1415 lines
57 KiB
Plaintext
1415 lines
57 KiB
Plaintext
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
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Path: newserv.ksu.ksu.edu!moe.ksu.ksu.edu!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!doc.ic.ac.uk!uknet!root44!praxis!tjh
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From: tjh@praxis.co.uk (Tim Huckvale)
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Subject: NEW STORY: Minor Misdirections (part 01/02)
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Message-ID: <1993Sep23.174632.6884@praxis.co.uk>
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Organization: Praxis, Bath, U.K.
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Date: Thu, 23 Sep 1993 17:46:32 GMT
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Lines: 741
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Here is my TNG story, Minor Misdirections.
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I hope you enjoy it.
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========================================================
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Thanks to my dad for posting this, and for bringing home
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diskfulls of Alt.Startrek.Creative. If you mail him to say
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how wonderful my story is, he doesn't mind passing comments
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on.
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========================================================
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Usual disclaimers apply to protect the innocent.
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This story can be freely distributed as long as this header
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is included.
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========================================================
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MINOR MISDIRECTIONS
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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by Magnus T Huckvale
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Teaser
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~~~~~~
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The Borg ship approached the planet, it's uni-mind
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concentrating on one thing, assimilation. The Borg
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detected a small ship, a thousandth the size of the
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enormous cybernetic cube. It dismissed it as
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irrelevant. The ship, unmistakenly a Federation
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shuttlepod, fired an irrelevant phaser blast at the
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Borg. The Borg carried on towards the planet, preparing
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its systems for attack. The irrelevant phaser blast
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became an annoying irrelevant phaser blast. The
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uni-mind scanned the shuttle. No lifeforms. Impulse
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engines only. One phaser cannon. Unidentified shape
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inside. It decided on a course of action: Destruction.
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From a corner of the cube came a glowing beam, catching
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the shuttle, enveloping it, slowly crushing it into
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oblivion. The uni-mind detected movement, a bright
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white light, leaving the shuttle. The light travelled
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up the Borg tractor beam, through the shield.
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The Borg detected fantastic amounts of energy. It
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looked for a course of action when it was suddenly
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enveloped in darkness. The last thought to pass through the
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uni-mind, a partly formed question, roughly translates as
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"What the f".
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The words blinked on the ready room viewscreen, 'End
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Simulation', and were quickly replaced by Admiral Quinn.
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"Wonderful isn't it," he said enthusiastically "our
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latest Anti-Borg weapon. We send a modified Photon
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Torpedo right up their tractor beam. Then six miniature
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warp drives rip a hole in space. The Borg don't stand a
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chance."
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"But will it work like the computer simulation
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Admiral?" asked Geordi.
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"That's what we hope. Unfortunately we've had to
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move the development operation. You're taking the
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prototype and plans to Starbase 19. From then on it's
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classified. I can't stress how important it is that the
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torpedo gets to Starbase 19, if it got into the wrong
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hands, the results could be disasterous. This weapon
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could destroy a whole planet if used correctly."
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"Don't worry Admiral, we'll get it there." Picard
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assured. "Enterprise out."
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"Captain's log Stardate 44197.4 Our journey to
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Starbase 19 has passed without trouble. It will be a
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great weight off my mind when the Anti-Borg weapon has
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been safely delivered. The Federation needs it if
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another Wolf 359 is to be avoided. I only hope it can
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be used before members of the Federation are...
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assimilated."
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The Enterprise was nearing Starbase 19, it wasn't
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staying long, and slid into position slightly below the
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enormous disc that formed the top part of the Starbase.
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A sleek, but evidently Ferengi ship passed the
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Enterprise on its way to the space doors. Aboard the
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bridge, Riker watched in awe.
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"The Majestic Swan, the fastest ship in the galaxy."
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he murmered, mostly to himself.
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"It's said it can reach warp 9.9" put in the Captain.
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Worf rather put a dampener on the atmosphere of
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admiration.
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"I don't see the big attraction. It would be like
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sitting in one big warp drive."
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"Humans have always had a fascination with speed,"
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Data explained, "and I have to admit.."
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"UNFORTUNATELY we are not here to sightsee." interrupted
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the Captain, "Mr Worf, is Starbase 19 ready for the
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torpedo?"
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"Starbase 19 signals that they are ready to beam the
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torpedo aboard."
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"Bridge to Transporter Room Three, are you ready to
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transport the torpedo?" Picard said into the intercom.
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Geordi answered.
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"We have it waiting on the transporter pad now, Sir."
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"Proceed"
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The slick black torpedo shimmered and disappeared in
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a soft glow. It re-appeared in a smaller room aboard
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the Starbase. Three security guards stepped on to the
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pad. The senior guard spoke.
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"Enterprise, we have received the torpedo." A bleep
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from the com-panel acknowledged him.
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"Willis, would you go and find out what the hold-up
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with the grav-trolley is please?" he said.
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"Sure boss," Willis replied. He hurried out through
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the door.
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Watch the Enterprise twist round towards it's next
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mission, and stretch into infinity. Now look inside the
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Starbase. Watch all the lights go out. Watch all the
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doors locking tight shut. Watch the Starbase go dead.
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Roll credits...
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========================================================
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STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - MINOR MISDIRECTIONS
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Part '1' - Surprises and Salutations
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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The Vulcan freighter was dwarfed by the ancient
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Klingon Bird of Prey.
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"Please... Klingon ship... Help us..." All on the
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Klingon bridge listened to the distress call. The
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captain signaled his comms officer to hail the
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freighter.
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"Freighter, this is the Car'shek. State your
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problem."
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"We have total power loss, we need an energy beam to
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our warp core."
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"Standby." The Klingon turned to his shipmates.
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"Shall we bother to help them?" he asks, mockingly.
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Another Klingon starts to speak, but is interrupted by
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the soft glow of a transporter beam.
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"Whaaaaaaaat?" yells the Captain, his words distorted
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as he disappears.
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The twelve crew of the Car'shek reappeared in makeshift
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transporter pads aboard the freighter. The freighter
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drifted on, while the Klingon ship turned and warped away,
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shimmering into nothing.
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The bridge of the Enterprise was filled with
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conversation. Data was explaining speed to Geordi, and
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Troi was talking to Riker and the Captain about a book
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she'd been reading. Picard listened politely, while
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Riker listened dutifully. Worf was the only one not
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engaged in conversation. He was fiddling with his
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console. He touched several areas in sequence, and
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received a low bleep to signify failure. He pushed the
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areas again, as if more pressure would make a
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difference. The same bleep sounded back at him.
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"Sir, I am having difficulty in contacting Starbase
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19 to inform them of our departure. I do not think our
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transmissions are being received."
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Picard, realising that this could mean danger for the
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torpedo, ordered the ship to be turned around. Stars
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streaked sideways across the viewscreen, indicating that
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the ship was maneuvering and after a few seconds the
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planet came back into view. Picard had to look twice to
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see the Starbase, a dark ice-cream cone above the planet.
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"Data, is there any energy coming from the Starbase?"
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"There is a small power reading from Operations
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Control, but in the rest of the base only life support
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and the doors are energised, although the doors would
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appear to be locked rather than activated."
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Picard frowned. He was about to speak when Worf
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interrupted.
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"We are being hailed from a ship in the Starbase
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Sir."
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"On screen."
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A slightly pale, thick set humanoid appeared on the
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main viewscreen. He had a phaser pointed at the
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Starbase commander, Admiral Traqu.
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"Captain Picard, I presume. We have taken control of
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this Starbase for the time being. Do not attempt to
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defeat us by force, we have a Ditronic bomb and we will
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not hesitate to destroy the whole Starbase if you do not
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co-operate."
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"Who are you and what do you want?"
