Aaen and Jensen inched
the turbo shaft doors open over the course of ten seconds. Both officers panned
their rifle sights right and left in the way ahead. This part of the station
was trashed; obviously the base had taken at least a couple torpedo hits
to this area, Aaen guessed. He was still trying to figure out why anyone or anything would
take such a risk in attacking the one starbase closest to the Federation's
homeworld. One ship, no evidence of a boarding party. . . So
what other possible reason could there be?
Aaen was first out of the
turbo shaft. He activated his boot magnets. His heels quickly adhered to the
deck plating. Jensen was right behind him.
"You heard the
Admiral. Move towards the intruder's apparent location. There's a transporter
room on this deck–and multiple access points to the main power grid. We need to
find the intruder and arrest it. If we
can."
"If we can't?"
Aaen asked.
"Lets hope we can."
"Agreed." Aaen
said.
"Mission ops
to Odyssey away team: Lieutenant Commander Jensen, we have
been able to restore partial main power by tying the station's power grid into
the Voyager's auxiliary power. We have been able to determine
that Odyssey and Galileo will soon have main
power online. Starbase will soon have starship launch
capability." Fleet Admiral Williamson said.
"Aaen, turn right
at this corner. Admiral, has there been a change in the intruder's apparent
location?" Jensen asked.
"Negative. You're
closing on the intruder—one hundred meters and closing."
"Copy
that."
"Lieutenant,
increase sidearm power by one-quarter."
"Understood. Aaen
to mission ops: Admiral, I think the intruder's wounded."
"How do you know,
Lieutenant?"
"Because there are
hand prints on the wall similar to the scratch marks the intruder made in turbo
shaft two. I think the intruder had assumed a solid form, and that's when
it was most vulnerable. It knows our weapons can hurt it, and so it's
retreating. My guess is it's trying to get to the transporter room on this deck
to beam back to its ship. It either didn't get what it needed when it
boarded Starbase, or it did, and now it's returning to its
ship."
"You think it
boarded Starbase for a reason other than taking over?"
Jensen asked.
"I think it was
looking for something, yes. It may have found whatever it was looking for. The
base's lack of power may have something to do with it."
"We're attempting
to access transporter controls, now."
"Hold position,
here. The transporter room is just behind these doors."
Aaen assumed an athletic
stance on the right side of the doorway. His rifle was trained on the bottom of
the twin doors. Jensen was on the other side.
"On my count . .
. three–two–one—NOW!"
They rushed the doors.
The doors parted immediately.
"Left! Transport's
in progress!" Aaen yelled. A glowing swirl of blue and white light started
to encompass a large monstrosity.
"Fire!"
Jensen said. "Try to disrupt the transporter beam!"
Bolts of bright yellow
lightning filled the transporter pad for five seconds. Aaen scrambled to the
transporter controls.
"I might still be
able to recall the intruder's pattern from the . . . It's too late. It's back
on its ship."
"Where did it
go?" Fleet Admiral Williamson asked.
"The coordinates
appear to be twenty-five degrees an two thousand kilometers from Starbase,
Admiral," Jensen replied.
"Alright.
Lieutenant Aaen, beam back to the Odyssey with the rest of the
away team. Lieutenant Commander Jensen, operate the transporter. Odyssey Captain,
proceed with immediate launch. Establish communication with the other ships
while you pursue the intruder's ship and keep us apprised of you and your
crew's mission progress. Starbase One will have limited starship
launch capability for the next fifteen minutes until we can restore main power.
Good luck."
"Yes, sir."
the Captain replied.
Aaen proceeded to the
transporter pad. "The intruder seemed to look right at me."
Five seconds later, Aaen
was on the Odyssey's transporter pad. He removed and then stored
his space suit, and then assumed his station. The bridge was on yellow alert.
Something told him that there wasn't going to be much more time for talking.
*****
Steve H. told Jordan Foutin, "You are the next Tom Clancy. You really are a gifted writer."
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