To Dare Cross the River Styx.

U.S.S. Achilles. Personal Log; Acting Captain Commander David Rogers. Star Date: 88821.7

As per the plan worked out by our group, I have crossed Federation space and entered the Azimuth Horizon anomaly. It almost seems like only a couple weeks since I was fighting to contain this menace from destroying the galaxy. We kept the Achilles under the warp five threshold in order to approach the anomaly, and entered from a probable vector opposite from what, as determined by our illustrious group of convicts, would most likely be the patrol area of Lotus Fleet's Wisconsin. The tricky part with that is, Captain Onia was very adept at being in the right place at the wrong time.

 

End log.

 

 

 

Rogers sat back in the bridge chair and thought further about the Wisconsin. Her patrol, ostensibly, was to guard the anomaly from foreign interference. Namely the Horizon's Children, if  any remained. But the Romulan and Klingon empire had also shown somewhat nefarious interest in the Azimuth Horizon. The Wisconsin, under Onia's capable command, was well suited to this patrol.

And another Deltan thorn in my side if I let the Achilles be spotted in this anomaly, David thought  grimly. His many verbal sparring jousts with Nasaro-Myth brought a smirk to his face. And just as quickly the smirk disappeared. Captain Onia was no doctor, but a highly competent Lotus Fleet captain. He had best not underestimate her.

The trip from the barrier to the Horizon anomaly had been about getting the Achilles into top shape for anything Lotus Fleet, or the Federation itself, could throw at her. Thus the two engineers had poured over every system and tweaked every bolt and nut to get the vessel ship-shape. As part of that diligence, Sangliar and himself had re-installed Admiral Redding's program back into all the computer cores, installed more holographic transmitters throughout the ship and even made the battle bridge a sort of office for the soon to be restored Redding personae. David hoped that these tweaks would allow for a holographic person to be able to get anywhere as instantly needed by the Achilles. Turning his attention back to the bridge, Rogers touched the intercom icon on the command chair.

 "Bridge to engineering! Mister Sangliar, I think we can let our Admiral out of his bottle now."

As usual there was a grumble and snort before the gruff voice of the Tellarite became intelligible.

''Great; now we'll have and admiral breathing down our necks. And a synthetic one at that. Don't ever say I didn't warn you. So, where do you want his majesty to make his entrance?''

Rogers gave a few seconds pause before answering the gruff shipmate's question and then, with a small grin to himself, gave his reply.

"Why, where every admiral wants to check first when inspecting of course. Main engineering!"

''Of course; the only place properly managed on a starship; where he will have the least to do. Alright, here goes.''

There was a moment of silence before the comm activated again. The voice that came on was remarkably different; deep, clear, measured, but with that tone of command present even in the most mundane word speaking of decades of leadership; and no small amount of self-confidence. And there was no fluff at all in the wording.

''Redding here; permission to come to the bridge, Acting Captain Rogers.

It was a request; yet, it didn't sound like one.

David responded promptly to Redding's request.

"Of course Admiral. I just thought that ..."

 The subdued flash of the holograph projectors produced Admiral Redding onto the bridge, merely three feet from Rogers where he sat in the command chair. Only slightly taken aback at the rapidity of the holographic transfer system David, with a small sweeping gesture to indicate the entire bridge, gave the Admiral a quick smile and offered his apology.

"Sorry Admiral. I wanted time to tidy up around here first. Welcome back to the Achilles!"

''Feels like I never left,'' came the reply with a crooked grin. Then he sobered up quickly. '' I have reviewed the files about the cadet cruise that started this whole mess and those of your extragalactic actions; and why we are in the here and now. Well played out there by the way. Roguish yet by-the-book, unorthodox yet  true to Starfleet's ideals. I like that.''

As he spoke, the holographic admiral changed his outfit to that of a commander and stepped towards the tactical station right besides that of the helm. Several duplicates of himself  appeared at the various main stations around the bridge, all wearing an Ensign's pip on their collar. he alone however spoke directly to the command chair.

'' So, although your status is far from being, let's say official, neither is mine. You are therefore in command of this ship; and I shall serve as your crew.''

That's when the door of the turbolift swished open to admit Marksus Sangliar and his growling voice.

''Ain't we the lucky ones; with all due respect, Admiral Redding Sir. And look who's going to have to steer this boat.''

With some unintelligible Tellarite epithet, Sangliar slid in the chair besides Redding and took control of the helm. That's when some alarms sounded and lights flashed.

''Hey I didn't touch anything yet!''

Redding remained deadpan, eyes to his monitor.

''But something touched our tactical grid, Commander, as we have extended it earlier;  so they have not detected us... yet. Distance fifty billion kilometers port bow; registering as Federation Nebula class vessel, tactical configuration; USS Wisconsin.''

Sangliar threw up his small thick-fingered hands up.

'' We'll soon see if that trick of yours works. Lucky for us I had time to make my modifications to the engines; or else, we would be dead in space right now slushing through this subatomic mud bath. Remember that all Lotus Fleet ships carry those same modifications. I know, I did them myself too on the Wisconsin.''

