For Dad (1949-2008) And In Memory of Majel Barrett Roddenberry (1932-2008)
Second Officer’s Log – Stardate 60629.3 The Starship Arethusa, escorted by the Theodosius, has arrived from Deep Space Fifteen with a team of archeology specialists to help us look over the ruins on the planet Commander Doran led us to. I’m also pleased to report that Captain Space has recovered enough to join them. The captain has a daunting task when he gets back. Captain Bruce Space materialized on the transporter platform to his wife waiting for him, bouncing on her toes and anxious for his arrival. Dana said, “It’s good to have you back, Bruce. You look… better.” She noticed the scruff which seemed to dominate Bruce’s face. “And my wife is as brave as she is lovely,” Bruce replied. “You flatterer, but you still need to shave.” They walked out into the corridor and Bruce asked, “What’s been going on? And why do I need to deal with Kevin?” “Your protégée decided to go after the person who tried to kill you on his own. He took the Cassandra and was off chasing this assassin on his own without consulting anyone or asking for help, which he eventually needed anyway.” Bruce listened, nodding his head every so often, and when Dana finished explaining things was quiet. She eventually asked, “So?” “You’re asking me if I’m going to send him back aboard the Theodosius with Tricacious and make him face a court-martial?” “Are you?” “No. I got a look at Commander Parker’s evidence on the way here—Kevin’s right, he is an idiot—and there’s nothing to implicate the Dominion. Admiral Bolter is sending a formal apology to the Founders for the error of his security chief. This whole thing had Kael written all over it. He just didn’t get lucky.” “He could have, Bruce.” “I know. Now, I have to go get my first officer out of the brig.” Kevin, seated cross-legged on the floor, was in deep meditation when Bruce walked into the brig. His eyes were closed and his breathing controlled and slow. He didn’t even notice his captain entering the room, standing over him with an amused expression on his face. Bruce stepped over, deactivated the force-field and returned to the same place he’d stood when he entered. Kevin hadn’t flinched. Bruce said, “You busy, Kevin?” Kevin jerked and finally saw Bruce watching over him. He jumped to his feet and said, “Captain! You’re all right!” “Yes, I am. Are you?” “Dr. Al-Rashid fixed me up a couple of days ago. Joe stops by with meal service and we chat a bit, but other than that I’ve just been waiting to get back to DS-15 and wait for court martial.” “You’re not going to be court martialed.” “How did that happen?” “You were right, Kevin.” Bruce said, “The evidence implicating the Dominion was wrong. However, this doesn’t excuse what you’ve done here. You know better than to go gallivanting off after someone into enemy territory without backup or help. You could’ve gotten killed, Kevin.” “I could have… I thought I could have captured him. It was your life at stake, Bruce.” “Kevin, I’m not here to reprimand you. Starfleet has already done that. It’s in your file. I’m here to get you out of jail and get you back on the bridge where you belong. We’ve got a find here that could be as big as New Horizon.” “Thanks, Bruce.” “You’re welcome, but don’t do that again. Understood?
“Yes, Sir.” “I’ll expect you back in uniform and in the conference room in twenty minutes. We’re meeting with the Arethusa archeology team to plan the away teams on the planet’s surface. We’ve also got to prepare for the Avkar. They’re going to be coming after us.” In the outer reaches of the final frontier, new enemies lurk in wait. In the great unknown, darkness rises. Yet, one crew will stand against the dark and explore the unknown, mounting up with wings as eagles to the stars.