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"Who I am is not important. But our group wants
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prisoners released and our safe passage guaranteed."
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Picard considered this, there was no chance that the
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UFAP would release any prisoners, but if he let this
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terrorist know this, what would he do?
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"Admiral, have you seen this bomb?" he asked.
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"Yes, I have Picard. It's definitely for real. As your
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Senior Officer in the vicinity, I order you to do as this
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man says. Contact Starfleet command and tell them his
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requests."
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"Listen to him, Picard" said the terrorist. "Do as I
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say and no-one will get hurt. On Rura Penthe, we want
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the Koalsen renegades, the Beykore prison camp leaders,
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and the Trinoarso freedom fighter, Tarth Coron
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released."
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The terrorist listed other criminals from the
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Federation's prison planet, Borkra 7. When he had
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finished, Picard ordered Data to contact Starfleet from
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the ready room.
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"We'll see what we can do. It is, however up to
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Starfleet." he said.
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"Well you can blame them when we blow up this
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Starbase." the terrorist retorted.
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"In the meantime, I want your word that no-one will
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be harmed."
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"I can agree to that, Picard. All the doors in the
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Starbase are locked shut, and life support systems are
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fully operational. No-one will be harmed. For the
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meantime." The screen flicked back to the darkened
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Starbase.
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Picard turned round.
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"Geordi, I want information on whoever this is that
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we're dealing with." Geordi nodded and moved to the
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Library computer. An ensign efficiently replaced him at
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the helm.
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"Worf, dig up any plans we have of Starbase 19. We
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may be forced to remove these terrorists by force so I
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want you to formulate an attack plan."
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At this, Worf brightened. He had been controlling
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himself during Picards conversation with the terrorist.
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Ancient emotions rose inside him. This day, he may go
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into battle.
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Picard turned to Troi.
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"Counsellor, did you sense anything from him?"
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"Very little, Captain. But I do believe that if he
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says he will destroy the Starbase, he will do so."
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"Does he know about the Anti-Borg torpedo?" Riker
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asked. Troi's reply was uncertain.
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"I cannot say either way for sure, but I do get the
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feeling he's hiding something."
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"Then we must assume for the moment that he doesn't,
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but our first priority is to find out."
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Data hurried on to the bridge.
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"Starfleet Command wants to talk with you Sir, I have
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secured a channel."
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"Put it on the screen."
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The crusty figure of Admiral Quinn appears on screen.
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Admiral's Staedtler and Kepler sat next to him. Quinn
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was the first to speak.
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"Is the channel secure?"
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"Yes Admiral. There have been no further
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developments since Commander Data spoke to you. We do
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have more information, all the doors in the starbase
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have been locked, and the life support systems are
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operating. The terrorist who spoke to us says that
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no-one will be harmed if we co-operate."
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"That may not be possible." said Staedtler. "We have
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contacted Klingon high command, and they say they won't
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release anyone from Rura Penthe. We are reluctant to
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release our own prisoners on Borkra 7 also. Therefore
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you are to stall for time until the joint Klingon and
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Federation anti-terrorist units arrive. We think a
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cloaked ship is the only way we can get in, previous
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attempts at hiding troops in supply ships have been, er,
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unsuccessful."
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"The Tayros Four incident, I heard." Several weeks
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ago, terrorists had taken over a small station orbiting
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Tayros Four. The anti-terrorist unit had been hidden in
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the hold of a freighter carrying food to the terrorists.
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Unfortunatly the terrorists decided not to dock the ship
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but to beam the food off and shoot it down. 30 troops
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were killed.
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"You must prevent the Terrorists from finding this
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torpedo, I know I don't need to elaborate on this."
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"Understood Sir. We'll do our best."
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"I know, Picard. And there's a hundred thousand
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people on that starbase who are counting on you and your
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crew." When the Admirals had disappeared from the
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screen, Picard cursed Quinn. Why did he have to remind
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him of the pressures on him and his crew? Geordi broke
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his thoughts.
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"We have found out who the terrorist is, Captain.
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His name is Ivadd Shorek, a Trinonian."
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"Good. Scan the Starbase for any other Trinonian
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lifeforms. If you find any try and match them to
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criminal DNA records." Picard said.
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"What do we know about Shorek?" asked Riker.
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"He has been arrested several times for initiating
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violent demonstrations calling for the release of the
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Koalsen renegades." replied Data.
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"Shorek mentioned them, who are they?"
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"The Koalsen renegades were accused three years ago
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of bombing the Romulan outpost of the same name." Data
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explained. "They were never brought to trial as a
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Klingon patrol picked up their Escape Pods after they
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attacked a Klingon freighter. They're serving four
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years each on Rura Penthe."
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"What's the link with the other criminals?"
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"None that we can find, I hypothesise that Shorek
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wants to use his position to it's full advantage. It's
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possible he is being paid to ensure their release as
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well."
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"We must find out who Shorek is working with." mused
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Picard. "How did he power down the Starbase?"
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"Shorek has little experience or knowledge of
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electronic systems or machinery. He must have an
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accomplice or accomplices. If we had access to the
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Starbase's computers we could get a list of all arrivals
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in the past few months." Data thought for a moment.
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"It won't be possible to access these records with the
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computer network shut down."
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"Damn. Do we have a list of ships currently in the
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Starbase?"
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"Yes Sir, right here." Data's hands moved over the
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panel with lightning efficiency. A list of ships
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flashed up on the screen. "None of these ships are
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registered in Shorek's name. Shorek probably arrived on
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this one. A private ship, the Trauneck. It arrived two
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days ago direct from Trinon."
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Geordi approached.
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"I found two other Trinonians on the Starbase,
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Captain. I found no DNA match in our criminal database
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so I tried the Starfleet one. It appears one of the
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Trinonians is Reygor Toul. His records show a sister,
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Baugor, and the other Trinonian's DNA is similar, but
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female so I assume it's her." As Geordi spoke Data
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searched the Starfleet database.
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"Reygor Toul was a Lieutenant in the engineering
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department of Starbase 34 but left Starfleet a year ago.
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After working in engineering he would indubitably have
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thorough knowledge of all Starbase systems." Data said.
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"So he would know how to disable a Starbase?" asked
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Riker.
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"I believe that is what I just said."
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One of very few working doors in the Starbase hissed
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open.
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"Ivadd?"
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"What is it now?"
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"Have you thought about my request?"
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"I have thought about it, yes."
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"And?"
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"You are right. Twenty thousand credits is not
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nearly enough. But fifty thousand is too much. I will
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pay you thirty."
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"Thirty!" Nivvo nearly screamed. "I will not settle
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for less than forty."
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"Thirty-two."
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"Now wait just a minute. I went to a lot of trouble
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to get the weapons past security, and you think it's
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only worth thirty-two thousand credits?"
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"Thirty-five, my final offer. I can see we should
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have decided on this before."
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"Thirty-five will do. I only want what I deserve."
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Nivvo turned and stormed out of the control room.
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"You'll get what you deserve." Shorek breathed. He
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turned his attention back to the box. It was a small
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box, about five centimetres long, slightly rounded, and
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with a small panel at one end. He waited.
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"Shorek is hailing us, Sir."
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"On screen."
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Shorek's gleeful face appeared on the screen.
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"Picaaard! I have decided to show goodwill by
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releasing a shipfull of hostages."
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"In return for what?"
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"Nothing, Picard." Shorek laughed. "I merely want to
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show that I don't want anybody hurt. The ship will be
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leaving the Starbase soon."
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Picard started to speak, but Shorek disappeared.
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Instead, he turned to Deanna.
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"What do you make of that?" he asked her.
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"I'm not sure. I'm getting strong feelings of him
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wanting your confidence, but it could be because he
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wants you to trust him enough to make a mistake."
