While on the way to Hunrad V to deliver critical medical supplies the El'Salvador's engines create a tear in subspace letting loose a huge subspace entity which tries its best to crush the ship the crew must defeat the entity, save the ship, and get the supplies to the colony.

Errand

Written by

The Crew of the USS El-Salvador-B

Rear Admiral Mathew Sheldon, Cmdr. T'Rek Gal, Cmdr. Kieron Barr, Dr. Sam K'Vada, Lt. Savot 

The U.S.S El Salvador-B flew at high warp. The stars merged into long streaks and tore past the ships main viewscreen. Staring out at these stars Rear Admiral Sheldon stood at the ceiling height window.

"Captains Log Stardate 880708.1446" he said, "We are on our way to deliver much needed medical supplies to the new Federation Colony on Hunrad V. The supplies are highly perishable and become extremely unstable in oxygen. Starfleet Medical has instructed us to protect this cargo carefully, to that end Doctor K'Vada and Lieutenant Savot have constructed an airtight container in Cargo Bay One. They assure me that it is all perfectly safe, although for peace of mind I would rather get the delivery over as quickly as possible. End Log."

Matthew Sheldon returned to his seat and began to thumb through the PADD's on his desk. Fleet reports, Science Proposals and Crew Reviews; the burdens of Admiralty.

His Comm Badge chirped.

"Go ahead" He replied tapping it smartly.

"Admiral" it was Commander T'Rek Gal. She was filling in as his First Officer whilst Rhiannsu was on Vulcan. Sheldon briefly hoped that his Romulan colleague was getting on all right. "The colony has just contacted us again" T'Rek continued, "They report another 36 cases and need the supplies desperately."

"Very Well" Sheldon replied. "Helm. Estimated time of arrival."

"At current speed, 5 hours 32 minutes." The Helmsman replied.

"Increase to warp 9.9"

"That will put an incredible strain on the engines"

"I know" Sheldon stressed, "But that Colony is relying on us".

***

Cargobay One was cold. It had been Dr K'Vada's idea to alter the environmental controls he hoped that the cooler conditions would help preserve the supplies. The half-breed Betazoid/Andorian crossed to the main terminal.

"Chief Medical Officers Log. Stardate 880708.15.

Lt Savot and I have constructed suitable containers for the supplies and I have concluded my researcher on our situation. Apparently Hunrad V has such high levels of the virulent Archeasium Bacteria that infection rates can be as high as 64%. The bacterium is deadly and if not treated can kill within 48 hours. Unfortunately the only known antibiotic agent is explosive when mixed with oxygen. End Log."

K'Vada turned off the console and joined Savot by one of the containers.

ZIA - ZIA - ZIA.

The alarms suddenness startled them both.

"Warning. Containment Failure in Containers 12 and 13." The Computer reported sternly.

"Not 12 and 13" Savot exclaimed in a tone that bordered on dismay.

"Tell me those aren't the two largest containers?" K'Vada asked already knowing the answer.

 Savot dashed towards the container tapping his Comm-badge as he went.

"Savot to Bridge".

"Go Ahead" T'Rek answered.

"Ma'am. We have a containment failure in Sections 12 and 13. The oxygen will render the Antidote impotent. We are assessing the situation."

"Good, keep us informed on your status. We will be in touch. Bridge Out."

T'Rek paused and then hailed the Admiral.

"Admiral Sheldon Sir, We have a situation."

***

In half an hour the senior staff had been assembled in El Salvador's main conference room.

"Doctor, Lieutenant have you been able to seal the containers?" the Admiral opened.

"No the breach is along a seam. We have patched it, but it won't hold." Savot reported. The Admiral frowned.

"We do have a solution though" Savot continued quickly " It'll make life difficult but will solve the problem, it will mean depressurising the whole of Cargobay One".

"Why will that make life difficult?" T'Rek asked.

"Well" K'Vada put in, "We have to change the cleaning filters in the pods every 6 hours, once depressurised it would mean we'd need to go EVA every time."

"We'll just have to live with that" Admiral Sheldon. "Get on it right away."

K'Vada and Savot made a beeline for Cargobay One.

"Come on everybody out. Clear the Cargobay." K'Vada instructed sternly, "That’s an order."

The assembled engineering and medical staff obeyed and gathered up their equipment and left the bay. Assured that the room was clear the two officers returned to the bridge. K'Vada crossed straight to a main computer console.

"Computer Depressurise Cargobay One and its adjacent sectors. Set Biohazard filters to Level 20" he ordered.

"Authorisation of Commanding officer and Chief Medical Officer is required".