Episode #205 “Ancient of Days” Written By Michael A. Slagenweit-Coffman “Why do I surround myself with incompetents?” Erik Diabolus shouted, his voice rising with each sentence, “Why do I surround myself with idiots? Why do I have to do everything myself?” Erik had summoned Kael Vejaix, Compassion, and Sergeant Rizak all together upon Kael’s return to the Executor. Expecting a glowing report of the death of Bruce Space and Kevin Doran, he’d been furious when he’d learned that not only was Doran—and likely Space—still alive, but the Eagle Star had followed him to the next location where a Spire might be found. “Even if I let them live now, you’re now in a position to wipe them out completely,” Kael replied, “Is that not what you wanted?” “Yes, I can destroy them, Kael. I could blow them out of the stars by hauling all of our forces to the planet. But I would rather succeed where you and Compassion have failed.” “Commandant!” Compassion cried. “Silence, woman! I intend to stay one step ahead of Bruce Space, permanently.” “How, Commandant?” Compassion asked. “That, my dear, will become evident as you watch and learn from your Commandant,” Diabolus replied, “Come with me, all of you.” They went to the command center. When Diabolus had seized control of the Executor from the Dominion, he’d made only one change to the control center of the ship. He’d added his command chair. Everyone else, like on other Dominion ships, was required to stand for the position they held. Coming from the corridor, Diabolus passed his young grunt, Imahrik, and gave him a glance and the corners of his mouth turned up. He would need his services, along with Compassion’s. Later. He took the command chair, while Rizak took the tactical station. He said, “Lay in a course, Pilot, 082 by 356.” Bruce, Kevin, and Cammy met in the conference room to plan the away missions for the planet’s surface. Dr. Al-Rashid also sat in, invited at Captain Space’s request, to add input on the health risks for the away team. “I’ve been on enough desert planets through the course of my career with enough crewmembers coming back with dehydration, exhaustion, and a couple of times requiring hospitalization. I’d like to avoid that this time around,” Bruce said.
“I think that it’s best that we limit the time frame of how long the teams are on the surface,” Kevin said, “I was down there for just a little while and it threw me for a loop.” “I’d agree, Captain,” Dr. Al-Rashid added. “So far we’ve recorded numerous sandstorms,” Cammy said, “But so far, they’ve been small.” “I’ve talked with AJ and he’s doing some tweaking to the tricorders so that they’re more effective in the sandstorms. He should have them ready by the time we’re aiming to beam down,” Kevin said. “Where’s the archeology team leader?” Cammy asked, “I thought he’s supposed to be here?” Just as she finished asking her question, the doors at the side of the room opened and a young man entered. He stood somewhat tall, with trimmed dark hair and deep brown eyes. Na’ila nearly jumped out of her seat as she recognized who it was. He said, in a medium tone of voice, “My apologies, Captain Space.” “It’s all right. We didn’t get very far, Lieutenant…?” “Tariq Al-Rashid, Sir.” Tariq took a seat at the conference table across from Dr. Al-Rashid, though he didn’t acknowledge her as he did the others at the table. He continued, “Looking over Ensign Spencer’s planetary survey reports, we shouldn’t need a large away team. A four-man team should suffice: two security officers to two science/archeology officers.” “That’s a lot of security for two science officers,” Kevin said. “Your reports gave me the impression that there’re security implications to be considered.” “True,” Bruce said, “I assume you’re to be included in the away team, Lieutenant?” “Yes, Captain.” “Lieutenant Talkart will be leading the main survey team,” Kevin said, “I’ll assign you to his team with Ensign Spencer.” The five officers talked for the better part of two hours, going over plans of attack on handling the surface. Cammy demonstrated maps and Tariq plotted out what would be best targeted by the survey teams. Occasionally, Bruce suggested some safety procedures. They were wrapping up when the bridge signaled, “Masters to Spencer.” “Go ahead, Darien.” “We’ve just detected an ion storm approaching our position.” “Stand by.” Cammy looked over at Bruce. He thought about it a moment, then tapped his combadge, “Ensign, Captain Space here. How fast is the ion storm approaching?” “Right now, I would estimate we have about ten-fifteen hours before the storm hits.” “Thank you, Ensign. Inform Commander Space we will be out in a moment, Space out.” “Aye, Sir.” Tariq looked as if Space might cancel the mission on him; Bruce caught it and said, “Ensign Spencer, Lieutenant Al-Rashid, I want you to have your teams ready to beam down in an hour. Looks like we’re going to have to wrap this mission up in a hurry.” Bruce, Kevin, and Cammy rose and headed out of the room while Tariq and Na’ila remained. Dr. Al-Rashid said, speaking Arabic, “How have you been, Tariq.” “You’ve received my letters, Mother. You know how I have been recently.” “Receiving letters is not the same as actually talking with you, Tariq.” “You and I have had very little to say for some time, Mother. Ever since Father died and you reverted to the old ways.” “And you resent that? You think I hide behind the old ways.” “You do, Mother. Now, if you will excuse me, I have work to do,” and with that, Tariq rose and left the room. Working with AJ, Cammy pulled the preparations for the away team together in record time. When everything was ready, she joined Tariq, Xanthus, and Sandarklan in Transporter Room Three, along with three other teams that Xanthus and Lieutenant Al-Rashid had assembled. Xanthus, Tariq, and Cammy had changed into desert-duty uniforms.
