Uneasy Alliances - Ch 5

Uneasy Alliances

by Quills

Contact: the_quill_pen@yahoo.com
Series: ENT
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Paramount owns Star trek and I derive no financial gain from this story.
Codes: A Captain Soma Adventure
Summary: The crew of the U.S.S. Argo, under the command of Captain
Jonathan Soma is ordered to rendezvous with a mysterious party in a remote section of space for a mission that may lead both Soma and his crew into the hands of an enemy.

Chapter 5

Soma felt a throbbing ache in his head. Leaning forward, he stopped suddenly, when he felt something restricting his movement. Opening his eyes, he looked down to see a safety harness crisscrossed his chest, securing him firmly in place. Reaching his hand to his head, he rubbed the ache in his temple as he tried to recall what had happened. He could see he was in a cockpit and he was on the ground. Looking out the forward window confirmed that. The network of radial cracks running through it obscured the view, but he could make out dense foliage and the sandy earthen floor. Glancing around, he took in the cockpit in more detail. Most of the indicators were dark, and those that were still active winked in and out of operational status. He tried to recall exactly what had happened, but his memory was sketchy. He was piloting…sensors registered an object…they saw something. Then it occurred to him….”they.” Slapping his hand to the harness restraint, he unlocked the catch, freeing himself from the pilot seat. Jumping up, he turned, and headed to the aft compartment.

“Thala,” he shouted. “Thala, can you hear me?”

He listened for a moment, and heard a low groan come from the back of the compartment. Moving forward, he pushed several overturned storage containers out of his way. Trying to pinpoint the source of the groans, he called out again.

“Thala, hold on.”

Reaching the back of the shuttle, he could see a blue hand sticking out from under an overturned console table. Grabbing the table, he hefted it up, tossing it to the side. Looking down, he could see Thala lying on her stomach. He looked at her, quickly trying to ascertain her injuries. He could see that the back of her tunic had been slashed, and there were several gashes along her back. Cobalt blue stained her uniform where bleeding had soaked through.

“Thala,” he said, gently touching her shoulder.

She didn’t make any effort to move, but made a low groan before replying.
“Serves me right. I should have never let you fly.”

Soma couldn’t help smiling. “Don’t move. I’m going to see if I can find a medi-scanner.”

Thala gave a slight nod, “I wasn’t even considering it.”

Soma moved over to the medical locker on the wall. The door had swung open and most of the supplies had been spread out on the shuttle’s deck. Looking along the deck, he searched for any first aid supplies that he could find.

As he continued scavenging, Thala called out to him. “What happened?”

“I’m not sure,” he answered. “We collided with something.”

Thala remembered that much. It was some kind of creature. “Yes. You called it a…’dagon’?”

“Dragon,” Soma corrected her. “An ancient mythical animal from Earth lore. But whatever that thing was, it wasn’t out of any folklore. Probably some kind of large native avian or flying animal.”

Reaching under one of the overhanging consoles, he picked up several medical packets.
Underneath, he discovered a small palm sized module. Picking it up, he clicked the side button, and was rewarded with a small whirr and an illuminated panel. A slight smile played on his lips, and grabbing the medical packets, he headed back to Thala. Kneeling next to her, he tore open one of the packets, laying it one the ground.

“I found the medi-scanner,” he told her. “Just lie still for a minute.”

Thala didn’t care to take orders from a Vulcan, but she was hardly in a position to argue. Remaining motionless, she continued asking about their situation.

“So where are we?”

“Not sure,” said Soma, running the scanner over her. “On the ground, but beyond that your guess is as good as mine. I came to a few minutes ago.”

“Is the communications equipment working?” she asked.

“I don’t know what’s operational. My first concern was to see to you.”

Struggling against the pain in her back, she turned and looked up at him. She could see a green tinge in his cheeks, as their eyes met for a brief moment.

“I told you not to move,” he said, smiling at her.

She returned his smile. “I’m sorry.”

He stared at her a moment, her blue orbs mesmerizing him; her normally hardened and stoic mask were replaced by softer and gentler features. Turning away suddenly, he fixed his attention on the medi-scanner. “Except for some nasty cuts on your back, the scanner doesn’t show anything other than some bruising and a bump on the head.”

