The Liberator moved to within sensor range of Saurian Major. Blake had asked Zen to take them there, but he had not given any reason to the others. This annoyed them, but annoyed Avon more.
“We have achieved a standard orbit around Saurian Major.” Zen announced.
“Well perhaps now you will tell us why we are here.” said Avon.
“I said I intended to fight back against the Federation.” Blake said. “This will be out first target.”
Blake pointed to the planet on the view-screen.
“Saurian Major was formerly a Federation colony which gained independence over a hundred years ago. It was subsequently annexed forty years ago. On the surface is one of their main relay stations. Nearly all of their transmissions from their rim ships are beamed into this station, boosted, and sent on to Starfleet Command. Destroy this station and it will be like cutting off one of their limbs.”
“If it is as important as you say then surely it will be heavily guarded.” said Jenna. “If we teleport in we’ll be detected, and the guards will stop us from entering.”
“We can get help from the surface.” said Blake. “Ever since the Federation annexed them they have had a problem with the Resistance here. They’ve tried everything to get rid of them but have had only marginal success.”
“So your job is simple then.” said Vila. “Get in, plant the bombs, and get out. I don’t fancy your chances!”
“Our chances Vila.” Blake said. “You and Avon are coming with me.”
Vila sighed.
“I’m going to need someone who can help us get past their security systems.” Blake continued. “You’re the perfect man for the job. Avon, you’re also coming.”
“I would just like to go on record saying that I am against this ‘mission’ of yours.” Avon announced. “I believe it is futile.”
“Your view is noted.” said Blake. “Now let’s get ready.”
Ten minutes later Blake, Avon and Vila stood in the Teleport Room, kitted out for their mission. Gan and Jenna sat at the teleport controls.
“I’ll put you down three miles from the station.” Jenna said. “You should arouse suspicion that far away.”
“But we’ll get blisters walking to the station.” complained Vila.
Blake pushed Vila onto the teleport pad. Avon joined a few seconds later.
“Okay, put us down.”
Jenna energized the teleport beam. Seconds later they were gone from the Liberator.
The first thing Vila felt when they arrived on the surface was cold. As always he complained.
“I wish you’d told me it was going to be like this.” he said. “I’d have wrapped up warm!”
“Saurian Major is currently in it’s winter season.” said Avon. “If we had come here twenty-seven days later there would have been snow.”
“I don’t mind snow.” said Vila. “It’s just the cold I don’t like!”
Vila was then pleased to see Blake starting to build a fire with the various pieces of wood he could find. Then, taking his weapon in his hand, he fired at the wood, and the fire was lighted.
“What is the fire for?” asked Avon.
“To draw attention to ourselves. The station will think it’s just the Resistance cooking, but I’m hoping the Resistance will be attracted by it.”
“I just hope your plan works, otherwise we will be in for a long wait.”
Vila thought Blake’s plan was flawed. They left Blake alone by the fire while they went off in search of the surrounding area, looking for any sign of the resistance group. It was while they were away that Blake sat by the fire deep in thought. His thoughts were broken when he thought he heard a sound nearby. He thought it could have been Avon or Vila, but they had both told him that they would be some time, so it was too early to expect them.
Then he heard another noise. Someone, or something, was nearby. He decided not to take any chances and drew his weapon. Almost frantically he looked around. He could see nothing, save the barren rocky features of Saurian Major. Then he was attacked from behind. Someone struck him in the centre of his back, knocking him to the ground and sending his gun flying from his grasp. He rolled over onto his back to see a young woman, clad entirely in red, looking down at him, with what seemed to be a phaser rifle aimed at the dead centre of his chest. And the woman was smiling.
“Who are you?”
Blake could hear the woman’s voice but her lips did not move.
“How did you get here?”
Once again he heard her, but still there was no facial movement.
“I will if you take the phaser out of my face!”
Slowly, and with stiff limbs, Blake got to his feet. The woman took aim with her phaser once again. Blake saw his chance. With a swipe of his arm he knocked the phaser rifle from her grasp and then tripped her so that she
“You’re telepathic, but you’re not a true telepath.” said Blake. “Or you would have seen that coming.”
