Maybe all three.
"Fire torpedoes! Full spread! Helm: prepare for full-emergency-stop."
Each cadet acknowledged their order in turn.
"Torpedoes away!" said tactical. The main viewscreen switched to show the aft section of the ship; stars were streaming by the hull. Five bright red darts soared from the aft torpedo launcher. "Torpedoes have impacted. Direct hits." He turned his head. "Negligible damage to Panou forward shields."
The first officer gasped.
Aaen squinted at the center of the main viewscreen. "Magnify. Factor two." the main computer beeped acknowledgment of the command.
"Jeez. That ship looks like it's glaring at us even more, now." said the first officer.
"Yeah, and in a few minutes, it'll be close enough to count how many of us there are on this ship through a view port." said the Ambassador.
Maybe not. Aaen thought.
"Reload aft torpedo bay. Helm, full—"
The subject on the main viewscreen flashed repeatedly. A series of thundering BANGS. The ship rocked violently.
"Report!" Aaen said, struggling to brace against the first officer station and the hand rail.
"Direct hit to aft shields!" said tactical.
"Detecting damage to the port nacelle!" said damage control-left.
"We're on a flat spin! Attempting to use maneuvering thrusters to stabilize the ship!" said Helm.
The main viewscreen showed the seemingly elongated stars moving across the screen.
The ribbons of light became still dots five seconds later. "Thrusters functional. Full stop, Sir."
"Navigation, calculate a new course to the Muteran Nebula." said the first officer.
The cadet nodded acknowledgment.
"Captain, from what I can tell, they missed the translight coils! The transight drive will still be functional for about fifteen minutes. Translight drive will be offline after that time until damage control can repair it. We'll be on impulse until then." Tex said.
"Acknowledged!"
"Reloading aft torpedo bay."
"Recalculating course to Muteran Nebula."
The sensors station flashed.
"Report," Aaen said.
"The Panou ship will overtake us in five seconds!—They're locking weapons on us!"
The Panou ship seemingly started rapidly strobing.
The first officer leaned forward. "Evasive action! Auxiliary power to—!"
Pulses of focused lightning found their target. The aft shields lit up brightly for two seconds, then vanished. The main viewscreen filled with pieces of jagged hull debris. The ship rocked more violently. Sparks shot from the overhead lights for five seconds. The overhead lights struggled to stay on. The bridge crew fought against the variable artificial gravity to hold on to their stations.
The Panou ship slowed to impulse, and then passed over the Voyager. The deck plating vibrated under the turbulence of the Panou ship's engine thrust.
"Aft shields are gone!" yelled tactical.
"Detecting damage to the left translight nacelle!" said damage control-left.
"Attempting to stabilize the ship!" the action was more quickly carried out.
"Hull breach on decks nine through fifteen on the stardrive section! Multiple systems are offline! Decks nine through fifteen are venting atmosphere. Engaging emergency force fields in affected areas of the ship!" damage control-left said.
"Forward view on the viewer!" Aaen said. The computer complied.
"Emergency forcefields are in place, and holding." said damage control-right.
"We were lucky on that last barrage, Captain. All crew members accounted for!" said the bridge engineer cadet.
"They're coming around for another pass!" said sensors.
Aaen looked at the first officer. "What if we separate the saucer section from the stardrive section before we go into the nebula?"
The first officer looked at Aaen with a look that suggested there was a difference of opinion on what was just said.
"Separate, the ship? We're lucky to be in one piece as it is right now, Aaen."
"Course to the Muteran Nebula calculated, and laid in, Captain."
"Maximum impulse."
"Eye!"
The Panou ship moved out of the left side of the main viewscreen mid-turn.
"Fire all weapons!" said the first officer.
The main viewscreen filled with bursts of directed red lightning and ten torpedoes in concert. Aaen watched as all weapons found their target with ease. Each cannon bolt rippled off; the torpedoes detonated on impact.
"Damage to Panou ship?"
"All weapon fire was deflected by the Panou shields. Their shields were only mildly affected, Captain."
Dang it! Aaen clenched his teeth. "How long until we reach the nebula?"
