Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: more vigilante
From: jsv@math.canterbury.ac.nz (Julian Visch)
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 22:28:47 GMT
Organization: Department of Mathematics, University of Canterbury

In answer to some mail I recieved, there are two stories being written at the moment one is Vigilante and the other is Delphi and there is a crossover between the two. As the two authors finish the chapters they are on they post them to the network as well as the previous chapters the author of Vigilante planned to have had another chapter finished by the 5th of January but has not as yet posted it.
here is the begining for those who don't have it

                  T H E   V I G I L A N T E
                             I
                       "The Drawing"

Have ever you heard of the Land of Beyond,
    That dreams at the gates of the day?
Alluring it lies at the skirts of the skies,
    and ever so far away;
Alluring it calls: O ye the yoke galls,
    and ye of the trail overfond,
With saddle and pack, by paddle and track,
    Let's go to the land of beyond!
                                   ....
                        Robert Service
                        "THE LAND OF BEYOND"

    The Tau-Epsilon star system was remote even by Star Fleet
standards, of course this was one of the reasons it was
chosen.  It was also a very crowded system with twelve
planets and 6 different asteroid belts.  The five innermost
planets were 'rocks' with the rest being gas giants.  The
system also had a very uneven planetary plane making the
inner planets a little bit more difficult to approach.
    The fourth planet from the yellow Tau-Epsilon sun had a
barley breathable atmosphere.  In years past there had been a
small mining operation on the planet but it had been
abandoned for a more profitable system.  The habitats left
behind, however, had made a great base camp for the project
now nearing completion.
    Star Fleet didn't normally make a habit of constructing a
star ship in such a remote location.  This ship however was
extremely unique not only in its design but also in its
mission.
    The flat black of the space dock girders hung in a close
orbit around TE-4.  Inside the frame work was a truly
different star ship.  The large saucer section and warp
engines made it unmistakably Star Fleet.  The saucer section
was obviously old, even the lowest cadet at the academy would
know that it shouldn't be tied to the new style warp engines
especially four of them.  There were also a number other
things that a trained eye would pick out wrong with this
ship.  Some were that they shouldn't be on a saucer section
that old and others that simply were not Star Fleet standard.
    Along the girders were a number of obviously
prefabricated buildings.  All habitats for the workers and
equipment were contained in the buildings set up along the
girders.  These accommodations would normally be provided for
either planet side or in a nearby space station, however that
was quite impractical here.  Once the space dock was
completed the workers were grateful to be away from the old
mining habitats.  The VE-4 space dock had become a self
contained world with but one purpose, build the ship.
    Most of the construction and workers were no longer
visible as they had moved inside the ship to make it space
worthy.  A few white suited workers could be seen along the
girders and in and around the ship tying up loose ends.
Standing alone barely noticeable against the black of the
girders and the continuous night about them stood a lone
black pressure suit.  As construction neared completion the
man came and stood here more often staring at the ship.
    Captain Anthony watched his ship near completion, and
thought of the mission ahead, it was suicide by it's very
nature.  This however hadn't deterred him from accepting
command.  It also didn't have an effect on volunteers to crew
the ship even though no one knew the ship, its name its
design or its mission.  All that was known was that it was
extremely hazardous duty with only single, unattached and
experienced personnel considered for duty.

    Anthony glanced down at the displays in his helmet, the
Enterprise should be arriving soon he thought, it had entered
the system just before he had stepped out.  The security for
the sector and the system was extremely tight.  The
Enterprise would approach so as always to have TE-4 between
it and the Space Dock.  The fewer people who saw the ship or
even knew about it the better, the consequences of
information falling into the wrong hands Picard and the
officers of the Enterprise knew all too well.
    This is why Enterprise was the only ship that visited
TE-4.  It is also why there were no records being kept of the
visits and the sensors were never used to check the
construction site.  Simple beacons and indirect
communications were the only proof the Enterprise had that
anything was here at all.  The only reason Picard went along
with this was that he knew the basic, ultimate mission of
what ever was happening here, that was enough.

    "Sir, approaching minimum distance to beacon signal." A
young navigator said as the Enterprise entered orbit about
the barren TE-4.
    "Thank you, Ensign" said Captain Picard.  He then turned
to his first officer and said "Number one, inform our guests
to gather their belongings and report to their designated
transporter....."
    The navigator pushed a strand of her red hair off her
forehead and stared at the planet on the view screen.  In the
background she could hear the conversation of the bridge
crew, however unless she picked up something pertaining to
her or her job she just filtered the noise out.
    Ensign O'Malley was a dreamer and self proclaimed
romantic.  She was born in the feral colony on Vega-5 and
adopted when she was twelve by Doctor Peter O'Malley.  The
ships physician of the first star ship to visit V-5 in over
200 years.  Many of the warlords of V-5 rejected Star Fleet
claiming the colony was settled before the current Federation
charter was signed therefore they were protected by the Prime
Directive.  After months of negotiations Star Fleet finally
pulled out but not before little Janice had been adopted.
    She had been on board the Enterprise for quite some time
but rarely worked with top bridge crew.  Her normal shift was
usually second or third by the ships schedule.  The only
times she worked with them was in special situations when the
captain's presence was required during her shift or an
emergency arrived.  The only problem was that during
emergencies she was usually relieved for the more experienced
first shift navigator.  This was one of those rare occasions
when something important enough was happening during her
shift to bring the Captain out of his hole but not important
enough for them to bring the whole first shift crew to the
bridge.
    Janice O'Malley always dreamed of what lay just out of
sight.  She had that desire to open a closed door, turn just
one more corner, to look to the other side of the horizon.
This caused great conflict in her during these missions for
she greatly wished to conjecture to her shipmates her ideas
as to what was on the other side of this horizon.  However
for security reasons all talk on the subject was prohibited.
    During the first trip to the system Ensign O'Malley had
noticed that the automatic navigation log had been disengaged
prior to her shift.  When she brought this up with the
officer of the shift he reminded her of the no record order
by Star Fleet and all automatic logs had been deactivated.
It was highly stressed that no one should talk about or enter
personal logs that revealed any details of the mission.

    Standing along the corridors of one of the lower decks
was a long line of assorted Star Fleet personnel with bags
packed and mostly looks of irritation.  They had been
relegated to one small (comparatively) area of the ship than
basically quarantined.  The regular personnel had no contact
with them and they were not permitted in other parts of the
ship without an escort.  Even though the need for extreme
security was carefully laid out to them there was still
enough complaining from a few to make the whole lot start
feeling discontentment.
    "I can't believe it, they keep us holed up in one area of
this enormous ship for the whole trip than they don't even
have the decency to use all of their transporters to get us
out of here quickly.  Its like first they don't want us here
than they don't want us to leave." The man sounding off was
one of the usual complainers.  He was a large, bearded human
who was apparently some sort of expert in weaponry but no one
was quite sure since he boasted proficiency in just about
everything.
    "Mr Dolittel why don't you bless us with your silence
for once.  We're finally getting somewhere and we still must
listen to you babble on."  The speaker was about ten places
down the hall from Dolittel.  She was a dark skinned humanoid
who could look Dolittel square in the chest.   She was slim
and well proportioned compared to a human female and wore the
yellow uniform and insignia of security.  She was not tall by
any means but was well muscled.  She had a high forehead
reminiscent of a Klingon but wasn't one.  Her long black hair
was pulled into a braid and hung down the middle of her back.
    "Commander Tarva, Sir, I didn't see you there." Dolittel
mumbled and turned back toward the transporter room.
Dolittel's griping had come to a halt, at least for a while.
    Tarva stood patiently with her satchel at her feet.  Her
stance was a classic military at-ease posture.  Though a Star
Fleet Academy alumni her up bringing and background on her
home-world was very strict military.  It was this strict
military background that helped her quickly move up through
the pseudo-military Star Fleet.
    She could hear the constant hum of the transporters in
the room ahead as the line slowly moved forward.  Suspicious
by nature and profession she could not help but feel they
were lined up like 'algots going to the slaughter'.

    As the Enterprise's transporter room dissolved around
her, a new one took its place.  The room was extremely large
maybe ten times the size of Enterprise's if not larger.  Her
background immediately showed it self again as she figured
one could transport nearly a whole Kalonian battalion at one
time from here.
    "I told you, they could have transported us here in a
quarter of the time if they wanted to" of course Dolittel
would be the first thing she'd hear upon arrival.
    Standing in front of the control panel for this section
of the transporter was tall slightly balding human with long
black gray hair pulled back in a pony tail.  The man was
wearing a loose fitting black uniform with no visible sign of
rank but some standard Star Fleet insignia.  The uniform had
several large pockets on the jacket and more on the pants,
even on the lower parts of the legs.
    The shoes seemed out of place with the obvious utility of
the uniform, they were soft low cut with a sole that could
barely be described as firm.  It occurred to Tarva that these
were not standard for the uniform but were in fact boot
liners for a pressure suit.  The realization made her smile
and think "I'm going to like this man".
    A man in white coveralls of a construction worker stepped
forward and asked for their I.D. cards.  These he handed to
the man in the black uniform.  The man looked at each card
and though it was obvious he had done this with every person
who had come aboard he still actually read at least the name
on each card.  It was not as if he were looking for someone
it was as if he were trying to match everybody's name and
face the first time by.
    "Welcome aboard" he said as he handed the cards back to
the man in the coveralls.  "I'm Captain Anthony," the hum of
another portion of the large transporter could be heard next
to them. "please follow this gentleman he'll show you to your
quarters.  Be patient, this ship is still under construction,
some things aren't working yet and your also going to have to
share quarters with more personnel than they were designed
for until others are ready".  As they gathered their
belongings and stepped off the transporter a woman in white
coveralls asked the new arrivals on the other transporter for
their I.D. cards.
    "Commander Tarva" the captain said as Tarva turned to
exit with her group.
    "Yes, Sir." she said facing the captain and coming to
attention.
    "Please report back here after you get settled."
    "Yes Sir" she repeated as the captain turned his
attention to the new batch of I.D. cards and the transporter
pad she was just on hummed with new arrivals.  Many people
would have thought Captain Anthony rude with them or at least
curt.  Not Tarva, her only impression was that this man was
extremely busy.
    Too much was happening around Tarva for her to fully
appreciate it.  Workers in different styles of the white
coverall worked all around, bunches of optical cord hung from
open ceiling panels, sparks flew from welding torches..still
under construction was an understatement.  She also thought
of the captain's order to report to him as soon as she was
'settled' she wasn't quite sure how soon this man expected
her, she'd just have to do things one at a time.  The first
would be to unpack then find her way back to the transporter
room.  She still couldn't help wondering what the captain
wanted with her perhaps he had an assignment for her.  It
would have to be important to signal her out perhaps Chief of
Security.  This wasn't too much to expect since she was Chief
of Security on the Eclipse.  Even if it was an escort ship it
was still a responsible position.  What ever it was it had to
be one of the top security positions, her background was too
extensive to be simply standing guard on the transporter
room.
    A cabin door slid open and the man in white said that
there was room for one more in these quarters. "and remember"
he said "these are just temporary until the rest are
completed." Somehow Tarva found herself standing at the front
of her group, so she stepped in.
    "Do you believe this, they have eight of us crammed into
what is obviously meant for four.  This is a freaking
enlisted barracks.  What kind of chicken outfit is this
anyway?"  The all too familiar voice came from what was
apparently the head.
    Tarva walked over to the one bunk that was slightly
separated from the rest, it was without a doubt the prime
real estate of the room.  All other occupants were at their
own bunks, the only other empty one was a built in top bunk,
the least desirable in the room.  Tarva picked up the
equipment all ready on her bunk of choice and dropped it in
the middle of the room and placed her own in its place.
The other occupants in the room were Dolittel's regular
companions but they said nothing, just did their best to
ignore her.
    A chime sounded on one of the walls and a name appeared
on a computer screen.  "That's mine" one of her room mates
said and got up to retrieve a stack of folded black cloth
from a drawer that came out of the wall as he approached.  He
then joined Dolittel in the head.
    "What's that?" She asked, somebody had to say something
eventually.
    In response a tall blonde haired woman sitting on the far
side of the room tossed her a laminated card.

Welcome aboard the U.S.S. Vigilante.

--- There will be a mandatory meeting for all personnel at
    0830 in shuttle bay 1.  This should give all a chance to
    get settled.  All crew assignments will be handed out at
    this time.

--- Ship's uniforms are available from the replicators in
    each room just program required size.  Standard Star
    Fleet issue boots are appropriate. (a slight wait may be
    necessary, full power is currently not on line)

--- Please make yourself as comfortable as possible,
    as soon as more quarters are finished they will be
    assigned.

Tarva checked her time piece, 0600, they had plenty of time
to get the whole gang over from the Enterprise even at the
current rate.
    "Who put my stuff in the middle of the floor?!" Dolittel
bellowed as he emerged from the head wiping water from his
face with a small towel.  He was already wearing a black
uniform identical to what the captain had.  His shoulders
filled the doorway he stood in and his hair brushed against
the top of the frame.  His gaze then shifted to the bunk he
had claimed with his gear.
    Tarva smiled slightly and said "I honestly think you'll
be more comfortable on one of the regular beds, these
temporary cots are quite lumpy".
    Dolittel looked at his friends and for a moment, it
seemed as if he would stand up to Tarva.  Instead he picked
up his bags and threw them on the empty bunk.  "What are you
doing here, Sir?" he said to Tarva.
    "Everyone must make sacrifices, Mr. Dolittel." She
responded.  Then said "Computer".
    "WORKING" replied the generic female voice.
    "Commander Tarva requesting complete ship's uniform" said
Tarva she then gave size and other particulars.
    "Your going to have a wait we've all placed our orders
and only two have come back so far." said the tall blonde.
    Just then the chime rang again and another of the gang
said that it must be his.  As he approached the drawer he
looked at the screen and saw Tarva's name flashing.  "This
things fouled up" he said "It says here its her stuff" and
gestured toward Tarva.  He held up the pants they were too
small for anybody in the room except for Tarva.
    "Thank you." she said and took the bundle to the head.
She stood in the door way looking inside.  The crew member
who had just went in to change came out immediately.  He was
half dressed and wore only the baggy uniform pants and black
tank top type under shirt.  The rest of his uniforms he had
obviously gathered quickly and had them bunched under one
arm.
    "There's got to be some mistake, this thing's got the
rest of us qued up in the same sequence we placed our
orders." said the lieutenant by the replicator.
    "Typical of this place," said Dolittel "even the computer
doesn't know what the hell its doin'. But don't worry I'll
get things straightened around soon as they let me get to
work."

    Tarva stood in the restroom in front of a full length
mirror her yellow standard uniform lay in a pile near her
feet.  She looked at her self in the mirror.  All she was
wearing was a tight black tank top and matching mid-thigh
shorts.  On her right shin was strapped a black sheathed
mean looking knife, with what appeared to be a bone handle
and flat black blade, obviously not regulation.  She studied
the scars visible on her shoulder, arms and lower legs.  Many
a human doctor had offered to remove the scars for her but
none seemed to comprehend the pride she took in them and the
battles they represented.
    She looked closely at her left cheek and neck, there was
a fine line, were a scar should be, extending from above her
left eye down her cheek and neck to her shoulder.  An over
zealous human doctor had meticulously repaired this wound.
For all the years humans had been in space they still treated
all cultures by human values.  It had never occurred to him
that a Kalonian would view a scar such as this differently
than a human.  She however couldn't feel too bad towards the
doctor since he served on the star ship that rescued her from
the escape pod after the Eclipse was destroyed.

    Commander Tarva had been aboard the USS Vigilante exactly
30 minutes when she walked into Transporter Room II to report
back to Captain Anthony.  The room was empty of new personnel
only the captain and workers were in the transporter room.
Most of the workers were busily doing something with both the
transporter pads and the control panel.  Captain Anthony
looked concerned as he studied the output on a tricorder a
skinny man in a white uniform was showing him.
    Captain Anthony looked up at Tarva as she walked in and
smiled at her.  "Welcome back Commander," he said "I hope you
found your quarters acceptable for the time being".
    "I don't expect I'll be spending a lot of time there will
I?" she said as she walked up to him and stood at attention.
    "Commander as you may have suspected my current staff is
quite slim, in fact before today I was the only crew assigned
to the Vigilante to arrive.  That leaves me in the unique
position of selecting my own staff out of a relatively small
pool of volunteers.
    "I have gone over the records of all the personnel
assigned to the Vigilante and personally selected the
assignments for each crew member.  Most decisions were easy,
someone is a navigator or an engineer, they have specific
rank and basically fall into place.  Top command staff is
never that easy however Chief Engineer, Chief of Security and
others require a little more intuitive thought." He paused to
check the skinny man's tricorder again.
    "This is it" Tarva thought, "he wouldn't be telling me
all of this if I wasn't getting Chief of Security."
    "The reason I'm telling you this" he said turning his
attention back to her, "is that I had a difficult choice to
make for Chief of Security.  A man named Simon Norton is
boarding as soon as we get this thing fixed.  He's been head
of security on three different Star Ships most recently on
board a Galaxy Class which he is giving up to volunteer for
this mission.  I know this man, he has no desire for any
other command position.  He is one of the best when it comes
to security."
    Tarva could feel her world shaking, she had been so sure
of getting the position in never occurred to here that
someone with such credentials would volunteer for a blind
suicide mission like this was rumored to be.
    "I know this may be slightly disappointing to you
Commander." this was a major understatement and he seemed to
know it.  "I couldn't however put someone with your record
and diverse background in an ordinary position. That is why I
have chosen you as my First Officer.  Congratulations."
    "Thank you Sir" she managed to utter in complete shock.
He had done this on purpose set her up for the fall pushed
her over the edge then caught her at the last millisecond.
This man had a vicious sense of humor, she was going to
really enjoy working with him.
    "Now Commander we have work to do.  One of the positions
I haven't filled yet is Chief Engineer we have several
qualified personnel," Captain Anthony pointed to the mess
around them in a sweeping gesture "I suppose now is as good a
time as any to make that decision.  Your first assignment
will be to get this mess working and give me a call when your
ready to continue the transfer process."
    "Sir, why doesn't the Enterprise just transport the
remainders?" Tarva asked as she took in the whole transporter
room.
    "In order to keep the minimum distance we need the power
of both transporters and these two pads are the only ones on
this ship that currently work.  Now decide on a Chief
Engineer and get this thing working.  We've got to have it
working by 0700 if everybody's going to make the meeting."
with that Captain Anthony left the room with eight white
coveralled workmen looking at Tarva.
    Before the door had slid completely shut First Officer
Tarva's hand was on the intercom "Lieutenant Commander
Dolittel report to transporter Room two immediately".

    Transporter Room II was soon filled with Tarva's
roommates plus a few others.  Dolittel's feet stuck out from
an open access panel under the transporter pad. His cursing
could be heard across the room.  He slid himself out and sat
up.
    "What the hell is this thing?" he said "I've never seen
circuits like this."
    "It is state of the art in transporter technology." came
a woman's voice from an open transporter room door. She was a
medium height brown haired humanoid.  A slight ridge along
her upper cheek bones making her eyes appear sunken was the
only obvious nonhuman feature. She wore the standard white
coveralls of the other construction workers.
    "Doctor Cembera, I should have known you were behind this
mess."  Said Dolittel as he stood to greet the new arrival.
"If this thing is your doing, where have you been while we've
been trying to get it back on line?"
    "I was detained in engine room one installing a new style
dilithium crystal chamber." she said as she approached the
troublesome transporter pad.  She then turned to Commander
Tarva who had been running diagnostics at the transporter
control panel.  "First Officer Tarva, I'm Crystal Cembera
chief engineer in charge of construction of the Vigilante.
I'm glad you were finally able to join us here at TE-4."
    "I'm glad to finally be here." Said Tarva "Now if you
could help my Chief Engineer get these things on line."
    Doctor Cembera looked at Dolittel with a slight grin and
said "That shouldn't be too hard".
    Dolittel and Cembera obviously had a history but this
didn't seem to stop her from ignoring Dolittel as easily as
everybody else did.
    Doctor Cembera started running a diagnostic on the
transporter while pointing out certain details of the new
technology to Dolittel.  "The main idea is to boost the
effective range three to four times."
    "This is a great step forward", Dolittel said "you've got
the largest transporter room mockup I've ever seen".
    "The next supply ship should have the parts we need to
get all three transporter rooms working properly." Doctor
Cembera said ignoring Dolittel's comment's "the technology is
so new its taking quite a while to get the chips made."
    "Then how in the world did you get these two pads to work
if your still waiting on the chips?."
    "I had to make my own chips,"
    "That's probably what failed." Dolittel muttered.
    "and is why we only have two pads working." she said
still ignoring his comments.  "It was a long and exhausting
job, I can only guess that something came loose." Doctor
Cembera crawled under the pad and disappeared into the
workings.
    She soon emerged from under the pad and handed Dolittel a
blackened fist-sized component.  "Both pads were down, so I
figured it had to be power related since they each run on
their own computer circuitry." She said as she reached into a
panel that opened from a near by wall.  The panel contained
several different kinds of parts, obviously spares.  She then
retreated back under the transporter pads.
    When she came back out she said "OK fire them up".
    With that Dolittel pressed a couple of buttons and the
transporters lit right up.  "Well" he said "Looks like I've
got a bit to learn before I can be an effective Chief
Engineer".
    "Well don't worry, you seem to have a good teacher."
Tarva said.
    "And quite a while before we'll even be ready to begin
space trials." Cembera added.  Then said "Come on John, I'll
give you a tour of your engine rooms".
    "There's more than one? And what's this about a new style
dilithium ..." Dolittel could be heard saying as the door
slid shut behind him.
    Tarva frowned as she realized Dolittel just walked out
with out being dismissed.  As more people arrived, she would
have to make sure proper Star Fleet regulations were
maintained.  She then pressed the intercom button "Commander
Tarva to Captain Anthony, transporters back on line, sir."
    "Thank you Commander" he replied "I'll be right there.
Please inform Enterprise that we're back on line.  Out".