"Chief Medical Officer Commander Sam K'Vada. Code Alpha 11, Omega, Omega, Blue 25. Enable."

"Authorisation Confirmed".

"This Captain Rear Admiral Mathew Sheldon. Code Beta 55, Pi, Sigma 67, Yellow. Enable".

"Authorisation Confirmed".

The computer paused a moment and then continued,

"Cargobay One and adjacent sectors are now depressurised. Level 20 Biohazard Filters are enabled."

Suddenly the ship lurched to one side. It turned so quickly that the inertial dampeners couldn’t react fast enough. Everybody was thrown to the floor.

"Report! What the hells going on?" Sheldon yelled as he pulled himself to his feet.

Savot pulled himself back into his chair and swiftly checked his console.

"We are at a full stop and I am detecting a subspace anomaly off the port bow".

"Complete stop! But we were at full warp".

"We still are according to our engines." Josch replied, "Its like we're stuck in a web".

"Turn them off".

"Aye Sir".

The usual thump off the engines subsided leaving the ship strangely quiet.

"Sir." T'Rek called pointing to a prone figure on the floor. Commander K'Vada lay motionless a small trickle of blood dripping from his temple.

"Sheldon to Sickbay. Medical Emergency. Deck One."

Sheldon crossed to the Ops console.

"Anything?" he asked Savot.

"A little sir. Sensors appear to indicate that it is as a result of over powering our warp engines".

"Try a reverse course. Pull us out." Sheldon ordered.

His officers complied. The engines came back online and the dull thump resumed, as did a fearful shaking. This time the dampening systems kicked in smoothing their flight. Slowly the El Salvador began to inch away from the anomaly before again lurching and violently shaking. Alarm klaxons began to sound and the computer switched automatically back to Red Alert.

"We have hull breaches on decks 5, 6 and 7 sections 25 through 27. The anomaly is increasing its grip on us."

"Full Stop" Sheldon roared, "Shut everything down."

Outside the large White Blue anomaly enveloped the forward section saucer section of the El Salvador. With a rhythmic pulsation the anomaly crept over the hull, electrical discharges arced about it and grounded on the nacelles.

***

Sickbay was alive with activity more and more crewmembers were being rushed in as the anomaly slowly crushed the ship. Amongst the triage that the junior officers dealt with Ensign Cortore struggled to treat K'Vada.

"How is he?" T'Rek asked worriedly.

Cortore shook his head.

"I am not sure. I have stabilised him. But his head injury is serious".

"Keep at it. Ok everybody. Lieutenant DeBoer you are acting CMO. You better join us in the Conference room."

***

The Senior Staff collected once again in the El Salvador's main conference room. T'Rek ushered DeBoer to a K'Vada's seat. Satisfied that all were ready Admiral Sheldon began.

"Okay people. We have serious hull breaches on decks 5 through 13 sections 5 through 25. We've lost life support in most of these sections and emergency forcefield's are only just holding. I need options. Mr Savot?"

Savot leaned forward fingers steepled under his chin.

"It appears that the anomaly is some sort of tear in subspace. Most likely as a result of our warp engines, although I still can't get our sensors to penetrate it. I am at a loss as to how to stop it."

"Commander Barr?" Sheldon directed.

"Not on the anomaly. Although I suggest we evacuate all effected areas and those surrounding them. We could possible separate the ship and abandon the upper saucer section."

Sheldon nodded, he had already considered that option.

"We'll keep that as a last resort. If possible I want to leave here with my whole ship."

They were briefly interrupted as a blonde female ensign entered. She acknowledged the Admiral and walked over to Savot. She handed him a PADD and then departed. Savot scrolled through the latest sensor data and frowned.

"Lieutenant?" T'Rek said.

"It appears that this anomaly is not an anomaly at all. At least not in the conventional sense."

"Explain Mr Savot" The Admiral commanded.

"Well sir. Latest sensor data indicates that the anomaly is responsive to shield changes and that the electrical discharges across its surface are highly analogous to a neural arc."

"Neural Arc?"

"It bares Biological similarities"

"Its Alive!" T'Rek exclaimed.

"Yes Sir. It has a subspace signature. I can only deduce that it is indigenous to Subspace"

"You mean it lives in subspace?" DeBoer asked.

"I believe so"

"This changes things" Sheldon mused. An inanimate spatial rift would be easier to deal with than a new life-form. Knowing it was alive already bound his hands.

"Okay. Savot you and DeBoer try to away to discourage our new guest. Commander Barr, you work on the evacuations."

"Aye Sir" They responded and departed.

As the other officers filed out T'Rek held back and approached the Admiral.

"How you doing Mat?" she asked informally.

