TWG - Intrepid - Pre Emptive Maneuvers

Star Trek: Intrepid
Pre Emptive Maneuvers - Part 5
by Galen Holcomb
(intrepidlogs@hotmail.com)

Pre Emptive Maneuvers - Part 5

Chapter 5

Captain's personal log, USS Intrepid. Stardate 51022.7.
We are now just 40 minutes away from the Archer system. My crew has asked what exactly will happen when we reach Archer IV and how we will transport the Inth in our ship. I've called a meeting with the senior officers to try and address those concerns. This will prove challenging since even I don't know the full mechanics of how this will all work.
Our new ship's counselor, Lieutenant Perboda, has had his hands full. Despite the Orion's imposing stature, the crew has taken to him. I'm pleased. They need counseling now more than ever.
Our 'renegade' status with Starfleet Command has taken its toll on morale. The crew feels isolated and abandoned. All they have for support is each other. And me-----for whatever that's worth these days.
The constant attacks from enemy forces are no less depressing. Just a few hours ago, we were once again set upon, this time by two Cardassian destroyers. The Inth weapon annihilated one. The other Gul appeared more experienced and hung back during the battle, and then fled after seeing his companion destroyed. It's obvious that the Dominion intended to sacrifice those ships to either slow us down, or to study our defenses in more detail.
More unnecessary deaths.
The Inth power is hideous. It destroys without mercy or restraint. I'm sickened to helplessly watch it annihilate life-----even that of our enemies. If billions of lives were not at stake, I would have ended this long ago. There are times during which I almost give in to my temptation.
It would be so easy to just turn around and go home.....
The Dominion forces that have been shadowing us since our arrival have made no hostile moves so far. I'm convinced this situation won't last.
On a more personal note, the visions and dreams I've been having about living in the past as a child have not troubled me lately. I'm grateful. The distraction is a dangerous one right now. I certainly don't need further cause to question my own sanity.))

"Dismissed."

The officers filed out of the briefing lounge, as the meeting ended. Aubrey and Dr. Kella were left to observe one another across the large conference table.

The meeting with his officers had been brief, but necessary. Aubrey had not been able to provide enough details concerning this last leg of their mission to satisfy everyone. This had caused more than a little frustration and concern among his senior officers. But eventually, he persuaded them. He gave them the facts, and then convinced them of the urgency behind the facts.

It's what he was good at.

But he would be a fool to think their doubts had fled. They were making a leap of faith at this point. Not the ideal way to garner trust from your crew.

But for now, they had all made the decision to hold fast and stand beside him.

For now.

"So," he began, "what did you want to discuss with me in private? Are you planning to relieve me again?"

The attractive Bajoran was clearly not amused. "Don't make a joke of my decision, Captain. It wasn't one that I took lightly."

Aubrey contemplated the dregs in his coffee cup. "We're moving into the final stretch of this mission. I thought some humor might lighten the mood. But I don't for a second take what happened lightly. You risked your career and the ship by waiting as long as you did. I appreciate that testimonial more than you know."

He was relieved to see her offer him a smile, the very one he had known for many years. "Adol was ready to toss you in the brig a long time ago." She teased.

"He's a good officer. He acts in the best interest of the crew and doesn't apologize for it. No captain could ask for more." He tilted his chin, once again becoming her commanding officer. "Now, I hate to rush you Doctor, but.."

Kella nodded. "You remember the nanite remnants that turned up in your exam?"

"I thought they had deteriorated too far for any useful information to be extracted."

"Yes and no." She said. "I found two. I was able to estimate their ages pretty closely. The first one was introduced into your body within the last 72 hours."

Up until this point, only part of Aubrey's mind had been on the conversation. The rest of him had been thinking about the great unknown that lay ahead. But now she had his full attention. "Within the last 72 hours? That's just about impossible. I haven't been off the ship in that time. Except for the briefing aboard the Legacy just before the battle of Betazed."

"Did you have physical contact with anyone on the Legacy?" She asked.

"No, there was no hand shaking. They were a somber group." He felt a pain of sadness as he realized that most of those captains and their crews were now deceased.

"The Inth put us off the ship inside the Kokala nebula." She reminded him.

He thought back. "True. I patted a few shoulders to reassure the crew." He recalled another detail. "Oh, and I shook hands with our new ship's counselor who transferred from the Legacy. The Orion, Lieutenant Perboda." He flexed his right hand. "I only remember because he nearly broke my hand with his grip." He scrutinized her expression. "Why do you ask? Do you think someone infected me on purpose?"

"Someone would have had to. The nanites were engineered specifically for your body."

"For what purpose?"

Kella's eyes shifted uneasily about the room before settling back to him again. "Remember that I'm only speculating. I had very little of the nanites left to examine. But I believe they were engineered to affect long term memory in humanoids."

"How can you tell that?"

Dr. Kella stood from her chair and walked to the large windows behind Aubrey. She spoke in a hushed tone as if whispering to the stars beyond the transparency. "This technology was used during Bajor's occupation. Specifically by a Cardassian doctor named Crell Moset who conducted hundreds of brutal experiments on Bajoran prisoners. In this case, the idea was to see if a subject could have their long term memories re-written-----essentially, changing a person's life experience into anything the programmers desired."

A shiver began to crawl up Aubrey's spine. With some effort, he suppressed it. "So the Cardassians might be behind this?"

"I'm not so sure. These nanites are far more advanced then anything I saw on Bajor. They weren't meant to be discovered. I only found them because I was running extremely detailed scans of your brain. In fact, I have doubts that the Cardassians created them at all. This level of technology was not consistent with Cardassian science at that time."

Aubrey could no longer remain sitting. He joined her at the window. "There's something else, isn't there?"

"Yes." She said. "I told you there were two nanite remnants, remember?"

He folded his arms. "I do. Isn't that what we've been discussing?"

She turned to him. "Jason, the other remnant is much older. I believe it was introduced into your body over 25 years ago."

He felt as if the wind had been knocked out of him. "That can't be." He stammered. "I would have been....."

"A child." She finished for him.

The intercom whistled. Shantok's voice broke in a moment later. "Bridge to Captain Aubrey. We're approaching the Archer system. ETA eight minutes. Also, Captain Hiroko would like to speak with you. She says it's urgent."

"Thank you Commander. I'll take it in here."

Dr. Kella gave his shoulder a soft squeeze. "I just want you to know; if we come out this in one piece, we'll get to the bottom of this nanite business. I promise you that."

His blue eyes widened in mock surprise. "What do you mean 'if'? After my court marshal, I'll expect your best efforts."

She turned her back on him to leave the room. "You know, it's your sense of humor I detest the most about you." The doors hissed shut behind her.

Aubrey activated the viewer that was built into the bulkhead. "Hello, Caroline. I hope we're not picking up where we left off."

"We'll get to that in a moment, " She promised. "Since our sensors have a longer range than yours, I wanted you to know that our scans of Archer IV have shown some unusual results."

"How unusual are we talking about?"

The Asian woman looked down at something on her desk. "We have the star and the three other planets showing, but no Archer IV. All we get is a huge interference bubble where the planet itself should be."

"What about Dominion forces?"

"I was afraid you might ask about that." Her almond eyes appeared dark and puffy from stress. "We show a whole contingent of forces as might be expected. At least two big cruisers and 40 to 50 smaller vessels, probably Jem'Hadar fighters and Cardassian attack craft."

