STAR TREK:
GAMMA QUADRANT

�INTERCEPTOR� 007

TEASER

Captain Adam Sroka smiled at the face on the viewscreen. �How you doing, you old dog?�

Macy frowned. �Who are you calling old?�

�I�m calling you old,� the Mustone�s commanding officer smiled. He had achieved his high rank during the war, and he had moved up very
quickly to command of a starship (even if it was only a small scout). �I�ve got an impatient Admiral to give to you, and I think I�m supposed to take a couple JAG officers back?�

�Only one,� Macy corrected. �Commander Cheslock is staying aboard for the time being to help with our investigation.�

�Understood. Ready to recieve the Admiral?�

�Standby for our signal,� Macy said.

***

Five forms materialized onto the transporter pad.

Admiral John Kvach stepped off the pad and took Macy�s hand. �How are you, Captain?�

�I�m fine, sir,� Macy replied.

�Good, good...� Kvach indicated one of the other officer on the pad. �This is Lieutenant Commander Agnew Thomas. He is your new second officer.�

�Pleased to meet you, Commander. Welcome aboard.�

�And you sir,� Thomas said with a hint of an Australian accent.

�This is my aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Commander Cenker Abaci.�

�Pleased, Commander.�

�Thank you, sir.�

�This is my security detail, Lieutenant Burke and Lieutenant Masciallo.�

The doors to the transporter room opened, and Bach and Wijeshina entered. Wijeshina hurried onto the transporter pad, but Bach lingered a moment. �It�s been a pleasure, sir.�

Macy didn�t answer, or shake Bach�s hand. A moment later, Johann Bach transported to the Mustone in a flash of light.

ACT ONE

�I�m a week senior to you, dammit.�

�Just calm down, Stevens,� Aschenbach shot back.

�I�ve worked harder for this than you,� Stevens replied angrily.

�Oh, that is such...�

�What the hell is all this shouting about?� a junior grade lieutenant snapped, storming into the jeffries tube conduit from the corridor outside.

�Sorry, Lieutenant Caffey,� Stevens said.

�What is going on?�

�Just an argument,� Aschenbach said.

�Over what? That damn opening for a lieutenant junior grade? Don�t bet on it, for either of you.� Daniel Caffey sighed. �Listen, the air-conditioning deck unit on four is out of commission. It�s getting
pretty hot up there -- go and fix it.�

�Us?� Aschenbach asked, surprised. �Why not a couple enlisted?�

Caffey looked at them. �Because I don�t like you much. You two. Now. Go!�

�Yessir,� Aschenbach and Stevens said.

***

Melanie Kline stepped out of her quarters in time to see a yeoman use an anti-grav device to push two boxes into Lieutenant Bach�s former quarters. �Yeoman!� Kline snapped.

The Yeoman turned his head. �Yes, Commander?�

�What are you doing?�

The Yeoman replied easily. �I�m moving in the Commander�s things, Commander.�

�The...Commander?�

�Yes, Ma�am. Lieutenant Commander Agnew Thomas. The new second officer.�

�Oh! Where is he?�

�I�m not sure, Ma�am, I�m sorry.�

�Carry on,� Kline said.

�Yes, ma�am.�

***

Connor Macy entered the bridge through the rearmost turbolift entrance. He blinked in surprise as he nearly collided with the armed security NCO
standing guard. �Uhh...Crewman?� Macy asked.

�Sir?� Crewman 1st Class Tribano inquired.

�What...are you doing here?� Macy asked, surprise in his voice.

Tribano frowned. It was the same as if someone had asked what color Sol was. �Uhh...I was ordered to, sir.�

�Ordered...?�

�Yes, sir.�

�By...Lieutenant Gosvar?�

�No, sir,� Tribano replied.

�By...Lieutenant Nadell?�

�No, sir,� Tribano repeated.

�Who?�

�Admiral Kvach, sir,� Tribano said.

�Kvach.�

Tribano blinked. �Kvach. Yes, sir.�

�Why?�

�Why?� Tribano looked puzzled. �Sir.� He tagged on, almost as an after thought.

�Never mind, where�s Gosvar?�

�At Ops, sir.�

Macy scanned the bridge. Another armed guard stood at the forward turbolift. Eve Pierson was at the tactical post, and Anwar was working the Conn position. Gosvar was at Ops, and Lieutenant Burke was standing at the ready room door.

Macy walked towards the ready room. Burke blocked his entrance.

�Sorry, sir.�

�Stand aside, Lieutenant,� Macy ordered.

