Taldrenites > Starfleet Command Fan Fiction

Hallelujah!!!!! I FOUND EM!

<< < (2/3) > >>

GE-Raven:

“This Romulan is a smart one, he knows he need not waste the energy to cloak. He needs it all to charge his weapons.”

“The Condor is now moving slowly and turning towards us, Captain”

Raven slowly moved back to his chair.

“Make a pass to her aft, stay out of her forward firing arc!”

As we sped toward her the Romulan ship slowly turned. At seventy thousand kilometers the condor fired her starboard plasma and phasers. The phasers effectively cut away what was left of our forward shields.

“Helm, high energy turn to port, now!” Raven now grabbed a hold of his chair.
I now felt my stomach lurch as the Stegosaurus lurched to her port side.

Raven now yelled out.

“Helm, now back into her, collision course.”

Now my insides jerked back the other way, and I saw the ship com back in to view. She was barely moving.

“Impact in 7 seconds, Captain” I yelled out.

“You may transport us at your earliest convenience, Commander.”

I quickly pushed the initiate button that my finger had been on this entire time.

A moment later I felt a strong hot wind on my face. I looked around me and then up. We were on a desert mesa and just as I looked up I saw a huge light in the sky. And then watch the remnants of our ship and the Condor streaking through the atmosphere and then impact on the horizon. Moments later a thunderous noise surrounded us as the crash reported to our ears.

It was then the realization of what had happened began to sink in. My home for over a year was now debris on a desert planet. I looked over at Raven, his head was hung low and his body looked very heavy. He slowly raised his head.

“I have never lost a ship under my command before.” He spoke slowly each word holding the weight of a soul searching to see if he could have chosen another path.

“I could not let the Romulans escape, Commander. I just couldn’t……”

He paused and looked at the tricorder.

“We should make for the mining camp. It is 80 kilometers to the north. From there we should be able to contact the space station.”

After an exceptionally long after noon (Grassskinusss II has a 44 hour day) we made our way to the mining camp. About 2 kilometers south of the camp we saw some of the officers of the Stegosaurus and the led us back to the crew.

Upon our arrival in camp a young ensign ran up to the captain with a portable transmitter (Gorn communication is all routed through the ship, so with out it we could not contact the teams on board the battle station). He quickly thrust the device into the captain’s hands.

“It is the Chief Engineer, Captain.”

I heard Mars crackly voice,

“We should be in transporter range soon sir. We met with a lot of resistance. We have been able to hold on to the Engineering section, but I haven’t seen or heard from Nitengale and her security teams since the Stegosaurus went down.”

My mind reeled as my fogged and exhausted mind contemplated what Mars said. The Romulans were taking over the station, or trying. No wonder they didn’t destroy it.

After what seemed like the longest 15 minutes of my life a security detachment and the bridge crew was transported to the engineering section of the battle station.

Mars moved forward to greet and brief the captain.

“Well I have control of all the stations systems. I have us at seventy-five percent power and shields are up. I also the security protocols on lockdown. The main entrance has been sealed since I got them working. I have been waiting for you to come with reinforcements before opening it.”

The Captain looked around.

I too noticed several dead Romulans in a pile near the door. One dead security officer and two other wounded marines were on the other side by the makeshift sick bay the med-teams had set up. Mars was bruised and had a disruptor burn on his tail. I thought I noticed some green blood stains on the end of his tail, but it was hard to tell under this light.

“Open the doors, Commander please stay here and help the chief with anything you can.”

He turned to the security team

“Come with me, we must find our first officer and marines.”

I watched them ready their weapons and begin their movement down the corridor.

I turned to help Mars with a power coupling that he was welding when I heard Raven scream out from down the hall.

“Medical teams… NOW!!!!!”

I turned and ran with several marines and medical staff down the corridor and turned the corner. What I saw next nearly made physically ill.

