FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

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Title: One Lost Shadow.

Episode 02

IDP 2000,08,09,20

Edited by: Saurex Conoway

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Commander's Log: 34801.16

The Raptor is enroute to the planet Algion Prime, a place I haven't been to in at least five years. At that time, I was the navigator aboard the Phoenix. We were sent to rescue a Confederation research team from a severe ion storm. The mission nearly cost some of our crew. Now, after all that time, the storm has cleared and will stay clear for at least 24 hours. Hopefully, this will be a routine salvage mission with few surprises.

* * *

"Coming up on Algion Prime now," Ensign Land announced as the brightly colored blue and white planet came into view.

"Captain. sensors show heavy ionization in the planet's atmosphere," science officer O'mara reported a bit excitedly. "It could pose some complications for beaming."

Harry nodded. "At ease, Ms. O'mara. I'm well aware of the dangers. I've been here before." Harry got out of his chair and walked behind the helm. "Mr. Land, locate the base and set a geosynchronous orbit."

"Ahh...give me something hard to do," Land sighed, swinging the Raptor into position.

"Sir," tactical officer Jakar announced, "I am detecting an ionization trail laced with low levels of antimatter residue. However, it does not pose a threat. It is fairly dissipated."

"That would be the Phoenix's trail," Harry surmised. "That old bucket leaked more deuterium than any engineer would like to admit. Of course, it was thirty years old and loaded with about every upgrade that the fleet could cram into it, all incompatible of course."

"I bet I could have got it purring like a Catarian kitten," Fara mused.

"Well, the offer is a little late," Harry said. "The Phoenix is probably in a junkyard somewhere now."

Fara gave an amused little smirk.

"Orbit achieved," Land announced.

"Land, Fara, Jakar, with me," Harry pointed to the ops officer. "Rivas, you have the con. I want a constant transporter lock on us at all times."

"Not a problem. I'll keep watch up here," Rivas said, leaving the ops console and settling in the chair.

* * *

Moments later

Harry and the others materialized in the middle of a seemingly deserted base. After a glance around, he noticed that some of the wall panels were functioning.

"I thought you said this place was deserted?" Fara asked, taking out a tricorder.

"Keep your phasers ready. We might be dealing with pirates, or worse," Harry said, flipping on his palm light so he could see. "Fara, see what you can do to make it a bit brighter in here."

"Already on it," Fara replied, putting a pack-sized piece of equipment on a desk and hooking it up to a console. "For a place that's lasted through a five year long ion storm, these optical data networks are in fairly good shape. It's almost as if someone has been working on them...."

"Well, let's hope whoever they are, they're friendly," Land said, scanning the room. "Stupid ion interference has made this tricorder as useful as a coaster."

"There!" Fara said as the lights snapped back on. "Damn I'm good!"

Suddenly, they heard the crash of equipment from down one of the corridors.

"Someone's coming!" Land said, quickly drawing his phaser.

"Stand ready," Harry ordered, getting to a covered position behind a desk, "Jakar, what is it?"

"Readings indicate it is anthropomorphic, about 7 meters away."

"Don't fire unless fired upon," Harry said, keeping his finger over the trigger.

A shadow moved across the opening of the corridor and suddenly a red paw was seen pushing open the door and stepping through.

Harry instantly recognized the person as they entered the room. It was a female echidna wearing a yellow fleet uniform with the rank of Lt. Commander, but both were in terrible shape. Her black hair was disheveled and matted with blood from a fresh cut. Harry was sure it was his old shipmate from his days on the Phoenix.

"Tara?" Harry said, a bit confused.

"Harry...do you know her?" Land asked.

"Yes. I used to be shipmates with her," Harry replied as he stared, a bit confused at the figure who held up a hand to shield her eyes from their palm-lights. "Her name is Tara Torress...and she...shouldn't be here!"

"Harry? Is that you?" Tara asked tiredly, recognizing the voice. "I don't know what the hell you're talking about Harry, but all I want to know is why the hell it took you so long to rescue me!"

* * *

O'mara was nervous, in fact, probably a little high strung too. Nervous was all she was anymore, especially after the last week or so.

On the viewer, Algion was a white and blue globe highlighted by flashes of powerful lighting from her storms. Occasionally, one would lash out from the atmosphere and strike the ship's shields, causing it to shake slightly. She hated it more every time it happened.

"Here comes another one," Ensign Rosa, a Cabarran female, noted.

"Steady as she goes, navigator," Rivas said levelly.

The ship shook slightly and the lights flickered a little bit.

"Engineering, why are we losing power?" The wolf asked, raising an eyebrow as he pressed the com switch.

"Eh, one of the EPS manifolds is acting up," Engineer Knact's heavily accented voice replied. "That last hit overloaded some of the subsystems, eh, it's nothing we can't handle. But you might want to try not getting hit by those lightning bolts."

"Negative," Rivas said. "We have to maintain geosynchronous orbit over the installation or we might lose transporter lock."

"Eh well then, don't come cryin' to me when the lights go out," Knackt said, annoyed and closing the channel.

Rivas growled, a bit annoyed. "Ms. O'mara, if you could stop your fidgeting and try to isolate the frequency of the lightning, perhaps we can adjust our shields accordingly."

""Y-y-yes, sir" O'mara said, grateful to be focusing on something else for a bit. She accessed the sensors and got an error message.

"There seems to be ion contamination on the sensory array," she said.

