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THE CARDASSIAN CONFRONTATION Part One - by Dave Learn ------------------------ She hung in space like a sleeping eagle. Proud, ready, prepared for action. A thousand thousand braces reached out to hold her frame in dry dock while lights danced up and down her exterior. Newly commissioned, the ship was fitted and ready for her crew. In five days, the USS James_Kirk would launch into unknown space to join her sister ship, the Enterprise, in exploration. Since the Borg massacre at Wolf 359, Starfleet had been desperately short on its fleet. The James_Kirk, as a new galaxy class starship, would help to fill this need. As the days rolled past on the planet below, the ship slowly came to life. Commander Logan, chief engineer of the James_Kirk poured over every circuit, every panel in the ship to ensure its function and efficiency. Only after he ran diagnostics on all the equipment would he be prepared to issue his approval for flight. Other personnel boarded, preparing their personal quarters. Captain T'Starnik watched with Vulcan anticipation as the crew members loaded their belongings and civilian families on board. Soon, she knew, it would be time to leave, to encounter the unknown. And, she secretly hoped, to acquire a reputation for the ship apart from its legendary name. At last preparation concluded; all her crew were aboard. She summoned her senior staff to the ready room. These people would depend on one another for their very lives over the next years; it was important they know about one another. "Greetings," she said to her crew leaders. "My name is T'Starnik. I have met with each of you, but I felt it best to present you with the opportunity to meet one another. I advise you to do the same with your own departments - it is essential to know our shipmates as well as possible. Go around the table and introduce yourselves. You can begin, Number One." T'Starnik's first officer spoke up, "I'm Commander Shelby; I'm the first officer. My specialty is with the Borg. I assisted the Enterprise in the recent clash with the borg in Federation space." "I'm Commander Logan, second officer. I'm the chief of engineering. I served on the Enterprise after Commander Argyl, just after it was commissioned." "Ensign Tsu, navigator." The huge black man spoke. "Lieutenant Commander Gilbert. Tactical/ communications." A Deltan male spoke. "I'm Counselor Thyona Zamber. No rank." The last crew member to speak was something resembling a dog, except that it walked on its hind legs and had fingers on its front paws. Man's best friend, Gilbert mused to himself. "I'm Lieutenant Fover, con/ops." A tall, erect figure strode in, hands clasped behind his back. "Greetings, I am Admiral Spock. Captain, have you briefed your crew on their mission yet?" "No admiral, I have not," T'Starnik replied solemnly. "Very well." The grey-haired Spock turned to the officers. "The Cardassians have assembled a small war fleet, despite the efforts of Captain Picard to prevent such an occurrence, and have attacked a Federation outpost along the Federation/Cardassian boundary. A number of ships have been deployed along the boundary to prevent further such incursions. As yet, there are no galaxy class starships with them. This ship is to proceed at maximum warp to the border and take command of the Federation task force. You must convince them to settle on peace." "What's your purpose in being here, sir?" Fover asked. "My father, the Ambassador Sarek, was the one to negotiate peace with the Cardassians. We believe that I may be successful is restoring the old treaty because of my relationship to the Ambassador." T'Starnik looked at her crew. "Prepare to leave in five minutes." Part Two - by Stephen Luminati ------------------------------ The behemoth slept inside its metallic cocoon, orbiting the blue pebble called Earth. The new Galaxy Class was the strangest to the eye yet. It looked incredibly top-heavy, had an egg roll for a main deflector, and squat nacelles almost folded underneath the saucer section. Still, it was the Federation's newest class of starships... and so far... the best. Inside, the anti-matter powered generators hummed to life. Running lights popped up all over the new starship, and its nacelles illuminated from their dark dormant state to a vibrant blue. Following the commands of the tiny life forms within it, the James_Kirk (oh PLEASE can we change that name!) began