Snowcroft has an ally--that's more than she had going into this. It's still a dangerous situation though. As for this Dukat--you know what they say about paybacks...
Dauntless 1x05 - Fragments of Control
- Thread starter BrotherBenny
- Start date
Hey folks, just to let you know that my laptop has just given up the ghost and so my writing schedule has been totally derailed. As soon as I get permanent access to a computer again I'll get back to it.
Chapter Twelve
Cardassian vessel
En route to Rura Penthe
June 14th 2380 (Stardate 57451.3)
Now dressed in a flimsy gauze of a dress that showed more than it hid, Maria Snowcroft was in a harem awaiting the officers coming off-shift. As she waited for whatever fate befell her, she considered the differences in behaviour between the two universes. The Cardassians in what she would call the mirror universe were clearly more hedonistic than their counterparts, and that was saying something. Dukat was far crueller in this universe, as expected, but his deviousness had yet to be calculated. He was used to calling the shots and had been in a position of power before Legate Damar had ousted him somehow. She wondered how troublesome the Aaron Wright of this universe was that his incarceration at Rura Penthe would be enough to restore Dukat’s powerbase and rid him of Damar. A small, nagging suggestion filled the back of her mind but she was interrupted before it could coalesce into a thought.
‘Are you really from that other universe?’ one of the other Terrans asked her.
‘I think she’s a spy,’ an older Bajoran woman said. ‘You know Dukat likes to play his games.’
Snowcroft rubbed her face where the soldier’s rough scales had caused more damage than the punch itself and opened and closed her eye a few times to test the depth perception. It was improving. ‘I am from the other universe, and if I were a spy, what information do you think Dukat would be after from a collection of comfort women. He probably knows everything that happens on this ship anyway and I know this room is monitored. I’m a Starfleet officer, not a Bajoran whore.’
The older woman stepped forward to where Snowcroft was sitting. ‘I am no whore. Dukat treats me well and my family wants for nothing.’
‘What’s your name?’
‘Why do you care?’
‘I’ve noticed that in some cases, the roles people play in life are remarkably similar in both universes. Indulge my Terran curiosity.’
The woman smiled a little. ‘My name is Tora Naprem.’
The thought suddenly coalesced. ‘You have a daughter, don’t you?’
‘I have several, what of it?’
The Cadet looked around the harem and then up at where she thought the listening devices were. She decided to go ahead anyway. ‘You have a daughter with Dukat, don’t you?’
‘I did have, she died,’ Tora replied sadly and dipped her head. Then her head snapped up. ‘How do you know that?’
‘Her name is Ziyal,’ Snowcroft continued. ‘She’s not dead. Dukat probably hid her away, or sold her so the Order didn’t find out. But Damar found out and he found Ziyal, using her to remove Dukat from power. That’s why he’s back on a ship.’
‘You lie!’ Tora snarled, reaching for Snowcroft’s throat.
The other girls hauled her back.
‘I assume that Dukat was in a position of great power, so what could be enough to make him fall so far?’
Tora dropped to a couch. ‘An illegitimate child, a half-breed,’ she almost whispered. ‘Have you seen her?’
‘In my universe, Damar killed her for treason. She was a beautiful woman.’
Snowcroft was thankful that she’d had the opportunity to live on Deep Space Nine otherwise she’d never have been able to use this.
‘He’ll not kill her again,’ Tora swore.
‘Damar doesn’t need her anymore,’ the cadet replied. ‘If you help me get out of here, I can help you find her.’
‘How?’
‘Dukat knows where she is, I heard him telling someone when I was brought on board. I think he’s a doctor of some kind.’
‘A butcher,’ Tora said. ‘He’s the only one Dukat confides in, so he probably knows where Ziyal is as well. He’ll be easier to reach than Dukat.’
‘That’s as it may be,’ the devil said as he entered the room and looked at Snowcroft. ‘I see you need another lesson.’
‘I would advise against that,’ Tora said and the other girls surrounded the cadet.
Dukat touched a button on his wrist-comm and the doors opened, flooding the room with guards. ‘Move aside or I will have no choice but to shoot you all.’
‘Even me?’ Tora asked.
‘You no longer entice me, my dear.’
‘Then I will take my daughter and leave.’
‘I don’t think so. Ziyal is a daughter of Hebitia and will join me.’
‘No, she won’t,’ Tora lunged at Dukat and was cut down before she made it a metre.
This galvanised the others into close-quarters action, tackling the guards before they could fire. Dukat backed out of the room as Snowcroft moved after him. She was so intent on him that she didn’t see the three guards until they pinned her down. She managed to get one of them off her with a back kick but another joined the fray. The girls were barely holding their own against the guards and Snowcroft began to fight with whatever limb was free. Her arms were held down and her legs trapped as one of the guards decided to take advantage of her. When his hand touched the bare flesh between her legs, something inside her snapped.
With a movement faster than the eye could see, Snowcroft scissored her legs and snapped the guard’s spine, then flipped herself over and dislodged her arms from the other Cardassians. In less than a second, she snapped their necks and slid about the room as silently as a ghost. About a minute after the melee started, the guards lay dead on the deck and the girls were cradling Tora’s body. Snowcroft just crouched nearby breathing slowly as blood dripped from her hands, most of it hers from attacking the micro-scales that passed for Cardassian skin.
‘What happened to you?’ a young Terran asked fearfully.
‘My people call it blood rage.’
‘You’re not Terran are you?’
‘Half-human,’ she answered with a sigh.
‘What of the other half?’
‘I don’t know. I only ever knew my mother. My father left before I was born and my mother never spoke of him.’
‘We should leave you in a room with Dukat,’ the Terran said, feeling safer. ‘We’ll help you, but we should leave this room before he checks the security feeds.’
‘Take the weapons. We’ll need them,’ Snowcroft said as she picked up a phaser rifle. ‘It’s time that the Alliance learned that we won’t die on our knees.’
Cardassian vessel
En route to Rura Penthe
June 14th 2380 (Stardate 57451.3)
Now dressed in a flimsy gauze of a dress that showed more than it hid, Maria Snowcroft was in a harem awaiting the officers coming off-shift. As she waited for whatever fate befell her, she considered the differences in behaviour between the two universes. The Cardassians in what she would call the mirror universe were clearly more hedonistic than their counterparts, and that was saying something. Dukat was far crueller in this universe, as expected, but his deviousness had yet to be calculated. He was used to calling the shots and had been in a position of power before Legate Damar had ousted him somehow. She wondered how troublesome the Aaron Wright of this universe was that his incarceration at Rura Penthe would be enough to restore Dukat’s powerbase and rid him of Damar. A small, nagging suggestion filled the back of her mind but she was interrupted before it could coalesce into a thought.
‘Are you really from that other universe?’ one of the other Terrans asked her.
‘I think she’s a spy,’ an older Bajoran woman said. ‘You know Dukat likes to play his games.’
Snowcroft rubbed her face where the soldier’s rough scales had caused more damage than the punch itself and opened and closed her eye a few times to test the depth perception. It was improving. ‘I am from the other universe, and if I were a spy, what information do you think Dukat would be after from a collection of comfort women. He probably knows everything that happens on this ship anyway and I know this room is monitored. I’m a Starfleet officer, not a Bajoran whore.’