But Blake did not see what was coming next. With a swipe of her leg she knocked Blake off his feet. She then quickly rolled over, grabbed the phaser rifle, and aimed it at him. She was about to fire when an energy burst hit the ground near her feet. For her it was too close for comfort. She looked up to see a man aiming an energy weapon at her. She surmised that this man was a companion of the other. It was Avon.
“Don’t even try.” he said. “You are surrounded.”
She looked around to see another man, Vila, weapon aimed at her.
“I’d do what he says if I were you.” Vila warned. “Otherwise he could get angry!”
“Lower your weapons!” Blake shouted, getting to his feet.
Reluctantly Avon did as he was told. Vila did it without question. Seeing this gesture the woman did the same.
“I am Roj Blake. That is Avon, and the one behind you is Vila. And you are…?”
The woman spoke for the first time.
“My name is Cally.”
“You’re not from Saurian Major, are you?”
“I am from Auron. My people sent me here to help the resistance movement against the Federation.”
“Then you’re just the person we are looking for. We want to get in touch with your leaders. We want the Resistance’s help in destroying the relay station.”
“I am the Resistance! I am all that if left of them!”
“She is lying!” said Avon.
“The rest of the Resistance were wiped out in a sneak attack two months ago. I was the only one that survived.”
“Then why didn’t you go home?” Blake asked. “Back to Auron?”
“Because I failed. To return home would be to admit my shame.”
Blake rubbed his chin. Avon could tell he was deep in thought.
“How would you like to get off here once we destroy the station?” he asked.
“There is no reason for me to stay here. There is nothing here for me.”
“Then help us, help us destroy the station, and I’ll get you off here.”
Cally thought for a moment, weighing up her options. She could see only one left open to her.
“I will help you.”
The words suddenly appeared on Blake’s head as Cally used her powers again. She seemed more than happy to help if it meant leaving this barren wasteland of a world.
“Then let’s get moving.” said Avon. “We haven’t got much time.”
Blake reached into one of the cases and took out one of the teleport bracelets. He handed it to Cally.
“What is this?”
“Our way of getting out of here.”
They then started on their way towards the relay station.
Londo Mollari strode along one of the corridors on Babylon 5. He felt pleased with himself after the resolution of the Quadrant 37 issue. Then he heard voices ahead of him. Swiftly he ducked into a darkened alcove.
At that moment G’Kar and Sheridan approached along the corridor discussing the very incident upon Mollari had been musing.
“My government is, as you may imagine, very concerned about the situation.” said the Narn ambassador. “We have had assurances from both the Federation and Minbauri governments that they are not involved in the matter. We are shortly to send a heavy cruiser to investigate the recent incidents on the rim. We believe they are connected.”
Sheridan nodded.
“It seems the universe has gone crazy. Our President dad, his closest friends declared to be outlaws, and now this. It surely can’t get any worse!”
They continued on their way. Mollari waited a few seconds until they had gone and then went in search of Morgan.
He found his quarry seated in the Arboretum. Swiftly checking to see if they were alone Mollari relayed the information he had just overheard to Morgan. Morgan looked approvingly at the Centauri.
“Well done Ambassador. You are proving to be a very useful man to know.”
He stood up.
“Where are you going?” asked Mollari.
“I have people to report to, just as you do my friend.” replied Morgan. “I’ll be seeing you!”
With that he left,
It was near nightfall on Saurian Major, and with Cally’s help Blake, Avon and Vila were making good time on their way to the relay station. Soon, in the distance, they saw their objective.
“It doesn’t look very well protected.” said Avon.
“After they wiped out the rebels they didn’t see any need to.” said Cally.
“Perhaps that will make our task easier.” added Blake. “Well, you know the way Cally.”
With the Auron leading the way they continued towards the relay station. The first obstacle they encountered were two guards standing by the entrance, each carrying a phaser rifle. As soon as they saw them Blake and his group dropped to the deck.
“So how do we get in now?” asked Vila.
“The only way we can.” replied Blake. “Set your weapons on stun.”
A rye smile appeared on Avon’s face.
“At last we’re getting somewhere!”
Adjusting the setting on his blaster Avon aimed at the guards and fired. They fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes.
“Good. There’s no one else around so let’s get going.” said Blake.
