Revelation

The golden shimmer of successful transportation faded and Captain Kathryn Beringer slapped her comm badge.  "Helm, emergency jump, Warp 7."

The Helmsman sounded confused. "Capta-"

"McKinnon, pick a direction, GO!"  The air hummed as the warp engines suddenly roared to life before calming down into the background.

Unlocking her helmet and throwing it to the ground, she knelt down to injured crewman on the next pad.  Most of his body was encased in crystals and within the structure his face was locked in a rictus of fear.  A third member of the away team also knelt near the injured crewman and Kathryn raised a hand to stop him further.  Dejected, he stood and unlocked his helmet, air hissing quickly.

The crystallized human was bathed in transporter light as he was moved to Med Bay.

Standing, Kathryn turned on her heels to the remaining crewman.  "What the hell was that about, Karl!?"

Karl Melango stood akimbo and calmly responded, "Captain, we were under attack and I reacted."

She recognized Karl was visibly standing his ground.  Such strength of character was perfect for Security detail and also why Kathryn preferred his presence on away missions.  It also seemed slightly insubordinate, so was worth considering later.  She pressed on the situation.  "We had a holofield and the Tholians were not threatening us!"

He crossed his arms, a defensive posture.  "From my perspective, they were about to discover us.  While your focus was rightly on the instruments, one soldier came within a meter of the perimeter.  Watching him, I perceived it could sense vibration frequencies emitted from the field.  As you know, Tholians are sensitive to sonic disruptions and -"

"I'm cutting you off right there, Lieutenant." she raised a hand and used his rank to add gravitas.  "As you know, research on dimensional portals is critical and Nukara is practically the perfect source in the known galaxy."  She took a step closer.  "You had orders: take no action without direct provocation."

Karl sighed.  "Permission to speak freely, sir?"

Kathryn was quick, "Granted".

Taking a step closer, Karl lowered his voice.  "My duty is to protect you, the crew, the ship and the Federation.  In that order.  I was confident the Tholian spotted us and was going to attack."

Kathryn countered with matching Karl's volume.  "Then you didn't 'react', you presumed.  That ruined the mission, endangered all three of us and resulted in Ensign Mechol's injuries.  It seems to me you need to reverse priorities.

Karl paused for several seconds.  "My feelings for you won't allow that."

Surprised by the revelation, Kathryn realized her jaw dropped.  The engines dimmed until it was silent for a few seconds, then thundered as before signaling the Helmsman abruptly changed course in an attempt to hide the path Solaris was taking to escape any followers from Nukara.

"What?"  Kathryn instantly chided herself for her naiveté. Recalling the many missions they had together, she could not recall any signals from Karl.  Just as quick, she found comfort knowing his attraction was a well-kept secret until now.

He reached for her hand and wrapped it with both of his.  "I'm sorry my actions caused harm to Mechol and I would gladly switch places, as long as you are safe."  He stared lovingly at Kathryn and he gently squeezed her hand.

As Karl started to lean toward Kathryn, she caught herself not moving away, even if Starfleet regulations were very clear on what was about to happen.  She was also surprised to be frozen in the moment while recalling one of the first lessons during officer training at the Academy: being Captain of a Starship can be a lonely career.  Karl was ruggedly attractive and was usually of few words.  He was a man of action and Kathryn appreciated that fact.

Only centimeters away, the moment between them changed when Ensign Claire McKenzie cleared her throat from behind the control console.  "Um, sirs?  Should I leave?"

___

Cast for crew:

Kathryn Beringer - Katheryn Winnick

Karl Melango - Jeremy Renner

Claire McKenzie – Hayley Orrantia

Travis Mechols - Freddie Prinze Jr

Heard, but not seen:

Ian McKinnon - Ben Browder

Trade Not

Kathryn looked up from the PADD to see streaking stars out the window of her quarters.  Solaris had finished a supply run to Starbase 47 and was heading to Risa for some R&R at a comfortable Warp Four.

The PADD listed personnel that had perished while under her command within the last six months.  The list was longer than Kathryn wished.  The war with the Iconians and the recent conflicts with the Tzenkethi were taking tolls on Starfleet last seen during the Dominion War.  Yet some losses were due to otherwise peaceful exploration and research.  In that regard, her numbers were small, but they were still losses.

She tugged at the bun of red hair and long locks fell past her shoulder.  The streaks outside abruptly froze and Kathryn felt a slight gust of air from behind.  Confused, she turned and then fell back onto the couch from utter surprise.  Almost reflexively, she called for a Security Team to her quarters.

The intruder was impressively imposing.  Standing just under the height of Kathryn’s quarters, the giant male humanoid wore ornate black armor covering every part of his body.  The helmet, in the style of a human skull, was obviously meant to command respect and instill fear at the same time. 

Kathryn’s curiosity blended with concern.  His appearance in her quarters was sudden and unannounced.   Having already called for security, she doubted not much would stop him if he wanted to cause harm.  How did he arrive?  Where did he come from?  Why was he here?  Could she reach the phaser pistol in the cabinet?  So many questions locked her mind as she sat gripping the cushion.

