Mission #6: Rattle of Sabers

[Bridge]

Julia had been quiet through the exchange. The Phoenix was beginning to look like an Alpha Quadrant summit. She was in the academy during the war and lacked the experience her fellow officers had in dealing with these various races. A knot began to develop in her chest as she realized they would be going after the vessel. The ship had already show an impressive amount of fire power and tactical prowess. She noticed the completion of the transport. "Sir, I have confirmation. We have beamed 25 kKlingon officers aboard. They are currently in the Cargo bay. Medical teams report several serious injuries."

Cargo Bay

Andrew saluted Vor'char with fist to heart to honor the Klingon Captain. "Your warriors will not be forgotten, Captain," Andrew vowed in a quiet fierce tone. The memory of those lost to the Borg from his old universe home made him feel quite fiercely for the loss of those warriors Vor'char had lost to the mirror universe warship...assuming he was correct.

With a nod to Ensign Aneamu, Andrew led Captain Vor'char out of the Cargo Bay and down the corridor to the nearest lift. Once alone with him and the destination determined; Andrew continued his conversation with the Klingon.

"We may have discovered the truth behind the ship that attacked you, the Romulans, and apparently the Cardassians. Though we are still gathering data from a probe at the nebula we found the D'derdiex at...it appears the warship is from the mirror universe. I believe, if this is indeed the case, they are here for one reason only...to stir up trouble in our weakened state since the Dominion War, and then sweep in and wipe us all out. Thus, it is my thought that we must not let that ship return. She must be captured...or wiped out...one way or the other," Andrew explained as the lift carried the pair to the Bridge.

Andrew Sheridan wrote:

Cargo Bay

Andrew saluted Vor'char with fist to heart to honor the Klingon Captain.  "Your warriors will not be forgotten, Captain," Andrew vowed in a quiet fierce tone.  The memory of those lost to the Borg from his old universe home made him feel quite fiercely for the loss of those warriors Vor'char had lost to the mirror universe warship...assuming he was correct.

With a nod to Ensign Aneamu, Andrew led Captain Vor'char out of the Cargo Bay and down the corridor to the nearest lift.  Once alone with him and the destination determined; Andrew continued his conversation with the Klingon.

"We may have discovered the truth behind the ship that attacked you, the Romulans, and apparently the Cardassians.  Though we are still gathering data from a probe at the nebula we found the D'derdiex at...it appears the warship is from the mirror universe.  I believe, if this is indeed the case, they are here for one reason only...to stir up trouble in our weakened state since the Dominion War, and then sweep in and wipe us all out.  Thus, it is my thought that we must not let that ship return.  She must be captured...or wiped out...one way or the other," Andrew explained as the lift carried the pair to the Bridge.

The Captain followed the commander's lead with Grelkira following close behind. He listened intently as Sheridan apprised him of the situation. Vor'Char could feel the pain still ringing in the gash on his head but he seemed to dismiss it easily. His hand was wrapped in a  piece of his uniform and his fist clenched tightly around the cloth. He looked like hell. But nothing short of death would stop him. As Sheridan finished he knew he was certainly right about one thing. The threat must be neutralized. No matter the cost.

As the turbo lift neared the bridge and the commander concluded his thoughts Vor'Char began to speak. "I agree Commander. We will help you stop this threat. Rest assured, nothing short of death will stop my crew in our quest for victory. Songs will be sung of this day." The Captain smiled and gave Sheridan a firm slap on the back. "By the end of this day our feet wild drip with the blood of the slain and we shall share a barrel of blood wine among the corpses of our enemies." A raucous laugh filled the turbo lift.

Cargo Bay

Kahlandra was not all that surprised to find the Klingon Captain brush her off when she attempted to scan him with her tricorder. In fact, she would have been greatly surprised had he not done so. Though she wanted to greet the XO; now hardly seemed the time. She didn't bother to stick around the two as the conversation left with another Klingon. Instead, she focused her energies on taking care of those patients that had not been tagged for Sickbay.

One Klingon...a woman...lay on one of the makeshift beds she had hurriedly installed with the help of the ever efficient Ops members and Engineers. Kahlandra made her way over to the woman whose eyes were currently closed in pain.

Kneeling down by her side; Kahlandra waved the tricorder over her patient quietly. It wasn't life threatening, but the woman clearly had a three fractured ribs, several more bruised, the left shoulder was broken, and her head had a nasty gash that was caked with Klingon blood. Kahlandra could feel the woman's pain, and how much she was attempting to control it. The head injury, fortunately, was more surface than a deeper wound. Though it looked horrible, and had likely begun to be infected...it was not life threatening to her patient. Pulling from her medkit; Kahlandra used a sterile wash cloth to clean the wound. Her patient winced, but did not open her eyes or say anything in protest. Instead, she simply lay there perfectly still.

Taking that as a silent form of accepting her help; Kahlandra finished cleaning the wound before using the dermal regenerator from her kit on the wound.