The older woman stepped forward to where Snowcroft was sitting. ‘I am no whore. Dukat treats me well and my family wants for nothing.’
‘What’s your name?’
‘Why do you care?’
‘I’ve noticed that in some cases, the roles people play in life are remarkably similar in both universes. Indulge my Terran curiosity.’
The woman smiled a little. ‘My name is Tora Naprem.’
The thought suddenly coalesced. ‘You have a daughter, don’t you?’
‘I have several, what of it?’
The Cadet looked around the harem and then up at where she thought the listening devices were. She decided to go ahead anyway. ‘You have a daughter with Dukat, don’t you?’
‘I did have, she died,’ Tora replied sadly and dipped her head. Then her head snapped up. ‘How do you know that?’
‘Her name is Ziyal,’ Snowcroft continued. ‘She’s not dead. Dukat probably hid her away, or sold her so the Order didn’t find out. But Damar found out and he found Ziyal, using her to remove Dukat from power. That’s why he’s back on a ship.’
‘You lie!’ Tora snarled, reaching for Snowcroft’s throat.
The other girls hauled her back.
‘I assume that Dukat was in a position of great power, so what could be enough to make him fall so far?’
Tora dropped to a couch. ‘An illegitimate child, a half-breed,’ she almost whispered. ‘Have you seen her?’
‘In my universe, Damar killed her for treason. She was a beautiful woman.’
Snowcroft was thankful that she’d had the opportunity to live on Deep Space Nine otherwise she’d never have been able to use this.
‘He’ll not kill her again,’ Tora swore.
‘Damar doesn’t need her anymore,’ the cadet replied. ‘If you help me get out of here, I can help you find her.’
‘How?’
‘Dukat knows where she is, I heard him telling someone when I was brought on board. I think he’s a doctor of some kind.’
‘A butcher,’ Tora said. ‘He’s the only one Dukat confides in, so he probably knows where Ziyal is as well. He’ll be easier to reach than Dukat.’
‘That’s as it may be,’ the devil said as he entered the room and looked at Snowcroft. ‘I see you need another lesson.’
‘I would advise against that,’ Tora said and the other girls surrounded the cadet.
Dukat touched a button on his wrist-comm and the doors opened, flooding the room with guards. ‘Move aside or I will have no choice but to shoot you all.’
‘Even me?’ Tora asked.
‘You no longer entice me, my dear.’
‘Then I will take my daughter and leave.’
‘I don’t think so. Ziyal is a daughter of Hebitia and will join me.’
‘No, she won’t,’ Tora lunged at Dukat and was cut down before she made it a metre.
This galvanised the others into close-quarters action, tackling the guards before they could fire. Dukat backed out of the room as Snowcroft moved after him. She was so intent on him that she didn’t see the three guards until they pinned her down. She managed to get one of them off her with a back kick but another joined the fray. The girls were barely holding their own against the guards and Snowcroft began to fight with whatever limb was free. Her arms were held down and her legs trapped as one of the guards decided to take advantage of her. When his hand touched the bare flesh between her legs, something inside her snapped.
With a movement faster than the eye could see, Snowcroft scissored her legs and snapped the guard’s spine, then flipped herself over and dislodged her arms from the other Cardassians. In less than a second, she snapped their necks and slid about the room as silently as a ghost. About a minute after the melee started, the guards lay dead on the deck and the girls were cradling Tora’s body. Snowcroft just crouched nearby breathing slowly as blood dripped from her hands, most of it hers from attacking the micro-scales that passed for Cardassian skin.
‘What happened to you?’ a young Terran asked fearfully.
‘My people call it blood rage.’
‘You’re not Terran are you?’
‘Half-human,’ she answered with a sigh.
‘What of the other half?’
‘I don’t know. I only ever knew my mother. My father left before I was born and my mother never spoke of him.’
‘We should leave you in a room with Dukat,’ the Terran said, feeling safer. ‘We’ll help you, but we should leave this room before he checks the security feeds.’
‘Take the weapons. We’ll need them,’ Snowcroft said as she picked up a phaser rifle. ‘It’s time that the Alliance learned that we won’t die on our knees.’
Whoa, Snowcroft's a hell of a fighter!!! And the mysteries about her abound--her heritage, for starters (what could it be, that a DNA test wouldn't reveal one way or the other?), not to mention how much more self-assured and knowledgeable she seems than your typical cadet.
And I sure hope this universe's Ziyal can be brought to safety--but is that Crell Moset they're going to have to go through to find out? Yikes...
Ohhhh, and I like the little nod to Sigils and Unions in there!!!
And I sure hope this universe's Ziyal can be brought to safety--but is that Crell Moset they're going to have to go through to find out? Yikes...
Ohhhh, and I like the little nod to Sigils and Unions in there!!!
Interesting twist with Snowcroft--I wonder what her other side is...
Very nicely done--a perfect break before I have to write up exams...
Very nicely done--a perfect break before I have to write up exams...
Chapter Thirteen
USS Dauntless
En route to Rura Penthe
June 15th 2380 (Stardate 57454.9)
At tactical, Lieutenant Commander Gonzales was running simulations for every possible escape scenario from the Klingon prison, with variables constantly being uploaded to and downloaded from Lieutenant Parker’s combat training simulations on the holodeck. She was taking the security forces through a brutal training system of hand to hand combat with Klingons and a variety of aliens that they might need to fight through to get to Wright—and Snowcroft, if she was there. The captain had suggested a stealthy approach considering the number of vessels which were likely to be there, but the cloak would need to be dropped to transport the security teams down to the surface outside the scattering field and shuttles were out of the question. It was going to be difficult with three security teams of ten being down on the surface, each trying to complete their objectives while the Dauntless would be trying to hide or fight, with or without the Defiant’s help.
‘Parker to Gonzales,’ the security chief called.
‘Go ahead, Lieutenant.’
‘I think we may have a problem. I’ve been looking over the plans of Rura Penthe that we have in our library, and there is a problem with the shield generator.’
‘What kind of problem?’ Gonzales asked, bringing up the plans on one of her own monitors.
‘Getting through the scattering field won’t be a problem, but once we’re on the surface, the teams will have less than thirty minutes before exposure kicks in and we need to pull them out. The shield generator itself is buried under metres of snow and ice. As soon they start firing, the place will light up. I think we should transport them down and take out the shield generator ourselves.’
‘That’s a decision the Captain has to make, Lieutenant. Give me a plan in an hour and I’ll take it to her for approval. Keep working on escape scenarios. Remember that getting Wright back, both of them, and Snowcroft, is only part of the mission. We still have to assist the rebellion and the Alliance in ridding the Alpha Quadrant of the Imperium.’
‘I’m aware of that, sir.’
‘Good, Gonzales out.’
She looked at the plans herself and agreed with the security chief’s recommendation. The scattering field prevented people beaming in and out but it only extended to just over two kilometres from the entrance to the prison itself in every surface direction, including into the lower atmosphere. The best way of getting in was to beam down the security teams outside the scattering field and give them time to reach the prison. Then rescue their people, destroy the shield generator from the ship, beam everyone up and get out of there.
