CHAPTER 6: The Wrath Of Khan (part 1 A)

The infiltration team was right beside a porthole in the hull of the Polaris overlooking the looming USS Nemesis and  part of the asteroid inner walls. They were all waiting for Redding to decide their next course of action when a deep vibration was felt on the escort ship's hull plates.

For a moment, they looked at one another silently. Then, Moore pointed towards the viewport as Graathrii went to the nearest computer wall panel.

From the underbelly of the Horizon's auxilliary starship, out of view, a small baydoor had opened but, a moment later, floated up in their field of view a tubular container that pulsed with indicators from both ends and a barely visible, diffuse bleuish glow on it's metal covering.

Graalthrii confirmed from the wall panel what their eyes were already telling them.

"They're extracting the antimatter reserves of the Polaris!"

Moore pointed again, this time at the rock wall nearest of their position. From a port of the docking bay, two suited figures then appeared and, using a primitive but efficient molecular-bonding grappling gun, they connected with the hull plates of the Polaris to haul themselves near the extracted magnetic container with the obvious intent of taking it away... and push it towards the open shuttlebay of the USS Nemesis.

Redding watched silently for several seconds and then indicated for them to follow. "Nothing we can do about that now, if we tried to move on them it would tip off Khan and the Gem'hadar to Tyvya's assault and they'd be cut off."

Redding moved down the hallway at a faster pace but still with an air of caution. "But it's clear they don't care about the Polaris either, so 'recapturing' it should be simple enough" They reached auxiliary control without  even encountering a single Jem'hadar.

Redding and Graathrii covered each other as they entered the room, then seeing it empty, waved in the rest.

Using only hand gestures he told Graathrii to man the door as Leone and Moore took their stations.

"I don't even need to over ride the system, it's no longer locked down." There was a tone of annoyance in his voice.

"Computer: list commanding officer." he said.

*Commander Oseno Jureth, Commanding officer.* It replied tonelessly

He shook his head "Lets hope he's okay."  Then to the computer again. "Computer: recognize Commander Redding, Neil. R00010Mike."

Barely a second passed before it did so. *Recognized*

"Restrict all access to primary Command systems to Commander Oseno Jureth and my self until released by standing command officer. Additional: Lieutenant Elisha Leone granted temporary Command of the USS Polaris until relieved by superior command officer registered to the USS Horizon."

Leone looked at him but didn't know what to say, but Moore did.

"Hey.. why not me? If for no other reason I have seniority ." He had started doing a system check of the Hem.

He had stated exactly what Elisha was thinking but would dare not say.

"Khan would never think I'd give her command of the Polaris, so while he's busy interrogating me and you to death, she'll be fine."

"Oh.." he said simply and went back to his work.

"Okay, the Jem'hadar will return for the rest of our antimatter shortly, but Graathrii and I will be waiting for them, lock down this section after we leave and no unnecessary communications until after engagement, as soon as Khan knows were on board he'll try and shut down the ship remotely again, let him think he's succeeded if you can but keep the ship ready for departure."

He then checked over his gear and rejoined Graathrii near the entrance. "Any questions?"

"Is this a good time to resign my commission, Sir?" asked the Tellarite with an even tone. 

Before a response was uttered,  the somewhat nervous Orion Ops officer inquired "Anything else I should know before all of this commences?"

Without awaiting a response, Elisha turned her attention to her console and began running a complete internal sensor scan of the Polaris.

Stay focused she reminded herself as thoughts of all of the things that could go wrong began to plague her attention.

She examined everything thoroughly but rechecked the results again to be certain before addressing Commander Redding.

"Sir, the Polaris is undamaged and all readings indicate that it is still fully functional. Fortunately, there are no other life-signs registering aboard this vessel... except for ours."

Working the console swiftly she added "I believe that I can bring this ship back to green status in just a few moments."

Then with a look of concern the Orion Ops officer added "However, with the Antimater reserves being manually drained one tank at a time and with one tank already missing and a second one on the verge of being removed, we will only have the remaining antimatter already in the warp core to utilize. This should contain enough antimatter to easily move out... provided that we don't need to expend extra energy  for shields or weapons."

Looking up to the commander again, she noted somberly "We will need to sneak away very stealthily, Sir.

Then looking back down and switching her focus from internal to external scans she quickly surveyed their immediate surroundings.

Elisha added "Currently, there are two Jem'Hadar life-signs registering in thruster suits outside undocking a second antimatter tank. At the rate they are proceeding, this tank will be gone in only a matter of moments"

Lieutenant Elisha Leône then surveyed beyond their vessel to see what was positioned and what transpiring around their ship.  