"Thank you," came the cracked whisper of Kahlandra's patient.

"Of course," Kahlandra whispered back with a slight smile. She said nothing more, but continued to work on her patient. It was a full forty minutes later before Kahlandra was finished helping the woman heal. Klingons were practically her opposite, but she understood they were only living the life they knew. The young Counselor could accept such, but she knew she could never be like that. It wasn't that she couldn't kill if absolutely necessary, but to live for the thrill of battle...that was completely different. Life was her goal...not war.

The Klingon woman said nothing more, and a moment later a Klingon male came over...completely overshadowing the young Counselor and her patient.

"Will she live?" he asked gruffly, but there was just the slightest tone of affection in his question.

"Yes, she will live. Sleep is the best healing for her at the moment," Kahlandra said as she stood up and looked towards the newcomer.

The warrior nodded in silent thanks before moving kneeling where Kahlandra once had. The young Betazoid Counselor didn't inquire...it really wasn't necessary. After all, love was still love...even if shown differently in other species and cultures. They were mates...it was as clear as if either of them had simply told her. With a new smile; Kahlandra made her way over to the next patient.

Bridge

"Perhaps, Sir.  Only Time will tell, but one thing is certain...they will not escape us...one way...or another," Andrew replied with fierce determination before striding onto the Bridge.  On the view screen was the Romulan Major they had been expecting, and he heard his own Captain giving her the okay to come aboard.  "Captain T'Koris, this is Captain Vor'char," he introduced the two briefly. "I am sure you will want to greet the Major. I will take care of the Conference Room," he added to her with a nod. With a wave towards the Conference Room to indicate to Vor'char where the meeting would be, and followed the Klingon Captain in.

Transporter Room

Major Rhian appeared in a blue haze of light upon the transporter pad to find only the transporter operator there to greet her at the moment. With a very slight frown, the Romulan woman stepped down with an almost Vulcan arch to her left eyebrow.

"Someone will be here to greet you properly, Ma'am," the operator said professionally, but there was just a hint of firmness to his voice in making it clear to Rhian that she could not simply leave unescorted through a Federation starship.

"Of course," she said quietly...the slight agitation of being kept waiting hidden neatly in her silky tone.

NPC wrote:

Transporter Room

Major Rhian appeared in a blue haze of light upon the transporter pad to find the ship's Executive Officer there to receive her...not the Captain.  At first, Rhian was a bit insulted, but then reason took over.  Captain T'Koris would have guests already aboard needing her immediate attention.  To simply stop to welcome another dignitary aboard...even one of the Tal Shiar...was not something she could really expect Dhael to do.  Her duty to her guests would come first.

"Lieutenant Commander Sheridan, I presume," the Major said in a soft...almost silky voice.  "I have heard much of you already in your young career in Starfleet," she added while stepping off of the platform.  There was an alertness to this Human male...one that actually inwardly took Rhian by surprise.  She had heard the young XO was gifted in psionic to some small degree, but standing in his presence made her very much aware that he was paying attention...and not just with his eyes and ears.  Of course, she had long ago trained to block such scans.  One did not rise through the ranks of the Tal Shiar without being able to block such things.

Even so, there was a sense about him.  It wasn't as if he was actively probing her mind, but like he was just aware of his surroundings...the moment.

[Transporter Room]

After an officer on the bridge had informed her that Major Rhian had beamed aboard the Phoenix, Archangel had nodded her acknowledgement and rapidly made her way down to the transporter room, cursing all the while within the confines of her mind. The last thing she wanted to do was face a member of an organisation that had done so much in an effort to make her surrender Federation secrets after her marriage to the Praetor.

Although she had let her posture slide in the turbolift, as soon as she stepped out of it, her façade was firmly back in place: confident, self-assured and in command. No need to let this Major think that she was in any way lacking in the qualities necessary to become a command officer, nor to be Romulan.

Stepping into the transporter room, she nodded to Commander Sheridan to acknowledge his presence, and then to the other Romulan, keeping her expression carefully neutral.

"Major Rhian, I am Captain T'Koris. Welcome aboard."

Andrew Sheridan wrote:

Bridge

"Perhaps, Sir.  Only Time will tell, but one thing is certain...they will not escape us...one way...or another," Andrew replied with fierce determination before striding onto the Bridge.  On the view screen was the Romulan Major they had been expecting, and he heard his own Captain giving her the okay to come aboard.  "Captain T'Koris, this is Captain Vor'char," he introduced the two briefly.  "I am sure you will want to greet the Major.  I will take care of the Conference Room," he added to her with a nod.  With a wave towards the Conference Room to indicate to Vor'char where the meeting would be, and followed the Klingon Captain in.

