STAR TREK: EARTH STRIKE
Episode 8: Birdflight
"...But maybe they have.� Said Ensign J�Fwaal, pointing at the new presence that had just manifested itself on the screen.
The sensors had detected and locked on to three ships leaving close Earth orbit - so close in fact that they must have been below the Borg shield.Under Data�s expert guidance the view centred and closed on the
formation, and although the image wavered and flickered they could plainly be identified as a contingent of Warbirds.
The Treaty of Alderan may have forbidden the Federation engaging in cloaking research of it�s own but it said nothing of investigating others results. Semantics, perhaps, but of such things is diplomacy made. The result of course was a continuing �stealth race� in which the Romulan and Klingon Empires sought to perfect their cloaking technologies whilst the Federation worked towards negating them. The recent battles with the Dominion in which the Federation had had many opportunities to observe Romulan ships cloaking and de-cloaking had enabled the pendulum of expertise to swing towards the Federation. The current state of affairs was that while Romulan ships under cloak were invisible to Federation sensors while stationary, when under power they could be detected.
�What have they been doing, cloaked, in close orbit?� Worf asked, suspiciously as the Warbirds approached the Federation flotilla.
�I would surmise their mission to have been one of surveillance,� Data said calmly, �pending further information.�
�Perhaps,� Picard observed, �but their addition will more than double the firepower available to us in the defence of Earth.� The large ships, nearly twice the size of the Enterprise, were the mainstay of the Romulan fleet. Although the Romulan weapons had not been tried against those of the Federation in some time, it would not be a test Picard would be eager to take. �Hail them, Mr Worf.�
�No response.� Worf said.
The Romulan Warbirds neared the position of the Federation flotilla without slowing... and went straight past!
�Where are they going?� Asked J�Fwaal, and although it was difficult to discern his expression within his environment suit, the dismay was evident in his translated voice.
�They appear to be on a direct course for Romulus, Frosty,� Data informed the young Breen - the first of his race ever to graduate from Starfleet Academy. �presumably to report on the days events. They are going to warp.�
As the Romulan ships disappeared from short-range sensors a moment of disappointed silence filled the bridge. �This will not make our task at the Unity Conference any easier.� Spock said dryly.
�More cloaked ships detected Sir!� Data said, breaking the pall.
�More Romulans?� Picard asked.
�No sir; these appear to be a wing of Klingon Birds of Prey. They are of various designs and ages... one Mk II, two Mk III�s, a Mk IV... all long out of service... and one which is emitting a Federation transponder signal which identifies it as the �Bounty�.�
�That doesn�t sound very Klingon.� Picard observed.
�I am in communication, Sir.� Worf informed Picard as Spock�s eyebrows threatened to climb off the top of his head. �They are crewed by the members of the Klingon delegation to the Unity Conference who have... ah... commandeered four of the vessels from a display team and one from Starfleet Museum."
�Diplomats and officials?� Hawke asked quietly.
In a close �V� formation the Klingon ships rose from the planet�s surface, heading not for the Federation flotilla, but directly at the main body of the Species 8472 fleet. As these ships were using cloaking devices long since rendered obsolete the Enterprise�s sensors could pick up their images clearly.
�They are doing battle!� Worf stated.
As though to belie the Son of Mogh�s words the Birds of Prey dove straight through the alien formations, weaving a path that showed off the innate manoeuvrability of the small Klingon vessels.
�Why do they not fire?� Worf asked, frustrated.
�As de-commissioned vessels it is unlikely these ships are equipped with operational weapons systems.� Data explained calmly.
�Then what use are they?� Hawke asked with some asperity, �Old and toothless...�
�I have learned that it is unwise to underestimate the Klingon resolve in matters of warfare.� Spock informed the helmsman.
The Birds of Prey swung around and dove back at the alien fleet, but this time the attackers were ready for them and a barrage of fire blew two of them to bits. The remaining three Klingon ships continued to weave through the opposing forces, straight for the cluster of Capital ships. �The alien�s cannot bring their main force to bear for fear of hitting each other!� Worf observed.
�The lead ship is ejecting something from its cargo hold.� Data said. The android frowned as he checked his sensors. �It seems to be salt water and two mechanical devices.�
�Torpedoes?� Picard asked.
�I do not believe so sir; though I cannot ascertain their exact nature.�
�I think you will find they are two animatronic humpbacked whales named George and Gracie.� Spock informed the bridge.
�Water?� Hawke asked confused, �They�re squirting water at them?�
�Exposed to the coldness of space the water will immediately freeze.� Said Data.
�A snowball then...�
�Not a snowball,� J�Fwaal averred, �an iceberg!�
At the last minute the now broken formation of Klingon ships swerved away from the central cluster. The newly frozen mass of rock hard ice, travelling at full impulse continued on their previous course. The alien ship�s shields, although designed to absorb immense amounts of directed energy weapons or torpedo explosions were powerless to resist the impact of hundreds of tonnes of rock hard ice travelling at near light speed. The iceberg crashed into the prow of one of the ships, drilling a massive hole lengthways down its structure before exiting, much smaller, from its rear. The alien ship immediately exploded in a titanic burst of destructive energies, the shockwaves of which visibly shook the remaining capital ships.
Close on the heels of this explosion the Birds of Prey, having wheeled within the bounds of the Species 8472�s formation came diving in for another attack. The remaining capital ships opened fire and though they managed to hit and destroy one Klingon ship the other two twisted and writhed in their course, dodging alien fire. Some of the large ships' weapons bursts missed the Birds of Prey to strike the defensive screen of smaller alien ships or vessels of the squadron that now chased the Klingons in hot pursuit.
The bridgecrew of the Enterprise watched enthralled as the Bounty and the other remaining Bird of Prey dove straight for one of the large alien ships. �Today is a good day to die.� Worf breathed. One of the Klingon ships detonated just before impact in a massive explosion that could only have been an engineered warp core breach, overloading the alien ship�s shields. The Bounty destroyed itself a moment later in a similar fashion, enveloping the alien vessel in the inferno of its own destruction and taking it with it into the annals of history.
�K�plah.� Worf said.
�Fascinating.� Said Spock. �By destroying two of Species 8472�s capital ships a group of old men in a handful of antiquated and unarmed ships have managed to inflict as much damage on the enemy as an entire fleet of Borg cubes.�
�Maybe this is why the Borg were talking about an alliance.� J�Fwaal suggested.
�They were not merely �old men�,� Worf stated, proudly, �they were Klingon warriors!�
�Of course.� Spock said dryly.
�They died with honour.� Picard observed.
�They will dine with Khaless tonight and the halls of Stovrokor will ring with songs in their honour.� Worf agreed.
�Perhaps they have shown us the way.� Data speculated.
Worf grinned in a manner which had little to do with humour as, eyes burning and nostrils flaring, he roared at alien fleet on the viewscreen. �Prepare for ramming speed!�
