Renegades

Chapter One: Heart and Soul

Worf's communicator beeped and LaForge's voice said, "Sorry to interrupt your shore leave, but there's a bit of an emergency."

"Do you need us to return to the Enterprise?" asked Worf.

"Alexander should return, but we need you and the counselor to stay there. A band of renegade Klingons recently attacked Deep Space Two, and we have reason to think they are now hiding on Praxis. The Captain wants you to find them. We'll be sending down an investigative team to help, and they'll fill you in on the details."
--Argus Skyhawk

Praxis

Worf and Counselor Troi watched as the young Alexander disappeared in a flurry of quantam mist. The Klingon security chief sighed, pleased with the fact that Alexander was now safe on the Enterprise, then looked to Troi, who had removed a tricorder from her belt. "Anything?" Worf asked, stepping closer to Troi.

Deanna frowned at the tricorder's display, and said, "No. . .if those Klingons are here, Worf, they're masking themselves against sensor scans somehow."

Worf, like the true hunter he was, began towards the nearby caverns the trio had recently enjoyed a picnic within. The shore leave had been quite enjoyable until this had happened, Alexander frolicking about as he and Deanna enjoyed glasses of soothing liquid. Now, though, Lieutenant Worf had a job to do. "This way. . .the Klingons would likely chose a secluded place such as this cavern to hide."

Deanna Troi nodded, and followed her Klingon companion into hell.

USS Enterprise, Main Bridge

Jean-Luc Picard paced the bridge like a caged animal, longing to break free. Lieutenant Commander Data was rapidly tapping at the Ops console, his hands a blur of motion, in an attempt to locate the rogue bird-of-prey that had pounded Deep Space Two. "Any luck, Mister Data?"

"No luck, sir." Data concluded his work, and turned to Picard. "However, I have located the ion trail of a bird-of-prey. It was done through working the sensor array on a particular frequenc--"

Riker, who was approaching Picard from the turbolift, stopped Data with a tight grin. "I think we get the idea, Data. Where is it?"

"It is on the out-skirts off this system, moving away at warp three," the android officer reported evenly. He then turned back to his console to get an updated report. "The Klingon vessel is now increasing speed to warp five."

"Number One, beam down to Praxis with an away team -- I will not leave Worf and Troi down there alone. Ensign Lavelle, lay in a pursuit course, warp five."

Everyone on the bridge instantly carried out Picard's orders, and Riker headed toward the 'lift he had come in on. He pressed his communicator firmly. "Mister LaForge, Doctor Crusher, join me in Transporter Room One."

Praxis, Hell Caverns

These caverns had been dubbed Hell by all scientists to study them. This was because of the horrible heat that lined the interior's immediate atmosphere. To Worf, it was a perfect climate, but the Human/Betazoid counselor, Deanna Troi, found it completely intolerable.

"Worf, isn't it the least bit hot to you?" she asked, as the two hiked over an outcropping of dusty rocks.

"No," was his stoic reply. Suddenly, he sniffed the air, and grimaced. "Something is here. . .I can smell it. Targ."

Then, without warning, a wild Klingon targ leapt at them, teeth bared, ready to tear into Deanna's fresh flesh.
--Ganges

You can also read Lee Jamilkowski's Alternate Addition.

Worf tightened his grip onto the bat'leth he had connected to a newly designed hostel he had made. He whipped it out and predicted where the trag's throat would be in the next .8 seconds when it would be in prime striking distance. The targ was instantly decapitated and both parts fell to the gorund, blood dripping out. He suddenly realized something was very wrong. "Deanna, where would a targ come from? There has not been any animal life on Praxis since the explosion." Deanna Troi shrugged her shoulders, still shaking with chills from the unexpected attack that had just occured. Worf decided there would be no harm in, for the moment, performing the traditional blessing over the new food. Though Worf thought this targ on a dead rock in space was unusual, he was overjoyed at the luck on this holiday, the Day of Honor.

Suddenly, Deanna Troi felt intense feelings of anger and they were not being created by Worf nor her. A Klingon raiding party entered her field of vision and one warrior pulled a disrupter out. Worf had his attention focused upon blessing the Targ which he had slain mere moments before.

"We aren't here to harm..." was all she had said when the disrupter blast knocked her unconscious.

"Why have you hurt her? What House do you belong to?" Worf asked generally to the raiding party as he spun toward the group and whipped his phaser out. He shot the apparent leader, who was a tall male.

"Our allegiance is to the House of Duras," proudly stated by a warrior who appeared from the back.

The Klingons touched emergency transporter armbands of obvious Federation design and were transported away with Deanna Troi, except the leader.

Worf walked over to the body of the Klingon leader and asked, "Why did you dishonor yourself on this Day of Honor?" Suddenly, after carefully scanning the outsides of the caverns and hearing the fight, the away team form the Enterprise arrived in Praxis' Hell.

Chapter Two: Time Lost

You can also read Stephen Errity's Alternate Addition. Parts of it have been used below.

