Stardate:2406.10.06
(USS Alamo- Bridge - CO, Captain Henre LaBeau - 1118)

= ^= Vandergriff to Bridge. Is everything alright up there?  I’m getting odd fluctuating shield readings down here and there is an intruder aboard the ship. =^=

 
Henre touched the comm, "Negative Mr. Vandergriff, our saboteur has beamed off the ship, no incoming hostiles reported." Henre looked at the screen where the Archimedes was growing.
 
"Captain, the Nimitz is moving, it looks as though they mean to intercept us before we reach the Archimedes." Belite was rubbing life back into his numbed hand from the earlier shock.
 
Henre turned back to the engineering station where Galk was monitoring the ship's systems. "Mr. Galk ready the warhead."
 
Galk had looked up at his Captain's words and nodded then began pressing the necessary buttons. There was a sharp sizzle as the panel shorted and the Klingon reached beneath it for a fire suppressant. After contending wioth the arcing panel he moved to the OPS board and after working with it a moment turned to Henre,
 
"Captain, controls for the warhead are inoperable."
 
Henre gritted his teeth at the news, just another in a long line of recent bad reports.
 
“Capt. I respectfully request permission to guide the warhead.   I understand it is a suicide mission but someone must be there to pilot the warhead, we cannot let the rebels have the  anti matter shipment”. Galk raised his head, looking up slightly and in his eyes was a far away look. “It will be a glorious death, one worthy of a Klingon and will assure my place in  Sto-Vo-Kor”.  Knowing that the Alamo will not survive this encounter Galk continued. “You too my friend will have earned a place on the ship of the dead to Sto-Vo-Kor, The resting place for warriors who have died with honor and glory”

 

Henre locked eyes with his FO and friend and found not resignation but excitement at what was to come. "Very well Mr. Galk begin your preparations. When the Klingon had walked from the bridge he tapped the Comm.

 

"Mr. Vandergriff I need all the power you can give me for the shields and phasers."

 

(Reply: Lt. Vandergriff)

 

(USS Alamo - Warhead controls - FO, Commander Galk - 1119)

 

As Galk settled into the small and uncomfortable chair and made the adjustments to the control panel before him he checked the status of the 26 quantum torpedoes that would be carried to his destination along with the matter/anti-matter charge in the nose of the Alamo that made up the warhead, it had its own impulse engine and when it reached its destination would make a satisfying explosion. As he finished he remembered his last truly satisfying moment with the power of a starship behind him.

 

(USS Larkspur -Bridge - CO, Captain Henre LaBeau - Stardate 2400.08.06 -1817)


Galk saluted his captain and returned to the fire control station. "Captain I have the targets fed into the computer and am beginning the automated firing sequences. Torpedo for Target 1 away."

 The ship lurched slightly as the first torpedo leapt from the ship and sped toward the planet. The shield it needed for the tremendous heat the volcano help turned it slightly silver instead of the normal yellow orange. This was followed by the bright phaser beams lancing through the dark of space toward the preprogrammed targets on the planets surface.

Galk could see the bright explosions from orbit, then Suddenly he saw the first Volcano return to life. More torpedoes sprang from the starship caring their destructive force to the doomed planet below. ~Magnificent~ Thought the Klingon as he reveled in the awesome power he had just unleashed. ~Truly Magnificent~. Galk was a Federation Citizen and would follow his orders to the death, but at heart he was still a Klingon and would always revel in destruction and the Heloi were no more.

(USS Alamo - Warhead controls - FO, Commander Galk - 1120)

Galk tapped the comm panel and said, "Warhead is activated Captain, awaiting your orders."

(Reply: Lt. Vandergriff, any)

(Posted by Charles) 

Stardate:2406.10.06
(USS Alamo- Bridge - CO, Captain Henre LaBeau - 1122)
 
Labeau opened the comm to engineering.
"Lt. Vandergriff, now is the time to prepare the surprise I discussed with you earlier. You have five minutes to get ready."
 
(Reply: Lt. Vandergriff)
 
"Very good Lt. make it so, this is our last chance." Henre signed off and looked at the viewscreen. LaBeau watched the screen intently as the Nimitz placed herself squarely between the Alamo and the Archimedes, this was of course expected.
~Damn you Sash! If only this had been a fair fight. It would have been glorious!~
"Open a hailing frequency Ensign." He called to the young man manning the OPS station.
 