"Commander, the Bugship and the Delta Flyer are separately docked in the dockyard. I am detecting both Andorian and Bynar lifesigns onboard the bugship; Sheeneea and both our chief medical officers undoubtebly," Elisha concluded almost to herself.

She then noted an energy spike increasing. "Sir, it would seem that the large ship, the Nemesis, is just being powered up. Sensors indicate that there is one Bajoran lifesign on the main bridge... perhaps Commander Jureth!" Elisha blurted out at the prospect of finding another lost crew member.

As she continued scanning, she immediately noticed distant transporter activity occurring.

"Commander Redding,  there is a faint transporter trace from the interior of the asteroid near the bugship docking ring to the Nemesis. It is however, cut-off by what appears to be a multiphasic level-10 force-field surrounding what could be the ship's main computer core. I cannot be certain Sir, but there now appears to be Andorian, Human, Bajoran, Bolian and Jem'Hadar lifesigns inside the asteroid converging. There are also traces of weapons fire now occurring  near the docking area, signaling both Federation and Dominion signatures."

Looking up Elisha then announced "All systems are now green Commander. We are ready to proceed!" 

"Good work lieutenant. For now, we'll assume that it is Oseno on that bridge. Get a lock on him as soon as he's off the bridge and try to transport him back here."

He was looking over her readings.

"Looks like the fights starting without us. Mister Graalthrii, lets move." he ordered and trotted out to door while reminding them to seal it behind them.

Fortunately it was a small ship comparatively speaking and it didn't take them very long to reach the bay. As they came up on the entry way, they slowed down and continued on more cautiously.

Just before Redding activated the door, it opened and a Jem'hadar, looking half surprised, strolled into the hallway. His was the look of someone that came looking for intruders but was still surprised to see them.

Redding took advantage of its momentary confusion and rifle-butted it across the forehead, causing it to stagger out of the doorway.

Without looking back he yelled "Go!" to Graalthrii and fired a phaser burst at the Jem'hadar as Graathrii moved quickly into the room.

The shot grazed the large man but he barely flinched from it, instead swinging around and bringing up his Kar'takin to try and catch Redding in the stomach or groin area.

Redding swept down with his rifle, blocking the axe-like device but its blade sank deep into the rifle and the sound of mechanical damage could be heard coming from it.

Instantly Redding spun both weapons around, using the rifle's grater leverage to wrench the axe out of his hand, although the Jem'hadar managed to land his forearm across Redding's chest, knocking him off his feet as he did so and causing him to lose both weapons.

Even as Redding sprang back to his feet, he was prepared for the Jem'hadar's charge. But it didn't come.

Instead, he spoke.

"I' am the first of the Jem'hadar and first to his excellency."

He stood proudly before Redding.

"You are a soldier worthy of a good death. I would know your name," the grey-skinned warrior declared and removed a bayonet-like knife from his side.

Redding straightened up and removed the d'k tahg, a Klingon knife he often carried, from its sheath along his lower back .

"I am Redding, " he answered, "commander,  first officer of the USS Horizon and you honor me," and brought the knife up in a salute.

The two warriors faced each other moving into fighting stances. Redding said only one thing more.

"It's a good day to die."

And they clashed.

"Speak for yourself," grumbled Graalthrii as for a moment, he tried to aim his rifle at the Jem'Hadar.

But both fighters were moving and gyrating around one another too fast and their was not enough space in there for him to swing around his big rifle fast enough. And his attention was quickly diverted by another opponent coming to meet them from where the First had come. He was almost as big as his leader and obviously just as old but there was the sudden flare of delight and pride in his eyes as he too dropped his rifle-halberd to take out a bayonet and point it at the Tellarite.

" I am the Second of the Jem'Hadar of his Excellency. You are also a soldier and serving a worthy leader. I will know your name. "

Graalthrii looked at him and at his cumbersome rifle, having noted the minimal effect of his weapon unless he cranked it up to deadly power; something he new would not sit well with his high-moral ground captain once he would make a report. And he had trained with him and under him for years now. he knew what he should, and could do in the present situation.

The Tellarite dropped his own rifle and took out the regulation combat knife Captain Kheren had made standard issue for his security officers under his command since the days the Andorian had been assigned as chief of security and tactical aboard the USS Lotus, the very first flagship of lotus Fleet. He took it in his thick left hand and came up right before the much taller but barely broader Jem'Hadar Second.

" I am Pekris Graalthrii, Security Ensign USS Horizon... and I am lucky. "

As he said so, his right hand came up holding his hand phaser and he shot the Jem'Hadar right in the eyes, point blank.

