Intolerance - Part Four

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."

DANIEL STORM, a Jordan Foutin eBook, is available for $8.99 at any of these fine online retailers: 

smashwords.com (Remember to like and share!)

apple iBooks (This link is best viewed on iPhone or iPad)

barnesandnoble.com 

scribd.com 

kobo.com

blio.com

Make sure to buy your copy today, and like and share!

Make sure to like the official StormTeam Simulations Facebook page for the latest, including when DANIEL STORM will be available on Amazon.com for Kindle eBook and softcover! Coming soon!

Intolerance - Part Three

"Explain." The first officer demanded, rushing to the sensors station. Aaen fingered over a large paragraph of sensor information, the first to the last of the current sensor log.

"Whatever the energy source of the alien shuttlecraft, the same energy signature exists at each point of impact on the alien shuttlecraft's hull. Who or whatever attacked that shuttle is using the same power source for their weapons." Aaen said. 

"You're saying the alien shuttle is stolen?" asked the first officer. 

"I'm saying: I think we need to have a chat with our new guest, sir." 

The right Damage Control Cadet turned to the command platform. "CO2 Scrubbers repaired." 

The bridge briefly filled with grateful cheers and clapping for the Damage Control Cadets. 

The sound of increasingly full blunt steps climbing metal briefly echoed through the bridge. Aaen looked left, behind the first officer at the top of the spiral staircase. Aaen's order to security had been carried out. Who-the-heck? Aaen thought, shocked at the sight of the second to walk up the staircase. 

"The alien occupant, sir." said the Chief of Security, gesturing the alien to stand in the middle of the bridge. The Deputy of Security stepped up onto the security platform and faced the center of the bridge–standing at ease, sidearm at the ready. The Chief of Security–also at ease–stood behind and to the left of the first officer.

"He can't be more than eleven or twelve years old!" the first officer quietly said to Aaen.

"In human years, sir, maybe." 

Aaen made direct eye contact with the alien, then spoke slightly louder than normal. "Can you understand us?"

The alien nodded, hesitantly. 

Thank goodness for the universal translator. Aaen thought. What in the world happened to that craft? Aaen looked at Short-Range. "Contact sickbay. Medical team to the bridge. On the double." 

"Aye, sir." 

Aaen looked back at the alien. Humanoid, very similar in appearance to humans. Clothing very torn and ragged. Either he was too close to something that overloaded on board that shuttlecraft during the apparent conflict, or. . . What about that mark on the left side of the alien's face?. . . Combat injury?. . . No. . . . That can't be a coincidence.

"Medical team is on the way, sir!" 

"Very well!" Aaen replied directly. 

The alien pointed at itself. "Puh-nayh. My name is Roul." 

"Is that your race? 'Panae'?" The first officer asked. 

"Yes." 

"What happened to your shuttle?" Aaen asked. 

"Captain! Sensors are detecting neutrino particle fluctuations in the wormhole!" 

Aaen snapped around, looked at the sensors screen. "Holy cow—Captain, something gigantic is coming through the wormhole." 

"How big?" the first officer asked. Aaen looked up at the main view screen. 

"Start high-intensity active scans of that object. Now." Aaen said. 

"Yes, sir." 

The bridge watched the light from the wormhole darken as a large mass soared from the event horizon. 

"The object appears to be some kind of ship. The design is similar to the Roteran warship." said the sensors cadet. "The ship is changing course–on an intercept course for us." 

"Is it Roteran?"

"Negative!"

"Maintain yellow alert." the first officer said, returning to the center seat. 

The bridge lights started to flicker at a variable pace. Aaen looked up and around. 

"Engineer. Report." 

"Something's draining our power, sir." 

"Source?" asked the first officer. 

"Unknown. Attempting to determine. Standby." 

