Star Trek

 

Volshins

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Memory of:

The Intimidator,

The Man In black,

The Man who could see the draft,

Dale Earnhardt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By: Derek Kestner

Based on Star TrekTM created by Gene Roddenberry

            Captains Log, Stardate 5458.7 For the past few months the Bozeman and her crew have been given many tests of their skill, each test we have passed with flying colors. We have been through many things. We went through a wormhole and came out in Cardassian space. Someone had tried to kill Lieutenant Gallimore and Lt. Commander Kestner was sent to prison for the crime, and we later found out that he didn’t try to kill her.  We are now patrolling the Romulan Border. It will be good to have some peace and quiet. End of Log Entry.

  

            The Bozeman and her crew were patrolling the Romulan Border. After all they had been through Bateson was happy to have some rest. As fate would have it he would not be getting any peace and quiet. Instead he would be meeting the newest threat to the Federation.

            Bateson sat in the Captains chair and watched his crew at their stations working. It will be nice to have some peace and quiet around here, Bateson thought. Suddenly Wizz Dayton, his Communications officer, turned and said, “Captain, I’m getting a Communiqué from Starfleet Command.”

            “On screen,” Bateson ordered. The star field switched to the face of Admiral Dayton Owens. “Good morning, Admiral. Nice to see you again.”

            “Good morning Captain Bateson, it’s nice to see you also,” Admiral Owens said. “I have some new orders for you, but I can’t explain here. Warp back to Command and we’ll talk there.”

            “Aye sir, we’ll be right there,” Bateson said.

            “Very well, I’ll see you then, Owens out.”

            “Andy, set course for Earth, warp five,” Bateson ordered. The Bozeman turned and accelerated speed. “ETA to arrival.”

            “One-point-three hours present speed,” Derek said.

            “Very good.”

 

            One-point-three hours later the Bozeman came within sight of Earth. “Andy, standard orbit,” Bateson ordered. He tapped a button on his chair and said, “Transporter Room, prepare to beam me down to Command.”

            A voice over the comm link replied, “Aye sir.”

            “Captain, standard orbit achieved,” Welch reported.

            “Thank you Andy,” Bateson said. “Gabe, you have the conn until I get back.”

            “Aye sir,” Bush said.

            Bateson stood and walked into the turbolift. “Transporter Room,” Bateson told the computer. The turbolift glided smoothly its destination, the doors then opened and he walked out.

            He walked into the Transporter Room and stepped up onto the transporter padd. “Energize,” he ordered. He disappeared with the cool tingle of the transporter beam. He reappeared on the transporter platform of Starfleet Command.

            Admiral Owens was standing there; he shook his hand then pointed through the doors. “This way to my office,” he said. Bateson followed Owens through the many halls of Starfleet Command until they reached the doors to his office.

            The doors hissed open, Bateson followed Owens in. It was a nicely furnished, but all admirals’ offices were nicely furnished. A woman was sitting in front of the desk. Admiral Owens gestured to her and said, “This is Admiral Rowland, she will be overseeing your new mission.”

            “Nice to meet you Captain Bateson,” she said standing and shaking her hand.

            As Bateson sat down he asked, “Sir, what is my mission?”

            “You are getting a new crew,” Owens said.

            “You mean my whole Bridge Crew is being replaced?” Bateson asked shocked.

            The admiral laughed and said, “No Captain. Your crew will be replaced by crewmembers that have not yet flown on a starship. Most of the crewmembers will be replaced from science and engineering. None of you Bridge Crew will be replaced.”

            “Are there any specific orders sir?” Bateson asked.

            “We want to guide them through my different types of missions so you will be given a list of what you need to do,” the admiral explained, “your first mission will be to patrol the Klingon border.”

            “Sir, will we not have any protection?” Bateson asked.

            “Yes. The Sloane and the Sovereign will be accompanying you to protect you,” the admiral said.

            “Thank you sir,” Bateson said.

            “Admiral Rowland will be on the Sloane to oversee the mission. Don’t worry about your crew, they are being informed now. That will be all.”

            As Bateson stood he said, “Thank you sir.” They shook hands then Bateson walked out.

 

            For the next 24 hours there was nothing but a crew transfer. The new crewmembers were excited to be on their first ship. Derek watched them settle down for a couple of hours then went to bed.

            The next day Derek walked onto the bridge. The Bozeman was preparing to leave Spacedock; they had docked the night before for the transfer. Derek took his seat at Opps and started up his console. As he began work Captain Bateson stepped onto the bridge.

