No Chance

Posted on Thu Dec 14th, 2023 @ 2:06pm by Fleet Admiral Mike K`Wor Bremer & Captain Patrick Dow & Colonel Danny Lennox & Captain Paul MacLeod & Lieutenant K`Wor & Lieutenant Nick Archer & Lieutenant Catherine Mclintock & Ensign Robert Harper & Ensign Luke Conway & Gunnery Sergeant Marcus Ermey & Lieutenant Ariel Gilmore

1,911 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 118 - "It's About Family"
Location: Starbase 400
Timeline: MD1, 1430hrs

ON:


After beaming to Ops, Mike had remained there only a brief time. He checked in with security and marine teams, verified security lock downs were still in place, and checked in with sick bay to get an update on casualties.

That’s when he was summoned down to Level 700, the Morgue.

K’Wor met his father as he beamed in, just outside of the morgue.

“What did you find?” Mike asked.

K’Wor looked worried. “Damage control and engineering crews are still working in this area after the damage caused by the mirror universe incursion and only part of the morgue is in operation. But I received an alert of an unauthorized beam in and out down here. I found Morgue Three has power ran to it now, and a damping field in operation. I took a look and found something…unexpected.”

Mike eyed his son as K’Wor turned and opened the door to Morgue Three. As the door opened Mike peered inside and saw movement. He placed his hand on his phaser, ready to draw.

“Mac?” Mike said in a surprised tone as K’Wor closed the door behind them.

MacLeod, the real MacLeod nodded. He was obviously in some pain and still disoriented, but he was indeed alive.

“How long have you been here?” Mike asked.

“According to the computer, over two months.” MacLeod replied, “He’s been here longer.” Mac pointed to another man who stepped forward.

“Pat?” Mike asked as he looked at Captain Dow. “I’ve been here over six months, last thing I remember was a Klingon bounty hunter was aboard the Station.”

Mike was in disbelief as he listened to Mac and Dow, but that feeling was amplified as he looked around to see Ensign Harper, Ensign Robinson, Doctor McLintock, Lieutenant Gilmore, and a couple of other crewmembers.

Mike stood for a moment and just closed his eyes. Members of his crew from nearly every department were here. There was no telling the amount of damage that had been done, or could have been done if the Changeling infiltration hadn’t been discovered.

“Who’s in the stasis tubes over there?” Mike asked.

“Lieutenant Juhuq is in this one, but the tube lost power and he’s dead. This other one is empty.” K’Wor replied. "There also looks to have been more in here but they were moved."

“Wait, someone was in that one.” Ariel spoke up. She then lost her balance and Mike caught her and helped her sit.

“Who did you see?” Mike asked.

“I…I didn’t see a face, but I saw dark hair and something shiny on his chest before I blacked out. But that, that was over six months ago.” Gilmore explained. "According to the computer."

Mike slowly stood as Doctor McLintock checked Gilmore’s pulse the old fashioned way. “Yeah, she’s right. Apparently I’ve been here for just a day or so according to the time, but I remember they were moving someone and maybe another tube into Morgue Four…but it’s all fuzzy.”

“Did K’Wor tell you all what's happened to Starfleet and at Earth over the last few days?” Mike asked as everyone nodded.

Mike then turned to K’Wor. “Who can you trust?”

K’Wor thought for a moment. “Luke.”

“Get him here, bring weapons for everyone and a med kit. Then stay put and seal the door. Don’t let anyone in or out until you hear from me.” Mike ordered.

K’Wor nodded, as did Mac, Dow, and the others. K’Wor stepped out of the room while Mike remained and talked with everyone. A few minutes later K’Wor and Conway, and Gunnery Sergeant Ermy returned.

“Conway ran into the Gunny while he was sweeping the medical storage.” K’Wor said.

“I’m not going through old stories with you again.” Ermy said with a smirk to Bremer, letting Mike know he was who he appeared to be.

“I brought phasers for everyone, a med kit, and some field rations.” Conway added as he passed items out.

Mike nodded to his son, then stepped out.

A few minutes later Mike beamed back into Ops. He looked around and saw several people working at various consoles. K’Temoc looked back at Mike and nodded, as did T’Lar, Pike, and a few others.

Mike walked over to Tactical Two and glanced as a monitor, then looked over at Marine Ops. “Any update on the Marines’ level by level sweep?”

“Nothing yet.” K’Temoc replied as he stood beside the Intel position.

“Deela, any update on what we talked about earlier?” Mike asked. He hadn't spoken with his XO in a while, so he was playing a hunch.

T’Lar looked up from the PADD she was holding, looked around, then looked back at the PADD.

Mike then looked over at Pike who was standing beside the holo-display in the middle of Ops that shown the Starbase in the middle as well as all ships in the area, their name and information, and course. Pike looked up in a nondescript manner, took a step to the left, then looked back down. After a few moments he repeated the movements exactly.

