The Continuing Story of Deep Space 2: Page 21
There was no change in the situation. The major had thought about logging in a last personal log, but didn't. It sounded so final. There had to be a way to get out of this. But what ? Within a few minutes the DS2 Beta runabout sensors would pick up the station. Although there was no way to get to the station before the Giloppen caught up with him, the major looked forward of seeing the station. A few days alone in this little vessel, had made him see that there was more than friendship between a crew on board a Starfleet facility far away from head quarters. If he could reroute all power to the shields before he got hit, it was possible to save some energy. All power included life support. So to overcome that problem, the major already had one of the emergency life support suits close by. If it really was the only way, he would transport himself in space as far away as possible.
"Deep Space 2 has not been detected. Please verify coordinates."
The major looked at the sensor output display. No station ! It was gone ! He checked the coordinates. They were correct. Then it was to late. What in the name of ... Maybe the sensors had a malfunction. While running a diagnostic, the DS2 XO noticed that the Giloppen were dangerously close now. Three enemy scout ships didn't really sound very fair. Everything was ready to receive the new guests. Evasive maneuvers had been programmed, with one push on a button he could switch all power from propulsion to the shields. He would give those scouts a run for their money.
"No malfunction detected in the sensor array."
"Thank you, but I already presumed they were OK."
Wait a minute ... What was that ? It looked like a torpedo. The major checked again. There was a torpedo comming in. Good heavens. Where did it come from ? The quantum torpedo crossed the course of the runabout and speeded up directly at the three scout ships. There was another torpedo and another one...
"Torpedos away.", said Nadine, almost shouting.
"Commander, this is Louis. The trusters are at maximum. This is all I can give you."
"Good enough Louis. We have them now. Luke try to get the Beta on any channel."
"Sir, there seems to be an energy field around the station which blocks communications. There is nothing wrong with the system itself. I can't shut down the field."
"Commander this is Louis again. The cloaking device is functioning. I have no idea though how long or what and why."
"No problem, Louis. As long as it works."
"Sir," reported Nadine at tactical, "torpedo launchers one and two are firing torpedos continuesly. It is totally out of my control. There is nothing I can do."
The commander was standing right behind her. Ensign Marianne looked over her shoulder to the two cadets, who were standing close to the turbolift, a little pale. Marianne tried to ease her pupils by allowing herself a little smile. Then she concentratred on the runabout again. As soon as the Beta was in transporter range she would try to beam the major out.
"Contact !"
The first torpedos hit their targets. Minor shield damage, moderate shield damage, target one destroyed, weapons array disabled, moderate dorsal shield damage, target two destroyed, shields failing, target three destroyed. The firing had stopped. Tactical analysis.
"We needed twelve quantum torpedos for target one, eleven for target two and eleven for target three. Commander may I remind you that these ships were identified as only scout ships."
"Yes Ensign Nadine, we all know what scout ships are for. Cancel red alert."
"Commander," Luke almost shouted overjoyed, "communications are on line and working perfectly."