He eyed the doors to the bridge, impatient to be in the center seat. "Is this where you tell me once again to turn the ship around and surrender to Starfleet?"

"I only want you to consider one thing." She replied slowly. "Suppose you're wrong and you're actually being tricked into returning the Inth to power? Do you know what that could mean for the Alpha Quadrant?"

"I do. Of course I do."

She cocked an irritated eyebrow at him. "Do you really? Let's say the legends about the Inth are true. Suppose that 6,000 years ago they really DID wipe out every advanced civilization in the quadrant. They destroyed interstellar communities that were expanding their influence at the time."

He sighed. "I know. I've heard the same stories you have."

"Jason, don't you see? They preyed on communities exactly like the Federation. And what about all the other civilizations that exist today? You're not just gambling with your crew's life but hundreds of millions of lives across the galaxy."

Hiroko didn't know that it was these very thoughts that made it impossible for Aubrey to sleep. Despite his absolute conviction about his mission, he had to admit that nothing was certain. The idea of an invincible species rampaging through today's galaxy was a sobering thought. It was always possible that his confidence was a work of fiction, planted in his mind by a devious race. For all he really knew, the Inth were controlling his every action and his free will was an illusion.

But if he allowed his own doubts and fears stop him from taking action, the consequences would be just as bad. He said as much to Hiroko.

"No one has the right to take this kind of chance." She retorted. "The risk is too great."

Again, the bosun whistle came over the speakers, interrupting the debate. "Captain to the bridge. We are now entering the Archer system."

"Acknowledged. On my way." He replied.

Hiroko could only shake her head. "We never get a chance to finish our conversations, do we?" She said.

"Next time for sure," he suggested.

The red alert klaxon whooped to life.

"I'd wish us both luck, but I don't know if I should." Hiroko concluded.

As Aubrey entered the bridge, Commander Shantok approached him. She looked as surprised as a Vulcan could look without betraying their feelings. "Captain, we have received a transmission, text only."

"Who is it?" He asked, easing into his command chair.

"The author of the transmission identifies themselves only as a Founder. They will be hailing us shortly to discuss our situation. "

There was no doubt to anyone around her that Shantok was relishing the look of surprise on her captain's face.

Lieutenant Pal was an officer who gave little thought to appearances. He wore his emotions where all could see, regardless of the impression it gave to those around him. True to form, his anxiety was visible as he huffed over the operations board, stroking his blond goatee. "Captain, Sentry's data was correct. There are a large numbers of Jem'Hadar fighters directly ahead."

"And Archer IV?"

"It only shows as a dead zone on my sensors-----extremely localized subspace and gravimetric turbulence in the immediate area of the planet. It seems to be intensifying by the minute."

"Can we weather the disturbance?"

"At this rate, I'm projecting that the distortions will reach a critical threshold in 19 minutes. At that point, our ship will be destroyed even at this distance."

"Sir," Adol reported, "eight fighters are moving to intercept us. The heavy cruisers are 30,000 kilometers beyond that point. They're regrouping to block our approach to the planet." In contrast to Lieutenant Pal, the Andorian was composed and collected. The two of them were best friends dating back to Starfleet Academy, but were polar opposites. "I also read Cardassian forces behind us. They've closed flanks."

"Ready on evasive maneuvers." The CON officer offered nervously.

"Stay on course to Archer IV. Steady as we go." Aubrey instructed.

The fighters before them showed no signs of slowing. They continued to race headlong at the Intrepid as if playing the old game of 'chicken'.

"Message from the changeling." Adol said as his board chirped. His antennas stiffened with irritation. "The transmission point is scrambled. There's no way to know if she's among the fleet or broadcasting from another system."

"On screen." Aubrey said. He was surprised but also fascinated. He had never talked to a changeling before. It was difficult to know what to expect.

A face appeared on the main viewer. It was definitely female, but was smooth and without texture, almost as if she had tried to create human features but fell short of the mark. Aubrey knew this was the impression she chose to make. Changelings modeled their humanoid appearances after another of their kind named Odo, who was inexperienced at the art of shape shifting. Odo currently served on Deep Space Nine, near the Bajoran wormhole, and he upheld Federation values. Aubrey figured they were making a transparent gesture to win Odo's loyalty by taking his likeness.

"Captain Jason Aubrey." She said without preamble. "We've been waiting for you."

"I have no doubt." He replied neutrally.

"I understand you have some new type of weapon aboard your ship."

"Yes." He offered, but said nothing more. He saw no reason to give out information.

"We know all about your organic weapon and your mission to help this----" She paused then, making a great show of searching her memory. A Vorta stepped into view and, bowing his head slightly, whispered something to her that couldn't be heard. "Ah, yes." She said as he humbly stepped away. "Inth." She said at last. "One of your more colorful Alpha Quadrant legends, if I'm not mistaken."

"Good." He replied, "if you know why I'm here, then you'll let me proceed to Archer IV so I can complete my mission."

"Is that your only consideration?" She asked coyly. She touched something out of sight, and the viewer divided in half to show a burned and crumpled structure orbiting a black planet. "What about your precious Federation citizens, who are trapped and dying in orbit? Don't they deserve your help?"

Aubrey leaned forward in his chair. "Mr. Pal, can you confirm that?"

Pal began to say he couldn't, because of the subspace interference around the planet, but at that very moment it thinned enough for him to get a clear scan. He wondered if the changeling had somehow planned it.

He was shocked. "Sir, I am showing a structure in orbit. It's Dominion in design. It's been severely damaged. Life support is gone and half the station is open to space. I read 521 life signs. But at the rate life support is failing, they only have about 20 minutes to live." He looked at Shantok. "Commander, can you verify my readings of the planet's condition?"

Commander Shantok activated an auxiliary science board and went to work. She soon looked troubled, although she did a superb job of hiding it, for the most part. "Captain, Archer IV has been destroyed. The oceans and atmosphere appear to have boiled away into space. The planet can no longer hold liquid water. In addition, the crust and mantle are fractured all the way through to the core." She looked away from the offending data. "Strangely, I'm reading a massive concentration of life forms on the surface-----computer is unable to identify the type."

"The bizarre phenomenon that gripped the planet a short time ago caused irreparable destruction to everything near by. Even our orbiting detention facility." The changeling shrugged. "Sadly. We were forced to abandon it."

Shantok stepped down to the command deck. "Captain, Jem'Hadar fighters will intercept us within the minute."

The changeling feigned concern. "Allow me." She said, and gestured to someone off screen.

"Fighters are slowing," Adol reported. "Continuing to slow. I think-----sir, they've stopped completely. Now holding position at 10,000 kilometers."

"Now," She continued, "we can finish our conversation."

"I don't mean to be rude, " Aubrey said disarmingly, "but I have something of a deadline to meet. Perhaps we could conclude this over lunch sometime?"

"I thought you might be interested in my proposition." She retorted. A hint of impatience showed through her demeanor.

"Then let me save us both some time. You'll offer us the survivors in exchange for something else. Say, my ship for example-----complete with the Inth weapon of course."

She smiled-----but there was nothing pleasant about it. "Very perceptive. Your service record does you little justice. I am willing to allow your companion to rescue the survivors. You and your crew can go with them. In return, all I ask it that you leave behind that old ship of yours." She spread her arms welcomingly. "I think it's a fair offer considering your position."

"MY position? You know I could destroy most of your fleet with what's aboard this ship. It's hardly your place to dictate terms."