moving under her own power. The saucer section was the first to leave the protective shell of the space dock, and the first to receive Sol's brilliant light. The yellow star's rays bounced off the gleaming hull in a thousand directions, as spring water jumps off a rock. In moments, she had cleared her womb, and the Federation's newest baby was flying on its own. With no time for a shakedown run, she immediately moved to full impulse to leave the Sol system as quickly as possible. T'Starnik was in the `hot seat' as it was called, feeling the comfortable throb of the warp engines building underneath her. Some thirty decks down, Logan glanced over his readouts and then gave the mighty intermixers a final look over. "Bridge. Warp Power at your discretion." T'Starnik, being a Vulcan, felt no pride in the starship's abilities, but nevertheless was impressed. "Set course for the Cardassian Border of dispute. Warp 8." Ensign Tsu's fingers danced over the console, and her four years of training responded immediately, "Course laid in." T'Starnik settled into her chair, "Engage." A flashing green button was touched by Tsu's fingertip, and the starship leaped forward as it created its own warpspace. --- MSG FROM: CARDASSIAN SECTOR COMMAND, STARSHIP DOMIN ENCRIPT: D7-JA-91-23-CRC SECUR: High XMIT: 26.12.2309 TO: CARDASSIAN TASK FORCE 12, BATTLE CRUISER BOARSK COMMANDING Federation Galaxy Class starship enroute. Must maintain superiority of sector until main fleet arrives. Engage sensor interference fields. Destruction of new Galaxy Class TOP PRIORITY. Repeat: Do not allow Galaxy Class to near Cardassian border. --- END MSG #71920472-1293, RCD by BOARSK CONF CRC CHECK/JA/12/22 Along the Cardassian Border, a dozen scout ships formed a near sphere, with the Battle Cruiser Boarsk in the direct center. The scout ships began charging their hulls with enormous amounts of high powered plasma-energy, creating enough nova-wash and magnetic displacement to confuse even the best Federation technology had to offer. And in the direct center of the sphere, in the highest vortex of sensor- confusing magnetic energy, the Boarsk loaded and armed its new forward torpedo launchers. She broke out of warpspace deliberately, confidently, and majestically. A bright flash of light, a distortion in gravity readings, and the newest Galaxy Class had arrived close to the Cardassian border. "Sensors now reading a dozen Cardassian scouts Captain," Gilbert reported from his standing position behind the captain. T'Starnik raised an eyebrow at this. She expected heavier resistance than this. She glanced over at Admiral Spock, but he was silently observing the main view screen. "Tactical," T'Starnik ordered, and the main viewer showed a pseudo-3d view of the Cardassian formation. "I read no weapons or shields on any of the Cardassian scouts, but I can not ascertain any further information due to high energy nova-energy and magnetic emissions." Gilbert reported, his dark hands dancing over the black tiled controls. "We were told to be prepared for their sensor-blocking technology," Zamber added, "and as far as we can tell, it is Cardassian custom to play their cards close to their chest, as humans say." He smiled at getting the adage correct, to spite the dire circumstances. "Hail the Cardassi, and bring the ship to yellow alert." T'Starnik ordered. Star Fleet regulations. Right down the line. Lt. Fover responded, "All decks report yellow alert." "There is no response from the Cardassi," Gilbert called. The Galaxy Class ship edged forward, slowly closing the gap between it and the Cardassi death trap. Inside, the Federation ship was framed beautifully in targeting acquisition sights. Six cross hairs lined up where the initial six volleys would leap to: one to each nacelle, one to engineering, one to the main deflector, and one on each side of the saucer section, hopefully disabling the sensors and bridge. Once crippled, the rest could be done with the standard Cardassi technology. The torpedoes were on loan from the Romulans, who took a keen interest in disrupting Federation plans, but not too keen an interest as to give the Cardassi an abundant supply of the deadly weapons. "Twenty thousand kilometers to formation," Fover reported, "No response from the Cardassi." Spock spoke once, his eyes lighting up with a conclusion, then immediately darkening in accordance with Vulcan tradition, "Captain have you ever heard of the Kobayashi