SB Assailant Episode 1.6 Robbing Peter to pay Paul

[Felix Savali]

After Saarok finished his talk with Magellan, he proceeded towards the computer screens where Jatira and the science team was working. While he was walking towards there he contacted his office.

=/\=Saarok to Jackson=/\=

=/\=Jackson here, go ahead=/\=

=/\=Have you made any discoveries regarding the sensor logs?=/\=

=/\=Nothin as of yet, whoever disabled the sensors did it a few hours before the battle took place=/\=

=/\=Kepp working, contact me once the ship is in place=/\=

=/\=Yes sir, i will do just that=/\=

Just as he was done talking he arrived at the computer screens where Jatira was working.

"Have you made any progress yet, ms. Laika?", he asked

<Jatira>

"I see, what have you managed to find out so far?"

<Jatira>

"So whoever did it disabled all oter accesss codes, and isolated it from the main computer so that none of the codes for the computer would work.", Saarok repeated

<Jatira>

"Yes i agree, we need to reconect it to the main computer and everything else will be resolved then.", he said

<Jatira>

"Can you do a scan of ports used for integration to the main computer and try to determine if any have been physicly detached or have the access points just been encrypted?", he asked

<Jatira>

"So you have already tried it and they are only encrypted", he said

Saarok stood a moment to think.

"The only logical way to proceed now is to start a systematic algorithm in order to decipher to code and establish the link with the main computer.", he said

<Jatira>

"Let's use a different one.", he said handing her a tricoder

"Load this algorithm, it covers almost all encryption methods used, so if we do not get the code using this, we can try other methods.", he said

<Jatira>

After the program was loaded Jatira started the algorithm, and it began its work in an atempt to break the code.

--Some time later--

"Here we go", Saarok said as Jatira was trying out the last few codes

"We got one of the ports opened"

<Jatira>

"Now just reastablish a link betwen the main security protocol for the station and that should be it", he said stating the obvius

<Jatira>

"Let's give it a try now"; he said

He was about to say the code to bring the grid online but then he remembered it might not be a good idea. As he wasnt supossed to have the access code for activating or deactivating the sensor grid.

=/\=Saarok to Magellan=/\=

<Magellan>

=/\=Ambassador Jatira was able to decipher the encoding on the sensor gird, you can attempt to bring it on line now=/\=

<Magellan>

After Magellan gave his codes and said activate the sensor grid the grid poped back on line. At least for the most part there were still some subsystems that needed to be activated manualy but all in all the grid was online.

<Magellan>

"I will attempt to find out who was it that shut the grid down. If i learn anything i will inform you right away.", Saarok said

<Magellan>

After he was done talking with Magellan, Saarok went over to a console in whose sourounding there werent many people and started a program that was going to try to determine when was the grid shut down and whose codes were used to do it or at least where was it done from and who was in the vicinity that is unless that someone did not deactivate the internal sensor systems or purged the logs but if he did again it could be traced by tracing the codes that were used to their owner.

[Deleted]

Before the turbolift could go much further, Drew’s comm badge chirped,

“Incoming subspace communication for Admiral Drew on coded transmission,” the clam voice of the computer announced.

Drew tapped his own comm badge he reply, and told the computer to put the transmission through to his office, and then informed the turbolift to stop at that level.

“What about Tomlinson?” KezTrek asked, as the lift resumed its trip.

“If you start the questioning, I will be down as soon as I can,” Drew told his old friend, “It’s probably just a standard message.”

A few minutes later, Drew as sat behind his large desk, with his own private computer raising out from the desk, the standard Starfleet logo was on the screen, with a request for his private codes. Drew quickly keyed in his passwords, and seconds later a text message appeared on his screen.

It made Drew’s blood go cold.

“Computer delete this transmission, and all reference to it.”

The screen went dark, but Paul Drew was already out of the door before the computer screen sank back into its hiding place.

As quickly as he could without raising suspension, Drew headed for the docking bays, in his head he went over what shuttles were available, and which ones could get him where he needed to be fast, and undetected. Then it came to him, Tedak’s shuttle! It was fast, and it had a cloaking device, perfect.

Reaching the shuttle, Drew encountered his first problem; Tedak had a number of security codes built into the system to stop anyone accessing his private transport. Precious minutes were wasted as Drew worked to by-pass the system. When it was done Drew thanked the genus at Starfleet Academy who thought to teach Operation Cadets encryption techniques.

The shuttle came to life as Drew stepped in, the controls sensing his presence, he calmly sat in the pilots seat, and accessed Assailants docking systems, using an old trick he had learned from a friend, he authorised the shuttle departure, no one would suspect a thing.

Seconds later, the white Romulan shuttle was in space, and slowly disappeared from view as it cloaked, hidden from all but the most advanced sensor systems, and luckily for Drew, Assailant didn’t have that right now.

Sending the shuttle into high warp, Drew set a course to meet the Pirates…

[Deleted]

Tedak was just looking out the window when he saw a white object flying by, leaving the station. He stepped closer to the window, trying to see what kind of object it was. Then he noticed it was a vessel, and there were not that many white vessels docked to Assaillant.

Without a word, he raced out of OPS, towards the dockingbays. Fortunately, it admitted him without trouble. He wasn't really surprised that his shuttle was missing, because his was actually the only one that was authorised to dock at Assaillant. "Nut, go see who stole my shuttle," he told the little brown.

Nut chirped, and winked out. A couple of minutes later, he re-appeared, feeding Tedak images of an admiral. Though the brown chirped apollogetically that he didn't know the admiral, Tedak himself knew the admiral in question perfectly well.

With long strides, he marched back to OPS, pulling Magellan's sleeve. "Admiral.....a moment please. My shuttle has just been stolen, and sir....I regret to inform you that the only occupant is Rear Admiral Paul Drew."

[Deleted]

Richard turned away from Sonev and whispered into the communicator. "I don't have much time, doctor. How much progress have you made on decrypting the Wanderer?"