Rivas sighed a patient sigh, but his hackles indicated he was not in the mood for much today. "Then do something about it, Lieutenant," he said, "I am not going to hold your hand."

O'mara balked, but lowered her gaze and quietly said. "Yes sir."

Suddenly something blinked on her console, it was a private message.

She opened it.

Disengage the sensors, do a quick Lv 1 Diag, restart.

-Terri

O'mara looked behind her at Terri Lu, working quietly at her station. She quickly keyed in the commands and waited for the computer to finish its work. With an encouraging series of beeps, it displayed that the contamination had been removed.

"Sensors back online, scanning," O'mara said with relief in her voice.

"Good work. Relay the information to tactical as soon as you have the data," Rivas said, looking a bit less annoyed.

* * *

"How...you're...how...." Harry stuttered.

"Did I get here?" Tara said, a bit shocked. "You mean I wasn't missed?"

Harry stood there, dumbfounded. "I don't know what you mean."

"Remember? We were beaming out the scientists and I stayed behind. The window was closing and CaptainTinga ordered me beamed back up. I thought I'd be back on the Phoenix but the next thing I know I'm back here." Tara explained. She suddenly noticed his rank pins and color. "Sir," she added, a bit confused.

"Are you in need of medical attention?" Harry asked, pointing to the wound on her forehead.

"Damn," Tara grumbled, reaching up and wincing from touching the gash in her head. "I think I do...and while I'm getting fixed up you have some explaining to do Harry."

Harry nodded. "I will escort our guest to sickbay. I want the rest of you to get teams down here and start the salvage process."

"Aye, sir," Fara, Jakar, and Land said simultaneously.

Satisfied, Harry tapped his com-badge. "Harry to Raptor, two to beam up."

"I'm not able to do that Captain." Transporter Chief O'bren replied over the speaker. "The interference from the storm is making it impossible to get a target lock. I'll notify the bridge. We may have to get a bit closer to pick you up."

"We'll be down here. Let us know when you are ready," Harry sighed.

"Raptor?" Tara said, a bit woozy from her injury. "You really have a lot of explaining to do...."

* * *

Later

O'mara walked over to Terri's station and tapped her on the shoulder. Terri looked up at her and shut off the earwig attached to one of her spines.

"What's up?" She said, smiling.

"Thanks for earlier," O'mara said quietly.

"Don't worry about it," Terri said, quickly typing in a command on her console. "I see you struggling over there, although it would do you good to relax."

"I would...but Rivas is...well kinda scary," O'mara said.

"Don?" Terri giggled. "He's more irritable than anything. You two aren't that much different. He just gets pissed where you get nervous. Look, I've been with this ship longer than you, so believe me when I say there are worse things out here than him."

Rivas gently cleared his throat. He was standing behind them. Terri gave him a sideways glance. "Sir, all decks are reporting ready."

Rivas raised an eyebrow, amused. "Well then, if you two wouldn't mind, we need to drop to a lower altitude. Take your station, Ms. O'mara."

"Sir," O'mara said, scuttling off to the science station.

Terri shot him a look and something unspoken was said between them followed by a sigh from Rivas.

Rivas walked towards the command deck and stopped halfway to the seat. "Our helmsman may need an extra set of eyes to get us down a bit safer. If you wouldn't mind assisting, science officer, it would be greatly appreciated."

"N-n-no! I wouldn't mind at all," O'mara said, feeling slightly more confident.

"Then by all means, Ms. O'mara, give them a hand," Rivas said. "Alright helm, take us down nice and easy, don't want to make this too bumpy for the away team. Transporter room, stand by for beam up."

He watched the viewer as the world of Algion Prime grew ever larger and felt the ship shudder as they descended.into the atmosphere of the turbulent planet below.

* * *

"As far as I can tell, Commander," Doctor Okan stated, "that person sitting on the biobed is Tara Torress." He pointed to the Confederation database, which displayed information. "She may not be the one you knew, but she's identical, give or take a few serious injuries. Although I can't explain how."

"Well, I'll talk to her and see what I can find out." Harry said, leaving the doctor's office and going into the O.R. "How are you feeling?" He said warmly to Tara, who was sitting on the biobed in a patient's robe.

"Well, a lot better. He reset the leg I broke and patched up a few wounds that have been giving me trouble for the past month," she said happily, "now, if it's okay with you guys, I could use some food and a nice long hot shower."

Harry nodded. "I'll see to it that you're assigned quarters. They're not much, but they will do."

"But first 'Commander' tell me how you got to be Commander."

"Well first off, I think you'd better read this, my friend," he said, handing her a datapad.

Tara regarded him oddly and then took the pad and activated it. After watching it for about five minutes she shut it down and placed it on the biobed.

"That can't be," she muttered, "I remember it so clear! The date was 347512.2...I was down here getting the others out as the window was closing. Then I remember beaming out, but the next thing I knew...I was still here. But, why were you surprised to see me down there?"

"Because you, or a duplicate of you, beamed up to Phoenix and we left," said Harry, "that's why."

"What?"

Harry sighed and sat down on the biobed beside her. "The Tara I know is no longer in Starfleet. She was badly injured during a deep space mission. The last time I spoke to her, she was the chief protocol manager for Starbase 001...and that was a year ago. Ever since then, she's been MIA."

"Well I can assure you, Harry, I've been stuck on that rock for several years."

"Be it as it may, we are still looking into this. I have assigned you your quarters and you can feel free to walk around."