Reaching straight into the brain, the low level stun setting bypassed entirely the thick, resistant scaly skin of the supersoldier and short-circuited out his brain directly. Heavily stunned, the unconscious Jem'Hadar dropped face first at the Tellarite's feet like a stone statue knocked off it's pedestal.

"Hey, it worked!" 

Stepping over the fallen body while resheating his unused knife, Graalthrii went straight to the nearest control panel and pomptly shut close and code-locked the antimatter tanks bay hatch, right in the face of the two suited Jem'Hadars about to come in to take another one. Then, he turned around, hand phaser raised, to see what was happening with his senior officer.

It had taken a lot out of him to acknowledge the ridiculous honor duel ritual the Human had wanted to play with the narrow-minded aliens, but the knowledge that this would occupy the Jem'Hadar leader long enough for him to dispose of the other one and stop the antimater theft had helped him accept the situation. But now, he was duty-bound to protect the first officer of his ship and, as soon as he would get a clear shot, this Jem'Hadar First would feel what the heat-setting of a hand phaser could do to clothing and body armor.

Redding and the First sparred for a few seconds feeling each other out, neither giving or taking ground. "Your following a mad man, you know that right?" Redding said while blocking a strike.

"His Excellency is no mere man Commander Redding." and attempted to strike low narrowly missing Reddings left thigh.

"That's true.. he was a great man, a powerful man that lead a country during the worst war in our history." The First lunged at him but Redding had seen that kind of footwork before and counter stepped to receive the set up to his faint.

Reddings counter strike was flawless but ultimately ineffective as the First realized his mistake and pulled back just in time to deflect Reddings return blow that would have disarmed him.

"He's a loser in case you didn't catch that from his history, he lost on Earth and he lost against Kirk twice, and again against Captain Kheren." Redding moved closer and the Jem'hadar gave ground.

His face gave away no reaction but Redding could tell from his movements he was hesitating. "He WILL lead our people to glory, and will restore our lost honor."

"He can't, you don't seem to understand.. he's programmed to fail, he's nothing more than a memory of the man he was so we could study him." He took a step back but stayed defensive. "He can only fail, it's what he was made to do."

This time the First was obviously agitated. "You are wrong!" and came straight at Redding with a powerful downward thrust.

Turning, Redding went down on one knee and hooked elbows with him and pulling him off his feet, he went over his back to land solidly on the deck, the knife clattered away from his grasp.

Before the Jem'hadar could fully recover Redding was on him, using a wrestling move he had perfected to hold a Vulcan, he pinned the Firsts right arm and pushed his knee into his back, removing any chance of leverage.

"I get it" he said into the struggling mans ear. "Time has finally hunted you down, robbed you of your right.." but the Jem'hadars struggles silenced him for a second. "..Robbed you of an honorable.. worthy death."

Against a younger Jem'hadar Redding didn't think he could have maintained this hold, but the elder one was proving far less of a challenge. "I know how that feels, I really do. there were times I just.. ugh.. times I just wanted to walk into an air lock by 'accident' just so I could get away from feeling so OLD.. so useless.. all the time."

Redding quickly switched his hold so the Jem'hadars head was in a choke hold, it was a less effective hold giving the Jem'hadar a better chance of breaking free. "You fought well, I can end this now if that's what you want." and posited himself to break the Jem'hadars neck. "Or you can live to fight another day, and stop following the lie of a dream a dead man has sold you."

The grey-scaled soldier stopped struggling, his eyes lost in a greyness that seemed to come from deep within him.

"Out here... forgotten by our gods, condemned to endless exile... it is all we have left... if we are to hope for a meaningful death. ''

Redding released him and backed away, but kept himself between the Jem'hadar and his fallen weapon.

"If all you fight for is to die it is to late for honor, I understand this. But did you truly believe Khan could give you a worthy death or did you simply have no other option?" He carefully picked up the Jem'hadars axe keeping his eye on him.

"You have lost to me, your life is now mine, but I offer you a choice. Die here, now with honor." He held the axe in a strike position.

"Or join me and stop Khan from destroying countless innocent lives across the Alpha quadrant before he falls, and risk a truly worthy death." and paused waiting.

Slowly, the burly warrior rose to his feet, his eyes on the equally powerful-looking Human, appreciating his cautious positionning and maintained readiness. He glanced at his fallen comrade, so swiftly and efficiently dispatched by a stocky but diminutive opponent who now covered him as well with his hand weapon and unblinking, attentive stare as well as the access to this room, obviously ready for any sudden enemy reinforcement. To his experienced eyes, it was obvious these people were well-trained and strong of fighting spirit and resolve as of arms. No wonder they proved such worthy adversaries during the war... so, so long ago...

He looked at Redding with a new light in his old eyes.