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"Trust is the only thing he can gain from releasing a
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ship. He can't release all hundred thousand hostages
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like that."
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"Unless there's a spy on board." Put in Riker. "We
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shouldn't beam anyone across from the ship just in
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case."
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"Agreed."
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The great space doors slid open to let the freighter
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out. Shorek watched the freighter leave. One touch of
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a button from him could destroy it. But that wasn't
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want he wanted to do. But if he wanted to, he could.
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He felt the control over thousands of lives flow through
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him. He could do anything he wanted to. But he didn't
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want to do anything, it was something, something
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specific. He had decided on what to do about Nivvo. He
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had a strange feeling it was ironic, but he couldn't
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quite put his finger on why.
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"Let us out! Will someone open this bloody door!"
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"Give up, Mike. That door's pretty solid."
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"Tell me about it. I wonder what happened to
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Willis."
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"He's probably locked in somewhere. I wish I knew
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what was going on."
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Senior Security Guard Neil Espianek was used to not
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knowing what was going on. That was one part of being
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in Starfleet Security. Neil didn't know it, but the
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other part of being in Starfleet Security will happen in
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approximately ten seconds.
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"Stand back, I think we can open it." shouted a
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muffled voice from behind the door.
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The door seal lit up, obviously someone had helpfully
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allowed power through. Neil and Mike watched the door
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slide open, with the familiar swish.
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Mike said "Hey, who the hell are you?" and slumped
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over the torpedo.
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Neil just stared in surprise at the hole in his chest
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and fell over.
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At least someone had turned up with the grav-trolley.
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========================================================
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STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - MINOR MISDIRECTIONS
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Part '2' - The one that got away
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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If it helps, imagine that Picard's disembodied voice
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is giving this log entry, while all we can see is
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Starbase 19, the Enterprise, and some old freighter
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floating above the planet.
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"Captains Log, Supplemental. We are stalling Ivadd
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Shorek for the mean time, while awaiting the arrival of
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|
Starfleet's anti-terrorist team. We have to contain the
|
|
situation for seven hours. Shorek seems to be in no
|
|
hurry but I'm sure there is more to this situation than
|
|
it seems."
|
|
|
|
"The Freighter Ryosalk wishes to know if you have any
|
|
objections to the hostages being beamed down to the
|
|
planet, Sir." said Worf.
|
|
"Tell them it'll be fine, but they're to be contained
|
|
on the planet until this situation is over." Picard
|
|
turned to Geordi. "Geordi, I want to know the
|
|
weaknesses of the Anti-Borg torpedo. If Shorek has it,
|
|
we must neutralise it before he can get it out of our
|
|
reach."
|
|
"I'm not sure that there are any weaknesses, Sir.
|
|
That is why Starfleet is developing it as an Anti-Borg
|
|
weapon. But if there are any, we'll find them. I'll be
|
|
in engineering."
|
|
"Good luck Lieutenant."
|
|
"I still can't believe that three people can take
|
|
over a Starbase. Shorek must have more people working
|
|
with him." said Riker.
|
|
"It is more likely that he has people working for
|
|
him." answered Data, always ready to put Riker right.
|
|
"Shorek has been known in the past to pay mercenaries to
|
|
do his dirty work. A year ago, a Trinonian high
|
|
councillor was assassinated after beginning an
|
|
investigation into Shorek. Many Trinonians suspected
|
|
Shorek of hiring the assassin, but nothing was proven
|
|
because the assassin himself was killed."
|
|
"Call up the list of Security threats." ordered
|
|
Picard. A list of people on the Starbase with criminal
|
|
records is automatically transmitted to Federation
|
|
Starships as they approach every starbase. This list
|
|
now appeared on the terminal. It was about five hundred
|
|
names long and slowly scrolled over the screen.
|
|
"None of these ring any bells." Picard murmered under
|
|
his breath. He spoke up. "Which of these are likely to
|
|
be involved with Shorek?"
|
|
"We can eliminate anyone who hasn't commited felonies
|
|
for five years with only a 91% margin of error. Also,
|
|
anyone who has not been involved in violent crimes with
|
|
a 99.8% margin." Data's hands moved swiftly over the
|
|
computer. The list was whittled down to three hundred,
|
|
and then only sixty suspects. "If you wait for three
|
|
minutes I can read each individual file and determine
|
|
which criminals are best suited to this work."
|
|
"Make it so." said Picard.
|
|
"It must take incredible planning to take over a
|
|
Starbase." mused Riker.
|
|
"Undoubtably. This Shorek is not stupid. Although,
|
|
once the doors are sealed shut, and if the com system
|
|
was disabled, anyone inside the Starbase would find it
|
|
very difficult to escape."
|
|
|
|
Now that the Klingon Empire has more or less joined
|
|
with the Federation, Klingon technology has been made
|
|
available to Federation Starships. This means that the
|
|
Enterprise can now detect cloaked Klingon ships if they
|
|
look for them. It was a shame they weren't looking,
|
|
because they would have noticed the one approaching
|
|
Starbase 19.
|
|
Since it is blindingly obvious by now that Shorek is
|
|
after the torpedo, one fact might as well be made clear
|
|
as a warning to others. Data has made the assumption
|
|
that the mercenaries would be interested in the release
|
|
of terrorists. He is wrong and his list is entirely
|
|
incorrect, but the overall information gained from the
|
|
list could apply to the real terrorists with one minor
|
|
difference. Data's criminals want the release of people
|
|
who stand up against evil dictators, or campaign for the
|
|
independance of planets absorbed into unwanted
|
|
alliances. These are people who want the right thing,
|
|
but use the wrong means. Shorek's buddies are in it for
|
|
the money.
|
|
You can learn from Data's mistake - if you are
|
|
eliminating suspect terrorists from a list on a
|
|
computer, don't assume anything.
|
|
Fortunately it was not a complete disaster, Data
|
|
realises exactly how innacurate his list is.
|
|
|
|
Shorek, oblivious to this, sat watching his box. His
|
|
eyes focused on the panel.
|
|
He wished it would flash.
|
|
it should have flashed by now.
|
|
He *really* wished it would flash.
|
|
It flashed.
|
|
|
|
"I have eliminated all but eight suspects, Sir. Most
|
|
of them have criminal records relating to attempts to
|
|
release criminals from prison planets."
|
|
"What can you tell us about these suspects?" asked
|
|
Picard.
|
|
"They all originate from unstable planets and have a
|
|
history of being involved in violent campaigns. Many of
|
|
them want the release of some of the criminals Shorek
|
|
mentioned. There is a thirty-four percent chance that I
|
|
am in error."
|
|
"That is higher than normal. Because of this I don't
|
|
think we can take it as read that these guys are working
|
|
with Shorek."
|
|
"Wrong for a change, eh Data?" asked Riker,
|
|
successfully holding down a smirk.
|
|
"No." replied Data. "From the available information
|
|
I have constructed the most likely list of accomplices."
|
|
"Oh," said Riker, disappointed.
|
|
Worf, who had been listening intently to the others,
|
|
noticed his terminal telling him:
|
|
|
|
Subspace hail detected.
|
|
Originator: Ivadd Shorek, Starbase 19.
|
|
|
|
Worf translated this into Federation Standard.
|
|
"Shorek is hailing us again, Sir."
|
|
"Put him on the screen." This was beginning to
|
|
irritate the Captain.
|
|
"I'll get straight to the point, Picard. When can
|
|
the Rura Penthe prisoners and their brothers on Borkra 7
|
|
be released?"
|
|
"We have informed Starfleet of your demands, and they
|
|
are talking to Klingon High Command. Unfortunately the
|
|
paperwork may take some time."