    Tarva's tall blonde room mate was working the transporter
controls, it turned out she was a top rated operator, when it
happened.  The last group was transporting from the
Enterprise when there was a general abort warning issued from
engineering.  The warning was almost immediately followed by
a massive power surge.  If it wasn't for Chief Swanson's
reflex action to the warning all eight of the personnel in
transport would surely have been lost.  She was able to
reverse the beam before the surge got through the
transporter.
    The surge did catch personal pad number one.  The result
pulled the person out of transport in a crimson flash.  The
crew had no chance to cover themselves from the resulting
gore.  The whole transporter room was immediately splattered
in red.  On the pad lay a writhing mass of tissue and bone
with blood spurting from what had once been organs.
    Transporter Room II immediately emptied with the
construction workers and crew racing for the doors.  Many
were losing their last meal on the way, others slipped and
in the blood.  Chief Swanson, Fist Officer Tarva and Captain
Anthony were the only ones to hold their ground.  Captain
Anthony and Chief Swanson had gone ghost white with shock,
Commander Tarva looked to the captain for instructions, all
he could say was "Get rid of it".
    Tarva walked over to a security panel removed a phaser
and pointed it at her former crew member.  Her only thought
as she pushed the trigger was "I wonder who it was".  It was
exactly 53 seconds since the alarm sounded.

    Captain Picard sat in his ready room with the Image of
Captain Anthony on the monitor in front of him.  Captain
Anthony had several drops of blood on his face and he looked
slightly ill.  Behind Anthony a worker in red stained white
coveralls was cleaning blood off a wall.  The view was so
tight on Anthony this worker was only occasionally visible.
What ever happened there Picard thought, had to have been
unlike any transporter accident he had ever heard of.  What
ever new technology they're using on this project has to be
radically new and dangerous.
    "According to my records, Ensign Shertz was to have been
my primary navigator". Anthony was saying "Now, I am without
anybody who is currently qualified for the position.  Captain
Picard, I'm aware that a ship like the Enterprise is likely
to have several officers qualified to fill this position..".
    "Captain Anthony," Picard Said "Are you suggesting that I
assign one of my junior officers to your project?".
    "Not at all." Was the reply "I was merely suggesting that
there may be someone in your crew qualified for this
position, who also falls under the other criteria, willing to
volunteer if given the chance."
    Picard thought for a second then said "I'll put the
request before all qualified personnel."
    "I'll trust your decision, let me know when or if you've
found a navigator for me.  Anthony out."
    The screen immediately went black and Picard sat and
stared at the silence for a minute then said "Computer list
all ship's personnel qualified as navigator for a star ship."
    "WORKING" the generic female voice said then immediately
displayed a list of over 30 names.
    "Now delete all personnel who are married or have known
living family."
    Three names remained on the list:
                  Commander Data
                  Ensign Janice O'Malley
                  Ensign Ro Laren
    Captain Picard sat and looked at the three names neatly
printed on the black screen.  Who would it be?  If they knew
the mission of the project they would all jump at the chance.
That however was against regulations, all he could tell them
was that it is an extremely dangerous mission perhaps even a
suicide mission.
    Since if any of these three officers knew they were only
one of three qualified for this project once again they would
all certainly volunteer.  Picard decided to post a general
notice to all thirty from the original list.  Perhaps by some
slight chance the only one he felt he could replace would
volunteer.  If not, he would cross that bridge when he came
to it.  This was a strictly volunteer mission and he could
not make anyone in anyway feel obligated to volunteer.
    Within minutes of posting the notice there was a signal
at the door.  It was Commander Data.
    "Sir" he said "by your notice I believe I am the most
logical choice to fill the navigator position.  Unless you
count Lore as a living relative.  I know that Star Fleet does
not recognize him as my next of kin."
    "Data" Picard Said "I was expecting you, I tried to
figure out a way to turn down your request with out giving
you what little more information I have about the project.  I
decided however that to properly satisfy you I must fill you
in with what little more information I have."
    Five minutes later Data left the ready room fully
satisfied that it would be extremely hazardous for him to
transfer to this project.  As he left he passed the red
haired Ensign O'Malley on her way to meet with the captain.
It occurred to him that she too was on the list of qualified
navigators.
    This was too good to be true, Janice thought as she
walked in to see Captain Picard.  A chance to transfer to a
secrete project, a dangerous mission this had to be good.
No more boring star charting,  no more hauling diplomats
around, no more Ensign Ro taking over for her every time it
was just getting interesting.  When the tour ended she would
surely be assigned as primary navigator some where.
    "Sir" She said almost before the door closed behind her
"have you had any volunteers for the navigator position?"
    "Yes, just one" he said "however upon close scrutiny of
his record we decided he was not appropriate for the
assignment."  Picard sat back and watched her face light up
with excitement.
    "Sir, I respectfully request a transfer."
    "Ensign O'Malley I feel it is my obligation to tell you a
little more about this mission" Picard said "The notice has
always stated hazardous duty however since you are
approaching this as a last minute replacement I think you
should know that most consider it to be a suicide mission."
    "Sir, this is a suicide mission?" O'Malley said quite
taken aback.
    "No, I did not say that. I said that it is so hazardous
that the few people who know about it consider it a suicide
mission."
    "What do you think of it sir?" she asked still a bit
confused by what Captain Picard was trying to say.
    "If it works it will be well worth the costs" he said
"All else I can say is that I have a personal interest in the
success of the mission."
    Picard took a deep breath and looked at the beautiful
young woman standing in front of him.  Her large gray eyes
looked back at him expectantly.  Finally he said "If your
still interested I'll arrange transportation.  Go start
packing your gear."
    "Thank you sir" she said and snapped to attention.
    "Dismissed" he said.
    Ensign Janice O'Malley turned sharply and exited the
ready room.  As she left Captain Jean-Luc Picard looked at
her personal file that was on the screen during the whole
conversation.  On it was noted the time and circumstances of
her adoptive father's death.  "It looks like we all have a
date with destiny some time in our lives" he said to himself.
    It was finally happening she was getting to look on the
other side of a forbidden horizon.  Janice could feel great
apprehension though.  Stepping into the unknown was always a
bit scary.  She could feel her pulse race with anticipation
as she packed her few belongings.
    Being a third string navigator on any ship never rated
the larger quarters.  Ensign O'Malley however was a woman of
few possessions.  Vega-5 if nothing else had taught her to
approach life as a minimalist.  She had very few belongings
and really didn't care for a larger billet.  The last thing
she packed was an old style picture in frame.  It was a
picture of her father and her taken during her first visit to
Earth.  She was still young maybe fifteen earth years, too
old to be considered a child but not yet quite a woman.  They
were standing in front of some ancient ruins in a country her
father claimed his family name originated.  She wrapped the
picture carefully in a uniform and placed it in her case.  Of
her few possessions this would always be her most treasured.
    She wondered how she would transfer to her new
assignment, the survivors of the transporter incident had
been shuttled by a very odd looking shuttle.  She wondered if
they would send it all the way back to get her.  She wasn't
really sure what had happened with the transporter only
something had gone wrong on the other end and someone, a
navigator, had been killed.  They did not expect to have the
transporters working anytime soon.  At the current distance
the Enterprise could not transport her on its on.
    Just then Chief O'Brien's voice came over the intercom
"Ensign O'Malley, please report to transporter room 3, with
your gear.".
    "I thought" she said to Chief O'Brien upon entering
transporter room 3 "that we were unable to transport until
they got they're system back on line."
    "I thought the same thing." He said "but they gave me new
coordinates for a different transporter.  Apparently they had
shut it down for being in an unused area.  They brought it
back on line to help tie up the loose ends before the
Enterprise's departure."
    Janice hesitated stepping onto the transporter pad.
Though she had done this many times before it had never been
immediately following a fatal accident.  She looked to
O'Brien and he just smiled and nodded his head.  So she
stepped onto the pad stood at attention and waited.
    The Enterprise's transporter room dissolved around her
and was replaced by a smaller more spartan room. In front of
her behind the transporter controls stood a man in white
coveralls.  "Welcome to T E four space dock" he said
"We'll be ready to transport you to the ship in a few
minutes".
    To her right Janice could see a large space station style
window.  From her vantage point she thought she could see the
hull of a ship.
    "Would you like to take a look at your new assignment?"
the man asked.
    Ensign Janice O'Malley put her bags down in place and
stepped down to the window.  Outside was something she had
never seen, a star ship in space dock.  This was unlike any
star ship though, a small older style saucer section dwarfed
by four new Galaxy style warp engines.  The saucer was
attached directly to a bulbous main body without the usual
neck lifting it away.  The impulse engines appeared to be
raised up from the main body just behind the saucer.
    There were other things wrong, the color wasn't the
standard star fleet white, it was more of a dull gray.  There
was no name or number designation anywhere to be seen and she
had a clear view of the top of the saucer section.  There
were other anomalies: antenna pods, miss placed orifices etc.
that were not indicative of either the old style saucer or
the new style engines or anything else for that matter.
    "What is it?" she asked the man now standing next to her
also admiring the ship.
    "She's called the U.S.S. Vigilante" he said.
    "What kind of name for a star ship is that?" she asked
not really expecting an answer.
    "Don't ask me" he said "all I do is work on
transporters".
    "I hope you weren't running the transporter last time."
she said with a slight smile.
    "No, Sir" he said "Besides that was caused by a power
surge from engineering."
    Just then there was a signal from the intercom.  "Whelp
the captain's ready for you, time to report for duty" he
said.
    "I guess so" she said as she returned to the transporter.
    The small transporter room dissolved from view and this
time was replaced by a much larger one.  In front of her
stood a tall man with long gray/black hair that was thinning
on top and was pulled back in a pony tail.  He wore a
slightly baggy black uniform with several large pockets.
Though he wore no obvious insignia this man must be in some
kind of authority.
    Once she could move again she stood at attention and said
"Ensign Janice Louise O'Malley reporting for duty, Sir."
    "Welcome aboard the U.S.S. Vigilante, Ensign" the man in
black said "I'm Captain Anthony, did you bring your personal
file?"
    "Yes Sir" she said and handed him a small computer disk
from an outside pocket of her bag.
    "Very good" he said as he slipped the disk into the
tricorder he was holding.  "Now leave your bags here, they
will be delivered to your quarters.  Right now we are late
for an already postponed meeting.  Please come with me."
    As they left she finally noticed that there were several
people in blood stained white coveralls vigorously cleaning
the transporter room.  Another in clean coveralls approached
her bags as soon as she left the transporter pad.  She also
noticed that a personal pad to her left was shattered and
blackened.  She could feel nausea catch in her throat, what
ever happened here must have been  horrifying.
    All through the corridor the men in white coveralls were
hard at work.  Many areas where exposed to the superstructure
some she could see down through several decks of framing.  At
one point they had to edge along exposed girders to keep from
falling to the next deck.  This was the same area a work man
had given them each a hard hat to wear while passing through.
    "If we weren't so late I would have taken the safer but
longer route." the captain said as they edged along the beam.
    When they finally arrived at the shuttle bay it was
filled with more than a hundred black uniformed crew.  Ensign
O'Malley never thought she would feel out of place on a
federation star ship while in uniform.  Now while surrounded
by the crew dressed in the baggy black uniform she definitely
felt out of place.
    The Captain walked her up to a short dark skinned woman
with a high Klingon type forehead and a long braid of hair
down her back.  "Ensign O'Malley" he said this is my First
Officer, Commander Tarva.
    "Commander Tarva" Janice said in greeting.
    Commander Tarva shook Ensign O'Malley's hand and said "At
least you've lasted longer than our last navigator did."
    "Your attention please" the captain said into a loud
speaker.  "Once again I'd like to personally welcome you
aboard the first FULTON class star ship the U.S.S. Vigilante,
the most unique craft ever conceived of by Star Fleet.
    "First thing I'd like to say is to remind you of the
mission you volunteered for.  Our intent is an extended
hazardous duty mission.  We may be on tour for several years
or more with no or little contact with Star Fleet.  In fact
many analysts believe we will not be heard from again.  Now I
want you to reflect on this, because in a few minutes when I
tell you our exact destination there will be no transfers or
shore leave off the Vigilante until after the mission is
completed.
    "If you have second thoughts leave now, collect your
belongings and report to transporter room 2.  The Enterprise
is currently standing by to start you on your way back to
your last assignment."
    There was a stirring among the crew, as this sunk in.
Several groups discussed this amongst themselves.  Finally
three individuals stepped forward and announced that they had
second thoughts.
    "Very well" Captain Anthony said "I want to thank you for
the dedication that got you this far.  You will be returned
to your previous position and no mention of this incident
will appear on your records.  I must also remind you to never
talk about this project, all details are considered top
secret.  Also anybody who persists in questioning you about
it must be reported to Star Fleet Security.  Finally you must
never even discuss this project amongst your selves once you
leave this ship it never happened is that clear?"
    "Yes Sir" they said together.
    "Dismissed" Captain Anthony said and watched the three
exit the shuttle bay.
    "As some of you may have guessed the U.S.S. Vigilante is
not a ship of peace," Captain Anthony began "it is a ship of
war.  We are at war, that's right we are at war and the
Vigilante was designed to take the war to the enemy.  In
order to hasten the construction of the Vigilante parts were
used from the destruction of the first battle.  The enemy we
face is one of the strongest and most irresistible the
Federation has ever faced.  The enemy we are going to meet is
the Borg."
    At the revelation a slight murmur rose from the crowd.
Finally a voice came from the crowd.  "Sir how do we expect
to accomplish this,  over 30 ships were destroyed fighting
just one Borg cube.  Now you plan to attack them with just
one ship made up of junked parts.  What have we gotten
ourselves into?"
    Captain Anthony smiled at this it was just the reaction
he expected, since it was the same one the project committee
got when they originally approached Star Fleet with it.
"Listen to me" he said "the superstructure maybe made of old
parts however the technology put into this ship is cutting
edge.  In every area you will notice parts and functions you
do not recognize this whole ship has become the proving
ground for radical new ideas.  It will be our job to test and
use these new ideas.
    "As we already know as we use the new components of the
Vigilante things may go wrong.  You have all been accepted
for this mission because you are some the best.  I am
confident that working with the designers of the Vigilante
you will all learn the new technology and be become as
confident as I am in our ability to actually pull this off.
    "I am sure you are also aware of the Borg's ability to
gain knowledge from our computers and prisoners.  Therefore
it is imperative that we do not unnecessarily discuss
functions of our departments with other departments.  There
are new designs in all areas of this ship.  Technology we
know that the Borg do not attribute to the Federation.
    "Another unique feature of the Vigilante is the computer
systems.  Though there is a central computer for the day to
day needs of life on a star ship, each area has its own
separate computer system.  These systems are totally
inaccessible by the central computer.  This does create a
problem, a galaxy class star ship can actually be operated
with as few as five crew members when in automated mode.  The
Vigilante needs over fifty highly trained crew just to keep
it maneuvering in warp."  This was a bit of an exaggeration
but he wanted to keep them on their toes or what ever it was
that they may pass for toes.
    "By now all crew have received there assignments, you are
to work with construction personnel preparing The Vigilante
for duty.  I know there is a lot of work left to do and
little time to do it, but I am certain if we work together we
can have the ship ready on schedule.  I also expect that you
should know this ship inside and out by the first space
trials.  Now lets get to work.  Dismissed."

    When Simon Norton had entered the meeting room he was
last as usual.  He had a great propensity for being late.  It
never seemed to be of his doing however.  It wasn't his fault
that the transporter failed twice before he ever got aboard
the ship.  The last time it left him stranded on the
Enterprise.  The trip to the Vigilante was an eye opener.
The transport sent to retrieve them was by no means a
shuttle.  It was a troop carrying 'drop' ship designed for
rapid deployment of personnel to transporter protected
landing zones.  Only Star Fleet's few anti-terrorist units
carried this kind of ship and even they carried standard
shuttle craft.
    It was strange that he was the Chief of Security on a
Star Ship that he had no idea what design it was.  He didn't
know its class or it's layout.  He knew it was something
different, the large size of the shuttle bay told him that.
Also the narrow corridors and small rooms suggested something
different about the Vigilante.  He only wished that the drop
ship had windows.
    Captain Anthony was sitting in a small room with his
command staff when Commander Norton finally got around to
joining them.  The room like the rest of the ship was painted
in gray and other drab colors.  In the middle of the room was
a large dark gray table with straight edges but slightly
bowed to fit with the bow of the room.  Around the table were
ten high backed chairs securely fastened to the floor, they
were also equipped with emergency restraints and belts.  In
front of each place was a computer terminal sunken into the
table.  At one end of the room was a large display screen
obviously for presentations to the group.  The outside wall
had several windows looking over the port side of the saucer.
Along the top of each window the bottom of the blast shields
could be seen.  The shields all over the ship would snap shut
during red alerts and when in 'silent running'.
    In the early days of Star Fleet before advances in
deflector shield technology blast shields were installed on
ships meant for some heavy action.  If this ship was destined
to confront the Borg it would need them.
    The small amount of time Norton had been on duty he had
spent his time reviewing the files of the other officers.  If
he was to properly over see security he would have to know
with whom he was working.  Now sitting next to Captain
Anthony in the Command Staff Meeting room was First Officer,
Commander Tarva and across from her was Lt. Commander
Dolittel, Chief Engineer.  The fourth in the room was a tall
female humanoid in the white coveralls of a construction
worker, she was sitting next to Dolittel.  Commander Norton
had been unable to find any information on the construction
personnel in any of the computer files.  This had distressed
him for he felt it best to know everyone he had dealings
with.
    "Ah, Commander Norton" The Captain said, "glad you were
finally able to join us.  I believe you should be familiar
with every body here except Doctor Cembera.  Doctor Cembera
is the chief engineer in charge of design and construction of
the Vigilante."
    "Doctor." Commander Norton said and slightly bowed his
bald head towards her.  He then took a seat close to the
door.
    "This meeting is intended to fill you in on some of the
specifics of the U.S.S. Vigilante." said Captain Anthony and
pushed a button on his computer terminal.  On each terminal
and on the main screen a detailed picture of the ship
appeared and began to rotate slowly.  "I believe I'll leave
this lecture to Doctor Cembera".
    "Thank you Captain" Doctor Cembera said as she stood up
and approached the screen.  "The U.S.S. Vigilante is designed
with three main features in mind: speed, fire power and
stealth.  To quickly build the ship we decided it necessary
to use some space frames deposited at Memory Alpha.  Most of
the parts used were in fact taken from the ships destroyed by
the Borg.  We have however completely refitted the ship with
new technology from the material used in the hull to the
drive systems.
    "I'll start with the hull, the original 'skin' of all
components was removed and replaced with a new composite
material.  This material is much less penetrable and
detectable by all known or encountered scanning devices.
This makes us virtually invisible on long range scanners and
appear much smaller to closer range sensors.  Windows however
can not be made of the new material so all windows have been
fitted with old style blast shields.  If power to the main
deflectors is ever lost windows without the blast shields
would be extremely vulnerable to detection.
    "It is a known fact that Star Fleet has a policy against
the use of cloaking devices on its ships.  This policy does
not however preclude the research in cloaking technology.
The main goal in cloaking research has been to develop
adequate detection of cloaked ships.  This research added to
what we have learned from the Klingons I believe has created
the most sophisticated cloaking system ever implemented.  The
technology has been installed in the Vigilante.  Together
with the new hull material we call the combined system A.C.T.
that is Advanced Cloaking Technology.  With A.C.T. the
Vigilante should be completely invisible to the Borg and all
others for that matter."
    Commander Norton interrupted "If Star Fleet has a policy
against cloaking how did we get a whole ship built around
cloaking technology?"
    "Star Fleet regulations have very little influence over a
ship that officially does not exist." responded Captain
Anthony.
    Norton sat back to contemplate the implications of what
the Captain just said while Doctor Cembera continued.
    "The next obvious feature of the Vigilante" she said "is
the number of warp drives.  With new technologies and
alignments these four engines should jump the Vigilante to
warp 9.6 from sub-warp speeds in less than a second.  You
should then be able to hold warp 9.6 for an extended period
of time.  Next.."
    "Excuse me Doctor." Lt Commander Dolittel said.
    "Yes Mr. Dolittel" Doctor Cembera said with a bit of a
frown as if anticipating what was coming next.
    "I've been doing some research on these new technologies
and alignments as you call them." Dolittel said "and aren't
they actually old ideas that have been tested and found to
create uncontrollable worm holes around the ship using them?"
Dolittel finished with a troublemakers grin.
    "Is this true?" Commander Tarva asked.
    "Yes" Doctor Cembera replied.
    "Your saying you've built this whole ship around theory
that has already been proven to be flawed?" was Tarva's next
question.
    "This was to be my next topic," Doctor Cembera said "if I
may continue I think I'll be able to answer your questions".
    "Please continue Doctor." the Captain said knowing what
was coming next.
    "Your absolutely right Lieutenant Commander Dolittel" she
stressed Lieutenant knowing how much that elusive promotion
irritated him.  "This technology does tend to produce an
uncontrollable worm hole.  The elimination of the worm hole
effect has plagued me and other scientists for years.  Not so
long ago I was discussing this problem with a colleague in
front of my young daughter and my daughter actually came up
with the idea that has made this all possible" she said
proudly.
    Doctor Cembera's audience looked at her blankly. She
continued on ignoring the looks. "what my daughter asked was
why don't we control the worm hole.  To tell you the truth
this had never occurred to me mainly because travel through
the warp generated worm hole can be extremely unpleasant."
    With the word unpleasant a couple of people took a second
look at the restraints on all of the chairs and began to
realize what Cembera was getting to.
    "These worm holes can also throw a ship many light years
off course if not further.  If we can control the worm hole
and get it to deposit us were we want to go, even with the
unpleasant effects, it could be quite useful.  In other words
we could get the worm hole to place us in minutes where it
may take us a year at warp nine to reach."
    "You keep using the word, us, are you planning to join us
on our planned journey?" it was Dolittel again.
    "I use the word merely as a figure of speech, Sir" Doctor
Cembera answered crisply.  Then Continued "We have
implemented the new drives in an older test ship.  Once again
like all technology we're using it involves complete
replacement of the main systems plus extensive reworking of
other systems.
    The results were extremely promising, the vessel ended up
within the desired sector.  There was however a bit of a side
effect caused by the worm hole, a great deal of the outer
hull was ruptured in transit.  This however should not effect
the Vigilante since the technology has been refined a great
deal and the hull and shield strengths have been greatly
increased.
    "Finally, there have been a number of modifications in
the shield generators, weapons, and transporters to make the
Vigilante actually several generations more advanced than
even a Galaxy class Star ship."
    "Don't you think your being just a bit over optimistic
with that last statement." Dolittel said as Cembera reclaimed
her seat.
    "And" Tarva interjected "do you think only a couple of
generations are enough to defeat the Borg where they live?".
    "Allow me to answer that." Captain Anthony said "Our
mission is not to defeat the Borg but rather to collect
extensive information about them in the hope of being able to
defeat them the next time they arrive in our little arm of
the galaxy.  Okay any other questions?"
    Captain Anthony and Doctor Cembera began to field
questions about different aspects of the mission and details
of the ship.
    During the meeting Commander Tarva examined Commander
Norton.  He was a mediyum sized humanoid a bit shoter then
Captain Anthony but with a relativelt wide build.  His size
was due as much to genetics as it was to an obvious attempt
on his own part to maintain a highly muscled physique.  She
could see highly defined muscles reaching up to his neck it
even appeared that his face was muscled.  His ears were
pointed and his forehead slightly pronounced like a
Romulan's.  Tarva's background told her that this man was at
least part Romulan.  Her background also told her that the
Romulan/Volcan traits were extremely dominant and all he
needed was one hiding somewhere in his family tree for him to
show these kind of features.  Another oddity about this man
was his totally bald head.  It was obvious, at least to her,
that he shaved his head which was not consistent with any
cultures she could readily attribute to him.

