Liberation : The Operation

The view monitors came on and on the screen was a Barien. [Captain Devore ! We meet. I am Premier L'Kar. I believe you have something that belongs to us.]

Just a matter of hours ago, Captain Devore had had a plan that would be foolproof. Yes, the insertion team would go in take out Bariens who now occupied the colony and return home to the safety and solitude of the massive USS Leviathan. In this wake, Beard would be captured and better yet executed, the Lynx in tow back to the nearest Starbase and Devore and his crew would be looked upon as heroes. So simple, but so far from the truth. The operation on Limerus had been a success, and the removal of the Barien occupation force was accomplished, but as far as the Ohio returning, well as of this moment, Devore didn't know if they were still alive or dead!

Now in advanced tactical position, the remaining Barien battle cruisers had taken station on just off the port bow, and one on the starboard bow. Even if Devore could take out one of them, the other would surely obliterate the ship. His defences were at a minimum, the red alert klaxons were going off. Loose wires were dangling from every bulkhead throughout the ship and Decks 14-16 were totally exposed to space. Over 50 men and women now call the vacuum of space their "home".

The small battle had taken its toll on the Leviathan. Devore had done everything to save the Ohio, but he just couldn't get to the small runabout in time. The last known contact was it plummeting to the planet's surface. Devore just stared into the viewscreen and looked at the horrid face of the pig-like race. He rubbed his chin as he always did when he was deep in thought.

"Premier is it ?" Devore began standing up doing the "Picard tug" to fix his tunic.

[Premier L'Kar Captain.]

"Yes. Well let me put it to you nicely. You will have to destroy this ship to get what 'belongs to you' !"

[Captain. You are a funny man. With one shot I can totally destroy ship and kill Beard, you and everyone onboard.]

"And your point is ?"

[Just surrender and you have my word that you will be treated kindly.]

"Um... let me think... NO !"

[Captain you are being unreasonable !]

"Get that pig out of my site."

[Captain ther.........] The monitors went off.

"Options ! Now." Devore yelled.

"We can repolarize the shields. That will give us about a few minutes," Savage said.

"Do it."

Mason frantically yelled, "Captain ! Barien ship is firing weapons."

"Engineering give me all you got." Devore yelled. "McCaffee ! Hard to port full impulse."

[Done Captain !]

"Aye !" McCaffee yelled.

The first volley of phaser fire hit the damaged section of the ship causing a little more damage, but as the Leviathan turned her belly up and banked hard the second volley missed her slightly bouncing off the ablative armour and hit the other battle cruiser who took station in the way of the blast. The shield glowed and lit up as the phasers from her sister ship hit her. Suddenly the hull was lined with electrical shocks and little bolts that seem to cause her to lose attitude.

"What happened ?" Mason said puzzled.

"Not sure exactly."

Engineering

The remaining the battle cruiser took a position behind the Leviathan firing continuously. Blast after blast, the ship took a beating. In engineering the warp core was leaking coolant. An overhead beam had broke loose and swung into the warp core rupturing the plasma conduits. "Captain ! We have a problem !" Hansen said as he tapped his combadge.

[What is it ?]

"We are venting plasma from within the ship. Warp core breach in about three minutes."

[Understood.]

"Lets Go People ! Out ! Out ! Out !" Hansen yelled as crewmen and women were running passed. They were evacuating engineering.

Bridge

On the Bridge they were having their own problems.

"Captain. We just lost shields." Savage yelled loudly.

Baran came on to the Bridge. He had escorted Beard to the brig along with Drax. Just as he sat foot on the Bridge, another explosion rippled through the ship causing him to loose footing. He fell back as the turbolift doors closing cutting his body in two.

"Baran !" Devore yelled as the muffled, echoing screams of the upper torso fell down the turbo shaft. Baran's legs twitched uncontrollably then stopped. "Turn into the ship ! What weapons to we have ?"

"Phaser 2 and 4."

[Drax to Devore]

"Go ahead!"

[Beard is no longer here. He was beamed off the ship.]

"What! Son of a b.... fine then If we are going to buy it then I am taking this guy with us." Devore yelled.

The crew looked at Devore. Mason immediately noticed the look in his eye. He was no longer the cool Captain, but a man with a mission. He was going to sacrifice his ship along with his crew. However they realised the condition of the ship. They weren't going to make it too far and if they were to go out then they would want to go out valiantly.