"Captain, the second alien ship coming to a full stop approximately two thousand meters directly ahead." Said sensors cadet. The second alien ship's glaring silhouette filled the main view screen. Aaen noticed Roul started to tremble. He collapsed to the floor and started to crab-walk backward toward the first officer's computer station. He bumped the edge of the command platform with his shoulder, hugging the handrail as though for dear life–wide-eyed, looking at the main view screen, breathing heavily. Aaen followed him. 

"You're alright, Roul. What's wrong? It's just a ship." Aaen said reassuringly, crouching next to Roul. Roul's attention remained fixed on the main view screen. Roul hadn't blinked in almost a minute. Aaen looked at the main view screen, briefly. Something's not right.

"Captain, main power is being drained directly from and through our translight nacelles. At present rate of power drain, we'll be on auxiliary power in twenty minutes. Emergency power ten minutes after that."

"Tex, how can we stop the power drain?" asked the first officer.

"Sir, we could try raising the shields, but there's no way of knowing how the aliens on that other ship would respond. We don't know enough about them to risk a possible armed conflict. Might want to play it safe and talk to them first."

"I agree," Aaen said, looking up at the first officer. "Maybe they can shed some light on that shuttlecraft out there."

The first officer nodded. "Short-range. Hail the alien ship. General Use military frequency."

"Aye!"

The bridge lights started to dim more sharply, and more frequently. The main power grid's groaning hum filled the ship for three seconds. Roul wasn't phased. The alien blinked partially, and then covered his face with his left arm. Aaen looked up at the first officer with a concerned look. 

Three electronic chirps echoed in rapid succession through the bridge.

"They're responding, sir. Visual communication not possible due to apparent video transmission incompatibility. The line is audio-only."

Here we go. Aaen thought. 

A heavy, rumbling breath filled the bridge. Another, followed by a lengthy barrage of what sounded like gibberish.

Aaen found himself clenching his jaws over the seeming speech coming through the speakers. "It's speaking a language our computer can't translate. We should activate the universal translator and have it analyze that language." Aaen said.

The first officer nodded. "Computer. Activate universal translator. Analyze alien speech, and then begin translation."

"Affirmative. Now analyzing grammatical matrix. Standby. " The tactical screen displayed an angle-rich technical diagram of the computer's analysis. Five seconds later. "Grammatical analysis, complete. Now translating alien speech."

"—dentify yourself."

The first officer reasoned the alien was trying to establish the identity of the commanding officer on the Voyager.

"This is the acting Captain of the United Federation Starship, USSC Voyager. To whom am I speaking?"

"My name is not important. You are the acting Captain on your ship?"

"Correct. This is my Ambassador. She speaks for our ship."

"Very well. Ambassador of the United. Federation. Starship. .USSC Voyager." Another deep breath. "Where is this place?"

"You are currently in the Alpha Quadrant. Specifically: Federation space."

"My sensor readings indicate this is a very different region of space than where my crew and I come from, acting Captain. I am sorry for my intrusion into your Federation space. I do not seek to fight you. I am here searching for something. Something very valuable to me."

"What would that be? Perhaps we could help you find what you're looking for." the Ambassador replied. 

Roul started wiping his face with his sleeves.

"Ahh, there it is."

"There is what?"

"My sensors just detected my shuttlecraft. This is good news, indeed. It doesn't look like they made it too far." The alien whispered loudly. 

"They?"

"The family that escaped my ship. Wait a minute. . ."

The first officer looked at Aaen, who looked back at him wide-eyed. The Ambassador looked left at the first officer, briefly. 

"Problem?" asked the Ambassador. The command crew redirected their attention to the conversation. 

"There's nothing on board!"

"We detected one life form on board when we arrived to meet one of our ships here. The other ship that was originally here is the one that discovered the shuttlecraft. Apparently, there were originally five or six life forms on the shuttlecraft. The shuttle's life support systems were failing. There was only one survivor. The survivor had to be evacuated."

"Do you know where the life form that survived went? The shuttlecraft was not equipped with life pods, acting Captain. Is the life form on board the other ship that was here? WHERE did that ship go?"

