USS ALSEA: Through the Fire

Captain's Log Stardate 8869.4: The Alsea has successfully entered Klingon space though not without incident. However, thanks to XO Sangliar and Lieutenant Sorripto we have evaded the Klingon vessels which attempted to intercept us. We have now made several jumps and our sensor systems and Pel Drive are functioning as they should. The crew seems to be settling in to their roles and Lieutenant Sorripto has performed admirably. Let this record show that my initial evaluation is that he was the right officer for this assignment. We still have several jumps left before we will be clear of the Klingons, but at this moment it will be a struggle for them to detect us let alone stop us. Somehow I doubt our coming dealings with the Romulans will be as..uneventful.

Jureth looked around the ready room and then closed the terminal as the Alpha shift was due on the bridge and he needed to join them. The CO of the Alsea had risen early precisely to make a log entry and catch up on a few other things that needed doing and had to be done by the captain of the vessel. He strode on the bridge as the ship's senior staff were relieving their overnight counterparts. Oseno walked to the command chair where he was met by Lieutenant Patrick Richter, a junior member of the operations department. 

"Report Lieutenant."

"We remain on course Sir, steady at maximum warp. Our last jump was four hours ago, no other issues to report." 

"Very good Lieutenant, I relieve you."

"I stand relieved Sir." 

The lieutenant came to attention and then walked off toward the turbolift. Jureth seated himself in the command chair and looked around the bridge to make sure everyone was at their stations before speaking.

"All stations...report."

Uncomfortably seated at his exec station, Marksus Sangliar gave a last nod of grudging approval to Sorripto he had placed in charge of the engineering station and grumbled something unintelligible before answering his commanding officer.

"Engines purring, weapons gleaming, sensors quiet, all systems spit and polished... I should have brought my bathing suit... Sir."

Oseno couldn't help but smile at the Tellarite's creative report.

"Well XO, if everything is working I guess that means you haven't spent much time away from the bridge."

"Typical... You think because things go smoothly it's because they do it by themselves. Never forget the Duck."

Hunter could not help but frown and turn slighlty from his helm towards Sangliar.

"The Duck, Sir?"

"You're Human, Helmsman; don't tell me you don't know what a duck is."

"I know what a duck is, Sir; but what relevance has any aquatic fowl to engines and systems working well?"

"The duck exemplifies me and my work, Lieutenant."

"That is?"

"Serene and easy going on the surface, pedaling like mad underneath."

Shaking his head at the humorous exchange, Sorripto chimed in.

"All engineering systems are working at or above peak capacity. The sensor boost continues to give us the advantage we need, and diagnostics show all systems normal."

"Thank you Lieutenant," Oseno replied and then glanced toward the tactical station "Cat?"

"Nothing much on sensors, mostly routine patrols, but they are situated more toward the center of the systems we are passing through If the Klingons are still looking for us they aren't looking very hard...or in the right spot."

"They aren't looking out here because only a mad man would surf the coronas of stars and the atmospheres of planets," Shawn Hunter remarked and then realized what he'd said and looked at Oseno "with all due respect of course Sir."

"Of course Mister Hunter," Jureth replied smiling "I've found that you have to be a bit mad to be a Starfleet officer, it kind of comes with the job, besides it was the XO who charted our course."

"That's right, put the blame on the little guy," Marksus grumbled but with a smile on his dark, porcine face. "But I remind you, Mister Helmsman, that this ship, like all current Starfleet vessels, is equiped with the Laforge 1 metaphasic shielding program. We could fly right through a star's corona without so much as peeling the paint. Fortunately for us, this was originally a Ferengi invention and Klingons are very contemptible of Ferengis. They still can't imagine any ship doing what we are doing... and probably execute their spies for reporting such preposterous information. Lucky us."

Cranning his neck to peer at the navigation screen, he then added:

"Speaking of charted course; we are about to leave Klingon territory for the far side of Federation Space. Patrols should become closer and more numerous in the next hour, Captain Sir. "

"Sensors are operating at 115% capacity sir, and max range has increased. It might be harder to avoid all those extra ships, but we will know where they are." Sorripto added.

