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<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">~~Part
Two~~</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">The
Andorian gunned the thrusters as the vision of the Supersabre loomed larger,
filling the entire viewscreen. The Yorktown shuddered as the wounded vessel
before them punctuated the fact that while she may be caught, she still had
fangs. "Sensors still read the cruiser and three fighters directly aft.
They're following us in Captain." Da'nak looked back at the screen as
Nat's torpedo's struck the Ghaeghog amidships, causing it to vent plasma into
space in a great stream. At once the computerized warning chimed in. </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">"Proximity
Alert: Impact with vessel in Ten seconds." </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">"We'll
be clear long before that you bucket of circuits." Da'nak chimed in, just
as the Yorktown rocked again, caught by another burst from the Nausicaan
flagship. Another red warning light flashed on the helmsman's panel, causing
his antennae to stand straight up on his head. "Captain! Maneuvering
thrusters losing power!" </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Morgan
grab the arm of the chair as she was wrenched sideways. "Java do what you
can. "Managing to remain seated she hit the comm button. "Terris
what's going on down there? We're losing thrusters."</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Shiloh was
running around almost like a chicken with his head cut off. He flipped the comm
switch, "When we were hit, it caused an overload and now we're venting
plasma, Captain. We're working on getting it contained and get the nacelle
closed off. It's pretty bad." </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Shiloh
looked over at an engineer. "Get that valve sealed off, Now.." He
turned back to the intercomm, "We'll have it sealed in a minute
Captain."</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">"That's
all you got, Ensign." Morgan replied as she watched the viewscreen. </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">"I
would estimate significantly less than that ma'am." The Andorian said
matter of factly as he jammed the control stick back as far as it would go and
held his breath in the face of the wounded giant looming closer and closer in
front of them. </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Nat fired
the Yorktown's phased cannon. He had to take advantage of the damage the
torpedoes had just done. </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">As Da'nak
watched the sparkling bits fly off the huge hulk and the rippling of energy
beneath it's metal skin something occurred to him. "Captain, I have an
idea." </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">"Proximity
alert: Impact with vessel in six seconds" </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">"Spill
it. Anything would be good right now." Morgan replied. </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">"If
we unbalance the power output to the rear thrusters, that should pull us one
way or the other. It's not something I would normally try, but things being
what they are..." The Andorian left the question unfinished as his hand
hovered over the controls in anticipation of the order. "And if Nat could
put everything we've got into a forward barrage, that might help give us some
clearance. Up for it Commander?"</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Nat smiled
and replied, "Sure Java, that could be arranged." He looked towards
the captain.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">"Even
still, I wouldn't ask Commander Boyle or Mr.Savok for odds on our
success." </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Indeed,
the Vulcan quietly mused to himself. </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">"It
would have to be better than crashing," Boyle said looking at Morgan,
"and if anyone can pilot us to safety..." </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Morgan
looked from Boyle to the Defender. "Don't just talk about it. Let's do
it." The hull of the damaged Subersaber looming on the veiwscreen before
them. </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">"The
plan is just crazy enough to work." </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Savok held
his tongue. </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">"Proximity
Alert: Impact with vessel in three seconds." </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">"Brace
yourselves! " Da'nak screamed as his hands gripped the controls hard
enough for the color to drain out of his knuckles. "I'm initiating. Nat,
as you humans say, Go crazy." </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Nat smiled
and fired a salvo of torpedoes. </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Suddenly
there was a blaring of sirens and alert signals as the Yorktown was violently
shifted sideways. The Blue helmsman was tossed violently forward, smashing his
head on the console. He could feel the blood begin to well in the fresh cut,
and his vision grew blurred, but still he managed to reactivate the engines and
rocket the Fighting Lady forward behind Nat's salvo. </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">"We're
still gonna hit it..." Boyle said wishing he had a seat-belt. He looked
back down at his screen, "...2 ...1." </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">More
pieces broke off from the Ghaeghog. Da'nak only hoped it was enough as the
Yorktown slammed into a corner of the crippled starship. There was a deafening
crunch and scraping of metal as the two ships shuddered violently, throwing the
Andorian headlong over the helm console to the floor. The blood began to flow
freely from his head as he looked up to the viewscreen. Debris clouded his
vision for a moment, but as the proud ship plowed forward he could see... an
empty starfield. They had made it! They were through. </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Behind
them, the trailing Nausicaan cruiser was not as lucky as the vessel slammed
headlong into the damaged Supersabre, initiating a chain reaction in the two
ship's reactor cores, finally sending them both up in a massive explosion, the
energy rivaling a small sun. The blast wave from the doomed vessels rolled
out, smashing the fighters that were closing in to scrap. Still the wave rolled
on, slamming roughly into the Yorktown's stern, pushing her forward like a
paper boat on an angry pond and causing her to list to one side. On
the bridge, alarm klaxons blared and everything was bathed in the red of the
emergency lighting as main power went offline. </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Da'nak
struggled to his feet, wiping at the blood that stained his white hair and ran
down into his eyes. "Not... Ideal..." He said in a weak voice.
