The Continuing Story of Deep Space 2: Page 76
The platoon of twelve battle droids and four technician droids were ready to be transported to the prison ship. All Federation personnel had been rescued and were now free to return home. The platoon under command of Battledroid Alpha was transported aboard. Alpha's first report looked promissing.
"Admiral, we are proceeding into the corridor 45. There is no detection of any life aboard this ship. There are no engines, no weapons, no shields. There is only life support. We are going to the control room of the life support main computer. There is no other technology on this ship."
Aboard the USS Strike, there was nothing else to do than wait, while Alpha lead his platoon through the corridors. The platoon made slow progress. The ship they were on was huge. But after a few minutes of steady running, the platoon entered the life support control room. Alpha set four battledroids as guards at the door, two guards ten meters from the door at either side and entered to control room covered by the others. The way was clear. The room had no surprises, no booby-traps.
"Clear ! Clear ! Clear !"
Everywhere sounded the mechanical voices of the battle droids who had secured the room. There was only a small computer. The technician droids immediately started to work, while Alpha reported to the USS Strike.
"Admiral we have secured the life support controlroom. Our technicians are now working on a way to enter the database and find anything that we can use to determine where this ship came from and how it got out of phase."
"Very well Alpha. Keep us posted."
"Acknowledged Admiral."
Arthur turned to Louis and shook his head. Louis knew exactly what Arthur was thinking. The battle droid Alpha had a new report.
"Admiral. We could shut down life support of this ship. That way we know for sure that there is nobody hiding on this ship, who can mask their life signs. Whether life support is on or not is not important for us. We do not depend on life support."
"Excellent idea Alpha. I will have two more platoons ready in case you need help."
Aboard the prison ship one of the technician droids put the life support off line. Immediately there was a warning from the prison ships computer.
"Warning. Life support is off line. Life support will be completely ended in 4 minutes. If life support has not been reinitiated, all life aboard this ship will be terminated."
Deep down below in the prison ship a large group of guards who had been hiding in a room covered by interphasic shielding had to come out. Their scanners indicated that there was no life aboard, but they didn't know the droids were not alive so they would not show up on their scanners. The prison guards decided that it was best to stay together and all 24 of them started their walk towards the life support control room. On their way there was a short discussion, but the man who was in charge concluded that they did not have a choice. Aboard the USS Strike the 24 guards were noticed immediately. The control droid reported to Alpha.
"Humanoids, armed, scanning the ship, are on their way to the life support controlroom. Admiral Arthur wants as many prisoners as you can capture. Stun them if necessary. Two platoons will be send to the ship to seal of the exit corridors so these humanoids cannot escape."
"Understood."
Battle droid Alpha gave his commands using the transmitter, built into his head. The battle platoon took positions in the corridor in front of the life support control room. While the two other platoons, which just came aboard approached the 24 prison guards from the other side. Those 24 guards knew there was little time. In a few minutes life support would be gone and they would all be helpless on the floor, unconscious and eventually dead. It was as simple as that. Louis tried to get a transporter lock on the 24 guards to transport them, but apparently these guards were covered by a personal interphasic shielding as well. A transport lock was impossible. It was now up to the droids.
24 men and women entered the corridor of the life support control room. some of them were already feeling very cold and most of them were breathing heavily. When they saw the droids they knew they were no longer in a state for doing any battle. Two of them fell on the floor, another two and another one. This was a helpless situation and the remaining guards realised it when the other droid platoons came from the other side. The guards dropped their weapons. Surrender was not only the one option they had left, but these were mercinaries and they didn't like to sacrifice their lives for their boss. Latinum or other materials were not that important.
An hour later the torpedoes of the USS Strike destroyed the prison ship. All 24 former prison guards were aboard the USS Strike, under guard, but treated for any medical injury. Then they were interrogated...