Star Trek Mjolnir - Xarion's Fall

[Callum MacLeod]

=/\= Chapter One =/\=​

Stardate 58239.94 (March 29, 2381 13:57 Federation Standard Starship Time.)
USS Mjolnir
Interstellar Space, Sector 04340

The hum of the USS Mjolnir was as familiar to Captain Callum MacLeod as the tartan of his ancestral clan. Callum wore the weight of his duty like a well-tailored uniform. Leaning forward his gaze fixed on the main viewscreen.

“Anything interesting, Lieutenant Vhela?” MacLeod asked, his brogue thickening slightly as he leaned over the science station.

Lieutenant Vhela, her Barzan face etched with concentration, shook her head. “Negative, Captain. The anomalous readings have stabilized. Seems to have just been a naturally occurring magnetic field, nothing to be concerned about.”

“Good,” MacLeod said, straightening up. He glanced at the main viewscreen, where a swirling nebula painted the void with vibrant hues. “Let’s keep a close watch, though. This far oot, ye never ken what ye might stumble upon.”

“Captain, we’ve received a distress signal from the Federation colony on planet Xarion,” Lieutenant Malcolm Washbourne, the ship’s intelligence officer, reported. “It’s coming from the colony’s emergency beacon. They’re under attack by an unknown force.”

MacLeod’s brow furrowed. “Lieutenant Nerah, lay in a course an’ engage at maximum warp.”

The Mjolnir accelerated to warp speed, her engines humming with power as she closed the distance to Xarion.

“What’s our ETA, Lieutenant?” Callum asked.

“Twenty-five hours, fourteen minutes, sir,” Nerah responded, his fingers dancing over the flight control console.

Callum nodded gravely. “We’ll need tae be ready for anything when we drop oot o’ warp. Lieutenant Gratakka, coordinate with Lieutenant Washbourne. Let’s have a full threat assessment an’ combat strategy ready by the time we arrive.”

The bridge crew sprang into action, their movements sharp and precise. The air was charged with tension as the ship streaked through the stars, each minute feeling like an eternity. Captain MacLeod’s hand tightened on the armrest of his chair, his eyes never leaving the viewscreen.

“Commander Tymoshenko, ensure all transporters are online and ready for emergency use. We may need tae beam up survivors or deploy away teams once we arrive,” he said, his voice steady and commanding.

“Aye, Captain,” Navesh responded, her Orion grace matching the efficiency of her human upbringing. She tapped a few controls before confirming, “Transporters are operational and standing by. I’ve taken the liberty of expanding the transporter buffer capacity.”

Callum nodded his approval. The Mjolnir was smaller than a typical starship but packed a bigger punch than most ships twice its size. They had to be ready for a swift response to any situation they might face. The bridge remained tense as the crew worked tirelessly, each officer focused on their station, preparing for the unknown.

 

[Callum MacLeod]

=/\= Chapter Two =/\=​

Stardate 58240.43 (March 29, 2381 18:11 Federation Standard Starship Time.)
USS Mjolnir
En route to the Xairon system, Sector 04340

In Engineering, the air was thick with the smell of ozone and coolant. Senior Chief Petty Officer Ez’targic was cajoling Prolash, the perpetually irritable Tellarite Chief Engineer, into approving a minor modification to the warp core regulators.

“Come on, Gorsach, it’s just a tweak! A little enhancement! It’ll give us another half warp factor at emergency speed!” Ez’targic pleaded, waving a plasma wrench theatrically.

Gorsach grumbled, his bristly face reddening. “Half a warp factor and three hundred new diagnostic alarms! I swear, Ez’targic, you and your ‘tweaks’ will be the death of me!”

“Report, Commander” Callum said, his voice easily cutting through the din as he walked into engineering.

Prolash grumbled, his jowls shaking. “Warp core is operating within optimal parameters, Captain. We’re pushing her hard, but she can take it. Just keep Doctor Pax away. She complains about the vibrations every durqiq time she's here.”

Callum chuckled. “Ah’ll try. Dinnae forget tae get tae get some rest. Ah want ye on duty when we arrive at Xairon.”

“I will, sir.” Prolasch chuckled, “My grandmother may’ve taught me to work hard. But her pet yarliq taught me The benefit of being well rested.”

***​

In the heart of the ship, Chief Jang Si Veran was wrestling with a pot almost bigger than his head. The galley, usually a sterile environment, pulsed with the aroma of a Thallonian spiced stew. His crimson skin glistened with sweat. He chopped the vegetables with practiced ease, the rhythmic thud a counterpoint to the ship’s constant hum. He added a pinch of shimmering, nebulst spice, a rare ingredient he had managed to procure during their last stop at Star Station Echo. The Mjolnir’s crew had eclectic tastes, and he prided himself on catering to them all.

At nineteen hundred, the crew began to trickle into the mess hall. As he walked up to the galley Prolasch grumbled something about engineering reports as he grabbed a tray. Melina miled politely at Jang Si as she walked along side her wife Dorian. Nerah, offered the chef a quick, respectful nod. Callum and Navesh entered together, hand in hand. Navesh’s green skin glowed in the artificial light, her sharp features softened by a genuine smile. She kissed Callum lightly on the cheek before heading to the serving station.

“Smells fantastic, Chief.” Callum said, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “What’s on the menu tonight?”

“A Thallonian spiced stew for those who enjoy a bit of bite, Captain,” Jang Si Veran replied, a rare smile spreading across his crimson face. “A Braised Vlar-steak with Taraxian Herb sauce for those with a more… delicate palette. And a nice vegetable stir fry for the herbivores and vegetarians.“

Callum chuckled. “Ye spoil us, Chief.”

“Its not just my job to.” The Thallonian master chef chuckled, “Its my pleasure.”

“You keep feeding us this well and ah may have tae grant ye a field commission.” Callum said as he filled a plate.

“With all due respect, sir. HELL NO.” Jang Si replied with a grin, “I’m a chef and a career non-comm.”

Leaning in and speaking in a conspiratorial whisper Callum said, “Ah dinnae think that anyone would argue that if there was anyone that deserved a field commission it would be the hero o’ Soltok Four.”

“That was a long time ago.” Jang Si said, “I’m just a chef now.”

"Yea, just like the hero o' Setlik Three is JUST an engineer." Callum said fastidiously refering to Miles O'Brien.

"Well, I can't really comment on that." Jang Si chuckled.

“Well either way ye are a damn good cook." Callum chuckled.

As the crew filled the mess hall, the atmosphere shifted. For a brief moment, the anxieties and pressures of their mission faded. Laughter filled the air, punctuated by the clatter of cutlery and the satisfying sounds of a satisfying meal. Callum watched his crew eat. He saw Melina and Dorian listening intently to Prolasch complain about inefficient warp coil designs. He saw Nerah and Malcolm engaged in an intense debate about the cultural impact of the Dominion war. For a brief, precious moment, the Mjolnir wasn’t a warship on a perilous mission. It was a home, a community, a beacon of hope in the vast emptiness of space. And as supper drew to a close, with the taste of Jang Si Veran’s spicy stew still lingering on his tongue, Callum knew they would face whatever lay ahead, together. The distress call was a day away, but they were

 

[Callum MacLeod]

=/\= Chapter Three =/\=​

Stardate 58242.71 (March 30, 2381 14:11 Federation Standard Starship Time.)
Surface of Xairon IV
Xairon system, Sector 04340

As the Mjolinir dropped out of warp and approached Xarion, the viewscreen revealed a grim scene: the planet’s surface was scarred with the bright flashes of energy weapons and the colony’s defensive grid was in disarray. Several structures were already smoldering ruins. The captain’s jaw set as he took in the destruction.