"As per my protocols, if you haven't entered your code into the computer after 2 hours, I am activated and am to attempt to get the ship to the nearest starbase. I have managed to reactivate the sensors and impulse drive. That's all so far, and you have already reactivated the transporters" the doctor reported.

"That will have to do. My next question is how long can a human live in space without protection?" Richard asked.

"You mean without a suit? Up to about a minute, but irreparable damage to your body will begin after about 20 or 30 seconds" the hologram said. "Why do you ask?"

"Because I..." Richard glanced at Sonev "...we're in a real jam. We're going to be beaming off the cloaked ship that we're on shortly. I need you to scan for 2 humans and a large piece of equipment in space. The equipment will be emitting Sarium particles. That should help you locate us. Once you find us, beam us aboard."

"Richard, I have no idea where you are. You may not even be in range of the transporter!" the doctor said.

"I know doctor, but my options are extremely limited..."Richard looked up as Sonev's tricorder started beeping again. "What's the matter now?" he asked.

Palan grimaced at the tiny device. "There are 4 crew members coming this way. I don't know how they managed to find us. We're going to have to fight it out!" he said grimly, hefting his phaser. Faintly, Richard could hear the sound of booted feet echoing down the Jeffries tube.

"If we fight it out, we won't have the time to get off the ship. I have another option" Richard said. Thinking hard, Jibb sent Sev in to attack the group heading towards them. Immediately, he heard shouts of surprise booming down the tube, and then the buzzing of weapons fire which was quickly followed by screams of pain. After a few seconds, the sounds of feet running up the tube could be heard and Sev appeared beside Richard, looking very satisfied at the blood dripping off of his talons.

"All right Sonev. Lock the transporters onto us and T'Val and beams us off the ship. I don't care where." Richard spoke into the communicator again. "Doctor, stand by." However, this time there was no answer. He had lost the subspace carrier wave they had been using.

Palan Sonev recoiled in alarm. "You're crazy! We'll never survive!"

Grimly, Richard stunned Sonev with his phaser, walked over to the unconscious form and picked up his tricorder. "You'd be surprised how often people say that to me" Richard said to the unconscioius agent. Jibb locked onto himself and Sonev, then scanned for Sarium particles and locked onto the source of that. He then initialized the Avenger's transporters and beamed the three of them off the ship and into open space.

He was immediately struck by the feeling of intense cold on his skin. He opened his eyes, but closed them again immediately as he started to feel nauseous and started counting. Richard started to worry when he got to ten. When he got to fifteen, he started to panic. This could well be the last risk he would ever have the opportunity to take. Abruptly, the cold was replaced by a welcome heat. Richard opened his eyes to see his holographic doctor standing over him with a very disapproving look on his face. Looking around the Wanderer's sickbay, he could see Sonev on a biobed and the Cryonic Neural Inhibitor with T'Val inside and Sev perched on top.

Richard looked back up at the doctor, who said "Richard, one of these days, your luck is going to run out."

[Magellan Lin]

Magellan looked up from his console in irritation.
"What?"
"Admiral.....a moment please. My shuttle has just been stolen, and sir....I regret to inform you that the only occupant is Rear Admiral Paul Drew."
Magellan glanced at the minimal sensor data and caught just a glimpse as it winked out of existence, the cloak engaged.
"I see."
"You see?"
"Yes I see. I believe Mr Drew is following a line of enquiry and has only appropriated the ship to use its cloak."
Tedak frowned
"Then you knew he was going to do this?"
"Yes and I gave him my complete blessing"
"Oh I see. Well it might have been courtesy to..."
"It may well save your wife, time is of the essence. Now if you'll excuse me I hope you ll leave the experts to it. Try and get some rest, if you want to keep busy talk to the tekaran delegation, but please just let us do our jobs."
Tedak was not happy with this and nodded
"Perhaps a break would be handy, Perhaps I can find out from Nut more information"
"A good idea"
Magellan watched Tedak leave and then approached Zoilip,
"Keep an eye on him, I do not want him stumbling into ops again. Make sure hes looked after and kept up to date."
"Aye Sir"
Magellan left ops and returned to his office.
Once he was sure the door was closed and locked he accessed his terminal.
"Computer access all information pertaining to Admiral Drew. Recent whereabouts, recent computer access, accounts everything."
"AUTHORISATION IS RE..."
"Authorisation Lin-Alpha-Pi-Peek a boo."
"CONFIRMED.... PROCESSING..."
Magellan now tapped his badge.
"Magellan to Adm Keztrek"
"Keztrek"
"Would you like to tell me what in the nine levels of hell Paul is doing stealing Ambassador Tedaks Shuttle because I sure don't have an answer?"

[Deleted]

Grinding his teeth in anger, he left OPS obviously seething. An admiral had stolen his personal space craft, and another admiral was covering for him. At least Drew could have asked his permission, and explained that he was going after his wife and Jibb.

He stalked back into the conference room, Nut screeching at him while trying to keep to his perch on Tedak's shoulder. The little brown had dug his claws in, but Tedak was oblivious to the bleeding marks that stained his shirt.

The three Tekarans were gazing at him with curiosity, their orange pupils giving them a scary look. The leader, Lorol, was flanked by his security officer Hapel and the Minister of Culture, Garel. "What was going on?" the minister demanded, rather rudely.

"Trouble," Tedak answered curtly, "my wife and a friend have been captured, and something has happened that caused me to lose my bond with my wife. I was .... incapacitated for a moment. I am better now. Shall we resume our negotations?"

Garel shook his head. "No," he said, "I wish to know what is going on."

Tedak slammed his fist on the table, his anger exploding. "My wife is missing, Admiral Drew stole my shuttle and Admiral Lin is covering for him, THAT is what's happening," he thundered, sending his firelizard aloft screeching, echoing his anger, "and that will be all of it. We have negotiations to return to, so let us do that!"