"Thank you Mister Sorripto, excellent work," and Jureth looked at his XO "I suppose if we cannot go around them we will have to go through them, run the gauntlet as it were."

"Let's hope this gauntlet of yours doesn't fit too tight," Sangliar grumbled. 

It wasn't the ideal situation, but Oseno knew they might have to do it at some point. Even the most optimistic commanding officer wouldn't have believed he could steer clear of all the Klingons in the Empire. That they had done it this long was a testament to Starfleet engineering and the ingenuity of his own officers. He took some comfort in knowing that the Alsea was likely faster than all but the most current of Klingon warships. 

His chief engineer and XO thought along the same line.

"With your permission, Captain Sir, I will have Engineering reconfigure our warp field as much as possible to get us that extra speed we will need to escape into Federation Space... and use the auxilliary warp cores of section B and C to doubly reinforce our aft shields when they will come nibbling at our heels. That is, unless you're looking for a fight, Captain Sir. It will add to our suvivability but we will not be able to go into full tactical mode."

"We cannot fight, we are the ones breaking the sovereignty of their territory and that alone the diplomats might be able to get them to ignore. If we turn and fight them, however, and possibly destroy their ships and kill their people we will single-handedly launched the Federation into another war with the Klingon Empire. Will you plan completely drain our micro cores? I don't plan on separating the ship now, but we may need them against the Romulans." 

"What do I look like, a dillithium smuggler? There will be no drain at all, Captain Sir; just using the three slighlty different frequencies of each core to make various combinations of diverging signals to confuse their sensors and operators. Separating will always be available, even if slower during the process, but doing so will make us flare out on their scanners like your proverbial Christmas tree; they will know exactly who and what we are and there will be no fooling them again."

Oseno nodded "Very well, make it so. You've got an hour." 

The Tellarite moved out with a huge stare directed at him.

"A captain giving a chief engineer more time than he needs; now I am sure this is a Starfleet first!"

And with that, the turbolift door closed on his wide grin.

Jureth watched the engineer go and could only shake his head. He was still getting used to his XO and while he had become mostly accustomed to the Tellarite's dialog it was still slightly odd for someone who had been taught stern discipline at the academy to have a subordinate with such a disrespectful tone. Jureth suspected that anyone who didn't know better would expect him to throw Sangliar in the brig. Fortunately most Starfleet officers were well acquainted with the major species of the Federation. Oseno glanced around the bridge and his gaze settled on Sorripto. A Bajoran commander with a Cardassian subordinate...there was a time when such a thing would have been unthinkable. Jureth hadn't really had any time to speak to many of the officers as they came aboard so he decided while they had a moment now was as good a time as any. 

"Mister Sorripto, could I have a moment?"

Tapping away tirelessly at a console, Sorripto turned to the Captain while continuing work to run the diagnostic. While an apparent simple act, without actually having buttons being able to work a touch screen without looking showed an impressive knowledge of the station.

"Of course Captain." Sorripto responded, finally stopping work and standing to walk over to the Captain.

"In my ready room if you would.." Oseno led the way to commanding officer's traditional office and tossed a command behind him as he did "Lieutenant Steele, the bridge is yours. Alert me of any issues."

"Aye Sir." Cat replied as she watched her boyfriend lead the Cardassian engineer toward the ready room was that what he was? she wondered...fraternization between subordinates was frowned upon by Starfleet, but they had a relationship the preexisted him being in command..at any rate she supposed the Captain Kheren was married to two of his subordinates so perhaps it wasn't so bad after all. Cat also wondered if he had thought about the same things when he'd taken command of the Alsea.

As the ready room doors closed behind Sorripto Oseno walked behind his desk and sat down offering the chair on the other side to the engineer, and spoke as he did to assuage any anxiety Sorripto may have about being called into the captain's office.

"Please sit down Lieutenant, and let me first say that this meeting isn't disciplinary in nature." 