"How about a tour, Commander?" Tara offered. "This ship seems pretty new and I'd love to see all of it."

"Maybe," Harry smiled.

"Commander Martinez, your presence is requested on the bridge," Terri Lu's voice announced over the intercom.

"I need to be going," Harry said, getting off the biobed. "We'll talk later."

Tara nodded. "I'm sure of it...and Harry?"

"Yes?"

"What happened to your accent?"

"Like I said...later," he smiled.

* * *

The Raptor did a slight roll as another wash of intense energy struck it's shielding and shook the ship slightly. The storm below was gradually becoming worse. Harry kept his eyes fixed on the screen. Ten people were down there on that base at the moment, trying to recover whatever information they could from its computer core. On the viewer, the flashes of brilliant lightning created an almost psychedelic atmosphere.

"That was a little rough. Anything to report?" Harry asked, setting his coffee cup back down.

"No damage, a few minor power fluctuations," Rivas said calmly.

"Ok, Ms. O'mara? How much more of a window do we have with this storm?"

"It's not certain, maybe hours...maybe less," O'mara said frustratedly. "I've not seen anything like this before. I think, though, if we can re-polarize the shields we might be able to shunt some of these EM bursts off of us."

"Good idea. Get to work on it," Harry said as the ship shook again and the lights dimmed. "Sooner is preferable to later, Lieutenant."

"Message from the surface sir," Terri Lu suddenly said.

"On screen," Harry said.

"Commander, we have a problem," Jakar announced. "It appears that the information we're required to retrieve is inaccessible."

"How do you mean?" Harry demanded.

"Well, the primary computer core network has been severed by a fault that is impassable. We can't even link up to it."

"Well recover what you can," said Harry. "We only have eight hours before that window closes. I'd hate to leave empty-handed, but it'll have to do."

Jakar nodded and the screen winked out.

* * *

Tara's quarters were about as spartan as they could be. It was a small room, big enough for two people if they could tolerate each other. It had bunk beds, two small workspaces, and storage trunks on the opposite walls. To top it off, there was a combination food/materials replicator at the front of the room. Also, along the ceiling, there were extra storage lockers, but beyond that it was pretty bare. The ship also had strange background sounds and oftentimes smelled like machinery. Everything about this strange ship screamed that its primary purpose was battle.

The experience of the small communal shower stalls had been interesting though. Apparently, there had been a few policy changes in her absence. She felt much better after getting a few weeks of blood and grime off her. It had been a while since she had managed to get a sonic shower even functional back on Algion. It was nice to have a real, water shower for once, possibly a matter of Captain's preference, done quietly and off the books. Harry never did like the sonic ones.

She liked the new uniforms too. The taters of her bright yellow with black trim one-piece uniform had been replaced by a yellow sleeved tunic, black with grey shoulders and a small stripe of yellow, and black slacks. Initially, she had thought they might be uncomfortable, but the material was light and breathed fairly well.

She replicated a rather modest meal and sat down and tried to get caught up on the last five years. Tara called up the service record and started to read.

The Phoenix had been on a few more adventures since she last saw it and she had been made Commander at one point. There were a few notable things that her double had accomplished, and she was a bit envious. Then there was a classified section she couldn't access. Her double had been severely wounded during the Phoenix's last mission and had been badly burned by plasma. She looked at the last known file picture of herself and saw one side of her face was heavily scarred. For reasons unknown, she'd opted to not have reconstructive surgery.

There was also another difference, something in her double's eyes had changed. They had a more stark and cold look to them, something she was used to seeing in the mirror. Whatever had changed her had probably separated anything they might have had in common. Yet, what if she was the copy? The thought alone disturbed her.

From what she could tell, everything had pretty much proceeded as it would have up till the accident. What terrible event was so bad that it was classified?

She called up the old ships and then cross-referenced them with a personal database and only managed to find ten names out of two hundred and fifty.

She quickly called up any Fednet news stories on it. The only one she found was about the survivors of the Phoenix being found in escape pods after drifting for a few days. There, in the picture, was Harry watching over her doppelganger as EMTs rushed her out of the pod and the few other survivors were being examined. The headline said something about a catastrophic accident that caused the Phoenix to be destroyed.

She suddenly began to feel uneasy and restless and needed to get out of her quarters for a while. She stepped out into the corridor and caught herself as the deck pitched slightly.

The ship was on yellow alert, so most of the crew were at their stations. She could feel the pulse of the ship's engines through the deck plates and figured she was not far from engineering. She walked towards the back of the ship and found a small, improvised lounge. Three crewmen were sitting around apparently relaxing, oblivious to the ship's shaking, or at least trying to be. They did, however, immediately act busy once they saw her pips.

"At ease. I'm not even on duty," Tara said dismissively.

They relaxed a little, mainly because on a ship as small as the Raptor if they don't know you, you aren't part of the crew.

"You're the one the Captain found down there aren't you?" A Catarian engineer said snapping his paw fingers, "Torress yeah?"

"Yeah," Tara replied.

"Well, Commander, welcome to what we call the Warrens."

Tara laughed. "How appropriate. And you are?

"Lt. Remmick, system operations," the Catarian purred. "This is Specialists Rydel and Briggs." He said motioning to the other female echidna and male brown and white-colored Cornerian Canine.

"Nice to meet you," Tara said. "I was just going a little stir crazy in my quarters and wanted to get around an engine again."