"Ten minutes, at this speed, Sir. We can get there in less than one minute if we increase speed to at least translight six. Given the distance between us and the Panou ship, that should give us enough time to get to the nebula before they can fire again."
"What's wrong?" Aaen asked the sensor cadet.
"Their primary weapon's nearly fully charged. Based on these readings, they'll be ready to fire in fifteen seconds."
"Captain, I might be able to give you partial aft shields. I don't think any of the shields can take another hit from that weapon! Let's get outta here!" Tex said.
"Agreed! Helm! Translight six!" said the first officer.
"Damage to the port nacelle has reduced translight capability to translight factor four, Sir."
"We were lucky they missed, Captain," Aaen said.
"Agreed. Helm, engage translight engines. Translight four."
"Engaging translight drive!"
The deck plating rattled vigorously as the ship struggled to breach the translight barrier.
"C'mon Voyager, hold on just a little longer," Aaen said quietly.
"Seriously." the first officer agreed.
"Captain, hull integrity's at seventy-three percent." said the bridge engineer cadet.
"How long until they're in firing range?" Aaen asked.
"Ten seconds for their secondary weapon systems."
The main viewscreen lit up once again.
"Oh no." said the first officer.
"Another shock wave!" said sensors.
"Shields!" said the first officer.
"Aft shields now at thirty percent! The rest of the shield grid's only at forty!" tactical replied.
"Captain, the ship can't keep taking this kind of damage!" damage control-left said.
The deck plating became aggressively turbulent.
BAM
The raging shock wave engulfed the hull as though it had been motionless. The ship rocked under the thundering impact. The bridge crew could feel Voyager rolling hard to starboard; the bow dipped sharply. A plume of white smoke engulfed the communication stations. The bridge crew held fast to their stations.
"Engage. .emergency stabilizers!" the first officer said
"—Eye!" Helm replied.
Aaen noticed the tactical station screen filled with static, and then gradually cleared—
"All shields have failed!" yelled tactical.
Gasping, struggling to brace, the Bridge Engineer Cadet looked at the first officer.
"Hull. . .integrity. . .down to. . .forty percent, Captain!"
"Cargo bays two and three are compromised! Carbo bays are decompressing!"
The bridge lights dimmed sharply.
"Main power is fluctuating!" said the bridge engineer cadet.
"Seal off those cargo bays, and evacuate those decks." said the first officer.
"Eye!"
"Warning: Main Power not balanced. Right and Left Wing Power Distribution, please balance bridge power levels."
"On it!" said Cadet at Right Wing Power Distribution.
The thundering turbulence gradually stopped. The main viewscreen cleared.
"We're clear of the shockwave!" said sensors.
Ten seconds later, the stars became still. A massive purple and blue nebula rested just left of the center of the main viewscreen.
"Muteran Nebula, directly ahead, Captain."
Aaen looked at the first officer. "The Panou's trying to knock our engines out. It really doesn't want to lose Roul."
"At maximum impulse, we should reach the nebula in less than three minutes." said sensors.
"We'll be in communication range of the Montgomery in less than one, at that speed, Captain." said the short-range communications.
"Engage Impulse engines." said the first officer.
"Engaging Impulse engines," said Helm.
The bassy hum of the Impulse drive filled the bridge for ten seconds. The nebula began to get progressively larger with each passing second.
"Where is the Panou ship?" Aaen asked sensors.
"Trying to lock it's pulsating weapons on us. The nebula appears to be interfering with their weapon targeting systems, almost like a countermeasure."
"Let's hope they aren't the best shots with manual targeting," Aaen muttered. The deck plating vibrated mildly. "Sensors?" Aaen asked.
"Looks like they're taking blind shots at us, Sir. They must not be able to get a solid lock on us, for some reason."
"Captain, the port nacelle has buckled. The port nacelle is venting drive plasma. If we don't shut the translight care down in the next sixty seconds, the ship will explode!" Tex said.
The first officer looked at the Bridge Engineer Cadet. "Shut the translight core down."
She nodded.
"Short-range, send a message to all decks: standby for translight care shut down. Prepare to switch to auxiliary power. Sensors, how long until we enter the nebula?" Aaen asked.
