Rescue from Cadai
Iliad becomes embroiled in an assassination attempt in an alternate universe, problem is that it is her captain's alter ego on whom the attempt is made and and Captain Karasov is the only many who can save his life. Captain Karasov is kidnapped and Iliad sets off on a rescue mission.
On a peaceful planet called Cadai in an alternate universe, peace has been brokered between the Federation and Klingon Empires. However, this peace is thrown into doubt whenan attempt is made on the life of Starfleet’s Admiral Ilya Karasov. Admiral Karasov is ready to hand over to the Klingons the cure to the Klingon nerve disease that it threatening to wipe them out. The handing over of the cure is seen by many in the Federation as a gesture of goodwill, however, there are others within the Federation concerned that, having a cure for this disease would enable the Klingons to turn the disease into a biological weapon. Peace with the Klingons could come at a price.
Watching events unfold in Citizen Square is a Klingon agent, Dorvan, who has been assigned by the Klingon Security Council to be in charge of security at the up coming peace conference. However, Dorvan also has other orders, conflicting orders, from a small section within the Klingon High Command who are against the treay. These orders are to make contact with the Cadain underground and to engineer a coup; a coup that would leave Cadai in Klingon hands, and within a stones throw from Federation space.
As with most situations such as this, all that became clear over the next few hours was that nothing was clear. The “bullet” was not a proper bullet, it’s aim appeared to be solely to pierce the body of Karasov and do nothing more. Further, the Klingons suspected the Cadai Underground were responsible for the assassination attempt, the latter suspected the former.
In reality the Underground had no interest in killing Karasov, however, they sensed an opportunity. Dorvan was ordered to lay low, the Underground would get Dorvan a job in the hospital where Karasov was being kept. There, they would engineer an attempt by Dorvan to kill Karasov, only for him to be caught red handed. Once the set up has been discovered, the Klingons would be outraged that one of their own was being used as a scapegoat, they would invade Cadai and overthrow the legitimate government. For the Klingons, Cadai would be an important vantage point. Not only is it on the edge of Federation space but its capture would secure vital resources as well as a large chunk of the Federation Battle Fleet which was currently either in the area or on its way. This would give the pro-war factions within the Klingon High Command the opportunity to turn the tables on the Federation and pursue the war.
Aboard USS Liberty, which is the Federation Flagship and which brought the Federation Delegation from Earth, something occurs to their Chief Medical Officer, Doctor Jake Serren. He inspect the bullet which had wounded Karasov and reaches an in-escapable conclusion. The bullet was coated with an engineered version of the Klingon plague. To make matters worse, Karasov’s plague was not the original one, his cure would have no effect as his DNA was being re-written by the virus. The only way to save him and to prevent war again, would be to open a wormhole to enable a ship from their universe to travel into another parallel universe in an attempt to find the Karasov of that world where hopefully his DNA could be used to fight the virus. Without this, whilst Karasov may not die from the mutated Klingon plague, the altering of his DNA would certainly kill him.
By this time, the rebels had secured Dorvan a job within the hospital that was treating Karasov. The Klingons stood accused of engineering the virus, when they discovered they had failed, they would send Dorvan in to finish the job. That was the cover story, and it was working like a charm.
Unfortunately for the rebels, many a good plan has been foiled by human failings, emotion being the most costly. Dorvan had met a young woman called Sherona who was working with the rebels and she and Dorvan had become fond of each other. At the crucial moment would the oldest human emotion get in the way?
As the Federation sent a ship to the nearest wormhole to try and save Karasov, word reached the Klingon Embassy on Cadai. Unbeknown to the Federation, a Klingon Battle Cruiser set off in pursuit, its mission was to blast the Federation Ship from the sky when she returned, with the only man who could save Karasov on board, an alternate Karasov.
Back on Cadai, the trap had been set and like any good pawn Dorvan was walking into it. He was immediately captured by strategically placed security officers who immediately whisked him away, into a blaze of publicity as they exited the hospital. Once again, the rebels were one step ahead, eager for the capture of the Klingon agent to be beamed to the whole of Cadai.