"Well, don't take it the wrong way, but you better watch out for the Chief," Remmick noted. "She doesn't like anyone messing around with her ship without her consent."

"Who's the Chief?" Tara asked.

"The Fennec with the attitude," Jenna snickered.

"Well, let her hear that, and we'll all be on dock duty," Briggs muttered.

Suddenly, the deck pitched forward and the red alert sounded. Then it pitched back up again. Tara fell on her face and the others fell too and fro as well. The engines began to make a high pitched whine.

"I guess that means it's back to work," Remmick said.

"Trust me, let me help," Tara said.

"Fine. You come with me and help monitor the damn G-Stabilizer systems. I'm sure that little lovetap played hell with them."

* * *

"Damage report!" Harry barked.

"The starboard deflector array has disintegrated," Rivas shouted. "Trying to re-route the shields."

"What was the cause of it?" Harry asked.

"There appears to be a massive iridium dust buildup forming on the shield bubble. The particles probably caused the feedback loop." O'mara reported.

"Captain, we still don't have attitude control," Land quickly shouted. "Engineering! I need that impulse unit back up as soon as possible!"

Harry quickly called up a ship's display and frowned at the sea of red. "Mr. Rivas, engage the attack mode. Mr. Land, punch it as soon as we come online."

"Aye Sir!"

"All systems ready," Rivas reported.

"Engage!" Harry ordered.

As the Raptor continued its plummet, the engine cowlings parted and the weapon ports emerged as the vessel switched to its alternate mode. With a surge of power, it quickly pulled out of its dive and plowed back into the storm for the higher atmosphere. There was a collective sigh of relief on the bridge as the storm shrank down to a large blot on the globe without the Raptor in it.

"How bad are we hurt," Harry asked, wiping his brow.

"Damage has been restricted to the deflector emitter," Rivas calmly reported. "No hull breeches. Starboard nacelle is showing minor power fluctuations. Engineering is already looking into it."

Harry scratched his head, he was hoping it wouldn't be this difficult.

"Captain, I've lost contact with the team down below," Terri said frustrated. "The storm is blocking our transmissions."

"I have a suggestion," O'mara said quietly.

"By all means," Harry said, keeping his eyes fixed on the viewer.

"If...if we use a tachyon p-p-pulse, I might be able to punch through the storm...possibly even use it for beaming too," O'mara said as she fidgeted nervously. "It would take some work, but I think we can modify our deflector for it."

"Then get on it right away Lieutenant," Harry said. "Time is not on our side."

"Right, sir, yes sir," O'mara said, quickly getting up and exiting the bridge.

"Bridge to engineering, our science officer might need some assistance with the deflector dish," Harry said over the coms, "can you spare anyone at the moment?"

"Not right now sir, we got a lot of problems as it is at the moment," Fara replied.

"Captain," Tara's voice said over the com.

"Tara?" Harry asked.

"Yes," she replied, "what is your science officer trying to do?"

Harry grinned. He didn't think she would stay in her quarters too long. Much like the Tara he knew, she was not one to be on her laurels long.

"Ms. Torress," he said, "are you still familiar with deflectors?"

"I was only away for five years! I don't think the tech has changed that much." Tara replied.

"Good. Meet Ms. O'mara at deflector control, if you don't mind."

"Ok, I'll be there in a few moments," Tara replied, cutting out.

"Mr. Land, get us back into geosynchronous orbit and hold us at our original position," Harry said, sitting back in the command chair.

"Aye sir! We're not planning on diving back down in that mess are we again?" Land asked.

"Ah, but the day is still young," Harry smirked before he turned to glare at the screen.

Land just groaned.

* * *

A while later

"Are you sure it's done?" O'mara asked, looking forlornly at a small pile of feathers that had molted.

Tara wiped a bead of sweat off her brow and leaned up against the bulkhead. The deflector maintenance room was quite hot due to all the conduits powering the main deflector. The main array was pulled out into the center of the room, with only enough space for two people to work on each side.

"Go ahead and activate it," Tara said. "Your idea, so you get the honors."

O'mara nodded and activated the tachyon emitter. She quickly scanned it. "Readings are nominal."

"Captain Harry," Tara said, tapping her badge, smirking at trying to be formal with him. She let O'mara step aside as she heaved the equipment trunk past, sliding easily back into place. "Your emitter is ready to go."

"Good work you two. Have Ms. O'mara come back up here, you stay there just in case."

"Sure, no problem.I like being down here in the stifling heat," Tara huffed, putting away her tools as she watched the avian go. She started to head back towards the storage locker when she noticed some strange noises coming from an access trunk. She could smell burning components and could feel the heat coming off it and quickly scanned it. There had been a power surge and one of the main procession nodes had overloaded.

"Computer," she queried, "why isn't there an alarm for sub-junction..." she panned her eyes along the wall till she found the ID tag, "SJ 309?"

"THAT SUB JUNCTION IS CLASSIFIED. RESTRICTED ACCESS ONLY."

"Yeah, but you do realize it's malfunctioning don't you?" Tara asked, frowning at the readings.

"STANDBY. LEVEL ONE DIAGNOSTIC SHOWS NO MALFUNCTION."

"Whatever," Tara huffed, quickly pulling out her tools and setting to work removing a small cutting torch and removing the lock. Within a few moments, the panel was on the floor.

* * *

O'mara arrived on the bridge and quickly took her station. "One moment sir, I have to bring the system back up."

"Understood," Harry nodded, feeling a bit relieved. It seemed that when his science officer had her head buried in her work, she was a lot less flakey.