Her mask of civility was evaporating by the second. "Even if that's true, the Sentry has no such protection. Nor do the survivors aboard our detention facility. You claim to cherish compassion, tolerance and respect for all living creatures. You claim that all life is sacred." She seemed to drill into him with her gaze. "Yet you would abandon your own?"

"That's amazing." Aubrey said after a moment.

"And what is that?"

"I never thought such noble words could sound so ugly." He smiled. "Until I heard them spoken by you."

Her congenial disguise fell away. "You disgusting little creature!" She spat. "Make your childish insults! Make your witless criticisms! And we'll keep taking the Alpha Quadrant from you, day-by-day, hour-by-hour, until nothing remains! The rein of the solids has ended. You're just too ego centric to realize it!"

He was taken aback by her loss of composure. From the visual records he had studied, he knew her to be arrogant and serenely over confidant. She had good reason to be; So far, the Dominion was winning the war.

She's frightened, he realized. But not of the weapon aboard the Intrepid-----more so of what it represented. What had Captain Hiroko said to him a little while ago? The Inth had laid their wrath upon interstellar communities like the Federation. What frightened this changeling was the possibility that she might have to face an enemy that not even the Dominion could overcome.

"Despite your unprovoked attack on the Alpha Quadrant, you should know that the Federation has never intended harm to your people." He said.

Her face twisted into a look of contempt. "How many times have solids uttered those very words?" She hissed. "There was a time we believed such lofty declarations-----and for that, we paid a terrible price: The near extermination of our species." Hatred again filled her eyes. "Never again. Now it will be us who decides the fate of others."

Aubrey took another stab at reason. "So the victims become the criminals." He replied. "You are now the very thing you detest. It is now you who persecutes and destroys in the name of hatred and fear."

She seemed to hesitate, as if some part of Aubrey's words had given her pause. Then she gave him a bemused look. She was in control again, lathering on icy sarcasm as she spoke. "Why captain, I'm surprised at your judgmental assessment. After all, you're supposed to be such an expert tactician. This is not an unprovoked attack. Nor are we lashing out in hatred or fear. Rather, we are implementing a time honored military strategy. I believe you humans refer to it as a 'pre-emptive strike'."

A small, sad smile emerged on the captain's face. "Destroy your enemy before they can destroy you." He supplied.

Lieutenant Pal turned in his chair. "Captain, I'm reading an energy surge from Archer IV. There's a major event taking place."

Aubrey glared at the changeling. "Get her off the screen and let me have a look."

It resembled a tornado. A massive vortex of energy was sprouting from the planet's surface, twisting into space. It radiated light and energy even from a great distance.

Shantok's hands flew over the auxiliary science station. "Temporal and spatial disruptions. It is very similar to the vortex that captured us at the Kokala nebula. But in this case, there is a significant difference: I am registering massive life form readings emanating from the disturbance." She looked up. "It's heading directly towards us."

* * * * *

All but forgotten, Gul Balog paced the confines of the brig. For the last 11 hours, he had demanded patience of himself. He had needed to wait for the right moment, the perfect opportunity. He had kept his eyes firmly on the prize that lay ahead. But as each hour had passed, the temptation to overload the force field and kill the security guards before him had become steadily more unbearable.

Or perhaps, he just needed an outlet for his rage.

Gul Balog had learned to accept much in his life: the disillusionment of his youthful idealism, the death of his ambitions, even becoming the puppet of another man's family-----and finally, the loss of his ship. All this and more he had resigned himself to. He had even come to tolerate the disapproval of his fellow officers and friends.

But he would not and could not tolerate the disrespect of his enemies. In many ways, he cherished his relationship with them above all others.

And the deadliest enemy Balog had right now was ignoring him. Dismissing his presence as though he were a thorn that could be plucked at leisure. For not once had Captain Aubrey been down to speak with him. He had not even bothered to contact Balog via intercom. Even relaying a message through one of his underlings seemed too great an effort.

Balog had waited hour after hour, expecting his opponent to appear and gloat over his victory. At least he would have had the dignity of looking his enemy in the face. They would stand as equals, each respecting the other's prowess.

But apparently Aubrey knew nothing of honor or proper military customs-----for Balog had waited in vain.

After a long time, a stupid Andorian had arrived. He introduced himself as head of security and announced he would be interrogating Balog. What followed had been a pitiful exercise-----he actually felt embarrassed to have participated. The Andorian had demanded much information over the two-hour session, but when Balog either lied or refused to answer most of his questions, this so called 'security chief' did nothing. He made some unconvincing threats about truth serums or unleashing a telepathic Vulcan on him, but his heart didn't seem in it. In fact, the Andorian was oddly distracted during the session. He seemed to just be going through the motions.

The galaxy was in a sorry state of affairs when even Andorians couldn't run a proper interrogation anymore-----and they had once been a people who commanded a certain degree of admiration among warrior cultures. Further evidence, he believed, that human mediocrity had castrated another proud race.

His biogenic implants detected noise down the corridor of his holding cell. He concentrated their focus on the conversation. Soon, he was rewarded with voices so clear they might just as well be standing next to him.

Balog digested the conversation. With a rush of excitement, he realized the time had come.

He waited a minute more for one of his guards to pass near the forcefield he was behind.

Then Balog struck. He leaped from his chair and dove through the security field with all his strength.

As he made contact with the energy screen, the unusual implants in his body immediately generated a counter force against the barrier. There was a soft explosion, then the field shut down.

Balog continued onward, smashing into the security guard with all his weight.

The Starfleet guard was taken by surprise and hit the deck in an awkward tumble. Before he could recover, Balog was astride him. He reached down and grabbed the man's head with both hands, giving it a sharp twist. There was a muffled crack as the man's neck broke.

The second guard, a female, rounded the corner at that very moment. She was young and inexperienced-----he could tell that in an instant. Instead of following protocol, she decided to rush forward and see for herself what was causing all the commotion. She gaped in surprise after coming upon Balog, which in turn made her hesitate.

She was much too slow in drawing her weapon.

Balog had already snatched the dead guard's phaser. In one swift movement, he swung it up and fired.

The woman was clearly startled as the beam hit her in the stomach. Balog had seen the same expression on many faces over his long career. It was the look of one who realizes that their life has unexpectedly ended.

Then she turned to flame and disappeared.

He was on his feet immediately, phaser in hand. He flattened himself against the bulkhead. Again he used his augmented senses to listen for running feet. He knew they would soon come. The disruption of a security forcefield and the discharge of a weapon at full power would have automatically triggered the ship's alarms.

His was gambling on Starfleet predictability. The most efficient way to recapture an intruder aboard a starship was by using the transporter. Why endanger lives or resort to brute force when, with a few taps on a console, someone could be immediately contained?

This would be his salvation. Now that he had mentally programmed the devices in his body, he had but to wait. If all went well, he would soon be in the engineering section. Until then, he would have to see to it that he not be subdued by other means.

As he moved into the outer corridor, he encountered two other crewmen who had just emerged from a turbolift. Balog crouched down and used the phaser again, sweeping a path of death before him.

* * * * *

"Security alert!" Adol announced. "The Cardassian has escaped the brig."

"Do what you have to in recapturing him." He turned his attention back to the main view screen. "Commander," He said to Shantok, "The last time that vortex thing hit us, we ended up as prisoners. It wasn't an experience I want to repeat. I don't mind keeping my word, but only of my own free will. See what you can do to deflect the anomaly."

