What Do We Do?

Unofficial Literary Challenge 24 - Mirror Wars - Prompt 3

---

 Kathryn looked at the main viewscreen in shock. The planet’s surface was a wasteland of craters. Small areas of city-scape could be seen between gaping pits, but these were blackened husks. Faint clouds hovered high above the surface. The crew was looking at a dead planet. “Anything?”

Omazei, sitting behind and to the left against the back wall shook her head. “Nothing, not anymore. There are no life-signs on the planet, not even a microbe of algae.”

Kathryn nodded solemnly. “Can we determine how long ago this happened?”

“Readings indicate within ten years.”

Ian whistled from the helm station. “What happened?”

Anthi announced, “Captain, projectile launch from the surface, headed for us!”

Kathryn turned in her chair perplexed by the report. “Identify and time to impact?”

Looking wide-eyed from her console, Anthi almost yelled, “solid deuterium, ten seconds!”

“Helm, whatever it takes! Shields up!” The bridge lights suddenly turned red with the warning claxon blaring. Solaris lurched to port. Standing crew was thrown to the ground and anyone sitting was pushed into arm rests. On the viewscreen and the planet’s curve disappeared, then a bright light grew from one side.

The shock wave crashed against the ship, pushing it along the roll axis. The shield’s either absorbed or deflected the force from the explosion. Inside, inertial dampeners and gravity regulators fought for control of the crew.

Kathryn reached for the command chair’s armrest to lift herself from the floor. “S’Rel, save the damage report for later. Ian, don’t stop, get us out of here. Omazei what just happened?”

The Trill Science Officer sat into her chair and started tapping at her console. After a few seconds, Omazei replied, “fusion detonation, approximately fifty megatons. Data shows a laser beam directed at the projectile from the surface caused the ignition. The source of both seems to be from the same location.”

Ian McKinnon at the helm spoke up. “Captain, we are about to arrive at the moon’s orbit around Kurza III.”

Turning to helm, Kathryn smiled. “Thank you Ian, full stop. Get ready to bolt if we are attacked again.” She looked around the bridge, and then rested her gaze to the MSD console. The image of the Excelsior-class ship above S’Rel started showing red in many places along the ship with increasing amounts. “Okay, go to yellow alert. S’Rel, let’s look at the damage report. I want a staff meeting in thirty minutes.”

+++

Kathryn looked around the room and stopped at the Chief Medical Officer. “How’s the crew?”

Annika Kramer sat forward. “There is not a concern for radiation; the ship’s shielding handled that easily. Although, initial reports declare there are ten serious injuries from the initial evasive maneuver, thirty-seven more from the shockwave and over two-hundred minor injuries over both events, after that, bumps and bruises. Triage teams will be working around the clock.”

“And the ship?”

The Andorian Chief Engineer interlaced his fingers on the table, a sign of concern. “The ship got battered from such close proximity to a thermonuclear explosion. Repairs will be slow, but he’ll fly right.”

“We’ve been through worse, Thel, I’m sure. Analysis of the situation?”

S’Rel raised a Vulcan eyebrow as if to gather attention before speaking. “The Kurza system was mapped by Voyager’s journey through the Delta Quadrant, though only rudimentary information was collected as the system was over fifty light years perpendicular to the path plotted. A study by Starfleet determined faint radio transmissions emanating from the system.”

Kathryn picked up immediately, “which is why we are here: consider First Contact possibilities unless the Prime Directive kicks in. Radio signals are a sign of a developing culture, yet within thirty years, it looks like whatever culture was on Kurza III is now gone, and a giant gun is pointed into space?”

Omazei leaned forward. “Automated planetary defenses are well known throughout recent history. In 2364, when the Enterprise-D visited the planet Minos , for example. This weapon may have been a part of the culture when Voyager passed by.”

“You said, ‘automated’. Have scans revealed anything about our attacker?”

Omazei looked at a PADD. “Back-tracing the trajectory of the attack, the source location is a massive metallic structure on the surface.”

The Andorian First Officer swiveled her chair toward Omazei. “It’s easy to presume the weapon was defending the planet because of our reception. But if the surface looks like a war zone, then could it be that the weapon was used against the planet?”

The room was quiet for a few seconds. Kathryn started to formulate a plan. “Okay, I want to see this through. A small team is going to the surface. Omazei, have Romas Verthir meet me in Transporter Room Three. Thel, can you join me for this one?”

The ship’s engineer nodded.

+++

Three Starfleet officers materialized on the planet and immediately pulled out tricorders from holsters on their environmental suits. Romas turned left while Thel turned right as Kathryn swept in front of her. Occasional strong winds blew dirt and sand in every direction.

Kathryn turned her head within the suit, whose design was inspired by the hellish milieu of Nukara. “Radiation levels are pretty high. We’ll have an hour at best.”

“Captain, look below.” Romas sounded sad and Kathryn had to bend at the waist due to the helmet being fixed to the shoulder harness. She took a step back from seeing the burned skull, only to crush more blackened bone. She looked around again and realized they teleported onto a field of bones.

Thel stepped forward still looking at his tricorder and snapped more bone, seeming to be oblivious to the carnage under foot. “Captain, my readings suggest an entryway to the structure one-hundred meters in this direction.” He was pointing toward the long side of the building that fired upon Solaris, which they chanced to start their survey of the situation. Fortunately, the ship was not greeted by weapons fire as before.

Kathryn and Romas joined Thel as he walked in the direction the tricorder was taking him. She inspected the area as best as the restrictive combat suit would allow. The building itself was almost one-hundred meters tall and three-hundred meters long and covered in rubble and sand from the area. It looked as if debris and soil rained from the surrounding parts of the city. The entire settlement around them was devastated. Large buildings seemed gutted out from massive explosions, revealing only the skeletal structure of beams from foundations. Smaller buildings seemed cleaned away by a massive broom.