True to form, Parker personally delivered her proposal to Gonzales in fifty-seven minutes and they went over it, with Gonzales adding her recommendations. Parker agreed, since she would be leading the alpha team. Then Parker held the tactical station as Gonzales went to deliver the proposal to the captain, who’d been ensconced in her ready room for hours, long before alpha shift had begun.
‘Come,’ the voice answered from inside and Gonzales entered.
The lights were turned down low and Gonzales could barely see the captain lying on the couch by the window. Astar stood up, swayed on her feet for a second and then made her way to the desk. The ankle bracelet blinked brightly in the darkness.
‘Captain, I have a proposal for you for the most tactically sound way to retrieve our people.’
‘Computer, light up full. Let me see it.’
Gonzales held out the padd as the lights came back on at full intensity.
Astar looked over the method of infiltration and extraction and then glanced up at her. ‘You want us to fire on the surface?’
‘It’s the only way we’ll get our people out. It’s so cold down there, that even getting inside the prison complex might be too much. Even our best people aren’t trained against sub-zero search and rescue operations.’
‘Who on board, regardless of discipline, is best suited to an arctic environment?’
Gonzales considered the question. ‘I would say Ensign Gerema, she’s from Polaris XVII, one of the outer planets in the binary system. I believe her species are descended from native polar bears. Do you want me to pull her off science duty to train with security?’
‘Yes, she’ll lead gamma team.’
‘Sir, she is fresh out of the Academy.’
‘No she isn’t, Commander. I like to know everything I can about the people under my command. She graduated six years ago and has been on her homeworld undergoing a coming of age ritual. This is her first assignment, however, but I still want her leading gamma team.’
‘Aye sir,’ Gonzales replied. ‘I’ll speak to her now. Captain, if you don’t my saying so, you’ve spent a lot of time in here the last day or so.’
‘Is that all, Commander?’
‘Yes sir.’
‘Dismissed.’
Gonzales left the ready room, leaving the captain to her thoughts.
‘Lieutenant, join me please.’
As they entered the turbolift, a junior officer took her place at tactical.
‘Is there a problem?’ Parker asked.
‘Nope, the Captain signed off on the plan. But she wants Ensign Gerema to lead strike team gamma.’
‘Ensign Gerema, isn’t she from the science division?’
‘She’s got experience in arctic conditions and will be an asset to the team. We’ll have her switched to security for the duration of the mission and train her with your security people. We’ve only got another two days before we reach the prison and I want this to go off without a hitch.’
‘Aye sir, I’ll begin another round of simulations.’
‘All right then. Do you want to have a drink after shift?’
‘You can’t,’ Parker replied with a smirk.
‘Why not?’ Gonzales asked, frowning.
‘It’s your three month anniversary with our favourite Romulan engineer.’
Gonzales slapped her forehead. ‘Oh hell, I forgot all about it. I’ll speak to Gerema and then go find something to replicate.’
Parker laughed to herself as Gonzales trotted off down the corridor as soon as the turbolift doors opened.
USS Dauntless
En route to Rura Penthe
June 15th 2380 (Stardate 57454.9)
At tactical, Lieutenant Commander Gonzales was running simulations for every possible escape scenario from the Klingon prison, with variables constantly being uploaded to and downloaded from Lieutenant Parker’s combat training simulations on the holodeck. She was taking the security forces through a brutal training system of hand to hand combat with Klingons and a variety of aliens that they might need to fight through to get to Wright—and Snowcroft, if she was there. The captain had suggested a stealthy approach considering the number of vessels which were likely to be there, but the cloak would need to be dropped to transport the security teams down to the surface outside the scattering field and shuttles were out of the question. It was going to be difficult with three security teams of ten being down on the surface, each trying to complete their objectives while the Dauntless would be trying to hide or fight, with or without the Defiant’s help.
‘Parker to Gonzales,’ the security chief called.
‘Go ahead, Lieutenant.’
‘I think we may have a problem. I’ve been looking over the plans of Rura Penthe that we have in our library, and there is a problem with the shield generator.’
‘What kind of problem?’ Gonzales asked, bringing up the plans on one of her own monitors.
‘Getting through the scattering field won’t be a problem, but once we’re on the surface, the teams will have less than thirty minutes before exposure kicks in and we need to pull them out. The shield generator itself is buried under metres of snow and ice. As soon they start firing, the place will light up. I think we should transport them down and take out the shield generator ourselves.’
‘That’s a decision the Captain has to make, Lieutenant. Give me a plan in an hour and I’ll take it to her for approval. Keep working on escape scenarios. Remember that getting Wright back, both of them, and Snowcroft, is only part of the mission. We still have to assist the rebellion and the Alliance in ridding the Alpha Quadrant of the Imperium.’
‘I’m aware of that, sir.’
‘Good, Gonzales out.’
She looked at the plans herself and agreed with the security chief’s recommendation. The scattering field prevented people beaming in and out but it only extended to just over two kilometres from the entrance to the prison itself in every surface direction, including into the lower atmosphere. The best way of getting in was to beam down the security teams outside the scattering field and give them time to reach the prison. Then rescue their people, destroy the shield generator from the ship, beam everyone up and get out of there.
True to form, Parker personally delivered her proposal to Gonzales in fifty-seven minutes and they went over it, with Gonzales adding her recommendations. Parker agreed, since she would be leading the alpha team. Then Parker held the tactical station as Gonzales went to deliver the proposal to the captain, who’d been ensconced in her ready room for hours, long before alpha shift had begun.
‘Come,’ the voice answered from inside and Gonzales entered.
The lights were turned down low and Gonzales could barely see the captain lying on the couch by the window. Astar stood up, swayed on her feet for a second and then made her way to the desk. The ankle bracelet blinked brightly in the darkness.
‘Captain, I have a proposal for you for the most tactically sound way to retrieve our people.’
‘Computer, light up full. Let me see it.’
Gonzales held out the padd as the lights came back on at full intensity.
Astar looked over the method of infiltration and extraction and then glanced up at her. ‘You want us to fire on the surface?’
‘It’s the only way we’ll get our people out. It’s so cold down there, that even getting inside the prison complex might be too much. Even our best people aren’t trained against sub-zero search and rescue operations.’
‘Who on board, regardless of discipline, is best suited to an arctic environment?’
Gonzales considered the question. ‘I would say Ensign Gerema, she’s from Polaris XVII, one of the outer planets in the binary system. I believe her species are descended from native polar bears. Do you want me to pull her off science duty to train with security?’
‘Yes, she’ll lead gamma team.’
‘Sir, she is fresh out of the Academy.’
‘No she isn’t, Commander. I like to know everything I can about the people under my command. She graduated six years ago and has been on her homeworld undergoing a coming of age ritual. This is her first assignment, however, but I still want her leading gamma team.’
‘Aye sir,’ Gonzales replied. ‘I’ll speak to her now. Captain, if you don’t my saying so, you’ve spent a lot of time in here the last day or so.’
‘Is that all, Commander?’
‘Yes sir.’
‘Dismissed.’
Gonzales left the ready room, leaving the captain to her thoughts.