They got to their feet. The night sky provided them with the perfect cover. Once near the gate Vila began to check the lock.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a lock like this before.”
He began to go to work. As he did Blake reached down into one of the guard’s uniforms and took out a chip. He handed it to Vila.
“Will this help?”
Feeling slightly embarrassed Vila took the chip, and a second later the gateway was open.
Cally looked around, trying to get her bearings. She had been there before and had only just managed to escape from a failed sabotage attempt.
“This way.” she said, pointing in an easterly direction.
They were surprised by the apparent lack of security in the station. Blake wondered if the Federation were getting too complacent after having wiped out the rebels.
Cally showed them to another doorway.
“Insert the chip.” Blake ordered.
Vila searched through his pockets.
“I must have left it at the entrance!”
“We haven’t got time to go back for it now!” said Avon.
“He’s right.” Blake added. “You’ll have to break in.”
Vila took out an instrument from his case. He then began to weave his magic as it were. A minute later and the door was unlocked.
“See! I told you it was easy!”
It was too easy. As soon as Blake opened the door and looked inside phaser energy ripped past his head, barely missing his earlobe. He only just managed to get out of the way. Avon retaliated, taking out two of the guards. Cally obliged by taking out the last three with her blaster.
“With all of this noise it’ll be a wonder if we get out of here alive!” said Blake.
“Then let’s hurry up and get this over with!”
Alarms then began to ring throughout the entire station. They now knew they did not have much time to carry out their task.
“Which way to the main relay room?” Blake shouted above the din.
“Not far.” Cally replied, also shouting so she could hear herself.
She then led them down another corridor. Red lights flashed all over the place, signalling the red alert. More guards were encountered, and these were soon dealt with.
The main relay room was soon reached. Vila reached into his bag of tricks, trying to find the right tool to unlock the door. The others hurried him up as they could hear footsteps approaching them. All this did was make the safe-cracker more nervous.
Finally, entrance to the room was gained, and only just in time. Ten black-clad guards came racing down the corridor, and the door came down in the nick of time. There was, however, some resistance encountered in the main relay room. The two officers on duty drew their phasers and fired at Blake and his team. They dived for cover behind some of the equipment. There was then as barrage of weapons fire from both sides which pinned them both down for a number of minutes.
Then Avon took his chance. Blake tried to stop him as he made his way into the open. One blast took care of one of the officers while a seconds just missed the other. He was about to fire again at Avon when he suddenly slumped to the ground. Avon looked over to see Cally aiming her blaster at him. The resistance to the attack was now over, or so it seemed.
From the outside they could hear more phaser fire, but there was a different sound to this sort of fire. It was as if someone was trying to cut through the door.
“Quickly, plant the devices!” ordered Blake. “We won’t have much time left before they cut through that door!”
“It is made of ten foot thick duranium.” said Avon. “Ordinary phasers won’t be able to cut through!”
Then Avon looked at the door to see it heat up in certain areas. It appeared that he was wrong.
“Set the devices to go off in one minute!” Blake ordered.
“That won’t give us much time.” said Vila. “Hardly enough time to teleport!”
“I’m already ahead of you.” said Blake, activating his communicator. “Liberator, this is Blake.”
“Jenna here.”
“Jenna, prepare to teleport on my mark.”
While Blake spoke to Jenna Avon, Vila and Cally planted the explosives at strategic areas in the relay room, designed to cause maximum damage to the station. As he did this Avon noticed the guards had cut further into the door.
“Set the explosives now!” Blake shouted. “Jenna, teleport now!”
The explosives set, the teleport beam locked into them and took they away. At the same moment the guards had cut through the door and were now inside the room. They looked around wondering where the intruders had gone. Then one of them heard a noise. He knelt down and saw the time on the explosives counting down. Five..four..three..two..one..
And it was over. They had no time to reach, no time to escape. The relay station went up in a massive explosion, so massive it could be seen for miles around on the planet’s surface. It caused extensive damage, destroying everything inside.
Blake watched the screen on the Bridge of the Liberator. Even though he had pulled off a minor triumph in destroying one of the Federation’s major relay stations he couldn’t help but feel slightly sad at the loss of life he had cause. He had won the first round, but at what cost?
No comments:
Post a Comment