As they walked, Romas would briefly stop to examine a skeletal corpse before catching up to the others only to stop again and scan with the tricorder. Kathryn noticed the number of bodies, or the piles of bones seemed to increase as they approached the door.

Thel suddenly raised an arm to stop Kathryn and he gestured to the building. Kathryn watched as a long pole pointed at them and swiveled back and forth, as if to wave them away from approaching further. She increased the audio from external microphones and heard a distinctly familiar sound.

Click. Click. Click.

“Thoughts?”

Thel lifted his tricorder slowly. After a few seconds, he reported, “it’s a ballistic weapon and clearly out of ammunition.”

“That explains the wounds in the nearby bodies,” Romas added and he knelt down to put a finger through a hole in a skull.

Kathryn looked around and noticed more in the same condition nearby and shook her head. She looked up and down the length of the building and started to notice other barrels protruding outward in varying sizes and lengths. Only the one nearby was moving. Leaning back to look toward the top of the building, she could see a large dome at the center with a long cylinder pointing toward the sky. She surmised that was the cannon that shot at her ship. “This structure is made for war.”

Thel took a step forward. “The door is this way.” He placed a hand on the phaser pistol at his waist.

As they reached the door, it hanged by one hinge inward and looked as if it were opened by explosive force. Cautiously, Kathryn entered first and activated the suits headlamps. Inside, the dust and dirt crawled into the structure from several years of exposure. The metallic hallway was only ten-meters long, devoid of any other features and allowed the team to walk in their bulky suits without discomfort. When they reached the door at the other end, it slid open without prompt but with great difficulty. Sand slowly blew into the fresh interior.

She moved her suit to allow the lamps to shine within. Inside the darkened room was packed with conduits, pipes and various conveyors, yet a walkway allowed transit within the metallic guts of the building. The microphones picked up a faint hum inside the structure suggesting it was still powered by some source. Kathryn turned back to Romas and Thel, both were still conducting scans with tricorders.

Kathryn activated the suits communicator. “Solaris, this is the Captain, do you read me?”

Static answered first and then Anthi’s voice responded faintly, “barely, but underst- <shzzt>. We are still <shzzt> to track your loca- <shzzt>. Do you cop- <shzzt>.”

“Yes. Boost signal and check every five minutes.”

“Aye aye, Capta- <shzzt>.”

“Okay, make or break time. Thel, I’ll need another pair of eyes in here, Romas keep scanning and mapping, please. Let’s chat to a minimum.” The others agreed with thumbs-up. Turning to the open door, she entered with a hand resting on her sidearm.

Several uninterrupted minutes passed as they walked the path that seemed to lead to the center of the structure. Communication with the ship was becoming more strained and Romas surmised it was indirect interference. At one point they passed a large area that was clearly used as an ammunition storage room with automated loaders near tracks and conveyors. The room was empty of fuel for the many weapons the site contained.

Eventually, they reached the center of the building. Inside the cavernous room, the walls were covered with display screens, all darkened and a few cracked. Suspended from the ceiling was a large command chair connected by a jungle of cables and wires. Some were not connected to the chair or armature and hanging above the floor. In front of the chair were a few other displays with input terminals. Sitting in the chair rested a single occupant, unmoving.

Slowly walking into the room, Romas continued his scans behind Thel and Kathryn. Checking the chronometer, Kathryn noted they would have very little time to investigate the situation as prolonged exposure was still a concern, yet the radiation levels inside the building were significantly lower than outside. Stepping toward the control chair, Kathryn could tell the occupant was dead from a head wound. In the Kurzan’s lap was an elegant-looking pistol, clearly used for its suicide.

“What happened?” Kathryn though out loud. Looking to Thel, he was already at a nearby console using his tricorder. She checked her suit’s reading once more. “Thel, anything?”

Without looking away from his work, he tapped at the tricorder before responding, “yes, sir. This console seems functional. In fact, most systems within the structure seem to be reasonably operational. I’m attempting to download information, but –“

Concord calls
Enemies of the state
All within
All without
Only Concord remains

The deep voice comes from everywhere within the room. Romas and Thel look to Kathryn. She shrugs. “Let me guess Thel, you are unable to download anything because of resistance from the program?”

“Yes, sir.”

Kathryn nods. She clears her throat and then activates the suit’s speakers. “Are you … Concord?”

Victory
In name and duty
Forever

Romas turned to Kathryn. “Captain, as a war machine, Concord may only recognize military-style phrasing, so conversation may be limited in scope. Yet, I do sense a presence here. I perceive Concord is A. I.”

Kathryn raised a hand absentmindedly to her neck as if reaching for her rank pips. It was a tick of hers as she concentrated. Would Concord respond to further inquiry? “Concord, I am a commanding officer conducting performance evaluation. Action report is ordered.”

The team waited for several minutes. Kathryn started to think the conversation was over before Concord responded.

Pacification accomplished
Enemies of the state
Vanquished
Yet Brothers
Defeated
Only Concord Remains

Thel stood and closed his tricorder. “I’m not getting any data from these terminals. Concord will either need to give us the information or tell us about it.”

Kathryn nodded. “Explain the defeat.”

Enemies of the state
Created the Brotherhood
Then
Destroyed the Brotherhood
Only Concord Remains

“Created, then destroyed,” Romas paced toward the dead Kurzan in the center of the room. “What if the Brotherhood were others like Concord? Maybe the Kurzans created these structures as a means of planetary defense that turned against them –“

“An unintended genocide?” Thel interrupted. “Then why would the controller,” pointing to the Kurzan, “kill himself? Wouldn’t he try to stop Concord in some way?’