�No, sir,� Burke said. �I�ve got strict orders.�

Macy turned aside, his eyes wide in disbelief. Kvach was blocking his entry into his own godammed office? Gosvar glanced up and gave his commanding officer a sympathetic look.

Macy tapped his combadge. �Macy to Kvach.�

There was a long pause, and finally Kvach replied. �Yes, Captain?�

�Sir, I�m standing outside of my ready room. Your bodyguard is blocking my entry. Would you mind ordering him to stand aside?�

�Oh, sure. Burke?�

�Aye, sir?� the security man asked, overhearing.

�Let Macy pass.�

�Yessir,� Burke said. �Sorry, Captain.�

Macy entered his office. Kvach was behind the desk, and Abaci was seated on the couch.

�Could I speak to you in private?� Macy demanded.

Kvach looked up. He wasn�t used to being addressed in this tone. �Wait outside, Commander.�

�Yessir,� Abaci said, stepping out.

�Sir,� Macy said. �I respect that you are in command of the Gamma Quadrant ships, but we�ve got a very nice office for you on deck two, sir. This is my ready room,� Macy continued. �And I do not appreciate
an armed guard telling me where I can and cannot go on my own command.�

Kvach held up his hands. �Of course, Captain. I apologize, I was working a bridge watch and Commander Abaci brought some important files for me to review. I chose to review them here, in close proximity to
the bridge. I apologize for any inconvenience.�

�Thank you, sir,� Macy said. �One more thing, Admiral?�

�Yes, Captain?�

�Why are there two armed men on my bridge?�

�Posted guards? In case the rogue Jem�Hadar or a Gia�nt force manages to board. New procedure, I issued the orders to the other ships not long ago.�

�Sir, I would appreciate if you would inform me of...�

Kvach held up his hand. �Note taken, Captain.�

�Thank you, sir.�

�Captain?�

�Sir?�

�Send Commander Abaci back in.�

Macy settled his jaw. It looked like Kvach didn�t get it after all. �Yes, sir.�

***

�Hello, good looking.�

Karen Blair recognized the voice and the accent, but she didn�t believe her ears until she looked up and her eyes confirmed her ears. The husky form in the doorway was a welcome sight.

�Agnew...�

The two embraced lovingly.

�How long has it been?� she asked.

�Not long,� Lieutenant Commander Agnew Thomas replied, smiling.

�What are you doing here?�

�I just joined up. Second officer.�

�Really?� That took Blair aback.

�Yeah. Your other guy...didn�t get his name. He�s being given to the Mustone.�

�Good.�

�Bad guy?�

�Yeah...it�s a long story. You really want to hear it?�

�Well...�

�I�ll clue you in, eventually. It�s not a pleasant story.�

�I bet.�

�Dinner tonight?�

�Actually, that sounds like a dammed fine idea.�

****

�Excuse me, sir, we have to clear this deck.�

Lieutenant Gosvar frowned at Stevens. �Excuse me, Ensign?� he asked.

�It�s the climate control, sir. We need to replace the modulating control unit, but...�

�Why do we have to clear the deck?� Gosvar rumbled.

�Sir, regulations. The temp is going to rise, and...�

�If I refuse?�

�Sorry, sir,� Stevens said.

Gosvar shrugged. �How long will this take, Ensign?�

�I don�t know sir. Hopefully only a few hours.�

�Fine,� Gosvar said.

�Sir...�

�Yes?�

�You�ve been assigned to bunk with Glinn Anvek...�

�WHAT?�

�Captain�s orders, sir. He wants everyone on this deck assigned to other quarters in case this takes longer than expected.�

Gosvar muttered. �Fine.� he said.

***

Lieutenant Si Kwei handed the report to Lieutenant Commander Melanie Kline. Melanie scanned over the science department�s period five schedule, and handed it back. �It looks fine.�

Kwei smiled. �Good.�

�Have you met the new second officer?� Kline asked.

�I saw him, but I haven�t met him yet,� Kwei said. �Won�t it be weird for him? You�re the same rank.�

�I suppose so,� Melanie said. She and Si had become close friends over the few months they had served together, and Si was always trying to get her to �hook up� with some cute guy. Melanie always refused: it
could undermine her authority as the first officer. �Maybe I�ll get a chance to go home.�

Si smiled. Every day it seemed, Melanie was talking about going back to San Francisco on leave.

�Well, I�ve got to go check on my geology officer,� Si said. �See you tonight?�

�Absolutely,� Melanie replied.

Si Kwei disappeared into a turbolift. Melanie turned and walked back towards the Ops position she had working at.

�Excuse me, Ensign,� a deep voice said from the forward turbolift. �I�m looking for Commander Kline.�

Melanie heard her name, and turned.

