Into the Fire

"Ship status."

The deep voice of Captain Kheren broke the soft hum of the bridge stations as he stepped off the turbolift to come with a few long strides to his large old-style command chair. Before him, the towering yet graceful shape of tactical officer Tyvya slid to the chair beside the copper-skinned Inuit helmsman to check the main tactical board, from where would be launched the volleys of trillithium emitters they hoped would extinguish the raging plasma fire consuming the heavens on the large viewing screen in front of them all.

After thoroughly confirming the overall status of each department once again, Syntron turned toward the commanding officer and responded stoically.

“All stations are reporting in as prepared and standing by. Therefore, all things considered Captain… we are ready to enter into the mouth of the dragon once again.”

Kheren sat straighter in his seat, shrugging off a chill; a reaction quite noticeable coming from an iceworlder like him.

"Remember Number One that, without the protection of our metaphasic shielding, Andorians are among those most badly affected by the anomaly; and me even more and faster than any. Be ready to take over instantly if I falter at any point. I want no casualty because of any sudden weakness of mine."

"Understood Captain" Syntron replied; acknowledging the ramifications of the commanding officer's message.

"Going in on thrusters only, we will have full power for shielding, Sir," then said chief engineer Baoule in a confident tone.

"And I'll be watching you, Captain Sir," added to his left ear Doctor Nasaro-Myth with a knowing smile and a mischievelous sparkle in his eye as he nosed towards the side compartment in his own medical command chair were his full medkit was stored.

From the turbolift door she was guarding as per ship's security alert protocol, the Caitian security officer Mrriish nodded silently with her black-maned feline head to her commanding officer and then to Tyvya, confirming that she was ready to take over for the Andorian giantess if she too would suffer from any ill-effect of their new journey through the fiery maelstrom.

"Automated flight and deploy program will implement in case of bridge crew incapacitation, Captain, until a new crew is called by computer alert to take over," confirmed the Edoan Cheonghi, his three arms flying over his multitask ops console.

Kheren nodded, took a deep breath and bent forward to put his elbows on his knees in his typical ready for action posture when in his command chair.

"Guess it is now or never then. Mister Syntron... the word is given."

Nodding in response to the Captain's statement, Syntron turned his attention to the copper-skinned helmsman.

"Move ahead Lieutenant Snow, full impulse... and have your oars ready to paddle and steer us through."

"Rather poetic, Number one... I did not know you had it in you."

The rigid face of the Andorian did not move. But there was as much definite amusement in his voice as in the inward curve of his antennae.

Without even a hint of a facial expression across his impassive Vulcan exterior, Syntron merely stated “Just a bit of contamination from my years spent in Starfleet academy , Sir.”

The curve of Kheren's antennae just got more pronounced.

"indeed... Human behavior is most contagious, almost like assimilation. No wonder the Borg feared the Federation so much."

And then, his cranial appendages straightened and pointed forward in obvious inner tension when the golden fire of the Azimuth Horizon filled the whole screen as it engulfed what was left of the starship Artemis.

"Entering the boundary of the anomaly," announced Aguk Snow from the helm station. "Full impulse momentum carrying us nicely into the operation area. Thrusters on full."

Feeling several jolts to the saucer section of the Artemis, Syntron turned to the chief engineer and inquired “How is our metaphasic shielding holding up thus far, Mister Baoule?"

"Fine I would say," interjected Elliago Nasaro-Myth. "The captain is still conscious."

For his part, the bald, black-skinned man Syntron had addressed kept leaning towards his engineering display as his fingers ran accross the console below while he answered the Vulcan First Officer.

"Impulse power off propulsion and fully transfered to shielding and structural integrity field. External hull temperature and radiation levels within safe parameters. We're holding up quite well..."

There was a long tremor that shook the whole ship around them that quickly subsided to let him finish.

"... as long as Mister Snow keeps us from those rocks and shoals out there."

