The station was at war with itself.
Tougun loyalists battled hallway by hallway with the Voss turncoats, the fiery blasts of phaser fire slamming into bodies and walls in equal measure. The shouting was indecipherable as the House of Hasara team stumbled their way towards the docking area. Tareya Khorlett carried an unconscious Tougun over her shoulders, scowling every step. Untold death and destruction had stained The Orion’s hands, and that was just the history they had verified. So much remained under investigation. So much delayed justice waiting in the piles of PADDs across several JAG desks in the rimward. Tareya had half a notion to throw the bastard out an airlock.
Nobody would mourn the loss.
And yet, Hasara would have an issue.
The man had grown a conscience, and it irked her. What use was the deposed and overthrown leader? He was a prize to hold in a brig, nothing more. A pawn without value or use. They pressed on, dodging blasts all the while fighting the growing shudders of the deck beneath them. Sinai, with the Harlen brothers, had pushed them into the docking promenade, within sight of their shuttle’s door. The Romulan turned to the group, bunched together. “We’ll lay down suppressive and cover fire. Run in zig-zag.” Her eyes reflected her resolute nature, unflinching as she faced the unraveling chaos around them. Tareya felt a grudging sense of trust growing in her towards the wild Romulan. Sinai crouched, closing her eyes. Three seconds later, she shouted, “Move!” and barreled out into the open with the Harlen brothers at her heels. With little effort, all three turned and issued forth covering fire. The rest of them scrambled, following her instructions of swerving back and forth, using what little cover remained.
Tareya hustled, Tougun bouncing hard on her rough Cardassian shoulders. She could hear him gasping for breath, groaning as the impacts jostled his injuries. The Cardassian didn’t feel pity for the bastard. If anything, she bounced him harder as she ran, leaning into the jabs and relishing the grunts and groans.
“Tougun!” A harsh voice bellowed, and Tareya glanced back. Selene Voss stood on an upper deck, glaring quantum torpedoes at the group, but focused aggressively on Tougun’s unconscious form. “Give him back to me. I still have work to do.” Tareya ignored her and kept running as various blasters and phaser flew across the room.
The sound was achingly familiar, reminding her of a past that she preferred remained there. Tareya dove behind the seating, feet from the shuttle dock.
Sinai crouched behind cover just by the door, firing rapidly when she peeked out. Her eyes widened, and the Cardassian chanced a glance. Selene Voss had a massive weapon balanced on her shoulder, aiming it carefully.
Right.
At.
Them.
Sinai shouted, “Move!” Everyone scrambled to the door, abandoning any attempts at cover fire. Tareya pushed herself up, sprinting for the door with the Orion on her shoulders. She twisted, using momentum to throw Tougun off her shoulders and into the cabin of the shuttle, and rolled over the door, waiting for it to close. She watched Selene adjusting her aim at them as the door groaned slowly shut.
Selen fired, a devious grin filling her face.
The door stalled.
Tareya closed her eyes as the whine of the projectile weapon wound its way towards them, the glow of their imminent demise growing brighter and brighter until the world around them roared, shook, and went bright white.
She opened her eyes, the smell of burning flesh and uniforms filling her nose. The business end of a phaser rifle pointed at her, and a slim figure of a woman with a security team at the ready. “Lieutenant Charlotte Pelletier, Federation Starship Relentless. You are being detained for questioning. Doctor Stroude will check you for injuries.” Her eyes narrowed as she mused, “You are lucky to be alive.” The deck underneath them rumbled. “You have upset people. We will attempt to clean it up.” She pointed at the comatose body of Tougun. “Him, I know. He is under arrest.” The security officers moved to focus on him while the woman in the blue collar knelt beside the incapacitated Orion. Tareya could hear her speaking softly.
“Doctor Stroude, Federation starship Relentless. Can you hear me?” She motioned for the arriving medical team, and they joined her, breaking out the medical kits. As they worked on the Orion, Tareya took stock. Mild burns on her skin and a uniform that would need replacing. The rest of the team was in the same state, and slowly picking themselves off the floor. Stroude shook her head and stood. “He’s critical. Get him onto the transport bed. Let sickbay know we’ll need ICU level.” The bed flew by as the medical team went to work on their way down the hall. Stroude turned to the team, doing a quick scan and check. “The lieutenant is right. You’re lucky to be alive. Whatever was shot at you destroyed the shuttle. They’ll secure you all to quarters until we get back to Montana.” Stroude turned, hustling after her medical team. The deck shook again.
Tareya asked, “What is happening?” Whatever it was, it probably had something to do with Selene Voss.
Pelletier grunted, gesturing for them to follow her, and they fell into step with her as she walked them to quarters. “Whoever tried to kill you wishes to continue their mission. We will not allow that to happen.” She tapped at the wall console, and the door slid open, revealing bunk beds and prepared food on a table. “You will be advised of your status once we return to Montana Station. If you’ll excuse me, I am needed on the bridge.” She turned, tapped the locking code into the console, and was gone, the door closing with a click.
Sinai hobbled over to the table, sniffing the assembled accoutrements. “The smell is not terrible.” The Harlan brothers didn’t protest, sliding into two of the seats and grabbing their portions. Tareya waited until Sinai and Dain found their seats before she took her own. As they ate in silence, her mind was whirling.
Selene Voss had taken control of the Tougun Network.
Hasara was not going to be happy.