"One minute, fifteen seconds, Sir."
"Do you have a lock, Tactical?" the first officer asked.
"Yes, Sir."
"Captain, there might be innocent people on that ship being forced to work for that Panou against their will. I think we should avoid destroying that ship. I recommend strategic targeting of any key systems that might disable that ship, rather than destroy it, outright."
"Agreed. Our weapons are barely denting their shields, though. What makes you think another volley is going to get through?"
"We don't know for sure that any of our weapons will be effective against their shields or hull plating. The Panou might have a weakness in their shields and hull plating that we haven't figure out how to exploit yet. There's still time to figure that out. Despite the tactical unknowns, I'd still feel more comfortable strategically throwing everything we've got at them. Until we can determine their tactical weaknesses, I suggest we hold fire until they fire at us."
"What?" the first officer looked at Aaen with a confused look.
"We can use our weapons to negate theirs until we can figure out a way to disable their ship." Aaen looked at Roul. "Are there any others like you on the Panou ship that you know of?"
Obviously fearful, Roul struggled to turn his head.
A ship that big couldn't be operated by just one individual or a small crew. Aaen thought.
The first officer nodded, shifted his attention to the main viewscreen. "Tactical, lock cannons on their engines. Lock torpedoes on their weapons array."
"Eye!"
"Why haven't they fired?" Aaen asked quietly.
An alarm filled the bridge.
"Unauthorized transport detected. Intruder, alert!" the Main Computer announced.
Aaen looked left sharply. "Security!"
"On it!" replied the Chief of Security.
The first officer made eye contact with Tactical. "All weapons—Fire. At. Will."
The deck plating vibrated again. . . Again. The vibrations became more intense.
"They're getting closer!" sensors said.
"How long until we enter the nebula?" Aaen asked.
"Thirty seconds, Sir."
Aaen looked at the main viewscreen, relieved and looking determined.
"Captain, security reports the intruders have entered a Jefferies tube on deck three. Possibly en route to the bridge. Security reports intruders are armed."
"Force fields?"
"Not enough power. I've dispatched security to deck two, with orders to cover all possible access points to that deck and the bridge."
"Good job."
"Captain, security reports a few crew members were wounded during a firefight on deck three. A medical team has been requested."
"Medical team to deck three." the first officer said Short-range Communication Cadet nodded and then quickly proceeded to carry out the order.
"Fifteen seconds to nebula entry!" said Sensors. "Panou ship is slowing!"
"Are we in comm range to the Montgomery?" Aaen asked.
"Yes, Sir!"
"Open a channel. Spacefleet Priority Frequency."
"Captain, a ship is leaving the nebula."
"What ship?"
Aaen rushed to the Sensor Station.
"It's the Montgomery!"
"On screen!" Aaen said.
An Excelsior-class ship soared out of the nebula; a blue mist trailed its translight nacelles.
"The Montgomery is coming around our three o'clock! Their shields are up, and they're arming weapons!"
Aaen turned to the first officer, wide-eyed, "We've gotta call them and tell them not to engage the Panou ship."
"Hailing frequency open!"
"This is the Captain of the USS Mon—"
"Captain! Fall back, now!" the first officer said
"Captain, we detected an unknown alien ship firing on your ship, and in pursuit."
"Captain, that ship is heavily armed. You need to fall back, now!"
"They're already in weapon range of the Panou ship, Sir!" said sensors. "The Panou ship is changing course to intercept the Montgomery."
"Captain, alien ship is locking weapons on us!" a voice said in the background.
"Come hard about!"
"The Panou ship is firing its primary weapon!" said sensors.
The Voyager bridge crew watched wide-eyed as the main viewscreen lit up, and then darkened. The shock wave slammed the Montgomery.
"Evasive maneuvers! Take us back into the—"
"Audio from Montgomery lost!" said Short-Range Communications Cadet.
"Get outta there while you still can, Captain," Aaen muttered.
"We're entering the nebula! Sensor data indicates the main viewscreen will be offline in ten seconds!"