‘Lieutenant, join me please.’
As they entered the turbolift, a junior officer took her place at tactical.
‘Is there a problem?’ Parker asked.
‘Nope, the Captain signed off on the plan. But she wants Ensign Gerema to lead strike team gamma.’
‘Ensign Gerema, isn’t she from the science division?’
‘She’s got experience in arctic conditions and will be an asset to the team. We’ll have her switched to security for the duration of the mission and train her with your security people. We’ve only got another two days before we reach the prison and I want this to go off without a hitch.’
‘Aye sir, I’ll begin another round of simulations.’
‘All right then. Do you want to have a drink after shift?’
‘You can’t,’ Parker replied with a smirk.
‘Why not?’ Gonzales asked, frowning.
‘It’s your three month anniversary with our favourite Romulan engineer.’
Gonzales slapped her forehead. ‘Oh hell, I forgot all about it. I’ll speak to Gerema and then go find something to replicate.’
Parker laughed to herself as Gonzales trotted off down the corridor as soon as the turbolift doors opened.
I appreciated this last segment for the glimpse at Starfleet routine. I find those things very interesting and they allow us a bit of breathing time before the action kicks in.
Also a species which evolved from polar bears and undergoes a six-year (!) coming of age ritual is bound to be fascinating.
Also a species which evolved from polar bears and undergoes a six-year (!) coming of age ritual is bound to be fascinating.
A very good set up for what is to come and I'd like to echo CeJay here--you've created an intriguing alien race evolved from polar bears (ursine) would be omnivorous with a preference for meat, highly intelligent, patient, very protective of cubs...
Chapter Fourteen
Cardassian vessel
En route to Rura Penthe
June 17th 2380 (Stardate 57461.1)
The women of the former harem had held the Cardassian vessel for the last four days. Many of the Cardassians had agreed to join them in liberating the Klingon prison as several of their people were held there for nothing more than disagreeing with the former Regent. Gul Dukat and his mysterious medical confidante had thus far escaped all patrols made by the women and the other Cardassian soldiers. Seated in the command chair, Cadet Snowcroft smiled to herself as the vessel got closer and closer to the prison with each passing moment.
'I don't suppose anyone else wants to take command for a while?' she asked, idly tossing a blade in the air.
'I wouldn't mind having my ship back,' a voice replied and she caught the blade as it fell.
'Dukat!' she hissed as she saw him holding the young Terran woman who was a gifted engineer.
'Give me control and I will release her.'
'She's as good as dead anyway and we all know it,' Snowcroft replied, giving the girl a look. 'Where's your doctor friend? Trying to flood the ship with gas so you can retake it? He might find that a little difficult.'
Dukat's eyes widened slightly. 'How do you I don't have a number of plans?'
'Because if you did, I would be dead. Your doctor is probably dead already or being held for interrogation by some very angry women.'
The Terran girl suddenly stamped down hard on Dukat's foot and he cursed as she spun away. He tried to move out of Snowcroft's line of sight but was unable to do so fast enough and found her blade buried in his chest.
'Is he dead?' the Terran girl asked.
'No, why don't you get the good doctor to patch him, and assist if you like. Those kind of wounds can be painful.'
She nodded and another woman helped her remove the Cardassian's prone form. Snowcroft turned to the viewscreen and watched the stars. The ship would reach the prison only hours after the Dauntless, but a lot could happen in that time and she planned to be ready. Because of the cloaking device installed in her ship, she had no idea where they were and didn't want to contact them in case the Alliance or the Imperium were listening in. She needed assistance and suddenly realised where she could get it.
'I need to contact the New Hebitia leadership.'
'They will want to know where Dukat is and why we're not on our way,' a Cardassian replied. 'That's why you ordered us to radio silence.'
Snowcroft sighed. 'Plans have changed. We'll need assistance at Rura Penthe, unless you want the Klingons to win?'
The Cardassian sneered at her. 'Legate Macet will no doubt have some choice words for you.'
'If the rivalry between cousins is as contested in this universe as it was in ours, I have no fears. Now contact him. If we can get even one more ship then you might be able to keep the prison for yourselves.'
The Cardassian nodded and turned to the communications console. 'Stand by.'
There was a burst of static for a moment which then cleared and the sour visage of Legate Macet, Dukat's almost identical cousin, appeared on the viewscreen. 'Who the hell are you?'
'I am Maria Snowcroft of the Federation starship Dauntless. Your cousin and his doctor are being interrogated by his former harem and I am in command.'
Macet laughed long and hard. 'A mere slip of a girl took my cousin's ship? I like that. What do you plan to do when you get here?'
Snowcroft swallowed. 'I am going to Rura Penthe to release your people and hand it over to the Cardassians. I may need a little assistance.'
'Your starship is en route there anyway, and I do not wish to antagonise Regent Martok too much.'
'What of the Imperium?'
Macet's eyes narrowed. 'What of them?'
'My captain has a plan, but for it to work, she needs the cooperation of the Alliance. With the Cardassians in control of Rura Penthe, the Klingons will doubtless launch an attack and once you are all together, you can talk.'
'The Followers of Oralius are peaceful.'
'Then you will be dead, Snowcroft out.'
'He doesn't like being cut off like that.'
'I thought as much. But I have informed him of the situation. Either he assists or he does not. I do need him to prattle on the way your people have a habit of doing.'
The Cardassian smiled. 'We will reach the prison in less than a day, but we will encounter Klingon vessels and Rura Penthe will hail us asking why we're arriving unannounced.'
'You can say that Dukat has been incapacitated and you have taken command. You can also add that you have Aaron Wright in custody and are returning him to the prison. They'll find out they already have Wright in custody and it will confuse them long enough for the Dauntless to make their move.'
'You have a lot of faith in your captain.'
'We don't belong in this universe and she will not leave without our universe's Aaron Wright. If you assist us, we'll help you in fighting off the Imperium.'
'What about the Rebellion?'
'That is none of our concern.'
'They're helping you, aren't they? You already made this offer to them.'
'Go and get Wright up here. He knows this universe and I think he'll want to help in our little endeavour.'
'I'll go and get him, shall I let him see Dukat first?'
'No, I want Dukat alive. He's a good bargaining chip for Legate Damar and Regent Martok.'
'As you wish, Captain.'
Snowcroft sighed as the Cardassian left the bridge. She didn't want this, was too young to command a starship of brigands and rogues, or loyal soldiers, and when she gave her report of her incarceration to Captain Astar, she was sure that there would probably be a reprisal for her unorthodox actions, and her withholding of her unknown ancestry.
Cardassian vessel
En route to Rura Penthe
June 17th 2380 (Stardate 57461.1)
The women of the former harem had held the Cardassian vessel for the last four days. Many of the Cardassians had agreed to join them in liberating the Klingon prison as several of their people were held there for nothing more than disagreeing with the former Regent. Gul Dukat and his mysterious medical confidante had thus far escaped all patrols made by the women and the other Cardassian soldiers. Seated in the command chair, Cadet Snowcroft smiled to herself as the vessel got closer and closer to the prison with each passing moment.
'I don't suppose anyone else wants to take command for a while?' she asked, idly tossing a blade in the air.