Several tense seconds lapsed until Kathryn spoke, forcing calm and patience into her voice.  “Who are you?”

The giant’s voice was synthesized, menacing and slow.  “I have many names.  To you; Death.”  Kathryn could tell his armored backpack was either a power source for the suit or further ornamentation that added to his bulky appearance. 

Kathryn gulped and then pushed forward.  “What do you want?”

“One of your kind may return.”  One hand held a mace-like device with a winged-skull at one end.  Raising it, the space between them shimmered as a humanoid slowly arrived into existence.

She stood when the human male coalesced into full reality.  “Karl?!"  With a crisp clean uniform, Karl Melango also looked perfectly healthy.  He did not move nor acknowledge his former Captain. 

Death took a step forward, which thundered within the room.  "His return has condition: to have him, is to replace him.  Another will return with me.”

Kathryn stepped forward and reached out to touch Karl.  She remembered Camus II, the mission, the devastation, the mystery … and misery.  Her fingers passed through him.  Recoiling from the apparition, she then focused on the present and her confidence started to grow.  “A quid pro quo?  I must choose to have someone die, so that Karl may live again?”

Death nodded.

She was aghast.  “That’s not a choice anyone should have to make.  Karl is dead.”  Sadly, she looked upon the visage of her past friend.

”Hear his plea.”  Death spoke as if ignoring Kathryn’s logic.

Kathryn raised a hand to Karl’s face.  “No, I refuse.  For humans, death is final, even when it is not wanted or expected.”

Death leaned at the waist as if to scold as child.  “Humans negotiate with Time.  Do not preach to ME about the treatment of those that should be dead.”

Kathryn did not yield.  “You have come here, unbidden, to change Karl’s timeline.  To … negotiate.  His time ended and should not start again.  Especially at the cost of another’s life."

Standing straight, Death waved a hand and Karl disappeared.

Several seconds passed in silence.  Turning to look at the frozen star streaks, Kathryn crossed her arms.  “Many lives have been lost within my career and I remember them all.  War and exploration takes a toll on mortality.  I am not complacent in my commanding the lives of hundreds.  I do not know where you came from or why you came to me here and now, but-“

The stars streamed again and Kathryn spun on her heels to look into an empty room.

---
Cast for crew:
Kathryn Beringer - Katheryn Winnick
Karl Melango - Jeremy Renner
Voice of Death – Michael Ironside

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

Apologies

Literary Challenge 61 - The Final Battle
---

Solaris banked around the shattered dedication satellite at Wolf 359. Bright beams followed him and impacted against the debris between the Federation ship and the shooters. Once the sleek Excelsior Refit-class ship appeared from the other side, return fire laced from the saucer section, followed by a salvo from missile pods within the hull. Shileding from Fek'Ihri and Elachi ships lighted up against the barrage, some beams finding their way past the energy defense fields, then missiles slamming against unprotected sections. Internal explosions sprayed metal away from the ships, adding to the growing flotsam of the battle space.

Accelerating, the Federation vessel flew between the conglomerate of enemy ships and vented a green-colored cloud from the nacelles while firing broadsides of orange-yellow beams of havoc. At point-blank range, Solaris raked destruction across multiple ship prows, the gas infiltrating the interiors and killing crew, slowly crippling the enemy further.

"Well done, McKinnon!" Kathryn could barely contain her excitement from the command chair, her knuckles white against the arm rests. She sat at the edge of her seat as she heard the crew around her execute the attack pattern flawlessly, but it was her Helmsman that made it all come together. "Aye, Captain" was his response. She looked around the bridge: red warning lights flooded the room, every console lit up like Christmas trees revealing information in real-time and everyone was sweating from the prolonged combat. Glancing toward S'Rel's station, Kathryn looked at the damage report display of her ship above the Vulcan engineer, pulling a stray strand of hair back into the bun on her head. Not too bad, she thought to herself before returning to the main viewscreen.

As the ship turned away from the exploding wreckage, the stars slowly streaked past. Kathryn noticed a burning Federation escort in the background drifting away from the battle. "Tactical, identify the vessel on the viewscreen."

Karl Melango looked up, then quickly tapped against his console before responding. "USS Rodimtsev, Matthew Calgar as Captain. Sensor scan reveal all escape pods released, but one life sign aboard."

Kathryn's eye's widened. "McKinnon, turn to intercept the Rodimtsev. Anthi, patch me through, audio only."

As the static cleared from the speakers, a male's voice was coughing. "This is Captain Calgar of the USS Rodimtsev, who is calling at this dreadful hour?"

"This is Captain Beringer of the Solaris, can we assist?"

"No, I planned to ram an enemy when it gets nearby, I sent my crew packing after the cannons became disabled."

Kathryn looked to S'Rel. The Vulcan shook her head. Data scrolled at Kathryn's chair of the escort and she knew it wasn't flying anywhere. An idea sparked and she needed to see if it would work.

"Captain, you'll have to forgive me later." She motioned for the line to cut. "Omazei, transport him off that ship."