The bridge video feed replaced the external feed. A Spacefleet crew struggled to hold onto their stations as sparks showered sporadically, bulkheads collapsed, stations and lights flickered. Aaen watched the Captain of the Montgomery struggle to walk to the front of the bridge behind his helmsman, yelling over the sound of a turbulent ship to put all their engines in full reverse.
The shockwave dissipated. The main viewscreen showed the Montgomery barely maintaining forward momentum; slowly rolling and drifting to port.
"The Montgomery's shields have failed. Their main power grid's failing," said sensors.
"Captain, if you can hear me: get outta there!" the first officer said "Tactical! Fire!"
"No lock! Targeting sensors inoperative!"
"The Montgomery's coming about, changing course back to the nebula, Captain!—The Panou ship's approaching the Montgomery! They're not going to outrun the Panou ship! The Panou is firing its secondary weapon system!"
The Montgomery veered to port, moving a crawling pace. Bursts of white and purple lightning pummeled the forward saucer section. The Montgomery's bow dipped sharply. The impact sent a large piece of jagged, burning hull tumbling quickly into the void.
"The Montgomery is reentering the nebula," said sensors. The bridge breathed a sign of relief.
"Captain, the Montgomery is reporting critical hull damage, including subsystem damage." Said Short-Range Communication Cadet. We are receiving a distress call from the Montgomery! They say their main power grid has failed. Auxiliary power is not functioning. Emergency power failing. Their Captain has given the order to abandon ship."
"Detecting escape pods launching from the Montgomery!"
The main viewscreen showed numerous small hatches opening along Montgomery's hull. Small metal pods began soaring into space in sequence from the bow to the stern.
"Detecting all but one escape pod has been launched. The Captain and first officer are still on board! The Panou ship is ignoring the escape pods!"
"Beam the Captain and first officer aboard!" Aaen said.
"Location of Panou ship?" the first officer asked.
"Just outside the nebula. Sensor information is becoming increasingly sketchy as we approach the nebula. Current readings indicate the Panou ship is intercepting the Montgomery. The Panou ship is firing!"
"Transporter lock!" said Right-Wing.
"Energize!" Aaen said.
The main viewscreen gradually filled with static. The Montgomery started to roll to port, its bow continuing to dip. Screen static increased. The Panou ship approached the Montgomery at high impulse and fired another lightning barrage. The barrage tore through the star drive section. A massive explosion sent debris violently hurling in every direction. The force of the blast rocked the Voyager, briefly.
The Panou ship flew around the explosion, seemingly charging for the Voyager.
The main viewscreen blacked out.
"Transporters?" Aaen asked.
"—Their Captain and first officer are in sickbay, Sir."
The bridge cheered for several seconds, then the sensor station flashed.
"Routing sensor information to the tactical screen." sensors said.
"Radiation levels rising!" said Bridge Engineer Cadet. An alarm filled the bridge for several seconds.
The tactical screen showed a thin white grid full of colorful areas. The Voyager was represented by a yellow, delta-shaped icon.
"The green areas must mean the least intense radiation level," Aaen said, turning to the first officer. "If we disengage the impulse engines, the residual momentum should be enough to get us deep enough into the nebula to hide us from their sensors. They'd have to come into the nebula and do a visual search."
"You're assuming their sensory technology is comparable to ours and would be affected in the same way."
"Our tactical options are few, Captain. Right now our ship is the Panou ship's only challenge. They were following us, and then slowed when they detected we started to enter the nebula."
"Warning: approaching high-intensity radiation area." the Main Computer announced.
"I'd say they're just as worried as we are about the nebula's effects on their ship's sensory systems."
The first officer turned forward. "Helm, disengage impulse engines. Use thrusters to get us around those radiation pockets." the first officer said
"Where is the Panou ship?" Aaen asked.
"Passive sensors inoperative, Sir. Interference from the nebula."
Aaen looked at the Sensors station. The circular readout was filled with emerald green snow static.
Aaen looked at the first officer. "Did you hear that?"
"Hand cannon fire."
Aaen rushed to the security stations.
"Security to deck two!" a voice called from the next deck below.