            “Prepare to leave dock,” Bateson ordered. “Wizz, get me the Sloane and the Sovereign.”

            “Aye sir,” Dayton said. Seconds later he said, “On speakers sir.”

            The speakers crackled into life. “U.S.S. Sloane, U.S.S. Sovereign, are you ready to depart?”

            “Captain Bateson, this is Admiral Cromer, we’re ready to leave when you are,” Admiral Kayla Cromer said.

            “Captain Bateson, this is Captain Doss, we’re ready to leave,” Captain Doss said.

            “Very well, begin undocking procedure,” Bateson ordered.

            “Aye sir,” Cromer and Doss said.

            “Andy, clear all moorings,” Bateson ordered.

            “Aye sir.” Welch pressed a few keys then said, “All moorings cleared Captain.”

            “Very good.” Bateson said. “Wizz, hail Spacedock.”

            “Aye sir.” Dayton turned and went to work. Seconds later he turned back around and said, “On speakers sir.”

            “Spacedock, this is the Bozeman, we are ready to leave and are requesting that the space doors be opened,” Bateson said.

            “Bozeman this is Spacedock, we are now opening space doors, hope you have a good trip. Spacedock out.” With that the connection broke.

            “Ahead one third,” Bateson ordered. Slowly the Bozeman moved forward toward the vastness of space. The space doors came closer and closer, finally they were out. Seconds later the Sloane and Sovereign came through the doors. “Andy, prepare to warp, Derek, set course for Klingon border.”

            “Aye sir,” Derek and Welch said together. Seconds later Welch turned back around. “Sir we’re ready to warp.”

            “Very good. Wizz, tell the Sovereign and the Sloane that we are ready to go to warp and that our speed will be warp five,” Bateson ordered.

            “Aye sir,” Dayton said turning around. He proceeded to do his work. He turned back around and said, “Captain, they are ready to warp.”

            “Andy, proceed to warp five,” Bateson ordered.

            “Aye sir,” Welch said. The distant rumble of the warp engines could be herd over then entire ship, then they increased speed. The distant stars seemed like a white streaks against the black space.

 

            Derek sat in the officer’s lounge waiting on Whitney, Brad, and Counselor Rickman. They were all going out to dinner then they were going to his beach holodeck program. He ordered a drink and started to sip on it. Where are they? He thought. It only took me fifteen minutes to get ready. He sat sipping his drink for the next thirty minutes. Finally they came walking in.

            “What took you all so long?” Derek asked.

            “I had work to finish,” Ashley said.

            “I had to get something for Captain Bateson,” Whitney said.

            “I was waiting on Whitney,” Brad said sitting down.

            “Pretty good excuses, well, at least all but Brads,” Derek, Whitney, and Ashley smiled at his joke. “What are we eating?”

            “I know what I’m getting,” Brad said. They placed their orders then began eating. They talked and laughed as they ate. They talked about the new crewmembers and Brad and Whitney’s wedding.

            After they had finished eating they proceeded to the holodecks. Derek said to the computer, “Start program: One-three-six.”

            The computer beeped in reply. The doors opened, they all walked in and began to swim. After two hours they came back and went to their cabins. Derek laid down, it had been a long day and he was ready to sleep.

 

            Bateson sat in his center chair on the bridge. An ensign and himself were the only people on the bridge at the time. The ensign sat at the helm station looking over their course. After a few minutes he said, “Captain, approaching Klingon border.”

            “Put us on a parallel course,” Bateson ordered. The ship slowly turned on its y-axis until it reached its new heading.

            “New heading sir,” the ensign reported.

            “Very good ensign.” Bateson sat back. A patrol mission with escorts, what an easy mission where we can relax, call Bateson thought. The Bozeman flew along the border with ease, gliding through space. Bateson sat back, ready for a peaceful mission.

 

 

            Admiral Kamath sat in the center seat of his Klingon D-7A. He was proud of his ship and crew, never before have they lost a battle. He was patrolling the southern Klingon border. He watched his crew at each of their stations carrying out their work. Everything was going well, ship and crew were functioning normally. Suddenly his gunner said,

            “Captain, we are picking up a ship, one I have never seen before.”

            “What type of ship is it?” Kamath asked.

            “I don’t know, we have no record of any of the technology on that ship,” the gunner said.

            “Where is it?”

            “Its course is two-seven-six-mark-five.”