"Redding! Bring shields to maximum and commence broadcast. Commander, take us through!"

Rogers, occupying the center command seat on the Achilles' main bridge, tapped a few keys on his chair's arm console and brought his gaze back to the main view screen. The slightly menacing swirl of the gaseous anomaly blocked out even the nearest stars of the entire Hromi sector. Peering down to Commander Sangliar's con screen, David could perceive the Tellarite's frustration at having to creep the ship blindly through this soup in order to come up on the Wisconsin abaft her. A muted ping came whispering past Sangliar and a green dot flashed briefly on Redding's screen; mirrored abruptly on the main viewscreen. Captain Onia's ship was fifteen thousand meters in front of the Achille's now.

Thirty thousand meters from the Wisconsin, off her starboard beam, the small class 8 probe launched two hours before received Admiral Redding's command and came to life. Heavily modified, the probe dropped to sub-light speed and began its SOS transmission. At the same time that it dropped from warp the impulse engine began souring its fuel exhaust, emitting the near identical signature of the Alsea. On board the Wisconsin, they would hear the very, very faint cry of help coming from what should appear, in the fog of the anomaly, as the USS Alsea, crippled and limping blindly.

David hoped this distraction would allow the Achilles to approach the Wisconsin from the rear and he could be too close for her to respond tactically. If need be, he could ensnare Onia's ship with his powerful tractor beams, but David hoped the sheer surprise of encountering the Achilles here in the Hromi sector would give him the advantage in dialogue. Dialogue that must be started if the plans of the group were to proceed relatively unhindered, at least from the Wisconsin.

"Ready con! As soon as she moves toward the decoy, make your warp jump. Two thousand meters off her bow."

''Jump indeed; the moment we will activate the warp engine, the warp bubble will collapse inside the anomaly. Two thousand meters in front of her will be the wildest stroke of...''

'There! Now!'' shouted Redding as his tactical sensor got a flicker through the distorsion.

There was the expected hum of the warp engines and then it faltered. For a brief moment there was a strange concavity visible in the colored haze on the screen, and then it disappeared, leaving before their eyes the half-veiled saucer of a starship with two short, thick nacelles under it's stern and a triangular pod on top, bristling with torpedo ports. Then came a slightly echo-distorted audio signal through the speakers. The voice was definitely feminine; and stern.

- Unindentified vessel; this is Captain Onia of the Federation starship Wisconsin. You are trespassing within a restricted area. Identify yourself and your intentions.''

"Commander, get a file ready for transmission. Send a record of all sabotage from the Alsea that we uncovered, and include possible fixes if they have any sabotage like we found."

Rogers gave the Tellarite a few seconds to compile the file then addressed Redding.

"Hail the Wisconsin if you please Admiral. Code 47; Audio only."

David wanted only the captain to hear and see his information, and also to bypass any nefarious eavesdropping breach that may or may not be present on the ship. It was highly possible the Wisconsin had been compromised like the Alsea was. A small double chirp from the speakers and Redding nodded noncommitally at Rogers to indicate the channel was open. David thought quickly. This could go south very fast.

"Wisconsin, this is the Federation starship Achilles. Standby for ultra-secure transmission."

Rogers nodded to Sangliar to commence the file transfer, then added sincerely.

"I will await your response. Achilles out."

The channel was not even closed that a response blared through the comm system.

''USS Achilles; your transponder code has been read and confirmed. You will cut engine and keep a stationary position at present coordinates. You will not initiate scans of any kind or activate systems other than life support and ship operations. You will not make any further transmission but keep this channel open at all times. Any attempt to violate these directives will be considered a hostile act and answered accordingly. Confirm compliance, Achilles.''

 "Favdt!", David swore, to no one in particular. 'Guess its going to be the hard way or no way,' Rogers thought dejectedly. Glancing around, David voiced a query to the room in general.

"Any thoughts people, before I raise shields and vacate the area? I certainly cannot fire on the Wisconsin!"

Redding turned towars him.

''Doing will so will draw an immediate pursuit; and I guess not only the Wisconsin but any available ship in the area. The Achilles is a heavy siege destroyer; it was made to destroy space facilties... like Starbase Lotus. She was known to harbor a hostile artificial entity; and now possibly allied to a wanted renegade, as they will undoubtebly get from the files you sent. ''

His trademark smirk lighted his stern face.

“But if your intent is to draw their attention away from the others, you have here the perfect opportunity. I would then suggest maximum warp towards the Klingon Empire. That will make them especially nervous. ''

"Well, there were not any detected ships in the area before entering the anomaly", David replied, thinking outloud. "And since initiating a scan to ascertain anything else in or near this soup would invite a response from Captain Onia, I suppose the options are limited to compliance or, as you suggest Admiral, distance."

For a brief second David considered the options, then address his defacto helm officer.