The Klingon smiled and laughed as he struck the Commander on the back once again. "You know human. There may be hope for you people after all. You quest for battle is admirable and your thirst shall be quenched today." Vor' Char pulled his Mek Leth from behind his back. "My blade shall taste blood today." The door opened and the captain and his XO made their way into the conference room. "Commander, what is the purpose of this meeting?"

Conference Room

"The purpose, Captain, is so the powers in play may coordinate together against this adversary, and share what we have discovered in more detail. As it stands, we have one Nebula-class cruiser, one Galor-class possibly, one D'deridex warbird, and hopefully a repaired K'vort...or your other companion vessel in the area that was reported to be nearby. Between the four of us, we will still be hard put to take out a mirror universe battlecruiser with more firepower than one of our Sovereign-class. Thus, a conference of information and tactics should be held....to better plan our glorious victory over such a powerful foe," the First Officer said with firmness.

There was no denying that the enemy ship had the upper hand, and that whoever was in command was shrewd and lethal. This hadn't been done randomly...it had purpose to the strikes...and that purpose was aimed at all of them. Three years was hardly enough time to get their fleets back up to full strength from the Dominion War. An intergalactic incident among the powers would be enough chaos to let the mirror universe practically sweep in unchallenged until too late.

If he was correct, that was....if....

Andrew Sheridan wrote:

Conference Room

"The purpose, Captain, is so the powers in play may coordinate together against this adversary, and share what we have discovered in more detail.  As it stands, we have one Nebula-class cruiser, one Galor-class possibly, one D'deridex warbird, and hopefully a repaired K'vort...or your other companion vessel in the area that was reported to be nearby.  Between the four of us, we will still be hard put to take out a mirror universe battlecruiser with more firepower than one of our Sovereign-class.  Thus, a conference of information and tactics should be held....to better plan our glorious victory over such a powerful foe," the First Officer said with firmness.

There was no denying that the enemy ship had the upper hand, and that whoever was in command was shrewd and lethal.  This hadn't been done randomly...it had purpose to the strikes...and that purpose was aimed at all of them.  Three years was hardly enough time to get their fleets back up to full strength from the Dominion War.  An intergalactic incident among the powers would be enough chaos to let the mirror universe practically sweep in unchallenged until too late.

If he was correct, that was....if....

The Captain let out a slight growl. "Romulans." He did not find any honor in the way they conducted themselves. In his eyes, they were without honor. "So I guess we will be plotting and scheming rather than facing our enemies in battle. A romulan would rather strike and never let their opponent see their face. There is no honor in the way they fight. We were in the war together but I do not care to fight alongside cowards."

Conference Room

Andrew whirled on the Captain of the wounded Klingon K'vort with blazing eyes.  "Be thou most careful, Captain Vor'char.  Might I remind you that the Captain of my ship and my commanding officer is Romulan.  Nor should you group those of one species in to a single category, or might I remind you of the House of Duras and their dishonorable way of doing battle."

He never rose his voice, but then he didn't need to.  The fury of Vor'char's words hit the young First Officer hard.  Part of him had said to let the comment slide, but some part of him warned this could be a test.  Vor'char would respect him a lot more for calling his hand on such a comment that clearly would hurt his own Captain's honor...as well as that of Jiseth and Safefta.  He might not be happy with Jiseth at the moment, but he would be damned if he'd let Vor'char lay a blanket statement that lay dishonor at the feet of three of his crew members.

"And she is not the only Romulan serving aboard this ship, Captain," Andrew finished firmly...his voice still low and deadly.  "My Chief of Helm happens to be Romulan, and one of Sec/Tacs is half-Romulan, and I assure you....those same Romulans on this ship are no cowards.  I have worked side by side with them, and cowardice is NOT their way."

Transporter Room

Major Rhian nodded towards her hostess politely. She had seen photos of Dhael T'Koris before, but such photos did not do the woman before her credit. She was a beautiful Romulan woman to be sure...even if she was attired in a Starfleet uniform at the moment. It was clear to Rhian that Captain T'Koris as keeping herself very controlled at that moment, and considering how much it was said the woman despised the Tal Shiar...that was to be expected.

"Captain T'Koris," Rhian said smoothly as she strode over to stand before Dhael. "Your rescue of our people from the ambushed warbird is greatly appreciated, but we appear to have a rather large problem on our hands. Of course, this is not the time and place to discuss the problem," Rhian continued as gave a brief salute to Dhael with fist to heart and a slight bow. It was not as deep as she would have before the Praetor, but still very respectful to the one was his wife.

She wondered how Captain T'Koris was going to explain the actions of a Starfleet Captain commanding a Sovereign-class. There had been rogue Starfleet Captains before operating outside of their command structure. None of those, however, had been in command of a ship with so much firepower. Nor had such a commander ever struck at three different powers at the same time. Her curiosity was immense considering the situation. What was the purpose of the attacks? Rhian couldn't wait to hear Dhael's explanation and theory.

