Two Klingon Birds of Prey exited from warp speed as they approached their destination. A planet in the outer realms of space to which none of the crew liked traveling. It was nothing but a waste land where only the corrupt or those looking to hide lived. One individual that lived on this planet, had put his trust in the wrong person and now he was their main target.
“I hate this miserable planet,” said the one sitting in the captain chair on the bridge of the lead Bird of Prey. “We accomplish our mission and then leave before anyone notices. The smell of this place makes me ill.”
“I hear they have wonderful Romulan ale,” said another sitting in the comms chair. He continued sharpening his D’k tahg, while watching the planet grow on the main monitor as they approached. “And the jumbo mollusks are tasty as well.”
“Why is it that you always think of your stomach first, when we are on any mission?” asked the woman sitting in the pilot chair. She pushed a few buttons and the Bird of Prey changed course to match her coordinates. The following Bird of Prey matched course. “We cannot let anything distract us from our mission.”
“Our target is an Ex-Starfleet officer,” replied the one sharpening his Klingon war blade. “No Federation vessels coming to his rescue. He does not even have a ship. We level his place. Make sure there is no evidence and be certain that he is dead. Those are our orders. Hopefully we don’t have to even leave the ship.”
“So why are they sending two Birds of Prey?” asked the male sitting in the captain’s chair. “If this was supposed to be so easy, we could have sent the Ferengis to finish him off.”
“They wanted it done right,” replied another as he read from a PADD sitting in the copilot chair. He lowered the device and looked at the male sitting in the captain chair. “Reading his history, he is full of surprises. Has a lot of high friends in Starfleet. So, we vaporize him and everything around him and get out of here. Hopefully everyone will buy that it was a Klingon attack.”
“No rummaging or stealing anything this time,” said the woman sitting in the pilot chair. “That takes the fun out of it. Just let me fire the guns on this warbird. I loved how the Klingons built these weapons.”
“They just said make sure he is dead,” replied the copilot. “Whatever guns you have to fire to make that happen, I don’t care.”
The Birds of Prey went to cloak as they approached their target. They wanted no interference from local governments. They only had to be seen once the attack happened so that they would say it was a Klingon assault. The main target was a building out in the desert near large lakes that were once sparkling blue but were now dingy and grey. No want to keep this planet clean. Too expensive. The other buildings that surrounded the main target were of no worries. No one important to warn or avoid. A few causalities were always acceptable part of their mission if the main target is eliminated. Too many and you get too many questions.
“Why would they want an Ex-Starfleet officer dead that is living in this hellhole?” asked the male sharpening his D’k tahg. “Living here in this place looks like it is a worse punishment than death.”
“We never ask questions, we only do what we are told,” replied the female in the pilot chair. “Five minutes to destination, Colonel.”
“Load the torpedoes,” said the male, or Colonel, sitting in the copilot chair in an unsympathetic tone. “Let’s make this a quick strike.”
“You want to make it look personal, so it is more believable,” said the male sitting in the captain’s chair. “Better to let ‘Hellriser’ shoot up the place with the guns.”
The female, or Hellriser, a self-chosen nickname, turned to the Colonel with a smile. “I would certainly enjoy it. Has been a while since I have shot an automatic disruptor cannon. These new ones do a lot more damage.” She then gave a shrug. “Will end with a couple of torpedoes to make sure we got him, to make you happy.”
The Colonel continued to look through the PADD as if he had lost interest. “I told you that I did not care. Have your fun and use the disruptor cannons.”
Hellriser turned in her chair with a large smile and began powering up the guns. She checked the scanners. “Two minutes to target.”
The two Klingon Warbirds arrived at their destination and went into hover mode. “Take us out of cloak,” said the Colonel as he finally put down the PADD and seemed to take interest in the mission. The Warbirds became visible to everyone around. A panic began to move across the area. “Hellriser,” he said with a little more than a shrug, “Raise hell.”
The pilot now became the gunner as she grabbed two controls and began aiming the disruptor cannon located underneath the Warbird. With a large smile and showing a face of absolute pleasure, she pulled back on the trigger and a green flash ignited from the cannon. The green flash became constant as many energy spheres began to hit the target. Explosions began to appear throughout the building. Glass, concrete, wood and metal began to fly. Fire was igniting everywhere as the green spheres left a trail of destruction. The other Warbird got in on the fun. Now two disruptor cannons were pulverizing every last structure standing and the other buildings that were attached. Cries and screams could be heard as many civilians ran for their lives. After three to four minutes of constant barrage of energy blasts, the Colonel held up his fist and instantly the firing stopped.