"Captain, the system is online," O'mara said proudly, sitting back in her chair.

"Good work. Mr. Rivas, activate the tachyon stream, Ms. Lu, open up a com channel."

"Channel open," Terri reported.

The image on the screen changed to a hazy image of Jakar.

"Captain, what happened?" He asked flatly.

"Just some rough seas," Harry replied. "What's your status?"

"The information we have been sent to retrieve is housed deep within the core," Jakar replied.

"How do you mean?"

"We have to go deeper into the base with a proper retrieval unit to get it."

"Have you tried?" Harry asked.

"We have sir, but all paths to the central core are cut off."

Harry rubbed his forehead. He had an idea of how they might be able to get that data, but he didn't want to do it. Every minute that passed was one step closer to not getting that research.

"Keep trying and we'll see what we can come up with up here, just be careful."

"Understood, sir," Jakar replied and the channel closed.

* * *

Whatever this mangled mess of strange technology was, it was something Tara had never seen before. A strange green and black node seemed to have overheated and burst, corroding the primary connections to the ship's computer. If she hadn't had caught it, it could have destroyed the resonator controlling the plasma conduit that ran behind the wall. She was able to remove most of the strange contaminant and finally got the computer to acknowledge there was a problem after she jumped the connection to the monitoring sensor.

"Ok, that should do it," Tara said, looking at her work.

"REGENERATIVE SEQUENCE INITIATED, PLEASE STAND CLEAR." The computer suddenly announced. She stood back and watched as within a few moments all the damage had suddenly been repaired.

"Excuse me, what do you think you're doing?" Fara's annoyed voice asked.

Tara turned from the open compartment. "Well, your computer had no idea that this," she found herself at a loss for words, "thing was malfunctioning. I had to cross-connect a few diodes and it fixed itself."

She watched the damage slowly disappear. It was like watching a video feed run backward. Fara's scowl softened only slightly when she recognized who it was. "Well, better you than one of my newbies floating around here. Let me help you put that cover back on."

Together they lifted the panel and snapped it back into place. Fara frowned at seeing the security lock melted.

"I'll forgive that if you replace it," Fara groused, folding her arms in front of her.

"Don't worry I will, I think the matter was bad enough it could be forgiven." Tara took a glance at her rank insignia and inwardly cursed. Whoever this was they outranked her and that's all she needed right now was getting a dressing down on top of everything else.

"I remember you being on the away team, Chief Engineer...Phoenix?"

"Bingo." Fara nodded.

"Look, I wasn't trying to cause any problems. I'm just trying to make myself useful, and just stumbled onto this after fixing the deflector.

"Just fix the lock when you have time." Fara said. "Right now I need another experienced engineer. I looked into your record and liked what I saw," Fara replied, "your captain had pretty high praise for you when you were chief on the Phoenix. It's a shame your other self got it in her head to be a Command officer. You probably would have ended up on this project. So, I guess what I'm getting at is, would you mind giving us a hand?"

Tara sighed, relieved. "Sure. I'm not a part of the crew, but I'd rather be working than sitting around feeling like someone else's shadow."

"That's all I needed to hear, come on." Fara smiled.

* * *

A few hours later

Harry had called a conference in Raptor's small ready room. Jakar was on the main screen, still on the surface. Fara and Tara had been called as well.

"We've made every attempt to safely try to retrieve the facilities data dump without any success. Chief Jakar reports that the base is becoming even more unstable due to increased seismic activity in the region. However, the fleet command is pressing me hard to recover whatever it is that is down in that core. I would rather take what we do have and get out of here. We still have at least two hours left at my last check, so I need some ideas." Harry said, opening the floor for any ideas.

"Captain, with everything cut off, the only way to get the data is to take a portable core in there and do a hard extraction." Tara said simply. "I know we couldn't beam down to it, but I'm sure I could take a small team down and retrieve it."

"Jakar?" Harry asked, looking up at the screen.

"I would not advise it, sir. I've already pulled most of the teams back here for transport."

"Fara?" Harry asked.

"Tara is right," Fara shrugged, "a portable is easy enough to lug around, usually takes a specialist to run it though."

"How long does it take?"

Fara scratched her head. "Usually no more than ten or twenty minutes. They work pretty fast."

Harry hmmed and leaned his chin on his paws, lacing his fingers together.

"Come on, I'm sure we could pull it off," Tara said confidently.

"Ms. O'mara, what are your estimates on the time we have left for our window?" Harry asked.

"M-m-maybe another forty-five minutes...tops...before beaming is impossible," O'mara said. "However that is only a rough...rough estimate."

"There is another way sir," Fara said, "we could take the ship down to the surface. Without all that ionization, we should be able to transport at short range."

"I don't think so," Harry said. "This mission has already been a little more difficult than it should have been. I agree with Jakar that the risk is getting a little too high for my tastes. We're going to pull out of here as soon as Jakar's people are safely back on my ship."

"But Captain..." Fara began.

"My orders are final. If the fleet wants that data back, they'll have to come back in another five years and get it. This ship is not built for this type of operation and the only reason we are on this assignment is due to our proximity to the location," Harry said, standing up. "Jakar, get your people rounded up. We'll be dropping down to beam you in a few moments."

"Understood sir," Jakar said, cutting off the transmission.

"Dismissed," Harry said. O'mara and everyone but Fara and Tara quickly left.

