Pre-emptive Attack

The Captain stared at the main viewscreen on the Battle Bridge, watching the emptiness of space pass by. They were still not within visual sensor range of the oncoming vessel, but they had confirmed that it was the rogue Jem'Hadar vessel.

"Weapons Status." Aki asked for the fourth time. "Range to target."

"All weapons are online and ready." Lieutenant Garrett Loh announced for the main Tactical station right behind the Captain's station. "Range to target is five million kilometres. We will be in weapons range in thirty seconds."

As they continued to close on their 'prey', Lieutenant Borealiou announced. "We are within visual range of the target."

"On screen." Aki requested. "Maximum magnification. Mister Loh, analysis of their systems."

"We're still getting some interference from the system." Garrett replied. "But I would suggest attacking their weapons and propulsion systems first."

"Agreed." Aki ordered. "Fire as soon as we are within range."

"Captain…." Marco announced. "…there's something odd about the vessel."

"What ?" Aki asked, a sense of worry in her voice.

"The sensors could just be playing up, but I'm not reading a large group of life-signs." Marco replied. "Infact I'm only reading two Jem'Hadar."

"Loh, can you confirm." Aki asked.

"My readings show the same as Marco's, two Jem'Hadar. We'll be in weapons range in ten seconds." Garrett reported. "Targeting weapons and propulsion."

"I don't like this." Aki stated, sounding ever more nervous.

*Something's not right.* She thought.

"Opening fire now." Garrett announced. "Fire salvo of quantum torpedo's away, loading second."
"Wait…" Aki suddenly ordered.

The Bridge crew watched as the four torpedoes headed away from them towards their target. They all gasps as the saw all but one of the torpedoes fly straight through the vessel on the screen. The one torpedo that did hit caused a devastating explosion and then the vessel was suddenly gone.

"Damn." Aki cursed. "It was a ruse."

"Scanning debris." Borealiou reported. "The amount of debris would suggest that the vessel was a small shuttle."

"Loh, detonate the remaining torpedoes." Aki ordered. "Mister Borealiou, scan the area see if you can find the real rogue Jem'Hadar vessel."

"Looks like they were using some kind of holographic generators coupled with a sophisticated sensor jamming system." Loh reported. "All our sensor data showed that it was the Jem'Hadar vessel."

"Captain, I've got a second vessel on long-range sensors." Marco suddenly announced. "It looks like it's heading for the saucer and the two transports."

"Contact the Hellcat and tell them to remain cloaked and follow us." Aki ordered. "Helm set an intercept course for the target vessel.

Lieutenant Lily Barker quickly turned the engineering section of the Leviathan-B around and they headed off across the system towards the rogue vessel.

*Such an easy deception.* Aki thought. *But how did they know where we were and more importantly, how did they know that we would separate and that the saucer section would be escorting the transports away.

It took the engineering section almost fifteen minutes to catch up with the rogue Jem'Hadar vessel.

"Mister Borealiou, what do your readings tell you this time." Aki asked.

"I'm picking up nearly a hundred Jem'Hadar life-signs, plus several other groups." Marco replied., "Looks like the real deal this time. They'll be in weapons range of the saucer section and the two transports in thirty seconds."

"We'll be in range of them within twenty." Lieutenant Loh announced.

"Same as before, weapons and propulsion." Aki ordered.

"Targeting now." Loh reported. "Firing first salvo in ten seconds."

The crew all watched as the first salvo of four torpedoes left the ship, followed moment later by a second salvo, then a third. They watched as the Jem'Hadar vessel fired at the Saucer section and it's shields lit up as the positron beams hit them. Then the first group of torpedoes hit, causing the Jem'Hadar's vessels own shields to light up. The vessel started to manoeuvre, attempting to evade the other salvos, but it would appear that Loh had anticipated that. All but two of the torpedoes hit the ship, the last causing an explosion against the vessels hull. The last two detonated safely, well away from the Saucer section and the two transports, which had started to move further away from the battle.

"We've had ten direct hits, two misses." Loh reported. "That last one took out one of their torpedo launchers."

"Damage report." Aki requested.

"Their shields are at thirty percent and we've breached their hull." Loh continued. "They'll be in phaser range in ten seconds."

"Fire at will Mister Loh." Aki ordered. "Helm, evasive manoeuvres."

Lily was an excellent helm officer, she ran her hands over the helm console as the Jem'Hadar vessel attempted to fire at the Leviathan's Engineering section head on.

"Opening fire." Loh announced.

The Jem'Hadar vessel was hit once again and the turret continued to fire both torpedoes and phaser cannon fire at the vessel as it passed by, not letting up on the smaller vessel. The crew continued to watch the onslaught, until they saw a second set of explosions against the hull and the vessel slowed down.

"Captain, They're heading away from us….." Lieutenant Barker announced. "..should I follow ?"

"No set a course away from this system, but also away from the Saucer sections course." Aki ordered. "Mister Borealiou, contact the Hellcat and tell them to de-cloak and finish off the vessel."

There was a silence as Marco attempted to contact the small shuttle. Then something on his sensors caught his attention.

"Captain…." He started to say. "…I can't find the Hellcat, they appear to have switched off their transponder. I'm also picking up two large vessel on the edge of the system, it looks like our Jem'Hadar friend has some allies. The rogue vessel appears to be heading straight for them."

"Helm take us out of here." Aki ordered. "Bridge to Lieutenant Wright…."

There was no reply.

"Bridge to Lieutenant Wright." Aki asked once more, but still there was no reply. "Computer locate Lieutenant Wright."

[Lieutenant Wright is not on the vessel.] The computer replied.

Aki was very quiet for a moment thinking. She knew that with Commander Rashad and Lieutenant Moss both off ship, he should have been in the Intel office.

"Computer." She continued. "State last known location of Lieutenant Wright."

[Lieutenant Wright was last located in his quarters at 09:00 hours this morning.] The computer replied.

*That's two hours before we separated.* Aki thought. *He must have gone missing during the briefing.*

"Mister McQueen, I want you to find Lieutenant Wright." Aki ordered. "Mister Borealiou, access the internal sensors and see if you can detect Lieutenant Wright, his comm badge may just be malfunctioning, but he could be injured or dead somewhere onboard. Also see if you can get a fix on the Hellcat."

Logan left his station and headed off the Bridge.

"Helm get us out of here." Aki ordered. "Maximum warp."