    Ensign Janice O'Malley piloted the gray Drop Ship through
one of the Tau Epsilon far asteroid fields.  Next her sat a
very cocky acting young man in white coveralls named Picback.
They were both properly strapped into their seats but his was
turned slightly and leaned back so he could place his feet up
on an empty area of the control panel.  "I still don't see
why I'm out here flying this can around."  she said "I'm a
navigator not a shuttle pilot."
    "First of all this is not a shuttle or a can" Picback
said with a smile. "It's a highly sophisticated troop drop
ship.  Second from my understanding they don't have much need
for a navigator on the Vig for the time being.  Third all
navigators should be trained as pilots and these are the only
things to pilot or navigate for the time being.  I guess
their just trying to make you earn your keep."
    Just then something beside rock appeared on the scanners.
"That must be our target," Picback said "remember with the
cloaking he can't see us so keep your distance.  We don't
want him running into us after dropping off our package."
    From their position they could watch the tug disconnect
from the cargo pod after placing it in close proximity to a
large asteroid.  When it lifted away they could clearly read
it's name and number, U.S.S. CHANDRASEKHER NCC-3923-C.  Their
sensors told them it was doing an intense sensor sweep of the
area.
    "What's he doing that for?" she asked Picback.
    "His instructions are very strict,  he's not to leave the
cargo if he detects any other activity in the area."  He
replied as if extremely bored with the whole process.
    Ensign O'Malley continued to track him as he high-tailed
it out of the system.  Once the tug had entered warp she
began to approach the cargo pod.  Picback now sat in normal
position and began to work his own controls.  The Drop Ship
slowly approached the giant cargo pod and was soon dwarfed by
it.
    "This thing looks longer than the Vigilante it self" said
O'Malley as she moved ever closer to the pod.
    "Well they were originally designed to haul a couple
Galaxy style warp engines around in, with room to spare.
This should be our last delivery." Picback said as he powered
up the magnetic cargo couplings that had been retrofitted to
the Drop Ship.
    "What do you suppose is in it" Janice asked her companion
trying to make conversation.
    "You know the regs" he said with a smile "we're only
allowed to discuss matters directly related to our jobs.  I
can make small talk with you about anything to do with a drop
ship or flying one.  Believe or not we are even allowed to
discuss details specifically related to any current
assignment."
    With this dissertation Janice laughed and said "You could
have just said, I don't know."
    The couplings clanged into place slightly jolting the
ship.  "OKay" Picback said "ease the power up slowly this tub
is a lot more powerful than a wimpy star fleet shuttle and
remember we have a lot more mass now."
    "Mr Picback I am not fresh out of the Academy." Ensign
O'Malley said slightly irritated "I have maneuvered the
Enterprise through an asteroid field on more than on
occasion."
    "The Enterprise's deflector shields probably gave you
quite a bit more room for error, huh?" Picback returned just
as they jerked forward. "What was that?"
    "Just slipped the accelerator a bit" The Ensign said.
    "How can you, slip the accelerator a bit?" Picback said
worryingly "You better let me have control I've done this a
lot more than you have."
    "Don't worry" Janice said with a slight grin Picback
didn't notice "I can handle it." and pulled back on the
control stick to start the maneuver to arc them out of the
asteroid field.  "But you know its been quite some time since
I've piloted anything with a control stick."
    "Why didn't you tell me this before we hooked on to this
monster" Picback said trying not to show the panic he was
starting to feel.
    "I tried to." Janice said "But you said I had to earn my
keep.  Now's its too late, huh?" she sounded as if she was
trying not to panic which didn't help Picback's new state
of mind.
    A proximity warning began to flash on the scanner
console.  Ahead of them they seemed to be about to ram a
rather large orange asteroid.  Picback locked his arms and
legs and shut his eyes bracing himself for the collision,
which never occurred.
    "What happened?" he said after more than enough time had
passed for them to have hit the asteroid.
    "You were right," Ensign O'Malley said with a smile "this
thing does have a lot wider turning radius than I'm used to."
    They than passed between two extremely close asteroids as
the proximity warning flashed again.  Before Picback had time
to react again they were clear of the field.
    "Whew," Janice said and feigned wiping sweat from her
forehead. "I didn't think we'd make that last one".
    All Picback could do was sit there and hope he didn't
draw the red head as a partner again.
    The huge cargo pod sped through space with no obvious
means of propulsion as the Drop Ship remained cloaked.  As it
approached TE-4 Ensign O'Malley had placed their cargo in to
a predetermined orbit.  The velocity and orbit had to be
precise in order to eventually get the pod in a matching
orbit with the space dock.  The idea was to place the pod in
a high orbit and brake it down to the matching orbit with the
dock.  She had been braking since passing the orbit sphere of
TE-5.  Now she had to drop into a high orbit and begin heavy
braking hopefully the space dock would catch up with them as
they reached its orbit.
    An untrained observer would have thought the procedure an
easy one.  As the cargo pod entered it's high orbit it began
making increasingly lower orbits over the space dock.
Eventually the pod just seemed to drop into space over the
space dock.  It was then maneuvered into its place in the top
of the framing directly over the Vigilante.
    Picback and O'Malley had been gone just over two days and
four hours when they maneuvered their ship into the shuttle
bay.  As soon as the ship came to rest the airlock door flew
open and Picback jumped down, fell to his knees and kissed
the deck.  A man in a black crew uniform stood at a nearby
control console watching the scene and looked at Picback as
he walked by.
    "Don't ever, ever put me in a ship with her again. She
was doing barrel rolls on our way in." Picback said to the
shuttle bay chief as he passed.
    The shuttle bay chief then watched Ensign O'Malley ride
the slowly descending Drop Ship stairs as they lowered in to
place. Her combed back short red hair was slightly messed
from the long trip and she carried her uniform jacket
casually over one shoulder.  As she walked up to him she put
her jacket on and fastened it properly.  When she reached him
she handed him the ships log.
    "What was wrong with your technician, Ensign" he asked
her.
    "I have no idea, Sir, I guess he's a bit high strung."
she said with a bit of a smile.
    The Chief checked the log and looked up at the young
woman standing before him.  "Okay, dismissed" he said.
    "Thank you, Sir"
    The Chief smiled as he watched her walk out and thought
"I knew we'd have problems with cloaking these things during
routine missions."

    Captain Anthony stood in a large round dimly lit chamber,
around him workers in their white coveralls went about their
business.  The room appeared unfinished, there were massive
connecters and mountings everywhere.  There were however no
loose wires, everything was large and solid.  In six evenly
spaced places on the floor were large gear shaped areas
almost two meters in diameter.  The bottom of these gears
consisted of what looked like thousands of optical
connections.  The walls were basically smooth except for six
large L shaped channels.
    Along one wall area of the round room were four round
doors about a meter and a half in diameter.  In the middle of
each door was a sturdy looking wheel for manual opening.  The
doors were to escape pods.
    The ceiling of the room appeared out of place.  It was
not made of the same composite materials of the rest of ship
and seemed laid across the walls rather than built into them.
None of the lighting was a permanent part of the room, it was
all temporary work lighting.  Captain Anthony stood to one
side staring at the flat ceiling.
    The turbo-lift came up through a hole in the floor.
There were two such turbo lift channels in the room.  Both
had a cable net strung across them preventing anybody from
inadvertently stepping into the open hole.  The rough out
side of the turbo lift was visible as its single door slid
open.  Commander Tarva moved the net aside and walked up to
Captain Anthony.
    She stood at attention when she reached him and said
"Captain".
    "Yes" he said in a second, after coming back from his
thoughts.
    "Sir, Construction advises that the Bridge is included in
the new shipment." Tarva said.
    "Well I'd hope so." Anthony said with a smile "This is
our last scheduled shipment.  Tell them to get it installed
as soon as possible,  a star ship without a bridge is like a
phaser without a trigger."
    Tarva flipped open what looked like an old style
communicator and relayed the Captains orders.  They both then
stepped into the turbo lift Tarva had ridden up.  "Where to
sir?" she asked the captain.
    "How long till they expect to start moving the bridge
into place?" Captain Anthony asked before answering her
question.
    "They estimate everything should be ready in about six
hours." she said.
    "Deck Six" he said to the lift then looked at his time
piece.  "Commander would you care to join me in supervising
the installation of the U.S.S Vigilante's bridge?" he asked.
    "Yes Sir".
    "Meet me at Air Lock Two at 1730 and bring your pressure
suit gear".
    "Very good sir".  She said as he stepped off the lift at
deck six.  Commander Tarva than looked at her own time piece,
1230.  Five hours, there was nothing pressing needing her
immediate attention.  It would be a good time to go back to
the cabin and rest a bit.  She had gotten a minimum of rest
since leaving the Enterprise.  She did need some.
    "Deck eight" she said to the lift.

    Tarva sat in her cabin in a short black silken robe with
long sleeves.  When sitting, the bottom of the robe seemed to
barely touch the seat of the chair.  The black sheathed knife
was still strapped to her right shin and had a few water
droplets on it.  Tarva was combing her long wet hair to one
side of her head and down in front of her.  She was leaning
forward with legs slightly spread allowing the hair to fall
to the floor between her bare feet.
    This is how some of her roommates found her when they
came in.  Tarva looked up at them and scowled to herself
"I've got to get my own cabin".
    "Commander, we didn't expect you in so soon." said Chief
Swanson.
    "Even The First Officer can take some time off once in
awhile." she replied stressing the title.  "I thought you'd
be working with the new shipment"  she said to this whole
group of engineers while still combing her hair.
    "That's my intention, Sir" Dolittel said formally as he
broke out his boot liners and other gear for his pressure
suit.  "The rest however, are transporter engineers, and have
to wait till we get the bridge out of the way."
    Dolittel saw Tarva continue to frown as the others
continued to make themselves comfortable.  "Perhaps," he said
"They could begin preparing transporter room three to receive
the new chips when ready."
    "That sounds like a good idea, Mr Dolittel" Tarva said
finally losing her frown but not smiling.
    The others, being greatly out ranked, didn't even
question weather this was an order or a suggestion.  They
just picked themselves up and headed back out the door.
    "Mr Dolittel" Tarva said as he was about to be the last
to leave.
    "Yes, Sir" he said.
    "Would you inform all our room mates that I have no
appointments until 1730" she said curtly and immediately
turned back to brushing her hair.
    "1730, yes Sir." he repeated and walked out.
    "What did she mean about 1730?" one of his companions
asked Dolittel.
    "It means that we can't go back to our own quarters until
then." another one said.
    "It means," said Dolittel "that you should find something
to do until 1730."
    "And why did you say we could prepare the transporter
room for the new chips?  When we've just spent the last
twelve hours doing just that." said Chief Swanson.
    "We've got every right to use our own cabin, no matter
who our room mate is.  What right does she have to kick us
out.  Aren't we suppose to be tolerant until the other cabins
are ready, even the first officer?" said the first.
    "You just don't get it" Dolittel said "How long have we
been here?  Four days? A little more? How often have you seen
Commander Tarva in the cabin?"
    The three just looked at each other and shrugged.
    Dolittel continued "I'll tell you, before just now, twice
including the first day.  In fact that bunk hasn't been
touched, I know, remember I made it and no two people make a
bunk exactly the same way.  That means she's been on the go
since we got here and your complaining about twelve hours.
Now I want you to go keep yourselves busy until 1730.  After
that you have eight hours to get some rest, because at 0130
hours you are going to begin installing the new transporter
chips.  Is that clear?"
    "Yes Sir" they said in unison.
    "Very good and first make sure you spread the word to the
other three about 1730."  Lt Commander John Dolittel did not
like pulling rank on his team but occasionally, he had to
remind them this was still a military mission.

    Smoke filled the bridge and stung Tarva's eyes and lungs
but she recognized the unmistakable cube on the view screen
to her right.  Everything began to shake while in the
distance a partially recognizable star ship exploded.  A hull
breach alarm sounded and a strong wind began rushing by her.
Tarva looked down at her captain laying in her arms.  Blood
poured from his mouth and his chest made a sucking sound
every time he tried to breath.  Tarva was backing towards an
open escape pod dragging the Captain with her, just as they
entered the pod a blinding flash blew them against the back
of the pod...
    The familiar rhythm of a Kalonian march sounded in
Tarva's head.  She sat up in the dark cabin trying to
remember where she was.  With her movement the lights came on
just enough to outline the room and the march faded.
    As the ghosts cleared Tarva reached for her time piece
and said "Lights, intensity 3. Volume level 5"
    The lights came up enough to read the watch and the march
came back up to pleasant thump.  She carried an old Kalonian
time piece so she needed light to read it.  She then had to
do some quick math to convert to standard.  Once again
inconvenienced by human arrogance, they always seemed
convinced that everybody went by Sol-3 time or at least
should.
    Tarva smiled, she knew no human thought of their home
planet as Sol-3.  Most called it Earth and many not born
there called it Terra.  Tarva used Sol-3 because it was the
Federation's generic name for Earth and the class designation
humans used for almost all other planets even those of major
Star Fleet allies.  She figured it appropriate that she used
Sol-3 since many seemed insistent in calling Kalon, Antri-4.
    It was 1700, just what she had set the alarm for.  Tarva
took a load of clean clothes from a drawer and walked into
the head.   When she looked in the mirror half her face was
split open from above the left eye down her cheek to her neck
and blood pour from the wound..
    Tarva sat up in bed totally soaked in sweat screaming.
She sat in the dark cabin trying to remember where she was.
With her movement the lights came on just enough to outline
the room and the march faded.

    Commander Tarva met Captain Anthony at Air Lock Two suit
room at precisely 1730.
    "Have you gotten much rest since coming aboard?" he asked
her.  "I know you've been extremely busy."
    "I've gotten enough, Sir" she replied as she opened her
bag.
    The current version space suit had two main layers the
first was a gray jump-suit with bio-tech connections.  It was
worn over the standard tight shorts and tank top under
uniform.  The jump-suit even had built in feet which then fit
into the boot liner.  These parts and the glove liners which
attached to the jump-suit where carried in the bag.
    Tarva saw that the captain had noticed her knife which
she had to take off to fit into the jump-suit.
    "You know" he said "General Star Fleet regulations do not
allow personal weapons to be carried while on duty."
    "Yes I am aware of the regs, Sir" She said "but there are
also the amendments for preservation of Federation cultures."
    At that his face lit up "Ah yes," he smiled "the Kalonian
Simtar, I should have known." he than held out his hand and
said "May I".
    This was a very presumptuous thing to do.  Anybody who
knew about the Kalonian Simtar would know it would only be
voluntarily surrendered to a very close friend or family
member.  Traditionally only parents, children and mates would
be considered 'very close'.
    The Captain must have known this, when she handed it to
him he looked extremely satisfied.  He carefully pulled it
from the sheath just far enough to see the full blade.  The
blade's finish was flat black while the edges had been honed
to a bright polished black.  One full side was sharpened and
about a third of the other side while the tip curved up
toward the shorter edge.  He snapped the blade back into it's
sheath and handed it back to his First Officer.  He had it
less than thirty seconds.
    "I hear they have become extremely difficult to find even
on Kalon." he said as he activated his suit lowering
mechanism.
    "That's true, sir." Tarva said as she stepped into the
bottom half of her suit.  "The ebon metal the blade is made
of has become extremely rare.  While the demand has
increased.  The return to traditionalism has made it
extremely difficult for the families like mine who have
always maintained traditional values."
    Anthony had to wait while he lowered his helmet into
place and secured it.  He then turned on his intercom and
waited while Tarva's suit was secured.  Before putting on the
suit gloves she placed the Simtar in her bag with the rest of
her uniform and placed them in a locker.
    While she was doing this Captain Anthony asked "Was it
difficult to find this Simtar?"
    "Actually, Sir" she said "this Simtar was given to my
father by my mother when she asked him to be her mate.  I
inherited both of their Simtars after their bodies were
recovered."
    "I'm sorry, Tarva," Anthony said "I didn't realize. I
shouldn't have brought it up."
    Tarva stood up straight, looked at Captain Anthony
through her helmet and said proudly "It is a great honor on
Kalon for mates to die together in battle."
    Captain Anthony knew he was digging himself into a hole
so he merely secured his gloves gave her a slight salute and
motioned her toward the air lock.
    At the air lock door they ran systems checks on their
suits.  They then checked with Construction Control to
coordinate the vital signs check.  Next they backed into
large white jet packs.  Their ship's black suits fit securely
into the construction white space walk packs.
    When the outer airlock door opened Tarva stepped out and
fired the maneuvering jets with the Captain right behind her.
She never really appreciated the size of a star ship till she
walked from one.   Down the ship to her right the port warp
drives swept up and down away from the body.  The massive
dull gray hull made her feel extremely insignificant, like an
insect.
    "Lets go." Captain Anthony said and accelerated to the
cargo pod attached across the top of the upper girders.
    Tarva followed without hesitation, it was some minutes
before they reached the top of the pod.  They landed on a
black girder and looked toward the pod.  "This is the last
shipment?" she said more as a statement than a question.
    "That's right." Captain Anthony Said and pointed to a
large round container being hoisted out of the cargo pod.
The pod's whole top had split down the middle and opened as
two large doors.  The round container had been fitted with
several small rockets along the side and was slowly being
lifted from its place.
    "And that," he said proudly "is my bridge.  There are
also the chips we need to get the transporters operational,
some parts for the anti-matter chambers, and some blocks of
raw hull material."
    "It seems there should be more than that in there."
Tarva said just trying to make conversation.
    Anthony turned toward her so she could see him smile.
"There is." he said  "We are also receiving a shipment of new
space suits."
    Tarva looked down at what she was wearing and said "I
thought these were the newest model?".
    "They are but they were designed for a peaceful mission,
they are not suitable for us."
    Tarva smiled behind her face plate and said "Finally, a
suit designed for a warrior."
    "That's right, a warrior on a ship that does not exist
and is crewed by ghosts."
    The pair stood over the saucer section and looked down
into the open hole they had stood in only hours before.  The
plate that had been the roof was now attached to the girders
below them.  The bridge was slowly maneuvered into place over
the hole.  The channels on the sides of the hole had to match
up perfectly with pegs on the side of the bridge.  If all had
been manufactured perfectly this would insure all connections
would fit correctly.
    When the bridge was started into the hole and the pegs
rested on the edges the side rockets were removed and rockets
on the top were used to rotate the bridge into place.  After
the side pegs came over the proper channels large clamps
grabbed the pegs and pulled the bridge down into the very
snug fitting hole.  When it reached the bottom of the
channels the bridge rotated a meter to lock into place.
    Once it was locked in a systems check was conducted to
test the connections.  A collar then expanded from the ship
to seal the slight gap left between the bridge and the ship.
A cap of composite material was then fit over the bridge to
blend it smoothly with the rest of the saucer section.
    "Lets go take a look at our bridge" Captain Anthony said
stepping off the girder and accelerating toward the
Vigilante.
                  T H E   V I G I L A N T E
                             II
                      "The Shakedown"



    Commander Tarva and Captain Anthony stood in front of the
turbo lift door waiting to enter the bridge.  Commander Tarva
spoke into her communicator with Construction waiting for the
bridge to be pressurized.  When life support was established
the turbo lift door opened.
    Captain Anthony and Commander Tarva were alone when they
stepped onto the bridge.  Only the emergency lights shining
down from hidden recesses illuminated the bridge.  The major
color scheme was gray with black accents.  There seemed to be
more chairs than expected all tightly wrapped in plastic.
    Before they could make it half way around the bridge the
turbo lift two opened allowing the construction crew in.
They immediately crawled under the control banks and opened
other panels.  Slowly computer screens began to light up and
the main lights came on showing the whole bridge.
    Tarva and Captain Anthony without saying a word to each
other began tearing the plastic off the chairs.  Each station
had a chair and was well designed for total access.  The
current trend in star ship bridges was to have several
stations as standing positions, no chairs available.  In the
Vigilante this could cause a problem if they ever actually
tried to use the controlled worm hole effect.
    The chairs had high backs with emergency restraints and
belts.  The bridge had the standard layout with Captain in
the middle of the Bridge.  Pilot and Navigator in front of
and to either side of the Captain.  Next to the Captain on
the left was the Security station.  On the other side of the
Captain was the First Officer station.  The five stations in
the middle of the bridge each had a wrap around counsel.  The
Captain's chair also had special controls on the restraint
arms.  The Captain and First Officer's consoles were designed
mainly for ship wide communications they could also be
quickly reconfigured for all other bridge functions.
    Tarva tried her chair out for size.  The cloth seat
seemed to form to fit.  The worker laying under her console
stood up and pushed a button on it.  The console lit up and
Tarva recognized it as a standard console with emphasis on
communications.
    She pushed a button and said "Attention, all bridge crew
please report to the bridge."

    As the last of the Bridge shifts showed up the last of
the white coveralled workers was leaving.  More than fifteen
people stood on the front of the bridge in front of the main
view screen.  Many appeared to have been gotten out of bed,
they were yawning and didn't have perfectly groomed hair.
    Captain Anthony sat in his chair and waited while First
Officer Tarva did a roll call of the crew before him.
Behind him stood Chief Engineer Dolittel and Chief of
Security Norton.
    "Sir, all present." Tarva said and took her seat next to
him.
    The Captain stood up and said "Welcome to the bridge of
the U.S.S. Vigilante.  Until now the only bridge we've had
use of has been the incomplete emergency bridge.
    "Your next project will be to start running total
diagnostics on your stations.  You will also be responsible
for absolute knowledge of your station.  Your next mission
will be to form a working knowledge of all other stations
plus an in depth knowledge of at least one other related
station.  I want this bridge busy until we launch.  In three
days we will begin running simulations.  You have until then
to at least start learning your stations.
    "One more thing, Lieutenant Commander Dolittel." Anthony
said and turned to face him.
    "Yes, Sir" Dolittel said coming to attention.
    "I have decided that the position of Chief Engineer is
too important for someone with the rank of Lieutenant
Commander." Anthony paused and watched Dolittel squirm a bit
then continued.  "As you all may remember the announced
policy of maintaining rank till the end of the mission.  This
leaves me in an awkward position since I do not wish one of
my most important positions to be occupied by a light
commander.  So I have two choices either second guess one of
my policies or second guess my First Officer."
    He paused and stepped toward Dolittel then said "I'm
sorry" he paused "I can not second guess my First Officer,
Congratulations Commander Dolittel."  Captain Anthony finally
smiled and shook Dolittel's hand.
    "Thank you" Dolittel said, for once at a loss for words.
    Captain Anthony turned back toward the crew and checked
his time "It appears to be time for the third shift, the rest
are dismissed."
    Short, to the point meetings seemed to be Captain
Anthony's style.  The crew would have to get used to being
pulled out bed for meetings and other whims of the Captain.