“Torpedoes,” said the Colonel nonchalantly. Two green glows came firing from each of the Warbirds. A huge explosion was seen, and more debris flew for miles. “Life signs,” said the Colonel.
“No reading,” said the one that was sharpening his blade.
The Colonel turned in his chair. “What!? How is that possible? We scanned the building before we attacked. We know he is in there.”
“I am not getting a reading anywhere in that building,” the male replied. “Maybe we did too good of a job. He has to be dead.”
“Impossible,” replied the Colonel. “Our scanners would have picked up anything left of him.”
“I am seeing something unusual on the scanners”, said the male in the captain chair. “An energy signature that might be a transporter signature.”
“What!” screamed the Colonel. “Who was responsible for reconnaissance!?” He looked around the bridge. “We were told that he had no ship or anyway to beam out of that place!” He rubbed what hair was left on his bald head. The crew knew he was frustrated. “Can you get a reading on where he transported to?”
“Nothing outgoing, it appears.”
The Colonel swore. “He has a blasted safe room!” The Colonel stood quickly and shook his head. “Whoever did reconnaissance did a piss-poor job, I can tell you that much!” The Colonel pointed at the pilot. “Land us. Tell our back up to continue hovering.”
“Oh Colonel!” yelled the male that liked the Romulan ale. “He has to be dead. No safe room would have survived that attack. I hate going in on foot.”
“We have to be sure,” replied the Colonel or this attack will be a small part of what we will get.
“I will go,” said Hellriser. “I don’t mind doing a little killing by hand.”
“I will go,” replied the Colonel while he began to suit up. “I want to make sure we do this one right.” Hellriser gave him a smirk. Upon seeing this, the Colonel said, “You can be my backup.”
Hellriser gave a smile while she landed the Warbird and lowered down the main doors. The Colonel and Hellriser walked down the platform and headed toward the now leveled building. Fire and debris were everywhere. “Keep an eye for any interference from local governments,” commanded the Colonel into his comm. “Doubt you will get much trouble if they see two Birds of Prey.”
“We will, Colonel,” came the reply from his comm. “Bring me back a souvenir.”
The Colonel shook his head and then put on his gas mask as Hellriser did the same. They both removed the safety off their large laser rifles and began to scan the area. The sound of broken glass, metal and other debris was heard underneath their military-like boots. Debris fell from an attached building and they both stopped and crouched down waiting to see if they were in danger. Once they knew it was all clear, they continued to move forward.
The Colonel removed a scanner from his belt and began pushing buttons. “I am getting faint readings of a lifeform,” explained the Colonel, “underneath all this debris.” He shook his head in frustration again. “If we knew he had a saferoom, we would have planned this much better.” He began to walk carefully towards the middle of the once existing building with Hellriser right behind him. “The readings are better here. Let’s use the explosives.” They both began to remove devices from their belts and began to place them on the ground below them. Suddenly the ground began to shake. Debris began to vibrate.
“Colonel!” came a worried voice from his comm. “We are getting a warp core signature!”
“A ship!” yelled the Colonel. “I am going to gut whoever did reconnaissance!”
They both began running back towards the Klingon Warbird. About halfway back they fell to the ground, as an unusual ship crashed through the floor of the leveled building sending shockwaves in every direction. Both the Colonel and Hellriser stared up at the ship lying on their backs. Both showing looks of confusion as they had never seen a ship like what they saw now. Phaser fire erupted from the ship towards the landed Warbird. After three or four hits, explosions ignited within the vessel. Without shields, the Warbird was a sitting duck. Thinking this was an easy mission, they never thought to raise shields.
At seeing the explosion, the Colonel yelled out a few expletives in his native language and raised his laser rifle towards the ship. Hellriser did the same. After they both fired three or four shots, the ship sent phaser fire in their direction sending their body parts in different directions.
“Nice shot Harry!” said Asani from his captain chair. Harry smiled as he sat at weapons.