Maru?" T'Starnik turned to face the Admiral. In the deep coldness of space, the Boarsk's torpedo tubes silently slid open, the red fires of hell burning inside. Part Three - by Ed McDow ------------------------ "Captain! Sensors now indicate a Cardassi Battle Cruiser in the center of the Cardassi formation!" snapped Gilbert. T'Starnik wheeled towards Ensign Tsu. "Raise shields! Go to Priority One Red Al..." Her command was cut short as the first of the Boarsks torpedoes slammed into the starboard side of the James_Kirk (I think James_Kirk was silly too.). T'Starnik lost her footing and slammed down onto the floor of the bridge. She clamored back to her feet as the red alert siren began to wail. "Did we get those shields up in time?" T'Starnik demanded of Tsu. Tsu, visibly shaken from the attack looked at her blankly. "Ensign, did we get our shields up in time?", she repeated. Something snapped in Tsu. Her fingers rain across the buttons on her board rapidly. "Major damage to deck seven. Minor damage being reported on decks five and six," she panted. "Ready, phasers!" "Aye, Captain." Tsu's thin fingers pressed the buttons that would power up the James_Kirk's phasers. "Captain," interrupted Shelby,"sensors indicate Cardassi vessel preparing to fire again." "Phasers ready," shouted Tsu. Got to protect starboard, thought T'Starnik. "Ensign, fire full phasers and take us hard to starboard, on my command. Tsu took a deep breath. "Aye, Captain." So this is what it's all about, she thought. My first mission on this ship and it's kill or be killed. "Cardassi vessel is firing..... NOW!" barked Shelby. "Engage, Mr Tsu," said Captain T'Starnik. Tsu licked a bead of sweat from her upper lip and fired. The James_Kirk fired two bolts of phaser energy as the photon torpedo from the Boarsk barreled down towards her. Suddenly she turned hard to starboard and the torpedo exploded harmlessly off of her port side shields. "Sensors indicate minimal damage to shields, Captain," said a very relieved Ensign Tsu. Tsu saw T'Starnik breathe what could almost be construed as a sigh of relief. But then, that would be impossible. "Cardassi vessel has taken some damage Captain," said Shelby. "However because of their cloaking methods I can't tell how much." She looked up and smiled. "That was one hell of a shot though. It must have done something." The smile that Tsu could not control vanished as T'Starnik said, "That assumption is not based on one shred of fact, Number One. Blind assertions will not help us now." "Mr. Gilbert, open hailing frequencies." "Hailing frequencies open Captain." T'Starnik sat down in her chair. "This is Captain T'Starnik of the United Federation Starship James_Kirk. We have only come in peace. I repeat we have only come in peace. We fired when fired upon. We have no wish for this to escalate into a full scale battle. We merely wish to settle all disputes between our respective peoples. Please respond." T'Starnik leaned back in her seat. Zamber shifted uncomfortably. "Captain, they attacked us without provocation. I see no reason..." "Mr. Zamber," she interrupted, "we are on a mission of peace and we shall take whatever steps necessary to achieve it." "Even if we die in the process?" queried Zamber. T'Starnik was about to reply when Gilbert interjected, "Captain, the Cardassi are responding!" Zamber sat back chagrined. "On screen, Mr. Gilbert." As the image on the screen became visible, Tsu stared in wonder. She had never met a Cardassian but knew some of their history. They had been very grotesque by humanoid standards, so grotesque that the first Federation crew to encounter them reportedly became incurably mad (a legend Tsu found difficult to believe). The figure on the screen was of average height and medium build. His skin was mottled, reminding Tsu of a cantelope. "I am Captain Vrym of the Boarsk," said the Cardassi with a cold tight-lipped smile on his face. "Your vessel appeared out of no-where with its shields raised. We had no alternative but to fire." "On the contrary, we did not raise our shields until we detected that you had armed your torpedoes. Even then we still received some damage." Vrym leaned over and began conversing in hushed tones with one of his crew. He faced the screen again. "There must be some mistake." Again the smile. "We did not fire until we detected your shields." "This illogical argument is getting us no where," said T'starnik. "We have come to discuss the