Star Trek: Enterprise

Silent Allies

 

Chapter One

 

The Eiffel Tower stood gleaming in the brilliance of the morning sun. Lieutenant Nicholas Baxter looked at the Parisian skyline from the uppermost deck of the Tower. He glanced at his watch, or chronometer as people were calling it these days, and saw that he had a little under half an hour before his meeting. Standing quietly in the corner of the descending lift, wearing uncomfortable civilian clothing, Baxter allowed his mind to wander. He’d been an agent in Starfleet Intelligence during the Earth-Romulan war and now that it was over he had been enjoying his second retirement. Until, that is, he found a piece of paper in his house that hadn’t been there a few seconds before. Only one person he knew still used paper but it was the message itself that intrigued him. Here he was, three days later, in Paris and walking toward the most protected building in the known galaxy.

The doors slid open and he entered the steel-and-glass building. It might have looked plain on the outside but Baxter knew that looks were deceiving, the building was constructed of the strongest materials known to exist and was protected by more than a dozen security systems, all independent of the others. It was designed to make sure that nothing happened to the most important man in the world. Eight men and women in Starfleet uniforms were retina-scanning everyone that arrived. A black woman approached him and he submitted to the scan, feeling slightly apprehensive. The woman nodded and waved him through the security barrier (which scanned him for any weapons). Baxter sighed with relief and followed the directions that were written on the piece of paper. The fact that this was the building of the President of the United Federation of Planets made him very nervous. He stepped into the turbolift and emerged on the forty-eighth floor. This was the inner sanctum of the President and his staff.

‘Can I help you?’ asked the receptionist.

Baxter handed over the piece of paper. ‘I’m here to see Ambassador Lucas Stone.’

‘President Stone is running late Lieutenant Baxter. He’ll be with you shortly.’

Baxter didn’t bat an eyelid but he was surprised. His old boss from Starfleet Intelligence (Stone had been an Admiral for the first couple of years of the war) was now the most powerful man in the galaxy, from admiral to diplomatic ambassador to president, not bad for a life’s work. Baxter was sitting on a comfortable chair looking at the view outside the window when he heard footsteps behind him.

‘Good to see you Nick,’ President Stone said as Baxter turned to face him.

‘You too Mister President,’ Baxter replied.

Stone smiled. It was the same smile that arguing species had seen before they were blindsided by Stone’s sheer logic. ‘Call me Luke, like you used to. I still haven’t gotten used to Mister President this, Mister President that.’

‘Mr President, you asked to see me,’ Baxter responded formally. ‘May I ask why I’m here?’

‘Join me in my office,’ Stone replied. ‘We’ll talk in there.’

The President’s office was plainly decorated with artefacts from all the member worlds having prominent positions. There was sporting memorabilia on shelves and of course the seal of the Federation in the carpet. Stone sat on a beige-coloured couch and Baxter sat in one of the beige armchairs opposite.

‘I’ll get to the point straight away,’ Stone told him. ‘After all, I am a busy man. You were an officer in Starfleet and you were in the intelligence business, those qualifications make you the perfect man for the job. Here comes the crux of the matter. The Andorians are threatening to pull out of the Federation because several of their ships have been attacked in what is now Federation space. Unfortunately Starfleet doesn’t yet have enough vessels to patrol all of our new territory so some areas are essentially lawless.

‘I want you to head out there and solve the problem quickly. To cut through the bureaucracy you’ll answer directly to me. A word of warning though, the peoples of Earth and the Federation cannot afford another war so tread carefully. I’m trying to find you a ship as we speak, just waiting to hear from an old friend of mine.’

‘What’s my cover?’ Baxter asked.

‘You’ll be going as yourself, this isn’t an undercover operation. I want everyone to see that the Federation and Starfleet will do what it takes to keep its members and allies safe,’ Stone answered. ‘As of now you are being officially reinstated as an officer in Starfleet, a full Lieutenant.’

‘I’m being promoted?’

‘Yes, from the looks of your record in Starfleet and in Intelligence it is well deserved.’

‘What if I don’t accept?’ Baxter asked, playing devil’s advocate against himself.

‘Won’t you?’ asked Stone in return.

‘I couldn’t turn this down,’ Baxter said and grinned.

The communications unit on the desk bleeped and Stone walked over to the desk. He pressed a button.

‘This is Stone.’

‘Mister President, the ship you requested is available,’ said the voice on the other end. Baxter knew that voice, so did everyone else in Starfleet and the Federation. The man had been instrumental in ending the war and bringing Earth’s allies into a united front, the United Federation of Planets.

‘Thank you Admiral.’

‘May I ask who you’ve chosen as the second saviour of the Federation?’ Jonathan Archer asked.

‘You’re aware that the mission is dangerous and the ship will be fired upon,’ Stone said.

‘The ship’s been in more battles than any other and she’s got the most experienced crew. Besides, she’s been in orbit undergoing a major refit since the end of the war,’ Archer replied.

Stone looked thoughtful. ‘Your old ship?’

‘The one and only,’ Archer answered. ‘Now, who’ve you chosen?’

‘Someone you know,’ Stone answered. ‘A man who used to be under your command.’

‘Lieutenant Nicholas Baxter, sir,’ Baxter chimed in.

There was silence for a few seconds. ‘Ah yes, you transferred off Enterprise before she went into the Expanse, I remember,’ Archer said.

‘I wanted to be with my pregnant wife sir,’ Baxter replied.

‘How are they?’

‘Killed in ’58,’ Baxter answered. ‘It was the reason I joined Intelligence.’

All three were silent as they remembered the direct attack on Earth in the third year of the war.

‘I’m sorry,’ Archer said.

‘I’ve grieved for them, and everybody else.’

‘Well, back to business,’ Stone said. ‘Admiral, would you like to tell him why you’ve assigned your old ship to the mission?’

‘Lieutenant, this is really simple. Enterprise has always been the flagship of the fleet, like her predecessors before her, and for a mission that may well decide the fate of the Federation she will be on the front lines.’

‘Just like during the war. You commanded every major battle and the ship, though scarred, emerged victorious every time.’

‘Almost every time. We lost the Prynica system.’

‘How long before Enterprise is ready to leave?’ Stone asked.

‘Enterprise will be ready to leave orbit in eleven hours Mister President. If you gentlemen will excuse I have an urgent meeting to attend to. Good luck lieutenant. Archer out.’

‘Well, it looks like you’ll get to see some of your old friends again,’ Stone said.

‘I had better be off sir, if I am to be ready in eleven hours. I’ve got to requisition new equipment and uniforms.’

‘Just go the quartermaster and he’ll get you everything you need.’

‘Aye sir,’ Baxter said and saluted in the old maritime tradition.

‘Dismissed,’ Stone replied and returned the salute.

As soon as Baxter was outside again he sighed. His girlfriend wasn’t going to be happy about things. He’d promised her, once the war was over, that he’d never be leaving Earth again on assignment. He’d quit Starfleet for good. It was an encounter he wasn’t looking forward to. He couldn’t just leave her a message, which meant that he would be telling her in person. A quick trip to London before heading to San Francisco and Starfleet Headquarters was in order. Definitely an encounter he wasn’t looking forward to, Emma was going to crucify him.