"Helm, prepare to bring us about. Enable the second impulse systems. Plot a course for the Klingon border, but give us an arc trajectory toward our probe first."

Glancing back at Redding, Rogers continued.

"Shields to maximum if you please Admiral. Shunt life support from everywhere else but the bridge toward aft shields. Enable the phallanx micro torpedo tubes for point defense against incoming torpedo fire."

Redding smirked again.

''Aknowledged. You got balls, Captain Rogers; I like that.''

Facing Sangliar again David ordered the ship underway. "Punch it."

The Achilles veered off and shot out of the anomaly area like a torpedo. The Wisconsin was not taken by surprise however. It's tractor beam shot out but would not hold a ship as massive and as powerful as the Achilles with all engines beefed and fired up. The Nebula class cruiser immediately engaged pursuit; and it's targeting scanners.

Onia's voice blared again through the speakers.

''USS Achilles; stand down or we will open fire. This is your only warning!''

Redding snorted.

''Wisconsin is sending out a sector-wide alarm, calling for all ships to converge on her position. She says they are detecting two unknown ships in their vicinity. Seems our little decoy is doing its work. She will be torn between us and what she beleive is the actual rebel ship.''

he smirked again but there was no joy in the expression.

''I doubt anyone but us has received it because of the local interference; yet. Onia is following Starfleet's rules of engagement to the letter. She is targeting our engines first to bring us to a halt. Then our weapons systems if we open fire. Then our shields to board us and take control of our systems. Her scans must have shown her there is barely any life aboard. And so...''

He suddenly frowned at his console readouts.

''There is another ship in the area, closing fast on the anomaly; heavy cruiser, coming at warp 9, powerful sensors in a very peculiar configuration scanning on all fields and spectrums. I read... Avenger class; USS Phoenix.''

The face of the hologram suddenly shifted from smirk to frown, looking again at his console.

''I just followed the Phoenix trajectory projection. It coincides with another signal I'm starting to pick up as we get away from the interference; quite faint, much garbled by the anomaly... but definitely a distress signal."

The source of the distress signal attempted communications, but the static lasted only a moment and then nothing.

As the silence on the bridge became almost deafening, Redding turned toward the center chair.

''Orders, Captain?''

Rogers contemplated the developments. Syntron was too far out to be of any help talking Captain Onia down. Not that he could contact the Phoenix anyway, with this self-imposed comms silence invoked. The false Alsea probe was obviously working, but, apparently, not as intended. And now a second distress call? 'What the hell is going on out there?', David thought silently. But, more action was needed, and the Wisconsin was keeping pace. Perhaps force a choice on the Wisconsin? This other distress signal? David made a decision.

"Helm, come about. Full impulse for the new signal. Lets see if Captain Onia can keep up within yonder maelstrom!"

The Achilles abruptly came hard about, turning rapidly within the arc of the nebula's turn radius, and gaining hundreds of meters in the process. The Wisconsin could match the Achille's at warp, but not at impulse speed. Not with both of her impulse drives running full tilt. The nimbler siege destroyer shot into the the outer edge of the anomaly and veered toward the new distress signal.

The distress signal again attempted communication, and this time a garbled message came through.

“Starfleet vessel… engine… failure… shuttlepod systems offline…Captain…Captain Riker…”

The emergency signal was coming from Captain Riker’s shuttlepod. Despite the upgrades the smaller shuttle was no match for a nebula. Seeing the ships Riker again attempted communication, but was cut off by the orange glow of phaser fire.

Two phaser shots flared at the Achilles' flanks, grazing it's shields. Redding grinned looking at his monitor.

''Shots accross the bow. Wisconsin is falling back but trying to pursue. Onia is hailing the Phoenix to answer the Alsea signal. She will next demand our surrender, then target our engines and ready tractor beams.''

Sure enough, the comm came alive with a short burst of anomaly static that blurred the screen, preventing any visual communication. Onia's beautiful voice was stern.

''Achilles; you will come to a dead stop, lower your shields and prepare to be boarded. This is your final warning.''

From the engineering station, Sangliar snorted.

''She thinks that we try to hide in the anomaly; that she will catch us easy. She thinks this old design lacks a Syntron Space Sonar, metaphasic shielding or my very own impulse engine modifications. If she only knew that I AM here... or that YOU are here, the greatest starship thief in this part of the universe...''

As the ships were nearly on top of each other, and the interference gone, Riker sent a message to the Achilles.

“This is Captain Riker. I was going to request assistance, but you are clearly busy. I’ll wait.”

There was a burst of static on the speakers but Redding's computreized copy of the actual Admiral managed to sipher through some of it.

'' Transmission from the point of the distress signal, Captain. It's garbled by the anomaly so there is a 95.3% chance the Wisconsin did not receive it. Even here, I could only make out the name ''Riker'' out of it. Since Admiral Riker is retired and Captain Joshua Riker is currently serving on the USS McKenzie, there is a 4.7% chance that this is from wanted criminal Thomas Riker, last associated with the Maquis Resistance a quarter of a century ago... and 57.3% chance that this is a trap. ''

Sangliar grunted.