Thala sat up, leaning her shoulder against the shuttle wall. The stinging sensation along her back told her it was probably best not to lean on it.

“I found some antiseptic and bandaging,” said Soma, pointing to the medical packets. “I’ll need to treat your back. If you could turn around and take off your tunic.”

Thala looked at him for a moment. She wasn’t sure which made her more uncomfortable: Soma treating her or him seeing her naked. Either way, she had little choice. She couldn’t treat and bandage herself. Turning her back to him, she started raising her arms and stopped, wincing in pain.

“Here,” said Soma, resting his hand on her shoulder. “Let me help.”

Glancing back, she nodded her approval. Sliding his hands to her waist, he slowly lifted her tunic. Careful not to let the fabric touch her wounds, he slowly slid the tunic up her body and over her head. Pulling the tunic completely off, he exposed her blue skinned back. Her back was completely bare. Andorian women didn’t wear harnesses or braziers
To support their breasts, which he recalled had their own supportive tissue. He could see the edges of her breasts peaking out her sides. The underside was a paler blue than the rest of her body and it made an attractive contrast on her skin. Trying not to let his eyes roam anymore than they had, he re-focused his attention on the three lacerations in the center of her back. Reaching down into the medical packet, he pulled out a small flexible cylinder.

“I’m going to put some antiseptic on the wounds. It’s going to sting a little.”

Thala didn’t say anything, but simply nodded. She was a member of the Imperial Guard. Pain and injury were just another part of her duty. Snapping the cylinder open, Soma began lightly applying the yellow gel that poured out. It had a strong pungent odor and he leaned away to avoid inhaling the fumes. When the gel made contact with her skin, Thala sucked in a deep breath. It was a combination of any icy heat and stinging pain. And for a moment, she found the sensation almost exhilarating. Sliding his hand gently down her back, he used a pre soaked cloth to smear the gel into her wounds. When he had finished with all three wounds, he unrolled a large size blue bandage. Peeling the adhesive off, he affixed the bandage over the three wounds. Gently patting it, he made sure the bandage was secure. Sitting back, he examined his work.

“I’m afraid that’s the best I can do,” he said, handing Thala her tunic. “You should have them looked at once you get back to your ship.”

Taking her tunic, Thala gave him a brief nod. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he said, smiling. “Well…while you’re getting dressed I’m gonna have a look at the comm. system.”

“Very well,” she replied. “While you’re doing that, I will gather suitable supplies for our journey.”

“Our journey?”

Thala finished pulling her tunic on, and turned to face him. “We still have a mission to complete, captain. Our present setback doesn’t change that.”

Standing, Thala walked past Soma and began looking through the scattered contents of the storage containers. Soma rolled his eyes. This mission was gradually moving from bad to worse.

***

“Are you certain?” asked the hawk-faced man. His hood obscured the majority of his head, but his chiseled face was distinct and visible.

“Yes,” replied another cloaked male looking through a set of binoculars. “The craft was downed by one of those large avians the inhabitants call ruk’a.”

“Were you able to identify the craft?” asked the hawk face man, in a tone that clearly established that he was the leader..

The other man turned and looked at him. “The ship had no markings, but the design appeared to be…Andorian. Possibly a small reconnaissance shuttle or fighter.”

“Andorian,” the leader repeated. “And where there is an Andorian, the Federation can’t be far behind.” Looking down, he addressed his subordinate. “Sub-Commander, prepare the men to move out. I want to locate this downed shuttle and any survivors.”

The sub-commander came to attention, jutting his chin up. “As you command, Praetor.”

“Let us see what prize has attracted the attention of the mighty Federation,” smiled the hawk-faced leader.

TBC…

Quills has his own site now. Please look to Captain Soma's Adventures for any continuations of Uneasy Alliances.

Return to Chapter 4

Back to Fan Fiction Main Menu

Have a comment to make about this story? Do so in the Trip Fan Fiction forum at the HoTBBS!

Two folks have made comments

cool where is the rest? or is it not finished or im lost... but im readign the soma adventures in cronological order

Just found this one. Excellent! Can't wait for more Quills! Do you have published ST books btw?

I'll bet these are the evil rommies... keep writing!