terms for a new treaty. This," she gestured towards the tall Vulcan, "is Admiral Spock. He is the son of the man who negotiated our original treaty. We hope that you will come aboard our vessel in order to discuss the matter." Again Vrym conferred with a crew member. He turned back to the screen. "How do I know that you won't take this opportunity to attack my ship or detain me?" "Captain you have my word that your ship won't be fired upon nor will you be detained while we are discussing peace." Vrym smiled. "Ah, the word of a Vulcan." He paused. "I shall beam aboard your vessel with my first officer." "Captain Vrym, how can we be assured that you won't attack us?" demanded T'Starnik. "Because Captain," said Vrym with a smile, "I give you my word." The screen went blank. "Opinions?" asked T'Starnik after a brief moment of silence. "I don't trust him Captain," said Zamber. "We don't know much about these `new' Cardassi, but they haven't yet given us any reason to trust them." "I'm inclined to agree Captain. I know Vulcans don't understand human intuition but Vrym's smile... It was downright creepy." said Commander Shelby with a shiver. "But Captain..." Tsu started to say then looked around self-consciously. "Go on Ensign" said T'Starnik. "Well, this is a peaceful mission right? So shouldn't we give them the benefit of the doubt? If we greet them as if we don't trust them... well... how will they be able to trust US?" No one spoke. The silence was interrupted by the intra-ship speaker. "Engine to bridge. Engine to bridge." T'Starnik slapped a button on the arm of her chair. "Yes, Mr. Logan." "The Cardassians are ready to beam aboard." T'Starnik looked at Spock. "Well Admiral it appears that our `Kobayashi Maru' is developing a new chapter. "Mr Logan, beam them up whenever you are ready. Commander Shelby and Mr. Zamber will accompany Admiral Spock and myself to the transporter room. Mr. Gilbert, you have the conn." "Aye, Captain." Gilbert could not help but smile proudly. The three officers and the counsellor stepped into the elevator. "I still don't like this," said Zamber right before the door slid shut. Part Four - by Dave Learn ------------------------- "Commander Shelby to security," Shelby said as she tapped her silver communicator pin. "Lieutenant Block here, commander. "How can I help you?" the chief of security asked. "I need a squad of security officers in transporter room three, on the double. The captain wants a Cardassian delegation to beam over, but Counsellor Zamber suspects foul play, and I'm inclined to believe him. Call it a hunch," she replied. "We'll be there immediately. Block out." * * * * * The door to the transporter room opened to reveal a squad of security officers standing ready with their phasers. T'Starnik looked at them disapprovingly. "By whose order are you here?" she asked. "By mine, captain," Shelby volunteered. "I don't think it's a wise idea to let the Cardassi on without being prepared for hostilities. It's not safe. These people have already destroyed a Federation outpost." As Shelby spoke, her agitation continued to grow. It became very clear to T'Starnik that her relationship with her first officer would need some fine tuning. "Why did you not inform me of this decision, commander?" "You never gave me a chance." "This distrust is not logical. The Cardassian captain gave us his word." "The Cardassian rulers gave us their words that we had peace! Look what their word means! They've destroyed a Federation outpost, amassed a war fleet, they fired on the James_Kirk without provocation... how much evidence do you need?" "Captain," Zamber interrupted before Shelby lost her famous temper, "I think the commander's got a point. There was an incident not long ago when the Enterprise discovered the Cardassi were hatching a plot to invade the Federation. We're seeing some of the fruit of that now. We can't just let them on board a starship without being prepared." T'Starnik looked at her two bridge crew members, a stoic look set on her features, wondering that they would react like this. Humans... they were so illogical. She gazed at the security guards, armed with phasers who were waiting patiently for an order to dismiss or ready themselves for the Cardassian away team. She turned momentarily to Spock. Logically, since he had more experience with humans, he could offer her advice on how to resolve this difficulty. He returned her gaze, but said nothing. She turned