I saw a security door that had been blasted away. In the adjoining hall there were dozens of bodies. Romulan and Gorn, with phaser and disruptor wounds as well bodies that had obviously killed in hand to hand combat.
As I made my way into this room the stench nearly overpowered me. I saw Raven on his knees holding up the head of a large female Marine. As I moved closer I realized it wasn’t a marine, it was Nitengale. I was pushed aside by the ships doctor he bent down and started scanning her with his tricorder. After a few seconds he stood up and moved to the next Gorn marine. I looked at Nitengale's broken body and realized she couldn’t possibly be alive. Even with amazing advances in medical science no one could repair her body. It looked as if she had received several disruptor wounds as well several dozen stab wounds. Her side was completely open and I could see that her neck had been broken. From be hind me I heard a thin voice of one of the surviving marines (two of the original team of twelve)

“We were ambushed by the sneaky bastards. They attacked just after we closed the door behind us. Captain, she fought so bravely. I saw her charge into their ranks and that gave us time to set up a firing line. She must have killed a dozen of them before they brought her down.”

The grizzled marine no choked some and began to weep quietly.

Raven asked for the help of several of the marines and he moved her back to engineering along with the other valiant dead and the 2 seriously wounded survivors. In all there were seventy-five dead romulan marines and four romulan officers.

After a few hours Mars managed to get the communications array back online and Raven signaled Confederation command. They informed them that several ships would be there soon the first would arrive in less than an hour to pick up the crew of the Stegosaurus and return us to Gorn Prime the Gorn home world.

Later that evening I went to find Raven, but he was not in his quarters. I thought he must be exhausted and would be sleeping. I finally found him in the makeshift morgue that had been set up on the Triceratops (the Gorn command cruiser that was the first to arrive in the Grassskinusss system). He was looking down at body of Nitengale. He noticed my presence and his watery eyes met mine.

“Hello, my friend.”

“It seems that I not only sacrificed my ship, but my first officer, and best friend.”

He now looked away.

“Too high a price… Too high a price.” He shook his head and repeated himself a few more times.

Raven then stiffened his spine, almost like a marine coming to attention on command.

“We will soon be on my home, commander. I would like to visit the family of all my lost crew.”
He now moved towards me and spoke, this time in English, “I knowsssss Nitengalesssss family would be honored if you would comesssss withssssss me.”

He gave a hint of a small smile when he used the nick name I had given her.

“I am sure your presence will be required at the inquiry as well. I am sure their will be questions as to the reasons behind the loss of the Confederation’s ship” He had resumed his native tongue.

“Perhaps, I have commanded my last ship!”

He now looked back at Nitengale and then back to me.

“Perhaps, I will start a family and give up this life.”

I stood there looking at this broken figure. I finally managed to speak.

“I am sure that if you did you would become the Confederation’s best father, since you have already achieved being their best captain.”

Raven looked back at me and I saw his eyes begin their flow again.

“Not quite good enough this time.”

He now turned to look one last time at Nitengale.

“Rest forever, my dear friend. Rest forever.”

He then turned and walked past me and back to his quarters. I would not see him again for over a week.

Commander La'ra:
Great to see these again, Raven!

Grim Reaper:
I agree. And I remember more, a planetside story also. Our commander visiting Nightingale's family if i'm not mistaken.

GE-Raven:

--- Quote from: Grim Reaper on October 27, 2006, 06:35:13 am ---I agree. And I remember more, a planetside story also. Our commander visiting Nightingale's family if i'm not mistaken.

--- End quote ---


Correct... I need to find "Homecoming"  before I repost "Inquiry"

GE-Raven

GE-Raven:
Well Finally got around to finding it:

Enjoy:



Homecoming

Observer’s Log
Commander Satherswait
United Federation of Planets

Soon after the Triceratops arrived on S'sgarn (One of three Gorn Home worlds) Raven and I disembarked and reported to the Confederation’s Headquarters which happens to be Both Raven and Nitengale’s home world.  It was the first time I had seen him out of his quarters since our conversation in the makeshift morgue.   

