The Gallivant stood position just outside of the Briar Patch. The mighty Galaxy class ship marveled StarFleet engineers with her gigantic saucer section and powerful class IX warp engines. Admiral McCaffee sat tandem to her pilot, liaison, and close personal friend, Lieutenant Commander Calloway as she allowed her eyes to roam admiring the ship. The panel beeped as Calloway's fingers maneuvered over the panel piloting the Runabout Alaska towards the Briar Patch. Her destination was Supply Base 901, the one place she had been just prior to the unfortunate disappearance of her commanding officer, Captain Geoffries. To this day, command still does not know what has happened, but the operation of the station remained.
McCaffee looked around as the runabout cleared the shuttle bay. Calloway expertly banked ship where she flew just to port and above the bridge. The jolt was a little much for the inertial dampeners as the runabout's occupants swayed left then to rear. "Commander!" She said as she regained her composure.
"Whoops," Calloway said with a smile.
"Please. No more whoops. Understood!"
"Aye ma'am."
[Runabout Alaska, this is Eagle Flight. We are ready to escort you through the Briar Patch.] said a voice through com system.
"Eagle Flight assume standard formation and follow us in," Calloway said smiling. The five Valkyrie fighters flew forward of the runabout. One took the point as two took position at the runabouts, 10 and 2 o'clock positions. The remaining two took station just to the rear which completed the star-like formation. "Wow look at them."
"I see, Jerry. They are something else. I am glad the research finally decided to look into the idea of small one man fighters/escorts," the admiral said.
"Well we haven't had a need for such ships, but I guess with the increasing tensions in this region and other parts of the alpha quadrant, smaller crafts would be more advantageous."
"I would assume so. Have you signaled the Gallivant to follow us in?"
"No ma'am."
"Well commander, don't you think we should."
Blushing at his total lack of procedure, Calloway signaled the mighty ship to follow them in, however because of the gravimetric distortion of the patch, they can only maneuver with thrusters. Warp engines and high impulse would not be possible.
"Estimated time of arrival?" McCaffee asked.
"Forty-Five minutes."
"Very well." McCaffee laid her head back and closed her eyes. Her thoughts began to wonder on her adopted son, Brayden, who was lost in a galaxy far from their own. He was assigned to the Leviathan with his birth parents at her request. Now she wished she had never approved such a reckless endeavor. It was an experience for him to be on a warship, far from what he could ever get at the Academy. Now she feels that he is getting more than what they bargained for. With a lone tear that streaked down her cheek, McCaffee drifted to sleep.
"Admiral!'
McCaffee shot up shocked, even frightened from her blissful sleep. "What!"
"We have company."
Just in front of the formation, a Son'a capital ship appeared.
"Raise shields!" McCaffee ordered.
[This Baaruk. Drop your shields and prepare to be boarded.]
"This is the Federation Runabout Alaska en route to Supply Base 901. You are in Federation space with no claims to this portion of space. What gives you the right to board us?" McCaffee replied.
[This space belongs to the Son'a. Always has, and it will always be.]
"That is interesting considering that the Baku claim this as well."
There was a silence. [It is ours. You have three seconds to comply.]
"Admiral, " began Calloway. "Channel has been closed."
"How far until we reach the supply base?"
"Not soon enough." The panel began to beep. "They are powering weapons."
"Eagle Flight!" McCaffee ordered. "Break formation and regroup at coordinates 00....."
Just as the admiral began to give her orders, a giant phaser burst from the Son'a pierce the space and hit the lead Valkyrie. It exploded in a brilliant ball of flames extinguished quickly in the vacuum of space. The remaining fighters broke formation.
[Admiral... your orders!]
"Break and engage!" She yelled, her eyes glazed over. It is time to show the Son'a that we are not a weaker species.
On board SB901, Commander Wallace sat in his office going over some reports when his combadge beeped. [Commander. I think that you need to come and take a look at this.]
"What is Ensign Kalvan?" Wallace sat a little miffed.
[We are detecting weapons fire!]
In moments, Wallace was up out of his seat and at the back of his operation officer. "Report."
"Sir," Kalvan began. "About five minutes ago, I was detecting something in the Briar Patch. However, I just chalked it up to sensor echoes. Then suddenly there were various explosions and even slight com traffic."
"And....?"
"Well. Just as I was beginning to do some more detailed scans, I called you. I have identified various anatomies."
