The Gate-Crashers (Part One of Two)

Everything had calmed down onboard the Starbase and now that the Axeline Ambassador was onboard the Leviathan, safe and secure, Captain Mallory was confident that things were back to normal. Suddenly the console on her desk activated and K’Tag appeared on the monitor.

<Captain, I think you should come out and see this.> The stations first officer suggested.

Mallory rose from her chair and stepped out of her office into the operations centre of the station. The room was a hive of activity, but even the Captain could sense the tension in the room.

“We’ve picked up a vessel on some of the mid-range sensors heading our way.” K’Tag announced.

“Why didn’t we pick them up sooner ?” Kitara enquired.

“We’re only picking up the vessel because it’s exerting a massive gravity shift, it was the station’s advanced gravitational sensors attached to the auxiliary science array that first picked up the vessel.” K’Tag explained. “Once we’d adjusted the station’s main sensor array’s did we get a full sensor sweep.”

“How close ?” Captain Mallory asked.

“The vessel is moving at about one quarter impulse, it should arrive here in about three hours.” K’Tag reported.

“Do you have any other information ?” Mallory asked. “Like who it might be, or where they came from ?”

“We can only estimate where the vessel came from, but it would appear to have crossed the Demilitarised zone.” K’Tag suggested. “As for who they are, we have no idea, not all of the sensors are picking up the vessel, but we do know that it doesn’t conform to any Mulluran or G’Kar vessel, nor any race we have encountered on this side of the Briar patch.”

“Captain, we are being hailed.” One of the communications officers announced. “It’s a digital signal, no audio or visual.”

“Put it on the main monitor.” Mallory ordered.

On the operations centre’s main viewscreen a block of text appeared. At first the text appeared to be an alien language, but as the universal translator began to work on decoding the text, it became clear. Katara begain to read the text out loud.

“We of the Karled demand that you hand over the blood-enemy of our people.” She started to read. “Failure to do so will result in the extermination of your station and the system in which it orbits. We are the superior being, you have three of your time periods known as hours to decide.”

“Nice.” K’Tag announced. “Blood-enemy ?”

“They must mean the Axelines.” Katara suggested. “Inform Captain Taybar of our situation and ask that the Axeline Ambassador be appraised of this situation.”

”What do we do next ?” K’Tag asked. “Just wait. ?”

“No, we negotiate. Send a message back to the vessel.” Katara ordered. “Message to read."

To the Karled vessel on approach to Starbase 901. We of the United Federation of Planet’s have no intention of just releasing the Axeline vessel, nor its crew to unknown aggressors. This station and the system in which it resides is Federation territory, any attack on this station will be classed as an act of war and the Federation and its allies will defend the Federation. However, I am willing to accept a delegate from your vessel and open negotiations on establishing an end to the war between your people and the Axelines. At this time the Federation is neutral in this conflict and will remain so until such time as it is attacked.”

“Message sent.” The Communications officer reported. “We have received a reply.”

“On screen.” Captain Mallory ordered.

The message was quickly deciphered by the Universal translator and contained just one word. Agreed.

“Then I guess we should prepare for our guests.” Captain Mallory announced. “All hands to yellow alert, evacuate all non-essential personnel and vessels to Serenity. Inform all Captains that we have a hostile vessel on approach and to stand-by. Contact the G’Kar government; see if they can’t spare us a few vessels to assist in our defence. Send a general priority message to all Starfleet vessel apprising them of our situation.”

“Done.” K’Tag announced.

“I’ll go and pay a visit to our other guest and see if she can shed some light on our approaching new guests.” Katara stated. “You have Command K’Tag.”