Star Trek: Intrepid
The Double Edge - Part 5
by Galen Holcomb
(intrepidlogs@hotmail.com)

The Double Edge - Part 5

As he entered the bridge, Rodriguez greeted him. "Captain, all crewmembers are now accounted for and repair teams have been assigned. The COMM system is back up. Sickbay reports a full medical staff. Dr. Kella says that Commander Shantok's condition is stable, although she's still unconscious."

"Thank you, Lieutenant." Aubrey replied.

"Sir, there's more."

Adol and the captain both braced themselves, wondering what bad news would next be flung their way.

Rodriguez continued, getting right to the point. "Sir, three days have passed while we were in the nebula."

Adol bit his lip. "The Inth had us imprisoned that long?"

"No, sir. Ship's clocks recorded a passage of only 2.65 hours. Our bodies have aged the same amount of time. There's no mistake."

"Time dilation." Aubrey muttered. "Inside the Inth environment, time moves more slowly."

He didn't like where his next thought was taking him. "The fleet? Betazed?"

Rodriguez could not meet his eyes. "Betazed was conquered, sir. It seems the Tenth arrived, but those ships out there are all that's left."

The captain seemed to be looking through the bulkhead as he remained quite for a long moment.

"Thank you, Rodriguez." Aubrey finally said. "Now let Lieutenant Commander Adol take over. You should report to sickbay." He patted the young man's shoulder.

Rodriguez didn't need a lot of convincing. He was exhausted, and would breath easy knowing the skilled Andorian was taking over his post. Before he exited the bridge, he told Adol: "It's good to see you again, sir. I wasn't sure you'd be back."

"Well I am. And I want my book of Andorian literature back."

Rodriguez grinned wickedly. "Sure thing. Just give me time to glue the pages back in."

Jason Aubrey took his seat. "Open a channel to the Nagasaki, Mr. Adol."

Chapter 10

To Edward Jellico's immense relief, it was Captain Aubrey who appeared on Nagasaki's main screen.

"Captain, glad to see you made it. I take it you survived by hiding in the nebula?"

"That was our intention so we could make repairs. But something else happened instead."

"To say the least." Jellico grumbled. "Any other surviving ships in there with you?"

"Not to my knowledge." Aubrey said in a flat tone.

Jellico was a man of few words. Staying true to form, he came to the point. "What is this alien weaponry you're carrying? How did you come into possession of it?"

Aubrey sucked in his breath and geared himself for what might be an ugly conversation. Things had happened so quickly; he hadn't been able to give enough thought to how he was going to explain this to Starfleet. Hell, he didn't even know how his crew would respond once he broke the news. He wished they didn't have to find out like this. But sometimes one had to work with the choices in hand.

He summarized the encounter with the Inth, the time dilation experienced by the ship and the recent events that transpired after his crew had been returned. He was deliberately vague about certain elements of the encounter, being that it was these parts of his story that would likely be explosive.

Jellico took most of it in stride. One didn't get to be a Starfleet admiral without experiencing one's fair share of outlandish misadventures. He didn't bat an eye upon learning the Inth were real beings and not just a child's fairy tale.

But he was far from satisfied with Aubrey's abbreviated explanation.

"Captain, what exactly did the Inth communicate to you? And you still haven't explained why they put their organic weapons aboard your ship."

Aubrey's expression changed slightly, adopting the look of someone who was bracing himself for an unpleasant task.

Feeling the weight of his own words, Aubrey plowed ahead. "Admiral, I was given this technology to liberate Archer IV and free thousands of Inth who are trapped there."

"And you agreed to this?" Jellico asked carefully.

"Yes I did."

Jellico's face sunk into an incredulous frown. "Why?"

"Because if I don't do this, both Archer IV and Betazed could be destroyed."

"How, exactly, will that happen?"

Intrepid's captain sighed. "That's going to be difficult to explain. Part of it has to do with the effect Genesis had on their accession. Their evolutionary forces are on the verge of running out of control because of Genesis. The only hope they have to regain control over the process is if the other Inth come here from Archer IV and add their own energies to the matrix."