On the bridge, Bruce took the captain’s chair. “We’re ready, Captain. We’ve got three teams assembled and ready to transport to the surface, Sir,” Xanthus said, over the comm. system. Bruce replied, “Good work, Xanthus. Let’s get this done fast. Transporter Chief, energize.” The sand lapped on the surface of the floor of the ruin on the planet surface. Xanthus pulled out his phaser upon materialization, looking for Avkar troopers. He found none and reholstered the phaser. Cammy and Tariq pulled out tricorders and started scanning. “The resolution and range is much better than Commander Doran’s initial scans,” Tariq said, “I’ll have to thank Lieutenant Thompson for his quick work.” “I’m not detecting any indication of the Spires on scans, Lieutenant Al-Rashid,” Cammy said. “There may not be. Your initial scans indicated that you may not know if a Spire’s there until you’re almost on top of it.” “We should know fairly quickly then,” Sandarklan said. “These Spires are tricky things,” Tariq replied. At two and a half hours into the work, Tariq called a much needed break, which a relieved Xanthus was only two happy to take. Xanthus and Tariq sat on the edge of the stone slab, the central point of all beam downs on the planet so far, while Cammy and Sandarklan walked about on the slab. When Tariq questioned her about it, she replied, “I’ve been crouching since we beamed down. I need to stand a little.” Xanthus asked Tariq, trying to make conversation, “So, what is your normal assignment, Lieutenant?” “Normally, I’m stationed on Earth at one of the branches of Starfleet Sciences at Cairo, but I’ve been to several archeological sites in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants.” “This is your first time in the Gamma Quadrant?” “The first time,” Tariq replied, “Though I’m thinking of taking some leave time on New Horizon VII. It looks like a nice planet.” “It is. I took a couple days leave a couple months back and camped out near a waterfall on one of the northern—” Xanthus couldn’t finish his sentence as he heard a shout from Cammy. He and Tariq turned about and saw a dust cloud rising from where Cammy had been a moment ago. They got to their feet, rushing to a newly formed hole in the slab. Tariq fanned at the dust, trying to blow it away to see into the hole. Xanthus asked, “Cammy? You okay?” “Yeah, I’m all right,” Cammy replied. “What happened?” Tariq asked. “I don’t know. One minute I was just walking around and the next, the floor gave way and I fell down here.” The dust finally cleared away enough to see that the slab had once been an entrance to some sort of underground chamber; planks and timbers were scattered about the sandy ground. Cammy said, “Xanthus, I think there’s a passageway down here.” “We should explore it,” Tariq said. “Agreed. Let me apprise the Eagle Star of the situation,” Xanthus tapped his combadge, “Talkart to Eagle Star.” “That ion storm is approaching fast, Captain,” Ensign Masters said, “And I’ve just detected the Avkar dreadnought on a fast approaching for our location.” Kevin looked over to Bruce; a look meant to convey the need to remain and discover the secrets of this planet. Bruce said, in reply, “We’ve got that ion storm and Diabolus coming in. I’m not in the mood to deal with either.” “Captain, the Away Team is signaling,” Dana said. “Talkart to Eagle Star.” “Go ahead, Xanthus,” Bruce said.