"Sir, it really wouldn't be a problem to do it," Fara said, standing up. "I'm sure Tara knows the layout better than anyone and she'd probably be able to get us there safely."

"I've already made my decision, Chief," Harry said firmly.

"But Ha--sir--I know that place well I'm..." Tara said tripping over herself trying to interject.

"That will be enough, both of you. I'm not going to take unnecessary risks just for some computer data that may as well be lost," Harry said sternly. "That's the end of it. Get back to Engineering Fara. It's going to be a rough trip down."

Fara glared slightly and then said, "Yes sir." She got up and left the ready room.

Tara watched her go and waited for the door to close. "Harry? What's up? You know I'm right."

"Tara, the last thing you need to be doing is trying to be a hero," Harry said firmly. "Just help where you can for now, ok, and stay out of trouble."

"Sure...." Tara replied.

Harry didn't look too convinced as she left the ready room. Tara skulked outside and stopped when she saw Fara leaning against the wall.

"Are you dead certain we could get down there and do the retrieval?" Fara asked levelly.

"Are you kidding me? I've already got the damn route mapped out in my head." Tara scoffed.

"Good. I'm going to round up my tech and you meet me down in the shuttle bay in about five minutes, ok?" Fara said. "And try to stay off the main com channel if you have to contact me."

Tara nodded. "I'll go get a few things and meet you there."

* * *

The Raptor slowly made a second descent down into the maelstrom of Algion's stormy atmosphere.

"You two are going to get me in a lot of trouble," Jenna Rydel said as she powered up the cargo transporter. "The captain will probably have our hides for this."

"Don't you worry about it," Fara said as she and Lt. Briggs stepped up onto the platform with Tara. "I will take full responsibility."

"I still don't like doing this," Jenna said with a worried tone.

"Just keep an eye on that altimeter. We're going to start beaming as soon as the ship stops descending and starts heading back into the upper atmosphere. When the ship starts beaming people up, send us down."

Moments later they beamed to the surface.

"Chief? What are you doing here?" Jakar said, astonished as they materialized.

"Tara remembered that there was one other thing that they forgot the last time that we can retrieve," Fara replied.

"I haven't been informed about this," Jakar said warily.

"Well, I don't have time to stand around and argue," Fara said, shoving a finger into his chest. "Just let us get it done! We'll be right up after you."

She shoved past him with Briggs and Tara in tow.

"I will have to inform the captain," Jakar glared.

"Fine! You do that!" Fara shouted over her shoulder.

Jakar shot them a stern glare and then hit his combadge. "Jakar to Commander Martinez, Priority One."

* * *

"They did what?" Harry barked, getting out of the command chair and approaching the viewer.

"They did, sir, just a moment ago...Fara and Ms. Torress and Ensign Briggs beamed down and headed for one of the access corridors and we haven't seen them since," Jakar grunted on the screen.

"Why didn't you stop them?" Harry demanded.

"Did you want me to stun them, sir?" Jakar said, raising a brow.

"No, but next time, yes. Just get your team rounded up and ready for transport." Harry growled.

Suddenly the ship pitched and Land cursed as he frantically tried to get control of the ship as the alarm sounded. "Damn! It's another one of them ion bursts!"

"Damnit Tara! That's all I need...you and Fara's combined ambitions causing me problems." Harry sighed, rubbing his head in frustration.

"Excuse me, sir?" Jakar smirked on the screen.

"Never mind! Tell everyone to be ready to evacuate in twenty minutes. Raptor out," Harry said, closing the channel. "Lieutenant O'mara, try to figure out a way to keep that window open using whatever means it takes. I have a feeling this routine mission is going to turn chaotic."

"I will try my best sir," O'mara replied.

"Ms. Lu," Harry asked, "can do you anything to punch through that damn interference so we can get a hold of them?"

"I'm working on it, sir," Terri said calmly. "Even with what we do have on this ship, it is going to be difficult."

* * *

Tara had gotten them down to the core in record time. It had been fairly easy getting down to it. There were only a few scary parts, like the small access bridge that was barely hanging on, but Tara reassured them she had fixed it enough to support their weight. Then there were a few narrow squeezes, but they arrived relatively intact with only a few bumps and bruises.

"C'mon C'mon..." Fara grumbled, drumming her fingers on the panel. "It should be done by now! Briggs! What's going on?"

"I don't know. The core is relatively intact...it's just whatever is in it is freaking huge," Briggs complained.

"What were they studying down here?" Fara wondered.

"I have no idea. I was only here when they evacuated," Tara said thoughtfully. "I guess it was some sort of weapons development or something."

"Well, whatever it is...it's big," Briggs growled.

Suddenly the whole place shook.

"What the hell was that?" Fara exclaimed.

"An earthquake," Tara muttered. "This is what happened last time...when..."

Suddenly she stood up and headed for the corridor.

"Where are you going?" Fara asked as she left.

Moments later Tera returned and announced, "The bridge just collapsed. We're trapped!"

* * *

Harry was pacing around the bridge. He had three crewmen potentially stranded deep within the planet and no way to retrieve them. The transporter signal was becoming weaker by the moment as the window closed. The ship was being tossed about like a rag doll, even with its enhanced G-Stabilizer system.

"Captain, I'm receiving a message from the surface," Terri Lu said, "it's Ms. Phoenix."

"About time," Harry growled. "Put it on screen."

The screen flickered and Harry straightened up and looked sternly at the screen as the image wavered.

"Chief," he said stiffly.