            “On screen.” The viewer changed turned on. A star field was brought before them. Off to one corner something red came toward them. “Magnify,” Kamath ordered.

            The screen magnified to its closest point. A giant red ship was coming closer to the Klingon border. “What is it?” the gunner asked.

            Kamath shrugged. “It’s none of our ships, it’s not a Federation ship either. It must belong to some unknown species.” A smile darted across his face. “If we could capture this race we could become rich.”

            “We could all become rich and famous,” the gunner agreed.

            “Prepare to cloak,” Kamath shouted. The gunner got ready for his commanders orders. “Cloak!” The D-7A suddenly vanished into thin space. Kamath started to form a plan in his mind. We shall creep up on them while cloaked, Kamath thought. Then when they least expect it we’ll de-cloak and damage them. Then we’ll hall them back to the home planet.

            An evil smile spread across his wicked face as he ordered, “Go to Battle Alert!”

            The gunner put the ship on Battle Alert. “Captain, they are gaining speed!” the gunner reported.

            “Hold speed,” Kamath ordered. “Prepare to fire, target engines only.” Kamath laid a hand on his blaster. If the gunner disobeyed his order to target engines he would shoot him.

            “Engines targeted,” the gunner said.

            “Good, prepare to de-cloak,” Kamath said. He lifted his free hand to give the signal. Closer, we need to get closer, Kamath thought. He dropped his hand. Around him he could hear the ship de-cloak. Two red balls flew away from the ship. They struck the strange ship with a huge explosion.

            The strange ship was flung to starboard. “This will be an easy fight,” Kamath’s helmsman said smiling. The strange ship corrected his heading and continued on its original course. It did not fire, but kept coming.

            “Fire again,” Kamath ordered. Another red ball flew from the D-7A and smashed into the ship. Once again the ship flew to starboard. It quickly corrected itself. It continued toward the Klingon ship. “Take us closer,” Kamath ordered.

            Without saying a word the helmsman touched the proper controls. The Klingon ship flew closer to the strange ship. Suddenly the gunner said, “Admiral, energy is gathering around the bottom of that ship! I don’t know what it is.”

            “Pull back,” Kamath ordered. The ship decreased speed. From the viewer Kamath watched a large ball of energy forming under the alien ship. As he watched the ball got larger and larger. Seconds later the ball was flying toward the Klingon ship. “Reverse, full speed!” Kamath shouted.

            As hard as the ship tried it could not escape the large ball of energy. The ball engulfed the ship with its forceful hit. Kamath closed his eyes expecting the worse. He had his eyes closed for almost two minutes but nothing. He quickly opened one eye. His bridge was the same, nothing different about it.

            “Report,” Kamath ordered. Quickly his crew went to work checking all systems.

            His gunner reported, “According to this all systems are working…but our shields are down.”

            “Admiral, I’m getting a communiqué from the ship. They’re requesting visual,” his communication officer said.

            “On screen,” Kamath ordered. The screen switched from the star field to a bridge much like the one Kamath was in. Sitting in the center chair was a tall green man. He had long black hair and a commanding presence.

            He started to say something in his own language that Kamath did not understand. Hoping he knew English Kamath said, “Who are you?”

            The green creature stared at him for a moment then said in a low deep voice, “Greetings inferior being. I am Zoc, a Volshin, commander of this vessel.”

            “I am Kamath, commander of this vessel, representative of the Klingon Empire. You are trespassing in Klingon space. Stand down or we will be forced to destroy you,” Kamath lied. He had no shields; there was no way he could win.

            The Volshin known as Zoc only laughed. “We know that your shields are down. Our weapon has dropped your shields for a while, it’s not permanent, but we still enough time to weaken you enough that when your shields do rise they will be nothing to blast through have,” Zoc growled.

            “What do you want?” Kamath asked.

            “We request your surrender,” Zoc said.

            Kamath looked around at his men. He looked at his comm officer and nodded. The connection between the two ships broke. “These are your orders men, gunner prepare the destruct sequence!”

            “Aye sir,” the gunner said. The gunner made necessary adjustments to his board then reported, “Sir, destruct sequence ready.”

            “Very well,” Kamath said. “Helm, take us closer, one-third impulse power.”

            The Klingon D-7A slowly moved forward toward the Volshin ship.

 

            Zoc sat straight in his chair. The Klingon had cut the connection. Fool, he thought, he will die in his on space. He watched as the Klingon ship floated closer to his ship. What is he up to?