|
|
"Beaurocrats! No matter, we are in no hurry. I have
|
|
decided to release another ship. Expect it in ten
|
|
minutes."
|
|
"That is very..." Picard started, but Shorek had
|
|
gone. "Why does he *do* that?"
|
|
"I sensed a feeling of elation as he turned off the
|
|
screen. He knows you can't do anything and enjoys the
|
|
sensation of power he has over you." Deanna replied in
|
|
her annoying level, silky voice.
|
|
"He didn't seem very tense, quite the opposite."
|
|
"No, he is unusually relaxed for people in his position.
|
|
However, I believe he will not harm anyone as long as we
|
|
play by his rules, or seem to."
|
|
"So all we can do is wait, and hope." Picard said,
|
|
with an air of finality - as if to finish the scene.
|
|
"I'll go and see how Geordi's getting on." said Riker.
|
|
'*Bastard*' thought Picard.
|
|
|
|
Normally a Starbase would detect a cloaked ship
|
|
dodging around a freighter to get into the space dock.
|
|
Of course, if all the windows in the dock have been
|
|
electronically closed, and internal sensors disabled by
|
|
terrorists, the ship might not be noticed.
|
|
|
|
"Hi Geordi!" beamed Riker. "Any progress?"
|
|
"Nothing yet, Sir. I'm attempting to decode the
|
|
pattern left in the transporter when we beamed the
|
|
torpedo aboard the Starbase. If we can construct a
|
|
layout of the torpedo we may be able to use the
|
|
transporter to disrupt a vital component... or
|
|
something."
|
|
"Oh... Yes... I thought you'd be working on
|
|
something like that. But er, how exactly would you do
|
|
that?"
|
|
"The transporter can be programmed to shuffle
|
|
particles around, or beam a specific component out. If
|
|
the effect was confined to the torpedo casing, Shorek
|
|
wouldn't notice."
|
|
"Keep at it, Geordi." smiled Riker, and left.
|
|
Geordi watched him go. 'There is a God after all' he
|
|
thought, turning back to the computer.
|
|
|
|
In the cavernous interior of the Starbase, a
|
|
passenger gangway stretched out towards nothing.
|
|
Unusually, it connected with the nothing with a loud
|
|
'clunk'. Even more unusually, three humanoids pushed a
|
|
heavily laden grav-trolley along the gangway, and
|
|
disappeared into the nothing.
|
|
|
|
Shorek leaned back in the Starbase command chair. He
|
|
smiled at the troll-like Ferengi. This troll in
|
|
particular was Nok Barosh, owner of the fastest ship in
|
|
the Galaxy.
|
|
"I want you to do a little job for me, troll."
|
|
sneered Shorek. "Take your ship, and fly it away from
|
|
here at top speed for ten hours, understand?"
|
|
Nok quivered nervously. Some people would think that
|
|
what Nok did next was totally stupid, but Nok hadn't got
|
|
where he was today by doing things for charity. Of
|
|
course, where Nok was today was in the command room of a
|
|
Starbase with an assortment of phasers and disruptors
|
|
pointed at him, but the theory was there.
|
|
"I can do that for you. There is of course... the
|
|
small matter of... payment?" he said, rubbing his thumb
|
|
and fore-finger together.
|
|
Shorek didn't lose control, but he shouted so loud
|
|
Nok nearly wet himself.
|
|
"PAYMENT?"
|
|
He leapt up, thumping his hands on the table.
|
|
"Of course I'll pay you." he said calmly. "In return
|
|
for you flying halfway across the galaxy I won't kill
|
|
your wife and son."
|
|
"That will do... nicely." muttered Nok, almost
|
|
smiling.
|
|
|
|
"Sir. I'm detecting a ship powering up inside the
|
|
Starbase." said Data. "It's the Majestic Swan."
|
|
"How many lifeforms are aboard the ship?" asked
|
|
Picard.
|
|
"I can make out two humans and a Ferengi in the
|
|
bridge. I can detect six, possibly seven in the living
|
|
quarters, I can't determine their species as they are
|
|
too close to the ship's warp core."
|
|
"Is the torpedo aboard?"
|
|
"I can't tell, Sir. The Swan is powering up her
|
|
impulse engines."
|
|
Picard stood up.
|
|
"Ready tractor beam."
|
|
|
|
Shorek stood at the open end of the walkway, watching
|
|
the Swan move towards the Space doors. The beautiful
|
|
Baugor Toul walked past him.
|
|
"Nivvo's coming in just a second, he says he can't
|
|
find his disruptor."
|
|
He nodded, and watch her disappear.
|
|
Nivvo entered the walkway.
|
|
"Close the airlock, Niv" yelled Shorek.
|
|
Nivvo pushed a few buttons on the door panel, and the
|
|
door locked shut with a clunk. A second clunk followed,
|
|
he thought it was an echo, but in fact it was Shorek
|
|
shutting the other end of the walkway. Nivvo
|
|
frantically pushed buttons on the door, and then
|
|
frantically grabbed at it as the rush of air swept him
|
|
down the tunnel.
|
|
|
|
The Majestic Swan majestically swung out of the
|
|
Starbase. A bright blue beam of light stretched out
|
|
from the Enterprise and stabbed at it just after it
|
|
leapt into warp in a blaze of colour.
|
|
"DAMN!" yelled Picard. "Get me Starfleet."
|
|
|
|
Shorek strode away from the door, clunking up the
|
|
gloomy Klingon corridors. A dull thud on the edge of
|
|
hearing signalled another problem gone.
|
|
|
|
"We've already begun tracking the Swan, Picard.
|
|
Shorek will have to stop sooner or later. Keep me
|
|
informed, Quinn out."
|
|
"Text-only message from Admiral Traqu on the
|
|
Starbase, Sir. All the terrorists have left, but he
|
|
needs technical help with resetting the Starbase's
|
|
systems. Apparently all his experts are locked up."
|
|
said Worf.
|
|
"Tell him I'll be beaming over shortly with
|
|
engineers. Picard to engineering."
|
|
"LaForge here, Sir."
|
|
"Geordi, bring enough technicians to reset the
|
|
Starbase doors and meet me in transporter room 3. Data,
|
|
you're with me."
|
|
|
|
A shimmering of light, and six figures appeared in
|
|
the starbase ops room.
|
|
"Geordi, get to work."
|
|
One of the figures nodded and headed for the mass of
|
|
computer consoles.
|
|
"In here, Picard!" The familiar voice of Admiral
|
|
Traqu came floating through a door. "The door's
|
|
jammed."
|
|
Data moved towards the door, in a second it was open.
|
|
"Hello Captain, glad you could make it."
|
|
"Admiral." Picard nodded. "I'm sorry we couldn't
|
|
catch Shorek for you, there was no point in giving
|
|
chase, the Swan could easily outrun us."
|
|
"To be honest, I'm just glad it's all over." the
|
|
Admiral replied.
|
|
"When your computers are back on-line we'd like to
|
|
look for clues of Shorek's destination."
|
|
"Yes, fine."
|
|
Geordi approached.
|
|
"How long, Geordi?"
|
|
"Five minutes Sir, if we reset the main computer
|
|
core. Admiral, the process requires your permission and
|
|
security code."
|
|
"Will much information be lost?" the Admiral asked.
|
|
"Very little Sir, only programs that were running
|
|
when the terrorists took over. The alternative is at
|
|
least a day before we open any doors."
|
|
"Very well. Let's get on with it."
|
|
|
|
|
|
========================================================
|
|
Is this the last we'll see of Shorek?
|
|
Will Picard recover the torpedo?
|
|
Does anyone really care?