[Deleted]

"We can discuss my eventual loss of luck at some other time. Take care of these two, but keep him unconscious" Richard ordered, gesturing at Palan Sonev as he ran out of Sickbay.

The doctor called after him. "Why should I..." but the door closed before the hologram could finish.

Richard ran towards the aft section of the Wanderer. Now that the Fractal Encryption coding was activated, the main bridge was a deathtrap. There was a little used console hidden away in a corner of Cargo Bay 1 that was less well protected than the main bridge, and that was where Richard was headed. The Wanderer was not a large ship, and he was there in less two minutes.

Accessing the console, Richard examined the capabilities of the ship. He had impulse engines, main deflector, transporters, internal sensors and main sensors. Nothing else. He didn't even have navigation. He could get the ship to move, but couldn't turn her easily. No weapons. No shields. Jibb knew the phrase sitting duck, and couldn't imagine a ship that phrase would apply to more than the Wanderer right now.

Shaking his head, he jammed the impulse engines to full to get the ship moving. Grabbing Sonev's small communicator from inside his shirt, he opened up all frequencies and said "This is the Diplomatic Courier Wanderer to any Federation vessel. We are in distress and require immediate assistance. Please respond." Then he accessed the main sensors. The Wanderer was naturally not pointed at Assailant, and they were now headed away from the base at full impulse.

Then he placed the communicator on the console in front of him and started figuring out ways to vary the output of the two impulse engines so that he could at least turn the ship towards Starbase Assailant and tried to ignore the fact that every red light on the console was flashing at him.

[Deleted]

As Drew expertly piloted the small Romulan shuttle, a small pop up screen in the corner console informed him there was an incoming transmission on all frequencies.

"This is the Diplomatic Courier Wanderer to any Federation vessel. We are in distress and require immediate assistance. Please respond."

Drew raised an eyebrow at the message, recognising Jibb’s voice at once, things were moving quicker than his contact had informed him. Drew didn’t have much time left.

Quickly he pressed the reply button,

“Wanderer, this is Admiral Paul Drew, I am heading to your location now.”

As the shuttle continued to speed through space, Drew reflected that time really was running out…

[Deleted]

ooc: hope u don't mind me borrowing your EMH...

ic:

The EMH gazed at the unconscious human for a long moment, then decided to strap him to the biobed anyway, just in case. The stunblast should keep him unconscious for a long while, but the EMH had seen stranger things happen in all of his existance. Making sure his patient/prisoner was secure, he turned to the large object.

"What's this, what's this?" he muttered, searching his memory banks. He walked around the object, waving a scanner over it. Over to his right, a monitor started beeping frantically. "Cryo Neural inhibitor," he read aloud, frowning, then started. "There's someone in there!"

Sev screeched, trying to claw the EMH as the hologram walked around it. The EMH batted him away. "Do be quiet you!" he barked, and Sev instantly quieted down, but kept a close eye on the hologram.

He walked around it several times again, and finally found the console that operated the object. He keyed in a sequence at random, but nothing happened. "Damn," he cursed, looking at the readings he got from the being inside. He keyed in another sequence, and after a long while, finally the hatch sprang open.

T'Val shivered violently, and slowly opened her eyes, squinting against the sudden bright light of sickbay. "Wha...." she tried, but her teeth were shattering and she could not manage to get her thought out.

Sev instantly winged in, rubbing his head against her cheeks vigorously, crooning anxiously, encouragingly. She tried to take a step forward, but her muscles would not work. She lost her balance and toppled forward.

The EMH just gazed at her, astonished to find a Vulcan in the object. When she fell forward, he jumped just in time to catch her, and carried her over to a biobed, the diagnostic half circle closing over her.

"Severe hypothermia, neural activity extremely low...what have you done to yourself?" the EMH muttered, "poor woman." He loaded a vial into his hypospray and pressed it against her throat. Instantly, her yellowish colour improved somewhat to a pale green and she was breathing easier. The half circle lowered again, and the EMH had the replicator create a stack of warm blankets and wrapped his patient tightly into them.

"You won't be going anywhere for a while miss," he said softly.

T'Val opened her eyes for a short moment. "Mrs," she managed, and sighed as the EMH pressed yet another hypospray against her throat.

"Shhht, don't talk. You need rest....sleep, in a couple of hours you will feel much better."

T'Val sighed and closed her eyes, drifting into a dreamless sleep. On the headend of the bed, Sev sat crooning, but less anxious.

The EMH walked over to the consoles, then tapped his combadge. "Sickbay to bridge. She's safe, both patients are unconscious at the moment, the woman will be waking in a couple of hours."

[Deleted]

Dropping his shuttle out of warp, Drew quickly took a scan of the area, he picked up the Wanderer at once, she was badly damaged, but almost certainly repairable, he also detected four life-signs aboard the ship, one was fainter than the other, suggesting someone was injured, a more detailed scan told him it was a Vulcan female.

“I am hope T’Val takes it the right way if I wish that’s her over there,” Drew muttered to himself as he prepared to drop his cloak. Just before he did however, his sensors picked up another ship entering the area, a Defiant class ship.

“The Avenger,” Drew read from his screens, letting out a sigh of relief, with the Avenger present this was certainly going to be much easier. The Avenger would be able to tow the Wanderer much more easily than Drew’s little shuttle.

Deciding now was as good a time as any; Drew dropped his cloak, almost immediately the Avenger was hailing him.

=/\=This is Cap’n Dillon of te Avenger, identify ya self=/\=

“Captain Dillon,” Drew said in greeting, “This is Rear Admiral Paul.”

=/\=Ah Admiral Drew,=/\= Dillon answered, =/\=tis a pleasure to meet ya.=/\=

“The pleasure is mine Captain,” Drew said warmly, “It seems however that we have a bit of a problem with the Wanderer.”

“Aye, that we do,” Dillon replied, “I picked up their distress call, like yaself, and was just ’bout to tow um.”

“Excellent,” Drew said with a smile, it was just as he had hoped, the Avenger was much better equipped to handle the Wanderer and her crew than Drew’s little shuttle.