ISS TYRANNY

Archangel was not about to let her vicious Captain get away with starting a war among the powers in this universe.  The plan to bring these various powers into a full scale second intergalactic war just so the Terran Empire could sweep in made her sick.  The Terran Empire had already done enough damage in her universe, and they were currently held in check by various elements now united against them.  Thus, those in the Admiralty of the Terran fleet had come up with a way to invade this universe in the hopes of regaining some ground, resources, and be able to come back stronger than ever.  It was not a prospect Archangel enjoyed.  She had never been able to find a way to fight her captor without a sorely devastating cost to herself.  Yet, discovering that she was the Captain of a Federation cruiser in this timeline gave her hope.  It was a hope she intended to latch onto.  She sure as hell wasn't about to let Captain Sheridan have a second slave of her.

So, there was really only one choice to make, and she made it even before she had left the Bridge earlier.  It was said the two universes were so close together that the differences between them were very small.  She hoped this was the case, because what she intended to do would be a one shot deal.  From a panel in the wall that she had created secretly; Archangel pulled out a Romulan PADD.  Her Captain's room was sealed against any intrusive internal sensors, because he was extremely paranoid about others knowing what his plans were...or using the ship's sensors to better coordinate an assassination attempt.  Thus, she had no fear of turning the device on, and took a deep breath.  It had been years since she had used any code from her days as the Praetor's wife, but if the universes were as close as she hoped...the code would be recognized by her counterpart.  There was only one way to find out.  Swiftly, she typed out a message using the code she remembered...one only the Praetor's wife and the Praetor should know.

=/\=  He is coming for you all, My Counterpart.  Even now, his ship has been altered by experimental holographic technology to look like the USS SOVEREIGN.  It is his hope that this will forestall any defensive moves on your part, and allow him to openly strike at you before you can respond.  He has the command codes of the correct ship from a Federation relay they hacked into.  Stop him, Dhael.  Don't let Captain Sheridan make slaves of us both.  =/\=

NPC wrote:

"Captain T'Koris," Rhian said smoothly as she strode over to stand before Dhael.  "Your rescue of our people from the ambushed warbird is greatly appreciated, but we appear to have a rather large problem on our hands.  Of course, this is not the time and place to discuss the problem," Rhian continued as gave a brief salute to Dhael with fist to heart and a slight bow.  It was not as deep as she would have before the Praetor, but still very respectful to the one was his wife.

[Transporter Room]

It took a great deal of self control for Archangel to keep her expression as neutral as it was given who she was faced with. She had never been sure of which operatives had dealt with her during her stays on Romulus, her memories of their encounters often too fragmented to be very reliable in their details.

She inclined her head in response to the bow, knowing that they were both treading the fine line of propriety. While Archangel held a higher political station than the Major, the Major still has significant power over Archangel as a Tal Shiar operative. Such a delicate line to balance on.

"A large problem indeed," she replied before gesturing to the door, indicating for the other Romulan to walk with her. The thought of turning her back on this Major was one that was very rapidly dismissed. "The Klingon commander is already in our conference room, and I believe the Cardassians will be joining us shortly."

NPC wrote:

=/\= He is coming for you all, My Counterpart. Even now, his ship has been altered by experimental holographic technology to look like the USS SOVEREIGN. It is his hope that this will forestall any defensive moves on your part, and allow him to openly strike at you before you can respond. He has the command codes of the correct ship from a Federation relay they hacked into. Stop him, Dhael. Don't let Captain Sheridan make slaves of us both. =/\=

[Conference Room]

As she stepped into the conference room with their latest guest, Archangel heard a bleeping sound from the PADD she always carried with her. Frowning slightly, she pulled it out, checking over it. She frowned slightly, her mind going through the various codes that she knew, trying to find one that would fit the scrambled information on the screen, but when the answer wasn't forthcoming in a few seconds, she set it aside, a part of her mind still contemplating the puzzle, but she had other things to worry about.

"Major Rhian, my first officer, Commander Andrew Sheridan and Captain Vor'Char of the Klingon Defense Force."

Andrew Sheridan wrote:

Conference Room

Andrew whirled on the Captain of the wounded Klingon K'vort with blazing eyes. "Be thou most careful, Captain Vor'char. Might I remind you that the Captain of my ship and my commanding officer is Romulan. Nor should you group those of one species in to a single category, or might I remind you of the House of Duras and their dishonorable way of doing battle."

He never rose his voice, but then he didn't need to. The fury of Vor'char's words hit the young First Officer hard. Part of him had said to let the comment slide, but some part of him warned this could be a test. Vor'char would respect him a lot more for calling his hand on such a comment that clearly would hurt his own Captain's honor...as well as that of Jiseth and Safefta. He might not be happy with Jiseth at the moment, but he would be damned if he'd let Vor'char lay a blanket statement that lay dishonor at the feet of three of his crew members.