“Commander Tymoshenko, what can ye tell me aboot the attacking vessels?” he barked.

Navesh's eyes darted between the various screens before her, “They appear to be bio-engineered vessels. They are clearly ships AND clearly completely organic."

“Organic vessels?” Callum repeated, raising an eyebrow.

Navesh nodded, her expression grim. “Yes, Captain. They’re like nothing we’ve ever encountered. It seems they are capable of operating as a cohesive collective, making their movements perfectly synchronized, Even more so than the Borg.”

Callum turned to his XO, “Commander Rel, open a channel.”

“Channel open, Captain.” Damrus Rel’s deep, rumbling voice confirmed.

Callum took a deep breath, his Scottish accent thickening with the weight of the moment. “Unknown vessels, this is Captain Callum MacLeod of the USS Mjolnir. Ye are in violation o’ Federation space. Stand down an’ we can resolve this peacefully.”

The response was immediate, a cacophony of chittering insectoid sounds that filled the bridge. The universal translator took a moment to process the alien language before it delivered the message in crisp, cold tones: “We are the Xynthetik. This planet is infested. We are here to purge the infestation and claim this world for the hive. The infestation will be used to create new drones for the hive.”

The hair on the back of Callum's neck stood on end. He had faced many threats In his career, but this one was unlike anything he had encountered before. He knew that the colonists were in dire need of their help.

“Lieutenant Gratakka, raise shields and lock phasers on the nearest Xynthetik ship.

The Nausicaan’s eyes narrowed as he acknowledged the order, his hands moving swiftly over the tactical console. “Shields up. Target locked, Captain.”

Callum’s gaze swept over the bridge, ensuring every member of his crew was ready. “Take us in. Fire at will.”

As the Mjolnir flew towards their foes its phasers lanced out, carving through the Xynthetik ships with fiery precision. The enemy vessels convulsed, their bio-mechanical forms shuddering as the energy bolts connected, but to the crew’s astonishment, the ships didn’t explode. Instead, they began to reform, the damaged sections pulsing with an eerie bioluminescence before knitting themselves back together.

“They’re regenerating!” Malcolm exclaimed, his eyes wide with shock.

Callum’s face was a mask of grim determination. “Continue fire, fastest possible rate. Rotate the phaser’s frequency. Maybe we can overwhelm their regeneration process.”

The Mjolnir’s phasers streaked through space, a barrage of energy that danced around the enemy vessels, searching for a weakness. The Xynthetik ships grew more agitated, their movements erratic as they attempted to dodge the relentless assault. Yet, their regeneration continued, each hit seemingly only a momentary setback. Turning as one half of the fleet descended towards the planet’s surface, the other half turned to face the new threat.

“Captain, their regenerative abilities are off the charts!” Lieutenant Washbourne reported, his voice tinged with a hint of awe as the viewscreen showed half of the Xynthetik swarm advancing on then . “Phasers are having virtually no effect. We need to switch tactics!”

Callum nodded. “Agreed, Lieutenant. Lieutenant Gratakka, Continue with the phaser fire. Commander Rel, target the densest concentration o’ Xynthetik ships an’ fire a volley o’ quantum torpedoes.”

In concert with the phaser beams the Mjolnir’s torpedoes streaked through space, slamming into the enemy vessels with the force of a meteor shower. For a brief moment, it seemed like the Xynthetik had met their match. However, the ships’ regenerative capabilities were more formidable than anyone could’ve anticipated and they regenerated almost as quickly as when the phasers had been fired alone.

“Captain, I suggest we retreat to draw them away and then deploy the warhead with serial number ending in 67539.” Malcolm said turning from the intelligence station.

“Ah was thinking the same. Prep the warhead.” Callum ordered, “Mister Nerah bring us about, heading one-eight-zero mark zero full impulse. Commander Rel, transfer torpedo control tae Lieutenant Washbourne’s station.”

The Mjolnir pivoted smoothly, the stars outside the viewscreen swirling briefly before coming to a stop as they retreated from Xarion, the Xynthetik fleet in pursuit and their counterparts who were attacking the planet breaking off and joining the ones that were pursuing the Mjolnir. Malcolm’s fingers flew across his console, inputting commands to launch the alpha level weapon.

“Lieutenant Washbourne, fire the warhead when we are eighty thousand kilometers from the planet.”

“Aye, Captain,” Malcolm acknowledged, his gaze focused on the torpedo launch control, “Torpedo armed and ready. Standing by to fire.”

“Aft view on screen.”

The Xynthetik ships grew larger on the viewscreen as they approached, their eerie glow casting a pall over the bridge. Callum’s heart thudded in his chest as the distance countdown ticked away.

“Fifty thousand kilometers, Captain,” Nerah announced.

Callum’s eyes remained fixed on the approaching enemy fleet. The Xynthetik ships grew larger, their alien forms a stark reminder of the daunting challenge they faced.

“Sixty thousand kilometers, Captain.” Nerah reported, his voice tight with tension.

Callum nodded, watching as the enemy fleet grew larger. He knew that the warhead they had prepared was a gamble. It was an isolytic subspace weapon with a tricobalt warhead trigger, a weapon that the second khitomer accord had technically made illegal.

“Seventy thousand kilometers.” Nerah called out, his voice steady despite the palpable tension on the bridge, “Seventy-five… Seventy-eight… Eighty thousand.”

“Fire,” Captain MacLeod ordered calmly.

The torpedo bay doors slid open with a hiss and the warhead shot forth, a silent harbinger of destruction aimed at the very heart of the Xynthetik fleet. On the viewscreen, the enemy ships grew ever closer, their synchronized movements a stark contrast to the solitary streak of the torpedo. The crew held their collective breath as they watched the white light from the torpedo's rudimentary engine arc gracefully through space, closing the gap between them and their adversaries the white light of its impulse sustainer engine streaking through the inky void.

“Direct hit!” Washbourne exclaimed as the viewscreen flared with a brilliant burst of light.

The Xynthetik vessels disintegrated into a cloud of debris from the power of the twenty thousand terra-cochrane explosive force creating a temporary subspace tear that destroyed the ships.

Navesh, eyes wide with shock, exclaimed, “That was a subspace weapon! Those are illegal!”

“Technically they’re just banned.” Callum said splitting the proverbial hairs, “Lieutenant Nerah come aboot an’ take us back tae the planet. Commander Rel, prepare SAR-OP away teams.”

The Mjolnir turned back towards Xarion, its engines singing with power as it sliced through space. Callum knew that in all likelihood this wouldn’t be the last Starfleet heard of the Xynthetik, but for now, the immediate threat was neutralized.

“Entering orbit, Captain.” Nerah announced, his voice calm and collected. The planet loomed large on the viewscreen, its once serene surface now marred by the scars of battle.

“Thank ye, Lieutenant,” Callum said, his gaze never leaving the planet. “Commander Rel, assemble the away teams. Ye’re in charge of the search and rescue efforts on the surface. Find out what we’re dealing with down there and report back as soon as possible.”

Damrus’s eyes met Callum’s, understanding the gravity of the situation. “Aye, Captain. I’ll assemble the teams immediately.”

“Good man,” Callum said, his gaze shifting to his emerald hued fiancee, “Navesh, ye have the bridge. Keep us in a high orbit an’ be ready for anything. Ah’ll be in mah ready room.”

