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An unexpected ally

Posted on Fri May 27th, 2022 @ 10:27am by Commander Lillian Carter & Lieutenant Is'san & Lieutenant JG Lyras

1,846 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 4 - The Fires Of Hades
Location: USS Cerberus
Timeline: -584,948 @ 1800 Hours

ON:


Main Bridge


The Ready room doors opened and Musk stepped out onto the bridge. There were only 2 Iconian guards left here, just to keep watch. Before either one of them could react, Musk had down his weapon and stunned both of them.

He then turned and beckoned Lillian to follow him "Come on! We don't have much time!"

Lillian cautiously followed him onto the bridge "Why are you doing this?" she asked as she sat down at the helm as he sat at ops next to her.

He looked at her for a moment "Look we can discuss my motivations later. Right now, you don't have a chance of escaping without my help. And, even with my help, there is a very good chance that my ship's weapons will still blow us out of the stars. Let us hope you can put up more of a fight this time."

Lillian was still not convinced "What about the gateway? The moment we make a move, we'll be overrun by your troops."

"I can modify your.... what do you call it?..... warp filed? I can modify your warp field to block the gateway but I'm going to need access to your engine controls. I'm also going to have to access your communications array. The only guards left onboard are watching your crew. I can send my people away and bring your people back but then my people's might and fury is going to fall on us like an angry storm, so we better be ready!" He suddenly turned and put his hand on hers in a very intimate gesture "Look! I want to help you. I can provide you with information on my people and the T'Kon but you're going to have to help me get away from here but you're going to have to trust me."

Lillian looked into his eyes, trying to read him. Should she trust this man?

Finally, she made her decision. A decision that would either save them... or doom them...

"Computer re-enable command functions. Authorisation Carter Alpha one five nine seven green."

The computer beeped and then responded "Authorisation recognised. All command functions re-enabled."

She pointed out the ops panel. "Warp field controls are there, communications controls are there. What about the tractor beam?

He gave her a nod of thanks but forward at her language "Tractor? Do you mean the towing beam? I'll disable it but it will only be for a short time. I hope this ship of yours has some impressive manoeuvres..."


Despite the situation, Lillian smiled "Mister. Just you wait to see what this ship can do."

He chuckled as he worked the controls. "I think you and I are going to get along very well..."

Lillian blushed slightly, recognising an obvious line. "Let's just stick to the plan for now. Save the flirting when we're not going to be blown up."

He either did not notice her reaction or chose to ignore it. After a moment... "Done. Your people are back on board and I've modified your warp field to prevent us from being boarded again. Now it's time for you to do your thing..... and keep us from being killed. I've disrupted my ship's controls but they'll be able to restore their systems quickly! So move it!"

Lillian raised an eyebrow. She noted he was keeping his tone respectful despite barking orders at her. "Yes Sir."



Mess Hall



All the Iconian guards suddenly and without warning disappeared, leaving the bridge crew alone.

"Oh boy this just got more interesting. But let's not waste the moment," Bobby was up and on his feet and heading out of the mess hall.

Lyras blinked in surprise. "Well..." He nodded towards Is'san, "I suppose I better take you to sickbay because you are not heading to the bridge in this condition."

"I suggest we take advantage of this fortunate turn of events and make our way to the bridge!" Is'san suggested, pointing a spindly finger at the doors.

Lillian's voice came over the comm. "The Iconians have been transported back to their ship and we've got all our people back on board. I need everyone at their battle stations! NOW! I'll explain everything later. We've got maybe minutes before the Iconians blow us to pieces. Prepare to engage the multi-vector assault mode. I think we're going to need it." The ship snapped to red alert.

"Yes Maam," Bobby said breaking into a sprint towards the nearest turbo lift.


Main Bridge


Lillian was still at the helm bringing all emergency systems online while she waited for the bridge crew to return to their stations. She was also bringing online the three independent warp cores in each Battle section. Battle section A which houses the main bridge, battle section B which had the two upper primary warp nacelles and battle section C, with the lower primary warp nacelles.

Musk was watching her work, impressed. "What did you mean by multi-vector assault mode?"

Lillian carried on working and shot him a sly look. "You'll see."

Bobby entered back on the bridge trying to keep his face neutral at their apparent capturers. He didn't like the look Lillian had given him either. They had only had that one date and he shouldn't be bothered but he was. He took his place back at the security station.

Is'san was directly behind Bobby and gracefully made his way towards the helm, taking the seat from Commander Carter.


The Iconian bridge


T'Kat suddenly found himself back on the bridge of his own ship. He spun around furiously, wanting answers. "WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE GODS IS HAPPENING?" She screamed at the top of his voice.