to Logan, who glared at her, impatient at the delay, resenting being called from engineering for something as mundane as a transporter job. At last she spoke. "Very well, but we must discuss this later, commander. Beam them aboard, Commander Logan." The transporter shimmered as four figures coalesced, phasers drawn. "A trick!" Block realized and ordered his three men to spread out. The Cardassians, looking for all the galaxy like armored human grapefruit, solidified, and fired. * * * * * Gilbert sat uneasily in the command chair. Proud that he was entrusted with the command on only his first day aboard, he remained nervous about the Cardassian ship which hung nose to nose with the James_Kirk. He grinned as he heard Lieutenant Fover growl uneasily; he wasn't the only one uncomfortable with the other ship's brooding presence. "Mister Fover, keep an eye on the Cardassian vessel. Let me know the minute anything changes in her status." "Aye sir," the canoid woofed. "Commander," the lithe Tsu spoke up, her voice shaking. "Sensors detect a small fleet of ships approaching at warp four. They'll be here within six hours." Part Five - by Rob Kamm ----------------------- "Captain T'Starnik to sickbay. Transporter room three, two security guards and three xenomorphs down. Send a medical team immediately." The captain made the report as in a daze. What had gone wrong she wondered. Where had Spock gotten the phaser from so fast and why had a Vulcan become so proficient with the weapon. She stood staring at the Admiral. He on the other hand was on his hands and knees next to one of the two wounded security guards - the one that was missing her leg. The USS James_Kirk's sickbay burst into a sudden flurry of action and excitement. A pair of doctors ran out of the room grabbing medical kits as they left. In the CMO's lab a furry head rose from under an electron microscope's hood, shook slowly for an instant and was then followed by the remainder of Commander M'Roounths body as she hurled herself out of the lab, snatching a medkit as she left. The doors to sickbay had barely shut from the first two doctors when they opened again for the growling Commander. She just barely squeezed her body through the opening doors in her hurry to get to a turbolift. Her speed was so great, primarily because she had been running for years on the All-S'Cleen track team. The three doctors clambered into the turbolift, each trying to mentally prepare themselves for what they were about to face. "You twooo loook at the ssecuritee guardss, I willl tend to thee xxenomorphsss." The Caitians growled to her two underlings. Then the door opened and they ran off to the transporter room. "Admiral, would you please explain to me why you carry a type I phaser with you on a Federation starship?" Captain T'Starnik asked as she began to recover from the shock of witnessing the violence that had so suddenly burst out in front of her. Spock didn't look up from the wounded woman, it was all that he could do to keep the stump of her leg from pouring even more blood into the room's carpeting. Another security guard had tried to help the other wounded man. Unfortunately the damage of a near miss by a Cardassian disrupter on his chest was too much. He died even as the door to the transporter room opened to admit the doctors. Spock stood up as a doctor relieved him and turned to T'Starnik. "Captain, one of the first things that you will learn out here in space is that not carrying a weapon is illogical. Total adherence to non-violence costs more lives in the end. The trick, as humans put it, is to know when to resort to violence but how to avoid it." T'Starnik stared at the older Vulcan for a moment. She then decided that she was better off meditating and getting rid of the emotions welling up inside of her than remaining with the perplexing situation. She left, calling over her shoulder to Shelby, "You have command for a while Commander Shelby." Spock watched as the Captain left. Decided that she needed some time and that he would speak with her later he returned to watch the doctors at work. The two humans went to the woman whose leg had been cut off when a lucky shot blew up the main power cable to the transporter, the cover panel was thrown off and severed her leg. The disembodied limb lay on the far side of the chamber - too far burned to be reattached. The CMO, Spock noticed, had gone directly to the fallen Cardassians to see to their