From: neale@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Neale Davidson)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: STMOW 9/20
Date: 30 Jul 92 03:20:13 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center


 
  - STAR TREK     ----------------------------------------------------
  - MORALS OF WAR ----------------------------------------------------
 
  Part Nine of Twenty
  (Not Including the Prelude)
 
  Disclaimer : This is fan-zine material, which means that it's
  neither cannon nor seeking to be. I'm doing this for fun.
 
  --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
  CHAPTER NINE
 
        The COLUMBIA was, like many similar vessels of late, a
  scout ship assigned to listening duty in the Neutral Zone. The
  ship was capable of far better sensor analysis than her heavier
  counterparts, though she was hardly a fighting vessel.
        It was suprising that the vessel had been caught alone.
  Their escort must have headed away on urgent business. Or,
  perhaps, the Federation had been negligent in this area of the
  Zone.
        No matter the reason, the COLUMIBA represented the weak
  link in the Federation's defense set up. While she was capable
  of detecting even a cloaked ship if she were near, it would be
  a simple matter to erase her from this plane of existance. Then
  the mission could proceed.
        Konok studied the sensor reports on the tiny vessel,
  knowing that the long range scans would have to be shut off to
  allow the IRON CLAW II to approach. ~This is the target,~ he
  indicated to the crew. The image of the COLUMBIA grew and
  metamorphed into a tactical display of her offensive and
  defensive capabilities. ~She is capable of detecting us, and
  therefore we must destroy her if we are to go through. The
  remainder of the Neutral Zone is more heavily defended.~
        The helmsman looked a bit concerned at that last bit.
  ~Sir,~ he cautiosly began. ~What if the scout detects us before
  we can cut off their communications? We are risking an act of
  war.~ The helmsman had dared too much there, and he knew it.
  Konok look down with an menacing expression, waiting for an
  apology. ~Isn't there any other way?~ the helmsman finally
  asked in a more subdued tone.
        Konok considered that. They were indeed about to risk a
  full scale war with their action. But his orders were perfectly
  clear. He was to destroy the ENTERPRISE and anything which
  stood in his way. ~The Empire has given her orders,~ he cooly,
  and somewhat regretfully replied to his crew. ~It is our time
  to put our brick into our road to the stars.~
        The IRON CLAW II disappeared into the blackness of space,
  heading toward the COLUMBIA beyond. The scout ship, as per
  normal under these circumstances, was running on impusle power.
        Captain Rapter knew that he had inherited the most boring
  and terrifying duty in Star Fleet. It was his job to scan for
  the enemy, wherever they are, for whatever reason, to warn Star
  Fleet that they were coming.
        "The least they could do for us is provide an escort,"
  his First Officer complained. "It's bad enough waiting for
  something to happen, let alone not being able to handle it."
        Rapter's steel-like eyes peered over to his number one.
  He wasn't pleased, and First Officer Kito's constant
  complaining wasn't helping matters much. "Mister Kito," he
  began to explain with a note of intolerance, "you know that we
  have lost three ships near starbase fourteen, and Fleet feels
  that our escorts could be of more benefit there than in this
  backwater."
        Kito quieted down, frustrated with his duty. "I'm sorry,
  Captain. I've been on edge lately." It was true enough, the
  entire crew was jumpy. Shore leave had best come soon, Rapter
  thought to himself. Muntiny was looking to be a welcome
  alternative.
        The worst thing one can do to a member of Star Fleet was
  to bore him. The vast majority of them joined the service
  wishing for the excitement promised in the stars.
        But there is a saying about wishing for things, and about
  how those wishes usually come true.
        "Sir," one of the sensor operators suddenly called. "I'm
  getting a gaseous anomaly from directly ahead."
        Rapter tensed up. "Range, Lieutenant?" he queried.
        "Thirty-four thousand kilometers, and closing." the
  Lieutenant called back with a distinct nervousness in his
  voice.
        Rapter's eyes opened wide as he stood. "On screen," he
  called. The main viewer shifted images from a tactical report
  to foward view. There was something wrong. Some of the stars
