Plot a course for the K'Tapa sector and engage.
Aye aye, Commander.
Commander, if we're headed into Dominion territory, we should probably engage the cloaking device.
Hennessey: You're right, Cheif. Make it so.
The lights dim slightly on the bridge as the Defiant disapears from space.
Cloak is online and functioning normally.
Commander, if you don't mind me asking, why exactly are we headed into Dominion territory alone for anyway?
Hennessey: Starfleet has picked up an automated distress call from the USS Freedom coming from somewhere in the K'Tapa sector. Our mission is to find out if the Freedom is still out there somewhere.
All of this for just one ship lost behind enemy lines?
Hennessey: Not just one ship. The Freedom was the lead in a task force of eleven starships.
Commander, our long range sensor have picked up the Freedom's distress signal. It is definitely coming from within Dominion territory. The message is faint and encrypted, but I think I can patch it through.
Hennessey: On screen.
A fuzzy image appears on screen as a scratchy garbled voice begins to talk.
Calder: ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ This ZZZ ZZtain Calder of the staZZZip ZZZZZZdom. Our ZZask force has ZZZZZZvy damage from DominZZZZ ZZZces. We reqZZZZ Z ZZidiate assistanceZZZZZ ZZZZ Z ZZZ
The message continues to repeat after that.
How can we be sure that is really from the Freedom?
That was definitely a Starfleet encryption code. And according to intelligence reports, the Dominion hasn't broken it yet.
How long has that message been repeating, Chief?
From what I can tell, it looks like the first message began transmission about 16 hours ago.
I doubt that anything lasted 16 hours in a fight with the Dominion.
Hennessey: Starfleet feels that it is worth the risk.
Commander, what was the task force's mission?
Hennessey: They were sent to destroy the Dominion's new battlecruiser.
Oh boy.
Commander, we are nearing the edge of Dominion territory.
Hennessey: Begin a sensor sweep of the area.
We're not picking up any activity within sensor range.
I've got a definite fix on that transmission now. It's definitely coming from the K'Tapa sector, but I don't think that it's being sent by the Freedom.
It's a trap.
Not so fast, Ensign. It's not coming from the Freedom because it looks like it is coming from a Federation distress bouy.
Hennessey: Red alert. Alter course to incercept that bouy.
Engage
RETURN TO UTOPIA HOMEPAGE