 

[Callum MacLeod]

=/\= Chapter Four =/\=​

Stardate 58272.76 (March 30, 2381 14:35 Federation Standard Starship Time.)
Surface of Xairon IV
Xairon system, Sector 04340

The transporter’s whine grew louder as the team materialized in the center of the colonial capital of New Bangladesh’s main square, once bustling with life but now eerily silent and scarred by the recent battle. The cobblestone streets were cracked and the buildings around them bore the marks of heavy weaponry. The air was thick with the acrid scent of burnt metal and ozone, a stark reminder of the horrors that had unfolded. Damrus took a step forward, his phaser drawn and ready. After a quick look around the desolate square, his gaze fell upon a small group huddled together in the shadows of a damaged building. His heart lurched with hope – survivors. He gestured for his team to follow, his movements deliberate and cautious.

As they approached, the survivors revealed themselves to be a mix of humans and a few alien species, their faces etched with fear and desperation. The leader, a young human woman with a medical tricorder in hand, stepped forward, her eyes darting nervously.

“Thank the stars you’re here,” she gasped. “They’ve started… they’ve started turning us into… into those things.”

Her words sent a cold shiver down Damrus’s spine. Transformation? The Xynthetik’s capabilities had just escalated from terrifying to nightmarish.

He nodded solemnly. “We’ve come to help. Tell us what happened.”

The woman, who introduced herself as Dr. Anika Chaudhry, spoke in hushed tones, her voice trembling. “They landed a few hours ago. At first, we thought they were just another alien race looking to negotiate, but then… they started… We tried to fight back, but…”

Her voice trailed off as she gestured to the destruction around them. "They took over our defenses and started... transforming us. It's... it's like they're assimilating us, but with some twisted organic technology. I've never seen anything like it."

Damrus stepped forward, his expression grim. "We've encountered these creatures before, Dr. Chaudhry. They're called the Xynthetik. We managed to destroy their fleet, but we need to find the source of this conversion technology and put an end to it."

Dr. Chaudhry nodded, her eyes wide with horror. "There's a research facility on the outskirts of the city. That's where they've taken most of the people. If there's any hope of saving them, it's there."

Damrus tapped his combadge. "Captain MacLeod, we've made contact with survivors. They've directed us to a research facility where the Xynthetik are holding and transforming the colonists. We're moving to investigate."

Callum's voice was tight with urgency. "Understood, Commander. Be cautious. We dinnae ken the full extent o' their capabilities. Keep me informed."

Damrus nodded, his gaze never leaving Dr. Chaudhry. "We will, Captain."

He turned to his team. "Let's move out."

The team followed Dr. Chaudhry through the war-torn streets of New Bangladesh, the echoes of their footsteps punctuating the heavy silence. The research facility loomed in the distance, a bastion of science now corrupted by the Xynthetik's insidious purpose. As they approached, the air grew colder, the very atmosphere seeming to whisper of the horrors within.

Damrus tapped his combadge. "Captain MacLeod, we're approaching the research facility. We've encountered no resistance so far, but we're expecting a heavy presence of Xynthetik within."

Callum's response was swift and firm. "Stay alert, Commander. Remember, we need tae find out how they're orchestrating this an' put a stop tae it without causing further harm tae the colonists."

"Aye, Captain," Damrus replied, his eyes narrowing as they reached the research facility's perimeter. The team moved stealthily, their boots whispering against the cracked pavement. The doors to the facility were open, a gaping maw that promised only darkness and horror.

As they ventured inside, the air grew thick with the alien scent of the Xynthetik. The corridors were a maze of twisted metal and organic matter, a testament to the Xynthetik's ability to assimilate and repurpose their surroundings.

"Commander, I'm picking up a large biological signature at the heart of the facility," Washbourne reported, his eyes glued to his tricorder.

"Aye," Damrus responded, his hand hovering over his phaser. "It's likely their command center."

The team moved cautiously through the corridors, the walls pulsing with an eerie bioluminescence. The Xynthetik's presence grew stronger, the air thick with the alien scent that seemed to cling to every surface. Around a corner, they found themselves face to face with the source of the disturbance: a queen-like creature, a monstrous insectoid that loomed over a chamber filled with the cocooned forms of the assimilated colonists.

Backing down the corridor and around the corner Damrus tapped his combadge. "

"Captain, we've found the Xynthetik command center. There's a... a queen-like creature. It's massive, and the colonists are... they're cocooned around it. That seems to be how they're being transformed." His voice was tight with tension, and the words felt like boulders in his throat.

Callum's response was immediate. "Understood, Commander. Proceed with extreme caution. We need to neutralize it without setting off a chain reaction. We can't risk the entire planet falling to them."

After tapping his combadge to close the channel Damrus led the team into the chamber, phasers at the ready. The Xynthetik queen hissed, its mechanical eyes flickering with an eerie light as it took in the new threats. The cocooned colonists twitched and writhed, their anguished cries a testament to the horror of their condition.

"Spread out," Damrus murmured, his gaze fixed on the monstrous creature. "We need to keep our eyes open for any surprises."

The team fanned out, their footsteps muffled by the organic undergrowth that had overtaken the floor. The Xynthetik queen’s eyes scanned the intruders, a low, grinding noise emanating from its chitinous exoskeleton. Suddenly, the air was filled with a piercing, modulating shriek that seemed to resonate in their very bones. The cocooned forms around the chamber began to spasm, the organic pods splintering open to reveal the nightmarish insectoid drones within. They thrashed and wriggled free, their eyes glowing with the same cold light as their queen’s. The drones swarmed towards the away team, their movements jerky and erratic but eerily coordinated. The team opened fire, phaser beams searing through the air. The drones’ exoskeletons crackled and popped as they were struck, but they kept coming, driven by a relentless instinct to protect the hive.

Washbourne’s eyes widened in horror as he took in the scene. “The colonists…”

“They’re not the colonists anymore.” Damrus said as he fired his phaser at a nearby drone whose face was still partially human.

The queen’s shriek grew louder, a symphony of fear and aggression that resonated through the chamber. The drones’ movements grew more coordinated, closing in on the away team with unnerving speed.

“Fall back!” Damrus shouted, “We need to regroup and find a way tae take out the queen!”

The team retreated, firing over their shoulders as the drones pursued. The corridor outside was a labyrinth of organic growth and mechanical twists, making their escape a chaotic dance of precision and speed. They regrouped in a larger chamber, the walls pulsing with the same bioluminescence that had lit their path since entering the facility.

“We need to find a way to take out the queen,” Washbourne said, panting slightly, “If we can destroy it, we might be able to reverse the transformation process.”

Damrus nodded, “Agreed. But we need to be careful. These creatures aren’t just drones; they’re our people. Or at least they were.”

They moved through the corridors, the echoes of their footsteps mingling with the distant buzz of the pursuing drones. The team’s phasers glowed with a blue light, leaving a trail of scorched metal and organic matter in their wake. Each corner they turned brought them closer to the exit, but the swarm grew ever denser. The walls themselves seemed alive with the alien presence, the bioluminescence pulsing in time with the Xynthetik’s relentless pursuit.

“They’re gaining on us!” Dr. Chaudhry yelled over the din of battle.

Damrus’s eyes narrowed as he took stock of their situation. The drones were indeed closing in, their movements more coordinated with each pulse of the queen’s shriek. The corridor grew narrower, forcing the team to move in a tight formation.

“We’re almost at the exit,” Dr. Chaudhry called out, her voice strained with fear and effort.

“Keep moving!” Damrus bellowed, his phaser fire cutting a swath through the drones that had begun to flank them.

