From: neale@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Neale Davidson)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: STTRR 15/20
Date: 14 Aug 92 04:07:08 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center


 
  - STAR TREK        -------------------------------------------------
  - THE RAVEN'S ROAR -------------------------------------------------
 
  Part Fifteen of Twenty
 
  Sorry about the delay... I've been off on another project...
 
  --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
  CHAPTER FIFTEEN
 
        ~She's taken serious burn damage,~ the ship's doctor
  explained to Sunak as he brooded in his scorched quarters. ~Her
  lungs have been punctured, and with the sick bay severely
  damaged and understaffed, I'm not sure what we can do.~
        ~Understand, Doctor,~ Sunak's grim voice bellowed, ~that
  your life-span is directly linked to hers.~ The doctor didn't
  reply, scared for his life, and quietly left his Commander
  alone with his love.
        ~There's no need to threaten him,~ Rela managed through
  her wounds. ~It isn't his fault that I got torn up,~ she
  wornfully smiled.
        Sunak considered the honesty of the statement, but wasn't
  relieved. ~It's important to me that he devotes his attention
  to you,~ he quiety answered as he sat on the side of his bed.
  ~I can't stand the thought of anything happening to you.~
        ~Like getting my console in my face?~ she asked
  sardoncially. ~It's part of the job.~
        Sunak grimaced. ~Rela, please,~ he whispered, taking her 
  hand into his. ~It pains me to see you in this much pain,~ he 
  began slowly, pacing her words. ~I love you, Rela. In the past 
  few days I've learned that nothing but you matters to me, not 
  the RAVEN, not the Empire, not even my crew.~
        Rela looked up in disbelief. ~Commander?~ she queried 
  with a smile.
        ~Sunak,~ he whispered, gently bending down to kiss her 
  cheek. ~You're no longer under my command,~ he added. ~I was 
  thinking of having you as my wife.~
        Rela's smile widened. ~Of course,~ she quickly agreed. 
        ~Now, however,~ he began, ~I have one final mission to 
  perform.~ He stood, looking through the viewport to that sector 
  of space which housed his enemy.
        ~The ENTERPRISE?~ she asked. ~After all of this? We're 
  going back.~
        ~After all this,~ Sunak smiled. ~That's precisely why we 
  are going back. There is no home for us on Romulus,~ he 
  finished, standing to leave. ~Our future, and our fate, lie 
  with the ENTERPRISE.~
 
        Sunak took the command chair of the auxillary bridge. The
  secondary bridge had been neccessary, as it had been impossible
  to salvage after the ENTERPRISE attack.
        The aux-bridge was smaller than the main one, but no less
  functional. ~Sensory readings,~ he commanded to one of the
  replacement officers.
        ~ENTERPRISE is sitting in wait outside of the Neutral
  Zone,~ the young officer replied. ~The Federation carrier which
  had been escorting her has rejoined the main fleet.~
        ~And ENTERPRISE is exposed,~ Sunak replied with a bit of
  excitement. ~Are there any other vessels in close support?~
        ~There are none,~ the officer replied eagerly. ~The main
  fleet is now seven hours travel away. We will have three hours
  conflict time if we engage.~
        Sunak looked at the image of the ENTERPRISE with a sense
  of fate. ~Well then, what is our status?~ he asked quietly,
  knowing how much rode on that information.
        ~Our main torpedo is running at fifty percent
  capability,~ came the reply. ~Port side phasers are
  inoperative, but remaining phasers are fully functional.
  Shields are at twenty percent.~
        ~Better than I had expected,~ Sunak admitted. ~Very well,
  set course for the ENTERPRISE, maximum available speed.~
        The FIERY RAVEN once again, tattered and scarred as badly 
  as she was, took to the stars, leaping into battle once more, 
  one last time.