    Tarva was the first after the Captain to congratulate
Commander Dolittel.  She then said "I have some more good
news for you.  It's time to move."  Tarva then reached over
to a nearby computer console and punched up a ships diagram.
    "Finally" Dolittel said with a wide smile.
    "I have assigned the newly finished section here by
engineering to you and all of your personnel.  It will be
your responsibility to assign quarters."
    Dolittel looked at the diagram and said "They're all
doubles, surly there is enough room on this ship to give the
200 crew here their own billets."
    "Actually there are two singles in the section I have
assigned to you.  As for the rest of the available housing we
are expecting more crew to transfer after the first space
trials.  In fact the bunk rooms we have been staying in will
be mostly for their use."
    "You mean they finished the rooms we didn't need first,
what were they thinking?"
    "They were thinking that it would take almost half the
time to get a fewer number of larger quarters ready. Thus
allowing us to board earlier."
    Tarva then smiled and said "Now if you'll excuse me I
have some packing to do."

    Tarva's new quarters were near the middle of the saucer
section near the Captain's.  They were small compared to any
officer quarters on the Enterprise.  There were two 'rooms'
separated by slight dividers.  Tarva wearing her black robe
sat cross legged in the middle of the bed staring at the
mirror on a near by wall.  She was not looking at her self
but reflecting on the nightmares that had been plaguing her.
    When the explosion on the Eclipse threw her and the
Captain into the escape pod it had ripped her face open.  She
barely had the strength to hit the eject mechanism before the
final explosion ripped the Eclipse apart.  The Captain's body
had protected her from most of the explosion but left her
trapped in the escape pod with it.  She then drifted for
several days before being picked up.
    When she was rescued, she was unconscious and stayed that
way for quite sometime.  Her face was bandaged and she was
extremely weak when she finally woke.
    The realization she was the only survivor still plagued
her.  As chief of security it was her duty to do all she
could to protect the crew of the Eclipse.  She knew they were
up against an irresistible force and that the destruction of
the Eclipse was not her fault.  The honor however, bred into
a Kalonian warrior haunted her every night.  She was being
torn apart by the loss of her ship and the honor of returning
the war to the Borg.

    Commander Norton watched First Officer Tarva approach the
entrance to the cargo bay.  It had been several hours since
the meeting on the bridge.  Tarva had expressed interest in
the shipment of the new pressure suits.  Now that he was
about to start putting them together she wished to be
present.
    First Officer, Commander Sashon Tarva was an interesting
colleague.  After his arrival on the Vigilante Commander
Tarva had approached him about his position.  She said that
she knew that he was much more qualified for First Officer.
The Captain however was under the impression that he had no
aspiration for a higher position and would much prefer Chief
of Security.  If the Captain were mistaken Commander Tarva
said that she would talk to him about correcting the error.
Commander Norton had no desire for any higher command
position, his goals were different than most Star Fleet
officers.
    "Sir," Commander Norton said when Tarva arrived "My crew
has begun assembling the first pressure suits."
    "Very good, Commander" Tarva said "Lets have a look".
    When they entered the cargo bay they found it filled with
shipping containers.  Several stood open while the black
uniformed security and engineering crew pieced together
several pressure suits.
    The suits like all other aspects of the ship had an
unfamiliar design.  Instead of the standard ribbed design
they had flat almost armor like panels on the chest and back.
All panels were solid instead of flexible ribs.  They also
had very pronounced hinged joints.
    Commander Tarva had expected the suits to be black to
match the current color scheme of all the other uniforms.
These suits however where a dull gray like the hull of the
ship.
    Tarva walked around one of the suits, looked at Norton
and said "They look like something out of the dark ages."
    "They are." came a voice from the cargo bay door.
    "Sir" Tarva and Norton said together, it was Captain
Anthony.
    "As you said, we needed pressure suits for warriors."
Anthony said as he walked up to them.  "The NM-1s are more
than pressure suits they are suits of armor."
    The Captain turned to one of the crew and said "Is one of
these completed?"
    The crewman pointed to one of the suits hanging on a
shipping container.
    "Have you completed complete systems diagnostics on it?"
    "It was the first thing we did before unpacking any other
suits, Sir" was the reply.
    Anthony than turned to Norton and said "Your phaser
please."
    Without hesitation Commander Norton handed the Captain
his phaser.  Captain Anthony then made a point of showing
everybody he was setting it to maximum power.  This would be
enough to vaporize just about anything smaller than a
standard shuttle.
    "Stand back" he said and poured an extended phaser beam
into the suit.  The suit and container jumped back from the
force of the blast.  Heat poured from the suit and the cargo
container buckled from it.  All present had to cover their
eyes and faces from it.
    The heat from the suit subsided quickly but the cargo
container continued to glow.  Anthony turned to one of the
technicians and said "Run a new diagnostics on it.  I also
want to see a copy of its internal atmospheric record."
    "Aye, Sir" said the crewman and pulled out a special NM-1
diagnostics tricorder which had come with the new suits.
    After a couple of minutes of running the diagnostics the
crewman said "All systems check out in perfect working
order."
    The atmospheric report showed that the temperature inside
the suit had risen a total of 10 degrees Celsius during the
phaser blast.  It might have been uncomfortable but it
wouldn't have been harmful.
    "These suits are made of a similar material as the hull
of The Vigilante." Captain Anthony said giving the phaser
back to Norton.  "The material is different than our hull, it
has a much denser cell structure and disperses much more
energy as heat.  The reason our hull is not made of it is
that it takes ten times the current hull material to make the
suit material.  To protect even more the suits also have
built in deflector shields."
    Anthony then pointed to the life support pack.  "The NM-1
suits also have an extended life support range of up to five
days.  They have built in maneuvering jets, they're suppose
to be even better than the space walk packs we use now."
    Commander Norton decided to speak up "If these suits are
made of basically the same material as the hull does that
mean that scanners will not penetrate them?"
    Captain Anthony smiled and said "So they tell me, anybody
want to find out?"
    With very little discussion it was decided that Commander
Norton should be the first to try on the new suit.  It took a
while to configure a suit to fit his large frame, but it
would have to be done eventually.  After suiting up he walked
around and tested the joints.  The suit fit extremely snug on
him, but this was to compensate for vacuum of space.
    "This isn't to bad" he said "It's much lighter then the
standard suit."  He than began studying the control panels on
one of his lower arms where's the cloaking button?" he said
with a wide grin.
    "They weren't able to reduce the circuitry to install in
the suit by shipping time"  Anthony replied seriously.
    "You mean they were trying to cloak our pressure suits
too?  They really were pulling out all of the stops." Tarva
said.
    "Actually if you want to be precise these pressure suits
are not intended for the large portion of the crew currently
on the Vigilante." Captain Anthony said.  "The only ones who
will be issued the NM-1 are command staff and security.  The
rest will be issued to the new crew we will be picking up
after the space trials have begun."
    He turned back to Commander Norton and said lets check
the standard tricorder readings.  The crewman with NM-1
diagnostic tricorder replaced it with a standard tricorder.
After Norton put on the helmet and lowered the face shield
the crewman started walking around him.
    The tricorder made it's usual buzzing and whirling
sounds, after a few minutes he said "The tricorder doesn't
even pickup the suit's energy pack.  It does however show a
smaller solid object like a rock of indeterminate make up
about a meter high."
    More than a meter was cut off Norton's height.  All
present were extremely impressed.
    As Commander Norton was getting out of his pressure suit
Commander Dolittel and Doctor Cembera hailed Captain Anthony.
They announced that the ship's cloaking was available for
testing.  Captain Anthony agreed, he thought it was also a
good time to run scanner tests on the Vigilante.
    "Commander Tarva, have the scanner prepared Drop Ship
readied for a mission in two hours." Captain Anthony said.

    The Drop Ship swung around to face the Vigilante in it's
space dock.  Ensign O'Malley had become the resident D S
pilot. She still insisted she was a Star Ship navigator not a
Drop Ship pilot.  Nevertheless here she sat with Captain
Anthony sitting in the co-pilot's seat the First Officer
standing behind him and the Chief of security standing behind
her.  It was enough to make even the most experienced Drop
Ship pilot(if there was one) nervous.
    Captain Anthony was busily working the scanners that had
been installed for this exercise.  He looked up and smiled,
"I read this side of the space dock structure without
problem" he reported.  "I can count every soul in
Construction offices and housing.  The structure on the far
side of the ship appears to be fuzzy.  From the scanners I
would say that a small tug size vessel may be in dock.  I
however do not read any life forms on the vessel."
    Commander Tarva smiled and said "A standard tug is less
than a quarter the mass of the Vigilante and only has two
warp engines.  Currently there are over two hundred crew and
construction personnel on the Vigilante."
    Tarva then pulled her oversized communicator out of one
of her pockets and said "Engage cloaking."
    "Acknowledged" came back Dolittel's voice.
    The Vigilante shimmered a bit and disappeared.  The
girders on the far side of the ship became visible.  The only
odd part were the few supports connecting the Vigilante with
space dock, they seemed to be cut off at mid point.
    Captain Anthony spoke up with an update from the scanners
"Scanners now show no presence of the Vigilante and clearly
define the whole space dock.  This is going to be a very
interesting mission."


    The dull gray Vigilante hung in the black girders of it's
space dock backed by the turbulent orange of TE-4.  On one of
the girders stood a lone figure in a gray pressure suit
similar in color to the ship.  All four warp engines glowed
blue from testing.
    Captain Anthony hadn't had time to look at his ship since
the crew boarded.  It was now two months later and this may
be the last time he would see the Vigilante from the outside.
They were scheduled to begin space trials today.  After
leaving space dock they would not return to the Tau-Epsilon
system, any problems that came up they were required to fix
on their own.  Because of this policy all systems were being
meticulously checked before the trials began.
    "Preparing to release supports" came a voice from
Construction Control.
    "Acknowledged" Anthony said as he stepped off the girder
and fired his maneuvering controls "Vigilante, engage
stabilizer engines."
    "Aye, Aye, Sir" replied Commander Tarva.
    As Anthony came down over the top starboard warp drive he
could see the relatively small stabilizer rockets begin
firing while the supports from space dock were released.  The
stabilizer rockets were computer controlled to keep the
Vigilante in a relatively fixed position.  In this case the
fixed position was in relation to the space dock.
    "Commander Dolittel, what is our earliest estimated time
of departure" Anthony said to his suit's communicator when he
entered the air lock.
    "I can have us ready for departure in six hours" said
Dolittel almost immediately.
    "You have two" said Anthony with a smile.
    "I think we may be able to pull that off." was Dolittel's
smart reply.
    Captain Anthony knew that John Dolittel seemed to always
tripled his actual estimates.  Dolittel had said he started
it when he was in the Academy just to give himself room for
error.  He than found that it made himself and his team look
good when they came in under their estimated times.  Now he
just did it out of habit, it had just become expected of him.

    Captain Anthony sat in his place on the bridge in front
of him to his right sat the red headed Ensign O'Malley who
was Picard's contribution to his crew.  Picard had made a
good choice in this one she not only was a highly qualified
navigator but had proven herself a fine Drop Ship pilot.  She
also had something in common with many of her fellow crew,
she had a personal interest in the Borg.
    Ensign O'Malley's father, Doctor Peter O'Malley was
killed when the Borg destroyed his ship.  With eleven
thousand personnel killed and nearly forty star ships
destroyed the one encounter with a Borg ship touched all
members of Star Fleet personally one way or another.
    Captain Anthony reflected on how many of his crew came to
be on the Vigilante because of that one battle with the Borg.
Commander Tarva was the lone survivor of the Eclipse, Ensign
O'Malley lost her only family, and many others qualified for
the no family, no attachments, provisions of the mission for
the same reason.
    As he sat waiting for the launching of the United Star
Ship Vigilante Captain Anthony felt extreme satisfaction.  He
too met all requirements of the mission thanks to the one
battle with the Borg and Locutus.  His last command the USS
Nielsen was destroyed in the battle.  He had been on Star
Base A-6 recovering from a sever bout of Anturi Flu.  The
medical facilities on the Nielsen had not been adequate for
his recovery.  The Nielsen had just docked at Star Base and
transferred him to it's infirmary when the call came.  The
Nielsen was to join the armada in a last ditch stand against
the Borg.
    Captain Anthony was unconscious the whole time until the
Nielsen was destroyed.  When all life on the Nielsen ended
Anthony woke up screaming.  They told him he screamed for an
hour after waking.  The reports of the defeat had not yet
reached Star Base A-6.  In fact Captain Anthony was not aware
he wasn't on the Nielsen.  The news of the destruction of the
Nielsen dropped Anthony into a shock induced comma.  With the
death of the Nielsen his life ended too.  His wife, lover,
best friend was also his First Officer.  She was in command
in his absence, she would have faced the Borg in his place.
She had died without him by her side as they had always
promised each other.  After waking from the comma his hair
started to come in gray.  Now just a few years later his jet
black hair was almost all gray.
    After the destruction of the Nielsen, Captain Robert
Anthony lost all desire to have anything to do with Star
Fleet.  He moved to the pioneer planet, Infiniti West and
settled down to a life of isolation.
    Infiniti West was a colony planet with an environment
similar to earth.  During the early days of colonization,
Infiniti West was settled by a group that spurned all
technology.  Their goal was to establish a colony based on
the pioneer life style of 18th century North America.
Infiniti West's varied climates made it ideal for
adventurers.  From seemingly endless tracks of ancient
forests to expansive hostile deserts to mountain ranges that
made anything on Earth look puny.  Infiniti West had
something for everyone.
    There was a small Star Fleet station in orbit, that
helped control visitors to the planet.  It's main function
was as a base station for scientists studying Infiniti West's
immense ecology.
    Robert Anthony lived in a small stone dwelling he found
in the high mountain region of the main continent.  The cabin
was just below the mountain's tree line.  In the foot hills
was a small trading post catering to the local trappers and
home stedders.  For over a year he lived alone seeing only an
occasional trapper.
    His solitude ended when he came back from a hunting trip
to find two Star Fleet officers examining his cabin.  One was
a taller bearded man but the other gave away who they were,
the gold skinned android Data was a signature of the
Enterprise.
    "Captain Robert Anthony?" said the android.
    Anthony dropped the carcass of a six legged furry animal
onto a stone table in his yard.  Then jumped down from his
horse.  The horse whinnied and backed a few steps from Data.
Horses had been scattered through out the stars from Earth
and they still seemed to know when something wasn't natural.
    "Captain is a Star Fleet title" Anthony said as he began
to walk the horse to it's carrel. "and Robert is what my wife
called me."
    "I'm William T. Riker First Officer of the U.S.S.
Enterprise" said the bearded man "This is Mr Data".
    Anthony put the horse in it's carrel and began removing
the saddle.  He turned to the two officers and said curtly
"What do you want with me?"
    Mr Data began relating their story, it turned out they
had been searching Infiniti West for several months.  A team
had finally been able to locate him when they found the small
trading post and heard of a large loner in the mountains
every one called Star Fleet.
    Thus began the drawn out negotiations as they tried to
convince him to return to Star Fleet.  The Enterprise had
already spent two months in orbit around Infiniti West with
many teams looking for him.  They now seemed quite intent on
not leaving until he agreed to come with them.  After more
than two weeks he rode his horse to the trading post, where
he gave his few possessions to the only person he thought of
as a friend, the merchant he did most of his business with.
    Riker, dressed in the local style outfit he had worn
during the search met him at the trading post.  Together they
beamed up to the Enterprise and Robert Anthony rejoined the
elite rank of Star Fleet Captains.

    "Captain, this is engineering, we're ready any time you
are." It was Dolittel in his usual informal manner.
    "Construction Control," Captain Anthony said "the USS
Vigilante is ready to leave the nest."
    "It's been a wonderful experience" came Doctor Cembera's
voice in reply.
    Doctor Cembera stood in Construction Control.  She
watched as the Vigilante slowly moved out from under her.  It
had a preset course of test maneuvers to run while leaving
the system.  They had to make sure all the bolts were tight
before trying the warp drives.  Once they were out of the
Tau-Epsilon system though, they would never return.  Doctor
Cembera had a tear in her eye as if watching an only child go
off to war.
    "Doctor" came a voice from beside her.
    "Yes"
    "Memory Alpha reports they are ready to begin shipping
the hulks you requested."
    Doctor Cembera continued to watch the Vigilante slide
silently away then said "Tell them to proceed."

    The trip out of the Tau Epsilon system was an anti-climax
for the crew.  After so many hours of work few even knew they
had even gotten under way.  The ship performed flawlessly
during the maneuvers through the system.
    Before entering warp Captain Anthony ordered the cloaking
engaged.  It was standard operating procedure that the
Vigilante run cloaked.  It would not do for anybody to get a
look at her while she remained 'Top Secret'.  The trip
through the Tau Epsilon system would be the only time they
would run uncloaked while the cloaking was functional.  For
the cloaking to function the deflector shields only needed to
be at 10% power.
    "Set course to Predetermined Test Coordinates three"
Anthony said.
    "Aye" Ensign O'Malley said while entering the course.
    "Warp one, engage"
    "Warp one engaged" said the middle aged human sitting in
the Helmsman's seat.
    "Engineering, how are we doing?"
    "I thought we were going to test this thing." said
Dolittel "Not just push her about."
    "Warp five, engage" Anthony said.
    "Warp five engaged" returned the Helmsman.
    There was no obvious difference between sitting in space
dock and traveling at warp five except the view screen no
longer showed TE-4 below them.
    The Vigilante spent the next week testing the engines for
extended periods of time below warp 9.6.  Finally Captain
Anthony decided it was time to test the Vigilante's
acceleration to warp 9.6 from sub warp.
    "Sir, all hands report ready for acceleration test."
Commander Tarva reported.
    Once again Captain Anthony didn't expect to notice
anything special when they jumped to high warp.  He couldn't
help but wonder if they might sense something.
    "Sir, test coordinates set for warp 9.6 acceleration
test." Ensign O'Malley said.
    "Warp 9.6, engage" Captain said.
    "Warp 9.6 engaged." replied the helmsman than immediately
reported "Current velocity, warp 9.6"
    Anthony thought he felt a slight acceleration but nothing
substantial.  They achieved warp 9.6 almost instantly and the
Vigilante didn't seem to be effected in any way.
    "Engineering, hold current velocity and begin complete
diagnostic tests, on engines, all systems and ship's
structures." Captain Anthony said then headed to his ready
room.
    When he got into his ready room he began preparing a
sub-space transmission to a small colony world near the
Romulan Neutral Zone.