The team sprinted down the narrowing corridor, the drones’ chittering cries growing louder with each step. The walls were now a writhing mass of insectoid flesh, the very essence of the Xynthetik hive closing in around them. The bioluminescence grew more intense, casting long shadows that danced and twisted with each pulse of the queen’s shrieks. Ahead, the exit grew larger, the promise of freedom beckoning. But the drones were relentless, their numbers seemingly endless. Damrus could see the fear in his team's eyes, mirroring his own. They had to make it out, not just for themselves but for the colony, for the entire Federation. The thought of failing was unbearable.

They reached the final stretch, the drones now mere meters behind them. The team’s phaser fire grew more desperate, their movements frantic as the creatures’ cold, mechanical limbs reached out to snatch them. Damrus could feel the heat of their breath on his neck, their alien stench filling his nostrils.

“The exit’s just ahead!” Washbourne shouted, his eyes never leaving his tricorder’s readings.

The team’s pace quickened, the sound of their boots echoing through the corridor. The drones’ chorus grew louder, their metallic limbs scraping against the walls in a symphony of pursuit.

“Keep moving!” Damrus bellowed, his phaser’s beam cutting through another group of transformed colonists.

The away team burst into the open air, the brightness of Xarion’s sun momentarily blinding them after the dark, pulsing corridors of the Xynthetik hive. The drones spilled out behind them, their cries echoing through the desolate streets of New Bangladesh. The once-bustling colony now lay in ruins, a silent testament to the horror they had just witnessed.

“We can’t outrun them,” Dr. Chaudhry panted, her eyes scanning the area for cover.

“We won’t need to.” Malcolm said, “They’re not following us.”

The team took a moment to catch their breath, the clamor of the drones fading into the distance. The square was eerily quiet, the only sound the distant wail of the queen. Damrus’s gaze swept over the devastated city, his jaw tightening.

“We need to get to the hospital.” Dr. Chaudhry said, her voice firm despite the fear in her eyes. “That’s where the survivors have gathered. It’s our best chance to organize a counter-attack.”

Damrus nodded, his mind racing. “Aye, we’ll regroup there. Lieutenant Washbourne, advise all SAR-OP teams to rendezvous at the hospital.”

Washbourne acknowledged with a nod and tapped his combadge, relaying the order. The team followed Dr. Chaudhry through the ruined streets, the sound of the Xynthetik drones slowly fading. The hospital, a towering structure of steel and glass, stood as a beacon of hope amidst the destruction. As they approached, Damrus noticed makeshift barricades and armed colonists standing guard, their expressions a mix of relief and determination.

Upon entering the hospital, the team was met with a scene of organized chaos. The air was thick with the smells of antiseptic and fear, the walls echoed with the cries of the injured and the beeping of medical equipment. Survivors lay on beds and makeshift cots, their faces a tableau of pain and hope. Dr. Chaudhry moved quickly, directing the team to the medical bay where they could regroup and assess their next move.

Damrus tapped his combadge once again. “Mjolnir, this is Commander Rel.”

“Go ahead, Commander,” Callum’s voice responded, a hint of concern in his tone.

“We’ve secured the hospital. The Xynthetik are not pursuing us for the moment. For now they seem to be focusing on transforming the colonists they have captured into some kind of insectoid drones.” Damrus’s voice was grim as he relayed their findings to Captain MacLeod.

Callum’s voice was tense over the comm. “Understood, Commander. The phasers an’ torpedoes did little tae stop their regeneration so an orbital strike would be pointless an’ orbital bombardment with an alpha level weapon would dae more harm than good.”

Damrus nodded, his mind racing. “Agreed, Captain.”

Callum’s voice grew solemn. “We need tae find another way. The Xynthetik are unlike anything we’ve faced. Their regenerative abilities an’ assimilation tactics are beyond our current capabilities tae combat effectively. We need tae understand their technology better.”

Damrus nodded, “In other words we need to capture one of those drones intact for study.”

“Aye,” Captain MacLeod’s voice was firm, “We need tae know what we’re up against. If we can dissect their tech, we might find a weakness.”

Damrus’s gaze swept over the makeshift hospital ward, filled with the cries of the injured and the whir of medical equipment. “We’ll do what we can from here.”

“Understood, Commander.” Callum’s disembodied voice said coming from Damrus’ combadge, “Start working on a plan, but stay put for now. Ahm gonna get a hold o’ Command an’ see what they have tae say aboot all this. Mjolnir oot.”

As his combadge quietly click to signal that the comm-link was closed Damrus took a deep breath and turned to face his team. “Alright, we need to think fast and act decisively. We can’t let those poor souls become a part of that… that abomination.”

 

[Callum MacLeod]

=/\= Chapter Five =/\=​

Stardate 58242.85 (March 30 2381 15.24 Federation Standard Starship Time.)
USS Mjolnir
In orbit of Xairon IV, Sector 04340

Once the comm-link clicked closed Callum turned the Mark VII center seat to face Navesh at the Ops station and said, “Ah’ll be in mah ready room, Commander. Get the Sector CO on the line an put them through tae the ready room."

“Aye, Captain.” Navesh said as she began to work the console.

Standing up Callum strode across the bridge and into the ready room, the weight of his decision pressing heavily upon him. The isolytic subspace warhead had been a last resort, but it had been the only option that presented itself in time to save the Xarion colony. Now, as the dust settled and the true horror of what was occurring on the planet’s surface became clear, he knew they had to act swiftly and decisively As he walked over to the replicator.

“Lime pick-a-pop,” he said firmly, the words cutting through the quiet hum of the ship’s systems.

The replicator beeped in response, and a moment later, a clear bottle of green liquid materialized on the plate with a faint shimmer. Callum picked it up, the condensation cool against his hand. He twisted the cap and took a long sip, savoring the taste of the green liquid before he turned and walked over to the desk. Sitting down heavily in the chair, he leaned back and took a deep breath, his eyes closed.

Just as he opened his eyes, his combadge chirped insistently. He tapped it with a sigh, “MacLeod here.”

Navesh’s voice was tense. “Captain, the Sector CO is ready for you on subspace frequency four-seven-alpha.”

Callum nodded, steeling himself for the call that could potentially change the course of the mission.

“Put it through, Commander,” he said, his voice steady despite the turmoil of his thoughts.

As if on queue the desktop monitor rose up out of its slot on the desktop and and locked into place. The viewscreen sprang to life with the Sector CO’s emblem, a silver delta superimposed over a swirling nebula, before being replaced with Admiral Ruah Brackett.

“Admiral,” Callum said, his gaze unwavering.

Admiral Brackett’s face was a mask of professionalism, but the lines around her eyes and the tension in her jaw betrayed her concern. “Captain MacLeod, what’s the situation on Xarion?”

“Admiral, we’ve encountered a highly aggressive and adaptive enemy species, the Xynthetik. They’re transforming the colonists, turning them into insectoid drones.”

Admiral Brackett’s eyes widened, her grip on her data pad tightening. “Transforming them? How is that possible?”

Callum took a moment to gather his thoughts, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on him. “We’re nae entirely sure, ma’am. We’ve nae seen anything like it before its as far beyond how the Borg assimilate people as genetic resequencing is beyond stitching an incision closed. They seem tae have some form o’ biotech that rebuilds organic beings into these insectoid… things.”

Admiral Brackett nodded, her expression grim. “What’s the current status of the colony?”

Callum paused, the gravity of his words heavy in the air. “The Xynthetik have established a significant presence on the surface. We’ve destroyed their fleet, but the ground situation is dire. They’ve taken over a research facility and are using it as a conversion hub. The survivors and mah people are hold up in the central hospital for the moment.”

The admiral leaned forward, “Have you managed to capture one of these drones for study?”