"Aye sir."
 
After a moment the screen changed from a starfield with two oncoming ships to the bridge of the Nimitz, Henre was gratified at least to see that she was showing signs of the battle but of course the man sitting in the command chair on the other starship could say the same. Sash was wearing a cool look as Henre was himself.
 
"Well Captain Sash I trust our collaborator is doing well? Mon dieu! She did an extremely efficient job I must say, hitting us at the most inopportune times. It grieves me we had to test one another under such uneven circumstances."
 
(Reply: Captain Sash)
 
"That is true Captain, this is not a courtesy call, I will get to the point quickly. This is your last opportunity to cease and desist in your efforts to make off with your stolen shipment." Henre grinned at the surprised look on Sash's face as he considered Henre's strange behavior and words. He was no doubt wondering whether captain LaBeau was bluffing? Or did he have something up his sleeve?
 
(Reply: Captain Sash)
 
"Very well Captain, consider yourself warned, disengage communication." As the screen returned to the black starfield Henre smiled, the blinking red alert lights highlighting his face with a hellish glow.
 
(Reply: Lt. Vandergriff, Captain sash, any)
(Posted by Charles)
Stardate:2406.10.06
(USS Nimitz- Bridge- CO- Captain Devan Sash - 1123)

"Captain, the Alamo is preparing something ," Kateb warned, "waiting
confirmation, I think they are arming the matter antimatter warhead."

"A what?" Sash could not believe it. Discharging an antimatter warhead in
any proximity of the trawler, spelled disaster for a good portion of the
sector. The implosion alone would affectseveral neighboring systems.

~God Lord, LaBeau s insane. there' s nothng he won't stop at.~ It was
clear what Sash was goig to have to do.

With his mind reolved to his fate another voice distracted him. "In coming
message captain. It's from the Alamo."

Sash cocked an eyebrow. "Is it now? How interseting." He sat back in his
chair and managed to look as nonplussed as possible. "On screen."

The screen changed to the view of LaBeau and what was left of his brdge.
Sash had a slight sensation of accomplishment, seeing that they were in as
bad a shape, if not a little worse, than the Nimitz was. LaBeau, if nothing
else, looked very calm. And that was what worried Sash the most.

=^=Well Captain Sash I trust our collaborator is doing well? Mon dieu! She
did an extremely efficient job I must say, hitting us at the most
inopportune times. It grieves me we had to test one another under such
uneven circumstances.=^=

"Indeed. It's unfortunate that we had to test each other at all. But I'm
sure you haven't contacted me to wallow in regrets, or even to check up on
Lt Dumas."

=^=That is true Captain, this is not a courtesy call, I will get to the
point quickly. This is your last opportunity to cease and desist in your
efforts to make off with your stolen shipment.=^=

Sash smiled. ~Cease in desist?~ He sighed and said, "Captain LaBeau, the
path you have chosen is madness. I can see that you have no regard for
yourself or your ship, but what about your crew. Don't you owe them
something. At least a chance of life."

LaBeau remained silent. "Your only other option, the one you seem to have
chosen already, is not only murder but suicide. How can you justify that?"

Again the silence prevailed. "The I suppose we both have little choice in
this matter, do we Henre?"

=^=Very well Captain, consider yourself warned, disengage communication.=^=

When the screen went dark, Sash looked sad for amoment. But a moment was
all he had. He went to business.

"Counselor, I need to talk to Commander Troi, now," he ordered. "Ensign
Kateb, I need a full, constant, snesor lock on the Alamo. I'm pretty certain
that their cloak is out, but you never know. Also, if that is an anitmatter
warhead he's armed over there, i need some options, because we cannot allow
it to explode this close to the trawler."

(reply Kateb)

Then Kestra came up on the screen. "Kestra, what's the situation over
there?"

