Short Night

Chapter 20

    James woke at fifteen hundred feeling like he had just fallen asleep. Throwing back the covers he sat on the edge of the bed for a few minutes trying to wake up. After a shower and dressing for the day, James threw his duffel together getting ready to go back to work.

    Grabbing a cup of strong black coffee, James walked over to his terminal and brought up the Commodore’s mission briefing; reading it over carefully a few times he secured his terminal then sat back in his chair for a few moments thinking “Ok that’s different.”

    At about sixteen thirty James heard his door chime go off  “Come in” as the door opened seeing Commander Reese walking through with duffel in hand “Hi James. I thought we could spend a few minutes together before we have to leave” as she dropped her duffel on the floor walking over to James and gave him a kiss “I was hoping for much more of this later today but I guess that’s not going to happen.”

    James returned her kiss for a few minutes then grinned “Ya, that’s definitely not going to happen today that’s for sure” he replied holding her hand “We’ll just have to catch up once the mission is over and we’re back here.”

    “That would be nice” Racheal answered with a grin “I guess we better head for the Ship then” as they walked out the door with James securing his quarters.

    Walking up to the Vigilant James dropped his duffel on the deck as he keyed in his Security Code. The hatch swung open as he grabbed his bag and motioned for Racheal to proceed first “Computer inmate lights” Racheal stated as all the lights came on.

    Opening the wall to the second deck they made their way down waiting for the rest of the Crew to show up. Shortly everyone was back aboard as the Captain commented “While I go over the mission parameters please fell free to grab something to eat and/or drink” he ordered.

    After the Crew grabbed a meal James started with the briefing “ We’ll be traveling to the Yadalla Sector to Tarod IX. Once we get close the Ship will cloak and Ensign Benna will be transported to the surface where he’ll infiltrate a small Research facility” then he looked at Mark “Ensign you’ll be looking for a new ship design marked ‘jeopardy’. Grab all the data you can before initializing your beam-out badge for your return here. Any questions.”

    Nox immediately chimed in as James expected she would “Captain why is the Ensign going alone on this one and not both of us.”

    James grinned “That’s because for some unknown reason females are not allowed to be seen in public; so you see why your presence would set off all kinds of alarms” he explained.

    Before Nox could say another word Katlyn spoke up “With respect Captain, isn’t that rather a barbaric way of thinking.”

    “I couldn’t agree with you more Lieutenant but that’s their culture so we’ll just have to go with it” then looking at Mark “You good with this scenario Ensign?”

    “No problem Captain, I’ll be fine” Mark replied “Besides at least I won’t have her slowing me down” as he laughed then receiving a jab in the arm from his counterpart as Nox commented “Ya you wish.”

    “Lieutenants Herek and Zebot please allow ample time to warm up the warp core for a eighteen hundred departure” James ordered.

    “We’ll only need about fifteen minutes since the core is barely cold” Daniel replied looking over at Katlyn.

    “Good, finish your meals and we’ll get started at seventeen forty five then” James commented then finished up his meal. Looking toward Racheal “Well here we go again.”

    At exactly eighteen hundred Lieutenant T’Sol exited DS7 looking towards James “Right on time” he commented with some satisfaction in his voice.

    “Yes we did!” James replied with a grin “Set a course for the Yadalla Sector warp eight please.” “As you wish Captain” T’Sol replied and soon they were on their way.

    About five hours later Maria informed James “Ah, Captain….scanners are showing a Dreadnaught size ship directly in our path Sir” as she checked her screens further “Sir it doesn’t match anything in the Star Fleet database.”

    James made some adjustments to his screen, this thing was massive “Mr. T’Sol adjust our course…..increase to warp eight point five” came the order and T’Sol did as ordered.

    “Captain they’re matching our course change and speed Sir” Maria stated then realizing “Sir  we’re being hailed.”

    James decided to get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible “Helm full stop…..let’s see what we’re dealing with” he ordered as T’Sol complied “Lieutenant shields up….Red Alert…. on screen” as Maria did as ordered and initiated the hail.