*          *          *

Baxter emerged from the shuttlepod and glanced toward the edge of the landing field. Emma was waiting for him and holding something, from this distance he couldn’t see precisely what it was but as he got closer his eyes narrowed in concentration. Paper, she was holding paper, and her expression told him that she’d read what was on the paper. He walked up to her and she slapped in the face. It stung. People were looking at them and he decided not to press the issue. The day had developed from murk to sunlight and Baxter was feeling quite warm, whether from the sun or from her slap he wasn’t quite sure.

‘Orders from the Office of the President,’ she said and handed him the paper.

‘I’m sorry,’ he tried to tell her but she ignored him.

‘Orders from Starfleet Command,’ she added and handed him a padd.

‘I didn’t have any choice in the matter,’ he told her.

‘That’s not going to cut it,’ Emma retorted. ‘You told me it was over.’

‘I’ll be back in a couple of weeks,’ he said.

‘In a coffin,’ she replied.

He put his arms around her and steered her away from the still-gawking crowd. ‘I shouldn’t be telling you this,’ he said, ‘but you’ll probably find out anyway,’ Baxter added. ‘Andorian ships are being attacked in what is Federation space and they’re threatening to pull out of the Federation unless something is done.’

‘And you were chosen to deal with it?’ she asked.

‘Yes, if the Andorians were to pull out it would destabilise the quadrant and there could be another war. We can’t deal with another so soon after the last one.

‘Okay,’ she said and started to cry.

‘Come on Emma, let me buy you lunch before I go.’

She acquiesced and sobbed a little against his shoulder but she was no longer wracked with sobs. In his mind he knew that they would never let him retire after this but he wasn’t going to tell her that. They took a train to the docklands and had lunch in one of the nice restaurants there before going back to the house that they lived in. He packed some civilian clothes, his toiletries and a photo of the two of them. She kissed him on the cheek before he went out the door.

‘I’ll see you soon honey,’ he told her.

‘I know you will,’ she replied.

Chapter Two

 

His first stop in San Francisco was the quartermaster at Starfleet Headquarters. He was measured up and given seven uniforms with the red lieutenant outlines at the breast; a communicator and a scanner. Starship quartermasters used to hand those out but bureaucracy had put in place safeguards so now Starfleet Quartermasters had control of those. Padds were different. They were used all the time so starship quartermasters still looked after them. The rank pips were handed out on showing his Starfleet ID. When he looked in the mirror wearing the full uniform he smiled. Full lieutenant made him feel good.

A shuttlepod was waiting at the Starfleet spaceport, already with a few passengers, to take him into orbit, to Enterprise. He didn’t know anybody and kept quiet, looking contemplative as the shuttlepod emerged in space and headed toward the NX class starship. It still looked as good as it did ten years ago when he signed on. Captain Charles Tucker III was waiting just outside the shuttlebay and Baxter was surprised when Tucker stepped forward and extended his hand. He gripped the lieutenant’s hand firmly and then released it.

‘Lieutenant Baxter, welcome aboard Enterprise.’

‘It feels good to be back aboard,’ Baxter responded.

‘Admiral Archer was kind enough to tell me that Enterprise was needed for a mission of the utmost importance, but he couldn’t tell me why. I assume that the information had been kept from him.’

‘I take it that you’ve heard about the attacks on Andorian freighters,’ Baxter said.

‘Of course,’ Tucker answered.

‘The attacks are taking place in Federation space and the Andorians have threatened to pull out of the Federation if something isn’t done soon.’

Tucker looked surprised. ‘I hadn’t heard that.’

‘I’ve been ordered to find out who is responsible and stop them. At all costs,’ Baxter told the captain.

‘And Enterprise is the ferry?’ Tucker asked.

‘And the protector of the Federation,’ Baxter answered.

‘Indeed,’ Tucker grinned.

‘I’d like to get underway as soon as possible,’ Baxter added. ‘There are supposed to be two freighters leaving Andoria about now. I’d like to get to the system where the others have been attacked before they do so I can see if there are any vessels lurking about.’

‘Sounds like a plan,’ Tucker said. ‘This is my ship, I give the orders.’

‘I’m an observer to all that. My mission is to stop the attacks. You get me there, and I’ll do the rest,’ Baxter agreed.

‘Tucker to Helm,’ the captain said, pressing a button on the nearest communit.

‘Mayweather.’

‘Travis, set a course for the Geneka system, warp-seven,’ Tucker told his helmsman.

‘Seven?’

‘Refit,’ Tucker replied. ‘I’ve got some interesting news for you.’

‘What?’

‘Geneka is close to the Neutral Zone.’

‘So it could be the Romulans?’ Baxter asked.

‘Could be, but they’re in worse shape than we are. There’s no way they’d risk another war.’

‘What about an ultra-violent faction in the military?’ Baxter asked.

‘Deceptive folks, the Romulans, much like their cousins used to be,’ Tucker said in answer.

‘I was really surprised when I heard that,’ Baxter replied.

‘I couldn’t believe it myself,’ Tucker agreed.

‘It was the turning point in the war though, made everyone think.’

‘Hmm,’ Tucker said, thinking back to that very day, just over two years ago, when a major battle was about to unfold.

*          *          *

Enterprise and Columbia were at the front of the combined Vulcan, Andorian and Earth fleet and were awaiting the first attack wave of Romulan warbirds. This was one of many battles fought to drive the Romulans back into their own territory, and it was not expected to go well. Starfleet had lost the last few battles like this and several star systems had been lost to the Romulan Star Empire. The battle of Dirisius, this battle, was to try to recoup other systems that the Romulans had not quite taken yet. The warbirds, in an uncharacteristic gesture, dropped their cloaking devices before they were close enough to attack.

‘Archer to the fleet, prepare attack wings one and two.’

‘Attack wings are in position,’ Lieutenant Reed responded, watching the fleet’s movement on one of his screens.

‘I’m reading forty-nine warbirds, their charging weapons,’ Commander T’Pol said from the science station.

‘They’re firing,’ Reed replied.

Three warbirds had come in and attacked Enterprise. Two Vulcan cruisers took point and drove the warbirds back. The battle had begun. Enterprise shuddered as the disruptors from the three Romulan ships his amidships. Archer was flung from his chair and jumped up quickly.

‘Return fire,’ he said.

Reed did as he was asked and targeted the closest warbirds, letting off a volley of photon torpedoes. That was the signal the attack wings were waiting for. The smaller vessels from the fleet sped forward, flying between the warbirds and attacking the weak points they knew about.

‘Their shields are holding,’ Reed shouted out a few minutes later. ‘It looks like we’re not the only ones making improvements.’

Enterprise shuddered again.

‘Mister Reed, I want to see a field of Romulan debris,’ Archer told him, his eyes narrowing at the viewscreen. ‘Don’t tell me their shields are holding, just keep firing until we run out of weapons or there is a debris field.’

