From: neale@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Neale Davidson)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: STTRR 18/20
Date: 17 Aug 92 03:26:37 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center


 
  - STAR TREK        -------------------------------------------------
  - THE RAVEN'S ROAR -------------------------------------------------
 
  Part Eighteen of Twenty
 
  --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
 
        Captain's log: Stardate 10161.5
        Captain Thomas William Riley reporting
 
        Commander Sunak has surrendered himself and his crew to 
        the USS ENTERPRISE. I am anxiously awaiting his arrival, 
        we have much to discuss.
 
        Riley, Saavik, and six security guards filled one wall of 
  the room. Saavik manned the transporter controls, cooly 
  ordering them to beam aboard the last four remaining 
  crewmembers aboard the FIERY RAVEN.
        So far, the surrender has been without incident, dispite 
  the massive battles the two crews faced only moments before. 
  There was a coolness to the air, a warrior's aura, signifying 
  respect.
        Sunak and his most treasured crewmen shimmered into 
  existance on the transporter pads. He was quite large, making 
  Riley regret he had only ordered six red-shirts to the room. 
  Behind him were two men, one standing proudly, studying the 
  room with keen interest.
        But it was the last two which caught Riley's attention 
  most readily. The other male was obviously a doctor, caring for 
  the woman in Sunak's arms. She had suffered greatly from the 
  phaser barrage Riley had ordered.
        "Riley to Matthews," he commanded when noting the 
  bleeding coming from Rela's battered chest. "Emergency in 
  transporter room one. Send a surgical team up here."
        Riley then regarded the enemy commander for a moment, he 
  was huge, easily over seven feet tall with a massive build. His 
  forehead was largely exposed of hair, and his eyes were those 
  of a stalking animal. ~Welcome to the ENTERPRISE, Commander,~ 
  Riley called in such a perfect accent that Sunak almost forgot 
  who it was that had spoke. ~I am Captain Thomas Riley. This is 
  my first officer, Saavik,~ he added, indicating the rather 
  attractive woman standing next to him.
        ~I am honored to meet you, Captain,~ Sunak muttered 
  truthfully. ~It is a rare privilege to meet your better in 
  combat.~
        Matthews entered the room with the crew he slapdashed 
  together. Instantly he went to work on the young female's case, 
  since she was the only one injured in the room. "I'm taking her 
  to sickbay," he explained as his crew lifted her on the medical 
  bed. "If the Captain permits, you may see her there."
        "There will be time for that later," Sunak retorted as 
  the medical crew rushed out. "May my personal physician 
  accompany them, Captain? I doubt your crew fully understands 
  Romulan anatomy."
        "Don't be so sure," Riley quiety responded, silencing 
  Saavik. "He may go, under guard of course." He motioned to two 
  of the security crewmen to escort the Romulan doctor away.
        The Romulan commander stood, giving Riley a sense of awe 
  as his massive form rose in glory, even in defeat. "As 
  Commander of the Romulan Imperial Vessel FIERY RAVEN, I 
  surrender myself and my crew to your hands to answer for the 
  crimes of the Romulan Senate."
        "Not your ship?" Riley curtly asked without thinking.
        Sunak stepped down from the pad to stand face to face 
  with his rival. Riley hardly was lacking physically, having his 
  own imposing aura all his own. As some would say, his was a 
  very old soul. "I can't surrender the RAVEN to the Federation, 
  Captain. No more than I could ask the ENTERPRISE be surrendered 
  to the Romulan Empire if our situations were reversed."
        "I understand," Riley answered truthfully. "We'll destroy 
  the remains of your vessel without an inspection. Is that 
  satisfactory?"
        "Generous of you," Sunak replied, impressed. "I would not 
  expect a Federation Captain to be so kind to a Romulan 
  prisoner. I am impressed."
        Riley shut down the transporter controls with a calm 
  movement. "Most Federation Captains do not understand the needs 
  of Romulans as well as I do, Commander."
        "Indeed," he replied with a sense of amusement. "Your 
  doctor," Sunak continued with difficulty. "Will he be able to 
  save her?"
        "As annoying as he is," Riley admitted, "Matthews is one 
  of the best ship's surgeons I've served with. If anyone can, it 
  would be him."
        Sunak breathed heavily. "Then my surrender was not in 
  vain, Captain. I can sleep easy."
        Riley studied over the Commander's expressions, beneath 
  the hard surface and into the emotional turmoil which layed 
  beyond. "You surrendered your crew for her benefit, didn't 
  you?" he finally asked.
        Sunak said nothing in reply, only his standing in silence 
  gave him away.
        "Your mate, then?" Riley asked, his mind racing through 
  Sunak's. Riley had almost forgotten that he had already once 
  risked his carreer for the woman he loved, or at least wanted 
  to love.
        "Rela was not my mate," Sunak answered matter-of-factly, 
  "though we promised to mate each-other after the battle. Sadly, 
  I can see no method for the bonding to occur now. We will never 
  meet an arbitrator for the union once the Federation has 
  sentenced us."
        "There is one possible method, Commander," Riley offered. 
  "As compensation for the damage to my ship, you must allow me 
  arbitrate your exclusive union with Secundam Rela."
        For a brief moment, Saavik and Tonin shared the same 
  expression, their respective jaws dropped.
        "You toy with me, Captain," Sunak grimaced.
        "I know the ritual," Riley confessed. "I have the 
  military rank to perform it, albeit in a different service. And 
  it will aid in the healing of our peoples. I can't see why 
  not," he finished.
        "You would do me that honor?" Sunak asked confused. 
  "After the pain I have inflicted upon your crew? What madness 
  possesses you?"
        "The end of the battles, Commander. And prayers for no 
  more," Riley answered, quoting a piece of Vulcan literature. 
  "After all, you did surrender to us to save her life. I have 
  never seen such a sacrifice before, and it would be a pity to 
  waste it."
        Sunak smiled, for the first time, truly understanding his 
  counterpart. "You are a romantic, Captain," he replied. "A pity 
  we had to meet under such circumstances."
        "A pity," Riley agreed, indicating the door. "We have 
  another duty to perform, Commander. After that I will issue 
  quarters for your and Rela for your stay until we reach 
  starbase six."
        Sunak nodded, knowing what the trip meant. It was to be 
  his judgement.
 
        Tiber studied over the image of the broken FIERY RAVEN 
  floating helplessly against the black void. Riley had ordered 
  her destruction when both he and the enemy Commander entered 
  the bridge, and it would be something that Tiber was going to 
  enjoy.
        Still, it did seem a waste. The FIERY RAVEN was the most 
  notable opponent the Federation had faced since the Khitomer 
  incident, and it certainly was more worthy. Even this enemy 
  ship seemed to deserve a decent burial.
        But it was not to be, Riley walked into the bridge with 
  Sunak, sans security. It was a somber occaision, one to be 
  performed with a quiet pause.
        Tiber fired, using only a fraction of the ENTERPRISE's 
  phaser power. It was enough, the cutting rays ruptured the last 
  remaining chunks of ship, delivering to oblivion.
        And for once, the bridge was quiet. Sunak wept, releasing 
  a single tear for the FIERY RAVEN's loss.
 


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