|
|
|
|
Find out in the next part of MINOR MISDIRECTIONS
|
|
|
|
--
|
|
Magnus Huckvale
|
|
|
|
posted by: Tim Huckvale, Praxis, 20 Manvers Street, Bath, BA1 1PX, UK
|
|
Tel: +44 (0)225 444 700 Fax: +44 (0)225 465 205 Email: tjh@praxis.co.uk
|
|
Any opinions expressed are mine
|
|
--
|
|
Tim H
|
|
|
|
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
|
|
Path: newserv.ksu.ksu.edu!moe.ksu.ksu.edu!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!doc.ic.ac.uk!uknet!root44!praxis!tjh
|
|
From: tjh@praxis.co.uk (Tim Huckvale)
|
|
Subject: NEW STORY: Minor Misdirections (part 02/02)
|
|
Message-ID: <1993Sep23.174817.6995@praxis.co.uk>
|
|
Organization: Praxis, Bath, U.K.
|
|
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 1993 17:48:17 GMT
|
|
Lines: 653
|
|
|
|
Here are the final three parts of Minor Misdirections.
|
|
|
|
========================================================
|
|
|
|
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - MINOR MISDIRECTIONS
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
|
|
Part '3' - Light Dawns
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
|
|
Cheers filtered up through the Starbase as the lights
|
|
came on and the doors opened.
|
|
"Right, let's get to work." said Picard.
|
|
"Use the computer in my office, Captain. Is there
|
|
anything my people can do?"
|
|
"Yes Admiral, that would be helpful. Can you get
|
|
your people looking for anything left behind by Shorek,
|
|
one of the terrorists may have dropped something which
|
|
could lead us to the identity of one of his..
|
|
associates."
|
|
"I'll get right on to it, Captain."
|
|
"Thankyou Admiral. Perhaps Commander Data could
|
|
assist you, he has a talent for mysteries."
|
|
"Yes, it will be interesting working with him."
|
|
Picard turned to the computer.
|
|
"Computer, access private subspace communication
|
|
logs."
|
|
<WORKING> appeared on the computer screen. After a
|
|
second a long list appeared.
|
|
"List any calls made by or to Ivadd Shorek." Picard
|
|
said, trying to ignore Admiral Traqu explaining the
|
|
situation over the PA system.
|
|
<WORKING>
|
|
"Three subspace transmissions holding the name Ivadd
|
|
Shorek found."
|
|
Federation computers always put Picard on edge. They
|
|
strangely reminded him of Lwaxana Troi.
|
|
"Show me the first one."
|
|
"Level three security access required."
|
|
Picard stated his name, rank, and serial number and
|
|
the computer began speaking.
|
|
"Call is six days old, transcribed to text only."
|
|
|
|
Originator: Reygor Toul
|
|
Recipient: Ivadd Shorek
|
|
|
|
Repeater Path: Trinoarso_4/Starbase_71/SSRelay_Alpha14/Starbase_19
|
|
|
|
REYGOR. MY OLD FRIEND.
|
|
IVADD. HOW ARE THINGS GOING?
|
|
FINE. EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL. HOW IS EVERYONE
|
|
YOUR END?
|
|
BAUGOR IS FINE. MY SMALLER FRIENDS ARE FINE ALSO.
|
|
GOOD. GOOD. SEE YOU AT OUR REUNION.
|
|
BYE IVADD.
|
|
|
|
<Message Ends>
|
|
|
|
"Next message."
|
|
|
|
"Call is two days old. Visual records deleted for
|
|
memory conservation."
|
|
|
|
Picard raised his eyebrows at the message details.
|
|
He knew Nok Barosh to be the owner of the Majestic Swan.
|
|
|
|
Originator: Ivadd Shorek
|
|
Recipient: Nok Barosh
|
|
|
|
Repeater Path: Starbase_19/SSRelay_Alpha02/Ferengal_1
|
|
|
|
<Beeeeep>
|
|
"Mr Barosh? My name is Ivadd Shorek, a friend of
|
|
mine recently acquired an artefact which I believe you
|
|
may be interested in."
|
|
Picard kept listening, and moved over to the
|
|
replicator.
|
|
"What is it?"
|
|
"Tea, Earl Grey, Hot."
|
|
"Let me show you." Picard cursed as he couldn't see
|
|
what Shorek was showing to Barosh.
|
|
"Is it genuine?"
|
|
"Of course."
|
|
"Then I am definitely interested."
|
|
"Can you get here the day after tomorrow?"
|
|
"Certainly."
|
|
"Good, I will meet you when your ship docks."
|
|
"I look forward to it."
|
|
<Beeeeep>
|
|
|
|
|
|
Picard sipped his Tea, perhaps Shorek had tricked
|
|
Barosh into bringing his ship to the Starbase to make
|
|
certain he would be there.
|
|
|
|
"Next message."
|
|
|
|
"Call is four hours old. Visual and Audio intact at
|
|
resolution 4."
|
|
|
|
<Beeeeep>
|
|
Picards eye's widened in surprise as the console
|
|
screen split in two.
|
|
Ivadd appeared in one screen, and in the other, a
|
|
Cardassian.
|
|
|
|
Originator: Bal Dormat
|
|
Recipient: Ivadd Shorek
|
|
|
|
Path: DS9_2/SSRelay_Alpha41/SSRelay_Alpha09/SSRelay_Alpha15/Starbase_19
|
|
|
|
"I told you not to call me here!" yelled Shorek.
|
|
"Relax, it's not as if these calls are recorded or
|
|
monitored, we're perfectly safe."
|
|
Picard smirked to himself. Anyone with a criminal
|
|
record routinely had their calls recorded at low
|
|
resolution. After a day the message was reduced to
|
|
audio, and then transcribed to text only by the computer
|
|
after five days. Obviously the Cardassian didn't know.
|
|
"Is everything going to plan?"
|
|
"Of course." Shorek smiled, relaxing a little.
|
|
"We'll be there. Will you have the money?"
|
|
"Yes. Two million credits is worth it. Bajor will
|
|
be obselete again."
|
|
"I don't care what you do with the item, just as long
|
|
as I get my money."
|
|
"You'll get it."
|
|
<Beeeeep>
|
|
|
|
The cup and saucer crashed to the floor, spilling tea
|
|
on the carpet. Picard stared at the screen.
|
|
"Admiral Traqu to Captain Picard." Picard's comm
|
|
badge awoke him from his trance.
|
|
"Picard here."
|
|
"The Anti-Borg torpedo is gone, Picard. Two guards
|
|
are dead. I'll inform Starfleet."
|
|
"I think I know where he's going, Admiral, I'm
|
|
beaming back to the Enterprise."
|
|
"Good luck, Picard."
|
|
"Thankyou Admiral. Picard out."
|
|
|
|
"Picard to Commander Data."
|
|
"Data here Sir, we've found many things of int..."
|
|
"Good. Could the Anti-Borg torpedo destroy a
|
|
wormhole?"
|
|
"If the torpedo was..."
|
|
"Yes or no?"
|
|
"Yes, Sir."
|
|
"We have to leave. Tell Geordi to beam back to the
|
|
Enterprise immediately."
|
|
"Yes Sir."
|
|
"Picard to Enterprise. Beam me straight to the
|
|
bridge."
|
|
The Admiral's office shimmered and was replaced by
|
|
the plush bridge of the Enterprise.
|
|
"Ensign, set course for Deep Space Nine, warp 9.6"
|
|
"Aye Sir."
|
|
"Have Data and the others beamed back yet?"
|
|
"They are beaming over right now Sir." said Worf.
|
|
"Say when they've finished."
|
|
"They're all across now, Sir."
|
|
"Ensign, engage."
|
|
"Aye Sir."
|
|
The Enterprise leapt into warp.
|
|
"Which heading did the Majestic Swan take?" asked
|
|
Picard.