"I did not think it was Captain". Sorripto said as he took a seat.

"At least, I could not imagine what it could have been for if it had been. But I digress, what can I do for you Sir?"

"I wanted to find out how you were settling in aboard the Alsea, our rather rapid departure didn't allow me the time I would have liked to speak with all of you. Captain Crist spoke very highly of you and your abilities in all of his reports, and I can say that I'm already quite impressed...but don't tell my XO I said so."

Nodding in agreement Sorripto smiled.

"I am a good engineer sir, history cannot take that away from me."

Looking around the room, Sorripto continued.

"When I was sentenced they sent me to the Mars facility for nano technology. In a situation most would find themselves in jail, they sent me right back to work. While I was being, for lack of a better word, punished, I made several developments in nano technology and was even sent to several other places to fix systems and incorporate changes that the fleet is using based on designs I made while stationed on the McKenzie."

Sighing slightly, Sorripto returned to a smile.

"My point is sir, that I never stopped being an engineer or a productive member of Starfleet. But it was not until I got here, and did not have to wear a monitor or report to anyone that I actually felt like part of something again. To answer your question sir, I am settling in quite well."

Oseno nodded "I wasn't aware of the conditions of your sentence, but then I only had access to the unclassified version of things. You can be assured I have no intention to monitor  you any more than I would any other officer under my command. You know, I can think of at least one highly regarded officer who spent time serving a sentence imposed by Starfleet. In fact he saved my life during Operation Horizon, his name is Captain Tom Paris. If you are able to equate yourself as well as he has there is nothing but a bright future for your career if that is what you want. That said I also wanted to ask you about your experience with the Romulans, we will be facing them sooner rather than later and while I have experiences of my own I had the benefit of having Admiral Tomalak aboard last time, so if there is anything you can offer I will gladly take it."

"I am familiar with the story of Tom Paris, I have never had the pleasure of crossing paths with him but as much of an outsider as I was at the Academy I heard his story a few times."

Sorripto sighed slightly and continued.

"You know I guess what really got to them was that I never doubted it. Those who I worked under, those that questioned me and insisted on a sentence and those who still judge me today, it irritates them that I never broke, never faltered and never once regretted what happened. Every single person who served on the McKenzie is alive because of what I did. That fanatical terrorist group is destroyed forever because of what I did. Joseph Sisko is alive because of me. Section 31 is gone because of what I did. Not a single innocent person died, and who knows how many lives were saved or bettered with section 31 out of the picture. I never doubted myself though. I took the punishment, I accepted responsibility and I moved forward. I never once thought to myself, man I should not have done that. I think that is what upset some of the big wigs more than what I actually did."

Trailing off in thought for a moment Sorripto composed himself.

"Sorry Captain, I trailed off for a moment there. For the Romulans, when we encounter their ships, I can help with the technology. Much of the current Romulan ships are retrofitted using technology similar to what the Obsidian order used to keep the Galor class in service for so long. I am not overly familiar with their politics however, and I am not much of a diplomat. I can give us every technological advantage we need though."

Oseno nodded "I suspect that there are many who may have taken the same actions you did given the situation. Would I have done so? I like to believe I would, Bajorans are nothing if not persistent and stubborn. Federation and Starfleet history is full of stories of individuals who took extraordinary measures in extreme situations. The Federation reveres James Kirk and there were rules created because of some of his exploits. If everyone stuck to the rule book all the time the Federation would have ceased to exist several times over I think. That said I will take any advantage I can get over the Romulans be it technological or otherwise. They certainly won't hesitate to look for one so neither will we, short of starting a war at any rate."

Sorripto simply smiled and began to stand.

"My best friend is Bajoran you know. You want to talk about sticking to rules, if I stuck to the rules I would never have joined Starfleet."

At that moment Lieutenant Steele's voice rang out from Oseno's communicator

"Bridge to Captain Oseno."

"Go ahead Lieutenant."

"Sir, we are approaching our breakout point."

"Understood Lieutenant, I will be there shortly, Oseno out."

