The attack on the Virgo had produced extensive amounts of damage and provided the medical staff with more than enough work of wounded officers and crewmembers. Once the Kirusan warship was destroyed, Lt. Lataro immediately dispatched both security and damage control teams throughout the ship to survey and assess the damage of the Virgo. "Lieutenant. Show Volvan on the screen," Captain Maruu ordered once he regained his composure. The viewscreen showed a planet glowing yellow from radiation.
Lataro looked at his sensors. "Sir, there is no sign of life on the planet. All remnants of life, humanoid or vegetation has been completely wiped out." He looked at Lt. Roen. "I'm sorry."
Maruu hugged her. He was extremely saddened by the death of her planet and family. "Oh, Lili."
She hugged him and then separated herself from him. "I'll be staying on your ship for the rest of your voyage. Then, I will return to the Federation with you. There's nothing left for me here. I'll be in my quarters." She left the Bridge.
Maruu and the rest were silent as they pondered on what they had just seen. "I want all my senior officers in the Briefing Room in ten minutes."
Sitting around the table were Captain Maruu, Commander Surok, Lt. Lataro, Lt. K'Lara, Lt. Richardson, Ensign Trent, Ensign Valdago, and Ensign Solacetta. A few of the officers were suffering from cuts and bumps as a result from the attack, but all were in one piece. "All right! I want to know what we just saw. Ensign Solacetta what do you have?"
"Captain, the only information we have is what was gathered during the attack. Unfortunately, that is little to none. The missile is very much similar to the nuclear weapons of 20th-century Earth. However, this particular device explodes with 100 times more megatons and releases even more amounts of radiation. It is capable, as we have seen, to completely wipe out all living matter on a planet and change what we call a Class M planet to a Class J, unsuitable," she briefed.
"The radiation alone keeps any living matter from getting within 300 km from the surface. So away teams are totally ill-advised," Lt. Richardson began. "There is no way we can get anyone or anything on to the surface to categorize the damage for many years if at all."
"Yes, sir, Class J planets are planets with nuclear reactions occurring so often that the atoms of regular solar radiation is sped up to phenomenal speeds. These speeds within the atom create heat that literally would burn the flesh off a person in a matter of seconds. Environmental suits can withstand the heat for only a few minutes before the molecular structure is changed causing it to break down. There is no possibility of recolonizing or reestablishing life on Volvan for quite some time," Solacetta said.
"So what can we do about this? We cannot let this happen to other planets!" Captain Maruu said very discouraged.
"Sir, while they were briefing I was thinking that very point!" Lataro began. "First, for the missiles, we might be able to modify the targeting computer to track those missiles. We then can fire a few photon torpedoes and take out the missiles before they have time to arm and hit a planet's atmosphere. It would take some time to modify the computer, about 46 hours. Then, we would have to be in position when the missile is fired. That would be the tricky part."
"Lieutenant, that may be possible, but how would you be able to test it?" Commander Surok asked.
"That is something that we would have to test in the heat of battle, Commander." Lt. Lataro said.
"Well we can't let other worlds suffer the same fate, and as of now, that is the only option we have. Go ahead Lieutenant. Try to have it done faster than 46 hours," Maruu said.
"Also, sir, something else, while I was in the command center at Denmar, I was looking at a certain schematic of the phaser array." Lataro got up and went to the view screen behind the captain. Pointing at various parts he began. "Correct me if I am wrong Ensign Trent, but the phaser operates at 23 million gigawatts. I figure that if we patch the plasma injector into the phaser array here, we may be able to increase the output to about 100 million gigawatts."
"But with that configuration, you have a possibility of burning out the injectors," Ensign Trent stated. After a short pause, "However, if we create a deulitic coolant pathway from the warp core, we may be able to minimize that threat... yeah, that may work. I can run some simulations and have an answer by 2100 tomorrow."
"I am impressed, Lieutenant. Are you sure you're not an engineer?" Maruu asked.
Lataro smiled. "Captain, with that output we can overtake a Kirusan warship with a few well-placed shots. However, the missiles they fire are something else. I am still working on it."
"Keep up with it. However, the question still remains. What are we to do now?"
"I say we take out their ships! Go and search and destroy!" K'Lara suggested. "Avenge the Jeorri!"
"Those are strong words, Lieutenant. And I am half inclined to agree with you, but who will avenge us once the Kirusans destroy us? Lt. Richardson, how many casualties do we have?"
"Sir, we have confirmed three dead and 25 injured, ten critically wounded."
"We have got to do something about this. We have lost Ensign Crell, poor lad, but not a major loss. He was still a man that deserved better," Lt. Lataro said.
"Well, let's get these repairs underway and put our ship back to readiness. From this moment, I want constant readiness drills. Lt. Lataro, I want you to initiate a rapid response team to work with the damage control teams."
"Sir. Already done. Those teams are overseen by Ensign Torres and Ensign Espee, each have medical knowledge and are commanded by my assistant Ensign Garza."
"Very nice. You have come a long way from that lowly ensign I heard about."
"Sir?"
"Some other time Lieutenant. Alright people, let's get the Virgo back on top. Dismissed."
The meeting was dismissed, and K'Lara went to her post at the helm. Lataro returned to tactical where immediately he noticed an object on his sensor. "Ensign Choate! You didn't see this ship?"
"Uh... no, sir, I thought that it was just a piece of debris from the planet." he said stammering.
"No, Ensign... remind me to retrain you on these sensors. Captain, I have a ship bearing 234 mark 2. Range 50 billion kilometers," Lataro said with urgency.
"Kirusan?"
"At this range I can't get a positive ID. However, it doesn't seem to be moving."
"Lt. K'Lara, set a course. Full impulse," Captain Maruu ordered. "We're not in position to wage a battle, so come in nice and slow.
The Virgo turned to the heading and wisped away. About five minutes into the flight, Lataro looked at K'Lara and smiled. She felt someone's stare and looked coyly over her shoulder. She knew who was looking at her but of course didn't make any sudden movements.
"Lt. K'Lara, is there something wrong with your neck?" Commander asked.
"No, sir," she said looking straight. God I hate that guy.
Whoops...didn't mean to get her in trouble! Lataro thought. "Sir, the ship is in range."
"On screen!" Commander Surok ordered. The ship's image appeared on the view screen. It was battle worn and not moving as they came closer. There was considerable pieces of debris and masses of titanium alloy floating around the ship.
There must have been a major battle here! Lataro thought.
"Life support is minimal. No engines. No life signs. Sir, that ship is a dead hulk!" Ensign Valdago said.
The ship came closer, then everyone looked on the screen in amazement. "Sir! That ship is a Klingon Battle Cruiser!" Lt. K'Lara said in disbelief.
Maruu looked at the ship open-mouthed. "What the hell is a Klingon ship doing in Kirusan space?!"