‘Aye sir,’ Reed replied.

‘Archer to Hernandez.’

‘Hernandez,’ answered the captain of the Columbia.

‘Erica, take one of the Vulcan wings and do a strafing run,’ Archer said to her.

‘You got it,’ she replied and Archer watched as seven ships, led by the Columbia, flew straight through a gap in the Romulan lines and took out a few warbirds.

Ships were exploding every few seconds, more Romulan ships that Starfleet and its allies but there were a few losses. Columbia took half the fleet and strafed the Romulans while Enterprise hung back to catch the enemy ships that escaped the strafing run. Tucker entered the bridge and moved to T’Pol’s side. The expression on her face was sour, for a Vulcan.

‘What’s the matter?’ Tucker asked her.

‘If they had accepted Surak’s teachings then we would not be at war,’ T’Pol answered him.

She looked up at him when he did not reply and watched her words sink in to his consciousness. Enterprise bucked violently and Tucker was thrown across the bridge, landing by Reed’s feet. Tucker stood up and shook himself. He glanced at the viewscreen and saw a Vulcan cruiser spiral out of control. It had the remains of a Romulan ship protruding from its side. It was the Romulan ship exploding that hit Enterprise.

‘Captain, you should hear this,’ Tucker said to Archer.

‘Not now Trip,’ Archer replied absently.

‘It’s important, real important.’

‘Wait.’

‘Another wave of Romulan ships coming in,’ T’Pol said.

‘What’s the status of our fleet?’ Archer asked.

‘Five Vulcan ships destroyed, three Andorian and two Starfleet,’ Reed answered.

‘We’ve got eleven left,’ Archer ran the numbers in his head. ‘How long before the next wave gets here?’

‘Five minutes,’ T’Pol answered.

Archer turned to his chief engineer. ‘What is it Trip?’

‘T’Pol, tell him what you just told me.’

T’Pol looked at Tucker and squared her shoulders. Two young officers emerged from the turbolift to clear some debris from the bridge.

‘Romulans are an offshoot of the Vulcans,’ she said simply.

Archer just stared at her, lacking comprehension of her wild statement.

‘It happened during the time of Surak,’ she added. ‘A radical group of Vulcans refused to accept Surak’s teachings and left Vulcan. They took with them some Vulcan ships and a radical design for a warp engine. They founded the Romulan Star Empire.’

‘Is there anything else?’

‘Some Vulcans want to unify our two races, to be one again. F’Las was one of those people,’ T’Pol answered.

F’Las was the man who ordered Vulcan ships to fire on Enterprise four years before, when Archer found the Kir’Shara. Archer smiled and Tucker looked worried. ‘Open a channel to the approaching Romulan ships.’

‘Channel open,’ Hoshi Sato replied.

‘This is Captain Archer of Starfleet,’ he began. ‘I am prepared to discuss reunification. Talk to your superiors. If you do not withdraw we will destroy all your ships.’

Silence.

‘Tell the fleet to take up advanced attack positions,’ Archer told Hoshi.

‘Aye sir,’ she replied.

Archer looked at T’Pol. ‘It was worth a try.’

‘This is Commander Sonata of the Firebird,’ a voice said over the comm. ‘The Praetor is willing to discuss terms of your surrender.’

‘Then I’m afraid that you will not survive this encounter. Archer to all ships. Open fire.’

The battle was over quickly. The second wave of Romulan warbirds had no chance. Archer took the information back to Starfleet and discussions took place. Battles were fought for another three years but in the end it was that information that ended the war. It was a turning point.

Chapter Three

 

‘Join me on the bridge,’ Tucker said as they entered a turbolift.

‘I’d love to see what changes you’ve made,’ Baxter replied.

Save for the sounds of the machinery there was silence on the bridge. Lieutenant Commander Malcolm Reed still sat at the tactical station but he looked older, and by more than a decade. War did that to people. Lieutenant (senior grade) Hoshi Sato was seated at the communication station, her striking oriental features contorted in thought and concentration. Lieutenant (senior grade) Travis Mayweather had the helm and looked as steadfast as ever but looks could be deceiving. Baxter glanced over at the tactical station and saw a Vulcan male. Tucker caught him looking and a faraway look entered his eyes but was quickly replaced a smile.

‘T’Pol is the Vulcan ambassador to Earth,’ Tucker said. ‘I’m sure you can see the changes we’ve made to the bridge.’

‘More screens,’ Baxter replied, looking around. ‘And it looks more comfortable than it used to.’

‘It is,’ Tucker replied.

‘The two senior officers on the first warp-five ship in Starfleet are now paper pushers. That seems a shame.’

‘Every cloud has a silver lining,’ Tucker added with a glint in his eye, ‘Enterprise is mine now.’

‘Have you told them why the refit was hurriedly finished?’ Baxter asked, well aware that they could all hear him.’

‘No, I didn’t know myself until a few minutes ago,’ Tucker reminded the lieutenant.

‘Then by all means fill them in,’ Baxter said. ‘They of all people deserve to know.’

 

Enterprise slowed to impulse when it approached the Geneka system.

‘I’m detecting two vessels, they appear to be adrift,’ the Vulcan said.

‘On screen,’ Tucker replied.

Two freighters hung in space, adrift but luckily not crashing into each other, but they were drifting further apart.

Tucker turned to Baxter. ‘This is your show now, Lieutenant.’

‘Thank you Captain,’ Baxter took command of the mission. ‘Are there any life-signs aboard either freighter?’ This was directed at the Vulcan.

‘None that I can detect,’ Drem answered, ‘but their cellular activity could be lower than the sensors can detect.’

‘I want to take a shuttlepod across and see how bad it is over there,’ Baxter said to Tucker.

‘Interface with the medical scanners,’ Tucker said to Drem. ‘And check again for life-signs.’

‘Thirty-seven detected,’ Drem replied. ‘Fifteen of them are on the lead freighter.’ Tucker silently thanked whatever deity would listen that Drem had not attempted to pronounce the names of either of the freighters. Andorian words could be very difficult to pronounce for human (and Vulcan) tongues and the words often had no English equivalent.

‘No other vessels in the area Captain,’ Reed added.

‘We’ll take shuttlepod two,’ Tucker said and moved toward the turbolift.

‘I’m going alone,’ Baxter told him, trying to put on a voice that brooked no argument but it didn’t work.

Tucker used his best “captain” expression. ‘I’m going with you, Commander Reed, Doctor Phlox and Lieutenant Mayweather will be joining us as well. You might be in charge of the mission but this is my ship and if you’re using a shuttlepod someone will be going with you, just so you don’t blow yourself up.’

Baxter knew that he didn’t have the authority to override Tucker’s decision on that score and let it rest. He would be in the man’s hands after all if things went wrong and it came to a fire-fight. Considering that he had no idea what to expect on the freighters, he’d never been on anything other than a Starfleet starship, he thought that he had best obey Tucker’s order to have them go with him.

‘I’m not wearing an environmental suit, there shouldn’t be anything over there anyway,’ Baxter said defiantly as they entered the shuttlebay.