"To my knowledge, the sole survivor was transported off the shuttlecraft." the Ambassador replied.

"Was the survivor transported to YOUR ship, or to the OTHER ship that was here?"

"Before I answer your question, please identify your interest in the shuttlecraft survivor."

"WHY? Why can't you just answer my question?"

Aaen looked to his right, hearing footsteps. The medical team rushed up the spiral staircase. Their patient was obvious. Aaen stood up and then took his seat on the command platform. The medical team set their medical kits down and started their work. Tricorders out, medical scans. . .

"When we arrived, we found the shuttlecraft to be heavily damaged. Adrift. The damage to the shuttle was considerable, and obviously not the result of an encounter with any natural phenomenon, nor an accident. I'll be happy to answer your question if you answer mine."

Another deep, heavy breath. "Acting Captain. That shuttlecraft was stolen from me a short time ago by. . .members of my crew. I was forced to fire on the shuttle to prevent those on board from getting too far away."

"You fired on members of your own crew?" the first officer asked. Aaen could hear the alien struck a nerve.

What kind of Captain fires on their own crew? Aaen thought grudgingly. 

"—Yes. They had no right to take that shuttle, nor any right to leave my ship without permission."

"What reason would they have to flee your ship and desert?"

"That's none–of–your–concern. Now, I have answered your question. You. Answer. Mine. . .Now."

Roul started to pull himself up. The first officer looked at Roul. Please! Don't tell him I'm here! Roul mouthed to the first officer. "Please! I request asylum!"

The first officer took a deep breath, and then looked back at the main view screen. 

"We know where the survivor is. But I can't consider turning him over to you unless you tell me what reason Roul has to flee your ship!"

The alien gasped loudly. "You know his name? He's on your ship, isn't he?"

"Maybe."

"Return him to my ship, immediately!"

"Not unless you tell me why you want him back so badly."

"Fine, acting Captain. In the interest of good relations between our peoples. The boy is a slave on my ship." Aaen glared at the main view screen. The air in the bridge felt electrified. "He has a small spiral-shaped black mark on his face. That is the mark of a Panae. I am a Panou! We force the Panae to do almost endless slave labor for us on our ships. The boy is the most valuable of the slaves that escaped my ship. He can read, write, and speak."

"I see."

"NOW. Return him to my ship, immediately."

The first officer looked at Aaen. Aaen understood the silent order, walked to the tactical station. "Tactical analysis of that ship."

"Yes, sir. High-intensity scan in progress." Ten seconds later. "That ship's three times bigger than Voyager. Sensors are struggling to collect data on their armament. Their hull plating is much denser than the alien shuttle's. Their weapon systems are—"

"I'm WAITING, Ambassador!"

"Standby!"

The Panou gasped. "Why is this so difficult? You have matter-energy conversion technology, yes?"

"We do." the Ambassador replied bluntly.

"Then tell your acting Captain to order whoever on your crew to USE IT!"

"Are what?" Aaen asked.

"Almost undetectable. From what I can tell: they appear to out-gun us three to one. Whatever their power source, their weapon energy output—"

"Ambassador! My patience is wearing thin! This wormhole isn't stable. If it closes, I could be trapped here forever! I am running out of time. I have to get back to my—"

"We're working on it! Standby!"

"I CAN'T 'Stand by'!" 

Roul collapsed and started tearing heavily. Shaking.

"He's in shock!" said the Chief Medical Officer. The medical team started treating Roul.

"Perhaps he wouldn't be if you just returned him to my ship! We'll take good care of him." the alien Captain growled. 

"Aaen!" the first officer whispered loudly.

"Is how high?" Aaen asked.

"Five times more than our cannons. I can't guarantee our shields will hold at all."

"Acting Captain! I would prefer not to use force, but that depends entirely on you. Return the boy to my ship, NOW! Final warning."

Aaen rushed to the command platform, sitting in the first officer's chair. "You don't really intend to beam the alien boy to that ship, do you?"

