(c) copyright 2000
Karyn Van Kainen


Chapter Fifteen

Makkon’s hands moved swiftly over the controls, the shuttlecraft
responding with shields and speed. An alarm captured his attention. “We’re
being scanned.”
“How long before we’re within transmission range of Excelsior?” Sulu
wanted to know.
“I’ve already initiated an emergency signal,” Makkon replied, killing
the alarm. “But our main communications are being disrupted.”
Their conversation was interrupted by a signal from the console
speaker. “Attention, shuttlecraft,” a gruff voice barked, “lower your
shields and disengage your weapons array. Your vessel will be escorted back
to Kronos.”
Makkon looked over his shoulder at Sulu. “Well?”
Sulu pondered a moment. “Hold your course. Ask him to repeat the
message.”
The Klingon stared at the captain. Then, shaking his head, he turned
to the communicator and spoke into the pick-up. Releasing the switch, he
looked once more at Sulu. “What good will this do?”
The Excelsior captain only gazed out at the starfield.

**************

“Commander!”
Krista looked up from the display on the electronic clipboard.
“I’ve picked up seven Klingon bird-of-prey on long range sensors,”
Elvirez announced from his position at the science station. “And one
Klingon transport.”
“Direction?”
“All eight vessels are on a direct course for our position.”
“Commander, I’m receiving an emergency beacon, very faint,” Rand broke
in urgently. She pressed the earpiece to her ear, listening intently. “No
voice signal. Just a repeating emergency beacon.”
MacKenzie looked over at Mr. Spock, who bent over Elvirez’s shoulder to
study the display. “Two personal transmitter signals, commander,” he said,
then looked at her over his shoulder. “Captain Sulu and Officer Makkon are
aboard that transport.”
Krista looked at the woman manning the helm. “Set an intercept course.
Bring the transwarp on line.”
“Aye, commander. Course laid in. Transwarp drive on line.”
“Very well.”
Spock straightened. He stepped down from the science station and
joined MacKenzie. “Commander, if we engage the Klingons we may precipitate
the very conflict that the captain hoped to prevent,” he reminded her
quietly.
“Noted, ambassador,” she replied without turning. “Helmsman, full
impulse power.”
“Aye, commander, full impulse.”
Rand turned from her station. “Commander, I’m receiving a hail from
Admiral Ellison onboard the Asimov. She is demanding to know why we’re
moving out of position.”
“Thank you, Rand.”
“Reply, commander?”
“Not at this time,” said MacKenzie, her eyes never straying from the
viewport display. Lt. Commander Rand raised an eyebrow, then turned back to
the readouts on her communications console.
“Commander!” Elvirez exclaimed. “The bird-of-prey have opened fire on
the transport!”
“Raise shields,” Krista ordered. “Sound battle stations.”

****************

An explosion rocked the tiny ship. The interior lights winked out
briefly, then snapped back on as the ship’s computer attempted to compensate
for the sudden burst of energy.
Makkon studied the readouts on the console. “Shields are holding,
barely.” He turned to look up at Sulu. “A few more shots and we’ll be
destroyed.”
“They don’t want to destroy us,” Sulu replied. “They want to capture
us.”
Another blast illuminated the starfield. The transport shuddered
violently, the engines emitting a high-pitched whine. “We’ve lost
propulsion,” Makkon announced gravely. He hit switches and levers to no
avail. The Klingon sighed loudly, falling back into his chair. “Drive
systems are disabled. We’re dead in space.”
Hikaru gazed into the starfield. Three of the Klingon ships gradually
emerged from the starfield, their weapons turrets glowing. His eyes strayed
to the sensor display, where four other ships approached from the rear.
They were surrounded.
“Power down,” the stern voice ordered through the ship’s speaker.
“Prepare to be taken in tow.”
“What’s happening?” Corry demanded, straining to see over Captain Sulu’
s shoulder.
Sulu turned. “I’m sorry, Ms. Rousseau, but it looks like we’re going
back to Kronos.”
She gazed at him worriedly.
“I assure you, we’ll do everything we can to--”
“They’re withdrawing!” Makkon suddenly exclaimed.
Sulu whirled to see the Klingon vessels pulling away, turning to swiftly
head off in a neat “V” formation. His eyes went to the long-range sensor
display. “Look!” he said, pointing. “It’s Excelsior, coming in fast.”
“She’ll be annihilated,” Makkon said flatly.
Sulu’s brow furrowed as a large formation of ships appeared in
Excelsior’s wake. “What the hell?”
Makkon followed his gaze, his eyes studying the configuration of the
many vessels swiftly entering Klingon space behind Excelsior. “A Federation
attack force!” He turned the seat around to face Captain Sulu, his eyes
narrowing suspiciously. “This was all a great deception, an excuse to bring
the Federation fleet down upon us.”
Without warning, Makkon uttered a mighty roar and sprang from his
chair, grabbing Sulu by the throat and squeezing hard.