|
|
"104 mark 085 Sir." replied the ensign at the helm.
|
|
"Will that take it to Deep Space Nine?"
|
|
"Deep Space Nine... No Sir, nowhere near."
|
|
Data entered the bridge.
|
|
"You think Shorek's heading for Deep Space Nine?"
|
|
asked Riker.
|
|
"I did, Will, but how's he getting there if the Swan
|
|
is going in the opposite direction."
|
|
"I believe I can answer that, Sir." said Data. "Ten
|
|
people are still unaccounted for, including Nok Barosh,
|
|
the owner of the Majestic Swan. We think they were on
|
|
the Swan when it left. Intrigingly, boarding gangway 4
|
|
was covered in blood, we assume it was one of the
|
|
terrorists. The interesting thing is that no ships were
|
|
registered docked at gangway 4, the Swan was docked at
|
|
gangway 6 and the freighters at 2 and 11. I checked the
|
|
docking clamp log, and it seems it automatically altered
|
|
itself to lock onto a Klingon Bird of Prey ship."
|
|
"Data, assuming the Bird of Prey left at the
|
|
same time as the Swan and is travelling at it's top
|
|
speed, when will we catch up with it?"
|
|
"One hour, fourteen minutes, twelv..."
|
|
"Thankyou Mr Data. Ensign, get me Deep Space Nine.
|
|
Oh, Worf, I have a little job for you."
|
|
|
|
"Sickbay's all ready, Captain." announced Beverly
|
|
Crusher.
|
|
"Thankyou, Doctor. Won't you join me for a drink?"
|
|
Beverly sat herself down in one of the comfortable
|
|
Ten-Forward chairs.
|
|
"What can I get you?" Picard asked her.
|
|
"Pineapple juice will do fine."
|
|
Picard made his way to the replicator.
|
|
"Pizza, Chicken Tikka, Deep-pan." said Ensign Sungam,
|
|
and snapped stiffly to attention as the Captain
|
|
approached.
|
|
"At ease Ensign. That looks good." Picard said,
|
|
eyeing the steaming pizza.
|
|
"Yes Sir, I programmed it myself."
|
|
"Fruit Juice, Pineapple." ordered Picard, nodding at
|
|
the retreating Ensign. "Tea, Earl Grey, Hot."
|
|
"I saw Worf on the way to the weapons locker, I think
|
|
he's looking forward to his.. assignment." said Beverly
|
|
as Picard sat down.
|
|
"Yes, I must warn him off becoming too
|
|
trigger-happy."
|
|
"Hmm. I've never known Worf to lose control."
|
|
"Maybe. I was going mad waiting on the bridge, you
|
|
know. Still, in an hour or so it will all be over."
|
|
|
|
"We are detecting a Bird of Prey, Captain. It is the
|
|
Car'Shek, no Klingon lifeforms aboard." said Data.
|
|
"Arm Phasers and Photon torpedoes." ordered Picard.
|
|
"The Car'Shek is taking evasive action but
|
|
maintaining its heading."
|
|
"Yellow Alert. Phasers on level one only. Fire!"
|
|
A shaft of yellow light screamed out of the
|
|
Enterprise's Phaser ring, and hit something.
|
|
"The Car'Shek is dropping out of warp and
|
|
de-cloaking."
|
|
On the main viewer, a shimmering of stars took on the
|
|
bird-like shape of a Klingon ship.
|
|
"Slow to Impulse. Open hailing frequencies."
|
|
"Hailing frequencies open, Sir." said the Lieutenant
|
|
at Tactical.
|
|
"Shorek, this is Captain Picard of the Enterprise.
|
|
Surrender immediately."
|
|
"Go and jump Picard! I've got an appointment to make."
|
|
The Car'Shek turned towards the Enterprise, it's
|
|
torpedo tubes glowing bright red.
|
|
|
|
|
|
========================================================
|
|
|
|
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - MINOR MISDIRECTIONS
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
|
|
Part '4' - The Final Surprise
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
|
|
"They're firing torpedoes!" yelled the Ensign at
|
|
Tactical.
|
|
"Shields up, Red Alert."
|
|
The ship rocked as two torpedos slammed into the
|
|
partly formed shields.
|
|
"Damage Report!"
|
|
"No damage Sir, shields are re-forming."
|
|
"Fire at will, ensign." ordered Picard. Riker
|
|
instinctively cringed.
|
|
A photon torpedo screamed out of the Enterprise and
|
|
knocked the Car'Shek spinning, it righted itself and
|
|
passed over the saucer section, directly over the
|
|
Enterprise's rear phaser turret.
|
|
"Shields neutralised Captain!"
|
|
"Reduce firing, keep them on the run without causing
|
|
serious damage. Can you lock on to the torpedo?"
|
|
"No Sir, I think it may be in a shielded cargo bay."
|
|
"Transporter room 3, we think the torpedo is in a
|
|
cargo bay. When we drop shields, energise."
|
|
|
|
The Enterprise swung round behind the Car'Shek, and
|
|
dropped its shields for a second.
|
|
Six figures in red Federation get-up materialised in
|
|
a dark and dingy corridor. Worf looked about, feeling
|
|
right at home, and pumping with adrenalin.
|
|
"This way." he announced, opening the door and
|
|
walking straight into Dayron, a young terrorist who had
|
|
just come from the toilet. Dayron looked up into Worf's
|
|
face. "Shit" he squeaked.
|
|
Shorek's voice came over the PA. "Plan B, everyone.
|
|
Just remember the money."
|
|
|
|
In cargo room 2 of the Car'Shek, four terrorists were
|
|
busy tying a force field to a grav-trolley,
|
|
"Useful stuff, string." mentioned one as the ship
|
|
bucked again, sending the trolley floating down to the
|
|
other end of the hold.
|
|
|
|
Phaser scored the hull of the Car'Shek as it turned
|
|
back towards the Enterprise, firing once more.
|
|
|
|
"Captain, Shorek is transmitting a repeating subspace
|
|
message, it reads simply, 'Plan B'."
|
|
"Interesting. Picard to engineering. Lieutenant
|
|
LaForge, report."
|
|
"I don't know that there's anything I can do Sir,
|
|
from what I can reconstitute from the transporter
|
|
pattern, the torpedo is more complex than any Starfleet
|
|
circuitry I've seen before. At first glance it looks
|
|
like a random mass of wiring, I'll have a more definite
|
|
answer for you in ten or twenty minutes."
|
|
"I need details as soon as possible Geordi."
|
|
"I've got my best people working on it, Sir."
|
|
|
|
The grav-trolley skidded round a corner into a wall,
|
|
bruising one of the terrorists hanging on to the side.
|
|
Worf's posse entered the now empty cargo room.
|
|
"Aaaargh!" yelled Worf. "We'll try the other one."
|
|
The Klingon led the way down the corridor. The cargo
|
|
bay door slid open, startling the two terrorists
|
|
searching for valuables, they drew their weapons and
|
|
ducked behind a cargo pod, firing disrupter beams. Ensign
|
|
Landers was knocked down, another security guard tapped
|
|
Landers' communicator pin three times and he was beamed
|
|
directly to sick bay. Worf immediately fired back, cracking
|
|
the pod and covering the floor with two tonnes of C60
|
|
dry lubricate. Another Starfleet redshirt fired at one end
|
|
of the broken cargo pod, sending it spinning to reveal the
|
|
terrorists. The terrorists stood and put their hands up,
|
|
dropping their weapons. The ship was hit again and they
|
|
slipped over on the Buckeballs, skittered right across the
|
|
cargo bay, and landed at Worf's feet. Worf laughed and
|
|
knocked them out.
|
|
"Three down." he muttered. "Now for the bridge."
