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A Fine Mess- Ch. 3

Author - Chianna
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A Fine Mess

By Chianna

PG - Action/Adventure/Romance
Disclaimers in part one

Chapter 3

Once More Unto The Breach (Shakespeare, of course!)

"Walk softly and carry an armored tank division." – Jack Nicholson. A Few Good Men

************

Captain Archer turned back to the main viewing screen. "Hail the San’jeen, Hoshi."

Captain Storek’s formidable face filled the screen. His composed countenance belied his surroundings. From what the Enterprise crew could make of the background scene, San’jeen had taken heavy damage. The bridge was bathed in a crimson glow typical of secondary emergency lighting. Plumes of smoke were visible from a station to the left of Storek’s shoulder.

Archer’s lighthearted mood evaporated faster than a Texas rain shower in August. No amount of frustration with the Vulcan’s could prevent his empathy with fellow Captain at dealing with such damage to his ship.

"Captain Storek, this is Captain Archer of the Enterprise. How may we be of assistance? Our ship is at your disposal."

"Captain Archer, we were on a mission to a planet called Aviaria in the Solkan system .5

light years from our current position. We received distress signals from the planet reporting a pandemic that crippled the planet and is defying attempts by medical personnel there to discover a cure. Data transmitted by the Aviarian government leads us to believe that this disease is related to a particularly virulent strain of Rigilian fever that we have dealt with before. Casualties exceed over 50,000 in the last four days. Data collected so far has confirmed a 100% casualty rate within seven days of contracting the disease."

"We’re attacked four hours ago by three small ships that seemed to be set to ambush us as we passed an asteroid belt just prior to entering the Solkan system. We were able to assume a defensive position, but the ships seemed intent on targeting our propulsion systems. Our warp drive is offline and we have only limited impulse capabilities. It is imperative that the medical supplies and equipment that we have are delivered to Aviaria in all haste." The Vulcan captain finally concluded leaving the obvious request unasked. Maybe it was Vulcan pride at asking such a favor from an earth ship or he simply decided that the need was so obvious that he felt that making the request was redundant.

Archer felt no need to respond with unnecessary information. While the comm link was still open he directed himself to the conn. "Travis, get a fix on the San’jeen. Archer to Engineering."

"Engineering here, Capt’n" drawled Commander Tucker.

"Trip, we’re going to blow the carbon out of the engines today. Just wanted you all to be prepared.

"We’ll give ya all she’s got Capt’n and maybe a little more."

Archer turned to the conn again and could see that the young ensign was keyed up at the promise of this new mission. "Travis, warp 5 on my mark. All engines full, now"

Archer turned back to the screen. "Any sensor reading on hostiles still in your area?"

"Regrettably, our sensors are not working at optimal specifications. We seem to be alone according to short-range scans. We are transmitting all intelligence data that we have on the three ships. We have no previous record of their existence."

"Captain Storek, we will be at your coordinates in just under two hours. Archer out."

Archer had heard his armory officer working feverishly throughout the communication. He smiled knowing that Malcolm might have broken comm protocol to ask Storek for particulars on the attack if the Vulcan had not beat them both to the punch with the data download. Malcolm was fiercely protective of the ship and crew which made him an excellent tactical officer – uh, though a less than tactful diplomat.

"Malcolm, I need for you & T’Pol to analyze the data from the Vulcan ship. Prepare to give a briefing to senior staff in 30 minutes, we do not have much time to prep for this mission and we need to be prepared for anything."

Malcolm’s handsome, normally reserved face, was pinched in concentration. As he reviewed the data on the San’jeen’s battle with the three smaller ships, he found he could readily draw some basic conclusions. San’jeen was, for all intents, an exploration vessel. Probably not very armament heavy, he concluded. Individually, the three unidentified ships did not have superior firepower. But, what they did have were "pack" tactics. Wolves would snap at the legs of a fleeing deer, disabling it, until one or more could come in for the kill. But these wolves didn’t serve up the final coup de grace."

"...so what are these bloody bastards after?" Malcolm murmured to himself.

Archer smiled and added to Malcolm, "That, Mr. Reed, is what I hope that you & T’Pol can enlighten us on, in about twenty eight minutes."

*****************


Continued in Chapter 4
Back to Chapter 2

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