''And if it's not, there is a human in danger out there. Hope the first law of robotics is not deleted within your program. I wouldn't put that past organic Admiral Redding.''

The holographic officer smirked.

'' I am considering the two organic lives on board this ship; and my synthetic one. The needs of the many...''

The Tellarite grunted again, glancing at Rogers.

  Rogers returned the gruff Tellarite's stare with a bemused quip.

"What was it they used to say on Earth? 'It never rains but it pours!''

Sangliar smirked.

''Now you remind me of home; to gaze at the stars between the clouds, soaking in a good, warm mud bath...''

David pulled himself up straighter in the command chair and then looked across to the Admiral Redding hologram and posed another scenario.

"If this IS Riker of the McKenzie, which was supposedly out this way somewhere, then the possibility arises that Captain Riker is indeed in trouble. So, despite the current circumstance of Captain Onia to our rear, we must aid this distress call."

Moving his gaze back to his engineering counterpart at the helm, David sighed and continued.

"Well, old friend. Shall we jump out of the frying pan?"

Not giving Sangliar a moment to respond, Rogers ordered a change.

"All stop! Negative five thousand meters Zed axis. Lets see how good Captain Onia is at three dimensional chess shall we."

Having decided, David addressed Redding again.

"Try to raise Riker on a narrow band and ascertain his position relative to our new position."

Redding sighed.

''In this ... mud bath?''

Sangliar snorted back.

''Reconfigure the Syntron emitter program to target the source of the distress call and use it to transmit the comm signal. It will ping the hull of whatever he is in. It will ring his ears for sure but he will hear you; LOUD and clear. And if he replies fast enough, the signal bouncing back will carry his reply to us just as good in this... mud.''

He glanced back at Rogers.

''Yeah yeah I know; I'm a genius.''

This time it was Rogers who didn't have time to retort. Redding was showing his tactical readout again on the main screen, analysing what was displayed there.

''Wisconsin is flying fast past us, just overhead; but her scanners are making a globular sweep and she's launching a swarm of probes. She was the Academy's threedee chess champion of her graduating year. Quite good at strategema too.''

"Well then," David interjected after Reddings assessment; "Ready point defense phaser's and target their probes. Helm, get ready to punch it if the Wisconsin finds us. Otherwise, hold steady until we find Riker's position and range."

''Emergency impulse ready at your command, Sir, '' announced the holographic helmsman.

The view on the screen stayed unchanging as the silhouette of the nebula class starship swirved behind clouds of orange particles laces with flashes. But several colored markers highlighted the probes spreading every which way.

''Targets locked,'' Confirmed Redding.

Riker could barely make out the large ship in the distance and the numerous probes surrounding his shuttlepod.

The Wisconsin disappeared from view. But several of the probes tilted towards them. At Rogers' command, the numerous phasers of the Achilles blasted them to oblivion.

A volley of phaser fire almost instantly retaliated from behind a curtain of gases and hit the siege destroyer amidships. The impact shook them up all the way to the bridge, but the lights didn't even flicker. Sangliar reported with a grunt.

''Minor damage to outer hull plating. Without the thick covering of this warship design, we would have quite a hull breach.''

Redding added his own observations. he was not smirking anymore.

''Wisconsin was waiting for our own fire to pinpoint it's source. Lucky for us this anomaly prevents them from making precise firing solutions. And she's launching another swarm. With that big pod of hers, she must have a LOT of them to play at chipping away our peel.''

He sighed with relief when he noticed the distance growing fast between them and the new group of probes deploying in their wake. The jump to emergency impulse had been hidden by the impact of the riposte. But now, they were starting to experience the weird effect of time dilation. Everyone and everything was covered in a haze of iridescent colors, their voices slowed and muffled with eerie echoes. 

But it did not hide the concern in the holographic admiral's voice.

''Detecting an object  in our path, right at the source of the distress signal. By mass, size, configuration and power output, it's an escape pod. Cannot confirm any lifesigns.''

David thought fast. 'Escape pod! What the flavd is it doing alone out in this mess?' But they were committed to investigate. He asked for more data. David spoke quickly, to both Redding and Sangliar.

"Get as close as you can. I doubt this environment will allow transporter lock, but try anyway. Try to confirm the pod's identity? Is it from the McKenzie?"

Redding shrugged.

''The distress signal does carry the McKenzie's ID code; and she's assigned to patrol the Organian Peace Treaty Zone, the closest assignment area to that of the Azimuth Horizon one. But then again, any trap worth it's cheese would use that. There is no starship debris in the area and no other pod either. Distance, five hundred thousand kilometers and closing; ETA  six point six seconds. Still no clear indication of lifesign.''

Sangliar then gave his own assessment.

