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<DIV>[ Oregonian ]<BR><BR>A band of Romulan ships began to head toward the
freighter and<BR>Ethan knew now that their time was up. They had been found out
as the<BR>close range scan would have revealed the dilithium aboard, and
more<BR>significantly their human life signs. "Arturo, send all our data to
the<BR>Yorktown and Intrepid. Open a channel" he said to Mendez
at<BR>communications and began to execute their reverse course back out
of<BR>the system. The freighters impulse engines responded sluggishly,<BR>almost
complaining at the quickness of the change.<BR><BR>= Armstrong to Intrepid and
Yorktown. There is a massive build up of<BR>Romulan ships being repaired and
salvaged here. A shipyard which seem<BR>to be sending ships onwards. It is my
belief this is a staging areas<BR>they may be using for an attack on coalition
space. We have not been<BR>able to trace which one is the Bird of Prey carrying
Andorian data =<BR><BR>[Intrepid]<BR><BR>"Roger, Oregonian. Do you require
assistance at this time?" Case cursed<BR>the heavy metal gasses that interfered
with Intrepid's own sensors. The<BR>motley freighter would have to serve as
their eyes for now.<BR><BR>"Sir?" Case turned towards Ensign Wun. The armory
officer frowned.<BR>"Romulans practically define paranoia. If they're spooked,
they may try to<BR>remove the stolen Andorian data to a safer location instead
of trying to<BR>decipher it here."<BR><BR>"Hrmmmmm. That might depend just how
safe they feel at this location.<BR>Let's give the Oregonian a call."<BR><BR>=
Case to Oregonian. What types of ships are we talking about here? Ensign<BR>Wun
mentioned the paranoid tendencies of the Romulans. If you spook them,<BR>they
might try and remove that Andorian data to a safer location for
processing.<BR>Fly casual, boss=<BR><BR>= There is ships of several
classifications. = Ethan replied quickly<BR>as he continued calculating their
escape. The Yorktown then crackled<BR>in over the
communications.<BR><BR>[Yorktown]<BR><BR>"Cad'aar here Captain Armstrong. Our
repairs have been largely completed and<BR>we stand ready to
assist."<BR><BR>The blue helmsman hit some buttons on the console next
to him,<BR>bringing up the data<BR>from the sensor sweeps that their
Andorian allies had been conducting<BR>on the outskirts<BR>of the system since
shortly before the freighter had gone in.<BR><BR>"Commander Quirra's task force
confirms multiple contacts leaving and<BR>entering the system as well
as prolific com traffic. This is a lot<BR>bigger than we expected. We
should advise Starfleet of the situation,<BR>but we can't afford to lose the
element of surprise. Oregonian, what<BR>is your current status? Have you been
found out?"<BR><BR>= We have been detected. Repeat, we have been detected. They
are not<BR>aware of our back up or purpose here but they know there are
humans<BR>aboard this ship! If we are going to make a move then we need to
make<BR>it now or very soon. We will delay them for as long as we can =
Ethan<BR>replied urgently. = The Andorian data is probably at the
shipyard<BR>now.. =<BR><BR>Suddenly, there was an abrupt break in communications
as the screen filled<BR>with a familiar blue female face.<BR><BR>=This is
Commander Quirra, leader of task force Shulkar. We have been monitoring<BR>your
transmissions. We have orders to prevent the dissemination of the data on<BR>the
phantom device at all costs. We invite starfleet to accompany us as
allies,<BR>but our duty is clear.=<BR><BR>"Dammit Quirra," Da'nak said, slamming
his blue fist into the console.<BR>"Do you have<BR>any idea how big that
place is? There are /hundreds/ of vessels out<BR>there and there<BR>are only six
of us? Just what do you expect to do.. besides throw our<BR>lives away?<BR>Like
K'den."<BR><BR>Quirra's eyes softened a little. =You know I have no
choice.=<BR>Da'nak was taken back to a time before the war or the Romulans,
or<BR>even starfleet;<BR> when there was nothing but the Imperial
Guard. It had been her<BR>strength that had<BR>attracted him to her, and
her sense of duty. He knew she wouldn't back down.<BR><BR>The Andorian
commander let out a soft sigh. What was he to do? He never felt
so<BR>out of place. His heritage demanded that he follow her in, go out in
a<BR>blaze of glory...<BR>But his head told him otherwise. This wasn't an
Andorian vessel he was<BR>piloting, it was<BR>a Terran vessel. True the Terrans
were at war with the Romulans, but<BR>how would they<BR>respond to there
knowledge that an Andorian had ordered one of her<BR>proudest ships<BR>into the
abyss? He wished, not for the first time, that Captain Morgan<BR>was
here.<BR><BR>He knew where his duty lay... as much as he had to protect
the<BR>Yorktown, he had to<BR>protect the alliance. Suddenly an idea hit him.
"Quirra, standby... I<BR>think we may have<BR>a plan. Yorktown will stand with
you, but please wait for my signal."<BR><BR>=You have three minutes Da'nak.= It
was the first time she had used<BR>his name in what<BR>felt like ages. =Quirra
out.=<BR><BR>The screen when blank, but Da'nak was already hitting buttons on
the comm.<BR><BR>"Captain Armstrong, Commander Case? I'm going to assume you
heard that exchange.<BR>I think I have an idea that just might pull this out. If
you'll patch<BR>me through to Lt. Mathews<BR>and CPO Yearly, I think we can pull
it together..."<BR><BR>= Aye Commander. Looks like I am faced with a choice here
too.. to<BR>back Quirra and sanction Intrepid's involvement in an attack. Or
to<BR>let them face overwhelming odds alone. They.. = Ethan began
and<BR>corrected himself. = You are our allies. And we are at war with
the<BR>Romulans now. I've seen enough here, with recent reports, to say
we<BR>need to shut this place down. But how.. = he paused. = You now have
a<BR>channel open to Engineering = he received a confirmation nod
from<BR>Mendez. = Standby Petr = he said, to his executive officer
on<BR>Intrepid.<BR><BR>Cmdr Ethan Armstrong<BR>Commanding Officer<BR>ESS
Intrepid<BR><BR>&<BR><BR>LtCmdr Petr Case<BR>Executive Officer<BR>ESS
Intrepid<BR><BR>&<BR>Andorian Commander Da'nak Ca'daar<BR>Executive and
Chief Helm Officer<BR>NX-05 Yorktown<BR>The Fighting Lady<BR>&<BR>Andorian
Commander Quirra (NPC apb Leo)</DIV>
<DIV>Leader Task force Shulkar</DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 size=2 face="Franklin Gothic Demi" FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="10"><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0 color=#000000 size=2 face="Times New Roman"
FAMILY="SERIF" PTSIZE="10"><I>You ever dance with the devil in the pale moon
light?<BR>I always ask that of all my prey...<BR>I just like the sound of
it.....<BR><BR></I>Jack Nicholson- Batman</FONT></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>