"The computer is trying to calculate the gravimetric pattern of the nearby neutronium masses to feed navigation with course correction predictions," said Valencia Irksos from the science station. "But as we know from past travels inside this phenomenon, our own mass is perturbating these patterns."

Another tremor shook the deckplates.

"Expect more than a few bumps along the way," she finally concluded.

"Rough seas..." simply commented Snow in a voice lowered by concentration as he flew the starship amidst a maelstrom of fire peppered with immense black stones the size of cities. Then in a clearer voice, he reported: "On course to launching coordinates, Sir."

Syntron scrutinized the detailed map on his PADD and could see that they were now approaching their first set of coordinates.

Looking up from the PADD, the first officer announced “Prepare to launch first set of trilithium emitters on my mark. Lieutenant Irksos, stand ready to begin analyzing all incoming data on the resultant reactions.”

Several moments later, Syntron commanded assuredly “Initiate first launch sequence.”

From the lowest part of what remained of the Artemis, where the saucer section had once been connected to the rest of the stately Ambassador class stardrive, the two main forward torpedo launchers glowed red with activating power. Although designed nearly a century before, the Burst 5 lanchers were still among the most potent projectile weapons devised by Starfleet, each capable of firing up to five rounds in any firing pattern desired. This capability was the key to the vessel's ability to acomplish it's current task, as all torpedoes had been converted into class VIII probes since those used the same casing, deflector, navigation sensor package and propulsion system as photon and quantum warheads.

Following the dispersal grid calculated by Syntron made possible by the competent guidance of Tyvya and Snow, their old school tandem console allowing perfect synchronism between tactical and navigation, the first of five paired groups of five probes each shot out simultaneously from under the wide saucer and flew away like an expanding firework within the flaming maelstrom.

"First volley away," confirmed Tyvya. "Second volley armed and ready."

"Receiving telemetry," then reported Irksos from the science station. "First deployement on course."

"Their warp signature is fading," added Baoule from the engineering one. "Expected power drain complete. They are travelling on their initial firing momentum now."

"Ready for activation of trillithium emitters," announced Cheonghi with his bald, chitinous head bobbing on his scrawny neck between his console readings and the large viewing screen as if he was following the probes with his eyes as much as with his monitors.

This was the most crucial moment of their whole operation and, at this very moment, most held their breath in anticipation, if not apprehension. Only the Vulcan Syntron seemed coldly detached and impervious to the tension gripping everyone else's throat.

Calmly calculating and verifying the precise position of the first set of modified probes within the anomaly, Syntron looked up and announced “Activate emitters… Now!”

As the trilithium was activated from each of the probe emitters positioned specifically within the periphery of the anomaly, the overall effect within the region was almost instantaneous as the deionization reaction caused the energy output of the anomaly to abruptly decrease to an almost vapid level.

Even the gravimetric pattern of the nearby neutronium masses along with the increased radiation and temperature they were compensating for within the Artemis saucer dropped in all of the immediate areas around the ship within proximity of the emitters to virtually nonexistent levels. The ship went from riding the dangerous waves of a storm to a dead calm sea. The contrast was astonishing; as was their silenced reactions within the ship to what they just witnessed.

"Telemetry coming in from the first probe deployement," reported Irksos without looking up from her sensor dispplay. "Plasma temperature and reaction droping steadily to ninety-eight percent of original levels. General gravimetric lines also stabilizing by two percent. Readings are consistent with theorized operational model."

"Translation; it's working," commented Elliago with a dry smile then a wink at his commanding officer to his right. "This poor girl has been exposed way too much to our Vulcan Exec."

Kheren did not aknowledge the Deltan's jibe nor the report from the science station. He kept all four oculars fixed to the screen.

"Coming about to deployement grid 02," now announced helmsman Snow as they all felt a slight but perceptible swirve of the entire deck that the inertial compensators struggled against.