            “Commander,” his weapon officer reported. “They have activated a destruct sequence on their ship.”

            Zoc only laughed to himself. “Prepare TON torpedo’s, helm, ready warp speed,” Zoc ordered. His crew went to work. The intercom crackled to life as his comm officer issued the warning that they were preparing to go to warp. Below them in the torpedo room a large TON torpedo slide into the tube as the torpedo crew made the necessary adjustments to fire.

            The weapons officer reported, “Ready to fire my Master.”

            “Very well. When I give the order fire as soon as we go into warp, on my mark. Three…two…one…MARK!” The engines surged and went into warp. The weapons officer fired the torpedo directly at the Klingon ship. The Volshin ship flew away as the torpedo struck the hull.

 

            Kamath was preparing to destroy his ship and take the Volshin ship with him. Suddenly his gunner reported, “Sir, I’m picking up an energy surge form the ship!” The Volshin ship suddenly flew off at warp speed.

            “Cowards!” Kamath shouted. His screen suddenly filled with a strange sliver light. He looked into the screen. A large sliver ball flew towards him. I looked like a torpedo only, it was sliver. It smashed into the hull. The ship instantly exploded. There was no trace of the ship left.

 

            When Derek stepped on the bridge the only there were Captain Bateson and an ensign. He walked down to the lower level of the bridge. “Ensign, let Mr. Kestner take the helm,” Bateson said.

            “Aye sir,” the ensign said. He stood and sat down at Opps. Derek took the helm control. He quickly looked at their heading. They were on a parallel course with the Klingon boarder.

            “Sir, we’re almost at the end of our patrol area, would you like me to inform the Sovereign and Sloane that we need to turn around?”

            “Very well,” Bateson said. Derek stood and walked up to the comm station. He quickly contacted the two ships and told them of their intention to turn then walked back down to the conn.

            “Captain, Brad and I would like to make a request,” Derek said.

            “Go ahead,” Bateson said.

            “Sir, we were wondering if we could take Whitney and Counselor Rickman out in a Runabout for a drive through space?” Derek asked.

            Bateson thought for a second. Derek was a good navigator, best he had seen in a while, and Brad was a good engineer. He was really giving Scotty a run for his money with the title “Miracle Worker”. “ I guess it will be alright. You can take one out for an hour, that’s it. If you get into trouble get back her fast. Understood?”

            “Yes sir.”

            “You can take it out now if you like, I will get your replacements. Just be back in one hour.”

            “Thank you sir,” Derek said. He walked back up to the turbo lift. As he was in he called Brad and told him to get ready. He also called Ashley as Brad called Whitney.

 

            Fifteen minutes later Derek, Brad, Ashley, and Whitney Were in the Runabout going through the shuttle bay doors. Derek, who was setting at the helm, plotted the course into the computer then set it on autopilot. “Where are we going?” Whitney asked.

            “Just for a cruse around the Neutral Zone,” Derek said sitting back. Ashley sat in the seat beside him while Brad and Whitney sat in the seats behind them. Derek looked out the viewing window at the stars and the many sights space had to offer. Derek was amazed every time he saw them.

            “It’s so beautiful,” Whitney said looking out the view port.

            “Nothing out here is as beautiful as you Whitney,” Brad said. Whitney’s cheeks turned red and she smiled. They sat and talked and watched the stars for thirty minutes. It was an amazing sight.

            Suddenly an alarm sounded and the lights turned red. “What’s going on?” Brad asked.

            “I’m not sure,” Derek said. He looked on his scanner screen. “A large ship just flew in on the other side of the Neutral Zone.”

            “Would you kindly take a seat back here with Whitney?” Brad asked Ashley. She nodded and stood. She walked back and sat in the seat beside Whitney while Brad took the seat next to Derek.

            “This is strange,” Derek said still looking at the read outs from his scan, “it’s not Klingon.”

            “Let’s get outta here,” Brad said. “I’m plotting a course back to the Bozeman.”

 

            Zoc flew his ship through the entire Klingon space. He reached his destination three hours after he had destroyed the Klingon D-7A, the Neutral Zone as Klingon’s called it. On the other side was the most powerful force in the galaxy, the Federation. Soon his people would show everyone that the Volshins could beet even Starfleet. Nothing would stand in his way.

            “Sir, I’m picking up a small craft on the other side of the Neutral Zone. It’s a Starfleet shuttle, bearing,” he looking into his scanner screen once more, “two-three-six-mark-eight. I detect four life forms, two male, two female.”

