Chapter 5: Enemy Mine (Part 3.2)

First officers log:

Captain Kheren has tasked me with the recovery of our auxiliary ship, the Polaris, that went missing upon our arrival to this uncharted region on the edge of known space.

Although in the interim the Horizon has located our missing ship it would seem you can't leave all your problems behind, in this case that would be the Jem'hadar. It would appear they preceded us and took advantage of our momentary impairment after warping in to abscond with the Polaris.

Our task force consists of two Delta Flyer class shuttles, the Dawn, Commanded by me, and the Dusk by Lieutenant Irksos.

Thanks to the shield modifications performed by Lt. Commander Snowfire, we should intercept with them shortly, right after the mission situation report is completed.

-Aboard the Shuttle 'Dawn' cockpit-

Redding competes his briefing with both crews over a secured communication signal. "..and while we attempt first contact and threat assessment , the Dusk will be supplying support in the event this is an ambush attempt our their part. Any question so far?"

Tyvya was first to speak from the back of the cockpit.

"Sir, even two Delta Flyers are no match in a frontal confrontation with a Jem'Hadar destroyer; and those bugships usually are part of a paired formation on patrol or usually of an entire squadron, more often than not launched from a much larger cruiser. Despite the alleged disrepair of the one detected at the time of the Polaris abduction, we must not assume any weakness on their part until actually assessed. What is your tactical plan if we do find them and if we have to face them?"

"Running away would be my advice." Snowfire replied, turning from where she was sat monitoring the shield modifications. "With the grav-plane, we're significantly faster. And once we're out of visual range, they won't be able to pursue with any degree of accuracy due to the nebular interference."

Redding nodded "Your both correct, under normal circumstances we could not engage directly and we have the ability to out run them in any event, so if it was to come down to a fight we would perform coordinated hit and run attacks and wear them down."

Redding took a breath then looked around. "But this is not our primary goal, I don't want everyone going into this thinking this ship is our enemy, there are just to many factors that don't add up." He paused for effect then went on "Unless like the USS Voyager and ourselves they found their way here through extraordinary means, witch would be highly unlikely, they meant to be here, more likely ordered to be. But that was 50 years ago, and unless I'm mistaken the Jem'hadar don't even live that long, so they've either been in stasis for the entire trip, or that ships manned by something else."

He then acknowledge Tyvya "Again, under normal conditions I'd agree with your assessment. But if they had that kind of support and it was functional, they would have attacked the Horizon first while she was disabled, but I'm not discounting the possibility of a second ship, witch is why I'm having Lt. Irksos stand vigil."

"If it is the Jem'hadar it's a sure bet that before we arrived they had no way of knowing the war is over, how will they react to that? from all indications they're barely hanging on out here and have now been discovered by superior enemy forces." The look of an older man, who has seen many wars passed over his face.

"So we are going in, assessing the situation as best we can and getting the Polaris and it's crew back any way we have too, but if at all possible, we wont use a blade to do it with."

For the better part of an hour, both shuttlecrafts flew through the red and blue haze of the nebula, shaken frm time to time by the ambient static discharges that crisscrossed the clouds of ionized particles around them. Visual detection was quite like moving through a dense sea fog and sensors were screeching with static, although the space sonar using the deflector of every lotus Fleet ship nowadays sounded ahead of them with it's eerie ping sound echoing back like the pulse heard on antique earth submarines. And a one point, that signal changed pitch, tempo and frequency.

"Dusk to Dawn; we are getting a signal at the other end of the impulse trail; something big and massive up ahead, mineral and metallic mass, composition yet unknown, about five hundred thousand kilometers, bearing 005 mark 22. Do you concur?"

On her own board, science chief Snowfire K'Leysha could indeed see she was receiving the same readings. And then, like a veil parting before their eyes, the blue clouds dispersed in front of them to reveal in the stormy distance a large rocky asteroid, almost polished smooth by eons inside the nebula and it's eternal storm of dust and lightning.

"Recommend we shut down the sonar for a discreet survey approach, Sir, " then advised Tyvya. "It's signal can be perceived by anyone at the other end. I would guess that we don't want to stir up any alarm too soon about our presence."

"Agreed, but lets not be too worried about Stealth, They already know we'll be following and too much caution may lead them to think were weak enough to bully." Redding said looking over his readout.

"Aye, Sir," answered Tyvya, her Andorian straightfordwadness agreeing readily with her superior officer. " Although I'm not  convinced at all  that they are aware of us yet, especially in this nebula. Had they spotted the Horizon, they would have done lots of other things than just tow the Polaris away. "Commander... do we circle around and observe until they notice us, or do we go straight in and knock?"

At that moment, the comm channel signaled it's encrypted signal.

"Dawn, this is Lieutenant Irksos aboard the Dusk. We shut down the Sonar to avoid detection but we had enough time to detect alloy compounds within the asteroid and an inordinate level of atomic radiation. The impulse trail goes right around to the other side of the asteroid and there is a lot of decayed ions and other particles near it... much like around a space station... I mean, like one that would have been used for maybe decades. The rock mass of the asteroid is shielding any further scan from this distance. Do you confirm the readings?''

"We will definitely be knocking, until we know better it's to be assumed that they 'recovered' the Polaris and towed it here for repairs." But he rolled his eyes as he said it. "We'll give them the benefit of the doubt, for now."

He signaled the Dusk "Lt. Irksos hold position and take up sentry duty, we're going in to establish contact, make sure our back stays clear." And pointed at more, making a 'move along' gesture.

Moore went right work "Aye sir, one quarter impulse." and started his swing around the asteroid.