"Salvo 2 loaded, primed and ready, Sir," said Tyvya at the other side of the long twin-station console. "Salvo 3 on standby."

Focused on the data, maps and telemetry displayed on his science PADD, the Vulcan first officer was carefully recalculating and verifying the precise position of the next set of modified probes within the anomaly. As the probes were aligning into optimal position, Syntron looked up and stated “Prepare to activate the next salvo of emitters… engage.”

Within mere moments the deionization reaction in this region caused the energy output of the anomaly to abruptly dwindle; calming the energy and space around them once again.

From the underbelly of the Artemis, clusters of probes were fired in succession as the vessel swung on the plasma eddies like a canoe on a torrent that becalmed itself in it's wake, the raging waves of fire replaced by an orange mist floating peacefully where raging tongues of golden flame churned moments before.

"Metaphasic shielding holding," reported engineer Baoule just as the ship shook with an ominious vibration when a sudden flare of plasma pushed an immense black mass too close for comfort before Snow at the helm veered away from it. "Inertial dampeners at full capacity."

"Salvo 5 away, readying salvo 6," counted outloud the Andorian giantess at tactical. "Overheating of the launchers under expected levels."

"The plasma reaction is coming down steadily, now at ninety percent," added Irksos.

Then, as the main viewer showed still more fire resorbing into inert gases and the inferno slowly calmed down before their very eyes, the voice of science lieutenant Norbert Baoule came from the auxilliary station he was manning between the engineering one of his twin brother Robert and the science post of Valencia Irksos.

"Captain... sensors output is becoming clearer as we proceed... And... I am registering something... peculiar with the anomaly."

Kheren straightened himself in his chair but kept his four eyes riveted to the screen.

"Define peculiar, Lieutenant."

"Sir... I am registering what seems like to be a collapse of the central core of the Azimuth Horizon. Sensors definition are not optimal but, according to my current readings, it is proportionate in speed and intensity to the decrease of the plasma reaction we are causing."

The Andorian blinked.

"The entrance to the other universe..."

"Is starting to close, Captain." finished Baoule.

Syntron stood up straight as he gazed into the main viewscreen as an eyebrow elevated slightly in reaction Norbert Baoule’s statement.

“Fascinating.”

The first officer then turned to Captain Kheren and stated “This outcome was something we neither anticipated nor saw in multiple simulations.”

After a brief paused Syntron inquired “Recommendation, Sir?”

"Please do, Number One," said Kheren before he sat deeper in his overlarge chair. "Helm, all stop. Tactical, hold probe launch."

"Answering all stop, Sir," Aguk Snow answered with both voice and fingers running over his piloting board.

The image on the screen froze but the ship shuddered then seemed to sway slightly to the right.

"Which does not mean we are fully immobilized..." apologized the Inuit pilot as he still struggled against the eddies and currents of the nearby plasma waves.

"Salvo 6 on standby, Captain," now Tyvya confirmed beside Snow.

"Mister Syntron, then ordered the Andorian, "work with the science department and find out what is going on... and fast. We can stay in that inferno for just so long..."

He didn't had to finish about a whole universe hanging in the balance as well.

Maybe even two.

“Acknowledged Captain” Syntron replied as he engaged his com link.

“Science team leaders… Update all of your sensor readings and collected data. Then meet in the briefing room on deck one in four minutes. We have a mystery to unravel and imperative decisions to make. First officer out.”

Syntron stood up from his post, grabbed his PADD, and walked with purpose back toward their meeting room.

Often the best laid plans… the first officer reflected as he solely entered into the room.

A minute later, the Vulcan was seated around the peculiar triangular table of the main birefing room with Assistant Chief of Science Valencia Irksos, Norbert Baoule and Lieutenant T'Val, the head of Astrophysics and Astrometrics and the only other Vulcan left among their skeleton crew. Although logic had made Captain Kheren's request for minimal ship complement as sound to her as to all the other Vulcan crewmembers who had remained on Starbase 10 upon launch, the same logic had told her that her seniority in the astrometric department made her essential for the operation regarding a cosmic anomaly. She was in fact the highest expert on the anomaly within this galaxy, even beyond her former chief of science, as she had been there when the Artemis had discovered it and flown conpletely through it in and out.