            Zoc sat in his chair and thought about this for a moment. He finally said, “We shall use them as hostages for when we take on the Federation. We’ll only take the males, why would the Federation worry about captured slaves?” He tapped a button on the arm of his chair. “Transporter Room, prepare to beam the two males aboard. Set the transporter on Painful Transport.”

            “Yes my Master,” a voice said on the other end.

            Zoc smiled as he ordered, “Engage!”

 

            Derek and Brad prepared to put up their shields. Suddenly a green light filled. Derek and Brad began screaming at the top of their lungs. “Ah! Ah!” Whitney and Ashley watched as the disappeared in the transporter beam.

            “What happened?” Whitney asked through tears.

            “That ship Derek and Brad were talking about must have beamed them over,” Ashley said trying not to join Whitney in crying. “Come on, we’ve gotta report this to Captain Bateson and get back to the ship at once.” Ashley carefully walked Whitney up to the front and sat her down at the navigation station while she took the helm. She pressed the comm link button then said, “This is Runabout Explorer calling U.S.S Bozeman. This is Runabout Explorer calling U.S.S Bozeman come in please.”

            “Runabout Explorer this is the Bozeman what is wrong?” Dayton’s voice asked over the link.

            “I need to talk to Captain Bateson please,” Ashley said.

            “He’s a little busy right now. We’re having a little problem with our sensors, he’s overseeing it. I can get him to call you back in a little bit,” Dayton said.

            “We need to talk to him now,” Ashley said. “Someone just beamed Derek and Brad over to their ship.”

            There was silence over the link for a moment then they herd Dayton say, “Captain, you should hear this.”

            “This is Captain Bateson. Who is this?” Bateson’s voice asked.

            “Sir, Derek got a new contact on our sensors across the border. While checking it out they were beamed over to the ship. It was weird, they were crying out in pain then they were engulfed in a green light,” Ashley explained.

            “How are you and Whitney? Are you alright?”

            “We’re fine, sir. Whitney’s a little shook up but she’s all right. What should we do?”

            “Is the ship still there?” Bateson asked.

            “Yes, sir, but she’s just floating. She’s not doing anything.”

            Another period of silence then they herd Bateson say to himself, “They probably have their attention on Derek and Brad.” Another pause then Bateson said, “Return to the Bozeman. Raise your shields if you haven’t done that already. Keep your cool Ms. Rickman. And try to keep Whitney calm.”

            “Aye, sir. Runabout Explorer out.” Ashley then began plotting a course for the Bozeman. After she had finished she set the Runabout on autopilot. She spent the next few minutes trying to calm Whitney.

            The transmission was over. He took a few minutes to think it over. It was hard for him to comprehend. One of his engineers and his navigator were kidnapped. I’d better inform Scotty, Bateson thought. He tapped the Engineering comm link on his chair and said, “Bridge to Engineering, Scotty.”

            “Scott here Captain,” Scotty said.

            “Mr. Scott, come to my ready room immediately,” Bateson said.

            “Aye sir,” Scotty said.

            Bateson stood and said, “Gabe, you have the conn. If you need me I’ll be in my ready room.”

            “Aye sir,” Bush said.

            Slowly Bateson walked to the door leading to his ready room. They slide open before him. He walked straight to his desk. What would be the best way to put this? Bateson asked himself. He knew that there was no “best way” to put it.

 

            Darkness. Even though he opened his eyes all he could see was darkness. He tried to call out…nothing came. His mouth moved, but no sound. Derek began to feel his way around the cell that those green aliens had forced him into. He hit something, it groaned. He quickly jumped back.

            “Wha-wha-what happened?” Brads voice asked through the darkness.

            Derek tried once again to talk. This time he said, “Is that you Brad?”

            “Of course it’s me, is that you Derek?” the voice said.

            “It’s me,” Derek said.

            “Where are we?” Brad asked.

            “We’re in a cell of some kind. I think we’ve been here for about thirty minutes. Ow,” Derek rubbed his head. “You gotta headache?”

            “Yeah. Hey where’s my shirt?” Brad asked.

            Derek noticed that he did not have his shirt on either. As he rubbed his chest to make sure he was not hurt he came across something wet, it was blood. He whipped the blood on his pants. “We’ve gotta get outta here,” Derek said.