''Coming into transporter range; I'm overcharging the annular confinement beam to pierce this mudbath but I might burn the circuits in the process. Picking up organic compounds inside the pod but could be as much a sandwich as a lifeform. And there is forty-seven percent chance of a fifty-three percent signal degradation if we attempt transport. I recommend instead using a tractor beam to bring the whole contraption aboard... and whatever is inside.''

Redding then interjected.

''Tactical sensors are registering a considerable mass moving towards our position. Must be the Wisconsin. She must have picked up the distress beacon as well.''

"Alright!", David spoke out immediately after Reddings revelation. "If Onia is closing,she is likely getting a bit miffed by now. Helm, bring us about and tractor that shuttle into the bay, then get us out of here. Make for our little Alsea probe. We should find a bearing on the Phoenix once we clear this soup."

David leaned back into his seat again and thought of the Wisconsin. While he could outrun that ship on impulse once outside the Azimuth Horizon sphere of influence, once clear David was sure the Achille's would out match the Nebula's 9.97 maximum warp. Bringing his attention back to the bridge, David reminded the Tellarite of a further thought.

"We had better erect level 10 force fields around that shuttle once she's aboard and secured, okay?"

''We better,'' agreed Sangliar, his thick fingers deftly working on his panel. ''There may be a bomb in that thing for all that we know. .

''Course plotted and laid in. Shuttlebay 1 secured for retrieval.''

At this point Riker’s shuttlepod was barely maneuverable, and he could only watch as the Achilles turned and took his shuttlepod inside. Riker settled the shuttlepod down and saw the familiar glow of a forcefield. Clearly all of his communications were not received.

The Tellarite followed the holo-admiral.

''Target locked; secured in shuttlebay 1.''

Redding also moved his hands over his controls.

''Emergency impulse on my mark... mark!''

Again, the shark-shaped starship jumped forward, deeper into the swirling masses of gases and discharges. Redding reported without raising eyes from his readouts, image and voice again blurred by the dilation effect of near lightspeed velocity in Einsteinian space.

''ETA with decoy, four point seven minutes, present speed. Wisconsin is taking up the chase, matching our speed, trying to make a target lock on us.''

As they knifed into the anomaly, huge shadowy masses could be glimpsed between clouds of orange dust and gold and white lightning bolts. Sangliar grunted, in the weird conditions they were once again  experiencing at near light speed within Einsteinian space, soundng like som emormous beast.

''I forgot this monstrosity once gobbled up entire star systems, turning stars and planets to burnt rubble. Being the only masses and gravitational fields in here, it's a miracle that pod was not crushed between them; and what is inside. Internal sensors read one lifesign; human.''

Rogers thought rapidly for a moment. None of them could be spared right now to go to the shuttle bay and release Riker, if it was indeed him in the shuttle. The immediate problem was the Wisconsin and this nebulous soup. And the fact that emergency impulse was playing havok with their senses. David thought of a ruse to try.

"Redding, as soon as you can establish contact with our probe, bring it toward us at maximum impulse; right at our nose. Sangliar, at the last possible moment, slip the Achille's out of the probe path and back again onto the original flight path. Maybe the Wisconsin will see it as the Alsea barreling toward her and Onia will have to veer away."

David was confident that Redding and Sangliar could manage the quick and deft maneuvering of the probe and Achille's so that it would look like, from the Wisconsin's point of reference, the Alsea was ramming down their throats. And if they didn't veer away, the probe would impact against the Wisconsin's deflectors with little effect.

Without looking at one another, both the Tellarite engineer and the artificial life form grinned as their fingers flew over their controls. Then they exchanged a glance and a nod and, as the decoy loomed into view on the screen right out of a golden ornage fog, it looked as if it shot right overhead. Redding then chuckled.

''Wisconsin is veering off course and trying to get some distance between her and our ''suicide starship.'' Lost her on my sensors; meaning she must have lost us as well.''

Sangliar snorted.

''When you fear the looming giant, make sure it is not but the shadow of a dwarf.''

"Boy! I wasn't entirely sure that would work!," David said from the center seat. "Okay, lets change course and speed before the Wisconsin can double back. Come right thirty degrees and mark negative ten. Drop to three quarters impulse. Lets get out of this soup."

David rose from his seat and stepped forward to the helm and his engineer counterpart seated there.

"I'll take the helm now. Why don't you go see what we've caught in that shuttle."

Sangliar rolled his black eyes as he rose from his seat to pound the deck towards the lift doors.

''Of course, send the menial mechanic with the red collar to face the '' unknown thing from outer space that crept aboard to...''

The rest was lost behind the doors swishing back shut.

Meanwhile Riker stared at the forcefield and pondered his next move. His glance shifted between the door of the shuttlebay and the phaser to his right. Riker hoped the faces on the other side of that door were friendly.

When the door wooshed open, in walked with a rolling gate a portly black skinned, blask haired, black bearded, black eyed Tellarite with three pips on the red collar of his grey and black Stafleet uniform, a tricorder in his hand, no phaser at his belt. The forcefield glowered again behind him as he made his way to the pod and kicked it.

''Hey, you in there! Out!''