"Hello Captain," Fara said wanly on the screen.

"Where are you and why did it take so long for you to report back? We've been trying to raise you for at least half an hour.!"

"We're down in the lower parts of the installation and, unfortunately, we seem to be stuck."

Harry glared. He was pissed at her and it was taking all the control he had not to show it. Despite his best efforts, she could feel the daggers from his glare through the display.

"We do have the data packet," Fara added, "the whole thing."

"Understood. Now, what are you going to do to get out of there? We do not have much time left," Harry said. "Have you checked to see if there are any other exit routes through the base?"

"Well...there is one way," Fara's voice said statically over the link, "but you're not going to like it."

"Fara, we don't have a lot of time for alternatives," Harry replied, "so let's hear it."

"Tara says that there is an access tunnel that leads to a shuttle landing pad on the surface. She says it is rather large and there is no way to miss it. The problem though is, our way might be cut off due to that last quake."

"Mr. Rivas," Harry said.

"Chief Phoenix is correct," Rivas reported. "There is a landing pad structure, but it appears most of the shelter has been damaged by the storms and there would be no protection from the elements."

"You do realize that the surface temperature is negative 170 Celsius, don't you?" Harry said, turning towards the screen. "You'd freeze in minutes!"

"The other option isn't much better," Fara replied.

"But we're already losing transporter locks as it is," Harry replied. "The ionization is making transport extremely risky."

"What about planetfall?" Tara's voice spoke up. "Look, if that ship of yours can drop below the upper atmosphere then the disturbance wouldn't be as bad."

"The Raptor isn't a Darian class," Harry interjected. "We can't just simply fly down there and pick you up."

"Technically you can," Fara spoke up, "when I built that ship, the Fleet Command raised all sorts of hell about giving it the ability to be as versatile as an Urthean Scutta. I made all the Ospnecessary modifications to the ship so, believe me, it can fly in the atmosphere."

"Sounds like a plan to me," Land said from the conn, "I say we get our people out of there now and do what the little lady suggests."

"Since when did you start giving orders around here," Harry growled, sitting in the command chair.

"Sorry, sir," Land said, turning back to his work and shutting his mouth.

"Jakar, get your people out of there," Harry ordered before opening a shipwide channel. "Attention! All hands to Battlestations. Mr. Land, I hope you are still familiar with atmospheric flight?"

"Are you kidding?" Land said eagerly. " I think I can figure out how to fly this brick through an atmosphere...should be a piece of cake...."

"We'll send a signal as soon as we arrive," Tara announced over the com.

"How long will it take to get to the landing pad," Harry asked.

"I don't know...ten, fifteen minutes tops." Tara said, appearing on the screen. "We'd have to book it, but I think we can do it."

"Transporter room is Lt. Jakar and his team back on board," Harry asked.

"O'bren here. Yes they are sir, they just got back."

"The clock starts now. We'll begin our descent," Harry said. "Don't be late."

"We'll be there as soon as we can," Tara said.

"All hands! Blue alert. If you don't know what it is, ask someone who does." Harry announced. "Mr. Land, take us down."

"Aye aye," Land said, pitching the Raptor's bow towards the planet and entering the atmosphere. Soon the hull began to shake as it entered the ion storm.

"I might want to warn you, sir, this is the first time I've flown a battleship into a full blown ion storm!" Land announced as the Raptor pitched violently, nearly throwing him from his seat.

"Now he tells us!" Harry grumbled. "Shields to full power!"

"The base is about 100 kilometers in front of us," Rivas noted, "and we are approaching at full impulse."

"How much time has passed?" Harry demanded over the roar of the ship's engines.

"About five minutes," Rivas answered.

` "Slow us down, Mr. Land. I don't want to overshoot them," said Harry.

"Are you kidding?" Land exclaimed. "I don't want to end up stuck here, crashed on the surface!"

"That's why you're flying this ship mister!" Harry snapped back. "So I suggest you shut up and fly!"

* * *

Tara, Fara, and Briggs sprinted up the steep, dimly lit corridor. Debris and conduit fragments littered the space and they did their best to avoid falling over them. The data retrieval unit had been left behind and the storage module was being carried by Briggs, who ran in between them.

* * *

The Raptors engines whined as the ship bucked and shuddered through its plunge into the swirling maelstrom. The descent so far had been very rough and the ship felt like it was being shaken to pieces.

"Range?" Harry asked.

"We will be there in approximately five minutes," Jakar reported.

* * *

A phaser blast shattered the door that led to the landing pad from the remains of the control shelter. Tara, Fara and Briggs climbed out into the howling wind and stinging snow. Sweat began to frost as soon as it touched the super frigid air. It was so cold it nearly sucked the breath from their lungs. The landing pad creaked as the winds tore at it. Tara looked up and saw the massive storm that reached far up into the sky, threatening to devour the base.

All three of them huddled together as close as they could, for what good it did, and activated the beacon.

* * *

"I'm picking up the signal!" Jakar announced. "We are within safe transport range."

"Beam them directly to sickbay!" Harry ordered.

Seconds of silence passed as the only thing that could be heard was the roar of the fierce storm outside the ship.

"We got them!" Jakar announced.

"Get us out of here full impulse!"

The Raptor immediately began its accent and within a few moments, it was back in the relative safety of space.

"Damage report," Harry asked.

"Hull stress fractures on decks 4 and 5 and shields are down to 44 percent," Jakar replied, "repair systems online."