|
|
|
|
"Keep them running, Ensign. The old Bird of Prey class
|
|
can't touch us." said Riker enthusiastically. He didn't
|
|
really know what was going on.
|
|
"Ship approaching, warp 9, Sir."
|
|
"Identify. On screen inset."
|
|
While the main viewer stayed centred on the Car'Shek,
|
|
one corner began showing a large ship at high warp.
|
|
"Magnifying. Ship is a Cardassian battle cruiser.
|
|
ETA Two minutes."
|
|
|
|
Worf readied himself for the attack on the bridge.
|
|
"It takes five bridge crew to control a Bird of Prey, but
|
|
it's likely that there are more than that on the bridge,
|
|
fire at will."
|
|
Worf burst through the door, aiming his phaser at an
|
|
empty seat. He looked about, the bridge was empty. He
|
|
moved to a computer console, tapping in a sequence. The
|
|
other guards took up positions by the doors. On the
|
|
viewscreen the Enterprise loomed above the Klingon,
|
|
occaisionally letting rip with phasers.
|
|
Shorek had had the foresight to move bridge
|
|
operations to engineering, but he'd reckoned without a
|
|
Federation officer with knowledge of Klingon ships.
|
|
"Worf to Captain Picard, we haven't located the
|
|
torpedo but we're on the bridge. Shorek has moved
|
|
control to engineering, but I can take over at your
|
|
command."
|
|
"Excellent, Lieutenant. Stand by." Picard turned to
|
|
the comms station. "Hailing frequencies."
|
|
"Aye, Sir."
|
|
"Shorek, surrender your vessel or we will take over
|
|
control."
|
|
Shorek looked surprised.
|
|
"No way, Captain. Things are just getting exciting."
|
|
Picard tapped his communicator. "Now, Mr Worf."
|
|
Shorek looked at his computer and killed the
|
|
transmission.
|
|
"Damn him! No matter, Dormat will be here soon, we
|
|
will carry on with the plan." he said to his partners
|
|
and left for the transporter room.
|
|
|
|
"The Cardassian ship is leaving warp."
|
|
"Hailing frequencies." said Picard.
|
|
"Open, Sir."
|
|
"This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the USS
|
|
Enterprise, Cardassian vessel, state your purpose."
|
|
"They're firing!" shouted the Ensign at Tactical.
|
|
The Cardassian ship fired on the Enterprise, damaging
|
|
the shields and rocking the ship.
|
|
"Lock phasers and fire."
|
|
|
|
"Good work. You're needed on the bridge." said
|
|
Shorek, entering the transporter room. The four
|
|
terrorists inside left. Shorek pulled a Cardassian
|
|
communicator from a pocket and spoke into it. "When
|
|
you're ready."
|
|
He set the grav-trolley down on the transporter pad
|
|
and switched off the force-field, sitting down himself
|
|
on the torpedo.
|
|
|
|
"Captain, I have a lock on the torpedo."
|
|
"Prepare to lower shields and transport on my mark."
|
|
said Picard.
|
|
"The Cardassian ship is hailing us, Sir."
|
|
"On screen."
|
|
A Cardassian commander appeared on the screen.
|
|
"Captain Picard, I presume. I apologise for firing
|
|
on your ship, a case of mistaken identity."
|
|
"Mistaken identity? Perhaps you'd better explain
|
|
what you mean."
|
|
The Cardassian smiled. "Of course, I'll beam over in
|
|
just a second." he said and disappeared.
|
|
"The Cardassians have lowered their shields."
|
|
"Now, ensign!"
|
|
"I can't Sir, I've lost the lock. The torpedo's
|
|
being transported to the Cardassian ship." said the
|
|
Ensign.
|
|
"Beam Mr Worf and the Away team back." ordered
|
|
Picard.
|
|
On the screen the Cardassian ship turned and sped
|
|
away, the Car'Shek started in the opposite direction.
|
|
"Fire photons on the Car'Sheks warp drives. Disable
|
|
them."
|
|
The photon torpedoes scored a direct hit, knocking
|
|
off one nacelle and shattering the other sending the
|
|
Car'Shek rolling off.
|
|
"Follow the Cardassian ship. How long to Deep Space
|
|
Nine?"
|
|
"The Cardassian ship will reach Deep Space Nine in
|
|
seven minutes," answered Data. "We will arrive twelve
|
|
seconds later."
|
|
"Hailing frequencies."
|
|
"Open, Sir."
|
|
"Cardassian ship. Leave warp immediately or we will
|
|
open fire."
|
|
"No response, Sir."
|
|
"Fire three torpedoes in rapid succession."
|
|
Three bright red balls of light slowly caught up with
|
|
the Cardassian ship, warp nine was close to the
|
|
torpedoes top speed.
|
|
"Their shield's down to sixty percent, Sir."
|
|
"When can we fire again?" asked Picard.
|
|
"Forty seconds."
|
|
|
|
Shorek watched the Klingon transporter room dissolve
|
|
and be replaced by one in the Cardassian ship. He
|
|
smiled at the transporter operator.
|
|
"Greetings." he said cheerfully. "Would you take me
|
|
up to your Captain please?"
|
|
The wrinkled transporter operator simply nodded.
|
|
Bal Dormat leaned back in his command chair and spoke
|
|
in Cardassian.
|
|
~Helm, take us back to the wormhole.~
|
|
The Cardassian ship turned and sped away. The
|
|
Car'Shek started in the opposite direction but the
|
|
Enterprise knocked out its warp drives sending it
|
|
spinning out of control.
|
|
~How long to the wormhole?~
|
|
~Seven minutes, Lord. The Federation ship is twelve
|
|
seconds behind us.~
|
|
Bal smiled. His comms officer looked up.
|
|
~The Federation ship is hailing us, Lord.~
|
|
~Let me hear it, but do not return hail.~
|
|
"Cardassian ship. Leave warp immediately or we will
|
|
open fire." came Picard's crystal clear voice.
|
|
~No reply.~
|
|
~They're firing torpedoes.~ said the Cardassian
|
|
tactical officer.
|
|
~Boost aft shields.~ Bal watched the balls of red
|
|
light approach and braced himself against the
|
|
explosions.
|
|
~Aft shield down to sixty percent. Recharging.~
|
|
~Transporter room two says that we have a visitor,
|
|
Ivadd Shorek.~
|
|
Shorek still couldn't work out why he felt that what
|
|
he did to Nivvo was ironic. He'll find out in a few
|
|
seconds.
|
|
~Let me speak to him.~ Bal said, switching on the
|
|
translator.
|
|
"Ivadd! How are you?" Bal asked. Ivadd replied
|
|
nervously.
|
|
"Fine, fine. I've delivered the torpedo, now do you
|
|
have the money?"
|
|
"Come now, Ivadd. You don't think I carry that sort
|
|
of money round with me. now do you?"
|
|
"You said you'd have it..."
|
|
"I lied." he said, and switched to Cardassian. ~Kill
|
|
him.~
|
|
|
|
The Cardassian ship approached Deep Space Nine.
|
|
Bal was surprised that he was not being hailed.
|
|
~Monitoring a call from the Enterprise to the Station,
|
|
Lord.~
|
|
~Yes, no doubt Picard is warning his friends that we
|
|
are on the way.~ Bal said, almost to himself. ~Ready the
|
|
Warp Distortion Torpedo. Lock onto the wormhole entrance.~
|
|
~Torpedo ready Lord. The Enterprise is leaving warp.
|
|
Shall I fire the Torpedo?~
|
|
~Not yet.~ Bal thought for a second. ~Hail the
|
|
Enterprise.~
|
|
The Enterprise bridge appeared on the screen.
|
|
"Picard!" he said, and faltered. "Uh... Hi."
|
|
Picard nodded. "Hello Dormat, how can I help you?"