            “I can barley see it,” Brad said. They both began to feel around for something to use to break out. After about fifteen minutes a door slide open. A white light filled the center of the room. Derek squinted as he looked into the light. Two arms suddenly grabbed him and pushed him through the door. As the led him into a corridor he looked back to see Brad was also being dragged into the corridor.

            When Brad looked at Derek he stood there speechless. “Your back, you’ve been whipped,” Brad said. Until now Derek had not felt the pain in his back that he did now. It shot through his entire body. The four men who had grabbed them continued to drag them through the corridor until they reached a door. It slide open in front of them to reveal the bridge.

            There were many officers sitting at different stations. The men dragged them into the bridge then around the command chair where their commander sat. They forced Brad and Derek on their knees then bowed a knee themselves. “The prisoners you wanted my Master,” one said.

            “Thank you. Stations,” the man sitting in the command chair said. The four men walked back and each took a station on the bridge. The commander waited a minute longer then said, “My name is Commander Zoc of the Volshin Empire. I command this vessel. I will require your names, ranks, and stations.”

            Brad was the first to speak. “I am Lieutenant Commander Brad Foreman, Engineers Mate on the U.S.S Bozeman.” Commander Zoc nodded then turned to Derek.

            “Lieutenant Commander Derek Kestner, Navigator, U.S.S Bozeman,” was all Derek said. Zoc nodded.

            “Gentlemen, until further notice your are my prisoners. I will use you to bring the powerful Federation to its knees,” Zoc said. “I will show the power of the Volshins to all the galaxy.”

            “The Federation will not make any agreement with you for us, we are only Lieutenant Commanders,” Derek said.

            “Ah, one with spirit,” Zoc said smiling. “I like someone with spirit. Oh don’t worry, they will fall, one way or another.”

            “Master,” his weapons officer said.

            “Silence. Can you not see I’m talking to our prisoners?” Zoc asked.

            “But sir, three Federation starships are heading this way on the other side of the Neutral Zone,” the weapons officer reported.

            Zoc’s smile widened. “Hail them.”

 

            Captain Bateson had order a full search for the strange starship as soon as they had picked up the Runabout. They had detected her not far from their position and proceeded on to meet the strange ship. As Ashley and Whitney took their positions on the bridge Dayton reported, “Captain, the ship is hailing us.”

            “On screen,” Bateson ordered. The forward viewer changed from the star field to the bridge of a ship. It looked like most ships bridges did, a command chair, helm and navigation in the front and many other stations in the back. It was darker than the one on the Bozeman Bateson noted. It was so dark it took a few moments to see the two men kneeling at the command chair.

            Both had whip marks on their backs. Blood was dripping down their backs to the hem of their pants. Bateson could not quite make out who they were. His attention then shifted to the man sitting in the command chair. He sat smiling staring right in Bateson’s eyes.

            “Why have you hailed us?” Bateson asked.

            “I would first like to know who you are,” the man said.

            “I am Captain Morgan Bateson, commander of the U.S.S. Bozeman,” Bateson said.

            At these words the two men on the floor slowly turned around. “Captain Bateson, is that really you?” Derek asked in a raspy voice.

            Bateson put his hand up to his mouth when he saw them. Their faces where even worse than their backs. Bruises and cuts were all over their faces. Blood drained down to their eyes. They looked horrible.

            Bateson looked at Ashley and Whitney. He could tell that they were desperately trying not to cry. “Yes Mr. Kestner, it’s me,” Bateson said in a soft voice.

“What ever he says don’t do it. He’s mad. Turn around and forget us, warn Starfleet. Don’t worry about us. Just tell Whitney that I love her,” Brad said in the same raspy voice as Derek.

            At that Whitney could not hold it any longer. She ran down to the lower level of the bridge. “Hold on Brad, we’ll come get you. I promise you, if I have to fight everyone of them to get you I will.

            “Whitney, is that you? Captain Bateson, don’t let her do anything. Do as I said and turn around, warn Starfleet,” Brad said again.

            “No, I won’t leave you,” Whitney said.

            “Do as he says, Whitney, you too Ashley, don’t come after us. Go help Captain Bateson warn Starfleet,” Derek said.

            “This is all really amusing but now down to business,” Zoc said. “You have twenty four hours to surrender the Federation to me, or they die! I will now leave you to make your decision.”

            “Captain, don’t do it. Don’t even think about doing it. Our lives aren’t worth it,” Derek said just before the view screen switched off. Bateson sat back in his chair thinking. He could not leave them there to die; yet, he could not surrender the Federation. What was he to do?

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED…