Captain Log

"Finally our new orders have come through and we can finally leave Deep Space 4 behind and resume our search for the mirror vessel. The latest intelligence confirms an increase in activity around Sigma Twelve. The Klingons have been reporting sightings of a number of Ferengi vessels entering and leaving the system, along with small Federation type vessels. Starfleet has confirmed that no vessel has been in the vicinity in the last month. However, so far no-one has reported actually seeing the ISS Leviathan. This makes me uneasy because if as I think, they are hiding out to make repairs then how far away are they from returning their ship back to full readiness. If we don't react soon, then we may lose the advantage of attacking whilst they are under strength and vulnerable."

"I am holding a briefing at Eleven hundred hours and hope to be underway by thirteen hundred hours. Let's just hope we are in time."

End Log

Captain Taybar sat in her ready room as she finished her log entry. Although she was trying not to show it to the rest of the crew, she was worried.

*An animal is at its most dangerous when wounded.* She remembered reading somewhere.

She rose from her chair and headed into the conference room, where most of the staff was already assembled, along with the two 'guests' from the mirror universe aboard and Major Phanan. The only Bridge officer missing was Ensign ASHER, he had made his excuses long before the briefing saying he needed to check over the slipstream drive once more. Once everyone was seated, Aki began the briefing.

"This morning I received our new orders from Starfleet." She started, the atmosphere in the room rising at the news. "And as expected we have been re-assigned to the search for the mirror vessel. I also received the latest information about the possible whereabouts of the vessel. Sigma Twelve and the space around it have seen a marked increase in traffic, mainly Ferengi traders, but the Klingons have reported several small Federation vessels in the area as well. As Starfleet has not had a vessel in this area for sometime now, we must assume that these are the shuttlecraft of the mirror vessel"

"Starfleet thinks that the mirror crew are dealing with the Ferengi ?" Commander Rashad enquired.

"In our universe the Ferengi are allied to the Terran Empire and have been for nearly fifty years." Advisor t'Rashad replied. "They tend to act as the eyes and ears of the Empire, in return for payment. However, they are corruptible and they have their price, the Romulans have gained a great deal of information about the Empire through 'bribing' the Ferengi."

"But what would the ISS Leviathan have to trade ?" Lieutenant Commander Barker enquired. "All the Ferengi in this universe are about is profit and they will sell to the highest bidder."

"I believe that the ISS Leviathan was carrying a large amount of a high-grade dilithium, which after its discovery about ten years ago in the Delta quadrant has become vital to the Empire's cause. My sources told me that the vessel was transporting supplies to the Empire's Kazon allies in return for the dilithium. They were returning to Earth when we were captured, the rest you know." Advisor Dukal replied. "I would suggest that they could certainly trade the dilithium and the knowledge of how to refine it in return for materials."

"Commander Barker, what do we know of Sigma Twelve ?" Aki enquired.

"It's a class-L planet with a disused resupply station and a dry-dock facility in orbit. The planet was one of the forward supply stations during hostilities in the late twenty-third century between the Federation and the Klingons. The site remained a supply station until around 2320 when according to all records the base was simply abandoned." Chu reported. "The reason it was chosen in the first place for a forward supply base was the fact that it is close to the M-123 nebula, which surrounds it on three sides. No vessel of the time could approach from the nebula, the radiation and ion storms were just too great. The only way to approach the system safely is through the Sigma asteroid belt. Also the Federation placed a number of unmanned sensor stations in the belt to act as an early warning system and as far as we know these are still intact. It will be difficult to approach Sigma Twelve without being spotted."

"What about the refractive shielding ?" Ensign Oakenshield enquired. "Wouldn't that conceal our approach ?"

"Unfortunately not, because the asteroid belt has a low concentration of theta radiation from old space mines which were spread throughout it. All the mines were detonated remotely when the base was abandoned, but the radiation is still present. Theta radiation would render the refractive shield useless whilst travelling through the belt." Chu explained.

