Cloak and Dagger - Part One !

The Warp Trail !

Tyvek had piloted the runabout alone, after Shara had decided to remain on Serenity and deal with the trauma of the past few weeks. He had hoped that she would come and he would be able to confront her about their relationship, or the lack there of.

They had not been alone since the Halloween party, and the last time he had really seen her was with another man at a restaurant.

He had also noticed that he no longer was feeling her presence as he did when they were affected by the virus on the station. Perhaps it had been merely a virus indeed.

But now he had seventy two hours to find his fathers ship and the clock was ticking.

The Powell

The ships lights were dark and hardly anyone moved on the Bridge. Captain Saitek manned the main chair as he nudged his executive officer.

"Miss Gonzales, have they scanned us ?"

"Negative Captain, the cloaking shield is holding." She replied.

On the screen a view of a runabout filled the swirling patch.

"Captain the ionized gasses of the patch will soon dampen our cloak. If they are the enemy coming to finish us off they'll soon detect us." Replied the chief engineer.

Saitek continued to stare at the screen.

"I know that ship, it is assigned to my son. Tyvek is on that ship. Gonzales, scan the life form and confirm if it is Vulcan."

She scanned and nodded that it was.

"The question is will he join us or not ?" Considered the elder Vulcan.

Space !

As Tyvek scanned the debris field he did begin to detect a tachyon field only due to the intermittent radiations from the Patch.

He then switched the craft to Red Alert and armed the phasers.

"Captain the craft has armed its defences." The helmsman reported.

"Transfer energy to weapons and drop our cloak." Commanded Saitek.

The Powell decloaked and then manoeuvred off the port side of the runabout.

"Runabout lower your weapons and shield and prepare to be boarded." Ordered Saitek.

Tyvek was relieved to hear his father’s voice but was confused as to why he had chosen to hide behind a cloak of invisibility.

"This is Lieutenant Tyvek from Serenity Base. I am on a rescue mission to try and recover the crew of the Powell. Are you in need of assistance ?"

Silence.

"I will lower my shields on the condition that Captain Saitek replies to my request." Tyvek then added

"Tyvek. I have to know that I can trust you. Lower your shield and prepare to beam over." Saitek replied.

A few seconds later the runabout's shield dropped and Tyvek was beamed over to the Powell.

Powell

Saitek and Tyvek entered the small office reserved for conferences. Tyvek raised his hand in the traditional greeting.

"It is agreeable to see you ... alive."

"We were almost killed by one of our own mines. A gravimetric mine of Federation construction was attracted to our hull. We warped out of the system and detonated it before it could be attached to any other ships. That's when we began considering that perhaps someone wanted us out of the way. I ordered the ship to cloak in order to fool anyone who might come and finish us off. When you came I thought you might be the one who launched the mine. I apologise for the subterfuge." replied Saitek.

"Logically considered. Why would anyone wish to destroy a Federation convoy ship ?" asked Tyvek.

"If we eliminate who then we will learn why. Saitek to Bridge!"

[Bridge]

"Raise the cloak and manoeuvre us out of the Patch." Saitek ordered.

"Where are we going ?" Asked Tyvek.

"We are setting a trap for the mouse. I am afraid that your ship will be my bait." Replied Saitek.

To be continued........