‘I wasn’t going to suggest it,’ Tucker replied.

‘Although it might be a prudent measure,’ Phlox chimed in.

‘Andorians breathe an oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere like we do doctor,’ Tucker reminded him. ‘No race that we know of uses biological or chemical weapons in piracy raids.’

‘Let’s just get over there and find out what happened to them.’

‘Right you are Lieutenant,’ Tucker said.

Mayweather climbed in first and took the pilot’s seat, running through the pre-flight checks as the others climbed in. Tucker sat to the left of Mayweather and Baxter took the seat opposite Tucker. Reed sat behind Baxter and Phlox sat at the back, looking at the life-signs scanners at the rear of the craft. Reed shut the hatch of the shuttlepod and returned to his seat.

‘Why don’t we just use the transporter?’ asked Reed.

‘I prefer not dropping in unannounced,’ Tucker answered. ‘Besides, we might need to take a few people back to sickbay. It will be easier stowing them on the shuttlepod.’

‘I have managed to set up the transporter to beam people directly to parts of the ship, especially sickbay,’ Reed replied.

‘We might need it Commander, but not quite yet. Okay Travis, let’s go.’

‘Aye sir,’ Mayweather replied and handled the controls.

The bay doors opened and the shuttlepod descended on the mechanical arm before being dropped into space. Mayweather activated the impulse engines and the wings extended. He piloted the craft toward the lead freighter, the one that wasn’t tumbling so much. Baxter hoped that whatever they found would lead them directly to the people – or person – responsible. It only took a few minutes to reach the freighter but several minutes more to match its rotation so they could get a solid seal on the airlock. Baxter was nervous. He’d never been in this type of situation before. He was just an ensign on Enterprise before he transferred and then the intelligence work he’d done was infiltrating gangs and providing information for Starfleet. Baxter had almost decided to rejoin Starfleet when he heard a muffled thump.

‘We have a good seal, airlock is clear,’ Mayweather said.

‘Are you coming?’ Tucker asked him as he climbed out.

‘Sure,’ Baxter said as he shook his head to clear the cobwebs. ‘We need to find out what happened.’

The four officers and doctor emerged aboard the freighter and Reed took out his phaser (the term phase pistol had been replaced, calling them phasers was easier) and walked ahead of the others. Mayweather took out his phaser but Tucker pulled out his scanner, he didn’t expect to find anyone waving a pistol around. Baxter was looking at his scanner and frowning at the results it was showing him.

‘It looks like the bodies are scattered across the ship. Crew quarters, bridge, corridors and cargo modules.’

‘Doctor, this is your turf, life-signs are negligible.’

As Tucker spoke the group turned a corridor and found one of the bodies. All stood back as Phlox approached the prone Andorian. He ran his medical scanner over the head and body and frowned at what he saw. Phlox turned to Tucker. ‘Severe neurological trauma, if the others are like this I’ll have to get them all back to Enterprise.’

‘Can we fit them all?’ Tucker asked.

‘Doubtful,’ Reed answered.

‘May I suggest asking for a medical ship to take them back to Andoria,’ Baxter said and Tucker looked at him. ‘Once we’ve determined the cause of the problem, obviously,’ he added.

‘The Lieutenant’s idea is a good one,’ Phlox replied. ‘But not necessary. I can turn cargo bay three into a secondary medical facility. Mister Reed’s new transporter circuits may come in useful. I’ll beam them all over and then work on them one by one.’

‘As you wish Doctor,’ Tucker said and then turned to Mayweather. ‘Travis, get up to the bridge and download their logs and any data from their scanners.’

‘Aye sir,’ Mayweather replied and headed off toward the bridge.

‘Phlox took out his communicator. ‘Transporter, lock on to the bodies and beam them to cargo bay three. Phlox to sickbay, set up a triage centre in cargo bay three, immediately.’

‘Aye sir,’ the transporter operator and sickbay technicians responded.

Phlox followed Tucker around the rest of the freighter, locating the bodies so the transporter could lock on to them. Reed and Baxter did the same, starting in a different area of the ship and Mayweather located the bodies as he made his way to the bridge. The doors to the bridge opened easily so he thought that there wasn’t too much damage done to the ship’s systems. There was something niggling at the back of his mind but he couldn’t be sure what it was and therefore left it alone as he tried accessing the main computer. He looked around him and saw that the bridge was empty apart from the inert bodies of the Andorian crew. The bodies were beamed away and he jumped at the sound of the transporter. Mayweather pressed buttons to activate the lines to the main computer but when he tried to find the log entries a message appeared on the screen. “Directory empty.” He checked the other files and directories. Every enquiry came back with that same message.

When he rejoined the others at the shuttlepod he looked dejected. ‘The whole system has been wiped. It appears as though a virus wiped everything because the rest of the onboard systems are intact, only log entries and scanner data have been erased,’ he told them.

‘Let’s go and check the other freighter,’ Baxter said as they climbed back aboard the shuttlepod.

‘Whoever it is really doesn’t want us to find them,’ Reed replied, adding with a wry grin, ‘what a shame we can’t accommodate them.’

The situation aboard the second freighter was identical to the first. The bodies were in the same state and the logs were gone. When they returned to Enterprise Phlox went directly to sickbay, Tucker, Reed and Mayweather returned to the bridge and Baxter had an uncontrollable urge to scream but went to the bridge and waited for Phlox to tell them something. It was just over an hour before they were called. Tucker and Baxter arrived in sickbay as Phlox pulled a curtain shut around the Andorians.

‘Well Doctor?’ Baxter asked.

‘There was something familiar about the trauma and after I ran the scans I checked them against the database and came up with the answer. Enterprise encountered them August 29^th, 2151,’ Phlox told them.

‘August 29^th?’ Tucker asked. ‘The phase cannons. That’s when we installed the phase cannons.’

‘Correct,’ Phlox said

‘Them again,’ Baxter said. ‘I was working in the section that nearly got a dose of vacuum.’

Tucker thought back to that fateful day when Enterprise’s mission changed from peaceful exploration to exploration with weaponry backup.

*          *          *

It was just a couple of days before Reed’s birthday when Enterprise deployed the second subspace amplifier and a mysterious ship dropped out of warp, twelve kilometres ahead of them. Captain Archer hailed them but they didn’t respond and went back to warp. Lieutenant Reed hadn’t managed to get any readings from the ship and they thought that was that. The ship returned a few hours later and Archer tried again to communicate but they didn’t answer. They scanned Enterprise and then opened fire. The ship disappears again.

‘When they opened fire they dropped their shields for two seconds and I managed to take some scans. I got bio-signs, at least fifteen,’ Reed said.

‘No matches in the Vulcan database,’ T’Pol added.

‘It’s a good thing they’re gone,’ Reed continued. ‘Our torpedoes wouldn’t have penetrated their shielding.’

Archer looked surprised at that but didn’t say anything to Reed. He and T’Pol then went to check out the damage in engineering

‘How bad is it?’ Archer asked Tucker.

‘If that shot had been about a half metre higher, we’d have been looking at stars.’

