[Galaxy] 2161.09.01- Stoking the Flames

[SkinnyElvisDaddy at aol.com]

[ Oregonian ]

A band of Romulan ships began to head toward the  freighter and
Ethan knew now that their time was up. They had been found out  as the
close range scan would have revealed the dilithium aboard, and  more
significantly their human life signs. "Arturo, send all our data to  the
Yorktown and Intrepid. Open a channel" he said to Mendez  at
communications and began to execute their reverse course back out  of
the system. The freighters impulse engines responded sluggishly,
almost  complaining at the quickness of the change.

= Armstrong to Intrepid and  Yorktown. There is a massive build up of
Romulan ships being repaired and  salvaged here. A shipyard which seem
to be sending ships onwards. It is my  belief this is a staging areas
they may be using for an attack on coalition  space. We have not been
able to trace which one is the Bird of Prey carrying  Andorian data =

[Intrepid]

"Roger, Oregonian. Do you require  assistance at this time?" Case cursed
the heavy metal gasses that interfered  with Intrepid's own sensors. The
motley freighter would have to serve as  their eyes for now.

"Sir?" Case turned towards Ensign Wun. The armory  officer frowned.
"Romulans practically define paranoia. If they're spooked,  they may try to
remove the stolen Andorian data to a safer location instead  of trying to
decipher it here."

"Hrmmmmm. That might depend just how  safe they feel at this location.
Let's give the Oregonian a call."

=  Case to Oregonian. What types of ships are we talking about here? Ensign
Wun  mentioned the paranoid tendencies of the Romulans. If you spook them,
they  might try and remove that Andorian data to a safer location for  
processing.
Fly casual, boss=

= There is ships of several  classifications. = Ethan replied quickly
as he continued calculating their  escape. The Yorktown then crackled
in over the  communications.

[Yorktown]

"Cad'aar here Captain Armstrong. Our  repairs have been largely completed 
and
we stand ready to  assist."

The blue helmsman hit some buttons on the console next  to him,
bringing up the data
from the sensor sweeps that their  Andorian allies had been conducting
on the outskirts
of the system since  shortly before the freighter had gone in.

"Commander Quirra's task force  confirms multiple contacts leaving and
entering the system as well  as prolific com traffic. This is a lot
bigger than we expected. We  should advise Starfleet of the situation,
but we can't afford to lose the  element of surprise. Oregonian, what
is your current status? Have you been  found out?"

= We have been detected. Repeat, we have been detected. They  are not
aware of our back up or purpose here but they know there are  humans
aboard this ship! If we are going to make a move then we need to  make
it now or very soon. We will delay them for as long as we can  =  Ethan
replied urgently. = The Andorian data is probably at the  shipyard
now.. =

Suddenly, there was an abrupt break in communications  as the screen filled
with a familiar blue female face.

=This is  Commander Quirra, leader of task force Shulkar. We have been 
monitoring
your  transmissions. We have orders to prevent the dissemination of the 
data on
the  phantom device at all costs. We invite starfleet to accompany us as  
allies,
but our duty is clear.=

"Dammit Quirra," Da'nak said, slamming  his blue fist into the console.
"Do  you have
any idea how big that  place is? There are /hundreds/ of vessels out
there and there
are only six  of us? Just what do you expect to do.. besides throw our
lives away?
Like  K'den."

Quirra's eyes softened a little. =You know I have no  choice.=
Da'nak was taken back to a time before the war or the Romulans,  or
even starfleet;
when there was nothing but the Imperial  Guard. It had been her
strength that had
attracted him to her, and  her sense of duty. He knew she wouldn't back 
down.

The Andorian  commander let out a soft sigh. What was he to do? He never 
felt  so
out of place. His heritage demanded that he follow her in, go out in  a
blaze of glory...
But his head told him otherwise. This wasn't an  Andorian vessel he was
piloting, it was
a Terran vessel. True the Terrans  were at war with the Romulans, but
how would they
respond to there  knowledge that an Andorian had ordered one of her
proudest ships
into the  abyss? He wished, not for the first time, that Captain Morgan
was  here.

He knew where his duty lay... as much as he had to protect  the
Yorktown, he had to
protect the alliance. Suddenly an idea hit him.  "Quirra, standby... I
think we may have
a plan. Yorktown will stand with  you, but please wait for my signal."

=You have three minutes Da'nak.= It  was the first time she had used
his name in what
felt like ages. =Quirra  out.=

The screen when blank, but Da'nak was already hitting buttons on  the comm.

"Captain Armstrong, Commander Case? I'm going to assume you  heard that 
exchange.
I think I have an idea that just might pull this out. If  you'll patch
me through to Lt. Mathews
and CPO Yearly, I think we can pull  it together..."

= Aye Commander. Looks like I am faced with a choice here  too.. to
back Quirra and sanction Intrepid's involvement in an attack. Or  to
let them face overwhelming odds alone. They.. = Ethan began  and
corrected himself. = You are our allies. And we are at war with  the
Romulans now. I've seen enough here, with recent reports, to say  we
need to shut this place down. But how.. = he paused. = You now have  a
channel open to Engineering = he received a confirmation nod  from
Mendez. = Standby Petr = he said, to his executive officer  on
Intrepid.

Cmdr Ethan Armstrong
Commanding Officer
ESS  Intrepid

&

LtCmdr Petr Case
Executive Officer
ESS  Intrepid

&
Andorian Commander Da'nak Ca'daar
Executive and  Chief Helm Officer
NX-05 Yorktown
The Fighting Lady
&
Andorian  Commander Quirra (NPC apb Leo)
Leader Task force Shulkar

You ever dance with the devil in the pale moon  light?
I always ask that of all my prey...
I just like the sound of  it.....

Jack Nicholson- Batman
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