"Aye, Captain." The Trill tapped a few keys. Moments later she reported Calgar was causing a ruckus in Transporter Room 3 and was on his way to the bridge.

Smirking, Kathryn turned to her Chief Engineer. "Thel, can our tractor beam tow the escort at high turn velocity?"

The Andorian nodded, "it could be done but the emitters might burn out at the attempt."

Kathryn smiled. "Good. Capture that ship. Mr. McKinnon, once the Rodimtsev is one thousand meters from us, plot a course back into battle and get us to the nearest battleship."

"Aye, Captain." Ian's fingers danced across his console as the hum of the tractor beam mingled with the thrum from the quad impulse engines. The damaged escort was washed in the blue of the beam and was pulled toward Solaris. At the designated range, both ships turned back toward the fray.

The doors to the bridge opened and Matthew Calgar stormed through. "Captain, I demand to know what you are doing!"

Kathryn motioned to the empty seat on her left. "Welcome aboard Captain Calgar. The Rodimtsev must have been a fine ship for her Captain to stay aboard. Sensors revealed she was dead in space, but she has not used her last breath yet."

Calgar sat down and scowled as her surveyed the bridge, then quickly took the seat offered. "What do you mean?"

Kathryn looked forward. The viewscreen showed a large Voth dreadnought ahead. "Ian, come about positive z-axis forty-five degrees, impulse at seventy-five percent. Make a parabolic arc toward the dorsal side, then turn to face." She looked at Thel, "is the tractor beam holding?"

"Aye, Captain"

"We need a diversion. Omazei, hail the nearest Federation vessel."

The line opened. "This is Captain Ael t'Kazanak of the Vanguard. This is not a good time to talk."

"Pardon the intrusion Captain. Would you mind getting the attention of the enemy at bearing four-two-four mark four-seven? I have a surprise for them."

Ael looked toward a tactical display. "Acknowledged." The screen switched to viewing. The Vanguard changed course and expelled orange beams and torpedoes toward the dreadnought. In return, dark red lances missed and found their mark against Federation shielding. The two ships exchanged fire for a few seconds before the Vanguard turned away, fulfilling the role. The dreadnought slowly turned to follow.

Calgar looked to Kathryn. "You don't seriously plan to do what I think you plan to do?"

"Again, I'll have to apologize later. Ian, accelerate to full impulse, prepare attack pattern sigma. Thel, set tractor beam to full. On my mark, cancel the beam."

The two acknowledged as Calgar sat back into the chair. Solaris lurched forward, dragging the helpless escort behind it. As the Voth dreadnought turned, its dorsal side was fully exposed to Kathryn's charging vessel. Bright orange beams belched from every emitter available with missiles erupting from tubes, each shot weakening the Voth shield facing until it collapsed from the weight of fire.

At her command, the Excelsior-class ship turned away within several kilometers, the tractor beam silenced and the escort ship continued on it's destructive trajectory. Antiproton beams fired into both ships. The escort slammed into the Voth ship near the engines, it's hull buckling from the kinetic impact.

"Come about, burn that ship from below," Kathryn whooped.

Solaris arced toward the Voth vessel whose guns were silent. As phasers fired into the crippled ship from below, more beams, both green and teal-colored, came from nearby ships as allies discovered weakened prey. The dreadnought's remaining shields failed visibly from the onslaught, then beams and torpedoes tore into the hull. It bubbled before exploding and Allied vessels scattered from the debris, each resuming the battle against other foes.

---

In the future ...

The Klingon's eyes widened. "By Martok ... that was you?!"

Admiral Calgar frowned toward Kathryn who was grinning behind a wine glass. "That was a fine ship you destroyed, you know. They may have been able to salvage the Rodimtsev."

Kathryn shrugged. "We'll never know. So I'll say it again with witnesses this time, Admiral Calgar: I'm sorry."

---

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
Matthew Calgar - Conleth Hill
Grannon Trex (Klingon in the end scene) - Orlando Jones
Tracy Kent (not mentioned but in the scene at the end) - Monica Bellucci
Ael t'Kazanak - Cobie Smulders

Best and Brightest

Literary Challenge 7
---

The officers filed into the room and sat in their usual chairs. Each person held a PADD in their hands and quietly placed them on the table and patiently waited. Several seconds later, Captain Kathryn Beringer entered the room and sat at the head of the table. She looked to each of the command staff assembled, then said, "Let's get started".

The Andorian officer to the Captain's left stood. First Officer Anthi Ythysi tapped her PADD on the table and the viewscreen at the other end of the room activated. The staff turned their heads to see the data pull-up on the screen.

"Bur'ar. Klingon. Terran age, 34. Homeworld, Ahza IV in the Aldaberan Sector. Security track."

Anthi walked toward the video display with her PADD in hand. "While Solaris was docked at ESD he was assigned to Lieutenant Commander Karl Melango. Both were to oversee the Gorn prisoner transfer to Starfleet Security Corps. During the walk from the brig, one of the prisoners became agitated -",

Anthi tapped the PADD and the personnel data changed to a video presentation showing two large Gorn shackled and walking in file. In front of the pair was a human Starfleet officer with a Klingon at the rear. The rear Gorn turn his head, and the Klingon stopped then pointed forward. The Gorn turned and launched himself at the Klingon, alerting the other two. A swirling melee ensues with all four participants. After several seconds the Klingon is subduing the attacking Gorn, then relieves the human of his combatant with a few strikes.

