The Continuing Story of Deep Space 2: Page 108
Sarah wondered to herself if the artifact could be a way to fight the
star slayer which is why everyone wanted to get hold of it. If
the "enemy" knew if could be a way to defend against a star slayer of
course they would want to keep it out of reach. Or maybe artifact was
the last piece needed to "complete" a star slayer to become active.
Sarah felt the artifact had more significance than others might
realize and felt she should consult Maccs to see if he might have any
further clues to help her solve the mystery. Sarah and Ernie went off
to find Maccs to see if he agreed with her reasoning.
Sitting in Captain Kale's captain's chair on the Alice Cooper-B main
bridge, Cmdr Salgud "Night dragon" Eerag (Captain Kalee's X.O. aboard ship) received orders from Raz Kalee himself via comm. Badge -- the
orders being to inform Starfleet Command that they'd apprehended Lt.
Cmdr. F. M. Stangya's would-be assassin -- Salgud ordering Chief
Communications officer Judy Sarah Skwyr to do that very thing.
"Done, Sir", Cmdr. Skwyr assured him once having sent the message in
question:"Awaiting reply".
"Very good, Cmdr.", Salgud acknowledged her report, asking Cmdr.
Alice V. F. Cooper how far away they still remained from their
current destination.
"Estimating three hours and 27 minutes before coming out of warp
speed", Alice #7 assured Cmdr. Eerag not long thereafter -- Alice #7
arriving back on the ship's bridge just moments before.
And thanking Alice #7 for his report as well, Cmdr. Eerag sat back in
his seat... his calm exterior hiding well the undercurrent of
restless anticipation lying just beneath the surface.
"Oh Dear Lord, Noooo", Maccs Avaat moaned in absolute misery,
trailing behind the others, bringing up (as it were) the rear.
"Not again!!"
"Okay, Maccs", Frances took the initiative; "what do you know about
`Starslayers'?"
"If you would, Ma'am, I'd appreciate not discussing how I know of
them", Maccs pulled himself together, his avatar standing taller now.
more erect.
"As it is, the circumstances by which I have personal knowledge of
them is too painful an event to remember much less go into in any
great detail".
"Fine Maccs", Frances granted, asking instead for further information
pertaining only to their purpose -- their primary function -- Karn,
Sarah, Lt. Katz, Admiral Arthur, Colonel Theys, Captain Kalee and
Jelana Frankel likewise listening with intense curiosity to what
Maccs said next:
"Well, to begin with, I assume here that everyone understands the
working principal behind M/AM torpedoes. M/AM standing
for `Matter/Anti-Matter'", Maccs Avaat asked in a rhetorical manner,
not waiting for any answer before likewise moving on.
"And for those who don't, matter/anti-matter torpedoes employ equal
masses of matter and anti-matter in order to produce an explosive
result based on the cancellation of two equal but opposite elements -- matter and anti-matter canceling out each other when brought
together.
"So, with that in mind, Starslayers employ instead `proto-anti-
matter'".
"!Celene!!", Jelana was first to respond, swearing in fluent
Tentoneese. Sounding quite horrified, she understood what it was
Maccs was indeed getting at.
"So?" Sarah asked, proving unlike Jelana not able to see the horrible
truth.
"So, just as matter and anti-matter cancel each other out with
catastrophic results, so do proto-matter and proto-anti-matter -- the
only known source of proto-matter known to exist anywhere in creation
being actual stars themselves -- `Starslayer' describing the weapon's
very function as well as being its name".
"Hold-on", Karn held up a hand in protest, wanting further
clarification.
"Are you telling us that this relic, this `Starslayer', can destroy
entire stars?"
"Exactly", Maccs confirmed everyone's growing suspicion now. "Not
much bigger than a regular photon or M/AM torpedoes, Starslayers are
able in one single swoop to destroy entire solar-systems -- the chain
reaction their proto-anti-matter sets into motion resembling more
than anything else a super-nova -- the dying star expanding to a
point where it burns to a cinder all which orbits it before
collapsing in on itself almost in a blink of an eye.
"You don't even need to enter the target's solar-system, just aim the
Starslayer into the target's corona from a safe distance".
Receiving news aboard the Necrostella that Dr. Vergal was now cooling
his heals in the Alice Cooper-B's brig, Captain d'Rabbitt appeared as
usual more worried than his superior.
"At least they haven't discovered our other `moles' aboard the Alice
Cooper-B"
"But what if he talks", the anxious Captain insisted in the face of
the Federation Vice-President's apparent lack of concern, the latter
just smiling whilst playing with the medallion beneath his tunic. his
fingers pressing up against its seven points as well as the crystal
embedded in its center.
"Not to worry, Captain. Problem solved!!!"
And while the Federation Vice President/Fleet Admiral caressed the
item hanging about his neck Sarah Ewok likewise experienced aboard
the Alice Cooper-B a sudden jolt of power causing her to jump -- a
burst of psychic energy radiating from the two Tears of Esiden still
about her neck -- eliciting as well from her a squeal of utter
surprise.
However, before either she or anyone else had a chance to speak, they
were all startled by the vision of a worried Dr. Kory Caynizmyr
coming quickly towards them from through the nearby Sick-bay entrance.
"Report, Dr.", Raz Kalee demanded.
"Just received an urgent call from sick-bay", Kory reported, not
taking time however to stop.
"According to Gav it seems Doctor Vergal just died in his cell, cause
of death unknown!!".