Renegades - Civil War Chapter Forty-Eight

The U.S.S. Defiant, accompanied by the U.S.S. Lexington, moved towards the star known as Wolf 359. Sisko was not happy that the rendezvous with the Romulans would take place here, the spot where his wife Jennifer had been killed in the battle with the Borg. But orders were orders, and if the Federation were to avoid war with the Dominion then he would have to follow them.

En-route Sisko took time out to rest in his quarters. Compared to a normal starship quarters aboard the Defiant were very cramped. Many of the luxuries Sisko had come to know during his Federation life were not on this ship. This ship was built for only one purpose – to fight.

Renegades - Civil War Chapter Forty-Seven

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.

Renegades - Civil War Chapter Forty-Six

The prison shuttle craft neared the main landing pad of the New Zealand penal colony. Aboard were what some considered very important passengers, and what others considered common criminals. Captain Watt and Commander Sutek sat patiently as the shuttle landed. Restraints having been placed around their wrists they were soon led away to a holding cell. An hour passed as they were processed by the colony’s computer system. Then they were taken to the main living area and fitted with tracking devices around their ankles.

They had been given beds next to each other, and they now sat looking around, taking in their surroundings. In one corner sat a fearsome-looking Nausican, obviously there after having committed some violent crime, probably a bar room brawl, as is the Nausican way. Nearby was a Tarn, passing the time by using his telekinetic power to move a coffee cup. As Watt observed his fellow inmates he failed to notice a young human man approach them.

“Well well well! I never thought I’d see the day when one of Starfleet’s finest would be here in New Zealand!”

Watt looked up at the young man. He seemed strangely familiar to him.

“Do I know you?”

“The name is Paris, Tom Paris.”

“Tom Paris as in the Calder II incident?” Sutek asked.

“The one and only! Word has it that you two haven’t even had a trial yet!”

“That’s true!” said Watt. “And the way things have been going we probably won’t be!”

“Let me just tell you this.” Said Paris, leaning forward and looking Watt straight in the eye. “This place can be tough, and when some of the others hear that we’ve got Captain Watt and Commander Sutek in here they may want to try and make a name for themselves!”

“Are you one of those looking for a name?” Watt asked.

“I might be. I might not. On the other hand, I might just be trying to help you by giving you this warning!”

Standing back Paris winked at Watt and Sutek and then walked away.

“Mister Paris is right.” Said Sutek.

“But I have a feeling he wasn’t threatening us!”