'I wouldn't mind having my ship back,' a voice replied and she caught the blade as it fell.
'Dukat!' she hissed as she saw him holding the young Terran woman who was a gifted engineer.
'Give me control and I will release her.'
'She's as good as dead anyway and we all know it,' Snowcroft replied, giving the girl a look. 'Where's your doctor friend? Trying to flood the ship with gas so you can retake it? He might find that a little difficult.'
Dukat's eyes widened slightly. 'How do you I don't have a number of plans?'
'Because if you did, I would be dead. Your doctor is probably dead already or being held for interrogation by some very angry women.'
The Terran girl suddenly stamped down hard on Dukat's foot and he cursed as she spun away. He tried to move out of Snowcroft's line of sight but was unable to do so fast enough and found her blade buried in his chest.
'Is he dead?' the Terran girl asked.
'No, why don't you get the good doctor to patch him, and assist if you like. Those kind of wounds can be painful.'
She nodded and another woman helped her remove the Cardassian's prone form. Snowcroft turned to the viewscreen and watched the stars. The ship would reach the prison only hours after the Dauntless, but a lot could happen in that time and she planned to be ready. Because of the cloaking device installed in her ship, she had no idea where they were and didn't want to contact them in case the Alliance or the Imperium were listening in. She needed assistance and suddenly realised where she could get it.
'I need to contact the New Hebitia leadership.'
'They will want to know where Dukat is and why we're not on our way,' a Cardassian replied. 'That's why you ordered us to radio silence.'
Snowcroft sighed. 'Plans have changed. We'll need assistance at Rura Penthe, unless you want the Klingons to win?'
The Cardassian sneered at her. 'Legate Macet will no doubt have some choice words for you.'
'If the rivalry between cousins is as contested in this universe as it was in ours, I have no fears. Now contact him. If we can get even one more ship then you might be able to keep the prison for yourselves.'
The Cardassian nodded and turned to the communications console. 'Stand by.'
There was a burst of static for a moment which then cleared and the sour visage of Legate Macet, Dukat's almost identical cousin, appeared on the viewscreen. 'Who the hell are you?'
'I am Maria Snowcroft of the Federation starship Dauntless. Your cousin and his doctor are being interrogated by his former harem and I am in command.'
Macet laughed long and hard. 'A mere slip of a girl took my cousin's ship? I like that. What do you plan to do when you get here?'
Snowcroft swallowed. 'I am going to Rura Penthe to release your people and hand it over to the Cardassians. I may need a little assistance.'
'Your starship is en route there anyway, and I do not wish to antagonise Regent Martok too much.'
'What of the Imperium?'
Macet's eyes narrowed. 'What of them?'
'My captain has a plan, but for it to work, she needs the cooperation of the Alliance. With the Cardassians in control of Rura Penthe, the Klingons will doubtless launch an attack and once you are all together, you can talk.'
'The Followers of Oralius are peaceful.'
'Then you will be dead, Snowcroft out.'
'He doesn't like being cut off like that.'
'I thought as much. But I have informed him of the situation. Either he assists or he does not. I do need him to prattle on the way your people have a habit of doing.'
The Cardassian smiled. 'We will reach the prison in less than a day, but we will encounter Klingon vessels and Rura Penthe will hail us asking why we're arriving unannounced.'
'You can say that Dukat has been incapacitated and you have taken command. You can also add that you have Aaron Wright in custody and are returning him to the prison. They'll find out they already have Wright in custody and it will confuse them long enough for the Dauntless to make their move.'
'You have a lot of faith in your captain.'
'We don't belong in this universe and she will not leave without our universe's Aaron Wright. If you assist us, we'll help you in fighting off the Imperium.'
'What about the Rebellion?'
'That is none of our concern.'
'They're helping you, aren't they? You already made this offer to them.'
'Go and get Wright up here. He knows this universe and I think he'll want to help in our little endeavour.'
'I'll go and get him, shall I let him see Dukat first?'
'No, I want Dukat alive. He's a good bargaining chip for Legate Damar and Regent Martok.'
'As you wish, Captain.'
Snowcroft sighed as the Cardassian left the bridge. She didn't want this, was too young to command a starship of brigands and rogues, or loyal soldiers, and when she gave her report of her incarceration to Captain Astar, she was sure that there would probably be a reprisal for her unorthodox actions, and her withholding of her unknown ancestry.
Ha, I enjoyed MU Macet's laugh at his cousin's expense, and I laughed pretty hard myself! I can SO imagine that! 
Now the tricky part is going to be this. Why, in this universe, doesn't Macet like Dukat? That could go two ways--one that's favorable, and one that's VERY dangerous...
As to the MU Followers of Oralius...if they ARE peaceful, I think Snowcroft could be in a lot of trouble for threatening them, if word ever gets back to Astar what she did. (If they're not, I suspect she's going to skate.)
And you DO bring up a good point about Snowcroft's ancestry. Simon Tarses sure got in trouble for withholding his Romulan ancestry! One wonders, though, how Snowcroft evaded medical scans...at least with Romulans and Vulcans, there was probably enough closeness, especially as diluted as Tarses' non-human blood was, to pull it off. I wonder how Snowcroft manages?
Now the tricky part is going to be this. Why, in this universe, doesn't Macet like Dukat? That could go two ways--one that's favorable, and one that's VERY dangerous...As to the MU Followers of Oralius...if they ARE peaceful, I think Snowcroft could be in a lot of trouble for threatening them, if word ever gets back to Astar what she did. (If they're not, I suspect she's going to skate.)
And you DO bring up a good point about Snowcroft's ancestry. Simon Tarses sure got in trouble for withholding his Romulan ancestry! One wonders, though, how Snowcroft evaded medical scans...at least with Romulans and Vulcans, there was probably enough closeness, especially as diluted as Tarses' non-human blood was, to pull it off. I wonder how Snowcroft manages?
Well, Snowcroft is getting her baptism in fire--in spades. So far, she's come out of it pretty well, but the day is young...
Chapter Fifteen
USS Dauntless
En route to Rura Penthe
June 18th 2380 (Stardate 57463.2)
Captain Astar glanced down at the ankle bracelet which monitored her lifesigns and that of the symbiont and sighed. She knew that the Zhian'tara ritual was long overdue but until now had not believed it to be overly useful. Her symbiont was suffering, that she knew, and she further hoped that the ship would be able to return to their universe before her situation became too dangerous. In the meantime, she had a job to do. The three security teams were on permanent standby and the ship was less than two hours away from Rura Penthe and the radio silence was about to be broken. It was unlikely that the Alliance would be able to break their secure communications but they had been erring on the side of caution nonetheless. Astar glanced at the stars streaming by on the viewscreen and had a sudden pang of guilt for her lost cadet, wondering whether the young girl was still alive and if so, how much alive and damaged she might be.
'Captain, it's time,' Gonzales said from her side.
Astar squared her shoulders. 'Open a channel to the Defiant.'
General Smiley appeared on the viewscreen, with Engineer Mahtani by his side. 'Captain, I trust you're ready to retrieve your man?'
'I am, will you assist?'
