
The Maquis ship was clearly being outclassed by the huge Cardassian warship. Phaser blast after phaser blast was being fired at Chakotay and his crew. Some it and caused damage. Some missed. However, on the bridge, Chakotay tried to remain calm.
“We have sustained damage to our port warp nacelle.” Tuvok reported. “We no longer have warp capability.”
“Can you do anything B’Elanna?” Chakotay asked.
“These engines are useless!”
“Try to be creative!” urged Chakotay.
“It’s hard to be creative with thirty-nine year old engines!”
The image of Gul Evek once again appeared on the view screen.
“This is Gul Evek! I order you to surrender at once!”
“Keep him quiet!”
Tuvok turned off the screen.
“I need enough power to get into the Badlands!” said Chakotay.
Torres studied her panel and her mind raced with possibilities. Some were quickly discarded until she came up with an idea that seemed good.
“Tuvok, take the weapons offline!”
The Vulcan stared at Torres.
“Under the circumstances that would not seem a rational plan of action.”
“I can transfer the power from the weapons to the impulse engines. It will give us the power we need to get to the Badlands!”
“Do as she says Tuvok.” Chakotay ordered.
The weapons taken offline, Torres began her work, transferring the power to the impulse engines. Straight away Chakotay steered the ship into the plasma storm infested area dubbed the Badlands. Thinking they were safe Tuvok’s sensor panel told them otherwise.
“The Cardassian vessel is following us in.”
“Gul Evek must be feeling daring today!” Chakotay replied.
The plasma storms were fierce. Chakotay just about managed to steep the ship around them. It’s smaller size made it more manoeuvrable than the Cardassian warship. Gul Evek ordered his pilot to follow the Maquis ship move for move, but he did not think of the plasma storms. A burst from one of these storms hit the Cardassian’s starboard warp nacelle, sending them spiralling away from the Maquis ship.
“Cardassian ship has broken off pursuit.” Tuvok reported. “It would seem we are safe.”
“Good.” said Chakotay, getting to his feet. “We can use the time to make some repairs.”
Then the alarm rang out throughout the ship.
“A cohesive tetrion beam of massive proportions is heading directly towards us.” Tuvok replied. “It will hit us in approximately thirty seconds.”
“Get us out of here!”
“I can’t!” Torres shouted. “We used all of our engine power getting us here! We can’t escape!”
Before they could do anything the beam hit them. It did no damage to them, but it did something that possibly nothing else could do. It made them vanish without a trace.