Confronting the Undines-retrieving the captain

 The first Undine to be affected by this wave of psionic energy, aboard the inbound Dreadnought, reeled and staggered under its weight. Undines had no frame of reference for minds outside their own that could speak with such strength, and so affected, they became confused and temporarily lost even to one another.

But the Undine aboard the planet killer only paused as if they had heard whispers around corners, for something about the great ship shielded them from the blunt of the attack. Perhaps it was the entity driving the ship, they could not say; and if so, was it simply reacting in self defense and they along with it? only time might tell. For now, the throng of Undine soldiers continued their trek towards the brain of the immense vessel.

Sisko checked over the sensors reading.

"The Dreadnought is listing, Commander; life signs are normal but their not... doing anything."

Redding squinted at the screen.

"What about the planet killer?"

"No change; the Undines on board are still on the move." Norbert baoule reported after a seconds check.

Redding stood up and joined him.

"Can we beam a party into the planet killer? get a head of them? we need to reach the captain first."

"I don't think so, Commander." the black-skinned scientist said as he brought up a quick display. "They entered through a breach near the aft section. It's the only safe place to enter the ship, with all that energy flowing around it, but even there a transporter would be a death sentence. The annula confimement beam would be scattered... and every atom within it."

Redding voice went grim.

"What if we were to get some transporter enhancers to the beam-in point?"

"Well.. yes, Sir, I suppose that would do it. But how.."

Redding immediately turned and walked to the turbolift.

"You have the bridge, Mister Sisko. Keep an eye on that dreadnought."

As the doors closed on him, Redding pulled a small device out of his hip pouch and started putting it together.

"Transporter room 6," he said to the Lift and it sped on its way. Then he tapped his combadge. "Redding to Major McGregor; is Delta team in position?"

This particular configuration of the MACO unit was so called because of its chosen members having actual training against the Undine.

"Aye, Commander Redding; twelve of my best people are standing by in transporter room 6, as instructed." He almost sounded excited to be called into action. "I do be hoping you have a need of us this time, Sir."

"I'm afraid I do, Major. I'll be there shortly; Redding out."

He finished setting up the device and slipped his memory chip into it.

"Bridge, patch me through to Oseno aboard the Polaris." 

"Go ahead, Commander."

"Jureth, we're preparing to board the the planet killer with Delta squad. I want you to keep your eyes peeled for a transporter signal from Captain Kheren's ship. At least I hope that's him in there..."

The door opened and he quick timed it down the hallway.

"Delta will hold back the Undine assault force as long as they can to buy you and Snowfire time to reach the Captain... but I need to know from you; if the Captain can't be reasoned with... can you do what needs to be done?"

There was no need to explain what he meant.

Aboard the Polaris Oseno was outfitting himself along with T'Lana, and the intelligence specialist Variel Palos in addition to Sergeant Major Pierce and his Marines. Lieutenant Somers and her five-people team of Marines special ops wer also getting ready with cold, swift, silent efficiency.

Alex had been the last one to see the Captain alive... and the one who most deeply felt the responsibility of losing him. She had been there to provide security, especially to safeguard the captain... and she had failed. Now that there was a chance to atone for her a life,s first and greatest failure, she would not miss it. She would even have disobeyed orders or resign her commission if it had been necessary to seize that chance. Fortunately for her career, her current commanding officer understood all too well that her place was there, with the rescue team.

T'Lana for her part was a trained security officer just like Oseno and Palos, Jureth knew, had seen plenty of combat action based on the amount of classified information in his personnel file. Commander Redding's grim question didn't phase the Bajoran though. Perhaps it might have in the past, but his experiences during Operation Horizon and during the maiden voyage of the starship Horizon had hardened him and made him realize that such decisions were part of the job they had all accepted.

"Commander, I've already informed my crew that we will not sacrifice a race of intelligent beings to save one man. The captain would expect no less."

Reddings reply:

Redding entered transporter room 6 to find the large area filled with troops and gear, all waiting near one of the four twenty-two-man transporters used for large scale transports.

"Ah... Commander Redding; it seems we have a bit of a problem with the landing zone," McGregor announced with an annoyed look on his face.

"I'm aware of the problem, Major. I'll handle it," the large man answered as he walked up to their medic. "Give me eighteen Milliliters of cordrazine," he ordered as he removed his uniform top in preparation to putting on a pressure suit.

The medic looked at him and then at the Major.

"You heard the Captain," McGregor grumbled hesitantly. "I didn't figure you ta be the type to juice up before a fight... Sir," he then said to Redding, not really thinking what he was saying.

"I'm going to place the enhancement beacons aboard the planet killer, Major. I'm hoping the cordrazine will keep me alive long enough to finish the job,"

He said it bluntly in a 'not to be argued with' way.

"Commander..." McGregor paused to think about it and then straightened up. "I'll do it, Sir. The Captain belongs on the bridge. If I might be so bold, you don't have the right..."

"Major, I appreciate that, but point of fact is that I'm the best person for this job. Not that I love the work..."  

He tried to give his half smile, but it wasn't very convincing. He looked straight at the big Scotsman's eyes.

"And your right, the Captain belongs in the bridge. I'm going to make sure he gets back to it."

With that, he strapped a frame pack holding four transporter enhancers over his shoulder and picked up two more.

"Besides, I'm sure we'll meet again, Major. And we'll have a drink and talk about it."

He placed an odd visor over his face and activated the device on his hip. Although only ten seconds passed, it seemed like for long minutes he stood there, as every eye in the room was on him. Not a sound was made.

"And now, I won't forget it," he said, handing the device to a near by Ensign. "Make sure that gets to.. whoever.. is captain after I'm gone."

And then, he stood on the transporter platform. The Medic came up and injected the Cordrazine into him and backed up. Redding face twisted slightly and his right hand shook slightly almost immediately. 

"En..Energize.." He forced out... and was gone.

A minute passed before anyone made a sound.

"Did he make it through at all, Ensign?" McGregor said to the transporter officer.

"There... there was a seventeen percent degradation in the signal pattern, Sir... It's possible... I mean, people have lived through worse... for a little while anyway."

He looked on the verge of being sick.

The transporter panel beeped making its operator jump.

"I'm picking up a signal, Sir. No... its a second signal. The first was too weak to pick up until now."

He worked the controls.

"We have a clear signal now, Sir... at your discretion."

Mc gregor almost jumped from where he stood right onto the overlarge transporter pad.

"Wait until were over there then tell the Polaris they can start beaming over."

His men clambered onto the platform.

"Energize," he ordered with a nod.