Jureth looked over at Sorripto sitting in front of him. "It seems it's time to test our technological advantage over the Klingons again. I hope our XO has been busy. If you have nothing else to add Lieutenant you may return to your station." 

"Aye sir."

Sorripto turned and exited the room, heading towards the bridge.

Jureth followed the engineer moments later and headed for the command chair. 

"Report," he ordered

"We are on course and fifteen minutes away from the designated breakout point." Cat Steele reported

"Sensor contacts?" 

"Multiple klingon vessels of various classes.  half a dozen Birds of Prey, 2 Vor'cha Class attack cruisers, and at least one Negh'var battle cruiser that we can detect. No telling what else might be out there cloaked"

"What do reports from the starships in this area say about their normal presence? Is this because of us?"

Cat, now back at her tactical station entered several commands into the console. "Reports from U.S.S. Midway indicate at least this much presence. I would wager the Klingons don't want to look weak in front of the Federation."

"Is there a point where they are spread thin?" 

With the push of a button Cat transferred her tactical map to the Alsea's viewer "Here," she said and highlighted a spot that appeared to be between the two groups of Birds of Prey. We are faster and better shielded than those ships. We should be able to out run them to the border and once we are on the Federation side all they can do is growl about it." 

"What if they decide to follow us?" Shawn Hunter asked

"If they follow we will make best speed for the closest starbase, but the Klingons aren't in any more condition to fight a war than the Federation is. If our XO has been as busy as I think we should have some additional speed to work with as well. Plot the course Mister Hunter, Yellow Alert, shields up!"

"Aye Sir, Shield up, weapons online and charging." Cat replied

Jureth keyed the intercom on the command chair "XO to the bridge."

As if by magic, the turbolift doors wooshed open and out stepped the stout, dark, hary and heavily bearded Tellarite.

"You rang?"

His rolling gait brought him in a few moments, although many strides, to the chair beside the captain's. One look at the last tactical display data catherine Steele had been showing to Oseno and he smiled broadly.

"We've managed to tweak our warp field a few degrees more so that, at least for a few hours, we will be as fast as an Intrepid class; faster than anything the Klingons can throw at us. And we altered the warp signature of each of our cores and activated them to boost and ease the main one. When they will spot us, they will think that we are a task force of three heavy cruisers making a run for the border. If those six Birds of Prey captains still  wish for a fight, they will surely think to keep the glory for themselves and try to get at us without calling for reinforcements. And if they do catch us, we will have enough power to stay at maximum warp with shields boosted at a hundred and ten percent and phasers at one hundred percent power output." 

He clasped his thick hands accross his round belly.

"No need to thank my crew and me for doing our job. But you may applaud if you wish."

Jureth offered only a wry smile at his XO "Good work...Mister Hunter...punch it." 

"Aye Captain, changing course for the border."

***

As the Alesea broke from her cover alarm klaxons screamed aboard the warships of the Klingon Empire. Aboard the Bird of Prey IKS Qul'Jev the captain did not need his tactical officer to tell what the alarm meant.

"Where is the enemy?"

"They just appeared on my scope Captain, they must have been hiding under cover of the nearby planets. Three Federation ships, cruiser class, moving at high warp toward the border!

"Spies!" the captain exclaimed "Set an intercept course, order the other wings to follow and alert Colonel Shach."

"Aye Sir,"

"Captain," spoke up the comm officer "We are receiving a transmission from Captain Lugh, he says the Federation PetaQ are his prey and you are to stand down."

"WHAT! You tell that miserable excuse for an officer that we will be taking down the Starfleet cowards not his worthless squad!"

***

At the Alsea's tactical station Cat Steele monitored the movements of the Klingon fleet, and also their communications.

"Captain, you're not going to believe this."

"What is it Lieutenant?'

"The Klingons have detected us...but they're...they're fighting over who gets to intercept us. They're not even using coded channels, Sir," 

Jureth had to stifle a laugh.

"Keep up the speed Mister Hunter." 

"Aye, Sir."