Romas continued his train of thought. “Maybe he couldn’t stop Concord … or maybe he started it?”

Kathryn looked at the chronometer and waved a hand to stop discussion. “There are too many variables, too many mysteries and we are out of time.” She turned toward the door.

Thel attached the tricorder onto his belt. “What about Concord?”

Turning to look back, Kathryn answered. “Our mission was to determine First Contact protocols. If we were unable to make First Contact, then the Prime Directive kicks in. In this case, P. D. does not apply as we were not aware of Concord until it was too late. We have not contaminated the civilization because it doesn’t exist anymore. So the only question that remained was what happened to the Kurzans.” She opened her arms wide. “This happened.”

Romas turned back to the controller. “That may be so, but what do we do with Concord?”

---

Cast for crew:
Kathryn Beringer - Rachel Nichols
Anthi Ythysi - Katheryn Winnick
Thel Ythysi - Kevin Sorbo
Ian McKinnon - Ben Browder
Omazei - Gemma Arterton
S'Rel - Morena Baccarin
Romas Verthir- Idris Elba
Annika Kramer - Abbie Cornish
Concord - Tony Todd - the voice

Revenge

Literary Challenge 59 - Wrath of Betazed
---

The sheet was pulled and Kathryn grimaced at the sight. She turned from the deceased Jem'Hadar to another table where a Betazoid female lay. Between the two, hers was uncovered first. Kathryn looked at the doctor. "You believe these deaths are linked?"

The Bolian nodded as he covered the Jem'Hadar, then turned to the Betazoid to cover her up. "They are the only fatalities to have occurred within three weeks and they both expired within one hour of each other".

Kathryn turned to her Medical Officer standing near her. Romas Verthir was stroking his pointed beard in thought and nodded to his Captain.

Returning to the doctor, Kathryn said, "May I please have your analysis for my team to investigate?"

Doctor Tazan handed over a PADD. "Of course, that's why we called you. These injuries are not like anything I've seen. The station director is hoping to find resolution quickly because he's afraid of hysteria breaking out, much less have a murderer loose on the station."

Kathryn smiled slightly. "I understand. The resources of the Solaris are at your disposal."

Tazan bowed slightly. Kathryn and Romas returned the gesture and walked out of the morgue.

In the hallway, they looked up and down the corridor. Not seeing anyone, Romas spoke first. "I have my suspicions that this is not a random occurrence."

They started walking toward the director's office. Without looking to her Betazoid Lieutenant, Kathryn asked, "Care to elaborate?"

"There is no doubt both were killed deliberately. I'll need to review the data before I can say more. But I can sense the doctor feels he should be able to solve the problem. I sense reluctance to be working with us."

They stopped at the turbolift. "Head back to the ship, I'll see the Director about his concerns. Hopefully the presence of the Solaris will allay further fears."
---

On board Solaris
Romas scanned the information from the station doctor's PADD on a large viewscreen in his office. Looking at images of the deceased Jem'Hadar's skull, he noticed several fractures along the cranium. Highlighting the cracks, Romas noted they were radiating from the temporal lobe. Switching to the Betazoid, her skull showed the same radial fractures.

Shifting images from the bones to the organs, he read the doctor's notes that the Betazoid's vocal cords were traumatized. This suggested she screamed for a prolonged period shortly before or during her death. Both victims brains were half liquefied.

"Oh, no." Romas pushed aside his assumption with hope as he said aloud, "Computer, reference medical records declaring radial fractures to cranium and ... cross reference reported Jem'Hadar non-combat injuries."

There was a brief moment of silence before the ships computer chirped aloud, "there are no public records available."

Romas' eyebrows furrowed. "Refine search, open parameters to include Betazoid race."

The computer returned the same results and Romas decided to sit down. Realization of a dark truth crept into his mind. "No public records" He stared at the medical notes a few minutes longer while twisting his memories and medical training. Reluctantly he stated, "Computer, refine search, open parameters to combat-related injuries."

The ship computer beeped and the female voice gently stated, "there are four-thousand eighty three records available."

Romas sat up straight. A small strand of fear crept into his thoughts. "Is there a time frame these records were generated?"

"Stardates 51249.11 to 53803.07."

"Provide figures localized to within the Beta Quadrant." Fear turned to dread from the response.

"Three thousand eight hundred ninety seven."

Romas felt warm under his uniform coat. He continued on his hunch. "How many of those were localized on Betazed?"

"Three thousand one hundred forty seven."

---

"Yes, Captain, assassination." Romas sat across from Captain Beringer in her ready room. The station doctor's PADD rested between them. He was very calm with his hands clasped together on the table.

Kathryn wore a deep frown as she slumped back into her chair. "This is the first case of it's kind since 2376? Do you know why?"

"I believe a radical faction of patriots from The War have returned. Living weapons whose empathic abilities became heightened, strengthened and ultimately utterly destructive. The psychic energy would be a shockwave felling tens of Jem'Hadar at the cost of the patriot's life. I believe this is what's happened on the station."

"Why weren't anyone else affected by the psychic shockwave?"

Romas spread his hands open. "It's not meant to be used in a large area. According to the report, the Jem'Hadar was on security patrol in the shuttle bay. Very open and very empty at the time of death. The attacker had enough life to crawl away from the scene and died in a nearby hallway."

Kathryn nodded. "Did these ... patriots ... work alone?"

"No. But I can't say there is continued danger anymore because there was only one Jem'Hadar on the station. The only traditional target is dead."

Kathryn leaned forward. "But if free Jem'Hadar continue to join the Federation, then are we witness to a new resurgence of revenge killings?