"Put it up on screen." Wallace ordered. The view screen came on and in the red Briar Patch, small explosions could be seen. "Magnify."
"Just a moment." The screen flickered and a larger image emerged. Nothing.
"Full magnification." From the image Wallace noticed a familiar design. He tapped his combadge. "Wallace to Nevar."
[Go ahead commander.]
"Commander. Take the Arizona out and investigate sector 003."
[Understood.]
I don't like the looks of this. "Wallace out."
The battle was not going well. The Alaska had taken major damage but was still flying. The remaining three Valkyries concentrated their fire power at the bridge level of the Son'a ship.
"I want that ship taken out," McCaffee yelled at Calloway.
"Understood. The Son'a warp engines are off-line and so are their impulse engines. I recommend we withdraw. Our firepower is no match for that ship."
"Retreat!" McCaffee responded. "I don't think so. Fire quantum torpedoes."
"Torpedo launchers offline."
McCaffee slammed her fist on the console. "NO!" Suddenly, the small fighters exploded as phaser fire from the Son'a ship hit them. They exploded as their predecessor, in a brilliant ball of flame. Another phaser blast cut through space connecting to the Alaska's warp nacelle.
"Admiral the port nacelle has been destroyed. We are venting plasma."
I don't believe this! "Ramming speed....."
Just as the order was given, a volley of torpedoes came from behind. They flew straight and true as they proceeded about 2000 km then spread out like a flower. The three torpedoes became nine and hit the Son'a ship causing a chain reaction. The Son'a ship exploded sending a shock wave that propelled the Alaska back.
[Admiral McCaffee. This is Captain Joel. It looks like you could use a little help.]
"Captain. I am glad to see you." Calloway responded looking over at McCaffee who had her face in her hands.
[Understood. Prepare to beam over to the Gallivant. Our sensors show that there is a warp core breach imminent. ]
"Understood. Standby for emergency transport." Calloway said as he stood up grabbed McCaffee. "Come on Admiral. It is time to go."
McCaffee got up and rushed to the emergency transporter. They beamed out. Within minutes the Alaska exploded and if it hadn't been for the order of shields, the Gallivant would have taken heavy damage.
[Federation Ship, this is the USS Arizona, are you in need of assistance.]
"Arizona, this is the Gallivant All is under control here, however we could use an escort to SB901." Joel responded. "We have Admiral McCaffee aboard for Commander Wallace."
[Understood. Follow us in. Arizona out.]
"..... and that is what happened Commander, " finished a shook up Admiral McCaffee.
"Well we haven't had too much action from the Son'a in some time. I guess that it was just a matter of time."
"Maybe so, but we cannot get involved in these internal matters with them and the Baku."
In amazement, Wallace looked at her. "Ma'am with all due respect... we are involved especially in what you just did."
"Commander.. I don't like your tone."
"I am sorry, but we are involved with the Baku ever since Admiral Doughtery first created an alliance with the Son'a. We can't just back out and say 'oh here you go'."
"Maybe you are right, but you don' t make policy... I do."
"Well this is some thing that you are wrong."
"Commander! I don't like your tone and if it wasn't for Admiral Ross wanting this, I would say to hell with you."
"You should want the Baku protected as well.
"Not that. This." She said as she flung a small box on to Wallace's desk." Wallace looked at her for a moment then picked up the box. Inside was gold pip. "Yes Commander. You are promoted to the full rank of Captain. I still don't like it, but oh well. Just do as I tell you and you will be okay."
Wallace said nothing but put the pip on. He really despised this lady for what she is trying to do, but she is an officer with a higher rank, so to avoid being court-marshaled he accepted what she had to say.
"I am done here." She tapped her combadge. "Captain Joel. Prepare to leave. One to beam out."
[Understood. Stand-by.] In a second, McCaffee began to dematerialize, leaving Wallace alone. He stood up and looked out the window, the reflection of him now sporting a fourth pip caused him to smile. His reflection was disturbed with the aft section of the Gallivant as it disembarked. He tapped his combadge. "Commander Loran to my office."
[On my way.]
About ten minutes later Lieutenant Commander Loran entered Wallace's office. "Commander Wallace," said a voice from behind. Wallace turned around and immediately Commander Loran realized he was in error. "Sorry... Captain Wallace."
Wallace smiled. "Commander assemble the staff. We have a lot to do."