The first officer briefly looked at Aaen with a look Aaen knew he wouldn't soon forget. The command crew looked at the main view screen. 

"Panou Captain. I'm afraid I cannot return to the Panae boy to you." 

"Why not?" the Panou Captain asked sharply. 

The first officer looked at the Ambassador and nodded.

"You see, the United Federation of Planets neither practices nor tolerates slavery. By our laws, it is explicitly illegal to own, use, or traffic slaves. We would be violating our laws by returning the Panae boy to you." 

"I don't CARE about your 'laws,' Ambassador. I only care about retrieving my slave, and then going back to my space."

"You are free to return to your region of space. But the Panae boy has requested asylum. That request has been granted by my commanding officer. The Panae boy is—"

"Now under our protection." the first officer interrupted. Aaen noticed the first officer had not blinked in almost a minute. 

Roul gasped, relaxed, leaning against the command platform. 

The bridge felt as though a wave of fire had spread throughout. Aaen felt as though the temperature in the room had jumped ten degrees. He looked at the first officer, briefly. 

The comm-line was silent. 

"Panou Captain?" 

"Acting Captain, why hold the boy's life so dear? It's property! Would you protect a chair, or a table, like you are protecting it?"

"He is a living person. He has rights under our laws." 

"HA!" the Panou Captain yelled, mockingly. 

"As we have granted the Panae boy asylum, those laws now apply to and protect Roul." the Ambassador said. 

The sensors station flashed thrice. The sensors cadet quickly started reading the new information on the screen. Aaen looked at the sensors screen through the right corner of his eyes, briefly, and then at the main view screen. 

"So. Be. It., acting Captain." 

Three low-register beeps filled the bridge. 

"Comm line closed, Captain!" 

"Very well." 

"Captain, they're locking weapons on us!" said sensors cadet. 

Roul displayed a look of terror. 

"Red alert!" The bridge lights turned red. An alarm sounded, and then a second. "All hands to battle stations! Raise shields! Charge cannons, arm torpedoes—all launchers!"

"Aye, sir!"

The sensors screen flashed again. 

"Report!" Aaen demanded. 

"Captain, they're charging what appears to be some kind of high-yield plasma-based weapon! The weapons power output is spiking well into the terahertz range!" 

"Holy cow!" Aaen said. "Tactical, how long can our shields hold against a weapon like that?" 

"Two indirect hits, if we're lucky, sir! That thing could easily obliterate the hull!" 

She's a predator. Aaen thought. "How long until they can fire?"

"Fifteen seconds!" 

"Navigation, set a course away from here! Tactical, lock all weapons on target!" 

Both cadets acknowledged their orders in turn. 

"Ten seconds!" Said sensors cadet. 

"Cannons are charged and ready. All torpedo bays are armed and standing by. All queue's fully loaded. All weapons locked on target, Captain." 

"New course calculated and laid in, sir!" 

The silhouette gradually started passing into the left side of the main view screen.

"Helm, translight factor six as soon as you have a clear flight path! Execute!" said the first officer. 

"Aye!" 

"They're firing!" 

The main view screen lit up bright white. The upper-left hand corner gradually dimmed as a white ball of fire sent a white and purple shockwave in every horizontal direction. The shock wave became larger and denser with each passing second. 

"The shock wave's intensity is increasing exponentially! It's power output nearly off the scale!" said sensors cadet. 

The shock wave filled the main view screen—seemingly on a raging stamped. 

Wide-eyed, the first officer renewed his grip on the captain chair's armrests. "Evasive ac—!"