Jellico put up a hand. "Just a moment, Captain. If the Inth are about to evolve as you said, then why do they need your help to escape Archer IV? And how could they be imprisoned there in the first place?"

Aubrey squared his shoulders and forced himself to stay calm and focused. "Their physical forms are in a state of flux right now. Believe me, I can transport them. They need my help because they can't leave the nebula. Most of their technology was abandoned thousands of years ago. They're suspended in a phased state of existence. The Inth on Archer IV are in a similar condition. They're all connected together, for lack of a better word. When we interrupted the process for some of the Inth, we interrupted it for all of them. Now they have to be in close physical proximity to continue evolving."

"This 'out of control' evolutionary process will be powerful enough to destroy Betazed, even though it's three light years away?" Skepticism was now beginning to weave through Jellico's voice.

"As hard as it is to believe, yes."

"And how will Archer IV be destroyed?"

If Jellico were already becoming skeptical, this next statement from Captain Aubrey would be the final nail in the coffin. He tried to put as much conviction as he could into his words. He stood from his captain's chair and met Jellico's eyes with his own determined stare. "As I said, they're connected. If the process runs amok here it will also run amok on Archer IV."

Jellico added dryly: "And somehow, thousands of creatures who are in a state of 'phased existence' have gone unnoticed on a planet now under Dominion control and populated by Jem'Hadar soldiers and Federation prisoners."

Aubrey pursed his lips. "I don't have all the details, but-----"

"That's obvious, Captain. Has it occurred to you that what you have aboard your ship right now could liberate Betazed? With Intrepid leading the charge, we could re take the planet in a matter of hours."

"There won't be a planet to save if I don't get to Archer IV within the next 12 hours."

Jellico now folded his arms over his chest. "Captain, you haven't offered any real proof of anything you've said, except for the evidence of those organic weapons that I've seen myself."

Aubrey said nothing.

"Would it be fair to say that most of this story comes from your mental contact with these beings-----creatures that, by your own account, invaded your mind and the minds of your crew with mental probing? Isn't it possible you're being manipulated into taking this action, Captain? Every legend that's ever been told regarding the Inth paints them as monsters. Your first officer is still in sickbay, for Heaven's sake."

Aubrey appreciated Jellico's position. In fact, what he was saying made perfect sense. Had it been Aubrey on the other side of the view screen, he might be saying the same thing himself.

But the fundamental difference was that Aubrey was on this side of the view screen.

And he knew he was right.

"Admiral, I know how this must sound, but I can assure you-----"

But Jellico was already shaking his head. "No, Aubrey. You can't 'assure' me of anything. I can't authorize your trip to Archer IV. Not without more than your intuitive information to go on. Those weapons you're carrying could save Betazed, possibly even turn the tide in this war. You'll accompany us to Starbase 47 and we'll notify Command of this development. I can tell you now I'm going to push them for whatever re enforcements they can send. With these weapons, we'll launch a counter offensive on Betazed." He nodded briskly. "Have your ship fall into formation."

Aubrey sat down. During the long course of history, moments sometimes arrived that carried the weight of destiny with them. There were times in which all of future history wobbled precariously on a decision as simple as turning right instead of left, saying yes instead of no.....

Obeying an order or disobeying an order.

Here, now, on Intrepid's bridge the specter of a thousand possibilities electrified the room. The ghostly touch of fate prickled Aubrey skin and he nearly shivered with the magnitude of the responsibility before him. It was the kind of decision that starship captains both loved and feared.

He had already made his choice. Now it was time to implement his decision and accept whatever consequences arose as a result.

He sucked in his breath between clenched teeth, released it, and then spoke. "I'm sorry Admiral. With all due respect, I can't obey your order. I need to go directly to Archer IV before time runs out on two worlds and millions of lives."

Every head on Intrepid's bridge turned in unison, as the crew stared at their commanding officer in disbelief. Their shock could not have been greater if Aubrey had just announced that the ship would play host to a tea party for the Jem'Hadar.