(reply Troi)
(posted by Al Muir)

Stardate:2406.10.06
(USS Nimitz- Bridge- CO- Captain Devan Sash - 1124)

Sash listened to Kestra's report.  He was relieved that they had 
managed to regain control of the warp engines.  He wasn't sure who the character 
in the background was, who appeared to be tossing out ideas and ways to save 
the Alamo.  He didn't seem to be ware of LaBeau's predicament, but he 
admired what he was trying to do.

"You are aware of what the Alamo seems to be up, arren't you Kestra?"

(reply Troi)

"It seems to a plausible plan," Sash nodded.  "Looks like this Lt. 
Commander Gideon might be an asset after all.  Keep me informed.  Sash out."

Sash was watching the screen when Kateb's voice called out.  "Captain, 
the Alamo shield, there's a build up."

Sash jumped up to the tactical station and looked at the readings.
~Incredible.~  Apparently LaBeau was trying to reinforce the shielding 
to almost double their capacity.  If he succeeded he'd be able to drive 
his ship through a small planet, let alone the Nimitz.

=^=Zzt to Bridge.  Zzt not hold together much longer.  End or we be
dead in space.=^=  

"Hold her together just a little longer Lt.," Sash replied.

He watched in fascination as the now shimmering Alamo came barreling 
towards them.  The beauty of the shields was a deep contrast to the dark 
purpose they were being used for.  There was no way that a ship the size of the
Alamo was going to make it out of the way of ship with the Alamo's
manueverability.

~I hope this works.~

"Mr Asoru, prepare to go to warp.  I want warp 1 forward, then I want 
an immediate reversal at full warp for five seconds then a full stop.  This
should give us the illusion of being in two places at one time.  Almost 
a reverse "Picard Maneuver."  At both points of full stop Onyx I want a 
spread of torpedoes."

(reply Asoru and Kateb)

He tapped his comm badge, "Mr. Zzt, I know you can't spare it, but give
everything you've got to those enhancements.  If this works you'll be 
even busier than an Altairian wild cat in a den of Caladonian mice.  If it
doesn't, then I guess you won't have much to do."

He turned to his crew and nodded.  "Engage."

There was a moment before the inertial dampeners kicked in.  The Nimitz 
shot forward at warp speed.  Sash subconsciously gripped his chair
inanticipation.  It didn't really help.  He came flying out his seat as 
the ship suddenly came to a full stop.  He heard the sound of the torpedoes
in time for the sudden change of direction.  The ship groaned from the stress.
He thought for sure he could feel a nacelle start to buckle.

There were explosions all over the bridge as panels burst into flames.  
The inertia of the sudden stop threw Sash back into his chair as if he 
hadn't left it in the first place.  Only his full strength prevented him from
flying over it.  The lights faded in and and out, and turned to the red 
of the emergency lighting.  The view screen flickered off and then back on 
in time to see the initial volley of torpedoes strike.

Then the sound of more torpedoes being launched.  

"Captain, the Alamo's shields are going down."   All Sash could do is 
watch, as it became apparent that the Nimitz was not doing anything else.

(reply Kateb, Zzt, Harrison, LaBeau, Troi, any)
(posted by Al Muir)
Stardate:2406.10.06
(USS Alamo- Main Engineering -CEO- Lt. James Vandergriff- 1124)

James did not want grandeur and fortune for himself, but only the
recognition of a job well done for what his talents as an engineer has made
him out to be. The battle to keep the ant-matter fuel cargo on the trawler
Archimedes from the Nimitz has taken its toll on the Alamo and her crew,
especially on James. It was more than a challenge to say the lease, but a
place in history to be exact.

James diverted every micron of power he could think of from the engineering
power conduits within his grasp into the power grid for the defensive
systems so the fight could go on. It was not enough according to his
readings. James needed a stronger and quick source for the weapons and
shields without disabling the momentum of the ship.

The comm channel activated. James tapped the console and said.

“Vandergriff here.”

Captain LaBeau’s voice came over the engineering section speakers.

“Lt. Vandergriff, now is the time to prepare the surprise I discussed with
you earlier.”

(Moments earlier…)

LaBeau had a theoretical conversation with James on how to increase power to
the shields so to make them impenetrable for a brief time by rerouting the
warp drive plasma through to the shield power matrix. James was unsure that
the idea would work due to the heavy damage the ship had already received.