Archer and T’Pol returned to the turbolift. ‘Did your people run into as many hostile aliens when they first went into deep space?’

‘It was a different time,’ T’Pol replied.

‘How so?’

‘There were fewer warp-capable species.’

Archer shook his head and made a decision. ‘This ship just isn’t equipped to handle some of the threats we’re coming up against. It’s time we did something about that.’

‘What are you suggesting?’ asked T’Pol, looking at him.

‘Enterprise was fitted with phase cannon ports, but since we left spacedock a few weeks ahead of schedule, the cannons were never installed. I think it’s time they were,’ he said as the turbolift doors opened. As they closed he added, ‘we should head back to Earth.’

In the armoury Tucker and Reed fervently disagree with Archer.

‘Just give us two weeks Captain,’ Reed said.

‘I know we can do it,’ Tucker added. ‘Most of the stuff we need is already on the ship.’

‘The armoury team on Jupiter Station is trained for this kind of work, if we’re gonna do this, let’s do it right.’

‘My engineers are just as good as they are,’ Tucker argued.

‘I know that Trip,’ Archer replied. ‘But we have other systems that could use overhauls.’

‘Sir, with your permission, we could at least begin the work. Get a few things started for Jupiter Station,’ Reed said as Archer went to leave.

‘It’ll cut down the time we need to spend in spacedock,’ Tucker added.

Archer looked at them, noticing the glint in their eyes. ‘Do what you can,’ he told them as he left. He paused by the door. ‘Archer to Mayweather.’

‘Go ahead Captain,’ Mayweather said from the bridge.

‘We’re heading home.’

Reed and Tucker told the engineers what to do and they set to it, double shifts to make sure that it was done quickly. Before they could finish, the alien vessel returned and damaged the warp engines, then sneaked aboard and injured two crewmen before Archer chased them off. Archer then tried to contact the Vulcan High Command but the subspace amplifiers had been destroyed. Tucker’s engineers repaired the ship and finished the phase cannons. When testing the phase cannons T’Pol discovered an alien device. The aliens were letting them destroy themselves. Archer destroyed the device and sure enough the aliens came back to finish them off. With the phase cannons, albeit having to overload them, Enterprise damaged the vessel and it left them, limping away at impulse speeds.

Chapter Four

 

‘Is there anything we can do to find them?’ Baxter asked.

Phlox looked at Tucker as the captain shook his head. ‘We’re going to have to hide, lie in wait for them to return.’

‘Skulking around in the shadows like Romulans,’ Baxter said angrily. ‘Not my preferred method.’

‘It’s either that or we spend days or weeks looking for them,’ Tucker told him.

‘I just don’t like waiting,’ Baxter responded.

‘Neither do I, but as Captain, I’ve learned that it is sometimes necessary.’

Baxter smiled wanly. He didn’t like the waiting game.

‘Travis, find us a moon and park us behind it. Mask our trail so they think that no one’s been here, just in case they scan the area.’

‘Aye sir,’ Mayweather replied and deftly manipulated the controls.

Enterprise’s hull gleamed in reflected sunlight as the impulse exhausts glowed and the ship swung on a wide arc. The ship moved toward the fifth moon of the second planet in the system, far enough away not to be noticed but close enough to move in quickly if the need arose. While they waited Baxter took his leave and went to lie down. He hadn’t been able to sleep well over the last few months, since the end of the war, and things had not gone smoothly in his personal life over the last few years. When the Xindi attacked Earth in 2154 he’d decided to stay with his pregnant wife instead of going with Enterprise into the Delphic Expanse.

He joined Starfleet Intelligence a little while after his son was born and asked to be assigned to Earth permanently. Everything worked out well until the Earth-Romulan war began two years later. Baxter worked in Intelligence trying to end the war early but in 2158 the war wasn’t going too well. The Romulans attacked Earth directly and numerous military targets were destroyed, including the compound that he lived in with his family. They were killed and he quit a few months later, unable to concentrate on his work. He returned to his bachelor pad to grieve properly for his family.

Baxter was immensely overjoyed when the Romulans accepted defeat and returned to their own space. The United Federation of Planets, an alliance of Earth, Vulcan and Andoria, was chartered and a buffer zone was created between Federation space and Romulan territory, the Neutral Zone. He thought about rejoining Starfleet again but changed his mind and turned to his latest hobby, designing model kits. It was his second retirement, and it was going well, until that piece of paper arrived. Now he was back in uniform and waiting in the farthest reaches of Federation space for more Andorian freighters to arrive and the mysterious aliens that Enterprise had come across, and defeated, a decade ago.

 

The former Imperial Command Headquarters was located in Andor City, the capital city of the Andorian homeworld. It was now used as an archive storage facility and central processing centre for Starfleet Command. General Shran sat, in full dress uniform, at his desk wondering why he had been given such a meaningless command. Just minutes ago his aide had given him his latest piece of bad news – another convoy had been attacked. A few days ago the Andorian ambassador to Earth had told the Federation President, a former ambassador himself, that unless something was done the Andorians would pull out of the Federation. Shran disagreed with the tactics but they had worked. The President had sent the Federation flagship, Enterprise, out to find out what was going on.

Shran was pleased about that, he knew the crew of the Enterprise. They were neutral to most species. But Starfleet could only spare that one starship for the investigation. He’d been trying to requisition a ship, any ship – as long as it had weapons, to help Enterprise but so far he had no luck. Shran wanted to pursue his own investigation but the official line was that all vessels were being loaned to Starfleet to patrol the Federation borders until such a time as new vessels could be built and the fleets of Earth, Vulcan and Andoria became one. The unofficial line was that there was still political opposition to Andoria being part of the Federation and if one of their most revered battle commanders, Shran, went to help Starfleet then it would be seen that the government didn’t care about what the people wanted. The fact of the matter was that Starfleet had saved Andoria from war on numerous occasions and Andoria needed them. Shran was still considering his options when his aide entered the room.

‘What is it now?’

‘Commander Phraf is in orbit sir,’ his aide answered. ‘He wants to know when you want to beam aboard.’

‘Where am I going?’ Shran asked.

‘I thought you wanted a ship?’

‘They’ve given me the Untouchable?’

‘Yes sir,’ the aide replied.

Shran was annoyed that he hadn’t been told by the requisitions officer but it was of no consequence. The Untouchable was one of the best ships remaining in the decimated fleet and it was under the command of a fool. Shran smiled. He took his communicator from his pocket and activated it.

‘General Shran to Untouchable; bring me aboard.’

Joining the Federation did have its advantages. The sharing of technology was one of them. The transporters eliminated the need for auxiliary craft for all but difficulties. He felt the unfamiliar tingle of the transporter beam grabbing his molecules and for a split second he was nervous. He quickly founds himself in one piece in an alcove similar to the one on Enterprise. Commander Phraf was standing at the controls and saluted. No one did that anymore, what a fool.

‘By order of the Andorian Imperial Command, or what’s left of it, the Untouchable is under your command for the duration of this mission,’ Phraf said.

