The Amazing Captain Jaenke: Romulan Menace

[Erich Jaenke 0]

The Amazing Captain Jaenke: Romulan Menace

Impressive Abbingdon and Impeccable Jaenke

 

Tess braced against the bulkhead as energy beams sprayed a net from one end of the corridor to the other.

 

“Captain Jaenke! Captain Jaenke! Are you all right?” she called into the shadows. No one answered.

 

Smoke from extensive damage blurred her vision, but she strained against it, hoping beyond hope that she wasn't the only one left. Suddenly the barrage lulled and the smoke cleared. Dropping into a semi-crouch, she glanced up and down the passageway before zig-zagging toward the j-tube access panel that should take them to the bridge - unless the bridge was gone, which was entirely possible.

 

Fighting had been hot and heavy for hours, their team whittled from seventeen to three in short order. Now there were two: Erich Jaenke, valiant Captain of the premiere Starfleet BlackOps ship, USS Manticore, a highly decorated officer, expert marksman and bodybuilder par excellence, and Tess Abbingdon, his trusty sidekick and Number One, holding back a horde of Romulans that swarmed the ship from stem to stern.

 

The captain’s bloodied hand suddenly reached out from under a mangled bulkhead. “Over here Commander! Th-they mustn’t be allowed to find the Caffieneigenic weapon in our cargo bay. The fate of the galaxy is at stake!”

 

Finally spotting her captain, her leader, the man whom she admired above all, Tess scrambled down the hall in his direction, dodging debris until she skid to a stop, kneeling beside him.

 

“Thanks Tess, I can always count on you.” His breathing came in heavy gasps, more from the intense firefight than from any injury he had endured. He only required a bit of help. “We need to get to the bridge, but I need your phaser first.” He held out his hand.

 

Tess handed it over. “What happened to yours?”

 

“Down the throat of that Romulan SubCommander on deck 20.”

 

Erich reached out with his mind and knew the Romulans were closing in. He turned his head to fire a single shot at a Romulan just exiting the turbolift down the corridor. The single burst hit the ill-fated invader square in the forehead.

 

“You’re the greatest shot in the sector,” Tess said, her eyes steeled in admiration.

 

“I’m probably the best in the quadrant, but I don’t like to boast,” Erich smirked. Without looking, he fired off another shot, hitting another Romulan right in the gullet. “We need to get control of the ship. This way.”

 

Grabbing her hand, he led her to the j-tube access panel. It drew them closer to the Romulan-filled lift, but the Captain covered the Commander as she attempted to remove the access cover. It wouldn’t budge. She ran her fingers over it, grabbing at every corner and the only side accessible. No manner of gnashing of teeth opened the panel. Nothing.

 

“What’s the problem?”

 

“This door. It must be sealed with a superconductor,” Tess replied as she pulled with all her might, then slammed her fist. “It won’t open,” she said finally.

 

Meeting his gaze, her eyes resolute, she said in earnest, “There’s only one thing to do, Captain.” She hesitated, then pressed ahead, “No matter who sees it, you must use your secret power. It’s the only way.”

 

“Who told you of my dark secret? No matter. When the galaxy is counting on you it’s not the time to ask questions.” Captain Jaenke then gave one of his legendary smiles. Women from Betazed to Talos recognize its effects, but are powerless to resist. Certainly not Tess.

 

“I’ll get the panel,” the Captain boasted. “Hold my phaser.” He handed over the weapon and grabbed hold of the panel with both hands. With a single decisive pull and his secret 12-cup percolating power the panel released its hold. Erich tossed it aside with little effort. “Good to the last pull.”

 

Tess fired a shot down the corridor. Erich used his toned body to shield her as she ducked into the j-tube. “Ladies first.”

 

“Aye, Sir,” she replied, rendering a smart salute to her hero, the man who would some day rise to great heights in Starfleet, in the Federation, in the galaxy….

 

Her chest heaved as she breathed an audible sigh and ducked into the J-tube, the captain following close behind.

 

“What’s the plan, Sir?” she breathed. “I know you have a plan. You always do.”

 

“Get to the bridge where the Romulan scum have taken over the ship and destroy the Caffieneigenic weapon, all in less than 3,000 words.”

 

Tess stopped and looked down in disbelief. “In less than 3,000 words, Sir? Only you would have such an audacious strategy. We’ll make short work of them.”

 

As they reached the ladder going up, his perfectly white teeth glinted in the bright j-tube lighting, the torn portion of his uniform tunic revealing his signature bulging pecs that rippled as they laughed in triumph. Tess took the rungs swiftly as he closed the hatch behind them; not even scattered debris and white-hot rungs deterred them. Despite their anguish, they pushed on, vaulting from one level to the next when the rungs gave out.

 

Out of her view Erich grinned, enjoying the view as she climbed ahead of him. Though he’d never tell, it was one of her finer assets. “Looking good. We should be at the bridge in no time. We don’t want to rush in too fast. Steady as she goes.”

 

He kept pace, but focused more on Tess than his climbing. Another grin and two rungs later he missed his grip and fell two bars down. “Oof!” He cried out, catching himself before falling all the way to the bottom. His vision returned. “I’m alright. Keep going!” Erich doubled his efforts. The bridge was only one level up.

 

“Almost there, Captain,” called Tess, tossing her flaxen hair to the side to glance down. “I can see the hatch; it’s partially open. Midshipman Atragon must have damaged it when he defended the bridge with Ensign Sovak. They must be recommended for a commendation.”

 

Captain Jaenke climbed up beside her, the shaft barely enough room for two. “Their deaths will be the inspiration for a glorious song I will compose right after these varuuls are defeated. Reach into my pants pocket.” He stared at her nose-to-nose.

 

“You speak Romulan,” she sighed, looking deep into his eyes. “I wish I spoke Romulan.” Without another thought, she thrust her hand into his pocket and grasped the grenade.

 

The Captain grunted, then bent in closer. “I’ll open the hatch a little more while you yank the pin and toss their surprise onto the bridge floor. It will be the biggest boom this side of Antares.” His gazed remained fixed to hers. “Let me know when you are ready.”

 

“Oh, I’m ready now,” she sighed, reluctantly tearing herself away from him to climb the last few rungs to the hatch. “Fire in the hole,” she mouthed as she rolled the grenade through the hatch, then slid down the ladder and into his arms.

 

With no hesitation Captain Erich Onak Jaenke drew Commander Tesla Abbingdon into a firm embrace and kissed her with a passion unmatched in the galaxy. As if his lips were not enough, he used his incredible Betazoid mind to whip her into a frenzy, hardly disturbed by a series of explosions rocking the deck directly above them.

 

***

 

“CUT!” came a shout from above.

 

“Ughhhhhh.....” Erich moaned as he laid spread eagle on the floor. A powerful blast ejected him from an EPS access, forcing him into the middle of the room. He felt a strange tingling sensation throughout his body. “Ohhhhhh.....”

 

“Cut the reserve power!” Dr. Scott shouted, pointing someone toward the panel.

 

“Erich! Are you all right?” The shadow of Tess hovered over him. “You took quite a jolt. Are you all right? Are you hurt?”

 

“My e’lev, is that you?”