“We’ve discovered an underground passage, Captain. We’d like permission to explore it.” “Are you or your teams getting Spire readings?” “Not at the moment, Sir, but we’d like permission to explore this system.” “We’ve got a problem with that, Xanthus. Commandant Diabolus is on his way here and along with that ion storm. I’d rather pull out and come back at another time.” “Captain, I request permission to remain. We can signal when you return to the system. We can hold out until then,” Xanthus said. “No, Lieutenant. We’re pulling out and beaming up the survey teams at this moment.” Tariq cut in, “Captain Space, this could be where the Spires came from or the key to who created them. Either way, we have the opportunity to learn more about them and we can’t pass up this chance.” Xanthus added, “I think it’s worth the risk, Sir.” A long moment passed and Bruce replied, “All right, Xanthus, you’re in charge until we get back. Set your combadges to emit subspace beacons so we can track you. No unnecessary risks, Lieutenant.” “Understood, Captain.” “We’ll be back with the fleet as soon as we can. Good luck, away team.” After closing the channel, Bruce ordered the Eagle Star away from the planet. A veil of silence covered the bridge. Bruce thought, Hold out, Xanthus, I know you’ve found something. Back on the surface, Xanthus said, “Cammy, Tariq, start encrypting everything. I don’t want to take any chances if the Avkar are on their way.” “Good idea,” Tariq said. Both he and Cammy started working their tricorders. Eventually, Cammy said, “Got it, Xanthus.” “Then let’s go.” He and Tariq climbed down into the hole. Xanthus turned on a hand light and the three of them started down the tunnel. Just beyond the hole that had been created by Cammy’s fall, they got their indication that they had stumbled upon a major find: ornately painted fresco panels, each with intricate symbols carved into it. Tariq said, scanning one the panels with his tricorder, “This is incredible.” “Agreed,” Cammy replied. “These symbols seem to represent both words and ideas. At the same time.” The away team strode past six more panels; Tariq recording the symbols into his tricorder. He continued, “I’m going to try and set the tricorder to correlate these so we can start getting a sense of what they’re saying.” “I believe that you’ll have your work cut out for you, as the human expression says,” Sandarklan replied. He stood at the end of the passage, shining his hand light into a darkened space. Cammy caught the tone and joined him. She shined her light around and said, “I agree. You’re going to want to look at this.” Tariq and Xanthus left the panels and joined the others at the passage end. Xanthus’ eyebrows went into his hairline while Tariq’s jaw dropped. The room Sandarklan had discovered was a library. Row upon row, shelf upon shelf of thick, bound volumes, all covered in a patina of dust and cobwebs. “We need more light,” Xanthus said, “We should look around for a torch or something to illuminate this place better.” Fortunately, that chore took less time than they anticipated. Cammy walking toward an opposite wall, tripped over a stone on the floor. In moving it, the stone began to shed light. “What in the world?” Tariq asked. Xanthus helped Cammy up from the floor. Tariq continued, “Kinetic energy perhaps? Or something else?” “Either way,” Xanthus replied. To Cammy, he said, “You’re not having a good day, are you?”