S'sgarn is the home of the sub-species of Gorn that have tails.  The other two worlds S'sgarnon and S’sgargnen were the original home of the non-tailed version of the Gorn race.  It was a captain from this line that the federation first encountered on Cestus III.  It is interesting to note that Gorn society seems to hold no real bias towards either of the physiological designs.  The tail is genetically dominant and thus has now become more prevalent.  It is also notable that there are no “half-tails” either one has the “tail gene” or one doesn’t.  This means it is either a full tail or a small vestigle one. 

S'sgarnon is the home world of the Royal Family and was the seat of power of the Confederation in its early years.  Since the last Romulan war It was decided that S’sgarn should be the headquarters as it is more industrially developed than the other two worlds.  This is also where many of the best engineering and ship-design labs are in operation.

Upon reaching Confederation HQ Raven was informed by Admiral G’segess that there was to be an inquiry hearing in two weeks reviewing the events that led to the loss of the “Stegosaurus”.  I was informed that my presence would be required at this hearing as well.  Upon leaving the office of the Admiral, Raven turned to me and seemed to be searching for words.

“What’s on your mind?” I asked.

“Commander  Ssssatherssssswaitss, I would likesssss you to accompany to thessssss home of…”  His words broke as he lost his composure.

I was stunned, I realized I knew nothing of the way the Gorn mourn.  While I would expect that many human’s would still find the pain of the loss hard to cope with, I some how thought that the Gorn would not have as strong emotions.

I broke from my thoughts and replied, “Of course, Captain.”

Raven turned away and moved towards the door to the walkway outside, he moved slowly towards it. 

I was overcome by many thoughts.  I was cursing myself for being so prejudiced that such a physically strong people would somehow hold life in less esteem than humans.  Despite their scaly and tough hide it was obvious that this race of beings (at least this Gorn) were as emotionally “human” as I was.  I thought of what I would say (what could I say) to the Nitengale’s family.

As we stepped out of the doors I was hit with the wall of heat that is the atmosphere of S'sgarn.  It has a gravity that is a full third stronger than Earth.  This did not affect me much as the Gorn simulate this same level of gravity on board their ships.  I had grown quite used to it.  While I have also become more accustomed to the relatively high temperatures that Gorn keep their ships, it was still a shock to be on the surface of S'sgarn.  Today’s temperature was average for this region of S'sgarn.  It was 57 degrees and about 4% relative humidity.  I had remember reading that is was possible for some of the “warmer” areas of S'sgarn to reach 80 degrees.
We walked down towards the transit hub at the nearby merchant center.  Raven seemed to be walking more confidently but was a silent as ever.  I decide I would let him decide when it was time for us to talk.  So I just moved along and took in the views.

When we reached the transit center Raven moved towards a booth and said, “Slenthsinssss” into the panel next to the door of the booth.  A map came up and showed the location he had just said and he continued this time my translator gave me some help, “South transit hub.”  I figured that Slenthsinsss must be home to Nitengale’s family.  Raven and I then stepped into the booth and the transporter hummed to life.  A few seconds later I found the view had changed.  The booth opened and a voice from the panel said the Gorn equivalent to “have a nice day!” and we left the hall passing many booths in varying states of use. 

As we left the hub I had my first look at Slenthsinssss it looked far older than any Gorn settlement I had seen yet.  There were individual domiciles and few shops or businesses.    As we walked along the walkway I noticed Raven pulled a small device from the satchel that was incorporated to the belt on his uniform.  He looked down at the small screen and said that we would need to turn right at “Fesstigsss” and that would lead us to the courtyard of the house of S’slanthiss.

