Trouble over the Horizon

Before their eyes, the viewing screen of the USS Phoenix showed a vast sea of gold and orange waves of thick gasees crisscrossed with intermittent crackling bolts of blueish-white light. here and there loomed dark shapes behin the haze, planetary debris of entire star systems that were gobled up by the anomaly when it was expanding rampant through subspace fractures. These were of a concern to the helm of the prime science vessel of Lotus Fleet.

''Steady as she goes, Sir. But in this gravitationless area, these random masses are pulling at our rudder. Helm is fighting us every inch of the way.''

From the science station, Jonathan Livingstone spoke up.

''Syntron system has locked on the moving mass of the Wisconsin. Link your navigational systemto it's return signal. That should give you a proper compass.''

He then turned towards his commanding officer.

''Captain; I also have the Achilles on sensors. but according to readings, both ships are moving away from one another; and there is no sign of another vessel in the area.''

Counselor Bijou frowned at her own console.

''I still receive the disaster beacon of the Alsea. Correlating with your sensor scan, she seems to be closer to the Wisconsin.''

Syntron nodded subtlety in affirmation as the helmsman spoke.

“Our previous experience navigating within the tendrils of the anomaly was analogous to a cosmic scale white-water rafting adventure, but much more treacherous. Metaphorically speaking of course since it would be illogical for me to participate in such a purposeless endeavor.”

He then shifted his attention back to the matter at hand.

“Lock onto the disaster beacon of the Alsea,” the captain ordered.

“Helm, full ahead at impulse power.”

"Aye, Sir; that will bring us straight  to the Wisconsin, ETA  four minutes present speed.''

It was hard to estimate their moment among the churning masses of gaseous particles lacerated by lightning, except for the looming dark debris dotting the immensity like reefs just under the waves. It forced the Avenger class cruiser to swerve inside the anomaly and added to the growing tension aboard an lenghtening their flight.

Bijou lifted her mesmerizing gaze from her panel to blink at Syntron.

''Sir, I intercepted a transmission from the Wisconsin; but not from it's actual position. I beleive she launched a communication buoy out of the anomaly. Starfleet Rules of Engagement would suggest that it's too raise a general alarm in the sector; about the presence of a hostile force. Interference is too high to make it out but... there definitely was a response signal from outside of the Azimuth Horizon.''

''Within which I can no longer find trace of the Achilles, Sir,'' smoothly finished Livingstone.

''ETA with Wisconsin, two minutes... mark,'' added the helm officer.

''And she has noticed us, Captain,'' growled M'ata. ''She's veering towards us on an interception course, full impulse... weapon systems fully online.''

The Vulcan slowly leaned back into the captain’s chair as he contemplated the situation. It seemed improbable that Captain Onia or her crew would have any knowledge of his real mission or his connection to the alliances formed in an attempt to salvage Starfleet and the Federation from the enemies within. Yet the Wisconsin was now bearing down on them with weapons loaded.

Poker, Syntron thought. Perhaps she was testing his reaction with an apparent provocative maneuver.

“Maintain course,” the captain calmly ordered. “Hail the Wisconsin. If no communication is established by the time they arrive within range, implement Yellow Alert.”

The next move is yours, the captain thought.

Bijou hailed amidst a surge of screeching noises she could barely filter out at times.

"USS Wisconsin, this is USS Phoenix. Please acknowledge."

Nothing came on screen but static. On the speakers, it was barely audible, but a few words they could make out.

''USS zzzt... we zzzt... aware of... xsssszzt... deception. You will... xzzxsss... full stop and... zzzztxzzzz.... to... ztzttztt... boarded or you...   xzzztzzz... zzzzt... upon!''

The counselor sighed.

''Sorry captain; best we can do until we can compensate all that interference with a lasercomm emission.''

M'ata growled.

''And that means Line Of Sight... and in this porridge, that also means at point blank range... before we can actually have a visual.''

''ETA one minute,'' Helm then added.

That's when Livingstone looked up from his console.

''Sir; with our mass and general hull configuration, and the fact that we have literally jumped hours of travel time from our last known position, the Wisconsin might be mistaking us for the Achilles.''

Syntron nodded affirmatively as the X’Ell spoke.

“A logical assessment of the situation lieutenant commander. Nevertheless, under these circumstances, we must engage Yellow Alert as a precaution.”

The ship’s status immediately shifted as all defense fields were energized while the deflector shields were brought to full power. The crew throughout the ship immediately reacted to the change in status and began to prepare for any form of potential escalation.

He then addressed the Deltan officer.

“Transmit our registry number on all frequencies on a repeating loop. Despite the static and interference the registry should be received.”

''Aye, Sir; transmitting.''

All the while, the tactical display showed the Nebula class starship maintaining it's agressive trajectory. And then, on the main vewer, the gold-orange fog silhouetted the saucer shaped vessel with her two nacelles beneath and her triangular pod on the top aft of it. The unmistakable egg-shaped shimmer of energy shields was surrounding it; and the glow of hot phaser strips and torpedo tubes.