The handsome man did a double take. �Oh! I�m sorry, Commander Kline?�

�Yes.�

�Lieutenant Commander Agnew Thomas,� he said, extending his hand. �Pleased to meet you.�

He thought I was an ensign? �And you, Commander. Welcome to the Tokyo.�

�Thank you.�

Melanie smiled at him. �I�ve got to go confer with Doctor Baron...�

�Of course,� Thomas said. �I�ll meet with you later.�

Melanie nodded her head. �I�ll look forward to it, Commander.�

ACT TWO

Miguel Molina�s face filled the viewer. Behind him, the Federation Supreme Court building in Australia.

�Today,� Molina said, �the Supreme Court over turned the appeal of one Major Paul Daring, an ex-Marine Corps officer convicted by a Starfleet court martial of illegal use of the narcotic Ketracel White.
Daring�s appeal, based on a defense that alleged Dominion causes, was rejected in a five to four majority opinion.

�Major Daring is one of close to six thousand Starfleet and Marine Corps officers and enlisted personnel who have been court-martialed or
cashiered out of the service for possession or use of White.

�This is Miguel Molina, reporting for the FNS.�

Karen Blair flipped off the news, and went looking for Owusu. She found her junior officer, but she was out of luck.

�I�m sorry,� Owusu said, holding up his hands. �I�m all out.�

�For how long?�

Owusu shook his head. �I don�t know,� he said. �It�s not like we have regular shipments, you know, Lieutenant?�

***

Chief Petty Officer Adam Grishman made his way down the corridor of the crew cabins. He was on his way back to his quarters after a long eight hour shift. The bulkheads were supposedly soundproof, but Grishman
could hear shouting outside of Glinn Anvek�s quarters.

Grishman didn�t want to interfere, but he didn�t see that he had a choice. He tapped the door�s buzzer.
The yelling intensified.

�Grishman to security,� the Damage Control Coordinating Officer said. Before he knew it, a body slammed through the sliding doors, knocking them off their track. Grishman leaped backwards as Anvek hit the deck.

�Grishman to security!� the CPO yelled. �Glinn Anvek�s quarters!�

Lieutenant Gosvar leaped out of the cabin, going for Anvek. The Cardassian rolled to his feet and lashed out, catching Gosvar in the stomach with his foot. Gosvar stumbled backwards and Anvek leaped on
him, pulling his fist back.

Two enlisted men hurried down the corridor and tried to break up the fight. Gosvar swung at Anvek, missed, and clobbered the Crewman, who went flying backwards.

Proske came down from the other end of the corridor and tackled Gosvar. �Down, sir!� Proske yelled.

Anvek was on his feet again now, and tackled Gosvar out from under Proske, knocking the ensign into the other still standing enlisted man.

�Break it up, sirs!� Grishman said, trying to pry the Andorian off the Cardassian.

A phaser shot scorched the bulkhead. �At attention!� a voice yelled.

Anvek and Gosvar straightened to attention.

Lieutenant Commander Agnew Thomas stood in the corridor, a phaser in his hand.

�Ensign...�

�Proske, sir,� the ensign said, pulling himself up.

�Place these two in the brig.�

�Aye, sir,� Proske said. He put his hand on Gosvar�s shoulder. �Sorry, sir.�

Gosvar glared at Anvek, who glared back.

Thomas holstered his pistol. �Call maintenance,� he told Grishman.

�Aye, sir.�

***

The Horncrest was an Earth-registered freighter transporting raw minerals from the Gamma Quadrant to the effort of rebuilding Cardassia. It was a battered old ship, built the year the Khitomer Accords were
signed. It carried a crew of about thirty, yet was twice as large as an Excelsior-Class starship.

Captain Macy entered the bridge. It was Commander Kline�s shift, and he wanted to know why they had stopped the Horncrest.

�Commander?� Macy asked.

Admiral Kvach was seated in the command chair. Commander Kline was standing post at Mission Ops. Nadell was working the Tactical post.

�We�ve stopped freighter E/F-345-76-3243.�

�Why?� Macy asked.

�I ordered it,� Kvach said. �Part of our duties.�

�Our duties require stopping innocent freighters?� Macy asked in disbelief.

Kvach looked at Macy. �Captain! Federation citizens by the millions are becoming addicted to the Ketracel White narcotic. There are no White facilities left in the Alpha Quadrant, so...�

Macy nodded. �I was aware of that,� the captain said.

�Good. Any luck, Lieutenant?�

Nadell shook his head. �Not yet, sir. We�re still trying to raise th...ah! Here we...�

A grizzly old Tarkazian appeared. �Whay?� he snapped.

