SEASON 2: EPISODE 03

A ROUGH TIME: Prologue

  “This is the Federation freighter Five Star.  We are under attack by pirates and we need help!”

  The captain collapsed to the floor as the ship was rocked from weapons fire.

  “That’s it, comms are gone,” reported one of the bridge crew.

  “Do you think anyone heard us?” asked another member of the crew.

  “I hope so lad,” answered the captain.

  The captain watched the viewscreen as the pirate vessels came back for another pass.  There was quite a mix of vessels, Federation, Klingons and civilian ships from small fighter craft to large starships like a Miranda class vessel, all attacking the convoy.  The attack had come swiftly and brutally.  Two of the escorting Starfleet vessels had been destroyed quickly before the situation was understood.  The remaining escort and the armed frieghters now battled the larger pirate vessels but could not stop the smaller vessels from harassing the convoy.  Most of the convoy ships were armed but it was inadequate.

  “Phaser banks are almost dry.”

  “Transfer all available power, except shields and life support, to weapons,” ordered the captain.

  “Sir, I’m detecting an incoming ship.  It’s broadcasting a Starfleet signal!” Hope filled the voice of the crewman.  “It’s a Danube class runabout.”

  Cheers filled the bridge.

  “It’s no battleship but any help will do.”

  The crew watched the runabout approach and to their horror it opened fire.

  Supreme Admiral Stephanie Luckhurst couldn’t keep the surprise off her face.  The new arrival had opened fire on the convoy, disabling one of the freighters.  As the runabout approached them the other ships, both pirate and Federation, were confused as to what to do, some fired and others didn’t.  It approached the remaining escort ship, a Yeager class starship.  The Yeager’s captain showed that how he rated the runabout by opening fire on it.  The runabout wasn’t phased and continued to approach the rear quarter of the vessel.  The runabout opened fire and to Luckhurst’s surprise one of the phaser blasts penetrated the ship’s shields.  A Danube class runabout was fairly well armed but it shouldn’t have so easily penetrated the shields of a ship the size of a Yeager.  The runabout continued to fire and the Supreme Admiral analysed the attack.  It appeared to be a waste, as if the crew of the runabout had been surprised to penetrate the shields and was randomly firing.  Then the runabout stopped firing, but continued towards her flagship, a course that brought it very close to the Yeager.  She watched as the Yeager’s phaser arrays powered up to fire at the runabout, but suddenly all the ship’s lights flickered and died.

  “Report!” she ordered.

  “The Yeager has suffered a catastrophic power disruption.  Her weapons, sensor, warp, impulse drive are down.  Her shields still remain up though.  That runabout basically disabled her!”

  Surprise filled the bridge.

  “The convoy is surrendering,” reported the communications officer.

  Luckhurst signalled for the officer to put the communication on screen.

  The viewscreen changed to show a humanoid male on a smoky bridge.  “This is the convoy leader, on behalf of the convoy I offer our surrender.  Please don’t kill us!”

  Luckhurst smiled coldly.  “I accept your surrender, but we are not Nausicans we won’t harm any one if you let us get on with our business.  Close the channel.  What is that runabout up to?” she asked.

  “It has powered down off our stern and is just sitting there.”

  “Tractor it into the shuttlebay and have a security team there to meet it, I want them to go over the shuttle and check it for explosives, bugs, everything and have them confine the crew to the brig.  I’ll be there soon.”

  Luckhurst stayed on the bridge and oversaw the arrival of the pirate freighters and the start of transferring the convoy’s goods to her freighters.  Once it was well underway she went down to the brig.

  When she arrived she found a single humanoid male in custody.

  “I’m Supreme Admiral Stephanie Luckhurst, the leader of the Rough Necks.  Who are you and what do you want?”

  The man stood up and walked very close to the containment field.  “I’m Jonathan Masters and I’m here to be a pirate.”