    "Captain Anthony, Sir" came Dolittel's voice over the
intercom.
    "Anthony here"
    "All tests complete, the Vigilante has held warp 9.6 for
seven hours with no adverse effects."
    "Very good, prepare to come out of warp."
    Captain Anthony walked back onto the bridge, his crew was
busy running continuous high warp test.  "Helm, bring us out
of warp."
    "Aye, Sir".
    "Ensign O'Malley, Plot the best possible course to the
Romulan Neutral Zone, sector 5876.34."
    Ensign O'Malley pushed a few buttons on her panel. Then
said "Course plotted ,Sir."
    "At warp 9.6 what would be the estimated time of travel?"
    Ensign O'Malley pushed a few more buttons and said "Two
weeks, three days two hours, eighteen minutes.."
    "Very good," Captain Anthony said and took his seat.
"Set new course as plotted, warp nine, engage."
    "Ensign O'Malley on present course what would be the
estimated time of arrival using controlled worm hole effect?"
    Ensign O'Malley turned to a second console that appeared
tacked on to her normal console.  After pushing several
buttons, looking at the display and repeating she said "If we
are able to cancel the Worm hole after exactly two minutes 43
point 7676543 seconds we should emerge in sector 5876.34."
     Anthony thought a second and said "How long is that
figure good for?"
    "Sir, taking into account our current speed and the size
of sector 5876.43, about 6 minutes.  After that the
fractional seconds would begin making a significant
difference."
    "Recalculate the timing for fifteen minutes from now and
feed it to my station."  Anthony had configured his console
to control the worm-hole effect along with helm and
navigation.
    He then pushed the worm hole warning alarm.  A loud
claxon began blaring from the ship wide intercom.  Another
button shut the claxon off on the bridge.  The view screen
began showing a count down to the controlled worm hole.  The
bridge crew began strapping themselves into their seats for
the first time.  While all over the bridge on duty and off
duty personnel took their own seats.  Many crew had been woke
out of comfortable beds not knowing what was going on.
    The view screens in each cabin announced the planned
maneuvered.  Each cabin also came equipped with Rough Duty
chairs usually built into a wall as part of the decor.  All
chairs had occupant sensors activated during the worm hole
warning.  The computer was able to report when all personnel
were accounted for.
    "Controlled worm hole count down initiated." Captain
Anthony said almost sarcastically after shutting the bridge
claxon off.
    As Commander Tarva watched the count down approach zero
she couldn't help but think this could be their actual first
step to meet the Borg or it could all end right now.
    "Shields at Maximum" she heard Commander Norton report
just before she saw the view screen rush at her.  It felt as
if she was being crushed on a high gravity planet.  She could
feel her seat begin to wrap around her and heard a female
voice begin to scream.  In front of her Ensign O'Malley
bucked against the restraints and belts, it must of been her
screaming.  Other voices began to fill her head as the rest
of the bridge crew joined the chorus of screams.  She watched
Ensign O'Malley start screaming in pain and soon heard the
new female voice.  Tarva realized that she must have heard
her own voice to begin with.
    As the count down on the view screen approached the shut
down point Tarva thought she could feel the ship bump or
shift a little.  The ship seemed to begin to fall away from
her.  She felt like she was alternately hanging from the
restraint belts and being pushed back into the chair.  The
timer on the view screen counted passed the set shut down
point.
    The Vigilante seemed to tumble end over end through the
worm hole it's own warp drives had created.  The effect was
no longer controlled by the Vigilante.  Tarva knew something
was wrong by the change in the felt effect and tried to reach
for her own controls which proved at first quite elusive.
    After bringing up helm station she began issuing shut
down and stabilization commands to the drive systems.
Nothing seemed to have any effect finally she started
desperate maneuvers including reverse warp.  Anything to
break out of the worm hole.  When the Vigilante finally broke
out,  the crew blacked out.
    Tarva woke to the sound of a moaning bridge crew.  The
view screen showed 3 minutes 22 seconds of worm hole effect.
The other members were slowly regaining conciseness.  Tarva
unbuckled the straps and opened her restraints.  Ensign
O'Malley was already standing and stretching.
    Captain Anthony hit his intercom and said "Engineering,
Dolittel what the hell happened to us?"
    "I don't know, we're trying to figure that out now. "
Dolittel said groggily.
    Tarva saw Ensign O'Malley punching buttons on her
console. "Ensign O'Malley, report what is our present
location?"
    "According to the Star Charts we're well within the
Romulan Empire."
    "I was afraid of that" the Captain muttered.
    "Bridge this is Engineering"
    "Go ahead" Tarva said.
    "Sir we'll have to shut down all power to shields and
engines so we can effect repairs to number three warp engine"
    "Commander Dolittel we are in the middle of the Romulan
Empire we may be needing the warp drives and shields.  Do we
currently have shields and cloaking?"
    "Yes sir, shields are at 40 percent and cloaking is
activated."
    "Do we have maneuvering capabilities?"
    "Engines one and two are on line engine four will remain
inoperative until engine three comes back on line.  Our
current sustainable top speed is warp 7 and the so called
controllable worm hole is inoperative."
    "Ensign O'Malley, at warp 7 how long will it take to get
our original destination?" Anthony said turning to his
navigator.
    The Ensign punched a few buttons and reported "Four
weeks, three days ".
    "and Warp 9.6?"
    Ensign O'Malley reentered her figures and said "One week
five days."
    "Engineering, what is the estimated time for repairs and
corrections to warp coil?"
    "We should be able to do it in three days." was
Dolittel's reply.
    Dolittel thought for a bit and said to his first officer
"If we commence with these repairs we're going to need some
place to hide.  We don't want to be hanging in the middle of
Romulan territory with all systems off line.  No matter how
well our hull protects us from sensors."
    "Agreed, Sir, What do you have in mind." Tarva Said.
    "Since the Romulans may have detected our worm hole this
may not be the best place to hang out.  Ensign O'Malley is
there an uninhabited star system in this area?"
    "Sir, Sensors show two systems in this sector, our
records of Romulan space are not detailed enough to give
specific habitation information.  One system however is a red
dwarf star and it is very unlikely there would be any
colonies there but there may be a science outpost."
    "Set course for the red dwarf system"
    "Course plotted and set" O'Malley said immediately.
    "At warp 7 what is our ETA?"
    "two days seven hours twenty three minutes, Sir"
    "Sir," Commander Norton interrupted "Romulan war bird
uncloaking about ten kilometers off port bow."
    "Have they seen us?" Tarva asked.
    "Not yet, they're apparently here to investigate the worm
hole.  They are doing intensive sensor sweeps of the area.
Weapons are unarmed and shields are at a minimum."
    Tarva looked at the image Norton had put up on the
screen. "If they were able to get here that fast we must be
in a heavily travel sector."
    "Agreed," Anthony said "set course to red dwarf system
full impulse.  Lets put a little distance between us before
going to warp.  We don't know how good their motion detectors
are. Engage
    "Engineering"
    "Commander Dolittel here"
    "Commander, we will be in position for you to effect your
repairs in about three days"
    "Very good, Dolittel out"
    Anthony then turned to Commander Norton "Have the spotted
us yet?"
    "Not yet sir, the war bird is still directing sensors at
the area of the worm hole exit."
    "Very good, Helm, warp 7, engage".
    The Vigilante jumped to warp seven and headed toward the
red dwarf.

    There were no research stations or other habitats in the
system.  There were several small planets and a gas giant,
the vigilante dropped into a close orbit around the giant and
tried to hide in its electromagnetic aura.
    Engineering crawled into the warp engines to fix the bad
coil and test the other three.  The rest of the crew began
running extensive diagnostics of all systems.
    Commander Tarva's aversion to sleep began to catch up
with her.  Captain Anthony ordered her to her cabin until the
warp drives were back on line.  He made it quite clear that
she was not to return to the bridge unless ordered there.
    Tarva was wearing the under uniform shorts and tank top
while exercising in her cabin.  She had set up several
gadgets for more efficient exercise.  A chin-up bar was
stretched between the room dividers and a slanted sit-up
board was in her front room.  Her hair was rolled in to a bun
at the back of her head and she was soaked with sweat.  This
is how Commander Norton found her when he came to visit.
    "Your suppose to be resting" he said as she wiped sweat
from her high Kalonian forehead.
    She looked around the room and said "I am relaxing."
then head to the head.
    "I don't think this is what the Captain had in mind"
Simon said as he dropped into one her chairs.  Because of
their similar experiences they had become fast friends.
    Simon Norton heard Tarva taking a shower and had time to
reflect on the circumstances which brought him here.  He had
spent his childhood on a planet called Hellguard.  It was a
planet the Romulans occasionally dumped their half breed
children born of captives.  He was approximately twenty when
was he found as an emaciated stow away on a pirate freighter
that had visited Hellguard.  They put him to work as slave
labor and it took him nearly two years to escape to a
Federation colony.
    His first task was to create a new life.  He started by
picking a new name.  He decided a human name would be as
fresh a beginning as he could get.  After many years he was
finally able to work his way to Earth and petition to the
Academy for a scholarship.  Thanks to the long life
associated with being half Vulcan and half Romulan he was not
considered too old.
    He was finally content, after years of hopping from ship
to ship he was finally on the most powerful Star Ship Star
Fleet had ever conceived.
    Tarva came out from her shower wearing her short black
robe and her wet hair tied up in a towel.  She sat cross
legged on her bed and said "How are the repairs coming?"
    "Commander Dolittel reports that the repairs are coming
along on schedule.  We should be able to continue the tests
of the Vigilante in a day or so."
    "Very good we have a lot to do before we can embark on
our mission.  Has there been any more signs of Romulans in
the area?"
    "We've been keeping a constant passive scanner watch
since taking the shields and warp drives off line.  There has
been no sign of activity in this area."
    "This all seems too easy."
    "The right equipment can make a difficult job seem easy."
    Tarva smiled at this cliche, Simon seemed to like
cliches.  She responded with her own "Yes but sometimes when
things seem to be going right something has got to go wrong."
    They both laughed at their exchange of cliches, Norton
then got serious.
    "Sashon," very few people knew her personal name and
fewer yet would ever use it, "you haven't been sleeping much
since coming on board, we all know it, is there anything I
can do to help?"
    Tarva sat up stiff "A Kalonian does not need as much
sleep as other members of the Federation." she said proudly.
    Simon was not impressed, he seldom was, "You haven't
answered my question.  From one suspicious personality to
another, something is wrong, you can't hide it from me.  I
know you too well".
    Tarva made a point of looking at her time piece and
announced "It is time for me to sleep, we can finish this
conversation at a later date."
    Knowing he was at a bulk head he stood bowed slightly
from the hips and walked out.
    Tarva assumed her cross legged meditation position.  It
did not give her the absolute rest every body eventually
needed.  It did however give her some rest and the dreams
didn't come.
    ...Tarva lay in the escape pod barely conscious.  She
could see out of her right eye but only barley.  She could
feel a weight laying across her body.  With great effort she
managed to pull herself out and look down at it.  The remains
of her Captain still lay partially on her.  His black skin
was barely recognizable through the blood and lacerations.
Most of the front of the body had taken the force of the
explosion that had thrown them into the pod.  Much of the
flesh and muscle had been blackened from the blast.
    As she looked at it the body shuddered and took a labored
breath.  It's eye opened and the burned skull turned to look
at her.  The remains of its mouth and jaw struggled to form
words.
    "You failed" it gasped "The ship is destroyed your
Captain and crew are dead.  How is it that you managed to
save your self?  A Kalonian putting herself ahead of her
comrades who depended her?  Who do you think you are?  Do you
think you really deserve to live?" It had been edging toward
her so it could grab her face.  It started pulling her
towards it, with what was left of it's mouth dangling open.
    Tarva woke thrashing and screaming she was totally soaked
in sweat.  She could still feel hands on her face and
screamed even louder.
    She could feel words in her mind telling her to be calm.
She was safe and nothing could hurt her.  She could still
feel the hands touching her face but now it was calming.  She
thought she could even see her own face with thick light
skinned hands on it.  The nightmare had turned to a dream she
could relax and let her muscles loosen.  Finally she felt
safe enough to open her eyes and see what was real.
    Commander Norton sat above her, his bald head accented by
his pointed ears.  His hands had been the ones she had felt.
He pulled his hands away and looked into her eyes.
    "How do you feel?" he said.
    "What happened?"
    "I wasn't gone more than twenty paces when I came back in
to ask you something.  You had already fallen into a dream, I
could tell it was a nightmare.  As soon as I touched you, you
started screaming.  I only had time to use a mind meld to
calm you as you came out of it."
    "Every time" Tarva finally admitted "I fall a sleep the
dreams of the Eclipse's destruction return.  They change,
they're becoming more vivid, more twisted.  Scenes that would
normally not bother me are scaring me like I've never known.
I've become frightened of sleep, a Kalonian warrior afraid of
her bed.  What have I become?"
    "You need to resolve the guilt you feel of being the only
survivor of the Eclipse." Norton said. "I don't know if I can
help you with that.  It is something you must admit to your
self and cope with it.  I can however use the mind-meld to
perhaps help you sleep better.  Are you willing to let me
try?"
    Tarva thought for a second then looked down at the black
robe plastered to her body with sweat.  "I'll try." she said.
    She then got up and went into her bathroom.  He could see
her open her robe and drop it off her arms as she disappeared
around the corner.
    When Tarva returned she was wearing a robe the same
design as the black one only a dark red.  She still wore the
Simtar on her right shin.  It occurred to him that he had
been extremely lucky she hadn't reached for it when she woke
from the nightmare.
    Tarva got into her bed, for the first time in a long time
under the blanket.  Commander Norton sat in a chair next to
her and lightly touched the sides of her head as if massaging
the temples.
    As she drifted into sleep he assured her the dreams were
an illusion.  This time with his comfort the dreams stayed
away.  He could keep the dreams from her, the guilt she would
have to work out on her own. He did however plant suggestions
to keep the fear away.  Without the terror she had been
experiencing with the nightmares she would be able to sleep.

    Tarva woke to the piping sound on her intercom and
Captain Anthony paging her.  She sat up and looked around
her.  Commander Norton was long gone.  Her red robe was
tangled into the covers of her bed, all she wore was the
Simtar and sheath strapped to her leg.  How long she had been
a sleep she had no idea but she felt totally refreshed.
    "Commander Tarva here" she said as she stood and
stretched.
    "Please report to the bridge immediately"
    "Aye, Sir"
    Tarva looked at her time piece and tried to remember what
time it was when she kicked Simon out the first time.  By her
calculations she must have been asleep over fifteen hours.
    When Tarva arrived on the bridge she hadn't taken the
time to brush and braid her hair as normal.  Instead it lay
rather unruly on the top of her head and a long pony tail
tied in several places hung down her back.
    On the view screen was a distant shot of an uncommon
Romulan ship.  Tarva took her seat next to the Captain
studied the image for a few seconds and said "What is it?"
    "It appears to be a Romulan research vessel of some
kind." Commander Norton said.  "It came out of warp uncloaked
several minutes before we started paging you."
    "What's its projected course?"
    "That's why we've gotten the bridge crew together"
Anthony said "Its current trajectory will put it in orbit
around this planet in about an hour"
    Tarva checked the current ship's configuration.  The
shields and engines were still off line.  The blast shields
were shut to help reduce the Vigilante's sensor profile.
    "Are we going to go into silent running?" she asked.
    "All departments are preparing for the restricted
movements called for by silent running."  Commander Norton
reported "It'll initiate in five minutes."
    "And Engineering?"
    "Engineering, reports all systems should be back online
in six hours.  They are beyond the point of no return and
must finish the repairs before they can bring anything up."
Captain Anthony said seemingly unconcerned.
    "And what is the current plan?" Tarva said looking at her
Captain.
    "We sit and hope they don't see us.  The planet is big
enough, unless they actually see us they shouldn't pick up
any sign of us."
    "Hence the silent running."
    "That's correct, Commander."
    "I hope it works."
    "Your not the only one." Captain Anthony Reclined his
chair slightly and looked at the screen.
    The crew of the Vigilante began a long wait.  They took
their places in the Rough Duty chairs.  All accept essential
activity was curtailed.
    Many automatic systems were discontinued or limited.  The
Turbo lifts ran at one quarter speed unless an emergency over
ride was issued.  Most important however was that the life
support circulation systems were also limited.
    When the Vigilante's orbit took it to the night side of
the planet the temperature dropped to an unusual and
generally uncomfortable 5 degrees Celsius.  On the day side
the temperature rose some what but the hull construction
didn't allow much solar energy to penetrate.  Temperature
changes were expected so all Rough Duty seats were
temperature controllable but it didn't help much.
    Engineering continued their repairs but at a much slower
pace.  Noises from any accidents may be picked up by the
Romulan ship especially if it was a research vessel with
hypersensitive scanners.
    The arms holding the warp drives did not have artificial
gravity.  The engineers working on the drives were carried
through the arms in specially designed turbo lifts.   They
then worked in zero gravity using magnetic tools and holders.
The work required highly skilled personnel and was extremely
dangerous.
    The valve that ruptured had been damaged during the
original mishap.  When it blew, the specialist never new what
hit her.  A large blast of gas crushed her against the
bulkhead it also caused an exterior evacuation valve to blow.
The resulting gas caused a bright orange streak as it burned
in the planet's atmosphere.
    When the emergency lights flashed Ensign O'Malley shifted
the view screen to reverse.  As the bridge crew watched, an
orange streak flared out behind them.
    Captain Anthony turned to his First Officer and said "I
think we're in trouble".
    "Engineering, what happened down there?" Tarva said.
    "Unknown, Sir" came Chief Swanson's voice "Commander
Dolittel is suiting up to take a team to have a look."
    Tarva turned on the view screen and looked at the concern
on Swanson's face. "We're going to need maneuvering as soon
as possible."  Tarva said trying to stress the urgency.
    "Commander," Swanson said "We still needed two hours
before the accident happened."
    "Chief, we need to get this thing moving.  We're also
going to need weapons or your not going to have time to
finish the repairs."  Captain Anthony said.
    Chief Swanson had gone ghost white, dealing with command
was not her job, she was a transporter Chief.  "We'll do what
we can." she said and turned off the screen.
    Anthony turned to Tarva and said "Chief Swanson needs
some help."
    Tarva headed toward the turbo lift issuing the emergency
over ride commands as she went.
    "Sir" it was Ensign O'Malley.
    "Yes, Ensign."
    "Sir, all the drop ships are armed and D.S. Three is
still equipped with cargo latches..."
    "Of course, we can use it to change our orbit, if we have
time.  Commander Norton take Ensign O'Malley, launch two drop
ships, one to provide cover the other to move the Vigilante"
the Captain said.
    "Ensign O'Malley?" Commander Norton asked the Captain.
    "She's the only one on board who's had experience
piloting the tug converted Drop Ship."
    "Very well" Norton said joining the navigator at
turbo-lift two and said to the intercom "Shuttle bay, prepare
drop ships three and seven for emergency use."
    "Acknowledged" was the brief reply.
    As the pair left the bridge Captain Anthony reconfigured
his console for the navigator station.
    As soon as the turbo lift's door closed Commander Norton
started giving additional instructions to the shuttle bay.
    "Commander, Sir, don't we have any other Drop Ship pilots
on board?" Ensign O'Malley asked when Commander Norton
finished talking to the shuttle bay.
    "No, we do not.  The drop ship pilots will be boarded
after the space trials"
    "That helps us a lot now doesn't it?"
    "Well, Ensign, it's keeping you busy."
    The turbo-lift's high speed yellow warning light flashed,
then it jerked to a stop at the shuttle bay.  In the shuttle
bay two Drop Ships waited for launch.  Out side of the lift
two light weight pilot's pressure suits waited for them.
    They had already started removing their baggy black
uniforms while in the lift.  Jackets and boots laying on the
floor of the lift, Commander Norton and Ensign O'Malley
stepped out of their pants as they stepped out of the lift
and into the pressure suits.
    The doors of the Drop Ships stood open and the engines
were already warming up.  As they approached the ships the
shuttle bay doors opened with only a force field between them
and open space.  When they entered their perspective  ships
the lowered steps practically lifted them in as they closed
behind them.
    As soon as she strapped in Ensign O'Malley had Drop Ship
Three powered up for launch.  She watched D.S. Seven launch
and flicker out practically before he was out of the bay.
Janice waited a preset time and launched D.S. Three.  As soon
as she could power back from launch she too engaged the
cloaking.
    Time was of the essence, the gas they leaked had burned
in their orbit.  It's composition caused a solid sensor
reading when it burned.  Her goal was to shift the Vigilante
to a different orbit so the Romulans would be a lot less
likely to find it.  Luckily they had taken an orbit on the
opposite side of the planet but it wouldn't be long before
they spotted the gas trail.
    Immediately after launching, Ensign O'Malley turned D. S.
Three back toward the bulbous main body of the Vigilante.
She skimmed across the hull between the upswept arms of the
top warp engines.  The magnetic couplings were extended
searching for the Vigilante's frame.
    Since the Romulan's sensors would have a very difficult
time finding the Vigilante the largest worry was someone
actually seeing them from a view screen or window.  If They
got close enough to be spotted, D.S. Seven would have to
destroy the Romulan ship before it could report to it's
superiors.  Under no circumstances could the Vigilante allow
it's existence be known by the Romulans.
    The Vigilante was designed with scramblers hopefully
capable of confusing the Borg for an extended period of time.
They were prepared to use the scramblers to prevent the
Romulans from reporting back until D.S. Seven was able to
destroy them.  Hopefully, it would not come to that.
    The feedback from the couplings told her she was over a
likely spot.  Slowly she landed D.S. Three on the hull of the
Vigilante and engaged the couplings at full strength.  The
connection however was not strong because of the composite
hull but it would have to do.
    The Drop Ship's sensors showed the Romulan closing the
gap from the opposite side of the planet.  She had to move
the Vigilante away from the current orbit and try to keep the
planet between them and the Romulan.
    The problem was that because of the weak connection she
could not accelerate quickly.  She had to work slowly and
nudge the Vigilante into a still lower and different orbit.
    "Ensign O'Malley" came Captain Anthony's voice over the
directed beam communications "Their getting close."
    "Sir, I have a weak connection if I accelerate too
quickly I'll lose it.  How much longer till we have cloaking
back on line?"
    "Because of the accident Commander Dolittel estimates
we're back to just under two days."