And so, the four of them met to discuss the latest unexpected developpement with the bewildering Azimuth Horizon.

As the one taking up Syntron's former position since his promotion to the Executive chair, Valencia Irksos was first to speak and sumrized the data they had brought with them.

"In a nutshell, Sir, here is what we have observed; the size of the wormhole linking our universe to the one discovered at the heart of the anomaly is shrinking in direct proportion, both in size and time, to the resorbtion of the plasma reaction our trillithium emitters are causing.

" And there is more," chimed in T'Val, her long, straight dark hair framing the furrow of her brow deepened by the shapr angle of her arched eyebrows. "According to astrometrics, the change in volume and temperature of the plasma, when going from an active state to an inert state within the confinement area we have created in our universe, is pushing the remaining reaction out at an exponential rate from the defusing reaction we are causing... and into the other universe, as access to it is disappearing."

"In simpler language, Sir," then added Baoule, "we throw the storm back where it came from faster than we becalm it. We will manage to extinguish it, alright... but only on our side. At the same time, we will expand it on the other side and trap it there behind a closed door... where there is nothing to stop or even channel it's expansion in normal space."

In the silence that followed, the entire room trembled, as if expressing some deep dread felt by the entire vessel.

After as moment where the three scientists exchanged a few nods, Lieutenant Irksos concluded:

"Sir, our hypothesis is that the plasma reaction is somewhat either responsible for creating that opening between the two universes or for maintaining it's current presence... or both... and that the very existence of that aperture is what prevents either universes from being already drowned in cosmic fire. Our observations shows a direct correlation between our actions against that plasma reaction and the existence of the aperture. Therefore, our recommendation is to abort phase 2 of our operation."

Syntron was attentively listening, correlating and analyzing the information presented by his team. Once they concluded their assessment and recommendations, he responded.

“I understand the complexity of the dilemma we are now facing. However, the problem is… if we completely abort this process now, the driving force of this anomaly will once again continue to expand and perhaps threaten both universes. If this conduit is a type of cosmic doorway between these universes, then we must strive to determine a way of having the energy driving this phenomenon somehow reach a state of equilibrium. This would potentially solve two issues. First, it would prevent the Azimuth Horizon anomaly from dangerously expanding into both regions. Secondly, it could eventually provide a stabilized gateway into the other universe.”

He then contemplated the complications involved in this premise.

“What we need to do now that the reactions have subsided where we have used the trilithium emitters is to send in a series of probes to scan and analyze these regions and beyond. They may provide us with a greater detailed assessment regarding the driving the forces within this phenomenon that we were unable to detect previously when the energy output was operating at much higher levels. Once we begin to understand these mechanisms within the anomaly, we may be able to determine another course of action.”

"I calculate that we do not have sufficient time remaining to do that at our current position," then objected T'Val with a calm that contrasted sharply with the gravity of her words. "As you can see on the last recorded data, the closure of the aperture is continuing still, because of the current emitters deployed. The magnitude of their action is of course limited to their current minimal number, but the effect is still ongoing... and as Lieutenant Irksos pointed out, in an exponential manner."

The black-skinned woman nodded and went even further in their analysis.

"Sir, not only do we have to stop sending trilithium emitters, but we have to deactivate those already operating. It will take much longer than previously planned with all the emitters we were about to send out, but them alone will eventually cause the anticipated catastrophy anyway unless we stop them."

"On the other hand," then pointed out Norbert Baoule, "if we do remove them, then the plasma reaction will flare up again full force... and right in our faces."

As if to underline his gloomy prediction, another tremor made the ship tremble around them.

