"Captain's Log, supplemental. Our warp drive completely depleted of dilithium, we have been forced to limp to the nearest star system on impulse drive in search of supplies. I have dispatched my First Officer to an uncharted system to seek out alternative food supplies on the basis of signs of significant plant life. It is my hope that our current mission will allow us to obtain critically needed supplies." Nathaniel Sharpe read into the log.
Shortly after dispatching Jenna Wolf on her mission to locate food, warp signatures were located in a star system two light years away. Since warp signatures indicated the presence of dilithium, he deemed the system important enough to visit and attempt first contact.
"Vessel off our starboard bow," the ensign at helm reported. "Displacement 20,000 tons, looks capable of about Warp 6."
"Put it on screen," Sharpe ordered. A ship with four warp nacelles in an 'X' pattern appeared.
"Very good, Ensign. This looks like the opportunity we've been hoping for. Open a comm channel."
A yeoman at the comm station attempted to open the channel, but was greeted with static. "Standard greeting on all frequencies receiving no response, sir," the yeoman replied.
"Continue trying."
Johnny looked at his board. "Captain, I'm picking up a major spike in the vessel's energy levels."
"Keep an eye on it. Comm--anything?"
"Nothing, sir--wait! I've got some signals. Running them through the UT. Here they are!"
[Interloper, you have trespassed upon space belonging to the Ropaki Protectorate. Turn about and return from whence you came, or be fired upon.]
This is not good! Sharpe thought. "Open a channel."
"Channel open, sir."
"This is Captain Nathaniel Sharpe in command of the USS Hornet, representing the United Federation of Planets. We request a meeting with your command authority."
"Captain, the vessel's energy readings have just gone off the board!" Johnny shouted. "They appear to be raising shields!"
"Get our shields up now!"
"The best I can do without the dilithium is 60%. Sensors indicate eight hundred incoming projectiles!"
"Helm! Evasive! Now!"
The normally agile Hornet steered like a turtle as it attempted to avoid the missiles. "Attempting electronic and tachyon countermeasures," Johnny replied. "Range 4,000 kilometers and closing rapidly!"
"Maximum impulse! Engineering, everything you can spare toward the shields!"
[Sir, we've got everything except life support heading to the shields now!]
"What are you waiting for! Start funneling life support as well!"
"2,000 kilometers and closing. Countermeasures appear to be dispersing the swarm," Johnny reported. He knew just how badly the ship had been hurt by the tesseract. He was genuinely worried about the ability of the vessel to survive even this encounter with an inferior vessel.
"Hard about! They obviously don't want to talk--let's get out of here and regroup!" Sharpe ordered.
No sooner than they'd turned around than yet another ship appeared. This one did not wait for the Hornet to contact it. [Attention alien vessel! You are in territory claimed by the Mokktar. Surrender now and prepare to be boarded!]
"Like hell!" Sharpe snapped. "Johnny, it's time we stopped talking to these people."
"Understood. Phasers are online and waiting for your command, sir."
"What the hell are you waiting for? Give them a warning shot!"
Johnny tapped the phaser control and sent a bright blue energy beam across the Mokktar vessel's bow--if a vessel shaped more or less like a clamshell could have a bow. The warning shot was well-placed. Until the first of the Ropaki projectiles impacted.
The ship lurched. Still more circuits overloaded, and everyone was thrown from their stations. The beam was jogged down directly into the Mokktar's hull.
[Alien vessel, your provocative actions have marked you. Leave this sector now or face destruction!] the Mokktar vessel ordered.
"So much for making friends," Sharpe groaned. Apparently the safeguards that would shut off the phaser banks in just such a situation had also been damaged. "Ops, what's our damage look like?"
"Superficial damage to five decks," Okul reported. "No casualties reported so far, but we're limited to half impulse."
Terrific. Just terrific! Dammit! Sharpe thought as the Mokktar vessel closed on the Hornet.
The Ropaki were still in the fight, however. They released yet another volley of missiles, this time at the crippled Mokktar vessel. The hull of the Mokktar ship was shredded by the small projectiles. Without another word, the Mokktar retreated. These people don't much seem like they're willing to talk, and we can't run. No choice but to fight our way out.
[Your aggressive nature has marked you as a danger to the Protectorate. Surrender now and prepare to be boarded, or face destruction!] the Ropaki ordered.
"No way in Hell is anyone boarding this ship!" Sharpe said. "Not now, not while we're this badly weakened. Commander, you may fire on my order."
"Acknowledged, sir," Johnny said, knowing that this order could very well doom them all. But then again, their other options didn't look much better. They could be boarded and probably be imprisoned by what appeared to be an extremely hostile species, or be destroyed. He charged the phaser banks again.
"Attention Ropaki vessel. We come in peace, seeking contact with your civilization," Sharpe repeated. "You greet us with violence, and your attack has left us unable to leave your territory as quickly as we would like. If you persist in your hostile actions, we will be forced to defend ourselves."
No answer. "Energy spike aboard the Ropaki ship," Johnny reported.
"I'm not waiting around for more of those missiles. Fire!"
Johnny fired the phasers. The Ropaki vessel vanished in a cloud of rapidly dispersing elementary particles.
And the Hornet became caught in the middle of a war not their making...