Gateway-Part 20

"Gateway"

By Quills

Contact: the_quill_pen@yahoo.com

Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Paramount owns Star trek and I derive no financial gain
from this story.
Codes: A, T/Tu, Ma, S, R, P angst, drama, romance, humor, action/adventure
Summary: Captain Archer is relieved of command for a secret mission into the 24th Century. To find and stop the Suliban renegade Silik. While he is gone, a Vulcan Starfleet Captain from the future is given temporary command of the Enterprise NX-01 with his own orders to investigate the 'Temporal Cold War'.

Part 20

Chapter Forty-four

The swirling sand filled wind twisting over the desert surface was slowly blocked by the formation of seven transporter beams that coalesced into the landing party from the Enterprise-C. Seven figures in Starfleet desert survival gear stood atop a sand dune overlooking the now desolate science compound of 'Gateway'. Normal procedure would be to beam down in full EV suits, but with the high threat of armed conflict Archer decided on less constricting survival gear with respirators and goggles.

Captain Archer pulled out his phaser and motioned his officers to crouch down. Even with the san, “Lieutenant?"

Lt. Vendi pulled out his tricorder and ran a scan over the compound that lay just down the end of the sand dune. "Difficult to determine sir," said the tactical officer through his respirator. "I'm detecting heavy disruptor and phaser damage in the main compound building....but I'm not picking up any bio signatures. However, they could be masking themselves."

"What about the science team?" asked Doctor Trell as she kneeled down next to Archer and Vendi. The female Andorian was the ship's chief medical officer and at Captain Archer's reluctance had accompanied the away team in case there were any wounded.

"I'm not reading any of their signatures either Doctor," replied Vendi. "It could be interference from the cloak or..."

"Or they could all be dead," finished Archer grimly.

"I'm afraid so, Captain," agreed Vendi nodding. "My tricorder shows only one entrance to the main building. If there are any hostiles inside sir, they would have the advantage."

"Well, we don't have time to play this safe," said Archer as he checked the setting on his weapon. "I want you, Doctor Trell and two of your men to circle around to the right of the main building. Captain Mayweather and one of the security details will circle around to the left with me. If one our teams encounters hostile forces, they need to draw their fire while the other team gets into that building and searches for any clues as to what Silik intends to do with the 'Kirk'."

Vendi looked at Archer for a moment. The tactical officer knew the Captain was right. The mission was far too important and lives would have to be sacrificed if necessary. "Understood Captain."

Vendi signaled two of his security detail to follow him and Trell down the side of the dunes they made their way along the outer perimeter of the compound. The full force of the sandstorms had died down several hours before, but the winds were still kicking up enough sand to make visibility difficult in the low lighting of the planet's early dawn. Archer could make out the silhouettes of Vendi and his team as they made their way down the dune and across the perimeter. Once the sand obscured any visibility of the first team, Archer signaled Travis Mayweather and Ensign Munro, the security guard that remained with Archer's team, to move down the opposite side of the dune. With any luck, the sand being kicked up by the wind would afford both teams at least some cover from visibility.

The three men followed the first team’s tactic and skirted the perimeter of the compound as they made their way to the main building. The wind blown sand worked to cover their movement but it also limited their ability to see. Travis Mayweather pulled out his tricorder and held the device close to his face as he tried to read the instrument through his goggle headgear as the blowing sand made reading the instrument difficult.

"I make it another fifty meters to our left Captain." shouted Mayweather quite certain that if Archer could barely hear him then any hostiles couldn't. They would have preferred using head set communicators but the silt like sand would have made short order of the equipment.

Archer acknowledged the report with a clear nod of his head and then waved his arm for Mayweather and Munro to follow him. The two men followed close behind Archer, making certain not to lose site of their Captain, or risk getting separated. The team moved in a straight line for several yards when a dim light came into view in the distance. Archer stopped momentarily and glanced back at his men. Signaling them to continue they carefully made their way towards the growing light. By the time they had reached the source of the light they were forced to halt as a barrier suddenly appeared through the blowing sand.

"It's the wall to the main building," shouted Archer. "This must be a perimeter guide light. We'll follow the wall to the front of the building...phase pistols ready."

The two men drew their weapons and nodded at Archer. Following the barely visible wall, they made their way down the building until Archer came to a sudden stop. Placing a fist up in the air, he signaled the two men to stop and then made a slashing motion across his throat which both men took to mean that silence was required.

