Stardate: 71025:1128
Title: Stand & Deliver (Part 2)
Author: Lt. Andrew Keller
Time: After 'Stand & Deliver (Part 1)'
Scene: USS Relentless


Andrew received the news about the incoming cruisers at the same time as Lin stepped off the turbo-lift.

"I think I might know how to buy us some time," she began, the doors had barely closed behind her.

Andrew nodded. "Continue..."

"Target the nursery."

Lt. Levi was on his feet. "Are you insane? We're not baby killers!"

"Of course not," Lin shook her head and grinned at Keller. "But THEY don't know that..."

"True," Andrew stroked his chin thoughtfully. "But that's a big facility..."

"I realize that," she continued, "and I only saw a small part of it... but if Browning can back track where my transport signal came from... the nursery was just across the hall. I saw it when they were wheeling me into..." Her voice trailed off.

Keller stood and patted her shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine... Thanks to Duncan." Her voice turned almost pleading. "I've seen their tactics first hand. We need to get our people out of there... now!"

"And we will," Andrew replied. "But there are two Life Alliance cruisers on an intercept course with us. We have to deal with them first, otherwise we may not be able to effect a rescue."

"I understand, but please." Lin's voice was full of emotion, almost ready to crack. Andrew thought he could see tears welling up in her eyes.

"We'll get them all out, Lin," Andrew assured her. "Including that knuckle-headed marine."

He looked to the engineering officer on the bridge."Have Browning perform the trace and let me know when it's done."

[Sickbay to Doctor Talbot. We need you here, right away]

"Better get back to work," Lin said and headed back towards the turbolift.

~

"Signal red alert," Andrew ordered. "Helm, take us out of orbit. Set course to intercept the lead cruiser. Let's meet them head-on."

"Aye, sir," the helmsman confirmed. "Taking us out."

"Sir," the Tactical officer said. "They're powering up their theta generators."

"Compensate with neutron generation," Andrew answered. "Then lock phasers on the lead cruiser, target their shield emitters and engine."

The Life Alliance Command ships were bulky and cumbersome. Andrew knew disabling their engines would render them almost dead with little manoeuvring capability.

"We're being hailed," the Tactical officer said. "Neutron shielding is in place, phasers locked"

"On screen," Andrew replied. The screen flickered to show the face of Francis.

"You are not the vessel, 'Turbulent Birth'" Francis said. "Why have you returned?"

"We have returned to take back what is ours," Andrew replied. "By force, if necessary."

"Then force is what you shall need," Francis sneered. "We will not give them up to you."

The channel closed abruptly and the bridge shook as an energy bolt impacted on the Relentless.

"We've been hit," the Tactical Officer said. "No damage. Their energy weapons aren't potent enough to break through our shields."

"There are only two ants right now," Andrew replied. "Many ants is a different story. Return fire."

The Relentless' phaser banks fired out, scoring direct hits on the points Andrew wanted targeted.

"Direct hits," Tactical reported. "The lead ship is badly damaged and veering off. We're picking up another cruiser approaching. It's about six minutes out."

"Then we need to finish this quickly," Andrew said. "Helm, bring us about. Target the other cruiser."

"We're being hailed. It's not Francis, it's coming from the second ship."

"Same again, target shields and engines. Put them on screen."

The screen flickered again. "I am Jonathon, father of five," he began. "Why are you hostile?"

"I am Lieutenant Andrew Keller. I am in temporary command of this vessel," Andrew replied. "We are hostile because you have kidnapped many of my crew and I want them back."

"We did not kidnap them," Jonathon replied. "They are necessary to our continued survival as a race."

The engineering officer broke in. "Sir, we have the co-ordinates for the trace-back."

"Jonathon, father of five," Andrew said. "We want our people back and we're going to take them back if we have to go through you to do so."

"You are but one ship, soon we will have many here and your threat will be meaningless."

"It wasn't a threat, Jonathon," Andrew replied curtly. "Mr Val, target phaser banks one, two and three on the co-ordinates engineering will send to your panel."

"What are you doing?" Jonathon demanded.

"I want my people back," Andrew answered. "Call off any ships you have on an intercept course. I've just trained a gun on a nursery facility on your planet. If I don't get my people back within 15 minutes..."

"I must speak with my commanders," Jonathon answered, clearly worried by Andrew's revelation.

"Then do so, but the clock will continue to run," Andrew replied. "Tick-tock"


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Lieutenant Andrew Keller
Chief Conn Officer
USS Relentless
NCC-11966
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