Sangliar himself smiled only for a brief moment before lowering his dark hairy head towards Cat Steele.

"Keep shields up and sensors sharp. While these squabble, there might be a sly one creeping towards us under cloak already accross our path."

***

The Alsea's Tellarite XO was more right than he probably would have preferred to know. As the two squadron leaders, both relatively new to command, continued to argue over who was to claim the glory of intercepting the Federation vessels the Klingon fleet's veteran commander was moving his Negh'var class battle cruiser into the gap the Alsea hoped to exploit. 

"PetaQs" the aged Klingon muttered under his breath as his ship maneuvered into position. What had he done, he wondered to be cursed with such incompetence. "Tactical, report!" he barked at his tactical officer.

"We are almost directly across their path Sir. I have refined the sensors and as you had predicted we are now registering only one lone Federation starship. Prometheus class Sir..a warship."

"I am familiar with the class Lieutenant," the captain replied curtly "what I want to know is what are they doing here."

"It is an invasion!" the first officer replied. 

The commander shook his head slightly before replying "No...if the Federation was launching an invasion they would send more than just one ship, time to intercept?"

"Ten minutes Sir." 

The captain stroked his brown beard which was mixed now with white "Let us see what they do, disengage cloak, battle stations!"

***

The Alsea's tactical station beeped urgently at Cat Steele who reacted as quickly as she could to the new contact.

"Conn, tactical, new contact! Klingon vessel decloaking, Negh'var Class, in a direct position to intercept us!"

"Seems you were right XO," Oseno replied acknowledging the report "time to contact."

"8 minutes Captain," Cat replied "but I don't understand why they revealed themselves so early. They could have stayed cloaked until we were almost on top of them." 

"Testing us.." Oseno replied

"Sir?" 

"He's testing us Cat, wants to see what we'll do. Will we communicate? Will we continue to run? Will we attack? He doesn't know why we're here and wants us to declare our intentions. Options? XO?"

Sangliar blinked in his chair. twice.

"Klingons not attacking like a pack of rabid dogs? Within their territory? Now that is a galactic first!"

The Tellarite took another moment to grasp the situation before continuing.

"Have a care, Captain. This Klingon commander is either very intelligent, very sly or very experienced... maybe all three, like this legendary Kang of theirs. And he may have sound people as well to counsel him. He might have guessed that we were only trying to fly by, since we are alone, flying on the edge of their empire without active long range sensors or weapons armed and disguising ourselves to avoid a fight. Contrary to his brethen, he might have sumrized that we are not here for them, because neither them nor the federation are ready for a war."

He grunted and crossed his arms. 

"I recommend with follow the rules; bring us about to a parallel course and speed with them outside of weapons range and open a hail. Let's tell them why we are violating their space. He might beleive us... or he might not... or he might not care. If he allows us to go, fine. But if he attacks or tries to lure us deeper into their space for a possible ambush, we should make a break for the frontier. We're faster than they are. And our shields should hold long enough."

He grunted again.

"Just don't ask me to do the talking."

Oseno nodded in agreement, "Make it so Mister Hunter." 

"Aye Sir," 

The Alsea slowed her headlong rush for the Klingon/Federation border and Hunter deftly maneuvered the powerful Federation ship in parallel with the Klingon vessel. The two adversaries were thus matched as Oseno rose from the command chair. 

"Cat, a channel if you would." 

"Open Sir."

"Klingon vessel, this is Captain Oseno Jureth of the Federation starship USS Alsea." 

"They are responding," Cat reported

"On Screen."

The image of the Klingon commander appeared on the Alsea's viewer and it was one that Oseno remembered well. He'd first seen it as a young security officer accompanying Admiral Redding from the USS Lotus. 

"So," the Klingon said through stern features "the Cha'ditch is once again in Klingon space without an invitation."

"Captain Jarrod," Jureth stated

"General," Jarrod said correcting the Bajoran "you have a great deal to answer for Captain, and this time there is no Redding and no Undine to stop me from destroying you." 

"Congratulations on your promotion ," Oseno said calmly " but you and I both know that if you were going to attack me we wouldn't be having this conversation."