"Stand down from the red alert. I'll be in sickbay if anyone needs me," Harry said getting out of the captain's chair.

* * *

"That's the last time I'm ever doing that," Fara chartered as the doctor healed the frostbite on her ears. "That air was colder than hell! I don't think we would have lasted another few seconds!"

"It's nothing a dermal regenerator can't repair," Dr. Okan said patiently. "It's just severe frostbite, at least it only affected your extremities."

"That idea was crazy, both of you," Harry stated, turning to Tara.

"Sometimes crazy works," Tara smiled, draped in a thermal blanket and sipping a hot cup of coffee. She had a few derma patches on her face. Briggs looked no worse than the two of them.

Harry huffed. "Unfortunately, due to acting contrary to my orders, I'm going to have to put the three of you in the brig." He turned to Fara. "Next time, if you pull something like that, I don't care if you are my Chief Engineer and the project coordinator. I will have you removed from duty, permanently. Is that clear?"

Fara looked as if she wanted to say something back, but sighed and nodded her head. "Clear, Captain."

Jakar then stepped with two other security officers.

"Harry," Tara objected, "we got the data! Isn't that a little..."

"Ms. Torress, you are not in a position to question my decisions," Harry said sternly, showing a faint look of hurt. "If you'll accompany Mister Jakar...please."

Jakar motioned for her to come along with him.

"Can I ask one question, what happened to the base?" Tara said, stopping and turning towards him.

"We've been monitoring it. The storm has destroyed it." Harry replied. "All that's left to do is to go home."

"Yeah, home...I guess," Tara said with a faint smile, setting her cup on a stand and being led out with the others by security.

Harry watched them go and then leaned back on a biobed and rubbed his head.

"Commander?" Dr. Okan said, walking up to him once everyone was gone. "I found something that might interest you."

"What might that be?" Harry asked.

"Well, I had to do some digging into the records to find the Phoenix's sensor logs and I discovered that during the initial beam out, the confinement beam doubled as you were being beamed up to the Phoenix. This beam ran parallel to the original but, unlike the original, it was reflected, and she materialized on the surface."

"So she's a transporter made clone?" Harry asked, a little startled.

"In a way...more of an exact copy. Up until that time, the Tara you see here and the one you know were the same person, except that this one rematerialized on the surface. The other rematerialized on the Phoenix."

"Identical in every way," Harry smirked. He had assumed as much. "Thank you, Doctor. I'll share that with her when she's released. They won't need any further treatment will they?"

"No, if I thought they were in danger, I wouldn't have let you hauled them off," Okan said. "They might be a tad uncomfortable as they heal up, but nothing they can't deal with."

Harry chuckled. Despite the problems they encountered, Fleet HQ was going to be thrilled that they had managed to accomplish the mission.

Suddenly the com broke in. "Rivas to Martinez, repairs are finished and we're just about to break orbit."

"Then by all means, Commander, let's go home" Harry replied.

"Aye, sir."

* * *

Much Later

Almost two weeks had passed. Tara was eventually returned to duty and she had filed for a transfer. During that time she caught up with Harry. She didn't harbor any ill will towards him for her time in the brig. She was just shocked he had done it. Apparently, due to circumstances, she had gotten off fairly light, with only one disciplinary action put on her record.

Tara didn't want to be stuck on a station. She said being in one place too long just wasn't her thing. Harry had to pull some strings and make some calls, but he did manage to find a place for her.

As for finding out about the transporter accident that created her, Tara took it quite well, or as well as one could take it.

* * *

The chime to his quarters rang and Harry went to answer. Tara was standing outside. Over her shoulder, she had a small duffel bag.

Harry looked her up and down. "You got the assignment?"

"Yeah!" Tara said excitedly. "Thanks."

"Don't think you are getting off that easy," Harry said. "Captain Dicola is quite headstrong. You two will probably be butting heads a lot."

"She must be desperate for a chief engineer."

"Well, I gave you a glowing recommendation. I hope you've gotten caught up on your technical readings?"

"I got a whole bag full of 'em. I don't think I'll have too much trouble catching up," she sighed and smiled. "It'll be almost like old times again."

Harry nodded. "Yeah...wish I could say the same."

Tara looked down at the floor then back at his eyes. "I haven't been around, and I know a lot has happened to you and.." she reached up and gently touched the side of his face. "You aren't the same kid I knew back then. You have your own command now and people who look up to you. If I stay around, it... it would be complicated."

Harry nodded and grasped her hand.

"I've also put in to have my name changed," Tara said. "If I'm going to set off on a different path than my other self, I need my own name. That way, I'm not living in their shadow."

"What are you changing it to?" Harry asked.

"Ariel," she said, "you like it?"

"It's beautiful but," Harry frowned, "isn't that your middle name?"

Ariel nodded. "Yeah, it'll take some getting used to."

There was a moment of silence.

"When are you leaving?" He asked.

"Within the hour," Ariel smiled, "I would like some company...if you don't mind?"

"Of course not," Harry replied.

"Oh, I forgot something," Ariel said, checking the corridor.

"What's that--"

Tara then hugged him and gave him an affectionate and deep kiss.

"Thank you for coming to rescue me," she whispered, "I somehow knew you'd find me."

Harry flushed, a bit taken off guard, but smiled. "Anytime...for you."

"Well," Ariel smiled, "ready?"

"Yeah, lead the way," Harry smiled back.

And together they headed for the docking ring.

The End