Friday, March 18, 2016

Prophetic Epilogue


Unofficial Literary Challenge 19 - Prompt 4 "Epilogue"

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Captain’s Log, Stardate 91247.5

As the Federation, and its Allies, expands into the Delta Quadrant, several systems are being properly charted.  Even if this age of conflict with the Iconians, there is a need to explore.  Solaris has seen some front line action, yet being an Excelsior-class meant we were delegated to supply runs.  Naturally this meant we have suffered fewer casualties than some other ships of the line.  In the course of our duties, I have ordered that we be sure to collect data on planets otherwise missing from record at every chance we can. 

On a particular low-priority mission, we were to pass system E538-alpha-7B.  This was the system on Stardate 54529.1 then Captain Kathryn Janeway deposited a group of Klingons who were travelling the Delta Quadrant in search of the kuvah’magh.  The third of six planets was logged as M-class.  Very little information about the system otherwise existed.  Solaris took the opportunity to develop information and check on the status of the pilgrims, maybe even offer the survivors a chance to “come home”, so to speak.  Coincidentally, my Security Chief had a distant relative who joined the crew of the Klingon vessel when it left the Alpha Quadrant.

Long-range scans returned contradicting information from Voyager’s logs.  As we altered course for further investigation, we determined only five planets were in-system.  Eventually we learned an M-class planet was not to be found.

Entered the system on the outer planet’s L2 point, deep scans of the system were conducted.  Immediately noticed was a large debris field between the second and third planets.  After a few hours correlating and verifying data, we discovered heavy traces of Anti-Proton radiation.  Although Astrometrics is convinced this was the class-M planet in Janeway’s logs, proof is either missing or circumstantial.

Without more time, or further analysis, I loathe thinking the Iconians were the direct cause.  Any reason for their action can only be speculated.  I’m also not willing to declare a natural catastrophic event either, yet it cannot be ruled out.  I think the presence of Anti-Proton radiation is the key.  It’s a mystery Solaris will have to leave for another time.

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Fast Rescue

Unofficial Literary Challenge 18 - Prompt 3, "Where Are You?"
 
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The Vaadwaur’s lifeless body collapsed, smoke rising from the multiple phaser blasts to his cloak.

Still crouching, Anthi looked around the room still pointing her rifle at the large male, the room started to smell of cooked flesh.  A meter away to Anthi’s right, Staza Murai glanced around the transporter console, and then looked to Anthi as she slung her rifle over a shoulder.

“That was unexpected.”

Ignoring the casual comment considering the blast marks from the shootout decorating the transporter room, the Andorian looked toward her left and saw Omazei grimace from a burn wound to her shoulder and waved off Anthi’s look of concern.  The Trill’s face transformed to shock and she quickly moved to another officer across the room.

“Brin!”

The Talaxian was crumpled against a bulkhead, blood oozing from an open laceration at his stomach.  Anthi stood and could tell Brin was dead.  Nonetheless, Omazei tapped her combadge and ordered an emergency transport to Sick Bay and both were washed in a blue translucent shower before disappearing.

Finally, the transporter officer stood.  Anthi recognized the human female.  “Ensign, what the hell happened?  Where’s the Captain?”

Cira Beitz wiped sweat from her brow while also moving a strand of loose brown hair from her eyes.  The rest of her jaw-length hair was disheveled.  Attacking the console, she quickly responded, “The record shows her pattern was intercepted and redirected.”  She nodded to the Vaadwaur.  “His pattern infiltrated the beam at the same time.”

Staza stepped forward.  “Can you locate Kathryn?”

The question raised Anthi’s eyebrows and her antennae turned toward the Orion.  The First Officer was surprised at Staza’s congenial use of the Captain’s first name.  Although Anthi did the same regularly, she didn’t think the Empire’s liaison was on friendly enough terms with Kathryn.

The Ensign’s fingers fluttered across the console again.  “Yes.  She’s still on the surface near the transport site.”