Sandarklan found a few more of the stone, shook them, and illuminated the whole of the room as if the sun were shining through holes in the room. They discovered that they were in a larger structure than they’d thought. “Now we can really get an idea of what this civilization was like,” Cammy said. “And whether or not they have any connection to the Spires,” Tariq added. “Start on it,” Xanthus said, “Sandarklan, you and I will block that entrance, so the Avkar will have a harder time finding this place.” “Aye, Sir,” Sandarklan replied. “Make all deliberate speed, Cammy, Tariq. I don’t think it’s going to take the Avkar long to get here.” “Right,” Cammy said. Xanthus and Sandarklan returned to the tunnel entrance. Sandarklan looked around a moment, then said, “The rock looks thicker here.” He added, indicating, “If we target the cracks in the face, with our phasers and blow out these panels, we should be able to close the entrance.” “That would destroy them, Sandarklan.” “We are not violating the Prime Directive by doing so, Lieutenant.” “Since when do you care about the Prime Directive?” “I serve on a Starfleet vessel, Lieutenant. I am required to obey its rules.” Sandarklan un-holstered his phaser and took aim. Xanthus didn’t have a valid argument and followed suit. They fired and the resulting collapses effectively sealed them into the tunnel. They returned to the library to find Cammy and Tariq scanning through the books. They each had three books before them, running the tricorder over the pages. Cammy said, “I really wish Commander Space was here. She’d know better how to translate these. She could probably do it without the computer’s help.” Tariq replied, “Let’s finish these books and then link these two tricorders together to build a larger database.” Xanthus volunteered, “Sandarklan and I can keep scanning if you want, Lieutenant.” “Good idea.” The uplink and data dump went quickly, but when Tariq set his tricorders to begin translating the symbols, it began a different kind of problem. The tricorders were able to begin translating, but at a much slower rate than they’d anticipated. An hour after they set the tricorders to build a translation database, they only had a couple of symbols translated. “Damn,” Xanthus said. The four of them stood over Tariq’s tricorder. “This is going to be harder than I thought,” Tariq added. “We need the Eagle Star,” Cammy said, “There’s much more processing power and better eyes for this sort of thing.” “Agreed, Cammy. Tomorrow, we make our way back to the surface and contact the ship.” Xanthus glanced at the chronometer on the tricorders. They’d been at this for hours and were only limping along, with very little progress to show for it. Xanthus wasn’t one to give into a problem easily, but this one seemed way over their heads. Not to mention, the Avkar might be sitting on the surface right now. Why hadn’t they come down after them? The Executor sat in a precarious orbit around the planet. Inside, Diabolus enjoyed the rocking and swaying of his ship in the shear of the storm. His Avkar soldiers found their stomachs roiling with the motion. It didn’t matter to Diabolus. He ordered them to hold the Executor above the point where the Eagle Star team had been working on the planet’s surface and to be on the watch for Space’s meddlesome ship. Reinforcements had been called in, but would have to wait until the ion storm dissipated. After all this, he left Rizak in charge on the bridge, threatening to kill him if something happened without the Commandant being summoned beforehand, and headed to his quarters. Being on the cusp of a major discovery in regards to the Spires, he deserved some enjoyment. Summoning Compassion and Imahrik, it wasn’t long before the three of them were wrapped together. Candles flared throughout the room; Diabolus’ slave women had fit the bed with covers of fine red silk. Compassion was eager. Imahrik could be rough, especially with Compassion, but Diabolus liked the resistance.
“Good,” the woman’s voice urged, “Good. Use your power. They are your servants. Less than you. You want more don’t you?” “Yes…” Diabolus hissed. Compassion and Imahrik were unaware of whom he talked to and that he was even talking at all, “Yes, I want more.” “This is but a stage in releasing our power. A power we will share with you. The power to make all your desires become a reality,” the voice cajoled, “Are you afraid?” “Never!” Diabolus said it with such intent of purpose that one might’ve thought the whole of the Executor hear him. “Good. I will guide you, but do not fail us. You must release us.” Dana Space’s interest had been piqued. After a short briefing to boil up some ideas to rescue the Away Team, she’d noticed that the one person she’d expected to be very vocal had not been at all—Dr. Al-Rashid. As a