"There is no way to deflect it or diffuse it, captain." She replied at once. "I recommend we go to warp maneuvers."

A startled cry came over the bridge speakers. The voice behind it belonged to Engineer Cal Benjamin. "Engineering to bridge! The Inth material down here is firing up again. I think it's about to discharge another energy burst."

"Why?" Lieutenant Pal asked. "No Dominion ships have attacked us yet. What's the weapon aiming at?"

"Let's not wait around to find out. Helm; lay in a parabolic trajectory to take us around the far side of Archer IV. Engage warp one."

The CON officer snapped off a quick 'aye sir,' and tapped out the sequence. But Instead of the familiar vibration of warp speed, an alarm sounded. "Sir, our warp field is being disrupted again."

"It's too late, captain." Shantok confirmed. "The disruptive effects of the Inth material are again taking place. All drive systems are being neutralized, as before."

"Impact in two minutes, 16 seconds." Pal said.

It was Adol's turn at bad news. "Sir, I'm trying to get a transporter lock on Gul Balog, but the carrier beam is somehow being rejected by his body."

"Boost power to the confinement beam." Shantok ordered.

"I just did, ma'am. Wait, I think I have him." But Adol's smirk of satisfaction slid away a moment later. "Something's wrong." He toiled over the tactical board in obvious frustration. "Somehow, the carrier beam is being re-directed into another part of the ship."

That was one too many 'somehows' for Captain Aubrey. "How is that possible?" He demanded as he bolted out of his chair.

Adol's appendages were now spiraling in every direction, a sure sign of his anger. "I don't understand it. I had him in the pattern buffer, then the transmission sequence kicked in again and he went back out. Something in his body must have created a command override in the transporter subroutines. I don't know how it could have escaped our security scans."

"Never mind. Where did he get beamed to?"

"Engineering."

"Get hold of him again and get him out of there."

"I'm trying, sir. The Inth material down there is smearing the transporter beam the same way it's disrupting our warp engines. I'm not even sure Balog made it there in one piece. I'm sending a security detail just in case." He turned from his station ready to sprint like a runner. "I'm on my way."

"Belay that. I need you up here." Aubrey said at once.

"Engineering: Intruder alert." Shantok announced into the intraship. "Mr. Benjamin, the Cardassian prisoner has escaped and is now in your section. Security is on the way."

"Vortex will make contact with us in 14 seconds." Pal reported.

"All decks, brace for collision." Aubrey ordered into the ship's COMM system. Then he let out a long-suffering sigh. "I don't suppose anyone around here has some good news to report?"

* * * * *

"I have some good news," Ensign Manta exclaimed. "The Dominion forces near Archer IV are spreading away from that area. They're moving clear of the vortex. Also, the subspace distortions have completely disappeared."

Captain Hiroko drummed her fingers against the side of her chair. "So you think we have a shot at getting those survivors?"

The young officer shrugged as if to say 'what do we have to lose?'

The tactical officer, Ensign Angelica Sully, spoke up at once. "Captain, that thing out there is about to hit the Intrepid. It's full of some kind of alien life force. Shouldn't we stay to assist?"

Hiroko brushed a lock of dark hair from her eyes. "Ensign, whatever is about to happen to Aubrey's ship is beyond our control. The Inth material is ready to discharge. We don't want to be perceived as a threat." She nodded firmly. "Those civilians might still have a chance if we act now. Take us in at full impulse."

Sentry hurtled forward.

* * * * *

"-----Cardassian prisoner has escaped and is now in your section." As Shantok's voice played over the intercom, Gul Balog wavered, faded then finally snapped into existence.

And Chief Engineer Cal Benjamin found himself face to face with an armed Cardassian-----a situation he had previously experienced only in masochistic daydreams.

The Gul stepped back nimbly, holding a steady grip on his phaser and moving it back and forth in front of him. His aim was sure. It was clear that he had everyone in his sights. "If any of you makes the slightest move, I'll kill everyone in this room." He declared with chilling calm. It was the voice of a merciless killer.

Behind Benjamin was a group of engineers, all which could fit into the remaining workspace. Most of the engineering section was inaccessible, but for this small work area. And behind the engineers, Balog saw something that made him nearly lose his resolve. "What is that thing?" He asked with obvious revulsion.

Benjamin was very careful to keep his hands where the Cardassian could see them. "It's alien tissue of some kind." He answered with a carefully guarded tone.

Half of the engineering room, including the tall cylindrical warp core, was now covered in a web like substance. Most of material was made of tentacles that were anchored to every part of the chamber.

The organic latticework began to radiate a bright light, which quickly increased in intensity. At the same time, something began pushing against Balog, causing him to step backward against his will.

Balog held up a forearm to shield his eyes. "What's happening?" He yelled, as a tremendous buzzing noise began. "Tell me what's happening!"

But to that question, Cal Benjamin had no answer.

* * * * *

"My God," Manta said. "What is that?" He was watching the main viewer, which showed the energy ribbon flowing from Archer IV towards the other ship.

"Mind your sensors." Hiroko said sternly. "I need you to keep an eye on the enemy."

Manta nodded earnestly and began studying his board again. "I show a squadron of four Cardassian fighters moving back into this section. Lamphet class. They'll be in weapons range in six minutes."

Sentry shot towards the structure in orbit of Archer IV. Beneath her, the planet was a dead, black marble.

Minutes passed as every transporter on the Sentry worked frantically, beaming aboard group after group of survivors. By the time the operation had been completed, the Cardassian fighters were only seconds away.

"What's the condition of the survivors?" Hiroko asked through the COMM system.

The medical officer answered back while giving instructions to his triage unit within the cargo bay. The large bay had been converted into a temporary medical facility. "Four are in critical condition. The rest are suffering from various injuries. The injuries range from malnutrition to broken bones." He snorted in anger. "They were abused, but they should recover."

If we make out of here alive. He didn't say it-----but then, he didn't have to.

"Captain," the tactical officer reported, "we have all the Federation survivors. But there are 23 Jem'Hadar soldiers still on board the detention facility. And life support has failed."

Hiroko considered leaving them. In fact, the temptation was so strong she actually got as far as opening her mouth to speak those very words.

What stopped her was an unexpected appearance by Sonya Kantrovitch, her recently dead tactical officer from the Legacy. And the woman she had loved.

She saw her vividly, right down to the flowing red hair, as if she were standing next to her command chair, as she so often had done on the Legacy.

"Sure, Hon," She was saying, "leave the bastards. That's what they would do to you."

"Bring the soldiers aboard," She ordered with a voice that was slightly hoarse. "But I want them knocked out with a full stun the second they arrive. Then secure them in the brig and make sure they're kept unconscious."

"Incoming fighters." Manta reported.

Hiroko gritted her teeth. "Helm, ready on evasive pattern Sanchez. Tactical, stand by all banks."

* * * * *

Once more, an energy snake whipped away from the Intrepid. It emerged from the secondary hull and slithered towards the planet. The tendril made its way across space at the speed of light, but avoided many possible targets-----for this time, destruction was not its purpose.

Also traveling at the speed of light was a vortex that was spiraling away from the planet's surface. Half way between planet and ship, snake and vortex met and joined into one. A fiery umbilical cord now connected the Intrepid to Archer IV, as a river of force began to pour into the ship.

The pressure wave that was pinning Balog to the bulkhead abruptly released its hold upon him. Gasping, he brought himself upright, once more brandishing his phaser.