�Excuse me?� Kvach said.

�Whay you wany?� the Tarkazian inquired sharply.

�I�m Admiral Kvach, of the...�

�Yesh, yesh, whay you wany?�

Kvach arched a brow. �Captain, I would like to perform a interdiction operation on your ship.�

�A whay?�

�Sir, as you may know, Starfleet ships have the right to stop any Federation registered ship and perform safety inspections.�

�My ship is safe!�

�Of course it is,� Macy said, stepping towards the monitor. �But... you understand. We�ve got a quota.�

The Tarkazian shook his head. �Yesh, yesh. You may come.� he turned his head and barked an order. �You may come aboard.�

�Thank you, sir,� Macy said.

�Good job, Captain,� Kvach said when the monitor reverted to an exterior view of the ship.

Turbolift doors opened, and Agnew Thomas stepped onto the bridge.

�Commander!� Kvach said.

�Sorry, sir,� Thomas said. �There was an incident below deck.�

�What kind?� Macy inquired.

�Lieutenant Gosvar and Mr. Anvek attacked each other.�

�Where are they?� Kline asked.

�I put them in the brig, sir,� Thomas said.

Macy nodded. �Fine. You�ve got landing team duty.�

�Sir...� Kline began.

�You too, Commander,� Macy said, searching his memory. �Mr. Nadell? Is Mr. Hawkins back on duty?�

�Aye, sir,� Nadell said.

�Take him too. Also, Mr. Stevens and Ms. van Horn.�

�Aye, sir,� Kline and Thomas said.

Kline, Thomas and Nadell walked towards the turbolift. �Commander!� Macy called after them. �Arm yourselves.�

�Aye, sir,� Kline said as the doors slid shut.

***

The team materialized in a common area. The Captain walked up to them. �I�s Captain Bob,� he said. �Help yourshelves,� he waved his
arm to indicate the ship. He waddled off.

Kline grabbed a Horncrest crewman�s arm. �His name is �Bob�?�

The man shook his head. �It�s Friijjiillkkahsk or something like that. We call him Bob �cuz its easier to say.�

The landing party split into groups. Thomas and Hawkins, Kline and Stevens, and Nadell and van Horn. In about twenty minutes, Kline was ready to report back to the Tokyo. �There�s a bad reactor coprocessor
here,� Stevens said. They were in the engineering bay. �A couple other things that could use replacing, also.�

The engineer was a scrawny Rigellian. �We can help you fix these,� Kline said. It was part of the duties of Starfleet.

The Rigellian shrugged. �S�okay,� he grumbled.

Nadell walked down one of the corridors in the crew area. He crashed into one crew member and drew back. �Joe?� he inquired.

The crew member took a closer look at Nadell. �Nate?� he paused. �You made lieutenant!�

�I didn�t know you left the service,� Nate and his old shipmate clasped hands and hugged quickly.

�Yeah, after the war. I couldn�t say I had many happy memories.�

Nadell nodded. �Yeah, I hear you.�

The two caught up on old times.

Kline contacted the Tokyo, and within a few minutes, Blair and Owusu transported over with supplies and tools. It only took them about an
hour to complete the necessary repairs. As Owusu worked, he removed an old pipe to replace it with a new fitting. Inside, he found several vials of White. He tucked them into his pocket.

�I�m going to beam back,� Owusu told Blair.

�Fine,� the lieutenant said. She felt very edgy -- she wanted some White.

Owusu walked back to the beam-out site in the crew lounge. Nadell and Filteau were there.

�Hey, Phil,� Nate said.

�Hey, Lieutenant,� Owusu said, turning his head and not looking where he was going. He tripped over a raised deck plate, and crashed to the deck. The vials rolled out of his pocket.

Nate saw them. �Ensign!�

Owusu�s eyes widened. �I found them, sir! I was waiting to report them until I got back to the Tokyo!�

It was a good story. It was the �story� that landing teams were told to tell.

Filteau slammed his first into the communicator. �Seize �em! They got the stash!�

Nate turned to face his friend, his hand dropping for his phaser pistol.

Filteau already had one out, a Starfleet-issue, pointed at Nate�s face. �Don�t!� he yelled.

In the engineering section, Blair heard the alert and turned her head. Stevens met her gaze, and they both looked at Kline, who was speaking with the Rigellian. The Rigellian produced a phaser, and three other
crewmembers entered the chamber, all also armed.

Somewhere else, the blast of a phaser shot sounded.

