S4:E7 - A Gathering of Angels

[Ian Galloway]

"Healy to the Fleet, we took a bad blow and are left with impulse engines only. We'll try to keep up our shields as long as possible by rerouting energy."

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

Ian winced at the report, but given the intensity of the fighting compared to the size of the Healy, that she'd taken heavy damage wasn't a surprise, she simply wasn't designed for heavy fleet combat.

"Understood Healy, if'n you need assistance let us know. The parasites are concentratin' on the station and make for fine target practice at the moment. You can drop back for repairs should you require."

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO1 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[USS Challenger - Deck One - Bridge]

Cmdr. Tess t'Lhoell
[USS Healy - Bridge]

"Lay out your plan, Captain. We will do anything we can to support you."

[Deck 1 - Main Bridge - USS Discovery]
"Discovery to Challenger.  We still don't have our new drive.  And you know to obtain our max speed, we need to stay together.  I'm leaving you in charge of the fleet.. we'll be back as soon as possible.  Discovery out." 

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

"BOLLICKS!"

Ian thundered again as being in charge of the fleet meant he could no longer continue his run at the mothership. No, he had a greater responsibility now and that meant the Wanderer carrier got to survive a little longer.

"Helm bring us about. Course 125 mark 16. Tactical, I want that Siursach parasite leader reduced ta rapidly coolin' plasma as soon as you can lock onto her!"

He pounded the comm panel on the command chair.

"Dalish?"

"They're coming online... now Captain."

"You're the best Dalish."

"Tell me something I don't know. Now don't get my ship destroyed. Dalish out."

Ian chuckled at his chief engineer's claim of ownership as the Challenger's shields surged with renewed strength just as the ship came about. Lieutenant T'Kel at tactical began punishing every Wanderer attack ship that had the misfortune to enter her firing envelop, quickly destroying one of them and leaving two others heavily damaged.

Ian noted the shield increase with grim satisfaction and the damage to the other attack ships, but his eyes were fixated on the leader's ship and the grin on his became a feral thing that was as unsettling as it was determined.

"You are bloody next you slimy tart."

He murmured as the Challenger closed like an avenging angel of doom on the lead Wanderer attack ship.

Lahr's antenna twitched at the Captain's vocal swearing.  At least it wasn't at him this time.   The focus of Captain Galloways anger was that Wanderer female.  But before Ian could get off a shot Discovery had managed to disable ship and claim their prize.   "They've beamed the occupants aboard  that ship directly to their brig."  he informed antenna already drooped and swiveling away to lessen the force of the explosive retort his words were likely to cause.

Ian watched the Discovery disable the parasite leader and it took every fiber of his being to not scream in frustration. Livid, he tamped all the anger down into his clenched fists and spoke in a deadly quiet tone.

"Helm, your course is now 86 mark 15, keep us between the parasites and the station. Tactical, your orders remain the same terminate those attack ships by any means available."

Ian then spoke into his comm panel.

"Galloway ta Healy, my plan has been overtaken by events for now. As flag, I have ta wait until we're certain the station is safe. If'n the Discovery returns in a timely manner, then we can implement my plan. I will send you the rough outline of my plan in a file shortly. Challenger out."

The file is a simple system plot showing the Challenger and the Healy driving directly on the Wanderer mothership, Thatch Weaving if necessary until the Challenger makes a strafing run down the length of the carrier. During the run she rolls to one side and dropping a stick of twenty quantum torpedoes as free fall bombs with the Healy flying close escort during the bombing run.

The Captain's fierce quiet tone was even more frightening than his shouts.  Lahr made sure to continue playing Scotland the Brave in the background on loop.

Cmdr. Tess t'Lhoell
[USS Healy - Bridge]

"Healy to the Fleet, we took a bad blow and are left with impulse engines only. We'll try to keep up our shields as long as possible by rerouting energy."

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

Ian winced at the report, but given the intensity of the fighting compared to the size of the Healy, that she'd taken heavy damage wasn't a surprise, she simply wasn't designed for heavy fleet combat.

"Understood Healy, if'n you need assistance let us know. The parasites are concentratin' on the station and make for fine target practice at the moment. You can drop back for repairs should you require."

The news about the Healy taking a hit which left her with only impulse was bad timing.    As it was the attack ships where they were by the edge of the Oort cloud were all buggering off back to their huge mothership.   As the Captain noted the action was happening now back towards the station, as well as at the convoy - but at impulse the Healy would never make it to either in time to lend aid.

"Any way Challenger could give the Healy a tow closer to the action, sir?  Their weapons could make a difference."