"And she is not the only Romulan serving aboard this ship, Captain," Andrew finished firmly...his voice still low and deadly. "My Chief of Helm happens to be Romulan, and one of Sec/Tacs is half-Romulan, and I assure you....those same Romulans on this ship are no cowards. I have worked side by side with them, and cowardice is NOT their way."

NPC wrote:

[Conference Room]

As she stepped into the conference room with their latest guest, Archangel heard a bleeping sound from the PADD she always carried with her. Frowning slightly, she pulled it out, checking over it. She frowned slightly, her mind going through the various codes that she knew, trying to find one that would fit the scrambled information on the screen, but when the answer wasn't forthcoming in a few seconds, she set it aside, a part of her mind still contemplating the puzzle, but she had other things to worry about.

"Major Rhian, my first officer, Commander Andrew Sheridan and Captain Vor'Char of the Klingon Defense Force."

[Conference Room]

The Klingon captain didn't have a chance to answer before the Captain and Major entered the room together. He still had his reservations about working alongside Romulans... And there were so many Romulans. Sheridan's speech had not done much to persuade the Klingon. He was, however, very intrigued to see a Romulan in command of a Federation vessel.

The Captain nodded as the two entered. "Ah you must be Captain T'Koris." He shifted his eyes towards Commander Sheridan. "I've heard a great deal about you Captain. And Major." He nodded again and looked back to Captain T'Koris. "Thank you for the rescue." The Klingon scowled slightly. Still upset about having to be rescued. "Together I know we can defeat the enemy."

[Bridge]

"Otto, take the stick."

Jiseth slid out of her chair as her holographic helmsman reappeared and took the seat. It was an oddity to the Romulan flight officer that though a body looked to be sitting in her place, the seat would lack the residual warmth from one being there. She wondered if he could tell the difference, or what even the world looked like to him. His form was an interface, nothing more. His body was code and his organs subroutines. Still, he seemed more alive than the focus of her attention as she walked toward the tactical station.

Ensign Safefta Pardek.

Their paths had crossed many times in the past. Never though had she really heard a word out of her counterpart off duty. Stoic to the point of being a statue with a pulse, Jiseth sometimes wished someone so seemingly calm could be in her department. Her closest approximation was Klara Meru, but the Bajoran had her moments.

Keeping a respectful distance, Jiseth leaned forward slightly over the console.

"Ensign, how much energy would be required to put as much damage as we saw on the warbird from a single ship? Or more to the point... How much would it take to kill whatever did that? Is there still enough functioning on that Klingon ship to act as a drone for us? I want to give the Klingons a good story for home."

Conference Room

Whatever Vor'char had been about to say was interrupted by the arrival of Major Rhian and Captain T'Koris. Andrew was fine with that, but he was curious as to what had his Captain puzzled from whatever had arrived on her PADD. With the introductions given; Andrew nodded politely to the Romulan Major, and took his seat opposite of his Captain. The conference would not likely fully begin until the arrival of the Cardassian representative, but he would leave that up to Captain T'Koris. His own PADD sat before him on the table with the notes of what he and Lieutenant Rellek had discovered thus far in their investigation.

Sheridan really didn't have any doubts about it being a mirror universe warship they were up against, but it was better to share what they had with the other powers...just in case one of them had a different and better theory. So far as he knew, Julia Rellek was still monitoring the probe at the temporal opening they had discovered inside the nebula. It was the only warning system they had in place in case another warship from the other side came through. Sheridan could only hope that wouldn't be the case. The small group they had would be hard pressed to defeat the current enemy vessel...much less a second one...or more.

The young First Officer made a few more notes on his PADD quietly as he waited for the meeting to begin.

Jiseth wrote:

[Bridge]

"Otto, take the stick."

Jiseth slid out of her chair as her holographic helmsman reappeared and took the seat. It was an oddity to the Romulan flight officer that though a body looked to be sitting in her place, the seat would lack the residual warmth from one being there. She wondered if he could tell the difference, or what even the world looked like to him. His form was an interface, nothing more. His body was code and his organs subroutines. Still, he seemed more alive than the focus of her attention as she walked toward the tactical station.

Ensign Safefta Pardek.

Their paths had crossed many times in the past. Never though had she really heard a word out of her counterpart off duty. Stoic to the point of being a statue with a pulse, Jiseth sometimes wished someone so seemingly calm could be in her department. Her closest approximation was Klara Meru, but the Bajoran had her moments.

Keeping a respectful distance, Jiseth leaned forward slightly over the console.

"Ensign, how much energy would be required to put as much damage as we saw on the warbird from a single ship? Or more to the point... How much would it take to kill whatever did that? Is there still enough functioning on that Klingon ship to act as a drone for us? I want to give the Klingons a good story for home."

[Bridge]

There were Klingons on the ship, Romulans on the ship, Cardassians too. One might as well add a Jem'Hadar, the silent Sec/Tac officer thought passingly to herself. It was a particularly volatile mix, but as of yet their issues seemed mainly centered around the common foe outside, rather than internal politics. Then again, she didn't know what was going on in the briefing room.