'Regrettably not. I will however provide backup if you are fired upon, so long as my own mission here is not compromised.'
Astar nodded. 'I expected as much, General. Thank you for all your help. We'll be doing a flyby of the planet to deposit the security teams and retreat to the edge of the system.'
'Will you have time to retrieve them considering the time they will be exposed?'
'I have a plan for that eventuality.'
Smiley smiled. 'I'm sure you do, Captain. For now, I bid you adieu.'
'Looks like we're on our own,' Gonzales replied.
'As we expected we would be,' Astar countered. 'Go to yellow alert and have the security teams prepare for insertion.'
'Aye sir,' Gonzales said and returned to the tactical console. 'Gonzales to Security Teams Alpha through Gamma, prepare for insertion, T minus ninety minutes.'
'Commander, how is plan B proceeding?'
'We've made the preparations but the computer simulations are borderline, they work with the modifications about fifty percent of the time.'
'That will have to do, are the transporters coordinated?'
'Yes sir, the computer will be doing all the work. We'll decloak for five point two seconds.'
'We'll be seen,' Astar stated.
'By everything in the area, which is why as soon the cloak is back up we'll be moving and hopefully they won't be able to track us.'
'If they do?'
'Then we blow them out of orbit.'
Astar inwardly sighed, she was getting far too involved in this universe for her liking, but at this point there was no going back. She had made her decision to rescue a Starfleet officer and provide information, at the very least, to rid this galaxy of the Vorta Imperium but it weighed heavily on her mind. She knew that her logs would be scrutinised and she would likely face a court-martial for her actions, but she didn't care. The Dominion, in any form, were a menace and if there was a protracted war in this universe, it would be far worse than in her own because there were no allies for anyone to call upon.
'Captain, I'm picking up another ship on long range sensors,' Gonzales said. 'It's Dukat.'
'Clearly not going to New Hebitia then,' Astar replied with a smile. 'Hopefully Snowcroft and Wright are still aboard. Have Security Team Delta prep for insertion.'
'Yes ma'am, I will lead them myself.'
'I want you here, Commander. I need a good tactician since we'll be facing a phalanx of birds of prey and warships.'
'Aye sir, all security teams report ready for insertion. They're standing by in all transporter rooms.'
'Excellent, time until we reach Rura Penthe?'
'One hour.'
'How close is Dukat's ship?'
'They will reach the planet one hour and eight minutes after us, at their current speed, less if they increase to maximum which they're likely to do once the fighting starts.'
'Contact him.'
Sir?'
'You heard me, Commander. Open a channel to Dukat's ship.'
Astar and Gonzales stared in utter surprise when the image on the viewscreen changed. Instead of Gul Dukat sitting in the command chair, Cadet Snowcroft was in it, wearing full Cardassian body armour, and Wright stood by her side.
'Captain Astar, as you can see I am perfectly safe.'
'I expect your report will provide a full explanation?'
'Yes ma'am, in the meantime, I have a proposal for you.'
'I'm listening.'
'Gul Dukat will be able to get me into the prison as his prisoner, and with Wright as his special guest. The transport shield will be lowered at that time and your security teams will be able to retrieve Commander Wright.'
'And take out the main shield generator,' Gonzales added.
'I have promised the Cardassians the prison, Captain, in return for their assistance. Gul Dukat was initially reticent until he received a little prompting from his first officer.'
Astar raised an eyebrow but said nothing for now. They needed all the help they could get. 'Cadet, I won't ask how you managed your little coup but I thank you for gaining the Cardassians' assistance. Will they be prepared to talk?'
'No ma'am. The New Hebitians are considered as bad as Terrans by Central Command. Legate Damar has orders to shoot them on sight. The Klingons will just shoot and interrogate any survivors with the mind sifter.'
'I see,' Astar replied. 'Let's just see how it turns out, shall we?'
'Yes ma'am,' Snowcroft returned and then looked off screen. 'If you'll excuse me, Captain, we're being hailed by Rura Penthe.'
'We'll await your arrival, Cadet; Astar out.'
'That is fortuitous,' Gonzales added to Astar's thoughts.
'With Dukat involved, there is always the possibility, make that probability, of treachery. Be ready for plan B.'
USS Dauntless
En route to Rura Penthe
June 18th 2380 (Stardate 57463.2)
Captain Astar glanced down at the ankle bracelet which monitored her lifesigns and that of the symbiont and sighed. She knew that the Zhian'tara ritual was long overdue but until now had not believed it to be overly useful. Her symbiont was suffering, that she knew, and she further hoped that the ship would be able to return to their universe before her situation became too dangerous. In the meantime, she had a job to do. The three security teams were on permanent standby and the ship was less than two hours away from Rura Penthe and the radio silence was about to be broken. It was unlikely that the Alliance would be able to break their secure communications but they had been erring on the side of caution nonetheless. Astar glanced at the stars streaming by on the viewscreen and had a sudden pang of guilt for her lost cadet, wondering whether the young girl was still alive and if so, how much alive and damaged she might be.
'Captain, it's time,' Gonzales said from her side.
Astar squared her shoulders. 'Open a channel to the Defiant.'
General Smiley appeared on the viewscreen, with Engineer Mahtani by his side. 'Captain, I trust you're ready to retrieve your man?'
'I am, will you assist?'
'Regrettably not. I will however provide backup if you are fired upon, so long as my own mission here is not compromised.'
Astar nodded. 'I expected as much, General. Thank you for all your help. We'll be doing a flyby of the planet to deposit the security teams and retreat to the edge of the system.'
'Will you have time to retrieve them considering the time they will be exposed?'
'I have a plan for that eventuality.'
Smiley smiled. 'I'm sure you do, Captain. For now, I bid you adieu.'
'Looks like we're on our own,' Gonzales replied.
'As we expected we would be,' Astar countered. 'Go to yellow alert and have the security teams prepare for insertion.'
'Aye sir,' Gonzales said and returned to the tactical console. 'Gonzales to Security Teams Alpha through Gamma, prepare for insertion, T minus ninety minutes.'
'Commander, how is plan B proceeding?'
'We've made the preparations but the computer simulations are borderline, they work with the modifications about fifty percent of the time.'
'That will have to do, are the transporters coordinated?'
'Yes sir, the computer will be doing all the work. We'll decloak for five point two seconds.'
'We'll be seen,' Astar stated.
'By everything in the area, which is why as soon the cloak is back up we'll be moving and hopefully they won't be able to track us.'
'If they do?'
'Then we blow them out of orbit.'
Astar inwardly sighed, she was getting far too involved in this universe for her liking, but at this point there was no going back. She had made her decision to rescue a Starfleet officer and provide information, at the very least, to rid this galaxy of the Vorta Imperium but it weighed heavily on her mind. She knew that her logs would be scrutinised and she would likely face a court-martial for her actions, but she didn't care. The Dominion, in any form, were a menace and if there was a protracted war in this universe, it would be far worse than in her own because there were no allies for anyone to call upon.
'Captain, I'm picking up another ship on long range sensors,' Gonzales said. 'It's Dukat.'
'Clearly not going to New Hebitia then,' Astar replied with a smile. 'Hopefully Snowcroft and Wright are still aboard. Have Security Team Delta prep for insertion.'