    The Romulan research vessel Raptor had just returned to
its post.  It's mission was the study of the effects of a
collapsing red star on it's planets.
    "Commander, I read some kind of an anomaly on the
opposite side of the planet." the young female Romulan said
almost apologetically.
    "Elaborate." said an older female Romulan sitting in the
middle of the bridge.
    "I was running standard high altitude atmospheric scans
when I watched an object form and grow in low orbit.  It
reads as a solid cylinder about 10 symtons long.  We are
currently too far away to get an accurate reading on it's
composition." said the young sensor operator.
    "Perhaps we have found a new phenomenon."  said the lead
scientist sitting at another sensor station.
    "Helm, adjust orbit for close inspection of this anomaly"
the Commander said.
    The Raptor adjusted orbit to intercept the anomaly.  As
they approached the sensor operator reported "Sir, it is not
solid, it appears to be a gas that registered solid on the
long range sensors."
    As the lead scientist studied his scanners he reported "I
am not aware of any element that would create that kind of
reading."
    The anomaly was soon close enough to be put on the
screen.  It was a long orange streak that seemed to be fading
into the atmosphere.
    The young sensor operator finished the analysis and said
"Sir it appears to be pure mhalogin gas burning in the
atmosphere."
    "Where did it come from." the Commander said to herself.
    "Did you say mhalogin?" came an older male's voice from
an open door.
    "Yes, Centurian, but mhalogin does not appear naturally
in pure form and is rare in the Empire" the operator said.
    "I know but the Federation uses it to cool warp drives"
the Centurian said.
    With the Centurian's comment the Commander hit the Red
Alert and ordered full shields.  Before the inexperienced
crew was able to bring shields up the ship rocked from an
explosion.
    "What happened?" the Commander shouted.
    "We've been hit" replied the Centurian calmly.
    "Get those shields raised. Damage report, where were we
hit..sensors, who fired on us" the Commander shouted feeling
that she was about to lose her first command.
    The Centurian stood at a console after relieving a much
younger crew member.  "Commander," he said "the shields are
inoperative."
    The bridge rocked from another explosion from a different
side of the ship.  The helm console exploded in the
operator's face.
    "What's happening? Helm, get us out of here.
Communications issue a distress call, tell them we are being
attacked by an unknown force."
    "Commander" the Helmsman said after the sparks died down
from her console. "I get no response from my console and
engineering reports major damage from the last blast.  All
engines are off line."
    "Commander," the senors Operator said "the sensors are
inoperative, all I get is static."
    The Communications Officer said "All communications are
down, I was not able to issue the distress call."
    The Centurian studied the communications console then the
scanners.  "Commander," he said.
    "Centurian" she acknowledge.
    "I believe our scanners and sensors are being jammed.
They were not damaged in either attack.  Also," he said "the
two hits we received were precise, they knew right were to
cripple us with minimal damage."
    The Commander sat down in her chair heavily and looked at
the fading orange streak.  "A trap and we fell right into it.
How did the Federation get into the heart of the Empire
without detection."
    "Maybe they didn't." the Centurian said.
    "What do you mean."
    "Perhaps this is a test.  Perhaps you are being tested
for worthiness for higher command."
    She looked at him suspiciously "If this were the case
wouldn't you be told of it?"
    "I have no such knowledge."
    "Is this how they tested you in your day?"
    "We did not have the precision when I was young to
conduct this kind of test.  I have also never heard of it
being done.  This does not however preclude it from
starting."
    "So you don't have any actual knowledge that this is some
kind of test?"
    "Just the facts so far.  We are in the middle of the
Empire in an inconsequential system.  We have been attacked
by an unseen enemy with such precision that we are totally
helpless but have suffered very light casualties.  In fact so
far there have been no deaths reported.  It is my duty to
report all possible alternatives to you."
    The Communications officer had been checking the
surveillance films. "Commander," he said "I have found the
scenes of the attack."
    "We have pictures of our attacker?"
    "They're real brief, I missed them the first time around.
I slowed the tape down and you can see it frame by frame."
    "Main screen"
    "This is the first attack" the Communications officer
said as he pressed a few buttons.
    The view was an angle up from under main body of the
ship.  A frame at a time passed and they watched the nose of
a strange looking ship start to uncloak.  The star field
peeled away from it as if the ship were emerging from a pool
of water.  Before it was half uncloaked a missile fired from
its nose.  The cloaking began to reform around the front of
the ship as the tail finished uncloaking.  At no time was
there a frame that showed the ship totally uncloaked.
    The Communications officer then said "I can overlay all
frames and get a complete picture of the craft."  He pushed a
few more buttons and a complete picture of the mysterious
ship appeared on the screen.  In front of it was a stream of
torpedoes caused be the overlaying of the frames.
    The ship was a dull gray color.  It had a stub nose with
bridge obviously the top half and weapons appeared to fill
the bottom half.  The body was wide and boxy with a single
access door on the side.  The back lifted above the box with
what was obviously the drives.  Missing were the standard
warp drive pods sticking away from the body.
    "No warp drives." The Commander said.
    "Were did it come from if it doesn't have warp drives?"
someone asked.
    "A mother ship" The Centurian answered.
    "Do you know what it is?" the Commander asked the
Centurian.
    "My best guess would be what we used to call a 'personnel
lander'" the Centurian said.  "We used them when I was a very
young officer and the Romulan Empire was expanding rapidly.
They quickly carried warriors into battle zones where
transporters could not be used.  Planets that had transporter
scramblers or whose atmosphere scrambled transporters
naturally.  I even commanded several landing crews."  The
Centurian shuttered at the memory of the bloody battles.
These operations were not well chronicled because of their
high mortality rate.
    "Is this one of those landers?" the Communications
officer asked.
    The Centurian walked up to the screen and said "No, but
it has similar features." he indicated the wide body and
rounded bottom. "The bottom appears to have extra protection
for the stress of dropping through the atmosphere."  He then
pointed to the back.  "The main drives sit high allowing for
cargo to be quickly loaded on and off through wide back
doors.  If we had a view of the back I'd stake my life it's
got them back there.  Finally if it wasn't designed to go
into battle it wouldn't be armed and cloaked.  If it were
designed for battle in space it would have warp drives
therefore it must be designed for battle planet side."
    The Commander sat and studied the picture then said "What
do sensors say during the exact time these frames were
taken?"
    The scanner Operator said "I've been running all scanner
logs for the time frame.  The best I can come up with is that
they seem to have picked the ship up as a small piece of
debris of undetermined make up."  She then replaced the image
on the screen with the scanner interpretation for the same
area and time.
    Half the screen showed a graphic representation of what
the scanners had picked up the other side showed an analysis
of the same data.  The graphics showed an irregular shaped
lump fade on, stay several frames, then fade out.  At the
time the lump reminded on screen the analysis showed size
about a quarter that of the ship they had seen and mass as
undetermined.  No life was registered and all other data
showed as undetermined.
    "What ever this thing is" the Commander said "It barley
needs cloaking"
    "Why doesn't it just destroy us and get it over with?"
the Helmsman asked.
    "Centurian," the Commander said "What would happen if we
suffered a massive loss of coolant from a warp drive?"
    "We'd be crippled" he replied.
    "That's right.  If this landing craft doesn't have warp
drives it couldn't have leaked the mhalogin.  Therefore
another ship must have leaked it."
    "It's protecting it's mother ship while effecting
repairs".
    "And if the landing craft is cloaked and immune to the
sensors so probably would be the mother ship.  If it were
still cloaked, however they wouldn't be worried about us
being here."
    "The Federation doesn't cloak its ships" The Centurian
added "but The Klingons do."
    The Commander turned and looked at the Centurian and
asked "After all these years in service to the Empire do you
truly believe the Klingons would have let us live?"
    "No"
    "Now forgetting the official propaganda about the
Federation and relying only on your experience as a War Bird
commander, what would the Federation do?"
    "The Federation would do all they could to avoid killing
even a sworn enemy." he said as if having a terrible secret
dragged from him.
    The Commander continued to look at her second in command
and advisor then said "What if the Federation is
experimenting with new technology, were would be the best
place to put it to a true test?  Inside the Romulan Empire,
right.  Now what if they had an accident while stalking a
harmless scientific vessel?"
    "They would do all they could to keep us from finding
them out"
    "Precisely,  If their cloaking is down our scanners would
pick them up but only as debris of undetermined make up, like
the landing craft."
    "So they would have to cripple us while they limped away
to make repairs."
    The Commander suddenly smiled and said to the crew "Run
all scanner logs since picking up the mhaligon trail.  Look
for any debris of undetermined makeup.  Also run a high
resolution scan of all view screen logs looking for anything
that looks like another ship."
    A loud claxon began blaring all over the ship.  The
bridge crew looked at the Commander and the Centurian.
    The Commander said almost in a panic "It's the Intruder
alert from engineering."
    Practically before the Commander had a chance to finish
several places on the bridge shimmered briefly and figures
wearing dull gray armored suits with darkened face shields
where standing in strategic locations.  Before anyone on the
bridge had time to react the intruders started shooting large
black phasers at them.
    The Commander and Communications officer were the first
to go down.  Before the Centurian was hit he had time to fire
his disrupter at one of the intruders.  Several inches a head
of the suit a deflector shield shimmered when the blast hit.
The armored intruder returned fire and the Centurian fell
against the console he had taken over earlier.
    Meanwhile all over the ship including the bridge
canisters appeared and began emitting a white gas.  The
effects were relatively slow but the crew was soon
unconscious.  Those that were able to grab a gas mask were
soon stunned down by an armored figure that would beam in,
shoot them, remove the mask, then beam out.
    Two minutes after the intruder alert claxon came on a
gloved had reached to the Commander's console and turned it
off.  Commander Tarva looked at the command console through
her helmet.  "Let's work fast" she said into her intercom
"the sooner we get back the sooner Commander Dolittel will be
able to get back to work on the warp drives."
    Another figured appeared on the bridge with phaser in
hand.  Commander Norton looked around and said to Tarva "All
ships personnel have been neutralized.  Once the gas is gone
they should be out about seventy two hours."
    "That should give Mr Dolittel more than enough time."
Tarva said as she pulled the Commander from her seat.  "OK
all personnel listen up our first mission is to find out if
they actually saw the Vigilante.  If they did we'll have to
destroy the ship.  I regret it, but its necessary for our own
survival.  If we can find no record that they have seen the
Vigilante we must remove all records of their encounter with
us, starting with their entrance into this star system."
    "Too bad we don't have the time to wipe their memories as
well, that would make it really clean." Norton said.
    Tarva said "I know, but all they will have is memories of
a mysterious attack and no proof that will in any way link it
to the Federation.  Just speculation.  Without concrete
evidence the decision makers will not lend a lot of credence
to their reports."
    "I hope your right." Norton said.
    Tarva smiled and said "So do I." she had taken the
Commander's seat and began down loading the ship's technical
data banks to the Vigilante.  She also began down loading all
ship's logs to the Vigilante.  She knew that in the time they
had she wouldn't get all of the information from either data
bank but would get quite a bit.
    After five hours Commander Tarva signaled to the
Vigilante 'mission complete'.  All the Vigilante personnel
and gas canisters beamed off at once.  With the canisters
gone the ship's life support would start clearing the gas off
the ship.  Once the gas was gone the crew would remain
unconscious for an estimated seventy two hours.

    Sixty eight hours after beaming off the Romulan ship
Commander Dolittel signaled the bridge that the all systems
were on line and functioning properly.  They also had begun
to pickup transmissions to the Romulan ship.  The
transmissions meant that they would soon be having more
company investigating the lost contact.
    The Vigilante jumped to warp 9.6 as soon as leaving the
star system.  Captain Anthony immediately ordered a course
plotted back to sector 5876.34 using the controlled worm hole
effect.  The crew nervously watched the count down
remembering the last trip.
    This time Dolittel's realignments worked dropping the
Vigilante into the correct sector.  The worm hole effects
were not nearly as sever and the exit was nearly undetectable
when they dropped out.
    The Captain then gave the original coordinates as new
heading.  The Vigilante immediately jumped to warp eight for
its new destination.

    The Enterprise had been waiting at the predetermined
meeting place with no contact.  They were several days over
the estimated window of arrival.  Captain Picard however had
strict orders to stay on station until told other wise.
    "Captain" Lieutenant Worf said "Sub-space message coming
in for your eyes only".
    "Thank you, Mr Worf, I'll take it in my ready room."
    The message was cryptic to say the least but it told
Picard all he needed to know.  After reading the message
Captain Picard remained in his ready room and called Mr Worf
in.
    "Captain, there has been some trouble in Ten Forward."
Worf said stiffly before Picard could get down to his own
business.
    "What kind of trouble?"
    "Sir, Two of our guests have been fighting rather
severely."
    "Just how severely?"
    "They fought using knives, Sir.  Doctor Crusher is
currently mending both of them.  It seems they were able to
inflict quite a bit a damage to each other before security
intervened." Worf said obviously embarrassed for the
performance of his personnel.
    "Is there something you think I should do about this Mr
Worf" Captain Picard.
    "Sir, I was wondering what kind of punishment I should
impose since they are guests."
    "Well don't they have a Senior Officer who can deal with
this kind of situation."
    At this Worf stiffened a little more "Sir, the combatants
were a Klingon officer and a Kalonian officer both claiming
the position.  They decided to settle the argument;
traditionally."
    Picard sat back in his chair steepling his fingers in
front of his face and said "I see, perhaps after Doctor
Crusher is finished with them they should be placed together
in the brig for the duration of their stay on the Enterprise.
If either is still alive when it is time to leave we'll let
their new assignment take care of any further punishment.
    "The reason I called you in Mr Worf is because I'd like
you to inform our guests that they should report to their
assigned assembly areas with their gear in eighteen hours."
    "Will that be all, Sir" Worf Said before leaving.
    "Yes, dismissed."
    Worf turned crisply and walked back onto the bridge.

    The two sat in the detention cell staring at each other.
They each wore a strange baggy black uniform with several
pockets.  One had the high ridged forehead and nose of the
Klingon the other had a similar fore head but not nearly as
pronounced.  The Kalonian stood a few centimeters shorter
than the Klingon but matched him in weight and stubbornness.
    "If they hadn't interfered," the Klingon snarled "you'd
be dead, I had you beaten."  he spoke in Federation Standard
since Kalonians and Klingons traditionally despised learning
or speaking the others' language.
    The Kalonian laughed and said "You fool, you were about
to let your guard down thinking I was beaten.  Then I would
have ended your life.  Accept me as your superior officer and
I'll let you live when we get to where we are going."
    Now it was time for the Klingon to laugh "I find it
distasteful enough to serve next to a Kalonian, I would
sooner die than serve under one."
    "Like I said, that could be arranged."
    At that the Klingon growled and advanced toward the
Kalonian who did the same.  Before they came to blows they
heard someone holler to them.  It was the Enterprise's
resident Klingon.
    "It is time to go." he said shutting off the force field.
He than threw them their bags, already packed.  "Come with
me, you can take this up at you new assignment."  Worf turned
and walked out of the detention area.
    "You have trained together for many months," Worf said to
the pair as they followed him down the corridor. "I would
think that these differences would have been worked out by
now."
    "We trained in different teams." the Kalonian said.
    The Klingon, like most, tried his best to ignore this
Federation fool.
    Worf lead them to a cargo bay which was filled with many
more all wearing the same black uniform.  The group was
comprised of a number of different peoples.  Most prevalent
were Humans, Klingons, and Kalonians both male and female.
There were others too some looked like Vulcans and other
assorted Federation races.
    "What are we suppose to do here?" the Klingon said as he
entered the cargo bay.
    "Wait." Worf said and closed the door behind them and
continued down the corridor to the turbo-lift.

    Picard checked his the chronometer and said "Discontinue
all scanner operations, lower shields and turn off all
exterior recording devices."
    Commander Ryker looked puzzled and said "Sir do you think
that is a wise thing to do this close to the Neutral Zone?"
    "Number One if it wasn't the proper thing to do, I
wouldn't do it.  Now are all of our guests in their assigned
areas?"
    "Yes, Sir" Ryker said "and all ship's personnel have left
the areas."
    "Very good"
    "Now What?"
    "Now we wait." Picard said as he sat down in his chair.
    "Sir," Commander Data Looked up from his console "All
personnel in the cargo and shuttle bays have just disappeared
I believe they have been transported."
    Picard smiled and said "Thank you Mr Data, now return to
normal operating conditions and set new course...."
                               
                   T H E   V I G I L A N T E
                              IIIA
                         "The Warriors"

    All of the new personnel had been transported directly to a
shuttle bay.  The main deck of the huge bay was  filled with the
black uniformed new arrivals.  Few of them noticed the strangers
standing in the front of the room.  It was hard since the
strangers also wore the baggy black uniform.
    They had just enough time to adjust from the unannounced
transportation when the ship's public address system came on.
    "Your attention please." a man with long graying hair said.
The two hundred or so new personnel looked at him but basically
ignored his request and continued to talk among themselves.
    This time he spoke in a louder authoritarian voice "Crew,
Attention!".
    Their past months of training went into effect and the bay
was instantly silent and all personnel stood at attention.  All
eyes turned attention to the three personnel standing at the
head of the bay.
    The two males were both about two meters tall.
One was a human with long graying shoulder length hair pulled
back in a pony tail.  The other was slightly shorter than the
human, appeared to be a Vulcan and was totally bald.
    The third was a short female with long hair braided and
hanging down the middle of her back.  From her high smooth
forehead and brown skin many immediately guessed her to be a
Kalonian.
    The human continued to address them "I am Captain Anthony"
he said "and it is my honor to welcome you aboard the United
Star Ship Vigilante.  You know that the mission of the Vigilante
is considered extremely hazardous the exact details will be
released to you in due time.  Right now I'd like to introduce
you to my senior officers."
    He indicated the female and said "this is my first officer
Commander Tarva and this is Chief of Security Commander Norton.
With the stations you will be assigned to, many of you will
report directly to Commander Tarva or Commander Norton."
    Captain Anthony then indicated a large view screen on one
wall of the bay.  "If you'd examine the screen you'll see your
current station and room assignments.  You have half an hour to
get settled in your quarters and report to your duty assignments
for introductory meetings.  Any questions?"
    There was something said in Klingon in the middle of the
room and several Klingons laughed amongst themselves.
    "Federation Standard will be spoken on the Vigilante"
Captain Anthony said "If you have something to say, say it now!"
      A Klingon stepped forward and addressed the Captain "As a
member of the Klingon Empire and for its greater honor I have
resigned my self to working with Kalonians" he said spitting the
last word then said "but I will not answer to one especially a
female."
    Commander Tarva stepped toward the Klingon and looked up at
him.  He was a large muscular warrior who was obviously well
seasoned and highly respected.  The shuttle bay was quieter now
then when the Captain was speaking.
    She touched her communicator and said "Will a medical team
please report to Shuttle Bay One."  She then looked at the
Klingon and smiled slightly.  The Klingon looked down at her
defiantly.
    What happened next the Klingon never saw coming. Commander
Tarva started to turn to her left then kicked out sideways at
him with her right foot.  The bones in his lower left leg
snapped like dry sticks and he immediately screamed as he fell
toward the deck.  As he fell, Tarva struck down at him with her
left hand.  His face caved in from the blow as his jaw
shattered.  His head flung to the opposite shoulder and pinkish
red blood splattered across the floor and up on some of the crew
standing behind him.  As he fell he spun totally around and
landed on his back.
    Tarva turned and looked at what was suppose to be a crew of
highly trained professional warriors.  She continued to wear her
smile and said "Is there anyone else who wishes to register a
complaint?" she sounded more like a waitress asking a customer
for an order.
    The crew remained totally silent, finally one of the
Kalonions began to chant.  It was an ancient war chant used
before going into battle, the other Kalonians soon joined him.
The rest of the crew stood in total silence.

    The Klingon limped to his quarters.  He had missed his group
meeting, even the current medical techniques took time to work.
When he entered the cabin the Kalonian he had spent the time in
detention with was there.
    "What are you doing here?" he said through the wires in his
mouth.
    "We are to share this cabin." the Kalonian said.
    "Why am I not surprised."  The Klingon said and walked over
to the bunk with his bag on it.
    "Perhaps it is time for introductions" the Kalonian said "I
am called Golta."
    "I am Kartang" replied the Klingon through his wires.
    The quarters would have been large for a single on the
Vigilante.  There was one main room with the bunks on either
side and the door on the opposite wall.  The door to the head
was to the right of the main door past one of the bunks. Built
into the wall that was most toward the back of the ship were two
high back chairs with swing across restraints and buckle down
harnesses.
    Kartang inspected the bunk and declared it a typical
Federation luxury.  As with Golta, his possessions on this trip
were few but he neatly put them in the few drawers allocated to
him.
    "Kartang, may I ask you a question?"
    Kartang looked at him and growled "Why are you being civil
toward me, Kalonian?"
    "I have considered the consequences of trouble on this ship.
I've decided that it would be in both our interests to try to
get along."
    Kartang scratched at the wires in his mouth and said "What
is your question?"
    "Had you ever heard of Commander Tarva before today?" Golta
asked sounding as sincerely as his deep Kalonian voice allowed.
    "No I had not." Kartang spat.
    "There are not many Kalonians in Star Fleet." Golta said "So
we tend to know about those who are.  Like you would know  about
the Klingon on the Enterprise."
    "Yes we know about him." Kartang hissed.
    "Commander Tarva comes from one of the Southern provinces on
Kalon.  Her family was one of the few that stayed with the
absolute traditional Kalonian way.  These Traditionalists
trained their children to be soldiers from the time they were
born.  When they came to the age of decision they would chose a
discipline.  Many would chose to be line soldiers others
qualified for training as officers.  There are many needs in a
well equipped defense force.  The traditionalists always
garnered the top ranks due to their extensive training.  Tarva
rose quickly through the ranks and it was thought one day she
would be highly placed."
    "So what's your point?" Kartang asked totally disinterested.
    "I'm getting to it" Golta said then continued..
    "She was accepted into the Elite Strike Forces.  Only fifty
percent of the candidates who enter training survive.  Remember,
only the best of the best are accepted in to the program.  Tarva
finished at the top of her class and ranked in the top five
percent of all who have ever finished.
    "Not long after she finished training in the E S F her
parents were killed on duty. As a result she soon became
disenchanted with the role she had in the Kalonian Defense
Force.  Though it is a great honor for mates to die together in
battle she could not accept it.  She resigned her commission and
applied to the Star Fleet Academy.   There is an old saying on
Kalon, loosely translated it means 'Once E.T.F., Always E.T.F.'"
    Kartang sat on his bunk rubbing his leg and looking at his
room mate.  "If I hadn't experienced Commander Tarva first hand
I would laugh at your Elite Strike Forces." he said trying to
keep saliva from dripping from the wires.
    "I too always thought they were just a lot of talk." Golta
admitted with a bit of a smile.
    The two looked at each other for a second and then both
burst into their races' signature hardy laughs.
    The intercom piped on "Lieutenant Kartang report to the
Command Room".
    "Acknowledged" he said.
    Kartang looked at Golta and said "How do I find this Command
Room?" as he stood from his bunk.
    "The Command Room is off the bridge."
    Kartang stood for a moment then limped out of the room.
    The bridge crew acknowledged his presence as if he had been
a long time companion.  The bridge was basically laid out like
most standard Federation bridges.  The main difference was that
all stations were designed for access from the same kind of
chairs as were built into the wall in his cabin.  They even
included the restraints and belts.  This seemed to be a standard
on the Vigilante.
    Sitting at the far end of the slightly curved table that
basically filled the command room were Captain Anthony,
Commander Tarva and Commander Norton.  The chairs around the
table were similar to the others he'd observed on the Vigilante
including all belts and restraints.
    Commander Tarva stood to great him.  "Lieutenant Kartang
this meeting has been called to fill you in on what you missed
during your visit to Sick Bay.  First I'd like to say that all
assignments were made before your arrival.  They were based on
your performance during training and your experience prior to
volunteering for the mission.  Won't you have a seat."  She
motioned to one of the seats near where they were sitting.
    She watched him examine the built in restraints. "They are
called Rough Duty seats, their purpose will be explained to you
in due time."
    He sat down in the chair then leaned back casually.  He was
trying his best to look slightly defiant.
    "As I was saying, assignments are based on performance
during training and prior experience.  We do not have time to
evaluate our crew before making assignments.  It has been
decided that your assignment will be Drop Ship Commander. With
this will come a promotion to Lieutenant Commander.  The
position also places you in the official emergency chain of
command.  You are now fifth in command of the Vigilante."
    With this announcement the Captain and Commander Norton
stood and offered their hands in congratulations.  They then
announced that they had business elsewhere and dismissed them
selves.
    Commander Tarva motioned for Kartang to sit back down.  "We
have some more business to attend to." She said.
    Kartang sat down and wiped away some saliva caused by the
wires in his mouth.  Kartang struggled to contain his animosity
toward Tarva.  Earlier it was easy with the other two in the
room, it was difficult with her sitting less than a meter across
the table from him.  He had not yet said a word, he was very
conscious of his mouth full of hardware.
    "Now for the chain of command, if your going to be in it you
had better know it.  You will report directly to Commander
Norton who is actually third in command to myself.  The officer
who is fourth in command is Commander Dolittel, Chief of
Engineering.  This chain is implemented in emergency only, it is
not necessarily the day to day order of command.  If we are ever
in a situation where the top command staff is unable to perform
their duties we need to be sure a warrior will be in charge of
the Vigilante.
    "Do you have any questions so far?"
    "Yes" he snarled and leaned toward her across the table.
"Why did you do this to your fifth in command." he spat and
opened his mouth to show her the wires.
    Tarva maintained her same composure and said "I did not know
who you were when you came forward. If I did," she paused and
leaned across the table to meet him face to face ~'I would have
done the exact same thing.'~ She said the last in perfect
Klingon.
    Kartang looked at her disbelieving and sat back in his
chair.
    Tarva did too and continued in standard "The Vigilante is
going on what many know could be a suicide mission.  To simply
mark your record for insubordination would mean something only
if we return.  So any infractions in proper behavior must be
dealt with on the spot and severely.
    "Is there anything else, Lieutenant Commander Kartang."
    "Not at this time." Kartang said calmly.
    "Very good, report to Commander Norton he should be in
shuttle bay three.  He'll give you a tour of your area and
outline your responsibilities.  Dismissed."
    Kartang stood, came to stiff attention then limped toward
the door.
    "One last thing" Tarva said as the door opened for him.
    "Yes, Sir" he growled.
    "There will be a notation made in your permanent record for
insubordination, for the incident early today."
    "Yes, Sir" he repeated and walked on to the bridge.