Anthi and Staza looked to each other with equal horror.  “Get her out of there”, ordered the Andorian.

After a few moments, Cira shook her head.  “I’m unable to secure a lock for more than a second.  She’s been moved to one of the hab-domes.”  After another second, “she is in a room with three others.”

The First Officer stepped up and verified Cira’s results.  She whispered a curse.  “Keep trying.”  Looking to the Orion, Anthi invited, “ready to rescue the Captain?”

Staza pulled her sleek plasma rifle off her shoulder and checked the charge.  Satisfied, she winked and stalked to the transporter pad.

Anthi followed.  She tapped her combadge.  “Bridge, the Captain is still on the surface.  Staza and I are going to get her back.”  She checked her own power supply, then pulled a stun grenade from her belt pack and armed it.

Turning to the transporter officer, she asked, “can you drop us in that room?” 

Cira shook her head again.  “Too much interference in the building.  But outside –“

Anthi interrupted, “do it.”  She pointed to the Vaadwaur corpse.  “And get that filth off this ship.”

+++

Crossing his arms, the Commando sneered, “by now your team is dead.”  The guards to either side of Kathryn’s chair huffed, thinking their leader’s comment was comical.

Kathryn looked up.  One eye was swollen shut from a purple contusion.  She smirked from bloodied lips.  “One man against hundreds, he will not get far.”

“It will not matter, because we have you.  The Federation will –“

The door behind the Commando burst open and Staza rolled to the side.  As she stopped in a crouch, a teal-colored beam lanced through the room to a guard on Kathryn’s left.  He yelped as the plasma beam seared through his chest and caused his jacket to burn.

Lying on the ground outside the doorway, Anthi took a shot into the room.  The orange phaser beam found the other guard’s face, charring skin.

The officer pulled a pistol from a holster and returned fire toward the door while moving behind Kathryn’s chair.  Staza and Anthi fired again but missed their mark.

Pointing the gun to Kathryn’s head, the officer shouted, “another shot and your Captain dies.”

After a few seconds of tense silence, Anthi lowered the rifle and slowly stood with hands raised.  Staza continued to crouch but lowered her rifle to the floor.

Grinning, the Commando was smug.  “Good, good.  Three top officers from [i]Solaris[/i].”

Anthi ignored him.  “Captain, you look down and out.”

Kathryn’s eyes widened and she looked to Anthi’s right hand.  The Andorian’s palm was facing outward and a thin black ring encircled the middle finger.  “This is going to hurt.”

“Eh?”  The Vaadwaur looked down to Kathryn and that was Anthi’s chance.

The Tactical officer quickly flung her arms forward.  The grenade hidden from the Vaudwaar’s view soared toward him, the locking pin still on Anthi’s finger.  As the small cylinder flew, Kathryn ducked at the waist and fell to the floor.  The Commando’s surprise was obvious as he just stared at the projectile.  At impact on the Vaadwaur’ chest, the stun grenade exploded, engulfing him in a vapor of smoke while the shock wave from the blast pierced his ears.  Kathryn screamed from the grenade’s effect.

Anthi dropped to the ground and lifted her rifle as Staza did the same.  They fired into the Commando’s chest and he crumpled to the floor, lifeless.

Rushing to Kathryn as she writhed in pain, Anthi tapped her badge.  “Cira as soon as we leave the building, beam us out, emergency protocols.”  The Andorian and Orion lifted Kathryn to their shoulders and exited the building, then disappeared before Vaadwaur reinforcements arrived.
 
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Cast for crew:
Kathryn Beringer - Rachel Nichols
Anthi Ythysi - Katheryn Winnick
Staza Murai - Sarah Lind
Cira Beitz - Selma Blair
Omazei - Gemma Arterton
Brin - Miles Teller
Vaadwaur Commando - Male street extra 1
Vaadwaur Soldiers (2) - Male street extra 2 and 3