The ship rocked violently. The deck plating vibrated relentlessly. Aaen felt thrown forward out of his seat. He grabbed the handrail and tried to pull himself forward onto the command platform while maintaining his footing. The rest of the bridge crew tossed onto the floor. Aaen managed to pull himself back to his seat. He held onto the first officer station for any hope of physical stability, observing bridge computer screens flashing and sparking vigorously. The sound of groaning metal compressing under pressure echoed through the bridge. The rest of the bridge crew struggled against the artificial gravity to retake their stations. The first officer was thrown into the center of the bridge, turning and tumbling towards the communication stations. Aaen looked at the helm screen. The yaw, pitch and roll gauges were moving quickly, clockwise and counterclockwise. We're like a rag doll! Aaen reasoned. The artificial gravity screamed the ship had just been bluntly forced on some new heading. The bridge lights flickered as though the ship was gasping for air. 

"DIRECT HIT to all shield grids!" yelled Tactical. 

"Hull stress is increasing! All sections!" said the Bridge Engineer.

"Damage reports coming in from all over the ship!" said the left Damage Control Cadet. 

"Casualty reports coming in!" said Short-Range Cadet. 

The first officer struggled to crawl back to the command platform over the continual deck plate vibrations. Aaen extended his right arm, helped pull him up. The first officer threw his weight into the center seat as he pushed against the armrests, faced the main view screen. 

"All weapons! Return fire!" 

"Attempting to stabilize the ship's heading!" said Helm. 

The tactical cadet pulled himself back into his chair. 

The medical team regained their footing. After a brief tricorder scan, the CMO looked at the first officer. "The alien is stable. I'll be in Sickbay!"

The first officer nodded. The medical team leaned against the walls and grabbed the handrail as they rushed down the spiral staircase. 

The artificial gravity felt like it was stabilizing. 

"Captain, our heading is stable!" 

"All shield grids are down to forty percent!"

The sensors cadet struggled to catch his breath as he tried reading the new information on his station screen. 

"Captain, they're recharging their primary weapon!. . . I'm detecting multiple other power build-ups all over their ship–could be more weapons!" 

"Engaging translight drive!" 

"Their primary weapon is almost fully charged!" 

 The glistening tunnel effect, and then the stars became elongated white streaks in three seconds. 

"Captain, the translight drive took some damage from that last weapon impact! We can't go faster than translight factor six, and we can't sustain factor six for more than a few minutes at a time. I can't guarantee the translight drive will even be online for much longer!" Tex said. 

"Can you give me a number?" The first officer asked. 

"Probably less than twenty minutes, at best!" 

"Acknowledged!" 

"Panou ship is in pursuit! They're accelerating to translight seven, and gaining!" said sensors cadet. 

"How close are we to the nearest starbase from our current position?" Aaen asked. 

"An hour and a half at translight seven, sir!" 

"The nearest ship?" 

"Spacefleet Command's most recent fleet position update says the USSC Montgomery is in the Mutara Nebula. The nebula is to starboard, about five light years away."

"Fifteen minutes away at this speed, assuming we could sustain it." said the first officer. 

"How long until we are in weapon range of the Panou ship?" 

"Approximately thirty seconds, sir!"

"Captain, the navigational array was damaged during the last attack. We'll have to come to a full stop if I'm to change the ship's course." 

"They'll overtake us in five seconds if we stop the ship!" said sensors cadet.

"Can we hail the Montgomery?" asked the first officer. 

Short-range turned her head. "Negative! We're too far away!" 

"Can we send them a message?" 

"Negative! The long-range comm system's damaged. We can't send long-range messages, sir." 

Run? Fight? Or hide. Aaen thought.

*****

Steve H. told Jordan Foutin, "You are the next Tom Clancy. You really are a gifted writer."

DANIEL STORM, a Jordan Foutin eBook, is available for $8.99 at any of these fine online retailers: 

smashwords.com (Remember to like and share!)

apple iBooks (This link is best viewed on iPhone or iPad)

barnesandnoble.com 

scribd.com 

kobo.com

blio.com

Make sure to buy your copy today, and like and share!

Make sure to like the official StormTeam Simulations Facebook page for the latest, including when DANIEL STORM will be available on Amazon.com for Kindle eBook and softcover! Coming soon!