"I m fine its the rest of the crew I am worried about. How are they doing?"

T'Rek perched on the desk before him.

"The crew are fine. Well as fine as can be expected when the ship is being crushed. I am more worried by their Captain."

"Their Captain is fine" Sheldon asserted brusquely.

"Their Captain is exhausted" T'Rek corrected forcefully.

"Is that your professional opinion as ships counsellor?"

"That’s my opinion as acting first officer and I am telling you to go and get some sleep."

The Admiral let out a long sigh.

"Your right of course T'Rek. I'll go to bed but I want to be called the moment something happens."

"Of Course Sir. Leave the Bridge to me."

***

T'Rek paced the bridge. Waiting was the worst thing about being in charge of the bridge. Lots of responsibility, but lots of waiting as well. She had finished both her Counsellors and First Officers Logs, Checked with engineering on the status of the warp engines, with sickbay on Dr K'Vada's condition, and with tactical for responses to their may day call. Nothing. There had been no change in their situation whatsoever, which she supposed was a good thing, at least they hadn't been completely crushed yet.

She stared out at the viewscreen. Out at the distant stars. Savot's data showed that the entity was still crushing them but it had slowed in the past hour. It had attacked them without reason and the viewer couldn't reveal its identity or position. Maybe if they could see it T'Rek would feel more comfortable about fighting it.

She took some consolation that Mat had taken a break. He hadn't said anything directly but she suspected that he still hadn't recovered from their last mission. One moment he had been a murder suspect the next he was on his way to the Gamma Quadrant on a secret mission for Admiral Ross. Mat was still under orders not to share the nature of his solo mission to anyone. That could only add to his stress. Still the break from the bridge's waiting game would do him some good.

Suddenly T'Rek train of thought was derailed.

"Savot to the bridge".

"Go ahead".

"Dr DeBoer and I have a possible solution to our current situation. Can the senior staff meet in 15 minutes."

"The Admiral is off the bridge at the moment. Better make it 20 minutes".

"Very good, Commander. Savot out."

"Rear Admiral Sheldon, please report to the conference room. We may have a solution."

***  

Back in the Conference room once again Mathew Sheldon called the meeting to order.

"Okay Mr Savot. What have you got?"

"We have been studying the sensor readings we got from the Entity and have confirmed that it is a biological entity from subspace."

"Further more we think we know how it got here." Lieutenant DeBoer said excitedly.

Savot glared at the young CMO's interruption.

"We believe that we went through an area where the layer between subspace and real space is extremely thin." Savot continued.

"You mean like a sort of subspace pocket?" Sheldon asked.

"Yes Sir exactly. We believe that our warp emissions may have caused the pocket to breach and spill out into real space."

"So how do we get this thing back into subspace?"

"We think we can reopen the subspace tear and let it return naturally." De Boer grinned at Savot pleased she had managed to have her say. Savot returned the grin and continued where the CMO had left off.

"Yes Captain, we think that if we use the main deflector to create a coherent techtrionic beam focused on the original tear within a static warp shield it will reopen the tear in a safe controlled fashion."

"Very good" Sheldon smiled, "How long until you can have the deflector dish ready."

"About 5 hours, sir."

"Get on it. In the mean time Keiron, T'Rek we're going to initiate the multi-vector assault mode. Just in case. I'll stay here in the primary section and help Mr Savot. Your orders are to get the rest of the ship to safety."

"Understood" the two Commanders replied.

***

Sheldon sat in the command chair and wondered quietly if they were going to get away from this one intact. The ship was so new they had hardly had time to christen her properly or put her through her paces, and now it was being slowly crushed by a subspace entity.

"Admiral" the ensign at Op's reported, "The other two sections report ready sir."

"Good relay this to all decks… All hands. This is the Captain speaking. Prepare for Multi-Vector Assault Mode"

"All decks report ready sir." The ensign replied shortly.

"Okay. Signal Commander Barr and T'Rek to begin."

"Separation begun"

The El Salvador began to slowly vibrate. There were a series of deep clanks as the latches disengaged. This gave way to a stronger shaking as the other two sections fired their thrusters.

"Status" Sheldon demanded.

"The lifeform doesn't seem to like what we're doing. It's trying to grab the other two sections."

Sheldon cursed quietly under his breath.

"Inform the Commanders to increase power"

"Aye Sir." The ensign replied. His hands raced over the console before pausing, turning he said, "The other two sections have pulled away. They are hailing us."

"On screen"

The viewscreen split in two to bring Barr and T'Rek both up on the screen.

"Commanders are you ready to initiate the techtrionic beam?" Sheldon asked.

"Yes sir" their unanimous replies came.