"You said at the time no-one could approach Sigma Twelve from the nebula, is that fact still true ?" Aki enquired. "Shield technology has improved a great deal, as has medical science."

"The nebula would still be fatal to all biological life, there is a strange form of radiation within the nebula which causes body tissue to degrade at an alarming rate." Doctor Katts replied. "We'd all be dead within an hour of entering the nebula."

"Then I guess we'll have to use what element of surprise we can gain and hope that it will be enough." Aki stated. "Mister Taline how long will it take us to reach Sigma Twelve ?"

"About three days at slipstream cruising speed, we could try and travel faster, but I'm still not sure the slipstream drive will stand the pace, we have been having power fluctuations when travelling at high slipstream velocity." Taline replied. "We could end up damaging the drive if we push it too hard."

"Understood." Aki replied. "Major Phanan what is the status of your Marines ?"

"We have been running drills with the other Marine forces here at Deep Space 4 and on the holodecks since we arrived. We've gone through every conceivable action, from a strategic transport in to a full-blown assault on the vessel, landing shuttles in the shuttle bay. We've done this from both an offensive and defensive position. One good thing is that from what t'Rashad and Dukal have given us, the ISS Leviathan has more or less the same layout as our own vessel, which means we shouldn't have too much trouble securing the key areas of the ship. Also because of their previous mission it would appear that the ship only had a minimum compliment of Marines aboard, it is more likely that they will attempt to defend their own ship than make any attempt to board ours." John reported. "What ever happens, we're ready for them."

"That's good to hear." Aki commented. "Ensign Oakenshield, what's our tactical situation ?"

"All the Leviathans weapons are now fully operational. The additional ablative armour has doubled the protection on the hull and the phasers are now operating at one hundred and forty percent of their designed specification. We have five hundred quantum torpedoes aboard, plus sixteen tri-cobalt warheads. Also Starfleet research delivered twelve prototype phased torpedoes yesterday, which are designed to pass-through the shields of an enemy vessel should they work. The main shields are operating at one hundred and twenty percent of the designed specification and with the additional shield generators have an increased refresh rate of sixteen seconds." Julia replied. "We are armed to the teeth and ready to fight."

"Let's just hope all these modifications are going to be enough ?" Aki commented.

"From what I have seen Captain, the odds of you winning have increased dramatically." Advisor Dukal announced. "The ISS Leviathan is however a warship and her phasers are far more powerful than those installed aboard your vessel. Also their shields are far stronger, but are slow to refresh making the vessel vulnerable once the shields are severely weakened. The ablative armour you have should compensate for your lack of stronger shields, but only to a point, once it has gone they will rip open your hull."

"One thing that is in your favour is the quantum torpedoes you have developed, the Terran Empire has noting like this. Their torpedoes are still based on the older photon warheads, making their firing rate slower. There were rumours that the ISS Leviathan was being equipped with a plasma torpedo system, salvaged from a captured Romulan vessel, but I personally believe these to be false." T'Rashad stated. "As for these prototype phase torpedoes, if they work then they could cause severe damage."

"There is one other thing." Advisor Dukal announced. "The device which the ISS Leviathan was intending to use to invade other realities is housed in the main weapons pod, I know this because I was part of the work detail who removed the automated torpedo loading system to make room for the device. The device required the removal of all but six of the torpedo tubes, cutting in half the number of tubes installed within the weapons pod."

"From what I have just heard, I think we have a fighting chance and if we can move fast, we may catch them with their defences down." Aki replied. "I suggest you all get back to your duty stations and prepare for departure. Ensign Oakenshield, I'd like to hear more about these phased torpedoes, but we should have more time once we are underway to discuss them further. Find out as much about their design as you can. Dismissed."

The room quickly emptied and Aki sat alone, looking out of the conference room window down onto Deep Space 4. *Let's hope this isn't the last thing we see.* She thought.