Escape

Posted on Fri Jan 26th, 2024 @ 5:41pm by Lieutenant Commander Kevin Lance

Mission: Deep Space Nine
Location: Talbort III
Timeline: Before Coming Home

on:
{Talbort III Spaceport}

Kevin slowly pulled the truck up to the checkpoint for the secure berthing area where the shuttle was parked. Sehket had observed the driver of the other vehicle enough to allow him to explain the basic operation of it to Kevin. Armed with the knowledge and with assistance from Sehket, he had been able to navigate back to the spaceport. He had been concerned that they would be followed or stopped and had been continually checking for tails. None had appeared but he wouldn’t be comfortable until they were on the shuttle and well away from Talbort III.

He stopped the truck at the gate and was approached by a guard in a much different uniform that the slavers. Kevin forced himself to relax and smiled. “Good day,” he said to the guard, “We have a shuttle parked in berth…” He looked to Sehket.

“C-Fifteen,” the Cardassian boy replied impassively.

The guard did a double take upon seeing Kevin. I must be quite the sight, Kevin thought. His left temple and check throbbed from the bruise that was forming and although the laceration along his hairline had stopped bleeding, his own blood was drying on his face and his hands still showed evidence of earlier encounters. “You should see the other guy,” Kevin tried to laughingly explain.

The guard’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the occupants. Kevin was jovial, Sehket quite, and Mika fidgeted nervously and avoided eye contact. “Are you alright?” the guard asked.

“We’re fine,” Sehket replied flatly.

“And you, girl?” Mika nodded rapidly but kept her head down. The guard did not appear convinced. “Wait here,” he ordered and turned to enter the shack next to the gate.

Kevin watched as the guard picked up some sort of communication device and began speaking. “Cochrane damn it all,” he muttered. Without warning, he accelerated the truck, crashing through the flimsy barrier and driving into the berthing area. A quick check to the rear revealed an astonished guard exiting the shack.

The signage was little help as Kevin didn’t recognize the characters but he remember the route that they had taken out of the berthing area hours earlier. He turned the truck down the remembered line of spacecraft. Very quickly, he spotted the converted assault shuttle. He braked the vehicle to a stop at the shuttlecraft and the three jumped out.
Kevin ran up to the access doors and held his hand over the sensor pad. The ship’s computer verified his identity and opened the access doors. Kevin ushered Sehket and Mika into the shuttle as he checked for pursuit. Sure enough, a vehicle was turning down the row of spacecraft and heading towards him at a rapid pace. Kevin entered the shuttle and closed the access doors.

“Computer!” he ordered, “Prep for immediately launch!”

“Launching without proper pre-flight system activation is prohibited,” the computer replied.

“Override,” Kevin instructed, “Authorization K-L-2-3-7.” Fortunately the rental craft’s security code was simplified for ease of use.

The audible tone of denial was played and the computer replied, “Override of pre-flight system activation is prohibited.”

Kevin looked at the exterior monitor. The vehicle that he had seen was pulling up outside.

Kevin began the pre-flight system activation but the process would take fifteen minutes, time that he didn’t think that they had. He thought about the situation. This was converted from a military assault shuttle. The computer’s operating system was likely overwritten when the conversion was made but emergency codes were hardwired into computer system. As long as the computer hadn’t been replaced…

“Computer,” Kevin order, “Execute full military power override. Authorization K-L-2-3-7.” The override was designed for use in wartime situations to get immediate response from the power plant and engines in case of emergencies but at a cost of potential damage to the systems.

“Full military power override confirmed,” the computer announced as the power plant and engines immediately roared to life.

There goes my security deposit, Kevin thought as he shouted to Sehket and Mika to buckle in.

When the power plant reached minimum levels, Kevin activated the repulsors to life the shuttle off off the pad and almost immediately pushed the thrusters to full power. He spared a glance at the external monitor to see the humanoids bowled over by the blast rapidly growing smaller. Turning his attention back to the flight controls, he pulled the shuttle’s nose up and began the rapid ascent into space.

The shuttlecraft was buffeted as it pushed through the atmosphere and the G-forces from escape velocity pressed Kevin and his passengers back into their seats. After a half a minute, the buffeting and pressure against their bodies began to slacken as the shuttlecraft move further away from the planet. After another minute, Kevin turned the shuttle craft perpendicular to the solar system plane and engaged the warp drive. He hadn’t detected any pursuit on the sensors and now they would be harder to catch.

Kevin let out a sigh of relief and said, “I think we are safe now. You can release your restraints.” The permission was unnecessary as it turned out. Sehket and Mika were engaged in an intimate embrace and an equally passionate kiss. “Get a room you two,” Kevin smirked, “Computer, play Klingon death metal, half volume.”

Discordant vocals, stringed instrument licks and crashing drums filled the shuttle. Kevin hated Klingon death metal but it drowned out the sounds of passion coming from the Bajor and Cardassian.

That was fun, the voice from deep within him said, we should do it more often.

Shutup, Kevin ordered.

:off

Lieutenant Kevin Lance
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Chuck Norris