Lieutenant Commander Agnew Thomas took a step back, allowing his phaser to drop to the floor. It landed next to the body of one of the Horncrest�s dead crewmembers. Next to that man lay the body of Hawkins, who got off one lucky shot and then got drilled in the back by three seperate phaser bursts. Hawkin's back was marred by a ragged burn.

Four phasers were aimed at Thomas. �Drop it!� one of the crewmembers yelled, apparently ignoring the fact that Thomas already had.

Captain �Bob� was on the bridge. He heard the alert, and wondered what it was about. He never saw the phaser shot that hit him in the back of
the head. �Dammit,� his killer muttered, seeing what happened when a head exploded like a watermelon. Lot to clean up.

Van Horn slapped her combadge. She was alone in a spare corridor, heading for the bridge to speak with Captain �Bob�. �Emergency transport!� she yelled.

There was no reply.

There was no transport.

A rough looking crewmember with a rough beard stepped into the corridor and pointed a phaser at her. �Too late!� he snarled. �Transport screen.�

Shit.

ACT THREE

Officers and crew scrambled for battle stations.

�Alert condition red,� the computer said throughout the rooms, chambers, passageways and corridors of the Tokyo. �This is not a drill. Alert condition red. Shift three to action stations, shift two
to standby. Senior officers to the bridge. Captain to the bridge. Red alert! Red alert!�

Connor Macy burst onto the bridge. �What�s going on?�

The bridge crew was sparse of senior officers. Rich Anwar was at the Conn, Proske at Tactical. Lieutenant Kwei was standing near the command seat. She turned her head. �We�re not sure yet, sir. We got a request
for an emergency beam out by Ensign Van Horn. Before we could transport her, the freighter raised an anti-transport screen.�

Macy nodded to Proske. �Raise them.�

�I�ve been trying,� the ensign said. �No luck, sir.�

Macy cursed. �Ensign, contact the brig. Release Gosvar and Anvek. Have them report to the bridge.�

�Yessir,� Proske said.

Kvach and Abaci entered the bridge. It took Macy only a few minutes to fill the Admiral in on what they had learned. While he did, Gosvar and Anvek emerged from the turbolift, escorted by Ensign Diona.

�Damn,� he said.

Macy nodded. It was exactly what he had thought.

�Sir, we�re getting a signal from the Horncrest!� Proske exclaimed.

Macy nodded. Good. �Put it on, Ensign.�

�Aye, sir!�

The monitor flickered, and the face of a rough, unshaven crewmember appeared. No one on the Tokyo knew it, but this was Nadell�s former
shipmate: Filteau.

�I�m Captain Macy.�

�Who I am is unimportant,� Filteau said.

�What happened?� Macy said. The hope that it had been some sort of accident was replaced by the worry that something...else...was happening.

�Captain, I won�t mince words. One of your officers is dead. The others are alive...for now.�

�Who?� Macy asked.

�Not important,� Filteau replied. �We will give you back half of your officers, if you agree to allow us free passage.�

�I can�t do that,� Macy said.

�I wish to speak to your superior officer. My captain spoke to an Admiral.�

�I�m Admiral Kvach.�

�Admiral! You will agree to these commands, yes?�

Kvach shook his head. �The Federation...� he was about to tell this terrorist that the Federation didn�t negotiate with terrorists. �What if I beamed over. Negotiated in person.�

�Admiral!� Macy hissed.

Kvach met Macy�s eyes.

�Back off, Captain. Is that acceptable?� he asked Filteau.

The man shrugged. �Sure. We�ll lower our screen to transport you over. If anyone else transports over, one of those two lieutenant commanders will die. Maybe the young pretty one.�

Macy�s jaw tensed.

�I�ll signal you in a few moments,� Kvach said.

Filteau shrugged and cut communication.

�Admiral!� Abaci objected. �This is...unacceptable, sir!�

�Excuse me, Lieutenant Commander?�

�I agree, sir,� Macy said. �You have no right to take risks with your life.�

�I disagree, Captain. I�m responsible for this situation.�

Macy shook his head. �Admiral...�

�I�m overriding both of you,� Kvach said.

�Sir,� Anvek spoke up.

�Yes?�

�Both myself and Lieutenant Gosvar are ex-Special Forces. We could attempt a penetration of the ship...�

�That transporter screen,� Kvach said.

Anvek shook his head. �No big deal. A freighter that size and that age is probably using an old Vazntan Corp XII shield generator. Lots of problems with it, �holes�, if you will, in the screen. Simple matter to find a weak point and transport through.�

�With what?� Abaci said. �Are any of the security men here...�

�A few are ex-Marines,� Gosvar said.

�Also, Tsana and, or, Kazl,� Anvek added.

�The Romulan and Klingon liason officers?� Kvach asked.

