The Continuing Story of Deep Space 2: Page 97
SETTING: Both Karn and Frances facing an alien figure, shrouded in
hood and robe, swinging at them a weapon not unlike a scythe... a
weapon not unlike a light saber also in it's motis-operandi... able
to slice through anything a light saber can with equal efficiency --
Maccs Starchild's urgent warning reaching both Karn and Frances at
the very same time...
FRANCES (Snide, ticked): "Oh, lovely. as if we don't have enough on
our hands with this crazy joker to take care of".
KARN: (both he and Frances firing at the spectral figure ahead, the
sound of even more Grim Reaper wannabe's coming at them now from
both ahead and behind them): "Funny the way they don't say a thing.
no sounds at all. Wonder if they're telepathic?"
FRANCES (firing now at the enemy forces approaching them from the
way they came, Karn firing at the one's approaching from
ahead): "Either that, or they're the 'shoot first, ask questions
later' type. Hate to say it, but Maccs might be right about
retreating-- especially since I can feel this ship picking up
speed. Last thing we need is for this baby to go into hyper drive,
or whatever with us and WarBird taken long or the ride to Gosh only
knows where".
Able to read the alien ships retreating already into deep space, the
Celestial felt like screaming... frustrated... not unlike long ago
when half of her was Human...
And knowing not what else to do short of appearing to everyone
there "in the flesh" so to speak, the Celestial sent another message
to Sarah Ewok via Ernie -- another clue in Sarah's quest for the
scattered "Tears Of Esiden":
"The fractured crystal you seek,
Rests now in the hands of Starkinder,
Buried as well quite deep,
Within an ancient Starkindler".
And watching Maccs approach the position held now by the USS Strike
(the USS Ajax holding a stationary position still over the Alice
Cooper-B) the Celestial couldn't help but pity him: the realization
that led him to break off his attack upon scanning that
smaller "vessel" departing already the area alongside that larger
ship still which tried to board the Alice Cooper-B.
Then there were Frances and Karn still inside that second large
alien left standing, the ship in question already trying to pick up
speed... WarBird still anchored as it was to its "belly".
So sending a short communique to that very ship -- suggesting to it
that it should let its intruders leave unmollested -- the Celestial
hoped it would agree to let Karn and Frances leave it safely back
aboard Warbird: the very fact that the alien ship began to slow down
after receiving her message a hopeful sign.
"Let's just hope she doesn't try to press the attack... that she
avails herself of this opportunity to escape unharmed", the
Celestial mused, remembering well Frances Straker and her many moods
despite all the time that passed since last seeing her.
And as the Celestial went about deciding what to do next, Maccs
likewise received a communique from Prince Roshi requesting
permission to dock -- return to Maccs Starchild's hangar bay --
Maccs welcoming him "home" while setting as well a course for
WarBird.
Yet comming to a halt within less than a thousand kilometers of that
other alien ship Karn and Frances seemed to be still aboard, Maccs
couldn't resist the urge building inside him to contact that other
ship while waiting for further word as well from Frances and Karn --
hoping that "it" might prove willing to at least explain a little of
what just happened...
And as Captain Raz Kalee opened hailing frequencies with both
Admiral Arthur aboard the USS Strike as well as Colonel Theys aboard
the USS Ajax... Admiral Arthur having just received as well a most
disturbing report from DS-2 concerning the Katsimari people now no
more... Lt. Cmdr. Gav Tiral likewise supervised the moving of the
alien "dead" to the Alice Cooper's main Sickbay on Deck Seven -- the
fatal casualties among the alien invaders who did battle just
recently with Gav's security forces aboard the Alice Cooper-B.
And having also informed Chief Science Officer... Finiksa M.
Stangya... about the artifact the others were indeed successful in
stealing from Cargo Bay Three, Gav couldn't help but wonder how
their ship's venerable C.M.O.... Dr. "Kory' Caynizmyr... would
likewise react upon seeing first-hand the alien casualities now
arriving in "his" sickbay.