"Sir, we are receiving a distress call from the B'orkten'duhl outpost on Cardet 3. They have been attacked by Klingon raiders with heavy casualties and supplies taken," reported Data. "It is unusual, they are still in orbit, and not attempting to escape."

Picard ordered, "Mr. Worf, take a security team down and be careful... it looks like a trap. Mr. Data, it sounds like the raiders have an extremely limited amount of supplies. If we can not stop them here, we may be able to stop them in a future raid."

Data responded, "Yes, sir. I am scanning but we can only estimate where they will be in the system when we get there."

Picard instantly said, "Make it so."
--Lee Jamilkowski

''We are closing on the estimated position of the Klingon vessel.'' Ensign Lavelle reported calmy.

''Mr. Data, do you have any suggestions as to how we can unmask the Klingon vessel?'' asked Picard.

''I believe so, sir,'' replied the android. ''If we fire a tachyon beam with a rapid frequency shift from the deflector dish, we should be able to lock on to the vessel.''

''Make it so.''

A thin energy beam emerged from the Enterprise's deflector dish. After several seconds, a sensor reading became available on Data's ops console. He turned to Picard. ''Captain, I am reading a vessel, but it is much too small to be a Bird-of-Prey.''

''Can you get a more precise reading?'' asked Picard.

''No, sir. However, we may be able to beam it aboard.''

''Do it.''

Data performed the operation, got up and headed for the turbolift. He tapped his communicator. ''Data to LaForge. Geordi, please report to Cargo Bay 1.''

''On my way.''

The Bird-of-Prey dropped out of warp with a judder. Commander Ch'novok stood up and shouted to the officer at the science station. ''Full scan!''

''I am detecting one Yridian freighter holding station 10,000 kellicams off our port bow. It is transmitting the agreed identification signal.''

''Good.'' Ch'novok remarked. ''Drop cloak and hail them!'' The lights brightened slightly. An ugly Yridian appeared on the static-filled viewscreen. Ch'novok hated these wretched cowards, but right now he needed the Yridian's help.

''Greetings, Commander.'' said the Yridian. ''You have the merchandise?''

''Yes.'' said Ch'novok bluntly, referring to the 5ml of biomimetic gel that was presently sitting in his ships cargo hold. ''And do you have our merchandise'' he growled.

''Yes.'' mumbled the Yridian. ''I will transmit the codes now. I can't guarantee that they are still in use.''

''They had better be!'' he roared ''for your sake.''

''Indeed.'' said the Yridian timidly as he worked with a PADD. Ch'novok looked over at the science officer. He nodded to his commander to indicate the data had been recieved. Once the stolen gel had been beamed aboard the Yridian vessel, both it and the Klingon ship departed the area.

Picard eyed the small pod. On the side, the words DEEP SPACE TWO could be clearly made out. Data came over to him. ''Sir,'' he said ''this is a standard Federation decoy pod. I have contacted DS2, and the station commander confirmed that the Klingons stole this decoy pod when they attacked''

''Did they take anything else?'' the captain asked.

''5ml of biomimetic gel and several dozen type-3 phaser rifles, sir'' replied Data.

''These Klingons are obviously up to something'' said Picard. ''We should return to Praxis and see if the away team has found anything.'' He tapped his communicator. ''Picard to bridge, set a course back to Praxis, warp 5.''

''Aye, sir'' said Ensign Lavelle.
--Stephen Errity

"Riker to Picard. We were wrong, sir. The other Klingon vessel is in orbit, but is emitting a dampening field. A Yridian vessel entered the area, but as soon as we hailed them, they pulled out of the system."

"I am on my way, Will."

As soon as Worf and his security team of three other officers reached the surface they took cover after hearing disruptors charge up. Worf saw his comrades defend themselves valiantly, but each was taken down in the first 30 seconds. Worf saw a disruptor shot directly at his head that he could not avoid after a 3 mintue fire fight. He saw other Klingons were those who were shooting, but that was when he blanked out.
--Anonymous

The Klingon commander stormed onto his ship's bridge. ''Report!'', he barked.

The officer at tactical responded. ''It has worked, sir. The Starfleet vessel is chasing the decoy. In addition, we have captured two Starfleet officers we found on the surface. One of them is Worf, Son of Mogh''

''Excellent'', the Klingon commander noted. ''They may prove useful in the days to come.''

''What are your orders, Commander?'' asked the helm officer.

''Remain cloaked and set a course for sector 31904'', responded the commander, ''maximum available warp.''

''Setting a course. Speed, warp 3.''

In the brig, Deanna and Worf felt the deckplates shudder as the ship entered warp.
--Stephen Errity

Wesley Crusher, who was home visiting from Starfleet Academy, took his temporary position at tactical. Picard had assigned him there so he would get experience in that area especially with the kidnapping of Worf. The captain kept down the uneasiness he felt when he looked at the cadet; this seemed to happen even at the mention of Wesley's name, ever since the Nova Squadron incident at the Academy.