Jellico's face turned blood red, making him look like an angry god of war.

"What did you say to me, Captain?" He snarled.

"I'm sorry, sir. There isn't time. Besides, I agreed not to use these weapons for any other purpose than freeing Archer IV and transporting the Inth back here."

"You agreed?" For an instant, Jellico seemed more baffled than angry. His mouth worked silently but no sounds emerged. Had the circumstances not been so dire, it would almost have been amusing. "You had no right to make any agreements on behalf of the Federation." He finally got out. "Not when the implications are this large."

"Admiral, I-----"

"Captain," Jellico said with deadly calm, "effective immediately, I'm relieving you of command. Your second officer will take charge temporarily until I come aboard."

The captain touched a single control on his armrest and Jellico's image winked out.

On board the Nagasaki, Jellico was animated by fury. He stomped across the bridge, his fists balled. He cast an angry look at the view screen. "Can we beam over?" He snapped.

A Vulcan bridge officer answered. "They have shields at 18% only. It would not be difficult to modulate a transporter beam at maximum power. However-----"

"What is it?" Jellico demanded.

Captain Zorek answered. "There is a transport inhibitor in operation all through the ship. Our carrier beam would be scattered upon penetration of the hull." He raised a bushy eyebrow. "An unusual device to have aboard a Starfleet ship."

"Admiral, look." Nagasaki's helm officer pointed at the screen. But there was no need. Jellico was looking right at the screen and beheld the same sight as the helm office. Before his disbelieving eyes, Intrepid was shooting away at full impulse speed.

The face of Captain Caroline Hiroko appeared a moment later.

"Admiral, I heard the whole conversation. Listen, Aubrey's core is in pretty bad shape. If they go to warp the best they could do is maybe warp five. I could overtake her with the Sentry." Her Asian face was flushed with determination.

Jellico considered for barely a second before making his decision. "All right, you can pursue. He's headed for Archer IV. But give him a lead. Your sensors are more powerful than his, so you should be able to stay at the edge of his sensor range without being detected. You're to follow and report his movements. Under no circumstances are you to engage the Intrepid. You saw what happened to those Cardassian destroyers. Do your best not to be detected."

Hiroko was bemused. "Understood, sir. I think a Nebula class ship like this should have no trouble with an old bucket like Intrepid."

Jellico held up a cautionary finger. "That ship is only old on the outside. Inside she's carrying some of Starfleet's most advanced technology. Not to mention an enhanced weapons system-----and that's not including whatever the Inth have done to her."

"I understand. I don't suppose you'd like to share her specs with me?"

"No, they're classified. Even I wouldn't be able to get them. Starfleet doesn't want them generally circulated for security reasons. All the better to surprise our enemies during combat."

"Aye, sir. We'll get under way as soon as they go to warp."

"One more thing, Captain. Only Starfleet will know Intrepid is a renegade vessel. Unless it becomes necessary, I don't want any other ships in the fleet to become aware of her status. The last we need is for some damn fool cowboy engaging Aubrey and getting slaughtered. That's why your reports on his movements will become critical. Information will be given to other ships on a need to know basis only.

And lastly: Aubrey is headed back into the heart of occupied territory. When, and if, he arrives there, don't follow him in. Understood?"

Hiroko said that she did and Jellico turned off he COMM channel. He was still furious. He kept thinking about all the lost lives and the bitter taste of his own failures. Two major engagements lost in two weeks with both Betazed and Archer IV now under enemy control. Then somehow, Aubrey stumbles upon an alien super weapon, but makes his own deal with the beings that gave it to him.

He then refuses Jellico's direct order.

Jellico walked off of Nagasaki's bridge and into a turbo lift. The doors closed, sealing him in with his turbulent emotions.

How dare that insolent captain take away his one chance to complete his mission? It wasn't about Jellico saving face or salvaging his career. He cared little for vanity or ambition. Especially these days.