injuries. As he had only used a heavy stun setting they would be fine, a bit hung-over but healthy, in a few hours. She saw this and signalled for some of the security officers that they were theirs - to be taken to the brig. She then got up and left the room. In the corridor outside the doctor had started to walk to the turbolift. Spock followed her out, paused for a moment and then called to her. "Are you going to prepare sickbay for the wounded, Doctor?" She paused for a second. M'Roounths had been planning on going to a holodeck for a long run - and the chance to think things out. The orderlies, nurses and other doctors were already getting sickbay set. "NOOO!," she growled as she started for the lift again. "Doctor, is it not your job to do that?" Spock had left the transporter room and was standing a few meters from the door. He seemed to fill the corridor where he stood. "Mmy job, Admirall, wass to catalog wholle neeww pllanets full of llife. Mmy job iss to mmaintainn the healthhh of thhe commplimmennt annd crew of thisss sship. Mmy job iss nnot too cleann up afffter thhe captainn messsess up and killss memmberss of that creww." "Perhaps you are right, Doctor. Perhaps your people can keep that woman alive, and eventually she may even walk on a prosthetic leg. But she will need to adjust to that change. Just as you must make the adjustment from one type of medical service to another. You must do as all beings do - do your best according to your gifts." The Vulcan then turned and reentered the transporter room battle zone, leaving the CMO to her own thoughts. She hesitated in the hall for a moment, shook her furry head and entered the turbolift. "Ssickbay. Mmedicall Emmergenncee." Part Six - by Dave Learn ------------------------ "Zamber, come with me to the bridge. I'm going to need your guidance in dealing with the Cardassi," Shelby said as she turned to leave the embattled transporter room. "Coming ma'am," the Deltan counselor spoke. The two of them stepped out into the corridor and headed toward the turbolift. He looked at the elderly admiral, who now returned to the transporter room and then down the corridor to the feline M'Roounths who meekly stepped into the turbolift. What was that all about? The two had apparently had some sort of confrontation. He knew of the Caitian dislike for violence of any sort. The chief medical officer was probably annoyed with the captain for what she saw as T'Starnik's failure. He made a mental note to meet with M'Roouths later. The two of them stepped into a turbolift car. "State destination, please," the computer prompted. Shelby looked straight ahead as she replied, "Bridge." She turned to face the counselor, "Zamber, your analysis of what just happened." Zamber considered and thoughtfully rubbed his dark beard. "The Cardassi are uncertain in how to deal with us. When brute force failed to destroy the James_Kirk, they thought they could overcome us through guile. Captain Vrym counted on the captain's gullibility and hoped to eliminate the upper part of the command chain. I doubt takeover was intended - four Cardassi, even armed with phaser rifles, can't hope to capture a galaxy class starship. All they could do was eliminate the captain, yourself, and the other personnel in the transporter room. Your requesting security, and Admiral Spock's coming armed was unexpected and gave us the advantage we needed. My recommendation is that you take a strong stance with them. They'll respect force, but you have to do what you threaten, or you'll lose all credibility with them." "Thank you, Counselor," Shelby said as the lift came to a stop and they entered the bridge. "I think that could prove useful." She turned to face Gilbert, who rose to relinquish the command chair. "Mister Gilbert, any changes?" "Yes, commander. Long range sensors detect a fleet of Cardassi vessels approaching at warp speed. They'll be here in four hours." He paused uncertainly. "How did the reception go?" "It was an ambush. One security guard is dead, another disabled. Every one else is fine. You said there's more Cardassi coming?" Gilbert nodded. "Patch me through to the Boarsk. I want to speak with Captain Vrym." * * * * Vrym sat in the center of the bridge, the command chair elevated just above the rest of the bridge crew, enabling him to see all that happened on his bridge. He drummed his fingers nervously on the armrest. Had his ploy worked? He had expected his squad to report