“Asani!” yelled Thomas from the comms chair. “The other Warbird is approaching.”
Asani grabbed the controls on his captain chair and began to back his ship away.
“This is a horrible idea for the maiden voyage of this vessel!” yelled Harry.
“This was not my idea, Harry!” yelled a nervous Asani as the ship slammed against damaged buildings. “The controls are not responding well to any movement I make!”
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“Probably because we were planning to aligned them when we took the ship on our first test flight!” yelled Thomas. “We were lucky the phasers are working!”
The Klingon vessel fired the disruptor cannon sending more energy spheres in their direction. They were able to dodge some of the blasts, but others slammed the side of the ship. The vessel shook hard, and alerts started popping up everywhere.
“Damage to the starboard engines! Shields at twenty percent! We cannot take another direct hit!” yelled Thomas. “We have radiation leaking into the engine room and other parts of the ship!”
Asani pushed the throttle forward and then cranked hard left. The ship swung left hard, hitting more buildings. He pushed both throttles forward and the thrusters ignited sending their vessel forward. He gave the ship lift, but only the back underneath thruster ignited sending the ship flying forward perpendicular to the ground.
“Asani!” yelled Harry. “I do not think this is proper protocol for evasive maneuvers!”
“Shut up Harry!” screamed Asani as they came inches from another building. He cranked hard right, and the ship spun in that direction as the trailing Warbird fired a torpedo that missed them by inches. It impacted an abandoned building in front of them send more debris everywhere. Asani then pushed the throttle down as the Warbird fired their disruptor cannons again. It skimmed the top of their ship, shaking their vessel again.
Their vessel was two hundred feet from nose-diving into the ground when Asani pulled up. The ship’s nose scraped the ground and then the vessel went smashing through abandoned buildings. They down sat hovering a few hundred feet above the ground but now they were level. They both saw the Warbird approaching and would be in perfect firing position in less than ten seconds. Asani pushed a couple of controls, and the warp core began to hum.
“You cannot be serious!” yelled Harry. “You are going to try your ‘pulse effect’ trick now! You will blow us all up!”
“Do you have a better idea!” yelled Asani. Sweat was pouring down his forehead knowing this was very risky from the test runs that he has seen. He saw the Klingon Bird of Prey readying to fire. He slammed his fist against the control and cranked the throttles hard left.
The Klingon crew watched as their torpedo slammed against the building in front of them with a mighty explosion, but no sign of the target ship. Suddenly the vessel they were chasing appeared on their starboard side of their Bird of Prey. They then saw a giant blue flash and an energy sphere came roaring at them. The impact was intense as an explosion sent the entire crew on the bridge flying. Explosions in the engine room were seen and heard. The Warbird began descending toward the ground. With a mighty explosion, the Warbird impacted the ground and debris was flying everywhere.
The crew on the other ship were not watching the sight. They were running to Asani’s side as he laid on the floor. His face pale. “Thomas!” yelled Harry. “The bridge his flooded with radiation! We have to get him off this ship or he is dead!”
Thomas jumped into the captain chair and began to land the vessel. Only the back landing gear responded, and they hit the ground with the nose of the ship scrapping across the ground. He hit the control for the doors to the bridge and the stairs extended down hitting the ground, bringing in fresh air.
“Help me lift him!” yelled Harry. Both Thomas and Harry carried Asani towards the exit and then they flung him outside the ship. As both their arms extended pass the exit of the ship, their arms phased out showing the boundaries of their hologram form.
Asani hit the ground harder than they wanted, making both their holographic faces cringe. They both began calling him name, unable to leave the ship.
Fresh air began to fill Asani’s lungs and he began to cough hard and vomit wretched from his mouth. He turned to his side and began to cough harder. At seeing this Harry ran and grabbed a Hypospray from the first aid kit on the bridge. He loaded it and then ran back towards the exit. “Catch Asani!” he yelled as he threw it in Asani’s direction.
Asani being too weak to grab it saw the medical device hit him square in the forehead. He gave the hologram a smirk, as Harry lifted his arms wondering what he expected him to do. Asani reached for the hypospray with his body trembling. He grabbed it and placed it up against his neck and pulled the trigger. He felt the medicine rushing into his body with a mighty burn. He laid on his back and watched the world fade in and out around him. His body continued to tremble. Then it stopped and he felt his body responding positive to the medicine.