Bijou quickly turned towards Syntron.

"Sir! We now can implement direct lasercomm! That will pierce the interference!"

“Initiate lasercomm directly toward their bridge section.”

The Vulcan then stood as he spoke authoritatively.

“USS Wisconsin. This is Captain Syntron of the USS Phoenix. Stand-down your weapons!”

The reply came a moment later, loud and clear, along with an image of a sprawling bridge of soft pastel colors where an alluring Deltan woman occupied the center seat.

''This is Captain Onias of the USS Wisconsin. Your holographic deception will not work, Achilles. The Phoenix is still several hours out at maximum warp. You have five seconds to cut power and prepare to be boarded.''

“Red Alert,” the captain commanded as he remained standing in front of the center seat.

“Engage bridge visuals and transmit this along with a synopsis of the CSO’s tachyon tunnel maneuver implemented.”

“Continue lasercomm communication,” he ordered as he stood facing the viewscreen.

“Captain Onias. This is Captain Syntron of the Phoenix addressing you once again. There is no holographic deception occurring. We are transmitting a live feed of our bridge along with the file of a maneuver initiated to accelerate our arrival to aid you. We will lower our shields and invite any member aboard to confirm our identity if you first disengage your weapons.”

As the feed of the bridge was activated and transmitted, Lieutenant Celestine Bijoŭ unceremoniously stood up and pleaded to her Deltan counterpart, “It is us Onias… on the Phoenix!”

Onias stood up too. The two Deltan women looked at one another accross the screen. No one but Jonathan Livingstone noticed the exceedingly subtle signals that went between them; their glance, their posture, their tone of voice, their hands and fingers angle, their feet position, the simple batting of their eyes, everything sent a silent signal that reminded him of part of his own X'Ell language. The five seconds went by.

"Disengage attack posture," came the order from the commanding officer of the Wisconsin.

As the Wisconsin disengaged their weapons systems, Syntron signaled his bridge crew to follow suit. Their defensive stance immediately deescalated down to normal operating status.The captain stepped back then reassumed his position within the center seat.

Only at that moment did Jonathan's crest stopped fluttering and his beak closed on his sigh.

In the releived silence that followed, an officer brought a PADD to Onias. She merely glanced at it, raising both eyebrows before looking back accross the visual feed.

''I should have known the premier scientist of Lotus Fleet and his crew would have found a way to help us. Captain Syntron, let us waste no more time. We are currently engaged in a chase of a hostile vessel in this restricteed area that appears to be the lost USS Achilles. Somehow they already managed to deceive us with a false warp and transponder signature of the rogue USS Alsea. It seems they were here to retreive a fugitive from the USS McKenzie, according to the report she just sent us. She has a fix on the intruder's position.''

She sat back in her command chair, still looking straight at the Vulcan.

''We must assume this might be another deception. The Wisconsin will remain at her post in this area to prevent any attempt to further violate restrictions. We would ask you to join with the Mckenzie in the pursuit.''

“Acknowledged, Captain Onias,” the Vulcan responded. “Send us the coordinates to rendezvous with the McKenzie and we will depart immediately.”

A moment later, helm control confirmed reception of the coordinates.

''ETA five minutes at full impulse, Captain.''

Jonathan then chimed in.

''Sir, as we will emerge from the anomaly, we will effectively be blind for four seconds as sensors will have to recalibrate from it's interference.''

M'ata growled.

''Four seconds is more than enough to take a full salvo from a hostile ship. The Achilles is a heavy siege destroyer, designed to destroy orbital facilities. With it's phalanx system of micro-torpedoes and heavy pulse phaser canons, she could disable us severely at the very moment we appear, even with shields at full.''

Contemplating the information provided, the captain swiveled the center seat as he confirmed his instructions.

“Lock onto the coordinates. Prepare full impulse for four minutes and fifty seconds, then reduce impulse to minimum propulsion as we emerge beyond the anomaly.”

Syntron glanced over to the Caitian M'rrin M'ata still subtly growling from the tactical station as he spoke.

“Once we cross the anomaly threshold, re-engage yellow alert status as a precaution, and be prepared to escalate to red alert should any hostilities be present.”

“Engage,” he ordered.

There were a few tense minutes as they flew toward the edge of the stormy area, dodging remants of planets and plasma discharges amidst the swirling masses of stellar gases and dust. It became even more tense when they saw the stars, as their sensors struggled to recalibrate. But finally, M'ata was able to report.

''Sir, the Achilles has gone to high warp towards the Neutral Zone; ETA ten point two hours. McKenzie is at emergency warp and, unless Achilles does the same, Captain Riker will overtake the Achilles in eight and a half hours. However, the Achilles can maintain emergency warp only for eight hours. ''

Livingstone addressed his commanding officer in turn.

''Captain, I hypothesize the Achilles will wait at least four hours before engaging emergency warp and pull away from the pursuit, as theirs is 0.013 higher than McKenzie.''