"I'm unsure, Captain. Unfortunately, we'll have to wait and see."

Kathryn sighed. "These assassins, this faction, did they have a name?"

"The Morituri". Romas looked down as if ashamed.

---

 

Cast:

Kathryn Beringer - Rachel Nichols
Romas Verthir- Idris Elba

The Big Dark

Literary Challenge 64 - The New Frontier
---

“Without any of our sensors, then we’ll have to find another way to figure out where we are.” Kathryn Beringer turned away from Commander Omazei and a science console to look out the main viewscreen. The starless black seemed to seep through the window.

The Trill Science officer nodded. “I have an idea.”

+++

The officers watched as Omazei stood at the monitor. A tactical view of the Solaris rotated to show the dorsal view of the ship. “We would need four shuttlecraft for this operation.” The image added four blips at the front of the ship. “They will be in the forward quadrant and will fly a rectangular-shaped pattern, essentially creating a box between them that Solaris could fly through.” The scene of the four shuttles rotates, with a dotted line connecting them. An outline of an Excelsior-class ship appears within the box. Measurements appeared showing only a few meters between the lines and the outer edges of the ship.

“They will need to be four-point-seven kilometers in front, guiding the ship through the darkness.”

Commander Thel Ythysi spoke up quickly. “Will the shuttles be towing Solaris?”

Omazei folded her arms behind her as she spoke. “No. The sensor network was severely damaged when the power surge destroyed the deflector array. So, the shuttles will be using their sensor package to act as the eyes of the ship.”

First Officer Anthi Ythysi spoke next. “Why not use probes?”

“We have a finite amount of them. The Class I probe launched at arrival revealed nothing was out there. Granted, its sensor range is relatively limited, yet it is still two hundred thousand kilometers. It’s a risk to use them for further reconnaissance or as buoy markers. Manned shuttle craft would serve best until we can figure out more about the space we are in.”

Kathryn turned to Chief Engineer Thel. “How close are we to having the sensors back online?”

The Andorian responded, “one week at the earliest.”

+++

Kathryn looked to Omazei, who nodded an answer. Kathryn then stabbed a button on the armrest of her Captains chair. “Beringer to Shuttle Team, activate Tachyon Grid, ahead one-quarter impulse. Solaris will stay behind in the pocket. Maintain telemetry and keep comm channels open. Good luck.”

The four shuttle pilots acknowledged and slowly accelerated. Above Omazei's station, Kathryn watched four rows of data scroll information as the shuttles "pinged' outward to get a sense of their surroundings.

"Helm, maintain prescribed distance and make it better than textbook."

"Aye, Captain." Ian's hands confidently crawled across the console. If it weren't for the viewscreen showing the shuttles move, no one could tell Solaris was in motion.

+++

Seven hours later ...

Ian yawned.

Anthi's own yawn overpowered her attempt to suppress it. A beeping sound from the tactical console received her attention and she welcomed it over the monotonous drone of the ships engines. She tapped the console to silence the warning, and then looked to the shuttle telemetry above Omazei's station.

"Captain, the Caracal reports their sensors have detected an object fifty-thousand kilometers to port. They are scanning for more detail."

Kathryn sat up straighter in her chair waiting for information to break the dullness of the past seven hours. "Show the data on the main screen." The blank image was replaced with sonogram-like static. From the flat image, a spire suddenly appeared and receded. Its shape was similar enough for Kathryn to gasp in surprise.

"Helm and shuttles, full stop." Everyone held onto railing or console as Solaris quickly decelerated.

Omazei reviewed the image in a loop. Kathryn put a hand to her mouth and muttered, "we are in a Dyson Sphere."

+++

In the conference room ...

Omazei looked relieved as she spoke. "Based on expanded reconnaissance, we have been traveling almost perpendicular to the surface on the Sphere."

"It seems your idea to use shuttles was a good one." Kathryn smiled.

"Thank you, Captain. Once the local area is mapped, we can use the data to move the ship safely closer to the surface until we can find the shell's main doorway. Using the Solanae and Jenolan Sphere's as a topographical template we can make an educated guess where the doorway would be."

"Wait," Ian McKinnon raised a hand to speak. "We've only seen one doorway in those Spheres. Depending on our relative location, we could be days away from the door traveling at full impulse speed."

Omazei nodded. "That is true."

Kathryn looked to the officers in the room. "Then I think we have two options: wait or continue flying forward until the sensors come back online.”

Ian said, "I suggest we wait. What if the door is on the opposite side?"

Thel was quick to respond, “if this Sphere is similar to Solanae, then we would reach it in days at Full Impulse, minutes at Warp one.” Ian nodded to acquiesce to the facts.

“One question I have is why this Sphere does not have a star within it.” Lieutenant Commander Karl Melango had been silent throughout the meeting.

After several seconds, Anthi suggested, “we could send an Away Team to find information about the Sphere or its inhabitants.”

“That would solve a few riddles.” Kathryn nodded. “Maybe it’s a good thing our presence has not alerted the inhabitants of this Sphere.”

Anthi replied, “if there are any.”

+++

Later, in a nearby spire …

Romas Verthir was tapping purple-colored keys on the alien console while also reviewing data from his tricorder, the light from his EV suit able to illuminate the surface area and nothing else. Meanwhile, other members of the away team scanned the walls with the searchlights attached to wrists and helmet. They also waved tricorders when they felt the need. One member of the team stood guard over the rest, clutching a Phaser Battle Rifle to his chest and swiveling at the waist to keep an eye out for threats.

After a few more taps on the console, Romas was satisfied with his research. He tapped a button on his EV suit and the whole team stopped to pay attention. “Captain, I have confirmed this Sphere is just like the Solanae Sphere.”

