Padme.” he began. Padme took a sip from her drink watching the young Jedi. “It’s not like you’re married or anything silly like that.”
She choked on her drink and coughed loudly as she tried to clear her throat. Bastion leaned forward with concern.
“Are you alright?” he asked suddenly concerned and leaned forward.
“Yes…” she managed to choke out.
Bastion shook his head smiling and rose from the table.
“I’ll go check the navigational controls, we should be at Coruscant within the hour.”
She nodded still coughing.