back immediately once they had executed the captain of the Federation vessel and any other officers who received his "peace delegation." Their silence indicated that they had failed and the aliens had overcome his ruse. His communications officer spun in his chair. "Captain," he said, "the James_Kirk is hailing us." "On screen." The screen changed to show the interior of the James_Kirk as Commander Shelby spoke to his image on her own screen. Captain T'Starnik was nowhere to be seen. Good. The boarding party was not a complete failure. "Captain Vrym," she began hotly, "I *demand* to know why you have betrayed our trust like this. The agreement was to discuss peace." "We have had our discussion." "Your presence here is in violation of the Federation-Cardassi Border Treaty, and your actions are actions of war. Retreat or we will be forced to open fire on your ship." Vrym shifted in his sit uncomfortably. This human would not duped as easily as her late Vulcan captain had been. "Really. And what makes you hope that your starship will be able to defeat a Cardassian Battle Cruiser?" He wondered at his own words. What made him hope he could defeat a Federation galaxy starship? He hadn't a chance. "I'm not here to discuss weaponry. Withdraw or we will open fire." Vrym turned to his communications officer. "Cut communications." * * * * "Well?" Shelby asked. "The Boarsk is arming their torpedoes," Tsu responded quickly. "Lieutenant Gilbert, lock phasers and prepare to fire," Shelby said quickly. "Try to take out their engines. Ensign Tsu, prepare for evasive." Like a steely sunrise, the James_Kirk rose above the Boarsk, her deadly sunlight shooting out in a powerful burst of phaser fire. The blast hit the Boarsk's shields, knocking them down to what was unbearably low for Vrym's preference. No longer hanging nose to nose with the James_Kirk, the Boarsk ducked, throwing itself forward. It spun itself around, firing three Romulan torpedoes at the Federation ship. Miss. Miss. HIT! The James_Kirk rocked slightly under the blow to engineering, her crew moving rapidly to repair the moderate damage. Commander Logan cursed the incompetency of the bridge crew and swore to speak his mind to whoever in charge once they got through this. The James_Kirk turned again, her impulse engines roaring silently in the vacuum of space. She fired her phasers again, scoring a final hit on the Boarsk's engines. The Boarsk grew still and fired another volley of torpedoes. "Hang on!" Shelby shouted as the torpedo rushed toward the saucer section. The deck vibrated, throwing crew to the floor. "Gilbert!" she shouted. "I want their weapons out of commission, do you hear me?" Gilbert nodded grimly and aimed the weapons. Three photon torpedoes flew from their homes, nesting themselves in the battlecruiser's hull. One of the scoutships intercepted a torpedo and detonated brilliantly in a flash of light. The Boarsk rocked violently at the arrival of the torpedoes. Vrym locked across the ruins of his bridge. His own ship was destroyed, but he knew the James_Kirk would not be far behind. A fleet of Cardassian vessels was approaching, he knew, and they would easily overpower the lone starship. The steady whistle of equipment drew his attention. Why did it always seem that the last piece of equipment to fail was the communications console? It was the James_Kirk, signalling him. "Captain, shall I put them on screen?" asked Kerton, his communications officer. Vrym nodded. Commander Shelby appeared, as before. "Well, Captain Vrym," she asked, "shall we continue this or would you like to surrender?" "Please, no. We yield," he said with a heavy air of finality. * * * * "Mister Gilbert, prepare an away team to board the Cardassi ship. You will help with the wounded and repair the ship to escort them back to Cardassian territory. Admiral Spock will accompany you to negotiate peace," Shelby said. Gilbert looked dumbfounded. "But why?" "There's an old proverb my mother taught me when I was little. It says `When your enemy is hungry, feed him. When he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will pour burning coals on his head.' The best way to make an ally is to help an enemy during her greatest need. You have your orders." Part Seven - by Dave Learn -------------------------- T'Starnik sought to empty her mind of the emotional storm which had arisen in her. She sat crosslegged on the floor as she meditated, assuming a position