“Romas, to be sure, this Sphere is almost an exact replica?”

“No, sir. This is an exact replica.”

“Thank you Lieutenant Commander. Await further instructions.”

On board Solaris …

Kathryn turned to Omazei raising an eyebrow. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

Omazei smiled brightly. “Yes, sir. On my way.” She stood and entered the turbo lift.

+++

Later, in shuttle Caracal …

Omazei flew the shuttle around the Solaris. She pressed a button on a side console and said, “Omazei to Bridge, activating Tetryon Particle collector.” Within seconds, data scrolled on a screen showing the area was filled with Tetryon Particles. Omazei beamed in her triumph.

+++

Later, in the Captain’s Ready Room …

“Basically, Captain, the Sphere is in subspace. I cannot postulate how it arrived, but clearly the accident with the Bajoran wormhole transported us here. We are out of phase with our reality, so, if we can create a subspace force field around the ship, then we would be one step closer to getting out.”

Kathryn looked away to consider the ramifications. “We would then need to create a spatial rupture large enough for the ship to fly through.” Looking back to Omazei she said, “aren't you curious about how the Sphere exists in Subspace?”

“Not this time, Captain. Being stranded in subspace is not appealing to me."

---

Cast:
Kathryn Beringer - Rachel Nichols
Anthi Ythysi - Katheryn Winnick
Karl Melango - Jeremy Renner
Thel Ythysi - Kevin Sorbo
Ian McKinnon - Ben Browder
Omazei - Gemma Arterton
Romas Verthir- Idris Elba

Cause Unknown



Literary Challenge 63 - Nightmare Anomaly

 

Captain's Log, Stardate 86782.16. The Solaris has been on a survey mission of SMU-14 in the Zenas Expanse when we received a faint distress signal near the nadir warp point of the system's star. Upon arrival, we discovered the long-lost VSS Kol'Dagnar, a Vulcan science vessel. It was presumed lost with all hands in 2398 during it's mission in the Afehirr Nebula. There are no responses to all hailing frequencies, so I will be sending a Away Team to investigate. How it is on the other side of the Alpha Quadrant is one mystery to solve. What happened to the ship is another one ...

+++

The blue shimmer faded as the five person's coalesced into being. The darkness of environment was complete and each member of the Away Team looked around without a step to attempt to get their bearings. One wrist-light was activated and pierced the darkness, illuminating on a member of the party. In quick succession more wrist-lights brought light to their position. Each member wore the bright whit Federation-issue EV suit and wore field-kits relative to their ship-borne position.

As the beams scanned from floor to ceiling, the layout of the ship's bridge started to become familiar to the team. One member suddenly grabbed the side of the helmet and screamed in terror, causing the others to focus their attention on their team mate. As the screaming became more intense, arms and legs thrashed, striking the other members. Another person suddenly stood from the fray then fell back against a console, cracking glass and spraying dust into the air. A third member tapped a button on their EV suit and all five quickly disappeared in a shower of blue light.

+++

Captain Kathryn Beringer stood looking at her Away Team on the beds. She was still wearing the EV suit and was cradling her helmet. She watched passively as Doctor Annika Kramer pulled the hypospray away from S'Rel's neck then wiped the sweat from her forehead, while Karl Melango and Bur'ar placed a catatonic Romas Verthir on a bio-bed.

The doctor tied her long blonde hair into a ponytail then walked to the other bio-bed where Lieutenant Commander Verthir lay, his medical reading were faint. She turned to Kathryn. "What the hell happened over there?"

Kathryn looked down trying to hide a tear forming. "We were onboard for only seconds before S'Rel started screaming in pain. Moments afterward Romas collapsed in his current state. That's when I called for medevac." She sniffled quietly and quickly.

Karl shifted his weight as Kathryn spoke, his EV suit's material wrinkled. He looked around the room at various items or people and scratched at his chest. Bur'ar stood sentry in the center of the room, his Bat'leth held tight in one hand, with a very determined look upon his face.

Annika looked at the three other members of the Away Team. After a few seconds, she listened to her instinct and pulled out a tricorder from her jacket to start a medical scan. When finished, she looked concerned. "Captain, I strongly recommend you and the others get some rest ... here in sickbay."

Bur'ar lifted his weapon and grumbled, "a true warrior only sleeps in death."

Annika quickly tapped her badge, "Transporter room, emergency transport. Lieutenant Bur'ar to the Brig, no questions, do it now!"

The Klingon Chief of Security lunged toward Annika with a roar and just as quick dematerialized.

Karl had cowered under a bed looking around the room frantically and Kathryn had covered her eyes trying not to cry. Annika recovered from Bur'ar's attempt and pulled her Captain toward a bio-bed. A nurse applied a hypospray and Kathryn drifted to sleep.

Lowering herself to Karl, Annika extended a hand. He recoiled and said through trembling lips, "they will ... always remember ... Please help ... me ... forget ... their ... pain."

+++

Later, in the conference room ...

Science Chief Commander Omazei entered the meeting room, smiled at the four other crew members and sat down next to the First Officer. Anthi's Andorian antennae bowed as she nodded then started the meeting.

"It's obvious the Away Team's brief exposure on board the Kol'Dagnar has affected them psychologically. We need to figure out how and what to do about it."

Helmsman Lieutenant Ian KcKinnon leaned forward and sternly replied, "I suggest we destroy the ship."

Anthi raised an eyebrow. "Well, I don't want to remove options, but I was hoping that would be lower on the list." She turned to Doctor Kramer, "how is the team holding up?"

The Doctor sighed. "They are all under sedation. Whatever the cause, S'Rel and Romas were affected more than the others, relatively speaking."