Turning to the assembled officers, Anthi could see they were impressed. "Cadet Bur'ar showed restraint and applied appropriate ... pressure, to subdue the prisoners. Collateral damage was extremely minimal and Karl, obviously, has recovered from any wounds." The officers looked at Karl who still had a slight bruise above his right eye. He blushed at the attention. Anthi continued, "He maintains accurate reports and performs routine duties with exemplary attention to detail." Anthi closed the presentation and sat back down.

Chief Engineer Thel Ythysi stood and mimicked his sister's actions to prepare for his presentation. He smiled briefly as he turned to his fellow officers. Kathryn's eyebrows raised from surprise and thought that was the first time he had seen Thel smile.

"S'Rel. Vulcan. Terran age, 30. Homeworld, Vulcan in the Vulcan Sector. Technical fabrication track.

As we were completing a refit of the Aegis Hyper-Impulse Engines, S'Rel was assigned diagnostic duty. She noticed a fracture in the Export D-52C coupling to the active tachyon grid overhead manifold at junction K-44J." As Thel spoke, he raised a schematic of the Excelsior-class ship. At each word the image enlarged, rotated and moved with various sections highlighted to show the audience where he meant to direct their attention. For Kathryn, she was privately thankful for the visual images.

"After running a level two diagnostic, S'Rel correctly determined a tritanium duraplast patch would be sufficient to prevent further damage. This was standard functional procedure. This was also the most efficient path in terms of repair time and resources." He turned from the screen and paused for effect.

"However, S'Rel notified her site superior, Lieutenant Ian McKinnon of an alternative." He returned to the image and it moved several 'meters' by the schematic legend. "Coincidentally, S'Rel's father was one of the engineers that developed the prototype Aegis engines. She has a intimate knowledge of the entire project from its inception. She used the prototype schematics to justify her suggestion." Looking back to the officers, Thel said sternly, "the prototype set, as we should all know, was superior to the mass production version. Utopia Planetia, in their prudence, developed various shortcuts which, ultimately, caused the fracture to the coupling." He turned back to the schematic, "S'Rel's alternative involved fabricating a trianium-infused polycarbon lattice to the junction network here ... here ... and here. The structural integrity of the affected coupling doubled to better-than-prototype specification."

Thel turned to Kathryn. "Based on this event, not only was our stay at ESD shortened five days, I also submitted a proposal to Starfleet Corps of Engineers to modify existing Aegis Engine components back to prototype standards. S'Rel's cadet record should be noted that the proposal was based on her work." Thel closed his presentation and sat into his chair, a slight smirk tugged at one corner of his lips.

After a few seconds of silence, Captain Beringer spoke. "Well done. So, based on these report,s shall I presume you are recommending a transfer to Solaris?

Both siblings looked to each other and nodded.

"Consider it done. Unless there is anything further to add, then return to your duty stations. Our next stop is Nukara Prime."

---

Cast:
Kathryn Beringer - Rachel Nichols
Anthi Ythysi - Katheryn Winnick
Karl Melango - Jeremy Renner
Thel Ythysi - Kevin Sorbo
S'Rel - Morena Baccarin
Bur'ar - David Ramsey
Ian McKinnon - named but not seen

Not named in story but present in the scene:
Omazei - Gemma Arterton
Christa Harrington - Emily Bett Rickards

 

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

Down the Wormhole

Literary Challenge 44 - Down the Wormhole

+++

The maw of the wormhole gaped open and inviting: the swirling periphery also pulsating in a mesmerizing rhythm. The core of the storm was a very bright white, illuminating the black space around it. The Solaris was washed in the brightness of the opening thirty thousand kilometers away from the celestial event. Inside the bridge, the crew watched the scene through the main viewer. Only the Science Chief, a Trill named Omazei looked toward her console with concentration. Data streamed on screens revealing various telemetry.

"Omazei, anything?" Kathryn did not look away. Several minutes passed since the second probe was launched. Its intent was directed into the center of the wormhole. The first probe was still in a circuit collecting data at the periphery.

Omazei's fingers were in dedicated motion across the console, small beads of sweat dotted her forehead. "There is more than enough information to keep astrometrics busy for days."

Kathryn, not satisfied with the cryptic answer, walked up to the Science station and started staring at the readout. Having a strong background in astrometrics before her Captaincy, Kathryn's review of the data surprised her. She quietly excused Omazei's answer and let the Science Chief do her job.

Minutes passed. Both Kathryn and Omazei silently looking at the data with Kathryn more as an observer. Another minute passed when First Officer Anthi Ythysi walked up and quietly cleared her throat. "Captain, is there anything we should be concerned about?"


Kathryn had to force herself to look away from the screens. "No. Not yet. Maybe not at all." She looked back at Omazei and said, "Is that really what I think it is?"

