Stardate: 60430:1300
Title: Road Rage
Author: Captain Khavok
Time: After "Making a Run For It"
Scene: USS Relentless Bridge
It was good to hear Abby laugh and it relieved some of Alex's tension. They had
just received word from the Horizon that they had started their screening
maneuver. The Captain looked at his alpha helmsman and resisted the urge to take
over. The helmsman was fresh out of the Academy and what the Relentless and
Horizon were about to do was going to go against every instinct his instructors
had just worked to instil in him over the last four years.
Proximity and other alarms screeched as Relentless' Captain ordered the firing
of the explosive bolts that held the Relentless moored to Star base 9. Khavok
kept a close watch on the view screen while calling out course corrections.
The docking area was thrown into confusion as the Relentless eased out of her
berth. Quickly gaining speed other vessels did their best to get out of the way.
"Raise shields, helm mind you stay clear of the Horizon," Alex ordered.
"Aye sir," helm quavered.
The bridge became a confusing ordeal of alarms and a steady stream of obnoxious
communications from various entities. The communications ranged from frightened
exclamations to threats of out right death. Khavok calmly ignored them and
continued a steady stream of commands.
"Helm, one half impulse, ease us ahead of the Horizon."
{USS Relentless, this is Dock control, you are ordered to stand down and return
to berth. Acknowledge!}
The Captain smiled to himself as the dock officer became more demanding and
irate. He kept his attention on the view screen making sure to avoid a collision
with the Horizon and other nearby vessels.
"Sir, we have a problem," the helm officer reported, doing quite well in keeping
the panic from his voice.
"Report."
"Nausicaan freighter, on a collision course."
"Hail them!"
A large Nausicaan's face filled the view screen. The tusks around his mouth
quivered in an arrogant blatantly threatening way. One did not need to be a
student of alien physiology to interpret the gestures the freighter captain was
making.
"Mr. Adams, identify the ship."
"Loosely translated, it’s the 'Fragrant Mound of Garbage', sir. A Nausicaan free
trader."
Khavok nodded, and turned to the view screen.
With a straight face he managed to say, "Fragrant Mound, this is Captain
Alexander Khavok of the USS Relentless, we are experiencing some technical
difficulty and suggest that you grant us right of way."
The Nausicaan's response was to grab his crotch and make several other
disturbing and vulgar gestures while pouring fourth an untranslatable babble.
"Sir," Ensign Adams reported with growing unease, "they have triple our mass and
are picking up speed."
"Helm, can you out maneuver it?" Captain Khavok asked. Khavok knew his ship
would fly rings around most of the ships in existence he just wanted to know if
his helmsman had the skill and the stones to try.
"Yes sir!"
The Captain was pleased with that answer, not only were the rules ingrained into
the man but also the desire to test and to bend them.
"Avoid the 'Fragrant Mound', jump to warp as soon as we're clear."
"Com, send my regards to the station and a general apology to the ships
affected," the Captain stated.
Alex sat down as the stars on the view screen blurred into lines.
Captain Khavok breathed his first sigh of relief since the whole ordeal began.
For the first time he began to feel on an even footing with his attacker. The
only thing that dampened his mood was a pervasive feeling that all was not
worked out as far the crew was going. He couldn't put a name on the feeling it
was the type of feeling that warned a soldier to duck right before a hidden
sniper squeezed his trigger.
Khavok shook himself mentally, "set course for the Cardassian border, maximum
warp."
=/\= Several hours later =/\=
"Sir, incoming priority one transmission, coded with the Admiral's personal
signature," announced the Comms officer.
"I'll take it in my ready room."
The Captain passed a quick glance to his XO as left the bridge to take the
message. In the ready room Admiral Foster's face filled the screen.
{You've caused quite a stir}
Alex shrugged.
{Are the reports from the station accurate?}
"I'm not sure sir, anything coming from Command is likely to be suspect.
Commander Burgle is part of this."
{Yes, I've noticed his blundering paw prints all over this situation. There are
larger targets however. You and I both know that Burgle is not a planner or a
thinker.}
The Captain smiled, "indeed I do know sir."
{It's nice to know that you are underway and that nothing serious happened. I
did receive a complaint from the Nausicaan free trade assembly. Care to
elaborate?}
Khavok did his best to act innocent.
{That confirms it then. Any time you try to cute your way out of things it only
confirms your guilt. Do try to be more careful.}
"Yes sir," Alex said with a smirk.
{Stay alert. I'll clean things up at the starbase once I return. Now that Burgle's
played his hand we'll have to be more careful. Watch your self out there.
Hopefully we'll be able to draw out our enemies. Admiral Foster out.}
The Federation insignia replaced Admiral Foster's face and Alex stood thinking
for a moment longer. He then turned back toward the bridge to carry out his
orders.
========================
Captain Alexander Khavok
Commanding Officer
USS Relentless
NCC 11966
========================
