[All hands, this is the Captain. After a week of warp seven travel through the edges of the Alpha Quadrant, we have finally reached the sought borderline. Nobody knows what we will encounter on the other side. We must expect the unexpected.]
The announcement came as Lt. Lataro was just rising from bed. He had just pulled an all nighter, and it was time for him to report for duty. The announcement was surprising. He hadn't thought that they would have reached the Gamma Quadrant so soon. He thought that they would still take another few days, but at any rate, they were there. His security officers were ready for action and have even commented that they would like to see some action soon. Little did they know what they were asking for.
Quickly Jonathan put on his gold uniform and ensured that his pips were on correctly. He wanted to make sure that his impression to the captain was one of no nonsense, but at the same time, he had a subtle eye for the helmsman Ensign K'Lara. His time amongst the Klingons had taught him to appreciate the rough attractiveness of a Klingon woman. So his uniform was flawless to impress the young ensign. Hopefully, today she may notice him.
"Computer, lights off," he said as he left his quarters. The hallways were deserted as he proceeded to the nearest turbolift. It was 0530 and most duty shifts don't start for another 30 minutes, but he liked to be earlier for duty especially a new post. So his walk was that of urgency as he entered the turbolift. "Bridge."
Instantly, the ship was on red alert. The panel lights in the turbo lift flashed red as the doors opened. He immediately took his post beside Ensign Srell. His palms looked as if they were sweating as he moved his hand from spot to spot. Small and wet imprints of his hands were left on the panel.
"Ensign. You okay?" Jonathan asked.
"Uh... yessir..." Ensign Srell said nervously. "Captain? I'm seeing two small ships on sensors. They're on a collision course, and they're powering weapons."
"The Dominion!" exclaimed the Captain. "But they're light years from here!"
"No, Sir. Not Dominion. But they appear ready to fight."
Lataro looked at the panel and noticed something about the ships. They had a familiar silhouette but could not think what it was. He glanced over at the tactical readouts and made sure the ship was ready for the rest. She was. All decks had reported that they were ready and his security teams were ready. "Captain all decks report ready," Lataro said.
"Hail them." The Captain directed his attention at the viewscreen, but nothing appeared on it.
"Captain, they won't respond."
"Captain," Lataro begun. "These ships are familiar to me, but I can't remember exactly where I have seen them. Recommend keeping our distance while I access the ship's database."
"Do what you must, but..." the Captain's response was cut off by the commotion on the viewscreen; the ships approached the Virgo firing two chronoton missiles which passed directly through her shields as if they didn't even exist. Commander Surok looked at his console. "We have hull breaches on decks four, five, six, 12, and 13!" Maruu spoke to K'Lara. "Evasive maneuvers! Prepare four photon torpedoes, two at each ship."
"Sir, those ships are not on the database. They are unknown!" Lataro yelled.
"Fire!"
The photon torpedoes reached their destinations but caused no damage. The two enemy ships continued to shoot at the Virgo. However, they remained in the same place.
K'Lara spoke. "Captain, if we travel between the two ships, at the rate they're shooting at us, they won't realized it on time and may destroy each other."
Maruu smiled. "Do it, Ensign."
The Virgo turned about. She zoomed in between the two ships and, as K'Lara had predicted, the two ships shot at each other and were destroyed. The entire crew was overjoyed.
Immediately, Lataro was accessing the con panel and looked aft. One of the ships had not been completely been destroyed but stood motionless. Fires ranged on numerous section of the unknown ship, and he immediately increased the magnification of the ships hull. He conducted a low level scan of the ship and saw that the life support system still functioned but major structural damage was sustained as well as engines and weapons destroyed.
"I can't believe that worked!" The Captain walked up to K'Lara. "Keep this up and you could be face to face with a promotion."
The ship, ending its struggle, continued on its way. The crew had already begun repairs.
"Sir, recommend we go back and investigate that ship." Lataro said. "It wasn't quite destroyed and we just might be able to get some valuable information those missles."
After a moment of contemplation, the Captain agreed. "Ensign K'Lara come about and approach the ship at one-fourth impulse."
"Aye, sir." K'Lara said.
[Lt. Lataro,] someone said over the comm.
"Go ahead," Lataro answered.
[Sir, We have a problem.]
"What is the problem?"
[You may want to come down here. We have an unexploded missile on Deck Four section A.]
"On my way." He began to leave the Bridge.
"Lieutenant, hold on. I will come with you." Maruu said. "Commander, you have the Bridge."
They ran to the location noted and sure enough, lodged in the bulkhead was the tip of a missile. It pulsated with a low level hum that seemed to almost hypnotize Lataro, but he immediately drew his tricorder and took readings.
"Sir, this missile is a chronoton missile. It skips through subspace making it impervious to most, if not all, shields. That is why our shields were ineffective against it."
"Damn. How do we defend ourselves against it?"
"I am not sure. Maybe we can use the same technique as we do against the Borg and randomize the shield's harmonics to also include subspace frequencies. That may be able us to offer some resistance to them."
"How do you know so much about this scientific stuff?"
"I know a little about engineering, not enough really to be an engineer just enough."
"Maybe if we found the exact harmonic frequency, then we can adjust our modulations in a narrower band."
"Yes, that may work!"
"Ensign Trent, come to Deck Four section A. We need a missile disarmed."
[Aye, Sir. We will have a team there in no time.]
Within a minute a team arrived. They were given instructions to get the frequency of the missile and dislodge they weapon. It was done. On the Bridge, the unidentified ship was in transporter range and Lataro assembled an away team to beam over. "Mr. Lataro, at first sign of trouble, I want you out of there. Is that clear?" Capt Maruu said.
"Yes, sir."