‘Very good,’ Shran responded. From what it looked like the vessel was crewed by cadets and trainees for the Imperial Guard, not Starfleet. ‘Set a course for the convoy led by the Outsized, maximum warp.’

‘Aye sir,’ Phraf said and motioned to one of the cadets to take the message to the bridge. ‘Internal communication is offline, several systems need repairing,’ he added.

‘I want them all repaired by the time we get to the convoy. Is that understood?’

‘Yes sir,’ Phraf answered and saluted.

‘And stop saluting.’

Shran strode to the bridge and sat in the command chair. He glanced at his homeworld receding from view as the ship went to warp. The helmsman made the turn toward the convoy at warp, rather than beforehand, the markings of an inexperienced crew – and a stupid commander. His antennae twitched in agitation. If only the pink-skin, Archer, had opted for a seat on the Federation Council, or even presiding over it, then things would be easier. The Untouchable was capable of warp seven-point-five and Shran hoped that they could catch up to the convoy before it entered the system where it was probably going to be attacked. He would have preferred the convoy not travel through the system but it was the only way to avoid certain death by Klingons or the Orion Syndicate. With the Romulans now skulking around their own territory the rest of the alpha quadrant could get on with trying to return to normal and lick its wounds.

*          *          *

The Captain of the Outsized slowed to impulse as he entered the planetary system. He watched his screens carefully, not wanting to be caught unawares by the alien marauders that kept attacking the freighters. He was aware of the warship Untouchable following at a discreet distance, just within their sensor range. The Outsized had passed by the two drifting freighters a few minutes and was now travelling at half impulse until it cleared the system, which would be two minutes if all went well. His antennae suddenly stood up on his forehead, the Andorian equivalent of a human’s hairs standing up on the back of his neck, and he looked at the viewscreen as the alien vessel dropped out of warp as if from nowhere and opened fire.

The Outsized shuddered from the opening barrage but hit back with phase cannons. The captain was thrown from his seat and hit his head but recovered quickly to give orders. The weapons officer fired the Outsized’s phase cannons but they barely made a dent in the alien’s shields. The Captain got to his feet and staggered over to the tactical console just in time to see the Untouchable fly past him to engage the enemy.

Shran held on to his seat tightly as the shields took a major hit. The shields held but several conduits exploded from power surge. He narrowed his eyes at the alien vessel and turned to face his own tactical officer.

‘Concentrate your fire on their weapons systems.’

‘Yes sir,’ the Andorian replied, pressing a sequence of keys.

A volley of torpedoes from the Untouchable battered the alien’s crab-shaped vessel as a simultaneous barrage from the phase cannons lanced out, striking the vessel’s dorsal shield generator. The alien vessel didn’t pause, it just kept moving closer, firing its powerful weapons continuously. A few well-placed shots knocked out the Untouchable’s forward shields and weapons.

‘Turn the ship, provide their scanners with our aft shields and continue firing,’ Shran ordered and the ship turned but there was no weapons fire.

The tactical officer lay on the deck, a piece of jagged metal protruding from his forehead. Shran jumped into the seat and fired at the enemy vessel with everything that he had left, continuously firing. The alien vessel had now closed to point blank range. He cursed as the lights on the weapons console faded from green to red, all weapons banks were offline. Shran pressed the intraship communication toggle and was about to order an immediate evacuation when the proximity alarmed bleep again. He frowned, another ship he thought as the sensors went down and main power failed.

Chapter Five

 

‘As soon as we’re in range, fire the photon torpedoes,’ Tucker told Reed.

‘I remember what it was like before we had the phase cannons,’ Reed acknowledged in reply.

Mayweather moved Enterprise from behind the moon and flew her, at full impulse, to the alien ship. Four points of brilliant red light spread out from Enterprise and hit the vessel at four distinct points along its dorsal hull. Its shields flickered briefly and then blinked out.

‘Fire phase cannons,’ Tucker ordered. ‘Try not to destroy them, target their engines. I want to talk to them.’

‘Aye sir,’ Reed replied.

Twin beams of light lanced out and struck the vessel at its weapons ports and exhaust housings.

‘We’re being hailed by the Andorian ship,’ Hoshi Sato said.

‘Put it through,’ Tucker replied.

‘Thank you Captain,’ Shran acknowledged.

‘You’re welcome General,’ Tucker replied. ‘Are you here to find out what they want?’

‘Since you clearly know who they are,’ Shran answered with a grimace. He’d intended to destroy them.

‘We ran into them a decade back, gave them a pasting then too. Do you need help with repairs?’

‘That would be appreciated. This vessel is being loaned to me. It wouldn’t be very polite to give it back full of holes.’

Tucker grinned. The war had changed him, removed some of his former arrogance. ‘I’ll send a damage control and repair team over with a couple of engineers. Shall we talk to them?’ Tucker asked, indicating the alien vessel.

Shran nodded, his face belied the anger he was feeling. Why did Enterprise have to interfere all the time?

‘Hoshi, open a channel to the alien vessel, split screen.’

‘Channel open, Captain. All parties can hear the exchange,’ she replied.

‘This is Captain Tucker of the Federation Starship Enterprise. Identify yourselves.’

‘This is General Shran of the Federation Starship Untouchable,’ Shran added, using the Federation marker distastefully.

‘You are trespassing in Federation space. Identify yourselves or you will be destroyed,’ Tucker said and motioned Reed to ready the phase cannons.

The left half of the screen showed Shran, looking intent at his viewscreen, but the right half, so far, showed the alien vessel. The image of the ship flickered and then gave way to the head and torso of the alien commander. His figure looked exactly like Archer described it ten years ago. He was a lanky alien with green skin and a form-fitting tunic of some kind.

‘We are the Ahjadi,’ the creature replied in heavily accented English. ‘You are in our territory.’

‘You speak our language?’ Hoshi asked.

‘It is not difficult,’ the Ahjadi commander answered.

‘We didn’t know that this was your territory,’ Tucker said. ‘But you do have a history of attacking our vessels without provocation.’

A smirk crossed Reed’s face.

‘You continually provoke us,’ the alien retorted. ‘You continually fly through our sovereign territory.’

‘We are part of a large federation, comprising several races,’ Shran added. ‘We couldn’t know that this was your territory because did not contact us,’ he continued diplomatically.

The alien considered this. ‘I am telling you now. This is our territory, please leave.’

‘Our vessels need to travel through this system on a trade route to their destination,’ Shran said, looking at Tucker to agree.

‘Then a new trade route must be established,’ the alien replied.

‘If you helped us to plot the new route then you could be sure that none of our vessels intrude on your space again,’ Tucker said and Shran inwardly grimaced. He hated Starfleet’s diplomacy. He much preferred destroying them until they gave up. It usually worked.

‘That would be acceptable,’ the alien said and the screen went blank.

‘Baxter, I think this is probably more in your field than mine,’ Tucker said as Shran’s image took the full screen.

‘Huh?’

‘I know you did diplomatic course in Starfleet Intelligence,’ Tucker continued. ‘You don’t think that I would let you on board without knowing everything, did you?’

‘I suppose I can manage a trade route,’ Baxter replied.