Predictably, the Starfleet officers were still recovering. He set the phaser to stun and picked them off one at a time. He didn't use the stun setting out of mercy. It was just more practical right now. He could conserve the weapon's power this way and avoid the computer's notice. He left one crewman standing, the one who appeared in charge of this area, despite his lower rank. He might prove useful.

Benjamin raised his hands over his head and stood up. "This won't work," He said. "There's no way off the ship."

"Shut up," Balog snapped. He turned his attention once more to the organic material.

His jaw fell open.

The alien web was gone. There was now a whirlpool of energy swirling around the warp core. Balog could actually feel the life force skipping across his mind. The sensation was both terrifying and euphoric.

"It's them." He whispered. "They're here." Remembering his situation, he turned back to Benjamin. "Seal the main entrance. Now."

Benjamin gulped and tried to steady his quaking nerves. "Uh, but-----some of the systems were damaged, I'll have to see if the blast doors are operational."

Balog thumbed up the phaser's power setting to maximum, then carefully aimed it at Benjamin's chest. "I know you're stalling until security arrives. Try that again and I'll kill you. Now get to work. You have 15 seconds."

* * * * *

Hiroko knew that there was no way out.

They were deep in enemy territory, both surrounded and outnumbered by superior forces. And her ship was far from being in pristine condition. Sentry had endured considerable punishment during her last three engagements. Her hull had been pummeled, holed and battered by every type of attack her enemies could summon. She had lost half her crew and exhausted her torpedo compliment. Phaser power was down to half. Her warp core was again damaged. She was underpowered and undermanned, limping through space like a lame dinosaur, while the more maneuverable Cardassian fighters continued to snap at her failing shields.

The bridge rocked violently under the crew, a sensation that was becoming disturbingly familiar.

"Another hit to our port side aft." Sully reported from tactical. "Shields at 42%."

"Return fire." Hiroko ordered.

"Direct hit on targets one and two." Sully wore a pained expression. "Minor damage to their shields."

Hiroko narrowed her eyes at the CON officer's panel. "Helm, look sharp! Cut 18 degrees to starboard! They're going after our port side again."

The ship was pounded again, and this time two bridge stations blew out. A crewmember's face was shredded by exploding fragments.

"Medics to the bridge!" Sully called out.

"We're approaching the energy stream." The CON officer announced.

Like a fox chased by hounds, Sentry ran for her life. As she rounded the curvature of Archer IV, a flowing stream of light came into view. The ship swooped towards it, flying parallel to the stream as she raced away from the planet.

"Captain, the energy stream is still feeding into the Intrepid. But can I ask why we're headed that way?"

"There's no where else to go." She answered.

Another blast hit the ship. Then another. Within moments, the bridge was again reduced to shambles. Conduits openly hung from ruptured bulkheads as sparks and coolant gas began to spray into the air.

"Fire at will, Ms. Sully. Helm, switch to evasive pattern Trident One."

It was then that the tactical officer got lucky. She was raining phasers continuously on the nearest Cardassian fighter. It just so happened the fighter in question was in the process of re-modulating its shields. By chance, the phaser beams found a compatible frequency to slip through. Even reduced by half, Sentry's punch was considerable. The fighter was cut in two, blowing into a cloud of sparkling vapor.

The other three fighters redoubled their attack.

More explosions blew through the bridge. Hiroko felt a sharp sting in her temple. She touched the area with her hand. When she drew it back her fingers were covered in blood. "Manta, damage report!" She had to yell to be heard over the roaring destruction around her. Bridge panels continued to pop off like fire works.

"Direct hit to the port nacelle!" He yelled back. "We're losing drive plasma!"

The deck seemed to tilt under her and she lost her footing. She quickly yanked herself back into the captain's chair. "Engineering, get that plasma leak under control!"

The engineer projected his voice through the static that flooded the intercom. "Captain, I have a core breach in progress down here! I have to jettison the core now, while we still can!"

Hiroko cursed. "Do it." She ordered. She didn't know how, but she decided in that moment that she would bring the Sentry through this in one piece. USS Legacy had been lost on her watch-----and she was damned if she would let another ship get blown out from under her.

"The core has been jettisoned." Manta announced seconds later.

All at once there was silence. The killing stroke they all expected didn't arrive. All that could be heard was the crackling of ruined equipment and the hissing of coolant gas from the rear bridge stations. The labored breathing of her crew seemed very loud.

A medic and three damage control specialists arrived and went to work around the control room.

"Where did those ships go, Ensign Manta?"

Manta was certain he had just witnessed a genuine miracle. For how could anything less than divine intervention account for what he was seeing?

"Ensign, I need a report." The captain had just made a second request for information. Her tone made it clear there wouldn't be a third.

"Ma'am, I-----the Cardassians, they're breaking off the attack and rejoining the Dominion fleet." He said the words cautiously, as if afraid he might somehow break this delicate mirage by acknowledging it aloud.

"What's our position?"

"4,2100 Kilometers from the Intrepid. Closing at one quarter impulse."

Hiroko gingerly stood to her feet, almost tripping over a large piece of debris. "Any idea why they broke off?"

"Maybe. Something's going on with the Intrepid." Manta said. "The energy ribbon has disappeared, but I'm showing a powerful matrix inside the Intrepid's secondary hull."

Hiroko leaned over his shoulder. "Those look like organic signatures of some sort."

He nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

She patted his shoulder. "Keep continuous scans going on that ship."

"Damage reports coming in from all decks, captain." Sully said.

Hiroko turned around, her boots crunching on littered plastiglass and small pieces of metal. "Let's have it. And be quick."

Chapter 6

Aubrey gained the portside command deck and approached the freestanding science station that Shantok so often manned. It was supposed to be an auxiliary station, but Shantok had long ago taken it as her own.

"Well?" Aubrey asked as he gazed at the jumbled data on her board.

"It appears that the transference was successful." Shantok reported with maddening calm. "Sensors show an indeterminate amount of individual life forms within engineering. They are in a phased state of existence, existing within a dynamic energy matrix. Sensors show erratic power spikes and quantum variance. There are also some temporal phenomena at work."

"Can our warp core operate under those conditions?"

She looked down again at the data. "Mr. Benjamin could better answer that question."

The captain walked back to the aft area of the bridge. "Mr. Adol, does security have Gul Balog yet?"

Adol sighed heavily. "Captain, we've lost contact with everyone in engineering, including Benjamin. The energy matrix down there could be interfering with communications. Still too much disruption to use the transporter-----but my team just arrived." He tapped his combadge. "Lieutenant Mitsu, report."

The Asian man who replied sounded slightly out of breath "Sir, the main blast doors to engineering are sealed and there's a containment field in place."

Aubrey's mouth became a thin line. "It sounds like Balog arrived in engineering in one piece after all." He said glumly. He was beginning to get a bad feeling.

Down in engineering, Balog was growing angrier by the second. "Damn you, I said speak to me!" He bellowed at the swirling storm of life energy.

But the storm kept its silence, spurning Balog's request for the seventh time.

Furious, he turned his phaser back on Benjamin. "You're an engineer. Make them talk to me!"

Benjamin had trouble keeping his eyes off the weapon that was pointed at him. Sweat ran down his forehead. He didn't for the life of him know how to communicate with the beings that were swarming around the warp core. But it seemed in his best interest to pretend he was trying.

He picked up a tricorder from a nearby console and slowly began to scan the matrix. He could only hope the Inth wouldn't object to the intrusion.