LaBeau looked into his comm screen at James and with a sudden flair for
dramatics, was very persistated to the point of relaying a PADD with his
findings that it could work. James looked at the data noting the
possibilities and then to his captain. James saw the devilious fire in
LaBeau’s eyes that this was the chance to bring the Nimitz to her knees and
once for all put an end to their treachery. James was in awe in what LaBeau
presented.

LaBeau looked on only to gaze at his chief engineer’s eagerness to put the
plan into action, but only to do it when all else fails and he gives the
word. James concurred as the comm screen faded to black and went back to the
main engines to begin repairs to keep the ship ‘afloat’.

(Present time…)

LaBeau finished by saying, "You have five minutes to get ready."

James responded back. "Aye, Captain, preparation are being made as we
speak." LaBeau remarked. "Very good Lt., make it so; this is our last
chance." The comm channel silenced.

James knew that this was it. The final calculations were compiled into the
already stressed engineering console. James ordered his staff to begin
switching the plasma couplings along the warp drive and feed the power into
the shield power matrix.

(Reply LaBeau, anyone)
(Posted by Nathan M. Williams)

Stardate:2406.10.06
(USS Nimitz, Main Engineering, CEO, Lt(sg) Zzt, 11:25)

It seemed like the Nimitz was coming apart all around him. Smoke
from exploded consoles and overloaded circuitry filled the air as the ships
ventilation systems couldn't keep up. To Zzt it felt like he was literally
holding the Nimitz together with claw and fang alone. 

"Get that impulse injector back on line!" Zzt yelled to one of the
remaining engineering still able to stand and work. Many others had
already succumbed to the smoke or other injuries and had been taken to
sickbay. Zzt's right arm was also badly burned and charred when the warp
diagnostic console had shorted while he had been re calibrating the
matter/anti-matter intermix, but refused to leave and had nearly ripped
in-half the poor corpsman that had tried to force him to leave for sickbay.

~The Captain can court martial me latter....if we live.~ Zzt
thought looking down at his injured arm and flexing his claws despite the
pain. 

"Reroute power from the isomiatic vertion discriminator and divert
to the plasma capacitor," Zzt yelled to another crewman. "We not afford to
lose warp power now." He looked at yet another crewman. "Keep eye on
magnetic injectors watch the intermix closely." 

The ship shook again as the Nimitz absorbed more damage. Alarms
sounded indicating more hull breeches. Zzt cursed and he tried to hold on
while the ship lurched in several directions at once. His paws danced over
his console as he quickly erected emergency force fields around the
breeches and re-diverted power around the damaged sections.

Zzt cursed as he noticed a power dropped in the Nimitz phaser
emitters and the aft shield generators. Once more the large Gerratlian
paws danced over his console as he yelled out more orders. "Realign the
ambient plasmonic energy injector. We losing phaser power. Boost gain on
the subspace interphasic particle capacitor to reenforce aft shields."
Within seconds, Zzt had compensated for the power loss and shields and
phaser returned to full power. Zzt growled in relief, then slapped his
com-badge.

"Zzt to Bridge. Zzt not hold together much longer. End or we be
dead in space." He said, just as another alarm sounded and Zzt's paws once
more danced on his console working on keeping the Nimitz systems running
and the ship in one piece for a little while longer.

(Reply Bridge, Any)
(Posted by Wes)
Stardate:2406.10.06
(USS Nimitz - Bridge - TAC/SC Ensign Kateb - 1126)

Onyx was still monitoring the Alamo closer then ever has Captain Sash and Lebeau were talking.
Something in his voice didn't feel right and wonder if the other member of his crew noticed it,
but she doubt it.

"Counselor, I need to talk to Commander Troi, now," he ordered. "Ensign Kateb, I need a full,
constant, snesor lock on the Alamo. I'm pretty certain that their cloak is out, but you never
know. Also, if that is an anitmatter warhead he's armed over there, i need some options,
because we cannot allow it to explode this close to the tawler."

« I am Captain. »

Then Kestra came up on the screen. "Kestra, what's the situation over there?"

(Reply from Kestra)

Onyx was more or less listening to the conversation the First officer and time was slowly
slipping away. Then something was abnormal was happening.