They had reached the edge of the building and Archer was carefully leaning out to see what he could. The main entrance light afforded greater visibility around the door, but he could see no one in sight; including Vendi and his team. Archer looked back at Mayweather and Munro, signaling them to follow closely. The three men continued to follow along the wall as they made their way to the entranceway. Stopping just short of the entrance, Archer raised his phaser and motioned Munro and Mayweather to cover him as he ran to the opposite side of the entrance. The two men raised their phasers, ready to cover Archer as he made a crouching run across the exposed entranceway. Spinning himself around, Archer came to a stop with his back to the wall of the opposite side. Leaning in with his phaser ready, he looked down the dimly lit tunnel.

The low lighting made visibility almost as bad as the sand storm. For several seconds Archer focused his attention on the shadows, looking for signs of movement. After several moments a shadow moved across a far wall at the end of the corridor. Archer aimed his phaser at the movement as he prepared to fire. Mayweather and Munro also trained their weapons in the direction the Captain was aiming at as they waited for the owner to come into view. Suddenly Archer pulled his weapon up and threw out his hand to signal Mayweather and Munro to do the same.

Stepping out into the exposed entranceway, Archer was greeted by the form of Lt. Vendi coming out of the darkness. "Captain"

"Mr. Vendi...you don't know how lucky you are," said Archer holding up his phaser.

"Sorry sir," said the tactical officer sheepishly. "But you need to follow me sir."

"What is it?" asked Archer pulling off his head gear.

"A survivor." replied the Lieutenant.

"Show me." said Archer as he started to head down the hallway
with Vendi sprinting to catch up.

"We arrived a couple minutes before you did, sir," explained Vendi.

"There had been a fire fight. Best we can tell, most of the science team was here for it. We found several bodies in the main hall and in this corridor. One of them was alive, but just barely. We moved her into the hall where Doctor Trell is trying to stabilize her."

Archer and Vendi exited the darkened corridor and entered an only slightly more illuminated main hall. In the center, Archer could see the blue skinned Andorian doctor leaning over her patient while Vendi's two security guards stood watch.

"Doctor?" said Archer as he approached turning his gaze down on the young woman lying on the couch in front of Trell.

"Just a moment Captain," snapped the Andorian as she pulled a hypo out of her medical kit.

Archer looked over at Vendi. "Who is she?"

"Science team profile says she's a technician...Stacy Veter," replied Vendi.
"She's taken a direct disruptor blast Captain." added Trell as she continued what she knew was a futile attempt to save the girls life. Looking up
briefly she shook her head at Archer.

"I need to talk to her Doctor," said Archer stressing the point.

Trell opened her mouth about to protest and then closed it. She knew there was nothing she could do for the girl. Some questions from the Captain wouldn't make her any worse than she already was. Shaking her head, Trell stood up and made room for Archer to kneel next to the couch.

Looking down, Archer could see the heavy disrupter wound in the girls abdomen. Her eyes fluttered in a half conscious movement as the last spark of life began to fade.

"Stacy?" said Archer as he leaned over the girl. "Stacy, my name is Jonathan Archer."

Archer looked at the girl to see if she understood. Her eyes rolled around under the half closed lids. If she heard him she made no show of it.

"Stacy, we need your help," he said. "The men who did this. They took the 'Kirk'. We need to know where they went. Did they say anything?" Archer placed his hand on the girls arm.

"Captain," said Trell. "It's not good sir."

Sighing, Archer looked up at Vendi "Lieutenant, I want this place torn apart. Look for anything that might give us a clue."

"Yes, sir."

"Doctor, prepare your patient," said Archer. “We’ll take her back to the

Enterprise and..."

Suddenly the girl sat up grabbing Archer as her eyes opened wide.

Archer spun around in alarm as the girl struggled to hold onto him as she spoke in a gurgled inarticulate manner."

"Stacy," cried Archer. "Easy."

The girl struggled to remain upright as she held onto Archer's shoulder.

Leaning close she put her lips close to Archer's ear as she whispered one word before the last gasp of life left her failing body. "Enterprise."

TBC....

Continue to Part 21 (Chapter 45)

Return to Part 19 (Chapter 43)

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One person has made comments

Ooh, this is coming up for a huge climax. I can just feel it in my water!