''Or,'' the Caitian tactical officer added, '' they will wait for the Mckenzie to burn itself up at the end of those eight hours , than turn around and engage her. Even a top-shape souped-up Defiant class escort like the McKenzie is no match for a heavy siege destroyer. That monster was designed to take out a whole squadron of such ships.''

The helm sighed.

''Captain, the Phoenix can also maintain a twelve hours emergency warp speed; but not enough to overtake either. We can follow... but we will only reach them either when the Achilles will be pulling away out of both our reach... or while a battle is fully engaged.''

The captain provided a subtle nod as the circumstance along with the available options were clearly laid out. He contemplated the information for a few moments before responding.

“Captain Onias requested that we rendezvous with the McKenzie. To that end, only the distance has changed.” He turned toward the helm.

“Prepare emergency warp speed.”

''Aye, Sir; course plotted and laid in,'' helm answered while glancing at the engineering station.

The Vulcan brought his attention away from the helm, then cast his focus onto the engineering station.

“Lieutenant Hudson, have your department monitor the condition of the warp nacelles along with all related components to ensure that the entire apparatus maintains only nominal fluctuations as we push our velocity to full capacity. Any signs of stress need to be addressed immediately. I expect to be notified of any unexpected situation just as expeditiously.”

Syntron shifted his attention to the Deltan officer at the communications station.

“Counselor Bijou. Inform me immediately if you detect any form of communication from any point within or beyond this sector, including those that could be transmitted beyond conventional frequencies.”

The Vulcan eyes then transferred his gaze toward the X’Ell CSO.

“Maintain wide-range sensor scans as we proceed, Lieutenant Commander Livingstone. Have your tachyon tunnel option available to re-initiate, should the need to rendezvous become sooner than we anticipated.”

Syntron then addressed Ops chief.

“Lieutenant PTrell, as you oversee this endeavor, ensure that no crew member allows for any dissonance within their department. No one misses their shift, their mark or their timing.”

With reassurances from his key department personnel the captain returns his attention to the helm.

“Initiate emergency warp,” the captain commanded calmly from the center seat of the USS Phoenix, as he prepared to push their vessel to its limits.

Turning from his station, the X'Ell science officer addressed the Vulcan captain with a curiously toneless voice.

''A word, Sir, if I may.''

The captain returned his focus back toward the CSO.

“Proceed Lieutenant Commander.”

Livingstone went to the command chair and leaned close, keeping his voice down.

''Sir, it is not my intention to refuse your orders or even to discuss them. But you just ordered me to ready another tachyon tunnel. May I remind you Sir, that this worked only because we went towards the anomaly; towards it's high intensity tachyon emissions we used to... suck ourselves in, if I may speak so quolloquially. If we are to attempt to replicate this in pursuit, the only way to do so would be to use a large enough star between us and them; one in the Neutral Zone. Now, not only is there no garantee that it would work, but then we would effectively overshoot them completely and almost instantly. That means we would be the ones to directly intercept the Achilles; alone and if she does not change trajectory... and if it works.''

His huge eyes blinked once while the optical fibers in his crest fashed rapidly.

''I estimate at best at fifty-three point four-seven percent our chances to implement the maneuver again successfully; and again, if Achilles does not change course. But our chances of survival alone against that war machine are considerably less; if any.''

The keen Vulcan ears of the captain thoroughly processed the whisper-like words of the X’ell CSO as they were spoken.  He subtly nodded in confirmation to the avian officer who shared his concerns.

“I concur with your prognosis Lieutenant Commander, and I do not intend to initiate the tachyon tunnel as our means to arrive in the vicinity of our destination ahead of the Mackenzie.” Syntron confirmed in a statement inaudible to those on the bridge except his target audience of one.

The captain briefly scanned the bridge crew as they were busily carrying out their orders. He then shifted his posture within the center seat as he leaned slightly closer to the CSO.

“Nevertheless, though risky, it has demonstrated that in an emergency, this maneuver could be utilized as a fallback plan to escape from or towards an adversarial situation. What I was intending to request was for you to have a series of targeted options prepared in case such a predicament arises. This would include ascertaining which available options hold the least risk and the greatest favorable outcome.”

The ship steadily increased velocity as they spoke. Syntron could clearly hear the virtually inaudible reverberations of the warp engines, yet he deliberately filtered out most of the sound so as not to interfere with his concentration or conversation.

The captain focused his attention again on the CSO.

“To reiterate Lieutenant Commander, this would be a last resort option. This will not be something that I would order capriciously.”

The crest of the birdlike humanoid rose as he blnked, beak half open.

''Far from me to imply any such behavior from you, Sir. Especially from you. I only wanted to make sure you had all the available data for your decision making process. I shall return presently to my station and calculate an array of target stars to establish a... roadmap for possible use of the technique. With your permission, Captain.''

“Granted,” the captain assured. The avian officer immediately scuttled back to his post.

Syntron leaned back into the seat as he assumed a more upright posture. The crew seemed to have all matters at hand functioning as expected, yet there was something gnawing surreptitiously in his thoughts.