Lt. Ivanovna's hands flew over the console, "Captain, I'm now detecting multiple ships decloaking on several sides of us. They're Klingon ships, a total of seven."
"Slow to impulse Ensign Gates," the captain ordered. He then activated the intercom, "All Bridge officers report to the Bridge at once." Turning then to his tactical and communications officer, "Ivanovna, open a channel to their lead ship."
"Channel open sir," the Lt. responded.
An image of a Klingon warrior appeared on the viewscreen, "Greetings, Federation Captain."
"Greetings. I am Captain Mark Freeman of the Federation starship Bristol. What can we do for you?"
"I am Captain K'Tang of the Klingon cruiser Nipagh. I understand you have a wanted criminal on board."
"We do?" asked the captain.
"Do you not have K'Tarran on board your vessel?" the Klingon captain K'Tang countered.
"We do, but I wasn't aware that he was a wanted criminal," Freeman replied. In the background his Bridge officers arrived and took up their posts. "To my knowledge, he was just someone with unique points of view on the way your government should be acting."
"He is a traitor. He has dishonored himself and his family for three generations with his cowardly actions. We want him back; justice needs to be served," said the Klingon captain matter-of-factly, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
The captain rubbed his chin and paced about, seemingly at random. His course led him past Yilaan, to whom he whispered, "Get Emissary R'Dalla and K'Tarran up here." She nodded and pressed a few buttons on the control panel to her right.
"Well? We aren't leaving without him!" Captain K'Tang said harshly.
"He is a guest on board my ship. No one takes anyone off my ship by coercion or by threats," the captain replied coolly. "If K'Tarran wishes to go with you willingly, then of course he's free to go."
"Why are you protecting him Captain? What does your Federation hope to gain by this interference?" K'Tang accused.
Captain Freeman winced, knowing he had a point about the interference. He was about to respond when R'Dalla and K'Tarran stepped off the turbolift and on to the Bridge.
"K'Tarran, you dishonorable piece of hykbakh!" the Klingon captain swore at him. Yilaan, who was fluent in Klingon, suppressed a giggle. "We have come for you," K'Tang continued.
"Why am I not surprised? Well, you can just turn your ships around, because I'm not leaving just to be marched off to my death," K'Tarran responded.
Captain Freeman shrugged, "There you have it Captain K'Tang. He doesn't want to leave, therefore he shan't."
The Klingon captain thought for a moment. "Very well, Captain, you leave us with only one choice." The viewscreen image of K'Tang disappeared and was replaced by stars.
"Captain, they're powering weapons!" Lt. Ivanovna called out with alarm.
"Red Alert! Raise the shields. Bring phasers and photons to ready," the captain ordered, moving briskly over to his seat. "Emissary, K'Tarran, I suggest you sit. This could get a little bumpy."
"Phasers ready. Photon torpedoes ready," Ivanovna said.
"Lt. Reiv, plot a course back to the Federation and engage at warp nine," ordered the captain. The Bristol was then rocked violently by a hail of disruptor and torpedo fire from the Klingon ships. Cries of alarm came from the back of the Bridge where a couple officers had been caught by surprise and were thrown to the deck by the blast.
"Damage report!" the captain called out.
"Shields down to 61%! Minor damage to the shuttle bay. Cargo transporters off-line!" Ivanovna called out to the captain. She then activated the intercom, "Damage control teams report to Deck 20!"
"Return fire. Target engines and weapons if possible; try to disable them," said Captain Freeman.
"Returning fire," said Ivanovna. Several phaser blasts and a couple of photons emanated from the aft section of the Bristol, and struck the lead ship. "Multiple hits sir! The lead ship has lost offensive capability."
The Bristol was hit again by a heavy barrage from the other Klingon ships. Several officers were thrown about, and sparks flew from several consoles. Ensign Gates' console exploded in a shower of sparks; she screamed and was thrown to the floor.
"Medical teams to the Bridge!" the captain yelled over the intercom.
"Captain, aft phaser banks off-line. Shields down to 27%. Another barrage and we will be defenseless," Ivanovna reported with her usual battle coolness.
The Bristol began to slow down, much to the captain's chagrin. He whirled about in his chair to the Bridge's Engineering station, where Commander Jevor was currently sitting.
"Why are we slowing?" the captain asked.
"Captain, warp engines have been damaged," Jevor said, turning to look at the captain. "Anti-matter injectors are locking up. We could be facing a complete warp engine shutdown in less than a minute."
"Get me the Klingons," Captain Freeman ordered Ivanovna.
K'Tang appeared on the viewscreen, with a wide smile. "Had enough?"
"Allow me a few minutes to contact Starfleet and get instructions. For the sake of the peace that currently exists between us. Don't throw away what has taken decades to build!" Captain Freeman pleaded.
"Don't worry Captain. Our argument isn't really with you anyway; you may have your few minutes," K'Tang responded good naturedly.
"Ivanovna, I need a secure channel to Starfleet. Get me Admiral Lowery, and pipe it through to my Ready Room," said the Captain as the image of K'Tang faded.
"Captain," K'Tarran inserted. "Remember what I said to you in the Brig." The captain nodded, remembering K'Tarran's wish that no blood be spilt. 'It's a little late for that though, but perhaps we can save the rest of the crew, and the treaty,' the captain thought to himself.
"Isn't Admiral Kily overseeing this mission?" Commander Yilaan inquired.
"Precisely why I don't wish to speak to her about this. Lowery has overall jurisdiction over starship activities in this area of space; I'm hoping he'll listen to reason."
Yilaan nodded as the captain proceeded to his Ready Room. The captain sat down and was greeted with the face of the silver-haired Vulcan Lowery on his small viewing screen situated on his desk. He was wearing pajamas.
"I'm sorry to disturb you Admiral, but we have a problem," Freeman said.
"What is it Captain?" Lowery responded with a yawn.
The captain proceeded to quickly bring Lowery up to speed on recent events, as well as his own opinion of them. He also mentioned his talk with K'Tarran in the Brig. By the end of the conversation, Lowery was wide awake, and not in good spirits.
"What was Kily thinking? This is a clear violation of the non-interference agreements between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. No matter how good or bad the idea might have been, it is wrong!" Lowery said, his Vulcan demeanor the only thing that was allowing him to maintain his composure. "Now, the treaty is in jeopardy, not to mention all of your lives."
"I'm glad we agree on this Admiral," the captain said with a note of relief.
The admiral shook his head, "To think R'Dalla would be involved in this; I would've thought she might've known better. Well, what's done is done. Kily and R'Dalla are going to be in big trouble. As far as the here and now, I think it is obvious what you need to do, Mark, and I'll support you all the way."
"You want me to hand K'Tarran over?" the captain asked.
"Nothing so simple. To merely hand him over would send a bad message about our resolve. No, I think I have a much better way to put an end to this situation and save face for everyone involved."
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