What mattered was completing his mission. To be given a second chance and then have an insulate starship captain snatch it away was more than he could bear.

Aubrey had just turned his back on Betazed, Jellico and the Federation. Jellico no longer thought of him as an irritant. He also no longer respected him as an officer of Starfleet.

As far as Edward Jellico was now concerned, Jason Aubrey was his personal enemy.

* * * * *

Gul Balog was about to die and he had no fear. This was rather amazing, really. Death had scared him silly when he was younger. Thinking of death had only reminded him of his mortality----- which in turn threatened the feeling of omnipotence that youth and inexperience had bestowed upon him.

As he gained maturity, death had frightened him for a different reason. It was because of the realization that his ambitions might be cut short. There were many things that he had still wanted to do, many more battles he wanted to fight-----more promotions he wanted to achieve. He yearned to leave a legacy behind him that would be spoken of in future classrooms.

Today, he had decades of life experience to reflect upon. He understood the bleak reality of just how limited his avenues had truly been. He had found the galaxy to be a merciless jungle whose residents cared nothing of legacies or accomplishments. How else to explain Cardassia's leader selling his world, his birthright to the Dominion? Every ideal Balog had cherished was shattered by that action. He knew then, that life was naught but a game and everything else was window dressing.

Ah, but enjoying the game is what counted. Playing it better than anyone else was intoxicating. When the game was no longer worth playing, life no longer had value.

So, when the life support system failed in his escape pod, Balog felt a measure of relief. He would finally be at peace. He would no longer have to answer to Timett's family or live in shame. At the rate the atmosphere was decompressing, he would be dead in only a few minutes.

Sooner, because Balog had his disruptor trained on his own head and was about to depress the trigger. He would die a quick and painless death. He deserved that much.

At least he had seen Timett perish. That smug little moron thought he was above military law. Gul Ratorn pathetically over estimated his importance, which is why he had saved Timett and left Balog to rot. There had been sweet justice, however. Balog had used the pod's scanners to observe all three destroyers get decimated by their enemy. Who the enemy was, he didn't know. Nor did he care.

He only wished he could have heard Timett's death scream as the hull crushed the life out of him.

But what a wicked prankster his mind was! Now, even in these final moments, he fancied that he saw the shape of his nemesis bearing down upon him. He swore that, through the frosted glass of the pod, he beheld the familiar outline of Aubrey's ship, coming to gloat even as the heat bled from the pod's compartment and the air fled from Balog's lungs.

"You may be a demon", he whispered to the mirage through his window, "but you'll need to chase me through the after life if you still want me."

Balog put pressure on the trigger of his disruptor, but never finished his action.

The cool embrace of the transporter beam took hold of him, sweeping him away before the weapon could discharge.

* * * * *

"The occupant has been transported to the maximum security brig," Adol reported. "his weapon was disabled in transit. I've assigned a security detail to keep him company."

Aubrey sighed tiredly. "I wish another ship could have reached him before his life support system failed. This is hardly the ideal time to take a prisoner of war aboard. Any signs of pursuit?"

"Not yet," Adol reported. "but our long range sensors are still in bad condition. Until we clear the interference bubble generated by the nebula, we can't be entirely sure."

The captain pinched the bridge of his nose with thumb and forefinger and closed his eyes for a moment. Then he quickly opened them and rose to his feet. He looked about the bridge. As his eyes swept the room, he noticed that his crew was wearing expressions that ran the spectrum from excitement to worry to outright anger.

"Mr. Adol," he said, "put me on intraship."

For the next few minutes, Adol watched and listened as his captain explained to the entire crew the reasons he had disobeyed a direct order from his superiors. He painted his case with words far more eloquent than those he had used with Admiral Jellico. Aubrey ended his oratory with a somber warning that the actions they were taking, although necessary and moral, would likely have unpleasant consequences. But if they did not act, he told them, then billions of people would die, which included the extermination of a species that was about to take it's next step into a higher level of existence.