There was a moment of silence before Omazei spoke next. "Hmm, of the team members, they are more psychologically sensitive."

Annika added, "S'Rel is Vulcan, Romas is Betazoid. Of the two, based on my observations, S'Rel condition is more critical."

"That suggests there a connection to S'Rel and the ship." Anthi placed a hand to her chin in thought. "The only one I can think of is that ship was crewed by Vulcans."

Another few seconds passed before Chief Engineer Thel responded. "We need to expand our scans of the ship. Or send another Team." His Andorian antennae swayed to each side with each suggestion.

"I disagree," replied Ian. "Five top officers were brought low within seconds being on board that ship. I don't need a hypothesis to test for causality. Although more scans may reveal why they were effected, does it matter? The fact is the first team was the test and sending more teams will endanger them. Solaris should blow that ship out of existence."

Omazei was quick to respond, "it does matter. Knowing what happened will help us determine how to help the Away -."

A notification beep interrupted. "Doctor Kramer, you wanted to be notified if there were any further reports of anomalous behaviors. Over the last ten minutes, five crew have reported strong headache-like pains. None incapacitated but treatment requested."

"Thank you. Rhonda, what species are the affected crew?"

There was a pause before the nurse's response. "All Vulcan."

"Thank you again". The officers in the room looked at each other.

Omazei pressed her case. "I'd still like to know the cause."

A notification beep interrupted again. "Doctor Kramer, another seven crew members have reported varying degrees of sudden mental stress. From Human to Xindi, there is no pattern."

Annika bit her upper lip. "Thank you Rhonda. I'm on my way." She turned to the assembled officers. "Something is happening and it has to do with that ship." She stood to leave the room until Anthi raised a hand.

"Doctor, I need an analysis of the recent accounts as soon as possible. We have a duty to the Captain and crew to get more information before further action is taken." Anthi stood as a sign the meeting was over.

The officers walked onto the bridge. As they reached their relative stations, Anthi held her head from a sudden and powerful headache. Her brother, Thel, turned to a wall and punched it, howling in pain from broken bones in his hand. Omazei fell from her chair as she envisioned a Trill symbiote tearing open her stomach, splashing blood and intestine to her feet. She screamed.

Ian's fingers danced across his helm console. The ship lurched to port for a few seconds. He wiped sweat from his forehead and blinked the mental vision of the bridge viewscreen cracking and venting atmosphere. He looked around and nothing was damaged.

Omazei stopped scooping air toward her stomach. "Wha ... what was that?"

Thel held his left hand close to his chest and quickly walked to the main science station. After tapping a few keys one-handed, he stood. "Lieutenant McKinnon has moved the ship two kilometers further from the Kol'Dagnar We are stationed eight point three kilometers away."

"Everyone okay?" Anthi was rubbing her temples. She slapped her badge. "Doctor Kramer, have you received any more reports of aberrant behavior from the crew?"

Annika was breathing heavy as her voice carried across the bridge. "In a word, yes."

+++

Later, in sick bay ...

"Wake him." Anthi stood over Karl Melango laying on the bed.

Annika placed a hypospray to Karl's neck. Seconds later he shifted slightly but the restraining field held him in place. He blinked his eyes open and looked around the room before settling on the Andorian's concerned stare.

"Anthi? Why am I in sick bay?"

The First Officer looked surprised. "You don't remember?"

Karl concentrated for a moment, then shut his eyes as if in pain. "Oh ... it was terrible what happened to the crew! They didn't suffer for long. I've never seen anything like it."

Annika stepped up to Anthi. "This is the same with the rest of the crew."

"Pardon?"  Karl looked to the two officers.

Anthi replied, "Technically, you didn't 'see' anything. The Team experienced extreme psychologically-induced shock. So far we have determined something aboard the ship is causing various effects from headaches to violent hallucinations causing harm to self and others depending on the vision and proximity to the ship itself. During the most recent episode, Ian moved Solaris away from the Vulcan ship and the effects stopped.

Karl looked down at himself and brushed a hand against the shielding. Golden light shimmered in photonic waves from the touch. "Is everyone safe then?"

"As far as we can tell, yes."

+++

Later, on the bridge ...

Omazei pointed to the ship. "Sensor analysis confirms the Kol'Dagnar is emanating a powerful psionic field. Embedded within the wave signature is telepathic information, the terminus is roughly five point seven kilometers from the ship itself.

Kathryn didn't take her eyes off the viewscreen. "Telepathic information ..."

S'Rel stated flatly, "it's the death cries of the crew infused within the hull itself. Whatever happened to them, it must have been ... extraordinary. That ship is a tomb."

The bridge crew was silent for several minutes. Only the steady hum from the Solaris' engines and the occasional beep from a console could be heard.

Kathryn turned to S'Rel. "Lieutenant Commander, do you have any recommendations?"

The Vulcan recalled the image of blistered and punctured skin, erupting organs and blood washing the walls of the ship, then shivered slightly. "There is no logical way to determine what happened to the crew, or how the ship came to rest here. It's a clear and present danger. Although we should catalog the anomaly and our experiences, I recommend pushing the Kol'Dagnar into the sun."

Captain Beringer nodded and looked to the rest of her officers. They looked down as if to agree.

"Mr. McKinnon, maintain this respectable distance and position Solaris accordingly. Omazei, prepare the tractor beam to repulse the Kol'Dagnar.

Both officers responded in unison, "Aye, Captain."