    The shuttle bays and connected training areas took up more
than to two thirds of the bulbous main body of the ship.
Engineering occupied most of the rest.  The crew quarters were
all in the saucer section since there was no neck connecting the
saucer to the main body.
    Kartang stood in the massive Shuttle Bay Three.  The bay was
not filled with shuttles, it was filled with strange looking
long boxy ships.  These must be the drop ships they had been
talking about.  Most were placed in racks and several were on
the deck as if prepared for launch.  Others were on lifts being
worked on.
    Commander Norton was in a control booth that over looked the
main launch deck.  Kartang limped to the one man open air lift
and road it to the booth maintaining a perfect Klingon at-ease
posture.
    When commander Norton saw Kartang arrive he smiled and said
"Ah, Lieutenant Commander, welcome to the Cavern."
    "The Cavern, Sir?" Kartang said.
    "Shuttle Bay 3 is the largest shuttle bay on the Vigilante
and in fact one of the largest in Star Fleet.  So its been
nicknamed the Cavern."
    "Sir, Commander Tarva told me to report to you for an
introduction to my duties." Kartang remained the serious, out of
his element, Klingon.
    Norton pointed out the window at the Drop Ships in the bay.
"The U.S.S. Vigilante carries 30 DS-300 series 5 Drop Ships.
The DS-300 was originally designed to land  anti-terrorist units
in troubled regions of the Federation.  The DS-300 Series 5 was
designed and built specifically for this mission.  It is built
of the same composite material as the Vigilante."
    "Sir, what composite material?"
    "Oh yes you missed the introductory meetings." Commander
Norton then briefed Kartang on the properties of the composite
material.
    "So the ships become invisible to sensors without cloaking?"
    "The sensor profile is reduced greatly.  For instance at
close range the Vigilante reads about the size of a tug and
appears to be unmanned.  The Drop Ships appear as debris and a
pressure suit made of the material is virtually invisible."
    "Wouldn't it be easier and more effective to cloak the
ship?"
    "The Vigilante and the Drop Ships are cloaked.  Cloaking
however can fail.  The composite also reflects energy and
reduces the damage a direct hit may cause.  It might be enough
to save the ship from only a hit or two but that can still make
a difference in survival."
    "What precisely are my duties as Drop Ship Commander?"
    "You are in charge of the Drop Ships, from maintenance to
planning and coordinating missions."
    "I have never seen a drop ship before, now I am in command
of a fleet of them.  Why didn't they train us on these things?"
    "In order to preserve secrecy you couldn't use Drop Ships,
but the Trainers you did use are very similar.  They do have
their own idiosyncrasies though that is why I arranged for you
take a ship out for a test flight.  Since I am too busy to be
your instructor I have assigned the only other experienced D S
pilot on the Vigilante to show you the ropes."
    "I do not need lessons on how to pilot any ship."
    "I don't expect you would but I want somebody there whose
flown these things before.  This will be the only time you won't
have a say in the matter.  Besides she'll probably just sleep or
sight see the whole time anyway."
    Kartang moaned he was going on his first D S flight with a
female as chaperone.  As long as it wasn't Commander Tarva he
figured he could stand it.
    Norton watched Kartang limp to the window and get a better
look at the deck.  "How much longer do they expect your leg to
hurt?"
    "A day or two." Kartang said through the hardware in his
mouth then said "These shackles in my mouth should come out
tomorrow"
    Commander Norton began showing Kartang the specifics of the
Control Booth and other areas of the operation.  Kartang knew he
had a lot to learn and was ready to start.  It took all his
concentration to ignore the throbbing in his face and leg.

    The door signaled and Kartang called for the person to
enter.  His leg no longer hurt and most of the wire had been
removed from his mouth.  It had been only a day and a half so he
was quite satisfied with the progress.
    When Kartang heard someone walk into the room he looked up
from his computer console to see his visitor.
    "Lieutenant Commander Kartang," it was a human female with
short red hair.  He remembered seeing her on the bridge.
    "Yes"
    "Sir, I'm Ensign O'Malley, Commander Norton asked me to
accompany you on a Drop Ship test run."
    The Vigilante had taken up residence in a seldom traveled
corner of the Federation.  The star system had two planets one
of which had a turbulent but breathable atmosphere.  The planet
was deemed appropriate for training Drop Ship Crews.  The crews
however were no were near ready for actual flights.  So the
Vigilante stayed in the system running its own tests.
    Kartang looked at the young human and moaned to himself.  He
knew her history and respected her for where she came from.  It
was hard however to over come prejudices especially when his own
skills were being compared to this skinny human.
    "Yes, I've had DS-1 prepared for testing."  Kartang stood
and retrieved his pressure suit gear bag.
    The first order Kartang issued required pressure suits worn
during all Drop Ship flights.  Previously they were only
required if hazardous duty was expected.  Kartang's theory was
that the Drop Ship's sole purpose was hazardous duty therefore
the pressure suit should be worn at all times.

    Shuttle Bay Three was different than the other two, it not
only was larger but was designed for rapid deployment of the
Drop Ships.  A force field was raised behind the ships to allow
them to exit the bay at high acceleration.  Up to four ships
could be launched at a time with rapid replacement.
    Shuttle bays one and two were used for recovery and
maintenance.  They were also used for movement of cargo so as
not to interfere with bay three.
    Ensign O'Malley sat in the co-pilots seat watching Kartang
power up Drop Ship One.  "Sir, do we want to do a rapid
deployment launch your first time out?"
    "I am an experienced pilot" Kartang snapped "If I'm going to
be forced to make this test flight with an observer, I'm going
to push it to the limits."
    O'Malley smiled and said "Great."
    The pilots' pressure suits were similar to the armored ones
but didn't have all the protection.  The material was a form of
the same composite material but woven into a cloth like
substance.  The helmets were a lot lighter and the face shields
closed either manually or when emergency alarms were triggered.
    "Lieutenant Commander Kartang, to traffic control"
    "This is Traffic Control."
"Requesting clearance for launch of DS-1" He said into the
ship's communicator.
    "You are cleared for launch" was the immediate reply.
    O'Malley and Kartang were pressed into their seats as the
Drop Ship accelerated out of the bay.  Before it cleared the
Vigilante's cloaked shields its own were automatically
activated.
    Once the acceleration had ceased Ensign O'Malley turned her
chair slightly and looked out a side window.  "I do so much
piloting its nice to have a chance to just ride for once."
    After half an hour of standard test maneuvers Kartang said
"Have you ever taken one of these on an actual drop yet?"
Kartang asked as if he was leading up to something.
    "No, Sir" O'Malley said turning toward him. "Your not
thinking of doing something unscheduled are you, Sir?"
    "They tell me I'm in charge of the Drop Ships, I've decided
it is time to make a test drop."
    They had been making simple orbital maneuvers and now headed
toward were the computer placed the Vigilante.
    "This is Lieutenant Commander Kartang, to traffic control,
requesting landing clearance."
    "You are cleared for landing."  was the immediate reply.
    "Are the preparations complete for test drop." he asked
flight control as he followed the closed homing beacon in to the
cloaked Vigilante.  Just before they would have reached the
shields they shimmered and weakened enough to allow the drop
ship in.
    "Yes, Sir.  DS-eighteen is prepared for test drop."
    Kartang turned to O'Malley and said "I've read your record
and it appears you would be qualified to ride as co-pilot for
the test drop if you wish."
    "I would need clearance from Commander Tarva."
    "I've already obtained her release."
    "Sir, I'm honored you recommended me, I hope I do not let
you down."
    "Your performance during the crisis with the Romulans
deserves recognition."
    "Thank you, Sir."
    When they landed, DS-18 was ready for launch.
    "Sir, DS-18 has had minimal flight time, do you think it is
wise to use it for the first test drop?"
    "Ensign O'Malley," Kartang said harshly "are you questioning
my judgment?"
    "No Sir, but as co-pilot it is my job to point out possible
oversights."
    "DS-18 has been thoroughly tested, it is time it got some
flight time"
    "Yes, Sir"
    Sixteen assorted personnel waited inside DS-18 in full
armored pressure suits.  The ship was designed to hold sixteen
personnel, eight to a side.  The chairs were designed to hold
the large armored suits.  During launch they were turned toward
the front of the ship for acceleration.  After acceleration, the
chairs would automatically turn toward the center for easy exit.
    "These are some of the Drop Ship pilots" Kartang said as he
and O'Malley entered the ship. "I have decided they should know
what a drop feels like to the crew.  I hope this will make them
better pilots."
    Kartang looked at the pressure suited warriors.  These were
true warriors.  He had trained with them he knew they would
perform well when called upon.  The armor he envied to no end.
If he had anything like it when he commanded his ten crew ship
they would have been indestructible.
    Kartang sat strapped in the pilot's seat he turned and
looked his copilot.  To signal he was ready, he dropped the face
shield on his helmet then she did likewise.
    As official copilot this time it was her duty to call for
clearance.  Numbers appeared on the wall above the door over
their runway.  A red light bar on the door above their run way
turned yellow when the numbers started counting down.  When they
reached 0 the light would turn green and they would launch.
Every thing was timed with the Vigilante's orbit designed for
them to land in the designated spot in the minimum amount of
time.
    The light turned yellow and the numbers seemed to count down
very slowly.  When the numbers reached the end an alarm sounded
in the comm-system, the green light came on and the computer
launched the ship.
    DS-18 immediately dropped toward the atmosphere.  The
acceleration of the Drop Ship totally countered the orbit of the
Vigilante.  It hit the atmosphere with its nosed raised so the
shields on the bottom would take the brunt of the burn in.
    The round shape of the shields showed as the heat of entry
was dispersed.  Inside, the ship shook violently and hull
temperature rose.  A display in each helmet counted down
projected landing time.
    Ensign O'Malley watched the gauges showing exterior
temperature and stress, all were approaching the red zone.
"Sir, shields are reaching tolerances" she said evenly
"adjusting power.  We'll be through burn area in five
seconds..four...three..."
    The ship bucked and started to shake violently.  "Sir,
shields have buckled, it's breaking up.."
    Kartang glanced at his copilot then at her gauges.  The ship
shuddered again and the hull breach alarm sounded.   Kartang had
no more time so he reached up and hit the emergency eject button
above his head.  All eighteen occupants immediately beamed out
of the ship and back to the Vigilante.  As they beamed away Drop
Ship 18 exploded and continued to fall to the surface in flaming
pieces.
    They materialized on the shuttle bay emergency transporter.
As soon as he could move Kartang pulled off his helmet and threw
it across the bay.  Janice thought the whole ship could hear his
blood curdling scream.  Five of the other pilots were also
Klingons and two were Kalonians they too were showing similar
displays of frustration.  They weren't as violent as Kartang
though.
    Kartang came over to O'Malley screaming loudly in Klingon.
His eyes were wide showing all the white and violet streaks of
blood around the edges.
    O'Malley pushed her fire red hair off her forehead and
smoothed it.  Her early years on Vega-5 had given her a very
thick skin.  She looked him in the eyes and waited for him to
stop his tirade, she figured he'd at least have to take a breath
soon.  She waited and tried to decide what he had eaten that
gave him such bad breath.
    He finally finished and stood looking at her.  His eyes were
still wide and his shoulder length hair stood in all directions.
O'Malley reached into her helmet and removed a storage disk from
the gauge area.  She put the chip into a nearby console and
pressed a few buttons.
    The console immediately lit up showing the entire drop ship
control panel, his controls and hers.  Her system and been tied
directly to the ships computer and had acted as a flight
recorder.
    "Perhaps this will help us determine what exactly went
wrong."
    Kartang immediately pushed her out of the way and began
studying the out put.
    In the suit room the other pilots were already being helped
out of their pressure suits.
    "What happened out there, human?" asked Valerta, one of the
Klingon pilots.
    "You and that Klingon almost got us killed." one of the
Kalonians said.
    "I have no idea" O'Malley said "the shields began to buckle
for no apparent reason.  The stresses of landing through even an
atmosphere like that shouldn't have effected it."
    "They had better get it fixed before they send us out in
those things again." said a female human pilot.
    The pilots began complaining amongst themselves.  Even
though O'Malley was also a pilot she wasn't assigned to the drop
ship fleet therefore she was an outsider.  She could hear them
refer to her several times and look at her.  It was obvious they
blamed the outsider for their near demise.  Even the humans
didn't seem too sympathetic toward her.
    Ensign O'Malley was out of her pilot's pressure suit before
the others were out of their armor.  To get away from the pilots
as soon as possible she didn't put on her uniform but decided to
carry it back to her cabin.  Wearing the tight black shorts,
tank top and the pressure suit boot liners is how Commander
Tarva found her walking down the hall.
    "Ensign O'Malley, what happened out there?!"
    "Lieutenant Commander Kartang is currently reviewing the
flight recorder, Sir." Janice said coming to attention.
    "Ensign, that is not what I asked you."
    O'Malley hesitated for a second looking straight over
Commander Tarva then said "Sir, the shields seemed unable to
handle the atmosphere burn in.  I did not notice any incorrect
operating procedures."
    "Very well, your complete report will be expected when you
begin your next shift."
    "Aye, Sir" O'Malley said and continued toward her cabin now
at double time.

    Captain Anthony, Commander Tarva, and Commander Norton sat
quietly in the briefing room off the bridge.  Lieutenant
Commander Kartang was finishing his briefing on the mishap with
Drop Ship 18.  He had presented the complete flight recordings
and the analysis of what little wreckage had been retrieved.
    "It is my conclusion," he said "that the new design
deflector shields where not properly aligned to withstand the
stress of the drop.  Currently all drop ships are being
inspected for similar flaws.  At last report, three other ships
have been found to have improperly aligned deflector shields."
    Tarva looked at him incredulously "So you are trying to pass
the blame of your mistake to technicians who are not here to
defend themselves and whom you will never meet?"  The data he
had presented had clearly supported his analysis, Tarva however
still felt the need to test the ebon of the Klingon.
    "No, I am not."  Kartang growled at Tarva "The misaligned
deflectors were within the tolerances set by Design.  I blame
Design for setting improper tolerances."
    "Thank you." Commander Nortan said.  After Kartang had taken
his seat Norton addressed the room  "Taking into account the
other personal reports and the data from the flight recorders I
must come to the same conclusion.
    "Commander Dolittel also came to a similar conclusion"
    Kartang sat back and looked at Tarva.  She could see the
animosity in his eyes but ignored it.
    Captain Anthony finally said "It seems this ship has been
plagued by misalignments.  I am ordering that all ship's systems
be retested.  We are setting tighter tolerances and expect them
to be maintained."

    Golta checked the readouts below the face shield of his
helmet.  It had taken some getting used to looking down inside
his helmet with out moving the helmet.  By speaking the
designated codes for the members of team RT-2 he could read all
of their vital signs.  He could also get other information
including a display from their suit camera.
    Golta was proud he had been assigned a position equal to
that of the Klingon.  It would have been intolerable to not only
have to share a room with but also to be out ranked by him.  As
commander of landing forces Golta felt that his position was
much more Glorious.  He and his warriors would do the actual
information retrieval, the whole mission was design so they
could do their job.  His would be the most crucial command.
    Right now he was running a bio-coordination check while
waiting for launch.  All other systems checks had been
completed, the bio-check was always the last.  To get an
accurate mission standard the bio-coordination was taken just
prior to mission initiation.
    The yellow launch light over the bridge door came on
indicating the countdown had commenced.  Golta mentally prepared
himself for launch as the green light came on.  The force of the
launch pressed him and his team into the large seats.  This was
his sixth practice launch and he still cringed behind his
darkened face shield.  As soon as the acceleration of the launch
ended, the large chairs turned toward the center of the Drop
Ship for rapid deployment.
    This drop wasn't any different than the others, the ship
shook violently as it dropped through the planet's atmosphere.
Golta watched the teams vital signs as they dropped to the
surface.  As usual, all including himself showed signs of great
stress.  This worried him because if they ever needed to go into
battle this way, what would the stresses be like then.
    A yellow light in the middle of the cabin began blinking and
the seat restraints opened indicating landing was near.  When it
turned green the back door would drop open and they would file
out in pairs.  It didn't matter where they were or what the
conditions were like.  The suits would protected them,
hopefully.
    Normally, just before the green light came on they could
feel a bump when the ship landed. This time however, that didn't
happen the green light came on and the door opened to a blinding
sand storm.  The team didn't hesitate though, the soldiers stood
simultaneously and quickly marched out the back door two at a
time.
    Golta, for this drop, was to be the last off the craft, one
of the first was his second in command, Lieutenant Whitecloud.
She would be acting command for this mission.
    He could hear her sound the warning as she stepped off the
door "Heads up, it's a free fall."
    The ship hadn't landed, in fact it was over a hundred meters
up and flying at a steady velocity when the door opened.  The
pressure suited warriors stepped into thin air.  The training
again paid off, not one of them panicked.  As they stepped off
the door each one stayed perfectly upright and trusted their
equipment to work.
    The suits immediately calculated approximate altitude and
would begin firing built in boosters just in time to land
safely.  As they fell the buffeting weather and the blowing sand
totally blinded and shook the crew.  The suits however used
stabilizers to remain up right.  Golta tracked the team  on his
suit's scanners as they fell ahead of him.

    The weather on the surface wasn't any better.  Wind howled
around them restricting vision to the perimeter of the suits
deflector shields.  The  stabilizers fired constantly to keep
the suit on it's feet making movement feel extremely jerky.
    Whitecloud ordered all to switch to their Electronic Vision
Enhancer (EVE).  None of them actually needed to be told to do
this.  When EVE was activated the visor went opaque and showed
an electronically enhanced view.  The view was a composite of
scanner analysis and non-visible light analysis.  The on board
computer then combined and enhanced the output to get a slightly
off color image of what the user should see.
    The team slowly separated into a wide formation with
partners always within sight of each other.  The rest, stayed
within electronic range.  The goal was to survey a large area of
the planet and be at their extraction site at a designated time.
To do this they would need to be on the move for nearly all of
the next three days.
    The sixteen met at the extraction point on schedule and
Whitecloud initiated the extraction beacon.  Within five minutes
the extraction warning sounded over the suits' communicators.
The drop ship had entered the atmosphere and would be arriving
momentarily.
    "Attention RT-2, extraction beacon pinpointed, E T A 10
minutes."  came the voice of the female Klingon known as
Valerta.
    "Acknowledged" Whitecloud said as the team put some distance
between themselves and the beacon.
    The wind continued to howl around them as they waited for
the drop ship to arrive.  The storm was stronger now then it had
been since they were dropped.  They couldn't hear the ship but
EVE allowed them to see it dropping toward them.  The ship was
being shaken severely by the continuing storm.  They could see
it buck through the multiple wind vortexes as it descended ever
closer.
    "E T A 2 minutes" Valerta said obviously shaking.
    "This is going to be a tough one" Golta commented.
    "I'll do it." Valerta said confidently though still shaking.
    "Maybe they should have beamed us out." one of the team
said.
    "That would defeat the whole point of the exercise." said
Whitecloud.  She had lead and coordinated the whole mission she
wasn't about to let her first chance at leadership be
anti-climaxed by a beam out.
    The drop ship landed hard next to the beacon.  They could
hear a thump through the storm and filters in the helmets.  A
large cloud of yellow dust was thrown up around the ship.  EVE
allowed the team to see that the ship appeared to be intact but
they weren't sure.  Procedure dictated that they keep their
distance until they were sure the ship was safe.
    A minute after landing they saw the back door drop open and
heard Valerta yelling "Lets go, I don't have all day, move,
move, move"
    The team immediately began to move as quickly as they could
to the drop ship.  Valerta kept the shields raised until the
last possible moment to protect the ship from the wind and sand.
When she dropped the rear shields to allow them access a strong
vortex of wind also got through and lifted the back of the drop
ship.  The four already in the ship were dropped toward the
cabin while the three on the door were thrown back off.
    The rear of the drop ship lifted several meters and the
whole ship pivoted to port.  As the ship swung the open
door/ramp caught Ensign Mueller in the neck.  Since all suit
deflector shields had been shut down to allow for the close
proximity of boarding the door made direct contact with his
helmet.  The force of the impact threw him to ground and
slightly separated the helmet from the suit.
    Golta's warning alarm for Ensign Mueller signaled the
breach.  "Control, we have a suit breach." he said as he went to
the soldier's aid.
    Kartang's voice came over the intercom "Get your team out of
there, Kalonian.  You know the regulations about beaming out a
drop team."
    The suit stabilizers had also been shut down just prior to
boarding.  This caused the troops on the ground to loose
stability in the wind.  Golta, as a result had difficulty
reaching Mueller.
    When Golta reached him he could see the Ensign struggling
inside his suit.  The planet's atmosphere was not toxic but the
ultra fine dust of the sand storm was blowing directly into his
face.  The boy though highly trained was beginning to panic as
he couldn't breath, see or get back on his feet.  The EVE had
been disabled, and his nose, mouth and eyes were filling with
dust.
    The first thing Golta did was activate what was suppose to be
the suit's automatic sealing.  The separated joint immediately
filled with a black gel and the life support systems started
filtering out the dust.  Golta then grabbed the ensign by an arm
and pulled him to his feet.
    Valerta had finally stabilized the drop ship and the
remaining crew were boarding when Golta and Ensign Mueller just
two meters away started for the ship.  Lieutenant Whitecloud had
gotten the rest of the crew into the ship and met Golta and
Mueller at the bottom of the ramp.
    "All other hands secured." she said as she grabbed under
Mueller's other arm and helped Golta get him into the ship.
    As soon as they were half-way up the ramp Whitecloud yelled
to her intercom "Close It!".  The ramp immediately lifted them
into the ship.
    Once the door was closed Golta started trying to get the
helmet off of Mueller.  Between the bulk of his own armor and
the drop ship rocking up through the atmosphere it was not an
easy task.  It turned out that the helmet was not damaged just
separated from the suit.
    "This suit wasn't damaged" Golta growled to Whitecloud.
    "What happened to it?" she asked as she strapped herself in.
    "I don't know" Golta replied as he finally pulled the helmet
from the suit.
    Whitecloud checked Mueller's vital signs in her suit
monitors when she heard the vital sign warning.  "Sir, he's not
breathing." she said and started to unstrap herself.
    "Stay in your seat." Golta commanded as he pulled off his
own helmet.
    Ensign Mueller was having a sever allergic reaction to the
dust blown into his suit.  He was now trying to grasp at his
throat as it swelled shut.  Golta tilted Mueller's head back
trying to keep the air way open but the swelling had closed it
off.
    "Vigilante" he yelled "Medical Emergency, Ensign Mueller has
suffered a sever allergic reaction his throat has swollen shut."
    As he finished talking the ship shook severely and tilted
forward.  Golta and Mueller slid across the deck between the
feet of his team and crashed against the forward bulkhead.  The
helmets also bounced off the wall next to him and he let out a
primal Kalonian scream.
    "Valerta," he then yelled "get it steady, We've got problems
back here."
    "Sir, I must increase to exit velocity or we won't make it
out" she said.
    "Make it so"
    All landing chairs automatically turned forward for
impending acceleration.  Valerta then warned "Prepare for
acceleration to exit velocity. 5..4.."
    Golta lay over the ensign, straddling him, as he was trying
to activate the suits automatic medication.  He had not yet had
even had time to remove his gloves so it was difficult finding
the controls inside the collar of the suit.
    "3..2.."
    The manual overrides inside the collar were designed mostly
for maintenance and testing.  Since the suit had been
deactivated for boarding the advanced life support was not
functioning.  The boy was beginning to turn blue and had gone
unconscious.
    "His pulse is getting weak" Whitecloud said frantically.
    "1..0..increasing to exit velocity."
    Golta totally lay over the Ensign and wrapped his arms
around his back and held Mueller's head to his chest trying to
protect it.  The acceleration threw them back across the ship
against the landing door.
    Pinkish red blood flowed from a gash across Golta's temple
but Mueller was unhurt.  Golta continued to work against the
acceleration while pressed up to the back door.
    Golta sat up and he screamed again and began trying to
remove one of his gloves.  When it came off he threw it forward
against the cabin door and immediately stuck his hand back down
the ensign's suit.  He could barely hear a faint hiss as the
suit injected the boy with the needed drug to help reduce the
swelling.
    "Pulse seems to have stabilized" Whitecloud informed him
"but he's still not breathing."
    The Drop ship shuddered again and leaned hard to port
slamming Golta and the Ensign against the back of one of the
chairs of their comrades.
    "His throat's still swollen" Golta said after trying to
breath into him.  He then grabbed an emergency kit mounted on
the wall above him.  Inside was an assortment of emergency
medical supplies.  "Normal airways won't work" he said as he
pulled out a long skinny tube. "I'm going to use a nasal
airway".
    "Valerta,  What's our ETA to transporter range?"  Whitecloud
said as she watched Golta slide the tube into Mueller's nose.
    "The Vigilante will not transport while we're outside their
shields on any mission." Valerta replied then added "ETA to
Vigilante 5 minutes."
    Once the tube was in place Ensign Mueller arched his back as
he struggled to catch his breath through it.  "He should make
it." Golta's deep voice sounded grave.  They still lay against
the back door held there by the acceleration.
    Whitecloud watched the Kalonian holding Mueller's head back
trying to keep the airway open.  He was also closely examining
the suit trying to decide what had gone wrong with it.
    The vibration of the Drop Ship's acceleration began to
lesson and the g-forces began to decrease.  "We are clear of the
atmosphere" Valerta declared "ETA to Vigilante 2 minutes".
    "Lieutenant Commander Golta to Vigilante". Golta sounded
relieved.
    "Kartang here." was the immediate reply.
    "Prepare to fix on my signal and transport directly to Sick
bay".
    "Acknowledged."
    "Entering Vigilante's shields" Valerta reported.
    As soon as the drop ship entered the shield sphere Golta and
Ensign Mueller disappeared.