Seeing the Tellarite approach, Riker assumed this was Mister Sangliar. He had read a few reports, and heard stories, but had never had the pleasure of a face to face meeting.

The shuttlepod door opened and Riker, who had holstered his phaser, stepped out. He stood in front of the clearly annoyed Tellarite.

"Mister Sangliar I presume. I am Captain Joshua Riker, commanding officer..."

Riker caught himself and continued.

"I imagine by now former commanding officer of the USS McKenzie. I am not entirely sure what is going on here, but I know that you're on the right side of it."

Riker removed his phaser and handed it handle side first to Sangliar.

"I want to help, if you'll have me."

Sangliar took the weapon and belted it, cocking his head one each side in turn appraising the tall, athletic human.

''Riker... well Mister Famous Name, we are all former officers here. And judging by your way of arrival, you had as much fun as we did. Well, as much as I would like to grill you right now, I don't want to be bored by a retelling of your sad story, so come with me and you will spill it out in front of Commander Rogers; sorry, Acting Captain Rogers.''

He took a step towards the exit then stopped and grinned broadly at him.

''Say, those four pips were earned, right? This means that you have the authority to assume command of this ship! Now that will piss him off so mightily! I want to see that! This way... Sir!''

Despite his small size and rolling gate, the portly Tellarite kept a brisk pace all the way to the turbolift. He was still grinning when the doors wooshed open and he stepped aside at attention.

''Captain on the bridge!''

Riker stepped in and shook his head. Whatever this was, he was not getting in the middle of it.

"No ranks here I would imagine. In this kind of mission everyone goes where they are needed."

Riker looked at Commander Rogers.

"Speaking of needs, I have a story I think you need to hear."

David, still at the helm, turned his head toward the two officer's and gave each one a cursory glance. Sangliar seemed to have a somewhat mischievous grin and his tense stance seemed to indicate he was waiting for something to happen. The newcomer Rogers had met before, during ceremonies at Lotus Fleet star base. But this man was markedly fit and spry, not showing any adverse effects from his shuttle journey. Regardless, the Achille's was still not out of hot water yet, so David took a moment to welcome Ryker aboard; with a decidedly Ferengi tone.

"My house is my house, Captain. We're having a bit of a problem with the Wisconsin, but if you'll hang on a couple minutes, I'm sure our esteemed compatriot beside you can fill you in on our current status. Now if you'll grab a seat, I need to clear this anomoly."

As the Tellarite succintly filled in Riker with, not only their current predicament but why they were in it, Rogers turned back to the controls and started manipulating them again, bringing the Achille's through a partitioning of the swirling fog to emerge outside of the Azimuth Horizon's maelstrom.

Riker listened in horror as the evils he feared were not only true, but the current situation was actually worse than he suspected.

A few minutes went by as the screen cleared of the orange-golden swirl to finally reveal the galactic starfield.

"Full sensor sweep Admiral, if you please," David ordered Redding.

''Sensors indicate a rather peculiar trail of intense tachyon concentration between the anomaly and the vicinity of Starbase Lotus,'' the holo officer responded. ''It's almost like a tachyon emission lingering in spacetime; reminds me of a quantum tunnel, although it is definitely not one. No clue as to it's origin or purpose. But there is a warp signature at the far away end of it, matching that and the last known position and trajectory of the USS Phoenix. But I can't locate the ship anymore.''

Then he grinned in a cold, dry way.

''Now, here are the good news and the bad news. Good news; the Wisconsin is still in the anomaly trying to locate us. Bad news; they launched a communication buoy out of it to send a call; and the nearest starship has answered and proceeding towards our position at emergency warp; ETA five point three minutes.''

He tilted his head towards Riker.

''Its the USS McKenzie.''

Riker's heart sank.

"Whoever is in command of the McKenzie is not on our side."

Riker continued.

"When I began to suspect what was happening, I attempted to order the McKenzie out here to help. Starfleet security showed up with orders to detain me. I am guessing there was something they put into my ship's computer during maintenance which alerted them the second the coordinates were entered. If they went through that much trouble to keep the McKenzie away with me on the bridge, whoever is giving the orders now is clearly here for a very different reason."

Sangliar snorted.

''At this jucnture, it's clear every Lotus Fleet ship and crew, if not the whole of Starfleet, is compromized. We found such programs on the Alsea and the Horizon. The only ships not affected are those two that we purged, this one... possibly the Phoenix, as Captain Syntron went to take her back... and whatever vessel Captain Kheren is trying to commandeer. For sure it's not the Lotus as he pretended to go for, because he had me concoct quite the holoprogram to make a fake briefing with his volunteers.''

He smirked at Rogers.

'' As I know him, he could be going to Starfleet's Museum to revive the old NX-01. Surprise! Surprise! should be the motto on all his ships.''

Redding kept his eyes on his instruments, not smirking anymore.

''Speaking of surprises, what about the McKenzie? She's on her way, Three minutes... mark.''