The first officer again listened heedfully to the assessment and warning from each of his science team members before responding to these associates surrounding him in the briefing room.

“Based on your collective assessments it would appear then that our course of action would logically fall somewhere between what we are currently implementing and doing nothing at all. Perhaps… we may need to reposition the ship and the current emitters from their present locations and then begin to decrease the level of emissions on these emitters until we are able to achieve a more stable energy output level from the anomaly rather than the complete deionization effect we were initially aiming for.”

Irksos punched the latest data to the holographic display hovering over the triangular table between all of them and made the computer visualize the calculated projections as she answered her superior officer.

"That would work, Sir, but only in postponing the inevitable. As long as those emitters are active, even as few as they are and at the lowest setting we could bring them, the deionization will continue and eventually close the aperture, trapping the remaining fire on the other side to burn unimpeded."

"And there is an approximately ninety-eight point fifty-three percent probability that we will not be even able to do that," then said T'Val as she added the trilithium emiters schematics to the astrometric display and correlated both set of data to illustrate her words. "Because of the extreme level of interference in this area and as a safeguard against possible attempts from hostile forces to ignite the plasma again, we made the emitters automated once launched, as no remote control is possible. We may have only ten percent of the deployement done but, given sufficient time, even a single active emitter is enough to eventually cause the collapse of the entire Azimuth Horizon."

"Which means we need not only to stop deployement but to remove them one by one... or shoot them down," concluded Baoule, receiving a nod from the Vulcan woman for his logical conclusion. " But out here, phasers and tractor beams do not work, shuttles or thruster suits would not survive and we have not a single torpedo left."

This time, there was no vibration to fill the cold, hard silence that stretched between them, making the moment all the more ominious.

As their superior officer remained silent, obviously pondering their predicament in every minute detail as he was so well known to do, Valencia Irksos then looked up directly at him.

"Sir... there might be a way to disable the emitters already launched, even without phasers, tractor beams or torpedoes..."

"You're not thinking of ramming them with the ship I hope," voiced Baoule with obvious concern.

"No, not with the ship..."

"The other probes..." then concluded T'Val with unfailing logic. "Removing the trilithium emitters from the torpedo casings and sending those as inert projectiles would safely destroy the deployed ones to let the plasma reaction reasert itself and re-equilibrate the whole power system of the Azimuth Horizon... possibly even reopen fully the passage to the other universe."

"Manual firing? Without target lock against two meters long objects in this stormy weather? Lieutenant Tyvya is good but even for her, this will be quite a feat," observed Baoule still dubious.

"Not so much at point blank range," countered the Vulcan woman with her continuing logic.

"Where we would be then fully exposed in half a ship to the revived fury of the elements," insisted the black-skinned man.

"We did manage to survive twice already in such adverse conditions. Statistically speaking, despite our current situation, the probability of us surviving a third time are..."

"I can do the math, thank you," interrupted Baoule before sighing. " And even if we do beat the odds again, we will still be back to square one, with a threatening cosmic firestorm poised to burn everything down."

"Maybe not..." then chimmed in Irksos as she looked again at Syntron.

From behind the triangular table of the briefing room, Sterling gazing intently at this team stated “We have been in more immediately perilous situations within this anomaly than we currently are now. So I want you to continue to work as a team until you determine a viable solution.”

After another short moment of silence, Valencia Irksos answered him.

"We do have one, Sir..."

She then looked at the others before finishing with one last word.

"Snowfire."

On the bridge of the Artemis, motionless within the raging plasma tornado of the Azimuth Horizon anomaly, Captain Kheren was drumming his fingers on the wide armrest of his old style command chair, a sure sign of the heightened tension in the air when considering the patience and composure he was well known for. But he was still Andorian and his nervousness was finally getting the better of even his famous self-control as he waited for his science department to resolve their new quandrary... and that, while they struggled to stay in one piece amidst a cosmic inferno with only a thin layer of metaphasic energy covering them.