He invited any officer or crewmember that disagreed with his actions to state their objections either to him directly, or to the nearest superior officer so their statement could be noted in the ship's log.

When it was over, Aubrey lost only one bridge officer. The Indian CON officer, Lieutenant Fidel quietly asked to be relieved of duty. It was a testimonial to the crew's maturity and professionalism that no one berated her for her decision or glared at her with contempt as she walked off the bridge.

Taking his chair, the captain contacted engineering to ask for an update on the engines.

Benjamin's haggard voice came back. "Sir, we have warp again. You were right about this organic material. It doesn't appear to be interfering with the core. But we aren't gonna do better than warp five for a while-----and we'll need to stop after about six hours so I we can do additional repairs that can't be done while the core is in operation."

Aubrey became concerned. "Can we reach Archer IV in under 12 hours?"

"Maybe 11 hours if we pull double shifts down her and stop for no more than, say one hour to finish repairs." Benjamin's voice seemed to suddenly get heavier, as if in anticipation of the relative marathon he was about to run. "but it's possible." He sighed.

"Good. Keep me posted. Captain out. Helm, as soon as long range sensors are free of the nebula's interference, set a course to Archer IV and engage at best possible speed."

Adol motioned for another officer to take the tactical station. He then walked around the railing to the forward part of the bridge, stepping down into the command arena to draw up next to his captain. "Sir, as acting first officer, I'd like to speak to you privately."

Moments later, the two were addressing one another over Aubrey's ready room desk.

"Sir, I should point out a few facts," Adol began. "Between us and Archer IV could be any number of enemy ships. To say nothing of our own forces which may be looking for us. Since we'll be cut off from Command, we won't even have tactical updates on enemy movements to guide us. We'll be sailing through unfriendly waters both blind and crippled without a single ally for support or help. We could even be put in the position of firing on our own ships. We don't even know if this organic weapon we have can be controlled. From what we've seen so far, it apparently acts of its own will."

"I'm confident we can control it. But your concerns are valid. That's why I want all senior officers to meet me in the briefing room at 1900 hours. The engineering department can listen remotely so their progress doesn't suffer. I'll explain more details in the meeting."

Adol leaned over the desk, planting both of his hands on either side of him. "Captain, are you sure that all of this is worth it? You said out there that this was the moral thing to do." He paused for emphasis, "well, the consequences of moral actions are often a double edged sword-----because the moral thing to do isn't always the wise thing to do. You've been cutting yourself on this-----'double edge' ever since the battle for Betazed began. First Genesis, now this......"

Aubrey interrupted him "I'm aware of all this, Lieutenant. You're concerns have been noted." He folded his hands in front of him, the way he often did when about to say something of great importance. "and since you are the acting first officer and are yourself violating orders by not relieving me of command, I take it you'll continue to support my decision?"

Adol leaned back in his chair. For the first time in the many months he had served under Captain Aubrey, he lied to his commanding officer. "Yes sir, I will."

Aubrey studied his face for a moment, as if to reassure himself that the loyalty he wanted to see was present in Adol's eyes.

He stood. "Then if you'll excuse me. You have the bridge. I'm going to sickbay to check on Commander Shantok's condition. She's still unconscious. But you'll be pleased to know that Lieutenant Pal is doing well and Dr. Kella will be releasing him to duty soon."

Adol sat where he was for long minutes after the captain left the room. He wanted to believe what he was told because Aubrey could be so damned convincing when passion was running through his veins.

He wanted to believe they were on a noble mission to save an advanced race from destruction and that their help was desperately needed. It would be nice to think that somehow they were making amends for the supposed harm that Genesis had caused.

He wanted to think all that, but he just couldn't.

It was much more likely that Aubrey and possibly Commander Shantok were being manipulated, just as Admiral Jellico suggested-----that the whole crew was being tricked into unleashing an ancient horror upon the galaxy.

He would need to speak with Doctor Kella and very soon.

If Adol were going to relieve the Captain of duty, he would need her support.

To be continued in: "Pre Emptive Maneuvers"

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