"Acknowledged, Captain Mallory. We'll keep a look out for the Naussicaan. Wallace out," Commodore Richard Wallace said in response to the message from SB901.
"The vessel Mallory describes is one that we weren't able to track down after the antipiracy operations in the Orion Sector five years ago," Lataro explained. "I guess now we know why."
"Two missing ships appear at the same time, in exactly the same sector," Jenara mused out loud. "Do we know what might have prompted this?"
"According to Lieutenant Deveraux's report," Wallace said, "the subspace rift created when the alternate Vincent Kelly arrived in this universe apparently interfered with an interdimensional transport experiment aboard the Albuquerque and a transwarp prototype aboard the Naussicaan pirate vessel. Both were headed to the same place--New Canada--and the rift ensured that they ended up here at the same time." Jenara couldn't help but hear the distaste in Wallace's voice as he mentioned Deveraux. What could Lieutenant Deveraux have done? she thought. I've read his papers--he's an outstanding scientist!
"So we have to operate on the assumption that the Naussicaans have transwarp on their vessel," Jenara said.
"Mr. Chee, open our sensor net to maximum range," Wallace ordered.
"Aye, sir," Johnny said as he tapped the controls on his console. So far, he liked the Security portion of his duties better than the Tactical portion. In Security he dealt with other Security officers, and roved the decks of the Hornet ensuring that secured areas remained secure and watches were being stood. The Hornet--like any ship commanded by Wallace--was a tight ship, but at least Johnny was able to move around and talk to people. Tactical reminded him too much of a desk job. At least, so far....
"I've got a vessel on bearing 160 mark 4," Johnny reported. "Sensor data is consistent with the Naussicaan vessel." Good--things are heating up a little here!
"Hail them," Wallace ordered.
An ensign at Operations, next to Johnny, opened a channel. "No response, sir."
"Weapons are powering up on the Naussicaan," Johnny reported.
"All hands--red alert! Secure to general quarters," Wallace ordered as red lights began flashing throughout the ship. "Shields at maximum power!"
The Hornet shook as a phaser volley struck it amidships.
"Shields at 80% and holding, Commodore," Johnny reported.
"Fire forward phaser banks. Disable the vessel but do not destroy it."
Johnny tapped the phaser control and a brilliant blue beam lanced out from the Hornet. The Naussicaan's shields began to glow.
"Naussicaan shields are holding... sensors indicate damage to life support and computer systems aboard the enemy ship."
A few more phaser beams. "Shields are down, sir."
"Open a channel." This time the Naussicaans answered. [What do you want, Federation weaklings!] the Naussicaan captain snarled.
"This is Commodore Wallace in command of the Federation starship Hornet. Your vessel and crew is wanted for piracy and slave trafficking. You will heave to and permit a boarding party--"
[We will permit no such thing!]
"Enemy vessel has fired a photon torpedo," Johnny reported, just before the ship began to shake violently under the impact. "Our shields are at 65%; damage to main engineering."
"Take these sons of bitches out!"
"No--you can't do that!" Jenara exclaimed. "They're slavers--they've got captives aboard!" She had sensed their thoughts in such close proximity to the enemy vessel... there were children aboard...
"Damn!" Wallace shouted. "Disable their engines, then."
"With pleasure, sir," Johnny said as he boosted the phaser arrays to full power. The warp nacelles of the Naussicaan drifted away as the Hornet's phasers cut through the ship's warp pylons.
"Hail the pirate," Wallace said.
"No response, sir."
"Mr. Chee, take a boarding party and secure the vessel."
Johnny and five Security officers beamed aboard the Naussicaan vessel. It appeared to have taken a serious beating. Fires roared out of control, conduits arced and snapped. Johnny activated his tricorder and gestured with his phaser rifle for the officers to follow. Just like the good old days, he thought somewhat ruthlessly.
The first Naussicaan emerged from behind a corner and began firing a disruptor pistol at the team. Johnny and company immediately dropped to the deck, with Johnny firing back. Damn, but I wish I had a grenade right now! he thought. The exchange kept up for three minutes before one of Johnny's officers managed to hit the Naussicaan. "Good work, Takashi," he said, gesturing for the men to move forward.
Finally, after three or four more pitched battles, they reached the bridge. Johnny leveled his rifle at the captain. "You are under arrest by the authority of the Federation. Put down your weapons and surrender at once!" Johnny ordered. Not like that's going to do any good.
The Naussicaan captain instead put the disruptor pistol to his own head. Before Johnny or anyone else could stun him, the captain had made a terrible mess all over the deck plates.
"All Naussicaan life signs have been accounted for," one of the Security officers said. "I'm reading twenty-eight humans, mostly children, in the lower hold. I'm reading an adult male human on the next deck down."
"Let's see what we've got," Johnny said.
The lower hold was as dismal a scene as any Dante ever described of the Inferno. The children were scared, crying, and hungry; several had soiled themselves. "Chee to Hornet--we've secured the vessel. We've accounted for twenty-nine human slaves."
[How about the crew?] Wallace asked.
"All dead. The captain took his own life rather than be captured."
[Typical of Naussicaans. I'll alert sickbay to prepare for the refugees.]
Sapek and Tasia had been escorted to guest quarters aboard SB901 so that they could have a chance to rest before being debriefed. Somehow Sapek was apprehensive.
"I'm not picking up anything out of the ordinary, Sapek," Tasia explained. Over the years she knew the old Vulcan's emotions better than he did, despite his protests of actively seeking to discover them. "The crew of this station is no different than what one would expect of a starbase in our universe."
"True. Standard procedure is being followed to the letter here," Sapek said, not letting it slip that he thought that that alone would be reason to be suspicious.
"Don't worry... this is all going to work out fine!" Tasia said, placing her arm around Sapek's shoulders. To an outsider, the scene of a Tanzaran and a Vulcan in a near-embrace would have provoked a second or third look. But for them it had become as natural as breathing. The door chimed.
"Enter," Sapek said.
"Good afternoon, Captain. I'm Jovan Kalimar, with Starfleet Intelligence. I've some questions to ask you about your interdimensional transport..."
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