Intolerance - Part Two

Woah! The bridge crew silently agreed, awed at the gleaming white and blue orifice directly ahead. The Ranger appeared to be facing the orifice at an angle relative to the Voyager. The Ranger's small running lights along her dorsal and port side flashed sharply and intermittently at regular intervals. Aaen's original bridge station assignment revealed nothing about the wormhole as yet. He already had a recommendation for the next course of action, beyond the obvious of contacting the Ranger for a situation update. The bridge was already abuzz with crew members rushing printed mission materials to here and there. The air was getting a little stale. It's ok, Aaen kept to himself, the CO2 scrubbers are being repaired. So far no reports of anyone getting light headed. Damage Control was methodically hard at work trying to repair the mechanisms, thus keeping such reports from reaching the bridge. Good, Aaen thought, admiring the crews' persistence and perseverance under the circumstances. Aaen looked to his right at the first officer, who already looked like he had made a decision. Time to start calling him 'Captain,' Aaen remembered protocol. 

"Captain, I suggest we launch a probe into the wormhole and begin conducting scans of its composition. If this wormhole is as stable as the one near Deep Space Nine, we should document it, and then report back to Spacefleet Command, along with any other readings we get that might indicate a warp-capable civilization." Aaen said. 

"Not that important right now. Short-range: open a channel to the Ranger." 'Not that important right now?' Are you serious? Aaen thought. A shortcut to who-knows-where and that's 'not that important'? That's not worth investigating? How do we know if there are unknown extraterrestrials on the other side? If there are, how do we know if they are a threat to us—or the Alpha Quadrant in general? That possibility isn't worth investigating? Maybe you missed that lesson during the academy. Aaen kept to himself. 

The order was carried out quickly and decisively. 

Two series of digital rings in rapid succession, and then another series of beeps. The tactical screen displayed two Federation symbols connected by a seeming waving double-helix—"Line Connected" displayed below the double helix'. 

"This is the captain of the USSC Ranger. Who am I speaking with?" the question came sharply. 

"This is the first officer of the USSC Voyager. We're here to—" 

"So you're the one that nearly crashed into my ship! My goodness, Captain! I've got darn near every alarm goin' off on my bridge! Half my crew is holding onto their stations for dear life! Stand down from red alert.  . . . Captain, are you aware of the distance between our ships?" 

"Quite close." 

"Yeah! Another half-second and you'da stopped just in time to scrape some paint off my hull!"

"Look, I'm sorry we didn't stop sooner. We are here in response to your request for a replacement ship to take over your part of whatever's going on here. Can you give us more information?"

The Ranger captain gasped. "I'll tell you, Captain. This is by far the most perplexing situation I've ever encountered in my career as a starship captain. Our sensor scans of the wormhole have resulted in inconclusive results. Many of our sensor readings of the wormhole don't make any sense. Our sensor array almost burned out after our second attempt to analyze it. We tried multiple times to scan the object drifting out of the wormhole–it's like the object's there, but it's not there. That object's hull deflects our scans like a wall deflects a tennis ball. We're detecting the object on our primary sensor array, but our attempts to get a deeper reading have failed since we initially detected the object."

"Understood." the first officer looked at Aaen with a confused look. Aaen remained calm; his attention focused on the main viewscreen.

"Maybe you'll have better luck, Captain since your ship's sensors are much more powerful than ours."

"Probably. What have you learned about the occupant of the object?" 

"That's what gets us the most, Captain. We were able to establish communication with who, or whatever's on board–but, as you may have already been told: the conversation didn't last long. Frankly, Captain, the fact that object couldn't maintain a solid comm-line doesn't surprise me—it looks like a piece of Swiss Cheese!" Aaen observed the bridge crew grinning at the comment, but remained focused on doing their jobs. 

"We know the occupant's name, but nothing else at this point." the first officer said. 