"Perhaps," Jarrod said matching Jureth's demeanor "or perhaps I  wish to hear you explain yourself before I turn your ship into wreckage. Now tell me before I lose my patience why a lone Federation starship is violating Klingon space." 

"The details are classified," Oseno said "but suffice to say our destination is not anywhere in the territory of the Klingon Empire." 

Jarrod grunted "Do not play games with me Captain Oseno. You expect me to believe you are merely passing through?"

"That is the truth Jarrod." 

The viewer suddenly went blank and Jureth looked at Cat.

"He's closed the channel Sir. Also, I've received a coded message from USS Midway on the Federation side of the border. They wish to know if we require assistance." 

"Tell the Midway to stand down, no assistance is required at this time and under no circumstances are they to cross the border. I'm trying to avoid a war, not start one." 

"Aye Sir."

"Now...what is he doing.." Jureth mused aloud.

"My guess is... waiting to see what you will do," Sangliar suggested. "He must be aware of the Midway nearby and probably intercepted her transmission and ours. If I know my Klingons, he will cloak to intice you to act, then act himself accordingly... most probably helped by an escort wing of Birds of Preys already in hiding and watching us with weapons armed under manual targeting and passive sensors only to avoid detection. If we make any hostile move or any action disproving what you told him..."

The Tellarite finished by sliding one of his own thick fingers accross his own throat.

Jureth nodded at his XO and contemplated for a moment the situation before issuing his orders. One wrong move, or perceived wrong move and the Bajoran knew Jarrod would not hesitate to attack with whatever assets he had available. 

"Mister Hunter...resume your course for the Federation border. Remain at yellow alert."

"Aye Sir, resuming previous course."

As the Alsea began to move away from the Klingon vessel Mikaela Sirus standing silently at the science station took note of the readings from the ship's sensors. There were several large pockets of neutrino emissions that indicated the presence of cloaked vessels near by and she said as much to the captain.

"Sir, sensors read several large neutrino emission profiles near by, consistent with Klingon cloaking devices." 

Jureth nodded "I would expect as much. Jarrod is an intelligent commander. Cat, any other movement?" 

"No Sir, they don't appear to be trying to stop us." 

The tactical console beeped at her and she acknowledged it before reporting "I'm receiving a message Sir, from General Jarrod, audio only."

"Play it." 

"Yes Sir." 

With a tap on the console the Klingon's voice filled the bridge.

"Fortunately for you Cha'ditch, I am inclined to believe you...this time. Do not let me catch you in Klingon space again Captain, and give my regards to Admiral Redding. Jarrod out."

Oseno tried not to show his relief at the Klingon's uncharacteristic action. Perhaps Jarrod was gaining wisdom with age, perhaps he was afraid of another Undine reprisal, or perhaps the reputation of Redding had saved Jureth again. He didn't know for sure, but in the end it didn't matter the Alsea had resumed her course and with that he issued another command to his helmsman.

"Mister Hunter, set course for Romulan space as soon as we cross the border."

"Lucky for us you have friends in high places, Captain Sir," Marksus said with a wry tone and a crooked grin.

If he was speaking of Admiral Redding or General Jarrod, or both, no one could really tell. Then he became serious again.

"I hope the captain of the Midway will not start imagining things... and that you have the same nice connections in the Romulan navy when they will find us in their space."

"I have a feeling that could be decidedly more rocky. I will be in my ready room. XO you have the bridge." 

"Aye, Sir."

It was without incident that the Alsea crossed the Klingon border to have the USS Midway fall into formation with it in order to escort her all the way to Starbase 123, about ten light years away from the border. From there, after a short rest and ressuply, it would be twice that distance back towards the center of the galaxy towards where ended the Neutral Zone, into unclaimed space that lead directly into the Romulan Star Empire.

Looking at this planned route waiting for them, the thick finger of Sangliar's furry hand tapped that region the holomap displayed before him.

"That,s where the fun will begin," he grumbled to no one in particular.