A frown played across Dillon’s face as he read something off screen, turning back to Drew, he seemed more hostile.

“Tis a funny thing Admiral Drew, but it seems Starbase Assailant has issued a warrant for ya arrest.”

Drew tried to play his best poker face, he couldn’t tell this Captain about the message Starfleet Intel had sent him about the Wanderer’s location. “I had to borrow this shuttle to get here.”

“Ah I see, and a right good job you did as well,” Dillon answered, “But I wouldn’t be much of an Officer now would I? if I didn’t follow orders.”

“What are you suggesting Captain?” Drew said coldly.

“I am suggesting Admiral, that ya lower ya shields and prepare to be boarded.”

Before Drew could reply, his comm system beeped, informing him he had another transmission coming in, this time from the Wanderer itself.

=/\=Admiral Drew,=/\= came Jibb’s calm voice, =/\=The Avenger is under enemy control.=/\=

Drew saw the look of rage that took over Dillon’s face as he heard the message.

=/\=Ah Admiral Drew, I was hoping we could have gotten to know each other a wee bit better as well.=/\=

Alarm bells started to ring in Drew’s head as he saw the Avenger start to power up its weapons.

“Captain Dillon, I am giving you a direct order, lower your weapons.”

=/\=Ah now Admiral, that I can’t do.=/\= and with that the screen went blank, leaving Drew with the image of an torpedo heading straight towards him.

“Computer evasive action!” Drew shouted, praying it would be enough to avoid the torpedo…

[Deleted]

“Wanderer, this is Admiral Paul Drew, I am heading to your location now.”

Richard wanted to answer the Admiral, but he had his hands full trying to pilot his ship. Using a combination of varying power to the impulse engines and the RCS thrusters, he had managed to awkwardly turn the Wanderer so it was sort of headed towards the starbase at full impulse. Richard was hoping that nothing got in his way, because right now the ship had the maneuverability of a stellar core fragment.

Richard checked his sensors. There was a small shuttle behind him that was presumably the Admiral's ship. Suspicion lit up his mind. He had never heard of Admiral Paul Drew, and wondered what an Admiral was doing here in what looked like a private shuttle. Abruptly, another ship appeared. It was a Defiant class vessel and was closing in on the shuttle. Richard decided to see who was on what side and picked up the communicator again. "Admiral Drew, the Avenger is under enemy control."

Both ships started to power up weapons, while Richard worked the controls to try to coax a little more speed out of the Wanderer.

[Magellan Lin]

Magellan was not impressed by Keztreks lack of knowledge concerning Drews disappearance. He doubted it very much that Drew had stolen the vessel maliciously and yet...
The computer beeped.
"ANALYSIS COMPLETE"
He quickly scanned the information and his eyebrows raised as he noted the large cash deposit in to Drews personal account. He bookmarked the information deciding to tell Kez about it later.
"Excuse me sir, we're picking up Comm Traffic." F'Raas reported over the comm.
"Patch me in" Magellan asked.
Magellan listened with interest in to the conversation between Paul and Jibb. It appeared they had tracked down the mystery ship. He quickly pulled up the tactical display. He noted that the Shial Tara was almost out of the system in pursuit of a handful of pirates. Drew and Jibb were alone.
He dashed from the office and in to Ops.
"F'rass bring the defense grid online, Raise Shields. Can we define a target near to teh Wanderer?"
"Negative sir they are just outside our weapons range."
"Blast. Where is Tomlinson and the runabouts?"
"I m not sure. They seem dispersed and Tomlinson hasnt checked in recently."
"Well they need help. And we can't"
"Actually we can" F'rass replied, "The Chief has finished upgrading the sabres. He thought you might need them in the firefight"
"Tell Chief Alari hes gonna get a promotion. Get me a crew. Oh and F'rass where is it berthed?"
"Base of Berth B"
"Good. Mr Zoilip I want you at tactical, think you still remember how."
The Bolian winked.
"It'll be like old times Sir"
"Indeed it will"
"The Stations yours Mr F'rass"

Magellan and Zoilip ran down to the berth and boarded a sabre class vessel. The Vanquisher was a tactical support vessel, its sister ship - the Copenhagen had been fitted as a small science ship. Both were prepped for flight.
Alari was already at the Conn.
"My Compliments Mr Alari. Who has the Conn of teh Copenhagen?"
"Commander Abren"
"Excellent" Magellan nodded wishing he'd had the forethought to ask for teh Strategic Ops Officer to get down here.
"Okay people fire them up. No preflights no time. I m trusting to you and your SCE wizadry Mr Alari"
Without flight clearance an dmuch to the annoyance of F'Rass the two sabres zoomed out of the bay doors and into space.
"Put me on broad comms, I want everyone to hear me."
"Aye Sir. Your on" Zoilip replied
"This is Admiral Magellan Lin to all ships in the area. All ships are to power down and disengage. Admiral Drew is under our protection as is the Wanderer. Captain Dillion stand down your weapons and assist in protecting both vessels from any pirate attacks. Assume escort formation. Failure to comply will cause me to list you as hostile. Magellan out."
"Okay then" Magellan said to his small bridge crew, "Lets see what they make of that."

[Deleted]

After Megallan requested that she look into the computer problem, she immediately went to a communications console and contacted her assistant. “Sala, could you have Mr. Hirak meet me in the operations center.”

“Is anything wrong Ambassador?” she asked.

“Yes, but hopefully it’s not too serious,” she answered and turn the console off.

Five minutes later, her head scientist James Hirak came through the door, looking rather concerned. Jatira hoped that Sala hadn’t made him too nervous. Perhaps the situation wasn’t as bad as everyone thought it was.

“What’s the problem Ambassador?” he asked.

Jatira explained the problem quickly. “Now, I know that you have experience in these matters and would like it if you look the computer network.”