"Captain, my communications officer thinks the occupant is using some kind of voice distorter. We haven't been able to determine the exact age of the occupant, or if it's male or female. All it kept sayin' was that it was in trouble, so we asked how we could help. It told us that there are five or six others like it on board, much older than it is, but they're all asleep, and they won't wake up. From lookin' at the object, Captain, I'd say that craft got in a fight with something big–something that didn't want that object to get to wherever it's goin'." 

"That's a sensible theory." the first officer replied. 

"Wherever that object came from, Captain . . . " 

"Agreed." The first officer looked at Aaen. "What do you think?" 

"I think it's time for us to take over this investigation." Aaen lowered his eyebrows slightly. "Something doesn't feel right." 

The first officer nodded. 

"Do you have any additional information, Captain?" 

"No, Captain. My ship's runnin' dangerously low on fuel at this point. We're going to head to the nearest starbase to refuel." 

"Understood." 

"Good luck, Captain." 

"And to you." 

"The situation is now under your jurisdiction, Captain. Ranger. Out." 

Three beeps in rapid succession indicated the line closed on both ships. The tactical screen showed two Federation icons in the upper-left-hand corner of the screen. One was stationary; the other moved toward the lower-right-hand corner of the screen at a quick, steady pace.

"USSC Ranger is leaving the area, Captain." said the sensors cadet. 

"Understood." 

The main viewscreen showed the Ranger's twin impulse engines glowing brightly as the ship started seemingly drifting to starboard, it's heading shifted, and then the ship accelerated out of the area at a low angle. The deck plating vibrated firmly under the wake of the engines' thrust. The main viewscreen image changed to show a jagged mass drifting towards the Voyager while seemingly somersaulting. The tactical screen showed passive scans of the object in progress. 

Aaen's gut was in a knot. "Scanners: What are the dimensions of the object?" 

"Standby.  . . . Captain, the object's dimensions read as ten meters long, five meters tall, and eight meters wide." 

"It's some kind of shuttlecraft," Aaen concluded, speaking softly.

"That's the weirdest shuttlecraft design I've ever seen." said the first officer. 

"Now might be a good time to launch a class-three probe into the wormhole, sir," Aaen said.

The first officer wasted no time following Aaen's suggestion. The order was given immediately. 

"What equipment payload, sir?" asked a cadet first to the last on the end of the left-wing. 

"Sensor package, a radio transponder, and an extra fuel cell." Aaen quickly replied. "Launch probe when ready." 

"Aye! Probe away!" 

A black oval-shaped dart with a flaming tail soared into the center of the wormhole, quickly out of sight. 

The bridge was almost silent for several seconds of observation of the main viewscreen. 

"Sir! Our sensors have penetrated the object's outer hull! Detecting one life form on board. The occupant's life signs are faint! The alien shuttlecraft is venting atmosphere! Life support on the alien shuttlecraft is failing!" 

"Red alert!" the first officer yelled. 

"Life support on the alien shuttlecraft will fail in fifteen seconds, sir!" 

A diagram of the humanoid shape next to an oxygen meter appeared on the tactical screen.  

"Teleporters! Get a lock on the life form and beam it to decontamination, immediately!" 

"Aye!" Said a cadet sitting first from the end on right-wing. 

"Warning: alien life signs fading. Life support on the alien ship will fail in ten seconds." Said the computer. 

"Could the computer be any more obvious," Aaen said quietly.

"Transporters!" Said the first officer. 

"Captain! We have no idea what kind of germs or viruses that alien might be carrying. The alien is completely unknown to us! Our biofilters might not protect us. For all we know, we get exposed to whatever the alien might be carrying. We might grow a third arm or something!—" 

"Thank you, Tex!"

"Transporter sensors are–"

"Six. . .five. . .four!" The computer announced the countdown. 

"I've got a transporter lock!" 

"Energize!" Aaen said. I really hope Tex is wrong about that 'third arm' stuff, he thought, watching with a determined look as the cadet inched the trio yellow lines to the top of the transporter control screen. C'mon! . . . C'mon! Aaen thought. 

"Two. . .One. . ." 