We moved in silence and turned right then moved a few hundred meters further and then came upon the entrance to the house of S’slanthiss.  On a pedestal outside the main courtyard there was a beautiful portrait of Nitengale with a small candle-like torch burning on either side of it.  She was resplendent in what looked like a “just-shed” picture.  I recalled reading that a portrait was often commissioned by the family of a Gorn upon them reaching the age that signified adulthood.  That explained why this looked like Nitengale but smaller and somehow I could tell she was quite a bit younger then.  Raven knelt on one knee before the picture, and began to speak in a chanting, prayer-like way.

“Great Father, look over your child as she makes her way to her ancestors.”

He then continued, “May her journey and trials be short and her song of praise everlasting.”

He then stayed silent for a moment and then rose to enter.

I then moved in front of the picture, and knelt on both knees.

“Lord, I ask that you ease the pain of all of Nitengale’s family, friends, and shipmates.  Be with them, strengthen them, and let them feel your loving presence in their lives.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.”

I quietly remained in that position for a short while and then rose to join Raven.

We then moved into the courtyard where we encountered a young-adult, judging by her size, female.  She looked up and ran over to Raven and reached out her hand to him. 

“Grossskleidchensssslassshmaethssss!  So very good to see you again.”

Raven studied her for a moment and replied, “K’sshienslinsss?  Is that you?”

“You were mere hatchling when I last saw you.  You sure have grown!  You look so much like your sister…”

Raven now hesitated, “I wish I was here for any other reason.”

This last statement was almost piercing as it seemed to bring all of us back to the tragedy that brought us here.
I couldn’t help but notice that Raven was right, however, K’sshienslinsss did look very much like Nitengale.  I realize that I am not as able to see the differences that the Gorn have, but I stood amazed that this female could pass for Nitengale easily were it not for the fact that she stood a good meter taller than Raven making here least twenty centimeters taller than Nitengale.  I then realized that she had no tail, but other than that, she looked exactly like Nitengale.

She now broke the silence, “Mother will be so glad to see you, please, come in.”

We then followed her in to large door way that opened into the what looked like a kitchen. 

Standing near a counter I saw a small child (80 centimeters shorter than me) standing next to a large female.  This woman looked much like Nitengale as well.  She turned and saw Raven and I and moved towards us she then tearfully embraced Raven.  She backed away from a moment and then turned to me.

“You mussssst be Ssssssathersssswait,  Sh’seeklesthlea spoke of you often.”

I forced a smile and mumbled something about my deepest condolences.

Raven now shook uncontrollably as a hoarse voice issued forth,

“It is all MY fault!”

He sobbed, “I sent her to her death, I have brought Death to your door, and I fear I will never forgive myself.”

Raven now nearly doubled over.  With this I saw the large hand of Nitengale’s mother reach gently to Raven’s chin.  She slowly raised his head until his drowned gaze met her warm eyes. 

“Sh’seeklesthlea chose her life path well and knew the dangers and rewards it could bring.”

She choked a little and then continued,

“It is my understanding that my daughter fought to save many lives, and it was in this struggle that she was killed.”

“Yes, that is true,” Raven managed to croak.

“Then she died as she lived, thinking of the welfare of her people.”

Raven stood staring lost in the words.

“As have you, Grossskleidchensssslassshmaethssss, you know that it could have, and could in the future, be you who will be faced with that choice.”

Raven spine seemed to gain strength.

“We both know how you and all honorable defenders of our people would make that choice."
Raven nodded slowly.

“Grossskleidchensssslassshmaethssss, since your father and mother died you have been like my son.”  She then continued, “I thank God that I did not lose both of you!”

With this Nitengale’s mother slumped back into a chair and the young child (a male) crawled up on to her lap and held on to her tightly.

Raven now looked silently at them together and glanced towards me.

“I think I would like to spend the evening in this house.”

I took my cue and told him I would find my way back to the Federation embassy.

As I made my way to a much needed rest, I thought about my family.  With my ship, my assignment, now a pile of debris on a rock somewhere in space, I began to realize I too might soon see my home.  Strangely I didn't feel like my homecoming would be a very happy affair.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page