Distracted, though, by the sudden appearance of Lt. Cmdr. Stangya
likewise arriving in Kory's sickbay, Gav was brought up short by
both the obvious anger and worry in Finiksa's eyes... the Tenctonese
officer in question carrying as well a datapadd gripped tightly in
clenched hand:
"!Celene", Finiksa swore upon reaching Gav's side. "As far as I'm
concerned, I highly recommend we question Professor Sybrek at once;
get Captain Kalee to summon the 'good' professor to his private
Ready Room, interrogate him there".
"Couldn't hurt", Gav nodded, more and more curious about that very
particular relic taken from right under their noses...
"And while we're at it, I strongly recommend Jelana be there as
well", Finiksa recommended his wife likewise be present when
questioning the Vulcan scientist somewhere else aboard ship.
However, if Gav was surprised at Finiksa's apparent anger, he was
floored by Dr. Caynizmyr's sudden exclaimation upon seeing the first
of the alien casualties brought up from deck 13 to his sick-bay...
Gav not watching when Kory pulled away the hood covering that dead
alien in question:
"Alright, Gav", the old Dohg almost barked, sounding quite
outraged: "What kind of freak scene is this???!!!"
At the same time Gav Tiral was wondering about the aliens and whatever they stole from aboard the USS Alice Cooper-B, reports also came in from that same ship to USS Strike. It became known around the small fleet that the invading alien enemy aboard the USS Alice Cooper-B had not spoken aloud and in some way used some kind of telepathic communication. What to do against an enemy who already knew what you were about to do and how could anyone block their telepathic abilities ?
"Lieutenant, do we have any telepathists aboard, or on the USS Ajax ?"
"That is a negative sir. We don't have any Betazoids or any other telepathic species aboard Deep Space 2."
Admiral Arthur was at a point of taking a decision which would change this battle, but he had to be absolutely sure the crews and ships were safe. He had seen the ship in control of the Maccs take distance. It was a bad sign. Something was going on here, but Arthur could not lay his finger on it. Living ships, making their own decisions, he knew it all to well. When the Vorlon Ambassador had arrived on Deep Space 2 many years ago, Arthur and his crew had experienced living ships. But agains telpathics... Arthur felt a chill coming down his spine... He did not like that at all. But he just could not let go.
"Lieutenant, what is the satus of the enemy fleet ? Is there any way that we can get a prisoner ?"
"Sir, with all due respect. I think that the enemy already know our plans before we can execute them. They probably can read our minds. A mission to get a prisoner from one of their ships, could be a suicide mission. We need a way to do something without..."
"Without the enemy knowing about it. Wait a minute..."
A moment later three security droids appeared on the USS Strike bridge. Arthur looked at them and approved their appearance.
"Droid Delta, you and your two colleagues here will make a plan to get a prisoner from an alien enemy vessel. They have stopped attacking, they have left the USS Alice Cooper-B, so I presume they will leave very soon. I asume they have what they came for. So you do not have much time. Now listen very carefully. We suspect that the enemy can read minds. You are droids. They cannot read your minds and they have no way of knowing what you are about to do. You will make a plan that will result in a prisoner in good health for questionning. You will not tell me or anyone else baout your plan. You will not indicate in any way that you have started the execution of your plan to me or anyone else. You will bring me a prisoner. Dismissed."
The three droids had understood. and walked to the shuttle bay to leave a few moments later in a type 10 shuttlecraft, jumping to warp away from the battle scene. The young lieutenat at the helm was not really sure he had understood what was about to happen.
"Sir, what are those droids doing. They are leaving ?"
"I don't know what you are talking about Lieutenant. Keep your eyes on the helm console."
That was clear enough for the Lieutenant. He forced himself not to think about those droids. He could not let himself be the cause of failure because the enemy could also read his mind. Or at least the enemy might read his mind. Whatever... He could not risk it to think about... These thoughts were driving him crazy. He focused on the displays in front of him.
Aboard type 10 shuttlecraft Delta One, droid Delta gave his instructions. The three droids came to an agreement. They would use some daring manoeuvres and some precision technology. Delta gave his order.
"Now."