"I think so Captain."

Anthi crossed her arms, her Andorian temperament under the surface. "What do we think it is?"

Kathryn stood and faced her XO, and then looked to the bridge crew. "Out there is a portal to another universe."

Karl Melango, the ship Security Chief stood and said, "What kind of universe?"

Omazei responded, "As you know, with the revelation of the Mirror Universe, the idea of Multiverses is no longer fiction but fact." She paused and pointed the viewscreen. "This wormhole is leading to a new universe ... an 'anti-verse'. Visually, everything is in negative: space is not black, but white, stars emit black-light. Everything is the same, scientifically speaking ... it just looks different."

"So, is there another Solaris on the other side?" Chief Engineer Thel Ythysi spoke up but didn't look away from the viewscreen.

"Possibly, but not probably," Omazei responded. "More research is needed but the probe does not detect another ship. I can't postulate anything beyond that."

Kathryn stepped toward her command chair. "Omazei, catalogue this location. Send your findings to Starfleet and launch a third probe. Set it to transmit back to us. Karl, set a class two special warning marker. If this wormhole becomes stable then Starfleet needs to send its best. We have a patrol to complete and we are not in the best space to sit and wait. If the wormhole collapses then at least we have something. Mr. McKinnon, set course back onto the patrol route."

"Aye, Captain." Ian tapped some controls on the navigation console.

+++

Cast:
 

Call To Arms

Literary Challenge 41 - Call To Arms

---

2 hours ago

"Captain, their forward shields are down!" Anthi's usually calm demeanor disappeared at the climax of the battle.

Kathryn stood and pointed at the burning starship on the screen. "Weapons, Fire!"

From the lower rear hull, a large missile was ejected. Its bio-neural intelligence quickly scanned the area, locked on the enemy ship, activated thrusters and primed the warhead. The Solaris banked to starboard as the warhead sped toward it's victim three kilometers away. The Orion Brigand Cruiser coughed a torpedo at the missile but was shot down by the massive projectile's point-defense system. The missile penetrated the forward hull like a needle into a puss-filled bruise. Internal atmosphere vented for a half-second before the detonation ripped the ship apart. Chunks of burning hull and thousands of small debris, metal and organic, blossomed from the fireball that consumed the rest of the ship.

On the bridge, Kathryn looked away from the screen to the crew on the bridge. "Good work everyone. Anthi, you and Karl are on the assault team. Omazei, you have the con.  Contact Lieutenant Retarius and Doctor Kramer to meet us in transporter room two. I'm giving this op two hours with reports. At that mark, bring in the M.A.C.O. Team for clean-up and recovery."

The Trill Science Chief nodded gravely and started tapping at her console.

+++

10 minutes later

The Away Team was assembled in the transporter room and all were strapping kits and checking weapons. The click-and-clack merged with the hum of the ships engines.  Kathryn noticed the concentration on the team's faces and decided something needed to be said. "Ok, before we transport, the Orions on the station have lost their way out. That means they'll be fighting from a corner. They'll be more vicious on defense, so we need to keep up the offense. There are two objectives: security of the crew and preservation of research material. Lieutenant Retarius is joining the team for the secondary goal." She looked at each of the team as she spoke. "But there is a tertiary objective: enemy combatants are to be treated with extreme prejudice."

Medical Chief Annika Kramer, spoke after several seconds of silence, her voice almost booming even in an attempt to keep it conversational. "Sir, is that necessary?"

"Yes, Doctor.  The research conducted on the station is highly sensitive and therefore valuable to the war effort. For that reason, only the station crew and this team are allowed to walk away from this situation."

Security officer Karl Melango spoke next, "What about the Cordorba?"

Kathryn looked in his direction. "They will be turned around if ... when ... we succeed."

Anthi was next, her Andorian antennae twitched nervously as she spoke. "These are Orions, Sir. Is this a coincidence?"

Everyone looked at Kathryn for a response. They all knew bits of her past but only Anthi knew the full story.  For her part, she looked down, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she looked back to Anthi, her affect was neutral as if she resigned herself to what was said next. "'Duty to Starfleet before duty to self', that is what I said to Admiral Decker when I spoke for this crew as we joined the Dawn Patrol Task Force.  To answer the question, yes.  Thank you for keeping me honest Anthi. Right now, we are alone, so my orders are for the safety of the station crew and protection of the research."

Kathryn felt insincere saying it but her words were true and she hoped the team would believe them. She could tell her First Officer was not convinced. Looking at the others it was hard to tell, yet she knew they would follow her orders.  Kathryn slung the phaser rifle over her shoulder, nodded, and turned to step onto the transporter pad.

+++

1 hour later

She lifted the rifle to her shoulder and squeezed the trigger.  An orange beam raced to her target, burned through the shielding and pierced into the helmet. She raked the beam down into the torso as the body convulsed to death. Releasing the trigger deactivated the beam, the armored soldier collapsed and silence returned to the darkened corridor.  Kathryn peered down the hallway and waited a few seconds. Not hearing more sounds, she exhaled in relief and looked at the team. Everyone's armor was scored in various places but otherwise no one was injured and doing very well. They were facing a corridor with a side path a few meters to the right. The research hub was at the end of the hallway where the concentration of the remaining invaders and station crew were kept.

