From: Anton_Sanderfoot@qms1.life.uiuc.edu (Anton Sanderfoot)
Subject: STORY: Wisdom of the Ancients 8
Followup-To: alt.startrek.creative
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 21:42:04 GMT

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Wisdom of the Ancients, part 8

Open in the Conference Room of the Gregarious. The senior officers are
present: Riker, Worf, Thomas, Rild, and Mirok; as well as Qiti.

Riker: The word from Star Fleet is that they can't spare any back up for at
least a week. [pausing for protests to die down] Our orders are to keep
Malqi and the Zenrabi busy until such time as the back up can get to us.

Worf: It seems unlikely that even with back-up we could have any effect on
such a vessel...

The red alert klaxons sound as Riker's communicator beeps.

Wesley: [vo] Captain to bridge!

All file out to Bridge. Wesley, rising from the Helm as Rild replaces him,
reports:

Wesley: We are 20 minutes out from Sulkare. Sensors have picked up the
Zenrabi vessel at Sulkare. It is currently firing upon Sulkare 2.

Riker: Damn it! Increase to warp 9.5. Mr. Crusher, get to a science
station. I want all the information you can get from this attack. How in
the hell did they get ahead of us?

Mirok: Message coming in from the Zenrabi vessel.

Riker: On screen.

Malqi: [from screen] Why, Hello. A bit late aren't we?

Riker: I believe our date was still 20 hours from now.

Malqi: I was tired of waiting. I have no reason to wait for you. But, I was
unfair. I'll give you another chance. In 10 hours I'll be at these
coordinates. [numbers appear on the screen] Do't be late.

As the transmission ceases, the screen blanks to show Sulkare 2 just as the
Zenrabi beam shatters the planet.

Worf: Raise shields! Ready all weapons!

Riker: [pausing] Recommendations?

Worf: [reading panel on his chair] Recommend we move in on a high speed
pass. Fire upon the rear half, targeting the engines. Then swing around the
moon to cover our back.

Riker: Battle stations. Prepare to execute Commander Worf's plan.

The Gregarious screams into the Sulkare system and falls upon the Zenrabi
vessel. The Gregarious fires phasers and torpedoes which impact harmlessly
on the surface of the Zenrabi vessel. The Gregarious continues on to behind
the moon, where it prepares to turn.

Mirok: Weapons impacted on the surface, no change in energy readings from
the vessel. The vessel is turning.

Worf: Bring us around the moon, prepare to fire again.

The Gregarious begins to move around the moon, as it does, the Zenrabi
vessel suddenly moves quickly over it and then disappears.

Riker: Damn it! Where did they go!

Mirok: The vessel took off at a speed greater than warp 9. No warp field
was formed around the vessel. It's propulsion system must be unique.

Riker: Things have changed! We can't wait for backup. Get your ideas
together. Conference in 10 minutes. [to Rild] How long will it take us to
get to the coordinates he gave us?

Rild: At warp 9, it will take 9 hours 50 minutes.

Guinan: He's toying with us.

Riker: Yes, I know. Set course, warp 9. Ms. Thomas, Mr. Crusher analyze
your data. I want a report in 15 minutes. [turning to Qiti] This may be our
last stand.

Riker exits to his ready room. Qiti exchanges a glance with Guinan, then
follows Riker. Cut to the Ready Room. Riker is seated as Qiti enters.

Riker: Present your plan at the meeting.

Qiti: It may be very costly.

Riker: We can't afford to wait any longer. It's clear that Malqi can make
his way to any planet in the galaxy. Earth, Vulcan, even Romulus; any of
which would be an unstoppable blow. We've got to get him while he's out
here. I'm going to send a message to Star Fleet, but regardless of their
feelings, it's us against them.

Qiti exits to the bridge as Riker is punching buttons on his console. At
the Science station, Thomas and Wesley are discussing the accumulated data
with Rild and Mirok looking on. Guinan walks up to Qiti who stands at the
far edge of the bridge.

Guinan: We're going to attack them, aren't we.

Qiti: Yes, I'm afraid so.

Guinan: How many are going to die?

Qiti: Too many...

Cut to Conference Room, all the usuals are collected there.

Riker: We must stop this vessel. We can't destroy it from the outside, we
need to get inside. This is not something I take lightly. If we don't stop
it, there's nothing to stop the Zenrabi from getting to any Federation
world, and we've already seen what they are capable of. I've asked Qiti to
explain to us what is necessary to disable this vessel.

Qiti: Primarily, I should mention that while casualties may still be high,
the 80% rate should not be expected. The majority of the losses occurred
while boarding the vessel, something that will be unnecessary due to your
transporters. Matter-Energy transport was never discovered in our
experiences. And scans have shown that such equipment is not on board the
Zenrabi vessel. Further, as the vessel has no shields, it should be easy to
transport aboard. Yet, once on board, the difficulties begin. Each Zenrabi
vessel is built differently, with such stations as the Bridge and
Engineering well protected and quite random in placement. The atmosphere
will be hostile to you, and will change with the whims of the Zenrabi. Your
environmental gear should be more than sufficient to protect you, though.
The most dangerous aspect will be the Zenrabi themselves. Their appearance
cannot be well defined. They are reddish semi-gelatinous forms, motile on 6
"feet." Their weapons are stored within an "arm," from which they discharge
an electric bolt with great accuracy. Your phasers set on stun will have
little effect. A setting of 10 will be required to subdue them.

Worf: [to Riker] Will we be firing to kill?

Riker: If it becomes necessary, everyone is authorized to set to 16.

Qiti: Even on 16, your phasers will not kill them. The idea will be to
repulse them and keep moving. Upon arriving at any important looking
station, you will destroy it. Two person teams will be spread throughout
the vessel.

Riker: I want to stress that this will be on a volunteer basis only.

Thomas: And what happen to the Gregarious when the teams are on board the
Zenrabi vessel?

Riker: We keep the Zenrabi busy, and for that, I was hoping you had some
ideas, Chief.

Thomas: Actually, I do. I think we can turn some of their weapons against
them. By modulating the shield output and using the tractor beams, I
believe we can capture some of their projectiles and then slingshot them
back onto the vessel.

Riker: Excellent, Ms. Thomas. Make the necessary adjustments.

Qiti: The reason this vessel isn't already destroyed is that I am on board.
Malqi wants me alive so that he can gloat. Once he knows I'm on board his
vessel, the Gregarious will no longer be safe.

Rild: I think his choice of system may be useful to us. The Pulchara system
is loaded with planets and asteroids. It should be easy for us to hide
among them.

Riker: Without objections, I believe a complement of 40 should be
sufficient.

Worf: I would be most honored to lead this mission.

Riker: I felt as much. Coordinate with Qiti on getting volunteers and
preparing the attack. We will arrive at Pulchara 13 in 8.5 hours. I want a
plan worked up in 2 hours, and have everyone fully briefed. Good luck to us
all. Dismissed.

END PART 8