Callum took another sip of his lime pick-a-pop before responding. “Not yet, but it’s a priority. The Xynthetik are unlike anything Starfleet has faced. If we dinnae find a way tae stop them here, we risk them spreadin’ to other worlds.”

“Right now the closest ship is the Border Service cutter Conchita. I’ll cut orders to have Admiral Bateson dispatch her to join you. In the mean time I’ll see what other ships I can get out there.”

Callum nodded. “Thank you, ma’am.”

“I don’t suppose that I have to tell you the urgency of keeping this situation contained until we can solve the problem, Captain.” Admiral Brackett said, her eyes sharp. “This could easily become a full-blown interstellar crisis if we don’t get ahead of it.”

“Ye dinnae, Ma’am.” Captain MacLeod said gravely, “But ah dae have tae tell ye that the only way we were able tae destroy the Xynthetik ships was by deploying an alpha level weapon.”

“What weapon in specific?” Brackett queried.

“Our Isolytic warhead.”

“That’s a violation o’ the second khitomer accords.” Brackett said, “But we’ll worry about that and any potential fallout later.”

Callum nodded, his gaze never leaving hers. “Understood, ma’am. At the time, it was the only viable option we had tae save the colony.”

Admiral Brackett leaned back in her chair, her eyes reflecting the weight of his words. “I understand, Captain. The second Khitomer Accords are in place for good reason, but sometimes we must choose the lesser of two evils. That’s why Starfleet issues alpha level weapons.”

The silence grew taut as they both considered the consequences of his actions. “Now,” she continued, “we need to focus on the immediate threat. Your priority is the Xynthetik.”

Callum nodded solemnly. “Aye, ma’am.” He knew that the fate of not just Xarion, but potentially the entire sector, rested on their ability to stop the Xynthetik before they could spread further.

On the surface, the Xynthetik queen, an abomination of flesh and metal, had begun to broadcast a psychic beacon, a siren’s call to the depths of space. It resonated through the fabric of Xarion’s atmosphere, a signal that pierced the void and reached out to the stars. The team at the hospital, having secured a temporary haven, could feel the ground tremble beneath their boots as the Xynthetik hive grew stronger, the very air seeming to vibrate with a sinister purpose. The once-peaceful colony now hummed with an eerie anticipation, the air thick with dread.

 

[Callum MacLeod]

=/\= Chapter Six =/\=​

Stardate 58242.82 (March 30, 2381 15:39 Federation Standard Starship Time.)
Surface of Xairon IV
Xairon system, Sector 04340

On the surface Damrus, Gratakka, Malcolm, and Chief Petty Officer Reese, had set up a makeshift command center in the hospital's administrative office. The room was cluttered with medical supplies and overturned furniture, but it served their purposes. A large tactical display on a monitor on one wall, showing the city's layout with the research facility marked in a pulsing red. The hospital's location was shown in blue, a stark contrast to the chaos outside.

"We need to capture one of those drones intact." Damrus said, turning to Reese. "Do you have any ideas how we might manage that, Chief?"

Reese, a veteran of the Dominion War's Siege of AR-558, took a moment to consider the tactical challenge before speaking up. "We'll need to move quickly. In all likelihood it will be about as easy to take one of them alive as it would be to take a Jem'Hadar prisoner."

Malcolm spoke up, 'We'll probably have to settle for sensor scans of live drones and a dead one to dissect."

"Thoughts, Lieutenant?" Damrus said looking at Gratakka.

The Nausicaan's jaw tightened as he studied the tactical display, the scans of the Xynthetik drones' movements and the layout of the research facility playing through his mind. "We need to create a diversion," he finally said, his deep voice cutting through the tension. "Draw the drones out of the facility so we can isolate one of them. Perhaps a strike team could create enough of a disturbance that the queen would send them out of the facility after them.”

“Its risky, but I don’t think there’s another way.” Damrus said, “It took an alpha level weapon to defeat them in orbit. Needless to say we need to find weakness we can exploit. We can’t keep using alpha weapons to beat them.”

“We should set our tricorders to scan whether they are open or not an continually transmit the data to the ship.” Reese added, “That way even if we don’t capture one at least we got something.”

Damrus nodded, “Good point. Lieutenant Gratakka, assemble a tactical strike team. I'll inform the Captain of plan. Lieutenant Washbourne, talk to Doctor Chaudhry about getting a few medical tricorders for the team."

"Aye, sir," Gratakka and Malcolm responded in unison, their expressions a mix of determination and trepidation.

Looking at Reese the mountainous Nausiacan said, "You're with me, Chief."
Reese nodded, “Aye, Sir.”

The team moved out, the hospital’s doors hissing shut behind them. The plan was simple but fraught with danger. They had to get in, grab a drone, and get out without alerting the queen or the bulk of her drones.

Lieutenant Washbourne led the way, his tricorder scanning the area for any signs of life. The Xynthetik research facility loomed before them, a twisted amalgam of metal and organic tissue that seemed to pulse with malevolent intent. On Damrus’ hip was a sonic disruptor, a brainchild of Dr. Chaudhry’s desperation. It was untested against the Xynthetik, but it was the best shot they had at incapacitating the drones without killing them.

The team approached the facility's”entrance, their boots silent on the organic flooring that squelched with every step. Malcolm held the medical tricorders, ready to transmit their findings to the Mjolnir.

“We’re in position, Captain,” Damrus reported through his combadge.

“Understood, Commander. Proceed with caution.”

With Captain MacLeod’s approval, Damrus gave the nod. The team moved swiftly, using the shadows cast by the alien structures to their advantage. The Xynthetik drones patrolled in patterns, their movements eerily synchronized. Slowly opening the main door to the facility, they slipped inside, their eyes quickly adjusting to the dim, pulsing light that suffused the space. The walls quivered with a faint vibration, the heartbeat of the hive. The corridors stretched before them, a labyrinth of organic tunnels and mechanical supports. The air was thick with the scent of ozone and the faint tang of something metallic, almost like blood. The team spread out, their eyes peeled for any signs of movement. Gratakka took point, his phaser at the ready. Malcolm and Reese flanked him, their eyes darting from side to side as they scanned the corridor ahead.

The first drone they encountered was a surprise. It rounded a corner, moving with unnatural speed. Its body was a twisted mass of metal and flesh, Damrus took the shot, the sonic disruptor emitting a low hum that grew into a piercing screech. The drone stumbled, its movements erratic before collapsing to the ground, unconscious but alive. Malcolm and Reese rushed forward, securing the creature with restraints that were a mix of Starfleet tech and the hospital’s medical gear. Deep within the facility the Xynthetik queen had sensed their presence. Her telepathic shriek echoed through the facility, sending the drones into a frenzy. They emerged from the shadows, a swarm of nightmarish creatures. Their movements were swift and erratic, making it difficult for the team to keep their bearings. The Xynthetik had a singular focus: to capture the interlopers.

The team retreated, making their w”y through the twisting corridors. The drones pursued them with a relentlessness that sent a chill down Damrus’ spine. Their once silent footsteps now echoed through the facility as the drones’ shrieks grew closer. They had to move quickly. The sonic disruptor had bought them time but it was clear it wasn’t a permanent solution. The Xynthetik’s adaptive abilities were already showing as some of the drones began to resist the device’s effects.

“We’re almost out.” Washbourne panted as they neared the exit.

The drones’ pursuit grew more intense, their shrieks a cacophony in the tight corridors. The team could feel their presence, closing in. Suddenly, a drone broke through a nearby wall, showering them with debris.

“Fall back to the hospital, now!” Damrus barked into his combadge as he fired the sonic disruptor.

