Prologue
The dark cold vacuum envelops the man, pulls his
entrails inside out.
He struggles, tries to survive, but oblivion violently
takes him.
3 years ago he arrived at what he thought was Heaven. Now,
his lifeless body falls down through its gates.
On the ceremonial chamber safe inside the city’s
shield, the spear glows dimmer as the life signs of the convict fade away.
A green hand firmly grasps it.
The Orion known as Zora speaks:
-“Behold sisters what these animals make us do!”
-“We bathe them, feed them and let them share our beds!
They, as unfaithful beasts betray us with murder!
This execution shows there is no weakness in us! We do
not flinch at these horrible crimes!
The hand of the Syndicate is strong and just! So say
our laws!”
-“So say our laws!” The other 6 members of the ruling
council cry in unison.
Chapter 1
3 weeks ago
Jonathan Hopkins woke up in what it felt like a wet
bed. Soon he realized it was blood.
Along side him, the naked body of a purple skin woman
covered in blood laid aside him.
He couldn’t remember where he was, who he was.
Confused, nauseated he stumbled out the door in to a
corridor full of women passing by. It looked like a cheap hotel.
-“Please! You have to help me, where am I? There’s a
dead woman in there!” he dragged himself through the floor reaching for whoever
was close.
-“How dare you touch me? Get away!” one woman said.
-“Guards!” another yelled. ”This dirty one got out of
that room!”
In moments two bulky men in some kind of uniform he
did not recognize hurled him back to the room. They kicked and restrained him.
-“Please! I don’t know what is happening!”
-“Stupid rat!” one said. “Are you on drugs?”
-“I don’t know, I…I..”
-“Shut up!” they said as he passed away from a blow on
the head.
Later as Jonathan regained consciousness, fear took
over him. The two uniforms he now recognized as the private security of council
member Mahylia where holding him in an interrogation room.
-“What happened?” he asked.
-“Oh my god! I remember now. I woke up and she was
dead! Blood everywhere, the stench! She hurt me again and I killed her! I loved
her but I killed her!”
Chapter 2
One week ago
On the conference room of the USS Nautilus, Captain
Hector, John Centurio, Vixxa and Dr. Hartley sit at the conference table, while
Commander Rohan stands beside the view screen filled with the image of Admiral
Moore.
-“Captain Hector, we are gathered here in emergency
status as these orders came directly from the top brass at Starfleet. I urge you to pay attention to the following
briefing: Commander, if you please…” Moore says gesturing to where the Romulan
would stand.
-“Very well Admiral.” The Romulan touched the screen witch
immediately split in 2, 1 with Moore’s face and the other with images of an
object.
-“The spear is an ancient artifact that powers the
remote planet roughly the size of Earth’s moon where an unknown race built, and
later abandoned, a great city ages ago.
300 years ago a group of escaping convict women found
it and founded a multi-species matriarchal society. Known as a refuge for the
most ruthless female criminals, Port Salem is a place with very low moral
standards. Gamble, Prostitution and decay on daily basis.
Men are used for workforce, low rank military and
reproduction or entertainment purposes only.
Other men can only enter the city by invitation from
the Matriarch herself .
The planet itself can’t sustain life because it has no
atmosphere. But the city is protected by a power source that artificially
creates one around it.
The society is ruled by a 7 member council known as
“The Syndicate”. The bearer of the spear, the object here represented, is the
Matriarch.
Murder is punishable by death in Port Salem,
executions are carried out on a ceremony where the convict is transported
outside the artificial shield, to die a very painful death.
This transporter in the ceremonial chamber is the only
one that will work and only from the inside out, any other access is by space
port only.”
Vixxa interrupted.
-“I have heard of such place. It was the preferred safe
haven for escapees from the klingon penal colony of Rura Penthe for years.”
Mina Hartley complemented.
-“But as far as I know it is not a Federation member,
ally, or even a protectorate”
-“And you are correct Dr. Hartley”. Rohan assured.
-“Go on Commander” Hector said.
-“Actually I’ll take over from here, thank you
Commander Rohan” Admiral Moore said trough the view screen.
-“About 2 weeks ago we were contacted by Zora, the
Matriarch, regarding the murder of Mahylia, one of the 7 council members. We
were invited to attend the execution of the murderer as per their tradition”
-“But why would they bother? I am sure this will not
be the first execution of a Federation citizen over the past 300 years…And we
would probably never known about it.” Hector asked.