Kathryn motioned for Annika and Karl to advance down the side path, the other two with her against the final door. As the team split, Margaret set up a phaser turret at the intersection of the hallway, aiming toward the door. Anthi watched the doorway while Kathryn turned to face the path they came from.

Margaret whispered, "Turret is set up and primed."

"And you are sure the suit doesn't conceal anything the user holds?" Kathryn whispered over her shoulder.

The Lieutenant nodded as she made a final adjustment on the remote turret.

"Ok. Anthi, you're up."

The Andorian took a few steps back and lowered her rifle. Anthi removed a folded cloth from her kit and started fitting into the black body suit. She zipped up to her breasts, reached behind the new layer and tugged at her Andorian combat knife before zipping up to her neck. Pulling forward a cowl that covered her head, she tapped a code onto an unseen pad within the suit above her right breast.  Anthi suddenly became invisible excepting for a very faint silhouette seen only barely as she moved toward a Jefferies tube.

The hatch plate moved to the floor by unseen hands, a few seconds passed and was lifted back into place.

Kathryn smiled. "By the way Retarius, next time I tell you to turn over everything to me, do it. This time I'm glad you didn't." She tapped her badge twice.

Her badge vibrated as Karl responded silently. Kathryn tapped three times to send the code designed to let Karl know that Anthi was deployed.

+++

5 minutes later

Kathryn looked at her PADD as it revealed the technical layout of the room beyond the doors. She grinned as the enemy red dots were congregated near a console, while the station crew green dots were huddled in a corner next to a single red dot. Anthi's blue dot slowly moved toward the lone red one. The rest of the Away Team surrounded the room at both entrances. If Kathryn opened her door the turret would have a clear line of sight to the enemy. It would be too easy.

+++

Inside the room

Anthi was three meters away from the Orion guard. He was a hulk of a man and was menacing the crew with a deadly stare. His back was to Anthi as she approached. She quickly unzipped the suit, reached for her knife and charged. One scientist saw the knife appear out of nowhere and became terrified. The Orion spun to look and raised the disruptor pistol as the blade flashed across his neck. Anthi grabbed the pistol and twisted it away with one hand. She spun the knife in her other hand then drove it hilt-deep into an eye socket, splashing her with orange blood.

Outside the room

The blue and red dots touched. This was it. Kathryn braced herself.  That was Margaret's sign to open the door. As the door hissed open the group of Orions spun around , clearly surprised.  They drew weapons just as the automated turret clicked, finding targets it released its charge.  Kathryn pressed her rifle's trigger quickly to fire short bursts.

The group of Orions danced as the barrage of phaser bolts chewed and burned into them.

+++

5 minutes later

"Solaris, this is the Captain. Crew is secured, Team is safe, situation under control. Stand by."

Omazei sounded relieved.  "Understood, Captain. Glad to hear your voice. Standing by."

She looked down the hallway to watch Anthi removing the stealth suit out of sight from everyone else in the room. Annika scanned the station crew with her tricorder and conducting necessary triage. Margaret was talking with the lead researcher at a console, schematics concerning the stealth suit were visible between them.  Karl inspected the Orions for anything valuable to determine the 'why, who and what' of their coming to the station.

Kathryn walked to an Orion body.  She tore an arm sleeve open. Karl watched her and looked at the exposed arm. A dark scar ran down the arm. He recognized the gang symbol and looked to Kathryn.

"Is that -"

"Yes."  Kathryn interrupted but did not look away and pulled out a tricorder, scanning the body.  Karl stood and watched, knowing the Captain owned the situation. Anthi walked up to Karl, surveyed the scene and waited as well. Kathryn finished her scan and stood. "None of these." She stalked to the lone sentry Anthi dispatched and repeated her scan.

Once the scan was complete, the display informed Kathryn there was a match. She opened a smaller PADD strapped to her thigh, keyed in a command and struck through a name from a list. When she returned to Karl and Anthi, she pointed a thumb over her shoulder. "That was one of them."

+++

Now

"... and after all enemy combatants were neutralized, the station was secured. Replacement parts and components are being transferred as we speak."

"Good work Captain Beringer. Are you sure you don't need Codorba to assist? Maybe a joint patrol of the system perhaps?" The male Captain's bald head shined in the light of his Ready Room. He smiled in a way that was inherently charming to Kathryn, but she couldn’t tell if that was a genuine feeling from her or not.

"Thank you Captain Daikar but unfortunately that will not be necessary." Unfortunately?! Kathryn's thought disappeared quickly. "By the time you arrive we'll have handled that and anything else. But if the situation gets worse I'll be sure to contact Starfleet with a special note to you?" She rolled her mind's eyes to herself.

"That would be welcome. I hope to hear from you in the future either way. Daikar out."

The screen went blank and Kathryn sighed in relief and then looked to Anthi sitting on the other side of her desk. The First Officer leaned forward in her chair and rested her arms on the table. "Kathryn, officially speaking, have you told anyone in Starfleet about the details of your past?"