“Of course Ambassador, I’d be glad to,” he said and went to work. A few people from the engineering staff were working on it too, so he went over and began to work with them. Jatira came over and monitored their progress. True, she wasn’t an engineer, but she did have some experience with computers, so she helped when she could.

After a while, it became obvious that breaking through the access codes wasn’t going to be easy. Ambassador Saarok came over and asked about their progress, "Have you made any progress yet, ms. Laika?", he asked

“I’m afraid not,” she shook her head. “Whoever locked us out did a very job of it.”

"I see, what have you managed to find out so far?"

“Whoever did this, was able to disable the other access codes and isolate them from the main computer so that none of the codes for the computer would work,” she answered.

"So whoever did it disabled all oter accesss codes, and isolated it from the main computer so that none of the codes for the computer would work.", Saarok repeated

“The key to breaking through this lies with the main computer since that’s what controls everything else.”

"Yes i agree, we need to reconect it to the main computer and everything else will be resolved then.", he said

“Exactly.”

"Can you do a scan of ports used for integration to the main computer and try to determine if any have been physicly detached or have the access points just been encrypted?", he asked

“I’ve done that already and I can tell you that they are only encrypted. None of the ports have been physically detached, so once we can decrypt them, we should have access.”

"So you have already tried it and they are only encrypted", he said. Saarok stood a moment to think.

"The only logical way to proceed now is to start a systematic algorithm in order to decipher to code and establish the link with the main computer.", he said

Jatira put in the first algorithm, hoping that it would be the right one. There was quite a large amount of algorithms that they would have to check and the longer they remained blind to the sector, the longer that they were in danger.

She watched carefully as the computer went through it. It finally bleeped, loudly rejecting it.

"Let's use a different one.", he said handing her a tricoder. "Load this algorithm, it covers almost all encryption methods used, so if we do not get the code using this, we can try other methods.", he said

She put it in, still hopeful that this would be the one. Unfortunately, it didn’t work, so they went on to the next algorithm and continued to work on it for several hours getting nowhere. Mr. Harik and the rest of the team were there, but even with their help, they were still having trouble with the encryption code.

"Here we go", Saarok said as Jatira was trying out the last few codes. "We got one of the ports opened"

She quickly glanced at the screen and he was right.

"Now just reastablish a link betwen the main security protocol for the station and that should be it", he said stating the obvius

“I can do that,” Mr. Harik volunteered and within minutes he was finished.

“Well, the station’s sensors should be working now,” she said to Saarok.

[Deleted]

Swinging the shuttle hard to port, Drew was just able to avoid the powerful torpedo that had been intended to impact on his small ship’s shields. With the skill of someone who had spent the last twenty odd years in space, Drew avoided the second one as well.

It did occur to him that he could cloak the shuttle, but he suspected the Avenger would still be able to detect him, and besides he couldn’t fire the shuttle’s small but powerful disrupters if the shuttle was cloaked, and right now those disrupters were all he and the Wanderer had to fight back.

Flying as close to the Avenger as he could risk, Drew powered up the weapon systems, and fired two full power beams at the former Starfleet ship, but at the same time, phaser beams impacted on his own shields.

Drew held onto the console for support as his ship shook from the attack.

“At least they are firing at me and not the Wanderer,” he said out loud to himself, he still couldn’t believe that Dillon had betrayed his uniform, it now seemed obvious to Drew who the senior Starfleet pirate had been all along.

“I knew it wasn’t Tomlinson,” he muttered as he avoided yet another torpedo, “Kez was wrong yet again.”

Just as Drew was bringing the shuttle about for another attack run, his comm beeped again, this time though it was from the USS Vanquisher. Hope filled Drew, only one person would be commanding the Tactical ship from Assailant.

He smiled as he heard Magellan’s words come over the speakers;

=/\=This is Admiral Magellan Lin to all ships in the area. All ships are to power down and disengage. Admiral Drew is under our protection as is the Wanderer. Captain Dillion stand down your weapons and assist in protecting both vessels from any pirate attacks. Assume escort formation. Failure to comply will cause me to list you as hostile. Magellan out.=/\=

That smiled disappeared when he realised Magellan still thought the Avenger was a friendly ship, with his hands still occupied keeping the shuttle safe from attack, Drew ordered the computer to open a channel to the Vanquisher.

“This is Admiral Drew to the Vanquisher.”

=/\=Paul what the hell is going on=/\= came Magellan’s stern voice over the speakers.

“I will explain everything later on,” Drew, answered, “Magellan, the Avenger is a pirate ship, her crew have mutinied against Starfleet.”

=/\=Well that at least explains why she is firing on you, what’s your status?=/\=

“I am fine, go help the Wanderer, they have already sustained heavy damage.”

=/\=Understood, watch your back, try to keep out of danger=/\=

“You kidding?” Drew said with a laugh, “This is the most fun I have had in years.”

=/\=Just don’t get yourself killed=/\= Magellan replied, but before he cut off the channel, Drew heard the emotion in Magellan’s voice, just like Drew, Magellan was enjoying being back in the thick of things.

“Beats flying a desk any day,” Drew muttered as he dodged another torpedo.

[Deleted]

Richard was trying to guide the unresponsive Wanderer around a tumbling comet when the intercom went off and the Doctor's voice filled Cargo Bay 1. "Sickbay to bridge. She's safe, both patients are unconscious at the moment, the woman will be waking in a couple of hours."

"That's great, doctor. Happy to hear it. But if you were in my shoes, you'd know that we aren't anywhere close to safe right now. Jibb out." He was about to broadside the comet, to he put the starboard engine to full reverse and the port engine to full forward. The Wanderer missed the comet, but started spinning out of control. Richard manipulated the controls but it wasn't helping much. Suddenly the communicator sprang to life again, speaking with the sound of Admiral Magellan.

"This is Admiral Magellan Lin to all ships in the area. All ships are to power down and disengage. Admiral Drew is under our protection as is the Wanderer. Captain Dillon stand down your weapons and assist in protecting both vessels from any pirate attacks. Assume escort formation. Failure to comply will cause me to list you as hostile. Magellan out."