As was typical on most days, up to this point she'd be left alone. Her presence was effectively that of a wallflower, and people seldom attempted to engage her with any sort of sincerity. This contributed to her surprise when she noted that she was being approached by Jiseth, the Romulan pilot.

She stood at silent attention while her... -acquaintance? Was Jiseth an acquaintance? She certainly is more than a stranger.- made her query.

The Romulan raised an eyebrow. "One moment, please." She needed to determine exactly what they were up against before she could make any estimations on power usage. Her console beep lightly in response as her fingers pressed on it repeatedly to bring up the report from the latest firefight. By examining the blast damage done by the enemy vessel, she was able to garner a rough size estimate by determining what size of ship would be required to man that kind of firepower.

The results didn't amuse her. "The ship is large, and very powerful. However, we have a moderate size advantage by the Klingon ship. That is, the vessel is larger than ours considerably, but the Klingon vessel is even more massive than the enemy," she briefly explained, then gestured to her console to show Jiseth the beginnings of a plan she had concocted.

"Our ship alone cannot take on the enemy vessel, and the Klingon ship is too badly hit to use its firepower. However," she said as she pulled up a schematic of the Klingon's engine, "Regardless of the weapons status, this vessel can easily be rigged to explode by manipulation of some of their power conduits to create a powerful feedback loop. Its engines are also intact enough to provide a remote guidance system. My recommendation is to remotely direct this ship within range of the enemy... preferably within its warp and shield radius to protect us."

"The ship, after initial impact damage, would then detonate. There would be enough energy there to severely cripple, if not annihilate the enemy." The prospect of completely wiping out an entire ship's population wasn't ideal, but they'd done too much damage to their own ships and wouldn't be reasoned with.

"This plan is of course disputable and has an ability to be modified."

Safefta Pardek wrote:

.

"Our ship alone cannot take on the enemy vessel, and the Klingon ship is too badly hit to use its firepower. However," she said as she pulled up a schematic of the Klingon's engine, "Regardless of the weapons status, this vessel can easily be rigged to explode by manipulation of some of their power conduits to create a powerful feedback loop. Its engines are also intact enough to provide a remote guidance system. My recommendation is to remotely direct this ship within range of the enemy... preferably within its warp and shield radius to protect us."

"The ship, after initial impact damage, would then detonate. There would be enough energy there to severely cripple, if not annihilate the enemy." The prospect of completely wiping out an entire ship's population wasn't ideal, but they'd done too much damage to their own ships and wouldn't be reasoned with.

"This plan is of course disputable and has an ability to be modified."

Moving around the console, Jiseth stood next to Pardek and reviewed the information. At the very least this would give a distraction in combat. Anything to get away from the damned thing that was out there. She cared little for any of the crew of the opposition. They had rolled through the local population of ships with apparently the sole intent on creating casualties.

The Romulan looked over to the door of the conference room. She knew this plan would be taken as another brash and aggressive idea to be discarded. If it came from someone else, someone more even keen and in good standing, there might be a chance of it succeeding. Plenty of glory to go around at the conclusion of the hunt.

Jiseth crossed her arms and mulled over a few things. Details mostly. How to keep their trump card from being dispatched at the first sign of a collision course. They would have to act quickly and potentially while under fire. Though, if anything, a veiled diplomacy would be the perfect ruse. Surely the enemy would attempt such a thing. A taunt at the hopelessness of their situation in the face of whatever lurked in the dark beyond. The bird of prey might just be the knife in the back they would need.

"See if the cloak is repairable, Ensign, and send what you have to the Captain's PADD. I'll see if I can't get that carrion thing out there to budge."

Conference Room

Major Rhian nodded politely to the Klingon Captain. Now was not the time to start needling the proud Vor'char for the loss of his warriors, and the fact that he had to be rescued. So, she decided on politeness...knowing Vor'char would not like that much either, but at least he would see she was being respectful instead of mocking him. After all, her people had lost an entire warbird and most of its crew as well. She was hardly in a position to truly mock him without getting insulted in the process. Besides, they were here to work together.

She noted that Captain T'Koris's First Officer was quiet. He had not really greeted her as she had expected Humans to do...the normal handshake routine. Instead, he had simply nodded to her much as she had to Vor'char. He seemed rather young for his position of authority aboard a Federation starship, but then all of the powers were still recovering from the loss of senior personnel from the Dominion War. She also noted he seemed a lot more serious...even darker somehow. Some great tragedy still lay upon the young officer that served as T'Koris's XO, and Rhian wondered if this could be exploited somehow. Yet, even as that thought occurred to her; she also wondered what could possibly weigh upon this man known as Andrew Sheridan so heavily. Oh, he hid it fairly well from those who were not trained to read people as she was, but it was there all the same. A brief sidelong glance at Captain T'Koris was one of curiosity; for Rhian wondered if she actually saw the struggles her young First Officer was dealing with.

