Chapter 9: Infringing Upon Destiny (Part 2b)

((continued from Part 2))

Sterling could see as he gazed at the capital city in the main viewscreen that the time in darkness for Archer was running out. Attempting to escape in the light of the emerging day would create additional sets of complications that the away team would need to avoid if at all possible. Otherwise, they would be forced to come up with an even more challenging means of escape.

Yeah… they were deep in it alright.

Sterling checked his chronometer again: sixteen point five minutes until the first embers of dawn would break. He never felt more useless than he did right now as the suspense of the situation continued agitating him like a spreading rash.

The captain swiftly stood up from the center seat and stepped forward as he gazed at the tactical consoles; looking for a sign of progress that he knew wouldn't be there.

Damn it Archer… what the hell is going on down there? Sterling thought in exasperation.

Then from the operations console the Denobulan officer reported.

“Captain, I’ve just detected several small explosions within the walled capital city.”

Thinking out loud, the captain replied “I suppose that at this point Archer and his team must have abandoned the stealth approach.”

Moving toward the Ops station he added “Lieutenant Phelix, full magnification on the origin of these explosions. This may at least indicate their general path or this may be part of some sort of distraction… Regardless, they are possibly on the move somewhere in this region.”

Sterling turned to the science station and the assistant science chief manning it.

“Lieutenant Than, focus and pinpoint scanners on a radius surrounding the area of detonation. Try to pick up even the faintest of life signs of Archer and Strider anywhere in the area… or at least other unusual signals emanating from this region.”

Operating swiftly throughout the science console controls, the Trill assistant science chief replied.

“Sir, I’m still having difficulty penetrating through the defensive shield once the communication system blackout was reactivated.”

Nodding an acknowledgement, Sterling turned to Lieutenant Commander Pasqual manning the communications console.

“Any suggestions Counselor on how we can permeate that disruptive field?”

The Orion hybrid stood up and went to the science station to get a quick look at the sensor readings then turned towards Sterling.

"A class IV covert probe on the surface could, unknown to anyone, analyze and decipher the disruptive emission for us to punch through with our comm system. But, for that, we would need to have them drop their shield. Or..."

A sudden mischievous smile stretched his thin lips.

"We could persuade them to deactivate the comm interference."

“Intriguing Mister Pasqual” the captain responded, noting the devilish smirk on the counselors face.

“What exactly did you have in mind?” Sterling inquired curiously.

"Well Sir; they sent a message, didn't they? So... they most assuredly expect an answer."

With an added grin, Sterling replied.

“As in a response from the intercepted message transmitted over the Ferenginaar diplomatic channel? I like that idea. Was the computer able to decrypt the message they sent?”

Again, Ray smiled his infuriating impish smile.

"As matter of a fact, it just did, Captain Sir. It became much easier once we input Romulan codes in it's decryption search pattern. But that is not all that important...as long as our... friends down there think that a reply is coming... on the same channel and frequency from the expected emitting direction..."

“Excellent Counselor. Now… how about if we compose a message that will not only mislead them to a degree, but perhaps take them a bit longer to receive it… allowing us the time needed to perhaps send the probe and fully activate our sensors again?”

"Right on, Captain Sir," Ray said and went back to his communication station to get to work.

Sterling leaned back in the center seat and glanced at the chronometer once again as the counselor worked his magic from his station.

Hopefully, he thought, they would have this all in place and operational before Archer and his team emerged from obscurity. Given their current time-frame, there would be no margin of error available.

It took long, heavy minutes before Pasqual finally turned towards the center seat.

"We're ready here, Captain. Now what we need is a fully-cloaked probe emitting the warp signature of a D'Deridex class vessel. I believe our staunch Romulan ally should be able to accommodate us in this regard if you ask him nicely."

Sterling drew in a long steady breath as he nodded affirmatively to the counselor.

“Engage your lasercom system to allow for an audiovisual conference with Commander Terrah.”

As the image of the Romulan commander came in to view, Sterling wasted no time in addressing his request.

“Commander, we have decrypted the earlier transmission from the surface and have prepared an intriguing response to it. We need you to send in a cloaked probe with a subspace transceiver emitting the warp signature of a D'Deridex class vessel. While this decoy will hopefully get them to cut off their interference, we will be able to communicate with our covert team down there... and with any luck we will be able to assist them with their rescue attempt."

The Romulan commander considered the request.

“I’ll send you a message when it is ready for deployment.”

Once the prepared probe was in place, the Romulan commander notified Sterling.

With the decoy launched, they set into motion their intended deception as the crew of the Icarus awaited a signal from Archer.

"Archer to Icarus, we are on our way home, but we have some unwanted guests with us. Scorpion attack fighters, we could use some cover!"

Sterling immediately stood up and responded.

“Understood Archer… It is a relief to hear from you! We have a squadron of shuttle fighters just above the upper atmosphere of the capital city. Engage you cloak while we send their position to Falcar through our lasercom system. Then navigate directly for them. Meanwhile, Ensign Bradbury will scatter them away from your shuttles vector with a few rounds of phasers in their path.”

Just then, Ray Pasqual shook his head and addressed his commanding officer with a clipped tone.

"They're on their way, Sir," confirmed Pasqual after transmitting the interception order. "ETA with the S'Talon, one minute. And subspace interference is down."

On the screen before them, the whole dogfight lasted but barely longer than that. As soon as the

ultrapowerful fighter crafts of the Icarus flew at the Romulan ones of the same name, it was over;

armed only with a single disruptor cannon on top of their egg-shaped, unshielded hull, the Romulan

planetary assault shuttles were simply no match for the warp-capable, shielded Starfleet space

interceptors with their phasers and microtorpedoes. They were simply obliterated as, in pure

Romulan fashion, they attempted a suicide run against them, hopefully to allow one of them to get

to the fleeing S'Talon and shoot it down.

None did.

((---------- CHAPTER CLOSED---------- ))