"Sir ? " McCaffee said.

"Turn the ship about bearing 187 mark 0. Get ready to fire all phasers." Devore yelled. "All hands this is the Captain. Abandon the drive section. Lieutenant Hansen. Ensure that the drive section is empty."

[Understood !] Came the reply.

"Prepare for emergency saucer separation !" Devore ordered. "Detach the upper sensor pod now."

The Leviathan shook slightly as the triangular sensor pod was detached and left behind the ship.

"Barien ship is at 9,000 km and closing very fast." Mason said.

"Savage when the ship get to within 4,000 open all phaser banks." Devore ordered. "Prepare to detonate the sensor pod on my mark.

"Aye sir."

"Hansen ? How is it coming ?"

[Closing hatches.]

"What is the range of the ship ?" Devore yelled of the the computer reports of damaged sections !

"3,500 km."

"Detonate the pod and fire all phasers." Devore ordered. "Initiate emergency saucer separation."

The pod exploded into a thousand pieces, blinding the Leviathan's and hopefully the Bariens sensors. The phaser banks fired continuously rattling the Barien cruiser who in turn returned fire. The forward sections of the saucer were obliterated as it left the drive section. Now as the saucer section pulled away, the Bariens saw the saucer section pulling away on their viewscreen as the after effects of the pod detonation diminished. They tried to follow the saucer section, but with their sensors still half-blinded by the explosion, they didn't see the remains of the drive section still on a collision course. Before they could pull up, the massive drive section slammed into the battle cruiser destroying both ships on impact. The saucer section, only 2,000 km away pulled slowly away but the barrage of hull fragments hit the all ready tossed ship.

Sickbay

In sickbay where, many were coming for treatment Sierra Devore had gone there to help the Birchfield. Birchfield was running around even with the EMH and his assistant it just seemed that it wasn't enough. Suddenly another explosion occurred. This time it was in sick bay. Shrapnel from the wall flew in millions of pieces, million different directions. Sierra ducked just in timed and as it looked like all was calm she got up and approached the doctor who just stood straight looking into space.

"Doctor. What can I do to help ?" Counsellor Devore asked.

No reply.

"Doctor ?"

Suddenly the doctor fell face first to the floor pushing Devore back into a wall where a loose bulkhead fell and hit her. All went black just after she was face to face with Doctor Birchfield, a shard of metal in the back of his neck. His eyes now staring off into oblivion. The last thing she saw was his face as darkness fell upon her warmth of liquid running down the side of her face.

USS Leviathan : Bridge

"Captain we're losing impulse !" Mason yelled.

"Damn !"

Small explosions ripped through the ship.

<Total system failure in three minutes. Life support off-line. Engines off-line. Navigation off-line.>

"All hands this is the Captain abandon ship !" Devore yelled.

Like flecks of paints breaking away from a wall, the millions of escape pods jettisoned crewmembers, children, families out into space. The large saucer section had fires raging on all decks as was seen from the escape pods.

"All command crew to the Hellcat. Now !" Devore yelled.

<Full system failure in one minute>

USS Hellcat : Bridge

On board the Hellcat, all the command crew were o board except for Captain Devore who was making sure that all personnel were off the ship. Then as he ran by, he noticed Mason in his quarters gathering up belongings.

"Ensign. There is no time. Lets go !"

"I can't leave this."

"Ensign !"

"NO !"

Devore rushed in and grabbed Mason and pulled him to the Hellcat hanger. But as Devore went to the hatch to enter, Mason broke free and ran down the hall.

"Jonathan !" Devore yelled, but he didn't listen. Mason kept running. Suddenly there was another explosion and he heard the scream of a man in excruciating pain. Fire engulfed the hall where Mason ran, but no longer was there a reason to go there. Mason was gone ! The hatch would not open. He tried and tried, but Devore couldn't get it open. Just as Devore tried another set of explosions ripped through the ship. A bulk head exploded and hit Devore. He flew forward through an open hatch and now he was face first on stone cold metal room. Devore looked up to see someone in red grab him, then darkness fell. The last thing Devore realised was a large roar and explosion. The nothingness !.

To be continued.....