Richard checked the sensors. There were two Sabre class vessels closing in on the shuttle and the Avenger. The Defiant class vessel was firing on the small shuttle. That was fine with Richard. He couldn't attack a Pakled cargo shuttle right now, and certainly couldn't defend himself. Entering a complicated series of navigational inputs, he managed to get the Wanderer back under some semblance of control and tried to get clear of the battle area. The last thing that he wanted after all he had just been through was to be destroyed be errant phaser fire.

[Deleted]

T'Val shuddered as she woke up, cold shivers running down her spine despite being tightly wrapped in several blankets. The moment she woke, the EMH was hovering over her, running a tricorder over her body without even making an attempt to remove the blankets.

"ma'am, please lie still," he complained, as he tried to hold her down in order to complete his scans. "ma'am, please....how am I to help you if you don't lie still!"

T'Val stared at him coldly. "My name...is...T'Val," she managed, her teeth shattering with the cold.

The EMH frowned, for she should not be cold. The temperature in sickbay currently was well above human comfort at the moment. "Very well, T'Val," he continued, "now please...work with me or I'll have to sedate you."

T'Val grunted, and did his bidding. ~I have to get out of here~ she thought. The thought instantly brought Sev whizzing in, chittering wildly, his tone scolding. However, his eyes were blue and they were not whirling. The little bronze settled on her chest, peering at her intently, then whizzed away again.

"What was that all about?" the EMH asked, finishing his scans. He peered at the results and shook his head. "This is worse than I thought," he mumbled, then walked away to his office.

T'Val took the opportunity. She felt the ship rumbling and rocking as it was under attack. But, as soon as it started, it also stopped. She struggled against the blankets, and managed to free herself. In silence, she slid off the bed and wrapped the load of blankets about her as she unsteadily found her way to the bridge. Once there, she was met again by a scolding Sev, who was now chittering at her angrily.

"N-need help?" she asked, as she dropped down in the nearest chair. She gazed out the window at the battling ships, not even noticing that Richard wasn't even on the bridge.

Sev zipped away and re-appeared just in front of Jibb, chittering angrily.

[Deleted]

He was still struggling with the Wanderer when Sev appeared in front of him, chittering in an agitated fashion. Richard was waving at the creature to get it out of the way when the intercom went off again. "Richard, this is the doctor. I have a bit of a problem."

"What problem could possibly be worse than the ones we already have, doctor?" Richard asked sarcastically, trying to operate the ship while shooing away an anxious fire lizard.

"That Vulcan woman T'Val has left sickbay. She might be delerious. I have accessed the internal sensors and she's on the bridge" the doctor reported.

Richard stared at the comm panel in shock. "Doctor, the Fractal Encryption is activated. The bridge has more traps set than than a Cardassian solar system. If she even touches the controls, the ship might kill her before I can get to her!"

"I'm aware of that. Get her back here!" the doctor ordered.

Shaking his head, Richard accessed the internal sensors and transporters. T'Val was indeed on the bridge, looking out the main viewport, and perilously close to the main control panel. Locking onto her, Richard beamed her back to Sickbay onto a biobed and opened the comm again. "Doctor, restrain her this time!"

Returning to guiding the injured Wanderer, Richard saw that he was getting within range of Starbase Assailant and opened a channel. "Assailant Ops, this is Wanderer. I am declaring an emergency. I have little control over my ship, and on my present course I am going to impact Deck 79. I also have casualties aboard. Any assistance you can give me would be appreciated..."

[Deleted]

T'Val looked up in time to see Jibb and gave him a half smile attempting to rise from her seat. The next moment she found herself back in sickbay and she looked around in surprise. "Richard?" she called, but there was only the EMH who easily lifted her up and placed her onto a biobed. He deftly put the restraints in place, and gazed down at her mildly, though with annoyance. "healers," he muttered, "worst patients."

Confused, T'Val looked up. "What did I do?" she asked. To her surprise, the EMH just placed the load of blankets back over her, tucking her in gently. "What did I do?" T'Val asked again, "we are under attack...I must assist him..."

The EMH shook his head. "You need rest T'Val, you have been through quite an ordeal." He looked up at the bronze firelizard. "You got a very loyal friend here, a caring one too."

"Sev," T'Val said softly, and the bronze hopped down, nuzzling her, "he is attached to my husband. Tedak Impressed him and a nest mate when he was on Pern, saving me and Ms Drouet...Saarok got two as well." She suddenly felt extremely tired and suppressed a yawn. Sev crooned and the soft sound lulled her into sleep.

The EMH watched with interest, then tapped his combadge. "You can breathe now Richard, she's asleep. She didn't touch anything did she?"

[Deleted]

Saarok had spent the last 30 minutes attempting to trace and determine who it is that has used his codes to disable to sensor grid, but all he got were Admiral Drews access codes and it was illogical for him to disable the grid, which meant someone, who disabled the internal sensors, also using admiral Drews codes, at the time when he disabled the grid had used admiral Drews codes to accomplish the ilegal act.

Saarok stopped trying to trace it down to the person who did it and made a note to speak to admirals Drew, Magellan and Keztrek once they are were back on the station, and inform them of what he discovered.

=/\=The ship is in position=/\=

A message came over the comm system to Saarok, which meant that the Dark Cloud was in position. As he was moving away from the console in ops he heard an SOS message coming over the comm system.

"Assailant Ops, this is Wanderer. I am declaring an emergency. I have little control over my ship, and on my present course I am going to impact Deck 79. I also have casualties aboard. Any assistance you can give me would be appreciated..."

As the ops officer on duty at the time was thinking about what he was going to do as Magellan took out all the ships that were in working order Saarok already knew what to do.