"Good. Initiate on my mark. 5…4…3…2…1 Mark."

The secondary and tertiary hulls initiated the beams exactly on target. The two grey blue shafts of light converged on the life-form just above the bridge of the primary saucer. The life-form flexed and wriggled in discomfort. Electrical discharges arced across its surface with increased frequency and strength.

"We are ready for stage 2". T'Rek said.

"You heard them ensign." Sheldon ordered, "Initiate the warp field."

A flash of purple and blue leapt around the ship and the life-form. It merged with the life-form. Slowly it began to change colour, becoming redder and redder.

"I think its working" The ensign reported. "The life form although distressed is returning to the tear."

"Good. Engineering increase the warp field."

"Aye Sir"

***

T'Rek stood on the secondary bridge and walked to stand behind the ops station.

"What's the status of the beam?"

"Holding steady sir."

"Science, what effect are the beams having on the entity?" the commander asked.

Rogers looked up from her console.

"The creature is slowly retreating back into the subspace tear. It will take another 10 minutes of sustained bombardment to coax it completely back and then another 5 minutes to seal it."

"Can we sustain the beam that long?"

"Unknown Ma'am. A sustained beam of this magnitude has never been tested. Not to mention that my calculations did not take into account the creatures resistance."

"Well let's hope Mr Savot have."

***

On the El Salvador the Admiral paced the bridge nervously.

"Sir. Our thrusters are now out of the lifeform. I think we can manoeuvre away from it. That way we can add our deflector beam to the others. It should cut the time in half and rest the tertiary section, its beam is already becoming unstable."

"Okay. Helm back us out. Nice and easy."

"Aye Sir."

"Ops hail the tertiary section tell them to stand down their beam after we establish ours."

"Message sent. They have acknowledged… Sir we are in position to establish the beam."

"Permission granted" Sheldon agreed quickly.

A third beam leapt toward the creature. For a second the three beams pulsated in unison then slowly the tertiary sections ebbed and died. As it did the Primary section was rocked by a massive jolt. Sparks flew from a console at the rear of the bridge and Sheldon struggled to keep his feet.

"Sir the life-form is distressed. It is sapping power directly through our deflector"

Sheldon thought quickly and then thumped his hand down on the arm of the chair.

"Divert power from all non-essential systems. We need that beam."

"Tertiary are hailing."

"On screen"

Commander Barr's face appeared.

"Admiral we have regained power and are ready to reinitiate."

"Good. We need your help, it's being somewhat awkward."

"Starting now" Keiron reported.

Again the ensign called up a status report.

"Sir the life-form has retreated 95% into subspace. We need only 3 minutes and 25 seconds."

The three minutes and twenty five seconds seemed to last more like three hours. But eventually the ensign reported that the creature had fully withdrawn into subspace.

"Okay Commanders" Sheldon ordered, "Re-modulate the beam. Let's seal this thing."

"The tear is closing"

"Sheldon. This is T'Rek. We are deploying a warning beacon and preparing for reunification."

"Reunification sequence underway." Sheldon confirmed "Good work people."

***

"Captains Log Stardate 880728.2343. We have successfully sealed the tear in subspace and consequently banished the subspace entity back to its realm. We have just completed our mercy mission to the colony on Hunrad V. We are now entering Starbase Assailant for some shore leave. I have heard that a new bar I opening soon. Hopefully we won't get new orders for awhile. I have asked for the El Salvador to be refitted and upgraded during it repairs. Commander K'Vada has recovered with only a minor concussion. Commander Gal and Barr commanded the other sections impeccably. I think I will be filing commendations to their permanent records. I have also just received confirmation from Starfleet the Mr Savot is being transferred to Earth to join a Propulsion Research Group. It is a great opportunity for him but I can't help thinking I have lost a good officer. End Log"

Sheldon leaned back in his chair and let out a deep sigh.

"Admiral we have reached Assailant" the Lieutenant at the helm reported.

"All Stop." He replied as he stepped out on to the bridge.

"Hail the base."

"They are acknowledging us."

"Hello El Salvador Welcome back. Looks like you took a pounding." The Starbase duty commander greeted, "You are cleared to dock."

"I'll make sure I fill you in on our mission" T'Rek grinned.

"I look forward to it. Admiral I have assigned you to deluxe VIP quarters. Admiral T'Plet's orders."

"Thankyou Assailant" Sheldon answered.

"It would seem the good Admiral wants something" he grinned to T'Rek.

"Doesn't she always" T'Rek replied.

The two of them laughed and both left the bridge to pack for their visit. Slowly the El Salvador disappeared in to the vast station the doors closing behind them.