Taking her seat to the Dhael's right; Rhian began, "It would seem we must all work together again for the greater good. Yet, I might ask, Captain T'Koris, why has such a powerful starship of the Federation gone rogue? Do you, as yet, understand the motives behind these strikes on the rest of us, or is just pure madness?"

[Conference Room]

There was silence from Archangel as she brought her fingers together to form a steeple. Her eyes returned a glance to Major Rhian before drifting over to Vor'char, Sheridan, and finally down toward the table. Cooperation went without saying, but there was something she would have to make abundantly clear.

"There are no Federation ships for at least a day or two and if anything so powerful to dispatch a warbird with such ease went rogue, there would already be a task force hunting it. As of yet, know nothing about their intentions and they have yet to make any demands. My ship is already filled with wounded. I will not have it be their grave."

Conference Room

Before either of the other two commanders could respond to his Captain's words; Andrew Sheridan cleared his throat to get their attention.

"I have already informed Captain Vor'char of the very real possibility that we are not dealing with a rogue Starfleet vessel, but a warship from the Terran Empire of the mirror universe. A probe is currently quietly monitoring an opening in the space/time continuum inside the nebula where the warbird was ambushed. While we may not know their exact purpose for being here; it seems likely their attack on the other powers is in the hopes of starting a new intergalactic war...one in which would further weaken us after the devastation of the Dominion War. If so, their ships would then be able to slip in and practically go nearly unchallenged. Such a move seems desperate for them, and could signal things are not going well for them on their side. Of course, I am only theorizing based on the information we have gathered thus far. Yet, my Captain is correct. We have no starship within range of at least a day to help us deal with this foe. It falls to us to ensure they do not complete their mission, and especially do not get the chance to return home," Andrew Sheridan explained to Vor'char and Rhian while they waited for the arrival of their Cardassian guest.

His eyes swept the group momentarily, and ended with his Captain.

"There was another Klingon warship in the area according to our reports earlier today. Their aid may be required," Sheridan pointed out to Vor'char, but his eyes never left Archangel T'Koris. It was his duty to give the scope of the situation based on what they had discovered thus far, but it was not his job to interfere in how she wanted to plan the coordination against the Terran warship. He was the junior officer at the table...there to provide support and information...not to act as anyone's equal.

[Conference Room]

Folding her hands over her opposite forearms, Archangel turned to attention to her first officer.

"You have the bridge then, Commander. Make contact with that other ship and see what progress has been made with the anomaly. Have helmsman to ready an escape route until we formulate a countermeasure for this Terran ship."

Next she looked to the Klingon Captain. His ship was in no shape to act as a scout and his crew not much better in their condition. Still, he had something the commander of the destroyed warbird did not. He had survived.

"Captain Vor'char, please explain the sequence of events during your encounter with it."

ISS TYRANNY

"Captain, we should just now be entering the edge of their sensor range.  Considering the direction we are coming from, and the holographic disguise...there should be no reason for the to think of us as anything other than who we seem to be.  The Starfleet transponder is working perfectly and identifying us as the USS SOVEREIGN.  We have managed to nail down the glitch in masking our warp signature to what they have on record for this vessel, and all communications from us should sound like they are coming from the Captain of the SOVEREIGN:  Arthur James Windsor, II.  All codes appear to be working correctly thus far," Commander Rellek reported from the Tactical station.

Though Julia Rellek was the Executive Officer of the TYRANNY; she also doubled as the warship's Chief of Security.  Only a few trusted individuals of her staff were even allowed to operate the Tactical console on the Bridge.

"Excellent.  Remember, the disguise from the holo-emitters will not fool their sensors for long once we get close.  At best, we will have ten minutes.  The fastest our specialists were able to break through the net was just over four minutes.  We have that amount of time to throw them off guard," Captain Sheridan reminded his crew firmly and coldly.

"What if they haven't lost sight of us from our raid on the Cardassian outpost?" interjected Chief of Operations Alexander Wu.

Sheridan raised an eyebrow at the ever skeptical Ops manager.  Though Wu was his Second Officer; he disliked how the man constantly took his chances on making him look bad.

"The Cardassian outpost was sitting near the worst of the disturbance caused by the twin binary stars of that system.  After our departure from there; it would be nearly impossible to track us, Mr. Wu," Julia countered with a scowl.

Silence filled the Bridge with the exception of the soft whirling and beeping of various consoles.  Andrew's face was wiped of emotion as he seriously considered his Second Officer's concern.  It was, no matter how much it might make him look bad in front of the others, still a valid point.