“Asani!” yelled Thomas. “Here is a tricorder to check your vitals!” He tossed it towards Asani who was able to catch this medical device. He scanned himself and the readings showed he was recovering.
“The radiation is down to minuscule levels,” Asani was able to say in a raspy voice. “I am gaining strength.” He was able to sit up where he felt his lungs breathing in more fresh air. He then looked towards the direction of his home for the last many years and saw nothing but rubble. He forced himself to stand and began walking in that direction. His face showed huge sadness.
“Where are you going!?” yelled Harry.
“Harry!” Thomas yelled to Harry. The hologram turned and saw Thomas at one of the scanners. “We have more incoming vessels. They just went to cloak.”
“How long?” asked Harry.
“Ten minutes tops,” replied Thomas. “The bridge is still flooded with radiation but were venting it quickly and I deployed the containment unit around the warp core.”
“So, we cannot go to warp,” explained Harry, “and we cannot possibly fight anymore with the ship in its current condition.” Thomas nodded. “What do we?” Thomas could only shrug.
Asani was limping towards his destroyed home when his ship came flying over about fifty feet above him. “Asani!” yelled Harry from the ship. The exit and stairs still extended. “There are more ships incoming! Less than ten minutes away!”
Asani looked up to Harry and said, “Take me over to my home.”
“Asani!” yelled Harry.
“Now, Harry!”
Harry told Thomas to lower the ship gently until the stairs were in reaching distance of Asani. He then grabbed onto the stairs and lifted himself up. He stood standing on the stairs as the ship hovered over to his now destroyed home. When they were close enough to the ground, Asani jumped from the stairs and tumbled when he landed. He picked himself off the ground and started looking around the debris.
“Asani!” yelled Thomas. The incoming ships are nearly here.
“Throw me a phaser and my experimental device I have been working on,” said Asani as he continued looking around the debris. He had found some items and was putting whatever he could fit in his pockets. He found a bag and was stuffing items in there.
“Asani, you cannot be serious!” yelled Harry. “We do not know if it works.”
“Quickly, Harry!” yelled Asani. “We have no time to argue!”
Thomas threw him out a phaser and Harry tossed him a circular device. Asani holstered the phaser and slapped the circular device to his back and pushed the button. The device began to hum. “Take the ship over to the wreckage of the last Warbird and shut down all systems, except transporters. Let’s do plan E,” said Asani with a nod.
“I hate plan E!” yelled Harry.
“I know you do, Harry. But you have to trust me.”
Harry and Thomas hovered the ship back to the Warbird wreckage as ordered and landed the ship on two of the working landing gear and shut down systems. They kept a transporter lock on Asani and then waited for his signal. “I hate plan E,” said Harry again.
Asani continued looking through the debris. He found some personal items that made him stop and ponder. Suddenly, a Warbird appeared, and spotlight shined on him from above. The disruptor cannon pointed in his direction. He positioned the bag’s strap he was carrying and fasten it around his shoulder. He then began to walk towards the hovering Warbird. The spotlight followed him. When he had walked about twenty feet, he raised both his hands above him and gestured for the Warbird to fire. “You want a piece of me!” Asani yelled. “Bring it on you petaQ! You Ql’yaH!”
Asani then saw the Warbird do what he hoped it would do. It began landing procedures. After the ship landed, the exit door opened, and the platform lowered and out walked a species that Asani has never seen before. This individual was roughly six feet tall and had a face where the skin appeared burnt and wrinkled. He had wires extending from the back of his head and into his spine. His whole upper body was equipped with heavy armor along with his legs as well. The creature was holding a long rifle that appeared to be something similar to a disruptor rifle and also had blades holstered on its back. Asani could tell this was all for show. The Warbird could have ended him easily, but this individual wanted him to know who it was before it fired the last shot. Believe it or not, this was plan E.
“You are not Klingon!” yelled Asani.
“You are very observant, Lieutenant Nasos,” said the creature. The voice sounded deep, penetrating and slightly robotic. It was definitely a male. “Where is your ship?”
“Destroyed! Over there in that pile of wreckage!” replied Asani as he pointed towards the fire that was still burning. “Was able to take down two of your Warbirds along with it,” said Asani with a nasty sneer. “The leftover body parts of two of your crew are found nearly where you are standing.”