mother, Dana would’ve had a laundry list of suggestions and incomplete ideas for recuing her kids from the situation they were in. Na’ila had barely said a word in the course of the whole meeting. While Bruce, Kevin, and the other men certainly missed it in their haste—or maleness, Dana was never sure—but she’d noticed it and now had to find out why. She set her sights on Sickbay. Given their predicament, Xanthus suggested that they work on making themselves more comfortable during the night. To this end, he looked about to find something to create a fire, as the library grew colder as the hours passed. He got lucky to have found both a collapsed shelf, but also a collection of scrolls which were blank. Taking some ordinary rocks, he made a fire ring, set the materials to burn efficiently, and used his phaser to light the fire. “The kinetic energy in these stones must recharge somehow,” Tariq said, observing one as it gave off the last bits of light. The rest of the stones they activated when first entering the cave also began to fade as the energy within them dissipated. “You have to admit it,” Cammy said, “This planet is a scientists dream.” “Here, here.” The shadows in the room began to lengthen as the light from the stone died and the small fire they’d produced became the central source of light. Xanthus, looking about, said, “We should get some rest. Getting creepier in here.” “I’m not afraid,” Cammy said, defiantly. Xanthus snorted. She threw him an angry look and instead of engaging in a war of words, she stalked over to part of the room where the shadows began and crawled onto an empty shelf, just large enough to fit her. “I don’t need to sleep on the ground and I’m not afraid,” she repeated. “I will stand guard duty, Lieutenant,” Sandarklan ventured. “Will you be all right, Sandarklan? Lieutenant Al-Rashid and I can take a shift,” Xanthus replied. “I will be all right, Lieutenant. Jem’Hadar do not require the same form of rest that you do. I will maintain a patrol and wake you at 0730 hours.” “Thanks, Sandarklan.” Tariq checked the translation progress on the tricorder: only ten percent progress. He really needed to stop checking the processing meter, he thought. He set the encryption and put the tricorder back into its compartment on his belt. Even though it was uncomfortable, Tariq laid down on his side, on top of the tricorder. For his part, Xanthus took out his phaser, lay down, crooked his opposite arm, and tucked his phaser hand underneath. He closed his eyes, but his ears still worked: Cammy rolling back and forth on her shelf, Tariq’s breathing, the faint crunch of Sandarklan’s boots on the sandy floor of the library, and—very faintly—the eerie silence about them. He wasn’t afraid, but he hated the dark. Dana entered Sickbay to find the room mostly darkened. She suspected to find Na’ila immersed in her evening prayers, in the way the room was darkened. Instead, she found the doctor in her lab, just sitting in the dark. “Na’ila?” Dana asked. “I assume you figured it out, Commander,” Na’ila replied.
“Not completely, but I did figure out that there’s something between you and Lieutenant Al-Rashid. Something unpleasant. Divorce? Previous marriage? Adoption?” Na’ila laughed, lightly, “Something like that, but much worse.” A silence lingered for a long minute and Na’ila said, a sadness in her voice now, “Tariq has suspected for years that…” She trailed off. “Suspected what?” Dana asked. “That I’m not his mother.” Xanthus woke to a warmth against his chest. Felt good. Felt nice. A pleasant smell reached his nose. Something lay before him. He opened his eyes to find Cammy curled up in front of him, slowly coming to consciousness. He sat up with a smile across his face. Tariq had waked before him and sat by the fire with Sandarklan standing above him. “Awww,” Xanthus drawled, as Cammy groggily opened her eyes, “Looky who’s down in the dirt with the dog.” Cammy blinked to bring her eyes into focus and sat up. As they came, and she recognized that it was Xanthus she sat next to, he cooed, “Morning, honey.” With that came a great big tongue slurp across her face. Not losing a second, Cammy reached over and swiftly brought her hand across his face at the same time saying, “Ugh! Dog breath!” Tariq, crouching before the fire ring, stirring up the dying coals couldn’t help but snicker at this scene. A small light shone in Sandarklan’s eyes, indicating his amusement, while his face remained stolid as ever. Cammy left Xanthus rubbing his face and shook a couple of the lightstones. Their glow recommenced immediately. She was walking back to the fire, when a stack of fallen books caught her eye. She strode over, looked, and cried, “Tariq, you better get over here!” The whole of the Away Team dashed to her, she held up a book with charts on its pages. Xanthus