Rogers rose from the helm and turned toward Riker, while motioning Sangliar toward the freshly vacated seat. Stepping toward the Captain, David also motioned the tall human toward the second seat as David himself took the captains chair. With a serious tone he queried the McKenzie officer.

"What would be your tactical summarization of your ship, given that your second officer is likely in command at this juncture?"

"The McKenzie was built for speed, but she also packs a punch. I had her retrofitted with the Sorripto array sensor and targeting systems, so you might be hard pressed to get a target lock faster."

Riker snapped his fingers.

"When they tried to detain me the McKenzie was being serviced for routine engine and warp core overhauls. The plasma flowing through her coils is not going to be fully activated yet. To get her running smooth takes a few weeks of running the core."

Riker paused slightly and thought.

"She is going to be sluggish on turns, well sluggish for a Defiant class anyway. You could target the external plasma vents. If the coils are not in full flow she will vent."

Riker looked towards Sangliar.

"Just don't punch them too hard. Fine line between a vent and an explosion."

  David gave a measured look at his counterpart. As a star fleet officer, at least in so much as either Sangliar and himself considered themselves, Rogers really didn't want to fire on the McKenzie. But this mission was damn important to the future of the Federation, if not the galaxy. With a sigh David rose and strode over to the Admiral hologram at tactical.

"Unless you have any better ideas Admiral, I would rather not have to fire on Riker's ship. As we are now, I believe that technically, the Achilles is a salvaged ship. Once we fire on another ship, our status changes. For myself, as the only one of two who salvaged her, I'd rather not become a privateer."

Redding smirked.

''That one is easily fixed; transfer command to a ranked Starfleet Captain.''

He eyed Riker before he continued.

''As for a better idea; this ship is equipped with the unique phalanx torpedo array. If you modify to our ship's warp signature those of a full volley of micro torpedoes and fire them in all directions while within the anomaly, even the Sorripto scanners will have a hard time identifying which one of the forty-one warp signals is the right one. And their locking speed will have them all the faster confused, not to mention the crew. This will leave them with less than three percent chances of firing on the right target; thus 97% chances of us escaping; or at least getting a good head start.''

The holographic officer then shrugged.

''In any case, one Defiant class is no match for this heavy siege destroyer, even the souped-up McKenzie. We have thicker, better armor, more numerous and powerful weaponry, a reserve warp core and two impulse systems making us barely less maneuverable than an escort. And our computer system is more advanced than that of any known starship in the galaxy, even without Tess aboard. Unless their new commanding officer is very smart, very experienced and very inventive... or if another ship joins the fray, say, the combat-configured Wisconsin...''

Looking across to the captain, David continued.

"What I was wondering was, in reference to your Number One; is he competent enough to have changed your command codes upon your hasty departure?

Sangliar grunted.

''Or is he incompetent enough to not have too. Worse, disabling the automatic code transfer before it activated, once you were officially declared under arrest and deprived of command.''

"The command codes were the first thing I thought of." Riker responded.

"While I shared very little with my senior officers, those onboard were in support of coming out here. If they are the ones still in charge, then I would have to believe they intentionally left the codes alone."

Riker shook his head before continuing.

"However there was a virus in our computer which outed my orders the second I gave them. There is no way whoever programmed that left any chance for such a simple work around. Plus, there is no way she got out here as fast as she did without someone in charge who knew what they're looking for. If I gambled as much as my father, I would bet everything on the person in the Captain's chair not being on our side."

 "Yeah," David responded with a sigh, "just wishful thinking."

Rogers paced a moment, heading back toward the command seat, stopped there and manipulated a few icons on the right armrest. The main viewer changed to a tactical configuration and David turned toward it and gave it a studied glance. It showed a wispy reddish border off their aft beam, the anomaly's edge. Achille's had passed out of the anomaly. Past that, also marked with a red question mark was the approximate location of the Wisconsin, inside the maelstrom.

A white Federation icon, the familiar wedge shape akin to a Star Fleet comm badge, blinked intermittently, off the Achilles' starboard. Linked to it with a small white line were the words USS McKenzie. As he looked the screen updated ad the icon moved a fraction closer and immediately turned a yellowed hue. That indicated a ship about to enter weapons range.  There was no indicator of any other ship in the vicinity. David returned to his chair.

"Well, we're clear, so punch it up to maximum warp if you please Mister Sangliar. I know we can outrun the Wisconsin, so lets see how my ship fares against Lotus' most nimblest, little ship."

The tellarite snorted and grinned his thick-toothed grin.

''Didn't you look at the specs, O fearless leader? The maximum speed of the Defiant class is warp 9 and ours is 9.5. Emergency speed of the McKenzie is warp 9.982 for twelve hours and ours is 9.995... if only for eight hours.''

“We were just finishing up updates and repairs.” Riker added.

“She might be a bit faster than her specs, and her sensors are certainly better than the class would have you believe.”

Redding grunted.