The creature looked around and spotted parts that he recognized as the Colonel and Hellriser. He gave an impressed face as he knew these two at accomplished many missions successfully and were very good at their job. “You are a gifted warrior, Lieutenant Nasos. For that reason, I am allowing you to see the face that ends your life.”
“You know my name, how about you give me yours?” asked Asani, but more as a command.
“You will not need it where you are going,” said the creature as he armed his rifle. Asani lifted his phaser and pointed it at the creature. The creature only smiled as he pointed the disruptor rifle at Asani. “You know very well that your phaser will not penetrate my armor.” He pulled back the firing bolt and the rifle began to hum. “If it gives you any sympathies, I believe we are awarded in the afterlife for our strength we show in this life.” Asani gave a confused stare. He was not expecting a spiritual observation. “You, I believe, Asani, will be well awarded.”
“I do not need your sympathies,” whispered Asani nervously as he knew the moment was coming. “All I want is the name of my killer so they can listen to it when they play back the recorded file I am sending to anyone listening.”
“Fine, Lieutenant Nasos,” said the creature with the same dark voice. “I will give you a name. Threok.” Asani’s face showed surprised which told the creature he knew this name. The rifle fired and the blast hit Asani square in the chest. He flew back two feet in the air and then hit the ground and slid for another ten feet. He did not move and showed no signs of life. The creature lowered his weapon and asked into his comm, “Life signs?”
“He is dead,” came back a voice on the comm.
“Too bad,” said the creature as he turned and walked towards the ship. “He would have been a great help to our cause. But we have our orders.” He walked up the platform of the ship and the door and platform closed up behind him. The Warbird then lifted off and made its way towards space.
A blue glow surrounded Asani as he now appeared on the only sickbed on his ship. Harry quickly gave him the hypospray which brought Asani out of his comatose state. He began coughing and then breathing heavily.
“What would have happened if he had vaporized you with the disruptor rifle on the Warbird or shot you in the head instead of the chest?
“Harry,” said Asani as he reached back and pulled the circular device off his back. “The device worked as planned. Well almost as planned,” continued Asani as he checked the giant bruise on his chest. “The shielding may have to be improved, but then they may detect it so probably for the—”
“Asani!” yelled Harry. “What if he would have shot you in the head!”
“Then I guess I would be dead,” said Asani in a nonchalant tone.
“That is your answer, Asani!” yelled Harry. “You would be dead! You are reckless, Asani!” Harry walked out of Sickbay while he continued to yell. “Reckless!”
Asani lied back down on the bed and then turned an eyed Thomas standing at the foot of the bed. He gave Thomas a smile. “You guys saved my life twice today. That is a new record.”
“This was the closest you ever came to dying, Asani,” whispered Thomas. “You have to stop being so reckless.”
“Thomas,” said Asani in an irritated tone. “What do you expect me to do when they come and blow up my home.”
“Only because you built a bomb for Starfleet!” yelled Thomas. “You always put yourself in these never winning situations. Now everyone wants to kill you!”
“They think they already have, so now we have the advantage.”
“It seems like it is always a game for you, Asani,” said Thomas shaking his head. “That is why Harry is so upset.”
Asani sat up and began rubbing his chest. “Don’t worry Thomas. I will apologize to Harry. He is just very sentimental.”
“Is that what you call caring for someone,” said Thomas with a stern look.
Asani could only shrug. “Ok, I promise. I will be less reckless.” Thomas could only give him a sad face. “Who wants a hug.” Thomas gave a small smile as he approached Asani. After a short embrace, Asani put his hands on Thomas’s shoulders. “I want you to know that for the first time in a long time, I am happy to be alive.”
Thomas’s face beamed. He knew the sadness that Asani had been through with all the struggles and pain. “If I had tear ducts, Asani, you would see tears flowing down my cheeks.”
Asani hugged Thomas again. After another short embrace, Asani said, “We better go find Harry. I know he needs a hug too.”
Thomas gave a nod and exited Sickbay. Asani stood up and felt a little lightheaded. He leaned against the bed and stared around the room for a moment. He had a working ship, somewhat working. He now had his freedom and now he had a purpose. “It is good to be alive.”