"Captain, the Alamo shield, there's a build up."

(Reply from Sash, anyone)
(Posted by Laurence)

Stardate:2406.10.06
(USS Nimitz- Bridge- COUNS- Ensign John Harrison -
1127)

The captain turned to his crew and nodded. "Engage."

Harrison clung to the OPS station. He'd only been in
space for a week or so, but even he knew that this
wasn't going to be a smooth ride.

There was a moment before the inertial dampeners
kicked in. The Nimitz shot forward at warp speed.

Harrison managed to maintain his grip for a while, but
it didn't last long. Looking back on it, he would
never be able to acurately describe the sensation of
realising that your legs were flying over your head.
he landed in front the third officer's chair and tried
to stand up. As the ship reversed, he was thrown back
against the OPS station. He winced inwardly and stood
up to run back to his position.

As he did so, the panels behind the OPS station began
exploding. He held up his arm shielding his eyes from
the shower of sparks that cascaded on him. From a
distance, the effect would be mesmerising, but in the
middle of it, it was merely panic-inducing.

He reached the OPS station which, fortunately, had not
exploded. He looked at the Alamo readouts. It seemed
to have taken damage.

Before he could open his mouth, someone called out,
"Captain, the Alamo's shields are going down."

Nothing happened.

His heart sank as he realised the awful truth. The
Nimitz wasn't capable of going in for the kill.

(reply any)
(posted by James Batchelor)

Stardate:2406.10.06
(USS Alamo - Bridge - CO, Captain Henre LaBeau - 1129)
 
The tension on the Alamo was rising with each minute; Henre could see the fidgeting and the anxious looks as his bridge crew waited expectantly for what could very well be their final attack. If all went according to plan however Henre could see the Alamo limping home triumphant with a victory over an implacable foe. LT. Calder was monitoring the shields as James Vandergriff, Henre's Chief Engineer was directing warp power to them, it would cut down on their speed of course and if the energy balance wasn't just right it could overload the ship's systems with catastrophic results; but Henre had been very careful in his calculations. ~It's going to work! It's been done before and it's going to work!~  
 
A shimmer of a near rainbow of colors began to surround the Alamo as the power being fed to the shields reached beyond the normal capacity of the shielding and still it grew until finally it leveled off.
 
Lieutenant Calder looked up from Tac.II at his Captain. "Captain, power to the shields is at preset parameters, waiting for your orders sir."
 
Henre paused an instant to consider the course he had set for the ship and could think of no sound reason to turn back from it. ~There is no way in hell, above it or below it I am going to allow those rebels and traitors to make off with that shipment of antimatter. Nothing they could say or do would justify piracy, no matter what their politics.~
 
Captain LaBeau stood up from his chair and looked about at everyone on the bridge and turned on the shipwide intercom before he spoke. "We all knew when we took the oath to Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets that we might find ourselves in imminent peril, indeed we have done so many times before and have seen our duty through to the end. This ship has never backed down from any enemy to this day and never will as long as I command it. We have lost comrades along the way but their deaths speak of their commitment to their duty and if we die so will ours. I am proud of the Alamo and every man and woman on it. If we continue to hold true to our oath and our honor we can never be defeated for defeat is the act of falling short of our commitment; and that we will not do. Captain LaBeau out."
 
Henre looked at Lt. Jennings who was waiting for his order. "Mr. Jennings initiate attack."
 
His CONN officer took a deep breath and turned to the board, the course was already laid out and all he did was press a single button to initiate it. The red alert klaxon was again sounded by Lt. Calder as they made their run. The Alamo was hit by several torpedoes and volleys of phaser fire as she bored in on the Nimitz, firing in return while she shuddered at the hits but kept coming like a boxer shrugs off the blows of his foe as he goes to the body. As the Alamo swept around behind the larger vessel Henre cried. "Release the warhead!"
 
There was a perceptible bump as the warhead seperated from the Alamo taking the nose of the ship and the remaining quantum torpedoes with it as it powered up to it's maximum of .8c (8/10ths lightspeed) straight at the Archimedes. The forcefields activated to cover the hole in the Defiant class vessel as it released the deadly device. 
 