The drone staggered but didn’t fall. The team sprinted towards the exit with their captive slung over Gratakka’s shoulders like a sack of Andorian tuber roots. The drone’s movements unpredictable and alarmingly fast.

The corridor grew wider and brighter as they neared the entrance. The light from outside beckoned like a beacon of hope in the alien darkness. Damrus glanced over his shoulder, his pulse racing. “They’re gaining on us!”

“Keep moving!” Gratakka bellowed, his powerful legs propelling them forward. The drone in his arms twitched and struggled, its mechanical limbs clanking against his armor.

The sound of the drones grew deafening as they neared the exit, the ground trembling with their approach. Reese took out her phaser, firing a volley into the oncoming swarm, buying them precious seconds.

“Almost there,” Damrus responded through gritted teeth, his eyes locked on the light at the end of the corridor.

Bursting out of the facility the away team ran as fast as their legs could carry them. The Xynthetik drones were hot on their heels, their shrieks piercing the air like a thousand nails on a chalkboard. The hospital doors loomed ahead, a symbol of hope and salvation. Gratakka’s breath was heavy with exertion as he carried the captive drone, its limbs thrashing against his arms. As the away team passed a statue with drones in close pursuit phaser beams lanced out from hidden positions again and again. The rest of the drones broke their pursuit, retreating back to their queen as if an invisible leash had snapped tight.

The hospital doors hissed open and the team stumbled inside, the cool sanctuary a stark contrast to the horror outside. They made their way to the medical bay where Dr. Chaudhry and a team of medical officers were waiting, their faces a mix of shock and determination. Damrus handed the struggling drone over to Chaudhry.

“This is your priority now, Doctor,” he said, his voice tight. “We need to defeat them and counteract their regenerative abilities, ‘cause as bad as they are their ships are a hundred times harder to beat.”

Dr. Chaudhry nodded, her eyes alight with the challenge. “I’ll do my best, Commander.” She took the drone and her team whisked it away to the medical bay, their movements swift and precise.

Damrus turned to Reese, his gaze intense. “We can’t risk that getting loose in here. If it gets out of hand, do what you have to, Chief.”

Reese’s eyes met Damrus’s, and for a moment, the unspoken understanding of what that entailed passed between them. He nodded once, the same grim determination etched on his face that had seen him through the horrors of the Siege of AR-558 during the Dominion War. His PTSD was something he’d learned to manage over the years, but the cold, calculating look in his eyes revealed that the memories of that brutal conflict were never truly buried.

“Aye, sir.” Reese acknowledged, his hand resting on his phaser before he headed off to catch up with Chaudhry and her team.

 

[Callum MacLeod]

=/\= Chapter Seven =/\=
​

Stardate 582423.32 (March 30, 2381 19:30 Federation Standard Starship Time.)
USS Mjolnir in orbit of Xairon IV
Xairon system, Sector 04340

As he sat in his ready room desk Callum’s combadge chirped signaling that someone was attempting to reach him. Figuring there was only one way to find out who it was he tapped the combadge to open the comm-link.

“MacLeod. Go ahead”

Damrus’s voice was strained. “Captain, we have a live drone in our custody. Dr. Chaudhry is analyzing it now, but we had to fight our way out of the research facility.”

Callum’s eyes narrowed. “Good work, Commander. Keep the drone secured an’ provide any support Dr. Chaudhry needs. “Ah’ve briefed Command aboot the situation; we’re expecting reinforcements in the form o’ the Border Service cutter Conchita.”

“Understood, Captain,” Damrus said, his voice echoing the urgency of their situation. “We’ll do our best to find a way to stop the Xynthetik.”

 

[Callum MacLeod]

=/\= Chapter Eight =/\=
​

Stardate 582423.32 (March 30, 2381 19:30 Federation Standard Starship Time.)
Surface of Xairon IV
Xairon system, Sector 04340

The medical bay was a whirlwind of activity as Dr. Chaudhry and her team worked tirelessly on the captured drone. The creature’s exoskeleton was a tapestry of insectoid tissue, pulsing with an eerie blue light that reflected off the gleaming instruments surrounding it. Chief Reese stood by the doctor’s side, his gaze flickering between the drone and his tricorder readouts, his mind racing with the implications of what they were witnessing.

As the doctor’s laser scalpel sliced through the creature’s thorax, revealing the inner workings of its alien anatomy, she paused, her brow furrowed in concentration.

“This isn’t natural,” she murmured, her voice carrying an undercurrent of horror.

The drone’s body was a macabre puzzle of organic tissue. Dr. Chaudhry’s skilled hands moved with precision as she dissected the creature, her eyes narrowed in concentration. The once human features of the drone had been entirely eradicated, replaced with the cold, unfeeling shell of the Xynthetik.

“It’s… unbelievable,” Chaudhry murmured, her voice tight with revulsion. She paused in her work, looking over at Reese. “There’s no sign of the original DNA patterns anymore. Even the basic internal anatomy’s been changed.”

Reese swallowed hard, his eyes never leaving the form on the table. “They’re… they’re completely gone?”

“If I didn’t know better I would have no clue that this body had EVER been anything but an insectoid.”

Dr. Chaudhry’s words hung in the air of the hospital’s medical bay like a dark cloud, a testament to the horror that lay before them. The Xynthetik drone on the table was a grotesque amalgamation of flesh, a twisted mockery of the human form it had once been. As she peeled back layers of the creature’s exoskeleton, she revealed a nightmare of biomechanical intricacies that defied understanding.

“Is there any chance that its original consciousness is in there somewhere?” Reese asked, his voice tinged with hope.

Chaudhry shook her head, her eyes never leaving the alien organism before her. “The brain structure is so radically altered, it’s as if they were never human to begin with. The odds of it being in there, even in some limited form, is less likely than a snowball’s chance in a supernova.”

Reese nodded solemnly, the gravity of the revelation sinking in. They had not just been fighting an enemy, but an extinction-level event for any lifeform that the Xynthetik set their sights on.

“Have you found anything that we could exploit, doctor?” Reese asked.

“Yes. Their DNA is too perfect. There is no way that they're naturally evolved.” Dr. Chaudhry spoke as if she had seen a ghost, her voice barely above a whisper.

The room grew quiet as the implications sank in. Reese’s gaze was glued to the drone, his thoughts racing. “How does that help us?”

“We can make a weapon that targets the binding sites of the chromosomes and literally turn their own DNA against them.” Dr. Chaudhry said with a spark of hope.

“I’ll report this to Commander Rel. Keep digging.” Reese said, his voice firm despite the horror before him. He knew that understanding the enemy was the key to victory.

 

[Callum MacLeod]

=/\= Chapter Nine =/\=
​

Stardate 582425.37 (March 31, 2381 13:30 Federation Standard Starship Time.)
USS Mjolnir in orbit of Xairon IV
Xairon system, Sector 04340

“Are ye sure this’ll work, Doctor.” Callum asked as the senior staff sat in the Mjolnir’s conference room having just been briefed by Melina.

“We need to move quickly, Captain,” Melina urged. “Every moment we waste is another moment they have to assimilate more colonists.”

Callum nodded, his hand rubbing his chin as he contemplated the information. “Aye, we can’t risk waiting around for the Conchita to arrive. How long dae ye need tae weaponize your discovery.”

“We’ve already started creating an airborne agent that won’t harm anyone but the Xynthetik. It should be ready to deploy in four hours,” Melina responded, her eyes filled with determination.

Callum nodded gravely. “Good work, Doctor.”