Anvek nodded. �Yes. I�ve run some training sims with them. They�re very good.�

�Who else?�

�Uh...Nye, Wells, Payne, Kearse...� Gosvar listed.

�Lieutenant Burke,� Abaci added.

�Sir...� Burke said. He wanted to go.

Kvach looked at his bodyguard. �I agree with the Commander. You�re more useful aboard the Horncrest.�

�Aye, sir.�

Macy nodded. �Get them assembled, Mr. Gosvar.�

�Aye, sir,� the lieutenant said.

�Sir...� Proske began.

�Ensign?�

�I�d like to join the team, sir.�

�No,� Macy said, shaking his head. �I need you at Tactical.�

�Aye, sir.�

Ensign Eve Pierson entered the bridge. �Sir?�

Gosvar had summoned her, and briefed her quickly. Soon, she was working at one of the science posts with Kwei to find weaknesses in the shield screen.

�Hail the Horncrest,� Kvach said.

A different crew member appeared. �Yes?�

�I�ll be transporting over in a few minutes,� Kvach said.

�Whatever,� the monitor went black.

Kvach snorted.

�Admiral,� Macy said. �Mr. Diona will go with you.�

�Won�t be necessary,� Kvach said.

�Sir...� Abaci said. �I agree with Captain Macy. Someone should go with you.�

Kvach eyed Diona. �You up to this, Ensign?�

�Yes, sir.�

�Okay, let�s go. Keep up the good work, Captain.�

�Aye, sir,� Macy said.

***

Kvach and Diona entered the transporter room a few minutes later. Ensign Carver was at the controls and looked up. Kvach tapped his badge. �Kvach to Horncrest.�

�Yeh?�

�I�m ready to transport over.�

�We�s be careful...others beam over...�

�No one else, myself and an escort.�

�Eh...okay.�

Kvach and Diona hurried onto the transporter pad, and a few seconds later they found themselves materializing on the Horncrest.

Two crewmen stood there, phasers drawn.

�An Admiral.�

�Jeez. Look at that. The dude who gave all the orders,� the one man stepped forward. �I lost my whole crew, dammit! Fifty young kids!�

�What ship?� Kvach asked. �What�s your name?�

�Command Master Chief Cerit LaYousi,� the man said. �The John Stennis.�

Kvach nodded. �Why�d you leave the service, Chief?�

LaYousi glared. �Because...they all died,� he stressed. �The voices...�

The other crewman pushed LaYousi into a side corridor. �Get going!� he advised. �Ignore him,� the man said to Kvach. �Mental problems.�
He looked at Diona. �Who are you? Security escort?�

Diona nodded. �Yes.�

�Any sudden moves, I shoot the Admiral first. Got it?�

Diona responded in the affirmative.

�Okay. Move.�

***

Nadell looked at Filteau. The Tokyo crewmembers had been moved into the mess hall. Filteau was obviously the leader of this bunch, of that
the lieutenant junior grade had no doubt. He strained his arms, a set of steel handcuffs chained him to a pipe.

�Why are you doing this, Joe?� Nate asked.

Filteau looked at Nadell. �You want to know why?�

�Yes,� Nate said. �Why?�

�Because,� Filteau said. �The Federation did nothing to help me. I was addicted to White. Still am.�

�When did that happen?�

�I don�t know for sure,� he said. �The last few months of the war were a blur. I think I got discharged, but...�

�There are rehab facilities...�

Filteau exploded. �DAMMIT! I wasn�t offered any rehab! They kicked me out on the streets, told me to get my act together!�

�Man, don�t do this,� Nate said. �You can still get help. Put the phaser down, and...�

�I DON�T WANT HELP! I WANT MY FREEDOM TO USE THIS SHIT!�

�Okay, man, okay,� Nate said.

�We�ve already killed your man,� Filteau said. �What�s his name? The security man.�

�Hawkins,� Thomas said, voice neutral.

�Yeah! He�s dead, �cuz he thought he could stop us! He couldn�t!�

�Calm down, Joe,� Nate pleaded.

�What? Calm down? So I don�t over react and shoot someone? Nate, you just don�t get it, do you?�

One of the crew led Diona and Kvach in.

Filteau saw Diona. �He one of your men, Nate?�

�No, don�t...� Nadell said. �Please don�t! One former shipmate to another!�

Diona frowned, and looked at Nadell. �Sir?�

�DON�T!� Nadell yelled. He pulled against the cuffs. �RUN, DIONA!�

Diona was caught between his duty to guard Admiral Kvach, and the direct order he�d just received from security�s acting commander.