    “Star Fleet this is a glorious day for you and your crew” a strange looking man stated unlike anything James had ever seen before.

    “I’m Captain James Lake, Commanding Officer of the Federation Star Ship USS Vigilant, what can we do for you?”

    “No Captain Lake it is what we can do for you; please let me explain. I am Dizzol of the Herodian people from the Gamma Quadrant and I bring you a glorious new life. You and your crew have been chosen to return with us to Herodia and live in luxury…..want for nothing and in exchange you will mate with other females to produce offspring for us to educate and enjoy” he explained with enthusiasm.

    James noticed something during their conversation which was quite unsettling “If I may ask, how is it I can hear your words but your mouth is not moving” he inquired.

    “We are a superior race and use telepathy to communicate; we only use our mouths for food and drink” Dizzol explained with what sounded like a laugh.

    Thinking very quickly James decided to push the issue “And if we decline your gracious invitation; then what happens” he inquired wanting to know all his options before initiating a course of action.

    “Perhaps I didn’t make myself clear Captain Lake; this is not a request nor an invitation. You and your crew WILL be returning with us….fighting your glorious new life is pointless” Dizzol stated matter of factly.

    James sat listening very intently to every word that was being said as an idea popped into his head “Please do me the courtesy of allowing me to confer with my Crew on this glorious new opportunity; may I have thirty minutes to get my Crew in order” he inquired being careful not to tip his hand.

   “I will show you that courtesy and at the end of the time allotted you WILL be beamed over to our Ship to begin your new journey with us” as the communication was terminated.

    Racheal spoke up first “Captain I sure hope you have a plan; I don’t relish the thought of having sex with who knows how many men nor bearing offspring” the Commander stated dreading the thought of such a life.

    Then Maria chimed in “Ditto for me. The thought of having sex with many or any man is disgusting” she stated matter of factly.

    “I’m certainly not giving up….not yet” James replied feeling concern for his Crew. There was a protocol that the Commodore had discussed with James to be used only in a dire emergency, and this certainly qualified “Maria send an Alpha Priority One message to Commodore Chi encrypted as follows: Herodians…..Gamma Quadrant…..slaves…..help…..Lake. Send it exactly like that” James ordered.

    Maria was a little confused at the type and content of the message but trusted her Captain without question “Message sent Sir” then she paused “Now what.”

    “Now we wait and hope the Divergent can get to us in time” he stated then tapped his Comm “Lieutenants Herek, Zebot, Nox, and Ensign Benna report to the bridge immediately.”

    Hearing the Captain’s page they all hauled ass to the requested location as Daniel inquired “What’s going on Captain; it sounded urgent.”

    “It is urgent” as James proceeded to explain the whole situation to the rest of his Crew “So if the Commodore can’t get to us in time what should be our next step….anyone?”

    Nox spoke up “Captain can we make a run for it…..I mean this is a very fast Ship.”

    James let out a sigh “ We already changed course and increased our speed; that Ship kept up with us without any problems so that would be pointless. Any other suggestions.”

    The Bridge was dead silent for a few moments when Racheal gave the only logical solution to the problem “I know how some of you feel about our impending situation and I would only imagine the others feel the same; especially the ladies. That being said I for one would rather be dead than be someone’s sex slave for the rest of my days” then she paused a moment “Having said that I feel the only solution, if help doesn’t get here on time, would be to initiate the self destruct protocol; I know we would all die but it’s better than the alternative.”

    Now the dead silence lingered as James asked “So how do the rest of you feel about the Commanders solution” he inquired.

    Everyone looked at the other person as Mark spoke up “ I for one agree with the Commander; it would be better than living a life of slavery for the rest of our lives” as the other’s all agreed.

    As much as James hated to admit it everyone was right “Ok then, and I agree with all of you. If help doesn’t arrive on time then we’ll take matters into our own hands” James replied “Fingers crossed they do though. You may all return to your duties.”