=/\=Saarok to the USS Dark Cloud=/\=

=/\=Captain Subotai here, go ahead=/\=

=/\=Drop your cloak and use your tractor beam to stop the USS Wanderer, after you have them in tow position them so that Assailant controll can draw them into the hangar bay=/\=

=/\=Understood, Subotai out=/\=

A few moments later on the sensor display in the Ops another Starfleet ship appeared, the snesors showed him approaching the USS Wanderer and engaing its tractor beam. It also showed the Wanderer beeing place infront of the hangar bay doors, as Assailants landing system engaged and started pulling the Wanderer inside the hangar.

In the mean time the ops officer Andrews, had made contact with Jibb and has transported the casualties to Assailants sickbay.

=/\=Saarok to the USS Dark Cloud=/\=

=/\=Subotai here, go ahead=/\=

=/\=Proceed to the 2 sabre class vessels comanded by admiral Magellan and protect them no matter what=/\=

=/\=Understood, Subotai out=/\=

As Saarok was done liasing with the old friend. He decided it was time for Tedak to learn of the news.

=/\=Saarok to ambassador Tedka, proceed to Assailants main sickbay, there is someone who youd want to see, Saarok out=/\=

<Tedak>

After he was done talking with Tedak Saarok decided it was time he paid another visit to mr. major of SB Assailant. As he made way out of OPS towards the perssonel transports.

[Deleted]

=/\=Saarok to ambassador Tedka, proceed to Assailants main sickbay, there is someone who youd want to see, Saarok out=/\=

"In a minute ambassador," Tedak snapped, while glaring at the three delegates. His anger still wasn't subsided, and the attitude of the Tekarans didn't help the situation either. The Culture minister was totally understanding and he and Tedak had engaged in a shouting match, while the leader of the group had been too understanding, which had angered the Romulan even more.

Then, as if overwhelmed by emotion, he felt the bond with T'Val surge back to life. He gasped, and found himself breathless for a moment and very faint. The Tekaran leader moved in to support him, waving away the brown firelizard. "Can't you see I'm trying to help him, you little monster," he cried, while shoving the Romulan in a chair and forcing him to drink down a glass of rum. "There...better? What happened?"

Tedak accepted the drink reluctantly, and felt it burn in his throat. It sent him into a coughing fit but it revived him quite well. "Excuse me," he said, jumping to his feet with renewed energy, "I will explain later, I promise. If I forget, come seek me out, the computer will tell you where I am." With that, he dashed out of the conference room, leaving the trio behind somewhat stunned.

As fast as his legs allowed him to go, Tedak raced down (up?) to sickbay. "Where is she!" he demanded, grabbing at the first nurse he encountered.

The nurse merely pointed and went on with her duties.

Just before he reached the bed, Assaillants EMH stopped him. "Not so fast mister, she can't have any visitors right now."

"Out of the way," Tedak bellowed, trying to shove the hologram out of the way, "she's my wife. She was presumed dead, and I suffered for it. I want to see my wife." Above his head, two firelizards got themselves entangled as they enthusiastically greeted one another, then both hissed at the EMH when he refused to let Tedak through.

At last, the EMH relented, seeing the pained expression in the Romulan's eyes. "Fine, but if you upset her, you'll bear the brunt of my wrath!"

Tedak nodded and stepped through the curtains that separated T'Vals bed from the others, allowing them some privacy. He sat down on the bed and scooped the diminutive Vulcan woman in his arms, hugging her tightly as tears started to flow freely. "I missed you," he cried, "I thought you were dead. Don't you ever leave me, my love."

T'Val returned the hug with a feeling he never thought a Vulcan was capable of. "That was horrible," she whispered, her voice breaking, "I am so cold...I wonder if I ever will be warm again. Please thank Richard for me...he could have left me behind but he didn't...after all I had done to him back then...he came back for me. That is a man of honor." She snuggled up against him and cried freely, not caring about emotion.

A nurse came wandering in with a crying infant. "He just won't stop crying," she said, handing the baby over to Tedak.

Instantly the boy stopped crying as both Tedak and T'Val hugged the child. D'Beren gazed at his surrogate parents, his grey eyes settling on T'Val then held out tiny hands to her. "He knows who I am..." she whispered, hugging the child.

"Of course he does," Tedak replied, "you are his mother, the only mother he will ever know. Now, you must rest my love. We will come back in a few hours, I have to return to a meeting, it can't wait." He tucked T'Val in and kissed her, then wiped the tears from her cheeks. "Rest now, all will be well."

[Deleted]

Richard was sitting on a biobed in the Wanderer's sickbay, while the doctor examined him with a medical scanner and a tricorder. After several minutes, the doctor put his instruments aside and said "Well, you're adrenaline is running extremely high, even for you, but otherwise I'd say that you came through all that quite well. You were lucky."

Richard hopped off of the bed and straightened his clothing. "You told me that my luck is going to run out one day. I've been thinking about that and I would have to say that my luck seems to run out every day. Then it comes back."

The doctor stared the enigmatic courier in the eye. "There's no such thing as luck, Richard. Problems seem to find you and you seem to find solutions for them. I hope the day never comes where you can't find the answer, because it will be the death of you."

The words caused him an involuntary shudder, but Jibb tried to laugh it off. "You're a prophet now?"

"No, just someone who watches. See you later." The doctor turned away and deactivated himself.

Richard stared at the spot where the doctor had been standing. Shaking off the weird feeling he had, Jibb turned and made his way off of the Wanderer and started asking directions to Assailant's Yard Superintendant. The Wanderer needed more repair than Richard was able to give her.

[Magellan Lin]

Before: the end lol

The two sabres flipped over and rolled beneath the belly of the Avenger, They let fly with a volley of phaser fire that did little but illuminate the ship in a flare of shield feedback.
"Bring us around. Have the Copenhagen flank the Wanderer."
"Aye sir" Alari noted pushing the nose down and twisting the ship.