"If they do figure out it is us before we arrive; then we will have to fight using our advantage.  We have the greater firepower and maneuverability than those that will be assembled.  We should, however, prepare for any acts of desperation.  If they discover who we truly are and the ruse is over; then they may become desperate enough to do whatever it takes to destroy us.  Therefore, we will test their response soon by hailing them.  Make sure the audio and video are synched to where there are no lapses.  The program in Holodeck One should be ready to coincide with me speaking," the Captain stated with eyes half-closed in thought and brow furrowed.

It was almost a full minute before Julia answered, "Ready when you are, Captain."

=/\= USS PHOENIX, this is Captain Arthur James Windsor, the Second of the USS SOVEREIGN.  We are approaching your position and should be arriving in about ten minutes, =/\= Andrew stated, but the voice sounded just like the person he claimed to be.  Even as the transmission was being sent; the warship hurtled towards the gathering at warp seven...looking on the surface every inch just like the SOVEREIGN they were supposed to be.

Only time would tell how his enemy responded...would the ruse work, or would he have a fight on his hands.

Jiseth wrote:

Moving around the console, Jiseth stood next to Pardek and reviewed the information. At the very least this would give a distraction in combat. Anything to get away from the damned thing that was out there. She cared little for any of the crew of the opposition. They had rolled through the local population of ships with apparently the sole intent on creating casualties.

The Romulan looked over to the door of the conference room. She knew this plan would be taken as another brash and aggressive idea to be discarded. If it came from someone else, someone more even keen and in good standing, there might be a chance of it succeeding. Plenty of glory to go around at the conclusion of the hunt.

Jiseth crossed her arms and mulled over a few things. Details mostly. How to keep their trump card from being dispatched at the first sign of a collision course. They would have to act quickly and potentially while under fire. Though, if anything, a veiled diplomacy would be the perfect ruse. Surely the enemy would attempt such a thing. A taunt at the hopelessness of their situation in the face of whatever lurked in the dark beyond. The bird of prey might just be the knife in the back they would need.

"See if the cloak is repairable, Ensign, and send what you have to the Captain's PADD. I'll see if I can't get that carrion thing out there to budge."

[Bridge]

Safefta too was calculating variables. How they were going to get the ship near enough to the enemy before they realized their intent... how she was going to break this idea to the captain, whether or not they'd be destroyed before they could even try... petty, simple things like that. Thin fingers idly tapped on the side of her console as she nodded in acknowledgement to Jiseth. Good talk, she thought boredly to herself.

She spent the next few minutes condensing everything she had into an orderly, constructive idea, which she then sent to the captain's PADD. Before she could continue her work with some examinations of the ship's cloaking technology, her sensors were alight again with a message of an approaching ship. Federation...?

NPC wrote:

ISS TYRANNY

--

=/\= USS PHOENIX, this is Captain Arthur James Windsor, the Second of the USS SOVEREIGN.  We are approaching your position and should be arriving in about ten minutes, =/\= Andrew stated, but the voice sounded just like the person he claimed to be.  Even as the transmission was being sent; the warship hurtled towards the gathering at warp seven...looking on the surface every inch just like the SOVEREIGN they were supposed to be.

Only time would tell how his enemy responded...would the ruse work, or would he have a fight on his hands.

The video message that came through a few seconds later was first over viewed by Pardek. She was about to alert Rellek, but paused when she noticed something odd. There was the slightest discrepancy in the audio frequency, one detectable only by Romulan ears and a dedicated sense of attention. Perhaps it was only a mistake of the transmission. However, as she glances over at the composition of the ship approaching, another nagging sense of unease was tugging on her.

It registered as a Federation vessel... but sensors had not picked up any in the area, and certainly none by that registry number. There was the possibility that they'd moved in range before they could determine it... but it was very, very suspicious. Still, as of yet this was all circumstantial. It could be an error to the sensor system, or simply her reading too far into it.

Then, one last thing caught her attention that gave her suspicion a little more weight. The warp signature of the 'Federation ship' was off. Not by much, but there were a few very key elements about it that seemed to indicate someone had been attempting to mask it. Either they changed their warp field matrix recently, or something was wrong. This was becoming more and more apparent as the ship drew closer. With this and a combination of everything else, Safefta wasn't taking any chances. She quickly ensured that the comm line was closed.

"Lieutenant Rellek," she called from her station. "There is an approaching vessel with a quasi-federation signature. It is claiming to be the USS Sovereign, closing fast. Ten minute ETA," she reported, then jumped right into her analysis of the situation. "Sir, there are numerous discrepancies in the hail they sent, and the actual constitution of the ship. There is an incredibly strong possibility that this is not a friendly vessel." With that came the implication that this could be the rouge ship they wished to destroy.

"If you wish to speak with him, I would advise caution. My recommendation would be to allow him to believe that we have bought the ruse. That way, even if I am incorrect we have not falsely accused anyone of mass murder, and if we are correct, we will maintain an element of surprise."

The Romulan then tapped her combadge. =/\=Lieutenant Jiseth, be advised in your work that there is a vessel approaching with questionable intentions. I suggest you expedite your task.=/\=