said, “They’re star charts!” “We need to record these,” Tariq added. He whipped out his tricorder, opened the encryption lock. He said, “Damn! Only thirty percent! It’s still processing.” “Cammy, use yours. We can’t afford to lose this data.” Cammy pulled out her tricorder and started scanning the pages. Just as she started, a low boom sounded throughout the room. Xanthus and Sandarklan both looked. Sandarklan said, “The Avkar, Lieutenant.” “Cammy! Work fast!” She did and they just managed to get the book scanned and encrypted before the Avkar explosives ripped into the library. Troops started flooding in and the Eagle Star Away Team found themselves engaged in a hand-to-hand fight that none of them had expected. Xanthus’ claws slashed at anything he could get a hold of; memories of the past spurring his combat methods. Sandarklan’s genetic programming in combat fighting allowed him to keep pace with Xanthus, in keeping the Avkar soldiers at bay. Tariq and Cammy, untrained in hand-tohand combat, struggled not to allow the Avkar troopers to overpower them. All in vain. A bulky Avkar got a hold on Cammy and when Tariq tried to assist her struggle to get free, he got caught in a gripping hold as well. Sandarklan and Xanthus, further away and battling bigger Avkar, became unable to assist. Xanthus noticed first and was about to make a mad dash to Cammy, to rip her free from the Avkar’s grip, when a familiar voice shouted, “Enough!” The fighting ground to a halt as Sergeant Rizak slowly strode into the room. The distraction of Rizak’s entrance, allowed the remaining Eagle Star officers to be wrapped up quickly. Rizak continued, “I would not want to deprive Commandant Diabolus of these fine trophies. He would be most displeased.” “How very sad for him,” Xanthus spit. Rizak moved to where Xanthus was held by two bulky Avkar. He looked the Eagle Star’s tactical officer in the eye, then brought his fist sharply across Xanthus’ jaw. Rizak grated, “Bind the Jem’Hadar and this… thing. Disarm all of them.” Diabolus couldn’t help but smile when he saw the battle-worn Eagle Star officers before him, brought from the transporter chamber to the chamber of the League of the New Order.
Space’s emotions would get in his way once more and drive him to rescue his officers. When he did, the Executor would be ready to destroy that meddlesome Federation starship and her painin-the-ass captain, once and for all. He said with a sneer, “This is a pleasant turn of events. Once again, Space sends the little people to his dirty work and it gets them caught by my forces. How terrible…” Both Tariq and Cammy bore bruises on their faces, while Xanthus felt a little flow of blood running into the fur under his lip from where Rizak hit him. Sandarklan, his Jem’Hadar features still bore the tiring wear of the fight, escaped any physical evidence of the fight with Diabolus’ troops. Xanthus said, “We are entitled to certain rights as captured prisoners, Commandant Diabolus, under the Seldonis IV Convention and Barshuan Treaties.” “Both of which were made in the Alpha Quadrant and neither of which the Avkar Solidarity recognizes, Lieutenant. However, as you have something I want, you will be treated humanely,” Diabolus replied, coldly. “If you want the book, you’re not going to get it,” Cammy broke in. “Oh come now, Ensign, I’m certain you’ll see things a little differently after you’ve had a little rest; perhaps some food?” Xanthus grated, “We want nothing you offer us.” “That is indeed a shame, but if that is your feelings on the matter… Guards, take them to the holding cells. And see that they’re secured this time.” As the Eagle Star away team was being taken away, Doctor Kezarak entered the room from a shadowed recess. He said to Diabolus, his voice quiet, “What are you planning to do with the prisoners?” “After Space is dead and all the Spires are in my possession once more, I will kill them as they will serve no further purpose to me.” “Do not kill the mutate or the Jem’Hadar. I want them. The mutate more than the Jem’Hadar.” “Why, Doctor?” “Research,” Kezarak replied simply. Diabolus cast Kezarak a suspicious look. The doctor had never made a request of him. Despite the phrasing of the sentence, it was a request nonetheless. It was the first time Kezarak had shown any form of respect. He became so impressed that he stuttered, “Oh, of course, Doctor.” Kezarak bowed and withdrew from the room by the same recess he’d entered. “What happens now?” Tariq asked as the holding cell’s force-field zapped to life. “We wait and we don’t give them any indication we know what’s in the library,” Xanthus replied. “That won’t be too difficult,” Cammy said, “We don’t.” Sandarklan examined the wall near the force field. He added, “The have changed the control methods, Lieutenant. We will not be able to escape