Reaper: Ultimatum

Stardate: 20531.2311
Title: Ultimatum
Author: Nelson Reaper
Time: After "Components"
Scene: Auxiliary Control

Reaper's team moved silently through the Jeffries tubes toward Auxiliary Control. Scouting ahead of him were Ensign Mitchell and Lieutenant Monday. Behind, Lieutenant Reese and Ensign Yamashita monitored their progress. Silently, Nelson hoped the other teams he'd dispatched were moving as smoothly as his.

Suddenly, Reaper's combadge emitted a startling noise [Capt.....his is....Mulder......hear me?]. He immediately silenced it, although any pirates in earshot of the noise had already been alerted.

Nelson cursed himself for allowing such a blatant oversight of preparation, but changed his thinking quickly to thankfulness that Mulder and his officers were safe. He glanced over his shoulder and looked back at Kimiko Yamashita. She was holding a tricorder, and shook her head urgently.

"Let's move," Reaper ordered. "Will engineering be able to cut into any of the auxiliary control mechanisms?"

"No, Captain," Andy Reese answered. He was one of the newest engineers on board, and seemed to know the Jeffries tubes like the back of his hand. "We'll need to access these junctions here... and here." He pointed out schematics on a PADD as he spoke. "Once we're in, we'll have to signal Engineering to override anything and everything that's happening on the bridge. They'll be able to take control then."

Reaper nodded to Ensign Yamashita. "Code our progress to Beta Team. Move out."

==

Several of the plasma conduits were exposed in ways only meant for drydock maintenance, having been expertly dissected by Reese and Yamashita. With their assistance, Reaper handled the final bypass node, and connected it when they nodded their okay.

All hell broke loose.

The ship lurched violently, throwing most of Alpha Team against the nearest bulkhead. Reaper himself was bashed against a control kiosk, but the shunt held. The flow of power had been successfully rerouted between the helm controls and Engineering. Now, it was up to Commander Remo. Nelson waited the breathless seconds without moving.

[Remo to Reaper, you're on.]

Immediately the captain stood and spoke, knowing his voice would be heard all over the ship. "This is Nelson Reaper, captain of the Carpathia. Attention to the invaders: my science officer has released a sample of a lethal virus that we encountered not too long ago. We have established a link between four operating units of personnel, and have locked out all control. You have two choices, and you have them right now. You can either come out and fight, or you can surrender and get the hell off my ship. Either way... you lose. Throw down your weapons and report to the ship's brig. Acknowledge."


Captain Nelson Reaper
Commander
USS Carpathia
NCC-17499