'Yes ma'am, I will lead them myself.'
'I want you here, Commander. I need a good tactician since we'll be facing a phalanx of birds of prey and warships.'
'Aye sir, all security teams report ready for insertion. They're standing by in all transporter rooms.'
'Excellent, time until we reach Rura Penthe?'
'One hour.'
'How close is Dukat's ship?'
'They will reach the planet one hour and eight minutes after us, at their current speed, less if they increase to maximum which they're likely to do once the fighting starts.'
'Contact him.'
Sir?'
'You heard me, Commander. Open a channel to Dukat's ship.'
Astar and Gonzales stared in utter surprise when the image on the viewscreen changed. Instead of Gul Dukat sitting in the command chair, Cadet Snowcroft was in it, wearing full Cardassian body armour, and Wright stood by her side.
'Captain Astar, as you can see I am perfectly safe.'
'I expect your report will provide a full explanation?'
'Yes ma'am, in the meantime, I have a proposal for you.'
'I'm listening.'
'Gul Dukat will be able to get me into the prison as his prisoner, and with Wright as his special guest. The transport shield will be lowered at that time and your security teams will be able to retrieve Commander Wright.'
'And take out the main shield generator,' Gonzales added.
'I have promised the Cardassians the prison, Captain, in return for their assistance. Gul Dukat was initially reticent until he received a little prompting from his first officer.'
Astar raised an eyebrow but said nothing for now. They needed all the help they could get. 'Cadet, I won't ask how you managed your little coup but I thank you for gaining the Cardassians' assistance. Will they be prepared to talk?'
'No ma'am. The New Hebitians are considered as bad as Terrans by Central Command. Legate Damar has orders to shoot them on sight. The Klingons will just shoot and interrogate any survivors with the mind sifter.'
'I see,' Astar replied. 'Let's just see how it turns out, shall we?'
'Yes ma'am,' Snowcroft returned and then looked off screen. 'If you'll excuse me, Captain, we're being hailed by Rura Penthe.'
'We'll await your arrival, Cadet; Astar out.'
'That is fortuitous,' Gonzales added to Astar's thoughts.
'With Dukat involved, there is always the possibility, make that probability, of treachery. Be ready for plan B.'
Oh my...so Snowcroft thinks she's got control of Gul Dukat?! That's gonna backfire in a hurry! I really am starting to get the distinct feeling all this boldness is about to blow up in her face.
And even if it doesn't...I think Astar needs to smack her into line, quickly. This Red Squad/Nova Squadron crap from cadets has got to stop immediately. What's in the water at Starfleet Academy in the 24th century, anyway????
Though it should come as no surprise to you that I got a REAL kick out of the image of her onscreen!
And even if it doesn't...I think Astar needs to smack her into line, quickly. This Red Squad/Nova Squadron crap from cadets has got to stop immediately. What's in the water at Starfleet Academy in the 24th century, anyway????
Though it should come as no surprise to you that I got a REAL kick out of the image of her onscreen!
Chapter Sixteen
USS Dauntless
In high orbit of Rura Penthe
June 18th 2380 (Stardate 57463.3)
Lieutenant K'Tyra Parker surveyed her security team. They had already received word that Gul Dukat, Cadet Snowcroft and this universe's Aaron Wright had already beamed down to the prison with permission and the brief scanning window had allowed a greater level of detail to be discerned regarding the complex. She would be leading alpha team, her deputy, Ensign Faragas, would lead beta team and Ensign Gerema, the Polaris native, would lead gamma team. Alpha team was to make entrance, beta to sabotage the beaming shield and gamma would provide cover for both teams as the Klingons were now on alert since Dukat's ship showed up.
'Bridge to transporter room one, prepare for transport,' Gonzales said.
'Acknowledged, bridge,' Parker replied and tapped her combadge. 'Gamma team and beta team prepare for transport.'
The Polaris native and her team, wearing the black stealth suits now favoured by security teams for hostile environments, stepped up to the transporter pad in transporter room three. In transporter room two, Ensign Faragas and his team waited on the pad and Parker waited on the pad in transporter room one. All three teams would beam down simultaneously to three compass points around the complex.
Gonzales' voice rang clearly in all three transporter rooms. 'Decloaking now; all teams, energise.'
The power drain was substantial and the lights dimmed across the ship as eighteen people beamed down to three different locations on the surface.
As soon as Parker rematerialised and saw her team was intact, she began to run for the complex, her team following quickly. They had been training in arctic conditions for several days and were able to cover the two kilometre distance to the entrance in under eighteen minutes, at least in the simulations. After eleven minutes, Parker could see on her heads-up display that they were three minutes behind schedule. Gamma team would reach the complex first and beta team almost two minutes after that, followed by alpha team one minute later. She hated to make the decision, but there was no other option.
'Gamma team leader, make entrance to the complex and find our Aaron Wright. Phasers on heavy stun.'
'Acknowledged, alpha team leader,' Gerema replied without hesitation.
Ensign Gerema couldn't remember when she had last had such an exhilarating run. After graduating from the Academy she had spent the next six years with fourteen other people her age in the wild Wastelands of her homeworld where hunting and survival was the order of the day. Only seven of the fourteen survived the ordeal, which was two above average, and those that did were only then allowed to continue with their lives, find mates and have children. In the arctic Wastelands, she would run for kilometres to evade pursuers or catch prey and this was the first time since that she could indulge.
Her team were comprised of the fastest runners and had made better time than expected. The complex was dead ahead and she saw five Klingons wearing heavy armour before anyone else did. She held up a fist, and they all stopped metres from her. With hand signals that only they could see through their own HUDs, she sent two to either side of the Klingon group and took one member of the team with her. On a count of three, she signalled to fire at the Klingons, but one of her team members stumbled over a dead body and the Klingons began firing all around them.
Gerema pounced on one Klingon and snapped his neck before he even realised what was going on and saw her team cutting the others down with pinpoint phaser accuracy. Eight seconds had elapsed and the Klingons were either dead or stunned. She knew that the stunned ones would be killed later by their own for being caught but it wasn't her concern. Activating the electronics that opened the hatch to gain access to the prison, Gerema and her team proceeded cautiously into the gulag, cutting down Klingon guards who had been alerted.
Because there were so many humans in the prison, Xeris had programmed the HUDs with quantum scanners to detect Wright's quantum signature which was unique to each universe. The away teams were all registering the same signature, so they should be able to find one more human with the same signature elsewhere, as long as his biosignature matched as well.
'Sir,' one of her team called, 'I'm picking up eleven people with our universe's quantum signature. They're being held deeper underground, in a separate area.'
'Lieutenant Parker, do you copy,' Gerema called, only to be answered by static.
'D'rass, find them and bring them to the surface. The Klingons are coming out of the woodwork now. I'll hold them off.'
'Aye sir, D'rass out.'
She fired at every Klingon she saw until the prisoners realised what was happening. As her security team moved deeper, the prisoners figured out that their jailers were being attacked and joined in. Humans, Andorians, Tellarites, and other races caused a melee which Gerema used to enter the prison commander's office. He was long gone and likely wouldn't be back. All of a sudden she found herself pinned to the desk by a Klingon bearing a bat'leth. His mek'leth was buried in her back and her suit's stealth had been compromised.