Mike then walked over to Tactical One and looked at the display there. He glanced back around Ops and watched nearly everyone repeating the same movements they did moments before. He then saw K’Temoc tapping a button on the Intel panel. After a moment everyone in Ops subtlely ‘flickered’ as they started moving in other ways than before.

Mike quickly drew his phaser and fired at full intensity, hitting the Intel station and destroying the panel K’Temoc’s hand was just on. After a second everyone in the room flickered again, then disappeared.

“Holograms.” Mike said.

K’Temoc slowly turned around to face Mike.

“Where’s my brother?” Mike asked as he aimed his phaser.

The Changeling impersonating K’Temoc smirked, then his face morphed and it looked as if blood was coming from wounds to his lip, head, and neck while his skin was pale. Basically showing K’Temoc was dead. “Don’t worry, you’re join him soon.”

Mike fired his phaser and pulse hit the Changeling in the shoulder as he moved to try to dodge. At the same time, the Changeling’s arms became tentacles and slapped the phaser from Mike’s hand before shoving him into the console behind him. Mike drew his Mek’leth and tried to counter the attack. He deflected one tentacle, then sliced through another. The Changeling let out a yell as the goo that was once a tentacle fell to the deck where it pooled before being reabsorbed by the Changeling.

Mike tried to move from the corner he was backed into, to give himself more room to move, but he was soon smacked again, again, and again. His Mek’leth flew from his hand and slid across the floor of Ops to the other side as Mike hit the deck.

“You have no chance! This is our time.” The Changeling mocked as he changed into an all goo-like appearance.

Mike tried to pull himself up on the chair at Operations. He managed to tap in a few commands before he was slapped again, hitting his head on the console before it bounced on the deck.

The Changeling stepped closer, as Mike tried to roll over. The Changeling wrapped a tentacle around Mike’s neck and choked him, then beat Mike on the chest a few times, knocking the wind out of him.

Mike gasped for air as he was hit again. His eyes widened as he helplessly watched the Changeling standing over him. “You’re getting old, I expected more out of you, even with you already injured.” The Changeling had a shapeless face, no mouth, but you could hear a smug smirk.

As the Changeling reached back to deliver the death blow, he was suddenly shot in the middle of the 'face' by a phaser blast. Stunned, the Changeling turned, only to be shot again, this time the phaser energy coming from another direction. The Changeling staggered, but was hit again and again by phaser fire coming from multiple directions.

Mike, finally getting air back in his lungs, slowly rolled over as he tried to get up. He saw K’Wor, Conway, Ermy, Dow, MacLeod, Harper, and someone else all firing on the Changeling. Slowly blinking, Mike felt the gentle touch of Gilmore and McLintock.

“Easy, you clearly have a concussion.” McLintock said to Mike.

Mike still managed to force himself over, and from the floor of Ops he watched the Changeling succumb to his wounds and turn into ash as it died.

Mike laid there, looking at the dead Changeling as he heard others arrive in Ops. He tried to look up, seeing the real people that he knew, including T’Lar, Pike, and to his surprise and amazement K’Temoc…who was holding a phaser while being helped into a chair by Lennox.

“He’s okay.” K’Wor said. “I…disobeyed your orders, we searched Morgue Four and found him and several others including Captain Tuvok and the Captain of the USS Intrepid in stasis. We also found a Dominion transporter the Changelings were apparently trying to finish building.”

Mike smirked as he mouthed ‘Good job.’ He then looked at K’Temoc, and mouthed ‘how long’.

“Your voice will return, but your neck to badly bruised from being choked.” McLintock said as another medical team arrived in Ops.

“The station is clear of Changelings.” Someone said, Mike wasn’t entirely sure who since his head was still ringing from the beating.

“K'Temoc said the last thing he remembers was Q being on the station. That was almost a year and a half ago.” K’Wor replied. “We’re getting you both, and everyone recovered to Sick Bay now.”

Mike looked up at his son as his eyes closed.



Three Days Later

Mike slowly opened his eyes and looked around. It was obvious he was in Medical but was he in the Main Sick Bay or a Recovery Ward?

A few minutes later and Becca walked over. “You’re awake.” She said with a smile for her dad. “You’ve been out for three days.”

Mike tried to sit up, but he was still sore. “Re..report.” His voice was still scratchy.

“Station secure, no more Changelings. Captain Tuvok and the others that the Changelings brought here for 'storage' are doing well and will be released soon. The USS Yorktown, USS Thunderchild, and USS Vanguard are enroute here from Earth and will take Captain Tuvok and others that the Changelings brought here back. The USS Luna, USS Visionary, and USS Swiftsure are also returning and will patrol the area while we get the rest of our fleet back operational.” Becca replied with a smile. “I’ll let Admiral T’Lar fill you in on everything once you’re clear for duty.”

Mike nodded. “K’Temoc?”

“He was released yesterday and his in his quarters resting. Aunt Danielle is keeping an eye on him. He’s off duty another week, then lite duty for another week after that while he builds his strength back up. Expect the same for you.” Becca replied. “I’ll get Doctor Woodhouse to come check you over.”

Mike took breath and tried to relax.

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