developed by both eastern mystics on Earth and by the Vulcans. This similarity crossed her mind momentarily; she ignored the distraction it presented her, preferring instead to meditate on the difficult situation she found herself in. As she meditated, she remembered... The elderly Terran approached her with the discomfort common to humans as they encountered Vulcans. Even the upper echelon of Star Fleet, she realized, were not immune to this misconception of Vulcan mysticism. She raised her right hand in the Vulcan salute, hoping to set the aged admiral at ease. "Live long and prosper, Admiral Quinn," she intoned. "Uh, thank you, captain," he replied nervously. He fumbled for the proper reply, raising his own hand but somehow managing to join his middle two fingers together. "Peace and long life," he returned, eyeing his miserable attempt at the Vulcan sign. Were she human, T'Starnik might have smiled at his awkward salute, but she was not. And Vulcans did not show amusement. She watched the admiral closely, waiting for him to state his business. Apparently the admiral was a little unused to dealing with Vulcans, and he continued on, obviously flustered. "T'Starnik, I assume you are aware of the current condition of Starfleet?" "Yes, admiral, I am." "Ever since the Borg Massacre at Wolf 359, the fleet has been a mess. We lost forty starships there to one invader, and I don't need to go into how many excellent men and women who died there. We have to rebuild the fleet as soon as possible - before the Romulans or the Cardassians see a weakness in our defenses." "That is only logical, admiral. How does the Intrepid fit in with these plans to rebuild?" "Captain," the admiral began, "we have a new galaxy class starship almost completed. We offered commander to the Enterprise's William Riker, but he turned it down for whatever reasons he has. The ship is called the James_Kirk. If you want her, she's yours." A human or one of the other races of the Federation might have taken offense at being the second choice. T'Starnik, a Vulcan, felt none. "This offer is most illogical," she replied. "The Intrepid is a Vulcan science vessel. It is more logical for me to continue to command it than to command a ship staffed primarily by humans. I have never worked with them." The admiral licked his lips nervously. He knew this would be the hard part. "Captain," he said carefully, measuring his words, "we are aware that you have little experience with humans, and that the James_Kirk would be a difficult command for you. But you have an excellent service record, and we need to have the best captains possible on the best ships possible. In a year or two, maybe we can afford to have someone with your talent on a ship like the Intrepid again. But right now, we just can't squander that ability. We need a capable captain for the James_Kirk, and we think you would be the best choice. "We realized that you would feel uncomfortable commanding a human crew, so we've arranged for Commander Shelby to be your first officer. She's aggressive, and she'll help to mediate between you and the crew with whatever difficulties you might encounter. She can be the counter-balance for your logic, much in the same way that Captain Kirk and Commander Spock balanced one another seventy years ago." T'Starnik considered the offer and weighed the advantages and disadvantages to the command. "Each must do his best, according to his gifts," Surak wrote. Starfleet needed her gifts on the James_Kirk. Very well. She would serve where she was needed. She accepted the transfer, her own first officer being promoted to captain of the Intrepid. She broke from her reverie, ending her silent meditation. Her logic had been flawed, she realized now, and she should serve as captain of the James_Kirk. While she was well suited to commanding a research vessel such as the Intrepid, the James_Kirk was clearly not a vessel she could command adequately. Her duty was clear. She left her room and headed to the bridge. She would rely on Commander Shelby more heavily for now, particularly to resolve the conflict with the Cardassi. She would notify Starfleet of her decision and continue to serve as captain until a replacement could be found. //-n-\\ Don Quixote _____---=======---_____ Klingons for Christ ====____\ /.. ..\ /____==== // ---\__O__/--- \\ dl20@lafayacs.bitnet \_\ /_/ learnd@lafcol.uucp _learnd@lafayett.bitnet "Nobody knows the tribbles I've seen . . ."