Turning to his tactical officer, he said, “Lieutenant Gratakka, Ah want ye to coordinate with Lieutenant Washbourne an’ Commander Tymoshenko tae prepare a back up plan tae evacuate the remaining colonists an’ ensure that the Xynthetik dinnae establish a foothold even if that means we invoke general order twenty-four.”

The he mention of the controversial directive, which called for the destruction of a planet to prevent its technology from falling into enemy hands drew a collective inhale from the room. It was a last resort, but the gravity of their situation was all too real.

“Are you sure about that, sir. No one’s invoked general order twenty-four since Garth of Izar tried to" Reyna said, her voice tight with concern.

“Aye, I am. If the Xynthetik can’t be stopped, then we’ll have tae consider it. But let’s focus on the task at hand.” Callum’s jaw was set in a firm line, his eyes reflecting the weight of his words.

“Keep me informed.”

“Yes, sir.” Melina replied.

“Does anyone have any other questions.” Callum asked looking around the room.
When no one spoke up Callum continued on saying, “In that case ye can all consider yourselves dismissed. Commander Rel, please assume command o’ the bridge.”

“Aye, sir.” Damrus replied as he prepared to push back the seat he was sitting in and stood up.

“Keep me updated on the drone and the weapon’s progress. We need tae be ready tae deploy it as soon as possible.” He looked around the room, his gaze firm and determined.

The officers nodded, their expressions a mix of fear and resolve. As they left the conference room, Captain MacLeod couldn’t help but feel the weight of his decision. He knew that the use of such a weapon was a line not easily uncrossed, but the fate of the Xarion colony and possibly the Federation itself was at stake.

Moments later, the Conchita’s sleek form appeared on the Mjolnir’s viewscreen, gliding into orbit alongside them. Captain MacLeod’s combadge chirped, and he tapped it.

“MacLeod here,” he said, his voice calm despite the racing thoughts in his mind as he sat in the conference room looking out the viewport at the planet.

“Sir, the Conchita has entered orbit and is standing by,” Damrus reported.

“Good, invite Captain Valdez tae beam o’er so ah can bring him up tae speed. We need tae coordinate our efforts.” Callum knew that the arrival of the Conchita could be the turning point in the battle for Xarion.

A few moments later, the transporter hummed to life, and Captain Juan Valdez materialized in the Mjolnir’s transporter room. Damrus, who had been waiting, stepped forward to greet the newcomer.

“Welcome to the USS Mjolnir, Captain Valdez. I’m Commander Rel, the Mjolnir’s first officer. Captain MacLeod is expecting you.”

Valdez, a seasoned Starfleet veteran with a distinguished record, nodded curtly, “Thank you, Commander. Lead the way.”

The two men walked swiftly down the corridor to the conference room, their footsteps echoing in the tense silence. As they entered, Captain MacLeod looked up from the padd in front of him, his eyes meeting Valdez’s with a steely resolve.

“Captain Valdez,” Damrus said introducing the new comer, “Captain MacLeod.”

“Thank you for joining us, Captain.” Callum stood up from his chair and offered a firm handshake, his Scottish burr a comforting constant in the tense room. Looking at Damrus he said, “Ye are dismissed Commander. Please take command o’ the bridge.”

“Aye, sir.” Damrus acknowledged with a nod before turning on his heel and exiting the conference room.

Once the door whooshed closed behind Damrus Callum sooke up as he gestured for Valdez to take a seat, “We’re in a wee bit o’ a pickle here. The Xynthetik have transformed most o’ the colonists. Their drones are highly resistant tae our weapons an’ their ships are damn near immune tae anything less than alpha level weapons.”

Valdez’s gaze was sharp. “I’ve read the reports. Your tactics are… unorthodox.”

“By necessity, Captain.” MacLeod replied, his gaze unwavering. “Our mission is tae protect an’ preserve life, but we cannae allow these creatures tae establish a foothold in or near Federation space.”

The tension in the room grew palpable as MacLeod outlined Dr. Chaudhry’s discovery and the proposed weapon to counter the Xynthetik threat. Valdez’s brows furrowed as he absorbed the information.

“A DNA-targeting agent? That’s… highly unconventional,” Valdez said, his voice measured. “What are the risks to non-Xynthetik lifeforms?”

MacLeod leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Valdez’s. “Accordin’ tae Doctor. Chaudhry an’ mah CMO, it’s safe for everyone else. The enzyme we’re targetin’ is unique tae them.”

Valdez leaned forward, his elbows on the table. “And what if there’s an unforeseen consequence? What if we miss a vital detail, an’ end up harming the very people we’re here to protect?”

MacLeod’s jaw tightened. “We’ve weighed the risks, Captain. The alternative is tae let the Xynthetik assimilate the entire colony an’ risk them spreadin’.”

Valdez’s gaze was unyielding. “I’m aware of the stakes, but we can’t ignore the ethical considerations.”

MacLeod nodded solemnly. “Ah understand your concerns, Captain, but the alternative is tae watch an entire planet fall tae the Xynthetik an’ risk them spreading oot from here. Its like the Vulcans say ‘the needs of the many out weigh the needs of the few’.”

Valdez’s expression was unreadable. “It’s not just about the needs of the many, Captain. It’s about the principles we stand for. The Federation Charter is clear about the sanctity of life and the pursuit of peaceful coexistence.”

“Ahm nae proposin’ we throw that oot the window, Captain,” MacLeod replied, his voice rising slightly. “But sometimes, the right choice isnae clear-cut. Sometimes we have tae make decisions that we dinnae like, tae ensure the greater good. Sometimes we have tae choose the lesser o’ two evils.”

Valdez took a deep breath, his eyes lingering on the padd that contained the grim details of their potential weapon. After a moment of contemplation, he nodded slowly, “Very well, Captain. What do you need from the Conchita?”

 

[Callum MacLeod]

=/\= Chapter Ten =/\=
​

Stardate 582425.69 (March 31, 2381 16:15 Federation Standard Starship Time.)
Surface of Xairon IV
Xairon system, Sector 04340

The Xynthetik queen fumed at the audacity of the colonists. They were an inferior form of life, and yet they dared to stand against her and her perfected children. Her telepathic commands reverberated through the collective hivemind, sending her drones into a frenzy. Her rage resonated through the collective hivemind, and in response, she mobilized her forces. The drones surged forth from their underground hives, their shrieks echoing through the city as they swarmed towards the their new target, the colony’s hospital where the SAR-OP teams from the Mjolnir, along with remnants of the colonial defense force, provided security. The hospital, once a bastion of healing and hope, now served as a makeshift fortress.

The colonists had barricaded the entrances and windows with whatever they could find, turning the place into a grim bastion against the relentless tide of Xynthetik. The drones approached with a methodical precision that spoke of an intelligence beyond mere instinct. They had learned from the previous engagements and were adapting to the tactics of their foes.

In the brief respite between bursts of drone assaults, Lieutenant Gratakka reported to Captain MacLeod. “The perimeter’s holding, but the drones are becoming more coordinated. If we don’t find a way to stop them soon, we won’t be able to hold out much longer.”

MacLeod nodded gravely. “We’re workin’ on it, Lieutenant. We’ll be ready to deploy the weapon within fifteen minutes. Commander Gorsach is finishing up the deployment mechanism as we speak.”

“Understood, Captain,” Gratakka said, his voice tight with urgency.

“Keep the defenses strong,” MacLeod ordered. “We cannae afford tae lose the hospital. It’s our last stand.”

“Aye, Captain.” Gratakka acknowledged, his gaze flicking to the chronometer on the wall, counting down the minutes until the weapon was ready.