"Do you think my judgment is biased?"

Anthi sat back. "Not really, but I'm not in the mood to start doubting you."

"Good. Let me know when that happens. To answer your question, other than you ... no, and for the record, that is how it will stay."

"So, what happened here was ... coincidence?"

Kathryn nodded and smiled. "Luck more like it."

---
Cast:

Kathryn Beringer - Rachel Nichols

Anthi Ythysi - Katheryn Winnick

Omazei - Gemma Arterton

Annika Kramer - Abbie Cornish

Karl Melango - Jeremy Renner

Daikar - Billy Zane

My Haven

The Headsail Lounge is busy. Several tables are occupied by crew from various departments and various species, the most common unintentionally being human. A few tables are empty but only one has a single resident. She is the Captain of the vessel, itself traversing the deep silent black between stars. Kathryn Beringer sits alone in the shade of an overhanging seraph tree, the blue and violet leaves easily blocking the overhead lighting at the corner of the viewport. Her fingertips lightly pushing and pulling a small clear glass containing a dark liquid only a few sips away from being empty. She gazed into the blackness of space as streaks of faraway stars race toward and past the Solaris.


At one table ...

"You could set a chronometer to it. Every fifth day, assuming she's not on a mission; she sits there and stares into space, literally." The bartender finished answering the question to the patrons who were taking turns looking over shoulders to look at their Captain.

A male Benzite Ensign cocked his head to the side.  "Do you know why?"

The Human server shrugged as he placed the last drink on the bar. "She's a private person if you can't tell, but scuttlebutt is she's got some demons for something that happened on a rescue mission against some Orion slave traders a few months past."

The Betazoid at the bar looked at Kathryn over her shoulders again and then shook her head. "Was it successful?  I remember hearing about that mission.  I really shouldn't be prying, and I'm not a counselor, yet I don't need to sense there is a sadness about her."

The server looked at the Lieutenant. "I'm not sure.  I've only ever heard her speak with confidence and strength, like a Captain should in my opinion. If you think she is sad, then we should play poker one night. I need to go, but I wouldn't call it sadness ... more like regret."


At one table ...

"You go ask her."

The Tellarite was frustrated.  "No, you go her!"

The other used his hands as a signal to lower voices. "Damn it, come on and help me out a little!"

Frustration subsided at her Human friend's attempt to keep their conversation from spilling onto other tables and sighed. "I meet her for bridge repairs. If you want love, ask her for it. You not need my help."

Her friend looked shocked, "Who said anything about love? All I'm saying is that I've heard rumors she is lonely and available. Look at her. She's smart, beautiful, tall, sexy ... everything a man could want!" He looked over his shoulder to the burgundy haired woman staring out the viewport.

Rolling her eyes, the Tellarite shook her head and grabbed a fork to stab at the food on her plate.

The man wrung his hands together nervously. "I mean, she's a woman, I'm a man. What could go wrong?"

"She Captain, you not," the Tellarite said with a mouthful of food.

His shoulders fell and he sighed.


At one table ...

The female Andorian looked at the Trill and Klingon. "I'm telling you this so we can stop discussing it. They dated in the Academy. It was a serious relationship the way she talked about it but she ended it when he proposed to her.  I don't know why she did that and she hasn't talked about it to me since."

The Klingon security officer crossed his arms and frowned. "It is really none of our business and dishonorable to gossip about a superior officer."

Looking down as if personally shamed by the comment, the Trill Science Chief reached for her drink. "I didn't mean to impose. It's just ... she's not the most affable person to work with."

The Klingon half-whispered, "I disagree. She gets the job done and very efficiently. She has a warrior's spirit."

The Andorian nodded, "I agree with that at least. I'm probably her only real friend on the boat and I assure you, spend enough time with her and you'll see her bite is worse than her bark."

"Are you sure you said that right?"

Looking at the Trill, she responded, "About being the Captain's only friend? To be honest, I really don't know."

"No, I ... oh, nevermind."


At one table ...

"Are you serious?!" The Security officer put down his drink at the resolution to the story.

"As a heart attack!" The Chief of Security smiled as he rejoiced in the surprised look on the other three officer’s faces. "Don't cross her path, she has a heart of stone."

Another officer whistled a note as he recovered from the tale. "I can't believe she ignored Liberation Protocols."

The Chief nodded and took a sip from his drink. "Neither did I until the XO told me about her being a slave."

The third officer smirked. "Makes you wonder what kind of slave she was. Orion women are -"

"Hey!" The Chief pounded the table and looked around as nearby patrons looked at him. He waited for them to get back to their conversations before he turned his gaze to the members at his table. "Stow that talk, right here and now. She's not like that at all and she deserves more respect. Besides, she not Orion you jackass."

"Okay, okay, sorry Chief."

The first recovered from his commander’s defense. "I thought you didn't like the Captain?"