-“This particular citizen is an important asset for us
and that is your mission. To rescue him before he is put to death.”
-“How important an asset? And how would the Syndicate
know of that importance?”
-“Very important Captain. I assure you.
About the mission…”
-“Then it makes
even less sense, it wouldn’t be hard to guess we would try and rescue him.”
Hector’s tone was getting inquisitive by the moment. Moore disliked that. To
worsen the situation Hector held up a finger and cut out the senior officer
again:
- “People, you are relieved for now. I will call on
you shortly to discuss the details. I need a moment alone with Admiral Moore, thank
you. Please stay with me Mr. Rohan.”
The Romulan nodded softly and sat down alongside the
Captain with a pad in his hand. As the rest of the staff exited the room Jason
Hector turned to the view screen.
-“Sir. We all understand the covert nature of the
Nautilus mission and the risks involved but this all seems a little strange to
me.” Hector said.
Looking to the pad in his hands Rohan completed:
-“Regardless of the human life at stake, Port Salem is
fairly away from any strategic point of interest in the galaxy by now.
Apparently there is no need for deployment of such critical resources.”
The Admiral sighed and conceded:
-“Gentlemen, I have no reason to distrust you so
here’s the thing:
The man in question is a 25 year old named Jonathan
Hopkins, was always a trouble child and became a homeless drug addict living on
the run with very bad companies.
His father, Commodore Harry Hopkins, lost track of him
5 years ago. He was contacted by Port Salem.
The kid was found in a hotel room covered in the blood
of a member of the ruling council. She was brutally murdered, a crime of rage.
Jonathan was the only other person on the room and
confessed to the murder.”
The two officers looked at each other, as Rohan raised
his eyebrow Hector said:
-“ So you are asking me to put my crew and the newest
starship available to us in risk out of a personal errand to rescue a confessed
murderer!”
-“Jason,” Moore sent a cold stare at Hector.” I am not
asking. Commodore Hopkins will stop at nothing to get his son home and you both
know the weight he carries on Starfleet…”
-“ This is not the way I wanted this mission to go
either but I had no choice. So do your job and do it well Captain, I wouldn’t
like to see the rug swept from under our feet if you screw this up!”
Hector stared back as he got up from the chair and
composed his tunic.
-“Very well Admiral. Rest assured we’ll get it done
although I intend to note my objection in the mission logs. Commander Rohan, I
guess we’re excused…”
-“Jason…wait up, “23…”…Damn it!” A.G. Moore said to an
empty room.
Chapter 3
4 days ago
“Captain’s Log: supplemental”
“27 September 2418, the Nautilus is on route to Port Salem, a non-aligned
planet where the Federation has no jurisdiction.
Muscled by Commodore Harry Hopkins our mission is to
evacuate his son, a convicted murderer, from certain death.
Not my first choice for the inaugural voyage but one I
must succeed in anyway.
The specific nature of this society will require our
best imagination to the task.
End log.”
Moments later back at the briefing room John Centurio
explains:
-“OK girls, the ball is in your park now! A party of 3
as been invited for the ceremony taking place 2 days from now.“
-“Lt. Commander Vixxa will lead a team completed by
Lieutenants Pezzoti and Williams. You will present yourselves as the Starfleet
representatives.”
-“You’ll be treated as guests and shown to your
quarters where you’ll soon receive the details for the ceremony.
The guest quarters are on the main building array,
tower 1, away from the holding facilities but near tower 2 where the ceremonial
chamber stands.
Convicts are usually transported there a day before
execution and held on the ante-chamber where they live out the remaining day.”
Centurio continued: “tower 2 is heavily guarded and
there is resistance to be expected. The security force includes the highly
trained personal guard of the victim, who by tradition is responsible for
delivering the prisoner to his final fate as a last service for their
mistress.”
“Your job is to infiltrate tower 2 and extract the
target on the night before the execution. Study the building plans thoroughly
in order to minimize casualties.”
-“Resistance will not be an issue, sir.” Vixxa said.”
What about the escape route?”
-“The same way you go in: by shuttle.” Alexander
Romankov stepped in the conversation:
-“As you know it is impossible to beam in or out
except for the transporter in the chamber itself, witch you’ll never get access
to.
So I’ll equip your shuttle with a transponder able to
crack and temporarily match the city’s shield frequency.