One of the Centurions spoke "Sir! All the prisoners are back on their ship and all our soldiers are back here. All except for..."

T'Kat spoke before the Centurion could finish... "Musk!" he hissed. He knew he was the one who had betrayed them. He would pay with his life for this!

"I WANT THAT SHIP DESTROYED NOW!"

The centurion who had spoken before hesitated. "Sir! The commander has used his personal access to disrupt control. It will be several rels before we can fire."

T'Kat whipped out his weapon and vaporised the unfortunate Centurion. He then barked at the crewman who had been standing next to him "GET THE WEAPONS WORKING AND BLOW THAT SHIP INTO DUST! NOW!"

The Centurion knew better than to argue. He quickly bowed his head "Yes my Lord!"


Cerberus Main Bridge


"We have run out of time." Musk stated flatly.

"It's now or never guys!" Lillian said as she sat in the command chair "Engage the multi Vector Assault Mode!"

The ships changed from red to blue alert and the computer reported "Initiating decoupling sequence. Auto separation sequence engaged. Starship separation in 10 seconds.

Musk came and stood next to the captain's chair as the computer stopped counting and beeped "Malfunction detected in docking clamp servos. Separation sequence cancelled. Multi-vector assault mode off-line."

Lillian swore under her breath as she could feel Musk's eyes looking at her with a smirk on his face. She held up a finger in his direction. "Don't.... Don't say anything!" she added as her cheeks burned red.

Musk tried not to snigger "Wouldn't dream of it."

Lillian sighed "Looks like we'll have to do this the old fashioned way. Helm, evasive manoeuvres."

"Aye sir!"

She turned to Musk "Will you help us. We need to disable that ship so we can return to the Space station."

Musk looked at her for a moment, "I can disable their shield and if you target their engine core you should be able to blow up the ship if your weapons are indeed working."

She frowned at him "I said disable it, not destroy it. I told you, we're explorers, not murderers."

He nodded thoughtfully as if he had been testing her response. "I can show you where to target to knock out their weapons and engines so we can escape but I warn you, they will come... Sooner or later."

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it." She pointed over to the tactical station "Show the Lieutenant there where we need to target."

Musk held her gaze a moment longer, a bond definitely forming before nodding and going over to tactical.

On the tactical display was the Iconian ship. Musk pointed to various locations "If you use one of your torpedoes here it will knock out their shield grid. Then laser blasts here, here and here will disable their weapons and propulsion. It will take them a long time to restore them."

Lillian gripped her armrest a bit tighter. She didn't like this option but they didn't have much choice at this point.

"You heard him. Fire!"


The Iconian bridge


"Weapons locked on." A Centurian reported.

The Iconia ship shuddered and the lights on the bridge flickered.

"They've fired on us my Lord!"

T'Kat rolled his eyes "That much is obvious. BLow them out of the stars!"

He had barely finished speaking then the ship was rocked again, hard.

"WHAT IS HAPPENING? WHY HAVEN'T WE FIRED?" T'Kat screamed at his officers.

"We've lost power to the weapons and propulsion... Sir!"

T'Kat let out a howl of frustration. "We have been betrayed. I'll get you for this Musk... If it's the last thing I do! I'll get you!"


Cerberus Main Bridge


Lillian relaxed a bit in her chair. "Nice shooting there. Now, I think a strategic withdrawal is what's called for. Helm, get us back to the Station. Maximum warp!"

Musk came back over to stand by Lillian. she looked up at him "Thank you for your help."

He inclined his head slightly "I did only what I had to be done, As it seems, do you.

She allowed herself a small smile "Sometimes, the best way to win a fight is not to be there."

Bobby found himself pulling a face despite not wanting to, or liking how close this newcomer out of time was to Lillian. Of course, he could not express that on the bridge.

"Commander... I dislike being the bearer of bad news but we appear to be at least seven days away at maximum warp from our original location!" Is'san looked pale, his palms feeling sweaty with the news that could essentially put them in peril.

Ensign Gibbs turned pale and ruffled his hair slightly this was one sticky situation. And just why was that guy seeming to hit on Lillian, it just didn't seem.. safe.

Lillian turned to Musk. "And how the hell did you manage that?" She then answered her own question... "The gateways?"

Musk raised an eyebrow "You know about our gateways?"

Lillian nodded "You could say that." She admitted reluctantly, not wanting to give too much foreknowledge at this point. "Well, we might as well make a start. I want to put as much distance between us and that ship as we can."

Musk nodded "A wise decision."

OFF:

 

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