Star Trek: Terra Alpha

TAS Viper - the Next Morning

Director Nicole Decker was standing on the bridge of the Viper via holographic interface, it was clear by the slightly disheveled appearance of her clothes that she had not slept or spent more than a few minutes not working since Clint had contacted her the day before.

"This is very not good... " Nicole said as she pointed to the points on the big 'pool table' situation display at the rear of the bridge. "From what those sensors and the preliminary scans tell us, two entire planets have been cracked open, their gravitational balances are affecting nearby star systems, warp travel is incredibly dangerous, subspace is already affected." she shook her head. "The more I find out, the more I really do not want to engage, not yet."

"I'm not talking about engagement, we need to find out more, if this is as bad as it looks, we need to find out what they're doing and how they're doing it before more worlds end up this way." Clint replied. "Look, send me two ships, one at the 'safe' edge here." he pointed to a spot on the map. "And another as my backup. If we get into trouble,then we fight until we can reach the other and transwarp the hell away."

"You know Ryder will want to be involved in this. This is Alpha Section's forte... but let's show them what NI and SHIELD can do." Nicole gave him a slight smile. "Oh bloody hell, I'll send you three. Two fast warp stealth and a stealth courier ship. If this goes tits up, then get to the courier and get your arses back home."

"Sounds like a plan." Clint said with a half smile. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet... we have no idea what's beyond there. Whatever they're doing is obscuring our sensors from getting through. Unless of course one of your resident psionics can get through it." Nicole said and glanced at Tali and Mac. "Listen... as bold as we all are... let's be careful alright? All of you."

"We will." Clint replied and turned to his team. "We'll take point, have your ships meet us at the agreed upon coordinates by say... lunch time?"

"Tea time, it will take us a little time to get them out of Alliance space without raising any red flags." Nicole said and nodded her head. "I won't wish you luck since you don't need it but... don't die. I can only attend so many funerals before I run out of things to wear."

"We won't die. Promise." Clint put his hand over his heart. "Cross my heart."

"Cross your... cheeky man." Nicole chuckled and closed the connection, her holographic form fading.

"Alright... let's get prepped. Mac, Tali... why don't you try to sense what you can. JT... run simulations and battle drills." Clint ordered. "Let's make this happen."

It took Mac a few hours to get comfortable enough to trying sensing anything in the direction of the exploded planets. The first hour she’d almost been there then JT started his drills. The ear-piercing scream of the red alert alarms made her jump out of her skin the first 12 times he did it. She was about to murder him until he gave her nose canceling ear plugs.

After things calmed down and she was able to focus again. She sat crossed legged on the bridge facing the view screen. It was the only place on the ship she seemed to be able to focus. Despite having her mind cleared and sensing everything on the ship, once she ignored JT, she still couldn’t sense anything further beyond the ship.

“We need to get closer.” Mac announced in frustration. “When are Decker’s ships supposed to be here?”

"Soon." Clint replied. "You know how it is working with other agencies... I was told 'tea time' whenever the fuck that is. Your dad's a sorta Brit... when is that? I just assumed sometime in the mid afternoon."

"Something like that." JT said as he walked onto the bridge. "We're as ready as we'll ever be." he saw the intense concentration mixed with frustration on Mac's face.

Tali came up behind JT and whispered. "Let me help her... she's going to give herself a migraine." Approaching her grand daughter she sat cross legged next to her. "I'm coming up sorta blank, I can't get details but I can sense a lot of minds."

"Almost like using chaff to disrupt scans." Clint replied. "Too many targets in one place to really focus on any one, so we're on the right track at least."

"Can we get a little quiet... I want to try something." Tali said as she took Mac's hand. ~ Push out all distractions, all other thoughts, this ship, this sector and focus on what we are looking for. Maybe two heads ARE better one~ she thought to Mac.

Clint got up and waved his finger, meaning that everyone should leave the bridge and go to the back situation boards. He was already starting to come up with some of their own hand signals and code, things they didn't need to even really 'think' about just know what it means and do it. Considering who and what they were up against, they had to rely on instinct.

Mac nodded as she closed her eyes again and took a deep breath clearing her mind and pushing aside her thoughts. It took her a minute to push aside JT’s, he could be so distracting especially since last night. Then the minds on the ship seemed the drift away one by one as she pushed her mind out towards the destroyed planets.

"They're moving I think." Mac said with uncertainty. She'd never tried using her abilities on this scale before. Just simple communication with JT or Jason, two people she was bonded with in one way or another. Yet it was coming to her was an easy wasn't excepting now that Tali was there to guide her.

~ I sense that too.~ Tali said as she kept her eyes closed. ~ So much evil there... I can almost feel the Brethren. ~ she opened her eyes and looked at Mac. "We both can feel them moving... there's definitely a Brethren presence, I think we found where Dominus is... but I cannot be certain... yet that he's there or Ophelia. We'll keep trying." she said and squeezed Mac's hand as she closed her eyes. In many ways she was happy that Mackenzie was here with her, seeing the younger version gave her hope, but seeing this version of that same child, gave her more than hope. It gave her certainty. That no matter what happens... a bit of her and Korba will live on. Then she got a brief flash of... something. It felt almost familiar. It reminded her of. "Korba...?"

“There’s something else.” Mac said like a vail had been lifted suddenly. “There positioning around another planet. I can see it so clearly…”

Korba gently brushed against Tali’s consciousness as he guided his granddaughter’s mind through the vail that held her back. He wanted to linger there with her, but time was running out. He had to show them what was happening. His only regret was not being unable to shield M’k’n’zy from what was to come.

“Dad,” Mac said as she sensed her father’s presence reach out toward the planet. It recoiled as if they weren’t worth his time. Then another far more angry, vengeful, and powerful. Reaching out towards the planet, engulfing it.

The planet exploded and a thousand minds screamed out. Mac screamed out with them as she pulled away from Tali and gripped her head as she tried to get away from her.

“No. No.” She said over and over as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Tali stared at the view screen, she had seen and felt everything Mac did... and it shocked her. She wasn't sure what hit her the hardest, that her son in law could take control of minds like that, her daughter exploding a world as easily as she used to dispel dust storms... or that she felt Korba. Tears started streaming from her eyes as she tried to process it all and then looked over at Mac, who looked just as traumatized.

"M'k'n'zy..." Tali said softly and held her as she helped her up. "J... JT... Clint... ready room. Just give us... give us a few moments."

Mac shook her head as she tried to wipe at her eyes. She could still hear the voices screaming in her head and it was her parents who had caused it. Her parents not some version of them hers. She knew somehow just like Carly always knew and they were working with Dominus.

“I…” Mac began and just shook her head.

"Not here." Tali said softly as she walked to the small Ready Room to the side of the bridge. She reached under the table and pulled off a bottle that was taped to the bottom and poured the contents into two of the water glasses. "Here." she handed the home brew to Mac and took a swig herself. "I think we have some serious... serious I... I don't even know what."

Her hand shook as she took the glass and a deep drink. It made her think of her mother and she suddenly felt sick to her stomach.

“I can’t drink that.” Mac said sitting the glass aside.