"Have you ever heard me actually say anything like that? You three know she pulled each of us out of some very tight situations over the past year. Remember that assault on Mallory's World? We'd all be dead if it wasn't for her single-handed defense at the crash site." The other three nodded as they recalled the scene. "I've stopped caring what she's gone through before Starfleet, and I'm proud she's Captain of this ship."

The Chief looked over his shoulder to the woman in the corner of the room. Without looking away he said, "I know she has some demons, but I think they fuel her to be the officer she is." He looked into his drink, took a sip and then looked to each of his comrades. "If I hear any rumors about her past coming from anyone on my team, they'll have to answer to me and you can spread that around."


At her table ...

The streaks of light had no pattern and that helped Kathryn's storm of thoughts find order and calm. The aroma from the Kanar in her glass soothed her muscles while the liquid warmed her core. The Excelsior-class ship was massive compared to her previous commands. It wasn't the largest ship in the fleet but it was plenty big for her. She considered the officer reports she had finished reading prior to coming down to Headsail Lounge and made some decisions, then prepared some phrases she would use to various persons she would be having meetings with over the next few hours.

When she looked toward the room, she caught the eyes of various persons. Some were too far away to discern if they were really looking at her or at least toward her direction. the Lounge was busier than when she entered the room and it started to feel crowded.

---

Cast:

Kathryn Beringer - Rachel Nichols

 

At first table -

Server - Clifton Kaea

Benzite - Dirput

Betazoid - Lyesaza Hipas

 

At second table -

Travis Mechols - Freddie Prinze Jr

Tellarite - Nudsa

 

At third table -

Anthi Ythysi - Katheryn Winnick

Omazei - Gemma Arterton

Bur'ar - David Ramsey

 

At fourth table -

Karl Melango - Jeremy Renner

Security Officer 1 with Karl - Ernesto Dobias

Security Officer 2 with Karl - Leroy Mallar

Security Officer 3 with Karl - Evan Hollister

 

(Names with no links are true Duty Officers on board Solaris)

Taking Command

Literary Challenge 2 - Taking Command

---

"Permission to speak freely, Captain?"

Kathryn nodded and said, "In this office, always, but I appreciate the request."

Karl Malango smiled softly and he forced his body to relax, his arms falling to the sides and his head lowering to look directly to his superior officer. "That's splitting hairs and you know it."

The Captain never looked away from Karl while standing slowly.  At six feet tall, Kathryn used her stature as an advantage when she needed to - and this was one of these moments. Inside she chided herself on being slightly dramatic, but she wanted Karl on her side. This meeting was due to the tension mounting since her arrival on board Galatea three weeks ago.

"Allow me to speak freely as well." She leaned forward and placed her hands onto the desk. Her grey eyes were now level to Karl's . "I have worked with Anthi ever since the Academy.  From my position that makes her the absolute best candidate to serve as my First Officer. Captain Diranti's assessment of you was not ignored, regardless what you may think, and that is why you are my Security Chief. Let me say it again: that also makes you my Ground Operations Senior Officer."

She raised a hand to silence Karl's next words and then walked around her desk. "Change can be challenging, but that is a constant in the universe and on this ship it is inevitable."

A few moments passed as Kathryn waited for a rebuttal. Karl was visibly frustrated. "I have at least five more years of direct experience on this ship and I know the crew better than ... "

Kathryn grinned as Karl stopped abruptly. She waited a few tense seconds. "Me?"

Karl looked down to his feet ashamed at his transparency. Kathryn nodded and walked past him to stop abruptly at the gold-plated model of her first ship, a Miranda-class, the Sixth Wave.

"Karl, those are strengths that are needed," she turned back to him and noticed he was facing her. "Let me be very candid.  My trust in you is implied by virtue of your experience."

At the mention of trust, Karl seemed to stand a little straighter. "What is your trust in Anthi then?" Kathryn could not tell if his frustration increased further or if she were breaking down barriers.

"Earned. If that's splitting hairs then call me a barber." She spread her arms out briefly to show surrender to Karl's point of view, yet a verbal trump card was available she didn't want to use yet.

Karl nodded and looked down in thought. Kathryn sat on the couch under the model to try to give the scene a relax the moment. "If it means anything, I met Philip Diranti before his passing. He was an amazing Captain. As you know, his actions in 2400 with the Klingons are mentioned at the Academy and that's not small talk. The fact you are mentioned in his closing dossier is impressive.  I hope you can appreciate that I'm not a woman of words, but of action."

She stood and walked to Karl who remained silent. "I trust you because Diranti trusted you, but I need to trust you because I do. Do you understand my point of view?"

Again, he nodded. His silence bothered Kathryn but she couldn't force him to talk. She decided enough was said. "So, to be clear, this is not about favorites."

"I understand, Captain." He straightened up and Kathryn perceived the conversation was no longer off the record.

"Good. Thank you for your dedication and service. Galatea will be coming to Dalnus IV within the hour. I want Security Team recommendations and equipment checks completed. This is a recon-in-force. And just so you know ... I prefer pistols."

---

Cast:
Kathryn Beringer - Rachel Nichols
Karl Melango - Jeremy Renner
Mentioned but not seen:
Anthi Ythysi - Katheryn Winnick