Within this window of opportunity you can go through
it without triggering their defenses. Put simply it’s like being cloaked. For a
while…”
-“I sense a “but” there Lieutenant and since I’ll be
the one flying the thing…” Sara Pezzoti worried.
-“Well the problem is: in order to be untraceable to
begin with, the transponder has an auto adaptative mechanism that consumes a
fair amount of energy. It will be impossible for you to have shields or go to
warp as long as it’s on.
After you’re in the clear of the city it automatically
goes off-line and you can go to warp and meet the Nautilus on the rendezvous
point.”
-“And if we get shot at while still inside the city
shield?” Vixxa asked.
-“You’ll have to beam to the surface or be destroyed.”
Romankov tried not to make it sound too bad.
Captain Hector noticed the three women trading looks
between them and said:
-“ In any case we will be monitoring you close all the
time and we’ll be prepared for anything.”
-“Yes sir.” Vixxa said.” Lieutenants Pezzoti and
Williams: We’ll report to the shuttle bay at 0700 hrs. Captain, you wish to
conclude?”
-“Indeed”.
Hector stood up and paced confidently around the
conference table stopping next to Vixxa who faced the others.
-” I want to say this is our first mission, one we
have worked hard to deserve and no one deserves this more than you.
So get out there do it valiantly, and know this: I got
your back!”
Chapter 4
2 days ago
The sleek type 9 shuttle softly touches down on the
main docking pad on Port Salem after a preliminary security check.
As Vixxa, Pezzoti and Williams exit trough the back
door they are greeted by a middle aged bajoran.
-“ Welcome to Port Salem. My name is Sharan, I am the
7th in line.” She said meaning she was the newest of the Council
members.
-“ I am Lieutenant Commander Vixxa, of The United
Federation of Planets. I am the leader of this delegation.” The Klingon said
rather bluntly.
-“ According to our traditions as substitute of our
dear Mahylia in the Syndicate ruling council it is upon me to receive and
accommodate you as our guests here.” “Your every need will be taken care of.
Enjoy Port Salem.”
-“We have no need for entertainment and for us this is
hardly joyful so please show us to our quarters.” Vixxa said.
-“Whoa! That’s a little harsh!” Pezzoti murmured with
a smirk to Williams. Vixxa’s diplomatic qualities were not one of her strong
points.
-“As you wish Lt. Commander. This way.” Sharan
gestured kindly.
Soon the 3 women were in a high balcony on tower 1.
The city skyline was dominated by the two towers of
the main building array. Spreading in all directions was an intricate complex
of narrow and crowded streets, full of casinos, clubs and sex-shops.
The red and blue hue of the neons and LED’s softly
reflecting on the virtually invisible force field high above gave it a hellish
but mystical athmosphere.
-“No wonder people get lost here.” Commented Williams.
“For the weak of heart this really looks like heaven.”
-“That’s what they call this place between them.
Even the men, if they are smart can have a good life
here, just find the right sponsor and keep available.” Pezzoti said with a
smile.
Williams winked and added: “You said it girl! I like
availability.”
-“Lieutenants!” Vixxa interrupted”. Commenting the sexual
habits or the morality of this society is not part of the mission.”
-“Relax Vixxa! We’re just trying to fight the jitters
you now? First mission and all…”
-“Your training and the nanites in your systems are
more than adequate for that; there is no need for inappropriate comments.”
Pezzoti and Williams were no specialists in reading klingon
face expressions but they could swear the gnarl they saw in Vixxa’s lips could
easily be of reproval as much as an amused smirk.
Anyway, it was time to get back on track. Williams took
the first step:
-“That is the holding cell?” She pointed to what
seemed like a fortified balcony two stories down to their relative position on
the other tower.
-“Yes.” Vixxa said. “The towers are 105 meters apart,
and the cell is two levels down as you noticed.
Inside, there
are two perimeters. A contingent of 4 security guards patrols the first one,
each on every quadrant on permanent rotation. Each rotation takes 15 min.
The second is guarded by the personal guard of the
victim. It´s a smaller area that envelops the convict quarters, where our mark
will be.”
Sara Pezzoti said: ”Ok, 4 plus 2 makes 6 of them for 3
of us. That should be easy enough!”
Vixxa nodded. “Yes, the most resistant should be the 2
personal guards since they are an elite group, but that will be my task.”
-“So, how are we going to pull this off?” Williams
asked.
-“You Lieutenant Williams, will use a grappling cable
to go over. You will then neutralize the first 4 guards, two levels down.