Lahr glanced over to Ruth... she'd been rather quiet focused on whatever calamity was happening on the freighter Conundrum by the Trialus star.   He wasn't at all sure what anomaly was being discussed by Science folks but it certainly seemed serious to keep Ruth's attention.

He leaned out of his seat a bit towards Ruth. "So what's going on with the sun and that freighter?" he asked curiously.

[Ian Galloway]

Katra Station - Promenade - Weeks Later

Solluk walked the promenade as he spoke.  His sub-vocalizations were being picked up by his com-badge, transmitted to the PADD he carried, and eventually sent via network to the station's computer.

Captain's Log, Stardate 76012.10

As I walk the Promenade of Katra Station, it is hard to believe that a mere few weeks ago, the station was in chaos.  Thanks to the Discovery pulling the Conundrum out of position, we were all saved.  We glimpsed another existence, and traveled to a further frontier than I ever imagined possible.  But we were not stranded there.  As miraculous as that place was, I'm grateful for that.

We have unfinished business in this universe.

The ceremonies for the dead have been held.  It was deeply saddening to see the loss of life, as it always is.  But there was an odd sense of hope that there might be something more for those who had passed on.  I hesitate to call our time in the thought-dimension a religious experience, but it was profound, and it gave almost everyone- even most of our stringent atheists- a sense that perhaps dying is not the end of the sentient experience.  Perhaps, in some alternate universe, those lost to us may persist as living ideas, continuing to explore the unfolding frontiers of existence.

A fanciful idea.  But less fanciful than it used to be.

Thanks to Ops, Engineering, and the Diplomatic Corps, the station has been transformed into a festive wonderland.   The year-end and year-beginning celebrations of a dozen species are represented here.  You can walk from one zone to another, and enter an entirely different culture.

As I walk now, I see Klingons re-enacting a great victory from their past.

A few more steps now, and the Dord are singing an opera of some kind.  Let me move past that...

... And now, as I round the level, I see where the Numati have gathered, with Zex mediating.  They are here to publicly declare their regret to Captain Tekin, and all those who were harmed by their actions last year.  They have vowed to allow Federation observers onto their world to witness that all work on their Prometheus copy has ceased, and to hand over what little progress they made.

I might not have guessed their apology would be well received, before all of the recent events unfolded.  I also might have been cynical that this was an empty political gesture, or that they had merely given up on the fruits of their espionage due to Starfleet Intelligence's highly effective sabotage of that effort.

But now... now I have hope.

Now I can believe that this might be genuine, and the first step to true peace and understanding between the Numati and the Federation.

Outside the station walls, at the drydock, the current crop of refits and repairs are almost done.   Soon, new ships will arrive from the holding queue at New Bajor.  These who have stood with us in defense of this system will be departing before long.

Yet even as they go, we will all be united in a common, extraordinary experience.

We are many.

We are one.

End log.

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

The Challenger had just undocked from Katra station and was making her way at full impulse out of the system at the start of the long trip back to the Bajoran Wormhole for her return to the Alpha Quadrant. Ian was sitting in the command chair and was feeling inordinately pleased with himself. Captain Tekin had agreed to transfer one Lieutenant Jessica Fellows to the Challenger, which meant the couple's subspace affair was over and that they could now see each other in person again.

Tekin had surprised Ian by asking that one of the Challenger's security personnel, a crewman Helga Tragnar be transferred to Discovery, which was perfectly acceptable to Ian. Not that the exchange was a "trade", just a pair of requested and approved transfers between ships. Jess and Helga were not the only transfers to occur during the visit at Katra, a Lieutenant JG Paul Wessex from the station's security department had requested a ship assignment and based on the man's personnel file, Ian was quick to snap him up as he seemed to be a superlative officer.

As the station dwindled in size, Ian reflected on their time at Katra. Once again, the station came under determined attack, but at least this time the attack was nothing like the touch and go nail biter it had been when the Dosi nearly destroyed the station.

"At least that run in didn't end in a visit ta nowhere."

Ian mused as he thought about the brief stay in the alternate reality of pure consciousness.

"Better than the trip that led ta the Nazi-verse."

Ian chuckled as he reflected on the two existential journeys the different bursts of energies had caused. Regardless of intense combat or visits between realities, it was good to be under way again with all the upgrades complete. The Challenger might be an old hull, but she was still a very valuable asset to Starfleet and had many more opportunities to go where no one had gone before left in her. Once clear of the system, Lieutenant Litt at the helm engaged the warp drive and the Challenger was on her way to her next mission and the chance to make a difference.