Once more, the battered starship shudddered under the awesome power of the anomaly around them. At the helm, Lieutenant Snow wrestled with the controls to steady them manually, almost getting toppled out of his seat despite the PID he was wearing.

"Stay on course, Mister Snow," advised Kheren behind the hand his chin was resting in.

"Aye, Captain. The plasma reaction might have become inert near us, but those shifting subspace fractures and errant neutronium masses are not."

"And they're both getting closer," added Cheonghi, assuming sensor monitoring duty from his multitask ops station,his beady eyes almost bulging out of his bald, chitinous head as he spoke. "Our own mass is slowly but surely pulling at them."

Then, the rich, musical voice of Elliago Nasaro-Myth filled the following moment of silence with definite concern and puzzlement.

"Captain?"

"Yes, Doctor?"

"I'm getting something... on the emergency channel. It's very faint because of all the interference but... I caught the words "Alsea" and "attack" with an incomplete set of numbers... they look like a set of coordinates."

Kheren almost shot out of his chair, his antennae suddenly arcing forward as if he was about to fight.

"They are under attack! Do we still have from HQ the coordinates of the disabled shuttles they were sent to look for?"

"Aye, Captain," immediately confirmed Tyvya. "But, Sir... we are in no shape to provide tactical assistance if the most powerful warship available is itself ..."

"Lieutenant, you know General Order 6 as well as I do," retorted the Captain with an impatient tone. " In case of an emergency call, all orders and activities are to be postponed to answer it. And as far as we know, we are the only ship around... or able to even barely hear their call, let alone answer it."

"But, Sir, us answering it is even more dubious," then said Snow, turning in his chair towards his commanding officer. "We only have impulse power. Even at emergency impulse speed and giving her all she's got, it will take us almost a month to get there."

"Even so," now objected Elliago, "there might be survivors..."

"We'd be lucky to arrive there and find any escape pods to retrieve," finished Cheonghi glumly. "If it's the Romulans again, they will mercilessly shoot them down."

Kheren sat back in his chair and struck his armrest comm panel with a slap of his callused hand that startled everyone into sudden silence.

"Mister Syntron! I need you and your staff back here now!"

“On our way, Captain,” the first officer immediately replied as he signaled the team to head back to the main bridge.

The captain closed the channel even before he could hear the reply and stood up before his command chair.

"Sound red alert!"

Just as the alert klaxon blared to the rythm of pulsating red lights flaring up around them, the entire ship suddenly shook and buckled so suddenly and violently, they almost all toppled onto the deckplates.

"What now?" growled the Andorian captain.

"Subspace fractures!" reported Aguk Snow as he righted the trembling ship under them. "We got caught between two of them just as they formed each side of us!"

"They're both pulling at us unevenly and interfering with our nav sensors!" added the Edoan at the multitask ops console, all three arms flying accross the panel. "We can barely chart a course through all that interference!"

"Captain! If we stay here we will break apart!" warned Chief Baoule. "That, or some plasma ejection will find it's way through one of those fractures and fry us through our depleting shields! The gravitons powering them are being drained fast!"

On the screen, the hellish maelstrom of the Azimuth Horizon extended several crackling bolts of plasma fire around it's blinding center, like the burning fangs of a monstrous beast eager to devour them.

There was barely time for a new tremor to make the entire ship groan before Kheren came up with his plan and made his decision. Still standing feet apart before his command seat and keeping his eyes toward the main screen, he signaled Doctor Nasaro-Myth with his left hand to open the shipwide channel.

"All hands, this is the Captain. All science, engineering and tactical personnel are immediately ordered to shuttlebay 1. All operations and medical officers will report at once to the bridge."

He made a pause, took a deep breath and sighed audibly before he spoke again with finality in his deep voice.

"All hands, abandon ship. I repeat; abandon ship."