He’d been silent during the exchange, knowing that Tucker would try and do right by Starfleet’s new first (or second) contact protocols. Minutes later, while Baxter was going over what he would try to do; they watched as a shuttlepod emerged from the alien vessel and made its way to Enterprise.

 

Baxter had been the mediator for the last three days as Captain Tucker, General Shran and Captain Bujai hammered out a trade route that was suitable. He took the opportunity during a break to make his long-overdue report to President Stone. Ensign Sato had given him a secure line to use and he was waiting in his quarters for Stone to get back to him. The communit bleeped and Baxter entered his personal code.

‘Baxter, Nicholas, Lieutenant, Starfleet identification code 1-3-7-8-2-2-4.’

The Federation seal was replaced the haggard face of Stone. ‘Please tell me that you have some good news. The Andorians are almost coming to blows with the diplomats.’

‘Mister President, Captain Tucker, General Shran and Captain Bujai of the Ahjadi Sovereignty have established a trade route that avoids Ahjadi space. Andorian ships should be safe from now on.’

‘Is there anything else?’ Stone asked, noticing the look on Baxter’s face.

‘They wanted to give us something in return for helping them. It’s a custom among their people. They handed over some dilithium crystals and Captain Tucker, being an engineer, looked them over. He says that they’re better than anything we’ve got in our mines.’

‘What do you want me to do about it?’ asked Stone, trying to keep the elation out of his voice.

‘Set up a dilithium refinery station on the border of their space and ours.’

‘They would have to be members of the Federation for that to happen,’ Stone told Baxter, who didn’t look in the least bit repentant for the suggestion.

‘And you don’t want to do that sir?’

‘Not really,’ Stone answered.

‘What if we granted them provisional membership? Would that be enough?’

‘How soon can they sign?’

‘Sir?’ asked Baxter, feeling that he had just walked into a trap.

‘The Federation miners say that with all the new ships on the drawing board, and the ones in the shipyards, and the vessels being given overhauls, there isn’t enough dilithium in the mines that we’ve got open at the moment. It’s in short supply and we’re going to need more, soon.’

‘Do you want me to get them to sign if they agree then?’ Baxter asked, feeling jubilant.

‘By the power vested in me as the President of the United Federation of Planets, I hereby authorise you to ratify the Federation-Ahjadi Treaty of 2161,’ Stone said officially.

‘Thank you sir,’ Baxter said.

‘Let me know of any further developments,’ Stone replied. ‘I’ll go and give the good news to the miners and the Andorians. Stone out.’

Baxter continued to stare at the blank screen for several seconds as the impact of what had just happened sunk in to his brain. The dilithium was desperately needed but he felt reticent – Bujai looked like he was holding something back. He put his intuition at the back of his mind and started work on the treaty. This was the work in intelligence that he preferred doing and Tucker had seemed to know that, but the work he’d done was supposed to be classified. Though having Archer as the head of Starfleet Intelligence probably meant that Tucker knew a lot more than he should.

The Ahjadi had explicitly indicated that in their home system there were three dilithium-rich asteroid fields and though Baxter was quite happy to go ahead with the signing of the treaty once the official authorisation had been delivered by subspace, Tucker and Shran were not so optimistic, though they hid it from Bujai well enough. Baxter, Tucker, Shran and Bujai all wore full dress uniform as they took over the officers’ mess for the official signing. The room had the Federation, Starfleet, Andorian and Ahjadi ensigns side by side near the table as President Stone had suggested. The President had also insisted that the treaty was signed in pen, on paper, as well as by thumbprint, though Baxter couldn’t understand why. As Bujai signed he looked extremely smug and Baxter knew that he was holding something back. It was during the brief celebration afterwards when Bujai voiced the “something.”

‘On behalf of the Ahjadi Sovereignty I would like to ask a favour of our new allies.’

Tucker glared at Baxter who shrugged. ‘Go ahead.’

‘About ten years ago we lost contact with one of our long range scout ships. I have discovered that it was sent to intercept Enterprise.’

‘We defeated them in a fire fight,’ Tucker told Bujai, totally unrepentant, ‘and they limped off at impulse speed.’

‘They never returned home,’ Bujai continued as if he hadn’t heard the interruption. ‘A few months ago we received an automated distress call from the vessel and triangulated its position.’

‘Why didn’t you rescue them?’ Shran asked.

‘The system they were in was under dispute and we felt that we could not risk it,’ Bujai answered. ‘Now it would be impossible for us to retrieve our comrades.’

‘What system?’ Shran asked hesitantly.

‘You call it Prynica,’ Bujai stated.

Shran, Tucker and Baxter looked at each other for a few seconds and then Baxter’s shoulders slumped. ‘Guess I have to go and talk to the President again,’ he said.

‘They’re our allies now, he’ll have to try,’ Shran added.

‘He’ll say no,’ Tucker responded.

‘We’ll see,’ Baxter replied and left the room.

He ran to his quarters and opened the secure line. He should have listened to his instincts.

‘An emergency after less than five hours. What’s the problem?’

‘They were holding something back. Ten years ago Enterprise defeated one of their vessels and it didn’t make it home. They’ve located it now, in the Prynica system.’

‘I’m sure Enterprise can be spared for a few days,’ Stone said.

‘Sir, in the Prynica system,’ Baxter emphasised.

Stone’s face looked blank for a moment and then his face dropped. ‘Within the Romulan Neutral Zone.’

‘Yes sir.’

‘I’m in a meeting with the Federation Council, we’ll contact the Romulan Senate to allow entry for a search and rescue mission.’

‘I’ll relay the message to Captain Bujai.’

‘Tell him not to hold his breath,’ Stone said. ‘Prynica was a prickly point during the treaty negotiations. I was there. I hated to let it go.’

Aye sir,’ Baxter replied.

‘Thanks for the bad news,’ the President said with wry grin, ‘Stone out.’

 

‘I heard,’ Ambassador T’Pol said before Stone could ask her opinion. ‘The Romulans will say no.’

‘I know that, but we have to try.’

‘Let me talk to the Romulan ambassador, he owes me a favour,’ T’Pol said.

Stone looked at her.

‘Mister President,’ she added. ‘I know Captain Tucker. He’ll probably do it anyway.’

‘I don’t doubt it,’ Stone replied, having heard of the former engineer’s exploits in the past. ‘Go ahead T’Pol, ask the Romulan ambassador.’

T’Pol nodded and left the President’s office, her robes flowing behind her. She thought fondly of Captain Tucker, they were good friends and had once been lovers. She hadn’t seen him in nearly five months as she had been in the middle of negotiations with several different peoples and he was overseeing the overhaul of Enterprise. The office of the Romulan ambassador was situated close to the office of the President in the Federation Council Chamber in Paris and T’Pol knocked at the door.

‘Enter,’ said the low voice from within. Her superior hearing picked it up easily.

She did so and saw him sitting at his desk eating. ‘What can I do for you Ambassador T’Pol?’

‘Ambassador Taralak, I have a favour to ask of you.’

‘I do owe you one,’ Taralak replied mischievously.