Then his combadge chirped. "Aubrey to Benjamin, come in."

Before he could respond, Balog strode over and pulled the communicator off his tunic. He stepped back from Benjamin, still holding the phaser on him. "Hello, captain." He said into the combadge. "How nice of you to finally take the time to chat with me."

"What have you done with my crew?" Aubrey demanded.

"Your engineer is unharmed for the moment. The others are merely stunned. If you want them back alive, you have but to ask."

On the bridge, Aubrey kept a watchful eye on the tactical screen, in case any of the Dominion forces decided to make a run at his ship. "Alright, I'm asking. Please return my crew."

"I'd be delighted." Balog said with a frigid smile. "In return, I have but one small favor: tell me how to communicate with these creatures down here."

The bridge crew all exchanged looks with one another.

"It's not that simple. It's an uncertain process."

Balog jabbed his phaser at Benjamin. "Keep scanning!" He ordered. "Find me something useful." He then glared at the combadge in his hand. "Don't make the mistake that my other enemies have made, captain. Don't think of me as an uneducated fool. I know you've talked to them before. It follows that you can do it again."

"Contact with the Inth is extremely difficult. That's why I haven't spoken to them since."

Balog suddenly fired a phaser burst above him, blowing a sizable hole in the bulkhead. Benjamin jumped, dropping his tricorder.

"Balog!" Aubrey yelled. "What did you do?"

The Cardassian took an extra moment before responding, allowing his enemy to squirm a bit. When he resumed speaking, he sounded wistful. "Captain Aubrey, your crew down here is alive." He again aimed at Benjamin. "That situation is about to change. Unless you start telling me how to communicate with these beings."

Aubrey pressed the edges of his combadge to mute his voice. "Adol, can we flood engineering with anastazine gas?"

Adol called up some data on the tactical panel. "The air is turbulent in there. But I think it should work."

Shantok walked over and evaluated his scans. "I don't believe it will. The environment would not allow the gas to circulate properly."

"Why is that a problem?" Adol asked. "The gas is much heavier than the air and would still envelope the room quickly."

"The atmosphere is ionized by the energy matrix. The gas would have its chemical structure altered-----what remained would be thinned out by the air currents. He would be affected, but not fast enough."

"What's your answer?" Balog demanded.

Tiredly, Aubrey walked to his command chair and sat down. He opened the channel again. "Balog, listen to me. You probably have some idea that you can talk the Inth into helping you wage war on the Federation. Trust me, they're not interested. They're only trying to evolve. If they don't, Cardassia will be in as much danger as any other world. This situation is much bigger than our war."

Balog began to slide his thumb back and forth across the phaser settings. "Your argument would be far more convincing, captain, if you hadn't just obliterated four Cardassian ships with the help of these creatures. Or do you mean to suggest that it was a mere accident?"

"The Inth weren't protecting us, they were protecting themselves! They need my help temporarily to get home. In the meantime, they'll do what's necessary to survive. Hopefully, your people won't provoke them again and waste more lives."

Balog ground his teeth. "So I take it you're refusing my request?"

"I didn't say that. The last time they spoke to me it was only after we transmitted to them repeatedly. Eventually, our computer isolated the subspace frequencies they were using. It was a complex operation that took almost an hour. We can try it again, but there's no telling how long it will take. Please try to be patient."

"It's true!" Benjamin joined in. "That's what I've been trying to do with this tricorder-----to find the right set of frequencies." He put on his best performance, faking impatience by shaking his head and sighing as he worked the small unit.

There was profound silence from Gul Balog.

Aubrey muted his combadge once more at Shantok's look.

"An entertaining bit of fiction," She remarked. "I was under the impression the Inth had conversed with you telepathically."

"A little revisionist history for the benefit of our friend, down there." He admitted. "While I stall for time, I need you and Adol to find a way to get him out of engineering."

"Acknowledged." She walked to the aft part of the bridge. "I have a thought on how to strengthen the transporter's angular confinement beam."

Balog was someone who prided himself on having an extra sense, something that allowed him to see beyond momentary appearances. Sometimes, although he would never admit it to a living soul, he gleamed the future in hellish clarity.

Now, as he watched the junior Starfleet engineer give an unconvincing performance of cooperation, as he thought over Aubrey's words, he had an epiphany.

Within the next two minutes, he would be subdued. Aubrey or his pet Andorian would find a way to beam him out, or gas him or flood the chamber with radiation, or something.

But he would definitely be stopped before he could accomplish his mission.

It made no difference that the Dominion would win this war. Victory or not, Cardassia would still be the loser, because his countrymen were no longer in charge of their own destinies.

This ship was surrounded. Eventually, he knew, he would be returned to Cardassian forces. But to what type of life?

To the life of a disgraced Gul living under an occupied government?

He made his decision in that moment. He supposed it was a decision he had made some time ago without realizing it. "You may put the tricorder away." He said to Benjamin.

Benjamin stopped his make believe efforts and looked nervously at Balog. "I just need a few more minutes." He offered.

Balog tossed the combadge behind him carelessly. He smiled for what he believed was the last time. "Alas, time has run out. For all us."

"Still no response." Adol said. "The channel's open but he's not talking. It sounded like he dropped the combadge on the deck."

The captain tapped a control on his chair to open the intercom to engineering. "Balog, come in. I'm going to try to communicate to the Inth for you." There was a beat of silence. Then two. Then five. "Balog, come in. Balog, you need to-----"

And then he heard it. A noise in the background. It was a whine that began to steadily get louder.

He frowned. "What is that?" He asked his crew.

Adol was first to identify it. His eyes grew into wide saucers.

His expression alone was enough to make Aubrey understand. "My God. Phaser on overload!" He tried again. "Balog, listen to me. We can work this out. Give me a few more minutes. Balog, are you there?"

Brazen laughter erupted over the speakers. It was either the zeal of a madman, or that of one who was about to achieve a final victory over his enemies.

"Now, in these last moments that our lives are intertwined, only now do you acknowledge me." Balog sneered triumphantly. "At last I have from you the respect that is MY DUE!'

In Aubrey's mind it was no longer Gul Balog he heard, but rather Rhonda Kerry, the little red haired girl who had lived many centuries ago; standing on a hot sidewalk, telling him angrily: "I wouldn't do your homework if you PAID me!"

He blinked the memory away and snapped his command chair around. "Commander, any luck with boosting the transporter's confinement beam?"

She didn't look up from her screen. "I'll need more time." She said.

Lieutenant Benjamin froze with dawning terror. Until just now, he thought there was a chance of surviving this encounter. He eyed the distance between himself and the Cardassian, weighing his chances of making it across the deck before the weapon detonated.

He concluded that he wouldn't even come close. He tried something else instead. "I found it!" He suddenly blurted out. "I found the right frequency! I can communicate with the Inth now!"

Balog was momentarily surprised. He began to say something, but then clamped his jaw shut. He held his index finger in the air, wagging it back and forth slowly. He was either not fooled by Benjamin's last minute ploy, or just too far gone to care.

The phaser's whine was now reaching a point where the explosion was imminent. Out of desperation, Benjamin flung his tricorder at Balog. He missed, the small device smacking against a bank of data screens and clattering to the floor. Howling with desperation, Benjamin charged at the Cardassian. Balog was startled. He clearly had not expected this cowardly looking boy to be so motivated.

He recovered quickly. He sidestepped the lunge, and then swung out with a back fist strike that nailed Benjamin behind the skull. The young engineer slumped into the deck face first.