 Chapter Sixteen

     “You have illegally entered Klingon space,” a voice boomed over   the
Excelsior’s speakers.  “Turn back immediately, or we will open fire!”
     Krista MacKenzie leaned back in the captain’s chair, folding her arms
and studying the forward display.  “Rand, open a channel.”
     “Aye, captain,” Rand responded, her hands moving swiftly over the
control panel.  Momentarily, she said, “Channel open.”
     “This is the starship Excelsior,” MacKenzie announced.  “We are on a
rescue mission.  Federation personnel are aboard the transport ship which
you have disabled.  Our intentions are not hostile, but we will not leave
without the Federation citizens on that transport.”
     There was a brief pause, then the voice responded, “Turn about and
leave Klingon space at once.  This is your final warning!”
     Krista gazed thoughtfully at the display, keenly aware of the expectant
eyes of the bridge personnel.  “Helmsman, hold your course,” she ordered,
“three-quarters impulse power.”
     “Commander,” the woman at the helm replied without turning, “the
Klingon vessels are maneuvering to block our path.”
     “Hold your course,” Krista repeated levelly.  When the helmsman looked
at her over her shoulder, she added, “Go through them if you have to, but
hold your course.”
     “The Klingons are powering weapons,” Elvirez warned urgently.
     “Thank you, Mr. Elvirez.”
     Rand turned from her console to look at the commander.  “Receiving
another hail from Admiral Ellison, commander.  She insists that you reply.”
     “Thank you, Rand.”
     Spock, who had been observing all of this with great interest, looked
down at Krista MacKenzie and inquired, “Commander, is this what you humans
refer to as ‘flying by the seat of your pants?’”
     She grinned.  “Actually, Mr. Spock, this is a little game we call
‘Chicken.’”
     His brow knitted thoughtfully.

                                               *************

     Corry was knocked aside as Officer Makkon and Captain Sulu toppled out
of the cockpit and crashed to the floor of the transport.  Sulu clawed at
the powerful hands squeezing his throat, unable to break the other man’s
grip.  He punched the Klingon in the face once, twice, three times, but the
blows didn’t seem to phase the huge man.  As the world began to swirl into a
gray blur, Sulu groped desperately for his sidearm, struggling to extricate
it from the loose material of his tunic.  Just then, Corry grabbed handfuls
of the big Klingon’s shirt, hauling on him with all of her strength.
     “Stop it!” she hollered.  “Let him go!”
      Snarling angrily, Makkon threw her off with a quick shake of his
shoulders.  She hit the sideboard and landed hard on the floor.  At the same
moment, Sulu managed to yank his weapon free.  Jamming it into the Klingon’s
stomach, he pulled the trigger.  Makkon uttered a surprised yelp, then
suddenly fell limp, crushing Sulu beneath his enormous frame.  Hikaru gasped
and coughed, sucking in welcome lungfuls of air.  Corry helped him roll the
unconscious Klingon off his chest, then assisted Sulu in sitting up.
     “Are you all right?” she demanded.
     Sulu nodded, rubbing his throat gingerly.  After a moment, she helped
him get to his feet.  He stepped over the Klingon’s inert form and lowered
himself into the pilot’s chair.
     “Captain, is what he said true?”
     He looked at her, but did not reply.
     “Are you here to start a war?” she asked incredulously.  “Or prevent
one?”
     Sulu shook his head, and answered hoarsely, “The Klingons are the only
ones who can prevent it now.”

                                                  **********

     “Commander, we’re coming within range of the Klingon warships,” Elvirez
announced.
     “Rand, open a channel to the Klingons.”
     “Aye, commander,” Rand replied, and spent several moments working the
controls on her console.  “Channel open.”
     “This is the Excelsior,” Krista spoke toward the pick-up.  “We intend
to proceed with our rescue mission.  We have no desire to engage in
hostilities with you.  I’m sure that you have detected the Federation
vessels which are now crossing the Neutral Zone into Klingon space.  They
cannot fire upon you without provocation.  However, if you wish to supply
the provocation, I have been assured that they will be more than happy to
destroy both you and your home world.”
     Spock’s head turned sharply at this, his eyebrows rising in amazement.
     “We will beam the passengers on the transport to our ship, and then we
will leave your space peacefully,” Krista finished sternly.  She pressed a
button on the armrest to silence the external microphone.  “Helmsman, are
the Klingons giving way?”
     “Not yet, commander.  They’re just hovering out there.”
     “Very well.  Hold your course.”
     “Five-thousand meters and closing, commander.”
     “Any reply to our message, Rand?”
     The communication’s officer shook her head, her hands poised over her
controls.  Suddenly, a signal caught her attention.  She pressed the
receiver to her ear, listening.  “Commander, I’m receiving another message
from Admiral Ellison.”  She looked across the bridge at MacKenzie.  “She’s
demanding a reply.”
     “Commander,” Elvirez called excitedly, “the Klingons are moving away!”
     All eyes turned to the viewscreen.  The Klingon vessels were slowly
pulling back, creating an opening for Excelsior to pass through.  Krista
glanced over at Mr. Spock, who allowed a small grin to lift the corners of
his mouth.