Temporary Paralysis

Freelancer sat in the command chair of the Bridge of the Freedom waiting for the moment when Rashad and the Hellcat would be ready to leave. Everything was in place and as soon as the signal was received, the entire station would remain paralysed for two minutes.

“Status of the Hellcat ?” Freelancer enquired.

<The Hellcat is powering up their systems.> The male voice of the Freedom’s central intelligence announced. <It would appear that they are preparing to launch.>

“Activate all systems.” Freelancer announced, rising from their seat and heading for the transporter room.

Entering the transporter room, Freelancer picked up a backpack and two phasers, one of which they holsters and the other was set to stun, just in case. Stepping onto the transporter pad, Freelancer disappeared, emerging on the command deck of the Hellcat.

Starbase 901 : Operations

On the command deck of the station, all hell had broken loose. Every system on the Starbase had been frozen and access to the computer core denied. Turbolifts has stopped mid-deck, replicators had stopped working and all docking ports had been locked down. Engineers were running around the deck, removing panels in an attempt to regain control of the station.

Captain Mallory came out of her office to check on the confusion.

“What’s going on ?” She asked.

“We’re being locked out of all systems again.” K’Tag replied.

“Captain, I’m detecting a launch.” An Ensign at docking control console announced.

“Is it our friend from hanger 51 ?” Mallory enquired, remembering that something similar to their current situation had occurred when it had arrived.

“No…” The Ensign replied. “….this is a launch from the Leviathan, it looks like one of the runabouts onboard, ID USS Hellcat.”

“Space doors are opening.” Another ensign announced. “The Hellcat is heading for the doors.”

“Can we launch anything ?” Mallory enquired, half expecting the wrong answer.

“Everything is lock down.” K’Tag reported.

“Track the Hellcat as best you can, I’ll head down to the Leviathan and speak with Captain Taybar and maybe she can shed some light on all this.”

“Captain, the Hellcat has just disappeared of our sensors, looks like it activated a cloaking device. I’m picking up a strange energy reading bearing two-nine-five by sixteen by twenty four.” The Ensign at the operations console announced. “They’re gone.”

USS Hellcat

Freelancer materialised on the command deck of the Hellcat and immediately realised that not everything had gone to plan. The Hellcat was heading out of the Leviathan’s shuttle bay, but right in front of her was a Security officer, phaser pointed straight at Commander t’Kul.

“Rashad, shutdown the thrusters now.” The Security officer announced.

Rashad glanced back at the Security officer before returning her concentration back to the helm console.

“I can’t do that Logan.” Rashad replied.

“I cannot allow you to stop Commander t’Kul either.” Freelancer said, pointing her own phaser at Logan. “Rashad, keep moving through the space dock and head for the space doors. Mister McQueen, I’d suggest you take a seat.”

Forcing Commander McQueen down into a seat, he must have noticed the unconscious body of Rahel Kahfre for the first time.

“What have you done to Rahel ?” Logan asked.

"Vulcan neck pinch.” Rashad replied. “She’ll be fine in about ten minutes.”

Rashad passed through the dome of the station and headed for the space doors which were slowly opening just enough to allow the shuttle to leave.

“Engage the cloaking device and set a course, heading two-nine-five by sixteen by twenty four.” Freelancer stated. “Go to maximum slipstream and then the four of us can have a little chat.”

Rashad set the course into the helm and activated the cloaking device.

“Entering slipstream is three, two, one.” She announced as the Hellcat accelerated to trans-warp speed. “Setting auto-navigation.”

Rashad rose from the helm position and for the first time saw the person behind the voice. The figure was dressing in a Starfleet gold uniform and she wore Ensign insignia. She also had a phaser pointed at Logan and a second at Rahel. Rashad estimated that she was in her early twenties, with long brown hair and green eyes. It was hard to think that if this was who Rashad though it was, that someone who looked so fragile could be a top Section 31 agent.”

“Freelancer I presume.” Rashad stated.

“You presume correct, but you can call me Azri.” Freelancer replied. “Shall we move to the briefing room. ?”

Rashad moved forward towards Rahel, but was pushed back by Logan.

“I’ll take Rahel.” He said, picking her up and carrying her.

Rashad led the way down the corridor towards the briefing room and opened the door. Logan and the unconscious Rahel followed with Azri bringing up the rear, phasers still pointed at Logan.

Placing Rahel in one of the chairs, Logan took the seat next to her, whilst Rashad and Azri took seats opposite. As they sat down, Rahel finally stirred from her unconscious state.

“Where are we ?” She asked. “What’s going on ?”