The captain's voice continued to echo out of the overhead speakers. "Balog, do you read? Please talk to me."

Balog looked at the overloading weapon in his hand. He decided that a brief eulogy wouldn't be out of place.

"For Cardassia." He said simply. A touch melodramatic, but so be it. After all, he doubted that phrase would ever have meaning again.

He glowered at the vortex of life energy around the warp core. "Maybe you'll understand THIS." He told it.

Then he tossed the phaser into the vortex with all his might.

Immediately afterward, it exploded.

"Sir, I'm showing a large explosion in engineering." Pal turned in his chair. "It came from inside the vortex."

Aubrey looked at Shantok. She returned his look. Then she gave voice to his worst fear. "The matrix was in a delicate state. A large enough energy discharge could destabilize it."

"Captain," Pal continued. "the matrix is unbalancing. Energy fluxuiations are becoming chaotic."

Shantok took over her own science board once again. "The reaction is now out of control. It's expanding to encompass the entire engineering section. And it's continuing to grow."

"Reports coming in from the lower decks," Adol added, "crewmembers are reporting that an unknown substance is filling the corridors. They're also saying that some kind of alien beings are manifesting themselves all over the ship."

"Sir!" Pal exclaimed. "We're experiencing a catastrophic power failure all throughout the ship. Decks 24 through 18 are now engulfed by some kind of organic plasma. It's moving fast. At this rate it will hit the primary hull in less than a minute." Every light on Pal's board was now red.

The captain made a decision instantly-----the only one that might save some of this crew. "Computer, this is the captain. Initiate immediate saucer separation, disaster sequence. Bypass all safety protocols. Authorization, Aubrey Echo, five seven one enable."

"Unable to comply. De-coupling sequence is offline." Even the computer had nothing good to say.

He jumped to his feet. "All hands abandon ship, I repeat, all hands abandon ship." He waved the bridge crew from their stations. "Clear the bridge! Get to the escape pods now! Move! Move!"

The ship shuddered. The lights began to dim. Slowly, gravity began to release its hold on the crew. The bridge personnel ran from their stations towards the exits. Then stopped.

"What's happening to the bulkheads?" The CON officer asked.

The bridge was turning green and blue as some type of protoplasm began to secrete from the walls. And that wasn't all. The deck beneath everyone was doing the same. The puddle of glowing muck was soon up to the crew's ankles and was getting denser by the second.

Defiantly, they sloshed through the organic bog, determined to reach safety.

The displays around the bridge winked off one by one within the growing darkness.

The computer senselessly repeated its last command, but its voice was beginning to distort from the strange forces at work on the ship.

"Unnaaaaabbbble tooo commmppplllllyy," It droned.

From far away, someone cried out in surprise. "What is that?"

Something was standing on the upper deck.

It brought a headache just looking at it. It was a creature about two meters tall. It appeared indistinct somehow, like a picture that was badly out of focus. Other images were juxtaposed over the being; it was both there and not there at the same time. It was something with a hundred limbs, then it was humanoid, then it was something with wings, then it had claws, and still the overlapping forms continued to crowd into on another.

The bridge swelled into a cathedral size chamber, then shrunk into the space of a coffee cup. Then it occupied all dimensions in-between.

Aubrey's every sense was under assault. His mind reeled from memories of another era, snapshots of ancient worlds and long dead races, empires that had once spanned universes, defying both imagination and explanation; god like beings who had made the mountains shake with their footsteps, and more, too much more-----more than any human brain could assimilate.

Through it all, one aspect of the creature never changed. It was the round blue eyes, like two searing holes from which an eternal flame burned.

Across a huge gulf, he heard the computer stubbornly repeating its last message, its voice now stretched like taffy as time and space within the ship twisted itself into a knot.

"Unnnnnnnnnnaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaabbbbbllllllllllllleeee....."

It was the last thing he heard before falling into a roaring blackness.

* * * * *

"Captain!" Ensign Manta exclaimed. "Intrepid's crew; I was showing their life signs but now...." His voice trailed away as he struggled to voice his thought.

"What is it?" Hiroko asked.

"I'm not sure."

"Out with it, Ensign." She growled, keeping her eyes firmly on the viewer.

"They're gone." Manta said simply.

Hiroko rose from her chair. "What do you mean they're gone?" She insisted.

The ensign was checking his data cautiously. "I had the crew on my sensors but now they're not there anymore."

"Interference from the Inth?" She suggested.

"No ma'am, the readings were clear. I showed the crew's bio signs and the Inth's. But now, there's just the Inth." He shook his head helplessly. "They're just-----gone. I think-----I think they're all dead over there."

"Look!" The cry had come from the tactical officer. She was pointing at the forward screen.

"Something's happening." Manta said quietly.

Hiroko mouthed an old Japanese prayer without realizing it.

The Intrepid was changing before their very eyes. The white hull was becoming discolored, turning a dirty green and blue color as a gelatinous material began to ooze around the ship with amazing speed. Within moments, the sheath was a dozen meters thick, obscuring every part of the ship's skin-----the markings, running lights, windows; all the familiar features of the vessel were now hidden from view. The sheath then started to ripple and bulge as if giant insects were crawling just below the membrane's surface. Tentacles sprung between the misshapen nacelles, forming a spider-like web across the warp engines.

"Report," Hiroko breathed.

"I'm now registering hundreds of thousands of overlapping bio signatures on board the Intrepid." the operations officer responded. "But sensors can't identify an exact number. They seem to be in a phased state of existnance."

Hiroko made herself look away from the viewer. "You said a 'phased state'? What kind of life forms are they?" She asked.

Manta squinted with concentration. "Impossible to get definite readings-----the organisms are shifting in and out of our space/time continuum."

Hiroko calmly took her chair. "Tactical, update on Dominion forces?"

Ensign Angelica Sully examined her tactical board. "Captain, there's a squadron of four Jem'Hadar fighters moving on the Intrepid." She looked up. "They're attacking."

The thing that had once been the USS Intrepid turned ponderously in space. It now resembled a Starfleet ship only in the most superficial of appearances. The classic outline of an Excelsior class ship was still there, but the hull was layered in a lumpy, organic tissue. Tentacles were intertwined around the superstructure from bow to stern. Suddenly, the organic substance surrounding the ship began to pulse with a ghostly light.

A glowing orb was ejected from the vessel's webbed engines and began to circle the ship in a rapid orbit. Another orb appeared a moment later, which also began circling the ship. Then a third. In less than two minutes the ship was surrounded by a cloud of illuminated objects that swam around the Intrepid like a cloud of fireflies.

The Jem'Hadar attacked. A wave of fighters flew in and fired at close quarters, striking with deadly energy beams. As they swooped away, a Dominion battle cruiser unloaded its full arsenal, pummeling the ship with a force that would have decimated a vessel twice her size.

But each beam of energy passed through the ship, emerging on the other side as if it were not completely solid. The Intrepid shone brightly with each hit, but otherwise seemed no worse for the wear.

Hiroko shouldn't have been surprised. After all she had witnessed to date, this was par for the course.

But oddly enough, she was. The galaxy was still a bizarre chest of wonders that continued to fascinate. "Manta, what's happening out there?"

The operations officer didn't answer at first. He no doubt wanted to re-check his findings. "Ma'am that entire ship is now in a phased state, just like the life forms inside her. Sensors can no longer get an exact fix on its location."

Hiroko shook her head. "The damn fools. It's hopeless."