''They would know this. They would force us to burn out our engines, catching us afterwards. We would only have a lead of two point thirty-seven light years that they would then bridge in barely over five minutes... with their engines still in good shape.''

He turned towards Rogers with a raised eyebrow.

''Unless we flee into an area which they would hesitate to follow us in; let's say the Klingon empire... which at emergency speed from present location we would reach in five minutes. Same with the former Romulan Star Empire... or the border of the Delta Quadrant.''

As an after-thought, David looked toward Redding again.

"Make sure to discontinue life support to the hangar bay again. We'll likely need all power we can muster if the McKenzie can manage to keep up."

The holographic officer turned back to his helm controls.

''Heading?''

Rogers sat a moment in silent contemplation. A ship's Captain he was not. He was an engineer. The Wisconsin had not, or would not, contemplate the facts he had sent them on first encounter; the inside tampering of systems, seemingly endemic to all of Star Fleet and her vessels. David had no illusions that the McKenzie would treat a similar message to her the same as the Wisconsin did.

His Achilles was, to all intents and purposes, a salvaged vessel. Himself and Kheren had boarded her, outside the galactic rim, unmanned. David knew his salvage laws, having grown up with a Ferengi DaiMon. But the Wisconsin hadn't even listened to his opening message, so tying to talk to them, or the McKenzie's commander, was not in the cards.

So the options were basically human ones: Fight or flight! And he would not fire upon his fleet mates, no matter their delusions. Those were not their fault. And both Kheren and Syntron were nowhere in sight.

Flight it is then, David thought. He passed his decision on to the crew.

"Okay Admiral," David announced. "Lay in a course into Romulan space. Maximum warp! If they want to pursue, let them. At least they'll be away from our two friends; and what they're up to."

The holographic officer's fingers felew over his board.

''Aye Acting Captain Sir; bearing 240 mark 12, maximum warp. ETA to Neutral Zone ten point two hours.''

The stars on the screen shifted sharply right then flashed into the familiar streaking warpfield vision. Sangliar grunted.

''Good news; no sign of the Wisconsin. Bad news; the McKenzie is warping after us at emergency speed. She will overtake us in six and a half hours. If we go to emergency warp now, they will overtake us in eight and a half hours... with our engines burned out.''

He glanced at Rogers.

''Better have a good Romulan trick ready, Acting Captain Sir.''

 "Don't need a trick, Commander," David responded quietly. "I estimate, at current speed, the McKenzie will reach us with her emergency warp used up. We maintain max warp until about, say ..."; 

 Rogers mentally calculated the required time of Lotus' Defiant class and her emergency warp time thresholds, then continued.

 "Six hours. Then we initiate emergency speed and our little friend back there will be, how did they put it; Left in the dust! And no need to actually enter the Neutral Zone then; just tangent back toward the Paulson Nebula and curve back toward the Hromi sector."

Looking toward Riker, David spoke a request.

 "Sir, could I ask to take over from my sturdy engineer friend there? I would like either him or myself covering engineering, and although I am the more competent, I would like Commander Sangliar there for this sprint of ours."

“I can do that”.

Sangliar grunted something under his beard like ''menials'' and ''tin-plated dictator with delusions of grandeur'' but kept his eyes on his station.

Riker walked over and stood behind Sangliar. He was clearly keeping a safe distance.

 Looking to the holograph officer, Rogers continued.

"Admiral, what's out there? Besides that gnat on our tail. Any sign of Syntron or our Andorian friend Kheren?

''Well, come to speak of it...''

Holo-Redding glanced up at the screen and switched the view to the distant image of a long, sleek, monohulled starship emerging from the gaseous anomaly like a barracuda jumping out of the foaming waters.

''The Phoenix is even slower than the McKenzie. But she too is engaging emergency warp after her... and us. Captain Syntron undoubtedly received orders to join the chase; and is using them as a pretext to come to our assistance, far away from prying eyes.''

The artificial construct of the famous Lotus Fleet admiral then frowned.

''However, I cannot fathom as easily the motivation of whoever is now commanding McKenzie. They certainly made the same calculations as we did and know we will escape them. My hunch is that they know something that we don't.''

Riker looked over.

“Like I said before, I doubt whoever is running that ship is here to help.”

Gesturing towards the viewscreen he continued.

“Is there any chance they are out here looking for something, or someone else?”

Sangliar snorted.

''And in all the vastness of space, we happen to be on the exact same trajectory right in front of them?''

But Holo-Redding did not smile.

''They are after us. But Captain Riker may also be right; they took this long to take over the McKenzie, while Starfleet was already well compromised. Why?''

Riker shrugged.

"I could hope because enough of the McKenzie is not compromised they put up a fight, but I am worried about the other possibility. The coding which turned over my intention to whoever is in Starfleet also disabled any chance of helping you. Is it possible those controlling the McKenzie took a while to fix everything because they are not entirely in on it either?"

Sangliar's snout jerked sideways a few times as his bushy eyebrows lowered.

''Are you suggesting the McKenzie is actually fleeing with us? ''