|
|
"I'm going to fire the torpedo." Dormat threatened.
|
|
"I don't doubt it." replied Picard. Perhaps it was a
|
|
trick.
|
|
~Cut the transmission.~ he looked round to his
|
|
tactical officer. ~Fire.~ he said simply.
|
|
'Any second,' he thought, 'the wormhole will be
|
|
destroyed. As suddenly as Bajor was put on the map, it
|
|
will be wiped off it.'
|
|
The electromagnetic accelerator activated, sending
|
|
the torpedo speeding out of the launch tube. Bal had
|
|
never seen a wormhole collapse before, and he wasn't
|
|
going to today. The torpedo slid out of the tube and
|
|
totally failed to ignite. It also totally failed to
|
|
rush towards the wormhole and collapse it. Instead it
|
|
rather disappointingly tumbled over and over, in the
|
|
vague direction of one of the Bajoran moons. Bal stared
|
|
at it in disbelief and dematerialised.
|
|
|
|
This rather extraordinary turn of events can best be
|
|
explained by returning to the scene aboard the
|
|
Enterprise six minutes earlier...
|
|
|
|
"LaForge to Bridge."
|
|
"Go ahead Geordi."
|
|
"Captain, I think I just realised why the torpedo
|
|
looks like a random mass of wiring. It *is* just a
|
|
random mass of wiring!"
|
|
"Explain."
|
|
"The torpedo's a fake, Captain. It won't work."
|
|
"Are you sure?"
|
|
"I'd stake my reputation on it, Captain."
|
|
"Thanks Geordi. Ensign, get me Starfleet command and
|
|
have Deep Space Nine standing by."
|
|
A few seconds later Admiral Quinn appeared on screen.
|
|
"Captain Picard, have you recovered the torpedo?"
|
|
"No Admiral, quite the opposite." said Picard.
|
|
"Well, what did you want?"
|
|
"Are you sure the torpedo's genuine?"
|
|
"What on Earth do you mean by that?"
|
|
"Admiral, before I risk any more of my crew on a
|
|
decoy," Picard's voice rose to a shout. "Don't you
|
|
think there's something you ought to be telling me?"
|
|
Quinn sighed.
|
|
"Yes, the torpedo's a decoy. How did you find out?"
|
|
"Various clues, Admiral. I can't explain now, we've
|
|
got a Cardassian to catch."
|
|
"Good luck, Picard. Quinn out."
|
|
Quinn was replaced with Commander Sisko.
|
|
"Captain Picard, we're tracking a Cardassian ship, is
|
|
the torpedo aboard it?"
|
|
"Yes, but the torpedo's a fake, Commander. It won't
|
|
work."
|
|
"Are you sure?" asked Sisko.
|
|
"Admiral Quinn told me himself."
|
|
Sisko sighed with relief.
|
|
"Thankyou Captain. Can I offer your crew shore leave
|
|
when you arrive?"
|
|
"I'll see if we have time, Commander. Picard out."
|
|
|
|
Deep Space Nine grew from a pin-prick on the screen
|
|
as the Enterprise left warp. The Cardassian ship was
|
|
hovering above it.
|
|
"The Cardassian ship is hailing us, Sir."
|
|
"On screen."
|
|
The Cardassian bridge appeared on the screen.
|
|
"Picard!" said Bal Dormat. He faltered. "Uh... Hi."
|
|
Picard nodded a greeting. "Hello Dormat, how can I
|
|
help you?"
|
|
"I'm going to fire the torpedo." Dormat threatened.
|
|
"I don't doubt it." replied Picard.
|
|
~Cut the transmission.~ said Dormat, and promptly
|
|
disappeared from the Enterprise screen. In his place,
|
|
the view of the Cardassian ship also quite clearly
|
|
showed a sleek, black, photon torpedo tumbling end over
|
|
end.
|
|
Picard and Crusher exchanged glances, stifling a
|
|
laugh.
|
|
Troi, at helm, sensed a rush of emotion from the
|
|
station next to her. She looked across, it was Data! A
|
|
smile formed on his lips. The smile turned to a grin as
|
|
he threw his head back and laughed.
|
|
Picard began to chuckle, Beverly looked at him and
|
|
giggled. Riker started to snigger. The ensign at
|
|
the relief station decided it was probably alright to join
|
|
in and did so.
|
|
All eyes were on Data. He thumped the console, which
|
|
beeped. He looked at it for a second, and laughed some
|
|
more.
|
|
From tactical, Worf surveyed the scene with a grunt of
|
|
either dissatisfaction or amusement.
|
|
Picard stood up and leant on the console behind him.
|
|
"Haha, Lieutenant? Beam whoever's in the command chair
|
|
of that vessel to the brig. " He looked back to Data and
|
|
resumed chuckling.
|
|
|
|
========================================================
|
|
|
|
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - MINOR MISDIRECTIONS
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
|
|
Part '5' - Epilogue
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
|
|
"Captain's log Stardate 44198.1 We are docked at
|
|
Deep Space Nine for eight hours shore leave while
|
|
waiting for a Cardassian security patrol to pick up Bal
|
|
Dormat and his ship. Their story is that Dormat was acting
|
|
alone without the official backing of his government."
|
|
"The USS Hood picked up the Car'Shek less than an
|
|
hour after we were forced to leave it, and is now towing
|
|
it to Starbase 51 for repairs."
|
|
"It is hardly flattering as Captain of the Enterprise
|
|
to be given a decoy to deliver without being informed.
|
|
If Lieutenant LaForge had not stumbled upon the fact
|
|
perhaps some of my crew would not be alive now. It
|
|
saddens me to think of the two security guards, killed
|
|
at Starbase 19 over a mere torpedo casing."
|
|
"Starfleet negotiators are still trying to convince
|
|
Nok Barosh that his wife and son are safe, but so far
|
|
they have been without success, as negotiating ships are
|
|
unable to stay in contact for more than a few minutes."
|
|
"I received word from Admiral Quinn, apparently the
|
|
genuine torpedo has arrived safely at it's destination,
|
|
wherever that is. He is confident that it will be ready
|
|
for the Federation's next encounter with the Borg."
|
|
|
|
Picard looked up as his door beeped.
|
|
"Come."
|
|
Beverly sauntered in.
|
|
"Captain. I just finished treating Ensign Landers.
|
|
He'll be back on duty in a couple of days."
|
|
"Good. We were lucky no-one else was seriously hurt."
|
|
"Hmm. Jean-Luc, I thought I told you to take shore
|
|
leave."
|
|
"That won't be possible, Doctor. I have far too much
|
|
to do here."
|
|
"Like what?"
|
|
"Well..."
|
|
"Come on, you can buy me a pineapple juice at Quark's."
|
|
"How could I refuse an offer like that?"
|
|
|
|
Troi met Riker in the boarding tube.
|
|
"Hi Will, I thought we'd go down to the market first,
|
|
I hear they've got some interesting rugs." she said.
|
|
"Sounds fascinating." replied Riker.
|
|
Deanna looked at him.
|
|
"Have you done that IQ test I gave you yet?" she
|
|
asked inquisitively.
|
|
"No, I er... haven't had a chance."
|
|
Deanna was sure he was hiding something.
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========================================================
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Minor Misdirections was written
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using !Edit on an Acorn A3000
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========================================================
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I hope you enjoyed reading it.
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--
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Magnus Huckvale
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The best thing about A.S.Creative is the opticals budget.
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posted by: Tim Huckvale, Praxis, 20 Manvers Street, Bath, BA1 1PX, UK
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Tel: +44 (0)225 444 700 Fax: +44 (0)225 465 205 Email: tjh@praxis.co.uk
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Any opinions expressed are mine
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--
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Tim H
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