The Mjolnir emerged from the cloud cover like avenging angels, its hull gleaming in the light of Xarion’s setting sun. The two starship streaked towards the hospital, phasers blazing. The Xynthetik drones paused in their relentless assault, their compoind eyes focusing on the new threat from the sky. The ship’s phasers stitched a pattern of destruction across the ground, tearing through the ranks of the enemy and leaving a trail of smoking debris in their wake.

On the bridge of the Mjolnir, Callum’s eyes never left the viewscreen as the ships executed a daring strafing run. The Xynthetik forces scurried like ants from a disturbed anthill, their movements erratic as they tried to reorient themselves to face the new danger.

“Now!” MacLeod barked into the comm.

The Conchita’s swooped out from the clouds above the Research facility housing the Xynthetik hive and queen firing its phasers into the heart of the enemy swarm defending the building before targeting the structure itself. The dull thuds of explosions resonated through the city, sending a plume of smoke and dust billowing into the sky.

At the hospital, the defenders watched in amazement as one of the three identical devices materialized before them. The moment the device appeared, it sprang into action, emitting a dense purple smoke that began to spread rapidly through the surrounding area. The Xynthetik drones, caught off guard, reeled back as the smoke enveloped them, their shrieks of confusion and pain piercing the night air. The colonists and Starfleet officers exchanged hopeful glances; perhaps this was the turning point they had been desperately awaiting.

Simultaneously, another device manifested in the ruins outside the research facility, sending plumes of purple smoke spiraling into the sky. The Xynthetik forces guarding the structure paused, their movements stuttering as the alien substance reached them. They staggered, their once-precise coordination faltering as the smoke clung to their forms like a malevolent fog as it attacked their DNA itself.

The third device appeared within the bowels of the bunker, deep beneath the rubble. The queen’s chamber was a hive of activity, her drones tending to her and her eggs. The purple haze grew denser, suffocating the air with the scent of something not of this world. The queen’s antennae twitched in agitation as the smoke infiltrated her sanctum and began its work. Her drones, once obedient and unflinching, writhed in pain, their bodies contorting as the regenerative abilities turned against them causing them to inflate like balloons as their cells reproduced at an exponential rate randomly mutating as their exoskeletons started cracking and breaking while they swelled monstrously before collapsing into lifeless heaps of twisted flesh.

Tapping his combadge as he watched the Xynthetik from the roof of the hospital Gratakka said, “Gratakka to the Mjolnir. Its working, Captain. The Xynthetik are… dying. Their bodies are swelling up like overripe fruit, their exoskeletons cracking and splitting.”

“Good work, Lieutenant,” MacLeod’s voice came over the comm as the two ships climbed through the atmosphere heading for space, “Keep me informed.”

The Xynthetik queen’s chamber grew hot with panic as the purple mist of the DNA-targeting agent approached. The chamber’s walls split open, revealing the sleek form of a Xynthetik attack ship. It was an emergency escape vessel, designed to be swift and stealthy. The queen’s mind raced, calculating her chances of survival. The purple mist of the DNA-targeting agent reached the chamber’s entrance, the first tendrils curling around the edges. She knew she had only moments before it would engulf her and the precious cargo she protected. The queen’s thoughts were a cacophony of rage and fear, but she remained focused on survival. With a hiss, she released herself from the elaborate command structure of her chamber her body elongating and contorting into the form of a drone. Her drones, now in their final throes of pain, had become useless to her. She darted towards the ship, her movements swift and precise despite the chaos as the ship’s launching spike burst through the surface, a silent sentinel of her escape.

From the hospital roof, Gratakka’s eyes widened as he watched the vessel ascend. Bellowing into his combadge he shouted, “Incoming!”

On the Mjolnir’s bridge, the warning was heard loud and clear. MacLeod’s eyes snapped to the viewscreen where the escape pod shot towards the sky.

“Intercept that ship!” he ordered, his voice a thunderclap of command.

The Mjolnir and the Conchita pivoted in unison, their phasers firing in a crosshatch pattern that sliced through the airless void like a knife through fabric. But the Xynthetik vessel was too fast, too nimble, weaving and darting with an erratic grace that allowed it to slip through the barrage of energy bolts.

“Damn it,” MacLeod muttered under his breath, his hand tightening around the armrest of his chair. He watched as the enemy ship grew smaller on the viewscreen, a mere blip that grew fainter by the second. “Keep firing, we cannae let it get away!”

The phasers blazed, their beams streaking through space, but the Xynthetik vessel danced through the barrage like a leaf on the wind. It was as if the creature piloting the ship had an intimate understanding of space itself, an uncanny ability to anticipate their movements. The ship grew smaller still, and then, with a suddenness that took MacLeod’s breath away, it aimed itself towards the uncharted depths of the beta quadrant and disappeared in a flash of light. The captain’s eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched. That hadn’t been a random escape; It had been a calculated retreat. The Xynthetik had a destination, and it wasn’t a good sign for the galaxy.

The bridge grew silent as the realization set in. They had won the battle, but at what cost? The planet below was in ruins, and the Xynthetik had escaped to potentially regroup and return with more of their ilk. MacLeod stood, the weight of his decision pressing down on his shoulders like a heavy mantle. He knew he had to face Captain Valdez and discuss the gravity of their situation.

“Commander Rel,” Callum said turning to face the XO/Communications station, “Ah’ll be in mah ready room. Get Captain Valdez on the comm an’ route it tae mah ready room.”

“Aye, Captain.” Rel’s voice was tight with the tension of the moment.

MacLeod strode to the ready room, his mind racing. As he entered, he was immediately drawn to the strategic display showing the last known trajectory of the Xynthetik escape pod. He called up the latest intel on the creature’s known capabilities, his mind racing through scenarios, trying to anticipate where they might go next. He barely had time to sit when his combadge chirped.

“MacLeod, go ahead.” Callum said after tapping the combadge.

“Commander Rel, sir. I have Captain Valdez on the line for you,” Damrus’ voice crackled over the combadge.

MacLeod took a deep breath and tapped his combadge. “Put him through.”

The monitor on his desk surfaced with a smooth hiss, the image of Captain Valdez’s concerned face appearing on the screen. The Conchita’s captain looked weary, the lines around his eyes deeper than when they had first met.

“MacLeod,” he began, his voice firm, “we need to talk about what just happened.”
Callum nodded, his gaze not leaving the display.

“Aye, Captain. We dae.” He paused, collecting his thoughts. “The Xynthetik are unlike anythin’ we’ve faced before. Their adaptability, their resilience… we had tae dae somethin’ tae stop ‘em. But ah understand yer concerns.”

“You’re right, Captain.” Valdez said, “I’m not second guessing you. We had to choose the lesser of two evils. That’s not what I want to talk to you about. I support you.”
MacLeod raised an eyebrow, “Then what is it?”

“The Xynthetik queen,” Valdez said, his gaze steely. “She escaped. And not just in any direction. She’s headed for the uncharted territories of the beta quadrant.”

MacLeod’s stomach sank. “Aye, ah noticed”

Valdez leaned forward in his chair, his eyes intense. “We can’t assume this is over, Captain. The queen’s escape… it’s not a retreat. It’s a regrouping.”

MacLeod nodded gravely, the weight of his responsibility like a planet on his shoulders. “Ah understand. The Xynthetik are a highly intelligent an’ adaptable enemy. We’ll have to be ready for whatever they throw at us next.”

Valdez’s expression was solemn. “Agreed. This isn’t just about Xarion anymore; it’s about the security of the entire galaxy.”

To be continued in....
Star Trek: Mjolnir - Into The Depths​