The helmsman of the Dawn plotted a concentric course that would bring the shuttle ever closer to the asteroid but in a large circular trajectory tHat would give ample time for anyone there to detect them and understand that they were not on a direct intercept course; a sure sign of possible intent. At the same time, it allowed a complete survey of the area, even in a passive manner, that quickly showed them much more than they had expected.

Behind parting veils of blue and red particles of space dust, the asteroid slowly revealed itself to be cup shaped, the inner part now just coming into view. The hollowed face of the large rock ball showed to them with the gradually clearing fog of ions an old yet well furbished docking area, dimly lit by only a few floodlights. But the lightning dischages of static in the foggy haze that suroounde dit all flashed intermittently what laid inside. 

The first thing they recognized was the small elongated shape of the USS Polaris. She looked as pristine as went she had launched from the Horizon and there were lights doting it's decks and her warp nacelles were still on stanby.

But their attention was immediately drawn to the huge shape looming over it. 

It looked to be at least six hundred meters long, a long, flat, narrow metal shape that looked nothing less like a gigantic shark with a massive flattened prow shaped like a great white 's head. Behind it stretched a short narrowing hull level with the neckless, oval saucer section fused to it and ending with two stunted nacelles on short low-angled pylons. There was but a few pale lights coming from viewports and the nacelles themselves were dark.

What was surprising about it, besides it's unusual shape, was that it looked aged, pockmarked by what looked like decades of spaceflight, the pale blue paint scratched everywhere accross the silvery-whitish metal underneath; everywhere except on the nacelles themselves who looked startingly fresh and new albeit of an older design than current vessels. There was also a small gouge on one side, as if one deck had exploded midway on the the secondary hull.

But what was even more intriguing was the fact that it's design, as unusual as it was, still was definitely that of a Starfleet vessel.

"What the blazes is that?" exclaimed Moore with oogling eyes.

As they came closer, they saw that part of a name and registry could be made out on the top of the ovoid saucer section.

NXC - ...2376

...SS AEHAESIES

"It looks like a Federation starship... and an odd one at that, " continued the helmsman. "Look at all those weapon ports... and it's armored all over... feels more like a Klingon ship... Even the registry and name make no sense."

The others were also looking and pondering about the large, strange starship bethed inside the asteroid. From the back of the cockpit, Tyvya moved forward to peer also through the cockpit at what they were all gawking at. And, as soon as she saw it, her blue skin took a definite lighter tone and her voice blanched as much.

" No... it ain't possible... "

Her fists balled each side of her towering frame as her antennae lowered forward as if she was about to jump right through the canopy at the unknown, enigmatic vessel.

"Not... him! "

Redding could not do more than open his mouth to ask her what this was all about that she turned to him with a deadly earness in her sapphire eyes.

"Commander, we have to go back to the Horizon now... and fast!"

And as she said so, a flat, egg-like shape zoomed out from under the large mysterious vessel to come straight at them. Even through the haze they could see the light of weapon ports blazing toward them.

It was a Jem-Hadar attack ship.

Redding spared a glance from the attack ship back to Tyvya before responding "Moore, evasive maneuvers! everyone strap in."

Moores fingers danced over the controls and the Dawn spun around on a narrow arc and sped on it way.
 "Course comander?"

Redding didn't respond right away, but spoke to Leone instead. "Try to hail that ship and tell them we wish to negotiate, but we will return fire if engaged."

Then he looked back over at Moore.

"Head back to the Dusk but make sure you don't lose that ship, we need it to follow us as close as possible."

Moore cocked his head but didn't look around at him.

"Well Commander, I do love a challenge.."

But for once he wasn't smiling.

"Redding to Irksos, were being pursued by a Jem'hadar attack vesicle, here's what I need you to do..."

As they all activated their PIDS, the hail was answered over the comm speakers. As Jem'Hadar ships had no viewing screens, there was no visual retransmitted, only audio. Fact was, Jem'Hadars never bothered with hails, especially in combat, as their aim was always to either destroy or capture the enemy plain and simple and they had no inclinations to either boast or threaten, even less negociate. Yet, to the surprise of all, there was an answer.

"Surrender or be destroyed."

A choice; to those who could have had any knowledge or experience with the Dominion engineered soldiers, that one also was a first. As was the warning dispruptor shot accross their bow instead of straight at them as the Dawn swung around in a tight arc to complete it's revolution around and behind the asteroid, putting it momentarily between her and the  warship.

And something else raised the eyebrows of tactical officier Tyvya. She glanced at Elisha Leône as if to get her confirmation as she spoke. That or an explanation.

"Commander... that shot... it was barely at half power. "

The Delta Flyer then shook as another energy bolt sizzled close by, much closer, illuminating the blue and red fog around them.

"The ionic particles and static discharges are playing havoc with sensors," explained the giantess at tactical. " They can't lock target and so have to aim manually through all that fog and stormy weather. That's the good news. The bad news is; neither can we... and for both of us, shields will be inoperative... but their ship is armor plated."

Another shot glazed their hull and shook them just as their view through the canopy swirved sharply away from a sudden static bolt of lightning blinding them a moment.

"And they have damn good aim," grunted pilot Moore as he sweated over the controls to keep their craft on Redding's plotted course while dodging obvioulsy carefully calculated salvos with as much instinct as luck.

Their smaller size and energy signature as well as their speed and maneuverability was their only real asset against the larger attack craft hot on their tail. But each passing second chewed on their chances to escape. One shot to their engines would be enough cripple them and leave them dead in the water.

And each single bolt was coming closer.

No further