End Game -- Part I "
By: Jeff Westfall, Tactical Officer, [PST]
Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]
Riaan, Operations Manager, [PST]
Jonathan Wright, Executive Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58203.01 1100

==Bridge==

"We've arrived at the waypoint captain." said the helmsman. "Drop out of warp and take us in full impulse," replied the Captain. "Westfall, red alert."

"Aye, aye, Captain Red Alert has been sounded ship-wide, all department heads report ready, containment, damage control teams, and medic staff report at full preparedness.

Long range sensors are operating at maximum efficiency, shields are at maximum modulation, no foreign energy signatures detected, and all weapon systems are loaded and standing by to fire on your order".

"There does appear to be a high metallic ore content in the asteroid field, Captain, I'll try to filter out natural versus manufactured alloys to discriminate composition, like another ship cloaked".

The Captain studied the asteroid field on his monitor it was roughly concave shaped, Millions of kilometers across. It made a perfect backdrop for a confrontation.

"Ensign Riaan, are you getting any sensor readings? Any ships in the area" asked Wright as we looked at the asteroid field on the main view screen.

Riaan looked at the captain and replied, Unable to tell yet, we are getting too much interference.

Hunter shifted nervously in his seat. It was a slow and tedious task, slowly working through the theater of operation.

At 1350h the Zion came to an all stop in front of a Maquis shuttle adrift in space. Analysis showed no lifesigns. An extensive scan showed 11 humanoid bodies where contained inside. With no evidence of the shuttle being booby trapped, the small type V shuttle was beamed to the construct deck.

Hunter and Wright met a security detachment there. With phasers drawn, Hunter signaled the security officer to open the rear shuttle door. As the door opened, the smell of death permeated the air.

Hunter covered his mouth and nose and entered the shuttle. Inside, the bodies were neatly arranged. Some where badly mutilated. He looked at each body he stepped over. He recognized them as his senior officers. Sam Mitchell, tactical chief; Rosa Dennison Flight Chief; Doug Peterson, Ops Chief, Rakia Ramarachaka, Asst chief engineer; Helen King, yeoman; T'lan, senior security officer, he stopped looking, he had no doubts they where all here. Everyone who survived the attack on the USS Hood now lay dead in this shuttle. Everyone except for him, Silvio and Sarik.

A technician from engineering quietly hooked up external power support to the shuttle. As minimal systems came online They noticed as indicator flashing. Hunter looked at Wright. "Its another message." He said.

Wright walked to the console and activated the message. The now familiar sneering face of Jenkins appeared on the console.

"Hello again Ian. I bet you thought I would be waiting to kill you here didn't you?" asked Jenkins. "We will get to that eventually, however, now all I want to do is hurt you Ian. These fine people are dead for one reason and one reason only Captain Hunter. Your arrogant pride Ian. You lead these fine people away from the Federation. It is your fault they are dead. They paid the ultimate price for your sins Ian. Live with that." The image of Jenkins faded from the screen.

Wright watched the Captain. He could see that he was struggling. Wright waited for a moment to see how the captain would respond. "Captain?" said Wright.

There was no response...

Wright was really concerned, this was a bad situation. An young crew on an untested ship with no senior staff. Wright decided to cut his losses. He tapped his comm badge. "Wright to Bridge. Signal Lindsey's runabout. Get her back on board as soon as possible. When she is aboard re-engage the cloak and get us away from here at maximum warp."

Wright again tried to get the Captain to exit the shuttle. With no success.

=From what he has seen so far the Captain was a good man. No one deserved this kind of punishment. Jenkins had dealt from the bottom of the deck with this.

Hunter dropped into the shuttle pilot seat, "I'm okay." he said. Hunter struggled to maintain profession composure. He wanted to thrash the shuttle and chase Jenkins down.

Finally Wright called down to sickbay and requested a team to care for those lost on the shuttle.

Hunter watched as medics arrived and began transporting them.

When the last had been remove, Hunter stood up, "Okay Number One, I'll be on the bridge, lets get this mess cleaned up."

Hunter stepped off the shuttle and headed towards the door.