---

Cast:
Kathryn Beringer - Rachel Nichols
Anthi Ythysi - Katheryn Winnick
Karl Melango - Jeremy Renner
Thel Ythysi - Kevin Sorbo
Ian McKinnon - Ben Browder
Omazei - Gemma Arterton
S'Rel - Morena Baccarin
Romas Verthir - Idris Elba
Bur'ar - David Ramsey
Annika Kramer - Abbie Cornish
Nurse Rhonda (heard, not seen) - voice of Meg Ryan

There Are 47

Literary Challenge 47 - There Are 47!

---

"The are forty-seven!" The gruff Andorian responded to the demand. Kathryn looked forward to face the Nausicaan but looked unfazed by the revelation.

"My, my. I'm honored you have brought an armada against my lone cruiser. You'll forgive me if I don't tremble in fear."

The Nausicaan Leaderman bristled at Kathryn's grainy image on his main viewscreen, "Captain Beringer, your presence in our sector is at an end. The fact you are also harboring a traitor will make our victory renown within the Klingon Empire."

Kathryn smirked, "So, do you want to find me in the asteroid field or should I try to break out?"

"By all means my dear Captain, I challenge you to attempt an escape." Now Leaderman smiled as wide as his carapace would allow. He signaled his communications officer to break the link and the image altered to one showing the asteroid field his fleet had surrounded. Although his forty-seven ships were the smaller Destroyer Escorts, his numerical advantage was more than enough to defeat a single Federation vessel.

Leaderman sat into his command chair. "Tacticalman, I want to know when and where that witch appears. Our guns will deliver the killing blow."

---

“Senior Officers to the ready room,” Kathryn said calmly toward her badge but briskly walked toward the room. Other officers on the bridge followed suit. Once they settled in their usual seating, Kathryn looked to each of them and stopped at her chief engineer. The Andorian handed his PADD to her.

She reviewed the information quickly. “Thel, this is not good.”

The bulky Andorian nodded gravely. “We need to reach Starbase 39-Sierra for replacement parts. Until then, our Aegis shielding is inoperative. We have internal shields and can polarize the hull as a defense, but that’s simply not enough compared to the firepower out there.”

“Well then, I talked a lot of smack to someone who has the back-up to make me eat my words. Let’s make a miracle or conjure up some magic. I’m open to ludicrous ideas, frankly.”

There was a moment of silence before Karl Melango spoke up. “What about the asteroids?”

Romas Verthir's response came quickly, almost talking over Karl’s suggestion. “We could wait the Nausicaans out, but they’ll come to us eventually.”

Karl persisted, “I mean, why not take the offensive?”

The newest member of the senior staff, a Vulcan named S’Rel, sat back into her chair. “My apologies Romas, but I agree with you that a sit-and-wait posture does not improve our chances out of this situation.”

Karl lowered his head as he decided to wait for others to finish. The Betazoid Science  Officer calmly responded to S’Rel, he baritone voice filling the space between the two Officers. “It may not be the most logical option, but I think it has value to state the most obvious available to us.”

“Indeed,” S’Rel nodded.

Kathryn noted Karl's comments and leaned forward. “Karl, what were your thoughts?”

He looked up and tapped some commands onto the table, activating the wall display, then he stood and pointed to a schematic of the Solaris. “What if we were to manipulate the asteroids around us to become our shielding?”

Chief Engineer Thel Ytheysi placed a hand on his chin, “Are you suggesting using the Tractor Beams to hold a wall of asteroids around us as we attempt a break out? The stress on the beam emitters would be intense. Our dorsal and ventral flanks would still be exposed.”

Karl shook his head then looked to Omazei. “Asteroids tend to be solid and large enough to have their own magnetic fields, correct?”

The Trill Science Chief nodded, then her eyes widened as she made a connection. “Do you mean to control their movement via their magnetic fields?”

He smiled and introduced the ships artificial field lines over the schematic. “I’m not really sure this will work, honestly. It just came to mind.”

Omazei smiled wide then she turned to Kathryn. “Actually Captain, the idea has merit. The Transwarp Engine creates a very large magnetic field. We can adjust its size, wave pattern and even rotation to act like a … an … arm.”

Kathryn raised an eyebrow. “An arm?”

Thel spoke up. “I think I see what Omazei means. From Solaris the … arm … would reach out and grab the arm of a nearby asteroid. Both would then move together, the ship being ‘big brother’ holding ‘little brother’ to pull, spin around, or even push.”

“Exactly!” Karl was excited. “But could we do this with more than one asteroid? If we could have a ring of asteroids surround the ship … maybe even rotate it to accommodate various attack trajectories?”

First Officer Anthi Ythysi spoke up finally. “S'Rel, can the main computer handle this type of operation?”

The Operations Officer responded quickly. “Easily enough on the condition that tertiary systems be shut down. I will also need a team from Beta shift to regulate the power flow from the warp core to the main computer conduits on deck seven.”

"Ask for a miracle, and it will happen.” Kathryn smiled at her officers. “Well done team. The Nausicaan ‘traitor’ needs to get to Federation space and we aim to get him there.”

---

A couple of hours passed and the asteroids just floated in place, slowly spinning or bumping into each other without excitement. The bridge crew silently worked at their stations while the ship itself hummed quietly. Leaderman was anxious and he considered ordering the fleet into the field.

Suddenly, the tactical officer became more animated. "Leaderman, the Pishkar is under attack. Twenty-three point five kelicams on route two-two-seven mark two!"

Leaderman became alert. "Good. Helmsman, plot a course, full impulse speed. Commsman, alert the fleet and have them vector towards the Pishkar!" The ship's engines thrummed to life and the image on the screen showed the asteroid field zoom away as the ship turned. The Helmsman piloted the ship to fly in a parabolic arc to avoid the field.

Within several seconds the ship was within visual range of the battle. Many Escorts were involved and a few were burning wrecks. Leaderman expected that: Federation vessels were rarely easy to destroy.