Filteau raised his phaser. Diona took a step forward, prepared to insert himself between the phaser blast and Admiral Kvach. It was his job, after all.

Filteau pressed the flat trigger.

Ensign Joe Diona, ex-Marine, took the phaser shot in the upper chest. He cried out and stumbled backwards, sparks exploding from his chest as the narrow beam cut across his chest and down his ribcage.

�NO!� Nadell yelled.

Filteau swiveled his aim. Before Diona�s death had registered with most of the Tokyo hostages, Phil Owusu�s life was cut short as well. The
black officer cried out and collapsed, a hole drilled through his heart, held up by the handcuffs chaining his wrists. Filteau lowered his phaser, and looked at Nadell.

�Happy, Nate?�

Nadell narrowed his eyes. �Kill me now, Joe. For so help me God... I will kill you.�

�Big words,� Filteau snarled. �Contact the Tokyo. Tell �em they�ve got two more of their officers dead. Don�t tell �em who, though.�

A crewmember nodded and disappeared down a side corridor.

***

�Who?� Macy demanded.

The crewmember shrugged on the monitor.

�Where�s Captain Bob?�

The crewmember shook his head. �He�s dead.�

�Why�d you kill him?�

The man shook his head. �He didn�t like what we were doing. I don�t think he�d have liked our taking Starfleet as hostages.�

�Then why did you?�

The man shook his head again.

Doors to the bridge opened, and Commander Dietrich Cheslock stepped off the turbolift. Cheslock had been a negotiator before getting his law degree and joining the JAG corps. �What�s going on?� he asked.

Commander Abaci turned his head. �They�ve killed two hostages, we�re not sure who.�

�How many dead are there?� Cheslock asked.

Macy shook his head. �We don�t know. If they�re telling the truth, total of three.�

�The Admiral?�

Both Macy and Abaci shook their heads. �No way to tell.�

�Do we have a strike team?�

Macy nodded. �Yes. Seven men, ready to transport over.�

�Captain!� Kwei called out. �I�ve got a weak spot in the shields. It�s in the Horncrest�s deep storage area.�

�Captain,� Pierson added. �It�ll probably take an hour or so for the team to get from the beam-in point to the crew section.�

Macy and Cheslock exchanged glances. �Macy to Transporter Room.�

�Carver here, sir,� the ensign said.

�Is Mr. Gosvar�s team assembled?�

Gosvar, Anvek, Tsana, Kazl, Lieutenant Burke and Ensigns Nye, Wells, Payne and Kearse were assembled on the transporter platform.

�Aye, sir.�

�Transport to the coordinates being fed to you.�

�Aye, sir. Energizing...now!�

ACT FOUR

Starfleet Nurse Ensign Keith Marin looked up as the instructions from the bridge came down. �Doctor!� he said.

Amir Najam looked up. �Yes?� he was vaguely aware of the situation developing on the Horncrest. Marin briefed him quickly, and Najam nodded.

****

MOVE!

Gosvar�s Force Recon Training Camp instructions took over. The men of the landing party quickly began moving. It was hard work -- the huge cargo section was filled with canisters, tubes, and storage bins. The walkways were almost non existant -- Gosvar found himself forced to climb, and jump, and duck around obstacles. The Klingon, Romulan, and Cardassian members of the team found little difficulty in the terrain, and the other Starfleet officers found themselves lagging behind.

It took them forty-three minutes to reach an actual corridor. It took Kazl ten seconds to knock a weld loose and remove a bulkhead panel. Kazl was first through, followed by Gosvar. The corridor was empty.

�How large a crew?� Kazl asked.

�Thirty-so,� Gosvar said as the rest of the team moved into the corridor.

�How do humans say it?� Kazl said. �Piece of cake.�

�Let�s move,� Gosvar ordered.

****

�I just want to talk,� Kvach said.

�About what?� Filteau retorted. �Your precious Federation?�

�You�re a veteran, aren�t you?� Kvach said.

�Admiral...� Kline whispered. �Don�t antagonize him.�

�Watch yourself, Commander,� Kvach shot back.

�No! See!� Filteau snapped. �I�m running around like a raving maniac, swinging a phaser for god�s sake! She�s trying to help you, and you�re dismissing her! I�ve killed two of your men myself, and my men
killed another! THIS is what I�m talking about! Hundreds of ships are lost, thousands of men die, and what do you DO about it? You don�t give up! You send more ships at the problem! What the HELL is wrong with
you fucking bureaucrats!?!�

He grabbed Kvach and hauled him to his feet, slamming the Admiral into the bulkhead. Filteau placed his phaser pistol against Kvach�s head.