"But I believe you terrans have the saying, 'Any landing you can walk away
from...'" </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Nat got
back to his feet. After shaking the cobwebs out, he said, "Well that was
interesting. Good flying Java."</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">When the
ship finally stopped shuddering from its impact, Morgan unwrapped her arms from
protecting her head. Looking up from the deck, she found that she had
slid across it, to stop in front of the Engineering auxiliary station.
"Status report." she said pulling herself to her knees.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">"The
sensors are back up..." Boyle said after giving his console a slight kick,
"damn British piece of... the Gobbledee-gook is gone, or more correctly
scattered across the system, I'm also reading debris from at least one cruiser
and many fighters…</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Da'nak
pressed the sleeve of his uniform against his forehead to stem the flow of
blood and went in search of the bridge's emergency med kit. </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">"I
have Intrepid..." Boyle continued, "oh my..." </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">"What
now?"</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">"Captain,"
Boyle said, "I don't read anyone alive... not even the plants in the
hydroponics bay..." </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Nat was
staggered by this bit of tragic news. He's served aboard the Intrepid prior to
coming aboard the Yorktown. So many friends lost. He just shook his head.
There'd be time to mourn later. </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">To add to
the disturbing news, Savok turned in his chair, a finger against the earpiece.
“The Inteprid has ceased transmitting. They are not responding to my hails.”</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">From where
she knelt Morgan said, "Find out what the hell happened over there." </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">The
Andorian stopped as he pressed the bandage against his forehead and offered a
silent prayer to the great being. Da'nak was battle-tested and well aware that
casualties were a side effect of war, but that never made the losses easier to
take. He felt sorry for all those families who would never see their loved ones
again. Even though they were not his people, Da'nak was familiar with the pain.
Right now they needed to focus, so that they <span style="font-style: italic;">could
</span>remember the sacrifice later. </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">The Vulcan
noted Da’nak’s bleeding and left his seat. He approached the Andorian.
“Defender Ca‘daar, I am cross-trained in emergency medicine. May I have a
look?”</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Da'nak
nodded, admittedly mildly surprised at the vulcan, his antennae stood up as he
pulled back the bandage for Savok to inspect the wound underneath.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">“You have
a laceration, superficial at most. If you will just hold still for a moment…”
Without waiting for a reply, Savok surely and quickly applied two butterfly
bandages and sprayed the laceration with an cougulant. It took only seconds.
“While the cut is minor, you should visit Doctor Tsang at your earliest
convenience as I cannot determine if there is any corresponding damage
involving your antennae.”</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">The
Andorian smiled, still somewhat unsure of how to take the gesture, he nodded.
"Thank you Mister Savok. Rest assured I'll have it looked at as soon as
the danger has passed." His eyes searched the Vulcan's features for
a moment, looking for any form as malice, but it would have been easier to read
a Tellerite technical manual than the features of a vulcan. Da'nak finally
turned and began to see what he could do with the helm controls.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Climbing
to her feet Morgan glanced at the viewscreen and watched the debris of
Naussicaan vessels float by. As she moved back across the bridge she
stopped briefly in front of Nat. "Take out any raider trying to get
away." Turing back she glanced over at the Andorian and Vulcan.
"Mister Savok get me through to Fleet Captain Hawke. Lets get our Lady
moving. "</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Nat nodded
and said, "You can count on it captain." He then looked at his
targeting sensors for any signs of raiders.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">~~~</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Capt Rece Morgan - CO</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">LtCmdr George Boyle -
XO/CSO</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">LtCmdr Nat Cameron -
CAO</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Defender Da'nak
Ca'daar - CHO</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">SubEns Savok</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Yorktown NX-05 : The
Fighting Lady</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> </p>
<br clear="all"><br>-- <br>RM<br><br>"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."<br>-Calvin & Hobbes<br>