"Transporters activated!" The bridge filled with the glistening sound of the mechanism at work for five seconds. 

"Warning: Biohazard alert. Unknown life form in decontamination. Detecting unknown airborne bacteria." 

"That's just a risk we'll have to take." said the first officer. "Stand down from red alert. Alert condition three." A series of subtle chirps told the bridge, and the rest of the ship, that all was now well. 

Aaen was becoming increasingly curious as to what happened to the alien shuttle. He looked at the image on the main viewscreen. The damage to the alien shuttle couldn't have been as coincidental as a collision with a space rock. The visible damage is too specific. Too deliberate. Space rocks don't leave burn marks and perfectly shaped holes an adult male could crawl through with ease. So, who, or what would have attacked a shuttlecraft–and why? What about that shuttle was so darn important? Was the shuttle attacked as a means of trying to recover some kind of technology? Who, or what would take such risks damaging what they're trying to recover? Or was there something—or someone—that wasn't supposed to. . . Wait a minute. . .

Aaen looked to his left. "Security, go find the alien. Take the alien out of decontamination and then bring the alien to the bridge." The duo retrieved their sidearms, stepped down from their stations, and then hastily carried out the order. "Sensors, increase scan intensity on the alien shuttlecraft. What inner workings can you discern?" 

"Increasing scan intensity to level five." Good, Aaen thought. Scan intensity level ten would have caused scan results to include everything from the scan target's molecular composition, to how many hairs were up one of the given occupants' nose. "Scanning, sir." Ten seconds later. "Sensor readings are mostly indeterminate. I'm only detecting negligible power readings." 

"Tactical analysis." 

Five seconds later. "Tactical sensors can't make heads or tails of the alien shuttle's armaments if it ever had any. I'm only detecting two low-output shield generators on the shuttle's fore, and starboard sides. Both offline. Shuttle's power source and power type are unknown. The alien shuttle's hull plating composition is unknown, but it's three times denser than Voyager's hull plating." 

"Who or whatever caused all that damage was really powerful but careful not to destroy that shuttle." the first officer said.

The sensors cadet's screen flashed. "Captain, lots of new sensor information coming in from the probe." 

"Record all data in the main computer memory core. Long-range, standby to send a copy of the data to Spacefleet Command." Aaen said. 

Both cadets replied in the affirmative in turn.

"Captain! I—"

The first officer looked at the Sensor Cadet. "What?" 

Aaen looked at the sensor cadet with a puzzled look. He walked to the sensors station and looked at the cadet's screen. 

"Aaen?" the first officer asked. 

"We just lost contact with the probe, sir. We're not getting any telemetry, whatsoever. No readings indicating a malfunction, or that the probe as reverted to safe mode. There's no data coming back to us." 

"What about the radio transponder?" 

Aaen turned his head. "Negative on the transponder, sir. All current instrumentation readings show negative on the probe. The probe doesn't exist anymore." 

"Could it have collided with an asteroid or a meteor?" Adam asked. 

"Good question," Aaen replied, looking at the sensors cadet. "Pull up the last sensor readings the probe sent back before we lost contact with it."

The order was carried out quickly. Aaen scanned the probe information, and then looked at the first officer over his left shoulder. 

"What happened to the probe?" The first officer stood up, looking concerned at Aaen. "What happened to the probe?" 

"Yellow alert!" Aaen said. 

*****

Steve H. told Jordan Foutin, "You are the next Tom Clancy. You really are a gifted writer."

DANIEL STORM, a Jordan Foutin eBook, is available for $8.99 at any of these fine online retailers: 

smashwords.com (Remember to like and share!)

apple iBooks (This link is best viewed on iPhone or iPad)

barnesandnoble.com 

scribd.com 

kobo.com

blio.com

Make sure to buy your copy today, and like and share!

Make sure to like the official StormTeam Simulations Facebook page for the latest, including when DANIEL STORM will be available on Amazon.com for Kindle eBook and softcover! Coming soon!