�Feel good, Admiral? Feels good? You know this feeling? Ever been in the field? Always direct combat from your desk, do you?!�

Gosvar and Kazl led the charge from the port. There was one guard by the door, and he didn�t stand much of a chance -- Kazl brought his hunting knife down in a clean stroke which nearly carved the man�s head
in half. Gosvar raised his phaser and fired a stun blast which knocked one of the Horncrest crew backwards.

At the same time, the starboard assault burst in, led by Burke and Anvek. Filteau was facing that direction, and his weapon was out without hesitation. His shot was clean and precise, and Burke went down with a mangled scream, his chest exploding in flame. Anvek swivled to get aim on Filteau, but Tsana jostled him from behind and Anvek�s shot scorched the bulkhead.

The element of surprise lost, the other Horncrest crew moved precisely in resisting the attack. It was no surprise truly, many of the crew was
ex-Starfleet or ex-Marine. Kearse and Payne screamed and went down before their killers could be hit. Nye was hit -- but only a glancing blow across the chest and shoulder.

Gosvar swivled his aim, fired one shot that took down the man who hit Nye. Filteau and one other crewman were still about. Gosvar fired on Filteau, and couldn�t believe his luck -- his shot knocked Filteau�s
phaser out of his hand.

Filteau reached and drew a second weapon before anyone knew he had done it. It was a projectile gun, a Glock handgun from the 20th century in pristine condition, and it had a full clip. Kazl threw his knife, and it caught Filteau in the shoulder. Filteau went down, but the Glock went off.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Four times.

Each 40 caliber round hit a target. The same target.

Until now, none of the hostages had been injured. But one of them had stood to help take down the Horncrest crew. It was a very stupid idea,
but it seemed the right thing to do.

Lieutenant Commander Melanie Kline reeled backwards. The first round blew through her abdomen, the second into her ribcage, the third into her chest, the fourth tore across the side of her neck.

Gosvar tossed his phaser away and knelt next to Kline. He slapped his combadge. �Medical transport! Direct to sickbay! NOW! DAMMIT! RIGHT NOW GODAMMIT YOU SON OF A--�

A sparkle of blue lights danced across the First Officer and the Security Chief. And then both vanished.

****

Macy burst into sickbay, and was nearly tackled by a burly nurse.

�How is she?� he demanded.

The nurse shook his head. �I don�t know,� he said. �Dr. Najam is in surgery.�

Gosvar was seated on a bio-bed, his uniform splashed with red blood.

He looked withdrawn as Marin checked him out.

�Lieutenant?� Macy asked.

Gosvar shook his head.

�Is she alive?�

Gosvar couldn�t answer. Neither could the on-duty nurses.

Captain Connor Macy stood in sickbay, as a door away, Doctor Amir Najam worked furiously in surgery to save the life of his first officer. A young woman who might never be able to see her daughter or her family
again.

Time stood still.

------------------
Star Trek Gamma Quadrant
Average Rated 6.27 out of 10 Smileys by Fabrux (with four eps posted)
***
"Oh, yes, screw logic, let's go for a theory with no evidence!"
-Omega 11:48am, Jan. 19th, 2001
****
And homeschooling also turns you into a socially well-adjusted person, capable of talking to people without them wanting to ram a f***ing chair down your throat! - PsyLiam, 3/11/01

I give it 10/10

------------------
Star Trek Gamma Quadrant
Average Rated 6.27 out of 10 Smileys by Fabrux (with four eps posted)
***
"Oh, yes, screw logic, let's go for a theory with no evidence!"
-Omega 11:48am, Jan. 19th, 2001
****
And homeschooling also turns you into a socially well-adjusted person, capable of talking to people without them wanting to ram a f***ing chair down your throat! - PsyLiam, 3/11/01

That wasn't just good, that was GREAT!

Kudos!

And make sure to check out Between A Brig & A Hard Place and the first four eps of Star Trek: Gamma Quadrant (including the double-length pilot) here

------------------
Star Trek Gamma Quadrant
Average Rated 7.64 out of 10 Smileys by Fabrux (with six eps posted)
***
"Oh, yes, screw logic, let's go for a theory with no evidence!"
-Omega 11:48am, Jan. 19th, 2001
****
And homeschooling also turns you into a socially well-adjusted person, capable of talking to people without them wanting to ram a f***ing chair down your throat! - PsyLiam, 3/11/01

------------------
Star Trek Gamma Quadrant
Average Rated 8.32 out of 10 Smileys by Fabrux (with seven eps posted)
***
"Oh, yes, screw logic, let's go for a theory with no evidence!"
-Omega 11:48am, Jan. 19th, 2001