in the same manner as we did before.” “That’s to be expected. Sandarklan, as you know this ship better than we do, would you start examining the room for a means of escape?” “Aye, Sir.” He started moving about the cell, looking for security cracks which they might take advantage of. Diabolus had posted guards, but outside of earshot. Almost as if they might be afraid of something, Sandarklan noticed. “We can’t let the situation get the better of us,” Xanthus said, “What we need to do is concentrate on escaping. Commandant Diabolus intends to destroy Captain Space; we have to stop him. What ever was in that library that we recorded may help us. We have to get it back.” Bruce sat at the head of the conference table, drumming his fingers on the tabletop, as he listened to Na’ila’s story. After the revelation in Sickbay, she felt Bruce was owed an explanation, however complicated it may be. Dana sat next to her husband, while Na’ila opted to sit at the opposite end. “I come from what you would call a parallel universe. I am… an intelligence officer… of sorts.” Bruce was about to say something, when Na’ila cut him off, “I don’t work in major secrets
or critical information, Captain. More, I try to learn new methods of working to improve conditions where I come from.” “Why our universe? And why a doctor? Are you really a doctor?” “I am, though I hadn’t practiced for some time before I took the assignment here. I do share the interest in natural medicine that Dr. Al-Rashid from this universe enjoyed. As for your universe, it’s because your system of equity and fairness has a certain appeal.” “That’s all? What about Lieutenant Al-Rashid?” “Tariq was never on good terms with his mother. I thought it best to continue that when I took her place. I suppose I should’ve shown more concern, but my assignment is coming to a close. The recent incidents with the Avkar and what has happened with the Away Team has become the clincher.” “So… We should just let you go on you merry way? Even if for good, I don’t care for spies,” Bruce replied, making a steeple of his fingers. “I will do what I can to assist, Captain. I can do that much for Tariq. However, I have to tell you that my superior will be coming to fetch me. He might be willing to offer us some assistance, but I don’t know when they’re coming. I would not count on it.” “I’ll take this under consideration. In the meantime, Doctor, you’re confined to quarters.” “Aye, Sir.” Na’ila rose and left the room. Bruce asked Dana, “What do you think?” “I think she didn’t tell us the whole truth, but enough that we can trust that she will help us.”
Captain’s Log – Stardate 60631.8 The Eagle Star is holding position outside the system waiting for the ion storm to pass in order to return to return to the planet and rescue the away team left on the surface. We’re likely to face an Avkar attack. I have ordered Lieutenant Commander Space to send out a hail to request assistance from Deep Space Fifteen. I am not expecting a timely response. “Anything?” Bruce asked. “Nothing yet, Captain,” Dana said, working her console and listening to anything that might be coming back in her earpiece. “Try for any Allied ship, Dana, not just Starfleet,” Kevin said. “Aye, Sir.” Bruce and Kevin took their chairs and Kevin asked, “You think we should just go back there, despite the ion storm?” “It’s a class-four storm. Even if it’s dissipated by now, the residuals are going to scramble our sensors like crazy and trying to use the transporter would be a nightmare,” Bruce replied, “We’re not going to be able to do this on our own.” “What happens if DS-15 can’t get anyone to us in time?” Bruce didn’t want to think about it. Right now, he had four officers trapped on a planet and fate was increasingly against them. Ensign Masters said, rather suddenly, “Captain! There’s a Klingon battle cruiser and a Romulan warbird headed this way.” “One of each, Ensign?” “Yes, Sir. A Vor’cha-Class attack cruiser and a Valdore-Class warbird.” “Dana, hail the lead ship.” “They’re already hailing us, Captain.” “On screen.” And for the second time in two years of Gamma Quadrant exploration, Bruce’s breath was taken away by the sight on the viewscreen.
To Be Continued…
Star Trek: Eagle Star Episode #205 “Ancient of Days” Written By Michael A. Slagenweit-Coffman Based on “Star Trek” Created By Gene Roddenberry Star Trek®, Star Trek: The Next Generation®, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine®, Star Trek: Voyager®, Star Trek: Enterprise®, and all associated marks are registered trademarks of CBS Studios Incorporated. All rights reserved. No infringement is intended. No profit whatsoever is coming from the use of "Star Trek" by this fan fiction. No part of this fan fiction may be reproduced or otherwise copied without express written permission of the author.