  had red-shifted.
        "Range is now thirty thousand kilometers, closing fast,"
  the Lieutenant called again, noticably more nervous than
  before.
        "That's no cloaking device I've ever seen before," Rapter
  commented to the room, stating the obvious. If it was a
  cloaking device, its effects were far better at masking a ship
  than the usual model.
        "If it is a cloaked ship," Kito observed, "it will be in
  firing range in only a couple of seconds." Rapter considered
  that for a small moment.
        "Sir, broad system commications have just been jammed,"
  the commincations officer cried. Rapter's eyes widened, and he
  quickly hit the red alert signal. "Range is twenty-eight
  thousand kilometers," the officer continued even as the klaxon
  suddenly blared to life. "Registering definate weapons lock
  from unknown."
        "Fire seeker torpedoes," Rapter barked as the enemy
  vessel shimmered into existance. The COLUMBIA complied, spewing
  forth two balls of burning light against her attacker.
        The torpedoes arced around the rear of the IRON CLAW II,
  and slammed her from behind. Konok was thrown from his chair,
  nearly hitting his head into the helmsman's station. Smoke
  began pouring from the turbolift. ~What were those, Secundam?~
        The helmsman scrambled to get the shields up, fully aware
  now that their prized cloaking device had been comprimised.
  ~Plasma seeking torpedoes, sir. They must have made them
  standard weapons.~
        The IRON CLAW limped a bit, but it was clear that the
  battleship wouldn't take long to recover from the blow. "Ready
  phasers," he commanded to his helmsman, knowing how futile the
  gesture would be. "Communications, give me a piped channel to
  Star Fleet Command."
        The communications officer complied, "Channel open,
  Captain." Everyone knew that it would be the last transmission
  that the ship would make.
        "This is the USS COLUMBIA," Rapter screamed into the
  recorder, "we are under attack. We are transmitting sensor
  reports now." Rapter activated the communicae switch to begin
  the sensor relay.
        It would only be a matter of moments before the IRON CLAW
  II could again jam the ship's transmission, but the window was
  big enough to get the job done. Star Fleet would at last know
  more about this new and deadly foe.
        ~Konok,~ the helmsman cried, ~the scout ship has sent
  transmission. They'll know we're coming.~
        Konok fumed,~ Damn them, engage thrusters and reready
  plasma torpedoes for firing.~  Upon Konok's command, the IRON
  CLAW II gingerly arced through space, turning upon the
  Federation Scout.
        "Fire phasers, don't let them get their shots off,"
  Rapter commanded, knowing that it would be a futile gesture.
  The phasers jetted from the COLUMBIA, but the IRON CLAW II had
  been quick to raise her shields. The phasers didn't punch
  through.
        The IRON CLAW II finally fired, slamming a blast into the
  COMLUMBIA's shields. ~Their sheilds have collapsed, sir,~ the
  Romulan helmsman reported. ~Recharging plasma launcher.~
        ~Excellent,~ Konok smiled, ~At least the Federation
  fodder will die fighting. Let there be some joy in that.~
        The IRON CLAW II fired again. The COLUMBIA attempted to 
  evade, her crew knowing that the next hit would be the last. 
  But the shot had been too precise, and it slammed into the 
  impulse engines of the scout.
        The primary hull of the COLUMBIA strained under the 
  blast, but the fusion reactors couldn't hold. Their explosion 
  ignited others, and finally the entire ship was engulfed in a 
  massive matter and anti-matter annihilation.
        Konok saluted the remains of the vessel, feeling respect 
  for such a valiant crew. ~Yto,~ he commanded, ~resume course 
  for Genesis sector. Warp three, silent running.~
        ~But, sir,~ the helmsman replied even as he began keying 
  in the sequence, ~surely the Federation will attempt to stop us 
  from reaching Genesis sector.~
        ~Of course they will,~ Konok replied with a smirk. ~The 
  Federation will send their newest and best ship to test 
  themselves against us. They will send the ENTERPRISE.~ The 
  helmsman looked a bit confused by the comment, unsure of what 
  logic his commander was using. ~Relax, Yto,~ Konok politely 
  commanded. ~Fate has played her hand in our favour. The Empire 
  has forsaken us, so let us go and accomplish our mission for 
  its glory.~
        Konok's laugh was that of a madman's.
 


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