*************
*************
Lisa broke free of the security officers and dived behind a console as Smithy laid down a burst of phaser pulses across the bridge. "You sure know how to make an entrance!"
"Thanks, I try!" Smithy ducked in behind a pillar as the Gatrellians began unloading disruptor bursts at him. "I think I might have annoyed them!"
"You think?!" Lisa checked her watch. "You think they're annoyed now, wait five seconds!"
Smithy caught the beginning of the rumble from deep within the ship. "Here it comes. Get ready to make a swift exit!" He ducked as the overload caused by Lisa's bombs sent sparks flying across the bridge. "Now, time to go!" The pair dashed off the bridge, Lisa grabbing a phaser from Smithy's belt as they retreated.
Metcalf groggily got to his feet, shaking his head to clear the ringing sound. He grabbed a couple of the security men. "You! Come with me! The rest of you, get this ship operational again! Unless you want the Federation fleet to kill every last one of you!"
*************
USS Hyperion-D.
Bridge.
Kieran stood as Sheehan's image sprang up on the screen. "The fleet's just about ready to move in. Any more readings on the shield status of Metcalf's ship?"
"
The last scan we did before returning here showed their screens as being down. There's a large force of smaller Gatrellian ships returning to the area though, and they stand between our fleet and the battleship."
"Then we'll have to smash our way through. See you on the other side."
"
Will do."
The viewscreen switched back to the tactical plot. Kieran glanced sideways. "Tactical, prepare the ship for multi-vector assault mode." He keyed his comm panel. "All ships, this is Admiral Forester - engage." He returned his attention to Tactical. "Engage multi-vector assault, place the sections in tight formation with the primary hull. Interlinked shields."
*************
Starship 'Galactic Domination'.
Smithy flattened himself into an alcove as a disruptor beam scorched the bulkhead near him.
One second, two seconds, three seconds. He dived out, firing a quick burts of phaser pulses down the corridor. Rolling quickly to his feet he set off after Lisa.
He caught up with her at the next section. "How much charge have you got left in that phaser?"
"About 40%. You?"
"12% in the rifle, my hand phaser is still full. Still got 3 photon grenades mind." He turned and fired a quick burst from his rifle as Lisa fired several shots, dropping 3 of the pursuing soldiers to the deck. "Listen, you hear that?"
Lisa nodded. "Sounds like they're getting control and power back. Dammit! What do we do now?"
"Engine room. I've got grenades, I intend to use them. Come on."
*************
Metcalf stalked down the corridor in a white hot rage. His mind was totally fixated on one thing.
Where are you? Come out and face me you son of a bitch! Face me!He let his mind scan the area, trying to pick out any trace of Smithy.
Come on James, I know you're out there...*************
Smithy glanced behind him. "Damn. He's trying to find me."
"Metcalf?"
"Yeah." Smithy grabbed the grenades and handed them to his wife with the phaser rifle. "Get to the engine room. Plant these on the core and blow it up once you're past the fire door. I'm going to lead Metcalf the other way. Hopefully he'll be fixated enough on me to oblige."
"I'm not leaving you."
"That's right, you're just going in the opposite direction for a little while." He silenced her objection with a quick kiss. "Just get going, I'll see you at the transport co-ords."
*************
Section 14D-3.
"I've been waiting for you."
Metcalf stood with his disruptor raised. "You know, it's been too long since we did the whole gun-fight thing. You remember the fun we had last time?"
"I remember you shooting me in the shoulder. As I recall, my aim was somewhat better. Pity I had the weapon on stun really. I'd have saved the galaxy an awful lot of bother."
"So why didn't you kill me, hmmm?"
Smithy considered the question. "You know, I honestly have no idea. Maybe I'll find out when I do kill you."
Metcalf laughed. "You're insane. Your fleet is a long way from here, you're trapped on my ship, and there is
nothing keeping me from killing you."
"Really? Then why am I still standing here then? I think it's because I still know something you don't."
"You aren't standing." Metcalf lowered his aim, firing a quick burst into Smithy's left knee that knocked him over.
Smithy rolled half up, rising onto his right knee. "Guess I asked for that. I'm kinda glad that S'Tasik taught me the Vulcan control techniques for ignoring pain, because I suspect that this hurts right now."
"You're right, there is something I wish to know. And you're going to tell me, or I'll tear this ship apart looking for your wife. So tell me.....how do I use this power?"
"Use it? What d'you mean, 'use it'?" Smithy stared at him. "It's simply knowledge of possible futures. If by use it you mean how do you make one come true, you have to go affect every last causality node. Frankly, there are easier ways of living."
"But you don't do that. You affect the outcome of events in some other way."
Smithy grinned. "Hate to break it to you Bob, but if I could do that I'd still have a left knee. You're talking about powers that only beings like the Q Continuum have, simple knowledge of the future can't hope to compete with that."
"You're lying! I know you are!" Metcalf's voice cracked as he got angrier. "This power is more than that! It elevates us to the levels of GODS! YOU WILL TELL ME HOW TO USE IT!!!!"
Smithy shook his head. "You really have flipped your lid haven't you?" He turned slightly so Metcalf couldn't see what he was doing behind his back. "Tell you what - since you asked so nicely, I'll tell you how to spread yourself across the entire universe."
"The universe....how?"
"Well, it's very simple really. Stand there, and let this overloaded phaser blow you up." Smithy keyed a final button on the phaser behind his back and threw it to Metcalf's feet. Then he dived as far as he could.
The explosion shoved him down the corridor, overwhelming his pain control technique. Then there was nothing but darkness.
*************
Engine Room.
Lisa planted the final grenade on the coolant system and headed for door, pausing only to knock out one of the engineers with the blunt end of the phaser rifle. Closing the blast door, she activated the detonator. Warning alarms immediately sounded.
"
Coolant leak. Warp core breach in 10 minutes. Main power systems off-line."
"Thanks computer, but I'd kind of guessed that." She hurried off down the corridor.
You best be alright James, or I'll be really pissed off at you.*************
USS Tigermoth-A.
Bridge.
"Three more ships destroyed sir, but there's still no gap in their lines."
"I see it." Sheehan stabbed at the comm panel. "Orlatrel, how's she holding up?"
"
Coolant systems are still within tolerance. Looks like we finally got something right with this setup."
Sheehan returned his attention to the screen. "Shield status?"
"We're down to 43%, armour integrity is still at 100%. We've lost twelve ships from the fleet though, and many more are taking serious damage."
"Order the Venture and Galaxy to come out wider, they can't fight properly in as close as they are. And get me a channel to the Hyperion."
"Channel open, sir."
Sheehan made his way over to a comm station and activated it. "Kieran, I have a plan."
"
I hope it's a good one, we just lost two more ships."
"It's a good one alright, how much hydrogen can you spare?"
"
Hydrogen?" Kieran's image stared out of the screen with a look of confusion that slowly turned into a grin. "
You can't be serious."
"I'm always serious. How much can you donate?"
"
Enough. When d'you want to try it?"
"Any time now. We'll make our way over to you." Sheehan closed the connection and returned to the centre chair. "Helm, get us over to the Hyperion's primary section. Engine room, prepare to vent hydrogen from our storage tanks."
*************
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That's enough for now. More soon folks.
Topic: ST:Tigermoth - Silent Enemy (Read 21468 times)