The white-hulled ship was gracefully circling one Escort and beams of light were exchanged. But while the Starfleet weapons stuck the Nausicaan ship, the Nausicaan's beam struck an asteroid. Several asteroids of various sizes were orbiting the Federation ship, spinning in a ring that rotated to intercept incoming beam attacks. As the ship passed other asteroid, it was pulled into the ring to replace the ones that were destroyed. A few Nausicaan beams passed the defense ring and struck directly onto the hull, plating debris trailing the ship.

---

The ship rocked from the attacks that passed the defense ring. "Damage report!" Kathryn's knuckles were white on the arm rests as she watched the battle unfold. The asteroid ring was working beautifully and she was impressed. Omazei told everyone to expect some attacks would be deflected or absorbed, but it still mattered to Kathryn that her ship was taking damage.

"Structural integrity at eighty-two percent." Thel's report was better than it felt as the ship calmed from the latest attack.

Karl barked a warning, "One enemy ship closing proximity!"

Kathryn frowned, "Omazei, is the magnetic coupling strong enough to hold asteroids in place if we fly into the path of the enemy?"

"Yes, Captain, I believe so."

"Helm, fly into their path if we can. Anthi, how are the Spiral Wave arrays?"

Anthi grinned, "for their first use in anger, they are working wonders."

---

The escort ship came too close to Solaris. The ring of rocks battered the hull until it was breached. Explosions erupted and ripped the ship to pieces as asteroids completed the destruction from the outside. The Federation vessel was like a saw cutting into the Nausicaan ships as they arrived. The scene was utterly against what Leaderman was expecting.

"How are they able to do that?!"

The Scienceman did not look away from his console but looked closer at the readouts, "Leaderman, their magnetic field is being used to push and pull nearby asteroid, using the asteroids as their shields."

Leaderman spun on his heels, "I can see that, fool! Weaponsman, fire at will!"

The battle raged. The lone cruiser effortlessly weaved through the chaos of space combat. Each minute saw more damage to the Nausicaan fleet than they gave to the Starfleet ship, the ring of asteroids being an effective defense. With each Nausicaan ship destroyed, Leaderman's anger and frustration grew. The cruiser was battered and it's bright orange beams lashed out with less frequency, but it did not flee.

---

"That's forty-one down." Karl wiped sweat from his brow. He pulled the extinguisher from a side panel and sprayed against the fire nearby. He placed the canister back into the panel, then brushed off debris from his console.

Kathryn turned to the communications officer. "Any word from the Nausicaans?"

"No, sir." The blonde human's uniform was tattered from the fall she took earlier in the battle. Bruising was evident at her shoulders.

"Thel, What about the ship?"

"Structural Integrity down to thirty-five percent. I'll need a couple of hours to bring warp power online because there is a theta radiation leak on the port nacelle. I'm venting it out but this fight needs to end soon."

"S'Rel, how's the ring holding up?"

She tapped a few controls on his console. "The Warp Core is stable and so is the field."

Kathryn nodded. "Okay. Let's see if they have had enough. Open a channel." She waited for a signal. "This is Captain Beringer of the USS Solaris. Enough is enough. Surrender now before it's get worse."

---

Leaderman did not reply. He sat in disbelief and counted the remaining ships of his fleet: five plus his own. He looked around the bridge.  Every console in disarray with three wounded, two dead, and himself unscathed.  Switching to the live feed, he looked at the cruiser. Its white hull dimmed with several scars, fires burning within some sores. One nacelle coughing a green-colored cloud but one thing seemed unchanged ... that damned swirling ring of rocks. All ships were motionless and surrounded by the debris of the destroyed Escorts.

Leaderman was breathing heavily. The Nausicaan traitor must not get to Federation space, but the way this battle was fought so far, Leaderman was desperate. He stabbed a button on his command chair, "All ships, attack!" Releasing the button, he stood and pushed the dying Helmsman away from the console. Sitting, he paused above the controls and watched the last of his fleet slowly die. His plan was less exciting, but more glorious. It was all that was left.

A second Escort was thrown against another asteroid and exploded. Leaderman activated the engines, full impulse, straight toward the cruiser. He watched as another Escort was cut in two by a bright orange beam. Each half detonated, showering the local space with burning flotsam. Halfway to the cruiser, a third Escort spun away from the fight as one of its engines went dark, the warp core was ejected as it exploded, tearing the ship apart.

---

Kathryn expected the final move. "Ian -"

"Already on it, sir!"

---

A few kelicams away and the cruiser slowly banked away from Leaderman's ramming Escort. He smiled at the thought that Captain Beringer was indeed a coward, then he saw the asteroids used as a protective ring fly away in every direction. One boulder heading straight for his ship.

At the speed his ship was traveling, he couldn't steer away fast enough.

---

Cast:
Kathryn Beringer - [url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0629697/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1]Rachel Nichols[/url]
Anthi Ythysi - [url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0935395/?ref_=sr_1]Katheryn Winnick[/url]
Thel Ythysi - [url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001757/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1]Kevin Sorbo[/url]
Omazei - [url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2605345/?ref_=tt_cl_t2]Gemma Arterton[/url]
S'Rel - [url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1072555/?ref_=sr_1]Morena Baccarin[/url]
Romas Verthir- [url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0252961/?ref_=sr_1]Idris Elba[/url]
Karl Melango - [url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0719637/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1]Jeremy Renner[/url]
Leaderman - sidewalk extra 1
Tacticalman - sidewalk extra 2
Helmsman - sidewalk extra 3
Commsman - sidewalk extra 4
Weaponsman - sidewalk extra 5
Scienceman - sidewalk extra 6