‘A vessel belonging to one of our allies has been discovered in the Prynica system. They are requesting permission to mount a search and rescue mission.’

‘I’m sorry, that is within the Neutral Zone.’

‘I’m aware of that,’ T’Pol said, noticing that he was holding something back. ‘Is there something of importance in that system?’

‘There is,’ Taralak was honest about that.

‘Military?’

‘Most things in Romulan territory are run by the military.’

‘Would you ask the Praetor?’

‘He would say no,’ Taralak told her. ‘He warned me that Starfleet would try to get into that system and I will now relay the warning he imparted to me to give to the Federation. Any attempt to enter the system will be met with deadly force,’ his eyes showed his carnal hunger for bloodshed, and for her.

‘I will relay the information to the President.’

‘By all means, do so. You could contact the Senate to ask anyway, they might let you in,’ he added.

‘You still owe me a favour,’ she told him as she left.

Thirteen hours later she personally contacted Captain Tucker on board Enterprise.

‘T’Pol, it’s good to hear from you,’ Tucker said.

‘I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news for you,’ she told him, noticing Shran, Lieutenant Baxter and Captain Bujai. ‘The Romulan Senate have declined permission. Any attempt to enter the system will be met with deadly force.’

‘From the Romulans that doesn’t surprise me,’ Tucker said.

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Thank you for giving me the information personally,’ Tucker said. ‘Live long and prosper.’

The screen went blank. ‘The answer is no,’ he informed everyone. ‘Hoshi, get Admiral Archer for me will you? I want to have a chat with him.’

‘Aye sir.’

Moments later Tucker sat on the bridge, with a secure line to the head of Starfleet Intelligence. ‘Trip, are you nuts?’

‘We’re responsible for it being there in the first place,’ Tucker retorted, ‘therefore it is our responsibility for getting it back.’

‘Starfleet and the Federation can’t afford another war,’ Archer told him. ‘What you’re proposing could start another one.’

‘Only if we’re caught.’

‘You’d better not screw up,’ Archer said. ‘I’ll try to keep everyone off your back but if you’re caught we won’t send another ship to rescue you.’

‘If we get caught, we’ll be dead. Another ship won’t be necessary,’ Tucker replied with a grin.

‘I’d say not,’ his former mentor agreed. ‘Get going, I’ll keep you safe as long as I can.’

‘Thanks,’ Tucker said and cut the link. ‘We’re going anyway.’

Baxter and the other commanders looked at him in surprise. Tucker faced them. ‘You’d better get back to your own vessels. Enterprise isn’t going into the mouth of hell alone.’

Shran and Bujai nodded to him sand strode to the turbolift. Within minutes the Untouchable and the Ahjadi Destroyer Augment took up attack positions to the left and right of Enterprise. It was after all the flagship of the Federation fleet – the first to be retrofitted with declassified Vulcan and Andorian technology.

‘Set a course for the Neutral Zone,’ Tucker said to Mayweather when Shran and Bujai had signalled readiness. ‘Warp five.’

‘We’re capable of going faster sir,’ Mayweather advised him.

‘I know, but the Romulans don’t, I want them to think that we can only go at warp five for now. We might need to get out of there quickly, or use the element of surprise,’ Tucker said.

‘Yes sir, course and speed laid in,’ Mayweather replied.

Enterprise shot off at warp and was closely followed by the Untouchable and the Augment. Though Tucker was only following his instincts about helping the Ahjadi he knew that they had joined under pretence but it could be mutually beneficial. If the worst came to the worst he would destroy the ship. Everybody in Starfleet knew what happened to Romulan POWs. There was clear space ahead and Tucker hoped that they could enter the Neutral Zone and get to the Prynica system before the Romulans realised that they were there. That would give them a little extra time to locate and rescue the Ahjadi and their ship if possible.

Chapter Six

 

Several hours later the commanding officers of all three ships watched their screens anxiously as they dropped out of warp in the Prynica system. Enterprise took the lead and moved at full impulse toward Prynica VI.

‘Are you sure it’s the sixth planet?’ Tucker asked Bujai over the comm.

‘The distress signal mentioned Prynica VI, that is also where we triangulated the signal,’ the Ahjadi captain answered.

‘It could be a trap,’ Baxter said.

‘That’s just what I was thinking,’ Tucker agreed. ‘Are the sensors picking up anything?’ He asked Drem at the science console.

‘There appears to be an outpost of some kind,’ Drem answered.

‘Maximum magnification,’ Tucker ordered.

The image on the viewscreen changed to show a circular compound shaped like a bicycle wheel, with spokes leading to the central hub. There was a second, smaller circular compound set apart from the main one. The central hub appeared to have what looked like a planet-based weapon system.

Are they there?’ asks Captain Bujai over the open comm.

‘I’m detecting over a hundred life-signs, approximately two-thirds of which are Romulans,’ Drem answered, directing his answer at Tucker.

‘What about their ship?’ Baxter asked from beside Tucker on the bridge.

‘In the hangar at the north end of the compound,’ Drem said.

‘They’ve taken it apart,’ Bujai added, using his ship’s own sensors. ‘I’m picking hull alloys from the Ahjadi ship in several places within the compound.’

‘So it’s a combination internment camp and laboratory,’ Shran interjected. ‘Devious bastards.’

‘Commander Reed, I want attack plans within the hour,’ Tucker said, receiving agreeing nods from the other captains.

‘Aye sir.’

Forty minutes later Reed was in the situation room that had been set up over seven years ago when Enterprise had entered the Delphic Expanse to deal with the Xindi threat to Earth. Tucker, Shran and Bujai were also there, looking forward to hearing Reed’s ideas.

‘We enter here,’ Reed said, pointing toward a point on the sensor map, ‘near the prison block. Blow a hole in the wall here and take as many Ahjadi as possible in the shuttlepods and then beam the others up to our vessels using the transporter.’

‘Too risky,’ Shran told him. ‘That is a high-yield disruptor cannon,’ he added, pointing to the weapon platform on the roof of the main compound. ‘It’ll blow us out of orbit one-by-one, quickly.’

‘Plan B?’ asked Tucker.

‘We use Enterprise, go in low and fire on the compound, taking out the shield generator they’ve undoubtedly got, beaming up the prisoners as we go,’ Reed answered.

‘We can’t bring everyone on board,’ Tucker reminded him.

‘Captain Bujai, does your ship have transporters?’

‘For produce and machinery, not for people,’ Bujai looked horrified.

‘Can it work for people?’ Tucker asked.

‘Yes, I suppose,’ Bujai replied. He didn’t like the idea of his molecules being disassembled and then reassembled.

‘Then,’ Reed continued, ‘while two ships remain in orbit to protect the third from the Romulan warbirds that will appear; the third will make a bombing run at the compound. Go in one ship at a time, firing at the compound and rescuing prisoners until their all aboard. Then all three fire at the hangar and the remains of the compound so that nothing is left and whatever research has been done is destroyed.’

‘It might just work,’ Baxter said and the others looked at him.

‘Maybe,’ Tucker replied.