    Still dressed in full armor and walking back to shuttle bay
three is how Lieutenant Whitecloud found Golta.  She had already
showered and changed to her duty uniform when she went looking
for him.
    Lieutenant Anndrea Whitecloud had shoulder length black
hair, tide back in a pony tail and held with a small silver and
turquoise clasp.  Her skin was still brown from the outdoor
lifestyle she lived on earth before volunteering for this
mission.
    "Sir, How is Ensign Mueller?" she said as she turned back to
were she had just come in order to walk with him.
    "Ensign Mueller will recover shortly"
    Whitecloud noticed that the cut on Golta's temple had been
healed but left as a scar.  "I see that the Meds on this ship
are familiar with proper Kalonian care."
    "Yes, one of the perks of having a Kalonian as second in
command."
    "Sir, have you discovered why Mueller's suit failed?"
    "I investigated it before I allowed them to remove him from
it.  Apparently Ensign Mueller was too anxious to get out of the
armor and disengaged one backup system too many."
    "Then the fault was his and not the suit?"
    "Correct, the suit did not fail, Ensign Mueller did."
    The pair turned a final corner and headed into the shuttle
bay.

    Later that day Ensign Whitecloud sat cross legged in the
front room of her quarters.  In front of her on a low stand was
a large half finished painting, her current project.  It was the
picture of a large brown bird with a white head and yellow beak
and talons.  It soared over blue-gray mountains far below.  She
meticulously painted each feather of the bird.
    Anndrea was so preoccupied with her painting she did not
hear her room mate come in, but knew she was there.
    "What is it?" the other woman said.
    Anndrea was not easily startled or distracted she took the
time to finish the area she was working on before turning her
attention.
    "It's a bald eagle"
    "I've heard of eagles before." said the woman "but I've
never seen a real one.  Have you?"
    Anndrea looked at her room mate.  With short bright red hair
Janice was at the extreme opposite end of the scale then her.
    "I took my leave of absence to work in a breading reserve
for these birds"
    "I've only been to Earth for short vacations and shore
leave."  Janice said as she took off her uniform jacket and
threw it on to her bed.  "And, I've always spent that time
shopping in the big cities.  I love discovering new cities."
    "You've never spent any time visiting the Earth wilderness?"
    "It just never seemed to be a priority.  I've always been
fascinated by what people have built.  Earth has such a rich
history, it's like traveling back in time."  Janice had wandered
into the other room, she was laying on her bunk looking out at
Anndrea.
    "I heard that you grew up on VEGA-5" Anndrea said while she
packed up her paints.
    "Yea, I lived on the streets until I was twelve."  Janice
replied uninterested.
    "I would think that you would have had enough of cities."
She said as she secured the unfinished painting on a wall near a
finished picture of a traditional Native American encampment.
    "Enough of cities?  Are you nuts, cities are my home, I
don't feel comfortable without people around me."  Janice had
rolled onto her back and was looking up at the ceiling, her
short red hair hung over the foot of her bunk.  Painted on the
ceiling was the shadow of a coyote against a full moon.  It was
Whitecloud's first contribution to decorating the room.
    "Tell me" Janice said "everybody know's how and why I came
to be here, what's your story?"
    "It's not very interesting."  Whitecloud said sitting on her
own bed across from Janice.
    Janice sat up and looked at her room mate. "I'm interested."
she said.
    "Well" Anndrea began "I was born on Earth in what is known
as a 'reservation'.  Reservations are areas in North America
that were set aside for Native Americans to live as separate
cultural entities.  Some still live traditional ancient
lifestyles and many are moving back to them.  It is the current
thought that if you are not going to live a traditional
lifestyle, why live on the reservation.
    "My parents, in fact my tribe, was obsessed with returning
to the ancient way of life.  It was decided that it was
impossible to do on Earth.  That the land was not suited for
people to be living off of it with out also depending on the
modern world.  As a people they decided to look else where for a
place to colonizes in a 'traditional Native American culture'.
    "The tribe applied to the Infiniti West Corporation for a
land grant.  Since we were the first large traditional group to
apply to the I.W.C. for colonization we were granted a very
generous portion.  In order to pay for transportation the tribe
sold it's lands and boarded a colony ship for Infiniti West.  I
was two years old when we walked off our traditional land for
the last time.  My mother told me that ....

    ....A darkly tanned teenage girl rode a tall brown horse
across an endless prairie.  She rode bare back accept for the
bedroll and other camping supplies strapped behind her.  She had
long straight black hair tied back by a thin leather thong with
a bright red feather hanging from it.  She wore a simple brown
buck-skin dress decorated with small beads and fringe.  With her
rode two younger males both dressed in similar primitive garb.
    They topped a small hill and looked out over the endless
plain around them.  "How far do you think?" the older of the
boys asked the girl.
    "We could be home late tonight." she said.
    "I can't wait to tell them about the mountains" said the
younger boy.
    "It's amazing, that after all these years the tribe's never
gone that far east" said the first boy.
    "It may have" replied the girl "we just don't remember."
    "I'd think somebody would have mentioned mountains that
reach beyond the clouds" said the older boy.
    The girl looked the boy and said "We came here all the way
from EARTH."  almost in awe of the fact. "Do you think that any
mountains would have impressed them?"
    "You believe that?" the younger boy said "My brother told me
that the story about Earth and the Federation is just a campfire
story."
    "Your brother is just a trouble maker, he's almost old
enough to remember." replied the girl.
    "If this Federation tribe really existed then why have we
never seen them?" the younger boy insisted.
    "Never seen them?" the girl looked astonished "what about
the ships we see in the sky at night?"
    "I don't see ships" the boy continued repeating his
brother's words "I only see lights.  We've just been told
they're ships, to keep us in line 'behave have yourself or we'll
send you up to the Federation'.  Every parent uses that, they
say you just sparkle and disappear. I've never seen anybody just
sparkle and disappear, have you?"
    During the conversation the older boy was looking to the
west in the direction they had been riding.  "What's that?" he
said pointing to the horizon.
    A faint orange glow had appeared on the horizon and was
growing.
    The girl looked at it for a second and said "I don't know
but its getting bigger".
    "It's not getting bigger" the older boy said "it's getting
closer.".
    "It's a Space Ship!" the younger boy shouted excitedly.
    As the ship got closer they could hear the roar of its
engines.  It was wedge shaped and looked slightly battered.  As
it got closer, it started to gain altitude.  When it was over
them the three were jumping and waving at it.  It seemed to
wiggle a bit as if it were waving back at them.  With in minutes
it had shrunk to a dot above them then disappeared.
    "Wow that was great" the younger boy said now in total awe.
    "I thought you didn't believe in space ships" the girl said
with a laugh.
    "I do now.  What do you think it was doing here? I wonder if
the clan saw it"
    "I would think so, It must have flown right over them" the
girl replied.
    The older boy had turned toward the west again and was
squinting at the horizon.
    "What is it" the other boy said "is there another one?".
    "No"
    "What is it?" the girl asked now looking back to the horizon
herself.
    "I think I see smoke" the older boy said cautiously.
    "That's impossible, we never build fires like that."
    "I know, that's why I'm worried."
    The girl leaned forward over her horse's neck and squinted
at the horizon.  "My God," she said "I see it too."
    "That's were Camp should be" the older boy added.
    They sat and looked at each other for a moment then kicked
their horses to a gallop.  Heading toward a faint pillar of
smoke on the horizon in the mid-morning sun the trio rode harder
then they ever had.
    As the day wore on, the smoke slowly dissipated but the
three still rode hard.  As the sun settled on the ground ahead
of them the youths crested a hill over camp.  Ahead of them was
what they feared most.  The remains of tee-pees lay smoldering
where they had stood just two days earlier.  About them lay
their former possessions and other charred debris.
    The trio sat on their horses staring at the scene, unmoving.
No one moved for minutes, finally the girl slid from her horse
and ran down the hill.  The other two soon followed leaving the
three horses on the hill.
    They instinctively ran to the places their own tents once
stood but there was no sign of life.  The youngest boy stood in
the middle of a smoldering black patch of earth, crying.  The
older boy sat on a log next to his tent, his favorite place to
watch the sun set.  The girl began examining the wreckage trying
to discover what had happened.
    She finally looked closely at some of the blackened debris,
she barley recognized it as a person.
    "Were are all the people?" she could hear the younger boy
say.
    "They're right here" she whispered as the shock set in.
    She heard some moaning but it wasn't coming from her friends
it was from someplace else.  She straightened up and listen for
the sound, it was coming from the creek.
    She ran to the bank but was afraid to look over, at first.
When she did, she wasn't sure what she saw.  Laying in the mud
at the edge of the stream appeared to be a woman covered in mud
and grime.  A large black holed was burned in her back and blood
poured from the many cuts and gouges over her body.  As the girl
approached she thought she looked familiar but wasn't sure.  It
wasn't until she recognized the remains of an anklet the woman
wore did she know whom she approached.
    "Mom!" she cried and fell to her knees in the mud next to
the woman.
    The woman opened her eyes, still bright and clear,
"Anndrea," she whispered "thank God you weren't here.."
    Anndrea cradled her mother's head in her lap "don't worry
mom, you'll be all right, I promise" she said through her tears.
    "No dear" the woman choked "my time has come, I just ....
for you, my love."
    "Who did this, why?" Anndrea gasped.
    "Pirates...don't know why...just came." the woman turned to
look at her daughter.  "You must leave this place, this planet
has nothing left for you...promise me...go to the Fort...go to
the Federation .."
    "I promise" the girl cried.
    Bubbles of blood formed on the woman's lips as she exhaled
her last breath.

    The three children sat on their horses over looking the
favorite summer valley of their clan.  From behind them the
morning sun cast long shadows in front of them towards their
past.  They could not identify any of the rest of the clan, they
just left them where they were.  Outside of the village circle
was a single grave they had spent the night digging.
    Anndrea turned to her two friends and said "I'm going to the
Fort."
    "Aren't you going with us to the other clan?" the older boy
asked.
    "No, I promised I would leave, and that is what I'm going to
do."
    "I want to leave too" the younger boy said as tears poured
down his face.
    "You must find the other clan, that is were you belong.  The
tribe must know of what has happened here."
    They were all too tired to argue they hugged each other from
their horses then parted ways.  The girl headed north and the
two boys headed south.
    A darkly tanned teenage girl rode a tall brown horse  across
an endless prairie.  She rode bare back accept for the bedroll
and other camping supplies strapped behind her.  She had long,
straight black hair tied back by a thin leather thong with a
bright red feather hanging from it.  She wore a simple brown
buck-skin dress decorated with small beads and fringe.  Ahead of
the girl was a large walled compound with two large doors
standing open, waiting for her....

    .....Whitecloud never finished her thought just sat looking
into the room.
    'What ever happened to her on Infiniti West must still be
too hard to speak of' O'Malley thought.  Janice sat next to
Anndrea and held her while she cried for her memories.  Even
warriors were allowed to cry, occasionally, she thought.
    Anndrea sat up pushed her hair out of her face "I have my
first solo command in a few hours, I'd better start preparing."
she stood and went into the head.

    "Captain Anthony, Sir, I read a ship entering this sector."
It was O'Malley's turn to stand watch on the sensors.
    "Can you project a course for it yet?" the Captain asked
from the Command room.
    "Yes Sir, it's current trajectory will bring it on a tangent
this system.  They won't need to alter their course until the
last minute to enter.  At current warp ETA to the system, 5
hours 15 minutes."
    "Keep an eye on them, if they show any sign of actually
paying this system a visit let me know."
    "Aye, sir"
    Several hours later Captain Anthony sat in his quarters
reviewing deployment scenarios submitted by Lt Commanders
Kartang and Golta when the yellow alert signal light came on.
At the same time there was the piping sound on the ship wide
communications followed by commander Tarva saying  "Captain
Anthony, report to the bridge."
    Anthony hit his comm button and said "I'm on my way." then
headed into the hall.  Two meters down the hall a turbo lift
stood opened waiting for him.  When he entered, the door shut
quickly and the lift accelerated toward the bridge without
command.
    "Commander Tarva, Report" Anthony said as soon as he stepped
off the lift.
    The rest of the main bridge crew was already at their
stations.
    "Sir, the incoming ship has continued its course on a
tangent to this system but we have picked up extremely intense
scanners directed towards the system.  The yellow alert was
automatically activated by ACT.  It seems that the system
perceives these scans as a threat and has begun shifting the
cloaking frequencies to compensate." Tarva reported.
    "Automatic frequency shifting is designed to compensate for
the intense Borg scanners." Anthony said as he took his chair.
Then after some thought asked "Do we have a make on the ship
yet?"
    "Sir all we have is that it's a Federation Pentalia class,
perhaps a scout ship." Ensign O'Malley reported.
    "Sir, there are no Federation scanner systems that would
cause ACT to automatically initiate phase frequency of the
cloaking." Commander Norton said.
    "Perhaps, you should say there are no systems that we are
aware of." Anthony commented with a smile.
    "That, would be more accurate" Norton agreed.
    "Perhaps we should bring in any training missions we have
out." Tarva suggested.
    "Agreed." Commander Norton said then signaled the 'Cavern'
"Lieutenant Commander Kartang, are there any training teams
planet side?"
    "A drop ship is collecting the last team at this time."
Kartang replied.
    "Please keep us appraised of their progress."
    "Aye Sir, Kartang out"
    "Sir," Ensign O'Malley said "the ship has dropped out of
warp and is concentrating it's scans on this area."
    "That's not possible," Tarva said "it couldn't possibly read
us and from that distance and there's no way it could see the
team on the surface."
    "Have all hands prepare for silent running." Anthony said to
Tarva then to Norton "Have they zeroed in on anything yet?"
    "No sir, they just keep doing wide sweeps like their seeing
shadows or something."
    "Ensign O'Malley what's their current status?" Anthony
turned to the red head.
    "Sir, they're heading toward us now at three quarters
impulse, they should be here in about forty eight minutes."
    "I read a high energy release on the planet" Norton
reported.
    "Bridge, Drop Ship Control here" came Kartang's voice over
the intercom.
    "Go ahead" replied Commander Tarva.
    "Sir, Drop Ship 21 has crashed on lift off" Kartang said
almost frantically.
    "Survivors" Captain Anthony demanded.
    "With the storm and the ACT systems in the ship and suits it
is impossible to tell.  Sir, request permission to launch a
rescue mission!"
    "How many unaccounted for?"
    "Two pilots and a full sixteen member landing team."
    "Sir," O'Malley Interrupted "The ship has increased to full
impulse and has a projected course to enter our exact orbit.
New ETA twenty minutes."
    "They have concentrated full scanner activity on the area of
the crash site."  Norton added.
    Anthony swung his command chair around to get a full look at
his bridge crew.  All, like himself, were strapped into their
duty chairs in preparation for silent running.  "Mr. Norton,
initiate silent running.  Mr. Kartang, permission denied, send a
message to any survivors to hang tight we'll come get them as
soon as possible.  Helm take us to an opposite geo-synchronous
orbit, maybe we can repeat that incident with the Raptor."
    The Vigilante adjusted it's current geo-synchronous orbit
over their training area to one directly on the opposite side of
the planet.  The movement was so smooth it was not perceptible
to any of the crew.
    "Sir, I'm picking up a transmission from the surface, audio
only." Norton said.
    "Put it on the speaker"
    The speakers for the view screen immediately erupted in
static.  "This is the best I can do" Norton said as he made
adjustments.
    A female voice could barely be heard through the noise:
<Vigilante...twelve...survive...suits held..one day...failure..>
the rest of the message was inaudible.
    "What are they doing, don't they know we have company?"
Tarva said.
    "They did not acknowledge our warnings to them just before
the crash." Norton advised her.
    "Sir, the Ship has taken up orbit where predicted, and they
have shields at maximum." Norton reported.  He then made new
adjustments at the comm center "I now have a transmission from
the ship, directed to the planet."
    The sound was much cleaner and a male voice said:
<Attention planet side, this is the U.S.S. Delphi, please
identify yourselves, we are prepared to offer assistance if
needed.>
    Anthony immediately turned to Commander Norton and said "Get
me all you can on the Delphi and the Pentalia class ships"
    "Aye, sir" Norton said as he started working his console.
    "Captain," O'Malley spoke up "The Delphi has transported an
away team to the planet."
    "How close to our people is their team?" Tarva asked.
    "Can't tell, the armor is deflecting our scans."
    There had been a long pause from the planet then the high
static began again and the female voice came back:

 <This...private registry trans...Vigi..., request evacuat...six
survive.>

    "My God, they've lost twelve." Ensign O'Malley whispered.
    "If they get evacuated, they'll initiate Drop Ship self
destruct." Tarva said.  She then turned to the intercom and
signaled Chief Swanson.

    <Say again, how many survivors?  Our scans do not indicate
any life signs.>

    "Swanson, here" came a woman's voice.
    "Chief, we need to beam aboard all personnel on the far side
of the planet, can we do it?" Tarva said quickly.
    "We're currently out of range, sir."
    "Damn, the planet's in the way" Anthony said "Helm, move us
into transport range best speed."
    "Aye, sir" replied the helmsman.
    "Prepare to transport" Tarva said to the intercom then
immediately started entering timings and frequencies to
coordinate the transport.

    After another long pause, the voice came back:
<...sheltered...debris. There...six, repeat six...request...
evacuation...>
    <Confirmed, we now read six survivors, prepare for emergency
transport.>

    O'Malley then reported "The survivors of the Drop Ship have
been transported, the away team is still on the planet."
    "Tarva to Chief Swanson prepare to transport."
    "Watching for the signal, now" she replied.
    "Sir," Norton said "I have the specs for the Pentalia class
ships but I'm unable to find any registry for the Delphi, in any
class."
    "Who ever they are, they have six of my crew."  Anthony then
turned to his intercom "Mr Kartang, I'll need a roster for the
team and drop ship crew we just misplaced."
    "Aye, Sir"
    Captain Anthony saw a note immediately appear on his log
screen:  Drop Ship 21 Crew and Roster.

    Six figures appeared in a standard Federation transporter
room.  Five stood in a semicircle supporting each other.  They
held full portable breathing apparatus to their faces.  The
sixth stood unsupported in the center of the semicircle.  She
was a female with shoulder length straight black hair and had
the portable breather strapped properly over her face.  All six
wore one piece, snug fitting, flat gray body suits with wires
and connectors sticking out from them.
    The female in the center held an object at her side that
appeared to be a tricorder.  As soon as she could move again she
made an obvious movement with her thumb and pushed a button on
the devise.
    A security officer saw this and yelled "Look out,  she's got
a weapon!" and fired his phaser at her.