(The warhead - Commander Galk - 1130)
 
In the warhead the Klingon Galk grinned viciously as he locked in the course, he threw back his head and bellowed "STO-VO-KOR!" In his mind he imagined he could already see the reward of warriors waiting for him to come to the other side.
 
(USS Alamo - Bridge - CO, Captain Henre LaBeau - 1131)
 
Henre watched the warhead as it moved to it's target. ~Goodbye my old friend, I always knew you would find the end you wanted, and what better end. You are going to light up this whole sector when you go.~
 
"Mr. Jennings turn toward the Nimitz." As the Alamo turned though she began to lose momentum. 
 
"Captain!" Cried Lt. Calder." We're losing power to the shields!"
 
"Report Ensign Rothe!"
 
"Captain, the plasma relays are going, the overload was too much for them. there was too much damage to the engines."
 
The ship suddenly stopped dead, defenseless and Henre saw through on the viewscreen a full spread of torpedoes hurtling straight toward them.
 
"Damn you Sash!" He grated as a wall of noise hit his ears and the universe exploded around him. 
As the lights begia to dim LaBeau heard an odd sound. The creaking of old boards and the streatching of rope. The boards under him bent slightly as he tread on them. As he began walking he started to hear voices.~Odd~ He thought, ~They sound Klingon~? A light shone dimly through the strange mist and he saw a figure standing beneath it. As he drew closer he saw his old friend Galk. Oddly enough though he wasn't dressed in the rainment of Starfleet but in the Battle armor of a Klingon Warrior. He looked down at himself but saw he was still dressed in his StarFleet issue Captains uniform.

Galk raised his hand in greeting, "Welcome my friend, You have been offered a place on the Ship to STO-VO-KOR The resting place of Warriors who died gloriously in Battle. Come my old friend it is time to board"

(Reply: Any, none)
(Posted by Charles)
Stardate:2406.10.06
(Warhead - Commander Galk - 1134)

Galk roared in rage as his limited sensors warned him of a transporters effect in the tiny warhead, knowing that since nothing had transported into or out of the small cabin there could only be one possible alterative. After a quick check he verified that the antimatter from the warhead had indeed been beamed out. 

Quickly he checked his course and diverted all power to the impulse drive that wasn’t needed for navigation or sensors and after a seconds thought he also diverted life support. There wasn’t much increase but everything he could add would help. He now was up to 120% normal power to the impulse drive. 

An alarm sounded and he looked at the screen in time to see the trawler firing at him, there arc of fire splashing across the ablative armor surrounding the warhead.  

As the trawler began to draw near Galk looked upwards a feral grin on his face, he roared again. Not a roar of rage though but of victory because nothing now could stop him from ramming the trawlers shields and detonating the Quantum torpedoes still in the magazine. He roared to let those who had gone before him know that another Warrior was coming home.

Everything went white.

(Unknown - Commander Galk and Henre LaBeau - ????)

 The white slowly became grey and mist shrouded. He heard the slap of the waves on the dock and heard voices as if calling him from a distance. He began to be able to make out an old wind powered ship and to see several Klingon Warriors walking slowly up the narrow wooden board to the ship. He saw the fabled black water and knew it for the Sea of Death. He started toward the plank and stopped.

Something wasn’t right, he was missing something, or some one. He walked over to an old post with am old oil burning lamp nailed above him and leaned on the post. Galk noticed that he now wore the Klingon Battle Armor like the one worn by his Father.

He heard someone walking toward him and then what had been missing. His old friend. Galk raised his hand in greeting, "Welcome my friend, You have been offered a place on the Ship to STO-VO-KOR The resting place of Warriors who died gloriouly in Battle. Come my old friend it is time to board"

Henre paused for a moment and looked at his uniform then back at his friend, he smiled.

"Very well Galk thank you for the welcome." He looked around then started forward, "Paradise is paradise I suppose no matter who's paradise it is." He stopped long enough to slap his First Officer and now equal on the shoulder; for now that Henre was dead he decided there was no use putting on airs. "Let's go shall we then my friend?" He found he didn't really feel any different now than he had in life and he had a warrior's paradise to look forward to, he put back his head and laughed as he followed Galk up the gangway.

(Reply: None)
(Posted by Charles and Kirk)