'What are you, little animal? The Klingon asked, his breath soured by warnog, as he pulled off her helmet.
'Your worst nightmare,' she replied as she reached behind him and extended her claws, skewering his arm and wrenching it away from her.
He let go and she pulled the mek'leth from her back, throwing it into his neck as he attempted to rise.
'Gamma team, status report?'
'We have them, sir,' D'rass reported. 'All eleven, but apparently there were more.'
'Ensign Gerema, status?' Parker called in.
'We have Wright and ten other people with our quantum signature, Lieutenant. What of the beaming shield?'
'The shield is down. As soon as your people near the surface, you'll be beamed home. The Cardassians are already on their way down.'
'We didn't see Snowcroft or Wright, sir,' Gerema replied.
'I didn't think you would. Dukat betrayed them, as expected.'
'Snowcroft?'
'Still missing, but we found Wright's body, or what was left of it.'
'Aye sir, I'm on my way back to the surface.'
Less than a minute later, she dematerialised, heading home.
USS Dauntless
In high orbit of Rura Penthe
June 18th 2380 (Stardate 57463.3)
Lieutenant K'Tyra Parker surveyed her security team. They had already received word that Gul Dukat, Cadet Snowcroft and this universe's Aaron Wright had already beamed down to the prison with permission and the brief scanning window had allowed a greater level of detail to be discerned regarding the complex. She would be leading alpha team, her deputy, Ensign Faragas, would lead beta team and Ensign Gerema, the Polaris native, would lead gamma team. Alpha team was to make entrance, beta to sabotage the beaming shield and gamma would provide cover for both teams as the Klingons were now on alert since Dukat's ship showed up.
'Bridge to transporter room one, prepare for transport,' Gonzales said.
'Acknowledged, bridge,' Parker replied and tapped her combadge. 'Gamma team and beta team prepare for transport.'
The Polaris native and her team, wearing the black stealth suits now favoured by security teams for hostile environments, stepped up to the transporter pad in transporter room three. In transporter room two, Ensign Faragas and his team waited on the pad and Parker waited on the pad in transporter room one. All three teams would beam down simultaneously to three compass points around the complex.
Gonzales' voice rang clearly in all three transporter rooms. 'Decloaking now; all teams, energise.'
The power drain was substantial and the lights dimmed across the ship as eighteen people beamed down to three different locations on the surface.
As soon as Parker rematerialised and saw her team was intact, she began to run for the complex, her team following quickly. They had been training in arctic conditions for several days and were able to cover the two kilometre distance to the entrance in under eighteen minutes, at least in the simulations. After eleven minutes, Parker could see on her heads-up display that they were three minutes behind schedule. Gamma team would reach the complex first and beta team almost two minutes after that, followed by alpha team one minute later. She hated to make the decision, but there was no other option.
'Gamma team leader, make entrance to the complex and find our Aaron Wright. Phasers on heavy stun.'
'Acknowledged, alpha team leader,' Gerema replied without hesitation.
* * *
Ensign Gerema couldn't remember when she had last had such an exhilarating run. After graduating from the Academy she had spent the next six years with fourteen other people her age in the wild Wastelands of her homeworld where hunting and survival was the order of the day. Only seven of the fourteen survived the ordeal, which was two above average, and those that did were only then allowed to continue with their lives, find mates and have children. In the arctic Wastelands, she would run for kilometres to evade pursuers or catch prey and this was the first time since that she could indulge.
Her team were comprised of the fastest runners and had made better time than expected. The complex was dead ahead and she saw five Klingons wearing heavy armour before anyone else did. She held up a fist, and they all stopped metres from her. With hand signals that only they could see through their own HUDs, she sent two to either side of the Klingon group and took one member of the team with her. On a count of three, she signalled to fire at the Klingons, but one of her team members stumbled over a dead body and the Klingons began firing all around them.
Gerema pounced on one Klingon and snapped his neck before he even realised what was going on and saw her team cutting the others down with pinpoint phaser accuracy. Eight seconds had elapsed and the Klingons were either dead or stunned. She knew that the stunned ones would be killed later by their own for being caught but it wasn't her concern. Activating the electronics that opened the hatch to gain access to the prison, Gerema and her team proceeded cautiously into the gulag, cutting down Klingon guards who had been alerted.
Because there were so many humans in the prison, Xeris had programmed the HUDs with quantum scanners to detect Wright's quantum signature which was unique to each universe. The away teams were all registering the same signature, so they should be able to find one more human with the same signature elsewhere, as long as his biosignature matched as well.
'Sir,' one of her team called, 'I'm picking up eleven people with our universe's quantum signature. They're being held deeper underground, in a separate area.'
'Lieutenant Parker, do you copy,' Gerema called, only to be answered by static.
'D'rass, find them and bring them to the surface. The Klingons are coming out of the woodwork now. I'll hold them off.'
'Aye sir, D'rass out.'
She fired at every Klingon she saw until the prisoners realised what was happening. As her security team moved deeper, the prisoners figured out that their jailers were being attacked and joined in. Humans, Andorians, Tellarites, and other races caused a melee which Gerema used to enter the prison commander's office. He was long gone and likely wouldn't be back. All of a sudden she found herself pinned to the desk by a Klingon bearing a bat'leth. His mek'leth was buried in her back and her suit's stealth had been compromised.
'What are you, little animal? The Klingon asked, his breath soured by warnog, as he pulled off her helmet.
'Your worst nightmare,' she replied as she reached behind him and extended her claws, skewering his arm and wrenching it away from her.
He let go and she pulled the mek'leth from her back, throwing it into his neck as he attempted to rise.
'Gamma team, status report?'
'We have them, sir,' D'rass reported. 'All eleven, but apparently there were more.'
'Ensign Gerema, status?' Parker called in.
'We have Wright and ten other people with our quantum signature, Lieutenant. What of the beaming shield?'
'The shield is down. As soon as your people near the surface, you'll be beamed home. The Cardassians are already on their way down.'
'We didn't see Snowcroft or Wright, sir,' Gerema replied.
'I didn't think you would. Dukat betrayed them, as expected.'
'Snowcroft?'
'Still missing, but we found Wright's body, or what was left of it.'
'Aye sir, I'm on my way back to the surface.'
Less than a minute later, she dematerialised, heading home.
So Snowcroft couldn't hold the tiger by the tail after all. Sad, but not surprising.
I'm liking Ensign Gerema--she sure knows how to take out her enemies!
Just one question...why black stealth suits? Aren't they in an environment comprised largely of snow and ice?
Now I wonder, how is Macet going to act now that he's getting control of Rura Penthe?
I'm liking Ensign Gerema--she sure knows how to take out her enemies!
Just one question...why black stealth suits? Aren't they in an environment comprised largely of snow and ice?
Now I wonder, how is Macet going to act now that he's getting control of Rura Penthe?
Snowcroft got careless apparently. Ensign Gerema reminds us all of the appropriateness of that old adage: Don't poke the bear!
Similar threads