The Jem'Hadar quickly came to the same conclusion. After a few more volleys, the fighters withdrew to a more distant location. The Dominion battleship also ceased fire, but stubbornly held its position, reluctant to show weakness. The remaining Dominion forces crouched at a distance, awaiting direction from their leaders.

One of the orbs suddenly sped away from the Intrepid and raced towards the nearest group of Jem'Hadar fighters.

"Now what?" Hiroko wondered aloud.

To their credit, or stupidity perhaps, the four Jem'Hadar ships didn't try to escape the orb. They charged at it, renewing their assault with a vigor that now tasted of desperation.

This time, their beams did not slice through the object, but seemed to disappear within it. Hiroko had the bizarre impression the orb was a flying hole in space.

The orb collided with the first fighter in its path, and yet, there was no discernable impact. The energy ball had passed through the shields as though they didn't exist-----then sank directly through the ship's hull, vanishing within its interior.

It was as if a black hole had come to life within the Dominion ship. Instantly, the vessel shriveled into a knot of twisted material, then disappeared into non-existence. Where the ship had been a moment before was a pulsing sphere of energy.

The orbs swarmed after the Dominion fleet, like an army of enraged bees.

The spheres of light impaled ship after ship, devouring each one in a deadly implosion. Two orbs descended on the Dominion battleship, two more fell upon a Cardassian destroyer-----both vessels were literally ripped in half as their bows and sterns crushed themselves into oblivion.

The Dominion fleet broke into a flurry of disarray, as something very much like panic took hold of the Vortas who commanded the group. What remained of the Cardassian units decided on a strategic withdrawal. Two cruisers and a group of Hideki class fighters escaped into warp.

The Jem'Hadar stayed to fight, regardless of how hopeless it was.

It took only minutes for half the Dominion fleet to be decimated.

Apparently satisfied at the level of destruction, the orbs returned to the Intrepid, orbiting the ship as if she were a queen bee.

But one orb didn't return right away.

Instead, it headed directly towards the Sentry.

"Dear God." Hiroko whispered very quietly. She tapped her combadge. "Engineering, is our core back on line yet?"

"No, ma'am, sorry. We're working on it." The junior officer down there had no way of knowing that death was only seconds away. Hiroko envied him. Sometimes, ignorance truly was bliss. "Give me another 18 minutes or so." He added good-naturedly.

So there it was. The crew around her stared silently at the sphere as it approached. They had trouble believing that the end was upon them. It was too surreal. Could that pretty little light really mean a terrible death?

Hiroko couldn't let it go at that. She had to try something. She knew weapons were useless-----but had anyone tried communication? Would those things out there respond? Or care?

"Put me on an open channel." She ordered.

"You're on." The tactical officer replied. Her voice sounded mechanical and detached.

"This is Captain Caroline Hiroko of the starship Sentry." She began, "Our mission is peaceful. We mean you no harm. Please do not attack our ship. I repeat, our mission is peaceful."

"Broadcasting on all channels." The tactical officer announced. "No reply so far."

"Contact in 15 seconds." Manta reported. His eyes were wide.

"Captain Aubrey was our ally." Hiroko continued. The orb was nearly on top of them.

"Five seconds." Manta said thickly.

The orb stopped.

It was truly a thing of beauty. A blue and green flame seemed to flicker and jump within its midst. It was like a pulsing doorway in space. One's thoughts could drift away just looking at it.

Hiroko and her crew could only stare, anticipating sudden death at any moment.

Get it over with, damn you. Manta thought angrily.

Hiroko was daring to hope. The orb had stopped. Maybe something she said had made a difference. Maybe it would be possible to establish a dialogue after all-----

She felt them. She could feel the Inth brushing against her mind. It was the most revolting type of sensation that she had ever experienced. They were a form of life so utterly different, so completely alien that her mind recoiled from the contact on an instinctual level-----she felt disgust and revulsion with such intensity that it was beyond words.

A chorus of thousands, of hundreds of thousands howled and snarled at her with rage and confusion. The gates of Hell had opened and the wailing of the damned was echoing through her mind.

All at once she felt like screaming. She grabbed her head in both hands and staggered backwards, falling into her command chair like a drunken cadet. Her crew moaned around her.

"Get out of my head," She gasped.

Madness beckoned. She rejected it, appalled at how fragile a person's sanity truly was.

And then.....

There was something else, something beneath the madness, beneath the rage and malevolent evil. Something-----golden. That's how she thought of it. Something golden and pure-----something that wanted desperately to be freed.

The turmoil in her mind seemed to ebb temporarily.

Was this what Aubrey and his crew had felt? He had been so determined to complete this mission that he had sacrificed his life and the lives of his crew to that end-----because he had believed that he was protecting the Alpha Quadrant.

But was that the only reason?

Perhaps he had also glimpsed that advanced potential within the Inth. Maybe he had believed that even creatures this vile and loathsome deserved a chance at redemption.

And then it was over. The orb moved away, shooting back to rejoin the swarm.

"Is everyone all right?" Hiroko asked.

The crew answered her one at a time. They had been left pale and shaking, but otherwise seemed unharmed.

"Tactical, " She instructed, "I need a full report."

"Captain, there's more activity around the Intrepid."

"On screen."

The orbs were no longer circling the other ship in a haphazard pattern. One by one, they left and began to cluster directly off Intrepid's bow. As each orb entered the cluster, the light from their combined brilliance grew stronger. Finally, as the last orb fell into the group, the cluster seemed to explode into a small sun.

"Confused readings on all sensors," Manta reported. "Spatial distortions and strong tachyon emissions."

The 'sun' began to swell and change colors. It was now a great kaleidoscope of spinning light, large enough to swallow ten starships.

At this point, Hiroko waited calmly for her officers to give her information. There was no point in pushing them for it. She could see poor Manta struggling over the Operations board, doing his best to figure out the sensor returns, even though he was not a science specialist. Finally, he gave his report. "Captain, I think I know what that anomaly out there is."

"Let's have it."

"A transwarp conduit. The construction is very similar to what the Borg use."

As they watched, the Intrepid began to glide towards the conduit. The membrane like material around the ship seemed nearly twice the thickness it had been before.

"Where does it lead?" The tactical officer asked out loud.

"I have a pretty good idea." Hiroko answered. She breathed in once, and then exhaled. "Helm, lay in a pursuit course and stand by on full impulse."

The crew hesitated for the barest of moments. Eleven hours ago she had been a stranger to them, someone who had replaced the command officers they had known and trusted. But things had changed since then. And now, a special relationship was evolving-----the kind that is forged between captain and crew, every bit as magical as the bond that binds parent and child.

But was it resilient enough to withstand this final test? Would they be willing to risk whatever ghastly fate had befallen Aubrey's crew?

She knew that the boundaries of their faith in her would be decided in the span of a single heartbeat.

That moment came and then passed.

The CON officer said, "Aye, Captain. Course laid in." She had emphasized the word 'captain' in what appeared to be a subtle endorsement. It was one that no one challenged.

The bridge crew turned back to their stations. The gesture was a silent show of unity, more powerful than a cheer.

Hiroko stared at the spinning hole in space and watched the Intrepid disappear into it.

"Engage." She ordered.

A primitive part of her mind cried out in protest

She ignored it.

The starship Sentry accelerated forward and flew through the transwarp corridor moments after the Intrepid.

Seconds later, the conduit snapped shut, committing both vessels to an uncertain future.