"I must forgive and forget... Wesley has been acting responsibly since the accident. I must not be too hard on him. Even I made a mistake at the Academy when papa died," thought Picard.

"Message coming in from Starfleet command, Captain," said Wesley Crusher.

"On screen."

Admiral Hayes appeared on screen.

"Admiral, what can I do for you?"

"Jean-Luc," he said. "This incident with the renegades is threatening the peace with the Klingon Empire. I am assigning a couple of ships under your overall command to assist you, plus I am putting the whole fleet on Yellow Alert. You will be given the Defiant and the Excelsior. The Klingon High Command has issued the K'Ratorak and two Vor'Cha class vessels to be placed under your command. Gowron suspects that the Romulans may be involved. And you know where this is leading." The admiral winked unsubtly at Picard. "Good luck. Hayes out."

"If the Romulans are involved," thought Picard, "than this probably means the House of Duras is involved. And most likely Sela."

"LaVelle, change course for Quo'Nos, maximum warp. Ensign Cursher, inform our task force to rendevous us there."

In the Great Hall of the Klingon High Council, Gowron brought Toral before the leaders...
--Lee Jamilkowski

It was time for Toral to be executed. For his dishonorable actions, he would not get the chance to die in battle. He was bound, and closely guarded, but he held his head high and refused to beg for mercy. Gowron was almost dissapointed. Then there was commotion outside, and the renegades burst into the hall, dragging Troi with them. "Release him and surrender, or she dies!"
--Isabella Moody

Suddenly a disruptor blast enveloped and disintegrated the renegade leader, who sliced a bat'leth blade across Deanna's face and chest. Suddenly, the renegades and Troi were beamed away to the Klingon ship.

Just then an away team from the Enterprise entered the room. Led by Lieutenant Commander Data, who had witnesses the entire event from the shadows, he walked up to Gowron.

"Gowron," said the android. "I do not believe the rebel leader was killed."

"Android, you saw exactly what I did. He is nothing mroe than a pile of ashes on the floor."

Data walked over and put his finger on the area where the ashes should have been.

"No traces that a disruptor has been fired. Gowron, did we not all notice that while being "killed", the renegade leader still managed to pull out a bat'leth and attack Lieutenant Commander Troi?"

"What is your point, Starfleet?" responded the leader of the Klingon High Council.

"I have a suspicion that..." said Data. The communicator signaled for Data to respond. He touched the pin.

"Picard to Data. We recorded two transporter signals in the past two minutes. They came from a Romulan D'deridex class ship that recently entered orbit of Quo'nos. Unfortunately, it fired on us and knocked out the warp core. It will take 7 hours to get back online."

"Noted," said Data. "I believe that the Romulans "bailed out", as the human phrase goes, the renegade Klingons. They took Deanna Troi, and not without seriously injuring her first. I am continuing my investigation. Data out."

The android commander walked over to Gowron and said...
--Lee Jamilkowski

  "...we are going to need both Klingon and Federation fleets." "Yes... I thought as much, android. I am leading a fleet of 25 Vor'cha cruisers and 25 Bird-of-Preys. Starfleet has decided to contribute 10 Excelsior vessels, 10 Miranda vessels, and 50 Runabouts."

"I will be on the Enterprise if you need me further," said Data. "Enterprise. Beam up the away team." He looked at the other away team members. "Energize."

5 Days Later...

"Captain's log, supplemental. The Enterprise has departed with the 10th and 15 Task Force to find the renegades. The Cardassian Union has informed us that they crossed the border and were approaching their mining station at Bajor. They have forbidden us to cross the border. We are waiting and praying for the safe return of Deanna Troi and Worf."

1 Day Later...

"We can't wait any longer... we need to cross the border!" boldly stated Riker.

"I agree.... although there will be consequences."

"Ensign LaVelle.... set course for Terok Nor, warp 5. Engage," ordered Captian Picard.

After 10 hours, a Galor class warship pulled alongside the Enterprise.

"Sir," said Lt. D'Sora. "You are being hailed by Gul Mor Trakat."

"On screen," replied Picard.

An extremely short Cardassian appeared onscreen. "Picard... we will ignore this violation of our border for now... but don't be surprised if it comes back to haunt you later. Here are your officers. And you won't ever have to worry about those rebels again. Leave... now!"

A transporter beam appeared on the bridge to reveal a naked Deanna Troi and Worf, both unconcious. The screen went back to an image, the Cardassian ship which then pulled away slowly.

"Take us back home," ordered Commander Riker. "Doctor Crusher to the bridge. We have Deanna and Worf back."

1 Month Later...

"Captain's Log, supplemental. Counselor Troi reports that she and Worf are recovering from their psychological injuries nicely. I can not help but this goes back to the warning from the Cardassians. When will this intrusion come back to haunt me?"
--Anonymous

The End