"For so, so long have we toiled here, exiled from all,  forgotten by all, even our creators... When He came, he gave us purpose again. But serving the will of one being is but an empty cause. The true srenght and honor of a soldier is to fight and die for his whole world. That is why you bested me, you, an inferior being... why you won the war even against the gods. This is what we have seen... "

The First inclined his head but his stare never left Redding's eyes.

"We await your command."

Redding handed the axe back to him with a nod. "It's to late to stop the Nemesis with ground troops, have your men pull back and allow my people to evacuate the Crew of the Polaris back here, tell them that their herding the crew into an ambush." and retrieved his own weapons but separated his rifle into a hand phaser, not trusting the damaged half.

"I understand" The first said with a thoughtful look. "In this way I can order my men to assist your people without the hologram realizing our change of allegiance." He gave it a momentary thought "That's vary clever."

"After we revive your second so he and Graalthrii can greet both Federation and Dominion crews as they come and explain the situation to them, you and I will.." But the first cut him off

"We are no longer of the Dominion, and what of the workers?" He asked with only a slight sign of curiosity.

"What workers? there are other people here? well.. how many workers?" The thought of several dozens of workers scattered through the asteroid filled him with dread.

"There are sixty-four survivors among our original prisoner complement," then told the First. "with the twelve of us last Jem'Hadar who managed to survive the lack of Ketracel White, that makes a total of seventy-six, plus the entire complement of sixty of this vessel."

"That is more than twice the entire capacity of the Polaris," observed Graalthrii as he came up to them with the Second coming around. " Leone is reporting that Tyvya and Jaxon found them all and have hearded them here on the docks for evacuation already, along with the last three Jem'Hadars left as guards... The crew and passengers of the Polaris are on their way here and they alone will fill up the ship. But fortunately, adding their cruiser..."

"No," suddenly interrupted the First, still looking into Redding's eyes. "Your people will never escape his Excellency, now that his ship is powered up again. You will need cover."

The Tellarite grunted something between a laugh and an expletive.

"Spoken like a true brave and stupid soldier! This is a heavy siege destroyer we have out there! This monster is designed and equiped to wipe out a full squadron of bugships like yours on the side while destroying a whole space station! You would never survive a confrontation with it!"

The leader of the Jem'Hadar kept his eyes locked with those of the First officer of the Horizon.

"No, we would not."

Redding opened his mouth to object but closed it instantly. What could he say? After selling the Jem'hadar on a worthy death would he now talk him out of one? The two men locked eyes for several seconds.

"Take what men with you that want to go, the rest are welcomed to join us as honored warriors." and held out his hand to the First.

The First returned the gesture and the two stood there as if they were going to arm wrestle until Redding said. "Don't sell your selves needlessly, once were clear or if you should land a telling blow see to your own safety, there is no shame in regrouping before a superior enemy."

The First gave a nod of agreement "We shall amend of the wrongs we have done to these people and face a worthy death at the hands of a great enemy, it is all we could have hopped for, you have my thanks Redding."

Then without another word the First turned and headed off for his ship.

Graalthrii watched him leave "I don't think the Captain will like that Commander."

"It's not Kheren's choice to make any more than it was mine, I guess it was a good day to die after all." Redding said with a sigh.

"Well, I was sure you were just going to kill him back there anyway, during you 'honor duel' thingy" He busy helping the Second back to his feet.

"Honor duel? what are you talking about?" he looked down at the tellerite. "That was a negotiation from the vary start, we never would have said a word otherwise."

"Then what was that 'good day to die' Klingon jabber about?" He squinted his eyes at him.

Redding chuckled "Everyone gets that wrong, I didn't mean it was a good day to die for me"

The Second was lost at the two federation officers conversation and looked at Redding while obviously disregarding the Tellarite. "I am prepared to follow your orders Commander Redding."

Redding handed him his weapons. "We'll meet the crew and the Jem'hadar warriors headed this way and get them all on board the Polaris, are you sure your people will follow you?"

He took his weapons and stood ready. "They will follow me Commander, or they will attempt to join the first as they decide, I can promise no more."

"I understand." Then with a nod at Graathrii "Bring them aboard Lieutenant" and with that the two officers ran off.

With the returning full crew complement and the added refugees hurriedly coming aboard, the Polaris was becoming cramped fast. Redding and Graalthrii had to elbow their way back to the bridge were there was at least three officers for every station, making the whole command center of the small escort ship barely workable.

As soon as they came in, Moore turned to face the first officer of the Horizon.

"Commander! The Nemesis is launching! and she's arming weapons!"

"He's going to destroy the station... and us along with it!" realized Graalthrii with a growl."