Lieutenant Pezzoti will be covering you from here with
a sniper rifle. Being higher ground makes for a good vantage point.”
-“And how will you get inside?” Sara asked.
-“Thanks to the Commodore’s influence, I have arranged
to visit Jonathan Hopkins using the pretext of recording a final personal
message to his father.
Once there, I will take care of the remaining two,
while Lt. Williams disables the holding cell’s security grid by accessing a
control panel with a tricorder from the outside. I’ll deliver the prisoner to
her and exit the tower by the main entrance, hopefully, uneventfully.”
-“While Jennifer tracks back with him by the grappling
line.” Pezzoti anticipated.
-“Exactly. After they arrive safe, you Lt. Pezzoti,
get a sudden urge to gamble and will exit our accommodations. You’ll go
straight to the shuttle instead, subdue the opposition and come and get us.”
Vixxa continued:
-“From then on we are on the clock and running. The
danger will be greater because by then security will be alerted. Don’t forget
the shuttle won’t have shields since the transponder will be active.”
-“Ok, how do I get you?”
-“Lt. Romankov assures me that within the city shield,
although no one can beam outside, the short range sensors will be able to lock
on and beam us aboard the shuttle.
The rest is up to your flying skills.” Vixxa stated.
-“Great! Should have payed more attention to
Cartwright’s lessons about dog-fighting.”
The klingon’s expression closed even more as she said:
“It is time for me to retire to my quarters and prepare for battle. I suggest
you do the same. We have a go four hours from now.”
The two women looked at each other, and silently
turned back to contemplate the view for the last time.
Chapter 5
“…You know what Vix? The jitters didn’t go away…”
Jennifer Williams thought as she started to slide on the cable between towers.
“…Something’s off here…”
The short but fit ebony skin woman effortlessly
reached the other side, and contemplated the Balcony 10 meters down.
For an en-human there was no need to rappel down, so she
just jumped rolling on her right side on impact.
A small injury from the last sparring session
manifested itself on the shoulder but in 12 seconds the first opponent was down
and quiet.
“…So far so good, but there’s something sticky with
this all thing…” Like a black panther up a tree Williams crouched herself on
the upper bulkhead and waited for the next one.
As the security guard reached the corner, taking
advantage of his blind spot, she doubled somersaulted past him landing right
behind unnoticed. A low-quick on the left leg brought him down to his knees; a
swift body lock dosed him off.
“…That’s two…”
Before the next 15 min. rotation was over, the other
two were down.
Williams took the small tricorder from her thigh
pocket and pointed it at the wall. A flickering LED stopped and fixed on a
control panel right in front of her. Kneeling down she opened it up gently
avoiding the clattering noise when putting it down.
Maneuvering her fingers through the touch screen of
the tricorder she proceeded in deactivating the inner perimeter alarm as well
as the security grid on the cell which would allow Vixxa to free Hopkins.
“…Assuming everything went fine on her end…”
A second command enabled a holographic projection of
the 4 guards doing their rounds, this way fooling the built-in corridor cameras.
As she moved on there was no activity whatsoever until
she saw 2 more guards sprawled on the floor. The Klingon had done it.
“…But where are they then?...”
To her right she saw the security cell quarters. She
slowly approached them expecting to see Vixxa and Hopkins.
Instead, an Orion woman surrounded by guards stood
gallantly holding a spear: Zora!
She said: “You are smaller than I thought! Guards,
take her too!”
Chapter 6
Sara Pezzoti’s finger tensed around the trigger of the
phaser rifle she was holding.
Focused on the far end of the grappling cable she
waited to see Williams hoisting the prisoner to freedom.
-“ Damn! What’s taking them so long?” She murmured
between her teeth. “We’ve got a bus to catch…”
As she heard the chime of her quarters she immediately
knew something went wrong. Unable to contact the Nautilus a decision had to be
made.
She dismantled the rifle, hid it and picked up a much
smaller hand gun which she tucked in her pants.
Quickly analyzing her situation for an escape route
she calculated the lunge needed to reach the cable herself and slide over to tower
2.
It would be like jumping from the frying pan to the
fire but at least would buy her some time and she could try and rescue the rest
of the team.
Leaving the window open for that purpose, she answered
the door with the best innocent smile she could:
-“Yes?” She said to the security guards facing her,
ready for anything.
They just shot their phasers.
Next: Falling Down the Gates of Heaven, part 2
Based on Star Trek created by Gene Roddenberry
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