"Sidearm," Aaen demanded. The Chief of Security firmly set a large black rifle-like unit in Aaen's hand. Two more shots echoed up the spiral staircase. Another. "On me!" Aaen proceeded to the top of the spiral staircase. He could hear the bridge security cadets following him down the staircase.
Two more bolts struck the nearby adjacent wall. Aaen saw three security personnel taking cover in and around the deck two sickbay. Aaen ducked, trained his sidearm forward and fired a shot at the top of the staircase opposite. Missed!
The two security officers fired as they moved left behind Aaen, around and behind a large counter top. "One intruder stunned!" said the Chief of Security.
Three more bolts impacted the rear wall at the foot of the spiral staircase. Aaen returned fire twice. Footsteps. They're advancing! Aaen reasoned. The security personnel all stepped out from cover and fired at the far staircase.
"Two intruders stunned."
Aaen gestured for the security officers to rush the intruders. The order was carried out immediately. Security trained their cannons at the top of the staircase and then slowly marched to the staircase, firing continuously.
"Intruder stunned!" the message was announced multiple times. The firing stopped.
"Clear!" said the Chief of Security.
That'll teach 'em to try to board a Federation ship, Aaen thought.
"Aaen to the bridge!" said the first officer.
"Good shooting. Take the intruders to the brig." Aaen said. Security nodded. Aaen rushed back to the bridge, setting the cannon on the security station before rushing to the first officer seat.
"There it is!" the Long-Range Communication Cadet said, pointing at a new icon in the lower left-hand corner of the tactical screen. The second icon moved at a steady pace toward the yellow delta symbol.
"They're getting closer!"
"Captain, their technology has proven to be superior to ours. Their sensors probably aren't affected like ours in this nebula–at least not identically. I suggest we hold position, here, and switch to emergency power. If they can't detect our hull, they might still be able to detect our ship's energy signature, which would be distinct from nebula interference."
The first officer looked at the Helm. "Thrusters. Full stop." To Bridge Engineer Cadet. "Switch to emergency power."
The bridge went dark. The only light came from the computer stations and the tactical screen.
"All engines at full stop, Captain."
The second icon inched closer to the yellow delta icon.
"Our impulse wake is still dissipating." Aaen said.
The Short-Range Communication station handset started beeping intermittently. The Cadet started to reach out for the handset.
"No! Don't!" said the bridge crew.
"What?"
"They apparently can't detect us as we are, now. You pick up that handset, they'll be able to trace the call to find out where we are." Aaen said.
The Short-Range Cadet sat at ease.
The handset continued to beep intermittently. Again.
"The Panou ship's approximately one-thousand meters away on our port quarter." Sensors said, interpreting the tactical screen data.
The second icon continued proceeding straight, turned left for three seconds, and then right.
"Aaen!" the first officer said
"Less than five hundred meters! Collision possible!"
The handset stopped ringing. The second icon continued until it disappeared from the bottom right-hand corner of the tactical screen, twice as fast as when it appeared.
The bridge gasped in relief.
"Switch back to auxiliary power. Take us out of the nebula." Aaen said.
The bridge lights came back to normal illumination.
"We will be out of the nebula in ten seconds." Sensors said.
"Thrusters are a little sluggish," Helm said.
"Scan for the Panou ship once sensors clear." the first officer said
Aaen returned to the first officer seat. Security proceeded up the spiral staircase, intruders held by the wrist, quickly proceeding to the bridge brig. The intruders were dressed similarly to Roul. More slaves freed, I guess. Aaen thought.
Ten seconds later–stars.
"Captain, I am no longer detecting the Panou ship or the wormhole on sensors."
The first officer looked at damage control. "How long until translight engines are back online?"
"Just finished fixing them, Sir."
"Good job!" Aaen said. The bridge crew clapped and cheered.
"Captain, all translight speeds available."
"Stand down from red alert. Alert condition three. Helm, set course for Star Base One. Maximum translight."
"And, Long-Range, send a message to the nearest Star Base. Tell them to send any available ships to aid the recovery of the Montgomery crew." Aaen said, turning to the Captain. "I for one am looking forward to commencement."
*****
Steve H. told Jordan Foutin, "You are the next Tom Clancy. You really are a gifted writer."
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