Back in the real universe, the crew of Iliad are scattered far and wide. Captain Ilya Karasov and his wife, Erin, enjoy some quality time whilst the ship’s First Officer Nathan Hunter is at home on Vulcan with his family.
Ilya is called to meet Admiral Suarez, upon his return, he is kidnapped by his wife; except this is Erin Hunter from the alternate universe. She whisked him aboard a shuttle which set off towards the wormhole. Meanwhile, back on Starbase 32 the launch of USS Iliad in pursuit is authorised, albeit with a skeleton crew on board.
Back on Cadai, the people were unsettled, there was a deadly plague on their planet; furthermore, they saw their government as dragging them into a war, either on the side of the Federation or Klingons. The unrest was started by the rebels but the fire took little stoking. Before long the town square was filled with hundreds of locals protesting at the government which was currently in session debating budget proposals. A rebel sympathiser within the government “volunteered” to meet with the crowds and to listen to their demands.
In the skies above Cadai, Iliad materialises along with the shuttle through the wormhole, as they do, eight Klingon warships start opening fire on the shuttle. Iliad came to bear in an attempt to extend her shields around the shuttle.
On board USS Liberty which was waiting to escort the shuttle to Cadai, they were stunned to see not only Iliad but also the Klingon warships. As a burst of fire bears down on the shuttle, the inhabitants are beamed off seconds before the shuttle explodes.
Liberty instructs Iliad to follow her to the planet without firing on the Klingons. Acting Commanding Officer, Martin O’Shea has a simple choice, trust the Captain of USS Liberty or start a full scale war between the Federation and the Klingons. He chooses the former.
Back on Cadai, the crowds had grown impatient and were ransacking the Federation and Klingon Embassies in protest. The Klingons were destroying secret papers and launching full scale landings at strategic points on the planet. One of these points happened to be the police barracks where Dorvan was being held, in the confusion, he was freed by Sherona
In the sky, Iliad was being shepherded down by USS Liberty, she was about to attempt her first surface landing. By this time, Iliad’s First Officer Commander Nathan Hunter had beamed aboard, having followed Iliad through the wormhole in a shuttle craft.
Back in the government buildings, the Klingon annexation of Cadai was completed, the invasion and take over was not exactly bloodless but the Klingons had what they wanted.
Aboard USS Liberty, there were more pressing priorities. Iliad’s Karasov was aboard and a sample of his DNA was extracted and then injected into Admiral Karasov in the hospital. Whilst this was being done, Captain Nathan Hunter, now revealed as a Black Ops Operative had stolen away before being confronted by the true intended assasin – Scott Davis
Whilst waiting for news on Admiral Karasov, Captain Karasov decided to do a little of what he does best, medicine. There were still lots of wounded who were being admitted to the hospital. As he did so, he came across a sight he would remember for a long time. A Klingon looking remarkably like a member of his own crew.
Dorvan had come to the hospital with Sherona who, unbeknown to Dorvan was suffering from acute blood poisoning. Ilya checked but quickly realised there was little he could do for her. However, Dorvan’s reaction was not what was expected. As quickly as he could, he pulled a firearm and pointed it at Captain Karasov’s temple.
Ilya took a deep breath, the only possible way to help this woman was to beam her to Iliad. Dorvan took a little persuading, as too did the crew on Iliad. However, within a few minutes, everyone was standing in sick bay on Iliad.
Karasov and Serren (of Iliad) worked long and hard to try and save Sherona’s life, finally she was stabilised. With Erin helping nurse Sherona and with security posted outside, Ilya headed for the bridge. With everyone safe on board, and with a couple of extra passengers, Iliad headed home.
On Cadai, the DNA transfusion workes and saved the life of Admiral Ilya Karasov. Scott Davis was arrested, charged with treason and Karasov continued with his work. Once the Klingons had sen Karasov was alive, the rebels were unearthed and peace was restored.