Wanderer continued to limp towards the Assailant and was still a sitting duck.
The Avenger lined up ducking either side of the sabres trying to pull a bead on the Wanderer.
"Hes not taking the bait. I bet he knows most of our manouvres. You remember the Victory's out-take port."
Magellan asked Zoilip,
"Which one" the Bolian replied Wryly,
"The B. Incursion Class. It has the same base design as the Defiant."
"Ah yes the port out-take manifold. A phase invariance creates a weakness in the shields."
"Alari on the next pass roll us along the port side."
"But Sir" Alari protested "That fault is widely known in Starfleet he'll see what we're doing."
"I m banking on it"
The Vanquisher leapt forward, her impulse drive throbbing as Alari accelerated, looped round and pulled up behind the Avenger.
"Easy" Magellan hissed as the ship shuddered from a glancing phaser strike.
"Patch me into the Copenhagen. Abren you see what I m doing?"
"I think so sir."
"Don't Think...Do"
"Aye Sir"
The Vanquisher pulled round the port side and locked phasers on the manifold as expected the Avenger rolled counterclockwise pulling away from the Vanquisher.
"Hes seen it sir" Alari said
"Good"
As the Avenger inverted it was suddenly met by the Copenhagen the ship had dropped from above and pivoted neatly. A brace of pulse phaser blasts struck the manifold.
"Excellent work Abren" Magellan praised "That should..."
Magellan paused as he noted the Vanquishers shields were still up. It fired directly at the Copenhagen at such close range the shots pounded away the shields and scored the hull deeply. It listed heavily to starboard narrowly avoiding the Avenger as it screamed by.
"Upgrades" Magellan mused, "Well it looks as if dogfighting won't help, we'll just have to overwhelm him with numbers. Where the hell is Tomlinsons and the runabouts, with them we could box him in."
"No good sir, The Copenhagens out. "
"Out?" Magellan dared to ask
"No fatalitys but the bridge is pretty broke up."
"Tell them to Withdraw. Drew you still here?"
"Wouldnt be anywhere else, looks like its just us eh."
"Looks like, That Romulan Shuttle got much in the way of weapons"
"I ll have a look" Paul quipped.
Then a large vessel decloaked, its was federation in design.
Not another one Magellan sighed to himself. He watched as it tractored the Wanderer.
"Hell. We're not going to let them get Jibb and T'Val. Load Torpedos and target the new ship."
"Hold on sir. We have a comm from Saarok, apparently its one of his."
"It is?" Magellan replied darkly "That man has resources that worry me. Paul that ones ours form up and provide flanking positions to support them back to the Assailant. I doubt we'll be able to bring the Avenger in, she run as soon as we're in teh Assailants fire arc. As much as it pains me, we may have to let em go."

[Deleted]

“Acknowledged,” Drew replied to Magellan, as he brought his small, borrowed, shuttle around to join the Starfleet escort that was now forming. It irritated Drew to let the Avenger get away, but like Magellan had said, they just didn’t stand a chance of catching them.

Bringing his shuttle in line with the rest of the ships, and setting a course back to Assailant Drew reflected on the confrontations that awaited, first there would be explaining to Tedak just why he had stolen his shuttle, then explaining the entire thing to Magellan, and even more worryingly, explaining to his wife.

As the escort moved closer to the Starbase, the Avenger fired a few more phaser shots, and then suddenly disappeared under a cloaking device, leaving Drew to wonder how much longer the renegades would be able to survive.

“Enjoy your freedom while it lasts,” Drew said to the ship as it disappeared, before long the entire Fleet would be on the look out for that particular vessel.

A few minutes later, the Romulan shuttle was again docked at Assailant, and as Drew walked out from the shuttle little ship, the stern faces of Admiral Lin and Ambassador Tedak greeted him.

“Admiral Drew, I think you have some explaining to do,” Magellan said, with his arms folded.

[KezTrek]

“Too damn right he does,” Rear Admiral KezTrek exclaimed as she entered the docking area, “And be better start explaining right now why I shouldn’t throw his Starfleet pampered behind in an holding cell.”

“Nice to see you too Kez,” Drew said with an evenly aggressive tone.

“Don’t you nice to see you Kez me,” Keztrek snapped back, “Thief, conspiracy to prevent the course of justice, unauthorised absence from your duties, not to mention a whole list of charges for giving away Starfleet secrets.”

“Now that last one wasn’t me,” Drew protested.

“Oh I know that already,” KezTrek retorted, “but you running off round the galaxy like some kind of cowboy hardly helps me do my job.”

“Well, I had a job to do,” Drew answered.

“Speaking of which,” KezTrek slowly replied, “What was that job?”

Now Drew gave KezTrek a wicked smile, he was going to enjoy this next bit.

“Sorry Kez, that’s classified.”

KezTrek returned the smile, “It always is with you.”

While this was going on Magellan and Tedak watched in silence, neither not wanting to get involved in this argument, but now they were both puzzled by the sudden change in mood, KezTrek and Drew seemed to be almost enjoying the argument.

KezTrek looked across at their audience, and seemed to read their minds.

“You know Paul, sweetie, I think we have our two friends here confused.”

“I do believe your right,” Drew replied, and then winked at his old friend, “They’ll just have to get used to it.”

“Now don’t you go winking at me, your still in the doghouse Mister.”

“When am I not?” Drew asked with mock concern.

“Oh your so lucky I am in a good mood,” KezTrek answered, and then turned and left the docking area, leaving Drew with a thoroughly confused Magellan and Tedak.

[Deleted]

Tedak tapped his foot as he waited for Drew to turn his attention back to himself and Magellan. He had diverted to the dockingbay when Magellan's aide had called him to say that his shuttle had been recovered, though damaged. The Tekarans would have to wait just a little longer, he was sure Ms Laika would be very able to entertain them for a bit between her working with Saarok. Ms K'Tar was present also, as well as several other diplomats.

"You have some explaining to do admiral," Tedak said, his annoyance and suppressed anger very clear. "Even though your taking my shuttle probably has a direct effect on me getting my wife back safely, you could have asked first." The admiral was fortunate that his two firelizards had chosen to remain in sickbay with T'Val, even Nut who was usually inseparable from Tedak.